(0 /&»•

LIBRARY OF EARLY ENGLISH WRITERS

EDITED BY

C. HORSTMAN

VOL. II.

RICHARD ROLLE OF HAMPOLE

AND HIS FOLLOWERS

EDITED BY

C. HORSTMAN

VOL. II.

LONDON

SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & C°.

NEW YORK: MACMILLAN & CO.

1896.

DEC -3 1956

Printed by BREITKOPF & HARTEL, Leipzig.

Introduction.

Christus in unoquoque nostrum, unus- quisque ipse Christus, i. e. homo; ego homo, filius hominis, Christus.

(R. Rolle has hitherto been an enigma. I will attempt to construe that remarkable

man, so far as the materials extant, viz. his writings, and the "Officium de S.

Ricardo" with a Vita in its lessons (ed. by Perry, and in Breviarium eccl. Ebor.

H, 1882, Surtees Soc.) will permit.)

Xvichard Rolle, from the place of his death and burial surnamed Hampole, was born about, or shortly before, 1300', at Thornton (now Thornton Dale), a village 2*/2 miles E. of Pickering, at the foot of the hills in the North Riding of Yorkshire. He died on the 2gth of September 1349. His father was William Rolle2, a man apparently of respectable position, being called an intimate friend of John de Dalton (iste armiger patrem suum veluti sibi familiarem grata affectione diligebat) ; he was perhaps a dependant of the Nevilles. Having received his primary education at home, he was at a more advanced age sent to Oxford by Thomas de Neville3, afterwards (since 1334) archdeaqon of Durham. Oxford, at that time, was in the zenith of its glory : only a few years had elapsed since the

1 John Wilson in his "English Martyrologe" (1608 & 1640) has it that he died "full of sanctity and venerable old age", but this statement of a late writer is not borne out by any older authority. In the works of R. Rolle, who generally is very communicative about himself, I find no allusion to his old age. The large number of his works, however, proves that he must have attained a fair age. The Vita tells us that he was "exhibited" at Oxford by Thomas Neville. Now this Neville was not born before 1292 — 5. He may have taken R. Rolle with him while himself going to Oxford for his course, in which case Rolle might be of equal age; but more probably he sent him there after finishing his studies, in which case Rolle would be younger. In his earliest work, the Melum, in which he calls himself juvenculus, puer, pusillus, he pro- phesies a bad end for the King and Queen: "Reginas quae reprpbe regebantur yermes rodent invisibles; reges a regnis ruent quia sanguis sarcinatus sceleribus duces et divites inaniter decepit", alluding to the misgovernment of Edward II and his spouse. Now the Queen's in- famous adultery with Mortimer, to which, it seems, allusion is made, commenced in 1325 and was known in England in 1326. In that year R. Rolle, if born in 1300, would be 26 years, an age which would allow him to call himself juvenculus and puer. So I fix 1300 as the most approximate date.

2 The name, probably Norman, is not found in northern registers of the time.

3 This Thomas, a member of the great family of the Nevilles (who with the Percys played the most prominent part in the history of the North during the border wars), was the son of Ralph Nevil, Lord of Raby, Branspeth, Sherifhoton and Middleham (1262 — 1331), who in 1282 (his father Roger having died in 1271 of a wound received when caught in adultery) succeeded his grandfather Robert, the i»* lord of Raby, Branspeth and Sherifhoton (sometime governor of York Castle, of Pickering Castle , and of Bamburgh Castle). Of this Ralph it is said "that he little minded secular business, but for the most part betook himself to conversation with the Canons of Merton and Coverham; as also, that he committed incest with his own daughter I Anastasia, afterwards wife of Sir Walter de Fauconbery), and that Richard de Kellawe, bishop of Durham, did for that crime compel him to do publick pennance" (Dugd. ; this was in 1313, cf. Reg. of Archb. Greenfield). He had many children: Robert, Ralph, Alexander (ofRaskell), John (slain at Halidon Hill), Thomas (the archdeacon), William (rector of Simondburne ?), Ana- stasia, Mary, Joan, Margaret, Alice. The eldest, Robert, called "the Peacock of the North'', having been killed by James of Douglas at Berwick Park, the 2nd, Ralph (1290? — 1367), succeeded to the title — he was one of the principals in command at the battle of Neville's Cross in 1346. He was succeeded by his son John, and he by Ralph, the i»t Earl of Northumberland (cf. Dugdale, Baronage; D. Rowland, Account of the noble family of Neville 1830). Thomas Neville, born c. 1292 — 5, was appointed Archdeacon of Durham in 1334 (cf. Hardy Reg. Dun. IV, 189), received in 1339 froin Bp. Kellawe "curam et custodiam hospitalis nostri de Shirburn (in Durham, ,an hospital for lepers, founded in 1181), is mentioned in 1340 in a license to appoint a confessor, granted to him and William Neville, rector of the church of Simondburne ; was still archdeacon in 1345 (Hardy IV, 340) and in 1356 (Le Neve, Fasti III p. 303), but in 1362 we find another archdeacon. He was the uncle of Alexander Neville (son of Ralph), archdeacon of Durham 1369 — 72, archbishop of York 1374 — 88, deposed 1388, who died at Lovain in 1394. — The reason why R. Rolle was sent to Oxford by the archdeacon of Durham, is either because his father had some sort of connexion (as dependent ?) with the Nevilles, or because the district was then under the jurisdiction of Durham, it being a fact that parts of Yorkshire (as Allertonshire) at that time belonged to that see.

VI Introduction.

great Duns Scotus had given a new impulse to scholasticism and no fewer than 30,000 students had sat listening at the feet of the great master. R. Rolle cannot but have felt the influence of the great time , of the great men and the ardent young spirits then gathered there. His spirit, too , was kindled , but in another direction. Being a man of feeling rather than of discrimination , and endowed with strong religious instincts , he was not made to grapple with the subtle and barren questions of the schools. Indeed, he ever afterwards retained a strong dislike of the philosophers. His studies were chiefly given to Holy Scripture and theology, and no doubt he then and there became imbued with the doctrines of the mystics, St. Bernard, the Victorines, Bonaventura1. So, conceiving that sal- vation was not to be obtained through dialectics and philosophy but through flight from the world, and fearing some imminent danger for his soul2, he in his igth year, when he can scarcely be supposed to have attained to classic composure 3 and to a sense of method and investigation, left the University and returned to his father's house , soon to adopt the profession of an hermit after the example of St. Guthlac. One day he procured from his sister two kirtles, a white one and a grey one, and a hood of his father's, cut off the buttoms of the white frock and the sleeves of the grey, donned the white one next his skin and the grey one over it, put on the hood, and so, in the semblance of an hermit, ran away from home, frightening off his sister who raised the cry that he was mad. On the eve of Assumption he appears at a church near John of Dalton's estate * ("probably at TopclifFe near Thirsk, the parish of which includes a township of the name of Dalton"), taking his seat on the spot where Lady Dalton is wont to pray. On her entering, her servants would have turned him away, but she, seeing him in his devotions, will not allow him to be disturbed. Her sons recognize him as the son of William Rolle, whom they had seen at Oxford. Next morning he — sine mandate cuiuscumque — puts on a surplice and sings in the choir at Matins and Mass ; after the gospel he, having first obtained the benediction of the priest, ascends the pulpit and delivers a sermon, so moving the hearts of his hearers that all wept and declared they had never heard anything like it before. After mass John of Dalton invites him to dinner: he hides himself in an outhouse, from sheer humility, but is found and placed at table before the sons of the house. Silently he takes his meal, and, having eaten his fill, rises to withdraw, but is reminded that it is not the custom to leave before dinner is over. After dinner, the host takes him aside , asks him whether he is really the son of William Rolle, and, having satisfied himself as to the sincerity of his purpose , invites him to remain in the house, and provides him with the proper habit of an hermit, a solitary cell on his estate, and his daily sustenance.

Having so entered upon the career of an hermit , he tried to realize , and put to the test of his personal experience, the mystic ideal of contemplative life. He

1 There is no trace to show that he read Dionysius. Indeed, the influence of Dionysius on the English mystics is of later date, being chiefly perceptible in the author of "Pe cloud of unknowing", who also translated Dionysius' De mystica theologia ("Deonise hid diuinite", in Ms. Harl. 674, Kk vi. 26). (The same author wrote Benjamin minor (I p. 162), "a tretis of discrecyon of spirites", "a pistle of preier", "book of priue counseling", all extant in Ms. Harl. 674, Harl. 2373, Kk vi. 26).

2 It seems that he passed through an early love with all its bodily consequences. The lady was probably the same young woman who continued to haunt his imagination in the beginning of his conversation (cf. Off., Lect. vii). "Domine deus meus" — he confesses afterwards — "infantia mea stulta fuit, pueritia mea vana, adolescentia mea immunda: sed nunc inflammatum est cor meum amore sancto" (Inc. Am.); "Arripui iter agendum, habitum assumens prae omnibus ab- jectum; prorsus prospexi ad placitum potentis, sed prius peccavi, quod plane me penituit; et potius parabar purgare peccatum quod puer perpetravi, quam aliud addere" (Mel.).

* He had a smattering of Greek, as proved by the many Greek words in his earlier writings (f. i. usya, sophia, cauma, euprepia, onoma, theoria, sophisma, carisma, trisagios), and of Hebrew, as proved by the interpretation of the Hebrew letters in his Postilla in Threnos.

4 The Daltons, extant in many branches, belonged to the inferior families (the gentry) of Yorkshire, who were originally dependents of the great families (the Percys, Nevilles), but had, as the feudal system grew weaker, acquired independence. The feudal system had been intro- duced in the North by Alan Rufus , a younger son of Eudo Duke of Bretagne, who after the defeat of Edwin, Earl of Mercia, had acquired the vast possessions of this earl and distributed large tracts of his possessions among his more favoured dependents, who in their turn rewarded their followers (the founders of the minor houses). Topcliffe was a dependency of the Percys.

Introduction. VII

first went through the stage of "purificatio" or "purgatio", a time of penitence and repentance, of tears and sorrows , of fastings and watchings , of severe dis- cipline, of ascetic exercises, so to withdraw the mind from the world and the self, from sin and carnal affection; — as long as any remorse is felt, the mind is not yet perfectly purified. Then through the stage of "illuminatio", in which the mind is kindled to perfect love of God, by meditation and prayer, by the re- membrance of God's benefits to man as Creator , Redeemer , and Saviour , by meditations on the passion of Christ &c. After this preparation — which, as he carefully sums up , lasted 3 years minus 3 — 4 months , he at last got to the third stage, the "contemplatio" or "sight", when man "sees into heaven with his ghostly eye" ; when "through the open door of heaven with unveiled face the eye of the heart 'contemplates1 (sees) the heavenly spirits (superos)". In this stage he subsequently — the doors of heaven remaining open — experienced the 3 phases which he describes as calor, canor, dulcor1. Nearly a year had passed in the stage of contemplatio, when, sitting one day in meditation in a certain church, he suddenly felt in him a strange and pleasant heat as of real , sensible fire , so that he often felt his breast to see if the heat was caused by some exterior cause ; but finding that it arose from within and not from the flesh, and was a gift from his Maker, he was all liquefied in love, and the more so because with the cauma he felt a dulcor inexpressibly sweet. In this warmth he had continued for 9 months, when suddenly he felt the canor2. "Dum enim in eadem capella sederem et in nocte ante Cenam psalmos prout potui decantarem , quasi tinnitum psallen- tium vel potius canentium supra me auscultavi. Cumque coelestibus etiam orando toto desiderio intenderem, nescio quomodo mox in me concentum canorum sensi et delectabilissimam armoniam coelitus excepi, mecum manentem in mente. Nam cogitatio mea continuo in carmen canoris commutabatur et quasi odas habui medi- tando ; ac etiam in orationibus ipsis et psalmodia eundem sonum edidi ; deinceps- que ad canendum quae prius dixeram, prae affluentia internae suavitatis prorupi". This gift, so wonderful that, as he says, "nee putavi tale quid etiam nee sanctis- simum in hac vita accepisse", he calls a free gift of Christ (hoc arbitror nulli datum meritis, sed gratis, cui voluerit Christus), "accorded to those only who so specially love the name of Jesus that it never recedes from their minds"3. The dulcor — an ineffable sweetness, an anticipation of the joys of Heaven — accom- panies both the calor and the canor. The stages once attained, remain hence- forth; not "raptim" or "momentanee", but "jugiter" he feels the calor, canor, dulcor, though not always alike intensely, or all at the same time, sometimes the calor, sometimes the canor prevailing4.

The whole process from his conversion to the attainment of the canor had lasted 4 years and 3 months. — (Thus far, we have the authority of the Vita).

dulcedinem sibi adesse cognoscit

"VIZI Introduction.

So in his youth — the age most fitted for love — he has forsaken the wisdom, the love of the world and carnal love, and given himself entirely to divine love; enthralled by the sweet humanity of Christ, he has followed Him in voluntary poverty and lives in solitude, in divine contemplation. The beginning of his con- versation had not been without temptations, especially of the flesh1; but now he has overcome. Now his tears are dried, his sorrow is turned into joy. Fasting and watching are no longer required ; nay a moderate fare is more conducive to con- templation than outrageous abstinence. He has attained to the highest stage of contemplation, to the highest degree of love, the degree represented by the Seraphin ("ardentes") in Heaven. He is now perfectus, Justus, sanctus in his sense, and lays claim to saintship — for Saint is he who forsaking the world and the flesh, is all ab- sorbed in the love of God (Istum virum jam justum, perfectum, et sanctum Christus dignatur ostendere, qui in vera caritate non cessat flagrare). Yea, by the gift of canor, so rarely, if ever, given to mortal man, he belongs to the few privilegiati.

Contemplative life necessarily requires quiet and rest, quiet of body and mind.2 The mind must be abstracted from visible things, be free from sinful thoughts, from carnal love, from envy, wrath and pride; be even-tempered in adversity and prosperity. The body must be in rest; "Tanto minus quis internis gaudiis rapitur, quanto externis rebus magis implicate". Exterior works, fatigue of any kind, interrupt the canor (Fervorem felicem et cantum captatum fatigatio fugat, et fugere facit ministerium mechanicum vel cursus corporalis, Mel.}. Even the psalmody of the congregation disturbs the holy strain. The true contemplative must be solitary, not conjoint (non conjunctus, in congregatione et tumultu positus) or "communis"; — "solus suscipiet quod conjunctus carebit". He must be poor, unfettered by office or dignity; poor in spirit, unspoiled by worldly wisdom. His place is the solitude, the desert, where no discordant noise jars upon the ear listening to the divine melody. Lovers will not kiss in public but seek solitude, Christ is not found in the multitude but in the desert: "In solitudine Christus loquitur ad cor, tanquam verecundus amator qui amicam coram omnibus non am- plectiiur nee amicabiliter sed comiter tantum velut extraneam osculate" ; "Pax est in cella : nil exterius nisi bella". He must not rove about — instability proceeds from vice. The best thing he can do is to sit; not to run about (discurrere) on exterior work, but to sit; to sit still, inactive, to sit by day and night, all absorbed in his raptures3. Indeed, exterior works, almsgiving, preaching &c., are not the proper domain of the contemplative , but belong to active life ; his domain is "love-longing and still mourning" — "Hie a tumultu solus sedens sed in Christo

1 An instance of this is the temptation related in Off. Lect. vn. In the Melum he relates: "Porro dum pergere in pace putabam, inopinate impulit inimicus et irruit in animum adhuc non in affluentia amoris occupatum ut everteretur, et inde autumans auferre omne quod unquam pperatus sum ad honorem Omnipotentis, arguebat me ut aut illectus in laetitia libidinosa abirem in errorem et assumam mihi amicam in mundo amantissimam et non parcerem persistere ad peccandum dum halitus esset in ore et donee putresceret prorsus caro in cadaver collata, aut promisit quod sine pietate peius me pungeret undique obsistens et vsquequaque adversarius. existens dum in praesenti potuero pernoctare.. Et scitote quod tanta severitas insaevit quod nisi sanguinem Salvatoris mihi in subsidium semper sumpsissem et mortem amaram medullitus meminissem in mente , illam continue cogitans , sine contradictione ceciderim subito in scelus, nee substitissem usque ad_ sanationem". In the Inc. Am. : "In principle conversionis heremitae multis et diversis temptationibus fatigantur; sed post tempestatem malorum motuum Deus sereni- tatem infundit sanctorum desideriorum; ut si vinliter se exercuerint in lacrimando, meditando, orando, solum Christum quaerendo, post modicum tempus magis videbuntur sibi vivere in deliciis quam in lacrimis vel anxietate laboris".

2 Animus divina et coelestia cogitans, tanto velocius et securius ad sempiterna gaudia infatiga- bilitev properat quanto in carnis sapientia et mundi pomposa gloria non gaudet. Cumque vera omnia quae visibilia sunt mundi et vana, pro invisibilibus coeh g_audiis libenter postponimus, ad aeterni_ amoris suavitatem gaudentes advolamus. Inde nobis Christus incipit dulcescere, paulatim in nobis praesentiae suae dulcedinem ostendere. Eo ipso etenim nos ab omnibus istius vitae concupiscentiis coelitus abstrahit, quo in eius amoris solatio nos magis succendit. -Requiritur utique necessario ut magnam mentis et corporis quietem capiat qui igne sancti spiritus curat inflammari (Cant.).

1 "Summus amor consistit in tribus , sc. in fervore , in canore , et dulcore , et haec tria ego- expertus sum in mente non posse diu persistere sine magna quiete, ut si volui standp vel ambu- lando _contemplari vel procumbendo, videbar mihi multum ab illis deficere et quasi desolatum me existimaie^; unde sedere elegi" (Inc. Am.). "In hoc ardens et perfectus amator Christ! verissime cognoscitur si per totum diei noctisque spatium sedere delectatur. Divinus namque amor ilium compellit quiescere, ut totus homo supernae dulcedinis repleatur iubilatione" (In Ps. 20).

Introduction. IX

glorians, ardet et amat, gaudet et jubilat; caritate vulneratus, amore Hquefactus canticum amoris canit dilecto, repletus dulcore suavissimo" (Cant.}\ "Velut Seraphin succensus, ardet et amat, canit et jubilat, laudat et aestuat, et tanto fit accepta- bilior Deo , quanto in amore est ferventior ; non solum mortem non timet sed et mori laetatur "(Inc. Am.} ; "Solvi cupit a carnis carcere, clamat: Mors veni, festina propere, Curre, vola, noli pigrescere, Dulcis mors, en diu langui, fac me meo dilecto perfrui" Off.}. "I>e special gift of pas pat ledes solitary lyf, es forto lufe Jhesu Criste" (i, p. 29). "Amore langueo, mori desidero, dissolvi cupio et esse cum Christo", "Ego dormio et cor meum vigilat" — such is his work. He does not say his prayers: he sings (Jam non dicit orationes suas: sed in sublimitate mentis positus et amore raptus, mira suavitate supra se rapitur et Deo decantare spirituali organo in minim modum sublevatur, Cant.}. Yet, contemplative life is not "otium"; it is not attained without great efforts, not sustained without severe spiritual exercises. Indeed, contemplation is labour, though a sweet labour (Est utique contemplatio labor, sed dulcis, desiderabilis et suavis: laborantem laetificat, non gravat). It so emaciates and consumes the body that the contemplative is hardly fit for preaching and exterior work (Cum divinae caritatis dulcedo mentem absorbuerit, caro deficit et ulterius jam ad exteriores labores sustinendos fortis non erit). So the true contemplative is the solitarius, anachorita, eremita.

The degree of sanctity depends on the degree of love ("fe diuersite of lufe makes be diuersite of halynes and of mede"j ; the more ardent in love, the greater is the Saint: "Perfectior et excellentior, qui suavius ac jocundius in caritate ardet". The Seraphin are the highest angels because they are most ardent in love. There- fore contemplative life, as it is most given to love, is the saintliest, the highest life, and in dignity and merit exceeds all active life. St. Bernard had ranked contemplative life between the two kinds of active life — a lower and a higher; R. Rolle proclaims the superiority of contemplative life. "Maria (the contemplative) optimam partem elegit"; "Haec est perfectissima vita, sanctissima et angelis si- millima, sed et coelesti suavitate plenissima, quam puto inter mortales quempiam posse comprehendere"; "Sunt multi activi meliores aliquibus contemplativis , sed optimi contemplativi superiores sunt optimis activis; dicimus ergo quod contem- plativa vita simpliciter suavior est, nobilior et dignior, ac magis meritoria quantum ad praemium essentiale quod est gaudium de bono increato, quia ardentius diligit Deum et major gratia requiritur ut contemplativa vita recte ducatur quam activa" (Inc. Am.}. As the soul is more excellent than the body, so spiritual labour is more commendable than bodily labour; "Tanto quis aeterni amoris dulcedinem affluentius haurit, quanto solummodo divina et celestia cogitans, ad nullam exte- \ riorem mundi occupationem se tradit". The contemplative, therefore, ranks before ', the prelate, the priest, and the monk. The prelate, the priest, are distracted / by outward work, the duties of their office. The monk, Ihe "obedientiarius sub / abbate", is bound by obedience and not free. The monastic profession is com- mendable, if rightly observed; but it has not the monopoly of perfection. A lay- man, a man in the world, can attain to caritas (Tanta caritate nonnunquam aliquis inter homines conversatus erga Deum exuritur, quanta ille qui inter claustrales etiam optimus approbatur) ; then a fortiori the solitary who forsakes the world for the love of God. Anselm therefore errs in maintaining the superiority of conventual life under obedience1. Christ certainly will prefer him who loves nothing but Him; nothing but love is accepted by God, and He counts not so much the work as the will. The contemplative is God's special darling (specia- lissimus^. "Talem suavitatem habet in mente qualem angeli in coelo, licet non tantam". He has true rest and freedom ; he lives happy and dies secure (dulciter vivit, secure morietur) ; he will have a high place in Heaven and sit on the throne with God to judge the wicked. His privilege is such that he cannot err, because God would not allow it (inspiratus est a Spiritu sancto , non potest errare ; etsi voluerit assensum praebere persuasioni aliorum, non permittitur a Deo, qui constringit

i Praesumpsit Anselmus docere monachos, ideo eos plus quam aliquis saecularis Deum diligere quia fructum et arborem Deo volebant sub abbate offerre. Nam et videtur Anselmus magis blandire monachis quam veritatem sequens (Cant.).

X Introduction.

eum ad suam voluntatem; agat quicquid libet, securus est, Inc. Am.}; and though he may be subject to temptation while he lives in this world, his ardent love will burn out all sin (incendium amoris cuncta vitia destruit et omnium virtutum florem plantat; cum mortali peccato nunquam stat, etsi aliquando veniali, sed tamen tam ardens esse potest quod omnia venialia consumit.) The contemplative is truly a king, yea a fourfold king — "non unum tantum sed quatuor regna devicit : regnum mundi per paupertatem voluntariam, regnum carnis per temperantiam et prudentiam, regnum diaboli per humilem patientiam, regnum coeli per caritatem perfectam ; regnum ejus non est de hoc mundo, quia gaudium non quaerit nisi de coelo" In Ps. ~2t) . The hermit has no ministry, no place in the hierarchical body. R. Rolle himself belonged to no monastic institution, was not in holy orders, was neither priest nor monk, and consequently was not allowed to preach from the pulpit1; he was a mere layman. The hermit must give himself entirely up to contem- plation, and to spiritual exercises as reading, prayer, meditation2. He may occa- sionally give spiritual advice, exhort to peace and charity; he may also write, if he feel inspired by the Spirit ; but preaching is not his concern ; indeed, contem- plation makes him unfit for preaching3. In the main, he is a free liver — in the better sense of the word — , subject to no control, to no rule but his own. "Abbas amor dat morum fonnulam" (Off.), "Soli Deo debet heremita obedientiam facere, quia ipse est abbas, prior, et praepositus claustri cordis sui" (Reg. her. . He has to submit to the statutes of the Church, to say the Hours, to hear Mass, to confess and to receive holy communion; he must also notify his life to the diocesan, or to the patron of the place if he be a prelate or priest of good life, and if they find in him something to correct, obey their counsels; or he may, with the consent of the bishop, have a wise old priest appointed in a neighbouring monastery or church to whom he may confess rarely and who may advise him in questions of conscience4. But practically he is independent, his own master, and follows the dictates of his spirit. He claims exemption from the Congregation, which would tend to disturb the canor. He must be chaste, he must be poor,

later on, like Guthlac; but he never did).

z It is advisable that he should live by the work of his hands : "Provideat ut si fieri potest de labore manuum suarum vivat — hoc enim perfectius est. Si autem teneritudo non permittit.

penitentiaiis exterior non sit ae panno suDtili vel precioso sea ae meaiocn, griseo vel Cavere etiam debet ne habeat habitum ullius religionis in omnibus confprmem, ne detur

Non utatur prope carnem lineis vel mollibus vestimentis ;

-•11 *j\*\t vw. ^rt3 mtWWf* KtfV^W^f 1«»111C11 111 V.U1U9 IMVMM ildullctl, vel |*«UVUU UM*I ol luclll

praelatus vel sacerdos bonae discretionis, debet notificare vitam suam, et si aliqua viderint in eo ^emendanda, libenter obediat consiliis eorum propter Christum qui dicit doctoribus: Qui vos

ipiscopi eligatur in vicino monasterio vel eccli

:lesia

audit me audit. Vel alter cum consensu ep

districtionem regulae in alimentis, ubi potest habere bonam

recompensationem, utpote propter rporis infirmitatem. leiunia tamen

grandem laborem et necessarium, quemadmodum et propter co mdicta ab ecclesia, de facili non immutet (Reg. her.).

Introduction. XI

but obedience is not in his regulation. Indeed, the word "obedience" is distasteful to him — Magis oportet Deo obedire quam hominibus. His approbation he has from God, not from men; his ruler is Love.

The soul of holy contemplation is Love — Cor vulneratum, liquefactum, crematum amore; love precedes and leads to it, and contemplation itself is perfect and highest love (contemplatio est caritas perfecta et summa). "Nisi Christum quis certe diligit, proculdubio in canore coelestis contemplationis non jubilat". Love is desire of the heart, ever thinking on that that it loves, and when it has that it loves then it joys (quia gaudium non creatur nisi ex amore) and nothing may make it sorry; a yearning between two, with lastingness of thought ; a coupling together of the lover and the loved, sum of affections (I, p. 36); transformation of the affect into the thing beloved1. Where is love? "in the heart and in the will of man, not in his hand or in his mouth, that is to say, not in his work; but in his soul". Love is a universal principle (universalitas mundialis creaturae diligere diligique cupit, et motiva cordis intentio quodammodo semper in amatum tendit, jugiter mens in illud quod summe amat progreditur, nee in ejus desiderio fatigatur) ; but it is the privilege of youth (abilis est haec aetas ad ardenter amandum) — what knows the child of love? and old age has spent it. No reasonable soul is, or can be, without love. Love, therefore, is the foot by which man goes either to Heaven or to Hell. A thing can be loved only "propter bonum quod est aut existens aut apparens". But love of woman, or of the world, is no real, no lasting good, but an illusion, a deceit, a sham. Therefore we damnably neglect our soul, if we fix our love on woman for lust ; "dum oculi visus animum incendit, mox intrabit delectatio, et in corde concupiscentiam generat"2. "Omnis amor qui in Deum non intendit, iniquitas est, ac iniquos reddit suos possessores" ; "Amarior absinthio huiusmodi amor algescit, et finis felle erit ferocior, quia fervor infinitus carnales consumet." Woman is the devil's deception. Carnal love leads to per- dition. "Propter speciem mulieris multi perierunt, pulcritudo plurimos decepit, et concupiscentia corda etiam sapientum quandoque subvertit". Therefore flee women, "fugito feminas" ; "Ecce o homo qui amori anhelas, si videre desideras vim dilec- tionis quam flagrans sit cum fuerit in mente concepta, noli nodari in amaro amore, experiri non audeas mundi dilectam; nam inde torqueberis dirissimo dolore, tenebis tristitiam, lotus non eris cum mentem involverit vitiosa voluptas feminae formatae ;" "Mamma muliebris non moveat mentem, nee molle mysterium te mergat in malum; en ornamentum illarum originem abscondit, in latebris ligatur deformitas non dulcis" 3 (Mel.}. But divine love leads to Heaven. This love is true love, which deceives not. True love is chaste, holy; voluntary, selfless, impetuous, undying4. It loves God for Himself, and all other things for God. It is meek, humble, suffers gladly tribulation ; patient and stalworth as death — as death slays all, so love overcomes everything (amor vincit omnia) ; he that loves God perfectly, delights in persecution, joys if men reprove him, covets to be worthy to suffer torment (I, 40). It loves poverty, penance, and hard travail5. It is shy and seeks solitude, to be alone

1 Inc. Am. : Quid est amor nisi transformatio affectus in rem amatam ; vel amor est desi- derium pulcri, boni, et amabilis cum continuatione cogitationum tendentium in id quod amat; quod cum habuerit tune gaudet, quia gaudium non creatur nisi de amore. Assimilatur autem omnis amans coamato, et similem facit amor ilium qui amat ei qui amatur.

2 Non potest anima rationalis esse sine amore quamdiu Jin vita est; unde et amor ejus est pes ejus quo post hanc peregrinationem ad Deum vel ad diabolum defertur, ut ei tune se sub- jectum videat cuius hie voluntati serviebat. Amari autem aliquid non potest nisi propter bonum quod est aut existens vel apparens; aut amato inest vel certe inesse aestimatur. Hinc est quod amantes corporalem speciem vel divitias temporales quasi per praestigium falluntur, quia non est in istis visilibus quae vel tactu sentiuntur vel oculo videntur delectatio quae apparet, aut gloria quae fingitur, aut fama quae captatur. Nemo ergo est qui animam suam dampnabilius negligit, quam qui in mulierem propter luxuriam oculum suum figit. Dum enim oculi &c. (Inc. Am.).

3 This is strong language, stronger and more powerful than even Schopenhauer's.

* Est verus amor castus, sanctus, voluntarius, amatum pro se non pro suis amans, in amato se totum figens, nil extra se quaerens, de se contentus , flagrans , aestuans ex amato , et inardescens vehementer, se in se ligans, impetuosus, miro modo omnem modum excedens, ad solum amatum se extendens, cuncta alia contempnens sed et obliviscens, in amato canens, ilium cogitans, ilium incessanter meminens, ascendens desiderio, pergens in amato, ruens in amplexibus, absortus in osculis, totus liquefactus igne (Inc. Am.).

5 Non est Christian! honoribus exaltari in terrenis, sed potius despici, humiliari, a mundanis invideri et odiri.

XII Introduction.

with the beloved (non potest commisceri societatibus saecularium, qui solummodo delectarur in gaudiis angelorum).1 The first step is to keep the ten commaund- ments and eschew the deadly sins; the next is perfect love — when man forsakes his kin, despises the world and follows Christ in poverty; the highest is con- templative love, "in which the soul is as burning fire, and as the nightingale that loves song and melody and fails for great love" (i, 52.33); or, the degrees of love are defined as love insuperable, inseparable, singular (ilium solum in solatium recipiens quern jugiter amare concupiscit). This love is attained only by the simple-minded, the pure-hearted, the poor — not by the proud, the rich, the philo- sophers and sophists — "Caritas recedit a superbis, quiescit in humilibus" ; "Dura investigation! immoderatae incumbimus, dulcorem profecto aeternae suavitatis non sentimus" ; "Pauper solus, sincerus in simplicitate, ad summum ordinem amoris pertingere poterit, quia nee habet quid inter homines nee ad habendum arripitur". — Divine love is painful in the beginning, and attained only with greatest labour ; but when possessed, it gives ineffable joy. It alone gives real joy. All carnal pleasures, all abundance of earthly possessions, are misery and abomination in comparison to the least drop of the sweetness infused by God into the loving soul; "Tantus est dulcor infusus in mentem Christum amantem, quod si omne mundi gaudium in uno loco fuerit adunatum, magis delectaretur in solitudinem currere, quam illud semel oculo aspicere"; "Tota terrena consolatio sibi videtur potius desolatio quam recreatio". It is a sweet burden. It makes us one with God, it couples Christ with the elected soul, reforms in us the image of the trinity, makes the creature similar to the Creator. It is death of sin, life of virtues. Without it, no man can please God ; with it, no man sins. Who feels the sweetness of eternal love, cannot relapse to temporal love {Ut lac semel coagulatum nunquam iterum ad pristinum statum redire potest, sic qui vere aeterno amore incenditur, ad amorem temporalem nunquam relabitur). It gives wonderful delight and security. It gives true rest and freedom (quam nobilem libertatem. omnes in aeternum ignorabunt qui nesciunt diligere suavitatem in Christo sentire). It secures salvation. And love only merits. "Nulla bona nee magna opera sine amore Dei prodesse poterunt ; qui caritatem veram non habent, quidquid habuerint dampnati erunt. Hinc miro et occulto judicio agitur ut nonnunquam nil exterius agens, coram Deo in futuro sublimiter coronatur ; et plerique qui multa bona coram hominibus videntur agere, coram Deo seipsos reprobos non cessant indicare" ; "Multi multa tribuunt, alii magna faciunt, alii dura patiuntur, alii mysteria sciunt : sed ille solus salvandus est qui caritatem habiturus est" ; "Qui non habet caritatem, nihil ei prodest quidquid habet ; et qui earn habet, perfectus est quamvis non habeat propheciam nee mysteria noverit nee miracula agere videatur; vere audeo dicere quod sanctissimus , beatissimus, et excellentissimus est, et Deo vicinior, propior, et similior erit in aeternum" ; "Cadet, in examine districto stare non poterit qui per aliud quam per veram caritatem stare confidit. Qui autem peccato illectus ac per pravam consuetudinem illecebris carnis demersus per preces pauperum vel intercessionem sanctorum propter opera quae fecerat salvari aestimat, nimirum in Deo salvationis spem non posuit unde et per ipsum salvus non erit. Incassum quippe laborare nititur qui non amando Deum certat ut salvetur. Tails namque, ab habitaculo carnis expulsus, cum ad opera vel ad amicos in quibus confidebat oculos pro adjutorio direxerit, se utique a beata spe inveniet vacuum, qui creaturam plus dilexit quam creatorem. Nemo ab eo quern non amat et a quo scit se non amari, magnum sperat beneficium. Ergo nullus aeterni gaudii videbit regnum qui non amavit Christum." Therefore "nemo praesumat quamvis multa fecit : quia solus gandebit de salute qui Deum amavit" \ ^Non confidat quis nisi solummodo in Salvatore". Not to ns is anything to be imputed but to grace : "Non nobis aliquid imputandum est sed totum graciae Dei, in quo sumus, vivimus, et movemur ; vt dum in solo Conditore nostro , nobismetipsis velut inutiles instabilesque ac im- potentes ad aliquod bonum contemptis, recte currere et feliciter pervenire perfecte

* Cf. Mel. : Zelotes siquidem in domo se tenet et amans assidue amota mensura in oculis amicae_ libenter laetatur, aspiciens in ipsam cum apte amatur; amicabiles aflectat allocutiones, ut audiat ubique quod intime amatur".

Introduction.

possimus, ad laudem et honorem nominis ejus cursum nostrum consummemus. Deus enim sine seipso glorificari non potest ; qui vero Deum in suis operibus, quasi a seipso factis non per Deum, laudare putaverit, sciat profecto quia Deum laudare nequit. Usnrpat autem talis justitiam et potentiam Dei, qui quod solus Deus per se facere poterit, ipse hoc sibi tribuere non formidat. Igitur qui bene vivit, cognoscat quia Deus, qui solus vere bonus est, etiam per se hoc sibi tribuit ; alioquin jam non bene vivit. Et sciat similiter quod bonam vitam non meruit, sed Deus hanc sibi ex sua bonitate dedit. Neque vero aliquando seipsum audeat extollere nee se quasi digniorem aliis ostendere, quamvis forsitan illos videat mundum potius quam Deum amare". God works justification and sanctification through his grace: "Nisi Deus electos quos salvare decreverit, gratia praeveniret, inter filios hominum non inveniretur quern justificaret; ipse inspirat ut recte velit ; subsequitur ut voluntatem perficere possit". Contemplation, also, is the work of grace : "Non in humana potestate est contemplationem accipere, nee labor alicuius quantumcumque extensus ipsam meretur: sed a bonitate divina tribuitur vere dili- gentibus se, qui utique supra humanam aestimationem Christum amare desidera- verunt". Grace and will combined, work salvation (i, p. 306). Will, not works, is the essential thing, and will is love : "Sine bona voluntate nemo salvabitur ; cum qua nee aliquis dampnabitur. Deus est finis bonae voluntatis. Caritas nun- quam est nisi in bona voluntate, nee bona volnntas nisi in caritate". Works are but a sign, not a test or proof of love, or love itself: "Many speak good and do good, and love not God; are holy in men's sight, and in the sight of God the devil's sons and ravishing wolves; as hypocrites. Nothing that I do without, proves that I love God; for a wicked man might do as much penance, might wake and fast as much as I do — how may I then ween that I love, or hold myself better, for that that each man may do? Certes, my heart, whether it love or not, no one knows but God, for nought that they may see me do. Wherefore love is in will only, and not in work, save as a sign of lofe. For he that says he loves God and will not do in deed that in him is to schew love, tell him that he lies ; love will not be idle: it is working some good evermore; if it cease of working, know that it cools and fades away" (l, p. 38). — So "dilectio est quoddam maximum, quoddam optimum, quoddam carissimum ; quod nos intus et extra disponit, ad unum solum Deum amandum colligit, opera nostra componit et Deo placere facit ; cum qua pauper dives est, sine qua dives pauper, immo nihil est". "Amor itaque omnia excellit, nemo nisi diligens ad Deum ducetur". "Pro caritate cuncti coronantur". Only divine love gives true happiness and bliss. The mind which revels in the sweetness of this love, in the intoxication of holy contemplation, cannot but loathe the world and all the glory of the world (Ita fit quod praeter ilia interna solatia nee aliquid amare aut cogitare quaerat ; inde exteriora vilescunt, transitoria quaeque ac omnem mundi inanem gloriam nee appetere curat nee respicere). It has no taste for other love (Si mens aeterni amoris dulcedine perfunditur, non potest fieri quod ultra in carnali amore nequiter delectetur). Carnal love is beastly, horrid , bitter as absinth , leads to ruin , disease and death — the world is being diminished "de multis maculatis". The pleasures of the world are shallow ; beauty, riches, honours, dignities, worldly wisdom, are absolutely vain. "Mundi gloria est causa aeterni doloris." "Flos mundi dulcis cernitur, sed ne dulciter fructificet cito succidetur." "O quam fallax gratia et vana pulcritudo ! Quid est flos carnalis formae nisi vana veritas et vera vanitas? Omne transitorium vere dicatur vanum, ergo omnis mundi gloria est vere vana." "Pulcritudo puellae ho- mines evertit et animas ab alto attrahit ad imum." "Sapientia mundi, per quam magnos se esse putant, nimirum stultos efficit et a verae sapientiae lumine in obs- cura ducit." "Al perisches and passes that we with eghe se ; it wanes into wret- chednes, the welth of this worlde" (s. p. 53). This earthly life is a vale of tears and woe, its pleasures and joys are illusory , being always accompanied by sin and suffering and evil, from which we can escape only by fixing our hopes upon the world to come. Man is foul from beginning to end : conceived and born in filth, at last "worms' cook". "Heu quam miser homo qui perdidit omnia porno ! Labimur et cadimus, praesto peccamini sumus : Vermibus dum morimur caro, spin-

XIV Introduction.

tus igni donatur" :jfob]. Men are blinded by their vices (Excaecantur oculi saecularium tenebris vitiorum ; all seek riches and carnal love ; the rich and proud are honour- ed, the poor are despised, the saint is persecuted and exiled. The best thing is death which removes us hence and puts an end to our misery. So pessimistic world-sadness is the reverse side of divine love.

Such are the outlines of R. Rolle's system, if system may be called what lacks every philosophic or metaphysic ingredient. His system is not a metaphysic system, his God not a metaphysic God ; he implicitly believes in the Bible and in the Fathers, and rigorously resists any attempt to introduce reason into the domain of faith or to construe the Trinity from a psychological basis1. His God is Christ; — "Totiens glorior, quotiens nominis tui, Jesu, recorder." His mysticism is "in amore Dei canere et jubilare quasi raptus super terrena, in se deficere et in Deum pergere 2". His system is religious life, not theory. His "principle" is Love. In a time of utter depravity, of gross materialism, when immorality and cupidity per- vaded all classes from the highest to the lowest ; in juxtaposition to the reigning scholasticism, the vain efforts of the brain, he re-discovered, re-introduced the prin- ciple of Love, Cor, and proclaimed salvation through the heart. He contains the ele- ments which constitute Christ, and came very nearly to the same results — but the greater light outshone the lesser; the work had been done before, had been done well, and that which crowned the work, the crucifixion, could not be over- done ; every departure on the same line is necessarily drawn into the way of imitation. Still, his example may serve to explain the genesis of Christ. On the other side, by re-developing the original ideas of Christ which had been overlaid, and partly obscured, by an artificial, elaborate hierarchical system, he opened and started that revolution which commenced by restoring and re-asserting individual right and conscience, and ended in the Reformation, the breach of obedience to Rome by Luther. Many of the arguments of Wicliffe, Savonarola, and Luther are first found in R. Rolle. As a matter of fact, the renaissance of letters and the Re- formation were preceded by the regeneration of the heart, and R. Rolle is the link between Bonaventura and the Reformers. In England, this regeneration met with the individual principle of the Saxon, and by it received that tincture of self-independence which negatived a given rule, a formal authority, obedience. Though perfectly correct in dogma, yet, by living a life after his own taste, in solitude, apart from a Congregation, without a head, with God only as his praepositus, with abbas amor ruling his life, a self-made saint, a "homo sui juris" , a king in the realm of the Spirit, R. Rolle represents the extreme, excessive height of individualism on the side of feeling, as Scotus on the side of intellect. The novel ideal of the hermit, revived from more primitive times when a less elaborate organisation of the Church left more space for individual freedom ; the unique position of the contemplative as above the religious orders and pre- lacy ; the emphasis laid on the inner man, the heart, love, as against works ; his unsparing criticism of the existing system, — all this was sure to give offence to the dominant classes, and might, if followed up in its consequences, lead to serious complications. —

Of R. Rolle's later life the Vita gives but scant information. We learn that he was wonderfully, and very usefully, busy in holy exhortations, by which he converted many to God, and in writing mellifluous treatises and books for the edification of others which in the hearts of the devout resound the sweetest melody ; that from the abundance of his holy love he was wont to befriend re- cluses and such as needed spiritual consolation or suffered vexations from the

1 God and the Trinity is to him simply incomprehensible: Ille Deum perfecte cognoscit qui ipsum incomprehensibilem et incognoscibilem esse deprehendit; nihil enim perfecte cognoscitur nisi causa eius, unde et quomodo sit, perfecte sciatur. En quaeris quid est Deus ? ego tibi breviter respondeo quod tale et tantum est quale et quantum est(!), nee aliud est nee esse pptest. Si vis scire proprie quid est Deus, dico quod nunquam solutionem huius quaestionis invenies; ego non novi, angel i nescierunt, archangeli non audierunt — quomodo ergo tu vis scire quod inscibile est et indocibile? Deus cum omnipotens sit, non potest te docere quid ipse sit; si enim scires quid est Deus, esses sapiens sicut Deus, quod nee tu nee aliqua creatura esse potest (Inc. Am.).

2 "in Deum pergere" is his formula for the mystic process, as (the more pantheistic) "in Deum redire" that of the German mystics.

Introduction. XV

malign operation of evil spirits in body or soul, and that God conferred on him the singular grace of relieving those that were so troubled. We learn that after a time he went to other parts — no doubt, by the will of Providence, that he, dwelling in many places, might be useful to many, and sometimes, also, to evade obstacles of contemplation ; and that this frequent change of place gave occasion for fault-finding, although the holy Fathers of Egypt had done the same and the canons allow a change of place in certain cases (cum necessitas persecutionis loca eorum gravaverit ; cum difficultas locorum fuerit ; cum sancti malorum societate premantur). That so he went into Richmondshire, where for a time he had his cell 12 miles from his spiritual friend Margaret (Kirkby), a recluse near A 'i)nderby; whom he used to instruct in the art of the love of God and in the ruling of life, and twice by his mere presence cured from a seizure, promising her the second time that she shoult not be seized again during his life-time. When — transactis postea quibusdam annorum curriculis — the same fit returned a third time, it was found that he had just died "apud domum sanctimonialium de Hampole , ubi illis diebus solitariam vitam egit . Thither the said recluse afterwards removed. This meagre account of a life which must have beeii rich in incident and full of interest, can be largely supplemented from his works which abound in self- confessions, he being a very subjective writer. All the 4 years odd from his conversion to the attainment of the canor, he appears to have stayed with the Daltons, and there in his lonely cell, "remotus inter homines", provided with the necessaries of life by his kind friends, to have enjoyed that rest and quiet so in- dispensable to contemplation. "Comedi et bibi de his quae meliora videbantur.'' The solitude has taught him his "love" and the canorus jubilus, and he is happy. "Parentum seu amicorum subitis doloribus non concutitur nee illorum calamitate turbatur (contemplativus)" — he says, alluding perhaps to his own family. It was pro- bably Lady Dalton ("domina quaedam in cuius manerio idem Ricardus cellam habuit longe a familia separatam ubi ipse solitarius sedere consuevit et contem- plationi vacare"), at whose death he drove away a troop of horrible demons, as the Vita relates (Lect. 8) ; and we may suppose that it was this same lady ("ma- trona quaedam in mundo magna quae me una cum marito suo per annos non- nullos sustentaverat"), whose aspect in death produced in him that great horror described in "Contra amatores mundi"1, and which seems to re-echo in his awful descriptions of death. At the time of his conversion Lady Dalton had been an elderly matron, having grown-up sons at Oxford. Perhaps it was her death and her husband's that put an end to his residence there. When he left that place he was still young — "non inutile, he says, arbitrandum est si injuventute mea plura loca viderim, ut de melioribus statui meo convenientibus unnm eligere possem." Hitherto he had enjoyed rest: henceforth his rest is broken. He becomes a wanderer upon earth2. "Quemadmodum Cayn3 vagus et profugus super terrain factus fuit pro facinore fratricidii, ita et ego in hoc exilio incertae sedis fio ; de loco ad locum transeo, donee omnipotens deus dignetur servum suum dirigere, ut deinceps jam non indigeam circumquaque transmigrare" (Mel.]. The next period of his life is one of restlessness, conflict and fierce strife. He remained an hermit and adhered to contemplative life ; but he had to live somehow. England was not Egypt, his time not St. Guthlac's ; there were no longer lonely islands or waste places to occupy, the land had been parcelled out ; to till the ground, to live by manual

1 Cpntigit dudum dum deliciis affluerem et cellam meam solus inhabitans die nocteque_ in aeterni amoris secura suavitate requiescerem , quod quaedam matrona in mundo magna viam universae carnis iubente Deo migraret, quae et me una cum marito suo per annos nonnullos sustentaverat. Et cum spiritus eius me praesente transiret, "inhorruerunt pili carnis meae", non pbstante quod antea plura noctium fantasmata apparuerunt — continue in aeternitatis amore iubilans talia penitus non recolui reputanda. Verum tantus horror cor meuin et carnem circum- volvit quod cellam meam intrare mihi apparuit horridum, quod prius erat oblectamentum. Tune "obriguerunt omnes habitatores Chanaan", "Timor et tremor venerunt super me, et contexerunt me tenebrae". Et iterum "accepi alas ut columbae, et volavi, et requievi" sine horrore. Sed quousque cadaver illud terrae datum fuerat, horror a me non recessit, et postea paulatim evanuit funditus. Attamen inter haec non abstulit a me Deus amoris sui iubilum; sed permisit me exterius sentire horrorem.

2 Of couise, it was ultimately the "trieb" which, being unsatisfied, drove him about and made him ex-centric. 3 It is surprising to find the Cain-idea anticipated by R. R.

X VI Introduction.

labour, did not agree with his delicate health and with his aspirations — he was dependent on men for his living. But, being no professional, neither priest in orders nor monk, he could offer little or no service — he had only ideas to give. He had to find friends who for God's sake could spare him a cell and his suste- nance. And such friends he did find: we learn from his writings that he con- tinued to live "cum divite domorum", dwelling on their estates and heartily joining in their meals. Who these friends were we know not — he never gives names of persons or places : but they must be sought amongst the gentry, the lords of manor, of the neighbourhood. However, not all friends were so kindly disposed, so constant, as the Daltons. He was of a sensitive, irritable nature, easily giving and taking offence, and yet exacting as to his dignity ; his ways were strange, not in tune with the "world" ("non feci sicut ipsi fecerunt"), his theories new and incomprehensible to common intellect. He could not agree with men (cum ho- minibus concordare non potui) ; his friends soon became estranged (statim mutati fuerunt qui ministrare consueverunt), showed the cold shoulder; he suffered rebuff and ignominy. Slanderous tongues helped to embroil him with his patrons and to drive him "a domibus in quibus diligebar". Personal frictions hindered his contemplation. So he had no permanent home and changed -his cell several times, living where he found a welcome, and leaving when friendships cooled ; depending on the goodwill of men, on the seasons, on circumstances; staying a year or two at this manor, half a year at another, and changing from bad to worse '.

Or, he left his cell for a while to return to it at convenience, in the mean- while traversing the country. The reason is not far to seek: he began to appear in public. It is a remarkable fact that new systems of Love have generally im- plied a tendency to remodel the world, or rather that moral revolutions have proceeded from a deeper grasp of the principle of Love. Love and mercy are akin. Having found his system, he was naturally desirous to make it known, to propagate his ideas, to teach his love, to save others, to win souls. He appeared in the manor-houses of the neighbourhood, made friends with the lord, chatted with the women, knacked jokes with the girls, but all with that intent to preach

1 An instance of the difficulties he had to contend with, appears in the first lines of his Judica me deus, which are as follows: "'Judica me deus_ et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta". A Deo qui scrutatur cor et renes, volo iudicari, non ab homine qui solummpdo videt ea que exterius apparent. Quoniam qui de alienis cordibus iudicare presumit, indubitanter sciat quod in errorem cadit. Et qui per motum corporis de loco ad locum instabilitatem mentis pronunciat, absque dubio grave pondus super se posuisse cognoscat. Quamobrem , ut ab invidentibus et maliciosis de me incaute cogitantibus ac loquentibus clemencia Christi me liberet, necesse mihi supervenit clamare cum propheta: Domine libera animam a labiis iniquis &c. O bone lesu , si heremita dicerer cuius nomine indigne vocor, nee erit nee merito esse poterit scandalum audien- tibus si corporalem habitationem mutarem aliquando vel ab una cella ad aliam transirem ; cum non sum plus obligatus in uno heremo quam in alip moram meam stabilire. Vnde non inutile arbitrandum est si in iuventute mea plura loca viderim, ut de melioribus statui meo convenien- tibus unum eligere possem. Nam vos scitis, et a me saepius audivistis, me ibi velle morari — et certe de hoc mentitus sum? Nequaquam; quia statim, ut Deus scit et vos cognovistis, mutati fuerunt quantum ad me, qui ministrare assueverunt. Propter quod mihi gravius fuit mora mea; et ut putabam antequam ibi venirem, habere non potui propter colligentes fructus. Quorum causa ita locum abhorrui ut in illo nunquam a festo Pentecostes usque ad festum S. Martini manere cogitavi. Et quid proderit mihi in hieme locum tenere, et in aestate propter incommoda compelli recedere ? Melius puto ibi sedere in hieme, ubi etiam quiete in aestate valeam esse. Verumtamen non dico totum quare recessi; nee alicui viventi indicare volo. Porro, ut videbatur mihi, parum vel nihil de me curavit. Adquirat ergo sibi alium, quern amplius amare disponat. In omnibus enitn dictis et promissis meis conditiones subintelligo generales, viz. si vixero , si hoc melius pro me mihi visum fuerit, et super pmnia, si Deus sic voluerit. Si conditiones ergo sint mutatae, in quo culpandus sum si non persistam in ea qua fui prius voluntate? Nunquid non in frustra vellem, si quod volo me non posse habere cognoscerem? Optimum est tales voluntates penitus dimittere, quarum effectum facultas nostra non sufficit perimplere. Ad ea quae improperavit mihi in littera sua, non respondeo, quia iusti iudicantis sententiam gaudens expecto". (Ms. Mm. vi. 17). — That he could not agree with men, he readily acknowledges : "Recessi a plerisque non quia me communiter et duriori modo paverunt, sed quia non concordavimus in moribus , vel propter aliam rationabilem causam: audeo tamen dicere cum b. lob: Stulti despiciebant me, et cum recessissem ab eis detrahebant mihi ; sed melius est quod contemnam, quam desiderare quod non videam" (Inc. Am.). And again: "Ego in solitudinem fugi quia cum hominibus concordare non potui, me nempe a gaudio saepe impediebant, et quia non feci sicut ipsi fecerunt, errorem et indignationem mihi imposuerunt quamobrem tribulationem et dolorem inveni (ib. ; it would seem as if the Inc. Am. was written after he had severed himself from his patrons and retired to Richmondshire).

Introduction. XVII

his love, chastity and charity. "Comparui", he says, "communiter inter carnales et familiaris fueram cum divite domorum, jocum cum puellis raro gerebam, loquebar cum feminis de fide Factoris, ludens nonnunquam et laudans latenter, ridens cum reliquis ut eis videbatur. Sed haec est intentio qua sic peregebam : ut omnes addiscerent Auctorem amare vanaque relinquerent et retia ruinae, plus Deo quam hominibus desiderent servire ac sapere coelestia, contemnerent terrena ; stndui ut starent spurcitiam spernentes, et procul percunctans verba virtutis, quatinus con- cuperent Christum, non carnem, et virgines viverent, a vitiis volantes ad vitam" (Mel.]. He appeared in the villages and mixed with the people; colloquially (as Socrates), not from the pulpit, inculcating love, loving-kindness, peace. He formed connections with clerics — one of his epistles (Cupienti mihi) is addressed to a young priest1 whom he instructs in charity and invites to seek the solitude. He tried to revive anchoritical life. The "Regula heremitarum"/ ' which is undoubtedly his work, is a proof that at one time he contemplated to form a community of her- mits under a rule. How far he succeded in his missionary work it is difficult to judge : the Vita says that he converted many to God by his exhortations ; I find no confirmation in his writings. He himself begs to be excused if, his health failing under the strain of contemplation , he , infirm and dead to the world, keeps within his cell , "non visitans villanos , fugiendo festis psaJlentiumque sonoro" ; he maintains that "exterius ministerium" is not the sphere of the con- templative. In another work (Contra amatores mundi) he complains that his labour is lost, that "inter multos morans nee uni scio prodesse, et quae putabam lucrata timeo ne evanescant". As to his propaganda for anchoritical life, he complains that he can find no one willing to join him : "Heu mihi misero quali- cunque solitario , ita fit in temporibus meis quod nee unum invenio qui mecum cupit currere ac sedendo et tacendo aeterni amoris delicias desiderare", "Vix unum invenio quern solitudinem amantem videbis", that no woman will last in his love : "Amor mulieris multivolae cito fluens evanet et nullicubi persistens innumeras mansiones aifectat evagando ; non miror si in amore mei non moretur aliqua, cum ab aeterno amore modico venti flatu in aliud redigatur." On the other side it would seem that the order of hermits, which before his time had become nearly extinct, was really revived by him , and that after a time his example was foll- owed by many3. Piers Ploughman directs his satire against the hosts of begging hermits traversing the country. On the whole, his oral mission does not seem to have met with much success, or to have been long continued. Indeed, he had found a better and more congenial mode of conveying his ideas.

At that time he began to write. Love forces him to write. Love has given him wisdom and subtlety; the gift of canor, the power of lucid speech (lucide, liquide loquor). The old Fathers had written: so why should not he ? why should a modern be less able? God is of no less bounty now than in the primitive times. If he is not allowed to preach, he will write, and preach in writing. "Non sum episcopus nee praelatus nee rector ecclesiamm, tamen solicitus sum pro ecclesia Dei, si possem aliquo bono modo quidquam facere aut scribere quo ecclesia Dei augmentum capiat in divina dilectione". He fears not, Love makes him bold. — His first attempts had been private, the outcome of the canor modulated into song3: short rhapsodic effusions, ejaculation of love-longing, rhymes, — of course, in English — , made afterwards into songs to Christ and Mary. The Virgin he

>s one of the young Daltons who had studied with him at Oxford? ermits in R. Rolle's sense have nothing to do with the order of the

XVm Introduction.

held in special veneration and to her he had dedicated his virginity ' ; in her praise he wrote a Latin poem (Zelo tiii langueo virgo speciosa, in Ms. Rawl. C 397) in 39 4-lined stanzas, one of his earliest works — an imitation of Bonaventura's (or Peckham's) famous "Cantus philomenae", and in the same metre, but with frequent alliteration. But now he comes forward as a writer (proferor) 2, and having once commenced, he wrote on, issuing work after work in quick succession. He writes with astounding facility, with an eloquence which brings out with ease whatever is in his mind, but he takes no trouble to revise or refine his writings. He writes to bring out his system, to win souls, to attack vice, to castigate society. Yes, he will not only edify, he will strike and sting (spinis pungendo principes per- versos; ; he will not only show love , but hatred (Amorem et odium utrumque ostendi . He appears as a champion, enters the lists against the vices of the time — cupidity and concupiscense, throws down the gauntlet to the "saeculares miseri", the tyrants, the egotists, the hard-hearted, the princes, the proud, the rich, the lovers of vanity, the pharisees and hypocrites — "Tutus non timeo tundere temp- tantes : contra tyrannos thema tetendi , — In embracing anchoritical life he had followed in the steps of St. Guthlac and other Northerners ; his gift of canor reminds of Caedmon's miraculous gift of song — as a writer he took up the old traditions of the North : he revived the alliterative verse. I cannot discover any previous attempt in that direction, and do not hesitate to ascribe to him the revival of this verse which forms so prominent a part in the vernacular literature of the 14th century3. He first employed it in Latin. The first work — or one of his first — with which he appeared before the public, "Of the glory and perfection of the Saints" i.e. hermits (in Ms. CCCO 193 titled "Melum contemplativorum";, is written in alliterative verse, mixed with alliterative prose4. His next works are in prose: a "book on the life of hermits", quoted — with the preceding — in his "Job" and probably identical with the "Rule of hermits" in Ms. Mm. vi. 17; "Against the lovers of the world"; on God's judgment as against man's (Judica

MViroa iiiupicAus 111111111 auiLriia. iiuim unique iiauui ctuiuLii^ciu LJUCLC uictvii auiaLuieiu iteicriiuill

bicerer ab electione amantissima, alioquin non araassem Altissimum ardenter nee suscepissem

videlicet, ut vivam virtuose et vestiar virtutibus.

gladii

Pr

Pearl (who simply adopteu my views, wmium. auuiug auuiuuniu prouiM. JL 15 pussiuic iiiitL LIICSC

poems originated from a circle of Northerners at Oxford, headed by Radulf Strode, the "philoso- phical Strode" to whom (and Gowerl Chaucer directed his Troilus & Creseid, the "poeta Anglus" to _whom the bibliographers (Leland, Bale, Pits) ascribe an elegiac peem: Phantasma Radulfi, which is possibly the "Pearl".

* An imitation of this style, but with the addition of rhymes, is the piece in Ms. Vernon, titled A talking of the love of God, in English, ed. II p. 345.

Introduction. XIX

me Deus) ; an epistle to a young priest inculcating charity and contemplation (Cupienti mini) ; postils on the first 2 verses of Canticum canticorum (Osculetur me osculo oris sui), and on the chapters of Job used as lessons for the dead1. All these works are in Latin, at that time the common language of the learned. They all belong to this period and are written in his youth: in the "Melum" he calls himself juvenculus, puer, pusillus — it was written probably in 1326, when presumably he was 26 years old ; in the other works he calls himself juvenis. They all bear the mark of youth in the strongly personal, subjective, combative, passionate, nervous, eruptive style, in the sweeping and uncompromising character of his assertions ; the Melum betrays its primogeniture in a certain juvenile — shall I say frivolity? They are written in a time of conflict, when he had to make head- way, to lay open, to maintain, and to defend his theories, and subjectivism will naturally appear when the "Ich" is not in concord with the time and has to assert itself. — All these works are written in praise of contemplation and divine love as against carnal love and the love of the world. His favourite form is the postil, i.e. he comments Holy Scripture — he is dependent on scriptural texts for the ex- position of his views. In the "Melum" he thus chooses his texts indiscriminately, according to their bearing on contemplative life ; in the postils on Canticum and Job he comments a couple or a series of texts. Those of his works in which he either abandons the support of texts (as Incendium amoris) or more regularly expounds whole books of the Bible verse by verse (as Psalter, Threni), must be assigned to a subsequent period — he certainly commenced his literary career as a — somewhat irregular— postillator; "de gloria et perfectione sanctorum praecel- lentium postillas proferam'', "Positus in praesenti patiens pressuras pro pane perhenni, puto quod potero . . in publicum procedere probatus postillator, strictam scripturae masticans medullam, ut degam delicate dulcoribus divinis", so he says in the Melum. This is characteristic of his method. He propounds a biblical text: this text evokes a certain note or tune, a certain emotion, and on that he enlarges, so bringing out his views. His method is lyrical or musical, not deductive — a translation into words of the canor, the chiming in his breast; he is a poet, a lyric poet, not a philosopher, he writes from feeling. Guided by a biblical text as "Leitmotif", he brings out the sensations attending holy contemplation. In the Melum he so follows up the whole course of contemplative life from the first conversion to the attainment of caritas perfecta, and ends with the grand Finale : Doomsday, the glory of the saints, the pains of the damned; in the postils on Canticum he more particularly dwells on the dulcor. His plans are loose, invisible, introduced from without, the parts are exteriorly slung together like beads in a rosary, the sentences loosely connected, his style is strangely incoherent, there is no development, no progress : the progress is obstructed by variations and repe- titions of the same theme, much in the wise of A.S. poetry; sometimes he repeats himself in different works in identical terms. His strength lies in his lyric fervour, in the truth of his feeling, in the depth of his inner life, as in graphic descrip- tiveness, in happy illustration from nature, life, his own experience ; he strikes some of the deepest chords that ever have sounded in the human breast; he excels in terse sentences epigrammatically pointed and full of antithesis , which often convey truths far in advance of his time and of almost modern impress — indeed his style is largely made up of sentences, each the result of a spiritual experience, a momentary inspiration. He is strangely deficient in reasoning and all that pertains to reason and scientia acquisita: he is strong in point of feeling and scientia inspirata; he is all, entirely, and nothing but feeling. This, I think, explains the peculiarities of his strange style. — But he not only gives the sen- sations in the progress of contemplative life : he is also a preacher and teacher ; his lyric effusions are mixed with admonitions and warnings, with polemic and satire. He appears as a reformer: he propounds his scheme of a higher and un-

1 That Job belongs to his earlier works, follows from the following words : "O sancti seniores, orate pro me juvene ut npn errem in hac expositione sed potius digna et congrua valeam pronuntiare". What he calls juvenis, appears from his words : "Christus resurrexit in aetate juvenili, quando fuerat 32 annorum et 3 mensium, et haec aetas fortis, robusta, pulcra et decora et per- fecta, quia tune cessat motus augmenti".

XX Introduction.

worldly life, exhorts others to follow him, criticises the existing order of things. attacks the worldliness of the ruling classes. All these elements are combined in the Melum, his chief and most comprehensive work, while his other writings are more uniformly either exegetic and mystical, or exhortatory, or polemic, or written in self-defence ; indeed, the polemic element may be said to prevail in his earlier writings in the same degree, as it recedes in his later. How he labours to win souls ! O come , he says , ye youths and maidens, learn from me, a wonderful lover (amator mirabilis), how to love: forsake the impure love of one another and embrace eternal love! O maidens, do not hanker after men, do not adorn yourselves for men, to tempt them: lo Christ, lovely of shape before the sons of men, the King of Heaven, wants your beauty, woos your love — he loves maidens chaste and poor, he loves caritas, not libido [caritas est color quo pulcri paremus : he will adorn you with a wonderful crown, a worthy diadem, with shining garments; and her that now languishes in love for him, he will requite with everlasting sweetness. MHeu, dominae tarn dulces diligunt indigne et dirae dilectioni deditae domantur et mentem immunditiae macnlant amore, manentes in morsu mnltiplicis meroris, languendo ad lubricum in lugubri labore, quae Deum diligere devote de- buerunt et hymnum extendere amoris aeterni, in Jesu qui se gerit jugiter jubilantes ! Itaque et alii lascivia laetantur, domicellae et juvenes invicem arsenrat, aestuant amplexibus dum dari differuntur ; mentes in malum sine rnodo moventur, non cessant se secernere a soliis coelorum, copulis carnalibus cupientes coronari. Heu virgines et viduae vilissime venduntur, vacillant et ventilant vadentes vitiatae, ornantur ob oscula, se portant impure: nam harum elegantia plurimos fprostravit, quia pnl- critudo placens suscipitur tarn cito ; et exulat aeternitas, ad terminum transducta ! Vae non verentur in venere vestiri, florem felicem foetori efFundunt — puritas perpetua sic separate, formam fallibilem diligunt, non deum , fruuntur fantasmate Christo contempto, et abeunt cum illis quos amaverunt, ubi odium et ignem habebunt aeterne ! Hanc cuncti communiter callem conquirunt, in carnibus sunt capti et comedunt crudum ; nesciunt quod pro nihilo a nitore nudante et portas appropiant amarissimae mortis, dum delectabile ducentes, prospere se putant in pace proficisci. Vae verecundiam evacuaverunt, sordibus scelernm se substernentes ; ut bestiae se bajulant ratione repulsa ! . . Vae vae vescuntar vitiis et vanis, et homines amplexantes stercoribus steterunt: comedunt crudelia et crapulam quaerentes stultitia strangu- lantur !" (Mel.}. — Be comforted o ye poor! you will be the rich in Heaven and sit with God on the throne to judge the wicked princes: "Gaudete pauperes in paupertate vestra: patientiam probat caritas, probatio spem operatur, spes autem non confundit; exultamini inopes, gaudete mendici, pauperes suspicite: quia vestrum est regnum Dei ; modicum et breviter patimini, multum et aeternaliter gloriabimini. Cum jam pauperes cotidie in contemptum cadant et prae calamitate confusi etiam inter epulantes egeant, plerique profecto pauperes primatum percipient et per- versos principes populorum in judicio judicabunt. "Divites mundi pauperes sunt inferni, pauperes vero saeculi divites sunt coeli, honorati hominum socii et cives sunt infernorum ; qui quaerunt manentem civitatem in mundo proculdubio illam invenient non hie sed cum daemonibus in inferno. "Quid enim habet pauper nisi ut pergat ubi est vita? Aerumpnam utique habet et angustiam in hoc exilio, et omnes dies ejus miseriis pleni sunt: deserens ergo hanc inopiam deducetur ad delicias domus Dei et regnabit cum regibus quia seipsum recte regebat". — He attacks the cupidi, carnales, directs his satire against all classes of society from the King down to the selfish poor, but mainly against the great, the proud, the rich, against all who love the world and the flesh, not God. "Cum saeculares miseri, reges viz. terraram et principes hominum, divites, necnon et omnes mnndi potentes superbiae amatores, nee Denm nee divina nituntur quaerere sed pomposis et vanis honoribus exaltati, terrenis divitiis praediti, solummodo ea quae sua sunt, carnalia scil., et ea quae mundi sunt, noscuntur perpetrare, constat profecto quod nee unus illorum nt bene agat veraciter intelligat, nee caritatem qua salvaretur habere cupiat : vnde et quemadmodum in voluptatibus suis aequissimi judicis oblitis judiciis non timent existere, ita et in fururo Christus manifestis omnibus eorum sceleribus coram cnnctis oculis eos videbitur condempnare. Vae eis ! coram aeterno et vero dominatore ad nihilum redacri, evanentes ab omni solacio dominio subject! fiunt

Introduction. XXI

daemonum, qui in hoc saeculo positi laetabantur se reges et duces superborum. O dirum, o deforme dominium praesentis vitae potentium, qui dum paucorum domini constituuntur hominum, servi fiunt innumerabilium vitiorum. "O mundani et carnales miseri, vere fraudati estis gaudio Dei et fraude decepti diabolica merito aeternam mortem patiemini, quia vitam hie quaeritis quam scitis non posse hie haberi ; excaecati sunt oculi vestri, immo diabolus potius eos plene emit , quia nee hoc quod videtis creditis, quando morientem cernitis et tamen mortem non timetis ; confusi estis, quoniam Deus sprevit vos ; maledicti, execrati et abominabiles facti estis, omnes angeli sancti et amatores Christi immenso gaudio replebuntur quando ille torus coetus vester reprobus aeterno igni dampnatur. Vae vobis di- vitibus ! vae vobis superbis ! vae vobis luxuriosis ! ,vae denique omnibus peccare volentibus : quia merces vobis reddetur. "In tonitruo tonante terminabuntur regna regum qui nunc resident reprehensibiles et ratione non reguntur. "Reges a regnis ruent, quia sanguis sceleribus sarcinatus duces et divites inaniter decepit. Reginas quae reprobe regebantur, vermes rodent invisibiles, virginum vero virtuositas virescit in aetemum". No less he censures the manifest abuses in the Church, insisting on inward religion, on caritas, as against "ministerium mechanicum", the formalism of the time; he censures the prevailing worldliness, exteriority, work- service, hypocrisy, the lack of true religious spirit. He declaims against the '"ficti et falsi fideles, qui Deum se amare fingunt cum non diligunt"; against the priests who eagerly claim their tithes but neglect the cure of their parishioners (Vae presbiteris qui tanto zelo et clamore decimas et ea quae ad altare pertinent exigunt et de animabus parochianorum tarn parvum curant; instanter petunt pe- cuniam sed raro aut nunquam proferunt sermonem, excommunicant illos qui ab ecclesiis jura sua subtrahunt et ipsi sacerdotes primo excommunicanrur quia ec- clesiam Christi ut tenentur non regunt, Job.}; against the monks who are implicated in secular affairs, and in their presumption claim to possess the sole way to per- fection ; against the book-wise, the "doctores et philosophi et theologi, infmitis quaestionibus implicati , in omni scientia summi sed in amore Dei inferiores" ; against the prelates, who bent on worldly pursuits, on secular business, on mam- mon, on carnal pleasures, and anxious to shine, to excel, indifferently perform the duties of their office and neglect to attend to the spiritual needs of their flocks, sending incompetent preachers and prohibiting the "missi a Deo", the poor hermits (heremitas abiciunt et horrent cum ipsis bonos esse et conscios, audire hos nolunt ; quidquid homo dixerit quod laude sit dignum, semper ad malum interpretantur ; quamquam jam sciant summa secreta et necessaria noverint humanae saluti, utique cum ipsis acceptabiles non erunt, Mel.}. "Qui nos pascere debuerint, occidere conantur". *'Praelati et sacerdotes et religiosi, quanto magni sunt se deberent in omnibus humi- liare, suam quoque infirmitatem cognoscere et descendere ad instructionem populi, verbo et exemplo pascendo gregem Christi : sed dum unusquisque ad temporalia bona possidenda humanumqtie favorem amplectendum innititur, nimirum apud Deum omnes reprobantur. Omnes diligunt munera, omnes ad terrenam dignitatem aspirant, a propheta ad sacerdotem omnes faciunt dolum, omnes in laqueo terrenorum positi sunt, ad vanam et fallibilem gloriam universi concurrunt". "Milites Christi, sacer- dotes et religiosi, eremitae et monachi, atque alii et aliae, voluntariae paupertatis amatores esse deberent, qui non solum a seipsis hostilia jacula repellere, verum etiam et ab aliorum cordibus in quantum poterunt niterentur auferre : at, ut videtur, vecordes sunt, infirmos se fingunt, mundum quaerunt, Deum amare nesciunt immo contemnunt, hostes non expugnant sed introducunt. Heu, servitium idolorum libenter admittunt, et christianae militiae decus amiserunt, et qui prae aliis in vitae sanctitate et morum honestate excellere tenentur, jam terrenis desideriis involuti et pravis actibus mancipati, in omnibus scandalum efficiuntur. Aut enim sacerdotes comes- sationibus et ebrietatibus et impuditiis atque illicitis lucris deserviunt, aut otiositati et somnolentiae dediti a divino servitio per torporem deficiunt et negligentes et vagabundi fiunt" (Job}, If so the columns fall, how can the fabric stand: (Si columnae cadunt, quomodo stabit quod frondificatum est? Membra sequunrur caput; quia superiores insaniunt, etiam inferiores in vanitates et fantasias falsas deducuntur) : So much the more it is necessary that the few elected should raise

XXII Introduction,

their voice against the prelates (tanto electi dei, cuiuscunque ordinis sunt , ad caritatem et castitatem retinendas se student erigere, quanto ipsos qui principatum in populo perceperunt vel alios minores in lubricam viam et latam quae ducit sectatores suos ad infernum vident declinare, non attendentes perversis actibus praelatorum, sed Christum imitantes qui est caput humilium et doctor mansuetorum Mel.]. He so, leaning on his mission by God, challenges his own bishop: "Ecce juvenis, zelo animatus justitiae, insurgit contra senem, heremita contra episcopurn et contra omnes taliter opinantes qui in quantumcumque exterioribus actibus supereminentia affir- mant esse sanctitatis" (Mel.}. — Alas, the world is sadly deteriorated! "Jam mali in mundo multiplicantur et pauci inter populos inveniuntur qui sancte subsistunt, omnes paene proficiscuntur ad peccata, loquuntur turpia, cogitant immunda, agunt nephanda!" "A plerisque jam in praesenti tempore immo ab omnibus cupiditas in aulam regiam introducitur , caritas vero quasi esset perditioni consentiens incarcerate , immo a regno ejicitur in exilium — sed tanien habitaculum invenit in cordibus electorum." "Ubique jam abundat turpitudo terrena , vilissima voluptas in viris vacillat , ratio refrigescit , non reficit ruentem , bellant ut bestiae , breviantur beati , nullus est nimirum qui nemini non nocet." "Neque jam ut solent sancti subsistunt, nee electi habentur qui Auctorem adorent pro aliis audacter et interim alantur habiles amore ; unde nee terra in tantum habundat, non floret nee fractincat ut fecerit in finem. cum fuerint fideles falsi et ficti ; ac fame feriuntur et funus fabricant in quo fren- debunt infeliciter ferventes" (an allusion to the famine and pestilence of 1316 — 8). "Heu non aliquem invenimus amantem qui inhiet ardenter habitare cum almis; omnes indifferenter ad delectabilia declinant, in voluptatibus vanis viliter vacillantes." "Jam nulli exeunt (in solitudinem) : omnes amant solatium hominum et ideo sine dubio visitatione carent angelorum; ita placet eis sonus exterior et solemnia corporis ut parum vel nil curant de sono coelico aut de solempnitate mentis" (Inc. Am.}. "Solitarii siquidem despecti habentur , in omnium opprobium abierunt ; ubi alii in aulis honorifice assistunt et ad mensam magnatum praecedere ponuntur, ad ostium mendici morantur et his de micis mittunt multi magnates et reprobant ut reprobos, qui plane penitebunt". — Truly, the end of the world is near : "Et quidem in istis temporibus, in quibus deveniunt fines temporum, maxime superbi regnant, hypocritae praesident, homicidae dominantur, fornicatores sublevantur, avari divitias et digni- tates adquirunt, iracundi et invidi praeponuntur".

From so appearing in public as a teacher and writer, his name soon began to be noised about. But in the same measure he found violent opposition: he was attacked by a host of enemies. His earlier works are full of bitter complaints against his detractors ; he had to maintain his reputation, to defend his principles. His system ran counter to the common opinion of men, of the world that lives, and struck against the very root and foundation of society. He proclaimed chastity, divine love : but, mothers will marry their daughters although they know that the price is their virginity; girls will have their sweethearts and adorn themselves to please men, and will not cease to believe that they possess what men desire to know ; young men are expected to be infatuated, illusioned — and disillusioned — it is the way to knowledge and to wisdom; — such is the course of the world. Matrimony is the natural law (lex) of man, though no community has ever formally proclaimed it such, leaving it to nature to enforce her ends. The sex is man's natural incumbency, his fate, his Cross, the tree on which he grows. The ways of sex are hideous indeed: but they are indispensable — the way to life leads through that gate, and nature herself has given beauty and illusion, love and curiosity, to unite the sexes for the creation of new life; chastity is the beau ideal, the essence of morality, indeed morality itself, but chiefly as the nursery, the mainspring of love, which is the foundation of human society. Love is life itself, and life was given to return love ; it is primarily sexual , and divine love is but secondary love, love transferred in its ends. His system was transcendental idealism — flight from the "trieb", and, as such, as much above truth, as mere sensuality is beneath it , truth lying between the two , as between body and soul , between matter and spirit. His system was hostile to kind, and he who forsakes kind, is forsaken by kind, and liable to fall maybe as Joseph by the wife of Putiphar;

Introduction. XXIII

the whole world becomes his enemy. He had raised the whirlwind: he became the "lapis offensionis, petra scandali", "scandalum Judaeis, gentibus autem stultitia." — He was a strange man: strange in his ways, strange in his words and teaching: people asked: Who is this man that so cometh forth? They did not understand him , or misunderstood him. They saw his gloominess , but not the joy he felt within ; they saw him constantly absorbed , ecstatic, constantly talking of a love not of this world, and could not make him out. They called him a fool, mad, demented (stultus, insipiens, alienatus mente), nay wicked (iniquus), saying he did irreverence to God and did not keep the statutes of the Church (dicentes irreve- rentiam Deo facere et statuta ecclesiae non observare), and did not run the right way to God (affirmant non recte currere ad coelestem mansionem). Others said: We give alms, feed the poor, clothe the naked and do all the works of mercy: how can those be equal to us who daily love quiet and do nothing ol the kind? it is better to be in the world and do some good, than to sit idle in the solitude or in the cloister. His wanderings, his shifting from place to place, seemed at variance with the notions of an hermit, with the rest and quiet claimed by himself for the contemplative : people said he was no hermit (nonnulli cum heremiticam vitam considerant, me etiam heremitam non esse impudenter affirmare non formi- dant) , but an hypocrite; some said he was a scamp (trutannus). His converse with the rich gave another occasion for slander : he who is so exhausted by abstinence that he suffers excruciating head-aches , is said to be led away by the pleasures of the rich (dicunt derogantes : deliciis deducor quibus divites delectant, et indignus sum Deo) , is accused of being a glutton and a wine-bibber, and they said of him as was said of Christ that he ate with sinners and publicans (Sancti saepius inter saeculares etiam solitarii sedebant: ideo tu dicis quod de Domino dicebatur: Quare cum peccatoribus et publicanis manducat magister vester? et iterum vocabant veri- tatem viventem quae angelos alit in sola visione, vini potatorem), that he was impure and ran after the girls (lubricum et lapsum me judicaverunt, putantes quod pro puellis persisterem cum pravis), that his "sittings" in holy contemplation were due to an over- full belly and to good wine, and his penance merely for the eyes of men (assere- bant sophistice loquentes quod pro sumpto cibario sustinui sedere , et potibus deputantes quod Piissimus praestavit , ac populis ut placeam plerique publice praedicabant penitentiam me pati . These attacks he ascribes to envy, the envy of those who saw his goodly life and the wonders God worked in him, and found themselves deficient ("invidebant autem eo quod in magnis muneribus munitus mi- rabilis manebam, et seipsos mordebant morsibus malignis quia magnifica majestas me mirificavit in mente per musicum in melle melodis" ; "Invidia uruntur quia lucide loquor"). But his worst enemies were those who called themselves followers and disciples of Christ, the professionals, the monks, the doctors, and especially the prelates; those that were encrusted in their traditional ways, in their self-conceit, their self-righteousness, and failed to comprehend the new gospel ("Odium et in- vidiam tantam non inveni nee habui sicut ab his qui dicebantur discipuli Jesu Chrisri" ; "Hi qui praeferuntur (i. e. the prelates) maxime me odiunt"). They derided his self-assumed saintship— if he is a saint, where are the miracles which signalize the saint? They found fault with his quietism, his idle inactivity, his contem- plation without works, his salvation by love, his independence without obedience. The generality of men are business-men and cannot understand the enthusiast : They jeered at his canor. The book-wise asked: Where has he learned and from what doctor? (Docti per acquisitam scientiam, non infusam, et inflati argu- mentationibus implicitis, dedignantur dicentes Ubi didicit iste et a doctore audivit ? . They despised the layman who was not of their guild, scorned his inadequacy in things dialectic, questioned his qualification, thought it easy to beat him in dis- putation (nonnullos audivi me disputationibus velle vincere, quia apud opinionem hominum eos vivendo videbar superare), called him a rustic, an idiot (rusticus, idiota, insipiens). They maintained that he had no capacity to preach (Putant quod non potui pure praedicare nee sapere ut ceteri qui sancte subsistunt); they despise his words because he is poor, not a bishop, a prelate, or a rector (Quia pauper sum et non reputatus inter magistratus mundi, parvi penditis verba quae

XXIV Introduction.

loquor vobis'. They ridiculed his authorship — his teaching is to them a mystery (mysterium mitto modernis, ; they maintain that he errs in his interpretation of Holy Scripture (dicentes aut me in expositione errasse, aut sacra verba congruenter non tractasse, non acceptantes me quia modernus sum, Job] — to them he is a "homo novus", a modern. So — because he did not "run" as others in this world (quia non cucurri quemadmodum qui adhuc carnalitati inhaerentj — he was an object of universal hatred — Horridum me habebant omnes insensati. Those became his worst detractors whom before he had thought true friends ;Eos pessimos detractores habui quos prius amicos fidos putavi). "Multi qui mecum loquebantur, similes fuerunt scorpionibus, quia capite blandiebantur adulantes, et cauda percutie- bant detrahentes". They would fain have seen him fall into sin [Invidi undique obsistebant adversus me, qui si lapsus ligarer in lacum laetarentur) ; they tried to lure him fnto sin , so to catch him therein and make him belie his saintship. They contrived to drive him out of the houses where he was loved, and so did him great harm, as he was dependent on the benevolence of men. He has had so much annoyance from their defamations that in his "Cupienti mihi &c?' he begs the dedicatee to use discretion in showing the book, lest he should incur new slander (vobis habenda est discretio non modica, ne dum circumquaque hunc libellum indesinenter ostenditis, juventutem ineam invidorum dentibus acerbiter corrodendam exponatis).

How far this conflict went we are not informed. The annals of the time are silent with regard to him. His age treated him as a nonentity and gave him over to oblivion. Society simply took no notice of him. He himself will not dis- close the names of his tormentors 'Dirisiores et detractores non divulgavi ad dampnum, necnon et amavi eos qui me argnerunt et ostenderunt odia ut ab omni- bus abominarer). Yet it seems that matters came to a crisis. It appears that he had one chief adversary — in his Melum he chiefly addresses one, who vainly curses ("O miser sine modo, non metuis mensuram quae tibi metietur? cur es sic captivus? non tremis pro tormentis quibus traderis? tu iniquus et impius hie judicas justum qui postea probatus ex tuo ore te ipsurn condemnabit ! . . non putes quia pereo quia mihi maledicis et praedicas quod in penis perendinabo : en ego assumor extra terrena, temporale non tangens teneor tranquillus ac uror interius affluent amore, gaudiumque gusto in quo nunquam gloriaberis, quia omnibus ob- sistis qui optime operantur !" "Quid arguis o impie, qnem approbat Auctor,? no poteris tu perfide destruere in dolo quern Deus dedicavit. Frustra furis infelix tabescens in tenebris, quia Trinitas me temperavit et dedit mihi quod te doceo. O miser sine mititia, adhuc beata bonitas benefacientibus benedicit, et magnifica majestas mirabiles facit in mundo"), and I have no doubt that he refers to one and the same person. I mentioned before that in one passage of the Melum he directly challenges his bishop , and it is very probable that his bishop was this one adversary. He also complains that the prelates prohibit the hermits from preaching and send unfit persons 'prohibent praecipuos proferre sermonem, et alios admittunt qui a Deo non mittuntur; heremitas abiciunt,, and that those in prelacy hate him most. In the register of Archbishop Melton (1317 — 42; I find the following memorandum : 1334 Aug. 5: An order forbidding any one to listen to the teaching of friar Henry de Staunton hermit (Raine, Fasti Ebor. p. 421). Nothing more is known of this hermit, but we may readily suppose that he was a disciple or follower of R. Rolle. It is quite possible that some similar restriction, if not a severer censure, was issued against R. Rolle at an earlier date, and that he suffered some kind of check at the hands of his diocesan.

So, what with these conflicts, what with the loss of patrons and friends, and the increasing difficulty of living, what with his restlessness, his life in this period became more and more sad. In the two great passions of life, ambition and love, he is checkmated. He saw others rise to honours, and himself was nobody. He had a loving heart, was bound by no vow, was free to marry if he chose : yet he clung to chastity, a self-imposed burden. He was a fair young man, florid, not uncomely, and well worth a woman's love : all the greater was his temp- tation (elegans eligitur amplius amori, nam formosus in facie, qui fuerit facundus,

?

Introduction. XXV

oculos solicitat et taliter temptatur). Yet, absorbed in his holy love, he managed to escape carnal love and so to remain chaste — we have his positive testimony that he kept his chastity. But who can tell the struggles he had to go through as years came on, those years especially when the "trieb" is strongest, virility most potent, when every one succumbs — the height of generation, the years of Christ? The victory is gained, but at what price ! By refusing himself to kind, he is refused by kind, his friends forsake him, his patrons repudiate him, no maiden will abide in the love he offers, he is overrun by enemies1. His life is that of the lonely man who, forsaken by all, is sent adrift, a prey to all. He tasted of that desti- tution in which man, stripped of all belongings, is reduced to the state of man simple, the son of man. He should so like to have an associate sodalis in itinere; who would understand him, who could modulate his clamor (canor)2, so that it might become objective to him — but there is none. He has no home, no place where to rest his head. Despite his converse with the rich he is extremely poor, so poor that at times he has no water to drink, only rags to cover him, and suffers severely from frost and heat (Denique inter divites demorans, panni put- ridi me paene deprimebant, et nudus nocebar per morsum inuscarum ; cutis quippe sine coopertorio confortabili calcabatur, pellis mea in pulvere induta squalorem scaturizabat ; sed et aestu affligebar inter obumbratos ab omnibus quae optabant, ac frigore frendebam dum opimis utebantur ornamentis et in superfluitatibus salierunt qui datorem tamen suum in his non dilexerunt; 3. His health is delicate, his constitution is weakened by contemplation, he suffers from intolerable head-aches (Quippe sic carnem modo maceravi et caput contunditur dolore deducto, quod consistere non queo — ita gravatur — nisi corroberer cibario sanante); he has the presentiment of an early death (the Melum concludes with the remarkable words : Amorem et odium utrumque ostendi, et puer nunc propero ad finem felicem, nam paene perfudi gressus gravantes, ut calcans contagium in cantico consummer; caritatem carissimam cunctis commendo : amen). And what has come of his efforts, his vast projects'? his plans have failed, his labour is lost, he is of no use to anybody. The world is too much for him ; the very noises of the world are painful to him (penales sunt mihi vociferantes et crucior quasi per incommodum quando clamor clangentium me tangit;. He languishes in still mourning, his youth is all consumed in yearning (prae amoris magnitudine assiduis horis ferme consumer), and there is no relief, the beloved tarries so long ! He grieves over the sins of

cognoscunt corpora parentum.

2 Amator aestuans in incorporeos amplexus, habet clamorem ad conditorem suum ex intimis medullis amoris affectuose excitatum et erumpentem; quasi a longe clamaret vocem elevat in- teriorem, quae nonnisi in ardentissimo amante ut in via fas est invenitur. Hie deficio prae insi-

XXVI Introduction.

the time, the wickedness of man; that so many souls are lost that the king has redeemed Dolui pro desolatione, nam multi merguntur mortifero in man: quos Rex redimebat, vanos vidi et vacuos virtute, ; turpitude reigns supreme, the Saint has left the earth, the solitary are despised — and he can do nothing. So he suffers, his misery at times is extreme ; his words sometimes betray utter desolation and sound like the outcry of the beast wounded to death. He wishes to die — it is better for him to die, as he is of no use : "Deus meus, tolle me, suscipe me se- cundum eloquium tuum et vivam : melius est mihi mori quam vivere qui inter multos morans nee uni scio prodesse et quae putabam lucrata timeo ne evanescant quia in mundana re et non in Deo gaudent; ecce domine relictus sum solus, cqui videbant me foras fugiebant a me, oblivion! datus sum tamquam mortuus a corde', sed et 'factus sum tamquam vas perditionis quoniam audivi vituperationem multorum commorantium in circuitu3 — in circuitu meo, non mecum, sunt amatores terreni, quia etsi eis te vitam praedico tamen eos amantes mortem doleo ; 'stulti quoque despiciebant me et recessisse ab eis detrahebant mihi5 ; hinc cogito, cupio, de- posco : Salvum me fac domine quoniam defecit sanctus" Contra am. mundi . He wishes to die because true love is gone and mean concupiscence only remains: "Clamo et affectu suspirans aio : 'Salvum me fac deus quoniam defecit sanctus3 ; deficiunt hymnidici , silent voces canentium , non apparet sanctorum amatorum ardor ; unusquisque declinat in viam suam malam, dolorem quern corde concepit in effectum deducere non desistit, consumunt in vanitate dies suos, et annos snos cum festinatione. Heu, juvenem simul ac virginem, lactentem cum homine sene ignis concupiscentiae devoravit". He can hardly await the end : "Heu quid agam ? quamdiu dilationem patiar? quo fugiam, ut fruar feliciter ad quod festino? Egens sum et esuriens, angustiatus et afflictus, vulneratus et decoloratus ob absentiam amatoris mei ; quia cruciant me accessus amoris, et spes quae differtur affligit ani- mam . . Dolores et miseriae in corpore consistunt, languor vero in anima perseverat, donee videam quern tanto ardore desideravi, cuius amore emarcuit caro mea atque viluit inter venustos huius vitae" (Inc. Am.}. He longs for the day when the Saviour will come and do justice to the poor; when the truth will come out and he will be seen as he is, not as his detractors paint him. He joys that the end of the world is near: '*Nam finis mundi appropiat, paene paratus est tubam canitums, adest finis mundialis malitiae, terminus terrenae cupiditatis longe non moratur"; "lam judex ut fulgur gladium suum acuit in quo ad judicium veniens peccatores ferit." — In this time of suffering he came to realise the sorrows of the "man of sorrows", the desolation of the "son of man". In this time he formed his pessimistic views of the miserableness of this earthly existence. In this time he conceived that deep sympathy with the suffering, the poor, the oppressed, which is one of his chief characteristics.

But all this misery and persecution is not able to overcome him: he bears up, stands firm, strikes home and hits hard. "Das Individuum richtet sich herrlich auf". He has found Jesus — he has found him in poverty, in affliction, in pe- nance, in the desert. He joys in his poverty, he joys in his solitude, more than the king in all his riches: ,,Amplius gaudeo sedens in solitudine quam rex in cuius omnes terrenae divitiae veniunt potestate". He has found such joy that the tongue cannot express it ; he is in so sweet a life that no misery, no wrong, no pain can make him sad, that he is as it were impassible in his mind. He allows no disparagement of his profession, and blesses the solitude that has taught him his love : "Absit nt tarn crudeliter deviarem quod aliquid sinistrum vel demeritum de appetentibus heremi loquerer, sub cuius nomine diabolum non timeo, terrena contempno, carnem spiritui subjungo. Benedictum sit illud nomen heremiticum et illud singulare propositum, in quo amare disco, jubilare consuesco, salvationem securus expecto; nullum in ecclesia ordinem reprehendo, sed solitudinem maxime diligo et laudo". Perfect love kills pain : "Perfectus amor vincit penam, vincit minas, quia non sentit timorem creaturae"; tribulation and persecution will only enhance his merit and win him a higher reward in Heaven. Temptations, "fan- tasmata noctis", have disappeared by the invocation of the name of Jesus ; the flesh is overcome, he can live amongst women without feeling any emotion : "Inde nociva virtus corporalis arescens evanet, vnde mentem divinitus adamatam aeterni

Introduction. XXVII

amoris fervor suaviter incendit, ut jam, superno dulcore debriati, etiam inter feminas possimus vivere et nullam delectationem feminae in animo sentire"; "In illo qui contemplationis culmen ascendit per jubilum et ardorem amoris, jam quasi ex- tinctae jacent carnales concupiscentiae, nam mors malarum cogitationum et affec- tionum ad ilium pertinet qui contemplation! vacat". In his illnesses he is consoled and strengthened by the canor : "Misit in me imperator aeternus melos mirificum, et quamvis penis pungerer et intollerabili tormentarer turbine, tamen huiusmodi illectus abundantia et sublatus solario incessabili , semper sicut sanus subsistebam etiamsi infirmarer; in tantum tonuit amor interius affluens quod lectus mihi non libuit nee jacebam aliquando in gemitu ut aegrotus agit quando amisit oportunitatem operand! et mutatis membris in morbum stratum sibi sternit in quo convalescere cogitaret". What does he care for grandeur or men's praise? "Ego in hac habi- tatione altitudinem inter homines non elegi, non humanum honorem, non laudem labilem, non miraculorum magnificentiam , non praelatiae principatum, sed Deo servire desideravi amore deitatis, Christum concupivi , et ad hoc avidissime animum extend! incessanter aspirans in Auctorem , ut ardentissime amorem Altissimi am- plexarer". He prefers to be despised : "Non timeo torqueri et despici inter tyrannos, nam spes nostra ponitur in patria perhenni; tanto acceptabiliores cum angelis et almis apparebimus, quanto inter homines minus acceptamur"; "tanto ad majorem judiciariae potestatis altitudinem in future excrescimus, quanto mine a minus per- fectis et reprobis despecti et judicati sumus". His tormentors cannot disturb him : "torquere temptantes non tangunt tranquillum: fruor tarn fortiter fervore Factoris". His detractors he treats with contempt: "Mali malum loquuntur, quod et facerent etiam si Jesuw perspexissent, quia consuetum est illis. De latrina amoto operculo non exhalat nisi foetor, et male loquentes ex abundantia cordis loquuntur in quo venenum aspidum latet. Hoc cognovi quod quanto magis contra me verbis detractoriis homines insanierunt , tanto amplius in profectu spirituali succrevi ; denique non cessavi ab his quae utilia erant animae meae propter verba illorum, immo exercui studium, et semper inveni Deum faventem" ; "Christus me elegit ad audacem animum, ut riderem ad irrisiones, et laetarer cum non laudarer, ac ardentius ambularem in amore aeternorum quia abjectus eram inter homines". Against their defamations he flees to God, under the shadow of His wings, and appeals to Him who alone knows the heart and reins and does not judge by the exterior as man; He will reveal the truth in the last Judgment. He vindicates his character, the integrity of his life. He is no glutton , no wine-bibber , no parasite of the rich : he takes only what is necessary — "nullus enim sufficit seipsum portare nee etiam fortissimus per seipsum subsistit", and, aye, "inebrior ab ubertate domus Dei et torrente voluptatis suae potavit me" (Ps. 35). "Amator meus quem amo mihi affuit et non obrigui in impietatibus quando astiti in agnitione illorum quos modicum me mulcere memini ; neque vero vigilavi nee veni inter viciosos ut laquearer in lubricitate aut fruerer forma feminea sine firmitate ; sed neque cibaria saecularium me sustinuerunt in sessione ; et in divitum deliciis non delectabar nisi dumtaxat in temperantia et necessitate naturae ut caro pro Christo custodiretur." Even in the repasts of the rich he hears the canor: "Inter delicias divitum saepe in me resonat melos coelicum et amoris canticum amoenum". He is not unchaste : "non fallit me femina nee pereo puellis, neque glorior in gula quae jugulat gentiles" ; his addresses to women are only meant to teach them "ut amico mundano non maculentur nee langueant pro lubrico labentes in lacum , horridum habentes hu- manum amorem, osculis amplexibus non aveant immundis, caste et pie deinceps degentes" ; if his words are not believed, let inquiries be made and the truth will appear: "Haec si non creditis, quaerite quid dixi, interrogare potestis qui me audierunt, si docui dampnabile, injuriam aut Deo, vel cogitavi corrumpere fragilem facturam", and he calls Christ to witness: "Christus quem cupio hoc contestetur et contra me consurgere faciat fideles, sed et ipse conquasset caput captivi et cunctos corroboret me premere procellis, si ab adolescentia ipsum non amavi(!)"; adding however : "Nimirum non nego plurima non prospera in me pervenisse ac temptamenta inter tales tolerasse, turbatus, tribulatus et turbidus primitus permansi", and concluding: "Tamen hoc teneo ut sistas securus : Fugito feminas qui Christum amare voluntarie vovisti, nam vitii venenum sic vincere vales, alioquin, nisi Auctor

XXVin Introduction.

te altius assumpsit, in dira dulcedine decipieris" (Me!.). In another passage he affirms: "Ex quo ardebam aeterno amore, quievi a cupidine carnali", and praises God who has kept him chaste (In laude levabor gratias agendo, Conditorem complectens qui c\stum me custodit dum alii errabant juvenes a jurej. He maintains his saint- ship: "Sanctus subsisto". Though it may seem strange that a man, however ex- cellent, should call himself a saint when even St. Paul confesses himself a sinner, yet one must speak the truth when asked. "Sanctitas non est in signis et labore corporali, sed in virtutibus animae Deum veraciter diligentis"; "Scivi, propter jubilum qui ingeritur et canorem quem carpsi, quod sanctitas non sistit in cilicio et cinere nee in aliquo quod exterius operamur, sed in gustu gaudii amoris aeterni, in contemptu corporalium, ut suspiremus semper sedere cum societate civiiim supernorum , non attendentes his quae aguntur in istis infimis , prout perfecti peregrini properantes ad patriam pulcherrimi paradisi"; "Ille sanctam vitam ducit qui quamvis in corruptibili carne sedeat, solam tamen aeternae gloriae sua- vitatem incessanter affectat" ; "Non quis sanctus est quia multas literas didicit, sed quia voluntatem suam voluntati divinae in omnibus conformavit". One can be a saint without miracles, and may not be a saint with miracles: "Non omnes sancti faciunt vel fecerunt miracula nee in vita nee post mortem, neque omnes reprobi vel in vita vel post mortem miraculis caruerunt ; saepe mediocriter boni et minus perfecti miracula faciunt, et plerique etiam summi in coelestibus sedibus coram vultu Dei constituti , penitus quiescunt" ; "Multa corpora translata sunt in terris quorum animae forsitan ad coelum nondum peruenerunt" '; "Sancti non ideo in supernas sedes sublimati sustolluntur quia mira ostendebant, nam et non- nulli mali huiusmodi obtinuerunt, sed veritas hoc voluit quod amans ardentius altius assumatur , honorabilius assideat inter angelos". God is still wonderful in his saints, but in these latter days of the world miracles are not necessary, but example of elect work: "Deus non minus mirificat multos quamvis perpauci publicentur ad populum, quam pueros suos quos in primordiis praeparavit ad pacem, et hoc utique agit usque ad consummationem universorum existentium in hoc exilic unde et ipse ait Ero vobiscum omnibus diebus usque ad consummationem saeculi; hoc attamen excipitur in istis terminationibus temporum quod exterius ita omnino non operantur ut antiquitus agebant. Et nimirum non est necesse nunc ut miracula monstrentur, cum per totum orbern terrarum multiplicata maneant memoriter ; sed exemplum electi operis indigetur ostendi in oculis omnium, ut luceat lux luminarium inter leves et lubricum lingentes. Non propter hoc jam sunt sancti quia signa eos sequuntur, immo potius putandum est pro tanto eos perfectiores esse quia non procedunt ad potentes nee honorificantur inter homines ut praesideant in praelatia ; ergo pro eo quod non capiuntur ad dignitatem inter ditatos quae non est desi- deranda, amplius uruntur aeterno amore et abundantius consurgunt in contempla- tionem" (Mel.).1 Oh the wretched who argue against the Saint, whom they ought to honour as intercessor and patron: "Illi miseri tanto se deterius vitiis subjiciunt, quanto contra Sanctum Dei inutilibus verbis contendunt ; quem nimirum apud Deum intercessorem habere pro eis poterant, malitia sua excaecati sponte relinquunt ; quomodo ergo audent ilium arguere quem ut patronum deberent potius honorare?" "O quam magna est mundanorum insania qui non solum si quem bene agentem audierunt Deum non glorificant, verum etiam falsis interpretationibus servo Dei pertinaciter obsistunt. O nequissima praesumptio peccatores contra justum arguere, et aeternis ignibus cruciandos virum sanctum diffamare. Detractores Deo odibiles, utquid frustra dilectis Christi derogatis quos jam velut agnos inter lupos aspicere potestis? Plane miseros vosmetipsos ostenditis cum non parum vobis videtur Christum non diligere, nisi etiam ipsum in sanctis suis studeatis impugnare;" "Populi deberent sanctos viros revereri et honorare, et semper cavere ne offendant eos aut verbo

Introduction. XXIX

aut facto, quia etsi sint mites et patientes injnrias, vel irrisiones non recolentes, sine dubio Deus non obliviscitur quin vult vindicate sanctos suos". He maintains the superiority of contemplative over active life, of love over works, of hermit over monk. Anselm, in asserting that monks love God more than any secular because they "offer fruit and tree to God under an abbot'', appears to flatter the monks rather than to speak the truth ; "Ego Ricardus utique solitarius heremita vocatus, hoc quod novi assero : quoniam ille ardentius Deum diligit qui igne Spiritus sancti succensus a strepitu mundi et ab omni corporali sono quantum potest discedet ; non monachi vel alii quicunque ad congregationem collect! summi sunt aut maxime Deum diligunt : sed solitarii contemplationi sublimati". No one can see another man's heart ; no one, therefore, ought to judge himself worthier than another: "Non deberet etiam devotissimus dicere: dignior sum ante Denm quam plures qui inter populos pernoctant; praesertim cum non potuit praevidere pectns progredientis quanta caritate concaleat. Nescit nimirum si alius amplius ardorem habeat aeterni amoris cuius memoria non magnificatur in hoc mundo, quam sanctus cuius inter Christianos commemoratio celebratur et de eo fit festivitas quia feliciter finivit ; nempe sive natalitia nominentur nobilium sive taceantur velut totaliter terrae traditi, siquidem scitote quod inter angelicos ordines excellentius ac reverentius residet qui praesenti positus penuria habet abundantius ardorem amoris aeterni et praestantius praelibat dulcedinem divinitatis". The monks say: "Propter obedientiam quam praepositis exhibemus, inter omnes ordines ecclesiae in meritis majores sumus": but those in congregation cannot realise in what sweetness of love he burns that is solitary, and those bent on exterior works are ignorant of the delights of eternal love ; "Quia ignorant quam amoena et meritoria sit ilia quam gustamus aeterna suavitas, non putant aliquem sanctiorem fieri posse qui exterioribus actibus non studeat mancipari". Therefore, ye monks &c, "ilia quae contra conversationem vestrae vitae sunt scripta a sanctioribus, non debetis repre- hendere, sed in quantum potestis humiliter imitari ; nee dicatis: nos coram Deo maximum meritum habebimus ; quia sic mentitores arrogantia totum amittitis". He maintains his literary position. His power is from God, his wisdom is infused, not acquired, he is taught by the interior doctor, the Holy Ghost, who inspires his lovers no less now than of old — he needs no further approbation : "Amans accepit sapientiam et subtilitatem ut sciret loqui inter luculentos et audacter pro- ferret quod dicendum duxit, quamvis idiota et insipiens antea aestimaretur et etiam existeret. Sed docti per acquisitam scientiam . . non arbitrantur ab interfere doctore amatores aeternitatis edoceri ut eloquentius loquerentur quam ipsi ab hominibus docti qui omni tempore pro vanis honoribus studuerunt. Si autem antiquitus Spiritus sanctus plures inspiravit, cur etiam nunc non assumeret amantes ad gloriam suam speculandam, cum ipsis prioribus moderni approbati non sint inaequales? Appro- bationem autem hanc ab hominibus non appello qui saepe in approbationibus suis errant, eligentes tales quos Deus despexit, et despicientes quos elegit : sed tales annuntio approbates quos amor aeternus medullitus inflammat et Spiritus sancti gratia ad omne bonum inspirat, qui omnium virtutum flore insigniti, in dilectione Dei jugiter jubilant et cuncta quae ad vana mundi gaudia pertinent, falsosque honores superbae vitae sub affectuum pedibus conculcant. Hii nimirum eiciuntur ab hominibus, sed in conspectu Dei et sanctorum angelorum magnifice commen- dantur ; quorum corda ad omnia adversa toleranda sistunt inconcussa nee vento vanitatis se sinunt circumferri;" "Non ab homine nee a came et sanguine, neque vero a meipso habui, sed a Christo et per Christum sapientiam apprehendi". God has predestined and emboldened him to preach, and he is full of the Spirit of God: "Praeceptor potentissimus parvulum suum praedestinavit ad pietatem, ut non parcerem praedicare peccantibus; vnde et cum Michaea manifestari non metuo ut memorentur miseri quia divinitus didici quod dico : Repletus sum fortitudine Spiritus domini et judicio et virtute, ut annuntiem Jacob scelus suum et Israel peccatum suum". His enemies in their envy — quia lucide loquor — say that he is not fit to preach : but "Sciant simpliciter Auctorem amavi qui animum ardore Olympi implevit ut proferam praecipue sermones amoris, scripturam scrutans quae latet carnales"; "Hoc profero quod plures non possunt : nam lubricos latet luminis lucerna et

XXX Introduction.

nucleum nitentem nesciunt nudare nee pascere parvulos qui properant ad polum lacte laetitiae aut cibo salubri , cum seipsos substernunt stultitiae in stagno et student cum stolidis qui strangulantur". If his works are a mystery to them, it is because they do not understand the true meaning of Scripture: "Nimirum mysterium mitto modernis, etenim antiqui sublimia sciebant ; archanum absconditum ab omnibus avaris vix unus hoc accipit dum est in hoc mundo. Claudit enim Conditor januam scripturae, ut lateant legentes quae liquide lucescunt; sed amicis hanc aperit ardenter qui amant, ut aliis ostenderent quod hi intellexerunt". If they sneer at his canor, it is because they have not got so high : "Nonnulli quia nequeunt in jubilo gestari et nodantur nequaquam nominis in nexu quod fixos in- flammat in fide Factoris, non credunt quia capior ad carmen canorum aut scriberem constanter in modo mirabili de cantu caritatis. Nimirum non mihi sed sibi nocebant ; ideo pro eis docere non dimitto ; tanto secretius subsidia sentivi quanto callidi me cupiunt quassare a flamma felice". They read his words, but do not know the tune : "Mundi amatores scire possunt verba vel carmina nostrarum cantionum, non autem cantica nostrorum carminum ; quia verba legunt, sed notam et tonum ac suavitatem odarum addiscere non possunt". If they despise him because he is poor and nobody, let them know "quod nunquam Deus nee papae nee episcopo, nee alicui alii cuiuscunque status fuerit, singular! Virgine excepta, de gloria aeterni amoris in hac vita illam praerogativam tribuit quam vero solitario delegavit''. They call him modern: "sed profecto qui bonos modernos reprobat, hesternos non laudat; non enim Deus est nunc minoris bonitatis quam fuit in primitiva ecclesia, qui adhuc electos suos ad amorem aeternitatis desiderandum praeparat et quos vult coelesti scienria sapientiaque divina inspirat". Many depreciate the moderns, as void of the spirit, but not all are so : "Hoc comperi quod virorum volumina moderne manentium minime cum multis magnificantur qui putant quod spiritus in istis non assistat quemadmodum affuit antiques inspirans ; et rationem reddere aliam non habent quam, quia ipsi vacuos se vident a flatu felice, etiam sic omnes esse suspicantur." And what are the arguments of the book-learned, compared to the inspirations of the living Spirit? how can they judge of what they have not got? "Sophismata sapientium saecularium superstitiosa sunt et non sana, ideoque a soliis superbiae saliunt in sulphur sempitemum"; "Qui habere putat quod non habet, quamvis etiam scolas disputantium usque ad nomen magistri frequentaverit , non me sed seipsum approbabit dum in hoc se sapientem ostendere nititur quod penitus ignorat" ; "Ipsi insipidi divina sapientia non imbuti sed scientia acquisita inflati, male de seipsis senciunt et Deum adhuc cum amore tenere nesciunt"; "In argu- mentis arristarum et in sophismaribus sine sanctitate, non in operibus elecris et in fervore fidei cum digna dilectione, superare suspicantur quos Cunctipotens in cali- dissima et canora caritate coronavit".

So he stands up firmly against his adversaries, and has an answer to all their accusations. So far from being overawed by their learning , he speaks with authority in his own person, leaning on his own experience as against book- knowledge (Ego Ricardus solitarius heremita dictus hoc melius cognovi quia ex- pertus sum ; or : hoc quod novi, assero), and triumphantly maintains his own views, his individual conviction.

These are the outlines of his live during this — his first — period. jNo more positive facts or dates can be gleaned from his writings, but in general his life was such as might be expected of a man who , raising a new religious ideal, meets with the hostility of the powers that be , is resisted by the inert mass of prejudice and tradition which always impede progress, and so becomes a martyr to his convictions. Indeed, though he manfully resisted and maintained his ground, he seems at last to have fallen a victim to his enemies. It may be presumed that his troubles at last reached such a climax that his life in the old neigh- bourhood became unbearable or impossible, and that this was the reason why he removed from thence and went into Richmondshire ; but whether the immediate cause was his conflict with the authorities, or the persecution of his detractors, or the desertion of friends and patrons and the difficulty of his living, or whether all these points worked together, we have no means to ascertain.

Introduction. XXXI

From that time, however, a new period seems to begin. His life seems to enter into smoother waters. The storm is passed, the tension subsides; he recovers his equanimity and calms down. His works of this period are com- paratively free from bitterness and from the excessive subjectivity of his earlier days, and show the serenity peculiar to those that have overcome. He is less personal, less combative, his language more moderate, his assertions are less sweeping and uncompromising. There are traces to show that he wishes to appear more in line with the general practice of the Church; f, i., if formerly he had said of the contemplative : "lam non dicit orationes suas, sed in sublimitate mentis posittis et amore raptus mira suavitate supra se rapitur et Deo decan- tare spirituali organo in minim modum sublevatur" — words which might easily be misconstrued as implying that prayers in that stage were dispensable, we now read in his Inc. Am. : "Talis amator Christi non dicit orationes suas more aliorum hominutn etiam justorum, quia in sublimitate mentis positus atque amore Christi raptus supra se suscipitur in mirabilem jocunditatem, et infuso in se sono divinitus quasi cum quodam neupna canens preces modulatur1'1 . In the Incendium amoris he gives his creed, which is rigidly orthodox, and he emphatically declines to admit reason in matters of faith. In substance, his views are the same as before, but he is more guarded, more conciliatory, in his utterance. The wild exuberance of his former works is sobered down ; he is matured by experience and shows the even temper of the sage. His tone is even more pathetic than before, and sometimes seems to rise from an unfathomable depth. Before, he had meant to be a Saint: now, he is a Saint, stripped, at it seems, of all earthly concerns and passions.

His remove into Richmondshire seems to have taken place in the earlier half of the third decade of his age. He stayed there for a considerable time. Of his outward life we know nothing beyond the fact that he remained an hermit and for a time had his cell 12 miles from Margaret the recluse of Ainderby. But I am inclined to think that he now was a real hermit , no longer dependant on the goodwill of the great, and really lived retired in solitude, perhaps supported by voluntary contributions of friends. On the whole, however, he seems to have been comparatively at ease and to have had no difficulty about his daily bread. At least he was sufficiently at ease to concentrate his thought on comprehensive works. His literary activity continued with unabated or increased vigour. In his Incendium Amoris (an imitation of Bonaventura's Stimulus Amoris) he once more follows up the course of contemplative life from the first conversion to the final perfection — but now in prose, and without the guidance of biblical texts. In other works he is postillator, but now expounds more regularly and methodically whole books of the Bible verse by verse, a task which required a more settled mind, close study, and mature reflection. He so wrote commentaries on the Psalter and Cantica, and on Threni. Besides, he is now more bent upon questions of prac- tical usefulness — so he wrote a direction for priests how to hear confession (in the Mss. combined with Cupienti mihi); expositions of the Creed, the Athanasian symbol, the Pater noster, for the instruction of laymen, &c. All these works are in Latin. But at the some time he now began more largely to write in English.

Foiled in his vast attempts at prostrating the tyrants and regenerating society, he now contents himself with a more moderate aim: he befriends recluses and nuns, and gives his spiritual advice to those that ask. One of his friends was "Margareta reclusa apud Anderby" (Vita), "Margareta anachorita, dilecta sua dis- cipula" (Form of living), the Margret Kirkby mentioned in the Prologue (by a later poet) to his English commentary of the Psalms. She seems to have been his good angel, and perhaps helped to smooth down his ruffled spirits. This friendship was lasting — it lasted to their lives' end. He loved her "perfecta cari- tatis affectione", and "used to instruct her in the art of love of God, and to direct her in the ruling of life by his holy institution". He twice cured her, by his mere presence, from a seizure. What a pathetic picture is that given in the Life. She had been ill for 13 days, losing the power of speech and suffering such prickings and pains that she could nowhere find rest. A certain husbandman rides off to fetch R. Rolle. "Veniens itaque ad reclusam, invenit earn mutam et

XXXII Introduction.

vexationibus acerrimis perturbatam. Cumque reslderet ad fenestram domus ejusdem reclusae, et simul comederent, contigit ut completo prandio reclusa desideraret dormire. Oppressa itaque somno, caput suum decidit ad fenestram ad quam se reclinavit sanctus Dei Ricardus ; et sic cum modicum dormivisset appodiando se ali- qualiter super if sum Ricardttm, subito cum impetu vehement! apprehendit earn in ipso somno tarn gravis vexatio ut videretur velle violenter fenestram domus suae dirimere, et in ipsa vexatione tarn forti evigilavit de somno, et cum magna devo- tione, potestate loquendi sibi concessa, in haec verba prorupit : Gloria tibi domine ! et b. Ricardus versum inceptum complevit dicens : Qui natus es de virgine, et cetera quae sequuntur completorii verba. Ait illi : Modo restitutum est tibi labium : utere eo sicut mulier bene loquax." Another friend was a sister in the nunnery of Yedingham (Little Mareis, or De parvo Marisco, in the East Riding — a nunnery founded in 1139 by Roger de Clere for 8 or 9 nuns of the Benedictine order), to whom he dedicated his Epistle Ego dormio et cor meum vigilat. Whether the Cecil to whom the Form of living is addressed in Ms. Rawl., was also a friend of his, cannot be made out. This relation to recluses was, no doubt, the main reason why he now began to employ the vernacular1. The time had long passed when — as in the Ancren Riwle — the ladies were expected to understand Latin : he had perforce to write in English if he wished to be understood ; he translates even the few Latin quotations extant in his epistles, and these epistles are all addressed to ladies. So his first English prose works must be assigned to this period. In form, they are epistles, but written in a rythmical, half-poetic prose, interspersed with bits of poetry (ejaculations of love-longing). So the beautiful "Form of living" addressed (in most Mss) to Margaret (the same epistle in which he "instructs her in the ruling of life"), and the no less beautiful 2nd epistle (Ego dormio &c), — epistles which I do not hesitate to count amongst the pearls of Old English literature, and which are all the more valuable because they are the first really original productions and the first prose works of medieval English. To the same Margaret he dedicated his English prose commentary on the Psalms and Canticles2 (ed. by Bramley). which is substantially a translation of his Latin Psalter, with this difference that, instead of expounding the verses phrase by phrase as in the Latin work, he leaves the verses entire and not broken up in phrases, each verse being headed by the Latin text with its English translation (which often agrees with the version given in the Northern Metrical Psalter). — To the same period must be ascribed most of his lyric poems, which form per- haps the best part of his productions — his genius being essentially lyric. Some of them are apparently written to ladies (f. i. I p 74. 79. 83). I think I detect his hand in some stanzas inserted in the Vernon version of the old West-Midland song "Swete Ihesu now wil I synge" &c, which certainly bear the mark of his peculiar style (II p. gff.) ; this — if my assumption be right — would not only prove his acquaintance with the earlier national literature, but directly connect the lyric of the North with that of the West (in Ms. Harl. 2255 &c)3. His first lyric attempts were, no doubt, short ejaculations of love-longing, effusions of the canor, and they seem to belong to his earliest works. These he now formed into songs, by combining them, or adding new stanzas on the same tune. Some of these combinations — those inserted in his epistles and written as prose in the Mss

R. Rolle, but is of Lollard origin.

Cantilenas quidem de feminis fecerunt — hoc reputavi rursum ruinam.

Introduction. XXXHI

(I p 30. 34. 57. 60" — are very irregular in form, consisting of rhyme-tirades of an unequal number of verses, and stanzas mixed together, and somewhat resem- bling the old French or German lais. Others are regular poems of even stanzas, but they too exhibit certain irregularities and may be dissolved into ejaculations. His favourite form is the 4-lined stanza (that employed in his Latin poem Zelo tui langueo) , but besides he uses a great variety of forms : rhyming couples, rhyme couee, 6 and 8-lined stanzas, alliterative verses (I. 53), and makes freely use of inner rhyme and alliteration, sometimes showing considerable art1. He seems to have been in close touch with the popular poetry of his time , and even to have derived some of his themes from it (so I. 73. 373). His lyric poems comprise those extant in Ms. Dd v. 64 (under his name) and most of the poems of Ms. Thornton (though here his name is not given), and probably several of the minor poems of Ms. Vernon, especially some songs to Mary, who, as he expressly states, was next to Christ the object of his amorous effusions. In Ms. Dd they are called Cantica divini amoris , a title also used in John Hove- den's poems. They include addresses of Christ on the Cross to sinfull man, of the poet to Christ on the Cross, songs to Jesus, the Trinity, Mary, poems on mercy, on what is love, on the vanity of the world &c. The lyric fervour, the beauty, the melody of these lines have never been surpassed. He seems to have accu- mulated and issued his poems in batches, as they are often intermixed with prose sentences. Probably he also wrote some Latin hymns, perhaps those found in Ms. Thornton (I. p 381 and 410). — To the same period may also belong the Meditation on the Passion (I. 83 ff — devotions to be said in following the successive stages or stations of our Lord's Passion — and another meditation on the three arrows on Doomsday (I. 112; in the Mss., however, not given with his name) ; both written in rhythmical prose, the former intermixed with alliterative verses, the latter with occasional rhymes.

At last — presumably in the beginning of the fourties of his age — he removed to Hampole, and there stayed during the remainder of his life. The reason why he left Richmondshire for the South of Yorkshire, does not appear. One of his epistles (Pe commandment &c, I. 61) is written to "a certain nun of Hampole" — perhaps it was this lady who invited him there or was instrumental in his coming. The place was a Cistercian nunnery, founded by William de Clarefai in 1 1 70 for i4 or 15 nuns. He there continued his solitary life, having his cell near or in the grounds of the nunnery, and supported by the nuns, who seem to have em- ployed him as their spiritual adviser. This time forms the 3d and last period of his life. More details cannot be gleaned of his life, as his later writings are singularly free from personal remarks. But he certainly continued to write in the same pace. Which of his works belong to this period it is difficult to make out in every instance; but I think we shall not be far wrong if we attribute to this time those works in which he appears least personal and subjective, most sobered, most practical; those in which he sums up, and in which he is most engrossed by the life to come.2 Of this kind is the Emendatio peccatoris (or 12 Capitula), which contains an abridged re'sume' of his doctrines; De octo viridariis (in Ms. Magd. Coll. 71, and here ascribed to R. Roile) in which the verses of the Psalter containing the words misericordia, misericors, miserator, miserere, are connected and bound together in 8 viridaria or gardens of salutiferous herbs (these herbs being the auctoritates psalmorum de Dei misericordia) ; and his mis- cellaneous collections of epigrams, aphorisms, sentences, sayings from the Fathers &c., in Latin and English, likewise brought out in batches (as those in Ms. Baliol 224, Reg. 17 B xvn), and which form an important part of his works, he being

1 The North was for England the school of form; many new forms were here invented and introduced ; I even find an attempt at an hexameter , in Ms. Ff I. 14 (in a Latin treatise on the Hours &c. : "Dolenter refero") :

Hi sunt qui psalmos corrumpunt nequiter almos: Ourelepers, forskyppers, bebbers, momelers quoque stutters.

2 "Die Kraft der Erregbarkeit nimmt mit dem Leben ab, bis endlich den aufgeriebenen Menschen nichts mehr aul der leeren Welt erregt als die kiinftige", Gothe.

XXXTV Introduction.

one of the chief contributors to the stock of northern epigrams then forming (see I. p. 421). Of his English works, I ascribe to this period his well-known poem "1*6 prick of conscience", which in the descriptions of old age , of death, of the day of judgment, of the pains of Hell and the joys of Heaven, shows the objects then predominant in his mind, and is the most matured of all his works.

But though, as in this poem, he describes the signs of old age, we nowhere in his works find him complaining of his own old age, and when death, so long anticipated, so impatiently desired and prayed for, overtook him at last, it found him still in the prime of manhood. He died, after several years' residence at Hampole, on the 29th of September 1349, probably of the pestilence1 which in that year raged in the North, not sparing even the remotest and healthiest villages in the county of York (cf. Raine, Fasti Ebor. p. 444, Knyghton col. 2598, Stubbs 1732), and to which his enfeebled constitution could offer little resistance. He was buried at Hampole, and by the nuns regarded as a saint and their patron. Not long after his death his name began to be celebrated for miracles, especially of healing , and pilgrims nocked there not only from the neighbourhood , but from distant counties. The miracles related in the Officium , refer to events of the years 1381 — 3, and this most likely was the time when the nuns of Hampole, to whom the fame of his sanctity was a source of honour and profit, had his Officium2 compiled, in view of his expected canonisation, which, however, never took place. His works were kept by the nuns in iron chains, to prevent their being further polluted by the Lollards, who had begun to interpolate his writings in their sense and to give out these interpolated writings as his, so covering their heresies with the authority of his name (see Prologue to Engl. Psalter).3

A well-preserved portrait of R. Rolle is extant in Ms. Faustina B VI (end of 14th cent.), in a northern poem on the trees of vices and virtues growing in the wilderness of life (falsely attributed to W. Hilton), illustrated by figures of hermits and nuns; he is represented sitting, with a book in his lap, in a white habit, ]hesus is written in gold letters on his breast, angels above bear a scroll with the words Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus dominus deus sabaoth , pleni sunt cell et terra gloria tua ; the picture is surrounded by the legend : A solitari here hermite life i lede, For Jhwu loue so dere all flescli lufe i flede ; Pat gastli comforthe clere bat in my breste brede , Might me a thowsand zeere in heuenly strenghe haue stedd. Of the correctness of the likeness we have as little proof as in the case of the portraits of Wicliffe : but the features are certainly such, as might be ex- pected in a man of his character, and agree with the description he himself gives of his personal appearance as good-looking, florid, yet pale and emaciated.

R. Rolle was one of the most remarkable men of his time , yea of history. It is a strange, and not very creditable, fact that one of the greatest of Englishmen has hitherto been doomed to oblivion. In other cases the human beast first crucifies, and then glorifies or deifies, the nobler minds who, swayed by the Spirit, "do not live as others live", in quest of higher ideals by which to benefit the race; he, one of the noblest champions of humanity, a hero, a saint, a martyr in this cause, has never had his resurrection yet — a forgotten brave. And yet he has rendered greater service to his country , and to the world at large , than all the great names of his time. He re-discovered Love, the principle of Christ.4 He re-installed feeling, the spring of life, which had been obliterated in the reign of scholasticism. He re -opened the inner eye of man, teaching contemplation in solitude, an unworldly life in abnegation, in chastity and charity — an ideal not unlike Christ's and Buddha's. He broke the hard crust that had gathered round

1 In the same year, of the same disease, died Rob. Holcot, and Tho. Bradwardine.

2 The Vita in the Officium is made up of traditions (transmitted probably by Margaret Kirkby) and extracts from R. Rolle's writings ; the Miracula is a later work by another author (perhaps identical with the author of the Miracula S. Edmundi regis apud Wainflete, Ms. Bodl. 240).

8 It is probably on account of his being identified with reformatory tendencies or Lollard heresies, that his canonization was not effected.

4 He did not, however, come to equally realise the other principle of Christ, the Spirit ("Geist"), both — Love and Spirit — the evolution of the "Trieb" (the Absolute, the "Father"), which first proceeds into Love, and from Love into "Geist" (expressed in the biblical 'cognovit earn").

Introduction. XXXV

the heart of Christianity by formalism and exteriority, and restored the free flow of spiritual life. He fought against the absorption of religion by the interested classes, and re-asserted the individual, individual right and conscience, against all tyranny, both seculer and ecclesiastic. He broke the way for the Reformers, and was the predecessor of Wicliffe and Luther, though to his credit it must be said that he himself never left, or meant to leave, the unity of the Church1. He was a great religious character , made of the stuif of which the builders of religions are made. Of all the ideals of humanity — the hero, the sage, the poet, the king — the saint is perhaps the greatest, and that ideal he realised. Besides, he is one of the greatest English writers. He was the first to employ the ver- nacular. He is the true father of English literature. He revived the alliterative verse. He made the North the literary centre for half a century. He is the head and parent of the great mystic and religious writers of the 14th century — of W. Hilton, WiclifFe, Mirk &c, all of whom received their light from his light and followed in his steps. He shaped the thought of the next generations, and it is his influence when the typical Englishman even of the 15th century is des- cribed as a man seldom fatigued with hard labour , leading a life more spiritual and refined , indolent and contemplative , preeminent in urbanity but devoid of domestic affection (cf. Gairdner, Paston letters III. p. ban).

His position as a mystic was mainly the result of the development of scho- lasticism. The exuberant, luxuriant growth of the brain in the system of Scotus called forth the re-action of the heart, and this reaction is embodied in R. Rolle, who as exclusively represents the side of feeling as Scotus that of reason and logical consequence, either lacking the corrective of the other element. Both are antagonists — but both are individualists, who subject the existing system to the test of their individual feeling and thought and, though supporting the dogma even to the exclusion of reason, yet, as individualists, break through that harmony, that "in Reihe und Glied" - catholicity wherein the individual as such disappears. R. Rolle, though following in the wake of Bonaventura, was not a mere repetition of Bonaventura, but, by bringing out his individuality, 'developed mysticism in the English spirit ; his abhorrence of obedience and of a rule, his love of liberty and independence, his practical sense, his democratic tendencies are national features, which impart a new character to his system. But he is not only an Englishman: he is more especially a Northerner, and continues the traditions of the North. His "hermit" — the embodiment of his religious ideal — is a revival of an in- stitution long familiar in the North. His almost morbid love of solitude and isolation, his boldness in defying prejudice, the uncouth, rugged side of his character are northern traits. It is this influence which made him revive the northern alli- terative verse and vie with Caedmon in the gift of canor, with Bede as a com- mentator and epigrammatist. His chief charasteristic as a writer is originality — he is essentially a genius ; everywhere he cuts out new ways , lays now foun- dations. Next, he is preeminently a lyric; whether he writes in prose or verse, he writes from feeling, from momentary inspiration. Besides, he is of a remar- kable versatility and facility ; he writes with equal ease in Latin and English , in verse and prose, and in all kinds of verse, frequently mixing prose and verse in the same work ; he writes postils, commentaries, epistles, satires, polemic treatises, prayers and devotions, lyric and didactic poetry, epigrams. His defects lie on the side of method and discrimination; he is weak in argumentation, in developing and arranging his ideas. His sense of beauty is natural rather than acquired, and his mind is too restless to properly perfect his writings. His form is not suffi- ciently refined , and full of irregularities ; his taste not unquestionable ; his style frequently difficult, rambling, full of veiled allusions — much depends on the punc- tuation to make it intelligible ; his Latin incorrect and not at all classic — it is the Latin of his time and, besides, full of solecisms and blunders of his own2,

1 His difference from Wicliffe is briefly this: he is all love, Christ-like; Wicliffe all hatred, negation.

* as f. i. fragillimus, tranquillimus, nulle and sole mulieri, nocere and opitulari aliquera, memi- nens, odio odis odiri oditur, combinations as sed et, etiam et, nee = ne quidem, constructions as

XXXVI Introduction.

it is not surprising that the learned of the guild should have looked down upon his rusticity. But all this cannot detract from his great qualities as a writer — the originality and depth of his thought, the truth and tenderness of his feeling, the vigour and eloquence of his prose, the grace and beauty of his verse, and everywhere we detect the marks of a great personality , a personality at once powerful, tender, and strange, the like of which was perhaps never seen again.

A full account of his literary activity — which are his works, and where to be found — has hitherto been wanting. The lists of his works in the old biblio- graphers (Leland, Pits, Tanner) are equally baseless and conjectural; works of his and of his followers, Latin and English works, have been confounded; many works have been ascribed to him without the slightest foundation, while genuine works have been omitted. The following list, comprising the works I have been able to trace in the libraries of Oxford, Cambridge, and London, will, I hope, help materially to solve the difficult problem or at least bring it within more denned lines. '

Latin works2.

Hymn to the Virgin : "Zelo tni langueo virgo speciosa" in 39 4-lined stanzas ,an imitation of Bonaventura's (or Peckam's) Cantus philomenae: Ms. Rawl. C 397. 3 Melum contemplativorum ardentium in amore dei (so title in Ms.) or De gloria et perfectione sanctorum praecellentium (orig. title, as appearing in the work4 and mentioned in Job), beg. "Amor utique audacem efficit animum", a series of postils in 57 Capp. on the progress of contemplative life, in alliteration (partly allitera- tive verse, partly alliterative prose): Ms. Corp. Chr. Coll. Oxf. 193. 3 prose tracts which in the oldest Ms., Mm vi. 17, appear separate, viz.:

Capitulum de Judicio dei sec. Hampole : "Judica me deus &c, A Deo qui

scrutatur"(Laud528: ConfessionesRicardi, Tanner: De nonjudicando proximo),

an epistle addressed to a priest and treating of God's judgment as against man's,

Exhortatio quaedam bona: "Cupienti michi" — an epistle to a parish priest

inculcating charity and contemplation,

Quomodo apparebit dominus in iudicio : "Attende quod ait Crisostomus", but in other Mss. are combined (so in CCCO 193, Laud 528), the 2nd being joined by an instruction to parish-priests for hearing confession : "Istis iam dictis" — perhaps a later work of R. Rolle (CCCO, Laud 528, Rawl. C 397, Bal. 224), and this by a passage on the general resurrection: ''In die iudicii resurgent" (Rawl., Bal., Ashm. 751), after which follows "Attende quod ait Crisostomus" (Rawl., Ashm., while Bal. instead concludes with an instruction for monks: "Studium cuiuslibet religiosi"), the whole (excepting the Is* piece "Judica me")

nobis ut inutiles contemptis, videt carnem amantes ministri altaris et praelati effici, inveni lesum in monte solus sedentem; donamur proficere; necesse est ut unusquisque _ad celestia tendens_ caritate non ficta informari; liquet quia si vultis, quod potestis; debet iniungere ei quod si convaluerit, ut vadat; exemplum habetis de domino de quo legitur nunquam gravem penitentiam iniunxisse, &c.

1 The principal Mss. containing the works of R. Rolle, are: Ms. CCC Oxf. 193 ("olim lohannis Hanton monachi Ebor., postea Rob. de Lacy qui fundavit prioratum de Pontefracto" ; a fine and well executed Ms. in 266 fol., the most complete collection, but the texts are not very correct), Ms. Mm vi. 17 (oldest Ms., with some pieces of R. Rolle, and others of doubtful origin), Baliol 224, Dd v. 64 (Latin and Engl. works), Rawl. A 389, Ashm. 751, St. John's Oxf. 77, Rawl. C 397 &c.

2 These Latin works I have collected, and shall publish them in one of the next volumes. * The last 2 stanzas, in different metre, are :

Praefulgenti virgini do praeconia, Virgo decora, pari fine vivens pure dilexi,

Et dignentur imprimi floris gaudia, Squalentis heremi cupiens et in arvis haberi

Amans intus ardeo, vincens vilia, Per cytharam sonui coelicam subiectus amori:

Zelo tui langueo, virgo regia. Virgo quam cecini, animam sublima Ricardi.

The last verse proves his authorship.

4 so in Cap. 5 : de gloria et perfectione sanctorum praecellentium postillas proferam quae piis placeant; at the end: Hactenus egimus_ de viris sanctis praecellentibus quantum ad ipsorum per- fectionem, similiter etiam quantum ad ipsorum gloriam. In Job he mentions this work under the same title: Sed quaerite de hac materia (the merits of contemplative life) in libello de vita eremitarum, etiam et in libra de perfectione et gloria sanctorum, quia ibi invenietis de eminentia sanctitatis.

Introduction. XXXVn

having in Rawl. the title: Forma sive regula de modo confitendi, extracta per Ricardum heremitam ex verbis sanctorum patrum. l

Regula heremitarum: "Heremita dicitur ab hereo", 7 Capp.: Ms. Mm VI. 17 — probably identical with (or part of) his libellus de vita eremitarum, mentioned in Job. Liber de amore del contra amatores mundi: "Quoniam mundanorum insania",

6 Capp. : Ms. CCCO 193, Bal. 224, St. John's Coll. Oxf. 127, Lincoln. Postillae ejusdem super Cantica v. i — 2: CCCO 193, Cott. Vesp. E I (abr. in S. John's Coll. 127); viz:

Osculetur me osculo oris sui: "Suspirantis animae deliciis",

Quia meliora sunt ubera tua vino: "Fidelis et delicate depasta",

Fragrantia unguentis optimis: "Cum laudasset sponsa"; at the end the Col.:

Explicit tractatus super I m versiculum Canticorum. Then follows Oleum effusum nomen tuum: "Expulsus de paradiso", extant separately in Laud 528 ; a part of this piece is the Encomium nominis Jesu ed. Colon. 1536, and translated in Ms. Thornton, see I p. 186), Ideo adolescentulae dilexerunt te nimis : "Et quia tale est nomen tuum" (ed.

Colon. 1536).

Trahe me post te : "Radix cordis nostri sit caritas", Curremus in odore unguentorum tuorum: "Ecce fratres mira amatoris".

Col. : Explicit super 2m versum Cant. sec. Ric heremitam.

Postillae ejusdem heremitae super novem lectiones mortuorum (Job) : "Parce mihi

domine, Exprimuntur autem in his verbis": Ms. CCCO 193, Laud 528, id. 94,

Dd. iv. 54, Ff v. 36, Ji i. 26, Magd. Coll. O. 71, Univ. Coll. 45, New Coll. 93,

" St. John's Oxf. 147, Lincoln, &c. (ed. Rembolt Paris 1510, Colon. 1536).

Moralia in Job (Pits), ed. Colon. 1536 under the title: In aliquot capita Job enar-

ratio compendiosa, ex libro Moralium b. Gregorii desumpta: "Parce mihi

domine, Sunt nonnulli justorum" ; containing mere extracts from Gregory's Moral.

vm. Cap. 26 ff. (slightly abridged, and with a few additions) on the same chapters

of Job as the preceding piece.

Postilla ejusdem super Threnos sive lamentationes Jeremiae : "Et factum est post-

quam &c. Treni ut ait leronimus": Ms. CCCO 193 (ed. Colon. 1536). Tractatus super psalmum 20 (Domine in virtute tua laetabitur rex) : "Cum Christus

qui est veritas": Ms. CCCO 193, Lincoln (ed. Colon. 1536).

Expositio psalterii: "Magna spiritualis iocunditatis suavitas": Ms. CCCO 193, St. John's Oxf. 195 (ed. Colon. 1536); the verses are commented phrase by phrase; the psalms are followed by the 7 canticles of the Old Testament , but not by Magnificat, which, however, is extant separately in

Magnificat: "Istum psalmum benedictae virginis": Ms. Rawl. C 397, Ashm. 751. Incendium amoris (CCCO : Melodia amoris) : "Admirabar amplius quam enuncio" ; full text in 42 Cap. and 2 books (lib. I Cap. 1—30, lib. II Cap. 31 — 42) in Ms. Dd. v. 64, CCCO 193 (without titles), Reg. 5 C. HI; abridged text (with the omission of certain passages) in Mm. v. 37, Bal. 224, and (with ad- ditions at the end from other works of R. R.) Addit. 24,661; other Mss.: Rawl. A 389, Caj. Coll. 140. 332, Laud 202. 528. (It gives his theory of contemplative life, as the Melum). A Chapter of this treatise is

Qualiter Ricardus pervenerit ad incendium amoris: "Cum infeliciter florerem", which is frequently found separate (ed. Colon. 1536). 2

1 So the pieces are distributed as follows:

ludica me: Mm vi. 17, CCCO 193, Laud 528, id. in, Baliol 224 Cupienti mihi: Mm. CCCO, Laud 528, id. in, Bal., Rawl. €397 Istis jam dictis: CCCO, Bal., Rawl., Laud 528 In die judicii: Bal., Rawl., Ashm. 751 Attende quod ait Cris. : Mm, Rawl., Ashm. (Studium cuiuslibet religiosi: Bal.).

2 The piece beginning "Omnis actio laudabilis" in Mm v. 37 and Bal. 224, ascribed to R. Rolle l>y Tanner, is nothing but a chapter of Incend. amoris ("Si quis sancte et juste vivat"), preceded by a passage from Anselm ("Omnis actio" &c.), which occurs alone in Ff i. 14.

XXXVm Introduction.

De emendatione peccatoris (Emendatio vitae , Vehiculum vitae, Duodecim capi- tula): "Ne tardes convert!": Ms. CCCO 193, Dd v. 64, Dd iv. 54, Ff v. 36, Gg I. 32, Hh IV. 13, Laud 528, 202, Magd. Coll. O. 71, Merton 68, Brasenose 15 &c. (ed. with the Speculum Spiritualium Paris 1510; Colon. 1536).'

Tractatus super oratione dominica: "Haec oratio privilegiata est" : Ms. CCCO 193, Dd v. 64 (imperfect), Dd iv. 50 (ed. Colon. 1536). 2

Expositio symbol! apostolici: "Decimo die post ascensionem" : Ms. CCCO 193 'ed. Colon. 1536 .

Expositio symboli Athanasii (Quicunque volt} : "Hie beatus Athanasius" : Ms. CCCO 193 (ed. Colon. 1536 .

Super "Mulierem fortem quis inveniet" (Prov. 31. 10, : "Quantum aurum argento est pretiosius": Ms. St. John's Coll. Oxf. 77 (Col. Explicit Mulierem fortem, expositum per Ric. Hampole) — a short piece on contemplation.

De del misericordia3, sive de via viridariis: "Misericordias domini in eternum can- tabo &c": Ms. Magd. Coll. Oxf. 71 Col. Explicit liber iste compilatus per Ri- cardum Hampule, quern benedicat Christus Marie filius amen;. Under the parable of a miserable fugitive who is brought back to health and happiness by the herbs in the garden of Mercy it strings together and connects the verses of the psalms containing the words misericordia , miserator , misericors , misereri, in 8 parts (viridarii).

Miscellanies in Ms. Baliol 224 , containing prayers, bona et utilis tabula fidei christianae, short notes, aphorisms, sentences from the Fathers, definitions, an index of biblical words with their mystical meaning, epigrams &c. 'The name of R. Rolle is not given, but^all the other contents of the Ms. are works of his!.

Prayers 'collected in Ms. Kk vi. 20: Orationes excerptae de diversis tractatibus quos composuit b. Ricardus heremita ad honorem nominis Jesu, fol. II — 26b;, hymns, epigrams, sentences, short notes, &c., dispersed in various Mss. and collections, and not easy to be identified as his in every instance.4

The following works have been ascribed to him, but are more or less doubtful:

Consilia Isidori: "O homo scito temetipsum": Ms. Mm vi. 17 and ed., with the

Speculum Christian!, by Machlinia (1484?). (An Engl. translation, ed. p. 367,

has been ascribed to R. Rolle). "Memento miser homo quod cinis es", a meditation: Ms. Mm VI. 17 and Ashm.

751 (here with additions at the end;. Meditatio divinae laudis et spei veniae sec. Ricardum heremitam: "Memor fui del et

delectatus sum": Ms. Ashm. 751. Bonum notabile sec. Ricardum Hampol heremitam, quod temptationes spirituales

multum prosunt animae peccatrici : "Sicut tenebrae eius ita et lumen", and Aliud notabile dictum per eundem Ricardum de cautelis diaboli contra timidam

conscientiam : "Pave tu qui timidae es conscientiae" 5 : Ms. St. John's Coll. O. 77;

(these 2 pieces are more probably by W. Hilton).

1 The Incendium amoris, and Emend, peccatoris were translated into English (Lincoln dialect) by Rich. Misyn, Carmelite, in 1434 and 1435 : Ms. CCCO. 236.

2 Another exposition of the Lord's Prayer: "O immensa dementia, o ineffabilis benignitas75, extant in Ms. St. John's Coll. Oxf. 77 among works of R. Rolle, is probably not his work. A longer tract (by R. Rolle?) is extant in Ms. Harl. 1022 &c.

3 In hoc tractatu qui intitulatur "de dei misericordia'', auctoritates quae sunt de misericordia, per singulos psalmorum vn nocturnorum et octavum psalmonim sequentium, tanquam herbas quasdam spirituales salutarias in imam seriem et tractatum recolligam et in 8 partes in processu distinguam; quern processum si quis voluerit devote legere et in verbis eius dulciter meditari, misericordiam dei consequi potent et a cunctis piaculis expurgari.

4 So the sentences in Reg. 17 B xvn (ed. n p. 64) are most likely his, and many of the epi- grams in Arund. 517 (ed. I p. 421); perhaps also the excerpts and Proverbs in Mm vi. 17, fol. 90 — in, and 112 — 5; the hymns in Ms. Thornton (i p. 381. 410); the prayers in the same Ms. (i. P- 435).

5 Another treatise on the same subject is in Ms. Laud 497 and Ff i. 14 (Remedium contra temptationes spirituales et contra cogitationes fantasticas et immundas : "Quia sicut ait apostolus sine fide impossibile est placere Deo"), ascribed to R. R. in the Catalogue. An English tract on the subject is in Ms. Hh i. n, and this is the basis of the piece printed 1508 and 1519 by W. de Worde (ed. n p. 106 ff.).

Introduction. XXXIX

Meditatio S. Augustini: "Miserere mei &c., Credimus quod hanc orationem": Ms.

Magd. Coll. Oxf. 93 (fragment). (An Engl. transl., ed. p. 377, has been

ascribed to R. R.) Meditatio : "Domine deus spiritus sancte, timeo et desidero loqui de te pro me" :

Ms. Thornton and Magd. Coll. 93 (fragm.), cf. I p. 441. Matutinae in veneratione nominis Jesu editae a b. Ricardo de Hampule : "Salutem

mentis et corporis donet", and Missa de eodem et ab eodem ut creditur edita: "In nomine Jesu omne genu":

Ms. Kk vi. 20.

Liber de arte moriendi : "Cum de praesentis exilii miseria" : Ms. CCCO 226, Magd. Oxf. 72, New Coll. 304, Ff i. 13 (an Engl. transl., ascr. to R. Rolle, see p. 406). Novem virtutes: Ms. Caj. Coll. 140, see p. 455.

Works wrongly ascribed to him:

De XII utilitatibus tribulationis : "Da nobis domine auxilium de trib., O anima tri- bulata &c"), ascribed to R. R. in Mm vi. 17 and extant with his works in CCCO 193 ; it is an old tract, attributed to St. Cyprian, Augustine, Peter of Blois, ed. in Petri Bles. Opp. by Giles in. 307, Migne 207; see p. n. 389.

Speculum peccatoris: "Quoniam carissimi", in Ms. CCCO 193 and many other Mss. ; it has also been ascribed to St. Augustine (ed. with his works, Migne vi. 983) and St. Bernard; see p. 436).

Scala coeli, or Scala claustralium : "Cum die quadam corporali mannum labore", also ascribed to St. Augustine (ed. Opp. vi. col. 1451), St. Bernard (n. col. 647), Adam Carthusianus, Guigo Carthusiensis. *

Cantus philomenae: "Philomena praevia temporis ameni", also ascribed to Bona- ventura (Opp. xn), but more probably a work of Peckham; it is given in Ms. Rawl. C. 397 with an extract from R. Rolle's Inc. Amoris, after "Zelo tui langueo".

Only part of the Latin works have hitherto been printed ; an old edition, Coloniae 1536, contains the following works: In Psalterium Davidicum enarratio , In aliquot capitula Job, In Threnos, In Psalmum XX, Emendatio peccatoris, Nominis Jesu encomium celeberrimum , "Cum infeliciter florerem", "Adolescentulae dilexerunt te nimis", In Orationem dominicam, In Symbolum Apostolicum, In Symbolum Athanasii. Of these, the latter part (Emendatio peccatoris and the following) were reprinted in De la Bigne Magna Bibliotheca vol. xv, Colon. 1622.

English works.

To trace and fix his English works is even more difficult. His name was so associated with a certain class of literature that all works of that character, or found in certain collections (as Ms. Harl. 1706), were readily ascribed to him, while some of his genuine works soon ceased to be recognised as his. His works got mixed up with those of his followers, especially W. Hilton and Wicliffe, and the more easily because both authors not only followed in his steps but freely borrowed from him (several of the supposed tracts of Wicliffe2 begin with the same words as works of R. Rolle, and Hilton's style and manner is almost identical with his). Or translations and imitations of his works assumed his name. In some cases, his works were broken up in parts, or different pieces joined together, and these parts and combinations went by his name. So confusion soon commenced to set in; it begins in the Mss., appears in the early prints, was magnified by Tanner, and has since invaded the modern catalogues of Mss. In fact, there is hardly a religious work in early English that has not been ascribed to him. How then are we to get at his real works and to sever the corn from the chaff? The principal test is the dialect. As R. Rolle never — excepting the years of his stu- dentship— left the precincts of Yorkshire, living first in the northern, at last in

1 On another Scala coeli (with Narrationes) cf. Th. Fr. Crane, Exempla of Jacques de Vitry, London 1890.

- So the Commentary on the Psalms and Canticles (ed. Arnold, Select works of Wicliffe), which is a bold appropriation of R. Rolle's original work, interpolated in a Lollard sense.

XL Introduction.

the southern parts of that county, it is obvious that he can only have written in the northern dialect — unlike Wicliffe who, though a northerner, from his long residence in the South adopted the southern speech, and W. Hilton who, though originally writing in northern English, gradually admitted the mixed forms of the neighbourhood where he resided 'Thurgarton in Notts . Indeed, all the genuine works of R. Rolle have been traced in northern texts, exhibiting the same pure northern forms, the same vocabulary1. It follows that works which on closer examination are found to be of Midland or Southern origin, cannot be his ; hence many works in Tanner's list must be rejected. Nor can even northern texts which give translations of his Latin works , be accepted as his, if they are found to seriously misunderstand the meaning — for it is impossible that he himself should have mistaken the sense of his words ; such is the case in several of the pieces of Ms. Thornton, though here given with his name. On the other side, we may safely ascribe to him those northern texts which in the Mss. are found mixed up with works of his and contain the same peculiarities of language and style, the same cadenced prose &c., though not bearing his name. The only possible means of approximately arriving at the truth is, therefore, to follow up the northern Mss. which contain, or may contain, his works. This course I have taken, and laid down the materials in these volumes, so that henceforth the question will rest on the works here given.

Works bearing his name :

The form of living — an epistle to Margaret Kirkby, in 12 Chapters and 2 parts

(Forma vivendi and Amore langueo) 2,

"Ego dormio et cor meum vigilat", epistle to a nun of Yeddingham, •'t*e commandment" &c., epistle to a nun of Hampole, Cantica divini amoris, and another poem of the same kind "Thy ioy be ilka

dele &c."), "A grete clerk pat men cals Ricard of Saynt Victor" &c., a fragment in a few

lines of another epistle, all these works extant in Ms. Dd V. 64 and

ed. I, p. I — 82 (other Mss. are given with the respective pieces .

Meditatio Ric. heremite de passione domini, in 2 Mss. .- LI I. 8 and Cambr. Addit. 3042 — both greatly differing in text, and both southern transcriptions, the former, however, retaining traces of northern origin; ed. I p. 83 — 103.

Some minor pieces in Ms. Thornton, viz. :

Encomium nominis Jesu : Oleum effusum nomen tuum, also extant in Ms. Harl. 1022, a verbal translation of a passage in the Postillae super Cantica (it in- cludes: A tale pat Rycherde hermet made),

De imperfecta contritione, 2 tales from Caesarius (the 2nd also extant in Ashm. 751)

Moralia Richardi heremite de natura apis

De vita cuiusdam puelle incluse propter amorem Christi, a tale from Heraclides

A notabill tretys of the ten comandementys

1 Words peculiar to his vocabulary are f. i. : never-be-later, i-whil, i-myd, i-twlx, whine (whi ne), warne (= ne war), takil, laite, tharn, ug, wark (= ache), wlate, rosen, fraist, gang, held (= in- cline), hing(= hang), gilder, ginge (folk), garth, droue, hidill. aforcen, engleymen, disperpill, daynteth, totiler ; he makes freely use of words in abil, ness, te, iss (prayabil, delitabil, singabil, trowabil, unfillabil, unstirabil, sernes, unnoyandnes, caitifte, plentouste, unconabilte, puniss, nuris, warnis, forgetil), of the prefix um- (umthink, umlappen, umwhile), uses priue = deprive, parcenel (= partner), moght = might, &c.

" This was a very popular tract; passages of it, with the Engl. text, are given in Walton's Speculum Christiani ed. by Machlinia 1484?, and in the Speculum spiritualium Paris 1510 (the work of an English author, in Ms. Dd iv. 54 ascribed to Henricus de Balnea Cartusiensis). It was paraphrased in English verse, probably by Will. Nassington, see u p. 283. A Latin trans- lation is extant in Ms. Caj. Coll. 140 fol. 181 ("Omnes homines peccatores istius mundi morta- libus nequitiis ligati, tribus miseriis subiecti sunt" &c. ; Col. : Explicit Ricardus heremita de modo vivendi ad M. inclusam); fragments of a translation are found in Ms. Laud in fol. 177 and Douce 107 f. ii (beg.: in spiritual! canone voce prorumpens); Harl. 106 f. i contains a fragment of an abridged Latin text.

Introduction. XLI

De 7 donis Spiritus sancti (in Dd v. 64 a chapter of the Form of living) De dilectatione in deo; all ed. I p. 186 — 197;

of which pieces, however, several are translations from the Latin, and only the

Moralia de natura apis and the treatise on the commandments can be regarded

as genuine.

Commentary on the Psalter, ed. by Bramley Oxf. 1884 from Ms. Univ. Coll. 64; another northern Ms. is Ms. Newcastle and, partly, Laud 286, n other Mss. are southern transcriptions; a later prologue, in Ms. Laud 286, contains that it was written at the prayer of Margaret Kirkby. It is substantially a translation of the Expositio Psalterii, the commentary following each verse, and the trans- lation of the Psalms often agrees with the Engl. Psalter in verse (Ms. Vesp. D vn, ed. H p. I29ff.) which has also been ascribed to R. Rolle. The Psalms are followed by the Old Testament canticles and by Magnificat (the New Testa- ment canticles appear only in Lollard adaptations of R. Rolle's commentary, cf. Th. Arnold, Select Engl. works of Wicliffe Oxf. 1869).

The Prick of Conscience, a poem in 9624 w. (rhyming couples), extant in 2 northern Mss.: Galba E ix and Harl. 4196, and in a great many southern transcriptions; ed. by R. Morris (Philological Soc., Berlin 1863); it treats, in 7 parts, of the beginning of man's life, of the instability of this world, of death and why death is to be dread, of purgatory, of the day of doom, of the pains of Hell, and of the joys of Heaven.1

Of the anonymous works in northern Mss.,

which are mostly found mixed up with works of R. Rolle, the following are probably or possibly his :

Meditation on the Passion, and of three arrows on Doomsday: Ms. Rawl.

C 285 and Arundel 507, ed. I p. 112 (another treatise on the same subject

and derived from this, is the treatise ed. II p. 446, which is usually ascribed

to Wicliffe). 9 points: Ms. Rawl. C 285, ed. I p. no (other texts: Ms. Vernon and Harl.

1704, ed. ib., and Ms. Harl. 2409 &c., ed. II p. 455; a Latin text is extant

in Caj. Coll. 140).

St. Anselm's Admonitio morienti: Rawl. C 285, ed. I p. 107. 2 On grace, and Our daily work (a rule, it seems, for anchorets), both extant in Ms. Arund.

507 and Ms. Thornton, ed. I p. 132 ff., p. 300 — 321. On prayer: Ms. Thornton, ed. I p. 295.

1 A Latin translation, Stimulus conscientiae, is extant in Ms. Dd iv. 50 fpl. 56 — 98', with the heading : Iste tractatus vocatur Stimulus conscientiae , qui ab anglico in latinum a minus sciolo «st translatus ; si quis igitur sapiens in illo aliquos reperiat defectus, deprecor ut eos corrigat mente pia et transactor! imponat. I give the beginning:

Ab aetemo et ante tempora fuit deus semper, trinus in personis et unus in substantia et essen- tia, semper aeque potens et sapiens ; potestatem et sapientiam a se ipso habuit, quia non est alius a quo reciperet. Idem deus vero principium sine principio et fine creator fuit et principium omnium creaturarum, et sicut principium omnium ita erit et finis, quia per ipsum omnes creaturae viventes ad suum ultimum deveniunt finem, praeter hominem, daemones et angelos, qui post hanc vitam vivent semper. Deus ergo creans ex nichilo, omnes creaturas secundum suam voluntatem disposuit habere esse in natura aliqua. Vnde creaturae irrationales suo modo deum laudant, ut volucres et huiusmodi, deum laudant et honorant in hoc quod naturam suam quam a deo habu- erunt reservant. Ex quo ergo creaturae irrationales deum laudant in natura ilia quam acceperunt, multo magis tenetur qui creatura est ratipnalis, deum honorare et laudare in sua natura, et non peioris esse conditionis quam creatura irrationalis. Natura enim humana est sequi voluntatem dei et implere eius mandata quia inter omnes creaturas dei homo excellentior est creatura, quia animae propter ipsum creatae sunt &c. — It is, of course, not by R. Rolle himself. Latin trans- lations of English works are not unfrequent ; so we have translations of the Form of living , of W. Hilton's Scala perfectionis (in Ms. Rawl. C 397).

2 Of the other smaller pieces of Ms. Rawl. C 285, the i«*. 2n<l, and 5^ (i p. 104 ff.) are chapters of W. Hilton's Scale of perfection , the 8*l> is part of lohn of Gaytryge's Sermon, the nth and i2th are probably W. Hilton's, the 7th is ascribed to lohn Morton (see Tanner). Of the pieces given from Ms. Harl. 1022 (i p. 137), Benjamin minor is by the author of The cloud of unknow- ing (Ms. Harl. 674), De sancta Maria possibly by W. Hilton. The pieces given from Ms. Dd v. 55: Proper will, On Angels' song, Of deadly and venial sin, i p. 173 — 183, are probably by W. Hilton.

XLII Introduction.

The Mirror of St. Edmund (a transl. of the Speculum S. Edmundi) : Ms.

Thornton; ed. I p. 219. Poems in Ms. Thornton, ed. I p. 363 — 374 (with the exception, perhaps, of

the first 3, which may be by Will. Nassington ; some of the pieces are

extant in Dd V. 64 with R. Rolle's name)1.

Also most of the pieces of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvu, though written by a West-Mid- land scribe, ed. n p. I — 71, viz. :

Lay-Folks Mass-Book, a poem in 627 w., containing directions and prayers

for Mass, and intended for use in the chapels of the great; one of the

poems, v. 428 — 36, is identical with a poem in the Form of living (i p. 30). A poem on Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, World, Man, Sin, Grace, Virtue, Good

works, God's Mercy, God's Justice, in 8-lined stanzas — also extant, with

works of R. Rolle in Rawl. A 389 fol. 99 (and in Ff II. 38, Add. 10,053). The twelve profits of tribulation, a transl. of the xn utilitates tribulationis

(Petri Bles. Opp. ed. Giles in. p. 307), also extant in Laud 210; (a later

Midland translation, derived from this older text and combined with other

elements, is given n p. 389 ff.). Of the double coming of Christ, a transl. of St. Bernard De adventu Domini

sermo vi, Migne 183 col. 52. Miscellanies in Latin and English, including 2 poems on themes of the Prick

of Conscience : Of po flode of po world, and Po whele of Fortune.

Possibly also some additional stanzas in the poem "Swete Ihesu now wol

I synge" n p. 9ff. are his work.

Also some of the minor poems of Ms. Vernon (ed. EETS 1893) are probably R. Rolle's, so N. II and 12, 5, and perhaps some of the poems 3 — 16.

Doubtful works:

Psalter in verse: Ms. Vesp. D vii, Eg. 614, Harl. 1770; ed. n p. izgff. (it seems to belong to a very early date, but the archaic character is in some degree artificial and due to the use of A. S. glosses; it was freely used in R. Rolle's prose Psalter).

St. Mary's lamentation on the passion of Christ: Ms. Tib. E vn, ed. n p. 274 (ascr. to a hermit in Dd I. i, but perhaps a work of Will. Nassington).

Minor pieces in Ms. Ashm. 751 (West Midland dialect):

On active, contemplative and mixed life fol. 45, tales from Caesarius (= Ms. Thornton) and Jacobus de Vitriaco, De miraculis in nativitate Christi, tales from St. Gregory, Caesarius, and from "liber de dono timoris" (= Harl. 1022, i p. 157), the story of Furseus from Bede. De mandatis Dei fol. 83 ("Hk a cristen mon is bounden to kepe po comaundmentis of god" &c.), Note on the apostles' creed fol. 85b ("Nota quod post missionem spiritus sancti Apostoli fecerunt symbolum: Petur sayd fius &c.), 2 short poems: po sauter of Ihesu, and po sauter of charyte, each of 12 vv. (beg.: Ihesu lord pat made me & with pi blessed blode has boght, Forgyf pat I hafe greued pe with word , werk , wyll and thoght , &c.) fol. 142 ; (these pieces would suggest R. Rolle , if they were not intermixed with extracts from Joh. Maundvyle, fol. 48 and 142^}.

Short pieces in Ms. Harl. 1022: 2 tales (i p. 156), poem: Thurgh grace growand &c. (i p. 161), sentences (i p. 172).

Works wrongly ascribed to him:

Contemplatyons of the drede and love of God, under R. Rolle's name printed by Wynkyn de Worde 1506; ed. n p. 72ff.2

1 Of the other pieces of Ms. Thornton, the Abbey of the Holy Ghost cannot well be R. Rolle's because it deals with monastic life, to which he is alien ; the epistle in i p. 293 is more likely a work of W. Hilton. (The abridged Psalter, I p. 3928"., is by an unknown author, it is also found in Ms. Ee v. 13, Ff v. 8, Gg iv. 32.)

2 The proof that this is not a work of R. Rolle, is simple enough. In Chapt. 2 it alludes to "ful holy men of ryght late ryme, some of whom, as I haue herde and redde were vysyted by

Introduction. XLHI

The remedy ayenst the troubles of temptacyons , printed (with Four profitable things, from R. Rolle's Form of living) by W. de Worde 1508 and 1519; ed. ii p. io6fF.1

2 epistles "maad of Richard Hampul as some men supposen, but whoeuer made it, myche deuout pinge is perinne", in Ms. Arundel 286 fol. 82 — 100 ("To t. d. his derworpe brober in Crist, his euewbroper in pe lord, desirip pis pat t. d. do awey now pe elde man, pat is viciouse conuersacion" &c.). Speculum vitae (Mirror of life), a long poem on the prayers of the Paternoster, the 7 deadly sins &c., in the northern dialect: Ms. Tib. E vn &c. (in Ms. LI I. 8 ascr. to R. Rolle, but more probably a work of Will. Nassington.) And many of the pieces in the lists of Tanner and Pits, f. i. :

Orologium Sapientiae : Harl. 1706 &c. ; (this is Chapter v. of a larger tract of that name, an Engl. reproduction of Heinrich Suso "Buch von der gott- lichen Weisheit" by an unknown author, ed. Anglia x).

Consilia Isidori "O man knowe pi-selfe": Ms. Harl. 1706 &c. ; ed. lip. 377-2 Meditatio S. Augustini "Seynt Austyne the holy doctour techeth": Ms. Harl.

1706 (and Laud 23, Hh I. 12); ed. II p. 377.

Pety lob, "Parce michi domine &c.", a poem in 12-lined stanzas: Ms. Harl. 1706 &c. : ed. II p. 381 (it is made on the verses of Job commented in R. Rolle's Postillae super 9 lectiones mortuorum).

The seven penitential psalms in verse (in Ms. Digby 18 ascr. to R. Rolle). The profits of tribulation (a later version of the text ed. n p. 45 ff., combined with the treatise "How per weren six maisters" and a "Nota de paciencia infirmitatis"), The boke of the craft of dying (a transl. of a Latin tract De arte moriendi

in Ms. CCCO 226 &c.), and

A tretyse of gostly batayle ; — all these 3 treatises extant in Ms. CCCO 220, Reg. 17 A xxv, Harl. 1706 &c., and ed. n p. 389 — 436 (they are all the work of a later Midland writer). The Myror of synneres (a transl. of the Speculum peccatoris wrongly ascr.

to R. Rolle), and

Of three arrows on Doomsday (an imitation of the piece ed. I p. 112); both extant, with other Midland tracts, in Ms. Univ. Coll. 97 (Laud 23 and 174, Add. 22,283) aQd ed. n p. 436. 446.

the grace of god with a passynge swetenes of the loue of Cryste, whiche swetenes for an example they shewed afterwarde by theyr wrytynge to other men folowynge, yf ony wolde trauayle to haue that hyghe degre of loue", and then gives the 3 degrees of love found in R. Rolle's Form of living, and the 3 degrees found in Ego dormio , in nearly the same words. So , by the "ful holy men of ryght late tyme" R. Rolle is meant.

1 The reason why this treatise and the Contemplacyons were regarded as works of R. Rolle, is, because they are found in Ms. Harl. 1706 and cognate collections which were supposed to contain works of R. Rolle. The "Remedy" rests on an older tract in Hh I. u by an unknown author; a Latin tract on the same subject, falsely ascribed to R. Rolle, is extant in Ms. St. lohn's Oxf. 77.

2 It is followed by Augustinus de contemptu mundi, ed. II p. 374, also extant in Ms. Laud 23.

Poems & Treatises of Ms, Keg. 17 B xvn.' (C. 1370).

i. (Lay-Folks Mass-Book).

Ed. by Simmons Lay Folks Mass Book EETS 1879, with the younger Mss. : Auchinlec (ed. in Turnbul Vision of Tundale), Corp. Chr. Coll. Oxf. 155 (written in Rievaux in Yorkshire), Cambr. Gg. V. 31 (northern^, Cajus Coll. 84 (West Midland), Ms. Yates Thompson of Thingwall Liverpool (West Midland); of these, Ms. Reg. and Cajus Coll. represent the original, as intended »for use in the chapels and oratories of the great«, Ms. Thompson an adaptation for general use, the rest an adaptation for use in monasteries. The poem professes to be a trans- lation from »Dan Ieremy«, an unknown author, who probably wrote in French. Now one of the prayers (that at the levation, v. 428 — 436) is identical with a poem in R. Rolle's »Form of living « (cf. I p. 30), a fact which goes far to support R. Rolle's authorship of the Mass poem, the more so as it was designed for the chapels of the great, and not for monasteries. — The directions , red underlined in the Ms. (orig. written in red) , are called »rubrics« in the poem , the prayers »black letter". Some prayers for mass are amongst the Vernon poems.

fol. 3.

A o worthyest "ping, most of godnesse, In al pis world, is pa messe. In alle ~po bakes of holy kyrc pate holy men pat2 tyme con wyrc, 5 po m(esse is3 p)raysed mony-folde. fo (uertus mijght neuer be tolde: for if (a thousand) clerk es d(id nogh}t ellis, after pat (po boke) tellis, bot tolde (po vertus of) messe syngynge

10 and po (profet of m)esse herynge, j;V s huld pa(i neuer) [po] fift parte, for al paire wit 8f alle paire arte, telle fo vertufes, me)des fy pzxdoun to horn p&t (with deuocyo)un,

15 In chnnes (and in gode en) tent dos worship (to) pis sacrament.

In boke fynde I [writen] of ane,

dam Jeremy was his name,

a deuoute man fy a religyus,

In his boke he spekis pus: 20

he sates, pou shulde gode tent take

p&t pou at po messe no ianglyng make —

grett saumpel he settis per-to

whi hit is ful ille to do ;

als-so he telles PO manere 25

how pou shulde pi messe here.

When po preste saies he or if he singe,

to him POU gyue gode herknynge;

when po preste praies in priuete,

tyme of pray ere is pen to fe. 30

When I vp-on po boke know* hit,

In til englishe pus I draw hit.

1 This Ms., vellum, 4', one of the earliest containing works of R. Rolle, does not give the author's name, except that the a Latin tracts (Spec, peccatoris, and Emend, pecc.) are ascribed to him by a modern hand. The dialect is mixed and impure. However, the contents have a close relation to R. Rolle and his favourite themes, and very likely he is the author of most of them; though it is difficult to decide what he may have to do with N. 2 and 3, which were originally composed in a southern dialect. — Forms like mon con stond , ho (= she), horn = _them), hore , bo (= be), — en as ending of the Plur. Praes. &c., are characteristic of the scribe, who is a West-Midland man. — Final g, t, c, f have little dashes. 2 r. bar. * A hole in the Ms. * r. knew ?

n.

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.

When po auter is al dight, fy fo preste is reuysht right, 35 pen (he) takes m bothe his hende a clothe o-pon po auter ende, and comes obac a Kiel doune, dos hit o-pon him al a-boune, alle mm knelen, bot he stondes, 40 and haldes to god vf bothe his hondes; pere, or he po messe bi-gynne, wil he mekehimfor his synne , til alle po folk he shryues him pare of alle his synnes lesse fy mare. 45 so dos po clerk[\s] a-gayn to him, shryuen horn pere of al hor synn, and askes god forgyuenes, or pai bigynne to here PO mes. Po preste assoyles horn pere belyue, 50 lered 8f lewed p&t wil horn shryue Sf knowe to god p&t pai are tile, wheper hit be in. loude or stille. ^erfore knelande on pi knese, als pou bi-syde pe oper sese, 55 shryue pe pere of alle pi synnes, bi-gynnande pus when he bigynnes, als next binethe pis robrik standes, andper-with ioyntly hold pi handes ; and p&t hit so may be, 60 eke-to pater and aue,

and, or pou ryse, pou saie pi crede, - al po better may pou spede. many saien confiteor * ; were als gode saie pis per-for: (Confi- I know(e to g)od, M of myght, teor) & t(o his) modir mayden bright,

& (to alle h)alouse here, & (to be, fa)dre gastly2, bat I (haue s)ynned largely, 70 In mony synnes sere:

In thoght, i» speche, & i» delite, In worde, & werk, I am to wite

and worth to blame, bw-fore I p"ne saynt Mary 75 and alle halouse haly, In gods name,

80

90

95

and bo p^ste, to proye for me, pat god haue merci & pyte,

for his man-hede, of my -wreched synfulnes, & gyue me grace & forgyuenes

of my mys-dede. Pat«r. Aue. Credo.

When pou pi crede pus has done,

•vp-on pi fete pou stande vp sone,

for hi pis tyme, als I gesse,

po prest bi-gynnes office of messe,

or ellis he standes turnande his boke

at po south auter noke.

euen pen so* stondande,

•wolde 1 p&t pou were pis sayande:

God, for pi godnes,

at po bigywnyng of pis mes,

gnrant alle, pate hit shal here,

of conscience be clene & clere.

lord, saue po pr«t pat hit shal say

fro temptacions to-day,

pat he be clene i» dede & boght,

bat yuel spiritis noy \am noght;

pat he fulfille pis sacrament

wftA clene hert & gode entent.

first heghly to pin honoure,

pat souerayne is of al socoure ;

& to pi modir, mayden clene,

& to pi halouse alle bi-dene.

& to alle bat heres hit, soul-hele,

helpe & grace & al kyns wele ;

and to alle bate we haue i» mynde,

sib (or fre)mde bi ony kynde,

go(d lo)rd, graunt how for bis messe

of alle hore synnes forgyfnesse ;

And rest & pese pat lastis ay

to msten soules passed away:

and til vs alle pi socoure sende,

& bring vs to ioy w/tA-oute« ende.Amen.

On hegh festis, or on haly dayes, when-so men outher synges or sayes gloria m excelsis m hor mes, saie pou pen als here wry ten es :

1 Ms. corfiteor.

2 gostly corr. to gastly.

1 orig. so l>en.

Lay-Folks Mass-Book.

Horia) ^oy be vn-to god in heuen,

1 20 -wttA alkyns myrthe pat men may neuen; and pese In erthe, alle men vn-tille pat rightwis are, & of gode wille. We lomie1 pe, lord god almyghty, and als we blesse pe bisyly,

125 we worsh(yp pe) als worthi es,

& makes (ioy to) pe more & les. we than(k pe lor)d of al pi grace ; for po g(rete iojy pat pou base, oure lord (oure) god oure king heuewly,

130 oure god oure fadir almyghty ;

oure lord po son of god of heuew, Ihesu Crist, comly to neuew. oure lord, lamb of god name we pe, & son of god pi fadir fre.

135 £ou pat wostis2 po worlds synne, haue m^rcie on vs, more & mynne ; pou pat wostis po worlds wrake, oure praiere in pis tyme pou take ; pou pat sittes on pi fadir right hande,

140 -with merci help vs here lyuande : for pou art holy3, made of none bot of pi-selue, & lord al-one, pou art po heghest, of wisdam most, Ihmi Oz'st, -with po holy gost,

145 wonand vfith po fadre of heuew, In more ioy pew mon may neuew. vn-to pat ioy, Ih&ra, vs ken, thorght prayere of pi modre, amen.

And when pou has pis a/ done, 150 knele doun on pi knese sone;

If pai singe messe, or if pai saie, pi pater noster reherce al-waie, in deken or prest po gospel rede. stonde vp pen, fy take gode hede; 155 for pen po prest flyttes his boke north to pa.t oper outer noke, and makes a eras vpon po letter •with his thoume, he spedes po better, and sithen an oper opon* his face; 1 60 for he has mikel nede of grace, for pen an erthly mon shal neuen PO wordes of Ihesu' Crist, gods son of heuen.

^n-

1 o overl. 4 Ms. open.

2 r. wastis. 8 om. Ihesu.

3 Ms. holly.

bothe po reders fy po tierers

has mykil nede, me penk, of lerers,

how pai shulde rede, 8f pai shulde here 165

po wordes of god, so leue 8f dere.

Men aght to haue ful mikel drede,

when pai shuld here or els hit rede;

and loue als-so vnto p&t swete

pat with poo wordes oure bale wold bete. 170

bo I syn oure matir is of her ing,

per-of newe shal be oure lering.

Clerkes heren on a manere,

bot lewed men bos anoper lere.

At po bigynnyng tent pou take 175

a large eras on pe pou make,

stonde 8f saye on pis manere,

als pou may se wry ten here:

In po name of fadre , & son , & po

holi gost,

a sothfast god of mightis most; 180

Bi l gods worde welcome to me ; Ioy & 10ouyng2, lord, be to be.

Whils hit is red, speke pou noght, bot penk on him p&t dere pe boght, sayande pus z'n pi3 mynde, 185

als pou shalt after wry ten fynde :

Ihmi my (lo)ue, graunt me pi gface,

and of amendment might & space,

pi word to kepe & do pi wille,

po gode to chese & leeue po ille ; 190

and pat hit so may be,

Gode Ih«u, graunt hit me. Amen.

jKeherce pis oft m pi poght, to po gosple be don, for-gete hit noght; Som-where bi-syde, when hit is done, 195 pou make a cros, and kys hit sone. Men oen to saie po crede som-tyme : when pai saie hore, lake pou saie pine, pis pa.t folouse m englishe letter — 7 wold pou sayde hit for po better. 200

bot pai say hore, say pou non ellis, bot do forthe after als pis boke tellis. Here-to lake "pou take gode hede, for here is wry fen pin englyshe crede :

i r. Be. erased.

i o overl.

a word (myj

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 176 xvn.

(Credo) 205

215

1 Trow in god, fader of might,

pat alle has wroght, heuew & erthe, day & night,

And alle of noght. And in Ihmi pat gods son is

al-onely, bothe god & mow, lord endles,

In him trow I ; thurgh mekenes of po holy gast

bat was so milde, he lyght in Mary mayden chast,

be-come a childe ; vnder Pounce Pilat pyned he was,

vs forto saue, done on cros & deed he was,

layde in his groue ; po soul of him went in to helle,

bo sothe to say ; vp he rose in flesshe & felle

po thryd day; he stegh til heuen wz'tA woundis wide

thurgh his powste * ; Now sittes o-pon his fader right syde

In mageste ; pepin shal he come vs alle to deme

In his manhede, qwyk & ded, alle pat has ben

In Adam sede. Wei I trow in bo holi gost,

And holi kirc pat is so gode; And so I trow pat housel es

bothe flesshe & blode; of my synnes forgyfnes,

If I wil mende; vp-risyng als-so of my flesshe,

and lyf wzt^-outen ende.

After pat, fast at hande, (Offer- Comes PO tyme of offrande',

Offer or leeue, -wheper pe lyst, how pou shulde przye, I wold POU wyst. 245 I-whyls pou stondes, I rede pou saye als next is wry ten, god to paye:

-Lhmi, bat was in Bethlem borne, And thre kynges come be by-forne,

225

230

235

240

pai offerd gold, ensense, & myrre,

and pou forsoke none of pirre, 250

bot wissed horn wele alle thre

home a-gayne to hor centre :

Right so cure offrandes bat we offer,

and cure praieres bat we pn?fer,

pou take, lorde, to pi louyng, 255

& be oure helpe in al-kyn thyng,

bat alle p^'els be for-done;

oure gode ^ernynges bou gfount vs sone,

of al oure rays bou vs amende,

In al oure nede vs socoure sende. amen. 260

tOaye pater nosier git vp-standande al po tyme po prest is wasshande, Til offer wasshing po preste wil loute po auter, 8f sithen turne aboute. fen he askes with stille steuen Ilk mo-ones prayers to god of heuen. Take gode kepe vn-to po prest, when he him turnes, knoc on pi brest, And penk pen, for pi syrm pou art noght worthe to pray for hyram, bot when pou pr&yes, god lakes pi wille, If hit be gode, forgetis pin ille; for-pi wifh hope zn his mercie, Answere po prest with pis m hie:

Po holi gost in be light, & sende in to be right, Reule pi hert & pi speking to gods worship & his louyng.

265

270

275

Pen po prest gos to his boke

his priuey prayers for to loke ; (Secreta)

knele pou doun, 8f say pen pis,

p&t next in blak wry ten is: —

hit wil pi pr&yere mykel amende,

If pou wil holde vp bothe pi hende

to god with gode deuocio^n,

when pou sayes pis [o]resoun:

vjrod, resayue pi seruyce

And pis solempne sacrifice,

for f)o pr£3t & for vs alle,

pat now are here, or here be shalle,

280

235

290

1 u overl.

Lay-Folks Mass-Book.

5

pis messe to here or worship do, po sakring to se, or pray p«'-to ; And for alle j)at lyue« in gods name, pat pai haue helpe fro synne & shame; 295 And for po soules pat hethen are past, pat pai haue rest pat ay shal last. amen. Pater nos/er. Aue maria. Credo.

335

pater noster pou be sayande,

I-whils po preste is priiiey pra.yande.

PO prest wil after m pat place 300 Kerno™ him a litel space,

To he come til po auter myddis ',

stande vp pou1, ah men pe biddis,

hert fy body fy ilk a dele,

take gode kepe Sf here him ivele : >rae- pen he bygynnes per omnia,

And sithen sursuw corda;

At po ende sayes sanctus thryese,

In excelsis he neuens twyese.

Als fast als euer pat hi has done, 310 lake p&t pou be redy sane,

and saye pese wordis with stifle steuen

priuely to god of heuen :

J.n world of worlds wzt^-outew endyng panked be Ihwu, my kyng.

315 Al my hert I gyue hit pe,

grete right hit is pat hit so be ; with al my wille I worship pe, Ihmi, blessid mot pou be; with al my hert I bank hit pe,

320 po gode pat pou has don to me. Swete Ih«u, graunt me now pis, pat I may come vn-to pi blis, pere with aungels for to syng pis swete song of pi louyng,

325 sanctus: sanctus: sanctus.

Ihf.ni graunt pat hit be pus. Amen.

'Canon When pis is sayde, knele pou doune, Missae) r *

and pa.t ivyth gode deuocioune;

Of al gode pou thonk god pan, 330 And pray als-so for ilk a man Of ilk [a]state, and ilk degre, so wil po law of charife;

1 r. J>en.

for-pi wifa-outen taryinge on pis wise be pi sayinge:

JL/ord, honourd mot pou be,

with al my hert I worship be ;

I ponk pe, lord, als me wele owe,

Of more gode pen I con knowe.

pat I haue of pe resayued,

syn po tyme I was cowsayued. 340

My lyue, my ly/wmes pou has me lent,

my right witt pou has me sent,

pou has me keped of pi grace

fro sere perils in mony place.

Al my lyue & al my lyuynge 345

holly haue I of pi gyuynge ;

pou boght me dere with pi blode,

and dyed for me o-pon bo rode ;

I haue done a-gaynes pi wille

synnes mony, grete & ille, 350

pou art redy, of pi godnesse,

for to graunt me forgyuenesse.

Of [pere]1 godes, and mony moo

I ponk pe, lord. I praye als-soo

pat al my gylt pou me for-gyue, 355

and be my helpe whils I shal lyue.

And gyue me grace for to etchewe

to do bat ping pat me shulde rewe,

And gyne me wille ay wel to wirk.

Lord, penk on po state of holy kirk, 360

And po pope 2 , bishops , pastes &

clerkes,

bat bai be keped in alle gode werkes, po kyng, po quene, po lordes of po

lande,

pat pai be wele mayntenande hore states in alle godnesse 365

and reule bo folk in rightwisnesse. Oure sib men, and cure wele-wil-

landes,

Oure frendes, tenandes, & seruandes, Olde men, childer, & alle wymmen, marchandes, mew of craft, & tilmen, 370 Riche men & pore, grete & smalle, I pray be, lord, for bom alle, pat pai be keped specialy In gode hele & lyue haly. 1 a word erased. 2 erased.

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 178 xvii.

375

380

385

390

395

4OO

(Ele- vatio)

405

410

415

To horn pat are in ille lyue, In sclaunder, myscouwforth, or in stryue, seke or pmonde, or o-pon po see, pore, exilde, deserit, if per be, til alle how, pou sende socoure, to pi worship and pin honoure. Alle pat are in gode lyue to-day, & clenly lyuen to pi pay, kepe horn, lord, fro alle foly and fro alle synne, for pi mercy, And gyue horn grace to last & lende In pi smiyce to hor ende. Pis world pat tames mony-wayes, make gode til vs in alle oure dayes; po weders grete & vnstable, lord, make gode & sesonable, po froytes of po erthe make plenteuus1 ; als pou sees best, ordayn for vs ; [&] swilk grace til vs pou sende, pat in oure last day, at oure ende, when pis worlde & we shal seuer, Bring vs til ioy pat lastis euer. Amen.

J~>oke pater noster POU be sayande, to PO chalyce he be saynande 2 : pen tyme is nere of sakring. A litel belle men oyse to ryng, feft s^a^ fou do reuerence to fAesu Crist awen presence, p&t may lese alle baleful bandes; knelande holde vp bothe pi handes, And so PO leuatioun pou be-halde. for pat is he p&t ludas salde, and sithen -was scourged 8f don on rode, and for mankynde pere shad his blode, and dyed fy ros 8f went to heuen, and git shal come to deme vs euen, Ilk man aft\a he has done; pat same es he pou lakes o-pone. Pis is po trouthe of holy kirk, who trowes noght pis mone sitt ful myrk; for-pi I rede with gode entent pa.t pou biholde pis sacrajnent. Swilk pr&yere pen pou make, als lykes best pe to take ; —

1 corr. from plenteuos. 2 = sign with the cross (same word frequent in Barbour).

sondry men prayes sere,

Ilk man on his best manere. 420

Short przyere shulde be, with-outen drede,

and per-with pater noster fy po crede.

If pou of ane be vn-puruayde,

I set here ane p&t may be sayde /

pof I merk hit here in lettir, 425

pou may chaun[ge]1 hit for a bettir:

2T

.L/oued be pou, kyng,

& panked be pou kyng, & blessid be pou kyng, ThesM al my ioying, 430

of alle pi gyftes gode, pat for me spilt pi blode, and dyed o-pon po rode ;

pou gyue me grace to sing po song of pi louiwg. 435

Pater noster. aue maria. Credo.

rrhen pou has sayde al pi crede, pis short pr&yere I rede pou rede pat next is wryten ni blak letter, ful mykel shal pou fare po better : 440

.Lord als pou con & als pou wille,

haue nwcie of me, pat has don ille ;

for what-so pou -with me wil do.

I holde me payde to stonde p«r-to.

pi merci, Ihwu, wold I haue, 445

and I for ferdnes durst hit craue,

bot pou bids aske, & we shal haue:

Swete Ihmi, make me saue,

and gyue me witt & wisdame right,

to loue pe, lord , wz'tA al my might. 450

When pou has made pis orison, pen shal pow with deuocion Make pi pr&yeres m pzt stede for alle pi frendes p&t are dede, And for alle cristen soules sake, 455

swilk pr&yere shal pou make:

.Lord, for pi holy grace, here oure prayers in pis place,

1 Ms. chauwc on corr. 2 written in long lines (2 w. in one) ; the metrical structure has been misunderstood by Simmons. Same poem see I p. 30.

Lay-Folks Mass-Book.

graunt now, lord, for oure prayers,

460 pat cr/sten soules, pate passed here l fro {)is lyue pat synful esse, pat ilk one haue part of pis messe; for hore soules, I pray derly, pate I shal neuen serly,

465 pat pis messe may be hore mede, helpe & hele fro alkyns drede : fader soule, moder soule, brep^r dere, Sisters soules, sib men, & ofvr sere pate vs gode wolde, or vs gode did,

470 or ony kyndnes vn-til vs kid; and til alle in purgatory pyne pis messe be mede & medicyne, til alle cn'sten soules hely2 graunt pi grace & pi mercy ;

475 forgyue horn alle hor trespasse,

lese hore bondes, & let horn passe fro al-kyns pyne and [fro] al care In til po ioy pat lastis eu^r-mare. amen.

Loke pater noster J>ou be pr&yande, 480 Ay to pou here po preste be sayande per omnia secula al on hight. Pen I -wold pou stode vp right, for he wil sate with hegh steuen iDster) fafer noster to god of heuen ; 485 herken Aim with gode wille,

and whils he saies, hold pe stille, bot answere at temptac/'onem : set libera nos a malo, amen — hit were no nede pe pis to ken, 490 for who con not pis are lewed men. When pis is done, saye pr\uely — other prayer none per by — pater nosier first m laten, and sithen in. englishe als here is wry ten :

495 JT1 ader oure, pat is i« heuen,

blessid be pi name to neuen.

Come to vs pi kyngdome.

In heuen & erthe pi wille be done.

oure ilk-day bred graunt vs to-day. 500 and oure mysdedes forgyue vs ay,

als we do horn pat trespas us3,

right so haue merci vp-on vs.

i = ere. 2 r. hally. * Ms. trespasus.

and lede vs in no foundynge, bot shild vs fro al wicked pinge. Amen.

Pen eft-sone po preste wil saye, stande stille 8f herken him al-waye, he saies agnus thryse or he cese, fo last worde he spekis of pese. In pe pat pese may noght be If POU be oute of chary te ; pen is gode of god to crane pat POU chary te may haue; fere when po prest pax wil kis, knele pou 4" pr&ye pen pis :

VJods lamb, pat best may

do po sywne of pis world a-way,

of vs haue merci & pite,

and graunt vs pese & charite.

For in charyte are thre kyns loues,

pat to petfite pese nedlyng behoues.

t*o first loue is certenly

to loue b*1, lord, souerenly.

IVrfore I pray pe, god of myght,

pou make my loue, both day & nyght,

sykerly sett eu^r-ilk dele

soueranly to loue be wele ;

pat be pi myght & gou^rnynge

I be ever in ^ernynge

soueranly be to pay,

In al pat euer I con or may ;

and pmt be I, erly & late,

to my degre & myn a-state

alle gode dedes to fulfylle,

& to eschewe alle bat are ille.

I'D secunde is a prz'ue loue,

pat is nedeful to my behoue,

po whilk loue is propirly

by-twix my soule & my body.

Perfore make pou, gode lorde,

my body & my soule of one a-corde,

pat ayther part by one assent

seme be with gode entent;

Let neu^r my body do pat ille,

pat hit may my soule spille.

£o thrid loue is w/t^-outen doute,

to loue ilk neghtbur me aboute,

1 o corr. to e.

505

(Agnus dei)

510

515

520

525

53°

535

540

545

8

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

and of pat loue for no f>ing cese. Perfore I pray pe, praice of pese, pat pou \vil make, als pou may best,

55° my hert to be in pese & rest,

& redy to loue alle man*r of men, My sib-men namely, pen Neghtburs, seruandes, & ilk sugete, Felouse, frendes, none to forgete,

555 bot loue ilk-one, bothe fer & nere, als my-selue wz'tA hert[e] clere ; and turne hore hertis so to me, pat we may fully frendis be, pat I of hor gode, & pai of myne,

560 haue ay ioy wz'tft hert[e] fyne. als I pray for my-selue here, graunt so til op^r on selue manere, so pat ilk mon loue wele othere, as he were his owne bropere.

S^S swilk loue among vs be,

pat we be wel loued of pe; pat be pis holy sacrament, pat now is here in present, and be po verta of pis messe,

57° we mot haue forgyuenesse

of al oure gilt & al oure nays,

& be pi help come to pi1 blis. Amen.

JL,oke pater nosier pou be sayande, I-whils fo preste is rynsande. (Post- When po preste has rinsynge done, munio) opon ft fete pou stonde vp sone; pen po clerk flyttis po boke agayne to po south auter noke, po preste turnes til his sentyce 580 and sales for the more of his office. Pen witloc-outen tarying on pis wyse be pi saying:

Ih^ra my kyng, I pray to pe, bow doun pin eren of pyte

585 And here my prayer in pis place, gode lord, for pi holi grace for me & alle pate here ere, pat pou vs kepe fro alkyns were pat may byfalle on ony way

590 In oure dedes do to-day,

whep^r we ryde, or be goawde,

lyg, or sitt, or if we stande ;

what sodan chaunce pat comes vs tille,

op^fwayse pen were oure wille,

we praye pis messe vs stande \n stede, 595

of shrift & als of housel-brede.

And, Ihi.ni, for pi wouwdes fyue,

wys vs po waye of rightwis lyue. Amen.

When pis is saide, knele doun sone, saye pater nosier til messe be done, 600

for po messe is noght sest or tyme of ite misa est. Pen, when pou heris say ite, or benedicamus, if hit be, pen is po messe al done; 605

bot git pis prsyere POU make right sone; after hit, wele pou may In gods name wende pi way :

VJTod be ponked of alle his werkes,

god be ponked of pastes & clerkes, 610

god be ponked of ilk a mon,

and I ponke god als I con.

I thonk god of his godnesse,

And nomely now of pis messe ;

and of alle po prayers pat here are 615

proyde,

pray I to god pat he be payde. In mynde of god here I me blesse1, with my blessyng god sende me hesse. In nomine patris & filii & spiritus sancti.

Amen. Pater noster. Aue maria. Credo.

22 ow pou at po messe pi tym shuld spende 620 haue I told: now wil I ende. Po robryk is gode vm-while to lake, po praters to con with-outen boke. Hit is skills with-outdn doute, pz.t ilk mon [pe] messe loue 8f loute: 625 For of alle in pis world, pen is po messe po worthiest ping, most of godnesse. Explicit. Amen, Fiat.

Ms. J)is.

1 r. blisse.

Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge.

2. (Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge &c.).

This piece is written in another (southern) hand, to fol. 19, v. 321, where the first hand recurs. The same poem, still more enlarged, is extant in Ms. Vernon 1 fol. 257. It is a composite of 2 old hymns found in Ms. Harl. 2253'' (ed. Bodeker Altengl. Dicht. des Ms. Harl. 2253 P- I9l and P- 19&)> which Ms. was written c. 1310 in Leominster Abbey in Herefordshire (cf. Wright Specimens of lyric poetry) and gives them in the southern dialect. But not only have the 2 hymns been com- bined , but the story of the Passion (with the 7 words on the Cross) has been added, and the whole has been subdivided by inlaid stanzas to St. Mary. These additions were apparently made by a northern poet (cf. dede = death , wore pore &c.), presumably by R. Rolle, whose poetry re-echoes the same theme. The poems are an imitation of the famous hymn Jesu dulcis memoria (Mone I, 329, Daniel I, 227) ; but the Engl. poets, by introducing the story of the passion, give action to the mere reiterations of the Latin hymn. — Ms. Reg. is prior to Vernon. Ms. Reg. 17 B 2253, fol. i3l>.

Here bygynnus po passion of Ihmi. Ho so says pis with gode wille, Schal fynd grace his luf to fille ; Po holygost his hert schal tille, From sywne hym brynge & fendes ille. —

5 Swete Ihmi, now wil I synge To be a songe of luf-longynge ; Do in myn hert a welle to sprynge Pe to luf ouer al pinge.

Swete Ihmi, kynge of blysse, 10 Myn hert«j luf, my hertus lisse: Pi luf, lorde, pou me wysse, And lete me neuer perof mysse. Swete Ihmi, my hert«.r lyghte, Po art day with-outew ny^te : 15 Gyf me bope grace and my^te For to luf be ary^te.

Swete Ihmi, my soule bote : In my hert pou sette a rote Of pi luf pat is so swote, 20 And wete it pat it sprynge mote.

Ms. Vernon f. CCXCVII.

Owete Ihmi, now wol I synge To pe a song of loue-longinge ; Do in myn herte a welle springe Pe to louen ouer alle pinge. ^f Swete Ihmi, kyng of blisse, Min herte loue, Min herte lisse : In loue, lord, pou me wisse, And let me neuere pi loue misse. ^f Swete Ihmi, myn herte liht, Pow art day wip-oute niht: ^iue me bope Grace and miht For to loue be ariht. ^[ Swete Ihmi, my soule bote, In myn herte fwu sette a Roote Of pi loue pat is so swote, And weete hit pat hit springe mote.

10

»5

1 I give this text from my 2nd vol. of Vernon poems. Of this vol., c. 150 pages have been seen by me through the press of the EETS., and the greater part of the rest of my copy has been sent to the same press , together with Misyn's translation of R. Rolle's Latin works ; so I fail to understand how both these books of mine can be announced under another name in the Prospectus of the Society. z These 2 hymns are :

fol. 75. I.

Ouete Imi, king of blysse, myn huerte loue, min huerte lisse, pou art suete myd-ywisse, wo is him pat pe shal misse.

Suete Imi, min huerte lyht, pou art day wipoute nyht :

Harl. 2253.

pou ^eue me streinpe & eke myht forte louien pe aryht.

Suete Imi, min huerte bote, in myn huerte pou sete a rote of pi loue pat is so swote, ant lene pat hit spr/nge mote.

10

Ms. Reg. 17 B xvii.

Swete Ihmi, myn hertus glem,

Bry^ter pen po suwne bem: As pou was borne in Bedlem, Pou make in me pi luf-drem.

25 Swete Ihmi, bi luf is swete, Wo is hym bat schal it lete: Gyf me grace for to grete For my synnes teres wete.

Swete Ihmi, kynge of londe, 30 Make pou me to vnderstonde, Pat I may in my hert fonde How swete is bi luf-bonde.

Swete Ihmi, me rewes sore Of my mysdedes I haue do ^ore : 35 For-gyf horn me, I wil no more, Bot aske be of myl[c]e l and ore.

Swe[te] Ihmi, lorde myn, My lyf and my soule is bin: Vndo my hert and come pmn, 40 And saue me fro wicked pyn.

Swete Ihmi, lorde gode, For me pou scheddist al bi blode, Out of bi hert ran a flode, Pi modir it saw with drery mode.

1 Ms. mylde.

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvii.

Ms. HarL 2253.

Suete lesu, myn huerte gleem, bryhtore ben be sonne-be^m : 15 ybore bou were in Bedleh£6m, bon make me here bi suete dre'&n.

Suete lesu, bi loue is suete, wo is him bat be shal lete ; barefore we shulden ofte be grete 20 wip salte teres & e;e wete1.

Suete Imi, kyng of londe, bou make me for2 [to] vnderstonde, bat min herte mote fonde hou suete buep bi loue-bonde.

25 Suete Imi, louerd myn,

my lyf, myn huerte, al is bin :

Ms. Vernon.

^f Swete Ihmi, myn herte gleem,

Brihtore ben be sonne Beem : As bou weore boren In Bethleem, Pou make in me bi loue-dreem.

^f Swete Ihmi, bi loue is swete, Wo is him bat hit schal leete: 3^if me grace for to wepe For my synnes teres wete.

^[ Swete Ihmi, kyng of londe, Mak bou me to vnderstonde, Pat I may In myn herte fonde Hou swete is bi loue-bonde.

^f Swete Ihmi, me rewep sore Of my misdedes I haue don ?ore : For-^if me, lord, I wol no more, But I be aske Milce and ore.

^[ Swete Ihmt, Lord myn, Mi lyf my soule is al bin: Vndo myn herte and li^te b^rin, And saue me from wikked engyn.

^f Swete Ih^ju, lord good, For me bou scheddest bi blessed blod, Out of bin herte hit com be flod, Pi Moder hit sau; wip druyri mod:

vndo myn herte, & liht ber-yn, and wite me from fendes engyn.

Suete lesu, my soule fode, bin werkes buep bo suete & gode, pou bohtest me vpon pe rode, for me pou sheddest pi blode.

Suete lesu, me reowep sore gultes pat y ha wroht1 ^ore: pare-fore y bidde bin mylse & ore ; merci, lord, ynul na more.

Suete lesu, louerd god, bou me bohtest wip pi blod, out of pin huerte orn pe flod, pi moder hit seh. pat pe by stod.

35

40

35

40

1 Ms. wepe. 2 Ms. fer; to om.

1 Ms. wrojjt.

Swete Ihesu,

Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn. 45 Swetfe] Ihtf.ni, bry^t and schene,

Here me, lorde, for I me mene, Thurth Marye prayer, mylde qwene, Pat1 pi luf be on me sene.

Swetfe] Ihtf.ni, my soule fode, 50 Alle werkes of foe ben gode, Pou bou^test me vpon foo rode And schaddest foeron bi hert blode.

Swete Ihtfsu, child best, Pi luf bou in my hert fest ; 55 Whew I go northe soube est or west, In be, a luf2, fynd I rest.

Swete Ihesu, wele may hym be Pat be schal in blysse se : With luf-cordes draw bou me, 60 Pat I may come & wone w/t^ be.

Swete Ihtfju, heuew kynge, Fader (!)3 and best of alle binge: Brynge in to me bat luf-longynge To come to foe at myn endynge.

65 Mary moder, mylde qwene, Sende vs (grace) synne to flene, Pat we may bi son sene, And eutfr with hym in blysse to bene

Ihtf.ni, swete is bo luf of foe, 70 Here nys no bing so swete may be; Noght bat man may benk or se Has [s]wetenes agaynes foe.

i Ms. }>ate? « V al-one. 3 r. Feir.

now wil I synge. j j

Ms. Vernon.

^[ Swete Ihtf.ni, Briht and Schene,

Heere me, lord, for I me mene,

Porw preyere of Marie, Milde qweene,

Pat pi loue on me be sene.

^ Swete Ihtf.ni, Mi soule foode, 45

Alle werkes of be ben goode,

Pou bou^test me vppon be Rode

And scheddest peron pi swete blode.

^[ Swete Ihtf.ru, Barn Best,

Pi loue f>0u in myn herte fest; 50

Whon I go North, Soub, Est or West,

In be al-one fynde I rest.

^[ Swete Ihtf.ru, wel may him be

Pat be schal in bi blisse se:

Wib loue-cordes drau; bou me, 55

Pat I may comen and wone vftp be.

^[ Swete Ihesu, heuene kyng,

Feir and best ouer alle bing:

Briwg me in to bat loue-longyng

To come to be at myn endyng. 60

IVlArie Moder, Mylde Qween, Send vs grace synne to flen, Pat we mowe bi sone isen And eutfre wib hym in Blisse ben. ^[ Ihtf.ni, swete is be loue of be ; 65

Ne may no bing so swete be, Nou?t bat mon may benke or se, Ne haue swetnesse a^eynes foe.

Ms. Harl. 2253.

Suete lesn, bryht & shene, y preye be, bou here my bene, bourh erndyng of foe heuene-quene, bat my bone be nou sene.

45 Suete Imi, berne best,

wifo [be] ich hope habbe rest, wheber y be soub ober west f)e help of be be me nest. Suete Itf.ru, wel may him be

50 bat be may in blisse se : after mi soule let aungles te, for me ne gladieb gome ne gle.

Suete Itf.ru, heuene kyng, feir & best of alle byng,

{»ou bring me of bis longing, & come to be at myn endyng.

Suete lesu, al folkes re"e"d, gfaunte ous, er we buen ded, be vnderfonge in fourme of bred, ant sebbe to heouene bou vs led.

II. Dulcis lesu memoria.1

55

60

fol. 77b.

lesu, suete is be loue of foe, nobing so suete may be; al bat [me] may wib e^en se, hauefo no suetnesse a^eynes be.

1 This poem has just 50 stanzas, so it was probably meant to form a rosary.

12

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 176 xvn.

Ms. Reg. 17 B xvir.

Ihwn, no bing may be swetter,

Ne boght1 in hert blisfuller,

75 Noght may be feled worthyer,

Pen bou, so swete a louer.

The fa, bi Inf was vs so fre Pat it fro heuen brou^t be; For luf bou dere bou^test me, 80 For luf bou hynged on rode-tre.

Ihmi, to bi disciples der* Pou saydest with drery chere, As ^e siten alle (in fere), A litil er bou taken were:

85 Ihesu, bou saydest bat bou wore Ful of sorow and hert sore, And bad horn duelle a whyle bore (J*o) whyle bou praydest bi fader ore.

Ihesu, bou ^edist on bi fete 90 To bo mounte of Olyuete, And to bi fader, ere bou lete, Pou madest a bone with hert swete:

Ihesu, bou saydest: »if it may be, Dere fader, I praye be 95 Pis payne passe a-way fro me; As bou wilt so mote it be«.

Ihmi, bou turnydist agayne to ham, And fonde horn slepynge euery man2; £0 bad horn wake3, & can horn blam ; 100 Anone bo way agayne bou nam.

Ihesu, ^it efte be sel[ue] bone Pat bou be-fore by-gan to done, And eke bo brid tyme efte-sone Pou madist prayer, -with mylde mone.

105

Ihmi, with bat bou praye can, Po swote al blody fro be ran ; Fro heuen a bry^te aungel cam, And be confortyde god and man.

1 H noht. 2 Ms. may man. 3 Ms. walke.

Ms. Vemon.

^[ Ihmi, no song mai be swettore,

Ne bou^t in herte Blisfollere, 70

Nou^t may be feeled lihtsomere,

Pen bou, so swete a louyere.

^f Ihesu, bi loue was vs so fre

Pat hit from heuene brou^te be,

For loue ful deore bou^test bou me, 75

For loue bow henge on1 Roode-tre.

^f Ihesu, to bi disciples dere

Pou seydest wip ful dreri chere

As bei seeten alle I-feere

A luytel ar bou taken were — 80

^f Ihesu, bou seydest bat bou wore Ful of serwe and herte sore, And beed hem dwellen a while bore While bou beo-sou^test bi ffader ore ;

^[ Ihesu, bou eodest on bi feete 85

To be Mount of Olyuete,

And to pi ffader, er bou leete,

Pow madest a boone w/^ herte swete:

^f To him bou seidest : »ijif hit may be, Deore ffader, I preye be, 90

Pis peyne passe a-wey from me; As bow wolt so moot hit be.«

^f Ihmi, bou tornedest to hem ban : And founde hem slepe« vch a man ; Pow beede hem waken, &, er bou blan, 95 A-non a^eyn be wey bou nam.

T Ihmi, bus eft be selue boone

Pat bou beo-fore bigonne to done,

And eke be bridde tyme sone

Pow madest, wip a Milde mone. 100

*[f Ihesu, wip pat bou preye gon, Pe swot of blood from be ron. From heuene an Angel lihte bon And be cuwfortede, God and Mon. i Ms. or.

Ms. Harl. 2253.

5 lesu, nobing may be suettere, ne noht in eorbe blysfulere, noht may be feled lykerusere, ben bou, so suete a luuiere1. 1 Ms. alumere.

lesu, bi loue wes ous so fre bat we from heuene brohten be; for loue pou deore bohtest me, for loue bou hong on rode-tre.

Swete Ihesu, Ms. Reg. 17 B xvii.

Mary moder, lade bry^te, no Pou darst, bou wilt, b<m art of my^te My hert luf, my lyf, my ly^te, Pou be my helpe bobe day & ny^te.

Ihmi, for luf boil sufferd wronge, Wouwdes sore and paynes stronge ; 115 Pi rewful paynes wer^ ful longe, Ne may how telle spel ne songe.

Ihmi, for luf bou dree so wo Pat blody stremes ran be fro, Pi swete body was blak & bio — 20 Oure sywnes it made so, welawo !

Ih<?.ru, bi croune it satte ful sore, Pi scourgynge, wen b0u scourged wore ; It was for me, Ihtf.ni bin ore, Pi paynes bat bou sufFerd bore.

25 Ihesu swete, bou hynged on tre, Noght for pi gylte bot al for me ; With synnes I gilte, so wo is me, Swete Ihtf.ru, forgyf it me.

Ihtf.ru, wen bou streyned wore, 30 Pi paynes were more & more. Mary ay with be was bore With sorewful chere & sykynge sore.

Ihmi, why were bou pyned so, Pat neutfr didist wronge ne wo? 35 It was for me, & mony mo, Pat pou so hard were be-go.

Ihmi, what sees bou in me, Ou^t prtt nedeful was to pe , Pat pou so hard on rode-tre 40 Woldist for me pyned be?

Ihesu, why were pou so gelouse, So feruewt and so curyouse, To bye with prys so prtfciouse Wrecched maw so viciouse?

now wil I synge. j7

Ms. Vernon.

IVlArie Mylde, freo and gent, 105

Preye for me — bou art prtfsent — Whon my soule is from me went, Pat hit haue good luggement.

^[ Ihtf.ni, for loue pou soffredest wrong, Woundes sore and peynes strong; no

Pi peynes reupful weore and long, Ne may me hit telle in spel ne song.

^f Ihtfju, for loue p0u suffredest so wo Pat bloodi stremes Ronne be fro, Pi white bodi was bleyk and bio — 115 Vre suwnes hit made, weylawo !

^[ Ihtf.ru, bi Coroune sat be sore,

Pe scourgyng whon bow scourget wore ;

Hit was for me — Ihtf.ni, bin ore! —

Pe peynes bat bow poledest pore. 120

^f Ihesu swete, pow heng on tre, Not for pi gult, but al for me, For suwnes and gult a^eynes be — Swete Ihe.ni, for-^if hem me.

^[ Ihtf.ru, whon bow streyned wore, 125

Pi peynes woxen more and more. Pi Mooder euer wip pe was pore, Wip serweful sikynges and wip sore.

^[ Ihesu, whi weore pou pyned so

Pat neuer wrou^test wrong ne wo? 130

Hit was for me, and moni mo,

Pat pou so harde were bi-go.

^[ Ihtf.ru, what sauh bow on me

Of ou^t bat neodful was to be,

Pat bou so harde on Roode-tre 135

For me woldest pyned be?

^[ Ihmi, whi weore bou so gelous,

So feruent and so disirrous

To buggen wip pris so prtfcious

Wrecche Mon so vicious? 140

Ms. Harl. 2253.

Imi, for loue pou poledest wrong, woundes sore, & pine strong; 15 pine peynes rykene hit were long, ne may hem tellen spel ne song.

Imi, for loue pou dre^edest wo, blody stremes ronne be fro, bat pi bodi wes blake ant bio ; for cure sunnes hit wes so.

14

Ms. Reg. 17 B xvii.

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvii.

145 Ihmi, for luf bu hynged on rode, For luf pou gaf bi hert blode ; Luf be made ovre soules fode, Pi luf vs brousjt to al gode.

Ihmi my lewman, |)ou art so fre, 150 For1 al f>ou dedist for luf of me, WAat schal I for f>at ?elde be? Pou askes nou^t hot loue of me.

Ihmi my god, my lord, my kynge, Pou ne askyst me none ofyer binge 155 Bot trewe luf in al wyrkynge,

And luf-teres wz't/j swete mornywge.

Ihmi my dere, my luf, my ly^te, I wil be luf & bat is ry^te. Do me luf be with al my my^te, 160 And for be morne day & nysjte.

Ihmi, do me to luf so be Pat euer my bou^t vpon be be; With bi swete ey^e bou loke on me, And myldelyche my dede se.

Ms. Vernon.

^[ Ihmi, for vs bou henge on Rode,

For loue bou ^eeue bin herte blode ; Loue be made vre soule foode, Pi loue vs brouhte to alle goode.

^f Ihmi my lewmon, bou art so fre Pat al bou dedest for loue of me. What schal I for bat Decide be? Pow kepest not but be loue of me.

^f Ihmi my god, my lord, my kyng, Pou askest me non ober byng But trewe loue and herte longyng And loue-teres and stille mournyng.

165

Ihmi, bi luf be al my bou^te, Of obtfr bing ne recke me nou^te, Bot bat I haf agayne be wrou^te And bou hast me so der^ bou^te.

i al. l>at.

my deore, my loue, my liht, I wol be louen, and bat is riht. Do me be louen wib 'al my miht, And after be Mourne dai & niht!

^[ Ihesv., do me so loue be Pat my bouht ay on be be; Wib bin eijen lok on me, And Myldeliche my nede se.

JVlArie ladi, Mooder briht, — bou darst, bou wolt, b0u art of miht,- Myn herte loue, my lyf, my liht, Pou prey for me bobe day & niht.

^[ Ihmi, bi loue is al my bouht ; Of ober bing ne recche I nouht But bat I haue a-^eyn be wrouht And bou hast me so deore a-bouht.

160

165

Ms. Harl. 2253.

Imi, for loue bou stehe on rode, for loue bou se^e * bin heorte blode ; loue bou madest2 oiire soule fode, bi loue vs brohte to alle gode.

25 Imi mi lemman, bou art so fre bat bou deadest for loue of me. whet shal y pare-fore ^elde be? bar nys noht bote hit loue be.

Imi my god, Imi my kyng, 30 bou ne askes[t]3 me non ober bing bote tmve loue & eke seruyng, ant loue-teres wib suete mournyng. 1 r. ^eue. 2 a/. j>e made. » Ms. askesd.

lesu my lyf, Imi my lyht, ich loue be, ant bat is ryht: do me loue be wib al mi myht, 35

ant for be mournen day & nyht.

Imi, do me so seruen be bat euer mi boht vpon be be ; wib bine suete eijen loke towart me, ant myldeliche myne, y pme, al bat bou1 se. 40

Imi, bi loue be al my boht, of ober bing ne recche y noht; y ^yrne to haue bi wille ywroht, for bou me hauest wel deore yboht.

1 V my nede, R my dede.

Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge.

Ms. Reg. 17 B XVH.

Ihmi, al-bof I synful be,

170 For1 longe hast bou spared me;

bo more ou^t I to luf be • bat bou to me hast ben so fre.

Mary mylde, fre and gent, Pray for me, bou art present, 175 Pat wen my soule (is) fro me went, bat it haf (god) iugement.

Ihmi, for so be now is no binge In al bis world of suche likynge, $at can so myche of luf-longywge, 180 As bou Ihmi, my dere swetynge.

Ihmi, wele owe I to luf be, For bat me schewed bo rode-tre, Pi corone of bornes, bi nayles bre, I*o scha[r]pe spere bat borowstonge be.

185 Ihmi, of luf is sobe tokenynge Pi hed dou« bowed to luf-kyssynge, fin armes sprad to luf-clyppynge, Pi syde al open to luf-schewynge.

Ihmi, wen I pink on be 190 And loke vpon bo rode-tre, Pi swete body be-bled I se : Lord, do bat sy^t to wonde me.

Ihmi, pi moder pat be be stode, Of luf-teres ho wepped a flode ; wouwdes and pi holy blode

Ms. Vernon.

^f Ihmi, al-bau; I synful be,

Ful longe hastou spared me;

Pe more owe I to loue be

Pat b0u wib me hast ben so fre.

195

Made hyr2 hert of drery mode.

^f Ihmi, forsope now nis nq( ping

In al bis world of such lykyng.

Pat con so muche of loue-longyng, 175

As foou Ihmi, my deore swetyng.

^f Ihmi, wel ou^t I loue be,

For foou me schewest pi Rode-tre,

Pi Coroune of bornes, and nayles fare,

Pe scharpe spere pat porw-stong pe. 180

^[ Ihmi, of loue I seo tokenyng Pin armes spradde to loue-cluppyng, Pin hed bouwede to swete cussyng, Pi syde al opene to loue-schewyng.

*|f Ihmi, whon I penke on pe 185

And loke vppon pe Roode-tre, Pi swete bodi bi-bled I se: Lord, do bat siht to wounde me!

^f Ihmi, bi Moder bat bi be stood,

Of loue-teres heo wepte a flood; 190

by wouwdes and pyn holy blood

Heo maden hire haue a dreri mood.

» r. Ful.

2 overl.

Ms. Harl. 2253. 45 I&ru, pah ich sunful be,

wel longe pou hauest yspared me ; pe more oh ich to louie be pat pou me hauest ben so fre.

(6 w. wanting).

55 py bac ' of bornes, by nayles bre, be sharpe spere pat pourh-stong pe. 1 Hall, beke: brim of a hat.

lesu, of loue soth tocknynge, pin armes spredep to mankynde, pin heued doun-boweb to suete cussinge, pin side al openep to loue-longynge. 60

lesu, when ich penke on pe ant loke vpon pe rode-tre, pi suete body to-toren y se, hit makep heorte to smerte me.

lesu, pe quene pat by be stod, 65

of loue-teres heo weop a flod; bin woundes & bin holy blod made hire huerte of dreori mod.

:6

Poems and treatises

Ms. Reg. 17 B xvii.

Ihf.ni, luf did foe to grete,

Luf foe made blode to swete, For luf bou were we[l] sorf be-bete, 200 Luf be made lyf te lete.

Ihf.ru, foou saydest: »alle ^ee Pat passen in way herf be me, A while abydes, comes and se If ony in sorow is like to me«.

205 Ihf.ru, foou saydist: »telle bo me, My dere (folk]1, what it may be Pat I haf gilte agaynes be, Why bis payne is so hard to me?«

2 Ihf.ru pou saydist after s;itte: 210 »My den? [vynzard]3, I haf pe [s]ette4, My fadres blysse I be be-hette With al my-self, wAat wil bou bette?«

Thesn, bo saydist ben more: »My derf folk, foou tell [me] ^oure5 215 Why haf I for my holy lorf And for gode dedis hert sore?«

Ihf.ru, foou saydist: »how is bis, My swete, what haf I don of mys Pat foou withouten ony lys 220 Me ?eldist pyne agayne my blys?«

Thes-a, pi luf pou tautest me With swete wordes of hert fre Pat pou spake on rode-tre, So ful of luf may none be.

225 Ihf.ru, bo first was, I rede, Pat foou bi swete fader bede Pat he for-gyf horn bfr mysdede Alle bat diden [be] to bo dede.

Ihfju, foat ofofr was, I-wis, 230 Pot foou saydist, as wryten is : Pat foo thef schuld be in blys With foe foat day in paradys.

1 Ms. fader. 2 The next 2 st. are tr. in V. * Ms. kynreden. 4 Ms. fette. * r. ^ore.

of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvii.

Ms. Vernon.

^f Ihf.ru, loue pe dude to wepen,

Loue pe dude pi blod to sweten, For loue foou were sore beten, Loue be dude foi lyf to leten.

IVlArie, I prei pe, as b0u art fre, Of bi serwe parte -wip me. Pat I mowe serwe here wip be And partiner of pi blisse be.

195

Ih«n, bi loue bou tauhtest me 200

swete wordes of herte fre Pat bou speek on Roode-tre — So ful of loue ne mihte non be.

^[ Ih&ru, pe furste word was, as I rede, Pat pou pi deore ffader beede 205

Pat he for^af hem heore misdede, Alle bat duden be to dede.

^f Ih^ju, bat ober was I-wis

Pat bou seidest, as writen is:

Pat be beef schulde haue blis 210

"Wip be bat day in paradis.

Ms. Harl. 2253.

Imi, suete loue pe dude gre[t]yn l, 70 loue pe made blod to sueten, 1 Ms. gredyn.

for loue pou were sore ybeten, loue be dude bi lyf to leten.

Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge.

Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

Ihmi, pat o\>er was of mon,

Wen bi moder schuld fro be go[n], ;5 Also bou hir betau^test1 one

Ms. Vernon.

^f Ihmi, be bridde was of Mon :

Whon bi Mooder be schulde forgon, A sone bou hire be-tauhtest on,

And saydist: »wowmon, lo here Ion«. And seidest: »wo#nnon, tak heer Ion.« 215

2Ih«u, as bo was pyned ?or«3, I*o [fourthe]4 worde bou saydist bore: »A now, god, me thy[r]stes sore« — It was for horn bat synfnl wore.

bo fy[f]the5 rewe[s] me, I*at bou spake on rode-tre: »My god, my god, how may bis be, It semes bou hast forsaken me?«

245 Ihf.ru, bo sexte worde it was Wen bou saydist m manus tuas, Betoke bi fader in bat plas t*i soule as bi wille was.

1 Ms. betau^tast. * The next 2 stanzas

are tr. in Ms. 3 Ms. zouie, u expunged.

« Ms. fyft. s Ms. fyrthe/

^f Ihmi, as pou weore pyned more, I*e ffeorbe word bou seydest bore: »A«, seydest bow, »me bursteb sorea — Hit was for hem bat dampned wore.

^f Ihmi, be ffyfbe word Reweb me, I'at bow seidest on Roode-tre : »Mi God, Mi God, hou may bis be I*at bou hast al forsake me?«

225

be sixte word hit was Whon bou seidest In manus tuas, Be-tauhtest bi ffader in bat plas I"i soule, as his wille was.

^f Ihmi, In al pi peyne mest

Neuere was so meke best :

I*ou seydest Consuwmatuw est, 230

tyn hed fel doun, b<ra ^elde foe gost.

^f Ihwu, bou seidest : »alle ^e

I*at pasSen be be wey bi me,

A while a-bydeb, comeb and se

^if eny serwe is lyk to me.«

^[ Ihesu, faou seidest: »tel bow me,

Mi deore folk, what hit may be,

What haue I gult a^eynes be

t*at bou so bitter art to me?«

^f Ihwu, bou seydest benne more :

»Mi deore folk, ;e tel me ^ore,

Haue I wib myn holi lore

And gode dedes I-hurt so sore?«

^[ Ihmi, bou seidest after ^et:

»Mi deore wyn^ard, ne haue I be set, 245

Mi ffader blisse be bi-het,

Vfip al my-self — what woldest bou bet?«

^[ Ihes\i, bou seidest : »hou is bis,

Mi swete, what haue I do mis

£at bou w//>-outen eny lis 2$o

Me 3 eld est scheme a^eyn Mi blis?«

JVlArie, bat slakest alle wo, Helle-peynes schild me fro, And ^if me grace her do so I*at I from henne to heuene go. 255

235

240

E.

18

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 176 xvn.

Ms. Vernon.

^f Ihmi, fiyue welles I fynde in be :

Pat loue-spriwg to-drawe l me ;

Of Rede blod be stremes be,

Mi soule of synnes wasschen heo.

^[ Ihmi, my soule drau^ be to,

And mak myn herte wyde vndo;

2^if hit bi loue to drynke so,

Pat flessches lustes ben fordo.

^f Ihmi, Muchel Ich owe be :

Who schal hit al ?elde pe?

Me bi-houeb bi-self hit be,

As bou pyne suffredest for me.

^[ Ihmi, pi loue ^ef me follyke,

In myn herte pat hit stike,

Mi soule hit purle Inwardliche,

Pat hit be byn enteerliche.

^[ Ihmi, do me loue be so

Pat, wher I beo, or what I do,

Pat I for weole ne for wo

Ne let myn herte torne be fro.

^f 2 Ihmi lord, Mi swetyng,

Hold me euere in by kepyng,

Mak of me pi derlyng,

Pat I pe loue ouer alle ping.

*([ Ihmi, my weole and al my wynne,

Al my loye is pe wip-Inne:

Now and eu^re kep me from synne,

To do pi wille let me not blynne.

^f Ihmi, mihtful Heuene-kyng,

Pi loue beo al my lykyng,

Mi mournyng and my longyng,

Wib swete teres wepyng.

^f Ihmi, ^if me for pi name

Pacience In peyne and schame,

Pat to my soule is note and frame;

And mak myn herte Mylde & tame.

1 H tachej). 2 The next 3 stanzas cer-

tainly suggest R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 2253.

I&ra, fyf woundes ich fynde in pe,

py loue-sprenges tachep me ; 75 of blod & water be stremes be, vs to whosshe from oure fon bre.

lesn, my saule drah be to, min heorte opene, & wyde vndo,

260

265

270

275

280

285

290

pis hure of loue to drynke so, pat fleysshliche lust be al for-do.

lesM Crist, do me lone be so bat wher y be, & what so y do, lyf ne deb, weole ne wo, Ne do myn huerte be turne fro.

80

Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge. IQ

Ms. Vernon.

^[Ihwu, al foat is feir to [s]el,

I>at to be fflessches lykyng may be,

Al worldes blisse, do me fle

And al my tent ^iue to be. 295

IVlArie, swete Mayden fre, For Ihesu [Crist] be-seche I be, I*i swete sone do loue me, And mak me worbi bat hit so be.

^f Ihesu, in be beo al my bou;t — 300

Of ofaer byng ne recche I nou^t ; Whon I of be may felen ou^t, fen is my soule wel of-bou?t.

^f Ihesu, ^if bou for-lete me,

What may me lyken of bat I se? 305

Blisse may non wib me be,

Til bat bou come a^eyn to me.

^f Ihesu, bat me hast deore abouht,

Al bat to synne draweb ouht

Holliche puyt out of my bou^t, 310

So bat I ne wrabfoe be nou^t.

^[ Ihesu, my soule is weddet to foe — Wib rihte hit ouhte bin owne to be; fau^ I hatie synget a^eynes be, I>i Merci is euere redi to me. 315

i Ms. fee.

Ms. Harl. 2253.

85 Marie, suete mayde fre, for lesu Crist byseche y be, foi suete sone do louie me, ant make me worbi bat yl so be.

lesu, do me bat for foi name 90 me likeb to dre^e pyne & shame, bat is b[e]2 soule note ant frame, ant make myn herte milde & tame.

Lr.ra, al bat is fayr to se, al bat to fleyhs mai likyng be, [95 al worldes blisse, to leten me graunte, for be loue of foe.

Imi, in foe be al my boht, al ofaer blisse ne recchy noht ;

i V hit. 2 Ms. fcy.

when ich of be mai felen oht, foenne is my soule wel ywroht.

lesu, ijef foou for-letest me, what may m[e] lik[yn]1 of bat y se? mai no god blisse wib me be, o 2 bat bou come aajeyn to me.

lesu, :$ef bou bist ^eorne bysoht, when bou comest, ant elles noht, no fleishliche lust ne wicked fooht in to myn heorte ne be ybroht.

lesu, mi soule is spoused to be ; ofte ych habbe misdon a^eynes be; lesu, bi merci is wel fre: lesu, merci y crie to foe.

105

1 Ms. mi likyng.

= till. 2*

20

Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 176 xvn.

Ms. Vernon.

^[ Ihesu bi Merci ! bi-leue I craue —

Me bihouep pat I hit haue ;

l*e deuh of grace vppon me laue,

And worpi me make {)i loue to haue.

^[ l IhesM, pou be al my ^ernyng,

In be be, lord, al my lykyng,

Mi pous;t, my dede, and my Mournywg

To haue be ~Enere in loue-longyng.

^f Ihesu, my leof, Mylde of mood,

Mi soule hap neode of pi good:

Mak hit dene and polemood,

And ful hit of pi loue-flod.

^[ Ihmi, my soule preyep be,

Let hit nou^t vncloped be ;

Globe hit wip bi loue fre,

Wip goode werkes pat lyken pe.

^[ Thesu, Beute ne aske I pe nou^t,

Ne proude elopes nobli wrou^t,

Londes ne Rentes, deore bou^t,

But hertly loue and clene povi^t.

^[ Ihi.ru, whowne so hit lykep pe,

Loue-sparkes send pou me ;

Mak myn herte al hot to be,

Brewnynde in pe loue of pe.

JVLArie, pi sone preye hertely For me, wrecche vnworpy, I'at he wole enterly Graunte me his Merci.

i This st. suggests R. Rolle.

Ms, Harl. 2253.

lesu, wip herte [bi-leue] l y craue, hit bihouep nede pat ich hit haue ; 115 pe deu of grace vpon me laue, ant from alle harmes pou me saue.

lesu, from me be al bat byng bat [be]2 may be to mislikyng; al bat is nede pou me bryng : 1 20 to haue bi loue is my ^yrnyng.

Imi mi lif, of milde mod, mi soule hap gret neode of pi god : [m]ak3 hire treufole ant bolemod, ant ful hire of bi loue-[f]lod 4.

1 Ms. J)i loue. Ms. blod.

2 Ms. me.

3 Ms. tak.

lesu, my soule bidde y be, eueremore wel vs be l ; lesu, al myhtful heuene kyng, bi loue is a wel derne bing.

lesu, wel mai myn herte se pat milde & meoke he mot be, alle vnpewes & lustes fle, pat felen wole be blisse of be.

lesu, bah ich be vnworfai to loue be, louerd al-myhti, bi loue me makep to ben hardy ant don me al in bin merci.

1 some w. wanting?

320

325

330

335

340

I30

Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge.

21

Ms. Reg. 17 B XVH.

Ihmi, gyf me bat I may se 250 Po grete gode bat bou hast don to me. Vnkynde agayne haf I ben to be : For-gyf me, lord bat art so fre.

Ihesu, pi luf & fleschely pou^te Won to-geder may pay nou^te, 255 As hony and gal to-geder brou^te; Swete & bytter acordes nou^te.

Ihesu, with hert I vak(I)1 be, Pof I a wrecche synful be ; In trwe hope I pray be 260 Pi blys and mercy grauwte bou me.

Ihf.ru, bof I be vnworpi To luf be, lord almy^ty, Pi godenes makes me hardy To do my soule in pi mercy.

265 Ihesu, bi mercy confortes me ; For no man may so synful be Pat wold leue sywne & turne to be, Pat redy mercy ne fynd he.

Ihesu, bof I synful be, 270 Trysty hope I haue to be: Perfore, lorde, I pray be P0t of my sywnes 2 amende bou me.

Ihesu, for synful, as writen is, Pou ly^test fro bi hye blys 275 In to Maries wombe, I-wys,

To brynge vs alle to rest & £lys8.

1 V feonke. 2 to overl. in red; \>at, and

l>ou, crossed out in red. * b added.

Ms. Vernon.

^f Ihwu almihti, heuene-kyng,

Pi loue is a ful derne ping; 345

May no mon hit witen borw knowyng, But he hit feele porw herte pewkyng.

^f Ihesu, $if me pat I may see

Pe Muchele good ban hast do me.

And I vnkynde a^eyn haue be, 350

For-?if me, lord, pat art so fre.

^[ Ihesu, hi loue and fleschly bou^t Wonen to-gedrene mouwe b[e]i nou^t, As Hony & galle to-gedre brou^t; Swete and Bitter a-cordeb nou^t. 355

^f Ihesu, wip herte I bonke be. Pou? I wrecche and sunfol be, In trewe hope I preye pe, Pi Blisse & Merci grauwte bou me.

^[ Ihesu, faauh I be vnworbi -,(,o

To loue be, lord Almihti, Pi godnesse me makeb hardi Mi soule to don in bi Merci.

365

, bi Merci cumforteb me, For no mon may so synful be, Pat synne wol leue and to be fle, Pat Merci ful redi [ne] fyndeb he.

^f Ihmi, for synful, as writen is, Pou lihtest from bin hei^e blis In to Marie wombe, I-wis, To ^iuen vs alle reste and lis.

^f Ihmi, batt? I synful be,

I haue euere trust hope in pe:

Perfore, lord, I preye be

Pat of my sywnes amende bou me.

370

375

Ms. Harl. 2253.

lesu, bi mildenesse froreb me ; for no mon mai so sunral be, ^ef he let sunne, ant to be fle, 140 bat ne fynd socour at be.

For sunful folk, suete lesus, bou lihtest from b[i]' he^e hous, pore & lo^e bou were for ous, bin heorte loue bou sendest ous.

i Ms. l>e.

24

Poems and treatises

Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn. 325 Ihmi, form bi ercie fre

Suche grace ben sende to me to scape pyne & come to pe, And eu^r wz't/z pe in blis to be.

Ihmi Crist, merfrji1 ben he 330 Pat euer in blis may be se

And haue fulliche bo loue of pe : Swete Ihesu, pou graunt hit me.

Ihmi, pi2 loue has now ending, Pere nys no sorow ne no wepyng, 335 but ioy & blis & ful likyng:

Swete Ihmi, fyer-to vs bryng, Amen. 1 Ms. merci. 2 r. ber?

of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

Ms. Vernon.

^f Ihmi, ffor pi Merci fre

In siker hope do pou me

To scapen peyne & come to pe 430

And euere in blisse w//5 be be.

^f Ihmi, Ihmi, Blessed ben heo

Pat in bi blisse mowe be se

And haue folliche be loue of pe :

Swete Ihesu, pou grauwte hit me. 435

^f Ihmi, pi Blisse haf) non endynge,

Per nis no serwe ne no wepynge,

But pees & loye vrip gret lykynge :

Swete Ihesu, perto vs bringe. Amen.

^f Hose ofte seip bis wip good wille, 440

Schal fynde grace his loue to fille ;

Holygost his herte schal tille,

From synne him briwge & ffendes ille.

Ms. Harl. 2253.

lesu, pi grace, pat is so fre! 190 in siker hope do pou me

at scapen peyne ant come to pe, to pe blisse pat ay shal be.

lesu lesu, ful wel ben he pat yne pi blisse mowen be

ant fulliche habbe be loue of be: 195

suete lesu, pou graunte hit me.

lesu, pi1 loue hauep non endyng, per nis no serewe ne no wepyng, bote ioie & blisse ant lykyng : Suete lesu, bare-to vs bryng. Amen. 200

l r. ber?

3. (Speculum mundi).1

(A Sermon of Alquin to Guy of Warwik).

Other, later, Mss.: Arund. 140 fol. 147, Harl. 525 f. 44, Cambr. Dd XI. 89 f. 162 2. The poem is founded on Alcuin's Liber de virtutibus et vitiis ad Widonem comitem (Migne 101 c. 613), of which an old extract in Ags. is extant in Ms. Cambr. li I. 33 (c. lioo). The poem is Midland, probably by the author of Ipotis, and can, therefore, have nothing to do with R. Rolle ; yet I give it here, in pursuance of my plan to follow up the northern Mss. — Ms. Reg. gives the best text, though northern endings have been introduced.

Xierkens alle to my speche And hele of soule I wil ^ou teche ; pat I wil speke "hit is not fabul, but hit is ful profitabul. —

Mon, if pou wilt heuen wynne, thorou loue to god p0u most bigynne ; pis shal be bi bigynnyng: pou loue* god oner al ping;

1 Title at the end; Speculum vtile istius mundi.

2 Ms. Ar. contains: Ipotis, Mandeville's Travels, Prick of Conscience, »Gy Earl of Wenvyke & Deken Alquyne*, 7 Sages, Story of Melibeus. Ms. Harl.: Sege of Troy, Robert of Sicily, • Speculum Gydonis de Warewyke sec. Alquinum heremitam«. Ms. Cambr. Dd XI. 89: be Abbey of be Holy gost f. 2 — 8, fe prick of conscience f. 9—162, our poem titled »be Sermon bat a clerk made bat was cleput Alquyn to Gwy of Warwyki, a poem show ich Cristenman owe for to hafe a remembraunce of be passion of our lord Ihesu Cristec, beginning: »Of alle be ioyus bat in bis worlde may be«, and a poem on the lord's prayer fol. 186—196, beg.: »God of hesus bat sittest in tronec.

Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.

And f>in euen-cristen loue also

10 right as |)i-selue bou most do.

And if bou wilt \>us bigy«ne & ende, bou may [be] siker to heuew to wende. But if b0u loue more worldis1 gode ben god hi;«-selue i« bi mode,

15 bou shalt hit fynde an yuel plaw, to dethe of soule hit wil be draw. For when bo world be has kaght In his pantw thorou his draght, At his wille he wil be lede,

20 bou shalt not spare for no drede ne for loue to god ne for his awe to go out of bo right lawe ; for soche hit ben bat louen more bo world & his foule lore,

25 ben bai don god bat horn wroght & on bo rode ful dere boght.

Here I wil a while duelle & a tale I wil ^ou telle Of an erle of gode fame,

30 Gye of Werwik was his name, how in a tyme he stode in boght, bo worlds blis him boght noght: bo world a-non bere he forsoke And to Ihmi Crist him toke,

35 And loued god & al his lore, And serued hym after eu^r-more. A gode mon \>er was in bat dawe bat leued wel alle gods lawe: Alquyne was his right name,

40 and man he was of2 gode fame ; Deken he was, bo ordre he had, In holynes his lyue he lad ; witt of clergy he had I-noghe, & b^rfore to godnes euer he droghe. [Perof be erel was wel war, & al his wille to him he bar]3,

45 & of hym he toke his rede to kepe his soule fro bo quede. On a day, I vnderstonde, Sir Gy bo erle sende his sonde to bat holi mow Alquyne,

50 & sayde: »I grete be wel, fader myne, and praye be for gods loue,

1 Ms. worldlis. 2 Ms. of of. 2 vv. are om. in Ms. ; but so AH.

3 These

bat vs alle sittes a-boue,

bat bou wilt -per charite

& in amendeme«t of me

make me a gode sermone, 55

and write hit in a leccione,

pat were my ioy & my delite

& to my soule a grete pr0fite.

For bo world thorou his foule gyle

has me lad to long while; 60

bm>f I wil couwsaile take

how I may bo world forsake«.

Pen Alquyne bo erle answerid,

and Ihmi Crist ful ^erne he herid

bat siche a witt was comen hym to, 65

and saied his praier he wolde do ;

»& sithen bat I shal be bi leche,

Aller-first I wil be teche

ffaire virtues for to take,

And foule thewes to forsake. 70

Pus may bou not do, leeue brob^r,

but if bou knowe bothe one & op^r.

I shal be now shew bothe,

whoche are gode, & whoche are lothe.

And at bo best I wil bigynne, 75

bo better grace for to wynne,

bo wrtu^ I wil first showe

whoche bai ben on a rowe.

lWisdam in gods drede

vse wel, bat is my rede, 80

Trewe [bi-leue]2, & charite —

bese thre shul leeue vrith be,

Stedfast hope, & mekenes,

Pees, mercie, & forgyuenes,

Loue of hert ful of pite 85

bat is verray humilite.

And if bou wolt [haue] gods ore,

?it bou most vse more

ffor bi synne repentauwce,

& redy fa^rfore to do penauwce. 90

•with sorou at bi hert rote,

& shrift of mouthe shal be bi jote.

In almes-dede & charite

bi lyue shal eu<r-more be.

Pes ben bo thewes bat I wil foe teche 95

wher-thorow bou may to heuen reche;

1 These virtues form the subject of the poem, with many digressions ; the vices are not treated. 2 Ms. loue.

Ms. Reg. 17 B XVH. 325 Ih&ra, form pi ercie fre

Suche grace pen sende to me to scape pyne & come to pe, And ener w*t/z pe i« blis to be.

Ihmi Crist, mer[r]il ben he 330 Pat eaer i« blis may pe se

And haue fulliche bo loue of pe : Swete Ihtfju, pou grvrunt hit me.

Ih«u, pi2 loue has now ending, tere nys. no sorow ne no wepyng, 335 but ioy & blis & ful likyng:

Swete Ihmi, p^r-to vs bryng, Amen

1 Ms. merci. 2 r. ber?

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

Ms. Vernon.

^f Ih&ru, ffor pi Merci fre

In siker hope do pou me

To scapen peyne & come to pe 430

And euere in blisse w//> pe be.

^f Ihmi, Ihesu, Blessed ben heo

I*at in pi blisse mowe pe se

And haue folliche pe loue of pe:

Swete Ih&ra, p0u grauwte hit me. 435

^f Ihmi, pi Blisse hab non endynge,

Per nis no serwe ne no wepynge,

But pees & loye wz/5 gret lykynge :

Swete Ilur.ru, perto vs bringe. Amen.

^f Hose ofte seib bis wip good wille, 440

Schal fynde grace his loue to fille;

Holygost his herte schal tille,

From synne him bri«ge & ffendes ille.

Ms. Harl. 2253.

lesu, pi grace, pat is so fre! 190 in siker hope do pou me

at scapen peyne ant come to pe, to pe blisse bat ay shal be.

lesu lesu, ful wel ben he pat yne pi blisse mowen be

ant fulliche habbe be loue of pe: 195

suete lesu, pou graunte hit me.

lesu, pi1 loue haueb non endyng, per nis no serewe ne no wepyng, bote ioie & blisse ant lykyng: Suete lesu, bare-to vs bryng. Amen. 200

l r. per?

3. (Speculum mundi).1

(A Sermon of Alquin to Guy of Warwik).

Other, later, Mss.: Arund. 140 fol. 147, Harl. 525 £44, Cambr. Dd XI. 89 f. 162*. The poem is founded on Alcuin's Liber de virtutibus et vitiis ad Widonem comitem (Migne 101 c. 613), of which an old extract in Ags. is extant in Ms. Cambr. li I. 33 (c. lioo). The poem is Midland, probably by the author of Ipotis, and can, therefore, have nothing to do with R. Rolle ; yet I give it here, in pursuance of my plan to follow up the northern Mss. — Ms. Reg. gives the best text, though northern endings have been introduced.

XAerkens alle to my speche And hele of soule I wil ^ou teche ; pat I wil speke h«t is not fabul, but hit is ful profitabul. —

Mon, if pou wilt heuen wynne, thorou loue to god p#u most bigynne ; pis shal be pi bigynnyng: pou loud god ouer al ping;

1 Title at the end; Speculum vtile istius mundi.

2 Ms. Ar. contains: Ipotis, Mandeville's Travels, Prick of Conscience, »Gy Earl of Werwyke & Deken Alquyne*, 7 Sages, Story of Melibeus. Ms. Harl.: Sege of Troy, Robert of Sicily, •Speculum Gydonis de Warewyke sec. Alquinum heremitamt. Ms. Cambr. Dd XI. 89: J)e Abbey of J>e Holy gost f. 2 — 8, fe prick of conscience f. 9 — 162, our poem titled »l>e Sermon bat a clerk made bat was cleput Alquyn to Gwy of Warwykt , a poem »how ich Cristenman owe for to hafe a remembraunce of be passion of our lord Ihesu Criste«, beginning: »Of alle l>e ioyus bat in bis worlde may be«, and a poem on the lord's prayer fol. 186—196, beg.: »God of hesus bat sittest in tronec.

Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.

And bin euen-cristen loue also

10 right as pi-seine pou most do.

And if pou wilt pus bigywne & ende, bou may [be] siker to heuew to wende. But if f>0u loue more worldis1 gode ben god hiw-selue in bi mode,

15 bou shalt h*t fynde an yuel plaw, to dethe of soule hit wil be draw. For when bo world be has kaght In his pant«r thorou his draght, At his wille he wil be lede,

20 bou shalt not spare for no drede ne for loue to god ne for his awe to go out of bo right lawe ; for soche hit ben bat louen more bo world & his foule lore,

25 ben pai don god bat horn wroght & on po rode ful dere boght.

Here I wil a while duelle & a tale I wil ^ou telle Of an erle of gode fame,

30 Gye of Werwik was his name, how in a tyme he stode in boght, bo worlds blis him boght noght: po world a-non bere he forsoke And to Ihmi Crist him toke,

35 And loued god & al his lore, And serued hym after eu^r-more. A gode mon per was in bat dawe pat leued wel alle gods lawe: Alquyne was his right name,

40 and man he was of2 gode fame ; Deken he was, bo ordre he had, In holynes his lyue he lad ; witt of clergy he had I-noghe, & p^rfore to godnes ever he droghe. [l>erof be erel was wel war, & al his wille to him he bar]3,

45 & of hym he toke his rede

to kepe his soule fro po quede. On a day, I vnderstonde, Sir Gy po erle sende his sonde to pat holi mow Alquyne,

50 & sayde : »I grete pe wel, fader myne, and proye pe for gods loue,

i Ms. worldlis. « Ms. of of. 2 vv. are om. in Ms. ; but so AH.

3 These

pat vs alle sittes a-boue, pat pou wilt per charite & in amendemewt of me make me a gode sermone, 55

and write hit in a leccione, pat were my ioy & my delite & to my soule a grete prvfite. For po world thorou his foule gyle has me lad to long while; 60

perof I wil couwsaile take how I may po world forsake «. l>en Alquyne bo erle answerid, and Ihmi Crist ful ^erne he herid bat siche a witt was comen hym to, 65 and saied his praier he wolde do ; »& sithen bat I shal be bi leche, Aller-first I wil be teche ffaire virtues for to take, And foule thewes to forsake. 70

{•us may bou not do, leeue brofw, but if bou knowe bothe one & oper. I shal be now shew bothe, whoche are gode, & whoche are lothe. And at bo best I wil bigynne, 75

bo better grace for to wynne, bo vertv.7, I wil first showe whoche bai ben on a rowe. lWisdam in gods drede vse wel, bat is my rede, 80

Trewe [bi-leue]2, & charite — bese thre shul leeue w/tA be, Stedfast hope, & mekenes, Pees, mercie, & forgyuenes, Loue of hert ful of pite 85

bat is verray humilite. And if bou wolt [hane] gods ore, y.t bou most vse more ffor bi synne repentanwce, & redy perfore to do penau«ce. 90

•with sorou at pi hert rote, & shrift of mouthe shal be pi jote. In almes-dede & charite pi lyue shal eu^r-more be. I>es ben bo thewes bat I wil foe teche 95 wher-thorow po\\ may to heuen reche ; 1 These virtues form the subject of the poem, with many digressions ; the vices are not treated. 2 Ms. loue.

26

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvil.

& so bou may bo world forsake,

If f)ou wilt horn to be take.

Now I wil f)e nemew bo wicked thewes,

TOO bate are swithe mykel shrewes — for if pou dos by hore rede, To strong pyne pai wil pe lede ; |)en is gode pat pou shon forto drawe horn in to pi won :

105 Herken now vnto me

And horn I wil nemew be. Pride, wrath, & enuye, fals lugement, & trechorye, fals wittnesse is one of poo —

1 10 Mony a soule hz't dos ful woo ;

Loue not to myche pis worlds bles, hit brynges mony vnto merkenes; Auarice, & glotonye, wicked slownes, & lechorye.

115 Accide is a ful foule synne

To mon pat he may com with-Inne, And what hit is I wil f)e wisse, Vnderstonde bat pou not mysse: Accide is slownes brob^r —

120 wicke is one & wicke otyr ;

hit is a derne mournywg in mode, & makes mon fro mynde to do gode. Oft thorou siche wicke mournyng wanhope bygynnes for to spryng;

125 but mon turne away b^r-froo, Saued bes he neu^r-moo. Wrob^r-hele was ludas borne, for thorou bat synne he was forlorne; Mercie he lest* thorou pat synne,

130 wher-thorou he might no ioy wynne. Iche mon be redy in his sight to fle pat sy«ne wz'tA al his might, And alle op^r bat I haue nempned2, If bai wil to ioy be demened3. Herken now to my sermoune what I wil telle in my lessoune.

Wisdam in gods drede, of whiche bat I bifore saide, Two binges hit wil be teche

140 wher-thorow bou may to heue« reche: bat is, leeue synne, & do gode,

135

(De sa-

pientia)

for his loue bat died on rode.

But for to loue1 al onely

Is not ynoghe, sikerly :

bou most do gode forth b^-with, 14$

If bou wolt haue mercy & grith.

Pis wonder is2 of mony a synful mon

bate benkew hit were mykel for horn

to haue grete worlds honoure,

As londes, rentes, halle & boure, 150

Riche vessel of siluer & golde,

& grete tresoure & faire holde,

Riche mete & riche drynke,

And lit el b^rfore forto swynke,

hele of body & boon & hide, 15$

& grete loos of pompe & pride.

Qui[d] felicius quam vita peccatoris. A myrry lyue horn benke hzt were: but eft hzt mot be boght ful dere. — 3 but no-bo-lesse hzt may bifalle wel, pof a mon haue myche catel 160

As londzw, rentes, & op#- gode, Tjt he may be pore of mode, And ful low of hert I-wise, & holde p^rof litel prise. — but now I wil speke & rede 165

Of horn bate I bifore sayde, bat thorow hore prz'de & hore wille fallen oft in grete perrille. Saynt Austyn holdes \>er-vfith right noght, & saies hzt shal be dere boght. 170

And skilfully hzt most be so: for when a mon has synne I-do, Oup^r- he most h/t bete here, Or ellis suffur payne ellis- where. Wilt pou here now what I rede4 175

god kithes horn bate wil hy»z drede? he wil holde how here lowe, for bai shuld hyw bo better knowe ; he 'wil chastise how wz'tA smale pyninge and make how to lese bat hote brennynge, 1 80 & mony angwisshes he wil horn gyue to suffur here whil bai lyue, and hongwr & thrust & trouel strong pai shul haue euer a-mong, losse of catel, & sekenesse — 185

1 A lees. 2 A nempt. 3 A dempt.

1 al. to leue }>i synne. 2 r. T'is wonder? 3 Cf. S. Edm. Spec. < al. louerede.

Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.

& alle is to eke hore bles.

mon, if bou leues not me, Seke aboute & bou may se bese holy men alle by-dene 190 how bai lyueden in woo & tene.

And if bou my tale not for-^eite,

ben may bou bo better witt

bat bo worlds blis is noght

when bou hast hit thorou-soght ; 195 for if a mon haue here his wille,

ful lyghtly he may spille. — )e fide) Here I wil a while blynne,

Anober bing I wil bygynne:

To speke more of pi bileue ; 200 for hz't is gode & wil not greue.

Mon, pi bileue shal be soo :

bat on god is & no moo,

bat one god is in vnyte,

thre persons in trinite. 205 Pou shalt bileue also,

& treuly in bi hert hit do,

bat god had neuer bigynnynge,

ne neu^r shal haue endynge,

And shaper is of alle shaftes, aio & gyues witt in alle craftes ;

And mon made after his oune face —

bat was for loue1 of heghe grace,

And gaue to mon fre powere

to chese2 bothe fer & nere, 215 Of gode & yuel shede to make,

bo yuel to leeue, bo gode to take ;

•wheber he wil chese he has powere,

thorou might of god, whil he is here.

Pen hz't is not on god longe 220 If mon wil chese to do wronge.

Adam was po first man

pat euer ony synne by-gan,

And pat was god to wite noght ;

berfore hit was ful dere boght. 225 God gaue hy#z witte as his owene

gode & wicke for to knowene :

& thorou po eggyng of po fende & Eue

he did a synne pat did hym greue ;

Vnbuxuwnes was his3 gilte — 230 p^rfore oute of pafadise was he pilte.

Buxuwzmer he was to his wyue

1 al. Nas l>at gretl oue . . . ? 2 Ms. these. 3 Ms

ben to god bat gaue hyw lyue.

& for bat he did after hir lore,

he boght hz't sithen swithe sore:

His fredom was fro hym tane all,

& putte in seruage as a thrall;

Not onely he, but alle boo

bate of hym comen for cu^r-moo.

But for hit was for gile done,

God had pyte p^r-vp-one,

& eke for loue pat he hade

to monkynde pat he made :

to saue mow , mon he bicome,

& pyne grete for hym he nome,

And gaue for hym his hert blode

vrhh harde deth vppon po rode.

Biryed he was, in tombe he lay,

til hit come po thrid day :

vp he ros po thrid day

fro deth to lyue wz'tA-outen nay.

To heuen he steghe thorow his might

Right in to his fadre sight,

And sirtes on his fadur right side,

po grete dome to a-byde.

He wil come sithen on domes-day,

Cruel & sterne, wzt^-outen nay;

he bat was wont to be

meke as lombe, ful of pite,

pere pen he wil light adoune

wrathful, sterne as a lyoune ;

Mercie wil he shewe none,

but right after pat mon has done

bai shal take hore lugement,

to ioy or to strong tourment.

Alas, how shal bai on take

bate wolden here god forsake

Thorou synne of flesshely likyng,

& wolden hit bete wz'tA no pynyng I

P^rfore pai shul wende til helle,

nyl pai wil pai pere to duelle,

& pere bileeue for eu<?r-moo

In strong pyne & eke in woo.

Sent Austen spekis of alle seche

And saies wordes ful reulyche:

»Pai shal haue deth wz'tA-outew

& ende of dethe wz'tA-outew endyng;«

hore deth pai shal wille eu^r,

hit.

235

240

245

250

255

260

265

270

Habent

mortem sine

mortis fine.

28

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

but to ende of deth come pai neu^r; |)ai shal eu^r-more dire1

280 In strong payne of hote fire. Here a while I wil dwelle & of a myrrier ping ^ow telle: Telle I wil now forthe, I-wis, Of po ioies of paradis,

285 po whiche gods childre pat gode bene shul haue & al-so sene ; & of2 I hade in my baylye po witte of alle clergye, hit might neu^r so byfalle

290 pat I might thorouly telle horn alle; but as god wil gyue me grace, I shal ^ou shewe in pis place what ioy pai shul haue iw-fere pat seruen god on erth here.

295 When pat pai shal parte hethen3, ful wel pai shul hore way kenen Right to po blis of paradyse pat god has ^arkid to alle hyse. Pere is eu^r ioye ynoghe,

300 and eu^r right w/tA-outew woghe, witt & conyng & coyntyse, A trewe loue wzt#-oute« fayntise, Strengthe y-now & fairenes, & light wzt^-outen merkenes.

305 Pere shul pai haue no gylt,

for alle hore wille shal be fulfilt ; pai shul haue p^r-w/tA, I-wis, fill ioy & ml blis, bothe po pore & po riche.

310 but witt pou wil*, not alle yliche, Ilkone shal haue his wonnyng Right after his oune doseruyng5; But trow pou wel in pi thoght pat now of how shal want oght:

315 ffor who so has leste in pat wownynge, he has fal ioye of alle pinge. P^rfore, mon, with al pi might pou loue god wel by day & night; bo Inwardloker pou loues bym here,

320 po more shal be pi ioye pere. —

(De Herkens now alle to me, chari- tate) i = dure. 2 = bof. * r. henne.

* = wel. * Ms. doseruyng; cf. douyse

v. 341, dopartyd 4, 760.

for I wil speke of charite.

Of alle wrtu^ hit is po hext,

& gods wille hit is next1.

If pou wolt witt what hit may be,

herken & I wil telle be.

Hit is : loue god ou^r alle ping,

In thoght & dede & in spekyng.

And if pou wilt eu^r come p^rto,

Anop^r ping pe2 most do:

pou most loue, how so hzt be,

pin euen-cristen forthe w/t/j pe.

Mon, wilt pou make a gode prouyng

If pou loues po heuen-kyng?

If pou loue god wel I-wisse,

pou wolt loue alle pat is hisse.

Mew saien sothe bi witt myne:

»Who so loues me he 3 loues my hyne«.

»But p0u lone ])in euewcn'stew pat is by pe,

pat [pou] may al day w*'tA eghen se,

how pou louest god I con not douyse

whom p<?u may se on now wise« —

pis sales Poule & beris wittenes,

As he may wel in sothenes.

'Abraham saw but he not wist how,

herken & I wil telle be now:

po fourme of childer he mette,

thre he saw & as one horn grette;

In toknyng hzt was, I telle pe,

Of po heghe holi trynite;

holly as one he grett horn pere

In tokenyng of one god pat pai were.

How Moyses saw him wilt pou now lere ?

In fourme of a buske alle on a fire

At po mount of Synay by olde dawe,

p^r god hyw gaue po first lawe :

Al on fire po bnske was,

but brent no-ping po buske nas.

Pere shewid god his grete myght,

And hyw-selue in pat syght.

5Po busk tokend ou[r]eB lady

wz'tA hir clene mayden-hed sikerly;

ffor hit was eutr I-like clene,

No might hit not I-[wemmed] : bene ;

hete of flesshe might hir not wewme,

1 Same 2 vv. see 655 — 6. 2 r. }XDU.

3 pverl. * The foil, long digression has

nothing to do with the theme. * v. 361 — 6 are impertinent. 6 Ms. one. * Ms. I-nemed.

330

Si non diligis proxi- mum tuum quern vides deum quern non vides quo- modo poles dili- gerel

350

355

360

365

Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.

29

no more might bo busk brenne.

And mony an o\>er hym seghe

& spake hym wz't/z bat was hym neghe,

But not, onely in his god-hed, 370 but mynged vritk bo mon-hed ;

fFor sikerly, I telle be,

mon saw neuer his deite

Bodily in erthe here —

men might not, hit is so clere. 375 And if pou wilt witt [whi] l now,

herken & I wil telle ijow ;

ffor so heghe ping is bo godhede,

berof to speke hit is grete drede.

God is so clene & so clere a bing 380 bat heuen & erthe he gyues shynyng,

& sowne & moon & sterne-beme

Of hym pai han alle hore leeme.

tou seest, mow, apertlyche

pat bo sonne has brightnes myche, 385 & [of]1 he is sett so wonder heghe,

[^it] ' hit greues monnes eghe

Inwardly on hit to se

for his grete c[l]arite 2 :

Now for sothe I telle be, 390 & sikerly leue bou me,

bat god, bat gaue bo sowne his light,

Is an hondrid sithe so bright ;

how ben might hit euer be

pat bodily eghe might hym se 395 here on erthe [in] ' bo godhede ?

nay: no mon may do bat dede.

& bat is proued and shewed

bothe to lerid & to lewed.

ten may p<?u penke : »ho\v may bis be, 400 ne may no mon god se?«

^is, ^is, by my lewte,

herken & I wil telle be.

If bou wilt se in pi sight

god of heuen bat is so bright, — 405 vnd^rstonde now what I men ! — :

bou most be of hert clene,

In word, in dede & in tho(ght),

bat bou be fyled right noght;

for god sayed hyw-selue in sothnes, 410 & bo gospel pm>f beris wittnes, 1 om. 2 Ms. charite.

bat is to saye, I telle be: Bea':

r . mundo

»Alle clene of hert blessid pai be, corde

r , r j ., v v. quoniam

for at po gr^te dome sikerhche ^ ipsi

bai shal se god apertlyche deum

In his godhed & in his blis, bunt.

po whiche pai shal neuer mys«.

pen shul bai here bat bene couthe,

A blisful worde of gods mouthe:

»Comes now, my blessid, iw-fere,

bat to my fader bene leue & dere, 420

In to my blis T,G shul wende

bat lastes ever wzt/z-outen ende,

[for] l eu^-more bere to won

vrith bo fader & wz't/z bo son

And with bo holi gost in vnite, 425

bat is bo holy trinite«.

»And ^e, cursed gostes, gos a-non,

7,e shul be dampned eu<r-ilkon«.

£ere bai shul se hytn al-so,

but bat shal be al for hor wo ; 430

for toward horn he wil hym turne

bothe wrathful & eke sturne —

And namely to bat cuwpanye

pate slowen hym thorou enuye

And kene nayles dryuen eke, 435

thorou his honde & fete 2did horn to

sekes,

And pere bai shul se sothly his grisely woundes opuwly pat pai diden hom-selue make; for drede pen shul pai quake4. 440

Pen wol god to horn saie wz't/z sterne voice & grete aie: »Cursid gostes, ^e ben me lothe: Gos a-non, gos now, gothe In to [bo] strong fire of helle, 445

for eu^-more bere to duelle & brenne bere in hote fire, for j;e han serued no nob^r hire ; Mercie is al fro ?ow gon, for whi on me s;e had en non«. 450

He bat wol no mercie haue On hym bat wolde hym mercy nraue1, he shal be luged witterly Rightfully wzt^-outew mercy.

1 Ms. And. 2 l>ai on margin. 3 A torouz his honden & his fete. 4 v. 431—440 om. in H.J 5 Ms. graue.

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

(De spe) 'For2 seynt Dauid sales, if pou wilt loke,

In a verse of po psauter-boke : Spera in »Hope to god, and do gode«.

fac Right so I vnderstode. bomta-j}ut yjjei hope a mow may habbe,

tern. i r j

460 I saye pe sothe w/tA-outen gabbe ;

for al onely to hope, wz't^-outew gode dede, Is ydel hope, so god me spede. But I ne saie not-forthy, pou may be charged sikerly

465 w*tfc grete sywnes, heuye & sore, ?it shalt pou dispaire nere-po-more : but stedfast hope haue pou to wywne gods mercie of pi synne Thorow shrift of mouthe & repentauwce,

470 & redy p^rfore to do penauwce ; If pou do bus, by day & night, Put al pi hope in god of might, And tmt hope to hym pou haue pat he pe wil helpe & saue.

475 Herken what I wil [say] nouthe, for hit come oute of gods mouthe :

Vbi te »Mon, right pere as I be fynde, inuenio . , . , T ., ,

ibi te nght pere I wil pe luge & bynde«.

iudico. AlaSj what shai j^ jjen do 480 pat are fouwden in sorow3 & wo,

pat woldew not ho»z-selue shryue

whil pai mighten, in hore lyue ?

fawfore, mon, I warne pe,

whil bat pou may go & se 485 pat pou be redy & ^are

Oute of pis worlde for to fare ;

for sikernes no mon witt may

when shal be his endyng-day.

P^rfore thinke oft, I be reide, 490 of pis word pat god saiede :

»P<?r I be fynde, I wil pe bynde« ;

Lett oft pis word be in pi mynde. (De lee- Mon, if pou wolt pis world forsake studio) & Ih«u Crist to pe take, 495 Pou most be oft in orisone,

and itt reding of gods lessone.

Wj'tA vs god spekwf when we rede

of hym & of his blissed dede ;

& we vfiih hym, I-wis,

when we byseke hym bat right is. 500

Holy writt is oure myrroure,

In whom we sene al oure sokoure ;

& if we hit wil vnderstonde,

pere may we se & vnderfon[g]e l

to haue of god po knowleching, 505

bothe in poght and in speking.

And if pou wilt haue po loue (De pace)

of Ihmi pat in heuen sittes aboue, pou most be eu^r in gode acorde, In pes & loue, & hate discorde, And be a-boute wz't^ al pi myght to make pes by day & nyght. For Ihwu Crist hit saies ful wel, as we hit fynde in gospel, A sothe worde hit is & not leese : »Blessid be pai pate makew peese, hom oow to be honourid alle, for gods childer me« shal hom calle«

Mon, if pou wolt herken to me, I wil speke of mercie to pe. Sothly wzt^-outen fabul, Mon, pou most be m^rciabul. On Ihesu Crist think witterly, how he deiid2 for mercy, And al for he wolde mercie haue On hom pat wolde hym mercy craue for or he deiid in flesshe & bon, mercy was ber neu<r non. By pis ensaumple ^e may se merciabul for to be. Of3 pi neghtbur haue misdone to pe, more or lesse whep«- so hit be, ober in dede or vmbrayde, or -with word has be myssayde: And he bera.fi.er forthinkwj hz't sore & per of cryes mercie & ore, forgyne hit hym for gods loue pat vs alle sittes a-boue. And pou wilt no merci haue on hom pate done pe mercy craue, Mercy getys pou neu^r non Of trespasse pat pou hast don; for god hit saies in his gospel, per mony mon may fynde hit wel:

Beatt pacific! quoniam filii dei uoca- buntur.

(De miseri- cordia, et indul-

gentia)

525

530

535

540

1 v. 455—804 om. in H. * r. synne?

2 om. in A. 1 Ms. vnderfonde. 2 Ms. deud. 3 — pOf.

Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.

Eadem »Siche mett as pou metis me, mensura . . . , T .. qua right siche 1 wil meete to pe ;

me.ssi forgyue, mo«, for bo loue of me, mentis, t>J

reme- & I wol for bo loue of pe«.

vobis. Take, mon, gode geme ber b<m saiest, 550 In bo pater nosier what bou prayest ; bou saiest: »swete lord, for-gyue me bat I haue mysdone a-gayntw be,

Et Right as I do to alle boo dimitte , nobis pate to me haue oght mysdo«.

deb- & bon bat art so cruel in thoght nostra : r

sicut & And wolt to mmne herken noght, 'what wil hit stonde in ony stidde, po holy Pater nosier pof pou hit bidde? Noght, if I dar hit saye ; 560 for a-gayne bi-selue bou dos praye. And po holy boke of sothnes berof beris wittnes

And sales: »he bat wil no mercy haue, ful ydel may he mercy craue«.

(De pa- Oure swete lord in his speche tientia),. ,. . ,. , . ,

his disciphs he con teche :

In pa- »In alle maner disturbulauwce

vestra ne bad horn be of gode suffrauwce«.

P0.5?1.- If bou art seke in flesshe & blode,

aebitis

animas bou most be meke in al bi mode,

as'& thenk bat god hit be sende bi sely soule to a-mende. If bou haue losse of bi catel, Loke & vmthink be swythe wel

575 Pflt of pi-selue ban haddest hit noght, but as ' hit was thorow god wroght, & if god wil hit fro be take, bou shalt berfore no grutching make, but sufrar alle goddis wille

580 bothe loude & eke stille.

& if be falle trauelle on honde, or pyne of body, or shame in londe, Of alle pes pou suffrande most be, pof pou thenk hit greues pe;

585 Thenk how Ihesu in to erth came & for mon he tholyd pyne & shame And foule pere was myssayde

t& mony a scorne vpon [hym] layde, w»tA-outen grutchyng [he] held hym stille 590 & tholid hit al vfitA mylde wille ; i r. al.

And al he did for oure sake,

for we shulde at him ensau/wpel take

to be suffrande in ilk a stidde

Right as oure lord hyw-selue dydde.

and if ony mon thorou his powere 595

Dos pe wrong on erthe here,

Thenk in pi hert, I praye pe,

Of po wrong & of po vilete

pat men to Ihi.ni Crist did

here in erthe in mony a stid, 600

And how he tholid hit myldely

alle for pi loue sikerly.

One ensauwple of hym pou nym

to suffer wrong for po loue of hym.

For I dar saye sothly, 605

he may be martrid treuly

with-outen shedyng of mownes blode

bat is here of thole mode

to suffer wronge & vnright

for bo loue of god al-myght. 610

But vnneth siche a faithe is pere,

for agayne kynde hit were,

why, for bo kynde of mon

wold haue vengaunce a-non.

But of Ihi.ru take bi mynde 615

& feght agayne bin owne kynde :

And bou shalt haue for bi gode dede

Of martirdam bo heghe mede.

But bou feers mon bat so proude art, (De And heghe of mode & stoute of hert, *^e\~ [pou] l wil not bowe for no binge, to mon ner to heuen-kynge. And he bat wil heghe hym here, & wol not bowe on no manere, In litel while he shal hit knowe 625

& falle berfore swythe lowe. Qui se

Po mylde thorou his humilite StL"

ful lely honourid shal he be, for he shal be drawen on heghe & wonne god swithe neghe ; ^Uiu

and pride, hit is so foule a last pat oute of heuen he was cast — pou shalt wel witt pat I not lye, for Lucifer & his cowzpanye thorou po prz'de pat horn con folow, 635 po pyne of helle horn cow swolow;

i Ms. he.

qu se exaltat

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

So he wil do alle men pat in pride ben taken. Now be war, bou provide grome, 640 bat bou in pr/de be not nome; Cast hit a-way, I wil be rede, Or ellis of strong pyne bou may drede: for sikerly, & bou be tane per-Inne, heuen may bou neuer wynne ; 645 & oper way is bere none

but to heuen, or helle gone. Pen do by consaile & by rede, and ouer-com bo foule quede pat fouwdes be on ilk a side 650 for to holde be in pride.

But if pou kouthe knowe or se bo virtue of humilite, for no ping bou woldist hit shon, but hit shuld euer w/'tA be won ; 655 of alle vertu^ hit is po hext, & gods wille hit is next. Seint Gregor p<rof beris wittnes, pat mykel spekes of sothnes: Qui sine»Mon, pof pou do neuer so mikel gode, tate vir-but bou be meke & of thole mode,

ceteras ^e*nt ^reSor saies Pat n°li clerk, congre-bat mykel in ydel is [pi] * werk ; quasi hit faris by soche, as we fynde,

emn so ^ere Powder in grete wynde :

vento for of he bere neiw so myche, ' hit flyes away ful lightlyche.

Of mon hit faris right so,

for gode dedes of he do2

Mony & fele on iche a side, 670 per may non w*t£ oper a-bide,

but he haue wrray humylite :

Alle pai wol fro hym fle«. A gode ping is humilite

Of hym comes wrray charite, 675 And penauwce & eke shrift —

pis is of god a ful fayre ^ift,

& forgyuenes of synne —

wel is hym pat hit may wynne.

(De Who so is a-ferde of his trespase, com- punc- he shal haue confort & solace

cSdis) Of P

1 Ms. his.

o** witterlye,

2 w. 667 & 8 are tr.

pat wil pfo]1 soule contort in hye2

& make men to haue per-wzt//, I-wis,

trist hope to heuen-blis.

Seynt Dawz'd p^r-of spake & saiede

In po psauter as men reide:

»po more a mon doutes his sy;me,

po more ioye he shal wy«ne«.

For who so has of his sywne drede,

& wil no more do hit in dede,

hit semes pat he has trew lone

to Ihe.ra Crist pat sittes a-boue.

One ping is comew to my thoght,

to shewe hit I wil spare noght.

If ony is in holy lyue,

mon, mayden, childe or wyue,

& dos a litel trespase3

In one tyme thorow a case

bat is agaynes gods wille,

be hit loude be hit still e :

he wil haue more sorow & drede

for bat litel synful dede,

ben mony one wil in ony stouwde

bat lien in dedly sywne I-bou«de.

If bou wilt here of bo skille,

herken & I be telle wille.

Po mon pat lyes in dedly synne

& po synne he wol not blynne,

Gostly witt he has I-lore ;

I wil be telle why & wherfore:

for gostly sight witterly,

mon, is bi reson sikerly,

where-[borou] * pou may in pi mode

know bothe bo yuel & bo gode,

& sheed to make in alle f)i dede

by-twyx sothnes & fals-hede ;

& when mownes soule, I-wis,

thorou dedly synne fyled is,

his knowyng is al gon,

for witt ne sight has he non.

Wherfore bo synful mon

Noub^r he may ne he con

his owen state right se

ne know in what lyue pat he be,

for merkenes bat he is Inne

thorow po fylyng of dedly synne.

But poo pat lyuen in holy lyue,

1 Ms. {>i. 2 A comforty. 3 v. 697 & J are tr. in Ms. « om.

Secun-

dum

multitu-

dinera

dolorum

in corde

meo [conso- lationes

tue]

letifica-

uerunt

animam

meam.

700

705

710

715

Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.

33

73°

735

740

(De con- fessione)

745

750

755

760

765

hil abs- nditum od non ueletur, neque cultum od non ciatur.

mon, mayden, childe or wyue,

& serues god on erth here:

his gostly sight is ful clere1,

for w/t//-Inne hym is god al-might,

pat is2, grace of gostly sight,

To se & knowe in his mode

po long lyue fiat is so gode,

And po drede of domes-day

& po pyne pat lastis ay ;

wher-thorou pai shal po more drede

to fle sywne in alle hore dede.

Here ^e may se po wronge,

& se wher-on hit is longe,

pat synful mon may not se

his giltes, f)of pai grete be.

Listen now to my speche & nedeful ping I wil pe teche, Of holy kirc hz't is po lore, pat spekes to alle lesse & more & sales: »mon, whil pou may lyuen, loke pat pou be clene shryuen; als sone as pou hast sywne wroght, whil hit is new in pi thoght, Anon to shrift pat pou gange, ne duelle pou not p^r-wztA to lange : for if pou dost, pou may wel wit pat suwwhat shal be for-^ete of hit, wher-thorou pou may be blamed & at po dome ful sore a-shamed«. IVrfore, mon, whil pou may lyuen, Loke pat pou be clene shryuen, with sorow of hert & repentauwce ; & of po prest take pi penauwce. Pis is a rightful medicyne, hit shildes mon fro helle-pyne ; A better ping was neu«- founde, for hit makes holle dedly wonde, & who-so-eu^r wil hit craue, w/t/z-outen cost he may h*t haue. Mon, ne let pou for no shame, lest pou p^rfore falle in blame; If p<m wilt not for shame shew how here, pai shul be shewed ellis-where to alle po men pat euer were, & alle pai shul horn se & here, & ber-of [pen] p<m shalt haue shame,

1 A has 4 vv. more. * A J>at ^eue{> hym.

n.

780

785

790

795

and berto ful mykel blame.

Two maner of shame men fyndew in boke, 775

who so wil berzfter loke ;

pat one gos to dampnac/on,

pat oper to saluac/on.

If pou wilt witt how pis may be,

herken & I wil telle be.

Mon, if pou haue sywnes done

lodely and foule mony one :

if pou art pi-selue berof a-shamed

& at pi hert sore a-gramed,

and sparist not for loue ne ay

pot pou horn wilt in shrift say,

Of god pen may pou lightly

forgyuenes haue sikerly.

Pis ilk shame, by my croune,

drawes pe to saluacioune.

pat o\>er shame for sothe hit is,

If a mon haue done a-mys

And foule synnes has wroght,

& wil for shame shewe horn noght

In his shrift to po preist;

he wratthttj sore Ih&ra Crist,

forgyuenes I-wis tidus hym neu^r,

but in helle-fire brenne euer.

Why art pou more a-shamed to speke

a word, pen gods hestes to breke? 800

Pis ilk foule wicked shame

brynges synful mon in mikel blame.

Po lore pat comes oute of gods mouthe, (De to alle men hit shulde be couthe; Ihmi spake & saied ene : »wasshis ?ou & bes clene kyndely of men sene«. Vfitft water men wasshen bat foule bene And hote water, be pou bolde, wasshes clenner pen dos po kolde. Alle pis I saie sikerlyche for to speke openlyche what is hit for to mene »wasshis ^ow & bes clene«. So;«me wasshen horn, bot not a-right, 815 for po clenner are pai not dight. Po hote tens of monnes eghe Makes clewner pen ony leghe1. Mony wepes for hore mysdede,

1 Ms. Harl. here stops shert.

peni- tentia) Laua- mini & mundi estote.

Sio

34

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvil.

820 bat to do synne pai ban no drede; pai wenen to wasshe horn w/tA bat water, & pai ben foulid ner-po-later: ffor if bai wil not synne fle, I-wis, vn-clene bai shul be.

825 But a no\>er man^r wasshing Makis dene of alle ping ; Mon, if pou haue synne done lodely & foule mony one: If bou hast wille to leeue pi sy«ne,

830 pat bou no more falle b^r-Iwne , Of bin eghew bo hote tens bate gon a-downe by bi leris, bai wil make gode a-corde by-twene bi soule & cure lorde,

835 & make be clene of bi synne,

wher-thorou bou may heuew wywne. Now may bou witt what is to mene »wasches zou & bes clene«.

(De non But ze bate wil clene be, tardando converti). Ccrtes, suwzwhat ze most fle,

wil ze here zit efter sone One ping pat nedeful is to done. Hit is gods oune lore, pat spekes to alle lesse & more, Ambulate »Go, mon, whil bou hast light,

dum lucem

habetis, ne Lest pe ouer-take po derk nyght«.

> is Cald

hendant. & bi deth bo derk night;

whil bou art on lyue, bou may wirke

850 gode werkes of holy kirke, & certes, when bou art deed, ben may bou noup^r do gode ne

queed.

IVrfore, mon, I warne be, whil pat bou may go & se

855 In gode waies spede be fast, Lest J)o night wil be a-gast. & sikerly, w/t^-outen nay, at bi deyng shal be bi domwj-day: for pere shal be reckned alle

860 bat eu^r bou didist, grete & smalle; pere bou shalt know & se Gode or yuel whep^r h«t be. & ben p^rauenter woldest bou fayne bygynne to wirk & rurne agayne:

865 but certes bou shalt not so,

bot right aft^r bat bou hast do bou shalt take verament bere bi rightwis lugement. Deth is gilor swythe stronge, & bigiles mony one eu^r a-monge : b^rfore wirke whil bat b<?u maght, for sodenly b<m may be kaght.

Drede of god in alle bing Of wisdam is bo bygynnyng. & mony one hanew of god drede, but not for loue of his god-hede, bot pat bai shulden for hore gilt In to strong payne be pilt. Hit fares by soche, I vnderstonde, as hit dos here by bo bonde. to bonde wil noub^r loude ne stille do oght agayne his lordes wille, But bat is for no loue ne for no«

a-corde

bat he has to his lorde, [but] for if he did, he wist hit wel he shuld lese of his catel. & ^it hit fares by mon also bat lettes more synne to do for doute of grete pynynge, pen for loue of heuen-kynge. Hit is not yuel so to bygynne, for drede of pyne to leeue his sy«ne : for soon after he may katche grace to be-penk hym of gods face, how mirry h/'t were to haue bo sight Of gods face bat es so bryght ; And so ben shal he cast his loue to Ihmi Crist bat sittis a-boue, & leeue & fle alle synful dede bothe for loue & for drede. But who so wil do by my lore, I-wis, he shal lett more to fle synne bothe day & night for drede to leese bat faire sight Of gods face bat is so clere, of whom we han alle cure powere, pen for drede of oure woo bat ony bing vs might doo.

Leeue frende, herken to me, & more I wil speke to pe Of po wrtues of almes-dede.

Et ideo ambu- late dum lucem habetis. (De timore domini).

Inicium sapien- cie timor domini.

880

885

890

895

900

905

(De ele-

emosy

9IO

:,

Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.

35

for in po gospel as we rede1,

pin almes-dede pou shalt forthe pitte,

& spare hit not pof hit be litte.

915 God saies pus in his lore:

»mon, if pou may gyue no more but a dische ful of colde water, pou putt hit forth nere-po-later wtt/i gode wille & charite,

920 & ful wel hit bes golden be«.

& when pou shalt haue ponke & mede

for so littel an almes-dede,

Siker pen may pou be,

if pou gyues mykel in charite

925 to god pou may bo better spede & bo more shal be pi mede. Ones hit I vnderstode In almes-dede is dowbul gode : hit fordos synne, witt hit wel,

930 and hit wol eke pi catel. & of pou be herof in drede how hit might be so in dede, I[n] gode wittnes I wil drawe One ensauwple of po olde lawe.

935 Holy writt wil not be leis,

bat spekes of po prophet Heleis how Ihmi Crist, oure lord swete, spake to Helise po pr^phete; to a pore wydogh he him sende,

940 hore both#j lyue to amende;

He saied: »Helise, pou shalt fare In to Sarept & wo«ne pare ; pere is a widogh bat wil be fede, & I wil ^elde her ful wel hir mede«.

945 Po prophet Helyse by-gan a-non forth on his way for to gon. At po ^ate of pat cite po widogh he mette, And faire a-non he hir grette ; he bad hir for gods loue,

950 bat vs sittes alle a-boue,

A dische ful of water he2 shuld hym gyue for to helpe hym for to lyue. £0 wydogh saied ho wold fayne, & to serue hyw ho turned agayne.

955 After hir he bygan to crye

And bad hir pat ho shnld hye ; »Do, he sayed, by my rede, 1 vv. 911 & 2 are tr. 2 r. ho.

bryng wztA pe a shyuer of brede«. Po wydogh vnswerid a-non: »Sikerly, ho saied, bred haue I non, 960 ne noght bat I might be s;iue for to helpe pe to lyue but a hondful of mele in a pichere, & a litel oile pat is clere ; pat I mot make on meete here 965

to me & my childer iw-fere, And sithen we moten die sore, for meete haue we no more«. Po prophet vnswerid hyr so: »I bid be, he saied, or pou go 970

ffirst perof make me mete ; & when pat hit I haue ete, Of pat pat leeues pou shalt make ffor pe & for pi childer sake«. l*o sely wydogh pen ful sone 975

grauntid wel to do his bone, for his loue bat ludas solde l ; hir litel mete shewe ho wolde. When po prophet pis hym seghe, his eghen to god he kast on heghe, 980 to hym he made an orison: & a-non god put his fyson vp-on hir mele in hir pichere, And in hir oyle pat was clere. Pen saied a-non po pn>phete 985

to po wydogh wordes swete: »ne drede pe not, wowmon, in pi thoght: pi mele shal want right noght, & pin oyle shal wax sykerly, and pi loom shal not be empty«. 990

Crete plenty had po wydogh poo whil pat ho lyued eu<r-moo. Now pou knowest in pi mode In almes-dede is doubul gode: Almes-dede fordos synne 995

& p^r-thorou pou may heuew wynne, And pi gode shal multiplye — so saies po boke bat wil not lye. Po gospel saies to be & me: »Gyue, and men shal gyue pe«. 1000

In a nober stede I haue wittenes pat god hym saies in sothnes: »A1 pat pou dost for po loue of me i Cf. p. 6, v. 406.

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

to po leste of my meyne, 1005 Right to my-selue, witt hit wele, |)ou dost bi present ilk a dele«. Glad may bou [ben] be in bi thoght Als oft as bou may gyue oght, ffor bou may nowe wel vnderstonde, IOIO bou takist hit god in his honde — for gods wordes in sothnesse berof beris gode wittenesse. Per-fore, mon, be not to gnede

Ihmi Crist forto fede:

for hou may ber-w/tA wel spede, 1015

& heuen-blis gete to pi mede.

To bat blis he vs bryng

bat is lord ouer alle bing,

And gyue vs grace, whil we ben here,

to serue hym bat vs boght dere, 1020

In trewe loue & charite,

Amen amen, so mot hit be.«

Explicit hie speculum vtile istius mundi.

4. (Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, World, Man, Sin, Grace, Virtue, Good works, God's Mercy, God's Justice).1

A later Ms. is Ms. Addit. 10053 2 (a free copy of Ms. Reg.). The poem treats partly the same topics as the Prick of Conscience, often in identical terms. The dialect is Yorkshire, the frequent o-forms (pore wore, wone shone, go two, gost most &c.) are not necessarily original. I think, R. Rolle's authorship is unque- stionable.

fol. 36.

/\.lle-mighty god in traiite, fader and son & holy gost, bat is one god & p^rsones thre, One sothfast lord of mightwj most, 5 Gyue vs grace synne to fle, and wel to lyue, & kepe vs chaste ; so pat cure soules redy be to god, when we bo deth shal taste.

He may wel be calde witty 10 bat can wel lyue in bis exille; who so here lyues rightwisely, he wirkes wel after gods wille. He bat mas hym to god redy and lyues wel, shal not die ille ; 15 & alle oper may be dredy,

but he pat wel con lyue thorou skille.

Alle oure lyue bat we here lede, is noght but a dethe lyuande ; & deth is noght ellis to drede 20 but as a passing of lyue failande.

For fro bigynnyng of oure childehede ilk day to dye we are dredande; ben bis [lif]8 is faylande at foo nede, for whils we here lyue [we]s are dyande.

Mony lyuen bate lyue kan noght, 25

and mony dyen bate dar not dye; but of deth haue foai no thoght bat con lyue wel & ese ay [f]lye4. Thorou bodily deth bo gode are broght to ioye, & no payne to drye; 30

after bo werkwj bate bai haue wroght alle shal be demed, witterlye.

Deth is of endeles lyue bygynnyng,

and of dedly lyue bo last ende,

to boo bate here are of gode lyuyng, 35

when bai shal oute of bis world wende.

Pen shal deth be to horn likyng

bat in bis lyue made god hore frende ;

but hit is entrie of duellyng

In helle to horn bate semen foo fende. 40

* Title on margin by a later hand : An Induction to good life by the consideracion of Heaven, Hell & Purgatory. 2 This Ms. at the end adds 2 stanzas, asking to pray for him »that this

tretis on englisshe drowec , and the following note : Orate pro anima domini lohannis Pery, canonici ecclesie sancte Trinitatis Londonie infra Algate, gut hunc librum fieri fecit; cuius anime propicietur deus, amen. This Pery, the alleged compiler of the Ms., cannot be the author of our poem, which is older and northern. * om. * Ms. slye; A. & ay is slye(!).

To live well, consider Hell, Purgatory, Heaven &c.

37

Wh erf ore, mon, if pou wilt lere to lyue wel, & die rightly, & of gode & ille haue knowyng clere, and loue & drede conceyue herby: 45 wende oute iche day of pi-selue here thorou thoght, & forgete pi body, and pen by-holde thre places sere In pot ofyer world, of sere party.

J>ere shal pou se, if pou loke euen, 50 So/wme in ioye, & so/wme in paynes stedde, & here & knowe by hore steuen what-wise pai hane hore lyue ledde. [I^o1 thre places I wil pe nemen2, as I haue herd & in boke redder 55 One is belle, an ofyer is heuen, And purgatorye is po thridde.

|> ese thre places, as we trowe, In pat op^r world, are certayne; to one of pese thre wende shalt powe 60 when deth has here pi body slayne. I*ou shalt hethen wende & wot not howe, & neu^r shalt pou come a-gayne: perfore, or pou wende, chese pe nowe whefw pou wolt to ioye or to payne.

65 First, at helle pi thoght shal be, to se how synne is wirkid3 pare; and in pwrgatorie may pou se how synne is clensyd, w*tA pynes sare ; In heuen pou shalt se grete plente

70 of blis pat shal last euer-mare, for horn pate are w/'tA hert fre for gode werkwj wolde horn not spare.

|>er-aft£r byholde po worldwj lawe, how ful hit is of vanyte ;

75 & sithen agayne pi thoght pou drawe In to pi-selue & pi-selue se, & what pou hast done & what p0u awe, And what god has done & dos to pe: & so may pou gode and ille knawe,

80 and con lyue & die and redy be.

(Hell)« JT1 irst, if pou wilt con lyue right, pou shalt sende pi thoght to helle

1 Ms. to. z r. neuen. 3 A. wroken.

* On the margin by a modern hand.

ones on po day or on po night

po while pou lyues, where fendus are felle1 :

pere shalt pou se thorou gostly sight 85

more sorow & pyne pen tong may telle:

for synful men are grymly dight

pat for hore synnes pere shal pai duelle.

Alle sorow pat mo«n«,r hert wolde fle pou shalt se w/t^-Inne helle-^ate, 90

and of alle woo grete plente, & grete defaute, as clerkes wate. 3 Fire pat neu^r sleckid shal be is pere, w/tA brymston brewnande hate, pat al po water in po see, 95

pof hit thorou-ran, ne myght hz't bate.

For as fire is hatter eu^rywhore

pen is a fire paynted on a wo we:

right so po fire is hatter pore

pen is po fire here pat we knowe. 100

^it pere is siche colde euw-more,

soche storm«j pat euer shal blowe,

pat if po fire fast brennande wore,

hit shuld sone turne to yse & snowe.

|>ere is ay smeke, & stynke a-mong, 105 and marknes more pen ener was here ; pere is huwgur, thriste, and throng, & vgly fendes of grete powere; pere is gretyng & deulful song, gnastyng of tethe & grisly chere, 1 10

& oper tourmentis harde & strong more pen hert may pink fer or nere.

J>ere is no hope of helpe ne 4 rede

to how pate duellen in pat payne,

ne non relef5 thorou no gode dede, 115

for hit is endeles sorow sou^rayne.

tere is deth wz't/*-outen deede,

& lyue w/t^-outen lyue, certayne;

pai dye ay lyuande in pat stede,

& euer-more lyues & dies agayne. 120

Ouer al paynes pere haue pai a special sorow day & nyght: of po sight of blis pat lastes ay, pat optff haue in heuen bryght,

Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 6461 ff. « Cf. ib. Ms. orig. ner;

7326 ff. r. erased.

Cf. ib. 6595 ff. * A. reles.

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

125 fro bo whilk bai are putt a-way, for bat bai here lyued not right ; And hat shal last to domes-day, but fro ben bai shal want bat sight.

J>at sight of blis ^wfortis horn naght, 130 but ekes * hore sorow bat bai haue tane ; thorou enuye bai haue hit kaght bat ofaer has ioye & bai haue nane. to leest payne pat horn is wraght* In helle is more bat neu^r shal wane, 135 ben alle bo paynes in erth taght if pai were alle to-geder in ane.

For alle bo paynes here as we duelle al-if bai tos so mony wore, j;it bo lest payne in helle 140 men saien a hu«drid-folde is more; [f]or alle bo paynes sharpe & felle of pis world, pat greuen here sore, solace & ioy men might horn telle to regarde of po lest payne bore.

145 When bou hast sene pis hydowis place, & po sorow pat is per-Inne, bou shalt haue drede, if b<m haue grace, to do here ony dedly synne. For who so folowes bo fendes trace

150 & of his wickednes wil not blynne, but he amende hym whil he has space to payne of helle pai wil him wynne.

(Purga- Z*,it sende pi thoght forther-mare tory) . , .

to purgatory e : where pou may se

155 soules in brennande fire al bare for synne vnclensid, & may not fle; In bat fire bai shal duelle bare til bai of alle synnes clensid be And made als clene as first bai ware

1 60 when bai were baptised & made fre.

fat payne of fire where pai duelle, is so mykel, to dense synnes sere, pot alle tourmewtes sharp & felle bat alle martirs ban suffrid here, 165 & paynes pat wywnnen when pai swelle5 of childeng thole pat to deth are nere,

to pat pyne is not to telle but as a bathe of water clere.

^[lFor bat fire is more mighty ben bis fire here, & more bre«nande, 170 as is bis fire erthly hatter ben bo sonne shynande. In bat fire bre«n«j soules mony, And shal b^r-Inne ay be duellande til bai ben clensid clene ber-by, 175

as gold is founden2 in fire meltande.

But bai haue ay gode hope in thoght

oute of pat payne to wywne a-way,

for pai wot wel pat pai are noght

In helle, her payne is lastande ay. 180

But suzw-tyme pai haue pis not in poght,

So harde payne is per night & day

pat pai are oute of mynde broght

& con not think where are pai.

J>ai haue dowbul payne here dight: 185

One is feling of hore payne,

An oher hore letting of pat syght

of god bat is ioy souerayne ;

bat ^erne bai euer day & night,

but bai may not be certayne 190

til bai be made clene & bright

of al bat bai haue done in vayne.

f>us may bou bere thorou gostly e

se harde peynes on sere manere,

bat po lest payne is more to drye 195

ben bo most payne of pis lyue here.

ter-fore dense be here or pou dye,

thorou penauwce of alle pi sywnes sere;

for ellis pon shalt, wztA-outew lye,

In purgatorie bye horn ful dere. 200

.Ajterwarde pi hope vp lede (Heuen)

& lyft pi hert holy to heuen. 3I*ere shalt p<ra se, if pou take hede, more ioye pen erthly mew con nemen. Alle clerkes bat on boke con rede, 205 & maisters of alle bo science seuen, bo ioye bat bere is & bo mede mighten not think ne shewe w/tA steuen.

1 Ms. sekes. * r. raght. 3 A. twies.

* Cf. Pr. of Consc. v. 2722 ff. * A. yelle.

1 Cf. Pr. of. Consc. v. 3094 ff. 3 Cf. Pr. of Consc. v. 77823".

r. fyned?

To live well, consider Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, World.

39

|>ere is ay grete fulnes of lyght, 210 & largenes of roume1 w/t^-outew prese,

mirthis pat passen alle mennus sight,

& p^rfite loue pat neu^r shal cese ;

pere is sou^rayne sikernes dight,

& siker pasibulnes & pese, 215 paysibul ioye wz't/J likande sight,

& ioyful scilence wz'tA ese.

J>ere is cely endeles beyng, and endeles blis iw pat place, And likyng & endeles loouyng, 220 and thonkyng of mercy & of grace . . . . 2

J>ere is al maner welth endeles, & of alle delites grete plente ; pere is flowyng of more riches pen eu*r was here, by mony degre ; 225 pere is more wurship of heghnes

pen etier might eghen in pis world se ;

pere is alle ping pat gode is3,

& wantyng of alle pat yuel may be 4.

J>ere are rnedes of halowes sere — 230 pat ioye no mon mesure may ;

pere are so mony ioyes5, pat no mow here

may horn recken nyght ner day;

pai are so prec/ouse & so dere,

and of so mykel nowblay, 235 and so plentiuouj on sere manere,

pat no mon horn may gesse ne say.

J>ere is lyue wzt/z-outen deth dight, po wille8 is ener-more lastande ; pere is sjouth wz'tA-outew elde right, 240 & rest wz'tA-outew swi[n]k 7 folowande ; pere is wi'tA-outew merknes light, and ioye pat euer-more bes duellande ; pere is ay day & neuer nyght, & pes wz'tA-outen stryue holdande.

245 {*ere is light & bryghtnes more

pen eiw had sonne when he bright shone; & pere is grete myrthe, as I saied ore, and melodic pat nener shal wone. So mykel ioye & so mony are pore

250 po whilk pai haue pat pider are gone,

1 Ms. rourme. 2 The wanting vv. are also wanting in A. * r. es. * Here A. has 4 vv. more. 5 om. in A. s »Wille zum Leben, Triebt. 7 Ms. swilk.

pat alle po clerkes here of lore Kouthe not telle po lest l poynte of one.

For po lest ioye pat is in heuen

of alle po ioyes pat are sere,

is a huwdrid-folde more [to] neuen 255

pen al po ioy of pis lyue here;

for al po melodic of mownwj steuen,

& delites fer and nere,

were noght but sorowe to telle euen

al to po leste ioy of heuen clere. 260

J>erfore, when f)0u hast how sene

thorou eghe-sight of hert fire:

at pi sywnes pou shalt sore tene

pat putten pe fro pat faire cite.

For al-pof helle neu^r shulde haue bene, 265

& synne shulde neuer vengyd be,

^it shuldes pou ^erne to kepe pe clene

pat ioy to haue & god to se.

What mon wolde tyne pat ioy & pat blis,

if he oght of hyw-selue wolde rewe, 270

pat god has hight to alle his

pat in his seruys here are trewe?

for sikerly, I dar saie pis,

gyue a mon pat ioy right £newe,

hym were leuer, pew hit to mys, 275

Ilk day to be slayne here newe. —

W hen pou thorou thoght of pi hert fre (World) hast sene po ioye: pou shalt loke downe & biholde pis world -with his fals gre pat worldly to serue are bowne ; 280

po whilk is ful of vanite, of wretchidnes & corupcioune; pen shal hit seme nos;t ellis to se2 but as a depe, dywme duwgeoune.

For hit shal seme pen to pi sight 285

merke & layth, litel & lawe,

to regarde of heuen so bright

pat pou so faire & bright sawe:

h;t shal seme voied of alle gode right

pat monnus hert might to likyng drawe, 290

to regarde of po plente dight

of heuewly godes pat are to knawe.

1 orig. last, corr. 2 A. the.

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvii.

Alle worldly riches bothe more & lesse be shal [bink] foule as muk stynkande,

295 to regarde of heuewly richesse

bat are so faire & neu^r faylande ; Al f>o ioye & al bo gladnes shal be sorow for sothe semande, to regarde of bo ioy bat es

300 In heuen w/t^-outen ende lastande.

Alle bo witt of bis world to lere be shal ben benk aperte foly, to regarde of bo sightes sere bat are in heuen w/'tA melodye ....

305 Alle wurships of bis world here wast shame & sheneship * shal seme to be, to regarde of bo wurship maste In henen bere we fayne wolde be; Alle bat bo world ^ernes in haste

310 be shal pink vayne & vanite,

to regarde of alle binges to taste bat fallen to heuen bat we wolde se.

If pou byholde on bis wise

bo world when bou bus hit has sene,

315 bat fals is & ful of fayntise

And ever deceyueabul has hit bene: bat sight shal make foe to dispise & forsake bis world be-dene, and tent to god & his seruyse,

320 & fro sywne here to kepe be clene. —

(Manes When bou b«j has sene heuew & helle, Purgatorie, ioy & payne, & bo fals world per we duelle bat suwnne mew louen & seruew in vayne : 325 biholde pi-selue ben, flesshe & felle, and bis lyue [here] vncertayne, & when bou hast done as I telle, wende ben in to bi-selue agayne.

i & be-thenk be what wast powe, 330 And wheben bou come in pi laeri caste ; & think also what bou art no we, — & bat bou be in thoght stedfaste! — ; And what bou shalt be think & trowe, & whider bou shalt wende atto laste: 335 for pi lyue here, I dar a-vowe, is noght but a wyndes blaste. 1 Ms. shemeship.

1 First bou shalt thynk & know in thoght what bou [was]2 first or bou come here. Su#* tyme was when bou was noght, to fele ne se, fer ne nere ; 340

sithen bou was conceyaed3 & wroght On catif4, wlatsome5 manere. Penk on hym bat be dere boght, & bat bou shalt not ay lyue here.

1F And whethen bou come, bink also : 345

fro foi moder wombe ful right,

Oute of a wlatsome stynkande wro

bat was al merk w/tfc-outen light.

Pen was bou waike & myght not go,

& nakid & pore, wttA-outen might ; 350

bou broght no-ping wz'tA pe {vrfro

but a foule skyn al blody dight.

J>enk what pon art now, & se

bou art al stynk & slayme wztA-Inne,

and a seckeful of muk pryne6, 355

pat is couerde vritA pat foule skynne.

Fouler filthe may not here be

pen of pe comes bothe thycke & thynne ;

per come now ob^r fruyt of be

but onely filthe, stynk, & synne. 360

Tor if pou se on ilk party what comes thorou mouthe & what thorou

nese,

& what thorou o\>er places of pi body when be list here bi body ese: A fouler myddyng of vilanye 365

bou saw neu<?r in lond of pese pen bou art w*t^-Inne nomely; pen has pou matir, of pride to cese!

Thenk where pou art, & knowe in haste bou art here in an exille sene, 370

bat is bis world bat sowzme louen maste, bat fikul is and ay has bene; bou art in a dale of deol to taste, ful of trouel, traye & tene ; \>ou art as in a wyldernes waste, 375

fulle of libardzw & lyons kene8.

i Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 440 ff. z Ms. art. 3 Ms. cowceueyued. * Ms. catift. » Ms. whatsome. 6 Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 564.

i Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 624—9. » Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 1225 ff.

To live well, consider Hell &c., Man, God's goodnes, Man's sin.

j>ou art as in a forest duellande, fulle of robbttrs & of theues ; pou art as [in] a see flowande, 380 fnl of waww-r & stormes bat greues; b0u art as [in] a noen1 brennande, ful of fire of sywne bat cleues: bou art as in an vwcouth lande, fdl of angwfs & myscheues.

385 f ou art as in a felde of bataile2,

where bou 3 byhoues vrith enmyes fight ; but bere thre wil be hardest a-saile : foi flesshe, bo fende, bo world right : bai wil not leeue for no trauaile

390 be to asaile bothe day & night — If faou fight fast, b0u shal not faile to ou^r-come how thorou gostly might.

Think also what bou shalt be, when bou shalt wende hebew a-way.

395 fou shalt be wormes mete to se, Roten erth & stynkande clay. £o dethe shal come to assaile be when me[r]cie fayne woldest bou pray ; but now abyding wol he grau«t be

400 of his comyng, night ne day.

Whider bou shalt, bithynk be '$itt and for bi wendyng bou ordayne. Oute of bis world bou shalt flitt, And neu«- after come a-gayne ; 405 bi body shal i« to a pitte,

bou art not of bi soule certayne, whid^r hz't shal wende bou may not witte, wheb<?r hit shal to ioy or to payne.

f»us al bi lyue & bi lyuyng 410 is ful of sywne & sorowes sere. How may bou ben laghe or syng In siche a lyue, & make gode chere? me bink be aght haue no likyng, ne make no ioy bo whils b<?u art here, 415 & lyue [in]4 drede and haue ?ernyng to endeles lyue bat most is clere. —

(God's _/\l afterward bi-thynk be right good- ness, what god has done & did for pe,

i = an ouen. 2 Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 1245. ' 3 r. ]>e. « Ms. &. & Cf. S. Edmund's Spe- culum.

and what he dos be day & night

On mony wise as bou may se, 420

what he shal do be thorou his might

& in his mercie bi helpe shal be :

ben may bou knowe thorou hyw in sight

how mighty & how gode is he.

J>ou shalt thynk first in bi thoght 425

what kyndenes god has for be done. First, for be heuew & erth he wroght, water & ayre, sonne & mone, & bestwj & trees bat fruyt forth broght for bi pr0fett he ordeyned sone; 430

bi-selue, mon, he made of noght ; — on his werkttJ bou thynk ful sone !

penk when bou was dawzpned to helle

for sywne, he boght be pew agayne,

for be he come in erth to duelle, 435

& suffrid harde passion & payne;

for be he hade sore wouwdes & felle,

for be his body was rent & flayne.

And if bou wilt his wouwdes telle,

here may bou se bo nouwbur certayne : 440

Fyue thousande wouwdes, as I wene,

& fully foure huwdred & sixty

for be he tholed & ^it fiftene,

In honde, in hed, in fete, in body ;

fro bo crowne of bo hed noght was sene 445

to bo soule of bo fote but al blody.

At bo last he died, ellis had b0u bene

dampned to helle wztA-outew mercie.

Think what god dos foe ay:

and how on mony sere manere 450

he saues be here bothe night & day

fro al meschauwce & p^rels sere;

he sendes be grace wher-thorou bou may

wynne -with strength bi lyuyng here,

And in al bat bou shalt do or say 455

he gyues be strength & witt clere.

IF When foou shalt ony bing bygywne, wz't/*-outen god bou may not spede; bou may noubrr go ne rynne, ne do no foing, but he foe lede, 460

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 178 xvn.

ne stir honde ne fote, lyppe ne chynne, ne no lym w*'t/*-oute« hym in nede; for what so pou dos, w/t^-outew synne, Onely may hit be calde his dede.

465 Ilk day for pe & |)i mete he multiplies of his godenes foules & fisshes, smale & grete, sere bestwj, trees, fruyte & gres ; for be he sendes bothe drye & were,

470 suTW-tyme more & suw-tyme lesse, & sujw-tyme colde & suwz-tyme hete, bat most to be sesenabul es.

At bo last, what he shal do to be thenk when bou art went hebew away.

475 If bou hym loue w/tA hert fre & serue hym treuly here to pay, he wil be bring to bat centre b^r neu^r is nyght but euer is day, where bou shalt more ioy & blis se

480 ben euer hert might think or tong say.

f>at contre is his kyngdome, of whiche he wil be his aire make if bou bo fende here ou^r-com thorou gode lyue & sywne forsake. 485 Bot if bou to god be vnbuxom & wickednes of sywnes take, bou shalt wende for bat wicke custom to helle, bere payne shal neu^r slake.

fer-after penk, £ for-gete noght, 490 what sywne bou has done & what foly : what vnkyndenes bou hast wroght & what dispite til god al-mighty, and what sheneship bou has thoght to bin oune soule, & vilanye, 495 & what harme & wrong bou hast wroght & done to bi neghtbur be by.

Ihink what vnkyndenes, if bou mene, bou hast to god done, & dispite: first how vnbuxu/w bou hast bene 500 to his byddynges, vmthink be ijite how bi loue is to hym noght sene, & has not serued [hym] wz'tA delite, but greued hym oft w/tA werkwj vnclene; of biw vnkyndenes bou art to wite.

Also what shame & vilanye $05

bou dost bi soule bithink be swithe : how foule bou mast h*t & vggely thorou synne bou dost here mony sithe, how pore, how nakid, how nedy of allebingbat shuldmake hit blithe1 .... 510

Thenk what harme bou hast don & skathe to hym bat was bi neghtbur kidde, in body, in soule, or ellis in bathe, thorou sklauwder, if hit so bitidde, or on ob^r wise has made hi»* wrathe. 515 Make hym amendis if bou bus didde, or ellus bi soule is in grete wathe ; for no bing may fro god be hidde. —

IVlore 7,it bihoues be know & se (Sine) & haue in mynde in ilk a stede, 520

what sywne bifore bi dede dos be bo whiles bou here on erth may trale, & what harme to be sywne may be when bou shalt [dy, &]2 after bi dede ; so shalt bou sywne hate & fle, 525

ben were bis a siker rede.

First know & think what dos sywne

bifore bi deth whil bou lyues.

Synne wouwdes bi soule w/t^-outew dywne,

& sore oft-sith hit [be] greues ; 530

sywne makes bi conscience foule wztA-Iwne,

& iche synne vfitA obifr clyues ;

synne mas god & be to twywne,

& puttes to mony foule vnthewes.

Synne dos be to folow bo feudus trace, 535

& alle bi dedis makes thonk/es 3 ;

sywne reeues be gostly solace,

& wtu^ bat passen al riches;

sywne waste[s]4 alle bi godes of grace,

& leeues b^5 voide of al godenes; 540

sywne mas be here helle to purchace,

to haue at bo last, per ay payne es.

Thenk also & bou may lere wh[at] ' synne dos be at bi deth stoure : Synne [priues]7 be ben8 of bi lyue here, 545 of alle welthe, might, of honoure;

1 A. adds : Hou thral thou mais it to thy body,

That to thy soule shold s^ruice kithe.

2 Ms. haue. 3 Ms. vnthonkes, 1 overl. « Ms.

sywnes wasten. 5 Ms. J)o. 6 Ms. when.

1 Ms. reprnjes. 8 ben overl.

To live well, consider Hell &c., Sin, Grace, Virtue, Good Works.

for solace ne ioy on no manere Getes pou after ner1 no fauoure, but endeles paynes & sorowes sere, 550 but pou be a-mende of al erroure.

Synne pynes3 pi soule also of pi body -with inikel care, & of4 pai to helle to-gedur go pi body so faire shal be never mare ; 555 for at bo metyng5 of horn two

pi soule shal se pi body so vgly fare pat siche a body as he went fro fayne wold he haue roten pof hit ware.

Vnd<?rstonde also & penk right 560 what synne shal do after pi deed :

Synne shal pew draw pe fro pat sight of god, and fro his sone6 bes pou sheed ; Sywne shal reeue pi soule of al might, & make hit wayke & heuye as leed; 565 synne shal put pe fro rest & light, & fro alle mercie, helpe & reed.

bynne shal to endeles payne pe lede In helle pat hidow«.r is and myrke ; Sywne shal pe put fro al gode dede 570 pat pou here wroght or euer wold wirke ; Sywne shal put pe fro al mede & fro al po helpe of holi kirke. I*MJ- shal sywne do, but pou god drede & forsake sywne & w/tA hit irke. —

Grace) 2\.ftcrwmd think in pi thoght

what grace shal do pat noght may fayle, & what virtue thorou grace is wroght, & what gode werk may pew availe. And when pou hast pes thre wel thoght : 580 wztA horn pou shalt pi soule vitayle, & of alle po synnes pou euer wroght make amendes thorou gode cowsaile.

First pou shalt penk & vwderstonde w/tA stedfast thoght & hert stabul 585 what grace may do pe here lyuande, if pou to grace wilt make pe abul.

1 Ms. ner after. 2 This st. is corrupted. 3 r. pryues? 4 r. or? s r. twinnyng.

6 om. in A.

Grace settis pi wille i« god lastande,

and makMj pe to hym acceptabul ;

grace may make pi hert heldande

to pat pat is most ptt?phetabnl. 59°

Grace po bouwdes of synne wil slake, and fully light pi hert wi'tA-Inne ; grace may make pe for gods sake to suffur angers & pi lyue wynne ; Grace may pi werkis medeful make, $95 & gete pat lost is thorou synne; grace wil gare pe po right way to take to heuen per blis shal neuer blynne.

J. hynk also ay when pou may (Vertu)

what virtue dos & what hit spedis. 600 Virtue puttis fouwdyng away, and multiplies alle gode dedis ; virtue makwj [pe] night & day to haue likyng iw god pat pi soule fedis ; vertue in charite holdes pi-selue ay, 605 And holly to god hit pi loue ledis.

H Virtue pe kepis fro fire brennyng,

fro helle hardships & fro payne,

fro lecherie, lust & lykyng,

pat pou noght i« horn druwken be; 610

vertue be kepis fro fallyng,

In alle nedis he vp-holdes pe,

& drawes pi hert fro dyu^rs ping,

fro coueytise & vanyte.

(Good works)

1 hink also day & night what gode werk dos pat is right wroght. Gode werk stablis vertue right, & ek«j pi mede, & glades pi thoght; gode wMce away puttz/j slouth thorou

right,

& fordos sywne pat pou art Iwne broght ; 620 gode werk strengthis be so to fight w/tA po fende, pat he pe ou<r-com noght.

Gode werk pat wroght is iw charite,

is holden medeful & certayne,

& specialy to fringes thre : 625

pat is, to endeles lyue souerayne,

44

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

& to bo ekyng of grace so fire, and also to forgyfnes of payne. & fyus may gode werk vaile to be, 630 if bou witA charite hit ordayne.

But gode werk l, shs.lt f>0u vnderstonde, oute of charite may noght a-vayle As to bo lyue ay-lastande; but to one of f)es foure hit shal not fayle: 635 Ou|w hit shal sonner breke sywne bande, or leese bo sorow bat be shulde ayle, or make bi welth more here flowande, or more lett bo fende be to assayle.

(Gods JlLuer-more bink how mykel is

mercy) .. , , «• i •

of god godenes of his mercy,

& of bo harde dome of his rightwisnys how mykel hit is on o\)er party; & bat shal make be to loue lesse worlds welth bat passis lightly, 645 & forsake honoure & richesse,

& wel more drede god al-myghty.

Mercie shewes sere bmrfises bat men receyue of god here : Mercy delyuers a mon & saues(!) 650 fro2 strong p^els bat mon is nere, Mercy here to mon hetes heuew delices 3 & to alle bat to god are leue & dere, mercy vs «>«fortis on sere wyses when we are broght in sywnes sere.

655 Of mercy god vs here abides

[suffrandly]4 when we do wronge, of mercie fro vengauwce he vs hides & gyues vs grace here frely a-monge, of mercie he multiplies on mony sides

660 bat he gyues, where-sere we gonge, of mercy he kepis vs what so bytides pat has ben ordayned to last longe.

Of mercie god wil agayne-calle mon bat turnes fro hym to ille, 665 of mercie he receyues horn alle bat turne agayne to hys wille, Of me[r]cy he makis oure hertis smalle and meke penauwce to fulfille;

1 Ms. werk«j. » Ms. for. » Ms. delites. * Ms. soueraynly.

of mercy pis shuld to hym falle

to forgyue vs, bat we not spille. 670

u Of mercy god sendes angers sere for sy«ne shuld be clensid fw-by, of mercy he gyues vs welth here to gare vs to loue hyw of curtesy, of mercy he gyues vs w/tA-outew were 675 Sacramewtis, to take wurthily, of mercy he wil bat we lere his comauwdements, for mede gostly.

Of mercy god ledps]1 horn agayne

bate wronge went day & nyght, 680

of me[r]cye — bat is certayne —

he ledis horn bat han no lyght,

Of mercye to helpe vs he is fayne

when we are fallen & wanten myght,

of mercy bat wil he not layne

he horn vp-holdes pat stonden vp-right.

Also benk w/tA hert stedfast, when bou wost what gods mercye is, how mykel shal be, in bi hert cast, bo reddir2 of his rightwisenes to boo bat shal be at bo last On domes-day [demed]3 more & les After bo dredeful bemes blast, as tellis bo gosple in bo mes.

J>en shal god his mercye hide

fro synful men bat are gilty,

his rightwisnes bai shal abide ,

& bai be [dampned] 4 pat be wurthy ;

ben shal bai stonde on his [left]5 side

wz'tA-[outen] ' hope of alle mercy,

And helle opende shal be wide

& swalow bat synful company.

For pai hade no reuth on bo pore pat for myscheeue might for horn spille, ne to hore owen neghtbore mercy [did] 7 here with gode wille, pai shal be dawpned thorou reddoure 8rightwysnes pen to fulfille,

6 [haf]9 endeles woo w/'t^-outew mesoure w/tA-outen mercye, & bat is skille.

1 Ms. ledde. 2 r. reddur. 3 Ms. dawp- ned. * Ms. demed. s Ms. right. 8 om.

7 Ms. do. » Ms. of rightw. • Ms. of.

685

\Gods-

Instis)

690

69S

700

705

710

To live well, consider Hell &c., God's Mercy, God's Justice.

45

Rightwisnes vritk mercy is ay In alle gode werkwj, as shewes he; but suw-tyme bat one is by sum way aperte, when bat obw is priue, 715 & su/»-tyme bothe se men may, & su#z-tyme nouber may faai se: but rightwisnes [in] bo last day bes shewid, & mercie hidde shal be.

Mercye is shewid, as I wene, 720 and rightwisnes pr/ue & srille,

when bo wicked of sywne is made clene, & so is rightwis[ed] ' thorow gods wille. But rightwisenes is openly sene & mercy hidde for certayne skille, 725 when childre vncn'stened dampned bene to helle for ay, bat neu<r did ille.

And rightwisnes \vii/t mercye tite are bothe hidde & holden doune, when iwnocente^ & men perfite 730 suffren here p^rsecucioune.

But bothe are shewid in a plite, bof bai haue sere condicioune, when god foo gode hore mede shal qwite, & to boo ille2 payne & dampnac/oune.

735 For god to bo gode grauwtis more mede in heuew ben bai haue serued fully, & to bo ille for hore mys-dede lesse payne in helle ben bai ben worthy. l>is is grete godenes of god to rede

740 pat bus dos of his grete mercy. 1 Ms. rightwisnes. '-' Ms. alle.

tere bus shal mercye here of spede thorou grace of god, oner al mighty, if mon seme god & paynes drede & to endeles blis hym dight redy.

If god schuld ^elde to ilk man 745

After bo werkes bat bai haue wroght,

gode for gode as he wel kan,

& ille for ille fully thoght,

fro bo tyme bai lyue bigan,

of alle werkwj, wylle, worde or thoght: 750

£0 rightwisnes of god bes l ban

Onely shewid, & mercye noght.

2And b^rfore chese be, or bou wende,

wheb^r bou wolt to payne or blis.

But if bou puruyauwce by-fore sende 755

til bat place bat redy is,

with gode dedes pi lyue amende,

ellis comes bou neu^r b<?r al ioye is,

but eu^r to duelle wz'tA bo fende,

dopartyd fro god and fro alle his. — 760

For his loue on rode con blede

& boght monnus soule vnto blis,

on bis boke takes gode hede

& reulis ;ow after rightwisnys.

he bat loues god & hym wol drede, 765

mon & wo#*mon, more & lesse,

to bat blis he wil ^ou lede

faere ioy & blisse euer es. amen, per

C[harite]. mea tua. 1 A. were. z A. has 2 other final stanzas.

5. (Twelve profits of Tribulacion.)

A southern transcription (but with many northern forms remaining) is extant in Ms. Laud 210 fol. 99 (c. 1370); the original text was northern, and is, no doubt, a work of R. Rolle (cf. neuerbelater &c.). The treatise is a close translation of Duodecim utilitates tribulationis by Petrus Blesensis (ed. Giles III p. 307 ') ; other translations of it are found in Ms. Reg. 170 xvm fol. 2b and Arund. 286 fol. 100 (both southern texts). — (A different treatise on tribulation is that in Ms. Harl. 1706 and other Mss., which treats of »how there were sixe masters assembled togeder and ycheon asked othere what thynges they myght best please god and were most profytable to the people, and all they were accorded to speke of tribulacion«.)

foi. 49b. Da nobis auxilium domine de tribulacione.

Pou soule tribulid and temptid, to be is bis word shewid, bat bou lere wher- of tribulacion semes, and bat faou not onely susteyne horn suffraandely, but also 1 This ed. is not very correct.

.£ Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

gladely, & bat bou be gladid w*t4-I»ne of bat ilk bat bou art angrid w/tA-outen ; for, als sayes Senec , ^f »bere is non so grete glading, as bat bat is drawen of angre«. Whilk glading no mon may bane, but if he know first bo dede of tr/bulacione ; hou, bat is to saye1, God, bat sendes trrbulaczons , ordeynes hew2 to bo profite & forthering of horn bat suffiren horn, but ^if bai setten horn • agaynwj bo ordynauwce ofhore creature3 -with wickednes of4 rebelnes. Wherfore boo bat knowew hore defautes of bat one syde, & bo proxies of tn'bulac/on on bat ober : asken of god in bo fore-sayed word forto be helpid of tribulacz'on, & not ^it s to be remoued ; for if bai aske bo remewyng , p^rauenture bai aske agaynes hom-selue, as Poule bat askid bo prik of his flesshe to be remewid ^f J>o secunde Cor. J>o tuelft chapiter; to whom is answerid of god: »My grace sufficis to be«. ^f Per are mony fruytis of tribulacion: but now of tuelue shal we touche, in whoche mony ofyer are contened ; bat lightly shal be vnderstonden, who bis tretice diligewtly redis or heris; for as bo mete ille chewid ille is defyed & litel pr0fitis : so techyng of holy wrytt w?t#-oute» ente«t red or herd , litel pr^ntis.

Po first profite bat tr/bulacion dos is in bis : bat tn'bulacj'on is a trewe socoure sende fro god to take bo soule fro handis of his enmyes. ^f Pese enmyes are, bo fals ioyes & deceyuande welthes of bis world, whilke bat in so mykel bo more p^relousely bigylen bo iwdisciplyned hert, in als mykel more as bai flateren & cherisshen. Pese are bo enmyes of whilk [bo] comune prouerbe tellis: »ifoole ne drede[s] [pam] noght« ; bat in als mykel are bai more to drede bat bai more flaterandly cherisshe. [ Pese are bo enemyes bat flaterandly sleen, & sleand flatren]6; bat are tokened by lohab, bat holdande Amasis chyn, as he wolde haue kissid hym, sloghe hym, ^[ po secund Reg. tuentid Chapiter. Wherof sayes Gregor: »bof al fortune be [to drede]7, n^reboles more is to drede bo weltheful ben bo wooful«. Pat opuwly apperis, for bo enmye bat pn'uely werres is more to drede ben he bat werres opu«ly. And take hede8 bat bese socoures of tribu- lation are not sende al-onely of god, but god hyw-selue is leeder & marchal of his hoost, ordynande al to bo delyuerau«ce of his frendis. Wherfore he hetis Dauid : by Dauid saieand : »Wz't/z hym I am in tribulacion : I shal take hyw oute & glorifye sumIPin°hy?w"- Wher-fore sith god is w*'tA vs in tr/bulacion: yt" is to susteyne suffrandely t"b< & gladly , for in als mykel as bo tr/bulac*on more greues , ber-after god more Dauid : neghes hyw bat is troblid ; wherof sayes Z>auio*: »God is nere to horn bat are est do- troblid in hert«. Perfore if bo presens of tn'bulac/on anger be, bo prvsens of minus .god pi saueoure, bat is w/tA be in tribulacion, gyues be gladyng w/t^-I«ne. uibula- ^f But bou may saye: »I fele wel bo presence of tribulacions , but I ne fele corde noght bo feliship of god in my tribulacion ; for if he shewid so suettenesse of his presence as bo bitt^messe of tr/bulacion, I shuld susteyne bo trfbulacion gladly«. And bou may saye also bat bou feldes more surttnesse of god bifore bo tn'bula- cion, ben ber-Inne. To bat may be answerid bat bo feliship of god may be on two manors vnderstowden. First [of gyuyng of vertu & grace : for] I0 as bo tribulacion is ekid, so god mwltiplies vertu and grace; as seyes bo apostle first Cor. Tende: »God is trewe, pat suffres j;ou not be temptid ou^r ;oure myght, but makis

1 Petr. Bl. effectum tribulationis, qualiter scilicet deus &c. 2 on erasure. 3 Ms. creature. 4 Ms. or. s r. hit. « om.; but so Ms. Laud. 1 Ms. bof al be fortune; to drede om.

• r. kepe. » Ms. bat. »» om.

(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation. 47

com w*t^ po temptacion pat ?e may susteyn hit« ; as who saye : he shal gyue eking of grace & vertu to susteyne tr/bulacion suffrandly. For right as po lordes Exem- of castles are wonte to sende help & socoure to how pat ben ensegid in castles: so god is wont to sende eking of grace to po troblid soule. / I>at oper feliship of god in tribulacion may be vnderstonden of gyuywg of myrrily gladyng, pat god sendis to po troblid; where-[of] po apostle saies secunde to Cor. p°. »As po passions of Crist abounden in vs , so thorow Crist aboundis oure gladyng«. ^f ^o passions of Crist are saied abounde in vs, for pai are sende of hym, & for hym shal pai be sufferandly susteyned, and pat to likenesse of Crist, & wzt//- outen gilt; pat no mon suffre as a theue or a mon-sleer, pat desserues wel pat pai suffre. / But take kepe pat po eking of grace pat is gyuen in tribulacion, is not eu^r-more gyuew to be felde of po troblid ; whilk ping is don to his pr^uyng, drede, & delyuerauwce. Also po glading ne shuld not come, to po stede ne be graythid to hym , pat tn'bulacion graythis ; as saies Tob[ias] fferthe : ^f »I>ou makis stille after storme, & pou sendis glading after sorowyng & gretyng«. And Dauid: » After po monynessis of my sorowes in my hert pi gladingis haue loyed my soule«. /As1 po gladingis of one houre passis po tribulacions of mony ^eeris. For hegh god pat first come to socoure pe, after po tribulacione shal du[e]lle -with pe cowfortande be , as sayes seynt Bernard. / And if p^rauenture pou playne pe pat pis glading taries ou^r-mykel, as playnew pese loouers : here answeris Cassiodor, sayand pat po selue swiftnesse semes slownesse to po h^rt pat is desyrande & louande. / And [pou] aske of rightwise men pat neu«r didde deedly sywne, hou hit is sayed pat pai are delyuerid oute of hore enmyes honde : To pat may be saied pat pof po gode be not fallen in honde of hore enmyes by assent of deedly sy«ne, not-forpi pai might haue fallen; but helpand god pai ne felle not, & so askapid hore hondis. Whilk ping seynt Austyn touchis, spekande to po rightwyse pat god had keppid fro synne pus : »He helde pe pat pou ne felle in synne«. / Of pese forsaied pingis may be concludid pat po troblid soule ne haues noght to holde hym verrayd when he suffres tribulacione, but delyuerd & tane a-way fro po welthe of po world deceyuawde, & [fro] po flesshely glading mysconfortande. Wherfore sith tribulacion[s] delyuers of enmyes: pof pai ben suwtyme heuysome , n^repoles pai are to susteyne for god gladly & w/tA-outen grucchyng ; vmwhile pof2 a mon be sette agaynes tribulacions vrith grucchingis, pen he lettis his helpers, & helpwj his enmyes.

x o secund profite of tribulacion is: pat hit stoppis po deuels mouthe, pat he ne dar speke ne tempte po soule pat is in tribulacion ; for he dredis to be put agayne & ouer-comen. tot is tokened in po secunde chapiter of lob , where is- sayed : »no mow spake to hym a word, for pai sawe his sorowe was greet«. He * spekis pere of feynt frendis of lob, pat bitokene deuels werrayande po soules; pat dar not negh po troblid soule ne tempte hit seen his grete tribulacion, for pai drede to be ouer-comen of siche a soule. Noght4 pat temptacion of po fend be p^rilouse to pe but by po f olowand answere , pat is , by delite & assent ; as po speche of po cursid mon noyes pe noght, but if pou hym answere. / And pat is tokened in po threttid fy sex of Ysaie where is sayed pat E^ech[ias] forbed

1 Lat. Consolationes autem &c. 2 Lat quia si; r. ellis if? 3 Lat. Scriptura. « Lat. Sed nota quod diaboli temptatio non sit periculosa nisi &c.

,g Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

po peple to answere to po blasphemes of Rapsace prmce of po kingis boost of Assiris. By Rapsace is tokened po deuel, by his blasphemes are tokened ille poghtis whoche he totils ' ; but pai noye noght but if pou answere by assent. For [pof] po let[h]dr2 blasphemes tounnenten mykel mownes hert, but pai noye not als long as he answeres not ; but on pat oper halue po blasphemand folk are angerid when pai se horn pat pai blaspheme noght answere.

Po thrid pr^fite of tribulacion.

Po thridde profite of tr/bulacione is : pat [it] clenses po soule troblid. And hit is to witte pat fyue maners of clensyngis ben of bodily pingis. ^[ ^° nrst clensiwg is, of motmus body ; po whiche is on two maners : in drinkyng & in blode-letyng. ^[ Po secunde clensing is of metals ; po whoche is on two man^s : •witA fire as gold , and wz'tfc fyle as iren. ^[ Po thrid clensing is of trees , po whiche is in cutryng of brauwchis & vp-deluyng of wedis. ^f to ferthe clensing is of come, -with a flayle. ^f to fift clensyng is of vynes, in po pressure. In alle pese maners clenses tribulacione.

(i) ^f First is mownwj body clensid w*'tA drynk : and for-pi when tribulacion takis pe, penk hit is medycyne, sende to pe fro pi lord to clens [pe] 3 of outerage humore and [vnskilwis] likyng. For why as wicked humo«rs are clensid w;tA bitter medicyne, so po wicked maners of po soule are clensid -with tribulacion ; for as seynt Gregoi saies, wicked humours are wicked maners. & for-pi take wz'tA glading po medicyne sende to pe fro pi lord, po whilk is souerayne leche knowand al po cowplexcion of pi hert; for he wot hou mikel pou may susteyne, & he ne gyues noght to pe but pat is to pe profitable. For why hegh* gods son drank po trfbulacion of deed, not for his, but for pin clensing. On po same maner drink pou po medicyne of tribulacion for pi heele & pi clensyng. For hit is saied Cant, sexte: »Drinkis frendis, & gladis ;ou derlingis«. And to po childre of 2^ebedeis was saied: »May ;e drinke po driwk pat I shal drinke?« Pis is po drink of hele Calicempo whilk Dauid receyued vfitft making of ponkis, sayande: ^[ »Po drink of heele accipiaml snal take*- and p^rauenture pof hit be hard to be to swolowe pis drink for Et no- bittemesse, calle gods help, as did Da«*'d when he saied: »And gods name I domfni sna^ in-calle«. / & [take]5 kepe pat as bodily medicyne ne shuld not be tastid ne on muo- po tong long holden , but sone be douw swalowid : so tr/bulacion ne shuld not fro his course wttA grutching be poght on6. But as po profite of medicyne is lettid suw-tyme not of defaute of hit-selue, but ille disposicion of po takand: so po prsfite of tribnlac/on is lettid for ille disposicion of po hard hert & rebel ; as is shewid in Pharao Exod. ferthe , for why ay po more he was tourmentid, po more hard was his h^rt. And p^rfore saies Salomon : »po hard hert shal haue hard at po last«. ^f Po secu«d maner mo#nwj body is clensid with blode-letyng,

& pat on two maners, pat is to sale, wztA opuwnyng of vayne , & wz'tA ventuse. ^[ Openyng of vayne is lickened to shrift, & ventuse to tribulacz'on. And take kepe pat [as vnnaite]7 bodily blode conuwpis po body: so sy«ne, pat in holy writt is cald blode, corumpis po hert. Po vayne thorou whilk pis blode, pat is to sale synne, is oute-casten, is po mouth, as Salomon saies in Proueioe: ^[ »Po vayne of lyue is po mouthe of po rightwyse«; for po rightwyse in po bigynning is wryer of

1 Lat. suggerit. 2 Ms. For to J>o letter. 3 MS. clennes; l>e om. * r. he?^at. ipse ; om. in L. » Ms. (and L) to. « Lat. retardari. ' om.

(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation. AQ

hym-selue, pat is to sale in shrift, ^f And take kepe : as a mon shuld let oute Exem- ille blode to clensyng of po body, & withhold gode blode to po norisshing of po body: so men shulden in shrift saie hore synnes, pat pai be casten away, & holde stille po gode dedis1 pat pai ben not leste2, for why gode dedis tolde in shrift for rosyng & for vayne-glorye , are lost; as is shewid in po pharise po whiche rehersid his gode dedis in loouyng, sayande Luc. aghtend* : »I fast twies in po woke, [po] tende I gyvie of [al] pat I haue«; but po puplycane ne durst not lift his eghen to po heuen, but smote his brest sayande: »God, haue mercie on me synful mon«; and pa[n]4 folowis pat »bo publicane come doun iustified thorou meke shrift fro po pharisee«, po whilk duellid in his synnes. For why poo sywnes pat are shewid in sothefast and lawe shrift, are for- done, as Dauid saies : »I saied I shuld shryue me to lord, & pou forgaue po wickednesse of my sy«ne«. ^f Po blode-letyng of ventuse is like to tribulacion: forwhy als mony tribulacions as god sendis to po hert, so mony strokes for blode- draght he gyues to his purgacion. But take kepe pat bifore po stroke of blode- letyng hit is nedeful po flesshe be enchawfid, pat po stroke may lightlier be suffred : So hit is nedeful pat mownes hert be kyndelid with po fire of loue, to suffre tribulacion lightly ; as seynt Austyn saies : »Alle fel pingis & grete pingis light & nerehand none makis loue«. In tokenyng of pis lightid po holy gost vp-on po apostlis in tong[is] of fire, as hit is saied Act. secunde; of po whilk pai were so strengthed pat after po receyuing of hit fro po sight of po conseil pai ^eden ioyande, for pai were holden worpi to suffre noye for po name of Ihesn. Pai were bifore po receyuing of pat light dredeful, as semed in Petre po whoche denyed his lord at po voice of a wo;«man ; po whilk nerepolater after po receyuyng of po holy gost snffrid for his lord gladly passion of po crosse.

^f Po secunde maner of clensyng is thorou whilk metals are clensid, as gold vrttA (2) fire, & ierne witA file. First trz'bulacion clensis po soule & makis hit clene as fire dos po gold; perof saies seynt Austyn: ^f »Pat po flayle dos to po corne, pat po fire dos to po gold, pat po file dos to po iern, right so & on po same maner tribwlacion clensis bo rightwyse mon« ; pat is to saie: As po fire departis po gold fro oper metallis & makis hit clene of drosse, so tribulacion makis po soule clene«. Perfore hit is saied of po martirs in ' Sopienc[ia] : »He proued horn as gold in po herthe«. W*'tA po fire of tribulacion proued was lob, pat saied: «he proued me as gold pat passes thorou po fire«. And take kepe pat gold is po moost priciouse among alle metallis, & leed po most vyle, & nere-po-later gold ne is not clensid witA-outen leed, for why leed drawis vrit& hit in po herthe po filthe of po gold. So po gode men, po whiche are bytokened by po gold, are cle«sid oft vritA ille men, pat are bitokened by leed. Pen, if hit be askid »of what ping seruew po ille men to po gode«, hit maybe answerid: of pat ping pat po leed serues to po gold ; as Salomon saies : » po fool shal serue to po wyse«, pat is to saie, clensand hym. Pus serued Esau lacob, pat is to saye, pursuyng s hym ; of whom hit is saied Gen[esis] fyue 8f tuentid: »po more shal serue

1 Ms. here adds: Luc. aghtende In willing loouyng saied: »I fast twyes i« bo wicket, bat he had do», hat bai &c. ; L. Luce xvnio In willing loouing sayde: »I fast twies in ])e wike<; bat he had done he tolde, berfore were bei lefte, for whi &c. These words are intercalated from the following line; it is clear that Ms. Laud is posterior to Reg., and not vice versa.

2 = loste. » Ms. adds : as bifore. 4 Ms. feat, L ban. * r. pursuand.

n. A.

e0 Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

to po lessen. / Sith, tribulacion clensis |)o soule as file dos po iern, furblisshand hit & makand bright. For why as bo swerd bat neu<r passis out of bo shethe, & bo knyue bat neuer-more sheres, gedres rust: so monnus hert gedres rust gostly with-outen vse of tn'bulac/on; as leremye1 saies: »Bareyne was Moab fro his ;outhe: he restid i« his filthe«. For-[by]2 ne pleyne be not bof god furblisshe hi hert bat hit shyne & be made clene ; for i« ob<r man<rr bou may not se god ; Beatimundoas saies seynt Matheu : »Blessid be bo clene of hert: for bai shal se god«. //

'(3> to thridde man^r of clensyng bat fallis to tr/bulacion, is f)o clensyng of trees as of vynes, bo whilk is in cuttyng of vnnayte3 braunchis; of bo whilk lo. .XX.4: »Ilk a boghe not berande fruyt he shal smyte of, & he shal dense bo boghe bat beres fruyt, to make more fruyt«. *[ By bo vyne is vnderstonden mownes hert, bo moysture of whom makande hy*» to bere fruyte is loue ; / ben als mikel as he has of loue : so mikel has he of moysture ; for why when bo moysture of bo trees is sprad in bo vnnayte brau«chis, bo tree beres bo lesse fruyt. So bo loue of bo hert bo more hit is sprad a-mong flesshely frendis , po lesse hit is able to gostly frnyte. And if bo wyse gardiner sheres a-way bo vnnayte5 brauwchis of bo tree bat hit may bere more fruyt : hit is no wondre bof god, bat is tiller of mownes hert as saies bo gosple loh. tuentid* : ^f »My fadre is a til-mon«, he shal shere a-way po vnnayte loue of pi hert, bat is to saie pi kinraden & pi frendis worldly & flesshely, wz'tA bo loue-croke of bo deed bo whilk he holdes in his hondis, or if he do fro be worldly godis, to bat bat bo loue of pi hert ne passe not his pwpre termes ; and al pat dos god pat po loue of pi h^rt draw not fro hym, & pat hit be not spred in worldly pingis, where mykel mon byhoues lay & b^r-thorou no gode wywne but oft ille ende , as saies seynt Grsgor: ^[ »Who so leenes to bo sclithand, hym byhoues sclithe -with bo sclithand«.

(4) ^f to ferthe man^r of clensyng bat fallis to tribulacion, is clensyng of corne, w;tA flayle, bat [bo] come be partid fro po chaf ; as saynt Austyn sayes: »Pat po flayle dos to po corne : pat po trzbulacion dos to bo rightwyse mon«. For as bo strok of bo flayle gares bo corne passe oute of po chaf: so tribulacion gares mownes hert be departid fro flesshly loue, for po world mys-payes to po troblid hert. p^ffore Dauid knowande po profits of po flayle of tribulacion, saied: »Lo I am redy to anoyes : to suflre bat my hert may be clensid« ; as seynt Ausiyn saies : »Ne pleyne be not of bo flaile of tribulacion, if bou wilt haue clene corne, & be set \n heuen, where noght shal be set but clene corne«. But as hit fallis ooper '-while bat corne not ripe ne dried ne is not departid fro po chaf thorou po strok of po flaile, but clyues more brissed per-Inne : so mownes hert hauand moysture & likyng of flesshely loue, ne is not departid fro po perelous world, but more drawis p^rto wz'tA loue & lyking ; of bo whiche nerepolater he receyues noght but tourment & trauel, for why : »mon is borne to trauel & bo brid to bo flights, as saies lob. And p^rfore saied seynt Ion in his pistil: »Ne loues not

(5) ho world ne boo bat are ber-Inne«. ^f Po fift maner of clensyng bat fallis to tnbulacion , is clensyng of wyne i« bo pressure ; for as po pressure presses po grapis pat po prmouse wyne may be departid fro po dreggis: so god settis po soule in po pressure of tribulac/on, pat is to saie in sekenes of body, in pur-

1 orig. leronye. 2 Ms. for why. 3 L vnbriuand. « r. xv. * L wicked. • ori? oul>er.

(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation. c r

suyng of wickid men, in dethe of frendis, in losse of erthely godis; pat he may dense po soule of filthes of synne & of wicked lykingis. And perfore ne put not a-way po pressure of tribulacz'on: if pou wilt be sett in celere of Crist, as Salomon saies Cant, first: »Po kyng led me i« to po wyne-selere« ; & seynt Austyn saies pat »po martirs in pis lyue are so pressid, pat po greet mater of bore body laft in po pressoure, & po preciouse soules are sett in celere of aye- lastyng lyue as preciouse wyne«. ^f Ne pleyne pe not if god sett pe in po pressoure of tribulacion, sip1 he defoulid2 first po pressoure, as Ysaie saies: ^f »Po pressoure I defoulid alone, & of po folk no mon was w/tA me«. »no mon« he saies, & not »no wo»nnon«, for alle po apostles in his passion laftew hym & fledde ; but po blessid mayden ne departid not fro hym thorou mys-bileue, but suffred w*t^ hym thorou co/rcpassion , as Symeon heght hir saieand : »po swerd of his passion shal passe thorow pi soule«.

* o ferthe profite of trzbulacion is: pat hit lightis pi hert to knowyng of god & knowyng of pi-selue ; in po whilk is po perfeccion of monnus knowyng ; as seynt Austyn, pat3 so mykel had red & herd, more ne askid he not, saieand in po boke Soliloquiorum: »God, if I had knowen pe \ god, if I had knowen me!« And in po boke of Wysdome is hit saied: »Knowe pe, is witt fulfildh. ^[ For as we se pat po strok of po ^erd gares po disciple hold doun his heed & loke on po boke & recorde his lessone: so tribulacion is sende to pe fro god [pat]4 pou may lere to knowe pi creature5; as seynt Bernards saies: »God makis hym to be knowen betande, po whilk was forgeten & vnknowen sparande«. Of pis haue we ensavuwple, Daniel ferthe, of po kyng Nabugodenosor, po whilk god cacchid6 oute of his kyngdome, and was his wownyng wz't^ wylde beestis, & hay he etc as an ox: but in po ende of his dayes »he liftid vp his eghen to heuen, & his witt is gyuen agayne to hy*»«. [He]7 liftes his eghen to heuen pat sett- is his knowing on his creature. In pis liftyng of eghne his witte is golden to hym pat thorou bowiwg doune to erthely pingis lost hit. Nabugodonosor pat bifore trzbulacion stekid his eghen to his creature , lokand to po erthe , after tribulacion he lyftid his eghen to heuen where he was pat bete hym : as po maner es pat when po child beten feles po strok of po ^erd, he turnes po eghe to hyw pat hym bete. And perfore god betis ouperwhile his face 8 , for he wolde pat pai turned to hym hore face. ^[ Perfore, pou soule, by-holde pat po maner is of louande to sende letters by-twyx horn , to holde loue in mynde, and pat hit be not forgeten: and perfore po lord Ihmi Crist sendis to pe tribulacion, pat was forgeten of pe perauenture in pi wele, as po botiler of Pharao forgate w his wele Joseph his dreme-reder, Gen[esis]. Byhalde pat oure lord Ihe.ru Crist wz'tf holdis in mynde of [pe] po tokenyfs ] 9 of po woundis pat he suffrid for pe. as if a knot were made on a girdul to holde sum piwg in mynde; as oure lord saies thorou Ysaie fourtid Sf nyne : »I shal not forgete pe : in my hondis I haue wrytten pe«, pat is to saye : »when I had horn thurled in po crosse for pi loue«. Pen if Crist withholdej tokeny[s]9 of his wounds for mynde of pe: ne wrathe pe not if he sende to pe tribulacion to hold po mynde of hym; ffor why als mony tn'bulacions as pou haues, als mony messageris [sendes]10 he callyng pe

1 on erasure. z Lat. calcavit ; = Fr. defouler, fouler. 3 Ms. saied }>at. * Ms. &.

5 orig. creature. 6 = chasid. 7 Ms. and eft. 8 r. fase = foes? 9 Ms. tokenyng.

10 Ms. haues.

e2 Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XYII.

[a^en] * to bo mynde of hym. Ne agayne put bou not bt'rfore bi gode sowmoners : for why hit is saied , »mykel is worbi in citee a gode suwmoner«. / But bou myghtis saie bat »tribulacions ne are not nedefnl to make bis sowmones, for god sojwmonwj I-noghe by his gyftis, as seynt Austyn saies: ,Gods giftis are not ellis but sommonus to cuw to hym' ; jwrfore hit is semely to hym bat he make sowmones gyuande giftis, for soche so/wmones semen a lord, more ben bo sojwmones bat are wztA betyngis«. ^[ To bis may be answerid: bof hit so be bat giftis callen be agayne to knowyng of bi lord, neu^rbolater ouberwhile vnskilful loue drawes2 to worldly giftis, and so is forgeten bo maker bat gyues godis aye-lastyng. I^rfore of soche he pleynes hym Prouerb. first & seies: »I spred out my honde«, bat is to saie gyuande worldly giftis, »& b<?re was none byhelde«. He ne saies not bere was no« bat »toke«, for mony are bat gladly taken; but fewe are bat »byholden«; [for] fro bo moste to bo leest, alle louen giftis & folowen rewardyngis. / But bou might saie : » bof hit be semely bat god calle agayne thorou tn'bulacion* hard hMis & vnchastised bo whilk ne wil not turne to hym thorou giftis, he calles4 agayne thorou tribulacions : neu^rbolater semely ne is hit not for bo gode, bo whilk knowew thorou bo gyftes bo gyuer«. ^f To bat may be saied bat bof hit so be bat bo gode hert knowes bo gyuer in bo giftis thorou kyndely likynge, neuer-bo-later hit comes not to p«-fite knowyng w»t^-outen prouyng of tr/bulaczon, as hit is saied Ecc.: »What kon he bat is not assaied? *[ I*o mon bat is praied in mony pingis, knowis mony pingis«. But take kepe pat he calde Salomon to his knowyng gyuande giftes, lob he calde takande away his godis. Adu^rsitees and tribulacions ladden lob to p^rfeccion, giftes ladden Salomon to foly & losse. Perfore if Salomon, pat was riched wit// so mykel wisdome, lost bo knowyng of his god in weele : be bou not siker bat bou may in bat5, longe holde bo knowyng of god. ^[ Perfore suffre pau tribulacion bat bou may come to p^rfite knowyng of pi god. And if bou be mysconfortid for po grettnesse of tribulacion : in bis confort be bat bo more tribulacion makes be to com to bo more coroune. // Now hit is saied hou bat tribulacion[s] calles bo hert to knowyng of his creatoure. Now is to saie hou bai calle mon to knowyng of hym-selue. For why bo hert bat bo ioye of bo world drawes fro hym-selue: ne Lumen may not fele ne knowe hyw-selue ; wherfore Dauid saies in bo name of soche : »Po rum light of myn eghen ne is not with me«. Woo worthe hym bat dispendis po light 'rumf t0^ *"s knowyng] in P° knowyng of outeward bing«.r and holdes* no[£jt to knowyng of &ipsum hym-selue ! . . . 7 for why worldly weele so mykel more draw«.r bo soule fro hit-selue, mecum *'« hou mykel more he folowes hit & loues hit. ^f But as bo assegid is gart oub^r- while thorou assaute of his foes to turne in to his propre holde fro whiche he dar not passe for drede of his fooes, [also]8, as seynt Gregor saies: » tribulacz'on gares bo h«t to turne to hyt-selfe, & aye foo moo tribulacions bat he has: bo fewere issues are to passe oute fro hym-selne«. ^[ ter-fore happye is aduersite pat ^eldes [be] to bi-selue & makis be to turne vn-to f)i propre home ; and per-fore hit is saied Exod. Tuelft : \ »Duelle ilk mon vrith hym-selue«, pat is to saie , knowe hywz-selue , & take kepe to hym-selue ; for why as a hous pat no mon wonnes Inne is broght to noght: so bo hert not inhabited, is broght to waast & to

1 on. margin. 2 i. clyues? Lat. inhaeret. 3 calle — trib., is to be om. here. 4 r. calle; om. he? » r. yt? » Ms. ^y-holdes, by overl. ; Lat. reservat nihil. 1 Lat. adds: Sed quo- raodo se cognosceret, qui secum non est? 8 Ms. and, om. in L.

(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation. 53

noght. ^f Woo is po hert \)at to po likenesse of a ioguler etes shameful morsels oute-with his hous, f)o whiche po more he synges in oper me«nes houses, po more he fyndwj pat he may wepe in his owne. For why aye po more po hert likis in worldly pingis, po lesse he fyndis confort in hym-selue. Tribulacion forpi is sende to po hert, po whiche garis hit to turne agayne to hit-selue fro worldly ioyes, as po ioguler after po feest is gart to turne home agayne to hym- selue to his house. So po dowue when sho fou«de not wher-on sho myght reste hir fote, turned agayne to Noe in to po shipp. ^f Noe is vnderstonden po reste of po hert ' ; when pat mo«nes hert ne fyndis not oute-with in po whiche his loue may rest: pen he turnes to hym-selue. ^f * Po dowue pen ne fyndes not where sho may rest hir foot: when po hert ne fyndis noght in erthely ping where he may sette his loue ; & pen he turnes to hym-selue, & he is gart to sale pat Dauid saied: »My soule, turne in to pi reste«. And in Cant, saies oure lord to po soule pat had dispendid his hert by worldly pingis : »Turne agayne, pat we may byholde pe«, pat is to sale : I & pou ; [pou] shal byholde be w»'tA eghe of cowscience, I shal byhold be wztA eghe of mercie. / Perfore pou soule, suffre pe to be agayne cald to pi-selue & to god thorou tribulacions , po whiche wele had liftid fro pe ; and namely for tribulacions bynden & festen be to pi creatour, whom po ille fredame of po world lousid. ^f And perfore saied lob , pat was proued in soche pingis : »If I were gird vritA po prik of pouert, hit shulde shewe to horn hore werkis«3. And take kepe he ne callis not here pouert wawtyng of erthely godes, but wantyng of erthly solace po whiche is had in worldly richesse, as hit is written Ecc. : »Suw mon is pore al-pof he be in mony richessis«. Po bondis of pouert are calde alle tribulacions po whoche are sende fro god to bynd po hert fro worldly solace, ^f Pese are po bondes of Adam oure forme- fadre, po whoche fallen to vs thorou po right of heretage, thorou whilk god drawes to hym mony as hit were agaynes hore wille. Of pat saies Osee: »In po bandes of Adam«, pat is to saie in trzbulacions, »I shal drawe horn, in bondis of loue«, pat is to saie sende thorou loue; as saies seynt Bernards: ^f »We are drawe» (f. 59} when we are wont to tribulacions «. And perfore pou soule pat art bounden w*t/z pese bondis, ne hold be not reuyled; ne hope pou not poo pat are not bounden be in verray fredame to whom is grauwtid al pat pai ^erne ; for why pou hopis not po seke mon in gode state ne in hope of heelyng, pof al pat he ^ernes be grauntid to hym of his leche, — for pen he despaires of his heele, ffor why pat is certayne token of his dethe. Thorou whiche hit semes pat worldly fredame ne is noght but spedyng to perisshyng, and perfore, po more frely pai fulfille pat pai wil wz't^-outen tribulacion, po sowner pai falle to hel[l]e. ^f And perfore if pou wilt haue god helpande to pe, suffre pat pou be bounden w»tA bondes of tribulacion, whoche comew fro god & to god drawen. Perfore he saied to Ezechiele: ^[ »Lo I gaue my bondis vpon pe«; & thorou pis may. men vnderstonde pat po bondis of tribulacion are giftis of god. Perfore thorou pese pingis h«'t semes pat tribulacions are bondis bywdande po soule to god, and ay po more po tr/bulacion is, po faster byndis hit po soule to god.

1 Lat. : Noe Christum significat , Area Noes requies mentis intelligitur. * Lat. adds.: Per

pedem columbae, amor cordis intelligitur. a lob. 36, 8.

54

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

Tribulacio quinta.

fO fift profile of tr/bulacion is : foat hit hastis foi way to god ; and foerfore als mony tribulacions as bou haues : als l mony messageres sendes god to foe to haste foe to hym and foat foou duelle not in bo way. & se hou wickid bai are bate tarien bo wickid hert [bat]2 me« ne haste not to go to god. f And berfore when tribv.la.cion dos away likyng & lone in worldly foingis bat tariew, ben bo hert is prikked to go hastily to god, as bo prophet saies: »Hore sekenessis are mony- fold«, foot is to saye tribulacions, »and after bat pai hastid«, bat is to sale to go to god. And seynt Gregor saies: ^f »Po harmes bat pressen vs here, garew vs to go to god«. Perfore ne hald foou not litel bo gyft of tribulacion bo whilk delyuers be of .a hard prz'son and haastis pi way to po kyngdome, as hit is saied Ecc. : »Mon is led sum-tyme oute of prz'son & of bondis to po kyngdome«. ^[ to prison is here calde what ping bat bo hert loues vnskilfully in bis world ; ^[ po boundes w*tA whilk he is bounden, is wicked ^ernyng; & ay bo more bis loue is, bo depper is po prz'son. ^f Oute of pis prz'son god ledis pe thorou tribulacion : when he takis fro pe, or makes froward to pe, po ping pat po loues vnskil- fully or pat pou wolde loue afterward; po whilk ping is tokened Act. Twelft ^f where he saies pat Petre was keppid in prz'son of Herode , and hit folowis after »pat po aungle of god stode by hym & smote hym on bo syde and raysed hym saiande : ,Ryse bilyueV ^f By f)i syde is vnderstonden pi broper po whilk come of po same syde of po whilk pou, or alle poo generaly pat are bounden to be of blode or of frensship. ^f When pat he pat shulde be to pe frende thorou kyndely right, is to pe frowarde, or drawen fro pe w*tA dede, vnderstonde pe smytten i« po syde to go oute of po prz'son, & pat pou sett pin hert al- onely in god po whilk ne may not fayle. ^f But byholde pat Petre ne playned hym not of po strok in po syde thorou po whilk he was delyuerd of prison; so pou ne shulde not playne pe of tribulacion po whilk delyuers pe fro worldly loue wicked & fals. & p^rauenture if hit be hard to be to suffre foo strok of tribulacion: byholde Crist bat for be was woundid in bo syde, & ben foo lightlyer f)ou shalt sufFre ; as |)o gode knyght, when he sees foo woundis of his lord, he ne feles not his owne woundes. ^[ And berfore ne put not away po messangeres of pi lord po whilke callen pe agayne & garen pe to haste to hym; for why he foot puttis agayn3 po messagere, agayne-puttis po lord. ^[ Po messagere pen is put agayne when po hert stryues agayne tribulacion w/tA vnbuxuwmes. & take kepe pat tribulacion dos two pingis : ^f hit tourmentis po soule clensande hit , & hit clenses tourmentande ; but when foo hert receyues tribulacion wr'tA vnbuxuwnes, foen twynnes he foo clensyng fro foo tourment of tribulacion, and foen he feles foo bitternesse of tribulacion & tynes foo profite; & neu^r-bo-lat^r, wil he nyl he, hym byhoues suffre tribulacione.

Po sixt profit of tr/bwlacion.

* o sext profite of tribulacion is: bat hit4 is gyuen to quytyng of bi dettis in bo whilke foou art bounden to god, whom foou may not fle ne no bing reeue fro hym, ne no bing of bi dette fro hym layne. ^f Pese dettes are bo peynes pat ben aght for bo synnes bat b^u haues don ; & bof hit so be bat ay-lastande

1 1 overl. 2 Ms. fcen. » a overl. « overl.

(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation. ce

peyne be aght for deadly sywnes, n^rebolater pat peyne aye-lastande is chaungid 1« to erthely peyne thorou contr/cion & shrift. ^[ Also pis peyne erthely is made lesse thorou fastyng & tribulacion, and ob^rwhile is al releeshid, & namely by tribulacions. And berfore witt bou bat what so bou sitffris for god, hit is acountid of god i» paye of pi dett. ^f And as po kyngis stiward when he j;eldes Exem- acounte of po receyt of his lord, he acountes & castis witA penyes of leed or of coper, and operwhile in po ende of his 1acou«te a peny of leed or of coper lies for a1 hundrid marke of gold or of siluer, po whilk in hym-selue is of litle prise: fi so po tribulacion of one houre in pis world receyued with pacience, delyuers fro po peyne of helle, po whilk is heuy & aye-lastande. Ensauwple of pis pou haues in po theue pat on po right syde of Cn'st was hengid, po whilk for his ille dedis suffrid payne on po crosse, & was oblisshid to oper payne pat is to saie of helle , ^[ and n^repolater he hauande contricion for his synnes, turned hym to his lord & saied: ^f »I>enk on me, lord, when pou comes in to pi kyngdomect : & als-tyte he assoyled hym & delyuerid hym of al po dette of hard payne, thorou pat mylde voice: »For sothe I saie to pe, to-day with me in paradyse shalt pou be«. Woo is hym bat noght payes in pis lyue, but ekis sywne vp-on synne, of whom hit is saied in po psalme: ^f »]?o synful mon shal borowe, Mutua- & not quyte«. Woo is hym pat shal be gart to come to strayte acounte of popeccator large exspensis pat he made: for why he pat lyued aye w/t^-outen acounte, & non hit by-houes bat he paye aye paynes in helle w/t/j-outen releshe of any dette. fere 2mony marchaundes shal wepe pat here laghen & ioyen of dyu^rsite of worldly solace; pat is bitokened Apoc., where is saied: »I*o marchauwdis of po erthe shal wepe«. By po marchaundis of po erthe are vnderstonden poo pat haue sette hore poght & hore loue in erthely pingis ; po whilk shal wepe bitterly, for god3 shal shewe to alle hore wicked marchaundysis. But bo marchaundis of heuen pen shal laghe, when pai se pat pai haue wownen po ioye of paradyse for a litle tribulacz'on ; po whilk is tokened Ecc., where is saied: ^[ »One is pat mikel byes2 -with litle przse«. ^f iMs litle prise is po sufiring of tribulacion of pis lyue: po whilk god takes for mykel dette, for as men comunely saien, »Of an yuel dettoure men taken roghe ootes for wheete«. And [if] p^rauenture pou art holden in no dette for deedly synne or veniale of po whilk trz'bulacion shulde delyuer be, n^reboles hit kepwj pe fro fallyng in to dett: for as seynt Gregor sayes, ^f »Mony are clene of sywne po whilke shulden sone falle per-Inne but if tribulacion kepid hom«. ^[ I*Mbre pou soule pat feles pe bounden in dettes & dredes po paye to make: suffre mekely po trzbulacions of pis world whiles pai haue hore tyme & are payed for po dettis in po whilk pou art holden to god; ffor why alle po tribulacions of pis lyue may vnnepes be lickened to bo tribulacions of one houre bo whilk are in helle. Also alle po tribulacions of bis world, pof pai were sette to-gedre, ne were not worpi to gete po ioye of paradise: saiande po apostle: ^[ »Po passions of pis tyme are noght worpi to po ioye pat is to come, po whilk shal be shewid in is«.

VII tn'bulacion. i o seuent profile of tn'bulacione is: bat hit makis brood mownes hert to bo

receyuyng of bo grace of god. ^[ For as bo goldsmythe hamer makis broode Exem-

plum.

1 acounte — for a, on the margin. 2-2 The same passage occurs on a fly-leaf in the beginning of the same Ms., by the same hand. * Ms. for hore g.

c6 Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

|)o gold or bo siluer vriih oft smytyng, to make a pr^ciouse vessel: ^f so god, maker of ilk creature , ordeyned tribulacion to po enlargyng of po hert, to hold po giftis of grace. Of pis enlargyng saies po prophet: »In tribulacion pou has enlargid me«. & perfore suffre gladly bo strok[»V] of tribulacion, for aye bo more bo hert is enlargid in suffryng, bo more gostly gyftis god settis ber-Inne. «[ And J byholde pat aye bo more noble bo metalle is, bo more is hit bowande to bo strokes of bo hamer : ^[ Right so bo prmouse hert & bo meke, bo more pacience has he in tribulacion. And al-pof hit so be pat bo strok of po hamer, bat is to saie tribulacion, tourme«tis be hard: n<?repo!ater confort be m bis bat bo goldsmythe bat is to sale god almyghty, holdes in his hondis bo hamer of tribulacion, bo whilk con mesure wel bo stroke after bo myght of bo receyuande mater. And berfore ne be bou not as metalle in a lomp, w/tA-outen bredyng, ^f as harde hertis are & vnchastisid , in po whilk tribulacions or chastysingis fynden no stede. And also ne be bou not as an olde friyng-panne po whilk brekes vnder bo strok of bo hamer for drosse, & bo whilk for a litel olde brekywg receyues mony newe brekyngis; so bo hard h^rt and vnsufferyng in tri- bulacion ekes his harme. And berfore suffre gladly tribulacion makande brode bo hert. To bat somones be bo wyse mon, sayande Ecc. 11°: ^[ »Suffre bo vp- holdyngis of god; & be fast to god, & suffre; pat bi lyue may waxe in bo last tyme«; as if he saied: Suffre gladly bo tr/bulacions of pis world for god, for why, for god suffrid for be mony tribulacions, and berfore jjelde to hym bo tyme2 of bi seruyse; »be fest to god, & suffre«, as if he saied, be felowid to god, and what so he laies on be , suffre , and witt bat he wil not charge be oner bi power, for po apostil saies p° Cor. x° : *f[ »Trewe is god bat suffres ^ou not to be temptid ouer pat pat ^e may sufFre«. IVrfore suffre in po foresaied maners: »pat pi l[y]ues wax at po last«, for thorou pat shalt pou lyue w/tA-outew ende, in po ioye aye-lastande.

Vina tribulacio.

Jt O aghtid profite of tribulacione is: bat god, sperrande oute worldly solace* whilk are vnd*rmethe, gare[s] * men to seke heuenly solace whilk are aboue. As in worldly bingis6 a lord when he wil selle hys wyne, defendis pat no mon open hore tauarne til he haue solde his wyne : so god ob^rwhile sperres away worldly solace, pat he may gyue his solace. ^[ tis is bitokened in loefe, where is saied : ^[ »I*o beest«J of bo felde & 7 bo grownde thristy loked vp to be : for po welles of watre are drye«. I>o beestis of bo felde he callw.r affections & flesshely ?ernynges, ^f to welles [of water he calles worldly solace; berfore when po welles] * of po water are dried, pat is to saie when worldly solace failes in noyes, pen bo hert is gart to loke vp & seke mede of solace of heuen. ^f fcerfore so mykel is cure lord to po hert more louande, in hon mykel po hert fyndis more bittemesse in outewarde bingis. /But bou myght saie: »of bat I am not sorye bat bo tauerne of worldly solace is not open to me, but of pat bat bo tauerne of gostly solace is stoken to me: for noub^r aboue ne by-nethe fynde I solace«. To bat is answerid bat thorou bat al-onely bat worldly solacis are

1 Ms. And tt^rfore. 2 Lat vicem huius servitii. * Ms. loue. « r. solacis. s Ms.

garen. « Lat. Sicut terrenus dominus &c. 1 r. as; Lat. quasi area sitiens. * om.;

but so L.

(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation. cy

w/t^holdew fro be , bou ne shuldes haue heuenly solaces : but if bou first fynde horn ^ernande & askande , for god wil bat bou seke horn & desire horn. For more mede is in desirande & sekande1 god, ben likawde in hym. On bo same maner bo more brewnandly bat bou sekis & desires hym, bo more solace is gvuen to be & bo more swetnesse shalt bou fynde in hym, as bo meete sauers better to bo hongrye ben to bo ml. And witt bou bat solace2 of heuen shal not long be holden fro be if bat worldly solaces be sperrid oute thorou tribulacion, if bat bou haue askid horn & soght horn brennandely, al-bof bai seme to be fer drawew fro be; as Salomon saies: »His desyre shal be gyuen to bo rightwyse«.

IXa tribulacio.

JrO nyntid profite of tribulacion is: pat hz't settis be in bo mynde of god: for thorou tribulacion he calles be agayne in to bo mynde of hym; and foo more bo tribulacion is: bo more art foou festid in bo mynde of god. Not for bat god forgetis any, bo whilk al bing sees: but bat holy wrytt saies god has »forgeten« bo mon to whom he gyues not helpe of tribulacion confortande hym, & sum mon haues he in mynde to whom he gyues bo help of tribulacion, confortande hym gostly & ekande grace, ^f terfore bou soule, if bou wil be put in bo mynde of god, in mynde of whom is bi heele, & forgetyng of whom is pi dampnacion : lere to suffre anoyes mekely, & so sufferande benk on god : & he shal eftersones benke on be, for a frende benkis on his frend when he is in a-noye otter ben if he were w/t/z- outen. ^f t'erfore bou soule, if bou fele be mys-confortid : confort be of tribulacion 3, for tribulacion puttis foe in mynnyng of god, [and]4 bo mynde of god auayles more to be ben what-so-euer tribulacion may reeue be. In bitokenyng of bis saies oure lord Exod. Ill0: ^f »I saw bo affliction of my puple pat is in Egypte, & I herd hore crye, & I went doune to delyuer hom«. In bese wordis two bingis are to byholde: ^f £0 first is bat god loki[s]s to his folk w/tA bo eghe of mercie; bat ober bing is bat god ^eldes couenaunt bat he made w*t£ bo folk anoyed thorou tourment. fat byholding bryngis a gostly6 gift thorou bo whilk god is bowed to haue mercye on his frende in tourment. ^[ And berfore if hit so be bat bo Egypciens, bat is to saie bo wickid, pursuande 'tourment pe: nerefoolater haue confort in bis for bo byholding of god to bo affliction mykel is worthe to be. And before hit is saied Secund. Reg. XVI of Dauid bat fled fro Absolon his son, bat Semey seande hym, myssayed hym saiande : »Cu/» out, cum out monsleer!« And Abisay seande bat, sayed to bo kyng : ^f »Why myssaies bat hounde my lord kyng? I shal go & smyte of his heed« : And Dauid answered: »Let hym myssaye me by bo comauwdemewt of oure lord, perauentwr if god byholde myn affliction, and ^elde me gode for bis myssaiyng to-day«. In bat, vmbythenk be bat Dauid wolde suffre bo myssawe of his enmye , bat he might gete bo beneson of god. ^f ferfore in als mikel more bat 8 bou desires bo beneson of god , in so mykel more mekely9 bou shal suffre bo myssawe of bin enmye, for bo sufferaunce of foo9 myssawe of bo wicked Wynnes bo beneson of god, & delyueraunce. I*at is bytokened Daniel Tercio , where hit is saied bat gods aungle went douw wft/» Azaria & his felowis in to bo oouen ; & made bo myddes of bo oouen as bo

1 Lat. in desiderando et querendo deum. 2 r. solacis. * Lat. Si ergo sentis te desolatam ex tribulatione, consolare quia &c. « Ms. for. * Ms. lokid. 6 Lat. quoddam speciale

donum. t Ms. to tourment. 8 erased. 9 overl.

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

wynde of dewe blowande, & shooued oute bo mynistres of po kyng pat brende

hit; and loke pat bo fire of bo ouen not al-onely put horn a-way, but gaue

colenesse. ^f Perby is bitokened bat Crist is redy to bo troblid. Perfore if bou

wil colenes be gyuen to be in tribulacion, and bin enmyes pat procuren bo tribu-

lacion ben brent: suffre mekely tribulacion, for god is with be in tribulacion, &

shal delyuer be oute of tribulacion, & for tribulacion shal gyue be mykel mede.

Cum Of pis [bre] hit is saied i« bo psalme: ^f »Wzt£ hym I am in tribulacion« — lo here

sumS°in g°ds felowship ! »& I shal delyuer hym« — lo here delyuerauwce , »and I shal

trib., glorify hym« — lo here mede. Perfore loke bat tribulacion settis be in mynde of Enpiam6 *

eum & god, bat gyues more ben tr/bulacion may w/t^drawe. glorifi-

cabo r

eum. Po tente profite of tribulacion is: bat hit makis bi prayer to be herd anentis

god ; for hit is not bo * custome in po sight of god bat he put agayne po

prayer of po troblid, but titter bat he here hit. Wherof Salomon saies: ^ »Lo,

he shal here bo prayer of po hirt«. And perfore oft-sithes god chastises mow &

sendis tribulacion, pat he gare hym aske mercy, and pat he open his mouthe to

aske hym in tribulacion po whilk had hit sperred in eese. Perfore saies seynt

Austyn : ^[ »God sendwj tribulacion to suwme men bat pai be stirred in tribwlaczon

Ad do- for to aske pat of god pat god wil gyue hom«. In po p^rsone of soche men

"cum"1 saies po psalme: ^f »I cried to cure lord when I was troblid, & he herd me«.

tribu- [And]2 if hit falle perauenture pat pou calle on god in eese, pat eese ne lettis pe clamaui not al-out [to] 3 slepe : nerepolater hit makus pe slepy suwzme tymes, so pat pi

d™rt~ criyng in eese ne is not so spedeful as hit is in anoye. ^[ And p^rauntre if anoye

me- so mykel fulfille pi hert pat hit may not be so entendauwde to prayer in anoye as hit may in weele : nerepolater po anoye makus po prayer more preciouse ; but if bo anoye so mykel holde pe vndre pot pou ne may not open pi mouthe to crie to pi lord: nerepolater tribulacion prayes for pe whiles pou haues suffryng. For why maystir Peris4 saies of La^er pat als mony woundes as he had, so mony mouthis had he cryande to god; for when Lazarus was stylle vritA his mouthe, po wonndis cried for hym , as cure lord saied to Caym of Abel his brober bat he slogh: ^[ »Po bloode of pi brober cries to me fro bo erthe«. So berfore semes hit pat tribulacion makis bo prayer more preciouse & more receyuable ; for tribulacions are as hit were po payment for po letter of cure delyueraunce, as lob saies: ^f »Who gyues me pat myn asking myght come, & pat god gyue me pat pat I abyde? he bat toke me he defoule me; louse he his honde & kerue me? and pis be my solace pat he tourmentande me thorou sorowe ne spare noght«. ^[ Take now kepe pat lob, bat had loste alle his godis, his sones & his doghters, is striken vrit/i bo werst sore fro po soole of po foot to po hatrel of po heued, reproued of his frendis, myssaied of his wyue, nerepolater hym poght pat god tourmentid hym litle, ne in none oper ping asked he confort, but al- onely bat god shulde not spare hym. But if pou aske: »what fallis hit to dely- uerauwce, po askyng of his tourment?«, perto may be answerid : bat his tourment was bo payment of his letters; as whew a pore mon drinkes in po tauerne & has not wherof he may paye his scott, byds dyng hym wel & let hym go. If

1 Ms. i« bo. * Ms. As, L And. 3 Ms. of, L to. Lat. ut prosperitas te totaliter dormire non facial. « Petrus Lombardus.

(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation. tg

hit be askid wher-I«ne po confort of lob was when he praied to be tourmentid : perto is answerid by seynt Gregor pat »god spares suwme men here pat he may tourment horn afterward, & agayneward ^[ he tourmentis su/wme men here pat he may spare horn aft<?rwardes«. ^f £o confort of lob was in pis ping: pot for po tr/bulacion here he wist wel forto eschape pat pat was to come. Be pou confortid perfore, for if pou be here tourmentid suffrandely, oure lord shal spare pe afterwardes, for hit is saied Naum //°: ^f »Oure lord shal not deme a ping twyes«. & als-so lob , pat prayes pat god ne spare hym not here , in an oper stede prayes he pat god spare hym afterwardes, sayande: »Lord, spare me !« IVrfore suffre pou here tribulacion pat god spare pe afterward ; for tribulacions heelen po soule, as lob saied: »He wound«.r & heelis«, for why he woundes po body in sendande tribulacion, but in pat1 he heeles po soule.

Eleuent profit of tr*'b«lacion.

xO elleuende profile of tribulacion is: pat hit kepis, & norisshis, po hert. For why as po fire is keppid in po askis: so po hert of gods seruaunt is keppid in tribulacion. ^[ Forpi god bad in po olde lawe pat pai shulden couer po taber- nacle vfitA seckis of heyris ; po whilke seckes couerde po preciouse curtynes and alle po vessel of golde & syluer agayne po wyndis & raynes, to tokenywg pat po preciouse vertues of po seyntis, & namely mekenesse, are keppid in tribula- cione ; for why tribulacion gares mon penk off his vnworthynesse , and so gares hit mon be lowid, whom worldly wele lyftid a-boue bo mark of his sekenesse. ^f Also tr/bulacion norisshis po hert, as po norisse hir childe. ^f For why as po modre chewes po harde meete 2po whilk po child ne may not chewe2 & takes hit in to hir body where pat mete is turned in to mylk to po norisshyng of po childe: so Crist is called oure moder in holy wrytt, for po mykelnesse of loue pat he has to vs, and for po bitternesse pat he had in po crosse: where he chewid bittemesse & harde dyngyngis & shames to vs, for to norisshe vs and strengthe vs gostly forto suffre by his ensauwple po tribulacion of pis worlde. ^[ For why right as wyne syed thorou a poke ful of spices chaungis his sauoure, pat is to saye drawande po sauoure of spices: so a mon sufferande tribulacion shal sye horn by gods body, byholdande his passion whilk he suffrid for hym; and so shal pai be endouced & shal be made light to suffre, po whilk semed byfore ouuer-harde to suffre.

*

XII tribulacio.

O twelft profite of tribulacion is : pat hit gyues a mon certeyne witnesse pat god loues hym. Wherof he saies Apoc.: ^ »I reproue & chastise horn pat I loue«, and in Eccl.: ^f »He pat loues his sone: he wownes3 to hym betyngis«, pat is to saie : he sendwj to hym continuly somme betyngis, pat is to saie one after an op^r. {"erof saies seywt lerome: »Oure souerayne fadre Ihmi Crist holdes his sones euer-more vnder suw scourge or wande, pat 4 when pai are delyuerid of one, pai ben vnder an oper«. And he ne sendis horn note alle at ones, but one after an oper, as a mon shotis an arowe after an oper. ^[ But wicked men pat [here]* w?t/;-outen gods scourge & his disciplyne [lifs]*, & whom none amendement

1 in feat expunged. 2-2 on margin. » Lat. assiduat. * L &. » Ms. are. margin.

5O Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

with-drawes fro wrangwysenes , he shal shote to how here-afttnvardis alle his arowes at enes, po whilke he sendes here to gode mew serely, pat is to saie one after an o\>er, & hat is to hore purgacion. ^f For why alle bo tourmentis ho whilk are here departid thorou al po world, pen here-aftmvardis shal rest as hit were in a stede; as oure lord saied Leuit. XXXlf '• »I shal gedre to-gedre vpon horn yuels , & I shal fulfille myn arowes in hom«. ^[ Perfore pou soule, if pow ' wilt be loued of god : ne cast pou not away tribulacion po whilk shewes to pe testymonye of po loue of god. But if pou saie pat »po childer receyues of gods honde gode & ille, [why perfore is]2 po receyuyng of yuels more3 tokenyng of loue of god, pen po receyuyng of godes?«: to pat may be answerid: Certayne hit is pat god gyues to his speciale frendis po best godis, & to poo pat he best loues ; but more loued he Crist witA-outen comparison pen al po world , and nerepolatifr he gaue to hy#z in pis world mony yuels & fewe worldly godis, but as seynt Bernards saies, ^f »ffro his birthe of his modre to po peyne of po crosse he had «euer4 but pouert & tribulacion «. And before po sendyng of tribulacion is more tokenywg of loue of god, pen po sendyng of worldly eese. Ouer pat, Ihwu Crist gods son, po whilk lyued in pis world, as a marchauwde pat cheses in po* marketis gode marchauwdysis & leeues po yuel ^[ he chese tribulacions & forsoke worshipis, as hit saies in po gosples, forwhy he fled in to wildernesse when pai woldew haue made hym kyng loh. Vl° , and nerepolaUf he ne fled not when pai soghten hym to slee, but he saied to horn: »I am he«. And p^ffore if Crist be wysest in chesyng, hit semes pai are foolis po whilk despisew6 tribu- lacions and adu^rsites, & chosen worldly pwfites, po whilke shal not delyuer horn of po hondes of hore fooes, pat is to saie of fendes, here-aft^rward. And per- fore suffre now tribulacion with Crist, pat pou may haue at po last po coroune of lyue in po kyngdome of heuen ; for why in oper maner pon ne may not entre in to po kyngdome of heuen, saiande po apostle: ^f »Thorou mony tribu— lacions byhoues vs entre i« to po kyngdome of heuen«. Po whilk graunt vs Ihmi Crist: pat wztfc-outew ende lyues & regnes. AMEN.

6. (Of the double Comminge of Christ.)7

(A translation of St. Bernard De adventu Domini Sermo VI, Migne 183 col. 52.} fol. 67.

O eynt Bernard spekis of po comyng of oure lord Ihmi Crist & saies : ^f ,1 wil not, breper, ^e forgete po tyme of ^oure visytacion, ne pat ping pat shal pis tyme be visytid in ?ou ; for why pis tyme is ordeyned to soulis, & not to bodies. For why po soule is more worthy pen po body ; he chalangis to hym by kyndely worthynes po first bysynes, and first shal be amendid pat fel first; for why po soule filed in synne made pat po flesshe shal be punysshid in peyne. If And p^rfore if we wil be founden Cristis lymes, wzt^-outew doute hit fallis to vs to folowe oure heued: pat po first bysynesse be to vs to po graythyng of oure soules for po whilk he is comen, [&]8 whos corrupcion he studyed to heele firste. «f Po heelyng of po body holde we to pat tyme & abyde to pat day in

1 u overl. 2 Ms. wherfore. 3 Ms. is more. * n added. 5 overl. 6 Ms. despisedew. This title by another hand. This piece has cadences. R. Rolle's authorship is doubtless. 8 Ms. to.

St. Bernard De Adventit Sermo VI. 6 1

po whilk he is to come to glorifye po body, as po apostle makes mynde : ^f »We abyden oure saueoure oure lord Ihesu Crist, bat shal make agayne bo body of oure mekenesse, lickened to bo body of his clerenesse«. ... *[[ Pou haues pat wher- fore Crist is comen, & wherfore cristen mon shuld studye : and berfore, bou body, ne reeue bou not bis tyme fro bo soule ; forwhy bou may let fai heele, & make hit may bou not. Al faing has tyme. Suffre bat bo soule now trauel for hym- selue : & trauel more with hym, for if bou suffre w/tA hym, bou shal regne with hym. ^[ Als mykel as bou distourbles his amendement , in so mykel bou letter bine owne ; for why bou ne may not bifore be amendid , til god se in hit his likenesse graythed. *[ £ou flesshe, bou haues a noble gest, & al bi heele hengis on his hele : gyue bou worship to so greet a geste ; for why bou wonnes in bi cuntrey, & bo soule pilgryme & flemyng, is herberwid with be. I pray be what symple mon ne wold not gladly ligge in a hirne of his house , to gyue rowme til a greet lord pat wolde vouche-saue to herberow w/tA hym? And berfore do bou on bo same maner; wrongis & bine angres ne charge bou not namely, bat1 bi geste may honourablye duelle w/t/z be; hit is worship to be for hym in bo mene tyme [to] be nackened of honoure. & take kepe bysily pat bou despise not pi geste for bat bat faou sees hym pilgryme & comelywg to fae ; and bi- holde bou what bo presence of pi gest gyues to pe. He [it] is bat gyues sight to bo eghen, heryng to bo eeres2, speche to fao tong, taast to bo mouthe, styrryng to alle bo lymes. Knowe bou bat by fao gyft of bi geste bou has what so bou has of lyue, what faou has of witte, & what bou has of beute; forwhy bo de- partyng of bi geste proues what his presence gaue pe. ^f Forwhy sone after when bo soule departis, po tong is stille, po eghen are blynde , bo eeres are deeue, al fai body waxes stark , bo face waxes pale : and in a litel whyle al pi carion waxes stynkand & roten, & al bi beute is turned in to noght. ^f Perfore why hurtes bou & makes sorye, for a litel worldly likyng, bis gest, with-outen whom faou ne myght fele no faing? If bi gest flemed by encheson of wrathe, & oute-casten fro bo face: face of his lord, gyues be so mykel: how mykel shal he gyue to be, when he is saghtelid to his lord? ^f And berfore, bou body, ne let bou not faat saghtelyng ; forwhy thorou hit , grete ioye is graythid to fae. Putt be forthe sufferandly & gladly to alle bingis; fayne bou no faing bat myght pr0fite to pat saghtelyng. Saye to bi geste: »faat3 oure lord shal faenk on be, & he shal sett be agayne in bi first state, & ben bou faenk on me«. For why if bou serue now wel to hym, he shal benk on be on al man<r for gode. And when he comes byfore his lord : he shal totil to hym of be, and speke pe gode for his gode hoste, & saie: When he was flemed in vengaunce of his synne4, »a pore mon pi seruaunt, -with whom I was herberowid, did mercy to me ; and god lene my lord ^elde hym for me ! first al bat he had. and sithen al hym-selue * he sett forth to my profits, he sparid not hyw-selue& for me in mykel fastyng, in trauels oft-sithes , in wakyng ouer mesure , in huwgur & thryst , in colde , in nakednesse«. Perfore holy writt gabbis not bat saies: ^f »He shal do bo wille ofDauid: dredande hym, & hore prayer he shal here & saue hom«. <f A god, if faou tatem" myght taast pis swettnesse , if faou myght p^auentwre gesse pis ioye ! I shal !imen-

faciet &

1 Lat. tantum ut. 2 Ms. orig. ^heeres. 3 Lat. Quia. * Lat. Cum in ultionem culpae f suae exsularet servus tuus, pauper quidam, apud quern &c. ; r. »When I.... of my synnea? c" »-5 on margin. ?' ex-

1. eos.

52 Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

saie wondres, but nerebolater sothe and on al maner w*tA-outen doute to trewe men.

Of bo secunde comyng.

(_Tod hym-selue Sabaoth, lord of vertues & kyng of ioye, shal come doune to

make agayne cure bodyes, & to make horn like to bo body of his bryghtnesse.

^f Hou mykel ioye, hou mykel gladenesse shal be bere, when bo maker of al

bing, bo whilk come byfore meke & pryuey for amendemewt of soules, to glorifye

be A bou wretchid flesshe, he shal come heghe & openly , not in febulnesse

Quis but in worship & in his magestee! Who may benk bo day of his comyng, whew

cogharehe shal come doune w/'tA plente of light, aungelis comande byfore And1 [bi] bo

diem sonne of bo trump : shal rayse of powder to body , & lede hit : agayne Crist

tus tui.iw bo aier? ^[ fcerfore bou wretchid flesshe, madde & blynde, fonned & wode,

hou long sekes bou worldly confortis, passande & fallande lykingis: pefauenture

if hit happid be to be put agayn & be lugid [vnjworbi to bat ioye, & neu^rbolater

be tourmentid at bo last in peyne w/tA-outew ende? ^[ I pray ^ou, my breber,

not so, not so ; but ?oure soules delyte horn in bis boght ; & ?oure flesshe shal

rest in hope , abydande oure lord Ihmi Crist , bo whilk »shal make agayne bo

body of oure mekenesse, lickened to bo body of his clerenesse«. Amen.'

^f Explicit fyc.c.

(Follows : Speculum peccatoris per Rich. Hampoole (so title by another hand) f. 69^ — 76: Quoniam carissimi in hnius uie vita fugientes sumus & dies nostri sicut vmbra

pretereunt &c.

Rich, de Hampoole: De emendatione peccatoris, 76b— 96b, Col. Explicit secun- dum R. H.)

7. (Miscellanies).2 fol 6b I. Epistola ad simplices sacerdotes.

-H.it semes medeful to susteyne: pr^stis to-gedre ; for so did Crist: mayster best of alle. But mew shulden be war of horn: in bese thre poyntis. *[ First bat bai be not en-erited : as in p^rpetuyte , / but vp-on trewe lyuyng : hauyng godis in mesure. ^f And more-ouer bat bai be in nounbre acording to bo place; for bothe excesse & defaute smakes vices: as clerkis saien. ^[ I'D thrid bat bai be bisy : to serue wel in hore office ; for vices & ydelnesse : maken horn vnable. •f And not iche occupacion: is pertinent to pr^stis, as tauerne-gate & hunting, and playng at bo tables ; but lernyng of gods lawe : & prechyng or praiyng. ^f And bo most of alle : is pf^chyng of bo gosple ; for bat bad Crist to pmtis : more ben ober office; for by bat he conquerid bo world: out of bo fendis honde ; by bat he broght his reume : in to bo blisse of heuen. He bat prechis not apertly: conseil he ap?rt[l]y / and so if ony speke: speke he8 gods wordis; / by bese shulden prestis thryue : & edifie bo puple. *[ And who-so-eu«- kon best

> r. }>at? 2 Under this heading I comprise the following short pieces, sentences &c. of the Ms. All these bits seem to belong to R. Rolle. 3 Ms. j,e.

Miscellanies. 63

bring : prestis to pis state / he has auctorite of god : and merit i« his dede, / prdate or secular : or what mon so euer he be. ^f Vnde sap[iencia] : Vnicuiqne mandauit dens vt adiuuaret proximo suo.

II. Messis quidem multa: operarii autem pauci.

± otest predicator : nuncio comparari. ^f Nuncius autem debet esse expeditus: sic & predicator debet, id est, sine onere temporalium, vnde in Math.: »Nolite portare aurum neque argentum«. ^[ Debet eciam esse velox: ita & predicator, wide Ysai[as]1: »Qui sunt isti qui vt nubes volant ?« ^f Currit eciam nuncius: et predicator debet velociter currere, vnde in Parab.2: sDiscurre, festina: suscita amicum bono exemplo«. ^f Post nuncius debet esse eloquens & discretus: ita & predicator, vnde dominus in Luca: »Ego dabo vobis os & sapienciam« — sapienciam, id est discrecionem ; et Ecclesiasticus 3 : »Aurum & argentum confla : et verbis tuis facito stateram«. Per aurum & argentum notatur eloquencia, per stateram: dis- crecio. ^f Item audax debet esse nuncius: ita et predicator vt reprehendat vicia, & non palpet ad modum adulatoris , vnde dominus per Ezechielem 4 : »Ve illis qui ponunt pului[n]ar sub cubito« ; et leremias: »Dedi te in gentibus, noli timere«; et in Math.: »Nolite timere eos qui occidunt corpus: animam autem non possunt occidere« : vnde psalmista : »Ignitum eloquium tuum vehementer« &c ; item lohannes Baft. : »Posuit os meum ut gladium acutum«. ^[ Item nuncio non est credendum sine literis singillatis : nee predicatori sine auctoritate noui & veteris testamenti, ^[ vnde Augustinus: »Nisi hoc quod dixero fluat de medio duorum moncium, non credas michi.«

III. Secundum lohannem ewangelistam de anticristo5.

lohannes ewangelista interrogauit dominum de fine seculi. Refert ei dominus: »Sol conuertetur in tenebras , & luna in sanguinem ; et de arboribus stillabit sanguis; lapides dabunt uoces, populi mouebuntur. Anticristus i. [e.] diabolus regnabit et faciet prodigia maxima & signa multa in populo«. ^[ Et lohannes ad dominum : "Domine, cuius similitudinis erit, ut uidentes non credant in ilium ?« Christus dixit : »De muliere meretrice nascetur ex tribu Dan ; sexcentos cubitos habens in longi- tudine corporis sui , quadragintos in latitudine ; oculum vnum in fronte , aurem vnam in capite; labrum pendens vsque ad pectus. Denies superiores non habebit, neque genua. Plante pedum eius rotunde quasi rote plaustri. Costa vna ap[p]arebit sibi in sinistra parte. Capilli capitis sui nigri erunt & terribiles. Triplex fumus de naribus exiet, et flamma sulphurea pertingens usque ad celum. & nemo potent ab- scondere se ab eo. Omnes qui credunt in ilium signabit vno carectere in fronte, et poterit delere id artificium. Nutrietur in Corozaim, postea morabitur in Beth[s]eida ciuitate, sed paucis diebus. Omnes quos ipse occidit & qui mortui fuerunt fame & siti sub eius potestate: ipsi electi dei erunt. Suscitabit falsos mortuos, co[n]- uertet flumina retrorsum, eradicabit arbores & euertet ramos in terra et radices earum sursum, & faciet eas florere per suas artes diabolicas. Seducet multos in die quando nascetur. Omnes qui habitant in quatuor partes mundi, cognoscent

1 Is. 60, 8. » Prov. 6, 3. * Eccl. 28, 29. « Ez. 13, 18. s Cf. Prick of Consc.

v. 4153 ff.

64 Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

illom esse natum , teste scriptura que ait: ^ In vnaquaque domo cadauer \TIIUS hominis mortui * erit signum. Tune in tempore occidet pater filium & filius patrem, frater fratrem ; et fidelis in omni re deficiet. Mulieres menstrnaciones suas aperient et non abscondent se ab omnibus. Et fideles sacerdotes plorabunt: nullam memo- riam homines habebnnt sanctarum reliquiarum, nee de illis locis vbi sancta corpora qnieuerunt; set adorabunt prophana ydola, sicut pagani et iudei. r Surget gens contra gentem, & regnum aduersus regnum; & terremotus magni erunt per loca, pestilencie & fames, et stelle cadent in terram. ^ Flumina conuertentur in sanguinem & omnes aque que sub celo sunt, regnante illo [et] erigente bellum contra bellum. Duo prophete Enoc & Helias qui modo collocantur in paradiso pro respectione mortis, [venient] et interficiet eos anticristus, in plateis ciuitatis iacebunt mortui tribus diebus & tribus noctibus, in qnarta die surgent ad vitam eternam. ^ In postremo in ultimis deus Christus qui uult omnes saluos fieri, [per] Michael archan- gelum * rumphiam acutam manu tenentem, id est gladinm sancti spiritus, interficiet eum & secabit eum in duas partes, a snmmo usque deorsum. . . . non ut destruatur mnndus: sed vt renouetur* in melins. Tribus annis et sex mensibus erit ita usque ad consummacionem seculi. ^ Post has tribulaciones erit silencium magnum in celo & in terra, triginta diebus & noctibns nulla creatura resonabit neque audietur. * Et venient angeli a quatnor partibns terre et clamabunt dicentes : Surgite, surgite, snrgite. & resurgent omnes qui mortui fu erunt ab Adam usque in illo die, in etate triginta annorum & trinm; quicquid4 ignis combuscit in terra', bestie come- derunt, mare demerscit, adorabunt-. Explicit.

IV. (Sentences).*

Quantus erit frnctus cum dixerit ipse »venite« , Tantus erit luctns cum index dixerit »ite«.

Isidor. Non potest antem esse in pace : qni spem suam ponit in homine. U Cum pacien- cia relinquitur, eciam bona reliqua que iam gesta sunt destruuntur. ^ Paciencia enim vera est qne ipsum amat quern portat. Nam tollerare & odisse non est virtus mansuetudinis : sed velamen furoris.

H-euen is wonnen vritA woo & shame, Helle is wonnen witA gle and game : Quod l aske be pen of pese twoo,

In world were better haue wele or woo?

est

tenete.

Virtus, ecclesia. clems, demon, symonia Cessat. calcatur. errat. regnat. dominatur.

Transsit yems, estas, transit terrena potestas, Transit & omne nouum, vis mundi non valet ouum.

Ant lege ant ora: aut cum fernore labora,

fco»» Sic erit hora breuis & labor ipse leuis.

facito.

l Ms. mortuus. * Ms. archangelus. » Ms. remouetur. « r. quotquot. * Some of

the Latin epigrams are found in the Collection of Latin Epigrams in Ms Arund. 507, ed. at the end of vol. I.

Sentences, Epigrams &c. 65

Dauid. Gigas non saluabitur in multitndine virtutis sue. nee sapiens in multa sua sapien- cia ; quia ut dicit Ihesus Christus : Laycos elegi michi ; sed solummodo propter bonam \-itam saluabitur homo. *f Ideo vigilate &c.

^f Veri- Vos estis qui iustificatis vos coram hominibus , Deus autem nouit

corda vestra : Quia quod hominibus altum est , abhominabile autem est ante deum. *[ Augustinus : «[ Qui credit se persecucionem non habere: adhuc non incepit esse Christianus.

Est homo res fragilis, viuens sub tempore paruo ; Hie est, hie non est, quasi flos qui crescit in aruo.

Recordare : Sunt tria ve, que faciunt me sepe dolere :

Est primum durum, quoniam scio me moriturum; Et magis doleo morior sed nescio quando ; Inde magis flebo [quia] nescio quo remanebo.

Lex is layde ouer-al : fraus fallax regnat vbique, Loue is bot smal: quia gens se gestat inique, Woo walkis wyde: quia commouet ira potentes, Right may not ride: nee valet ad insipientes. Lex est defuncta: quia iudicis est manus vncta.

Now gos gyle in euw-ilk flok,

And treuthe is sperrid vndre a lok:

May no mon pot lok vndo,

But if he syng si dedero. Omncs diligunt muntra.

Augustinus. Si essent in te solo omnia peccata que vnquam facta sunt uel possent de cetero perpetrari in infmitum : superexcellet misericordia eius, & tibi hec omnia, si ad se recurreres, propter suam pietatem largissimam condonaret & propter matris sue intercessionem. ^[ Gregorius : ^ Nullus potest perfecte inuenire

deum: qui se perfecte non perdit. ^f O homo, vis cognoscere quomodo tu dirigas cogitatum tmun : semper debes cogitare te esse in presencia del tni, et ipsum semper habeas in tuo cogitatu, et quod ipse sit deus ttras qui pro te uulneratus est & pro te talia passus est.

V. (From R. Rolle's Incendium Amoris).

V igilate & intelligite , viri , & nolite falli : quia ostendi vobis ad honorem omnipotentis dei et ad comodum vestrum, cur fugiebam cantantes in ecclesiis, et qua racione me ipsum eis inmiscere non amaui, ac ludentes in organis non audire optaui. ^ Inpedimenta enim exhibebant sonoris amenitati, et preclaram carmenam deficere cogebant. ^ Non ergo mirum si fugissem quod me confundit, et in quo culpandus fueram si destiti ad hoc quod me a dilectissimo cantico meo depellere sciebam. ^f Errassem utique : si aliter egissem; sed non ignorani1 a quo accepi ; vnde conformaui omnino nt eius perficerem voluntatem, ne ingrato anfferret quod gratis largiebatur. ^ Delectabar itaqne in solitndine sedere: nt extra tumnltum positus liquidius canerem, et feruentibus precordiis meis suauissimam iubilacionem experirer, quod ipsam sine ambiguitate de munere ipsius quern super omnia in-

1 Ms. ignorawr.

n. c

66

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

estimabiliter amaui, accepissem. ^f Non enim efferbuit cor meum in concupiscen- ciam carnalem, neque a creatura accepi consolatorium carmen, quod canens in Ihesu iubilaui. Amor quidem ad hoc inducebatur ut non consisterem in qualitate qua indigni deprimuntur, set ut subleuarer supra altitudinem suorum visibilium, et ab empirio essem accensus & illuminatus ad laudandum deum . . . &c.

VI.

fol. 100.

1 routhe. Hope. Loue. Grace. Honoure. Reuerence. Cowpassion. Mercie. Mildenesse. Clennesse. Holynesse. Stedfastnesse.

I. Ad pm. : Trouth. Trowe in god: loue holy kirk. Trow in holy ewcarist. Honoure

po ewangely. Worship f)o sacramentis. Kepe gods comande- mentis. Holde pat is heght in bapteme. Kepe po trouthe of wedlok. Take holy enoyntyng.

II. ^f Hope. Be tholemode. Despice vices. Fie pryde. Forsake auarice.

Put away glotonye. Fie lechorie. Put away enuye. Fie Ire. Ouercome Sloghenesse.

in. ^f Loue. Be symple in worde & dede. Drede god. Loue god ouer al

ping. Honour god. Pank god. Despise po world. Worship halowes. Halogh po holy-day, dense pi conscience.

mi. If Grace. Be wel willy. Be not surqwz'drous. Be not deynouse. Be not violent. Be not stryuande. Be no ligher. Loue silence. Speke of leueful ping. Be stille of vnleueful.

v. Honowr. c ologh gode men. Fie yuel men. Fie vayn-glorie. Fie auaun-

tyng. Be not coueytouse. Be large & fre. Be not fole large. Take none oker. Do no symonye.

vi. Reuerence. Do reuerence to hym pat is more pen pou. Honoure olde men. Teche z;ong men. Loue pi pyers. Despise no mon of lesse state pen pou. Worship fader & modre. Be shameful. Serue gode men. Be no flaterer.

vn. Cowpassiow. Haue compassion. Kenne po vnlerid. Lagh wz'tA laghande. Crete wz'tA gretande. Wrath no mow. Do no wrong. Accuse no mon. Deme no mow. Dampne no mon.

vin. Mercy. Counsayl po redlesse. Forgyue hym pat askus forgyuenesse.

Clothe po naked. Fede po huwgrye. Gyue a drink to thristye. Visite po seke. Solace po caytyues in prison. Herberowe pil- grymes. Biry po deed.

ix. Mildnes. Be piteful. Loue pi neghbore. Kepe pi soul clene. Seke ay

pees. Be no traytoure. Be no backebiter. Be no mow-beter. Make no stryue ne discorde. Make pees per discorde is.

x. Clewnesse. Be sober & a-tempre. Be no loguler. Be no outragouse eeter. Be no outragouse wyne-drynker. Restreyne pi heryng. Re- streyne pi sight. Restreyne pi smellyng. Attempre pi taastyng. Lede pi felyng right.

Of the flood of the world.

xi. Holynes. Do to an of)er bat bou wolde men did to be. ^ern to com

to paradyse. Drede po last dome, tenke on po deed, ^erne gode for ille. Wittnesse no bi«g bat is fals. Hate no mow. Slee no mon. Loue bin enmyes.

XII. Stedfastnesse. Be rightful. Be no totiler. Be war of forsweryng. Deme rightwysely. Take no gyft«.r namely1 in dome. Reeue fro no mon bat is his. Swere litel. Steele noght. J^elde agayne bat w/'tA wrong is taken.

VII. (2 poems on subjects in the Prick of Conscience.) i. ^ Of bo flode of bo world.2

VJTrete ferly hit is why mew bat fraysten bo world, so mykel fw-Inne traysten, And so mykel hit louen & folowen in vayne, bat is so vnstable & so vncertayne ; 5 wher-Inne noon eese ne rest siker es, But angres & trauayle & bysynes ; of whilk bo wysdome is noght but foly, ne bo wurship anente god but vilany ; Ne bo welthe of bo world is noght but gyle,

10 And bo ioy of hit lastis but a whyle. bo world chases a mon to & froo, now to weele now to woo, fro ioy to sorowe, fro tene to gamen — bus mengis hit weele & woo ay samen.

15 Po world mak«j a mon to ryse & falle, And chulles hym as men don a balle pat is casten fro hande to hande — bus dos bo world with men here lyuande. Pen here is noght ellis, as men sees,

20 but sere bysynesse & vanytees.

(space of 9 lines left vacant.) 3 To mony sere bingis, if men wille, Men may licken bo world by skille, but to no ping may hit lickened be more propurly pen to bo se.

25 For bo see ilk day or ilk nyght ones ebbis & floes, waxes & wones; In whilk rysen mony grete wawes thurgh stormed of wedres & wywdis bat

blawes.

And mew may lickened be pot bo world louen,

to fisshes bat in bo see swymmew & houen. 30 Mony sere fisshes lyuen in bo se, of sere kynde, & bat grete plente, of whilk suwme are more & suwme are les, pat swywmen & bouen as hore kynde es ; suwme swywzmen abouew among bo 35

wawes,

And suwme doune to bo grounde drawes ; Su0zme fisshis haue siche strength &

myght bat bai may agayne bo flode swywme

su/wme fisshis are dryuew to & fro, su#zme folowes po flode as hit wil go ; 40 Svwwme haue most likyng to be where most filthe gedris of bo se, As in mudde & gruttis & in skum, bat to oper fisshis is vnholsum. J*o see is strong, whew hit is flowande 45 vnethis may oght agayne hit stande ; And so depe pat passe hit may no mon but in ship witk shippe-men pat kon thurgh witt & wisdom hit gouerne & lede, & ^it suwtyme pai are in greet drede 50 And in perel thorgh stormes & wyndus

blast es, bat bo ship vp & doun w/'tA wawes

kastes.

I*us who so in ship passis po se, In perille & drede oft may be. Right pus faris po world for certayne: 55 hit ebbis & floes & fallis agayne.

1 Ms. mamely. 2 Cf. Prick of Conscience v. logoff.

' v. 21 — 28 similar in Prick of Consc. v. 1213 — 1224; the rest is a new theme.

68

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvn.

to world floes in richesse & vanytees to mew of sere states, as mew oft sees : for when richesse & welthe heghes a

man,

60 bo world as flowand hym vp-beris ban ; but bo wawes of bo world weltren to

& froo

& kesten a mon now to wele nowe to wo ; bo world bigynnes to ebbe & to w/tA-

drawe fro a mon when he fallis fro hegh state

to lawe.

65 Whe[n] a mow is at myscheue & happlesse, bo world to hym at bo grouwde-ebbe

ben es; when he is risen heghe thorou worldly

gode,

ben is bo world to hym at mile node. And as fisshis swywnnen aboute in bo se, 70 so don mew in bo world aboute vanyte ; for fisshis swywnnen sekande al bing In whilk bai haue most loue & likyng : Right so worldly men in bo world tra-

uayles

aboute worldly bing pat passes & fayles. 75 And al worldly ping is noght but vayne, for hit is vnsiker and vncertayne. Suwnnemewvpwardiw po world swywzmes And poo are men bat to heghe state

clywrnes,

As to office & dignyte & grete powere, 80 For to haue maystry of oper & worship

here ;

pat aboute pompe of po world wil spende largely, for men shulde horn comende. Smwme iw po depe of po world swywmies

douwward

& boo are auarouse men of hert hard, 85 bat worldly godes to-gedre gettes & hore hertis peron settes, So bat bai neuer-more uowche-saue to parte w/tA no gode pat pai haue nonpar to god ne to mon here, 90 ne spende horn iw po world on ober

manere, And of noght ellis but on hore gode

pinkis :

boo drunken in bo node of bo world &

synkis ;

hit is right bat soche mew duelle vritA bo riche mon biryed iw helle. Suwzme agayn bo node of bo world 95

swy/wmen hard

& boo are vnbuxom men & froward to god & mon & to hore soueraynes & are agayne pat holy kirc ordaynes, And ay are grucchand & vnpacient In angres when any to horn are sent. 100 Su/rane swyramew wztA po node of po

world as hit gas: poo are mew pat flateryng & fawenyng

mas

to lordis namely in hore presence, Agayne sothfastnesse & gode cowscience ; For bothe iw wrong & iw right pai 105

plese ay,

to lordis namely, & sayen al as pai say, & if pai wil do wrong pai assent p<rto, & saien al is wel don pat pai do. I^rfore lite may now w*'tA lordis duelle but poo pat kon conraye fawenelle. no Su/wme iw filthe & iw mudde iw po world

houen :

poo are men pat lust & likyng louen, & seken al po eese pat pai may take, And liste not trauel for gods sake, but lyen & lurkew iw hore synne stille — 115 soche men are slowe & of ille wille. Su/wme swyjwmew vp & donw , to and

froo: poo are men pat noup^f kuw thole weele

ne woo,

In no sted con pai rest ne duelle, but stirtew about ay as a squyrelle, 120 for bai may no while in one sted laste — soche are vnstable mew & vnstedfaste. Sujwme thorou wawes of bo world are

weltrz'd ouer

fro welthe to myscheue, &may not couer ; Suwme bo node of bo world castis fro 125

waw to wawe,

vp & doune, nowe heghe now lawe : poo are men pat are greetly taryde w/tA bysynesse & angres on ilk syde ;

Of the flood of the world.

69

For boo bat to swymme in bo flode

are leue,

130 bo wawes suwztyme casten to myscheue, And so siuwme in bo world bat semen

sleghe, are casten douw when bai are cloumben -

heghe, & whew bai are rysen abouew & are

fayne,

also-sone bai are casten douwe agayne.

135 Pus swy/wmew men in bo world aboute

as bo fisshes iw bo see don in grete

doute,

And namely worldly men swy;«men bus, & as fisshis bai are naked of grace &

of v«tuus. Vp-on bo flode of bo world are fisshers

sleghe : 140 bat are wickid spiritis bat fallen fro

heghe, bat fisshen aboute mew bothe nightwj

& dayes,

& hore nettis to take horn sleghly layes, And casten hokes to horn -with lykande

beyte,

& so take bai men thurgh deceyte. 145 Hore nettis vrztk hokes are trappis of

sywne

pat men of po world are combred I«ne ; & hore beyte bat is likandly dight, is al ping bat men ^ernen thurgh sight : thurgh whilk likande beyte at bo last 150 mony are tane & holden fast,

And to bo wicked fisshers hondis vp titte, & at bo last doun kasten iw to helle-pitte. But a shipe thorgh bo flode of bo world

sayles,

bat is laden ful of gods1 vitayles, 155 In whilk are mew bat of bo world are

irke:

& bat shippe is noght ellis but holy kirke. Per-Iwne are dyu^rse mew of religion, and mony oper of grete deuocion, bat to bo trouthe of holy kirc are lele 1 60 & wz'tA bo maners of bo world list not

dele. 1 Ms. gods.

For whils a mon folowes po worlds

wysdome,

he may not iw to pat ship come ; And to po hauew of lyue he may not

wywne,

but thurgh bis ship, if he be faer-Iwne. Pis ship leedes holy men of deuocion 16$ euen to po hauen of saluacion, thnrgh al po flode of po world & wawes, In alle po stormes & wywdes pat blawes, bat is to saye thurgh mony persecutions

sere

& angres bat gode men tholen here. I7° Suwzme iw bis ship rowes , & su/wme

steres, And sujwme trauels p^r-Inne on op«*

maneres, pat is suwme fastes & praies, & suwme

wirkis

po werkes of mercy & neu^-more irkis. In myddis po ship stondis a mast, I75

pat no storme may stir hit stondis so fast : bis ilk mast is noght ellis to telle but Crist, bat boght mon-kynd fro helle, pat was drawen & nayled on bo rode & peron for vs shed his hert-blode. I^° bis mast has a brood saiel dight berby: pat is noght ellis but his grace & his

mercy, w»tA bo wynde of his myght bat fayles

noght, thurgh whilk pis shyp to po hauen is

broght,

pat is to po blisful londe of lyue, l%$

where endeles pees is w/tA-outew stryue. Pis ship thurgh po flode of po world

gode beres,

of whilk summe are made gods fissheres, bat casten hore nettes oft to poo pat iw pat flode swywrnen to & froo — 190 for Cn'st to suwme of his apostles spake And saied he wold horn fisshers make,

»Comes. he saies, now aft^r me, ^fVenite

post me: fissheres of mew I shal make ^ou be«. faciam

But mony are so froward & so vnbuxu/» Vpfsca-'

bat to hore fissher nettwj bai wil not cuw ; tores

homi-

Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvil.

but suwme comew in to pat nett at po last, and poo are taken & holden fast, And alle poo pat are so tane 200 are drawen vp in to po ship ilkane. Pese fisshers pat pus fisshen ouer po

ship horde, Are noght but po prechours of gods

worde,

pat to men prechen pat here wrong lyuen & to po world & delytes of flesshe bom

gyuen; 205 of whilk suwme are stirrid hore sywne

to fle

& to forsake worldly vanyte & drawen horn toward holy kirke where pai shal serue god & gode werkis

wirke.

Pese nettes pat pai are taken Inne, 210 are manasses & snybbyngw^ of hore synne, And gode ensauwples pat in boke are

sette, thurgh whilk pai are tane as fisshwj

thurgh nette In to po ship of holy kirc, pat shal horn

leede

to po lond of lyue & of blisful-heede 215 where pai shal god face to face se als he is & sittes in trynite, pat is heuen, where ay is blis & likyng — to whilk londe louerd god vs bring.

Amen.

2. Po whele of fortune.1

Alle wandreths, welthis & lykingis by chauwce or happe on pis lyue hyngis : For ilk mon wheper he wake or slepe, In pis lyue byhoues his chauwce kepe, 5 when hit sodenly fallis, be hit gode

or ille;

for he may not fle hit aftor2 his wille. Chauwce is couplid w/tA po world here as a wyue is -witA hir weddid fere, And dos al pat po world bids as his

houswyue,

10 & turn«j vp & douwe a monnes lyue. 1 Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 1273 ff. 2 t overl.

Chaunce whew hit comes so sodenly,

Is so stalworthe & so myghty,

pat agayne-stonde hit may ful fone ;

& perfore may hit be cald fortune1.

{•is worde to vnderstonde is light, 15

for af[t]or po latyne hit sounes right,

pat is to saie pus, fortuna;

but hit is in frenshe wordis twa :

fort, & vne, pat is on englis

stalworthe, & one, pat bymenes bis, 20

pat is to saie by vndurstondyng:

Chauwce of po world is a stalworthe

Ping; for pere may no mon in pis world

lyuande, when sho comes so sodenly, agayne hir

stande.

£0 world is lord, & sho is lady, 25

to worldly men ouer whom pai haue

maistry ; & for sho is pus lauedy, & strong vrit/i-

alle,

perfore Dame Fortune men may hir calle. £0 strength of hir pat men may fele, pen2 may be lyckened vnto a whele. 30 For a whele when hit turners]3 iw-virowne, pat turned is vp is titt turned downe, & pat is heghest is lowest turned sone. Pw.? fares hit by po whele of fortune. Mony mew where Dame Fortune suggurnes 35 vfiiA hir whele of treuthe a-boute sho

turnes : Su/wme turnes sho vp, suwme turnes sho

doune,

sho spares none in felde ne in toune. Suwme at po heghest duellen a stounde, & su/wme at po lowest are casten to po 40

grounde ; su/wme pat holden horn by hir whele

sadly

on pat one syde is turned vpward p«rby, Svurcme pat aboue sitten in pompe & in

pn'de,

are turned dounward on pat oper side. As men may se here pwpurly & fynde 45 In a purtreyd figure ymagynde:

1 o overl. over u. 2 Ms. men. 3 Ms. turned.

Twelve profits of Tribulation.

(Figure is wanting, but J/2 page is left vacant).1

In whilk figure is a quene stondande •with a whele, foure kinges aboute tur-

nande,

Of whilk one w/tA bo whele his course mas

50 vpwarde, and an ofyer dounwarde gas, po thrid sittes aboue« as he king ware, bo four[t]e liggis vndre bo whele naked

& bare;

he bat gos vpward, saies »I regne shalle«, he pat gos dounward saies »I falle«,

55 he pat is heghest saies »I regne nobly, bo lowest saies »w/tA-oute» regne am I«. Pis figure of fortune bat is as fabul, bitokens bis lyue bat is vnstabul. Po quene, bat men Dame Fortune calles,

60 Is chaunce or happe pat in po world

falles. Hir whele is hir strengthe as men may

fele, pat turnes suwme to woo, & suwme to

wele.

Po foure kyngis beron turned aboute, are foure maner of men bat here lyue« in doute :

65 One are boo bat are bysye erly & late & ^ernen to clymbe here to heghe state ; ?it are bai in doute, for al bat bai do, to fayle or falle er bai com faerto. Anoper are poo pat are heghe & myghty

70 & ouer oper hauen lordship & maistry; & ^it are pai in doute & drede wz't^-alle fro hore heghe state douwe to falle. Po thrid are poo pat at hegh state han

bene & are put perfro & at lower are sene ;

75 And ^it pai drede, whiles pai lyue, to be put lower at more myscheue. Po fourte are poo pat are pure & nedy 1 Figures or drawings of this kind are not unfrequent in northern Mss., and R. Rolle him- self seems to have made designs. Ms. Arund. 507 contains several trees of vices & virtues, (Bonaventura's) Arbor vite &c.; Ms. Faustina B VI (which is, however, a later Ms.) is full of trees, and paintings of Saints (among which R. Rolle), beautifully executed.

& nobing haue here to lyue by, and ^it bai are in greet doute & drede thurgh defaute to pmsshe in pot nede. 80 Also by faese foure kyng«j bus purtrayed may be vndurstonden openly & sayed Of alle maner of men po states, pat vp & doune turnen mony gates and chaungen oft-sithes to & froo, 85

fro woo to weele, & fro weele to woo ; fro pouert to richesse pat is but vayne, and fro richesse to pouert doune agayne ; fro angre & sorowe to welthe * & lyking, And fro liking to sorowe £ angre in 90

sum ping;

fro sekenesse to heele & cooueryng, & fro heele to sekenesse & throwyng; fro wayknesse to strengthe pot vpward es, and fro strengthe dounward to wayknes ; Fro childe-heed to mon-heed vnto 95

strength be maste, bat ben w/M-drawes hit, as olde me»

may taste, bat aye lesse & lesse may hom-selue

welde,

& so fare bai til bai com at bo last elde, And fro lyue to dethe byhoues horn falle, as bo last is & lowest purtrayed of alle. 100 Al pis may vnderstonden be in po figure pat men may purtrayed se. Pus turnen alle states aboute as a whele, fro wele to woo & fro wo to wele. And ay whil mennus statis bus turnew 105

aboute,

bai lyue ay here in grete drede & doute. Pus are alle men in grete drede & were when chaunce or happe comes to horn

here.

Pen semes in pis lyue pat we here lede, Is no ioye lastande with-outew drede, no but woo & wandreth and bysynesse : Perfore god bryngis vs to bo blis ende-

lesse. Amen. Quicquid agunt stulti: tu memor esto

tut: semper.

Radix omnium uirtuium: humilitas. qd W.

> f. wele?

Early editions of works of K, Rolle.

I. Ed. Wynkyn de Worde 1506. (Contemplations of the dread and love of God).

(The same treatise is extant in Mss. Reg. 17 A XXV f. 13*, Harl. 2409, Harl. 1706 f. I54b — 204, and Cambr. Ji VI. 40 f. 4 — 73 (»An holy mater pe which is clepid XII chapiters«2), all southern Mss. A northern Ms. is unknown to me. None of these Mss. gives R. Rolle 's name.)

fol. i.

^f Rycharde Rolle hermyte of Hampull in his contemplacyons of the drede and loue of god, with other dyuerse tytles as it sheweth in his table, (figure of an hermit.

backside, picture of an hermit before his cell surrounded by devils.) fol. 2. ^f Opus Ricardi Rolle heremyte de Hampull, qui obiit Anno christi M.ccc.xlix.

1 His shorte epystle that foloweth is dyuyded in sondry maters / & eche mater by hymselfe in sondry tytles , as this kalender sheweth. And pat thou mayst sone fynde what mater the pleaseth / these tytles ben here in the Epystle marked with dyuerse lettres3 in maner of a table: A8 ^f How * eche man sholde desyre to loue god. B ^f How men somtyme loued god / & how holy men somtyme 5 were vysyted

with swetnesse in the loue of almyghty god. C ^[ What Is drede & how a man shold drede god. D ^[ What is charyte & how & why p0u shalt loue thy god.

^f Of foure degrees of loue / & in the fyrste ben fyue poyntes.

^f Ordeyned loue.

E ^f The fyrst is that thou shalt loue thy flesshe onely that it be susteyned. F ^f The .11. is p0u shalt loue be worlde to no sup^rfluyte. G ^f The .m. is p<m shalt loue thy neyghbour for god. H ^f The fourth is thou shalt loue thy frende for his good lyuynge. I ^f The fyfth is thou shalt loue thyn enemye for be more [mjede*. *j[ In the seconde degre of loue ben thre poyntes.

^f Clene loue.

K ^f The fyrst poynt is thou shalt loue no vyce with vertue. L ^f The seconde is p0u shalt hate all euyll customes.

M ^[ The thyrde is thou shalt not sette lyght by synne be it neuer so lytell. ^f In the thyrde degree of loue be fyue poyntes.

^f Stedfast loue. N ^f The fyrst is thou shalt loue god with all thy desyre.

0 ^ The seconde is thou shalt in the begynnynge of thy werkes thynke on

be worshyp & drede of god.

P ^f The thyrde is thou shalt do no sy«ne vpon trust of other good dedes. Q «f The fourth is thou shalt rule the discretly that thou fayle not for [to] 7

feruent wyll.

1 In Reg., another hand sets in on fol. 25, which is less correct. 2 The title of »XII Cha- piters* is given to several treatises of R. Rolle. 3 Ms. R. has numbers 1—24 instead of letters. « al. Whi. * al. & how hiely sum men. « E drede. 7 E none.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. 73

R ^f The fyfth is thou shalt not leue thy good lyuywge for feynte herte ne

for temptacyon. ^f In the fourth degre of loue ben .vm. (!) poyntes.

f Parfyte loue.

S ^f How by encreace of vertues thou mayst come to perfeccyon. T ^ How good wyll is & may be in dyuerse maners. U ^f What profyte1 is in prayer and in what maner thou shalt praye. X ^[ How thou mayst be ware & knowe of temptacyons wakynge or slepynge /

& howe thou shalt withstande theym.

Y ^f How thou shalt be pacyent & what tyme pacyence is moost nedefull. Z ^ How perseueraunce is nedefull & how pcu mayst be perseueraunt. AB ^ By what prayer or thought thou mayst be styred to deuocyon.

Explicit tabula, fol. 3.

IN the begynnynge and endynge of all good werkes worshyp & thankynge be to almyghty god / maker & byer of all mawkynde / begynner and ender of all goodnes / without whose gyfte & helpe no maner vertue is ne may be / whether it be in thought / wyll / or dede; / than what euer2 we synfull creatures* thynke or do / speke or wryte / that may tourne in to proufyte of mannes soule / to god onely be the worshyp that sente al grace / to vs no praysynge4 / for of vs without hym cometh no thynge but fylthe & synne. Now than good god of his endeles myght & plenteuous goodnes grauwte me grace to thynke somwhat of his dere loue & how he sholde be loued ; / of that same loue some wordes to wryte whiche may to hym be worshyp / to the wryter mede / and proufytable to the reder. Amen.

A ^f How eche man sholde desyre to loue god.

.A.Monge all creatures that euer god of his endeles myght made / was there none bat he so loued as he dyd mankynde / whom he made [to reioyce] euer- lastynge blysse in stede of auwgels / whiche dyd fal from blysse downe in to helle. But that good god loued so man / that for as moche as man had forfeyted that blysse thorugh synne of Adam / he of his plenteuous charyte became man / to bye body and soule that was lost. In what maner he bought vs / euery crysten maw knoweth or sholde knowe : / that no lasse pryce / but s suffred his owne pre- cyous body to be all to-rente* with bytter paynes of scorgywge. He suffred also a garlonde of sharpe thornes pressyd to his heed / whiche percyd so the veynes that the blood ran doune in to his eyen / nose / mouth & eeres. Afterwarde vpon the crosse his bones were drawe out of loynte / the veynes & the senewes were borsten for strayte drawynge / to pe crosse he was nayled honde & foot / and so fayled7 the blood of kynd with bytter paynes of deth. He betoke his spyryte to the fader of heuew / and than suffred at the last his gloryous herte to be thorugh-percyd8 with a sharpe * spere for to gyue his herte-blood to bye man body and soule into loye without ende. ^[ Yf god of his grete goodnes loued thus maw, gyuynge hym ouer this wytte and reason and all other thynge that hym nedeth: / kyndely a3 man sholde nyght and daye with all his wyttes loue hym, and feruentely desyre to conne loue suche a good god that all thynge made, all thywge gyueth and susteyneth. Of this desyre there ben many, men and women, whiche haue full grete lykynge to speke of the loue of god / and all daye

1 E parfyte. * al. what euer ban. * al. om. * al. pr. ne J>ankynge. 5 al. {>an.

• al. to-r. & rasid. ' al. failinge . . , he betoke. 8 al. stonge. » E shapre.

ji Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

askyne1 how they sholde loue god & in what maner they sholde l[y]ue2 to his pleasaunce for his endeles goodnes. To suche men & women, of that good wyll and [of] thatholy desyre, I wyll shewe fyrste of holy men before this tyme how feruent some were in the loue of god, Also in how hyghe a degree3 some were vysyted in be swetenes [of be loue] 4 of cryst. But it may be so that it is full harde for the more partye of men & women to come to so hyghe a degree of loue / therfore after the shewynge of suche hyghe degrees of loue somwhat I wyll wryte to other of symple knowynge how they sholde loue god / as that gracyous god wyll gyue me grace.

B ^[ How men somtyme loued god / & how holy men somtyme were vysyted with swetenes in the loue of almyghty god.

1 Fynde & rede of cure holy faders in olde tyme that for the loue of god they forsoke the worlde and all worldely thynges and lyued in wyldernes by grasse & by rotes / suche men were feruent in the loue of god. But I tro\ve there ben but 5 fewe or elles none that folowen them now / for we fynde not by goddes lawe or heste that we sholde l[y]ues so. For all-be-it they were kepte & susteyned so 7 moost by the myght and grace of god / as no goodnes may be without hy/w: yet I trowe they lyued so moche by be strength of kynde that was in man tho dayes. I wyll not couwseyll the to lyue as they dyde / for thou mayst by other maner lyuynge come to the loue of god / as thou shalt se after- warde. ^f I fynde also* furthermore of other ful holy men of ryght late tyme whiche lyueden a ful holy lyfe, and toke theyr lyuelode as feblenesse of man asketh now in our dayes. Some of these men as I haue herde and redde were vysyted by the grace of god with a passynge swetenes of the loue of cryste / whiche swetenes for ans exawple they shewed afterwarde by theyr wrytynge to other men folowynge / yf ony wolde trauayle to haue that hyghe desyre or 8 degree of loue. This loue whiche they haue wryten to other is departed in thre degrees of loue / whiche thre degrees they hadden one after an other, standynge stablysshed9 in theyr desyre / and sufirynge pacyently for the loue of god many trybulacyons & temptacyons tyll they come by holy contemplacyon to be hyghest degre of loue of tho thre. By this I suppose he that hath grace to come to the fyrst may by goddes helpe come to the seconde / & so with a feruent desyre & good perseueraunce he may come to the thyrde. Shortely I wyll shewe here these degrees of loue / for [percase]10 all men and women that sholde rede this haue not knowynge of theym / ne neuer herde speke of suche degrees of loue before- ryme. ^f Degrees of hyghe loue. .1. ^[ The fyrste loue is so feruent that

no-thynge whiche is contrary to goddes wyll may ouercome that loue / welth ne wo, helthe ne sykenes ; Also he pat hath this loue wyl not make god ones angry n for all the worlde withonte ende / but rather suffre all the payne that myght come to ony creature than ones wylfully dysplease his god in thought or [in] dede. .11. ^ The seconde loue is more feruent, for pat12 is so stronge / that what man loueth in that degre, all his thought, herte & myght is so entyerly, so besely & so perfyghtly stablysshed in Ihesu cryste that his thought cometh neuer from hym

1 E askynge. 2 E loue. » E. deg. of loue. « om. 5 al. om. « E loue. ' E so it was. 8 des. or al. om. • al. stabyly. 1° E by cause. u al. wrabe god eny tyme for to haue alle be w. 12 E y* = bat? al. bat.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. 75

but [only] whan he slepeth. .in. ^f The thyrde degre of loue is hyghest and moost wonderfull / for what man cometh to that loue / all comforte and1 all solace is closed oute of his herte / but'2 onely the loye of Ihesu cryste / Other loye may his herte not receyue, for swetnesse that he hath of the loye euermore lastynge. This loue is so brennynge & so * gladynge that who so hath that loue may as well fele the fyer of brewnynge loue in his soule / as an other man may fele his fynger brenne in erthely fyre. This loue may well be called a brennynge loue. And yf men had suche swetnesse in the loue of god of so late tyme, I suppose wel pat pe same we may 3 haue now by the gyfte of god yf we were as feruent in loue as they were. But these degrees of loue ben set vpon so hyghe loue to god / that what man sholde haue the fyrst of these thre / behoued that he were a sad contemplatyf man or woman, And by cause mankynde is now & euermore the lenger the febler or perauewture* more vnstable / therfore vnethes sholde5 we fynde now a sad contemplatyfe man or woman. Men of relygyon haue taken dyuerse habytes of contemplatyf lyfe ; Men & womew also that ben enclosed, as it semeth lyuen a cowtemplatyfe lyfe / & so vfitA goddes grace they do 6 for the more partye : But for to speke of hyghe contemplatyfe lyfe as holy men lyued before this tyme, it semeth there ben ryght fewe. Therfore I trowe that * I may sykerly say that fewe there ben now that wyl or may trauayle now1 to haue suche hyghe degrees of loue as I haue reherced before. NeuerthelesT what so euer thou be that redest or herest this / be neuer [pe] 8 slower to trauayll. For yf thy desyre be sette feruently & lowly9, holdynge the vnworthy to haue so hyghe a ghoostly gyfte before an other man / & puttest thy desyre to goddes dysposycyon trustyngly 10, he wyll dyspose that is best for the / whether thou haste11 thy desyre or haue it not. But it is fyrst11 nedefull to pe that thou haue other thre degrees of loue that the same holy men wrote in theyr treatyse / whiche be not of so hyghe a degree as tho that be reherced before. .1. ^[ The

fyrst degree of these is / whaw a man or a womaw holdeth the commaundementes of god & kepeth hym-selfe ls out of dedely synne / & is stable in the fayth of holy chyrche. Also whan a maw wolde not for none erthely thynge dysplease14 god / but truly standeth in his degree whether he be religyous or seculer. In this maner euery man behoueth to loue his god that wyll be saued: / therfore I counseyll the to haue & kepe this loue or thou clymbe to ony hyer degree. .11. ^f The seconde degree is whan a man forsaketh all the worlde for the loue of god / that is for1 to saye his fader, his moder & all his kynred'5, & foloweth cryst in pouerte. Also studieth l6 nyght & daye / how clene he may be in herte, howe chaste in body / how meke & buxom / howe clene in all vertues / & hate all vyces / soo that all his lyfe be ghoostly & none thynge flesshely. .HI. ^[ The thyrde degree is hyghest / for that is a ful contemplatyfe lyfe, as whan a maw or a womaw loueth for1 to be alone from all maner noyse. And whan that he is saddely sette in this lyfe and in this loue , with his ghoostly eyen than may he se in to the blysse of heuen; And than his eyen be soo enlumyned and so clere lyghted with grace of ghoostly loue, and also thrugh-kyndeled17 with the gracyous fyre of crystes loue, that he shall haue a maner of brennynge loue in

1 al. om. 2 al. saue. * al. my^te. 4 al. percas. * al. schollen. • E do so. * al. NoJ>eles. 8 E to; al. ]>e lol>er. 9 E louyngly. 10 al. trustili. n al. haue. 12 al. first it is. is al. hym. M al. wraJ>J>e. u al. kyn. Is E standeth. i; al. his eyen J>an be so li^tned & kyndelid.

7 6 Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

his herte euermore lastynge, and his thought euermore vpwarde to god. «[ Thus as I haue reherced god hath vysyted his seruauntes, gyuynge theym a specyall sauour to loue hym by theyr holy lyuynge. Many other men and women there be whiche please god full well standynge truely in theyr degree as men & women of the worlde / both1 lordes & ladyes &1 other husbonde men women1 & wyues. For al be it they may not come to suche hye contewzplatyfe lyfe, it suffyseth [to] them to haue the fyrst degree of these thre whiche I reherced last / for that euery man is bounde to kepe. ^f ^f Yf thou desyre to haue an hygher degre of loue in to the worshyp of god / trauayle as other men dyde & aske helpe and grace with good perseuerauwce / yf it please god to 2 performe thy wyll & brynge the to thy purpose. But for as moche as there be many that haue not a sadde grounde ne but lytell felynge how they sholde loue and drede god / whiche is spederall & nedefull for all men to knowe : Therfore to suche as 3 be not knowynge I wyll shewe fyrste in what maner they sholde loue & drede god l / that they may be pe more stable in the lone of god. After that I shall shewe by the grace of god foure degrees of loue / whiche euery crysten man relygyous & seculer sholde holde and kepe, & may performe for the more partye yf his wyll be fer- uently set to the loue of god. ^f Now than as I sayd I shall in the begynnynge with the helpe of god wryte & shewe somwhat of the drede of god / that shal be to his worshyp, & proufyte to the reder.

C ^f What is drede / and how a man sholde drede god.

1 Rede that be drede of god is begynnynge of wysedom. *[ Drede, as clerkes haue wryten before this tyme, is in many maners. But I suppose thre ky«des of drede be« moost nedefull for to knowe. The fyrst is drede of man or drede of the worlde. The seconde is called drede of seruage. The thyrde is called a chaste4 drede or a frendely drede. .1. ^ 5The fyrst whiche is drede of man

or of the worlde is / whan a man or woman dredeth more the punysshynge of the worlde , as betynge the body 8 or prysonynge , than the punysshynge of the soule ; Also whan a man dredeth more to lese his temporall goodes in this pas- synge worlde than to lese the blysse without ende. / this drede is cou«ted for nought / for god almyghty forbad this drede whan he sayd thus: Dredeth hym not that may slee pe body / but rather drede hym that may sende the1 body & soule in to euerlastynge fyre. .11. ^[ And1 the seconde drede whiche is the1

drede of seruage / is whaw a man withdraweth hym or absteyneth hym fro synne / more for drede of the payne of helle thaw for loue that he sholde haue to god. Euery snche maw what goodnes he doth it is not for drede to lese euerlasrywge blysse whiche he desyred7 not / but for drede onely of suffrynge of1 grete paynes whiche he dreded8 sore, this drede suffyseth not as thou shalt see afterwarde / but yet it may be good & proufytable. .ni. ^[ The thyrde drede whiche is

called a chaste or a frendely drede is / whan a man dredeth the longe abydynge here for grete desyre that he hath to be with god; Also whan he dredeth that god wyll go fro hym / as peraduenture he l withdraweth his grace fro hym ; Also whan he dredeth to dysplease god for the grete loue & desyre pat he hath for to please god. / suche drede cometh of loue & that pleaseth moche god. Take

1 al. om. * al. he wole. » al. l>at. < E chasted. » H cites Magister Sent. li. 3 d. 38 de timore domini. * the body al. om. 7 al. desyref. 8 al. dredij).

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. 77

than hede how here be reherced thre maner l degrees of drede : / fle the fyrst for it is not proufytable. The seconde may be proufytable / for some men there be whiche drede god by cause they sholde not be sente into hell to brenne there with the deuyls in euerlastynge fyre. This drede may be good, for by this waye2 they may come in to the loue of our lorde god , as by this waye that I shall shewe. All be it that2 thou drede our lorde2 god onely for payne, yet louest thou not god whome p0u dredest / thou desyrest not yet goodnes of vertues / but thou withstandest be wyckednes of vyces / whaw thou withstandest the2 wyckednes thou begynnest to desyre goodnes. Whaw thou desyrest goodenes & verrues / than cometh in to the the thyrde maner of drede / whiche is called as I sayd a chast or a frendely drede. For than thou dredest to lese the goodnes & grace that god hath put in be / thou dredest than also to lese the blysse that is ordeyned for the / & so by this thou shalt drede god that he forsake not the / whan thou dredest god in this maner thenne hast thou hym sykerly with the / & so for his loue thou shalt desyre to be with hym. Thus mayst thou well knowe how drede of god may brynge the in to the loue of god / yf thou loue god than thou hast wysedom / so thus the drede of god is the begynnynge of wysedom. Take hede than and drede god in the maner as I haue reherced / for yf thou drede wel god thou shalt not be slowe in his seruyce. He that dredeth well god leueth no goodnes vndo whiche he may do to the pleasure8 of god. Yf thou drede god thou wilt kepe his commaundementes / and the drede that thou hast to god shall brynge the in to euerlastynge sykernes where p<?u shalt neuer drede. 4 Of the drede of god wexeth a5 grete deuocyon and a maner sorowe with full contryczon for [thy] synnes / thrugh that deuoc/on and contryczon thou forsakest thy synnes / and perauenture somwhat of thy worldely goodes. By that forsakynge thou lowest the to thy2 god & comest in to mekenes / thorugh mekenes thy flesshely lustes ben destroyed / by pat destrucc/on all vyces be put out & vanysshed 6 awaye /by puttynge out of vyces than2 vertues begyn to wexe and sprynge. Of the shynynge of vertues the clennes of the herte is purchased. By clennesse of thy herte thou shalte come to full possessyon of the holy loue of Cryst. By these wordes thou mayst knowe howe f>0u shalte drede for loue / & how thou mayst come to loue thrugh drede of god. But the more [pat] loue encreaceth in the / the more drede gooth from the / so that yf thou haue grace to come to a feruent loue thou shalt but lytell thynke on drede for the swetnesse that thou shalt haue in the loue of god. but yet be thou neuer so parfyte it is nedefull that thou drede discretely as longe as thou art in this worlde. [And] for as moche as I sayd thou mayst come to loue yf thou drede god / see now furthermore what is charyte & loue to god, How & in what maner thou shalt loue hym / why thou shalt loue hym, How f)0u shalt knowe whan god of his mercy grauwteth the that grace to conne loue hym.

D ^[ What is charyte and how & why thou shalt loue thy god. ^f Of foure degrees of loue / & in the fyrst ben fyue poyntes. ^f Ordeyned loue.

v^Haryte as I rede7 is a loue that we sholde haue to god / for as moche as he is almyghty god ; also charyte is a loue wherby we sholde loue our neygh-

1 al. maners; deg. om. * al. om. * al. pleasance. 4 H cites Cassiod. de instit. monach. lib. 3. * al. a heelful &. * al. waschen. " H o. m. : Magister sentent. li. 3°. d. 2. quid sit caritas.

-g Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

hour as our-selfe1 for god. And these be two prywcypall cowmauwdemewtes2 of god. The fyrst longeth to pe loue of god / whiche is pe gretest cowmaundement of pe lawe of god ; The seconde longeth to pe loue of thy neyghbour and this is lyke to the fyrst; / &3 thus thou hast what is charyte and loue. ^f See now how thou shalt loue god. / thou shalt loue god with all thy herte / all thy soule / & with all vertue, as thus. Whan p<m puttest away from the or withstandest with all thy power all thynge that is pleasynge or lykynge to thy flesshe for the loue of pe blessyd flesshe of cryste / than thou louest hym with al thy herte & al thy soule. Of this mater thou shalt her4 more afterwarde; / but8 se now ferther- more [why]5 thou shalt loue hyw. f The causes' why thou shalt loue god ben without nombre hauywge rewarde to his benefaytes / but two causes we haue pryncypally aboue other. One is for he loue[d] J vs fyrst with all his herte and al his soule swetely & strongely. Swetely whan he toke flesshe & blood & became maw for oure loue. Strongly whan he suffred deth for loue of man. The seconde cause is / for ther is no thynge that may be loued more ryghtfully8 ne more proufytable. More ryghtfull is there none than the loue of hym that made man and deyed for man. More proufytable thynge is there none that may be loued than almyghty god / for yf we loue hym as we be bounde / he wyll gyue vs loye and blysse without ende / where no thynge lacketh but all thynge is plen- teuous and euerlastywge. ^[ Se now how thou shalt knowe whaw god putteth grace in the for to knowe9 loue. Whan the trauayle whiche thou hast for the loue of god is lyght & lykynge to the / than thou begynnest to haue sauour in the loue of god. For ther is no maner trauayle greuous ne trauaylous to hym pat loueth god feruently & trauayleth wylfully for the loue of god. ^[ Also stedfast loue feleth no bytternesse / but all swetenesse / for ryght as bytternesse is syster to the vyce of hatred / right so swetnesse is syster to pe vertue of loue, so that in loue is all swetnesse. ^f Also the trauayle of louers maybe in no maner trauaylous 10 ne greuous. For ryght as hawkers & hunters what euer trauayle they haue it greueth them not for the loue & lykynge that they haue in theyr game / ryghth so what thynge it be that a man loueth & taketh vpon hym a trauayle for that thynge that he loueth11, [either]12 it is no trauayle [to hym] / [or elles]1* yf it be trauaylous it lyketh hym to haue trauayle for pat thynge whiche he loueth. Take than good hede of these wordes / for yf thou loue god thou wylt gladly trauayle & suffre for pe loue of god ; yf thy trauayle semeth than lyght to the / or ellys yf thou louest or desyrest gladly to haue trauayle for the loue of god thou mayst wel knowe that god of his grace hath put in the a begynnynge to come to loue14. Whan thou hast suche a gracyous begynnynge withdrawe not pat loue from hym for no maner dysease that may fall to the. For many men & women there be that whyle they be in prosperyte / that is to say / whyle they be in welth & in rest, gladly they wyll shewe loue to god suche as they can: But yf god sendeth hym1* ony 3 dysease or ony maner of chastysynge, anone her loue swageth ; & that is no sadde loue. For who so loueth trustyngly18 & sadly he loueth as well in his* ad- uersyte as in prosperyte / for what god sendeth to vs it is for our proufyte / therfore be it helth17 be it wo pat he sendeth we sholde hertely18 thanke hym &

1 as o. al. om. » al. hestis. » al. om. « al. se. » E how. « al. skyllys. * E loueth. 8 al. ri^tful. » al. kunne. »» al. chargeous. " al. for loue of bat bing. ™ E or elles. 3 E and. >« al. to kuwne loue. 1* r. them. »« al. trewely. ™ al. welfe. 18 al. h. & lowly.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. 79

not withdrawe our loue from hym; for no nede that he hath to our loue / but for grete profyte that we sholde haue to loue hym / & for his grete goodnes that he wyll chastyse vs here all for our better.

Thus than haue I shewed in fewe wordes what is charyte & loue to thy god / howe thou shalt loue hym / why thou shalt loue hym / and how thou shalt knowe whan thou hast grace to conne loue hym. Lerne than thus to loue ; l & se now ferther-more what proufyte and grace cometh of loue. *|[ In the loue of god ben fyue gracyous thynges: Fyre / lyght / hony / wyne / & sonne.

.1. 51 The fyrst is fyre, clensynge the soule of all maner vyces thrugh holy medytacyons. .11. ^f The seconde is lyght, shynynge in the soule with clerenes

of vertues thorugh holy prayers. .ill. 51 The thyrde is hony, makynge swete

the soule whan he hath in mynde the benefaytes & be grete gyftes of god almyghty / &2 yeldynge to hym thankynges. .nil. 51 The fourth is wyne,

fulfyllynge be soule with a grete gladnes thorough a swete contemplacyon. .v. ^f The fyfth is a sonne , makynge the soule clere with a shynynge lyght in myrthe withouten ende. & gladynge the soule with an easy hete in loye & blysse euermore lastywge. Thus thou mayst see what proufyte he shall haue that can well loue. God than of his grete grace graunte vs hyw so to loue as it is moost to hym pleasynge. Amen.

5J Now ferthermore I wyll shewe to the as I sayd before / foure degrees of loue, whiche thou mayst kepe & easely come to one after an other yf thou haue good wyll.

JT Oure degrees of loue there be / the fyrst is called an ordeyned loue or els ordynat loue / that is to saye a loue ordeyned to be knowew and kept of all maner men & women of euery degree in the worlde. To this degree of loue longen .v. poyntes to be kepte. The fyrst is thou shalt loue thy flesshe onely that it be susteyned. The .II. is that thou loue the worlde to no superfluyte. The .in. is that thou loue thy neyghbour for god. The .nil. is that thou loue thy frende for his good lyuynge. The .v. is to loue thyn enemye for the more mede of god.

E ^f The fyrst is that thou shalt loue thy flesshe onely that it be susteyned.

1 He fyrste poynte is as I sayd: thou shalt loue thy flesshe onely that it be susteyned, as thus. Thou shalt take mete & drynke, clothywge and al other thynge that is nedefull to thy body / in resonable maner, to kepe thy body in his estate, in comforte of thy soule, to trauayle & contynue in the seruyce of god / & not for to nourysshe thy flesshe in lust & lykynge with dyuerse [&] delycate metes & drynkes / for ther-of cometh foule stynkynge synne & many bodyly sykenes / namely whan ther is to moche excesse. This wytnesseth an holy clerke 3 & sayth / they that delyted4 them in lustes of the flesshe they haue ful often many dyseases in theyr flesshe. ^f Also as I rede5 a soule that is wonte to delytes8 of the flesshe gadreth togyder many fylthes and wyckednes7. Thou mayst also do no exces / for yf thou vse the to excesse / thou fallest in to the vyce of glotonye / whiche [as] thou knowest well is dedely synne. Of pat synne I rede thus8: / where be vyce

1 H on m. : Rabanus in quodam sermone. 2 al. om. 8 H o. m. Gregor. in quadam omelia. * al. delyten. * H o. m. lo. Cris. de reparacione lapsi. • al. delyces. 7 al. wrecchednes. 8 H o. m. Greg. li. 3 Mor.

go Early editions of R. Rollers works.

of glotony reygneth in ony man he leseth pe ghoostly strength yf he had ony before ; And but yf l the wombe of glotonye be swaged all his virtues ben cast downe. / therfore loue thy flesshe to [his] sustentacyon & not to delytes2 & to excesse / for here thou mayst well knowe & se that it is good & nedefull to flee delycacyes. But thou shalt vnderstande here bat I counseylle the not to forbere ony mete or drynke in specyall / for the vyce of delycacye is not in the mete / but in be lust that thou hast in mete ; / therfore sayth an holy clerke3 : Often we take deynte metes without blame / & somtyme other4 metes and comyn 'to euery man not without gylte of cowscyence. So thus it semeth wel whan we take ony mete for delyte more than for sustenauwce we offende god / therfore flee delytes 2 & lustes of mete & drynke and loue thy flesshe onely that it be susteyned / & than thou hast the fyrst poynte of this degree of loue.

F H The seconde is thou shalt loue the worlde to no superfluyte.

1 He seconde poynte is thou shalt loue the worlde to no superfluyte. As thus: Yf thou loue god thou shalt not desyre ne loue vanytees of the worlde / ne worldely goodes more than pe nedeth. Yf god hath ordeyned the to an hyghe degree in the worlde / as for to be a lorde or a lady / or for to haue ony soueraynte ghoostly or worldely / by reason reuerence must be done to the more than to an other man or woman. For after that the fyrst man Adam was in- obedyent to goddes cowmauwdement it was ordeyned by almyghty god that man sholde be subgect to maw; Also for as moche as pe people must [nedes] haue gouernauwce 5 / therfore it is reason to do reuerence to them that haue power & gouernauwce aboue other. But all be it pat ' p0u be grete & worldely worshyp must be do to the / loue it not ne desyre it not but mekely yelde all pat worshyp to god whiche myght haue made the a subget there he hath ordeyned the a lorde or a souerayne / & thrugh that lownes thou shalt haue some grace to withstande be desyre of worldely vanytees. I say[d]e ferthermore / yf thou loue the world to none superfluyte / p<m shalt not desyre ne loue worldely good more than the nedeth. As thus: thou knowest well ynough1 in thy begywnynge whether6 thou art lord or subgect / poore or ryche / holde the apayde with thy degree so that thou haue thy sustenaunce / & desyre to be no greter / but onely as goddes wyll is & as he wyll dyspose for the. Yf thou holde the not payde with that that 7 god hath sente to the and to thyn a resonable lyuelode / but euer desyrest for1 to be greter and greter in the worlde, than thou louest the worlde to super- fluyte for thou desyrest more than thou nedest, & soo by that foule desyre thou fallest in to the vyce of couetyse whiche is repreued by [al] goddes lawe as a foule dedely synne. This synne is full peryllous / for I rede where that the synne of couetyse is in a man, pat man is made subgect to all other vyces8. I fynde also that couetyse and pryde be as it were one vyce or one wyckednes / in so moche that yet1 where pryde reygneth there is couetyse / & where couetyse reygneth there is pryde. / this vyce is so wycked & so greuous [pat]9 as longe as it reygneth in ony man he shal haue no grace for to drawe to god-warde1. This wytnesseth well a full holy clerke saynt Gregorye & sayth thus in an Omelye : That in none other wyse we may ne can10 neuer come ne drawe to be begynner & maker of

1 al. om. * al. delyces.

* al. what. » al.

delyces. 3 H o. m. Greg. li. 30 Mor. * al. lob«r; r. lij>er? » al. gouernaile. '. wher, inst. of with that that. * al. yuelis. • E &. w ne can al. om.

Contemplations of the dread and love of god. 8 1

all goodnes / but that we caste awaye l frome vs the synne of couetyse whiche is rote of all euylles. Than it semeth well, yf thou wylt come to the loue of god thou must flee the synne of couetyse. ^f 2Thre thynges there be in the worlde as I rede whiche men desyre aboue all other worldely thywges. The fyrst is rychesse. The seconde is lustes. And be thyrde is worshyp. Of rychesse cometh wycked dedes. Of lustes cometh foule dedes. And of worshyp cometh vanytees. Ryches engewdreth 3 couetyse ; lustes noryssheth glotonye & lecherye / & worshyp noryssheth boost & pryde. Thus thou mayst knowe what peryll it is to loue the worlde. [Therfor yf thou wylt stande sikerly, loue not the worlde]4 more than nede is / & than thou shalt kepe the seconde poynte of this degree [of loue].

G U The thyrde is thou shalt loue thy neyghboure for god.

1 He thyrde poynte is howe ' thou shalt loue thy neyghboure for god / 5to this thou arte bounde by the cowmaundement of god where he cowzmaundeth & sayth / thou shalt loue thy neyghboure as thy-selfe ; / yf thou shalt loue hym as thy-selfe nedes thou must loue hym. / thou shalt loue hym also for god. Of this loue speketh saynt Austyn & sayth / thou shalt loue god for hym-selfe with all thy herte / & thy neyghboure for god as thy-selfe / that is to saye / loke where-to and for what thou louest thy-selfe so thou shalt loue thy neyghboure. Thou shalt loue thy-selfe in all goodnesse & for god / ryght so thou sha[l]t loue thy neyghboure for god & in all goodnes, but in none euyll. / therfore sayth the same clerke6: He that loneth men pat is to saye his neyghbours, he loueth or sholde loue them for they ben good & ryghtfull or els that they may be good & ryght- full / & that is to saye thou shalt7 loue them in god or els for god / & in this maner euery man sholde loue hymselfe. 8Also of the loue of thy neyghbour I rede, whan thou forsakest a synguler prouffyte for be loue of thy neyghbour thaw p0u louest thy neyghbour. 9Also thou louest thy neyghbour as thy-selfe whaw thou doost hym no harme but desyrest the same goodnes & prouffyte ghoostly & bodely to hym that p0u desyrest to thy-selfe. Loue thus thy neyghbour or10 els p0u louest not god. To this accordeth an holy clerke11 & sayth: By the loue of god the loue of thy neyghbour is purchased / & by foe loue of thy neyghbour the loue of god is nourysshed / for he pat taketh no hede to loue his neyghbour he can not loue his god. But whan thou hast fyrste sauour in [be] loue of thy neyghbour / than thou begynnest to entre in to be loue of god. Loue thus 1Z thy neyghbour for god & thaw thou kepest the thyrde poynte of this degree of loue.

H ^[ The fourth is thou shalt loue thy frende for his good lyuynge.

1 He fourth poynte is / thou shalt loue thy frende for his good lyuynge. Yf thou haue a frende that is of good lyuynge / thou shalt loue hyw in double maner / for he is thy frende, and for the goodnes that is in hym ; yf he be not good of lyfe but vycyous thou mayst loue hyzw but not his vyces. "For as I rede parfyte frendshyp is whan thou louest not in thy frende pat sholde not be loued / and whan thou louest in hym or desyrest to hy*» goodnes whiche is to be loued.

1 al. om. 2 Hlo. m. : Innocenc. de vtilitate cond. humane. * al. gendreth. * om., but so al. 5 H o. m. : August, de doctrina Christiana 1. i° cap". 4. 6 H o. m. : Aug. de trinitate li. i c°. 10. 7 al. he shal. 8 H o. m. : Hugo de substancia dilect. 9 H o. m. : Cass. super Ps. 133. 10 al. for. H H o. m. Greg, in quadam horn. 12 al. than. '* H o. m. : Aug. de uera religione.

n. 6

g. Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

As thus : though it be so pat thy frende lyueth ' folysshly ~ thou shalt not loue hym [for his] foly lyuynge but that3 he may by goddes grace amende hym and be parfyte in lyuynge. For what man it be bat loueth hymselfe in folye he shal not prouffyte in wysedom. Also the same clerke4 sayth in an other place: Loueth not the vyces of your fre«des yf ye loue your frendes. Loue than thy frende for his good lyuynge / & than thou shalt kepe the fourth poynte of this degree of loue.

I ^[ The fyfthe is thou shalt loue thyn ennemye for the more mede. ^f In the seconde degree of loue ben thre poyntes. ^f Clene loue.

5T

1 He fyfth poynte is thou shalt loue thyn ennemye for the more mede. A

grete dede of charyte it is & medeful to forgyue them pat haue trespaced ayenst vs, with all our herte. ^[ It is but lytell goodnes & full lesse mede to be wel wyllynge to hym that doth the no harme / but it is a grete goodnes & a greter6 mede that thou be well louynge to thyn ennemye, And pat thou do good & wyll good with all thy power to hym that doth euyll or is in wyll to do euyll to the with all his power. Of this mater speketh an holy clerke7 and sayth: It is holden a grete vertue amonge worldely men to suifre pacyently theyr ennemyes / but it is a greter vertue a man to loue his enemye / for that vertue is presented as for sacrefyce before the syght of almyghty god. Also to this purpose accordew the wordes of cryst where he sayd to his dyscyples : Loue your ennemyes / do good to theym that hate you / & praye for them pat pursyewe you to dysease / & for them pat despyse you, that [^]e* may be the chyldren of the fader in heue«. Loue than thyn enemye for pe more mede yf p0u wylt kepe pe fyfth poynt of this fyrst degree of loue. — ^f Shortly thus ben declared to the the fyue poyntes of pe fyrst degree of loue. In the fyrste , yf thou take good hede, thou art warned and counseyled for the loue of god / and as thou art bounde by all crysten lawes / to withstande the synne of glotonye & al other flesshely lustes. In the seconde poynte to withstande pe foule vyce of couetyse, pryde & all other vanytees of the worlde. In the thre last poyntes to loue thy neyghbour, thy frende & all other men for the loue of god and for the more mede. Loue than god in this fyrst maner of loue / and thou shalt thrugh his grete grace yf thou wylt come to the seconde degree of loue.

JL He seconde degree of loue is called a clene loue. Yf thou wylt come to this seconde degre of loue thou must kepe thre poyntes. The fyrste is / pat thou loue no vyce with vertue. The seconde is pat thou despyse all euyll custome. The thyrde is that thou sette not lytell ' by synne whether it be lytell or grete.

K ^f The fyrste poynte is thou shalt loue no vyce with vertue.

1 He fyrst poynte is / thou shalt loue no vyce w/tA vertue. As thus: what euer thou be in mannes syght / be ware that thou be not vycyous Inwarde in thy soule vnder colour of vertues whiche pou shewest openly. Our ghoostly ennemye pe fende hath many subtyltees to dysceyne mankynde , But amonge all this10 is a grete dysceyte / whaw that he maketh a vyce lyke to vertue, & vertue

1 al. lyue. 2 E so f.; al. folili(che). 3 al.\for. 4 H o. m. : Aug. in quodam sermone. H o. m. : Aug. in enchirid. « al. grete. 1 H : Greg, in past. 8 E we. 9 al. ly^t.

w E this it.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. 83

lyke to vyce. This thou mayst see by ensample. For all be it that mercy is a grete vertue where pat it is kepte "in pe worshyp & in pe name of god, yet it is vycyous where it is do in worshyp 2 of man & not of god. Also [the] * vertue of ryghtwysnes is tourned in to vyce 4 / whan it is do for worldely couetyse or els for anger or inpacyence. The vyce also of pryde is hyd somtyme vnder mekenesse , As whan a man loweth & meketh hymself in speche and in berynge to be holde meke & lowely. Pacyence also semeth in many a man whan there is none : As whan a man wolde take vengeaunce yf he myght for the wronge that is do to hym / but for he may not / or els he hath no tyme to wreke hym on his enemye / for that cause he suffreth, & not for the loue of god. By these ensamples & many other thou mayst well knowe that vyces somtyme be lyke to vertues. To this accordeth saynt Iherom* & sayth thus: A grete & an hyghe connynge it is to knowe vyces & vertues, for all be it that vyces & vertues be cowtraryous / yet they be so lyke that vnnethe the vertue may be knowe from the vyce / ne pe vyce fro the vertue. Be ware therfore & loue so sadly vertues without ony faynynge that p#u hate all maner vyces / and so f>0u mayst kepe the fyrst poynte of this degree of loue.

L ^f The seconde is pou shalt hate all euyll customes6.

JL He seconde poynt is thou shalt despyse all euyl customes6. 7A grete peryll it is to haue an euyll dede in custome. For as I rede / synnes be they neuer so grete ne so horryble / whan they be drawe in to custome they seme but lytell to theym that vse suche synne in custome / in so moche that it is to them a grete lykywge to tell and shewe theyr wyckednes to al other men without ony shame. Of this & suche8 vsage speketh an other holy clerke9 & sayth: Whan synne cometh so in vse that the herte hath a lust & a lykynge ther-in / that synne shall ful fayntly be withstande. For whan a synne is brought in to custome it byndeth sore the herte & maketh the soule bowe to hym, that it may not ryse agayne & come in to the ryght waye of clene lyfe ; For whan he is in wyll to ryse / anone he slydeth & falleth agayne. For this sayth the same clerke" in an other place : Many there be pat desyren to come out of synne / but for as moche as they ben closed in the pryson of euyll custome they may not come out from theyr wycked lyuynge. ^f Also to this purpose I rede11 that he pat vseth hyw not to vertue[s] in his yonge age he shal not conne withstande vyces in his olde age. Thus p<m mayst well se pat yf thou be vsed in ony synne it wyll be full harde to wz'tfcstande it. And but thou leue all maner synne to thy power p0u hast none clene loue to thy god / therfore withstande all maner synne & take none in custome / thaw p0u shalt kepe the seconde poynt of this degree of loue.

M ^[ The thyrde is thou shalt not sette lyght by synne be it neuer so lytell. ^f In the thyrde degree of loue be fyue poyntes. ^f Stedfast loue.

1 He thyrde poynte is / thou shalt not sette lyght by synne / as thus. What euer synne it be lytel or grete / drede12 it ryght dyscretly in thy cowscyence and

1 E & in. 2 al. plesaunce. 3 E where. « E vices. * H o. m. : leron. ad Demetriadem. ' al. custome. 7 H o. m. : Aug. in ench. 62 c°. 8 al. H Of which yuele v. 9 H o. m. : Greg. li. 4 Mor. »• H: Greg. li. 5 Mor. » H : Maximusjn quodam sermone. " al. charge.

6*

g. Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

set not lytell there-by. For as I rede1 what man bat2 passeth mesure in takynge of his lyuelode as often more than hym nedeth that maw offendeth god / this semeth to many men full lytell trespas: But this holy man* saynt Austyn sayth : It is no lytell synne for as moche as we trespas euery daye there-in for the more partye ; In as moche as we synne therin euery day we synne therin often / & by that we multeplye our sywnes & that is full peryllous / therfore it is full nedeful to drede al suche venyall synnes & sette not lytell by theym. Also venyall synnes be they neuer so lytell / they be moche to be dradde. As the same clerke1 sheweth by ensample of lytell bestes where they be many to-gyder / be they neuer so lytell yet they slee & do moche harme ; Also pe granes of sande be full lytell / but yet where a shyp is ouer-charged with sande it must nedes synke or drenche. Ryght so it fareth by the2 synnes; be they neuer so lytell they be full peryllous. For but yf 2 a maw be [pe] rather ware & put theym awaye they shall make hym forto2 synne deedly. Therfore yf thou wylt haue a clene loue to god / charge in thy conscyence euery synne lytell & grete & withstand in the begynnynge & put it out as soone as god wyll gyue to * the grace, with contrycyon, confessyon & som almesdedes4. And than thou shalt kepe the thyrde poynte of this degree of loue. — Here is reherced the mater of these poyntes. ^f Thus ben declared the thre poyntes of the seconde degre of loue. In the fyrste thou art counseyled to loue all vertues and hate all vyces. In the seconde poynte, that thou haue no synne in vsage but that thou voyde it soone & that thou hate all other euyll custome. In pe thyrde poynt that thou [be] 5 not to lyght of conscyewce / but that thou be ware & drede euery synne lytell & grete by counseyl of thy confessour. Yf thou kepe thus these poyntes for the loue of god than thou louest god in the seconde degree of loue / that is to saye in a clene loue. Loue than saddely in this degree / & by goddes grace thou shalt the soner come to the thyrde degree of loue.

1 He thyrde degree of loue is called a stedfast loue. Yf thou wylt come to this degre of loue f)0u must kepe fyue poyntes. The fyrste is thou shalt loue god with all thy desyre. The secowde is: what euer thou do thynke vpon the worshyp & drede of god. The thyrde is thou shalt do no synne vpon trust of other good dedes. The fourth is thou shalt rule the so dyscretly pat thou fayle not for [to]6 feruent wyll. The fyfth is that thou fall not from thy good lyuynge for feynte herte or7 by temptacyon.

N ^f The fyrste is thou shalt loue god with all thy desyre.

1 He fyrste poynt is thou shalt loue god with all thy desyre / thou mayst not loue stedfastly but thou loue with all thy desyre. An holy desyre it is to desyre the presence of almyghty god for the grete loue that thou haste to god. * Suche an holy desyre is soo acceptable to god as I rede / that what man hathe a grete desyre, all be it he speke not with the tonge / he cryeth full loude with the tonge of9 his herte ; And [he] that not desyreth, how euer he loueth to our syght out- warde / or speketh to our herynge, he loueth not in his hert & as a dombe man he is to-fore god whiche may not be herde. Of suche holy desyre I rede I0 also,

i H o. m, : Aug. de .x. cordis. 2 al. om. 3 al. clerk. « al. dedes of almes. * E art. • E noo. ' al. ne. 8 H o. m. : Aug. super Ps. 86. 9 the t. of al. om. >• H o. m.: Ambros. super Ps. Beati immaculati.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. 85

the lenger that loue lacketh whiche is so sore desyred be more feruent is his desyre whiche abydeth, & that desyre begywneth to brenne thorugh strength of bat desyrynge loue / in so moche that though the body or the flesshe fayle bat desyre is nourysshed & encreaced. To this accordeth saynt Gregorye l & sayth / holy desyres wexen & encreasen in taryenge & abydywge / for where desyres fayle in abydynge there is no sad desyre. Thus than loue god stedfastly with all thy desyre / & so thou shalt kepe the fyrste poynte of this degree of loue.

O ^f The seconde is thou shalt in the begynnynge of thy werkes thynke on the worshyp & drede of god.

1 He seconde poynte is : what euer thou do thynke vpon the worshyp & drede of god. If thou kepe this thou shalt the more sykerly2 lyue to goddes pleasure3. For what dede thou art * in wyll to perfourme in worshyp of god, thou mayst be syker of grete mede. Also yf thou drede god, thou art aferde* for6 to do ony thynge that sholde be dyspleasynge to hym / & for as moche as p0u dredest thou doost it not ; Soo by that drede thou leuest that thynge vndo whiche shold tourne the in to grete peryll of thy* soule yf it had ben perfourmed in dede. By this thou mayst wel knowe that it is full spedfull to thynke in be begynnynge of all thy werkes vpon the worshyp & drede of god. To this accordeth the techynge of saynt Paule 7 where he sayth thus : What euer ye do in worde or in dede / do it in the name of our lorde Ihesu cryst. For8 he that begynneth all thynge in be name of almyghty ' god he begynneth in the worshyp of god. Loue thaw so stedfastly almyghty god / that what euer thou shalt do thynke fyrst in be worshyp & drede of god / & thus thou shalt kepe the seconde poynte of this degree of loue.

P f The thyrde is thou shalt do no sywne vpon8 trust of other good dedes.

1 He thyrde poynt is thou shalt do no synne vpon trust of other good dedes. What man that synneth wylfully he neyther loueth ne dredeth god. Yf thou synne vpon8 trust of ony goodnes wylfully thou synnest, so in pat p0u louest not stedfastly. f To this purpose I rede also9 that he is full vnkynde that is full of vertues & dredeth not god. Also a grete folye & a grete pryde it is for 8 to synne vpon8 trust of ony good dedes. For be thou neuer so full of vertues or goodnes / vnkyndnes to thy god may destroye all tho vertues. More vnkyndenes mayst thou not shewe thaw dysplease god wylfully / whiche is begynner and gyuer of all goodnes; be ware therfore & flee suche vnkyndnes / & do no synne vpon* trust of other good dedes. Of suche vnkyndenesse also it is nedefull for* to be ware for the more acceptable [that] thou art to god thorugh thy good lyuynge / be more culpable shalt thou be yf that6 thou fall agayne in to synne and in to euyll lyuynge. ^[ And6 of this thou hast ensample of Adam. For as moche as he was fulfylled fyrst with goodnes / therfore6 his trespas was moche the more whan that6 he fell in to synne. «f Also I rede 10 bat it is but6 a sclyder hope where a man synneth

vpott trust for* to be saued / for he that so doth he neyther loueth ne dredeth god, And but yf that11 we loue and drede god to our connynge or knowynge1* we

1 H Greg. Omel. 23. 2 al. muche {>e sikerer. * al. plesauns. 4 al. be. * al. agast. e al. om. i H o. m. : Col. 3. » al. vp. » H o. m. : De pe . di. 5. 10 H o. m. : Aug. de singularitate clericorum. »> yf that al. om. »* or kn. al. om.

g5 Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

may not be saued / therfore it is more spedefull for1 to drede well than to trust amys. Also it is more prouffytable a man to holde hymselfe lowe & feble than to1 desyre to be holden stronge / and for feblenes to i fal and be lost. Take hede than what goodnes that l god putteth in the and thanke hym mekely & praye hym of contynuaunce / & doo no synne vp trust of other good dedes. And thus thou shalt kepe the thyrde poynte of this degree of loue.

Q ^f The fourth is thou shalt rule the dyscretly that thou fayle not for [to]2 feruent wyll.

1 He fourth poynt is thou shalt rule the so dyscretly that thou fayle not [for] to feruent wyll. To kepe this it is nedefull to1 the to haue the vertue of dis- crecyon ; as thus : Yf thou take for be loue of god so moche abstynence, wakynge or other bodely penaunce pat thou mayst not for feblenes contynue to trauayle in be seruyce of god / than is thy wyll to feruent: For be thy loue neuer so grete god is not pleased whan p0u rulest pe in suche maner that thou mayst not abyde in his seruyce thrugh thy mysrule. Therfore be ware and rule the vp reason / take nomore vpon the than thou mayst bere / besy not the to folow other stronge men or women of olde tyme in doynge of1 penauwce other wyse thaw thy strength wyl aske ; And gouerne thy lyuynge by good counseyll that thou fayle not thrugh thyn owne folye. For almyghty god of his endeles mercy hath ordeyned heuens blysse to the l synfull men thrugh dedes of charyte & of mekenes where they be done in mesure and with dyscrecyon, The deuyll is so enuyous to mankynde that somtyme he styreth an vnparfyte man or woman to fast more than he may, [to] begynne thynges of hyghe parfeccyons hauynge no rewarde to his feblenesse / in soo moche that whan his bodely strength begynneth to fayle, eyther he must cowtynue that he hath begonne so folysly for shame of men / or ellys3 vtterly leue all4 for feblenesse. To this accordeth saynt Austyn5 and sayth : Our wycked ennemye the deuyll hath not a more spedefull engyn6 to drawe the loue of god from mannes 7 herte / than to [m]ake 8 vs by his fals suggestyon to l[y]ue B vnwysely & without reason / that is to saye as I sayd before : To styre vs for to take fastynges, wakynges and other bodely penauwces ouer our myght. Take therfore to the dyscrecyon & rule the so dyscretly that thou fayle not for to feruent wyll / and than thou mayst kepe the fourth poynte of this degre of loue.

R ^[ The fyfthe is thou shalt not leue thy good lyuywge for feynte [herte] ne for temptacyon.

1 He fyfthe poynte is / thou shalt not fall fro thy good lyuynge for feynte herte ne for temptacyon. To kepe well this poynt it is nedefull to haue a perseueraunt wyll & a stable hert ayenst all temptacyons. Some men there be whan ony heuynesse bodely or ghoostly or whan that ony grutchynge of the flessh cometh to theym / anone they ben so heuy & so full of vnlust10 that they leue theyr ghoostly trauayle & fal fro theyr good lyuy[w]ge / suche men haue no stable ne stedfast herte. Therfore yf thou wylt loue god stedfastly suffre no ^heuynes ne dysease "chaunge thy trauayle ne thy herte fro th[e]12 seruyce and loue of god / but take hede of the wordes of almyghty god where he sayth : He is blessyd that is perseuerauwt vnto

1 at. om. 2 Ms. none. * al. add : faile &. « al. all of. » H o. m. : Aug. in quadam ep*. « al. gyn. ' al. oure. * E take. » E loue. »« al. vnlusti. n E ne chaunge. 12 E thy.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. 8?

his lyues ende. Here-of thou hast ensamples l of holy martyrs & cowfessours whiche neuer wolde be departed fro the loue of god for all the persecucyon that myght be do to them. Also to suche men of feble herte & vnlust speketh saywt Bernarde 2 and sayth thus : Whan thou art vnlusty or dyseased with heuynesse / haue none vntrust therfore ne* leue not thy trauayle / but suffre mekely & aske confcrte of hym that is begynner & ender of all goodnes. And all be it that4 thou haue not suche deuocyon than as in other tymes / thynke well how he that gafe pe suche deuocyon hath withdrawen it for thy defautes as for a tyme / & happely to th[i]s more mede / therfore w/t^stande all suche heuynes and stande strongely / suffre lowely / & 4 take gladly the chastysynge of god / & euermore aske helpe & grace. ^[ Ferthermore some for defaute of knowynge * & for vnstablenes haue fall thorough trauayle of temptacyons / therfore whan thou art soo trauayled with ony temptacyons that shold be lettynge / or els is dredefull to the / chaunge not therfore thy wyll / but stande stedfastly ' & shewe thy dysease to thy ghoostly fader, askynge of hym to gyue the suche couwseyll that may be moost helpynge to thy soule. Yf thou do thus mekely with a ful good4 wyll to please thy god & to withstande the temptacyons of thyn enemye, the grace of the holy ghoost wyll fully4 fulfyll bothe hym & the / hym for to teche / the for to lerne / & take of hym suche counseyll that shall be moost strength & conforte to the & confusyon to the deuyl. And so by the helpe of god thou shalt be conforted in suche maner that p0u shalt not fall thorough trauayle of temptacyons / but euer the lenger the more stable and the4 more stronge [be] in the loue of god to thy lyues ende. Thus than take hede that thou fall not from thy good lyuywge for feynte herte ne by temptacyons / and than thou mayst kepe the fyfth poynte of this degree of loue. — ^f Here is shortly declared the mater of these fyue poyntes. ^f Thus be declared the fyue poyntes of the thyrde degree of loue. In the fyrste thou art taught to loue god -with full desyre. In the seconde for to do all thynge in be worshyp of almyghty4 god / and euer for4 to drede god in the begynnynge of all thy werkes. In the thyrde fully to withstande all maner synne / and no synne for4 to do vpow trust of other good dedes. In the fourth that thou fall not for defaute of dyscrecyon. In the fyfth thou art taught & counseylled for4 to haue a stable herte and for4 to withstande all temptacyons that thou fall not from thy good lyuynge. Yf p0u kepe thus these fyue poyntes than thou hast the thyrde degree of loue / whiche is called a stedfast loue to god. And yf thou loue god stedfastly thou mayst soone come to p^rfeccyon / and so by8 the grace of god thorugh encreace of vertues thou shalt lyghtly come to 9 the fourth degree of loue.

^f In the fourth degree of loue ben .vni. poyntes.

f Parfyte loue.

S ^f How by encreace of vertues thou mayste come to parfeccyon.

JL He fourth degree of loue is called a parfyte loue. An other loue there is all be it I make noo mencyon but of foure / whiche is called moost parfyte loue. Of that loue speketh saynt Austyn10 & sayth: Charyte is parfyte in some men & inparfyte in some men, But pat charyte that is moost parfyte may not be had

i al. ensample. 2 H o. m.: Bern, in quodam sermone. 3 al. &. 4 al. om. » E the. * al, kunninge. ' al. sadliche. 8 a/, with. 9 al. haue. l° H o. m. Aug. ad ler. de pe. d. 2.

gg Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

here whyle we lyue in this worlde. Of the same1 moost parfyte loue speketh the same clerke thus: In the fulfyllynge of the countre of charyte / that is to saye / in fulfyllynge of heuen where that all is loue and charyte, This commaundement of god shall be fulfylled where he sayth / fou shalt loue thy lorde god with al thy herte / with all thy mynde / and with all thy soule ; For whyle ony flesshely desyre is in man god may not be loued with all the herte and full mynde. And by this thou mayst knowe that there is a passynge loue whiche may not be fulfylled in this worlde / and that may well be called moost parfyte loue. But here perauenture2 some man wyll aske / why it is commaunde[d] 3 / but it myght be performed in this worlde4? To that the same clerke answereth and sayth / that it is skylfull that suche a perfeccyon sholde5 be commaunded / and5 this he sheweth by ensample in this wyse. Ryght as no man may renne euen and sykerly but he knowe whether he shall renne, In the same maner noo man sholde knowe [t]his moost parfyte loue / but it hadde be shewed in the commaundementes of god; Yf noo man hadde knowen it no man wolde haue laboured8 hym to come therto. ^f Now sythen it is so we knowe [well that we so must loue, it is nedeful we] 7 sette vs in a redy 8 waye , whyle we be here , that wyll brynge vs euen to that moost parfyte loue. A more syker waye is there none in this worlde than the waye of parfyte loue. Wherfore I counsell the to haue this fourth degree of loue whiche is called a parfyte loue, that [thou]9 may come the more sykerly to [be most] parfyte loue. ^f Of parfyte loue speketh Saynt

Austyn 10 and sayth : He that is redy to deye gladly for his brother, in hym is parfyte loue. To this acordeth the wordes of Cryste where he sayth : No man hath more charyte in this worlde than he that putteth his soule for his frendes / that is to saye than he that gyueth gladly his lyfe for the loue of god to wynne his frendes soule. This loue is the gretest loue in this worlde / & many there be, I trowe, thrugh the gyfte of god that haue this parfyte loue ; but yf it thynke the harde to come to suche an hyghe loue / be therfore not agast. For other parfyte loue there is wherin thou mayst loue parfytly thy god / as I fynde by the techynge of an holy clerke11 where he couwseylleth in this wyse: f Yelde we vs to god of whome we be made / and suffre we not theym to 5 haue the5 maystrye ouer vs whiche ben not of so grete value as we be / but rather haue we pe maystrye ouer theym ; As thus / lete reason haue the maystrye ouer vyces / lete the body be subgect to the soule and lete the soule be subgect to god / & than is all be parfeccyon of man fulfylled. Thus we sholde lyue by reason as be same clerke sheweth by ensample. / For as we put lyuely thywges before them pat be not lyuely, Also as we put wytty thywges before them that haue no wytte ne reason, Also ryght as we putte tho that ben not dedely before theym that ben deedly / ryght so yf we wyl lyue parfytly we must putte proufytable thynges before theym that ben lusty and lykynge, Also put them that ben honest before theym that ben proufytable, Also putte theym that ben holy before them that ben honest, And put all thynges that ben parfyte before them that ben holy. Take hede thaw of this / for yf thou wylt lyue after this techynge thaw5 thou mayst lyue parfytely / yf thou lyue parfytely pou sha[l]t loue parfytely ; lyue than thus & thou

i al. this. 2 al. percas. 3 £ commaundeth. * al. here. & al. om. 6 al. bysyed.

g E it well that it is moost parfyte loue, we must nedeful loue it and &c. 8 al. in such a syker.

E we. 10 H o. m. : Aug. super epist. loh. " H o. m. : Prosper li. 3 de vita contemplatiua.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. 80

shalt come to parfyte loue. But for as moche as it is full harde to come

1 sodaynly to suche a parfyte loue 2 / therfore take hede to tho thre degrees of loue whiche ben reherced before / & begynne to lyue sadly in the fyrste / & than from pe fyrst clymbe vp to the seconde / & fro the seconde to the thyrde / & yf thou be sadly stabled vpon the thyrde thou shalt lyghtely come to foe fourth where is all perfeccyon / yf thou haue perfeccyon thou shalt l[o]ue3 perfytely. Begyn thaw at the fyrst degree of loue / & so encreace in loue & vertues yf thou wylt come to this degree of parfyte loue. ^f I rede4 that some men begywne to be vertuous / som encreace in vertues / and some be parfyte in vertues. Ryght so it fareth by the loue of god; as soone as thou art in wyll & begywnest to loue god / that loue is not yet parfyte but thou must stande fast & nourysshe pat wyll / & yf it be well nourysshed it wyll wexe stronge / & yf it hath full strength than it is parfyte. ^f To this purpose I rede4 also that no maw may be sodaynly in so s hyghe a degree / but euery man that lyueth in good cowuersacion / whiche may not be without loue / they* must begywne at the lowest degree yf they7 wyll come to an hyghe parfeccyon. Thus thaw, good brother or syster whether thou be, withstawde all vyces / and gadre to the vertues for the loue of god, and encreace in them tyll they ben parfytely stabled in the. And amonge all vertues loke that8 thou haue a feruent wyll / be8 besye [in]9 deuout prayers / stande strongely ayenst temptacyons / be pacyent in trybulacyons / & stable in per- seuerauwce10, that thou lyue parfytely & so come to parfyte loue. Take none hede of them that set lytell by parfeccyon / as of them that saye pat8 they kepe not to be parfyte / it suffyseth to them to be lest in heuen / or come within the yates of heuen ; these be many mennes wordes & they be peryllous wordes. For I warne pe forsothe what man hath not parfyte loue here he shall be purged wz'tA paynes of purgatorye / or ellys with dedes of mercy performed for hym in this worlde / and so be made parfyte / or he come to heuen blysse / for thyder may noman come but he be parfyte. Beware therfore of suche lyght & foly wordes, & trust more to thyn owne good dedes whyle f)0u art in this worlde than to thy frendes whan thou art deed. / Thynke also this lyfe is but short, pe paynefs] of purgatory passe all the paynes of the world, the paynes of hell is euerlastynge / & the loye & blysse of sayntes is euermore durynge. Thynke also ryght as god is full of mercy & pyte, ryght so he is ryghtfull in his domes. Yf thou wylt thynke on these wordes ofte, I trust to the mercy of god thou shalt waxe [so] stronge in vertues & withstande so vyces p«t within a short tyme thou shalt come to a parfyte loue. Whaw god hath so vysyted the that thou can loue hym parfytely than shal all thy wyll & all thy desyre be for to come to pat loue whiche is moost parfyte / that is to saye euermore to se almyghty god in his gloryous godhede, euermore with hym to dwelle. But for as moche as we may not come to our desyre / but we begynne somwhat to loue hym here in this lyfe : Therfore almyghty god mercyfull thorugh the besechynge of his blessyd moder Marye grauwte vs grace so to loue hym here / pat we may come to the loyfull & euer- lastynge lyfe / where is moost parfyte loue, & blysse without ende. Amew. ^[ Here is reherced shortly how by encreace of vertues thou mayst come to parfeccyon & what vertues thou shalt loue.

1 E so s. * al. l-'uinge. 3 E lyue. 4 H o. m. : De pe. de. 2. h. quo. * al. a.

• al. om. 1 al. he. 8 E to be. • E & d. in p. w E perseuerau«t.

go Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

IN this fourth degree of loue / whiche is called a parfyte loue / thou art taught and couwseylled to begynne at a lowe degree yf pou desyre to haue an hygh degree, as thus: Yf thou wylt haue this fourth degree of loue thou must begynne at the fyrst, & so encreace in vertues tyll thou come to parfeccyon. But amonge all vertues & al other poyntes whiche ben reherced before / fyue poyntes there be as me thynketh spedefull & nedefull euery man to haue & kepe pat ony good dede shall begynne & brynge to good ende. The fyrste is pat thou haue a feruent wyll. The seconde is that thon be besy in deuoute prayers. The thyrde is pat thou fyght strongely ayenst all temptacyons. The fourth is that thou be pacyent in trybulacyons. The fyfth is that thou l be perseuerauwt in good dedes. Of these poyntes I spake before in the fourth degree of loue / but for as moche as they be not there fully declared / my wyll is by be helpe of god to wryte more opewly of eche of them one after an other / & fyrst to wryte of good wyll, for pat must be begynnynge & endynge of all good dedes.

T ^[ How good wyll is and may be in dyuerse maners.

W Yll may be [& is] in dyuerse maners / 2good and euyll / besy & feruent / grete & stronge / but for as moche as reaso« whiche god hath gyue onely to mawkynde techeth & sheweth in euery mawnes conscyence full knowywge of euyll wyll / & by cause bat3 good wyll may be in dyuerse kyndes / therfore I leue at this tyme to speke of euyl wyl / & purpose me fully thrugh pe techy wge of almyghty god to declare somwhat opewly pe vertue of good wyll. I trow wel4 pat euery ma» wold 5 be good or wolde 5 do some good dede be he neuer so sywful & p^rauewture not chargeth gretly to be good ne besyeth hym to do good dede. But for as moche as he wolde' good I may not saye but [pat] he hath a good wyll. So [pat] euery man that wyll well be it strongly or feyntly / lytell or grete 7 / * in as moche as he wolde* good he hath a good wyll. Neuertheles though this be a good wyll it is worthy lytell or no mede / for it is no feruent ne besy wyll, for he desyreth8 to be good without ony" trauayle / & so he suffreth that good wyl passe & chargeth not gretly to be good ne to do good dede. But what ryme he besyeth hym to perfonne that good wyll in dede / in that he desyreth 6 to be good & besyeth hym to do good though he haue not fully his purpose ne may not perfonne his wyll in dede / yet there is a feruent wyll & a besy wyll & [as] I hope a medeful wyll1. So that what maw desyreth6 to be good & to do good dede, & therto besyeth hym to perfonne that wyll in dede, of hym it may wel be sayd that he hath a feruent wyll. Yet is pat wyll but lytell acounted & feble hauynge rewarde to a grete & stronge wyll. But what tyme thou hast performed in dede that thou hast so feruently wyllefd]10, thaw thou hast a grete & a stronge wyll / so that of euery man that is in wyll to be good or to do good dedes, whan he performeth that wyll in dede it may be sayd sothly of hym pat he is a man of a grete and a stronge wyl. To this acordeth saynt Austyn11 & sayth thus: He that wyl do the cowmauwdementes of god & sayth he may not he12 hath a good wyll / [but] that wyll is but lytell & feble / for he may do & kepe the cow- maundementes whan he hath a grete & a stronge wyll. As who sayth what man hath a grete & a stronge wyll may kepe the cowmaundementes of god / and but

1 E Jwm thou. 2 E & is g. * al. om. * al. I may wel trowe. 5 al. willej) to. • al. willej). i al. muche. • E and in . . » al. ony more. i« E wylleth. » H o. m. : Aug. de hbero arbitrio, & ponitur in decre.de pe. d. 2. hinc &. 1* E but he.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. g i

he kepe them he hath no grete ne stronge wyll. Yf thou wylt thou mayst kepe the commaundementes of god / yf thou kepe them thou shalt be good & do good / so yf thou wylt p<m mayst do good & be good. But yet somtyme & ofte it falleth that by the grace of the holy ghoost we wyl do somwhat witA si our herte to the worshyp of god that is not in our myght ne power to performe in dede ; whan our wyll is sette in this maner the goodnes of god is so moche that he receyueth that wyll as for dede. Of this saywt Austyn1 bereth wytnes & sayth : What thou wylt & mayst not do,2 god acouwteth for dede. Thus mayst

thou knowe with-in thy-selfe whan thou hast a lytell or a feble wyl / a grete or a stronge wyll / & how acceptable a good wyll is to almyghty god where thou doost thy besynes to performe it in dede. But se now more openly &2 in specyal poyntes how thou shalt knowe whaw thou hast a good wyl. Saynt Gregory sayth3 : We haue a good wyl whaw we drede the harme of our neyghboure as our owne dysease / & whaw we be loyfull of the prosperyte of our neyghboure as of our owne proufyte. Also whan we trowe other mennes harmes [our harmes] as by waye of cowpassyon / & whan we acounten other mennes wynnynges our wynnynges as by waye of charyte. Also whaw we loue our frende not for the worlde but for god / & whaw we loue & suffre our enemye for the loue of god. Also whan we do to no man that we wolde that no maw dyde to vs4. Also whan we helpe our neyghboure to our power and in wyll somwhat ouer our power. These poyntes stande moche by the 2 wyll withoute dede / but who so wylleth these fully in his herte to be do hath a good wyll, And as I sayd before his good wyll shall be acounted before god as for dede. Thus than haue I shewed whiche is good & feruent wyll though it be not performed in dede / whiche is a grete and a stronge wyll s / and how good wyll in some poyntes is acouwted for dede before god all be it that it be not performed / so that the wyller do his besynes to his power. ^f Take hede now ferthermore and be ware for though thou haue all these maners of good wyll to thy felynge / it may be so that yet thy wyll is not rygtfull / se how. Be thou neuer so full of wertues : but thou conforme thy wyll to goddes wyll in all maner thynges bodely and ghoostly thy wyll is not ryghtfull. To this purpose saynt Austyn' sayth thus: The ryghtwysnes of god is that thou be somtyme hole of body & somtyme syke / and perauenture whan thou art hole and in prosperyte / than the wyll of god pleaseth the moche and thou 2 sayst that he is a good god and a curteys ; yf thou say so or thynke so onely for thou hast helth or welth of body / thou hast no ryghtful wyl for as moche as thou conformest not thy wyll to goddes wyll / but onely in helth and welth. For yf he sente the sykenesse or other dysease / perauenture thou woldest be sory and grutch ayenst the wyll and the sendynge7 of god / & soo in thy wyll thou woldest make the wyll of god / the2 whiche may not be but euermore ryght and euen, bowe downe to thy wyll / whiche boweth and is full crocked / and in this thou hast ne[ip]er" ryghtfull herte ne ryghtfull wyll. But what tyme thou dressest thy wyll that is so croked and makest it stande ryght with be wyll of god whiche may not be croked but euer standeth euen / that is to saye noo thynge wylle[st] 9 lelth ne sykenesse / welth ne wo / but euer boldest the pleased with the wyl

t > H o. m. : Aug. super Ps. 57. 2 al. om. 3 H o. m. : Greg, in omel. 5. * al. bat we wil nat suffre to be don to vs. • al. add: as whan yt ys performed in dede. « H o. m.

Aug. super ps. 35. ' al. sonde. » neuer. » E wylleth.

Q2 Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

of god, than thou hast a ryghtfull wyll. % Also it is nedefull to a good wyll that [shall] * encreace in vertues and come to the lone of god, that it be stable and resonable. What tyme thou art trauayled sore with temptaczons and grutchest not ayenst goddes wyl2 but with a glad herte thou3 thankest god & suffrest hym lowely & thynkest well it is chastysynge to the for thy synnes, thaw is thy wyll stable. And whan thou desyrest not4 hygh rewarde in blysse for thy good lyuynge or ghoostly trauayle whiche thou hast here in erthe but onely at goddes wyll what he wyll dyspose for the & no thynge at thy wyll, than thou hast a resonable wyll. Thus I haue shewed the dyuerse kyndes of good wyl whiche be full spedefull & nedefull the for to knowe yf thou be in good wyll to [conne] loue god / & yf thou haue a stable & a resonable wyll p0u shalt soone come to parfyte loue. ^[ *Now p^rauenture thou pat trauaylest in ghoostly werkes wylt thynke or say thus / som- tyme it happefth]' that thou7 woldest do some ghoostly trauayle & thou7 may not performe it in dede / & all be it so thou 7 do it in dede it is full oft with so grete heuynesse bat thou7 grutche somwhat for defaute of ghoostly cowfort. To this I may answere as I sayd before : yf f)0u grutche f)0u hast no stable wyll, & yf thy wyll be stable f>0u shalt not drede in this case / & se why. Thou shalt vnder- stande pat the flesshe is euer cowtraryous to be spyryte & pe spyryte contraxye* to pe flesshe: herof p0u hast ensample where saywt Poule sayd of hywzself in this wyse : Pat goodnes whiche I wolde do I do not / as yf he had sayd thus : Some good dedes I wyll & desyre in my soule / but I may not fulfyl them for feblenes of my flesshe / & all be it somryme I p^rforme them in dede it is wzt^out ony gladnes. but what, for this trowest p0u pat thapostle sholde therfore lese his mede / for he wolde & myght not or els [for] he dyde good so»ztyme wztAout gladnes? Nay, but moche the more his mede was encreaced, for two causes. Fyrst for the trauaylous werkynge of his body that he suflred whan the flesshe stryued soo sore ayenst the goodnes of the spyryte. The seconde cause is for the heuynes & trauayle whiche pe spyryte suffred whan he had no ghoostly cowforte. In the same maner what euer grutchynge thou hast of thy flesshe ayenst good dedes or what heuynesse thou suffrest for defaute of ghoostly conforte / be not therfore abasshed so thy wyll be stable, but suffre & abyde lowely the grace of god for thy more mede. Be than stable in wyll & the deuyll ne thy flesshe shall neuer haue maystrye of the / for all the deuyls in hell may not make the to synne but p0u put therto 10 thy wyll. Ne all the aungels of heuen may not make the to do good dedes but p0u put-to thy wyll. ^ Take hede than that thy wyll be well dysposed to god & that it be set stably & resonably / & than thou hast a spede- full begywnynge to come to the loue of god. but for as moche as mawnes wyll is ordeyned fyrst & dysposed with the grace of god that he shall wyll good : to haue that grace in wyll & in all other dede / Prayer me thynketh is nedefull & therfore somwhat I wyl wryte of prayer as god wyll gyue me grace.

U ^f What profyte11 is in prayer and in what maner thou shalt praye.

-T Rayer [&]12 ensample of good lyuynge [be]1* moost spedefull to gete grace & to drawe men to loue god. A deuoute prayer & often vsed purchaseth grace of al- myghty god & putteth awaye the fals suggestyons of the fende & stablysshe[th] u

1 E it. 2 al. ay. god. 3 al. & J>onkynges to god bou suffrest hem. 4 al. no. * al. But now. « E happed. 1 al. I. * al. contrarious. 9 al. ouer. '» al. to. " E par- fyte. 12 E is. « E & is. » E stablysshed, al. stabileb.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. g?

a man in all goodnesse. Therfore god sayth to his dyscyples thus: Waketh & prayeth that ye fall not in [to] temptacyons. Ryght as it is nedefull for1 a knyght that shall go in to batayll haue with hym armoure & wepen / ryght so it is nedeful & spedefull to euery crysten man to2 haue with hym cowtynuell prayer / for what of our owne freelte / what by [the] malyce & enuye that the fende hath to vs / we be euer in this worlde in ghoostly batayll more or lesse by the suffrauwce of our lorde2 god. Therfore sayth saywt Gregory3: The more we be trauayled •with thoughtes or flesshely desyres / the more nede we haue to stande besely in prayers. So thus p0u mayst se that prayer is spedefull & nedefull. ^[ Also prayer as I rede4 is a souerayne helpe to thy soule / confort & solace to thy good aungell / torment & payne to be denyl / acceptable seruyce to god / par- fyte loye / sad hope / & ghoostly helthe without corrupcyon. ^[ Prayer is also a nedefull messager from euery mannes soule to almyghty god in heuen / & namely from that mannes soule whiche is moche troubled & hath no reste. Some o?«scyences there be whiche be good / that is to saye be well ruled & be in reste / to suche prayer is also a nedefull messager to holde pe soule in ghoostly confort & to encreace it & stable it in goodnes. But there be many other men & wymen of dyuerse conscyence. Some there be that haue a bad conscyence whiche be in rest & not troubled / & that ben they5 that ben sette fully to euyll & not to good. Some haue a bad conscyence & somwhat be troubled in theyr co«- scyence / & tho be suche pat be somwhat6 euyll or begynne to be euyll. Some haue good conscyewce & also T ben greued in theyr conscyence / & [tho] be suche as8 lyue euyll & begynne to be good. Whyle the conscyence is thus troubled the soule hath no reste / therfore to pursyewe for helpe & grace / prayer that nede- full messager must do well his offyce / that is to saye besely without ony taryenge / & strongely without ony feynynge ; & rather [to] come to the presence of almyghty god hy#z nedeth to haue9 two specyall frendes / pat is to say stedfast fayth and trusty hope : with these two frendes prayer taketh his waye & renneth fast to pe yates of heuen / & entreth without ony lettynge / for he goth to the presence of pat good lorde truly to do his message with full fayth & sad hope / full pyteously he sheweth his nedes & the perylles of [the] I0 soule. Than anone the good lorde so ful of pyte & mercy sendeth his blessyd loue in to pe soule thorngh the pursute of that good prayer. Whan this loue entreth in to that soule anone he maketh all glad pat was full elenge & sory / he maketh in peas & reste that was sore troubled. Hope cometh agayn that was out / and ghoostly strength pat was awaye is fully restored. Whan the enemyes of the soule / that is to saye the fendes se this helpe & confort to the soule / with sorowfull chere they torne awaye & thus they 2 begynne to crye : Alas alas, sorowe & wo is come to vs / fle we fast awaye for god fyghteth for this soule. Thus mannes soule is delyuered fro the fende by prayer / & so it may sothly be sayd that prayer is a spedefull & a nedefull messager fro mawnes soule to almyghty god in heuen. ^[ Thus

b<ra hast herde2 what is prayer / se now ferthermore how pou shalt praye. ^f As often as thou prayest / or what euer thou prayest, put all thy wyll in [to] goddes wyll / in the ende of thy prayer / desyrynge euermore in euery askynge his wyll to be fulfylled and no thynge thy wyll. For thou mayst praye & aske

i al. to. 2 al. om. 3 H o. m. Greg, in omelia. « H o. m. Aug. in sermone. * al. & bo be suche. * al. somdele. * al. whiche be also. 8 al. that. » al. with him. le E his.

Q^ Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

some thynge that he wyl not here ne grauwte / as yf b0u praye for soules that be dampned thy prayer is not accepted. Also it may so be that thou desyrest not that is * moost helpynge to thy soule ne to other perauenture for whom p0u prayest. Also many men praye2 somtyme for no good entent / and for that they be not herde. Therfore to be alwaye syker, wha« euer thou prayest put thy desyre and thy entent in * askynge in goddes wyl, for he knoweth all thynges, and what euer thou prayest he wyll not graunte * the but that is moost proufytable for the. To this accordeth an holy clerke5 and sayth : Oftentyme god graunteth not many men at theyr wyll / for he wyll graunte them other grace thaw they aske, to more helth of theyr soules. So that8 it is nedeful that we put all our askywge in to his ordynaunce. To this acordeth [also] saynt Bernarde7 and sayth: No man sholde set lyght by his prayer / for he to whom we praye aftertyme the prayer is passed from our mouth or from our herte / he wryteth it in his booke / and trustyngly we may hope that he wyll graunte that we aske or ellys that is more proufytable to vs. Thus than what euer thou prayest put all thy wyll in to goddes wyll. *f Also whan that6 thou prayest thou shalt praye generally / that is to saye / as thou prayest for thy selfe so thou shalt praye for other. Thus thou must do for thre causes: Fyrst for loue and charyte wyll that thou do so. And therfore sayth the apostle8: Prayeth eche of you for other that ye may be saued. The seconde cause is / for the lawe of god wyll that euery man helpe other in nede. This thou hast by the techynge of saynt Poule" where as he sayth thus: Eche of you bere others10 burthen / that is for to say / neche of you praye for other or helpe other in nede & so ye shall fulfyll the lawe of cryste. The thyrde cause is / for who so prayeth for al other as for hymselfe / pe goodnes of god wyll that he shall be partyner of all other mennes prayers. To this acordeth saywt Ambrose12 & sayth thus: Yf thou pray onely for thy self and for none other than shall none other pray for the but thy selfe / & yf thou praye for all other thaw all other shall praye for the. Thus than whan p0u prayest praye for all other. ^f Also whan thou shalt praye thou must praye with full herte & put away fro the all vanytees of the worlde, all ymagynacyons & all ydel thoughtes. To this acordeth an holy clerke l* & sayth : Whan we stande to praye we must with all our herte gyue our* entent to that we praye / that is to say we must voyde all flesshely & all worldely thoughtes & suffre not our herte otherwyse to* be occupyed than about our prayer. But to this per- auenture thou sayst that though p0u be neuer in14 so good wyll to praye / thyn herte is awaye14 from thy prayer & encombred16 with dyuerse thoughtes that thou mayst haue no whyle thyn herte sadly vpon thy prayer. To this I grauwte pat what [thrugh] the fende whiche euer is besy to lette all goodnes &* what thrugh the vnstablynes of man thyn herte shall17 not be stable I8 vpon thy prayer I trowe scarsely the tyme of a Pater noster. But whaw thou go to thy prayer / take good hede what nede thou hast to praye / what thou wylt praye / & how grete, how myghty & how ryghtfull & mercyfull he is to whom p0u wylt praye. Yf thou set thyn herte thus in the begynnynge of thy prayer / thou shalt not I trow gretly be

1 al. bat is not. 2 Ms. prayed. 3 ent. in, al. om. * E gr. it. & H o. m. Isidonis de

summo bono. • al. om. ' H Bern, in quodam sermone. » H addsjamys; o. m. Jacobi 4.

H Gal. 6. 10 al. other. » E that eche. " H o. m. Ambr. in examero h. vltimo.

H o. m. Ciprian & ponitur in decret. de. 9. d. i. quando. " al. in neuer. » al. anoon alyened. " al. acombred. w E shalt. " al. stabili.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. ge

letted / & though it be so that somtyme thou be letted with other thoughtes / fyght ayenst them with all thy besynes / & anone tourne to thy prayer. Yf thou wylt fyght wylfully in this maner god of his grete grace & endeles pyte wyll alowe thy good wyll / & moche the rather for thy trauayle grauwte that fo^u askest. Thus than whan thou wylt praye b<?u must praye w/tA full herte. ^f Also an other maner prayer there is / that1 who soo hath grace to come therto his prayer shal soone be herde yf he praye resonably. This maner of prayer is whan thou art vysyted by the grace * of god with grete conpunccyon of herte and swetnes of deuocyon. Conpunccyon is a grete lou[nes] 3 of thy soule spryngynge out of thy herte with teeres of thyn eyen, whan b0u bethynkest the vpon thy synnes & vpon the dredefull dome of god. Whan b<ra hast this conpunccyon & these teeres than p0u hast full deuocyon / with suche deuocyon besely praye for all tho that haue nede / for what thynge b0u prayest in pat tyme so it be worshyp to god b<?u art anone herde without ony taryenge. For as I rede4 prayer peaseth almyghry god & maketh hym torne to mercy ; but whan deuoute teeres come w/t/* prayer than of his grete pyte he may no lenger suffre / but anone as he were <:0«strayned he grauwteth what we aske. Ferthermore yf p0u be vsed to suche deuoczon b0u shalt feruently desyre to conne loue god / & so by goddes grace b0u shalt soone come to loue / thus thaw loue prayer yf thou wylt come to be loue of god. And for as moche as many men & women be moche trauayled by dyuerse temptacyons or they come to loue / therfore [to] be ware of theym & sooner to wz'tAstande them / somwhat I wyl shewe of temptacyons as me thynketh is nedefull.

X ^[ How pou mayst be ware & knowe of temptacyons wakynge or sle- pynge / & how p0u shalt w/t^stawde them.

JjY the ordynauttce of almyghty god there be ordeyned l good aungels to defende vs fro euyll &1 to styre vs to vertues and to kepe vs in goodnes. ^f Also other badde aungels & euyl spyrytes there be whiche trouble mankynde vfitk dyuerse temptacz'ons to preue mannes stablenes, & that to grete mede to mannes soule. The power of this wycked spyryte / that is to saye the fende is so grete pat the more a man besyeth hym to please god be rather he is about to greue hym. For as I rede oftymes it happeth pat many men whan th[e]y gyue them hole to contemplacyon or to other deuocyons than they be trauayled with stronge temptacyons by [be] suffrau«ce of god, that they may knowe theyr owne feblenes & to kepe theym meke & lowe5, for they sholde not lese foe grete mede of god for ony maner spyce of pryde / whiche mede is ordeyned for theyr ghoostly trauayle. Also in whateuer maner of lower degree [a] man or woman be that wyll withstande synne to his power & lyue after the techynge of goddes lawe / to al suche the wycked spyryte hath enuye / & euermore gyueth theym some maner of batayll grete or lytell, slepynge or wakynge. ^[ Other men

& women there be that he suffreth to l be in reste & peas / & tho ben suche as 6 drede not god but nyght & daye gyue them to all maner lustes7 & lykynges of theyr flesshe / for they ben so redy to synne & to do his wyll that hym nedeth not to styre them to euyll / & therfore he suffreth them in peas & without ony1 trauayle of temptacyons. Of suche men speketh saynt Austyn8 & sayth thus:

1 al. om. 2 al. sonde. » E loue. * H o. m. Beda in sermone. 5 H adds and all ys. • al. suche I>at seruen }>e deule and. 1 E lustynges. • H o. m. Aug. & ponitur in decret. de pe. d. 5.

g5 Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

Some men & women profer theymselfe to synne wylfully & abyde not the tempta- cyons of the fende / but they1 go before the temptacyons & be redyer to synne than the fende is l to tempte them1, ^f And sythen it is so that euery man whiche is besy to please god shal be trauayled and pr[e]ued 2 with dyuerse temptacyons, I wyl shewe the to my felynge, and as I rede of other auctours, pe maner of begynnynge of euery temptacyon, that thou mayst be ware of them & rather withstande the begynnynge, & so ouercome the hole temptacyon. ^f I rede3 that our enemye the fende whan he wyll make vs to1 folowe his wyll or ellys for enuye wyll trauayle and greue vs, he begynneth with fals suggestyons / that is to saye he putteth in our myndes diuerse ymagynacyons / as worldely & flesshely thoughtes, and somtyme other thoughtes whiche be full greuous & peryllous / eyther to make vs haue a grete lust & lykynge in them that be worldely or flesshely / or ellys to brynge vs in grete heuynes or drede thrngh tho thoughtes whiche be greuous & peryllous. ^[ As to the worldely or flesshely thoughtes, yf we suffre theym to l abyde in oure herte so longe wylfully tyll we haue lykynge in them / than hath the deuyll wonne a grete stronge warde of vs & pursyeweth ferthermore with all his besynes to make vs assente to hym as in wyll to performe it in dede. By that dede thou mayst vnderstande euery dedely synne after pe suggestyon is in pe begynnynge. To some he begynneth with a fals suggestyon of pryde / or ellys of couetyse / to some with a suggestyon of glotonye or lecherye / and so of all other synnes wherin he supposeth soonest to haue maystrye ouer man / for euery man is enclyned4 more to one maner synne than to an other. And where he hath maystrye / that is to say where that synne is performed in dede / he besyeth hym sore to brynge it in to custome / & so thorugh the custome to hane vs hole vnder his power. Go5 fle & withstawde all these perylles, the pro- phete Dauyd sayth in the sawter : Go awaywarde or bowe awaye from euyll & do good / that is to saye after the exposycyon of doctours : Go from the euyll of suggestyon /from the suggestyon of entysynge8 / from pe euyl of delytynge / from the euyll of assentynge / from the euyl of dede / & from the euyll of custome. Withstande than all suche worldely or flesshely thoughtes as moche as god wyll gyue the grace, pat thou fal in none of these euylles whiche as I haue sayd be full peryllous. *J Ferthermore as to pe greuous thoughtes & peryllous, peranenture p<m wylt aske whiche be tho thoughtes pat be so greuous & peryllous. All tho thoughtes that thou hast ayenst thy wyl whiche make the heuy or sory, be greuous. And for to shewe the more openly : what man that ymagy[n]eth vpon hyghe maters pat be ghoostly whiche passe all erthely mennes wytte, As vpon pe fayth of holy chyrche or suche other that neden not to be specyf[y]ed7 at this tyme, 8 that man hath greuous thoughtes & peryllous. Yf we sufire suche ymagy- nacyons abyde & take none hede in the begynny»ge to the fals suggestyon of pe fende, w/t^in [a] short tyme or euer we be ware eyther he wyll make vs lese our kyndely wytte & reason / or ellys he wyl brynge vs [in] to vnreasonable drede. Of suche temptacyons it is nedefull to be ware & put theym awaye yf p0u may with deuoute9 prayers & other occupacyons / & yf thou may not voyde them suffre them than esely. For p0u shalt vnderstande pat they be ryght nedefnl & mede- full for thy soule / for but it were so pat suche thoughtes come somtyme in to

1 al. om. 2 £ pryued. * H o. m. Isodpr de summo bono. 4 H inclynyng, R enclinant. * al. To. « from— ent. al. om. 1 al. nedith not to specifye. 8 E for that. • E dououte.

Contemplations of ihe dread and love of God. ny

thy mynde p<m sholdest seme in thyselfe that p<ra were an aungell & no man / therfore it is nedefull that thou be tempted otherwyle with euyll thoughtes that thou mayst se & knowe thyn owne feblenes & vnstablenes whiche cometh of thyselfe / and that p<7u mayst fele the strength whiche p0u hast onely of god. Also thou shalt suffre suche thoughtes esely / but thou mayst voyde them / for all suche thoughtes so pat l thou delyte the not in them they2 ben a grete purgy«ge for thy soule / & a grete strength to kepe within the vertues / & all be it pat ' they be sharpe & bytter for the tyme thynke well pat they shal make thy soule clene that was ryght foule / & make it hole that was ryght syke / and brynge it in l to euerlastynge lyfe & helth without ende to the l whiche lyfe & helth may no man come withoute grete sharpenes & bytternes. Also whan p0u art trauayled with thoughtes whiche p#u mayst not put away, thynke wel that it is a grete ryghtwysnes of god that thou haue suche thoughtes : For ryght as p0u hast had full often thy wyl & lykynge in worldely and flesshely thoughtes ayenst the wyll of god / ryght so it is be wyl of god that thou haue other thoughtes ayenst thy wyl. ^f But yet it is good that thou be ware of them & that p<?u drede them dys- cretly and truste stedfastly in god. For whan the soule hath no delyte in suche thoughtes but hateth & lotheth them / thaw they be a clensynge & a grete mede to pe soule ; but yf it so be that there come somtyme ony lykynge of synne or of ony vanyte thorugh suche thoughtes / than withstande & thynke that it is a fals suggestyon of the deuyll / & therwith be dredful and sory that f)0u hast offended god in lykynge of suche fals ymagynacyons. I rede2 that for suche thoughtes onely p<ra shalt not be dampned though they be ' come in to thy mynde / for it is not in thy power to let them to come : But yf it be so that p0u assente or delyte in them than be ware, for there thou dyspleasest god. Also it is good that pcm drede 3 though p<m assente not to euyll thoughtes, that f)0u fall not for pryde. For eche man that standeth in vertues standeth onely by pe vertue & grace of almyghty god. Thus than be ware of thoughtes, for here p<?u mayst se that all temptacyons begynne with fals suggestyons of the wycked spyryte. And yf p0u haue grace to withstande suche thoughtes p<m shalt ouercome all4 temptaczons. And for5 moost souerayn remedy ayenst all maner temptaczons it is good that p<m shewe thy disease to thy ghoostly fader as oft as it nedeth [or] els to some other good man of ghoostly lyuynge, as I sayd before in the fyfth poynt of pe thyrde degree of loue. ^f Ferthermore to speke of temptacyons,

I rede6 that whan the wycked fende7 may not ouercome a man wakynge / than is his besynes to trauayle & to tary8 hym slepynge. And that is to dysceyue hym yf he may in thre maners. One is to begyle hym thrugh glad & confor- table dremes. The seconde is to greue & to lette hym thrugh sorowfull & drede- full dremes. And the thyrde is to make hym the rather assente to synne wakynge thrugh foule syghtes or other dyuerse vanytees whiche he suffreth slepynge. therfore it is good to be ware of dremes / for in some thou mayst wel byleue & some it is good to sette at nought, for somtyme god sheweth cowfort to wycked men slepynge pat they sholde the rather leue theyr synne , & somtyme he com- forte[th] * good men slepywge to make them more feruent in his loue ; but for as moche as p0 u myghtest lyghtly be disceyued thrugh suche illusyons , I couwseyll

1 al. om. 2 H o. m. Isidorus de summo bono. * E drede god. * E all suche. s E for ]>e. 8 H o. m. Greg, in mor. * al. J>at }>e wicked f. whan he. • E taryenge, » E comforted.

n. 7

qg Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

the to put them1 all out from thy herte or els to shewe them to thy ghostly frendes. For oftymes he pat hath moche l lykynge in dremes is moost2 taryed and out of reste. "Also p<?u shalt not drede suche dremes what-soeuer they be : For as I rede yf thou be stable in the fayth of holy chyrche / yf p#u loue god with all thy herte / yf p<m be obedyent to god & to thy souerayns what euer b0u be as well in aduersyte as in prosperyte, and yf f>0u put all thy wyll at goddes dysposycyon, than shalt p<m drede no maner of dremes ; for though they be drede- rull & sorowfull to thy syght be therfor not agast ne heuy / but trustyngly put al togyder in to goddes honde he to ordeyne for the as he wyll. Also though they be to thy syght glad & confortable, desyre them not ne4 byleue not in them but yf it [so] be that they torne5 to the worshyp of god. Yf p0u do thus by the grace of god pmi shalt ouercome all temptacz'ons slepynge. Thus than, slepynge & wakynge , yf thou withstande in the begynnynge pe fals suggestyons of that wycked auwgell, pat is to saye wycked thoughtes & peryllous ymagynacyons as I sayd before / than pcu shalt ouercome all temptacz'ons. To this acordeth saynt Austyn 6 & sayth : Yf we withstande the last & lykynge of vnclene 7 thoughtes there sholde8 no synne reygne in our dedely bodyes. Withstande than thoughtes & be stronge ayenst temptac/ons / & so thrugh that ghoostly strength f>0u shalt lyghtly come to the loue of god. And for as moche as suche temptacyons & other worldely trybulacyons fall oftentymes to goddes seruauntes in to grete mede of theyr soules so that1 they can suffre them mekely & thanke god therfore, I wyll shewe a fewe confortable wordes of be vertue of pacyence by the whiche jwu mayst be styred for l to suffre bodely and ghoostly dyseases gladly for the loue of god.

Y ^f How thou shalt be pacyent & what tyme pacyence is moost nedefull.

V_xHaryte whiche is moder & keper of vertues is lost full often by Inpacyence. To this acordeth saynt Gregorye 9 & sayth thus : Men that be Inpacyent whan they wyll not suffre gladly trybulacyons / destroye 10 the good dedes whiche they dyde whyle pe soule was in peas & reste / & sodaynly they destroye [w]hatn ghoostly werke that1 they haue begonne by good auysement & grete trauayle. By these wordes it semeth pat it is nedefull to kepe with vs the vertue of pacyewce yf we sholde come to the loue of god / for without encreace of vertues we may not come to pat loue. *f To speke than of pacyence : I rede I2 pat in prosperyte

it is no vertue to be pacyent / but what man is troubled with many aduersytees & standeth stably hopynge in the mercy of god / he hath the vertue of pacyewce. ^f In thre maner of wayes goddes seruauwtes haue nede to be pacyent in trybula- cz'ons. The fyrst is whan god chastyseth them with his rodde / as with losse of worldely godes or ellys with bodely sykenes. The seconde is whaw our enemye the fende trauayleth vs with dyuerse temptacyons by the suffrauwce of god. The thyrde is whaw our neyghbours do to ls vs wronge or despytes. In eche of these thre our enemye besyeth hym to brynge vs oute of pacyence / & in eche of these we sholde '* ouercome hym yf we be pacyent. As thus : yf we suffre easely & gladly the chastysynge of god without ony grutchynge ; Also yf we delyte vs not in the fals suggestyons of the fende & assente in no maner to his wycked temptacyons ;

1 al. om. 2 al. moche. * H o. m. In reuelac. Brigide regine li. 4 c. 23. 4 al. &. & al. shal t. « H o. m. Aug. de uerbis apostoli. 1 al. vnlefull. 8 al. sal. 9 H o. m. Greg, in past. 10 al. schende. ll E that. 12 H o. m. Greg, in moralibus. 1J al. do{>, to om. 14 al. shul.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. go

Also yf we kepe vs sadly in charyte whaw we suffre ony * wronges or despytes of ony ' of our neyghbours / thus we sholde ' ouercome that wycked fende with the vertue of pacyence. ^f I sayd as for the fyrst we shold 2 ouercome the fende yf we suffre easely & gladly the chastysynge of god without ony grutchynge / this is good prtt we suffre for it is for grete loue whiche he hath to vs & [for]* grete mede that he wyll ordeyne for vs. To this purpose say«t Austyn 4 speketh & sayth thus 5 to eche mawnes soule callynge the soule doughter , and sayth thus : Doughter yf thou wepe vnder thy fader wepe not vrit/i Indygnaczon ne for pryde / for that thou suffrest is for medycyne to the & for no payne / it is a chastysynge & no dampnacyon ; yf thou wylt not lese thyn herytage, put not from the that rodde / take no hede to the sharpenes of that rodde / but take good hede how well thou shalt be rewarded in thy faders testame«t. These wordes may be remeued to euery crysten man & woman, as thus : Yf our fader in heue« sholde chastyse* vs with losse of goodes or vritk sykenes of body we sholde 2 not grutche / but we sholde be sory pat we trespaced ayenste our fader / & take mekely his chastysynge & euer aske mercy. His chastysynge is hel[p]e T to our soules & reles8 of grete[r] penauwce / his chastysynge is but a warnynge for loue & not dur[esse] 9 for wrath. [If] we sholde 2 not be put out frome the herytage of heuen it is nedefull we be boxum to our fader in heuen & suffre lowely & gladly his ryghtfull chastysynge for our greuous trespasynge, that thrugh the vertue of pacyence we may come to that grete herytage / that is to saye to the blysse of heuen to pe whiche he ordeyned vs in his last testame«t, that was whan he gafe for vs his herte blood vpon pe crosse. Thus we must suffre gladly the chastysynge of god without grutchynge. This chastysynge as I sayd is somtyme in sykenes of body / & somtyme in losse of worldely goodes. Yf thou be chasty- sed with sykenesse of body / haue in thy mynde the wordes of the apostle 10 whan he sayd thus: All be it that1 our body outwarde be corrupted with sykenes our sonle within is made newe & more clene frome daye to daye. Also yf [thou] II be chastysed w*t^ losse of goodes / take hede to pe pouerte of lob 2 where p0u may haue a grete example of pacye«ce, for with grete thankynges to god he toke full mekely & gladly grete pouerte, sykenes & many dyseases & sayd : Our lord gafe / our lorde hath take awaye / as it pleaseth hym so it is do / blessyd be the name of pat lorde lesu l . Thus p0u hast example to suffre gladly the chastysynge of god. ^f I sayd also as for the seconde we sholde ouercome pe fende yf we delyte vs not in his fals suggestyons & yf we assente in no maner to his wycked temptacyons. In the last chapytre before thou hast how thou shalt be stronge & stable ayenst all temptacyons: Se now more openly why thou shalt gladly suffre tewptacyons without ony grutchynge. One skylle is for yf thou suffre them not gladly but grutchest ayewst them than pou lettest them that sholde helpe the / the whiche be good angels & other sayntes / & helpest thyn enemyes whiche be wycked fendes / for a greter confort is none to theym but13 whan they fynde a man heuy and grutchynge ; therfore suffre them gladly and aske helpe & mercy of hym in whom all grace is and confort. Also yf thou suffre suche temptac/ons gladly and assentest not to them in lykynge ne in wyll / than thou stoppest the

1 al. om. 2 al. shul. * E so. 4 H o. m. Aug. super ps. 89. s & s. thus om. in H. • al. chastise}). 1 E helpe. • E rules. • E durynge. »• H o. m. 2 Corinth. 4. U E we. lz H o. m. lob i. u al. than.

IOO Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

'fende that he dar not assayle the with other temptac*ons, for he dredth to be put out from the & be ouercome whan he feleth the so stable & so pacyent ; that is a grete drede to hym. For whan he trauayleth a man with temptacyons and he be withstande / than be his paynes moche the more encreased in hell. With- stande than his temptacyons with the vertue of pacyence & so thou shalt ouer- come hym. *f As for the thyrde way of pacyewce I sayd pat we sholde kepe vs sadly in charyte whaw we suffre wronges or despytes of [our]8 neyghbours / suche wronges it is [m]edefulls to suffre for the loue of god: For as saynt Austyn4 sayth / he that is so pacyent that gladly wyll suffre wronges shall be ordeyned grete and myghty in heuen. If than thy goodes be taken from the wrongfully / suffre esely and thynke in thy herte that thou came naked in to this worlde & no better than naked shalt thou go away5 out of the worlde. Also thynke vpon pe wordes of the apostle6 where he sayth: Nought we brought in to this worlde and no thynge we may bere with vs / thynke vpon these wordes & I trowe they shall styre the moche to pacyence. ^f If thou be dysp[y]sed " or defamed wrongfully / thynke vpon the wordes of cryst whan he sayd thus to his dyscyples: Ye be blessyd whan wycked men curse you or despyse you wrongfully , whaw they pursyewe you or saye ony euyll makynge lesynges ayenst you wrongfully / loyeth than & be glad for your mede is plenteuous in heuen. These wordes me thynketh sholde make the to suffre gladly despytes & euyll wordes. It falleth somtyme that some mennes hertes be full grete & stoute by pryde & Inpacyence : But goddes ser- uauntes whan they se snche men so dyseased and trauayled in theyr soules, haue grete conpassyon of them knowynge wel that it cometh of vnstablenes of herte and of wycked sterynge of the flesshe / & therfore they suffre wycked & angry wordes for pe tyme, hopynge pat after so grete noyse shall come some maner ease & lownes of herte ; they suffre also for pe tyme for they knowe well it is full harde a man to ouercome hymselfe ; / for thyse causes euery good man sholde gladly suffre angry wordes. Also some men and women there be that wyll not suffre / but for one wycked worde they saye an other and take noo hede to the rewarde that they sholde haue of god yf they wolde suffre / suche men al daye fall in temptacyons for angre of herte and for inpacyence. Therfore what euer thou be that art despysed of thy neyghbour, suffre gladly / & feyne the as thou herdest hym not / vnto8 the tyme that his herte be eased, and than yf it be suche mater that chargeth p0u mayst speke to hym in easy maner / and yf it is no ' chargynge than it is no force though thou holde thy peas and answere ryght nought. Thus I haue shewed the examples for to styre the to pacyence, Fyrst how thou shalt gladly suffre the chastysynge of almyghty god as sykenes of body or ellys5 losse of goodes. The seconde how thou shalt gladly suffre the5 tempta- cyons of the fende. And the thyrde how thou shalt gladly suffre wronges and despysynges lo of thy neyghbour. ^f But now ouer all the 5 ensamples I counseyll the for5 to haue one thynge specyall[y] in thy herte / the5 whiche shal be a generall ensample of pacyence to suffre gladly all maner trybulacyons for the loue of god : This ensample is for5 to haue euermore in thy mynde in eche dysease the grete pouerte, trybulacyon and the bytter passyon of Ihesu cryst goddes sone whiche he suffred gladly & wylfully for the loue of all mankynde. ^[ Of this good lorde

1 al. malyce of ]>c f. 2 E other. * E nedefull. « H o. m. Aug. in quodam sermone. al. om. « H Tim. 6. ' E dyspleased. » al. into. » al. not. »° al. despites.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. IOI

speketh say«t Bernarde l & sayth thus . Cryst goddes sone of heuen 2 frorne the tyme p«t3 he came out of the gloryous maydens wombe Marye / had neuer but pouerte & trybulacyon tyll he went to suffre deth. Whiche maner of deth it nedeth not at this tyme for3 to shewe it to4 the, For f)0u hast it openly by pe techynge of all holy chyrche. Haue than sadly in thy mynde * as moche as god wyll gyue the grace / how gladly, howe lowely & what he suffred for the / & pot thought I trowe shall make the to wynne the vertue of pacyence / & to encreace in other vertues / & so forth within a whyle to come to the loue of god. And now ferthermore for as moche as all pe vertues be moost pleasynge & acceptable to god whiche be cowtynued & brought to good ende, therfore to strength be in these vertues I wyll shewe pe now6 some wordes of pe vertue of perseuerauwce.

Z ^f How perseuerauwce is nedefull & how thou mayst be perseueraunt.

.T Erseueraunce is fulfyllynge & ende of all vertues / keper of all goodnes / without whiche p^rseuerauwce no man may se god. But thou be perseueraunt / J)0u mayst haue noo mede, thanke ne worshyp for thy seruyce. Yf thou be per- seueraunt thou shalt haue mede for thy true seruyce / & a grete rewarde for thy ghoostly trauayle & a worshypful crowne of vyctorye for thy stronge batayle. Of this mater p<ni hast before in pe fyfth poynt of the thyrde degree of loue / ther- fore at this tyme it nedeth not to speke but lytell more as of this purpose. But I couwseyll the in fewe wordes yf thou wylt be p^rseueraunt in goodnes that p0u trauaylest7 to wynne the vertue of pacyence wherof I haue touched somwhat in the last chapytre before. For many men begynne full well and ende theyr lyfe full peryllously / & the cause is for the more partye Inpacyence / for they wyll not suffre gladly temptacyons & other trybulacyons ; For whan they fele neuer so lytel dysease ghoostly or bodely anone they fall awaye from vertues & tome agayne to synne , And often it falleth that some men fall so sore that they deye by that fall / that is to saye they 8 fall in to [so] grete sykenes & peryll of soule / that to our syght they deye in grete synne & errours without ony amendement. Of suche men speketh god almyghty9 & sayth: No man pat putteth his honde to the plowe & loketh behynde hym is dysposed to come to the kyngdom of heuen. ^[ Here perauenture thou woldest10 aske what is he that holdeth the plowe & loketh behynde hym. He putteth his honde to pe plowe that amendeth his synnes with contrycyon & confessyon to brynge forth fruyte of penauwce & to encreace in vertues. He loketh behynde hym that torneth agayne to synne[s] whiche were forsaken11 after tyme he had begonne good werkes. Therfore what euer thou be that hast begonne to leue vyces / torne not agayne to them for a lytell dysease, yf thou wylt haue the grete mede that longeth to perseuerauwce. ^f Also yf thou wylt be perseueraunt thou must be stable in herte / yf f)0u wylt be stable in herte pou must be ware of the lykynge & pleasynge of the worlde / & flee from wycked cowpany / thou must12 take no hede to praysynges ne to blamywges / for of all 3 these cometh vnstablenes, And yf thou haue ony lykynge in ghoostly werkes, that vnstablenes wyll put it awaye; therfore be ware & flee suche maner of occasyons yf thou wylt be stable, ^f I saye not that b<m shalt flee bodely from pe world or fro [pi] worldely goodes for they be pryncypall occasyons / but I

1 H o. m. Bern, in quodam sermone. 2 of h. ol. om. * al. om. * it to al. om. 5 al. herte. 6 al. now last. ' al. traueyle. • E that they. • Luc. 9. » al. wolt. » al. he forsoke. ™ al. maist.

jO2 Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

counseyll the in herte and in wyll that thou flee all suche vanytees. For though p0u be lorde or lady / husbonde man or wyfe / thou mayst haue as stable an herte & wyll as some relygyous that sytte in the cloystres1. But sothe it is that the moost sykerest2 waye is to fle as relygyous do / but for all may not be men or women of relygyon / therfore of euery degre in be worlde god hath chosen his seruauntes. What euer than thou be bat wy[l]t come to be loue of god begynne fyrst to do good dedes with a good wyll and a conrynuell desyre. After that desyre fulfyl thy wyll in dede with dyscrecyon that thou mayst contynue to thy lyues ende. Whaw thou hast begonne thynke in thyn herte that god hath gyue the suche grace to begynne that thynge to his worshyp / thon mayst well do it yf 3 thou wylt performe it in dede with the helpe of god. After this poynte 4 stande stably in wyll / aske grace of perseueraunce / and performe it in dede with a feruent 5 spyryte. And whan thou hast begonne dyscretly / though it be trauaylous in the begynnynge / all that trauayle be it in fastynges / wakynges / prayers or ony other ghoostly trauayle, all shall be lyght to the & shall3 tome the [to] in so grete myrthe and ghoostly conforte that thou shalt sette lytell by the passynge loye and the vanytees of the worlde. Stande than stably in wyll and in dede / and god almyghty3 that hath begonne good werkes in the / wyll norysshe the forth in all 3 vertues / defende the from thyn enemyes / teche the to loue hym / and kepe the in 8 his loue to thy lyues ende ; After this deth thou shalt not drede for thou shalt euer abyde in his kyngdome where that3 is no care ne drede / but all loye & conforte for 3 euermore lastynge. ^f Now I haue shewed to 3 the foure

degrees of loue / & declared here fyue specyall vertues whiche as me thynketh be moost nedefnl euery man for to haue that wyl trauayle in ghoostly werkes / & to al other maner men and women they be full spedefull to knowe whether they be relygyous or seculer. And for as moche as many in the begynnynge haue full lytell sauour in deuoute prayers or in holy medytaczons, some perauenture for tender age / & some for vnconnynge / therfore to suche symple folke I wyll shewe a maner forme how by medytacyon they may be styred to deuocyon / and what maner prayer shall be to theym nedefull.2

AB ^f By what prayer or thought thou mayst be styred to deuocyon. T

tW]Han8 thou ordeynest* foe to praye or haue ony deuocyon, founde to haue a preuy place from all maner noyse, & tyme of reste without ony lettynge. Syt there or knele there3 as is moost to3 thyn ease. Than be thou lorde or10 lady, thynke wel thou hast a god bat made the of nought / whiche hath gyue to 3 the thy ryght wyttes / ryght lymiaes & other worldely ease more than to some other as fo0u mayst se aldaye bat lyue in grete dysease & moche bodely myschyef. Thynke also how synful thou art, & were not the kepynge of pat good god thou sholdest fall in to all maner of synne by thy« owne wretchednes, & than p0u mayst thynke sothly as of thyself bat3 there is none so synful as11 thou art. Also yf b<ra haue ony vertue or grace of good lyuynge thynke it cometh of goddes sendynge 12 & nothynge of thyselfe. Thynke also how longe & how often god hath suffred the in synne / he wolde not take the in to dampnacyon whan f>0u haddest deserued it / but goodly hath abyden the tyll J>0n woldest leue synne & torne to goodnes /

1 al. cloistre. z al. syker. * al. om. * al. bou^t s al. glad. • E in to. 7 This Chapter is found as an independent piece in Ms. Harl. 2398 f. 186, Harl. 1706 f. 76, Cum autem oraueris &c. * E Than. 9 al. schapest. >• al. be bou. » al. more s. pan. w al. sonde.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. 103

for loth b.ym were to forsake pat he bought so dere with bytter paynes. Also p0u mayst thynke for he wolde not lese the he became man & was borne of a mayde / in pouerte & trybulacyons all his lyfe he lyued , & after for thy loue deth he wolde suffre to saue the by his mercy. ^[ In suche maner thou mayst thynke of his grete benefytes / and for the more grace to gete to the compuwc- cyon beholde with thy ghoostly eye his pyteous passyon.

^f A short medytacj'on of the passyon of our lorde Ihesu cryste. l

1 Hou mayst here2 ymagyne in thy herte as yf3 p0u sawe thy lorde take of his enemyes with many repreues & despytes / brought before a luge / falsely there accused of many wycked men / &3 he answered ryght nought but mekely suffred theyr wordes. They wolde nedes haue hym deed / but fyrst to suffre paynes. Beholde thaw that good lorde cheuerynge 4 & quakynge all his body naked bounde to a pyler / about hym standynge wicked men wzt^out ony reason sore scorgynge pat blessyd body without ony pyte. Se how they cesse not from theyr angry strokes tyll they se hym stande in his blood vp to his ancles / from the toppe of his heed to the sole of his foot hole skynne they lefte* none / his flesshe they rased8 to the bones / & for werynes of themselfe they lefte hym almoost dede. Loke than asyde vpon his blessyd moder / se what sorow she made7 for her dere sone / & haue compassyon of her payne that laye there aswowne. Tome agayne to thy lorde & se howe they vnbynde hym / how hastly they drawe hym forth to do hym more dysease. A garlonde of thornes they put* vpon his heed tyll the blood ran downe in to his eyen / nose / mouth & eeres. Than they kneled9 downe witA scornes, & arose vps with repreue & spette in his face. See than how pat blessyd lady beteth her breste / draweth her clothes / & wryngeth her hondes / & I trowe thou wylt wepe for that pyteful10 syght. ^f Loke yet agayn to thy lorde & se how they hurle hym forth to an hyghe hylle there to nayle hym hande & foot vpon the rode tree. Se than fyrst how fyersly they drawe of his clothes &3 how mekely that3 he than wente ll to the crosse / he spre- deth his annes abrode / but strayter with cordes they drewe forth his armes tyl the synewes & the loyntes be all to-broke12 / & than with full grete nayles they nayled his precyous hondes to the crosse. In the same maner thou mayst se how greuously they drawe his dereworthy legges and nayled' his feet downe to the tree. Se than how they profered13 hym for3 to drynke bytter galle & eysyll / and kneled9 agayn before hym with many despytes. Than herken to that good lorde how mekely he taketh leue of his gracyous moder and of his dere apostle14 & betaketh them eyther to other as dere moder and sone. Than with a grete voyce he cowmended15 his spyryte to his father in heuen / and hanged downe that blessyd heed ryght forth vpon his brest. Se also how soone after they perced18 his herte thrugh3 with a spere with full grete anger, and17 ranne downe by his body medled blood & water. Than mayst thou haue full grete pyte beholdynge that good lady how for sorowe she synketh downe in her systers armes. Take hede to the chere of his apostle saynt lohan, to the teres of Marye magdalene and of his other frendes / and I trowe amonge all these thou shalt haue com-

J This Chapter, with quite the same text, occurs separately in Ms. Harl. 2445 t. 83 (a collec- tion of prayers). * al. here. 3 al. om. * al. chyuerynge. & al. leue. • al. rase. * al. maketh. * al. J>reste. » al. knele. w al. dolfull. » al. gop. » al. broste. '» al. profre. " E apostles. » al. commendeth. »« al. perce. " al. pan rennep.

IOA Early editions of R. Rolle's works.

puncc/on & plente of teres. Whan there cometh suche deuocyon than is tyme that thou speke for thyn owne nede & for all other quycke or deed that trusten to thy prayer. Caste downe thy body to the grouwde &1 lyfte vp thy herte on hye with dreedfull 2 chere / than make thy mone & yf thou wylt thou mayst thynke thus & saye : A lord god almyghty blessyd mote thou be / b0u madest me / thou boughtest me / thy suffrauwce is full grete in me / p0u woldest not take me in to dampnacyon that 3 often I haue deserued / but thou hast kepte & saued me tyll I wolde forsake synne and torne hole to the. Now lorde with sorowfull herte I knowleche to thy godhede that falsely I haue spended and without prou- fyte all my wyttes and vertues whiche thou hast gyuew me in helpynge of my soule all the tyme of my lyfe in dyuerse vanytees / all the ly»zmes of my body in synne & superfluytees / the grace of my crystendom in pryde & other wret- chydnesse. And sothly good l lorde I haue loued other thynges moche more than the / & notwithstandynge my grete vnkyndenes euer thou hast nourysshed me and tenderly kepte me. Of thy grete suffrau«ce I had full4 lytell knowynge / of thy grete ryghtwysnes I had but lytell drede. I toke no hede to thanke pe for thy grete goodnes / but al my lyfe frow daye to daye grete mater of wrath I haue shewed to : pe thrugh myw owne wyckednes. herfore lorde I wote not what I shall saye to the but onely this worde in whiche I trust: God of thy grete mercy haue mercy on me / I wote well lorde all bat I haue cometh onely of pe / I wote well without the no thynge may be / but my l synne & wretchydnes cometh s all of me ; wherfore lorde with meke herte I beseche thy grace do not to me as I haue deserued but after thy grete mercy / and sende me [pat] grace of thyn holy ghoost to lyghten myn herte / to cow/forte my spyryte / to stable me in the ryght waye to perfonne thy co/wmaundementes / that I may haue perseuerauwce in that I haue begonne & that I be nomore departed from the by my vnstablenes or by temptacyons of myn enemye. It is lorde yet1 ful worthy that I be chastysed for my wycked lyuywge wz'tA what rodde thy wyll is / welcome be thy sendynge6. Pacye«tly7 good lorde sende me grace8 gladly to suffre thy chastysynge / comfort me amowge for9 thy grete grace / & whan thy wyll is withdrawe thy rodde & take me to thy mercy. Full bytter be these temptacyons & full greuous to suffre / & 10 though they be dredefull I wote well hereafter they shall be medefull to my soule / but good lorde p<m knowest well myn herte is ryght feble / moche is myw vnstablenes / my connynge is but lytell : therfore good lorde strength me / stable me & teche me / [&] as p<?u madest me & bought me so kepe & defende me / body & soule I take to the / no thynge after my wyll but as p0u wylt lorde so mote it be. And now good Ihesu goddes sone knower of all thywge, helpe me in wycked thoughtes that I dysplease the not in lyfkjynge11 ne in assentyng / efull often I haue dysple"ased the in dyuerse thoughtes all ayenst thy wyll & moche to my lykynge, therfore it is thy ryghtwysnes that I be trauayled with, other thoughtes at thyn ordynauwce & greuous to me / but curteys Ihesu whan thy wyl is put them awaye & take me in to thy grace. lesu cryst goddes sone whiche stode styll before pe luge nothywge to bym answerynge / withdrawe my tongue tyll I thynke what & how I shall speke bat may be to thy worshyp. Ihesu goddes sone

1 al. om. 2 al. doelful. » al. l>er. * al. but. * al. whiche c. Pacience. * al. om. » al. of. »• al. but. u E lyuynge.

al. sonde. * al.

Contemplations of the dread and love of God. 105

whose hondes were bouwde full sore for my loue / gouerne & wysshe * myw hondes & al myn other lywmes that all my werkes may begynne & gracyously ende to thy moost pleasure2. "Also lorde p0u seest well that many ther be that trust to my prayer for grace that ye shewe to me more thaw I am worthy / ye wote well lorde I am not suche as they wene , but though my 4 prayer be vnworthy / take hede to theyr lownes & to theyr deuocz'on3 & what they desyre to your worshyp grauwte it them for your goodnes. Grauwte them & me & to all other for whom we be bounde to praye grace to loue all that is to your lykynge / and you to loue to your moost pleasynge / nothynge to desyre that sholde dysplease you, All maner temptacyons myghtely to withstande / all other vanytees for your loue to despyse / you good lorde euer to haue in mynde / and in your seruyce for to abyde to our lyues ende. And yf ye grauwte vs ony thynge to doo that shall be to vs medefull / graunte parte* to the soules whiche be departed from the body in the paynes of purgatory e abydynge your mercy Amen.

^f In suche maner tbou mayst praye in the begywnynge / & whan thou art well entred in to deuocyon thou shalt perauenture haue better felynge in prayers and in holy medytacyons otherwyse than I can saye or shewe. Good broder or syster praye thaw for me whiche by the techynge of almyghty god haue wryten to the these fewe wordes in helpynge of thy soule.

J\. Good curteys aungell ordeyned to my gouernale, I knowe well my feblenes & my vnconnynge / also well I wote pat strength haue I none to do goddes seruyce but onely of his gyfte & of your besy kepynge. The connynge pat I haue cometh no thywge of me but what god wyll sende me by your good enty- synge. Now good gracyous auwgel I aske you lowely mercy / for lytell hede I haue taken of your good besynes ; but now I thawke you as I can, with full herte besechynge you bat ye kepe me truely this daye & euermore slepynge & wakynge with syker defendynge & your holy techywge. Defende me & kepe me from bodely harmes, defende me and kepe me from ghoostly peryles to goddes worshyp & sauywge of my soule. Teche me & wysshe * me my wyttes for to dyspende moost to goddes worshyp & pleasynge. Fede me with deuocyon & sauour of ghoostly swetnes / conforte me whaw nede is ayenst my ghoostly enemy es & suffre me not to lese pat grace that is grauwted me / but of your worthy offyce kepe me in goddes seruyce to my lyues ende. And after be passynge of the body presente my soule vnto the mercyfull god. For though I fall aldaye by myw owne freelte you I take in wytnes bat euer I hope in mercy. Gladly wolde I worshyp the & I myght to your lykynge therfore god to worshyp for you / you also in hym after his holy techynge. I thanke hym -with this holy prayer. ^[ Pater noster. Et ne nos. Sed libera nos a malo. Amen. Deo gratias.

^f Enprynted at London in Fletestrete in be sygne of the sonne By Wynkyn de Worde. Anno dni. Mccccc.vi.

1 r. wysse. z al. pay. »-3 E here follows Harl. 2409; the other Ms. read: Also lorde ^if J>er be any }>at habe of here lewdnes commended hem to my prayere, take rewarde to here lownes & not to myn vnworbines, &c. * E me. * E prate. 6 This prayer is not found in the Mss. ; it was ed. from Harl. 2445 by Maskell Mon. Ritual. Ill p. 291.

IO5 Early editions.

n. Ed. Wynkyn de Worde 1508, and 1519.

Ijf The remedy ayenst the troubles of temptacyons.1 (fol. ib picture of hermit).

(i. Four profitable things.)2

^ Here after foloweth foure proufytable thynges to haue in mynde, whiche hath be taken out of be thyrde chapiter of a deuoute treatyse & a fourme of lyuinge that the dyscrete & vertuous Richard hampole wrote to a deuoute & an holy persone for grete loue.

1 He fyrst : mesure of thy lyf whiche is so shorte that vnnethes it is ony thynge / for we lyue here but in a poynte that is the leest thynge bat may be. And for to saye sothe, our lyfe is lesse than a poynte yf we sholde lyken it to the lyfe euerlastynge. / An other thynge is the vncertaynte 3 of our endynge / for we wote not whan we shall dye nor how we shall dye nor whether we shall goo whan we be deed. And the wyll of god is that it be to vs vncertayne / for he wylleth that we be alwaye redy to dye. / The thyrde is fat we shall answere before the ryghtwyse luge of all the tyme pat we haue ben here, how we haue lyued / what our occupacyon hath be / and what good we myght haue done whan we haue ben ydle. Therfore be prophete sayd : he hath called the tyme ayenst me / that is for4 euery day he hath lente vs here to spende in good vse as in penauwce and in goddes seruyce. And yf we waste it in erthly loue and vanytees, full greuously must we be demed and punysshed. Therfore it is one of the moost sorowes pat may be to vs / but yf we enforce vs to the contrary / & set our herte to the loue of god, And doo good to all* that we may in be shorte whyle that our tyme lasteth. For eche tyme pat we thynke not of god we may couwte it as loste. / The fourth is that we thynke how moche the loye is that they shall haue whiche contynueth* in the loue of god to7 theyr endynge / for they shall be bretherne ' & felowes with auwgelles, seynge the kynge of loye in his beauty and shynynge maieste the whiche shall be to them aboue all the delytes that ony creature may thynke. Than, to remembre the grete and intollerable sorowe, payne & turmentes whiche they shal haue that loueth 9 not god aboue all thynge as we may se in this worlde many of that dysposycyon whiche set all theyr pleasure in lust and lykynge of this lyf / as in pryde / couetyse / and other synnes / they shall brenne in the fyre of helle with the deuyll whome they serued as longe as god is in heuen with his seruauntes that lasteth euer. —

(2. The remedy ayenst the troubles of temptacyons.)

(Same treatise is extant in Ms. Harl. 1 706 f. 1 1 5, Cambr. Hh 1. 1 1 , both southern texts, and greatly differing from the text of the Ed. R. Rolle's authorship is very doubtful.)

^f Here foloweth and enseweth a sonerayne notable sentence to comforte a persone that is in temptacyon.

mercyfull lorde god cryst Ihesu chastyseth his chyldren and suffreth them to be tempted for many proufytable causes to theyr soules helth / & therfore

1 This is the general title of the Ed., but refers only to the 2nd piece. The editor seems to have regarded all the pieces as R. Rolle's, though his authorship of the 2n<l, and still more of the 3d, piece is very doubtful. The Ed. of 1519 is bound together with the ^contemplations* of 1506. 2 Cf. I, p. 19 ; in Ms. Harl. 1706 this piece is found separate, and followed by the Remedy &c., as in the Ed. * EI vncertayne. « om. for. * Ej al. * Ej contynuth. 7 om. in Ez. 8 Ej bretheren. • Ej loueht.

The remedy against the troubles of temptations. IO7

sholde noo man nor woman be heuy or sory for ony temptacyon. For as saynt lames the appostle techeth vs we sholde haue very greate loye whan we be tempted with dyuers temptacyons / for as the golde is pured and purged by the fyre / and a knyght in batayle is proued good: ryght so is a man by temptacyon proued for good / but yf he suffre hymselfe to be ouercome / that is to saye but he consent therto by delyberacyon. For sothely whan a man is sharpely tempted he may than haue hope of gr[et]e' vertue / and it is necessary2 for a man moche to be troubled with temptacyons / for euery vertue is proued by his contrarye. Our enemy the fende is besy daye and nyght to tary and trauayle good men and women with dyuers temptacyons / in doubtes of the fayth and dredes of saluacyon and other many moo in dyuers maners, and specyally now in these dayes he is full besy to deceyue many soules / and therfore wysely rule you to withstande his vyolent sterynges of temptacyon / & for all that take ye noo dredes of his assawtes / ne haue ye ony* doubte of his4 erroures ne dyspytes nor of his false leasynges or fantasyes or ony maner of trauayle of that foule fende ; whether ye here hyms / se hyms or thynke of hym5 take noo hede therof / for all be maters of grete mede and noo synne in noo wyse be they neuer soo troublous or full of anguysshes whyles it cometh of the malyce of the fende or of euyll dysposycyon of mannes nature or compleccyon. And therfore all suche trauayle* men ought not to charge but suffre mekely and abyde pacyently tyll god doo remedy therto. And for as moche as they be maters of grete mede none ought to stryue there agaynst / nor meruayle of them ne seke the cause nor thynke by what skyll he is soo trauaylled / for the more that a man laboureth in sechynge and thynkynge of suche anguysshes the more depely he falleth in to errours / and therfore in as moche as mannes thought is often vayne and dyuers and none ende hath: it ought not to be forced or be taken hede of / ne a man sholde not angre hym- selfe therwith ne blame ne impute' it to his owne defaute that he is so troubled / for suche trauaylles ben paynefull but not synfull in soo moche as they be gretely agaynst his wyll. Saynt Augustyne sayth that euery synne lyeth in wylfull wyll, And what that is agaynst mannes wyll is noo synne. And the holy doctour ysodore de summo bono 8 sayth that the fende tempteth a man noo more than god gyueth hym leue. Therfore let vs haue alway a good wyll to wyll well9 and doo well / and god wyll kepe vs and gyue vs the vyctory / & so the fende shall be confounded. Fayth & hope is grou«de of all perfeccyon and rote of all vertue / and therfore our olde enemy the fende is full besy with all his sleyghtes to drawe the soule downe therfro, And it happeth somtyme that the fende tempteth and trauaylleth a ryghtwyse soule so sharpely that it is ouerlayde with care and dryuen to dy- spayre : and yet all that tyme though the soule perceyue it not it dwelleth styll in the drede and loue of god / and all that trauayle is to theyr10 grete mede afore god / for our lorde of his endles mercy arrecteth not to be soule that synne whiche hymselfe suffreth the fende to werke in the soule without the consente or wyll of the sayd selfe soule. But whan we wylfully doo ayenst11 the wyll of god with delyberacyon than we cowzmytte synne actually. But whan we be drawen with wycked vyolence or vyle12 thoughtes & turmented with dyspayre ayenst our

1 E grace. 2 H for seynte Austyn seyth bat be perfeccyon of euery vertue ys for a man &c. ' Ej noo. * £2 this. » H hem. • Ej trauayled. * H arette. 8 H adds 30 libro. • E2 to god. i» H his. " Ez agayenst. 12 H wycked vylenous.

jo8 Early editions.

wyll thorugh the fendes vyolent temptynge we suffre payne but we do no synne / & yet the sely soules knowlege is hydde by that turment.

^[ The seconde chapytre.

JjUt yet ryght often the temptynge of the fende that maketh the soule to erre in fayth and foule fantasye & in dyspayre : semeth to the selfe soule grete synne / but it is not soo. For all holy doctours sayth1 that fayth and hope be vertues of mannes wyll / wherfore who so wolde ryghtwysly byleue in this lyf: he is in ryght byleue before god / and lykewyse who so wolde here trustly hope he is in trusty hope before god / though he be neuer so moche troubled with ferefull2 thoughtes. The appostle saynt Poule sayth that in a mannes byleue3 is wylfull4 byleue of ryghtwysnes ; Of the whiche wordes sayth the glose that all onely in mannes wyll whiche may not be cowstrayned lyeth bothe mede and gylte / that is to saye : a man afore god hath neuer mede ne gylte for no dede but onely of the dedes that be done wylfully. But somtyme mannes thought[es] and womans be soo troubled and ouerlayde that they knowe not theyr owne wyll / & yet though it soo be they ought not to care. For good dedes sheweth alwaye good wyll / and euyll dedes euyll wyll, wherfore a man that dooth in dede the seruyce of god that man hath a good wyll to god / though his trauaylous herte deme the con- trarye. Also there sholde noo creature deme his euencrysten for ony doubtfull5 fantasyes / but yf they haue a very open knowlege of that thynge whiche they sholde deme hym for : Than it is euyll and vnreasonable for ony creature to deme his owne soule in that plyght, that he sholde be parted from god for ony doubtfull fantasye.

The thyrde chapytre.

than yf it so be ye haue consented & fallen to synne by ony tempta- tions / than be sory and crye god mercy therof. And yet be ye not dyscomforted but thynke well on the grete mercy of god how he forgaue Dauid his grete synnes, Peter & Magdalene, and not onely them / but also all those that haue ben or now be or shall be contryte for theyr synnes & meke them lowly and crye our lorde mercy. And therfore syster flee to hym that all mercy is in / and aske mercy & ye shall haue it with forgyuenes of all your synnes / and meke you lowly & take the sacramentes of holy chirche / & than ye ought to byleue faythfully that your synnes be forgyuen / and that ye be receyued in to the grace of god. For god sayth hymselfe by his prophete Ezechiel6 that whan a synfull man soroweth for his synnes he wyll neuer haue mynde therof. & yf a man perceyue in his herte no very sorowe / and though he thynke whan he byddeth his bedes or cryeth to god for mercy that he dooth all ayenst herte : yet ther- fore sholde he not deme hymselfe graceles / for who so wolde haue very sorowe for his synnes or7 wold crye god mercy for them or in his herte wold crye for mercy : he cryeth god mercy truly / for as I haue sayd before / god taketh hede to mannes wyll & not to his trauayllous fantasyes / it is good that a man take noo hede of* suche fantasyes or sterynges that cometh in suche maner. For god hydeth from them the knowleges of suche fantasyes for many causes vnto the

7 H ^2 S>fye' 2 H werefu11- 3 H wylle- 4 H the. » H weersum or d. « E Ezechie. 1 m the dome of god he hath very sorowe for hys synnys, & who so wolde in herte crye god mercy verely &c. 8 £2 to.

The remedy against the troubles of temptations. IOQ

proufyte of theyr soules / wherfore suche passyons be not synfull / but rather mater of grace and of grete meryte. And soo good syster thynke ye alwaye / and yf it be soo that temptacyon cease not but wexe alwaye more & more be not afrayed but saye somtyme amonge in the worshyp of god and in the spyte * of the fende your crede2 and knowlege your byleue and hope [by mouthe], and thynke on the wordes of saynt Poule that sayth : Knowlege of mouth is done to the helpe 3 of soules ; and they shall not be deceyued by the fendes whyles 4 that with a good auysement bothe in worde and wyll withstandeth hym strongly. For there, was neuer man deceyued of the fende but by consent of his owne wyll / & that with suche a wyll as the herte consented with the same / for other fantastycall troublous wylles putteth not awaye man from god.

^f The fourth chapytre.

.r\.Nd therfore sholde noo man care nor be heuy that he is so troubled more than an other. Syster alwaye whan I speke of a man in this wrytynge take it bothe for man and woman / for so it is ment in all suche wrytynges / for all is mankynde : and ferthermore as touchynge your troubles thynke in all your dyseases what troubles goddes seruauntes hath suffred and what paynes and turmentes they haue had here in this worlde in many sondry maners and ye shall fynde cause to suffire. Leo the pope sayth / it happeth somtyme that good and ryghtwyse soules be styred sharpely by the fende / & somtyme by theyr owne compleccyon to angers, troubles, dredes & suche other taryenges that it semeth to them theyr lyf a turment5, in so moche that somtyme for very drede the[y] begyn to dyspayre bothe in lyfe of body and soule / thynkywge they be forsaken of god / whiche dooth it but to assaye and proue his chosen chyldren and frendes by suche temptacyons. For as I afore haue sayd at the begynnynge of this wrytyng, in lyke maner as fyre purgeth golde and as a knyghte is proued good and hardy by batayle: ryght so temptacyons and troubles purgeth a ryghtwyse soule; this is proued well by Toby / for the aungell Raphaell sayd this to hym : Toby for as moche as thou arte ryghtfull to god it is nedefull that temptacyon sholde preue thy wyll. And well it is knowen that sykenes falleth to a man after the dyspo- sycyon of his compleccyon: So lyke wyse temptacyon, as Leo the pope sayth: The fende our ghostly enemy aspyeth in euery man what wyse he is dysposed by his compleccyon / and by that disposicyon he tempteth hym. For there as he fyndeth a man full of6 malencoly he tempteth hym moost with ghoostly temp- tacyons of Ire. But they that wyll attende to withstande it for the loue of god they must shape them to pacyence & saye with lob : Sythen we haue receyued of god so grete benefaytes why sholde we not receyue and suffre dyseases. And thynke on the grete anguysshes, sorowes and dyseases that our lorde Ihesu cryste suffred hymselfe here in erth , And also suffred his blyssed moder to haue the same. And thynke that to suffre dysease pacyently is the waye to heuen-warde. And that ye may not in this frayle worlde be so free as an aungell that is con- fermed by grace / but whyle your body and soule be togyder in this lyf they must receyue troubles as well as eases. And thynke not that god hath forsaken

1 H in despyte. z Ej credo. 3 H hel{>e. « H wyles. * H adds and her deej>e an esc. ' H of humorys of.

j 1O Early editions.

yon: but mekely abyde the comforte of hym and without doubte whan it nedeth ye shal not fayle therof.1 But some men whan they haue drede of saluacyon or be tempted to dyspayre by vysyons 2 or ghostly sterynges of theyr owne frayltye / they wene anone that they haue synned in the synne of the holy ghoost / and than the fende putteth in them that they may neuer be saued nor forgyuen of theyr trespaces. Thus speketh the fende vfitkm them, so ferynge s[um]e* good creatures that they wene to goo out of theyr myndes. But [ye]4 that ben thus tempted answere the fende thus agayne that he is false and a Iyer as his nature is to be. For the synne of the holy ghoost as clerkes sayth5 is infynyte without repentaunce. And that is whan a man wylfully by delyberacyon wyll neuer repente nor aske god mercy ne forgyuenes of his synnes / nor wyll be tourned / but wylfully departeth hym from the goodnes of god / and in [t]his* wretchednes abydeth wylfully with full consent of wyll ' ; he that doth thus synneth in the holy ghoost whiche may not be forgyuen here nor elles where / for he wyll not trust in the goodnes of the holy ghoost nor aske forgyuenes of his synnes, And ther- fore he that wyll noo mercy aske noo mercy shall haue / for his synnes be infynyte without repentaunce. But thoughe a man or a woman haue or fele all these vycyous sterynges and as many moo as ony herte can thynke ayenst theyr owne free wyll, and whan reason cometh to them they be sory therof & flee alwaye hastely to the mercy of god : it is to them but a preuynge or a clensynge of theyr synnes though they be nener soo ofte in the nyght and the daye now vp now downe as wrestelers 8 be / & thonghe ye haue ony tyme fall in ony synne ghoostly or flesshely & layne therin wylfully by delyberacyon and full content9 of herte: ye than ought to be sory and aske god forgyuenes with as grete contry- cyon as god wyll gyue you grace / and than thynke fully the goodnes of the holy ghoost surmounteth all synnes that euer was done or euer shall be done / [for] though a man had synned in them all / as well in dede as thought / he beynge truly contryte & confessed mekynge hymselfe lowly to almyghty god and to his sacramentes of holy chyrche / donbte ye not he so askynge mercy shall haue full forgyuenes of all his synnes / for the mercy of god is so grete that it passeth all his werkes. And therfore thoughe ye somtyme here by spekynge or elles of wrytynge or redynge in bokes sharpe wordes and harde sentences: yet comforte your selfe and thynke well that all suche harde wordes be sayd and wryten to chastyse the synners and to withdrawe them from euyll / and also to pourge and pure goddes specyall10 louers as the metall is in the fyre11 afore rehersed / and in them god wyll make his hous. And wete it well many wordes that seme full harde be ment full tenderly whan they be well vnderstonde / and though some wordes be ment ryght hardely as the playne texte sheweth / yet sholde ye not take them to you-warde / but comforte your selfe and thynke that all those harde sentences shall be fulfylled in lewes and sarasyns / for the crysten people that wyll be contryte & trust in goddes mercy or haue a wyl so for to do : they shal escape all perylles / so pat they shall not perysshe but be saued / where as the lewes & sarasyns in theyr perylles shal vtterly perysshe to pardycyon / for they

_ i H adds : For trusteb welle J>erto bat whanne ye felen you in suche plyte, bat grace is verely wij) you. * H or yf }>ei haue ony vycyous goostely stirynges or greete felynges &c. 3 E synne. « E they. * £2 sayen. « EI his. * H adds and lyuefc and dyefe {>ere-ynne. * Ej wrastelers. » H concent '9 H specyalls, louers om. » H furneys; af. reh. om.

The remedy against the troubles of temptations. Ill

haue not the strength of Baptym ne the precyous oyntement of crystes passyon / that sholde gyue to theyr soules lyf and helth. Of this [we]1 haue example & a grete fygure in holy wryte that where as Moyses ledde the chyldren of Israeli ouer the reed see whiche were goddes people, Moyses wente before them and smote the water with his rodde and therwith the water parted & the chyldren of Israeli wente ouer in suertye , And they of egypte that folowed perysshed & were drowned. By Moyses I vnderstonde our lorde Ihesu cryste / and by the yerde or rodde that departed pe water I vnderstonde his holy passyon / and by the chyldren of Israeli that were not perysshed all crysten people : for ryght so our lorde Ihesu cryst came from his faders bosome to the2 see of trybulacyons & temptacyons to be our guyde & leder / he gooth before vs with his precyous passyon & smyteth awaye the perylles of our troublous temptacyons / so that we shall not perysshe / but it shall brynge vs to suertye of euerlastynge lyf; and ther- fore gyue we to hym thankynges, louynges & infynyte praysynges as the chyldren of Israeli dyde. For thoughe a crysten man were neuer soo synfull thynkynge hymselfe p<zt he stode in the sentence 3 of the hardest wordes that be wryten : yet sholde he trust faythfully in the mercy of god / for and he wyll forsake his synnes & tourne hym to good and vertuous lyf: he shall haue grace and forgyuenes / and the harde sharpe wordes of dampnacyon sholde tourne hym to mercy and salua- cyon. For thus sayth our lord god in holy wryte by his prophete leremye : though I make grete thretes I shall repent me of my wordes yf my people wyll repent them of theyr synnes. O beholde the grete goodnes of our lorde / and how pyte alwaye constrayneth hym to mercy, worshyp and thankes be euer to his goodnes; he is so benygne and mercyfull to them that be repentaunt4 that he frely wyll chaunge his sentences from sharpe vengeaunce to forgyuenes / & of the paynes that they be worthy to suffre / gyue them alygeaunce or lyghter & payne to suflre. He sayth also by the prophete Isaye8: I shall forgyue the synnes of euery man that with very true contrycyon wyll drawe hym to good and vertuous lyfe. And this grete mercy shewed our lorde openly vpon the Cyte of Niniue / and also by kynge E^echie. Therfore lette noo man dyspayre but alwaye trust fully to goddes mercy that so well can redresse our myscheues and tourne all our woo to wele / and our sorowe to loye. O thou gloryous [&]7 myghtyfull god that thus meruayllously werketh8 in thy creatures, it is to se that9 thy mercy is large and brode whiche maketh the to chaunge thy sentence that before was bothe thy wyll and worde / blessyd be thou good lorde in all thy vertues for thou canst / may / and wyll tourne and chaunge all our infyrmytees to our moost proufyte yf we wyll not flee from the / but tourne to thy goodnes and aske mercy. But for all this 10 grete goodnes / god forbede that ony man sholde be the more bolder to synne, or wylfully and wyttyngly by delyberacyon sholde presume to falle to synne vpon trust of [his]11 mercy; and [for]12 our lorde is so mercyfull I surely trust that euery true courteys soule wyl be the more lothe to offende his goodnes. [But]13 as for you that be tempted ayenst your wyll / and wyll not for all the worlde dysplease god wylfully: but that ye be thus begyled and encombred14 by the fende with many paynefull thoughtes / be ye not afrayde of the fende nor of his fere-

E they. 2 H this. * EI sentences. 4 H to the repentauntys. * H lytter, payne om. • H E^echyel. ' om in EI. » r. werkest. » H what; it is to se om. » E this thy. " E thy. « E therfore. " E and. " H yled & trayd.

j j 2 Early editions.

full assawtes / for he is full sore dyscomforted J whan that he seeth a man or a woman whiche he soo tempteth is not aferde of hym. Somtyme the fende cometh and tempteth a soule fyersly lyke a dragon / and somtyme he assaylleth hym lyke a rampynge2 lyon; but and yf3 a creature strength4 hymselfe saddely in the passyon 5 of almyghty god / and arme hym with that holy passyon / a thousande suche fendes how someuer that they come shall haue noo more power ouer hym thenne hath as many flyes or gnattes. And therfore strength you all in god / and be not abasshed soo to strength and arme you in hym though ye be synfull / for he sayth hymselfe in the gospell he came for synners. And in an other place of the gospell he saythe that he came for mercy and not for noo vengeaunce / and to be our shelde and strength ; and so lette vs humbly 6 with a meke herte take hym. And yf ye fele ony dredes by ymagynacyon or temptacyon or for wordes that ye haue herde or redde in bookes by the whiche ye doubte of saluacyon / than thynke on the wordes that cryste hymselfe taught to a man that doubted / sayenge and askynge of our lorde who sholde be saued / for he thoughte it was to harde to hymselfe for to eschewe all the poyntes that ledde man to pardycyon. And our lorde badde hym for to saye7 Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem creatorem cell et terre, Et in iesum christuw filium eius, Byleue sayd our lorde Ihesu that god the fader is almyghty and * that no thynge to hym is impossyble but that he may forgyue all synnes and redresse all wronges and brynge the soules to his blysse. and thynke ferthermore that his myght and power may do all that his wysdome can / and his goodnes wyl / and therfore truste fully that by his goodnes he wyll saue you and brynge you to euerlastynge loye whan he seeth best tyme / for he hath bought you full dere with his precyous blode and paynefull deth. And I dare sauely saye that there is none so synfull a caytyf whiche is crystened or wolde be crystened this daye on the erthe all 9 thoughe he were in the syght of god dampnable and in the syght of all creatures also, ye and yet were luged to be dampned by all scrypture, and he wolde forsake his synne and be contryte and aske god forgyuenes he sholde haue mercy and for- gyuenes of hym / & yf it were so that he stode in that case or had a good mynde to stonde 10 so in the tyme of deth he sholde be saued / the myght & mercy of god is so grete that it surmounteth all his lawes, lugementes and scryptures. And so our lorde Ihesus" sheweth vs by an example in the gospell of a woman that was founde in aduoutry and by Moyses lawe whiche was ordeyned by god pat she sholde be stoned to the deth : But the myght and the wysdome of that blessyd lorde god was soo gretely shewed to the phary^ens whiche accused her that they so largely perceyued theyr synnes that they myght not for shame deme her but stale awaye out of the temple, And our lorde Ihesu wolde not deme her but of his gracyous mercy forgaue her all her synnes. And therfore be a man or woman neuer soo synfull and that *2 they fele neuer soo many bodely and ghostly synnes alwaye rysynge and sterynge within them / they sholde neuer the rather dyspayre of the mercy of god / ne be dyscomforted. For there as moche synne is / there is shewed moche mercy and grace / and the goodnes of god is knowen by the forgyuenes of the synne whan a body turneth hym there-from and is very

1 H dyscomfeted. 2 H rampandly lyke a 1. * om in H. * E strengthynge. B H good- nesse. « H homely. 7 H sayd to hym Crede. « H as who seyb. » H and. »» Ej stande. " E2 Ihesu. 12 H bou^.

The remedy against the troubles of temptations. 1 13

contryte ; but god forbede as I sayd before that ony creature be the more recheles or bolde to synne wylfully / for in so moche the mercy of god is so large we ought to 'be the more besy and dylygent to loue and prayse ' hym. Almyghty god werketh lyke a leche / for a leche suffreth somtyme the deed flesshe to growe on hym that he hath in cure / but afterwarde he taketh away the same and maketh the quycke flesshe to growe / and soo he heleth the pacyent2. Ryght soo dooth our lorde Ihesu cryste maker of heuen and erth, suffreth somtyme a man or a woman to fall in deedly synne : but afterwarde of his grete mercy and pyte he putteth-to his hande of grace / for they 8 that were deedly wounded thorough 4 synne he heleth them and wassheth away theyr synnes with the water of his well* of mercy / & maketh in them quycke vertues to growe wherby he gyueth to theym euerlastynge lyfe. Our lorde god is also lyke a gardyner : for a gardyner suffreth somtyme wycked wedes to growe in his gardyn / and whan the erth thomgh moysture of rayne wexeth tender he taketh & pulleth awaye the wedes bothe rote & rynde. So in lyke wyse dooth our lorde Ihesu cryst, he suffreth som- tyme in his gardyn whiche is mannes soule wycked dedes* of synne to growe / but whan the herte of man wexeth tender by mekenes and moysture of contry- cyon he than taketh away all the synnes bothe rote and rynde and planteth and setteth in his gardyn herbes and fmytes of good vertues / and watreth them with the dewe of his blessyd goodnes / wherby the soule of man shall come to euer- lastynge loye and reste. Now than sythen our lorde god is so good, so pyteous and soo mercyfull to synners that wylfully offendeth hym by cowmyttynge of horryble synnes / moche more he is mercyfull and hath pyte and compassyon of a soule that thorughe trouble and temptacyons falleth to sywne / for almyghty god snffreth often tymes the soule of man for to be tempted and vexed in with- standynge temptacyons / wherof it deseraeth the more meryte. And therfore be ye not doubtefull nor heuy for it shall neuer tourne you to peryll7 ne daunger but to grete proufyte. For therby ye shall wynne the crowne of glory e and the palme of vyctorye whiche shall be gyuen to you for withstandynge of suche temptacyons & to the fende it shall tourne to shame and confusyon ; and though it semeth to you somtyme that ye fele dyscorde bytwene god and you be not therfore recreaunt ne dyscomforted, For almyghty god sayth by his prophete Isaye: A lytell whyle I haue forsaken and hydde my face from the : but I shall call the to me agayne by my ma[ny]folde mercy es whiche euer shall endure.

^[ The fyfte chapytre.

«r\.Nnd therfore grutche not agaynst the wyll of god ne meraayle not of these temptacyons / for the more that a man or a woman be tempted in this maner or in ony other agaynst theyr wyll and they withstande it that is to saye not wyllyngly consentynge therto but mekely suffreth the same: the more they shall encreace in vertues to the proufyte of theyr soules in the syght of god thoughe it be hydde from them. For8 perauenture whan ye be sharpely tempted ye thynke ye be to dull and neglygent in ghoostly excercyse thorughe wyckednes of your spyryte that is sore trauayled and vexed / wherby ye thynke that ye haue [in]9 wyll consented to suche temptacyons as ye be tempted with; but it is not so.

» H plese. 2 H man. " H & hem. * Ej through. 5 Ez wyll. « H wedes. ' E2 perell. 6 H But. » E a.

n. 8

H* Early editions.

For ye shall vnderstonde that euery man and woman hath two wylles1, a good wyll and an euyll the euyll wyll cometh of sensualyte the whiche is euer inclynynge downwarde to synne / and the good wyll cometh of grace whiche alwaye styreth the soule vpwarde to all goodnes ; and [for] 2 whan reason cometh to you ye haue alwaye a good wyll to do well / & [ar]3 myscontent with all euyl thoughtes & sterynges that ye fele / and putteth your wyll onely to the wyll of god : though ye thrugh suche wycked thoughtes & sterynges by vyolence and sharpnes be enclyned to sensualyte yet ye do it not ne consent therto but it is the sensualyte that dooth it in you / and your good wyll abydeth in you styll vnbroken though the cloudes of euyll thoughtes stoppeth your syght from the felynge of your good wyll : as ye may se by ensample of the mone 4 / for the mone 4 shyneth alwaye in her dewe place as well whan we se her as whan we se her not, But oftenrymes the cloudes shadoweth and putteth from vs the syght therof ; and so in lyke wyse it fareth by your good wyll whiche standeth alwaye vnbroken in you by the grace of almyghty god though ye fele it not thrugh trauayllous thoughtes whiche taketh awaye the syghte of your knowlege. Therfore ye good chyldren that sharpely be vexed with suche temptacyons & tribulacions, comforte yourselfe in your benygne & mercyfull fader that sayth to you by his pr<?phete in holy wryte : my chyldren though ye go in be fyre drede ye not / for pe flambe therof shall not trouble you. As who sayth ye that be crysten people wyllyng5 to do well, though ye goo in6 the fyre of trybulacyons & temptacyons drede you not for it shall tourne you to no peryll / but thorugh my goodnes & the merytes of my passyon it shall tourne you to grete proufyte & comforte of your sonle. The maner of all these temptacions & be remedyes of foe same sheweth our sauyour Ihf.ru cryst to his apostle saynt Peter as it appereth in be gospel where he sayth thus : Peter sathanas asketh & desyreth to syfte the as men syfte whete wherby7 it appereth well pat the fende hath no myght ne power to atte/wpte be seruauwtes of almyghty god but by his suffrauwce / & that was euydently knowen by the temptacyons of lob whome the fende besyfted and tempted. For* pe more pat whete is syfted & cast from syde to syde the more clene it is : Ryght so the more pat a man or a woman be tempted with the fende ayenst theyr wyll / the more clene they be afore god / wherfore it appereth playnly pat almyghty god suffreth not his seruauwtes to be tempted but for theyr grete wele & profyte yf they pur- pose them-selfe myghtely to withstande the fendes temptacyon ; whiche no man may withstande without the helpe of god, Therfore of his helpe he maketh vs sure lyke as he sayd to peter these wordes : I haue prayed for the that thy fayth fayle the not. And therfore that man whiche pacyently is redy to suffire all troubles and dyseases for the loue of his maker almyghty Ihesu not takynge hede of all the fendes mocyons and temptacyons: that man thrugh the myght and grace of cryst bereth downe and ouercometh the fende / wherby he may be called a vaynquyssher or ouercomer. And to suche men may be sayd thus : thou that arte thus tourned to almyghty god by the vertue of pacyence / but yf thou helpe to counseyle & conferme thy bretherne And teche them to suffre as the grace of god hath taught the: or8 elles thou arte vnkynde. For Salamon sayth that one brother well counseylled & confermed by an other9 is a myghty Cyte ayenst the

1 Ez wyllys. 2 E therfore. 3 E as. * H sunne. * E wyllyngly. « E in to. " H in as myche as Sathanas askej) bis, it schewej) welle &c. * al. om. 9 well— other al. om.

The remedy against the troubles of temptations. 115

fende and therfore they that be sharpely trauaylled and tempted, whan they haue had' the good counseyle of theyr brother they ought to take comforte to them sayenge with Dauid whiche sayth : O my soule why arte thou so vnstedfast thus to assayle and trouble me : trust onely to almyghty god that is full of benygnyte and mercy, whome I onely confesse and knowelege to seme be I neuer so sore trauaylled ne troubled. And to suche men thus vexed with thoughtes, mocyons & sterynges is behouefull to take the counseyle and techynge of the l wyse and dyscrete persones fleynge vtterly theyr owne wylde fantasyes whiche often tymes gretely troubleth them. And in eschewynge 2 of suche temptacyons and troubles they must gyue them- selfe to good & vertuous occupacyons / as to redynge and sayenge the seruyce of almyghty god / and doynge other vertuous dedes / and euer amonge prayenge to almyghty god they may haue strength in theyr soules to resyste suche mocyons and temptacyons. And though they fynde in themselfe noo maner of swetenes ne sauour in goddes seruyce : yet they ought not to be heuy therfore yf theyr wyll and mynde be to fulfyll the same. For as holy wryte sayth euery good wyl is accepted for the dede. Saynt Barnarde sayth that somtyme god withdraweth deuocyon from prayer to make the prayer more medefull / for he wyll be serued somtyme in bytternes and somtyme in swetenes whiche bothe two we muste mekely receyue. And therfore1 Arystotle sayth that with the more dyffyculte and trauayle vertuous3 ben goten: the more they proufyte and encrease in the soule. It was no maystry for saynt Peter whan he sawe almyghty god on the hyll of blysse, to saye / lorde it is good for vs to dwell here. But afterwarde whan he sawe hym amonges his enemyes cruelly turmented a womans worde fered and put hym 'm suche drede that he forsoke and denyed his mayster. But whan thorugh the myght of the holy ghoost he was reconsyled and confermed agayne : than was there no turment in erth that kinge or prynce put vnto hym coude fere hym. Ryght so yf a man be in perfyte rest and quyetnes of herte / it is no maystry for hym to seme god : But it is a maystry to hym that is in trauayle and out of quyetnes of herte to serue hym. Therfore that creature that is tempted or vexed in the seruyce of almyghty god and is in wyll to withstande the sayd temptacyons tyll he after be strengthed and comforted by the holy ghost the fende shall neuer haue power to fere ne put hym in drede / for though it be longe or he fele comforte yet let not hym drede / for our mercyfull sauyour knoweth what tyme comforte is moost nedefull to hym [&] than4 he fayleth not to gyue it hym. For somtyme the felynge of swetnes is withdrawen from man or* elles he sholde wexe proude and presumtuous or neglygent and recheles in ver- tuous lyuynge / and therfore it is withdrawen for the best to the helth of his soule / wherfore hardnes and sharpenes sente to a creature is full proufytable to the soule : as saynt Austyn sayth in techynge vs of the .maner of almyghty god that whan a man is feble and newly tourned to hym he gyueth hym peas and swetnes to the entent to stablysshe hym in his lawe and loue / But whan he is stablysshed and sadly grounded in his loue: than suffreth he hym to be vexed and trauaylled, for two reasons / one is to proue hym and to crowne hym the hyer in the blysse of heuen, An other is to pourge hym of his synnes in this worlde that in noo wyse he be from hym in the euerlastynge worlde.

1 al. om. 2 H in the mene tyme. 3 r. vertues. * Es wha«. * H for.

8*

j j£ Early editions.

^ The syxte chapytre.

./\Nd for as moche as many men can not nor wyll not in tyme of temptacion se or perceyue it but haue a dredefulnes and a sorynes in themselfe by sterynge of theyr compleccyon / therfore to all suche men thre thynges be nedefull & necessarye. The fyrst is that they be not moche alone. The seconde is that they thynke ne study to depely in ony one1 thynge / but fully ordre2 them by some dyscrete persone as afore I sayd / and thoughe it come in theyr mynde that they sholde be in leopardye or peryll vtterly to be lost : they sholde take no hede of suche sterynges or thoughtes / for it neuer may tourne them to daunger of theyr soules. Almyghty god sayth in the gospell : yf the entent of a mannes purpose be good the dede is good. The thyrde remedye is this / that for as moche as the fende laboureth to make a man dredefull and sorye / a man agayne ought to the honour of god and confusyon of the fende to strength hymselfe and be mery though it be ayenst his herte / and drede noothynge the fendes malyce. For the lesse gladnes that he feleth in hymselfe the more meryte he shall haue whan he so enforceth hymselfe to be mery to the honour of god / and in spyte of his ghoostly enemy the deuyll. For as holy wryte sayth the holy appostles wente awaye mery & gladde whan the lues enemyes of god had shamefully beten them. Also a man ought to be gladde for thre causes whan the fende tempteth and rurmenteth hym : The fyrst is that he is troubled by the enemy of god. The seconde is by suche temptacyons and turmentes the fende sheweth playnly that he is his enemye, and euery man ought to be gladde that goddes enemy is his enemy. And the thyrde is that by suche turmentes a man is not onely released3 of the paynes in purgatorye but also it maketh hym to wywne euerlastynge blysse. Our lorde Ihesu sayth in the gospell: blessyd be they that suffreth persecucyon for ryghtwysnes for they shall haue the kyngdome of heuen.

^f The seuenth chapytre.

x\Lso it is to vnderstonde that our olde enemy the fende is ofte tymes aboute to begyle mannes soule in dyuers and many maners / somtyme he styreth man vnder colour of goodnes to deceyue hym whan he is well dysposed, and specyally in thre thynges whiche I wyll speke of. One is that though a creature be it man or woman be neuer so well ne soo ofte shryuen / yet the fende maketh them byleue they are not well shryuen / and that he dooth to brynge the soule in heuynes / and so anoyeth & tronbleth the poore soule that he maketh hym to forgete what he wolde saye / & therby maketh hym out of rest tyll he be newly shryuen agayne. But this doth he not for that he wolde that ony were often and well shryuen : but fully to lette and trouble hym / and to make hym byleue that he were blynded by synne and out of grace wherfore he myght not make hymselfe clene. The seconde whyle and colour that the fende maketh to with- drawe goodnes is th[is]4 whan a man or a5 woman by deuout sterynges of thoughtes haue felynges of contemplacyon and medytacyon as perauenture some solytarye persones hath: and he maketh them to thynke that to holde & kepe that medy- tacyons is to theyr moost proufyte to thentent they sholde leue theyr dyuyne

om. in E2. 2 H reule. 3 £2 releyshed. « E that. * om. in E2.

The remedy against the troubles of temptations. 117

seruyce that they be bounde to / and bryngeth them in suche a combraunce that they wote not whyche waye is best to them to take ; and all this he dooth vtterly to deceyue them and cause them to be vnquyet to doo ony of theym bothe. The thyrde crafte or wyle that he tempteth with is whan a man or a woman gyueth them to honest dysporte to strength themselfe ayenst his false wyles to the corn- forte of theyr owne soule1 / than wyll the fende cause theym to haue a con- scyence therof / and putteth in to theyr myndes that all suche dysportes2 is but synne and vanyte, And many tymes bryngeth in to theyr myndes agayne the synnes that they before had done and were confessed of; And all that dooth he to brynge them in to heuynes and dyscomforte to thentent he 'myght brynge theym to dyspayre. Neuertheles there be good remedyes in these temptacyons. For as vnto the [first]3 where the fende4 whan they be neuer so clene shryuen alwaye putteth them in a doubte that they haue not shryuen them well or elles that there is yet some synne in theym that they perceyue not : but 5 for all these fantasyes they oughte to take noo fere nor thought but verayly thynke that it is by sug- gestyon of theyr ghostly enemy that wolde lette theym from rest and peas of theyr soules ; and though it be so somtyme that by the meane of suche fantasyes and troubles they forgete some thynge of theyr charge whiche they ought for to haue sayd : lette hym than be confessed yf he may, and yf he may not con- uenyently and lyghtly haue his confessour: than lette hym haue a full wyll and purpose to be confessed as soone8 as he can possyble, And in the meane tyme crye god mercy and with a contryte herte aske forgyuenes for his synnes / and than trust fully it is forgyuen hym ; for a man is not soo redy to aske forgyuenes and mercy: but our mercyfull lorde of his grete goodnes is moche more redy to forgyue theym. And as to the seconde temptacyon wherby the fende wolde lette a man from his dyuyne seruyce that he is bounde vnto vtterly temptynge hym to leue it: than ought he to be the more dylygent deuoutly & reuerently with good aduysement to saye it; & yf it be so he say alone his seruyce he may whan good thoughtes come or that it wyll please god with swetenes or some hye vysytacyon of the holy ghoost to vysyte and touche hym7 / than shall it be but well done for to stynte of his seruyce & attende to that medytacyon for a tyme, and after to saye forth / soo that his seruyce that he is bounde vnto be not lefte vnsayd or vndone ; and in thus doynge it shall be but lytell lettynge to his seruyce / and he shall fynde grete comforte and ease therin ; For though it lette hym for the tyme : it shall well further hym to the quyckenes of his soule an other tyme. The thyrde temptacyon is this: whan a man in due tyme gyueth hymselfe to honest company & dysporte for the strength and comforte of his soule / and the fende putteth in his mynde his synnes tofore8 done and that he synneth in vayne spendynge the tyme; for all sxiche temptaczons gyue ye no charge for it is the ghostly enemy that so tempteth and troubleth you ; For neuertheles ye may be sure that all thynge whiche is truly grounded in god pleaseth his goodnes & nothynge offendeth hym. Wherfore all goddes seruauntes must grounde them fastely in god / and do by the cou«seyle of holy chyrche / and yf they soo doo they shall neuer be deceyued / and therfore a man that

1 Ey soules. * EI dysporte. 3 E last. « E adds: putteth them in a fere / whan they dyspose them to honest dysporte. And also &c. » al. om. •?« sowne. ' E» hem.

8 Ez before.

j jg Early editions.

hath ben sore troubled wel done it is to take hym to dysporte in dyspyte of the fende / and put awaye all other fantasyes / and at tyme conuenyent to aske god mercy of his offences and to praye vnto hym for grace.

^f The eyght chapytre.

jT\.Lso the fende is full besy to meue1 men & women to2 tender conscience/ and1 to brynge them in suche erroures and3 maketh them wene somtyme whan they do euyll they do noo synne, And somtyme that is well done they thynke it synne, and maketh a venyall synne as greuous as a deedly ; And somtyme also the fende encombreth them so gretely that what soeuer they do or leue4 vndone they be so sore bytten in conscyence that they can no whyle togyder haue ony rest in themselfe. And all this the cruell enemy dooth by the meane of puttynge them in a false drede and blynde conscyence that he bryngeth them to. But the remedy of these and all other temptacyons is to be gouerned by theyr con- fessour or some other dyscrete persone / and fully put them to theyr rule as afore is sayd and nothynge folowe theyr owne blynde conscyence ; For yf they folowe theyr owne conscyence it were a grete pryde / in that he wolde holde his owne wytte better than the true counseyle of holy chyrche. For5 a man that so wyll doo must nedes fall in grete errours and in to the fendes handes. And yf suche an errour of cowscyence made to you by your ghostly enemy make you thynke that other men fele not that ye fele And for that cause they can not gyue you good counseyle or remedye, And therfore ye nedes must folowe youre owne fantasyes : yet for all this charge not your herte therwith / but put away all suche errours of cowscyence as fast as they come to mynde / and let them not tarye ne sinke in your sonle. And yf ony persone wyll saye that they may not ne can not put theym awaye they saye not truly / for who so is in very wyll to doo away ony suche false suggestyon, tofore6 god it is put awaye though they haue in them neuer soo false demynges / and therfore haue he 7 neuer so many of them ayenst the wyll of his conscyence: he nedeth not to drede them. For out of doubte almyghty god wyll comforte hym or he dye / and the lenger tyme that he suffreth suche vexacyon and trouble the more is he thankefull8 in the syght of god.

^f The nynth chapytre.

.r\Lso though the fende put in you ony thought of dyspayre or make you to thynke that in the houre of deth ye shall haue suche euyll thoughtes and greuous sterynges / and that ye than shall be but lost: yet for all that byleue hym noo thynge / but answere that ye haue fully put your truste in god / and therfore for all his temptacions by the grete power of almyghty god and merytes of his passyon thynke verayly it shall be to you noo peryll of soule / but tourne to the shame and confusyon of your ghostly enemye. And yf ony creature man or woman speke to you sharpe or dyscomfortable wordes / take it mekely and pacyently & thynke that perauenture it is done by the temptacyon of the fende to trouble and iette you / or that it is a9 chastysynge of god for some worde or dede that ye haue done contrarye to his wyll. For our lorde god dooth lyke a kynde moder ; for

* al. om. 2 H of. » H tat }>ey wene. < E loue. * H feerfore. 6 £2 before. ' E ye. * H worj>i. s om. in £2.

The remedy against the troubles of temptations. Iig

a louynge moder that is wyse and well taught herselfe she wolde that her chyldren were vertuously and well nortured / and yf she may knowe ony of theym with a defaute she wyll gyue theym a knocke on the heed / and yf the defaute be more she wyll gyue hym a buffet on the cheke / and yf he doo a grete faute she wyll sharpely lasshe hym with a rodde. And thus dooth god that is our louynge fader from whome all vertue and goodnes cometh. He wyll that his specyall chosen chyldren be vertuously and well taught in theyr soules / and yf they doo a defaute he wyll knocke them on theyr hedes with some wordes of dyscomforte and dys- pleasure / and yf they doo a greter faute he wyll gyue them a buffet with grete sharpenes in sondry maners after the dyuerse condycyon of the defautes / and yf they doo a moche greter trespas than he chasryseth theym moche more sharpely. And all this our blessyd lord doth for the specyall loue he hath vnto vs / for as he sayth hymselfe : them that he loueth / them he chastyseth. Now truly, and we toke good hede of these wordes we wolde be gladder of his chastysynge than of all this worldes cherysshynge / and yf we so dyde / all dysease and trouble sholde tourne vs to comforte and loye. But it is full harde thus to doo1 in the tyme of sharpe heuynes whan a soule standeth naked from all ghoostly and bodely comforte, to take and fynde loye in«dysease; al be it2 they that be in suche inwarde dures they must seke in all wayes how they may comforte themselfe in god / and thynke and trust fully that god sente3 neuer suche chasty- synge but that he wolde in longe tyme or in shorte sende comforte wherby they sholde be brought out of these heuynes. For the prophete sayth many be the trybulacyons of ryghtwysmen / and all suche god shall delyuer. And though ye fele somtymes sterynges of [dyspayre or of] 4 vnkyndly euyll thoughtes com- forte you euer in the goodnes of god / and in the paynefull passyon that his manhode suffredde 5 for you ; for the fende tempteth many of the seruauntes of god to dysperacyon and drede of saluacyon / as well worldely men as other ghoostly lyuers / puttynge in worldely mennes myndes the greuousnesse of theyr synnes / and to the ghoostly lyuers he putteth drede & strayte conscyence in many more sondry wyses than I can tell : and full gracyously god hathe com- forted theym and brought theym out of theyr errours. And now I am styred and moued for to tell you of one of them whiche was a squyer that hyght lohn Holmes6. A narracyon. This squyer that I haue named had ben a grete synfull man and soo at the last thorugh 7 the beholdynge of his grete synnes, And by the temptacyon of the fende, he fell in to dyspayre, soo depely and greuously that he had nygh loste hys mynde. And thus he was troubled forty dayes that he myght neyther slepe ne etc but wasted awaye and was in the poynte to destroye hymselfe. But that blessyd gracyous lorde that is soo full of mercy and pyte wolde not haue hym loste. And vpon a day as he walked in a wood alone an aungell came to hym in fourme of a man and saluted the squyer full goodly / and talked with hym in full curteys maner / sayenge vnto hym : man thou semest to haue grete heuynes and sorowe / tell me I praye the the cause of thy dys- ease. Nay sayd the squyer it is not to be tolde to the. Yes hardely sayd the aungell / thou wotest not how well I may helpe and remoue thy dysease ; For a man beynge in dyscomforte 8 sholde alwaye dyscouer his heuynes to some

1 thus to doo al. om. 2 H but. 3 E2 sende. « E desyres of suche. * E suffreth. « H Horaeleys. ' £2 throught. » E2 dyscowforted.

I2O Early editions.

creature that myght ease hym / for thorugh good counseyle he myght recouer comforte and hele / or in some wyse haue remedye. The squyer answered the aungell agayne and sayd that he wyste well he neyther coude ne myght helpe hym, And therfore he wolde not tell it to hym. This sayd1 squyer wenynge2 alway that this aungell had ben an erthly man / and dredde that yf he had tolde it vnto hym he sholde haue sayd some worde that sholde vtterly haue greued hym more. And whan the aungell sawe he wolde by no way tell it vnto hym / he sayd vnto the squyer in this wyse: Now sythe thou wylte not tell me thy greue I shall tell it the. Thou arte sayd the aungell in dyspayre of thy saluacyon : but trust me faythfully thou shalte be saued / for the mercy of god is so grete that it passeth all his werkes / and surmounteth all synnes. It is sothe sayd the squyer, I wote wel that god is mercyfull, but he is also ryghtfull and his ryghtwysnes must nedes punysshe synne, And therfore I drede his ryght- full lugementes. The aungell spake vnto hym agayne and tolde hym many grete examples how gracyous and mercyfull our lorde god is to synners. But the squyer of whome we spake was so depely fallen in dyspayre that he coude take no comforte of ony thinge that he coude saye. Than the aungell spake agayne to hym in this maner : O sayd he that 3 thou arte harde of byleue ! but wylte thou haue an open shewynge that thou shalte be saued? Than sayd he to be squyer I haue here thre dyce that I wyll throwe / and thou shalte throwe them also / & who that hath moost of4 the dyce sykerly shall be saued. A sayd the squyer how myght I in this throwynge of the dyce be certayne of my saluacyon? / & helde it but a lape ; / that notwithstandynge the auwgell threwe the dyce and he had on euery of the dyce vpwarde the nombre of syxe. And he than bad the squyer throwe the dyce. O than sayd the squyer certaynly that dare I not doo / for I wote well though I caste / more than thou hast caste sholde I not cast ne haue / and yf I had lesse than sholde I fall in ferther dyscomforte. / But so specyally the aungell desyred and spake that at the last the squyer threwe the dyce / and in throwynge by the gracyous myght and power of god euery dyce deuyded 5 in two / & on euery dyce 6 was the nombre of syxe / and so he had the double that the aungell had. And as he was meruaylynge therupon the aungell vanysshed out of his syght / wherfore he thought veryly than it was an anwgell sente from god to brynge hym out of his sorowe / and than he toke moche comforte and loye in the grete mercy & goodnes of god in suche maner that all his dredes and sorowes were clene departed / and he became a vertuous man and the very seruaunt of god / and lyued blessydly. And whan he sholde7 departe from this worlde he deuysed there sholde be a stone layde vpon hym / with these wordes wryten aboute it that foloweth: Here lyeth lohfi holmes that of the mercy of god may saye a larges8. I knowe9 a worshypfull persone that was in the same abbey here in englonde where as he lyeth, that redde the same wordes afore sayd wryten on his tombe. Now than sythen our mercyfull lorde god sent10 thus his gracyous comforte to this man that was a worldly synfull man & receyued hym to grace and brought hym out of dyspayre: There sholde noo man be dyscomforted nor dyspayre of ony temptacyons / for hardely god wyll

i E sady. 2 H wend. 3 al. om. « H on. * H clafe. « H halfe. t E± wolde. * E alargys, H alageys. » EI knewe. i« £2 send.

The remedy against the troubles of temptations. 121

cowforte hym whan he seeth his tyme / and thoughe he sende not a man corn- forte shortely it shall be to his more mede / & therfore l thynke ahvaye whan ye thynke of2 ony temptacyons bodely or ghostly that ye stande in the blessynges of all holy chyrche / for holy wryte sayth : blessyd be they that suffreth temptacyons, For whan they be well proued they shall haue the crowne of lyf the whiche almyghty god hath promysed to them that loue hym.

•f The tenth chapytre.

v_/ ye chyldren of holy chyrche that hath forsaken the worlde for the helth of your soules & pryncypally to please god : comforte you in hym whome ye haue chosen to loue and serue / for he wyll be to you full free and large : as ye may se by example of Peter in the gospell where as he asked our lorde Ihesu cryst what rewarde he sholde haue that had forsaken all thynge to folowe hym, And our lorde answered hym and sayd that he sholde luge with hym the twelue trybes of kynredes of Israeli at the daye of dome ; and furthermore our lorde sayd also vnto him that not onely one or two or some / but he sayd all tho 3 that forsake for his loue kynne / frendes / possessyons / or ony erthly goodes: they shall haue in this lyfe an hondred folde more4 / and after blesse5 withouten ende. Ther- fore syster cast awaye all suche * false dredes that wolde trouble and lette you from loue and hope of our mercyfull lorde god / for no thynge pleaseth soo moche the fende as to se the soules withdrawe from the lone of god And therfore he besyeth hymselfe full sore daye and nyght to lette and trouble loue and peas in mannes soule / and on the other syde noo thynge confoundeth nor dyscomforteth hym so moche as whan he seeth a man sette all his desyre to haue the loue of god. Alas though ye fele not that feruent loue of god / shall ye by your Imagy- nacyon fall in dyscomforte and heuynes of herte / & thynke yourselfe lost? Nay , nay / put awaye all suche dyscomfortable heuynes & thynke well it cometh of your enemy the fende / & euer haue a good wyl to loue and please god / and prynte well these wordes in your herte that a good wyll is acceptefd] 6 as for a * dede in the syght of god ; and comforte you alwaye in the name of Ihesu / for Ihesu is as moche to saye as a sauyour / & therfore thynke well euer therupon / & bere it in your mynde with his passyon / and also his other grete vertues / for nothynge shall so soone put awaye all dredefull temptacyons & fantasyes as the remembraunce of this name Ihesu / his bytter passyon and gloryous vertues. These thre be shelde and spere / armure / & strength to dryue downe the fendes power be he neuer so fyersly set to tempte man or woman ; & specyally to thynke on his grete vertues : how god the fader in hymselfe hath 7 all dyuyne nature &1 in whome is all myght and power and to whome is all thynge possyble and no thynge impossyble to hym, And god the sonne is all wysdome that all thynge may make and gouerne8 / and god the holy ghoost is all loue and bounte that in a moment9 of tyme all synnes may forgyue. I saye not to you thre goddes but thre persones and one god / in whome is all blysse and glory. He is so fayre and bryght shynynge that all the aungelles meruayle of his beaute / his gloryous blessydfull 10 beaute &11 presence fedeth and fulfylleth all the courte of

i al. om. 2 H fele. 3 E2 those. « H mede. 5 E2 blysse. « E excepte. r H is. 8 H made & gouernej). » E2 mynnte. 10 H blessful. » beaute & al. om.

j22 Early editions.

heuen with suche myrthe and melody that is euerlastynge. In hym is all benyg- nyte kepynge vs from vengeaunce / and in hym is all grace and gentylnes / curtesy / fredome / and largenes / pyte / mercy / and forgyuenes / loye / swetenes / and endles helth ; our socour he is in all trybulacyons whan we call vpon hym / our comforte / our strength / our helpe / and our soules helth. Iwys syster this is [y]our spouse / whome ye desyre to loue and please ; the gretenes of his vertues ne the multytude of his loyes whiche spredeth to all them that be in the courte of heuen noo herte can thynke nor tonge tell / for the blessydnes of his pre- sence can neyther be sayd nor wryten. loye ye therfore [in (our lorde cryst Ihesu l / for he hath bought you full dere to brynge you to that blysse / and ther- fore saye to hym : O holy god in whome is all goodnes / whose pyte and mercy made the to descende from the hygh trone downe in to this wretched worlde the valay of woo and wepynge / and here to take our nature / and in that nature thou suffre[d]st payne and passyon with cruell sharpe deth to brynge our soules to thy kyngdome : Therfore mercyfull lorde forgyue me all my synnes that I haue done / thought / and sayd. Gloryous trinite sende me clennes of herte / purete of soule / restore me with thy holy vertues / strength me with thy myght / that I alway may withstande the fende and all euyll temptacyons. O good lorde co/wforte me with thy holy ghoost and fulfyll me with perfyte grace and charyte : that I may from hens forth lyue vertuously And loue the with all my herte / with all my myght and with all my soule / so that I neuer offende the but euer to folowe thy pleasures in wyll / worde / thought and dede ; now graunte me this good lorde that arte infynyte / whiche eternally shall endure. And now good syster yf ye doo thus I hope it shall do you grete ease. And thoughe ye fynde noo maner of comforte, swetnes nor deuocyon whan ye wolde / be not therfore dyscomforted / but suffre it mekely. For ryght many there be that stryue with themselfe as though they wolde haue swete deuocyon by maystry : And I saye you for trouth so wyll it not be had / but by mekenes moche sooner it may be goten, And that is as thus that a man holde and thynke hymselfe vnworthy to haue ony swetnes or comforte & offre hymselfe lowly to the wyll of god and put his wyll fully to the wyll and mercy of that blessyd lorde ; for a man sholde not desyre to haue that swetnes & deuocyon for his owne comforte and pleasaunce : but purely and onely entendynge to please god and to folowe his wyll / and than2 it suffyseth vnto vs whether we haue it or noo3. Some also weneth that and they haue not suche swetnes & deuocyon that they be out of grace : but certaynly some there be that in themselfe feleth noo swetnes nor deuocyon that be in more grace then the other that feleth4 it / for they haue many comfortes / and better it were mekenes without felynge than felynge without mekenes. Therfore syster suffre mekely and pacyently what euer falleth vnto you / & euer haue a good wyll to do that may be moost pleasynge to god / and whan ony dyscomforte cometh by temptacyon or ymagynacyon of your enemy haue the wordes in your mynde that ofte is sayd in this wrytynge before , whiche is that a good wyll shall be accepted 5 for a dede / for and ye desyre to be vertuous and to loue and please god it is accepted5 as for dede before our lorde god / yf you so folowe

1 E cryst Ihesu cryst. 2 E» wha». 3 £2 not. 4 EU fieth. * E excepted.

(Alanus de Rupe on the origin of the Rosary). 123

it with your myght and power / as whan reason cometh to you with a desyrefull wyll to lyne and doo well ; and yf ye ony tyme fele comforte & swetnes and after fele these temptacyons as ye dyde before / yet be ye not dyscomforted therfore ne thynke therupon, Say not alas it is comen agayne it wyll neuer away from me. And by the meane of your owne ymagynacyon fall agayne in discomforte ; doo not soo / but comforte you in god / & be gladde that the fende hath enuy vnto you / for whyle the lyfe is in the body he wyll alwaye trouble and tary the seruauwtes of god / he is so fully sette ayenst them with al malyce to dysease and dyscomforte theym in all the dyuerse maners that he can or may. Saynt Augustyne sayth pat * in many maner wayes temptacyons be hadde by the whiche the serpent adder enemye to all mankynde tourmenteth mannes soule. And saynt Gregorye sayth that there is noo thynge in the worlde [in] whiche we ought to be soo syker of god as whan we haue2 these tourmentes and troubles. And yf a man saye that bodely turmentes be medeful and not ghoostly turmentes he sayth not ryght / for doubtles the ghoostly tourmentes be more greuous and paynefull that come ayenst mannes wyll than be bodyly tourmentes / and soo moche more be they medemll3 / and therfore many men doo dyshonour to god that sayth with full aduysement that the fende in this world may more turment than god may gyue meryte / wherfore truly there is no thywge more medefull, charytable nor more godly than for to strength and comforte the soule that the fende soo troubleth / for who so comforteth them that be dyssolate and in sorowe the lorde of comforte Ihesu cryste our lorde and god wyll comforte them without ende in the blysse of heuen / the whiche lorde thorugh the myght and meryte of his paynefull passyon and precyous blode hath put downe be power of pe fendes4 / & hath grauwted to crysten soules the vyctory ouer them to the worscyp* of all the hole trynyte / fader / sone / and holy ghoost that lyueth & reyneth with- outen ende. Amen.

^[ Here endeth be, remedy ayenst the troubles of temptacyons.

130

^[ Here begynneth a deuoute medytacyow in sayenge deuoutly pe psalter of our lady w/'t^ dyuers ensamples. (Picture: Mary and the child).

(Translated from Alanus de Rupe , see Beati Alani Redivivi Rupensis tractatus mirabilis de ortu atque progressu Psalterii Christi & Mariae, ejusque Confraterni- tatis, auctore J. A. Coppestein, Venet. 1665, Cap. 59, p. 416)".

JL He gloryous mayster lohn of the mouwte in his moryall 7 telleth / whiche also I fouwde in pe boke of frere Thomas of the temple. In the tyme pat8 moost blessyd Domynyck the noble fader and leder moost famouse of pe ordre of prechers / preched throughout the worlde in many regyons and9 exhorted in- cessau#tly pe people to the laude and prayse of foe blessyd marye vyrgyn vnde- fyled / & to her angelyke cowfraternyte : It fortuned hym to preche at Rome in the audyence of the grete prelates of the worlde, and shewed by fygures and examples this blessyd vyrgyn to be saluted moost specyally by her psalter. All they meruaylled of thaffluence of his wordes 10, They were astonyed at the

1 E l>e. 2 E gaue. 3 E nedefull. * E fondes. » E worstyp. e Cf. Act. SS. Boll. 4 Aug., S. Dominicus, Proleg. § 3; 2; 19. ' r. Mariale. » E {ie? 9 r. he? »« E2 worde.

J24 Early editions.

grete wonders. To whome he sayd : O faythfull and true lordes and other true louers of the fayth: here this synguler holsome sayenge to you all / that ye may veryly knowe those thynges whiche I haue spoken to be true: Take the psalter of this blessyd vyrgyne / and in sayenge it: call deuoutely- vnto1 your remembraunce the passyon of cryste : Thus I shewe vnto you that ye shall haue in experyence the spyryte of god2. Truely soo greate a flambe may not stonde in ony place without makynge hote, Neyther soo grete lyghte without gyuynge lyght / nor soo godly a medycyne without the vertue of makynge hole. What sholde I saye more? all the people gaue audyence and in maner astonyed: they meruaylled of his godly wordes / [&] many persones not onely of the comyn people but also of grete prelates of the chyrche as reuerende cardynalles and many honourable bysshoppes toke vpon them to saye this psalter of our lady / to thentent they myght gete some grace of almyghty god. A meruayllous thynge : The cyte beynge in trouble / dyuerse multyplycacyon 3 of prayers was [made] amonges4 the people in euery state or degre. For truly thou myght se bothe mornynge / euenynge / and at myddaye men and women euerywhere berynge the psalter of our lady. Cardynalles whiche be named the pyllers of the worlde and bysshoppes shamed not to bere in theyr handes & at theyr gyrdelles these soo grete tokens of the godhede and of our fayth veryly to be byleued. Truely by the myracles of our lady shewed by saynt Domynyck they doubted not but in excercysynge of this psalter5 goddes helpe to be redy at all tymes. What more? All that dyde assaye this psalter perceyued some knowlege of the pyte of god. And amonges4 all I shall shewe this wonder or myracle onely folowynge.

At Rome was a certayne mysdysposed woman of her body, moost famouse aboue all other lyke dysposed / in beaute / eloquence / apparayle / and worldly gladnes / whiche fortuned gracyously to haue the psalter of our lady by thaduyse8 of holy saynt Domynyk / whiche she hydde vnder her kyrtell and sayd it many tymes on the daye. But alas she neuertheles vsed the vnlawfull flesshely pleasure and vnclennes of her body aboue all other / more men resorted to her than to ony other woman of suche vayne dysposycyon. This woman, named fayre Katheryne for the incomperable beaute of her body, contynued in her mysse-lyuynge " j and ones on the day at the leest she dyde vysyte the chyrche sayenge the psalter of our lady / and thus was her medytacyon and thought: The fyrst fyfty she sayd for the infancye of cryst in the whiche he bare all his passyon to come / and yf it were not at that tyme in execncyon / neuertheles it was in his entent and mynde. The seconde fyfty she sayd for crystes passyon exhybyte and done ryally8 lyke as he suffred in his manhode. The thyrde fyfty she sayd for the passyon of cryste as it was in his godhede / not bycause the godhede as the god- hede myght suffre / but bycause this infynyte godhede loued so moche the nature of man / that yf it had ben mortall it sholde haue suffred deth ; Therfore by- eause the eternall wysdome of god in hymselfe myght not dye for vs / he toke vpon hym our manhode / whiche his wyll was sholde suffre passyon & dye for all mankynde. And as this fayre Katheryne thus contynued in prayenge / it happened on a season as she wente aboute Rome wandrynge after her olde

1 Ej ynto. 2 EI&Z add: bothe in sayenge and in forgyuynge (a senseless addition). 3 Ej aultyplycacyows. « Ej amonge. 5 C in tali exercitio. « C ex manibus. 7 C Perseuerauit .. in suo psalterio. * E royally.

(Alanus de Rupe on the origin of the Rosary). 125

maner ' a meraayllous fayre man mette her & sayd: Heyle Katheryne / why stondest thou here / hast thou noo dwellynge place? To whome she answered sayenge : Syr I haue a dwellynge place and euery thynge in it ordred to the best and goodlyest maner. To whome he sayd: This nyghte wyll I soupe with the. She answered: I graunt with all myne herte / and what soeuer thou wylte haue I shall gladly pre- pare. Thus goynge hande in hande they came vnto her hous where as were many wenches of lyke dysposycyon. Souper was prepared and this vnknowen geste sate with fayre Katheryne / the one dranke to the other. But euery thynge that this strauwge geste touched / were it drynke or other thynge lyke * / anone turned 2 in to blody colour, vrit/i a meruayllous excellent smell & swete sauour. She meruay- lynge sayd to hym : Syr what arte thou / eyther it is not well vrit/i me * elles thou arte very meruaylous / for euery thinge that thou touchest is anone made of blody colour. And he answered sayenge : Knowest thou not that a crysten man neyther eteth nor drynketh but that is dyed or coloured with the blode of cryste. Thus this woman was meruayllously abasshed of this straunger / soo moche that she fered for to touche hym. Notwithstondynge she sayd : Syr I well perceyue by your countenaunce that ye be a man of grete reuerewce : I beseche you who4 be ye / and from whens come5 ye? To whome he sayd: Whan we be togyder in thy chaumbre / I shall shewe the all thyn askynges. And thus lefte in doubte of the mater : she made redy the chaumbre. This woman Katheryne wente fyrst to bedde / & desyred the straunger to come to bedde to her. A wonderful thynge and suche one as in maner neuer was herde of ony creature : Sodeynly this straunger chaunged hymselfe in to the shappe of a lytell chylde / bare vpon his heed a crowne of thorne / vpon his sholder a crosse / and tokens of his passyon with innumerable woundes vpon all his body / and sayd vnto Katheryne : O Katheryne now leue thy folysshenes. Beholde / now thou seest the passyon of Cryste veryly as it was in his infancye for the whiche thou sayd the fyrst fyfty of thy psalter. I shewe vnto the / that from the fyrste houre of my concepcyon vnto my deth I bare contynually this payne in myne herte / whiche for thy sake was soo grete that yf euery lytell pece or stone of grauell in pe see were a chylde and euery one of them had as moche payne as euer suffred al the men in the worlde at theyr deth : yet all they togyder suffre not so grete payne as I suffred for the. This woman was sore abasshed seynge and herynge this wonder. And anone agayne he was tourned in to the lykenes of a man, euen after the same fourme whiche he had the tyme of his passyon ryall6, And sayde : Doughter beholde now thou seest how grete paynes I suffered for the / whiche dooth excede all the paynes of helle / for my power of suffrynge is of god and not of man. And my passyon was so grete that yf it had ben deuyded amonge all creatures of the worlde / they sholde all haue dyed or ben dystroyed. After this sey[i]nge he chauwged hymselfe in to the clerenes of the sonne / notwithstandynge the tokens of his passyon remaynynge also gloryously 7 / in all his woundes were sene al and infynyte creatures of the worlde for com- passyon of the same / and he sayd vnto her:

(new page, and picture)

1 om. in E2; C aliquid simile. - £2 all it t. » C nut sum insana, aut cuncta quae tangitis fiunt sanguinea. * Ej whome. s £2 came. • E royall. 1 EI & 2 add : he apered.

I26 Early editions.

JjEholde / take hede / now thou seest what I suffred l in my godhede for thyn helth ; syth all thynges be in me and I in euery thynge / in all these I se the / I loue the / & in them all I am redy to suffre eternally the payne for thy soules helth whiche thou seest, for my loue is .infynyte (after saynt Dyonyse) and all thynges in me be infynyte as the same Dyonyse sheweth. Therfore knowe the mekenes2 of god / and call to mynde the threfolde passyon of cryste / for the whiche thou sayd thryse fyfty Aues / & fyftene Pater nosters, And here after amende thyselfe / that as thou were before the example of all malyce and vnclene lyuynge / soo now from this tyme forwarde [pou] lyue in suche maner that thou may be to all other a myrrour of purete and clennes. I do not appere to the for thy merytes but onely for an example of penaunce / and bycause thy brethren and systers of myn vndefyled moders fraternyte haue prayed for the / that by thy conuersacyon many sholde be conuerted and be the chyldren of god / lyke as before innumerable were made the chyldren of the deuyll by thy wyckednes.

What more? This vysyon vanysshed awaye. It was also vnfayned3 / for the woman afterwarde felte in her handes and fete the sorowe of crystes passyon / and in other partes of her body. Therfore she rose from synne & toke her to penauwce / and on the morowe after made her confessyon to saynt Domynyk ; to whome he enioyned4 in penaunce to saye the psalter of the blessyd vyrgyn Marye as she was wonte to doo, and to be one of her fraternyte / whyche she had not before in dede but onely in purpose and entent 5 as it is afore sayd ; where it is to be noted how moche this sayd fraternyte is worth to them whiche haue it in dede / syth it was soo grete valure8 to this woman hauynge it but in purpose. [&] whyles that she prayed deuoutely vnto this vyrgyn Marye / the same blessyd lady appered to her with saynt Katheryne, sayenge to her : Doughter beholde / take hede / thou hast synned moche : therfore thou must suffre grete penaunce ; for this cause take in penaunce euery daye thre dyscyplynes or thre correccyons / wherof euery one shall be of .lv. strokes whiche make a penytewcyall psalter. She sayd also / it shall not alwaye nede to haue a rodde / but prycke the with thy nayles / or pynche thy flesshe in euery place. Thou mayst at all tymes doo this penaunce ayenst euery wycked temptacyon and for to obteyne all goodnes / and this is aroyall7, preuy penaunce and naturall, It may be called the quene of all penaunces. This woman herde all these wordes and fulfylled them in dede. And as she was thus dayly penytent : vpon a tyme saynt Domynyk auau«ced 8 by the power of god sawe in the nyght a wonderfull thynge to all the worlde. He perceyued that from the hous of this same 9 Katheryne yssued out .lv. nodes from the membres of a lytell chyld/ ewhiche nodes descended to hell40, in whose comynge the soules, there to be purged, were gretely comforted. O how grete and loyfull noyses made they than : how many blessynges gaue they vnto this sayd Katheryne ; veryly the erth sounded agayne to theyr voyces for loye. There were soules delyuered / comforted / made hole & excluded from theyr paynes, by the medyta- cyon that Katheryne had of crystes passyon in his chyldehode. She was alwaye aboute to applye it to the comforte of all true crysten soules departed out of this worlde. O meruaylous thynge : After this saynt Domynyk sawe a man entre

1 C patior nunc. 2 c clementiam. a c Disparet visio, nee fuit inanis. « Ez inioyne. 5 E2 intent. « E2 of v. ' Ez ryall. « C sublimatus ; r. anhaunsed. • E2 saynt. 10 C ad purgatorium.

(Alanus de Rupe on the origin of the Rosary . 127

in to Katheryns chaumbre / & from .v. [woundes] l of his body yssewed out .lv. [fountaynes] ' whiche nourysshed and watred all the chyrche mylytante / and also this present worlde ; trees and plantes dyde burgyn / byrdes and fysshes were quyckened / true crysten people were bathed in those flodes3. O how grete swetenes was there and how grete worldly gladnes. All creatures blessyd this woman Katheryne and prayed for her to almyghty god maker of all thynges. And these two meruaylles were shewed for the fyrst fyfty and the seconde. And where as this penytent Katheryne began the thyrde fyfty of her psalter, Saynt Domynyk sawe a meruaylous grete gyaunt clerer than the lyght 4 / of whome yssewed out fyue fountaynes / of the fyue fountaynes sprange fyfty * flodes whiche neyther descended to therth / nor to hell / but meruayllously ascended togyder vnto heuen, And by them all heuenly paradyse was watred. Theyr swetenes was so grete that the aungelles and holy sayntes dyde drynke of theym / gyuynge grete thankes to almyghty god. Whan saynt Domynyck sawe all these meruaylles as Thomas of the temple wryteth: he meruaylled gretly why they sholde be shewed and done in the hous of so grete a synner. To whome marye the vyrgyn appered and sayd : O my frende Domynyk why doost thou meruayle in suche causes? Knowest thou not I am a frende to all synners and that the mekenes of god is in me? It was my wyll to shewe these vysyons to the of this my doughter that thou sholde preche them to the worlde / for this entent that no crysten persone be theyr synnes neuer so grete sholde dyspayre in ony condycyon / but alwaye trust in god and his mercy / and namely they that wyll flee vnder my proteccyon with this woman Katheryne. "The holy vyrgyn and martyr saynt Katheryne socoured her very moche whiche alwaye she loued and serued with some prayer from her yonge aege / for the congruence of the name6. More ouer the blessyd moder of god sayd : O Domynyk thou haste sene these meruaylles : Here now and preche that I soo holy and meke shall saye. Shewe that I haue purchased of iny sone to all suche as sayth my psalter and are of my fraternyte / they shall haue the same excellence whiche the sayd Katheryne hath. & though they can not se it in this worlde, lykewyse as men can not se god / his aungelles / the deuylles / neyther theyr merytes and vertues in this lyfe, Also they can not se the vertue of a precyous stone 7 nor of the sterres : therfore the knowlege of heuenly thynges must be moche ferther from them ; Notwithstowdynge they shall beholde this excellence after theyr deth. Therfore Domynyk be of good comforte [&] preche my psalter & my fraternyte / for vnto all suche as hath them I haue purchased not onely to se this excellence / but also to haue it eternally in possessyon. What

sholde I saye more? Saynt Domynyck gaue thankes to almyghty god for his grete mercy. And this Katheryne made herselfe a recluse [&] she dystrybuted her goodes to the poore people. Whiche afterwarde was of so grete holynes that many8 very holy persones came vnto her bycause of her godly reuelacyons. To whome appered our lorde Ihesu .c.9 dayes & fyfty before her departynge out of this lyfe shewynge the tyme of her deth / whiche afterwarde departed out of this lyfe very holy. Thre holy vyrgyns one named lohanne I0 / an other Martha / the thyrde Lucya11 sawe her soule departe from the body bryghter than the sonne /

1 E fountaynes. 2 E woundes. 3 Ej flode. 4 C luce solari clariorem. * C .lv.

«-6 om in C. " C magnetis. * £2 very many. • Ej a hundreth; C ante dies xv mortis suae. 10 EZ lohane. n £2 Lucie.

128 Early editions.

bytwene the armes of her spouse cryst. Her sepulture is in the chyrche of saynt lohfi l lateranence. All crysten people by this take hede of how grete vertue the psalter of our lady is with the remembraunce of crystes passyon / it is alwaye in strength bothe in lyf and at the houre of deth. Therfore let vs prayse and laude our lorde Ihesu and Marye his moder in theyr psalter / to thentent we may deserue to haue the loyes of heuen / here by grace / & after this lyfe by glorye.

^[ Here endeth a deuoute medytacyon in sayenge deuoutly the psalter of our lady with dyuers ensamples. Enprynted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the sonne. By Wynkyn de Worde. Anno domini .M.ccccc.viii. the fourth daye of February2.

1 £2 lohann. 2 EZ The yere of our lorde M.CCCCC.XIX. the .xxi. daye of lanuarius.

The Psalter,

Ms. Vespas. D vn.

This translation of the Psalter is extant in 3 northern Mss. : Vespas. D VII, Egerton 614, and Harl. 1770* , and was ed. from Ms. Vesp., together with the Latin Psalter and an ags (Northumbrian) interlinear gloss from Ms. Vesp. A I, by J. Stevenson, Surtees Soc., 2 voll., 1843 — 7i hence it is known as the Surtees Psalter. A note in Ms. Vesp. by a later hand describes it as »Psalterium Davidis in metra anglicana antiquis temporibus elegantissime translatum, cuius operis bina etiam reperiuntur exemplaria in Bibliotheca Bodliana«. Ms. Vesp. is the oldest, and purest and most correct; Ms. Eg. frequently changes the text, by forming 4 lines out of 2 , and vice versa , and sometimes introducing cross rhymes ; Ms. Harl. combines Vesp. and Eg., besides making changes of its own, by contracting 4 lines into 2, but at the end (from Ps. 109) closely follows Vesp.2 Stevenson places Ms. Vesp. in the middle of Edward II's reign; this is a mistake, the Ms. is not earlier than 1350, and the 2 other Mss. are still later. Nevertheless, language and style , and the comparative rarity of French terms , give the impression of antiquity. All the Mss. are Yorkshire: Ms. Vesp. seems to belong to the neigh- bourhood of R. Rolle ; Ms. Eg. with its frequent o-forms, to South Yorkshire; Ms. Harl, which is marked as »Liber Monasterii de Kirkham«, was most likely written at that priory. It should be noted that in all the Mss. the -en endings of the Pres. Plur. are frequent. A tradition ascribes this Psalter to R. Rolle (see note). But R. Rolle is already the author of the prose translation and exposition, ed. by Bramley Oxf. 1884. 3 Comparing the two , we find that the prose work frequently uses the same terms, and repeats whole verses in almost identical

1 Ms. Vesp. D VII, a small vol. in 8, 104 foil., is written in a small, but clear and neat Yorkshire hand of about 1350 ; the writing is somewhat pale, so that the dashes on f, t, g, d, 11 are not always distinct. The inscription: Sum liber Vincencii Mundy, and Sum Guil. Charci, give the names of former owners. The initials are uniformly red, the Latin beginnings of the psalms and of the verses are given on the right margin , the former in red, the latter in black. Ms. Egert. 614, 4°, 99 foil., was written about 1360 — 70. The Latin beginnings of the psalms, and of the single verses, are written over the Engl. text, and the initials are given to the Latin words. Former owners were Gilbert Barrell, and John Fauntleroy. A fly-leaf in the beginning bears the modern notes: »I conceive this Psalter to be wrote in the 13th century, by the Charac- ter & Language. J. W.«, and: Videtur hoc Psalterium in linguam anglicanam transtulisse et versibus haud elegantibus concinasse Richardus de Hampole, vero nomine Rollus , gente Anglus, Ebor. comit., ord. August., eremita; in coenobio Hampoliense prope Doncastrum vixit; obiit anno 1349. Praeter hoc varia scripsit. Vide Cave hist. lit. vol. i p. 35 Append.c Ms. Harl. 1770, fol., in 241 leaves, marked as Liber Monasterii de Kirkham, is written in a large northern hand of ab. 1380. The contents are given in the title: Psalterium triplicatum, in verbis latinis, gallicis, et anglicanis. The first part, f. i — 158, contains the Latin Psalter with a French translation in parallel column ; the psalms are followed by the Canticles. The Engl. metrical Psalter follows f. 158 — 241. Both the Latin-French and the English Psalters are accom- panied, at the bottom, by the Psalterium Marianum ascribed to Albertus Magnus (ed., with an "ngl. transl. in verse, in tVernon poems«), and, in a 2nd column, Latin prayers, as thus :

Ave virgo virginum, parens absque pari, Sine viri semine digna fecundari, Fac nos legem domini crebro meditari Et in regni gloria beatificari.

Effice nos domine deus noster tanquam fructiferum lignum ante conspectum glorie tue , ut tuis ymbribus cotidie irrigati, mereamur tibi suauium fructuum_uber- tate placere, per . .

In the Engl. Psalter, however, the Psalt. Marianum and the Prayers, are only partially given (last stanza : Ave solis ciuitas in quam introiuit, fol. i6sh).

2 These alterations in Eg. and Harl. have mostly been made without reference being had to the Latin Psalter, and do not help the sense.

* Another old English prose Psalter was ed. by Biilbring, EETS 1891 ; it frequently para- phrases the text.

H. q

I30

The Psalms.

words ; and there can be no doubt that the prose translator is largely indebted to the older Psalter. The greater freedom from French words and the archaic character of the older Psalter do not of necessity imply another author. In a transition time , an author may write very differently when a young man , and when advanced in years. R. Rolle died in 1349 an old man, and his earlier life belongs to the 13th century. The metrical Psalter might well be a work of his youth, his first attempt. The question is one of difficulty, and I cannot now attempt to solve it.1 But that the Psalter belongs to Yorkshire, is to me beyond doubt; and therefore I include it here, the more so as the recently edited prose Psalter is easily accessible, and the club-edition of the metrical Psalter is not.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

I.

OEli biern pat noghte is gan In be rede ofe wicked man, And in strete of sinfnlk noght he stode, Ne sat in setel of> storme * vngode ;

2 Bot in lagh ofc lauml his wille be ai, And his lagh thinks he night and dai.

3 And al 2his Hue swa sal it* be Als it fares bi a tre

1 Vulg. pestilentiae. 2 Ms. als.

Pat stremes ofe watres set es nere, rat giues his fruits in time ofe yhere,

4 And left of him todreue ne sal ; Whate swa he does sal soundefulk ' al.

5 Noght swa wickedmen, noght swa ; Bot als duste pat windt? perthe tas fra.

6 And parfore wiki? in dome noght rise, Ne sinfulk in rede ofe rightwise.

7 For lauerd oie rightwise wate pe wai, And gate of^ wicked forworthsal ai. —

1 V. prosperabuntur.

Ms. Egerton 614. I.

(o)eli beerne pat noght is gan In pe red of wicked man, And in stret of sinful noght he stode, (Ne sat in setel) of storme vngode ;

2 Bot in lagh of lauerd his wil be ai, And his lagh pincki? he night and dai.

3 And al his lif swa sal it be Als it fares be a tre

Pat streme of water sett is nere, Pat gifes his fruit in tyme of yere ;

4 And lef of him todreue noght sal; What swa he dos sal soundml al.

5 Noght swa wicked men, noht swa ; Bot als dust pat wynd pe erpe tas fra.

6 And perfor wick; in dome noht rise, Ne sinful in rede of rightwise ;

7 For louerd of rightwise wot pe wai, And gate of wick forworth sal ay.

Harl. 1770. fol. 158. I.

Oeli berne pat noht is gan

In pe red of wiked man,

And in strete of sinful noht he stode,

Ne sat in setel of storme ungode ;

2 Bot in lagh of lauerd hijs wille be ay, And hijs lagh pinke he niht and day.

3 And al hijs liue swa sal he be Als itte fares be a tre

Pat streme of waters set is nere, Pat giues hijs frute in time of zhere ;

4 And lef of it todreue ne sal ; Wat swa he dos sal soundful al.

5 Noh[t] swa wicked men, noht swa; Bot als dust pat winde pe erpe tas fra.

6 And perfor wicke in dome noht rise, Ne sinful in rede of rihtwise;

7 For lauerd of rihtwise wate pe way, And gate of wike forwurpe sal ay.

1 The archaic character is greatly due to the fact that the translator, in his difficult task, utilized ags. glosses or versions (as those ed. by Stevenson 1. c. and by Thorpe 1835), retaining many of the words found there (as soundful , bild) , even such as he no longer understood and, therefore, misread or misapplied (so , ags. nyhtsom is to him mihtsom, lickam has the sense of face). The seeming antiquity, therefore, appears to be partly artificial. Other words he seems to have formed himself, by litterally translating Latin terms, in the manner of the old glosses (as neghsom = propitius a prope , ouer-tomehed = supervacue , stedful = Ipcupletare , stith- coming = impetus, stithstreme &c). — The division of verses is the same as in R. Rolle.

Psalm I— II.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

Blisse to be fadre and to foe sone

And to be haligaste wil with am

wone,

Als first was, es, and ai sal be In werlde of? werldes, to be thre.

n.

W harfore gnaisted gomes swo, And folk? vnnait thoght bai bo?

2 Vpstode kinges ofe be land,. And be prmces in pair hand Ogaine pair lauerd pai come on ane And ogaine his criste to gane ;

3 »Bandes of pa breke we ai,

And fra vs werpe pair yoke awai«.

4 Pat wones in henen scorne pam sail?, And lauerd sal [pam] snere with-all?.

5 fan sal he speke to pam in his

wreth, And todreue am sal he in his breth :

6 ».I. sothlik?, set am for-pi King*? fro him witerli Ouer Syon, hill* hali his, Spelland his bodeworde al with blisse.

7 Lauerd to me saide : ,mi son art? pou, And .i. to-dai gate be nou.

8 Ask? ofe me, and .i. to be sal Giue genge wele mare with-al Heritage pine in pi hand,

And pine aght?, meres ofe land?.

Ms. Egerton 614.

Blisse to fader and to be sone And to be hely gast wil wyth bam

wone,

Als frist was, is, and ay sal be, In werld of werldes, vn-to be pre.

n.

Vcherfor gnaisted gomes swa, And folk? ful vnnait bhoght bai ba?

2 Vpstoden kynges of erbe strang?, and be prz'nces paim amang? Agayn pair god pai com in an, and agayn par crist to gan.

3 »Bandes of pam brek we ai,

And fra vs werp par yhocke" awai«.

4 Pat wones in heuen scorn (pam sal), And lau?rd sal pam swere(!) with-al.

5 Pen sal he spek to pam in w(rath), And to-dreue pam sal he in his brat(h) :

6 »I soghlic sette am for-thi Kyng fra him ful witerli Ouer Syon, heli hille hisse, Spelland his bode al with blisse.

7 Lau?rd to me said: ,my son pou hatte, And .i. my-self to-dai be gatte.

8 Ask of me, and .i. gif be sal Genge and wel more with-al Pine heritage al in pi hand, And bine aht meres of land.

Harl. 1770.

Blisse to be fader and to foe 'Sone And to be hali gast , wil with bam

wone,

Als first was, isse, and ai sal be, In werld of werldes, te be thre.

II.

W herfore gnaysted genge swa, And folc ful unnait boht bai pa?

2 Vpstoden kinges of be lande, And be princes in bar hande Agayn bar god bat come in an, And agayn bar crist to gan.

3 »Bandes of ba breke we ai, And fra us werp par zhoc awai«.

4 Pat wones in heuen scorne pam sal, And lauerd sal pam swere wiht-al.

5 Pen sal he speke to pam in brath, And to-dreue foo sal he in hijs wrath :

6 »In' sothlic set am for-fai King of him ful witerli Ouer Syon, his hil heli, Spelland his bode sothfastli.

7 Lauerd saide to me : , mi sone bou hat, And .i. me-self to-dai foe gat.

8 Aske of me, and .i. to be sal Giue genge wel mar with-al Eritage pine in bi hande, And bine ath meres of lande.

1 r. I.

132

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii. _ 9 In yherde irened salt pou ster? pa,

Als lome of? erthe breke pam als-swa'«.

10 And nou, kinges, vnderstand?! Ye er? lered l pat demes land?.

1 1 Semes lau?rd in drede at wille, And with quaking? glades him tille.

12 Gripes lare, leswhen lau?rd wrethide

be, And fra right? wai forworth yhe.

13 When in schorte his wreth tobrent

has he2, tat in him traisted all? seli be.

in.

JL.autrd, hou felefolded ar? pa tat droues me to do me wa! 1 V erudimini. * V Cum exarserit in brevi ira eius.

Fele rise ogaine me, 2 fele saies his To mi saule : »nys hele nane in god? his«.

3 And , lauml , mi fanger art pou in

land?, Mi blisse, and mi heued vpheueand?.

4 With my steuen to laumi cried .1. ; And he herd me fra his hill? hali.

5 .1. am methful, for .i. slepe ' ; And .1. raas, for lauerd me kepe.

6 Noght sal .i. drede a thousand Of? folk?, ar me vmgyuand; Rys, lau?rd, ai fal ofe blisse, Sauf? make me, my god pat isse.

7 For pou smate doune with pi hand Alle to me witherwendand

1 V Ego dormivi, et soporatus sum.

Ms. Egerton 614.

9 In irne yherd salt pou stere pam wek?, Als lome of erpe pou salt pam brek?«.

10 And nou, kinges, vnderstandes, Yhe be whilke pat demes landes.

11 Semes to lou?rd in dred at wille, And with qwakyng? glades him tille.

1 2 [Gjripes lare, les whewne lauml wrath be, And fra right wai for-wrpe ye.

1 3 When in short his wragh to-brent is so , tat in him traist seli alle po.

T m'

.L,au?rd, whi fele-folded are pa tat me droue and done me wa? Fele rise again me, 2 fele sain pisse To mi saule : »nis hele pai in god hisse '«.

3 And pou, lou?rd, my fong?r in land, Mi blisse, and mi heued vpheuand.

4 With mi steuen to lou?rd cried .1. ; And he herd me fra his hille heli.

5 .1. am methuf(!)2 for .i. slepe; And .i. ras, for lauml me keppe.

6 .1. sal noht drede a phousand Of folk? are me vmgiuand; Ris, lauerd, berihed make me, Mi god pat isse and ai sal be.

7 For pat pou smate with pi hand Alle againe me wiper-wendand

1 V non est salus ipsi in deo eius. 2 r. methful.

Harl. 1770.

9 In irne zherd sal pou stere am weke, Als lome of erpe pou sal pam breke«.

10 And nou, kinges, vnderstandes, Yhe pe while pat demes landes.

11 Serues to lauerd in drede at wille, And with quaking glades him tille.

12 Gripes lare, leswhen lauerd wrath be, And fra nth wai forwurth zhe.

13 Wen tobre[n]t in short is wrath has he, tat in him traist alle seli be.

m.

_L/auerd, whi manifalded are pai tat drouen me bi niht and dai? Fele rise gain me, 2 fele sain pisse To mi saule : nis hele pai in god isse.

3 And pou, lauerd, mi fonger art, mi blisse, And heueand up mi heued pou isse.

4 With mi steuen to lauerd kried .i., And he herd fra his hil heli.

5 I slep and methful am .i. ;

And lauerd me kep, .i. ras for-pi.

6 Noth sal .i. drede a phousande Of folke are [me] vmgiuande ; Rise, lauerd, bi dai and nith, Sauf me, mi god ful of mith.

7 For pat pou smot with pi hande Alle again me wiper '-wendande

1 Ms. wipet.

Psalm HI— IV.

133

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

With-outen sake or any skil;

Tethe ofe sinful brised bou il. 8 Ofe lauerd es hele for-by al fringe; And ouer foi folke- be bi blissinge.

IV.

W hen .i. kalled herd me with blisse God ofe my rightwisnesse bat isse'; Ife bat drouyng in .i. ware, 1*011 tobreddest l to me bare :

2 Hafe mercy ofe me inwardeli, And here bou my beede for-fai.

3 Mennes sones, towhen ofe herte vn-

meke?

Whi loue yhe fantom, and lighinge seke2 ? l dilatasti. 2 Ms. speke.

4 And wites bat lauerd his haligh selkou-

bede he !

When .i. to him crie , lauerd sal here me.

5 Wrethes, and ne wiles sinne ; £at your hertes sayne with-inne, And in your kleues you bitwene Sar bat ye stangen l bene.

6 Offres offrand ofe rightwisnesse, And hopes in lauerd mare and lesse. Many with bar mouth sais bus: »Wha sal goddes schewe til vs?«

7 Takened light ofe bi face, lauerd,

ouer vs es,

£ou gafe in to my herte faynes. 1 r. stungen.

Ms. Egerton 614.

With-outen sak or outen scil ; Tegh of sinful bretnedest bou il. 8 For(!) louerd it is helynge,

And ouer bi folke be fai blissinge.

IV.

When .i. cald, louml of rithnes me

herd he ; In drouynge tobrededest bou to me.

2 Haue merci of me in be stede, And with bine eres here my bede.

3 Mensones, towhen of hert vnmeke? Why loue ye fantum, and lyhinge seke ?

4 And wite ye bat louml is halgh

selkou/ied ' he ; When .i. cri to him, louml sal here me.

5 Wrathes, and ne wiles sinne ; fat yhour hertes sain with-inne, And in your clenes yhou bitwene Sore bat yhe stungen bene.

6 Offres offrand of rightwisnesse, And hopes in louml more and lesse. Fele sain, wil bat bai liue :

»Who sal vs giftes shewe or giue?«

7 Tokened is oner vs be liht

Of bi lickam2, louerd, so briht; I*ou gaf with ful mikel quert Fainnes most in to mi hert. 1 Ms. selkoured. 2 V vultus.

Harl. 1770.

With-outen sake or ani skil; Tegh of sinful bretned bou il. 8 Of lauerd it is helinge,

And ouer bi folk be blissinge.

IV.

W en l .i. cald, lauerd of mi rithnes

me her[d] he 2 ; In drouing to-breddest bou to me.

2 Haue merci of me in foe stede, And with bine eres here mi bede.

3 Men sones, towen of hert unmeke? Whi loue zhe fantom, a«d leyhing seke ?

4 And wites, lauerd his halgh selcubed

he; Lauerd wen .i. to him crie sal here me.

5 Wrathbes, and ne wiles sinne; And ^hour(I) hertes sain with-inne, And [in] ^hour kleues ^hou be-twene Sare bat yhe stungen bene.

6 Offres offrand of rithwisnesse, Hopes in lauerd mare and lesse. Mani sain whil bat foai liue : »Who sal us giftes shew or giue?«

7 Tokned is oner us, lauerd, lith efface

bine; fou gaf fainnesse in hert mine.

Ms. Wem.

Ms. herhe.

134

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

8 Ofe fruite ofe whete, of his oli, &

wyne Ar pai manifolded ine :

9 In pees in him-selfe ' , is beste, Sal .i. slepe and sal i. resttf;

10 For pou, lauml, sengely In hope set me witerly.

V.

IVlyne wordes, lauml, with eres

byse; Vnderstande be crie ofe me.

2 Bihald vnto my bede steuene,

Mi kyng? and my god ofe heuene.

3 For to pe, lauml, bidde sal .i.; Mi steuene sal tou here erli.

1 V In pace in idipsura dormiam.

4 Erli sal .i. to pe se and stande : For noght god artou wiknes willande,

5 Ne wone sal lither biside pe,

Ne vnrightwise bifor pin eyhen be.

6 Pou hated al pat wirkes wiknesse ; Pat lighe spekes leses tou mare and

lesse,

7 Menslaers and swykel laumi wlate

sal. And .i., in Mikelhede ofe pi mercy al,

8 Ingo in pi hous sal .i. ,

.1. sal bid1 in pi drede at pi kirke hali.

9 Lauml, lede me in pi rightwisnesse,

for fas myne,

Ryght my wai in syghte pine. 1 V adorabo.

Ms. Egerton 614.

8 Of frute of whet, of is oly, and wine Are pai manifolded ine.

9 In pais in him-self is best Sal .i. slep and sal .i. rest;

10 For pou, louml, singelli In hope sette me weterly.

V.

IVli wordes, louml, with eres bise ; Vnderstand pe cri of me.

2 Of mi bede bihald to steuen, Mi kyng and mi god of heuene.

3 For to pe, louml, bidde sal .1.; Mi steuen sal tou here erli.

4 Erli sal .i. to pe se and stand, For pou art noht god wicnes willand.

5 Ne liper sal noht wun bi be,

Ne vnrightwise befor pin e^hen be.

6 Pou hated al bat wirk wicke pingf, Pou leses alle pat spek« liyhingi?.

7 Mensloers and swikel louml wlat

sal. And .i., in mikelhed of pi mm:y al,

8 In pi hous inga sal .1. ;

.1. sal bidde in pi drede at pi krik heli.

9 Louml , lede me in pi rithnes rith, And for mi fos in pi siht in (r. mi)

wai riht.

Harl. 1770.

8 Of frut of whete, of is oli, and wine Are pai mani- folded ine.

9 In pais in him-seluen best Sal .i. slep and sal .i. rest;

10 For pou, lauerd, sengelli In hope set me witerli.

V.

IVJLi wordes, lauerd, with eres bise ; Vnderstande pe krie of me.

2 Bihald of mi bede to steuen, Mi king and mi god of heuen.

3 For to pe, lauerd, bid sal .i.; Mi steuen sal tou here erli.

4 Erli sal .i. to pe se and stande, For noth god art tou wicnes willande.

5 Ne liper sal wun bi pe,

Ne unrithwise bifor pine e^hen be.

6 Pou hates alle pat wirke wicnesse; Pou leses pat liyhe speke mare and

lesse.

7 Menslores and swikel lauerd wlate sal. And .i., in mikelhed of pi merci al,

8 In pi hous .i. sal in-ga ;

I sal bid at pi heli kirke in f)i drede swa.

9 Lauerd, lede me in pi rithnes, a«d

fro fas mine Rith mi waye in siht thine.

Psalm V— VI.

135

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

10 For noght es in par mouth sothnesse ;

Pe hert oie paim vnnaite it* esse.

1 1 Thragbi openand l es prote of pam

swa,

With par tunges fikelipai dide; laumi, deme pa.

12 Fra pair thoghtes falle pai mare and

lesse ;

After pe mikelhede of pair wikednesse Outputs pam pare pai sal be, Laumi, for pai taried2 pe.

13 And fayne sal alle pat hope in pe ; In ai sal pai glade, and pu in am be ;

14 And mirpe sal in pe pat loue pi

name alle : 1 V Sepulcrum patens. 2 irritaverunt.

For to pe rightwise blisse pu salle. 15 Laumi, als with schelde pus Of pi godewille crouned pou vs.

VI.

JL/anml, ne threte me in pi wreth, Ne ouertake me in pi breth.

2 Laumi, haf mercy of me, For pat seke am .1. to se;

Hele me, laumi — best pou mai — For alle mi banes droued ar pai.

3 And my saule mikel droued isse; Bot pou, laumi, towhen1 al pisse?

4 Torn, laumi, and mi saule outtake; For pi mm;y saufe me make.

1 usquequo.

Ms. Egerton 614.

10 For noht isse in par mouth soghnesse ; Pe hert of pam vnnait it esse.

1 1 For open prugh is prote of pam swa ; With par tuwges swikli pai did ; louml,

deme pa.

12 Pai fal fra par phothtes mare a«d

lesse ;

After mickelhed of par wickednesse Output pam par pai sal be, Lauerd, for pai taried pe.

13 And fain alle in pe hopen so ;

Pai sal glad, and pou sal wone in po.

14 And pat loue pi name in pe al glad

sal pai,

15 For to be rightwis blisse sal tou ai. Louml, al[s] with sheld pus

Of pi gode wille pou crouned vs.

VI.

-L/oiwd, ne prete me in pi brath, Ne ourniymme me in pi wrath.

2 Milpe of me, louml, for sek am

•y-;

Min bones are droued, hele me for-pi.

3 And mi saul swipe droued isse; Bot pou, laumi, hulange pisse?

4 Turne, louml, and mi saul out-take ; For pi merci saufc me make.

Harl. 1770.

10 For noth is in par mouth sohtnes ;

Pi l hert of pam unnait hit es. it Purgh openand it2 prote of pa;

With par tunges swikeli pai dide ; god, deme pa.

12 Pai falle fra par ^hotes mare and

lesse;

After mikelhed of par quednes Out-put pam par pai sal be, Lauerd for pai traied pe.

13 And faine sal alle pat hope in pe ; In ai sal pai glade, awd pou in pam be.

14 And pat loue pi name mirpe sal in

foe alle,

15 For to rithwis blisse pou salle. Lauerd, als with sheld bus

Of pi gode wille pou krouned us.

VI.

l^auerd, ne ^hrath me in pi brath, Ne ouernime me in pi wrath.

2 Haue merci of me, lauerd, for seke

am .i. ; Mi banes are droued, hele me for-pi.

3 And mi saule swipe mikel droue is; Both pou, lauerd, pou3 when pis?

4 Turn, lauerd, mi saule outtake; For pi merci sauf me make.

1 r. l>e. 2 r. is. 3 r. to.

i36

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

5 For noght es in dede bat is myned

oie be;

And in belle wha to be schryuen sal be?

6 .1. swanks in mi sighing<;-stede ;

.1. sal wasche bi al nyghtes mi bede ; With mi teres in mi bede Sal .i. wete mi liggyng^-stede.

7 Letf es fra wreth myn egh for-bi; Bitwix my faes al elded .1.

8 Wites fra me, al bat wirkes wyk<?

bing*, For lauerd herd steuen oie mi we-

The Psalms.

9 Herd laaerd bisekynge oie me, Lauerd mi bede kepid has he.

10 I*ai schame and todreue al my faes

swiftely ; taibe went, and schame swith radely.

vn.

JL/au^rd mi god, sauf me, .1. hoped

in be, Fra al me filyhand ; and lese me ;

2 Leswhenne reue [he] als lioune Saule myne to bring it doune, While nane es bat bie sal,

Ne whilke saufc f>at mas with-al.

3 Lau^rd mi god, yife .i. dide bis, Yife wikednesse in mi hende is,

4 lie .1. yelde yeldand me iuele, .1. falle Gilti * vnnait fra mi faes alle,

1 V decidam merito inanis.

Ms. Egerton 614.

5 For noht is in ded bis l mind of be ; And in helle who to be shriuen sal be?

6 I swank in mi sikinge-stede, like niht sal [i] wesshe mi bede; With mi teres in mi bedde

sal .i. wete mi ligginge-stede.

7 Let is mine egh for wrath to falle ; Innelded'2 bitwix mi fos alle.

8 Wites fro me alle f>at wirk [wic] bingf, For loumi herd steue« of mi weping^.

9 Herd loumi bisekyng* of me ; Lauml mi bede kep has he.

10 Sham and to-dreued be mi fos swiftli ; fai twrne, and shame swith raddeli.

vn.

JL/au^rd mi god, in be hoped .1. ; Ber^ed make bou me for-bi Fra alle bat are me filiand, And lese me out of bar hand:

2 Lesqwen reue he als lioun Saule min to brings it doun, Whil non is bat bie mai,

Ne bat beryhed mas, nith or dai.

3 Lauml mi god, if .i. do bisse, Whor wickednes in mi hend isse,

4 If .i. yheld to yheldand me iuels, .i. falle Gilti vnnait fra mi fas alle.

1 r. fat is. 2 r. I elded.

Harl. 1770.

5 For noth is in dede bat manes of be ; rat in helle who sal be shriuen to be ?

6 I swank in mi sikinge-stedde, like nith sal .i. washe mi bedde ; With mi teres witerli

Mi straile sal .i. wete for-bi.

7 Let is min egh fra wrang onan ; I elded bitwix alle mine fan.

8 Wites fra [me] alle bat wirke wic bing, For lauerd herd steuen of mi weping.

9 Herd lauerd besekinge of me; Lauerd mi bede kep has he.

10 ra shame and be let alle mi fas swiftli; rai be turned, and shame swibe radii.

VII.

.L/auerd mi god, in be hoped .i. ; Sauf make pou me for-bi Fra alle bat are me filyhande, And lese me out of bar hande :

2 Leswhenne reue he als lioun Saule mine to bring it doun, Whil nan is bat bies rith, Ne sauf makes day ne nith.

3 Lauerd mi god. if .i. do bis, Ware wickednes in mi hende is,

4 If .i. j;held yheldand me iuels, .i. falle Gilti fra mi fas unnait alle.

Psalm

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

5 Fylegh saule mine pe faa, Grypes ' , and fortredes swa

In erthe my lift, mi blisse with wa In duste ledes, par pai come fra.

6 Vprise, lauerd, in wreth pine, And vpheue in endes ofe faes myne ;

7 And rise, laumi, in bode pou sente

to be; And kirke ofe folke sal vmgife be ;

8 And for pat, torne vpe in heghte. Lauerd demes folke rights.

9 Deme me, laumi, aftir my right-

wisenes,

And after ouer me myn vnderandnes. 10 Endede nith ofe sinful be;

And right sal tou rightwise to be ; 1 r- 8ryPe, fortrede, lede.

vn. ,37

Ransakand pair hertes clene And pair neres, gode, bidene.

1 1 Mi rightwis helpe fra lauml in querte, Pat saufe makes right ofe hert«.

12 God rightwise demer, stalworth, and

tholand, Nou wrethes be al dais in land1?

13 Bot ye be torned, his swerde schakes

he rights; He bent? his bough, and graibed ite,

14 And in it graybed he lomes of dede, His arwes he made to brennand

rede.

15 Bihald, he kyneld vnrightwisnesse, Onfange sorwe and bare wicked-

nesse ;

1 V numquid irascitur per singulos dies?

Ms. Egerton 614.

5 Filihes saul mine pe fa

And gripes, and fortredes als-swa In erpe mi lif, mi blisse with wa I[n] dust twrnes par it come fra.

6 Ris vp, lauml, in wragh pine, And vpheue in endes of fos mine ;

7 And ris, lauml mi god, in bode pou

sent to be; And kirk of folk sal vmgiue me(!).

8 And for pat tame vp in heght. Lauml demes folk ful rights.

9 Deme me, laumi, after my rihtwis-

nesse, And ouer me after min vnderandnesse.

10 Ended nigh of sinful be,

And rightwise sal tou riht to be, Ransakand hertes of tho -And bar neres, god, als-so.

1 1 Riht help min fra god in quert, Pat berihed mas rihtwise of hert.

12 God demer riht, poland, and strange, Nou wrakes be daies alle lang£?

13 Bot ^e t«rne, he shakes his swerd

of stel ; He bent his bow and graiped it wel.

14 And in yt he graiped lomes of dede, His arwes he made tobrennand rede.

15 Loke he kyneled vnrightwisenesse,

sorgh, and bare wicnesse.

Harl. 1770.

5 Filyhes saule mine pe fa

And gripes, fortredes als-swa In erpe, mi blisse with wa In dust ledes par hit com fra.

6 Ris, lauerd, in wragh pine.

And upheue inendes of fas mine ;

7 And ris lauerd in bode pou send

to be ; And kirk of folk sal umgiue be.

8 And for pat again turne in heth. Lauerd demes folke ful reth.

9 Deme me , lauerd , after mi rith-

wisnes, And ouer me after min underandnes.

10 Nigh of sinful ended be,

And rith salt pou rithwis to pe, Ransakand par hertes clene And par neres, god, bidene.

11 Rith help min fra god in quert, Pat sauf mas rithwis of hert.

12 God demer rith, strang, and pholand, Nou wrathes be alle daies in land?

13 Bot ^he turne, he shakes his swerd

of stele ; He bent his bogh and graiped it wele.

14 And in it he graiped lomes of dede, His arwes he made to brennand rede.

15 Loke he kineled unrihtwisnes, Onfong soryhe, and bare wicnes.

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

1 6 Pe slough he opened and it groue he :

And in dyke he felle pat he made

to be. 17 His sorwe torne in his heued with-

alle, And his wiknes in his scalp doune-

falle: 1 8 .1. sal schriue to lauerd aftir his right-

wisnes,

And saline to name oie laaerd heghist es.

vm.

.L/auerd, oure lau^rd, hou selkouth is Name pine in alle land pis!

2 For vpehouen es pi mykelhede Oner heuens pat ere brade.

3 Oie mouth oie childer and soukand Made pou lofe in ilka land,

For pi faes, pat pou fordo Pe faa, j)e wreker him vnto.

4 For .1. sal se pine henenes hegh, And werkes of pine fingres slegh, Pe mone and sternes mani ma Pat pou grounded to be swa:

5 What is man, pat pou mines oie

him? Or sone oie man, for pou sekes him?

6 Pou liteled him a litel wight Lesse fra pine aungeles bright ;

Ms. Egerton 614.

16 Pe flogh1 he opened, a«d grof with

spade : And in dike felle he pat he made.

1 7 Be turned is sorgh in his heued with-al, And in his scalp his wickednesse

douw fal.

18 .1. sal shriue to lou<rd after is right-

wisnesse, And syng to lou^rd name, heghist esse.

vm.

J_/au«rd , our lau^rd , hou selkouth

isse Name pine in al erpe pisse!

2 For vphouen is pi mikelhade Ouer heuenes pat are brade.

3 Of mouth of childer and soukand Made pou herying in pi land, For pi foos, pat pou fordo

Pe foo, pe wreker him vn-to.

4 For .i. sal se pine heuenes hegh And werkes of pi fingres slegh, Pe mone and sternes sal .i se Pat pou stapeled for to be.

5 What is man, pat pou mines of him? Or sone of man, for pou sekest him ?

6 Pou liteled him a litil witht Lesse fro pine aungels bright ;

1 r. slogh.

Harl. 1770.

1 6 Pe slogh he opened and grof with

spade : And in dike felle he pat he made.

17 Turne his soryhe in heued with-alle, And in his scalp his wickednes doun-

falle.

1 8 I sal skriue to lauerd after is rith-

wisnes, And to lauerdes name, heghist es.

vm.

JL/auerd , our lauerd , hou selkouth

isse Nam pin in al erpe pisse!

2 For uphouen is pi mikelhode Ouer heuenes pat are brode.

3 Of mouth of childer and soukande Made pou lof purgh pe lande, For pi fas, pat pou fordo

Pe fa, pe wreker him unto.

4 For .i. sal se pine heuenes hegh And werkes of pi fingres slegh, Mone and sternes baphe pa, Whilk pat pou stapheled swa.

5 Wat is man, pat pou menes him? Or mannes son, for pou sekes him ?

6 Pou litteled him a litel wiht Lesse fra aungels pat ar briht ;

Psalm VIII— IX.

139

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

With blisse and mensk? bou crouned

him yet, And ouer werkes of bi hend him set ;

7 £011 vnderlaide alle binges

Vnder his fete bat ought forthbringes, Neete and schepe bathe for to welde, Inouer and l beestes of be felde,

8 Fogheles ofe heuen, and fissches ofe se tat forthgone stihes ofe be se.

9 Laumi, our laumi, hou selkouth is Name bine in alle land bis!

IX.

1 sal schriue to be, laumi, in al

hert myne, i V insuper et.

.1. sal telle alle wondres bine ;

2 .1. sal fayne and glade in be,

And salme to bi name , heghist mai be ;

3 In tornand hindeward mi faa; — Pai ar vnfest and ' forworth fra bi

face sal faa.

4 For bou made my dome and mi skile

bat es;

Pou sites ouer trone, bat demes rightnes.

5 Pou snibbid genge mare and minne, Forworthed wiked for his sinne ; Name of bam bou dide awai

In werlde of werlde and in ai. 1 Ms. vnfestand.

Ms. Egerton 614.

With blisse and menskg hi/w crouned

ton so, And set him ouer bine hendwerkes mo.

7 Pou vnderlaidest alle binges Vnder his fete bat oht sorgh ' bringes, Shep and nete, for to weld, Inouer awd bestes of be feld,

8 Fogheles of heuen, awd fhisshes of se Pat ou^faren sti^hes of se.

9 Laumi, our laumi, hou selkouth ysse Name bine in al erbe bisse !

IX.

J.. sal shriue to be, laumi, in al hert

myne ; Telle .i. sal alle wondres pine.

2 .1. sal fayne and glad in be, Salm to bi name heghist mai be.

3 Intwmand mi fo hindward al;

Pai are vnfest, awd fra bi face forwrgh bai sal.

4 For bou made mi dome awd my scil"

bat esse;

Pou sites [ouer] trone, bat demes rihtnesse.

5 Pou snibbed genge more awd lesse, And wiktf forwrfaed in wicnesse.

Pe nam of bam bou did awai In werld of werld and in ai. 1 r. forgh. 2 Ms. acil.

Harl. 1770.

With blis and menske bou crouned

him yhet, And ouer bi hendwerkes him set.

7 Pou underlaid alle binges

Vnder his fet bat oht forhbringes, Shep and nete alle forto welde, Inouer bestes of be felde,

8 Fliht-foyheles of heuen, awd fisshes of se Pat ouergan stiyhes of se. T

9 Lauerd, of lauerd, hou selkouth isse Name bin in al erbe bisse !

IX.

1. sal shriue to be, lauerd, in al mi

hert; And telle alle wundres bin in quert.

2 I. sal fainte2 and glade in be,

I. sal singe to bi heghist name mai be.

3 Inturnand hinwand(!) be fa;

Pat are unfest, and forwurth fra pi face sa[l] pa.

4 For pou made mi dome and mi sell

pat es,

Pou sites on trone, pat demes rith- nes.

5 Pou snibbed genge mare and minne, Wicke forwurfaed in his sinne. Name of bam bou dide away

In werld of werld and in ay. 1 r. our. 2 r. faine.

140

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

6 Faes waned ofe swerde in ende1,

And pair cites doune dide pon wende.

7 With dine forworthed mynde of pa ; And lau^rd in ai he wones swa.

8 He graipede in dome to be His trone; and als deme sal he Werld*; ofe erpe in euennesse, Deme sal he folk in rightwisnesse.

9 And made is lauerd to -flight pe

pouer to ;

Helper in nedinges, in drouyng* so. 10 And hope in pe pat pi name knewe

For sekand pe, lauml, forletes tou

noghte. V Inimici defecerunt frameae in finem.

11 Salmes to lautrd wones in Syon; Bitwix genges schewes his thoghts

on- on ;

12 For sekand par blode he mines in

thoght, fe crie of pouer forgetes he noghtc.

13 Haf<? mercy ofe me, lauwl, and se Mi mekenesse of my faes pat be ;

14 fat vpheues me fra yhates of<? dede, fat .1. schewe forth to sprede fine loueynges euerilkone

In yhates ofe doghtres1 of Syon.

15 In pi hele pan sal .1. glade. Genge fest<? are in forward2 pat pai

made ;

1 V in portis filiae Sion.

V in interitu.

Ms. Egerton 614.

6 Fos waned of swerd in ende,

And par cities doune dide pou wende.

7 Forwrped with din minde of tho; And louwd in euer wones so.

8 He graped in dome sete hisse, And he sal deme with mikel blisse Werld of er^he in euenesse, Deme sal he folk<? in rihtwisnesse.

9 And mad is louml to pouer in1-

fleng*;, Helper in nedinges, in drouyngif.

10 And hope sal in be pi name knew

oht,

For sekand pe, loumi, forsoke pou noht.

11 Salmes to louml pat wones in Syon; Shewes bitwix genge his ^ohtes o-non ;

12 For sekand par blode he mines in

f e crie of pouer forgetes he noht.

13 Haue merci of me, lou«d, and se Mi mekenesse of mi fos pat be ;

14 fat pou heue me fro Abates of ded, fat .i. shew forth and spred

fine heryinges sone o-non

In Abates of doghtres of Syon.

15 -I. sal glad in pi hele; folk*; festened

are

In forward pat pai maked pare ; 1 Ms. im-.

Harl. 1770.

6 Faas wanes of swerd in ende,

And par cites doun dide pou wende.

7 Forwurped with din minde of pa ; A«d lauerd in ai he wones swa.

8 He graiped in dome for to be Setel his, and als sal he Deme werld of erpe in euennes, Deme sal he folk in rithwisnes.

9 And made is lauerd to pouer in-

fleing, Helper in nedinges, in drouing.

10 And hope sal in pe pi name knew

oht,

For sekand pe, lauerd, forsoke pou noht.

11 Singes to lauerd pat wones in Syon; Shewes bitwix folk his ^ohtes onon;

12 For sekand bar blode he mines in

poht, f e crie of pouer forgetes he noht.

13 Haue merci of me, lauerd, and se Mi mekenes of mi fas pat be ;

14 While heues me fra Abates of ded. fat .i. suld shew forth to spred fine louinges euerilkon

In yhates of doghtres of Syon.

15 In bi heling sal .i. glade.

Genge festened are in forward pat pai made;

Psalm IX.

141

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

1 6 In bis snare whilk* pai hid swa

Gripen es pe fote of* pa.

17 Knawen be[s] lau*rd domes doand, Sinful is gripen in werkes ofe his hand.

1 8 Torned sinful in hell be pai, Alle genge pat god forgetes ai.

19 For forgetelnes in ende

Noght bes of pouer whar* he wende; I>ild off pouer ouer alle Noght in ende forworth salle.

20 Rys, lau*rd ; noght strenped man, es

right*1, Genge be demede in pi sight*.

21 Set lagh-berer ouer pa,

Wite genge pat men er pai ma. 1 V non confortetur homo.

(Ps. X secundum Hebraeo's)

22 Whi wited [pou] fer, lau*rd king*,

Forsest in nedinges, in drouyng*?

23 Whil proudes wicke, pouer brent is; fai er* gripen in redes whilk pai

thoght mis.

24 For loued es sinful in yernyng*

Of his saule, and wicke sal haue blissing*.

25 Gremed lau*rd sinful in thoght* ; After mikelhede of his wreth, seke

sal he noght.

26 Noght es god in his sight to se; In alle times his waies filed [bje1.

27 Outborn be his2 domes fra his face alle; Of alle his faes be lau*rd he salle.

> Ms. he. 2 r. f>i.

Ms. Egerton 614.

1 6 In pis snare whilk* pai hid so

Gripid ys be fote of tho.

17 Knawen be lou*rd dome doand. Sinful is gripen in werk* of hand.

1 8 Turned sinful in helle pai be, Alle genge bat god forgete to se.

19 For forgetelnesse noht in ende Bes of pou*r whore pai wende; J^holmodnesse of pou*r pat are Forwurgh in ende sal neuermare.

20 Ris , lou*rd ; manstrenpes noht of

miht; Genge bene demed in pi siht.

2 1 Set, lou*rd, berer of lagh ou*r bam ai, Wite genge bat men are pai.

22 Whi witedest tou fer, lou*rd kyng*, Forse[s]t * in nedinges, in droning*?

23 Whil proudes wick*, pou*r brent is so. fai are gripen in redes whilk* ^oth

bo.

24 For loued is sinful in bar minges* Of his saul, and wicked has blissyngs.

25 Gremed louml sinful alle ;

Aft*r mikelhed of his wragh , noth seke he sal.

26 Noht is god in his siht to sen, In al tide his waies filed ben.

27 Outborn fro his face pi domes be, Of alle his fos louerd sal he.

1 Ms. forset. a r. yerninges.

Harl. 1770.

1 6 In pis snare while pai hid swa

Griped is pe fote of tha.

17 Knawen be lauerd domes doand. Sinful is gripen in werkes of his hand.

1 8 Sinful in helle be turned pai, Alle pat god forgeten ai.

19 For noth forgetelnes in ende

Sal be of pouer ware he mun wende ; tholmodnes of power with-al Noht forwurth in ende sal.

20 Ris, lauerd; noth strenphes man with

mith ; Be demed genge sal in pi sith.

21 Set, lauerd, lagh-berer oner bam swa, Wite genge for pat men are pa.

23 Whi wited pou fer, lauerd king, Bihaldes in nedinges, in drouing?

23 Whil proudes qued, pouer tobren is. tai are griped in redes while pai

poht mis.

24 For loued is sinful in ^horninges al Of his saule, and wic be blissed sal.

25 Gremed lauerd sinful pat be; After mikelhed of his wragh, noht

seke sal he.

26 Noth is god in his siht ai, I[n] al tide filed is his wai.

27 Outborn fra his face pi domes be, Of alle his fas lauerd sal he.

142

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

28 For he saide in his hert: »noght sal

.1. wende, With-outen iuel, fra strend in strende«.

29 Of whas mallok his mouth ful is, Of swykedome, and of bitternes ; Vnder tunge of him als-swa Swynk and sorwe and mikel wa.

30 He sites in waites with riche of land In derne, to sla be vnderand.

31 His eghen bihaldes in pouer men; He waites in hidel als lioun in den.

32 He waites to reue be pouer in dim, To reue be pouer whil he todrawes

him.

33 In his gilder night and dai

Meke him-seluen ' sal he ai ;

He sal boughe him, and falle sal he,

Of pouer when pat lau^'d he be.

34 For he saide in his hert: »god for-

geten is2;

Pat he ne se in ende , he tomes face his«.

35 Ris, lau^rd, and vphouen be pi [h]and ; Ne forgete bou pouer in land.

36 For what taried god wicked al? For he said in his hert : »noght seke

he sal«.

37 Ses tou, for swink and sorwe bihaldes

tou,

Pat in pi hende pou gyue paim nou. l V humiliabit eum. 2 V Oblitus est deus.

Ms. Egerton 614.

28 For he saide in his hert: noht sal

.1. wende With-outen iuel fro offrend in strende.

29 Of whos rnallok? mouth ful esse, Of swikdome and of bittemesse ; Vnder tung of him als-swo Swynk? and sorgh and mikel wo.

30 He sites in wittes with riche in land, Pat he slo be vnderande.

31 His e^hen bihald in pou^r men; He waites in hiddel, als liou« en den.

32 He waites to reue pe pou^r in dym, To reue pouer whil he todra^hes

him.

33 In his snare sal he mek<? him, held

he sal,

When he loumies of pou«r fal he sal.

34 For »god is forgeten« in his hert

said he, »He tz^mes his face in ende he [ne] se«.

35 Ris, louml god, and vphouen be pi

hand; Ne forgete J)ou pou^r in land.

36 For what taried god wicked al? For he said in his hert: noht seke

he , sal.

37 Sest, for swynk? arcd sorgh bihaldes

tou so, In pi hende bat bou giue bo.

Harl. 1770.

28 For he saide in his hert: noht sal

.i. wende \Viht-outen iuel fra strende in strende.

29 Of whos malloc his mouth ful es, And of sorgh and of bitternes; Vnder tunge of him als-swa Swine and sorgh and mikel wa.

30 He sites in waites with riche of land, In derne to slo be underand.

31 His eyhen loken in pouer men; He waites in hiddel, als lioun in den.

32 He waites to reue be pouer in dim, To reue pe pouer wil he with-drayhes

him.

33 In his snare sal he meke him, held

him he sal,

And wen he lauerdes oner pouer falle with-al.

34 For he said in his hert forgoten god

isse,

Pat he ne se in ende he turnes face hisse.

35 Ris, lauerd god, and houen be bi hand ; Ne forgete bou pouer in land.

36 For wat gremed wicke god al? For he said in his hert: noht seke

he sal.

37 Sest, for pou swink and sorgh bi-

haldes nou, In bi hend pat ba giue bou.

Psalm IX— X.

143

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

38 Bileft es pe pouer to pe; To fadreles help sal tou be.

39 Brise arme ofe sinful and liper in

thoghte ; Soght bes his sin and ftmden noghte.

40 Laud'fd ryke in ai and in werld ofe

werld sal [h]e ' ; Forworth, genge, fra his land sal ye.

41 Yernyng ofe pouer herd lauwl mine ; For-gra[i]pyng? of pair hert herd ere

pine,

42 "Deme fadreles and meke, and noght

set he Our mikel him man ouer erpe to be.

X.

IN lauml traist .1.; hou sai ye Of mi saule hou sal it be : .1. sal forthfare, lie .1. wil, Als a sparwe in to pe hil?

i Ms. be. 2 V judicare pupillo et humili, ut non apponat ultra magnificare se homo super terram.

2 For loke, sinful pair bowe pai bent, tair arwes in a quiuer senttf,

l>at pai schot — to make vnquert* — In mirkenes rightwise ofe herte.

3 For whilke made pou fordide pai; Ryghtwise sothlike what dide he ai?

4 Lauml in kirke hali hisse; Lauml in heuen his sete it isse.

5 His eghen lokes whar^ pouer wones, His brwes askes mennes sones.

6 Lauml askes rightwise and wik* to se; And pat loues quednes his saule hates

he.

7 Raine sal it ouer sinnand Snares ; fire, brimstan brinnand, Blaste ofe stormes stipe and strange, Sum sal be par drinke amang*?.

8 For right lauml, and loues right-

wisenes; His likam ses euennes.

Ms. Egerton 614.

38 To pe bileft is pouer al,

To fundyng helper be pou sal.

39 Brise arm of sinful and liper to se; His siwne be soht, a«d noht funden

be.

40 Louml rik in ai ,a«d in werld of

werld sal he ; Forwrth, genge, fro his land sal ^he.

41 ^horningtf of pouer herd laumi god

myn ;

Forgrmp[i]ng of par hert herd ere pine.

42 Deme fardels1 awd mek^, and noht

set he Ouer mikel him man ouer er^he to be.

1 r. fadreles.

X.

EH louml. EH yhe. E saul. H hit. H forfare. E wille. EH sparw. E in pe hille. E om loke. EH par bogh. H shote and m. EH po (pa) pat rith- wis(e) are of h. HE whom (E pat) pou maked. H Louerd is in his kirke of blisse. E holi. E set. EH loke per. EH browes asken. E Louml. E wic pat isse H wic pat be. H om And. H wicnes. E He hates his saule pat loues wicnesse. H Rain. H sinnande. EH fir. H brustan. H brennande. EH Blast. H stigh E stith. EH Del sal be. E riht H rith. E louml. E licham H lickam. H sees.

Harl. 1770.

38 To pe bileft is pouer whare he wun, To funding helper be pou mun.

39 Brise arme of sinful and liper to se ; Be soht sal his sinne, and noht funden

be.

40 Lauerd in ay and in werld of werld

rike sal he ; Genge, fra his land forwurth sal yhe.

41 ^horning of pouer herd lauerd hou

ferd;

For-graiping of par hert pin ere herd.

42 Deme faderles and meke, and noht

set he Ouer mikel him man ouer erpe to be.

144

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

The Psalms.

XI.

Oauf me, laxurd, for halgh nouber

wones ' , For lessed er« sothenes fra mennes

2 Idelnesses spake pai thurgh pair breste Ilkan to his neghburgh neste ; With lippes swikel swith smerte Spak^ pai in hert and herte.

3 Laumi lesses2 alle lippes swikel, And pe tunge pat spekes mikel,

4 fat saide : »oruv tunge mikel we; Our* lippes ofe vs ar<? ; wha our*; god

mai be?«

5 »For wrecchedhede helples, and pouer

sighing^, Nou sal .1. rise«, saide lauml kingtf,

6 ».I. sal sete in hele ilka lim ;

Ful treweli sal .1. make3 in hinx«.

7 Speche ofe laxurd, speche clene and

schire ;

Siluer fraisted with be fire, Fanded of erpe, als it es talde, Againe clensed seuenfalde.

8 Pou , lauml , sal loke vs night and dai, And yeme vs fra bat strende in ai.

1 V quoniam defecit sanctus. 2 r. leses;

V Disperdat. 3 V agam.

9 In vmgang wicked ga sal nou ; After bi heghnes mensones felefaldes1 ton.

xn.

J. o-when, lauml, forgetes bou me

in ende?

Houlang* saltou pi face fra me wende?

2 Houlang redes in mi saule set .1., Sorw in mi hert bi dai for-bi?

3 Towhen sal mi fa houen ouer me

be? Bihalde, lauml mi god, and here me.

4 Light min eghen and be mi rede, Ne euer pat .1. slepe in dede ; Leswhen mi witherwin he sai: ».I. betred2 againes him ai.«

5 Pat drone me sal glade lie stired

be .1.; .1. soethli hoped in pi mercy.

6 Glade sal mi hert in hele pine; .1. sal sing to lauml myne

Pat godes gafe to me with blisse, And salme to name ofe lauml heghist

isse. 1 a/, felefalded. 2 V Praevalui.

XL

EH Sauf make (H ma) me. E om for. H naufoer. E wanes aiwhare. H For sothnesse are 1. E For 1. sothnesses fro men sones are. E Vnnait, H Fantomes. EH burth bar. EH brest. E Ilkon. EH neghburth nest. E om With EH swikel tuwges swipe. E Speke. E Forleses louml. H leses. E swikelle. E rung. E spkes. H saiden. E Whilk pat saiden ouer alle , Oure tunges mikel we salle, Oure lippes fra vs are pai, Who our louml is in ai. H m. sal we. E of helples, H and h. H of p. EH sikyng(«). E said lonml. EH in pi hele. E set inst. of make. E louml. H klene, E chast. H shir. H Als siluer. EH fonded. EH Fraisted of e. pat is kold (H kalde), Fulli klensed. E fold. E Pou loumi salt kep vs and. yhem vs so In eu#roore pat strend fro, H Pou sal loke us and zheme us Fra pat sterne(!) in euer pus. H quedes. E go. H om pi. H felefalded E felefolded. H pou.

xn.

E louml. E tou. end. E To when. E om saltou ; H salt pou. E fro. E omin. E saul sett. E sal .1., H .i. sal. EH Sorgh. H be dai with-al. E fo. E ouer me houen. EH Lith. EH e^hen are heui als lede. E om bat. H speke. H Neleswenne saie mi fa. E I better wrped. EH again. H swa. EH me droue. E glad. EH sothlic. EH Gladed in bi hele (H In bi hele gladed) mi hert. H Singe sal .i. EH to 1. in quert. E Whil[c] godes gaf to me, And salm to louerd name hegist be.

Psalm Xm— XIV.

145

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

XIII.

Pe vnwise saide in hert his Als a foele, bat god noght is.

2 Forbroken l and wlatful made pai are In bair thoghts lesse and mare ; Whilke bat gode dos es bar^ nane, Es bar* nane to lepi ane.

3 Lauml fra heuen, bar^ he wones, Forthloked ouer mennes sones, tat he se whar he vnderstand", Or yiie he be god sekand.

4 Alle helded bai, samen ai Vnnotefal maked ar* bai ; Whilke bat gode does is \>a.re nane, Is bar<? nane to lepi ane.

5 Openand thmgh es throte ofe ba, With bair tunges swikelli dide bai swa; Atter of snakes swythe strange Vnder lippes ofe bairn amang?.

6 Mouth ofe wham ofe malloke es Fulfilled and ofe bitternes ; Swifts be feet ofe bairn vngode Ai are for to spille blode.

7 Forbreking 3 and vnselines ai In waies ofe bairn, and be wai

i V Corrupti 2 «/. be vnderstandand,

cf. Ps. 52. 3 v Contritio; R. R. Brekyng.

Ofe pees noght knewe {)ai; noght is

swa Drede ofe god bifor eghen ofe ba.

8 fai knawe noght1, alle bat wirkes

quede,

fat swelighis mi folke als mete of brede !

9 God noght kalled bai apon;

I*ai qwoke for drede par drede was non.

10 For lau<rd night and dai

In rightwise geting<? es he ai ; Rede ofe helples toyut* bou, For bat lauml his hope es nou.

1 1 Wha sal gife ofe Syon hele to Irael ! When lauml has torned wrecchedenes

wele

Of his folk, lacob glade salle, And faine sal Irael with-alle.

XIV.

JL<auml, in pi telde wha sal wone? In bi hali hille or wha reste mone? 2 Whilke bat incomes wemles, And ai wirkes rightwisenes ; 1 V Nonne cognoscent . . ?

xm.

EH vnwis. E said. EH hisse. EH fol. E gode. H noth god. isse. EH I>ai are wewmed a«d wlatand ai, Madde in bar ^hothes (H In bar bhoghtes made) are bai. EH is tar. E non H nan. EH Is tar (bar) non (nan). E on. H Lauerd forthloked fra heuen Ouer sones of men ful euen. E Forghlokes. E whor, H if. EH he be. H understandand. H Ober god himself filyand. E Vnnotful. E god dos. E is tar. E non. EH is tar. H Open ^hroth is. E I*e brote of bam is open brugh, With par tuwges wic and rugh Swikelic dide bai , otter als-so Of snakes vnder lippes of bo. H Atter of neddres nith and dai Vnder tunges of bam is ai. E Of whom be mough of weriednesse Is ful and .., H Of whilke bar mouth ful it es Of mallok and . . H are fete. E fote. EH bam. EH Euer for to. E Forbinking*. EH and vnsele an(d) wo (wa). EH In bar waies bar bai go (ga). EH And wai of (om in E) pais noht knew po (H bai swa). E Codes drede. E nis H noht is. E b. f>ar eyhen two. E Noht knaw bai. H knew. E al. EH wirken qued. EH swolihe. bred. EH ne kald bai noht. E opon. E quoc. EH ffor bat. E lou^rd ful of blisse. EH In strend(e) rihtwise. E ai he isse. EH Red. E helpes. EH toyhutte. EH For 1. hope of him. EH Who. E sal of Syon gif. EH hele. E as turned. H glade lacob. EH sal. withal.

XIV.

E who in bi teld who sal H wha in bi telde sal. EH wun. EH heli. H hil. EH who rest mun. EH He bat. H wemmelesse. EH euer. E sothnesse.

n.

10

146 The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

3 fat spekes sothnes in hert his,

And noght dide swikeldome in tung<? his,

4 Ne dide to his neghburgh iuel ne

gram,

Ne ogaines his neghburgh vpbraidingtf nam.

5 To noghte es led*; lither in his sight ; And dredand lauml he glades l right.

6 He bat to his neghburgh sweres And noght biswikes him ne deres ; Ne his siluer til okir noght es giuand^, Ne giftes toke oner vnderand^.

7 fat does bese, night and dai, Noghte sal he be stired in ai.

XV.

Y heme me, lauerd, stedfastly For bat in be hoped .i. ; .1. saide : »mi gode artou nou, For ofe mi godes noght nedes tou«.

2 Tilltf haleghs bat in land ar£ ma, He selkoufoed alle mi willes in ba.

3 Felefolded ere bair sekenesses ai, After ba ban highed bai.

1 V glorificat.

4 Noght sal .i. samen bar forwards l ofe

blode,

Ne myne bare names bi mi lippes gode.

5 Laumi dele ofe mine heritage isse, And ofe mi drinks, with mikel blisse : fat ogaine yheldes bou arte he Heritage mine vnto me.

6 Rapes to me felle in schirenes; For mine heritage to me schire ite es.

7 .1. sal blisse ai lauml kinge fate to me gafe vnderstanding*; In-ouer and to be night Swibed2 me mine neeres right.

8 .1. forloked dai and night Lauerd euer in mi sight ;

For at righthalues he is to me, Swa bate .i. ne stired be.

9 For bat fayned [es] mi herte, And gladed mi tange in querte ; Als-swa mi flesche oner alle

In gode hope rest* ite salle. 10 For noght sal tou lete mi saule in

helle to be, Ne gife bi halgh wemmed-stede to se.

i V conventicula. 2 r. Snibbed, V incre- puerunt.

E hisse , H in his h. isse. EH swikedom. hisse. H ne sham. EH Ne vp- braidyng^ again his n. (H neghburyhes). EH is. E ledde. H mirbes rith. EH While bat. E om noght. E fat his s. noght gate til oker in land, H Ne his siluir til oker noht gaf in lande. EH dos. H babhe niht & d., E wele wite he mai. E fat noht bes he st.

XV.

E "Louerd ai wel yheme bou me, For bat .i. hoped in the; H ^heme me 1. for bhat .i. In be hoped witerli. E said. E lonerd H to 1., mi godart bou. nou om. H to mi g. EH n. tou nou. EH To. E his. EH halyhes , E in erbe are mo H in his land bat are ma. E alles. FH his w. E bo. E far sekenesses felfolded are, H F. bar s. are ai. EH And after. E bo. ban om; H fast. E yorned bai yhare. H forwardes. E blod. E min of bar n., H min bam. E god. E Lou^rd del of min irfwardnesse And of mi drinks als-so he isse, fou art bat again yeld sal Eritage myn to me al ; H Lauerd del of min eritage and of mi drink is he, fou art bat againset sal min eritage to me. E Ropes. EH fellen to me. E shirnesse. H Sothlic inst. of For. H om it. E esse. EH bl. lou^rd ouer al binge. EH gaf to me. EH Oner al. H unto fahe n. EH Snibbed. E mi lendes. EH vnriht. EH niht and dai. EH L. to be in mi siht (H in mi siht to be) ai. E on, H fra, r. h. E So. H noht st. EH fained is. E gladid. H mi runge gladed. E And als so , H Inouer and (on erasure). H with al. H For bou me (r. ne) salt. E hele. H giue. H wemming for to se.

Psalm XV— XVI.

147

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

ii Kouth made pou to me waies ofe lif; Pou salt fille me with faines rife With pi lickam es swa bright*: Lustes til in end« in pi hanch? rights.

XVI.

.TTere, lauml, mi rightwisenes ; Bihald what mi biseking* es.

2 With eres mi bede bise, Noght in lippes swikel be.

3 Fra pi lickam mi dome forthga, Euennes sene bine eghen twa.

4 Pou fanded mi hert, and bi night

seked ;

With fire me fraisted, and in me nes funden wickedhed.

5 fat*? noght speke mi mouth men-

werkes, for-pi

For wordes of pi lippes hard waies yhemed .i. .

6 Fulmake ' mi steppes in sties pine, Pat noght be stired gainges mine.

7 .1. cried, god, for me herd pou: Helde pine ere to me, and mi wordes

her<? nou. i V Perfice.

8 Selkouth pi mercies in pe \ande, Pat saufe makes in pe hopandf.

9 Fra ogainestandand righthand of pe Als appel ofe eghe yheme pou me ;

10 Hile me vnder schadou ofe pi wenges

twa,

Fra face ofe wicked pat twinged me swa.

1 1 Mi faas mi saule vmgafc ful wide ; Pair fattenes pai stake1, pair mouth

spake pride.

12 Me vmgaf nou me forthwerpand ; Pain? eghen pai set til helde in land.

13 Pai onfanged me als lioun Til reuing<? war^ redi boun, And als lioun kiteling*?

Pat es wonand in hidings.

14 Ris vp, lau^rd ; forcome 2 him swa, And als-swa him vnderga 3 ;

Fra wicked pou outake saule mine, Pi swerde fra faas ofe hand pine.

15 Lauml, fra fone ofe erthe in pair

life twinne pa;

Ofe pi hidinges filled pain? wambe es swa.

i V concluserunt. 2 V praeveni. * V sup- planta.

E Rngh m. tou. E fil. H fainnes. H licham is. E 1. for to wende. E Lustes in pi rihthand til in ende. H Likinges to in e.

XVI.

H Her. E louerd. H in (inst. of mi). H mi bisekinge what. E esse. E Wiht. H pou bise. EH s. pat be. E Fro pi face. E go. E Euenesse sen pin. EH eyhen. E two. E Pou fraisted mi hert with miht And tou sohtes hit be niht, With fir pou fondedestf and noht esse Fnnden in me wickednesse ; H Pou fonded mi hert and soht be niht, With fir pou fraisted me ful riht, And noht is funden inwith me Wickednes nan for to be. E Pat noht spek mi mouth mare Werkes of na men pat are, For wordes of pi lippes twa I hard waies yherned ma. H Pat mi mount noht sp. m. w. heghli. EH goinges. stiyhes. E stired be. EH steppes. EH I kried (to pe H) for pou herd me god dere. E Hel. EH om nou. E S. pine m. for to be. H land. EH mas. E hopand in pe. E Fro ag. pi rihthand ^heme als appel of egh in land. EH Vnder shadw (E shaldw) of f) i (H pine) wenges forhile me so (H forhile fra). E Fro, om in H. H wicke. EH om pat; me twinged po (H swa). E fos. EH par fatnes. E spal H spek. EH Furt(h werpand me nou (H pai) vmgaf me yhet, To held in erpe par e^hen (H Par eyhen to held in erpe) pai set. E vnderfong.., Pat to his prai. H Pai kep me als graith lioun to reuing, And als lioun kiteling wonand in hiding. E And als lioun kitelyng esse Erdand ai in wildernesse. EH om up. EH bifor- come him so (H swa). H als pou. E vndergo. EH Lese (H Outtake) mi saul fro wick in land, Mi sw. fro fos (fra faas) of pi hand. E twiwne po in lif of pam. E hidings. E fild is wombe of am. E Fild with ernotes are pai ai.

10*

148

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

16 fai ere filled with sones night and dai,

And bar leuinges to bair smale left pai:

17 And .i. sal schewe in bi sight in

rightwisnes ;

.1. salltf be filled when schewes bi blisse.

xvn.

1 sal loue f)e, lauml, [mi]1 stalworth-

hede;

Lau^rd mi festnes ai in nede And mi toflight bat es swa, And mi leser out<? off wa ;

2 Lauerd mi helper bat es alle, And in him ai hope .i. salle;

3 Mi schelder, and ofe mi hele home, And mi fonger: ai ber-forne

4 Louand lauml calle sal .i., And fra mi faas be saufc for-bi.

5 Vmgafc me sorwes ofe dede, Vmgriped me weeles of? quede.

6 Soreghes vmgafc me ofe helle, Bisied me snares ofe dede ful felle.

7 In mi droning lavurd called .i., And to mi god cried .i. witerli:

i Ms. in.

The Psalms.

8 And he herd fra his hali kirke mi

steuen,

And mi crie in his sights in eres yhode euen.

9 Stired and quoke be erthe bare; Groundes of? hilles todreued are, And bai ere stired, ofe1 bairn be lath, For bat he es with bairn wrath.

10 Vpstegh reke in his ire,

And ofc face ofe him brent be fire; Koles bat ware dounfalland Kindled en; ofe him glouand.

1 1 He helded heuens, and doune come

he; And dimnes vnder his fete to be.

12 And he stegh oner cherubin, and

flegh bar«;

He flegh oner fetheres ofe windes ware.

13 And he set mirkenes his lurking<; lang?, His telde to be in his vmgange, Mirke watres bat war^ ofe hewe

In be kloudes of be skewe.

14 For leueningif in his sight? cloudes

schire

Forthyhoden: haile and koles ofe fire, i = }>of.

H with ernotes nith . . EH And .i. in (bi H) rihtwisenesse shew sal (H sal shew) in bi siht. E om I sal. E bi bl. riht H bi bl. in niht.

xvn.

E I sal loue be niht and dai, Louerd mi stalwurnesse is ai, Mi festnes mi to- fliht als-swo, And mi 1. o. o. wo ; H I sal loue be lauerd mi strengh mi festnes, And mi tofilght and mi leser es. E Mi god mi helper is al, H God mi helper niht and dai. H hope sal .i. ai. E shilder H forhiler. EH horn. E & on- fong^r myn , ai om. E Her^hand. H kalle lauerd. E fro . . fos. E sorhes of helle mo, H s. of ded pat be. H And weles of wicnes droued me, E Bournand of wicnesse todreued me so. E me vmgaf. E Vmgriped me. H snare. EH om ful. E kald .1., H .i. kald for pi. H And he herd mi steuen fra is heli kirke gode And mi krie in is siht in eres in yhode ; E And he herd sone ful euen For (r. Fro) kirke heli his mi steuen, And mi crie in his siht Inyhode in his eres riht. EH Stired is (and H) quoc. E be e. amangg, H be e. swa. H droued are ba; E bat are strangf. E Dreued are and st. E ^of H bof i'yof?). E loth H lagh. H god is. E wroth H wragh. E Vpstegh be smoke ful hegh In be wragh of him so slegh, And fir of his face brent bare, Koles kindled fro him are; H Vp- stegh reke in is wrath and fir pare Of is is(l) face brent, koles kindled of him are. E dimmes. H om he. E om He flegh. E And he set merkenes lang* Lurkyng* his in be vmgange, His teld merke watres of hew. H Merke. hw. H sew. EH For leuining* (H leningj cloudes forhferd i« his (H is) siht, Hail and koles of

Psalm XVII.

149

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

15 And lauml thonered fra heuen, and

heghestf sire G&ie his steuen : haile, coles off fire.

16 And he sent his arwes, and skatered

pa;

Felefalded leuening^, and dreued bam swa.

17 And schewed welles ofe watres ware, And groundes off ertheli werld^ vn-

hiled are, 1 8 For bi snibbi«g, lauml myne,

For onesprute ' of gast of wreth bine.

19 He sent fra hegh, and vptoke me; Fra many watres me nam he;

20 He outtoke me bar^ amang^ Fra mi faas bat war sa strange, And fra pa me pat hated ai ;

For samen-strenghped ouer me war pai.

21 t'ai forcome me in daie ofe twin-

And made es lauml mi forhiling<?.

22 And he led me in brede to be ; Sauf<? made he me, for he wald me.

23 And foryhelde to me laumi sal After mi righwisenes al,

And after clensing* ofe mi hende Sal he yhelde to me at ende.

1 V ab inspiratione spiritus irae tuae.

2 al. clennes.

24 For waies of lauml yemed .!., Ne fra mi god dide .1. wickedly.

25 For al his domes in mi sights e« pa, And his rightwisenes noght put .1.

me fra.

26 And .1. sal be with him wemmeles, And loke me fra mi wickednes.

27 And laumi to me foryhelde he sal After mi rightwisnes al,

And after clennes of mi hend swa In sight of eghen his twa.

28 With hali, halgh bes of pe, With man vnderand, vnderand be,

29 With chosen and be chosen pou sal ; With il torned and il torneste al.

30 For bou meke folktf sauf? make sal

nou, And eghen of proude meke sal tou.

31 For bou lightes mi lantern bright; Mi god, mi mirkenes lights.

32 For in be be .1. outtane fra fanding^ al, And in mi god sal .i. ouerfar^ be wal.

33 Mi god vnfiled es his wai; Speche of laumi with fire es ai Fraisted; forhiler es he

Ofe al pat in him hopand be.

34 For wha god bot laumi we calle? Or wha god bote our god of alle?

fir ful briht. EH And 1. ^unnerd (H bhunnered) fra heuen, And alderheghest gaf his steuen, Hail bat was dounfalland (H falland shir), And koles of fir brinnand (H ful hote of fir). EH send. E bam H am. H Manifalded E And felfolded. E to-dreued. E am H bam; EH om swa. E shewden H sheweden. H watres of welles. H in-sprout E out-sprent. EH blast. E wrath H wragh. H sende. E & out nam H an he nam. H And fra. EH fele. E toke H uptoke. H And he o. me dai and niht. E pore. E Fro mi wiperwine to st., H Fra stalwurthest ware of miht. E bo while me. H om bat. E strewed. H are. EH forthcom(e). of mi t. H me led. E lauml to me. HE rihtwis(e)nesse. EH klennes. E hend. E yheld H foryheld. E end. E For .i. yhemed waies of louwi to go in, Ne wickedlic dide .i. fra god min; H For .i. z;h. w. of lauerd wel, Ne quedlic bare .i. fra mi god na del. EH in mi siht to se. EH put .i. noht fro (fra) me. E wemlesse. EH yheme. E om me. E foryheld louml to me H foryhelde to me lauerd; EH om he. EH rihtwisfe)nesse. EH om And. E als so H als swa. EH of his e^hen. E two. EH With heli dwelle hal^he (halgh). H be bou sal. H And with underand man underand al. E salt be. E And with corn be corn fa. s., H And with chosen men chese be mun. E And with liber liber best al , H And with qued qued beste if bou wun. H sauf salt make, nou om. H meke and slake. H lithtes. EH Lauerd mi god. EH merkenes^se). E fro. EH fondyng*. E .1. sal. E God min. EH vntroden. E bi. H Sp. of 1. is fraisted ai With fir. E Fonded. E Halle. E who H wa. H lauerd bot our god. E om Or; H And.

150

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

35 Lauifrd pat girde me with might,

And set vnwemmed mi wai right ;

36 tat set mi fete als of hertes ma, And oner heghnes settand me swa;

37 fat leres mi hend at fight nou, And mine armes als brasen bow set

pou;

38 And pou gaf me forhiling? of hele

of be, And pi righthand onfanged me ;

39 And bi lare in ende me rightid al, And bi lare, it1 me lere sal.

40 I*ou tobreddeste mi gainges vnder me, And mi steppes noght vnfest bai be.

41 .1. sal filghe mi faas, and vmlap pa; And noght ogaintorne to pai wane

swa.

42 .1. sal bam breke , ne stand bai

mights ;

I*ai sal falle vnder mi fete doun- right*.

43 And bou girde me with might at fight

in land,

And vnderlaide vnder me in me rise- and.

44 And mi faas obak bou gaf me nou, And hatand me forlesed bou.

i V ipsa.

45 I*ai cried , ne was bat sauf made

oughts ; To laumi, and he herde bam noghte.

46 And .1. sal gnide als dust<? bifor

winde likam, Als fen of gates owai do bam.

47 Outtake fra ogainsaghes of folk bou

sal, In heued of genge me set with-al.

48 Folktf, whilk* .1. ne knewe, serued

to me; In hering£ of ere me boghed he.

49 Outen ' sones to me lighed bai, Outen sones elded er bai ; And bai halted pan? pai yhode, Fra pine sties bat ere gode2.

50 Lau^rd Hues ! and mi god blissed

be!

And god oie mi hele vphouen be he!

51 God bat giues wrekes me to, And vnders 3 folk* vnder me so ; Mi leser artou night and dai Fra mi faes ben wrathful ai.

52 And fra in me risand vpheue sal

tou me , Fra wickeman outtake me to fle.

i V alieni. 2 et claudicaverunt a semitis suis. 3 subdis.

E bot our god louml. EH Laumi (H God) bat with miht gierd (girde, me ai And vnwewmed set mi wai (E me vai,, Pat made mi fete als of (om H) hertes to be And (om Hj over heghnesses settand me. H to fiht bat was. E & als brasan bogh mi armes. H Pou set mine armes als bogh of bras. E And forhiling* of bi hele gaf pou to me, And me onfong rihthand of be, And bi lare me rihted in ende jrhit. H lore me rihted in ende al. E me lered fal hit, H me lere hit sal. E tobred H bred. E goines H goinges. E fos ; bo. E again. H turne again to wane ma. E til; so. E brek bam. H Breke bam .i. sal. E fite. E And tou gerde me with miht, Bogh niht and dai to fiht, And tou vnderlaid in risand, In me vnder me to stand. E fos. E onbak« to me gaf bou, H to me on bac gaf bou. E forles H tospred. EH tou nou. E Whilk sauf mad oht. E And to- gnide sal .i. tham. Als wynd bifore dust lickam, And als fen in waies swa , Alle awai .i. sal do tha. H to-gnide am als; duste om. H of waies. H Outnim me fra gainsayhes. E Fro folk<? again-sainges outtake salt me. EH Me set in hened of genge, E to be. H Folk bat .i. ne knew me serued bai. E erye. EH hit (pai) boyhed to me (ai H). E om Outen — lighed bai. E vnelded. H Outen sones liyhed me, onten sones elded are, And pai halted fra bine stiyhes ware. E & vphouen god of mi hele be, H & uph. be god mi hele he. E God bat wrekes to me giues nou, And vnder me folk,? vndres tou. H Lauerd . . to me ma. swa. E Leser min; artou om; be niht. E wrakeful are, H wrathful bat are. H & ar in mi r. H me opheue sal bou, E vph. me bou sal. H man wicke. H outtake me nou,

xvn— xvm.

151

Ms. Vesp. D UH.

53 For-pi in birfaes sal .1. to be schryue

Laumi, and to bi name salm sai mi Hue;

54 Heles of his kings mikeland, And als-swa mercy doand To his cnste bat es Dauid,

And to his sede til in werld bar-wid.

xvm.

Jrleuens telles goddis blisse ; re walken schewes handeswerkes hisse.

2 Dai to dai worde riftes right,

And wisedome schewes night to nights.

3 Noght ers speches, ne saghes euen, Of whilk noght es herd bair steuen.

4 In al land outyhode bair rorde, And in endes of werld of bam be

worde.

5 In sun he set his telde to stand ; And he als bridegome off his hours

comand,

6 He gladed als yhoten to renne his

wai ; Fra heghest heuen his outcome ai,

7 And his ogaine-raas til hegh sete ; Nes whilks bat hides him fra his

hete.

8 Lagh of lausrd vnwemmed esse, Tornand saules in to blisse ; Witnes of lausrd es ai trewe, Wisedome lenand to littel newe.

9 Rightwisenesses oie lausrd right,

hertes fainand ; Bode of lausrd light, eghen lightand.

10 Drede of lauml hali es ite,

In werld oie werld, and ful ofe wits ;

Domes of laumi soth er ai,

And rightwished in bar-selfs er faai.

1 1 Yornandlike ' ouer be golde

And stane derworthi mikel holde ; And wele swetter to mannes wambe Ouer honi and be kambe.

12 And bi hine yhemes bam, ouer al

thinge ; In bam yhemand, mikel foryheldings.

13 Giltes wha vnderstandes nou? Of mi helinges me clens tou ; And fra outen night and dai Forbere vnto bi hine ai.

14 If myne lordeschepes noght be al2, ran vnwemmed be .1. sal,

And .1. sal be clensed clene Of gilte mikel, albidene.

15 And be mon, at queme sal ba, Speches of mi mouth at ga,

1 V Desiderabilia. 2 V Si mei non fuerint dominati.

E outta me al. H For bat sal .i. to be lauerd in birbes shriue Anto bi name salme sai m. 1., E To be lauerd in birfaes sal be shriuen forbi And to bi name salm sai sal .1. H Mikeland heles al wiht blisse To his king bat swa gode isse, And doand mercies to is crist Dauid. E & mildhertnes als-so d. E & til. EH ber-wid.

xvm.

EH tellen. EH wolken. handwerk. EH wisdom. H I*ai ne are wordes ne. EH sayhes. EH Of wh. bat. E In alle erbe. H outyhede. E ende, H werld of erbe. EH sunne. E teld. H stande. E bridgome. bour. EH eten. E Fro. EH heghist. E his comings. EH gainres to his hegh sete. EH Nis. H while mai hide. EH isse. EH Turnand. E vn-to. H om es. EH euer. E Lenand wisdome. E Rithnesse. E heli isse H h. hit isse. EH ai ful of blisse. H soghe. E are faai. EH om And. H Rithwised E Rihtwisehed. EH bam. E seluen, er om. E ai. E More to be yorned, H Mare ^hornanlic. EH om be. EH Or. E ston H stan. E derwrth. EH bat is h. EH Mikel swetter. E wombe. E bi kombe. H .i. hine. E sal bam yhem, H sal gete am. H In yh. bam. E who. E v. mo H ma. EH klens(e) me so (swa). EH Vnto pi hyne forbere bou ai. E lousrdinges noht min. H If mine noht lauer- dinges, ben nnwemmed be i. sal, And be klensed of mikel gilt with-al. E And be mun faai bat sal queme Sp. of m. m. to yheme, &c; H And bat speches of

152

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

And thingings ofe hert mine

Euer-mar in sight bine. 1 6 Laumi mi helper ai he isse, And mi bier vn-to blisse.

XIX.

The Psalms.

XX.

her^ |)e in bi drouingi? dai ; Name ofe [god] lacob forhile foe ai.

2 He sende foe helpe fra halgh onon, And he helpe be fra Syon.

3 Of al pine offrand mined he be1, And pine offrand fat made be.

4 He gif<? tp foe after pi herte,

And [al] pi rede he feste in querte.

5 Faine in pi hele sal we,

And in name of ome god mikled be.

6 "Lauerd fil al bin askingeswith blisse. Nou knewe .1. bat saufc made laumi

cristf hisse ;

7 He sal her* him fra his hali heuen ; In mightand, hele of his right hand

euen.

E8[Pai in waines, foai in horses al; And we in name of louerd oar god

sal kal.] 9 Pai ere bonden, and fell* sare ;

And we raas, and rightid are. 10 Lau^rd, make saufc foe king£ to be ; And henr vs in what dai we calle to be. » T. be he.

JL/auml, in pi might foe kings faine

sal, And oner pi hele swith glade with-al.

2 ton ga.fe him gernings ofe hert and

ihoghte,

And of* wille ofV his lippes biswiked him noghte.

3 For bou forcome him, als tou es, In blissingfes] ofe , swetenes ;

£011 set on his heued on-ane A croune ofe a derworthi stane.

4 Lifc ban asked he of foe, And bou gafe it him to be Lenght ofe daies, al with blisse,

In werld and in werld of werld bat isse.

5 Mikel es his blisse, night and dai, In bi hele sa gode es ai;

Blisse and mikel fairehede with-al Insets ouer him ai bou sal.

6 For pou sal gife him in blissings In werld ofe werld; forbi alle thin-

ges

Pou salts faine him in mirth rights With bi lickam, es swa brights.

7 For be king« in lau^rd hopes he, And in mercy of heghiste noghtf

stired sal be. —

mi mouth like be sal bai, And fohoght of mi hert in bi siht ai. EH L. m. h.

out of wo (wa), & m. b. is als-swo (swa).

XIX.

E god lacob. EH Fro halghe he (om in E) send be h. o. E forhelp. E Of pine off. m., H Mened of p. off.; EH be he. H maked. E al bi rede, H pi red al. EH We sal be fained (H faine) in hele of be. E om name of. E fille bi bodes al. H wist .i. H om. sal. E Fro his heli heuen he be him herand. E miht and h. ; H mithtandes, hele om. H pi. E om euen. EH are bunden. fellen. E ros.

XX.

H wigh-al. H om him. E yorning? H ^horning. E bifore-come H biforcom. EH him swo (swa), EH In blissinges of s. to go (ga). EH in h. h. onon (onan). E ston. EH He asked be lif , pou gaf him strengh , In werld and in werld of werld daies lengh. EH Mikel of him it es the blisse In pi hele so god pat isse. EH Ouer him outset (H onset,; ai om. H For pou sal gif him in blissing in werld of werld riht, fou salt faine him in blisse wiht foi lickam briht. E salt, blissings. fringe. E Faine salt bou him. is swo. EH hopes alle (al). be stired (stire) he saile (sal).

Psalm XX— XXI.

153

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

8 Be funden bi hand til al pin ille-

willand,

And al {)at be hates find bi right- hand.

9 tou sal bam set als ouen of fire In time of* hi lickam schire ; Lau*rd in his wreth sal dreue foa, And sweligh fire it* sal als-swa. .

10 £air fruit fra erthe forlese bou sal, And fra sones of men bair sede al.

1 1 For bai helded in be iuels vnright ; I>ai thought redes whilk stabel bai

ne mights.

12 For set am hindward sal ton swa, And in bair* leuynges * forgraibe

lickam of ba.

13 Vpheue, lau^rd, in might of be;

ti mightes sing* and salme sal we.

XXI.

VJod, mi god, in me bise, Wharfor forletedest bou me ? Ful fer fra mi hele er* ba Wordes of mi giltes ma.

2 Mi god, .1. sal crie bi dai,

And bou salt noght* here what .1.

sai ;

And bi nights, if* bat it* be, And to unwisdome2 noght to me.

3 Pou sothlik in haligh wel Erdest, loof* of Irael.

i V in reliquiis tuis praeparabis. 2 Ms. mi wisd.

Our* fadres in be hoped bai;

I'ai hoped, and bou lesed bain ai.

4 To be bai cried, and sauf bai war* ; In be bai hoped, and noght schent*

bai are.

5 And .1. am worme, and man nathing* ; Mennes vpbraiding*, of* folk* out-

kasting* l .

6 Alle me seand me scorned swa, With lippes pai spak*, and heued

stired pa:

7 »He hoped in lauml , him he oute-

nime ;

Savif make he him, for he wille hime«.

8 For pou ert whilk* pat me outdroghe Fra he wambe, mi hope inoghe Fra pappes of* moder of* me ;

Of maghe forkast .1. am in be.

9 Fra wambe of mi moder mi god ar-

tou: Ne wite bou noght fra me nou ;

10 For bat* drouing* es neghande, And es nane bat es helpande.

1 1 Vmgaf me ful mani kalues ;

Fat bules vmset* me on al halues.

12 Pair mouth ouer me bai war* open-

and, Als lioun reuand and rorand.

13 Als watre outyet* .1. am at anes; And tospred ere al mi banes.

i so R. abjectio.

EH Pi hand be funden in. E ping inst. of bine. H ilwalland. EH alle. H om bat. E hat H hate. H salt. H om als ; E in ouen. EH pi wrath (wragh). EH todreue (drone) salt bou bo (pa). EH & swolihe (swolyhe) bam sal fire als swo (swa). EH I*ar. E fro. H iueles, bai boht Redes bat stabel pai miht noht. E pat stabel. EH For on bac salt bou (sal tou) set bam, In bar 1. (E leueninges) forzharc bar lickam. E And bi H And in bi.

XXI.

E Wherfor H Whefor. EH om Ful. are. E bo. mo. E kri. E noht til vnw.; H til v., noght om. EH vn-to. E halgh H halyhe. H Erdes; E Wones heryhing*. E Israel. E hopes. EH and tou. am. E I inst. of ai. EH om and, before noght. E wurm. no. EH Men. EH om of. outkesting*. H shorned. EH ai inst. of swa. H om and; bar h. shoe. EH bai. EH out him he nim. EH made. E om he. EH wald. E ert. H om whilk. E wombe in h. E Of p. EH of pe m. H Of wambe E Fro wombe, EH forcusten. H Fra magh of moder. EH art bou. E non, H name. E is H isse. EH Fatte boles, alle. tar. E wor. EH romiand(e). E to-yut H toyhut. EH ones, alle mi bones. EH

154

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

14 Made es mi hert als wax meltand

In mides of mi wambe dwelland.

15 Dried als a pot might be Alle mi might with-innen me, And mi tunge to mi chekes cleued red ; And bou me led in dust* ofe ded.

1 6 For me vmgaf* fele hundes yhet*: Red of liberand me vmsete.

17 Mi hend, mi fete bai delued wide, Pai talde mi banes in ilka side.

1 8 Pai sothlik* bihelden swa And als me inloked * ba ;

Pai delt to bam mi schrondes ilkan, And mi clebing* lote kast* bai on.

19 And bou, lauml, ne fer bi help fra me ; At mi wering* bihald and se.

20 Outtake mi saule fra swerd to brings, And fra hand of* hunde mine oning*2.

21 Sanf me fra mouth of* lioun es, And fra homes of vnicornes mi

mekenes.

22 Telle bi name to mi brefaer .1. sal; In midde be kirke looue be with-al.

23 Pat dredes lauml, loues him swa ; Al* sede of lacob, blisse mas him to.

24 Drede him al sede of Irael als king*, For he ne forsoke ne forsegh pouer

biseging* 4 ;

l V inspexerunt. 2 V unicam meam. * Ms. Als. « = biseking.

25 Ne he tornes his face fra me, And when .1. to him cried me herd he.

26 At be mi lof* with mikel blis In be kirke bat mikel is;

Mi hetes sal .1. yhelde in land In be sight of* be dredand.

27 Etc pouer and be filled bai sal; And looue lauml bai sal with-al Pat him sekes for saule quertes ;

In werld ofe werld sal life bar hertes.

28 Pai be mined and to lau*rd torne faai Alle endes ofe erth in ai,

29 And lout sal bai in his sight* Alle hinehedes of genge ful rights;

30 For of lauml es be rike,

And he sal lau*rd ofe genge ilike.

31 Pai eten and louten bare Alle fattes ofe erthe bat ware ; In his sight sal be falland Alle bat dounestiyhen in land.

32 And mi saule to him liue sal ; And mi sede him serue with-al.

33 And schewed sal be to lauml strend

toward es * ; And schewe sal heuens his right-

wisenes

To folk* whilk* bat born sal be, Whilk* lauml him-self* maked he. l V generatio ventura.

Als wax meltand made is mi hert, In mid mi wombe H In mi magh) for mikel vnquert. EH Welihed (Welyhed). E mouth H mai. EH Is mi (om in E) miht. E with mine(!) me. EH cliued (kleued) to mi ch. E tou. E About gaf me fele houwdes al dai, Red of 1. vmset me ai; H Fol fele /frundes me umset, Red of 1. about me met. EH dolued. E told. E bones. EH on. H biheld me. E swo. EH & inloked'en) me tho (tha). E Pai todelt mi sh., H Mi sh. todelt bai, ilkon. E cletyng* H kebing. EH lot set. The next 2 lines transp. in H. EH om bou. EH fer noht. EH om bihald and; bou be-se. EH fro (fra) swerd mi saule. E and br. EH hound. E liounesse H lioun esse. E vnicorn. EH min ownesse. E Tel. EH In mid. E lone. H heryhes. E so H swo. E Al H Als. EH mirfaes him to. EH Al (Als) sede of Israel dred him a. k. H biseking E blis- sing*. E om he ; H Ne he ne t. EH blisse. isse. H Mine. EH hotes. H om I. E yh. ful riht, Of him dredand in be siht. EH Etc (Ede) mote (sal) pouer and nit be so (swa), And 1. 1. sal bai bo (ba). EH seke. H liue mot. EH Pai be m. & t«rned yhare, To loumi alle endes of erbe bat are ; And bid in his siht sal bai, Alle be hine folk* (H of genge) in ai. E For bat loumles is. E ikke inst. of ilike. EH & baden. EH Fal sal faai in siht hisse Alle bat doun go (H stiyhe) in erbe faisse. H & liue to him mi saule. EH & serue to him mi sede sal al. EH om And. E Shewed bes, H Shew sal (be om). H heuen. EH To be folk* bat. E Whilk* bat. EH om him-self. H al maked.

Psalm XXII— XXIII.

155

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

L

xxn.

au*rd me steres, noght want; sal

In stede of fode bar* me louked he.

2 He fed me ouer watre ofe fode, Mi saule he tomes in to gode.

3 He led me ouer sties of rightwisenes, For his name, swa hali es.

4 For, and ife .1. ga in mid schadw

of* dede,

For foou with me ert* iuel sal .i. noght drede ;

5 I>i yherde, and bi staf* of* might*, tai ere me roned l dai and night*.

6 tou grained in mi sight* borde to

be, Ogaines bas bat droued2 me;

7 tou fatted in oli mi heued yhit*; And mi drink* dronkenand while

schir* es it* ! 3

8 And filigh me sal bi mercy Alle daies of* mi lif* for-bi;

9 And bat .1. wone in hous of* lau*rd

isse In lenght* of daies al with blisse.

XXIH.

v_/f lau*rd es land, and fulhed his ; Erfaeli werld, and alle bar-in is.

1 V me consolata sunt. 2 al. drouen.

3 V et calix meus inebrians quam praeclarus est!

2 For ouer sees it grounded he, And ouer stremes graibed it to be.

3 »Wha sal stegh in hill* of lau*rd

winli? Or wha sal stand In his stede

4 Vnderand of* hend bidene And bat* of his hert es clene,

In vnnait bat his saule noght nam, Ne swar* to his neghburgh in swike- dam ;

5 He sal fang* of lau*rd blissing*, And mercy of god his heling*.

6 tis es be strend of him sekand, fe face of god lacob laitand.

7 Oppenes your yates wide, Yhe bat pr/nces ere in pride ; And yates of* ai, vphouen be yhe, And king of blisse income sal he.

8 «Wha es he king* of blisse ?« Lau*rd

srrang*

And mightand, in fight lau*rd might- and lang*.

9 Oppenes your yates wide, Yhe bat princes ere in pride ; And yates of ai, vphouen be yhe, And king* of blisse income sal he.

10 »Wha es he be king* of blisse bat*

isse ?« Lau*rd of mightes es king of blisse.

xxn.

EH wane. EH He fostred. in water, turned. E vn-to. H on. EH stiyhes. E nam so. EH heli. E om For. E om I. EH om mid. E ded. EH art. H om iuel. E me sal iuels d. , H noht (sal .i. d. EH l?i y. & bi st. bar-to, Mikel ronyng* (H rominge) bai me do. EH Againes. E bo H pa. EH drouen. EH Mi heued in oli mad tou fat , Drunkenand mi (in) drink* hou shir is pat. EH merci bine. H Alle, be daie. EH of lif mine. H And .i. sal. EH wun with mikel strengh In lou*rdes hous (H In hous of 1.) in daies lengh.

XXIII.

EH Loumies is erbe. hisse. berin isse. EH For he hit grounded (stabeled) ouer be (om in H) se , & o. st. hit graibed he. E Who. H stigh E vpstiyhe. E in lou*rd hil. EH isse inst. of winli. EH in heli sted (H stede heli) hisse. H unnaitnes E ydelnes. E om pat. EH swor. EH tak(e) fro (fra). fro god. EH is. EH are of pride. H om yates. H uphouen E open. E Qwo. H om he. EH Openes your yhates with your hand Ye pat (om in H) princes are in land. H yhates ailic. E open. H yhe be. E Who H What. EH om he.

i56

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

XXIV.

1 o pe , lauml , mi saule houe .1.

sothli.

Mi god, in pe .1. traist ; noght schame sal .1..

2 Nene scorne me sal mi faa ;

For, pat be vphald, noght schenl ben f>a.

3 Schema be alle are quede doand Oner tomehed l in ani land.

4 Schewe me, lauml, bine waies to se, And bine sties lere bou me.

5 In bi sothnes bou me rights, And lere me bath dai and nights ; For mi god heler art bou ai, And .1. vpheld foe alle be dai.

6 Lauml , ofe jnne reuthes mine bou

mare,

And of jnne mil[ies, of werld bat are.

7 Giltes of mine youthe in thoghte, And mine vnwitandnesses min noghte;

8 After [fai] mercies mine of me, tou lauml, for godenes ofe be.

9 Swete and right lau^rd ; for bat

sal he Gift lagh to giltand in wai be.

10 Right handtame he sal in dome, And lere be milde his waies to come.

1 1 Alle waies of lauml mercy and soth-

fastnes, To sekand his witeword and his

witnes. 1 supervacue.

The Psalms.

12 For bi name, lauml, milfae to mi

sinne, For mikel it es, bat .1. am inne.

13 Whilk es man dredes lauml? with-

out en les

Lagh set he to him in wai bat he ches.

14 His saule sal dwelle in godenesses

ma ; And his sede erde be land sal swa.

1 5 Festnes es lauml him dredand to ; And his witeword bat be schewed

to bo.

1 6 Mine eghen ai to lauml bai be, For mi fete ofe snare outschouue

sal he.

17 Loke in me, and ofe me haft' mercy, For aneli and pouer am .1. .

1 8 Felefalded ere mi hert drouings; Outtake me of mi nedeinges.

19 [Se mi swinktf and mi meknesse, E And forgif me giltes more and lesse].

20 Bihald mi faas , for felefalded ere

faai,

And with wic hatereden foa hate me ai.

21 Yheme mi saule, and outtake me; And .1. sal noght schame , for I.

hoped in be.

22 Vnderand and rightwise cleued to me, For bat .1. vppeheld be.

23 Lese, lauerd, Irael

Ofe alle his drouinges ilkadel.

xxnn.

EH om sothli. EH trast, .i. ne sal shame forbi. E fo. EH om pat. E bo. EH om are. E wiclic d. E fain w. EH stiyhes. E sohtnesse. E be inst. of bath. EH For mi beryher art. H be opheld i. E bi. EH min. E bi. EH mercies. EH mi 3. H And of. H unwitandes. EH min bou n. EH After bi (bine) m. min. E godnesses. H rihtwis. E for bat ai Sal he gif; H ai, For bat sal he gif. EH om be. EH milbe & sohtnes;se}. H om lauerd. EH Who. H man is. E with-out. E dwel. EH in godes alle 'al). EH be erbe erd(e) sal. EH to him dr. so (sa). H ba. EH eyhen. E at 1. H out-shouued . E out- houued, he. E For f)at. EH onlik. E Felfolded H Manifalded. are. EH drouinges. E fro H fra. nedinges. H me sw. H mine g. mare. E fos. EH om for. H bai E bat. E out-nim. EH kliued. E vpheld H uphelde. H al is. E wel, H faou mai wel.

Psalm XXV— XXVI.

'57

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

XXV.

Uerne me, laumi, for .i. am gane In min vnderandnes on ane ; And in lauerd hopand am .i., .1. sal noght be vnfeste forbi.

2 Lauerd, fande me and fraiste me als-

swa; Swibe * min neeres, min hert, with wa.

3 Bifor mine eghen bi merci es, And .i. quemed in bi sothnes.

4 Noght sat .i. with vnnait reede*, Ne .i. sal inga with berand quede.

5 Kirke ofe liberand hated .i.,

And with vrike sal .i. noght site forbi.

6 Mi hende bitwix vnderandes wasche

.i. sal, And vmga, lauerd, bi weued with-al ;

7 £at .i. here stetien ofe lofe, and telle Alle bine wondres bate bifelle.

8 Lauerd , .i. loued fairehede ofe bi

hous isse, And stede ofe woning of bi blisse.

9 Lese noght with wicked, gode, saule

mine,

Ne with menslaers mi life bou tine ; 1 V ure. 2 V cum concilio vanitatis.

10 In whas hend wickenesses ere ma, tain? righthand filled with giftes swa.

1 1 And in min vnderandnesse gane am .i. ; Bye me, and ofe me haue merci.

1 2 Mi fote stode in righting^ to be ; In kirkes, lauerd, blis sal .i. be.

XXVI.

JL«auerd mi lightings es in lede, And mi hele ; wham .i. sal drede?

2 Lauerd forhiler of mi life; Forwhate sal [i] quake, swerde or knife?

3 Whil neghes ouer me derand, To etc mi flesche fote and hand,

4 tat droues me mi faas bat are tai ar* vnfesttf and felle sare.

5 Ife stand ogaines me kastelles ma, Noght drede sal mi hert for faa ;

6 Ife vprise ogaine me fights, In bat sal .i. hope in mighte.

7 Life1 ofe laumi asked .i., fat sal .i. seke inwardeli :

fat [i] wone hous ofe lauerd ine Alle be daies ofe life mine,

8 fat .i. se wille of lauerd swa, And seke his kirke in forto ga.

i V. Unam (translator read Vitam).

XXV.

EH gan. E vnderandes H underandnesses. H .i. inst. of in. EH fond(e). H frait. EH om als. E so. H mi n. EH mi h. E bo, inst. of with wa. H For bifor. EH esse. sohtnesse. EH I sal noht site wiht. E ga, in om. EH wic. EH Wesshe (Wasshe) mi hend bitwen(e) vnderand I s. EH wundres. H leued fairher. E Ne lese wiht. E om god. H wih. EH mensloers. EH In whos h. is wickednesse, far r. nit (fild) of g. esse. E gon H ingan. H blisse lauerd.

XXVI.

EH give the text in a different strophe :

Laumi mi lihting, mi hele so (swa) rife ; Whom I. sal H sal .i.) dred whil pat .1. wake?

2 Laumi forhiler of mi life ;

Wa (Wha) is for whom (wham) sal .1. (pat .i. sal) quake?

3 Whil neghen ouer me derand(e)

Til etc (mi H) flesshes pat are boun,

4 Mi fos (fas) bat are me (om in H) dro-

uandfej l*ai are vnfest and fellen doun.

5 If castelles again me stand(e),

Yhit sal mi hert haue no (na) drede.

6 If fiht again me be risandfej ,

In pat sal .1. hope to spede.

7 Lif fro louerd (Fra lauerd lif) asked .1. ,

fat sal .1. seke to he me giue: In his hous to wun him bi

Daies alle whil .1. mai (whil bat .i.) Hue ;

8 tat .1. se be wille in quert

Of lauerd, is fader and son, And be kirke of him in quert (H with hert) Seke .1. ber inne for to won (wun;.

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii. 9 For he hide me in his kirke in iuels

dai,

He hiled me in hidel oie his telde ai ; 10 In stane heghed me on-ane,

And nou heghed mi heued ouer mi

fane.

1 1 .1. vmyhode, and offred^ in telde hisse Offrand ofr berand steuen ' pat isse ; .1. sal sing£ bi night and daie, And salme to lauml sal .i. saie.

12 Henr, lauml, mi steuen, |)at .i. crie

to be ; Hafc merci of? me, and her^ me.

13 To be mi hert saide : »pe soght face

mine; .1. sal seke, lauerd, to face bine«.

14 Ne turne bine anleth me fra;

Ne helde in wreth fra bi hine swa.

15 Mi helper be; ne me forlete,

Ne me forse, god mi hele swete. 1 6 For mi fader and mi moder me for-

soke bai;

Lauerd sothlik* vptoke me ai. i V hostiam vociferationis.

17 Lagh set to me, lauml, in waie

bine,

And right me in right stiyhe, for faes myne.

1 8 Ne hafe giuen l me onhande In saules oie me drouande ; For in me raas wicked witnes, And leghed to bam bair wickenes.

19 .1. leue godes of lauml to se In be land oft? liuande be.

20 Abide lauml, manlike do nou, And strenbhed be bi hert, and lauml

vphald bou.

xxvn.

^P

1 o be, lauerd, crie sal .1. ; Mi god, ne blinne fra me for-foi ! Ne be2 when leue fra me in land, And .1. sal be like in flosche3 falland. 2 Her^, lauml, of? mi [bi]seking£ steuen, Whil .1. bidde to be til heuen, Whil .1. vpheue hende mine Vntil hali kirke bine.

i V Ne tradideris. 2 r. IJOH ; V ne quando taceas a me. 3 V in lacum.

16

9 For in his teld(e) hid he me In be dai of wicked blode, He hiled me in hidel to be In his teld bat is so gode.

10 In ston (stan), richest bat mai be,

Heghed he me als he dide oft<r, j And nou mi heued heghed he

Ouer mi fos ful (om in Hj hegh o-loft^.

11 .1. vmyhode and offred ai

In his teld of berand steuen ; I. sal synge and salm sai

Vnto louerd bat is in heuen.

12 Her(e], louml, mi steuen when .1. cri oht,

Haue merci of me and here me.

13 To be mi hert said mi face be soht,

I>i face, laumi, sal .1. seke to se.

14 Ne turne bou bi face fro (fra) me, 20

Ne held in wragh fra bi hine (H hine bine).

18

Forsake me noht, mi helper be, Ne forse me, god of hele mine.

For mi (fader, mi HJ moder me forsoke

bai,

And louerd me kep (nam) als his wil was. Set to me lagh (H lagh to me), louml,

in bi wai,

Riht me in riht wai (H stigh) for mi fas.

Ne haue bou giuen me wiht (bi H) wille In saules of me drouand(e),

For in me ros witnesse(s) ille,

far (H bat) wicnesse to bam was (H is) liyhand(e).

Godes of laumi to se leue .1.

In be land of liuaud(e) nou. Abide louml and do manli,

And bi hert be strenghed and lauml vphald tou.

xxvn.

H Lauerd .i. sal krie to be. EH stint. H bou fra me. E Leswhen H Ne whenne. E bou blinne. E om sal. E He 1. H beseking. H Whil pat .i. heue, vp om. E heue vp. E hend. EH To kirke heli pat is pine. E giue ne. E speken.

Psalm XXVII— XXVIH.

'59

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

3 Ne samen gif me with sinnand,

Ne lese me with wicnes wirkand ;

4 tat spekes pees to negh burgh hisse ', And inels in pair* hertes isse.

5 After pair werkes gif to pa,

And after nithe of* pair findings ma ;

6 After pair handwerkes yhelde til am, Yhelde foryeldeing* of pa to pam.

7 For pat* pai noght vnderstode Werkes of lau*rd [pat] ere gode ; For-[pi] in pair handwerkes pam

fordo, And noght big pam pou salt als-so.

8 Blissed lauerd, for he herd steuen Of? mi biseking* in til heuen.

9 Lauml mi helper, mi scheldefr], for-bi ; And in him hoped mi hert* , and

helped am .1. ;

10 And blomed mi flesche ouer-al, And of* mi wille to him schriue .1.

sal.

11 Lauerd strenght of his folk* he isse, And forhiler of* bery hinges es2 of

crist hisse.

12 Beryhed make pou, lauml, to be Folke pine, pat leue in be,

And blisse pine heritage; and ster*

am, And til in euer vpheue pam.

1 V qui loquuntur pacem cum proximo suo. 2 al. om.

lau*rd , goddes sones to lauml bring*

xxvm.

Jjringes to

pat be, Sones of schepe1

yhe.

2 Bringes to lauml worschep and blisse ; Bringes to laumi blis to name hisse ; Biddes to lauml inwardeli

In his porche pat es hali.

3 Steuen of lauml, pat es balde, Oner watres pat er* kalde ; God of masthede2 ponnered he Ouer watres fele pat be.

4 Steuen of lauml in might* it es ; Steuen oft' lauml in mikelnes.

5 Steuen of brekand cedres onane, And breke sal lauml cedres of*

Lib an e ;

6 And grinde pam als Yban kalues he

mon: And loued als vnicornes son.

7 Laumles steuen of bitwixfalland low

of fir* es 3 ;

Steuen of lauerd smitand wildernes, And stir* sal lauml with his hand Wildernes of Cades land.

8 Steuen of laumi forgraiband hertes

ma, And vnhil thickenesses sal he swa ;

1 V arietum. 2 majestatis. * V Vox

domini intercidentis flammam ignis.

EH to par (H his) n. pais. H iuel. EH sales inst. of isse. E hertes. E bam. H om And. EH nigh. E of findinges of am. H hendewerk, E werkes. EH yh. pam to. of pam to bo. EH noht bai. pat are. H For, E And. E hendwerk* H henwerk. EH I*ou salt and noht (H nogh) bigge (big) pam (H pa) perto. E Blissed loumi ou*r alle ping* , tat herd steuen of mi bisekyng*. H shilder ; hulpen , and om ; E Lauml mi help*r is he ai, And mi forhiler night and dai, And in him hoped mi hert, And hulpen am .1. alle in quert. EH shriue to him. E strenth H strengh. E beringes. EH om es. EH Beried. E om pou. E Hue. EH & bl. p. h. niht and dai, Stere pam and vpheue am to (til) in ai.

XXVIH.

E loumi. EH shep. E wrchip H wurchip. E wrchip inst. of blis. E forthi inst. of inwardeli. E is. EH heli. EH bold(e). are kold(e). E mosthed H mikel- hed. E faunred H punnered. E so H swa. EH O. w. mani mo (ma). EH louerd brekand. EH yban. E gnid H tognide. H am, E bo. EH kalf. E mun. E om loued. E vnicorn sun. E Loumi steuen logh of fir of bitwix- falland, Steuen of 1. wildernesse smitand ; H Louerdes st. bitwixfalland logh of fir, Louerdes st. sm. w. shir. E Wildernesses H Wilderles. EH Cade. HE Lauerdes steuen graipand (E Louerd of gr.) hertes esse, And vnhil he sal bicnesse,

i6o

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

And in temple of him pat isse

Alle sal pai sai »blisse«. 9 Louml stithstreme1 in mas to wone,

And site laaerA king* in ai mone. 10 Lauml mights to his folke sal giue, And blis his folke in pees to Irae.

XXIX.

1 sal vpheue pe, laumi, for pou

keped me, Ne tobreddest2 mi faas ouer me to be.

2 Lauml mi god, to be cried .1., And pou heled me for-pi.

3 Lauml, pou led mi saule fra helle ; too keped me fra pat in flosche felle.

4 Singes to laumi, his halwes mar.?

and lesse, And schriues3 to minde of his halines.

5 For wreth es in his misliking*, And life in his wil, ofe alle ping*?;

6 At euen weping« dwelle sal, And at morwhen fainnes al.

7 I sothlik saide in mi mightsomnes : ».I. ne sal be stired in ai pat es«.

8 Lauml, in pi wille right

Lent pou to mi fairehed might :

i V diluvium. » V delectasti ; tr. read

dilatasti. 3 confitemini.

9 Fra me pou torned pi likam, And to-dreued made .1. am.

10 To pe, laumi, crie .1. sal, And to mi god biseke with-al.

11 »What notfulhede in mi blode es, Whils .1. dounga in wemmednes?

12 Nouwhat ! sal dust be schrinen to pe, Or schewe pi sothnes for to be?«

13 Herd laumi, and es rewed of me ; Lauml mi helper made es he.

14 Pou torned mi weping* in mi wa In blisse to me for to ga;

Pou slitted mi sek<r in twa,

And vmgafc me with fainnes swa:

15 Pat to pe singe mi blisse wele

mare,

And noght sal .1. be stungen2 sare. Lauml mi god pat es in ai, To pe sal .1. schriue night and dai.

XXX.

IN pe , laumi , hoped .1. : noght

schent .1. be

In ai; in pi rightwisnes lese me. 2 Helde pi ner<? to me and lipe;

Pat pou outake me high pe swipe, i V Numquid. 2 V compungar.

And in his kirke pat is heli, Alle sal blisse sai for-thi. H stigh E stegh. H mas in. E sitel. EH he mon (E mun). EH blisse. EH pais.

XXIX.

E om pou. E kep H keptest. H tobredest E brededest. E fos. E ton. EH out-led. E sauued, H beried. H om pat. E Salines to louml halihes hesse ; mare & 1. om. EH helinesse. EH wragh. H misliking hisse. H & lif in his wille hit isse. E om in. E moro H moryhen. HE And in mi 'om in E) miht- somnes (E miht sonnes) said!e; .i., Noht sal I. be stired (H stire) in ai for-thi. EH Lauerd in gode wille thine, Pou lent me miht to fairhed mine. H & mi god, to om. EH What notfulhed is in mi blode, Whil .1. falle in wewmedhed (H wemminge) vngode. E Whore dust sal. E shriue. E Oper. E godnesse what it be. EH Lauerd herd. H rewped. EH Mi helper maked (H made/ lauerd is he. E pou went. EH and mi. E wo. H In to bl. to me to. E go. H sake. E two. E so. E om be. E more . . sore. EH L. god mine (min) bat ai sal be, In ai (H euer) sal I. shriue to pe.

XXX.

EH In foe laumi hoped .1., Noht sal I. be (H I sal noht be) shent for-pi In euer (H ai; in alle (al) time pat esse, Lese (H Here) me in pi rihtwisenesse. E pine ere H pin ere. EH vnto me; and lipe om. E And |>at. E lith pe,

Psalm XXX.

161

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

3 In god forhiler be to me nou, And hous ofe tonight?, bat me saufc

pou.

4 For mi strenghte and mi tonights

ertou al,

And for bi name me lede and frober jiou sal.

5 I* ou salt lede me fra bat snare whilk

bai Hid to me, for [mi] schilder artou ai.

6 In bi hend .1. gifo mi gaste bat es ; f ou boght me, lauerd, god of sothnes.

7 f ou hated in ilka lande Fantomes oner tomehe[d] yemande ;

8 Sothlik* in laumi hoped .1. .

I sal glade and faine in bi mercy.

9 For bou biheld mi mekenes nou, Mi saule fra nedinges sauued bou,

10 Ne bou me belouked in hend ofe fa; In roume stede bou set mi fete

to ga.

11 Laumi, of me haue mercy, For droued am .1. witerli ; To-dreued es in wreth for wa Mine eghe, mi saule, mi wambe als-

swa.

12 For in sorwe waned mi life, And mi yheres in sighinges rife.

13 Vnfest in poumV es mi might, And mi banes e« droued dai and

night.

14 Ouer al mi faas made am .1. Vpbraiding^ ful witerli,

To mi neghburs swipe ma, Radnes to mi kouth als-swa.

15 fa bat sagh me euerilkane Out fra me pai fled onane ; To forgetelnes for vnquerte

Am .1. giuen, als dede fra herttf.

1 6 .1. am made als lome forlorne, For bat .1. herd, me biforne, Mikel snibbing? bam amang^ Ofe fele dwelland in vmgang^ ;

17 In bat whil bai samen come ogain me, To take mi saule reded bai be.

1 8 I sothliktf, bi night and dai, In be, laumi, hoped ai;

I saide: »mi god ertou to kalle; In bine handes mi lotes alle«.

19 Outtake me ofe hend ofe mi faa, And at er^ filyhand me fra pa.

20 Light bi face ouer bi hine,

And saufe me make for m^rcy bine. Laumi, fordone sal [i] noght be, For bat .1. ai kalled be.

21 Schame mot wik<r, and be led to

helk ; Dombe be swikel lippes felle,

22 fat spekes ogain rightwis wickenes, In pride, and in outweringnes * .

23 Hou mikel manihede2 ofe bi swetnes Laumi, bat bou hid to be dredand es !

i V in abusione. 2 Ms. mainhede, V multitude.

H high bou be. EH to me be. H om nou. EH infliht. H bat tou sauf me. EH strengh ; min inflight. E om pat; H be s. E bai hid to me, H to me hid pai. EH For mi forhiler art bou, E to be H ai. E gast bou wroht, H g. to be. EH Laumi god of sohtnes bou me boht (H boht me). EH ouer tomehed. E sauue sal tou. E Ne me bilouked bou. H belac. E foo . . go. EH haue m. of me. EH am I. for (H on) to se. EH wragh. Min egh. E om als. EH sorgh. E sikyng^ H siking. E droued are vnriht. E To neghburyhes mine swipe mikel ma. EH And raddenes (radnes). E om als. E jio; seyhem ; E om euer. H fat seyhen me out flegh fra me smert, To forgetelnes am .i. giuen als ded fra hert. E bare amang?. H againcom to me. EH red. H babhe n. E And in be .1. hoped laumi .i. sal til end, Mi god art tou, mi lottes in hend. E om me ; fra. H Fra hend of mi fas outtake me. E And fra hil^hande me als-swa , H And fra pa me filyhande be. E mi f. H Sauf make me lauerd. H Neuermare shent sal .i. be. E om i. EH inkalde. E til. EH Doumbe. E om be. E lippes swikel. EH spek^ again. E wicnesse H wic binge. H out- weringe. E Hou gret felehed laumi of pi s., fat bou hid. EH to dredand be.

n. n

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

24 Pou fnlmade hopand in be

In sight of sones of men to be.

25 In hidel of? bi face bou salt am hide Fra fordrouinges ofe men biside,

26 Pou salt forhil am in bi telde stille Fra ogaine-sagh ofe tunges ille.

27 Blissed lauerd, for he selkouthed

to me His mercy in warned cite.

28 And .1. saide, in outgange1 of thoght

mine : »I. am kast fra face ofe eghen bine«.

29 For-bi herd bou be steuen ofe me, Whiles bat .1. cried to be.

30 Loues lauerd, al haleghs hisse, For sothnes seke sal lauerd bat isse, And roumlike sal he yhelde in land To bas bat en? pride doand.

31 Dos manlike, and your hert strengh-

bed be, Alle bat in lauml hope yhe.

XXXI.

Oeli whilke wikenes forgiuen ere ai, And wbilke baire sinnes hiled ere bai.

2 Seli man to wham noght wenes2 lauerd

sinne, Ne in his gaste swykedome es inne.

3 For .1. blan 3, mine banes elded ai, Whiles .1. cried alle be dai.

1 V in excessu. 2 imputavit. * tacui.

4 For ouer me, bathe dai and night, Heuied es bi hand ofe might ;

.1. am torned in mi sorw bar-forn, Wiles bat pricked es be thorn.

5 Mi gilt to be schewed .1. made, Mine vnrightwisnes and hid .1. ne

hade.

6 .1. saide : "toward * me sal .1. schriue To lauerd mine vnrightwis liue« ; And bou forgaf be mare and lesse Of mi sinne be wickednesse.

7 For bat, sal bid to be with blisse Al halegh in tideful time bat isse.

8 Bot of watres in strang cominge, And to 2 him sal bai negh nathinge.

9 Mi tonight ertou to be

Of drouinge bat vmgafe me ; Mi gladschepe, haue me ba fra tat me ere vmgiuand swa.

10 »Vnderstandinge gife to be .1. sal, And .1. sal lere be ; mare with-al In wai whilke bou sal ga ine

Sal .1. fest on be eghen mine.

11 Als hors or mule ne wil3 be made ane, In whilke vnderstanding es nane ;

12 In keuil and bridel bair chekes straite, tat be noght neghen ne laite«.

13 Mikel sweping ouer sinful cliues4; Hopand in lauerd mercy vmgiues.

14 Faines in lauerd and glades in querte, And mirphes, alle rightwise ofe herte .

1 V adversum me. 2 r. Vn-to t 4 V Multa flagella peccatoris.

3 V Nolite.

EH Pou made to ba bat hop(e). E tou salt in hiddel of pi f. bam h. E for- drouynge H fordreuing. EH againsaihe. EH kusten. E steuen (be om) of bede of me. H of mi bede steuen. EH Whil. H om bat. H kried to })e til heuen. E his halihes alle. H hesse. E For bat sohtnesse seke he salle , H For lauerd seke he sal soghnesse. EH And yheld rSumlic he sal. EH To ba. are. E Manli dos and streynhed be your hert, Alle yhe bat hope in lauerd wiht quert. H manli. strenped. Alle whilke.

XXXI.

EH Seli whilke forgiuen is wickednesse , And whilke par sinne hiled it esse. E whom H qwom. EH louerd wot no (wate na). E blam. EH mi. EH Whil pat. al. EH apon. EH om bathe, sorgh berforn. Whil. E ^orn. E kouth to be. E om me. H unrischwis. E more. E bide H bidde. E tidful. H towhe- j>er inst. of Bot. H Bot. E I negh. EH Pou art min infleynge . . E glad- shim H gladihip. EH take, pam fra. EH I giue pe. EH Pat (om in H) wai while pou sal ingo (H salt ga in) best , Mine e^hen sal I on be feste. E nil, H nil bou. H om be made. EH keuel. EH Pat be wil noht negh and 1. E swynkynge ; H Mani swinginges. EH & blisse mas.

Psalm XXXII.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

xxxn.

Vjrlades, rightwise , in lauerd kinge ; I*e right feres to haue louinge.

2 Schriues to lauerd , in harpe and *

sautre Of ten stringes to him singe yhe.

3 Singes to him newe sange and euen ; Wele singes to him in berand steuen.

4 For right es worde of? lauerd ai, And alle his werkes in trewethe ere

bai.

5 For he loues merci, dome, batwa; Of; lauerdes merci berthe fal es swa.

6 With worde of lauerd heuens fest

ere ma,

And blast3 ofe his mouth al might of |)a.

7 Samenand als in lome watres ofe se ; In hordes settand depnes to be.

8 Alle erthe lauerd be dredand, 'And? of himstired al be werld erdand.

9 For he saide, and bai maked are; He sent4, and bai schapen ware.

10 Lauerd scaters rede of genge ma, He schones 5 thoghts of folke als-

swa,

And pe redes schones5 he Of al pe princes pat mai be.

1 1 And rede of lanerd es with-outen

ende;

His hert thoghts in strende and strende.

i r. in? 2 r. bi blast? V spiritu. * Ms. For. « V mandavit. & r. schoues ? V reprobat.

12 Seli genge whilk lauerd god hisse is ; Folke bat he ches him in heritage

his.

13 Fra heuen biheld lauerd bare he

wones ; He loked ouer al mens sones ;

14 Fra his forgraibhed telde on hegh Ouer al pat erden erthe he segh:

15 t"at feined l sinderlike hertes ofe pa; tat vnderstandes al baire werkes

swa.

1 6 Pe kinge sal noght [be] beryhed

right

T[h]orgh-out nakins mikel might, And pe eten noght be sauued sal In mikelhed of his might al.

17 Swikel hors at hele ; ofe mightsomnes Sothlik of his might noghte bery- hed es.

1 8 Loke , eghen of lauerd ouer him

dredand,

And in pas in his merci pat ere hop and ;

19 Pat pair saules dede take he fra, And in hunger fostre pa.

20 Oure saule lauerd vphalde sal,

For he es oure helper and oure schelder al.

21 For faine sal oure hert in him to be, And in his hali name hoped we.

22 H merci, lauerd, be ouer vs, Swa als we hoped in be bus.

i V finxit.

XXXII.

EH om Pe. harp. EH om es. E wordes. EH om alle. H om For. EH dome mercy. E lauerd. EH be erbe. heuenes. are. H mouht. E als. EH in bit. EH Settand in hordes. H depnesses. EH For . . is stired. EH om be. EH made bai. EH send(e). E are. EH scateres redes. H gomes. E pohoghtes H pothtes. H & r. again fondes he. EH alle. E aldermen. E om mai. E outen (with- om). EH (And Hj ^hohtes of is hert. EH his isse. E Lauerd loked fra heuen. EH He segh. H alle. EH mennes. EH grained (for- om). EH alle. H fein- yhed E friped. E sinderlic H sengellic. H alle. EH w. ma. H Noht sal be king be. E burgout H burhtout. H nakin E nokyn. H berihed. E om his. H Les hors. EH to h. of his. E of him dredant. H om And. E bo H ba. E om he. EH he foster. E saul H saules. EH vphald. H om es oure, E om oure. H shilder. H om his. H name heli. EH ouer us be. EH om fms.

164

s. Vesp. D VH.

XXXIII.

IN al time lauml sal .1. blisse, And his lofc ai in mi mouth isse.

2 In lauml mi saule be loued sal: Here handtame, and faine with-al.

3 Mikel yhe lauml with me,

And his name in him-selfi? J vpheue we.

4 .1. sought lauml, and me herd he, And fra al mi drouinges] toke he me.

5 Neghes to him, and yhe be lighted

sone ; And yome faces sal noght be fordone.

6 Pis pouer cried, and lauml herd him, And of^al his drouinges sauued he him.

7 He 2 sent laumies aungel in vmgangtf

par/?; He [sal] outake pa him drouand wart?.

8 Listes 3, and sees sa soft*; lauml isse ; Sell man bat hopes in him for blisse.

9 Dredes lauml, al halghes his to sene, For dredand him noght helples bene.

10 Riche men, of aght pat ware, Pai neded, and hungred sare ; And sekand lauml after fode Noght be pai lessed of alle gode.

11 Comes, sones, me yhe here,

And drede of lauml .1. sal you lere.

12 Wha es man bat oie life wille be, Loues gode daies for to se?

13 Forbid pi tnnge fra iuel ai,

l V in idipsum. * r. In ? V Immittit angelus domini. 3 V Gustate.

The Psalms.

And pi lippes pat swikedom noght speke pai.

14 Torne fra iuel, and do gode yhit; Seke pees, and euer filigh pou itc.

15 Eghen of lauml ouer rightwis swa, And his eres at bedes ote pa.

1 6 And face of lauml ouer iuel doand, Pat he lese minde of pam fra land.

17 Cried rightwise, and lauml herd am, And [of] alle pain; drouinges lesed

he pam.

1 8 Negh es lauml to pa pat er* droned

of herttf,

And meke of gaste sal he sauue in quertt?.

19 Mani drouinges of rightwise, And lauml lesed am of alle pise.

20 Lauml yhemes alle pair^ banes swa : Noghte ane sal be brised ofe pa.

21 Dede of sinful werst it isse,

And pat hates rightwise giltes misse.

22 Bi sal lauml saules of his hine ai ; And al pat in him hope noght<r gilt?

sal pai.

XXXIV.

JL/eme, lauml, me derand be ; Outcome pe infightand l me. 2 Gripe wapenes and schelde of fight*.', And rise in helpe to me with mights. 1 V impugnantes.

xxxni.

EH Ai in mi mouth louing (E heriyng^) hisse. E Mikelis name of 1. E whit H wiht. E sal we. EH soht. EH of al. H drouinges nam. E son. H of alle his. E heled. EH send. E lauml, aungel om. E swa H sa, inst. of part?. EH Of him dredand and onttake (H outtoke) pa. EH so. H god. EH alle h. hisse (to sene om). EH isse inst. of bene. E ben H are; E om pai. EH al. E dred. EH Who is. on liue wil. H om to. E Forbede H Forswere. EH om And. EH swikedom pat. H Do gode and rurne fra iuel and sinne, Seke pais and filyhe to wun per-inne. E & fast filyhe hit. E Eyhen of 1. o. riht doand, And his here to par bede heldand; H Eyhen of 1. o. rihtwise ai, His eres at par bede niht & dai. EH And ouer iuels doand loumles lickam, Pat he lese fra erpe pe mind of pam. H Rihtwise cried. E Biside. EH om pa pat ere. E dreued. E gost; EH he heles. H om lesed. E pam. E al. H pat noht an. H om And. E hate H haten. EH gilten. EH Bie. E laumi sal. E om al pat. H alle hope in him.

XXXIV.

H derande me be. EH om pe. EH wepens. EH sheld; E to be, H swipe. E And vpris in help to me; with m. om. H biliue. E Y. s. a«d louke againes pam.

Psalm XXXIV.

I65

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

3 Yhet swerd ' ; bat filigh me, ogain

louke bam ; Sai to mi saule: »bi hele .1. am«.

4 Pai be schent and schoned be2 pa tat sekes mi saule for to sla ;

5 Pa* 3 torne hindward and schent be bai Thinkand to me iuels ai.

6 Pai be als dust ogain wind lickam, And loumles aungel narwand bam.

7 Mirkenes and sliper be ban- wai, And lauirdes aungel filighand bam ai.

8 For wilfuli ben hidden pa Forward * of bar* snare swa ; Ouer-tomehede vpbraided pai Saule mine bi night and dai.

9 Come to him snare noght es him kid, And be takeing^ bat he hid Vmgripe him it mot with-alle ; And in be snare, in him he falle.

10 And mi saule sal glade in lau^rd ofe

blis, And like ai ouer hele his ;

11 Alle mine banes bai sal sai: »Lau£rd, to be wha like be mai?

12 Outakeand helples fra his stalworper

hand ; Nedeful and pouer fra him reueand«.

13 Vprisand witnes, swike/* ware ai,

1 V Effunde frameam. 2 revereantur.

3 Ms. }>at. 4 V interitum. * Ms. swiked.

tat .1. ne wist me asked pai.

14 Pai yhelde to me for goednes ille, Geldehede1 swa mi saule vntille.

15 .1. sothlik^, whils bai to me war<; Hackande2, hair*r cled .1. pare;

16 .1. meked in fastings mi saule alle, And mi bede in mi bosum be torned

salle.

17 Als neghburgh, als your3 brober

right,

Swa quemed .1. with al mi might ; Als wepand and als dreri, Swa meked .1. witterli.

1 8 And ogain me pai fained, and come

in ane,

Samened on me swepinges, and .1. wist nane.

19 Pa ere scatered, ne stungen sare — Pai fraisted me pe lesse and mare, Pai snered me with snering^ swa, Bot gnaisted ouer me with pair*

tethe pa.

20 "Lauerd, when bou bihald sal? Ogaine-sette mi saule with-al Fra libernes ai ofe ba,

Als mine oninge liouns fra.

21 In mikel kirke sal .1. to be schriue, In heui folk* looue be mi liue.

« V sterilitatem. 2 = akande, V molest!. 3 V nostrum.

H om me. E fordon and shomed . . bai. E Sekand mi saule niht or dai. H seken. EH Pai. E wend. EH obackf. EH bai be. E Pat pinken iueles vnto me, H bat iueles binkande ar to me. EH bifore. lauerdes. EH Merk<?. H am. EH For wilfulli hid pai to me Steruing (H Forward) of par snare to be. H Ouer tomehed alle ba Vpbraided bai mi saule sa. E To him come. EH bat nis aim kid. E Vmlap. EH mot it him. EH him-self. EH Mi saule soghlic (H For in mi s.) in lauml glad sal And lust (H like) ouer his hele wiht-al. EH sai sal bai. EH wha to pe. E nedful. EH of. E stranger. E And helples & p. EH om Vp. EH witnesses wick. H ware he. H Pai. E west. H pai asked me. E Pai for^held iuels for godes to me H Iueles for godes yhelde pai to me. EH Leghhed (Geldhed to mi saule to be (H me). E whil H whil bat. H om to me. H Hackand to me. E in saule al. EH bosem. H turne, be om. E sw(a) inst. of right ; E Als I quemed vnto tha, Als wepand and als mournand, Swa .1. meked burgh pe land; H Als n. & brober i qnemed sa, Als sobband and mournand i meked to faa. E in on. E Pai s. H ouer. E non. EH Scatered bai are ne stungen are bai, Pai fr. me (H he) be (om in H) niht and dai. E Pai swered whit sneryngtf to se. E Pai botegnaist whit (iar tegh on me, H Wiht bar tegh botgnaist ouer me ba. H Lauerd when bou salt loke? set mi saule to bring Fra par libernes, fra liouns min oning. E Sette tou saule mine whit-al Fra be lijiernesse of tha, Mine onnesse fra liouns ma. H In m. k. shriue to foe i sal , In h. f. loue be

1 66

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

22 Noght oumnirthe pai to me for-pi

Pat wiperpretes l me wickeli ; Whilk^ pat hates me wilfulli, And beckes with paire eghen lesli.

23 For pat to me summe it ware Paisfulik^ pat spekes pare ; And in wrethe of erpe spekand, Swikedomes ware pai thinkand.

24 And pai tobred pare mouth ouer me, And said: »wa! wa!2 oure eghen se«.

25 Pou segh, laumi : ne blinne pou ; Ne wite pou noght fra me nou.

26 Ris, and bihald to dome mine;

Mi god and mi lauerd, in skil mine.

27 Deme me , lauml , after rightwisnes

oie be

Mi god, and noght pai oumnirthe to me.

28 Ne j)ai sai in pare hertes: »wa, wa2 be To oure saule« ; ne sain : »him sweligh

sal we«.

29 Schente and schoned samen be pai Pat faines of mine iuels ai ;

30 Pai be cled with schenschipe and

schonignes 3 Pat ouer me spekes lipernes.

1 V adversantur. 2 V Euge, euge. 3 re- verentia.

31 Pai glade and faine babe mar? and

lesse

Whilktf pat wilen mi rightwisenes ; And saies l ai : »mikled be lau^rd in

blisse«, Pat wil pees to hine hisse.

32 And mi tunge pi rightwisenes thinke

sal, Alle pe dai pi loofe with-al.

XXXV.

re vnrightwis saide with tunge hisse, Pat in his-selfe noght gilte misse 2 ; Noght es drede of god to be Bifor his eghen for to se.

2 For swikelik* dide he in his sight isse, Pat be fonden at hatereden wicnes

hisse.

3 Wordes of his mouth pat ga, Wickednes, swikedome als-swa; He ne wald noght vnderstand, Pat he dide wele in ani land.

4 Wickenes thoght he night and dai In his kleue |>ar he lai;

AI wai he stode3 noght gode to se, luelnes sothlik^ noghte hated he.

' al. sain, V dicant 2 Stev. inisse ; V Dixit injustus ut delinquat in semeripso. 3 V Astitit omni viae non bonae.

wiht-al. E Noht ou<y-glade sal pai to me, Pat wiperwendand wiclic be, Pat wisefuli haten me swa, And becken with bar e^hen twa ; H Noth ouer-mirpe pai pa to me, Pat wiperpretand to me be, Wilfulli pat hate me swa, And becken wiht bar e. twa. E For to me soghlic niht and dai Paisfullic bat speken pai ; H For sothlic to me summe pai ware, &c. H spaken. EH wraghed. E wore. H bred. E bar mouth to-bred pai. H sagh. H ne stint nou. H Lauerd ne fra me wite pou. E in dome. H om me. E Deme me 1. mi god after pi riht- wisnes And noht ou^rglade bai to me more ne lesse. H ouermirpe pai me. E Noht sai pai in par hertes. EH ye be. H To your; E om To — saule. EH Ne (ne) pai sai him swolyhe s. w. EH Pai shame and shoned s. be bai. E fainen H fainned. EH Wiht shenchip and shoninges (H drednes) kled (H shredj pai be, Pat lipernesse speken ouer me. H Glade and faine mote bai ai. E om babe ; be more. E Pa pat wilen. H Pat wilen mi r. niht and dai. E And saine mikle be lauerd ai Whil[c] wilen pais to his hine al dai ; H And sain ai lauerd mikled be he, Pat wilen pais to pi hine se. EH & mi t. sal pink pi rihtwisnesse. E Al dai pi heryhingf. EH pat esse.

XXXV.

EH Saide pe vnrihtwise [H unwis) in his H in hert and) poht, Pat in him-self (H h. seluen gilt he nohte. H Radnes of god for to ga Is noht bifore his eyhen twa. E of lauerd. he^hen. EH For swikdom (H swikelic) in his siht dide he, Pat his wicnesse at hatereden funden be. E Wickednesse swikdome. EH wel dide. EH Wickednes'se) boht has (haues) he ai. E liggingsted ; bar om. E He stode al wai. H to gange. EH om soth-like. H h. he amange. EH om be.

Psalm XXXV— XXXVI.

167

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

5 Lauml, in heuen pi merci es,

And to pe kloudes pi sothnes.

6 Als goddes hilles pi rightwisnes ; Pine domes mikel depnes.

7 Men and meres, lauml, sauue sal

tou nou, Swa als pi merci felefalded pou;

8 And sones of men in failings al Of pine wenges hope pai sal.

9 \?ai sal be dranken als of wine Of pe fulhed of hous pine, And with welle of pi likings ai Sal tou drinke pam, night and dai.

10 For welle of life es at pe,

And in pi name lights sal we se.

11 Forsprede pi mm:i thorgh pe land To pas pat er* pe witeand,

And pi rightwisnes in quert* To pas pat right ere of* hert*.

12 Noght come to me pe fote of pride, Ne sinful hand me stire biside.

13 Pan* felle pat wickednes en; wirkand ; Pai [er] output, ne pai might stand.

XXXVI.

INI il pou filegh l in liperand, Ne loue 2 pat wikenes er* doand ; 2 For swipeli drie pai sal als hai, And als wortes of grenes 3 tite fal sal pai.

1 V aemulari. herbarum.

2 zelaveris.

3 olera

3 Hope in god, and do godenes ; Big pe erpe , and best* fed l in his

riches.

4 Like in lau*rd, and gift sal he Pe askinges of pi hert* to pe.

5 Vnhil to lau*rd pi wai al, Hope in him, and do he sal.

6 And he sal lede als light pi right-

wisnes,

And als mid-out'mone pi dome pat es. Vnderlout to lauml pou be, And bid him — for best es he ;

7 Nil filegh in him night ne dai Whilk* pat smertes2 in his wai, Ne in man pat es liueand Vnrightwisnes pat es doand.

8 Blinne fra wreth , and lete breth

swipe ; Pat pou be lipered nil pou nipe.

9 For pat liperes, outende ;! sal pai ; And vphaldand laumi , erde land

sal ai.

10 And yit* a littel, be bise And sinful he sal noght be ;

And pou salt* seke his stede of* won, And neuer finde it eft pou mon.

11 And handetame sal erde pe land

pat es, And like of pees in mikelnes.

1 V pasceris. * prosperatur. 3 V extermina- buntur ; be om ?

H hilles of god. E Pi rihtwisenesse als of pe dai, Pi d. m. depnesse ai. EH mares. H pou sal, nou om. E Als pi merci god f. tou, H Als tou felefolded god pi merci al. E Sones sohtlik* of men over al, In hilyng of pi wenges hope pai sal ; H Mennessones sothlic in hilinge, Of pi wenges hope sal oner al jnnge. E dronken. H weel. E & wiht bourdant(l) of pi lickam swa. H swa. EH Alle salt pou drink tha. EH in pi liht liht. H Forth-sprede. E Sprede pi mildhertnes in 1. E po H pa. EH are pe. E rihtwise. H are riht. E stire me. EH felle pai wicnes. EH are o.

XXXVI.

E fil^he , H nigh. H Ne filyhe. E swipe , H swifli. H wurtes , E blades. E gresse H greses. H in lauerd. EH godnesse . . richesse. H om and. E he sal giue be, H he sal pe giue. E Askynges of hert pat be, H Pi hert a. whil pou mai Hue. H pi rihtwisnes als liht. EH And pi dome als midouerunder esse (H briht). E Nel f. in him b«t smartes in is wai, Ne man doand vnrihtwisnesse ai. H Nil filyhen in him ai, Pat is sma[r]tful in is w. H liuand esse, Pat is doand unrihtwisnesse. EH wragh. H leue. E brath H bragh. H ne be. E mipe. EH liperen. EH sal ai. E erde pe erpe sal pai, H big ber|>e sal pai. E pe sinful sal. E om eft; E pou ne mun. H And yhit a litel and sinful noht sal be oht And pou salt seke his stede and finde it noht. H sal big perpe. E & h. big pe erpe sal pai , & 1. in mikelhed of pais al. H sinful sal. EH tegh

1 68

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

12 Bihald sal sinful rightwis benne,

And with his tethe on him sal he grenne.

13 And skorne him sal lauml ofe blis, For he bihaldes pat comes daie his.

14 Swerde outschebed sinne doande, He bent his bowe with his hande,

15 Pouer and helples bat he biswike And quelme rightwis of hert ilike.

1 6 Pair* swerd mot in bar*; hertes ga, And bair bowe be broken in-twa.

17 Better es litel to right, with wele, Ouer richesses of sinful fele ;

1 8 For armes ofe sinful brised be bai, And lau*rd rightwis he festenes ai.

19 Lauml daies of vnwemmid knawes

he, And bair* heritage in ai sal be.

20 Pai sal noght be fordone fra blisse In na time bat iuel isse,

In daies of hungry bai sal be nit ; For sinful sal be schent* and spilt*.

21 For lau*rdes wiberwines al bidene, Sone when bai menshed1 bene And bai er* vphouen oght, Wanand als reke bai wane to noght.

22 Sinful sal borwe, and yelde he ne

sal; Rightwis sal milbe, ogaine-yelde al ;

23 For blissand him sal erde be land, And forworth sal him weriand.

1 r. mensked.

24 At lauml gainges of men ai

Ere rightfed]1 ; and he will* his wai.

25 When rightwise falles, hortes na lime ; For lauml has set his hand on hime.

26 .1. was yonger, .1. elded sone, And .1. sagh neuer rightwise fordone, Ne sede of him comande

Pat it was be brede sekande.

27 Alle daie he rewes and lenes his

ping,?, And sede of him sal be in blissing*.

28 Helde fra iuel, and do gode ai, And erde in werld of werld bou mai ;

29 For [lauerd] loues dome, noght forlete

sal he His haleghs, in ai sal yemed be.

30 Vnrightwise sal be pined son, And sede of wicked be fordon.

31 Rightwise be land erde pai mone, In it in werld ofe werld to wone.

32 Mouth of rightwise sal thinke wisdam, And dome sal speke be tunge of* bam.

33 Lagh of god in his mouth " on-ane And his steppes sal noght be vnder-

gane3.

34 Bihaldes sinful be rightwise, And sekes to sla him on al wise:

35 Lauml sothlik* noght lete sal he Him in his hende to be,

Ne fordo him sal he noght* When he es demed to him for oght* !

1 Ms. rightwise, wise expunged. 3 V supplantabuntur.

2 r. hert.

sal he on him. E Laumi sohtlic sal scorn him ai, For [he] ses com sal his dai ; H & lauerd sal him scorne with-al , For he sees bat his dai com sal. EH vn- shefaed. EH Par bogh bai bended wiht bar hand. EH pai b. E hert. H breken. H to riht in lande, Ouer welbes mani of sinnande. E richesse. E broken. EH ben. H festes. E Laumi of vnwemmed wote be wai, H Daies of unwemmed lauerd wel wate he. E sal be in ai. E Pa. E of bl. E no. E And in. E For bat sinful sal be spilt. E Codes foos sohtlic b., H Fas sohtlic of lauerd b. E When sone. E wrchiped. E And when bai are v. o., H And uphouen when pai are o. H borgh H foryhe. E For big sal be erbe him blissand, H For bl. h. be erbe big sal pai. H And weriand him forwurth sal ai. EH At lauerd steppes E men are ai, H of man pai be. EH Rihted. H & his wai wil he. EH hurtes. E no. E om lauerd. EH of. EH y hunger. H om And. E segh. H be riht. EH Ne be s. E his H hit. E & his sede be sal. H wun. EH lauerd 1. EH lete (for- om). E pinned. EH And rihtwise , E erpe erd pai m., H sal big be erbe yhit. E In werld of w. in hit to w., H And in werld wun ouer hit. Vv. 33 & 34om in E. H in his hert. H slo. E And 1. noht forlete. H And 1. in his hend letes him noht, Ne fordos him when he is demde to him for

Psalm XXXVI— XXXVII.

l6g

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

36 Abide lauml and yeme his wai:

And him-selfc sal hegh be ai

fat in heritage bou take land to be ;

When sinful lorne bene, bou salt se.

37 Vphouen .1. saw be wicked man And lifted als cedre of Yban :

38 And .1. ferd , and [loke] he was to

misse ;

And .1. soght, and his stede noght funden isse.

39 Yheme vnderandnes, and do1 euennes ; For ha ere relikes to man bat pais-

'ful es.

40 And vnrightwise samen forworth pai

sal, And relikes of<? wick* sal steme with-al.

41 And hele of rightwis fra lauml wide ; And pahv forhiler in drouinge tide.

42 And laxitrd helpe sal he pa, And he sal lese am out of wa, And fra sinful outake am ai,

And saufe bam, for in him hoped pai.

XXXVH.

JL,auml, ne threte me in pi brethe, Ne overtake me in pi wrethe. 2 For bine arwes stiked erf to me, 1 r. se.

And ouer me pou fest pi hand to be.

3 Noght es hele in flesche mine Fra be face of wreth bine; Ne pais es in mi banes none Fra pe anleth ofe mi fone.

4 For mi wicnesses mi heued ere ouer-

gon, Als heui birbin heuied me on.

5 Stanke and roten mine erres er* ma, Fra face of mine vnwisdome swa.

6 Wrecched and croked til ende am .1. ; Alle dai dreried .1. inwent for-bi.

7 For mi lendes filled with bismers

&T£,

And hele in mi flesche es na man?.

8 .1. am twinged, and meked for vn-

querte ; .1. romied1 fra sighing^ ofmiherte.

9 Lauml, bifor be alle mi yorning^, And fra be noght hid es mi sighing^.

10 Mi hert es droued with-lnne me, And forsoke mi might with me to be ; And light of mine eghen twa, And it" es noght with me swa.

1 1 Mine frendes and mine neghburs

gode

Ogaines me neghed and stode; 1 V rugiebam, R. romed. 2 V et ipsum.

oght. H yheme inst. of hegh. E tat land in eritage take bou to be. E be inst. of se. EH sagh. H uplifted, E vpraised. H cedres. EH and loke he was. EH se inst. of do. E po. E leuinges. EH om })at. EH For vnrihtwise sal be fordone, And (H Samen) leuinges of wike forwrth sal sone. H om paire. HE he (om in E) sal help(e) tha. E ham; E om out. EH & fra s. out pam nim, & sauf pam for pai hoped in him.

xxxvn.

E L. prete noht in; me om. E braht H bragh. EH ouernim. wragh. H in me. E And pou fest ouer me EH hand (H be h.) of |)e. E om be. EH lickam. E wragh H wrath. EH Ne pais in mi ban(e)s gas, Fra (For) pe lickam of mi fas. E For mine wickednesses o-nan Ouer mi heued are pai gan, Als heuy birbine mai be , Are pai heuied ouer me. E St. & wemmed min eires are bai, H Mine erres stanc and bai ram(!j. E of m. wisdom ai. H unwisdam, swa om. E Wr. am .i. made a«d broked(I) til end, AI dai mourmed inne .1. wend; H Wr. made am .i. to be, And kroked .i. am to se Vntil in ende, al dai for-f)i Samen-morned in yhode .i. EH hebinges. E in mi flesshe hele is H hele is in mi fl. El am and swngen swifoe smert , H I am meked and twungen smert. H siking E sorgh. EH Bifor j»e lauml. E om he. EH hid ne is (nis). E Mi hert is droued niht & dai, And mi miht forsake me ai ; H Samen- droued is mi hert, Mi miht forsoke me for unquert. EH Mi. neghburbes. Againes.

170

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

12 And pat bi me war?, pai stode

o-lenght ; And [|)at] soght mi saule, pai maked

strenght. E 13 [And pat soht to me iuels, fantoms

spake pai, And swikdoms poht pai al pe dail.

14 And .1., als def>, noght herd of pis ; And als doumb noght openand mouth

his.

15 And .1. [am] made als [man] noght

herand,

And storest speches l in his mouth noght hauand.

16 For in pe, [lauerd], hoped .1. nou; Lauerd mi god, me her? sal tou.

17 For .1. saide: leswenne ilkane Ouer-mirthe to me mi fane;

And whil stired ere mi fete, oner me Mikel thinges speken he2.

1 8 For in swepinges am .1. dight, And mi sorw ai in mi sight.

19 For mi wikenes schewe .1. sal al, And for mi sinne think* .1. sal.

20 Mi faas sothliktf liueand pai be, And festened ere bai ouer me; And manifalded ere bai for-pi

1 H storspeches ; V redargutiones. 2 plural,

The Psalms.

Whilkf hated me wickeli.

21 Pat yheldes iuels for godes, bacbate

me, For .1. filyhed godenes to se.

22 Ne forlete me, lauml mi god, ai ; Ne wite fra me, night ne dai.

23 Bihald in mi help for pi blisse, Lauml god of mi hele isse.

xxxvm.

1 saide: mine wais yeme .1. sal, tat .1. ne gilt in mi tung* with-al.

2 .1. set yheming^ to mi mouth at be Whil sinful stode ogaines me.

3 .1. doumbed , and meked , and was

ful stille

Fra godes; and mi sorwe es newed ille.

4 Het l mi hert with-inne me swa ; And in thoght sal bren fire for wa.

5 .1. spak in mi tung*: Kouth ma to me, Lauerd, mine ende when it sal be,

6 And tale of mi daies whilk^ es, for-pi, What me wanes bat wite mai .1.

7 Loke, methmllik* 2 mi daies set* pou ; And mine aght3 als noght bifor be

nou.

1 V Concaluit. z mensurabiles. 3 sub- stantia.

E om me. E om bai. E stoden on. EH lengh. EH & pat s. H & pat iueles to me soht. H spake pa alle. EH And i als d. herd no mare, And als d. his mouth noht openand (H op. noht) ware. E & i am made als man, H & made am i als man. E forspeches H storspeches. H om noght. EH in pe lauerd. E h. I al; H om nou. E pou here me sal. H Pou salt here me lauerd mi god for-pi. E swa inst. of ilkane. E Ouerglade . . fa. E And whil mi fete stired are, Crete fringes speke pai oner me pare ; H And whil mi fete stired ouer me ware, Crete p. spekande pai are. sorgh. E om in. E om al. EH And pine for mi sinne wiht-al. EH om pai. H fest. EH And felefolded are pai pa, Pat wiclik? me haten (hated) swa. H yheld. E iuels for g. yeld. H gode. H godnes filyhed .i. EH forto. E Ne f. me lauerd nou, Ne fra me noht wite pou; H Ne forsake me 1. god mine, Ne wite fra me with wille pine. E Bihald in help to me to be, Lauerd god is hele of me ; H Bih. mi help bi niht and dai, L. god of mi hele is ai.

XXXVIH.

H mi. E Mi tnnge bat i ne gilt w., H Pat noht i gilt in mi t. al. EH to mi mouth yheming to be. EH When. EH am meked, and I. was stille. E om me. EH & in mi poht brend fir. EH I spak in mi rung wiht (H purch) mi mouth, L. mine (H of m.: ende make to me (om in H; kouth. H take. EH whilk j)ai (H mai) be, Pat I (mai H) wite what wantes me. H metlic daies mine. E Loke moten pou set mi daies to se. EH mi sped. E om nou. E Sothlic H For bot. E al

Psalm XXXVIII— XXXIX.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

8 I>owheper al l fantomes2 in land,

Ilka man pat es Hueand.

9 Bot in liknes thurghfars man ; Bot and ydel es he droued on-an :

10 He hordes, and he wate noght To wham fiat he samenes oght.

1 1 And nou , whilk? es m[i]n 8 abiding?

dai?

Noghtne lau?rd? and mi spede at be es ai.

12 Of alle mi wikenes outake me nou: Vpbraiding til vnwis me gaf pou.

13 .1. doumbed, and noght opened mouth

mine,

For pou made ; stir? fra me woundes pine.

14 Fra strenght? ofe pi hand waned .1. In snibbinges witerli ;

For wickednes pat he was inne Ouerthrew pou man and his kinne,

15 And to skulk? als irain4 pou made

saule his: Bot vnnaitlik? to-droued ilke man is.

1 6 Here, lau?rd, mi bede and biseking?

mine ; Bise mine teres with eres pine.

17 Ne blinne; for comeling? .1. am at be, And pilgrim, als al mi fadres be.

1 Ms. als. 2 r. fantom es? V universa

vanitas. 3 Ms. man ; V quae est exspectatio

mea? « V Et tabescere fecisti sicut araneam

animam ejus; R aran.

i8 Forgiue me; pat kalde .1. ware1 Er .1. sal ga and be namare.

XXXIX.

/Vbidand lauml abade .1., And he biheld to me for-pi.

2 And mine bedes herde he, And als-swa penne led he me Fra pe slogh of wrecchednes And fra fen of? dreg? pat es ;

3 And he set mi fote2 on stane, And righted mi steppes onane.

4 And he insent in mi mouth newe sang?, Newe sang3 til our? god, and lang?.

5 Fele men se and drede pai sal, And hope in lau?rd sal pai with-al.

6 Seli man of wham pat isse Name of lau?rd hope ai hisse, And noght biheld he in fantomes als And in wodenesses pat er? fals.

7 Mani thinges4 maked pou, Lauml mi god, pine wondres nou ; And with pine thoghtes, pat er? slike, Nane es whilk? es to pe like.

8 .1. schewed and spak wele mar?, And ouer tale felefalded pai ar?.

9 Offrand and onelote5 wald pou noght

se ;

i V ut refrigerer. z al. fete. 3 al. Loft- sang ; V carmen. « om in EH ; but so R. 5 V oblationem.

f. here, H fantomes, als om. E Sothlic H powheper. E .i. yheld inst. of ydel. EH dreued. H & wat noht swa To whom he sal samen tha. H wh. is abiding of me. E bidding. E Noht-ne mi sped lauml at pe is ai, H Sothlic and mi spede is at pe. EH wicnesses. H madest. E wondes. E Of strengh of pi hand i waned onan In snibbinges, for wicnes ouerprw pou man ; H For strengh of hi hand in snibbinges waned i, For wicnes ouerbrw pou man trewli. E yran. E idel, H om unn. E to-dreued, H dreued. EH Here lauerd (bede and H) bisekyng of me, Wiht eres mi teres bise. EH stint. E alle. E Againsende. EH to me. EH om sal. & I (om in H) sal be.

XXXIX.

E abode. EH And he herd mi bedes, out led me ben(ne) Fro slogh of wrec- chedhed, fra middyng? fen(ne). EH fete. E apon be stan. H o-nan, E ilkan. E send. E song?. EH Loft-song. E on long*. EH Fele sal se & drede wiht-al, And in 1. hope pai sal. E whom H whilke. H om of. E om ai. E he bih. noht H he ne bih. E Mani maked tou to be, Lauml god min wndres of the. H Fele made tou lauml mi god pi wondres to be, And with pi poghtes nis whilk is like to be. E Nis swa mai be to be 1. EH I sh. and i spak? ai, Felefolded ouer tale (Ouer t. felef.) are pai. E Offrandes & onelotes w. p. non

I72

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

Eres sothlik^ made bou to me.

10 Offrand for sinne noght asked bou; Panne saide .1.: loke, .1. come nou.

11 In heued of boke writen es of me fat .1. suld do be wille of be. Mi god, swa .1. wald in quert^, And bi lagh in mid of mi herttf.

12 .1. schewed bi rightwisnes In be kirke bat mikel es;

Lo, mi lippes noght forbide .1. sal, Lau«'d, bou it wist wele al.

13 Noght hid .1. f)i rightwisnes in hert

mine : .1. saide bi sothnes and hele bine ;

14 Noght hid .1. bi merci and bi sothnes Fra be rede bat mikel es.

15 Pou sothliktf, lauml, noght fer bou Make bine rewyngs fra me nou ;

Pi merci and bi sothnes ai Me1 vmgaf" bai, night and dai.

1 6 For vmgaf me iuels ma

Of whilk na tale es [of] ba;

Mi wickednesses me vmlapped negh;

And noght might .1. bat .1. segh ;

17 Felefalded oner hare of mi heued

ertf bai,

And mi hert forlete me ai. 1 Ms. Mi. z EH onfonged, V susceperunt.

1 8 Queme to be, lauml, bat bou outake

me; Lauml, to helpe me bihald and se.

19 Schent and schoned samen be faai fat seke mi saule to ber? it awai ;

20 Pai torne hindward , and schoned

bai be, fat wilen iuels vnto me.

21 Rathlike bair£ schenschepe bere ba Pat sais to me: »wa, wa!«

22 Glade and faine mote oner be Alle bat be sekand be;

And »mikled be lauml« ai bai sai Whilk loue bi hele, night and dai.

23 And thiggand and pouer am .1. ; Lautffd bisied es ofe me for-bi.

24 Mi helper and mi schelder ertou: Mi god, ne late ' bou noght nou.

XL.

Oeli bat wil vnderstande Ouer nedeful and pouer in lande : Fra wickednesse in iuel daie Lau<?rd lese him sal he aie. 2 Lau^rd yeme him and quiken him

sal,

And seli make him in land with-al ; 1 V ne tardaveris.

se. V 10 om in E. E is writen. E God mine i. wald in wald i. q. EH om of. H I shewed pi r. bat isse In kirke mikel al with blisse. EH Loke. EH forbede. EH wel bou wist it. E Pi r. hid I., Pi sohtnesse I. said. ., H Ine hid in mi hert pi rihtwisnes, I saide \)i hele and bi sothnes. E I ne hid him . ne . . Fra na. H Noht i pi sothnes and hi merci Fra na red mikel for-bi. EH Pou s. 1., (noht H) fer to be Ne (om in H) make (bou H; rewfaes pine (om in H) fra me. EH Onfcnged me be (H babe) n. & d. H iueles umgaf. EH of pa. EH Me griped (H Vmgriped me) mine wicnesses n. H i ne miht noht. E bai be. EH forsok(e) me ; E om ai. E outnim. E loke & se. E Pai be sh. & sh. samen ai. H om samen; be bai ai. E omit. EH wend(e). H obac. E Radlic H Swtye. shenship. E om bere. EH j)ai ba. EH sain. EH Pai glad(e). E om mote. EH Alle seken (H sekande) j)e to (H for to) se. E And sain ai lauerd micled be, Whilk bat willen be help of |)e ; H And sain mikled lauerd be ai, fat wilen bi hele niht and dai. E Pou^r a«d piggand sohtlic am .1., H And .i. am piggand and pouer to se. E bisie is. H om for-bi. EH forhiler art faou.

XL.

E Seli bat vnderstandes oht, ... in jioht. H Seli bat understandes oner nedful and pou^r ai, Lauerd lese him sal in iuel dai. E In iuel dai fra alle wa, ... he sa. H L. quiken him and yhem him sal he And s. m. him for to be. E &

Psalm XL— XLI.

173

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

And noght giue him bene sal he

In hende ' of his faas to be.

3 Lauwd helpe [sal] bring him to Oner bed of sorwe and wo ; Alle be straile of him bat es Torned bou in his sekenes.

4 .1. saide : »lauml, haf merci of me ; Hele mi saule, for .1. sinned to pe«.

5 Mi faas saiden to me iuels, bis: »When sal he die, and forworth name

his?«

6 And ife he inyode bat he segh, vn-

naitnes

Spake he ; his hert samened to him wicnes.

7 He yhede out and held him bare?, And he spake' in him-seluen2 mare.

8 Againe me rouned al mi faas stille ; Againe me thoght bai to me ille.

9 Wike worde set ba againes me. Nou bat slepes, noght ekes pat rise

sal he?3

10 For man of mi pees sothli, In wham mikel hoped .1., tat etc mi laues best might be, Mikled vndergangingtf ouer me.

i EH saule. * in idipsum; cf. R. 3 y Numquid qui dormit non adiiciet ut resurgat?

1 1 Bot bou, lauerd, of me haft" nwci, And rere me ; and yheld am sal .1. .

12 In bat knew .1. bat bou wald me sa, For mirth ouer me sal noght mi faa.

13 And me for vnderandnes onfanged

bou, And fest me in bi sight in ai nou.

14 Laucrd god ofc Irael blissed be he, Fra werld, and in werld: swa be,

swa be.

XLI.

j\h yhernes hert at welles of watres

to be, Swa yhernes mi saule, god, to be.

2 T[h]risted mi saule night an dai To god, quicke welle l bat es ai : When .1. sal come and schewen in

sights Bifor be face ofe god oft' mights.

3 Mine teres vnto me bai wore Laues dai and night barfore, Whil ilkadai es said to me : »Whare es bi god? what es he?«

4 Pis haf .1. mined what mai be, And .1. yhet mi saule in me:

l V fortem, R fontera.

neuermare gif him sal he. H g. h. sal he swa. EH In saule. H to sla. EH L. help sal bring (to him H) and (H with) blisse. E To him on bed. EH of sorgh hisse. H hat of him esse. E tou. EH Mi fos iuels saiden to me bisse. E om he. H dee E dei. E And if he outyhede bat he segh, Fantoms spake he apon hegh, Pe hert of him samned wiht mine (r. inne) Wickednesse to him and sinne ; H And if he inyhed pat he segh fantomes spake he , His hert samened wicnes to him to be. E yhode. H & he held. EH & in (om in E) him-seluen sp. m. E to-teld inst. of rouned. E to me boht bai. E om worde. EH bai set againe me al. E Whor bat , H While. EH he sal. EH Sothlic man of pais mine (H of mi pais ai), E In be whilk* i hoped inne, H In whom i hoped niht and dai. H undergoing. E Vndergange mikelhed. E And. H milpe of me swa. E om And. & to bam yheld. H & raise me and .i. sal yheld to ba. EH In bat (H bat bat) bou wald me knew .i. swa (H wel]. E For noht ouer glade me sal mi fa H For mi fas sal mirbe ouer me nadel. E Me sohtlic for v. EH kep bou. EH Blissed lauerd god of (om in E) Israel; H om be he. E sa be sa be, H be be wel.

XLI.

E hert yhornes at welle watres H hert at welle watres yhornes. E saul. E bristes. H Mi saule bristed. H is. EH com and shew. E liht. E of god sa briht ; H Lickam of lauerd bat is briht. E Mi t. to me ware bai, H Pai ware to me mi t. ai , EH Laues babe be niht and dai. E ilke. EH is. E Pese haue moned; H I haue mined what bese. H toyhut E het H of telde

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

When ' .1. sal fare in stede of selkouth

telde, Vnto f)e hous ofe god to welde,

5 In steuen of gladschip and ofe

schrifte — Dine of etand pat es swifts.

6 Whi, mi saule, dreri ertou? And whi todroues pou me nou?

7 Hope in god ; for yhit sal .1. to him

schriue, Hele of mi face, and mi god ofe line.

8 Mi saule todrened es at me; For pat sal .1. mine ofe pe

Ofe pe [land]2 of Jordan, and Hermon Ofe pe littel hille on-on.

9 Depnes depnes inkalles hegh, In steuen of pi takenes 3 slegh ;

10 Alle pi heghnes and stremes of pe Forth pai ferden ouer me.

11 In dai sent lauml his merci, And bi night his sange for-pi.

12 At me bede to god of mi life nou. .1. sal sai to god : »mi fanger ertou ;

13 Wharfore, if pi wille be, Haues pou forgeten me ?

And wharfore murned in .1. go, Whil pat twinges me pe fo ?«

14 Whil broken en; mi banes on-an Vpbraided me pat droue, mi fan,

' V quoniam (tr. r. quando). 3 V cataractarum.

Ms. hil.

1 5 [Whil al dai pai sain to me l : »Whare is pi god, whare is he?«]

16 Whi, mi saule, driried ertou? And whi todroues pou me nou?

17 Hope in god, for yhit sal .1. to him

schriue, Hele of mi face, and mi god of Hue.

XLH.

JLJEme me, god, and schede mi skil Fra men pat noght be hali wil ; Fra man wicked, swikel als-swa Outake pou me ai fra pa.

2 For pou ert god, mi strenght in pe, Wharfore awai draue pou me ? And wharfore dreried in .1. ga, Whil pat twinges me pe fa?

3 Outsende pi light, pi sothnes swa; Pai led me to and pai led me fra In pi hali hille pat isse,

And in pine teldes al with blisse.

4 And to goddes weued inga .1. sal, To god bat faines mi youthede al.

5 In harpe to pe sal .1. schriue, God mi god pat es on Hue. Wharfore, mi saule, dreri ertou? And whi todreues pou me nou?

6 Hope in god, for yhit sal [.i. to him

schriue],

Hele of mi face, and mi god [o]-Hue. i E be.

Selkouth of hous. H Wherfor. E dreri mi saule. H om to ; E dreues tou. E Hole. EH oliue. EH At mi (H me) self mi saul droued is he (H to se). E be mined. E Of land H Of pe land. E euen H swa, inst. of hegh. E Of pin tokningges in pe steuen H In st. of pine toknes ma. EH pine heghnesses. E Pai forth- ferden. EH send. E om sai. EH keper art pou. EH Whi forgetes tou me and whi in dred i go (H dreri in i ga), Whil pat. E om pe. EH Whil br. are mi banes, vpbraided me, Pat drouen me mi faas pat be. H Whil pai sai to me be daies alle Whar is pi god on whom yhe kalle. H dreri. E dreri mi saul. EH & wherfor. EH om to; E droues me pou n. EH oHue.

XLII.

EH om me. E lan«rd. E shil. EH folk. E se heli H heli be. E wick and. H wicked is als-swa, And swikel outtake me fra pa. E om pou. H strengh of me ai. E drof. H Whi todrof pou me awai. E dreri H murned. E and led. hil pat heli. & pi teld wiht mikel bl. H Outsend pi Hht swa briht pat es And als-swa pi sothfastnes , Pai led me to & led me fra In pi heli hil in pi teld als-swa. E i sal in go. EH To god mi yhouth pat faines so (H al). E Shriue to [pe] in harp .1. sal. E God god mine ai art pou al H God god mine art pon oliue. E Whi. EH dreri mi saule. EH & wherfor droues tou. E om sal. H saule inst. of face. EH oliue.

Psalm XLIH.

175

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

XLIII.

Vjrod, with our eres herde we pus, Our fadres schewden vntil vs,

2 Werke in |)air daies flat pou wroghtf, And in daies aide |)at nou ere noghttf .

3 Pi hand geng tospred, and pou set

pam ; Pou twinged folk and outdraf am.

4 Ne for * in flairs swerde lande aght

pai, .<e par arme beryhed pam ai ;

5 Bot pi righthand, pin arme als-swa, And lighting ofe pi face, for pou

quemed in pa.

6 Pou ert he mi god and mi king?, Pat sendes to lacob hailsing^2.

7 In be [we] sal blaw * with horn our

ilwiland, And in pi name forhone in vs risand.

8 For noght in bowe hope sal .1. al, Ne mi swerde noght sauue me sal:

9 For pou sauued vs fra vs twingand, And pou tospilte vs hatand.

10 In god sal we be looued al dai, And in pi name be schriuen in

werld ai.

1 1 And nou, pou output vs and spilt vs swa,

1 V Nee enim. z mandas salutes. 1 ventilabimus.

And in our mightes, god, noght sal tou outga.

12 ton torned vs hindward after our

faan ; And pat hated vs, reft*? him * on-an.

13 Pou gaf vs als schepe ofe mete pat

wan1, And in genge tospred vs pare.

14 Pou salde pi folk* with-out waring^2, And noght was mikelhede in pair

manginge.

15 Pou set vs vpbraidinge ful wide Til our neghburs vs biside, Sneringe and heping? ful lang* To pas pat ere in our vmgange.

1 6 Pou set vs in liknes3 in genge to

se, Strringtf of heued in folk*? to be.

17 Mi schame ogaine me es al dai, And schenschipe of mi face oner-

hild me ai :

1 8 Fra steuen of vpbraidand and for-

spekand *, Fra face of fa and filighand.

19 Alle pes come ou^r vs ; ne we for-

gat pe,

Ne wiclike in pi witeworde noght dide we,

1 V diripiebant sibi. 2 E wurthing*?; V sine pretio. 3 V in similitudinem ; R liknyng.

4 obloquentis.

XLIII.

H we herde, pus om. E toulden. H shewed us hou it ferde. E Werk pat pou wroht in daies of pa And in daies aide ma. H om And. H elde. E spred folk H les folc. H planted pa. E genge. H om and. EH output H pam swa. E om for ; H sothlic. EH sal sauue. H Bot pi rithhand and pin arm and lithting nou Of pi face, for in pam quemed bou. E liht. E om pou. H mi g. mi king als-swa, Pat s. heles to lacob ma. H sal we . ur. E forsake H forset. EH in mi H bogh. EH And. E forspilt are vs. H & toyhut pa are us h. EH loued. E om And. E om be. EH in w. to be ai. EH Bot. E om nou. E toyhet H toyut, inst. of spilt. H & god in our m. H pou. EH went. E om us. EH fa. E & pat hateden pai reued tha, H & pat us hated reft him swa. E om vs. E als mete of shep we w. H of metes ware. EH pou to-spred. E wiht- out wurthingi? H With-out wurgh pi folc solde pou swa. H in manging of pa. E for-thi inst. of ful wide. E To. EH neghburyhes. E vs be. H pa, om in E. EH are. E Pou s. vs in 1. to genge swa H Pou s. to folke in licnesse. E Stering^. E in folk ma H in f. pat esse. H Again me mi shenship al dai, And shame. EH ouerhiled. E & spekand. EH & of filiand. EH Alle pise (phese) ouer vs pai soht, Ne forgeten haue we pe (Ne yhit forgate we be) noht, Ne we dide noht wickedli (And wickelic noht dide we) In pi witeword for-thi

1 76

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

20 And hindeward wited oure hert na

And bou helded our* sties fra bi wai,

21 For bou meked vs in sweping* stede, And out'rhiled vs be schadw ofe dede.

22 If* we forgete name of our* god we

kend,

And til ober god if we spred our* hend,

23 Noght-ne sekes god bese to se? — For hidinges of hert* knawes he.

24 For al dai dedelik* er ! we for be ; Als schepe of slaghter wend er we2.

25 Ris; laumi, whi slepes tou? Ris, ne outschoue 3 in ende nou.

26 Whi tornes bou bine anneleth, king*? Forgetes our* wrecchedhed and our*

drouing ?

27 For meked es in dust our* saule bus; Swelihed4 es in erbe be wambe of vs.

28 Ris, laumi, helpe vs for-pi, And bi vs for bi name hali.

1 V mortificamur. 2 aestimati sumus. 3 ne repellas. 4 conglutinatus.

XLIV.

IVii hert riftet gode worde to brings ; .1. sai mi werkes to be kingtf ; Mi tunge rede-pipe ' maister-writer, Ofe swiftlike writande be per.

3 Fairest ofe schap opon to se Forbi sones ofe men pat be, Yhotin es hap2 in bi lippes twai: For-bi blissed be god in ai.

4 Girde pi swerde of iren and stele Ouer bi thee mightlik^ and wele3.

5 For pi wlite and fairehed ilike Bihald sounoTul, gaforth, and rike ;

6 For sothnes, and handtamenes, And rightwisenes bat in be es; And it sal lede [be] selkouthli £i righthand ful stedefastli.

7 ]?ine arwes er swa scharp of might Folke vnder be be dai and night Sal falle whider so bou gas —

In hert of be kinges faas.

1 Ms. piper; V Lingua mea calamus scribae velociter scribentis. 2 V gratia. 3 V poten- tissime ! (voc.).

(for to se). E & noht wited hindward H & again-went. EH no. EH bi stihes fra our w. EH For bou in. (us H) in stede of twinging vs (H bus) And shadw of ded(e) (hit H) ouerhiles (H ouerhiled) vs bus (H om bus). E & to god outen- spred o. h., H & til outen god sprede o. h. EH Ware god sekes noht bese. H ful smert. E Hidinges of hert wel k. he, H For he knawes hidinges. of hert. EH For be dedlic we are al dai. EH wend are we ai. H Vpris ; slapes. E Rise whi slepes tou god nou. E Ris and in end ne outshouue bou H Ris and ne againshouue in e. nou. EH Whi turnes tou pi lickam swa, For- getes our drouyng and our wa. EH in dust our s. is. EH Swolihed in erbe is w. (E wombe). H Vpris. EH heli.

XLIV.

EH in cross-rhymes. EH Mi hert (om in E) rifted gode word 5

burgh me, I telle be kyng werke of mi hand(e);

2 Mi rung(ej rede -pipe mot maister

(master) be, . 6

Writer of swiftli writand(e).

3 Fairist of shap for-be alle

Of sones of men pat ere (euer)

ware (wer) born ; Hap wald in pi lippes falle,

God ai has blisse(d) be berforn. 7

4 Gird bi swerd ouer bi the,

Mathlic (Maghli) be sharpist men pe brings.

For wlite (brihtnes) and fairhed of

be Bihald (Take kepe; smart, ga forth,

be kyngf ;

For sohtnesse and softenesse (H Soth- nes handtamenes) for-thi. And rihtwisnesse pat in be esse

(isse) ; And it sal lede be selkoutli

£i rihthand in to mikel blisse. fine arwes are ful sharp and bou« —

Folk wider so (swa) ()ou gas Vnder be sal falle adoun — In hertes of the kynges faas.

Psalms XLIV.

177

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

8 Pi sete , laufrd , werld of werld es

inne ;

Yherde ofe righting*? yherde of rike bine.

9 Pou lowed rightnes, and hated wicnes ; For-bi be smered god, bat es

Pi god, with oile of fainenes, Forbi bine feres mare and les.

10 Mir, and drope, and bike1, of schrou-

des bine,

Ofe houses iuoyred, bright bat schine ; Ofe whilk lusted be doghtres ofe

kinges In bi worschip, forbi alle thinges.

1 1 Pe quene on [bi] righthal[u]es stode, In schroude gilt , vmgiuen with

semes'2 gode.

12 Here, doghter, and se nou, And bine ere helde bou; Forgete bi folke for to rine3,

1 V cassia. 2 V varietate. 3 = touch.

And be hous of<? fadre bine.

13 And yhern sal be king bi fairehed ai, For he lauml bi god, and him bid1

sal bai.

14 And doghtres of Tiri in giftes salle Pi face bid ; richest ofe folke alle.

15 Alle blis of him to biginne, Doghtres of kinges fra withinne, In gliterand gilted hemminges, Vmlapped with selkouth binges.

1 6 Led sal be to be king£ maidene

after ma, Hir neghbures offred * er to be swa.

17 Pai sal be outborn''' in gladeschip and

fainenes ; Pai sal be led in kirke be kinges es.

18 For bi fadres, er be born sones on

hand ; Set sal bou bam princes oner alle

be land, i V adorabunt. * y afferentur.

8 Pi sete, god(H lauerd), in (H is) hegh

on heght

In werld of werld and ai iliki? ; Pe yherd of rihtinges (H rihting) is

reght Yherde of bi nawen (bin auyhen)

rike.

9 Pou loued euer rihtwisnesse

And hated wickednesse bi yhers ; For-bi wiht smerls of fainnes

Pe smered bi god for-be bi feres.

10 Mir and (om H) drope and bike als-

swa (H mare) Of bi clebinges (clebinge), of big-

ginges luoired, of whilk e be yhorned(!) ma

(H sare) In bi wurchip doghtres of kynges.

1 1 Pe quene stode on pi rihthand

In clebinge gilt bat fairist esse — Is non (nan) swilk^ in alle be (bi)

land, Vmgiuen (H Vng.) alle wiht sel-

kouthnesse.

12 Here nou, doghtre, and se,

Held bine ere and to (om H) me

here;

Forgete pi folke what so bai be, Pi fader hous bat esse (is) foe dere.

n.

13 And bi fairhed sal yorne be

For he (is H) lauerd bi god of alle, And to him, for-be alle bingtf, Sal bai bidde bogh (H be) gret and small e.

14 And be doghtres of Thy

In giftes bi fair face Sal bai yorne ful inwardli,

Richest of folk* bat mast gode hace.

15 Kynges doghtres alle his blisse,

Als he wil fra (H swa) inne he

bringes, In gilt orlinges (H hemminges) als

it isse, Vmlapped al wiht selkouth binges.

16 Ledde are bifor be (H bi) kinges kne,

After hir, maidens ful swete; His neghburghes (H Neghb. of hire)

bare wald bai be, To be wiht godnesse for to grete.

17 Pai are out borne into fain(n)esse,

And in gladship are bai stedde ; Alle bat bare ware mare and lesse In to be kynges kirke are ledde.

1 8 For bi fadres are (to H) be born

Sones yunge (yhing) and summe

of eld(e) ;

Pou salt bam princes set berforn Ouer alle be land apon be feld.

12

1 78

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

19 Mined be, lauml, of bi name sal bai

In strend and strend, be night and dai.

20 For-bi be folke sal to be schriue In ai, and in werld of werld biliue.

XLV.

VJTod our<? toflight and might bus, Helper in drouinges bat mikel fand vs.

2 For-bi sal we noght drede when

land let1 be,

And hilles ben borne in be hert oie be se.

3 tai dinned, and dreued er<? watres

of ba;

To-drened ere hilles in [his] strenght swa.

4 Stith comings 2 of streme fainefs]3

goddes cite; He halyhed his telde heghist es he.

5 God in mid, it sal be stired nathinge ; Helpe it sal god ereli in grikinge.

6 Todreued er genge , and helded

rikes are: He gaf his steuen, stired landes 4 bare5.

7 Lau^rd of mightes with vs es he ;

' V turbabitur. 2 impetus; R swall. * Ms. famed. 4 r. land es. 5 Stev. yare.

The Psalms.

fanger god of lacob be.

8 Comes and sees werkes of lauwl hand, Takeniwges whilk he set oner be land :

9 Awaiberande — for to wende — Fightes to be landes ende ;

Bowe sal he bris, and breke wapenes

ma, And scheldes brinne with fir<? als-swa.

10 »Bihaldes', and sees bat god am .1. ; Be heghed in genge, be heghed in

land sal .!.«.

11 Lauml of might with vs es he; Our fanger god of lacob be.

XLVI.

.rYlle genge, plaies with hend til

heuen, Mines to god in gladful steuen:

2 For lauml hegh, aghful to se, King mikil ouer alle land es he.

3 He vndrelaid folke vntil vs, And genge vndre our fete bus.

4 He ches til vs his heritage som dele, Fairehed oie lacob whilk he loued

wele. i V Vacate, R Takis tome.

19 Pi name lauerd sal bai (om E) min

bar Hue

In getyng of strend and strend (H In g. and geting of st.) ;

20 For-bi be (om H) folk sal to be

shrine

In werld and werld (H om and w.) wiht-outen ende.

XLV.

EH infliht. H is bus. H drouing. EH om pat ; to mikel com vs. E For pat. EH whil. E om land ; H berbe. H be. E & outborn ben hilles. EH in hert of se. EH dined. H droued. are. H om To. in his st. E Todreued in his strenth are hilles ma. E Stif H Stigh. H faines. E halied. EH h. mai be. E it stire it, sal om; H hit sal stire. EH He (H God) sal help hit erli. EH Droued. H folke. E rikes helded, H boyhed rikes. EH be erbe stired (is H) bare. EH in blisse inst. of es he. E fonger H keper. E esse H isse. E om and. H Comes werkes of lauerd to se. E tat he set fortokens &c, H Tokneinges ouer erbe whilke set he. E Awai berand fihtes strange Vntil ende of erbe amang<r. H welrdes inst. of landes. E Brise sal he bogh and brek? in twa Wepens, wiht fir bren sheldes ma, H Brise sal he bogh and tobreke benne Wepenes and sheldes wigh fir brenne. E Bihaldes and sees witerli t>at god am .1. soghfastli, .1. sal be heghed in genge for-thi, And be heghed in erbe sal .1. ; H Emties and se yhe for-bi I>at god am .i. witerli, .1. sal be uphouen in folke ma, .1. sal be uphouen in erbe als-swa. E God. EH mihtes. EH with vs in blisse. EH fonger. isse.

XLVI.

H folc. EH to. H Mifrjyes. EH gladand. H for to se, E is he. EH erbe ; E to be. EH til. E vs ma. E f. als-swa. E to. EH om his. H leued.

Psalm XLVI— XLVH.

179

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

5 Vpstegh god in mirthe and blisse,

Laumi in steuen of beme bat isse.

6 Singes til our* god, singe yhe ; Singes til oure king*1, singe yhe !

7 For king of alle erthe god es strange; Singes wiseli, wele and lange.

8 Rike sal god ouer genge bat is; God sites on sete hali his.

9 Princes of folke bai samened bam With J)e god of Abraham:

For goddes stalworthe of erthe bat

are, Swith mikel vphouen bai ware.

Mr

XLVn.

Likel lauml, and loouelike swithe he is, In cite of oure god, in hille hali his.

2 Grounded with gladschepe be onon Alle landes; hille of Syon1,

Sides of north, be cite

Of god2 mikel bat ai sal be.

3 God in his3 houses be knawen sal When bat he has fanged ite al.

4 For loke, kinges of erthe ilkan Pai ere samened, and comen in an :

1 V Fundatur exultatione universae terrae mons Sion. 2 r. king. * V ejus.

5 Forwondred ere f)ai seand swa, Pai ere droued, bai er^ stired,

drede griped ba;

6 Par*; sorwes als of kineland nou ; In strange gaste schippes of Thars

forthrist saltou.

7 Als we here1, sa se we right In cite of lauml of might, Of our god in be Cite ; God grounded it in ai to be.

8 We onfanged, god, bi merci In mid of bi kirke inwardeli.

9 After bi name, god, swa isse Pi loofe ful of mikel blisse In be endes of? be land.

Of rightwisnes ful es pi righthand.

10 Faine mote jje hille of Syon, And glade sal bai sone on-on Pe faire doghtres of lude, Laumi, for domes of be.

1 1 Vmgiues Syon, and vmklippes it ; Telles in his toures yhit.

12 Settes youre hertes, night and dai, In might of him to be ai,

And to-deles his houses ma, In othre kinde bat ye telle swa.

i r. herd.

EH in mirbe ful queme. H And lauerd. EH om bat isse. E ..yhe singe H singes. H om Singes. E to. E ye sing* H singes. E For of alle erpe kyng is god str. H For god king of al erbe str. EH Singes wislic (wisli) yhou amange. H ouer genge wisli. E ouer sete heli h. H God sit sal ouer his sete heli. EH om pai. H Bifor god of A. E strange. EH ware. EH are.

XL VII.

EH Mikel 1. and swipe loouendli. EH in his hil heli. E Gr. w. gl. alle erbes be, Pe hille of Syon for to se, Sides of norh for-be alle pinge, Pat is cite of mikel kynge ; H Grunded be hit al with blisse, With gladship of al erbe bat isse, Hil of Syon, norht sides riht, Cite of mikel king of miht. H om his. H om bat. E kepe hit has, H has tan hit. H Samened are. EH com. E Ferlied are pai H Pai are forwundred , EH seand bat binge. E let inst. of droued. EH bam nam qwakynge. H soryhes E sorgh. H om nou. E brise salt bou ; H In strang gast brise salt bou shipes of Thars lande. EH als se we. H god. EH In cite of our god pat (om in H) isse. EH God gr. (H made) hit in ai wiht blisse. H fonged E keppen. E lauerd. H om of. H ful inwardli E heli. E Als pi name god alle-weldand , And swa pi lof in endes of land , Wiht rihtwisnesse be niht and dai Fulfild is bi rihthand ai ; H After pi name god sa and hi lof in endes of lande, Ful of rihtwisnesse is bi rihthande. EH Faine Syion hil and glade doghtres of lude, Lauerd f. d. of the. H om his. E Set your hertes in his miht, And todeles his houses riht, Pat yhe tellen you bitwene, In ober kynde bat yhe haue sene ; H Set yhoure hertes in his miht and deles houses hisse, Pat yhe telle in

12*

i8o

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

13 For he es god, our^ god in blisse,

In ai , and in werld oie werld pat

isse;

He sal ster£ vs with his might In werldes, bi dai and night.

XLVIH.

JlTeres pese, alle genge ; with eres

bi-se Alle bat erden werld, in to be ;

2 Whilk and1 erthelik^*, mennes sones

ilkon, Pourtf and riche samen on-on.

3 Mi mouth sal speke wisedome on

heght, And thoght of mi hert, sleght.

4 I sal helde mine ere in forbisening^ ; I sal open in sauter3 mi forsetting^4. —

5 Whi sal .1. drede in iuel dai? Wiknes of mi helespor sal vmgiue

me ai.

6 Pat traiste in pair* mights and in

mikelhed Of pain? welthes mirpen, to mede

7 Brothre sal noght bie, man bie sal

al? Noght gif his queming to god he sal,

1 V Quique. z V terrigenae. 3 v in

psalterio. 4 propositionem.

8 And worth of againbijnge of his

saule to wende ;

And he sal swinke in ai , and yhit life in ende.

9 Noght sal he se forworth in land, When he has seen wise diand ; Samen pe vnwis als-swa

With pe fole forworth sal pa.

10 And leue til outen pair welthes sal

pai,

And pair graue pair^ hous sal be in ai.

1 1 In kinde and kinde teldes of pa ! Pai kalled paur names in pair landes

swa.

12 Man, in worschipe when he was

broght,

He ne vndrestode ite noght; Til vnwise meres euenmet* es he, And made to paim like for to be.

13 Pis pair<? wai schame to pam alle; And after, in pahv mouth queme pai

sal.

14 Als schepe in helle set er^ pai ; Dede fedes pam night and dai.

15 And laumi1 of pas forbi alle things Sal be rightwis in morneinge;

1 r. lauerdes?

oper kinde pat isse. E For he god swa gode to se, Oure god in euennare sal be , And in werld of werld pat isse , He sal vs stere in werldes blisse ; H For he is god our god in werld of werld and in ai, He sal stere us in werldes niht and dai.

XLVIH.

E Pat biggen pes werld alle yhe, H Whilke pat big pe w. alle yhe. E erpelic H erpeli. EH mensones ilkan. E Pouer. H Riche and pouer. EH in an. H wisdam. E riht inst. of on h. E mi forseit ping£. E in yuel dai pat be H in i. d. al. EH -spur. E vmgiues me H umgif me sal. E Pat traisten in par miht pat esse, And glade in mikelhed of par richesse ; H Pat traist in par m. niht and dai, And in mikelhed of par welpes mirpen ai. H bie man sal pisse. E om al. E Noht sal he gif to god his queming al, H Noht gif sal he to god queming hisse. EH wurth. E of biing, om in H. EH to his s. H te. E & lyue yhit. E He sal noht se. EH forward. H he ses. EH pe wise. E doand H deeand. H Samen babe the wis with-al And pe fole forwurpe pai sal. E And pe folk<?(!) E 1. par godes til oper H par welpes til outen leue. E & proyhes of pam par hous in ai, H & par biries hous of pam in ai. E Par teldes in kynde & kynde, H Par t. in k. & k. standes. E Par names kald pai. EH om swa. H om was. EH And; E om til. EH mares, is. pam. E vn-to H til. E pa, alle om. H after pa. E sal pai sa. H done ar. E sal fede. E And Izaerd be sal [of] pa for-thi Rihtwise in mornyng erli, And pe help of pam pat isse,

Psalm XLVm— XLIX.

181

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

And foe helpe sal elde of ba In helle alle bair* blisse fra.

1 6 Bot god mi saule bi sal he

Fra hand of helle, when he tas me.

17 Ne drede bou when riche made

man is, And felefalded of his hous es blis ;

1 8 For, when he sterues, take sal he

noght* alle, Ne with him his blis lightdoune salle.

19 For his saule in his life sal blissed

be;

When bou has gode done him schriue sal he to be :

20 Inga intil kinde of his fadres sal he, And til in ai light* sal he noght se.

21 Man, in worschipe when he was

broght*,

He ne vndrestode it noght*; And til vnwis meres euenmet es he, And made to foam like for to be.

XLIX.

VJTod of goddes, lau*rd, spake he, And be erthe he kalled to se, 2 Fra sonne springs to setelgang* ; Fra Syon wlite of his fairehed lang*.

3 God he [sal come] l openli,

Our god, and noght blinne forbi.

4 Fir* in his sight sal brenne sothli; And in his vmgang* storme worthi2.

5 He kalled be heuen abouen of

blisse, And be land, to schede folk* hisse.

6 Samenes his halighes til his hand, tat welesettes3 witeworde ou*r off- rand.

7 And schewe sal heuens his right-

wisnes, For god domesman he es.

8 »Her*, mi folk, to me somdele And .1. sal speke to Irael, And .1. sal witnes to be for-bi God, god bine bat am .1. .

9 Noght in offrandes sal .1. threte foe

right* ; For bi smereinges 4 ai er* in mi sight*.

10 Noght sal .1. take fra bi hous kalues, Ne fra pi faldes bockes, on na halues ;

11 For mine er* alle bestes of wode, Meres in hilles, and nete gode.

12 I knewe alle be flightfoghel of heuen, And fairehede of felde with me es

i Ms. spake, holocausta.

2 V valida.

3 ordinant.

Elde sal in helle fra bar blisse; H And lauerd sal of bam rihwise i« morning swa, And par help sal eld in helle fra blisse of pa. EH bie. E Of. H taas. EH om bou. E riche man maked H man riche made. EH And when mani- folded be (is) blisse of hous hisse. EH he nimes. EH Ne his blisse wiht him sal dou« falle (doun ga sal). E A«d when bou gode has don. H has wel don. EH sal he (om E) shriue to be. E to in H til in. EH noht sal he. EH mares.

XLIX.

EH God of g. louerd of blisse (H bat isse), He (om H) spak* and cald pe erbe bisse. EH sunne. E til. E Fro S. swetnesse. EH God openli(c) come sal to se (H he sal), Oure god, and noht lete (blinne) sal he (with-al). H brenne sal. E wiseli H for-bi. H om in. E wurtli. E om be. fra aboue bat isse. H Fra aboue he kald heuen of blisse. H als inst. of be. EH erbe. E halies H halyhes. to. H his witeword. E rihtwisenes hisse H om man. E om he. E isse. E Herk. vnto the, forbi om. bine I am to be. H Here mi folc and [i] sal speke to Israel forbi, And witnes to pe, god god pin am .i. . E offrand. E prete .1. sal, H prete sal .i. pe. EH pine offrandes. E i« mi siht ai al H ai in mi siht to se. E Noht sal .i. nim fra calues nan H .1. sal tak of pi hous k. nan. EH Ne fra (of) pi foldes buckes neu*r nan (an). EH For al bestes of wod mine are ba. EH Mares. H om and. EH net(e) als-swa. E knaw. EH om foe. EH f. of h. to se. H And be f. of wod. EH is wiht me (euen

182

The Psalms.

Ms Vesp. D vii.

13 Yiteme hungre, noght sal .1. sai be bis ; Mine es ertheli werld, and fulhed his.

14 Wher1 .1. sal etc of bules flesche? Or drinke J)e blode of buckes nesche"?

15 Offrand of loof to god offre bou, And yhelde til hegheste bi hates nou.

1 6 And in dai of drouing^ kalle bou me; I*ou salt worschipe me , and .1. sal

outake foe«.

17 To sinner sothlik^ said god bat es : »Whi telles bou mi rightwisenes?

t And nimes als-swa bi bi mouth Mi wjteword bat es swa kouth?

1 8 £ou sothlike hated lare,

And forthkeste mi saghes hindward bar*.

19 lie bou sagh thefe , bou ran with

him yete; And with wedbrek bi dele bon set?.

20 I*i mouth mihtsomed2 iueles swa, And bi tung* herded3 swikedomes ma.

21 Sitand, bi brofore bou spak* ogain, And ogain bi modre sun with main

i = whether. 2 Stev. nuhtsomed; V Os tuum abun davit malitia; cf. 64, 14; 72, is. * V concinnabat.

Set faou sclaundre witerli.

£es dide bou, and ai blan .1. .

22 I*ou wendest ful wickedli

fat .1. sal be like to be for-foi: .1. sal threte be, and with-al Set ogain bi face .1. sal«.

23 Vnderstandes bese in thoghte, Whilktf bat god forgeten oghte; Leswhen bat he reue on-an,

And wha bat outake bes bar« nan.

24 Offrand of lof, gode es and right, Sal worschip me be dai and night ; And bider whilk .1. sal his wai Schewe him hele of god in ai1.

L.

VJod, bou haue mercy of me, After mikel mercy of be;

2 And after of pi reuthes be mikelnes t>ou do awai mi wickednes.

3 Noumare2 me wasche of min iuel

bidene, And of mi sinne bou klens me klene.

1 V et illic her quo ostendam illi salutare dei. 2 V Amplius.

om). E If me hunger neu^r swa sare, Sai to be sal .1. nomare, For bat werld of erbe isse mine, And alle be fulhed bat is bare-inne. H For min is. E Whore H Ware. EH nou inst. of of. E bulles H boles. E Ober. E Offre to god offrand of lof swa, H Offre offrand to god of lof bat be. EH to heghist. E bin hotes ma H hotes of be. H And kalle me in pi drouing dai. E And tou salt me mensk^ and .1. sal out-take be, H And .i. sal outake be and bou sal men[s]k me ai. E To sinful sohtlic in land Said god bat isse alle-weledand, Whi telles tou rihtwisenesse mine And nimes mi witeword be mouth bine. H sinfulman, sothlik om ; And mi witeword is swa kouth , Takes tou als be bi mouth. E hated ai 1. , H And bou hated lare niht and dai. E forthkast H forthbrw. EH saihes. E ai hindw. bare, H hindward ai. E soht. EH wiht him ran bou (E iou). EH spousebreche. E dol. EH set bou nou. EH micled. E iuelnesse. E amangtf H strang. H herded sw. amang E swikdom hit sangtf. E bou spakf pi brober. H Again bi brober bo[u] spake sitand. EH son. H in land. E samen inst. of sclaundre. E ful witerli, And set again pi face for-thi (rest om). H yhit inst. of ai. H I*ou wend wicli bat .i. be like to be sal, I sal bret foe and again bi face set al. E bhese ; E Yhe bat god forgeten o., Lesewenne that reue he, And whilke bat outnimes nan be ; H I*at god forgetes understandes bisse yhe, Leswhen he reue and wAa outtake nan be. E Offrand bat isse of heriyng^, Sal wurchip me for-be alle bing*, And bider whilke that .1. sal Shew to him hele of god al; H Offrand of lof sal menske me, and bar wai J*ai sal to him shew hele of god ai.

L.

E A. be mikel. EH & after manihed (mikelhed) of rewbhes (E rihtwise) pine, £ou (E om) do awai wicnesse (H wickednes) mine. E ne inst. of me. EH of mi wicnesse, And klens me of (om H) mi sinne bat esse. EH knaw .1. i am i.

Psalm L.

I83

Ms. Vesp. D vii. 4 For mi wickenes

.1.

.1. knaw bat am inne, And ai ogain me es mi sinne.

5 To be an sinned .1. mare,

And iuel bifor be dide .1. |)are ; tat in bi saghes pou be rightwise, And outcome when pou demed is.

6 Lo for1 in wickenesses onfanged

am .1.,

And in sinnes me onfogh (!) mi modre for-f)i.

7 Lo for ' pou loued with al pi mights Sothnes, bath bi dai and nights; Vnsiker and derne of bi wisdam tou opened vnto me ofe bam.

8 tou sal strenkil2 me ou^r-alle With strenkil, and klensed be .1.

salle;

tou pi-selfe salt wasche me, And ouer snawe sal .1. whitened be.

9 To mi hering* saltou giue Blis and fainnes, whils .1. Hue, And glade sal pai night and dai Banes bat ere meked ai.

10 ti face fra mine sinnes torne bou nou, And alle mi wickenes awai do po[u].

1 1 Clene herte make in me , god , and

trewe,

And right gaste in mi guttes newe. 1 V Ecce enim. 2 same word R.

12 Ne forwerpe me fra face of be, And bi hali gaste bere noght fra me.

13 Yhelde to me of pi hele fainnes, And with heghist [gast] ' me fest

bat es.

14 tine waies wicked sal .1. kenne ; And quedes torne to be sal benne.

15 Lese me fra blodes, god, god of mi

hele es,

And glade sal mi tunge pi right- wisnes.

1 6 LaumI, bou salt? open lippes mine, And mi mouth sal schewe lof pine.

17 For if bou wald offrand had .1.

broghte ; Sothlik til offrandes lustes bou noghtg.

1 8 Offrand make bou on haste To god bat ert droued gaste2 ; Hert forbroken and meked thoghtir, God, forsake saltou noghte.

19 Wellimake3, lauml, and noght ille, To Syon in bi gode wille,

And bigged * be pai bright als bem te walles of Iherusalem.

20 ten saltou take with pi hand Rightwise offrand5 in pe land, Onelotes and offrandes on alle halues ; ten sal pai set ouer weued pine

kalues.

1 V spiritu principal!. 2 V Sacrificium deo spiritus contribulatus. 8 Benigne fac. » V ut. * sacrificium justitiae.

E om ai. H ane E on. EH om mare. EH Bifore pe iuel (ille) .1. dide for- thi. EH om pi. EH sayhes. E Loke .1. am onfonged in wickednesse H Loke .i. am wicnesses onfonged inne. E And in sinne me onfonge mi m. pat esse H And mi m. onfonge me in sinne. E Loke sohtlic pou loued ai Rihtwisnesse be niht and dai. H om for ; H Rihtwisnes babe d. & n. E heled inst. of derne. H Opened bou to me . . EH Lauerd bou sal strenkel me (H adds bidene) Wigh st. & klene sal [I] be (H & .i. sal be klene). E tou salt wasshe me ouer alle, And be whitned ou<r snaw .1. salle. E bou sal. E whil H wil. EH And forbi pai be glad, te meked banes (bat H) pou made. E min H mi. E wend. EH ai inst. of nou. H om alle. E wicnesse H wicnesses. EH do awai; pou om. E om God. E om right. H gas. E forthwerp H werpeforth. H om me. EH heli. E ne bere f. m. E fainnes of hele pine. H of, EH heghest gast. E me festin inc. H to wicked. E .1. sal lere wicke pine waies to ga. E om to. E sal swa. EH om Goda. E isse. EH & mi tung sal glade in pi r. E sal. EH shew sal louing p. E giuen had .1. . E Til offrand lustes pou noht sohtli. H iustes tou. EH art. E wele inst. of thoght. H ne salt. E no dele. EH Welli do. E son onan, In pi gode wille to Syon. EH ben. E be inst. of bem. E take wiht blisse Offrand of rihtwisnes bat isse.

184

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

The Psalms.

LI.

W hi glades pou in iuelnes, Pat mightand1 ert in wickednes?

2 Vnrightwisnes thoght pi tunge al dai ; Als scharp rasour swikedom did pou ai.

3 1*011 loued iuelnes oure betternes; Mare to speke wicnes pan euennes.

4 Pou loued alle wordes of dounfalling^ 2 With swikle tunge, oure al things.

5 For-pi god sal fordo pe

In ende, output pe for to be, And ferre be fra pi telde in land, And pi rote fra pe erthe of liuand.

6 Rightwise sal se, and drede pai sal; And on him lagh, and sai with-al: »Loke here man pat noght set he God helper his ai for to be,

7 Bot hoped in mikelhede of his

richesse, And forworthed3 in his vnnaitnesse«.

8 And .1., als oliue fruitberand In be hous of god liuand; .1. hoped in goddes merci,

In ai and in werld of werld. for-pi,

9 In werld pou made sal .1. to pe

schriue,

An,d abide pi name mi Hue; For gode es it in pe sights Of pine haleghs ful of mights.

1 V potens. 2 R dounfelling, V praecipita- tionis. *al. bettred ; V praevaluit.

LII (cf. XEDL).

Fe vnwis saide in hert his Als a fule, pat god noght is.

2 Pai en? wemmed, and wlatful ai In wickednes made ere pai ; Whilktf pat gode dos es par nan, Es par nan to lepi an.

3 Lauml fra heuen, pare he wones, Forthloked ouer mennes sones,

Pat he se where he be vndrestandand, Or if he be god sekand:

4 Alle helded pai, sammen ai Vnnoteful maked ere pai ; Whilk pat gode dos es par nan, Is [par] nan to lepi an.

5 Noght-ne wate pai alle pat wirkes

qued, Pat swelyhesmifolkals mete of bred?

6 God ne kalled pai neuer an ;

Par qwoke pai for drede, par drede was nan.

7 For god skatered banes of pa Vnto men pat qwemes swa; Schent ere pai, bi night and dai, For pat god forsoke pam ai.

8 Wha sal gift of Syon hele to Irael ! When torned has god wrechednes wel Of his folk, glade lacob sal,

And faine sal Irael with-al.

LI.

EH tou. art. EH Pi rung poht vnr. H rasur. H swikedam ; E euelnesse o. bitternesse. EH swikel. EH outlouk, H be per pou sal be. EH fra erpe, E oliueand. EH Mani inst. of Rightwise. H & pai sal drede. H & lagh on him. E laghand. H & sale to mede. H om here. H whilke pat. EH his helpe ; ai om. EH he h. H mekehed. H om his. EH & bettred. H lauerd. EH dwelland. H om of werld. E pat pou. H & pi name abide. EH pi halghs.

LH.

H in h. and poht. EH fol(e). H is noht. EH wlatand. E mare and lesse. H wicnesses. E Mad are pai in pare wickednesse. EH is. E non. E one. H God. per. E ware he vnderstand. E Ore ware pat. E Alle samen helded pai, V. are pai maked ai. EH Is par. EH Pai wate (witen) noht (alle H; wirken (wirkes) q. EH swolyhe. E fole. E om ne. EH noht apon. EH q. for d. E om For. H om god. E Pat vn-to men quemen tha H Whilk fat queme un-to men swa. E Pai are forspilt H Pai are shent. EH bath n. H of Syon sal gif. E lauerd has turned H god has t. E lacob glade. H om faine.

Psalm LIU— LIV.

I85

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

G<

LIU.

rod, in pi name sauf make me nou, And in pi might me deme pou.

2 God heir mi bede; with, eres bise Wordes1 of mi mouth bat be.

3 For outen ras ogain me ma,

And stalworth soght mi saule to sla, And noght forset bai dai na nights God to be bifor pair? sights.

4 Lo, sotheliktf god helpes me,

And lauerd helper of mi saule es he.

5 Tome iuels vnto mi faas;

And in pi sothnes tosprede pas.

6 Willi sal .1. offre to pe yhit£,

And schriue to pi name , for gode es ite.

7 For alle drouing* me outoke pou fra, And min egh forsegh ouer mi faa.

H,

LIV.

Lere, god, what es mi bede, And ne forsake pou in na stede Mi bisekingtf .1. make to be; Take kepe to me and here me. i Ms. worwes.

2 Dreried .1. am in mi bedgang^1 ; And to-dreued am .1. lang*

Of steuen of ilwiland,

And of drouingtf of sinnand;

3 For bai helded in me wicnes ai, And in wrath to me hakand war

bai.

4 Mi hert es dreued in me to be, And radnes of dede felle ouer me.

5 Drede and quaking ouer me come pa, And weued2 me mirkenes in to ga.

6 And .1. saide: wha fefoeres sal gif

me beste

Als of douue, and .1. sal flegh, and reste?

7 Loke, .1. lenghbed fleand,

And in an[n]es3 .1. was wonand;

8 .1. abade him bat sauf me made Fra littelhed of gast, and fra storme

brade.

9 Felneber4, lauerd, bat it be swa, And be tunges twinne of pa; For .1. sagh be wickednesse And be againsagh in cite esse.

i V in exercitatione mea, r, begange. 2 V cpntexerunt(l). 3 V in solitudine. * Prae- cipita.

LEI.

EH Lauerd. E om bi. H sauue me nou E sauf maktf bou me. E And sauue me in be miht of the. H be bede, E wiht eres pine H of me, E Bese pe wordes of mouth mine H Wordes of mi m. wiht eres bise. E in me. EH om And. H Starwurth. H And faai set noht. E And bat forset noht before par siht God be daies na be niht. EH Loke. EH om And. H God. EH keper. V 7 om in E. H forlese bas. E Wilfulli. E om I. E to be wiht blisse. E it isse. E Fra al d. H For fra alle mi fas. E outtoktf bou me H me o. pou. E And ouer mi fos min egh forsok to se. H ouer fas mine nou.

LIV.

E Here god mi bede loud and stille And ne forsake bou wiht bi wille, H Here g. of me the bede And forsake noht in be stede. EH Bihald to me. E I am dreried. H & t. i am amange. H For st. EH of min. E ille weland. H And for. E wicnesses H iueles. E ma. E wragh. EH hackand to me. E pa. E dred; r. oft felle, of dede om; felle inst. of come; & ou^rhiled me merknesses al dai; H Mi hert it (r. is) let in me to dwelle And radires of ded ouer me felle, Drede & qu. come ouer me, And merknesse wof me in to be. E who sal gif me fethes(!) H feberes wha sal gif me. H om Als. E om of. E fligh H fliyhe. EH .i. ferred. E fast f. E onnesse H onne. EH abode. H wha sauf me m. amang. E made me. H litelnes. EH om and. E fra st. to se H fra st. strang. E Felleneber lauerd twinne tuwges of ba me(l), For .1. sagh wicnesse awd gainesaw in cite. H And twinne pou t. E Dai and niht vmga sal hit.

i86

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

10 Vmgif sal it night and dai

Ouer walles of it wickednes ai ; And swinke in mid of ite be sal, And vnrightwisnes with-al;

11 And noght waned of waies of ite Okre and swikedome to be yhite.

12 For \ie me weried had mi faa, Tholed sothlik* had .1. swa ;

13 And if to ba1 bat hates me

Ouer me grete things spoken had he, Thorgh hap swa might haue bitid I>at .1. me had fro him hid.

14 £ou sothlik man of a mode2, Mi leder, and mi konth sa gode,

15 tat samen swete metes toke with

me,

In goddes hons with [a] wille yhode we!

1 6 Come mote dede sone oner pa; And in helle liuand doune bai ga ;

17 For nith in teldes of bam ai,

In middes of am, night and dai.

1 8 Sothlik to be, god, cried .1., And lau*rd heled me for-bi.

1 V is (tr. r. his) qui oderat me. * unanimis.

19 Late, and areli, and at middai euen, Sal .1. telle and schew, and he sal

here mi steuen.

20 Bi mi saule in pais sal he Fra bam bat swa neghed me ; For bitwix mani bai ware

With me, bath be lesse and mare.

21 Here sal god, and meke ba, Bifor werldes bat es swa.

22 Noght es to bam formanging*, And bar-with drede bai nathing*: God forbi thorgh-out be land Tospred his hand in foryheldand.

23 l>ai bismitted night and dai His witeworde: todelt ere bai Fra wreth of his face forbi; And neghed hert of him sothli.

24 Nesched als oyle his saghs bene, And bai er* gauelokes bam bitwene.

25 Thraw on lau^rd bi wille to be, And him-selfc sal fostre be ;

And noght sal he gif with-outen

ende Floddrede1 to rightwis to wende.

1 Ms. floddredre ; V fluctuationem, R quakinge.

H "Vmga hit sal. E of him; H his walles. EH wicnes(se). E yh[i]t inst. of ai. E sorch. E him. H wanted. E of his waies ma. H Oker als-swa swi[c]dam yhit. E sw. als-swa. E om if. E missaid. E bole. H Sothlic boled. E haid. EH haten. E Grete binges ouer me, H Mikel bing, ouer me om. EH om Thorgh hap. E Swilc bing*. H miht hit wel haue. E suld me fra him haue H hade me fra him. EH l>ou sohtlic man o wille (H of o mede) non, Mi leder (H duke) & mi knawen (koube) art bou. H nam. E om me. E wiht o wille. H With o wille in godes hous ga sal we. E Com dede ouer bam hiyhand, And doun falle bai in helle liuand, For in bar teldes is quedenesse, In mid of bam more and lesse ; H Com ded ouer bam to quelle , And liuand ga bai doun til helle, For nigh in bar teldes esse, In midde of bam mare & lesse. EH to louerd. EH erli. H And telle. E He sal bie mi saule in pais fra ba negh me, For bitwix fele ware bai wiht me to be ; H He sal bie in pais mi saule fra bam ai, fat me negh, for bitwix fele with me ware bai. EH God sal here. E tho. E are swo ; H And bifor weldes is swa. E For noht to bam is manging, gan (r. and, bai drede na bing*, God he sal strek* his hand in foryheldyng*, I*ai be-smitted his witeword esse, To-delt are bai mare and lesse Fra wragh of his lickam smert, And of him neghed be hert, Smebe are mi (r. his sayes ouer oli, And bai are gau[el]okes witerli; H Sohtlic to f>am noht is manging, And god dred bai na bing, He streked his hand in foryhelding, £ai bismitted his witeword, todelt bai are Fra wrath of his face , neghed is hert bare , Smebe als oli his sayhes bene, And bai are gauelokes bam bitwene. E Kest ouer lau*rd alle bi wille, And he sal fostre bi felle, And noht sal [he] gif in ai Floddrede to rihtwise niht no dai ; H Kest bi wille on lonerd and he sal fostre be, And noht floddred

Psalm LIV— LV.

I87

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

26 Bot pou, lau*rd, lede salt jia

In pitte inrest * for to ga.

27 Menslaer and swykel his dayes half*2

sal; And .1., lau*rd , in pe hope sal al.

LV.

IVlilpe of me, lau*rd, for man for-

trade me ; Al dai fightand, me droued he.

2 Mine faas fortrade me al dai par*; For mani fightand ogaines me ware.

3 Noght sal .1. drede fra heghnes of

dai3, Bot in pe hope sal .1. ai.

4 In god looue sal .1. sagh4; in god

hoped .1. ;

Ine sal drede what flessche dos me for-pi.

5 Alle dai mi wordes cursed pa; Ogaine me in iuel par thoghtes

ma.

6 Inbigge pai sal, hide pam with-al ; Mi helespor bihald pai sal.

1 V in puteum interitus (!). * V non dimi- diabunt. 3 R Ab altitudine diei timebo?

4 V sermones meos.

7 Als pai mi saule abade: for noght

saltou nou

Sauf make pam ; in wreth folk* breke sal ton.

8 God , mi life schewed .1. to pe

right* ; Mine teres set pou in pi sight*,

9 Als and1 in [pi] hete : pen sal mi

faa Hindward tome again to ga ;

10 [In whatkin dai .1. cal the nou, E Loke, .1. knew pat mi god art pou].

11 In god, worde heryhe .1. sal, In lau*rd sagh looue with-al. In god hoped .1. ai on an: Noght sal .1. drede what me dos

man.

12 God, pine hotes er* in me, Whilk .1. sal yhelde loouinges to

pe;

13 For mi saule dede toke pou fra, Mi fete fra slipinge2 als-swa, tat .1. queme bifor god in land, In pe light of liuand.

1 V sicut et. 2 al. sliberinge.

in ai to riht gif sal he. EH fcou sohtlic salt lede po (H pam ai). E In pitte

of stiring* f. go, H In pit in rest niht and dai. EH Mensloers. E is daies

twiwne noht H twinne par daies noht. E I sohtlic louerd hoped in pe alle, H And 1. hope sal i in pe al.

LV.

E Miles. E god. E fortrade me man. H me ai. E And dai in-fihtande me droued pan, H In nhtande droued me al dai. EH Fortrade me (om E) mi foos al dai. H fele. E ogayn me ai H agayn me ras pai. EH Fro heghnesse of dai (noht H) drede .1. sal (H sal .i.), E .1. sohtlic in pe sal hope alle H For .i. hope in be witerli. EH In god mi saihes loue (heryhe) sal .1. (.i. sal), In god hoped .i. stedefastli (wiht-al), I sal noht (Neuer sal .i.) dredand be, What ani flesshe mai do to me. E Mine sayhes cursed pai al dai. EH Alle par phohtes in iuel again me ai. E I*ai sal inwun and hide pam swa, H l*ai sal inbig, pam hide w. EH -spur. E sal pa. E Swa als thai vphe[l]den nou Saul mine, for noht salt pou Berihed make pam lesse and mare, In wragh folk* brek* salt pou pare ; H Als pai poled mi saule, sauf sal tou pa Make, in wrath folc to-breke swa. H om to. E om right*. EH tou set mi teres, E in pi s. to be. E Als and in pi hote onon, I* en t«med hindward sal be mi fon; H And in pi hote, pen sal ilkan Be turned himwarde mi fan. H kalle sal the n. H kn. be, for mi god a. E loue; H lone worde sal .i. . H god. E loue sayhe w., H loue sagh forthi. H om ai. E In lau*rd hoped .1. noht dred sal .1., What man mai do to me for-thi. EH tat .1. sal yh. heriynges . . E pou toke mi saul. EH slipering*. E Bi god pat .1. q. E siht.

Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

LVI.

JTl.af merci of me , god , haf raerci

of me, For mi saule traistes in pe.

2 And in schadw of pine wenges hope

.1. sal, To wickednes awaifare al.

3 .1. sal crie to god heghist es he, To god pat wele dide to me.

4 He sent fra heuen, lesed me of band; He gaf in vpbraidinge me fortredand.

5 God sent his merci and his sothnes, And toke mi saule fra wickednes, Fra f)e kitelinges of liouns ware — I slepe al fordreued pare.

6 Mensones , wepenes and arwes teth

of pa,

And paire tunge scharp swerde es swa.

7 Vpheue oner henens, god pat isse, And oner al land be pi blisse.

8 Snare graiped pai to mi fete twa, And mi saule pen croked pa ;

9 Bifor mi licham groue pai dike : And felle pam-self par-inne ilike.

10 Graiped mi hert, god, graiped mi

herte ; I sal singe and salme in querte.

1 1 Ris, mi blisse ; ris sautre for-pi And harp ; in grikinge ris sal .1. .

12 In folke sal .1., laaerd, to pe schriue, And salme to pe sai in genge mi

liue.

13 For mikled to heuen pi merci esse, And to pe cloudes pi sothnesse.

14 Vpheue oner heuens, god pat isse, And onre alle erthe be pi blisse.

LVH.

If sothlik speke ye rightwisnes, Mensones, demes rightlike pat es.

2 For in hert wickenes ye wirke in

land; Vnrightwisnes herdes youre hand.

3 Outened ' fra wambe sinful ere ai ; Pai dweled fra magh, lese spake

pai.

4 Wodenes to po after lickenesse Of a snake in wildernes;

Als of a neddre def als-swa Pat stoppand es his eres twa, i V alienati.

LVI.

H Milpe of [me] god milpe. H traisted. EH pi. E winges. H heghist mai be. E om To. E vn-to. EH send fra hegh. E me lesed. H outlesed me, of band om. E fordredand. H fortredand me. E God send his merci & soht- nesse hisse And lesed mi saul al with blisse. H And outtoke mi s. pat es. EH Fra midde of whelps (kitelinge) of lioun, Slepe I droued (I slep dr.) liggand doun. E Men sones par tegh wepens arwes ma, And sharp swerd pe tunge of pa. H als-swa inst. of es swa. EH erpe. EH Snare to mi fete graiped pa (pai). H pai croked ai. E Pai croked mi saule als-swa. EH face. E pai dolued. E & pai felle in hit i. , H & f. in hit pam-self i. H god god. E Mi hert graipe god, mi hert graipe ai. E & salm sai. E wiht-al inst. of for-pi. E gri- pinge. E .1. sal. H lauerd sal .i. ; saie to pe ; El sal shriue to pe lauerd in genge ma, And salm sai to pe in genge swa. H For m. is pi merci to heuen And pi sothnes to kloudes euen. E heuens. E om pe.

LVII.

EH If s. rihtw. deme (speke) yhe, Rihtlic demes, men sones pat be. E For in h. wirke ye wickednesse, In land herd yhoure hende vnrihtwisnesse. E wombes. E Bragh to pa after of nedder licnesse, Als def snake his eres stoppand esse ; H Wode[ne]s of wicke is to tha After licnesse of nedder swa , Als of def snake and stoppand His eres pat he be noht herand. E Pat he here

Psalm LVH— LVm.

189

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

5 £at noght sal here be steuen of

wicchand, Of l wichand wiseli in land.

6 Godbrissalbaire tethe in mouth of ba; Toskes of liouns lauerd breke sal ma.

7 To noght sal bai bicome als watres

rinnes ai ; He bent his bogh til vnfest be bai.

8 Als wax bat meltes hete biforne Alle sal bai be outborne; Ouerfel be fire sa bright^,

And be sunne noght se bai mights.

9 Artil faai vndrestande biforn

Of youre thornes of thenethorn2, In wreth salt bou3 fote and hande Swelyhe bam als liuande.

i o When he sees wr eke faine sal be gode ; He sal wasche his hende in sinful blode.

II And man sothlike sai sal he: »If bat fruite to rightwis be, Sothlike banne es god swa Here in land demand ba«.

O

LVIII.

utake me , god , fra mine ille- willande,

i a word (galder?) left out; V venefici. 2 V Priusquam intelligerent spinae vestrae (nom. pi.) rhamnutn. 3 V absorbet.

And lese me fra in me risande.

2 Outake me wirkand wickenes fra, And menslaers sauue me fra ha.

3 For loke, mi saule toke bai bare; In me onreseden stahvorth bat ware.

4 Ne mi wicnes , lauwi , ne mi sinne

for-fai ;

With-outen wiknes .1. ran , and righted .1. .

5 Ris in againres mine, and se wel. And pou, god of mightes, god of Irael,

6 Bihald to seke [al] folke man; and

lesse ;

Pou rewes1 noght alle bat wirke wickenes !

7 Pai be torned at euen, and hunger

thole pa Als hundes, and cite bai sal vmga.

8 Loke, in pair mouth speke sal ba, And swerd in bair lippes ; »for herd

wha?«

9 And bou, lauird, scorne bam sal, And to noght lede be genge al.

IO Mi stalworthede night and dai Sal .1. yheme vnto be ai ; For god mi fanger: mi god, for-pi Bifor me sal come pi2 merci. 1 V non miserearis. 2 al. his, V ejus.

noht steuen of wiccand, And of hunter (!) wislic wichand in land; H Whilke pat noht here steuen for-pi Of witchand and of hunter witchand wiseli. H sal brise. EH tegh. H of am. H Breke sal lauerd tuskes of bam. EH water rennand. H om ai. H to bai be unfest in land. EH Als wax bat meltes out-born (bor) be bai ai , Ouerfel (H Ouerfer fel) fire and noht sunne segh bai. EH Er pai. E ^hornes H ^ornes. E ^he-fiorne H peue^orn. EH Als liuand riht als-swa In wragh sal he (H tou) swolyhe (forswolyhe) tha. E Rihtwis faine when he sees wreke he sal And in blod of sinful sal he wasshe his hend wigh-al ; H Faine sal riht when he ses wreke in land, He sal wasshe his hend in blod of sinnand. E sai man sothlic ; Sohtlic ben is god demand Pam after bar dede in land ; H And saie sal man if frut to riht be swa, Pen is god in erpe demand ba.

Lvni.

E lauerd. E om And. E fra wirkand wicnesse be H fra wicnes wirkande. EH And fro (fra) men-sloers (slaers) sauf pou me (s. me in lande). E Onresed in me. E pai. E ran .1. H rethted. E in mine angres, H in mi gainres god. H lauerd god of m. E Abide. EH alle genge. H of alle. E went. EH he cite. EH Loke bai speke in par mouth (sp. in par m. pai) sal. EH for who herd al. EH tou. E scorn salt po H salt sc. pam nou. E om And. EH alle genge E als-swo H salt pou. EH Mi strenth sal .1. yheme to be, For mi keper art pou (pou a. mi k.) to be, And mi god, of him (H ai his) merci Bifor come me

i go

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

1 1 God schewes me oner mi faas ; ne

{)am sla, Leswhen mi folke forgeten be ba * :

12 Tosprede bam in might pine, And lete2 am, lauml, forhiler mine.

13 Gilt of par mouth, sagh of lippes

of pa;

And gripen in pair^ pride er^3 pai swa.

14 And of legh and of cursings Sal pai be schewed in endings,

15 In be wreth of ending al, And noght pan be pai sal.

And wite sal pai pat god laumle

sal he Ofe lacob, and of endes of erthe

bat be.

16 Pai sal be torned at euen, and hunger

thole pa Als hundes, and pe cite pai sal vmga.

17 Pai sal be tospred to etc al dai; And \ie pai be noght filled, grucche

sal pai.

1 8 And pi strenghttf sing<; sal .1., And hegh ful areli pi merci ;

19 For made ere ton mi fanger ai, And mi toflight in mi drouing dai.

20 Mi helper, to pe singe .1. sal ; For god mi fanger, god mi nvrci al.

i V obliviscantur. 2 R set them doune ;

V depone. * V comprehendantur.

LIX.

VJTod, pou outpute vs, and fordid

vs pus; Pou ert wrath with vs , and rewes l

of vs.

2 Pou stired pe erthe , and droued it

yhifcr ;

Hele his forbrekinges , for stired es it*.

3 Pou schewed to pi folke hard things, Pou dranktf vs with wine of stinging^.

4 Pou gaf trikening^ to dredeand be, Fra face of bow pat pai suld fle;

5 Pat lesed pi chosen be,

Sauf make pi righthand2, and he« me.

6 God spak in his halegh swa : ».I. sal faine, and dele in twa Dried3, and pe dale with-al Ofe be teldes mete .1. sal.

7 Mine es Galaad, Manasse mine leued, And Effraim strenght of mi heued.

8 luda mi king£ es of blisse, Moab pot of mi hope isse.

9 In Ydume sal .1. pinne* mi scho; Outen vndreloute ere me to«.

10 Wha sal lede me to warned* cite? Vntil Ydume wha sal lede me?

i r. rewed. 2 V salvum fac dextera tua

(abl.l. 3 V Siccimam (tr. read siccatum).

* V extendam; ags. J>enie. * V muni tarn;

R warnist.

sal for-thi. H om me. H forgoten be swa. EH pou pam. E leeue H dof. foam. E Gil. E sagh of par lippes al H and sayhe als-sa. E And in par pride be griped pai sal, H Of par lippes and gr. in par pr. are pa. EH And of cursings and of livings. E Shewed sal pai be. E In wragh of ending witerli, And noht sal bai be for-thi; H In be wragh of endinge, And pai ne sal be na binge. EH pai sal wite. E s. be, H salle , he om. E om of2- H alle inst. of pat be. EH om sal. E And h. E om be. EH til etc. E om dai. E om be. E murktf H and grucche. E pai sal. EH Sohtlic inst. of And. EH And vpheue erli. EH For bou art made mi kep^r and mi infleyng*? In pe dai of mi drouyng^. E salm. EH sal I. E For mi fong^r mi god mi merci, H For faon art god mi keper god mi merci.

LIX.

EH ontdroue. E om pus. EH art. E wrogh H wragh. EH om with us. E & reupe haues H rewped art. E foryhes. E om gaf. EH tokning<r. H drede. E bogh H boyhe. EH sal. EH Pat ^Swa bat) pi corne mote (om H) lesed be. E halyhe H halgh. EH Pe drihed. E dene. E in blisse. H underloutes. E are made. E me led, EH in. E Whare noht H Whare. E om bat. E out-

Psalm LIX— LXI.

IQI

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

11 Noghtne pou, god, pat output vs

swa?

And in ounr mightes, god, noght saltou outga ?

12 Gif til vs helpe of drouing^,

For hele of* man nil vnnait things.

13 In god might make sal we;

And to noght vs drouand lede sal he.

LX.

JnLen?, god, mi beseking* nou; Vnto mi bede bihald pou.

2 Fra endes of erthe witerli Vnto pe pan cried .!.,

Whil pat swnken es mi hert*; ;

In stane vphuue pou me with quert?.

3 Pou led me, for mi hope made ert

swa, Tour ofe strenght* fra face of faa.

4 In pi teldes ' in werldes in sal .1. won, Be forhild in hiling* of pi wenges

.1. mon.

5 For pou , ert mi god , herdes bede

mine ; Pou gafc heritage to dredand name

pine, i al. teld(e).

6 Dayes oner daies, to be ma, Of pe king£ eke saltou swa; Yheres of him for to wende

Til in dai of strend and strende.

7 He es in ai in sight of god al. His merci and his sothnes wha seke

sal?

8 Swa salme saie sal .1., pe same In werld of werld vnto pi name, Pat .1. yhelde sa als .1. mai

Mi hetes fra dai in dai.

LXI.

IN oghtne to god mi saule vnder-

laide be sal? Fra him sothlik* mi hele al.

2 For and he mi god, and mi hele

for-pi, Mi fanger; be stired namar« sal .1..

3 Til pat ' ye onrese in man swa, Yhe al, vnto yhe sla,

Als a heldeand wagh mai be And a stanewalk douneput to se.

4 Bot mi worth pai thoght to schouue

awai 2 ; In thrist ran .1. night and dai;

1 V Quousque, R How lange. 2 V repellere.

drof. H om us. E om ome. H salt pou. E Giue H Gitte. E to. H om ful. E In god sal we do miht in land And noht sal lede vs drouand. H & drouand us to n.

LX.

H God mi b. here pou, Take kepe to mi bede nou. EH Fra endes of erpe cried .i. to pe, Whil swonken was (is) mi hert \n stone (up H) houe pou me. E For made art mi hope pou led me swa. H pou art made mi h. s. E .1. sal wun in pe teld in werldes ma, Be hiled in hiling* of pi wenges twa; H Inwun in pe telde in werldes .i. sal, In failing of pi wenges be forhiled al. H om ert. E here H herdest. E Dai our daies eke salt of kyng<r to wende, His ^heres to in dai of strend and strend. H Daies euer daies ma, &c. (= V). E He sal be in ai in godes siht al, H He js in siht of god in ai. H seke mai. EH In (Swa in) werld of werld to pi name sa (om H) salm (om H) sal .1. sai, Pat .1. yheld mi hotes fra dai in dai.

LXI.

E Whor noht H Noht (ne om). H underkast mi saule. EH sal be. EH be hele of me. E om and he. EH & mi beryer. E is he H al, inst. of forpi. EH Mi keper & nomare stired sal .1. be (be st. .i. sal). H Vnto yhe. E men. E vn-to pat yhe. EH Als tile a woogh (wagh) pat heldand be. H output. E Po- wheper. EH wurgh. E poht pai wili H pai poht for-pi, EH To (Til) again- shouue (H -houue), in prist ran I. EH pai bl. ai. H in par hert. EH weried (E

IQ2

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

With pair« mouth pan blissed pai,

And with hair hert f>ai weried ai.

5 Bot to god , mi saule , vnderlaide

pou be, For fra him al be pild ' of me.

6 For he es mi god and mi beryher al, Mi helper; noght outga .1. sal.

7 In god mi hele and mi blisse ; God of mi helpe, and mi hope in

god isse.

8 Hopes in him stedfasteli,

AHe samening^ of folk, for-pi; Bifor him your hertes yhet yhe; God our£ helper in ai es he.

9 Bot fantom, sones of men ere pai, Liyhers sones of men are ai

In weghtes, pat 2 biswike pa Of fantom in him-seluen swa.

10 Nil pou hope in wickednes,

And reuinges nil yhern marc ne les. Welthes if pai stremen smert, Nil pou set on pam pi hert.

11 Anes spak god, twa pese herd .1. : For might of god es ite, and m^rci To pe, laumi: for pou yhelde salle Til ilkan after his werkes alle.

1 patientia. 2 V ut decipiant ipsi de vani- tate in idipsum.

LXII.

VJTod, mi god ai ful of might, Vnto pe wake .i. fra light.

2 Thristed mi saule in pe to be ; Pan manifalde mi flesche to be !

3 In pe land of wildernesse, In-wail, and vnwattri esse,

Swa in haligh .i. schewed to pe, Pi blisse and pi might*? pat .i. suld se.

4 For bettre ouer Hues is pi merci, Mine lippes looue pe sal for-pi.

5 Swa sal .1. saine pe in life mine, And sal lift mi handes in name pine.

6 Als with grees and fathed fild be

mi saule al,

And with lippes of gladnes mi mouth looue sal.

7 Swa2 was .i. mined of pe ai Ouer mi straile par* .i. lai ;

In morninges sal .i. thinks in pe ; For pou was helper to me.

8 And in failings of pi wenges ai Sal .i. glade bath night and dai: Kliued mi saule after pe,

Pi righthand onfanged me.

1 V inuia.

2 V Si (tr. r. Sic).

werched) thai. E vnderlout. H be pou. E om is. EH om al. E pheld. H mi philde non. EH om and. E mare H swa, inst. of al. E noht out sal .1. fare, H n. out sal i ga. E Hopes in him al gederyngtf Of folk^ pat is bath aide and yhing«. H Yhoure h. bifor him. E For god. H help. E Powhet^r fantom mensones ai, Liyhers men sones are thai. H For bot. men sones. are mensones. H pat pai b. H In wicnesses hope ne wil pou, & reuinge yhorne ne wil pou. E yhorn. E oht inst. of smert. E set pi hert ne poght. EH Enes. E om god. E twa pat H two pa. E For godes is & to pe lauerd merci, H For miht of god is & to pe m. E For yhelde salt pou til ilkone After dedes pat he has done. H om To pe. H Lauerd for pou &c.

Lxn.

EH is inst. of ai ; H witerli. E To. fra the 1. H fra 1. wake i. E In pe pristed mi s., H Mi s. pr. in pe. H manifaldelic. EH In land of (om H wildernesse and in wai And in drihed swa in heli (halyhe) ai, E Shewed I to pe pat I. suld se Pi miht and pe blisse of the, H Shewed [i] to pe god pat isse Pat .i. segh pi miht and pi blisse. EH is ouer liues. Mi. sal pe. EH blisse. E & heue sal I., H & upheue. EH hende. E And wigh semere. EH mi saul fild (om E) be, al om. EH & wigh glad lippes. H om mi mouth. E sal loue pe H loue sal .i. pe. E om i. H min str. H per. EH in (of) pe pinck .1. sol, EH For pat (om H; pou was mi help (helper) al. E pine. H hope ; E Glade sal I. E be inst. of bath , H om. E Mi saul cliued. E onfonge H onfonged. E Vnnait

Psalm LXH-LXIV.

'93

Ms. Vesp. D vn. 9 And in vnnait mi saule soght f»a:

In inerest* * of be erth sal bai ga, Be giuen in hend of swerd with-al, Deles of foxes be pai sal. 10 Pe king sothlik faine sal he In god; looued al sal be tat sweres in him thurgh be land, For stopped es mouth of qued spek- and.

LXEI.

JTlere, god , mi bede when .i. bi-

seke swa ; Outake mi saule fra drede of fa.

2 Pou forhiled me fra herd of liper-

and, Fra mikelhed of wickenes wirkeand.

3 For als swerd pair tunges scharped

pai;

Pai bent bow, thing bitter ai, Pat bai schote and make vnquert* In hiddles vnwemmed of hert*.

4 Ferinkli'2 schote him sal pai swa, And noght drede ; qued sagh to him

fest* pa.

5 Pai talde pat* snares hide suld pai, And saide: »wha se pam nou mai?«

J V inferiora. r. interest? 2 V Subito,

ags. faeringa.

6 Pai ransaked wicnesse and iuel things : Pai waned ransakand of ransaking*.

7 Come sal man to hegh hert* ; And vphonen sal god be in quert*.

8 Arwes of smale made ere pair woun-

des sar*,

And vnfest ogaine pam pair* tunges ar*.

9 Droued ere alle pat pam segh, And dred was ilkaman pat was negh ;

10 And schewed goddes werkes gode, And his dedes pai vnderstode.

11 Faine sal rightwise in lau*rd al, And hope in him euer he sal ; And looued sal pai be in quert* Alle bat rightwis er* of hert*.

LXIV.

Pe feres loftsang1, god, on-on For to haue in Syon, And to be, bright* als bem, Be2 yolden hote in lerusalem.

2 Here mi bede, what it mai be ; Alle flesche sal come to be.

3 Wordes of wike bettred ou*r vs nou ; And til our quednesses neghtsom3

saltou.

i V Te decet hymnus. 2 r. bes. 3 V pro- pitiaberis.

sohtlic H And pai in v. H s. ai. E inrest H neperist. EH om pe. E in sal pai ga H inga sal pai. E In hend of s. be g. EH And be kyng in god faine sal he (H ai), E Alle in him swere sal loued be H Pat in [him] s. loued be pai, EH For stopped is pe mouth and ande Of pat quednesse are spekand.

LXIII.

E mi bede god. H nou inst. of swa. H Fra d[r]ede of fa mi saule take bou. H hiled. E om me. EH ferd. H For bar swerd whetted pai. EH par bogh. H In dernes. EH Pai sal (om H) shote him feringli and (noht H) drede bai ne (om H) sal, Pai fest to him quede sagh wigh-al. EH s. bai ma. EH Pai (And) saiden wa sal se (nou H) pa. EH Pai r. wickednesse in land, Pai w. of ransake (ran- saking) ransakand. EH Tocum. H & god sal be uphouen. EH made are wondes of ba (H am). EH & vnfest are bar tunges again am sa (H againes bam). E Todreued. E alle bam bo segh H alle pat segh pa. E & ilke man dred. H & dred ilka man for wa. EH Pai sh. H & dedes of him. E be inst. of al ; And in him ai hope sal he. H Faine sal r. in louerd and in him hope al, And riht of hert be beryhed sal.

LXIV.

E Pe feres god for to haue o-non Ymne, god in Syon, And to be be yolden bright als bem Sal hotes in I. ; H Pe feres ymne in Syon god als lem, To be bes yholden best in ler. H what swa it be. E Word. H wicked. H bittred.

H. 13

IQ4

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

4 Seli wham pou ches and nam to pe :

In pi porches wone sal he.

5 We sal be fild in godes of pi hous es ; Hali es pi kirke , selkouth in

euennes.

6 Her* vs , god, our hele ; hope es he Of alle endes of? erthe, and fer in se.

7 Graipand hilles in pi thew rights ; Gird with mighting* dai and night* ; fat todreues depnes of se,

Dinne of his stremes pat* be.

8 Be dreued sal genge , and drede

par*

fat erden meres lesse and mare, Of pi taknes; outgang of morning* Lust saltou, and of euening*.

9 fou soght pe land, and dronkened

it yhit*; fou manifalded to stedful l it*.

10 Streme of* god with mikel blisse Fulfilled with watres it isse; fou graiped pe mete of pa; For forgraipand of him is swa.

1 1 Brokes of it indronkenand, Felefalde his estres in pe land;

l V locupletare.

In his goters ' night and dai Faine sal he sproutand ai.

12 Blisse saltou pe croune pat es Of yher* of his2 frendsomnes, And pine feldes, als pou wilt*, With fulhede sal be fulfilt*.

13 Fat sal fair* of wildernes1,

And gird sal be knolles with faines.

14 Kled er* wepres of schepe pat blete, And mightsom 4 sal dales with whete ; Krie dai and night sal pai,

And sothlik* ympne sal pai sai.

LXV.

iVIirthes to god, alle land pat is; Salme saies to his name, to his loof giues blis.

2 Saies to god : »hou dredful ar* fine werkes, lau*rd, lesse and mar* ! In be mikelhed of pi might* Lighed to pe pine faas vnright*.

3 Alle land loute pe and sing to pe sal, And salme sai to pi name with-al«.

4 Comes and sees , goddes werkes

mones ;

1 V stillicidiis. 2 V benignitatis tuae. * V Pinguescent speciosa deserti. * Stev. nught- som ; cf. Ps. 49, 20.

E to. E winsum H wimsom. EH whom(e). toke. EH inwun. H We are filt. E godnes. E Hele H heli. E om us. E om alle. H in pe se. E Foryharkand. EH h. in pi miht. E mihtyng* H strengh ; E pat is riht. EH om to-. E droues. EH of the se. EH And din of str. H Droued ben g. EH & drede sal pai, fat e. m. of pi toknes ai, fe outgang* of pe morning* (al H); H & of pe euen lust pe sal. E of pe e. E erpe. H drungened E indrunkened. E felefolded. EH Streme of god filt (is H) wiht watres isse (ma), f ou grayied (graiped) par mete, for sa par forgraiping isse (for is forgraiping is swa). E Brokes of him indrunknand ma Manifald estres of him swa , In goters of him purgh pe land Faine pen sal he sproutand; H His br. indrunkenand wiht blisse, fou mani- falded estres hisse, In goters of him pat be Faine spr. ai sal he. E fou salt [bliss] kroun of erpe(!) of is fremsowraes, And pi feldes sal be filt wiht fulnesse; H fou sal blisse croun of yhere of is frensomnes , And be feldes ben filde wiht his fulnes. E fairhed H fairher. E And be gird sal knolles wiht gladnesse H & knolles ben gird w. gl. E wephers H weperes. EH & dales mihtsom sal. E Krie wigh loude steuen sal thai , H Krie sal pai niht and dai. EH Sohtlic loftsang* sal pal sai (saie sal pai).

LXV.

EH Mirphes to god al erphe, salm sai yhe (H sais pat isse) To his name, giues blisse of is lof pat be (to lof hisse). E dreful. E fi. H Werkes pine. E piue face ; H om pi. E Alle erpe sal bid be god, sing* to pe, Salm sai to pi name I. sal pat be; H Alle erpe to pe godde bid sal ai , And salme unto pi name sai. EH Comes godes (lauerdes) werkes ses & m. EH Ayheful. E fat tames

Psalm LXV— LXVI.

'95

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

Dredful in redes ouer menes sones.

5 Whilk bat tornes be se

In mikel drihed for to be;

In streme on fote sal we l forthfar;,

In him sal we faine bar;.

6 tat lauerdes in his might in ai, His eghen on genge bihald bai; tat smert2, noght vphouen al In bam-seluen be bai sal.

7 Genge, our god al ye blisse, Herd makes steuen of loof hisse ;

8 tat set mi saule at3 lif to be, And mi fete in stiring noght gaf he.

9 For faou fanded vs ; with fire, god

of blisse, tou fraisted vs, als siluer fraisted isse.

10 feu led vs in snar; to ga;

tou set drouinges in our bake ma ; tou inset; men mani swa Ouer our heuedes to be ba:

11 Bi watr; and fir* ferde we,

And bou led vs in kaldhed to be.

12 In bi hous inga sal .1. In offrandes sothfastli;

Yhelde .1. sal to be mi hotes swa Whilk; twifalded4 mi lippes twa;

1 V pertransibunt. * V exasperant. ' Ms. Jiat, {> expunged; al. at. * V distinxerunt.

13 And spoken has mi mouth som thing; When .i. was in mi droning;:

14 »Offrandes merghed1 bede .i. sal To be, brinning; of schepe with-al ; Bede sal .i. oxen vnto be

With buckes, gode and fat; bat be«.

15 Comes and heres , and .i. sal telle,

al yhe

tat dredes god , what to mi saule dide he.

1 6 To him with mi mouth cried .1., And .i. gladed vnder mi tunge for-bi.

17 In mi hert if .i. biheld wikenes, Noght her; lau;rd sal, what it; es.

1 8 For-bi herd god of heuen king;, And biheld to steuen of mi biseking;.

19 Blissed god, for noght stires2 he Mi bede, ne his merci fra me.

LXVI.

vJod milbe of vs, and blis vs bus ; Light ou;r vs his face, and milfae vs;

2 tat we knawe in erthe bi wai, In alle genge bi heling; ai.

3 Schriuen to be, god, folke be, Schriuen alle folke be to foe.

i V medullata. 2 V amovit.

be se in drihed, in strem burgh-fare tai sal on fote, in him faine sal bai bare. H In strem burchfare on fote bai sal, tare sal we faine in him with-al. E eyhen, om in H. E ouer. EH Whilk smarten. E Oure god genge ai yhe bl. H Blisses genge our god bat isse. E And herd. EH mas. H laid. EH at Hue. E & noht gaf in stiryng; mi fete to be, H & in stiring noht mi f. g. he. EH For bou (om H) fraisted (fonded) vs god, fonded (fraisted) vs wiht fire, Als fonded (fraisted) is be siluer shire. EH Pou inled vs in to snare. E bac bare, H Dro- uinges in our bac set pou bare. H mani ma, E tou set men be niht and dai. H heued. E to be ai H for to ga. EH fire & water. H we forhyhede. H om to be. H Inga in bi hous. H stedfastli. E I sal yheld. H om to. H hates. E Offrand meryhed gode bat be , Sal .1. offre vn-to the , Wiht brenning; of shep, bede I. sal To be net, buckes wigh-al ; H Offrand merihed sal .i. bede to {>e, With brenning; of shep bat be, I. sal bede to be nete bi tale, Wiht buckes babe grete and smale. EH Comes, heres sone o-non (o-nan), And I. sal (om H) telle you ilkon (euerilkan), tat dredes (dreden) god, alle yhe (opon to se), Hou mikel to mi saule dide he. E gladide. E loke wickednesse, H If .i. loke wicnesse in mi hert al. E Lauerd sal noht here what it isse H Lauerd here noht he sal. E For pat herd god and biheld euen Of mi bisekyng; to be steuen. H lauerd bat n. stired. H and.

LXVI.

E haue merci H rew. EH L. his face ou;r vs & rew of vsse (us). H om we. E hele in ai. E Alle folk; shriue to be god of blisse , To be be shriuen al

13*

ig6 The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

4 Faine and glade genge , mar^ and

lesse,

For bou demes folke in euennesse, And genge in erthe with bi mights Steres bou, bat bai do rights.

5 Schriuen to be, god, be folke; al

folke to be schrine. f e erthe gaf his fruit? biliue.

6 Blisse vs, god, oun? god , vs blisse, And drede him alle endes of erthe

bisse.

LXVH.

Xvise god, and skatered his faas be ; And bat him hated, fra his face fle.

2 Als wanes reke, als wane ba ; Als meltes wax face of fir<? fra, Swa sinful forworthe jjai

Fra be likam of god in ai.

3 And rightwise etc, and glade in sights

Of god, and like in fainnes rights.

4 Singes to god, salme saies to his

name ;

.Waie makes to him, be same fat vpstegh oner setelgang« ; Lauml name to him be lang<.'.

5 Glades in his sights to seen: Fra his face sal letted been ; Of fadre1 of foundlinges ma, Of domesman of widous swa.

6 God in his hali stede; god bat

inwon Makes in hous of a won 2 ;

7 fat outeledes bonden-in-wa In stalworthede in for to ga, Als-swa bai bat smertes 3 ai,

fat herde4 in throghes night and dai.

8 God, when bou gas in sight of pi

folke es, When bou forthfares in wildernes,

l Ms. fadres. 2 V unius moris in domo.

3 exasperant. * = erde.

folk« bat isse ; H Shriuen folke god to be the(!), Sh[r]iuen alle folke te the be. E Faine awd glade mote bai alle , Genge bat are grete and smalle , For bon demes folk in euenesse , f ou rihtes genge in erbe bat esse ; H F. & gl. mote genge bat esse, For f»ou demes mare and lesse Folke in euenes ai nou, Genge in erbe rihtes ton. EH Folk^ to be shriue god. EH oure god god. E erj)e bat isse.

LXVH. EH in cross rhymes:

fat stegh on setel[g]ang« in pas (pais),

Lauerd name be to him ai. 5 Glades in his siht to sen

For fra his face sa (E sol, sal be-

Rise vp (AriS; god, in heuen is hegh,

And toscatered be his fas (face),

And fra his lickam flegh (drayhe) on

dregh

fa bat here him hated has (hace). 2 Als reke wanes, wane (swurth) to

noht ; Swa wax meltes againe fire (fra

face of f.)

Als (Swa) sinful to gronde be broht, Fra godes face (f. of god) is (sa) faire and shire.

falle Of fader of fundyng^ letted ben,

Of (H & of; demer of widues alle. 6 God is bar he ai sal be,

Wonand in his hele (hali) stede, God intobig^ bat (bat inwun) makes

he Alle of o wun in hous of bede.

3 And rihtwise (etc H) f)am freli fede H 7 (fat ledes pa bat bunden are

And make am (bam) glade in godes

siht,

far lif in faines ai to (mot ai) lede, fat him semen (here him menske)

wiht (al H) bar miht. 4 Singes to lauerd (godj, salmfe) saies Vnto his name ; him giues (gif yhe) wai

In to stalwurthnes of miht, Als-sa ba f)at sharpen bhare,

fat won in broyhes dai and niht). 8 God when bou comes out in siht

Of bi foiled mare and lesse, When bou wiht (fmrch) bine awen

(bi nawen) miht Wendes in to wildernesse,

Psalm LXVII.

I97

Ms. Vesp. D vii. 9 Pe erthe es stired: for pat heuen

Droppes, fra pe face fill euen Of god of Sinay somdel, Fra face of god of Irael.

10 Wilful raine sundre pou sal Vntil heritage pine al ; Sothlik vnfest es it* yhit*: For pat1, pou fulmaked it*.

1 1 Pine bestes erde in it sal nou ;

In swetnes, god, to pour* graiped pou.

12 Lau*rd sal gif worde to godspelland, With mikel might, in ilka land;

13 Of loued of loued al-mighti king* ; And of wlite hous twinne robed

thing*2.

14 If ye slepe bitwix middes clerkes, Of fepre of douue of siluered werkes3, And baft of bak of him be

In golnes4 of gold to se.

1 r. For-])i? 2 V et speciei domus dividere spolia. 3 V pennae columbae deargentatae. 4 R. palnes, V pallore.

15 Whil schedes of ai lastand king*1 Our* it, for-bi ani thing*

Snawe whittened in Selmon be pa, Codes hill*, hil fat als-swa ;

1 6 Lopered hil, hil fat als-swa.

Whi ilhope2 ye lopered hilles ma?

17 Hil in whilk welqueming* yhit* Is to god to won in it*;

For pat sothlik* lau*rd pat is Wone in ende he sal with blis.

18 Goddes wayne to tenthousande Felefalded, thousandes of fainande ; Lauerd he is ai in pa

In Sinay in halw swa.

19 Pou stegh in heght, toke wrecched-

nesse, Name giftes in men mar* and lesse:

20 For noght leuand night ne dai Inwon lauerd god suld pais.

i V Dum discernit celestis reges. z V suspi- camini. 3 V etenim non credentes, inhabi- tare dominum deum.

9 Pe erpe is stire(d), wha wate whi, For pat (Bot for) heuen(es) droppen

wel

Fra face of god of Synai, Fra face of god of Israel.

10 Wilful rain, lauerd, sunder

Vn-to pi (pin) eritage pou sal; Hit is vnfest, (pat H) is na wunder, For pou (om H) pi-seluen made it al.

11 Bestes pat pine awen is (es),

Pai sal wun per-in (in hit) ful still e ; Pou graiped in pi swetnes

To pe pouer, god, at pi wille.

12 Lauerd sal gif to pa (pam) pat spelle

God(e) spelles purt-out ,'in ani) land Word wiht miht (mikel mith), forto

(to) telle To (pe H) folk* pat pai bifor am

(H pari fand.

13 Kyng* of mihtes, of loue, of loue,

Of fairhed is biginning*; Late pi heli hous a-boue

Twinne fra folk* (al H) robbed (reued) ping*.

14 If yhe slep bitwix (bitwixen) fast

Middes klerkes, made of molde

(of feper on folde) Of fepres of douues siluml, pat last (Of douue siluerd, par alderlast)

Of bac in gulnes be of golde.

15 Whil ai-lastand god (king) sone o-non

Shedes (Demes) kinges ouer that, Sn[a]we whitned be (ben) pai in Sel- mon, Codes hille, hil pat is fat.

1 6 Lopred hil, hil fat als-swa;

Pof pat (om H) yhe be ner so

dregh (drayhen on d.), In ille hope (hoping) whi haue yhe tha?

Pe (om H) lopered hilles are so hegh (pat are h.),

17 Hil in (om H) pe while is (it is)

quemand (liking)

To god in hit (inne) for to won; Sohtlic lauerd of al land (For pat 1. of henen king) Wun euer in ende (in e. euer) he mon.

1 8 Codes waine of ten phousand,

Of faine phousandes maked (wel)

ma ; Lau*rd (God) in tha (pam) is (is ai)

dwelland, In Syna in pat heli swa.

19 Pou stegh in (on) heght (hegh), nam

(toke) wrecchednes, In men giftes toke (nam) pou pare ;

20 For noht leuand suld be hous-les,

In for to wun pat godes (lau*rdes) ware.

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

21 Blissed lauml to-dai, ilkedai! smart

wai Sal make to us god of our* heles ai.

22 God our god sauf of makand qued * ; And of lau*rd of lauerd outgang of

ded.

23 Bot god sal breke heuedes of his

ilwilland, Scalp of har* in pair giltes gaand.

24 Saide lauerd: »of Basan torne, torne

sal .i. In depnesse of pe se; for-pi

25 Pat pi fote be lited in blode o lim, Pe fringe of pi hundes fra faas, of

him«.

26 Pai sagh pi steppes , god , steppes

of god mine, Of mi king, pat halw es inc.

27 Bifor come pr/nces samened to sing-

and par,

In midde wenches of timpans war. 1 V Deus noster, deus salvos faciendi.

28 In kirkes lanml blisses wele, Lauer[d] of welles of Iraele.

29 Par* Beniamin, yhongest es he, In outgang of thoght to be ;

30 Princes of luda forthga pai, Dukes of pa, with am ai ; Princes of ^abulon wele ma, Princes of Neptalim als-swa.

31 Sende, god, to mights pine pus; Fest, god, pat whilk* bou wroght

in vs.

32 Fra pi kirke in lerusalem,

Sal bede giftes kinges to pe als lem.

33 Snibbe bestes of rede pat are, Samening* of bules lesse and mar* In kye of folk*, bat outsteke pa Pat fanded er with siluer swa.

44 Scater genge pat fightings wilen al. Come legates fra Egipt* sal ; Ethiop bifor come sal he, Hand of him to god to be.

21 Blissed god (lauerdj to-dai, ilke-dai!

Smart wai vs make god of our rede.

22 God our god, sauf makand (sal sauue

us) ai ;

Of lauerd of lauerd outgang* of dede.

23 Bot lauerd (Poweper god) sal heue-

des brek* Of his fase be fom H) mare and

lesse,

Pe scalp of par heued ('har ful) weke Of goand in par wickednesse.

24 Lauerd said : of (is of) Basan,

Als (Swa als) .1. wil swa sal it be, I. sal turne, turne o-nan In be depnesse of pe se :

25 Swa (om H) pat pi fote (mot H)

lited be, Tos (Tas) and hele (heles) alle, in

(E mi) blode; Pe tung* of bi hundes to se,

Of him fra fas ffrendes) are vngode.

26 Pin ingoinges (Pe ingainges), god, pai

segh,

Of mi god pe ingo[i]nges, Of mi kyng* (god) pat is so (sa) slegh. Pat (E f»ar) euer (ai) wones in hali

(heli) binges.

27 Bifor-come ponces to syngand

Samenli wiht-oute wans ;

Bifor pe maidens of be land,

Of yinge (yhung) wenches of tym- pans.

28 In kirkes to (ai) god yhe blisse,

To (om H) lauerd of welles of Israel.

29 Par Beniamin be ^ungest (yhunist) isse,

In outgang* of poht sum-del.

30 Princes of lude (luda; forth pai gon,

Ilkan dukes als (has; wiht him; Pe princes of ^abulon, Pe princes of Neptalim.

31 Send f>i miht lauml (S. god to pi m.)

als pe (om H) leme; Fest (And f.) in vs pat pou has (om H) wroht.

32 Fra pe :pi) kirk* of (to) lerusalem

Kynges to pe giftes broht.

33 Snibbe bestes of rede rout,

Samening (Gering) of boles pat

(wil H) rare

In ki of folk*, pat (pai H) steke out Pa (om H) pat wiht siluer fonded

are.

34 Scat*r folk* wil fihtyng* sare (sore).

Of (Fra) Egipt comes of pat (out of

be) land Chosen (Legates; ; anoper comes bi-

fore, Etheop to god is hand.

Psalm LXVII— LXVIII.

199

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

35 Rikes of erthe, to god yhe singe; Salmes to lauerd of alle thinge;

36 Salmes to god, pat vpstegh mest1 Our heuen of heuen, vnto |)e este.

37 Loke, he sal giue vnto his steuen Steuen of might : giues blisse fal

euen

To god of Irael ; mikelnes his And might of him in kloudes is.

38 God in his haleghs selkouth to se ; God of Irael giue sal he

Might and strenght* to his folke al. Blissed god, pat Hue sal al !

LXVIH.

.Deryhed make me, god, of pine, For income watres in saule mine.

2 .1. am festened in slime depe essez, And es par* na stapelnesse3.

3 .1. come in heghnes of pe see, And pe storme it sanke me.

4 .1. swanks criand, haase ere made Chekes mine for pine .i. hade ; Mine eghen waned me of sight*, Whil .i. hope in mi god of might*?.

5 Felefalded our ban; of mi heued ere

pai 1 Ms. inest * V in limo profundi. * sub-

Pat wilfulli hated me ai;

6 Samen-strenghted er* pai pa Whilk pat me fileghen, mi faa — Vnrightwiselik^ pai dide ; for pi, Pat .i. noght robbed, pan yhald .i..

7 God, mine vnwisedome pou wate

birid; And mi giltes fra pe noght ere hid.

8 Noght schame in me bam sal bitide, Lau*rd of mightes pat pe abide ;

9 [Pai sal be shente in me na-del, H Pat seke pe, god of Israel.]

10 For vpbraiding* tholed .i. for pe ; Our*-hiled schenschip pe face of me.

1 1 Fremed am .i. made to mi breper al, Mi moder sones pilgrime me kal.

12 For loue of pi hous swa gode Etc me ai als ani fode,

And vpbraidinges of vpbraidand pe Alle pai fellen ouer me.

13 And .i. hiled mi saule in fastings, And it es made to me in vpbraiding*.

14 And .i. set mi kleping* hair* swa, And in forbisen am .i. made to pa.

15 Againe [me] spaken pat yhate sat inne, And in me songen pat drunken wine.

16 .1. sothlik*, lauml, mi bede to pe;

35 Rikes (of erpe H), to god yhe syng* ;

Singes to lauerd is mest ;

36 Singes to god maked (pat made)

stiying* Ouer heuen of heuen, to pe est.

37 Loke he sal gif his steuen sumdel

Steuen of miht pat (sa H) loudes. Giues blisse to god ouer (of) Israel ;

Is (His) mikelnes, is blisse (of miht)

in cloudes. 38 God in his (om H) halyb.es selkouth

esse;

God of Israel sal giue Miht and strengh his folk* wiht

blisse. Blissed god pat ai sal liue ! amen.

Lxvin.

EH Make me (om H) beryhed g. of sinne, For to mi saule come watres inne. I am f. in fen ful depe, And noht (Ne) is stapelnes pat me mai kepe. EH I s. c. and are made Mi chekes hos (hous). E wane to me. E Felefolded o. hore. E wil- fullik*. EH haten. EH filyhen me. E And pat I reft noht. H reued. EH yheld. H Min unwisdom god. E wel wate tou. E noht hid are nou. H are pai h. E Shame sal pai in me na-wight, Pat abide the lauerd of miht. H God. E Noht sal pai be fordone in me, God of Israel pat seken the. H i. pholed upb. E For for pe vpbraidyng? pholde I., Shenship ou^rhiled mi face for-pi. H Hiled. E br. ma, H F. to mi br. made am i. E Pilgrim to sones of mi moder als-swa H And p. to mi moder sones for-pi. H For pat loue of pi hous ai, Hit etc me bape niht and dai. E Hit etc me als. H ouerprw inst. of hiled. E & I h. in fast mi saule to be, & it [is] m. in vpbr. to me. H clopinge. E om in. EH is it made. EH Again me spake. EH sang*. H at pe. E Tide. H of wel-

2OO

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

Time welquemed, god, \te be :

17 In mikelhed of merci bine

Her* me, in sothnes of hele bine.

1 8 Outake me fra fen of sinne,

fat .i. be noght* fest* bar*-inne; Pat me hates lese me fra pa, And fra depenesses of watres ma.

19 Noght bai sink* me amang* Storme of watres stith and strange l ; Ne our*swelyhe * me depenes bat is ; Ne schouue3 oner me be pit mouth his.

20 Her* me, lauerd, witterli, For frendsome es pi merci; After mikelhed bat be

Of bine rewthes bihald in me.

21 Ne torne bi face fra bi childe dere; For .i. am droned, swifteli me here.

22 Bihald to mi saule, and lese it*; For mi faas, outake me yhit*.

23 £011 wate mine vpbraiding*,

Mi schenschip, and mi schoning*.

24 In pi sight er* alle bat drones me ; Vpbraiding* and wrecchednes abade

mi hert to se.

25 And .i. abade wha samen was morn-

and

And nane was ; wha roned, and .i. ne fand.

26 And in mi mete gane bai galle to be, And in mi thrist* with aysile dranke

bai me.

1 V Non me demergat tempestas aquae. 2 absorbeat. 3 urgeat.

27 Pair* borde be in snar<: bifore ba, And in foryheldinges, and in schame

als-swa.

28 Dimmed be bair eghen, bat bai ne se; And bair« bak ai croked be.

29 Yhet ouer bam bi wreth,

And vmgripe bam mote pi breth.

30 Wildernesse be mad bair* woning*, And in bair* teldes wone nathing*.

31 For wham bou smate, forthfiliyhed

K

And ouer sorwe of bair(!)1 wondes eked bai swa.

32 Set wickednesse oner bair*wickednes, And noght inga bai in bi right- wisenes.

33 Of boke of liuand be bai done awai, And with rightwise noght writen be

bai.

34 .1. am pouer and sorwand to se ; Pi hele, god, onfanged me.

35 Loof sal .i. name of mi god with

sang, And mikel him in loof amang*;

36 And it sal queme to god ouer kalf

newe is, Forthledand2 homes and klees his.

37 Se mote poner and faine with-al ; Sekes god, and yhour* saule liue sal,

38 For lauml herd pouer if pai wald

oght*,

And his bonden forsoke he noght*. 1 r. mi. 2 V producentem.

queme. EH In m. of pi mercy here me, In soghnesse of (pi H) hele to be (se). E filphe. EH bere. H Pa bat. EH hate. E om me. H pam fra. H om And. EH depnesse. H als-swa. EH Noht ne, pai om. E pare-amang*. H water. EH bat are (is) str. EH forswolyhe (E forssvoyhe). d. yhit. E ouer-shoue EH is mouth the pitte. EH Here me lauml for frensom (winsom) is merci of be, After mikelhed of bi reubes bihald in me. EH And ne. E wate wele. H Min upbraidinge wel wast ton. E And mi. E scorning*, H shoning nou. E In bi siht are alle mi fo, tat me drouen and done wo, H Alle mi fas are in thi siht, Pat drouen me babe dai and niht ; EH Vpbraiding* abode mi hert, And wrecchednesse (wrecchedhed) for mikel vnquert. EH abode. E who. H ware. H & ne was. H om and. E in snare be. H bifor bam be in snare. E sclaund[er], E sa H mare. EH Dim. E back* in c. H ai in c. E Yhet o. b. bi wragh to ga H Yhet bi w. ouer bam swa, EH And bragh (hatereden) of bi wragh vmgrip pa. E In w. EH om mad. E filihed pai sa H pai filyhed ai. E to sorgh. H mi. E pa, EH om swa. E wicnesse. E Fro boke. E om with. H And i. H soryhand E sorful. EH onfonged. H Heryhe. E I sal hergh. EH om mi. EH lof. E queme sal it god. E kles H cles. H isse. H Pouer mot se. H lauerd. E For herd lauml ai pou*r pat be, And his bunden

Psalm LXVIH— LXX.

201

Ms. Vesp D vn.

39 Loof him henens and erthe als-swa,

Pe se, and alle crepand in pa.

40 For god Syon sauf make sal he, And bigge be cites of lude ;

41 And inwone bar* sal bai yhiU, And in eritage winne it*.

42 And sede of his hine agh it mone, And bat lone his name, in it wone.

LXIX1.

Vjrod, bihald in helpe of me; Lauerd, to helpe me high bou be.

2 Schent and schoned be bai, pa tat sekes mi saule to do it wa.

3 Pai torne hindward and schame mote

bai, tat willen to me iuels ai.

4 Pai be went sone and schamed swa tat sales to me: »wa, wa!«2

5 Pai glade and faine bai mote in be, Alle bat sekes be to se ;

And saies3: » lauerd be mikled ai«, Whilk loues bi hele night and dai.

6 Sothlik nedeful and power am .i. ; God, helpe pou me for-pi.

7 Mi helper and mi leser art* pou; Lauerd, dwelle pou noght nou.

1 Cf. Ps. 39, 19. 2 V Euge euge. 3 al. sain, V dicant.

LXX.

IN pe, lauml , hoped .i. ; noght

schent .i. be In ai; in pi rightwisenes lese me,

and outake me.

Helde to me pine ere of mights, And sauue me, bi dai and nights. In god forhiler to me be, And in stede warned, bat pou sauf

make me;

For mi festnesse ai and nou And mi toflight best ertou. God, outake [me] fra sinful hand, And fra hand ogain lagh and iuel

doand.

For pou ert mi bilde, lau^rd, in nede; Lauerd, mi hope fra mi yhouthede. In pe fra wambe fest am .i. nou, Fra magh of mi moder mi forhiler

ertou ;

In be ai alle mi singinge. Made am .i. als fortakeninge Vnto man! and ful lunge ; And bou helper euer strange. Be fulfilled mi mouth with loof, pat

.i. singe ai

noht forsoke he. H om lauerd. H when. H bunden. EH Heryhe. EH om and. EH alle wurmes in pa. EH bigged ben c. E bai sal. EH om yhit. E w. it al H w. hit ai. E sal weldet ihit. H louen. E wun in it.

LXIX.

H Bihald god. E high of pe. E alle be ba. EH seke. Pai — ai om in E. H Pai turn obac and shent pai be, Pai wilen iueles unto be. EH turned. H swiftli. H om and. EH shamand. EH sain. EH om bai mote ; H alle in be. E Whilk pat, H om Alle. E seke H pe seken. EH forto. EH sain. E ai lauerd mikled be (Ms. he) H mikled lauerd be ai. E Pat louen ai be hele of foe H Pat wilen pi hele niht and dai. H And .i. am nedful & pouer to se, Perfor god pou helpe me. H & mi bier. E L. lang ne dwelle bou.

LXX.

H .i. hoped. E n. sh. in ai be Sal .i., in bi r. lese me (and o. me om). E Helde bine ere vn-to me And sauue me for merci of be, H Helde unto me ere thin And s. me ai out of pin. EH Be to me in god forhiler nou And in st. w. pat me sauf pou. E niht and dai H ai to be. H om mi. H tofleinge. E art bou ai H art bou to me. E Mi god lese me. H Mi god fra sinful hand outtake oute (r. me) for-pi. EH again 1. wicli doand H doand wicli. H mi phild lauerd pou art. E yhoughhede H yhou yhede. E mi shilder. EH In pe ai mi sang*; (mi singing ai), als fortoken (forto sek) lange Made .1. am (Am .i. made) to fele, and tou helper strange. H Mi mouth fild be. E Be fild. E s. pi

2O2

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

Pi blisse, pi mikelhed alle dai.

10 Ne forwerpe me in vnwelde, In time when .i. am of elde ; When mi might it wanes oghte, Lauerd, pou forlete me noghte.

11 For saide vnto me mi faane,

And pat get*1 mi sanle rede made in ane,

12 Saiand: »god forsoke him ai; Filiyhes bathe be night and dai, And vmlappes2 him on-ane, For pat ontakes es it nane«.

13 God, ne fer pou fra me ;

Mi god, in mi helpe bihalde to se.

14 Schent and wanande be pa Bakbitand to mi sanle swa; Ou^rhiled with schenschipe and

schame be Pat sekes iuels vnto me.

15 .1. sothlik ai hope sal inwardeli, And eke oner al pi loofe sal .i.

1 6 Mi month sal schewe pi rightwisenes, Alle pe dai pi hele pat es.

17 For .i. knewe noght boke3 writen al, Ingo in mightinges of lau.Td .i. sal; Lauerd, .i. sal mine witterli

Of<? pine rightwisenes aneli.

1 8 God, pou taght me fra yhoupe mine ; And to nou sal .i. schewe [wondres]4

pine.

i V custodiebant. 2 comprehendite. * litteraturam. * Ms. wordes.

The Psalms.

19 And til in vnelde and alder elde1, God, ne forlete [me] in vnwelde,

20 Til .i. schew pine arme with blis To strende alk pat towarde is ;

21 Pi mightinge, and pi rightwisenes, God, in til heghist ai pat es; Whilk* grete thinges pou made to

be— God, wha.like is to pe?

22 Hou fele pou schewed me drouynges, And mani oper iuel thinges !

And turned, pou quikened me to be, And fra depenes of erthe led pou me.

23 Pou felefalded pi mikelnes; And twrned, roned me pou es.

24 For and* in lomes sal .i. to pe

schriue

Of saline pi sothnes, god on line, And singe sal .i. to pe wel3 In harpe, halgh of Irael.

25 Glade sal mi lippes when .i. hafe

snngen to pe, And mi saule pat pou boght fre.

26 Bot and mi tunge sal think* alle

daie

Pi rightwisenes, whiles line .i. maie, When pai schent and schoned be Pat inels seken vnto me.

* Y usque in senectam et senium. et ego. 3 Ms. to wel.

- Nam

blisse, Al dai pi mikelhed that isse. H mikelnesse. EH Ne forwerp me in tide time) of eld pat be, When wanes mi miht ne forsake (noht forlete) me. EH vn-to (to) me saiden. E fon. E in on. E God forlet saiand filyhe ;he And gripes him for pat outtas nan be, H Saiand god forlete him filyhes with-al And gripes him for is nan pat outtake sal. E Mi god. H ne f. thon noht. E om me. EH and se. EH Shent mot pai be (S. be pai) and wanand, Pat to (om H) mi sanle are backe- bitand. H Onerhiler. H pai be. EH seken. E om ai. H sal ai hope for-thi. H Al dai. H hele god. E swa inst. of al. E In pi mihtinges lanerd in sal I ga, H In mihtes of lanerd inga .i. sal. EH min sal I. E for-thi. H om Of. EH pi. EH onli. E Lauerd. EH lered. E shew sal [I]. EH wundres. E And in elde and in vneld pat be, Lauerd ne forsake pou me. H Forsake me noht god in v. H Til pat. E sal shew. E alle strend. EH miht. E Lauerd. EH vnto h. esse. E gretinges. H Pat pou made mikelnesses to be. E Lauerd. E is like H like mai be. E Hou many shewed tou to me Drouinges fele and iuels pat be. H to me. E me pou qnikened non H me q. pou nou. H erpe eft. EH me lede pou. E manifolded. E om and. H i in lomes sal. H om pi sothnes. H god pat is. E oliue. EH to pe sal I; to om. E Mine 1. sal glade when I singi? to pe. EH om pou. E whU H wil. H shent & sh. pai be. H pinken.

Psalm LXXI.

203

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

LXXI.

vJTod, gif bi dome to kynge bat es, And to be kinges son bi rightwisenes.

2 In rightwisenes bi folk deme bon1, And pi pours in dome nou.

3 Nime hilles pais to folke to go, And knolles rightwisenes als-so.

4 Deme pe poure ofe folke sal he, And saufc sal he make to be Sones of poure men with-alle, And meke pe crauers2 so he salle.

5 And with pe sunne sal he wende, And bifore be mone, in strende and

strende.

6 He sal douncome als in flesche3

raine, Als goters droppand be erthe ogaine.

7 Springs sal in his daies alle Rightwisenes to grete and smalle, And mightsomnes ofe pees, in ai, Vnto pe mone be borne awai.

8 And lauml fra see to see he sal, And fra streme to meres ofe werld al.

9 Bifor hime falle sal Ethiopes thicke, And his faas pe erthe sal licke.

10 Kyngw of Thars and of isle lede,

i V ludicare (inf.). 2 y calumpniatorem, R chalenger. 3 Ms. flescher, al. flees ; V vellus.

Giftes gode pen sal pai bede; Kynges of Arabic and of Saba Giftes lede pai sal als-swa;

11 And loute hime sal kynges alle, Alle genge hime-to serue salle.

12 For lese sal he pours fra mightand, And pours pat had na helpe in land.

13 To pours and helplesse forbere sal he, And sanies of pours make saufs to be.

14 Ofe okres and wickednes alle Saules of bam bie he salle;

And worschepfulls be name of pa Bifore hime it sal be swa.

15 And he sails Hue, and be gyuen for-bi To him sal gold of Arabi;

And bid of him sal pai ai, Blisse him sal pai alle pe dai.

1 6 Be festenes in erthe sal he

In heghiste of hilles; ousrhouen

sal be Ouer Yban his fruyts , and blome

sal pai Fra cite als fra erthe does hai.

17 In werldes name of him haue blis; Bifore sunne name of him it is;

1 8 And blissed be in him sal kyndes alle, Alle genge mykel him pai sails.

LXXI.

E of inst. of gif. H pi d. to pe k. gif. EH To deme (Deme) pi folke in rihtwisenesse And pi pouer in dome mare and lesse. EH Fangs, ga. E He sal deme pousr of folke, sauf make wiht-al Sones of pousr, and crauer meke he sal. H om pe. beryhed. pe crauer meke ; so om E And he sal be wiht foe mone(!) in ende, Bifor be mone . . H And he sal be with sunne and bifor mone, In getinge and getinge sone. EH com doun. E a s rain in flees soft. H flees. E And. E dr. ouer erpe oft. EH pais, E perfore. H To. E be out borne. EH & 1. sal he (he sal) fra se to se. of w. bat be. EH Etheops falle sal. EH K. of Th. and (om H) of yle (E pe) land Giftes bede bai (Bede sal giftes) wiht bare hand. E om sal; H sal bai lede. EH bid inst. of loute. E kenge. E om to. H to him serue bai s. E & p. to whom help nan was in land H & p. to whom nan was helpande. H Forber pouer & h. E sauf make. E wicnesses. EH wurchipful. H om foe. E om of; H of bam ai. E sal be ai swa H babe niht & dai. EH and (to H) him sal for-foi Be giuen of gold. H biseke. E pai sal ai H ai sal pai. E om him. E Festenesse in e. be s. he. E vphouen. H In heghnesses of hilles be, Ouerhouen ouer I. is frut bes ai, And bai sal blome fra cite als fra erbe hai. E Als fra cise dos of e. hai. E In w. blissed be name hisse, H His name be blissed in werld bisse. EH be, H mone. E om it. H euer name hisse. EH And be blissed, E sal in him kinde of erbe al H in him sal al kinde of land. H sal be him mikelland. E onlike H onli.

204

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii

19 Blissed \anerd, god of Irael,

Pat does wondres aneli wel.

20 And blissed name bi night and dai Of his mastehede sal be in ai, And be filled with his mastehede

so fre Sal alle erthe, swa be, swa be.

LXXH.

lieu gode god of Irael es, To ba of hert bat ere rightwis !

2 Mi fete sothlyk^ negh stired ere bai, Negh yhoten ere mi steppes ai ;

3 For .1. loned * oure wick? in land, Pees of sinful men seand.

4 For noght es bihalte2 to dede of pa, And festenes in bare woundes ma.

5 In swynktf of men noght ere bai alle, And with men noght [be] swongen

bai salle.

6 Forthi helde bam pride ; hiled ere

bai With wickednes and bar quednes ai.

7 Forthyhode als of fattenes wickednes

of ba;

Pai fore in ^erning^ of hert swa. 1 V zelavi. 2 respectus.

8 Pai thought and spake quedenes

vnrighte ; Quedenes spake bai on heghtc7.

9 Pai sete pair mouth to be in heuen, And bair runge in erthe it ferde ful

euen. 10 For-bi be torned mi folk*; hider alle,

And fulk daies in bam be funden salle. n And bai saide: »hou wate god bis?

And wher wisdome in heght is?«

12 Bihald, bai sinfulli, and in werld

mightsomand, Haden welthes fvlle baire hand.

13 And .i. saide : »withouten skilk for-bi Mi hert with-inne me righted .i., And bitwix vnderand ware

Mine handes wesche .i. bare,

14 And .i. was swongen al be dai, And in vghteninges mi bhraying ' ai.«

15 Ife .i. saide: ».i. salle telle swa«, Lo, birthe of mennes2 sones schoned3

.i. ba.

16 .1. wend bat .i. knewe bisse; Swynke bifore me mikel isse :

17 Til in god halines in .i. ga, And vndirstand in newest of ba.

1 V castigatio. 2 al. pi. 3 V reprobavi; r. schemed?

EH And blissed be niht and dai Name of his mikelhed in ai , And be filde sal (H sal be, filde om,1 wiht mikelhed hisse Alle erbe, swa be swa be, wiht blisse.

Lxxn.

H of Israel god. E isse H ise. are. H ai. E yhutten. H Mine steppes negh toyhut are pai. H wicked. EH Pais. H om es; E nis. EH bihalding^. E tham H am. E Ne. EH in woundes (wounde) of bam. E For in. E bai are, alle om. E noht ben bai sw. H be swungen noht bai; E sare. H For-bi help(!) pride bam mare and lesse , Pai [er] hiled wiht wicnes and par quednesse. E In wic- nesse. H Outyhede. H fathed. EH ferd. yhorning. E & pai spake quednesse H & qu. spake pai, E In heght pai spaken wickednesse H Wicnesse in heght spake pai ai. E Pai s. mouth of pam in h., H Pe mouth of bam bai set in h. E & tunge of bam ferd in erbe euen. H ferd in erbe, it om. E went. H here E he, H swa. E daies mile in bo. H sal be funden in ba. EH hou wat (om E god of Israel, Whare wisdom be in heght (is h.) sumdel. E Loke sinful and in werld mihtand, H Loke bai sinful and mihtsomande. E Haueden. H In werld haden w. in hand. E And .i. saide benne witerli Wiht-out scil mi hert rihted I, H And wiht-outen scil saide .i., Rihted .i. mi hert for-thi. EH ma inst. of ware. EH Wesshe .1. (om H) babhe (ben) mi hend swa (twa). E swungen H swunge. E om And. E vghtendite H uthtentide. E ^hraghing H bhrayhing. E telle sal I. swa, H swa telle .i. sal. EH Loke. E bine H bi, sones. H al. EH And 'H om) I. wende at knawe (bat i knew) to se , Pis swinke is (ai H) bifore me. E om in ; godes ; I inga. H In godes helinesses til .i. inga. EH newist. EH Bot for

Psalm LXXII— LXXIII.

205

Ms. Vesp, D vii.

1 8 Noght-forpi for swikedomes [pou] set

to pam ai ;

Pou outphrew {)am when vphouen wan? pai.

19 Hou ere pai made in vnronyngnesse ! Ferinkli bathe mar? and lesse Waned {)ai, forworped pare

For pair£ wickenes pai in ware.

20 Als of risand of slepe, lauml, in pi

cite nou Liknes of pa to noght thryng sal tou.

21 For inlowed1 es mi hert,

And mi neres ere torned for vnquert ; And .i. am to noght<f for-pi Thrungen, and na things wist* .i. ;

22 Als mere made .i. am at se2, And .i. am ai with pe to be.

23 Pou toke mi righthand, and in pi

wille

Led me , and toke me with blisse mi fille.

24 What sothlyk* to me es in heuen, And on erthe fra pe, pat .i. wild

neuen ?

25 Waned mi flesche and mi hert al dai; God of mi hert, and mi dele god in ai.

26 For loke, pa pat pam ferre pe fra, Forworth sal pai euer swa ;

1 V inflammatum. 2 al. at }>e ; V apud te.

Pou forlest1 alle saufc to be tat strenen2 with-outen be.

27 And me3, cliue to god gode isse, And set mi hope in lauml god of

blisse ;

28 Pat .i. schewe pi spellinges ilkon In yhates of doghtre of Syon.

LXXIII.

W hare-to outpot<? pou in ende, god

gode, Wrathe es pi breth oner schepe ofV

pi fode?

2 Mined be pou ofe pi samening*?, Pat pou aght fra biginning*.

3 Pou agaynboght* yherde ofe bine

eritage yhite, Syon hill^ whilk* bou woned in ite.

4 Heue pi handes in par pride in ende. Hou lithered4 in halew es pe fende !

5 And mirthed er pat hated pe In midde of pi solempnite.

6 Pai set paire takenes, taknes wrangt? ; And noght knewe pai oner heght*

als in outgang^.

7 Als in wodes of trees pat are, Paire6 yhates with axes pai doune

schare

l V perdidisti. 2 fornicantur. 3 ai. to me. * malignatus est. * V super summum. « r. His.

sw. set pou to pam (am) ai (om H). E outwarpe. whil. H Wil uphouen pai ware outkast pou pam. E Hou are pai maked for to se In vnronandnes to be. EH Feringli waned bai mare and lesse , Pai forwurped for bar>wickednesse. H om of; om bi; Par licnesse to noht; E Als of slep risand bat are, In bi cite lauerd bare Licnesse of tham ouer alle Vn-to noht brings pou sal. EH inloyhed. E om And — unquert. H om en? torned. E And to noht prungen am .1., And I ne wist witerli. H Manged are , and .i. to noht Am phrungen and noht wist .i. oht. E And als m. am I made EH at pe. EH om am. H forto. H held. EH in wille of pe. EH Pou led me awd wiht blisse kep me. EH For what is to me (to me is). EH And fra pe ouer erpe. wald. EH om pa; pat ferre ^ferreni pam fra the EH Forwurphen sal pai euer (sone sal pai) be, Pou forlesed (forspilt ai) alle tha Wiht-out be bat strene(n) swa. EH & to me to kliue. E om And; H To. H om god. EH bine. E ilkan. EH doghtres.

LXXHI.

EH Whi. E awaiput H outdrof. EH Wragh is. E bragh H brath. EH om bou. H Whilke. EH om agayn. H of e. bine, yhit* om. H Hil of Syon. E in whilk<r. E wones. H ine, it om. EH hand. H in pride of pa. E of inst. of es. E & blisse maken; hate. H & glade are bat hate mare and lesse In middes of bi mirinesse. EH tokenes. E lang<? H ai. E als our heht. H & als in outgang ouer slepf!) noht knew pai. H trees of wod. EH Wigh axes Abates (his yh.). E In h., in

2O6

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

In him-seluen ; at pe laste

In ax and in thixil bai ite dounecaste.

8 Pai brent bi halines with fir?; in

erthe same Pai fortrade telde of? pi name.

9 Pai saiden in pair? hert? swa Samen pe kynered of? pa:

»To reste make we mesdaies * alle Ofe god fra erthe, for oght mai falle«.

10 Our? taknes noght se we ; nou pwfete

nane is ; And vs knawe namar? sal he for his.

1 1 Towhen, god, vpbraide sal be fende ? Gremes wiperthret pi name in ende?

12 Wharto tomes pou bi hand, and

righthand ofe be Fra mid? bi bosome in ende to be '!

13 Bifore werldes god our? king?, with

hand Wroght has hele in midde be land.

14 Pou fest? in bi might be se swa ; Pou droned dragunes heuedes in

watres ma.

15 Pou brak? dragoun heuedes, mete

gaf? him To folke of Ethiope ilka lim.

16 Pou brake welles and weles nou ; 1 V dies festos.

Stremes ofe Etham dried bou.

17 Pine es dai, and bine es nights; Pou smibed griking and sunne bright?.

18 Pou made al meres ofe erthe ma; Somer and ware1, bou schope faa.

19 Mined be ofe bis dai and night?: Pe faa vpbraided lau?rd of? might?, And folke vnwis als-swa be same Pai schoned2 pi hali name.

20 Ne giue bou to bestes til be Sanies schrinand vnto be, And saules of bi pour? frend Ne forgete bou neuer in end.

21 Bihald in bi witeworde swa, For fulfilled er bai ba

Pat sestrede er in mirkenes

Of erthe til houses of wickednes3.

22 Ne be turned be mekemade yotten4

same ; Pour? and helples sal looue pi name.

23 Ris, god, deme pi skill? in quert?; Mined be bou in bi hert?

Of bine vpbraidinges, of ba whilk? ai Are fra be biginnand5 all? dai.

24 Ne forgete steuens of bi faas; Pride of bas bat be hates ai vpstegK

pas.

i so R ; V ver. 2 V incitavit. * V quia repleti sunt qui obscurati sunt terrae domibus iniquitatum. * V confusus. » V ab iasipiente.

ax yhit And pixel doun ba kusten hit. H om in^', bai doun hit. EH Pa(i) brend wiht fire (bi H) helines be s. H In erpe faai f. E Alle be kinreden bat was of ba, To rest alle make we Fra erfae mesdaies of god bat be; H Pai saide in par hert samen kinred of faa, To rest ma we alle messe-daies of god erbe fra. E Oure toknes that are of miht, Noht se we bam dai ne niht, Nou pr^phete is nauther-ware , And vs knaw sal he nomare. H nis, nane om; nomare he sal what is. EH lauerd. E Taried wiper-xrhet. E Whi pi hand and pi rihthand t«rnes ton Fra mid of bi bosem nou. H Whi. of bi. EH God (sothlic H) our king? bifore werldes isse (werld pissej He wroght hele (Broht has he h.) in mid erfae pisse (pe e. isse). H festened. EH om swa. E Droued heuedes of dra- gowns. H dragun. EH be inst. of ma. H welles. EH ilkan inst. of nou. EH Pou dried stremes of Ethan. E Pe fa vpbraided, lau?rd mine of bisse, And taried vnwis folk? bi name bat isse ; H Min of bis, upbraided lauerd pe fa, And folc unwis wackened pi name als-sa. E Ne g. pou to b. in land Saules bat are to be shriuand. H Ne gif to bestes saules shriuand to be, Ne forgete in ende saules of bi pouer pat be. H Loke in bi witeword for fild are bai, Pat sestred are of erbe to houses of wicnesses ai. E For bat. Pat cestered are of erfae faat esse Vn-to houses of wickednesse. EH om fae. E shent H toyhut, fae s. E Ris vp god, deme sal(!) mine, Be mined of vpbraidinges bine, Of tha be whilk? that ware ai Fra biginning? al be dai; H Ris god, deme mi scil, min bou ai Of bin upbraidinges bat fra biginning are al dai. E of bi fas yhit, H of bi f. al dai. EH Pride of pa the hate (hate fae) , E ai vpstiyhes hit H upstiyhes ai.

Psalm LXXIV— LXXV.

207

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

LXXIV.

W e sail* schriue to pe, lauml, we

sal schriue, And we sail* kalle pi name biliue ;

2 We sail*? tell* pi wondres. 'When

time tane haf* .i., .I.1 rightwisenes deme sal sothli.

3 Molten es erthe and all* pat erd in it* ; .1. festened pilers of it yhit*.

4 I saide to wicked: »nilles do wicli« ; And to gilti : »nilles heue home for-

H;

5 Nilles heue in heght* your home

pat es, Nilles speke ogaynes god wickednes«'.

6 For ne fra este , ne fra weste , ne

fra wilde hilles ; For god demer at his wille es.

7 Pis mekes he ful ofte, And pis vpheues he olofte.

For drink* hand of lauml es ine Ful menged with ripe wyne2;

8 And he helded fra pis in pis; Bot dreg* of him noght is Litteled, drinke sal al pa Sinfull* of erthe pat ere swa.

9 .1. sothlik* in werld schewe sail*,

1 Ms. I }>i. 2 V quia calix in manu domini vini meri plenus mixto.

Sing* to god lacob with-all*. 10 And alle homes of sinful breke sal

.i. pa; And vphonen ben homes of right-

wys ma.

LXXV.

XVnawen in lude god es wele ; Mikel es his name in Iraele.

2 And made his stede es pais opon, And be wonyng* of him in Syon.

3 Par* brak* he myghtinges right*, Bogh, schelde, swerde, and fight*.

4 Lightand pou wondrelik* fra hilles of ai;

Alle vnwise of hert droued er* pai.

5 Pai slepe pair* napping*, and noght

pai fand, Alle men of welthes, in pair hand.

6 Fra pi snibbyng*, god of lacob, Pai napped pat horses stegh up.

7 Pou aghefull* ert, and wha to be Ogainestand sal fra pen pi wreth be f

8 Fra heuen herd dome pou made : Pe erthe qwoke, and rest it hade1;

9 When god raas in dome to stande, Pat he make sauf* alle handetame

of lande. 1 V quievit, R was still.

LXXIV.

E god, we sal to be s. EH wundres. E tide. EH I haue tane. EH I riht- wisenesses deme sal (sal deme) o-nan. EH Multen. E om pat. E erde H won. H I sal festen his p. y. EH wick*. E niles wicli H wicli niles EH do (to) per-forn. EH & to giltand, niles (ne wiles) vpheue yhoure home. V 5 om in E. H Ne wiles upheue. H again god unrihtwisnes. H om For. E of; este om. E of. EH domesman. E alle at. H Pat. he heues op. E Pis mekes he pis heghes he, for drinc is ine Lau*rdes hand ful menged wiht ripe wine. E Bot dregge of him noht liteled is H And his dreg noht 1. is. E Drinke sal of hit alle pat are Sinful of erpe lesse and mare, H Of hit sal drinke and haue in hand Alle be sinful of the land. E shew in werld. H To god of I. singe . . E And I. sal brek* alle homes of sinful ai, And homes of rihtwise vphouen ben pai. H om pa; of riht for-pi.

LXXV.

EH Israel. E is his stede. H stede of him made p. is on. E his erdyngsted H his woninge. H Pare pen sal he breke miht. E wunderli H sellic. E bar slep. H om bai. EH For. E horses bat st. op H pai st. on h. ob. E Agh- ful pou art and wa againstande Pe, fra benne pi wragh and ande, H Pou aghful art and wha againstand be, Fra benne wil pi wrath mikel be. H When in dome god was risand. E To sauf* make, H Pat s. he make. H alle soft. E wight hert al; 1. of

208

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

10 For thoght of man, of hert es alle,

Vnto pe be schriuen salk ;

And leuynges of [thoght] pat be,

Mesdaie sal bai make to be.

11 Behetes and yheldes to lauerd god

kyng<r, Alle pat in his vmgange giftes brings :

12 Til agheralk, and til him ai

t*at gastes ' of prmces beres awai ; Til aghefull/r and ai i[li]ke2 At kinges of erthe bat rike.

LXXVI.

W ith mi stenen cried .i. to lanird,

with mi steuen To god, and he biheld to me euen.

2 In be daie of mi drouyng* Soght .i. god of alle things,

With mi hend ogaine him bi night ; And biswiked .i. am nawight.

3 Forsoke mi saule roned to be : .1. was mined of god with me, And .i. am lusted; and fered3 am .i., And mi gaste waned for-bi.

4 Vmgriped4 min eghen wakynge;

.1. am droned, and .i. spake nathinge.

5 .1. thoght daies aide bat nou ere noght; And yheres of ai .i. had in thoght.

1 al. gast. 2 Ms. ike. 3 V exercitatus. 4 V anticipaverunt.

6 And .5. thoght bi night with mi hert

maste,

And .i. swank* , and .i. swepid mi gaste.

7 »Whethir in ai god forwerpe sal? Or noght set pat .i. queme yhit

with-al?

8 Or in ende awai kerne mercy his, In getynge and getynge pat is?

9 Or sal forgete to mylthe god oner al ? Or his rewthis in his wreth withald

he sal?«

10 And .i. saide: nou bigan .i. negh ; fis wendynge of righthand hegh ' .

1 1 .1. Mined of werkes of lauerd for-bi, For fra beginning? of his wondres

mine sal .i. ;

12 And .i. sal thinke in his werkes alle. And in his fmdynges be woned .i.

salle.

13 God in his hali wai2:

Wha god mikel als oure god ai? I'ou ert god, and other nane, t>at dos wondres manyane.

14 Kouth made bou forto be

In folke be mikle might of be. Pou boght in bin arme bi folke at kep, Sones of lacob and of losep.

i V haec mutatio dexterae Excelsi. Deus, in sancto via tua.

2 V

boht; Hali-dai; bai om; H For boht of man shriuen sal to be be And leuinges of boht mesdai make to be. E Bihotes H Hotes. H om to. E 1. our god E binge H sum bing. E To dredful awd to him bat gast beres awai Of princes, to dredeful at kinges ai. H To dredful & to; beres gast of prince; To dredful & alle ilike; or e.

LXXVI.

E Wigh mi stenen to louerd cried I, And he biheld to me for-thi; H To lauerd .i. kried with steuen of me, With mi steuen and to me biheld he. H Bi- soht, i om. E In mi drouinge-dai wiht mi hend god I. soht, Be niht again him awd biswiked am .1. noht. E Mi saule forsoke. EH to r. be. H minand. EH & lusted I am. E ferd. E Griped eyhen mine. E Todreued I am. H om i. H I poht daies elde witerli And yheres of ai in poght hade i. E & be niht wiht mi h. boght I m. E swange. EH omi; sweped. E Whore H Whare. E forgh- werp. H forthwerpe in ai god. E om I. EH swa (sa) yhit ; E al. E Ore awaishere he sal in ende His merci fra strend in strend ; H Or he sal awai kerue is milpe in ende Fra geting and geting of strende. H Auber, EH god forgetes. H wiht-al. H aid (with- om). EH manginge. E of bi. EH Of lauml werkes mined I witerli. E of bi. E min inst. of thinke. H & wone in his f. EH heli. H Wha mikel als o. g. is ai. E do wundres. EH Kough bou maked. EH In bin arm bou b. E awd kepe H swa. H om and; of losep ma. EH segh. H lauerd.

Psalm LXXVI— LXXVII.

209

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

15 Watres sagh be, god ; watres sagh be, And dredes l ; and drcmed depenesse be.

1 6 Miklehed of« din of watres ma; Steuen ga.fe be cloudes swa.

17 Sothlik^ f)in arwes forthferd wele; Steuen of pi thoner in a whele.

1 8 Lightned |)i brightnes to werldbis; Pe erthe qwoke and stired it is.

19 In fele watres bi styes, and in see

bi wai,

And bine steppes noght knawen er bai.

20 Pou ledde als schepe bi folk* on-one, In hand of Moises and Aarone.

LXXVH.

JJihaldes mi lagh, mi folke, es kouth ; Heldes your eres2 in wordes of mi mouth.

2 .1. sal open mi mouth in forbi-

seninges ;

Speke sal .i. fra biginning^ forset- tynges;

3 Hou fele we herd and knawen pa, And our fadres talden vs swa —

4 Noght heled fra pair sones ere bai In other getyng^, night ne dai — ;

5 Looffes of lauerd and his mightes

telland, i a/, dred. 2 al. ere.

And his wondres he dyd in land.

6 And he raised wittnes in lacob wel, And lagh he set in Irael,

7 'Hou many sent he, so bai wore, Til our fadres vs bifore,

To bar sones kouth to make ba; Pat other strende knawe it swa.

8 Sones bat sal be borne and rise, Sail? telle bar sones on ilka wise ;

9 Pat bai set bar hope in god ai, And werkes of god noght forgete bai, And bodes of him dai and night Seke bai with alle pair might;

10 Pat bai ne be, als bar fadres fals, Getyngtf wike and tenefulk als;

11 Strende bat noght righted hert his, And noght leued with god his gaste

it is2.

12 Sones ofEffrem, bendand and bowe

sendand, In dai of fight er^ ogaynewendand.

13 Witeworde of god noght yhemed ba, And in his lagh noght wald bai ga;

14 And ofe his godededes forgate bai, And ofe his wondres , he schewed

am ai.

15 Bifore bar fadres dyd he wondres

mani an In land ofe Egipt, in felde of Than.

i V quanta mandavit patribus nostris nota facere ea filiis suis. 2 et non est creditus cum deo spiritus ejus.

EH dred. H dreued. EH depenesses. E watres kolde H w. are. E c. bolde H c. bare. EH forghferden. EH bunner. quel. EH Til erbeli werld lihted pi brihtnesse, . . esse. H Pi stiyhes in fele w. EH om and ; pi waies (wai) in se. EH pi. be, J)ai om.

LXXVII.

H Bihald. H Held. EH ere. E talde, H tolde to. E Fra sones of bam noht helded . . H Pai are noht heled bar s. fra In o. g. for to ga. EH Telland lou<rdes loffes (1. of lauerd) and mihtes hisse, . . he dide wiht blisse. EH rered witeword. E Hou fele he send to oure fadres ware, Kough to make ba lesse and mare To bar sones come after pa, Pat o. st. hit knaw swa; H Hou fele he s. to our f. couth to ma pa, Pat o. getinge knaw bam swa. H om pat. H born be & sal. E Pat bai set in god bar hope riht And noht forget pai dai ne niht Werkes of god pat god are are (I) And bodes of him seke thai bare; H Pat bai s. in god bar h. and noht for[ge]te bai Werkes of god and his bodes seke bai ai. E als fadres of ba. E om and ; tenral als-swa. E Getinge. H Getinge pat bar hert noht rihted mast , Ne with god leeued is bar gast. E Ne leued is his gast wiht god of blisse. EH om of. H ware bendand. E om and. E -turnand. H gette. E Ne in lagh his wald bai noht ga. H ba inst. of ga. E godes, dedes om. E om of. H bam; E anay(!). E om dyd. E om land of. EH om and.

II. 14

2IO

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

16 He brake be see, and forthled?1 am

bare, And set watres als in bit2 ware.

1 7 And he led am in kloude of dai bright?, In lightings of? fire alle night?.

1 8 He brake be stane in more3 bat es, And watred am als in mikel depenes.

19 And he outled? watre of be stane, And he led als stremes watres on-ane.

20 And bai set yhit to him to sinne ; In wrath hegh wakened4 bai drines

inne.

21 And god in bair hertes fraisted ba, Pat faai asked to bar saules metes ma,

22 And yuel of god? bai spake , saide

worde :

»Wher god in wildernes mai graifoe horde?

23 For he smate be stane and watres

outran, And be welles vnwatred5 bai ilkan.

24 Whether and brede giue mai he, Outhre graithe borde to his folk?

to be?«

25 For-bi god herd, and he forbare ; And fire kindeled ful brinnand bar? In lacob, and ire somdele Vpstegh panne in Iraele ;

26 For in god noght leued bai, Ne hoped in his hele na dai.

1 a/. l>urthled ; V perduxit. 2 V in utre. 3 in eremo. 4 in iram excitaverunt. ' inun- daverunt(!).

27 And he sent to kloudes fra aboue war?, And yhates of heuen opened he bar?,

28 And manna to etc rained to ba, And brede of heuen he gaf? am swa.

29 Brede of aungels etc man bat wes ; He gaf? bam metes in mightsomnes.

30 He forthbroght southenwind fra

heuen, And inled affryk? in bar1 might euen,

31 And on am rained flesche als dust

might be, Fogheles fethered als sand of see;

32 And in mid bar kastelles fellen bai, Obout bar teldes bar bai lai.

33 And bai etc, and filled bai are Swithewele, be lesse and mare; And bar gerning? to bam he broght, Biswyked of? bar ^horninges2 er? faai

noght.

34 And 3 yhit bar metes in bar mouth war? And wrake of god stegh ouer bam

bare,

35 And he slogh bar fattes* ilka del, And he let be chosen of Irael.

36 In all?bese, sinnedfbai] yhit in thoght, And in [his] wondres leued bai noght.

37 And bair daies waned in vnnaitnesse ; And bair yheres with haste war? lesse.

38 When he had am slaine5, him soghten

bai

1 V in virtute sua. 2 a/. yhorning<?. 3 al. om. * V pingues. 5 V Cum occideret eos.

EH burthled bam. bitte. EH bam, E als in. EH dai shire. EH Al (And al) niht in lihting? of fire. E om als. E om V 19. H watres of st. E om bai. EH pai (E bat) wakned hegh. EH And bai fraisted god in bar hertes ai, tat mete to bare saules aske suld bai. E & bai spake iuel of god saiden wic w. H & of god pai spac and saide ille w. E Wor H Ware. E om god. E And. E smot H brae. H water. EH And scaldand. E Whare H Ware. H mai he giue. E And. H to Hue. EH For-fai god herd (herd lauerd) & forbare & kin[d]led is fire (E fis) In lacob, and in Israel vpstegh ire (E fire). EH For f>ai leued noht in god of blisse, Ne bai hoped in helyng? (hele) hisse. E om to. H aboue pat ware. E til etc. H And it rained to bam manna swa. E bam; H he gaf to pa. E Aungel bred. E inled wind. H & winde in bar miht inled he euen. H ouer. E flesshe rained ou?r bam. E om dust. H to se. EH Fliht-foyheles. E of bar. EH Biside. EH filde. H bathe lesse. EH yhornyng?. H And b. EH yhorning?. EH om And. H Par metes yhit. H swa inst. of ware. EH om And. H Wragh. H ouer tha, bare om. EH corn. H om alle. E ^hese. EH bai yhit. H with. H om in. EH his wundres. EH wigh high. E & when he had slain am bai soht him. E . . in griging comen to him ; H Pai turned and him soht wen he had am slain,

Psalm LXXVI

21 I

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

And turned, and in pe grzkyng* come

to him pat dai;

39 And bai ere mined for god bair

helper es,

And god hegh par ogainbier es to blis;

40 And in par mouth him loued bo : And in bair tunge bai lighed him to.

41 For bar hert rroght right was with

him f>are,

Ne trewe in his witeworde had bai are1.

42 [Bot]2 he es milderthede 3, neghsome

made swa

To flair sinnes, and noght lese sal he ba;

43 And he mightsomed to torne his

wreth 4, And noght kindeled he all*? his breth.

44 And he es mined bat faai ere flesche

in land, Gaste gaand and noght ogaintornand.

45 Hou oft bai gremed in wildernes, In wreth bai wakened him in drines,

46 And bai ere t«rned and god fandedba, And hali Irael gremed bai swa !

47 Noght er* bai mined of his hand, Dai bat he boght* am of* hand of

drouand,

1 V nee fideles habiti sunt. z Ms. For; V Ipse autem est. 3 r. mildherted. * V Et abundavit ut averteret iram suam.

48 Als he set in Eglpte his taknes mani

an, And his fortaknes in felde of Than,

49 And turned in blode bar stremes

rank*, And bar raynes, bat bai ne drank* ;

50 And sent in am hundeflegh and it

etc ba; Tade, and [it] forspilt bam swa;

5 1 And to lefeworme ' bar fruit* gaf* he, And bar swynkes to gresshope to be ;

52 And bar wineyherdes in haile he

slogh, And bar molberitrees in frost* inogh ;

53 And he gaf* til hail meres of ba, And bar aght to fire als-swa ;

54 He sent in bam wreth ofe his mis-

likyng*,

Mislikyng* and wreth and drouyng*, In-sandes2 for euermare Bi aungeles bat mel ware;

55 Wai made he to stye of his wreth bare, And fra dede noght he forbare Of* bar saules, and bar meres ma In dede bilouked he als-swa,

56 And he smate doune with his hand Alle firste getyng* in Egipt* land, £e firste sproutes als-so pe same Of alle bar swinkes in teldes of

Chame ; 1 V aerugini. 2 V immissiones.

And in griking to him bai come again. EH bat god. isse. EH om ogain. EH 1. bai. EH him ai. E For bar hert to him riht nisse H For bar hert was noht trew to him bot misse , EH Ne trew are (bai H) hade in witeword hisse. EH mildherted and winsum ; E om made, H om swa. E & noht for- spilt he ba H & spilt noht pam he hade. E to turne his wragh awai H bat is w. suld turned be. E als his wragh ai, H & al his wragh not kindled he. EH om es. E om bai. H om er*. H fl. liuande. EH goand. EH him in. EH wragh. E waked. E om ere. EH fonded bai. EH heli. H bai gremed. EH ai. E l>ai are noht mined. E while. EH bam. E tokninges, mani an om. E & in feld of Than his fortokninges. EH & he. EH send. f»am. EH Frosk* & hit. E om to. EH gressop. mulbiritres. 53 in H after 54. E to h. par mares ma, H And par mares he gaf til hail and wa. E He send in pam wragh of misli- king* hisse , Mislikyng* and wragh pat isse , And drouyng*, in-sondes pare Be a. . . . ; H He send in pam aide & yhinge I*e wragh of his mislikinge , Misli- king & wragh & drouing mare, Insandes be aungeles iuel bat ware. E To stigh of his wragh made he wai. E Noht spared fra ded niht ne dai £ar saules, and mares of tha In dede he bil. swa, H far saules fra ded noht he forbare, And mares of pam pa pat ware , In ded bilouked he lesse and mare. EH smot. E fristkinned H first-kined. EH sproutinges als ; so om. EH swine. H outdrof.

14*

212

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

57 And he outbare als schepe his folk*

•mare and lesse, And led am als herde in wildernesse ;

58 And he led am in hope and noght

dred he1, And par faas ovurhiled be se.

59 And he inled am in hill* of his

halines, Hille whilk* wan his righthand es;

60 And fra par face he threwe awai Genge bath bi night and dai, And with lote he delt am land In a rape of* to-delegiueand2 ,

6 1 And he made to wone full* wele In par teldes kinred of Iraele.

62 And pai fanded and gremed god on

heght*,

And his wittenesses noght gate pai right*.

63 And pai twmed3 pam and noght keped

forward.? ;

Als par fadres, in ill bow er twmed ogaineward*.

64 In wreth pai wakened him in par

knolles ;

And in par graues* at nithe pai forthkalled5 him als.

65 God herd, and forsoke8 ilke dele.

i = J)ai. 2 V in funiculo distributionis.

3 V averterunt. * V sculptilibus. 5 ad

aemulationem eum provocaverunt. 8 sprevit.

And to noght* he thrange swythe Iraele.

66 And he awaiwarpe l telde of Sylo, His telde, in men par he woned so.

67 And he gafc par might in wreched-

hede, And in hend of faa pair fairehede.

68 And he vmlouked2 in swerd his folke

to be, And his eritage forsoke he.

69 Pair yhongemen etc fir* and brent*, And pair maidenes er* noght ment*3.

70 Pair pastes in swerde fellen sare, And par widous noght weped pai ware.

71 And wakened es laiu'rd als slepand, Als mased of wine mightand.

72 And he smate his faas in baft swa, Vpbraidyng* of ai he gaf* to pa.

73 And pe telde of losep he warp fra

him, And noght he ches kinred of Effraim.

74 Bot he ches kinred of luda, Hill* of Syon, pat he loued swa.

75 And he bigged als of* vnicornes his

halines, In land pat he grounded in werldes es.

76 And he ches Dauyd, hyne hisse, And vpbare him all* with blisse

1 V repulit. 2 al. bilouked ; V conclusit. 3 V non sunt lamentatae.

EH folk hesse ; mare and lesse om. H om he led. EH fos. EH led, in om. H pam. H helines hisse. E om wan; H biwan. H isse. E And he to-werp folke, and wiht land He delt in streng* of to-delgiuand ; H And he werped awai penne pare Fra par face genge lesse and mare , And with 1. he gaf pam lande In a strenge of todelgiuande. E & he m. in par teldes wel To wun pe k. of I. E god hegh ai. E witword, E noht yhemed pai, H get pai noht reht. E went. H am. E & forward noht pai get pare H & f. noht yhemd pai. E fardels. E in il bogh twmed pai are , H in a bogh pai turned are ai. EH in par hals. E niht H nigh. EH om forth. E ilkadel. H & noht warpe he s. I. E & forwarp , H & awai-werp. E theld. H of S. pen. E Teld per he woned in men so H His teld par he woned in men. E And in wrecchednes miht of po, i v. om. H wrecchednesse ; fairnesse. E And in swerd his folk* bilouked he, And his e. he forsok* to se. H bilouked h. f. in s. E Yungmen of par fir etc. H fellen in swerd. E widwes H widwed. H wep E werp. EH And wakned als sle- pand is lau*rd of blisse (lauerd isse), And mihtand mased of win isse (misse). E in fast. H And in baften he smate his fa. H And u. H om pe. E & he warp lacob telde. E om he. H he ches noht. E pe kynd. E pe kynde. H while. E his helines als vnicorn H als v. helines hisse. H In erpe. E groundet H grounde. E in werld biforn H in w. pisse. E & him vpbare

Psalm LXXVII— LXXVIII.

213

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

Of herdes of schepe pat be; Of* after blismed * him name he :

77 To fede lacob, his hyne, ful wele, And his heritage of Irael.

78 And he fed am all* in quert* In vnderandenes of his hert*, And in vndrestandinges ma Of* his hend ban led* he foa.

Lxxvin.

VJTod , folk* come in foin eritage ;

sothli

Pai fortrade foi kirke hali; lerusalem set ba In yheming* of apples ma2. •2. Pai set dedelik*3 of pi hyne euen Metes of4 pe foghles of heuen, Flesches of pine haleghs ware To bestes of erthe bat are.

3 Pai yhotten blode als watr* strem In vmgange of lerusalem,

And bar aboute was it nane Pat walde biry lepi ane.

4 Vpbraiding* ere we made al tide Til our neghburghs vs biside, Sneryng* and hefaing* fullang To foas bat er* in our vmgang*.

1 V de post fetantes. 2 V in pomorum

custodiam. 3 morticina: 4 al. to.

5 Towhen , lauml , saltou wreth in

ende ^

Kyndled sal be bi loue1 als fire hat brende?

6 Yhete bi wreth in genge bat noght

knewe2 pe,

And in rikes bat pi name noght kald to se;

7 For pai ete lacob ilka lira, And vnroned3 be stede oie him.

8 Ne mine of our aide wickenesses,

for- hi ;

Tite vmgripe 4 vs pi merci, For pat pour*" made ere we Swithe mikel opon to se.

9 Helpe vs, god, our*? hele es bus ; And for blis of bi name lese vs, And winsom5 to oure sinnes be, For bi name bat es so fre.

10 Leswhen in genge pai sai:

»Whan? es bar god in wham leue

And in berthes vnknawen* be, Bifore oure eghen, bat we se, 1 1 Wreke of blode, when bat bou wiltr, Of bine hyne bat es so spilt?. Inga in pi sight to scene

1 y zelus. 2 noverunt. 3 V desolaverunt. * anticipant. 5 propitius. • V Et inno-

tescat (!) in natlonibus . . ultio &c.

he. H . . of shep ilka lim. E Of afterbredand H Of afterbrodded. H nam he him. E om V 77. EH And he fed foam in vnderandnes of his hert, And in vnderstandinges of his hend led am (bam led) in quert.

Lxxvm.

E God folk* come bine e. ine, Pai fortrade kirke heli bine; H God genge in pin e. come ma, Pi kirke heli fortrade pa. E bai. H Pai set I. niht and dai. EH ai inst. of ma. EH dedlic. H to (I) pine hine pare. EH to. EH om pe; flihtfoyheles. H pat ware. H And fl. of pi halyhes gode To b. of e. foe fode. E yhutte H yhutten. E In gang*. H om And — ane. E bore. E Whilk^. E We are made vpbraiding* bus Vnto o n. biside vs, H Vpb. maked are we Til o. n. bi us be. H Swering*. E bisraer. E ba, om in H. E wraghes tou. EH K. is. EH bat knew foe noht. H om bat. EH noht cald ne soht. E For bat lacob eten bai An his stede vnroned ai. E om forbi ; H Of oure wicnesses ne min bou. E foi mildhertnesses H bine mercies nou. E For bat vnweli for to se Swifoe mikel made are we. E Help lauml oure hele for-thi And blisse of foi name heli, H Help us god oure hele pat isse And for of foi name be blisse. H om And. E & w. eumnore faou be Til oure sinnes for name of foe. H Lauerd for be name of be. E Leswhenne bai sai in genge swa Whare is nou be god of tha, &c. H Leswhenne [bai] sai in folke whare is god of ha, And unkid [be] in birbes bifor oure eyhen twa. EH Wrek* of blod of bi hine

214

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

Sighyng£ of fotefestes1 bat beene;

12 After be mikelhed of fain arme Agh2 sones of dedelik^3 |)at bane

harme ;

13 And yhelde til oure neghburs balde In faair bosum seuenfalde Vpbraidingtf of ba bat be,

Pat bai vpbraided, lou*rd, to be.

14 And we, bi folke, and schep of bi

fode al, In werld to be schriue we sal;

15 In geting* and in geting* Schew sal we pi lotting^.

LXX3X.

Pat steres Irael, take kepe, Pat ledes losep als a schepe ;

2 Pat sites oure cherubin :

To schew4 bifore Effraim, f Manasse and Beniamin, |

3 Waken bi might and come nou, So bat beryhede vs make bou.

4 God, bou turne vs and se,

And schew bi face, and saufc sal we be.

5 God , laumi of mightes , houlang

saltou bis

1 V compeditorum. 2 posside. 3 morti- ficatorum. 4 V manifestare (Imper. Pass.); R be shewid.

Be wrath ouer bede of fai hine is?"

6 Pou salt fede vs with brede of teres

eth, And gif vs drink in teres in meth ?

7 Pou set vs in gainesagh til our negh-

burs bus, And our faas snered vs.

8 God of mightes, turne vs and se, And schew bi face , and hale we

sal be.

9 Winyherde broght bou fra Egipt land, Outkeste genge and set it with pi

hand;

10 Leder of wai was bou ai

In sight of it night and dai; Pou plantedest<? rotes hisse, And it fulfilled land pisse ;

11 His schadw oumailed hilles hegh. And his twigges goddes cedres dregh1;

12 He streked his paltres2 to pe se, And his sproutes to f)e streme to be.

13 Wharto did bou his stanwalk awai, And biripe3 ite alle pat gane forbi

be wai?

14 Outended4 it bare of wode swa, And a beste frate it and nama.

1 = long, talL 2 EH palmetres, V palsnites. 3 V vindemiant. 4 exterminavit.

bat spilt is sa (swa), Sikyng^ of fotefest (fetefest) in pi siht inga. E om pe. E arm heli. E Haue pou nou sones of dedli. H to, om in E. E pat are bolde H bat are talde. EH bosem. E in seuen folde. EH Of bar (pe) vpbraidinges E for to se. EH Laumi pat bai (Pat bat lauerd) vpbraided the. H om bi. E om al. E Be sbriuen to be sal for gode. E & geting al. E And pi louyng shew wesal. H pi lof in al binge.

LXXK.

E stires. tas. H Bihaldes pat steres Israel , Pat als a shep ledes losep wel. EH Pat sites ouer cherubyn to shew to se ,'to shewand be , Bifor Effraim (&) Beniamin and Manasse. H Wacken lauerd E Wake in. E busse inst. of nou. H Swa. E mak bou vs. EH om bou. H t. nou us. E & hale. EH be (ben) we, sal om. E Lauerd god of mihtes to-when sal tou Wragh ouer bede of bi hine nou, H God of mihtes lauerd mine To-wen sal tou wrath ouer bede of hine bine. E yhit inst. of eth; & gif dr. to vs in t. of mete; H Fede us with bred of teres bou sal, And g. us d. in t. in met withal. H gainsainge bus Til o. n.. . E to; ai inst. of bus. E vs ai. E wend. H sauf. E we be H be we. E Pou broht wineyerd. E Outwarp folk* H Warp genge. EH Leder of wai pou was (Pou w. 1. of w.) in siht hisse, Pou set his rotes and it fild land (erpe; pisse. EH hiled (ouer- om) h. ma. E om And. E als-swa H swa inst. of dregh. EH palmetres. EH & to pe streme his sproutes. EH Whi. E fordide f)ou h. s. ai. E om pat. EH fare forbi wai. H Pe bare of wode fordide hit swa. E of inst. of a.

Psalm LXXK— LXXX.

215

1 V super filium homines. 2 Incensa igni et suffossa. 3 V psalmum. 4 Buccinatc in neomenia tuba.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

15 God of mightes, bihalde and se fra

heuen, 5

And se and seke pis wineyherde euen;

1 6 And fulmake pat pi righthand set

to be, 6

And ouer mensones1, pat pou feste to pe. 7

17 Kindled to fire and blawen2with-alle, . Fra snibbingtf of pi face forworth

pai salle.

1 8 Ouer man of pi righthand pi hand be, 8 And ouer son of man pat pou feste

to pe.

19 We sal noght wite fra pe; quyken

vs pou sal, 9

And we sal calle pi name ouer-al.

20 Lauerd , god of mightes , bihald

and se, And schewe pi face, and hale be we. 10

LXXX. n

VJlades to god our helpher with

blis, Mirthes to god of lacob is. 12

2 Nimes psalmes3, and giues timpan, Sautre winsome with harp on-an.

3 Blawes in beme of newmone be4, In miri dai of your solempnite ;

4 For boden ite es in Irael,

13

14

And dome to god of lacob wel. Wittenes in losep forto be Pat ilka thing? set he, Fra pe land of Egipte when he ferd ; Tunge pat he ne knewe he herd. He turned fra birthines his bake ai ; His hend in hoper1 serued pai. »In drouing^ kalledesttf pou me, And .i. lesed pe ; and .i. herd pe In hidel of storme : pe fanded .i. Ate watre of againsaw for-pi : 'Her*?, mi folke, and .i. sal witnes pe ; Irael, if pou had herd me, Fresche god bes noght in pi thoght?, Ne fremed god bid saltou noght. .1. sothlik^ am lau^rd to se, Pi god, whilk* pat outled pe Fra land of Egipte at pi wille; Pi mouth outsprede and .i. it sal fille.' And noghte herd mi folke mi steuen, And Irael noght biheld to me euen. And .i. left2 am after par hert*

gerninges ;

Pai sal ga in pair findinges. If mi folke haued herd me, Irael in mi wais if gane had he, For noght thurgh hap had .i. meked

par faas,

And sent mi hand ouer drouand pas. Faas of lau<?rd to him lighed pa, V in cophino. 2 dimisi.

EH turne bihald fra h. H & f . m. it pat set pi r. h. best. EH sone(s) of man (men). H to pe fest. H Kindel. EH wiht. EH blaw. EH And fra (for). H Pi hand ouer m. of. H And we ne sal w. E And noht sal we wite fra the, Pat sal quiken vs, and pi name cal sal we. H with-al. EH turne vs & se. H ben.

LXXX.

EH o. h. (help) is he; To God of I. mirpe yhe. EH salm. H winful. E om harp. E b. newledand be H and newmoned be. EH cure. E to I. E of god to. E om for ; . . pen set ; H Witnesse euer for to be In losep pat fet he. EH om pe. E he noht knawed had H he had knaw noht. EH Fra birp[i]ns his bac he wend, In hoper serued his hende. EH kaldest. E tou. E And perfor lesed I the, rest om. H om and. E hiddel H hildel. E fraisted. E witerli inst. of for-pi. E fremd H god fremde. E I s. am and ai sal be Lauerd pine pat led the; H . . 1. to be ; God pin pat outled pe. EH Fra 1. of E. bred ,breded) is yhit Pi mouth and I. sal fulfil hit. E om And. E biheld noht, H to me noht biheld. EH delt. H pam. EH yorninges. H If pat. E hade h. H herde hade. E Israel if in. EH For noht hade I meked par illeweland And ouer am (om H) drouand send mi hand. EH Loumles faas. E 1. pai H liyhed to him wide. E . . in werld

2l6

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

And bar time sal be in werldes swa.

1 6 And with fatnes of whete he fed

am ai, And of stane of honi he filled am ai!«

LXXXI.

V_Jod stode in sinagog* of goddes ma; In middes sothlik^ goddes demes he ba.

2 »Towhen deme ye wickenes bat be, And face of sinfulk nime ye?

3 Fadreles and nedefulk deme l to ba ; Meke and pour^ rightwises swa ;

4 Outakes poure, and nedefulk ai Fra hand of sinful leses al dai.

5 t"ai ne wist ne vnderstode ; in mir-

kenes pai ga; Alle groundes of erthe stired ere ba.

6 .1. saide: 'goddes ere yhe, And sones hegh2 al on to se.'

7 Yhe sothliktf als men die sal alle, And als an of princes sal yhe falle.«

8 Rise, god, deme be land nou, For in al genge herde3 saltou.

LXXXH.

VJod, wha like to be be sal? Ne stint ne blinne, god, with-al.

1 al. demes. 2 filii Excelsi. 3 y heredi- tabis (!).

2 For loke, bine faas dined ai,

And bat be hated heued vphoue bai.

3 Ouer pi folke liphered bai rede, And ogaines bi haleghs thoght bai

quede.

4 tai saiden : »comes nou to ga, And fra folke forlese we ba, And be mined sal na dele Ouer1 be name of Iraele«.

5 For bai thoght hali samen ai, Ogaines be bi night and dai Witeword set bai, for [to] wite: Teldes of Idume and Ismaelite,

6 Moab, Agariene, Gebal, Amon, Amalech with-al, Outen als of ober land

In tounes oie Tiri ware wonand 2 ;

7 Sothliktf Assnr with bam come he, In helpe of sones of Loth to be.

8 Als Sisar and Madian make to ba, Als labin in scaldand3 Cyson, swa —

9 Pai forworthed in Endor,

Pai ere made als thoste of erthe par- for.

10 Als Oreb set be prmces of pa, Als ^eb and J^ebee and Salmana;

1 1 Alle bar prz'nces whilktf saiden he :

2 V alienigenae cum 3 in torrente.

i V ultra; = R. habitantibus Tyrum.

H ston.

sal be ai, H And in werldes sal be par tide. EH om he; fed he ba. EH om he. E fild bam swa H fild are pai swa.

LXXXI.

EH in kirk of godes to (pat) be. H And. EH in mid. H om sothlike. H of godes. EH om ba. EH wickednesse ; bat be om. E nimes bat esse; H & nimes be f. of sinful esse. EH Nedeful and faderles demes ba E Meine. H ma. H om ai ; E nedful and pouer pat be. E lese yhe ; H Leses fra hand of sinful. E Be stired alle groundes of e. ma. E arte. E dei. E om alle. H sal dee als men. E om an. H And falle als on of princes ben. E werld. EH erde. E salt tou H salt bou.

LXXXH.

EH God wha sal be like to be, Ne stint (pou H) god ne letted be. EH bi faas bai. H om pat. E hated pe. EH vpbare. H bai liber. EH again. E phot. E Comes alle bai saiden swa H Pai saiden comes a[n]d we sal ga. H genge. E om be. H Pe name ouer of Israel. H hollic. E For on hollic samen ^oht bai. H Again. H babe n. H Set bai witeword. EH for to. E Of bar teldes. Ydum. EH Withouten of. E Do to ba als Madian and Sysar land H Make to ba als M. & Cysar. E Als labin [in] Cyson scaldand. H bar inst. of swa. E ^host H post. E Set pr. als O. H om be; principes. E Alle pr. pat saiden of tha pat be

Psalm LXXXII— LXXXIII.

2I7

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

»In eritage goddes halines hagh we«.

12 Mi gode, als whele set bam, Als stubble bifore wind lickam1.

13 Als fire bat brennes wode, swa, Als lowe swiband hilles ma,

14 Swa in bi stonne filghe bas faou

sal,

And in bi wreth todreue am al. 1$ Fille bar face with schenschip ai, And bi name, lau*rd, seke sal faai.

1 6 I>ai schame and be let in werld of

werld swa, And faai be schent and forworthe ba ;

17 And bai knawe bat name to be,

lauerd is; I*ou ane heghist* in alle erthe bis.

Lxxxm.

ilou loued bine teldes bene, Lauml of mightes, albidenej Gernes and wanes mi saule als-

swa In porches of lauml to ga;

2 Mi hert and mi flesche onhand Gladed in god liuand.

3 And sothlik* ilka sparw Findes him hous, wide or narw,

1 V ante faciem venti.

And be turtil to him a neste,

tar he mai with his briddes reste.

4 Weuedes bine, lauerd of mightes, Mi king* and mi god dai and

nightes !

5 Seli bat in hous bine won ;

In werlde of werldes loue be faai mon.

6 Seli man of wham es helpe fra be, Vpsteghynges in his hert to be Set*, in dene of teres ma,

In stede whilk* he set* swa.

7 Sothlik* blissing* giue sal Lagh-berer ; bai sal ga with-al Fra might in might* ; be scene on-on God of goddes sal in Syon.

8 Lau*rd, god of mightes, here bede

of me; God of lacob, with eres bise.

9 Our* forhiler, bihald nou,

And in face of bi crist* se faou ;

10 For better es a dai dwelland

In bi porches, ou*r a thousand ;

11 .1. ches outcasten forto lin In be hous of god is min, Mar* ban forto won with-inne Teldes of bam bat er* in sinne.

Codes helines in eritage agh we, H Als be pr. pat saiden mare & lesse With e. agh we godes helinesse. E quel H a quel. E s. bam to find. EH And als. E bifor be face of wind. H om fire. E wod in land H wode of tre. E Als blastes hilles ar swiband H Als logh mas hilles to brennand be. EH In bi storm salt bou filyghe bam swa. EH to-dryue (dreue) faa. EH al inst. of ai. E seke lauerd. EH bai sal. E be dreued H be to-dreued. EH ai inst. of swa. E For- done and for-wurben be ai H And shente and forwurben be bai. EH lauerd to be. E one.

Lxxxm.

EH wel loned. E teldis. E mightis. EH Yhorned and waned saule of me. E for to. EH be. H Mi flesshe and mi hert in land EH £ai gladed. H yhit ilka; Hous to him findes. E And sohtlic sparow hous findes him to, And turter nest per may his briddis do. EH Lauerd of mihtes weuedes bine, Mi kyng* art bou and god mine. H Blissed. E while. EH in bi hous wun. E In werldes of werld. H of werld. H bai looue be. E while. E Vpstiyhinges in hert sett* he H In is hert upstiy hinges wel set he, EH In pe dale of teris ma. H In pe st. E while pat, H pat. E S. blissiwges giue sal ai Berer* of lagh, ga sal faai, . . Sal god. H For laghberer blissinges giue sal, £ai sal ga fra miht with-al, Be sen ben he sal o-non God of g. in S. E god loke nou. H bihald god mine. E . . of cr*st bin bihald bou, H And loke in face of criste bine. E outkast* f. be. E of god of me. E Mare ban to wone teldis inne Of sinful bat lin in sinne. E For

2l8

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

12 For nvrcy and sothnes loues god alle, Hap * and blis laumi giue salLr.

13 He sal noght schere fra godes pa In vnderandnes pat ga.

Laumi god of mightes, blissed be Pe man bat hopes ai in pe.

LXXXIV.

Pou blissed, laumi, land bine esse, Pou torned lacob wricchednesse2.

2 Pou forgafe of pi folk* wickednesse, Pou hiled par sinnes mare and lesse.

3 Pou leyed alle pi wreth pat pou

was inne, Pou torned fra wreth of misliking pine.

4 Tome vs, laumi, our hele es ai, And turns pi wreth fra vs awai.

5 Wher pou salt wreth to vs with-

outen ende?

Or streke pi wreth fro strende in strende?

6 God, pou turned qwycken vs sal, And pi folke sal faine in pe al.

7 Schew til vs, laumi, pi merci, And pi hele gyue vs for-pi.

8 .1. sal here what laumi god spekes

in me, For in his folk? pais speke sal he

9 And oner his halyghes al in quert, l V gratiam. 2 captivitatem.

And in pas pat t«med ere til hert.

10 Powheper negh dredand him his

hele isse, Pat in our land mote wone his blisse.

1 1 Merci and sothnes with him ' met pa ; Rightwisenes and pais kissed ere2 swa.

12 Sothnes fra erthe sprongen es, And fra heuen forthloked rightwise-

nes.

13 Sothlikf frendsomnes laumi giue sal, And pe erthe sal giue his fruyt

with-al.

14 Righrwisnes bifore him sal ga ai, And his steppes sal he set in wai.

LXXXV.

JTlelde, laumi, pine ere and here me, For helples and pour .i. am to se.

2 Yheme me 3, for halgh .i. am in land ; Saufc make pi hine, mi god , in pe

hopehand.

3 Haue merci of me, laumi, ai, For to pe cried .i. alle dai; Faine sanle of pi hine for-pi, For to pe mi saule houe .i. .

4 For pu, lanmi, soft* and milde to se, And of fele rewthes til al kalland pe.

5 With ere bise mi bede, laumi king*, And bihald to steuen ofV mi biseking*.

1 V obviaverunt sibi. 3 V animam me am.

2 osculatae sunt.

god loues sothnes with-all*. H For god loues merci and sothnesse, Lauerd giue sal hap and blesse. E Noht sal sckre. E vndarandnes. EH om god. H om man. H ai hopes.

LXXXIV.

EH erpe. H pat inst. of pine. E om of. H for solke pine w. H slaked. E om pat. E om es. EH & fra vs wend pi w. E War pi wrath i« ai sal til vs wend. H om to vs. H Oper. E salte streke. H tn. EH in be with-alk. E Shew laumi pi merci til vs. EH til us, E pus. E spekis. E pais in his folk sp., H speke pais in his f. E po H pa. EH Bot. E hele isse his H h. is hisse. E wone mot, H inwun (mot om). E om his. E .. pai, .. ai; H With him met merci and sothnesse, Kist are pais and rihtwisnesse. EH is sprungen euen. EH And rihtwisnes biheld (loked) fra heuen. EH And f. EH om ai. E And in wa sal he set his st. swa, H & h. st. in wai sal be swa.

LXXXV.

EH bin ere lauerd. EH ain i. EH Yheme mi saule for haligh am I to be. E mi god pi hine H pine mi god. EH hopand in pe. EH al be day. E s. & meke, H milde and meke. EH om of. H mercies. E Bise mi bede with eres pine, H With eres bese lauerd mi bede nou. E . . of by-seking meine ; H And steuen of mi sekinge bihald pou. E om i. H Is nan like to be in godes

Psalm LXXXV— LXXXVI.

219

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

6 In day ofe my drouyng*? cried .i.

to be, For bat bou ai herdest*? me.

7 Nane es in goddes to be, laumi, like, And after bine werkes es nane slike.

8 Alle genge, whatkins bou made to be, Sal come and bide bifore be, Lauml, bath day and nights, Mirbe sal bi name of mights.

9 For inikel ertou, and wondres doand ; foil ert god ane in alle land.

10 Lede me, lauml, in bi wai bat esse, And .i. sal inga in bi sothnesse; Euer faine mote mi hertif,

Swa bate ite drede bi name in quert*.

1 1 .1. sal schryue to be, lauml god, in

alle hert myne, And in ai sal blisse name bine;

12 For mikel es bi mercy o\\er me to

dwelle,

And mi saule bou toke fra inrest? belle.

13 Lauerd, wicked inrase in me, And sinagoge of mightand be, And soght mi saule dai and nights, And noght set bai be bifore bar

sight.

14 And bou, lauml, rewer and milde-

herted maste ;

Tholeand, and ofe fele milbes, and sothfaste.

15 Bihald in me witterli,

And ofe me bou haue mm:i;

Gife hesttf1 to bi childe in to wone,

And saufe make bi handmayden sone.

1 6 Make taken in gode with me, £as bat me hates bat bai se 2 ; For me, lauml, helped bou, And me roned ertou nou.

LXXXVI.

vJTroundewalles his in hali hilles; Lauml he loues, als his will* es, Yhates of Syon, wele mare Ouer alle teldes bat lacobes ware.

2 Blissefullikf 3 es saide ofe be I*at erttf goddes aghen cite!

3 »Mined ofe Raab sal .i. be, And ofe Babiloyn, witand me;

4 Loke, outen, and Tirus mare,

And folke of Ethiope, bai war bare«.

5 Nou whar Syon sai sal : »man« yhit, And a man es born in it*.

1 V imperium. 2 et confundantur, is om. 3 Gloriosa.

auerd mine. E lauerd to be 1. EH And is nane after bi werkis ilike (a. werkes bine). EH Alle genge whatkins bou made com bai sal (sal bai) And bid (om E) bifor be lauml and blis bi name al (ai). E For bou art and doand wuwdres swa, tou art g. ane and no ma ; H For bou mikel doand for-thi Wundres , bou art god onli. H om lauerd. E Lede [me] laumi in bi wai, And inga sal I. night and day In bi sothnes, faine mot hert mine , So bat hit drede ai name bine. H Faine sal mi hert be same Swa bat hit ai drede f>i name. EH . . 1. mi god in al mi hert, And blisse bi name in ai with (in) quert. EH bi merci is mikel. H nam, E An bou outake mi s. EH God. E oner. E tai soht; bi dai; And noght forsete foe in bain? s. ; H Ouer-al in saule bai soht , And bifor bar siht bai set be noht. H lauerd god. E rewand H rewbeful. EH om of; mercis. E Se in me and haue mm:i of me, Giue host to bi child wil be, Sauf make to won in blis Son of bi handmaiden esse. E toknen ; H Tokeninge in gode m. E to. EH t>a. haten. E For bou lauml helped ay And roned art me be niht and day ; H And be shent , for bou niht and dai Me helped lauerd and roned ai.

LXXXVI.

E His groundwallis in hillis hey, H Groundes of him in hilles heli ; EH L.

he 1. witerli. E Yhatis. EH al be. E Cite of god swa fain? to se. EH Of

Raab sal I, E be wonand H mined be. E & B. me are wittand. E Syon

inst. of outen. H Nonwhat. E Nou Syon sai sal man & man born in hit isse>

22O

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

And he it; grounded forto be,

Heghistt? es of alle to se?

6 In writtes ofe folk*? lautrd sal tell<? bare And princes, ofe pam pat<? in ite ware.

7 Als of alle fainede may be, If1 be woningstede in be.

LXXXVII.

.L/auerd , god of mi hele , in dai

cried .i. And bi night*? bifore fae, sothli.

2 Inga in fai sight bede mine, Vnto mi praier helde ere pine.

3 For fulfilled es mi saule of wa, Mi life neghed to belle als-swa.

4 .1. am wened in ilka land

To pas pat ere in flosche falland2, Made am .i. als man to se Withouten help, bitwix dede fre;

5 Als wounded, slepand pat are

In throghes , of wham mined [pou]

es namare,

And pai oute ofe pi hand for ai Ere outschouued3 nights and dai.

6 Pai set me in slogh inrest4 esse, In schadow of dede , and in mir-

kenesse.

1 Ms. in. 2 V Aestimatus sum cum descen- dentibus in lacura. » repulsi. 4 in lacu inferior!.

7 Ouer me es fai wreth stedde,

And al bi stremes over me bou in- ledde.

8 Fer made bou mi kouth fra me, Pai set me wlating*? to bam to be.

9 .1. am giuen, and .i. noght outyhed ; Mine eghen heuid l for mi wrecched-

hed.

10 Lauml, to be al dai .i. cried, Mine hend to be .i. ontspred.

11 Wher wondres to dede saltou do? Ore leches sal rere, and schriue

fae to?

12 Wher ani in thrughes sal telle pi

milthnes, Ore in tinsel2 bi sothnes?

13 Wher knawen sal be bi wondres in

mirkenes,

Ore bi rightwisenes in land ofe for- getelnes?

14 And to be, lau^rd, cried .i., And mi bede bifore-come be arli.

15 Wharto, laumi, awaiputtes bou bede

mine, Fra me faou tomes face bine ?

16 I am pourtf, fra mi yhouth in swink^

and wa ; i V languerunt. 2 so R. 3 V praeveniet.

And he grounded hit, heghest in blisse. H And he pat wones ai in blisse Grounded hit, bat heghist isse. E Lau^rd sal telle in writes of folc yhit<? And of prznces, of f)a pat war in hit, Als of al gladand pat be, Woningstede his in the. H telle sal; & of pr. of pa; Als of fainande alle m. b., Is.

Lxxxvn.

E I cried be day; H in daies liht Kried .i. bifor be and bi niht. E ai inst. of sothli. E Inga in bedde in sight bine, Helde bine ere to bone mine ; H Inga in bi siht mi bede nou, To mi beene pin ere helde bou. EH For filde is mi saule with iuels ma (& wa!. H & mi 1. H in h. EH wend. E purgh-oute be 1. E Wigh. H pa, om in E. El am made . . . be, H Als a man made is of me. E Als wounded in ^hrohes slepande , Of whilk pat namare in land Nis minde , and fra pi hand be pai Outshouued babe n. & d. ; H Als w. bat sle- pand ware, Of be whilke minde is nomare, And bai are bafahe niht & dai Out- shouued of bi hande ai. E and of m. E O. me fest is fai brath nou H O. m. festened is wrath of be. E oner me led tou H led bou ouer me. H me fra. H to bam swa. EH noght out I. EH soryheden for w. El kried to be laumi niht and dai, I spred to pe mi hend ai ; H To be lauerd ai .i. gredde, Al dai to be mi hende .i. spredde. E Whore H Whare. EH rise. E Whare telle sal ani in progh pat esse Pi mercy or in . . H Whare telle sal ani in proyhes fai mild- hertnes, Ofaer . . E Whare sal bi wundres bi merknes Or in land of forgeting bi rightwisnes. H ben, sal om. E forthcom sal H sal forthcom. EH Whi. H mi bede fra pe, Turnes pi lickam fra me. E om faou. E Pouer am I. E om

Psalm LXXXVII— LXXXVIII.

221

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

I am vplifted , .i. am meked , to- droued swa.

17 In me forthferd wrethes ofe be, And bi radneses todreued me.

18 Pai vmgaf* me als watr* al dai, Pai vmgaf* me samen ai.

19 Neghbujrjgh and frend fered bou

fra me,

And mi kouthe, fra wrecchedhed to be.

LXXXVHI.

IVlildehertnesses of lau*rd in ai Sal .i. sing*?, bi night and dai;

2 In strende and strende schew sal .i. Pi sothnes in mi mouth for-bi.

3 For in euer, saidest bou,

Pi merci sal be bigged nou

In heuens ; graibed sal ' be als-swa,

Sal bi sothfastnes in foa.

4 »I graibhed witeword* to be with Mi chosen ; .i. swore to Dauid, Mi hyne: til in euermare

Sal .i. graibe bi sede mare,

5 And bigg? sal .i., for to be i om?

In strende and strende, foe se[t]e! of* be«.

6 Schriue sal heuens bi wondres, lauerd,

swa,

And bi sothnes in kirkes of halyhes, ma.

7 For wha bat in kloudes, sal Euened be to lau*rd al, Like to laumi sal he be

In sones ofe god forto se?

8 God, bat blissed es dai and night* In rede of*? his halyhes bright*, Mikle and aghfull* es fullang* Ouer alle bat* er* in his vmgang*?

9 God lau*rd of* mightes, wha to be

like mai be?

Mightand ertou, lau*rd, and bi sothnes in vmgang* of* be.

10 Pou lauerdes of* might* of* see nou, And stiring* of* his stremes slakes

bou.

1 1 Pou meked , als wounded , proude

swa, In might* of bine arme forspilt* bi

faas'. i Ms. sede. 2 r. faa (pi.).

fra. E wo. EH I am heyhed and mekid and droued so (swa!. E In me burghferden wragh pos(!) of foe H In me feirden bine wraghes ma. H & bine radnesses me droued ba. E Samen bai vmgaf me ai. E Pou fled frend and neghbur fra me ; H Pou feired fra [me] neghburgh & frende, And fra wr. mi koube kende.

Lxxxvra.

E Mercis of lauerd ou*r al In eu*r-mare sing* I sal. H babe n. 2 om in H. E In st. & st. shew and ma kouth Sal I pi sothnes in mi mouth. E For in ai said bou witerli, Be bigged in heuews sal mercy ; H For bou saide in ai with steuen, Pi merci bigged bes in heuen. E For graibed sal be day and night* Pi sothnes in bam ful right; H For gr. wel sal be swa Pi sothfastnesse mast in ba. EH I set my (om H) witword to chosen mine, I swor* to Dauid (Daui, mi hine, Til in eu*nnore (euer) bat be (for to be) ;Sal I forgrabe (set) be sed (sete) of be. E And til in strend and in strende Sal I bigge bi sede (r. sete) in ende ; H And als- swa i bigge sal In strende and st. bi sete with-al. E Heuenes lau*rd bi wondres shrine sal H Shriue sal h. lauerd wundres bine. H For bi s. kirkes of h. is ine. E al inst. of ma. E For who in kloudes bes euend to laucrd bat wones, Like bes he to god in godes sones ; H For wha in cloudes to lauerd sal euened be, In godes sones to lauerd like bes he. EH God bat glades, E niht and dai H with his miht. E ai inst. of bright. E is amang* H is he lange. H To bat are. E Lauerd god of mightes mast to se, Wha es may be like to be?, H Lauerd god of m. bat is ai, Wha is like to be be mai?; EH Mihtand art (bou Hi lau*rd and strang (amang), And bi sohtnes in bin vmgang. H of mihtes of foe se, non om. EH leyes tou, H adds: bat be. E proude in might H pr. dounriht. E Of pin arm forspilt* pou bi fas douwriht, H Pou to-spilt pi fas in arm of bi miht.

222

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vir.

12 fine ere heuens, and land bine isse;

Ertheli werld and folhed hisse Pou grounded; be north to be, And bou maked als be se.

13 Thabor and Hermon in bi name Sal glade ; "bine arme , with might*?

be same.

14 Fester be bi hand in ilka land, And vphouen be bi righthand. Rightwisenes, and dome als-swa, Forgraibing; of? bi sete ere ba.

15 Milthe and sothnes sal f organ

Pi face, seli folk; bat; mirthing; kan.

1 6 Lau;rd, in light; of bi likame Sal bai ga; and in bi name Glade sal bai alle be dai,

And in bi rightwisenes be vphouen ai.

17 For blisse of? bar might ertou biforne, And in bi welequeme vphouen bes

our; home.

1 8 For of; lau;rd es our; vptaking;, And of; hali Irael our; king;.

19 Pan spake bou in dreme to ba Pine halyhes, and saidest swa: ».I. set; helpe vnto mightand,

And vphoue chosen of; mi folk; in land.

20 .1. fand mi bine pat es, Dauyd, And mi hali oyle .i. smered him with.

21 For mi hand sal helpe him best;, And mine arme it; sal him fest;.

22 Noght; freme ' in him sal pe faa, Ne wicke son2 set to dere him swa.

23 And .i. sal slide8 fra his face his

illewiland, And tome sal .i. in fleme him hatand.

24 And mi sothnes and mi merci with

him al ;

And in mi name his home be vp- houen sal.

25 And set his hand .i. sal in see, And in stremes his righthand to be.

26 He called * me : 'mi fadre bou erte, Mi god, and keper of mi quert;'.

27 And .i. firstgeten sal set him reght;, Forbi kinges of erthe on heght;.

28 In ai sal .i. yheme to him mi merci And mi witeword; trewe to him for-bi.

29 And .i. sal set in werld oie werld

sede his,

And his trone als daies of; heuen, in blis.

30 And if; sones of; him forlete mi lagh And in mi domes noght; haues gane

with agh ;

31 If; mi rightwisenes wemmed haue bai And mi bodes noght; yhemed ai:

32 .1. sal seke in yherde wickenes of ba, And in swepinges par sinnes swa;

1 V proficiet. 2 filius iniquitatis. 3 al. slitte; V concidam. 4 V invocabit.

EH erbe. E Werld of erbe. EH And (Pou) stabeled. E to be. H om And. H als-swa. H name riht. H Pai sal glade, bin arm with miht. E Be fest be(!) bi hand of might H Pi hand be fest als alweldand. E hand riht. EH Merci. EH mirbe kan. H of miht of bam. E bou art. H art faou al. H queming, wele om. E bair h.; H our h. be uphouen sal. EH heli. E in dreme sohtli To pi halyhes bat are heli. H are and. E And saidest I set help in mihtande. H vnto om ; mihtand for-thi. E mi corn of folc;. H And chosen of mi folke uphoue i. EH heli oli. E wiht H wid. E Mi [hand] sothlic;. H Ne sun of wicnes . wa. EH slit, sal om. E om his face. EH om sal i. E alle hi;w H are him. H om merci. H with him perforn. E be houenup. H uphouen bes his horn. E & hand sal I set in be se H & .i. sal set his hande in se. E his rithand in stremes. E & fonger. E & firstkinned him set sal .1. H & .i. first-kined sette him salle, EH Hegh for-be kinges of erbe for-bi (alle). E wisli inst. of for-bi. E om of werld. EH his sede euen, And his sete als daies of heuen. E And if his sones mi lagh forlet bo H & if sones forlete mi lag swa, EH And in mi (om Hj domes noht wil bai iwil noht) go 'ga), Mine rihtwisnes(sesj if wewzme bai oght (om H). H mine. E yheme H yhemen; E i« boght. E wicnes H wicnesses. E of am. E sinnes of bam. H ma. EH Bot mi

Psalm LXXXVIII.

223

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

33 Bot mi merci noght sprede fra him

sal .i., Ne dere in mi sothnes, for-pi ;

34 Ne wemme mi witeword* , and |>at

forthga * Of* mi lippes, vnspedy noght make pa.

35 Anes swore .i. in mi haligh — if* .i.

liegh Dauyd? — : His sede in ai sal wone me with,

36 And his setel als sowne in mi sights, And als mone pat schines bright* Fulmade in euer newe,

And wittenes in heuen trewe«.

37 P°u awaiput* and pou forsegh, Forbare pi crist* pat es slegh.

38 Pou towarp witeworde of pi hine es, Pou wemmed in erthe his halines.

39 Pou fordide his haies2 mar* and lesse, Pou set* his festning* ferdenesse.

40 Bireued him all* forthgaand be wai, He es made vpbraiding til his negh-

burghs ai.

41 I'ou vphoue righthand of* him thrin-

gand, Pou fayned alle his illewilleand*.

42 Pou towarp help of swerde his, And noght helpand him in fight pou is.

43 Pou fordede him fra klensing* klene, 1 V quae procedunt. 2 sepes.

And his sete in land* pou gnade bidene.

44 Pou lessed daies oie his time ware, Pou toyhet1 him with schenschip pare.

45 Towhen, lau*rd, turnes tou in ende

at last*? Als fir* sal bren pi wreth fast*?

46 Min whilk* mine aght*2 ; for sothlik*

nou

Wher mewnes sones vnnaitelik* set pou?

47 Wha es man pat* Hues, dede sal

noght* se?

Fra hand of* helle his saule take sal he?

48 Whar*, lau*fd, pine aide mmnes

er* pa,

Als to Dauyd in pi sothnes swar* pou swa?

49 Mined be, lau*rd, of* vpbraidinges

of pi hine,

Of* fele genge .i. witheld in bosume mine;

50 Pat pe vpbraided pi faas, lau*rd of*

blis,

Pat vpbraided of manging* of pi crist* is.

51 Blissed in ai lau*rd of might*: Swa be, swa be, dai and night*.

1 perfudisti. " V Memorare quae mea substantia.

milpe .merci) noht spred him sal I (sal i sp. him) fra, Ne der* hiw in mi sohtnes swa. EH Ne ine sal wemme (om E). E om pat. E Fra. EH Enes. E om mi. E if Dauid a dai Legh I, his sede sal wun in ai. H wid. E sete als sinne(l); .. pe mone shinis bi night, F. maked in euermare n. ; H And setel of him als briht Als be [sun] is in mi siht, Als mone ful maked in ai new. E Pou sohtlic* H And pou. EH awaidrof. E om pou. EH Hiddest. swa s. H to-wurp E to-wurd. isse. EH helinesse hisse. H ford[i]dest. E festnes H festinge. ferednesse. H Alle bireued him. EH forbi-yhode iyhed) way. H om made. EH to. H om right. E gladed. EH to-wurp. E help*r of swerd H swerd of helper. E in fiht noght helpand him H in f . him helpand noht. H om in land. EH tognod ; pou om. EH Daies of his tide (time; made pou lesse. E forspilt H toyhut. E with shendnesse H wiht dreuednesse, pare om. E t«mes tou lau*rd in ende H 1. in ende turnes tou, E Brennis pi wrath als fire pat braide H Als fir brennes fai brath nou. E Min whilke is mi staphelnesse , For pou set men sones i« ydelnesse ; H Min whilke mi sped, for soghlic yhet Vnnaitlic alle mensones pou set. EH Who. H om man. H noht sal. H His saule fra h. of h. EH tak he. EH Pin elde (aide) mercies lauml wharc are, Als tou to Dauid in pi sothnes (To D. in pi s. als tou) sware. EH Min. H of upb. lauerd. E vpbrayding. E !>at of fele folc* I helde H Of f. folc pat .i. withheld. EH bosem. EH Pat pai (Pai pat) vpbrayded, E be louerd pi fa H 1. pi fas pat be. E Pat pai vpbrayded be of manging* of pi cn'st swa H Manging of pi crist pat pai upbr. pe. E Blissid laumi ai be he H Bl. lauerd is in ai. E In euermare sal be sal be. H niht & dai.

224

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

The Psalms.

LXXXIX.

bou ert made toflighte til vs Fra getingtf in gating^ bus.

2 Ere bat hilles ware pat bene, Ore schapen was land bidene

And werld, fra werld and in werld

isse I>ou ert god ai, fulltf ofe blisse.

3 Ne twme pou man in mekenes nou; And pou saidesttf: »mensones, tome

you«.

4 For bifore bin eghen a thousand

yhere Als yhistredai pat« forthyhed here,

5 And yhemingf * in night ; for noght

ere hade, Yheres ofe bam sal be made.

6 It wites als gresse areli at dai ; Areli blomes, and fares awai ; At euen doun es it broght, Vnlastes2, and welkes and gas to

noght.

7 For bat we waned in pi wreth. And to-dreued ere we in bi breth ;

8 POM set onre wickenesses in bi sight

to be,

Oure werld in lightings ofe face ofe be. » V custodia. 2 V induret(l).

9 For alle our*; daies waned pai, And in bi wreth waned we ai.

10 Oure yheres til vs ere ai,

Als spinnandweb ' thoght bai ; Daies ofe oure yheres in pa Sexti yhere and ten als-swa,

11 And ife in mightandes, fourskore

yhere ;

And mar* of pam swink<r and sorw here ;

12 For outcomes ban handtamenesse, And we ben mended mare and lesse 2.

13 Wha knawes might ofe bi wreth es, And telle bi wreth for bi radnes?

14 l>i righthand kouth make pou swa, And lered ofe hert in wisedome

ma.

15 Turne — towhen, lauml mine? — And winsome3 be oner bi hine.

1 6 Fullefilled ere we wele areli Thurgh pi mights with bi merci ; And we gladed ere, grete and smale, Lusted in oure daies all?.

17 We ere fained for daies whilkf bou

meked vs, Yheres in whilk<? we segh iuels bus.

1 8 Bihald in bi hine, and in bi werkes

ma,

1 V aranea. 2 V quoniam supervenit

mansuetudo, et corripiemur. * deprecabilis.

LXXXIX.

E L. in-flith art made to vs H L. to us made art in-fleinge. E and g. ; H and in getinge. H om bus. E Er hilles ware nou bat are, Or bat erpe shapen it ware Or werld, fra w. and vn-to w. pisse, ... H Er hilles ware made or shaped erbe nou Or werld, fra werld in werld god art bou. EH om bou. H to be inst. of nou. EH said. E bat gane es hen?. E ^emninges. H of n. H & gas awai. EH At euen late. EH welyhes. EH gos. E om bat. EH wanen. E wraht H wragh. E braght H bragh. EH om to be. E lithing H lithting. EH of bi face briht. E om V 9. H wane. E Oure yheres als irain phohttf are swa, Daies of oure ^heris sexti ten iw ba ; H Oure yheres til us are wroht Als an irain are thai phoht, Daies of oure yheres als-swa Sexti yher & ten in tha. E If sothlic. EH in weldinges. EH faur-skore. E soryhe. H soryhe and swine. E sal mended be. E of bi wrath to se H of wrath of he. EH Or for bin agh (bi radnes) dar (om HI telle bi wragh what be. EH I*i rihthand make swa (swa make) kouth in quert, And i« wisdom lered of hert. E Turne lauerd to nou, and be Bisekandlic ouer hine of be; H Turne 1., towhenne nou, And bisekandlic ouer bi hine be bou. EH At moryhen er we filde (filde are we) erly, turgh pi might with (of) pi merci, We (And) gladed and lusted are we In al oure daies for to se .be). V 17 om in H. E while faou mekednes (!), And s;heris whiles iuels seh we pus. EH Bihald in bine (pi; hine swa (ma), And in bi werkis, right and (om H)

Psalm LXXXIX— XC.

225

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

And stere ai wele sones ofe faa.

19 And brightnes of lauml be Our vs, ofe ovtre god, to se ; And werkes ofe our hend over vs

right*-, And werke ofe our hand rights dai

and night?.

XC.

Pat wones in help heghist ' mai be, In forhilingtf ofe god ofe heuen dwelle sal he.

2 He sal sai to lauml : mi helper ertou And mi tonight; mi god, in him

hope sal .i. nou.

3 For he lesed me fra sn&re ofe hun-

thand , And fra wither-worde2 in land.

4 With his sculdres sal he vmschadow

be al, And vnder his fethres hope bou sal.

5 With scheld vmgife be sal his soth-

nes ;

And noght saltou drede fra drede pat night es3,

6 Fra arwe pat es in daie fleghand,

1 V in adjutorio Altissimi. 2 V a verbo

aspero. 3 a timore nocturno.

Fra wight;1 pat es forthgaand In mirkenes, and ofe inras ai, And of be deuel ofe middai.

7 Falle sal bai fra bi halfe bi tale A thousande ofe grete and smale, And ten thousand fra bi halfes rights ; Bot« to be sal bai negh na-wight.

8 Bot with bine eghen bihald bou sal, And foryheldyng; of sinful se with-al.

9 For bou ert, lauml, hope mine; Heghist set bou toflight bine.

10 Noght sal iuel to be helde,

And swepingtf sal noght negh to bi telde ;

11 For to his aungels senttf he of be

to sai, tat; bai be yheme in al bi wai;

12 In handes bai sal be ber« on-ane, rat thurgh hap bou ne spurn pi fote

til stane.

13 Our? aspide and basilisks saltou ga, And fortrede lioun and dragoun al-

swa.

14 ».I. sal lese him, for he hoped in me ; Forhile him .i. sal, for mi name

knewe he. 1 V a negotio.

sones of pa. E And be shining bat is so bright Of laumi our god over us liht, H And be shining of lauerd briht Of our god ouer us dai and niht. E And werkis of ome hend right nou Ouer us, and werkis of oure hend right bou. H ouer us r. pou, . . . riht oner us nou.

XC.

E in heghest help he salle. E In for[hi]ling H I[n] shilding. E om he. H Vnto lauerd sal he sai. E keper H onfonger. H art pou al. H And als mine in- fleing al. E I sal hope i« him n. Hi sal, nou om. EH For snare of honters lesid he me fra. EH als-swa inst. of in land. E om his. EH axeles (axles). E shadw be he salle. E hope sal tou alle. E om scheld. H sal umgif be. E for niht-drede esse H fra nihtlic radnesse. E Fra arwe bat fliyhand is i« dai, Fro with goand i« merknesse ai , For i«-renning nane bat mai be , And for deuel of middai to se ; H Fra be a. in dai fliyhande, Fra be wiht bat is goande, Fra merkenesses, fra inres ai , And deuel of m. E Fall sal fra bi side of ba A bhousan, and ten thousand ma Fra bi riht halues, bot to be Noght sal bai negh ne derand be ; H Fra bi side sal bai falle A thousand fulli with-alle , . . (= V). E Bot bihald bou salt bine eghen withal H Bot b. wiht bine eyhen bat be, EH & f. of sinne (sinnes) se bou sal (sal tou se). EH in-fleing. E Noght com to be sal iuel to weld H Noht to be sal come iuel binge, E Ne swinging sal negh bi telde H And noht negh sal to (ms tou) bi teld swinginge. E For with his angels he send for be, rat bai ?heme foe, i« al bine waies be ; H For til aungeles his of be send he, In alle bi waies bat bai yheme be. EH hende. EH ilkane. E on H to, stane. E sal to. E om and. H om al. EH him

n. 15

226

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

15 He cried vnto me witerli,

And .i. sal here him for-bi.

With him .i. am in droning? hisse,

.1. sal him outake and him blisse ;

1 6 With lenght? ofe daies fille him .i. sal, And schew to him mi hele with-al«.

XCI.

VJode es to lauml for to schriue, And salme to bi heghist1 name bi- line;

2 To schew areli bi mildehertnes, And bi night bi sothfastnes;

3 In a tenstringed sautre,

With sang* in harp and mikel gle.

4 For bou lusted me , lauml , in bi

makings al,

And in werkes of bi hende glade .i. sal.

5 Hou mikel, lauml, bine werkes ere

bail Swyth depe bine thoghtes er^ ai.

6 Man vnwise sal knawe noght,

And foele noght vndrestand bese oght.

7 When sinful ere sprungen als hai, i V Altissime.

And schewed ere al pat wirke wicke- nes ai :

8 Pat bai sterue in werld of werld, bis ' ; And bou, lauml, heghist in euer is.

9 For loke, lauml, bine faas alle, For loke bine faas forworth bai salle, And to-sprede sal mar? and lesse Pas pat wirken wickenesse.

10 And vphouen als vnicorne sal be mi

horn,

And mine elde in mm:i ofe fulhed2 bar-forn.

1 1 And forsegh min egh, lokande, I1 as pat ere mine illewillande, And riseand in me liberande Her? sal min ere in ilka lande.

12 Rightwis als palme blome sal he, Als cedre ofe Yban manifalded be.

13 Set in hous of laumi, in porches swa Ofe hous ofe our god? blome sal pa ;

14 Yhit? felefold in elde ofe fulhed bai

sal,

And welequemand 3 be ; pat pai schewe with-al:

15 For4 rightwis lauml our god he esse, And in him is noght? wickednesse.

1 = pis is. 2 V in misericordia uberi.

* V bene patientes (tr. r. placentes). * V ut annuncient quoniam.

lese. EH I sal him forhil. E He kried to me, I sal for-pi Here him, for with him am I, In droning? be niht and dai, I sal him outake and blis hi»z ai ; H He cried to me .i. sal here him, wiht him am .i. In drouing, .i. sal outtake him, glade him for-bi. EH om him H .i. fille.

XCI.

E To shriue to lauerd gode it esse, And singe to hegest name hisse ; H Code is to shriue to lauerd of blisse, And singe to his name hethist isse. EH erli fai m?rcy, And bi sothnes bi niht for-bi. H strenged. E sautery. E mekil. H With singinge in harpe pat be. E For bou me lusted in makings of be And in hend- werc pine glad sal I be. E mekled H mikled. E pi. EH ai. EH made are pai. H Vnwisman, E be noght knawand H sal noht knaw in land, EH & fole sal nogh ^hees (bhese noht} vndirstand. EH sprungen ar?. E shewden H shewen, ere om. E om al. EH wicnes wirken. E pat isse H nou, inst. of pis. E & pou art louerd in ai heghest in blisse, H Lanerd heghist in ai art bou. E For lo lauml fai fas, lo bi fas forwurth salle, And bat wirke wicnes to-spred bene alle. H ben pai m. & 1. Alle pat. E be honew . . sal mi. E fulli inst. of of fulhed. EH And forsegh mi ;minj egh mi fas and in me risand , And here sal mine ere (Mi e. sal h.j in me (to) liberand. H And als. EH felefalded. E Planted in hous of lauml ai, In porches of godis hous blome sal bai. H al inst. of swa. H he sal. E And ^hit in eld of fulhed manifal b. s. H felefolded . . ben pai. E And pai sal be wel faholand bat bai shew al. H om be. H be sal bai inst. of with-al. H riht. EH na w.

Psalm xcn— xcni.

227

Ms. Vesp. D VTI.

xcn.

.L ,auml riked , fairhed schred he

to se; Schred is lam'rd strenghti? ' , and him

gird* he.

2 For he festned werld ofc erthe al, Whilkf pat noght be stired sal.

3 Grained })i sete fra penne and nou ; God, ofe pe werloV2 ert {>on.

4 Pai vphoue, louml, stremes euen, Vphoued stremes pair stenen.

5 Vphoued stremes par flodes amang^, Fra steuens of<? watr« fele strange.

6 Selkouth are heuinges ofe pe se : Selkonth in heghtis laumi es he.

7 Pine wittenesses leuelik<?3 are pai Maked swith mikle, nights and dai. Pi hous, lauerd, halines it<? feres4, In lenght* ofe daies and ofe yheres.

xan.

VJod ofe wrekes laumi, ai sal be ; God ofe wrekes f[re]li5 dide he. 2 Pat demes land, vphene nou;

To pronde foryheldinges s yheld port.

3 Towhen, lauerd, sinful pat/ isse, Houlangf sinful sal make blisse?

4 Pai spake and saiden l wickednes, Pai sal speken, al pat wirken vn-

rightwisenes.

5 Pi folk?, lauerd, meked pa, Pine eritage pai swank* als-swa.

6 Widow and comeling^ slogh pai, And stepchildre pai drape al dai.

7 And pai saiden: »god sal noght se, Ne vndrestand god lacob sal he«.

8 Vnwise in folk^, vndrestand yhite; And foles, operwhile yhe wit**!

9 Pat planted ere, noght here sal? Ore pat feinyhes3 egh, noghte sees

with-al ?

10 Pat vndretakes * genge, noght threpe

mon, Pat leres man wisedome to kun?

11 Laumi he wate mennes thoghte, For* vnnaitc er£ pai and worth noght*.

12 Seli man, lanmi, wham lere pou

sal And of pi lagh teche him with-al;

13 Pat pou slake him fra daies ille, Whils dike be doluen sinful tille.

1 V indutus est d. fortitudinem. 2 a seculo. l V Effabuntur et loquentur. 2 V aliquando

» credibilia. * decet. 5 Ms. ferli. « al. sapite. » r. feinyhed. « V corripit.

foryheldinge. 5 quoniam.

xcn.

H om riked. EH he sherd fairehed. E Sherd, is om. H He sherd fai[r]hed. EH F. werld of erpe (erbeli w.. festened he a. H W. be stired noht hit sal. E Gr. is pi sete non H Gr. pi sete god is nou ; EH For pan of. EH om Pai. E flodes lauerd H stremes lauerd. E Vphoue H Vpraised. E pe flodes. E Vphoue flodes. EH par stremes ^steuen) strong. E Fra st. of fele watres amang^ H Fra watres ful mani amange. E hauenes E Pine wittenesses leuandlic in ai Swipe mekil maked are pai, H Pine wiknesse(!j niht and dai Mikel leuandlic made are thai. EH om lauerd. E feres helinesse. H and in. E daies mar? and lesse.

xcm.

E wrekis. EH lauerd sothli. EH he did freli. E Vpheue pat demes pe erpe swa, Yheld foryhelding to proude ma; H Vpheue pe land pat demes nou, To proude foryheldinge yhelde pon. E To-when sinful lauerd alle, To-when sinful glade salle. H s. pat are ai; .. blisse make sal pai. E Pa said and spaken. E Al spake, H Pai saide alle. EH wirke. EH Widw. E pai drape ai H drape pai with wogh. E slogh thai H als-swa pai slogh. E noght se sal lauwd pis H god noht se sal. E god of I. isse ; H Ne god of I. understande al. E Vndir- standis unwis in folke pot be H Vnd. wise (!) in f. yhit. E witte yhe. H set. E sal with-al H sal he. H And. E feinhed H feinyhen. E noht bihald sal H noht sal se. E bhretes H ayhes. EH he mun. EH mannes. E ydel. E whom lend has ton H pat lered in sagh. E him taght has nou; H & pat pou taht him of pi lagh. EH leyhe. EH Whil. E sinful dike be d. EH For

15*

228

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

14 For lauerd sal noght his folk<? schouue

awai, Ne his heritage forlete neuer a dai.

15 Vntil flat rightwisenes

Be turned in dome pat es; And whilk* bisiden ite in querte? Alle pat rightwise are oie herte.

1 6 Wha sal rise with me ogain liperand? Ore wha sal stand with me ogain

wickenes wirkand??

17 Bot for pat lauerd helpefd]1 me snel, Lirtelles2 woned mi saul in hel.

18 lie .i. saide: »stired mi fote be«3, Pi m^rci, lauerd, helped me.

19 After mikelhed oie mi sorwes in herte, Pine roninges fained mi saule in

querte.

20 Whor sete oie wicknes sal cleue to be, Pate feinyhes swink* in bode to be?

21 Pai sal yherne in saule oie right-

wise ai,

And blode oie vnderandes 4 fordo sal pai.

22 And made es god toflighte to me, Mi god in helpe oie mi hope es he.

23 And yhelde to pam he sal wickenes Off pam, and in par iuelnes

1 Ms. helpes. 2 V paulo minus. 3 motus est. * et sanguinem innocentem condemnabunt.

Forlese he sal pam fra blisse, Forspille am lauml our god pate isse.

Cc

XCIV.

/omes, to lauml mirthe we ; Sing£ we to god our hele es he;

2 In schrifte his face bifore we nim, And in salmes mirth we to him.

3 For god mikel lauerd apon to se, And kinge oner alle goddes es he.

4 For alle endes of land in his hand

ere pa, Heghnesses of hilles his ere al-swa.

5 For his es pe see, and ite made he, And drinesse schope his hand to be.

6 Comes, bid we1 and dounefalle, Wepe we bifore lauerd alle, Pat vs maked til his blisse ;

For pate he lauml our god isse,

7 And we folk*? oie his fode in land And pe schepe ere oie his hand.

8 lie yhe haue herd his steuen to-dai ? »Ne willes harden your hertes ai,

9 Als aftre dai in taryingnesse Oie fandingtf in wildernesse2, Par your fadres fanded me swa, Fraisted, and segh mi werkes ma.

l V adoremus. * V sicut in irritatione,

secundum diem tentationis in deserto.

1. noght awaiput sal (utput lauerd sal noht) folc his, Ne his h. forsake (forlete his h.) pat is. E Vnto pat penne; & biside it alle . ., Whilk<? pat . . ; H Vnto pat rihtnes be turned in dome with quert, And biside hit alle rihtwise of hert. E Or stand. EH om pat. E me helpes. EH Litellesse. EH mi fote stired. EH it helpid (helped), soryhes. E Pi. E fained mi hert; in q. om. H Whare. EH cliue. E patfripes(!) s. in bedde. EH ^horned. H of rihtwis gode. E vn- dirand blode. H And pai sal fordo unrihtwis(l) blode. E & lauml made iwfliht is t. m. H lauerd inn. EH And. E om mi. E g. helper . . to be. E And he sal yheld po par wicnes, and [in] par iuelnes Forlese am, forlese pam sal lauml onre god es ; H And he sal yheld until pam ai Wicnesse of pam niht and dai, And in par iuelnesse forlese pa, Forlese pam lauerd oure god sal swa.

XCIV.

EH glad e we. EH Mirthe. E Bifor-nim we in shrift face his. H His f. in sh. E spalmes. E to him with blisse. 4 om in E. H For mikel god lauerd and king of blisse, Mikel ouer alle godes he isse. E in his hand al endis of erbe. H erpe. EH And h. H hees. E of him ar ma. E & he made itte ; H For hit made his is pe se. E & d. hand of him shope yhitte. H doun we. H And wepe b. E Bifor god and wepe we alle. H m. us to. E Whilk pat vs maked for to be. E 1. o. g. es he H god oure lauerd he isse. H om haue. E His steuen if ?he h. h. H wiles E whilis. E hertis. E tariingis; H Als in tariinge after dai esse. EH fonding^. EH Per (Whare) fonded me %houre fadres wan;. H Fonded.

Psalm XCIV— XCVI.

22Q

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

10 Fourti yhere to bat strende wrath

was .i., 'Pai dwele1 in hert' and ai saide .i.,

1 1 And bai knewe noght* mi waies ;

als .i. swore swa* In mi wreth : In mi rest* if bai sal inga«.

xcv.

Oinges to laumi a newe sang*, Singes to lau*rd alle erthe amangi*.

2 Singes to lau*rd, and his name ye blisse ; Schewes fra dai in dai hele hisse.

3 Bitwix genge his blis schewe ye ; In alle folk* bat his wondres be.

4 For mikel laumi, swith looflik* to se; Aghfullc' oner alle goddes es he ;

5 For alle goddes of genge deuelnesses3

en? ba, Laumi sothlik* heuens made ma.

6 Schrift in his sights, and fair*nes; Halines and miklehed in his hali-

hingnes4.

7 Bringes to lauerd, genge of contre s, Bringes to lau*rd blisse, bate be, And worschip als-swa ; be same

i Ms. dwelle. * V ut (R et, al. quibus)

juravi. * daemonia. * sanctificatione.

* patriae gentium.

Bringes to laumi blisse to his name.

8 Beres offerandes, and ingas in por-

ches his; Biddes laumi in porche hali hisse.

9 Stired fra his face alle erthe be; Pat god riked, in genge sai yhe.

10 For he righted werld, noght stired

sal be ; Deme folk* in euennes sal he.

1 1 Faine heuens and [glade] land pisse ; Be stired be se and fulhed hisse; Mirthe sal faire feldes ma,

And alle pat euer es in pa.

12 Pan sal glade alle trees of wode Off face of laumi faire and gode, For he comes with mikel blis, For he comes to deme land pis.

13 He sal deme be werld in euennes, And be folk* in his sothnes.

XCVI.

J__,auerd riked: glade land for- pi; Faines1 yles mani blissefulli. 2 Kloudes and dimnes amang*,

Pa sal be in his vmgang*; 1 r. Faine.

H seghen. EH w. par*. E Faurti ^her* to pat str. knelid [I], H F. y. kliued i pis str. bi. EH And, E in hert dwele faai H bai d. with hert ai s. I. H swar. E And bai ^hese knew noght right Waies mine day and night, Als in mi wrath swore I best, If bai sal inga in mi rest.

XCV.

EH om a. E new s. with blisse. E al e. pat isse. E blisse ?e ay. H lof hisse ; E Sh. his hele fra day in day. H In alle folke. H In alle genge, EH wundres his (his w.) pat be. E and inst. of swith, H and swifae. louelic. E Shifae (r. Swifae) aghful. H Ouer alle g. aghful. E riht H ma, inst. of er pa. E m. with might H maked pa. E In his siht shrift and fair*hede. E He- lines H Helinesses. E helihed H helinesse. EH cuntre. H Blisse to 1. bringe yhe. E gode ping pat be. E Blis and w. als, H And w. bringe yhe , . . H Blisse to 1. to . . E iwgos. H & in is porches in yhe ga. EH in his p. heli, E isse H swa. E Al erbe of his f. st. be. EH lauerd. EH For he rihted (stered) erbeli werld be stired (bat stire) noht sal. E D. sal he folc in e. al. H sal he al. EH Faine sal h., E and glafae erpe p. H & be erpe glad be. E Stire. H And with his fulhed be stired be se. E Make blis sal be f. ma, H Pe feldes faire faai sal make blisse. H om alle. E are. H in bam isse. E Penne al trees of wodes sal glade. E For face of 1. pat bam made, H For be f. of 1. gode. E erpe H pe erpe. EH He sal deme erpeli werld in euennesse, E And his folc in sothfastnes H & be f. in his sothnesse.

XCVI.

E g. be erpe with-alli? H g. pe e. with gle. E Ylles mani glade pai sal H Faine mote ylles mani be. E ral lang*, Pai. H Kloudes in is umgang and

230

Ms. Vesp. D vu.

Rightwisenes and dome als-swa

Righting^ of his sete ere ba.

3 Fire bifore him sal forgane,

And in his vmgangtf swibe sal he his faane.

4 Lightend his leueninges to werld of

land bis ; Segh and stired f>e erthe it is.

5 Hilles als wax stremeden bai Fra face of lauerd night and dai ; Fra face ofe lauerd, es swa bright?, Alle be land thurgh-out his mights.

6 Heuens scheweden rightwisenes his, Alle be folke bai segh his blis.

7 Alle schent* be bat bidden graues1,

als {"at mirthen in bar vigours2 [fjals3.

8 Biddes him, his aungeles ilkon. Herd and fained es Syon,

9 And gladeneden doghtres of lude, Lauerd, for domes of be.

10 And 4 bou, lauerd, heghist ouer alle

land nou ;

Swibe mikle vphouen ou^r alle god- des ertou.

1 1 Pat loues lauml, iuel hate yhe ; Lauml swa wele yhemes he

1 V sculptilia. 2 = figours; V simulacris. 3 Ms. als. * al. For; V Quoniam.

The Psalms.

Saules off his haliyhes, swa

Fra Aand * of sinfully leses he ba.

12 Light to rightwise sprongen es, And to right of hert<? fainenes.

13 Faines in lauml, rightwise, with

blisse,

And schriues to minde of halines hisse.

xcvn.

Oinges to lauml newe sang£ bat be, For wondres mani an did he.

2 He keped to him righthand hisse2, And his arme bat hali isse.

3 Kouth made lauerd his hele esse, In sighte of genge he vnhiled his

rightwisenesse .

4 Mined he es oie his nvrci wele, And ofe his sothnes to hous ofe

Iraele ;

5 Alle meres ofe land bai segh I*e hele of our* god swa slegh. Mirthes to lauerd, alle land, with gle ; Singes and glades, and salme yhe.

6 Singes to lauml in harp euen,

In harp and ofe salme with steuen; In bemes ledandlik?3 to se,

1 Ms. land. 2 V Salvavit sibi dextera ejus (nom.). 3 in tubis ductilibus.

dimnesse, Rihting of his sete dome and rithnesse. E forga lang^. H sal he scald his fa; E And i«-loyhe (ms. soyhe) it sal his fas in his vmgang^. E Lighteden H Lihted. E om his. EH leuininges. E to erbeli werld H til erbe b. H Segh be erbe & st. E Hilles als w. melted bai For loumles face, for loumles face al erbe ai ; H Hilles stremed als wax for lauerdes face , For lauerdes al erbe bat wace. E Shewden heuens. E om his ; H his r. E And folc segh his blis more and lesse H And segh al folke his bl. bat esse. EH Shent be al, E bat loute biries als. EH £at (And bat) blis man (make). E licnes EH fals. E alle halyhes o-non. E gladed H fained. EH For laumi heghest ouer al erbe (H ouer al erfae lauerd heghist) art tou. E om mikle. H om vp. E art nou H nou. E louen. H Hates iuel bat lauerd loue. E ful wele loues(!). H L. yhemes bat is aboue. E of helle lesid. E isse. EH F. rihtwis in lauml of b. E om And — hisse.

xcvn.

EH New sang to 1. sing yhe For bat (om H) w. done has he, He helid to him his hand rights And his heli arme of (wiht) miht. E his h., in sight esse Of genge vnheled h. r. ; H his h. to be, In s. of g. his r. unhiled he. E Of his mildher[t]nes mined he w. H He is mined of his mercis sum del. E om his. H of be hons. EH erbe. H seh bai. H god is ai. E al erfae jSisse. H erbe. H om and. H gl. al with blisse E ful euen. E in salme. EH in st. E beme.

Psalm XCVII— XCIX.

231

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

With steuen ofe beme horned bat be.

7 Mirthes in sights ofe king*? lautrd is ; Stire be se, and fulhed his; Werld ofe erthes do so yhite,

And whilke bat erden in \ie.

8 Stremes sal plaie handes, samen Hilles glade sal with gamen,

Ofe sights of lauerd alle-mightand, For he comes to l deme be land.

9 Deme sal he be werld in right-

wisnes, And be folke in euennes.

xcvra.

JL/auml riked: folke wrethed2; he Pat sites ouer cherubin: be erthe srired be.

2 Lauerd in Syon mikel isse,

And hegh ouer al folk*; in blisse.

3 Be schriuen to bi mikel name be bai, For aghfulle and hali es ite ai, And be worschip of be kinge Loues dome ouer alle things.

4 Pou graifohed rightinges ; dome nou And rightwisnes in lacob made bou.

1 Ms. do. 2 r. wrethe? V irascantur.

5 Vpheues lauerd oure god, and biddes

yhite Schamel ofe his fete, fore hali es ite.

6 Moyses and Aaron in his pastes be, Samuel bitwix am for1 his name

kalled he;

7 Pai kalled to god, and he herd am ; In beme of? kloude he spake to bam ;

8 Pai yhemed his wittenesses ma, And be bode bat* he gate to ba.

9 Lauerd oure god, faou herd am swa, Neghsom was tou vnto ba;

And wrekand bi nights and dai In alle bar findinges was tou ai. 10 Vpheues with alle your mighte Lauerd our god ofe heuen brighte, And biddes in hille hali his, For hali lauerd our god he is.

XCIX.

IVlirbhes to lauerd, al erthe bate es ; Serues to lauerd in fainenes.

2 Ingas of him in be sights

In gladeschip bi dai and night*.

3 Wite ye pat lauerd he god is bus ; l r. feat? V qui.

E ledenlic , E with gle H bat ben. E And st. H h. bidene. H M. to lauerd kinge bat isse. EH Be stirid. EH als-swa inst. of do BO ; H ba. E & be swilk bat wones i. h., H & al pat euer wun in bam ma. H plaie sal. H hende E with hend. E vpheue sal for. H sal foai. H In s. E of 1. for to se H of 1. for mikel blisse. E For to deme be land corns he. H be erbe bisse. E He sal deme EH erbeli werld.

XCVHI.

H be folke, E wragh ma H wraghed yhit. E stire be e. swa H be e. stire hit. H mikel is in Syon. E is he. H Heghist ouer folke ilkon. E al f. to be. EH To bi mikil name, E shriuen be bai H be bai sh. forpi. H For hit is mikel and heli. E dome bat es, Pou made in I. and rightwisness. E . . and loutes wisli Pe sh. of his fete for it is heli ; H . . wihte blisse, Loutes be sh. ... it isse. EH Moyses in his prestis (In his preste M.) Aaron be same, And (om H) S. bit. am bat kald his name. EH kald. EH om to ; H him. H And in. H Witnesses of him yhemed tha. H om And. EH om pat. H to bam als-swa. E bou h. ba H ba herdest bou. EH to bam, E swa H non. E And wr. of al binges Was bou i« al paire findinges , H God and als-swa wrekande In alle par f. here in lande. EH Vpheues lauerd oure god in blis (in ai), E And biddis i« hille heli hisse, For bat euer isse heli Lauerde oure god sothfastli ; H And biddes him babe niht and dai In the hil swa heli hisse, For heli lauerd our god he isse.

XCIX.

H god. E Inga ^he ai ro is s., H Ingas in his s. to se. E .. pat is so bright ; H In gladnes and mikel gle. E yhe wele H yhe lauerd. EH pat god

232

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

And he vs made, and our^-selfe

noghte vs.

4 His foiled, and schepe ofe his fode, Ingas his yhates pat er<? gode

In schrift ; his porches pat be, In ympnes; to him schriue yhe.

5 Heryes ofe him name swa fre, For pat lauerd soft* es he ; In euermare his merci esse,

And in strende and strende his soth-

C.

IVlerci and dome with-alle, Lau^rd, to pe singe .i. salle. .1. sal salme, and vnderstand in

vnwemmid wai, When pou salttf come to me ai.

2 .1. thorghyhode * in vnderandnesse

ofe mi herte In mid ofe mi hous in quert*?.

3 Noght set .i. to be in sights Bifore min eghen things vnrighte ; Wemmednesses ew doand Hated .i. in ilka land.

4 Noght kleued to me wickeherte

for-pi ;

Heldeand fra me lit/er noght knewe .i. . 1 V Perambulabam.

The Psalms.

5 Dernliktf his neghburgh bakbitand Him filiyhed .i. with fote and hand.

6 With proude egh and vnfillandlik^ '

herte, With ite etc .i. noghttf in quert£.

7 Min eghen to trew of land pat be, Swa pat pai ai site with me ; Gaand in vnwemmid wai,

He serued me nights and dai.

8 NoghU sal he won me biside

In mid ofe mi hous, pat does pride ; Pat spekes quednes, noghte righted2

swa In sights ofe min eghen twa.

9 In vghtening^ .i. slogh with hand Alle pe sinful ofe pe land,

Pat .i. forspille fra goddes cite Alle pat wickenes wirkand be.

CI.

JL/auerd, hertf pe bede of me, And mi krie mote come to pe.

2 Noghte twrne pi face fra me; in

whatkin dai

.1. be droued , helde pin er* me ai;

3 In whatkin dai .i. kalle pe, Swithlikf pan here pou me.

l V insatiabili. ' direxit.

to

es he pus. E He made vs. E Folk his. EH shep. EH Inga ?he (Ingas in) his ;h. gode. E p. biliue H yhour Hue. EH to him ye shriue. E Loues his name with mekil blisse, For pat soft lauml he esse ; H Name of him ai looue yhe, For soft is 1. for to se. H In ai merci of him e. H and in.

C.

H witerli E es so fre. H sal i, E L. sal I sing to pe. E And I sal vnd. . ., When pat pou corns . . . ; H In unwemmed wai when pou comes to me, I sal salme & understand be. H I purthyhode wiht mikel quert In underandnesse of mi hert. E with quert. H And noht set i dai ne niht. E Noht set I before mine eghen ping vnriht, Doand we/wmednes hated I with miht. H Pat ware w. d., I hated. E N. cliued with me hert wicke f., H N. c. to me hert untrew. E Boyhand. H i knew. H Stilli. E Bacbitand dernli neghburyhe hisse, Him f. i with-outen misse. E om egh. H unfilland. H With him. H at trew. E of erpe be H of hert to se. EH om ai. E sal sit. EH Goand. H He sal noht wun. E spekis. EH rihted I. H om swa. H of m. e. for-pi. EH In morning sal I (om E) slo w. h. EH forles. E fro.

CI.

EH Ne twme. E in what dai H to be, H In what [dai] i be dr. E bin ere held. H om ai. E kald haue I pe H i kalle pe sal. EH Swiftli. H here £ou me

Psalm CI.

233

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

4 For waned als reke mi dales swa,

And mi banes als krawkan ' dried faa.

5 .1. am smiten als hai, dried mi herte, For .i. forgate to etc mi brede in

querte.

6 Fra steuen of mi sighingnesse Kliued mi mouth to mi flessche.

7 Like am .i. made to pellicane of

annesse * ;

Made am .i. als night* -rauen in housefes3 esse.

8 .1. woke, and made .i. am for-fai Als a sparw in hous aneli.

9 Alle dai vpbraided me mi faa, And bate me looued ogain me swore

ba:

10 For askes als ite ware brede .i. etc, And .i. mengid mi drinks with grete ;

1 1 Fra face ofe wreth , ofe dedeinyhe

of be; For vpheueand tognodded bou me.

12 Mine dales als schadwe helded faai, And .i. dried als it war* hai.

13 And f)ou , lauerd, erte with-outen

ende, And fai minings in strend and strende.

14 ton riseand, lauerd, onon Salte haue merci of Syon ; For time of ite to haue merci, For pat time comes, witerli.

i V cremium. 2 y solitudinis. * Ms. houseses; V in domicilio.

15 For quemed to fai hine his stanes ai, And ofe land ofe it hafe reuth sal

bai.

1 6 And drede sal genge , lauerd , fai

name bat is, And alle kinges of erthe fai blis,

17 For bigged lauerd Syon bidene, And in his blis ite1 sal be sene;

18 He biheld be bede of meke bat be, And bar praier noghte forsoke he.

19 Be writen faese2 in othre strende al, And folk*? bat sal be made looue

lauerd sal.

20 For he forthloked fra his hali heghte, Lauerd fra heuen in erthe biheld

righte ;

21 t>at he herd sighing* ofe fotefeste

sone, tat he lesed sones ofe fordone ;

22 l*at bai schewe in Syon lauerds name, And his lofe in Jerusalem be same,

23 In comand3 be folke in on ai, And kinges fa ate lauerd seme faai.

24 He answerd him in wai ofe his mighte. Feunesse of mi dales schewe me

righte.

25 Ne againekalle me in mid of dales

mine,

In strende and strende ofe yhere faine*.

i R he. * V haec. 3 Ms. Incomand. * V anni tui, pi.

with-al. E For mi daies als reke waned faai And mi bones als kraukan dried faai. H ai, . . . bai. EH and dried. H For. E sikingnesse; H of sikinge strange. EH Klines. E flesse, H flesshe lange. EH I am made E like Hals;toom. E wilder- nesse. EH I am made a(l)s. E houseuesese H housheues esse. E I am made. H I woke, als sparw and made [am] .i. In a hous that isse oneli. E Als sparow in h. pat es onli. EH Mi fos (fas) vpbrayden (upbraided) me al dai. E om bat ; loued me. EH faai. H For ()at. E aske als ware b. H bred als aske. E & mi drinke menged I. E For face of wragh of be mislikand, For bou to-gnod me vpheuand. H For ... of mislikinge of be; . . tognod. EH shadw. E ai. E als dos be h. E lauerd risand. E For comen is be time H For time comen is. EH his stones to bin hine qu. (qu. to bi hine). EH & of his [land] merci haue. E & dr. sal fai name al geng f)at isse, H & |)i name lauerd dr. sal folc .. EH om alle. EH For lauerd bigged Syon to bene. H om his. EH om be. E & bede of bam. H bene. EH In ofaer strend (kinde) be faisse writen alle. E om folk, EH om faat. H lauerd loue. H om forth. EH heli. H fra erbe to heuen. EH segh reght. E om he. EH siking. EH om And. E om folk. H an. EH om ai. EH bat bai serue (serued) lauerd (om in H) ilkone. H om him. E Fewnes H Fonenesse. E om me. E middes. H stabeled faou. H om sal.

234

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

26 In biginninge, lauerd, bou grounded

land, And heue[n]s ere werkes ofe bi hand.

27 Pai sal forworth, and bou sal be ai; And als klebinge elde sal alle bai,

28 And als hilinge wende saltou ba, And bai sal be tamed swa: And bou bi-selfe bat ilke ert al, And bi yheres noght wane bai sal.

29 Sones of bi hine bar-in sal wone, And bar sede in werld be righted

mone.

GIL

JtSlisse, mi saule, to lauml ai isse, And alle bate with-in me ere l to hali name hisse.

2 Blisse , mi saule , to lauml ofe alle

thinges, And nil forgete alle his foryheldinges;

3 Pat winsom es2 to alle bine wicke-

nesses, fat heles alle bine sekenesses;

4 Pat bies fra steruinge bi life derli, Pat crounes foe with rewbes and with

merci ;

5 Pat filles in godes bi yherninges al: Als erne bi yhouthe be newed sal.

1 V omnia quae . . sunt. 2 propitiatur.

6 Doand mercies lauerd1 in land. And dome til alle vnright tholand.

7 Kouthe made he to Moises his waies

wele, His willes til sones of Irael.

8 Rewful and mildeherted lauerd gode, And mildeherted, and langmode.

9 Noghte wreth he sal in euermore, Ne in ai sal he threte, bar-fore.

10 Noght after our sinnes dide he til vs, Ne after our wickenes foryheld vs

bus.

11 For after heghnes ofe heuen fra

land,

Strenghbed he his merci oner him dredand ;

12 Hou mikle estdel stand westdel fra, Fer made he fra vs our? wickenes

swa.

13 Als rewed es fadre of sones, Rewed es lauerd, bare he wones, Of ba bat him dredand be ; Fore our schaft wele knawes he.

14 Mined es he wele in thoghte

Pat duste ere we, and worth noghte : Man, his daies ere als hai, Als blome ofe felde sal he welyen awai.

1 Ms. larued.

H om and. H salt. H And alle als. EH om alle. H om als. H mange. E sal bou. H manged. EH & bou bat ilke bi-self is al. EH om bai. E jpai inst. of barin. wun. E be rihted in w. mun.

CIL

EH Mi saule to lauerd bou blisse. E bat in me are H bat is wiht me. EH om to. EH heli. EH om to. E ouer binges H als kinge. H nil bou. H om alle. H foryheldinge. EH winsomes. H bi wickednesses. E al bi. E Pat fra steruinge bi lif boght he H bat boht fra steruing bi lif wisli. E Pat with merci and reuthes corounes be. E fai yhorning al H y. of be. E Be newed als of erne bi ^hoube sal H Newed als e. bi y. sal be. H Lauerd mercis is doande. E to. E His waies to M. kouth m. he w. H his w. to M. EH And his. to. EH Merciful. E Mikil m. , H And mikel m. EH and of. E long. EH Noht in euermare (euer; E wragh sal he H w. he sal. E bretand sal he be H sal he for. with-al. E efter. H om he. EH wicnesses yheld to (til) vs; E om bus. E fro h. to 1. H He stre[n]bhed. H euer. EH fra westdele esse. E wickednesse ; EH om swa. EH Als rewes fader be (of) sones als-swa Is lauerd rewful (Rewbed is 1.) vn-to (to) ba, Pat (bam) him euer dr. be. E He is mined bat we er dust of wai, Man his daies als be hai, Als blome of feld bi niht & dai Swa sal he welyhe al o-wai; H He mines bat we are dust man als hai, His daies als blome of felde swa welyhe sal bai. H in him bhurthfare.

Psalm cn— an.

235

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

15 For gaste, thurghfare in him it sal, And noght* vndrestand ' he sal with- al;

And knawe namare sal he His stede whare bat it* sal be.

1 6 And lauerdes m*rci cure dwelland*, And til ai our him dredeand*;

17 And in sones ote sones his right-

wisenes, To bas bat yhemes witeword* his,

18 And mined sal foai be'2 nights and dai Of his bodes to do bam ai.

19 Laumi in heuen graibed sete his, And his rike til alle sal lauml in

blis.

20 Blisses to lauml with alle your might*, Alle his aungels bat* er* bright*, Mightand of* thew, doand his worde

swa, To here steuen of his saghs ma.

21 Blisses to lau*rd, alle mightes his, His hine, bat* does bat his wille is.

22 Blisses lauerd with wille and thoght*, Alle be werkes bat* he wroght*, In alle stedes of* his laumlschipe ma. Blisse, mi saule, ai lauerd swa.

' V subsisted 2 V sunt.

cm.

JJlisse, mi saule, lauerd nou! Lau*rd mi god*, swith mikel ertou.

2 Schrift* and fairehed schred pou

right* ; Vmlapped als klebing* with light*.

3 Strekand heuen als fel with blis ; Pat hiles with watres ou*restesl his,

4 Pat settes bin vpsteghing* kloude, tat* gaas ouer fetheres of wyndes

londe ;

5 tat makes bine aungels gastes fligh-

and, And bin hine fire brinnand.

6 Pat grounde[d]2 land ouer stabelnes

his —

Noght* helde sal in werld of* werld bis.

7 Depnes als schroude his hiling* 3 alle ; Ouer hilles his 4 watres stand* salle.

8 Fra pi snibbing* sal bai fle,

For steuen of* bi thoner fered be.

9 Vpsteghes hilles, and feldes doungas In stede whilk* bou grounded to pas.

10 Mere set* bou whilk* ouerga bai ne sal,

i V superiora. 3 V amictus.

2 Ms. groundes. 4 al. om.

EH om he sal. E And in eu*r(!) knaw sal he Mare his stede whar* it . . H And noht sal he knaw mare His st. whare bat hit was are. EH nvrci of lauml fra eu*r. EH & to in ai. E And his rihtwisnes in sones of sones To pa pat is witword ^emes and mones. H rihtw. his. yheme his witeword isse. E And mined are of his bodes ai To do bam bi niht and dai , H And his bodes are minande To do bam in alle lande. E diht. H gr. his sete al. E om rike. E sal 1. to al in blisse H til alle louerd sal. E Blisses lau<rd dai and niht Al his angels fair* [&] briht, Mihtand with phew doand his word, To her* of sayhes of him be rorde ; H Blisses lauerd alle aungeles hisse isse , Mihtand with pew doande word hisse, Forto here euer the steuen Of his sayhes gode and euen. H om to. E Al his mihtes lauml ijhe blisse. E . . yhe bat don willes hisse H . . bat done his wille bat isse. E Blisses lauml al bat is oht, Werkis of him . . , H Vnto lauerd blisse yhe Alle werkes of him bat be. EH stede of laumlship hisse. EH Mi saule ai lauerd bou (in to 1.) blisse.

cm.

EH Mi s. blisse lauml ai and nou. E mikled. E kyng inst. of right. E V. with lith als with klebing, H V. als with shroude with liht. H Spredand heuenes. E hilest. E ouemast H houermast. E setted. H upstiying pine be kloude. EH mas. H gastes pine aungeles briht. E bi. H fir br. liht. EH grounded. H ouer stapel[n]esse be land. EH In werld of werld E noht held sal misse H bes noht heldand. EH watres, his om. EH For. punner. EH Vpstiyhe sal h. . . ga. EH to pa. H Pou set mere bat forbi-ga . . E til.

236

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

Ne t«me to hile pe land* \vith-al.

1 1 tat outsendes welles in dales ma ; Bitwix mid hilles sal watres ga.

12 Drink* sal alle bestes of felde wide; Wilde asses in par thrist* sal abide.

13 Ouer pa wone sal foghles ofe heuen ; Fra mid of stanes gif* sal pai steuen.

14 Fra his ouermastes hilles watrand; Of fruite ofe his werkes filled bes

pe land*;

15 Forthledand hai to meres ma, And gresse to hinehede l of men swa ;

1 6 Pat pou outelede fra erthe brede, And hert* of man faines - wyne rede ;

17 tat he glade likam in oyele best*, And brede be hert* ofe man sal fest*.

18 Be fullefilled sal trees of* felde ilkan, And be cedres of Yban

Whilk* he planted with his hand; tar* sal sparwes be nestland,

19 Wilde haukes hous [es] leder of pa. Hilles hegh til hertes ma,

And be stane bi dai and night* Vntil irchones es tonight*.

20 He made be mone in times lang*; Pe sunne, it knew his setelgang*.

21 Pou set* mirkenesses, and made es

night* gode ;

In it* sal forthfare alle bestes of* wode : i V servituti. 2 r. faine.

Psalms.

22 Lyoun whelpes romiand pat pai reue

swa, And seke fra god mete vnto pa ' .

23 Sprungen es sunne , and samened

er* pai, And in par dennes bilouked sal be al dai.

24 Oute sal man ga vnto his werke, And til his wirkeing* til euen merke.

25 Hou mikeled er*, lau*rd, pine werkes;

ma

Alle in wisedome made pou pa ; Ilka land fulfilled es it* With pine aght* thurgh pi wit*.

26 Pis see mikel and roume til hende : Par wormes of* whilk* es nan ende,

27 Bestes smaller with pe mare. Pider schippes sal ouerfare ;

28 Pis dragoun pat pou made biforn For to plaie with him in skorn. Alle, fra pe pai abide

Pat f)ou gif* bam mete in tide.

29 Giueand be to bam, gedre pai sal; Pe oppenand pi hand, with-al Alle sal pai mar* and lesse

Be fulfilled with pi godenesse.

30 Pe sothlik* turnand pi likam,

Pai sal be dreued ; be gast* of* bam Pou salt* outbere and wane sal pai, And in pair duste sal rurne for ai. i V sibi.

H erpe. EH om out. E hilles. E in d. bar* H in d. bare. EH far* inst. of ga. E of wode when am list* H of felde in list. EH Abide sal wild asses in bar prist*. EH sal wun. H fliht-foyheles. E om of. EH pai sal giue. E Fra ouemast his h. springand H Hilles fra his ouemastes springande. E be filt sal H fille sal. E Fortheledend. E to mares hai H hai to m. ben. H om swa; E ai. E lede out. EH faine sal. EH oli. E om be. H & hert of man bred. EH Be filt (fild). H Whilke pat he sette. E be sparowes nesteland. es om. E to h. E ston EH bat lies in ling(e). EH Til. EH is it infleing*. EH In time (times) he made pe m. for lang*. EH om it. H be s. E merknes. H om and. E om es. H niht is. E purghfar*. H forthfare sal. E whelpis. E r. at reue pa H r. smale and grete. E m. bam swa; H Pat pai reue and seke fra god par mete. H Pe sunne is sprungen. H om and. E pai ar* H are pai penne. E And byloked in bar dennes are pai bar* H & b. are pai in par denne. E Outga sal man. H to. E to, om in H. E derke. E louerd ar. H Hou m. are pai for to se Pine werkes louerd , pou made to be Alle in wisdom bi dai and naht, Fulfild is be erpe with pin aht. E Pe land ouer-al it is fulfilt With pine aght swa als pou wilt. E roume end. EH wurmes. E Stupes par*-purgh (ouer pare) sal far*. E Pi. H tou. EH shope. E Al. H Openand pe. E Al sal pai sothlic . . E wendand. H om sal. E lette. EH & wane (E wans) par* mayne. E sal pai. EH t. ogayne. H om and.

Psalm Cin— CIV.

237

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

31 Outsend fai gaste and made faai sal

bene,

And new saltern fae face of erthe bidene.

32 Be blis of lauml in werld« bis; And1 faine sal lauml in werkes his.

33 tat bihaldes land and to qwake

makes ite;

fat neghes2 hilles and faai smoke yhite.

34 .1. sal singe to lauml in mi life for-fai, .1. sal salme to mi god hou lang<? am .i. .

35 Winsome3 to him be mi speche al; .1. sothlik?, in lauml like sal.

36 Wane sinful fra erthe, and wike bat

isse,

Swa bat faai noght be. mi saule, lauml blisse!

CIV.

Ochriues to lauerd, and his name

ye kalle ;

Bitwix genge^pchewes his werkes alle. 2 Singes to him dai and nights, Alle * salmes to him ; telles rights Alle wondres of him witerli ; Heryed be his name hali.

1 al. om. 2 V tangit. * lucundum.

* r. And.

3 Faine mote herte of lauml sekand. Sekes laumi in ilka land,

And ye be fest* ; whil faat<r yhe mai . Sekes be face of him ai.

4 Mines ofe his wondres bat [h]e * made

kouth, Fortaknes and domes ote his mouth.

5 Sede of? Abraham, hine hisse, Sones ofe lacob, his chosen to blisse.

6 He lauml oure god in eumnare ; In alle erthe his domes are.

7 He was mined in werld ofe his wite-

word? hende,

Ofe word bat he sent* in thousand strende ;

8 tat he welesete for Abraham sake, And ofe his aath vntil Ysaac*?;

9 And he set it to lacob in bode wele, In witeworde ai" to Iraele;

10 Sayand : ».i. sal giue be be land of Chanaan

Strings ofe bine heritage on-an« ; ir When bai war* of<? schorte tale,

Fone and his tilthe grete and smale3. 1 2 And bai fore fra genge in genge bare,

And fra rike til other folk* bat ware.

1 Ms. be. 2 = ece ? cf. ayhed v. 22 ; V in tcstamentum aeternum. 3 V paucissimi et

incolae ejus.

E be made bai sal H made ben faai nou. E om be; f. of e. alle H be f. of e. salt faou. E In werld be of 1. blisse, H In w. fa. blisse of 1. be. EH om And. H Lauerd in his werkes faine sal he. EH erfae. E om and. EH mas. E in lif min wisli. EH om sal. E Blibeful be mi speche for-thi, Sothlic in 1. like sal I. H Blifaeful. EH Sinful fra erbe (H euer) wane bai (ba), E And wicked als babe niht and dai H Fra erbe, .wicked do als-swa, EH Swa bat noght (om H) be faai (bai be) bot to (forto) misse, Mi saule vn-to lauml blisse.

CIV.

EH & kalles name his. H Shewes bit. g. EH werkis his is (om H). EH Singes to him and salmes him to, Telles al his wundres mo (to), Heryhed be yhe wittily (mare and lesse), In his name bat es heli (In his heli n. that esse). E Faine mot hert of be sekand, Lauml bat wones in ilk a land, H Faine hert in ilka land Of bat are lauerd sekand ; EH Sekes lauml and fest be yhe (ben), Seke (Sekes) his face (name) ai to (forto) se. H of him. EH while. H His fortoknes. E hine his ai. E his ch. are faai H Lauerd our god in ai is he, And in al erbe his d. be. E Mined of his witword in world was he H He mined of his w. in w. to wende. EH om bat. E str. to be. H om wele. E aght H agh. E om it. EH And in. E to ai in H in ai to. EH Kanaan land EH Streng. H om faine. E erit. bi hand H in pi hand. EH When of short tale (Of sh. t. whenne) bai ware, E To fone and his erers thar^ H Few and of his comeling faare. EH And fra geng (folke) in genge (folke) fore faa (ferd bai), E Fra rike to ofaer geng als-swa H And fra r. in folke ober ai. H om he. H to dere

238

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

13 Noght lete he man dere to pa;

And kinges for pam threttf he, swa:

14 »Nil yhe negh min cristes nou, And in mine pr<?phetes nil lithre pou«.

15 And he called hnngr^ oner land

brode And alle festnes of? bred forgnode.

16 He sent bifore bam bierne to be ; In hine salde Joseph es he.

17 Pai meked of him fete bare

In fotefestfljes1, hard^ bat ware; Irne thurghyhode his saule ful grim : Til bat worde come of him.

1 8 Speche of? lauml pat was ofe mights Inloghed him bi dai and nights : Pe king£ sent, and lesed ilka lim; Prince of folk^, and forgafe him.

19 Lauml ofe his hous him he made, And prince ofe alle pe aghte he hade ;

20 Pattf he lered his princes als him-

self? reghtf, And his aldemen teched sleghte.

21 And inyhode Irael in Egipte hand; And lacob tiler was in Cham land.

22 And he ayhed 2 his folk? swith mikel

on-an, And he fest* him ouer his faan.

23 He turned pair herte, pate pai suld

hate folk<? his, i Ms. fotefestnes. 2 V auxit.

The Psalms.

And do swikedom in his hine is1.

24 He sent Moises, his hine was, so, Aaron wham he chese him to.

25 He set wordes of taknes in pam, And of fortaknes in land off Cham.

26 He sent merkenesses, and dimmed pa, And noghte gremed his saghes swa2.

27 He turned pair watres in to blode, And sloghe pair fisches bate ware

gode.

28 He forthbroghte froskes, be land ofe

pa, In thirles 3 of bar kinges ma.

29 He saide, and h«ndflegh* come to

falle, And gnattes in bar endes alle.

30 He set bar raines haile ful schire, In land of bam brennand fire.

31 And smate bar vinyhes and figetres

in-twa, And forgnode tres ofe endes of? pa.

32 He saide, and gressop sone come

pare, And brese of whilk<? na tale ne ware ;

33 And he 6 etc in land of pas alle be

hai, And it etc al be fruyte of bar land

awai.

1 V in servos ejus. 2 V et non exacerbavit sermones sues. 3 in penetralibus. * Ms. handflegh. 5 r. it.

pa E d. pam amang*. H om And ; . . ma, E And he pret for pam kynges strange. H pou; criste. E Ne wiles negh mi cristis be. EH mi. E liber nil yhe H noht 1. wil pou. EH erpe. E He send a berne by-for pa. H losep in hine salde. E is I. swa. E Pai meked babe niht and day In fote-festeles his fete ai. H fete of him bat ware, festles. E purhtfor H burthferd. EH Vnto. E Speche of lauerd at pe end Inloyhed him pe kyng send, And he him lesid ilkalim, H Speche of 1. inloyhed him, Pe king send and lesed him. H Pe prince . . E and he lete him. E he him. H als h. ware. E & pat he taht his elde sleght H & his elde sleght tath pare. E outlend, H was tiler. E Cam. H swipe mikel his folc. E onon. E fon. E pat is folc hate suld pa; H To hate his folke turned he hert of pa. H To do. E sw. do. E swa H als-swa. E He send his hine pat es Moyses, Aaron him while pat he ches; H He send M. hine hisse, A. whilke he ches to blisse. EH Wordes of (his H) tokenes he set to (in) bam (E bat). EH He nvrkenes send (s. merkenesses; and cestred ba. H gr. he par EH sayhes. E watres of pam in b. EH in 1. E of bam. E of kynges of ham. E houndflegh. E paire endis. E hail swa, Fire brenand in land of pa. H In bar 1. be. H And he. E smot. H win- yherdes. E om and; bar figetres bare. EH tognod tre. E of bar e. fare. EH grishop (gressop) com onon. H breses. EH na (E to) tale was on. EH it. in bair 1. al f>ar (be). H om be ; E par. E erpe. E firstgeten H firstgoten.

Psalm CIV— CV.

239

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

34 And he smate al firstkinned in land

off f>a, Sproutes ' of par swink* als-swa.

35 And he led am with siluer and golde, And was nane in par kinne seke on

molde.

36 Fained es Egipt* in forthcome off

am, For inlai drede of pa oner pam.

37 He spred kloude in par forhiling*

bright*, And fir* to schine to pas bi nights.

38 Pai asked, and come pe edissehenne2, And with brede of heuen he filled

am penne.

39 He brake pe stane, and watres out-

sprang^, Yhoden str ernes in drie ful strang*.

40 For he mined of his worde hali and

milde Pat he had to Abraham, his childe.

41 And he led his folk* in gladnesse, And his chosen alle in fainenesse ;

42 And gaf pam rikes of genge pare, And swinkes of folk* aght* pai mare :

43 Pat pai yheme his rightwisen esses ai, And lagh of him seke night* and

dai. 1 V primitias. 2 coturnix.

CV.

Ochriues to lauerd, for gode he is, For in werld es merci his.

2 Wha sal speke of lauerd migh tinges, Herd sal make alle his louynges?

3 Seli pat yhemes dome pat es, And in alle time does rightwisenes.

4 Mine of vs, lauml, in welqueme ofe

folk* pine; Seke vs in pi hele, god mine :

5 In godenes of pi chosen to se,

To faine in faines of pi genge pat be ; Pat pou be loued night* and dai With bine heritage in ai.

6 We sinned with our fadres mide ; Vnright* we dide, wicnes we dide.

7 Our fadres in Egipt* noght vnder-

stode

Pine wondres pat ere swa gode ; Pai war* noght mined for-pi Of* mikelhed of pi merci.

8 And pai taried vpsteghand in se, Rede se. and pam sauued he For his name, swa hali isse,

Pat kouth suld* pai make might* hisse.

9 And* he snibbed be rede se, And drie es it made to be ;

E in pair* land. E First groyhen H Al firstgroyhen. E of al s. of par land. EH pam. E non. EH kinde. EH of m. E in par coming* swa. H inyhede radnes. E of pam ou*r pa (ms. ga). E He shewed In par forth-com coulde (r. cloude) br. H riht. EH to liht to pam. H om pe. H edishehenne. H om with. E om brede. H om he. E fed. H bam. V 39 om in E. H water. H And stremes yhoden in drie amang. E heli worde. E And led. H outled. H corne in to f. E als in. EH And rikes of folc fgenge) he gaue pam p. E swine. E agh H aht. H rihtwisnesse, ai om. ; E rihtwissnesse his. E & seke pe lagh of him pat isse, H & seke his lagh pe mare and lesse.

CV.

E goude. E his m*rci isse. E Who. E om of. E Herd make al of him 1. EH Seli while pat (om H) ^hemen dome ai (dome yh.) wide, And done rith- wisnes (Pat r. done) in al tide. E Lauml in queme of pi folc min of vs, In pi hele pon seke vs pus. H Seke us hele penne pon art inc. E To se of pi chosen in godenesse, To faine of pi genge in fainenesse , Pat pou . . H For to se ai in godnesse Of pi chosen mare and lesse, In fainnes of pine genge nou, In pin eritage looued be pou. E with o. f. pat be, H Onre fadres we sinned mide. H Vnrihtli . . wicli. E did we . . did we. EH om in Egipt. E so. H minande. E In H Pe. H upstiyhand E up[s]teyhand. E om se2- H beryhed. E isse ful of blisse H swa gode pat isse. EH make (E made) sulde pai (he). E m. misse. H dried. E And he snibbid be rede se, df*ed it isse , And he led

240

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

And he led am in depnesse

Als it wars in wildernesse.

10 And he sauued am ofe hand ofe

hatand,

And boghts am ofe hand ofe ille- willands.

11 And he hiled with watre pam dro-

uand; Ane ofe pam noghte left in land.

12 And in his wordes leued1 pai, And looued his lofe nights and dai.

13 Tite dide pai2, his werkes forgats; Pai held noghts vp3 his rede with

pats.

14 And pai yherned yhernings in wil-

dernes, . And pai fanded god in drines.

15 And he gafs to f)am pair askings, And to pair saules he sent fillings.

16 And in castelles Moises taried pa, Aaron, ofe lausrd halgh, als-swa.

17 Pe erthe es opened and swelyhed

Datan on-on, And hiled oner samenings ofe Abiron ;

1 8 And brints in par sinagogs fire ful

brights, Pe lowe it swath sinful dounrights.

19 And a kalfs in Oreb maked pai, And baden pe graue nights and dai,

The Psalms.

1 Ms. noghte 1. J V sustinuerunt.

2 R }>ai had done.

20 And pair blisse turned pai

In liknes ofe a kalfs etand hai.

21 Pai forgate god pam sauued hade, Pat mikelnesses in Egipts made, Wondres in land of Cham to be, Aghfulnesses in be rede se.

22 And he saide, forlangs biforn, Pat he said am haue forlorn ;

If noght Moises his chosen rights Had standen in breking in his sights,

23 Pat he suld twme his wrath am

fra,

Pat tospilts he had noghts pa. And for noghts pai had pe land Pat yhernandliks was in par hand ;

24 Noght leued pai to his worde oghts, Andmorkedene1 with pair thoghts In par teldes pare pai lai; Steuen of lauerd noght; herd pai.

25 And he houe his hand oner mare

and lesse For to felle pam in wildernesse,

26 And ate2 he toworp in birthes sede

ofe pa And forspilt pam in rikes swa.

27 And bigunen es Belphegor be quede J, And pai ete offrand ofe pe dede.

28 And pai gremed him in pair findinges : And felefaldede in pam ere fallinges4.

1 V murmuraverunt. 2 overl. * V Et

initiati sunt(!) Beelphegor. * ruina.

am i« depnes als in wildirnesse. E And fro hand of hatand sauued he pa, And he boght pam of hand of fa. H s. pam fra. H & ouerhiled water. E helid. H of pa. E Noht of pam left on liuand. • E And pai leued wordes his wars. H 1. pai ma. E And pai loued his loue pars H And his heryhing heryhed pa. EH Sone. E om dide pai ; H pai dide. E pai f. EH yhorned. E yhorninges. H & god pai fonded. E And he send i« par s. f. E godes H lauerdes. E And pe. EH om es. E swoloyhed H swolyhed. E om onon. E Abyran. E & in pairs s. brend firs pars. Pe logh swape sinful pat ware. H And pe logh swoth. E of O. E And pai bade be deueles vigour ai H And deueles uigours pai bad aldai. E manged. H pai ai. H Vnto a kalf ware etande hai. E And pai. H sauued pam. EH in Cam land. E Aghnesses H Vggliis. EH pam. E Ne had . . Standen. H corn. EH And (Pat) he turned his wrath pat ne tint (& noht forlesi pa , And for noht pai had pe land ^hornanlic sa. E Pai trowed noht his worde pars And pai groched les and mars In pairs teldes and noht herd pai Steuew of 1. niht no dai ; H Pai leued noht is word and murkeden un-enen In par teldes and herd noht lausrdes steuen. E oner pam his hand pat esse. EH Pat he feld pam . . H And outwurpe ; E And in byries he outkast of pa. E ma. E & offred B., H & b. are . . quedes. EH offrandes. H dedes. E in his f. EH is in pam. E sqwattings H swacching.

Psalm CV.

241

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

29 And Finees stode and quemed wele : And pe scatthing*1 left* ilkadele;

30 And it es wened to him in right-

wisenes, In strend and strend til in ai pat es.

31 And gremed pai him in scorning* At watres of* againesaing* ;

And swonken es Moises for pa; For pai gremed gast* of* him swa,

32 And he twifalded2 in his lippes.

Noght spilt pai Genge whilk* saide lau*rd til am ai;

33 And menged bitwix genge pai are, And pai lered par werkes pare ; And pai s*med fals vigours of* pam, And in sclaander es it made til am :

34 And pai offred [par] sones and doghtres

als Vnto deuels pat* en: fals,

35 And pai spilt blode vnderand swa, Blode of* par sones and doghters ma, Whilk* pai offred blode and bane To fals vigours of Chanaane.

36 And dropen3 espe land in blodes swa ; And smitted in werkes of* pa ; And pai streneden mar* and minne In par findinges al with sinne.

1 quassatio. interfecta.

2 distinxit. 3 V infecta, R

37 And wrath es lau*rd with his folk*

in wrath, And his heritage he has in wlath.

38 And he gaf* pam in hend of* genge

ma ;

And lau*fdes er* of pas, pat hated pa.

39 And pai droued pam swithe sare f'at par iuel frendes ' ware ;

And meked vnder pair hend pai are. Ful oft* he lesed am of kare,

40 [Bot]2 in pair rede pai gremed him ai ; And in par wickednesses meked er*

pai.

41 And he sagh when droued j)ai war*, And par bede herd he par*.

42 And he mined of* witeword*, him

rewed for-pi After mikelhed of* his merci ;

43 And in mercies gaf* he pam, In sight* of alle pat pam nam.

44 Sauf* make vs, lauerd our god*, pus, And fra birthes samen vs ;

45 fat we be schriuen to pi name hali, And glade in pi loof* witerli.

46 Blissed lau*rd, god of* Irael, Fra werld and vnto werld wel ;

1 V inimici. 2 Ms. For.

EH wend. E Fra st. in st. E om til. H til in aines. E pai gremed H pai taried. E om him. H water. E of pa. H & for pam swanke M. ilka lim. H om pai. E his gast swa H pe g. of him, swa om. EH And he twifolded in his lippes two (twa) , Noht tint (forles) pai genge pat (while) lau*rd said to pa. EH & pair* werkis 1. pai p. EH & pair* fals vigour* (uigours) s*med pai, And it is made (om H) to pam in sclaundre (shame) ai. E om pai ; E par s. par d. a. H & pai o. par sones swa And par doghtres to deueles ma. E of vnderand. E om swa; H pare. E d. in land; H And par sones and par dothtres ware. H had offred, EH euerilkane. E & d. is foe 1. blode inne, And bismitted is hit with sinne, In werkis of pam niht and dai, And in] pair* findinges strened pai; H And slain is pe land to dede In blodes that ware swa rede, And bismitted in par werkes it is, And pai strened in par findinges mis. E & lau*rd is wragh in f., E with wragh H with bragh. H om he. EH in lagh. E om of. E par* inst. of ma. H lauerd are of pam. E And pat hated lau*rd ou*r pam ar*. E And pen (ms. pou) drouped pam par fa And al meked ar* pai swa Vnder hend of pam to ga, Ful oft [he] lesed pam of wa; H And pen droued pam in land fa pat war par ilwilland, And meked under par hende are pai, Oft lesed he pam niht and dai. EH For. EH And in (om E par wicnesses. EH pai droued w. H he h. par bede. H om And. EH of is w. EH & in his m. E al pa pat. E Lau*rd our* god vs sauf sauf (!) pou. H nou inst. of pus. E And samen vs fra birbehes nou H & fra b. vs s. pou. EH fat in pi heli name (In pi h. n. pat) we be shriuen, An[d] glade in pi loue i« while (whil, in om) we liuen. E vn-to in w. in wel.

II.

16

242

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

And alle folke with hert sal saie

Swa be, swa be, nights and daie.

CVT.

"Ochriues to lauerd, for gode he is, For in werld1 es merci his«,

2 Saie bai with gode wille and thoghte Whilke bat ofe lauerd ere boght, Wham he boght of hand of faa, Fra rikes samened he ba,

3 Fra sun-springe to setelgange, Fra north, fra be see swa lange.

4 I*ai dweled in annes, in drihede ; wai Ofe cite ofe woningstede noght fand

bai ;

5 Hungrand and thristand als-swa, — te saule ofe bam waned in ba :

6 And bai cried to god when droned

bai war*,

And of bar nedinges he outnam bam bare;

7 And he led bam in right wai,

In cite ofe woningstede bat ga suld bai.

8 To lauerd his mercies be schriuen, And his wondres to mensones bat

liuen :

9 For vnnaite saule he filled with fode, And hungrand saule he filled with

gode.

10 Sittand in schadow of? dede and mirkenes,

1 V in seculum.

Bnnden in iren and wrecchednes,

11 For speches ofe god gremed bai And taried rede ofe heghist ai,

12 And meked in swinkes es hert ofe

bam,

Pai ere seke , and nane was bate helped am :

13 And bai cried to lauerd when dro-

ued ware ba,

And ofe bar nedinges he lesed bam swa;

14 And he outled am fra schadow ofe

dede and mirkenes, And brake bar bandes mare and lesse.

15 To lauerd mercies ofe him be schri-

uen,

And his wondres to mensones bat liuen :

1 6 For he forgnod yhates brased ware, And slottes irened brake he bare.

17 [He toke bam fra wai of bar wicnesse, For bai are meked for bar unriht-

wisnesse].

1 8 Alle mete es wlated bar saule suld

fede1,

And negh be yhates of dede bai yhede :

19 And bai cried to lauerd when droued

ware bai, And fra bar nedinges he lesed am ai ;

1 V Omnem escam abominata est anima eorum.

E .. berto sai bai H bat isse bai sai. H om

E mot it ai.

CVI.

E of inst. of es. E Sain bat are boht of lauerd while he boht fra Hand of fa, fra rikes samened he ba. H I*a whilke. Whilke. E in drines ai, Wai of . . non. H I>ai dweled alle in onnesse, In unwattri, in drinesse, Wai of cite niht and dai Of wonin[g]stede nan fand faai. E Hongrand. E om I>e. EH lauerd. H ware bai. E outoke H lesed. H am ai. EH His mercies to lauerd. EH For he fild empti (tome) s. EH and in m. EH with. EH Speche of 1. for. E ba. EH & rede of heghest bai taried swa (ai,1. EH For. E es bar hert H is bar h. in swinkes onan. EH And bai. EH om and. E nis bat helpis in quert H wha helped ne was nan. EH war bai. E fro. EH am ai. EH & fro merkenes and shadw of ded led (om E) he ba And bar bandes he brak in-twa. EH His mercis to 1. E For he gnod brasan yhates swa H For brasan yh. to gnod he. EH And iren bandes (slottes) brak he ma (he brak in bre). E He nam ^am fra baire wicked- nesse. E fra. E tar saule is wlated als (r. al) mete gode H AI m. wlated is saule of ba. E om negh. $hode; H And to yh. of d. neghed bai swa. E om bai.

Psalm CVI.

243

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

20 He sent his worde, and heled pam,

And fra par sterainges he pam nam.

21 To lauerd his mercies be schriuen, And his wondres to mensones pat

liuen ;

22 And offre pai ofFrand ofe loofe pat is, And in gladeschip schewen werkes his.

23 Pat in schippes in1 see ere dounga-

ande, In fele watres wirkingc makande,

24 Pai sagh werkes ofe lauerd par*, And wondres of him in depe pate aw.

25 He saide, and stode of storme pe gaste, And vphouen ere stremes maste.

26 Pai vpstiyhen vntil heuen,

And pai dounga to depnesses euen ; Pe saule of* pam lesse and mare In raels sculked2 ite pare.

27 Pai ere dreued and er* stired als

dronken mis,

And al pe wisedome ofe pam swe- liyhed is:

28 And pai cried to god when droned

war? pai,

And ofe par nedinges he outeled am ai;

29 And he set* in winde3 his stormes

stithe,

And his stremes leften lithe4. H 30 [And pai fainned pat pai ware stille ;

1 al. be. 2 V tabescebat. * in auram ; R in soft wind. 4 siluerunt.

And he led pam in hauen of wille].

31 To lau*rd his mercies be schriuen, And his wondres to mensones bat

liuen ;

32 And in kirke of folk* him vpheue pa, And in setel of* elde l pai him loof*

swa.

33 Stremes in wild ernes set* he,

And outgang* of* watres in thrist* to be;

34 In saltmersche land fruitberande, Fra iuel of* in it wonande.

35 He set in weres2 of* watres wildernes, And in outgang* of* watres land

watreles.

36 And bar* bilouked he hungrand ware, And cite of* woningstede set* he3 bare ;

37 And foai set wineyherdes, and feldes

bai sewe, And bai made fruit* of* birthe newe.

38 And he blissed am, and felefalded

bai be; And bar* meres noght* lessed he.

39 And bai er* fone made , and swon-

ken er* ba, For drouing* of iuels, and sorw and wa.

40 Yhotten es a fliting* * our* prmces a

dai,

And made to dwele in wigeling*5, and noght* in wai.

l V seniorum. 2 stagna. * V contemptio, R contentio. fecit eos in invio.

3 constituerunt. » V et errare

H pai ware. EH of. H am pare. E om par. H outnam. E Mercies of him to 1. . . H Shriuen be lauerd mercies hisse And his w. to m. with blisse. EH & pai offre o. of 1. esse (al dai). E And shew his werkis in gladnesse H & his w. in gladship shewen bai. H be se E pe se in shippes. E dounstiyhand. H mani. H doand. E Werkes of 1. al pai segh And in depnes his wondres slegh. H & his w. in depe bat ware. EH and blast of storme (it H) stode. EH his stremes wode. E Pai stiyhe to heuew, pai ga to depenes, Pair* saule sculked in euelnes; H Pai upstiyhe til heuenes and to depe doun ga, In iueles sculked pe saule of pa. H om er*. EH droued. H als drunken and stired misse. E om er*. EH & al par w. swolohed (swolyhed) is. EH lauerd. EH led, oute om. pam. E inset in. EH storme. EH wexen. E are faine. E & i« hauen he led pam of par w. E Mercies of him to 1., H His m. to 1. E pai ; H & pai upheue him in kirke of f. ma. EH pai loue him, E ai. He set stremes in wilder-

nesse. H . . pat esse. E euelnesse H iuelnes. E Ho set dam of w. w., H In weres of w. he set w. H erpe. V 36 om in E. H & pare he louked pat . . H pam. E felfolded H Swipe mikel & par r.res n. 1. he. EH & fone made ar pai (are pai m.). E om and. E pai are. H for sorch. E s. .sare. E A flit is yhotten. H flitte. E ou*r par p. pai To dwelle in. H And

1 6*

244

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

41 And he helped pour* fra wrecched-

hede, And he set als schepe hinehede.

42 Rightwis sal se , and glade with-al ; And al wicnes his mouth stoppe sal.

43 Wha wys and sal yheme pesein land? And mercies ofe lau^rd sal vnder-

stand?

cvn. l

VJTraiphed mi hert , god, graiphed

mi hert* is ; .1. sal singe and salme in mi blis.

2 Ris, sautr* and harp for-pi ; In pe griking* rise sal .i. .

3 Schriue to pe, lauerd, in folk* i sal, In birth es sing* to pe with-al;

4 For mikel o\aer heuens pi merci es, And to pe kloudes pi sothnes.

5 Vpheue ou*r heuens, god, and ou*r

al land ai

Be pi blisse ; pat pi loued lesed be pai,

6 Saufi? make pi right hand, and her*

me. God in his halegh spake he:

7 ».I. sal glade, and drilled* twinne .i. sal, And dene of teldes mete with-al.

8 Mine es Galaad, Manasse mine leued ; And Effraim fanger ofe mine heued.

1 Cf. Ps. 56, 10 — 14 ; 59, 5 — 13. 2 V Siccimam.

The Psalms.

9 luda mi king* es ofe blis, Moab ketel of mi hope is ;

10 In Ydume sal .i. pinne mi scho; Outen, frendes er* made me to«.

11 Wha sal lede me in warned cite? In Ydume wha sal lede me?

12 Noght*-ne pou, god, outdraf* vs swa? And in our* mightes , god , noght

saltou outga?

13 Gif til vs helpe of drouing*;

And ' hele ofe men ful vnnait thing*.

14 In god might make sal we,

And to noght our faas lede sal he.

cvni.

V_Tod, mi loof ne lete pou"! For pat mouth of sinful non And mouth of swikel, pat does mis, Ouer me open it is.

2 fai spak* againe me with rung*

swikel,

And with wordes ofe hatred mikel Vmgaf* pai me witerli, And ouerwonnen me selwilli3.

3 Als * pai me loued, me bakbate pai ; And .i. sothlik* badde night and dai.

4 And pai set againes me for godes wa, And hatereden for mi louerede swa.

5 Set oner him sinful in land ;

fe deule on his righthalues stand.

1 al. For. 2 V ne tacueris. 3 gratis;

R of selfe will. * V Pro eo ut.

made am to. E And pou*r and helples helped he And set his hinehed als shep to be. EH Se sal rihtwise & faine w. E Wha w. and is pis ^hemand. H and yh ernes. EH sal he.

cvn.

H Graiphe E Diht. EH lauerd. H d. is mi hert. H & s. in quert. E Rise mi blisse rise sautre f., And herp in grikin r. s. I H Aris s. ris h. f. EH To pe in folc lauerd (1. in folke) shr. I sal. E And in birpe salme . . E isse. EH om pe. EH om Be. E pi corn. E Hale. E riht half. EH spoken has. E twin with-al; H & dele dr. .i. sal. EH dale. E mete I sal. H keper. EH mi. EH I. kyngt? is of mi b. E pot. E Ydum. H are frendes. E me lede. EH Vntil Y. E Whar* noht pou, H Whare pou, noht om. E lauerd. E outdraie H output. E om our. E to. EH For. man. E oure fas to n.

cvni.

For — nou om in E. E of sinful, E for to se H ouer me, EH Opened it is (is hit) E ouer me H forto be. H With swikel tunge again me spake pai. H sayhes. EH hateredene , H ai. H alle for-thi. E self wisly. EH om And. bade. E again H gain. E lou*r[e]den. H again. E And be d. EH om his.

Psalm CVIH.

245

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

6 When he es demed, fordone outga

he; And his bede in sinne it be.

7 Fone be be daies of? him,

And his bischeoprik? bat<? other nim. H 8 [His sones be faderlesse bar lif,

And a widw be his wife]. 9 Drecchand * his sones be outborne

awai,

And thiggtf mote bai night and dai, Outekaste be bai for eumnare Fra bar woningstedes bat ware.

10 Ransafo mote gaueler his aghte; And outen reue him swink^ and

maghte.

1 1 Nane be him helper bat him knew ; Ne be, pat his stepchilder rew.

H 12 [I*e sones of him in were2 be ai; In o strende his name be don awai].

13 In minde twme be wickednesse Of his fadres mare and lesse

In sight of lauerd; and sinne na

dai Ofe his moder be done awai.

14 Again louml ai be bai swa,

And forworth fra land be minde ofe

faa:

For pat noght es he witerli Mined forto do merci;

15 And filiyhed helples and thiggand, 1 V Nutantes. 2 in interitum.

And stungen with herte, to quelle in land.

1 6 And he loued malloc dai and nighte: And come sal it on him to lights; And blissing? wald he noght swa, And ferred sal it be him fra.

17 And malloc he cled als wede — And als watre it inyhede

In his inwardes al at anes, And als oyle in his banes.

1 8 Be [it] to him als schroude with whilk*

hiled he is, And als girdel pat ai gird es mis.

19 tis mote be be werke of ba I>at£ bacbite me ate lauml swa, And bat spekes iuels ma Again mi saule to do it wa.

20 And bou, lau^rd, do with me for-fai For pi name, for soft es pi merci.

21 Lese me, for pour* and nedful

am .i.,

And mi hert<? es dreued with-inne me, sothli.

22 Als schadw when heldes, fornomen l

.i. am,

And forschaken 2 als gressop , with gram.

23 Mi knees vnfeste for fast ere pa; And mi flesche es manged, for oyle

swa. 1 V ablatus. '-' excussus.

EH om es ; demde. E forspilt. H in s. made be. EH be made daies. E wedu. E Drecchand o\\.er born be is sones and bigge ai , Outkast fra bar woningstedes ai be pai. H Dr. be ba o. a., And biggande bai n. & d. H om for. EH al his. E r. his sw. H & reue mote fremde his s. E . . pat liuand esse ; . . rew st. hisse. E And in a. H againturne w. E and pe sinne H & sinne yhit, E Of his moder nener blinne H Of his m. fordon noht be hit. H Ai be bai againe 1. s. EH erpe. E For bat bat he mined noht To do nwci in hert ne faoht. H he is noht. H And he. EH man helples. H to sla. H & malloc loued he niht and dai ; E . . in to gan. E An com to him it sal o-nan H And hit sal com unto him ai. H als-swa, E haue noht wald he. E fra him sal it be. E inrest. EH ones. EH oli. E bones. EH om it. H hiled with (whilk om). E is he. E om als. E with while he ai gird sal be H he girde is ai with misse. E £is werke of bam be to se l*at at lauerd bacbite me, & bat speken i. als-swa, A. saule mine to sla; H t*is werke of bam at lauerd bat bacbite me, fat speken iueles again mi saule to be. E & bou 1. for pi name do to me, For soft is be mildhert[n]es of pe. EH nedful & pou^r. EH in me, E for-pi H dreri. E kusten inst. of fornomen. E forsaken. E grishop H gresshop ; E pat is am H am i lame. EH M. k. for fast (fasting) E vnfest es shent H are manged shent, And for oli my fleshe is went. E to EH pam.

246 Tne Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

24 And .i. am made vpbraidinge til am ai ;

Pai sagR me, and pahv heuedes stired pai.

25 Helpe me, lauwl mi god, and me Make saufe, for pe mere! ofe pe.

26 And wit pai pate pi hand pis yhite, And f)ou, lauerd, maked ite.

27 Pai sal werye him,1 and blis saltou. Pas pate in me rises nou, Schente mote pai be, nights and dai ; Pi hine sothliktf faine sal ai.

28 Kled mote pai be als, be same Pate bacbite me, ai with schame, And hiled be bai mart? and lesse Als twifold kloth 2 with pain? schend-

nesse.

29 To lauerd in mi mouth sal i. schriue, And in mid of fele loofr him mi liue :

30 Pat on righthalues of pour* es stan-

dand,

Pat he saute make mi saule fra fili- yhand.

CK.

JL<auerd saide to mi lauerd ofe might : »Site opon mi halues rightc,

2 Whils .i. sal set pe faas ote pe Schamel ofe pi fete to be«.

3 Yherde of bi mights on-on Send sal lauml fra Syon,

1 V illi, nom. pi. 2 sicut diploide.

To be lauml1 thurgh foe land In middes ofe bine illewilland.

4 »With be , biginningtf in dai of foi

mights,

In schineinges of haliyhes brighte; Ofe wambe, in bis werld to be, Bifore daistern gate .i. pe«.

5 Lauerd swar?, and noghte2 with-al, And forthink? it noght him sal : »Pou ert prrste, ofe for to reck*3, After ordre of Melchisedek?«.

6 Lauerd fra pi righthalues brek* Sal* kinges in dai of his wreke.

7 Deme in birthes he sal to se, Fulfille fallinges als sal he,

Sqwat sal he heuedes, blode and bane, In be land ofe maniane.

8 He drank? ofe wel in be wai; For-pi he heued his heued vp ai.

CX.

In al mi hert, lanerd, to pe schriue

.i. sal, In rede of rightwise, and samening*

al.

2 Grete werkes of lauerd er<? wroghte, In alle his willes er^ pai soghte.

3 Werk? ofe him schrifte and mikel-

nesse ; And in werld es his rightwisenesse.

1 V Dominare. 2 al. a nothe. 3 V Tu es sac. in aeternum. 4 V confiegit.

EH segh. E om me. H om pair. EH heued. EH Sauf make. EH om pe. E t*ai sal wery hiw & pou sal blisse bat rise i» me , Pi hine sothlic faine sal he. H . . & f)ou blisse sal Pat in me inrise wiht-al , Sh. be faa be n. & d. . . E Pat bacbite me kled be pai Wiht shame bape bi niht & dai ; H Pai be kled in werld be same, Pat .., ai om. E ou^rhiled. EH twifald. E mantel H klagh. E To 1. swifoe mikel in ... E om of. H on pouer rihthalues. H To sauf make.

crx.

H apon. EH Whil. E foos. E om to. E For to lauml burgh-out. E In- mid of bi. E of dai. E With brihtnesse of h. liht. E Of wombe ful witerli, . . pe gat I. EH swor a nothe. E in ai to rek<:. H After hode. E sal breke, Kinges in his dais sal wreke. H in his dai of w. E Dome in b. so sal he. E .. for to be. E Swatche H Squatche. H heues. E bone. one. E of bournand. E For bat heued he hened vp ai. H om he; heuen.

CX.

E om lauerd; shr. sal I pe to. E so. E are ai; .. soth are pai. E Shrift his werk. E in w. of werldis his. E Mildherted and mil[s]ml 1. isse, Minde he

Psalm CX— CXII.

247

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

4 Minde he made ofe wondres his ; Milde-herted and rewfulk lauerd is. Mete he gafe in ilka land;

To bas bate ere him dredand^.

5 Mined of his witewordg in werld sal

he be;

Mights of his werkes to his folke schew sal he,

6 tate heritage of genge gife he to ba. His hendwerkes sothnes, dome als-

swa.

7 Trew al his bodes, in werldi ofe

werldtf feste ai ;

Made in sothnes and in euennes ere bai.

8 Biyngtf to his folktf laumi sent he ; He bade his witeword^ in [ai] schulde

be.

9 Hali and aghfulk es name his. Biginning<? of wisedome lauerd drede

is ; 10 To alk him doand, gode vnderstan-

ding£. In werld ofe werld es his loueingtf.

CXI.

Oeli man bat dredes lauerd of blis, Swith mikel he wille in bodes his.

2 Mightand in erthe his sede bes alle ; Strende ofe rightwise blissed be salle.

3 Blisse in his hous, and ricchesse, And in werld* ofe werldtf his right-

wisnes.

4 Sprungen in mirkenes to righte lights

is, Mildeherte and rewfulk and rightwis.

5 Blithefulk man he es for-bi He bat lenes and has merci, Wele-settes his saghes in domes al; For in ai noghte be stired he sal.

6 In euer minde rightwis sal be l ; Of iuel h cringe noght drede sal he.

7 Graibe es his herte, night* and dai, To hope in lauerd ; fest es ai His hert ; noght stired sal he be, His faas til he forsee2.

8 He tospred, gate to poure bate had

nede.

I*e rightwisenesse ofe him, to mede, Wones in werlde ofe werld ber-

forn; In blis vphouen sal be his horn.

9 Sinful sal se, and wrath he sal, And gnaiste his tethe he sal with-al, And sal sculk^ to be awai ; Yhorning*; ofe sinfulk forworth sal ai.

CXII.

Jrlerihes laumi, bat childer be; Name ofe lauerd herihe ye.

2 Name ofc laumi ai be in blisse Fra heben forth into werld bat isse.

3 Fra sunne springs to setelgang* Herihandlik* 3 name ofi? laumi amang^.

4 Hegh ouer alle genge lauerd isse, And oner heuens es his blisse.

1 V In memoria aeterna erit Justus. - V despiciat. 3 V laudabile.

m. of w. h. E bo H pa. E hawd-werkis. E sheued he. E fat giue erit. of g. to bo. E handwerke. deme als-so. E Trew are al his bodes ai, Fest i« werld of werld ar bai, Maked most in sothnesse, And als-swo in euennesse. E send inst. of bade. E in ai to be. E om es. EH dred of laumi. E Til.

CXI.

E dredis. E om he ; wil in b. isse. E & werld. E To riht in merkenes liht sprungen isse. E Milsful. EH sayhes. EH dome. E In eueningtf rihtwis rihtwis sal be. E Of heryng iuel. E Graiped til hope i« loumi hert hisse, Samew festened hert hisse isse, He ne sal noht stired be Til bat his foos .. H His wiberwines. H and gaf. EH om had. E om I*e. E bar-forn. E & he. H tegh. E om he sal. E & he. E Sinful ^horning*'. E sal I ai.

E childre. EH ai haue bl.

CXII. E For bis nou vntil i«.

E Herghlic. EH is.

248

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

5 Wha als god oure laufrd pate wones

in hegh,

Meke thinges in heuen and in erthe he segh1,

6 Fra pe erthe helplesse raisand, And ofe thoste pe pour? rerand,

7 With princes pat him bilouk^2 he, With princes ofe his folk^ to be.

8 tat geld in honses makes wonand, Moder ofe sones to be faineand.

CXIH.

1 AN outegate ofe Iraele,

Oute ofe Egipte come swa wele; lacob hous — was glad for-bie — Ofe 'be folk^ ofe barberie :

2 Made es lude his halinesse, Irael his might he esse.

3 te see segh, and flegh onane, Hindeward t«rned es lordane ;

4 Hilles als wetheres fained bare, And knolles als lambes off schepe

bate are.

5 What es be, see, pat foou flegh nou? And pou, Jordan, obake pat went

errtou ?

6 Hilles, als wetheres gladed ye? And, knolles, als lambes ofe schepe

pat be?

7 Ofe face ofe lauerd be erthe stired

isse, Ofe face ofe god ofe lacob blisse ;

8 In weres ofe watres pat tz/raes stane, And kliffes in welles ofe watres to

gane. — 1 V respicit. 2 collocet.

1 Noghte til vs, lauerd, noght til vs

nou, Bote til pi name blisse gift pou,

2 Ouer pi merci and pi sothnesse ; Leswhen sai genge: »bair god wharf

esse ?«

3 Our*? god sothlik^ in heuen es kid; Alle pat euer he wald he did.

4 Lickenes ofe genge, siluer and gold, Werkes ofe men hend ofe mold.

5 rai haue mouth, and sal noght speke

with-al ; Eghen pai haue, and se pai ne sal.

6 tai haue eres , and here ne sal pai

oghte ;

Nese-thirles pai haue, and smel sal noghte.

7 Hend pai haue, and noght sal pai Grape with bam, night ne dai ; Fete pai haue, and sal noghte ga ; In paire throte noght crie sal pa.

8 Like be to bam bate make am swa, And alle pat traistes in bam ma.

9 Israel hous hoped in lauerd off

blisse ; tar helper and bar forhiler he isse.

10 Aaron hous in lauml hoped pai ; tar helper and par forhiler he es ai.

11 tat dredes lauerd, in lau[>r]d hoped

ma; Helper and forhiler es he of? pa.

12 Lauerd ofe vs was minand,

And vs he blissed with his hand.

He blissed be hous ofr Irael ;

He blissed be hous ofe Aaron wel.

E Who. EH louml our* god. E Mekenesses. E Help[l]es fro pe e. risand. E ^ost H post. EH hous. E erand. E swo fainnande ; to be om.

cxm.

EH outgang. E barbari. EH helinesse. E te se he s. E a-non. E Hinward. EH is. E wepers H Als. E wanr. EH & lordan. E fained. E meres. E to pi n., H om til. E milpe. E werkis. H wid-al. E se ne pai. E & here sal pai noht oght H & noht here sal o. EH Grope. H bi niht. E go. E Noht kri in bar throte sal po. H Leke be bam. E po so. EH traisten E oght in po. EH lou^rd. E forheler. E hoped in 1. so. E Helper & forhiler he is of po. EH dreden. E i» him h. pai, tar h. & par f. he is ai. E he was. E he vs. E vs inst. of be hous. H dreden E dr^dend. E pe mekil. E om

Psalm CXm— CXV.

249

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

14 Pat dredes lauerd, al blissed he, Pe littel with be mar* to be.

15 Eke mote lauerd oner yhou,

Ouer yhou and oner yhour sones nou !

1 6 Blissed of? lauml be yhe ma, tat maked heuen, erthe als-swa.

17 Heuen of? heuen to lauml be; And erthe to mensones gaf? he.

18 Noghte dede, laaerd , sal looue be

alle, Ne in to helle ba bat doune falle.

19 Bot we bate liuen, lauml we blisse, Fra hethen and in to werld bate isse.

CXIV.

1 luued, for bat lauerd of? heuen Off mi bede sal here be steuen.

2 For he helded to me his ere wiseli, And in mi daies kalle sal .i. .

3 Sorwes of? dede vmgaf? me ai, And wathes of? helle me fand bai.

4 Drouingtf and sorwe bath fand .i. : And name of? lauerd .i. kalled for-bi,

5 »A, lauml, lese mi saule«. mildefal

lauerd al

And rightwise, and oure god milse * sal.

6 Yhemand smalk lauerd es he ; .1. am meked, and he lesed me.

7 Turne, mi saule, in bi reste to be, For lauerd wele did he to be.

1 Ms. misse.

8 For he toke mi saule fra dede, min

eghen twa,1 Mi fete fra slithing^ ber .i. ga.

9 Qweme to lauml .i. sal in land In be rike of? liueand.

CXV (continuation of preceding).

i° 1 leued, .i. spak* for-pi ;

Swithe mikel sothli meked am .i..

11 .1. saide in min outgang*2: »Ilke man ligher es amangw.

12 What sal .i. yhelde to lauml fre For alle bat he has yholden me?

13 Drink* of? hele take .i. sal,

And name of lauml kalle with-al.

14 Mi behotes yhelde sal .i. Bifore alle his folke for-bi. Derworthi es in \a.uerd sights Pe dede of his haliyhes bright*?.

15 A, lauerd, for .i. am bi hine ;

I. pi hine, ande sone of? hande- maiden bine:

16 Pou brake mi bandes, .i. sal to

pe

Offre offrand of? lof? pate be, And name of? lauerd ful of? might* Sal .i. kalle bathe dai and nighte.

17 Mi behotes yhelde sal .i.

In sighte of? alle his folke for-bi ;

18 In porches of? lauerdes hous brighte

als beme,

In mid of? bi Iherusaleme. i V oculos meos a lacrymis. 2 excessu.

mote. E Blisse yhe louml with hand Pat maked erbe als-so be land. E of heuews. E heryhe. E Noht in til. E om ba.

CXIV.

EH loued. H his ere to me. E For louml heldid his ere to me al. E I sal. E Sorghes H Sorihes. E wo^es H wofaes. H fonde E onfong, E ai. E bo inst. of bath. E om of. EH kald. E milsful. EH om lauerd. E Louerd and r. E fra ded and pine, Mine eghen for (r. fro) tens, fro slidyng fete mine.

CXV.

E For pat I spackt' leued I, I sothlic mikild and(!) meked for-pi. E lither. E helyng«. E yheld for-pi. EH be folk*. E sal I. E mi 1. E Pou br. mib., vnto {>e Offre o. I sal bat be Of herding, and name with-al Of louerd euw I sal [cal]. EH Mine hotis. E y. ful witerly. E . . sal I. EH louerd. E And in mid.

250

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

CXVI.

JTleriyhes lauerd, alle genge bat be ; Alle folke, him heriyhe yhe. 2 For oner vs feste his merci esse, And in ai es lauerdes sothnesse.

CXVII.

Ochriues to lauerd, for gode he isse, For in werld es merci hisse.

2 Saie nou Irael : for gode he isse, For in werld es merci hisse.

3 Saie nou Aaron hous for-pi : For in werld es his merci.

4 tat dreden lauerd, saie pai: For in werld his merci ai.

5 Fra drouinge lauerd kalled .i; And lauerd herd me in brede for-f)i.

6 Lauerd helper to me es he ; Noghte sal i. drede whate man does

me.

7 Lauml helper es to me ; And mi faas .i. sal forse.

8 Gode to traiste in lauerd it es ai, tan traiste in ani man be mai.

9 Gode to hope in lauerd es ite, tan to hope in pn'[n]ces yhite.

10 Alle genge vmyhode me ma;

And in name ofe lauerd for .i. am wroken in pa.

11 Vmgiuand vmgafe me swa;

And in name ofe lauerd for .i. am wroken in pa.

The Psalms.

12 Als bees vmgafe pai me pare, And pai brent* als fire in thornes ware ; And in name ofe laue'rd for-pi Wroken wele in pam am .i. .

13 .1. am pute, .i. am tamed1, pat .i.

suld falle ; And lauerd vpfange me with-alle.

14 Mi strenghte and mi lofe lauerd es he ; And made ite2 es in hele to me.

15 Steuen ofe gladschipe and ofe hele

sal rise In pe telde of? rightwise.

1 6 Lauerdes righthand made might,

lauerd hand rights Vphoue me ; lauml righthand made mights.

17 Noght sal .i. die, bote Hue .i. sal; And lauerd werkes telle with-al.

1 8 ^raihand3 lauerd me ^rahed3 he, And to dede noght gafe he me.

19 Rightwise4 yhates open to me pa: And in pam .i. sal inga,

.1. sal schriue to lauerd. pis yhate

lauerdes isse, Rightwise sal ga in ite with blisse.

20 .1. sal schriue to pe, for pou herd me, And made ere tou me in hele to be.

21 te stane whilke biggand forsoke, Ite es made in heued ofe pe noke5.

22 Fra lauerd maked es pisse,

And in oure eghen wonderfulle ite isse.

23 tis es pe daie pat lauerd made to be ; i V Impulsus eversus sum. 2 r. he. 3 = ags.

preagan prean (pr. preade) castigare. * r.

rightwisnes. 6 V in caput anguli.

E him ai H lauerd. of lauerd is in ainesse.

CXVI. E hergh H heyhe.

CXVH.

E fest over vs. E And sothnesse

E his merci isse. H Irael hous. E his merci esse. E Sai nou Aaron hous for god he isse. E his merci isse. E sai pai for-pi. E is his merci. E Fro. E And in brede louerd herd me f. V 6 om in E. E Gode is to tnrist in louerfd] of blisse. E man pat isse. E To hope in louerd it is gode yhit. H traist; E pr. wiht. E mo. E in po. E so. po. E pai vmgaue me pore. E brind. E For pat wroken in p. EH onfonge. E strenth H streng. E om lof. E om sal rise. E In teldis of r. and lele. EH Louerd. E and riht. E did might. E I sal noht degh bot 1. with-al And werkis of 1. tel I sal. H dee ; lauerdes. E traghand . . braghe, H ^rayhand . . ^rayhed. E Open me rihtwis yhates so. H om to. E go. E louerd yhate pisse. E in hit sal go. EH art to. E om te. E of noke. E Of. E And wundre in ouie eyhen. H om pat. E om to be.

Psalm CXVE— CXVIII.

251

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

Glade we in ite, and faine we.

24 A lauerd, saufe make bou me ; A lauerd, in querte to be. Blissed be, |)e wilde and tame, Whilke bat comes in lauerdes name.

25 Fra lauerdes hous to you blissed we ; Gode lauerd, and til vs lighted he.

26 Settes miri daie in thick enesse, Vnto horn bat ofe weued esse.

27 Mi god bou erte, and .i. sal schriue

to be;

Mi god bou erte, and .i. sal vpheue be.

28 .1. sal schriue to be, for bou herd

me nou, And to me in hele made ertou.

29 Schriues to lauerd, for gode he isse, For in werlde es merci hisse.

CXVIII.

OEli vnwemmid en? in wai, In lagh of<? lauerd bat gane ai.

2 Sell bat ransakes witnes hisse,

In alle bar hert sekes him for blisse.

3 Noghte bate wicknes wirken ai In his waies yhoden bai.

4 Pou bade bine bodes ilkedele To be yhemed swith wele.

5 Whine1 ware mine waies righted swa To yheme bine rightwisenesses ma !

6 Panne schente sal .i. noghte be, In alle bine bodes when .i. se.

7 Schriue vnto be sal .i.

In lighting^ ofe hert for-fai, 1 V Utinam.

In foate bat .i. lered mare and lesse Domes off bi rightwisenesse.

8 thine rightwisenesses .i. sal yheme

in thoght : Towarde, frawarde l, forlete me noght.

9 In what yhunger rightefs] 2 his wai ? In yhemand bi saghes ai.

10 In alle mi hert soghte .i. foe:

Fra bine bodes schouue3 noghte me.

1 1 tine speches hide .i. mine hert with-

inne, Pate .i. sul noght to foe sinne.

12 Blissed, lauerd, ai ert bou ; Pine rightwisenes lere me nou.

13 In mi lippes schewede .i.

Alle domes ofe bi mouth for-bi.

14 In foe waie ofe bi wittenesses Am .i. lusted als in alle richesses.

15 In bine bodes wun4 sal .i., And bihalde bine waies witerli.

16 In bi rightwisenesses bithinke .i. sal, Pine saghes noghte forgete with-al.

17 Foryhelde to bine hine, quiken me, And .i. sal yheme saghes ofe be.

1 8 Vnhile mine eghen, and bihald .i. sal Wondres ofe bi lagh with-al.

19 Comelinge am .i. in erthe to se, Hide noghte bine bodes fra me.

20 Langed mi saule to yherne ful wide Pine rightwisenesses in alle tide.

21 Pou snibbed proude; werihed be bai Pat helden fra bi bodes ai.

22 Bere fra me vpbraidinge and for-

hoghte5,

1 V usquequaque. 2 Ms. righted. * V repellas. * exercebor. 5 contemptum.

E Faine we iw it and glade. E sond for to be. E yhe wild. E Fro. H ^hitnesse. E Settes mine dai berforn In thicnesses to be weued horn. E his mercy isse.

CXVIII.

E vnwemed. EH ar. E And godes lagh bat gangen ai. EH ransake. H witnesses. EH seke. E with b. EH bad. E Suld be. EH swibe. E wor mi. E so. mo. H suld. E it. E more. E rihtwissenesse EH sal I. H lere. E froward. E yhonger yhemed bi w. EH bine. H sayhes. E Fro. EH mi. EH ne suld noht. EH art. EH rithwissenesses. E I shewed in lippes mine Alle be domes of mouth bine. E om foe. E rihtwisnesses. E I lusted als in richesesses. E bi. wone. H sayhes. EH bi. E Vnhele. EH Wundres. E C. in erfoe am I. E fro me for-bi. E Mi saule wiled. EH ^horne. H prude. EH weried. E fro. EH pine. E Vpbraydinge and forsakinge bere fro me, For

n

252

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

tine witnesses for .i. soghte.

23 Sothlik? aldermen pai seten And againes me pai speken ; And pi hine pat cure esse Woned in pi rightwisenesse.

24 For and pi witnesse thoght mine ; And mi rede rightwisenesse pine.

25 Cliued mi saule to p£ ' flet: After pi worde qwiken me yhete.

26 .1. schewed mi waies, and pou herd

me: Lere me pi rightwisenesses pat be.

27 Ofe |)i rightwisnesses lere me pe wai, .1. aryhed(l) in |)i wordes* ai.

28 For sleuie3 sleped saule myne: Festen me in wordes pine.

29 Wai ofe wicknes stir« fra me non, And ofe pi lagh milthe of me pou.

30 Wai ofe sothnes ches .i. for-pi, And pi domes noght? forgete .i..

31 To pi witnesses cliued .i. to be: Lauerd, nil ton schend me.

32 Wai ofe pi bodes ran .i. with querte, When pon tobreddest^ mi herte.

33 Lagh set to me, laumi, wai Ofe pi rightwisnesses, and .i. sal

seke ite ai.

34 Gift to me vnderstandingc al, And pi lagh ransake .i. sal,

And yheme wele bi night and dai In al mi herte, whils liue .i. mai.

35 In stihe ofe pi bodes lede pou me,

1 Ms. {>i. 2 EH wundres; V et exercebor in mirabilibus tuis. 3 Ms. sleme? V prae taedio.

The Psalms.

For pat .i. walde in it be.

36 Helde mi hert in witnesses pine, And noght in yherning^1 to be inc.

37 Turn min eghen, pat pai fantome

ne se; In pi wai quiken pou me.

38 Sete to hine pine for mede Speche pine ai in pi drede.

39 Cut£ mine vpbraidingtf pat .i. am

wende ; 2 For pi domes winsome and hende.

40 Loke pine bodes yherned .i. :

In pine euennes quiken me for-pi.

41 And pi merci, lauml,_come over me;

Pi hele after speche off? pe.

42 And answer to vpbraidand me .i. sal, For .i. hoped in pine saghes al.

43 And ne awai-bere fra mi mouth Vforde of sothnes pat es kouth, Toward fraward, night ne dai; For in pi domes ou^r-hoped .i. ai.

44 And pi lagh ai sal .i. yheme,

In werld and in werld ofe werld to queme.

45 And .i. yhode in brede to be, For .i. soghte bodes ofe pe.

46 And .i. spake of pi witnesses in kinges

sights, And noght was schente, dai ne nighte.

47 And .i. thoght in bodes pine, Pat .i. loued als life mine.

i V avaritiam. 2 V suspicatus sum.

I s. w. of pe. E And sothlic pe prince s. E And I pi hine ai pat isse, Was woned. H pine witnesses. H rihtwisnesses. E Mi saule cliued. E quikend. E I*ine(!) waies I kid. E rihtwisnesse of pe. E om pe. EH wundres. E Slepid mi saule for sleuthe in rest, In pi wordes pou me fest. H sleuie. E fro me stire pou, & in lagh mil/,he of me nou. H & pi 1. of me m. pou. E I ches and soght, & pine d. forgete I noht. E In pi witnesse louml cleued I, Ne wil pou shend me for-pi. E I ran in q. E to-brededest pi h. E Vndirstanding giue to me And I sal ransake lagh of pe , And yheme whil I haue quert Til I liue in al mi hert. H yheme hit. E Lede me in stigh of bode pine For it wald I to go inc. E pi witnesses. HE yhorning E of richesses. H om pat. H pai ne fanrum E f. pai ne. E In pi sothnes. E vnto pi h. to. E om pi. E Kut m. v. for ilhoped am I, For pine d. winsu/w -witerli. EH ^horned, E I to se. E om for-pi. E And come oner me louml pi mercy. E pi speche for-pi. E til. EH word I sal. E For in pine s. hoped I al. E of mi. E of rihtwisnesse is. E T. f vriterli. H om ouer. E om ai. E yheme I sal. E . . with-al. E witnesse. E shent was I. E And in pi bodes ai I phoht While I loued more

Psalm CXVIH.

253

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

48 And .i. houe mi hend to pi bodes

mar* and lesse Pat .i. loued , and woned * in pi

rightwisnesse. f 49 Mined of pi worde to pi hine be

nou, In whilkt? hope to me gaf* pou.

50 Pis roned me in mekenes mine, For me qwikened speche pine.

51 Toward fraward* proude dide wicli, And fra pi lagh noght helded .i..

52 .1. mined of* pi domes fra werld

sumdele, Lau*rd, and roned am .i. wele.

53 Waning* held* me, for sinnande Pat pi lagh war* forletande.

54 Sanglic2 to me war* rightwisnesses

pine In stede of pilgrimage mine.

55 •!• mined, lau*rd, of pi name bi

night*, And pi lagh .i. yhemed right*.

56 Pis es made to me for-pi,

For pi rightwisnesses soght* .i..

fl 57 Dele mine, lauerd, saide .i.,

To yheme pi lagh ful stedfastli.

58 .1. bisoght* pi face in al hert mine ; Milpe of me after speche pine.

59 .1. thoght mi waies, and turned swa Mi fete in pi witnesses ma.

60 .1. am boune, and let na-dele, i V exercebar. 2 V Cantabiles.

Pat* .i. yheme pine bodes wele.

6 1 Stringes of sinful vmclipped me, And .i. forgate noght lagh of* pe.

62 At midnight* .i. ras to pe at schriue Ouer domes of* pi rightnes biliue.

63 Deltakand1 .i. am of al be dredand, And of pi lagh wele yhemand.

64 Of* pi merci, lauerd, pe erthe full* esse : Lere pou me pi rightwisnes.

65 Godenes dide pou with pi hine, E Lau*rd, after worde pine.

66 Lere me godenes, wisdome, and lare, For in pi bodes le[u]ed" .i. mare.

67 Ere .i. was meked gilted .i., Pi speche yhemed .i. for-pi.

68 Gode ert pou, and in pi godenes Lere pou me pi rightwisenes.

69 Manifalded es ouer me Wickednes of proude pat* be ; .1. sothlik* in all* hert mine Ransake sal ai bodes pine.

70 Lopred als milk* es hert of* pa ; And .i. pi lagh am thinkand swa.

71 Gode es to me pat pou meked me, Pat .i. lere rightwisenesses of* pe.

72 Gode to me lagh of pi mouth holde, Ouer thousandes of* siluer ore golde.

73 J>ine hend made [me] for to be, *> And als-swa pai schope me :

Gif* to me vnderstanding*,

Pat .i. lere pi bodes ou*r al thing*.

» V Particeps.

Ms. lered.

pen oght. E And I houe mi hend oloft* To pi bodes pat ar* soft*, While I loued stedefastli, And in pi rihtwisenesses woned I. E pou be, nou om. E pou gaue to me. E me roned. E Proude quedli dede toward froward, And fro pi 1. boghed I noght awaiward. E I m. of pi d. wit*rli Fro werld lou*/xl, & r. am I. E fro. E wore. E Songlic me wore. H rihtnesses E rihtwisenesse. E And I get pi lagh ful right. E Mi dele 1. wit*rli For to yheme pi lagh said I. El th. mi w. more and lesse And tz/rned mi fete in pi witnesse. E I am graiped, noht letted so. E pi b. mo. H Strenges. E vmclippe. E om i. E And midniht ros I to shriue to pe. E om domes. E rihtwisenesse pat be. E And pine bodes. E Pe erpe louerd is ful of pi m*rci, Mine rihtwisnesse lere me for-pi. E lor*. E pine. EH leued. E om i. more. E For pat yhemed I pi speche sothli. E Teche me in pi. E Manifolded ar*. EH Wickednesse. E I s. in mi hert al R. pi bodes sal. E Loperd. E of pam. E I sothlick* pi lagh thinkand am. E Gode to me for pou lered (!) me. E rihtwisnesse. E Lagh of pi mouth to me gode and holde. E a phousand. E and g. E Pine h. pat ar heli two, Made me and shop me als-so. E Giue v. vnto me, Pat I ler* bodes of be.

254

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vir.

74 Pat drede pe sal se and faine for-pi,

For in pi wordes on^r-hoped .i..

75 I. knewe, laturd, pat pi domes

euennesse, Pou meked me in pi sothnesse.

76 Be pi merci pat ite rone me, After pi speche to pi hine wil be.

77 Come to me, lauml, pi rewthes, and

liue .i. sal ; For pi lagh mi thoghte es al.

78 Schent be proude mar£ and lesse, For vnrightwiselik*r wickednesse In me dide pai ; and .i. al dai Woned1 in pine bodes ai.

79 To me be turned dredand pe, And ati' knewe pi witnesses , to se.

80 Be mi hert vnwemmid with-in me In pi rightwisenesses, pat schente .i.

ne be.

8 1 Waned in pi hele saule mine, And .i. ouifrhoped in worde pine.

82 Waned min eghen in speche ofi? pe, Saiand: »when sal ton rone me?«

83 For als [b]it2 in frosts am .i. wroghte ; Pine rightwisenesses forgete .i. nogbte.

84 Hou fele daies of pi hine ere in land? When saltou do dome ofe me fili-

yhand?

85 Wicked, fablinges talde to me, Bot noghte als pe lagh ofe pe.

86 Alle pine bodes sothe ere pai: Wicked filiyhed me, helpe me ai !

1 V exercebor. 2 Ms. hit ; V uter.

87 Almaste in erthe pai me forname ; And pi bodes forlete .i. noghte for

pame.

88 Quiken me after pi merci,

And witnesses ofe pi mouth yheme sal .i..

89 IN eu^rmare, lauerd of* blisse, Pe worde ofe pe in heuen it isse.

90 In strende and strende pi sothnesse ; Pou grounded pe land pat euer esse.

91 With pi welesettingg lastes dai, For al thinge seme to pe sal ai.

92 Bot* for pi lagh mi thoghte esse, Pen thurgh hap .i. forworped in mi

mekenesse.

93 In ai forgete .i. noght lightnesses

ofe pe ; For in pa quikenedeste pou me.

94 Pine am .i., saufc me make pov , For pi rightwisenesses soghte .i. nou.

95 Me abade sinful, pat me forles pai ; Pi witnesses vnderstode .i. ai.

96 Of alle fulfilling ende sagh .i. ; Swith brade pi bode witerli.

97 Hou luued .i., lauerd, pi lagh ai! Mi thoghte es it al pe dai.

98 Ouer mine faas slegh me made pou

yhite To l pi bode, for in ai to me e^ \te.

99 Ouer alle lerand me .i. vnderstode ; For mi thoghte pi witnesses gode.

100 Ouer elde2 .i. vnderstode in thoghte; 1 V mandate tuo, abl. 2 senes.

E pe dred. E with-al. E I al. Elk. pi [dom] lou«rd for e. E And pou me m. E To pi hine after speche [of] pe. E om lauerd E in pi. E sal I. E in yhot H ^oht. E is -witerly. E Sh. be pr. niht and dai, For v. wicnes did pai In me sohtlic ai, and I Aryhed(l) in pi bodes for-pi. E Pai turne to me are pe dr/dand, And pat pi witnesse are knawand. H pat knaw. E Be made vnwemed pe hert of me. E And bit in frost I am made for-pi. E Pi. E noght forgat I. H daies are E ar daies. E make d. E saghes tolden. E laghes. E pi b. soth- nesse. E fylehen H filyhe. E Litel les. me pai. E forsoke. E witnes. E In euw louml god to neuen Worde of pe hit wones i« heuen. H om pe ; land pe mare and lesse; E pe erpe and it es. E PurgK [pi] dihting lasted pe dai. E to pe s^rue. E ai esse. E In ai pi rihtwisenesses forgete I ne sal. E pam. E me al. E sauf me for-pi. E pine. E om nou. EH abode. E Pine riht- wisenesses. E I sagh ende of al fulfilling^, Swipe mikil brode is pi bigining. H ful witerli. E lagh (pi om) louerd. H ?hot. E O. mi fos si. pou made me to be. E it is to me. E Ouer elde I v., For I soght pine bodes g., I vnd- irstode oner al lerand me, For mi poht is w. of pe. H al il E al iuel. E I

Psalm CXVHI.

255

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

For pat* pine bodes .i. soght*.

101 Fra iuel wai forbed* .i. fete mine, Pat .i. yheme wele wordes pine.

102 Fra pine domes noght helded .i. ; For pou set lagh to me wiseli.

103 Hou swete to mi chekes pi speches ai ! Ouer hony to mi mouth ere pai.

104 Of* pi bodes vnderstode .i. ;

Alle waie of* wikenes .i. hated for-pi-

105 Lanterne to mi fete esworde pine, And light* vnto stihes mine.

106 .1. swore and set, mar* and lesse

115 Withdragh yhou, lither, fra me for-

pi;

And bodes ofe mi god* ransake sal .i. .

116 Kepe me and .i. sal liue, thurgh

speche pine,

And noght* schende pou me fra abiding* mine.

117 Helpe me, and sauf* be .i. sal, And think* in pi rightwisnesses al.

118 Pou forsoke alle witand pin right-

wisnesses fra; For vnrightwise es pe thoght of* pa.

To yheme domes of* pi rightwisenesse. 119 Wemmand ' al sinfull* of erthe wend

107 Toward fraward meked am .i. ; After pi worde quiken me for-pi.

108 Wilnes l of* mi mouth, lau*rd, make

wele queme, And pi domes lere me to yheme.

109 Mi saule es ai in hend* mine, And .i. forgete noght lagh pine.

no Sinfull* to me snares sette ;

And fra pi bodes noght* dweled .i. yhette.

1 1 1 In eritage soght 2 .i. pi wittenesses ai ; For gladschipe of* mi hert* er* pai.

112 .1. helded mi hert to do forbi al

thing* Pi rightwisenesses in ai, for for-

yhelding*. 0 113 Wicked to hatereden had .i.,

And pi lagh .i. luued for-pi. 114 Mi helper and mi keper ertou,

And ia pi wordes ou*r-hoped .i. nou. 1 V Voluntaria. 2 acquisivi.

Pi witnesses luued .i. for-pi.

1 20 Stike in pi drede flesches mine ;

For .i. drede of domes pine.

121 I made domes and rightwisnes in land ;

Noght* gif* pou me to me crauand2.

122 Onfang* pi hine in gode to be; Noght be proude sal craue me.

123 Mine eghen waned in pi hele esse, And in speche of* pi rightwisnesse.

124 After pi m*rci do with pi hine, And lere me rightwisenesses pine.

125 I. am pi hine, vnderstanding* gif* me, Pat .i. wite witnesses of pe.

126 Lau*rd, time of* makande3; ai4 Skatered pi lagh, night an dai.

127 For-pi luued .i. pi bodes ilkon Ouer golde and topa^ion.

128 At alle pi bodes righted .i. was for-pi •

i V Praevaricantes. 2 calumniantibus.

3 tempus faciendi. * r= J>ai?

helded noht fro domes of pe. E vnto me ; wiseli om. E speches pine (ai om). E to mouth mine. E Fro. E Pi word to mi fete lantern bright, And to mi stiyhes is it light. E more. E Meked am I toward froward to se, Lou*rd quiken me aft*r word of be. E Wilnesnes. E pine, lerne. E om es. E Setten sinful snarre to me, And noght dwelled I fro bodes of be. E pi w. soght I. E phot inst. of gladschipe. E to yheme in al ping*. E om in. E til h. am I. E loued I wit*rli. E word. EH Heldes fro me liber for-pi. E Kepe me after pi speche and liue I sal , And shend me noht [fra] pin abiding al. H om pou. E beryehed sal I be. E ai in rithwisenesse of pe. E pi domes fro H pine bodes fra. EH Pine. E Prick* with. H Stike in pi pric radnes drede f. m. El drede sothlic. H dome, om in E. E r. pat be. E Ne giue me noght lo krauand me. EH Onfong. E pine. E i« g. al , Noht kraue me pe proude sal. E heli. H om Afte-pine. E Do with pi hine after pi mil?- nesse. E om pine. E Pi hine am I. E witnesse. E Time of makyng lou*rd mine , Pa to-schat*red lagh pine. E Til al pi bodes I rihted f. E til hate

256 Tlie Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

Alle wai wicked hated .i..

129 Selkouth, lauml, witnesses pine ; For-pi ransaked es l saule mine.

130 Schirenes2 of pi speche lightes wite, Vnderstandingj? to litel giues ite.

131 Mi mouth .i. opened, and withdrogh3

gast* ; For pi bodes yherned .i. maste.

132 Bihald in me, and rewe of me, After dome of luuand^ name ofe

pe.

133 Right mi steppes after pi speche

esse,

Pat* noght lauerd ouer me al vn- rightwisnesse.

134 Fra crauingtf ofe men me bie pou, Pat .i. yheme pi bodes nou.

135 Onlight pi face oner pi hine, And lew me rightwisnesses pine.

136 Outgang^ ofe watres led^ min eghen

twa,

For pi lagh noght yhemed pa. r37 Rightwis ertou, lauerd mine, And [right in ai es dome pine.

138 Pou sent rightwisnes pi witnes, S withe mikel and pi sothnes.

139 To skulke me made pi luue 5 on-an, For forgeten pine wordes haue mi

faan.

140 Fired pi ?peche es swithe wele, And pi hine luned ite ilkadele.

141 Yongelik*? am .i. and hated; for-pi Pine rightwisnes noght forgete .i..

1 V scrutata est ea. * attraxi spiritum. * V et.

z V Declaratio. 4 V zelus meus.

142 Pi rightwisnes, in ai rightwisnes, And pi lagh it es sothnes.

143 Droning^ and angrom l fonden me ; And mi thoght es bodes ofe be.

144 Euennes witnesses pine in ai; Vnderstandingtf gifc me and Hue .i.

mai.

145 I cried in al herte: »lauerd, here p me;

Pine rightwisnesses sal .i. seke to peV

146 .1. cried to pe : »saufe me make

pou, Pate .i. yheme pi bodes nou«.

147 .1. forcome in ripenes , and made

crie ; In pine wordes ou^rhoped .i..

148 Bifore-come mine eghen at pe in

griking^,

Pat .i. thinks pi speche over alle things.

149 Mi steuen hew, lauerd, after pi

taerci,

And after pi domes qwiken me for-pi.

150 Neghed me filiyhand to wickenes ai, Fra pi lagh sothlic* fer made ere

pai.

151 Nere ertou, lauerd, in godenesse, And alle pine waies sothfastnesse.

152 In biginning^, ofe pi witnesses knew

.i. swa,

For in ai grounded pou pa. 1 angustia. 2 H se.

had I. E witnesse. E saghes. E & v. to smale. E to-drogh. H pine. EH ^horned. E most. E mi[l]^he. E Mi steppes r. H mi goinges steppes. E of me. E Bie me fro krauinges of men so. H crauinges. H pine. E b. mo. E Pi likham oner bi hine pou light, & pi rihtwisnesse lere me riht. E 1. ehen mine, For pai yh. noht lagh pine. E 1. ay, And riht es pi dome niht and day. E to pi. E And shi' edf!) m. pi s. E mi loue onone. E For pi wordes forgat mine fone. H forgoten. E is pi sp. EH loues. E Yunglic am I forsaken als-so, Pi rightwisenesses noht forgat I po. E pi r. louerd. E angruw funden. E phot. E E. pi w. iw ai al, Giue me v. . . I sal. E al mi. H to se, E Seke sal I rihtwisenes of pe. E sauf make me ai. E pine bodes niht and dai. E forthcome. E Forthcom . . to pe. E To pinke pi speches forbi hal ping<?. H speches. H om &l\e. E Mi st. after pi mil^he loneid here pou. EH dome. E me nou. H fil. me to, E f. to me w. E And fro pi lagh fer. EH Negh. E ful of g. E pi. E knew I of pi witnes so. E po.

Psalm CXVIII.

257

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

"I 153 Se mi mekenes, and outake me ; For .i. forgete noght lagh ofe be.

154 Deme mi dome, and me bie bou; For bi speche quicken me nou.

155 Fer fra sinful hele es ai,

For bi rightwisnesses noghte soght?

156 Pine mercies, lauml, mani be, And after bi dome quiken me.

157 Fele bat filiyhen me, and drouen

me swa ;

Fra fai witnesses noght helded .i. for ba.

1 58 .1. sagh wemmand and skulked ' awai, For bi speches noght yhemed bai.

159 See for bi bodes, lauml, luued .i. ; Pou quiken2 me in bi merci.

1 60 Biginning^ ofe bi wordes sothnesse ; In ai alle domes of fai rightwis-

nesse. "83 161 Princes filiyhed me selfwilli;

Ofr bi wordes dred mi hert for-bi.

162 .1. sal faine over J)ine speches mare, Als wha swa fand^r mikel pat reft

ware3.

163 Wicknes to hatereden had .i. sothli, And am wlated4 ; and fai lagh luued i.

164 Seuensithe in dai lofe saide .i. to be, Oner domes ofe bi rightwisenesses

bat be.

165 Mikel pais to fai lagh luuand,

1 Ms. skulded. * Ms. quikened. * V spolia multa. 4 abominatus sum.

And to bam es na schame ' in land.

166 .1. abade bi hele, lauml, al dai, And bine bodes luued .i. ai.

167 Mi saule yhemed bi witnesse, And swith mikel luued am man;

and lesse.

168 .1. gate2 bi bodes and witnesses

bine, For in bi sights al waies mine.

169 Negh mi biseking?, lauml, in f\ sight ofe be ;

Bi bi speche, vnderstandingt* gite me.

1 70 Inga min asking*? in pi sight nou ; After bi speche, me outake bou.

171 Rift* sal mine lippes ympne dai and

night<? *,

fi rightwisenesses when bou has me taghti?.

172 Schewe sal mi tauge bi speche bat

esse, For alle bine bodes euennesse.

173 Be bi hand bat it sauue me, For bine bodes ches .i. to se.

174 .1. yherne[d], lau<?rd, hele bine, And bi lagh es thoght mine.

175 Mi saule sal liue, and loue J)e, And bi domes sal helpe me.

176 .1. dweled als it ware a schepe I>at forworfaed with-outen kepe ; Seke bou, lauml, fai hine;

For .i. forgete noght bodes bine.

i V scandalum. 2 servavi. 3 r. might.

E om and ; lese me for-bi. E For bi lagh noht forgete I. E bie me nou, For bi lagh me qu. bou. E fro. E t*i r. for noht. E om lauml. H mani lauerd. E bai be. E om And. E while. H filyhe E me filyhe. E droue . . so. E For bi witnes. E bohed H helped. EH om for. H bine. E bine. E om bodes lauerd. E Lonml quiken. E worde. E rihtwisn esses. E And of. E Faine sal I. E more. E who so. EH fond. E robbed wore. E Wicnes I hated and wlated am I, And bi lagh loued I sothfastli. E of riht- wisnes of be. E louande H loouande. EH is. E no. E i« hande. E abode. E om lauerd. E bi. H rihtwisnesse ; E w. mo. E loued it bo. H get E yhemed. E witnes. H om bi. H seking. E In bi sight louml negh mi biseking, After fai sp. gif me v. E Income. E om nou. E outtak me riht. E Mi lippes sal rift loft-sang bat is, When faou has lered me fai rihtwisnes. E Shew m. t. fai speche sal, For euennes faine bodes al. E For I ches be bodes of be. E I yhorned bi hele louml of blisse, And fai lagh mi fahot it isse. E leue & heryhe me(!). E wore. E Seke bi hine lonml b<rt faou wroght, For bine bodes forgete I noght.

n.

17

258 The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

CXIX.

J. o lauerd , when .i. was droned,

cried .i., And he herd me witterli.

2 Lauml , fra wicked lippes mi saule

lese ton, And fra swikel tungtf nou.

3 What es pe giuen, or what set es to f)e, At swikel rang, lie pat it be?

4 »Arwes scharpe oie mightand, With koles fill vnronand'«.

5 Wa to me, for mi teldestede swa Forthferred es me fra2!

.1. erded with erdand Cedar ; Mikel comeling* mi saule was par.

6 With pa pat pais hated ai Was .i. paisfulL?, night and dai; When .i. spake to {mm for-pi, Pai infaght me selfwilli.

CXX.

1 houe mine eghen in hilles, to se . Whethen sal come helpe to me.

2 Mi helpe sal be lauml fra,

tat maked heuen, erthe als-swa.

3 Noght in stiring* mi fote giue he, Ne he sal slepe pat yhemes pe.

4 Loke noght sal slepe ne, slepe sal wele3 Whilktf pat yhemes Iraele

5 Lauerd yhemes pe, la.-a.erd. pi schilder

be

Ouer pe righthand oie pe. 1 V cum carbonibus desolatoriis. 2 V Heu mihi , quia incolatus meus prplongatus est. 3 V non dormitabit neque dormiet.

6 Bi dai noght pe sunne skalde pe sal, Ne pe mone bi night with-al.

7 Lauml fra alle iuel yheme be ; Lauml pi saule yheme he.

8 Lauml yheme pine ingang* and pine

outgange, Fra hethen and in to werkte

CXXI. 1 am faine in pa pat£ saide are ' t

me: »In hous oie lauerd ga sal we«.

2 Standande war* our fete als beme In pi porches oie'2' Iherusaleme.

3 Jerusalem, pat bigged als cite isse, Ofe wham in him-selfc del-taking

hisse3.

4 Pider sothlik^ vpstegh on heght Kinde, kinde oie laumi reght, Witnes oie Irael pe same,

For to schriue to laumles name.

5 For pare sat pai setels in dome with *, Setel oner pe hous oie Dauid.

6 Biddes whilk^5 at pais ere Jerusalem

land, And mightsomnes to pe louand.

7 Pais be in pi might esse, And in pi toures mightsomnes.

8 For mi brethre and mi neghburghsbe, Spake .i. mikel pais of pe.

9 For hous oie lau^d, our god es he, Soght .i. godes vnto pe.

1 V in his quae dicta sunt. 2 om. of. 3 V cuius participatio ejus in idipsura. * Quia illic sederunt sedes in judicio, sedes &c. » V quae ad pacem sunt I.

CXIX.

E When I was draied to lauerd k. I. E fro. EH wick*. E pou. E fro. E is pe set. H om es. E Vn-to sw. t. yhet«. E Arowes. E vnrounandand. E Wa me vntilyngstede swa. H tilstede. E fered. E Pat mikil hated pais with po Was I paisful for to go. E Pai ouer-com.

CXX.

H Wepen. E fro. E als-so. E Pi fote in stiring noght. EH giues. E Loke he ne slepe ne slepis wel. H ne slepes. EH yheme. E pe forhiler. E O. pi r. to be. E In dai swipe noht sinne (r. sunne) pe sal. E pe niht. E fro.

CXXI.

E fained in po ar said. E wore. E lem. E om wham. H whom. E del- taging esse. E Pepen. hight. right. E pore. EH setel. E om pe. E Askis. ar. E Loutrd pais be in miht pat isse. H neghburyhes E neghbures. E me bi. E Pais spak I of pe for-pi.

Psalm CXXII— CXXIV.

259

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

cxxn.

J. o be mine eghen houe .i., Pat wones in heuen witerli.

2 Loke als eghen ofe bine be

In hende ofe bair lau;rdes to se,

3 Als eghen ofe handmaiden klene In hende ofe hir leuedy bene: Our eghen to lauml our god bus, To bat he haue merci ofe vs.

4 Milbe ote vs , laumi , milbe ofe vs

bar*1,

For ofe forletenesse2 mikel filled we axe.

5 For mikel filled es our saule ; vpbrai-

ding; To mightand, and to proude forleting;.

cxxm.

.Dot for lauml was in vs, sai nou

Irael, Bot for lauml was in vs wele

2 When men ras vp in vs swa, Thurgh hap qwik; swelyhed vs pa;

3 When wrethed breth ofe pa in vs bus, Thurgh hap watre had one rschouued 3

vs.

4 Our saule ou;rfore scaldand 4 ; Swilk; hap might haue bene in land Ou;rfaren had our saule swiftlik;

1 H ^hare. * V despectione. » absor- buisset. 4 V pertransivit torrentem.

Watre bat was vntholandlik;.

5 Blissed laumi, bat noght gate vs swa In taking* ofe" tethe ofe pa.

6 Our saule als sparw es ofe band Outane, fra snare ofe huntand :

7 Pe snar; forbroken es in ai, And we lesed er; awai.

8 Our helpe es in laumies name, Pat made heuen and land, be same.

CXXIV.

Pat traisten in lau^rd ilkon, Als pe hegh hille in Syon: He ne sal be stired in eu^rmare, In lerusalem pat wones pare.

2 Hilles in his vmgang; ; and lau;rd in

vmgang;

Ofe his folk; , fra hethen and in to werld lang;.

3 For [lauerd] noght forelete2 sal he Yherde of sinful for to be

Ou«?r lote of rightwis, bat noght

streke bai, Rightwise, to wiknes bair hende ai.

4 Wele do, lau^rd, to gode in quert;, And to rightwise axe ofe herte.

5 And heldand in bindinges 3 lauerd lede

sal

With wirkand wicknes. pais of4 Iraei all

1 r. to? 2 V relinquet. * obligationes. 1 EH ouer, V super.

cxxn.

E For loke. E of h. to se. H om pair; E pi. H lauerd. E be. E And als hend. E handen mayden. E Til; ^at om. H ^hare. E forsethenes. E filed H filde. E om es. E of vpbraydinfg] wide Til erdand and forsighnes of pride.

cxxm.

E When pat men risen had in vs, Purgh" [hap] quic had pai swologhed vs. H om qwik. H swol^hed. E When w. in vs brath of bo. E had shouued vs so. E Ou^rfore our; saule sclaldand, Purgh hap hade ou^rfaren our; saule wat;r vnfaoland. H swiflic. H om bat. H om bat. E so. E to teche H of tegh. E [)o. E is in land. E fro. E hontand. E is it ai. E are lesed al owai. H om V 8. E om es; in name of lou;rd so, Pat heuew and erbe bobe made bo.

CXXTV.

E traist. E euerilkone. E om hegh. EH of. E -more, fiore. EH om Of his folk. E lou;rd, om in H. E Y. of s. ouer lote to be Of r., bat noght in land Rihtwise to wicnesse streke bar hand. E In bindinges sothlic heldand Lede sal lou;rd with wirkand Wickednes , pat do noght wele ; Pais be out r Irael. H ouer.

,7*

260 The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

cxxv.

In rurnande lauml wrecchednes of

Syon, Made ere we als roned onon.

2 I1 en es our mouth fulfil ed with bliss e, And with gladschip our rung; pat

isse.

3 Pan bitwix genge sai sal pai swa: »Mikled lauml to do with pa«.

4 Mikled lauml to do with vs ; Maked ere we fainand bus.

5 Turne, lauml, our wrecchednesse1, Als skaldand in south esse.

6 Pat sawen in teres al dai,

In mikel gladschip repe sal pai.

7 Gaand yhoden and wepen sare, Sendand pair sedes pai ware;

8 Come sothlikf pai sal comand With gladschip, pair handfuls2 berand.

B<

CXXVI.

)ot laumi haue bigged pe hous yhitf, Vnnait swanks faai pat biggen ite ;

2 Bot lauml yheme be cite ai,

l>at yhemen ite vnnait* wake pai.

3 Vnnait es to you bi nights Forto rise bifore pe light*?: Rises after ye haue siten swa, Pat eten brede ofe sorw and wa.

i captivitatem. 2 manipulos.

4 When he has giuen pat es bestc, Slepe vnto luned hisse and rest;, Loke eritage off lauml ofe blisse Sones hires1, fruits ofe wambe isse.

5 Als arwes in hand ofe mightand, Swa sones ofe forschaken in land.

6 Sell bieren es whilk« pat swa Filled has his gerning^ ful ofe pa : He ne sal be schent, ereli ne late, When he spekes with his faas in

yhate.

cxxvn.

pat [dreden] lauml of;

Seli alle

blisse, Pat ai gane in waies hisse.

2 Swinkes of; pi hend* for etc saltou ; Seli erte , and wele bes to pe non.

3 Pi wite als winyher[d] mightsomand, In halues ofe pi hous dwelland ;

4 Pine sones als newe plantes ofe

oliue, In vmgang£ ofe pi borde to Hue.

5 Loke, swa man be blissed salle Pat dredes lauerd ouer alle!

6 Blisse mote he pe onon Pat es lauml of* Syon,

Pe godes of lerusalem pat2 pou se Alle daies ofe pi life pat be;

7 And sones of pi sones se pou wele. Pais be ouer Iraele.

« Cf. R. R.'s exposition. J V et.

CXXV.

E wrechenes E fildfhl. E O\ue tonge with gladship so it isse. E betwene folk«. E om sal. so. H to tha E with po. E fained. E Als swithand in esteld(!) pus. H estdel. E in t. mo, Alle gladship repe sal po. EH Goand. E sore. E wore. E pai pai c. EH handfoles.

CXXVI.

E had biged. E pi cite. E yeme it, idel. E om to. E after siten haue yhe, And e. E of soryhe pat be. E om he ; giuen has. E To his louml (r. loued) slepe & rest. E Hires of wones. E wombe hisse. E So. H forsaken E shaken. H berne. E Seli man pat fild his Corning? of po , Noght bes he shent whe» he spektf i« yhate with his fo.

cxxvn.

H om dreden. E om ai; gangen. EH art. H and inst. of als. E wunyherde. E wonand. E Pi. H of Hue. E Loke se man. E mot pe son o-none. E And gode of I. se pou Alle d. of pi 1. nou.

Psalm CXXVIII— CXXXI.

26l

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

CXXVIII.

v_/fte me overcome bai

Fra mi yhouth, Irael nou sai ;

2 Oft fra mi yhouth me ovurcome ba : Sothlik? noght might bai to me swa.

3 Ou^r mi bak? smithed sinful ai ; I>air wickednesse forlengh{)ed bai.

4 Lauerd rightwise slite sal he Hernes * ofe sinful bat be ;

Pai be schente and twmed hindward

onon Alle |)as bat* hated Syon.

5 Pai be als oie houses hai,

Pat or it be outschouued ~ it dries awai ;

6 Ofe whilktf bat repes noght fild his

hand,

And his bosum bat handfules es ge- derand ;

7 And bai saide noght bat forbi yhede : »Blisse off lauml you to mede«, »To yhou ener blisse we

In name ofe lauerd bat ai sal be.«

CXXIX.

IT* ra depnesses cried [i],lauird, to be ; Lauerd, here be steuen ofe me ;

2 Bihaldand be bine eres euen Ofe mi bisekingc in be steuen.

3 lie wicknes, lauml, bou bihald al, Lauerd, wha ite vphald sals?

1 V cervices. " evellatur. a quis sustinebit?

4 For at be, neghUomnes1 es to be; And for pi lagh, lauml, vpheld .i. be.

5 Vpheld mi saule in worde hisse ; Hoped mi saule in lau<rd ofe blisse.

6 Fra yhemingc ofe mornings to be

nights Hope Irael in laumi ofe mights;

7 For at lauml it es merci, Fulli bying*; at him for-bi.

8 And he sal bie Irael

Off alle his wicednesses wel.

cxxx.

L^ianerd, vphouen es noght mi hert, Ne vpborn ert' mine eghen in quert^ ;

2 Ne in gretnesses .i. yhode to be, Ne in wondres ou^r me.

3 lie .i. feled noght mekeli, Bot mi saule vphoue .i. ;

4 Als soukand2 ouer moder hisse, Swa foryheldingtf in mi saule isse.

5 Hope in lauerd Irael,

Fra hethen and in to werld wel.

IVl

CXXXI.

ne, lauerd, ofe Dauid,

And off al handetamenes his faer-with ;

2 Als he sware to lauerd of mights, Hote to god lacob he highte :

3 »In telde of mi hous ife .i. inga ; Ife .i. vpstegh in stede ofe mi strail swa ;

4 lie .i. gift to mine eghen slaping^, 1 propitiatio. 2 V ablactatus, R wenyd.

cxxvni.

H E ouer-wun(n)en. E youphe. E fro. youhe. E bo. E And faai ne miht noght. H noht to me miht bai. E s. bat esse, I'ai forlenbhed bain: wicked- nesse. H turne. E hendward H hindhard. E bo pat H ba bat. E haten H hate. E Als hai of houses made be bai. EH er. E dried. EH ai. E fil sal. E Ne. EH bosem. EH handfoles is. E gedrand. E Blissing . . over yhou.

CXXIX.

EH depnes. E louml kried I H cried i lauerd. E be bede. E Be pine eres bihaldand e. E biloke al. EH vphald it. E winsumnes is at be. E om And. E Fro get morning* H Fra ^hemed morning. E vn-to. EH Hoped. E mi saule. E For pat 1. is m. E om 8.

CXXX.

E Ne vphouen are. E milksoukand H soukedand. E esse. E So. H hethen. Evnto.

CXXXI.

EH al his h. E par EH wid. EH swore. E lacob of miht. E ingo. H up- stigh. E in straile of mi bed so. E If to mine eghen I giue. H browes mine.

262

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

And to mi browes napping^,

5 And rest to mine times1, to .i. find

in welde Stede to lawrd, to god lacob telde ?«

6 Loke in Ephrate herd we pa ;

In feldes of wodes find2 we pam swa.

7 We sal inga in his telde with blisse ; We sal bide in stede par stode fote 3

hisse.

8 Rise, lauerd, in pi rest pat esse, Pou and arktf ofe pi halinesse.

9 Pine pastes rightwisnes klethe ai. And pine haleghs glade pai.

10 For Dauid, pat es pi hine, Noght twrne pou likam ofe crist pine.

11 Lauml to dauyd swore he,

And vnnaite to him sal to noghte be : »Ofe fruits ofe pi wambe, for-pi, Oner pi sete sette sal .i..

12 Ife pi sones mi witeworde yhemen

alle,

And mi witenesses pese pat lere am .i. salle,

13 And sones ofe pam to in werld ai, Site oner pi sete sal pai.

14 For lauerd Syon chese he,

He chese ite in eritage ofe him to be.

1 5 Pis mi reste in werld ofe werld yhite ; Here sal .i. wone, for .i. chese ite.

1 6 His widow blissand blisse .i. sal, His pouer with laues fille .i. sal.

17 His pastes with hele clethe sal .i. ai,

' V temporibus, R tempils. - E fond.

3 EH fete.

And his haleghs with gladschip glade sal pai.

1 8 Pethen sal .i. forlede1 Dauid horn; .1. graiphed lantern2 to mi criste per-

forn.

19 His faas sal .i. kleth with schend-

nesse, And oner him blome sal mi halinesse« .

cxxxn.

.Loke swa gode, swa winsom yhite, Til eerde brethre in ane es ite:

2 Als pe smerle in heued onon, Falles in berde, berde ofe Aaron,

3 Pat doune falles in vrlinge3 Ofe him pat es pe klething^4 ; Als pe dew ofe Heremon, Pat falles in hilk ofe Syon.

4 For pider lauerd blissinge sende, And life til in werldes ende.

cxxxm.

.Loke nou lauerd blisse yhe, Alle hine ofe lauerd pat be ;

2 Whilk^ standes in hous ofe lauerd

ofe blisse,

In porches ofe hous ofe our god isse.

3 In nightes heues your hende in hali, And blisses lauerd inwardeli.

4 »Lauerd ofe Syon blisse pe,

Pat maked heuen and erthe to be«.

1 V Illuc producam. - Ms. lanterd. * fr. ags. orl, hem of a garment. * V quod descen- dit in oram vestimenti ejus.

E mi time. E om to 2- E po. E In trees of EH wode. E fond. so. E ingo. of b. EH fete. E isse. E archa. EH helinesse. E om prestes. E kleth pe. E pi halyhes in pe. E Turne noght lickam. E womb. E set. E yemed hafe al. E witnes. E phese H ;hese. EH om pat. E I lere pam al. E in to werld pat isse, Sal sete ou^r pi sete with blisse. H to hjm; E om of him to. E om 14. H wun. H widw. E sal fil loues withal. H alle inst. of fille. E Fro pen. H forbede E lede. EH lantern. E biforn. E foos. E om i. E shendenes. helines.

cxxxn.

E so. EH winsum. H in an breper. E on. E Als-so s. E om in ; heuen (r. heued) apon. E pi kl. E Eremon H Heremon. E vnto pe w. e.

cxxxm.

E Pat standis. H stande. E houses. EH heli. E wuVrli. E L. of heue«.

Psalm CXXXIV— CXXXV.

263

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

CXXXIV.

lleriyhes name ofe laumi ofe blisse ; Heriyhes, hine, laumi bat isse :

2 I1 at in hous of* laumi stande yhe, In porches ofe hous ofe our? god

es he.

3 Loues laumi, for gode laumi yhite; Salmes to his name, for soft? es it?.

4 For lacob to him laumi ches he, Irael in aght to him to be.

5 For .i. knew bat mikel es lauerd we

kalle, And our god bifore goddes alle.

6 Alle bat euer he wald haf? done, Laumi in heuen he did? als sone, And in erthe, and in be se, And in alle depnesses bat be.

7 Fra vttrest? of erthe kloudes ledand, Leuening? in raine he made in land ;

8 I*at forthledes windes strange Fra his hordes forto gang?.

Pat smate firstgeten of Egipt? ware, Fra man to beste, noght ane left* bare;

9 And sent? taknes forto see

And fortaknes, Egipt, in mid* ofe be, In Pharao with mikel wa And in alle his hine als-swa ;

10 Pat smate mani genge amang?, And slogh kinges bat war? strange:

1 1 Seon, bat was witerli

King? ofe be land ofe Amorri, And Og? bat king? was of? Basan,

And be rikes ofe Kanaan ;

12 And he gaf? bar land eritage ilkadel, Heritage to his folk* of Irael.

13 Pi name in ai, lauerd, sal be, And pi minde in strende and strende

to se.

14 For laumi his folk? deme he sal, And in his hine besekandlik? be

with-al.

1 5 Liknes l ofe genge ofe siluer and gold?, Werkes of? mennes hend? ofe molde :

1 6 Mouth haue bai, and noght speke

with-al ; Pai haue eghen, and se bai ne sal.

1 7 Eres haue bai, and noght her? sal swa : Ne sothlik? gaste es in mouth ofe ba.

1 8 Like to bam be made bat maken ba, And alle bat traisten in bam swa.

19 Hous ofe Irael, god bou blis; Blisse laumi, Aaron hous bat is.

20 Blisse lauerd, hous ofe Leui;

Pat dredes laumi, blisse laumi for-bi.

21 Blissed laumi ofe Syon be, Pat in lerusalem erdes he.

CXXXV.

Ochriues to laumi, for gode he isse, For in werld es mm:i hisse.

2 To god ofe goddes schriues nou : ~

3 To laumi ofe laumies schriues yhou :

4 Pat makes aneli grete wondr? thing? :

5 Pat made heuens in vndrestanding? :

1 Simulacra. 2 The refrain of each verse ( : quoniam in eternum misericordia eius) was om. by the translator.

CXXXIV.

EH with blisse. E H. name of 1. E Whilk?. E Heryhes. E loumi to him lacob. E L. did in heuew ; he om. E om in2- E om in. E inrest. E Leuinyng. E forghlede ledes (!). E Of. H bar h. E bare amang?. EH smot. H first- goten E firstkined. E For. one. E He outsend. EH toknes. E in mid Egipt be. E Pharaon. wo. E om And. als-so. EH smote. E omang?. E wore. E Syon. EH om be. EH Armori. E & of king was B. E om land. EH il- kedele. E Laumi bi name in ai sa wend, Laumi pi mind in strend and strend. E sal he. E besoght sal he be. EH men. E Eyhen bai haue. E Pai haue eres. E bai sal so. bo. E om V 18. H Leke. H man (= maken). H leuen. sa. E bo H be bl. E dredis H drede. E BI. loumi briht als ani beme, Pat herdes in lerusalem.

CXXXV.

E om V I. H mas onli. E Pat makes wundres grete on mo. E in v. so.

264 The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vn.

6 fat fastened land ou*r watres to be :

7 tat grete lightnesses maked he:

8 f e sunne in might* of* daies lights :

9 fe mone and sternes in might of

night*.

10 fat smate Egipt* with firstgeten of*

fa:

11 fat led* Irael fra mid* of* fa,

12 In hand mightand fat was slegh And arme als-swa wondr* hegh.

13 fat delt* fe rede see in delinges

wele,

14 And led<; thurgh mid!? it Irael ;

15 And Pharao als-swa smate he And his might in f)e rede se.

1 6 fat led his folk* thurgh wildernesse :

1 7 fat smate kinges mar* and lesse ;

18 And he slogh kinges stalworth war* :

19 Seon king* of* Amorri fare ;

20 Og* king* of Basan als-swa ;

21 And eritage gaf* f)e land of* fa:

22 Heritage to his [hine] of* Irael.

23 fat1 in our mekenes mind of* vs

wel;

24 And he boght vs with his wille Fra our faas bat* wald vs ille.

25 fat giues mete til al flesche bat

isse.

26 Schriues to god of* heuen blisse:

27 Schriues to lauml night and dai, For his m*m es in ai.

i V Quia.

CXXXVI.

Otremes of* Babilon, bar* sat* we on, And wepe, whils we mined of Syon.

2 In selihes in mid* of* it* Our organes heng* we yhit*.

3 For bider l asked vs , bat wrecches

swa Led vs, wordes of sanges ma ;

4 And bat outled* vs: »ympne sing* yhe Til vs of sanges of* Syon be«.

5 Hou sal we sing* sang* with blisse Of* lauerd in outen land fat isse?

6 If* .i. forgete f e, lerusalem land, To forgetelnesse giuen be mi right*

hand.

7 Mi tunge to mi chekes cleuand be, If* fat .i. noght mine of* f e ;

8 If* .i. forset* f e noght, lerusalem, ai In biginning* of* mi fainenes al dai.

9 Mine , lau*rd, of* Edom sones , fat

tern, In daie of* lerusalem,

10 fat saies: »lesses2, lesses yhit*, Vnto fe grondstaf elnes 3 in it*!«

11 Doghtre of Babilon, wrecched alle ! Seli fat foryhelde salle

To f e fi foryhelding* nou fat til vs foryhelded f ou ;

12 Seli fat sal hald on-ane

And giue* fi smale vnto fe stane.

funda-

i V illic. mentum.

2 exinanite ; R temys. r. guide.

E watres ou*r erde mo. E lightnes m. so. E fat s. E om in. E dai bright. E fat m. EH smote. E wight firstkined of am. E of f am. E In f e hand of mikel might, And arme hegh ful wele dight. H In f e h. E be (r. se) in doles. E ledde. EH Pharaon. E als-so. EH smote. E & might of him. EH And led. EH And smote. E more. E k. strong* for-fi. EH Armori. E om fare. E Ogge. E als-so. E fo. EH to his hine. E om vs. E Fro. foos. E f. mai be. E of h. is he. E for gode he isse, For in werld his m*rci isse.

CXXXVI.

H site. E We sal site oner str. of Babilon. E whil H wil. EH min(e). H salyhes E wilthes. E of it to se. E hyng* sal we. E fide. EH bad. E so. EH songes. E mo. H om fat. E loftsong*. E om of. E song* H songes. EH song*. E werld inst. of lauerd. E lerusalem if I forgete f e, Mi rihthande to forgeting* giuew be. H cliuand. E cliue it. E If I min noght of f e yhit. E lerusalem if i set f e noght. H set. EH In mid of mi faines, E with f oght. E In f e dai. EH saine. E In f e. E grounstaf eling* of it. EH foryheld(e) f ou. E onon. EH gnide. E his saule(!). E to. E stone, H ban.

Psalm CXXXVII— CXXXVHI. Ms. Vesp. D vii.

CXXXVII.

IN alle mi hert, lauml, sal .i. schriue

to pe, For pou herd wordes off mouth of*

me.

2 In sight of* aungels bright*: Sal .i. singe to pe full* right*, At pi hali kirke bid sal .i. And schriue to pi name wit*rli,

3 Ou*r hi sothnesse and bi merci, For pou mikled ou*r al pi name hali.

: 4 In what dai .i. be kalle, here me; Pou sal felefald might in mi saule to be.

5 Be schriuen to be, lauml, alle kinges

ofe land,

Pat l herd alle wordes ofe bi mouth comand ;

6 fat" pai singe in waies of lau*rd al

dai,

For mikel es blisse ofe lauml ai. . 7 For hegh lauml, and mekenesses

sees he,

And heghtes3 fra fer knawes he. 8 In mid of* mi4 drouing* if* gane afe .i., Pou sal qwiken me for-pi ; And ou*r wreth of* mi faas hi hand

streked faou,

And sauf* me maked bi righthand nou. 1 V quia. - V et, R ut. * alta. < om mi.

265

9 Lauml sal foryhelde for me. lau*rd,

pi m*rci

In werld: bi hendwerk* ne forsake for-j)i.

CXXXVIH. * ou fanded me , lauml , and knew

me, king*; Pou knew mi seete and mi rising*.

2 Mi thoghtes fra fer vnderstode pou ; Mi stie and mi string* instepped1

bou nou,

3 And J)ou forsagh mi waies ilkan ; For in mi tunge sagh es nan.

4 Loke , lauml , bou knew alle new

and aide bat be ;

Pou made me, and set pi hand oner me.

5 Selkouth es made [bi]2 lare ofe me

yhit* ;

It es strenphed5, and .i. might noght at it*.

6 Whider fra pi gaste sal .i. ga? And whider fra bi face fle sal .i. swa?

7 Ife .i. vpstegh in heuen , par* ert

bou; Ife .i. falle til helle, sone comes tou.

8 Ife .i. take in griking* fetheres to me, And eerde in vtrest* ofe be se,

9 Sothlike bi hand it* lede me sal,

i V investigasti, R steppyd. 2 om ; V scieu- tia tua ex me. 3 r. strenyhed?

cxxxvn.

E I to be shriue. E of mi mouth biliue. E Of bine aungeles in be sight. H of fain a. E And fai. EH heli. E bidde I sal. E with-alle. E Ouer bi mil^ fai sothnes same. E pi heli name. E manifolded H felefalded. E om mi. E Louml to fae be faai shriuew, Al kynges of erbe bat liuen , For pai herd and vndirstode Of pi mouth al wordes gode. H worde. E is inst. of al dai. E is of lou*rd be blisse. E meknes. E & heghnes he knawes fro fer to se, E om of. E gon H gain. EH salt. E wragh H wrath. E fos. EH streke. EH make. E Louml foryhelde sal for me, Lou*rd mildhertnes of be Is in werld bat bou wroght, Werkis of bi hend forsake noght. H foryheld sal.

cxxxvm.

H fonded. E Louml bou me fraisted. E Fro fer bi(!) boghtes. EH stigh. EH streng*. EH forsegh. E ilkone. H om in. E sah. E non. E newest an eld. E shope. E Ferlic. H made is. E bi lor*. E streynghed. EH in hit. E fro. go. E sal I fle so. E stegh til h. bore art bou nou. E sal inst. of falle. H griging. E om it. H And if. E whilk hap. EH Merknes.

266

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

And bi righthand sal halde me al.

10 And .i. saide : »swilk* happe might be Mirkenesses sal fortrede me,

And be night be lightings mine, In mi lustes to ga ine.«

11 For mirkenesses, alle bat be, Noght cestred sal be fra be ;

For be lighted als daie sal be nights ; Als his mirkenesses, and swa his light*.

12 For foou aghte mi lendes nou;

Fra maghe ofe mi moder me keped bou.

13 .1. sal schriue to be for-bi, For mikled ertou aghfulli ; Wondrefull* ere werkes bine, And wele knawe sal saule mine.

14 Noght hid*; es mi mouth1 fra be, Pat bou made in derne to be ; And be stabelnes2 ofe me

In netherest* ofe erthe to be.

15 Fine eghen segh vnfulmaking*3 mine, And be writen sal alle in boke bine ; Schapen sal be daies ma,

And na man sal be in ba.

1 6 To me sothliktf mikel worscheped

bene,

God*, bine frendes alle bidene ; Swith mikel strenghbed es in blisse Fe alderman4 ofe bam bate isse.

17 .1. sal telle bam night and dai, And oner se-sand* felefalde sal bai. .1. vpras full* witerli,

i V os, R. bane, imperfectum meum. cipate.

2 V substantia. 3 v 4 V principatus ; R prin-

And yhit .i. am with foe for-foi.

18 [If bou slaas, god, sinful bat be, H Men-sloers, heldes fra me ;

19 For in boht saie ^he , mare and

lesse: Par cites take foai in unnaitnesse.

20 Pat hated foe, lauerd, hated .i.; I sculked ouer mi1 fas for-bi.]2

21 With fulli hatereden hated .i. foa, Faas to me made er* bai swa.

22 Fande me, god*, and mi hert wit*

bou; Aske me, and knaw mi stiyhes nou.

23 And se if* wai of* wicknes es in me : And lede me in wai foat ai sal be.

CXXXIX.

v_7utake me, lauml, fra iuel man; Fra wik* bieren outake me on-an.

2 Pat thoght wickenesses in hert ai, Fightes set bai alle be dai.

3 Pai scharped pair tunges als neddres,

swa; Attre of* snakes vnder lippes of* pa.

4 Fra hend* of* sinfull*, lauerd, yheme

me, Outake me fra men pat wicked be :

5 Pat thoght* mi steppes til vnderga; Proude, snares to me hid* pa,

6 And strenges in snar* pai set to be, Biside be wai schame set bai to me.

7 .1. saide to lau*rd : mi god* ertou ; Here steuen of* mi biseking* nou.

1 r. pi? 2 V 18 — 20, om in Vesp., are

supplied from H.

E om sal. E And be n. lighting in me so In mi likynges sal me go. E For merkenesse mani mo N. be cestred sal foe fro. E om sal. E Als is merkenes als-so is 1. E mi lendes aht bou n. E Fro wombe. E kep ; H mi fonger bou. H athfulli. EH Wunderful are. E werkis. E & knaw swibe mikil. H kn. bam. H hid denied (!) is. E foe fro. E in hidil so. H neberist. E se. E Daies sal be shapen mo. E no man. bo. E om V 16 — 21. EH Fond. E lou*rd. E & wit hert mine. E stiyes mine. E if wick* wai.

CXXXIX.

E Fro iuel man lou*rd outake me nou, Fro berne wicked me outake faou. H berne. H om me. E wicnes. E boght inst. of set. E so. bo. E Yheme [me] louerd fro sinful hand, Fro men wick* outak* me in land. H hand. H om pat. E vndirgo. bo. E strengis. E pai streked. E om be. E of mi blissing.

Psalm CXXXIX-CXL.

267

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

8 Lauml, lauml, ofe mi hele es might*,

fou schadowed ou*r mi heued in dai of* fight*.

9 Noght gif* pou me, lauerd, fra mi

yherning*

Vnto sinfull*, for nakin things; tai thoght ogaine me : ne forlete me, Pat thurgh hap vphouen pai be.

10 Heued of* vmgang* of* pain es alle, Swink* of* par lippes ou^rhile am

salle.

11 Falle sal ouer pam in land Koles pat ere hate brennand ; In fire sal tou thrawe bam swa ; Fra wrecchednesses noght vnderstand

sal pa1.

12 Man iltunged, ai spekand', Noght righted sal be in land ; Vnrightwise man, at his ending* Take sal him in els in steruing*.

13 .1. knew pat lauml dome sal do Off helples, wreke ofe pou*r als-so.

14 Bot rightwise to pi name schriue

sal pai ; And right* eerde with pi likam ai.

CXL.

.L/auerd, .i. cried to pe, here me ; Bihald to mi steuen when .5. haf* cried to be.

1 V In miseriis non subsistent. 2 Vir

linguosus.

2 Mi bede be righted als rekles in pi

sights,

Heuing* ofe mi hend offrand ofe night*.

3 Set, lau*rd, to mi mouth yheming*, And to mi lippes doer ofe vmstan-

ding* l .

4 Noght helde mi hert* in wordes of*

iuelnes,

Til outscere''1 in sinnes out-scerand- nesses?

5 With men wirkand wickenesses for-

Pi, And with par chosen, noght be rif*

sal .i..

6 Threte sal me rightwis in merci, And he sal snibbe me witerli ; Oyle sothlik* of*, sinful al Noght* infat mi heued sal.

7 For yhit* and mi bede in weleque-

menesses of* am :

Pai er* outloted, sameud to stane demers of* pam 3 ;

8 Pai sal her* mi wordes, for pai might*

yhit*,

Als fattenes of* erthe ;hutten oner erthe es it*.

9 Sifcafered* er* our banes biside helle: For at be, lauml, lau*rd, min eghen

to dwelle,

i V ostium circumstantiae. - Ms. outster., V ad excusandas excusationes in peccatis. » V absorti(!) sunt juncti petrae judices eorum. « Ms. Stakered.

E om es. E shadued H shawed. E o. me hend. E sight*. EH om pou. E for. EH ^horning. E To sinful man. nokyn. E phot H ?oht. EH agayne. E ouer-al, es om. EH hote. EH salt pou. H ?raw. E so. E wretchednes. E n. sal be bo H n. be sal pa. E be rihted sal. E iueles at ending Tak* s. h. in st. E om right.

CXL.

E Here pou me nou wit*rli, A lou*rd to pe krye I, Be-hald vn-to steuew of me, When I haue kried to be. E Dighted be mi bede right Als of brining* in pi sight, Of mi hend be vp-heuing* Offrand be it of heuewyng*; H Mi b. be r. in pi siht als brenning, . . o. of uthtening. EH dore. E Held noght. EH outscerandnes(se). E wickednes so. H corn. E Noght like rike(!) sal I with corn of bo. H ^rete . . sinful. E Ou*rtak* me be rihtwise sal. E me with-al. EH Oli. E yhit. E sal it. E For yhit and mi bede to go In be quelmynges of po, Pai are out-loted samen to ston, Domes-men of pam ilkon. H welquemes. samen. am. E Here mi wordes al sal pai For [pai] miht by niht and by day, Als of erpe pe fatnesse Yutten ouer erpe it esse. EH Scaterd. E om our. E bones.

268

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D VH.

In be hoped .i. nighU- and dai ; Noght<r here bou mi saule awai.

10 Yheme me fra snare bat bai set to

me,

And fra schames ote wirkand wicke- nesse be.

11 Falle sal in his nette sinful j)at are. Sengli .i. am til .i. forthfare.

CXLI.

W ith mi steuen to lauerd cried .i. ; With mi steuen to lauerd bisoght haue .i. .

2 .1. yhet mi bede in his sights, And mi drouingf bifore him schew

.i. rights,

3 In wanand mi gaste fra me, And bou knew mi stiyhes to se.

4 In bat wai whilk<? .i. yhode ai Snares to me hidden j)ai.

5 .1. biheld at righthalfc, and segh wele, And nan was bat me knew a dele ;

6 Forworbhed fleingi? fra me,

And nan es bat sekes mi saule to se.

7 .1. cried to be, lauerd, .i. saide : mi

hope ertou, Mi dele in land ofe liuand nou.

8 Bihalde to mi bede for-bi, For bat mikel meked am .i. :

9 Lese me fra mi1 filiyhand^ be,

For samenstrenghbedtf en" bai over

me,

10 Outlede fra yheming* saule mine, Forto schriue to name bine ; Me abiden rightwise to se, To bat ton foryhelde to me.

CXLII.

.L/auml, here be bede ofe me ; With bine eres bon bise Mi bisekingtf in bi sothnesse ; Here me in bi rightwisnesse.

2 And noght£ inga in dome with bi

hine,

For noght bes righted al liuand in sightf bine.

3 For filiyhed es mi saule be faa, Mi life in erthe he meked swa ;

4 In mirkenesses he bilouked me, Als be dede ofe werld sal be, And gremed ' mi gaste es in me smerte, In me todreued es mi hert£.

5 .1. mined ofe daies aide , bithoghte

am .i.

In alle bi werkes witerli ; In makinges bat bou has wroghtc Ofe bine hende .i. wele bithoghU'.

6 .1. tospred min hend^ at be to be ; Mi saule als erthe waterlesse to be.

7 Here me, lauerd, swifteli,

1 al. Angromed ; V Et anxiatus est.

H om For. E bat inst. of at pe. E In be hoped [I] with boght, Mi saule o-way bere bou noght. EH snares f>ai set. E Fal in his nette sinful sal san\ E Sen- gelic H Sengellic.

CXLI.

EH kried I (om E) wisly. E om And. E shewed. E fro me mi gost to be. E & my stiyhes bou knew. E non. E Fleyngtf forwurbed fro me. E sekis. E I kried ful inwardli, Louml vnto be for-bi, I said bou art my hope on hand, Mi dele in land of liuande. E Vn-to mi bede behald bou, For mekel meked am I nou. H me f. E fro filyand me pat be. E samenstribed. E Lede H Lese. EH abide. E Til. E forheled me.

CXLH.

E om bine. E nou bou H nou. E And bou ne (ms. me) salt go in In dome with hine bine, For rithwished sal noght be Al leuand in sight of [t]he. H And bou salt noht. E om es. E fo. so. E In merkenes louked he me. E bat be. EH Angromed. E om in. E droued, to om. E Of daies elde mined was I, Wele bebhot I am for-bi In bi werkis bat faou wroght, In makinges of foi hend I boght. H bine w. E I spred to be mi hend bat be. E Louml mi

Psalm CXLII— CXLIII.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

Mi gaste waned fill bisili :

8 Noght twme pou bi face fra me, And to falland in flask* like sal .i. be.

9 Herd* make to me areli f)i merci, For bat in be hoped .i. ;

10 Kouth make to me wai whilk* ga .i.

sal, For to |)e mi saule houe .i. al.

1 1 Ontake me fra mi faas, lau*rd, to foe

flegh .i. nou;

Lere me to do bi wille, for mi god* ertou.

12 ti gaste, bat esse sa gode at nede, In rights land ite sal me lede ; And for bi name swa hali esse, Qwiken me saltou, in bine euennesse.

13 I>ou sal outlede fra drouing* saule

mine, And forlese mi faas in merci bine,

14 And bat droue mi saule al tine bou sal ; For .i. hine bine ai am al.

CXLIII.

Jjlissed lauwl mi god, bat leres rights Mihende atcocle1, mi fingres at fightf.

2 Mi merci and infleing* mine, Mi helper and leser mine ;

3 Mi forhiler, and in him hope .i. ai; I*at vndres folk* vnder me al dai.

4 Lau*rd, whilk* es man for pou in-

knew2 him? 1 r. cocke; V praelium. - V innotuisti ei.

Ore sone ofr man, for bou wenest*1 him?

5 Man til ydelnesse like made isse; Als schadow forthgane daies hisse.

6 Laucrd , helde heuens , douncome

with-alle ; Negh2 hilles, and reke bai salle.

7 Leuen 3 brightnesses, and skater salt

bam;

Outsend bine arwes, and todreue salt am.

8 Outsend fai hand* fra heght nou, Outake and lese me bou

Fra watres mani, and fra hand Ofe outen sones of* other land:

9 Whas mouth spekes vnnaitnesse, fair righthand righthand of* wicke-

nesse.

10 God, new sang sal .i. singe? to be, To be sal .5. sing* in ten-strenged

sautre.

1 1 I>at* giues hele to kinges, bat boght

Dauid

I*i hine fra swerde lithre : outake me with,

12 And outake me fra be hand* Of* outen sones of* other land*, Mouth of* wham spekes vnnaitnesse, fair righthand righthand* of* wicke-

nesse.

13 Whas sones als new plantes bene

i V reputas. * tango. » Ms. Leuens ; V Fulgura coruscationem.

god here swiftli. E waned wit*rly. E Ne. fro. H flosshe. E to in flesshe(!) falland. E to mi (r. me pi) milbe erli. E om to. E wai ingo Is. E Fro mi foos me outake bou, For bat I flegh to be nou, Lere me to do bi wil bat isse, For bou art mi god of blisse. E so. EH heli. EH salt bou me. E Fro drouyng mi saule salt bou lede, And bi milthe mi foos to-sprede. H lede. E And tine salt bou al b«t droue saule mine, For bat I am hine bine.

CXLIH.

E Blissid be bou ilkadele, Loutrd god of Irael, I*at ledis mi hend to sight*(H, And mi fingres to fighting* riht. H cocke. E Mi mitye mine in-fleyng als-so, Mi finger(!) mi leser of wo. E om ai. E vndre me wisly. E who. E bat bon ne k. E to fantome. E is so. E His daies als shadw forth bai go. H help. EH Leuen brightnes. E Outsend fro hegh be hand of |ie. EH Outake me. H me lese. E om bou. E Of w. fele. EH Whos. E And bar. EH Louerd. E I sal syng* to foe in. E tat giues hele to kynges mo, fat broght Dauid out of wo , l*i hine I is and ay sal be , Fro swerd liber outake me. H outta me wid. E Whos mouth spekis. E And bar. E Sones of whom als impes new

270

The Psalms.

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

In par yhouthe apon to sene;

14 Doghtres ofe pam samen-dighte1, Vmtiffed als licknes die kirke bright^.

15 Cleues ofe |)a fulk ere yhite, Bolkenand fra pat in to pit«2;

1 6 fair schepe brodefulk, mightsomand^ In bar outgangtf ; par nouttf fat in

land*;.

17 Noght es fallings ofe stanewalle swa ; Ne forthgangtf ; ne crie in waies ofe

pa.

1 8 Seli folke to wham pese ere, saide

pai ; Seli folke ofe wham lauml gode es ai.

CXLIV.

1 sal vpheue pe, gode, mi kingtf isse ; And in werld, and in werld ofe werld, pi name blisse.

2 Bi alle daies sal .i. blisse be same, And in werld and in werld ofe werld

pi name.

3 Mikel lau^rd, and lof like es he ; And ofe his mikelhede nan ende mai

be.

4 Strende and strende pi werkes loof<?

sal, And pi mights forthschewe with-al.

5 Mikelhed ofe blisse ofe pi halines ai Sal pai speke, and pi wondres telle

sal pai. 1 V compositae. 2 eructantia ex hoc in illud.

6 And mights oft; pine aghfulnesses sal

pai sai, And pi mikelhed telle al dai.

7 Minde ofe mighthed1 ofe pi softnesse Sal pai rift*;, and glad in pi right-

wisenes.

8 Mercifulk and mildeherted in landt Lau^rd, and mikel milde-herted and

tholand^.

9 Soft lauml to alle he isse,

And his rewpes over alle werkes hisse.

10 Schriuen alle pi werkes , lauml , to

pe be ; And pine haleghs blisse to be.

11 Blisse ofe pi rike sai pai salle, And pi might* speke ou^r-alle ;

12 Pat pai make kouth to mensones pi

might ilike, And pe blisse ofe mikelhed ofe pi rike.

13 Pi rike, rike of alle werldes ende; And pi lau^nlschip in strende and

strende.

14 Trewe lauml in alle his wordes isse, And hali in alle werkes hisse.

15 Lauml raises alle pat doune falle, And pe hurt*; he vprers alle.

16 Eghen ofe alle, laumi, hope in pe

wide, And pou giues par mete in time

fultide2: i abundantiae. 2 in tempore opportune ; cf. 31 . 7

In par youpe opon hew. E Vmtifid. E Yedinges H Vinges(?). E ful are of bo. E fro pis in pat so. E Shep of pam bobe gret and smal Brodful are pai ou<?r-al , Mihtsomand in bain; out-gang^ , Nete of pam ful fatte omang^. E Nis f. E stone-wal H stanwal. E so. E To whom pese an; sell folckf saide pai. H to whom ^ese are.

CXLIV.

E I sal vpheue pe forby al things, God mine of heuew kyngtf, And to pi name I sal blisse, In werld and in werld of werld bat isse. E Be al daies whilk« I Hue, To pi name blis sal I giue, And pi name eryhe I sal, . In werld and in werld of werld pat isse(!). H pe pe same. H lof pi name. H orn and. E louelic. E mekilhede none. E St. & st. pine werkis ay Sal loue and pi miht forthshew sal pai. E Pai sal speke mikelhed of blisse And tel pine wundres pat isse. E aghfulnes. E mihtand. sothnes. E rihtnes. E Mil?er & mil^e- herted. E om and. E Sothefast til al is louml of blisse. E om alle. E Al pi werkis lou^d shriue«. E pi. E To make kouth. H ma. E om ilike. EH om pe. E rike briht. E werldis. E Louml trew. H heli E seli. E werkis. E L. he r. EH om pe. E vpreris H upreres. EH Alle eyhen. E om hope.

Psalm CXLIV— CXLVI.

27I

iMs. Vesp. D vii.

17 Openes tou bi hand ou?r alle things, And filles ilka beste with blissing?.

1 8 Lau?rd rightwise in alle his waies isse, And hali in alle werkes hisse.

19 Negh lau?rd to alle him kalland esse, Til alle him kalland in sothnesse.

20 Wille of? dredand him sal he do, And here bar biseking? , and saufc

make j)o.

21 Lau?rd yhemes alle him louand1, And forlese sal he alle sinnand.

22 Herying? ofe lau?fd mi mouth speke

sal,

And blisse sal alle flesche with-al Vnto hali name es hisse, In werld and in werlde of werld? pisse.

CXLV.

Jrierye, mi saule, lau?rd alle! In mi life lau?rd herye .i. salle, And salme to mi god? sal ,i. Als lang? als .i. am, witerli.

2 Ne wiles in prraces traiste neu?r ane, Ne in mensones, in whilk? hele es

nane.

3 Outga sal his gaste , and turne in

erthe swa;

In pat daie forworth sal alle thoghtes of pa.

4 Seli of wham god? lacob his helper

isse,

His hope in lau?rd gode hisse: i diligentes.

fat made heuen and erthe, be se, And bat ener in bam be ;

5 I*at in werld yhemes sothnesse ; I'at dos dome to mart' and lesse Vnrightwisenes bat er? tholand? ; He giues mete til hungerand?.

6 Lauerd fotefest vnleses he, Lau?rd lightes blinds bat mai noght?

se,

7 Lau?rd reres hurt bat are ; Lauml loues rightwis full? yhare.

8 Lau?rd ful wele yhemes ai Comelinges bath1 night and dai, Fadrelesse and widowe onfang he sal, And waies ofe sinfull? forlese with-al.

9 Rike sal lauerd in werldes to wende, Pi god* of?2 Syon in strende and

strende.

CXLVI.

J_/oues lau?rd, for gode salme es to

singe ; Til our? god? be blithfull? and fair?

louing?.

2 Biggand lerusalem lauerd wele, Samen sal he spredinges of? Iraele ;

3 I'at heles forbroken of? hert for wa, And toknittes3 par sorwes swa;

4 Pat telles mikelhede of? sternes ma, And names kalles til alle pa.

5 Mikel lau?/d, and mikel might hisse ; And of? his wisedome na tale isse.

l Ms. blath. * ai. om. » V alligat

contritiones eorum.

E pou. E om alle. E ilk H ilke. E hi bl. E to him kalland e., To him k. E him dredand. E bar bone. E alkyn fl. EH heli. E om es. E bat isse.

CXLV.

E tr. noght on. E Cast of him it sal outgo , And he sal agayne turns i« is erbe so, And forwurpe sal in pat dai Al poghtes of bam i« ai. H in is erpe. E Seli wo god lacob is helper is. E Hope of him. E maked. E om and. erpe als-so, I*e se and al pat are in bo. E t*at ar? vnrihtwisenesse. H y,o- lande. H until hungrande. E leses. E vpreres. EH rihtwisenesse E euer- mar?. E yemes he C. whor? so bai be. E & widous lou?>d kepe sal. E wai. E forlese al. E Loutrd rike sal in w. with-outen end. E om of.

CXLVI.

E Heryhes. E is it. E Lou?r[d] biggand I. ful wele E of h. mo. E fat; E gnides H tognides ; E forbrekynges of bo. E tellis. E st?rnes briht. E & names til al bo kalland right?. E our? lou?rd. E om might. E om his.

272

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

6 Lauml handetame es kepande,

And sinfull* ril erthe mekande.

7 Singes to lauml in schrift pat be, In harpe to lauml salme yhe :

8 Pate with clondes hiles henen, And graipes raine til erthe ful exien ;

9 fat forthledes in hilles hay,

And gresse to hinehede ofe men ai ;

10 tat giues to meres mete off pa, And to Crawebriddes him kalland

swa.

11 Noght in strenghpe of? hors sal he

haue wille,

Ne in schines oft? man queming* bes him tille ;

12 Welequeme es to lauml oner him

dredand, And in pas oner his merci ere hopand.

CXLVII (contin. of preceding).

lieryhe, lerusalem, on-on; Heryhe pou pi gode, Syon.

13 For lokkes of<? pi yhates strenghped

he, He blissed pi sones in pe.

14 Pate set pine endes pais al dele, And with fattnes ofe whete filled pe

wele.

15 Pate sente his speche til erthe pisse : Swiftli rennes sagh[e] hisse.

1 6 Pat giues snawe als wolle to se, Cloude1 als a.ske spredes he.

1 V nebulam.

The Psalms.

1 7 He sendes als snodes l his cristal : Bifore face ofe his kalde wha thole

sal?

18 He sal outsende his worde, and

melte pa;

He sal blawe his gaste , and watres ontga.

19 Pat schewes his worde to lacob wele, Rightwisenesses and his domes to

Iraele.

20 Noght til alle birthe dide he swa, And his domes noghte schewed til pa.

cxuvm.

XjLeryhes lauml, ofe heuen2 isse, In heghtes heryhes him with blisse.

2 Loues him, alle his aungeles be; Alle his mightes, him lone yhe.

3 Loues him, sunne and mone bi nighte ; Loues him, sternes alle and lights.

4 Heryhes him, heuens ofe heuens pe

same ;

And watres vnder3 heuens ere, loues laumles name.

5 For he saide, and made pai are ; He sent£, and pai schapen ware.

6 In ai, and in werld ofe werld, set*

he pa ; He sete bode, and it sal noghte forbi

ga4-

7 Heryhes lauml, ofe erthe pate esse : Draguns and alle depnesse ;

i V buccellas. 2 al. heuenes. 3 V super. « V praeteribit.

EH no. E til our* s. yhe. E fortledis. E hinhed. EH mares. E om mete, po. so. EH strengh. E his wille. E liking; bes om. E Wel[ljikand. E po H pa. E om ere.

CXLVH.

E louml o-non. EH strenped. E Pat pine endis pais to be E fild H filt. E om wele. E sendis. E to erpe pat isse. EH wulle. E strewes. EH Kolde. E who. E sende (out om). po. E His gast sal blaw & water outgo. E Riht- wisnesse. E Til al birpes noght. EH om til. E he so.

CXLVIQ.

E om of. EH heuenes. E Heryhes him al with angels so , Heryhes him al his mihtes mo. E Heryhes mone and son bright, Heryhes him sternes & pe 1. E heuen of. E v. henen. E om ere . . E lof lonml n. E send & made pai war<\ E he set po. go. E Loues. E alkin depenesse. E haiel snaw. EH ise.

Psalm CXLVIII— CL.

273

Ms. Vesp. D vii.

8 Fire, snawe, haile isse1,

Blaste ofe stormes, bat makes worde hisse ;

9 Hilles, knolles alle men kalle ; Tries fruitefulle, and cedres alle ;

10 Bestes, and alle erfes ma, Neddres, fogheles fevered als-swa ;

1 1 Kinges ofe erthe and alle folke li-

uand, Princes and alle demers ofe land.

12 Yhungmen, als-swa maidenes clene, Elder with yhunger, al bidene Loues name ofe lauerd witerli,

13 For vphouen es his name, ofe aneli.

14 His schrifte oner heuen and erthe

with blisse;

And he vphoue horne^ofe folke hisse. Ympne to his haleghs, to sones ofe

Irael, To folke neghand to him wele.

Si,

CXLIX.

sange to l&uerd bat

Mnges newe isse ; In kirkes ofe haleghs louinge hisse.

2 Faine mote Irael in him bat ite made, And doghtres ofe Syon in bair kinge

glade.

3 Herybe bai in crouth2 his name ai, In timpan and sautre to him singe bai.

4 For welequeme es lauerd in folke

hisse, 1 al. ise. 2 V in choro.

And he vphoue ' soft; in hele to

blisse.

Glade sal haleghs in blisse alle, And in bair cleues faine bai salle. Gladschipes ofe gode in throte ofe

ba, Gripinges ofe swerde in bair hende

als-swa :

In birthes wrekes for to do, Snibbinges in ma folke bar-to ; To binde bair kinges in fotefestenes, And bair worthi in iren festeles ; Dome writen in bam bat do bai — Blisse bis es to alle his haleghs ai.

CL.

JTleryhes lauml in haleghs hisse; Heryhes him in walken ofe his mights

isse. Heryhes in his mightes man; and

lesse ; Loues him after manihede ofe his

mikelnesse.

In din ofe beme him loue yhe ; Loues him in harpe and in sautre. . Loues him in crouth2 and timpane; Loues him in stringes and organe. Loues him euer in lande In chimbes ml wele ringande ; Loues him in chimbes ofe mirthe

and blisse.

Alkine gaste loue lauerd bat isse. i V exaltabit. 2 V in choro.

E Gast. E dou wille. H make. EH hise. E alle knolles me k. E frutful H frutfol. E erbes mo. E and foyheles. E als-so. E om and. H Yhingmen. E als-so H als-sa. EH Elde. EH Loue H om of. EH onli. E bat isse. E Loftsonge til al his h. E om of. H him is wel.

CXLIX.

E S. to lonerd new s. EH kircke. E heryhing. EH Syon doghters. E In crongh his n. loue bai ai. bo. E And gripings. als-so. E Wrekis in birbhes. E vine hendfestenes. E bis is bl.

CL.

H wolken E festnes. E of m. hisse. E Loues him in his mihtes isse. E Heryhes. E om in 2- E Heryhes. E krougK H croth. E Heryhes. E strenges and. E Loue ^he him in ilka land. E c\n\bals (on erasure). E om ful. E Heryhes. E cimtes. E mirthes fat isse. E Lett iche gast heryhe.

E om mote. E him.

E Vpheue. E bhrotes.

E mo. E fotefesteles.

n.

18

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn

(by William Nassyngton?).

Among the contents of Ms. Thornton is a poem titled »Tractatus Willelmi Nassyngton, quondam aduocati curie Eboraci, de Trinitate & Vnitate, cum declara- cione operum Dei, et de passione domini nostri Ihesu Christi &c. (ed. Perry), which is mainly a reproduction of St. Edmund's Speculum. To the same William Nassyngton is generally ascribed the long poem »Mirror of life«, a translation of Joh. de Waldeby's Speculum Vitae; although in some Mss. (LI I. 8) the Engl. poem is ascribed to R. Rolle. The oldest, and probably original, Ms. of the »Mirror« is Tiber. E VII, of about 1350, a fine folio in double columns, and carefully written, but greatly damaged by fire and partly destroyed. Now the same Ms. Tib. contains, after the »Mirror« fol. I — 82, 3 more poems: the Lamentation of St. Mary on the Passion (after St. Bernhard) ; a versification of R. Rolle's Form of living ; and a metrical version of the tract titled Spiritus Guidonis (from a prose text still extant in Ms. Vernon); then follows a set of homilies and legends in verse, which is a revised and greatly augmented edition of the Evangelia dominicalia in northern verse (cf. Alteng. Leg. N. F.)1. I have no doubt that the 3 poems mentioned — all translations — have the same author as the »Mirror of life«, viz. William Nassyngton, and to him I also ascribe the additional parts in the homilies and legends of the same Ms. So we have in him another Yorkshire poet of R. Rolle's time, and his follower; but he is rather an easy versifyer and trans- lator, than an original thinker and poet. His chief merit is facility of form. Of his life nothing is known beyond what is implied in the above note of Ms. Thornton. The purity of a-forms shows him to belong to the same parts as R. Rolle. As an edition of the »Mirror of life« has been undertaken elsewhere, I do not give it here. In the pieces given, I have tried as much as possible to fill the gaps made by the fire and to complete the text.

i. (St. Mary's lamentation to St. Bernard on the passion

of Christ).

A later, southern version of this poem, from Ms. Vernon, with the readings of 3 other Mss. (Dd. i. I2, Trin. Coll. Oxf. 57 f., L. 70), was ed. in »Vernon Poems« p. 297. The present text proves the northern origin of the poem. (Another northern poem on the same subject, but omitting St. Bernard's name, is contained in the Cursor Mundi v. 239456°.; Old French poems in Ms. Gg i. i, and Reg. 19 C n.) The subject is taken from a sermon of St. Bernard (Opp. Antw. 1616, cf. Migne 182 col. 1133).

fol. 82.

IT1 ader and sun and hali gaste, almighti god in trinite, burgh bisekeing of Mari chaste, ma/den and moder of pete,

als I am sinful, help in haste, lorde, pou send sum grace to me sum word to say pat be noght waste, bot pat oure saules pe better be.

1 The set in Ms. Tib. is repeated, and again augmented — especially in the legends — by a third poet, in Ms. Harl. 4196; cf. Altengl. Leg. N. F.

- Ms. Dd, in an additional stanza at the end, ascribes the poem to a hermit, meaning R. Rolle.

* The other Mss. have 4 additional stanzas in the beginning.

i. (St. Mary's lamentation on the passion of Christ).

275

It cs grete dole to tel or say 10 or forto think in ma«nes mode

how Crist opon pe gude friday

for vs sched his blissed blude;

al his desiples fled oway,

for drede of ded pai war nere wode ; 15 it es no tung pat tel pam may

f)e sorowes of Mari, his moder gude.

For scho him bare bath god and man, and sepin pai cald his name Ihesu ; pai offerd him to sir Simion — 20 pat prvphet wele his louerd knew; an angel sun warned bam ban of king Herod pat was vntrew, and bad Mari til Egipt gane for drede of ded of mani a lew.

25 Mari euer had ioy inogh

whils sho was hir dere sun neghe; into what stede so euer he drogh come he neuer out of hir eghe. sebin men did him mekel wogh

30 and mekil dole scho saw him dreghe : his handes nayled J3ai til a bogh and on a tre hanged him heghe.

Of screws sere myght scho noght sese

when he was bludi bak and croune, 35 and scho wist pat he was sakles;

of bodi and bak be blude ran doun ; , to se his pine was ful grete prese

of folk pat folowed him out of toun ;

wemen wepid, withowten lese, 40 and pleined mekil his passioun.

Saint Bernard beres witnes omang, so dose saint lohn hir cosyn right, pat sorow so to hir hert thrang pat blude ran of hir eghen bright.

55

turned him to pam pare and spak pir wordes of grete pete : »wemen, wepes for me no mare, bot for ^owre-seluen wepe mai ^e, 45 and for ^owre childer ^e mai haue care, bat dose me shame als ^e may se«. no wonder if hir hert was sare bat saw hir sun so pined be.

When he was (beten) with scourges st(rang), 50 his frendes to fle war ful wight; pan oure trowth al hally hang in Mari milde both day and nyght.

fe blude out of hir eghen so ran ;

for care hir hert nere clefe in two.

Saint Bernard, bat haly man,

beres witnes pat it was so. 60

for til a kirk wightly he wan

whare he might wit more of hir wo ;

scho schewed hir pare, and asked him pan

what he wald, or scho went him fro.

He sayd: »if pat it war foi will, 65

tell me, lady, heuyn quene, how pou for wo wepyd pi fill when J)ai did f»i sun slike tene, band him ful fast & bet him ill, and corond him with thornes kene, 70 and gert him bere vnto a hill a cros, and toyled him bam bitwene.

A, lady, whare wastou for wo

when f)ai him band and bet so fast?

I wote faou wald noght fle him fro, 75

so was pi hert stif and stedfast.

alias, he said, whi was it so

and my hert noght alto-brast

or els for care to-cleue in two,

or wepe whils pat my life may last? 80

Lady, he said, J)ou had grete pyne when pat f>ou saw pat freli fode his heuyd doun so law enclyne when he was hanged on be (rode); al-if he war goddes sun and pine, 85

his faire fless famed al of bl(ode). alias, whine had pat bale be (mine)? I wald haue standen wha(re bou stode)«.

»Bernard, scho said, who (list to loke) when my dere sun to ded (was dight)? 90 he bowed his heuyd and (leue toke) thankand his fader (ful of might). be stones brak als (sais be boke), be son also with(drogh his light) ; pe temple clef, (be erthe quoke), 95

pe ded to lyfe (ras ful right)«. 1 8*

276

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn

u(Ladi, he s)ayd, tak noght (to grefe) (if I) speke of his paynes strang; (of) pam to lere war me ful lefe 100 more graythli, or p#u fro me gang, pou saw pi sun hing als a thefe wounded sare and al with wrang ; to wit him haue so grete meschefe no wonder if pou murned omang.

105 Now, lady, quene of heuen-blis,

sen pat no gamyn to me may gayn, out of my wo pe bus me wis, al-if I b[e] sin(ful) for sertayn. als pou ert mayden and moder his:

HO what did my lord in al his payne? when he was pined and did no mys, whilk war his wordes ? pis wald I frayne*.

"Bernard, scho said, pi bousom bede into mi hert has smeten a spere: 115 for who so nenyns my dere sun ded, vnto me do pai pan grete dere, fo)r wepeing mase me wil of rede, and ^it I may none wise forbere, what so pou fraynes here in pis stede 1 20 (pi) wepeing gers me gif answere«.

»(I tha)nk pe, lady faire and fre, (pat) pou wil cruwforth me of care (and s)ogat schew pi hert to me (and) tel me of his paines sare. 125 (wald) god pat I had bene with pe (and) sene be sorow pat pou saw pare ! (pan mig)ht I euer in wepeing be (and pi)nk paron for euer mare.

1 (I*ou has sene lordes vntil him lout 130 • • • • euer P^ might him seghe; (of his) dedes pai had grete dout,

haly and highe.

(when pat) pai presed so him obout, (whi sufferd he, pam so forto leghe, 135 (in his face) to spit and spout,

(how might he al pir) doles dreghe?«

»(Mekeli he sufferd) pat mischefe — (and wald haue sufferd m)ekil mare — (for mannes saul was) him so lefe ; 140 (for him he sufferd) po paines sare.

1 In the other Mss. here precede the events of Holy Thursday, v. 537 — 648; cf. v. 419.

(I saw him hang he)ghe als a thefe, (he saw I stud in sorow a)nd care ; (^it did mi weping him m ore grefe (pan al pe paines he suffe)rd pare.

And sertainly pat (was wel sene) when he bitoke me vnto (I)on; ful meke he was withowten wene when pat him liked to luke me on. for wa I wex both gul and grene, of muniig may I mak my mone. — I sal be tell hali bydene be paines he sufferd euerilkone«.

£an Bernard toke to hir rewarde and thanked hir with hert ful sare ; forto here of his lufli larde him thoght it was a like and lare. Sho said: »sen I pis space haue spared to tell pe sorow pat I sau pare, here efterward sal be declared paines a thowsand tymes mare.

Bernard, i saw mi dere son hang als he had bene a maister-thef, with sides bio als pai him dang pat are war white and me ful lefe, corund he was with thornes strang; ful gern pai soght to do him grefe : pai drogh him out with rapes olang opon pe cros, til his fless clefe.

When pat he was so straitli sted, pe cursed lewes liked ful wele ! al with blude his cors was cled and with spiting fro heuid to hele. opon pe cros so was he spred, and nailed with thre nailes of stele; pus was he drawen & laithli led — and for mans dedis was ilkadele.

I saw als it foure welles ware, fro ilka naile a streme of blude; al pus with dole pai dight him pare pe lews pat war wilde and wode. I had grete blis when I him bare, so war his maners milde & gude: sepen was al turned to sorow sare when he was rugged & rent on rode.

150

155

160

16;

'75

I. (St. Mary's lamentation on the passion of Christ).

277

185 So faire a fode was never nane, and pat beres witnes hali writ; pare was his fairhed fro him tane, with filthes fouly was he smyt. and series I was so wil of wane

190 me wanted hali welth and wit; I had no gates graithli to gane,

with sorowes so mi hert was hit. f. 83

(I wald pai had me hanjged him by,

to ses my paynes in bat plas ;

195 no wonder if I war sary

(t)o tharn mi ioy and my solace. (p)e lewes bad I sold me hy (p)epin oway tyte better pase : bot fast efter him folowed I

200 and saw al paines pat he in was.

Fnl fast I cried on my manere to lat him gang and get his pese : bot my crying wald pai noght here ne in his paynes do no relese; 205 for al my site and sighing sere his sorow wald pai no thing sese. I said: 'Ihwu my sun so dere, whi lattes pou pam merk me pis mese ? '

Wit pou wele ful wa me was 210 when pai him nailed thurgh hend & fete ; ful loud I cried and said 'alias', when pat I saw his wowndes wete, 'my lord, mi sun and my solase, pat euer has bene so mylde & swete, 215 haue mercy on me or pou pas, or els no blis mi bales may bete'.

I said: 'my sun bat euer was hende and blith to do what I pe bad , whi leues pou me pus at pe ende 220 to dwell in site and sorow sad? lord, lat ded now in me lende — of bis cumyng wald I be glad ; so sone he may noght with me wende pat I ne wald soner pat he me had'.

225 I made my mane to pe Maudelayne me forto cumforth in pat case ; 'pou pray for me with might & mayne vnto him pat pe helpid base,

so pat I might alsone be slayne

with pain or euer I pas f)is place, 230

for I wald be ded ferly fayne:

and pou for me na murnig mase?'

te Maudelain said: 'I can no rede,

for sorow es set in me so sare ;

pi colure pat was white and rede 235

es now al wan with dole and care ;

I se my souerayn draw to ded,

and ^it [pi] murnig greues me mare.

I wald we went out of pis stede,

into pe tempil I rede we fare'. 240

(I askid hir whar was) swilk (place) oper in dale or els on hill whare I migh be sperd in bis space so pat no care sold cum me tyll; my ioy, mi blis and my solace 245

despitusli I se pam spill; my welth al halely in him was: now es no wight in werld so will'.

I cried vnto my sun so hende,

and said: 'in werld me es ful wo! 250

I may noght help pe als pi frende

to ger pi famen fle pe fro.

fnl lang in sorow here we lende,

pe Maudelayn & oper mani mo :

wele better vs war oway to wende: 255

bot series I may noght fra pe go'.

£e Maudlayn cuwforth me of care,

to wende oway scho sayd war best,

it helpid noght cure dwelling pare,

for of rewth myght we haue no rest. 260

I said to hir : 'whider sold we fare

or walk for wo by est or west?

ded with him I wald we ware,

alias, whine wald oure hertes brest?

I se my sun twa thenes byrwene 265

naked & nayled opon a tre ; ful blith & blissed euer has he bene, and now has ded tane him fro me. slike sorow sertes was neu<r sene als we now on my sun may se : 270

I war noght kind, bat wele [I] ' wene , when he pus hinges if I suld fle. i Ms. )>ai.

278

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

Vnder be cros here bide I will, I wate in werld no better w(on);

275 of murnig might I haue (mi fill) so forto sit and se him on. here will I hald me on bis (hill), if bat ^e wende oway ilkon ; with mi sun sal I bide her (still),

280 and Me I will for (lewis non)V

Bernard ban answerd (hir ogaine) and til hir softly gan (he sai) : »ful grete mater had fa(e Maudelain), it es no man bat .... 285 hi bale was I fill . . . . bot peder I durst ....

how bat pai

more forto

j)ou has .

290 . . . ferdenes als pou f)am fand, . my hert es ful hard to holde

and al bi wordes to vnderstand.

bot what my lord to be say wolde

to aske be ^it will I noght wande, 295 when be lews so breme and balde

nayled him thurgh fate and hand,

And when bai corond him with thorn bat newly war tane of pe tre. pou was ay redy him byforn, 300 I wate [mare] might none euer be. f)ai hailsed him with many a scorn, als oper men has tald to me : what answerd he on euyn and morn? to tell me, lady, pray I pe«.

305 Sho sayd: »I haue talde be my thoght, what wald pou now wit of me mare? ay when bat sorow es furth soght it mase my hert in sighing sare. bot if it may amend be oght

310 (^it forto) knaw more of mi care, (vnto) pe sal I nyte right noght (a)t tell |>e fully or bou fare.

(Mi sun) bat died at f)e hour« of none (he) said to me on bis manere : 315 c(wo)man, be noght will of wone, (biha)ld hi sun bisid be here'.

(ban) said he to my cosin lohn: '(bihald) hi moder lefe and dere'. (ay)her hiked we ober opon (sari ly with symple chere.

320

(He said: clon, als) bou ert hende,

(be ay) redy vntil hir bone;

(luke to) hir whare scho will wende

(als I bifor wa)s won to done.

(here I mai) no lenger lende 325

(for my time) es cu/wand sone,

(hebin now bihou)es me wende

(on hegh vnto my) fader in trone.

(Moder bat mi) bodi bare,

(it es hard pined) als pou mai se, 330

(for al man-kind als I; said are

(fra ded to lif suld; raised be.

(I sek a schep, suld els) forfare,

(pat with wrang was stolen) fro me ;

(I sal it bring par it was are) 335

(and of his praldom mak it) fire.

J*at schepe bitakens (mannis kinde),

my fader will pat it be soght ;

oj)er pan I may none it finde,

for with mi blude it bus be boght ; 340

out of be place whare it es pynide

to bigly blis it sal be broght'.

he said I suld leue him bihinde ;

harfore ful dreri was my thoght.

t>us war his wordes more and myn 345

hat Ion my cosyn to me suld luke.

al-if he war nere of my kyn,

for my sun |)are I him toke.

al with swilk talking gan we twin,

and my solace so I forsoke. 350

hir wordes hat bus gan bygin

ful wide bai sal be wreten in buke.

Bot a thing, Bernard, did me wo:

when my sun said 'me thristes sare'.

to get him drink fast gan bai go 355

with grete despite wald pai noght spare,

aysell and gal pai menged so,

and in a spounge pai hid it pare ;

pai bad him baldely bareof to

and drink on fast, he sold haue mare. 360

i. (St. Mary's lamentation on the passi°n of Christ).

279

I cried pan: 'dere sun, drink it noght! for hething wald pai bou it had ; of aysell and gall es it wroght, sane of be sauore bou mai be sad'. 365 fill mildly ban he me bysoght so bat I suld be blith and glad; cfor with bis drink man-kind es boght, it bus be als my fader bad.

Parfor, moder, bi murnig mend, 370 and for me murn bou now no mare ! vnto mi fader bihoues me wend and lede ogayn bat lost was are. and sune efter be sal I send — bot me byhoues bifor be fare ; 375 and sebin saltou with me lend in ioy and mirth for euermare'.

Pe lews ful of pomp and pride hanged two theues despitusly bi mi dere sun on ayther side;

380 be tone to him gan merci cri, be tober answerd in bat tyde : 'he hinges hegher ban bou or I, and es wete with wondes wide: to ask him help bou dose foli5.

f.84

385 (re t'ober answerd with milde mode:

'he es dampned with fals rede, for he did neuer no thing bot gude, and we haue wele serued oure ded. haue mercy on me, mayster gude, 390 when bou cums vp in fai stede ; thurgh vertu of bi blissed blude be way to blis, lord, faou me lede!'

My sun said: 'bou askes rightwisly, for bine asking blissed bou be ;

395 bis day grante I be forbi in paradis to won with me'. I saw bat sight, and was sary when bat bai died so on be tre; be gude thefe went to heuyw in hi,

400 and be ill to hell went he.

To se bat sight I had solace how tyte be tone vnto heuyn wan; for wele I knew ban by bat case my sun was verray god & man.

and als I stode still in bat place, 405

to cry ful loud my sun bygan: 'ely ely' , his criyng was, 'lamazabatany' efter ban«.

fair wordes er als men may se

in ynglis tnng to vnderstand: 410

»'fader, whi forsoke bou me,

bus to be bun in [b]itt<r* band?

heder I come thurgh rede of be :

mi saul I send into bi hand.

for man bus am I pined on tre: 415

now es fulfild als faou cvuwand.'a

JJErnard ban to hir answerd:

»Lady, blissed mot bou be;

of schere-thursday now haue I herd

how pi dere sun was tane fro be, 420

and on gude friday how it ferd,

how bat he died opon a tre ;

bot now, how he in graue was sperd,

ladi, pat tale now tell bou me.

And how bat he was taken doun 425

tel me, moder & mayden mylde,

2 of be cros efter his passioune,

and how bai wroght ban with [bi] childe,

and how bat Joseph come to toune

pi sun bodi for he wald bilde ; 430

he wan it with his orysoune

fro Pelat and fae lewes wilde.

(And how he was laid in be ston)

tell me, mayden and moder fre ;

whilk of his frendes euerilkone 435

walde faare at his beriyng be ;

be murnyg of be and of lohn,

mayden mylde, mene vnto me —

for wele I leue z,e left allone

with-owten mo of jjowre men^e«. 440

»Bernard, scho said, alias alias, fair wordes dose me mikell wo ; to tel al halely how it was my hert for bale might brest in two. loseph gan vnto Pilate pas, 445

and asked be bodi bat hanged so; and both Pilat and sir Cayphas gaf him leue it doun forto to.

1 Ms. witter.

Ms. and of.

280

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

Pelates knyghtes sterne and stout 450 furth with losep gan foai wende, and ober folk a ful grete rout — stun was his fa & sum his frende ; foai brak be theues the-banes obout, to luke if foaire life had made ende. 455 bat bai sold do so had I dout with my sun bat was so hende.

I foloud fast with al my myght, with Ion and with my systers two. omang bam bare ban stode a knyght, 460 blind he was and lame also,

and al bai said Longius he hight ; vnder be cros bai gert him go — and sertes ban I saw a sight bat was be werst of al my wo.

465 Pai gaf be knyght a spere ful gude, and set it to my dere sun side, pai bad him sting fast bare he (stode} for any thing bat might bi-(tide). he put it up with eger mode,

470 to my sun hert he gert it (glide) :

and sune brast out both (water & blude) of bat wound bat was (so wide).

Pe blude ran doun vntil hi(s hand). . and faarwith wiped be knight . 475 so gat he sight als he ...

and hiked brade with e .

and thanked god of (al his sand),

liftand his hert to ...

bat sight saw (I bar I gan stand), 480 and ober mo

(Pan wex mi hert heui als led) 'when) I saw bat rewful sight, be water clere and be blude rede bat ran out of be wownde ful right; 485 ban fel I doun als I war ded, 1 anger to stand had I no might. Ion me comfort in bat stede, so did loseph bat nobil knyght.

Pan went foe knyghtes to sir Pilate, 490 and I left bare ligand in swowne : and when I couerd out of bat state, I prayed losep to tak him doune

and get him pefain by any gate

fro foe lews fals and felowne.

loseph said: 'lat be bi late; 495

to bring him foe er we ful boun3.

Nichodemwj be nayles out drogh, and loseph lapped him in his arme — both bai lufed him wele inogh, and toke him doun withowten harme. 500 (bai) lesed mi barn bus fro bat bogh and broght him euyn vnto my barme: I kissed his mowth with mekil wogh — cald it was and nothing warme.

(An) hundreth sibes gan I kis 505

his mowth and als his eghen two,

(and said): cdere sun, sen I be mys

(gla)d now sal I neuer go,

(& loseph) ful fast oboutward is

(pat bou) war in foi graue me fro. 510

(now in bis) werld who sal me wis?

(whine) war I grauen with be also?3

(To wepe) might I nothing forbere.

(so was mi) hert enclosed with care;

(his wou)ndes did me slyke dere 515

(whilk I saw) on his body bare

(mad of foe na)yles and of foe spere,

(pat it wou)nded my hert fill sare;

(all men sorow) ed bat bar were,

^bot mi sorow; was mekil mare. 520

(Slike sorow bar in) me was cast (bat I most wepe) on alkins wise ; (bot ^it my hope ay) was stedfast

he sold vp rise

war past, 525

(s)eruise ;

(ful wele wist I a)t be last (I suld him se omang al hi)se.

Had I noght

and trowed bat he suld ris up right, 530

Bernard, mi hert had brusten bene

when mi dere sun to ded was dight.

loseph & Nichodeme bam bitwene

to beriyng bare bat bodi bright ;

foai lapped it in clathes clene, 535

and closed in a stane pat night«.

i. (St. Mary's lamentation on the passion of Christ).

28l

'"Now lady, quene of heuyn and hell, als bou him bare bat vs dere boght I pray be bat bou wald me tell 540 more of bi murnig if bou moght :

whare wastou whe[n] bai did him dwell * in lerusalem, whare he was soght and taken with be lewes fell and byfor sir Cayphas broght?«

545 »Bernard, bat sight I saw also, mi blissed barn how faai him band, and led him fiirth fill fast me fro; I folowd him fill sare wepeand. no wonder was if me war wo,

550 bot more meruail how I might stand, at se mi sun to paynes go; to folow and wepe might I noght wand.

On schere-thursday within be night bai soght him, lewes fill grete plente,

555 with lanternes & with swerdes bright, and ilkone asked 'whore es he?3 'I am here', he said fill right, ' bot dose my men no harm for me3 — he wist what dole to him was dight,

560 barfore he wald his frendes went fire.

Al-if him-self to paynes ^ede, he wald none ober be wers ware; bat schewd he by his speche gud spede both in pat stede and els whare. 565 Peter gan his swerde out lede

and Malkus ere sune of he schare ; my sun him blamed for pat dede and hastily he (he)lid it bare.

ludas bat was (fill) of foe fende,

570 al-if mi sun his treson wist,

at his cuwyng he cald him frende and curtaisli bare he him kist. ban knew bai wele my sun so hend, bai laid band on him als bam list ;

575 omang bam al no man him mende.

on bis manere my mirth I mist, f. 85 3

and sefain (to Pilatj, him to spill; my dere sun was noght ferd forfoi, 580 bot beder went he with gude will;

i v. 537 — 648 precede v. 129 in the other Mss. qwell. z v. 577 — 84 follows after 600 in the other

he kid noght bat he was myghty, bot bare him euer simpH and still. Pilate sayd he suld noght dy, for in him fand he none kins ill.

Pai hid his eghen and band him fast 585 and bet him ban with buffettes sare, and bad him rede wha smate hi#z last, a trew prophet if bat he ware, two of my sisters faeder past forto se pat sorow and care, 59°

and be Maudelaine was noght last — scho lufed him lely and his lare.

Hir luf to him was euer new,

to wirschip him als was worthy.

fill strang es luf of frendes trew, 595

and of pe moder maste namly.

he was so faire of hide and hew,

my murnig was be more forbi ;

al men him lufed bat euer him knew,

slike blis it was to beld him by. 600

Pai nakend him ban in pa stoundes

and till a peler band him al bare,

and bet him ban bare in baire boundes

despitusly wald bai noght spare ;

foure thowsand and sex hundreth woundes 605

dight bai on his sydes fill sare,

and cried on him on heght als houndes :

' bi prcpheci mendes be nomare3 .

Bernard, I was fill will of rede

when bat I herd bam sogat say 610

bat Ihmi sold be done to dede

and Baraban go quite for ay.

it was be custum in bat stede

to saue ane on baire sabot-day;

god sun pai slogh with wikked red, 615

and lete a thef go quic oway.

Pus be lewes fill sterne and stout

held my sun in fill hard band.

Pilat had of bam more dout

ban of him bat was alweldand: 620

he rase up right omang bat rout

and liuerd him into baire hand.

ban prised pai bremely him obout,

and euer ful mekeli gan he stand.

* al. Mss.

282

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

625 When he was dampned pan pai went) with him out of pe tun ful tite, be cros opon his bac pai bent and waited to do him despite, alias pat lamb bat iwnocent

630 pat neuer was worpi to wite, omang pa wolues was to-rent. I folowed fast with sorow and site.

Pe lewes war fayn when he fore ill, and fast pai logh, both moste and leste :

635 'if pou be king tell vs vntill, so pat pi payn may be relest'. he answerd noght bot held him still, with countynance fayre and rest, and bare pe cros vp to pe hill

640 ful bousumly als any beste.

I swouned pan fill many a sith, so did wemen pat war with me; I cried loud, for he suld me lith, when I for prese might him noght se : 645 'A sun, whi hies pou pe so swith sen pat pou beres so heuy a tre, and lattes pi moder be vnblith, and oper frendes pat folowes pe?'

Oen heuy« was and erth also 650 and Adam merked efter man, had neuer woman so mekil wo ne care in hert als I had pan. now haue I tald bitwen vs two of grete greuance sen I bygan; 655 ^it may I mene of many ane mo, fro his graueing how pat we wan«.

Pan wald Bernard no speking spare bot til hir said he sone onone: »I thank pe, ladi, of pi lare, 660 pat pon to me will mak pis (mone). when he was ded als pou said are and stalworthli stoken in ston, forpermare how gan ^e fare, pe Maudlayne and pi cosi'yn Ion)?«

665 »Sertes, Bernard, pe soth . grete hardnes pan in h . when pai pe stone wal . for wa pan wex I al .

pe heuynes might I ...

ouer him hertly g . 670

I wend to were pe .

so pat my so ....

pai gan me (win),

(ilka)ne at oper leue pai toke 675

and led me home vntill owre in. for sorow I might speke ne luke, and al pai murned more and myn. no wight in werld might write in buke oure bitter bale pat might noght blin. 680

Intill a chamber pai gert me go

whare mi dere barn was won to be ;

Ion and pe Maudelayn went also,

for no thing wald pai wend fro me.

I wayted obout in ilka wro 685

bot of my sun kouth I noght se ;

omang vs was so mekill wo

pat in swounyg we fell al thre.

Pus war we set in sorows sare,

and out of bale might none vs bring,

til bat we wist how he sold fare

pat was oure conforth ouer althing.

now haue I tald pe of my care,

(wh)at pain I had in his parting;

bot efter I was fill redi pare 695

to luke efter his vprising«.

(Saint) Bernard said: »my ladi fre, I thank pe, moder and maiden milde, pat pou wald pus mene vnto me (pe) sorow of pe and of pi childe. "jc (now) am I seker, whare so I be, (pat) his passioun sal me schilde (fra pe fend) and his powste, (and also) fro al werkes wylde.«

(Now, ladi,) for pat mekyll wo 705

(and pe murnjyg pat ppu made omell, (pe pas]sioun of pi sun also (& his d)ed so foule and fell, (lat vs neu.er depart pe fro, (bot grant vs) euer with [be] to dwell, 710 (and hepen owai) when we sail go (schild vs fro) pe paynes of hell. AMEN.

2. (The Form of living, in verse).

283

2. (R. Rolle's Form of living, in verse).

The following interesting piece is a metrical paraphrase of the Ist part of R. Rolle's Form of living, most likely by Will. Nassyngton. It demonstrates the great popularity of R. Rolle's treatise. No other Ms. is known to exist.

fol. 8s»>.

(Ilk

a man pat bunden esj (in dedli sin), has (thre wrechednes), pat bringes bam to be ded of hell ; and whilk bai er I sal ^ow tell. 5 te first es defaut of gastly strenkith pat pai sold haue paire line to lenkith ; pat mase bam so wayk in al thinges pat pai may noght gainstand fandiwges, ne pai may noght lift vp paire will

10 be luf of god at ^erne vntyll. t*e toper es vse of flesli syn and a desire to dwell pare-in, and for pai haue no will to stand in lustes er pai lightly falland,

15 and [in] paire lustes so will pai lend many vnto paire liues end. I>e thrid wrechednes es chanieing of lastand gudes for pasand thing, als when pai leue pe ioy endles

20 for vaine ioy here pat pasand es. and if pai turn bam aid or ^ing, god will ordaine paire wonyng with angels and with hali men, paire wrechidnes if pai wil ken ;

25 bot for bai folow be filth of sin and likes more to lend foarein ban in foe grete fairehed of heuyn, both it and foe werld lose bai euyn. For he bat has noght Ihmi Criste,

30 al gude thing es fro him rauist ; al creatures sal uengance cry on him in dome, als es worthi. —

£ir wrechidnes er noght anly in bam bat luffes here licheri

35 and glotony and ofoer sines

bat foaire luf oft fro god twines : bot bai er in sum man and wife bat semes in penance and gude life.

For when pe fende ful of enui can parcayue here preueli 40

pat man or woman, aid or ^ing, wald turn pam vnto gude lifing and forsake werldly vanite, a hundereth wiles pan has he to put pam fro swilk purpose sune, 45 and ger pam leue yf oght be done ; and so warly oft will he wait bat bai sal noght se his desayt. Sum (he desaiues) thurgh be syn f. 86 of erroure bat he puttes pam in ; 50

and sum with singulere wittes here, when pai think on pis man ere, whare so pai walk by est or west bat foaire owin wit euer es best, and parfore will bai no counsayle 55

al-if it might foam mekil avayle, his a wit think him best of all — bat gers him oft in folis fall ; bis es a stinkand sin of pride, foat be fend gers walk ful wide. 60

Sum he desaiues ' thurgh vain glori, bat es idel ioy, als when any has pride in hert on ill nianere of penawce pat pai suffer here, or els of gude dedes pat pai do, 65

or uertus pat er gifen pam to ; and er sari when men pam lackes, and meri when men rose of paw maks ; pam think paire werkes & paire gude dedes fer passes pe lif pat oper ledes; 70

pam think pat no man, aid no ^ing, suld reprehend pam in no thing; pai despise al sinful men pat will noght wirk als pai paw ken. how suld men find more sinful here 75 pan he pat lifes on pis manere? 1 Ms. desayued.

284

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

and more sinful parfore he es foat he wate noght his wrechidnes. Sum er desayued in lust & liking 80 of mete and drink outrage taking, when pai haue grete delite parin and wenes pat pai do no syn, parfore pai amend pam noght, and so pai er in bondage broght; 85 al gude vertus pai put byhind,

in paire wittes er pai made so blind. Sum er bigiled thurgh abstinens fro mete and drink and oper spens ; bat es desayueing of pe fende 90 to ger bam faile and barn-self schende, bat if bai bigin any thing, bai sail noght bring it to ending ; and busgat es paire mede made les thurgh foli of baire frawardnes. 95 Pis gilder be fende vntill man merkes whew he bigins to luf gude werkes ; he suffers ... of hert and (hend) bat bai bring no gude werk till end; he gers bam wene at bai sail do

100 more ban bai may atteyn vnto,

and gers bam wene baire werkes er lele, when bai do harm to baire saul hele. For, als pir clerkes may knaw ful euyn, we haue a lang way vnto heuyn,

105 and ay when we a gude dede do, a pase ban mak we heuy/z vnto, and when we think gude thoghtes or

pray,

vnto heuew we mak vs way ; pan, if we mak vs here so wayke

no bat vs list nowper lif ne (l)ayke ne nowpir gude werkes forto wirk ne forto pray ne go to kirk — we er so febill we may noght rise ne be lastand in goddes seruise:

115 me think we er worthi to blame, and aght forto think mekill shame, bat in oure werkes er failand when we had moste mister to stand, and series it es [noght] goddes will ;

1 20 bat prvmes pe pwphet by bis scill: he said, »lord, I sal kepe mi might vnto be both day and nyght« —

his meneing was pan on pis wise,

pat he suld maintene goddes sends

lastandly to his ded-day, 125

and noght sune waste his strenkith (oway)

and sepin lig waneand by be waw.

bat es more perill pan we knaw;

Saint lerom sais, to vnderstand,

pat he makes of rauyn ofrand 130

pat here will turment his body

fro mete and slepe outrageusly.

And saint Bernard sais pat f(asting)

ne wakeing lettes noght g(astli thing)

bot helpes it in ilk sesoune

if it be done with discrecioune,

and if discrecioun be n(oght) .

ban er bai tald vices al . . .

Parfore to pine vs es |na nede)

and pan haue vnth(ank for our dede).

Bot par er sum me(n pat wenes)

pat paire life es (noght al pai menes)

bot if bai vse (swa mikil fasting)

bat all (men spek parof, aid & ^ing :

'bot oft foe mo ioy pai haue ben) 145

(withow)ten of be speche of men,

pe les ioy haue pai within

of pe luf of god pat neuer sal blyn.

It war wele more to goddes honore

to sustine paire bodis in mesure I5<

and forto tak with gude talent

what sustinance so god pam sent,

forto maintene his seruyse,

pan forto wirk on oper wise,

thurgh penance & ypocrisy

to ger pam be halden haly.

for pe les pat men paire gudnes neuyw,

pe more it es with god of heuyn.

What helpes it to more or les

to haue pe abit of halines

and be noght so, bot couer pride

and ire and enuy on ilk side,

and hide so many wikked dede

vnder pe clothes of Cristes barnhede?

(A) foul lust es it unparfite i6(

(of) oper mens wordes to haue delite,

(pat) of oure dedes may deme right

noght namore pan pai may of oure thoght ;

2. (The Form of living, in verse).

285

(f))arfore weper pai say gude or ill,

1 70 (a) man sold gif no tent partill ; (an)d if we hide oure werkes pen (fro) pe loueing of werldly men, (pan) will god for oure gudenes (sche)w vs ioy f)at es endles.

175 (For his) ioy es when aide and ^ing (has) strenkith to fell foe fendes fanding (and sekes) no thing forto haue (hot lu)f of god his saul to saue : (and bis de)sire of his luf smert

1 80 (ay suljd kyndel in oure hert, (and be swetn)es of his grace (be oure comfolrt and oure solace. (Lo bus hauje I talde here now fende decayues & how

185 (men & women) bat er noght qwointe

be ataynt ;

(if foou wil do bi gu)de counsayle (and folow lare bat mig)ht availe, (his malis sal turn him til) anoy

190 (and al his trappis pou sal) destroy. God suffers p(e fend to temp gud men) for paire profit, als clerkes ken, pat pai sal be hegher in blis when [pai] haue ouercuwen him and his.

195 Pe fende on thre wise has powere forto dwell in a man here: Ane es, hurtand pe gudes of kind, als reuand men speche, wit & mynde. Anoper es thurgh pe gudes of grace,

200 pat he makes men in many place to haue swilk delite and liking in werldli gudes pat es vain thing pat pai forget god euer omell and wendes with pe fende to hell.

205 Pe thrid maner es, rurmentand a mans body by water or land, als lob was turment lifand here with maladies and sekenes sere. Bot wit pou wele, for ani gyn

2io if he may noght temp pe within nowper with his worde ne dede, withowten thar pe noght him drede ; for vnto no man may he greue ferrer pan god will gif him leue.

Pe fende, als hali writ witnes, 215

transfigures him in sere liknes: sum tyme als ane angell of light tempes he men both day and night, and hides ill to aid and ^ing vnder foe liknes of gude thing. 220

and pat es on two maners done : Ane es when he at morn or none egges men till esse of body and forto kepe pam tenderly; he sais if pat paire fless be pinde, 225 pai may sustyne [noght] wele paire

kinde,

and pat es nede on alkins wise forto maifnjtene goddes seruise ; on pis wise makes he vs to think, bot if we ett wele and wele drink 230

and lig soft and sit warm, els may we lightly haue grete harm, and els till end bese it noght won be trauail bat we haue bygun ; bus bringes he men both more & les 235 to lust and liking of paire fless. Anoper es when he thurg chance entices vs to grete penance

f. 87

of gastly gudes, and fousgat sais: 240

»He bat moste hard life wil lede

for goddes luf, sal haue most mede :

parfore ett lityl and febil mete,

and thinest drink bat foou may gete,

vse litel slepe, and were pe hayre, 245

and fast mekill pi fless to payre,

pat pare be none for nokins chance

pat may pass pe in penance«.

pus sais pe fende in pi conciens

to sla pe with grete abstinens, 250

right als he said pe toper thing

to sla pe with outrage etting.

and parfore, if we right lif wald,

a gude mene bihoued vs hald,

faar-thurgh we may gett oure saul bute 255

and hald oure fless ay vnder fote,

and suffer it to haue strenkith parto

at serue god als it suld do.

Also oure [enmy] wil noght sese ne suffer vs here to rest in pese 260

286

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

onightes, when we suld slepe a while : bot ban he sekes vs to bigile with uanitese, to mak vs glad, and su#ztyme sightes to mak vs rad

265 and ger vs lathe with oure awin state — for al oure febilles wele he wate. with faire sightes he makkes vs fain forto ger vs be glad in vaine, to ger vs wene so bat we er

270 better ban we may be bi fer.

somtyme he puttes intil oure mode bat we er halden hali and gude, to mak vs proud of oure gude dede and so to ger vs lose oure mede;

275 su/wtyme he sais we er werst of all, at gerr vs into wan-hope fall and so forto di in despaire. l>us colures he his falshedes faire. bot god ful kindely wil vs kepe

280 and saue, wheper we wake or slepe, if we rewle vs efter his will, pat be fende noght dere vs till. £ou siwnes noght slepeand, sais pir

clerkes, if pou be wakeand with gude werkes,

285 withowten outrage of mete and drink, and euil thoghtes on none wise think.

F(e fend desayues)

thurgh dremis pat pai se slepe(and) ; and sum dremes gers he sothfast seme,

290 for pat men sal parefter deme

and trow bat al dremes pat pai se on pat wise soth sal funden be, pan shewes he oper vnsuthfast thinges, and so in wrang trowth he men bringes.

295 And forbi bat none, aide ne i^ing, sail be desayued with swilk dremeing, parfore I tell, wha will tak ^eme, sex maners of dremis may me« deme. and twa maners may nane askape:

300 pat es with tome wambe if pai slape, anoper, oner-full if bai be — su»z vanitese ban sal bai se and sightes bat er noght sertayne, and al es for baire febill brayne.

305 foe thrid es desayt and gilri

of be fende, oure fals enmy.

be ferth es thoght of werk with hand

and illusiouns parfore folowand.

pe fift er reuelaciouns of pe haligaste,

and pat es for oure (saul ese) maste. 310

pe sext es when mew er (rau iste

thurgh thoghtes bifore bat falles to

Criste.

on f>ir maners, wha will tak kepe, may men dreme when pat pai slepe. and in so mekill it es worthy 315

pat men sold set pe les bam by and trow nowber til all ne sum, for we wate noght whareof bai cum, wheber bai CUOT of be haligaste or of be deuil bat deres vs maste ; bot whare men many dremes (ses,, bare er many vanitese. wharfore men bat kindli wit (can), right als pai cum so lattes pam . and lattes paire hert ay . . . 325

als paire lifing es she What helpes to seme ha li . . . and pan oure conciens . .?

turn pi hert to god ha(lli) als it semes pou dose (pi bodi).

pou sal noght say

pat al er haly pat

and beres abite

and with pe

(ne pou sal noght wene pat al er ill) 335

(pat) werldly thinges tentes vntill

(& occupies pam with trauayle,

(fo)r defaut of fude pat pai noght faile ;

Bot pai er haly in al degre,

lered or laude wheper pai be,

bat werldly gudes can wele despise

and luf god euer on alkins wise,

and settes in god al paire desyre

and paire luf brinand als fire,

and couaites noght pat mew ma neuy« 345

bot all anly be blis of heuyn,

and hates sin with main and mode,

and seses noght of werkes gude,

and in baire hert feles a swettnes

of foe life bat ay lastand es: 35*

and haldes foam-self werst of all

2. (The Form of living, in verse).

287

and be foulest bat may by fall, and knawes wele foaire wrechidnes. ( is manere of lifing haly es;

355 and who so lifes in bis degre, haly and blisced sal he be. If bat bou will haue mede in heuyn (and) be with Crist es apostels euyn, (think) noght ban what bou forsakes,

360 (bo}t what bou despises and noght

takes.

(faai) forsake so mekill and no les (bat fojlowes Criste here in mekenes, (in char)ite and in pouert (and in) parfite paciens of hert,

365 (als pai) mai couait in baire thoght

. ane bat folowe him noght.

(& bar)fore luf god with gude will,

. (h)as he eghe bartill; (with grete desir) wha to god tentes

370 (& offers) baire praiers in his presence (& sekes na comforth of) erthly thing (bot be blis of heuin) at his ending, (Crist him reue s)all fro be fende (& his werkes) bat him suld shende,

375 (& als fro lu)stes and likinges

(of fless^& blude bat in) him hinges, (& mak him will na erithely gude

baire mode

(& drede na sorow bat m)ay bifall

380 all

385 bat pai be noght (in bat sesoune letted of baire deuocioune. fus mai men se wha will tak how sum er better ban bai seme, and also sum man wikked es

390 pat schewes semeing of halines. And who so will bis lesson lere and lif barefter with gude chere, thurgh. help of god ban sal he be als gude in saul, als forto se.

395 At be biginnig enterely ' turn be to god almighty.

and bat es to mene on bis wise :

turn foe fro al couatise

and fro liking and bisines

both of be werld and of bi fless, 400

so bat bi hert, bat was dounward

whils bi hert in foe erth was harde,

be vpward now als fire ful euyn,

sekeand be heghest place in heuyn,

til pi spous whare he beldes in blis, 405

and ^eren to won with him & his.

bi hert to god wele turned es

when it forsakes sins more and les

and fleis al felischippes of schrewes,

and cowfouroms it to gude thewes 4ID

and to debonerte and mekenes,

and in goddes loueing lastand es,

and es noght with nowkins strife,

ne irkes noght with hardnes of life.

Bot foure thinges bus him haue in 415

thoght

bat to parfite luf will be broght. Ane es, of bis life be mesure, I.

bat so schort time mai endure, bat vnnethes es oght forto tell, for als in a point here we dwell — 420 bat es be leste thing bat mai be; ;it es cure life wele les to se, if bat we haue rewarde alway vnto bat life bat lastes ay. Anober es foe vnsertainte n.

of oure ending when it sal be ; for we wate nener when we sal deghe ne what dole bat we ban sal drighe, ne we wate neu«- into what stede bat we sal turn when we er dede ; 430 god will lat vs no sertaine se for bat we suld ay redy be (in) what e . . . . we . . . f. 88 bus suld a man ay think in thoght. I*e thrid, foat we acount sal ?elde in.

of al oure dedes in ?owth and elde bifor Ihwu, be domes-man dere, and of al be time bat we had here, and what oure bisines has bene. for bare sal all foe soth be sene; 440

al euil dedes bat we here hid sal bare plainly be knawen & kyd,

288

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vii.

and what gude werkes we might haue

wroght when we war ydell and did noght.

445 parfore pe prophet sais sertayne :

»Lorde, pou has calde pe time ogayne, to wreghe vs of oure wikkednes in al oure lifing more and les«. for ilkaday pat god has send

450 in his seruise forto despend,

in wikked werkes if we it waste, parfore in bale we muw be braste and by it dere on domesday, bot if we mend it whils we may ;

455 and al be time we waste to noght whils god es al-out of oure thoght. parfore on him we suld think ay, and also on pat dredeful day.

mi. £e ferth thing folowand es pis:

460 forto think what ioy and blis pat paire hertes er to rauiste pat lendes in pe luf of Criste lastandly ai whils pai lif, and al paire hertes vnto him gif;

465 for pai sal be, als clerkes ken, breber with angels and hali men, in heuyw whare pai sail plainly se god in his grete maieste. pat sight ouer all es souerayn blis,

470 and pareof sal pai neuer mis; it sal be to pam mete and drink and all pat pai will efter think, pare sal be more ioy pam omell pan ani man with tong mai tell ;

475 and to pat welth wele mai pai win pat here will kepe pam clene of sin. Also to think with gude entent what sorow and care and hard tur-

ment pat pai sal haue withowten ende,

480 pe sinfull pat to hell sail wende,

(pat lufed noght god whils) pai liued here bot filed paire thoght with folies sere, als pride and ire and oper syn. parfore in bale-fire sal pai brin,

485 pat es in pe fire of hell,

with deuils pat parein sal dwell; for pai sal dwell ay with be fende

right als gudemen with god sal lende.

tarfore luf god, als I said are,

with all pi might and main eu^rmare ; 490

and lat pi luf ay in him stand

and more and more ay be waxand,

and bigin pi luf so lawe

pat pou may ai god better knawe,

and set pi luf so sad in him 495

pat pou may euermore upward clim ;

and noght bigin so highe thurgh ruse

and cum dounward, als suw men dose

pat ouer-grete penance wil bigin

pat pai may noght til ending win, 500

wharfore pai fail in goddes seruise —

wha wirkes pus pai er noght wise.

pi merit mai be neuer be les

if pou do noght so grete destrese

vnto pi fles, at ger it faile ; 505

bot kepe pe klene, es my counsaile,

and vmthink pe at morn and none

to luf god more pan pou has done;

pan sal pi luf be more and more,

and pi mede ay waxand parfore. 510

He pat here will leli lyf

and his luf all to god gif,

stabilly sail he vnderstand

pir foure thinges pat er folowand:

Ane es what thing files a man; 51;

anoper what thing clenses (him pan) ;

pe thrid when pat he clensed es,

what thing pan haldes him (in clennes) ;

pe ferth what thing may a (man bring)

at ordain him to goddes li(king). 52

For pe first, what files a (man), i.

may men knaw wele ....

pat we sin on ma(ners thre)

and makes oure sau(les foule to be) ;

pus er pai talde who (wil take hede, : 525

with hert, with (mouth, and with dede).

I*e sins of hert (er pir) ....

ill thoghtes

(wik)ed will and yre in hert to hald for 530

rose.

and to haue ill suspecioune, and pray with-owten deuocioune.

2. (The Form of living, in verse).

289

535

540

545

550

555

560

565

575

I eccata oris

and if pi hert euer ydel be

with-outen werkes of charite,

and void withowten swete sauoure

of pe luf of god oure creature.

ill drede, ill luf to aid or ?ing.

all errour and al ill trowing.

ioy of oper mens ill fare,

and sorow if pai in welthes ware.

to despise pure men more or les,

to honore pe riche for paire riches.

despite of sinful pat we se,

and ioy of werldli vanite.

vntholemodnes oure sou^raines to.

and dout of dedes pat er to do —

for what we sold do suld we knaw

and nowper lett for luf ne awe.

noy in hert forto do gnde.

anger at serue with milde mode

(god &) pam pat we suld vntill.

and sorow we haue done namore ill,

and pat we haue noght fulfild sone

(wi)kkednes pat we might haue done.

(and) vnstabilnes of thoght.

;pini)ng with penawce if we do oght.

(ypoc)risi in goddes seruise.

(drede) ill doers to despise (!).

(shame) of gude dedes, ioy of ill.

(singul)ere wit with-owten scill.

(couaiti)se of dignite,

(or to be) halden of gude degre,

(or rich, or to) be halden faire,

(or strang) oure enmies forto payre.

(vain glori) forto haue in mynde

(of gudes of) grace or gudes of kinde.

(forto haf) shame of simpil frendes,

(& prid of ri)che pat with vs wendes;

(for fre ilike) al sail we be

(bifor pe face of gods mageste),

(bot if oar dedis) mak vs were

(or els better pan oth)er err.

(also despite of gud) counsaile

(and teching pat vs might) auayle.

pouert

l»e sins of mouth er, (if pou fraine): to swere grete athes & oft in vaine. to sklander Crist or oper vs by.

n.

gude

to neuyw his name vnreueren[t]li. vnsothfast schrift pat es noght clere. grocheing to god for angers here or tribulacioun, pat er send till vs for we oure mis suld mend, to pray [to] god in his presens with-owten deuocioun and reuerens. bakbiteing. flatering. and lesing. missaying. werying. and defamyng. sawing of discord, and tresoun. and fals witnes in feld and tonne, ill counsail. scorn, vnbowsumnes. to say thing es gude pat ill es, or forto say pe thing es ill pat men dose wele and with

will —

for we suld lap oure negburs dede ay in be best, for paire moste spede. to excite oper men vnto swilk dedes als pai dar noght do, forto ger pam be halden wer efter pat pa dedes err. oper men forto myssay for werkes pat we do ilkaday. with mekill speche oure henid to breke, or mani yd ell wordes to speke. and als of wordes faire polising, to mak pam soth pat es lesing. and in oure sinyng fals defens. crying & laghing with no reuere»s. forto mak mowes on ani men. sanges of lust to sing and ken, or more for mens luf forto sing pan for Criste pat knawes al thing, to prais ill dedes with karping kouth — al swilk er cald pe sins of mowth. l*ir er pe sins pat falles in dede, als pai er set on raw to rede : als glotoni, and lichen, and dronkenhede, and symony. wichecrafte. breking of halidays. and sacrilage by any ways, to resayue goddes body in sin, and als forto [lig] lang parin. Brekeing of vowes pat er made right, and ydell saying in goddes sight. (to) gif en(sampil of il) life. f. 89

19

580

585

59°

595

600

605

610

peccata opens

620

625

2QO

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

630

635

640

645

655

660

665

peccata

omissio-

nis

670

sakles to greue oufaer man or wife,

or forto ger pam haue il name

or forto lose of paire gude fame.

Thift. ranin. vsure. decayt,

lesinges and lithernes to layt.

gladli forto herkin yll.

to gif oure gudes harlottes untill.

to reue oure bodis nedful wage,

or els at vse vs till outrage.

to bigin any thing ouer might.

custom to do ill day or night.

also feyniwg of halynes,

rosing of thing pat noght cures es,

to hald vs fayrer or wiser

ban oper, when we er wele wer.

forto tak any charge vs to

pat we er vnabill to do.

to wreth vs lightly als vnwise.

and also to bring vp new gise.

to be ouer rebell vnto seruandes,

to do noght als soueraines cu/»andes.

forto do sin here in oure Hue

thurgh any of oure wittes fiue:

In sight, in hereing, or in smelleing,

in handes towcheing, or in tasting ;

in giftes gifing, or quant saiinges,

in gilry or in sutyle signes,

vnlefiul thing to resayue parchance —

for of sins er bir circumstance (!).

and bar er circumstance wele ma,

als time, stede, maner alswa,

nowmber, person, and dwelling,

eld, and degre, and cunyng;

pir makes be sin more or les,

efter be condicioun es.

also to sin forto be boune

or a man fele temptacioune ;

or ani bowrding to bygin

at make occasioun vnto sin.

Nr er be sins pat falles in dede,

and mani ma if men tak hede.

Sins of omiscioun I sail say sone, bat es, leueing of gudes vndone, when ani leues pat pai suld do or reklesli tentes noght parto : noght thinkand on god pat sese all, ne of pe mede pat parfore sold fall,

or thjankand him noght of) his gudes

pat he vs lenes here more and les.

or duse noght here oure dedes ilkane 675

pat gude er, for goddes luf allane.

to sorow noght here for oure sin.

to dispose vs noght grace to win,

or pat kepes noght pe gift of grace

or vses ill in any place. 680

forto cowfourum noght his will

goddes liking forto fulfill.

vntill prayers noght forto bow,

bot rabill on and rek nener how.

or will noght enforce bam to fulfill 685

thing bat pai haue avowed vntill,

or bnnden by sum sertaine poynt,

or els for penance es enioynt.

to draw on lenkith pat suld be sone.

or haue no ioy of gude dedes done 690

vntill oure neghburs bat er knawen,

als we wald haue of oure awn.

noght sorowand of op^r mens ill fare,

frendes or fase whefaer pai ware.

noght standand if temptaciuns rise. 69;

noght forgifand al oure enmise.

noght kuwforthand neghburs in care,

als we wald bai till vs ware.

noght ^eldeand bam bat vs gude wins.

to let noght bam we se vse sins. 700

striueinges noght to stint and stere.

and vnkonand mew noght to lere.

noght forto cuwzforth on oure wise

pam pat er seke and may noght (rise ,

or help pam noght pat er broght (in wai 705

thurgh pouert, or prest, in pr*s(on

alswa).

£ir sins, and oper pat er (mare), makes men foul als I said are, and pai er vsed of ?ong (and aid) on thre maners als I (?ow tald). 710

Ogaines pa thre m(ai help vs win) n. oper thre thinges pat (clenses of sin).

F irst ogains pe sin of (thoght) es sorow of hert parf(itli wroght), pat es, to rew oure s(ins sare), and be in will to sin (no mare), and for for sorow of .

715

2. (The Form of living, in verse .

2QI

put out al ioing

so pat oure

720 ne oure h

(Pe tober, ogains be sin of mouth,) (es) trew schrift, forto mak kowth (al) sins done with oure body; and [bat] sal be done hastily

"25 with-owten any lang delaying ; and naked with-owten excusing; and all hale & noght sunder tane, als sum bat telles suw sins till ane and sum till anober, als we gess

730 forto mak baire penance les,

or els bat haldes oght in foe tayle — swilk schrift sal foam nothing availe. Pe thrid, of satisfaccioun may rise ; and bat es done opon thre wise :

735 in fasting, prayers, and almusdedes — noght (anly to gif) pouer mew pat nedes mete & drink to baire releues, bot to forgif bam bat foe greues and pray for bam with gude entent

740 bat god bring foam vnto mendement, and enfourom both aid and ?ing (bat) er in poynt of perising.

m. lie pat clennes more wil kepe, within his hert to goddes wurschipe

745 (it) bus kepe on maners thre ; I sal foe tell how foat sail be. (Ane) es waker thoght and stabill, (bat) he to god be euennore abill. (An)oper es besines to ^eme

750 (fat fine) wittes als best will seme, (so foat) ilkone in his degre (be rewli)de als him aw to be (& wickid) stiringe bat in bam es (be closed clejne out of foi fless.

755 (Pe thrid es) forto be ay boune (till honest oc)upaciowne (in gude ded)es of charite, (& bat bou neu)ermore ydel be,

ght

760 ght

1 . . fing.

Clennes of mouth bus keped) be

(on) manors thre :

(t)hoght 765

(spe)ke oght,

d

, . nayd.

Anober es bis, (als I be teche), to be noght ouermekil (of speche) ; 770 for he pat mikell carpand is sum tyme sail he say omis. Pe thrid es pat bou for no thing, ne for no mekenes, mak lesing on bi-self ne on none els, 775

bot luke it be trew bat foou telles. Clennes of werk with aid and ^ing of thre thinges also has kepeing: Ane es assiduele thoght of ded pat maystrz's makes in mani a stede, 780 and on his paynes pat er so (fell) and more ban any man mai tell; for bus men heres foe wiseman say : »vmthink be, man, of bi last day, how foou out of bis werld sal twin, 785 and ban, he says, bou sal noght syn«. Anober: he bat clennes will kepe byhoues fle all ill felaghschipe, bat more ensampill will to him neuyw to luf be werld pan god of heuyn, 790 and more to luf esse of bodi ban forto plese god almighty. Pe thrid es right discrecioune to etc and drink yn1 gude musoune1, pat it pas noght right ordinance 70,5

ne want of skilwis sustinance ; for both es demid to ane ending, outrage, and ouer-mikell fasting; for nowber es till goddes pay — pat will sum noght wene by no way. 800 if bou tak sustinance of swilk gude als god be sendes vnto foi fode, and3 out-tak no maner of mete foat cristen men vses fortill ette, and vse mesure in ilkadele 805

and ett and drink : foan dose bou wele ; on foat maner did Crist him-selue (in) erth here, and his apostels twelue. 1 orig. on. 2 = O Fr. moison measure. 3 r. I. 19*

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

Bot if bou in bi-seluen se

810 bat bou haue strenkith & stalworth be in goddes seruise to pray and wake, and bou will fast ban for goddes sake, so bat bou no faintise fele to seme god ban dose bou wele;

815 and if bou fast vntill bou fayle, bou sins and it sal noght availe.

f. 90 (For wit boa wele bat rightwi)snes nowber in etting ne fasting es, bot if bou tak here with gude hert

820 illike both riches and pouert, hunger, nede, catell to lese als gladli als delices and dayntese ; if bou tak al bir ilyke wele, and loue god euer of ilkadele,

825 and gruche noght for nokin thing, ban ertou rightwis in lifing.

IV. -r\.lso ^it may men forber knawe ober thre thinges, bat will vs draw forto confourme all oure will

830 goddes liking forto fulfill. Ane es ensampill of halimen pat lely lifed, als clerkes ken, bat war ententyue night & day at seme god euer vnto pay,

835 and to luf him with al baire might

and to drede him both day & night.

barf ore now er bai hegh in heuyw,

in more mirth pan mew may neuyw ;

and if we folow here baire trace,

we sal won with bam in pat place. 840

Anober es gudenes of god allane,

bat al lufes and despises nane

bot gladli takes and with, gude will

al bat in time will turn him till,

and his mercy will to vs bede 845

als oft-sibes als we haue nede,

and hamlier he will vs take

what time so we oure sin forsake,

and angels of vs er more glad,

ban ani frende bat euer we had ; 850

ban aght vs forto be ful fayne

at gif oure willes to god ogaine.

Pe thrid es noteful forto neuyn,

bat es, for endles ioy in heuyn,

bat es gretter & more plente 855

pan eres may here or eghen se

or hertes think or tonges tell —

wele es pam pat pare may dwell;

and pat has god al hallely hight

vnto al pa pat lufes him right 860

and honors him in stede and stall.

vnto pat blis he bring vs all. A. M. E. N.

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

This piece is a metrical version of an older Engl. prose text (probably of northern origin), of which a copy is extant in Ms. Vernon1, and which is a translation of a Latin tract cde Spiritu Guidonis5, extant in Mss. Vesp. E I (oldest Ms.), Vesp. A VI (text from which the prose translation was made), and Harl. 2379. A similar apparition is the 'Revelation3 in Ms. Thornton (vol. I p. 388). (Tractatus) de quodam spiritu . . Spiritus Guydonis. fol. 90.

OAint Michael goddes angell (clere), and saint Austin be doctur dere,

and ober maisters mare & myn, sais bat men grete mede may wyn

1 I here give the prose text of Ms. Vernon: Ms. Vernon fol. 363.

^f heer begynneb a good tretis : Pat Men clepep Spiritu Gwydonis.

.T Or as muche as seint Austin seij) to Peter in be Booc of be-leeue, »Pat is a Miracle what heih ping op«r vncostumable ping so comefa ouur Monnus faculte

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

293

5 and nameli clerkes pat can of lare, if pai paire cunyng will declare vnto pe laude men pat can les, and namely thinges pat nedeful es, pe whilk may ger pam sese of sin

10 and help pam vnto heuin at win. And saint Paul Cristes apostell dere sais till vs on pis manere : all pat pir clerkes in bukes rede er wretin anely for mans mede,

15 so pat men may ensaumpill take to saue paire saules and sins forsake and lede paire liues more and les als haly bukes beres witnes. And for pat god of his grete grace

20 will pat his pople in ilka place trow in thinges pat er to cum, als in ded and pe day of dome, and how ilk man sail haue his mede, be saued or dampned eft<?r paire dede :

25 parfore he schewes ensamples sere on pis molde omang vs here, to ger vs in oure trowth be stabill and lif in faith with-owten fabill, and so he will vs wisely wis

30 at kepe vs clene and cum to blis. tarfore who so will lyke to lere, a soth ensampill sail ^e here how it byfell byfor pis day ; and parfore beres it wele oway. It bifell in a faire sesowne,

35 efter Cristes incarnaciowne

a thowsand winter, be ^e bald,

and thre hunderet, als clerkes (tald),

and parto thre and twenti (?er),

pan byfell on pis maner. 40

In Alexty pat nobil towne,

bat threti mile es fro Ba(ioune),

pe xil. kalend, als clerk(es tell),

of decembre, als pan (bifell) :

A gude buriace p(at hight Gy) 45

in pat same (cete gan dy) ;

(and when pe bodi in graue was laid ,

(vnto pe) saul slike grace was (graide),

(vn)-till his wife it went ogayne

and schewed hir porcioun of his paine ; 50

he did hir dole both day and night,

bot of him might scho haue no sight;

and in hir chamber oft might sho here

mikil noyse and hidos bere,

and oft scho was so rugged and rent

pat for sorow sho was nere shent. 55

pus was scho turment in pat stede

egtene(!) dayes efter pat he was dede,

and scho ne wist noght weterly

wheper it war pe gaste of Gy

or it war funding of sum fende 60

pat so pursuyd hir forto shende.

t*arfore sone efter opon a day

vnto pe freres scho toke pe way

pat prechures war in pat cete,

(we)le lifand men of gude degre, 65

and to pe prior gan scho tell

all pis ferly how it bifell,

Ms. Vernon.

to pe strengpi«g of vr feifx< — ffor whi? alle pinges pat beoj) writen ben writew to vr techyng, pat we mouwe haue hope porw soffrauwce and ctuwfort of writynges Ihwu Cr»st vr saueour, knowere of alle prmites, seoinge pat ping and wiln[ing] l strongloker and stabliloker to strengpen vr fei{> among Cristene men of pe certeyn of pat lyf pat is to comen , In pe s;eer of his Incarnacion a pousund & preo hu«dred and twenti and pre2 wolde schewe such an ateliche Miracle porw his ordinauwce, so pat we mihte haue pe more certeyn of pe lyf pat is to comen.

In pe Cite of Alexti, pat is from pe Apostoyles s6€ pat is I-cleped Bayon3 })ritti Mile , pe twelfpe Kalende of Decembre , a Citeseyn of pat ilke Cit6€ of Alexti dyed whuche Citeseyn hi^te Gy, whos gost, whon his bodi was buried, wip-outen sihtlich forme apeered to his owne wyf and t«rme«ted hire gretliche, ei^te dayes aftur his buryinge. And pe pridde day aftur pe Natiuite of vr lord,

i Ms. wilne]>. '- Ms. \ttrc. * Lat. Avinione.

294

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

(i)n saint lohn day be euangeliste,

70 foe thrid day after foe birth of Criste ; ban) tald scho be prior lest & maste (how) sho was greued with bat gaste (and) how scho was sted in bat stede (sen) be ryme bat hir lord was dede;

75 (»Sir), scho said, right wele hope I (bat it) be be spirit of Gy; (& in) bat chamber moste es he (whar) mi lord was won to be, (& in) pat bed will he noght blin

80 (bat) mi lord and I lay in«.

(and ban) scho said with simpel chere: ». . . r I namore cum nere,

^e me cownsaile (what best) might in bis case auaile«.

85 (When be prior) had herd bis case,

in his hert he mase,

noght be afirayde,

(bu)s he sayde :

» fdr)ede be noght,

90 be boght.

. . . . . . . in foi minde

g mankinde

clerkes

werkes

95

and wele I hope

ordain sum point profe

and schew omang his seruandes dere to paire helping als men sal here ; and barfore, dame, gif be noght ill, bot be right With, and hald be still, vnto my breber I will a space to ask paire counsail in pis case ; for omang many witty1 men sum gude kounsayl may men ken, and sekerer may it so be tane pan of a man by him allane. barfor, he said, dame, hald be here, and vnto god mak bi praiere ; for lang sail I noght fra be dwell«. Pan gert he ring be chapetil bell to geder be couent al togeder ; and hastily when faai come beder, he declared bam al bis case als be woman said it wase, and praied bam forto tell him to barof what bam thoght best to do. Pan ilka man sais his avise and laytes whare moste medcin Use ; and graythly ban with gude entent bai ordaynd by foaire aller assent bat be Pryor sone suld ga, and with him ober maisters twa,

1 Ms. witty witti.

Ms. Vernon.

as a seint Ion be Ewa«gelyst, be wydewe, his wyf, wente to be hous of be Frere Prechours of bat ilke Cite"e" , and asked aftur be Prior of bat ilke freres. Pe w^uche Prior com to bat wowmon , and heo tolde him alle be binges bat hire beo-fel foorw be gost of hire hosebonde siben bat he was ded ; and for as muche as heo ne wuste wheb«r hit weore a gilerie of be fend or non, heo seyde bat heo com bider to aske couwseil what hire weore best to don of bat bing, ffor whi? heo ne mihte no lengore hele such a wonder; and in foe endynge of hire wordes heo seide also bat wfb-oute doute be spiret was in be bed bat hire hosebonde died inne. Whuch bing whon be prior hedde [of] hire herd, he seyde, to cuwzforte pe wo»»mon: »Beo not a-wondred of bis caas ! ffor whi? vr lord is wonderful in his werkes; I wot wel pat he wol schewe sum newe ping in pis caas to his trewe seruauws for to strengben vr feib. Code dame, abyd here a while & I schal aske couwseil at my wyse brebwen, ffor whi? be couwseil of mony wyse men is beter ben be couwseil of o mon al-one«. For-bi he rong be Chapihtre-belle wib be w^uche he gederde his brejwen to-gedere ; and schewede hem bat wonderful cas. And whon bei hedde I-herd hit, bei ^af couwseile bat

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

2Q5

125 be tone maist<r of geomettri(l)1 and f>e toper of philisophi, samen sold pai wende al thre vnto pe mayre of pat cete and tell pis same tale him vntill,

13° and pray him, if it war his will, pat he wald vouche-safe forto send sum sertain men with bam to wend to Gy hows pat was newli ded, to se pa wonders in pat stede

135 and to bere witnes of paire dede, and to mayntene pam, if it war nede. and pus pai did with al paire maine; pe woman was pareof ful fayne.

Oune when pe maire had herd pis thing, 140 twa hundreth men he bad forth bring, and armed pam fra top to ta, and bad pam with pe Prior ga and baldely do what he wald bid. f and als he demid right so pai did. 145 (Pe prior pan bad pam al) bidene pat pai sulde be schreuen clene and here mes with deuocioune, and sefaen baldli male bam boune. i al. theology.

And of Requiem he sang a mes —

for cristen saules it ordand es; 15°

and parin made minde of Gy

and prayed for him ml specialli,

and pat god suld gif {)am grace

forto haue knawing in pat case ;

and eftVr mes pan howseld he 155

al be men pat wald howseld be,

for pat pe fende suld pam noght fere

ne in paire dedes do pam no dere.

Pe prior pan ful preuely

in a buste toke goddes body 160

vnder his gere with gude entent —

bot no man wist pat with him went.

He and pe men and pe maisters twa

to Gies hows pan gan pai ga,

and pe wife went with pam i»-fere, 165

sighand with ful simpil chere.

Pe armed men pan ordand he

al obout pe hows to be

wele vmset on ilka side,

to se what auentures wald bitide, i?°

sum in window, and sum in dore,

with wapins pat war strang & store,

and sum in gardines gert he lig,

Ms. Vernon.

be prior w/p pe Maistre1 of Theologye and pe Maystre1 of Philosophic pat weore wysore pen pe obur freres, pat pei schulde wende to pe Meir of pat ilke Cite and preye him pat he wolde asignen sum goode men pat mihte wende w*p hem to Gyes hous pat nou late was ded, for more sykernesse and witnesse. And he dude so ; pe w^uche Meir asigned two hundred men wel armed to wenden w»p h[e]»»2 and seo what hit weore.

./\nd pe prior, seoinge pat hit weore profitable to his owne helepe and to oher mewnes bope, he amonestede alle po pat scholde wende w*p him pat pei scholde schriuen hem, & he hbw-self dude also ; and afturward he song a Masse of Requiem eternam for alle cn'stene soules, and as monye as wolden asken housel, he hoselde hem, so pat no gylerie of pe fe«d ne scholde don hem harm. And he tok priueliche w*'p him, pat no mow ne wuste, pe box in whuche Cn'stes bodi was, and he honged hit prz'ueliche be-foren his brest vnder his scapeleri, as worschupliche a[s] he mihte*. And pewne pe prior tok pe wei toward Gyes hous, w/'p his foreseid two hundred men. And he set hem abonte pe hous preo to- gederes* and preo to-geders, in pe nome of pe Trinite, and he sette suwime vppon pe tyles and su#zme on pe houses rugge and su/wme in pe wyndouwes and suwme in pe gardines5, to abyde and wayte be caas of pat wonderful ping.

1 Ms. Msistres. 2 Ms. him. * Ms. mihti. < omit togederes? * r. gardine.

296

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

& sum in bretice obout be rig; 175 and euer in ilka place thre,

in takining of be trinite.

and when bai war bus sett obout,

be prior bad bam haue no dout.

He enterd ban in bat place, 180 and his twa brefaer with him gase,

and fair wordes ban he saide in hi:

fax sit huic domui, bat es in iwglis bus to say: »pese be to bis hows alway«. 185 to chamber he went with-outen rest, and haliwater obout he kest, with vidi aquam ; ban said he bus :

reni creator spiritus, with be colet bat sal efter cum: 190 Ueus gut cor da fidelium,

askand help of be haly gaste al wikkednes oway to waste; (hali)water eftsones kest he and said asperges me domine.

bot to be bed sone scho him talde ;

and in hir wa so als scho was,

scho said: »Sir prior, or ^e pas

I prai ^ow for mending of me

and als in dede of charite

bat ^e wald bid sum hali bede

and mak ^owre prayers in bis stede

for his saul bat was husband here« ;

and when scho had said on bis manere,

down scho fell als scho wald dy,

opon a nofaer bed faar-bi,

for dole and wa scho wex al wan.

and ban be prior pus bigan

and said: dominus vobiscum,

his brefaer answerd all and sum ;

And efter ban he said onone

be first godspell of saint lone,

In principle clerkes it call ;

when bat was said, ban sat bai all

opon a burd be bed biside,

and said be seruise in bat tyde

bat for be ded aw for to be,

195 Pan cald he be wife with-outen mare, Placebo with be dirige;

and sho com wepeand wonder sare ; he said: »dame, teche me to be stede and to bed ware Gy was dede«. Pe woman was ful mased and mad, 200 scho trembild ban so was scho rad, for care hir hert bigan to calde ;

and efter1 laudes faai said in hi seuen spalmes with be letany. and agnus del when faai said (thrise), faai herd ane answer on bis (wise), a febill voyce bare might (bai kenj als of a childe, saiand amen. 1 V in J)e stude of, L loco laudum.

2I5

225

230

Ms. Vernon.

And fae prior wz'p his two brebren & wt'b be seruauws of be hous wenten in to be hous, and be prior seide Pax huic domui — pat is as muche to seyn as »Pes be to bis hons«. And whon he com in-to be Inemaste chau/wbre, he spreynde hit w*b halywater & seide Vidi aquam egredientem &c. , and afturward he seide Veni creator spiritus, w/'b be orison Deus qui corda; and he spreynde hit wz'p halywat«r eft-sonwj and seide Asperges me domine. ^[ And bewne be prior cleped be wownnon to hym & bad hire to techen hew to be stude bat hire hosebonde dyed in. And heo trewzblinde onswerde & seide : »Pat is be stude bat he diede iwne. Gob for-bi, I preye ow , & seib sum goode beodes for his soule, & per- aue«twre j;e schul fynden him pern, ^f And as pei wente forb , be prior seyde w»fa loud voys Dominus vobiscum, and afturward he seyde fae gospel of In principio erat verbum ; and per stood a fourme bi-fore be bed , and bei seeten adouw & seiden al be seruise of be dede , bat is to seyen be Placebo & Dirige, wtfa-outew laudes — fFor in be stude of laudes be prior hedde a deuocion to seye be seuen psalmes wifa fae letanye. And whon bei come to Agnus dei, bey herden a mer vois & a smal as of a child, seyinge Amen. And whon be prior herde

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

297

parfore pai war all fill a(ffrayd). and pan pe prior pusga(te said) : »I coniore pe, pou creat(ure), in pe vertu of cure (saueure),

235 pat es a god of mig(htes mast), fader and sun and h(ali gast),

pat was and es

pat pou me ans(wer)

and tell me

240 als fer als «

(It answe)rd hym on pis manere: »(Syr) prior, aske sune what pou will, and I sal tell it pe vntill

245 als fer als I haue might or minde or als I may haue leue by kinde«. Pis ilk voice pan herd pai all pe armed men obout pe hall, and in pai come fill fast rinand,

250 ilkone with wapin in paire hand, for wele it was in paire trowing pat pai suld se sum gastely thing, bot neuer-pe-lese pare saw pai nane ne noght herd bot a voyce allane.

Pe prior bad pai suld stand still, 255

& pus he spak pe voyce vntill :

»Whether ertou ane ill gaste or a gude ?«

Pe voyce answerd with eger mode

and said : »Sir, I am a gude gaste ;

pat may I proue pe here in haste. 260

for hali writ pus beres wittnes :

when god had made both more & les,

(he lukjed his werkes in ilka wane

(and} pai war wonder gude ilkane.

(al werkes) er gude pat he gan ma, 265

(and) sen pat I am ane of pa,

(a gu)de gast I am forpi

(al) for my maker souerainly.

(parfjore may pou haue in minde

(pat I) am a gude gaste by kinde. 270

(Bot I a)m euyl for mine euil dede,

(& par)fore haue I payn to mede«.

(Pe prior) answerd him in hy

(and said) : »Pou sais noght sothfastly ;

(pat may I proue) pe here in haste. 275

(pou sais pou ert) ane euil gaste

(for pe painjes pat pou has here;

pis manere :

. (g)ude, pat prwie I pe,

Ms. Vernon.

pat vois he Coniured hit in pis fourme : ^f »I Coniure pe, Codes creature, be be vertu of pe holygost, and bi alle pe virtues of heuene , pat pow speke to me s;if pou may , and pat p0u wende nou;t out of pis stude til p<m telle vs pat we wol aske pe«.

jr\nd pewne spac pe vois loudore pen hit dude to-forehowd and seide : »A, Mi prior, aske hastiliche pat p0u wolt, & I schal onswere pe as ferforp as I may porw leue and ky«de«. And whon alle pe men herde pat voys, pei comew alle eornynde to pe Chauwzbre & trouwedew pat bey scholde seon sum gostly piwg sihtilich ; and not-for-pan pei ne se^e noping sihtilich, ac pel herde onliche a vois. And pe Prior dude hem alle sitte stille , & putte forp his question to pat vois : ^f »Whepwr artou a good gost or a wikked?« ^f And pat vois onswerde & seide : »Ich am a good gost ; ffor vche a creature of god is good in as muche as hit is creature, as holy writ witnessep and seip 'God sei^ alle piwges pat he hedde I-maad and pel weore ful goode' . ^if vche gost beo godes creature, hit is good & not wikke ; and seppe pat I am pe gost of Gy pat is ded, I am a good spirit & not a wikke, als to my kuynde. Ak I am a wikked spirit as to my wikked peyne pat I now suffire«. And pewne seide pe prior to pat vois: »In pis On- swere pou seist pat f>0n art a wikked spirit ; pat I preue in pis manure hit is not so. Vche a peyne is good pat is rihtfoliche i-don to eny mon for his

1 Ms. I onswere.

2Q8

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

280 gude degre

onis sin

Id noght blin

goddes will

ht iU

285 parby«.

le

290

by iugement and

for euil dedis bat bai did here: bot neuer-be-les be pain' es ill to bam bat it es gifen vntill.

295 so es mine ill to me allane, for me it pines and oper nane. and sen I haue swilk euyl payne for mi sins, als es sertayne, ane euill spirite mew may cal me,

300 vntill time pat I clensed be of euil bat I haue done«. J*an al bus said be prior sone : »Tell vs apertly, or bou pas, whilk mans spirite pat f»ou was«.

l*e voice answerd to him in hy and said: »I am [be] spirit of Gy, be whilk i$e wate was newly dede and was husband here in bis stede«. l*e prior said: »I>an wele I finde by reson bat bou ert vnkinde, pat bou makes slike sclander & strife vnto Gies bodi and to his wife, for ay whils Gy was lifand man, ful rightwis was he halden ban and trew in faith, of nobill fame, and his wif was halden f)e same ; and for pir meruailes bat bou mase now will men say in ilka place bat Gy was man of wikked life and barfore rurmewtes he his wife; for laud folk in ilka land sais euyll1 men er oft walkand. and Gy was halden gude alway, wharfore bou ert vnkind, I say«. I*e voice answerd ban als him thoght and said: »vnkinde ne am I noght nowber to mi wif ne to my bodi. enchesun sal I say be why, i Ms. euyll euyll.

310

315

Ms. Vernon.

sywnes, ffor bat is good and ri^tful bat synne be punissched. And bou seist

pat pou snffrest nou peyne for pi synnes: ffor-pi bat peyne is good in him- seluen, ffor pat hit is Rihtfuliche I-^iuen to be of god. For-pi hit is fals bat bou seist bat bou art a wikked spirit for bou soffrest wikked peyne«. ^ ten onswerde pat vois and seide »bat vche a peyne is good in as muchel as hit comeb from godes lugemewt; ac hit is vuel to hi*» bat hit is ^euen to, ffor whi? peyne is ^iuew to no mon wtp-oute desert of his synnes. For-[bi] bis peyne bat I nou suffre is onliche vuel to me ffor hit is ^euen to me for my wikkednesse bat I haue don toforew; & aftur bat bat ichaue an vuel peyne, ne may ich not ben seyd an vuel spirit, til bat I be ipurget of myn vuel borw [swjnche1 peyne ?2« And be prior asked be vois, whos spirit he was. And he onswerde : »ich am be spirit of Gy, & his soule, pat nou late was ded«. ^f ten seide pe prior : nfen pinkep me pat bou art an vnkuynde spirit to by-self & to pe bodi of Gy: ffor whi? for pat bou apeerest in pis stude , bou makest sclauwdre a-ryse to pi wyf & to pi-self anewtes men, pat Gy was an vuel mon in his lyue. re cowtrarie of such ping pe Citeseyns of pis Cite hope[de]» to bew sob, bat is to seyn, 3bei hopeden pou weore a good Mon; of [sw]uche4 pyng now obwr was knowen of be be whiles bat bou liuede«. ^ And be vois onswerde: »I nam now vnkynde spirit to my-self ne to non opwr. For whi? I

1 Ms. wzuche. 2 Ms. adds & w^uche vuel I dude in my lyue. 3 Ms. when }>ei. * Ms. whuche ; cf. Lat. quia nulls mala opinio fuerat de te quando vixisti.

3- Spiritus Guydonis.

299

by sause bat pou sal noght forsake,

330 for swilk a scill here I pe make, if pou had gifen a man to were kote or hode or oper gere, and he pat so pi cote had tane wald suffer for pi luf allane

335 in gude and ill to lif and dy,

war he noght kinde to pe forf>i?« I>e prior said: »^is, for sertayne«. and pan answerd pe voyce ogayne

f-92 & said: »(right so bi me bifell).

340 here in bis erth wils I gan dewell, of Gy I toke none oper thing bot his cors vnto my clething ; and pat cors pat I dedli call, gert vs both in folies fall,

345 and for be wikkednes pat it wroght am I in all pir bales broght, and his doing was ilkadele; als haly writ witnes ful wele and sais pat liking here of fless

350 contrari vnto pe saule es.

and if I sufferd noght pis payne, Gyes bodi and als his saul sertaine snl suffer paine with-outen ende in fire of hell with mani a fende.

355 ! For ilka man both more and myn sail suffer penance for paire syn

i 355 — 64, and 367 — 70, are useless additions.

ouper in pis erth whare pai dwell,

or els in purgari, or in hell;

and ilka man might better here

suffer pain thurgh seuen ^ere 360

als mekill als ani man suffer may,

pan in purgatori a day;

and a day here to suffer care

may of a ?ere relese him pare.

Gyes bodi has now no skathe 365

and I am pined to saue vs bathe;

and efter when we cuw to blis,

what ioy so I haue sail be his,

for bath togeder sail be pan

bodi and saul of ilka man. 370

and sen I haue pir paines grim

noght anly for me bot for him,

till he of all filthes be finde,

ban am I noght [to] him vnkinde.

And, sir Prior, also pou sais 375

pat I of Gy suld sclander rais.

pat will I answer on pis wise

and say pat I ger no sclander rise.

for pat es sklander kindely kend

pat sownes in ill pr has ill end ; 380

wha so it dose muw dere aby,

for haly writ sais weterly

Vnto pat man sail wa be wroght

thurgh wham sclander first vp es broght.

Ms. Vernon.

sopose pat pou i^eeue eny mon pi Cote , and whon he hap taken hit, he wolde dye for pe for pe loue of pi cote ^if mester were : scholde he not be cleped kynde?« And pe prior seide: »^us, for sope«. And pe vois seide: »I>e while pat I was \n Gyes bodi, I ne receyuede now obur piwg of him but pe cote of his dedlyhed: and nou lith Gyes bodi in be eorpe iburied and veleb no trauayle , and ich , his spirit, am t«rme«ted here for synnes of his bodi seppe pat suche delyces liked me neu^re; ffor holy writ seij) cpat flescliche delyces ryden1 asjeyn pe soule'. For- pi pat Gyes bodi w*b his spirit ne scholde not be bre«t w*{) fair at be day of lugemewt, Ich am twrmewted as kuynde spirit to him for pe vueles of his bodi seppe bat I ne dude non euel, in as muchel as I was his spirit and his soule. For-pi ne mihtest pou not seye pat I am an vnkynde spirit to him. And pat is nou^t worp , sir prior, pat pou seist, pat is to wite pat I make sclauwder to a- ryse of vuel ortrouwynge of Gy [in]2 pat pat I speke & apeere heer to £ou. For pat sclauwdre is iseyd oper don in to repreue* of eny mon, goinde to vuel ende, and p^rfore hit is writew in holy writ cWo beo pat mon be whom sclauwdre

i Lat. militant. z Ms. and. * Ms. reprece; Lat. Quia scandalum est dictum vel factum in vituperationem alicuius, tendens ad malum finem.

300

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

385 and all if answer pus for Gy I do to him no vilany. my spekeing es all for his spede pat I haue neuynd to 30 w his nede, and als my speche may gretly gayn

390 till oper saules pat suffers payn. and pat may pon pi-seluen se: for mani folk of pis cete cvuns to pis hows ful hastily, and ilkone pray pai fast for Gy

395 Pa* £°d deliuer him out of care, als pou and pi breper did are : and in paire praiers f)at f>ai say, for al cristen saules pai prai, and |)e prayers pat men makes for ane

400 may help to oper saules ilkane. And also pai pat er on Hue sail suner of paire sins pam schriue and gif pam vnto penance hard, pat pai be noght pined efterward

405 als I am pined now for my plight

pat Gy amended noght whils he might. I say I sklander noght forpi nowper Gyes wife ne his body, bot all pir sauwes pat I say now

410 er for paire honore and for paire prow«. 1*6 Prior said : »{)an ask I f>e how any man may euill be

Ms. Vernon.

when he es ded, sen pat he was

schreuen clene or he gan pas,

and was in will gude werkes to wirk 41;

and ended in trowth of haly kirk

and had his sacramentes ilkane ?«

Pe voice answerd sone onane

and said : »pat men may euyl be

on two maners, pat pr^ue I pe,

when pai er ded and hepin gane.

pat may on pis maner be tane:

for pai er ill whare so pai wend,

pat dampned er, with-owten end ;

and pai er euill for sertayn (space)

pat suffers pains in any p lace)

for paire sins, pat es to sai

till tyme pat it be wasted (owaij.

pis same right in mi

for I was schreuen

^it am I euill, pis es ....

till I haue sufferd

For ah men

clerkes sais

. here . . syn was. (bar)fore fully it suffices noght forto be schreuen in will and thoght, bot if men may in dede fulfill pe penance pat es gifen pam till ; 440

comep3 ; ac ich, Gyes spiryt, ne dop him no reprene nouper in seying ne in my dedes for pat ich am suffred to speke w/'p ou heere and I schewede l ou my nede & of opwre pat ben in purgatorie. And in pat do ich more honour to Gy, fforpi pat al pis Cite"e~ comep eornynde hider to-day, makynge mony gode pr^eres for Gy pat God of his Merci dilyu^re him of his vuel peyne, [as]2 Jxra, sir prior, dudest ;arwhile w/'p pi brep^ren : pou pr^edest God for me. For-pi beop my wordes apert inou^ to ou pat i do no sclau«dre to my-self ne to Gyes bodi«. fewne seide be prior: »Nou ich aske pe: In hou mony manors3 may [mon] ben euel after his deb, seppew pat he was schriuen in his lyue and afturward tok pe sacremews of holychirche?« ^[ And pe vois onswerde and seide »pat a Mon may ben euel in two Manors pat is ded: Ouper in beynge* as pei ben pat ben dampned, obur for tyme in to certeyn tyme. Wharof I, Gy, was holliche schriue« of alle myne sy«nes and I receyued [pe sacramens] afterwardes as mew ou^te to donne, whar- fore I ne may not ben euel wzp-outen ende ; ac I schal ben vuel as to vuel peyne til bat I haue mad amendemewt of my sywnes |)at I was schriuen of to-foren. Hit is not I-now to a mon to schriuen him and vnderfonge pe sacrame«s of holichirche, but ?if he hauwte his penauwce in werk; ffor whi? al pat is to luyte 1 r. to schewe. 2 Ms. And. * Lat. Quomodo. * Lat. sc. eternaliter, sicut qui dampnati sunt, vel temporaliter vsque ad aliquod certum tempus.

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

301

for pat pai do noght or pai dy, sail fulfillde be in porgatory ; and a day pare to suffer paine semes als a ^ere here for sertayne.

445 parfore es gude pat men pam schriue , and suffer penance in paire liue«. Pe Prior pan of him gan craue if pat he wist oght wha war saue or whilk men war dampned bidene,

450 in pe stedes whare he had bene. Pe voyce answerd sone partill and sayd: »it es noght goddes will pat I suld swilk thinges ascri; I will pe say encheson why.

455 a^ Pat m purgatori er dwelland to blis of heuin er pai ordand, parfore pam au nothing to say bot pat pai may warand alway. and pe soth of pis may no man tell

460 bot he had bene in heuyn and in

hell

and sene what sorow es in pe tane, and ioy in pe toper pat neuer bese

gone; (pu)s in pam bath wha so had bene,

(might) say pe soth als he had sene.

(and) sen I am pe gaste of Gy 4^5

(and) suffers pain in purgatori,

(pain)es in hell may I noght se —

(I was) neuer pare ne neuer sal be ;

(and to he)uin may I noght win

(till I be clen)sed clene of sin ; 470

(faarfor pe) soth may I noght say

(wha sal be saue)d or damned for ay«.

(Pe prior sai)d: »pou ert noght stabill,

(bot a spirit) fals and desayueabill,

noght here, 475

pis manere.

kes k[n]awe

in pc aid lawe

resowne

. . . . oune 480

(incar))nacioune,

in Man pe mayden milde of mode ;

and als pai talde in mani a stede 485

how he in erth suld suffer dede,

and of his rising talde pai right:

and ;it pai saw him neuer in sight.

Ms. Vernon.

of peyne in pis world, hit schal beo fulfyld in purgatorie«. And pe prior asked him z,if he wuste eny mon beo saaf oupwr dampned, pe while he was in such peyne. ^[ And pe voys onswerde & seide : »Vre lord wol not pat I speke to pe of pat Matere ; and pis is pe enchesun whi. Euerich pat is dwelland in pwrga- torie is bi ordinauwce goode, ffor pat he is ordeynd to goode allerhi^este and eu^rlastynde ; ffor-pi vche a spirit schal be sopfast & not lyande. Ac non such spirit ne may sopli seie to men of sauacion & dampnacion, but ?if pat he haue beo in eiper stude, pat is to wite, in heuene to seon w^uch and hou monye pat ben saued, and in helle to sen whuche & hou monye schul beo dampned. And I am pe spirit of Gy, I-set heer to purge me of myn euel, and I was neu«re in pe stude of hem pat ben dampned, for I am not dampned ne nout schal be; ne I ne mai not ?it come in heuene, pat1 is pe stude of hem pat ben saued ; and p#-fore ne may I nou^t sopli seye w^uch schul be saued or dampned". J>En pe prior wz'p gret wille of his gost spac and seide : »Nou hit seme{) and is I-seene pat p0u art a spirit li?inde and deceyuable. For pat holy writ witnessep pat pe pftfphetes in pe Olde lawe seide pe sope of pe Incarnaciouw of Crist, godes sone, and of pe Mangr of hiw hou he tok flesch & blod of be Mayden, and pei seide pe sope of his] werk, and nou;t-for-pen pei se^e neuer Crist in flesch in pis lyf; and also pei seidew sop of2 mony sopnesses of pe arysing of pe dep3, and not-for-pen pei ne p^rceiuede nou^t ne pei ne se^e not ?it pe vp- 1 Ms. \>er. 2 omit, soj) of. * Lat. de resurrection*; mortuorum.

302

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

And sen pai war men bodily

490 and said slike thinges thurgh prophecy and kend pe folk how pai might knaw swilk thing als pai neuer saw, of more force pan thinkes me a clene spirit, als pou suld be.

495 sold haue more might swilk thinges to

tell

pan pai pat lifed in fless and fell ; and pan aght pe to wit by pis whilk er in bale and whilk in blis«. Pe voyce answerd to him in haste

500 and said : »forsoth pir wordes er wast ; I may wele proue pe in pis place, it es no liknes pat pou mase by-twix prophetes pat standes in stori, and saules pat er in purgatori.

505 Pe prophettes had, whils pai wond here, of god and of his angels clere and of gift of pe haly gaste al paire maters leste and maste pat pai might tell and pr^che ouerall

510 byfore als it sold efter fall;

swilk grete grace was gifen pam till, and all was for pis sertayn scill: for laud folk in ilka land by paire steuyns might vnderstand

and better trow how Criste was born, 5*5

by saus pat pai had said biforn ;

for sen paire saus fra god war sent,

men sal pam trow with gude entent.

And I am set for sertaine space,

to time pat god will grante me grace,

pus for my sins to suffer paine,

and, sir, I say pe for sertayne

pat I may now none angels se

bot pam pat has kepeing of me,

and to me will pai tell right noght 525

till I out of mi paines be broght.

Parfor I may noght say sertaine

whilk er in ioy or wlik in payne«.

Pan said pe Prior sone onane :

»right in pi saus pou sail be tane.

(pou) sais no spifrit mai sai to) me

whilk saules sal saued or dampned be ;

and bukes beres witnes, be balde,

pat fendes sum tyme to men has talde

and said pe soth haly by dene 5c

of pam pat saued or dampned has bene«.

Pe voice answ[e]rd and said ogayne pat no spirite pat dwelles in paine ne none of fendes pat er in hell may haue no power forto tell

Ms. Vernon.

rysing. Forpi porw strengor skil pou pat art despoylet out of pe bodi & art a puire spirit, may better seon hem pat ben dampned & saued, pew pe prophetes pat weore puire men, whon pei prophecied of pe Incarnacion of Crist«. ^f Pewne onswerde pe vois & seide: »Sir prior, pou arguest a-mis. For whi? hit is not lich of prophetes, & [of] spirits and soules pat bep in purgatorie. For, pat pe prophetes hedde , was porw schewyng of god & of his holy angeles ; alle pe piwges pat pei seide to-fore of pe incarnaciouw of Crist & pe risyng of pe dep, al was porw pe holigost pat was put in to hem, pat pei mi^te p^f-bi comurte pe peple to pe worschupe of God. And I am set in pe peyne of pnrgatorie in-til a certein tyme, and as longe as I am in such peyne, pe schewywg of ang^ks faylep me & [pe]1 schewyng of pe holigost; ffor I schal seo non oper ang^ks pen heom pat gouernep me in pis peine«. And pe prior seide to pat vois: »I take pe in pi wordes. Pow seist pat pe spirit may not sey^en to vs of hem pat bep dampned & hem pat beop saued, [and pat is fals]2: For whi? hit is writen \n holy writ pat pe fendes seide sum tyme pe sope of hem pat beop dampned & of hem pat ben saued«. ^ And be vois onswerde and seide »pat [no]3 spirit pat is in purgatorie ne no fendes mowe nopi«g tellew of 1 Ms. in. 2 om. » Ms. l>e.

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

303

ne any thing to man at neuyw pat toches to preuetes of heuyw, hot it [be] thurgh goddes sufrance, or oper angels pam tell thurgh chance ;

545 »and vnto me pai tell no thing,

parfore I may noght haue knawyng of heuinly blis how it es pare ; ne in hell how pe fendes fare, hot saules pat pare sail suffer pyne,

55° paire penance es wele more pan mine; for I haue hope to cum till blis, and pareof sail pal euer mis. parfore es no liknes to tell bitwix me and pe paines of hell«.

555 Pan said pe Prior: »I pray pe now, tell me in what stede ertou«. Pe voice answerd and sayd in hy: »I am here in purgatori«. Pan said pe Prior: »proued pou hase

560 pat purgari es in pis place ; for if pat pou be pyned here pan may so oper saules in fere ; and pare whare saules be purged sail, purgatori men may pare call.

565 parfore by bir saues pat pou sais

purgatori es pare always«.

Pan said pe voice on pis manere :

"Sir, pare er purgatories sere:

Ane es comuw to more and les,

and departabill anoper es«. 570

Pe prior said: »now se I wele

pat pou ert fals in ilkadele.

a saul may noght in a time ga

forto be pyned in places twa,

for whils he sail be in pe tane, 575

of pe toper he may haue nane.

In a stede bihoues him suffer paine«.

Pan said be voice : »pis es sertayne.

I am now (pined, pis) es na fabill,

in purgatory departabill 580

ilka day, als god vowches saue ;

bot oper paynes byhoues me haue,

for ilka night bihoues me

in comun purgatory pined be,

forto suffer paynes sare 585

with oper sawles pat dwelles pare«.

Pe pryor sayd pan: »can pou ges

in what stede comun purgatory es

whare paine es [to] saules puruaide?«

Pe spirite answerd pan and said: 590

Ms. Vernon,

heueneriche priuetes bote porw soffrawce ofyur sum schewynge of eny l wherof, pe whiles pat I am in pis peyne, I ne haue no schewyng of abouen bote porw suffrauwce. Ne I ne schal not se pe peine of hem pat bep dampned: ffor whi? ^if hit weore so, pen schulde pe peyne of helle stonde wzp pe peyne of pwrgatorie, and pat is fals; ffor whi? pe peyne of purgatorie is wip goode hope of glorie & of grace , and in helle is no ^eyn-buggyng. Wherof beo2 al myne seyinges hit semep inouh pat p<m arguest amis to me as of pr0phetes & of fendes«. And pe prior asked him wher he was. And pe gost onswerde: »I am heer in purgatorie«. ^[ And pe pn'or seide: »Pe« semep hit pat heer is purgatorie of soules. For whi? bi pat resuw pat p0u art heer purget, bi pat ilke resuw op«r soules ben I-pwrget heere; and pat stude pat soules ben I-p«rget [in] is cleped pwrgatorie of soules«. ^[ And pe vois onswerde : »I sey pe pat per beop double purgatories: Comuyn Purgatorie, and departable«. ^f To whom pe prior seide : »Now I conclude pe pat p<?u art a ly^ere : For hit is certeyn pat no soule may in o tyme and in on hour be punissched in diu^rse studes«. ^f And pe vois onswerde: »Pat is sop; wherfore I am punissched be daye in pis partable purgatorie, and be nihte in comuyn purgatorie wip oper soules«. And pe prior asked him wher pe comuyn purgatorie was. ^f And pe

1 Ms. eny ojw/r. z Ms. beoj).

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vii.

»in middes of al be erth fnl right es comuw purgatori dyght, and bare es pain ordand for vs«. And be Prior answerd pus:

595 he said, »me think bi alkins ways it may noght be suth bat bou says, pe middes of erth es a sertaine space, and be purgatori a nober place, and twa stedes may noght be in ane.

600 barfore me think foou has mistane ; if purgatori whare sawles dwelles war in middes erth als pou telles, twa stedes in ane pan bud be bare, and bat saltou se neuermare.

605 barfore so es it noght array d«.

Pe voyce ban answerd sune and said bat places er ordand ful rathe bodily and gastly bathe. »a saul es gastly, and forbi

610 it ocupies no stede bodily, bat es to say by it allane, when mans bodi barfro es tane. bis ilk how[s] als bou may se haldes both bi saul and foe,

and ^it here er noght stede(s twa). 615

and hereby may bou se als(wa)

how haile and raine & sle(t & snaw)

er in be ayre Merely to (knaw),

and ilkone has his cours

so es bat place whare . . . . « 620

Pe Prior said: »tell vs (now mare)

whi pat pou ert pin(ed pare)

more pan in anofoer (stede),

sen pe tyme (pat pou was dede)«.

Pe voice answ(erd . . . . : 625

»for in pis

I gan me

(& made no) penance in mi Hue ; barfore here sail I penance haue for pat sin till I be saue«. 630

Pe Prior said: »now, if bou can,

tell vs what thing moste noyes man,

wit paynes of ded when he es tane«.

Pe voice answerd and said onane

pat vgly sightes sail moste him dere 635

of foule fendes pat him sal fere ;

»ful many sail obout him be

Ms. Vernon.

spirit onswerde and seide: »In pe middel of pe eorpe«. pewne seide pe prior: »Now schal I conclude pe : For whi? hit is an Inpossyble ping and an vnrihtful ping bat two studes schulde be to-gederes in O stude , as l hit is an Inpossible biwg and an vnrihtful bing pat two bodies be in o bodilich & kuyndeliche. Ac be middel of be eorpe is O stude, and be comuw purgatorie is O stude ; ffor-pi, ?if be stude of comuyn pwrgatorie be in middel of be erpe, ben foleweb hit bat two studes scholde beo to-gedere in o stude, and bat is fals«. ^f And be gost onswerde: »Hit be double studes, bat is to wite gostliche & bodiliche. For whi? be soule ocupiep no stude be hit-self, not-for-ben hit is in be bodi as in his stude. And pou wib bi soule & bi bodi is in bis stude and bis stude holdeb bobe be and bi soule, and not-for-be» bey beofo not two studes. Also ne seost bou not bat Reynes and haules and snowes and obwr tewzpestes and Cloudes bew to-gederes in pe Eyr, and not-for-pan now of hem alle nis in oper, ac vche bi-side2 obwr kuyndeliche. For-bi beo be miht of god be stude of comuyn purgatorie may beo in be middel of be eorbe, w/b-oute bat two bodies & two studes ben to-gederes in O stude«. And foe prior asked him whi he was punis- sched per. ^ Pe vois onswerde: »for bat I sunged her partabliche be my-self, and ne made non aseb in my lyue of bat synne«. And be prior asked him: »What anuy^eb most mon in pe poynt of dep?« ^f And be gost onswerde: «Pe comynge of fendes bat ben gedred foewne to-gedere aboutew hem bat ben in 1 Ms. Ac. 2 side overl.

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

305

defigured all in foule degre,

and grisly sail pai grin & gnaiste,

640 out of paire wit ' pam forto wrayste, and als byfor him sail be broght al wikkednes pat euer he wroght ; so will pai fande with any gin thurgh wanhope if pai might him win«.

645 Pe prior sayd: »pat wald I frayne what remedy war pare-ogayne and thing pat might help mew maste in (band)es of ded when pai er braste«. (Pe) vo[i]ce sayd: »pare es sum man

650 (pat) may hope for no helping pan: (for) if a man lede all his lyue (in) sin and sepin wil him noght schriue (and in) his hert will haue no care (for) ill dedes he has done are,

655 (pan sjall his angell to him tell

(how Cr)iste for him had paines fell (and ho]w he died for his byhoue, (bot pat) sail be to his reproue ; (& sai als) how he was vnkinde

660 (vnto god) whils he had minde (and als pa)t he was mys-avised 1 Ms. with.

(pe sacra)mentes when he despised (& wald noght) schriue him of his sin

and ended parin.

(when his wer)kes er thusgat sayd, 665

(pe fendes sail) obout him braid

(and him take) with all paire might

(and sai to him): cpou weried wight,

(cum with vs now in) to hell,

(pare withowten ende) to dwell1. 670

(Bot if a man be schreuen) clene

bydene

ilkane

(g)ane,

all-if his penance be noght done 675

his gude angell says to him (sone):

'cumfort be wele, I sail pe were

pat pe deuils sail pe noght dere';

and vnto pe fendes pan sal he say:

e^e weried wightes, wendes oway, 680

for i^e haue no part in pis man5 .

and pe fendes sail answer pan

and say on pis wise: coures he es

by resun and by rightwisnes5 ,

and parto sail pai schew full sone 685

Ms. Vernon.

poynt of dep, ffor to drawe men out of heore bileeue & out of heore memorie

beo gryndynge of heore teeb and heore grimlich & grisliche lokes1, w^uche Fendes castew2 a^eynes men alle heor euel dedes pat pei han I-don«.

And be prior asked him eft-sones: »What ping helpep most Men in heore dep?« . . .3 ^[ Pe spirit onswerde & seide: »£if eny mon dye in dedly synne w*'p- oute serwe & repentauwce of herte & schrift of Moup, pen schal Cristes passion ben rehersed to pat mon of his goode angel , for to conclude pat mon pat he was vnkynde to God in as muchel as he nolde not schriuen him of his sywnes pe while pat he mi^te, ac he despisede pe sacramens of holychirche, pe whuche sacrame«t«.r clansen synners porw pe v«rtu of Cristes passion of heore gult & bringe hem a^eyn to be miht4 of grace & of glorie ; and whon pe piwges ben seid, pe Fendes schul take pis mon and seye to hym: CA, jxni vnkuynde mon in pe siht of god , cu/w wib vs in to helle , pere pat alle po pat ben vnkuynde to god schullen haue heore heritage', ^f And ^if eny dye schriuen & hoseled w*b Cristes bodi, al-beot he naue not maked aseeb for his suwnes pat he hedde serwe fore and was I-schriuen of, pe« schulle goode angd« comen and cnm- forten him a^eynes pe comyng of pe fendes, and pei schul seye to pe fendes: '^e ne hauep no part on pis mon, ffor pe merit of Cr/stes passion is his scheld and a mene bi-twene him and ow'. tewne schul be fendes seie: 'Hit may not

1 Ms. bokes. * Ms. c. hem. * Some words om. , cf. Lat. : Respondit vox quod meritum passionis Christi, et beneficium virginis Mariae, et intercessio sanctorum. Cui prior: Indica nobis quomodo passio Christi iuuat in morte hominis. 3 r. stat.

n.

20

306

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

all euell dedes pat he has done both in eld and als in ^owth, sen first he kind[l]y wittes kowth, and say: 'he sinned fans and pus,

690 barfore him aw to wend with vs'. His gude angell will mak debate and say: 'he sined, wele I wate, all on bis wise als J,e haue talde ; bot he es borowed, be ^e balde,

695 for with schrift was he clensed clene and toke his sacramentes bidene, and he had sorow for his sinyng; to clensing fire bat sal him bring, and be merit of Cristes passion now

700 sal [be mene]1 bitwyx him and ^ow and serue him both for sheld and spere, bat ^owre desaytes sal him noght dere. and Cristes hend and als his side, pat thirled war with wowndes wide,

705 sal be bitwix him and ^owre hend and fro ;owre felnes him defend; and Cristes face bat buffet was, bitwix him and ^owre face sal pas, so pat he sail, if he ^ow se,

710 for sjowre boste noght abaist be; Al Cristes bodi spred on rode sal be vnto him armure gude, 1 Ms. bene.

so pat ^e sail haue no powere

him forto dere on no manere ;

and pe lims of Ihesu fre

pat for mankind was pined on tre,

sail clens him now of his foly

he did whith lyms of his body;

be saul of Crist, als we wele ken,

pat golden was for erthly men,

sail purge him now of all pe plight

pat pis saule did with his awin myght.

so pat in him (sal leue no gilt) f. 94

(whar)fore he (suld) with . . (be) spilt,

715

720

725

ne no pain vnto him sail stand

bot purgatori pat (es) passand;

he sail be purged in pat place

and suffer pain a sertayne space,

and sepin with vs sail he wende

and won in welth with-owten ende'. 730

Pus sail pe gude angell help him

ogaynes pe deuils griseli and grim,

and pus es Cristes passioune

set bifor vs redy boune

forto defend vs fra pe fende 735

out of pis werld when we sail wende.

and parfore aw ilk man bi kinde

to haue pat passioun most in minde,

and namely in pe tyme of dede,

for pan it standes man moste in stede. 740

Ms. Vernon.

beo so , lugge we his dedes bi-tweone vs ; seo hou pis mon sungede bus & pus,

bi al his limes bus , and pus hap he sunged be al be mi^tes of his soule : ffor- pi we haue sum riht to pis mon3. Pewne schulle pis holy godes ang<?ks onswere and seye: 'Hit is sop pat he suwgede in his manure; ac of al pis he is schriuen, and he tok Cmtes bodi in to his mete into witnesse of pat ping; ffor w^uch ping pe Merit of Cristes passiouw pat he polede on pe cros for hym, [schal] beo nou a mene bi-twene him and ^ou. For bat Cristes honden, burlede for hi;«, be nou bitwene him & ^oure honden. Cristes Ei^en Buffeted on be cros for hym, go now bitwene him and ^oure e^en, so pat j;e schul no more seon him ne agasten him. Al Cristes Bodi spradde on pe cros for him , schal beo to him now a puyre scheld & a strong a^eynes ^oure deceytes [bi] be whuche deceytes ^e duden him to sungen. For-pi Cristes lymes poled1 on pe cros for him, wasschep now awey alle his synnes pat he suwgede be be limes of his bodi. And Cristes soule pat he ?af for pis mon, purgep nou his soule of al his sywne w^uch pat soule dude be his mihtes. So pat in pis mon ne leue no gult euerlastynge , ac pe peyne of purgatori pat is passauwt3. And bus helpep pe passiow of Crist men in heore depe.

i Membra . . in cruce passa pro eo, abluunt &c.

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

307

.r\lso men sail haue helping gude of Mari mayden mild of mode ; if we here oght for hir haue done, baldeli may we ask hyr bone

745 and vs to help scho will hir haste in ded when cure mister es maste. For if a man, or he hethen fare, be schreuen clene, als I said are, oure lady ban will be fal boune

750 to socore him in bat sesotme,

and fend him fro be fendes in fere, and say to [bam]1 on bis manere: 'Moder and mayden both am I of Ihesn mi sun, god almighty,

755 and of heuy« am I coronde quene, and lady of all erth bydene, and I am empmse of hell, whare ^e and oper deuils dwell. And sen bat I am quene of heuyw,

760 vnto my sun bus sail I neuyn pat he sail wine for luf of me bis saul in purgatori to be till he be clensed clene of sin, and so to heuyw I sail him win ;

765 he serued me in word and dede,

1 Ms. him. Ms. Vernon.

in henyw sail he haue his mede. And also sen I am lady of all be erth, parfore [will]1 I, thurgh be will of my sun dere, bat ilk gude dede2 and ilk prayere 770 (bat owhar in bis) werlde er (said), vnto his pr^fet be puruayd, messes and ober almus-dede sail turn bis man to mekel mede, and thurgh be merite of be mes 775

sal his penance be made les bat him es ordand for his syn, whilk ^owre falshede gert him fal in. And sen I am emp^ryce of hell, barfore ^owre force now sail I fell : 780 I cu;«and J^ow ?e hepin fare, so bat 7,e noy bis man nomare bat es ded in my suns seruyse'. And when scho has said on bis wise, all be halows in heuyn on hight 785

will help hir halely with paire might ; to Ih&ra will bai call in-fere, and bus bai will mak baire prayere : 'Lord Ihwu god almighty, fader of heuyw, man of mercy, 790

» Ms. sail. 2 r. bede.

»jr\nd also pe gode dedes of be vzrgyne Marie helpep men in heore debe. For whi? ^if eny mon dye hoseled & schriuen as him ouijte to be, anon come{) be gloriouse vz'rgyne, resonande be fend i« bis Maneere: ^[ CI am Maiden &. Moder of Thesn Crist, Qween of heuene and Ladi of be world and Emp^resse of helle. Bi pat i am qween of heuene, I schal seye to my sone Thesu Crist bat he lugge bis mon to be stude of purgatorie, bat he mowe make a-sep in to be tyme of his trespas wip obwr soules bat schul be purget. And bi bat Ich Mayden & Moder am and1 ladi of al bis world, ich ordeyne, 2borw be wille of my sone Ihera Crist, bat alle holy beodes and alle holy Masses and almes-dedes bat alle trewe cr/stene men bat ben in bis world maken & seyen & mowe seyen, t«me to bis dede Mo« in to for^iuenesse, and I wole bat suche beodes & Masses & almes-dedes alegge him of his peyne bat him ou^te to haue for his sunnes. And bi bat ich, Marie, am Empmce of helle, Ichaue pouwer and wol comauwde to ;ow, fendes, pat ^e anuye nou^t pis Mon bat tok pe sacramews of my sone er pew he dyed3.

»And also pe preyer of alle halewen helpep men in pe poynt of heore dep. For whi? whon vr ladi hap spoken & endet hire wordes, pewne comep alle halewen anon, honourynge & preyinge vr lord & seyinge to him: ^f 'Lord Ihmi Crist, Lord of glorie, Fader of grace, Mon of Merci pat com doun from heuene

i om and? 2 Ms. J)at l>onv.

20*

308

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

haue mercy on pis man pat es onre awin broker and oure liknes ; sen pou wald wend fro heuyw on hight and suffer payn for mans plight,

795 pou meng pi mercy with pis man3. Pus sal his saul be saued pan, and his gude angell sail him take to clensing fire aseth to make and vnto him he sail take tent

800 till he haue sufferd his turment; and pan pe weked gastes sail ga pepin oway with mekill wa. In pis manere may gude pr(ayere) and alnmr-dedes pat men dose (here),

805 and merit of Cristes pascioun, and of halows gude orisown, help a man here in his (dede) and vnto clensing fire (him lede)«. Pe prior (sayd vnto) him (pan)

810 and asked if pat any (man)

of Ihwu may haue (in ded a sight) and of Mari his moder (bright)

or of pe halows

in paire right (forme)

815 Pe voice ansfwerd and said nay);

»bot on pis wise if any be so pat has .

may se pam . . . 820

(bot sin)ful men may noght pam se«. (Pe) prior sayd : »pan thinkes me (pat) pou sais now pi-self to scorne (ogai)nes pe saws pou said biforne ; (for) pou said angels suld be boune 825 pare to reherce Cristes pascioune, and pou said Mari suld be pare and oper halows les and mare in sight bifor pe saules ful euyn, praiand for pam to god of heuyn ; 830 pan semes it pat he se pam may«. Pe voice answerd and said : »nay ; pai sal be pare I grante pe wele, bot he sail se of pam no dele in pair* lyknes verrayli; 835

and pis es pe enchesoun whi. for pe most blis in heuyn it es forto se Crist in his liknes, pat es to say in his godhede ; (pa)n neded saules none oper mede 840

Ms. Vernon.

forte make suwful men saaf, haue Merci on pe soule of pis mon: for he is vre flesch & vr broper'. And whon peos pinges ben seid, pe« schal pe soule ben lad in to purgatorie of his gode angeles ; and pe wikked angeles wende schulle awey irom Taim as confouwdet , and serwynge p^rfore. ^f On pis manure pe merite of Crzstes passion, and pe goode beodes of pe vzVgine Marie, and pe preyers of alle halewew helpep men at heore dep«. And pe Prior asked lam j;if a mon mihte in his deb seo Ihmi Crist, and pe vzVgyne Marie, and pe oper halewen, in heore oune fourme. ^f And pe gost seyde nay ; but ^if hit beo so holy a Mon pat he hedde no neode to ben purget bi eny luitel dwellyng in purgatorie.

x enne seide pe prior: »Pen pinkep me pat alle pinges beop not sofa pat p<ra seidest aboute pe deb of eny mon pat is schriuen & hab serwe for his sunnes : For whi: l\>o\i seidest pat pe merit of Cristes passion and pe preyers of al halewen and pe goode dedes of pe vzVgyne Marie helpep men in heore dep, and also p<m grau«ted beo pi wordes al p^s2 comeb to a mownes dying«. ^[ And pe gost onswerde: »Alle peos comefa to a monnes deb, and not-forben he pat dyep ne schal not seon hem in heore oune liknesse. For whi? ^if hit weore so, sepbe hit is no« op«r blisse pen for to sen Ihmi Crist in his oune liknesse of his monhed & of his godhed, pewne weore hit sop pat a ded mon 1 Ms. l>at Ixm. 2 Ms. ^is.

3- Spiritus Guydonis.

309

(bo)t in paire dying him to se, and in pat blis pan solde pai be (sod)ainly in paire passing, (and) pat war vn'akjordand thing

845 (bat sin)ful men suld se pat sight. (if men) be puried of all paire plight pan sail pai se god als he es, (hali) writ so beris witnes«. (And pan) pe prior frained him fast

850 (if spirit)es pat es hepin past

(wist) what dedes er for pam done 'on pis) molde at morn or none, (and pe) praiers men for pam ma. (I>e voice) answerd and said: ^a.

855 . se wele by pis thing

es has sanies helping. (I*e prior said: »pan) can pou say (wharof I sang) mess to-day ?« (fe voice answerd) parto nil tite :

860 (»pou sang mess) of saint spirite«. (£e prior said pan) als he knew:

» noght trew,

(for I sang mess, pis) es sertayne, (for cristen saules pat) suffers paine ;

865 fparfore pou sais noght) suthfastly«. 'I*e voice pan answerd him) in hy and said: (»I wat wele) .... Ms. Vernon.

for cristen (saules pat) pou sang;

bot ?it I (said soth) neu<r-pe-les

pat of saint spirite was pi mes. 870

pat saltou by ensameple se.

for wele pou knawes in ilk cuntre,

if ani man oper aide or ^ing

of a noper suld ask a thing,

and he hoped wele forto haue 875

pat ilk thing pat he walde craue,

first to ask he walde him haste

pe thing pat might amend him mast,

and what so his hert lai moste nere

pat suld first in his speche apere 880

and first be in his wordes alwayse,

als god pus in his gospell sayse:

Ex habundancia cordis os loquitur: Of pe fulnes of pe hert spekes pe mowth pe wordes smert. 885 and messes sungen of saint spirite vnto me er most profite, and next pan of pe trinite — pir messes moste amendes me. and here now pe encheson whi. 890

for whils I lifed here bodily, I spended my wit and mi powere ful oft-sipes in siwnes sere, when I sold pam haue spended right

weore anon in blisse in his dep : and pot is fals«. And pe pr/'or askede him ?if pe gostes wuste be dedes of men & of heore frendes, seppe pat pel beo de-parted from pe bodi. ^f And be gost seide ^e. ^f l>e«ne seide pe prior: »Pou const telle me wher-of I song masse to-day?« ^f And pe gost seide: »Sir prior, pou sowg Masse to-day of seint Spirit". And pewne seide pe prior: »Now I seo wel pat pau art a deceyuable gost: For whi? certeinliche , I ne song no Masse to-day of seynt spirit, ac I sowg Masse to-day of Requiem eternam for alle cristene soulus«.

x\nd pe gost onswerde and seide: »Wel I wot wherof p<ra songe Masse to-day and pat pe Masse was of Requiem eternam; and not-for-pen I ly^e not pat p<?u ne1 songe Masse of seynt spirit. Heere forpi pe vndoingel ^f frou wost wel, sir pr/'or, whon eny mon askep eny piwg of anopwr, pat piwg pat ly[) next his herte 2comep furst out of his moup, as vr lord witnessep & sei{> 'Of pe folnesse of pe herte spekep pe moup'. Ac among alle pe Masses pat beop songe» and schul be songen in pis world, pe Masse of pe holigost lyp next my pou;t or pe Masse of pe trrnite, ffor pat most helpep me nou. ^f Heer nou pe enchesun wherfore pis is. ^[ te while I was in pis valeye of wrecchednesse & of trauayle, I despendet my siht & my bodiliche pouwer in diu^rse sy»nes : al-pou? i scholde i om ne? 2 Ms. fat come]).

310

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

to goddes honour with al mi might.

895 I*e fader I suld haue mensked with main, for of him cuwes al power plaine pat men has here ai whils pai lif, efter his grace als he will gif; parfore what man so dose vnright

900 bi his power or by his might or by his strenkith if pat it be, ogaines foe fader of heuy« sins he, for al power he weldes always, als Dauid in pe sauter sais:

Omnia quecunque uoluit dominus fecit,

905 he sais : be fader mai fulfill

in heuyw and erth what so he will. To Crist, god sttn, es gifen ful right wit and wisdom dai & night, to mesure it till erthli men,

910 als pir clerkes mai clereli ken; parfore godes sun pai sin ogam pat here despendes paire wittes i« vain

f. 95 (and) settes pam so (on erthly) gude (pat) reches es more in paire mode

915 pan Crist god sun pat boght pam dere. and my-self on pis same manere sined in pis werld whare ^e won both ogaines pe fader & pe sun.

To pe haligast es gifen al grace

and beaute plain in ilka place, 920

at his liking to dele and dight

in pis werld to ilka wight ;

ogaines him oft-sipes siwned I

when pat I vsed in foul foly

swilk giftes als he me gaf bi kinde, 925

and honord him noght in mi minde ;

for mi fauore and my fairehede

haue I done many sinful dede,

and vertus haue I turned to vice

thurgh wekid werkes als wreche vnwise. 930

wharfore aseth byhoues me make

to thre persons for my sin sake;

parfore messes of pe trinite

er mekill medeful vnto me

for greuance pat to me es graide, 935

als my gude angell has me saide.

Jjot for pat I haue sined maste

ogaynes pe giftes of pe hali gaste,

couaytand here more reches

pan he me gaf of his gudenes 940

or pan he vowched safe me to send,

and wrangwisli his gudes despend

and honord him noght for paire sake,

Ms. Vernon.

haue despewdet hit in godes seruyse , biddiwg to God pe Fader porw monnes pouwer, ffor pat pe Fader is mihti and of him comefa al mi^t to me & to opz/re porw mesure of his ^iuynge — wherfore hose dop eny vuel [porw] ' his strengpe and his pouwer, he sungep a^eynes god pe Fader to whom is ^euen alle pouwer — also witnesseb pe pwphete Dauid: CA1 pat he wole he dop, in heuene & i« eorpe3 . TO Godes sone is ^iuen alle wisdame : A^eynes him Ichaue I-sunged as ofte-tymes as Ichaue vsed bisyliche my wit, I-^raen to me of God, aboute deceyuable piwges & vanites & richesses of pis world. BOte to pe holygost is ^iuen alle grace & bou»te: A^eynes whom Ichaue suwged as ofte-tymes as I-chaue I-^eue my kuyndeliche goodes , as Feirhede Fauour & Speche , & my good pat is ?iuen me porw freo wille , as virtues next my soule , and goodes happiliche beo-5;eten , [as] '2 ese of bis present lyf — whuche 3 binges Ichaue late & erliche I-^euen aboute flescliche sinnes of pis world & of pe deuel. Of whuche pi«g ichaue be schriuen, bote I haue not maad a-seep to pe trinite for alle pe sywnes in my lyue ; wherfore my saueour, as my« angel seide to me, hap ordeyned pat masse of pe Trinite songen for me schal helpen me most, ^f And for pat I haue sunged ofte-tymes a^eyn pe bou«tes of pe holigost, coueyten[g]4 to haue more of pis worldes godes pen pe godnesse of pe holygost wolde ^euentome: p^rfore5 nou, 1 Ms. for. 2 MS. also. * r. swuche. * Ms. coueyten. * Ms. And ])^rfore.

3- Spiritus Guydonis.

parefore, of pis amendes to make,

945 messes sungen of saint spirite may tittest saue me out of site, and parfore, sir, sothli I say of saint spirite pou sang to-day ; al-if pine office ordand ware

950 for cristen saules als pou said are, pou toke with gude deuocioune of saint spirite ane orisoune, and pat ilk orisoun sertaine aleged me more of my paine

955 pan al pe oper pat pou sayd,

for till all saules war pai puruaid ; And sen pat helpid me allane more pan all pe oper ilkane, of saint spirit I say pou sang —

960 if pou me wites pou has pe wrang«. (I*e prior asked) pan p(is thing) : for how mani saules a prest may s ing in a tyme and in a stede, wheper it be for quik or ded,

965 and ilkone haue in lyke gudenes and in like merite of pat mes.

£e voice answerd and gan say

pat a preste anely on a day

for all saules may sing and rede

and ilkone of his mes haue mede, 970

thurgh vertu of pe sacrament;

»pat prow I pe, if pou tak tent.

Thesus Crist with lewes uoice

was anes offerd on pe croyce,

and pare he died and gaf pe gaste 975

vntill his fader of mightes maste

for saluacionne of all man-kin,

and noght anly for a man sin:

right so pe preste in ilka mes

offers Criste right als he es 980

in hale godhede, als clerkes mai ken,

in mendment of all cristen men ;

and so in a mes may be tane

al cristen saules als wele als ane,

and plainli mai (it) part pam till. 985

pat prone I pe bi proper skill.

Ful grete deference may men fele

bitwene spiritual thing and tem(porele) ;

for temporal thing, pat pou sese here,

Ms. Vernon.

for to make amendemewt to pe holigost for my synnes, pe Massew songen of pe holigost beon best for me. And [for]1 pou, sir prior, to-day in pi masse after pi principal orisoun pon seidest pe orisouw of pe holygost, w^uch orisouw halp me more2 pen al pe opur orisouws in pi masse, parfore3, as pou askedest me wherof pou songe masse to-day, I seide cof pe holigost3 ; bote nopeles pi principal offys was Requiem eternam. Wherof al pe office of pi masse, outake pat orisouw, wente to pe help of al pe soules pat ben in purgatorie : bote pe mencion pat p<m made to-day in pi masse of pe holigost, wente al to my pr<?fyt. ^f Wherfore pat I ly^ede not whon I seide pat f>0u songe masse of pe holi gost«. And pe prior asked pi*« ffor hou mony soules and hou mony men mihte a prest synge , and vche haue I-liche goodnesse of pe masse. ^[ And pe gost onswerde and seide »pat O prest onliche to-gedere and at O tyme mi^te synge for al pe quike & dede , ffor pe vertn of pe sacramewt of Codes bodi schewef) him to hem vchone. And enchesu« of pis ping is: As Ihmi Crist, God & Mon, ones lifted his bodi vppon pe Cros and pewne he offrede [him] al to-gedtre to God, his Fader, not on- liche for pe sauacion of o Mon bote for pe sauacion of al Monkynde, so in vche a Masse pe prest offreb al to-geders pe sacremewt , God and Mon , ffor pe sauacion of alle men; wherfore may vche a prest singen for vchon as for two, and betere. ^[ For pis is pe encheson & pe differewce bi-twene spirital pyng & terwpora.1 ping: Temporal ping, in as muche as hit is departet to monye, in

1 Ms. ]>erfore. 2 Ms. most 3 Ms. And {>*rfore. .

3I2

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

990 if it be parted in places sere, in pe ma partyes pat it es it-self leues ay wele pe (les), pat es for porcion partes parfra ; als if pat pou an appell ta 995 and parte it into many hend, with pi-self sail litell lend. On pe toper side pou vnder|stand) pat spiritual thing es ay (wexand) ; parto I may gude liknes (ma):

1000 pis orisoune if pat p^ou ta),

pe pater nosier, and (teche it pen) here on pis molde to (mani men), when it vnto all te(ched es), in itself it es noght (pe les),

1005 bot to knawing ....

when mo it (sais pan ane or twa).

so er messes

pat ordand

1010 it es in pat degre

. . . . wham so it ordand es, (paire) merit may noght be pe les, (b)ot mare ioy sail pai haue pat tide pat oper er helped pam bisideo.

\J n pis wise pan pe prior sais :

»haly writ wittnes always

pat sanies er help id for sertaine

and oft deliuerd out of payne

thurgh speciall praier and special dede

pat frendes dose here for paire mede,

and- pa frendes dose pa dedes allane

for a saul and for oper nane.

(pan pi^nk me pat his mede sail fall

. pan it war done for all and more alege him of his payne«. Pe voice answerd and said ogayne pat all pe pastes pat messes singes nedes forto do twa thinges : (f)irst his praiers forto make specialli for pat saul sake pat he es most halden vntill, (p)at god deliuer him of all ill; (and) when he has so praied for ane, (pan) sail he pray for oper ilkane. (so) ilkane has mede of pat mes, (and) pai for wham it ordand es (er he)lpid maste fro bale parby. (And on) pis same maner am I (deliuerd) of mi penance here lasted bi foure ere

1015

1050

1035

1040

Ms. Vernon.

[so]1 muche hit is pe lasse to hbwself — as ;nf pou departed an appel to moni

partes: euer pe mo partes pat p<ra departest hit, pe lasse hit waxefa in hit-self. Bote hit farep not so bi spirituale ping2. Forsope spirituale ping2, eu^re pe more pat p0u departest hit, pe more hit waxep in hi/w-selue — as pus: tak pe orison of vr lord, pat is pe pater noster, and teche hit to monye men: pat ilke orison in him-self porw pat techynge nis not maad pe lasse, bot in vnderstondynge 3 is fouwdew pe more, in as muche as hit is seid of mony men. So hit is of eny masse of pe prest: pe vnderstowdyng of pe Masse is more in hit-self in as muche as hit is schewed to mony men, dede and quike«. And be prior spac to pe gost & seide: »How is hit pewne pat pe holy scripture seib pat frendes soules mowe be delyuerd porw special masses and porw special orisons and special almes, i« pe delyt* of Ih«u Crist don & of pin euen-cristen, and p0u seist pat masses songew for mony men is moreworp?« ^[ And pe«ne onswerde pe spirit: »I sey pat vchon pat singefa masse bihoueb to don two binges : pe furste pi«g is, ;e wite wel, hi»» bihouep dressen his preyere to god for huw or for hire or for heom to whom he es holden specialiche; and seppe him bihoueb dressen his preyere for alle — and pe furste masses ben seid masses speciale, and so pei helpen vs specialiche pat ben in peyne of purgatorie. And in pis manere I, Gy, am delyu^red of pe peyne of purgatorie be fonre ?eer raper and hastiloker pen 1 Ms. as. * Ms. Binges. * Lat. sed effectus major reperitur. * Lat. in dilectione.

3- Spiritus Gnydonis.

313

. m isdedes als it was det.

frende here has it sett

pat pou wele knew

pat I find trew;

1045 when he had nede

f)e scoles ^ede

d most mister here

fine ^ere.

wele I wroght

1050 forgetes he noght

has me maste

. . in haste

1055

passe

payne,

and if pou here no(ght; pan of me

sothly sertayne may pou be

pat I in (blis) of heuen am stad«. —

1060 Pe prior did right als he bad, at pe pase l efter he him soght : bot of pe voice he herd right noght; parfore in heuyn he hopid he ware. — bot in pat time $it asked he mare.

1065 He said: »can pou oght trewli tell if pou in pat ilk henyw sal dwell pat for goddes halows es puruaid?« i = pasche.

Pe voice answerd sune and sayd:

»Sir, I tald pe are ful euyn

pat I come neuer ;it in henyw, 1070

parfore I may tell pe nomare

of thinges pat er ordaind pare.

Bot of pat blis I mai be balde,

for pus myne angell has me talde,

pat I to passe in paine sold be io?5

and pan, he said, pat I sail se

pe king of heuyw in his godhede

with his angels all on brede

and with his halows euerilk-ane.

and I answerd to him onane 1080

and said: 'lord, ful lang think me

pat semely sight vntill I se1.

bot he be loued in ilka place

pat vnto me has gifen swilk grace,

for trewly mai I trow by pis 1085

pat I sail be in pat ilk blis

whare god and his angels sal be,

sen pat I sail pam pusgat se«.

Pan said pe prior: »what helpes maste

a saul vp into heuyn at haste 1090

out of pe paynes of purgatori?«

Pe voice answerd to him in hy:

»messes may moste help pam pen

pat here er said of hali men,

Ms. Vernon.

I scholde w»p rihte of my dettes. I hane forsope a pore frere ful religions, pe whuche Frere pou, prior, knowest wel, and I sustenede him, seppe he was maad Frere , in pe scoles of Ramonibi l fyue ^ere : and he specialiche made diuwse preyers for me, penne & nou, and specialiche dressed* his preyere to God; porw whuche orisonws I am pus holpen pat Ine schal beo in peyne bote nou til ester . . .* and ;if pot %e here me not heere, wite p<m wel pat I am in heuene w/f> godes halewen« — And pe prior w»p su»»me of his oune men fond sop pat he seide. And pe prior asked him ^if he wuste pat he scholde be in pat like heuene ber al Godes halewen weore Inne. ^f And pewne onswerede pe spirit: »I seide pe furst pat I was neu^re ^it in heuene, and parfore I ne con no ping seye to pe of pat ordre obur pen is told to me. Pus muchel seide pe Angel to me: 'beo in penauwce in til aster, and pewne schaltou seo pe kywg of heuene sittynge in his godhed w»|) his ang«ks & wx'f) his halewew' ; and I onswerde: 'A, A, A, long is pat tyme'. Blessed be God pat sewt me his M^rci w/'p his Rihtwysnesse !«

And pe pn'or asked him what pwg mi^te most helpe mon in pwrgatorie. ^ And he onswerde pat spiritual masses sowgew specialiche of spiritual men4, and

i Lat. Bononiae. 2 r. J>enne, & nou dressej). • Lat. adds: et si vplueris hoc probare

verum esse, venias tune ad locum istum etc. * Lat. speciales missae specialiter cclebratae.

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

1095 and ordand of milde Man fre«. I>e prior said: »pan thinkes me fie office pat es for saules sertain, of Requiem, was made \n vayn, sen oper helpes pam more pan it«.

liool'e voice answerd vnto him git

and said: »pat office es gude to say when a man for al saules will pray pat saued sail be efter paire paine ;

f 6 pan may pat office gretely gaine.

1105 and for pat laud men here in land can noght graythli vnderstand pat saules has mede of oper mes, parfore pat office ordand es«. fe prior said: »sen pou has kend

I no pat speciall messes may moste amend: whilk oper praiers withowten pa may tittest saules fro penance ta?« I>e voyce sayd pan: »Syr, sertaynly, seuyn psalmes with be letany«.

1115 I*e prior said: »pat war noght right; pe pater noster es more of might, for it was made of Criste god sun vntill all crysten folk to kun, als prise of praiers, als men telles,

and pe Aue made angels

vnto Mari for manes mede,

and xii. apostels made pe crede ;

and pe seuyn psalmes er erthli werkes,

ordand of bisshopes and oper clerkes

men for to say for sin allane,

and Dauid made pam euerilkane ;

and nowper Dauid, wele we ken,

ne bisshoppes, ne none oper men,

vnto Criste pai [er] noght at neuyn

ne git vnto angels of heuyn

ne till apostels er pai noght pere.

parfore me think pat paire pray ere

may noght of swilk merit be

als pe pater nosier and be Aue,

ne als pe Crede, for pam it wroght«.

l>e voice answerd pan als him thoght :

»I>ir praiers er ful mekill of mede

and ful hali, if we tak hede,

in pam-self, pis es sertayne,

and paire makers er mekill of mayne;

men sal pam honore als worthy es

bifore al oper, out-tane pe mes.

Bot neuer-pe-les, syr, sertaynly

pe seuyn psalmes and pe letany

1130

"35

1140

Ms. Vernon.

nomeliche songen of vr ladi Marie for hem. To whow pe prior seide : »What is [penne] worfa be asygned offys for dede mew specialiche, as be offyse of Requiem eternam ?« ^f And pe spirit onswerde & seyde »bat hit auayleb muche, and aller-most whon eny wol bidden for alle. ^f tis is be encheson wherfore pat offys was ordeyned for hem: ffor bat lewed men ne trouwed not pat dede men scholde haue part of spirituale massMJ«. And [pe] prior asked hiw : »Seppe« b<?u seist pat special masses most helpep soules in purgatorie: wherfore, out-takew pe masse, wguch ben be orisouws pat pr<?fyteb most to soules in purgatorie ?« ^f And he onswerde & seide : M^C seuen psalmes wz'b pe letanie«. To -whom pe prior seide : »For- sope me piwkeb bat fals : For whi? Ihmi Crist made be pater noster, and pe angel pe Aue Marie , and pe twelue apostles pe Crede ; bote be seuew psalmwi- w;b be letanye maade be Bisschopw* & pe prestes of holichirche and ordeynde hem to be seid , of wguche prel&tus & Bisschopes now of hem ne mihte touche pe holyhed of god ne of his ang^ks ne of his apostles. And p^rfore me binkep pat pe ordinauwce of prelates of be seuew psalm«J of Dauid is not so good ne so profitable to soules as be p&ter noster & pe Aue Marie & pe crede«. ^[ And pewne onswerde pe spirit & seide «pat be pater noster & pe Aue Marie and pe crede in hew-selue, in as muche as iwto pe holyhed of pe makers, f»ei beob be beste orisons to sigge in holichirche , outakew be Masse — for bat is be prin- cipalest Orisoun ; bote nopeles be seuen psalmwj w/p pe letanye, in as muchel

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

315

1145 forto say «r moste souerayne

vnto pe saules pat suffers payne, for pai er ordand more and myn euer a psalme ogaynes a sin, so pai destroy pe sines seuyn ;

iiSoparfore pai er noteful to neuyw. pe first psalme ful gudely grayd ogaines pryde it es puruayd ; j and pus it sais: cgod lord and (syre), deme vs noght in pi grete yre,

1155 als pou did Lucifer pat fell

for his pmle fra heuyn to hell' ; and so pe oper psalmes on rawe ilkone a sin away may drawe, thurgh help of all halows in-fere

1 1 60 pat neuind er in pat praiere«.

Oone pan pe prior him assailes: »tell me, he said, what it availes or if saules oght pe better be to pray placebo and pe dirige, 1 1 65 with office pat for pe ded es dight?« I*e voyce answerd and said on hight — with grete force out gan he bryst, and said: »a, prior, and pou wist

how gretely pat it may pam gayne,

pan hope I pou wald be ful fayne 1 1 yc

oft forto bid bat blisced bede

for pi frendes hat hepen er dede !

and for pou sail it better knawe,

I sail be rekin right on rawe

pe praietese pat falles parto H75

and what pr^phit pat it may do.

First in placebo er puruayde

fiue psahnes pat sal be sayd

aneli for be euynsang,

wit[h] fyue antyms menged omang ; ngo

pa ten togeder when pai er mett,

for pe saul er pusgat sett

forto restore, wha to pam tentes,

vnto pe saul ten cumandme«tes ;

pai sail mak minde how he pam (did , 1185

so pat his mede sal noght be (bid).

nyen psalmes pan said sal (be)

next efter in be (dirige],

and pai sail signifi ful ri(ght)

nyen orders of angels br(ight), ngc

to whilk be saul sail wis(li win)

when it es clensed of (al sin);

pir psalmes witnes afls it es scill)

Ms. Vernon.

as into pe vnderstondyng of pe makers and forte ben p«j seid * , pei ben be deuoutest orisouws to pe soules in p«rgatorie : ffor whi pat [po] 2 men ha{) ordeyned for to seyen pe seuen psalm?« in pe remedie of pe seuen dedliche synnes , so pat a^eynes pruide be seid Domine ne in furore — wherfore my lord God in his wrappe blamed be angel Lucifer whon he suwged borw pruide, in his wrappe cast him douw in to helle; and so is of pe op«r psalmw.r«.

,/TLnd pe prior asked him : »What ping pwfytep hit pe soules in purgatorie j;if for hem beo seid placebo & dirige3 and al be offys for be dede?« ^ And be vois onswerde loudere pen he dude biforehond & seyde: »A, A, Mi prior, ^if p0u wustest hou pe soules ben cuwforted borw pat offyse whon hit 'is seid for hem, ofte-tymes woldest p0u sey hit for pi dede frewdes ! ^f Heere nou & I schal seye pe pe priuite of pat offis. As p0u wost wel, in pe placebo &. dirige* ben seuen* psalms and fyue ante/wpnes : pe wsjuche antewpnes 6 whon pei ben seid folfullen be soule pat hit is iseid fore [as] to pe comauwdemews of god, w^uche comauwdemews he folfullede mony a tymes pe whiles he was a-lyue aftur his talent, bou^ he dude not in al binges to heor beoinge. ^f I*e Nyne salmwj bat ben seid i« be Dirige bifore be nyne lessouws, signefyen be nyne ordres of angd^s i« heuene, to w^uche degre bat soule bat is purget of his sinnes is takew to ; and p^rfore porw pe nyne

i om and— seid. * Ms. mo; L. patres nostri. 3 The office of the dead had a parts: Placebo, said at First Vespers ; and Dirige, at Matins ; the latter being again divided into 3 Nocturns, and Laudes; cf. Maskell Monum. Ritual. Ill p. 115. « omit & dirige. 5 r. fyue. 6 omit antempnes.

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vil.

pat he ba orders sail (fulfill). 1 195 By nyen antyms ....

and thre versykils ....

xn poyntes of |)e .

to be saul bat

and telles h . , i2Oohere on b

. may him mekill amend. (1*6 nyen) lessons by bairn allane (of nyen) degrese er trewli tane ;

1205 (for) ilka saule bat suffers pyne

(bus) nedes be in ane of bir nyen, bat es to say, ober ^ong or aide, ober pouer or els of pouste balde, ober chaste life forto lede

I2ioor in wedlaik or widowhede, ober clerk or laud man — in ane of (bir) sal he be ban, (and) in whilk degre so he es in, bir lessons fra wa will him win ;

1215 and be nyen respons forto rede,

may mak bam to haue mekill mede.

(I'e) fyue psalmes of be laudes allane for fiue wittes may wele be tane . saued saules ban sail fele . bai sail bere witnes ful wele molde with al his might (vs)id ba wittes wele and right. (I'e) fiue antims ban folowand (in wi)tnes for be saul sal stand . . faithli help forto fulfill (be) strenkith bat god gifes saules vntill. (for g,'od gaf when bis werld bigan (fiue) strenkithes to saules of ilka man; (and thre) strenkithes of might er slike (bai mak be) saule vnto god like; . aynly ober strenkithis twa

body he gaf alswa

dose na socoures

like goddes creatures.

, strenkith of thoght

god es wroght;

strenkith of vnderstanding

in all thing ;

. strenkith of will

I22O

1225

1230

I235

Ms. Vernon.

psalm«j bat soule bat bei ben I-seid fore is fulfilled as to be nyne ordres to angeles,

to whuche ordre[s] for to fulfille, men ben I-maad. ^f And be nyne antewpnes bat ben seid aftur be psalmwj, wzp be breo vers, signefyeb be twelue articles of be fey, whuche twelue articles his soule heold after his Bapteme ; and b^rfore bis vers & bis antewpnes whon bat bei ben seid fulfillew be soules in purgatori as to be twelue articles of be fey, be whuche articles he leeuede aftwr be techinge of holichurche. ^f And also be nyne lessons bat folewen folfallew be soules in purgatorie [as to be nyne degres bat soules hap in purgatorie] ' : ffor eu^ri soule bat is in purgatorie, oubwr hit halt be degre of pouert obwr of pouste, ober of elde o^ur of ^oube, obwr of virginite obwr of sposayle obwr of widewhod, obwr of clergye obwr of lewed men — ffor in w^uch degre bat eny sungeb heere, in bat like degre & in bat ilke stat he schal beo punissched bere. ^f And be fyue psalm«j of be laudes of be dede men, whon bei ben seyd for be dede men, folfullen be2 soules as to heore fyue wittes: whuche wittes goinge bi-twene, su/wtyme be soule serued to God and su>wtyme sunged to be deuel. ^f Bote be fyue antewpnes of be laudes of be dede men, whon bei ben seid for dede Men, ffolfullew soules in pwrgatori as to heore fyue strengbes, be whuche strewgbes God ^af to Mownes soule as to alle bing aboue & bi-nebe : ^f Wherfore God maade to eueri monnus soule breo strengbes bonv whuche strengbe[s] soule is ilyk God , ^f and also he made two strewgbes to him-self borw whuche strengbes he is lyk obwf crea.- tnrus maked of God. Be his bou^tful pouwer soule is lyk God be fader, beo strengbe vndursto«dable soule is maad lyk Godes sone, and bi wilful pouwer i om. 2 Ms. to l>e.

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

317

1240 vntill.

and vnwit

es itt

als a stane

allane.

1245 (als cler)kes telles

angels

araid

jr\lso pe psalme of Benedictus, 1 250 and of Magnificat, helpes pus: forto saue pe sanies fro skath thurgh godhede & thurgh mawhede bath, whare-of pal may be sertayne to se when pai er past paire payne 1255 and lat pam witt how pai sal wend and won in welth withouten end. I'e twa antyms pat er puruaid with pir psalmes forto be sayd, may be cald pe gude cumpany 1 260 of angels on pe to party,

and of halows on pe toper side, whare pe saules in blis sal bide. I'e colettes pat men efter tase, er demid for pe dedes of grace Ms. Vernon.

pat saued saules to god sal ?elde 1265

with all wirschipps pat pai mai welde,

pus when pai er mended of mis;

pan sail pai lend in lastand blis.

Parfore, sir prior, pir prayers

helpes saules pus als pou heres«. 1270

When he had pus declared pis thing, all pat it herd had grete liking and meri made pai ilka man. bot ban pe gaste ful sone bigan to morn and mak ful simpil chere, 1275 and said to pam on J>is manere : »askes hastily what so ^e will, my time es fast cumand me till pat me bus gang1, als es mi grace, to suffer paynes in oper place«. 1280

I'e prior said: »sen pou sais swa pat pe bus till slike greuance ga: pis wald I wit now, or pou wend, if we might oght to pe amend«. With simpill voice pan answerd he 1285 and said: »if ^e wald say for me fyue sithes right specialli pe fiue ioyes of cure lady, pat might help mekil me vntill«.

1 Ms. gang gang.

soule is mad lyk to God pe holy gost ; and be vnresonable pouwer soule is mad lyk to tren , and be felynge strengpe soule is maad lyk oper bestes — l and be soule, as pou wost wel, hap beoinge as stones, and liuep as tren, and vnder- stowdep w/p god & ang^ks1. ^f And also pe psalme Magnificat and pe psalme Benedictus, whon pel ben seid in placebo & dirige for dede men, folfullen soules \n purgatorie [as] to pe godhede of Ihwu Crist & to pe Monhede, pe w^uche soules, whon pei ben purget in pwrgatori, schul herien god & blissen in heuene w/p- outew ende. ^f And pe two antewpnes pat be« seid wzp pe two psalmw*, bi- toknep pe cuwpanye of ang^ks bi pe on partye , and pe cuwpanye of halewen bi pat op«r partye, w^uche cu/«panye[s] soules pat ben purget i« pwrgatorie, after his2 purgacion schul haue. ^f And pe Colectes pat schul ben seyd i« be offys of pe dede, bi-toknep dedes of grace, pe w?uche dedes of grace soules pat ben pwrged & dil[5]u?red out of purgatorie schul ^elde to god«. And alle pis herden holliche3 pat stoden aboute. And pewne seide pe spirit w/{j wepywge vois: »Aske, what fwu wolt, hastiliche , ffor pe tyme nei^hep pat me bihoueb be stille, for my peynes arysep«.

«/\nd pewne seide pe prior to him : »may we eny piwg helpen {>e?« ^f And

pe spirit onswerde & seyde: >^ee, ^if pat ^e wolde w/p good deuocion sey fyue

sipes pe fyue Ioyes of vr ladi«. And pat pei dude« anow w/{i gret deuocion.

i-i a useless addition from Edm. Spec. 2 r. heor. * Lat. Haec omnia placent multum astantibus.

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

1 290 1*: i granted him with ful glide will, and on baire knese foai set bam doune and said with gude deuocioune Gaude uirgo mater Christi* , with fiue verses folowand fully,

I295bowsomly als he bam bad.

and barof was be gaste ml glad,

f 97

and said : »wele haue ^e . . . , my pain es sumdele pasand now,

1300 pat I may better speke with ^ow«.

Pan said be prior : »can bou oght tell what deres moste foe deuill of hell?« Pe voice answerd and said in hy : »pe sacrament of goddes body ;

1305 for in what stede goddes bodi ware, and be fendes of hell war bare, vnto it bud bam do honowre ; and so sail ilka creatoure«. Pe prior said : »pan thinkes me

1 310 bat al spirites suld it se

when it es on pe auter grayd«. Pe voice answerd sone and said: pat all gude spirites may it ken more verraily pan erthly men.

13151*6 prior asked pan pis skill:

if deuils might do ani dere foartill

1 Cf. I p. 408. In the Latin tract this hymn is not mentioned.

or destourb it by ani way.

Pe voice answerd and said: »nay,

bot if bat f)e preste be vnclene,

in dedly sin bat es to mene

or oper sins if pat it be ;

in swilk pastes has be fende powste

forto mer bam in baire mes,

if foai won in foaire wikkednes.

And ^it he cums noght comuwly

to ger foam be abaiste barby,

bot when he wate bat bai lif wrang

be ofter wald he bat bai sang,

and bat es to encrese baire paine —

for of paire ill fare es he fayne«.

Pe prior asked withowten lett

if pare war any angell sett

to ^eme pe auter fra euyl thing

whils goddes bodi es in offering,

and be preste in pat tyme to wis.

Pe voice answerd and said: »jris;

if gude angels war noght present,

with euyl spirites might al be shent,

for bai wald sone desrurb be preste

and put vain thoghtes into his breste,

so bat he suld noght worthily

haue might forto mak goddes body

with honore als it aw to be,

Ms. Vernon.

^[ Pe«ne onswerde be spirit: »God ^elde hit ow! nou I am cuwforted, p«t I may foe better speke to ow«. And pewne foe prior asked be spirit : »What piwg anuy;eb most be fendes ?« <j[ And be gost onswerde and seide «bat godes bodi anuy^eb hem most; ffor wher-so godes bodi beo , & be deueles ben fo^r, hem bihouef) honouren hit, wol bei so nul bey«. To whom foe prior seide: »Ne may not be spirit[es] sen Godes bodi on be auter?« And foe gost onswerde & seide : »%e, brihtloker ben men«. And be prior seide to be spirit: »May not foe fendes distorben foe sacramewt1 of godes bodi?« And he onswerde and seide: »no, bote in sum prestes pat go« vndeuoutliche to pe auter , and in hem pat singen in eny dedly sy/me ; and in alle suche prestes suw-tyme bifore & su»z-tyme after be deuel hab pouwer to destorben be makyng of godes bodi. Wherfore is bat? for foat foe deuel wolde bat suche prestes songe ofte-tymes forte encresen be more heore peyne pat schal be put to hem afterward". And foe prior asked : »Is p*r now angel set forte kepe pe auters & foe prestes at foe auter in foe tyme of makyng of godes bodi?« ^[ And foe spirit seide: »^e; ffor jpf godes2 angel[es] weore not foer, foe euel angel[es] scholde entre to cowfouwde be prest in his masse, and so distorbew hym bat he scholde not worschipfulich make godes bodi, ouber r. makynge. L Possuntne demones impedire consecrationem corporis Christi? 2 r. gode.

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

319

so suld he think on vanite«.

1345 (Pe prior pan bigan to frain) what remedy war paref-ogayn), forto defend pe fendes fell, tan said pe voice: »I sail pe tell. If pat pe preste in goddes pf(?sens

1 3 50 be clene in his awin conciens,

and mak his praiers with clene thoght, pan pe denils may dere him noght«. Pan pe prior said pir sans: »es pare no pnzyer pat pou knaws

1355 a preste to say bifor he sing,

pat might fordo swilk euil thing ?« Pan said pe voice : »sir, he pat hade pe praier pat saint Austin made pe whilk Summe sacerdos es (tald),

1 360 and he with gude deuocioune (wald) say it ilkday or he sang, to mes pan might he baldli gang; fro wathes it will so wele him were, vnnethes suld any thing him dere«.

1365 Pe prior fraynde him pan ful right if he saw euer pat solempne sight, of goddes bodi pe sacrament, out of pis werld sen pat he went. Pe voyce said : »sir, I se it ^it :

for on pi breste pou beres it, in a box pou has it broght, als it was on pe auter wroght«. Pan al pe folk awonderd ware, for of pat thing wist pai no(ght are) pat pe prior had goddes body, bot resayued in his mes anely. Pe prior said: »pan wald I wit whi pat pou noght honord (it), sen pou sais pat ilk a creat(ure) to goddes body sail do hon(oure), and pou wate wele pat (it es here)«. Pe voice answerd on pis (manere): »I haue it honord in my (kinde) with all mi might (and all my minde) sen first pat pou it (hider broght), (al-if) pat pou parsa(iued it noght)«. Pe prior pan with (gude entent) toke pat solemp(ne sacrament) out of his clath (par it was hid), and to pe (spirit pus gan he bid): »If pou trow (pe soth parbi) pat pis (es goddis awin bodi),

1370

1375

1380

1385

1390

to bow

. it es of swilk pouste,

1395

Ms. Vernon.

pe fewdes scholde * put in to hew vanites opwr variande pou^tes pe w^uche scholde

destourbew be worschipful preyers in pe Masse«. To who/w pe prior seide: »Is \>er no remedie a^eyn pe deuel?« And pe spirit onswerde & seyde: »;us, Cla#nesse of his oune Concience & deuocion of his pou^t, wz'p clene preyeres«. To who/w pe prior seide: »Is tyr now good preyere to putten awey pe vuel ping?« ^f And pe spirit onswerde: »^us. ^if a prest wolde bifore pe Masse sey pe preyere pat seint Austin made for such euel , vnnepes pewne schulde he beo tewpted of eny deuel in his masse — wj;uche preyere bigywneb pus: Summe Sacerdos*. And pe prior asked hiw ^if pat he se;e eu^e godes bodi seppe he departed out of pis world, ^f And pe gost onswerde and seide : »?e, and nou I seo hit hongen bifore pi brest in a Box« — and pou;2 no mon wuste pat pe prior hedde godes bodi in op#r man^e but as he receyuede hit pat dai in his masse. J*en pe prior seide : »Whi honourest pou not Godes bodi seppe pat pou seost hit hongew bifore my brest ?« ^f And be gost onswerde: »I in my kuynde haue honoured hit wip as muche reu^ence as I mihte al pis day seppe pou come hider , pou; pou pmieyued me nousjt doinde pat ping«. And pe«ne pe prior drou; out of his bosuw be Box wz'p godes bodi , holdynge hit opewliche in his bond bifore al pat p«* were, and seide pis wordes to pe foreseide spirit : ^[ »Pe«ne, ;if pou leeuest pat pis beo godes bodi, and [be spirites]3 ne mowe not a;eynsto«den his i Ms. scholde l>e fendes. 2 Lat. et tamen. * Ms. J»ei.

320

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

(in uer,tu bareof I cumand be (bat bou) wend with me a plain pase (to be) vterest end of all bis place«. (Pan said) be voice : »sir, I am boune, 1400 (bat noght; to folow bi p^rsoune, bot with mi lord fain will I wend bat bou haldes bitwix bi hend«.

Oune ban be prior toke be gate

fast toward be vtt^rest ^ate; 1405 with him went his breber twa,

and so did ful many ma.

of be spirite he saw right noght;

bot in his hereing wele him thoght

bat a noyce efter him come 1410 like a besom made of brome

bat war swepeand on a pament;

swilk a noyse ay with bam went.

and barto said be prior bus:

»Pou spirit, shew be vntill vs 1415 (als clejrly als bou ert wroght«.

Pareto be voice answerd right noght.

(Pe) prior pan ogain gan pas

(vnti)ll be wedow whare sho was

(liggand; seke sare on a bed, had) sho lang bene euill sted;

(be no^yes folowd als it did are.

Ms. Vernon.

142;

(and whan baij in be chamber ware

bigin,

(be woman bigan; to gnayst and grin (and for) to cri als sho war wode, (bat al war) stonaid bat bare stode, . bai had bat sight to se

was grete pete.

(Pe pople ban, with al baire might

se bat sight,

vnto bat place

. . (ba)t wonder case.

(lik) vnto lede

sho war ded.

are

come bare,

stode he still

till:

» (pa)scioune

ne I44C

'43!

1420

bat bi w(if mas slike) murnign.

I* an sayd be voyce ful sarili:

»sho wate be cause als wele als I-.

re prior ban in baire present

sone to be woman he went

and vnto hir bus gan he say:

»In be name of god, dame, I be pray

144=

v^rtu, bewne I comauwde be in be verta of bis godes bodi bat b0u folewe me to be otemaste ^ate of bis hous«. ^[ And be gost onswerde : »gladli, nou^t bi p^rsone, bote my god Ihmi Crist pat p0u boldest in biw howdew«. J'en be prior bigon to gon a gret pas to be foreseid ?ate, his twey breb^ren goynge to-fore« & mo okur men. \ [&] be pr/or lokynge be-hynden him, seih * hi#z not folewen, bote he hmle a meruylous vois2 be-hyndew him als a souw of a brom swopi«g a pamewt. ^[ To w^uche vois2 be prior spac & seide pus: »Pou Gyes spirit, scheuh be now to vs si^tiliche !« To whuche ping be spirit onswerde nou^t. ^[ And be pr/or goinge be-fore wz{> godes bodi & bat vois folwynde hi#z : whon he com to be wyues bed bat was in be lufthalf of be chauwbre , his wyf liggynge in bat ilke bed anow bigon to grewne w«b hire teb and cri;ede riht hei^e w/b-oute fourme of vois in be Maner of a wood wowzmon. To whuche wowmow ron as moni men as mi^te, bat bei schulde sen be giwnynge &3 endi«ge of bat ilke cas. [Sone]4 be wyf fel dou« in a swouh, as heo were ded. For whuche caas be prior wolde [not]5 go to berate, bote he twmed a^eyn to be forseyde bed. And be prior spak to be spirit, askywg him in be passio« of Crist what was be encheson bat his wyf was so sori. ^f And be spirit onswerde & seide pat hire-self waste be encheson. |>e«ne be prior asked be wowzmow iw be nome of God bat heo 1 Ms. & seih. 2 r. nois. 3 o»z ginnynge &. * Ms. For. 5 Ms. haue. L propter quern casum prior ulterius versus portam noluit ire, sed revertebatur ad spiritum.

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

32I

tel vnto me al bi thoght«. 1450 sho lay ful still and answerd noght.

So still obout be bed bai stode,

to luke if oght might mend hir mode,

and for hir wa fast gan bai wepe.

Sone efter sho bigan to crepe 1455 vpon hir knese so als sho may,

and cried loud and pus gan say:

»Ihfju mi lord, als bou boght me,

of my paynes bou haue pete,

and grante me of pi help in haste 1460 to bete bis bale bat me has braste«.

Pe prior saw hir sorow and site

and to be voice pus said he tite :

»Whi es pi wife pus trauailed here?«

Pe uoice answerd on pis manere : 1465 »I talde right now here pe vntill

pat hir-self wate for what scill,

and if pou will wit more alway,

ask hir-self, sho kan pe say«.

Pan eft pe prior to hir gase 1470 and mekill mane to hir he mase,

he said : »to salue pi-self of sare,

tell me pe cause of al pi care,

and out of bale I sail be bring".

sho lay and answerd him no thing. 1475 And ban he stode als man amaid,

Ms. Vernon.

scholde telle him pe enchesun of hire anguissch. And heo onswerde nou$t.

And a luitel afterwardes pei stoden l stille al pat \>er weoren aboute pe wo#nno» and pe forseyde wowmon heo bigon to crepe vppon hire lymes & seide w*p hei; vois: »Lord Ihmi Crist, as pou bou^test me, help me in pis trauaile!« Pe w^uche pi«g pe prior herde, & asked pe spirit whi his wyf was so trauayled. ^[ And pewne onswerde pe spirit: »Ne tolde I not riht now pat heo wuste pe encheson of hire anguissch? And ^if \>ou wolt wite, aske hire!« And pewne seide pe prior to pe wo/wmow : »tel me pe enchesun of pin anuy !« And pewne heo lay stille & onswerde no-ping. And pewne pe prior w*p good entewt seide to pe spirit: »I Coniure pe, creature, be al be mihtes of god, and be al be v<rrtu of godes bodi, and be be milk & be teres of vr ladi Marie, and be al pe dedes of al halewen, bat bou sey me be sofae of bis ilke ping«. ^f And pe spirit onswerde: »^if pcu al-wey wolt witew whi my wyf is nou folfuld of serwe, I seye : ffor an vnkuyndeliche sywne pat we dude to-gederes in pis stude ; of w^uche suwne we beop bobe schriuew, but heo hafa not maad aseeb ptfrforeV J>e«ne seide pe prior: »Tel me now what su«ne pat was, pat oper weddede men mowe be war p^rby bat bei do nou^t bat ilke sywne ne now opwr siwne pat beo lyk perto«. ^f Pe spirit onswerde and seide: »Vr lord ne wol not pat men heere 1 r. standing? 2 L adds: sed isto raodo jam tristatur et satisfaciet pro eo.

n. 21

and to pe voice eft-sones he said :

»Pou creature, I coniure pe

by goddes might and his pete,

and bi vertu of his body

and of his moder mild Mari, 1480

and by pe milk he souk swete,

and pe teres pat sho for him grete

when sho saw hir sun be slane,

and by foe halows euerilkane :

pe sertain soth pat pou me say 1485

of pis meruail, if pou may,

whi pi wife has all pis payne«.

And pan be voice answerd ogayne

& said : » syr, f. 98

(it es) all for an vnkindly syn 1490

pe whilk was done bifor my dede

bitwix vs twa here in pis stede ;

pareof we bath war shreuen sone,

bot pe penance was noght done,

parfore penance vs bus fulfill 1495

now als fer forth (als) falles partill«.

(Pan said pe) prior: »or pou pas,

say to me what sin it was,

pat wedded men may warned be

to do swilk thinges in bat degre, 1500

or like to it in dede or thoght«.

Pe voice sayd : »nay, god will it noght

322

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

pat I pat sin vnto ?ow say

j)at thurgh shrift es done oway ;

1505 and of pat sin we bath war schreuyw, parfore of god it es forgifen als to pe blame, pat be pou balde, (bot tochand) be penance, I be talde aseth bus be made for bat sin

1510 or we to any welth may wyn.

and sen it es done fra goddes sight, at tell it to men war noght right, bot if it war, als god forbede, bat men eft-sones did be same dede.

1515 Bot warn wedded men & to bam say bat pai wisely kepe alway be rewl of weding with paire might, and duly do both day and night; for bare er many cowmuw case

1 520 in whilk weded men may trispase, and pa cases er kindli to ken in bis werld omang witty men. l*is was be soueraine point, sais he, whi pat god lete me speke with be,

1 525 for bou suld trow bis stedfastly and ober men be mended barby, so bat foai may baire sins forsake

and in baire Hues amendes make«.

I>e woman wepeand als scho lay,

with sari hert pus gan sho say : 1 530

»Gude Gy, mi lord, for luf of me

say if I sail saued be

or I sail dwell in dole euermare

for pat dede pat we did are,

whareof I wate god was noght payd«. 1535

I>e voice answerd ful sune and sayd :

pi penance nere till end es broght,

(bou sal be) saued for sertaynew.

and ban be woman was ful fayne, 1540

and said bare kneleand on hir kne

ane pater woster and ane Aue,

and loued god in word and will.

and ban be prior sayd hir till :

»Dame, whils bou pis life sail lede, 154$

luke pou ilk day do alm«j-dede ;

for almusdedes may sines waste«.

Parto be voice answerd in haste :

»dame, he said, par charite,

when pou dose almus, think on me, 1550

forto alege sum of my payne«.

And pan be prior gan him frayne

Ms. Vernon.

pat si«ne bat is don awey from heryng bi schrifte ; we beob bobe \>eroi I-schriuew, 'be w^uche schrift vr lord hab for-^ete bat suwne as to be blame2, but nou^t as to be penauwce, [&] b*r-fore he ?eueb to me & to hire penatwce nou, pat we schule amewden vs of pat ilke sywne. And pat suwne pat is idon awey be schrifte, hit nis not riht ne resonable bat mew witew hit \n eny maneere, bute hit beo eft-sones don — bat god for-beode ! ^f Wherfore sei and pr^che to wedded men pat pei holde among hem pe rules of Matermoyne. $er ben diu^rse [cases in]3 w^uche pat wedded mew snwgen, and bote pei kepe hem beter p^r-fro, God wol take greef vengauwce — pe Caases are knowe Inou^ to pe and to opwr goode men«. ^f And bewne seide be spirit : »I>is was pe principal cause whi pat god let me speke wz'p pe, pat I scholde seye al pis piwges in amewdemewt of op«re«. W^uche pe wo*»mow herde and bigon bitterliche to grede, seyinde : »Goode Gy , schal I beo saued & not dwellynge4 in bat sywne bat I nou benke on?« And be spirit onswerde & seide : »^e ; ffor pau hast don pat peyne, al-pou^ pan beo in bon^t berfores«. I* en heo for loye gon seye pater noster and Aue Maria. TO wzuche wownnow pe prior seide : »From pis day forpward do almes- dedes ; ffor almes-deedes purgeb sy«ne«. Wzuche bing be spirit herde and seide : »And as pou dost almes-dedes, penk on me«. And pe prr'or asked hiw whi he

1 Ms. And be. 2 L quoad culpam. » Ms. rules be. 4 r. notwibstondynge, Lat. non obstante illo peccato. * L quia jam egisti penam pro illo, tamen invita.

3- Spiritus Guydonis.

323

whi he come noght in pat sesoune vnto men of religioune,

I555forto tell to pam his life, titter pan vntill his wife, sen fiat he wist pai war more nere at pray to god, pan wemen were, and more wi(seli) pai kowth him wis.

1 560^6 voice answerd pan to pis

and said: »I lufed more my wife pan any man pat beres life, and parfore first to hir I went, and when me was gifen bi iugement

156510 suffer penance in pis place, I asked god of his grete grace pat my wife might warned be forto amend hir mis bi me, and of his grace he gaf me leue 1 1 570 on pis man ere mi wife to greue and forto turment hir biforne, so pat sho efter might be for(borne) and pat sho sold noght haue (pe pyne) for hir sins als I haue for (mine), h 575 bot fulfill it in hir life-day«.

And alsone pan pe prior (gan say) : »Kan pou oght

pat sho(!) sal haue «.

Pe voce said : »sho sal ....

als lang als my

bot vreterly ful

bat hastily it «

Pe prior said : »

how pou to

1580

1585

. (ins)trumentes of spekeing". Pe prior said pan on pis manere : »(Ne) sese pou noght, a carpentere, (bat) diuers werkes oft-sipes has wroght, withouten ax may he do noght, and ay pe ax will redi be to hew with him on ilka tre, and it may nowther stir ne stand withowten help of mans hand? Right so a man here ^ow omell with-owten rung may no thing tell, and with his rung ^it sais he noght (bot it be) ordande of be thoght, (and) pat es of pe saul alwais, pat ordans all pat pe tong sais. And by pis tale pou may tak tent pe body es bot ane instrument

1590

1595

1600

Ms. Vernon.

nolde not come to men of religion forte seien hem al his staat, raher pew to his wyf, seppe Men of Religion ben neer godes seruise1 pen wywmen. ^f And pe spirit onswerde & seide : »I louede more my wyf pew eny mow of religion, tyeriore I code furst to hire. For whon I was luged to my penauwce for my suwnes, I beo-sou^te god I scholde schewe my wyf hire pwil, and he grauwtede me pat I scholde troublen hire, pat heo weore nou^t loren oup^r- in purgatorie * twnnewted for hire suwnes , as I am nou for my synnes«. And pe prior asked him how long tyme he schulde bew in peyne. ^f And pe gost onswerde & seide : »til aster pat comep«. Xo whom pe prior seide : »What signe schnl we haue whon p0u art diliu^red out of peyne ?« ^f Pe gost onswerde & seide: »2^if eny of ow comep to pis place at aster and j;if ^e heere not my vois, wite ^e wel me receyued in to heuene«. And pe prior seide to him : »I am a-Merueyled hou p0u mai^t speke and ne hast nouper Moup nor towge, w^uche ben Instru- mews of speche«. ^f And be gost onswerde & seide : »Ne seost p0u nou^t pat a Carpuwter dop nou^t wip-outew his ax, and pe ax is redi to eu^ri treo forte hewe, and nopeles hit may not hewew wip-outew Mownes honden? And also a mon may not speke in pis lyue wzp-oute tonge, and pou^ he haue a tonge, he may not speke per-w/p but hit beo ordeyned porw pe vertu of mownes soule wip-Innen. Wherfore al Mownes bodi is bot an Instrumens of monnes soule;

i L propinquiores deo in obsequio divino. '-' Ms. be t.

21*

324

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

of pe saul, als pou may se, and pe saul in himself has fre

1605 (powere) of vertuse, might and minde, (pat god) has gifen to him bi kinde ; (and) so he may speke properly (with-o)wten help of pe body, (and) if pou say a man mai noght

1610 (speke) pe thing pat cuwes of thoght (but) if he haue mowth & tung als, (I say to pe pi) saus er fals: (for hali writ) bers witnes ful right (pat go)d and al his angels bright

i6i5(spak graipeli) to aid and ?ung

(and ijit had) nowper mowth ne tung. (right so) may ilka gude spirite

voices ful parfite,

(and I may) at mine awin will

1620 (speke) with-on)ten tong ^ow till«. (Pe prior asked) him in bat stede (whar saules) dwelles when men er dede

pe dome be done

sold weJe sune

1625 payne.

(Pe voice answerd & said) ogayne:

» forn

be lorn

, nd

bright plight

1630

1635

whider pat he sail iuged be to comuw purgatori pat es stabill, or vnto purgatori departabill, or els vnto be paynes of hell, or vnto heuyw in blis to dwell«.

Pe prior pan with wordes hende

asked how sone a saul mal (wende)

when it es past fra pe body

to heuyw or hell or purgatori.

Pe voice answerd and said: »it may

in litill space wende all pat way,

sone es it broght whare it sal be.

pat mai pou bi ensampill se.

Pou sese when be sun es riseand,

pe light gase sone ouer ilka land,

ou^f al pis werld it passes playne,

bot if pare stand oght parogaine.

right so pe saules, when men es ded,

alsone er in paire sertain stede,

to heuyn or hell pai wend in hy ;

and if pai pas to purgatori,

su/»-tyme wend pai noght so sone, 1655

1640

1645

1650

Ms. Vernon.

ner-pe-later pe soule hab frelyche in hiwz-selue alle his vertues, and p«rfore he may freliche speken in his kuynde w*'p-oute« eny Instrumews of pe bodi. Hit nis nou^t worp pat p0u seist pat no mon spekep but ;nf he hab moup & tonge ; I seye pat hit is fals, ffor whi? ne redest p<?u not in holi writ pat God & angeles fonnen voises & speken wfp-outen tonge ?'«

./\.nd [pe] prior asked him where pe soulefs] weore pat tyme pat pei weore lugged to ben in purgatorie or in heuene or in helle. ^f And pe spirit onswerde and seyde pat whon soules schullen departen from heore bodies, beo a luytel oure biforew pei schulew sen heore dedes, and goode angeles and wikked angeles bri^ttore & brihtore after be quantite of heore trespas, and pewne in pat ilke tyme pey ben lugged to heuene opwr to comuyn pwrgatorie oper to helle opwr to p«rgatorie departable«. And pe«ne pe prior asked hi*» : »beo hou lowg tyme may a soule bat is out of pe bodi come to heuene obwr to purgatorie opwr to helle ?« ^f And pe spirit onswerde and seide »pat assone pe soule is lad p^r hit schal beo. As pou seost pe so«ne whon hit arist schewefa his lyht ouur-a.1, but hit be let wz'p eny obstakel, so be soules be lad as swibe to his stude, but ^if in pe mene tyme beo don for him eni almes-dede ob«r eny deuout orisones destorbynge eny soule to ben lad to purgatori. For whi? such almes-dedes & 1 Lat. adds: sic ego, spiritus, virtute animae fero tlbi vocem raeam et loquor tibi sine lingua.

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

325

and bat es for .paire prvfet done. If pai haue any faithful frende in pis werld here, when pai wende, pat for pam will ger sing and rede

1660 or els do ani almMJ-dede,

pai may so do for pam pat tide pat in pe ayre pe saul sail bide vntill it haue pe merit tane of paire prayers euerilkane,

1665 and so by help of paire gudenes may his penance be made les; be dedes pat pan er done in haste vnto mens saules amendes maste. on pis same maner als I say

1670 in pis cete was done pis day: a frere died and demed was to comuw purgatori at pas; bot in be time of his transing of his breber he asked pis thing :

1675 pat pai sold do in dede and saw for him als pai war bunden by law and messes pat pam aght to say, par charite he gan pam pray pat pai suld be said in by,

1680 and euerilkone of oure lady,

f. 96

(and) afterward pan pus bitid : when he was ded, pan pus bifell :

his angel demed him forto dwell in comuw purgatori playne 1685

thre monethes to suffer payne als worthi was, efter his dede ; bot pan oure lady ful sune ^ede vntill hir sun and prayed pat tide pat pe saul suld in pe aire abide 1690

vnto it had be merit clere of dedes pat war done for it here, and twa owres so dwelled it still in pe aire, als was goddes will ; and mercy of god had he '695

thurgh praier of his moder fre and thurgh pe dedes pat here war done, pat he sal be in blis ful sone ; in pain he has no langer tyme bot fra now till to-morn at prime«. 1700 Pan said be prior till hym sone: »Whilk dedes of all pat here er done may titest help a saul to heuyn?« Pe voice answerd and said ful euyn : »Pe parfite werkes of charite 1705

pat er done als pam aw to be, pat es to say till goddes bihoue and oure euin-cristen if we lufe, pan of oure werkes will god be paid«. Pe prior answerd1 ful sone and sayd: 1710 »If pat pou can, tell vs in haste 1 r. asked.

Ms. Vernon.

orisouws mowe be don and seid for a soule, pat hit schal dwelle in pe Eir, abi- dynde his gode dedes and be meryt ' of Ihmi Cn'st. As hit was don to-day in pe touw be pe reson2 of a frere pat dyed whuch Frere was lugged beo be angel to comuyn pwrgatorie, but he asked furst of his brep^ren pat pe masses pat pei werew endetted to do for him be lawe of heore ordre, pat pei were songe of vr ladi seynte Marie bifore be passyng out of his soule ; whuche piwg was don, and pewne vr ladi seynte Marie afterwardes pat pe angel hedde seid to pe soule pat he scholde be pre Monphes in pe comuyn pwgatorie, pen com vre ladi Marie preyinge for him to hire leue sone, so pat pe soule to-day be be space of tweyne vres scholde dwelle8 in pe hote Eir abydynge [be] gode dedes of pe M<rci of god ; pe whuche M^rci he fond so glorious porw pe preyeres of pe viVgine Marie, pat he ne schal dwelle in pu[r]gatorie nou'^t bote til to-morwe at prime«.

/\.nd pe prior asked hi/w w^uch were pe werkes pat sannest brou^t a mon to heuene. And pe spirit onswerde and seide: »Dedes of Charite wi'p pe loue of [god &] pin euen-cristen don«. And pe prior asked him of what monkuynde4 beo most

i Lat. exspectando beneficium misericordiae Christ!. 2 L in villa Simonis. 3 r. dwelled ; ita quod stabat. « L de quo genere hominum.

326

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

what maner of men pat now er maiste

in purgatori to suffer paine?«

re voice answerd and said ogam:

I7i5»no men cuwes pat place within hot anli pai pat haue done sin; and al pat sines & saued sail be er pined pare of ilk degre efter pe dedes pat pai haue done«.

1 720 And pan pe pr/or asked sone

what maner of folk pat he here fand pat in paire life war best lifand. f e voice said : »sir, soth it es, and hali writ wele beres witnes,

1725 pat noman aw oper to praise

wheper he do ill or wele alwaise, for mans lif es to prais nothing bot he may haue gud ending ;

1730 wheper [he] be worthi luf or (hate), (ne) wheper his werkes er ill (or lele), vntill pe dome be done ilk dele ; pan sal he se him-self sertayne wheper he es worthi ioy or paine«.

J735 J*e prior said: »pan ask I pe, whilk es most parfite degre of all pat on pis grownd er groyd?» 1*6 voice answerd ful sone & said :

»In ilka state I se, he sais,

sum thinges to lac, & sum to prayse, 1740

barf ore I will prais no degre

ne none sail be empaired bi me ;

bot neuer-be-les S[it wald I rede

pat all fulli in ilk a stede

serue god with all paire might, 1745

in what degre so pai be dight«.

I*e prior asked with wordes stabill

if pat god war oght merciabill

to sawles pat er in purgatori.

I>e voice said: »^a, sir, sertanli; 17;

vnto sum saulles, pis es sertaine,

releses he forth part of paire paine,

of sum pe thrid part he releses,

of sum pe secund part he seses ;

and pat es for gude praiers (sere) 175

pat lifand frendes for pam (dos here) ;

if mani dedes for pam be done

pan mai pai pas fro pai(nes sone).

lifand frendes pus mai pam (ses)

of paines pat pai suld (haue les) ; 1760

and praiers helpes pam (of angels)

and of halous pat in (heuyn dwells)«.

re prior said : »pan wald I ...

whatkin pain pi-selfe .

in purgatori wills (bou sal dwell)«. 1765

Ms. Vernon.

in purgatorie. ^f And he onswerde : »of pe kuynde of suwners ; ffor now dwellep pgr bot ^if pat he haue don su»ne«. Also pe prior asked him what Mon was of best lyf1 in pis world, ^f I*e spirit onswerde and seide: »Hit is writen pat no mon schal preisen op«r in pis lyf, bote preise more his goode endyng2, ffor no mon wot while he lyueb wher he beo worpi to haue loue or hate ; wherfore no mon scholde preise pe lyf of pis world til pat pei come beo-fore heore Iuge«. Also pe prior asked him w^uch weore pe most parfyt stat among al pe states in pis world. ^[ And pe spirit onswerde and seide: »In eueri stat [I]3 fynde summe worpi to preise and suwme to lakke , and p^rfore no stat of pis world nouper i ne preyse nor i ne lakke ; but ich rede pat vche mon in pis world be his oune nome, in what stat so pat he beo opwr what degre, pat he costumabliche * serue God«. And be prior asked hym ^if pat god were Merciable to hem pat dwellen in purgatorie. ^[ And be spirit onswerde and seide: »%ee; ffor to summe he releseb pe feorpe parti of heore peyne pat pei ben a-dettet for heor sunne, and to summe be pridde parti , and to suwme pe secuwde parti , after pat more or lasse is preyed for hem in pis world opwr in heuene of angtfks«. And pe prior asked what peyne [he]5 hedde in purgatorie. ^[ And be spirit onswerde:

1 L quae fuerunt meliores vitae in mundo. 2 L Ne laudes hominem in vita sua, sed lauda post mortem. * Ms. fcei. * L sollicite. s Ms. }>ei.

3- Spiritus Guydonis. 327

Pe voice said : »I sail pe tell ; and pat fire es als bodily

in flaume of fir als pe fire of purgatori

pat all pir and ;it pines it pe fendes in hell; 1795

and haue no « als god witnes in his godspell

i77oPe prior said p(an: »it es na fabil) (ho)w he to pe fendes sal say

pat pou ert (a spirit deceyuabil) ; and to pe dampned on domes-day :

pat sail I pr0ue '(^e) weried wightes, I bid ^ow wende

pis wate pou (to pe fir) pat l(ast)es withouten ende 1800

god dose no (pat ordand) es for nothing els

1775 for (bot) to be deuill and his angels'.

his w (And) whare pou sais pat god duse noght

(ogay)nes kind in pe werkes he wroght,

es a gaste spiritual!, (I sai god) dose, als men mai finde, 1805

(and bodili) thing mai haue no might (. . m)irakill oft ogaines kinde,

1780 'in spiritual) thing bi dai ne night. (als sum)-time fell of childer thre

(and by) bis resoun may pou se (pat in fir war set) brint forto be —

(bat) fire may haue no might in be, (pair nam)es er pai named so :

(al)-if pou parin sit or gang«. (Sidrak, Mi}sac and Abdenago; 1810

Pe voice said: »sir, pou has pe wrang with ful grete yre

1 785 pat pou me haldes so decaiuabill, ful of fire,

and pou has fun in me no fabill. (bot als it was) cure lordes will,

Bot neuer-pe-les, sir, whare pou sais (pe fir did) no harm pam till.

pat bodili thing bi nokins wais 1815

in gastli thing mai haue powere,

1790! answer pe on pis manere.

Pou wate wele pat pe deuils sal lend

in fire of hell with-owten end,

Ms. Vernon.

»flaume of fuir aller-hattest«. To whom pe prior seide: »Now I seo wel pat pou art a deceyuable spirit. For God dop noping a^eynes kuynde in pinges fourmed — ffor ^if he dude, pen scholde he distruye pe kynde of hem. And flaume of fuir is bodilich ping, and no bodilich ping, in as muche as hit is bodiliche, ne may do no-ping in spiritual ping. And pou art a spirit, as pou se[i]st ; p^rfor* pe flaume of fuir ne may no-ping don in pe«. ^f And pe spirit onswerde & seide : »Whi clepest pow me a deceyuable spirit , seppe pat pow ne fond no deceyt in me? But nou^t-forpi, pou arguest pat no bodiliche ping ne may do nou^t in spirituale ping; I seye pat hit is fals. For pe fuir of helle is bodiliche ping, and hit dop in pe deueles pat is gostlich, as pou redest in pe gospel pat god seide cGo ^e wari^ede in to pe fuir wip-outen ende, pe w^uche fuir is ordeyned to pe deuel and his angeles'. And pis is fals also whon pou seidest pat God dop nou^t a^ein kuynde of mony ' piwges ... als he dude of pe preo children pat weoren set in fuir and not-forpi pe fuir dude hem non harm; and as God porw his rihtwysnesse made heom saf, and his miht, from be kuynde of fuir, so porw his miht he made pat no flaume of fuir ne dude nou^t in heom(!)«2. To whom pe prior seide : »p*rfore ijif pat pou art in brewnyng fuir , hou is hit penne pat pis hous nis brent of bat fuir, seppew pou art wip flaume of fuir per-inne?« ^j" And

i r. mad? 2 Lat.: Vnde sicut deus per justiciam suam et potenciam saluos fecit eos a natural i actione ignis, ita per potenciam suam fecit quod flamma ignis purgatorii agit in me modo.

328

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

1820

1825

(sen J)at) it es so hate and kene«. Pe voice said : »now es wele sene bat in be es ful litil scill.

1830 (bnt right) now tald I be vntill

bat god may mesure thurgh his might be strenkit of fire both dai & night so bat it no harm (mai do) till thing bat it es put vnto,

1835 als he did to be childer thre of wham I haue tald vnto be. Also bou sese fire of leuening wendes obout in alkins thing, clereli als clerkes declare it can,

1840 and nowber brines it hows ne man, bot if.it be thurgh ani chance bat it brin bi goddes sufrance. and als bou ses be sun mai pas thurgh windows bat er made of, glas,

1845 and Pe S^13 n°ght empaired barby; so may a spirit sekerli

in ilka place c\im in and out

and brin noght bat es him about,

bowses ne clathes ne ober atyre,

al-if him-self be flaumd in fire. i8t

right so bis hows mai resaiue me

and it-self noght empaired be.

Bot, sir, bis saltou vnderstand,

if all bowses in ilka land

in a stede war brinand shire, i8(

it might noght be so hate a fire

als I now suffer night and day«.

Pe prior pan to him gan say

and asked of him pis questiowne:

if he trowed be incarnacioune,

how Ihesus Criste toke fless & blude.

Pe voice answerd with eger mode

a(ls it) war greued inwardli,

with loud voice bus gan he cri:

»A, sir, he said, whilk er pa men 1865

pat be incarnacioun wil noght ken?

whilk er pai bat will noght knaw

how angels said it in paire saw,

and deuels trowes it wonder wele,

and saules in pain pai mai it fele? 1870

ful mekill wa pai er worpi

pat will noght trow it stedfastli.

(and all pat trowes it noght) in ded, f. too

Ms. Vernon.

pe gost onswerde and seide : »A ful luyte liht of wit is in be ; ne seide I be nou^t

her-bifore bat God may wip-drawe be vertu of fuir bat hit bre«neb nou^t ping pat hit is ?euen to : as he dude be foreo children, bat is to wite Sydraak, Misaak and Abdenago ? And also bow seost bodiliche bat be fuir of bonder alihteb from heuene kuyndeliche wip-outen brewnynge of eny hous — bot vnderstonde wel, whon hit pondreb ', bat hit is gret signe of vengaunce of sum mon. And also, as2 bou seost be sonne comep porw pe glas of pe wyndouwe wip-outen brekyng of glas, also I, spirit enflaumed of fuir, may entre pis hous and gon out a^eyn wip-outen brekyng of glas3. And also hit is on pis manure: pau^ be flaume of fuir bre«ne me in bis hous, pis hous nobeles is nou^t damaged borw bis flaume. Bote vnderstond : ffor sope, bau^ al be houses in bis world weren in o stude set afuire, alle pei ne scholde not make so hot a flaume as is bat flaume bat I now suffre«. And be prior asked him ^if he leeued be incarnacion of Crist. And to bat question be gost gon allerhi^est to speken and seide : »A , Mi prior , who is pat troweb hit nou^t? Pe angeles seon hit, pe deueles trouwen hit, soules in purgatorie veleb hit". And be prior asked : »What peyne beo bei worbi bat trouweb not in foe Carnacion?« And be gost onswerde and seide: »Whi askest

* Lat. quando fulgur facit malum. * om in Lat. 3 Lat. sine ejus (sc. domus) laesura; the next sentence is a useless addition. Here ends the Latin text in Ms. Vesp. E I; the rest is a later addition extant in Ms. Vesp. A VI (while Harl. 2379 gives a different continuation).

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

329

(in) hali writ pe (soth) may rede

1875 how pat pe godspell sais of Crist: 'wha trewli trowes and es baptist, to endles blis pai sail be broght', and als he sais: cwha trowes it noght bat Crist of Mari toke oure manhede,

1880 pai sal be dampned withoutew drede and euer haue bale, and never blisV Pan said be prior: »(tell me) pis: sen pat be Sarijins and be lowes and be paienes it noght trowes :

1885 whi god lattes bam dwell so lang in paire trowth, sen it es wrang, and sen pai will for no resoune trow Cristes incarnacioune?« Pan pe voice said pus him till:

1890 »no questioune es it of goddes will, and parfor (falles) it noght pe to (to) ask whi god dose so or so or thing pat towches his godhede, bot fande to do his will in dede.

1895 I wate noght whi bam life es lent, bot if it be to pis entent pat cristenmen mai on bam fight, in trowth forto defend paire right; for batell on bam forto bede

1900 may cristen men encrese paire mede, If faith be fulli in paire fare«.

And pan pe prior asked mare :

»Kan pou oght tell whilk man^r of syn

es vsed moste omang man-kyn?«

Pe voice pan answerd on pis wise : 1905

»Pride, Lichen, and Couatise,

and Vsuri, pir foure in fere,

with pair branches many and sere,

pai er ful foul both day and night

bifor god and his angels bright. 1910

Thre sins bare er if pai be done,

for whilk god will tak vengance sone :

Ane es, if man and woman here

won samyn als pai wedded were

and wandes noght paire will to wirk 1915

out of pe sacrament of haly kirk,

or if both be wedded bat tide

and ouper do sin on ofaer side

and brek baire sposaile in pat space —

to god pis es a grete trispase. 1920

. kindly .... sodom . . . pe sin es cald — unkindli sin men sail it hald. Pe thrid sin es ful euyl thing, pat es manslaght^r with mainsuering ; pis greues gretly to god mighty, whare it es done wilrally«.

1925

Ms. Vernon.

pou me pat, seppe hit is writen in holy writ 'Whose pat trowep and is Baptised schal beo saaf, and whose trouwep hit nou^t schal beo dampned1. To whom be prior seide : »Seppe pat Sara^ines ne lewes ne paynymes trowep nou^t in be Incarnacion of Crist, hou is hit pat god wol leten hem so liuen in heore errour?«

/\nd pe gost onswerde and seide: »A, my prior, in godes wille schal beo no question, and b^rfore hennes-forpward aske me no more whi God wol do pis or pat, but studie to folfullen Godes wille I I ne wot neu^re forsope whi God wol suffren hem be bus longe in heore errour, bote ^if hit be for bat cn'stene men scholde fihte a^eynes heom for be feifa, forte encrese be merit of Crist«j men«. ^[ And be prior asked hiwz w^uche weore be suwnes bat ben mest vsed in bis world, ^f And pe spirit onswerde and seide: »Vsure', Pruide , and Lecherie, and Auerice, wip heore spices, beop abominables to-fore god & his angeles. ^f Bote pre vices \>er ben ffor w^uche vices God vengep him sone : of pe w^uche vices on is Matermoyne pat is mad2 whon mon and wo/wmon sungen to-gedere w*p-oute« pe solempnite of pe sacrement; anoper is a vice pat is nou^t to nempne; pe pridde is Monslau^t wi{) Ire3«. 1 L invidia. 2 L matrimonium pollutum. * L cum perjurio.

330

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vn.

Oone when al pir saus war said,

1930 pe woman to pe prior prayde

pat he wald speke pat gaste vntill so pat he did hir namore ill, for goddes luf of mightes maste. Pe prior pan spak to pe gaste :

1935 »I coniore pe by god allane, and bi his halows euerilkane, if pou may, pat pou will sese and lat pi wife now lif in pese, and pursu hir nomare with paine«.

1 940 And pan pe voice answerd ogayne: »Pat mai I noght do, for no nede, bot sho lif chaste in widowhede, and also ger (sing for vs twa) thre hundreth messes withouten ma ;

1945 a hundreth of be haligast sal be or els of pe hali trinite, and a hundreth of oure lady, and of Requiem fifty, and oper fifti all in-fere

1950 of saint Peter pe apostell dere«. Pe woman herd pir wordes wele, and granted to do ilka dele; sone als sho might sho made hir (boun) till all pe abbays of pat toune,

1955 al prestes and freres gan sho (prai) pat pai sold sing al on a day.

Thre hundreth messes was (for him sone) on pe maner bifore said (done).

And pus when pai

pe gaste

pus may men h

pat messes er m

Bot ^it pe prior (in pat sesoune) vnto pe voice ma(de pis questiounej : he asked if he wist (in ani wise) in wh(at tyme anticrist suld rise) to pursu (cristen men) .... Pe voice .

goddes preuete,

question ^ow vnto

. his will es forto do«. (Pe prior) said : »me think right wele (pou) hers oure spekeing ilkadele«. Pe voice said : »so I do, sertayne«. And pan pe prior said ogayne : »Pou has eres pan to pi hereing; wharfore pou ert a bodily thing, and noght gasteli als pou has tald«. Pe voice answerd with wordes bald : »hali writ pus telles vs till : Pe spirit enspires whare so he will, and his voice well * may pou here, bot pou may noght on no manere i Ms. will.

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

Ms. Vernon.

f Enne com Gyes wyf to pe forseide prior & seide to him : »For Codes loue aske of hym hou I may be dilyuered of pis peyne pat he dop to me«. Anon p^r-wzb pe prior seide to hym: »I Coniure pe be God alweldiwge, ^if pat pow may leuen, pat pou lete pi wyf ben in pees«. ^[ And pe spirit seide: »Pat do I not , but pat heo wole Hue chast in widewehod and do synge preo hundred Masses for hire-self & for me , on pis manere : An huwdred of pe trinite or of pe holygost, and an huwdred of vr ladi Marie , and ffifti of Requiem , and ffifti of seint Peter pe apostel«. And herynge pat stod be-syde heo grauntede ; and anon heo sente to pe freres of pat toun and to alle obur prestes , and on O day heo dude so mony masses to be songen . . . in pe couenaunt bifore-seid: And afterward heo was not turmented. And be prior asked him ;nf he wuste w;uch tyme Antecrist schulde arysew a^eyn pe chosene pat ben trewe cristene men. And pe gost onswerde and seide : »Of pis pinges pat ben onliche godes priuites, nis no question, ne non certeyn to vs«. ^f And pewne pe prior asked him i,it he herde mew speke to hym. ^[ And pe spirit onswerde : 7,e. To -whom pe prior seide: »Penne hastou Eren, ffor whi pow art sumping bodiliche«. ^[ And pe spirit seide : »Ne seib hit not in holy writ : ' Pe spirit enspireb pat wole, and

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

331

1985 wit what place pat he cuwes fra, ne vnto what place he will ga — Spiritus ubi uult spiral 8f uocem tius audis : sed nescis undc ueniat aut quo uadafa. And right als he pir wordes gan say,

1990 al sodain)li he went oway,

(so) pat pai herd of him nomare. (&) al pe tyme pat pai war pare (it) was till time of euynsang. Pe prior pan bad ilk man gang

1995 (in) pe name of god whare pai wald be ; 'and) bad bam als in ilk cuntre, (if pai) war asked of pis case, (pat) pai suld sai how pat it wase, it es proued in dede ;

2000 pai ;ede.

(Pe prior) pan withowten faile (gaf) pe woman his counsaile (pat sho suld) kepe hir clene and chaste, als scho was) warned with pe gaste ;

2005 and als he) bad anoper thing: pat ilka dai a) prifste suld sing

in pat ilk place

was.

(and als he bad, pe; woman did

2010 id

gude chere

noght CUOT nere . . vse

2015

pat had till ende,

and bisoght him with all hir maine

vntill be hows to wend ogayne,

to loke if pat pai might here mare

or find oght of pat ferli fare.

Pe prior pan with wordes hende

granted gladly forto wende ;

he toke of oper orders twa,

of anstines & mennres alswa,

so pat pai war twenty freres

al samyn with-owten seculeres,

and al samyn so pai went

to Gyes hows with gude entent.

and in pat hows said pai and he

Placebo with pe dirige

for his saul pat was husband pare,

and for all saules pat sufferd care.

When all was said in gude degre

till Requiescant in pace,

pai herd a voice cu/w pam biside

als it did at bat oper tide,

2025

2030

2035

Ms. Vernon.

pou herest his vois, and pou ne wost whennes hit comep ne whoder hit gop?'«

And pis fringes hit seide, and vanischt awey, so pat noping afturward was herd of him. For sope, penne was tyme of Euensong.

.rxnd pe Prior seyde to alle pat were gedered : »In pe nome of vre lord Ihmi Crist , go vche mon to his stude. And whonne pat j;e ben asked of bis merueylous caas, siggep al pe auenture of pis pyng as 7,e witen pat hit is proued«. And pe prior counseylede pat wo/wmon pat heo scholde kepen clene hyre-self in chastite al hire lyue, and pat heo scholde vche a day til aster haue a prest syngynge in pat stude ; pe whuche ping heo dude. Forsope, al pat ilke wike pe wowzmon dorste not entren hire hous for drede. But on pe morwen aftur pe Epiphanye of vr lord pe wydewe wente to pe hous of pe Frere prechours for to speke wip pe prior ; pe whuche ping heo dude and ordeiwde so pat pei scholde eft-sones wende to pe forseide hous of Gy ; and pei tok opwr freres w*p hem of pe hous of seynt Austin and of Menours, twenti, wip-oute seculer men. Pe whuche freres whon pei weore come to pe foreseide hous of Gy, J>E prior begow placebo and dirige in pat ilke maner as he dude biforen wip his wyse breperen. And whon hit com to pe tyme pat Requiescant in pace schulde be seyd, per com bi-sydes heom a wynd and a soun as of a brom

332

Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vil.

like a besom by faam it went

2040 bat war swepeand on a pament. sum of be folk parfore war flaid; and sone be prior vnto it said : »I coniore pe with main & mode in be vertu of Cristes blode,

2045 in bis stede bat pou stand still and answer what we ask be will«. Pan be voice with wordes meke, als a man bat had bene seke, vntill be prior bus gan say:

2050 »Whi deres bou me bus ilk day ? it es noght lang sen I tald be all bat bou wald ask of me ; what sold I now say to ^ow here?« And pan answerd anoper frere,

2055 a diuinowre of grete clergi: he said, »tell here till vs in hi wheber bat bou of pain be quit, or els what pain pou sufiVes ^itt«. Pe voice answerd sone onane

2060 and said : »I loue god al his lane ! for swilk grace vnto me es graid thurgh messes pat war for me said pat fro pis time now efterward

f joi am I past fra all paynes hard

2065

no mare«.

said pat frere :

Ms.Vernon.

»tell vs what pain pat pou has here

fro (purgatori s''en pou es past".

Pe voice answerd at pe last: 2070

»with flaume of fire I haue grete pain« .

And pan pe frere answerd ogayn

and said : »if pou fele fire so hate,

tell vs what may it best abate,

or if ani thing amend pe may«. 2075

Pe voice answerd and said : »nay ;

me bus it suffer sertain daies«.

And ban be prior to him sais:

»Lo how pat I haue gederd here

freres and oper folk in fere 2080

of pi wordes to here witnes

and of pi meruailes more & les,

pat we mai al pis case declare

bifor be pape, when we cvim pare ;

and parfore tell vs sam meruaile 2085

pat we mai tell with-owten faile«.

Pe voice answerd vnto pir saus:

»I am noght god, pat wele pou kn[a]wes,

and meruailes fals vnto none els

bot vnto him and his angels. 2090

and neuer-pe-les pus I ?ow teche:

bot if ^e better pe popil pr^che

pan ^e haue done pis time biforn,

lightly may ?e be forlorn ;

and hike 3je speke moste specially 2091

ogains pe sin of symony

swopynge a pauement. Pe whnche ping pe prior parceyued and gon to conioure him in pe vertu of Ih^ra Cristes bloode bat he scholde stowde stille in bat srude and speke to hem. ^f And penne seide pe voys as hit weore of a seek mon, ful hei;e, seyinge: »Whi greuest pou me pus al day? hit is not long pat I ne onswerde j;ow to al ?or askynges, ffor-[t]hi' what haue ^e more to asken me?« To whom a frere, a gret diuinour, seide: »Is per ^it peyne to pe?« And pe gost onswerde : »Icham alegged of pe flaume of fuir faorw Masses pat weore songen for me, so pat fro pis tyme forbward i schal no more comen in comuyn purga- torie, I-blessed be god almihti«. To whom be frere seide : »What peyne soffrest bon here?« ^f And be spirit onswerde and seide: »flaume of fuir«. To whom pe frere seide: »Is per no remedie?« Pe spirit seide, no. J>en pe prior seide to him: »Lo, we beon gederet here pat we may bere witnesse to-fore vre lord be pope whon tyme comep: wherfore sei to vs sum meruayle!« ^f And be spirit onswerde: »I nam not god; I-wis, hit is he pat seip and dof> Meruayles. Bote not-forpi I sei to ;ow : bote ^e pr^che betere pen ^e ban I-don herbifore a^eyn be vice of Symonie, Vsure, Monslau^t and Spousbruche, gret Swerynge and fals 1 Ms. ffor-whi.

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

333

and vsure, manslaghter, and manesweri«g, avowtri, and fals witnes bering. hot if pe folk pir sins forsake,

2100! warn 30 w god will vengance take; hot if he let for pe praiere of milde Mari, his moder dere, and of pe halows euerilkane, els suld vengance sone be tane

2105 ful mani tymes omang man-kin when pai vse swilk outrage sin; and ^e sail suffer pe same paine, bot if ^e -preche fast pare-ogaine. for now es sin vsed wele mare

2iiopan any werkes of goddes lare — pat sail pai suwtime ful sare rew!« fan asked pe prior if he knew how many papes suld (be of Rome) al fro bat time till pe dai of dome —

21 1 5 pat asked he for men suld knaw

when pe werld nere till end suld draw. l>e voice said: »I can tell no thing what sail bitide in time cumyng; parfor pou may noght wit of me

2 1 20 how many papes of Rome sal be, ne meruailes of me wit ^e nane. and parfore I kownsail ^ow ilkane, whare so ?e will wend forth ^owre way. bot prayes for me more, if ^e may,

2125 and for all saules pat suffers pain; for pis I say ^ow for sertayne :

hali kirk praies noght so fast

for cristen saules pat hepin er past

als pai war won, right wele I ken,

ne namore dose none oper men. 2130

parfore I rede pai mend pam sone,

or any euill to pam be done«.

When he had tald pir tales pam till,

he said nomare, bot held him still.

And for pat herd of him nomare, 2135

al pe men pat pan war pare

went, and tald pir tales ilkone

playnly vnto pe pape lohn

pe twa and twentide, I vnderstand,

for he was nere in pe same land. 2140

hereof was meruaild mani a man.

and at pe pase next efter pan

pat same pape sent men of his

forto seke pe soth of pis.

and als he bad pai did in dede ; 2145

and pe prior with pam ^ede.

£e hows of Gy oft-sipes p(ai soght),

bot of pe gaste ne herd pai (noght) ;

and parby might men (wit ful euyn)

pat he was hent vp vn(til heuyn), 2150

whare conforth es with ....

als himself had said

Vntill pat con(forth

thurgh praiers of

Explicit tractatus (de quo dam spiritu). 2155

Ms. Vernon.

witnesse beryng, be world schal sone perissche, and j;e schul perissche wip hit.

t>is ping forsope : neore pe preyeres of pe blessede v*Vgine Marie and be merit of halewen, God wolde take wikked vengeaunce of hem pat wonep in eorpe; . . .l but spousbrnche and monslau^t and opes sweryng and alle wikkede dedes pat folk mowe penken«. J>enne pe prior asked him hou mony popes scholden be bifore be endynge of pe world. ^[ And pe gost onswerde & seide: »God knoweb binges pat beb to comen , and I ne con telle no-bing ofoer pen is told to me ; and p^rfore I ne con not telle ^ou pe sofoe of pis question. Gob ;or weyes, and preyep for me and for hem pat dwellen in purgatorie! Forsope, holichirche loke|j euele to hem nou, and pe Religiouw preyep nou lasse for |>e dede pen pei weore wont to do. Amendep ow, pat ^e perissche nou;;t«. And pis he seide, and heold him stille. — Al peos pinges weore pr^ued bifore pope Ion xx and two. And in pe day of Ester pat next com, be pope sent pidere. and fond nou^t pe fore-seide spirit; ffor whi Men trouwep wel pat he is nou in heuene. To w/,uche heuene bring vs Codes sone , bat liueb and regneb wip pe Fader and wip pe holy gost. Amen.

1 Ms. Vesp. A VI: non enim est veritas nee sciencia dicitur in terra, sed adulterium &c.

Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c.

. vppendix: William Nassyngton's Tractatus de Trinitate et

Vnitate &c.,

from Ms. Thornton, fol. 189 (ed. Perry Rel. Pieces p. 60).

Incipit tractatus Willelmi Nassyngton, quondam aduocati curie Eboraci, de Trinitate & Vnitate, cum declaracione operum Dei, & de passione Domini nostri Ihesu Christi, &c.

fol. 189.

J\., Lord* god of myghtw maste, Fader* and Son* and Haly Gaste ; Fader, for J>0u ert* almyghtty, Son*, for thow ert all-wytty, 5 Haly Gaste, for thow all wyll That gude is, and na thynge yll; A God* and ane lord* yn thre-hed*, And* thre persons yn ane-hede, Thus was thow aye and euer* sail be,

10 Thre yn ane, and* ane yn thre;

And begynnynge and* end of all thatt is And* pat euer* was, bathe mar* & lesse ; Begynnynge wj't^-outen* begynnynge, And* ende wztA-outen* endynge ;

15 Thatt be-for any thynge wer wroghtt*, Or any begynnynge was, or oghtte, And* befor all tymes god* was thow, & allmyghtty, & wysse, as p<m ert now ; Thy myght & thy witt of thy-selfe whas tane,

20 For neu*r god was bo[t] p<ra ane ; And alls pou was gode ay suthefaste, Swa sail pi godhede eu*r-mare laste; And alls pou began all pat eu*r was, Swa sail p0u ende all pat sail passe.

25 Louede and blyssede ay mote pou be; And w/tA all my herte I thanke the Of all pat pou has done and wroghte, Fra pe firste tym* pat f)0u began oghte, For me and for all man-kynde;

30 Whare-fore vs aghte ay haue pe in mynde And loue the ; for p#u has done to mane Als I here thurgfi pi grace reherse cane. Fyrste, heuen* & erth for man p0u made, & all pis werlde here wyd & brade,

35 And al thyng pat es p*r-in;

For wz't^-owtten* the es noghte bot synn, The wilke was neu*r thurgfi the wroghte, p*rfor in haly writt es synn* called »noghte«.

Heuen* p0u made, whare p^u duelles, For cure Endles wonny[n]gewzt^ angells; 40 And pe werlde, owre suget here to be, To serue vs pat we pare-In s*rue pe. The firmament pon made mouande, To noresche all thyng pare-vndire lyf-

ande, And the sonne, to schede be day fra 45

be nyght, & pe mone & pe st*mes, to tak paire

lyghte Of pe sonne, for to schyne one nyghte

clere,

In takynywg pat we sail reschaife here The lighte of grace pat gastely gifte es, Of pe, pat es sofie of ryghtwisnes. 50 The mone lyghte thow made to waxe

& wane,

Als semes, pat Ensample p*r-by es tane Of owre lyfe pat passes here sofie, & waxes & wanes als lyghte of pe Mone. The sternes ptm made on pe sky stand- 55

ande,

& the pianettes in peire course passande, For Ensauwple til vs, to knawe & se How we sulde liffe here in ilke a degre. The foure Elementes p<m mad sere To sustayne oure bodyly kynde here; 60 And all op*r creatowres, als was thi will, In sere kyndes p0u made for certayn* skyll. 'Of wilke som* are noyeand till vs kyndly, And som* are profytable and Esye; And all are they for owre profet wroghte, Bathe they pat noyes, &pat noyes noghte. The noyeand pmi made vs for to chasty, And to dense vs here of owre foly, And to make vs to knawe & se How febill & how frele are we; 1 Cf. S. Edmund's Speculum.

Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c. 335

The vnnoyeand, to sustayne vs & fede, & to helpe vs & ese vs in owre nede. Thy creatowrs are ay-whare in sere stede, Of whilke som; are qwyke & som; are

dede; 75 For sonv semes noghte hot als dede

thynges,

Als stanes bat has noghte hot beynge ; Som;, als gryse & trees; pat men; sese

spryng;,

Has beyng & lifyng;, hot na felyng;; Som;, als bestes pat crepis & rynnys, 80 & als foghles witA fethirs, & fische w/tA

fynnes,

Hase bathe beyng, lyffyng;, & felyng;, Bot na witte ne skyll of demyng ; Som;, als men; & angells, has thurghe the & thurghe pi myghte, beyng & lifyng;

fre,

85 And feliwg bath of gude and ill, And discrecyone of witte and skylle. Thus has man beyng, als men sese, Wz'tA stanes, & lyfe with grysse & tree^, And felyng; witA beste^ of sere kynde, 90 And wz't h angells skill & mynde.

Thus walde pou, are pou oghte be-gane, Pat somwhat of ylkecreato«rehade man*. Mane thow made maste dynge creatowre, & maste semly of schape & of stature, 95 Of all op<r creatowrs mare or lesse; For pou mad hym aftire thyn; owen;

liknesse,

And gafe hym lordechipe & powere Abowen; all op;r vnskillwise creatures

sere ;

And to rewle hym w*tA witte & skyll, 100 And for to knawe bathe gud & ill. Whare-fore gret lufe to man pou kide, When pou this fore man ordaynede &

dide;

It semes pou hade gret lufe tyll man, Be-fore are pou oghte begane. 105 Lorde, I am man for whaym pou dide thus, And pat man es ilke man & woman; of vs, And als wele all pis pou did for me Als for ilk man or woman; pot are

made thurghe the :

And for-thy pat I am pat man For whaym; pou al thyng be-gane, no I awe thurghe ryghte the to lufe ay, And to loue the bathe nyghte & daye, And to wirchipe the w»tA saule & body, Righte als bou had done all [for me/ anely. Lord gode almyghtty, ^it thanke I the, 115 That mekill mare walde doo for me And for all2 man-kynd for thy gudnes And thy mercy pat till vs ay redy es: That fra heuen; til erthe down; walde

com,

To bryng; vs here owt of thraledom*- 120 And of pe fendis dawngere , that we

ware In

Thurghe oure foremaste fadire syn;. Lorde, mekyll pou mekede the for owre

sake, Pat come fra so heghe, oure kynde to

take;

And vouchede-safe swa lawe to lighte 125 Pat swa heghe a lorde es of grett myghte. Bot lufe the made of vs mercy to haue Pat fra the was tynt, vs for to saue Thurghe processe of lyfe pat pou walde

lede

In erthe in oure kynde of manhede. 130 Firste pou lyghtede in a mayden; chayste, Pat conceyuede the of pe Haly Gaste, And of hir body pat was ay wemlesse Thow tuke flesche & blude & oure lyk-

nesse

And oure kynde here, & of nan opfr, 135 And be-come mane for vs, and oure

brothire ;

And for the luffe pou hade till vs, Walde be borne of hir, & calde Ihesns. For Ihejwj es als mekill for to saye Alls »hele« or »helere«, pat all hele maye. 140 Thow come to hele vs pat ware lorne. Bot in na reall place pou was borne, Nowthire in palays, castell, ne toure, Ne in non<? othir stede of honowre, Bot in a lawe hows; and laid pou was 145 In a crybe be-fore an Oxe & an Asse. Thow wald nowthir in pwrpure ne byse 1 om. * Ms. all for.

336

Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c.

Be lappede, ne in nan* oper clothes of pryce,

Bot in vile clowttes for to couer thi body: 150 For we sulde take ensample per-by

To lufe mekenes & gastely pouerte,

And fra reches & pompes wzt^-draw oure herte.

One be aughtene day of thi byrtfie here,

That be firste day es of be newe ?ere, 155 Circtwwsysede in body walde b#u be,

Alls be law was bane in sere contre,

In saffynge of be lawe and in full- fillynge,

& In Ensampill till vs & in takenynge

That als pou was Circuwsisede in body, 1 60 Swa sulde we circuwsise vs here gastely,

That es, we sulde schere fra vs awaye

All pat til luste & lykyng styre vs maye.

One the twelfte day pou was vesete •with kynges

And wirchipede wz'tA thre precyous

thynges, 165 That es at say, with golds & Ensence

And myre, pat pey offerde in pi pre- sence.

Be pe golde may vndirstandfen] be

That p0u arte kynge of maste pouste ;

The Ensence, bat pe was Offerde nexte, 170 Be-takyns pat p0u art souerayngne priste;

The myre, pat kepis all thynge fra ro- tynge,

Be-takyns thy dede & pi beryenge.

The thritty ^ere of be Elde of be

Of sayn lohn wald b0u bapteste be 175 In be flome lordane specyally,

For to gyfe vs Ensample ther-by

That all sulde be, pat till heuene suld passe,

Bapti^ede in watyr als puu was.

Bot for na cause of syne in the hyde 1 80 Was p0u bapti^ede, pat neuer syne dide, —

For In the neuer was fundene gyle,

Ne nathynge pat any saule myght fyle ;

Bot for to lere vs howe we sulde begyne

To wesche vs of pe Origenall syne, 185 And for to makvertue in all watirs to be

For to get vs agayne vritA grace to be fre.

Sythene whene p<?u had fasted pourghe

myghte

Fourty dayes & fourty nyghte, Thow sufferd thi-selfe temped to be Of be deuell , bat bare-to had leue of

the;

To lere vs to wrestyll & stand styf ly Agayne be fandyng of bat Enmy. Thow lett the of ludas traytowr balde For thritty penys to pe lewes be saulde, Thow lette the alls thefe be tane bodyly Of be lewes bat till foe hade Envye; The wilke till Anna house the ledde, And than all thi discypills fra pe flede. Till the was done thare atpe be-gynnynge Many-fawlde dispyte & hethynge : Firste pey spittede appone pe thare And gafe pe many bufettes sare ; And thyne eghne wz't/z a clatKe pey hide And smate pe & askede wha it dide. Sithene pey dide pe mare hethynge: They lede pe to Herodes hows pe

kynge,

That helde pe a fule as hyme thoghte, For p<?u till his speche ansuerde noghte ; He did clethe pe in whitte garment, And til Pilate agayne he pe sente. Eftirwarde p0u was skowreghide sare In Pilate^ hows, nakynde bare, That thi hide was all to-reuene thane, And be blude one ylke a syde downe

ra«ne.

The knyghtes aftire bat skourgegynge Abowte be lappede a mantill in he- thynge,

That wztA pe blude till thi body cleuede ; Sythene drew bay it ofe, & pat pe

greuede,

And racede of all pe skyne pat tyde, For till pat clethynge cleued faste pi

hyde.

And whene pey had done pe pis payne, They clede pe in pi awene clothyng

agayne ;

And thryste pane appone pi heuede thare A crowne of thornnes pat prykkede pe

sare,

Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c. 337

225 Of wilke pe prykkes ware swa scharpe

pan* That pey percedenere thurghe pi herne-

pa«ne ;

They gafe pe a rede in thi hande In stede of a ceptire, the skornande, And knelide be-fore pe in hethynge, 230 And said till pe, «haile , lewes kynge«. Sythen* was pou* demede at pe lewes

voyce Thurghe Pilate, to be hynged on* pe

croyce,

The wilke pou bare to-warde pe stede Whare pou was ordeynede to be done

to dede. 235 Sithen* was pon straynede on* be crosse

so faste Thurghe pe lewes , pat pi vaynes &

synows al to-brast, And naylede p*r-one thurghe hand &

fute,

For hele of my saule & for my bute. And when* pey had naylide pe on* pe

crosse swa,

240 They did pe aftire strange payne & wa: For they reysede pe crosse with pi body, And fychede it in a tre-mortasse vyo-

lenttly,

In wilke pe crosse swilke a lage tuke I>at pi body thurghe weghte al to-schoke ; 45 Than rane thy wondes thurghe fute &

hande,

And ware sene full wyde gapannde, And pe loynetes of ilk lym & bane, And pe vaynes ware strydand ilkane. Sithen* pou said, hyngande on* pe rude- tree,

50 The threstede ; & pan* pe lewes bed the A full bittire drynke pat was wroghte Of aysell & gall, pat pe lykede noghte ; Neu*r-pe-lattere to taste it pou was

bown*,

Bot pou walde noghte swelowe it down* ; 55 For pat thriste was noghte ells pan* Bot a ^ernynge aftyre pe sawle of man*. Thow suffirde many repreues pat tyde,

II.

Bathe of1 be thefe pat hange on* pi

lefte syde,

And of othire maysters of pe lewry, That mekill schame pe dide & velany. 260 At noune of be daye pou cried »Hely«, & ?eldide pi gaste to pi fadir Almyghty. Thus pou diede to make vs free Fra pe grett thraldome in whilke ware

we.

Bot mekill payne & mekill reprefe 265

I>ou tholed be-fore hi dede fore oure

Me:

And noghte for to bye vs agayne anely, For why pi dede moghte suffice vs all

to bye,

But for we sulde pare-by Ensampill take To be pacyente in ang*rs for pi sake, 270 And for the to thole all bat harde es, Alls pou tholede for vs thurgtie pi gudnes; Ells thurte pe hafe tholede nan* op*r

payne

Bot pe dede anely, for to bye vs agayne. Sythen* was pou smetyn* in pi reghte 275

syde

Wz't4 a spere pat till pi herte gun* glide, Fra whilke owt rane to oure saluacyone The precyous blode of owre rauwsone, \Wt£ pe wat*r of baptym* clere & thyn*, For to wesche vs here of pe Oregynall 280

synn*.

Lorde, for pire bitt*r paynes & fell, WitA othire, ma pa«2 I kane tell, That pou swa mekill suffire walde For me synfull, pi traytoure baulde, I thanke be here Inwardly 285

Wz't/i all my herte and my body. A, Ihmi Crist, Lorde full of myghte, When* I thynke outhire day or nyghte Of swa mekill kyndnes of pe, And of be paynes pat pou tholide for me, 290 And of myn* vnkyndnesse many-fawlde, & how I to wrethe be ay hafe bene

bawlde,

Of myn* hard herte pan es gret wondire I*at it for sorowe briste^ noghte In-

suwdyre.

i Ms. oae.

Ms. l>at.

338

Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c.

295 Bot flescly herte in me semes nan*, For my herte es hard als it ware stane. A, Ihesu, I grante to pe my trespas, And knawes pat I am wers pane ludas

was

That the bytrayede als traytoure balde 300 & til f>e lewes for thritty penys sawlde : For I, synfull wreche, has ofte sawlde the For a littill worldly vanyte And for a littill fleschely delyte ; Whare-for I am mare pan ludas to wyte. 305 I halde me ^itt werse & mare wode Pan pe lewes ware pat did pe one pe

rude:

For why, pay dide pe hot anes pat dede, & pey knewe pe noghte gode in man-

hede,

And I, pat wate & knawes righte 310 fat pou arte gode ay full of myghte, Thurghe myne awene malece, as I ware

wode, Full ofte-sythes hafe I done pe one pe

rude;

For als ofte als I hafe done dedly syne And thurghe malece wetandly fallyne

there-Ine,

315 Alls ofte hafe I done pe one pe rude, In pat pat in me was, and schede pi

blude.

Lorde, all-if I hafe done swilke foly, Putt me noghte awaye fra pi mercy, Bot grauwte me grace pat may me wysse 320 To amende me of pat I hafe done mysse ; Sen pat pou saide pi-selfe pou will

noghte

The dede of synfull pat pou has boghte, Bot pat he turne hyme to doo pi will, And lyfe, for pou will na man spyll, 325 Lorde, swylke grace pou me gyffe fat I may turne me to pe and lyffe ! A, Lorde Ihesu Criste, ;it thanke I the Pat all pis & mare hase done for me And for saluacyone of mankynde 330 For whayme pou was swa bitterly pynede And sufferde dede, als I befor saide, And lett pi body be in sepulcre layde : Thow ^ernede sa mekill agayne to wyne

All pas pat pou hade loste for syne, That whene bow was dede & ^eldede

pe gaste,

Als tyte till hell pou guw pe haste, In saule & godhede, als was pi will, Thy body whils in pe sepulcre lay styll ; Till pou at hell come pou walde noghte

stynte

& ware sesede of pas pat pou hade tynte. Thow spoylede hell whene pou come

pare, And tuke owt wz'tA pe all pat thyne

ware. Bot pou lefte pas pare pat walde noghte

trowe

In pi lawe, ne in pi biddynge bewe. Sythene when pou come fra pat stede, At pe thred day aftyre pi dede To vpe-ryse fra dede pou vouchede-safe, To eke pe trow[t]he pat we here hafe, And schewede the bodily in thi man-

hede,

To conferme be trowthe for oure mede. Whare-fore pi bodily vp-ryssynge Till vs Ensample es and takynny[n]ge That we sail ryse all genereally At pe day of dome in saule & bodye ; Thane sail all pat are fundyne reghte-

wisse

Thurghe thyne vprysynge to blysse ryse ; Bot pay pat lyffes ill vn-to peire Endynge, Gettes na parte of thyne vpe-rysynge, Bot pay sail ryse wz'tfc dule pat day Till pe fire of hell pat lastes aye. ^itt thi rysynge forbysene till vs es [Pat als pouj rase fra dede til blyse End-

lesse,

Swa sulde we, pat til blysse wyll wyne, Gastely ryse fra dedely syne. Eftire pi rysesynge, als pe buke sais, fou duellede in erthe ?itt fourtty dayes, And at be fourtty day pou stey vp righte Til pi fadire in till heuene bryghte, To teche vs be way pat we sail wende Til pe gret blysse pat has nan Ende ; And sittis pare one pi Fadire reghte hande i Ms. For all tat.

Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c.

339

Als god & Lorde alweldande, That es to saye, in godhede euene VfttA thi Fadir & owrs in heuene. 375 The tendaye aftire pat f)0u vp wente, At vndrone pe Haly gaste downe p<?u

sente Till thyne appostills , als f)0u pem<r

hyghte . £at peire hertes cowforthede & made

peme lyghte Thurghe whame lyghtenede & leride

ware we. 380 Of all pis, Lorde, I thanke pe.

A, Lorde Ihe.ru, at pe dredfull daye of

dome,

When p0u sail fra heuene come W/'t^ thyne angells bryghte & clere And apostells & oper halowes sere, 385 In pe same fourme of man & lyknesse In wilke f)0u was demyde here giltlesse, To deme gud & ill of ilke lande, Schewande pi wondes al bledande That f>0u walde thole for synfull mane — 390 What sail I say, or what sail I do pane? Whene all oure werkes pat euer we

dyde,

Sail pane be schewede & nathyng hide, Of whilke we sail ^elde acownte straitiy, And be demyde aftire we are worthi? 395 And I than vfitA me na gud sail brynge Be-fore sa heghe domesmane & kynge, Bot synnea;, pat are swa many-faulde That pey may noghte by tonge be

tawlde?

Certes, I am parefore full dredand, 400 My herte for dred aghte to be full

tremblande, Whene discussione sail be of all dedis,

And pi wrethe sail be maste , pat all

mene dredis.

Certes, I ne wate whate I may say pan;, Bot alls Dauid did, be haly man;: »Do p<?u, Lorde, w/tA pi seruande, 405 Eftyre pi mercy, pat es ay sauande And in till dome come fwu noghte Wz'tA pi seruande pat p0u has boghte ; For I hafe hade grete drede in thoghte Of pi domes, & pat drede leffe I noghte«. 410 For p<m, Lorde, arte reghtewysse domes- mane,

That all thyng reghtewissly dem kane And thi reghtwysse dome & reghtwyssnes Demes synfull mene to payne Endlese That of peyre wikkidnesse will noghte 415

blyne

And \ri mercy here may nott wyne. For sekere of mercy nane getes he, In pis life bot he turne hym till pe ; And nane may pat daye be saffe, Bot he pi mercy In pis lyfe hafe, 420

Of whilke p<m erte large & leberall To grante it bathe grete & smalle That mercy askes & folowes pare-to, And dos pare-fore pat peme falles to

doo.

Whare-fore, Lorde, sene pou arte ay redy 425 To grauwte till ilke a mane pi mercy That sekes par- to whils pay here lyffe, Swilke grace in pis lyfe f)0u me gyffe To tttme me & to fle syne, tat I may here pi mercy wyne1, 430

Thurghe whilke I may at be dredfull day Be led to pe blyse bat sail last ay.

Amen.

(Then follow the poems ed. in I p. 363). 1 Ms. wyne Amen^.

Pieces of Ms. Vernon,

Among the contents of Ms. Vernon, written 1380 — 90, the great collection of Old Engl. verse and prose, are many pieces of northern origin, but all transcri- bed into a southern (Somerset) dialect; so R. Rolle's Prick jof conscience, Form of living, the epistle Pe commandment &c. (I p. 61), and several of his minor pieces1 ; William Nassyngton's Mirror of life ; Walter Hilton's Scale of perfection, Of mixed life (ed. I p. 264), his translation of Bonaventura's Stimulus amoris, Exposition of the Psalms Qui habitat, and Bonum est confiteri; besides the northern Homilies in an augmented edition. The treatises of W. Hilton will be given with the works of that author. I here give those of the pieces which have not yet been published and seem to be of northern origin.

I.

(Forma confitendi).

This piece is perhaps by R. Rolle, who is the author of a Latin tract De modo confitendi. Similar pieces, often greatly enlarged, are frequent in Mss., so in Laud 210; Harl. 1706 and Hh I. 12 contain a form ascribed to St. Brendan.

fo1- 366. Heer is a good Confession

pat techep mon to sauacion, how pat mon schal schriuew hi#z here To techen him wel be Maneere.

1 knowleche me gulti and ^elde2 me to God Almihti, and to his blessed Moder seynte Marie, and to al pe holy cuwpanye of heuene, and to pe mi gostliche fader here in godes stude, of alle pe suwnes pat ich haue greuousliche sunged Inne, ffrom be tyme pat I was bore in to pis day, as in word, in werk, in wille, in bou^t, in speche, in delytyng, in concentyng, and in dede-doing.

Furst and foreward, I knowleche me gulti in be seuene dedly synnes ; principa- liche in Pruide, [&] in alle pe circuwzstauwces of pruide : In veyn glorie, holdynge me beter e pen I am , in clof>i#ge , in spekynge , in strong beoinge , in feynynge , in Connynge ; in pruyde of herte and of bodi , in vuel berynge to god & to myn euencristne, inobedient to god & to holychirche ; in alle pe spices pat suwen pruide I knowleche me gulti, and beo-seche God of Merci.

IN Envye I kn°wleche me gulti: Regoiesyng ofte-tyme of myn euencristene harmes, serwyng of heore gode dedes doyng ; also in Bakbyting hem, also in heryng schrewede wordes of myn euencristne , raper makyng hem more pew lasse in as

1 Of the lyric pieces of Ms. Vernon, ed. in Minor poems of Ms. Vernon, EETS., several are either by R Rolle or imitations or variations of poems of his. 2 Laud : I kn. & ^elde me g.

Forma confitendi.

341

muche as in me is; in alle be spices bat touchen envye I knowleche me gulti, and crie God Merci.

IN Wrathe I ^elde me gulti: Ofte-tyme beryng wrathe in myn herte a^eyn myn euencristne, and haue maad vnsau^t disyriwg for to beo venged on hem; in hatyng hem, in scorning hem, in striuyng a?eyn hem, hauyng dedeyn of hem, in lauhwhyng hem to scorn, in wrabpe beryng in myn herte a^eynwj him operweys ben I scholde ; and in alle be spices of wraythe I knowleche me gulti, and crie God Merci.

A.lso i crie god mere! of Sloube in Codes seruise : Not heryng hit deuoutliche as I scholde do1, not hauynge delyt in godes seruise in Matyns, in Masse, in pre- chinge of godes word, but proudliche entryng in to godes hous; in slepyng, in slomeryng, not risyng to here masse and Mateyns whon I wel mi^t, as I weore holden to do ; in such sleupe and in alle be spices of sleupe I knowleche me gulti, and crie god Merci.

.Also I crie god Merci bat I haue sunged in Couetise : Coueyting to haue worldly goodes, not holde me payed of pe stat bat god hap sent me, but desyred for to beo at beter astat, at more worschupe of be world ; in deseyt and dissey- uyng of myn euencristen, in forswering, not paynge my dettes pat I ou^te to paye, ne helpe him pat hap nede2; and in alle be spices of couetise I knowleche me gulti, [&]3 Cri;e God Merci.

A.lso I crie God Merci pat I haue sunged in Glotonie : Ofte-tyme eten and drunken out of tyme, haue lykynge in dilicious metes and drinkes, and eten and dronken more pen I schulde, and also eten and drunken ofte whon I hedde no wille perto; and in alle pe spices of Glotonye I knowleche me gulti, and crie god Merci.

Also I crie God Merci pat I haue sunged in Lecherie: In lechours4 pou^tes, disyryng wi#zmen , in chirche , in chepyng , ofte whon I seo feire wimmen be- holden hem disyringe for to haue dalyaunce wip hem, in cluppyng, in cussyng, in vnclene touching; ofte-tyme stured to pe foule synne, and in pou^tes and ymaginacions of lecherie, and penke ofte-tyme of pe membre of mon and wowmon, and what lykynge hit is to haue dalyaunce wip hem; and ofte-tyme concentyng to pat foule synne, pat neore hit more for sclauwdre of pe world ben for drede of god ... I crie God Merci in polucionj of niht or tymes slepyng or wakyng diu^rsliche , not wel con telle wher hit come of eny fore-pou^t of Mon or wowzmon, or of eny sorfet of mete or drinke. And of alk suche vnclene pou^tes and ymaginacions of lecherie I crie God Merci in circuw/stauwces and spices pat touchep lecherie ; and to 5 seuen dedly synnes I knowleche me gulti and biseche god M^r(ci).

I>e ten Comaundemens.

Also I knowleche me gulti in brekyng of [pe] Ten Comawdemens : Not worschup- ed on God of whom al goodnesse comep wip al myn herte, wip al my bou^t and deede. I crie God Merci and of for^iuenesse.

i Not— do repeated in Ms. * not— nedi transp. in Ms. after gulti. » Ms. I. * r. lecherous. * r. In po.

342

Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

./\.lso I crie God Merci pat I haue taken his blessed nome in Idelnesse Jjeorne and ofte, and also I-swore bi his herte and his blood and bi alle his membres, as wel fals as trewe, bobe in soburnesse and i« hastite. I cri%.

/Vlso I cri^e God Merci bat I haue not holden myn haly-dayes as I scholde do, in goinge to Churche to here Masse and Matynes ; I preye god of for^iuenes bat on be sonenday and ober haly-dayes I go raber to tauerne and ale-hous, fihtyng and bakbityng myn euencristne , raber spekiwg bi hew euel pe« good. I crii, g. Mer.

.r\.lso I cr/^e God Mw:i bat I haue not worschupet Fader & Mooder as I schulde do, w*/> goode preyers & almw-fdedes not biddyng for hem as I schulde do. I crie God Merci1.

.r\lso I crie God Merci bat I haue coueyted feire wiwmew whon I seo hem, disyring hem for to haue heom and for to sunge wif) hem, a^eynes godes comau»- demews, bat2 god comauwdef) bat bat I schal do no folye bi no wowmow. I cri g. Mer.

.r\lso I crie God Merci of befbe , takyng ober biwges ben myn oune a^eyn be wille of him bat oweb hit. I Crie God Merci.

x\lso I crie God Merci of ffals witnesse beryng, sleing myn euencristne wib bacbyting, seying behynden hem worse pen I wolde biforen hew. I cri g. Mer.

Also I crie god Merci bat I haue I-sunged in couetyse of be world, ofte- tyme coueyted for to beo at betere astate ben I am, and coueyted worldly richesse ; and ^if I seo my neih^ebor haue eny bing bat I haue not , desyring for to haue hit; and sjif he haue a feir wyf or a seruauwt, desyring hem, doing a?eyn be comauwdemewt of god: ffbr whi: he seij) in be gospel 'Coueyte not pi neih^ebores wyf ne nout bat his is3. Of be whuche I Cri^e God Merci.

vn dedes of Mmn.

Also I crie God Merci bat I haue not folfuld be seuen deedes of Merci : Not visyted hem bat ben in prison, not fed hem bat ben hongri, not ^iue« dri«ke to be bhursti, not clobed be naked, not visyted hew bat ben bedreden; noufaer vfip peny ne wip half peny. I crie god Merci , doinge a^eyn be wordes of be gospel wher God rehersep 'pot bat ;e dob to be leste of mine, ^e do to me3.

be fyue wittes.

/\lso I crie God Merci bat I haue euel dispendet my fyue wittes : what wip e^en se;en, wip fleet i-gon, wi|) honden hondlet, wif> Neose smulled, wi{> Eren herd, wi|) moub spoken, wip herte I-pou^t, wif) al my bodi mis-wrou^t. Of beos defautes, and of alL? ob«re bat I haue mad a^eyn god, and myn euencristne, I crie god Merci, and his dere Moder seynte Marie, and al be cumpanye of heuene, and be, my gostliche fader in godes stude, bat ^e be my witnesse at be day of dome, seoinge my sunnes and my defautes holdynge hem stille and not schewyng hem, but be loye of hem and of me sungere, as god seif> in be gospel pat loye

1 So far Ms. Simeon ; the following leaf torn out. 2 r. for ?

A catechism. 343

schal be to godes angd« vppon a sungere penaunce doing. He hit grauwte pat liue{) and regnep God amew. —

fe X comatmdemtns .

"11 ow mony Comauwdemens bef) per?« Ten. »Whuche Ten?« God Comaunde}) me to loue him wip al myn herte , wip al myn soule , wip al my pou?t, wip al my strewgpe. Also he biddep me to take nou^t his nome in veyn. ^f He biddej) me halewe myn hali-day. ^f He biddep me worschupe my Fader and my Moder. ^f He biddep me bat I sle no mon. ^f Ne pat I do no lecherie. ^f Ne pat I stele not. ^f Ne bere no fals witness*?, ^f Ne pat I coueyte be hous of [m]y* neih^e- bore. ^f Ne his wyf, ^f Ne his seruauwt, ^f Ne his Oxe, ^f Ne his Asse, ne alle pinges pe whuche ben of hiw. ^f »Whon louest pou god wip al pin herte ?« Whon I queme him wip al pe vnderstondynge of my be-leeue. ^f »Whon louest p<ra god wip al pi soule ?« Whon al my wille is I-set to loue pat he louep, and to hate pat he hatep. ^f »Whon louest pou god of pi pous;t?« Whon I wip al my muynde penke what is his plesauwce. ^f »Whon louest bou god wip al pi strengpe?« Whon myn vnderstondyng and my wille and my muynde are wel set o werk doinge pe wille of my god. ^[ »Whon takest pou pe nome of god in veyn?« Whon I nempne God or eny creature porw Idel speche or costumable sweryng. ^f »Whon halewes pou not pin haly-day?« Whon I penke not bisyliche in pe haly-day of my suwnes, doing not pe werk of M^rci to my neodi neih^e- bors. ^[ »Whon vnworschupestou pi Fader and pi Moder ?« Whon I wilfuliche greue hem, or leue to helpen hem or to couwseyle hem, or, %if bei ben dede, ijif I preye not for hem bisyliche in clannesse of lyf. For preyeres of wilful synners are abhominable bi-fore god. ^[ »Whon slest pou eny mon?« Whon I smite eny mon or hurte him wherporw he dye , or wrongfoliche reue him his lyflode, or his gode name. ^[ »Whon dest pou lecherye?« Whon I of my wilful lust misvse , or coueyte to misvse , my kuyndely limes of gendrure. ^[ »Whon stelest pou pi neih^ebores godwj?« Whon I eny ping take of2 his vnwitynge of him a^eynes his wille. ^f »Whon berest pou fals witnesse?« Whon I porw malyce or drede or fauour or mede sei operwyse of myn nei^hebore ben I knowe pat is trewe, or wolde pat he seide of me. ^f »Whon coueytest bou pi neih'^ebores hous?« Whon I coueyte vn-mouable ping of his wrowgfoly pe w?uche is neces- sarie to him. ^[ »Whon coueytest pou his wyf?« Whon I porw cluppyng or cussyng or eny ^ifte ^euyng or bi-hotyng am aboute to tume pe loue of my neih^ebores wyf from him to me. ^| »Whon [coueytest]3 pou pi neih^ebors seruauwt?« Whon I knowe pat pe seruaunt of myn neih^ebor is nedful to him and I tyse him porw word or ^ifte, I coueyte him wf/»j wrong, ^f »Whon coueytest bou his Oxe or his Asse?« Whon I coueyte eny mouable ping from myn neih^ebore operwyse pen I wolde he dude frow me. ^f And sipen alle pe comauwdemens of God stonden in trewe obedience to him: he pat offende|) in on, is maad porw his vn-obedience gulti of alle, as seip seint lame ; and hose pat wilfuliche breke|) be comauwdemewt of god, he deseruep his cors, etc he drinke he, wake he slepe he, in hous and out of hous, in toun and out of toun, as godes lawe seip.

1 Ms. J>y. 2 omit of? 3 Ms. knowest.

344

Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

^f nWguche are pe seuene dedli synnesfn — Pruide , Envye , Ire, Sloupe,

Couetyse, Lecherie, Glotonye.

»Whon is a Mon proud ?« Whon he wol not ben knowew such as he is. ^f »Whon sungep a Mon in Envie?« Whon he grucchep in his herte and hap dedeyn of his nei^hebors encresyng, and of be welfare of his enemy, or1 is glad of his enemys vuel-fare. ^[ »Whon is a Mow wropfuT?« Whon he porw his wrappe bisyeb him to venge his owne cause , folfullynge his malicios desyr in word or in dede, harmynge his brober wip-onten drede of god. ^[ »Whon sungefa a Mon in sloube ?;< Whon he is Idel in doinge good, or ocupie[d] 2 aboute vnfruc- tuous bing. ^f »Whon sungeb a Mon in conetise?« Whon he coueiteb, for worldes fame & lust , bing bat is not necessarie for him ne his , or whon he halt hi*» not apayed of be goodes bat god hab him sent, ^f »Whon sungeb a mon in lecherie?« Whon he borw Idelnesse vfip lusti felyng of his flesch norisschefo hit & suffreb hit to haue maystrie of his spirit, ledyng hit , in wille or werk , to do be suwne of lecherie. ^[ »Whon sungeb a mon in Glotonye?" Whon he borw vndescret etynge or driwkynge vndisposeb hiw-self to serue his god, for ful wowzbe makeb empti sonle; ffor wher glotenye & dronkenesse regneb, may no wisdam beo.

^f »Whuche are a Mtmnes fyue zvittes?« — Heering, Seeing, Smellyng, Tastyng, and Touching.

»Whon sungeb a Mon in heeryng?« Whon he wilf cliche leeueb bat he schulde heere, and ^iueb herynge to bat he schulde not heere. ^[ »Whon sungeb a mon in his siht ?« Whon his ei^e is vnstable be-holdyng diu^rse bing, and lusti wher- borw he is ofte tempted to do synne bobe in lust and couetyse ; ffor hose hap a liht ei^e and an vnstable, schal han a Merk bodi ful of suwne. ^f »Whon sungeb a Mon in smellynge?« Whon he faorw delicat smel after his pouwer folfulleb be lust of his flesch. ^f »Whon suwgeb a mon in tastyng?« Whon he borw tast of mete or dryng ledeb him wher-borw he is not disposed to trauayle to serue his god. ^[ »Whon sungeb a mon in touching?« Whon he wilfuliche of his delyt touchef) be biwg bat are defendet hem3 bi godes lawe and Reson.

^f »WAucAe are pe seuen werkes of Merci?«

^f Pe ffurste is : ffeede be hnngri, bat is him bat hab nouper strengbe ne Miht ne wit ne good wherwib to susteynen him-self. ^[ Pe secouwde bodily werk of Merci is : to ^iue drynke to be bursti, bat hab not , as is before seid , to bflye him drinke wib. <[[ Pe bridde werk of Merci is: to clobe be naked. ^[ Pe fFeorfae werk of Merci is : to herborwe pe herborweles. ^f Pe ffyffae is : to cnm- forte be seke. ^f Pe sixte is : to visyte be pore prisoner. <f And pe seuebe is : to burie be pore dede. ^f And ?if endeles mede schal folwe pes werkes of Merci, hem bi-houep beo don in charite, to be distruccion4 of vices, and to be encres of vertues. ^[ Per nis no mon bat hab wherw?^ , bat may ben excused but ;if he releue his neodi nei^ebore aftur his pouwer vfip his bodily goodes. Muche more is vche mon endetted , and specialiche prestes , to departe w//> pe neodi heore gostly tresour, pat is, to do pe gostly werkes of Merci.

1 Ms. os. 2 Ms. ocupiej). * r. him. * Ms. distruccions.

A talking of the love of God. 345

^f Heer bep pe gostli werkes of Merci.

i E ffurste gostly werk of Merci [is] : pat a Mon teche |)e vncunnynge, pat is to seye , To teche pe viciouse mon gode vertues, be-nyme him vices after his pouwer. ^| Pe secounde gostly wer[k] of Merci is: to couwsayle pe wilysum to kepe pe rihtwysnesses of god. ^f Pe pridde gostli werk of Merci is : to chastise pe rebel bi word or bi dede or beo wip-drawyng from him pe occasion of his suwne wherwz/5 his suwne is meyntened. ^f Pe ffeorpe gostli werk is : to cuwforte pe son to beo pacient in adu^rsite. \ Pe ffyfpe gostly werk is to for^iue, pat we in vre owne cause desyre no vengeauwce. ^f Pe sixte werk of gostly Merci is: to teche pe vnpacient to suffre mvtchel aduersites. ^f And pe seuenpe is : to teche men to preye hertiliche for pe conuercion of enemyes & also for foe per- seuerauwce of frendes.

»Whuche are pe foure principal vertues ?«

Pe ffurste Is Rihtwysnesse. ^[ Pe secouwde is Temperauwce. ^f Pe pridde is Prudence. ^j" And pe ffeorpe is Strengpe. ^f »Wher-Inne stondeb Rihtwysnesse ?« In lust demynge. ^f »Wher-in stondeb Te#zperau«ce?« In mesurable Etyng and Drinkyng, ... Spekyng, Sleping, and trauaylyng. ^f »Wher-Inne stondep Strengpe ?« In mihti wip-stondyng of temptacion, continueliche seruyng God. God ^lue vs grace to seme God. Amew.

2. (A talkyng of f>e loue of God).

The following important piece is in the Ms. written as prose, and was meant to be so written , as alliterative long-lines ('cadences1} , which form the prevailing metre, alternate with rhyming verses (couplets, tirades, and stanzas), prose passages, Latin quotations &c. It is an imitation of R. Rolle's manner, and the work of a (probably young) monk of the Fra Angelico type, who, shut out from the world in his monastery, finds comfort in sweet meditation and song. It is one of the pearls of Old Engl. literature. Several of its peculiar words are found again in Piers Ploughman (as daunselen) . No other Ms. is known to exist.

fol. 367. Heer Is a tretys: A talkyng of pe loue of God.

A is tretys Is a talkyng of pe loue of God; and is mad forto sturen • hem pat hit reden: to louen him pe more, and to fynde lykyng ' and tast in his loue. Hit fallep for to reden hit • esyliche and softe, so as men may mest ' in Inward felyng ' and deplich penkyng • sauour fynden; and pat not beo-dene, but bi- ginnen and leten • in what paas so men seop • pat may for pe tyme • ^iuen mest lykynge ; and whon men hap conceyued ' pe maters vrip redyng : Inward penkyng ' and deoplich sechyng • wip-outen eny redyng • vppon pe selue maters, and of such opere • pat god wol senden ' hose wole sechen, schal ^iuen inward si^t ' and felyng in soule • and swetnes wonderful, ^if preyere folwe. But hose wole in Meditacion • swete fruit fynden : hit mot be taken in wone • wip preo poyntes pat folewen : affyau«ce , and continuau«ce , and louh herte and clene ; pat he truste sikerliche • to fywden pat he sechep, and pat his pou^t beo harde iset ' and ful bisyliche I-kept, and holden l hiw-self vn-worp ' out of godes ^ifte, and wlate on hiw-seluen • porw siht of his fulpe. ^[ Men schal fynden lihtliche pis tretys in Cadence ' after pe bigywninge • ^if hit beo riht poynted ; & Rymed in sum stude ;

i r. holde.

346

Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

to beo more louesum • to hem pat hit reden. God ?iue vs grace • so for to rede : pat we mowen haue heuene ' to vre Mede. Ame«.

Ihmi sop God, Codes sone; Ihesu sop God sop mon, mon Maydews child. Ihwu myn holy loue, mi siker swetnesse. ff Ihmi myn herte, my sele, my soule- hele. Ih^yu, swete Ihmi; Ihmi, deore Ihmi; Ihmi, almihti Ihmi. Ihesu milord, my leof, my lyf ; myn holy wey *, myn hony-ter. Ihmi, alweldinde Ihesu : Ihesu. p0u art al pat I hope, ^f Ihmi mi Makere • pat me madest of nou^t, and al pat is in heuene • and in eorpe. ^f Ihesu my Buggere • p[at] 2 bou^test me so deore , wib bi stronge passion • wi{) pi precious blod, and wi{) bi pyneful def) on Roode. ^f Ihmi my Saueour ' bat me schalt sauen, borw bi muchele Merci • & bi muchele mis;t. Ihmi my weole & al my wynne : Ihmi bat al my blisse is inne. ^[ Ihesu. also bat b<m art " so feir and so swete , ^it art f)0u so louelich ' louelich and louesum, bat be holy angilis ' bat eu^re be biholden : ben neuere folle ' to loken on bi face, ^f Ihesu b<?u art al feir , whon |>e sowne a^eyn be : nis bote a schade, and schomef) a^eyn pz* brihte leor ' of hire pesternesse. ^f Pou pat ?iuest hire liht ' and al pat liht haueb : Lihte my pester herte. Grauwte pat pi briht- nesse • clanse my soule : pat is vnseliche, wif) su«ne foule I-fuiled. Lord mak hire worpi: to pi swete wonynge. Cundele me wz/5 pe blisse: of pi brewninde lone, ^f Swete Ihesu my leoue lyf, Let me beo pi seruauwt, and lere me for to loue pe , & mak me for to seme pe • louynde lord : so pat onliche pi loue ' be euer al my lyking, my pou^t and my longyng; amen, Ihesu heuene kyng. ^f Swete lord wo is me^ pat I am pe so fremde : Bote also p<m hast bodiliche • torned me from pe world, torn me also herteliche • to pe • lord of so|) loue, and studefast beo-leeue ; bat I haue no mong , felau^schupe ne speche , ne non ober tellyng • wib no worldliche bing. For wel ichot lord, bat fleschlich loue and gostlich, erbliche loue and heuenlich : mowe none wyse ' bedden in a brest. ^f Hose-eu^re haue longe defaute of gostly cuwfort ' and heuenly murbes: hit is forfai bat he hauej) ' or bat he wilnef) to haue : cuwfort of eorfae ' bat is fikel and fals, fayleb whon men lest4 weneb • and ate mest neode ; hit is I-meynt wz/> bitternesse • and bleendynge of bales, ^f Nis no blisse otewi|) ' bat hit nis to deore abou^t, as hony bat me likkeb • on prikkynde pomes, ^f Nis he a son Chapmen ' pat ^iuef) al pat he ha{) ' for a ping pat nou^t nis, and leuep a pre- cious ping Pat beete may alle bales, bat me beodef) hi/« for nou^t, & bi-hoteb him muche meede • bat he hit wole taken? A derworfae lord • faou beodest vs bi loye , be lykyng of bi deore loue ' be socour of bin helpe ; and berest hit on vs stifliche • al wip-outen askyng ; and p^rto pou bi-hotest vs • wi{) bat we wollen hit taken : heuene-riche blisse ' bat is wib-outen ende. And we vs twm& berfro • as bei^ hit nouijt ne weore; and bugge be schadewe of be world, a seynywge of bat is nou^t , but fikel faylynde and fals ' and tollyng to serwe ; and ?it ne haue we hit for nou^t ' but buggew hit wi{) bisynesse, wi{) angwj-sch and dauwger ' and hard swiwk and teone. A Ihmi bin ore , whi haue I likyng In ofaer bing ben in be ' bat bou^test me so deore? ^f Whi ne beholde i algates • wij) e^e of myn herte, hou bou henge for my loue • streyned on Roode, bin armes wyde I-spradde ' bi derlyng to cluppe, wi{) toknyng of trewe loue '

1 r. halewey. - Ms. \>ou. 3 Ms. fie. 4 Ms. best.

A talking of the love of God.

\>at sprong out of pi syde? ^[ Whi nul I beo pi derlyng, and loue pe ouer alle f)ing, and comen to pi cluppyng , to cleue« in pin armes ' and cluppen pe swete? A derworpe lord ' muchel is pi myldeschupe, pat spraddest so pin armes ' bodiliche on Roode , and in toknyng of pat • openest pi grace , pat sprad is so wyde ' wip loueliche tollyng, & open is and redi • to alle pat in synne ' beop gost- liche storuen. Clepep hew1 to lyue ' and to loue-cosses, as Moder dop hire deore sone ' pat herep hit2 wepen: Takep hit2 in hire arm«j • and askep hi#* so swete- liche : 'Ho leof, ho lef!3 heo dop hi/w hire bitwenen(l), 'ho wole be bi-clupped ' and cusse me swete; who hap do my deore • who hap do pe so?5 Heo ?euep hi/« hire pappe ' and stillep his teres. I*at pappe beo my lykyng, my mourn- yng my longyng, swete Ihmi heuene kyng : to souken of my fulle ; pat porw pe speres openyng, in feole mewnes gounyng, wip dewyng of pi deore blood ' stillef) alle bales. And wher eny mon wene pat he schal • haue part of pat ilke sok " of pi decre herte • in heuene-riche blisse, and pere be pi derlyng, in pi deore cluppyng, bote he be heere cluppe • hongynge on Roode , and parte of pi pas- sion • porw holy meditacion, wip loue - lykynde pou^t • and reupe of his herte? Nay , sikerliche nay, ne trouwe pat no mon ! ^f Whose euere wol haue part ' p«r of pi blisse : he mot dele wip pe • heer of pi pyne. Nis he nou^t good felawe • ne felauschupe worpi • pat nul scoten i pe los ' as i pe bi^ete. Hym bi- houep scoten ' after his euene : pat wol be pi felawe • louynde lord ; he mot pi steppes folwe ' porw sore and porw sorwe , in peyne and in pouert ' and polyng of wo, wi|) scheme and wip schenschupe ' z,if hit so fallep, for to clymbe to pi weole ' & lastinde winnes. Ne trowe no mon wip ese ' to stei^e to pe sterres ; ne bugge wip delyces ' pin endeles bl[i]ss£. A swete lord Ihtf.ru , whi wip armes of loue • ne cluppe I pe so faste : pat no ping from pi loue • departe my« herte? ^f Whi ne cusse I pe lord ' sweteliche \n soule: wip a lykinge cos ' of a swete menyng • & hertliche ponkyng • of pi gode dedes? Whi m'ss me vnworp ' vche worldliche ping, a^eyn pe muchele delyt ' of pi swetnesse? ^f Whi ne fele I pe lord • in my brest roote? ^f Whi art pou me so fremde ' pow pat art so swete? ^f Whi ne con I loue pe, and loueneliche4 wouwe pe, wij) sweete loue-wordes • and lykynge pou^tes : Aller ping swettest ' aller ping louelokest ; pi worp and pi worschupe • ne may no tonge telle. ^f Weylawey my deore lord, pe vnsely bitternesse ' of my foule suwnes ! my worldliche pewes ' and flescliche lustes : aren be-twene be and me, and lette me to come to pe , and stoppe me pe felyng • of pi swetnesse. ^[ Mi suwnes hap me fuiled ' wip monyfold fulpe, and makejj me so wlatsum • and fere5 of pi face, and wriep me schomeliche • and worp i am pi wreche : pat I ne dar pe neii;e ' loueliche lord , ne comen in pat fulpe ' to pin e^e-sihte , but ?if I fele me lad • wip drau^t of pi grace. ^[ A Ihmi pin ore ' what schal pewne pe pris Of pi deore blood don • bat sched was on Roode? ^f What schal pe large brok don • of pi softe syde; pe stremes of pe rede blod • pat stryked doun so breme : of pi derworpe feet • and of pin holy hondes? Nis hit for to wasschen • suwfole soules? nis hit forte saluen hem ' pat seke ben in su«ne? Ho is benne vnwasschen ' pat hap pis holy wetyng, pat helinde dewyng • w»jB-Inne his herte? ^[ Who par felen him sor ' or sek vn-salued , pat salue so mihti ' hap at his wille : as ofte as he takep hit • wip

1 Ms. him. 2 r. him. 3 Ms. nas. 4 r. louendliche? s r. ferd.

348 Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

herte in his muynde , vtip a studefast hope ' and trewe be-leeue ? \ Euer be hou blessed ' myn heueneliche leche , bat madest us of hi-self ' so mihti medicyne ! As my trust is her-inne ' let hit beo my bote, bat is of alle Medicine • fruit and Roote. ^if myn eueles ben muchele ' and ouerdon sore , be mi^t of bat medicine ' is monyfold more. As wisliche as a drope ' of hi derworbe blod ' mi;;te wasschen awey ' alle Mewnes suwnes : also wisliche lord ' bat il[kje l fyf welles, bat of hi blessede bodi • sprongen o blode, my soule mote wasschen • of alle maner suwnes , bat [it] I-fuiled is wip • borw my fyf wittes ; of al pat ichaue amis ' se^en wip myn e^ew, herd wip myn Eren • or tasted wip Moube, or elles eny wyse a-gult • in suwfol speche, or luberliche lyked • in sauor of neose, and bat ichaue wip eny lyme ' misliche feled, and wip my flesch sunget ' in eny kuwnes wyse. Let by wouwdes hele ' be wouwdes of my soule ; bi deb sle in me ' flesch- liche lykynge, worldliche leetes ' and bodiliche lustes, and make me lyuen in be ' liuinde lord, hat I be to be world ded ' and a-lyue to be ; so bat I mai verrey- liche ' sigge wib be apostle, Paulus : Viuo ego, iam non ego, viuit autem in me Christus, »I Hue not Ich • but Crist lyueb in me«. Pat is Poules wordes ' and bus for to siggen: In2 Hue not in lyue ' hat I Huedes : but Crist liueh i« me ' borw wonyinde grace, bat from deb of su«ne ' me torneh and quikneb • to lyf bat is blisful ' of gostliche hele , ffrom alle worldliche loue ' & fleschliche lustes ' al one forto lyuew • in likyng of Crist. ^[ A deore lord bin ore ' wel weore him bigon , hat feled in his soule • hat seli word to siggen ; to goderhele weore he boren ' & to muche blisse: for eum grome were him gome, & eueri wo wiwne.

A. Milde Marie • moder of Merci, socour of serweful • and cuwfort of care: Nartou lodesterre to alle ho bat in he se~e Of his worldes anguissche • seilen and faren? Pou hat art qween of ang^ks, ladi of alle schaftes ; to whom is bitakene • be Cure and he cumfort ' of hem hat hem felen • caytif wrecches , ^| ^e bat in hor owne eijen • seon hem-self wrecches, and sechen bin helpe ' wip trust hope of herte ; in pin aduocatye is put ' pe cause of vre sunnes, to stondew at domes- day ' vr aller lugges mooder, in help & in Meyntenauwce • of vre soule-hele. ^[ Penk heer on pis wrecche • Moder and Mayden, pat fallep pe tofote • in hope of pin helpe , cryinde reupely ' after hi grace. Pese me ladi , for hi muchele merci, to hi derworbe sone • hot Ichaue v?ip su«ne ' schomeliche and Hhtliche ' so fele tyme a-gulte. ^[ Mi su«nes ben so gastliche ' grisliche and grete ; makeb me so wlatsuwz • and stinkinde foule: hat I ne dar him neih^en ' ne folwe my neode. I haue vtip hem willes ' my soule forschupped : from pe liknesse of god " to pe deuel of helle ; wrahhed haue I wiUes ' horw fulhe of my suwne ' mi makere mi buggere ' bat bou^te me so deore : wip his derworhe deb • from hraldam of helle; hat wolde raber suffre ' to dyen on Roode, hen to bolien in his siht ' he wlatynge of suwne. ^f Him-self sou^te my* pes • in myn owne gultes, as his hedde be pe gult ' moni tyme and ofte : wip sturyng of my concience ' & preching of wyse ; wz/5 hard wrake pat I sau^ ' of oper mewnes suwnes ; wib bi-heste of blisse ' & vnimete mede, hat holi writ vs be-hat ' ^if we leten sunne ; wih ^iftus of grace • bodiHche & gostHche, anentes worldliche weole • to don al my wille, and to schilde me frow* myn enemy ' bat I haue ay folewed • and ^i

1 Ms. ille. 2 = I ne. 3 r. Hue. « From here the text is extant in Ms. Simeon fol. 171 u. 2, till A now J>ei setten, p. 360. This Ms. is a more copy of Ms. Vernon, and worthless.

A talking of the love of God. 3 AQ

me to his wille ' and to his luber lore • and flowen f[ro] ' be loue of him ' my der- worbe lord god : bat wip his derworbe blod ' bou^te me so deore. He wusch me vrip cristendam • of Adames su«ne, and I me fuylede siben • mony-fold worse; he helede my soule ' bat wouwdet was be/me Porw myn eldres gult • oft Adam & Eue, and I haue slayn hit al out . . . bat I haue feole tyme wrou^t • and longe ley^en fo^-inne. ^f Siben foorw his grace • he prented in my soule : be ymage of hiw-selue, and I enprented aboue: be liknesse of helle. Alias, my deore ladi, alias what haue I don ! hou haue I chauwged bat prente • and dampned my-seluen! ^f Alias bat eu^re I was so wood • so foule for to fallen! bat me ne schomede not • to worche bat fulfoe : bat is me nou so gryslich ' and schome- ful to nempne ! Alias whi ne dredde i not • his sute and his werkes , pat is me now so dredful • to nempnen his nome ! He fel willes ' pat furst fel foule , but w*J5-outen knowyng • or warnyng of wreche ; ac I was war berbi • and bi mony ob«re , bi warnyng and wissyng • on mony-maner halue , and fel in be selue ' and in moni mo. Hee fel in pruide • pat hedde sum matere, sifoen pat he was so feir ' and so briht an angel; and I fel in be selue • wi/5-outen eny matere, pat nou^t haue of my-self • but suwne and flesches2 fulfoe. He fel ones • and I fel feole sipej. He a^eyn his makere ' and I a^eyn my makere • and myn eft maker e ' a^eynes my lord : pat bou^te me vfip his herte blod • and ^af me al hiw-seluen. He forsok vr lord god ' bat suffrede him to gult en, and wz/i-outen sparyng • drof him al to wreche ; and I forsok bat ilke lord • bat letteb my gultwj, and secheb me and folweb3 me, whon so enere I from him fle, and calleb me loueliche • to ^ift of his grace. «[ Alias alias nou fynde I me grisloker in my gultes, ben be grislihed4 of hi;« • bat helle gryseb offe. ^f Alias :$if I seo my-self ' I ne may soffre my-self; and jjif i ne seo my-self nou^t • bewne gyle I my-self .... pen stynkinde careyne, and muche more wlatsum • bifore godes face : ben eny fulbe so foul ' bat eny mon may foenken; so pat me gryseb of my- self ' and wlate of my fulpe ; pat I ne may soffre mi-self • pat wrou^te haue al pis serwe. A lord pyn ore, pat I may sike sore! Whi ne griseb of me • bobe my mete and my drynk, my schroud and al ober bing ' bat me scholde helpe '? Hou may rihtwysnesse pole .... pat p^r ne risep a^eyn me ' alle pyne schaftes, wip schome & w«/> schendschupe ' wip gounyng & vfip spornyng, to fihten on pis traytur • pis tirauwt and pis tormentor, pat hap s al his schappere • so fouliche dispiset? ^f Whi nam I hunted vrip hem ' foule as a dogge? For pel mowe alle crie • and siggew 6 in heore kuynde : »Pees is pe foule corselyng • pat hap vr aller makere ' pat maade vs to his worschupe • so schomeliche offendet ; pat vsep vs in his werkes • to schome of vr lord, ^f Pees is he pat more bey^ • in wille & iw werk, to pe deueles tollyng • pen to godes drawyng, and more hap rewarde7 ' to pe deueles gyle, pen to godes benfe^8 • bat bou^t him on9 Rode; and hedde more likyng * in be Malice of be deuel , ben he hedde delyt • in Godes goodness^; and ches muchel rab^re • to beo be deueles cundle, ben vrip endeles lyf ' godes child of heuene. ^f Whon god dau«selede 10 him muchel ' & worschuped him feyre : he ne set hit at nou^t • ne dredde not his wreche ; but more dredde to wrafaben • a worldliche wrecche : ben schomeliche offenden • god bat him wrouajte; and more was aschomet ' to dow in mownes siht an11 ebeliche

» Ms. for, S from. * S fleschliche. » S seches . . folwei. 4 S grished. 5 S has. • S synge(!). J S rewardet. 8 S benfet. » Ms. on on, S on l>e. »• = caress; so Langl. A xi. 30. » Ms. and.

350

Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

truifle ' of vnsittyng ping: pen mony a foul suwne " in siht of god almi^ti. «[ More him delyted ' forte enbrace Mock1, and styngk of worldliche Mok • pat gylep so foule, pen baben in be lykyng • & in be loue-cluppyng, in be brennynge loue ' of be holygost. ^[ Al-beo bat on defendet • and a^eyn be lawe, and bat ohur nomeliche ' I-^iuen vs in heste. Pat on is wownen vrip swynk ' & wifa muchel anguissche, and endeb atte laste • wz/> ^eldyng of wreche; Trauayle be wynnyng, drede in be kepi«g, serwe in be leosyng ' and helle at be ende. ^f fat ohur nis not so deore a-bouht ' bute is ful muche menskeful, w//5 waxinde likyng • & bodiliche fyndyng, & briwgeb atte laste ' endeles blisse.

vJod seib hit hiwz-self • bat hose secheb "him furst, & ouer al ob«r biwg • askeb his blisse , al bat him be-houeb • to bodiliche neode , schal be grauwted be[r]-wib • and ^iuen in bat boone — Luc. : Querite primum regnum del &c. // l*is is he bat al day ' tornefa god his hindewine , and hertliche louteb • to cluppe worldes dweole. ^f £is is pat blynde wrecche • bat in his owne e^en Weneb2 hiw so vertuous ' & is ful of vices ; leeteb hiw feir and freoly ' and hab be deueles liknesse ; and weneb 2 bat he beo witti ' and al ful of slei^be : and lokef) 3 on his chaffare • bat4 he is afolte, bat sold hab his soule ' for stinkynde lustes, andchauwgefa5 god for be deuel ' and heuene for helle. He halt hiw ful dou^ti, stalworbe & hardi, and al day is ouercomen ' of him bat hab no mi^te Forte w/^-stonde pe moste wrecche of be world : bat wolde a^eyn h'vn fihte. He letef) him gewtil ' and is be deueles bral, and demep hem wrecches ' and makeb hem his harlotes, bat ben so gentil of blod ' bat god is heore fader. Pus he lokeb hi;/z-self ' wzy5 a fals e^e, seob bat bat is nou^t * and demeb al wrong. Hit is be deueles Mirour ' bat he in lokeb , and be fendes argumens ' bat him binkeb resouws, bat he bobbeb hi/« wif ' and ledeb as him lykeb.« A Ihmi Crist bin ore, hou schal I euer dry^en • to benken on bi domes : a^eynes my gultes • bat alle byne schaftes ' bus harde mouwen acusen? And not onliche bus, but ^it mowe bei cri^en * and siggen in heore wyse : ^[ wfees is be deueles Maumet, bat hab vs alle wrongliche Vsed in his werkes ' a^eynes vr kuynde. He hedde godes liknesse ' and torned hiw-self out of bat In to be liknesse ' of vch of vs alle ; he is more eorbly • ben euer was eorbe, fikelore ben be wynt, more veyn ben is be eir, hattore in his lustes ' ben is be fuir bat brenneb ; hardore ben eny ston ' of wikkede h^rte : a^ein his euencristne ' bat Crist repr^senten ; caldore of charite • pen forst in his kuynde. ^f What schal I more siggen? he ne dredde6 not god ' ne mon he ne louede, but mengede his owne wikkednesse * among moni obure , and dude bat in him was ' ladde hem his weies, and was to hem en- sauwzple ' and ledere to synne7, wip vnclene speches8 ' wip lecherous lokynges, w:^ schrewede dedes ' and mony luper leetes. ^[ Ne phou^te hiw non^t inouh ' pat godes dep on Roode Weore lost anontes9 him-self ' but anontes mony mo, and dude bat in him was ' as be deueles prOTaotour • and godes oune traytor, to leden hem to suwne. He bar him as he weore a god • siben pat he nol(3 Beo ilad bi godes wille • ne bi no lawe, but as him lyked hi#z-self ' a^eyn gode hestes Strayen out of lawe ' in wrong and in outrage, as mon al laweles : & don what him luste. ^f ^if God ne dude for hi»z • al pat he wolde: he gruyne a^eynes hi^ • as pau^ he weore his knawe ; and ^if he eny tyme • letted for [t]o '

1 word frequently used by Wicliffe. * S wenes. * S lokes. * S &. ^ T. chaunged. * S drede}). " S synnes. • S speche. 9 S anentes. >• Ms. do; S for to do.

A talking of the love of God. •jcj

suttne, hit was not for godes loue ' but for Mownes drede, or for bodiliche harm : or worldliche enchesun. Bobe of goode and of euel : he wolde be lotted1, as bei^ he weore god self ' of whom alle bing bat1 is, bobe2 goode an vuel, is ordeynt for goode. ^[ What schal I of him • more speke? his pruide passe{) Lucifer ' bat fel into helle ; his gult Adames gult ' bat cast him out of paradis , and nou^t onliche him • but alle monkuynde. For bey hedde muchel bat hem drowe ' to be proud offe, and he nedde but wrecchednesse : pat scholde hint w*7»drawe.« Alias my foule fulbe : and my muchel vnsleihbe ! What schal I nou to rede? whoder schal I now gon? Wher schal I me beo-t«men • nou alle bing is bus risen ' a^eynes me one: and wondrefo bus on me? ^[ A^eynes alle schaftes: haue I mis-taken, and my deore lord god: lubwrliche dispiset, and alle his holy angeles: greuousliche I-erred3, and alle his holy halewen : foule deshonoured, and myn euencristne : in mony maner greued , and alle creatures : haue I mis-vset, Anselmus. A serwe and sikyng, criming & gronyng, wher be ^e ryue : ^if ^e here faylen? ^f wher be ^e feruent : ;if ^e heere slaken? Nou ne wot I whoderward • I may me best bi-tornen, ffor I haue maked me fon : in alle kunnes halue. ^f Alias alias my lord god ' stured is to wrabbe, and no bing ne haue I me laft • bat al nis offewdet: bat scholde me helpe ' or eny good wille4. ^f ^if I ha wrabbed be sone, nis be moder erred3? And ?if be Mooder be wrob, hou is be sone quemed? Who schal pese me wz/> be sone • ^if be Moder beo my fo? ^f Or who schal me geten be Moder loue ' ^if be sone me hate? ^f But deore lord of Merci • bat art al merci , and bou his deore Mooder ' bat art ful of grace : j;if I haue ow bobe a-gult ' ne be ^e ful of Merci? And wherto schulde merci • ^if gultus ne weore? ^ Schal be Malice of myn euel ' passew cure5 goodnesse? or alle myne suwnes : ben more ben oure Milce? ^f Ne art bou lord bi-come mon ' and taken hast vr kuynde ? And f)0u my deore ladi , bicomen art his Mooder? ^[ and hast al bi menske • in heuene & in eorbe, for resun of suwral • and wreche to slaken? «|" frou lord bicome mon • and a Mylde Maidenes barn, bat hard deb and schendful : boledest for byn enemys ; and b0u his deore Mooder • vfip Maydenes menske, be swerd of bi peyne : burlede bi soule — animam tuam pertransiuit gladius. And bat wolde ^e bole ' for Merci al-one : to sechen hem bat weoren at-rei^t ' and drawen hem bat fledden. ^f And I bat seche Merci • and truste in ^or Merci, and knoweleche my gult ' wib sore herte-sykes, schulde fayle Merci ' ber welle is of Merci, bat is to alle synful ' so ryf and so large? ^f Wher is bewne bat word • of cuwfort & blisse, bat btm seidest bi-self • der- worfae lord: Nolo mortem, peccztoris , »I nul not, b0u seist, be deb of be synful, but I wole he twme • and stunte of his suwne, and ryse to my grace ' in lyf wib-outen ende«. And bat also bou seist8: In fancumfae hora ingemuerit, saluus erit , »Whon so eu^re be suwful ' forbinkeb his suwne, & wilnej) for to stunten, anon he schal be saued«? ^f Ne seidest faou not lord • to be beef on Roode, bat eu^f sebben he coube • hedde I-vsed befbe, bat in foe selue day • he scholde ben in blisse? and for no more decert • but for he kneu^ his gultes , and be for his saueour ' &2 asked bi Merci? Ne was he put in no delay ' to ligge longe in peyne, but seidest so redily ' w«/6 so mylde steuene: Hodiemecum eris in para- dyso. Nart bou derworbe lord ' be M^rciable ffader, bat bou liknest be to ' as

1 S be biloued. * om in S. * = irritated. * S willen. 5 = ^oure. 6 S seidest.

•31-2 Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

tellef) be gospel , ^[ bat whon so euere be lufoer sone ' beo he neuer so gulti, 1 bewkef) in his herte ' to seche pi Merci: anon bou seost him a-fer ' in bat ilke bou^t, and eornest a^eynest him ' wonderliche swibe , and er he speke eny word ' but in be bou^t al-one, so bat hit be studefast • and2 wil for to rysen, ^f bou fallest aboute his nekke ' and cluppest him & cussest, -wif chere ful blis- ful3 ' & welcomest him horn, and clepest alle frendes • and makest a feste, slest be fatte feste-calf ' for bi sone sake, and biddest hem beo glade ' and blibe blissen vrip be, bat bi sone is fouwden ' bat bou heddest loren — Occurrit filio piodtgo videns eum a longe. And whon bow heng on Rode • preyedest to pi ffader ' for bat4 ilke traytors • bat duden be to be deb: Pater ignosce *#is&, quia nesciunt quid faciunt. And hedden alle Merci ' bat hit wolden asken; and of alle bing " most was bi ^ernyng, bat faei wolden eny wey • bi merci vnder- fonge. tat Merci is so plentiuous ' so redi and so large: profred and prised • euer ar men hit asken. For asken hit ne mai me not • ne haue bat ilke grace, but bou hit specialich ' put hit in vr wille. And ^it of alle biwge ' ben furstest6 faou most ' after heor soulwj • bat merci for-soken. Ne art bou lord vr fader, and maked vs hast bin eires • of bi grete blisse, and in be pater noster ' biddest clepe be so, and bat we asken of be • al bat vs likej) , and bat not luitel • but al hoi fai-seluen, wib al bat vs nedef) • to bodi and to soule? ^[ Hou schulde eu^re be child ' fallen of his askyng: anentes such a ffader ' bat muchel more loueb be child, ben he dob his owne bodi ' or deeb be child him-seluen? Nai sikerliche nay ' ne may he7 neuer faylen Of bat or better berfore, but ^if hit beo mis-asked. ^[ And al-beo bou vr ffader ' Lord in p^rsone, of be ffader bou art bicome vr brob^r • in p^rsone of Crist ; vr luge & vr domes-mon • bat al be world schal demen, art bi-come« vr broker • of flesch and of blod. ^[ And sei[st]8 derworbe lord • borw be prophete , as fader al ful of loue ' wordes so swete : Numquid potest mater obliuisci filii vteri sui : <$• si ilia obliuiscatur, ego non obli- uiscar tui, ^f ^ou^ be moder mi^te for-^eten • be child bat heo bar, fatru ne mai^t for^ite mon • bat wole to be callen«; but seist bat al bi likynge • & al fai delices, eu^r is vrip vs for to wone • and dwelle %vih mon — Salomon: D elide /nee, esse cum filiis hoimwim.

J\. bou Blisful moder • bat art vr oune Moder, bou ne askest nen^r wreche ' of no m.onnus su«nes, but were be gult neu^r so gret ' ne suwnes so monye, askest ay merci ' *wip moderliche reube; and berfore bicome bou • Thesu Cristes moder, & moder of suwfole • to briwgen hem to grace, ^f How scholde I desa- fyen • to fallen in ^or grace: bat am ^ou bobe so sibbe • ^oure sone and ^or brobwr, and bou lord my luge ' and myn oune brober, ^[ and bou ladi my Moder ' and my lugges Mod«r, and of be selue luge ' asignet to my cou«seil, to be myn 9 aduocatf/x • beo-fore him in be dom! ^[ Wher may be grace • ?if heer beo reddour ; or eny hope fouwden ' ^if hit heere fayle ? hou scholde I euer dreden ' to fynden alle fauour, and vnimete merci • bi-fore so sib a luge , ^f bat hauej) me so frendly * ^if bat I seche merci • while tyme is of merci • bi-tau^t so leof an helpe? ^f Who schal my cause sauen • ^if heo ne may suffisen, bat hab hit vndertaken • pat and alle suche, and hab hit of offyse • for sunfol to causen: and is be luge hire owne • to forberen al hir wille?

1 Ms. & J>e«keb. 2 r. in. 3 S ful of blisse. « S fose. » Ms. 'Mum « S J>urstest. 7 S hit. 8 Ms. seij). • Ms. nyn ; om in S.

A talking of the love of God. 253

FEnk on bi Caytyf ' lord God almihti, and bou his Mylde Mooder • bat ben so ful of Merci; bow Lord ffauerynde • and b0u ladi be-sechinde; let me nener faylen • bat I Merci ne fynde ; or elles sei me where ' is eny of more Merci, and more mihtful ben 7,e ' and largore of grace, *[ bat in ijour defaute • whon ^e me forsaken, schul my neode beeten • and grauwten my bone, ^f But sifoen onliche in ow ' & in now nobwr, is welle of alle Merci • bat eumnore floweb: ffor bat muchel Merci ' clause1 my soule, and wasch hit of bat fulbe • bat hit is fnyled wip : ^f bat I porw or grace ' askape pat wreche , bat is me worpiliche • for gult of my dedes; and schild me from bat serwes ' nou and euer-more, bat bef) to be dampnede ' greyped in helle ; bat I wip alle bo bat ben • blisful in heuene, may ow bobe blessen • ay wip-outen ende, amen.

Ih&ra my derworpe lord * Ihtf.ru myn oune Fader ; swete Ihesu heuene kyng, mi druri my derlyng, mi deoring mi louyng, myn hony-brid my swetyng; myn hele & myn hony-ter, min hony-lyf min halewy2. Swettore art bou ben hony * or Milk in Moupe, Meode Mep or pi^ement • maad \rip spices swete, or eny lykinde licour ' pat ou^wher may be fouwden. Ho ne may loue lord • pi leoue3 lofsum leore4? What herte is so ouer-hard • bat ne may to-melte, in be monyg of be ' loueliche lord? And ho ne may loue be ' swete Ihmi? For in-wip pe- selue are« ' alle pinges gedered, pat ener may maken eny mon • loueworp to oper. *[f Feirnesse , louesum leor , flesch whit vnder schroud, makep mony mon beo bi-loued ' and be more deore. ^[ Suwme freodam & largesse ' bat leuere is : menskeliche to ^iuew • ben quedliche to wip-holden. ^f Suzwme wit and wis- dam • and hap of pe world. ^[ SuTwme Miht and strengpe ' to bew kud Kene in fiht ' his riht to defenden. ^f Suwzme nobleye & hewdelek • and gentrise of kuynde. ^f Suwme gret Cortesye • and lobles leetes. ^f Suwme mylde and Mekenesse • & debon^f herte, w^5 swete louereden ' and godliche dedes. ^f And ^it ouer alle beose • kuynde mest ; sibbe frendes • vchon louen obw^-. Now my derworfae loue ' my swete lyf my lykyng, my louelichest5 leof ' myn herte and myn halewy2, mi longyng mi mournyng • mi soule swetnesse : f)0u art lufsum of leor ' mi swete Ihwu ; pow art also schene ' pat alle angel^s lyf: is to biholden • pi loueliche face, ^f For pi leor is so briht • and vnimete lofsum , bat ^if be for-wariede • bat wallen in helle, mihten hit [se] wz/> ez;en • and loken ber-onne, al bat pyninde pich • pat pei wallen Inne, ne wolde hem pinke ' bote a softe bap6 babinge; ^f flfor ^if hit so mihte7 beo • derworbe lord, leuere hem were euer-more • in wo forte dwelle, and on pi lofsuw leor • eu^r-more to loke, pen in alle blisse ben ' euer wzj5-outen ende, and of bat bri^t blisful leor • forgon bat swete sihte. ^f I*ou art so schene & so briht ' bat be sornie weore desk, ^if hit to bi blisful leor ' mihte ben I-euenet. ^f ^if I wol loue eny mon • for his feirnesse, forsobe derworbe lord ' I wol loue be, mi leoue blessede lord: moder-sone feyrest, of alle bing swettest • fouwden in tast. ^f A swete Thesn gode leof ' let me beo foi ser- uau«t, and lere me for to loue be • louynde lord, pat onliche pe loue of be • be euer al my likyng, mi ^eornyng mi longyng8, mi pou^t and al mi worchiwg. Am^w.

JJOte my swete lord ' for pat sibbe frendes Kuyndeliche louep hem • vchon to oper, pou clopedest pe wip oure flesch ' mon borew of wowmon ; bou toke

1 S cause. 2 S halewey. * om in S. * S lore. * S loueliche. * om bafr?

S myht so. 8 S louyng.

H. 23

354

Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

of hire swete flesch ' wzj5-oute« hire weTwmyng • monkuynde follich, to pole al pat mon mai pole, and don al pat mon dob ' wib-oute synne one, and bicow vr brob«r ' of Fader and of Mooder, to maken hoi [loue] vnbeden ' bituenen vs alle. ^f Who is bewne bat ne may ' & ou^te to be kuynde, to louen his oune brobz/r ' of flesch and of blod? ^f Nou my swete Ihwu • my derworbe brobwr: my sibbe kun haue I leeued ' for be loue of be, and bei^ heo me forsaken • ne reccheb me nobing, whiles bat I mai haue be ' al one for hem alle. ^[ For ^if I be haue ' what scholde I more asken? I nouh1 bat me neod is ' ne may me frendes lakken. Pou art me more ben Fader ' more ben Moder; Brobwr or Suster • or eny worldliche frend, nou^t aren hem to telle • a^ein be al one. A swete Ihtf.ru * mi derworbe brob^r, of flesch and of blod ' of fader & of moder: ^[ Mi swete derworbe lord ' let me beo bi seruauwt, & teche me forte loue be • benyngne lord, bat onliche be loue of be ' beo al my likyng. ^[ Wei artou swete2 ' and louelich ou«r alle , ffor in be one is fouwden ' be pris of alle beute, be pris of al richesse ' of loue and of largesse, of wit & of wisdam ' of miht and of strengbe. In be is pris of sibreden ' & of alle frendschupe, of al lou cliche ping • bat mon may vrip [in] loue ben. But ouer al obwr bing ' bat makefa be so louelich, & so loueworb to me • my derworbe lord, vnimete more: bin ouerharde hurtes , bi schome and bi wouwdes ' bi pyne & pi passiouws, pi deore deb on Roode ' bat was so schendful for me; heo asken al hoi my loue • and reuen al myn herte. A swete Ihmi leoue lyf • let me beo bi seruauwt, and lere me forte loue be • louynde lord, bat onliche be loue of be • beo euer al my likyng, mi ^eornyng and my longyng, my bou^t & al mi worchiwg. amen.

JJOte moni for richesse • lewmow cheoseb ; ffor eueriwher mai men ' wip catel lone chepen. ^f Bot is ber eny Ricchore ben b0u ' my leue lyf my le/ranon, bat richeliche regnest " in heuene & in eorbe? Pou art kud Cayser • bat al bis world weldeb; ffor as be prophete seib • Dauid in his psalme: Domini est terra 8f plenitude eius , »bin is be eorbe ' and al bat ber-in woneb«. bin is be heuene • and al bat berin lyueb ; bin is al be wyde world • and al bat ber is inne. ^[ Al is bin my swetyng ' and al bow wolt hit ^eue me, ^if I vfif 3 al myn htffte ' al-one wol* be. But bou lord pi-seluen • art wz'/i-outen ewde , vnymete more worp5 • ben ben alle beose. Perfore wol I loue be • my leue lyf8 my deore, and al-one for bi loue ' alle binges leten, bat mihte myn herte • frow bi loue leden, or ben encheson fyerof ' to louen be be lasse. [A swete Ihesu &c.]

IJOte what is Richesse worb • or muche forto welden, ber wz^J-outew largesse • freodam lakkeb? ^f And ho is freore pen bou ' or largore of ?ifte , bat furst madest al bis world ' and ^ue7 hit to my wille. Pow ^eue8 me such lordschupe ' ouer alle pi schaftes , and puttest vnder my feet ' al pat pou schope. But I hit wikkedliche fordude ' poru my foule synnes. And pou for pi freodam • ^af for me pi-selue, to leese me from praldam ' bat I was put inne. «[ I^if I eny pewne wole ' for largesse louen, be al one wol I louen * swete Ih&ra. For obwre bat ben large mew ' and corteis I-kudde , ^iuen of heore goodes ' after bat hem lykeb : but bou sweete Ihmi • largest of alle, ne ^euest not one of bi good • to wouwe wib pi lewnnon, bote [^eue]9 bi-self for me • in prys of my soule, pat

1 r. I ouh. 2 S adds lord. 3 om in S. * S wol yue. 5 S worjii. 6 Ms. leuelyf. ' Ms. ^iue. 8 S 7,iue. 9 Ms. to ^iue.

A talking of the love of God. ? r c

bin owne herte-blood ' ne ' woldest not w^holden. So derworbe dreweri ' ne so deore ?ifte, ne ^af neuw in bis world ' lemmon to obur. And also bat hou2 for me • ^af so by-seluen, bou hast me hi^ed3 to J)e • and ^af me al f)i-seluen, to sitten on bi riht hond • coround in f>i riche, vfif euer-lykynde lone ' to regnew in blisse. ^f Who is benne largore • ben f)0u art of4 ^ifte, or so loue-worbi • [as bou] swete Ihmi? Wher may me* eny loue ' so worbiliche setten, whose secheb eny bing • bat eny loue askeb , as on be my lemmon ' bat art loue-welle, and ^eldest alle bat be louen * wellynde stremes? A swete Ih#ra &c.

JJut largesse is luyte worb • and luyte loue worhi, bat riht rulynde6 wit ' and wisdam wonteb. ^if I wol eny bewne loue ' for wit or for wisdam, ben wol i loue [he] • swete Ih«u ; for bi wit is wonderful ' and wib-outen make, ^f tou art wisdam i-clept ' and wit of bi fader ; ffor he borw bat wisdam made ' bobe heuene and eorbe, and als7 his swete willes8 was • al bis world wrou^te, schop be sowne and be see" ' and alle maner schaftes, and al he dihte wonderliche ' as hit best semede. In-wip be my leue lyf ' is welle of alle wisdam, bat hab so wonder- liche wit ' sprad so wyde-where: al bat is and euer was • and euer schal be- tyden, al hit is before-hond ' to bi wit knowen. Ne may ber-wib no wisdam • in al bis world be fouwdew, bute hit of bat welle • of pi wit streme. ^[ A swete Ihesu swete lef • swettest ouer alle, ^if me wit to loue be, let me beo bi seruauwt, hat I euere serue be, and teche me forte qweme be • louynde lord, so bat on- lich bi loue be euer9 al my likyng.

JDOte mony mon for strengfae ' and mony for his hardischupe, is ofte muchel i-leten of • and loued and honoured. And is eny so hardi, so bold and so dou^ti: as pou art my leue lyf ' fouwden in a-say? Nay forsobe swete lef ' bou berest be pris of alle ; for pow pi-self al one • ne dreddest not pyn oune bodi, to fihten a-^eyn alle ' pe deuelen of helle ; pe w^uche of hem alle ' so is lest lodlich, mi;te he him schewen * [in] 10 pe makyng pat he is, alle scholde ben a- gast ' and grysew of him one, ffor no mon mihte him i-seo ' and in his wit wone, but ^if bi grace special • baldes" his herte. I*ou art ^it \>er-vrip ' so vnymete mihti, bat wz/5 [bi]12 deore hondes ' nayled on Roode, bou bourcde helle-dogges ' and raftes hem heore preye, bat bei faste helden • for Adames suwne ; and as a kene kempe ' robbedest helle , and laddest out bi deore leef ' bat is monnes soule, to bi bri^te boure • ful of alle blisse, to wonen in bi cluppyng ' euer wip-outen ende. ^[ And ptfrfore ^if me lyke{) ' stalworpe lewmon, louen pewne wol I pe • louely DI^JU, pat art al mihti ' and strengest of alle. Strengpe me to loue pe ' [swete Ihesu], pat al my feblesse maiijt • strengben at bi wille, and vfip bin hei^e hardinesse ' bi ni^tes and bi dayes, a^eyn my wiberwines ' bolden 1S mi soule. A swete Ihesu mi^ti leof ' strengest of alle , strengbe me to loue be, 14 let me beo hi seruauwt • derworbe lord, &c.

IN oble men and gentil • and of hei? kuynde : mony wiwzmen leeten • menske forte loue. A swete Ih«u Merci • on what herre mon, mai I sette my loue • !pf bat I be lete? Wher is eny gentilore ' ben bi-self founden? fou art bat ilke kynges sone ' bat bis world weldef), and kyng vrij> bi ffader ' kyng of alle

» S no. * r. l>ou fat. » = he^ed. « S of J)i. * in S corr. to i. s S ruled. 7 S aL * S wille; s erased. • om in S. »• Ms. to. » Ms. baldest; S haldest. « Ms. his.

w S holden. »« S & let

23*

356

Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

kynges, and lord al-mi3ti ' lord of alle lordes. And ^it art bow ouer bis ' boren of mylde Marie , of Dauides kuwredew ' be kyng of Abrahames blod. Of herre cunreden ben bou art ' nis non vnder sonne. Louen wol I bewne be • swete Ihmi, as be gentileste leof ' bat euer was in eorbe, bat neuer was1 no lac ' ne last vfip I-fouwden ; and bat com be nomeliche ' of kuynde of bi fader, of whom is al gentilrie2 ' and cortesye sprongen. Let me be bi seruau«t ' gentil and hende, and lere me forte loue be ' my derworbe lord, so bat in be loue of be • my lyking and my loye, wz/5outen eny ofyur mowg ' euer be rooted fast.

IVlEkenesse and myldeschupe • are swete loue-tacches, and makeb3 ofte mony mow ' leof and dere. And bou Ihesu my leoue leof ' for bi muchele Mekenesse, as witnesseb holi writ ' to lomb were bou euenet. For azeyn alle schemes & serwes ' bat men dudew be, nener ne opnedest bou bi moufo • to grucchen a^eyn. And ^it to eken al bat ' al be schome & su;me, bat synfal wrecches of bis world ' vche day recheles • don a^eyn bi godhed • as bou no god ne were, bou bolest* al myldelich, and takest hit lihtlich, ne takest5 not sodeynlich • wreche of vr gultes ; but borw bi muchele myldeschupe • abydest vs longe, euer sechinde loue ' & beodyng of6 grace. And fowfore my lewmon ' my loye & my blisse, euer glad mai I ben • & blisful to wisse, be false murfoes of bis world • to leuen & misse, & ener resten in be • to cluppew & cusse. A swete

Ihwu my leoue leof ' my loueliche lewmon, mi derworbe derlyng • mi soule swetnesse : ^f breo foos fihten • a^eynes me faste : be false world and my flesch • be bridde is be deuel; ^f foe world to make me fals • and tolle7 me to befbe; ^f mi flesch to mony fulfoes • of vntounes lustes; ^ be deuel wib his sleihfaes • and wib his queynte crokes, to trappe me lobliche ' to drawe me to helle. And for I was so ouer-arwh ' and wok of my-selue , bei be-segede me • and kene besetten : And maden me mony a res * wtf grewnynde beere, mil gri/wme and ful grisly ' as wolues as hit weore ; wenden in heore wyse • wib sum kuwnes ginne 8 , wtf a poynt of9 chekmat ' comen me wz/5-inne; and forsope ful neih ' hedde i foule fallen, bi-trapped in heore clokes • and cau^t til heore preye. And so dude I sikerly • borw my foule su«ne, so fer bat I hedde ' be worbi to helle, ne hedde onliche i-ben ' bin vnymete Merci, bat euer is so redi • and bi swete grace; bat after long abode ' whiles I lay in su«ne, and wolde not arysen • for non of bi callynges, ne for bi milde wouwynges ' bat fatoi bewne madest, al [min] vnbonkes • derworfae lord, drouh me from myn enemy, so freoly & so frendly, bat I so wrecchedly • folewode so faste. ^f fat euer beo b0u blessed • in heuene and in eorbe, hei^ed and heried • of al bat bou schope ! for whon be bale was most ' ben was foe bote next; be grace of foe holigost ' hit taylede so. For whowne bou se^e hit beo so • bat I ne wolde arysen, ne my-self stonden • a^eynes my foos, ne blenchen heore wyles, heore crokes and heore gyles, but slou^ slug- ginde lyen • shuwbrinde i« suwne: ^f betme come fo0u my leof ' my lewzmon my deore , -wip liht leydnde loue • to seche me here, ^f £ou felle for me gostly • from heuene to eorfoe, and ruddest me raply • of al bat ber was ; ^if I ly?e lodly • bou reysedest me redily, and ^if I fallynde was ' faou breyde me a^eyn. ^f At be poynt of my fal * whon I most dradde, bou kuddest be quikly ' to make res-

i S nas. 2 S genterise. 3 S maken. * Ms. fcoledest. * Ms. takest hit. « r. }>i ? Ms. tolleb. * S gvnnes. * S of a ch.

A talking of the love of God. ?CT

cous. And al fihte foou pus ' vche day neowe, to wite me and were me ' in gostliche weorre. tou vnderfonge bodiliche ' for me for to fihte«, here in world- liche lyf • a^eynes hem alle: ^f wi[) pouert and vrip schome • a^eyn pe saut of pe world ; wib peyne & wi j) passion • a^eyn pe flesches lustes ; wi{) louhnesse and Mekenesse ' w*/> loue and studefastnesse , a^eyn pe pridde fo pe fend : and al pou ouercome. ^[ And tau^test me beo pi-self • & sendest me mi^te, forto weorre wib hem • in pe selue wyse, pat I ne dredde1 meschef: ne recchen of worldlich wo , of seknesse bodiliche • or gostlich fondynge , wrong of luper monnes werk ' or of wikked moupes , of schome or of schendschupe • w*/5-oute mi gult, but euer stonde vfip be ' in studefast herte , and pole pofckyndeliche • al pat ptm sendest. For alle suche bales ' hose riht kennes, as witnessep2 holy writ ' beop toknes of bliss* — ^f lacobus: Omne gaudium existimate, fratres, cum in variis tnaftacionibv^ incideritis. I*er art p<?u redilich ' and stondest bi-sydes : vrip alle pat beb so biset • and troubled in care / or in anguisse * or wandreb wawes Of pis worldly se"6 ' seilen and faren; / pi-self steerest pe schip • & ledest to be hauene Of euer-lastynde pes • per alle weoles are« , / and art in vch a such fiht ' in pe vanwarde3, & makest scheld of pi-self ' pi lemmon to sparen. // Now mi dere lewmon • whowne hit so farep / pat hose harde be stond • haueb be to feere, / euer wolde I fihten • and seilen i« care / wip eni worldliche wo ' to haue pe so neere. / Euer-lastinde fiht " leuer me ware, / to ben so sikerlich • scheld at pi baneere, / pen after fikelynde weole ' for a gynge fare, / and leuen be my lewmon • my derlyng my dere. ^f A my deore lewmon ' whil I pe harde cluppe, wib loue-likynde pou^t • lastinde in herte, / al siker am I schild • a^eyn pat me werren, ne par i dreden here res • ne beo pei neuer so smerte. / Per wol I restew • and taken my truwe, pi-self stoppest my foos ' and makest he;« to sturte, / and so me witerliche witest • euer while i dwelle, of heore ferliche afirayes ' pat come« ou^rphwerte. // A mi swete lemmon ' my derlyng my deore, / hold eu^f my pou^t • in siht of pi chere, / pat I ne flitte pe frow • in fiht pat is here, / but euer schild me wip pi-self • to fiht in pi feere. ^f Mi swetyng mi derlyng, min hony-brid mi luffyng, swettest of alle bing: ^if me bat lastyng / of pi loue-likyng. Do me for to serue pe, lere me forte loue pe ' louynde lord: so pat onliche pi loue • be al my likyng.

J\. Ihesu my swete loue • pat pou art wondwr riche , as al-weldinde lord • in heuene and in eorpe : and pore pewne p<m bi-come • for me pat am so wrec- ched, whon pou in pi childhod • weore leyd in pe cracche ; schend pou weore and schomed • of wikked mewnes moupes, fondet after wip foe fend • on fele cunne wyse, and sipen atte laste • schendfuliche & schomeliche, wib strong deb & pyneful • hongede on pe Roode. ^f Pore were p<ni furst boren • of bi leue mooder, pat mayden is and moder • of be pat art hire fader. For in pe borwh of Bethleem • ne fonde pou no leupe 4 , wher in pi Bury-tyd • pou mihtest pe resten , but in a wouhles 5 hous • a-midde pe strete , pat was a symple refuit ' in so cold a tyme. ter weore pou wouwden • and swapeled in Ragges, and after coldliche i-leyd • in a beestes Crubbe. So woldest faou be conu^r- saunt ' and comuyn vrip bestes, to maken vs caytyues ' pat beestlich liuen

' S drede. 2 S witnesse. » Ms. vauwarde. * = shelter (Halliwell). » = wall-less.

2 = 8 Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

heere, wz/> |)i-self cormersunnt " in heuene-riche blisse. Pus poreliche bi-gu«ne foou ' Ihmi my swete lewmon, for to lede bi lyf ' in londe for me. // But whon bou eldore weore ' bow wox more pore. For furst in bi childhod • bou heddest to bi foode / be Milk of bi mooder brest ' be Maydenes pappe, and pi Moder redi ' euer whon bou woldest, & whon bou sore weptest ' to stille be foerwij) : ^f But whon bou eldore was: bou bat alk feddest, bobe foules in be flyht • & fissches in be flod, men & alle beestes • bat heere lyf leden, boledest for defaute of mete • mony hote honger, in bote of vre su«ne ' as tellep holy writ, ^f And pou pat be heuene • and al bis world wrou^test, ne heddest in al bis wyde world ' whon bou scholdest dyen , wher-on pou mi^test ' bin holy hed restew. ^[ But ever bi-foren heddest bou ' in ^oube and in elde, wher-wjf pou mihtest ' hulen bin holy bones, ^f But atte laste of pi lyf • in bi meste neode , whon bou for me so reubly • heng vppon pe Roode, per ne heddest bou so muchel ' of al bis worldes wynne, wher-wz/> bin holy bodi ' pou mihtest inne folden. ^[ Al bus my swete lemmon ' pore pou were pi-seluen, & to pouert of pis world • sannest pow pe toke. Pouert pow louedest • and pouert pou tautest, and treweli pou be-hi^test • pin endeles blisse / to alle pat here for pi loue • pouert and pyne, Mesey[s]e and Mischeef ' in pacience taken, ^f A swete lord ' hou scholde i ben riche / here vppon eorpe : & pou my leof so pore? ... as pi-self weore pore ' for pe loue of me, for to beo riche -wip pe • in pin onne blisse; ffor wip pouert & vfip wo • schal me wele buggew.

JJut pouert wip menske • is eth forte bolen. (B)ut pou lord for my loue ' wip al pat ilke pou^^t, pou weore schomeliche ischent ' reuyled and dispyset. For often men pe seiden • schomeful wordes / & scornful hokeres : longe weore al to tellen. // But [more]1 schome poldest pow • pat neuer suwne wrouhtest; weore I-taken as a peof ' & brou^t bifore luber men, hebene houndes ' fforte be demed of hem , bat art bi-self demere ' and luge of alle worldes. ^[ And bou lord bat art lyf ' of al monkuynde, weore dempned to pe dep ' & pat to schomeliche dep, and pe mon-quellere • was to lyf i-saued; ffor alle pei cri^ede on pe ' so grisliche and loude: »honge Ih^ju on Roode ' & leese oat Barraban«, and was bat Baraban a bef • worbi forte dyen, bat v?ip tresun in be Borwh ' hedde a mon quelled ! // But more schome bow boledest • my suwne for to beeten, whon suwfol men so viliche ' \n bi face spitten. A mi swete lewmon ' my derlyng my deore , ho mihte more schome polen • cristen or hepen , pew pat men2 so lodlich • in his face spitten? and pou in pi louesum leor ' pat aageles to biholden: nare3 neuer folle, such schome boledest4! & al foe phouzte menske ' for pe loue of me , so pat pou mihtest v?ip pat foule spittyng ' wassche my soule, & maken hit louelich ' & schene in pi sihte. For-pi pou biddest me ' ener penke per-vppon, and seist on pis wyse : Scito qnomam propter te mortificamwc tota die*; [propter te sustinui]6 obprobrium, operuit confusio faciem rmarn, »Vnderstonde, pou seist, and penk ' pat I for pe loue of pe • suffre schome & bismare : schend- ful spittyng ' of vnworbi men, hebene hou«des ' amidde my face. And fa^rfore ne dred be nou^t ' ffor be loue of me, to bole worldes schome • despyt and wikked wordes Of wikked mewnes moupes • wip-onten bi gult«. ^f And schome

1 Ms. muche. 2 Ms. mon. 3 = ne are. 4 Ms. J>oledest J)ou. 5 Ps. 43, 22. cf. Ps. 68, 8.

A talking of the love of God. 350

of alle schome • soffredest bou lord, whon b0u weore honged • al mooder-naked : w*/5-oute clop or clout ' be-twene two peues. Also pei seiden • pe envyous lewes : »He is worse pen a pef ' & more schome worpi , and fwfore hong hi;« hei^e • bi-twene hem bobe , as he bat is heore mayster • & worse bew bei«. ^j A Ih&ni my lyues lone • my derworfoe lewzmon, herte may to-bersten ' bat famjn benkeb, folliche as hit was • in fai deolful deb! ^f I>ou bat art worschupet • of al Mowkuynde , of alle bales bote • and angdis blisse : mon for to worschupew & sauew frow pyne , woldest of wikked men • pole so muche schome. ^f Men speken mony tyme ' of wondres bat fallen, of selcoup binges, bat in bis world misliche ' ofte be-tyden: ^f But bis was be moste wonder ' bat ever bifel in eorbe, wowder ouer wondres • sebbe bis world bigon : bat on- lepi kuynde kyng ' corouwd in heuene , pat schop alle schaftes ' and weldeb alle bing , to worschupen his enemys ' wolde so mekelich, he pat is so lone- lich ' honge so schomelich, bi-twene two peues ' as he were a bef. ^f A swete Ihmi swete leof, tech me forte loue be • so deore as bou louedest me • my deore lewnnow; so bat onlich bi loue • beo euer al my likyng, my mourning my longyng, wib-outen eny endyng, amen.

JDut my swete lewzmon ' Inouh were bi pouert * [&] * pi muchele schome ' wip-outen ober peynes. But be ne phou;te neu<y Inou; • for to buggew fol- liche • my loue al enterliche • whil bi lyf laste. // A swete Ihesu Merci: what pris settest on me? Ne was neuwe vnworpi ping ' half so deore abou^t ! For al bi lyf in eorbe • euer was in muche swynk • for me vnworbi wrecche , and euer be lengor be more; bat bifore bin endyng • so harde bou swonk, & tfouay- ledest so sore: bat red blod bou swatest — Factus est sudor eius sicut gutte san- gmnis decurren[tis]'i in ierram; ffor as seynt Luc seip • in his holy gospel: pou weore in so strong swynk ' pat pi swot as blod-dropes, ron from bin holy bodi doun vppon pe ground, ^f But what tonge may tellen • what herte may penken ' for serwe or for roupe , of pat harde boffetyng , bat horlyng and defoulyng, bat bou boledest schomelich: at bi furste takyng ; whon bat ludas Scariot ' brou^te helle-hou/zdes, vrip treson be to taken ' & bringe til heore princes. And hou heo pe bou«den ' so egerlych & so faste, bat be blod sprong out ' at pe fynger nayles: as holy halwen hit siggen • & writen is in boke. And bou«den be so harde ' & ladde be forb ruydlich, betynde reublich, on Bac & on scholdres : and on vch a syde. And bi-foren be princes, buffeteden [be] & scornden • & blyndfellede byn e^en, pleieden a-Bobbe|) • & made« be heor fool, & spitten in pi face ' mony tyme & ofte , and madew hit so wlatsum • so bleyk & so bio : vfip betyng & bustyng ' and spittyng & spoutyng; wipouten eny merci: pei dihte pe so. tei grennedew vppon pe ' and waggede« heor heuedes ' and blattew out heore tonges ' and bonteden on be schomeliche • and maden be be mouwe. Sifaen by-fore Pylate • hou bow weore naked • bouwden til a pyler ' and scourget so sore ; so pat pow ne mutest • none weys wrenchen : ne heore smarte lassches • bi none gate blenchen. ^[ ter weore bou for my loue ' wip harde knotti scourges, swongen and beten • so smart and so sore: so bat bi louely leor, bat was so briht and so cleer, was al to-fouled and I-schent, bi skin to-riuen

Ms. of. - Ms. decurrens.

360 Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

and to-rent; ber stremed on vche syde a flood, of water and of red blod: faow lord wifa so meke mood * faoledest al heore wille. Sif)en on bin bed was set ' a Coroune of scharpe ponies: so bat after vche a born ' be rede blod gon folwen. ^[ Siben ^it faei beoten douw ' be coroune vppon fain bed; and dres- seden hit and faraste, and duden hit sitte faste, so bat be scharpe faornes ' wente in to be brayn. ^f Setten a reod in bin hond ' in stude of kynges septre , in scorn & i« hefaing, and maden to be heor knelyng, and seiden »heil be bou kyng« : and spatten in bi teeb. And aftwr1 al bat vileny, ne wolde bei not be2 fa^rbi, but lubwrli & falsly • dewpned be to fae deb.

J\ derworbe lord • what schal I nou don? Nou mai I Hue no more, for serwe and for sore: now my dere lewmon • schal vnderfonge deb., Nou mai I Mwme strowgly , nou mai I wepe bitterli ; nou may I syke sore ' & serwen euer-nlore. // A, now me leden hi;w forfa • to mount of Caluarie, to be qualm- stouwe ' to don him faere o dawe. A, my deore lewmon ' he berefa be Roode- rre : on his bare scholdre ' for be loue of me ; his bodi is so tendre ' his bones longe and lene : al stoupynde he gob • bat del hit is to seone. ^[ A, mi swete lewmow, be duntes bat bei smyte be, be serwe bat bei don be! on vche a syde bei breste be ' forbward vnwrestly , cri^inde hidously , to bi deb hastily ; & al bou faoledest louely: for me wrecche vnworfai. Lord bat art almihti, ^if me for pi merci ' muynde of bat vileny , and felyng at myn herte : fai peynes hou bei smerte. // A swete Ihesu leoue lyf, hou mony men nou folewe be ' for to wondren on be ; by frendes ben sori • and serwhfol in herte ; bi foos folwen hokerly , and lyken in heore maystri , and horlen be lodly ' in al bis worldes sihte. // Alias: nou bei han I-brou^t him • faider ber bey wolen him slen. Now bei casten him douw • and leien him on be cros. Now bei streynen out his lymes ' his senwes al to-bersten ; his lifaes breken out of loynt : bat non of hem may lastew. *[ Alias my deore le/wmon ' hou may men for reufae, a^eyn so muchel fordede ' do be al bat wo ? To be bat art so loueli , so feir and so freoly, and boledest so mekeli ' al bat bei wolde do ! ^f A Ih&ni now be driuen ' be blunte vnruide nayles : borw bi feire hondes ' and bi frely feet. Nou berstefa pi skin ' fai senwes and fai bones ; min h^rte cleuefa in my brest : for reufae of fai mones. 51 A Ih«u swetyng, wher is eny wepyng, wher is welle of teres, to lauen on my leores, pat I neu^re bi day ' stunte nor be nihte, nou I seo bi feire lymes ' so reufali I-dihte. Pe blood of bi woundes ' springes so breme, and stremefa on fai white skin • so reufae to sene ; fay Moder lokefa beron ' faat virgyne clene: hir serwe sit fae sarre • faen fain as ich wene. ^[ A: now bei setten vp3 fae cros • & setten vp fae Roode-treo, & bi bodi al be-bled • hongefa ber-onne. ^[ A: Ih^ju now bei setten be cros ' in to be morteis: bi loyntes sturten out of lifa ' bi bones al to-scateren, bi wouwdes ritten a-brod • for-goled so wyde : lord bat fae was wo bigon • in bat ilke tyde ! *[ A, my deore le;«mon ' whow faou heddest al bled , faou wox al druye • and gornie fahirste sore ; bei boden be to drinken • Eysel and Galle, but whon bou tastedest berof ' bow woldest no more. //'A: my swete lemmon ' teken4 al byn ober wo, faei .bonte- den vppon be • whon faou heng on roode, so mylde and so meke • as hit weore

1 overlined. 2 r. let be? 3 So far Ms. Simeon. * = to eken.

A talkyng of the love of God. 361

a lomb; lou^when be to bisemare • grennynde foule, wi{> scheme schakinde here hed ' in hoker & in scorn, ^[ seiden in vbbreid ' »lo wher he hongeb, bat coube saue ober men: and saue{> nou^t hiw-seluen«. ^[ Weo : lord: vre loue is luitel worb • bat costen be so deore, and ^it vnne we hit nou^t ' bat b0u hit haue here, but folwen vr lustes ' in be deueles fere, as bauz; he be ' beter ben pou : and more worf) were, ^f Alias alias for reupe • bat I schal {>e my le/wmon, so foule seo demeynet: and myn is al be gult; ^f al for-drawen and for-rent, bi-spit & schomeliche schent, to sauen vs b^r we weore: for bat was al pi cause, ^f A Ihcju swete lewnnon: hou mai I nou libben: Nou I seo be leoue lyf • be loue of myn herte, mi derlyng my longyng, mi blesset tlord my swetyng, wi{) armes white and louely • streyned so streytly • wib-outen eny merci ' naked on be Rode: so bat men may tellen ' al bin holy bones, ^f I*er bow hongedest reubly, so cold and so blodi ; al rau and wori: is]pi swete bodi. ^f A swete Ihwu ' deore lemmon, nou p0u digest for me, hongynge on Rode-tre, & letest bin hed falle douw ' bat del hit is to se. be white of bin e^en • is tornd upward, ^f A Ihc.ru • nou deskeb be sonne. Nou be eorbe trembleb : and be stones bersten. Nou be temple cleoueb • for s<?nve of my lewnnon. Nou rysen vp be dede, in witnesse of bi godhede : & walkew in lerusalem ' as writen was biforen. ^[ Alias nobing ne serwes • ne nobing ne rewes : for my deore lemmon • bat pineful deb and schendful , wip-oute sake of2 suwne ' soffred on be cros. ^f A mi deore lewmon, mi serwe mi blisse • myn only lyues loue, bat di^edest so strong deb: for al pis worldes lyf; be pynfolest & reubfolest • pat euer bolede eni bodi, or mihte dyen onne : for be loue of me : ^[ A swete Ih^-ra bin ore ' Let me nou dyen • in bi blisful armes, from al be loue of bis world • in to be loue of be; so bat only bi loue • beo euer al my lykyng.

JJut ?}it my derworbe leof • whon bei hedden be slayn • al at heor wille, ne b^ou^te hem not bat Inou^ , bat bei se?e bi dede bodi ' so reubli honge on Roode; ne wolde bei not spare pe ' de[d]3 ne o-lyue, but brouhte forb Longius • bat was a blynd kniht, and token hiw a scharp spere • to stinge porw bin herte. so bet hit clef a-two ' and of bat ilke welle of lyf, borw bat grisly wou«de : runne two floodes : ^f bi Riche precious blod ' bat al be world bou^te, and bat deore holy water • bat al bis world wosch Of sake and of sywne, bat bei were fallen Inne : what borw heore oune gult • & Adames sunne. ^f A Ihesn swete lewmon • hou kuyndeliche openest pou me: pi defworpe herte • lyues and defaes, / fforte knowen witerli * al fai loue ber-inne, and writen hit dernely • in myn herte trewely, vttp trewe loue-lettres: of bin herte-blood. ^f Wib wronge bewne schulde I be • al myn herte wernen: sebfae bou hit bou^test • so harde & so dere : myn herte .wib fain herte ' mi loue vfip bi loue , mi soule viip al pi blisful bodi : & bin holy soule ! ^[ A , swete Ihmi gode leof • let me be bi seruauwt, & do me forte loxie be ' louynde lord ; set as depe pi loue • to brennen in myn herte : as bou wif) be speres ord • was stongen for me ; so pat onliche pi loue ' be euer al my lykyng, mi ijerniwg mi longyng, swete Ihmi heuene kyng, in bou^t and al my worching, wip-onten eny makyng ' of eny o\>ur mong.

l^Adi seinte Marie ' Moder & Mayden, muche was be serwe ' set at bin herte, whon bou at bi sones deb • stoode him so neih ! tou sei^ al his serwes • bat

' omit be? 2 r. Or. » Ms. del?

362 Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

was so harde bi-lad : ^f I-streyned on be Roode • his bodi al on bloode, be kene coroune vppow his hed : bat loueliche foode ; ^f His syde wif) be speres ord • opened so wyde ; bi feet and bi hondes ' to-reiht on vch a syde, be stremes of his deore blood ' bat gu«ne douw glyde: Ladi wo was be bi-gon: in bat ilke tyde. ^f J*ou lokedest on his swete leor • bi derlyng bi deore, houwgynge reub- liche ' on Roode in beues feere ; be peyne of his passion ' foe chauwgyng of his cheere, bin herte stongen porw-out • pi deb als hit weore — animam tuam pzr- transyuit gladius. ^[ l>ou fel swonynde doun ' ofte als I wene , and sikedest & sobbedest • ful sore bitwene; bi rode wox al won • bin heu; al grene, bat was biforehond so briht " so feir & so clene. ^f Ladi be teres • bat pou bere leete, pi breste & bi chekes ' maden al weete; pou lokedest vpward ' to him pat was so swete, & euer at be ende • ful sore bou dudest wepe. ^f Whon bou bi-heolde his wou«des ' so grz'sly and grete, and bat bou scholdest him for-gon ' & bodi- liche leete : ben wox in foi breste ' my ladi so swete , monyfold serwe • and muchel vnymete. ^f Ladi for bat serwe • bat sat be so sore, bat bou heddest for him • and he for foe ^ore , to slaken out of serwe • al bat foer-Inne wore : led hem to bi blisse ' al bat he foolede fore.

.L/Adi Milde Marie • Mooder of Merci, help of alle helplese • and suwful of1 hele, socour of alle serwe • & boote of alle bale, to alle bat trusten in be • and sechen bin helpe : ^f help me Marie ' milde queene, ladi of heuene . . . Empmsse and Maydew • & God«J deore Mooder. Derworbe ladi • for to saue synful : Ihi.ni Crist bicom fai sone ' and dude foe bat menske ; ffor vre sake weore pou maad ' Maiden Codes Mooder. Neore bow nou^t as pou art ' hi^ed ouer alle , qween of alle blisse : zif synful ne weore. For-bi ou^te« sunful • calle to foe sikerly, for whom faou hast bin hey^nesse ' and bi muchele grace, ^f Maiden and Moder foou art : and his Mooder bou art, his hondewerk foou art ' his spouse and his doubter : his pat welde and wrou^te ' alle maner schaftes, bat regnefa ay in blisse • wib-outen eny ende. ^f A swete ladi Marie • muchel is foat menske : ener to ben in blisse • such a sonej Mooder, vrip al hoi Maydenhod ' and Maydenes menske ; and hast him so in baundouw ' and al at fai wille: foat he wole al bat foou wolt ' ouer-al be forbed. And forte schewen vs bis ' he streihte be his Riht arm • as he heng on Roode ' and bouwede touward be • his derworbe hed ' as ?if he seide to be: »Moder al bat bou wolt * schal ben at bi wille«. ^f A swete ladi ' whi ne haue I euere ' by-fore myn herte ei^en • ^oure breo serwes: foi sone i-streyht on Roode • foorw-driuen feet and hondes ' wz/5 Irene nayles , blodi his syde ; and bou stode him bi • and seynt Ion be Ewangelist, weopynde on eiper half ' wifa serewhful sykes. ^f Whi ne bi-holde I eu^re ' bis in myn herte, and foenke bat hit was for me ' and for ohur suwfol, faat he rudde out of helle • and ^af vs heuene-blisse? ^f tis faou^t wolde sikerliche ' cundle a brewnynde loue; foat weore foe herte neu^r so cold • ne schulde neuer su«ne • ben folfuld in dede her [foat] bou^t ware.

*\ Ladi foi2 loye • bou heddest of his vprist, after al pi serwe " foe foridde day of his defo; whon foou vfip bin ei^en • se?;e him o-lyue, in vndedliche lyf • to liuen wifa-outen ende ! I*er com foe cuwfort • and loye after care : whon foou

1 r. and of sunful. - r. l>e.

A talking of the love of God. 263

se^e hi#z glorifyet • bobe god and mon, his bodi bat was seuenfold • bri^tor ben be sonne ; blisful was be swete siht ' be to loken onne ! // Ladi for bat blisse ' bat bou heddest b«nne, bring me to bat blisse • bat bou wonest Inne. And parte \rip me of bi deol • in herte for to felen • sum of his serwe • bat bou for him heddest. And help me bat I here mote dyen • in oure bobes loue: and rysen at domes-day • in owe bofoes1 blisse; I>at I may fyer felen • be fruit of bugginge : and ^e brouken of me ' bat was so den? bou^t.

A. swete Ihesu. sweete leof • my lemmon my deore lord, swettest of alle foing • my leue lyf my lyues loue: // bou me hast defendet ' a^eyn myn enemys breo, wib al bi lyf • wib bi deb, and madest of me vnworbi: bi lemmon and bi spous, // and brou^test me so seliliche • out of be false word2, as bin owne derliwg • to fain owne boure, ^| and as I weore bin owne brid ' here in to bi cage, to wone vrif foi-self ' in bis holy place, pat no mon of al bis word ' ne bar me wib delen: but fai-self al one * ^j Ihfju my deore le#zmon ; where bat I may be sen • In muynde so priuely ' and wouwe be so louely • and cluppe be swetely • and clepe be so redili, and as I were bi druri ' ay dwelle be bi; ^f wib a loue longyng ' and a stille mournyng, bat me ne schal beo lykyng ' in faou^t of worldliche bing, but in Ilu.ru heuene kyng, mi leue lyf mi derlyng, bat hab me loueliche lad • in to bis sell wonyng. ^f A lord blessed mote bou be • bat hast ordeynt for me • bobe mete and drinke : clofaing and ober ping • & me ne bar not swynke, but only tende to be: Thesu blessed mote foou be. ^f A swete Ihesu swete leof • my lyues loue my swetyng, bou hast maad me of nouht, fro be deb bou hast me boujjt , ffrom be world in to bi chauwbre : leue lord bou hast me brou^t, and more blisse bou hast me hi^t : ben wib herte may be faou^t. ^f A , swete Ihwu my deore lemmon • bat bus muchel hast don for me : what may I bewke ' what may I speke ' what may I worfaly don: for be loue of be? what may I ^elde be ' what may I bole for be ' a^eyn bat bou hast fooled for me ? ^f A, mi swete spouse ' mi deore loue : me be-houeh bat bou beo ' eefa for to paye , as I wot wel bat foou art ; for a wrecche bodi and a weyk • I haue heer on eorbe, bat I hedde of bi ?ifte ' fill feir & ful clene, but I haue muchel enpeyred hit ' and lodliche I-fuiled. ^f But ^it such as hit is, I ziue hit pe enterlycbe ' to bi seruise : nayled and sprad faste in my roode ' in pis holy ordre , as pou weore nayled for me ' in pin harde roode. ^f And here wol I dwellen • w/^5 be my swete lewmon: and neuer-more wol I • of my Roode comen, neu^r whil bat I lyue: for foe loue of be; pen wol I beo grauen ' heer vnder be eorbe ' as b?u weore grauew for me: and on domes-day wol I rysen a^eynes be, and we«de« faewne al horn wib be : and wonen in bi blisse • bat bou greibest nou ' vche day to me. ^f A swete Ih^^u leone lyf • so murie and so swete hit is ' forte dwellen heere , on Rode as bi fere, to bole pyne for pi loue • bat bou^tej/* me so dere.

X^ Or whon I in my soule ' wib al hoi muynde ' seo pe so reubly • hongen on Rode ' bi body al on blode, bi limes al to-rey^te • bi loyntes al to-pli^te, pi wou«des and bi leoue leor • bat was so briht and so cleer, ben now mad so grz'sli ' and bow lord so mekely ' tok hit al so lonely • for me bat was bin enemy: be«ne fele I redili • a tast wonder ferli' of bi derworfae loue ' bat

1 Ms. bo{>es. - = world. J st. overlined.

364

Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

precious druri. bat fulleb myn herte so ' bat al worldliche wo: hit makej) me binken hony-swet ' whoderward so euer i go. *T Swete lord bin ore • where is eny blisse ' a^eyn |)e tast of bi loue • at bin owne come: \Vhon byn otme Moder • so lonely of chere, byn owne bodi on be cros ' derworbe deore, in be selue liknesse • bat p0u bewne were, beodeb me to cluppen • as myn owne fere. 1 fcewne ginneb be loue • to springen at myn herte, and glouweb vp in my brest ' wowderliche hote : be loue-teres of myn neb • rewnen ful smerte, my song is likynge of lone ' al w//>-oute note. I lepe on him raply ' as grehouwd on herte, al out of my-self ' w//» loueliche leete1: and cluppe in myn annes ' be cros bi be sterte, be blood I souke of his feet • bat sok is ful swete. ^f I cusse and I cluppe ' and stuwte oberwhile, as mon bat is loue-mad • and seek of lone-sore : i loke on hire \>at him briwgeb ' and heo biginneb to smyle, as bau^ hire likede wel • and wolde i dude more. I lepe eft \>er i was • and anntre me bore, i cluppe and I cusse ' as I wood wore: I walewe and i sonke ' i not whuche while, and whon I haue al don • ^it me luste more. *[ fcewne fele I bat blood • in bou^t of my Mynde , as hit weore bodilich ' warm on my lippe : and be flesch on his feet • bifore and beohynde, so softe and so swete ' to cusse and to cluppe2. Heo openeb hire Mantel • bat ladi so kuynde, and happeb vs b^r-vnder ' in bat muri fitte; ^if eni mon vs askeb • beer men may vs fynde, as hem bat lykef) b<rr foei ben • & lob is for to flitte. ^[ Swete le/wmon leoue lyf / mony wo haue bei • bat are not holliche w»/> be: in biw holi cluppyng. But wel is me pat I may , eumnore niht and day , al bis world forsaken • and beo w//> be al one. ^j" Also my swete Thesu ' my deore lyues loue, as f>0u on be roode • sperred wib be* nayles ' ^eue bi soule out of bi bodi ' for f>e loue of me: ^f also my swete lewmon • I as on my Rode " sperred in myn ordre • from worldliche murbes • and fleschliche lustes • in peyne wib be, j;eue my soule • and my bodi • and al myn herte blisse: w//> al be lust of my lyf • to be loue of be. And I preye be derworbe lord • for foyn holy nome: bat b0u receyue loueli ' of me wrecche vnworbi • bat ^ifte so freoly ' al in to bi merci, bat I neuer loue obwr biwg • but al one foe. ^[ For I ne may nou^wher my loue • my bodi ne my sonle : bi-setten better elles-where ' ben on be al one, so louelich lord as b0u art ' so worbifnl and so precious , in bodi & in soule : and eke in deite , bat hast only in bi-self ' alle man^r bi«ge: wherfore eny bing • mai be loue-worbi. ^[ For ^if I my wrecche loue • beode for to sullen , and sette |)eron as hei^ pris • as herte may beo-benken: ^ut weore al bat for nou^t • pot bou ne most hit hauen. For sikerliche my swete lewmon • f>0u hast don more b^rfore: and ^it woltou more don • ben I my-self con benken : And berfore I coude not • ymagen so hei^ pris, bat bou nast don heer-tofore • moni-fold more. For lord whon bat I nas nou^t • be«ne bou me maadest : and bat lyk bi-seluen ; and for fo0u madest me lord • al bat I am: I am al bat I am • holden to be one. For in bat ilke makyng: b0u madest me so clanly • so feir and enterly, w//5-outen lac of eny lyme : lyk bi-self al-one , wib al my fyue wittes ' resonable as angel , and bin holy angel • a-signet my seruaunt, and nou^t onliche he: but also bi-seluen; and don me muchel more, ^iue me wib4 my cristendam • al hoi bi-seluen,

and muchel more ben I con ' my-self vnderstonden. *" 5Bnt ^it bow [bat]

1 r. lote. * r. clippe. * r. J>re? « Ms. wij) me trif. * The last part offers difficulties in text and metre, owing probably to its not being fully perfected by the poet.

A talking of the love of God. 255

madest me • faou art so noble in fai-self ' an hondred bousend fold • and vnymete more: ben al bis world may faenken. And also muchel as b0u art wort/* • ami holden to be, bat al bi-self hast ^iuen to me: and madest me of nou^t. // Wher- fore in pat wit • pat p0u lord hast ^iue« to me, wot I wel forso|)e and seo ' pat I am holden • fully to loue pe for me, and bat p<?u hast me don • muchel more monyfold • ben I con seon or knowen ; and ^it a pousend-fold ' and vni- mete more ' am I holden for bat p0u art • more pew for my-seluen.

JJut swete Iht'ju my lyues loue ' nou^t onliche madest p<m me of nou^t : But pwto, whon I was loren porw myn oune defaute , faou fouwde me and bou^test me ' a?eyn wib bi blod. But what ^ue1 btm for me ' to bugge me to blisse? forsobe lord a deore prys: fai-self to foe deb. ^[ But swete lewmon leoue lyf ' of my furste makyng: am I holden to be • muchel more ben I am • & more ben I con faenken ; and sifaen of my fyndyng • & of my deore buggyng, bat fo0u me bou^test w//5 bi def) • am I nou double holdew. But so nmchel monyfold • and vnimete more: is in bat deore buggyng ' bi derworfae loue i-kud ' ben was in bat makyng, bat I ne wot what I may siggen • ne rikene fat'ronne. «[ But ouer in(!) al bis worldes wit ' may nempnew or penken ' am I holdew so fer • and so muchel more: bat al bat euer may beo bou^t • al nis as riht nou^t • a^eyn bat I am holden. ^[ But ^it my swete derlyng ' my lyues loue my swetyng, not onliche madest p0u me of nou^t ' and after whon bat I was lorew • a^eyn b0u bou^test me -wip bi deb • so deore vppon be Roode : But ^it ouer al bis • {iou hast me trewely be-het • al bi-self in blisse ; bou bat2 me madest so • and me so deore bou^test, woldest wedde me to be * & ^iuew eu^rmore bi-self • al hoi to be myn owne.

x\ swete Ihesu my leoue lyf • my le/«mon my gode lord, mi swetyng my derlyng • swettest ouer alle bing: ^f what schal I nou siggen? ffor nou am I farefold holden for to louen be • // In as muchel as I am • // and brefold more ben I con • // and farefold w»J5-outen meb more foerc in al bis world: vfif herte may beo faou^t. ^[ On is for my makyng • ^f anober for my buggyng, be faridde is for my weddyng: to be myn owne spouse, ^f A Mi swete lewmon : what schal I nou don : pat I nam but o-fold • and I-holdew to be ' al my-self brefold, muche more vche fold: ben herte may faenken? ^f Nou swete Ihwu leoue lyf ' my derworfae lewmow : al fae faou^t bat i con • onliche hit is for be , where bat I may fynde loue: Inou^ for to ^eue be. // And bau^ I wuste where ' so muche loue to fynden: ne haue I wher to leggen hit ' ne wher-in to don hit. ^f For wel I wot be sobe ' faat baus; my sely herte ' weore widdore and largore ' ben is al bis wyde world: ^it weore hit not suffisa«t • half bat loue to holden, ne be bousend part • b^of to biclosen ; ffor wel I wot sikerly ' bat neede hit moste berste« : wi|) strengfae of loue-longyng • to pe my leoue lord, ^f Swete Ihwu my leoue lyf " my lewmon so deore, ffeir swetely and freo ' and louely of chere, let me beo fai seruauwt ' and serue fae here: faat I may in fai blisse ' sitte be neere. ^[ Swete Ihmi my lyues loue , bat sittest so hei^e in heuene aboue, ^ what schal I don • ^f what schal I seyen ' f what schal I benken in bi loue ? For hit is so wonder muchel ' wifa-outew eny3 bigynnynge, bat bou me formedest

1 Ms. yue. 2 Ms. {)(it J)<?u. 3 r. in J)e.

366

Pieces of Ms. Vernon.

furst ' and madest lyk piself of nou^t; ^f and eft ^it hit is so muchel in pe middel worchyng: |)at wz/> pi bodiliche lyf • p0u hast me sipen longe I-sou^t, and wz/> pi def) pat was so hard " vppon pe Roode so deore bou^t; and hei^test me more monyfold : ben vrip herte may be [bjou^t1. For al bi-self al one • al- weldinde lord, wrrey god and sobfast mon • in bodi and in soule, bou hast me hi;$t trewely • forte ben myn oune, in more blisse endeles ' ben herte may benken. And tokne special • bifore mony obwre, bow takest me of bi cortesy • as bin owne druri : Drawew out of bis false world : my trichour and myn enemy, and put me her priueli ' to lere me louely ' ffor to siwggew swetely ' in pin oune cage: so pat bou beo al my song • vrip loue-teres euer among, bat i do neu^r bat wrong ' to makew eni obwr mong • of no worldliche brong ' til tyme of myn heben-^ong, bat I hefaene to bi-self: make my passage.

ijut swete Ih&ra leue lyf • my lyues loue mi lewmon , loue be wol I as I con ' and leten for no mon. For nou wot I what I wol don. Siben bat be loue of be ' is so vnymete muchel ^f bat I ne con not benken b*rof no bi- gynnyng ' for my furste makyng; ^f ne I ne con seo b^rof • mesure in be middel ' for my middel buggyng ' wi{) bi deore dicing ; ne I ne con ber-onne ' benke now endyng ' for my troube pli^tyng • pat I made at chirche-dore : whon I was a child ^yng • to pyn owne weddyng: ^f Swete Ihmi swete leof ' sipen I ne con of pi loue • be-gy«nyng ne endyng, forsope swete lewmon • swettest of alle bing, a-midde bi loue I wol me don ' bitwene to bin armes; ^f and bere wo I Islepen and waken, and b^re my preyers maken, murpes in mournyng ' per wol I taken, and al pis worldes lykyng • for pi loue forsaken. ^[ Per wol I cluppen & cussen , and swete loue-sawes ine wissen, and in a lykynde ba{) ' bap en of blisse, per flowe teres of loue • wip-outen eny lisse. ^f Per wol I souken of pi syde, past openep a^eyn me so wyde, wip-outen eny fluttiyng ' p^r wol I a-bide, as2 hit was opened for me ' so blessed be bat tyde. ^[ IVr wol I lyuen and d[e]ye, bi-loken in byn armes twey^e, and be my lef loueliche preye, pat pou me so vrip pi loue t[e]y^e, pat I may of pi merci wij) pi-self stei^e, to loue pi fader in siht of his eyze. ^[ A swete Ihmi swete lef ' my deore herte my lyues loue, mi lyf • mi de{) • mi blisse: ffor bou ordeyndest me • to bi deore lewzmon, Bi-twene bin armes ley I me , bi-twene myn armes cluppe I be ; nou ^if me felyng • in be wz/>outen ending, and hold me in bi kepyng , swete Ihwu heuene kyng. Amew.

1 Ms. bou^t. 2 Ms. as as.

Works wrongly attributed to E. Eolle.

Many religious tracts have, both early and recently1, been attributed to R. Rolle without sufficient authority, or erroneously. This remark applies chiefly to Tanner, the acknowledged authority in medieval bibliography , whose long list of works of R. Rolle (Bibl. Brit. 1748, p. 375) contains divers pieces that are either doubt- ful (no older or northern Mss. being as yet known to exist) or spurious (being later adaptations, imitations, or translations of works of bis) ; while others (as the Scale of perfection) must be ascribed to W. Hilton. Many of these pieces are found in Ms. Harl. 1706 (and Douce 322), the same Ms. that contains the pieces printed in 1516 unter R. Rolle's name (ed. p. 72 — 123); others in Rawl. C 894, Reg. 17 C xvill (these 2 Mss. having the same contents), Corp. Chr. Coll. Oxf. 220 (contains N. 6 — 8) ; others in Ms. Univ. Coll. Oxf. 97, &c.

i. (Consilia Isidori).

Ms. Harl. 1706.

(Ascribed to R. Rolle by Tanner. This piece occurs twice in the same Ms. Harl. 1706, fol. 140, and fol. 90; also in Rawl. C 894, Reg. 17 C xvm fol. 104. It is a close translation of a Latin text extant — with works of R. Rolle — in Ms. Mm vi. 17 (without title) and printed with the Speculum Christiani by Wil. de Machlinia 1484?) under the title: Sequuntur monita de verbis b. Ysidori extracta ad instruendum hominem qualiter vicia valeat euitare et in bonis se debeat in- formare. The headings are a later addition ; in Mm all the sections begin with O homo. The translation agrees more with Machlinia's text than with Mm; it is possibly by W. Hilton or one of his followers.) f. 140.

'l These ben the gadered counsey[les] of seynte Isodre, to confenne man howe [he] schalle fle vyces and folowe vertues.

^j" Consyderacyon of a man hym-selfe.

\J Man, knowe pi-sylfe4, knowe what pou arte, knowe by begynnynge : whye pou were borne, into what vse or ende pou were goten, why p0u were maade &, to what binge in pis worlde pou were formede. Haue mynde of by makynge6, b[e]7 suche as pou were maade, ^ee suche as pi maker formede pee, suche as pi creator ordeyned pee8.

T^

Off yuel pou^ttys9.

IlLuery day ransake pin herte , euery day examyne bin herte ; kepe pi soule fro synnefulle pou;te, and5 lette not foule pou?te ouer-prowe !0 pi mynde. Whan a

Pore Caitiff; in Ji VI. 40, f. 207, an extract fro

2 68 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms Harl. 1706.)

schrewed pou^te towechefa bee, consent not to hyt ; kylle pe serpent * whane he

fyrste apere|), trede a-downe pe serpentys hede, ^[ caste vnder foote pe by-

gynnynge of yuelle suggestyon or styrynge to synne, amend synne pere w[h]ere yt

is knowen2. In pe bygynnynge wipstond a schrewde pou^te , and pou schalte

ascape welle the remenaunte.

Off chastyte.

J3e pou3 not defoulyd wifa eny vnclennes, be pou not spotted faoru^e eny luste; lete lechyrye growe no more in |)e. ^[ Chastyte ioyneb a man to god, to chastyte ys byhyte pe kyngdome of heuen. Yf pou ^ite fele the styryngges of pi flesche, yf pou ^ite be touched vrip pryckenges of pi flesshe , yf pou ^ite be styryd \vip pe suggestyon of luste, yf pe mynde of lecherye tykylle ^ite pi wylle, yf pi flesshe j^ite fy^te a^ens pe , yf lecherye ^it temptep pe, and3 yf luste ^it styreb the to synne: sette byfore pee pe mynde of deep, putte byfore pee pe day ofe pi deep, sette byfore pinne y^en pe ende of pi lyf, putte byfore pee pe streyte dome pat is to come , putte byfore pee pe hard tormentys pat ben to come , sette byfore bee be euerlastynge fyer of helle, putte byfore pee pe orryble peynes of helle.

Off contynuale preyer.

1 reye4 wifa wepynge contynually, preye besylye , byseche god day and ny^te, morne and sorowe euer for synne. Aryse in be ny^te to preyer. Lette preyer be to pe contynualle armure. ^f fcis ys pe fyrste vertu a^ens temptacyon: deuellys ben ouercome by preyer; preyer avaylep a^en alle yuellys.

Off fastynge.

Vxhastyse pi body, by fastynge, by abstynence and by scarsnese; pon ma[i]ste not ouercome temptacyons in her hy^e hete, but yf pou be lemed to faste. toru^ mete forsope groweb luste, plente of mete styreb pe flessh to lecherye; but by fastynge luste ys restreyned, by fastynge lecherye ys ouercome.

Off drynke.

.LJrynke forsobe ys pe Snstrumente of lecherye. Fyer by castynge-to of wode encreseb more and more; pe more mater ys in pe fyer, pe more ys pe flame.

Off lokynge.

J. hynne y^en ben pe fyrste dartys of luste, sy^te ys desyer of woman, and womatt of man5; mynde ys cau^te by be jr^en. Wi fa-draw bin y^en from wantownes, set hem not in the bewte of flesshe ; byholde not a woman to desyre hyr , do awey the cause of synnynge, and3 leue6 bysydes pee pe mater of trespassynge ; yf faou wolte be sure fro lecherye , be faou descenered fro womew, bofa in body and sy^te.

Off wommen.

If faou be departed in body from wommen, pou schalte [falle] from pe entente of synne. Yf p<?u sytte bysydys a serpente, f)0u schalte not longe be unhurte; yf pou be longe byfore a fyre , ^he alle-pou; faou were made of yren , sume tyme |)ou schuldeste melte ; yf bou abyde ry?te nye perelle, pou schalt not longe be syker. Ofte-tyme leyser7 hafa ouercome whom wylle my^te not.

Off good bysynes.

.L/echerye ouercomefa 8 soone a man ^ouen to ydylnes, luste brennep greuousely whom sche fyndefa ydylle. Luste -jeueb place to trauele, to werke, to bysynes and to laboure. I^rfore be ware of ydylnes, lede not pi lyfe in ydylnes, spende9 pi body in laboure, vse sume maner of bysynes, seke vnto pe sume profytable werke10 where-vpon pe entent of pi soule may be sette.

1 Lat. scorpio. 2 Lat nascitur(!). 3 al om. « Ms. Preyer. » and— man ai. om.

6 al. ley ; Lat aufer. t L. assiduitas. 8 R ouerturnyth. 9 al. were ; L. fatiga. 10 R wirker.

Consilia Isidori. 750

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

Off redynge.

^,eue be moche to redynge, take hede in medytacyon of scrypture, bysye be in pe lawe of god; haue a customable vse in deuyne bokes. Redynge trewely [techeb] what foou schalt schone . . . l, redynge tellef) whyder faou goeste. In redynge, wytte and vndyrstondynge encreseb. Pou schalt moche profy;te in redynge , yf faou do as bou redyste.

Off mekenesse.

JJe bou meke, be bou grounded in mekenesse, [be faou]* laste and loweste of alle. By mekenesse make bi-selfe leste8, sette fai-selfe before noman, trowe bi-selfe a- boue noman; a-vaunte not bi-selfe, boste not bi-selfe4, enhaunce not bi-selfe wanntounly ; streche not forf)e be wynges of pryde ; so moche pou schalt be foe more precyouse afore god , pat pou setteste lytylle pryce by ^i-selfe. ^f Bere before schamefastenes in chere by mynde of j)i defau;ttes, for schame of bi synnes be dysmayed to loke prowedly , walke wib a lowe chere , wi{> a meke moube, and wif) a sad vysage. In hy;e worschype, haue grete mekenesse ; alle- bou^ bou be of hy;e power , restreyne hy;nes in pi-sylfe , lete not worschype make be prowde ; pe hey;er bou arte in dygnyte , be lower by mekenesse f>ou make bee.

Sadnes of mynde.

.De not sory in fai dysesys5, in fai sekenesse banke bou god. ^f Be rather more bysy6 to be hoole in soule, ban in body. If prosperytees 7 come: be faou not prowde; yf aduersytees falle : be bou not heuy. Knowe in8 bi-selfe bat god hab prowued pe in sorowe for pat bou schuldeste not be prowd. Be euen b^Hbr in alle fainges; for ioye neyber for sorowe chaunge neuer bi mynde. Vnderstonde welle foere is nobinge but yt may falle as god wolle, and yf foese binges be bou;[t]e on byfore, £ei ben be esyer whan bey falle« ; and b^rfor what- so-euer happe^, suffre yt mekely wi{) fre wylle.

B<

Off paciencye.

)e more redy to suffre dysese, pen to do yt. Be pacyent, be meke, be softe, be esy. Kepe pacyence in alle fainges, kepe softenes, kepe mekenes. Sette by- fore a scharpe worde be schylde of sufferaunce, and8 bou^ eny man sterre be to wrafae, bou^ he whette bee, faou^ he chyde bee, bou; he blame be, bou; he repreue pee , bou; he do wronge to bee : be bou stylle , holde bi pees , sette not faere-by9, speke not a worde9 bere-a;ens; for by sylence pou schalte be sonner ouercome.

(Of manhod10.)

JL/erne of Cryste manlynes, take hede at Cryste and be not heuy ; he sufferynge wrongges lete to vs ensample. *|f He bobbyd and buffetyd, spytte vpon and scorned , nayled honde and foote , crowened wifa pornes , dampned to pe crose : euermore helde hys pees; ... "and so tempre pou pi dysese by consyderacyon of ry;tewysnes — and bou schalte suffre yt foe ly;telyer, yf foou take hede wherefor yt comeb.

Off peece.

i-/oue peece wipoute-forpe , loue peece w//>inforpe , kepe peece w«j5 alle men, wipholde alle men in myldenesse, beclyppe charyte; proue more pi-selfe to

i aL add: Redynge shewith what l>ou owiste to drede; L. lectio docet quid teneas(l). 2 Ms. oon, al. be thou. 3 R om By— leste. « R om boste— Jnselfe. s al. disese. « al. be besy rathar. ' al. prosperhe. * al. om. » R adds: kepe silence, answere not wronge, strive not pere-ayenste. w al. no new title. » al. a_dd: ferefore what disese euer fall* to the,

witt pou well* it comyth to the for synne and for thi beste.

n. 24

370 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

loue ben faou to be louyd. Make peece faere hate ys; haue stabybies of mynde,

haue goodnes of wylle , be redy in good desyre , speke gladly to alle men ; flee

chydynge, be ware of stryues, do awey be occasyon of stryffe, dyspyse stryfFe,

and lyue alwey in peece; stryffe not in eny wyse.

Off compassyon.

_De not glade vppon be deeb of fain enemye , leeste perauenture vppon be falle be same, ijhe and1 leeste god turne hys wrafae fro hym to pee. Who forsof)e ioyeb of be falle of hys enemye, he schalle sone falle into be same, ^f Be [not]2 glade to sorow vppon hym bat ys dy[s]esyd; in ofaer mennys mysesys be not harde-hertyde, and so of er mewnys myscheefe morne as fain owne.

Folowynge of goodnesse.

in alle fai bysynes , in alle fai werkys , in alle bi lyuynge folowe good men, folowe hooly men , hane before bin y?en be ensample of seyntys , take hede to worche welle after vertues of hooly men, lerne to lyue welle by be techynges of ry^tewys men.

Dyspysynge of preysynge.

JLJispyse pou cheryschynge, preysynge and fauoure of peplys; stodye raper to be good ben to seme good ; take noon hede who preysep pee, or who dyspyseb bee, leste preysynge dysceyue pee, or blamynge lete bee. If pou sette not be preysynge, ly^tely bou schalt sette bysydys be 3 blamynge. faerfor suppose not fai- selfe good, faou^ bou be holde goode in ofaer mennys tungges; aske fain owen conscience, deme bi-selfe by bin owne dome, 'and not by ofaer mennys speche but in fain owne mynde enscherche bi-selfe ; faere may noman knowe better what bou arte, faen faou faat knoweste bi-selfe ; what pr<?fytep [it] face, syfaen pou arte a schrewe, to be hoolde goode?

Honeste conu^rsacyon.

.T lee faou symulacyon, feyne not holynes in derke clofainge4; suche as faou woldeste be holde in alle fai conu^rsacyon5, suche be bou in dede. 'Schewe fay professyon in lyuynge, and not in tokenes oonly; in clopinge and in-goynge haue wip be sympylnesse, in pi gate and in bi mouynge clennes, in bi berynge sadnes, in fai walkynge honeste; nobinge of vylonye, nofainge of vnclennes , nobinge of wantownes, and nofainge of wyldenes. ^f B«r ware in fai gouernau«ce bat bere apere nofainge of beestelynes. ^eue not to ofaer men cause to scorne face, ^eue not to eny man occasyone to bacbyte bee.

Good felowschype.

Ochone yuele men, be ware of wyked men, flee schrewys, dele not wifa bro- belles; flee fae companyes of fao men rafaeste whiche ben euer redy to vyces. loyne pe wib good men, desyre fae felouschyppe of dyscrete men, seke fae com- panyes of vertues men; for who [so] goep wifa wyse men, he schall be wyse; and who so draweb to folys, schalle be lyke to hem; for lyke to lyke ys woned to be ioyned.

Kepynge of pinne eres.

Ochytte pin eres faat faou here none yuele; forsake vnchaste spechys, flee vnhoneste wordys; for a vayne worde soon defoulep pe soule; and pat ys ly?tly doon [faat is]8 gladly herde soone.

1 zhe and al. om. 2 om ; L. non delectet te dolor super eum qui afflictus est. 3 L. reiicies. 4 L. obscuriori veste. s in — conu. al. om. ' Lat. professionem tuam habitufl) et incessu

demonstra; sit in incessu tuo siraplicitas, in motu puritas, in gestu grauitas, in incessu honestas ; nichil indecorum, nichil lasciuie, nichil petulancie, nichil leuitaris in incessu tuo appareat; non prebeas de te aliis spectaculum, non des aliis obtrectandi locum. 7 Ms. By. • Ms. and;

R that is.

Consilia Isidori. 37 j

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

Kepynge of pinne moupe.

_L,ete nopinge passe1 pi moupe pat my^te lette vertue. Lete pe sowne of pi voyce brake* nopinge but pat pat3 nedyp. Lete pat precede of pi lyppys pat defoulep not pe erys of pe herer. A veyne worde ys taken4 of a veyne conscyence ; pe tunge of man schewep hys maners, and suche as pe worde ys, suche ys pe soule, for pe moup spekyp of pe5 habundaunce of pe herte. Refreyne pi tunge from veyne speche and ydyle, for an ydyle worde schalle not passe vnponysshede ; who so wylle not refreyne hys tunge from ydyle wordys , he schale falle ly^tely in to synefule wordys. Lete pi worde be w*j5-owte reprefe, lete yt be profitable to the6 herers. f Bysye be not [to] speke pat pat lykep, but pat pat nedep. Take hede what pou spekeste & what pou spekeste not, and bope in spekynge and not spekynge be ry^te ware. Take good avysemente what pou seyeste, leste pou mayste7 not calle aijen pat pat pou seydeste. Flee pe chaunces of tunge, lete not pi tunge lese pee. Haue euermore scylence to pi frende ; speke whan tyme ys, and be stylle whan tyme ys; speke not or pou here, and lete askynge open pi moupe.

Synne of bacbytynge.

.Dacbyte not be synner, but be sory for hym. Kutte8 fro pi tunge the synne of bacbytynge, hurte not a noper manys lyfe . . . 9. ^[ That pat pou bacbytyste in a noper, drede pou pat in pi-selfe ; whan pou blameste anoper, repfreue] l* pin owen defawtys11. If pou wolte bacbyte, penke on pin owen synnes; byholde12 not oper mennys trespasses, but inwardely by-holde pin owne ; pou schuldeste neuer bacbyte, yf pou wolte byholde pi-selfe. ^f Here no bacbyters, lysten not to tale-tellers; for lyche gylty ben pe bacbyters and pe herers. Desyre not pou to wytte pat pat perteynyp not to pee; po pingges13 fat men speken by-twene hem- selfe, bysye pe not to knowe; axe pou neuer what eny man spekep, seyep or doep ; be not to bysye14, leue suche [bysynes pat perteynep not to pee; by as grete]15 bysynes amende pin synnes, by howe myche pou byholdyste oper mennys.

Off lyynges.

lee bysylye alle maner of lyynge, and neyper by hape ne be avysemente sey pou neuer16 fals; ffor the moupe pat lyep: sleep pe soule. I*erefor flee dysc[e]yte, avoyde lesynges, be ware of falsenes, speke clenly, be trewe in worde; deceyue no man in lyinge, ne brynge no man in to mys-wenynge. ^[ Speke not oo pinge & doo a nopere ; sey not oo pinge and mene anop^re.

Off swerynge.

L utte from pe swerynge , doo awey pe vce of swerynge. Vengiaunce goof) not fro pe housys of hem17 pat swerep myche, but schulde18 be fulfyllyd wij) wyckednesse. <([ Hit ys perylouse sopely for to swere, for ofte swerynge make > pe5 custome of swerynge19. Treuep nedep noonoope; a feypfulle speche holdep the place of a sacramente — 20as who seip : a feypfulle worde ys as myche as alle the sweryuge of pe worlde20.

Off a-vowe made.

JL/o pe good pat pou haste be-hote ; be not ly^te in worde and harde in dede. I>0u schalte be myche gylty to god, yf pou Decide not pat pat pou haste a-vowede ; pel dysplesen god pat fulfylen not her avowys ; pey ben a-counted amonges hepew men pat performen not her avowys. 20I seye not of avowes pat ben yuelle, but good; ffor yf pou poru^ pin owne folye haste made a fonned a- vowe, poru; pe doome of a dyscrete man be yt wysely turned in to good"0.

Fi,

i al. p. out of. 2 al. br. forth. * R at. « al. tokyn. * al. om. 8 al. to the

helpe of the. " al. may. 8 al. Kitt. * al. add: defoule not thi mouth of a no^er mans synnes. I0 Ms. repente. n al. synnes. lz al. loke not vpone o. m. defaltis , but see.

i» al. Jat. l* Lat. euita curiositatem. »* om. >« al. not. >' al. fro his house. w al. and he shall. 19 Lat. periurii. W-?o added.

24*

372 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

To god alle fringe ys open.

Oeye not an yuele worde in pin herte: an yuele worde may not be hydde in scilence; bat binge1 bat pou doeste or seyeste wip-in pi-selfe, byleue bou verely1 bat yt ys open be-fore god; if men ben stylle, bestes speken. tVrfor flee synne as bou^ bou my^te not kepe yt preuye , synne bou bere where b<m knoweste god ys not ; for bere ys no pinge hydde fro hym. £ou schalte be funden gylty in be iugementys of god, pou^ pou be hydde to mannys iugementys; ffor he be- holdeb be herte, bat ys wibinforbe he seeb, and knoweb bat man hym-selfe knowef) not. ^f 2Turne by counceylle and bi werke evermore to god, in euery dede aske goddys helpe ; arette pou alle binges to goddys grace and to goddys ?ifte, truste not to pin owne desertys, in pin owene vertu presume pou nopinge2.

Ti

Off conscience.

here may no man flee 3 hym-selfe, & pou^ an opene fame harme be not, [yit] 4 pin owne conscience dampnefa bee ; ffor fere ys no peyne gretter perl ys pryckynge of conscience. If bou woldeste neuer be sorye, lyue welle; a syker conscyence suffereb esylye heuynes , a good lyuer hab euermore ioye ; be con- science of a synnefulle man ys euermore in peyne, 5a gylty soule ys neuer- more syker ; neyper wounde neiper deep schalle fere pe , yf pou lyue welle and treuely.

Hydynge of vertu.

If p(?u wolte multyplye pi vertues, schewe hem not by bi wylle, [hide thi vertues] 6 for dred of pryde and veyneglorye; flee to be seen and ban bou deserueste mede7; bat b«t bou mayste lese by schewynge, kepe pou yt be hydynge.

Off confession.

Ochewe be synnys of bin herte, make open p*'8 sch[r]ewed bounties. A synne schewed ys sone helyd; a defau^te forsobe hyde ys made more, synne doon ' by scylence encreseb more and more. Truly yt behoueb more to schone yuele ben to amende yt , leste parauenture whan bou falleste bere-ynne, b<m mayste not avoyden 9 yt.

Of fore-bou^te.

Jjy-binke10 be longe byfore be deede, avyse [be] longe byfore be warke bat bou wolte doo ; encerche yt longe , proue yt longe and so do yt. And whan l bou haste longe by-pon^te bee, do j)ou banne as bou haste proued; in pinges pat ben certeyne of welle-doynge , tary not in puttynge"-ouer tylle to pe morowe. ^[ In good pinges tariynge harmeb, and lette[b]12 bo binges bat ben nedfulle13.

Le

Off techynge.

/erne bat b^u'canste note, lest bou be founden an vnprofytable techer; be good bat pou haste herde, seye yt; pe good bat bou haste lernyd, teche yt; be more [bat it is yeuen, be more]14 yt wexyfa. But [yet]15 lette 16dedys goo byfore f)e worde be whyche bcu scheweste wib {)i moube ; ffulfylle bou bat in warke whyche bou techeste in wordys, in schewyngf yt by ensample ; ffor yf pou teche and doo yt, pou schalte be holden gloryous. In bi techeynge kepe he from mannys preysynge ;

1 al. om. 2-2 follow in Lat. after next passage. 3 Ms. slee. * Ms. yf. * Ms. for a.

' T "* f~ — ""J — : ~uod esse meruisti. ^ Ms. J>e.

11 al. ne put. 12 Ms. letten.

1 al. om. •>-* tollow in L,at. alter next passage. * MS. sie * om; al.: hide thi vertues preuely. 7 Lat. fuge videri quc

9 L. reuocare. 10 The next 2 foil, are misplaced in the Ms.

13 So far the ist text in H. R adds here (as in Lat.):

Consilia Isidori. .577

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

so1 enforme ob<re bat foou 2kepe pi-selfe, so teche pat pou lese not pe grace of mekenesse; be ware whyle bou reyseste ofa^r by techynge, bat bou falle not bi-selfe be desyre of preysynge. Whan pou techeste, vse note derkenesse of wordys , sey so pat bou mowe 3 be vnderstonde ; be dyu^rsyte of p^rsonys ys to been seen ; where , howe , and whom pat pou techeste be avysed ; speke comon pinges to alle men, and to fewe men schewe pat ys hyd. Be not aschamed to speke pat pat foou canste welle defende; bat bat bou wanteste of kunnynge, aske of ober men. By kunnynge * trewely schewed hyde binges ben openned, and harde pinges ben made ly^te.

Curiosite.

.De not besy to knowe bat ys hyde, couyte note to knowe bat oweb not to be knowe. In dysputynge do awey stryfe, do awey frowardnesse and assente sone to pe troupe ; seye not a;ens ry^tewysnesse , stryfue not to avoyde pat ys ry^te; loue more to here pan to seye, here in pe begynnynge & speke pe laste of alle; pe laste speche [is]5 better ben be former6.

Off obedience.

W orsshype euery man for pe meryte of hys holynesse , after her worfaines '^eue to eche maw honoure. Suppose not pi-selfe euyn to pi souereyn, '^eue obedience7 to bin elders, serue to her byddyngges, bowe to her anctoryte, folowe her wylle ; abeye 8 to alle men in good byddynges ; ^ite so obeye bee to man bat pou offende note pe wylle of god. perfor fulfylle mekely pe charges pat bou haste take vpon pee, be obedyente to goddys ordynaunce, be not hardy to do a^ens hys wylle. Dyspose alle pinges not wip a sturdy wylle, but wib an esye herte. Be ware ofj worshippes [which pou maist not haue withoute synne ; the lightnes of worshippis]9 ys pe grettenes of synnes, and foe gretter bi degre ys be gretter ys foe peyne.

Off souereynte10.

Jje besy11 raber to be loued of bi sogettys, ben to be drade ; lette bi sogettys raber worschyppe pee and serue pe for loue, pen for drede or nede. Qwyte pe so12 to pi sogettys bat foou be more loued ben dred. Wib a souereyne goodnes gouerne bi sogettys; be not feerdefulle to bi sogettys13, be suche lorde to hem bat bey may be glad to serue be. Bobe in ponsshynge and in cheryschynge kepe a maner ; be not to streyte, ne for^eue not to sone, but kepe maner in alle pi werke. Hit longep to a wyse man to mesure alle pingges, leste of good be made yuelle. Byholde certeynly what ys conuenyable for pe tyme, wher, whan, howe, and wherfor, bou comaundeste eny binge to be done; and bat p0u woldeste were doon to bee, do bou bat to a nober. Be suche to ober mew as bou desyreste ober mew be to bee. ^[ Hynder noman wip pi wytnes ; do noman harme , leste p0u suffre pe same. Kepe manerlynes, kepe ry^tewysnes; defende nomaw a^ens troupe ; whyle pou demeste, be he pore be he ryche , byholde be cause and not be persoone. Kepe troupe in alle pingges ; sytte pou neuer in dome w*/5oute mercy. Be as meke in oper mennys defau^tys as in pin owne ; ^1 so deme oper men as pou desyreste to be demed bi-selfe. Whyle pou arte mercyfulle in op^re mennys gylte , pou haste mercy on pi-selfe ; the doome pat bou putteste vpon a noper, pou schalte bere bi-selfe. By what mesure bou mesureste , yt schalle be mesured a^en to foe. ^f Deme noman by suspecyon ; fyrste prou and so deme. In dou'^tys reserue pe sentence to goddys iugemente, 14 and at hys dome be yt demed; and bat bat f>ou welle knoweste, at bin owne •dome be yt demed.

1 Ms. Do. 2 Ms", mowe k. 3 al. om. * r. comunynge ; Lat. collacione enim certa

clarescunt. * Ms. schalle be. 6 R furste. * R obeysaunce. _ 8 R Obey. • om ; so R. 10 The next passage is wanting in the older Latin text, but extant in the Ed. n R Byse the. 12 R such. 1J be — sog. om in R. '• R and that thou knowiste to thyne owyne doome be hit demyd, and l>at J)ou knowiste nott, to godd»s doome late it be demyd.

374 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

Dyspyte of the worlde.

±fe pou wolt be in reste, desyre nopinge of be worlde ;,pou schalt haue reste of soule yf pou putte fro pe pe bysynes of be worlde. Caste fro pe alle pat may lette pe fro good purpose. Be mesured to the worlde, and pe worlde to pe. As pou^ pou were dede , byholde not the glorye of pe worlde ; sette not by pat, whyle p#u lyneste, pat pou mayste not haue whan pou arte dedde. What- so-euer pou ^eueste, ^eue yt wtp good wylle; do mercy wipoute ^ifte, 3 cue almes wipoute heuynes; pe good wylle is more pen pe pinge pat is ?euen. tat pat ys ?euen wip good wylle, pat god acceptefa ; but he pat ^euep wip heuynes, schalle leese hys mede ; pere ys no m^rcy wher ys no good wylle. Doo nopinge for preysynge, nopinge for worldly opynyon, but oonly for lyffe euerlastynge. Amen.

'These ben pe counselles of seynte Ysodore, whiche ben good and holsume, yf pere be hade in pe reders and louers of hem wylfulle execucyon.

Follows immediately in the same Ms. Harl., the next 2 pieces, not mentioned by Tanner:

2. Augustinus de contemptu mundi.

Ms. Harl. 1706. (Same text, a little abridged, in the same Ms. Harl., fol. 92).

fol. I42&. Augustinus de contemptu mundi.

Iffe pou sey to me »pis ys an harde worde whiche pou spekeste ; who may forsake pe worlde as pou seyeste and hate hys flesshe? I seye pe forsope I may not so doo«: ^f To hym pat hap pis mocyon2 or pis consyderacyon , seynte Augusten answeref) to hym pus and seip: »My frende, I prey pe telle pou me where ben nowe pe louers of pe worlde, whiche weren wip vs here but a whyle a-goo? Pere ys nowe nou^te lefte of hem but asshes and wormes. Byholde bysyly in pi mynde and se a-ferre wip pi gostely y?en, what pey weren sumtyme, and what fey ben nowe in tyme presente. Forsope men and wommen pey weren as we be nowe ; pey eten, pey drunken and made hem merye, and lede alle her dayes in lustys and lykyngges after pe wylle of her concttpyscence , and wolde not be a^ene-seyde, but leften vtterly pe wylle of god. tese peplys a lytyle whyle floryschydden in her lustys, and in a poynte pei fellen doune to helle. A, what profytyde to hem her veyne worschyppe and a schorte gladnes , pe pryde of pe worlde, pe luste of her flesshe, and false rychesse, a grete meyne, and yuelle coueytyse ? Where ys nowe her loude Iau5ynge? where ys nowe [her] grete braggynge and al[l]e her bostynge? Of her gladnes ys nowe made grette heuynes, after a grette luste suep a fulle 3 greuous ferdefulle peyne wip alle vntellable wyckednes. *f And what-so-euer hap fallen to hem, pe same may falle to pe, for pou arte a man as pey were, ^ee a man made of cley-molde. Of pe erpe pou arte , and of the erpe pou lyueste ; forsope and in to erpe pou schalt turne«. t*is sentence seip seynte Austyne.

Whye ys pe worlde byloued pat ys fals and veyne, sypen pat hys welpis been

vncerteyne? Also soone slydip hys power away : as dope a brokele potte pat fresshe ys

and gay. Truste ?e raper to letters wrytten in yis : pan to pe wrecched worlde pat fulle

of synne ys.

1 om in R. 2 Ms. morcyon. * Ms. a fulle a ; 2n«l text : a full gret peyne and wrechednes 4 Title in Harl. f. 92 : Despyte of the worlde.

Various readings of the 2n<l text (f. 92) : i Ipuyde. fals ys. werki's. 2 hys poor« powere.

brokyne. false inst. of fresshe. 3 ?,e om. in the Ise. this wr. that synfulle ys.

Nine points. 375

Ms. Harl. 1706.) Hyt ys fals in hys byheste and ry^te deceyueable, yt hap bygyled manye men, yt

ys so vnstable. Hyt ys raper to byleue be wagerynge of be wynde: ben be chaungeable worlde 5

pat makep men so blynde. Wheper pou slepe eiber wake p0 u schalte fynde yt fals , bobe in hys bysynessys

and in hys lustys als. Telle me where ys Salamon, sumtyme a kynge ryche? or Sampson in hys strengbe,

to whom was no man lyche? Or be fayre man Absolon, mentelous of chere? or be duke lonatas, a welle-

beloued feere? Where ys bycome Cesar bat lorde was of alle ? or be ryche man eloped in purpur

and in palle? Telle me where Tullyus ys, in eloquence so swete? or Arystotel be fylosofre wij) 10

hys wytte so grette? Where ben faese worbi bat weren here-byforen , bobe kyngges and bysshopes?

her power ys alle lorn. Alle beys prynces wip her power so hy^e, ben vanysched awey nowe in twynke-

lynge of an yee. The ioye of thys wrecched worlde ys a schorte feeste, yt ys lykened to a schadewe

bat may not longe laste : And ;it yt drawep maw from heuenes ryche blyse , and ofte-tyme makep hym to

synne and doo amys. Calle nopinge bin owne pere-fore bat pou mayste here leese, for bat be worlde 15

ha{) lente bee, efte he wolle yt cese. Sette bin herte in heuene aboue and penke what ioye ys p«-e, and pus to dyspyse

pe worlde y reede pat pou leere. Thou pat arte but wormes mete, powdre and duste, to enhaunce pi-selfe in pryde

sette not pi luste, For bou woste not to-day bat bou schalte lyue to-morowe; berfore do bou welle,

and ban schalt bou not sorowe. It were fulle ioyfnlle and swete, lordshipe to haue, yf so pat lordshype my^te a

man from depe saue ; But for as myche as a man muste deye at be laste , yt ys no worschype but a 20

charge lordschype to taste.

4 I the behest, manye om. 5 H. i. r. to be waueryng wynde. 6 or. besynes. and om. 7 sumtyme om. in h. str., noon to hyme manly. 9 was lorde. or om. a ryche. purpylle. in om. 10 ys Tully. wytti's grete. n be. were, theyre. alle om. lore. 12 gret pr. nowe om. w»'t/i a t. ey. 13 of the. that abydetK lest. 14 ^it om. a mane, fro heuyne. tymes. hym om. 15 pat om. for om. oft. 16 abouene. to om. be worlde om. 17 That thou. 18 wotyst. thow shall nat. 19 so om. fro. 20 as myche as a om. a om. caste. At the end, this text has the foil, verses: Opes terrene per vices sunt aliene, Nescio sint cuius, mea nunc erat huius et huius. Die homo quid speres si mundo totus adheres: Nulla tecum feres, licet tu solus omnia haberes.

3. (IX poyntys.)

A man pat wylnep for to profy^te in pe wey of perfeccyon and souereynly to plese god, he muste bysylye studye to haue be maters of pise .ix. poyntys in hys herte |>at folowef) after:

JL* yrste byfaenke pe howe pou my^te holde bi-selfe wrechyde , foule, and vnworbi to eny benefyce of god, ^] Also studye howe bou my^te dysplese pi- self e , and desyre to plese god aloone. ^f Also desyre pou not to b^1 holden good & meke, holy and vertuouse, but desyre bou to be holde suche of ofaere as pe pinkep pat pou art to bi-sylfe; and of bis knowe faou be grette goodnes of almy^ty god bat alle-be-hyt bat man ys so vnworpi and freyle for to synne and for to offende god, ^ite he wolle vouchesafe for to [take] man to hys seruaunte, and desyerefa man to be hys chylde: and buffer 2 holde bou not myche jiat

Ms. by. 2 Ms. we holde.

376 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

pou serueste god, but holde yt a souereyn goodnes of god bat he wolle brynge f>e to very meekenes of herte, and bat ys be bygynnynge of perfeccyon & of goodnes of man. The .ii. poynte ys pat pou be not sory neyb^r mys-payed

wip nopinge bat fallep, but for synne oonly eyber for binge pat ledyb to synne : But of alle maner tribulacyon and wronge, dyseses and dyspytys, study for to be glaade, and hem pat dysesen be studye for to loue specyallye, and for hem prey to god inwardely, and of alle maner tribulacyon and woes panke god lowely and freendly — for certys po pat god louep he beteb hem and chastyseb by woo of be worlde, be which wo and dysese makeb man to turne to god and hate of be worldys condycyons. And bis medytacyon makeb a man pacyent, and wip eese of herte to suffre anguysch and woo for goddys loue, pot suffred alle maner woo for be loue of man. The iiide poynte ys pat bou studye for to loue pouerte,

mekenesse and symplenesse , and for to conforme pi lyuynge to Crystys lyuynge pi lorde, and of worldly goodys haue not ouer-moche bysynesse, ne couetyse but pereto pat pe nedep to pe sustynaunce of pi body. And bypenke pe welle and ofte pat pe more ryche and worschypfulle pat pou arte : pe more vnlyche pou arte to Cryste pi lord in lyuynge, and so myche more mater pou haste of sorowe. And perfor yf pou wolte lyfe withe Cryste in blys , folowe hym in lyuynge and conforme pi lyffe to hys. The iiiithe poynte ys pat pou dyspyse no creature

seme he neuer so yuele, synnefulle and vnworpi or symple, but haue rewe, pytee and co;«passyon of alle as a moder wolde haue of her chylde. ^T And penke and holde pat pe dysese and mysese of pin euyncrystew ys pi dysese ; ^f And as p<?u woldeste ese pi-selfe, or ellys as pou woldeste pat he esyd pe in pi dysese, so be aboute to esyn hym. The .v.the poynte ys pat pou deme no man ne

no womman , for pou wooste not what pe grace of god worchep in hys soule ; but whan be semef) by eny worde or dede pat eny man or wowzman ys falle into synne, be more sory for hys synne ben for eny bodyly myschefe pat my^te falle to pe, and penke inwardly pat more precyouse ys pat soule pat ys wownded wip synne, pen be alle pe erpely bodyes pat Cryste hap made. ^[ And p^rfor a man skylfully schulde be more sorye whan he wyste hys euencrysten falle in to a deedly synne, ban he schulde for bodyly depe of hym-selfe or of enye frende of hys, for god ys more myspayde wip gostly deepe of soule , wiche makep a man to be departed from hym and from hys blysfule ende, ben for bodely deep of eny man or womman. The .Vl.te poynte ys pat pou loue p£ go[o]d ' and pe pro- fyte and pe worschype and pr^ysynge of pin euyncrysten as myche as of pi-selfe, and as pe moder ys glade of pe profyte of her chylde, so be bou glade of be good and profyte of pin euyncrysten , and namly of gostly goodys and pr^fyte. The .Vll.the poynte ys pat pou loue man neyper wozwmaw ne eny oper binge but oonly for god, so pat pou loue god for hym-selfe, and2 alle ober pinge for god ; for god wole haue nopinge euew loued wip hym ; for pe loue of god where euer yt be, eyber yt ys aloone eyber yt ys sou^reyne. Ihe .VIII. poynte

ys, what-euer pou doo pat pou studye to haue god specyally in pi mynde, & in alle pi werkys princypally desyre the worschyppe of god and be profyt of pin euencrysten. And in alle pingys and werkes bysyly be aboute for to haue god present in pi mynde and in pin herte as pou^ pou sy^e hym present wip pi bodyly y^e, and so drede hym and reuerence hym and loue hym as he were eu^rmore in bi sysjte ; for goddys seruaunte schulde neuermore penke ne speke ne do but as he wolde do in be presens of god. For certeynly al 3 pat pou penkeste , spekeste or doeste , god seep yt as verely as pou^ pou were in hys presence, pere as he syttyb in heuene. And for goddys loue take hede, yf bou arte a-schamed for to do a deedly synne byfore pin euyncrysten pe whiche ben freyle & synfulle as bou arte and may not greue but bi body , moche more schuldeste bou be agaste to synne byfore bi god bat neuer trespased and schalle be bi domysman at be day of dome. The .IX. poynte ys pat incaas pou

1 Ms. l>i god. 2 Ms. and in. 3 Ms. as.

Meditacio S. Augustini. 377

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

my^tteste come to pe perfeccyon of t[h]ys poyntys, pat pou knowe welle pat yt ys a grette grace of goddys goodnes pat he wolle vochesafe to ^eue pe so myche grace and perfeccyon. *[[ Neuerpeles ofte bypenke pe of oper manye benefetys of god : how he hap worschyppyd pi soule by inpryntynge of hys owne ymage, and howe he haj) graunted to be pi foode in pis lyfe, and wolle be pi ioye and pi blysse in a noper lyffe. ^f And for encheson pat pou my^te not see hym in hys godhede whylys pou arte in pis worlde , f)erfore ofte byholde hym in hys manhede, hongynge for pe vpon pe crosse , And haue sorowe and compassyon of hym as pou^ pou haddeste and sufferdyste alle hys woundys and peynes in pi body, and be inwardely sory pat pou rny^te not feele in pi body pe peynes pat he suffred for pee , synfulle wrecche. ^[ fese poyntys haue ofte in pi mynde, and specyally whan pou seeste pe holy sacramente of Crystys body at pe masse or on pe auter; And pan sey in pis maner: ^f »Lorde Ihe.ru Cryste pat arte breede of lyffe , bat camste oute of heuene to fede me an[d] to fulfylle me vrif pee, so graunte me pat y haue noon hunger after eny pinge but oonly after pee, And so make me druncke wip pi blood and of pi loue pat y be not a-purste but after pee ; lord holde so faste my soule and my loue to pee, pat for noon oper loue ne for synne y neuer be departed from pe. Amen«.

Man byholde byfore pee howe pi lyffe wastep .... Maw byholde on pi ryjjte syde howe pe worlde pe bygyleb, Man byholde on pi lyf[t] syde howe pe feende pe fylep. Man byholde bynepe pee pe peyne pat endep neuer, O man byholde aboue to pat ioye pat lastep euer.

(Follows Contemplations of the love and dread of God, ed. p. 72).

4. Meditacio S. Augustini.

Harl. 1706.

(Cf. Tanner p. 375. Same text is extant in Ms. Douce 322' and Cambr. Hh I. 12 (where it is included in a manual of private devotion). It is a free trans- lation of a Latin piece wrongly ascribed to St. Augustine (beg. Miserere &c., Credimus quod hanc oracionem spiritus sanctus dictavit &c.), of which the begin- ning is extant in Ms. Magd. Coll. Oxf. 93. The translation, made — it seems — in rhythmical prose, is possibly by R. Rolle).

fol. 81. Meditacio Sancti Augustini.

SEyr

ynt Austyne the holy doctowr techeth thorough declarac/on of holy wryte that the synfulle mane for noo synne falle in despeyre; ffor more ys the mercy of gode to mane thane any mannes synne, yef mane wolle forsake hys synne and be sory theroff and turne no more ayene ; for mannes synnes may be nombred or tolde2, but the mercy of gode may nomane telle, for mercy ouercometh synne be hit neuer so grete ; and therfor seyde Dauyde the pwphete forthynkyng hys synnes : Miserere mei dens secundum magnam misericordiam tuam, ^f »Haue mercy on; me, almyghty gode, for thy grete mercy, and for the mekelheede off thy[n] endeles mercy do awey my wyckednes«. Hit ys tmve3 that the holy gost thys prayer made, thorough whos steryng synfulle mane ys prycked with a bytter sorow of hys synne, and yeff he [be]4 feythfulle with a sely hoope he seketh one gode as he that knoweth hym- self gylty, and with a grete drede as a nedeffulle5 wrecche he falleth doune and cryeth to hys gode and beseketh [hym] for the mekelheede of hys endeles mercy haue mercy vpone hyme and for hys moche pyte foryeue hyme hys synnes. ^[ Thys ys the offyce off the holy gost to stere the synffulle thus to forthynke hys synne, and to doo the werkzV that most may pay hys lorde , as he that hath nede of helpe for to haue off hyme that alle goodnes and grace lyeth in; "for that noom1 may do thys thorow no myghte of hym-selfe but thorough grete steryng before of

1 Ms. Harl. 1706 is, in this as in other pieces, a copy of Douce. 2 Ms. to olde. * Hh to trewe. * om in Mss. * Mss. medeffull*. * Mss. but for.

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle. Ms. Harl. 1706.]

the holygost that oonly vysyteth" whan* so he woll* vriih bytternes and loue of hys holy grace, and maketfi the synffull* to ryse fro derkenesse of syn* and rewfFull[y] l to crye to hym* that ouer all* myghtw may and wz't^ these wordys dolfully say: Miserere met deus, *$ Haue mercy one me god*. W/'tA thys prayere Dauyd* cryed* one god*, that prvphete was and kyng, and knew that he had* synned* and was gylty to god* in .III. heed*-synnes : of spousebreche, of manslawghter, and treson*. These the holygost let wryte in book/j, nat that the lytell* shulde be well* payde that the grete dyd* amys , but that the fallyng off the grete be drede 2 to the smale ; thys ys nat wretyn* in ensample to fall* in to syn*, but, yeff man* be fallens, wztA contrycion* and penaunce ryse owte off hys synne , and worschyp hem* that be[n] nat fallens, and lere3 to hem* that ben* fallens; vrit/i a trysty hope besechyng almyghty god*, seying or crying w*tA this holy pr^phete : Miserere mei deus : *[ Al- myghty god*, for thy endeles m*rcy haue m*rcy one me. The synfull* man* that knowetK hym*-selfe gylty in many lothely 4 and horryble synnes, and that he shall* come to a dredeffull* dome, he 5 knoweth" the domesman* so wytty that noon* may hym* begyle, so ryghtffull* that hym* behoueth to doo ryght*, so myghtfull* and stronge that noman* may hym* w/t^stande, so pryuey that nothyng may be hydde — for all* thyng he seetfi, and all* thyng to hym* ysknowen*; the synffull* man* than* seetft that there ys noo helpe ne defence in noo[n] other man* but nedys hym behouetK to come befor* the6 domysman* and of hym* be demed, and wzt/z a dredeffall* and a7 sorowfull* herte fleettt to mercy and falletK doune, and as [he]8 that ys full* of all* sorowes cryeth after helpe to hym* from* [whom] all* helpe cometfi, seying these wordys that the holy [gost] * wrytetft [in pe] 8 hertys of hem that shall* be sauyd*: Miserere mei deus. ^[ A, what v*rtu and power* ben* in these wordys that the synffull* w/'tA thus to god* prayetK \viUi a full* tryste that he may and wyll* and [can]9 helpe, that of hyr grete sekenes wolde fayne be hoole for drede off the dethe that hit woll* brynge hem* to, and therfor in these wordys the synfull* man* seyeth: ^f »O lorde, I knowe me synfull* and graunte me gylty to the, I knowe what I haue done and what I haue s*niyd*, and [that] to thy dome me behouetK bowe and come, and ther off all* my lyfe yelde a strayte accounte, and suffer ther all* that that10 thou* wylt to me doo. My synnes I wolde fro the hyde, but thow hem* all* knowest ; I wolde wz'tAstande the yff I myght*, but ouer all* my 10 myghtes thou* mayst; wheder11 so I go or what so I do, all* thou beholdest. Forthy I se no better to doo in harde stresse but fle fro the vn*-to thee , that ys, fro thy wretthe I flee that fereth me owte off wytte, and vn-to thy endeles m*rcy that all* helpeth" fully I take me, and* thys I hope be best. Miserere mei deus, ^ Mercy- ffull* lorde , helpe me of my synnes and brynge me to thy grace : so seyn* they that good* ben*, and so seyn* they that clene ben*, and so seyn* they [thatthi1"] frendys bene, that pe[y]netK hem or besyetfi hem* nyght* and day how they may plese the and do thy 'wyll*; ^f and so seyn* thy chyldren* and thyn* heyres, lord* god*. I [pat] am so vnclene and so fowled*, that outtakyng am* of [alle]8, that forsakyn* haue my fad*r and solde me to the fende folyly for a stynkyng lust of the flessh that sone shall* rote and passe awey ; for, welawey the whyle, owtlawed* I am fro my faderes reame, that lost haue all* the goodys that god* me hat[h] lent13, and wasted hem so in lusty lyfe and many other synnes that nought* now -with me ys lafte but forthynkyng and* ferdnes of endeles peyne: wherfor I dar* nat calle hym my fader ne my lorde, ne nat elles dar I sey but : Miserere mei deus. Lord* god* haue mercy on* me; Et fac me vnum ex mercenariis fuis, quia non sum dignus vocari seruus tuus , ^[ and make me on of thy hyred* men* yeff hit be thy wyll*, fo[r] vnworthy I am, sothely I hit knowe, to be called* thy s*maunt, or thy chylde. And therfor, lorde full* of mercy and of pyte, haue mm:y on* me yef hit be thy wyll*. ^ I knowe that thou art al myghtfull*, and what thou wolt so behoueth [it1* be, for thy pr^phete thus wytnessetK by the ther* he seytrl thus : Omnia quecum- que voluit dominus fecit, in celo et in terra, ^j Lord , all* thyng that thou wylt ys don*, in heuen* and in erthe, and yet in helle and in all* other places. And I

1 Ms. rewfulk. 2 HD dredde. C£ S. August. In Psalm 51. 3 MS. lerne. * Ms. loth- thely. * Ms. hem. 6 Hh |>is. 7 om D. 8 om H. 9 om in Mss. ; Hh alle inst. of and. " om Hh. 11 DHh whether. M thi om DHh. " Ms. sent. i« Ms. to.

Meditacio S. Augustini. Ms. Harl. 1706.]

knowe lorde , and sothely I wote, that thou wolt [nat] the dethe of the synfull*, as thou seyst thy-sylfe thorough the prophete : Nolo mortem peccatoris, sed ut magis conuertatur et viuaf, ^[ I wol nat the deth of the synrall* ; but thow wolt that the synfull* turne fro hys synne and lyue thorough thy grace, ^f And lord;, sythen* thou art all* trewe and may nat contrary thy[n] owne word/'j that seyth thow wolt helpe me oute of syn*, that I may lyue w/tA the in ioye; and lord*, I wote well* thy m*rcy ys moche mor* then my synnes or all* the mennys synnes vpon* erthe , for all* the erthe ys full* of m*rcy as the prvphete seyeth : Misericordia dominl plena cst terra — \ and therfore Dauid the pwphete of all* hys synnes that were many and grete, thorough grace had* knowyng of thy mercy that was so moche, and to the comfortyng of all* synfull* men* that wol forsake her syn$ he seyth the m*rcy of god* he shall* haue2 wztAouten* ende: Misericordias domini in eternum cantabo; ^f and lord*, thorough a nother [prophete]3 thou seydest: In qua- cunque [hora] peccator conuersus fuerit et gemuerit, omnia peccata eius in obliuionc erunt coram deo, ^f That in what cure so a synffull* man* were turned fro hys synnes [and be full sory for his synnes]3, all* hys synnes shall* be forye[t]en*4 before god*: And therfor, lord*, feythfully I trow that thou wolt doo fully all* thyngw that thou seyst, syth thow art all* trewthe that may nat fayle by nowey; synfull* as I am*, fully to thy grete mercy I me take, forthynkyng for5 all* my synnes that I haue done ayenst thy wyll*. And also lord*, by olde tyme thow seydest [thow woldest come] * opynly to make thy peple [safe] 3 of hyr synnes : Deus noster manifeste ueniet, vt saluum faciat populum suum a peccatis eorum. ^[ Lorde, [for] 6 thy wyll* was euer to haue mercy on the synfrull* man* , lorde thou come in to thys worlde , as in the gospell* thy-selfe wytnessest where he thus seyth : Non vent •vocare iustos sed peccatores ad penitenciam, ^f I come nat to clepe ryghtwysemen* but synfull* vnto penaunce. ^[ Therfor , lorde , for thy endeles mercy graunt me thorough thy grace suche penaunce for my synnes, to do that that most may please the and [ys] most helfull* for my synnes. And that hath, lorde, ben euer* thy werke to make ryghtwyse of hem that ben* synfull*, to shap worthy of vnworthy, and to reyse Abraham* ys chyldren* of hard* stones, and reyse tho that fallen* ben*, and helpe tho that syke ben*; for they that ben* hole han no nede of leche, but they that ben syke, as thou seyst thy-selfe: Non egent qui sani sunt medico, sed qui male habent. ^f Off whyche sykenesse I may [pleyne]" most of all* other, that of longe tyme hane rootyd* in sykenesse of synne and as a sory wrecche peyned to the dethe. Thys sekenesse that I me off compleyne7, that many on* hath pyned , made the to come fro heuyn* to erthe , to brynge oute of sykenes tho that sore were pyned \ii\Ji yuell*; of whych nombre I am** on* that most ys syke, for-thy lorde thy m*rcy, yeff hit be thy wyll*, that to synffull* man* euer hast bene redy , as the prophete seyth : Misericordia autem domini ab eterno et vsque in eternum super timentes eum, ^[ Sothely the m*rcy of god* fro the begynnyng was, and9 shall* be wzt/z-outen* ende, vpon* tho that drede hym*. Therfore, lord*, wrecched* as I am* wz'tfc a grete drede , as he that moche hath trespassed* ayen* the wyll* of hys lorde, but for the grete goodnesse and pyte that I her* tell* of the that foryeuest all*, be her trespasse neu*r so grete, that asketh the foryeuenesse, wAA a trusty hope, as I dar* [I]3 clepe vn-to the: Miserere met deus, ^[ Haue m*rcy on me almyghty god, and for [the] mekylnes of thy mercy do awey my synnes, and wasshe me clene yef hit be [thy] wyll*. And, lord*, syth thou woldest thy[n] enemyes, that eu*r w/'tAstode the and wer* ayenst the, drawe hem to the w/tfc harde peynes and vfitk thy pr*cyous blood* hele hem* of her synnes : whether thou wolt lese me , or suffre me fro the passe , that haue so moche nede , and so rufully cryed aft*r helpe? But sothely, lorde. I trust on thy goodnes and knowe hit so moche that hit may nat so be and I durst sey as I thynke , for grete lykyng hit ys to the to rewe on the synffull* man* and haue mercy on* hym* when* he wolde leue hys syn* and amende hym*10; for haddest thou [nat] had* grete lykyng the synfullc to amende thorow thy m*rcy and thy grete pyte, thow woldest nat haue suffred11

1 = }>of? z r. loue (= praise)? ' om H. « Mss. foryeuen*. * Hh sore. « om

in Mss. ' Hh pleyne. • Ms. an#. » Ms. and euer. »« DHh hem. » Ms. s. hym.

380 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

so harde peynes, [betyn] l w/tA scorges that all* thy body was wiUi noo[n] hooll* place, nayled feete and handys to the roode-[tree], all* to-drawe wz'tA roopys that the synewes [of]2 the body brostyn*, woundyd* in to the herte w/tA a sharpe sper*; and suffred*1 one the crosse an horryble deth; and thus4 woldest [thowj nat suffre, haddest thou nat ha.de lykyng one the synfull* man* to haue ha.de mercy one man- kynde. ^f Therfor , lord*; , for the grete loue thow haddest to mankynde , haue mercy, haue m*rcy apon* me; lorde, sythen* thou grounted to a legyon* of fendys that asked* the w*'tA thy leue to entre into a drove 5 of swyn* to graunt hem* her* askyng, w*t& better wylle lord* I knowe hit thou wylt6 graunte to thy pore creature and frende, that thou madest lyke to thy-selfe, that prayer to the of mercy [to]7 graunte hym* [that]8 with syghyngzV and sorowfull* herte asketh foryeuenesse of hys synnes that he hath doone ayenst thy wylle , and resceue hyme in to thy grace to be oon of thyn*. Lorde , all* the bookw that we redyn* in holy chyrche , of thy m*rcy vs tellyn* how thou vs louest, and of thy grete pyte that so redy ys to all* the synffull* that wolde9 hit aske or seke: ^f Whether thow shalt nat saue me as thou other hast sauyd* that her10 synnes forthynken*? lorde, shulde the condyte of mercy that alle resceyueth and gladeth that score repenteth hem* of her mysdedys, shal(0 become drye oonly for me? And for the grete hope that in the ys thorough the whyche alle maner* of folke hene sauyd* : «[ alias why shulde hit peryssh in me? whether* thow wolt be so harde to me, that all* men* prechen* so large to alle that nede hathe? Yeff I haue noon*? Who ys syke yeffl am hoole, who hath nede of [mercy but I? who hath nede of]11 corn- forte but I? And therfor 0 pater misericordiarum et12 deus tocius consolacionis, qui consolaris nos in omni tribulacione nostra, 51 O fader of all* mercy and gode of all* comforte, that comforteth vs in all* oure trybulaczon : haue m*rcy on* me, and brynge me owte of synne , and comforte me in thys woofull* sykenes , and rewe one me though l3 I haue longe tyme leyne in syne ; for in thy grete goodnesse I truste for the wordys that by the pr^hete ys seyde: In eternum seruabo illi misericordiam, ^[ W*tfcouten* ende I shall* kepe m*rcy to synffull* mane ; and ther- for, lord*, ayenst thy kynde hit were and thy trewthe, but thou on* synfull* had* m*rcy that for*thynketh hys synne and woll* aske mercy. And I forthynkyng my synne in all* my[n] herte, pray the all*myghty god* for thy endeles m*rcy haue mercy on* me, that thou14 most swete art. My god*, my good*15 lord*, hertyly I be-seche the to my seke soule and synfrull* thou sende som* comforte and socour* off thy grace, and for thy moche mekenesse be mercySull* to me that am* thy pore creature, off thy[n] owne maky«g. And thy m*rcy, lorde, ou*rpasseth all* thyng that thow madest , as the pr^phete seyth , that thow may nat for thy goodnesse for- saken* hem* that asken* thy mercy: Quia misericordia eius super omnia opera eius, % For [thy] 8 mercy ys aboue all* thy werkzV ; and therfor, lord*, well* I wote that thow may nat for thy goodnes and for thy endeles mercy put me fro thy m*rcy, yeff all* I6 myn* synnes be neuer so many ne neuer so grete ; for than* thow were nat god* whos m*rcy and goodnesse passeth all* mennes wyckednes that woll* leue her wyckydnesse and her* synne witA all* her* herte, as the prophete seyth : Cor contritum et humiliatum deus non despicies, 1} The herte [that is] contryte and mekyd*, God shall* nat despyse. Wherfor fully I trust and hoole I me take to thy endeles m*rcy: and for mykylnesse off thy m*rcy haue m*rcy on* me, Ih*ju, Ihwu, Ih*ju, amen*.«

1 so Hh. 2 Mss. as. 3 Hh suffredist. « Hh Jiis. 5 a word frequently used by

R. Rolle. s DHh woll. T Mss. that. 8 om ;n Mss. » D wolU. »» DHh hir. " so DHh. 12 Mss. vt. w Hh bogh-al. " Hh bou bat. w DHh god. »« r. bof-al.

5. Pety lob.

Ms. Harl. 1706.

;Cf. Tanner. Other Mss. are: Douce 322, Ff II. 38 fol. 19*. Merton Coll. 68 f. 97. This poem is made on R. Rolle's Parvum lob sive lectiones mortuorum, by a later, East-Midland poet, perhaps Richard Maidestone).

* Ms. Ff, which omits the title and Latin parts, greatly helps to restore the text, though often equally conupted.

Pety lob.

38l

Ms. Harl. 1706.] fol. io»>.

lAEre begynneth the .IX. lessons of be diryge whych lob made in hys trybu- lacyon lying on the donghyll? and ben declared more opynly to lewde mennes vnderstandyng by a solempne worthy and dyscrete clerke Rychard Hampole, and ys clepyd pety lob, and ys fill profytable to stere synners to conpuncciouw.

(lob 7, p

i6ff.). JT arce michi domine, nichil enim

sunt dies mei. [Parce michi domine]1, Lyeff lord?, my soule thou spare; The soth I sey now sykerly2 That my dayes nought they are ; 5 For though I be bryght off ble,

The ffayrest man p«t ys ough-whar?3, Yet schall? my ffayrnesse fade and fle And I schall be [but]1 wormes ware. And whan my body ys all* bare IO And on a bere brought shall? be, I not what I may synge thare But farce michi domine.

Quid est homo quia magnificas eum? *What ys a man, wete I wolde, That magnyfyeth hym-self all?-way, 15 But a marke made in molde Off a clyngyng clot off clay? Thou shopest vs ffor that we schulde Haue ben? in blysse ffor eu?r and? ay : But now alias [bothe] yong and? olde 20 Foryeten hit bothe nyght and? day. A, good? lorde 8, what shall? I sey, I that stande in thys degre? I wote no thyng that helpe may But farce michi domine.

Aut quid apponis erga eum cor tuum? visitas eum diliculo, et subito probas ilium. 25 Or why puttist [bou] thyn herte ayenst

man?,

That thou hast so dere bought7? Thou vysytest hym and? art ffull? ffayn? Sodenly to preue yeff he be ought. To longe in synne we haue layne, 30 For synne hath [so] our? soule [thorow] 8-

sought

To helpe our?-selff haue we no mayne, So moche woo hit hath vs wrought. But to the pytt when? we be brou^t, Then men wyll?9 wepe ffor the and? me; 35 But certys, all? that helpeth nought, But farce michi domine.

Vsquequo non parcis michi , nee dimittis me ut gluciam saliuam meam? Peccaui. O lo why so longe or thou wylt spare

» So the i»* v. in Ff; om in HD, * Ff

sekerle. 3 Ms. ought- where. 4 so Ff.

* Ff But what. * Ff A lord god. * Ff y— b. » so D ; Ms. o. s. so s. » D woll*. » D Or.

Me, in synne that depe dyne? Thou woldest suffer? neu<rmor? Me to swolowe my salyue * ? 40

I haue the gylt and? greuyd? soore, For synne wyth me hath ben to ryue: But, lord?, now lere2 me vfitA thy lore, That 3 dedly synne fro me may dryue ; And?, Ih&ra, for thy voundes fyve, 45

As thou be-ca«*mest man? for me, When I shall? passe oute off [this] lyue Than farce michi domine.

Quid faciam [tibi] o custos homi-

num? quare posuisti me con-

trarium tibi, & factus [sum] michi-

met ipsi grauis? What shall? I doo vnto the, O thou kepar off [al] mankende? 50

Off snche a mater? 4 why madest b<m me To the contrarious me for to fynde? O 5 ffader? off heuen? fayre and? ffre, As thou art bothe god? and? hende, Yet be kynde, as thou hast be, 55

And? spare me, lord?, that am vnkynde ; Thy ffrendesshyp, ffader, late me fynde, As thou art god? in trynyte; Off thy mercy make me haue mynde6 Wyth farce michi domine. 6»

Cur non tollis peccatum meum, et

quare non aufers iniquitatem

meam?

Why takest thou nat my synne away, [A thou]7 god? off al goodnesse? And? why also, as I the say, Dost not8 awey my wykednesse? Thou madest me off a clot off clay 65 That breketh ofte thorough brotylnesse9; Ful brotyll? I am, itt ys no nay: That maketh me ofte to do amys. But, good Ih?ju, I pray [the] thys For thy grete benygnyte: 70

Thy mercy, lorde, late me not8 mysse, But10 farce michi domine.

Ecce nunc in puluere dormio ; &

si mane me quesieris, non sub-

sistam.

Loo, in pouder? I shall? slepe, For oute off powder? ffyrst I cam; And? in to pouder? must I11 crepe, 75

i Ff spotull blyfe. * Ms. lerne. » Ff bat y. « Ff nature. s om Ff. • Ff bat y may

mynde. 7 so Ff D ; Ms. As thou art. * D nat. » Ff bretulnesse. >• Ff Thorow. "Ffme.

382

Ms. Harl. 1706.)

For off1 that same kynde I am. That I ne am pouder* I may not threpe, For erthe I am as was Adam*. And now my pytte ys doluen* depe, So Though men* me seke ryght nought I am*.

0 thou ffader*2 Abrahams,

For Mary loue that mayde so ffree In whos bloods thy sone swawme, So 3 parce michi domine.

(lob »T»

10, i). X edet animam meam uite mee ; dimittam aduersum me eloquium meum , loquar in amaritudine anime mee, dicam deo: noli me condempnare ; Indica michi cur me ita iudices.

85 liit fforthynketh my soule I-wys The lyff pat I haue ledde all*way, For now my speche ayenst me ys, Sothly my-[seli]4 I shall* dysplay, In sorow and* in byttyrnesse 90 Off myn* oune ! soule thus shall* I say : Now, good* Ih^u, kyng off blysse, Dampne me nat att domysday ; And*, good* Ih*.ra, to the I pray Telle how5 thus thow demest me. 95 Now yeue me m*rcy, & say not nay Wyth farce michi domine.

Nunquid tibi bonnm videtur si calumpnieris et oprimas me opus manuum tuarum , et consilium impiorum adiuues? Semeth hit good*, lord*, vnto the To thryste 6 me doun* and me 7 accuse ?

1 am thy werke, thou madest me ; 100 Thyn* oune handewerke 8 thou nat refuse.

Wythyn* the close of cheryte,

Good god, thou me recluse,

And* yeff I gylte the in any degre,

With thy mercy thou me excuse, 105 Ne late me neuer off maters muse

That fallen* vnto deshoneste.

Thys prayer [lord]9 thou nat recuse,

But [parce michi domine.]

Nunquid oculi carnei tibi sunt? aut sicut videt homo, et tu uidebis lo ?

Whether* thyn eyen* fflesshly be? no Or yeff thou seest as seeth a man*?

Nay fforsothe, butt only we

Off onteward* thyngw beholdyng han*.

But inward* thyng*V dost thou see

That non other may se11 ne can*. 115 Therffor, lorde, I pray to the

i om Ff. 2 Ff f. fayre. « Ff Ever.

« HD lyffe. * Ff whi bou bus. « Ff burste. ' Ff to a. * Ff adds lord. » so Ff. »« D vides. ii Ff odur man may, se om.

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Warne me whan* I am* mys-tan*, That I may fflee ffro fowle sathan* That ys aboute to peryssh me. Lese nat [that]1 thou ones wan*, But parce michi domine.

Nunquid sicut dies hominis dies tui, et anni tui sicut humana sunt tempora?

Whether* thy dayes, lorde, be [sjlyke2 As mennes dayes that dwellyn here, Or thy yeres be ought lyke To the tymes off mannes yere? Th[ys] 3 day a man* ys fressh and* ffryke And sheweth [forth] a gladsom* 4 chere, But to-morow he wexeth syke And happyly [is] born* forth on a bere. Thus mannes tyme ys in a wer*: But thy5 tyme stondeth in oo degre. Therfore I pray in thys manere : Lorde 6 parce michi domine.

vt queras iniquitatem meam, et peccatum meum scruteris , et scias quia nichil impium fecerim, cum sit nemo qui de manu tua possit eruere?

For to seche my wykednesse, And for [to] s[er]che [thus]7 all* my synne: Me thynketh hit cometh off gret hardnes I Wz'tA me, lorde, so to begynne! Schewe thou forth thy gret goodnesse, And thyn hardshyp vp thou pynne ; Thynke vpon* the brytylnesse That all*-way worcheth me wztA-inne; And sythyn* I may nott8 fro the twynne Ne9 ffrom* thyn* hand warysshed* be, Though I offende more or* mynne Euer parce michi domine.

IViAnus tue fecerunt me, & plas- mauerunt me totum in circuitu: et sic repente precipitas me?

J. hyn* handes, lorde, haue made me And formed* me in schap off man*, And me thow settest in degre Off grete nobley lo after than*. But whan* I thorough the sotylte Deceyued was off foule sathan*, Thow puttedest11 me fro that dignite He[dl]yng12 doun* on* my brayn*-pan*. Noon* other cause alege I can* But that synne hath depryuyd* me. Now ffor the blood that from* the ranne13, So I4 parce michi domine.

i so Ff. 2 Ff slyke, HD lyke. * DH That. I « Ff gladly. * Ms. thyn?; Ff thy tymes. « Ff Eu*r. 7 so Ff; H for suche ys. * D nat. j » Ff And. i« Ff noble lord. " Ff puttyst. 12 so Ff ; HD Heldyng. « Ff down r. » Ff j Euyr.

Pety lob.

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

Memento, queso, quod sicut lutum feceris me , & in ptiluerem re- duces me.

Haue mynde therffore, I the pray, O thow god almyghty kynge, Thynke thow madest me off clay 60 And in to clay thow shalt me brywge — Suche ys thy myght and* hath be[n] ay. And sythen* pou madest furst all* thynge, Who dare say ayene the nay To lete1 thy wyll* or thy lykyng? 65 Ther ys [no] man* olde ne yonge2 That stryue dar ayenst the. Therffor* nede maketh me [to] synge Lorde3 parce michi domine.

Nonne sicut lac mulsisti me, et

sicut caseum me coagulasti? Mylkedest nat me, lorde 4, as mylke, 70 WitA nessh blood whan* thou me made? And sythyn*, lorde, [pou madest]5 that

ylke Ryght as the hardnesse off chese8 ys

hade?

My blood ys nessher than* ys sylke In reyny weder that sone wolle ffade, 175 And thus7 me made doo dedys swylke Vfith whyche my goste ys ofte vnglade ; And thus in sinne full* depe I wade, That nygh I droune thorow freelte. All*thotigh I can off synne nat sade8, 80 Yet parce michi domine.

Pelle & carnibus uestisti me ; ossi-

bus & neruis compegisti me. W;tA fflessh and felle9 thow hast me

cladde,

WitA bonys and synewes to-gedyr knyt ; Lyffe and mercy off the I hadde, To gou*me me thow yaue me wytt; 185 To kepe thy[n]'° hestes thow me bade And seydest that I shulde ffor hit In heuen*-blysse be eu<r gladde. And yet I wyll* nat fro synne flytte, But freelte, lord, so me smytte [90 Vnnethe kepte ys oone for me; Nat-for-than* I pray the yet For11 parce michi domine.

Vitam et misericordiam tribuisti

michi.

Lyff and mercy thou yaue me ay ; Whan* I wolde thy m*rcy crave, 195 Thow saydest to me natt ones nay, But gladde was whan* I wolde hit

haue ;

Thow were redy nyght and* day W/tA mercy, lorde, me to saue.

i Ff lett. 2 Ff zyng. » Ff Thus. « om

Ff. * so Ff. • Ff flesche. 7 Ff bys.

» Ff lade. • Ff felle & fl. »« D thyne. 11 Ff Of.

383

But I denyed hit allwey,

So woodly synne made me to raue ; 200

I seruyd synne and was hys knave,

I dyd that [that] l was ayenst me.

Now, lorde, whan* I am leyd* in graue,

Than parce michi domine.

Et visitacio tua custodiuit spiritum

meum.

Thy vysytacion*, lorde, hath kepte 205 My spyryte that ys me w*'tA-inne 2 : For whan* I wold to synne haue

lepte,

Thin 3 holy grace 4 made me to blyn* ; And ofte-tyme I haue sore wepte The more grace off the to wynne, 210

And thus wi'tA wepywg haue I wypte My soule, lorde, ffro5 dedly synne. Lorde, late me neu*r werke begywne That in6 any wyse may displease the; And somtyme though I from* the twyn*, 215 Yet, lorde, parce michi domine.

(lob r\

13, 23)- xJvantas habeo iniquitates et pec- cata? [scelera] mea atque delicta ostende michi.

W hat wyckednes all* that I haue, WitA my synnes all* on* an* hepe, Shew me hem, or I go to graue, That I for hem may [here] * sore wepe : 220 My soule, lorde, that I may saue From pe pytte off helle so" depe, Wher* synfull* soules tumbyll* and raue In endeles woo — A, taketh good kepe — Toodes o[n]7 hem doth crowde & crepe, 225 In suche peynes the soules be. From that place I may [me] nat kepe W/tAouten* parce michi domine.

Cur faciem" tuam abscondis, &

arbitraris me inimicum tuum? Why hydest pou from9 me thy fface That ys so frail* off all* ffayrnesse — 230 I mene thys, somtyme thy grace That p<m w/tAdrawest and yeuest me

As thy[n] enemy thou* dost me chace, Demyng me in gret hardnesse * ' : Thy loue fayn*12 wolde I purchase, 235 Yeff p<m wolt me hit graunte13 of pi

goodnesse. Now graunte me lord [suche] " sted-

fastnesse That I may stonde15 in oo16 degre ;

1 so Ff. 2 Ff y haue me inne. * Ms. Than. « Ff goste. • D from. « om Ff. f Ms. off. « Ms. faciam. »DFffro. »« Ms. lace. H Ms. hardynesse. " Ff lord. 1* Ff woldyst me gr. hyt. M Ms. off thy. »» D stande. w Ff. good.

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

And though I falle thorough brotylnesse, 240 Lorde * farce michi domine,

Contra folium quod uento rapitur ostendis potenciam tuam, & sti- pulam siccam persequeris. Ayenst a leeff that lyght ys to2 blowe, To me that am [full] freel off kynde, Thy my^t and powers dost thou* schowe, As though I myght berys bynde. 245 W*'tA wyndes ofte I owerthrowe

Suche fondyng off the [fende] I fynde, I renne forth fro rowe to rowe Somtyme before somtyme behynde; I grope 3 as a man* that ys ffull* blynde. 250 But thowgh I stomble thou ffolowest me. A, lorde, though I to the be vnkynde, Yet * farce michi domine.

Scribis enim contra me amaritu- dines, & consumere me uis pec- catis adolescencie mee. Thow wrytest, lorde, ayenst me Byttyrnesse, that I shall* rede 255 Att domesday in syght off the

And all* the worlde in lengthe and brede ; That I dede in pryuyte There opynly owte hit* shall* sprede; And thtts5 thou wyllt, full* well* I see, 260 6 distroy me ffor my wycked dede.

But, lorde, to the I clepe and grede : As thou art lorde ' off all* pyte, That day whan* I shall* drope and drede Than farce michi domine.

Posuisti in neruo pedem meum, et obseruasti omnes semitas meas, et uestigia pedum meorum con- siderasti.

265 In a synew thou hast my feet sette8 W*'tA the whyche that I goo shall*, And all* the pathes thou hast merte That euer I yede in wey or walle ; Ther* ys noo thyng that the may lette 270 To knowe my steppes grete and smalle ; Wycked and worse, good and bette I wote well* thou consyderest all*. But, lorde, to the I clepe and calle : Whan I slyde supporte thou me, 275 And though somtyme I take a falle Yet farce michi domine.

Qui quasi putredo consumendus sum, et quasi vestimentum [quod] comeditur a tinea.

The whyche as rotyng shall* consume, And fare as mowth 9-eten* clothe ; And10 as home the fyre departeth fume

1 Ff Euyr. * Ff to be bl. 3 Ff graspe. * D hit owte. 5 HD thys. * HD And d. 7 Ff welle. 8 Ff In stockes bou haste sett my fete. » Ff moght. »° om Ff.

So body and soule a-sundre goth. I am made of a lothly hume l , Hit" ys a thyng to man* most loth. Wheroff than*3 shulde I presume To be hygh-herted or lyghtly wroth? Though I be he that ofte mysdoth. Off m*>'cy art thou large and fre ; As I leue4 that thys5 ys soth, So farce michi domine. (lob TT 14, i)« JTlOmo, natus de muliere, breui

viuens tempore repletur multis

miseriis.

j\. man pat ys off 6 woman* bore, But lytell* whyle he lyueth here, And eu*/y day more & more Replenysshed ys vfith synnes sere, W/tA hote7 and8 colde and8 hunger9 sore Turmentyd 10 ys from* yere to yere, And ofte hym wante[th] * * goddes lore That gostly wey12 he schulde lere. And thus he wandreth in a were As8 a man* blynde &13 may not see. Therffore I pray the8 \fiih louely14 chere For15 farce michi domine.

Qui quasi flos egreditur & conteri- tur, et fugit uelud umbra, et nun- quam in eodem statu permanet. The whych oute spryngeth-16 as a floure That groweth ffressh all* men* to glade, But whan* he vtitA a sharpe schowre Ys smyten*, begynneth sone to fade. So lese I the ffayr* colour* That god almyghty ffurst in me made, And thus I chaunge in euery houre17, And fle away ryght8 as a shade. And herew/tA I am frail*18 lade With synnes off dyuerse degre. Off heuen*-blysse19 me nought degrade, But farce michi domine.

Et dignum ducis super huiuscemodi aperire oculos tuos, et adducere eum tecum in iudicivm? And, lorde, thou letest20 that hit be dy£ Thyn* eyen* to opene vpon* suche 01 And hym* thou shewest be that sygne That he w/'t^ the to dome shall* gone ? Haue mercy on* me, Ih*ju benygne, Me thynketh myn* herte ys hard*r thaw:

a stone And besyed vfitA a spyryte malygne,

i Ff slyme. » Ff That 3 Ff lord.

* Ff beleue. * Ff hyt. « DFf aw. • Ff heete. » om. Ff. • D hungor; Ff h. & s. »• Ff Turned he. n Ms. wanted. 12 Ff lore, w Ff that. M Ff mylde. « Ff Of. «« Ms. spr. oute. i? so Ff ; HD shoure. " Ff all full. i» Ff Lord of heuene. =« Ms. lettest. 21 Ff harde as.

Pety lob.

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

320 My fflessh, the worlde they ben* my fone. These be1 my enemyes, lorde2, eche one, Euer* aboute to peryssh me: Lorde, ffor the loue off Mary and lohn* Eu*r parce michi domine.

Quis3 potest [facere] mundum de immundo conceptum semine? Nonne tu qui solus es? 325 But4, lorde, who may clene make Conceyuyd thyng off seede vnclene? Nat thow? a, yes, I vnder[take]5, Yeff the lest6 to make hit clene. Alias, I walke in a lake 330 Off dedly synne that doth me tene : But lorde, ffor the 2 loue off Maryes sake Amende the harme that I off mene. Y-wys7 I am* nat worth a bene Off my-self to cowmendyd be: 335 Yet helpe me, lorde2, -with thy grace

shene, And euer8 parce michi domine.

Breues dies hominis9 sunt, numerus

mensium eius apud te est. Mennes dayes be10 shorte — be ware And therto take [pou] good entente — For in respyte off tyme eu*nnare 340 They beth nothyng equipolent; The nombre off hys monthes ar* Alwey att the, lorde, verament. Oure lyff ys nought but sorow & care, Tyll* we be passed iugement. 545 My wyttes, lorde, I haue myspent

That thou me yaue to rewle vtith me: But pat I may ryse vp and here n repent, Lord12 parce michi domine.

Constituisti terminos eius, qui pre-

teriri non poterant.

Hys termes, lorde, thou hast ordeyned How longe he shall* now2 lyue here, That may he nat passe ne be refreyned But be thyn* absolute power*. Thys sentence may be well*? susteyned By a story as we may here: How E^echye to dethward peyned And yet god addyd ou*r xv. yere ; Hys kyndely tyme was comen* fful ner*, But for hys synnes tho wepte he. Lorde, yeue13 me grace that I may here Haue u parce michi domine.

Recede [ergo]15 paululum ab eo ut quiescat , donee optata ueniat, sicut mercenarii16, dies eius. Therffor, lorde, a lytell* goo awey,

i DFf ben. 2 om Ff. 3 Ms. Quis michi. * Ff A. * Ms. vnderstande. « DFf lyst. 7 Ff Forsoth. * Ff Wyth. 9 Ms. homines. i« D ben, Ff beeth. " Ff here &. 12 Ff Euyr. " Ff So graunt. " Ff Wyth. i» so D.

16 Ms. mercenarius.

n.

385

W*tA-drawe py[n] hand pat man* may

reste.

Tyll* he desyre hys dethe-day And wylne ' to be shutte vp in hys "

cheste ;

And late hym* lyue yeff he3 lust ay, 365 Thys holde I, lorde, ffor the best; AIL- dysease from; hym* delay, Tyll* the careyn* in erthe be keste. Alias, all*4 pis world now ys mys-wrest To carpe th[u]s&, lorde, ayenst the. 370 Make me to thy m*rcy trest For6 parce michi domine.

(lob f~\

14, 13)- v^/Uis michi hoc tribuat ut in in- ferno protegas me, donee per- transeat furor tuus?

W ho to me may yeue or graunte

For loue or any affeccyon*,

For7 thy wratthe that ys duraunte 375

I may haue my* proteccyon*1?

In helle yeff I be concurraunte,

Ther am* I in [thy] subieccyon* ;

In heuen* though thou woldest me

haunte9,

Yet4 ther am; I att thy correccyon*. 380 I may nat from* thy respeccion* By no wey, lorde, hyde now4 me: Therffor* sey I thys lesson* Off parce michi domine.

Et constiruas michi tempus in quo

recorderis mei?

And thou woldest a tyme ordeyne 385

In whyche thou* woldest of me haue

mynde,

W/tA som* solace me to susteyne That off thy blysse am* so ferre lo be-

hynde?

My woo from* the can* I natt layne But telle hit the, for thou* art kynde: 390 I am* fast bounde11 here w/tA a chayne Off dedly synne, frail* well* I fynde. But woldest thou*, lorde, me vnbynde Thorough the vertti off thy pyte, Than* wer* I gladde and lyght as lynde 395 To haue12 parce michi domine.

Putasne , mortuus homo rursum

viuat?

Trowest thou* nat that man* shall* ryse Ayene to lyfe that dyed onys? Yes, and that in a wondyrffull* wyse, W/'tA flessh and fell*, blood and bonys. 400 Than shall* god hys dome deuyse And to hym* take the good* attones ;

i Ff wylle. * Ff a. * Ff D hym. « om Ff. * Ms. thys. « Ff Thorow. ' r. Fro? * Ff haue may any. 9 Ff daunte. >« Ff tat am of bl. full f. " Ff bounden, here om. »* Of.

25

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

386

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

But dampned soules shullen? sor? gryse (lob And yeue a shoute wz'tA hydous gronys. I?1 *'' 405 Th[u]sl make they shull? wooffull? mones All? that shullen? dampned? be. Tha[t] I may dwelle* witbyne thz3 wones, JVl^ [Lord] * parce michi domine.

Cunctis diebus quibus nunc milito, expecto, donee ueniat immutacio mea.

All? the dayes that I lyue here 410 In thys woffull? wepyng5 dale,

I byde all?wey from? yere to yere Tyll? I chaunge as men? do falle6. Chaunge I shall? w*'t/*owten? were, Nat ay be dwellyng in thys vale. 415 But, lord, whan? I am? leyd? on? bere, Hye vp to heuen? my soule [pou] hale — For ther? comen? neyther grett ne smale, But thou drawe hem, lord?, to the ; That my soule be nat in bale ; 420 But7 parce michi domine.

Uocabis me, & ego respondebo tibi ; Operi manuum tuarum por- riges dexteram.

Thou shalt me calle att domesday When? thou? art set on? iugement, And I to the wzt^owten? delay Shall? yeue my[n]8 answer? verament. 425 But, good? Ihesn, to the I prey Thynke all?wey wz'tA ffull? entente Thou madest me off a clott off clay; Thyn? handwerk helpe as p0u furst

mente ;

And wz'tA my thought9 I haue myspent 430 Thorough malyce her? off frealte Her?, leeff lord?, late me repent, But10 parce michi domine.

Tu quidem gressus meos dinu- merasti, sed parce peccatis meis. Forsothe my steppes eu?rychon? Thou nombred? hast and tolde ll hem all? : 435 But, lord, to the I make my mone, As thou art lorde off heuen? & helle12, Vertues, lord, though I haue none Late thy grace in me now welle 13 ; For woo ys hym? that stante alone 440 And hath non helpe14 yeff [that] he

falle. My syn? ys bytter?r than? eysel or

galle,

And stynkyth, lord?, in syght off the : But nought-for-than? to the I calle For parce michi domine.

1 Ms. Thys. 2Ff Graunt me'to d. * Ms. the.

* HD Off, Ff Wyth. * Ff woopes. « Ff fale.

* Ff Euyr « Ff an. » Ff & wyttis myne l>ogh. i« Ff Thorow. 11 Ff telde. M Ff alle. » Ff walle. i« Ff & no h. hath.

piritus meus attenuabitur , dies mei breuiabuntur, et solum michi superest sepulchrum.

y spyryte shalbe ffebyll? and feynt When?1 I am fallen? in any2 age, My dayes, make I neu?r so queynt, Shullen? abregge and? somwhat swage, And I ful sone shalbe atteynte Whan I haue lost3 my[n] hote corage, And though I dyede than? as doth a seynt, A pytte shalbe myn? herytage — In erthe gete I non? other? wage Off all? rychesse, that man? may see. Whan? I am? closed in that cage, Than parce michi domine.

Non peccaui, et in amaritudinibus

moratur oculus meus. I haue nat synned? wylfully Thorough my feynt febell? nature, Ne greued? the so greuously* Wherffor? I shulde thys woo endure ; Thou punysshest me and? I not why, Passyng reson? and good? mesur?. Hit ys my flessh, lorde, and? nat I That groccheth ayenst thy hard? reddur?. [But, lorde, as .1. am thy creature,] 5 And [bou] that ylke god? that bougthest me, So my care recou?re and cure

parce michi domine.

445

17, n). Dies mei transierunt, cogitaciones mee dissipate sunt, torquentes cor meum.

My dayes, lorde, passed? are And? olde I am, I am no faunt 6 ; My thoughts wandrefn] wyde-whar?, For they ben?, lorde ' , full? variaunte, My herte they greuyn? wond?rsare For eu?r aboute hym? they haunte. Thys maketh me to drowpe & dare, That I am? lyke a pore penaunte. Though I be, lorde, vnsuffysaunte Any helpe to gete off the, Yet, for I am? thy8 creaunte, Lorde9, parce michi domine.

Noctem verterunt in diem, & rursum

post tenebras spero lucem. The nygRt they turnyd? in to be day, For they maden? me to lo wake all? nyght; I myght nat slepe be no way, Suche thought/.? were in myn? hert

pyght11. In derknes dymme as I so lay,

i Ff When bat 2 om Ff. 3 Ff lost y haue. 4 Ff grysely. * so D; Ff But as y am 1. thy c. ; om in H 6 Ff now faynte. " Ff ofte. 8 Ff thus. 9 Ff Euyr. w Ff me maden; to om. H HD plyght.

Pety lob.

Ms. Harl. 1706.)

Yet hoped I after the clere day-lyght; But thoughts me so trobled ay That I was thaiw a woffull? wyghttf. But, lorde, as p<m arte mekylk off myght*', (.90 Alk euylk thought^ putt frorn^ * me ; And that I off the may haue a2 syght, Lorde 3 farce michi domine.

Si sustinuero, infernus domus mea est; in tenebris straui lectulum meum.

Lord,yeff I shalk suffre thys grete dysease,

Hit wolk me brynge vnto my graue ; .95 And yet I-wys I may nat chese,

Whether I be4 kyng, knyght or knaue.

In derkenes dywme alk owte off ease

My lytelk bedde spredde I haue ;

That bed shalk I neuer lese, ;oo Though I wolde ffor angor raue,

Tylk the day off dome that off my 5 graue

I shalk aryse, and moo w/t^ me.

My soule lorde I prey the6 saue

Wyth8 parce michi domine.

Putredlni dixi : pater meus es; mater mea et soror mea, uer- mibiis. ,05 To rotene erthe ryght thus sayd I:

»Thou art my ffader off whom I cam#<, And vnto wormes sekurly : »Thow art my moder, thy sone I am 7 ; My systrene alle8 ye bene, ffor why 10 None other pan£ ye ffor sothe I [n]am*«. I shalk calle hem systres lo for-thy, For I shalle roote amonge hem«10; Off the lowest erthe god made Adam«, Off whyche my kynde I had as he. 15 Now, lorde, that artlykened to alawbe11, So parce michi domine.

Vbi est ergo nunc prestolacio mea et paciencia mea? tu es domine deus meus. .

Where ys myne abydyng no we,

And alk my pacyence therto?

They ben away, I wote12 neu^r howe, 20 For sothe me wanteth both two.

Yeff myn herte be styff and towe

To thanke the in wele and woo,

Hit ys nat I but oonly thow;

Thow art my lord and god also. [25 O thow gret lorde, alpha &13 oo,

Helpe me ffor thy grett pyte;

I haue Inough I pray the hoo14,

And15 parce michi domine.

i D fro. 2 Ff may of be h. ; a om. * Ff Thorow. « Ff Be y. * Ff bat. 6 D thow, Ff be bou. ' Ms. am T. » Ff also. 9 so Ff ; HD am. i» Ff ham. " Ff lam.

12 Ff not. is Ff et. " Ff sey hoo. » Ff Wyth.

387

(lob p

19, 20). 1 elli mee , consumptis domine carnibus, adhesit os meum, et derelicta sunt tantummodo labia circa dentes meos.

1 O my skyn my mouth(!) ys loo* And2 cleued fast, as ye se mays, 530

And wasted ys my fflessh also, And bothe my lyppes ben* away, My whyte tethe they4 ben* folk bloo — Ye wolde be agast& yeff ye me say8. Myn heryng ys milk clene agoo, 535

Myne eyen* be[n] dy/wme that were[n]

ffulk gray;

And I that was ffulL? stoute and gay, Fulk4 horyble am now opon« to se. Tyme ys that 4 mene now ' for me pray For8 parce michi domine. 540

Miseremini mei, miseremini mei, saltern uos amici mei, quia manus domini tetigit me. Reweth one me, reweth on me My frendys namly, now9 helpe10 att

nede,

For I am ther* I may nott fle, The hand off god ffulli sore I drede. And frendys, seeth11 that I am he 545

Thys other day that 4 on the erthe yede ; Now helpe yeff that4 your* wyll« be, Wz't/z prayer, fastyng, and almes-dede — For these mowen*12 best gete me mede, "With placebo and dirige; 550

Here-wi'tA my soule13 I pray you fede Wz'tA parce michi domine.

Quare persequimini me sicut deus,

& carnibus meis saturamini? Why as god do ye pursewe Me, that suffre these sharpe schowres? Ye late me payne14 here i«ls peywfolk 555

pewe

That ys a place off grett doloures. Yow I chese for frendes trewe And made yow myn executoures. But tyme xalk come that ye shalk

rewe That e\ier ye were to me "false trey- 560

toures.

My good ys spent17 as hit were youres, But nat a peny yevyn<; ye me. Now for alk suche ffaytoures1* Lorde, parce michi domine.

i Ff To my mouth my skynne ys bio. 2 om Ff. » Ms. may se. * om Ff. » Ff gast. 6 Ff ye may see. ' Ff now men. • Ff

Wyth. 9 Ff ye. 1° D helpeb. " Ff Now fr. syth. 12 Ff may. u Ff My hungry s. " Ff pyne. » Ff in a. " Ff so f. » Ff ye spenden. 18 Ff false (overl.) factowres.

25*

388

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

Quis michi tribuat ut scribantur

sennones mei?

565 Who may graunte me thys bone That my wordes wreten* were, In ensample off eu*rychon* That hap may to ben* in care? For yeff they wolden* maken* moon* 570 Eyther grocche vrith herte sare Ayenst god that sytteth in trone, [Percase yet] l they wolden* spare And make natt so ferly ffare But take ensample wolden* off me. 575 Now, lord, as I am but2 wonnes ware, So farce michi domine.

Quis michi det ut exarentur in libro , stilo ferreo aut plumbi lamina, uel celte sculpantur in silice?

Who shalk graunte me, or I be dede, To wryte hem by oon* and oon* 580 [In]3 booke wz'tA ynke blak or rede, Made wz'tfc guwme and vermylone, Or ellys yet2 in plate off lede, Or graven* in harde flynte off stone, That all* men*, wher*-eu*r2 they yede, 585 Myght otherwhyle loke theropon*? I wolde my frendys and my ffoon* Ensample4 take myght be me. As thow art thre and god* alloon*, Now5 farce michi domine.

Scio enim quod redemptor meus viuit , et in nonissimo die de terra surrectums sum, et rursum circumdabor pelle mea , & in carne mea videbo deum salua- torem meum.

590 I wote ryght2 well* that my redewptowre Lyueth yet. and lyue shall* aye, And I shall* ryse, I not what oure, Owte off the erthe art domes-daye, And take to me my ffurst coloure, 595 In8 flessh & felle cladde on clay, And [so] shall* I see my sauyoure Deme the worlde in wonder aray. The wycked than wztAowten* delay As arowes to helle they shullen* flee. 600 Lorde, that I goo nat that way, So farce michi domine.

Quern uisurus sum ego ipse, & oculi mei conspecturi sunt, et non alius.

Wham*7 I my-selff shall* se in syght W*tA eyen* clere and herte stable, And knowe hym as god almyght 605 That was for me man desparitable8.

i Mss. Because yeff. 2 om Ff. 3 Mss. My. < Ms. Emsample. * Ff So. * Ff And. i Mss. Whan*. 8 so Mss. ; r. despitable.

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Shall* ther for l me noon* other wyght Se my god that ys durable, But I my-self wz't^ eyen* bryght Shall* hym* be-holde most honorable.

0 lord, that charyte that ys2 so amyable 610 And bryght shynyng in thy mageste, That syght to see lorde make me able Thorow farce michi domine.

Reposita est hec spes mea in sinu

meo.

Thys hope ys in myn* herte sette, That neu*r ffrom* me sshall* dysseuer; 6i( Thereyn* my trust also ys knette, The whych to haue now ys me leuer.

1 hope to god that I shall* gette Off all* dyseases yet rekouere3,

And se my lorde in hys turete 620

Wz'tA whom* I hope to dwellen* euer. Thouh I be synfull*, lord, take me neuer In any thyng4 that may dysplease the, Thy blysse late me haue for euer Thorow5 farce michi domine. 62$

(lob s~\

10, 18). V^/Uare de vulua eduxisti me ? Qui vtinam consumptus essem, ne oculus 6 me uideret !

J\. lord, why leddyst thou so me Oute off be wombe thai17 I was in? Wold god I had consumed be Wz't^-inne my[n]8 owne moders skynne. That the eye wit/t whyche I see Had nat seyn* no9 more ne mynne, That I myght in that degre Neu*r haue wyst what had be synne ; For synne maketh me from the to twyn*. That off nought madest p<m10 me, Thy mercy, lorde, ma[k]en me to12

wywne 'With13 farce michi domine.

Fuissem14 quasi non essem, deutero

translates ad tumulum. And wolde god that I be hadde As a thyng that neu*r was! For all* wz'tA synne I am be-stadde, And eu*ry day I doo trespas. No wonder though I be vngladde And though I synge often* alias! For pure woo I wexed madde, Nere goddys mercy my solace. Lo, lorde, lo, I am ryght as A wytles man* wzt^-owten* the: But as thou* off plente 15 m*rcy has, So farce michi domine.

» HD therfor*. 2 Ff O 1. that arte. 3 Ff rekeuer. < Ff Wyth oght • Ff. Wyth.

6 Ms. o. tuus. i Ms. thas. 8 Ff In myn. » Ff me. 10 Ff Ye from be lord that madyste. » Ms. made. 12 Ff graunte bat y may. " Ff Thorow. i« Ms. Fuissent. v> Ff lord all

(The profits of tribulation).

Ms. Harl. 1706.]

Nunquid non paucitas dierum meo-

rum finietur breui? Whether the ffewnes off my dayes 650 Shulk nat hastyly haue an ende?

Sythen I can^ se be no wordly wayes But owte off1 be worlde sone shalle I

wewde.

The wordles wyles ryght nat me payes, For they bene false and ful vnthende(I) ; 655 My fflesshly lust my soule affray es, And I am tempted vrit/i the ffende. Thys maketh me to bowe and bende Alk-wey to synne, that woo ys me. Lorde, that arte curteyse and hende, >6o So parce michi domine.

Dimitte ergo me domine, ut plan- gam paululum dolorem meum; antequam vadam, et non reuer- tar, ad terrain tenebrosam et opertam mortis caligine. Therffore, lorde, suffre thow2 me A lytylk what, that whylhr8 I may The tyme that ever I greued4 the In dede or thought be nyght or day, 565 And graunte me, yeff thy wylk be, That here in erthe I wepe5 may, The derke lande that I neu^8 see That keuered ys wz't/z blacke all<?-wey.

389

Now, good7 Ihesn, to the I prey, As thow art god in trinite, 670

From that lande thou kepe [me] aye Thorough parce michi domine.

Terram miserie et tenebrarum, ubi umbra mortis et nullus ordo, sed sempiternus horror inhabitans. The lande off myscheff and off derknes Where as dawzpned soules dwelle, The londe off woo and off wrecchednesse 675 Where ben<? moo peynes pan« tonge

may telle,

The londe off dethe and off1 duresse In whych noon^ order may2 dwelle, The londe off wepyng and off3 drerynesse And stynkyng sorow4 on to smelle. 680 Now from that lond pat clepyd ys helle, Worthy lord, rescue now thow* me, So that I may euer with the dwelle, Thorough parce michi domine.

Here endeth the ix lessons of the diryge whiche lob made in hys trybu- lacz'on.

(Follows another poem with the same refrain Parce michi domine, beg. By a forest syde walkywg as I went Dysporte to take in o mornyng). *

> Ff fro. that wepe. • Ff ne.

2 Ff now. * Ff gyltyd. 7 om Ff.

3 Ff A 1. whyle » Ff wepe I.

i Ff of all. 4 Ff orrour vnto. co we.

2 Ff m. here. 3 Om Ff.

» Ff Worschypfull 1. res-

Of the 3 following tracts (6 — 8), which are mostly found together in the Mss., the 2 last have been ascribed to R. Rolle by Tanner ; but all are later compilations by a Midland writer, in a negligent, slipshod sort of style.

6. (The profits of tribulation.)

(Under this heading I give the 2 (or 3) originally distinct pieces which in the Mss. have subsequently coalesced. The Ist (How six maisters &c.) is found inde- pendent in Ms. Reg. 17 A XXV and Ji IV. 9, but generally, as in Ms. Harl. 1706 f. 54 (Douce 322), Rawl. 894, Reg. 17 C XVIII, Corp. Chr. Coll. Oxf. 220% connected (though-loosely), through an intervening Nota de paciencia infirmitatis in Latin, with the XII profits of tribulation. The Ist piece is, in Ms. Harl. 1706, and by Tanner, ascribed to Adam Carthusianus (see Tanner s. v.). The other is a translation of De XII utilitatibus tribulationis (ascribed to Peter of Blois, ed. Giles III. 307, Migne 207}*, and is derived from the older translation (probably by R. Rolle) ed. p. 44ff. The whole tract was printed London 1530.) 4

1 The same Ms. Harl. 1706, fol. 60, contains a translation of R. Rolle's De emendatione pecca- toris (12 Capitula). Also, the 'Orologium Sapiencie" ascribed (with the beginning of Ms. Harl.) to R. Rolle by Pits and Tanner, but which is nothing but Chapter V. of a larger tract of that name (a free English reproduction |of Henry Suso's work) by another author, ed. in Anglia X.

2 Corp. and Rawl. are the best Mss., though neither is the original; Reg. closely follows Rawl. ; Harl. often alters freely.

* In Ms. Mm vi. 17 fol. 125 and C. C. C. Oxf. 193 this Latin tract is erroneously attributed to R. Rolle; others ascribe it to Adam the Carthusian. R. Rolle is probably the author of the Ist translation (Ms. Reg. 17 B XVH).

* Another treatise on tribulation (»Seint Poule techij) us &c.c) in Ms. Ji VI. 40 and Bodl. 938, is wrongly ascribed o R. Rolle in the Cambr. Catal. of Mss.

3 go Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Reg. 17 A xxv.]

A

Ms. Reg. 17 A xxv. fol. 62.

Here begynnyth a litil schort tretice that tellyth how per weren sixe maisters asembliden1 to-gidur, and askiden eche oon of opere what2 pey my^te best speke of that my^te moost plese god & were moost profitable to be peple , and alle bey weren acordid to speke of tribulaciouw.

( A )He friste maistir seyde bat if eni bingtf hadde be bettir to eny mannis 3 lyuyng£ in bis world pan tribulaciouw, god wolde haue ^eue it to his sone ; but for he say wel ber was no bing<? better ban it , before he ^af it to him , and made him to suffre moost tribulaciouw in pis wrecchid worlde, more ban dide euere eny man or euere schal. (T)he secunde maistir seide bat if ber were eny man in bis world that my^te be with-oute spot of synne as oure lorde Ihmi Crist was, and my^te lyue here pritti ijeer and it were possible with-oute mete and drinke, and were also so deuout in pr^ynge pat he my^te speke with aungelis in pe eir as dide Marie Maudeleyn, ^it my^te he not deserue in that lijf so greet mede as a man deseruep in sufferyng of a litil tribulaciouw. (T)he pridde

maister seyde that if it so were bat the modir of god and alle pe halewis of heuene preieden alle for oo man, ^it schulde pel not gete him so myche meede ne so greet as he schulde gete hym-silf bi meeknes in suffringe of a litil tribii- laciouw. (Tjhe fourbe maistir seide: We worschipe be cros for oure lord Ihesu Crist hyng ther-upon bodili, but I seye we schulde raber and by more ri^t and resouw haue in mynde be tribulaciouw bat he suffride ther-upon for oure gyltis and trespasis. (T)he fifpe maistir seide : I hadde leuere be of my^te, of strenkbe and of power to suffre pe leste peyne of tribulaciouw bat oure lorde Ihmi Crist suffride here in erbe wip meeknes in herte, pan pe meede or the reward of alle worldly goodis , for as seint Petir seip pat noon ys worpi to haue tribulaciouw but bo that desyren [it] w/t/f clene herte and wib-oute errour4 ; for tribulaciouw quen- chip synne, and it lernep a man to knowe pe priuytees of god, and tribulaciouw makib a man to knowe hym-silf and his euen-cristin , and it multiplied vertues in a man, and purgith hym and clensith hym lijk as fier doop golde; and what man that meekli in herte suffrij) tribulaciouw, god is wz'tA-inne hym and berith bat heuy charge of tribulaciouw wif> hym ; also tribulaciouw beyep a^en the tyme f)at is lost, and holdip a maw in pe wey of ri^twisnes; and of alle be ^iftis bat god ?eueb vnto man, tribulaciouw is be moost worbi ^ifte, also it is [a] tresour to be which no man may make comparisouw ; and tribulaciouw ioynep a mannis soule vnto god. Now axi{) pe sixte maistir whi we suffren tribulaciouw with so euel wil ; and it is answerid ber-to & seyd pus : for bre thingis. The firste is for we haue litil loue to oure lord Ihmi Crist. The secunde is for pat we thenke litil of pe greete meede and pr0fite pat comep perof. The pirdde is pot we penke fill litil or nou^t of pe bittir paynes and pe greete passiouw5 pat oure lord Ihmi Crist suffride for us in rede/wpcioun of oure synnes6, and to bringe us to his blis that neuer schal haue ende. AMEN.

In Ms. Rawl. C 894 &c. then follows:

B. Nota de paciencia infirmitatis.

1 al. asemblid. 2 al. & yche on asked ofter what Jiing. 3 al. man. * i. irour.

5 al. gret paynes & fee bitter p. « al. soules. 7 Ms. infirmior.

(The profits of tribulation). 301

Ms. Rawl. C 894.]

bene intelligens1 apwMus ex maximo cordis sui gaudio dixit: Libenter gloriabor in infirmitatib** meis. Valde ergo desideranda est infirmitas, quoniam in nobis peccaiorum flammas extinguit & a Ihesu Ckristo granam adquirit. Infirmitas in nobis culpawz purgat & coronaw nobis pr^parat. O i«fiimitas, quam amabilis es & nobis vtilis ; nunquavt sine te ambulew, nunquam sine te sedeawr, nunquam sine te in hac uita fugiente viuam, quare ? Quia i«firmitas corporis est purgac/o & awiwze sa«c/ificac/'o. Infirmitas corporis est euidens nobis diuini amoris indicium & castigac/onis sue signuwz, Christo domino testante qui ait: Quas amo, flagello & castigo. Certe si vehmus ab eo amari, debemwj ab eo desiderare flagellari. Quia si ab eo now fuenmus flagellati now pete- rim//.? ab eo recipi , scrzptura teste que dicit: Flagellat pmwem filium quern recipit. Constat ergo quod illu/w que»w now flagellat now recipit, vnde de illis quos hie now flagellat dicit per prophetaw : Dimisi eos s«««d«m desideria cordis eoruwt. Necessariu»w est ergo nobis flagellu*w dommi, quiet si ab eo flagellamwr absqwf dubio ab eo recipimwr. Paciewter est ergo tollerawda iwfirmitas corporis que est preparacio salutis , igit*r cu»» gtaciarutn acc/o«e est suscipiewda, cu*w cordis leticia est tollera»da. Infirmitas enitn corporis general odiu>« mundi & parat amorew dei. Cogit nos uita»« pr^sentew: tamquatti eruwznosaw p^regrinac/o»#m & exiliuwt odio habere & vitawz etemam desideranWr co»cupisc<rre. Sed howriwes miseri & mundo dediti, si sane semper in hac uita potuissent viucre, nunquam [vitam] aliam habere voluissent. Nu»c ualde est dolenduw & flendo dicenduw qwod no« nulli statim c\im a deo flagellantur, eius salutiferuwt flagelluwz ab eis auferre nituwtur. Mox vasa vitrea querunt, vrinaw cowsulunt vtru>« viu^re an mori debeant. Heul heul Tales et huiusmodi per i\\um pessimuw rege»z Ocoziam designawtwr qui, in libro Regu*« quarto, cu»z egrotasset misit nuxctos dicens: Ite co»sulite Belsebub deuw Accaron vtruwz moriar an viuaw ; quibus nu»ciis Helias proph^a do»«/'no iubente occurrens ait : Dicite domino vestro , nu«q««"d deus non est in Israel , q;<:a misisti ad deum Accaron ut cow- suleres cum ; propter hec dicit dowi/nus : de lecto tuo now consurges sed morieris ; et ita factum est iuxta verbnm dotnini. Sitntli modo morte pessima morientur qui suuw 'Accaron', qui vrina i»Urpretat»r, et flagelluw domini a se expellere conantur, et ita dei ordinaczoni2 resistuwt, nescientes ceci et insipientes qw/'a deus ditecfos sues hir. flageljat vt eos probet et purget, muwdet et s<z«crificet, vt postmodu/» eos coronet et glorificet; qui est sup^r om«ia deus bfoe- dictus in secwla. Amen.

C.

Here sueth a prolog^ vpon^ pe xn pr^phetis and auauntegis 3 of tribulac/on. Prolog^us.

Da nobis domine auxiliura. de tribulacione,

'.Lord god, graunte us helpe of tribulac/on'. To pe, soule, pat art distroublid and temptid, to pe is purposed pat pou schalt lerne wherof tribulactons s^ruen, and [not]4 only ^at pou schalt suffre hem paciently, [but]5 gladlye, and comforte the inwardly of bat pou arte discomforte outwarde8. For Seneca sei^e : Non est ita magna consolado sicut ilia que ex desolatione extrahitur , There is none so gret comforte as is pat pat is draw en oute of discomforte. Which co;«forte may noman haue, but he know first the frute of tribulaczon, pat is to seye, but he know how god sendith tribulacz'ons and ordeynebe hem<? to pe pwphet7 of the soffrers, but if it so be that rebelnesse of frowardnes w*'tA-stonde be ordinaunce of god. Therfor bei bat knowen her defautes on* bat on* partie8, and pee profetis of tribulac/on on bat ober parti, askyn to be holpyn* in tribulaczon, & not tribula- c/on to be put a-weye from hem; for if bei askyn puttyng* awey perof, bei asken* a-yence hym-selfe, as seynt Poule dyd which asked pries pe prikyng* of his flessh to be don* a-weye; to whom* god answeryd thus, 11° ad Corrinth. 12°: Sufficit tibi gr&cia mea, My grace suffiseth to the. Many prophitis p*r ben of tribulac?on, but of xn I purpose to speke in speciall ; the which who so will wztA good diligens reed or here, he schal lyghtly w/t/j goddis grace fynde gostly sauoure. For ryght as mete euel chewed is euel to defye, ryght so techyng* of hooly writt neccligently redd or herd profiteth lytell or ellis nou^t*.

Of the first pwphet of tribulac/on. Capituluw primuw.

1 he firste pwphet of tribulac/on is 'vnderstond bat it is a trew socoure of help sent from* god to delyu*r the soule fro be handis of his enemyes, whiche enemyes ben bese: preuy suggestions" of pe fende pat cruel enemy, ffalse ioyes

i Mss. intelligit. « Ms. ordinacionem. 3 CH euangelistes(i), corr. in Reg. * Ms. (&

Reg.) yit; HC & that only. * Mss. and. • C outwardly. ' H helpe & p. • CH parte. • H to v. 10 H suggestion.

5O2 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. RawL C 894.]

&l richesse of the world bat disseiuable enemy, vnclene lustis of the fflessh |)at homly enemy. Thes enemyes sleen be soule, and2 so mych pe more (perl)osly, |)at pei disseiuen it w/t/z false feyned frendshyp and so preuyly. The which ben figured bi loas, 11° Reguw .xx., that feyned hym3 frend to Amas holdyng« hym<? by be chyne as he wold haue kyssed hyme , and so with his swerd in bat oder hond praiyly stiked4 hymtf. Vpon^ bis seibe seint Gregor: Yf eu^ry5 fortune is for to be drad, moch more is for to be drad pr0spmte pan adu^rsite — as 6 scheweb opynly. And note wel bat god ordeyneth all pingis in tribulac/on to [be]7 dely- uifraunce of his smiauntis, as he behotibe be j) e prophet Dauid, seying bus : Cttm ipso sum in tribulatione, eripiam eum 8f glorificabo eum, I am w/t/z hym in tribu- lac/on, I schal delyu^r hym of tribulacz'on, and I schal glorifye hym for tribula- c/on. For als much ban as god is w/t/z vs in tribulac/on, we schal suffre it 8paciently and gladly, for be more bat tribulac/on groweth9 to be, the more nere god nei^hith to be, as be prophet seith: luxta est dominns hijs qui tribulato sunt corde , 8f humiles sp\r&u saluabit, Oure lord is faste-by to3 hem pat ben in tribulac/on of herte , and he schal saue hem bat ben meke of spirits. Therfor if the peyne of tribulacz'on make the heuy and greuyth the , be my^t and the m^rcy of god thy sauioure bat is w/t/z the in tr/bulac/on, schall inwardly comfort the. But now pi?rauenture bou my^test10 answere & sey thus: 'The bitter payne ofe tribulac/on I fele wel , but swettnesse of his fellowshyp I fele none ; ffor if he schewed to me the present swetnesse of hy[s] u myrth as he doth the bitternesse of tribulac/on, I schuld suffer it gladly5. Also p^rauenture thow woldist12 seye that afore tribulac/on thow felist13 more swetnesse in god ban bou dedist whan bou were14 in tribulac/on. Here-to may be answered, bat be frendship^ of god in tribulac/on is 15vnd<?r-stond in twey maners. First: as tribulac/on encresith, so god multiplieth grace & wrtu for to suffre tribulac/on paciently & gladly. Example: as lordis send socoure and helpe to comforte hyr smiauntis pat be in castellis 16 besegid of her enemyes, ry^t so oure lord god sendibe cowzfort of grace to soules bat ben be-segid w/tA temptac/ons & tribulac/ons. The secund man^r of the fellowschyp* of god in tribulac/on may be vnderstonde by the cowforte bat he sendith hem bat bene in tribulac/on ; as the apostil seithe, I Cor. 11°: Sicut habifn- dant passiones Chris ti in nobis, ita habundat consolado nostra, As the passion of Criste17 encresith in us, so encresith oure comforte. Cristis passions encresyn^18 in us when thei be sent fro hym and we to [be] 19 lyknesse of hym mekely & paciently suffer hem as goddis s^ruauntw , and not as mansleers and thevis , whiche hane desmiid pat bei suffers. And vnderstond well, pat comforte of grace in tribnla- c/on is for he schukte20 dred god and trist in hym to be delyuwk; 21as we rede in the boke of holy fader22 seint Anton, how he after many gret sp/r/ftiall temptac/ons was troublyd of fendis, bodyly betone and woundid all hys body, so bat whan his smiaunt23 cam to viset hym he found hym£ lying dede & so he toke hym vp and bare hym to the next towne where he watched24 tyll abow^t mydny^t ; and ban by the will ofe god he releued25 and bad his s^mauwt praiyly, all other sclepyng, bere hym a^en; and so he did. And whan he was brou^t ayen thedir so feble pat he my^t not stonde, but sittyngtf vp he seid bus: 'Where ben£ ye26 euill spiritis, wicked feendis? lo I am here be be my^t of god redy to withstond all youre malice'. & after bes and many [othir] wonderfull temptac/ons : oure lord appered to hym in wonderful ly^t & comfortable. To whom hooly Anton<? seid: CA lord Ihesu, where hast b<?u bene? good lord, where hast b0u be27 so longe fro me in tribulac/on f And oure lord answered and seyd: 'here w/tA the, beholdynge thi fyghtyng^, redy to reward the and comforte the after thi uictory, as I am wont to do for my chosin childerne5. For wit bou well bat comforte oweth not to com, ryl that a place be rayed therto by tribulac/on. Also we rede of Sare, the

1 H of. 2 CHMn. 3 om in H. * H caste, RC kylde (R styked on margin). » H any. 6 Ms. as he. * Ms. be. 8 H the more p. » ist transL greues. w H myght. " RC his, om in H. 12 H wolde. ™ H felt. " H om whan ])ou were. 1* H to v. ™ H om in c. " H om of C. is H encreseth. » Ms. be : H be the. » CH he s. preve hym-silfe, he s, 21 The foil, tale is added. 'a Ms. faders. 23 H s^ruauntw. 2< RC was w., H was washed. 23 = re-lived. » Mss. be. 27 good — ^be om in H.

(The profits of tribulation). 303

Ms. Rawl. C 894. ]

doubter of Raguell, Tobie in0: Hoc autem. cerium /mbet oranis qui co\\t te qma vita eius si in temptacione /Merit coronabitur, si autcm. in tribuladone fuerit libera- bitur , et si in correpdone fuerit ad misericordiam tuam peruenire licebit. Non cntm. delectaris in perdidonilws «ostm; qma post tempestatem trKHquillura. facts, et post lacrimadonem et flctina. exultadonem inftmdis: Eu<?ry man j)at worschippith the1, god, hath this for certeyn that yf his lyfe be here in temptac/on, he schalbe crowned, and yf he be in tribulac/on he schalbe delyuml, & [yf] he be in chastisyng it schalbe leffull - to com to pi nKrcy ; pou delitest not in oure per[i]chynge, for after tempestis pou makist tranquillite , & after teers and wepyng pou sendist gladnesse. as the prophet seith: Seouu/uw iiniltitttdinera. dolorum meorura. in corde meo consolaciones tue letificaucrmrf animam mcara., After the multitude of the sorrowes in myn herte thi comfort/.? han£ gladdid my soule. The comforte of on oure passith be sorrowes of tribulac/on of many ^eris ; ffor god pat cowmyth3 for to helpe & cowforte, after tribulac/on schal abyd w/tA be, gladdyngtf pi soule. And p^rauewture yf pou pleinests pe pat pou tarrieste ou«--longe abydyng*? his cow- forte, as lou^rs be wont topleyne: here-to answeripe a gret clerke, Cassiodorus : Jpsa uelocitas* dei* desideranti 8f amanti tarditas videfar, The swiftenesse of god to a desirynge & a louyng^ soule semyth longe tariyngtf, [or thus : a thyng pat is moche couetyd semeth grete tariyng] to a louyngg soule. I>an of pese tofore- seid6 may be concluded fiat a soule discomforted in tribulac/on oweth7 not to hold hym-selfe ou<rcom of his enemyes, but rather delyu«rd£. Sipe pan pat pis is sothe pat tribulac/ons delyu^ren us from oure enemyes, bough so be bat pei be heuy and chargeable yet neu<r-the-lesse pei schulden be suffred paciently & gladly, w/tA-out grocchyng^ a-i;ens tribulac/ons; for yf we gruche8 a-yence hem, pan we strive a-yenst oure helpers & we helpew oure enemyes. 'And for we be not stronge of oure-silfe to delyucr vs from our? enemyes, pray we to god mekelye seying^ with the prophet : Da nobis dom\ne auxilium. de tribulacione,. Lord god graunte us helpe of tribulac/on9.

The secund prophet of tribulac/on. Capitulu;w secundum.

J. he secund prophet of tribulac/on is pat it stoppith the malice I0 of the fend ; for he is a-ferd to tempt pe soule pat is in tribulac/on , for he dredith hym to be outcome or ellis refused. & pat is figured by the frendis of lobe, where it is seyd, lob. il°: Nemo loquebatvx ei tterbum, videbant enira. dolorera. eius uehe- mentem., Noman speke to hym a word, pei sigh his sorrowes werne grete. The feyned frendis of lobe betokyn wicked feendis pat wexen11 or troublyn soules, v^-hich dare not com ny^e a soule pat is in tribulac/on, ne tempt it beyngc distroublyd. 9& not oonly tribulac/on stoppith the malice of the fende, but also pere-thorou? the soule des^ruith cowforte as* of angels and of seyntis, as we rede of holy faders many oontf. Of which on£ cowmyth to mynde. Abbot Sisoy after meke sofferryng* of tribulac/ons & desesis, a litill to-fore the soule schuld passe from the body, he seyd: 'brethern, bene(!)12 glad, lo holy Anton cowmyth to us^ ; & sone after he seyd : clo here co/wmyth the worshypful cowpany of prophet// ; and the thrid tyme he seid .- 'now cowmyn* the holy apostillis' ; and as it semed to hem pat stodyn* abou'^t he spake w/tA hem ; and pen pei prayeden [hym] pat he schuld tel hem w/tA whom pat ' he spake, and he answerid and seid : witfl holy angels pat cowmyn to take my soule ; and I prayed hem to byd[e] a while, pat I schuld13 suffre more pe«naunceJ; and pese wordis I-seyd, pe spirit passeth14 w/t// gret ly^t, all pei felyng^ a wonderfull15 swete sauoure9. '"Note well pat pere is no p^rell in tribulac/on of temptac/ons so pat pou answere not to hem by dilectac/on or1' consentynge, as pe spech of an« opyn* cursed man noyeth not but yf pou answere to hym. pat is figured in holy wrytt where it is seyd, Ysaie xxxvi°: Afandauerat enim rex E^echias ne pop\\lus respondent blasfemijs Rapsacis , Kynge E^echie cowmaunded pat pe peple schuld not answere to the blasfemis18 of that tiraunl

om in H. 2 H leuefull. » H coueteth. « H uoluntas. 5 L cordi. • H forsayd.

» i»* tr. mouthe. u al. vexen, i«t tr.

myght. " H passyd oute. 1S H w. grete

• om in n. * n leueiuii. • n. coueietn. • i

7 H ought. 8 R gurch, H groge. •-• added, werrayande. 12 Ms. (& R) bene; HC be. « H m & s. i« H Than note. " H &. >8 H blasfemiis

304 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Rawl. C 894.]

Rapsacis. By Rapsacis is vnderstond the feend, and by his blasfemyes bene vnder-

stond temptacz'ons of wicked pou^tis, which noyeth1 nou^t but yf pou wilfully

assent to hem. 2And if pou fele be feble by frelet[e] of the flessh, pray pou god

besily in tribulaczon pat he stop the malicious temptacz'on of the fend, as the

prophet seith: Lord god graunt us helpe of tribulac/on ~.

Of the thrid prophet of tribulaczon. Capituluwz tercirwz.

1 he thrid prophet of tribulac/on is pat it purgipe the soule. But it is to wit bat ther bene v. maner of matmall purgyng/j. On is purgyng^ of mannys body for corrupcz'on3 of humoris wicked; & pat is in two manors: one ys be medi- cinable4 drynkys, a nother be crafty blood-lettyng*. The secund purgyng* ys of metal, as gold be pe fire, & iron be the fyle. The thrid purgyng^ is of trees, as cuttyng« of vynes, and voydyng*? of onfrutfull branches. The fourth purgyng* is of corne, as betyng or thresshyng wz't/z a flayle. The fyfte purgyngtf is of grapis, & that is by a pr^ssoure. One pus many5 manors god doth purge the soule by tribulacz'ons. For as the body is purged by medicinalle6 drinks of euell humoris, ryght so is the soule made clene by tribulacz'ons sent from the sou^reyne leche oure lord god of veyne affecc/ons and euell manors ; for seynt Gregor seyth : Mali7 humores sunt mali mores, Euel humoris bene euel manors. Drinke pis medicyn^ of tribulaczon sent to the fro god, for he is a wise leche and knoweth all pi prniy syknesse & how much pou maist suffre and how much pou nediste, for he sendipe the no thyng<? but pat pat is profitable to the. And he8 hape tasted and assayed and drunke afore the, not for hym-selfe but for pi purgyng*7, he suffred be9 passions ofdeth; wherof he seydtothe10 apostellis lohn and lamys, Mat. xx° : Potestis bibere calicem quern, ego bibiturus sum, Mow ye drynke pe passions pat I schal drynke? fan sith this11 wise lech hath dronke this medicyn for pi loue, drynke pou therof wz't^-oute drede, for it is holsom. This drynke thirsted the prophet Dauid whentf he seid: Calicem salutaris accipiam. et nomen domini inuocabo , I schal take the holsome passions of tribulac/on. And if pe pinke it bitter1'2, clepe pi lord god vnto pi helpe as he seid: Da nobis domine auxilium. de tribuladone , Lord god grau«t us helpe of tribulaczon. And as a purgacz'on schuld be receyued hastyly wz'tA-oute ou^r-much tastyngtf or longe tarryng, so schuld tribulaczon be acceptid13 wilfullye wz'tfc-out argumentis of14 dis- putyngf or rebellyon* or15 grucchyng^. But now bewelware: for as some-tyme be prophet of the medicyn* is letti[d]16 and worchith the cowtrary to corrupcz'on, not for the17 defaute of pe medcyn^, but for be euel disposiczon of hym pat receyueth hit, so in the same wise the prophet of tribulaczon is letrid of purga- cz'on18 and doth the contrary, for it is begynnyngtf ofpayne, after which foloweth euerlastyngg dampnacz'on ; as we reden of kyng Pharo kyng£ of Egipt , for the more pat he was visettid by tribulac/on, the more his rebellious herte encresyd in17 to his dampnacz'on. The secund purgac/on of mannys body for euel humoris

is by crafty blood-lettyngf , and that is of two manors , as by openyng*? [of be veyne, or els by boxynge or ventusynge. Openynge of the veyne] 19 is properyd to confession, and boxynge or ventusyng, to tribulaczon. And not[e] wele, ryght as foule blode corruptith the body, so syn which is called in holy writ blood defouleth the soule. The veyne be the which blod or syne ys voidid oute , is the mouth, as it is seyd Prouerb. X: Vena vite os justi; fuia Justus in pnncipio accusator est sui, The mouth of a ry^tful man is the veyne of lijf ; for the ryghfull man in the begynnyngtf accuseth hym-selfe, pat is to sey, be confession. Also note that" as a man oweth by this20 veyne to voyde oute wicked blood for the purgyngtf of his body, and kepe his21 good blood for his norisshyngtf, ryght so in confession he oweth by his mouthe to shew all his synnes, and w/t^-hold and j kepe pmie all his good dedis for fere of lesyng^; for good [dedis] schewed inf

1 al. noy. 2-2 added. 3 Ms. corruwpc/on. 4 H medicinall. s H thyse. 6 RC medicinable. I " Ms. Mala. » Mss. he l>at. • Ms. fci. » H hys. " H the. » Ms. better. M HC accepte. M H or. »5 C of. i« Ms. lettith. " om in H. ™ H is 1. & d. the c. of hys p. 19 om. » H his. 21 RH the.

(The proflits of tribulation . Ms. Rawl. C 894.]

confession by veyneglory or avauntyng^, turnyn fro vertu vnto vicis for defaute of wise kepyng, as we redjrv of the pharase that seyd, Luc. xvin0: Gr&cias ago tibi doraine quia non sum sicut cettri hominvm, raptores, adulteri, uelut fciam hie publicans; leiuno bis in sabbato, decimas do omnium que possideo: Lord I panke pe for I am not lyke as other men, robbers and auoutrers, also not lyke this publycan; I fast twise in a1 weke, I paye tythes of all pat I haue. Lo here pou maist2 vnderstond by this pharase a false feyned and a prowd cowfession. Sed publi- cations a longe stans noluit ocvJos ad celum leuare, sed percudebat pectus [suum] dicens Deus propicius esto michi pcccatori: But the publican stondynge a-ferre behynde, holdyng? hym-selfe vnworthi, wold not lyfte up his ?ien to heuen, but he smote his3 herte and seyde God haue merci on me synntrr; and so this publican yode thens instified, or made ryght, by his verry meke confessione. To this acordith the prophet Dauid where he seith thus: Dixi cor\fitebor aduersum me iniusticiam meam domino, 8f tu remisisti impietatem pecc&ti mei: I schall knowlege [by]4 meke co«fession ayence my-silfe to my lord myn vnry^twisnes, and pou haste for^euen the wickidnesse of my synne. ^[ Boxyng* or ventusyng, a-cordyth to tribulac*'on ; for als many desesis as god sendith to the in tribulaczon, so many remedies he ordeynith for thi purgac*on. But note wel as it is nedeful afore ventusyngi?, the flessh to be het and clensid5, for pan the smytyngtf of the blood-yryne may be suffred the more esily ; so it is spedful afore tribulaczon pat the hert be hett vritA parfite loue and charite, pat temptaczon of tribulaczon may be sufFred the more paciently and gladly. In figure here-of the holygoste cam downe to the apostilys in lyknesse of fire, bi whonu' thei were so strengthid and comforted pat afterward pei weren«6 gladd and yedyn7 loyinge for pei were maade worthi to suffer tribulaczon, angre and repmie for the name of Ihe.su, the which afore pat tyme were so dredful pat pei fleddyn aweye fro hym and som forsokuw [hym], as Petir — pat was prz'nce of the apostilles — for fere of a woman swore bat he knew hym not , the which after [£ e] commynge of the holygoste dred not the cruell tz^rment of Nero the emp^rour, but paciently and gladly suffred to be cruci- fied and dede. The secund man^r of materyall purgaczon is of metallis, as gold be fyre, and iron£ by 8file. For ryght as fire departith gold from other mettallis, and purgith hym of ruste and fylth, and makipe hire9 faire and clene: so tribula- c/on departith the soule of his aduwsaries, and clensith hym of the filth of synnes, and it makith hym to god lovely and acceptable; and therfor it is seyd Sapienc. v°: TamqMca.ro. auritm in fornace probauit electos dominus, et q\nzsi holocausta1* hostii accepit illos, ^- in tempore erit respectus illoram, Oure lord hath praied his chosen men by tribulaczon as gold is praied i« the fomaise, and he hath accepted hem as sacrifice of offryng*, & in tyme of reward pat schnld11 be hold(l). W*tA this fire of tribulac/on was lob preved when he seyd, lobe xxiu°: Probauit me detts sicut aurum quod per ignem transit, God preuith — by tribulacfon — me as gold pat passith by 8fire. And note pat amonge all metallis gold is moste pranouse, and leed is leste of price , & yet neu^rtheles gold is not purged w»tA-oute leed , for leed draweth w/'tA hym in the forneis the filthes1* of gold. On the same man^r chosintf soules [the whiche be likned to gold], bene purged by dampned soules13 the which be likened to leed; wherof Salomon seith: Stultus seruiet sapienti, The fole schal s^rue to the wise man — pat is to seye, euell men schal smie to purge good men by tribulact'on. ^j Also 14Iron is purged bi the file of ruste, and made schynyng and15 bry?t: so is the soule purged by tribulaczon from vnclennesse & comforted wj'tA gostly ly?t. And as a knyfe pat is not vsed, abydyng* in the sheth draweth16 ruste : so doth the soule w/tfc-owte excersise of tribulac/on, desireth vnclene luste; as we redyn<? of Dauid, 11° Reg. n°, [pat] whan he was w*'t//-owt tribulac/on of werryng^ viiih his enemyes, Ir fell into auoutrye vfitA the wife of Vry pat worpi kny^t, & after into homicide or manslau^ter. terfor seipe pe prophet leremye: Fertilis™ erat Moab in dietms adolescencie sue, 8f requieuit in [fecibus]™ suis:

i H the. * H may thou. » H on h. * Mss. my. s Mss. clensid; r. chaufid.

6 H wentyn. » RHC yodyn. 8 RH the f. • HC hit 10 H holocaustum. » CH thai shullen. 12 H fylthe. " H euyll men. »« HC Also as. « om in H. >« H dr. to hym. " H he f. 18 r. Sterilis ... ab adol. 19 Mss. diebus.

•jg6 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Rawl. C 894.]

Moab, be which is vnderstonde the son of my people , was plenteuous by grace in tyme of his tribulac/on, and he hath rested in filthes of syn. Than gruche not ayence god whan he filyth1 thi soule to make it faire and clene, louely and lyjjt. or els may it never com to haue of hym that blissed sy^t whereof it is seide Mfft. v° : Beati mundo corde fa.onia.rn ipsi deum. videbunt, Blessed bene faei bat bene clene of hert for pei schull se god. ^F The thrid man^r of purgyng^ pat accordyth to tribulac/on, is of trees, as cuttyng^ of vinis, or wedyng2 of vnfrutefull braunchis ; wherof Crist seith. lohn. xx°: Omnem palmitem in me nan ferentem. fraction, toilet euro. , 8f omnem qui fert fructum , purgabit cum. , ut fructum plus ajferat, Euery vyne-braunche pat bringeth forth no frute in me pat am a warre3 vyne, my fader, pat is a tilier4, schal kut hym of and cast hym a-weye, and pat braunche pat beryth frute he schall purge hym , pat he may brings forth more frute. By this vyne may be vnderstonde mannys herte, bi tho humoris is vnderstond affec- c/on or loue, and by vnfrutfull braunchis bene vnderstond flesshly lustis, vnordinate loue of creaturis , carnall affecc/ons of kynred , and worldly richesse. When be humoris of a vyne or of a tree is spred aboute vnto oub^r5 many vnfrutefull braunchesse6, hit bringeth forpe the lasse frute or ellis none; perfor7 it longith to a wise tilier or to a good gardin<?r to cut of pes vnfruteful braunches, pat the vyne or the tree may bryngf forth the better frute and the more. Right so almy^ti god, which is a wise tilier & a sou^reyne gardin^r, cuttipe a-wey vnclene lustis of be flessh w/t/z the knyfe of bodyly siknesse, he cuttepe a-wey vnordinate loue of creatures w/tA the hoke of adu^rsite & tribulac/ ons , he cuttith a-wey carnall affecc/ons of kynred witA pe swerd of depe, & he cuttipe a-wey worldly riches w/tA is8 iron^ rodde, asw/t/*9 brennyng? of fyre, drenchyng? of water, rob- byng of theves and such other. On all these mane's doth god chastice and purge by tribulacz'on, ffor he wold pat the loue of thine herte schuld abyde w/tA hym & bringe forth plenty of spiritual frute in hym, & not abyde ne trust in such deseyuable frendshyp ; for seynt Gregory seith: Qui autem. labenti adheret10, necesse est ut cum labente labatur, He bat lenepe to a fallyng^ pingtf, nedis w/tA pat fallyng£ he most fall.

The foureth ma.ner of matmall purgyng^ pat acordipe to tribulac/on , is of corne , as by betyng* or thresshyng<? wM a flayle , to departs pe corne fro pe chaffe; wherof seith seint Austens: Quod jlagellum grano , quod fornax auro, quod lima ffrro, hoc facit tribulado vlro iusto, As the fleile s^ruith to corne, as the fornais" s^ruith to gold, & as the fyle s^ruipe to yren, so s^mith tnTsulacj'on to pe ry^tful man. 12As we rede pat the angel Raphael seid to Tobye, Tobie xn° : Et quia acceptus eras deo, necesse fuit ut temptacw probaret te, And for p0u were acceptable to god it was nedfull bat tribnlacz'on schuld pmie the. For as betyng of a flaile constreyneth the corne to depcrte fro the chaffe, so tribulac/on con- streyneth the herte to forsake the disseiuable loue of the world and the false frendship of synners, which ar vnderstond in13 chafe. The prophet of this flayle knew pe prophet when he seid: Ecce ego in Jlagella paratus sum, Lo I am redy to suffer the betyng^ of tribulac/on. And therfor seith seynt Austin: Noll con- qiterere(\) de flagello ti\bulac\o\a.s , si vis habere purum. granum, fy reponi cupis in celo vbi nou nisi purum. granum. reponetur, Pleyne pe not of be 14 fleyle of tribu- lac/on, if pou wilt haue clene corne of cowcience, & if9 p0u wilt coueit to be in pe garner of pe9 blisse of heuen i«to pe which pou maist not com till pou be clene purgid. Be well ware : for as corne pat 9 is grene & moiste, & not ripe ne drye, is not departed from the chaffe wit/i betyng? of? the flaile, but rather cleuith therto, so it is for to dred pat hertis which arne grene i« begynnyng of conver- sion and moiste in carnall affecc/ons, which hane not assaid pe pr^fet of tribula- c/on, be not departed from pe fals frendship of hir enemyes, but rather cleuew to hem as bou? pei wold be cowforted by hem; I5ffor when god sendipe us visitac/ons ls for to purge pe soule pat he louyth, be it be bodyly siknesse or by losse of godes pat ben temp0rall or adu<rsite of enemyes or eny other temptac/on

1 Ms. felyth. 2 r. voidyng. 3 = verray; H ware. * H tyle-man. 5 HC over.

6 al. braunches. '• H Than*, C that. » H hy. 9 om in H. >" PB innititur.

n H fornax. K added. » H by. » Ms. fi. " The foil, is added. " H tribulacions.

(The profits of tribulation . 707

Ms. Rawl. C 894.]

or heuynesse, anon be herte rewnyth all abou^te to seke cowforte of his fals frendis, & it hath grete dred b^re as is no nede , as be prophet seipe : Ibi ctci- derunt tiraore vbi nan erat timor, Thei fellyn* dou« for dred fo^re as no dred was. Hit may be clepid a cursed cowforte bat is sett rab<rr in a creature pan in god, ffor be prophet leremie seith, leremie Xllil0: Matedictas homo qui confidit in /lomine, 8f ponit carnem brachiura. sieum, Sf a deo reccdit cor £/us, Cursed be bat man pat tristith in man, & he pat settith any creature to be his strength, & he br.t departipe his herte from god. But it may be clepid a blessid cowrforte pat is sett in god, as be same prophet seith: Itenedictas uir qui confidit in domino, $• frit domitms fiducia eius, Blessed be pat man pat tristeth in oure lord god, & oure lord schalbe his trust. And pat we schul haue ful trust oonly i« god i« all maner of tribulac/on, & dred fals1 cowforte & euel concell of oure enemyes, we hane ensample of Ochosias be kyng^ pat sent messangers to Belsabub be feend of Acharon to haue co/wforte & couwcell where he schuld escape pe tribu- lac/on of siknesse or no ; & god sent an angel to Hely pe prophet & bad hym sey to Ochosi: 'For pou hast sent messengers to aske couwcell of Belsebub pe feend of Acharow, as pou^ p^r were no god in Israel of whom pou my^teste asken couwcell & cowforte, p^rfor pou schalt not go oute of pi bed bat pou yedist vpon, but pou schalt dye" pmn'. Also that we schuld not loue be world ne truste worldlye pingis, seint lofin biddith, i° loh. n°: Nolite diligere mundum neyue ea que in mundo sunt , Will ye not loue be worlde ne worldly pingis. The fifte man^r of materiall purgac/on is as3 of grapis, and that is by a pressoure. For as a pressoure pressith the grapis4 to departe the preciouse liquore of wyn^ fro draffe & drastis5, so god purgith pe soule pat he lonepe in the p>vssour of tribulac/on fro corrupc/on & wickednesse of syn , som-tyme by bodyly seknesse or pmiy gostly heuynes, & some-tyme be losse of temporall goodis or p<?rsecu- c/on or slauwder of euell men and enemyes, some-tyme for6 lackyng* of noble kynred or by the deth of feythfull 7 frendis ; and b^rfor suffre paciently the prophet of pis pressoure, yf pou wilt be brou^t into Cristis blessed seller, of which is seyd Cant. il°: Introduxit me dominus in cellam suam vinariam, The lord pe kyng hath brou^t me in to his wyne-seller. Herto accordith seint Austen & seith bat holy martires were so pressid be tribulac/on in pis present lyfe, pat pe bodyly mat^r lefte in the pressoure of pis erth, but be precious soules were resseyued8 vnto the seller of eu^rlastyng blesse. Gruch not ban ayence god if he haue put pe in his pressoure of tribulacz'on; for he hath asayed it afore the, as Ysaie the prophet seith in the person of Crist, Ysaie Ixili0: Torcular calcaui solus 8f de genlibus won est uir mecum, I alone haue tred 9 pe pressoure of tribulac/on & no man is w/tfc me of folkis. And bat he seith, not 'no woman'10, for bat blessed woman moder & maide oure lady seynt Mary abode w/t/fc hym in full feith when all bo11 apostilles fled from hym, & was redy to suffre deth by compassyon of hyr son, as pe prophet Symeon seith, Luc. ll°: Et tuam ifsius animam pertransibil gladius, The swerd of deth schall passe thorow thyne owen soule. Now pan sith pis is soth pat oure lord Ih^u Crist hath seyd12 pis pressoure of tribulac*on and that blessed lady his mod^r mayd3 Marye, what so eu^r bou be bat feliste pe in pis pressoure of tribulac/on, take it mekely & gladly, praying w/tA pe prophet Da nobis dontine auxilium. de tribulations, Lord graunte us helpe of tribulac/on.

Of pe 1111th prophet of tribulac/on. Capituluw quartuw.

1 he iinth profet of tribulac/on is bat it ly^tneth be to haue be knowyng<r 13 of god, iw which is p^rfecc/on & pe profet of mawnys knowyngtf ; pe which seynte Austyn desired seing in the boke of answers to hym-selfe — libra soly-loquiorvxa. — thus: 'Wold god I schuld know pe, lord, wold god I schuld know the!>u And also it is writtuw in pe boke of Wisdom15, Cap. XV: Nosce te iusticia est consttmmata,

» H & of f. 2 RC deyn ; RCH om Jierin. » om in H. * and— grapis om in H.

» H drystes. « H by. 7 H nobyll & f. 8 H rauysshed. • H trode. note that he seith 'no man', but he seith not 'no w.' » al. be (i»t tr. |)o). 12 RC sayed

H assayed. » H knowlege. " wold— the om in H. >» CRH add Sap.

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle. Ms. Rawl. C 894.]

To know be1, lord god, it is fulfilled ri^twisnes endid2. To this knowyng*3 helpith tribulaczon; ffor as the rod cowstreyneth a child to bowe douw his heed & take heed of his boke & record his lesson, so tribulaczon meketh pe herte & makith hym to be-hold his owen* freelte & to know god. Wherfor seith seint Bernard : Deus se facit * cognosci verberando , qui oblitus 8f incognitos erat p&ccendo, God makith hym-selfe to be knowen in betyng* with tribulaczon, which was for-yete & vnknowe in his m*rcyfull sparyng. Daniel nil0, of this we hane ensample of the 5 kyng* Nabugodonosor, which for prid was cast oute of his kyngdom & leued wz'tA wild bestw & etc hey as an oxe6, but when he lifte up his y^e to his maker of hole herte, his witt was restored to hym* a^en & he knew god pat chastised hym in tribulaczon; as is the man*r of children, when pei felen scharpe strokis of the rod, pei lifte up her yen to hym pat smytten(!j7 hem, for pei wolden pat he schuld turne his face to hem by pite & cowpassion*. Now pan, pou lowly soule pat arte vnder pe rod of tribulaczon, cowsidre & know wele pat pe man*r of lou*rs is for to send yeftis , tokens and pr*vy letters ecch of hem to other, for to kepe loue & mynde of knowyng* eche to op*r8; on pe same man*r oure lord Ih*JU Crist, as a trew lou*r, sendith to his beloued8 children such siknesse as he toke here for hem. For here he toke10 mankynde [in] which he suffred many tribulaczons, detracczons, blasphemies, scornes, repraies, sclaundris, hungir, thrist. & cold, & many betyngzV, scharpe scourgyngz'-r, gret strokz'j, many thousand11 of depe woundis , & was nayled vpon the crosse be-twene pe 12 thevis , & died pe schamfullest13 deth pat the lues cowde ordeyne for hym; and after pat he was resen fro deth & yed vp vnto 14 heuen, he kept15 his woundis as for tokynnes, pat pou schuldest know wel pat he wold haue mynde of pe, as he seith by the prophet Ysaie, Ysaie xlix: Numquid obliuisci potest mulier infantem. suum ut non miseriatur filio vteri [sut\'7 Et si ilia oblita fuerit, ego j*ame» non obliuiscar tui. Ecce in manions meis discripsi te: Whether a woman may foryete her child, pat sho lb haue no m*rcy of the son* of hir owen body? and pou^e sche foryete her child, I schal nen*r foryete pe; lo I haue writtyn the in my handis, — fat is, in all my woundis whiche I suffred for love of the. Sithen it is so pat5 he kepith pe shewyng* of his woundis as for a tokyn of love to haue mynde on the , why shuldist pou not17 be glad whew he sendith to the such tokyns of loue as he toke here for the, for he wold p0u schuldist haue mynde on hym* & know hym18? for he is thi frende & wil not for-yete the. For als many dyu*rse5 tribulacz'ons as he sendith the, so many sondre19 messengers pou hast, clepyng pe & warnyngc pe to haue mynde on hym. But now p*rauenture pou wilte sey pat such tribula- cz'ons ar not most necessary to clepe pe to haue mynde of hym, but rather his graciowj b*n*fices 20 of prcfet, for seynt Austyn seith : Dei beneficia nil aliud sunt nisi moniciones veniendi ad eun\, The benencis of god bene nobing* ellis but warnyng or clepyng to com to hym. To this may be answerid : All-pou^ f)e gracious b*n*fettis of god & yeftis of pr^fet, riches, bewte & bouwte21, clepyn" the to haue mynde on hym, yet23 neu*rthelesse inordinate loue is so cleuyng* to such yeftz'j, pat it draweth pine herte rather to haue mynde on the yeftis pan on pe yeuer; wherfor he pleyneth to pe prophet seying: Expandi manus meas 8f non erat qui respiceret, I haue spred oute my handis, pat is, yeuyng b*n*fettzV, & pere was no man pat wold [behold. He seid not that ther was no man that] wold take h*m"4, Quia omnes diligunt munera, sequntur retribuciones , For all men loue yeftis \ pei pursuen after rewardis, fro pe most to pe leste; But ther ben* few or ellis none pat beholdyn , mekely knowyng* the ;euer of hem. Also p*rauenture pou woldist sey: all-pou^ it be accordyng* to god4 to clepe indurat & rebellyng hertis to know hym by tribulacz'on , neu^r-the-lesse it nedith not* so " to god and meke hertis , the which desiren to know hym* by b*n*fettz'j & yeftz'j. To

(The profits of tribulation). Ms. Rawl. C 894.)

this may be answeryd: All-bou^ good meke hertis by naturall delytyng? in benefettis knowyn1 be yeuer of hem, yit neuMhelesse to be profet [of]" parfite knowyng^ of god mow bei not com without provyng* of tribulac/on. Example here-of we redyn bat Salomon was clepyd by iWrfettis & yeftis, lobe was called by drawyng^ awey of his temporall goodis & sendyng hym tribulac/ons & adu<r- sitees. But bes tribulac/ons brou^t lobe to be parfite knowyng<? of god; Salomons be prospmte fill vnto folye, lesyng pe profet of be parfite knowyng of god. Yf Salomon, pat was so wise, lost pe profet of be parfite knowyng^ of god: what- so-eu<?r pou arte trist not pat pou my^teste longe 3 abyd in pis knowyng* [in] * such prospmte. & p^rfor suffer paciently tribulac/ons & adu^rsitees: & if pou be dis- comforted bat bei be many & grete , be pou cowforted , for pe more & gretter bat bei ben he more profet of knowyng^ of god pei bryng*; to be. & if faou can not yett fele any cowforte for5 frowardnesse or freelte of hi-silfe, pray to god pat he cowforte the in tribulac/on & graunt be grace to com to8 pe profet of parfite knowyng^ of hym, & sey Da nobis domme fyc., Lord graunte us helpe of tribulac/on.

7 The fyfte profet of tribulacion^. Capitulum quintum.

J. he fyfte profet of tribulac/on is bat it reuokith or bringeth be to foe 8 knowyng<- of pi-selfe. For bat hert bat hath not put a-wey fer from hym worldly veyn- glory9, may not trewly fele10 ne know hym-selfe , for pat hert11 hape not \erry knowyngtf of li^t; wherof pe prophet Dauid seith: Lumen om/orum meomm., fy iflsum won est mecum, Ly^t of knowyng* pere is of myn yen, but pat ly^t is not with me. [Wo] lz vnto hem pat dispendyn13 hyr ly^t of her knowyng^ in veyne ioies & worldly pingis, & noping kepyn to knowen hem-selfe, pat ben not w/t/« hym- selfe ; for be more bat be soule loueth & desireth vayne ioyes & worldly pro- spentees, pe more ferther he draweth fro knowyng^ of hym-selfe. & pwfor seith seint Gregor: As he pat is be-seged w/tA enemyes dar not go fer oute but he is cowstreined to turne aijen for dred, so tribulac/ons constreynen be hert to turne into hym-selfe, & be mo adu^sitees bat ben aboute hym, foe fewer he hathe of rennyngw-oute M fro hym-selfe. Than it is a blessed adu^rsite bat bringith be to bi-selfe & makith pe, pat pou hast mysgo, to turne a-yene15. Wherof it is seid Exodi Xll°: Maneat vnusquisquz apud semetipsum, Dwell ech man w/t^16 hym- selfe — pat is17, know hym-silfe, take he8 kepe to hym-selfe, abyd he8 w/tA hym- silfe ; for as an howse in which noman dwellith, is wasted18 & fallyth to nou/,t, ry^t so l9 pe herte pat dwellipe or abydith not w/tA hym-selfe. Wo to bat herte pat renneth from hym-silfe all abow^t like as doth a iap«- or a iogiller'JO vnto oper mewnys howsis, for pe more he syngith & iapith & ioiebe \n oper mewnys placw21, pe more cause he fyndis in his owentf place of sorrow & of wepyng<r; so the more pat pe herte delyteth hym owtward8 in vayne pinkingis & worldly ioyes, pe lasse he fyndeth in hym-selfe wherof he schuld be comforted. Therfor tribulac/on is well necessary to foe herte to make hym turne vnto hym-selfe, & it8 co«streineth hym to seye w/t/« the prophet: Conuerte, an/ma mea, in requiem tuam, Torne a-yen pou my soule vnto pi reste. & also cure lord god, hauyng^ pyte of pat soule pat hath for-wrappid hym-selfe w»tA worldly pingis, seith thus : Reuzttere reuertere , sunamitis , reuertere reuertere , ut intueanmr te, Turne a^ene, turne a^en pou wrecchid caitiffe soule, turne a^ene turne a^ene, pat we may be-hold foe ; hat pou behold fai-selfe with foe eye of cowcience, & foat I mowe be-hold be w/tA be eye of m^rcye. O bou soule bat arte distroublyd in adu^r- sitees, suffer be to be '" reuoked to knowyng^ of bi-selfe by tribulac/on ; and namly for foat tribulac/on byndeth or knytteth to foe bi maker, whom wicked & large

' Mss. knowyng?. 2 Mss. profet & p. * Mss. not 1. 4 Mss. of. » H for worlde- fulnesse & for the. « H to comforte & to p. k. 1 No new chapter in the orig. tract.

8 om in H. » H v. of the worlde. »• H see. » H he. " H Wo be hit.

13 H dispendith. i« is* tr. : ]>o fewere issues are to passe out. u H a. into the parfyte

knowlege of thy-selfe. »« H be hym-selfe & with. >7 H is to say. « H is dwellyng,

wasteth. i» H so doth. '•» H mynstrell. 21 H howses. « H to be trobled thus &

to be r.

. Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle. Ms. Rawl. C 894.]

fredom of pe world hathe letruw rynne longe louce fro pi-selfe. Wherof spekith j)e prophet pus : In funiculis Adam traham eos fy z'n uinculis caritatis , I schal drawe ham? \n pe smale cordis of Adam & in pe bondis of charite. Pese smale cordis of Adaw cure fore-fader, which longyn to us as by weye of heritage, ar clepid all maner of pou^tees sent from god to refreyne pe hert from? veyne & worldly cowfortes; by which god draweth many on<? as it semeth by vyolence. Wherof seith seynt Bernard : Trahim\a, quando tribulacionib\\s exceMmnr, We bene drawe, when we ben haunted w/tA tribulaczon. IVrfor bou pat art streyned wz't/j pes cordis & bondis of charite, suppose not pat pou arte defouled or forsakyn?, but rap^r1 maad fayre & chosyn of god, all-pou^ pou haue not all pat pou aski.fi?2; ne trow not hem pat be not streyned wz'tft pese bondis to be in verry liberte, pou? pei han pat fiei asken; for like as pe lech whan he graunteth to pe sike all pat he desireth, it is a certeyne signe of deth, ry^t so the false fredom of this world is a certeyne signe of p[e]r?chinge. For pe more frely pai desyre & fulfillen her owen desire wzt/z-oute tribulaczon, the rather pei fall down vnto hir da»zpnacz'on. Therfor pou sely soule pat art troublyd, yf pou wilte haue god to be mirciable, suffre be to be restreyned3 viiih pes bondis of tribulaczon, which come from god. Wherof oure lord seyd to be prophet E^echiel: Ecce dedi uin- cula mea super te, Lo I haue geue my bondis vpon the. Be pis is vnderstond pat bondys of tribulaczon bene yeftis of god, & be more tribulaczon is, be strenge * hyt byndeth thy soule5 to god.

"Also be prophet of tribulaczon is pat it spedith the wey to god; ffor als many tnbulaczons as bou hast , so many messengers god hath sent to the pat bou schuld haste7 to hym & not lett be the weye. Whereof seith the prophet: Multiplicate sunt infirmitates eorum 8f postea accelerauerunt , Hir seknesse were multiplied & afterward pei hasted hem to god. Hereof seynt Gregor seith : Disesis pat oppr<?ssen vs, to haste to god cowzpellen? us. Suppose pou not pe b?n?fette8 of tribulacz'on to be disese9 ; for it delyufryth be from a greuouse presone & hastith pi weye to the kyngdom of heuen? , as it is seid Ecc1. 4° : De carcere cathenisgvie interdum quis introducitur ad regnum , From prison & from yron bondis ob?r-while a man is brou^t into a kyngdom. Pis prison is called all pat pe herte loueth inordinatly in pis world; pese iron? bondis arne such pingzV pat wicked affeccions ben? bouwdyn too. Oute of pis prison? god delyu<ryth many oon? by tribulaczon, as when he pntteth a-weye from hem such pingw as pei loue iwordinatly ; and pat is fygared be seint Peter pat was kept in Heroudis prison?, whan? oure lordis angel stode be-syde hym, on10 Petris syd smote, he excited hym and seyd: cryse vp swyth'11, & anone the yron bondis fellen from hys hondis 1Z. Be the syde of Petir is vnderstond pi brother, pat cam owte of pat same syde pat pou cam of, or ellys generally all po pat arne alyed13 to pe by kynred or by affynite. For when enye of these or all which be lawe of nature ou^t to be pi frendis14, is cowtrarious to pe, or elys is taken fro the by deth or elly[s]15 by ony other man^r, vnderstond pou art smytte in the syde, for pat pou schuldiste go oute of the prison of inordinate loue, & sett pin herte only 16 in god pat may not fayle pe. But take good heed pat as Peter pleyned not vpon be smytyng? in his syde , so pou owest not to pleyne ne to gruche of tribulacz'on, which delyu^rth the fro the false & disseyuable loue of flesshly & worldly frendis ; & if the smytyng? of tribulaczon in the side be scharpe & greuouse to suffer, be-hold Crist thz17 maker & pz'" brother wounded in the syde for bi loue, & pou schalte suffre it pe more esily18, as19 a trew kny^t whew he seeth his lordis woundis, he felyth not his owen wouwdis. Therfore refuse not pi lordis messengers pat commyne & clepe pe wz'tA hym20 & cowstreyne pe to haste toward hym; for he pat refuseth pe messengere, refuseth his'21 lord. Whan is a messengere refused?

1 H but thynke that them art the more. 2 Mss. askith. 3 H streyned. 4 R strenger, H the more strenger. 5 H the s. of pacyent. 6 Cap. v in orig. tract. 7 H hast the.

8 Mss. b<mrfetttr. 9 r. Htele, H alters freely. » RC and P. s. s, H and smytte hys s.

11 H swyftly. 12 H from hym doune be hys sydys. 13 H allye. 14 RH frende. 15 om in H. is H all-only. " Ms. (& R) the, HC thy. » H the m. esilyer. >» H as doth. 2° H to cl. & calle pe with hem. 2i H the.

(The profits' of tribulation). 40 1

Ms. Rawl. C 894.]

whan the herte with avisement cowtrarieth & grucchith a-yence tribulacz'on. Note well bat tribulacz'on turmentith in purgynge , and it purgith in rurmewtynge ; but when the herte grucchyth a-yence trz'bulaczon , pan he partith purgynge fro tur- mentyng^ of tribulacz'on, & he leseth the swete & profitable purgynge porow his foly & cowtrarious grochynge1.

Of the VI pr^fet of tribulacz'on. Capitulu/w vim.

1 he sixte profet of tribulacz'on is bat it is a ^efte2 iw payings of pi dettis in which bou art bouwdyn to god, whom foou may not flee ne disseiue ne hyde no binge fro hyme3 ofe bi dettw. These dettis bene pe«naunce4 which pmi owest for thy synnes; &3 bou^e euerlastyng pe«nauwce be det for on dedly synne by the ry^twisnesse of god, neuerthelesse by his mercy it is chaunged in to temporall pewnaunce by contricz'on & confession , & ferthennore it is for-yeuen by satis- faccz'on. & som-tyme it5 is all relesed namely by tribulacz'on. Wherof vnderstond well; ffor3 what-so-euer thow suffreste paciently in trybulacz'on, afore god it is a- compted to hym as a fore '-payments of thy dette. For as a lordis auditor7 som- tyme in the ende of acowpte8 leyth a cownter of brasse9 or coper or a nother pinge of a lytyll value to be worth or sygnifie 10 an huwdri^e pouwd of gold or syluer, so tribulacz'on of lytill tyme, vritA paciewce receyued in bis present lyfe, delyuerth be from euerlastynge tribulacz'on of be peynes of hell, & bryngeth be into11 euerlastynge blisse of the rich kyngdom of heuen. Wherof we hane ensample of the pefe bat hynge12 on Grists ry^t13 syd, bat, when he suffred be torments of foe crosse & was bound by du det of syn to peyne of hell , he , hauynge cowtri- cz'on of his wickidnesse, in pat same oure turned hym to [his lord14 & seyde : 'Lorde, when bou comest in to bi kyngdom,] benke on me' : & anone he was vnbouwde & delyuerd from all foe dette of peyne & herd be swete voice of Crist seiyng to hym : Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in pasadiso, Sothly I sey b<?u schalt to-day be with me in "paradise. Wo to hym bat nobinge payeth of his dette in bis lyfe, but addith syn vpon syn; wo to hym: of large expencis pat he makith he schalbe cowstreyned to com to streyte accomptw ls. Sopely such as hath leued euer wzt^-oute acomptz'j1, must pay for her dettw eu^rlastyng^ payne in hell witA- owte any relese. Per schullen wepe many marchauntw ^at in pis lyf law^hen & ioyen ; wherof it is seyd in be boke of Apocolipsis : Mercatores terre flebunt, Marchaunt/j of pe erbe schullene wepe. Marchauntw of the erth, arne po pat sett all per pou^t & her loue on erpely bingw ; which shullen wepe bitterly, fTor god schall schew her marchaundyse to all the world. But marchaunt*J of heuen, foei schullene law^e & enioye18, for bei for suffryng lyttill schort tribulacion hane gette17 the blysse of paradyse ; where-of yt is seyd in Ecclesiastici : Est qui multum redimit de modico pretio, Some per bene bat byen much binge with lyttill price, pat is to seye, pacience18 in tribulacz'on of this present lyfe, pat god receyueth for pi gret dette, for it is co/wmuwly seid: 'of an euyll payer men receyueth19 otis for whete'. & pou^e it be so bat bou arte not bounde in eny dette of dedly syne or veniall fro which tribulac/on schulde delyuer the, neuerthelesse tribulac/on reseruith20 the frome fallynge into dette, [for] as seynt Gregor seith : Multa sttnt inno- cencia que cito innocentiamperderent, nisi ea tribuladones p[reseru]arent-1, Many ben innocentus22 the which schuld lese innocensi, but yf tribulac*on preserue hew. Therfor pou soule pat fyndest pe bounde in dettis, or pou pat dredist pe pay- ment, suffer paciently tribulacz'ons as23 longe as tyme indureth, hyt payeth to god for pin dettw in the which p<ra arte bounden24 as by an oblygaczon. For bou^ all |3e tribulaczonfs] of bis world weryne to-gyder, faei my?t not be lykened to be leste payne of tribulacz'on of hell. Ne all foe tribulacz'on[s] of erth be not in co*w-

i H adds; therfore Bonum est sustinere pacienter tribulaciones. 2 H adds yeuen to the of god. » om in H. * Lat. poenae tuae debentur. » & ferth. — it om in H. * L. dispensator, ist tr. stiward. • H computacion. » H br. or pewter. 11 RH to. 12 CR henge. u H on the ryght of oure lorde I. C.

i* H reconyng. »8 H ioye. " R got. »» Mss. pacient. H pacient forto be. detters men take. '•» Lat. preservat, H kepeth. 21 Mss. p^rseuerarent. ™ I a CR als. « CR bondon.

n. z6

AQ2 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Rawl. C 894.]

parisone of the leste ioye of paradyse, as seynt Poule seith: Non sunt condigne passiones huius temporis ad futuram gloriam que reuelabitur in nobis, Ad Romanes octauo; Ther be non2 worth! passions of pis tyme to pe blysse pat is to conu' pat schalbe shewed in vs. 3Vponc pis seithe seynt Bernard: Non sunt condigne passiones ad preteritum peccatum quod nobis dimittitur, ad presentem gloriam qu: nobis inmittitur, Ther be no worthy passions to pe syne pat is foryeuen us, to pe present grace pat is yeue[n] us, [&]4 to blisse commynge pat is be-hy^t vs.

Of pe seuenth prophet of tribulacz'on. Capitulum septimuwz.

L he seuenth profet of tribulacz'on is pat it spredith a-brode or opynneth pin herte to receyue pe grace of god. For gold with many strokis of the ha»/mer:i spredith abrode, as6 a pece of gold or of sylner to make a vessell for to put in wyne or pra:iouse licoure ; so all-my^ty god makith7 of eu^ry creature, &8 ordeyneth tribulacz'on to sprede or open the soule to put b^r-in ^eftis of his grace. Wherof seith the prophet in pe salme: In tribulacione dilatasti michi*, In tribulacz'on thou hast spred abrode be herte, in suffryngtf paciently &8 pe more gladly ijeftis pat8 oure lord god putteth therm gracz'ouslye. & cowsidre as pe more [prejcz'ouse 10 metall is more ductible & obeying^11 to be strokzV of be goldsmyth, so f>e more pr£c[i]ouse & meke herte is more pacient in tribulacz'on. & all-pou^ pe scharpe stroke of tribulacz'on greuously turmewtith be , yet cowzforte be , for be goldsmyth , almy^ti god, holdyng^12 pe hammer of tribulacz'on in his honde, knoweth full well what ]pou maist suffre, & mesureth his smytyng^ after pi freel nature. Ne will not pou be pan as metall in a boystous gobette, wz't^-owte spredyng^ of schape, as hard hertis bene wz't/z-oute techyng* , in which god fynt no place in worchyng^. Ne will pou not be as an oold frying^-panne bat for frelte of a lytill stroke [al to-breste in mannys brekynge13 ; right so farin frele & impacient hertis in tribula- cion, by a litille stroke]14 i;z temptacz'on of assayings pei fall in to many gret harmys of apayryng^. Therfor suffre with good will tribulacz'on to worch his crafte in pe; for so byddith Salomow Ecc'. 11°: Sustine sustentaciones del coniungere [te] deo , fy sustine ut crescat in nouissimo uita tua, Suffer be beryngtf — vp of15 pe helpis of god to ioyne pe to god, & suffre, pat pi [lyfe]16 iwcrece at pi laste ende ; as who seith : Suffer tribulacz'on in pis world for god, for whi god suffred many17 for the, &18 yeld hym somwhat pe whyle of his s^ruyse; & what tribulacz'on he putteth to the, take it mekely, & know well pat he woll not charge pe oner pi my^t, as seynt Poule wittenessith, ad Corinth. x°: Fidelis [est]ia, deus, qui non pacietur vos temptari super id qnod potestis , Sothly god ys full trew , pat schal not suffre you to be temptid oner pat ye mow suffre. Therfor suffre tribulacz'on i« such man^r, pat pi lyfe increce at pe laste ende ; for ber-by pou schalt leue after pou hast made ende in bis world20.

Of be vin profet of tribulacz'on. Capitulum vin.

L he VIII profet of tribulac/on is whereby god shettith21 owte of the soule all worldly comfortis bat bene here-benethe "z , & cowstreyneth be to seke heuenly cowzfortes pat bene above. As an erthly lord, whan he wyll sell hys wyne, for- byddith all oper to open her taumies, till pat he haue sold his23: so oure lord, god som-tyme forbyddyth erthly comfortz'j-, pat he may bryngf forth hys cowzforte. & bat is tokened24 by the prophet loell where it is25 seyd : Bestie agri quasi arena'1' sciciens ymbrem suspexerunt ad te : qnoniam exsiccati sunt f antes aquarum , The

1 H be not able to deserue. - H nat. 3 added. * so R, Ms. in; H alters freely.

5 ist tr. : For as \>o goldsmythe hamer. 6 om in C ; H so that a man may make therof a pece to put in vine, or another to put in other pr. 1. " i»t tr. maker; H maketh of e. c. a precyous vessel (!). * om in C. * H cor meum. 10 so CR, Ms. gracibuse. n H applicabyll.

« C holde .. & knowith (corr. in R). " H Hande; L subictu. '< so R: om in C. ^ HC or. 16 Mss. hi selfe. " H many tribulacions. " H & therfore. » Ms. enim. 2° H adds Et ideo bonum est tribulaciones paciendo sustinere. 21 H almyghty god putteth away. 2Z ist tr. vndemethe, L inferius; H in erthe. 2J H tyll hys wyne be solde. 24 H seyd. 25 H he seith. 2e L. area.

(The profits of tribulation'. Ms. Rawl. C 894.]

bestis of the feeld bene as drye erth desyryngtr reyne, ' bey loken vp to the, for be wellis of watris ben drye. The bestis of the feld ben2 clepid affecczons & flesshly desyres , the wellis of be water he clepith 3 worldly cowfortis ; fo^rfor whan be erthly confortis faylen in aduersite, ban is be herte cowstreyned to loke vp & to seke help of heuenly cowfortis ; and so much more benyng* is oure lord god to the soule, in asmuch as be hert fynt gretter bitt^rnesse \n inward foingis. But now by these bing/j h0u maist sei : '[Of] bat I am not sory bat foe tauerne of erbely cowfortw is not opyn to me, * but for be tauerne of heuewly cowzfort is so longe shit fro me, for nebi?r shy^er ne lower I fynd no co/wforte'. To bis may be answered pus : I*on owest to haue gostly cowforte, yf bou besy the desyryng* & sekyngu, for \>er is more myrth in the desyryng* & sekyng* of god ban [in] delyting* in hym; for whi be more f>ou desirest & sekyst god, foe more co/wforte he schal bryng* be, & foe more swetnesse b0u schalt fynde in hym, as mete sauereth more to an hungry man ban to an vnhungrye man ; & wit j>0u well bat heuenly com- fort:V schul not longe be deferred, yf worldly comfortis be shette owt by tribula- c/on , yf b<m aske desyryngly & seke besylye , as Salomon? seyth : Desiderium suum iustis dabitur, To ryjjtwismen schalbe ^euen her desyre &c.

Of the ixth pnrfet of tribulaczon. C&pitulum nonuw.

1 he ix profet of tr/bulac/on is bat it putteth be vnto the mynde of god , & foe more be tribulacr'on be6, foe more he imprgssith pe in his mynde. Not for pat god for^etteth pe or eny creature, pe which seipe & knoweth all pe pmiyte of pe herte, but for bat scripture seith god foryettith a man bat tribulac/on ys not sjeuen* to ; ffor hym bat he sendyth tribulaczon 7 he hath in mynd, ^euyng* goostly cowforte & Sncresyng* of grace. Therfor O bou good soule, ^ef jaou wilt be put in pe mynde of god in whoes mynd is pin helth & pi saluacion , in whoes foryettyng* is pin harine & pi dampnaczon, leren p*rfor to sufFre paciently adu<rr- sitees & trzbulac/ons, & i» bi8 suffri«g foinke mekely in god, & he eftsons schall foinke mekly on the & mmnably; for a trew frend bihketh more frendly on his frende foat is in disese, ban yf he were w/t/<owte desese. In figure here-of oure lord9 seith Ex° m°: Vidi affliccionera. popvJi met qui ^st in Egipto, 8f clamorem. eius audiui, I haue seyen the desesis of my peple pat is in Egipt, & I haue herd hyr crying* for pe duresse of hem pat bene ou^rseers of be werkes, & I know her sorrow, &10 I haue goo down*- to delyu^r hem from be hondis of be10 Egipc/ons. Therfor all-pou^ pe Egipcz'ons, pat is to sey euell men or enemyes, turmewtyn^ & desesyn foe, be faou comforted, for be m^rciable beholdyng*? of god in bi disese much more avayleth the ; as we reding of Dauid, II Regu;w xvi°, ffleyng from his son*; Absolon*, bat Semey11, which was Dauid his enemye , cursed hym & spake exiel to hym & seyd: Egredzre egredere, uir sanguinum 8f uir Beliall, as who seith go pi weye go thi wey, pou rnang of synnes & pou man of Belyall; and10 Abisay, bat was Dauid is frend, seyng* bis seyd to kyng Dauid : 'This dede hounde hath mysseyd or cursed my lord the kyng* ; I schal goo & smyte of his heed* ** : & Dauid answerd : 'Suffer hym to mysseye or curse Dauid vp pe cownnaundemeMt of god; p*raue«ture god will be-hold my desese & yeld me good for his mysseying* & cursyng* bis same daye'. Considre in bis pat Dauid wold suffer pe mysseying<» or pe cursyng* of bis adu^rsarye, pat he my2;t gett pe blissyng* of god; ban loke how much bou desire[st]13 f)e blessyng* of god, suffer so much14 paciently foe mysseying* or cursyng* of foe adufrsarye, ffor pacience15 of euell mewnys cursyng* dhserueth to haue goddis blissyng*. & pat is tokened where it is seyd Daniel III0 : That the angel went doun wit/i A^arye & his felowes i» to pe forneis, & he made he myddes of the forneis as a blowyng* wynde of a dewe ; but be flame brent be kyng;V mynist^rs bat hett be forneis, but sothly be fyre touched not ne greued hym 16 in any mantr. Lo here p0u mayste see foat foe fire not oonly brente

i H & they. 2 R bs, r. he. * H ben cleped. * H but I am sory that. » H in

h. ; L. nee inferius nee superius. « H ys. * H tr. to. " om CRH. H o. 1. Ihesu

Cryste hym-selfe. »• om in H. » Ms. semeth. « H alters freely. " Ms. desireth. M RHC much more. 15 L sufferentia. w RC hem.

26*

404 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms.Rawl.C894.]

hir fomew ; but also it refresshed hem ; be ' which is vnd^rstond bat Crist is present •with hem 2 bat be \n tribulac/on, & yeueth hem refresshyng^ in desese, & blessith hem bat ben mysseydtf or cursed for his name. Therfor yf b<m desyre refresshyng^ in tribulac/on, & bin enemyes to be brent, suffer paciewtly tribulac/ons , for in tribnlac/on god is vfitA be, & fro tr/bulac/on he schall delyu^r the, & for tribula- c/on gret meed he schall yeld the. Of thes thre spekyth be prqjhete where he seith bus: Cum if so sum in tribuladone , eripiam euro., et glorificabo euro., I am w/tfc hym in tribulac/on — lo here a graciouse fellowshyp3 cowfortyng ; I schall detywr hym — lo here a full feith of delyu^ryng^; & I schall gloryfye hyme — lo here a s^rteyne hope of rewardyng^.

The X profet of tr/bulac/on. Capitulum decimuw.

J. he X pr0fet of tribulac/on is bat it makith bi praier to be herd of god ; ffor it is note be maner of god to put awey the praier of hym bat is in tribulac/one, but rather mekely to here his pmry praier. Wherof seith Salomon : Ecce deprzca- cionem lesi exaudiet, Lo oure lord schall here be praier of hym bat is hurte. Sothly god smytyth & chastiseth many men & sent hem tribulac/on, for to cowzpell hem to aske or to cry nvrcy, & bat bei schuldy[n] opyn* hyr mouthes to god in tribula- cz'on for to aske help, which hadden schett hyr mouthes frome hyme in pr^spmte. Wherof .seith seynt Austens bat god sendith tribulac/on to some men to styre hem to aske bat he woll graunte2. In be p^rson^ of such seith be prophet: Ad dmaoam cum tribularer clamaui, et exaudiuit me, When I was in tribulac/on, I cryed to oure lord, & he herd me. & pou?e-all it hap bat in prospetite bou prayest god, bat prosperite schull not make be to slowe, yet neu^rtheles it makyth the sume- tyme both insolent^4 & slowe, so bat bi prayer in prosperite is not so spedfull as it [is] in adu^rsite. & all-bou^e adu^rsite occupye so much bin hert bat bou benkest pat it hath none entente ne deuoc/on 5 lyke as it had in prosperite, yet bat same adu^rsite makith pi praye^ more precious. And sothely all-bou^e tribulac/on oppresse the so moch bat bou maist not open pi mouth to crye to god, certeinly thi tribulacion^ crieth and prayeth to god for be, so bat pan haue pacience ; for as seith a gret clerke , Magister Petrus* . of Las;ar, That als many woundis 7 , so many prayers or cryers he had to god: ffor when La^ar stilled8 w/tfc his mouth, his woundis cryeden to god for hym. Wherof oure lord seyd to Cayme bat had kylled his broder Abell, Genes. : Vox sanguinis frakris tut Abel clamat ad me de terra, The blood of thy broder Abell crieth to me fro the erth. Thus ban ite schewyth9 bat tribulac/on makith the prayer be more pr^ciouse & be more acceptable to god. Tribnlac/ons ben as it were a paymewt for a letter seled of delyu^ryng; wherof seith lob: Quis micht det ut ueniat petido mea, et quod expecto tribuat1* michi deus ; qui cepit me ipse me conuertat11 , soluat manum suam et succidsJ™ me, <f- [hec] michi sit consolado ut affligens me dolor era.13 non pzrcat: Who sch 1 geve me myn askyng^, & who schal graunt me bat I abyde? god bat began me, he cowforte14 me, louse he his hondis15 & cut me vp, & pat be to me cowforte bat he turmen- tyngtf me spare not my sorrow. Note well bat lobe, which had lost his posses- siows, his sonnes & his dou^t^rs, & all his body was smyten vfitA woundes of lep^r fro be sole of the fote vnto be ou^r-parte of be heed, & was repraied of his frendis & scorned of his wyfe, he desired in none other binge co/wforte, but bat god schulde not spare hym. Yf pon aske what p^rteyneth [it] to his delyu^raunce, hit may be answered |)us: he asketh his16 aff//cc/on17 or turm^wtis, for his turmewt/^ wer18 paymewt/J of his dettus19; [as]20 it is vsed in som place pat whan a pore man drynketh in a tau^rne & hath not wher-w/tA to paye his scott, he asketh to be bettuw & so to be delyu^rd*. Yf b0u aske where-i« was [the] 2l cowzforte of this lobe when he asked to be turmewtyde: Seynt Gregor answeryth & seith That god

1 Mss. ]>e. * H alters freely. 3 om in H. 4 L te somnolentum reddit. 5 L quod non sit ita intentum orationi in aduersitate. 6 L m. P. Lombardus. " RHC as he had.

8 L tacebat. • L patet. 10 Ms. tribulat. » V conterat; H confortat. 12 Ms. succidit; V scindat. » V dolore. " RHC conume. " RHC honde. i« Mss. of his. " Mss. affecczons. " RC wore. >» HC letters. »> Ms. &. 21 Mss. his.

(The profits of tribulation). 405

Ms. Rawl. C 894]

spareth sum men here in pis world , to turmewte hem afterward, & som men he turmewtith here which he afterward [wil] ' spare. The cowforte of lobe was, pat he wist well be present tr/bulac/on he schuld escape2 eu<?rlastyng da/»pnac/on — ffor, as it is seyd: Nan iudicabit bis deus in idip^wm, God schall not puwnysh or deme twyse for o ping. & pt'rfor {)is same lobe, pat askith pat god schuld not spare hym* here in pis world, asked in a nother place and [seid]: Paxce michi domine , Lord spare me in tyme cowmyng. Therfor pat god spare be in tyme cowmyng* , suffer paciently here in pis world tribulac/on ; for tribulac/on sauith the soule, as lob seith : Jpse vulnerat 8f medicinat, he wondyth & he helyth ; for he woundeth the body, & helyth the soule.

Of the xi profett of tribulac/on. Capitulum vndecimum.

JL he xi profit of tribulac/on is pat it kepipe & norissheth pe herte. Sothly ry^t as fyre is kept i« asshis, ri^t so pe hertis of be frendis of god arne kept in tribulac/on. Therfor cure lord cowmaunded Exodi, guod tabernaculum. saccis* silidnis coopeti[n]tttr: pat be tabernacle of god schuld be heled with heren sackis, and 4 goddis rich vessellys of gold & sihur a-yence wyndis & reynes ; in tokenyng* pat virtues of goddis s*ruau«t/.r , & namly mekenesse , ben kept in adu^rsite of tribulac/on. For tribulac/on inforceth5 the herte to benke on be wrecchidnesse of his owen iwfirmitee, & so it cowstreyneth a maw to be meke , whan6 worldly pr0sp*rite had enhaunced hym be veyne-glorye above hym-selfe. Also tribulac/on noryssheth the herte, as a norice her chyld. For as a moder w/t/i chyld cheweth hard mete, which the chyld may [not] chewe, & drawith it in to her body where pat mete is turned into mylke to norissh the7 chyld, so Crist, pat8 in holy chirch9 is clepid oure moder for pe gretnesse of hys tendyr love pat he hath to vs, he chewed for vs bitter paynes, hard wordis, reproves & sclaundrys, with bittemesse of his passions pat he suffred for us, to noryssh us & strengh us gostly by en- sample of hym* to suffer tribulac/ons & adu*rsitees of pis world. As wyne pat is clensed borrow a bage-ful of spic/j, chauwgith his owen sauoure, drawyng* to hym the sauour of pe spic/J, so a man suffryng* tribulac/on oweth to dense hynv 10 by the blessed body of oure lord Ihmi, cowsideryng* pe passyon pat he suffred for hym ; & so schul it be swete & tollerable , pat to-fore semed full bitter & vntollerable &c.

Of the xil pr^fett of tribulac/on. CapzVwlwm duodecimuw.

1 he xn pwfet of tribulac/on is bat tribulac/on is a certeyne tokyn* of loue pat god hath to hem pat [it] is sente to. Wherof he seith: Quos amo, arguo $ castigo, Hem pat I loue I vndernym & chastiseth11. & also Salomon seith Ecc1. : Qui diligit fitium, assiduat ei flagella, He pat loueth his son*?, he scorgith it ofte- tymes. Whereof seith seynt lerome: Summus /ater /Aesus Christus filios suos semf>er sub aliquo flagello ucl uirga relinef, ut awando eripitmtttr ah vno, sub alio capiun- tur: Oure sauyoure I2 fader Ihera. Criste kepith eu^r his children vndyr a scorge or a rodde, & when* pei ben£ delyu^rd of oon* bei ben^ caw;t of a nother. But oure god meke fader sent not all his scorgyngw all at onys togeder, but one after another, knowyng* oure frelte; ffor he will pat no man* pmsshe, but he will pat all men be saafe. But euell men & wicked pat leuen hym not ne louyn hym notte, pe which leuen w/tfc-owte scourge or tribulac/on, whan13 no correcc/on of chastisyng^ may w/t/*-drawe hem^ fro her errowris, God schal ponyssh witA all his arowes of vewgeaunce. For sothly all torment/V pat now ben departed abow^t in all pis world, than schulbe gadered to-gider & abyde as in her owen14 place; as oure lord seith Deuteronomii XXXII0: Congregabo super eos mala, 8f sagittas meas complebo /n eis , I schal gader to-gider euell ping/j vpon<r euell

i om in Mss.; H spaieth. 2 H nat haue. » Mss. sacris. « i'1 tr. jio whilke seckes couerde bo preciouse curtynes and. s Ms. (& CR) conforteth. 8 i»* tr. whom, the. 8 Mss. fat is. » L in Scriptura. '« r. it. " RC chasty. » r. souereyn.

w Ist tr. & whom. H r. as in o. pL

406 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Rawl. C 894]

men, & I schall spende all myn* arowes of vengeaunce amonge hem. IVrfor b0u good soule, yf b<ra wilt be loued of god, will b<?u not put awey tr/bulaczons, for bey schewen to J) e wittnesse & tokens of be loue of god. But p*rauenture yf bou seiest bat goddis childern* take of hym bofoe good bingis & euell bingz'j, [why is be]1 takyng* of euell bing/j schewyng* or tok[n]yng*2 of be loue of god more ban be takyng* of good bingz'j? To this may be answeryd bat god geuyth many good pingz.r & gret to his sp/r/fual frendis, & better & grett*r to hem pat he loueth more ; but be blissed fader of heuen louith wzt^-oute comparison* more his blissed son* oure lord Ihmi Crist ban all be world, & yet he sent hym here many anguyshis , pou*rtees , tribulaczons , adu*rsitees , sclaunders , reprrves , scornyngw, many woundis , & cruell deth , & but fewe tempora.ll goodis. Than is pe ^efte of adu*rsite more schewyng* [or] tokyn* of loue of god ban be ijefte of tewpurall pr0sp*rite. Also forp*rmore our* lord Ihmi Crist* goddis son*, bat leued here in bis world, as a wise marchaunte vsed to ches good marchaundyse & refused be bad; for when pei wold haue maade hym kyng* of lude, he refused it & ches rather to flee in to deserte, & when bei sou^t him to turment hym & to sle hym, he fled not but ches rather for to deye & seid Ego sum, I am he whom* ^e sech. !>an yf Crist was wisest i« chesyng*, be which ches adu*;sitees, bei ben* moch folys pat dispisen* trzbulaczon & adu*rsitees, & chosyn3 worldly pr0sp*ritees pat may not delyu*r hem in tyme cowmyng* from be handis of her enemyes, the cruell fendis. Suffer ban wz't/j Criste tribulaczon , [pat] b<m mow take afterward pe crowne of lyfe i» the blysse of heuen; for sothly [othir-wyse] mayst b0u not com* to pat blysse , for the apostill seith : .Per mullas tribulaciones oportet nos intrare in regnura. celorum, Hit behoueth us by many tribulacz'ons to entre i« to pe kyngdome of heuen. To the which kyngdom* bryng* he all us, That suffred deth oure lord Ihmis, amen.

so R; C which is the. 2 Ms. tokyngr, RC tokyn. 3 RC chesyn.

7. (The boke of the craft of dying).

Ms. Rawl. C 894.

(Other Mss. : Reg. 17 C XVHI f. 24, C.C.C. Oxf. 220, Harl. 1706 f. 26. Douce 322, Addit. 10596, Ff. V. 45. Rawl. C 894 (Reg., CCC.), and Harl. (Douce) represent 2 groups of Mss., from both of which the text has been reconstrued ; a 3d group is Ff and Addit. Tanner p. 375 ascribes this piece to R. Rolle, but it is a later translation of a Latin tract (by R. Rolle ?; 'De arte moriendi' (in Mss. C.C.C. Oxf. 226, Merton 204, Magd. 72, New Coll. 304; beg.: Cum de presentis exilii miseria mortis transitus propter moriendi imperitiam &c.).

Here begynnetR the boke of crafte of dying*.

X4 Or as much as he passage of deth owt of the wrecchidnesse of the exile of this world for vnkuwnyng of dying*, not oonly to lewd men but also to reli- giouse men1 & deuoute p*rsonys semith wonderfull harde & ry^t p*rlouse & also ry^t ferefull & horrible: b*rfor in this pr*sent mat*r & tretis, bat is of the crafte of dying*, is draw & conteyned a schorte man^r of exortacz'on for techyng* & cowfortyng* of hem bat bene \n poynt of deth. This man*r of exortacz'on ought sotely to be considryd*, notid & vnd*rstond in the syght2 of mawnys soule, for doubles yt is and inay be profitable gen*rally to all cristen men & women3 to haue be crafte & knowyng*4 forto dye well.

1 om in H.

- CA insight. » H to leme. * HA knowlege.

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Ms. Rawl. C 894]

This mater & tretis cowteynepe VI partis :

1 he firste is [of]1 cowme«dac«m of deth, & of cu«nyng<; to dye well. The secuwd^ cowteyneth pe te-wptaciouws off men pat dyenf. The thrid cowteyneth pe intw- rogaczon pat schuld be asked of hem bat bene in her deth-bed while pei may speke and vnderstond. The XIIIth cowteyneth an* i«formac*on wit/i certeyne ob- secrac/ons to hem pat schulden dye. The fyfte cowteyneth an instracc/on vnto hem pat schulden dye. The vi conteyneth praiers that schulden be seyd vpon^ hem<? pat bene adyingg of suw man2 pat is abovte hem*.

C&pitu/um primum. The ffirst chapter is of cowmewdacj'on of deth, & [of] cuwnyngf for to dye well.

1 hou^e bodyly deth be most dredfull of all ferefull pingis as the philosopher seith in the thrid boke of Etikis, yet 3 spzVz'taall deth of pe soule is as much more horrible & * detestable as the soule ys more worthy & more prrczous pan be body, 5 as the prophet Dauid seith Mors peccatorum fesstma, The deth of a synfull man ys worst of all dethis ; but as the same prophet witnessith : Predosa est in consfectu dormni mors janctontm eius, The deth of good men is euer prec/ouse in the sy^t of god, what maner of bodyly deth pat eu^r thei dye . & pou schalt vnderstond also pat 6 not only the deth of holy martires is so pr^czouse , but also be deth of all other ry^tfull & [good] 7 cristen men ; & ferthermore dou^tlesse pe deth of all synfull men , how longe , how wicked & how cursed pei hane bene all her lyfe be-fore to8 her laste ende, & pei dye in pe state of verry repentaunce & contri- cion & in pe 6 verrey feith & vnite & charite of holy chirch, is acceptable & pre- czouse in the sight of god ; as seint lohn seith in pe apocalipse : Bead mortui qui in domino moriuntur, Blessed be all ded men pat dien in god. & perior god8 seith in s the fourth chapter of the boke of Sapience : lustus si morte przocupatus fuerit in refrigerio erit, A ry^tfull man pou^e he be hasted or hastyly or sodenly dede, he schalbe had to a place of6 refresshynge. & so schal eu<rry man pat dieth, yf it so be bat he kepe hym-selfe stably & gouerne hym wisely i» be temptac/on[s] pat he schall haue in the agony (or stryfe)0 of his deth as it schalbe declared afterward. And p^rfor of be co/«mewdacz'on of [be deth of] good men only, a wyse man seyth pus: 'Deth is noping els but a goyngtr owt of pr^son^, & endynge of exile, a9 dyschargynge of a heuy bordone pat is pe body, fynysshyng ofallinnr- mytees, escapyngt? of all perellys, distroyng^ of all euell ping*'.?, brekyng* of all bondis, payings of dett^1" of naturall dutee11, turnyng a?en into his contree, & entring into blisse & ioye'. & b^rfor it is seyd^ in pe VII chapter of Ecclesiastes " : Melior est dies mortis die natiuitatis, The [day]13 of mans deth is better pan pe day of his birth — & pis is [to] vnderstond14 oonly of goodmen & pe chosyn<? peple of god, for to euel men & reprmable nep^r pe day of hir byrth neb<r be day of her deth may be callyd gode. & pMbr euery good parfit cristen man, & also eu^ry oper man^ pou^e he be vnparfite & lat cowuerted fro synn^, so he be v^rryly cowtrite & beleuyth i« god, schuld not be sory ne troublyd neper dred pe deth of his body \n what maner of wise & for what man^r of cause pat he be pute therto, but gladly & wilfully, w/'tA reson of his mynde pat rulyth his sensualyte, he schuld take his deth & suffer it paciently, co«formyrjg£1& & co/«mittyng<; fully his wyll '° vnto goddis will [& disposicion alone, if he will go hens and dye well] & surely, witnessyng*? pe wise man seiyng.?17 pus: Bene mori est libenter mori , To dye well is to dye gladlye & wilfully. & p^refor he addith p<rto & seith: Vt satis vixerim nee anni nee dies fadtmt, sed. animus, Nether many dayes nether18 many '/;eres cause me to sey & fele pat I haue leued longe Inow, but oonly the resonable19 will of myn herte & of my soule. Sith more ban'* pat of dute & of-1 naturall ry^te all men mustt- nedly dye, & pat whan [&] how

1 Ms. a. 2 H of hem. * Ms. J)at. « H & more. » H for as. • om in H-

7 Ms. trew, H good. * H vnto. 9 H &. »• Ms. dett/j. » Ms. dutees.

F.cclesiastices. » Ms. end. " H to v. »» Ms. confermyng?. '« H hym fully.

17 H that seyeth. 18 H ne. 19 Ms. (& RC) vnresonable. » Ms. ])ou. ** om in H.

408 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Rawl. C 894]

& where pat1 almy^ti god will, & goddis will is eu^rmore & ouyr-all good in all ping*'*, good1 & iuste & ry^tfull, for as John Cassian seith in his Collaczons: 'Almy^ty god of his wisdome & his1 goodnesse all pingz'.r pat fall, both prosperite & adu^rsite, disposith euer finally for oure pr^fete & for pe beste for us, & more praiideth & is besy ~ for pe hele & saluacz'on of his chosyn children pan we oure- selfe may or can be ; and sith, as it is3 afore seyd, we may not in no wise nether flee ne4 escape nether chaunge the in-euitable (or [in]-eschewable) l necessite & passage of deth : therfore we ought to take cure deth whan god will wilfully & gladly •without any gruchchynge or cowtradiccz'on, porouz; pe my?t & pe l boldnesse of pe will of oure soule wrtuousely disposed & goumied by reason & wrry discreczon, pou^e pe lewd sensualite & the1 freelte of oure flessfi naturally gruch or stryue pere-a^ence; wherof5 Seneca seith thus: Feras, non culpes, quod immutare non potes*, Soffer esely & blame pmi1 nou^te pat f)0u maist not chaunge ne voyde; & pe same clerke addith & seith: Si uis ista cum guidus -vrgeris effugere , non ut alibi sis oportet sed alius, Yf pou wilt ascape pat at pou art strei^tly be-trapped in, it nedith not pat pou be in a noper place, but pat pou be anop^r man. Forpmnore , pat a cristynman may dey well & surely , hym nedip pat he cun dey : and as a wiseman seyth : Scire mori est paratum habere cor suura. et animatti ad supernal, ut quandocunpne mors venit paratum euro, inueniat ut absq^e omni retracdone earn recipiat, quasi qui socii sui dilecti aduentum desideratum, expectat; To cun dey is to haue a herte & a soule euer redy vp to godward, pat whan pat1 euer deth com he may be founden aj-redy, & wit^oute any retraccion7 or wz't^drawyngtf receyue hym as a man wold receyue his welbelouyd & trust! frende & Mow8 pat he had long* abyd and lokid after10. This cuwnyng* is most prophe- table of all cuwnyng^ ; in be which cu«nyng£ religiouse m/m * l specially more pan op^r, & enery day cowtynually schuld stody more diligently pan op^r men pat pei my^t apprAende yt, namly for pe state of religyontf askif) & requireth it more in hem12 pen in other; not-wzt^stondyng^ pat eu^ry seculer man, bope clerke & laye-man, where13 he be disposed.14 to dye or no yet neuerpelesse he must nedis dye whan god will. Therfor ought e\iery man not only religiouse but also eu^ry good & deuou^t cristen man pat desirep to dye well & surely, leve in such wise & so be^haue hym-silfe all-wey pat he may sanely deye euery oure when god will, & so he shuld haue his lyfe in pacience, & his dep in desire, as seynt Poule had whan he seydtf : Cupio dissolui Sf esse cum. CAristo , I desire & coueit to be dede & to be wz'tA Crist. / & pus much suffisith at pis tyme schortly seyd of pe crafte15 of dyings.

The secund chapter is of pe tewptacz'on[s] of men that dyen^. Capituluw secundum.

JtVnowe all men douj;tles pat men pat dyen in her last siknesse & ende hane grettest & most greuouse temptac/ons, & such as pei neu^r had be-for in all her lyfe ; & of pese te/wptacz'ons v be most pr/ncipall. The first is of pe feipe, for as much as feyth ys fu«dament of all mawnys soule-hele, wittnessyng the apostill pat seipe: Fundamentwm aliud nemo potest ponere, Oper fundament no man may put ; & p^rfor seynt Austen seipe : Fides est bonorum om.ra.um fundamentum 8f humane salutis inicium. , Feipe is fundament of all goodnesse , & begynnyngtf of mawnys hele ; & p^rfor seip seint Poule : Sine fide impossibile est deo placere , Yt is vnpossible to plese god w/t^oute feipe; & seynt lohn seyth: Qui non credit iam iudicatus est, He pat beleuip not is now demyd. & for as much [as] 16 pere is such & so gret strengh in feipe pat wMoute it no man may be sauid, p^rfor pe deuyll witJi all his my^te is besy to auerte17 fully a maw fro be feipe in [his]18 last ende, or yf he may not pat1, he laboripe besily to make hym dou^t pmn or sumwhat draw hym out of pe wey , or disceyue hym w/tA som man^r of sup^r-

i om in H. 2 H besyer. 2 H hit ys as. * H neyther. * H wherfore. « H vales.

7 Ms. detraccz'on. * Ms. folow. » Ms. lond. 10 H fore. u Ms. a r. man. l* in hem

om in H. is HC whether. " H d. & redy. '* H cr. off the scyence. ls Ms. }>at. 17 Ms. adu^rte. is Ms. }>e.

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sticzose & false l errouris or herisies. But euery good cristene maw is bound naturally2 namely habitualle pou^ he may not actually & intellectually apprehende hem3, to beleve & full feipe & credence yeue not only to be prrncipall articles of be feipe but also to all holy wrytt in all maner of bingw, & fully to obey be statutis of be chirch of Roome, & stabilly to abyd & dey in hem; ffor4 also sone as he begynnefoe to erre & dou^t in eny of hem all, as sone5 he gobe out of be weye of lyfe & his2 soule-hele. But witt b<m well wMowte doute bat in bis tempta- c/'on, & all oper bat followene after, the deuyll may not noy be ne prevaile ayence no mane in no wise as longe as he hath vse of his free will & of"2 reason well disposed, but yf he will wilfully consent to his temptacion; & perfor no verrey cristen man ou^t not to dred eny of his illusions or his false persuasions or his feyned feryng/j or gastyngw', for7 Crist hym-selfe seipe in be gospell : Diabolus est mendax # pater eius, The deuell is a lyar & fader of all lesyng/V; but manly perfor & styfflye & stedfastly abyde & perseuyr & dey in be verrey feipe & [vnite] * & obedyence of oure moder holy chirch. & it is ryght prophetable & good, as it is vsed in some re[li]giones 9 whan [a] man is in his agonye (or stryfe) of dyings, w/tA an hy? voice oft-tymes to sey be crede before hym , bat he pat is sike may be [fortified]10 in stablenes of be feipe, & fendis bat mow not suffre to here it* mow be voyded & drawen" awey from hym. Also [to]12 stablenesse of verry feibe schuld strengh a sike man principally the stable feipe of oure holy faders Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, the perseuerantly abydynge feibe of lobe, of Raab be womane, & Achior, & such oper, [and also the feipe.of the apostils, and of]13 martiris, cowfessours & virgyns vnnowbirable ; ffor by pe feipe14 all po pat hane [be] of old tyme befor vs, & all pei bat be nowe & schalbe here-after, bei all plesene & haue & schall plese [god] bi feyth ; for as it is aforseyd, wrtAoute feipe it is imposible to plese god. Also double pr^fytt schuld induce euery syke man to be stable in feipe : One ys for feipe may do all ping*'.r , as oure lord hym-selfe witnessith in the gospell & seipe : Omnia possibilia sunt credenti , All ping/j be possible to hym bat beleuyth stedfastly. Anoper is, for verry feibe gettip a man all bingrr, as oure lord seipe: Quicquid orautes petitis, credite ouia accipietis, 8f fiet vobis, What binge2 pat2 euer it be bat ye wollen praye & [aske]14, beleuyth verryly bat ye schull take it & [ye] shull haue it, bou^e bat2 ye wold sey to an hyll bat he schuld lyfte hiw-selfe vp & fall in to pe see, — as pe hilles of Capsie be preier & peticion of kynge Alysaunder pe gret co«queroure were closed to-gider18. The secund tewptacion is disperac*on, pe which is a-yenst hope & confidence pot euery good 2 man schuld haue vnto god ; for when a sike man ys turmentid sore & vexid wz'tA sorow & siknesse of his body, pan pe deuell is most besiest17 to superad (or put-vpomr)2 sorrow to sorrow, w/tA all pe weyes pat he may obiectynge his synnes ayence hym for to induce hym iwto dispeire. Forthermore , as Innocente pe pope in his prid boke of be wrecchidnesse of mankynd seibe : Euery man bo^e good & euell, er his soule pas out of his body, he seith18 Crist put in1' pe crosse, the good man to his consolaci'on, the euell man to his cowfusion, to make hym aschamyd pat he hath lost pe frute of his redempc/on. Also, the deuell bryngith a^en to mawnys mynde that is m poynt of deth, specialli the synnes that he hath don & was not schreven of, to draw hym berbye vnto dispaire. But perfor ther schuld no man dispaire in no wyse; for pough eny o man or woman had do als many theftw or manslauters or as many other synnes as be droppis of water in the see & grauell-stones in the stronde, though he neuer had do pewnaunce for hem afore ne neuer had bene shreven of hem afore, neither ban2 my^t haue no tyme for syknesse or lacke ^of spech or schortnesse of tyme to be shreuen of hem , yette schuld he neuer dis- peire ; ffor in such a cas verry contric/on of herte w/tA-in, wM wyll to be schreven if tyme sufficed, is sufficient & acceptable20 to god for to [s]aue hym w/tA21 euer- lastyngly ; as the prophet witnessith in the psalme : Cor contrituw. fy /mmiliatum

> Ms. f. man<rr of. 2 om in H. » Ms. hym. * H And. * Ms. as sone as. • Ms. gnastyngw. ' H for as. 8 Ms. humylite. • H religiouse. «« so RC : Ms. cont-

forted. 11 H dryven. « Ms. })e. i» CR o{>er. » by {>e f. om in H. >» Ms. also.

»6 Cf. Hist, de praeliis. »* H besy. •» H seeth. »» H on. -•» H accepte. « Ms. (& RC) for to haue hym with hym.

41 0 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Rawl. C 894]

deus non despicies , Lord god thou wilt never dispice a contrite & a meke hert ; and E^echiel seith also : In quacunqne hora conuersus fuerit /creator et ingemuerit, saluus erit , In what oure |)at ever it be bat the synful man is sory iwward & converted fro his syne, he schalbe saued. & psrfor seynt Bernard seith : The pite & be ' mercy of god is more ben eny wickidnesse ; & Austens vpon lohii seith : We schuld never dispeire of [nolman als longe as he is in bis bodily lyfe, for \>ere is no syn so gret but it may be helyd , outakyn dispaire alone ; & seynt Austen seith also: All synnes bat a man hath done afore1, mow not noye ne dampne a man, but he be well a-payds i« his herte bat he hath don hem. Perfor no mans schuld*; dispaire, 2pou^e it were so &3 it were possible pat he alone had don all mansr of synnes bat my^t be done in be world ; for be dispaire a man gettith nou^t ellys but bat god is moch4 more offendid bsrby, & all his obsr synnes bene more greuouse i« goddis syi;t, & eusrlastyng payne is therby aug- mentyd infinitlye to hym bat so dispaireth. Therfor a-yence dispeire for to induce hym bat is syke & laborith in his dying to verry trust & cowfidence bat he schuld pr/ncipally haue to god at that tyme, the disposiczon of Criste in the crosse schuld grettly draw hym, of the which seynt Bernard seith thus: What man is it pat schuld not be rauysshed & draw to hope & to haue full confidence in god, & he take heed diligently of the * dispositions of Cristis body in the crosse ; take heed & see his heed enclyned to salue the, his mouth to kysse the, his armes I-spred to be'-clyp the, his hondis I-thrilled to yeue the, his syde opened to loue the, hys body alonge strau^t to yeue all hym-selfe to the. Therfor no man schuld dispeire [of]0 foryevenesse, but fully haue hope & cowfidence in god; for the vsrtu of hope is gretly commendable & of gret merite before god, as the apostill seith & exortith us : Nolite amittere confidenciam vestram, que magnam habet remunera- donem , Lesith not youre hope & co«fidence in god, be which hath gret reward of god. Forthermore pat no synfull man schuld i« no wyse dispeire haue he synned never so gretly ne never so sore ne never so ofte, ne never so longe co«- tynued therin, we haue [open]6 ensample [in]7 Peter pat denyed Crist, in Poule bat pursued holy chirch, in Matheu & 2^ache the publicanes, in Mary Maudeleyne the synful woman , in the woman bat was takyn in avoutry , in the thefe bat hongs8 on the crosse be-sid Crist, in Mary Egipciane, & vnnomberable obsr gre- uouce & grete synnes. The thrid temptac/cn is in-pacience, the which is ayenst charite bi the which we be bounden to loue gode above all bingis: for bei bat bene in syknesse in her deth-bed suffren passyngly gret payne & sorrow & woo, & namly they bat dyen not be nature & course of age bat hapynneth9 ryght selde as [open]10 experience scheweth all daye to every mans11, but dyen oft-tymes thorow an accidental! seknesse, as a fever, a posteme & such other greuous & paynfull & long seknes, the which many men , & namly hem the which bene vndisposed to dye & dyen ayenst her wyll, & lackens verry charite, makyth so inpacyent & grucchyngs, pat other-while thorow woo & i«pacience pel be-com wood & witles, [as] 12 it hath ofte be seyen in many men ; & so be pat it is open & certeyne pat bey pat dyen in bat wyse faylen & lac verry charite , wittnessyngs seynt lerome bat seith pus : Si quis cum. dolor e egritudinem uel mortem, suscipit , signum cst tjvod devrn sufficienter non diligit, that is to seye : Who so takyth syknesse [or deth] v?i\h sorrow & displesaunce of herte, it ij»ans open13 sygne pat he louyth not god sufficiently. Therfor a man pat wyll dey well, yt is nedfull bat he gruche not in no maner of seknesse bat fallyth to hym be-fore his deth or in hys dyings, be yt neuer so paynefull or greuouse , longe tyme or schort tyme duryngs ; for as seynt Gregory witnessith in his Morallys : lusta sunf [cuncta] que patim\\x, et idea valde iniustum. est si de iusta passione mmmuremus : All pingw bat we suifren we sufiyr ryghtfully, & fasrfor we ben 14vnry^tfull yf we grucch of ^at we suffer ry^tfully. Than every man schuld be pacient, [for] as seynt Luke seith : In pacienda vestra possi- debitis animas vesfras: In youre pacyence ye schull possesse15 youre soules; for [as] '

1 om in H. 2 Ms. for ]>ouze. 3 H Jiat. * H m. dyspleased & moch m. o. 5 Ms. for. 8 Ms. (& RC) vpone an. 1 Ms. of. * H hynge, R henge. » H happeth. >° Ms.

vpon. 11 H techeth men. 12 Ms. (& RC) &. w H o. & a certeyn*. H H gretely v. >s H welde. i« H for as.

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be pacience ma«nys soule is trewly * had and kept, so 2 be vnpacience & murm«rac*on it is loste & dampned , wittnessyng seynt Gregory in his omely pat seith bus : Kegnum. celorum nullus murmurans accipit , nullus qul accipit murmurare potest, Ther schal no man haue be kyngdom of heuen pat grucchit[hj & is iwpacient, and ther may no man gruch bat hath it. But as be gret clerke Albert seyth, spekyng of wrry contric/on : [If] a wry contrite man offerryth hym-selfe gladly to all man<rr afflicc/on of seknesse & ponysshyng<? of his synnes, bat he may therby satisfye god worthyly for his offensis: moch more [ban] schuld eu^ry sike man suffer paciently & gladly his owen seknesse a-lone, jiat is lyijter w/t^oute comparison ban many syknessis bat3 other men suffer; namlye sythen bat siknes be-fore a mannys debe is as4 a purgatory to hym whan pat1 it is suffred as it ought, bat is to vnderstonde, yf it be suffred pacientlye & gladly, w/'t/j a fre [kynd]4 wyll of herte. For as the same clerke Albert seyth : we hane neede to haue a free kynd wyll to god not only in such bingis as bene to oure [consolacion , but also in such bingis as bene to oure]6 affliccz'on. [And]7 seynt Gregor seyth: Diuina dispensacione agitur uf prolixiori vitio prolixior egritudo adhibeattir, It is do by the dispensac/'on &8 be ry^tfull ordynac/on of god bat to the lenger syn is ordeyned the lenger sik- nesse. & berfor lett eu^ry sykman & namely he bat schall dye, sey as seynt Austen dyd9 to god : Hie seca, hie vre, tit meternum michi parcas, Here cutt, here brewn, so bat bou spare me eu<?rlastynglye. And seynt Gregor seith: Misericors dens temporaltm adhibe[t] seueritatem., ne eternam inferat vlcionem, God pat is nwrcy- full yeveth his chosyn children temporall ponysshyng/j10 here, lest he yeve hem eu^rlastyng vengeaunce ellys-where. This temptac/on of inpacience fy^tteth ayenst charite , & w;t^-oute charite may no man be saued ; & therfor, as seith seynt Poule: Caritas [vera] paciens est, orrmia sujfert, Verry charite ys paciente & suffreth all pingis. & in pes wordis yt is notably to be marked bat he spake of suffryng of all pingw, & oute-take11 no ping: pan schuld all syknesse of the body [bi reson] be suffred paciently w/t/iout murmuracz'on or12 difficulte; and therfor seynt Austen seith : Amanti nichil difficile uet13 impossible, To hym pat loueth ther is no ping<? hard ne no ping£ impossible. The inith temptaczon is complacens or plesaunce of

a man bat he hath in hym-selfe, bat is spmVual prid, w»tA the which be devyll temptyth & vexith most relygiouse & deuoute & partite men; for when pe deuel seth j)at he may not brynge a man oute of be feibe14, ne may not iwduce hym vnto15 dispaire, ne into impaciens: ban he assaileth hym be complacens of hymselfe, puttyng such man^r of temptaczons \n his herte: O how stable arte bou in be feibe, how stronge in hope, how sad in pacience ! O how many good dedis hast p0u do ! & such op^r pou^ttzj. But ayenst bese tewptac/ons Isodur seith thus: Non te arroges, non te iactes, non te [insolenter] extollas 16 vel de te piesumas, nichil boni tibi tribuas, Ne bost be not, ne vaunte be not proudly, ne make not moch of thi-selfe wantonly, nep^r adiecte17 no goodnesse to bi-selfe. For a man may haue so much delectacz'on in such [maner of complacens] 18 of hym-selfe bat a man- schuld be dampnyd eu^r- lastyngly perfor. And berfor seynt Gregor seith : Qitis reminiscendo bona qut gescit dttm se apttd se erigit, apud auctorem. humilitatis cadit: A man bat |)inkebe in good dedis bat he hath do & is proud therof19 of hym-selfe, he fallith down anon berfor be-for hym bat is auctor of meknes. & p^rfor he bat schall dye most be ware when he felith hym temptid w*'tA prz'de, pat pan he low & meke hym- selfe, binking* in his synnes & bat he wit neu^ wheb<rr he be worbi loue or hate, ^at is to sey saluac/on or dawzpnaczon. NeuMhelesse, lest he dispayre, he mote lyfte vp his herte to god by hope, penkyngj & remembryng^20 stably jiat jie m^rcy of god is above all bing<? &'n all his werkis, & bat god [bat] is trewe i»M all his wordis, & bat23 is treube & ry^twysnes bat nether begjlef)e neb<:r is begiled, be-hight & swor24 by hym-selfe & seid by the prophet: Viuo ego, dicit domintts,

H sewrely 2 H & so. 3 Ms. of feat. * om in H. * H f. & a kymle ; Lat. cum

gratitudine. * om. * Ms. as. » H dispos. of. • H seyde.

» H toke. »2 H &. »3 H nichil. »* H wey of f. » H into. >" H msoUnter tollas. " HA arette. « Ms. (& RC) temptac/on. «• H feerfor. » H reuoluyng. in H. « Ms. &. ** Ms. pat he. «« Ms. sory.

A i 2 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Rawl. C 894]

nolo mortem peccatoris , God all-my^ti seith : be my lyfe, I will not the deth nop^r the dampnacj'on of no synn^r or ' of no synfull man , but pat he cowu^rte hym- selfe to me & be saued. Eu^ry man schuld followe seynt Antonye to whome the deuell seyd: 'Antony, pou hast ou^rcom me, ffor when I wold haue the vp by pride, bou kepist pi-selfe a-downe by meknesse, & whan I wold draw pe downe by disp«rac/on p0u kepist bi-selfe vp by hope3; — thus schuld eu^ry man do both seke & hole, & pan ys the deuell ouifr-com. The v1*1 temptaczon bat

temptith & greuyth most carnall men & seculer men, [is]2 ou^r-much occupacz'on & besynesse a-bou^t outward temp<?rall pingz'j [as her wyfes, her children, her carnall frendes, and wordely riches and other pingis]3 pat pei hane loued iwordinatly be- fore. For he pat will dey wyll & surely, most vttarly & fully put oute of hys mynde all temporall & outward pingis, &plenerly4 cowmytt hym-selfe all to god. & p^rfor the gret clerke Duns5 (Scotus) seith pus vpon the fourth boke of Sentence: What man pat is seke whan he seth pat he schall dey, If he put hys wyll p^rto 3 to dey wilfully & cowsentith fully iwto deth as pou^e he had chosyn hym-selfe [pe]6 payne of be3 deth voluwtaryly, & so suffreth deth paciently, he satisfyeth to 3 god for all his3 veniall synnes, and forthermore he takyth aweye " a parcel8 of satisfacczon pat he oweth to do for dedly synnes. & p^rfor it is ryght profitable & necessarye in such a poynte [of] 9 nede pat a man cowforme his will to goddis will in all pingis [as] 10 eu^ry man ow^t both seke & hole, but seld it is seyn^ bat any seculer & carnall man or relygiouse man [other]" will dispose hym-selfe to deth12, other ferthermore, pat is wors, will here ony ping£ of the mater of deth pouije in-dede he be laboryng^ faste to his ende-ward, hopyng* pat he schall escape pe deth — & pat is [pe] most parlous pinge & most iwcowuenient pat may be i» eny crz'stra man, as seith the worthy clerke Cantor parisiensis18. But it is to be noted well bat the deuell in all pe tewptacz'ons above-seid may cowpell no man, [neither] in no man«r of wyse pr^vayle ayenst hym to consent to hym, als long as a man hath the vse of reason w/'tA hym, but if he woll wilfully cowsewt to hym, — bat eu^ry good cristen man & also eu^ry synful man be he neu^r so grete a synn^r owijt to be were of aboue all thyngis. For he apostell seyth : Fidelis [est] deus qtii non pacietur vos temptari supra, id q\iod potestis, sed faciet eciam. cteea. /emptadone prouentum ut possitis sustinere, God, he seith, is trew & will not suffre yow to be temptid more fan ye may bere , but he will yeue yow such supporta- c/on in youn; temptaczon[s] pat ye may bere hem. Whervpon seith the glose : God is [trew]14 in his pranissis, & yeuyth us grace to w/t/zstond my^ttyly, manly15, & p^rseurrantly : yevyng us my^t pat we be not outcome, [grace to gete vs meryte, stedfastnes to ouercome] 16 ; with pat he yeueth such increse of wrtu pat we may suffre, and not faylle ne fall. & pat is by mekenesse, for as seynt Austen seith: Thei breken17 not in the forneyse pat hane not pe wynde of prz'de. Therfor eu^rry man, ryghtfull & synfull, l[ow]e18 hym-silfe fully vnto the my^ty honde of god, and so wz't/z his helpe he shall surely opteyne and haue the victorye in all man^r of temptacz'on, seknesse & tribulacz'ons, euyllys & sorrowes, & deth therto

The prid chapiter cowteynepe the interrogacz'ons bat schulden be asked of hem pat were 19 in her deth-bed while pei may speke and vnderstond. Capituluw terciuw.

l\l Ow followyth -the interrogacz'ons of hem pat drawen to the deth-ward while pei hane reason wz't/* hem & her spech , for pis cause pat if ony man be not fully disposed to dye, he may better be enformed, & cowfortid20 therto. And as Ancellyne21 pe bisshop techith, thefse] imVrrogacions schuld be had vnto hem'2" bat ben in pat plyte. Fyrst aske hym pis : Brother, art pou glad pat pou schalt dey in

1 of — or om in H. 2 Ms. J»at bene in. 3 om in RC. 4 H clerly. 5 Ms. dinise,

H Scotus. 6 Ms. in to. 7 Lat. iramo affert aliquid ad satisfaciendum pro mortalibus.

8 H parcellys. » Ms. at. >° Ms. ]>at. » H other, crossed out in R. 12 H dye.

13 sc. Petrus Cantor Paris, (d. 1197; Opp. in Migne 203). " Ms. good. " Lat. vtilitcr.

16 om. i' H brennen ; Lat. crepant. 1* Ms. leue ; H lo\ve hymselfe & submytte. " al. ben. 20 & c. om in H. « = Anselme. K Ms. hym.

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[pe]1 ferth of Crist? The seke man seipe, ^e. Knowest pou well pat |)ou hast not do so well as pou schuldist haue do? He answereth, y,e. Repents |)ou |)e perof? He answerith, ?e. Hast pou will to amend, & pou haddist space and lyfe2? He answerith, z,e. Beleuist pou fully pat cure lord Ihmi Crist goddis son dyed for the? He answeryth, ^e. Thankyst pou hym therof with all thy herte? He answeryth, %e. Beleuist pou verily that thow maist not be sauyd but be Cristis deth and his passion? He answerith, y,e. Than j)anke hym eu«-3 therof4 while the soule ys in be body, and put all thi trusts [in his passion and in his dethe onely, hauyng truste]5 in no other pingis; to this deth co/wmyt the fully, wit/i pis deth cou<r the fully, [in this deth wrap all thi-self fully]5 ; and [if] it B com vnto thy mynde or by thin enmye be put in to thy mynde that god will deme7 the, sey thus: Lord I put the deth of oure lord Ih«u Crist be-twene me & myn euell dedis, be-twene me and thi lugement, other-wise I wyll not stryye with the ; Iff he sey pat [thou hastj * deserued dampnac/bn, sey thou a$en : The deth of oure lord Ihesu Crist I put be- twene me and all3 myn euell meritis, and the merite of his worthi passions I offre for the merite that I shuld haue had and alas I haue it not; Sey also: Lord9 put the deth of oure lord Ihesu Criste be-twene me and thi ryijtwysnes. Pan lat hym sey pis thrise : In manus tuas [domine] commendo sfliritnm meum, In to thiw handis I cowmyt my soule ; and lett the couent sey the same ; and if he may not speke lett the couent, or pei pat stont aboute, sey thus : /« manus tuas commendo spiritnm tins, In thin hondis lord we commend his spirit or10 his soule. And thus he dyeth surely, and he schal not dye eu^rlastyngly. But thou^e pese intenrogac/ons above-seyd

be competent and sufficient to religiouse [and deuoute persones , nemrrtheles all crysten men bothe seculers and religiouse], after the doctour u the noble clerke the chaunceller of Parise, in her laste end schuld be examyned, enquered and informed more certeynly [& clerly] of the state [&] l2 be hele of hir soule[s] ; and fyrst thus : Bele- vyst thowe principally 13 an fully in the articles of the feyth, and also all holy scripture in14 all pingis after be exposicz'on of the holy and trew doctowrs of holy chirche, and forsakist all heresies, errouris and oppinions dampnid by the chirch, and art glad also pat p0u schalt dey in the feyth of Criste & in pe vnite & obedience of holy chirche? The secund interrogacz'on shalbe this : Knowe[lege]stls p0u pat often-

tymes and many-maner wises and greuously pou hast ofFendid pi lord god pat made the of nou^t? For" seynt Bernard seipe pus vpon Cantica canticorwzw: I know well pat p<r maye no man be saued but yf he knowe hym-selfe , of the which knowyng^ wexith in a man the moder of his helpe that is humilite, and also the dred of god, the which drede [as it is the begynnyng of wisdom, so it] 1T is the begynnyng<? of helth of mannys soule. The thrydi? interrogac/on schalbe this:

Art pou sory in thy herte of all man^r of synnes pat pou hast don ayenst the hyije mageste & pe loue & be goodnes of god, & of all goodnes pat pou hast18 not & my^ttest haue do , & of all graces pat pou hast for-slewthed ; not oonly for drede of depe or ony other payne, but rather more for love of god & ry^twisnes and for pou hast displeased his grete19 goodnes & kyndnes, & for pe due ordre of charite by the which we be bound to loue god above all pingis ; & of all pese pingis pou askyst foryevenes of god? Desirest f)0u in pin herte also to haue verry knowyng* of all the offensis pat pou hast doo ayenst god and for[yete] 20, to haue speciall repentaunce of hem all? The mith interrogacion schalbe bis: Por-

posist pou verrily and art in full wyll to amende the, and f>0u myght leve lenger, and neu^r to synn^ more dedly wittyngly and wM pi will , and rather ban pou woldist offend god dedly21 eny more, to leve & lese wylfully all erpely ping" were pei neu^r so lefe to the , and also the lyf of pi body therto ; and forther- more f>0u prayest god to yeve the grace to contynue in this purpose? The Vth

interrogac/on schalbe pis: Foryevist p<m all™ mamr of men2* bat eu*r hape24 don

i Ms. Jris. 2 andl. om in H. 3 Om in H. « H therfore with all thyn* herte. s om. • Ms. and it be. ' Ms. denye. » Ms. he hath ; H thow deseruest. • H I. 10 his sp. or om in H. n H doctryne of. « Ms. of. »» H fully all<r the pryncypallc art. » H and. I& H Knowelegest. '« om in H. >7 om. 18 H myghtest haue dopn* and hast nat; Lat. de bonis omissis. » H hygh. z« H foryete ; Lat. oblitorum cognicionem. =l om in H.

22 H fully all. M H adds in thyn herte. « at. hane.

414 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

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be ony wronge or grevauwce vnto bis tyme or * in word or in dede, for be love of oure lord Ihmi Crist of whome b<?u hopyst to haue2 foryevenes also3 bi-selfe ; [& askist also thi-selfe foryeuenes] 4 of all hem bat |3ou hast offendyd in ony manw wise? The VIth interrogacz'on schalbe bis: Wilt bou bat all man^r of pingis

bat bou hast in eny maner wise mysgett, be fully restored5 als much as b<m maist and art I-bounde, after the value of bi good, & rather leve & forsake all bi goodys6 of the world, yf bou maist make due satisfacczon in none other wise? The seuynth interrogaczon schalbe this : Belevist bou 3 fully bat Crist dyed for the & bat bou maist neuer be saued but by the merite of Cristis passion, and bankist pm>f god with bin hert as much as bou canst or7 maist? Who so eu<;r

may verrily of vmrye good conscience and trouth wz't/z-owte eny feynyngtf answere bee to these forseyd sevyn int«Togacz'ons, he shalbe savyd verrily and8 hath an euydent argument I-nough of the3 helfae of his soule, bat, & he dye soo , he schalbe of the nombre of hem bat schalbe saued. 9Who so euer is not askyd^of a nother man of thes seven interrogacz'ons when he is in such a p^rell of deth, for ther be ryght10 fewe pat have f)e kuwnyngt? of this crafte of dyings, he most remembre hym-selfe [in his soule & aske hym-selfe] 4, & sotely fele & cowsidre where he be so disposed as it is above seyde or" no; for with-owte [pat] a man be disposed in such wise fynally , pere may no man doubles be saved euer- lastyngly. And what man12 bat is disposed as yt is above-seyd, let hym cowzmend and13 cowmytt hym-selfe all in-fere fully to the passion of Crist, and co/ztynually als much as he may and as3 hys syknesse will suffre hym lett hym remembre hym-selfe 3 and binke in the passyon of Crist : for therby all the deuellys tempta- cz'ons and giles be most14 onercomm. and voyde[d].

The 1111th chapiter conteyneth an« instruccz'on wz'tft certeyne obsecracions to hem pat schullen dye. CapzY#/«m iiiim.

JT1 Orthermore for as much as seynt Gregor seith 'eu^ry doyng^ of Crist ys oure instruccz'on & 3 techynge' : perfor such pingis as Crist dyd dyings on the crosse, the same shuld eu<?ry man do at hys laste ende after his cownyng and power. And Crist dyd fyve pingis in the crois: he prayed, [for he prayed]4 these psalmes: Deus deus incus respice and all be psalmes followyng next3 vnto pat vers /« manus tuas, and also pat vers15 ; and he cryed in the crosse as be apostil witnessith ; also he wept in the cross ; also he co#zmyt his soule to his fader in the cros ; [also he yaf vp wilfully the gost in the crosse. Furst he prayed in the crosse]4; so a seke man pat is in poynt of deth schuld prey , namely wz'tA his herte yf he may not witA his mouth, ffor seynt Isodyr seyth pat it is better to pray styllia*in the herte wz'tA- oute ony sounde of voyce outeward, pan to pray wz't/ft wordis alo[ne] ir wz't/zout any deuocz'on of herte. The secund was he cryed ; soo shuld eu^ry man in his dying crye strongly, wz't/z be herte, not wz'tA pemoupe18, ffor god takibe more heed of be desire of the herte pan of the crying*; of the voice. The criyng* of the her* to god is not ellys but the gret desiring*; of a man to haue foryevenesse of his synnes and eucr-lastyng lyfe. The IIId was he wept; so shuld* euery man in dyings wepe, not w/tA his bodyly ye^ but wz't/^ the terys of [his] herte, that is to sc verrily repentyngtf hym3 of all his19 misdedis. The uiith was he cowmendyd^ soule to god; so shuld eu^ry man in his ende, seyingf pus with herte & moat if he may, and3 ellys in his herte: »Lord god, into pin handis I cowmende my spirit; ffor truly fwu pi-selfe bou^t me20 dere«. The Vth was he yafe vp wilfully his spirit; so schuld eu^ry man in his deth, pat is to sey, he shuld dye wilfully, cow- formyng£ fully bmn3 his owen will to god[dis will]21 as he is bounde. Therfor

als longe as he bat is in poynte of deth may speke & haue pe vse of reson wz'tA hym, lett hym22 sey the prayers followyng^. Oracio : »O thow hi^e godhed and endeles

1 H other. ' * to haue om in H. 3 om in H. 4 om. 5 H r. ayene. 6 H good.

" canst or om in H. 8 shalbe — and om in H. 9 H And who. >° H but. " Ms. ar.

12 H m. or woman. 13 com. and om in H (and Lat.). u Ms. he must. 15 Ms. and a.

bat verse In manus t. ig H stylly. " Ms. alowd, H alone. 18 H voyce. j 19 H h.

sinnes & m. =» H hit. 21 H goddys wylle. » let hym om in H.

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goodnes, most mercyable & gloriouse trinite, bat art hy^est loue [&]' charyte, haue mercy on me wrecchid sinfull man, for to the I co*»mende fully my soule«. Oracio]: »My lord god most benyng fader, [fader] of mercy, do bi mm:y to me Jii " pore creature, helpe now lord my nedy &3 dissolate soule in her last nede, pat hell houndis deuoure me not. [Oracio:] Most swettest and most louely lord my lord Ih*.m Criste goddis owen dere2 sonne, for the worship and be" v<?»tue of pi blessid passion admytt and receyue me w/tA-in be nombre of bi chosen peple ; my sauyoure & redewptor, I yeld all my-silfe fully to pi grace and nvrcy , forsake me not ; to pe , lord, I com: put me not aweye. Lord Ihwu Crist, I aske pi paradise and blysse, not for the worthynes of my desmiyngz'j bat am but dust & asshis and a" synfull vvrech, but faorow be vertu & effecte of bi holy passion, [bi]4 the which pou vouchist-safe & woldist5 by me synfull wrech wz't/j jii pr*c/ouse bloode & bryng* me into paradise«. Let hym sey also ofte pis v*rse : Dirupisti domine vincula mea, tibi sacrificabo hostiam laudis : Lord pou hast broke my bondis, and perfor I shall panke pe \tith be sacrifice of the oblac/'on of worship ; For pis v*rse, as Cassiodir seifoe, ys of [so]8 grete virtue pat a mannys synnes bene foryouen hym, and7 it be seyd brise w»tA good trewe feyth at a mannys last'2 ende. Oracio: »Lord Ihmi Crist, for bat bitternesse bat bcu suffrist8 for me in the crosse, & most in bat oure whan bi most blissed soule passid out of pi body, haue m*rcy of my soule in hir streite passyng<?«. Also afterward w»tA all pe instauwce & deuo«'on pat he may, with herte & mouth, lett hym cry to oure blessyd lady seynt Marye pat is most spedfull and most redy mene and helpe of all synfull men to god, seying pus : Oracio : »O gloriouse [lady] quene of heuen, moder of mercye, & refuge * of all synfull men , reconsile me to pi swete so/me my lord Ihmi , and pray for me synfull wrech to his gret mercye, that for loue of the, swete ladye, I0he woll foryeve me my synnes«. Pan lat hym pray to angellis & sey thus : Oracio : »Holy angels of heuen , I besech yow pat ^e wold assist to me bat schall now passe out of pis world, & my^tyly delyuer & kepe me from all myn enemyes, and take my soule vnto youre blissed company ; & namly b0u good blissed aungell bat hast bene my cowtynuall kep^r ordeyned of god«. Pan lett hym pray the same wise deuoutly to all the apostillys, martires, cowfessoures, and virgines, & specially to po seynt/.? ll which he loued & worschipped moste specially in his hele, pat pei will helpe hym pan in his last & most neede. Pan'2 afterward lett hym* sey pries or more pese wordis or lyke in sentence the which ben ascryved to seynt Austen* : Oracio: »The pese of oure lord Ihmi Criste, and the v*rtu of his passion*, and pe signe of the holy cros, & pe maydenhed of oure lady blyssed 12 seynt Marye, & be blyssyng* of all seyntw, & be keping* of all angels, & pe suffrage IS of all p* '* chosen people of god be betwene me & all ~ myn enemyes visible & invisible, in bis oure of my debe. Amenl5«. Aftyrward let hym sey brise bis v*rse: ™Largire clarum vespere, quo vita nusfuzm decidat, sed11 premium, mortis sacre, pzrhennis instet gloria, Graunt me lord a clere ende , bat my soule fall neuer downe-ward , but yeve me ener- lastyng blisse, pat is pe reward of holy dying". And if he pat is sike can not all pis prayers, or may not sey hem for greuouse[nes] of his siknesse, lett som man pat is about hym sey hem be-fore hym as he may clerely here hym sey hem, channgyng*? be wordis bat ought to be chaunged in his seying* ; and he bat is dy[i]ng£, also longe as he hape vse of reason*, lett hym prey deuou^tly w»'t/fcin hym-selfe wz't/J his herte & his desire as he canw & may : & so yeld pe gost vp to god, & he shalbe saued.

The fyfte chapiter cowteyneth an instruccz'on vnto hem bat shullen dye. Capitutum quiwtuw.

l3ut it is gretly to be notid & to be take heed of, pat ri?t selcl any man, foe] amonge religiouse & deuoute men, disposeth hym-selfe to depe be tymes as he

i Ms. &. * ora in H. » Ms. & my. * Ms. to. * H woldist veuchesafe to.

« Ms. a. • H yeff. » H suffred. • H refugye. «• Ms. J>at he.

" H bl. lady. » H suffragyes. i« Ms. {>i. »• H And aft. >6 See Hymnus ad Nonam, Daniel I. 52. " Ms. ad.

41 6 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Rawl. C 894]

ought, ffor euery man weneth hym-selfe to leve longe, & trowyth not jiat he schall dye in short tyme; & doubles pat steryng* cowmyth of the deuellys sottill temptac/on , and ofte-tymes it is seyn^ opynly pat many men porow such Idyll hope & trust hath for-slewthed hem-selfe & dyed or1 vntestate or vnavised & vndisposed sodenly. Therfor eu^ry man pat hath loue & drede of god & a ^eele of be hele of mawnys soule, let hym besyly induce & warne eu^ry of his euencristen pat is seke or in any p<?rill of body or of soule , pat principally & fyrst of all op<?r pingw & withoute ony op<?r2 delayes or longe tarry[i]ngw he dyli- gently pr0uid & purvey3 for pe spirt faa.ll medycyne & remedy of his soule. For ofte- tymes, as a certeyne decretall seyth, bodyly syknes cowzmyth of the l siknes of the l soule ; and therfor pe pope in the same decretall chargith strei^tly eu^ry bodyly lech pat he ?eue no sekman no bodyly medicyn, vnto be tyme pat he haue warned & inducid hym to sech his spm'Aiall lech. But pis cou/zcell ys now for-slewthed almost of all men, & is turned in to pe contrary ; ffor men seken sowner & besi- lier after medicyns for pe body, -pan for be soule. Also 4 op^r euellis & adu^rsitees be ry^twise dome of god com£ eu^r-more to men for syn, as pe prophet witt- nessith pat seipe pus: Non est malum z'n ciuitate quod dominus non facit, Ther is non euell in the cite but god do it. Pou schalt not vnderstonde pat god doeth pe euell of syn, but he1 yeldith ponysshing^ for syn. Wherfor eu<?ry sikman, & euery other man pat is in ony p^rill, shuld be diligently inducid & exhortid hat he make hym-selfe be-fore all op^r ping*.? pes wz'tA god, resseyving spmVuall medicins, pat is to seye takyng*? the sacramentis of holy church, ordeynyngf and makyngtf his testament, & laufully disposyngtf for5 his household & other nedis if he haue any to dispose for. & pere shuld not be yeue [first] to no man to miche hope of bodyly hele ; but the contrary pm>f now ys ofte-tymes do [bi] many men [into]6 gret pmll of soules, & namely of hem pat actually & openly ben drawyng*?7 & in poynt hastily to deye, for none of hem will here nopingtf of deth; and so, as the gret clerke the chaunceler of Parise seipe : oft-tymes bi such a veyne & a false cheryngtf & cozwfortyng & feyned behotyng^ of bodyly helth , & trustyng* pervponw, men ryn and fall in to certeyne dampnacz'on eu^rlastingly. And p^rfor a seke man shuld be councellyd & exortid to pnmide & procure hym-selfe his soule-hele be verry contricz'on & confession; & if it be expedient for hym, pat8 schall gretly avayle to his bodyly helth, and so he schalbe mo[r]e quiete9 & sure. And for als muche, wittnessinge seint Gregor, as a man hath seeldtf wry contri- cz'on, And as seint Austen seipe also in the fourth boke of sentence the twel[f]the lo distinccz'on , and op^r doctowrs also , Repentauwce pat is deferryd^ and had in a mawnis last ende, vnneth is verry repentance or pemiaunce1' sufficient to eu<?rlastyng£ hele, and specially in hnn12 pat all her tyme be-fore nether the co»zmaundementw of god nether her voluntarye vowes kepten not l effectually ne truly , but only feynyngfly] & to pe semynge owtward: therfor 13eu£ry seke man pat is in such case & is com to his last ende , is to be counselled besily pat he labour wz'tA reason of his mynde after his power to haue ordynate & verry repentaunce ; pat is to me[n]yng£14. not-wz't^stondyng* the sorrow & greuaunce of his seknes and [pe] drede pat he hath of hasty deth, pat he vse reason als moch as he maye, & [in]force15 hym-selfe to haue full displesyng^ of all synnes for the due ende & parfite intent, pat is for god, and wz't^stand18 his euell naturall in-clynyng* tc syn pough he my^t leve lenger, and also pe delectacz'on of his synnes be-fore and labowr als much as he maye to haue a wrry displesaunce of hem pou^e be neu^r so shorte ; and lest he schall1 fall in dispeire tell hym & arme hym wz'tA such pingis pat bene seydtf above in the secund parte of the tewptacz'on of dispeire. Exorte hym also pat he be stronge in his soule ayenst [be] op<r tempta- cz'ons pat be put and told<? pere also, my^tily & manly wz'tAstonde [hem] all, for he may not be cowzpellydf by the deuell to consent to none of hem all. Also lett him

1 om in H. 2 ony ofcer om in H. * H ordeyn. * H And all*. 5 H off. 6 Ms. of. " H drawyn*. 8 r. it? 9 Ms. moste quitte. "> H xxti. ll or p. om in H. 12 Ms. hym. 13 H to e. " Ms. mevyngf, H menyng, r. menyn; Lat. scilicet. 15 Ms. cowforte. 16 Ms. wztAstandyng*.

The book of the craft of dying. 417

Ms. Rawl. C 894]

be monysshed & conceilede bat he dye a vmy trew crz'sten man & full beleuyd. Also it is to be considred whether he be in-Yolued wz'tA eny sensuris of the1 chirch, and if [he]'" be, lett hym be taught bat he suwmytte3 hym-selfe wit/i all his my?te to the ordynaunce of holy chirch, bat he may be assoyled. Also yf he bat schall dye haue longe tyme and space to be-binke hym-selfe, and be not take w/t/4 hasty deth: ban may be red afore hym, of hem bat be abowte hym, deuou^t histories and deuoute praiers in the which he delyted moste in wha« he was in hele ; or reherse be-fore hym pe co«mau»deme«tz'.r of god, bat he may be-binke hym be more profoundly if he may fynde in hym-selfe pat he habe necligewtly trespased a-yenst hym. And if be seke man haue lost his spech, [but] yit he hath hole & full knowlech of the interrogacz'ons bat be made to hym or the prayers bat bene rehersid be-fore hym , ban wz't/j som vtterly * sygne or only with consent of herte lett hym answere therto. Neuerthelesse it is gretly to be charged & hasted bat be interrogacz'ons be made vnto hym or he lese his speche ; for if his ans\vere[s] be not lycly4 or shewith not6 in all sides to be sufficient to full hele & pcrpetuell remedye of his soule, paw7 must be8 put \)erto remedy & councell in the best msmer bat it may be doo: ban b<?re schuld be told to hym pe pmll9 pat he shuld [plainly] fall in, pou^e he shuld & wold gretly be a-ferde therof; — it is better and ryghtfuller bat he be cowpuwcte and repentaunte wit A holsom fere and dred and so be saued, ban bat he be dampned vfitk flateryng^ and false dissimilacz'on ; for it is to incowuenient & contrary to crz'stew relygion and [deuellike]10, pat pe pmll of deth & of a soule for eny veyne drede of a man lest he11 ware ony ping,; distrobilled therby shuld be hyd to ony cristen man or woman bat shuld dye. but Isaye be prophet did pe contrarie, ffor when kyng<? E^echi lay seke & vpon pe l2 poynt of depe , he glosed hym not ne vsed no simulacz'on li to hym, but playnly & hol- somly agasted hym, seyingtf pat he schuld dye ; & yet nathelesse he dyed not at pat tyme. And seiwt Gregori also holsomly agasted be monke pat was a -pro- prz'etarie, as it is red in pe [fourthe] boke of his Dialegis11. Also present to the seke pe Image of the crucifix pe whiche shuld be eumnore aboute seeke men, or ellys pe Image of oure lady, or of a15 seynt pe which he loued or worshipped in his hele. Also lett p^r be holy water abowte be seke, & spryngtf oft-tymes vpon hym & op«r pat bene abou^te hym, bat fendis mowe be voyded from hem18 therbye. Yf all bingz.? above-seid may not be do for hastines & shortnes of tyme, ban put forpe prmers, & namely such as be directid17 specially to oure sauyoure lord Ihesu Crist. Whaw a man is in poynt of depe & hastis fast to his ende, pan schuld p^re no carnall frendis ne wife ne children lie riches ne no temporall goodis be reducid to his mynde nep^r be comoned of before him, but 18 [in] as much [as be]19 spz'rz'Aiall helfae & profett of pe seke man askyth & requireth. In pis mater pat is of ourtf last & moste neede, all man^r of poyntz'j & sentence p«-of, w/tA adu^rbis also bat ben put b^rto, shuld most sotely & diligently be chargid & cow- sidered of eu^ry man, for alse muche as ber schal no man be rewardid for his wordis alone but for his dedis also loyned & accordyng to his wordis, as it is seid in be boke pat is clepid Co#zpendy of the trupe of diuinite, pe secund boke be tenth chapiter. And what man pat listepe, & will gladly dye well & surely and meritorily wzt^oute pmll, he most take heede besyly and stody & lerne diligently bes craft20 of dyinge and be disposicz'ons p<rrof above-seyd while he is in hele, & not abyde vntill pat deth entre in to hym; for in truth, dere brother or sistre, I tell the soth — leve21 me therof— bat whan deth or gret seknesse fallith vpon the, deuocz'on passith owt from the, & be more nere bat [bei taken] be & gripen pe, the ferther fleyth deuocz'on from the. Therfor yf p0u wilt not be disseyued ne erre, if bou wilt be sure, do besily what b0u maiste while bou art here in hele & hast the vse & fredam of bi witt/j & reason well disposed, &

i H holy. 2 Ms. it. ' H submytte. * H wz'tAoute s. other. * H lyche or v^rreysimile. 6 H nor semeth. 1 Ms. bat. * Ms. he. 9 Ms. perillis. » om; H and to dwelle

lyke; R and to do welle like, expunged; Lat. imrao diabolicum. '» Ms. he be.

in H. is H dissimulacion. i« Ms. diolegw. >» H some other. s H hym.

directe. »s H wnA. » Ms. of. 20 Ms. craftis; H his crafte. « H beleue.

n. 27

A 1 8 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Rawl. C 894]

while b<ra maist be maister of bi-selfe & of foi [dedis] *. O lord god, how many [^e]2 wrt^-oute nombre bat hane abyden soo vnto her last ende hane forslouthed & deceyued hem-silfe euerlastingly. Take heed, brober & suster, & be ware if fo0u list, lest it happen foe [foe] same wise. But lett no man wondre ne binke bat it is i«co«uenient bat so grette charge & diligence & wise disposicz'on & pr<?uidence & besy exortac/on shuld be had & mynystred to hem bat bene in poynt of debe & in her last ende as it is above seyd : for faei be in such p^rill & so grete nede at bat tyme bat, & it were possible, all a cite schuld com to-geder vfitk all the haste to a man bat is in dyings ; as be man^r ys in som religiouse , in which it is ordeyned pat whan a seke man ys ny^e foe deth ban eu^ry of the brejvme schall when foei here be table ysmyte , what oure foat eu^r it be & where bat euer foei be, all bi«g£ I-lefte hastily to3 com to hym bat is dying4 ; & fo^rfor it is redde bat religiouse people, & women5, for be honeste of hir astate schall not ren, but to a man bat is a-dyinge, [&] for fere6.

The sixte Chapiter cowteyneth praiers pat shullen be seid vpon hem bat bene a-dying£ of som maw bat is abowt him. Cap?Vw/«m vim.

.L/Ast of all it is to be knowe bat be praiers bat followen mow7 be co«- ueniewtly seyd vpon a seke man pat laborith to his ende. & if it be a religiouse person, pan whan be couent is gadrid to-gidre wM foe smytyngf of the table as be man^r is , ban shall be seyd first the letanye w*tA the psalmis & orisons pat ben vsed fyer-vfttA ; afterward, if he leue yet*, let som man bat is aboute hym sey the orisons that followen after as the3 tyme & oportunyte will suffre, & pei mowen be oft rehersid ayene to excite be 3 deuocfon of the seke man if he haue reason & vnderstondyngtf -wit/i hym ; but 3 netheles bis ought not to be do of necessite , as bou^e he my^t not be saued but ite were do , but for be 3 pr^fett & deuoc/on of the seke pat laboreth to his endeward it may, and it is well doo bat it be so doo. But amonge seculers foat be seke, lett pes praiers be seyd as deuoczon & disposiczon & pe profett of hem & ob^r bat ben abou^t hem askyn & requiren, &3 as the tyme woll suffre. But alas fo^r ben full8 few not only amonge seculers but also in dyu^rse religiouse, bat hane foe kuwnynge of fois craft & will be ny^h and assist to hem bat ben in poynt of dethe &9 departyngtf out of this world, askyng hem & exortyng & enformyngf & prayings for hem as it is above seid, namly whan pei bat ben in dyings wolden not or hopyn not to dye yet, & [so]10 pe seke mennys soules stondew11 i« gret p^rell.

Oracio : For pat loue pat made pe to be wouwded & dey for be hele & salua- c*on of mankynde, foat were most worbi & delicate loue of god bi blessed fader of heuen & for oure sake made man, swete lord Ihmi full of m«rcy, foryeve bi s^ruaunte all bat he habe trespased in pou;t , word & dede , in all his affec- c/ons, desires, moczons, strenghthis & wittis of his soule & of his body, & in \errye remission of hem all yeve hym bat most sufficient amendement bi the which bou wyssh awey be l2 synnes of all be world , & in supplec/on of all his necgligencis adde & put to hym pat holy cowu^rsac/on pat pou haddist from be oure of bi concepc/'on vnto pe oure of pi depe, & forthermore be frute of all good dedis be which han pleased & shullen [please] pe in all pi chosen people fro pe begynnyng* of the world vnto fo^13 ende therof, swete lord Ih^^u bat leuest & regnest vfii/i bi fader & foe holy gost, o wrri god vfithowten ende amew.

[Oracio:] For be vnyon of foe most feruent loue bat stered & made foe, life of all foingis foat is levynge, to be incarnate of oure lady, & w*'t/z gret anguysshis of be spirit to dey for cherite & pe love of vs , we crye to pe rote of \)i I4 moste benigne herte bat bou foryeve foe soule of bi smiaunte (me)15 all his (my) " synnes, & wz't/z bi most holy cowu^rsacz'on & [foe] most worthi merite of thi passion fulfill17 all his (my)16 necligence & omyssions, & make hym (me)18 to fele by experience be'

1 Ms. J)is goodis; H thy dedys. 2 Ms. many be. 3 om in H. * H a-d. 5 H the w. 6 H tyre; Lat. et ad ignem. 7 H now. * H but. » H & in. 1° Ms. for. " H mannes soule standeth. « H all^r the. " Ms. bis. » Ms. be. » Ms. me bi s. »« Ms. all my. 17 H foryeue. w Ms. me.

The book of the craft of dying. Ms. Rawl. C 894)

most sup^rhabundaunt gretnes of hi mercies, and us all £ specially pis (my) person oure brob^r be which b<m hast disposed hastily for to be called before pi gloriouse mageste in be most plesaunt man^r to be & most profitable to hym (me) & vs all make hym (me) to be pnrsentid to you vrit/i swete pacience, verry repewtaunce & full remission , with ryjjtfull feipe , stable hope & parfite charite, bat he may dye blissedlye in parfite state be-twene pi moste swettest [clippyng & moste swettest] kyssyng^, vnto bin eu^rlastyng^ worships & preysyage, amen.

Oracle: IN to the handis of bin endelesse & vnquenchable nvrcy, holy fader, ryghtfull & moste beloued fader, we co/wmaunde1 the spirit of oure broder b smiaunt after the gretnes of loue bat be holy soule of thi blessed sonw co/wmendid hir-selfe to the in the crosse, praying*? * interly [bat] for bilke inestimable charite bat bi holy godhed & faderhed drow fully to bi-selfe bat blissed soule of bi sonw , bat now in his last oure bou receyue swetly be spirit of oure brober pi smiaunt in be same love. Amen.

Oracio : SEynt Michael be archangell of oure lord Ihmi Crist, helpe us at oure hy^e lugemewt3. O bou most worbi gyaunte & pr<?tectour pat never maist [be] ou^rcom, be ny^t to oure brober (me) bi smiaunt laboryng^ now sore in his (myn) ende, & defende hym (me) my^tfully from be dragon of hell & frow all man^r of gile of wicked spiritis. Forthermore we praie be bat art so clere & so worbi a mynyster of god, bat in bis last ende or* houre of be life of oure brob«r (me) bou will receyve be soule of hym esyly & benignly into bin holy bosom, & bryng^ her into a place of refresshyng & of pes & rest. Amew.

Oracio : Eu«r clene & blessed mayde Marye, synguler helpe & socoure In enery anguyssh & necessite, helpe us swetly & shew to oure brober (me) bi s^ruaunt bi gracz'ouse visage now in his (my) last ende, and voyde all his (my) enemyes fro hym (me) thorow be verta of bi dere beloued son oure lord Ih«u Crist & of be holy crosse , & delyu^r hym (me) from all man^r of desese of body & soule , bat he (I) may panke & worship god wzt/jout ende. Amew.

Oracio • My moste swete redemptore , most nvrcyable Ihmi & most benigne lord, for bat sorowfull voyce bat bou haddist in bi manhed when b<ra shuldist dye for vs & were so consumed -vrit/i sorowes & trauellys of bi gret * passyon pat bou cridestj be for-sake6 of bi fader, be not fer fro oure brother (me) bi s^maunt but yeve hym (me) [be helpe of] 7 pi m^rcye in be houre of his (my) debe, & haue mynde of [be] greuous afflicc/on & payne of hys (my) soule the which in his last houre of passyng^ for faylingtf 8 & co«sumyng£ of his spiritis hafoe no my^t to call vpon* pe of helpe ; but by be5 victory of the crosse & by be5 wrtu of bi holy passion & pin amorous9 debe binke vpon^ her bou^tis of pes, & not of afflicc/on but of m^rcye , & cow- forte & delyu^r hyr fully from all man«r of anguysshis ; vrith be same handis bat bou suffrest10 to be nayled vpon be crosse for hir sake w»tA sharpe nayles , good Ih^u swete fader & lord, delyu^r hir fro be turmentis ordeyned for her, & bryng her into euMastingtf reste vritA a voyce of exultac/on & knowlechyng of bi mercy, amew.

Oracio: MOst m^rciable lord Thesu Crist goddis sonw, for be vnyon of bat reco/w- mendac/on bat bou co/wme«dist bine holye soule to bin heuenly fader dyings in the cros, we cowmende vnto bin vnnombrable pyte be soule of oure brober (me) pi s^ruaunte , praiynge bi most mmnable goodnesse bat for all be worship & mentis of bi most holy soule by be which all soules be saued & delyumk from be dett11 of debe, bou haue nvrcy vpon pe soule of oure dere brob^r bi s^maunte, delyu^ryng^ hir m^rcyably fro all myseries & peynes , and for pe loue & medi- acz'on 12 of pi swete moder bryng? her to be contemplacz'on of be ioy [of fai most] swete 13 & mery syght eu«rlastyng?, amen.

Oracio: MErcifull11 & benigne god, bat forb«IS michellnes of bi mercies doyst aweye be synnes of hem bat be verry 16 repentaunte, & voydist be blame of synnes

i H cowmendyn. 2 Ms. pr. to l>e. 3 H iuge; Lat. apud altissimum iudicem. * e. or

om in H. & om in H. » Ms. for lie sake. 7 Ms. ti hope &. * Ms. sayling<r. » r. amarous. w H suffred. » H darte. '2 Ms. meditac/on. »» so H; Ms. & swete

" H Merciable. is Ms. pi. >« H verrayly.

27*

A2O Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Rawl. C 894]

bat ben passed & done before borow grace [of] l foryevenesse, we be-sech bat bou loke mtfjcyably vpon oure brobw (me) bi smiaunte, & grac[i]ously here hym (me) askyngtf wz'tA all confession of his (my) hert remission of all his (my) synnes. Renw2 in hym (me), most m^cyable fader, all bingw bat is corrupt in hym be bodily freelte or defouled vrtth be fraude of the deuell, & geder hym in3 to be vnite of the body of holy chirch & make hym a membre of bi redempczon ; haue mercy, lord, vpon his wirkyng^4, haue mercy e vpon his teris, & admytte hym to the sacramentis of pi reconsiliacz'on , bat hath no truste but vpon pi by oure lord Ihesu Crist. Amen.

Oracio: DEre broker, I cowzmende be to almy^ti god, & co#zmyt the to whoes creature bou art, [f>at] 5 whan JDI manhed hath payd his det by the mene of deth, f)at bou turne a-yene to god bi creature pat made be of the slyme of the erth. When thi soule passith oute of thi body, gloriouse companyes of angellys com aye«st the, [the] victoriouse oste worthie luges and senatourys of holy apostilys met wz'tfc be, the fayre shynnyng^ company of holy confessoures, wz't/z foe victoriouse nombre of gloriouse martires com abowte the, & be worthi felowship6 be loyfull companye of holy uirgynes receyve be, & be worbi felawship of holy patriarchis open to the [the] place of her ioye & rest & deme be to be amonge hem bat bei be amonge eu^rlastyngly. Know f>ou neu^r pat is horrible in derknes, bat gryntibe & flame|)e7 fyre, bat ponysshepe in tormentis; yeue place to J)e & greve be not bat foule sathanas with all his s^yuauntw ; in his cowmyngtf a-yence [be], agast hym8 the presence of holy angels, & flee [he] vnto the derkenes of eu<?rlastyng£ ny^t, vnto be grete troublous see of hell. Oure lord aryse & his enemyes be dispart- lyd aboute, & fle bei [bat hatin hym fro his visage, faile bei] as be smoke fayleth, as be wexe meltibe at the fyre so pmssh synn^rs fro the visage of god ; & lett ry^tfull men entre0 & reioyce \n be syght of god. All be contrarie [legions] and mynystres of sathanas be not so 10 hardy to lett bi iornaye. Crist delyu^r be from tunnent, bat vouched-safe to deye for the; Crist goddis sonw bryng<? be to loyes of mery11 paradyse, & pe verry shipperd know be amonge his shepe ; he assoyle be from all synnes & put be in his ry^t syd in pe [sorte] l2 of his chosen children, bat bou may see thi redemptowr visage to visage & pr^senciall[i] assistyngtf to him [se wife]13 bine le I-blessid eu^lastyng? trube openly; & amonge be blissed cowzpanye of the children of god haue b<?u & reioice f)e ioye of be 3 cowtewzplacz'on of god wz't/zoute ende, amew.

Oracio : GO, Cristen soule, out of jris world, i» be name of be almy^ty fader bat made be of nou^t, in be name of Ih«u Criste his son^ bat suffred his passion for be, [& in be name of be] holy gost bat was infounded into be; holy angels [&] archangels, trones & diwwz'nacz'ones, prz'ncehodes, potestates & vcrtuis, cherabyn & seraphin met wz't^ pe; paMarches & prophetis, apostiles & euongelistw, mar- tires & cowfessoures , monkis & heremytzV , maydyns & wedowes , children? & Innoce«tz> helpe pe ; [pe] prayer of all prestis & dekens & all pe degrees of holy chirch helpe be ; bat in pes be bi place, & pi dwellynge in heuenly lerusale/w eu^lastingly14, by the mediaczon15 of oure lord Ihmi criste bat is most hy^est mediatoure be-twixt god and man. Amen.

1 Ms. &; H of thy. 2 Ms. Ren, H Renewe. 3 om in H. 4 H waylyngzV ; Lat. gemituum. 5 Ms. &. 6 & — fel. om in H. ' H in flammyng. * Ms. a-yence hyra to agast hym of.

9 r. etc ; Lat. epulatur. 1° Ms. &. n H to the mercy & ioyes of. M Ms. store, H sorte. is Ms. schewi}>e. >« H euerlastyng. is Ms. meditaczon.

8. A tretyse of gostly batayle.

Ms. Harl. 1706, fol. 36^.

(Cf. Pits and Tanner. Other Mss. : Douce 322, Rawl. C 894, Reg. 17 C xvm, C.C.C. Oxf. 220. The treatise is made up from a chapter ('Hors eper armur of heuene') of the Pore Caitif, the tract Of fore arowes on domesday (Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, ed. p. 444), and other ill-connected ingredients, and is a poor com- position, which it is surprising to find attributed to R. Rolle. Another treatise

A treatise of ghostly battle. Ms. Harl. 1706]

on the same subject, 'Milicia Christi', with genuine passages from R. Rolle, is extant in Ms. Arund. 286.

Bi

Here . . begynnetK a tretyse of gostly batayle.

)Rother or suster? that desyrest to come to the endeles blysse that mankynde was ordeyned to in hys fyrst creaczon, whyche 'cure fader? Adam? lost2 thorow brekyng off [the]3 cowzmaundement off oure lord? god?, and cowrnytted?4 to ende- les trauayle, woo and payne, and all? mankynde in hym, that neu?r shulde haue had? ende , ne had? oure lorde off hys endeles mercy becomyn? man? ; in the whyche manhode he suffred? grete peynes, trybulac/ons and5 sclaunders, reproues and shamefull? dethe vpon? the rode-tree, the whyche was for pure lofe and con- passyon? that he had? in8 mawnes soule, and made aseeth to the fader in heuyn? for the gylt off mawkynde. Also oure grwcyous [lord] Cryste Ihwu, that ys bothe god? and man?, hatfi graunted? to all? tho that kepe hys cow/maundement/j, 7louen? vertew8 and hatyn? syne9, the pardons off hys mercyfalle redempc/on, and ther?-ayens [to] all? tho that brekyn? hys commaundemewtw and woll? nat restreyn? hem fro synne and wyckydnes but enforse hem to lyfe in lustw and lykywgi'j and5 to ful- fyll? the apetytw off her10 fleysshly desyres, endeles peyn? : and therfore, yeffthow wolt come to endeles blesse and avoyde from? endeles peyne, the be-houetK to haue in mynde that * oure lord? seyth by holy lob : Militia est vita hominis super terram , lob 8°, that ys: All? mannes lyfe vpon? erthe ys but fygthyng? and knygthode ayenst gostly enemyes. These enemyes ben? the fende, the worlde, and the flessK. And therfore the holy gost techetft vs in [the] booke of Wys- donu', seying to eche man? thus : 'Son, whew thow be-gynnest to s?nie god?, loke thow stande styfly in rygthwysnes and drede, and make redy thy soule to w*t/<-stonde the dysceytzV off the fende3. Also seynt Powle byddetft you to clothe yow in trewe armoures" of god?, that ye mowe myghtyly wz'tfc-stande the temptac/ons of oure enemyes. For mannes body ys [as] a clothe in the whyche the soule ys clothed?12. Horse**. Also hit ys lykened? to an horse ; for lyke as an? horse well?-taught?13 beryth hys master? ou?r many p?ryllys and sauetK hym fro p?rysshyng, so the body well?-rewled bereth the soule ouer many p?ryllys off thys wrecched worlde. And lyke as ther longetK14 many thyngw to the15 horse thorow the whycfi hys master? may sytte sadly and nat falle, and as ther? may noo man? fy^te l6 ayenst hys enemy but yef hys horse be meke and mylde , ryght so the sowle may nat fyght? ayenst the deceytw17 off the fende but yef the body by meke and mylde; ffor yeff the body lyfe in lustw and lykyngz'j at hys oune wyll?, hit ys lyke18 to p?ryssh the soule in the fyre off helle, for holy wrytte seyth: 'he that noryssheth hys body delycatly and lustyly, shall? fynde hym rebell? when? he leste weneth'. For assone as a man? woll? lyfe wysely 19 aft?r the lawes 20 of god? and to fle the false lustes off thys21 worlde and to wz'tfetonde fflesshely desyres and to bowe2* hym vnder the yooke off goddys lawe, than begynneth hys enemyes to com- passe hym vrith wyles and wrenches, 23to make hym? ouerthrowe from? the blysse that he ys ordeyned? to, in to the horryble pytte off hell?; wherffore hit ys behouefull? that the body be buxom? and mylde to the soule in thys gostly batayle, yeff he shall? haue victory off hys enemyes. For yeff the body and the sowle be well? accorded? to-gyder? and eche helpe other? in thys gostly batayle, than? shall? the enemyes soone fflee, ffor holy wryte seyeth: €W*'t4stande the ffende and he shall? flee fro the'. But hit were grete ffoly for any man? to fyght? apon? an? horse vnbrydelyd?: ffor yeff he be wylde and off euyll? condyc/ons", he ys lyke " to be hys masters confusyon? and to cast hym in to the handes off hys enemyes , and therfore hit ys nedeffull? that he be brydelyd?. And yeff he be

* The following is taken from the chapter of the Pore Caitif. ** These titles have been added in H.

» Ms. of oure. * Ms. bost. * Ms. hys. * R commyt. & om in R.

* R & 1. 8 R vertus. 9 R vyce. " Ms. hey. » R armoure. R closid.

techid. i« R longyn. »» R ane. »• Ms. sytte. " R fendes disc.

10 Ms. wylfully and w. 2« R lawe. 2l R the. « R lowe. a Ms. and to. evill* disposid or evilk condeczonyd. 2i R likly.

A 22 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706]

wylde and off euyll? condyczons , than nedetft the brydell? to be heuy and sum- dele sharpe, to restrayne hym? from hys wyckyd? lustys ; and yef he be buxom? and mylde, than? nedyth the brydell? to be softe and smothe.

Brydylle. Thys brydyll? ys cleped? Abstinence, wz'tA1 the whyche the fflessh" shall? be refrayned?2 from flesshly desires and worldely affecciouws to the loue off god? and heuynly desyres : for he ys wylde and wyllfull?, and lothe to bowe to good- nes, and therfore w*tA thys brydell? thou must refreyne2 hym? tyll? he be meke and mylde to the sowle. And yeff3 [he] be wylde in flesshly lustfj jand in3 worldely worschyppys, than? brydell? hym with sharpe abstynence, bothe w/'t/z fastyng and3 wakyng and with honest occupaczon doyng ; for yeff thow on hym woll? fyght? and late hym lyfe after hys desyre, truste sekyrly that thow shalt be outcome. And ther[to]4 refreyne hym? discretely -with abstynence, so that the kynde be kepte in strengthe ; for ellys he xall? fayle the att nede and [make pe] lese the victory off thys gloryous batayle.

Reynes. The two reynes off thys brydell? shullen?5 be two partyes off tem- p?raunce: that ys to say, neyther? to moche ner? to lytell?, 8knytte to-gedyr by the knot off discrecion?. And holde the reynes euen? to-gedyr? by the knotte that non? passe others6; ffor yeff any of hem be owte off mesure, hit wyll? make thy horse to glyde a-syde , and so to lese the rygth waye of that gloryous blysse whyche mankynde was ordeyned to in hys furst creaczon.

That oone Reyene. That one reyne ys to large whan? thow suffrest thy flessh to haue to moche hys wyll? in etywg and drynkyng, in slepywg, in spekyng, in veyn? talys tellyng other7 in rebaudy, in lesyngzV, in sweryng or any other vn- profytable talkyng. Also hit ys to large yeff thow noryssrl hit delycately in ouer- moche ease off softe lying, goyng, other8 syttyng, or in any other*? thy ng9 doyng that thow dost to fulfyll? the [vnleful] desyres off thy flessh, and nat rewled? in mesure as reasons asketh. For eu?ry thoughts and3 every worde and eu?ry dede that a 3 man? dotR whyche ys nat pryncypally done in the worschyp off god? and to helpe and furtheryng off hys euy[n]crysten? dewly and rygthfully as charyte asketK, hytysveyne, andsynne, other venyall? or dedely synne10, off whyche thow shalt yeue a ffull? streyte rekenyng at the dredeffull? day off dome, but yeff hit be amendyd? in thys lyff here wzt^ sorow off herte and3 w/t^3 confessyon? and satisfact/on makyng.

That other Reyne. That other ys to streyte when* thow art to sterne ayenst thyn£ oune fleyssh, in wz'tA-drawyng that reasons wolde that he hadde bothe in mete and drynke &11 slepe, or [by] any other vnresonable abstynence, where-thorow hit ys so ffebylk that hit may nat smie god^ durably w/tA feruent herte, wz't/z myghty desyre and wtt/i pariyte loue, but hit ys so ffebylk that hit may neyther^ pray ne werke ner12 speke13ashit oughti?, but lyeth stylle as a3 vnresonable beste \fi\h grete fantasyes and vnclene thoughts be cause off ydelnes off the hede or for febylnes off the body; and so yeff thow be ou«-sterne agayne thy fflessh, hit may lette the in [this] gostly batayle. And therfore susteyne thy body dys- cretely, so that he be neyther to wylde ne 14 to febylk, but of euene strengthe. For yeff thow suffre hyme to haue alk hys fulk lykyngw and desyres15, thane he that shulde be thy beste ffrende wolk be thy fulk enemy ; and yeff thow wz't^-drawe from hynv that he ougth for to haue in susteynyng hys kynde by reason?, than thow dystroyest hys mygtfi, where-throwe he may nat helpe the to haue the vic- torye off thyne enemyes, but [is] rather lykely to be thy confusyon^.

A Sadylle. Also thy horse be-houetK to haue a sadylk, that thow may I6 sytte the more sadly and semely to other? mennes sygtfi. Thys sadyll? ys Pacience and Mekenesse ; that ys to say, thow muste be pacient in aduersyte, botK in sclaunders and repnmes, in sekenes, in temptac/'on17, in tribulacz'ons, and in3 alk adu^rsytees, and so mekely resceue hem? w«'tA dewe18 thankyngw to god? off hys gracyous vysytac/ons I9, thynkyng that thow were moche more worthy for thy grete offensys and? trespases20 that thow hast doon? ayenst hym?. Also what-so-eu^r

1 R thorow. 2 R restreyned. 3 Om in R. * Ms. therfore. 5 R shulde. 6-6 R

neythir to mych knytt togethir by the knot, that non pas othir. 7 R outhir. 8 R or.

9 R thynges. 10 Ms. synnes; R othir venially or dethly. « Ms. in. « R ne. 13 R sp. duely. l» R nethir. " E likynge & desyre. »« R maist. »* R and temptacions. jj

»« R ofte. i» R visitacion. 20 R offence & trespas.

A treatise of ghostly battle. 493

Ms. Harl. 1706]

thow doo, thynke or speke, that hit be do witA good* avysement, [&] wysely to thynke on the begynnywg and on the endyng; and that hit be doo swetely, benygnely and with mylde chere, and greue the nat in no wyse. And [poff]1 thy flessh be grogyng" thorow freelte off hys oune corrupczon that he hath in hys oune kynde, yet kepe mekenes in herte, and late hit nat owte vfitA wykked* wor- des, but mekely resceue hem*', and thynke that they ben* grete matyers offmede in the blysse off heuen*, and grete peyne to hem* that doon* so to the, wherfore thou owest to pray for hem? wz't/z pure herte to almygthy god*, that they may haue grace off foryeuenes. And yeff thow do thus, thow shalt be gladde3, for the prvphete seyth that 'the meke and the mylde suffryng trybulac/ons in rygth- wysnes for goddys loue, shullen* ioye'. Therfore meke4 the w/t/z al* thy mygth, bothe inwards wz't/z herte thynkyng, and owteward* wt't/z good* dedis werkyng5, so that other mowe* be conu*rted* by thy good* example yeuyng, and thane shalt thow haue grace, off synnes forgyfnes and to encrese in v*rtew, and so to come to endeles blysse that man* was ordeyned* to in hys furst creac*on.

Stirop. The styropes of hys sadyll* shall*7 be lownes and sadnes; lownes ayenst pryde, and sadnes ayenst worldly couetyse and flesshly lustw ; so that thow be nat [to] sory for no wo, ne to glad for no wele ne welfare. Now syt sadly in thys sadyll* and kepe well* thy styroppys, that for no pryde off strengthe, off byrthe, off fayrnes, off kunnywg , or * ryches, or * any wrtew that god* hath sent the other bodyly or gostly , thow be not cast owte off thy styroppes off lownes and sadnes. Also [for]10 noo wrathe ner* vnpacience for sekenes, or for" losse off god*, ne losse of name, ne for no vysytac»on that god* sendeth the, other sufferynglz the fend* to vexe the by13 temptacz'ons, or by vexacz'on14 off thy euen*-crysten*, late nat thy horse caste the owte of thy li sadyll* off pacience; but sytte sadly and streyne thy ffeete in thy styroppys by the v*rtew [of]16 gostely strengthe, and doo as Cryste byddeth in the gospell* where he seyeth thus : In paciencia uestra possidebitis animas uestras, that ys: Ye shullen* kepe your soulys in youre pacience. And than* lyke as the sadyll* maketh the horse semely and lusty to the eye off man*, so pacience and mekenesse malar the soule louely and amyable in goddys sygth, semely and gracyous in mannys sygth, euyll* and confusyously in the fendys sygth. And ther*-ayenst wratthe and17 impacience , hastynesse and hyghfulnes in herte makyn* a man* vngracyous and* hatefull* in goddys sygth, sporte and gladnes to all* the deuylles in hell*, and increasyn18 the peynes that nen*r shall* haue ende. Off thys sadyll* oure lorde spake to Cayn* whan* he was wroth" wz'tfc hys brother* Abell*: 'Why, seyd* oure lorde, art thow wroth, and why ys thy face and thy chere so fallen*?3 — for he was fallen* owte of the sadyll* of pacience in to the foule pytt of wretthe ; 'for yeff thow doo well*, thow shalt resceue off me good* mede, and yeff thou do euyll*, anon* thy synne cometh to the17 yate, to be punysshed* ; but the desyre off synne shall* be vnd*r the and thy powere, [as] I9 the horse vnd*r hys mast*f, and* thow shalt be lorde theroff yff thou wyll*', Genes. 4°, And so Cayn be mysgou*maunce off hys horse fell* owte off the sadyll* off pa- cience in to manslawghter* off hys brother*, be -cause he consented* to the wycked* desyres off hys flessh and wolde nat restreyne hym by the knotte off dyscrec/on. But sytte sadly as lob dyd*, and sey as he seyd* whan* he had lost all* hys good*'"0, and all* hys chyldren* were slayn* and hym-self smyten* w*t/z grete sekenes ftil horryble; than he seyd: 'Yeff we hane17 take good* thyngz'j off goddis sonde, why shull* nat we suffre paynffull* thyngw off hys vysytacz'on? God* gaff and god* hath taken* awey; as god* woll* so be itt doon*, blessyd* by oure lordis name, lob 1° & 2° capit.

* The mast*f off kynde telleth libra 4° de qualitate elementorum, that ther* ys i byrde called* a barnake. Thys byrde vexeth owte off a tree [ouer the watir, and

* The foil, fable has nothing to do with the theme. The whole passage to Sporys (p. 425) has been inserted into the chapter of the Pore Caitif.

» Ms. yeff 2 PC greued * R gladid. * Ms. make. • R doynge.

• R shuld. » R of. » R or of. " Ms. that. » R for no I. of no g. «s R in. H R vexacions. " R the. " Ms. and. » om in R. » Ms. mcreasyng. >9 Ms. and. 20 R godes.

A2A. Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706]

als longe as it hongith one the tre] * hit ys dede, but assone as hzt losetK from* the tree and falletft into2 the water, anone hit ys quycke and swymmetK forth. Thys byrde hath lytyll* fflessK and lasse blood. By thys tree I vnderstande mankynde that came off Adam and* Eue ; by thys 3 byrde I vnderstande euery crystene mane and woman*; the whyche whan* they be furst borne off her* modern, be dede by orygynall* synne and nat able to the lyff off grace ne to blysse, for seynt Powle se[i]tK: Sve be all* borne chyldren* off wrathe : but assone as we falle in to2 the fonte-stone and in water* off bapteme ben* baptyijed*, anone we resceyue the lyff off grace and ben* able to the blysse that*4 mane was ordeyned* to in hys furst creaczon , yeff we kepe vs fro the flood*? off syne. Seynt Petyr byddeth vs in thyse wordes: Abstinete vos a camalibus desideriis etc., 1° Petri 2°: "Ab- steyn* yow from* flesshly desyres that fyghten* ayenst the soule'. Sythen* thane that all* mannys lyff ys but fyghtyng ayenst gostly enemyes : therfore hit [ys] nedefulle to euery crystene man* nat only to gouerne well* hys horse, but also to5 be suerly armed* for to wzt^stande the strokys of hys enemyes. Ryght* so hit ys nat Inowh to rewle thy body, but also thow must arme the wz't/z gostly armure Ephes. to wz'tAstande the dyntz'j off the dartw off the deuylh'j6 foundyng7, for seynt Penult 2'' seyth Ad Eph. 6: All* oure fyghtyng* ys ayenst wyckyd* spyrytes off derkenes, that ben prywces and gouemoures off synfuli* men*. 'And therfore, he byddetft, arme yow in gostly annur* 8 off god*, so that ye mowe wz't/zstande the busshemen- tw and the sleyghtw off the fende, and to stande stedefastly and parfytely in all* thyngz'j off ryghtwysnes. Stondetrl, he seytft, in trowthe, and gyrde you wz'tfc the gyrdell* off chastyte, and doth on* the habergeon* off ryghtwysnes, and keuer 2joure feete in dyghtyng (or makyng redy} 9 of the gospell* off peese ; and in all* thyngzV take to you the shelde of feyrfi, wz't# the whyche ye may quenche all* the dartzV of youre enemyes. And taketK to you the basnet off helthe, and the swerde off the holy gost, that ys goddes worde' ; for, as he seyth in a nother* place, hit ys sharper* then* any two-eged* swerde, Ad Hebre. 4. Thus Seynt Powle by lykenes off bodyly armour* techyth vs gostely armure. He byddyth yow arme yowre body by the v*rtew off trouthe that ys called* the Habergeoun off Ryghtwysnes; he byddetK you do ryght* to all* and yelde10 to god* that longet" to hym*, to youre euyncrysten* that longetK to hem, bothe to youre sufferayne and to youre felawes and2 to youre subgettw, and to hem that be passed* owte off thys worlde wztA almesdede doyng and yeldyng off dettw, and to hem that ben* to come in sauyng off her ryght* inherytaunce. Thus armeth you wz't/z the habergeon* of ryghtwyssnes , bothe be-fore and be-hynde and on eyther11 syde. And as in the habergeon* euery ryng accordetK wz't^ other* and ys knytte in other*, so shulde all* trouthe accorde and be knytte to-gedere in ryghtwysnes ; for yef ye fauowr other* lorde or lady spz'rztuall* or temp<?rall*, souereyne or subgette, kyn* or frende, or any12 creature hygh or lowe, so moche that [it] ys hynderyng to a nothers ryght*, than2 youre3 ryngw in youre13 habergeon* accordyn* nat ne be nat well* knytte to-geder*, but there ys an* hole where-thorow the fende may sle youre 1S sowle. And he byddeth that2 ye shall* arme youre leggzV wz'tA gostly pouerte,

so that youre hertzV, and2 youre affeccz'ons and2 youre desyres ben* drawen* from* erthely thyngzV, and nat to sette yowre loue to moche in worldely goodes14 ne15 flesshly lusb'j, neyther to stryue ne 15 to plete for no worldely good*, but the more nede compelle, seeke to lyue in pease wz't/z all* men* yef ye mowen*. And thus arme yow wz't^ gostly pou*rte bothe leggz'j and feete , that ys to sey youre lone and youre affectz'ons16, ayenst temptacz'ons 17 off false couetyse. And therfore he byddytfi you shoo youre feet cin makyng redy off the gospell* of peese' ; for euery crysten* man* or womane ought* to haue gostly pou*rte , whyche Cryste taught* in the gospell* where he seyeth thus18: Beati pauper es spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum. Also thow owest19 to forthere the gospell* and susteyn* bothe in worde, 20wylle and deede vn-to21 thy power*; yef thow be a preste, than18 preche hit and teche hit dewly and trewly, reuerentely and charytabely,

i om. 2 om in R. 3 R the. * Ms. tha.de. * R forto. 6 Ms. deuylte. " R fondynges. • R_ adds that is the armour. • or — redy om in R. w Ms. yeldeth. " R euery. K R eny othir. w R oure. 1* R thyngis ne godis. >s R nethir. 16 R affeccion. 17 R temptacion. '• om in R. i» R oughtiste. » R and w. 21 R vpon.

A treatise of ghostly battle. 425

Ms. Harl. 1706]

vfit/i meke herte and parfyte lyuyng, where-thorowgh sympell* men* that be nat lettered* and * hane noo power of prechyng and techyng as thow hast, may be stabeled* in trewe feyth off godd/'j lawe to encrese in vcrtewe and to hate synne2; and yef thow be a lay-mane, the behoueth to helpe and* susteyne hem* that hane powers and* trewly techyn* hit. Also the be-houeth to here and to be-leue trewly one hit and in all* the sacrement/V of holy churche , and nat [to] dyspute and ymagyn* howe they3 myght* be so , but fully be-leve in hem* , and so to conforme the in the lawes of god* and the ordynaunce off holy churche.

Shelde. And * taketh to yow the shelde off feythe ; for as a shelde ys a tryangle and hath thre corners, in whyche tryangle yef from* the myddes be drawen* thre lynes in to [the] thre corners, ther shall* be thre tryangles , whyche thre be but * oon* tryangle and yet noon* off hem* ys other* ; and therfore the feyth off the holy trynyte ys lykened* to a shelde, for there be III p*rsones and* oo god*, the ffader* the sone the6 holy gost, and yche of hem* ys god* and* none of hem* ys other*, and* yet they be all* thre but oo god* in mageste: Thys shelde of feyth of the holy trynyte ye muste take to you* in gostly fyght*, and so to sett all* youre feyght* 7 and all* your* truste in o god* in trynyte, and prayeth to the fad*r almyghty that ye may haue myght* and power*, to the son* all*-wytty that ye mowe haue wytte and wysdom*, and* to the holy gost that ye mowe haue grace and mercy, and so to haue myght*, wytte, and grace, to wztA-stonde all* gostly enemyes. Also ye muste take to yow the basnett of helthe, that ys hope off foryeuenes off all* the trespas that ye hane done ayenst god*, and to come to the endeles blysse off heuen* thorow the endeles mercy that he schewyd* in hys bytter* passyon* ; and so to haue vyctory off8 [your]9 enemyes thorow hys gloryous vysytaczons. And lyke as hitt ys clene, brygth and smothe, that shote lo and* strokes mowe sone glyde off: so muste your* herte u be clene, brygtK and* smothe ffrom wycked* thowgthys, wycked* desyres and wycked* wylles. And* lyke as a basnet ys hyghest off all* armour*, goyng and gaderyng vpwarde in to a lytyll* coppe: so muste your* hope and* youre truste pryncypally go vp to god*, and not to sette hitt lz to moche in mannys mygth ne in erthely goodys that ys but rust wast- yng the basnett off helthe. And therfore the prophete seyeth: 'Acursyd* be he that setteth hys truste in man* and* in fflesshly mygtli, and letyth hys herte goo away fro god* ; and blessyd* be he that settyth hys hope and* [truste] in our* lord* god/, leremi. 17. Also seynt Powle byddeth you take vambrace and6 rerebrace and gloves of plate, that ys good* occupaczons and besynes in gostly werkes eyther13 bodyly whyche be in helpyng and sauyng thy soule from* synne and wyckednes. And therfore he byddeth you laboure and* wake in honest werkes and* in kepyng goddis cowmaund[m]ent*. For the wyseman* seyth Ecclesiast. 33°: 'Idylnes andt' slouthe ys cause off mochyll* wyckydnes'. For an Idyl man* and* lustles ys lykened* to a man* lustles and*13 hawdeles and wepynles amonge hys enemyes, or lyke a man* naked in bateyll*, that for defaute off armure leseth bothe arme and* hande14. So man* beyng Idyll* in" sufferyng hys wyttw to wandyr aboute in wordely desyres and'5 flesshly lust/j and vnclene ymagynac/ons, ys lykely u to lese the soule wz't/i-outen* ende.

Also ye muste gyrde you vfitk a17 gyrdell* off chastyte: for lyke as a gyrdyll* fast gyrte to a man* beryth vp the haberioun* and saueth the body l8 from akyng and* werynesse, so the gyrdell* off chastyte wele festened* in the loue off god* vfitA clene thowght/^ and* heuynly desyres, bereth vp the soule horn the foule pytte off synne and strengtheth hym* in v*rtew and good*nesse. Also ye muste haue the lakke off fence that ys Charyte : ffor as the lakke thorough the nesshe- nes and softenes that ys in hitt, feynteth and* wasteth all* the dyntes off thy enemyes that cometh ayenst hit, so charyte feynteth and wasteth all* the dyntes off thy enemyes; and* therffore 5*yw/e Powle seyth Ad Cor. 14: Caritas omma sufert, omnia sustinet, that ys: 'charyte suffreth all* thynges paciently, and maketfi eucry trauayle soft, and beryth all* thyng esyly'. Also the glose seyth there that

i ne. 2 R vices & synnys. » R it. « R Also. » ora in R. • R & the. • al feith. » R ouer. » Ms. hys. «> R shottis. " R hertis. » R how. R or.

& armys « R in. »« R like. " R the. »• R adds and the shuldns.

426 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706]

charyte , pacience and benignite, w*tA compassyone-hauyng off othere mennys myscheff, bene the pryncypalle armours that longetK to Crystis peple. Thys lacke off charyte ys betokenede1 by the clothe off Cryste wztAoutene seme alle wouene aboue in to oone, [which] in2tyme off hys passyone the knyghtys wolde not kytte hit3 but kepte hit hole and castyde lott therfore4, in tokyne that euery goode knyght off gode besyly shulde anne hyme wz'tA the cloth off charyte 5 to saue pease ande vnyte among alle mankynde to hys power. For the ende off euery batayle shulde be peese, and to that ende ant to no other shulde euery mane fygtK, as seyth seynt Powle thus: leue ffrendes, I pray yow to arme yow in gostly armoure as goddys knyghtw; for though ye be natt able to bodyly fygth, yet be ye able to gostly fygtK, and in that ye be crystenede ye Crystw knyghtw beene to fygtK in gostly batayle, yeff we wylle come to the blysse off heuene.

Swerd. Also taketK wztA yow the swerde off goddz'j worde -with the whych ye shulle defende yow from youre enemyes. For as the swerde perysshetK6, kutteth and maketh separacz'on, so goddys worde be prechyng, redyng or heryng cuttetK and maketK separaczon be-twene the soule and synne, frome flesshly desyres and from3 wordly couetyse. And therfor Cryst seyde he came nat to make syn- fulle peese, but to sewde the swerde off separaczon in erthe to dystroye wyckede peese that mene hane in theyr hert/J wztA synne. Therfore, goode7 frendys, as goode knyght/J hauetK with youe the swerde of goddw worde bothe be heryng, redyng, and by dede werkyng.

Spere. And thane taketK w*tA youe the speare of Crystz'j passyone. Furst ta- ketK hede how hys hede8 was crownede w/tA a croune9 off thorne10 that went in to hys brayne, & the bloode brestyng oute on<? eu^ry syde, to dystroye the hygfi synne off pryde. For11 lyke as the hede ys hyghest>:i and most worthy of the vtter partes13 off man«, so pryde ys worst off alle synnes and most vnworthy in the sygtri off gode. Take hede how hys armes were spredde abrode and drawene ffulk strayte in11 the tre tyile alle the synewes and veynes brestyne a-sondre, and hys hondys smytene thorowe wz'tA raggede nayles to the tre, and how grete stremes off bloode ranne owte, to dystroye the synne of wyckede werkes that mane dotrl vritA hys wykede3 handes. Take hede how hys syde was openede ande hys herte clovyne a-two witA a sharpe spere, and how he shadde owte both bloode and water, the whyche [shewed] that yef he had hade more bloode, more he wolde haue yeuene for mannys soule to the fader of heuene ; and water, to wasshe vs frome oure synne. Also he suffrede thys to dystroye pryde, couetyse, enuye, hate, wratthe and malyce, that rennetft15 most in mannes herte and womans. Take hede how hys feete were naylede to the tree streynyng16 oute bloode, to dystroye the synne of17 slouthe in goddys seruyce and in the vii dedys of mercy doyng. Take hede how hys body was alle for-rente and alle to-tore wz't/i scharpe scourg/J that from* the sole off the fote to the top off the hede there was noone hoolle place, and that was to dystroy the synne18 of lust and lechery that reygneth in mannes body & womans. Take hede how nakede and pore he hynge vpone the tree , to dystroye the3 synne of couetyse andla wordely worschyppe. Take heede how he dranke eyselle and galle, to dystroye3 the synne of glotonye. And so he suffrede payne in alle partyes of hys gloryous body, to dystroye alle synne[s] in mannys [body] and womans. Thys spere of Crystw passyone ys the best and sykerest wepyne ayenst oure enemyes. [More]ouere "° ye schalle vnderstande that a wyse mane off armes

wolle chese hym a goode grounde and a playne to fygtK in, for itt ys perlyous to fygtK in mory grounde or in stobely grounde or in pytty grounde. And therfore seynt Powle techetK21 yow stonde [fast] in trowthe and equyte, that in alle youre doyng ye loke that youre grounde and youre cause be god and"2 trewe, rygffifulle, clere and clene fro couetyse. And23 a wyse knygtK wylle haue w/tA hym the hyll* and the sonne and the wynde. One the same wyse must ye in thys gostly fygfit take wz'tA yon the hylle of good lyuyng, that ye may sey w*'tA the apostylle:

1 Ms. to be tokened*. 2 Ms. wzt/t-in. 3 om in R. * R & castyn itt in lote. 5 Ms. and to. 6 = perceth. 1 R leve. * R he. 9 R garlonde. »• R thornys. » R and. i* R moste hieste. i» R parte. lt R vnto. 15 R regnith. 16 r. stremyng. 17 the s. of om in R. " Ms. synnes. i» R in. » Ms. axereouer?. 21 R biddith. & ~R om god and. » R Also.

A treatise of ghostly battle. 427

Ms. Harl. 1706]

Nostra comiersacio in cells est, that ys: 'our/r conuersac/one ' ys in heuyns and in heuynly thyng/V, and therfor seynt Powle byddeth you stonde parfytely in these thyngys. Also ye must haue the sonne and the lygth of godd»j grace, and the wynde off holy prayers, the whyche ys a specyall? remedy to gete grace to w/tA- stande temptac/ons of oure enemyes.

Sporys. Also ye muste haue a peyre of sporys, the whyche muste be sharpe to pryke w/tA youre horse yef nede be, that he stynte nat in hys weye, ffor many horsys2 be dull? and slowe in theyre iorney but they be pryked. These sporys shall? be loue and drede of god*, whyche among al others vertues displesyn? most the fende and sonnest bryngeth a3 mam; or woman to heuyn?-blysse.

RigtK spore. The rygth spore ys loue that man? owetft to god for the grete and excellent goodnesse that he [hath] shewed and sheweth at all? tymes. Furst how he made man off noughts to hys gloryous lykenes, and made hym? lorde of alU erthely thyngys; and4 for that excellent loue pat he schewed to mankynde in hys nu'rcyffull? redempczon; and for the vysytacz'ons s that he sheweth to you coty- dyally6 bothe in sparyng yow fro endeles peynes off hell?, and yeveth7 yow space and3 grace and tyme to amende yeff ye woll?, for Cryst seyth; Nolo mortem pec- catoris sed ut magis conuertatur et vtuat, that ys : 1 wyll? nat the dethe of a synner? but rather? more that he turne therfro and lyue'. Also he yeueth goodys plentenosly that ben? necessary and profytabely8 to yow, yef they be gou?med? dyscretely ; and so sheweth yow allt'-wey grete tokenes off loue and m?rcy.

Lefts spore. The lefte spore ys dreede off paynes of hell? and of purgatory that be Innumerable eyther to be thougth or seyd or tolde. Now w»tA thyse II sporys pryke youre horse yeff he be dull? and euyll?-wylde to goodnes-warde. Furst w/tA the ryght? spore that ys loue ; and yeff he woll? nat haste hym in hys iorney, than pryke hym? wz'tA the lefte spore, that wyll? make hym to sprynge yef he be in the wey off grace. In thys maner?, lyfe frend/j, arme yow in thys gostly armure and myghteth yow in thys gostly batayle, and gou?rne youre horse, that ys youre body9, dyscretly, so that hit be nat ouer'°-feble by ou?rmeche abstynence and trauayle, ne to wylde by ou?rmoche ease and fulfyllyng of hys appetyte as in glotony or in11 lechery or in any other vngoodly desyres, for in case wyked? lustes and desyres mowen? be dedely synne, as thus : yeff thow luste to medle wztA woman? or man? ayenst the lawe off god? and thow dost all? that lyeth 12 in the to p?rforme hitt in dede yeff thow myghtest , than? hit ys dedely synne. Dauyd seyth that cgod knoweth and prraeth mannes herte and hys leen- dys3, that ys to sey, god knoweth mannes wyllt* and hys lustys, for ther^ ys no thyng so pryuey neyther I3 in thought? ne in dede but that ys opyw in goddys syght<r. Therfor suche as a mantf ys in herte and in wyll<?, suche he ys by-fonr god^.

Also a wyseman^14, or he goo to batayle, wol knowe15 for what cause he shalk fyghte and whether^10 that hit be trewe, and^ what shall? be hys rewarde17; and yef hit be sygned? in two thyngw hym to chese, than? he wolk sende hys most beloued? and trusty frende to see and enqnere whyche ys best and most contor- table. In the same wyse muste ye in thys gostely batayle. Ye muste fyght<r to saue the soule that god<? bougth so dere w/t/* hys pr^cyous bloode vpon^ the rode-tree. r Also hit ys rygthfulU-, 18sythen? god made the of nought? vn-to hys gloryous a lykenesse and therto made the ffelaw w/tA aungelys in blys that neu?r shall? haue ende, that thow be fyghtyng ayenst thy gostely enemyes, and neu?r to haue pease evjfrh hem<, — for yeff t]jOW doo, thou art traytour? to god* and lykely to lese thy herytage the whyche thow mayst haue by grace. Also thy rewarde ys assyg- ned?19 in two thyngw, to chese the best as longe as thou tranaylyng arte" in thys batayle, but be thow onys hywnes went, thow mayst21 not do soo, for [to]"2 whether so thov furst comest, lyke hit the wellc or euylk, there the be-houeth to dwelle for eu?rmore; shalt thow neu?r aft?r thys dwellyng chaunge, syt itt neuer so euyll? w/tA the. Heuene and helle ben these two thyng^ whyche thow mayst chese as

i Ms. conuersaczons. "- R hors. s Om in R. « R Also. * R visitacion. tidianly. 1 r. yeuyng. • R profitable. » Ms. bodyly. 10 R to. theis. is R ne. » R adds of armys. » R wytte. »8 R where, haue h. r. «> Ms. for sythen^. >» R signed. *> R art tr. 2' R maiste hou.

428 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706]

long as thow arte1 lyuyng, but [be]2 the soule onys departyd? fro the body, than, whether thou lyke well? or euyll?, nedys thou must kepe hit, and never after to be chaungyd?; for than*?, lyke as thou hast trauayled in the kepyng off goddis com- maundementeV and in the fulfyllyng off pe dedys of mercy , so shall? thow be rewarded, that ys for to say : yeff thow hast kepte goddys cowmaundementz'.r and fulfyllyd? the dedys off mercy and w/tA-stande thy enemyes myghtfully 3, than shalt thou haue the blysse of heuen? and be ffelaw wz'tA aungellys eu?rlastyng; and yeff thow breke goddys co#zmaundementz'.r and wyll? nat wz't/^stande the tewpta- c/ons off thy enemyes but consentest to them? and p?rformest in dede, and? wyll? natt amende the by sorow in herte, by confessyon? of mouthe, and by satysfac- cz'on in dede, than shall? thy rewarde be endeles payne in helle wzt/zowten? ende. Wherfor my counsell? ys that thow departe thy soule * from*? thy body by inwarde thoughts ; and to sende thy herte, whyche ys [thy] most louyd? and trusty frende, before, to wete off that5 two thyngzV whyche ys moste pr^fytable to abyde in. Sende [Helle] thyne herte in to helle and ther shalt thou fynde [all]6 that that thou ha[te]st7 here, that ys a8 fawte off all? goodys, and plente off all? euylles: hote ffyre bryn- nyng wz't^-outyn? lyght?, wz't/z brymston? moste stynkyng ; foule stormes and tempests ; gredy deuylles as wode lyones wyde yellyng9; hunger and? thryst10 that neu?r shall? be quenched? ; adders, toodys and? all? venemos wormes11 [pat] on? the synfull? shullen? gnawe12; wepyng, gronyng and? gryntyng13 off tethe; full? off14 derkenes ; smoke and smother, pat shall? make hem to wepe mo teerys glowyng15 than? ys wat?r in the see; eu?>yche hatyng16 other as the deuyll? most horryble, and euer cursyng the tyme that17 they were borne18, and euer desyryng dethe. And so they be eu?r dying but neu?r ffull? dede, but shul lyue euer in payne, woo and tur- ment. They hateden? dethe whan? they lyueden? in lust/J and? lykyngw of this worlde and fulfylled? her? flesshly appetytys and wolde not restreyne hym by the brydyll? off abstynence, in ls holdyng the reynes of temperaunce by the knotte off dyscrew'on. Also the20 soules that shall? be there must21 be dyrke and? dy/wme, hydously stynkyng and lothsom? to see ; for the bodyes off hem? shull? be so febyll? and so charged? wz't/z synne that they ne shall? [mow]22 remeve the lest worme from? no party off theyr? body, but23 must suffre all? her? malyce, and yet8 nat only hem?, but all? the paynes, woo and? torments that herte may nat thynke ne tonge may nat telle, for they shal haue noo mynde off no good? to theyr? comforte, but euer in2* payne lyche newe. Ther ys an? olde prouerbe that, ne25 hope were, herte wolde26 breste; and27 ther shall? be neyther herte 28-breste ne hope off releuyng. O thow delycate creature tha[t] lyuest in wordely worschyppes and flesshly lustz> in * consentyng to the wyked? intysyngz'j of thy enemyes : haue mynde how they shull? passe as the shadow, for thy body, be hit neu?r so beauteuous and myghty, and? though thou kept 29 hit neu?r so well? wz't/z delycate metys and drynkes, w/'tA ryche clothes or eny other maner restorytyfys, yet hit shall? dye and turne ayen? to erthe and wormes mete. Also haue mynde off thyfs] place that ys so horryble and so paynffull?, and forsake syn? whyles god? suffretK the to lyue and? hast helthe and? thy wyttes at wyll?; for Salomon? seyth: 'In all? thy werkes thynke on? thy ende , and? thou shalt neu?r doo syn?3. Thynke that 8 thou shalt dye and thow wottest30 neu?r wher? ne when? ne what dethe, ne in what state ne in what daye ne what8 tyme; and? therfore seyth seynt Aiistyn that euer shulde oure last day be in oure mynde, for when? f>0u rysest thow arte nat syker? to [line to euen, ne when thou gost to thi bed thou art nat syker to] ryse wz't^ thy lyfe. Also haue mynde howe the sowle shall? departe from? the body wz't/z grete drede: for the fendys shull? be pr?sent and good? aungellw for to dyspute thy lyff fro the begynnywg to the ende, and? the good? aungellw shall? sey to 8 the good?, and? the ffendys the wycked?, that nought? shall? be forgete to the leste thought that eu?r thou thowghtest other consentest to, and? all? the wordys that

1 R haste. 2 om; so R. 3 R myghtili. * thy s. om in R. 5 R the, 6 Ms. off. 7 R hatiste, on eras. 8 om in R. » PC ^anyng. i« Ms. hungry and thrysty. » R bestis. 12 PC gnawyng. i» R grunchyng; PC gryndyng. M PC & so bicke derknesse bat men may it grope. i» expunged in R. w PC haten. " R that evir. >8 R adds or evir synne wrought, & so. '» R not. 2» R tho. 21 R shullen. 22 om; R mowe to. » R &. « R hir. « R nere. «> R shulde. 27 R aias. 28 R that nethir h. shall b. 2» R kepe. »» R woste.

A treatise of ghostly battle. 420

Ms. Harl. i7o6|

eu*»- thow speke shullen* be examyned*, and all* thy dedys shewed*. And than* many1 synnes that thow may nat now" see nor thynke, shall* than come be-fore the opynly and* p*rauenture more to drede and* more grysely than* thoo that thow may now see, and many thyng*j [that] thow wenyst be now well* done shall*

Domes-sche\v than fowle synne. *Moreouer haue mynde off3 the dredefull* day off dome: for thaw shall* oure lorde come and deme all* mankynde, as wytnessettl the pro- phete sayyng thus : Egredietur domimis de loco sancto suo ut uisitet iniqtiitatem habitatorum terre, 'Oure lorde shall* wende oute of hys place for to vysyte the wykednes of hem that inhabyten* the erthe3. Certes, thys day2 owetft sore to be dredde, for as moche m*rcy as oure4 lorde sheweth nowe to mankynde, so moche shall* than* be shewed* streyte" vengeable ryghtwysnes ; for oure lord* seyth by hys ptt?phete Moyes: Congregabo super eos mala et sagittas meas complebo in eis, CI shal hepe vpon* hem theyr* euylles, and I shall* spende all* my arowes vpon* hem*'. Thre sharpe arowes shall* be shotte off oure lord* in that day vpon* 'hem that shullew be dampned*. The furst arowe shall* be off clepyng to the

\roive] {jome) wheroff Cryst seyth 5 in the gospell* : Venit hora ut omnes qui in monu- mentis* sunt audient uocem filii dei, fy precedent Ait qui bona egerunt in resurtec- cionem uite, qui uero mala egerunt in resurreccionem iudicii , that ys : 'the oure cometK in the whyche all* men* that ben* ded in beryelles shull* here [the] voyce off goddys son*, and they that hane done good* thyngz'j shullen* gon* in to ayen*- rysyng off lyff, but they that hane doo euyll* thyng/j in to ayene-rysyng off dome', that ys to say, to be demed*. Than the dampnable soule shall* come to the body and sey to hit: 'Aryse, thou cursyd* caytyff [careyne] ' , from thys tyme forward* to be felaw wz't/j the horryble fendw in helle and enemy to almyghty god*. Nowe thy ioye shall* be turned* in to woo, thy delyte in to bytternesse, and thy laughyng in to wepyng ; now thy wrechyd* lust shall* passe in to 8 eu*rlastyng sorowe and peyne ; nowe ys fall* to the all* that thow hatedest, and nowe ys passyd* fro the all* that thow loue[de]st°. Cursyd* be thow wrecchyd* careyn*, for in payne for thy synnes and thy delytes and thy wykednes from the tyme that '' I passyd* from the I haue brenned* in helle ; so cursyd* be thow helle-bronde, ordeyned* for thy synnes to the fyre off helle that neuer shall* be quenched*. Cursed* be the tyme that I was coupeled* to the, for now I may nat forsake the nor thy cursyd* com- pany I may nat eschewe, for wyll* I nylk I I am constreyned* to be knytte ayene to the. Goo we therfor to-gyder before the dredefull* and rygthful iuge to here the sentence of oure dampnacz'on3. Than* shullen* all* wyked* men* se the iust cause of theyr* dampnacz'on wretyn* wj'tA theyr* owyn* handes in the booke of theyr* conscyence, whyche booke both lerned* and lewde shullen* kunne rede. Than they shall* see the domys-man* syttyng vpon* the reyne-bowe w/t.4 [his]10 voundys bledyng, and vritA sterne loke on* hem lokyng as he were wode for wretthe. Of thys wodnes [& wretthe] spekytli the profyte Dauyd where as" he prayeth to be delyueryd* u ofbothe, seyingthus: D online ne in furore tuo arguas me, that ys: 'Lord*, in thy wodenesse1* ou*rcome me nat w*tA skyles, and chastyce me nat in thy wrathe3. Noman* thynke that wodenes or wratthe or any suche trobled* passyons of mannys kynde be in god*; but they be sette in scrypture for the werkes of god* in punysshyng and vengyng synne in hem that be worthy to take suche passyons off punysshyng as been* wrothe and wodnes in all* syn- ners, that ys eyther they muste be chastysed* by paynes that shall* haue an* ende as purgatory, that ys clepyd* in scrypture13 the wratthe of god*, or ellys they shall* be punysshed* in the payne off helle that neiur shall* haue ende, that ys callyd* the wodnes of god*. All* thys the prophete Dauyd sawe in spyryte, and ther- fore in be p*rsone off all* suche synners he, felyng hym-selfe vnmyghty to bere euer eyther*, furst asketh to be delyu*ryd from* helle, and [sithen from] purgatorye, seying thus: Miserere met domine quoniam infirmus sum, 'Lorde haue mercy on« me, for I am* vnmyghty to bere eu*reyther, that ys to sey, pin" arguyng in thy * The foil, is taken from the tract Of three arowes, ed. p. 444.

i Ms. my. 2 om in R. 3 R on*. < Ms. as oure as oure. » R spekith . . Ms. monumento. ' om ; so R. • R shalbe turnyd into wo &. R louediste.

Ms. delyueuerydtf. 12 Ms. w. or wretthe. w in sc. om in R; U here..

430 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706]

dome, eyther thy chastyment in purgatory, but hit so be that I be vpborne or supported* by thy m*rcy3. That dredeffull* day off owe lord*! than* shall* wyked* men* seen* h*m' sytte in dome wz't/z Cryste whom* they hadden* [here] in despyte, and in thys syght* they shall* be trobled* wz't/z an* horryble drede, saying thus " : Hit sunt quos habuimus aliquando in derisum et similitudinem improperii ; nos insensati uitam eorum &c3, that ys to say: 'Thyse been* tho the whyche [sumtyme] we haddyn* in scorne and in to lykenesse [of]4 shenshypp. We vn- wytty wrecches heldyn* ther lyffe wodenes, and* her* ende wz't//-owten* honour* : but loo now thyse been* amonge the sonnes off god* counted* , and amonge the seyntz'j of god* ys the lote off them*. Therfore we hane erred* from* the wey off trewthe. and the lyght* off ryght*wysnes hath not shyned* to vs , [and the son of vnderstondyng is not spronge to vs] 5 ; we be made wery in the wey off wykednes and of pmiycz'on, and we hane goon* harde weyes , for the wey off god* we knewe nat. What hat[h] pryde prtffyte6 vs? or the boste off rychesse what hatft hitt brougth" to vs? but [they] ben* passyd* as the shadowe. And nowe we may shewe no tokyn* off holynesse , for we ben* wastyd* in wyked- nesse3. And7 among* all* the multydude off seyntz's they shullen* fynde nat oon* that shall* haue compassyon* of hem, but [pei] shullen* be gladde and consent with gode in hys ryght* lugement8 off her* dampnacz'on. Thys9 wytnesseth the pro- fete Dauyd, seying thus : Letabitur iustus cum uiderit &c, that ys to sey : 'The ryghtwyse man* shall* be glad* when* he shall* se vengeaunce3 . For the fader* that shall* be sauyd* shall* ioye the dawzpnacz'on off hys sonne, the moder* off the dowghter, the son* shall* ioye the dampnacz'on of hys moder*, [the] dough- ter of the fader*. For Cryst seyth they shull* seche for to entre in to creues of stonys and in to swolowes of the see, for fere off the syght* of the dredefull* face of Cryste ; than* they [shul] prey10 mounteyns to falle opon* them*, and hylles to hyde theym*. So woo they shull* be on* eu*ry syde , for nothyng shall* res[ei]ue11 theym* but only hell*. And thys ys the vounde of the furst arowe.

The secunde arowe shal be sharpe reprovyng of all* false crysten* men* and women*, when* our* lorde shall* seye to hem thus : 'I was hungry and* ye gaff me no mete, I was thrysty and ye gaue [me] noo drynke, I was naked* and ye gaue me noo clothes, I was herborowles and ye herborowed* me nat1*, I was seke [&] in preson* and* ye vysyte me nat ne dyd me no comforte3. O what thys voyce shall* be dredefull*, for as ofte as they dydew nat thyse dedw off mercy to the leste off hys that had nede, so oftyn* they dyde hit2 nat to hym*. And noo wonder* [boff]13 thys voyce be dredefull* in the day off dom*, sythen* we redyn* in the 5gospell* that whan* Cryste came in the forme of a s*niaunt to be demed* of false lewes, he sayd* to h*m14 that cam* to take hym*: 'I am he3, [&] anon* they yedyn* abalc and fellen* to the erthe. Then*, yeff hels when* he was deedly and cam to be demyd* had so ferefull* a voyee that att on* worde dyd* throwe16 to grounde so many men* of lewes, how moche [more] ferefull* than* shall* be the voyce of hym* when* [he] shall* come vndedely wz't/z hys oste off aungellys and off seyntys to deme the qwykke and* the dede lyke as they hane des*rued*. Wherfore lob seytft: Cum vix paruam sintillam" sermonum eius audire non possunt, toni- tmum magnitudinis eius quis poteril intueri, 'Sythe man* vnnethes may here a lytyll* drope of hys wordes suffre eyther beholde(!), how18 than* shulde19 they beholde the thundres20 of hys domes when* he shall* sytte as a ryghtfull*21 domes- man*?3 as who seytK, noon*. And therfore seytK seynt Bernarde : 'When the synfulk wreche shal be accused* and hys owne conscyence shal bere wytnesse ayenst hym [& euery creature of god shal rise ayenst hym] " in vengeaunce, than* greuous as an* arowe shall* be be voyce off god* to suffre3. And therfore the profete leremye seyth : Sagitta vulnerans'K lingua eius, that ys: the tunge of hym shall* be as a arowe woundyng. And thys ys the wounde of the secunde arowe.

1 Ms. hym. 2 om in R. 3 Sap. 5, 4. 4 Ms. and*?. * om; so R. 6 R profited to. 7 And than. 8 R rightwysnes. 9 R thus. 10 Ms. preyen*. n Ms. reserve. >2 R ye yafe me no harborow. i» Ms. yeff. '* Ms. hym. i» Ms. we. 1G R threwe. 17 r.

stillam. w U who; they om. »» R shullen. « R thondre. 21 R rightwis. 22 Om in Mss. 23 Ms. vulneratus.

\e indc 'owe.]

"iirga

\tory.j

A treatise of ghostly battle. 43 !

Ms. Harl. 1706]

The thrydde arovve shall; be the sentence of endeles dampnac/on of all; wyked; men;, when; he shall; sey to hem; thus: Discedite a me maledicti in ignem eternum qui preparatus [est] diabolo et angelis eius, that ys to sey l : 'Departe ye from; me , cursyd; and wrecched;2, in to euerlastyng fyre , the whyche ys made redy to the deuyll; and hys3 angelys'. Thys arowe shall; wounde hem; so grevously that all; the leches ne all; pe creatures in erthe neyther in heuyn; shull; mowe hele the wounde of hit. Than shal the erthe opyn; hys mowthe and swalowe4 hem doune in to helle , where they shall; be tormentyd; w*tA fFeendes w*t/zoutyn; ende. But alias, ther be5, I drede, full; many that woll; natt beleue thyse ihyngis, tylle they felen; hem;8; of whom; seyth seynt Eustby: Ve ue quibus datum erit prius sentire quant credere, that is: 'Woo [woo] be to hem to whom hit shall; be youyw rather to fele thyse thyngtV than to beleue hem/'. Thys ys the wounde off the thrydde arowe.

- More-ouer sende thyn; herte in to purgatory, that ys the free pryson; off oure lorde god; to punyssh hem; that were]7 clene-shryven; off all* her; synnes or they passyn; owte off thys worlde, and hane nat p;rfourmed; her; penaunce here in thys lyff ne were nat fully clensyd as hem behouyth8 for to be. In the whyche purgatory they shall; be pured; w«t/*' bytter peynes, and that paynes" ys more harde to suffre eyther11 to fele than all? the12 paynes that euer; martyres suff- reden;, and; more payne than; tunge can; reherse or tell;13. Ther shalU' thy14 soule be turment thorow an; hole15 yere for the penaunce that myght haue be done her; in o 1S day — here-fore17 oure lord; seyth : Diem pro anno dedi tibi, that ys: 'I haue yeuen; [the] a day for a yere'. And trusteth for certeyn; that that 18 payne doth nat ellys but clenseth the soule from; syn;; for the more ioye in heuen; shall; he neuer; purchase therby 19 for that peyne sufferyng, though he were there from the begynnyng off thys worlde in to the day of dome. But the payne that thou suffrest here viith meke herte, thynkyng that thou; art worthy hit and moche more for the grete trespaces and vnkyndenes that thou eu;ry day dost ayenst oure lorde god;, shall; bothe helpe to dense thy soule, and to encrese thy blysse in heuen;.

Also haue mynde of20 .vn. paynes that thy21 soule shall; haue.* The furst shall; be whan; thy body and; thy soule shall; parte22; for than; shullen; the fendys appere in theyr lykenesse to rauyssK the soule in to helle w/tA grysely chere, wz'tA chalangu23 and; thretenyngw 24 as hit were theyr; ryght; to haue hit, and so to brywge hit in to dyspeyre yeff they mowen;.

The seconde peyne ys thys12: the grete drede that the soule shall; haue tyll; the lugement be endyd; be-twene the aungelles and; the ffend»'j; for lyke as a man; beyng in grete tempests on the see hath grete drede of drenchyng, so the soule heryng the grete and horryble synnes that he hath done rehersyd; be the fende, stondeth25 in grete fere for12 to be dronched;,28 in the fyre of helle; for though the soule haue ryght; be-leue and; ryght; trusty hope to be sanyd«, yet oure lord; suffreth hit to haue the drede, for to dense hit from; synne.

The nide ys exylyng ; for the soule ys exylyd; oute off tbys lyfe, from hys frendz'j, and from hys herytage— whyche ys paradyse— thorowgh syn; ; the whyche they shullen; neu<?r be restored;27 to, vn-to the tyme that hit be pured; and clary- fyed; as clene as hit was att the day off bapteme ; for seynt Austyne seyth lyke as golde ys pured; and claryfyed; be fyr; her;, ryght; so shall; the soule be pured; and; claryfyed; by the fyre28 there3. And loke, howe moch here the fyre ys hoter; than; the son;-beame, so moche ys the fyre off purgatory more hot< than; the fyre her;; and loke, what peyne hit wer; to suffre any parte off body to brywne in the fyre here, so moche peyne and; more hit ys to the soule to be in [the] fyr; there ; for seynt Ancelme seyth that the fyre off purgatory ys * Cf. Prick of Consc. v 2892.

i Rom to sey. * R cursid wrechis. » R alle his. « E swo ow. • R om thy be.

* R itt. i R bene. » R behoued. » R in. »•> R Payne. » R and.

" R t«H, or reherce. " R the. » R hale. >• R a. " R Therefore. • R » R hym. » R on*. » R the. » R departe. » R chalepg.ng.s.

* R stont. » R drenchid. » R rekeu^re tylle bey, o. m. (om m text). fyre. » R the f. here. » R party.

432 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706]

off so moche1 myght? and so kene, that as longe as hit ffyndeth aught? in the

soule that toucheth [to] synne, hit styn/eth""' neu?r.

The fourthe payne ys that the soule ys boundyn? with bondys off synne, that hit may nat helpe hit-selfe but nedys muste suffre, to the bondys be wasted; for lyke as a man? bounden? muste suffre the malyce off hys enemyes, ryght? so the soule muste suffre the peynes tyll? hit be pured?.

The fyfte payne ys the sekenesse that the soule shall? 3 be greued? wz't// ; for [lyke] as the body ys peyned? and? greued? wz't/z dyu?rse sekenes [here], so the soule shalk be peyned? and? greued? [in purgatori] wz't/z dyu?rse peynes in dyuers partyes or powers off the soule in whyche he synned? in thys lyfe. Som shall? be as they wer? in a4 dropesye, for myscouetyse5 off erthely thyngw; som as they were in a pallsey, for slougthe in goddw smryce ; som as they were in the feuers, for wratth; som as they wer? in the iaundys, for enuy ; som as they wer? in the menyson? 6 or in the flyxe , for lecherye ; som as they were in the 3 meselry, for pryde; off the whyche synnes they were shryven?, but they had? nat doon? theyr? penaunce parfytely or they passyd? hennes.

[The sixt payne is that the soulis bene there as in dissert, where defaute is of alle gode, and plenty of alle evill?.]7

The seuenth payne ys the grete colde that they shullen? be caste in after the feruent hete, for sodaynly oute off the brynnyng fyrre they shalk be caste in a lycour? that ys caldere than* any Ise or snowe ; and oute of that colde sodaynly they [shal] be caste ayen in to feruent hete ; and? so to be payned? wz't^ paynes innumerable 8, tyll? oure lorde off hys endeles m?rcy wyll? graunte hem? grace off delyu?raunce, and so to come to the endeles blysse that man? was ordeyned? to in hys furst creacz'on. Now whan? thou hast well? examyned? what peyne ys

in purgatory for penaunce that ys nat done in thys lyfe, and for venyall? synnes that he was natt shryven? off neyther made [ajsythe for hem? in noon? other waye : be ware than? that thou delay nat from day to day to do penaunce, ney- ther be recheles in doyng , ne9 sory to do hit, but do hit wz't^ grete mekenesse and gladnesse off herte, hauyng mynde what peyne thow wer? worthy to suffre for thy trespasse that thou dost custumablye ayenst thy maker?, thyne ayenebeyer?, and thy m?rcyffull? sparer?, and [pat] therto foryeueth the thy10 peynes of purga- tory for so lytell? pena«nce doyng wz't/z meke herte. More-ouer be war? off venyall? synnes: for hit ffareth therby as hit doth11 by a shyppe that hath a lytell? hole in the botom?, in the whyche hole yeff the wat?r enter?, though hit be but lytell? and lytell?12, yet by processe off tyme13 hit may drenche the shyppe, but hit be caste owte. So, venyall? synnes so many there mowen? be that yeff they be nat caste [oute] by sorowe of herte, by prayer? and? by all?mos-dede doyng, [they] may drenche the soule in to endeles paynes of helle as a14 dedely synne may doo. Sythyn? than that3 almyghty god? ys dyspleased? and dyshonowred? by venyall? synnes, that be called? smale synnes, how moche more than? ys he dyshonoured? and dysplesyd? wz't/z dedely synnes? and sythyn? eu?ry15 venyall? syn? ys so grete in goddys syght?, how meche more than ys dedely synne? Therfore haue mynde on thy1* trespas that thou hast done ayenst god? bothe in worde and?3 in thougth, in dely- tyng and?17 consentywg, in desyryng and? in dede-doyng, and euer wz't/z meke herte and? with corcpunccz'on of teeres aske foryeuenes; and therto make satysfaccz'on to thyn? euyn?crysten? off all? the trespasses that thou hast done ayenst hym?18 as fer forth as thy goodys woll? strecche; and? yeff thy good? woll? nat suffyse, than? be- houeth the to aske foryeuenesse ; and yeff thow may not come to the party es19 eyther2* for febylnes or ellys that they be dede, than? be in wyll? to aske foryeuenes, and pray for he»z; so that21 thou mayst22 escape thyse23 peynes off helle, and the sonner? be delyu^ryd owte off the peynes off purgatory thorowe the endeles m?rcy off oure lord? god*;. For all? tho that ben? quykenyd? w/t/z the gracyous illumina- cz'on of the holy gost, dredyn? thyse two placys, that ys, helle and? purgatory,

i R such a. 2 Ms. styndetli. 3 om in R. * R the. 5 R mys-couatynge. 6 R meni- sons. i om. * R vnresonable and vnn. » R nethir. 10 R the. n R farith. 12 R om and 1. " R adds be litill and litill. » R o. i* R ech. w R of the. l" R in.

18 R ham. i» R partyse. 20 aither, expunged. 21 R that so. « R mow. "* R the.

A, treatise of ghostly battle. 41?

Ms. Harl. 7706]

and so kepefn]1 hem w*'tA all? theyr? mygth from all? man?r off synnes. [But/2 for the kynde off mannys flessh ys so freell? and?3 so inclynyng to sywne that no day passyth w/t//owten? synne eyther more or lesse: therfor oure fonne'-ffaders that weren? in grace and knewen? the[rj5 freelnes, lyueden? in mornyng, and ofte for- thynkyng in herte vfitA ffastyng and almes-dedys, w/tA prayers and* grete wep- yngys', sorowden?7 for her synnes, thorow the why eft they wer? clensyd? and caste oute off the soule. Also som men? that hane ben? before, sore9 defouled? w»t/V dedely synnes and w*tA8 venyall? Innumerable, oftync-tymes for drede to offende god mor?, and also to haue [grace &]" foryeuenesse of the10 [synnesj before-doon?, and to fle from? thyse two places that ben? so payn?full?, hane" forsake all? the worlde, bothe the[r] goodw12 and also the presence off people13 — for the ey" off mane' ys a grete occasyon? to15 syne and than? cometh speche off mowthe, and so ofte-sythes fulfylled? in dede ; wherfor they seing ther freelnes, fledden? in to deserte places, to lerne to loue oure lord? Ih?.m Cryste, and ther? they wayleden?16 theyr? synnes before-done and therto continuelly lyfeden? in prayer? and in abstynence wrt/« bodyly werkes, in chastysyng the body from wykydnes17; and also hauyng com- passyon? off theyr? euen?-crysten?, seyng the grete torment that they wer? yne bothe in getyng offworldely goodes and"1 worldely worschyppys and flessbly lustys and so lyueden? as vnresonable best** hauyng noo mynde that they shull? dyen? neyther? that they shall? come and? be demed? in the dredefull? day off dome, but contynued? in theyr? malyce and? in8 wykydnes as they shulde neu?r dye, or ellys wenyng that [god! ys so nvrcyfull? that he wyll? natt punyssh synners.

Now sende thy herte in to h euyn e , to wyte how it ys ther?. And ther shall thow fynde plente off all? goodys19, for ther? ys no inan?r of peyne but eu?r-[ich]™ in ioye and21 lykywg in helthe, and so eu?r fylled? vtitfi all? man?r off ioye and swernesse. For ther? ys al man?r off8 melody vritA songe of angelles brygth, and therto sekernesse of eu?rlastyng blysse that neu?r shall? haue ende. Also mawnys body shall? be bryter? then? the sonne when? hit shyneth2" brygthest, and shall? haue more sw[ift]nesse 23 then all? erthely creatures mow deuyse21, and her thought/^, her wylles and her desyres shal be fulfyllyd? in the twynkelyng of an? eye. No thyng shal be there but all? goodnes and co»zforte ; nouther no thyng shall? witA- stande hem?, for they shall? be so myghty that they shall? mowe passe al '" hylles and valeys, and so to be from? the on? ende off the worlde to the other? in as breeff tyme as hit may be thought?. For thowgh they wer? so29 febyll? her?, ther? they shullen? be so lyght?, so lusty, so beauteuouse, and? so fulfylled? w»'tA ioye, that nothyng shall? wMstande theym?-7 that ys contrary to theyr? wylk28. For they shull? haue ffull? knowyng of all? thyngis that eu?r wer? doon? or shall? be doon?, for they shull? haue full? knowyng of the trynyte, the myght? of the fader?, the wysedom? of the sone, the goodnes of the holy gost; for in the syght of the gloryous" face of oure lord? god? they shullen? [se]29 all? that may be seen?30 off any creature; for as8 seynt Austyn seyth, they shull? see hym? both god? and man?, and they shall? see hem-self in hym, and all? 8 other thyng/J more and lesse — for all? thyngw that nowe be hidde, shull? then? be opyn? both in syght? and? knowyng. And? so they shall? be fulfylled? in theyr? .V. wyttes w*tfc all? man?r of ioye ; for lyke as a vessell? that ys31 dyppyd? in the wat?r ys wete bothe w/tfc-inne & w»t/<-oute, aboue and? benethe and? on eu?ry syde, and nomore lykore may resceyue for fulnesse, ryght? so shull? they that shall? be sauyd? be fulfylled? wztA ioye and blys w»'t%-oute» ende. Also they shullen? haue endeles lyffe in the syght? of the holy trinite, and thys ioye shall? passe all? other ioyes, for they shall? be in ful sekyrnes that they shullen? neu?r fayle off that excellent ioye. Also they shullen? haue parfyte loue to-ged?r, for eche off hem? shall? accorde to odyr wyll? ; that that ys in the leste ioye shalbe as ioyfull? of hym? that ys in the hyghest ioye,

i so R ; Ms. to kepe. « om; so R. 3 so f. and* om m R. « Ms. former*. R fore.

» R hir owyn*. « R wepynge. 7 R in sorowynge, for om. » om in K. 10 R tho ; s. om. u R han » Ms. good*. « R poeples. '« R loy, on eras, warde. i« R be-waylidyn in. » R wildnes. » R of » R l"^«a, . M R shewith. 23 M! swetnesse. » R devyne. » Ms. as « R new so. » R add for thei shull* haue to grete fredom that nothynge shall* withstonde h 29 R know. 3« R done (corr.). 31 R Om that ys.

n.

434 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Hari. 1706]

as though he were there in the same ioye. And so the ioyes1 of that gloryous

blysse may noo herte 2 thynke nor tonge reherse ; ffor though all* the ioyes that all* erthely creatures couthe deuyse myght* be co»zpr*hendyd* in oo ioye, yet were hit nat* in comparyson* to the lest ioye that ys in that gloryous blysse. For the ioyes that ben* ther* be so delycate, so comfortable and so full* off swet- nesse that they myght* dey for ioye, but pat god pr*s<?myth hem fro deth ; as4 thoo that be in [the] horryble pytte off helle & stynkyng* paynes & myghten* dyen< for payne and torment*'.? the whyche [they] mustew suffre, but that god* pr*s*rueth theym fro dethe. For oure lord* woll* that thoo pat hane6 kepte hys cowmaunde- mentts and hane submyttyd*7 hem to hys lawes, to lyue in blysse w/tA-onten* ende; and ther*-ayens tho that wyll* nat obeye to hys lawes neyther kepe hys cowmaun- demente'j, that they shall* 8 lyue in payne w*tA-outyn* ende. — Thys ys the ryght* spore that shall* haste hem to loue onre lord* in v*rtewe [of] 8 goodnes, and* to hate synne for fere of peyne(I)1*. For yeff a creature myght* fele the lest drope off the leste ioye whyche " ys in that blysse, [he] shulde fele lytyll* payne or ellys noon* thowgh all* the peynes that eu<?r wer* in erthe or shullen* be, myght* be putte to hym* ; for the grete lone [pat] suche a soule shulde hane to god*, and pe grete desyre that hit shulde haue to that endeles blysse, shulde so rauyssch the soule12 that hit [shuld] fele noo paynes13 that myght* be putte therto ; neyther hit shulde haue no ioye of noon* erthely goodys neyther off worldely worshyppys, but rather noying than* plesyng therto. Thys loue steryth a man* more be a thowsand*folde than* done the peynes of hell* eyther14 of purgatory, to lyue v*rtuosly; ffor loue p*rysshyth15 and puttetft oute drede, and clenseth the soule fro synne, and maketh hit to see god* thorough gostly thoughts, thorow gostly1* redyngw of holy wrytte, and thorow gostly and holy17 prayers, and to s/y1* to heuynly desyres. But I drede ther be many [pat faren* as1' a chylde that ys borne in a depe pryson* whyche ys bothe stynkyng and horryble to see. The moder, knowyng the well*fare that she hadde owte of pryson*, ys in moche sorowe and care and* heuynesse, desy- ryng \ritA all* her myght* to be oute of pryson* ayene in hyr welfare : but the chylde borne in myscheff of the pryson*, and* neu*r had* bett*r knowyng of wel- fare20, yeueth lytell* tayle to that21 myscheff in the pryson*, for as longe as he hath hys moder vrith hym* and hys sustenannce thowgh hit be but ffebyll*, he maketh neyther sorowe" ne23 care, for he longeth aft*r no bett*r fare, for he knoweth no bett*r; for though hys moder telle hym* off the ioye and* off the welffare that ys oute off prisone, off the son* and* off the mone eyther24 off the sterres, or24 off the fayre floures spryngyng opon* the erthe, or* of the byrdys syngyng, off myrthe, of melody, or* of ryche aray of lordys, of24 ladyes, and of welthes owte of prz'son* the whyche she was wonte to haue, yet all* hyr tale ys but a dreme to the chylde, for he leueth2* hit nat and therfor he longeth nat ther-aft*r, and wyll* nat for all* that blysse and welfare that she spekyth of forsake hys moder ne hys26 febyll* fare that he hath -with hyr; and that ys for he leueth hit nat. And* yet hit ys as pe moder* seyth. But were the chylde onys owte off pryson*, and se the myrthe, welthe and* welfare that she spake27 off, he wolde be full* sory to go28 ayen* in to pryson* ther* to lyfe2* vritA hys moder*; ffor all* hys lyf in prisone, whyche was furst lykyng Inowgh to hy*», shall*30 than* be to hym* full* bytt*r and paynfull*, and therto he shulde neu*r haue ioye ne reste in herte tyll* he wer* ageyw in that welffare whyche he sawe oute of prisone. Ryght* so this31 folk of thys worlde borne and browgth forth in sorowe and care and moche trauayle in thys wrecched* worlde32 that ys foule and stynkywg as a prisone ; for they hane so moche loue and lykyng on* theyr* erthely moder and*8 of theyr* company, that ys to say on* erthely thyngz'j, that they hane no lykyng in heuynly thyngis ne longyn83 nat ther-aft*r; for though

1 R Joy. * R man. * R noght. « R and. •* R horribill & stynkkynge p. of hell/.

s R ban. * R & submitten. • om in R. » Ms. and*. >• PC & haste in heuenli weie.

11 R that. 12 Ms. soules. >» R peyne. M R or. >» R partith. i» thoughtis — gostly

om in R. K and holy om in R. >• Ms. sey ; PC & ofte to fle to heuen by desire. » R as

it doth by. a> R bettir faire. « R of the m. of. « R om neyther s. a R no.

R and. » R sawe, on eras. » R the. » R sho spekith. » R wend. ^ R lye.

M R shuld. »i R thus; so om. « R liffe. » Ms. longyng.[

A treatise of ghostly battle.

Ms. Harl. 1706]

her gostly moder, holy chyrche, and; her gostely1 ff&der god;" hym-self, fader- off all;, telle hem the blysse and* the wellfare whyche ys in the blysse off heuyn;, hit ys to theym; but a dreme as the tale off the moder ys to the chylde in ; son;, 'that they bane noo sad; feyth theryn;. And tryste itt fully, though4 they beleue nat that hit ys so* as oure moder holy chyrche tellyth, howe ther ys in this worlde but stynke and; horrybylyte and a foule dongeon; in comparison/ of that heuynly blysse, yet hit ys so as her gostly fader seyth, and; nat the lese for her mysbelene. Neu;r-the-lese take hit for certeyn; that they shall; neu/r haue parte neyther ffelyng of that blysse*, but they wol beleue and; trust fully that hit ys so as theyrc moder; holy chyrche telleth. Wherfore wj'tAdrawe youre hert*j from erthely thyng»> and sette [not] yonre loue to T moche on; youre erthely mod;r, ne * truste her nat, for though she speke neu;r so fayre and behote yow neu;r so well;, she ys false and; woll; dysceyue yow at the last. For she fareth as the nykar;9 or" meremayden;, that cast11 opon; the wat;r syde dyuwse thyngi'j whyche semen; fayre 12 and gloryous to man;, but anone u as he taketh hit and; weneth to be sure theroff, anon; she taketh hym; and; deuoureth hym. Ryght; so thyne erthely mod;r casteth onte fayre and; gloryons thywgw to thy syght/, she casteth oute grete rychesse and worldely goodys and; 14 worshyppes and; flesshly lustw, whyche ben; fastned; to li the rope off hope of longe lyff, and * assone as thow towchest hem;, that ys to say as sone as thow desyrest hem/ and laborest •w»'tA all; thy myght;, w/'tA all; thyne herte and witA all; thyne thought*'* '* to haue hem;, anone she draweth the rope off longe lyfe, that ys, she seyth 'thow1' arte yonge and may lyue longe, and; therfor laboure to haue goodys and; gete the worschypp, that thow mayst lyue esyly in thyne age. And thow" lyue in lechery, in glotony, in pryde, in extorsyon; or in any wrowgfull; takyng;, when; thou comest to age than shalt thow mowe doo grete almes, and so by prayers'* off pore mew shalt thow haue foryeuenesse3 ; and so thorow hope off longe lyfe and; of other mennes prayers l9 thowh20 thou lyue stylle in synne, [she] wyll; take and; deuoure the in the fyre off helle. And therfor trust her nat; but set thy trust, thyne hope, thyne loue in thy gostly moder that ys to beautenouse and trustfi]21 to be-leue opon; hyr, for she seyth nowther; behoryth but that12 shall; be performed;, yeff thou wolt obey to21 her; byddyngw*4. For yeff thou haddest felt ore seyn; the lest blysse that ys in heuyn;, then; all; the ioyes and lykyngw that thow hast in thys worlde of erthely thyng/V, shall; than;4 be to the grete bytt;raes, sorowe and; care. Example haue we off seynt Petyr whom Cryst ladde opon; the hyll; off Thabor w/tA lohn; and; lames, and ther he schewed; but a lytyll/ off [the]25 blysse of hys manhode, whyche was hys face shynyng as the sonne, hys clothys were whyte as snowe, and; Moyses and; Helyas appered; vrilA hym; in grete blysse and/ in grrte2' mageste. Than Petyr seyd; vnto oure lord; Jhera: Lord;, hit ys good to vs to be here, and make we thre tabernacles, on to the, another to Moyses, and 4 another to Hely, and late us all;wey dwelle her;' , and so anon; in the syght; of that lytell; blys in comparyson; off the blys that ys in heuyn/, he forgatte all; the blysse off thys worlde, for he cared; neyther; for mete ne1T drynke ne28 for clothywg; 2thym thought; he myght; haue lyned; there* w»tAoutyn; ende by that blysfull; syght;, Lut. 9°. Also seynt Powle was rauysshede in to heuen; and; had; seen; the vysyons and the pryuytees off god; ; aft;rward/ all/ hys lyfe in thys worlde was to hym/ a peyn;, so moche he longed; agayne t that blysse: wherfore he seyd;: Infelix ego homo sum, quis me libcrabit de corport [mortis] huius. that ys: '[I] vnsely man/, who shalk delyu/rr me from the body [< this deth? I c'ovett to be departid the sonle from the body] and to be w*tf wrtfoutyn/ ende?3 Moyes was with god; in the mount of Synay fourty dayes and fourty nyghtes meteles and; drynkles, fedde" be the pr;sence and the speche c god/; and yet sawe he but lytell; off hys blysse. Sythen/ than Petyr, Powle,

i R holy g. * Ms. (and R) and* pod,. » R for overl. 'am in R. » R it It m« t 10. • R glorious? bl. •• R «urr. • R and. » R neldr. » R or the. R *J« «J-

"Rgoldefeir. » R als sone. " R & worldely w •» R bi. »*£•*• . .*£? ton. " thogh thou. » R prayer. » R if- « R «ste ^. « R byddynge. * Ms. hys. » R om in grete. * R ne for. R nethir.

hym. *• R full.

28*

436 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Harl. 1706]

and Moyses werene fulfylled* and myght haue lyfede wzt/;outen£ ende in1 the syghtif off that lytelk blysse, moche more then^ after the day of dome alk tho that shullen*? be sauyd? and go 2 to blysse bothe body and soule, shullen? be fulrylled^- •with ioye, blysse and comforte whyche neuer shalk haue ende.

Now, brother or syster that heryst or redest 3 thys sympylk wrytyng, take hede off thy horse, whyche ys thy body, that he be made buxom<? and mylde vnto the soule whyche ys hys master. Also take hede that the soule be well? armed* vfttk gostly armour, whyche been^ v^rtewes, and that the spere, [the] swerd?, and the shelde be nat lefte be-hynde; and haue mynde off thyn<? rewarde whyche ys putte in thyne eleccion^. Thy«ke what blysse thow mayst haue, yeff thow wolt trauayle and quyte the as a trewe knyght* in thys gostly batayle ; and ther-ayens what peyne, woo and tormentys thow shalt haue in fyre off hellf, yeff thow be a cowards and wylle nat fyghttf ayenst thy gostly enemyes but cowsentest to there wyked? counsellys and wyll? nat obey to goddys cowmaundement/j and to hys lawe. Also be ware off thy erthely moder that she dysseue the nat; but trust in thy gostly moder, for she ys trew and? trusty to truste vpon* and to be-leue vpone ; and yeff thou doo thus, than*? shalle thow come to endeles blysse whyche maw was ordeynedtf to in hys furst creacion?, amen.

Explicit tractatus de bello spirituali et Armatura pertinente.

i R by. 2 R com. 3 R seiste.

Treatises of Ms. Univ. Coll. Oxf. 97.

The following 5 pieces are given from Ms. Univ. Coll. Oxf. 97, written at the end of the 14th century; they are also all extant in Ms. Addit. 22283 (Simeon Ms.), which, though mainly a copy of Ms. Vernon, in these pieces copies the Univ. Coll. Ms.; all except the 2nd are found in Ms. Laud 174, the Ist and 5th in Mss. Harl. 1706 (2nd half of the Ms. , Ff V. 45, Ff VI. 55, Tanner 336, Douce 13 ; the 5th in Ff II. 38 f. 6. The Ist and 5th have been ascribed either to R. Rolle or to Wicliffe (cf. Tanner s. v.}, but belong probably to neither, being — with the rest of the tracts — the works of a southern author of the end of the century. Ms. Univ. Coll. is the leading Ms.

9. (The myror of synneres).

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, p. 253.

(An abridged, free translation of the Speculum peccatoris, ascribed to St. Augustine (Opp. Migne VI, 983), St. Bernard, and R. Rolle').

Heere bigynneth a sentence ful good and profitable to rede, which is i.-cleped 'the myrour of synneres3.

_F or pat we been in the wey of this failyng lyf ande oure dayes passen as a schadewe, perfore it nedeth ful ofte to recorde in oure mynde that2 onre freelte and oure deedly seeknesse maketh vs so ofte to for^ete. But what thyng is pat? Certis, it is pat highe sentence of hooly writ pe whiche al-my^ty god, wilnyng oure profit porugh his grace, hath ijeuen to vs by pat blessed Moyses his pwphete, seienge thus: Vtinam sap&cent fy intdligzxcnt , ac nouissima prouiderent* , that is: Wolde god pat men sauouredyn and vnderstoden, and purueieden for the laste thynges ! O pat noble and pat profitable sentence, not oones but ofte-tymes needful to be rehersed, that is : Wolde god pat men sauouredyn and vnderstoden and purueieden for the laste thynges ! *([ My deere brother, i. prey pee vnderstond wel what pow redist. For pe bisy vnderstondyng of this sentence is distruccion of pruyde, quenchyng of enuye, medicyne of malice, dryuyng awey of licherie, voidyng of boost and of vanytee, infonnacion of leernyng, pwfeccion of hoolynesse,

1 The Mss. (Vesp. E i, Reg. 17 B XVH, &c.) mostly contain an abridgment of the original Latin tract, and it is perhaps this abridgment which is owing to R. Rolle.

2 al. pat ping bat. 3 Deut. 32. 29.

The Mirror of Sinners.

437

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]

and reparaylyng of euerlastynge heelthe, and perfore the prophete pleinyng oure greete blyndenesse, preieth with pitee seiynge thus: Wolde god pat men sauouredyn and vnderstooden and purueiedyn for the laste pinges! But alias, alias! for al to fewe ban this vertew , fful fewe peer been pat sauouren pis heelful sentence: fful fewe there been pat setten bifore pe ei^en of here mynde pe knowynge of here owen infirmyte, here bodily corrapcion, pe mynde of here synnes, pe day of here deeth, and the horrible peynes of belle. Be-hold now, freend, how profitable a myrour it is for synneres, the inwardly biholdyng of this highe sentence, that is: Wolde god pat men sauouredyn and vnderstoden1, and purueieden for the laste thynges ! For ijef pow ofte biholde thi-self in this myrour, and ?ef how bisily studye to sette thus pi-self bifore thy-self. doutelees, thow schalt be strengere pan Sampson, moore waar pan Dauyd, and wiser than Salomon. Thise men, for pei weren rechelees in biholdyng of hem-self in this myrour of for[e]sight, thei fellen in to here lusty desires, and to blyndenesse of hen; flesch. And sitthe pise men fellen in to so horrible synne, in the whiche theer was so greet strengthe, so heigh wisdom, and so greet waarnesse : with how muche studye mooten we panne awake in biholdyng on this myrour, in the whiche is soo muche freelte, so greet vnkunnyng, and so muche recheleeshede. And for this skyle been pise pre men i.-red and i.-spoken of in hooly churche, that pel schulden be to vs a myrour of for[e]seynge, and not to pe ensaumple of fallynge ; so pat noon of vs truste in his owene strengthe, ne presume in his owene wisdom, but euermoore to be bisy for the helthe of oure soule, and neuere to for^ete cure deedly corrupcion. For alle pei pat been recheles in suche maner of lokynge in this myrour, neither thei sauouren, ne thei vnderstondyn , ne pei bysyen hem to purueye for the laste pinges. And for pat we schulden euere be bisy aboute this studye of bif ore- waarnesse , the sentence of god moeuyth vs, seiynge thus: The men that been withouten counseil and purueauwce, wolde god pat thei sauouredyn, and vnderstoden, and purueieden hem for pe laste thynges! ^f To this heelful sentence loke pat pow biholde, and that nous;t. passyngly, but with greet studye & ris;t good auysement : ffor riijt as encens smelleth not but ^ef it be put in to the fuyr, so no sentence of hooly scripture may sauoure to the redere ne to pe herere peerof but ?ef it be i.-boyled in2 herte with bisy and brennyng studye of it. And therfore, wolde god pat men sauouredyn, and vnder- stoden, and purueieden for the laste thynges. Biholde, brother, thre thynges been set bifore pe in this myrour: Sauoury knowyng, vnderstondyng, and pur- ueaunce. For god wole that pow sauoure pat f)0u knowest; that pow vnderstonde; and pat [pow] be of good purueaunce. ^f As for the firste, god wole pat pow knowe pat this lyf is passyng, al bilapped in wrecchednesse, soiet to alle maner of vanytee, defouled with filthes of synne, corrupt with couetise, and pat it schal pmsshe with-ynne schort tyme ; so pat in as muche as this world is knowen to bee moore vil, in so muche it may the li/,tloker be dispised for loue of pat lif that euer schal laste. f For the secounde, god wole pat pow vnderstonde pat pow koome naked in to this world, and naked pow schalt goon hennes8; ffor of eerthe pow weere i.-maad, and in to eerthe pow schalt turne. Wepynge pow koome in t( this wrecchednesse, with teene and traueil pow hast endured thi dayes, and with sorwe & woo pow schalt passe hennes. Vnderstond perfore how wooful i entree, how chaungeable is thy lyuynge heere, & how feerful is thy passyng awe] Ande passyng al this vnderstonde.. i. prey pee, that in this vaale of weepyng pow art bothe seeke and an outlawe, ful poore in vertues, fful vnstable in thy lyuyng and happily thow schalt not abide til to-morwe. Oo brother, ful wel bee ?ef bowe sauoure & vnderstonde thise thynges pat i. telle pee, and ?et wolt write hem in thyn herte as in a book ; & namely ?ef thow bisye the to keepe thy mynde thise two versis' next folwynge : Vine deo gratus, mundo toto fumu/atus Crimine mttvdatus, semper tcznsire paratus, that is: Lyue thankful 1 buried al to the world, Maad al cleene of synne, & reedy euer to goon hent Lo nowe, my deer* brother, now hast pow i-seye in this myrour what J sauoure and what thow schalt vnderstonde. ^ But now as for the thndde, It

Ms. vnderstonden.

al. in the. » lob i. at. * Sim. vers. » r. toti.

438 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]

see what pow schalt purueye : preynge thus with the prophete : No turn, fac michi domine finem. meum, it numerum dierum meorvm quis esf. ut sciam quid desit michi1, that is : 'Lord, make myn eende i.-knowe to me, & which is the noumbre of my dayes, that i. may knowe what me fayleth3. O pat profitable preyer, pat heelful contemplaciown, and pat necessarie askynge of god; nou^t for to coueite to knowe bifore tymes & momentis, the whiche the fader of heuene hath sette in his owen power, but pat pow knowe and vnderstonde that pow art but an outlawe, a gest, and a pilgrym heer in this wrecchide lyf, a freel man and a feble, and luytel while abydyng vpon pis eerthe. For ^ef pow biholde wel to the schort- nesse of this lyf, and seest how the lakketh sufficeaunt tyme to fulfille inne penaunce for thy synnes in trew keepyng of the heesris of god and in encresyng of thi p^rfeccion , pow schuldest bothe sauoun; and vnderstonde ; and ^ef pow wolt sette the sodeynte of deeth bifore pe ei^en of pi mynde, doutelees pow schuldest panne withouten lette dispise al pe boost of pis lyf, pe bisynesse of worldly vanytee, & alle pe lustes pat longen to the flesch, and sette wise & waar kepynge of thi wittes, and bisily purueye pee for the laste thynges. For alle wise men awaiten as bisily to the eende of euery thyng, as to the bigynnyng, and rathere moore; & verreily he is proeued for wise, that so wel penketh of rekenyng bifore rekenyng, pat he may after in tyme of rekenyng eschewe peril of rekenyng. ^f But now p^rauenture pow seist to me thus : 'Sire, i am al reedy to doo after the counseil of god, pat i. may sauoure & vnderstonde & purueye for the laste thynges : but whiche been my laste thynges that pow spekest of?3 Soothly thei been thoo the whiche pe holy goost spekith of to pee by Salomon, seiynge thus: Fili , in omnibus memorare nouissima, et inefernum. non peccabis , pat is: 'Sone, in alle thynges haue in mynde thy laste thynges and pow schalt not synne wzt^-outen eende'. He synneth with-outen eende, that deserueth peyne withouten eende; the which synne and peyne a man may redilokest eschewe by contynuel thenkynges of his laste thynges, as it is schewed by thise verses2 that folwen: Non melius poterit caro luxuriosa domari, Mortua qualis erit quzm semper premeditari , that is: 'A lecherous flesch may no better be temed, than euere to thenke byfore what it schal be after pat it is deed3. And therfore ful blessed schalt pow be ^ef p<m holde with contynuaunce this holy bithenkyng of thi laste thynges.

_Dut whiche been pise laste thynges for the whiche men schulden purueie?' Sykerly thei been tho thynges that schullen falle to pee in that feerful hour of thi deeth, whan pi wrecchede soule schal passe out of thi careful body dredyng and quakyng. For trust it wel pat in pat dreadful hour pee were leuer to haue the freendschip of god3, pan alle the lordschipes of the world. For whiche of thi freendis pou^ thei comen with swerdis & armes, with oostis of poeple or with mylions of goold, mowe in pat laste grisly and dreedful hour doo pee eny comfort or help? Sothly, peer schal noon mowe comforte the of alle pat pow now loueste cleerly without a cleene conscience of thyn owene, pough pow loke to be holpyn of men; for refut schal peer noon bee panne, but at god al-one. Thenk per- fore by the self, i. prey pee, with what dreed he schulde be dred, wz'tA what loue he schulde be loued, and with what honour he schulde be worschiped, oure lord & oure god verrey Crist Ihesu , the whiche oonly by hym-self is my?ty to do vs refut after oure deth. And perfore bryng it ofte to * thi mynde, that dreedful day of thy passynge , and eer thi wrecched soule departe fro the prison of thi flesch, let it purueye whider it may goo. Worche perfore nowe suche thynges that mowen bothe helpe & spede pee in pat way, and leeue pilke thynges pat mowen lette pee. ^[ In this maner of thenkynge the soule conceyueth forthenkynge, fforthenkyng bryngeth forth confessiouw , and confession norisscheth amendynge and ful asseth makyng5, and alle thise togidere engendryn in a man verrey hope strecchyng in to god, and parfit meeknesse in a man self. For what thyng is in eny mannes wit pat sonner meeuyth a man to mekenesse, to kepyng of hym-self fro vanytee, to voydynge of vnri^twisnesse, & to p^rfecciouw of holynesse, than

1 Ps. 38. 5. 2 S vers. 3 Lat. crede mihi, ad huius rei tremende consideracionem maluisse debueras providenciam possidere, quam totius mundi dominationem. * S in. 5 al. Lat.

The Mirror of Sinners. Ms. Univ. Coll. 97] '

doth the consideraciouw of a mannes corrupciouw and hys freelte, of his deedly- nesse, and of the dreedful day of his deeth? For whan a man bi'gynneth to wex seek & his seeknesse groweth , be conscience dreedith, be herte quaketh, the heed stoupeth, the wyttes waasten, his strengthe faileth, the visage wexeth p'aale, the tunge engleymeth , the teeth stynkyn, the speche wexeth thynne, the breeth gooth awey, the body croketh, the flesch widerith, and alle the beaute is turned in to filthe and corrupciou«; whan the body is buried, it faileth in to powdir, & is turned alle in to wormes. Bihold now, brother, this is an horrible sizt ; but it is a [ful] profitable myrour. O ful happy is he pat bisily biholdeth hym-se'lf in this myrour: ffor peer is no craft, medicyne, ne techyng, pat so soone distruyeth vice, & plaunteth vertewes, as doth pe inwardly biholdyng thus of a mannes laste thynges. And perfore, wolde god pat men sanouredyn & vnderstoden, and purueiedyn for the laste thynges ! ^f For what thyng, after pat it is deed, waxeth so vyl as a man? For the flesch of a man is moore vyl than the skyn of a schepe1. For though a schepe dye, sum profit cometh peerof: the skyn is take fro the flesch, and on it men writen in both sydes; and whan a man dieth, alle dieth with hym the flesch, be skyn & be boones. Be a-schamed, bow pronde man, bee aschamed ! thow pat hast moore likynge to leerne & to reede on the bokes of vanytees than on the bookes of holy writ ! £it be a-schamed, & heer« what the prophete seith to pee and to alle suche in his psalme: Apprehenditc disciplinam, ne guando irascatur doroitms et pereatis de via iusta, that is: 'Take ;e techyng of amendement of maneres, lest oure lord bee agreued and ^e p^nssche fro the ri^te way'.

\J how feerful a sentence is this , and howe muche to be drad ! ffor it is openly schewed be this sentence, that alle poo schullen pmsshe that taakyn not this heelful techyng of amewdement. And therfore oure lord seith pus by Moyses his prophets : Onrnis anima que non fuerit afflicta die hac, peribit de popwlo meo, that is : 'Euery soule schal pmsshe pat chastiseth not it-self by hertly forthynkyng and laweful amendement of his maneres, 'this day', that is to seye : in this present lyf, whan the li^t of grace & of mercy schynyth openly , take it who take wole ; ffor who so wol not now taake tyme of forthynkyng, schal after hys deeth haue no place of for^euyng. And perfore be score a-dred bow wrecched chaityf synner, pow proude flesch, thow vile careyne, bee score a-dred ! bow wrecche, bee a-dred ! Cast awey thi pruyde, fflee fro vanytee, and taak to the this heelful techyng of amendement, lest pow pmssche. Be-hold in this myrour and see what pow hast been, what p0u art, and what thow schalt bee. *{ Thenk of how vile a mater pow woxe vp in thy modris wombe, how vyl al thywg is whan it passeth fro thee, be it neuer so deynteuous whan thow receyuest it; and last of alle, bihold how vile wormes mete bow schalt be lyggyng in thy graue. Bihold now, bow wrecche, what mateer pow hast of sorwe moore than of ioye, what mater of meeknesse moore pan of pruyde. And what so euer pat fooles doon, loke euer pat pou be muwnyng2 of thy-self : Let the world wexe vil to pee, eer thou be vil to hit. And ouer al pis bihold in this myrour how pat in the laste horrible & dreedful houre, whan thi wrecchide soule schalle passe fro thi body, anoon peer schullen be reedy & present a greet & an horrible multitude of wykked spirites, mynistres of the foule feend of belle, ri^t as it weeren as meny lyouns rorynge for to chase thy soule as for here pray, ^ Thanne sodeynly peere schullen appeere ful horrible plases of peyne and of derkenesse, Places of drede and of quakynge, Places of gryndynge of teeth & of wepyng<?. Theer schal bee fretynge of wormes, and the hidous noyse of punysschede sonles cryengge: 'Woo! Wool Woo be to vs, be synful wrecchede sones of Eue' I And whan alle thise thynges and oother moo lyk to pise, 5jee and a powsand-foold worse thynges pen mowen be spoken, [ben]3 i-herd, i-seye and felt of the wrecchid soule passynge out of the caareful body: how grysely and how muche dreed, feerdnesse & tremblynge schal thanne be in it, the whiche tunge may not telle. ^f But no[w] i. aske of thee, seyenge thus: f What schal it thanne profits to pe al thy boost of knwnynge,

1 Cf. I p. 428 v 364. 2 S mungyng (H myndful). » om in Mss.

440

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Univ. Col!. 97]

pe pompe of the poeple1, the vanytee of the world2, and al the dignytee of worldly couetise?3 Sothly, it schalle but encrece thi peyne & thi woo, and after the quantite of thi lusty lyuyng heere, schal stoonde the quantite of thi peyne peere. And therfore amende pee now, whiles tyme is of mercy, so pat bow be not dampned in the dreedful day of goddes greete vengeaunce. And leerne wel, eer pow go hennes, to sauoure, to vnderstonde , and wisely to purueye pee for the laste binges ; so pat pow bee euere-moore reedy, what tyme pat oure lord cometh to clepe thee, for to entre with hym in to the blisse bat euer schal laste. To pe whiche blisse god brynge vs, that boughte vs with his precious blood. AmeN.

10.

A meditacion of pe fyue woundes of Ihesa Crist. Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, p. 262*.

JJyhold specialy in pe fyue mooste notable wouwdes , two in his blessed hoondys, & two in his blessed feet, and be mooste opene wounde in his ri/,t syde. In to thise woundys of Cristes blessed hoondys & feet, with Thomas of Ynde put In thyne fyngres, that is to seye thyne mooste sotyle pousjtes & desires. And in the wouwde of Cristes blessed syde, sytthen it is the largeste and deppest, put in alle pin hoond, that is to seye al pi lyf and alle pine werkes, and peere feel Cristes herte so hoote louynge pee ; ande also peere feel Cristis blessed herte-blood sched for thee and to rauwsome thi soule , also peere feel the watir of Cristis syde stremynge out as of a welle of lyf, for to wassche pe and alle mankynde of synne. And panne cleeche vp watir of euerelastynge lyf withouten ende of pise fyue mooste opene wouwdis of Crist as out of fyue welle-sprynges. And vnderstond, see & bihoolde & leerne pat pe wounde in Cristes ri^t hoond is the welle of wysdom. The wounde in Cristis lyft hoond is the welle of mercy. The wounde in Cristis ri^t foot is the welle of grace. The wounde in Cristis lyft foot is the welle of goostly comfort. The largeste and the deppeste wounde be whiche is in Cristis ri^t syde, is the welle of euerlastyng lyf. ^f Out of pe welle of wysdom in Cristis ri^t hoond, cleech vp pe holsum watir of trewe lerynge and techyng ; leerne peere how muche Crist god and man louede mannes soule, and how precious is mannes soule , ffor by-cause of the greete loue of mannes soule Crist Ihwu, pat is the wysdom of the fadir of heuene, schulde and wolde by be ordynaunce of the blessede trynytee suffre his ri^twys ri^t hoond so dispitously to be nayled to pe cros. ^[ Out of pe welle of mercy in Cristis lyft hoond, cleech vp deuoutly the swete watir of remission and for^euenesse of oure synnes, and leerne bisyly heere for thy sauacion this lessnn of mercy; for not-withstondyng pat the while mankynde was enemy to god, and eer that man hadde deserued it of god, ^et oure blessed fadir of heuene spared not his owen sone but sufFrede hym to be streyned on the harde cros, moortf dispitously & greuously pan euer was schepys skyn streyned on the wal or vp-on pe parchemyn-makeris harowe asjens pe sonne to drye , ffor it is likly pat pe blessede armes of Ihesu. Crist weren so soore i-strayned and sprad abrood on be cros for oure loue, pat pe veynes to-broston. Leerne heer panne in this welle of mercy in Cristis lyft hoond, in whos lyft hoond hongynge and weldynge been alle richesses in heuene and in eerthe, how muche is his loue & how greet is pat flood euer flowyng and also spryngynge of his mercy frely prtffred to man, pat suffrede so grisly and greuously his blessede armes to be sprad and nayled to be cros, to profre his mercy and hym-self to vs his vnkynde enemyes. Therfore sitthen euerlastynge goode god hath it of kynde, of custome & of my^t to do mercy, pat neuer may ceese ne faile but ^ef god loste his kynde, or 10,rte5 his vertue, or loste his my^t; but sitthe this may neuer faile in goode god al my^ty, al connynge & al welwillynge : perfore tristily and stedefastly out of pis welle of the wounde of Cristys lyft

S world. 2 5 people. 3 Lat. terrene cupiditas dignitatis. * In Ms. Simeon, this

piece is found fol. 6ib. 5 Ms. lefte.

A meditation of the five wounds of Christ. AA\

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97)

hoond clecch vp be watir of euerlastynge mercy of Ih«u Crist. % Out of \>e welle of grace in Cristys ri?,t foot, clecch vp be watir of goostly refresschynge, by bithenkyng be inwardly what grace of sauacion was profred to vs alle in pat pat Crist hym-self wolde suffre his ri^t foot so grisly to bee wounded of the whiche foot holy wryt speketh pat the foorme pat it tredith vp-on is worschipful for it is holy ; and so hard to be nayled to the cros bat he wolde neu^re parte fro thee but ^ef bow wolt alweies forsake hym. Heere p<m mys;t li^tly cleche vp watir of greet grace profred to vs alle. ^[ Out of pe welle of gostly comfort in Cristys lyft foot, cleech vp pe loyeful watir of spiritual comfort & gladnesse, bat pe kyng of blisse louede so hertly oure soules bat for sanacion of vs he wolde suffre so soore a wonnde with bat hydous nayl borugh his lift foot bat was so tender — ffor beer koomen to-gidere foe veynes fro Cristys herte ; and bus suffrede oure blessede Ihmi for helpyng of vs. Heer we mowen cleche vp of bis blesside welle watir of goostly comfort and ioyeful gladnesse of oure soules with-outen eende. ^f Out of be largeste and deppeste welle of euere-lastyng lif in pe moste opene wounde in Cristys blessed syde , cleech vp deppest and hertyliest watir of ioye and blisse withouten eende, biholdyng beere Inwardly how Crist Ih«u god and man, to brynge bee to euerlastynge lyf, suffrede bat harde and hydous deeth on be cros and suffrede his syde to be opened and hym-self to be stongyn to be herte with bat grisly spere, and so with bat deelful strook of be spere beere gulchide out of Cristys syde bat blysful floode of watir and blood to rauwsone vs, watir of his syde to wasshe vs, and blood of his herte to bugge vs. For loue of pise blessede woundes creep in to bis hoot baab of Cristys herte-blood , and peer bathe bee; ffor beer was neuer synne of man ne of wo^zman bou^t ne wrou^t bat was laft with louely sorowe and hertly repentauwce, pat peer ne ys in pis welle fully remyssion to buggen it, and watir of lyf fully to clensen it and wasshen it. Therfore reste bee heere, couwforte bee heere, lyue in Cristys herte wztA-outen eende AmeN.

(Follows E. Rolle's Form of living.,

II.

Heere bigynneth a ful good meditacion for oon to seie by him-self al-oone. Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, p. 305.

^ef bou coueite to be maad cleene in soule as it may be heere, of al be stathel of synne the which wol alweies leeue in bee after pi confession be bow neuer so besy, so bat bow mowe by bat clennesse bee maad able to receyue be special grace of god in encresynge of pi perfection : thanne bihoueth be a certeyn tyme ny?,t by ny^t or day by day contynuyngtf, as longe as be binketh it doth1 be good, in sum pryue place [be] by pi-self, and beere gedere to-gidere be my^tes of bi soule, & specially pi mynde, in biholdyng of bi wrecchide lyuyng, seiynge bus with herte or with mowth, or with bothe to-gedere, ;ef be bothe leste, & ^ef be penketh bat it doth be good to do so : 'Lord Ihmi Crist', and eft-soones reherse bise thre wordes clord Ihesu Crist', til be tyme bat be benke & bat bow feele verreily bin herte acorde with bi mouth, and panne passe forth & not erst, bough bow schuldest seie it neuer so ofte til bat it so bee. And whan fiat it is so , seie banne pi forth as i. telle pee, with pat saame acordaunce of herte and with mowth : 'Lord Ihwu Crist, i am pat wrecche, be mooste wykkede synnere & foe mooste wlatsum of alle , be whiche so wondirfullye haue wratthed bin highe maieste & so ofte jpat my wyt may not suffice2 to telle it; for my synnes been as be soond see, |>e whiche for multitude mowen not be noumbred'. In bis biholdyng & heere, bow schaU sighe and sorwe as deeply and as hertly as bow maist'; ffor, bat bat smythes 3 file dooth to be rusty iren , be saame goostly doth a sorweful

i S do. * S suffre. 3 S fee s.

AA2 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]

and a deep-fet sighynge to a synful herte. After pis biholdynge thus of bi

wrecchide lyuynge in general, bow schalt haue mynde and1 biholdynge of foe kyndenesse of bi lord god ; and seie bus, bothe with herte & with mouth as it is seid bifore : 'Lord god al-my2;ty, sum tyme whan i. hadde no beynge and was nou^t, bow brou^test me forth to bin ymage and to bi liknesse in to so noble a beeynge aboue alle oother creatures, borugh be whiche, hadde i. not synned, i. my^te haue had bee by grace in bis lif, and in bat oother haue seie bee face to face in blisse. And i, bis wrecchide erthely worm, foe mooste vyleste synnere of alle, haue in so muche deserued be streitnesse of bi ri^twys doom, bat but ;;ef bow helpe me ^euywg me pi mercy, it weere bettere to me neuere to haue been bore3. Heere schalt bow sighe & sorwe as bow dedist bifore. And after haue mynde of be kyndenesse of his incarnacion, seiynge bus, bothe with herte & with mouth ^ef be bothe luste : 'Lord Ihtf.ni Crist, art bow not he bat highe kyng of aungelis, so lowely mekynge bee and so wilfully for me takynge vpon pee alle foe charges & foe wrecchednesses of mankynde as hunger, burst, and coold, with al be remanant saue synne & ignorance ; and i. lord, this wrecchide erthely worm, not mekyng me but highyng me in so muche bat i haue displesyd pin highe maieste , chaungynge pee fat art pe welle of euerlastyngtf goodnesse for a fewe foule stynkynge fleschly delytes2 of pis wrecchide lif? A deere Ihtf.ru, whider may i flee? huyde me may i. not, and schew me dar i. not3. Heere schalt pow sighe & sorwe as pow dedist bifore. And after haue mynde of the kyndenesse of his passion , and seye pus : 'Was it not Inough to be, my swete lord Ih«u, bus to bicome man for be loue of man, but ^ef bow ouer bat for be releeuynge of so menye deedly wrecches tokest vpon pee to suffre so harde betynges, so iwnumerable woundes, bat fro be sole of f)i feet to be coronne of bine heed was no lyme ne skyn of bi blessede body bat it ne fomede fnl of bi precious blode? A, i. wikkede curside wrecche, what may i dob? i am cause of pi deeth. Wheer may i wone? for by ri^twis doom of resun alle the creatures f)at been .bitweene heuene & helle schulden fi^te a^en my oonly body. Nowe trewely, lord, i. am wel apaied pat bei so doo : Let hem ryse, lord, as bin owene seruaunt; of bin owene houshold, and venge with maistrie her lord & here makere of me fris straunche fremde wrecche , bat so traytourly haue been cause of my lordes turment3. Here bow schalt sighe & sorwe as foow dedist bifore, hauynge goostly mynde of his precious passion, wounde by wounde, to be holugh of his herte. But by-cause bat thise three kyndenesses bifore nempned,

pat is to seye : thy makynge , his mankynd takynge , and his prtfcious passion, haan bee do generally to alle oothere as wel as to pee : perfore schalt bow after bis haue special mynde of sum special kyndenesse doon to pin oonly body bifore menye oothere, and seye bus : 'A goode swete lord Thesn Crist , how menye as worth! and by a foousand-foold moore worthy ban i, han be snffred of bee, swete lord, for to dye, su/wme in here modres wombes, and suwme soone after here burthe bifore eny bapteem, and so to bee dampned to eendeles derknesse ; and suwme to lyue in here hethenesse to here [dethj-day, and so to be dampned to eendeles peyne? And i., sweete lord Ihtf.ru, of pin ouerhaboundaunt goodnesse & borugh be grace of bapteem am brou^t in to bi foold , be whiche is holy churche , to be a scheep of pi flokke pasturynge in pi lawe, pere be kept and saued fro pat apert dampnacion of alle mysbyleuywge'. Here schalt pow panke pi lord god as hertly as pow maist ; & after pow schalt faenke bus and seye with bi mouth : How meny moore worthy and fer moore able to grace banne i. am, by-cause of meny moo goode dedes doon after here bapteem pan i. haue doon after myn, been ri^tfully suffred of bee, swete lord, suwnne to been honged or heded, styked or drenched or sodeynly deed in sum deedly synne, and so to be dampned to eendeles fuyr? ^e sikerly, lord, it may be bat a bowsand moore worthy foanne

1 m. a. erased in S. 2 S dilices.

A meditation of St. Anselm. 447

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]

i. am haan bee lawefully dampned to pe boilywge put of helle, peere for to wone as longe as p0u schalt be in heuene, for fewere synnes pan i. haue doon myn oonly body. And ^et hast pow, my swete Ihmi, cleped me a? en to pe grace of repentaunce in pis lif, porugh be whiche i. may be kept & saued fro al apert vengeau«ce in pis lif, and after^ pis lif fro pat horrible dampnacion of alle fals cristene men in pe day of doom'. Heere schalt pow panke pi lord as hertly as pow maist ; and afterward penk pus & seye with pi mouth : 'Lord god fadir of mercy and of comfort, what schal i. doo? for i may not make amendis of myne i«numerable synnes pat i. haue wrecchedly wrou^t a?ens pi wil, I may not panke pee of pe oucrhaboundant goodnesse & kyndenesse pat pow hast graciously doon to me, and s;et i., pis1 stynkywge wrecche, vnnethes kan see pise greete kyndenesses doon to me. Now trewely, lord, i. weere worthy to be deed, slayn other hanged as an hound. But for i. may not sle me my-self, & also i. shulde not, perfore i. biseche pee, lord god al-my^ti, pat pow wolt sle me pi-self, pat so wrecchedly haue doon to pee. And ^ef it so bee pat pi greete pitee and pi greete goodnesse so bynde-In pi ri^twisnesse pat pow like not to slee me thy-self, panne i. biseche pee pat pow wolt sende pin anngel of ri^twisnesse with his brennynge swerd, to taake vengeaunce vpon me. And ?ef pi muchel meeknesse & pi grete mercy wol not suffre pee to fulfille pe vengeaunce pat i. haue deserued, and me ou;te not by bi lawe lord for to slee my-self for panne dampnede i. my soule, panne wol i. do pat in me is, and alle pat i. may doo: Heere i. ^elde me to pe as pi boonde-man and pi prisoner, & pi p^rpetuel seruaunt, and2 alle pe dayes of my lif neuer to departe fro pi seruyce. And pis, lord, wol i. do as mannes freelte wol suffre & specially myn, pe whiche freelte i. biseche pee to strengthe with pi grace for pi muchel mercy AmeN'. Heere shalt pow falle to pe grounde & ijelde f>ee to him as meekly and as hertly as pow maist ; and after pat sitte vp and reste pee, penkynge thus: How gode pat god is in him-self, and how fair pat he is in his anngelis, and how lordly pat he gouerneth alle hise creatures; and after pat, how swete he is in his loueres ; and last of alle , how mercyful he is in3 synneres. And panne seye pus bothe with herte and with' mowth, withouten eny feynyng^ : 'My goode Ihmi, haue mercy on me. My faire Ihmi, haue mercy on me. My lord Ihmi, haue mercy on me. My swete Ihmi, haue mercy on me. My mercyful Ihmi, haue mercy on me. And not oonly on me Ihmi bough i. haue most neede, but in alle be creatures quyke and deede whiche pow hast bou^t with thy pranous blood AmeN.'

12.

Heere is a good meditacion, the which seynt Anselme maade.

(A translation of St. Anselmi Meditationum II, (Migne 158, col. 722). Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, p. 310.

My lif fereth me score, ffor whan i. bisyli enserche it it semeth to me ourher synne, or withouten fruyt wel-nygh al my lif, and ?ef eny tyme peer be seyn eny fruyt peer-Inne, ?et it is panne but as it weere feyned, or imparfit, or n sum manere corrupt, so pat outher it may not plese god as it schulde do, o ellys it fully displesith him. Therfore now pow synful wrecche, pi neigh al, but fulliche al, outher it is in synne & dampnable, or it despisable. But wharto make i. departesun bitwene vufruytful and dampnab ffor it is certeyn & trewe bat Treuthe seyde him-self in be gospel: Orraus orb que* non facit fructum bonum, excidctur tt in ignem mittetur , that i

i om. in S. 2 r. in? » S in his. « Lat. adds: Utiquc, si est infroctuosa, e*t et

dampnabilis. 5 Ms. qui.

444

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]

'Euery tree fiat bereth not good fruyt schal be kut dozm and cast in to be fuyr'. And verreiliche, what profitable ping bat i do, outrely i. acounte it nou^t for to answers * to be sustynauwce of body bat i. mysuse. But who fedith eny beest be whiche pr<?fiteth not as muche as it wasteth? and ^et neuerthelees , mercyful god, bow norisschest, fedist, and abidist bin vnprvfitable worm, and stynkynge in synne. And wel i. may seie 'stynkynge in synne' : ffor withoute comparisun moore suffrable is a roten hound to men, ban is a synful soule to god; and muche moore wlatsum is such a soule to god, ban is such an hound to men. Alias alias , now may i. clepe be no man , but schame & repreue of al men, moore vile pan a beste, and worse ban a careyne. My soule is soore anoyed of my lif ; I am soore a-schamed for to lyue, and dye dar i. not. Therfore what schalt b0u now doo , a2 bow synnere? Certes nou?t , but bat al fai lyf bow wepe al pi lif. so bat it al weepe it al. But ^et in bis also is bi synful soule wrecchidly wondirful and wonderfully wrecchede, by-cause bat it sorweth not so muche as it knoweth bat hit schulde ; but pus it slepeth siker in slouthe, ri^t as it knewe not what it were worthy to suffre. What dost pow, p<?u bareyne soule? whi art pmi so slough, bow synful soule? t*e day of bi doom cometh, It is ri^t nei^ and swift in his comynge. A day of wrath is bat day. A day of trouble & of anguyssch. A day of caare and of wrecchednesse. A day of myst and of derkenesse. A day of cloude and of whirlewynd. A day of trumpe & of clarionynge3. A pat bitter voys of be dreedful day of oure lord! Whi slepist b<m, pow synful soule and worthy to be wlated ; whi slepist pow ? For who so waketh not, & who so quaketh not at so greet a punder, certes he slepeth not, but he is deed. Thow vnfruytful tree, wheer been bi fruytes? Thow tree pat art worthy an ax & a fuyr, worthy to be kut and brent, wheere been pi fruytes? Sothly pow hast nou^t but prikkynge pornes and bitter synnes ; be whiche wolde god pat pei prikkeden bee so soore by forthenkynge bat pei weren broke, and so schulden f> ei waxe to be so bittre bat bei schulden vanyssche awey. P^auenturtf bow wenest bat eny synne be luytel: but wolde god bat be streyte doomesman heelde eny synne luytel. But alias, is it not so bat alle synne by brekynge of goddes heestes vnworschipeth god? 7,ns sikerly, ^us. What synne panne dar eny synnere seie pat is luytel? forto vnworschipe god whanne is pat luytel? A pow druye and vnpr<?fitable tree worthy to euerlasty«g fuyr. what schalt p0u answere in pilke day , whan it schal been asked of pee to be twynclynge of an ee alle be tyme of lyuynge ^euen to be how p<m hast dispended it? Thawne it schal be dampned in pe what so euer may be founden of werk or of slouthe, of woord or of sylence , to be 4 leeste pou^t , 2;e and of alle bat bow hast i-lyued , ^ef it haue not be dressed to be wil of god. Alias ! how meny synnes schullen breste vp peere without warnynge as it were enemyes liggynge in a wait , be whiche pow seest not now? Certes fer moo, & happily moore grysly, pan been pilke pat p0u seest now. How menye pow wenest now been not yuele, how menye bow wenest now been gode, with open visage schullen panne schewen hem to pe alther-derkest synnes? Theere withouten doute p0u schalt receyue as pow hast wrou^t heere with pi body. Thanne, as now, schal not be tyme of mercy: Thanne, as now, schal no forthenkynge be receyued ne eny amendement suffred. Thenk perfore heere what bow art worthy to receyue peere, and what bow hast doo. ^ef pei been meny goodes and fewe yueles, make muche ioye; ^ef f>ei been [meny] yueles and fewe goodes, make muche sorwe. A thow vnprofitable synnere, whethir bise thynges suffice not to pee for to make in be hidous and greet gronyng in sorwe? whether bise binges suffice not to bee for to drawe out of bee mergh and blood in wepynges? Cursed be bat wrecchede hardnesse , be whiche bus heuy hameres been to liz;te for to breke ! A bat ouer-dulled slouthe, be whiche bus scharpe prikkes been to blunte for to stire! Alias for sorwe of bat deede slepe, be which so grisly a bunder is to hoos for to wakene ! A pow

1 Lat. nullatenus illud compenso alimentis. - Ms. And. * L. clangoris. 4 Ms.

A meditation of St. Anselm.

445

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vnprefitable synnere, ynouz bise thynges schulden bee to bee euenr1 for to contynewe in waymentynge: thise fringes oughten to suffice bee euermore to sobbe bisyly in wepynges. But wharto schal i. feynyngly be stille, and stele eny bing fro be eyen of my soule, of be heuynesse and be gretnesse of my wrecchede -<outhe : In pyne of pe whiche beer schal banne aryse withoute eny auysement so hastif sorwes & so wonderful woes, bat sodeynly of hem bere schal growe an vnsuffrable tempest? Ceertes, bow wykkede synnere, al bis spedeth not to pee. And nathelees, hou? i. seie al pat i. may penke, y,et may it not be lykned to bat j)at be bing is in it-self. And jberfore let pin eyen weep by day & by ny^t, and neuere to be stille. Put-to wei^te vp-on weiz.te, & sorwe vpon sorwe, fferdnesse vpon feerd- nesse, and woo vpon woo : ffor he schal deeme pee to whom it falleth to punysche what pat eny trespassour or inobedient to god synneth; be whiche hath zolde me good for euell<r, and to whom i ^elde yuel for good; the whiche is now be mooste suffrynge , and banne schal be be mooste vengynge ; now be mooste mercyful, panne be mooste netful. Alias alias, to whom haue i. synned? God i. haue vnworschiped. The2 al-my^ty i. haue wratthed. O i. wrecchede synnere, what haue 5. doo? to whom haue i doo? how yuele haue i doo? Alias pow wratthe of be al-my7,ty, falle bow not vpon me. Thow wrarthe of pe al- myzty, where maist pow be taken in me? Ceertes peer is no ping in al me bat may suffre bee. O be anguyssches and be annuyes bat schullen banne bee: For on bat oo syde schullen bee synnes accusynge, on bat oother syde streit riztfulnesse soore afferynge ; bynethe, be opene derkenesse of helle, aboue , pe wrathful domesman ; withinne, a smertynge concience, and withoute, pe brennywge world. Vnnethes be riztwys shal bee saued ; a synnere bus biseged, where schal he holde hym? Thus constreyned, when? schal i. huyde me? how schal i. appere? For to huyde me it schal be impossible, and for to appere it schal bee vnsuffrable. I schal seeche where to huyde me, but nowhere fynde it ; me schal agrise to appere, and euere i. schal be present. A who is he pat schal delyuere me fro pe hoondis of wratthed god? where3 schal i haue helthe? where schal i. haue counseyl? Who is he pat is cleped pe aungel of greet counseil, pe whiche is cleped sauyour, pat i may crye on his naame? Ceertes, it is Ihesu, he him-self is pe iuge whom i. dreede so soore. Looke vp perfore ax,en now, pow synnere, bee of good hope and dispeir« not. Hope in him whom pow dreddest. Fie to him fro whom bow fleddest. Crie vpon him meekly for mercy, whom p0u hast soorg agreued by pruyde. Ihi.ni, Ihesu, for pin naame Ihesu, do to me after pi naame Ihmi. Forget now Ihesu pis proude trespassour , and bihold with mercy bis wrecche clepyng pi naame, Thy sweete naame, Thy delitable naame, Naame of comfort to sywneres and of blessede hope. For what is Ihmi to seie but 'sauyour3? Therfore Ihmi, for bin owene self be to me Ihesus. Thow bat maadest me, lat me nouzt pmsschen. Thow pat bou?test me, lat me not be dampned. Thow pat maadest me porwe pi goodnesse, lat me not p^risschen boruz, my wykkednesse. And as bow art be mooste mercyful, suffre not my wykkednesse to leese bat bin al-myz.ty goodnesse hath maade. Mercyful Ihmi, i. biseche pee know bat bin is, and wipe it a-wey pat is ootheres. Ihmi, Ihesu, haue mercy whiles tyme is of mercy, pat pow dampne not in tyme of pi doom. For what profit schalk be to pee in my bloode, ;ef i. schal descende in to enerlastynge corrupcion? 'For dampnede men schullen noone preise pee, ne eny of poo pat goon down in to helle'1. 2^ef pow wolt suffre me lord entre in to pe broode bosum of bi mercy, it schal neuere bee be streiter for me. Receyue me berfore, moost desirable Ihmi, Receyue me with-inne be noumbr* of bin chosyn ; so bat i. bee fed in bee with hem, and preise pee with hem, and pat i. withouten eend ioye in pee, with alle poo pat louen pi name. Amen.

Ms. euere euere.

Ms. Thee.

Ms. Wheree. * Ps. 113. 17.

4.46 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

13. (Of three arrows on Doomsday).

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, p. 316.

(This piece is an imitation of that ed. I, p. 112, and which is undoubtedly R. Rolle's).

Of pree arwes pat schullen bee schot on domesday.

W ho so wol haue in mynde pe dreedful day of doom so pat he mowe be moeued wrtA dreede to flee fro synne, as pe wise man biddeth his sone — Memorare nouissima et ineternum non peccabis, pat is : 'Haue mynde on pe laste fringes, pat is day of doom , and it schal kepe pe fro synne' : heere ^e mowen fynde sum- what writen peerof, how oure lord speketh by Ysaie fte prophete seienge pus : Egredietur dormaus de loco suo vt visitet ini quit at era. habitatormn. ttrre , pat is : 'Oure lord schal weende out of his place for to visite pe wikkednesse of hem pat enhabiten foe eerthe'. Ceertes pis doom schulde souereynly be drad; ffor, as muche as he now doth mercy, so muche schal be panne doo- streit vengeable ri^twisnesse. For it is of god in liknesse , as it is of be sonne. The sonne holdynge his cours passeth out of pe signe of pe lyozm in to pe signe of pe virgyne, and out of pe signe of pe virgyne in to pe signe of pe balaunce. The lyoun is a strong beest and a fel, & in pis signe was Crist pe sonne of ri^twis- nesse bifore pe incarnaciouw ; ffor pat tyme he was so fel pat what man pat braake hise biddynges, anoon he schulde bee deed — ffor, as it is seid, a man was doon to deeth for he gederede srikkes on be sabat-day. But out of pis signe of pe lyoun he passide in to pe signe of pe virgyne, whan he took man- kynde & was borne of be virgyne Marie: and panne was he rnaade moore redy to doo mercy, pan euere he was to doo vengeaunce. Thanne it bigan, & ^et it lasteth, pat he, pat seide whawne he was in pe signe of pe lyoun: Anima que peccauerit cito morietur, pat is : 'The soule pat synneth, anoon it schal dye' ; now, wha«ne he is in be signe of pe virgyne, seith pus: Nolo mortem pecc&toris , sed magis ut conuertatur et -viuat , pat is: 'I wol not pe deeth of a synnere, but moore bat he be turned peer-fro and lyue'1. But, certes, out of pis signe pus of pe virgyne, he schal passe in to pe signe of pe balaunce, at be day of doom, wheer^ he schal weye alle omv pou^tes, our* woordes, and oure werkes in euene peys of his ri^twisnesse , pat he may ^elde to euery man after pe trouthe of his desert. And what he schal panne doo? heere pow what he seith now by be prqjhete: Congregabo super eos mala, et sagittas meas complebo in eis , pat is: 'I schal heepen vpon hem here eueles, and i schal dispende alle myne arwes vpon hem'. Three scharpe arwes schullen bee schot of oure lord in pat day vpon hem pat peere schullen be dampned. The firste arwe schal be of clepynge to pe doom, whan as him-self seith: Venit hora ut omnes qui in monumentis sunt, audient vocem filii del, et piocedent qui bona egerunt m resurreca.o'o.em vtte, qui vero mala, in resutrecdonem iudicii , pat is : 'Tyme schal come pat alle poo pat been in graues , schullen heere be voys of pe sone of god, and so passe forth to pe doom'. Thanne pe wrecched dampned soule schal come to pe body, and seye to hit: 'Aryse bow curside caityf careyne, fro bis tyme forth withouten eny eende to be felow to be deuel, and enemy to al-my^ty god. Now pi ioye scha be turned in to woo , pi delit in to bitternesse , and pi lau^tre in to wepynge. Now pi wrecchide schort lust schalle passe in to euerlastynge sorwe. Now it is fulliche fallen fro the, what so pow desiredest ; now it is comen to pee alle pat pow dreddest. Now it is agoo al pat pow louedest ; and now it is comen al pat pow hatedest. Cursid be pow, pow wrecched careyne; for in pyne of pi synnes, bi delices, and pi wykkednesses , sith i. passide fro pee i. haue besyly brend in helle. Cursed be pow helle-bronde, ordeyned to be fuyr of helle f>at neuere schal be quenched. Cursed be foe tyme in foe whiche i. first was coupled

1 Ms. lyuen.

Of three arrows on Doomsday. **-

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]

to pee, for now i. may not leeue pee, thi cursed companye i. may not eschewe ; wol i. or nyl i., I am constreyned to be knyt a?en to pee. Goo we berfore to- gidre bifore be dreedful domesman, beere for to heere oure euerlastynge damp- nacion'. Thanne shullen alle be \vykkede men see he iuste cause of here owene dampnacion writen with here owene hoondes in be book of here consciences, boothe leerid and lewed, and reedyn it hem-self. And ^ef bou seie bat lewede men kunne not reede, .i. seye bat beer is noon so lewede bat he ne kan reede be lettre of hys owene writynge. Thanne pei schullen see be domesman as he ween? wood, forwratthed a^ens hem. Of bis woodnesse & bis wrarthe speketh pe pr^phete in be firste psalme of penaunce , where he preieth to be delyuered of hem boothe, seienge bus: Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me, nefac in ira tua corripias me, That is: 'Lord, in hi woodnesse ouercome me not with skiles, and chastise me not in pi wratthe'. Noman penke bat wratthe or wood- nesse or eny suche troubled mannes passion may be in god ; but herfore bei been set in scrz'pture , for pe werkes of god in punysschynge and vengynge of synne schullen taake effect of suche passions as been wratthe and woodnesse in al synneres, bat outher schullen be chastised by pyne pat schal haue eende as is purgatorie , f> e whiche pyne is cleped heere pe wratthe of god , or elles bat schullen be pyned by vengeaunce in pe horrible peyne of helle pat neuer schal haue eende, be whiche is cleped heere pe woodnesse of god. Al bis pe pro- phete Dauid sau? in spirit, and perfore he in p^rsoone of alle synneres, felyng him vnmy^ty to bere euer either, first asketh to be delyuered of helle, and sitthen of purgatorie , seienge pus Domate ne in furore &c. , as ijef he seide pus to oure vnderstondyng : 'Lord, i. biseche pee pat in pe dreedful day of doom, wheere bow schalt haaue be to synneres as a man bat weere wood, spaaryng no ping, pat bow ouercome me not vfiiA skiles in fynal. conclusion, so bat i. be not convict for euere and be ateynt in a schameful inconuenyent of euerlastynge reproeue; & herfore i. seye Argue me not, ffor arguynge, as clerkes knowen wel, is to ouercome an oothere with skiles. But 3jef me grace, goode lorde, so to argue and forto ouercome with skiles of pi lawe pe erroures of my blynde conscience heer£ in pis lif, whiles tyme is of mercy, pat i. may hertly forthenke hem, and cleerly confesse hem, and lawefully amende hem, by ensaumple of newe cleene lyuyng to men, feruent preier to god, and by discreet chastisement of my-self been: whiles i. lyue , so bat p0u haue no wil to chastise me in fai wratthe after his lif in purgatorie. And pat it be bus, Miserere mei domine ?nonia/» infirmus sum, pat is: Haue mercy on me lord; for i. am vnmyijty to beie euereyther, that is pin arguyng in be doom, ne pi chastysement in purgatorie, but it so be bat i. be vp born with fai mercy3. O that dreedful day of oure lord ! Panne schullen alle wykked men see hem sitte in be doom with Crist, whom bei haue heere dispised; and in pis sight been troubled with an horrible dreede, seyenge pe woorde of be wise man: Hii sunt quos aliquando habuinms in derisum Sfc. Not insensati $c.1, pat is: 'Thise been boo be whiche sum tyme we hadden in scorn and despit. We vnwitty wrecches heelden here lif woodnesse, and here eende withouten honour : but lo now how bei been acounted amonges be sones of god'. Thanne amonges al bat multitude f>ei schullen not fynde oon pat schal haue compassion of hem , but alle schullen bee glaade & consent with god in here iuste dampnacion, after pe woordes of pe psalme seienge pus: Letabitur ittstus cum viderit vindictam, pat is: 'The ri^twis man schal be gladed whan he schal see pe vengeaunce5. Thanne, as Crist seith in pe gospel: thei schullen seche for to entn: in to pe creuys of stones, and in to pe swelwys of pe eerthe, fro pe dreedful face of oure lord. Thanne schullen pei preie monteynes to falle vpon hem, and hulles to huyden hem, so woo pei schullen be on euery syde. And bis is be wounde of be firste arwe. The secounde arwe schal be an arwe of scharp repreuyng of alle fals cristene men , whan he schal seie to hem bus : 'I was an-hungred, and ?e ^eue me noo mete; I was a-burst and i£ ;eue me no drynke; I was naked and ?e ?eue me* noon herbere; I was seek and in prison

' Sap. 5.3. 2 H adds no clothes ; I was a geste and ze ^ai* me.

448

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]

and ;e visyted me not ne dede me no. comfort'. O what bis voys schal bee dreedful whan it schal be seid to. hem bat as ofte as foei deden not bise binges to eny bat neede hadde in' his naame, so ofte bei deden hem not to him. And no wonder bouij bis voys schal bee dreedfulk' in be day of doom, sitthe we reden in be gospel bat Crist, whan he koom in fourme of a seruanwt for to bee deemed of be false lewes, seide to hem bat sou^ten for to take hym: 'I am he': and a- noon bei ^eeden abak and fellen to foe eerthe. 2^ef he ' bat whan he was deedly and koom to be demed, hadde so feerdful a voys, bat with his oo woord brew^ to be gronwde so meny steerne men of be lewys, a fer moore feerdful voys schal he haue whan he schal come vndeedly with his oost of auwgelis & of seyntes for to deeme be quyke and be deede, euery man after bat he hath deserued. And foerfore seith lob: Cum vix paruam slillam sermonuna. eius audire nan posstint, tonitruum magnitudmis eius quis potest sustinere ? bat is : 'Sitthe man may vnneethes heere a luytel drope of his woordes , be greete bunder of his doom who schalle mowe suffre?3 As who seith noone. And foerfore seith seynt Bernard bus : Cum pecc&tor accusatus fuerit Sf consciencia propria contra eum testimonium perhibuerit et omnis creatura dei insurrexerit contra ettm in vindictam, grauis vt sagitta erit vox dormni ad sustinendum, f)at is: 'Whanne f)e synful kaityf schal be accused, & his owene conscience schal bere witnesse a^ens him, and euery creature of god schal ryse a^ens him in vengeaunce : greuous as an arwe schal banne be foe voys of god to suffre3. And be pnrphete leremie seith: Sagitta vulnerans lingua eius , bat is : 'The tunge of him schal be as an arwe woundynge'. And pis is be secounde arwe. The bridde arwe schal bee an arwe of eendelees dampnyng of alle wykkede men, whan he schal seie to hem: lie maledicti in ignem eternum qui preparatus est diabolo <§• angelis eius, bat is: Goo ^e cursede wi?tes in to euerlastynge fuyre, foe whiche is ordeyned to be feend and to be aungelis of him3. This arwe schal wouwde hem bat it falleth on so greuously, bat alle be lechis , phisiciens & surgiens , ne ?et alle be creatures in heuene & in eerthe, schullen not mowe heele foe wounde of it. Thanne schal be opene eerthe swelwe hem down in to helle, wheere bei schullen be turmented with feendis euermore withouten eende. But alias ! foeer been, i dreede, ful meny bat neuere wollen bileeue bise binges eer bei feelen hem. Of whom seith seynt Enseby b«j: Ve ve* quifras est datura, hoc prius sentire paa.m credere, bat is: 'Woo, woo be to hem to whom it is ^euen rather to feele foise binges f>an to bileeue hem'. & bus eendeth foe bridde arwe. But foanne schal Crist turne to hem foat been on his ri^t half, and seie fous : Venite benedicti psAris met , percipite vobis regnum quod vobis paratum. est a psAre meo ab origine mundi, bat is : 'Cometh to me ^e bat been foe blesside children of my fadir, and beeth parteneris of my ioye in be kyngdom bat was ordeyned for ^ow by my fadir fro foe bigynnyng of bis world'. To J)e whiche kyngdom and ioye he brynge vs bat bouzjte vs with his precious blood. AmeN.3

i Ms. he ]>at. 2 Ms. de.

* In the Ms. follows: Sermo per lohannem Gregory, Fratrem Augustinensem de Neuport: Be his awne propre blode he entred in, Hebr. 9; and then the following will:

L

Copia testamenti Robert! Folkyngham.

Ln be name of almyghty Ihesn I, Robart F., beynge in hool and cleere mynde, pe VI day of luylltf be ^eere of our lorde a thousand fore hundreth foure-score & nynetene, make my testament and my laste wylle in fois manere. First I by-take my soule in to be hondes of al-my^ty god, bysechyng^ to cure lady seynte Marye and to alle be hoole compaygnye of heuew to preye for mercy and grace for me. Also I by-qwethe my wrecchyd synfull* body to been heere in erthe , abydyng be dredful doom of god, in suche place and manere as yt lyketn to his wyse endeles purueaunce. Also I wylk bat at myn enterement faere be a-bowte my body bot twey tapres of wex and foure torches of wex, pe whiche torches I will* be ^euen to brenne atte be leuaciown of be sacrement whil bei wil dure , in be same chirche bat I schallai be beryed Inne. Also I wilk bat in alle be haste bat

Visitatio infirmorum. Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]

The same Ms. Univ. Coll. 97 in the beginning contains an Exposition of the lo Commandments (which I here omit) and the following 2 pieces ; all these are also extant in Ms. Laud 210 (beginning of 14. wanting), and N. 14 besides in Ms. Bodl. 938, Harl. 2398, Cajus Coll. 209 (a shorter text, from Ms. St. John's Coll. Oxf. 117, is ed. in Maskell Monum. Ritual. Ill p. 413).

14. (Visitatio infirmorum)1.

Here begynneth how men pat been in heele schuld* visite seeke folke.

IVly deere sone or doughter in god, it semeth pat pou hiest the faste in pe way fro this lyf to godward. Ther pou schalt see alle pi forme-fadres, apostles, martirs, cowfessours, virgines, and alle men and wowmen pat been sauyd; and for gladnesse of suche felaschipe be \io\i of good confort in god. And penk howe p0u most after this lyf legge a stoon in pe walle of pe citee of heuen slighliche with-owte eny noyse or stryf. And therfbre eer p<m wende out of this worlde, p0u most polissche thi stoon and make it redy, gef p<?u wolt not ther be letted. This stoon is pi sowle, which p0u most make stronge thorugh ri?t byleue, and faire p0u most it dense porghe hope of goddis mercy and parfit charyte, the whiche heelynz the multitude of synnes. The noyse pat p0u most make heere in worchynge of this stoon, is ofte for-thynkynge 3 of pi synne, whiche p<m most knowleche to god knowyng the gilty, and ther-after it is profitable

yt may be doo after my deth pere be sayde a thousands masse^ for my soule & for all* Cristefi soules. Also I be-quethe to be doon in almess* after dyscreciown of myfi Executowrs in alle pe hast for my soule, for pe soules of my fadre, modre and of all* hem pat I am endebted* to by way of kynde , by way of ffrendship*, or by way of restituciown, for be gode I haue had* of heres by any way, fourty pounds of golde, and ouer pat, pat pei haue part of all* pe preyowrs, good*? dedes and almess* pat I haue do or ordeyned to be doo, as wel in pis testament as to-fore in alle my lyf. Sythene I 7,eue to William Flete my Cosyn fourty marke of golde, and alle myn horses, a 'blew bed of Arras werke , twey payre schetes, my best haberiouw, my pysafi, my ketylk-hat, and myn armynge sword* of Bur- deux. Also I be-queth to lohan of Brugge an haberio«n , a basynet , a longe dagger of Burdeux harneysid* with syluer in manere of a sword. ^[ Also I ajeue to Thomas Salman an haberiouw and a basynet. ^f Also I by-queth to William Flete my Cosyn alle pe remanant of myn* armeur*. ^f Also I by-qweth to sir William Countowr a longe sangwyn gowne furryd with Calabir. Also I by-queth to Thoma-r Heighelme a gowne of blak worsted* furred with beuere. ^[ Also I wylle bat alle pe debte^ pat any man can* resonably axe, bat pei been payed. And pe remanant of alle my good* , wher* so it be in pe handes of my debtours or elles, I be-qweth it to lonet my wyfe, to gouerne and susteyne with hir and Elianor* my doughtre, and* eke to doon in almess* for me, and for here, and for alle hem pat we been endebted to doon for by any way as sche may resonabely, nou^t amenysynge gretely here lyflode ne here poure stat. The execuciown of whiche thynges above-sayd after my last* wille to be doon and fulfillid*, I make myn Executowrs lonet my wyfe, William Wenlok* Squiere, Sire William Countowr, Prest* Thomas Heighelme, Thomas Salman, William Flete my Cosyn; preyinge to hem for goddes sake for charitable dede of almess*, and for be souereyn trust I haue in hem pat pei will* take pis charge on hem and refuse it by no maner way. Writen be day and ^ere to-fore nempned with myn owen honde in witnesse of my last* wille, and ensealed* with my seal. / Probation fiiit hoc testa- mcntum. coravo. no&is loh&n&e Lyniaa , /Vwerendi /atm domini Thome dti gratia Caw/uariensis Archiepiscofi Comissario generali , XII A"a/e«d. Decembrvs, , Anno dormni Millzsvno CCCfo Nonogesimo Nona. Et commissa est admimstrado lohanne relicts 8f executoribus Resertiatis.

1 This piece is a combination of extracts from St. Augustine's Visit. Infirmorum, and Anselm. 2 B couere}). * B bij>enki»g Jiee.

II. 29

45 o Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

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to pe to haue conseil of trewe preestes the whiche owen to blesse the poeple, tellynge hem that been sorwful for here synnes that pei schullen thorugh goddis mercy been asoylid of hem. The strokere ' wherwith p<?u slykest z this stoon, is verrey repewtaunce pat pou schalt haue in thyn herte sorwyng of pi sy«ne, smy- tynge thi-self on pe brest with greete sighyng4 of sorwe and stedefast wil to turne no moore a^eyne to sywne. And whan f)0u hast maad redy pus thi stoon, pat is thi sowle , thanne myght p<?u go the redy wey to god, and legge pi stoon sykerliche with-owten noyful noyse in be citee of heuene. And therfore i. con- seile pe in pis lyf pat f>0u schryue the cleene to god and make pe redy ; ffor grisely deuelys, the whiche han tempted men to synne in this lyf, wollen in the laste hour been fill besy to begile hem, and nameliche with wanhope 5 of goddys mercy. And this is not oonliche to telle6 to syke men, but eke to hoole men, ffor euery day a man neigheth his deeth neer and neer, ffor the moore a man in this lyf wexith in dayes and ^eres, the moore he vnwexith. For, as seyntes seyn: be firste day in the whiche a man is born is be firste day of his deth, ffor euery day he is diynge while he is in this lyf. And therfore seith pe gospelle : 'Awake7, for p0u wost neuere whiche hour god is to come, in thi ^outhe or in thi myddel age or in thi laste dayes, or preuyliche or openliche'8. And therfore [loke] pat p0u be al- wey redy ! For it is semliche bat pe seruauwt abyde be lord, and not the lord his seruaunt. And nameliche whan greet haste is, he is worthi blame bat is vnredy. But grettere haste no man redith of, than schalle be in be comynge of Crist. And ther- fore9 waketh in vertues ; ffor whan the ^ate is schet, it is neuere aftir openyd. And perfore, brother or suster in god, wete bow pat god visiteth men for here synnes diuersliche : suwme been visitid with scharp prisonynge, summe with sclaundre and bacbytyng, suwme with ontrowthe of fals men, and lo suwme with diverse seeknesse ; and ^ef bat sywne were clene awey, thanne seeknesse schulde slake. Here-of bereth be gospel witnesse where Criste seide to ten myselis whanne the! weren heelyd of here lepre: 'Goth, he seith, and nyle ^e11 synne moore, lest ^e fallen wersse', als who seith : for ^oure synne ^e hadde this seeknesse. And perfore pe lawe wolde by ryght iustice pat no leche schulde ^eue bodyliche medicyne to a seek man, but 5jef he were in wille to take goostliche medicyne and to leue be synne bat woundeth his12 sowle, schryuyng hym trewliche with good wille to don no moore euyl. For so13 he resceyueth god, dwellynge in parfit charite. And who pat is treweliche thus i-schryuen and dwellith in verrey repen- taunce, I drede not that14 the seeknesse ne schalle slake whiche he hadde for his synne. Or elles his peyne15 suffred with meekenesse, schal turne hym to muche merit in blisse after pis lyf. terfore ?ef thi peynes slake not, comforte the in god in this man ere.

How a man schulde comforte a nother pat he grucche not whanne he is seeke.

.Drother or suster, louest p0u god thi lorde? he or sche, ^ef thei mowe speke, wol seye ^e16; or p^auenture, ^if they mowe not speke, thei wole thenke ^e. Thanne thus : 5^ef thow louest god, pow louest alle pat he doth ; ande he scor- geth the for thi p><?nt and not for his; and perfore p0u schuldest gladliche suffre hym and loue hym, ffor he wol not punyssche twyes hem pat meekeliche suffren hym. And pat his chastisynge in this lyf is alle for loue, scheweth Salomon wher17 he seith: 'Sone, grucche not a-?eyns the chastisynge of thi fader': ffor it is no sone whom the fader chastiseth not3. And this acordeth with resouw, and eke with comun manere of speche ; ffor ^ef a man see a nother mannys childe do euele in his faders presence, and his fader chastiseth,18 him nought, thanne wol pat other man say that it is not his childe, or ellis that he loueth hym nou^t; ffor ^ef he were his child, or ellis pat he19 louede hym, he wolde chastise hym. And therfore be nought euele paied of thi fadres chastisynge of heuene, ffor he

1 BH stroke. 2 B strikest, H smytest. 3 B for. * B sighingis. * BH dispeire. 6 B sey. i B wake. 8 BH apertliche. • B forbi. »« om in B. " n. ^e om in B. « B the. M Ms. se. M B fcat ne. » BH peynes. »" B ?,ea. » B ther. » B chastise. l9 l>at he om in B.

Visitatio inftrmorum. ie|

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97)

seith hym-self : 'Whom i lone I chastise'. Also seekncssc of body , meekliche suffrid, maketh helthe of sowle1, and soule-helthe is not but oonliche of god. Therfore despise not goddis scorgynge, but whanne god chastiseth the, panke hym and lone hym, bat he amendeth the, "vndirnemeth be, and blameth the ; ffor alle this is token of lone ande scheweth* that he wol not punyssche the* in his wrathe ne in his woodnesse, but of his greet goodnesse he wole haue mercy on pe ?ef p0u wolt4 leeue thi synne. And perfore bank thi god, and specialliche that he hath largid to synful men his mercy aboue his wrathe. Drede this lord as sone &4 not as seruaunt: ffor he is thi iuge bat wol not dampne the but ;ef how wolt not for lust and coueitise leeue thi synnne, but he wol haue mercy on the , and therfore mercifulliche he chastiseth the, and ther bow hast deseruyd euerelastyngliche 5 his wrathe and to be dampned for euere, he putteth-ouer his vengeaunce and of grete mercy he suffreth vs to amende owre defautes, and punysscheth vs but a while. And* perfore dispise not his ^erde of mercy, ne grucche not thera^eyns, but suffre it gladliche, ffor alle be domes of god been rightfulle. Now panne4, sitthe seeknesse of body is helthe of soule, and wole or nyle b<ra how schalt haue it er bou dye , and ^ef p<?u grucche a'^eyns god, with pi grucchynge p<m makest thi sowle moore feble and so f)0u harmest thi-selfc with thi grucchynge ffor nothyng is wers to a seeek man ban to be malencolions , and eke4 p0u greuest thi fadir be whiche coueiteth to be thi leche, and bus as a fool6 p<?u harmest thi-self in7 double manere: oon is bat p0u greuest thi god, another is 8p0u lesist thi meede bat p<m schuldest haue iref p0u suffredest alle maner diseses* pacientliche to pe deth; and pogh a man sum-tyme may not kepe pacience in sekenesse for greet accesse10 of diuerse passions, neuertheles he schulde, byfore thei koomen and after pe passynge of hem, purpose in his sowle to suffre alle anoyes pacientliche, and whan his hors grucchith, pat is his flesch, his spirit schulde be redy to suffre, and aske mercy for be grucchynge of his flesch, know- ynge bat alle bodiliche anoyes suffrid meekliche in this lyf maketh pe sowle fayre and stronge and rightliche ' ' to passe from purgatorie to heuene : wherfore we schulden with good wille herie12 god, and with glad herte take18 diseses. Thenk pat ^ef h0u haddest be traytour to the kynge wherfore b0u haddest deseruyd hangyng and drawynge, and he hadde for^eue the thi deth and punyssched the but a lytul while in an esy prisoun : how moche were p0u holden to hym. Muchel moore p0u schuldest bythenke the how14 thow hast be traytour to god and therfore deseruyd euerlastynge peyne, and ^et this merciful lord for^eueth vs heere een- deles deeth pe whiche we "deseruyd, and punysscheth vs here but18 a lytel with bodiliche seeknesse, ijef we wollen meekly take his chastysynge.

B,

7,ef deeth goo faste on a man, speke to hym thus.

)rother or suster in god , ^if b<w sawe or bithoughtest in thyn herte be meschiefs of this wrecchid world and be ioyes of heuene, b0u schuldest desire to be with god bough p<m were lord of alle this world, and ^ef p<m stode in grace, thow schuldest desire to forsake it to come to heuene ; ffor hooly writ seith : 'Blessede be bei pat dyen in god'. Loke pe bigywnynge of this lif is care and sorwe; lyuynge ther-Inne, what is it but muchel trauail withowte fruyt, tene and disese, where-horugh many men been ouer-comen with diuers tempta- cions and for^etyn here god, and so pei coraen to an euyl ende? Loke nowe whethir it is better to dye wel or to lyue euele. 7,ef b#u stonde in verray repen- tance and laste ther-Inne, stedefastlyche byleuyng in the mercy of god, thow maist dye wel. But harde it is to lyue wel fulliche in this wrecchede worlde, ffor be holy pr^phete seith pat 'eueriche man is a lyere', pat is to seye, for his firste forfeture euerich man synneth whiles he lyueth in this wrecchide lyf outher for lyinge of seruynge god after his comaundemewt, or ellis for bat he serueth hym not aftir his worthynesse; ffor hooly writte seith pat seuene sithes in the day falleth the ri^twyse man, and seynt Poul seith that no man lyueth in this lyf with-

i B soule hele. '- B & v. » ande sch. om in BH. * ora in B. » B endelesly.

e B folily. 7 BH on. * BH }>at l>ou. • BH of disese. >« BH axes. " B Hrtjier. " B sch. deuoutly J)ank. w B resseyue. " B hou pat. »» B haue d. '• B wij) a 1. b. s.

29*

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owte defaute. Ther-fore we schulden prey to god with greet desir, ^if it were his wille, bat we weren deede and lyueden with hym. For be wrecchidnesse of this world may no man telle. For heere is hunger of goddis lawe and fewe bat desiren ther-aftir, and bei bat thristen ber-aftir, been ofte-tyrnes slaked with bittere venym ; and therfore be charite of menye l wexith coold thorugh be heete of wykked couetise , ffor long trauaille and greet hat men han aftir worldliche bisynesse , and lustes maken meny men so weery bat bei suffisen not to come to a good ende. For this lyf is ful of envye, 2wrathe, glotonye, 2lecherye, "prude, 2slouth,- couetise, 2ffalshed, manslaughtre, and thefte, and of manye othere wykkednesse bat spryngen of thise, and ther nys no man bat he l ne hath su/wme of thise, ffor no man in this lyf lyueth with-owte sy«ne; and manye men been acombrid 3 with alle thise, and ijet thei kunne not ne wollen not dischargen hem. Ande therfore bise philosofres f>e whiche knewen the wrecchyd- nesse of this lyf, maaden greet sorwe whan here children weren bore, and greet ioye whan thei dyeden and passeden from be wo of this fals worlde ; and as men fynden write, seynt Austyn whan he schulde be deed, spak to deeth in this manere : 'Welcome Deeth, end of alle wykkednesses ; ffor b<?u art ende of trauaille to hem bat han heere wel trauaillyd ; ffor thanne and no rathere * bygynneth parfitliche1 goode mennes eese in endeles blisse5. What man may by-thenke be profit and be blisse bat thow bryngest with be? Therfore b0u art desirful to me. For a trewe cristene man may not euele dien, ffor aftir this lyf he schalle lyue with Criste.

Br

Whan thowe hast tolde hym alle this, or ellys ?ef bou myght not for hast of deeth: bygynne heere eer his mynde goo from hym:

Brother or suster, art f)0u glad bat b<?u schalt dyen in cristene feith? IJJ^e6. Knowlechist p0u to god bat p<m hast not lyued aftir his comaundement? ? 1$ ^e. Art h<ra soory bat bou lyuedest not as b<?u schuldest? IjE ^e. Art b<m in7 good wille to amende alle trespassis8 doon a?ens god and thyn euencristene, %ef b<?u haddest space to lyue? IJ! ^e. Trustefst] 9 b0u stedefastliche that god may forijeue the and alle men here synnes, though f)0u ne noon othere make heere fulliche10 asseth for hem? 1$ ?e- Leuyst f)0u in god fadir alle-myghty, makere of heuene and of erthe and of alle bat been in hem? T$ ^e. Leuyst |)<?u bat the fadir and the sone and the holy goost been ^re p^rsones and oo god? ]J %e. Leuyst thow that oure lord Ihesu Crist goddis sone of heuene was y-co«ceyued oonliche of the hooly goost and tookc flesshe and blood of oure lady seynte Marie, and sche mayden ande moder aftir his burthe? T$ 7}e. "Leuyst thow fat oure lorde1 Ihesu Crist suffrede harde peyne and deeth for oure trespassis and1 not for his gylt? 1J! ^e. ll Leuyst p0u pat he was aftir his deeth buryed, nad roos the thridde day in flesch, and steygh to heuene, and sente be holy goost , ande schal come to deeme boothe wikkede and goode, ?eldy«g hem aftir here trauaille? T$ %e. Thankest thow hym of al thyn herte for thise greete goodnesses12 bat he hath doon wilfullyche to mankynde? 1$ ^e. "Leuyst f><m bat b0u ne no man may be sauyd but thorugh his passiouw and his m^rcy? ^! ;e. While thi sowle is in thi body, put hoolliche1 alle thi trust in his mercy, preiynge hym for his moder loue to 13 sette his greete passiou« by-twixe his doome and thi synnes, ande trust treweliche pat he wol of his goodnesse doo to the bettre ban b^u kanst desiren. And haue f)0u ' therfore stedefastliche to thyn ende his passiouw and his greete mercy in thi mywde, ffor there-thorugh oonliche been alle enemyes ouercomen. Therfore medle thi bought with his passioun, & wrappe1* pe as in a cloth in his mercy, and trust stedefastliche ther-Inne ; nou^t thenkynge on thi wyf, ne on thyne children, ne on thi richesse15, but oonliche16 and stedefastliche on the passiouw of owre lord Thesn. Crist, hauynge the hard passiou# pat oure lord Thesu Crist suffrede on the cros lastyngliche in thi mynde. l7And ^ef p<m byholde any cros or ymage

1 om in B. 2 B &. » B combrid. * B soner. * B ioy. « B he answeri{> ^ea. ' B Hauest J>ou. * B defautis. 9 Ms. Trusteth. w B ful. " B beleuyst. 12 BH goodnes. 13 BH bat he wol. >* B wlappe. l5 From here extant in Ms. Laud 210, fol. 98. 18 L spe- cialiche. v Cf. St. Aug. Vis. inf.

Visitatio infirmorum. AC?

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]

y-maad with mannys hondys, wite pcu wel pat it l is not god, and therfore sey or thenk in thyn herte: I woot wel \>ou art nought god2 but ymaad3 afrir hym, to make men haue pe4 moore mynde of hym after whom p0u art ymagid. Ther- fore, lord fadir pat art in heuene, mercy I aske the of alle hat I haue trespassid, and he wilful passiouw of oure lord Uiesu Crist the whiche he suffrede for man- kynde, mercyral fadir of thi goodnesse be it bitwyxe me and myne euele dedys, and the greete merite of oure lord Ihmi Crist queeme it to be for al pat I schulde haue disseruyd and don and dede not ; and s also , mercyral lord fader of heuene, ^ef it be thi wille , i byseche be that all* he beenfetis [bat]9 oure lord Ihmi Crist 7aftir thi biddynge dede heere in erthe for saluaciouw of man- kynde8, stoonde bitwixe me and thi wratthe. And blisful8 lady raoodir of mercy seynte Marie, qwene of heuene, 9lady of alle8 this worlde , and emperise of helle, as p0u disseruedest byfore alle wommen poragh the goodnesse of god to beren with-owten wem of thi maydenhood Ihwu Crist saueour of mankynde, soo" p<?u biseche thi blessed8 sone for me that alles myne synnes be10 for^euen". And8 lord al myghty5 Ihmi Crist, sitthe thyn hooly gospel witnesseth pat |)0u wolt nought the deeth of synful man but that he bee turnyd from synne and lyue, haue mercy of me synful wrecche8, after thi woord, and as p0u blamedest Sym- ount for he hadde indignaciouw pat Marie magdeleyne '"' for hire sywnes schulde neighe the, haue mercy of me moost synful, and lord |Ih«uIS as pou clepedist ^achee and Poul and oothere diu^rse from here14 sywnes, dispise nought me pat come to the wilfulliche wyth-owten suche clepynge ; and though i haue longe leyn in my sywne, thenk lord8 on the greete mercy pat p0u haddest and schewedest to mankynde that he schulde not schame ne despeire15 of thi mercy alle-though he hadde longe leyn in sywne, whan p0u haddest no desdayn to reere La^ar alle- though16 he hadde leyn in his graue foure dayes stynkynge17. And herfore i. truste to pe, lord8, for p#u art fadir al-myghty in whos mercy i. truste, to whos refuyt i. fle. With greet desire I come to be hyenge: lord, dispise me not18, thowgh i. be wrecched and sywful19, ffor i. truste fulliche20 to thyn help in alle my greete neede. For i. knowleche pat5 i. may not helpe my-self ne a^eyn-bugge me with my dedys: but stedefastliche i. truste in thi passiou«, that it suffiseth to make ful2' asseth to be fadir of heuene for my synnes. Therfore, lord, brynge me out of care and haue mercy on me ; 2'" I trust not to my dedys but i. despise to trusten in hem, fiullyche trustynge to thi greete mercy, dispisynge my wikkide dedys. For p0u art my god in whom i. trowe stedefastlyche is alle myght and"* mercy and good wyl'24, wherethourgh i. hoope to be sauyd. And therfore to the, pat art ful of mercy, i. knowleche my synne f>e whiche i. haue doon thourgh" myn owene defaute. I knowleche my gilt: haue mercy of me, ffor i. trowe treweliche pat b0u denyest thy mercy to noone pat treweliche trusten therto. And in trust ther- of i. forsake wyth alle myn herte this lyf, to lyue with the. In thyne hondis, lord alle-myghty and mercyful, I bitake my soule ; For fro the bygynnynge of this worlde hath thi mercy be reedy to synful men, and so i. truste it schal be to me in myn ende. Therfore, god my lorde ful of trewth, take my sowlc, for it is thyn; 28doo therto as the lyketh ; ffor i. woot wel27 of thy goodnesse it schalle fare bettere than it hath disseruyd. Receyue it, and help it : for in thyne mercyful hondys I putte it. AmeN.28

i L bat. 2 L my god. » L ymaged, BH ymage. * om in B. * om in L. « Ms. (& LH) of. ' L whiche a. • om in LBH. • L & 1 '» LB be alle. " LBH f. me. « om in LB. w lord Ihesu om in LBH. " B hed. •» Ms. disespeire. >* BH boin,-al. i* B stynkand. l8 LBH not me. >• L s. & wr. *> om in BH. « LH a ful. » L & alle. 2< B goodnes. » B in. w L to do. '•" LB wel I woot. «• L Explicit visitacio infirmorum.

454 Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

15- Mb. Univ. Coll. 97.

Diliges dominum deum tuum ex toto corde tuo, ex tota anima tua, et ex tola mente tua &c., Luce decimo.

1 hou schalt loue thi lord thi god of al thyn herte, of al thy lyf, of al thi mynde, and of al thi strengthes or myghtes ; and thyn neighebor as thi-self '. In thise two comauwdementij hangeth alle the lawe and pnrphetis. *[ Thanne p<ni louest god of al thyn herte, that is to seye of al thyn vndirstondyng : whanne pou schapist alle thyn vndirstondyng prywcipalliche to knowe the endeles myght and right- wysnesse, the endeles wysdom and charite & mercy of thi god : howe god is redy & wylly & kuwnynge to venge synne and punyssche wykkide men pat wylle not leue here sywne, and how god is mercyful and kuwnyng & myghty to for^eue synnes to hem pat han verray repentaunce of there wykkide synnes ; and for this vndirstondyng of thi god pou most fle and destruye synne bothe in the & in other men vp thi power and wit, and kepe and teche the comaundement^ of god, and mayntene rightfulnesse and good lyuynge , verray pees & charite ; and pan p0u louest wel god of alle thyn herte, pat is of al thyne vndirstondyng. ^f Also f)0u louest god of alle thi lyf: whawne p0u schapest alle thi lyf bothe in ^outhe and in age, and in prospmte and aduersite, to [fie] worschip of god in clennesse and holynesse, herieng and thankyng thi god for al his grace and goodnesse and mercy, and for alle diseses and tribulacions pat he sendeth to pe in this lyf. ^[ Also pau louest god of alle thi mynde : whanne thou schapest al thi mynde to thenke on pe goodnesse of god, how he maade alle thynges of nou^t, not for his owne neede ne auantage but for his owne goodnesse and pe] profit of his trewe smiant?, as been goode angelis and goode men; and to haue mynde on O/stes wylful and peynful passiouw and deth, not for his owne synne but for cure greete synnes; and to haue mynde on be dredful day of doome, and on the endeles blisse in heuene to goode men , and on the endeles stronge peynes in helle to cursede men that wol neuere amende wel ther foule lyf. ^f Also p0u louest god of al thi strengthes or myghtes: whanne p0u spendist alle pi myghtes bothe of soule and body in seruise of god, and algates that thi wille be sugget to resoun, and in alle thywges y-confourmed to the wylle of god ; and pat f>0u waaste nou^t the strengthe of thi body in vanytees and ydelnesse and synne, but kepe it in good mesure to do goode dedis to worschip of god and help of othere cristene men, ^[ and pat p0u spende wel thi fyue wyttes, as Sight, Heryng, Smellyng, Tastyng, and Touchyng , and also spekyng; also to despise synne and to do good, and mayntene trouthe of godis lawe vp al thi power and kuwnynge, and greet desire of rightwisnesse ; and thanne louest f)0u god wel of thi strengthes. Thou louest thi neighebor as thi-self: whan f)0u willist hyin good bothe in body & soule as p0u schuldest by charite ; as, ^ef thi neighebor be in goode lyf towarde god, be p0u glad and ioyful therof, and norissche hym , conforte hym, and help hym ther-Inne, and ^ef he be in synful lyf, haue greete compassion & sorwe therfore, and vp al thi kuwnynge & my^t bryng hym out therof by deuout preyer, by holy conseillyng and techyng, and by ensample ?euynge of thi good lyf, by dreede of greete peynes bothe in this world and purgatorie & in helle, and by confort of the greete mercy of god, and by confort of the endeles blisse of heuene how so one he may gete that by godes mercy and verray repentaunce & amendyng of his wykkide lyf. 2,ef he be at welfare of body and prospmte of worldly goodis with trewe lyf kepyng godis hestis. be glad therof and help hym ther-Inne, and apeyre hym not for no maner good of this world ; ^ef he be at malese of body or ful nedy of worldlys catel, help hym and socour hym as f)0u woldest he hulpe f)e s;ef f>0u were in the same disese, and algates as ptm schuldist wilne to be releuyd by godis lawe of other myghty men. ^f And not oonly loue thus thi neighebor at hoom, pat is thi frend, but a strauwge man and thyn enemy, ?e

Nine points.

455

Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]

though he be hethen or sovtdon ; for alle ben bretheryn in kynde of o fadir & o modir, and so neighebors, & we ben i.-holde by charite to brynge men to good lyf vp oure kuwnyng and myght.1 Explicit.

1 The same Ms. Univ. Coll. 97 contains a sermon on Redde racionem villicacionis tue Luc. 16 (which sermon in Ms. Harl. 2398 f. 140 has the title: Sermo Magistri Thome Wymyldon apud crucem in cimiterio S. Pauli London, and is a translation of a Latin sermon auctore R. Wim- bledon in Ms. Cajus Coll. 334), a treatise made by Sir John Clanewowe knight 'the laste viage that he maade ouer the greete see , in whiche he dyede' (also in Ms. Simeon), Exposition of the Pater noster, and of the 12 articles of the faith (from Dan Michel), Bonus sermo per Joh. Gregory, Fratrem Augustin. de Neuport.

Some northern poems.

1 6. (Nine points),

Ms. Harl. 2409.

(Other Mss. : Cambr. Ff i. 14 (Novem virtutes) and Ji IV. 9; Ff, northern dialect, adds Latin quotations after each point ; Ji introduces southern forms. The poem, written in the North, is a metrical paraphrase of a Latin text (Novem virtutes • ascribed to R. Rolle , extant in Ms. Cajus Coll. 140 f. 132, of which other ver- sions have been given I. p. no; it is perhaps by the author of the Speculum Christiani.)

f. 7Sb-

JTlEre ere neghen poyntes of gret \erta, tat oure lorde talde, swet Ihesu, Til a creature, als ^e shal here, tat askyde hym on pis manere: 5 How he my^t, and in what pinge, Plese god mast to his likynge. Oure lorde answerde and pus sayde: »Of neghen fringes I am best payde. The fyrst, he sayde, is almous-dede,

10 For whils pou lyfes, it may pe spede Out of pi synne pat pou art inne, To helpe pi saule heuen to wynne; Til alle be pou^re pat nede has. For me is wele leu^re in pis cas

1 5 Ane almouse-dede whils pou here lyues, tan alle pe remenant pat pou gyues When pou art dede and layde on molde, tan alle pe hylles \ve[r] brynnand golde And stafful were stoppyde of syluer i« horde.

20 Pis warne I pe trewly with worde: It serues pe no^t pat pou gyues pare; For when dede cowmys, pou may na mare.

V i T bethe 6 J as his. 7 F 1. god. I5FJoJmdede. F om here. i6F remfand. jVr, brennyng. 19 J styfly. *3 J is than, .

20 T om bat2 F swa. 30 FJ grete. 31 F als. 3* F teyr. J the tyter. F ma. T the J a w to s. 36 F es. J om wele. 38 F helpsmore. J b«t schulde mar at be.

J39 J ylke a 7° F om »

J s. to.

A nother poynt pan is pis To helpe pi saule to heuen-blys: To wepe for my passyon, 25

And sythen make redempcion Alle for pi synnes pat pou haues wroght, And pinke how dere I haue pe boght. And pat is me leu^re pat it so be, tan jiou wepe for oper pan for me 30 Als mykelk water as is pe see wip-inne ; For ^it a tere titter rnyijt wynne Vntil pat loye pat ay sall<? be, To wonne wip me in trinite.

The pridde is, to suffre a worde 35

for me;

For me is welk leu^re pat pou be Bu^som & meke in worde and dede — For pat helpys mare pi saule at nede — tan pou ilke day pi body dange, Bape pi sydis and pi swange. 4C

The ferpe is, to breke pi slepe, waken

pe

And say an oryson in pe honore of me. tat is me leu^re pat pou do, tan pou pe haly land sent vnto

13 F To be pure. 14 F om wele. FJ bat. 17 FJ in m. 18 F om alle. F war birnand, 25 F grete. 26 F syene J sen,. *7_F_ nas- ~ - - - tcr F

es. o . .

41 J t reson,. F & wakyn, J & wakyng be.

33 • vnto. mar at be. 44 F to be.

456

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

45 Twelfe men of pi costage,

To fynde {(aim ylk a day pair wage. The fyfte is, to haue cow/passion &

hert sare

When pou sees any febely fare. Pe pore pat ere als gode als pou,

50 tat of pe worlde hanes no prow, I* at ilk a day feles gret myschefe, Pa men are ito me dere and lefe; Als dere I bo^t paim wip my blode • Als paim pat haues pe worldes gode,

55 And pai schal nerrer wip me be

fan pe ryche pat for ryches forsakes me ; For pai may no^t wele, pe sope to say, BaJ)e pe worlde & me sereue to pay. Bot of f>i compassion mare me payes,

60 Pan pou fastyd fourty dayes

Til brede and watyr for pe lufe of me, And mare alowyd schal it be.

The sexte is, to say noure-whare of

bakbirywg ; For pat is [a ful] pilous ping.

65 For pai pat sais one before, anop^r be-

hynde,

Pat manertf paire saules shal bitter fynde When paire bodis er groyede to bere, Paire saules be put to paynes sere. Me ware leu^re pou stode stilk,

7° Pan pou spake of any man ilk ; It schoulde do f>i soule mare gode, Pan p<?u ilk day barfote ijode, Pat men my^t folow pe trace of f)e Of blode hat f)ou wold blede for me.

75 The seuent : lufe ay wele pine euen-

cristen ;

And pan wil I pi prayer lysten. For bot pou haue lufe and charite, Grace ellys gerys pou nane of me. If pou wil do pus als I say,

Pan may pou full welk me pay ; For me is leu^re pat f)ou do so; Pan pou in spiret walde ilk day go Til heuen, pat ioy par to se, And na lufe haue ne charite.

The eghetende: if f)ou couet any 85

pinge,

Aske of me at pe bygynnynge Pe pinge pat is of ry?twisnes, Be it mare or be it les, And ask ay fyrste pe blis of heuen Or pou any opir pinge neuen, 90

For pe ioy of heuen lastys ay And erpely pinge wytes away. Of couetos men I am noijt payde, Pat on pis worlde pair hertis haue layde, And pair statis lastis bot a whyle ; 95 Bot pai be ware dede wil pam gyle. For-pi hike fyrst pi-selfe aske me Pe pinge pat is best for pe. And pat is me leu^re , whyls pou lyfes

here,

Pan pou made my modyr messangere, 100 And alk f)e halows of ilka degre, Forto pray [to me] for pe.

The neghent is : loue me anly our

al pinge;

Pan bes pou sykir at pine endynge In ioy and blis euere-mare to be, 105

Pat na ere may here ne eghe se Ne hert pinke ne tunge telk; Pan thare pe no^t drede peynis of helk. And pat is me leuere pan pou ^ode Opon a tre pat till* heuen stode no

Pat ware dryuyne ful of scharpe rasQurs, And louede opir pinge paramours, Pat is erpely pinge, mare pan me Pat become man and dyde for pe. A. M. E. N.

45 J costages. 46 J wages. F om a. 47 F f. vertu, J fyrst resone. F es , om in J.

Ff in h. 48 J any of ylle f. 49 F as bou. 50 F wald. F has. J haue. 51 F ilke day. 52 J That. 53 F bam. 54 J As they. F werlde. J wordys. 55 J derer. F to. 57 J om wele. J sothely. 58 F warlede & mo. 59 F For of. 61 F w. & br. J om be. 62 F sal, J schulde. 63 J om to. F nover whare, J no worde. 64 J om ful. 65 FJ a worde. J & anober. 66 J That makyth, F j'ais men. 67 F bodes. F grathed ; J gon* to berye. 68 F beys. 69 J they st. 70 J ?e sp. J om of. 71 F sulde. J ther sowlys. 72 J thay i. d. 73 F trays. 74 J of be. 75 F s. es. 76 FJ om And. 79 J om bus ; J the s. 81 F so do. 82 J vpryght ylke a d. wolde. 83 J for inst. of bar. 84 J And had. F nor no, J ner. 85 FJ e. is. J of bou. 86 J Aske it. 87 FJ £at. 90 F om ofcr. 91 F bat. 92 J Whane other thynges wast« a. 93 J am I. 94 F has, J are. 95 F state, J lyfe. 96 F Bot bat. FJ begyle. 97 J loue. 101 FJ ilke. FJ me, to om. 105 F ioyand. 106 F no nere, J no hert. F no ee. 107 J No. F no, J nor no. 108 F be pyen. 109 J om bat. 112 F thynges. 113 F J"at is here hartly, J That is hertyly; binge om.

17. Poems of Ms. Galba E ix.

The following poems are found in Ms. Galba E ix, the same Ms. which contains the best text of R. Rolle's Prick of Conscience, besides the northern translation of the Evangelium Nicodemi in verse (ed. in the Archiv), and parts1 of the Cursor Mundi (ed/ Morris\

Poems of Ms. Galba E IX.

457

fol. 48b.

Vos qui transitis : si crimina flere uelitis, Per me transite: quoniam sum ianua nite.

IJides a while and haldes ;oure pais, and heres what god him-seluen sais

hingand on pe rode : 'Man and woman pat by me gase, 5 luke up to me and stint pi pase,

for pe I sched my blude.

bihald mi body, or bou gang, and think opon my paynes strang,

and still als stane pou stand. 10 bihald pi-self pe suth, and se how I am hanged here on pis tre and nailed fute and hand.

Bihald mi heuid, bihald my fete, and of pi misdedes luke pou lete; 15 bihald mi grisely face. Of pi sins ask aledgance, and in my mercy haue affiance, and f)ou sail get my grace'.

n.

In cruce sum pro te : qui peccas desine

pro me; Desine : do ueniam ; die culpam, corrige

uitam.

IVlan, pus on rode I hing for pe : forsake pi sin for luf of me,

sen I swilk luf pe bede. Man, I lufe be ouer all thing, 5 and for pi luf pus wald I hing my blisced blude to blede.

Man, ful dere I haue be boght : how es it so bou lufes me noght?

vnkindly dose pou pare. 10 if pou will luf vnto me schaw, for my brober I will be knaw —

what may I do be mare?

If pat pou be most sinful man pat euer in werld on erth ran, 15 and pou will knaw pi state and sadly seke to my mercy, pe to resaiue I am redy euer arly and late.

Of all pi misdedes luke pou blin ; 20 more es my mercy ban pi sin :

pou call mercy with hert ; ask mercy and pou sail [it] haue, and fro pe fende I sail pe saue, and fro his paines smert.

In my mercy despaire pon noght sen I pe so dere hane boght,

and ensanmpill pou take of sinfull Mari Mawdelayne, pat with sin was gastly slayne

and sepin gan it forsake.

Also ensaumple may pou luke of saint Peter, pat me forsoke

and sepin rewed it sare. mercy had pai sone of me ; man, pe same I will do be;

parfore lete at my lare .

fol. 46.

in.

J\l es bot a fantu/w bat [we] with ffare : Vs be-houes ilka day hepen make us

?are,

Forto wend fra pis werld naked & bare, Bot °ur wyndyng-clathe with-outen any

gare. Litel while sal we hald bat we so fast «

spare ;

Other men sal it wast pat we about care. He pat maste hordes sal rew it ful sare ; Saue pat we do for godes loue , hane

we na mare.

J\.l es bot a fantuw pat we wit/4 dele : Many has hap, and many vnsele; ic

Be ye neuer so hate ^it may it kele; Lat noght be pouer by pot pe es ouw-

wele. Do bow il do pow wil, bathe sal bow

fele, When bathe liges in-lik hegh pi bed &

ty hele.

J\\ es bot a fantuw bat we so fast hald : 1 5 Litel gode can be ?ong, & les can bald ; Him-self sal hald hiw a fole bat most

has in wald, When he sal on domesday his lustis by-

hald;

Pan sal he sik & sorow many fald Pat he had [noght] wroght in bis werld zc

as god wald.

Help be pouer in honger & in cald: Pan may bow be for an of his tald.

J\\ es bot a fantujw bat mast es our

thoght, Pat es be welpe of pis werld, pot es

noght. Par we sal haue our dome als we haae 25

wroght,

458

Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.

Of al our misdede^ forthe sal be soght, Of manikyn foils bat we littel roght. Prai we to godes son bat dere has us

boght, Til be ioy bar he wones bat we may

be broght1.

30 A,,it es bar a fantom lest forto praies: Pou rekes noght of pi brother bot pou

be at ais. When bou lyes bonden als hering dos

in maies, In payne for pi misdede?, wha sal be

rales? Of al pas bat befor wald be so fast

praies, 35 Findes bou ban na frende pat be wil

up laies.

.Latel pite men thinkes of pi mikel care : £011 ne rekes in bi lif how bi saul fare ; To gif to be poue>- nothing mightow

spare,

To hald pi caitif saul fra sorow & care. 40 Es par noman pe menes pe les no pe

mare, Pou ert wilet wz'tA pe werld & tan in

pe snare, ton ert tan -with a snare to put in hel-

pitt—

Blam parfor pe naman bot bi awen witt. Be-side mani sare sal bou pare sitt, 45 Of god & of heuyn-blis ertow ful quitt ; Gerrard2 hzm'-self sal gif be a smitt, Als blak as hiw-self makes he be lik.

Al es bot a fantom bat we with dalle : Al be gode bat bou has getin it sal

noght be availe; 50 When bou ert put in pi pit pi frende?

pe faile, Pi sektz<rs pi gode skift has made pe

ataile.

Mikel ferly me think pat men in pare lyfe Al be gode bat pai haue geten, pai

leuit -with pare wife ; When he es at his langham, scho eges

hire be-lyfe 55 To take hire a ?ong swayn pat wil mai

hire swyfe.

1 Hereafter, the first 5 vv. of the St. are repeated :

Al es bot a fantom bat most es our* thoght, {'at es })e welth obis werld fat saul helpes n*, When we sal here our dome als we haue wroght, Of al our misdede forth sal be soght, Of manikyn folis bat us littel roght.

2 = devil ; cf. Curs. Mundi 22307. 3 Ms. hem.

I hald hiw a grete fole & kan litel skile, When he see? bat he sit£ opon be pit-hil, To take hiw any sektz^r gode or II Forto dele his gode inwot whartil ; Pai wil dele nothing "bot paiwz wile list, 60 Pam thoght it fulitel bai fand in his kist ; Pai nerek of pe dale how lang it es mist, Pai wil sai pai haue delt if naman it wist. He pat kan in his hert wile vndrestand, He sal dele at his dore -with his awen 65

hand,

Whils he mai on his fete in pe wai stand ; Els sal he [be] begiled when he mai

wght gang.

jr\.l es bot a fantom bat we about ga, Pat es be welth o pis werld l pat wirkes

many wa.

When bou lys in pi bed opon pi dedestra, 70 Pou wenes to gif it pi frende, & leues

it pi fa. When dede has pe begiled as he dos

many ma, Of al bi gode ertow quitt bat tow ferd

fra. Pis weld es bot a fantom, sothe forto

sai; Now mai bou se a man here, & sone 75

es he awai.

Thynk on bi saule & gif whils bou mai ; He bat hordes most sal rew it for ay. He thinkes more on his hord bat in

kist lay, Pan of god him-self be nyght ore be

day.

_l rai we to bat rustic^ bat al thing 80

wate — Of al be dedes bat we haue done he

knawes ore state, Pat we haue wroght in oure lyue arly

& late: To be ioy pare he wones he lede vs

pe gate, Grant til vs his Iritage to entt'f at his

?ate,

To folow vs, oure charite of pe lang date. 85 He pat pis sang made , Ihe.ru mz'rthe

he hade Pat we pat stede noght se pare saule?

ay grate ;

£it sais Ihe.ru mery als he saide are. Al es bot a fantom bat we obout fare.

(Follows: Prophecies of Merlin, beg. Herkenes speches of manikyn thinges'.

i r overl.

Printed by Breitkopf and Hartel, Leipzig.

RTLE, Richard. Yorkshire waiters.

. pp.

.AC