This book belongs to
THE LIBRARY
of
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
Toronto 5, Canada
w
V/
LjT
Original and Extra Series Books, 1898-1901. 3
$S" The Society intends to complete forthwith the Reprints of its out-of-print Texts of
the year 1866. Prof. Skeat has finisht Partenay ; Dr. M e Knight of Cornell is re-editing King
Horn and Floris and Blancheflour ; Mr. Otto Claiming has undertaken Seinte Marherete ; and
Dr. Furuivall has Hali Meidenhad in type, and his Political, Religious mid Love Poems ready
for press, so that the Society may have all its Texts in print in 1900. As the cost of these
Reprints, if they were not needed, would have been devoted to fresh Texts, the Reprints will
be sent to all Members in lieu of such Texts.
November 1899. For this year the Original-Series Texts were issued in 1897. Those
for 1900 are now ready. The texts of several other works are also printed.
The Original-Series Texts for 1898 are Nos. 110, 111, Part II, Sections 1 and 2, of Dr.
T. Miller's Collations of Four MSS. of the Old-English Version of Bede's Ecclesiastical
History. Another Part will complete the work.
The Extra-Series Texts for 1898 are No. LXXIV, Secreta Sccretorum, 3 prose Englishings,
one by Jas. Yonge with interesting passages about Ireland, edited by Robert Steele, B.A.,
Part I ; and No. LXXV, Miss Merrill's edition of the Speculum Guidonis in the Society's
Guy-of- Warwick Series. (This latter book was priced only 10s. before its size was known.)
The Original-Series Texts for 1899 are No. 112, Merlin, Part IV, Prof. W. E. Mead's
Outlines of the Legend of Merlin, with Glossary, &c., and No. 113, Queen Elizabeth's Eng-
lishings of Boethius de Consolatione, Plutarch's De Curiositate, and part of Horace, De Arte
Poetica, edited from the unique MS. (a portion in the Queen's own hand) in the Public Record
Office, London, by the late Miss C. Pemberton, with a Facsimile, and a note on the Queen's
use of i for long e.
The Extra-Series Texts for 1899 are No. LXXVI, George Ashby's Poems, A.D. 1463, &c.,
edited by Miss Mary Bateson ; No. LXXVII, Part I of Lydgate's englisht Pilgrimage of the
Life of Man, edited by Dr. F. J. Furnivall ; and No. LXXVI II, The Life and Death of Mary
Magdalene, ab. 1620, edited by Dr. H. O. Sommer. (The original blundering Introduction
to this was accidentally sent out in the first issue of the book. A Cancel has since been sent
out, and also put into the copies in hand.)
The Original-Series Texts for 1900 will be No. 114, Part IV (the last) of Prof. Skeat's
edition of Aelfric's Metrical Lives of Saints; No. 115, Jacob's Well, a quaint allegorical
treatise on the cleansing and building-up of Man's Conscience, edited from the unique MS.
in Salisbury Cathedral, by Dr. J. \V. Brandeis, Part I ; and No. 116, An Old-English
Martijrology, re-edited from four MSS. by Dr. G. Herzfeld.
The Extra-Series Texts for 1900 will be No. LXXIX, Caxton's Dialogues, English and
French, 1481-3, edited by Henry Bradley, M.A. , and No. LXXX, Gower's Confcssio Amantis,
vol. 1, edited by G. C. Macaulay, M.A. The E. E. T. Soc. has taken advantage of the
Clarendon Press publication of all Gower's Works (edited by Mr. Macaulay) to secure copies
of the englisht Confessio Amantis at a reduced price as part of the Society's Extra-Series.
The Original-Series Texts for 1901 will probably be Part II of the Minor Poems of the
Vernon MS. (of which the text is all printed), edited by Dr. F. J. Furnivall, and Part II of
the Exeter Book Anglo-Saxon Poems from the unique MS. in Exeter Cathedral re-edited
by Israel Gollancz, M.A.
The Extra-Series Texts for 1901 will be, No. LXXXI, Gower's Confessio Amantis, vol. 2,
edited by G. C. Macaulay, M.A., and No. LXXXII, Lydgate's DeGuilleville 's Pilgrimage of
the Life of Man, Part II, edited by Dr. F. J. Furnivall.
The Extra-Series Texts for 1902 ought to be the Second Part of the prose Romance of
Mclusine Introduction, with ten facsimiles of the best woodblocks of the old foreign black-
letter editions, Glossary, &c., by A. K. Donald, B.A., if he can be found; and a new edition
of the famous Early-English Dictionary (English and Latin), Promptorium Parvulorum, from
the Winchester MS., ab. 1440 A.D. : in this, the Editor, the Rev. A. L. Mayhew, M.A., will
follow and print his MS. not only in its arrangement of nouns first, and verbs second, under
every letter of the Alphabet, but also in its giving of the flexions of the words. The Society's
edition will thus be the first modern one that really represents its original, a point on which
Mr. Mayhew's insistence will meet with the sympathy of all our Members. But if these
Texts are not ready, substitutes will be taken from the others next mentioned.
The Extra-Series Texts for 1903 will be chosen from Mr. I. Gollancz's re-edition of two
Alliterative Poems, Winner and Waster, &c., ab. 1360, just issued for the Roxburghe Club ;
Dr. Norman Moore's re-edition of The Book of the Foundation of St. Bartholomew's Hospital,
London, from the unique MS. ab. 1425, which gives an account of the Founder, Rahere, and
the miraculous cures wrought at the Hospital ; The Craft of Nombrynge, with other of
the earliest englisht Treatises on Arithmetic, edited by R. Steele, B.A., Alexander Scott's
Poems, 1568, from the unique Edinburgh MS., ed. A. K. Donald, H.A. ; The Seat of Jeru-
salem, the alliterative version, edited by the late Prof. Dr. E. Kb'lbing ; Lydgate's englisht
Reason and Sensualiti/, edited by Dr. E. Siuper.
An urgent appeal is hereby made to Members to increase the list of Subscribers to the
E. E. Text Society. It is nothing less than a scandal that the Hellenic Society should have
nearly 1000 members, while the Early English Text Society has only about 300 !
4 Texts preparing : The Extra Series for 1902 $ 1903. Deguilleville.
The Original-Series Texts for 1902 and 1903 will probably be chosen from Part II of Dr.
Holthausen's Vices and Virtues; Part II of Jacob's Well, edited by Dr. Brandeis, and
Archbishop Thoresby's Lay Folks' Catechism, edited by the late Canon Simmons and the
Rev. H. E. Nolloth ; Prof. Bruce's Introduction to The English Conquest of Ireland, Part
II ; Dr. Furnivall's edition of the Lichfteld Gilds, which is all printed, and waits only
for the Introduction, that Prof. E. C. K. Conner has kindly undertaken to write for the book.
The Texts for the Extra Series in 1904 and 1905 will be chosen from The Three Kings'
Sons, Part II, the Introduction &c. by Prof. Dr. Leon Kellner ; Part II of The Chester Plays,
re-edited from the MSS., with a full collation of the formerly missing Devonshire MS., by
Mr. G. England and Dr. Matthews ; the Parallel-Text of the only two MSS. of the Owl and
Nightingale, edited by Mr. G. F. H. Sykes (at press) ; Robert of Brunne's Handlyng Synne,
edited by Dr. Furnivall ; Deguilleville's Pilgrimage of the Sowle, in English prose, edited by
Prof. Dr. L. Kellner. (For the three prose versions of The Pilgrimage of the Life of Man
two English, one French an Editor is wanted.) Members are askt to realise the fact that
the Society has now 50 years' work on its Lists, at its present rate of production, and
that there is from 100 to 200 more years' work to come after that. The year 2000 will not
see finisht all the Texts that the Society ought to print. The need of more Members and
money is urgent.
Before his death in 1895, Mr. G. N. Currie was preparing an edition of the 15th and 16th
century Prose Versions of Guillaume de Deguilleville's Pilgrimage of the Life of Man, with
the French prose version by Jean Gallopes, from Lord Aldenham's MS., he having generously
promist to pay the extra cost of printing the French text, and engraving one or two of the
illuminations in his MS. But Mr. Currie, when on his deathbed, charged a friend to burn
all his MSS. which lay in a corner of his room, and unluckily all the E. E. T. S.'s copies of
the Deguilleville prose versions were with them, and were burnt with them, so that the
Society will be put to the cost of fresh copies, Mr. Currie having died in debt.
Guillaume de Deguilleville, monk of the Cistercian abbey of Chaalis, in the diocese of
Senlis, wrote his first verse Pelerinaige de I'Homme in 1330-1 when he was 36. 1 Twenty-five
(or six) years after, in 1355, he revised his poem, and issued a second version of it, and this
is the only one that has been printed. Of the prose representative of the first version, 1330-1,
a prose Englishing, about 1430 A.D., was edited by Mr. Aldis Wright for the Roxburghe Club
in 1869, from MS. Ff. 5. 30 in the Cambridge University Library. Other copies of this prose
English are in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow, Q. 2. 25 ; Univ. Coll. and Corpus Christi,
Oxford 2 ; and the Laud Collection in the Bodleian, no. 740. A copy in the Northern dialect
is MS. G. 21, in St. John's Coll., Cambridge, and this is the MS. which will be edited for the
E. E. Text Society. The Laud MS. 740 was somewhat condenst and modernised, in the 17th
century, into MS. Ff. 6. 30, in the Cambridge University Library: 3 "The Pilgrime or the
Pilgrimage of Man in this World," copied by Will. Baspoole, whose copy "was verbatim
written by Walter Parker, 1645, and from thence transcribed by G. G. 1649 ; and from thence
by W. A. 1655." This last copy may have been read by, or its story reported to, Bunyan,
and may have been the groundwork of his Pilgrim's Progress. It will be edited for the E.
E. T. Soc., its text running under the earlier English, as in Mr. Herrtage's edition of the
Gesta Romanorum for the Society. In February 1464, 4 Jean Gallopes a clerk of Angers,
afterwards chaplain to John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France turned Deguilleville's first
verse Pelerinaige into a prose Pelerinage de la vie humaine. 5 By the kindness of Lord Alden-
ham, as above mentiond, Gallopes's French text will be printed opposite the early prose
northern Englishing in the Society's edition.
The Second Version of Deguilleville's Pelerinaige de I'Homme, A.D. 1355 or -6, was englisht
in verse by Lydgate in 1426. Of Lydgate's poem, the larger part is in the Cotton MS.
Vitellius C. xiii (leaves 2-308). This MS. leaves out Chaucer's englishing of Deguilleville's
ABC or Prayer to the Virgin, of which the successive stanzas start with A, B, C, and run all
thro' the alphabet ; and it has 2 main gaps, besides many small ones from the tops of leaves
being burnt in the Cotton fire. All these gaps (save the ABC) will be fild up from the Stowe
MS. 952 (which old John Stowe completed) and from the end of the other imperfect MS.
Cotton, Tiberius A vii. Thanks to the diligence of the old Elizabethan tailor and manu-
script-lover, a complete text of Lydgate's poem can be given. The British Museum French
MSS. (Harleian 4399, 6 and Additional 22, 937 7 and 25, 594 8 ) are all of the First Version.
1 He was born about 1295. See Abb6 GOCJET'S Bibliotheque franfaise. Vol. IX, p. 73-4. P. M.
2 These 3 MSS. have not yet been collated, but are believed to be all of the same version.
3 Another MS. is in the Pepys Library.
4 According to Lord Aldenhatn's MS.
5 These were printed in France, late in the 15th or early in the 16th century.
6 15th cent., containing only the Vie humaine.
^ 15th cent., containing all the 3 Pilgrimages, the 3rd being Jesus Christ's.
8 14th cent., containing the Vie humaine and the 2nd Pilgrimage, de i'Ame : both incomplete.
Anglo-Saxon Psalters. More Money wanted. Saints' Lives. 5
Besides his first Pelerinaige de I'homme in its two versions, Deguilleville wrote a second,
"de 1'aiue separee du corps,"and a third, "de nostre seigneur lesus." Of the second, a prose
Englishing of 1413, The Pilgrimage of the Sowlc (with poems by Hoccleve, already printed
for the Society with that author's Regement of Primes), exists in the Egerton MS. 61 5, 1 at
Hatfield, Cambridge (Univ. Kk. 1. 7, and Caius), Oxford (Univ. Coll. and Corpus), and in Cax-
ton's edition of 1483. This version has 'somewhat of addicions' as Caxton says, and some
shortenings too, as the maker of both, the first translator, tells us in the MSS. Caxton leaves
out the earlier englisher's interesting Epilog in the Egerton MS. This prose englishing of
the Sowle will be edited for the Society by Prof. Dr. Leon Kellner after that of the Man is
finisht, and will have Gallopes's French opposite it, from Lord Aldenham's MS., as his gift
to the Society. Of the Pilgrimage of Jesus, no englishing is known.
As to the MS. Anglo-Saxon Psalters, Dr. Hy. Sweet has edited the oldest MS., the
Vespasian, in his Oldest English Texts for the Society, and Mr. Harsley has edited the
latest, c. 1150, Eadwine's Canterbury Psalter. The other MSS. , except the Paris one, being
interlinear versions, some of the Roman-Latin redaction, and some of the Gallican, Prof.
Logeman has prepared for press, a Parallel-Text edition of the first twelve Psalms, to start the
complete work. He will do his best to get the Paris Psalter tho' it is not an interlinear
one into this collective edition ; but the additional matter, especially in the Verse-Psalms,
is very difficult to manage. If the Paris text cannot be parallelised, it will form a separate
volume. The Early English Psalters are all independent versions, and will follow separately
in due course.
Through the good offices of the Examiners, some of the books for the Early-English Ex-
aminations of the University of London will be chosen from the Society's publications, the
Committee having undertaken to supply such books to students at a large reduction in price.
The profits from these sales, after the payment of costs arising out of the issuing of such Texts
to Students, will be applied to the Society's Reprints, the rest of which are now at press or
preparing for it. Donations for this purpose will be welcome. They should be paid to
the Hon. Sec., Mr. W. A. Dalziel, 67 Victoria Rd., Finsbury Park, London, N.
Members are reminded that fresh Subscribers are always wanted, and that the Committee
can at any time, on short notice, send to press an additional Thousand Pounds' worth of work.
The Subscribers to the Original Series must be prepared for the issue of the whole of the
Early English Lives of Saints, sooner or later. The Society cannot leave out any of them,
even though some are dull. The Shiners would doubtless be much more interesting. But in
many Saints' Lives will be found valuable incidental details of our forefathers' social state,
and all are worthful for the history of our language. The Lives may be lookt on as the
religious romances or story-books of their period.
The Standard Collection of Saints' Lives in the Corpus and Ashmole MSS., the Harleian
MS. 2277, &c. will repeat the Laud set, our No. 87, with additions, and in right order. (The
foundation MS. (Laud 108) had to be printed first, to prevent quite unwieldy collations.) The
Supplementary Lives from the Vernon and other MSS. will form one or two separate volumes.
Besides the Saints' Lives, Trevisa's englishing of Bartholomoeus dc Proprietatibus Eerutn,
the mediaeval Cyclopaedia of Science, &c., will be the Society's next big undertaking. Dr.
R. von Fleischhacker will edit it. Prof. Napier of Oxford, wishing to have the whole of
our MS. Anglo-Saxon in type, and accessible to students, will edit for the Society all the
imprinted and other Anglo-Saxon Homilies which are not included in Thorpe's edition of
JHfric's prose, 2 Dr. Morris's of the Blickling Homilies, and Prof. Skeat's of ^Elfric's Metrical
Homilies. The late Prof. Kb'lbing had also undertaken for the Society's Extra Series a
Parallel-Text of all the six MSS. of the Ancren Riwle, one of the most important foundation-
documents of Early English. His lamented death leaves the Society in need of an Editor
to take his place. Mr. Harvey, too, means to prepare an edition of the three MSS. of the
Earliest English Metrical Psalter, one of which was edited by the late Mr. Stevenson for the
Surtees Society.
In case more Texts are ready at any time than can be paid for by the current year's in-
come, they will be dated the next year, and issued in advance to such Members as will pay advance
subscriptions. The 1886-7 delay in getting out Texts must not occur again, if it can possibly
be avoided. The Director has in hand for future volunteer Editors, copies of 2 or 3 MSS.
Members of the Society will learn with pleasure that its example has been followed, not
only by the Old French Text Society which has done such admirable work uniler its founders
Profs. Paul Meyer and Gaston Paris, but also by the Early Russian Text Society, which was
set on foot in 1877, and has since issued many excellent editions of old MS. Chronicles &c.
1 Ab. 1430, 106 leaves (leaf 1 of text wanting), with illuminations of nice little devils red, greon, tawny
too. and damnd souls, fires, angels Ac.
2 Of these, Mr. Harsley is preparing a new edition, with collations of all the MSS. Many copies of
Thorpe's book, not issued by the JElfric Society, are still in stock.
Of the Vercell Homilies, the Society has bought the copy made by Prof. G. Lattanzi.'
6 The Original Series of the " Early English Text Society."
Members will also note with pleasure the annexation of large tracts of our Early English
territory by the important German contingent under General Zupitza, Colonel Kolbing, volun-
teers Hausknecht, Einenkel, Haenisch, Kaluza, Hupe, Adam, Holthausen, Schick, Herzfeld,
Brandeis, &c. Scandinavia has also sent us Prof. Erdmann ; Holland, Prof. H. Logeman,
who is now working in Belgium ; France, Prof. Paul Meyer with Gaston Paris as adviser ;
Italy, Prof. Lattanzi ; Hungary, Dr. von Fleischhacker ; while America is represented by
the late Prof. Child, by Dr. Mary Noyes Colvin, Profs. Mead, Pen-in, McClintock, Triggs, &c.
The sympathy, the ready help, which the Society's work has cald forth from the Continent
and the United States, have been among the pleasantest experiences of the Society's life, a
real aid and cheer amid all troubles and discouragements. All our Members are grateful for
it, and recognise that the bond their work has woven between them and the lovers of language
and antiquity across the seas is one of the most welcome results of the Society's efforts.
ORIGINAL SERIES.
Half the Publications for 1866 (13, 14, 15, 18, 22) are out of print, but will be gradually
reprinted. Subscribers who desire the issue for 1866 should send their guineas at once to the
Hon. Secretary, in order that other Texts for 1866 may be sent to press.
The Publications for 1864-1901 (one guinea each, year, save those for 1866 now half
out of print, two guineas) are :
1. Early English Alliterative Poems, ab. 1360 A.D., ed. Rev. Dr. B. Morris. 16s. 1864
2. Arthur, ab. 1440, ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A. 4s. ,,
3. Lauder on the Dewtie of Kyngis. &c., 1556, ed. F. Hall, D.C.L. 4s. ,,
4. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, ab. 1360, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10s. ,,
5. Hume's Orthographic and Congruitie of the Britan Tongue, ab 1617, ed. H. B. Wheatley. 4s. 1865
6. Lancelot of the Laik, ab. 1500, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. Ss ,,
7. Genesis & Exodus, ab. 1250, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 8*. ,,
8. Morte Arthure, ab. 1440, ed. E. Brock. 7s. ,,
9. Thynne on Speght's ed. of Chaucer, A.D. 1599, ed. Dr. G. Kingsley and Dr. F. J. Furnivall. 10*. ,,
10. Merlin, ab. 1440, Part I., ed. H. B. Wlieatley. 2s. 6d.
11. Lyndesay's Monarche, &c., 1552, Part I., ed. J. Small, M.A. 3s. ,,
12. Wright's Chaste Wife, ab. 1462, ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A. Is.
13. Seinte Marherete, 1200-1330, ed. Rev. O. Cockayne : to be re-edited by Mr. Otto Claiming. 1866
14. Kyng Horn, Floris and Blancheflour, &c.,ed. Rev. J. R. Lumby, B.D. ,,
15. Political, Religious, and Love Poems, ed. F. J. Furnivall. ,,
16. The Book of Quinte Essence, ab. 1460-70, ed. F. J. Furnivall. Is. [In print.] ,,
17. Parallel Extracts from 45 MSS. of Piers the Plowman, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. Is. [In print.'} ,,
IS. Hali Meidenhad, ab. 1200, ed. Rev. O. Cockayne. ,,
19. Lyndesay's Monarche, &c., Part II., ed. J. Small, M.A. 3s. 6d. [Imprint.] ,,
20. Hampole's English Prose Treatises, ed. Rev. G. G. Perry. Is. [In print.'] ,,
21. Merlin, Part II., ed. H. B. Wheatley. 4s. [In print.]
22. Partenay or Lusignen, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. [At Press.] ,,
23. Dan Michel's Ay enbite of Inwyt, 1340, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10s. 6d. [In print.] ,,
24. Hymns to the Virgin and Christ; the Parliament of Devils, &c., ab. 1430, ed. F. J. Furnivall. 1867
25. The Staciona of Rome, the Pilgrims' Sea-voyage, with Clene Maydenhod, ed. F. J. Furnivall. Is. ,,
26. Religious Pieces in Prose and Verse, from R. Thornton's MS. (ab. 1440), ed. Rev. G. G. Perry. 2*. , ,
27. Levins's Mampulus Vocabulorum, a ryming Dictionary, 1570, ed. H. B. Wheatley. 12s. , ,
28. William's Vision of Piers the Plowman, 1362 A.D. ; Text A, Part I., ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 6s. ,,
29. Old English Homilies (ab. 1220-30 A.D.). Parti. Edited by Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 7s. ,,
SO. Pierce the Ploughmans Crede, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 2s.
31. Myrc's Duties of a Parish Priest, in Verse, ab. 1420 A.D.,ed. E. Peacock. 4s. 1868
32. Early English Meals and Manners : the Boke of Norture of John Russell, the Bokes of Keruynge,
Curtasye, and Demeanor, the Babees Book, Urbanitatis, &c. , ed. F. J. Furnivall. 12s. , ,
33. The Knight de la Tour Landry, ab. 1440 A.D. A Book for Daughters, ed. T. Wright, M.A. 8s. ,,
34. Old English Homilies (before 1300 A.D.). Part II., ed. R. Morris, LL.D. 8s. ,,
35. Lyndesay's Works, Part III. : The Historic and Testament of Squyer Meldrum, ed. F. Hall. 2s. ,,
36. Merlin, Part III. Ed. H. B. Wheatley. On Arthurian Localities, by J. S. Stuart Glennie. 12s. 1869
37. Sir David Lyndesay's Works, Part IV., Ane Satyre of the Three Estaits. Ed. F. Hall, D.C.L. 4s. , ,
38. William's Vision of Piers the Plowman. Part II. Text B. Ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 10s. <Jd. ,,
39. Alliterative Romance of the Destruction of Troy. Ed. D. Donaldson & G. A. Panton. Pt. I. 10s. 6d.
40. English Gilds, their Statutes and Customs, 1389 A.D. Edit. Tonlmin Smith and Lucy T. Smith,
with an Essay on Gilds and Trades-Unions, by Pr. L. Brentano. 21s. 1870
41. William Lauder's Minor Poems. Ed. F. J. Furnivall. 3s. ,,
42. BernardusDe Cura Rei Famuliaris, Early Scottish Prophecies, <feo. Ed. J. R. Luniby, M.A. 2s. ,,
43. Ratis Raving, and other Moral and Religious Pieces. Ed. J. R Lnmby, M.A. 3s. ,,
The Original Series of the "Early English Text Society" 7
41. The Alliterative Komance of Joseph of Arimathie, or The Holy Grail : from the Vernon MS. ;
with W. de Worde's and Pynson's Lives of Joseph : ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 5*. 1871
45. King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care, edited from 2 MSS., with an
English translation, by Henry Sweet, Esq., B.A., Balliol College, Oxford. Parti. 10*. ,,
4<i. legends of the Holy Rood, Symbols of the Passion and Cross Poems, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10*. ,,
47. Sir David Lyndesay's Works, Part V., ed. Dr. J. A. H. Murray. 3*. ,,
48. The Times' Whistle, and other Poems, by R. C., 1616 ; ed. by J. M. Cowper, Esq. 6s.
49. An Old English Miscellany, containing a Bestiary, Kentish Sermons, Proverbs of Alfred, and
Religious Poems of the 13th cent., ed. from the MSS. by the Rev. R. Morris, LL.D. 10s. 1872
50. King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care, ed. H. Sweet, M.A. Part II. 10s. ,,
51. The Life of St Juliana, 2 versions, A.D. 1230, with translations ; ed. T. O. Cockayne & E. Brock. 2s. ,,
52. Palladius on Husbondrie, englisht (ab. 1420 A.D.), ed. Rev. Barton Lodge, M.A. Parti. 10s. ,,
53. Old-English Homilies, Series II., and three Hymns to the Virgin and God, 13th-century, with
the music to two of them, in old and modern notation ; ed. Rev. R. Morris, LL.D. 8s. 1S73
54. The Vision of Piers Plowman, Text C : Richard the Redeles (by William, the author of the Vision)
and The Crowned King ; Part III., ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 18s. ,,
55. Generydes, a Romance, ab. 1440 A.D., ed. W. Aldis Wright, M.A. Part I. 3s. ,,
56. The Gest Hystoriale of the Destruction of Troy, in alliterative verse ; ed. by D. Donaldson, Esq.,
and the late Rev. G. A. Panton. Part II. 10s. M. 1874
57. The Early English Version of the " Cursor Mundi" ; in four Texts, edited by the Rev. R. Morris,
M. A., LL.D. Part I, with 2 photolithographic facsimiles. 10s. 6d. ,,
58. The Blickling Homilies, 971 I.D., ed. Rev. R. Morris, LL.D. Part I. 8s.
59. The " Cursor Mundi," in four Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part II. 15s. 1875
60. Meditacyuns on the Soper of our Lorde (by Robert of Brunne), edited by J. M. Cowper. 2s. 6d. ,,
61. The Romance and Prophecies of Thomas of Erceldoune, from 5 MSS. ;ed. Dr. J. A. H. Murray. 10s. 6d. ,,
62. The "Cursor Mundi," in four Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part III. 15s. 1876
63. The Blickling Homilies, 971 A.D., ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part II. 7s.
64. Francis Thynne's Embleames and Epigrams, A.D. 1600, ed. P. J. Furnivall. 7s. ,,
65. Be Domes Daege (Bede's De Die Judicii), &c., ed. J. R. Lumby, B.D. 2s. ,,
66. The " Cursor Mundi," in four Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part IV., with 2 autotypes. 10s. 1877
67. Notes on Piers Plowman, by the Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. Part I. 21s. ,,
68. The "Cursor Mundi," in 4 Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part V. 25s. 1878
69. Adam Davie's 5 Dreams about Edward II., &c., ed. P. J. Furnivall, M.A. 5s. ,,
70. Generydes, a Romance, ed. W. Aldis Wright, M.A. Part II. 4s.
71. The Lay Folks Mass-Book, four texts, ed. Rev. Canon Simmons. 25s. 1879
72. Palladius on Husbondrie, englisht (ab. 1420 A.D.). Part II. Ed. S. J. Herrtage, B.A. 15s.
73. The Blickling Homilies, 971 A. D., ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part III. 10s. 1880
74. English Works of Wyolif, hitherto unprinted, ed. P. D. Matthew, Esq. 20s.
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78. The Fifty Earliest English Wills, in the Court of Probate, 1387-1439, ed. by F. J. Furnivall, M.A. 7s. ,,
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94. Aelfric's Metrical Lives of Saints, MS. Cott. Jul. E 7, Part III., ed. Prof. Skeat, Litt.D., LL.D. 12*. 1890
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98. Minor Poems of the Vernon MS., Part I., ed. Dr. C. Ilorstmann. 20s. 1892
99. Cursor Mundi. Part VI. Preface, Notes, and Glossary, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10*. ,,
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113. Queen Elizabeth's Englishings of Boethius, Plutarch &c. &c., ed. Miss C. Pemberton. 15*. ,,
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LVI II. Caxton's Blanchardyn ft Eglantine, c. 1489, extracts from ed. 1595, & French, ed. Dr. L. Kellner. 17*. ,,
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LXXX. Gower's Confessio Amantis, edited by G. C. Macaulay, M.A. Vol. I. 20*. ,,
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Besides the Texts named as at press on p. 12 of the Cover of the Early English Text
Society's last books, the following Texts are also slowly preparing for the Society :
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The Earliest English Prose Psalter, ed. Dr. K. D. Buelbring. Part II.
The Earliest English Verse Psalter, 3 texts, ed. Rev. R. Harvey, M.A.
Anglo-Saxon Poems, from the Vercelli MS., re-edited by I. Gollancz, M.A.
Anglo-Saxon Glosses to Latin Prayers and Hymns, edited by Dr. F. Holthausen.
All the Anglo-Saxon Homilies and Lives of Saints not accessible in English editions, including those of the
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The Master of the Game, a Book of Huntynge for Hen. V. when Prince of Wales. (Editor wanted.)
Ailred's Rule of Nuns, &c., edited from the Vernon MS., by the Rev. Canon H. R. Bramley, M.A.
Lonelich's Merlin (verse), from the unique MS. (Editor wanted.)
Early English Verse Lives of Saints, Standard Collection, from the Harl. MS.
Early English Confessionals, edited by Dr. R. von Fleischhacker.
A Lapidary, from Lord Tollcmache's MS., &c., edited by Dr. R. von Fleischhacker.
10 Works preparing for the "Early English Text Society"
Early English Deeds and Documents, from unique MSS., ed. Dr. Lorenz Morsbach.
Gilbert Banastre's Poems, and other Boccaccio eng-lishings, ed. by a pupil of the late Prof. J. Zupitza, Pli.D.
Lanfranc's Cirurgie, ab. 1400 A.D., ed. Dr. B. von Fleischhacker, Part II.
William of Nassington's Mirror of Life, from Jn. of Waldby, edited by J. A. Herbert, M.A.
A Chronicle of England to 1327 A.D., Northern verse (42,000 lines), ab. 1400 A.D., ed. M. L. Perrin, B.A.
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Early English Homilies in Harl. 2276 &<-., c. 1400, ed. J. FriedlSnder.
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Bp. Fisher's English Works, Pt. II., with his Life and Letters, ed. Rev. Ronald Bayne, B.A. [At Press.
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De Guilleville's Pilgrimage of the Sowle, edited by Prof. Dr. Leon Kellner.
Vicary's Anatomic, 1548, from the unique MS. copy by George Jeans, edited by F. J. A Percy Furnivall.
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A Compilacion of Surgerye, from H. de Mandeville and Lanfrank, A.D. 1392, ed. Dr. J. F. Payne.
William Staunton's St. Patrick's Purgatory, &c., ed. Mr. G. P. Krapp, U.S.A.
A Parallel-text of the 6 MSS. of the Ancren Riwle. (Editor wanted.)
Trevisa'sBartholomaeusdeProprietatibusRerum, re-edited by Dr. R. von Fleischhacker.
Bullein's Dialogue against the Feuer Pestilence, 1564, 1573, 1578. Ed. A. H. and M. Bullen. Pt. II.
The Romance of Boctus and Sidrac, edited from the MSS. by Dr. K. D. Buelbring.
The Romance of Clariodus, re-edited by Dr. K. D. Buelbring.
Sir Amadas, re-edited from the MSS. by Dr. K. D. Buelbring.
Sir Degrevant, edited from the MSS. by Dr. K. Luick.
Robert of Brunne's Chronicle of England, from the Inner Temple MS., ed. by Prof. W. E. Mead, Ph.D.
Maundeville's Voiage and Travaile, re-edited from the Cotton MS. Titus C. 16, &c., by Miss M. Bateson.
Avowynge of Arthur, re-edited from the unique Ireland MS. by Dr. K. D. Buelbring.
Guy of Warwick, Copland's version, edited by a pupil of the late Prof. Zupitza, Ph.D.
Liber Fundacionis Ecclesie SanctiBartholomeiLondoniarum : englisht ab. 1425, ed. Norman Moore, M.D.
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Lydgate's Court of Sapience, edited by Dr. Borsdorf.
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Richard Coer de Lion, re-edited from Harl. MS. 4690, by Prof. Hausknecht, Ph.D.
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The Romance of Sir Degare, re-edited by Dr. Breul.
Mulcaster's Positions 1581, and Elementarie 1582, ed. Dr. Th. Klaehr, Dresden.
Caxton's Recuyell of the Histories of Troye, edited by H. Halliday Sparling.
Walton's verse Boethius de Consolatione, edited by Mark H. Liddell, U. S. A.
The Gospel of Nichodemus, edited by Ernest Riedel.
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Oxford, is to be edited by Prof. McClintock. More Hampoles in the Yorkshire dialect will
probably follow. The Lincoln and Norfolk Wills, already copied by or for Dr. Furnivall,
unluckily show but little traces of dialect.
More members (to bring money) and Editors (to bring brains) are wanted by the Society.
115
Ojforb
HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
AN ENGLISHT TREATISE ON THE CLEANSING
OF MAN'S CONSCIENCE.
EDITED FROM THE UNIQUE MS. ABOUT 1440 A.D.
IN SALISBURY CATHEDRAL,
BY
DR. ARTHUR BRANDEIS.
PART I
LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY,
BY KEG AN PAUL, TEENCH, TEUBNER & CO., LTD.,
PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING CROSS ROAD.
M DCCCC
PR
mllS, efc
v. i
> o
fEB 8 -965
PREFACE.
THE first mention of the present work was made by Dr. F. J.
Furnivall in the Academy of August 27, 1892, where that inde-
fatigable searcher for literary relics gave a short account of the
unique MS. which he had just seen, for the first time, in the library
of Salisbury Cathedral. He also printed a few extracts, containing
descriptions of several implements, whose names are now scarcely
used in written language, though they may still survive as technical
terms or provincial expressions. Among them, skeet (p. 168)
claimed a special interest, as giving the probable etymon of
a name so highly esteemed among scholars and students of
English 1 .
At the same time, Dr. Furnivall pointed out the extreme
quaintness of the work, whose strange allegorical form and good
fifteenth-century prose may well account for its publication.
The title of the book 2 refers to John iv. 6. It was a frequent
practice among writers of theological allegories to take a simile
or figure, as they call it, from the Scripture, and to set it in motion,
as it were, by expanding it into a sort of allegorical action, and
giving it a forced interpretation, which they may already have
found in the gloss 3 . As an earlier instance of such a proceeding,
'- The ' skeet ' is still quoted in nautical dictionaries as a kind of ' long scoop
used to wet the sides of a ship to prevent their splitting by the heat of the
sun.' The Marine Dictionary, by Falkoner-Burley (1830), on plate xix,
gives us the picture of a skeet which still fairly corresponds to the description
of our book.
2 The right Latin spelling is Fons Jacob, not Jucobi, as it appears on the
back of the modern binding of our MS.
3 Compare the interpretation of the pool Bethesda on p. 224.
vi Preface.
we may quote the homily entitled Sawles Warde, which was
suggested by Matt. xxiv. 43 1 .
The allegory of Jacob's Well, which is punctiliously worked-out
throughout the book, treats of a pit full of oozy water and mire,
representing the sinful body of man. That pit is to be cleansed
by degrees with the different implements used by well-cleansers,
till it becomes a fit receptacle of the limpid water of Grace.
According to the author's scheme, put forth in his first chapter,
the troubled water of the Great Curse must be removed from the
pit, till we reach the mire of deadly sin beneath, which requires
the utmost exertion to be -cast out with skeet and skavel, shovel
and spade and pickax, every corner, nay, every foot and inch of
it. Then we come to the firm ground of the Seven Virtues, in
which there are seven water-springs, the gifts of the Holy Ghost.
But to prevent curse and sin from re-entering the pit, the five
water-gates, i. e. the five senses, must be shut against temptation.
When all this is done, we may think of curbing our well with
stones, i. e. the works of Faith. And then, Our Lord may rest at
the well, and the Samaritan woman, man's soul, will refresh
him with the water of Grace. And after death, our soul will
climb up to heaven by the ladder of Charity.
Neither the matter nor the form of the book is original or novel.
Jacob's Well belongs to that numerous class of manuals, in prose
and verse, whose object it was to condense the whole penitential
lore of the time into a code for the use of laymen or clerical
persons. Though their ancestry was already very profuse in the
first part of the fifteenth century we need only mention the
Ayenbite of Invrit, Prick of Conscience, Handlyng Synne, &c., down
to Chaucer's Parson s Tale, most of which are either directly or
indirectly derived from Le Somme des Vices et de Vertues, by Frere
Lorens their name seems about that period to have become
legion. So we are told even by a contemporary, the translator
of the Horologium Sajnentiae, who says a : ' her beb so manye bokes
7 tretees of vyces and vertues 7 of dy verse doctrynes, bat bis schort
lyfe schalle rabere have anende of anye maune ]?aune he maye
owbere studye or rede hem.'
1 See E. E. T. S., xxix. p. 245 (ed.'by Dr. R. Morris), and ten Brink,
Litteraturyeschichte, i. p. 255.
8 Anglia, vol. x. p. 328, 22.
Preface. vij
Jacob's Well is, perhaps, one of the most voluminous of those
treatises, as it fills above 200 closely written, four-columned leaves
of a folio volume. The matter is treated very exhaustively, but,
as the abundant quotations show, with little originality. The
disposition of the matter does not materially differ from the type
set up by Frere Lorens. After an introductory chapter, the book
opens with a compilation of the articles of excommunication (chaps,
ii-ix), collected from Canon Law 1 and from councils held on
English soil. Then, after a chapter on penance and confession, follow
the Seven Deadly Sins (chaps, xi-xxiv), exactly after the order in
Chaucer's Parson's Tale. But while in the Parsons Tale each
sin is immediately followed by its 'remedy,' i.e. the respective
virtue, Jacob's Well (like the Ayenbite) first treats all the sins,
1 It may, perhaps, be convenient for readers to find a short account of the
parts of the Corpus Juris Canonici, and to know the difference between the
old and new methods of quoting the canons.
The Corpus Juris Canonici consists :
(1) Of the Decretum Gratiani in three parts, the first of which includes 101
distinctiones, the second 36 causae. Each causa is divided into qwaestiones,
each quaestio into canones or capituli.
The first part is now generally quoted thus : capit. 10. distinct. 56 (p. 161,
note 2), while our text quotes dist. Ivj. diuulgatum est, the last words meaning
the beginning of the chapter or canon.
The second part is now quoted : cap. 29. C. 17. qu. 4 (p. 27, note i), and
after the old method: xvii. q. iv. Si quis suadente, the last words standing
again instead of the number of chapter.
Now the third quaestio of 6ausa 33 contains the treatise de poenitentia,
which again has seven distinctiones, quoted like this : Cap. 30. Dist. 3. de poeni-
tentia (p. 73, note i), formerly quoted : de pe. di. iii. de niniuitis.
The third part of the Decretum Gratiani is divided into five distinctiones,
quoted after the heading of the first section de consecratione, thus : cap. 24.
Dist. 5. de consecratione (p. 106, note i), in our MS. de cons. di. v. MOM
mediocriter.
(2) Decretales Gregorii IX, or Breviarium eztravagantium (i.e. canonum
vagantium extra Decretum Gratiani) consisting of five books quoted : cap. 19.
X (scil. extra) de senten. excommun. 2. (book) 19. (title), formerly ex. de sen.
ex., Tua nos (p. 17, note 2).
(3) Liber Sextus, meant as an appendix to the five books of Extravagants of
Pope Gregory, and itself divided into five books, and these into titles, quoted :
cap. 13. de electione in Vlto. I. 6 (p. 28, note 9), formerly, ex. de eleccione,
Generall, libro vj.
(4) Clementinae (i. e. constitutiones) quoted : Clem. 2. de poenis, 5. 8 (p. 38,
note 3), formerly, ex. de pe. c. Multorum in cle.
These are the four main parts of the canons carrying legal power. Besides,
there are collections from later periods, e. g. the Extra cagantes Communes
(see p. 27, note 10), but these are without binding force.
viii Preface.
and then teaches the reader how to arrive at the Seven Virtues,
which in their turn afford the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
(chaps, xxxvii-lxiii). If, in Jacob's Well, the Articles of the Faith,
the Ten Commandments, the Sacraments and the Works of Mercy
form the conclusion (chaps. Ixvi Ixxxix), while in the Ayeribite
they are placed at its beginning, the difference is to be attributed
to the allegorical scheme which had to be pursued throughout the
Well book.
Except for the quaintness of the form, Jacob's Well with the
triteness of its matter, with all its enumerations, divisions and
subdivisions may sometimes seem rather tiresome reading, though
many a page is well worth the antiquary's attention, illustrative
as it is of fifteenth-century customs and manners. Page 105, 1. 23
e.g., gives an interesting list of the sports and pastimes of the
period, some of which still want a satisfactory explanation. Perhaps
readers will help me to ascertain what kind of amusements steraclys
(pp. 105, 1. 25; 291, 1. 17) were, or what games were those per-
formed by clowns in pleying at fie spore, at fie bene, at pe cat
(p. 134, 1. 24). On the same page (134) we find a list of dis-
reputable crafts crafts of foly, the author calls them in which
jugglers and clowns, heralds-at-arms, professional champions, and
executioners, range with sham cripples, beggars and prostitutes.
The description of No. 4, the lacchedrawerys, a sort of begging
intruders, is in itself a perfect little picture.
The work is divided into ninety-five chapters, or rather sermons,
which seem to have been delivered day by day wi^iin the short
space of pis hool tweyne monythys and more, as the author says in
the beginning of his last chapter (xcv). It is difficult to say to
what kind of congregation they were originally directed. The
auditors are addressed as freendys and syres, though the preacher
sometimes uses them rather roughly in reproving their behaviour
in church, or their greediness (pp. 115/8, 141/20). The similes,
too, many of which seem to have sprung from the preacher's own
fancy, are of a taste which could scarcely have pleased even what
the fifteenth century might have called good company. Take, for
instance, the passage (p. 263) where he compares the doings of
flatterers to the meeting of two dogs in the street, or the state
of an unshriven soul to a shirt worn all the year round without
washing (185/27). All this, taken side by side with the detailed
Preface. ix
-f
rendering of the tithing regulations for farmers (pp. 37-40; the
regulations for merchants and craftsmen are treated in a few lines),
would induce us to guess at a rustic audience.
This opinion is strengthened when we consider the selection and
the style of the short stories and anecdotes attached to the end
of each chapter, prohably with an intention to rouse the interest
of the congregation or to make up for the dulness of the sermon.
Though the collection of stories worked into our MS. must be
reserved for special research, we may at least point out its
principal sources. They are Jacques de Vitry, Csesarius Heister-
bacensis, the Vitce Patrum, The Miracles of the. Holy Verg!n, and
Tlue Golden Legend. Some of the stories are given without any
reference. The translations are very unequal. While some of
them do not even attempt to cover the Latin constructions (cf.
the story on p. 192), there are others whose English is very read-
able. Where the author took a real interest in the story, he
seems to have retold it freely, without too anxiously sticking to
his Latin original. Such stories are those of Thais (p. 22), of the
Faithful Friends (88), of the Young Canon and the Jewess (177),
of the King who never Laughed (220), of the Nun Beatrix (271),
and others. The story on p. 138 claims our attention for its
metrical rendering of Psalm xxxv.
As in most theological treatises, the author completely vanishes
behind his work. As far as I can see, there is no allusion to his
rank or order, though his personal opinion, which peeps out here
and there, seems to point at a parish priest or parson of the
Chaucerian type. As a strict Roman Catholic he, of course, de-
nounces heretics and lollards (pp. 19/1 and 59/26). But on the
other hand, he frankly discloses the abuses of the Church and her
members, when he comes to discuss simony (p. 126/30), or tells
the story of the fishmonger, from whom three baskets, Truth,
Charity, and Mercy, were stolen, and could nowhere be discovered,
not even in the palaces of the pope or the cardinals, of bishops
or prelates, or in the houses of friars (chap. xcv).
On the whole, our author seems to have been a well-read man
for his time. His quotations are taken, not only from the Bible
and the glosses, from Chrysostomus and Thomas Aquinas, but even
from less known fathers, like Algrinus (p. 7), or Waterton (p. 168).
He is well versed in Canon Law and in the decrees of councils,
x Preface.
especially those held in England. He has studied the historical
and scientific authorities of his age, he quotes from Higden's
Polychronicon (p. 117), and from Bartholomew's Treatise on the
Properties of Things (p. 90) l .
Still, we may observe that he was only in a moderate degree
what Chaucer's Parson calls textuel ; for not only are many of the
references misquoted, but the quotations themselves are sometimes
given in a strangely mutilated form (cf. p. 250, line 13, and note 4).
Hardly more than about the author's person can be said about
his home. In the absence of external tests we might, in an earlier
period than that to which our treatise apparently belongs, recur
to the indications which the author's language yields. But the
London dialect having so generally been accepted as the literary
language of the fifteenth century, we are deprived of this means
as well. Even the slight Kentish colouring of our text is of little
help, if we remember how readily Kentish forms entered Chaucer's
verses whenever they were suggested by the rhyme 2 . Moreover,
the character of our MS. proving that we have not the author's
own hand before us, we are still left in doubt whether forms like
felnes (7/11), melle (148/25), Jterne (corner, 9/16), meende (285/14,
290/32), heve (for hyve=-h\ve, 142/11), keen (cows, 305/5), or
me/ce (for make, 182/3), ff^sse (for grass, 214/23), are to be ascribed
to the author, to the author's source, or merely to the scribe.
The only thing we can state with any degree of certainty is,
the time about which our MS. was written, and consequently
the terminus ad quern the work must have been completed. The
Catalogue of the Library of the Cathedral Church of Salisbury
(London, 1880), of which the part containing the MSS. was pre-
pared by Sir E. (then Mr.) Maunde Thompson, gives (on p. 21)
the following account of our MS. :-
tj
' No. 103 (No. 174 in old catalogue).
Vellum and paper ; lof x 7f inches. 233 ff.
xv. century.
1 It lias been impossible for the editor to look out all the quotations ; he
tried at least to ascertain the authors and works from which they have
been taken. But even there his endeavours were sometimes in vain (cf.
p. 205/17, 22).
2 Cp. Skeat, The Works of G. Chaucer, vol. vi. General Introduction, 17,
p. xxiii.
Preface. xi
An index added at the end. Four fly leaves at the beginning from an
Antiphonal, xiii. century ; and two at the end from a Gradual, xv. century.
Owner's name f. 2, John Sheward, xvii. century V
As is stated above, the MS. is written on vellum and paper,
the vellum being only used (as usual) for wrapping the paper
quires. The bulk of the MS. contains eleven quires, each con-
sisting of sixteen paper leaves wrapped in a sheet of vellum out-
side, and protected alike inside to strengthen the sewing. So each
quire, as a rule, is made up of twenty leaves, except the eighth
and eleventh : the former contains eighteen paper and three
vellum leaves, the first vellum leaf has been substituted by a sheet
of paper. The text runs on uninjured. The eleventh quire once
consisted of twelve paper and four vellum leaves, thirteen of which
are covered with writing. Of the remaining blank, one paper leaf
is torn out. The last leaves of the quires are marked with catch-
words written on the lower margin, some of which have been more
or less injured by the knife of the binder. To the MS. is annexed
a quire consisting wholly of paper (ff. 220-231), which contains
an alphabetical subject-index. The MS, is paginated throughout
(ff. 1-231), one leaf only being left out, which we have marked
18*.
Though watermarks are not, in general, regarded as perfectly
safe tests to go by in ascertaining the age of a MS., we still think
it expedient to state what little we could compile on the water-
marks used in our MS. The list will be given in the order in
which the watermarks successively appear in the quires, and
a reference will be added to each, pointing to watermarks either
identical or similar, as recorded in the following works and
collections :
Midoux et Matton, fitude sur les filiyranes des papiers. Paris, 1868.
S. Leigh Sotheby, Principia Typographica. 3 vols. 1858.
The Original Tracings of Watermarks of the Slack-books, i vol.
Drawings of Watermarks. 2 vols.
Specimens of Paper with Watermarks, fourteenth and fifteenth centimes.
6 vols.
1 The inscription runs thus : John Sheicard god Hesse thce, Amen. As the
preface to the catalogue states that, with one exception, ' the MSS. have all
been in the possession of the Dean and Chapter not less than 400 years,' it
seems doubtful whether Sheward, written in a seventeenth-century hand, is
really the name of a possessor.
xii Preface.
S. Leigh Sotheby, Iconology of Watermark. 3 vols. 1
C. M. Briquet, Papiers ct Filigranes des Archives de Genes. 1154-1700.
LIST OF WATERMARKS OCCURRING IN THE MS. OF JACOB'S WELL.
A. Flower of the Pome-granate bettveett the leaves. Midoux et Matton,
No. 393, Laon, 1443.
B. Pair of Scissors. Only little differing from Briquet's Nos. 80, 8 1 ; years
C. The three Mounts or Hills with Cross. Called by Midoux and Matton
1 Un Gonfanon' No. 428. Laon, 1443. This mark is traced back by
Sotheby as far as the '80 and '90 of the fourteenth century.
D. A Goat or Chamois (?).
E. fleur-de-lis over the Dolphin. Sotheby (Principia Typographica, vol. iii.
p. 39) fixes its date about 1430. Found at Lincoln Cathedral in the
MS. collection of R. Thornton who died about 1450. MS. A, i-xvii.
F. Head of the Goat or Capricorn. With considerable differences found in
Sotheby's Drawings, vol. i. Date fixed between 1436-1438.
G. Mitre with Fleur-de-lis (?).
H. Grape of thirty-two small oblong berries and one large and round one.
Comes very near one in Sotheby's Drawings, from the Accounts of Texel,
1443. Among Sotheby's specimens of papers there is a sheet bearing
exactly the same mark, but not dated. Midoux has a similar mark
among the ' filigranes du midi de la France,' dated 1453.
1 . Ox with head turned in front. Similar mark in Midoux, dated ' midi de la
France, 1453.' Sotheby's Drawings contain a mark with the date 1456.
This watermark occurs only on the sheets used for the subject-index.
The marks A to H are distributed among the eleven quires as
follows :
Quire 1 : 5 A, I B, 2 C. Quire II : 7 A, i C. Quire III : 8 A. Quire TV :
2 A, 6 D. Quire V : 5 D, 3 E. Quire VI : 7 C, i E. Quire VII : 40, I D,
3 F. Quire VIII : 6 C, 3 D. Quire IX : 4 G, 4 H. Quire X : 8 H.
Quire XI : 6 H.
The dates fixed for the watermarks are A 1443, B 1452,
C 1443, D(?), E 1430, F 1436-1438, GO), H 1443, I 1453. Con-
sequently, the terminus a quo, resulting from the evidence of the
watermarks, may be stated about 1440 for the bulk of the MS.,
and 1450 for the Index.
Pretty nearly the same conclusions are arrived at, if we examine
the different hands which have worked at the MS. The bulk is
written by the same hand from beginning to end, a distinct
writing which only very seldom assumes a careless character.
1 The four works last mentioned aru collections of original drawingspreserved
in the British Museum.
Preface. xiii
Sometimes a few words are misplaced by an aberration of the eye
to preceding or following lines, which shows that our MS. is not
the original. Where omissions occur, they are generally easily
restored. They have been marked by brackets. Corrupted pas-
sages are rare : instances will be found on pp. 143 and 292.
The leaves are covered with four columns apiece, two on either
side. The period to which the handwriting belongs has been
estimated, by Mr. Warner of the British Museum, between 1440
and 1450. The main part of the subject-index, according to the
same authority, was written about 1470. Besides these two hands,
the first of which also began the list of chapter-headings on fol. 5,
we may discern two more. One that finished the list of headings,
added the side-notes and wrote part of the subject-index ; the
other, which tried to restore some of the side-notes that had
been cut off by the binder. The MS. has been bound twice at
least. First, when the side-notes were injured, and then, in the
present cover of ornamented Russia, in the year 1821, as we learn
from a pencil-note on f. 5^.
The definitive judgement on the age of the MS. may be pro-
nounced as follows : The space of time encompassed by the dates
of watermarks is 1430 to 1453, most of the sheets showing marks
about 1445. Considering the handwriting, its date may be fixed
about the years 1445 to 1455. Now, the MS. not being an original,
we may say that in all probability the work was composed in the
first quarter of the fifteenth century.
This is about all the editor has to say for the present. And
after having expressed his thanks to all that have helped him
on in his work, he may wind up with the wish Dr. Furnivall once
wrote to him : may this book excite as much interest in the
members of the Early English Text Society as it did in him
and me.
A. B.
GijR7,, AUSTRIA,
December, 1899.
INDEX OF CHAPTEE HEADINGS.
PAGE
[Fol. 6 a.] 1. Qualiter de puteo cowcupiscewcie fit fons Jacob. Ca m . primum l 1-5
2-4. Exhortacto contra, articwlos sentencie excowmwrncactonis
maioris. ij m . iij. iiij. & v m 5-32
5. De articwlis sentencie excommunicationis maioris 4 . . 32-36
6. De modo decimandi. vj. cap. ...... 37~43
7. Exhortacio decimandi. vij. 43~47
8. De gradibws prohibitis in matrimom'o cow^rahendo. viij. . 48-54
9. Eecapitulacio cozpendiosa a,ikiculoTum sentencie excommuni-
cacionis. ix. cap m 1 55-64
10. De contricione, confessione, & satisfaccione. x. . . . 64-68
11,12. De supe^bia. xj m . capm. xij. ...... 68-81
13. De Inuidia. xiij. cap. . . . . . . . 81-89
14, 15. De Ira. xiiij. cap m . & xv. ....... 89-103
16,17. De Accidia. xvj. & xvij 103-117
18-20. De cupiditate. xviij. xix. & xx. , . . . .117-141
21,22. De gula. xxj. xxij. - . . 141-152
23. De gula & vicio lingue. xxiij 152-158
24. De luxuria. xxiiij. . 158-167
25,26. De contricione. xxv. xxvj. 168-178
27,28. De confessione. xxvij. & xxviij 178-188
29,30. De satisfaccione. xxix. & xxx 188-199
31-33. De restitucione. xxxj. xxxij. xxxiij. ..... 199-216
34. De qwinqwe sensibw* corporis. xxxiiij. . . . 216-222
35. De qwinqwe sensibws spmYualibw*. xxxv 222-227
36. De vanis cogitacionibws, verbis & operibws. xxxvj.
c&pitulum ......... 227-233
37,38. De mu?idicia & hmwilitate. xxxvij. xxxviij. 3 . . . 233-243
39. De miticia & eiws rainis. xxxix. 244-248
1 The headings are written in black, the numbers following in red.
2 The statements of this and the preceding items are not quite correct. The
cxhortacio occupies the second chapter only, while the three following chapters
(3, 4, 5) are devoted to the enumeration of the articles of excommunication.
3 The red figures of this column are partly vanished. In the text, chap. 38
has the title : ' De humilitate & timore filiali.'
Index of Chapter Headings. xv
PAGE
40. De misericord'm & dono pietatis. xl. ca m 248-253
41. De amicicia. xlj. ........ 253-259
42. De malo regimine cordis, oris & opens, xlij. . . . 259-265
43. De pace triplici & obediewoia. xliij. ..... 265-272
44. De equitate & de dono sciencie. xliiij. .... 272-279
45. De obstinacia cordis, oria, & opens, xlv 280-287
46. De iusticia, probitate, & de dono fortitudtwis. xlvj. . . 287-291
47. De probitate & ramis eius, & de dono fortitudes, xlvij. . 291-298
48. De satisfaccione, & de dono fortitudt'/iis & de dono consilij.
xlviij. . . . ' 298-302
49. De prodigalitate. xlix 303-307
50. De paupertate spt'nYus & largitate elemosina & naserlcordia,. 1. 307-3 1 3
51. De misericordia & ramis eius. Ij [In PART II.]
52. De misericordia in vij. operibwg corporalibM*. lij.
53. De elemosina. liij. ........
54. De delicatis & de ieiunio. liiij. ......
55. De abstinencia, de dono intellects, sobrietate & de temper-
ancia. Iv
56. De ieiunio, delectact'one & continencia coniugali. Ivj.
57. De continencia viduali & virginali. Ivij
58. De continentia virginali & clerical!. Iviij
59. De castitate. lix.
60. De gaudio spi'rrtuali & muwdiali & de dono sapiencie. Ix. .
61. De prudencia. Ixj. ........
62. De temperancia, modestia, sobrietate & continencia. Ixij.
63. De fortitucfo'ne, magnanimitate, paciencia & perseuecancia.
Ixiij
64. De iusticia. Ixiiij
65. De equitate & veritate. Ixv
66,67. De cimbolo & articitlis fidei. Ixvj. Ixvij
68. De recordacione peccaorw? & dei beneficiorwm, Ixviij.
69. De ope/ibus fidei in trinitate. [Ixix.] ....
70. De opmbws fidei in humanitate xpi. Ixx. capzYwlitm .
71. De sacrament/s baptismi, confirmactowis, eukaristie, & de [Fol. 5 b.J
eorum opeiibus. Ixxj. .......
72. De penitencia, extrema vncctone, ordine & de eontm operibu*.
Ixxij. ..........
73. De matriuionio & ems operib*. Ixxiij. ....
74. De caritate dei & \\omin\s. Ixxiiij
75. De dileccinwe Aom'im ad homines. Ixxv. ....
76. De dileccio?ie hominis ad dominnm. Ixxvj.
77. De dilecciowe proximi. Ixxvij
78. De timore supplicij. Ixxviij. ......
79. De spe pmiiij. Ixxix. .......
80. De primo precepto. Ixxx. .......
81. De secwfldo precepto domini. Ixxxj
82. De tercio precepto. Ixxxij.
83. De quarto precepto. Ixxxiij. ......
xvi Index of Chapter Headings.
84. De quinto precepto. Ixxxiiij. ....
85. De Sexto precepto Aomim. Ixxxv.
86. De Septiwo precepto. Ixxxvj
87. De octavo precepto. Ixxxvij. ....
88. De nono & deciwio preceptis. IxxxvSij.
89. De misericordia, & eius operibns. Ixxxix. . .
90. De graciarwwi accione, laude dei & oraei'one. Ixxxx
91. De SalutactVme angelica. Ixxxxj. .
92. 93. De oraciowe dominica. Ixxxxij. Ixxxxiij.
94. De wyndas, roop & bokett. Ixxxxiiij. . . .
95. Recapitulacio tocius operis. Ixxxxv. .
Deo gracias.
Quere tabitlas istiws libri subsequent^ in fine libri.
Q PV^
JACOB'S WELL
C&pitulum primum l . [Foi. e a.]
Qualiter de puteo concupiscencie fit fons Jacob 2 .
^, "T~Y7"HANN a man of craft wytt werkyn ony gret werk, bat
4 T T askyth long labour, dyscretly he ymagyth & castyth
be-forn in his herte how he wytt makyn it, & endyn it.
per-fore, sires, I purpose here-after gostly to makyn a gret Sirs, my purpose
is to make a
werk. bat is. of a schelde pytt to makyn a depe welle. And deep well of a
shallow pit ;
8 bis may nojt be don wytA-oute long labour, but it muste haue
manye a day werk, er it be endyd & made. I suppose Ixxxix.
dayes & v. it muste be in werkynge 3 .
But now. pis day, I wyl begynne to caste bis werk how it and this is my
J &J scheme: the pit
i a schal be wroust. bis pytt is bi body, bat is clepyd be y ur bod y< has
doctourys be pytt of lust, bis pytt is so schelde of kynde bat source of grace,
it hath no kyndely spryng to receyve be watyr of grace. But but it has five
,. , , . , , , ,, ,. , , , entrances, your
pis pytt, pi body, hath v. entrees, pat arn pi v. bodyly wyttes : senses,
1 6 bi syjt, bin heryng, bi smellyng, bi mowth, bi towchyng. Be
bige v. entrees be stremys of watyr, bat is, be artycles of be open to the
streams of the
gret curse, entryn ofte tymes in-to bi pytt, as ieremie seyth, great curse.
' deth entry th in jow be joure v. wyndowys. Mors intrauit
1 The heads of the chapters, as well as the initials, are red. The Latin
quotations and the proper names are, as a rule, underlined with red ink.
Some later hand has subdivided every chapter by means of letters A, B, C,
&c. put in the margin, and different hands have added side-notes, most of
them in Latin. The former will be found in the margin, the latter among
the foot-notes.
2 Cf. John iv. 6, and p. 185, 20.
3 Corresponding to the ninety-four chapters following.
4 Jer. ix. 2 1 . The Vulgate reads : ascendit mors per*fenestras nostras ; and
accordingly, the authorized English version has : our windows. But both the
Wycliffe versions have the reading : jonre windowes, ns it is in our text.
B
The Ooze is Deadly Sin. The Well mnst be deepened. [CH. i
per fenestras vestras.' pe dedly watyr of curse entryth ^ou be
%oure v. wyttes. joure soule, in pis pytt of corrupte watyr,
nedyth to cry in-to god : ' Saluum me fac, domme, quoniam
intrauerunt aque vsque ad aniraam meara 1 .' Saue me, pou god, 4
fro drenchyng, for watrys of cursyng ban entryd my pytt to my
I will teach you soule. what bise watris of cursyng be, & how it muste be
hereafter how
Irate? th this cas * OU ^ ^ l oure Py^t W ^ n a sc P e f penauwce, pis schal be
my labour to teche jou here-after. 8
But below this But jit, vnder bis watyr in aoure pytt, whan be watyr is WR
water, there is C?
adeepooze, scopyd out, is deep wose be-nethe, pat is, ]?e vij. dedly synnes,
deadly snis, j n w hi c he pe soule styketh sumtyme so faste pat he may nojt
out, but schulde peryssche. Abacuc ij. 2 've illi qui congregat 12
contra se lutum.' wo to hym pat gaderyth in his pyt of his
body ajens his soule 3 pe wose of dedly synne, for he hath gret
nede to seyn vryih David * : ' Eripe me de luto, vt now infigar ! '
lord, deliuere me out of pis wose of dedly syraies, pat I styke 16
nojt perin to be peryssched! My werk & labour schal be to
tellyn what is pis wose of pe vij. dedly synnes, & how je schul
which must be caste out bis wose, ffirst wyih a skeet of contricyoun, and after
cast out, with
the'skeet'of vfi/ih a skauell of confessiouri, and banne schouelyn out clene 20
contrition, the '
'skavel'ofcon- p e C runmys, wyih pe schouele of satisfaccyouw.
faction ' Satis " 3^' w^awne joure pytt is scowryd clene fro pe watyr of curs,
And then, the & fro be wose of dedly synnes, be v. watyrgatys, bat is, joure
five watergates,
your senses, v . wyttes, muste be stoppyd, ]>ai }>e watyr of pe grete curs and 24
pe wose of dedly sywnes entre nojt in-to youre pytt ajen.
Moreover, your More-ouer, be-cause bi pytt is nost depe in pe7-feccyou?i, but
pit must be dug
deeper in per- schelde in frelte and in febylnes, it muste be dolvyn deppere
fection. with a
spade of clean- w ^/tA. pe spade of cleunesse, and pere-wytA castyn out pe sande 28
& pe grauel J>at lay vnder pe wose of synne, pat is, all pe
circuwstawcys of synne ; and panne delve douw, wytA J?e spade of
clennesse, depe in pe groujid of vertewys, contrarye to pe vij.
till you find the dedly synnes, tyl bou fynde vii. sprynges of watwr of grace, bat 32
seven springs of
Krace, the gifts is, vij. jiftes of pe holy gost. And panne J>i welle is depe
Ghost. ynow in perfeccyoun for to springe watyr of grace.
1 Ps. Ixviii. 2. 2 Hab. ii. 6. Vulgate reads ngfjrarat.
s MS. body crossed. * Ps. Ixviii. 15.
CH. i.] Need of a Ladder, JRope, and Bucket.
But pawne | levell pi groimd of pi welle be-nethe, wytJi be [Fol. 6 b.l
leuell of equyte, and bawne ley in be welle by-nethe pe courblys
of pe artycles of pe feyth. pa?me take sande, pat is, mynde of
..i / i a_ i i i articles of the
4 %oure synne, take watyr of weepyng here-to & lyira brent in laith, take
-.,,... . memory of your
fyir, pat is, cnst, whyjt as chalk, wytA-outyn synne, brent sin for sand,
tears for water,
in his passioim, wyth fyir of tribulacyouw : haue hym in pi burning love of
Y Christ for lime,
mynde, wyth brenning loue for bi lyme, and take mynde of and mi* it for
mortar ;
8 pi synne for pi sand, & medle hem to-gedere wyth watyr of
wepyng, and late bis be thy mortere. baraie sette bi lyne. and by the
plumb line of
pat is, truthe, and perby, vp-on pe curblys of pi feyth, ley pi truth, set the
mortere & pe stonys of pe werkys of pi feyth. works of faith.
(ft Whawne bi welle is bus made wuth lyme & ston, bi soule Now, to climb
J up to heaven,
i * muste haue a ladders to styin vp by, out of bi depe welle in-to your soul must
have a ladder,
heuen. pe laddere muste be charyte. Ipe o syde is love to god, charity.
be oper syde is loue to man. pe nethyr stake is dreed of pe
16 doom, pe ouyr stake is hope of blysse. pis laddere of loue muste
haue x. stakys, pat is, kepyng of pe x. comanndmentes. pis
laddere of loue muste haue xiiij. stakys mo, pat arn, vij. dedys
of mercy bodyly & vij. dedys of mercy gostly, & mo stakys, }>at
20 arn, praysinges & thankynges to god and prayerys. an-oper stake
in joure laddere of loue muste be J>e gretyng of cure lady, bat is,
joure Aue maria. Ipe vij. heyest stakys in %oure laddere of loue
muste be vij. peticyouns in joure Pater nosier.
whawne joure welle is made & soure laddere, 2e muste haue And to draw up
water from the
25 a wyndas, & a roop, & a bokett, to drawyn vp watyr to drynke, well, you want a
windlass, mind,
be-cause jowre welle is so deep. ' Neqwe in quo haurias haftes,
& putews altus est.' Johannes iiij. 1 []?e] wyndas muste be Jn
28 mynde to turnyn pat abowtyn, vpward & douwward. pe roop a rope, belief,
muste be ]>i beleue ; as )?i welle is depe, Jrat muste be so long
bat it reche to helle, to erthe, & to heuen. bi bokett muste be and a bucket,
desire of all
gostly desyre to att goodnes. drawe vp pis bokett of desyre fro goodness ;
32 aft euyft to aft goodnes, wyth Ipe roop of trewe beleue, and loke
bi roop be threfold to-gedere in on, in feyth, hope, & charyte. and the rope be
J f threefold.twined
And, be ]?e wyndas of ]?i mynde, wyth 1p\s roop made myjty in of faith, hope,
thre lynkes, schal be turnyd vp pe bokett of pi desyre in
1 John iv. ii.
B 2
4
The story of King Alexander z Precious Stone. [CH. i.
goodnes, fylled vtyih watyr of grace, to contemplacyovw in
heuenly thinges, in whiche contemplacyouw bou schalt, in be
bokett of desyre, drinke bi fylle of pe sweet waiyr of grace,
ber-fore seyth crist ' : ' Blyssed are bey bat hungryn & brysten
after goodnesse, for bey schul be fylled,' bat is, wyih watyr of
grace. ber-fore, je schul drawe watrys, in 2 ioye, of be wellys
of jowre saveoure, bat is, of jowre bodyis, bat arn be wellys of
god. ' Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibws saluatoris.'
Ysaz'e xij. 3
Now haue I ymagyd and cast alt myn hool werk of bis
welle ; which I schal labours to ^ou Ixxxix. dayes and v., ere it
be performyd. Be bis schewyd now, be-fore je schutt knowe &
vnderstonde here-aftyr bettre what I mene, whawne I schewe
In beginning a more of bis werk. lokyth in be begynnyng of euery werk bat
work, bethink
it well ! je do, how it schal be perfourmyd, & what schall be be ende !
I rede in gestis Alexandri 4 :
This work will
I do in ninety-
four days.
16
A jewel was pre-
sented to Alex-
ander that could
be outweighed
by nothing ;
[Pol. 7 a.]
but a little dust
cast upon it,
made it light.
All wondered,
but one said to
the king: This
shows what you
are ; mighty,
while alive,
but less than
the least, when
covered with
earth in your
grave.
\King Alexander s Precious Stone.~\
A ston precyous was sent for a present to Kyng Alysaundre. JF
whanne bis smal precyous ston was leyd in a scole, it was so heuy,
bat nothing, leyd in be ober scole, were it neuere so heuy, iny}te 20
weyin it vp. But | whanne bere was cast on bat ston in be scole
a lytel powdyr and duste of erthe, be lyjtest thyng bat my3t be
leyd in be ober skole, weyid it vp. be wyse men wyih kyng
Alysauwdre woudryd on bis mervayle. but oon of be wysest seyde 24
to Alysauwdre : ' bis ston schewyth what 50 are. je weyin now in
mewnys hertys, in dreed of youre my3t, more ban alt be world,
for aH be world dare nojt wytAstonde jou. But in bise werkys
of ijoure mygt, thynke on be ende ! bat, whawne a lytel poudyr 28
of erthe is cast on jou in joure graue, 30 schul be lesse dred ban
be leste persone, and lest of pryce of aH pe world ! '
Friends, in be- Ryght so, frendys, in be begynnyng of 3oure werkys, be bei
1 Matt. v. 6.
2 Corr. in MS. above the line for of which has been erased.
3 Ts. xii. 3. 4 MS. ' narroct'o ' in margin.
CH. ii.] Moral of the Story. How to scoop out the Corrupt Water. 5
neuere so depe in worschepe in pe scole of $oure lyif, pat pe
kimnyng & pe werkys of ony oper may nojt be lyche, pat alle
men jou dredyn, & worschepyn, & mowe nojt wythstande jou ; jit
4 thynke of deth ! whawne erthe is futt }oure mowth, panne pe think of death !
poorest beggere lyvynge is more in body of pryce pan je.
late pus pe wyndas of jowre mynde turnyn douwward to thynken
of deth, and, in be roop of soure beleue, seeth be doom & peynys Think of the
doom, and the
8 of helle to pe dampnyd, & pe mede of blysse to pe sauyd ! pains of hell!
pawne, pe boket of $oure desyre schal bowyn in lownes, &
receyvin watyr of dreed in god, & be drawyn vp fro synne to
penaimce be hope of mercy, & reysed vp be love to vertewys. and you shall
have grace and
12 pamie, of 3ore bokett of desyre je schul drynke, here watyr of Jy !
grace, and in joure ende pe swete wyne of ioye ! Ad quod nos
&c.
Capitulum Secundum.
Exhortac/o contra articulos sentencie excommimi-
16 c&cionis maioris.
F pou haue a pytt or a welle pat is depe wyih corrupt
watyr, stynkynge & infecte, of whicfi watyr jif pou drynke,
or vse, pou schalt be enpoysonyd ; J?e nedyth, for saluacyouw of
ao pi lyif, to scope out pat corrupte watyr. pis pytt is pi body, pe
which" is clepyd pe pytt of lusty*, secundum doctorew Abuile 1 .
be watyr of bi pytt is be grete curs, exaumple : Stoppe a As a stream
stopped in one
scharpe streem rewnyng of watyr in o place, & it brestyth out, P lac e, overflows
24 & entryth in-to an-ober place. Ryst so, bowa be sentence of so the sentence
J of the curse
be gret curs is stoppyd out of o man, be dreed of god, be resoun. taken from one
1 r</ man. enters
or be techyng of goddys woord, or be good conscyens, it entryth another;
in-to an-ober man, be malyce & wyckydnes. ffor be more pe
1 Abuile is a form of Abbeville (Lat. Abbatisvilla), and the surname
of the writer who is better known as Cardinal John Algrinus or Halgrinus,
Archbishop of Besa^on, the author of sermons, and the annotator of the
commentary to the Song of Songs by Thomas Cisterciensis (cf. Mignc, Patr.
Lat. torn. 206).
The Mood of the Curse drowns both Rich and Poor. [CH. u.
and as the sea
stirred by the
wind, breaks
through the
dikes ; so the
cursed man, the
more he is re-
proved, the
sooner he turns
to sin again ;
and as an inun-
dation drowns
the ground ;
[Fol. 7 b.]
so the curse of
the church
destroys the
soul of man.
The flood of the
deluge flowed all
over the hills ;
so the great
curse reaches
the proud and
the rich, as well
as the poor.
watyr in }?e se is styred vryih \>Q wynde, be more it flowyth,
& brekyth out, ouer be se-wallys in-to dyuerse placys. Ry$t
so, be more be cursed man is styred vryih IpQ wynd of goddys
woord, & vfyiJi be wynd of teching & of reprovyng, be more 4
ofte tymes be watyr of be grete curs Vfyih be stremys of his
articles, be malice & wyckydnesse, entryth l in-to hym. he may
seye with be psalmystre : ' Torrentes iniqwitatis conturbauenmt
me 2 .' }?ise stremys of wyckydnesse, bat is, be artycles of Ipe grete 8
curse, haue turbelyd me. whanne J>e watyr of be se flowyth
heyjere, & be his stremys brekyth ouer Ipe se-walles in-to J)e
lowe grou(w)d, bawne drenchyth J?e watyr bat grounde. Ry^t so,
whanne be watyr of ]?e gret curs, wyih onye of his stremys, bat 1 2
is, wyih ony of his artycles, flowyth out of holy cherche, &, be be
entre of malyce & wyckydnes, brekyth in-to hym J>at is lowe
& depe in synne, Jmmie be sentence of bat curs dren|chyth
hym, & perysschyth his soule. J>erfore nedyth hym to crye 16
vryth ])e psalmystre 8 : ' Saluum me fac, deus, quoniam intraue-
ruwt aque vsqi*e ad awimam meam ! ' Saue me, f>ou lord god,
for 4 watrys of cursynges haue entryd my soule ! ' libera me de
profundis aquarwm 5 !' delyuere me, lord, fro f>e depe watrys of 20
cursys ! ' Non me demergat tempestas 6 aque, neqwe vrgeat
super me puteus os suum 7 ,' bat be tempestys of ]>e watrys of
cursys drenche me nojt, ne bat be pyt of lustys, wyth his
mowth of tewiptacyouw, drenche nojt my soule. 24
]?e watyr of noes flood was so depe & hegh, bat it flowyd
abouyn ony hytt in erthe, & drenchyd al J>e world, saaf a fewe
soulys. Ryjt so, bis watyr & bis flood of be gret curs
flowyth hyje in-to be hylles of prowde & ryche folk. Ps. 8 28
' Montes gurges aquarttm transijt.' J?e swelwe of watrys of
cursynges flowyth in-to the hylles of proude & ryche men. bise
watyr of curs ouerflovvyth banne )?e valleys of poore folk.
1 MS. entryth entryth. 2 Ps. xvii. 5. :i Ps. Ixviii. 2.
4 fro erased in MS. and corr. in the margin. 5 Ps. Ixviii. 15.
6 Omitted in MS. and added in margin, t being cut off by the binder.
7 Ps. Ixviii. 16.
* This quotation is not from the Psalms, but from Habakkuk iii. i.
.
CH. ii.] The Soul of the Ignorant is in Pent of Death. 7
Ps. 1 ' Adaqwauit eos velut in abbisso multa.' ffor vnethis is bere
hyje ne lowe bat dredyth to be drenchyd in Ipere watyr of curs.
Whanne a flood of reyn or of ober strernys of watyr come in-to
4 a pytt, & alwey abydeth bere-in stylle, bat pytt waxith depe A pit which is
never scooped
wyt/i watyr. Ryjt so, bat persone in whom eueremore entry th out, grows deep;
be stremys of curs, bat arn, be articlys of be sentences, is depe
13 in curse. Ps. 2 ' Stetit vnda fluens, & congregate sunt abbissi.'
8 ffor whawne be watw of curs euermore flowy th in, & is nost so the man is
deep in curse
voyded out, bat man is depe in curs. Ps. 3 ' In me multitude who is never
absolved.
sonitws aquamm.' He may sey : In me is multitude of
soimo'yng of watrys of cursynges. ' In fLnminibus iratus es,
12 dowwne, in Qnminibus furor tuws 4 .' bou lord god art wroth
in bise flodys of bis gret curs, in bise flodys is bi felnes of
wratthe. be dowfe of noes schyp fonde no drye place to As Noah's dove
returned to the
restyn him on, for be watyr was so depe ; ber-fore he turnyd rk ;
1 6 ajen to be schyp. Ry3t so, wharaie be holy jost may no3t so the Holy
restyn in hym bat is depe in watyr of curse, he turnyth awey cannot rest in
* man, returns to
fro hym to be schip of holy chercfi, pat is, to alle god folk pat the church!
arn in grace. ' Quia in maliuolam (sic !) awimam non intro-
20 ibit saptewcia 5 .' In-to a malycyows soule in curs schal entre
no wysdom of be holy gost. be cursyd man may sey bus wyt/t
be Ps. ' Veni in altitudinem maris, & tempestas demersit me V
I am come in-to be depe of be se of be gret curse, & be tempest
24 perof hath drenchyd me.
jif bou felt in-to a depe pytt, & schuldyst be dronchyn, if thou hadst
fallen into a pit,
but bou were holpyn, and oon holpe pe out, & savyd bi lyif,
bou were myche bonde to louyn him, & no3t to hatyn him.
28 And also, aif bou were blynd, & wentyst be be weye to bat or hadst come
J towards one, in
pyt warde, and schuldyst falle bere-in, & peryssche, but pou blindness, thou
were led berfro ; jif oon led be fro bat peryle of deth, pou were to
myche beholde to loue hym al J?i lyve after, be depe pytt is be saved thee -
32 depe sentens of pe grete curs, bou art blynde in ignorauwce, &
seest uojt, ne knowyst no^t \>Q watt/r of bis pytt, pat is for
1 PB. Ixxvii. it;. 2 Not from Psalms, but from Exod. xv. 8.
:i P. Ixxvi. 1 8. 4 Hab. iii. 8.
5 Sap. i. 4. ' Ps. Ixviii. 3.
8 Be Grateful to the Explainer of Excommunication. [CH. n.
to saye, pou art a layman, & knowyst no3t pe artycles of pe
sentences, & art falle pcre-in, & seest no^t pe pe? t yles, but
[Fol. 8 a.] schuldest perysche in soule endlesly in deth | of helle, jif pi
te' i h th th )ri< the g os tly f a( tyr besye hym in gostly techyng to warne pe of pe 4
vrara8thee d of P er yl es \> a ^ V ou ar ^ i n > & helpe pe in-as-myche as he may, for
thou^ufd^t 86 ' to drawe pe wyib his good counseyl out of pat pyt of curs, pou
thy e i!f a awjtyst no3t to hatyn pi curate, hut J>ou awjtyst for to louyn hym
al pi lyif. And awjtyst gretly to desyre to heryn his warnyng 8
& his teching, pat pe lyif of pi soule myjt be sauyd. powj pou
be no3t fallyn in pis pytt of pe gret curs, jit happely pou art so
blynd in vnknowyng, pat, jif pis artycles of sentence were nojt
schewyd to pe, pou schuldyst vnwarly fallyn pere-in & peryssche. 1 2
Myche art pou pawne beholde to pi curate pat schewyth to pe po
artycles of pe curs, \iyih his warnyng & his teching, for to drawe
pe fro pat perlyous (sic) pytt of curs pat pou fait nojt pere-in.
Therefore, when perfore, wha?^ne I schewe to jou an-oper day pe artycles of pe 16
articles of the sentencys, beeth nojt euyH payed wyth me, but beth glad to
after, be not here hem. and sif se fele sou gylty in hem, aerne amende sou
wroth, but glad ! J J
And if you are wT/tA perfyjt penaunce, pat je peryssche nojt in soule. And
3 OU vn gyy n em ) e ware e P e 3 OU
for jif je dyed gylty wyt^-oute repentauwce in ony of po artycles,
but joure soule come ajen to }our body be goddys grace, & dede
penaunce ; powj oure lady, alle auwgellys, & seyntys togedere
knelynge, prayed for jou, 36 schulde be damnyd be pe ryghtwys- 24
For God shall nes of god. fFor god schal jelde euery man after his werkys in
reward everyone i
after his doings, his ende. as he is ftnmdyn in his deth, so schal he be demyd !
As a sword ffor as a swerd, smytyng a dedly stroke, departyth be soule fro pe
severs the soul
from the body, body, & sleeth pat persone whom he so dedly woundyth ; Eyjt 28
so the curse so, be swerd of holy cherche, bat is, be sentence of be grete curs
severs God from
men, i n ony of his artycles, smyteth & sleeth hem pat ben gylty
pere-in ; for it departyth god fro hem, pat is pe lyif of here soule,
as a swerd departyth pe body fro pe soule of hem pat he dedly 32
and they are woundyth. and so bei ben dede, & alle here werkys/ for bei
dead, and all
their works, be departyd fro god & alle sayntes/ departyd fro pe lielpe of
pe passioun & pe deth of crist/ fro alle pe sacramentys and
suffragys of holy cherch/ and whil pey ben in pat plyjt/ pei 3 6
CH. ii.] The Story of the Vision of Clerk Ode's Man. 9
schul neuere haue part of cristen) m&nnys prayere in heuen) ne forever!
in erthe ! as wytnessyth seynt Austyn), whom ]>e lawe rehersyth,
xj. q> iij. ' christi&nus V Alle Jrat ben gylty in ]>e artycles of J>e
4 sentence, tyl ]?ei come to amendement, Ipei be cursyd in slepyng,
in wakyng, in stondyng, in syttyng, in going, in lyggyng, in
spekyng, in silence, in etyng, in drynkyng, & in alt here werk-
yng. In Jns cursyng, who-so deye vnrepewtauwt, schal haue
8 a dredeful ende !
( [The Vision of Clerk Ode's Man.]
Exaumple 2 . I fynde in a tale de gestis angloram bat bere Ode, a rich
clerk, fell sick,
was a clerk of gret astate, J?at hyjt Ode, but he was cursed in
12 his werkys, nojt dredyng J?e censure of holy cherche. he lay
syke, & sente his man to lundori) for lechecraft. His man. be be His man going
to London for
weye, wente wytt, & nyjt coin) | vp-on hym. he myjte fynde [Fol. 8 b.]
non herberwe but in an old forlatyn cote, bus he lay in an to
16 herne. ]?at nyjht his mayster deyid. At mydnyjt, feendys th
comyn in-to f>at cote Tpere J>e man restyd in J)e herne, & in >e There he saw 3
mydflore )?ey sett a brennyng chayre, in whiche here kyng as tort^rl by
prince of feendys sate on hy^e. A-forn hym was broujt forth,
20 wytA olpere feendys, J?e soule of Ode, mayster of \>ai man rest-
ynge in J?e herne of bat hows. J?at man, seing ]?o feendys & J>e
soule of his mayster Ode in be feendys hondys, was sore adred.
J?at soule of Ode, broujt in an yren leep aft glowynge as fyir,
24 cryed horrybely for peyne. ]?e kyng deuyl seyde to hym :
' Ode, bou hast lovyd wel ese & reste, tendyrnesse to lyn & For his love of
ease,
to gon in softe & delycat beddyng & clothyng, & in swete bathys,
& to slepe longe in bedde. J>erfore }>o\i schalt now tendyrly
28 ben bathed & wasschyd!' be feend dede hym be bathyd. & he was bathed
in boilinR pitch,
boyled, & sodyn, in pycche & oyle all sethyng ouer be fyir. be that for , P ain - ll0
' J Y cursed his father
soule roryd for peyne as a feend, & seyde : ' Acursyd be fadyr,
Ipai me begat, & modyr, \>ai me conceyuyd & bare 3 , bat euere
1 The quotations from the Corpus Juris Canonici will be given in the
modern form, with the page of A. L. Richter and A. Friedberg's edition
(Leipsic 1879), put in brackets, as thus: cap. 32. Causa n. quaestio 3
[i- 653]-
2 MS. in margin : ' narracio de gestis anglor.'
3 MS. in margin : ' maledixit patri & matri.'
10
Ode Tortured by Fiends. He curses God. [CH. n.
For sleeping
and 'jangling'
in church,
he was roasted
on a gridiron,
and he re-
nounced Chris-
tianity.
And for having
been a glutton
and drunkard,
he was made to
drink molten
metal, and he
cursed God and
the Saints.
[Fol. 9 a.]
broujt me forth, to be in bis plyjt ! ' be mayster deuyl seyde
to hym : ' bou schalt jit speke bettre. er bou go ! Be-cause bou
ley softe in bi bed, & sleepe in tyme of bi goddys seruyse, & euere-
more were iangelyng in cherche & in processyouns *, berfore bou 4
schalt lyn) on a softe bed ! ' he made hym be leyd on a brennyng
grydeli ouer brewiiyng wylde fyir. bus he was rostyd wyth
brennyng bremston, wykh blowyng vnder of bel[wes], whawne
he was al for-rostyd, fryed, & scaldyd, & bus for-brent, he roryd 8
as a deuyl for peyne, & seyde : ' I forsake my cristendairD, I for-
sake all holy cherche, & alle be sacramentys 2 ! alias, bat euere
I was baptysed, & toke any sacrament, to be bus forpeyned ! '
be mayster feend seyde to hym : ' Ode, bou hast ben slowe to 1 2
heryn goddys seruyse, of euyl wyll to heryn goddys woord, &, as
a fals cristen) man, brokyn be comauridmentys of pi god. bou
hast be redy to hyndere holy cherche, & redy to falle in-to be
artycles of J?e gret curse ; berfore art bou bus rostyd. for bou 16
art falsere in bi cristen) lawe to bi god ban hethyri) men bat
neuere toke cristendoin). Ode, }it schalt bou speke bettre ! bou
hast be a glotoun & drunkelewe s , & out of mesure louyd dely-
cacyes & lustys of J^i flesch. and bou louedyst no scharpenesse 20
of penauwce. bou woldyst nojt forsake pi synne, ne bi cursed
werkys. ber-fore, after J?in hete, bou hast thryst ; ber-fore, bou
schalt drynke ! ' he made hym drynke reed brennyng metal
moltyn, tyl it ran out of his nose, eyjin, & erys. bawne seyde 24
Ode : ' Cursed be god in heuen) 4 , bat euere he made me, bat
euere he browjt me forth, bat euere he boujte me wyth his
blood, for to suifre bis peyne ! I curse hym/ I forsake hym/
I forsake al J?e mede of his passiouw & of his deth !/ I curse, 28
& I forsake marie, his modyr !/ I curse, & I forsake alle be
seyntys !/ I curse, & I forsake, al be helpe of prayer^s/ & al pe
helpe & mede of gode werkys in heuen) & in | erthe ! ' In bis
1 MS. in margin : ' mollicies et dormicio in tempore donu'wi servitij &
garulacio in eccZma & processione.'
2 MS. in margin : ' relinqwo crisiiaiiitatem & eeclesiam & sac/ - aiiienta.'
3 MS. in margin : ' glotouw & druwkelewe."
4 MS. in niarjnn : ' maledictws deu?.'
CH. u.] Ode is thrust into Hell. Moral of the Story. 11
drynk & in bise woordys, he turnyd al blak lyclie be feend. Then he turned
all black, and
banne be mayster feend kyssed him, & seyde : ' Ode now art the master-fiend
kissed him as
bou oure freend & oon of vs. berfore, bou schalt dwelle wyt/t one of his,
4 vs, & be rewardyd for bi synne bat bou hast don to vs, & for
iangelyng in goddys seruyse.' be ground openyd, be feendys
brewe him dou?i to be pytt of helle, be erthe closyd aaen. be and threw him
down into hell.
feendys vanyssched awey. be servawit of Ode went horn ajen,
8 & fonde his mayster deed & blak as pych.
\
berfore, bou man & wommau bat heryst be woord of god wyth Therefore be-
ware of the
bin erys, be ware of be peryle of bi synne & of be articles of be peril of sin,
gret curs ! for }if bou dredyst hem no3t, ne wylt no3t lefe hem,
12 but dyest wyt/t-oute repentauws, bou schalt be bathyd, as Ode
was, in brennyng pych & oyle ! bou schalt be rostyd and fryed
in be fyir of helle ! bou schalt drynken reed boylyng metal !
bou schalt be lyche be feend ! And as a woodman in frenesy
1 6 forsakyth & dyspyseth his god, so bou, for peyne, schalt in malyce
forsake pi baptem, pi fadyr, bi modyr, & al holy chercli, \vyth
alle here sacramentys ! bou schalt forsake bi god, oure lady, &
alle seyntys ! bou schalt be lyche be feend ! bou schalt be
20 drenchyd in be pytt of helle, as be cursyd man Ode was, jif
bou be gylty in be grete curs, & deye wytA-oute repentaunce !
Whawne bi curat schewyth to be be artycles of be curse, go nojt
out of be cherche, tyl bey be schewyd, for no cause, but here hem and hear the
articles of the
24 wytA fuH wyll. & jif bou be gylty in hem, be sory in herte, & great curse!
loue bi fadyr, bat warnyth be of bat peryle. & afterward to bi
confessour be schrevyn pere-of, & make amendys be be couwseyl
of bi confessour. and bawne schalt bou be blyssed, bere before
28 bou were cursyd ; and bawne schalt bou be goddys chyld, bere
before bou were be deuelys chyld ; bawne schalt bou be saued,
& come to blysse, bere before bou were in be weye of dampna-
cyouw, and schuldyst a gon to helle ! bus bou mayst
3 2 be chauwgyd, 3if bou wylt. Ps. J ' Hec mutacto dextere
excelsi.'
1 Ps. Ixxvi. ii.
12 The Story of the Contrite Scholar of Paris. [CH. n.
-
[The Contrite Scholar of Paris.]
A scholar of Exauwple l . Cesarius dictt : A scolere of paryse dede hor- SJ|J
ryble synnes, & was a cursed lyuere, & durst nojt for schame
be schreuyn berof longe tyme. At be laste, thrugfi grace of god, 4
he tooke sorwe in herte so myche, bat his sorwe ouercom his
schame. he wente to schryvyn hym to be priour of seynt
was so sorry for victoum. but in his schryfte he hadde swyche sorwe, syahynges,
his sins, that in ' J * J '
confession, his & sobbynges in be throte, & terys in be eysin. bai his voys g
voice failed. J
The prior bade fayled, & he myat speke no woord. be pryour bad hym go &
him write them
down. wryte his synnes, & schewe hem to hym wretyn. he wente
& wrote hem, & comm ajen to be priour, & no woord myjt he
speke to be pryour, for wepyng & sobbyng. banne to be priour r 2
he took be scrowe, wretyn vryih his syrcnes. be priour redde
With the scroll, hem. bei were so grete, bt be priour askyd him leue to schewe
the prior went
to ask an abbot's bat scrowe vfyih his synnes to an-ober wysere man, to askyn
hym counseyl be leve of be scolere. In presens of be priour, 16
an-ober man, an Abbot, lokyd on be scrowe, & seyde to be
but there the priour : ' here is wretyn ryjt nou3t.' be priour seyde to be
writing had
vanished from abbot : ' bis 5unge man wrote here-inne his synnes, & I redde
the scroll,
hem in bis same scrowe ; but now I se bat god, of his mercy, 20
hath for3ouyn bis scolere his cursed synnes, 2 for his grete sorwe
[Fol. 9 b.] & penaunce. And in tokne bereof, | his synnes are don out of
and the scholar's bis lettere be goddys grace.' be Abbot & be priour togydere
sins were for-
given, seydin to be scolere bat god had voydyd his synnes out of bat 24
lettere, in couwfortyng him bat his synnes ben forgeuyn. bawne
wente be clerk horn blyssed, bat be-forn was cursyd, and after-
ward led a blyssed lyif in-to his ende. And bawne he wente
vnto be blysse of heuen). 28
so > whanne be articles of be curs be schewyd before jou,
the curse, goth nojt awey, but pacyently heryth hem, and jif 36 be vngylti,
beth ware, & fleeth hem, and jif je be gylty, be sory in herte,
& dredyth hem, & louyth joure curate, bat warnyth jou of joure 32
confess, peryles ! and jerne, \\yih futt sorwe of herte, beeth schreuyn,
' MS. in margin : 'JLxemplum cesarij.' 3 MS. | synnes | cursed.
CH. in.] The Four Times for declaring Excommunication. TJie Formula. 13
& makyth amendys, be pe cou()seyl of 3oure confessour ! And and amend!
panne, as ]?is clerk, je schal be chauwgyd fro curs to blysse,
fro synne to grace, fro peyne to ioye ! Ad quod nos pmlucat
4 &c.
C&pitulum Tercium.
Sentencie.
^ TlE olper day, I tolde jou in general Ipai jour body is a pyt of The articles of
8 f lustys, and pe grete curse is J>ere-in as a corrupt watyr.
but )ris day & opere dayes folwyng, I schal telle }ou in specyal
fe stremys of ]>e w&tyr, \>ai is, J?e articles of ]?e gret curse.
BE holy cherche it is ordeynid Ipai curatys of mawnys soule have to be shown
owyn to schewyn iiij. tymes in be jere, or do schewe, to here y ear>
peryschenys ]>e artycles of J?e sentens of J?e grete curs whiche
J>at arn most vsed. And pise artycles schulde be schewyd in
euery qwartere of J?e jere onys, or oftere jif it were nede, J?at is
16 for to say, in pe soneday next after )>e feste of seynt Myjhell, or
ellys in ]?e ferst soneday of Aduent, in J>e ferst soneday or ]?e
thredde soneday of lentouw, and in ]?e soneday next after
wytsoneday, and in >e soneday next aftyr lammesse day. Ex
20 consilm oxon) primo & ij. celebra<z '. And ]?ise artycles, jif
it were nedeful, schulde be schewyd solemnely, )?at is, wyth cros
standyng, wyth bellys ryngynge, wyth candelys brennynge, &
after- ward quenchyd. Ex consih'o oxofD ij. celebrate ; ex
24 con&iitucionibits domini Joharmis Mepham 2 & dowzni Jolitwmis
Stratford s .
}>ise sentencys schulde be schewyd vnder pis forme : Be J?e by this formula.
1 The first A. D. 1160, the second A.D. 1222; cf. Concilia Magnae
Britanniae et Hiberniae, ed. Wilkins, 5. pp. 438, 585.
2 Simon Mepham, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1327 till 1333. Johannix
in MS. is mistaken for Simon ; cf. p. 19, 1. 27. Mepham's Constitutions
in Wilking, ii. pp. 552, 560.
3 Joannes Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1333 till 1348. Hi*
Constitutions ed. Wilkins, ii. pp. 675 sqq.
'14 Excommunication of Tnfringera of Privileges of the Church. [CH. m.
auctoryte & powere of almy^ty god, fadyr & sone & holy gost,
and of be gloryous mayde marie, modyr of god, oure lord ihesu
crist, & of seynt My^hel archauwgyl, & of alle archauwgelys &
aungelys ; be >e auctoryte of seynt Johim baptyst, & of alle 4
holy patriarkys & prophetys, and of be holy apostlys Petyr &
powle, & of seynt Johim J?e euangelyst ; be ]>e auctoryte
& powere of be blyssed marterys, Steueii), laurence, & seynt
Tomays, & of alle holy martyres, & of alle holy confessourys ; 8
be be auctoryte & powere of be blyssed maydenys Katerine,
Cristine, & Margarete, & of alle holy maydenys, & of alle
holy sayutes, bat is for to seye, be be auctoryte & power of all
holy chercfi in heuen) & in erthe, we denounce & schewe acursyd 12
in be sentens of be gret curs, bat is to say, we schewe hem
dampnyd & departyd fro god, and fro alle prayerys & suffrages
of holy cherch, and fro alle pe sacrarnentys. And we schewe
hem to be takyn to be powere of sathan, be fend, to deth, & to 16
dampnacyouw of body & of eoule, tyl bei come to amendement
[Fol. 10 a.] be verry penauwce, & ben | asoyled. Alle bo bat wytingly &
malyciwsly fallyn in ony artycles of be sentence of cursyng, of
be whiche I schatt schewe suwwne to jou at bis tyme, & summe 20
at obere tymes for lesse tarying.
Accursed are 1F We denounce acursed alle J?o bat malycyously depriue of
prive church or here ryght & of here lawe holy cherche or chapell, cherche^erd
chanel of any
right or privi- or chapeljerd, or ony oper place halWyd or pryuylegyd. In bis 24
l6{6)
arn vnderstondyn acursyd alle bo bat takyn fro holy cherche his
ryght, & alle ]?at brekyn }?e fredom of holy cherche, eythyr
general! fredom, f>at longyth to aft holy cherche, eythir par-
ticulere fredom, bat sum cherche, in party & in specyaft, hath 28
more f>an an oj?er, whethir be fredom be spiritual or temperal.
And be bis artycle are ]?ei acursyd bat pursewyn wryttes or
letterys in ony lay court, to lettyn J?e proces of lawe of holy
cherche in swyche causys pat schulde be demyd be non oj^er 32
lawe. And alle bat falsly [lettyn?] ony processe of archebysschop
or bysschop, or flen awey fro vnder here lawful! correccyouw.
Ex consih'is oxofi) pnfwo & ij. celebra^'s, cctjritulo primo.
and who hinder H Also alle ]?o ben acursyd Tpat lettyn or trubelyn, be powere, 36
CH. HI.] Disturbers of the King's Peace, Slanderers, fyc. 1 5
dreed, or counseyl, be pees of oure kyng & of his reem, or the king's peace,
or the law of his
purposin, comettyn, castyn, or ymagyn deth, or dyssej^t, or ony realm,
ober wrong, to be kyng or qween, or to here chyldere, to lettyn here
4 lawe or here ryght. In bis artycle is vnderstonde acursyd, nojt
only comoun ryserys ajens be pees, but alle opyn thevys & obere ^
bat impugne ajen be lawe & be ryjt of oure kyng & of his reem.
And alle bat heryn fals wytnesse wyttyngly, or procuryn ber-to,
8 or brynge forth swyche wytnessys, for to lettyn ry3tfutt matri-
monye, or for to dysheryte ony persone of his ryght. And alle (J
aduocatys bat in causys of ry3tfuft matrimonye malycyously
potyn forth false excepcyouws, to lettyn trewe matrimonye,
12 wherfore be proces of be cause is lettyd & taryed. Ex consih'o
oxon) c. p.(?) celebrate & ex constititcionibus Joharmis Stratford
capitulo ij. & Lamhethe J .
IT And alle bo arn acursyd bat for malyce, or wynnyng, or and slanderers,
1 6 fauour, or for ony ober cause, dyffamyn or slaunderyn ony
persone, & apeyryn his name among gode men & worschipfuft,
bere he was nojt defamyd be-forn, & for bat slauridre he is put
to his purgacyouw.
20 IT Also alle bo bat malycyously puttyn forth, or procuryn, ony and who hinder
a patron's right,
stryif, debate, or pie, in patronage of ony chercn in tyme of
voydauwce, wherfore be veny patrouw is lettyd bat tyme of his
24 H And alle bo ben acursyd bat forsakyn to fulfyllen be and who refuse
to impnson, or
comauwdement of be kyng, whann) he sent out to takyn hem to hinder men from
imprisoning the
prisouw bat ben opynly acursyd ; & alle bat lettyn be takyng excommunicate,
of hem, or procuryn to lettyn ; and alle bat helpyn hem to be
28 delyuered out of prysoun vnry^tfully, ajens be lawe & chasty-
syng of holy cherche. And alle comoun baratourys, felouras, and all common
disturbers,
& here mayntenourys, conspyratourys, confederatour?/s ; alle bat
wyttyngly takyn on hande false qwarellys, alle forsvvererys on
32 be holy doom) in assyses, a- fore kyng, iustyses, or a-forn ony
ober lawefult, spm'Jual or temperatt, & bat princepally in
1 The Constitutions meant here, are those published in London (Lain-
beth), 1342. Wilkins, ii. pp. 681 and 696. The chapter quoted is on
p. 702.
16 Destroyers of Church Goods, Violators of the Church's Asylum. [CH. in.
dysherytyng or in depryving be ryght of holy chercti, or in
lettyng Ipe dedys wyft, or trewe matrimonye. Articwli pre-
dicti colliguntw ex consihVs oxon) & ex constitucionibus
Stratford & Lambeth. 4
and who, for ^[ We denouwcyn hem acursed Ipai mede takyn, to lettyn be
Cain's sake,
prevent the pees, bat be partyes pletyng & stryvyng in be lawe to-gedere
agreement of
pleaders in schulde nojt ben acordyd. And I bey may nost ben a-soyled,
law courts,
[Pol. 10 b.] tyl bey haue payed ajen to be jyvere bat bey haue take, 8
& als myche to pore folk. Ex consiitucionibus Octobom,
capitido ' Cum partes 1 .' hoc intellige de iudicibws & alijs,
qui non sinunt partes concordare, & in quantum in se est,
impediuwt concordiam. 12
and who injure IT Also we schewyn alle bo acursyd bat in vyolens & malyce
or stenl any of
holy church wastyn, brekyn, perysschen, dystroyen, occupyen, stelyn, ledyn,
beryn, or do beryn, awey be godys bat longyth to graimgys,
manerys, or to possessioims of prelatys, or persouys, vykerys, 16
or of ony obere men of holy cherche, ajens be wyft of hem or of
here deputeis, or of here keperys of bo godys, & alle bat helpe
bere-to, or }eue ber-to fauowr or coimseyl. Ex constitucionibus
.Octobom, capitulo 'Ad tutelam 2 / 20
and who drag IF We schewyn alle bo acursyd bat violently drawyn out of
out of a church ,,,, 11-1
any one who has holy cherche or cherchaerd, out of cloystre, or place prmyleffed.
sought asylum, J '
ony persone bat fled thedyr for socour & helpe, but it be in
swyche causys as be lawe jeuyth leue. Alle arn acursed bat 24
lettyn hem of here lyiflode, whil bey ben in holy cherche. And
and who rob, alle bat robbyn, brekyn. or brennyn. holy cherche violently, or
break, or burn,
i f > or P^ ace re lygy us > r obere placys halwyd or priuylegyd,
worship. or brekyn crosses, awterys, or ymagys, in dyspyjt & vyolens. 28
Be bis artycle are bey vnderstonde acursyd bat stelyn or beryn
violently out of holy cherche holy cherch good, or ony ober good,
put bere to be kept, or beryn awey, or stelyn holy cherche good
out of ony ober place vnhalwyd. And alle arn acursed bat 32
ben wel payed, bat swyche thynges schulde be don in here name,
1 Ottobonus, Cardinal, P. R. Legatus; his Constitutions were issued
A.D. 1268. Wilkins, ii. p. 12.
2 Ibid. p. 3.
c. in.] InJ ringers of the Great Charter, Polluter* of Churches. 1 7
be here servauntys, or opere vnder here powere, & alle J>at jeuyn
per-to helpe, couwseyl, or fauour. Predict! articwli colliguwtw
ex consilm oxon), Octobom, & ex constitucionibits Stratford,
4 Lamhetn, & Redyng 1 , & extravagantes de sentencia excommu-
nicacionis, ' Tua nos 2 ,' & capitulo ' Conquests 3 .'
IT And alle bat malycyously don aaens ony of be articles bat and who infringe
the articles of
are conteyned in be grete chartre & in be chartre of be forest, the Great
Charter and of
8 which sentence was jouyn vpon hem bat trespasyn in bo artycles *{j e S 11 *^ 1 " of
be Boniface, erchebysschop of cauwtyrbury 4 , and be v. opere
bysschopys, his suffraganys, whiche sentence hath ofte be con-
fermyd at pe court of rome. in be grete chartre ben xxxiij.
1 2 articles; In be chartre of be forest ben xl. artycles; a}ens
whiche artycles be trespasourys ben acursyd, jif pei knowyn it.
H And alle bat dyffowlyn holy cherch" violently, in schedyng of and who pollute
. a church,
mawnys blood opynly, or in doing openly pe synne of lecchery,
1 6 or ony oper foul & horryble sywne, wherfore holy cherch nedyth
to be recoTisyled. And alle bat vyolently & vnrystfully brennyn and incen-
diaries, and
howeys. And alle clerkys arn acursed bat beryn armys aaens clerks who wear
arms, or associ-
be pes, & felawyn hem vtyih thevys & wytA opere mysdoerys, &
20 alle pat comaundyn opere to don raveyn & thefte, & alle etc -
raueynour?/s. And pey may nojt ben assoyled, tyl pei haue
made restitucyouw, be pe doom of here bysschop. Ex consti-
tucionibus Octobowi, ' Qwowfam in armis 5 .'
1 At the Council of Reading, A.D. 1279, Archbishop John Peckham of
Canterbury ( 1 279 till 1 292), published part of his Constitutions. Wilkins, ii.
P- 33-
2 The Extravagants are now quoted thus: c. 19, X. (scil. extra) de sen-
tentia excommunicationis. 5. 39 [Corpus Juris Canonici, ii. 896],
3 Ibid. c. 22.
4 Bonifacius de Sabaudia, elected 1240, consecrated 1245, died 1270.
His Constitutions published at Lambeth, A.D. 1261. (Wilkins, i. p. 746.)
In this place, however, the quotation of Boniface seems to be a mistake.
In his Constitutions, he only refers to the breach of forest-law committed
by clergymen, which did not involve excommunication (Wilkins, i. p. 75)-
The fact alluded to in the text, took place under Archbishop Robert Win-
chelsey in 1298, after King Edward I had solemnly confirmed the Great
Charter and the Charter of the Forests at Ghent, in November 1297
(Wilkins, ii. p. 240).
5 Wilkins, ii. p. 3.
C
18
Hinderers of Will-making, Usurers, Witches, Heretics. [en. m.
anl who hinder
wills or legacies,
[Fol. 11 a.]
and who
aecumulale
prebends,
and usurers, and
all guilty of
simony,
and witches,
and heretics,
IT Also we schewyn hem acursecl pat lettyn, or procuryn to
lettyn, f>e last wyll of pe dede ; namely in swyche thynges as
pey mowe lawfully beqwethe, by lawe or by consuetude. And
also alle po pat lettyn, or procuryn to lettyn, wyif | or sengle 4
womnaan, here owen) wyif or operis, pat ]>ei mowe nojt frely
makyn here testament of suche thiuges pat are ryjtfull &
lawefult, or of suche thynges J?at arn vsed be custome. Ex
constituAionibus Bonifacn cajntulo ' Contingit V & ex cowsis'oriis 8
aliorwm archiepiscoporum c&utuariensium. (
^1 And alle pey bene 2 acursed pat recey vin & holdyn
pluralyte of cherchys, hauyng cure of soule, but jif it be
by dyspensacyoun of pe court of Rome. Ex Constitucionibus 12
Trading, capitulo prtwo s .
H And alle opyn) gouelerys arn acursed ; & alle pat opynly
vsyn symonye. Ex constitiicionibus oxon), Radyng, & Peck-
haul 3 ; & extravqgantes de vsum *. 16
II And alle wytchys arn acursyd, & alle po pat on hem
byleuyn in here wycche-craft, & alle patf hem fauouryn. Ex
consiliis oxonl j. & ij. celebrato's, c p ; & per ~R&ymundum 6 .
And alle heretykys, &. alle pat consentyn to hem, or beleuyn on 20
hem in here heresye, or couwseylin, helpyn, defendyn, fauouiyn,
or receyvyn. Ex consil oxon), c p ; & ex constiiucionibus
Stratford, c. ij.; iiij. q. j. c. p 6 ; & exira de heretzci?, c. { Ad
abolendam 7 ' ; & c ' Qwicuwqwe 8 ', & c ' Sicut ait,' libro vj. 9 24
1 This seems to refer to several chapters on p. 754 in Wilkins' Edition,
vol. i.
2 Added with red ink.
3 Wilkins, ii. p. 33 squ., and p. 51 squ.
4 c. I. (2. 3.) X. de usuris, 5. 19 [ii. 811 f.].
5 The authority quoted is, no doubt, the ' Summa S. Raymundi de Penia-
fort' which has been written after 1234, an d printed (for the first time?)
at Rome, 1603, together with the gloss of John of Friburg, which is based
on the ' Apparatus ad Summam Raymundi ' by William de Rennes. (Cf.
Schulte, Geschichte des Canon. Rechts, ii. 99.)
* Quotation from Gratian : capit. 2. Causa 4. quaestio I [i. 537].
7 c. 9. X. de haeret. 5. 7 [ii. 780].
8 c. 2. Je haeret. in VI to. 5. 2 [ii. 1069]. For the Liber Sextus, see
preface.
9 c. 8. X. de haeret. 5. 7 [ii. 779], (not in Vlto.V
CH. HI.] Unbelievers, False Coiners, Concealers, fyc. 19
IT Also we schewyn acursyd alle bo bat bcleuyn nojt on be and who do not
believe in the
sacrament or be awtere to be goddys nescii & his blood in eucharist and
in the other
lyknesse of breed & wyn ; & alle bat beleue nojt in be obere sacraments,
4 sacramentys of holy chercfi, & in be artycles of our*? feyth, as be
chercK of Rome beleuyth, & as holy cherche beleuyth & techyth.
Ex consit oxon) & ex consiitucionibus Stratford ; & iiij. q. j.
c j & ij * ; & vxtravagantes de herettcts, c. ' Quicunque 2 '.
8 H And we denounce acursed alle makerys of fals monye, & and false coiners,
and who use
clyppery*, & wasscherys, & alle bat wyttyngly & falsly makyn fllls e measures,
or vsyn false busschellys & obere false mesurys, elle-jerdys or
met-$erdys, false auncerys, false weyjtys & seolys, lesse in
12 mesure & in weyjte ban be statute askyth. Ex consil. oxoii)
c. p ; & ex constitucionibus Stratford c. ij.
II And alle bo arn acursyd bat, in toun or in here howsys. and patrons of
' thieves,
kepyn, or defendyn, or mayntenyn wyttyngly, an opyn theef,
16 after be tyme bat bei ben thryes monestyd of here ordenarye, in
specyal or in generaft, but bey putte bat theef awey fro hem.
Ex constitucionibus Octobom' c. xliij. ' Contra latronew 3 .'
11 We schewyn alle bo acursed bat for inalyce forbydden or and who hinder
the devotions
20 lettyn obere of here deuocyourc, bat bei schuld no3t offryn at of others,
massys of weddynges, & at puryficacyouws, ne at massys for Je
deed e, but o masse- peny. alle bat takyn bat offryng to here or keep cm-rings
to themselves.
owyn vse, or swyche an-ober lytel quawtyte ; or, jif more be
24 offeryd ban o messe-peny, alle bat takyn such offryng to here
owyn vse, or to ony dper vse, ajens be wyll & be leue of hym
bat owyth to haue bat offryng; bey arn acursed. Ex con-
siitudonibus domzui Symonis Mepham, cantuariensis archic-
28 piscopi 4 .
H H Alle bat dyffoulyn nunnys arn acursyd, because bei makyn nnd who dis-
ci/ honour nuns,
hem to breke & to dyffoule in leccherye here chastyte & here
contynence. Ex consti^ttct'oni&ws Lamheth, Pecham, c&pitulo
32 ' Tantum inualuit 6 .'
1 See p. 1 8, note 6. * Se p. 18, note 8.
* No such chapter in Wilkins. * See p. 13, note 2.
8 Peckham's Constitutions, published at Lambeth, AD. 1281. Wilkins,ii.
p. 58.
C 2
20
Murderers, Fake Tithers, Purloiners of Offrings, &c. [CH. in.
and murderers,
and false
'tithers,'
[Pol. lib.]
and who steal
tithes,
or offerings in
silver or wax,
and lords who
prevent their
tenants' debts
and legacies
from being paid,
IF Alle po pat wrongfully slen or murderyn ony man. Ex
constitucionibus Stratford c p ; & consil oxon) c p.
^| And alle false tythen/s pat wyttyngly tythen vntrewly ajens
]?e lawe & ajens pe custom) of pe cuntre ; And alle pat couw- 4
seylin perto, comavmdyn, j or styren opere perto; And alle
pat malycyously stelyn tythe, or takyn to hem, & wrongfully
wytA-holdyn, or, for ony vsage, dystroyin tythes, or don hem
dystroyen wylfully. 8
IT And we schewyn acursed alle po pat in vyolens stelyn, or
takyn to here owyn vse, or to ony opere meraiys vse, ony offryng
in syluer, in wex, or in ony other thynges, or ocupyen hem in
ony olper manere, whiche offrynges ben offryd in cherchys, or 12
in chapellys, porchys, or cherche-3erdys, chapel-jerdys, or in
oratoriis, at awterys, crossys, or ymages, or at relykys, or in
ony olper placys of touw, offryd be-cause of goddys worship ; or
po offrynges dyspose for ony vsage, or for ony coloure of ony 16
good werk ajens pe wyft of hym pat po offryngys longe to, by
lawe or priuylege; And alle pat per-to 3yuen comauwdment,
fauour, couwseyl, helpe, or comfort. Ex constitucionibus Stratford
c. ' Immoderate V hoc intellige verwm, mat talis percepcto ob- 20
lacfonuwi ex causa legitima per episcopum loci primitws fuit
approbata.
H And alle po arn acursed, lordys of pe fee & opere, pat wyl ^
nojt suffryn, but lettyn, pat pe dettys of pe dede vnder here 24
lordschip, whiche weryn here teuauntys, mowe no5t be payed
of pe mevable godys ; ne pe porcyouw of pe godys mowe nojt
be delyuered to J?e wyif & to pe chylderyn, to f>e fadyr & modyr,
pat longyth to hem be ryght, & lawe, & custome of pe cuntre ; 28
And Jjo lordys & here baylyes pat takyn to hem pe godys of
here tenauwty* pat dyen vntestate, ouer pe dette dewe to hem,
feynynge be colourys, & wrongfully schewyn ge in here stretys
swyche rentys & mercy mentys, & swyche opere feynyd dettys, pat 32
alle pe godys of pe dede are to lytel, to aqwyte pe dette to
J?e lord ; so pe ordinaryes are lettyd to dyspose pe godys for
1 Wilkins, ii. p. 705.
CH. in.] Fraudulent Donors. Unlawfully Married People. 21
helthe of be soulys ; And alle bat jeuyn to bise dedys helpe,
coimseyl, asent, or fauowr, arn acursyd ; And alle bat arn wel
plesyd bat swyche thynges are don in here s^ruyse or in here
4 name. Ex constitwionibus Stratford, c. 'Accedit in nouitate 1 .'
If And alle PO arn acursyd bat on here dede-bedde alyenyn, and who give
away their
or jyuen awey, here good in defrawde, & in hyndryng obere men property
of here dette & of here ryjt, & in defraude of here wyves &
8 chylderyn, to lettyn hem fro be porcyoun. bat longyth to hem,
be ryjt & be custom) of be cuntre ; And alle bat takyn wyt-
tyngly swiche jiftes, or procure [obere ?] berto, to do swiche
fraude ; & alle bat jeuyn ber-to couwseyl or styring, to bryngen
12 obere to swyche dedys. Ex constitwionibus Stratford, c. 'Cordis
dolore V
II "We schewyn acursyd alle bo bat makyn ony contract of and who are
married in any
matrimonye, or are weddyd to-gydere in ony degre of kynrede, degree of affinity
' prohibited in
16 or of affinyte, or of ony gossyb-rede, forfendyd be lawe, or the law,
in ony degre bat hath a lawfuft lettyng, jif bei bise degrees
knowyn ; And alle bat helpin or procuryn ber-to wyttyngly.
And alle preestys \>ai wyttyngly & wylfully solemnyzen swyche and priests who
celebrate at
ao vnleefful matrimonye, or weddyn ony obere but here owyn such weddings,
parysschenys wytA-oute leve, or weddyn wvt^-oute be banys and aiders and
abettors and
askyd ; And alle bat, be strengthe, manace, or dreed, don swyche witnesses
weddynges be solemnysed, & wytA-oute syb-redes, | in cherchys, [Fol. 12 a.]
24 in chapellys, or in oratoriis ; & alle bat ben bere present at
swyche weddynges, gylty ber-of, & wyttynge, & wel payed ber-
wyth. In constitucionibiw Stratford, c ' humana 3 .'
H pis day schal I schewe sou no mo artycles of be sentence, Mind these
articles !
28 tyl an-ober day. haue bise in joure mynde, & loke, jif je fele
jou gylty in ony of bise artycles; &, jif je be gylty ber-in,
jerne beth schrevyn ber-of, & doth no more so, for dreed of
wreche.
32 [The End of the Obstinate Sinner.]
jf If Bede tellyth, in gestz's Anglorww 4 , bat bere was a man, cursyd A wicked man
in his werkys, &, wharaie he was tawjt or reprouyd, he beleuyd
1 Wilkins, ii. p. 707. a Ibid. p. 706.
3 Ibid. p. 707. * MS. in margin : ' narrac-to."
22 The Story of an Obstinate Sinner s End. [CH. m.
it nojt, but was rebeft & dyspytous. he dede ]?e worse & ncjt
was obstinate be betere. He was so obstynat in his cursyd synne, tyl his ende
unto his end,
coifD of his lyif. he lay seek, he seyde to ]?e peple aboute
when lie had hym : ' I se helle opyn, & my place redy made bere. I schal 4
a vision of hell. J J *
sytten be Judas, Cayphas, & Pylat.' J?e peple badde hym be
sory & be schreuyn, & to makyn amendys be perfy^t penaunce
to hem J?at he dede wrong, he answeryd hem ajen, & seyde :
But he was not ' I may no sorwe haue. I may noat schryue me. I may haue 8
able to confess,
or amend, no wyli to make amendys. grace is jron fro me. Ffor. wharcne
because he had
never repented I myjte haue don penaiwce, ]?aiuie wolde I nojt, and now,
I wolde, I may nojt. I haue be so longe in my cursed synne,
wytA-oute verry repentauwce ; p6rfore, now haue I no grace to ia
be in wyl to do penaxmce, ne to aske mercy, for Tpe doom of
dampnacyouw is 3ouyn vp-on me.' In Jnse woordys his soule
So his soul went went out of his body to helle. his body stanke as ony careyn.
to hell.
^1 Eyjt so, obstinat in 3oure sywne & J?e artycles of f>e grete 16
curs, }if je duryn, & be rebeft & wroth to heryn hem, or to
be reprouyd of hem, or fleen awey out of pe chercfi, pat je
schulde no3t here hem, )?awne, in youre ende, grace schal fayle
jou, so ]>at 30 schul no3t mowe do penauwce, ne askyn mercy. 20
And so 30 schul sodeynly, for yyu.re obstynate curs, sytten in
Therefore, hear helle \vyih iudas, cayphas, & pylate ! per-fore heryth bise
the articles, and
forsake your sin artycles, & kepyth he/i in herte, & fleeth hem, 3if 30 be vngylty,
in time !
& leuyth hem, jif 30 be gilty, wyih sorwe, & schryfte, & \\yih 24
satysfuccyoun, betyme, er synne forsake 3ou ; and Jrawne 30 schul
be blyssed of god & sauyd, bere 30 were before cursyd !
\T1w Sinful Woman and the Abbot.]
II Exaumple Ex vitis patrum '. pere was a synful womman, ^
& cursed in here werkys ; here name was Thaysis. sche was 29
wonder fayr, but sche was comomt of here body to alle pat
Abbot Pannicius desyred here. An abbot, bat hyat Pawniciws, in feculere wede
went to Thaisis,
a sinful O f a lay-man, wente to here, and aaf here xij. d/ to lye by here. 32
woman.
1 MS. in margin : ' narrac/o.'
CH. in.] The Story of the Sinful Woman and the Abbot. 23
Sche led hym in-to a chaumbre, & bad hym gon vp to a bed bat
bere was wel arayed. pe Abbot seyde to here : ' Is bere no But when he
wanted to be
priuyere place s Sche seyde : ' 3is. be Abbot seyde : ' go we shown to a more
retired place,
4 thedyr ! Sche seyde : ' sif bou drede man, no man schal se be she 8aic * : ' God
' will see us
here in bis place ! ^if bou drede god, in what place bat euere we ^^ ver we
be god schal sen vs ! ' pe abbot seyde : ' Knowyst bou bat god
seth alle priuytees 1 ' Sche seyde : ' ja, I knowe god, and bat
5 god schal turmentyn & clamnyn soulys for synne.' be Abbot Then the abbot
seyde : ' Why dredyst bou nojt god banne, bat dampnyst bin repentance,
owyn soule to helle, & lesyst bin owyn soule & alle be soulys
bat bou steryst to synne 1 and no}t only bou schalt haue [peynej
" for bin owyn sywne, but bou Echalt haue als manye peynes as
bou hast loste soules ! ' Sche herde bis, & feft douw to be Abbotes
feet, wyih gret weping, | and askyd god mercy. And, at be [Pol. 12 b.]
byddywg of be [abbot], in syjt of att be peple in-myddes of be JjJJg^J^
16 markett, sche brente all be tresoure bat sche had takyn for here
leccherye, and was closyd in a selle of be abbot, enselyd vfyth and lived as
a recluse for
his seel, .iij. jere. Sche eet but breed & watyr, and flatt on be 3 years,
ground cryed : ' god, bat madyst me, haue m^rcy on me ! ' At
20 be iij. 5er?/s ende, be reuelacyoun, it was schewyd fro heuen) bat Then, by revcia-
. , , tion, she saw
here synnes & here cursede dedys were ioijeuyn here thurgn here a glorious bed
in heaven, roudy
gret penau7^ce, & in bat reuelacyouw was schewyd in heuen) to receive her.
a gloryows bed, arayed & kept vryih aungellys, & be keperys of
Z 4 bat bed seydyn : ' In bis bed of ioye schaft Thaysis, bat comouw
womman, restyn \riih endles blysse, for sche be-tymes forsook
here cursed synne, wyih perfy^t penauvice ! ' bawne was sche
takyn out of here selle fro here penamtce, & lyved in grace,
28 & deyid, & wente to bat ioyfuft bed.
Ryjt so, forsakyth jowre synne & ^oure cursede dedys, \vyih
irfyjt penauwce, betymes, &, banne, t
hul turne to grace in joure lyvyng, &
in heuen) at jowr ende ! Ad quod &c.
perfyjt penauwce, betymes, &, banne, blyssed fro %oure synne 30 Therefore,
. re(x;nt in time !
32 schul turne to grace in joure lyvyng, & gon to pat gloryos bed
24 Excommunication of Reluctant and False Tilhers. [CH. iv.
C&pitulum Qwartum.
Sentencie.
More articles of T 1 1HE ober day, I schewyd aou suwtrae artycles of be grete 91
the great curse.
-*- curs, & now I schal schewe jow mo articles of hem ; 4
takyth hem, & knowyth hem, & beth ware !
Accursed are we schewyn acursed alle bo bat malycyously lettyn, or do
Uiey who hinder
the gathering lettyn, men of holy chercn or here seruaunta/s, to entryn in-to
of tlic tit lies,
here feeldys & in-to here londys, wherthrugfi bei may neyther 8
gaderyn here tythes, ne kepyn hem, ne fecchyn hem; and alle
bo bat beryn awey bo tythes, or do beryn awey, or wastyn, or
do wastyn, or ony ober harm don ber-to, or pro-curyn to do
and who tithe ber-to ; And alle bat tythen be werse or be lesse, but ferst be 12
badly, unless
presents be jovyn hem hosyn or glovys, syluer, ale, wyn, or swiche obere
mised to them, jyftes, or ellys, tyl swiche siftes be be-hyjt hem ; And alle bat
and who do any malycyously tachyn, arestyn, or endyten, or don be don ony
harm to priests
for pleading in ojj^ grevauwce, to men of holy cherch, for bey haue pursewyd 16
here ryght in holy cherch court. Ex constitucionibus lawhetfr,
Pecham, ' Tantum inualuit 1 .'
and who deduct IT And alle bo bat jeuyn be tythe scheef to be reperys for here
labour before hyre, in takyng vp here cost for be repyng, & jeuyn be xj. scheef 20
duce 6f their for be tythe; And alle J>o bat for defrawde marke nojt here
l^inci,
tythe, & decryin thevys seruauwtys of men of holy cherch, be-
cause bei fecchyd awey be tythe of here londys, or hyndryn hem,
or dyssesyn hem bat for defraude were nojt markyd, to colouryn 24
causis of debate, in puttyng vp-on hem, pat pey leddyn awey
obere meraiys good in name of here tythe.
and who pro- IT And alle bo arn acursed bat vexin in lay court, wyth grete
holy church for expuwsys in pletyng & in trauayle, men of holy cherch or here 28
carrying tithes
through, orfrom, seruauntws, be-cause bei lede awey here tythes thrugn here
their fields, J J
londys ; and alle bo bat malycyously lettyn swyche tythes to
be fetchyd out of here feeldys, be weyis vsed of old tyme, & don
1 See p. 19, note 5.
CH. iv.] Lords and Magistrates intimidating Church Courts and Bishop*. 25
hem gon ferr aboutyn \vyih here cartys be long compas ; And
alle ]?o f>at suffren no3t f>e tythes markyd on here londys to be
led awey of hem f>at ]?ey louge to, as longe as ony corn of here
4 owyn leuyth on Ipe lond, or ellys in futt wyll suffre J?o tythes to
be wastyd & dystroyed. Ex ctmstitucionibus Stratford, c | [PoL 13 a.]
' Erroris dampnabih' l .'
IF And alle lordys, & here baylyes, & obere, bat forbydden here and lords who
forbid their
8 tenauntys bat bei go nojt out of J?e lordschip), for no somounyng, tenants to
to appere before pe ordinarie, neyther for correccyoun of here eir ordinary,
synnes, ne for provyng of testament^* ; And alle bo pat in J?e
letys of here lordys lettyn, or procuryn to lettyn, pat here
1 2 tenaimtys, for no somouwyng, schal nojt gon out of pe lordschip)
to appere afore here lawfutt ordynarie. Ex consiitucionibus
Stratford, 'Accedit in nouitate V
IF And alle bo pat endyjten ordinaryes wrongfully for extor- and who indict
ordinaries
1 6 cyouws, or atachyn, or arestyn, or enprysouw, hem, & make hem
to answere in lay-court, puttyng vp-on hem pat }>ei dedyn
wronfuft excessys, be-cause )?e ordinariis puttyn to here sugettys
lawful bodyly penauwce for here defawjtes, And afterward
20 suffredyn be sugettvs to byen awey here penaunce wyth monye, for changing
a penitence into
as it is ryjtfuli be lawe. Ex con&titiunonious Stratford, c. a fine,
'Accedit in nouitate V
U And alle bo bat gon, wijth gret cuwpanye, wyt^ strengthe and who intimi-
date members
24 & force of armys, wyth gret dyn & gret aray, to ony court of of a church
tribunul,
holy chercli, & dredly astonyen ]?e ordynaryes & here offycerys,
& turblyn o]?er peple pere present, pat J?e ofFyse & J?e iugement
of Ipai court is wrongfully lettyd. And alle ]?at endyjten,
28 arestyn, or enprisouw, or vexin in lay-court, or do vexin, or
procuryn to dyssesyn hem bat rystfully pursewyn in cristen) or pleaders
before such
court ajens here aduersaryes, or dyssesyn here iuges, or aduo- tribunal,
catys, or procuratourys, or opere ministrys of Ipe court, or ony
32 opere >at helpyn J?er-to, or dyssesyn be tenauwtys of ofyere Ipat
helpyn per-to ; And alle ]?at lettyn, or do lettyn, or procuryn
to lettyn wrongfully, pe execucyouw of be lawe & )?e iurisdyc- and who hinder
cyoun of prelatys of place wyt^-inne here iurisdiccyoun, or lettyii of prelates,
1 Wilkins, ii. p. 704. 2 See p. 21, note I.
26 Purloiners of Trees on Church Ground, fyc. [CH. iv.
execucyouw of here lawfull mauralmentys, or drawyn, defoulyn,
or betyn wrongfully, pe bererys of swyche mauwdmentys. Ex
constitucionibus Stratford, c. ' Accedit in nonitate.'
and who injure H And alle paryschenys pot hewyn douw violently, or stubbyn, 4
or take away .,1-1
trees or herbage pullyn, or schredyn, or croppyn, ony treen in chercne-jerde or
Crowing in a
churchyard, in chapel^erd, \vy\h-inne closure, or mowyn, or repyn ony her-
bage growyng pere-in, wyihouie leue of pe curatys or of here
deputees ; And alle pat swyche treen or herbage in sayntuarye 8
takyn to here owyn vse, or to ony oper vse, wyi A-outyn leue ;
And alle po doerys, for diffoulyng & deprivyng of holy cherch
ry3t, owyn be lawe to be compellyd of here curatys fro comourai-
yng of cristerD men, & fro pe sacrament of pe awtere, & fro dyvyn 12
seruyse, J>at violently in malyce don pis dede, & pei owyii
opynly to be schewyd acursyd, as pei pat stelyn ony o\er good
out of holy chercn. Ex consiitucionibus Stratford/ c. ' Secwlares
principes *.' 16
and who infringe II And alle Ipo j?at brekyn ony lawfutl sequestracyoun of pre-
the sequestra-
tion of a prelate, latys, or ot here vykerys, or of here princepan offycerys, in pe
cherche godys, or in opere godys, after pe sequestracyoun is
opyn & knowyn in pat place. Ex co-astitucionibus Stratford, c. 20
' ffrequens 2 ' ; & ex constitucionibus prouincz'e Eading, c. p ' hue
Vsqwe V
II And alle po pat, be wrytt of acouwte or trespas, do clepyn (j
and who sum- here aduersaryis in strauTige schyres pere pe trespas is no^t 24
mon their .
adversaries to knowyn, tyl pei ben owtlawyd or banyssched out of be reem.
trial in another .
shire, And alle pat procure perto, or are plesyd pat it arn don in
[Pol. 13 b.] here name. Ex consiitucionibus Stratford/ c. ' Dierum | inuales-
cens V 28
U We denounce acursed alle po pat, in oper manere pan pe
and who lay lawe excusyth, leyn hand on preest or clerk, seculere or relygious
hands on a'
priet.t, proiessyd, and alle pat arn wel payed pat it is don in here
name; And alle pat comauwdyn here sugettys per-to ; and 32
1 Wilkins, ii. p. 708.
3 Ibid. p. 709.
3 See p. 17, note i. No such chapter in Wilkins.
1 Wilkins, ii. p. 709.
CH. iv.] Falsifiers of the Pope's Bulls. Magistrates exacting from Churches. 27
alle bat rny^te lettyn it, & wyil no^t; And alle bat consentyn
& jyuen coimseyl ber-to ; And alle bat styren or counfortyn
obere ber-to. \\ec colligi possuwt : xvij. q. iiij. ' Si quis sua-
4 dente ' ' ; & extra de sentencia excomm. c. ' Non dubiuw* 2 ' ; & c
' Keligiosi 3 ' ; & c'Porro 4 '; & c 'PeruemV; & c. ' Paro-
chianos 6 ' ; & extra de sentencia excomm. c ' Qwante presump-
ct'onis,' in glossa 7 ; & in ca ' Mulieres 8 ' ; & tecundum w. 9
8 IT And alle bat falsyn be popys bullys, & his letterys. or his mid who falsify
J ' bulls or letters
selys; & alle bat wyttingly vsyu ony swyche letterys or selys, of the pope,
& alle liere defendert/s & fauourerys. Ex constitucione ex^ra-
uagante Bonifacu viij. qwe inciptt : ' Excomwiwwicamwg 10 '; &
1 2 extfra de crimine false, ' Ad falsai iorum ".'
U And alle gouernourys & grete of cytees & of townys bat don and magistrates
who are guilty
wrongful! extorcyotws to holy cherche & to mynistrys of holy of extortion
chercTi. ex^ra de emcione & veudicione, ' Non mhms l2 .' the church,
1 6 II And alle bat comouw vfi/ih ony persone bat is acursyd be and all who join
with an ex-
nanie in be same synne bat he is acursed fore, in jeuyng to him communicate
helpe, coimseyl, or fauour. ex^ra de BttttcfMMl excomm. ' Con-
cubine 1S ' ; & c ' Nuper 14 .'
20 IT And alle bo bat makyn statutvs aaens be fredam of holy and who make
or publish
chercTi, & alle wryter?/s of swyche statutes, & staci'onerys ; And f^*"^ 68 a g ainst
alle pat don swiche statutys be kept operwyse pan be lawe
jyueth leue; And alle bat schewyn hem out opynly to ben
24 vsyd ; & alle bat deme bere-by. extra, de senfcwcz'a excomm.
1 Grauem 15 .'
I c. 29. C. 17. qu. 4 [C.J.Can.i. 820]. 2 c. 5.X.desen.exe. 5. 39 [ii. 891].
3 ? c. 21. desen. exc. in Vlto. 5. n [ii. 1105]. * Ibid. c. 7 [ii. 891].
5 Ibid. c. 17 [ii. 895]. ' Ibid. c. 9 [ii. 891].
7 Ibid. c. 47 [ii. 909], 8 Ibid. c. 6 [ii. 891].
9 ? William de Rennes ; cf. p. 1 8, note 5.
10 Communes i. de sen. exoomm. 5. 10 [ii. 1309]
II c. 7. X. de crim. falsi, 5. 20 [ii. 820],
12 The Title of this quotation is wrong ; the text points to c. 4. X. de
immnnitate ecclesiarum, 3. 49 [ii. 654].
13 There is no such chapter in the Extravagants, and only one in Gratian,
viz. c. 5. C. 32. qu. 2 [i. 1121].
14 c. 29. X. de sen. exc. 5. 39 [ii. 900].
15 c. 53. X. de sen. exc. 5. 39 [ii. 911].
28 Laymen detaining Goods or Persons of the Church. [CH. iv.
and who keep 1T And alle bat kepyn holy chercn-godys, or wyth-holdyn bat
or withhold any
property of the arn alyenyd awey be sysmatykes or be lewyd men, & no3t wyln
church, i i i .
restoryn be godys ajen to holy chercn, wyt/i-oute gret daungere,
or cost, or charge, extr&vagantes de sismattcz's, ca p l . 4
and who detain *[f And alle bo lay-men bat wyth-holdyn ony clerk vnrystfully,
'i clerk
ws/tA-outyn auctoryte, ajens his wyll, in here kepyng opynly or
priuely, or putte hem in fetterys or stokkys ; or ony swycn clerk
arestyn, or dystressin, or enprisouw wrongfully wherfore he 8
resignyth or forsakyth his benefyse for myschef. hec colligi
possunt : extra, de seutencia excomm. c. ' Nuper 2 '; & extfra de penis
c. ' Multomra,' in clementinis s .
andaiichristians If And alle cristen men bat beryn or sellyn armure, yren, 1 2
who sell arms
to heathen men, wode, tymber. or schippes. to hethyn men : And alle bo cristen)
or grant them
any other help, me n bat, \tyth hethen) men, be gouernourys & maysterys in bo
schyppes of hethyn men, be here wjtt; and alle bat jeuyn
ber-to helpe, counseyl, or fauowr. extra, de iudet's & sarracmw c. 16
'Ita quorumdam 4 '; & c 'Quod olim 6 '; & c. 'Ad liberandam 6 .'
and pirates, II And alle bo bat robbyn on be see trewe cristen) men, seylyng 1^
on be se for marchauwdise, or for pylgrimage, or takyn hem for
here prysonerys ; And alle bat robbyn, stelyn, or beryn awey, 20
or wreckers, be godys of hem whos schyppys are brokyn on be se, but bey
restoryn be godys ajen, whawne bey ben monestyd. exfra de
raptort'6ws ' Excommunicacioni 7 ' ; & secundum host 8 .
and who usurp ^[ And alle bo bat vsurpyn of newe tyrne be kepyng or be 24
the property of . /
any church in amonicyouw of ony chercn in tyme of voydauwce, & ocupye be
timeofvoidance, J
godys ; & alle clerkys bat procure ber-to. exfra de eleccione,
' Generali,' Ii6ro vj 9 .
and who induce IF And alle bo bat arn suspendyd or interdyjted, bat, be dreed, 28
1 c. I. X. de schismaticis, 5. 8 [ii. 790].
a See above, p. 27, note 14. 3 Clem. 2. de poenis, 5. 8 [ii. 1188].
* c. 6. X. de iudaeis, 5. 6 [ii. 773]. 5 Ibid. c. 12 [ii. 775].
6 Ibid. c. 17 [ii. 777]. 7 c. 3. X. de raptoribus, 5.17 [ii. 808].
8 Soil. Hostiensem which, per antonomasiain, was the name of Henry
de Segusia, Bishop of Ostia and Velletri, author of diverse writings on
Canonic Law. In 1244, he was the ambassador of Henry III to the Holy
See. (Cf.Schulte, 1. c. vol. ii. p. 123.)
9 c. 13. de electione in Vlto. I. 6 [ii. 953].
CH. iv.] Those who hinder others from pleading in Church Courts. 29
strengthe, or manace, compellyn hym )>at }af pe sentence to the dispenser
. of church dis-
reuoke be sentence, or to do assoyle hem aaens his wyll. bey cipiine to revoke
J the sentence
fallyn in-to a newe sentence of curse, and bat reuocacyouw or that he has
pronounced,
4 bat absolucyoun. is nojt worth, extra, de hiis qwe vi cawsave [p l. 14 a.]
metws fiunt, 'Absoluctoras 1 .'
U And alle po pat don men of holy cherche, or procure to don and who take
toll from church
hem, paye, or sunre hem to paye, ton, pyckage, murage, or goods,
8 grondage, panage or gwydage, for swyche godys as are nojt led
to feyres & markettys be-cause of marchauwdise. extra, de cen-
sibus, ' Qnamqwam,' \\bro vj 3 .
alle pat askyn swyche collectys & extorcyouws of and who seize
church property
12 men of holy chercn; 11 And alle bat be godys of holy kept in a con-
secrated place,
chercn, or of men of holy chercn, leyd or put in holy place,
arestyn, ocupyen, or comauwdyn perto. extra, de em, ' Clericis,'
lioro vj 8 .
16 IT And alle po pat lettyn, or do lettyn, or procure to lettyn, and who hinder
" any one from
ony man bat is somouwyd, or hath apelyd, to be court of Rome, pleading in the
J ' Court of Rome,
pat he may nojt defendyn hym pere, ne pursewyn his ryjt.
extra, de penis, ' Multorwm,' in clementinis 4 .
20 HAnd alle bat lettyn ony man in ony ober court of holy or in any other
church-court,
chercn, bat he may nojt gon thyder, or he may nojt pursewe
his ryjt in swyche causys as longyth lawfully to pat court,
& compellyn bat man vnryjtfully for to plete in lay court ;
24 IT And alle pat don him be compellyd, or procuryn per-to, or
jevyn couwseyl or fauour, wherby be man is lettyd of his ryjt,
be-cause he may nojt pursewe in holy chercli-lawe. extra, de
em, ' Qttoraam intelliginms,' \\bro vj. 5 ; & ex consiln's oxon)
28 capitulo primo ; & ex consiitucionibus Stratford/
1T And alle lorclvs & grete men of be temperalte bat forbydden and lords and
magistrates who
here tenauwtys, & here sugettys, & here servauntys. bat pei [^ ' '
schulde nojt sellyn to men of holy cherche swyche chaffare &
1 Unicum de iis quae vi metusve causa fiunt, in Vlto. i. 20. [ii. 993].
4 c. 4. de censibus, in Vlto. 3. 20 [ii. 1058].
3 c. 3. de immunitate ecclesiarum in Vlto. 3. 23 [ii. 1062]. (em in MS.=
immunitate? cf. p. 27, note 12.)
4 Clementinas 2. de poenis, 5. 8 [ii. 1188].
5 See note 3 ; ibid, chapter 4 [ii. 1063].
30 Lords who forbid Trade with Churchmen, or do them other Harm. [en. iv.
godys as are nedefult to hem, ne pat pey schuklyn byen ony
chaffare of )?e men of holy chercTi, ne pat pey schuldyn grynden
here corn, ne brewyn here ale, ne bakyn here breed, ne don hem
o]>er seruyse & helpe bat were nedefull to hem. ex^ra de em, 4
'Eos qm,' \\bro vj '.
and 'religious 1f And relygyous personys professid bat brekyn out of here (fj$
Arsons ' depart-
ing from their hows, wyt/i-oute leue of here prelate, & forsakyn here abyte.
house without
leave, extra, ne clerici vel monachi, ' Ut pericwlosi,' \\bro vjto 2 . 8
. and they who ^I And alle bat beryen, or do beryin, ony heretykes wylfully,
bury heretics,
or hem pat beleuyn on hem, or here receptourys, defenderys,
or fauourer?/s, in cn'sten) beryellys. extra, de herefcices, ' Qui-
cunque,' libro vj 3 , 12
and who let 11 And alle po, saaf bysschopys & abouyn, J>at letyn ony hows
houses to , .
usurers, to hyre to ony alyen pat is an opyn gouelere, or be ony tytle
graimtyn hym, or suffryn hym, to dwelle berein, to vsyn his
gouele. extra, de vsum, ' Vsurarwm/ \\bro vj 4 . 16
and lords who ^ And alle grete men & obere bat ?yuen leue to slen or to
give permission
to slay or harm taken, to harmyn or to hinderyn, or to agreuyn, in persone or
the pronouncer
ot a sentence, body, or in here godys, hem bat jeuyn sentence of cursyng, of
suspendyng, of 5 enterdyjtyng, ajens kyng, lord, baroun, or 20
a3ens ony cfyer, or agreuyn hem ]5at were cause of jyuyng of
J?at sentens, or agreuyn hem J?at kepyn pat sentence, or
agreuyn hem ]?at denouwcyn hem acursyd, but pey reuokyn pat
lycence, and but ]?ey restore, jif owjt haue bei take of ])o 24
personys bat were cause of pat sentens ; H And alle pat arn
so hardy to vsyn swyche leue, for to slen or for to hynderyn
ony pat is cause of pe sentens ; and alle pat do swyche malyce
wyt/t-outeleve. ex^-ade sentewaa excoinm. ' Quicunque ' libro vj 6 . 28
If pis day, for lesse taryng, I schal schewe jou no more of pise
. 14 b.] artycles of cursyng, tyl au-oper day. | but hauyth bise in
mynde, & knowyth hem, & beeth ware, & fleeth hem, 30 pat ben
1 c. 5. de imm. eccl. in Vlto. 3. 23 [ii. 1064]. Cf. p. 29, note 3.
a c. 2. ne clerici vel monachi, in Vlto. 3. 24 [ii. 1065],
3 c. 2. de ha? ret. in Vlto. 5. 2 [ii. 1069],
4 c. I. de usuris, in Vlto. 5. 5 [ii. 1081]. 6 MS. of of.
e c. 11. de sen. exc. in Vlto. 5. 11 [ii. 1102].
CH. iv.] The Fiend who entered into a Man. Pope Silrinus. 31
vngylty ! beeth sory in herte, wyt/t perfyjt penauwce, jif je be Remember
, . these articles
gylty, tor dreed of dampnacyouw in jour ende ! and beware !
[The Fiend who entered into a Man.]
Jf IT Cesarius, be clerk, telly th 1 bat a man seyde to a feend bat A man possessed
1 with a fiend
5 was entryd in-to an-oper man : ' ]?ou deuyl, bat art in J?at man,
what wo & trauayle woldyst boa suffre for to coin) ajen to
heuen), jif bou myjtyst, whiche blysse boa hast lost 1 ' pe feend
8 seyde : ' aif it were in my powere & in my fre wyft to chese, chosc to go to
J ' hell rather than
I hadde levere, wyih o soule of me dyssey vyd, gon to helle to heaven.
wytA-outyn ende, ban for to turne ajen to heuen), bere I was ! '
Men bat herdyn be feend bus spekyn, haddyn wonder why be
1 2 feend seyde so. be feend seyde to hem : ' wondery tz nost of because he was
not able to will
my woordys, for my malyce is so myche, & I am so obstynate, tna t which
bat I may nojt haue wyll to wyllen wel.'
so, I drede, it faryth be summe men bat arn in be grete So fares it with
, . men who remain
16 curs, bei lyve so longe ber-m, & drede it noat, & fallyn so one obstinately in
excotumunica-
]?ere-in, and amendyn hem nojt, bat bey be so obstynat in here tfon,
synne, & so rebell to goddys lawe & to holy chercli, bat, jif bey
myjten chesyn, bey hadde leuere fulfyllen here malyce, to be
20 vengyd, & to don an horryble trespace to god & to holy chercTi
& ajens here neyghbourys, wherthrugn bei schulde gon to helle,
J?an for to leue ]?at malyce, bat vengaunce, & bat wrong, & here
fals vsage, for to gon to heuene.
3 4 Swyche are be mewiberys of J?e feend, for bei be so euyll wylled they are limbs
& so obstynat in malyce, bat bey wyl nojt ben amendyd, tyl Ipei,
wjih ]>e feend, ben in helle. perfore, jif je be gylty in f>e artycles
of \>e gret curse, be nojt obstynat J:er-in, to be \>Q rnewberys of
2 ^ be feend in helle, but aerne, \vyth perfyzt penauwce, comyth out Therefore do
fxmitence !
of pat curs to grace, & beth mewiberys of god & beth sauyd !
[The Pope Silvimw and the Devil.]
(fa U Exaumple. Siluinus, pe pope, dede homage to be deuyl to Pone Silvinus
. , . did homage to
32 come to hv? astate. mrst he was a munke, whan lie spak wyt/i tho Devil
who in return
be focnd, & dede hym homage. J)a?me, be feend dede helpe hym pr raised the
1 MS. narraci'o.
32 The Story of Pope Silvimts and the Devil. [CH. iv, v.
pope that he vp, to be an erchebysschop, & afterward to be pope, baraie he
should live until J
he said mass in askyd be feend how longe he schulde lyve ? pe feend seyde,
Jerusalem. So J
siivanus tyl he dyde synge a messe in ierusalem. \>e pope was glad,
would live for f or i )e thoujt neuere to synge Ipere messe. perfore he hopyd to 4
The Lent follow- }y V e longe. In lentyn afterward, he seyde a messe in Rome, in
ins, he happened J
to sing mass in a cherche bat was clepyd ierusalem. Whanue he had sungyn,
a Roman church
saiem' JerU " ^ e herde a S re ^ ^J n f feendys. He askyd what hyjt \>ai
cherch ? pe folk tolde hym ]?at it hyjt ierwsalem. Jjawne wyst 8
he wel be J?e feendys woordys Ipai his cleth was nyj, & ]?at J?e
feendys coin) for hym. jit he felle in no wanhope, but trustyd
on goddys mercy, & wepte, & cryed god mercy, & schrof hym
When he knew opynly to alt be peple. And after bat he dede smyten of fro 12
it, he had his f" 7 J
limbs cut off, his body alle hys merabrys, oon after an-o]?er, wherwyth he had
and his body worschepyd be feend. pawne he bad bat be stok of his [body]
laid in a cart
drawn by wild schulde be leyde in a carte, & putt bere-in wylde beestys, and,
beasts.
whyder |?ei leddyn Jat carte & abyden sty lie, J>ere he schulde be 16
beryid. ]?e beestys ronnyn wyih J>e carte to J?e cherch J?at is clepyd
The team seynt Johun ]?e lateran, & J?ere ]?ey dede abyde, and Ipere is his
stopped at St. AJ- W_L t. ' i^-is. r jr i.
John i^ateran body beryid. And in signe bat he hath mercy ot god tor his
where he was
buried. penauice, jit, fro Ipai tyme hyderward/ ajen pe tyme J?at ony 20
[Fol. 15 a.] pope schal dye, | his bonys in ]?e graue make dyn, and swetyn
out oyle in signe of mercy.
Deceive the As he dysseyuyd \>e feend wytA penauwce, & was sauyd, ryjt
Devil as he did ! ,.1,1 i a t
so, wyth penauws, forsakyth joure cursed synnes, & dysseyuyth 24
Ipe feend, as ]>e feend dysseyuyd jou, & je schul haue mercy, as
]?e pope hadde, & be sauyd to blysse ! Ad quod &c.
Gapfttdum Quintum.
Sentencie. 28
More articles of T 1 1HE ober day, I schewyd sou suwme artycles of be grete &
the great curse.
J- curs, & |>is day I schal schewe jou mo artycles ]?er-of.
heryth hem, & beth ware pat je falle nojt fer-in, jif je ben
vngylty ! And ;if je be gylty, jerne amende jou, wyth perfyjt 3 2
penauwce
en. v.] Conditional Absolution. Burying of Excommunicates, fyc. 33
H Whawne ony man, in nede or in poynt of deth, is assoyled The absolution
at the point of
of be sentens of Tpe gret curs of a symple preest, and Ipe peryle or d ^ th u nl ul s ' s H 5}~
nede cesyth, }if he go nojt }?awne as sone as he may, godely to {lv'ery fter the
4 take his penauwce of hym Ipat hath auctoryte to assoyle hym of
)?at curse be be lawe, J>anne he falleth in-to Ipat same sentence, as
he was before, extr&v. de sentencia excomm. ' Eos qui,' libra vj. 1
IT And whanne a man is assoyled of be court of Rome, or of The absolution
by the Court of
8 a legat, of be gret curse, and hym be enioynyd for to go to his Rome is unavail-
able unless pen-
bysschop, or to an-ober ordynarie, for to reseyue his penaunce, &
to makyn aseth to hew Ipat he dede wrong; 3if he do nojt so
as sone as he may resonably, he fallyth a^en in-to be same
12 sentens. extravag. de sentencia excommunic. 'Eos qui,' libro vj. 1
IT And alle bo arn acursed bat in holy placys beryin, or do Accursed are
1 those who bury
beryin. dede bodyis of hem bat arn opynly acursed be name, or an excommuni-
* J J cate or a usurer
of opyn gouelerys ; or, in tyme of enter-d^t, ony dede bodyis in consecrated
1 6 beryin, or do beryin, in saynctuarye, but as ]>e lawe jeuyth leue.
extravagantes de sentencia excommunicacionis, 'Eos qui/ libro vj. 1
IT And alle bat makyn ony contracte wyth nuwnys, & alle and ' religious '
persons who
nuwnys bat are weddyd, & alle relygiows & clerkys wytA-inne h ^ r j ) 'a5i" d they
20 holy ordrys Ipat makyn swyche contractys, or are weddyd. them >
extravagantes de conssmguinitate & affinitate, ' Eos qui,' libro vj. 2
And alle grete men of cytees & of townys bat makyn statutys, and magistrates
who com pel any-
or wryten, or endyjten, wherby ony man is cowpellyd to payeu body to pay
24 gouele, & nojt askyn it ajen, whan it is payed ; And alle Ipat
demyn be swyche statutys ; and alle ]>at han powere, & wytt
nojt don hem awey. extr&vagantes de vsun's, ' Ex graui/ in
clementinis 3 .
28 IT And alle relygiows p^rsonys bat in prechiug, or in ony ober and -religious'
persons who
place, seyn ony woordys to make be peple of euyll wyft to payin inci i t I ^ t 1 |)le
here tythes. extravagantes de penis, ' Cupientes,' in cleinen- in of titlles -
tinis 4 .
22 IT And alle relygyows men bat styren noxt hem bat are and ' religious
persons who tail
1 c. 22. de sen. exc. in Vlto. 5. II [Corp. Juris Canon, ii. 1105].
2 Clem. c. un. de consanguinitate et affinitate, 4. un. [ii. 1177]- Not in
libro Vlto. 3 Clem. c. un. de usuris, 5. 5 [ii. 1184].
4 Clem. P. 3. de poenis, 5. 8 [ii. 1189].
D
34 Divine Service in Interdicted Places. Ministering of Sacraments, fyc. [CH. v.
to stir those schryvyn of hem to payin here tythes, jif bey prechyn aftyrward,
who are shrived " . ,
to pay the tithe, tyl pey haue styred here conscyens to amendment, extrava-
gantes de pern's, ' Cupientes,' in clementinis.
and those who
compel a priest .
to officiate in an in place enterdyjt, or be ryngyng of bellys or in ober manere, in
interdicted
place, tyme of enterdyjt, clepe be peple to dyuyn seruyse, or forbydde
hem bat are enterdyjt or opynly acursed, bat bey go nojt out of
be cherch, whil dyvyn) seruyse is in doinge, bow} bei be warnyd 8
and interdicted & bodyn gon out. alle bise bat wyl nojt gon out of be cheren,
persons who i-.-ii.ij i_ r n A i
refuse to leave whan pei be bydden, pei fallyn in-to a newe sen tens. And
the church
during service, neyther pei, ne opere personys pat compellyn hem to abyde, or
clepyn hem to dyuyn seruyse, mowe nojt ben assoyled, but be pe 12
court of Rome, extrav. de senten. excoww. ' Grauis/ in element
and ' religious ' ^[ And alle relygiows men pat to leryd or to layfolk, w^/t^-oute
[Fol. 15 b.] leue of | pe curatys, mynystren ony of pise in sacramentys, Ipat
sacramentsjto is, J>e sacrament of ]>e awtere/ be last anoyntyng/ or matrimonye/ 16
excommuni- . . n , ,
cates, except in or assoyle ony man or womman pat is cursed be lawe or
be constitucyouw, but in swyche casys as be lawe jeuyth leue/
bat is, in nede, in peryl of deth/ or but pei don it be priuylege/
& jif bey assoylen ony man ' a pena & a culpa ' be ony priuylege. 20
TZxtravagantes de penis, ' Cupientes,' in clementinis.
' Religious men IT Relygyous men are chargyd & bondyn on peryl of here soulys,
are charged, on .
peril of their in peryll of dampnacyouw, in peyne of cursyng, & as bey wyn
souls, not to
take any tithes answers at be dredfutt day of doom, bat bey procure to hem- 24
that belong to
curates. ee jf or ^o here couent no tythes, no offrynges, ne obere dewtees,
bat longyth to curatys, ne obere profyjtes bat be lawe longyth
nojt to hem, ne none obere godys, ne dettys, ne obere thinges,
bat longyn to holy cherc^, or to ony ober place, or to ony ober 28
persone, to be restoryd. ExZrav. de penis, ' Cupientes/ in clewm.
Accursed are U And alle bo arn acursed bat in vyolens dyffoule malycyously,
those who insult , ,
or rob a priest, clyspoylen, or robbyn, ony man oi holy cherche, or talsly con-
spyrin, confederyn, comettyn, ymagyn, or castyn, ony fals cause, 32
dyspyjt or slauwdre, harm or wyckydnes, ajens ony man of
holy cherclij for hate or 2 vengauncc, for wynnyng or loue, of
and who lay on y fleschly freend ; U And alle pat leyn hand in violens on fadyr
parents, i Qi em 2 $ e gen exc g Io j-jj ngi], 2 kate or added in margin.
CH. v.] Causing Miscarriage. Inheriting Children. Story of a Cursed Smith. 35
or modyr, on godfadyr or godmodyr : And alle bo bat, after be and who cause
. . miscarriage,
chyld hath lyif in be moderys wombe, malycyowsly dystroyen
hem -wt/ih drynkes, or ober craftys ; H And alle bo bat lettyn
4 here owyn chyldryn fro here ryjtful herytage, & puttyn obere and who disin-
herit their own
mewnys chylderyn to ben here eyrys falsly, or in lettyng obere children, or the
mewnys chylderyn fro here herytage wrongfully, in puttyng otl ers.
here chylderyn to ben obere mewnys eyrys vnryghtfully. Ex
8 consiitucionibus Stratford/ l & ex consilm oxori) 2 possuwt \\ee
colligi.
Manye mo artycles of be gret curs I fynde, bat nedyn nojt to The remaining
articles ure less
be schewyd here now. important.
[The Accursed Smith.]
U A clerk, Jacobws de Vitriaco, seyth s :
lyncolne, a smyth was a-cursyd, & helde no charge ber-of, but
scorn & iape. As he sate at mete, a swyn coin) in beforn him.
In be dyocyse of An accursed
smith
1 6 be smyth, in scorn, kyste of his breed to be hog, & seyde to his threw a piece of
bread to a hog.
felawys : ' Now taketh hede ! jif be curs of holy chercn be as
perylows as men [seyn] & prechyn, bis hog schal no^t etyn of
my breed, bat am acursyd. be hog smellyd to be breed, & fled The hog did
not take it,
20 a-wey bere-fro. be smyth took ajen be breed, & dyde an-ober
be whereas it eat
of another man's
man castyn bat same breed to be swyn ; be hog forsoke it.
smyth bad an-ober man castyn of his breed to be hog, & be bread greedily
swyn eet it gredyly.
24 Syth an vnclene beeste, & an vnresonable, wolde nojt ete of
be breed of a cursed man/ it semyth ber-by, banne, bat almyjty
god, bat is resonable, & seyntys in heuen)/ & holy chercli in
erthe, wytt no3t plesantly receyvin p7-ayerys ne gode werkys
28 of man, whil he is acursed/ berfore beth ware ! ae bat are Therei
wart- (i
vngylty bat je falle nojt in bise artycles of be grete curs; And curse!
}if ony of jow fele 5ow gylty in ony artycle ber-of, amende jow
in perfyjt penaunce ! And ellys 50 bat heryn hem schewyd
32 to jou, & knowyng hem, & wytt nojt levyn hem, beth ware of
vengauwce of %oure god, in jowre body & in joure soule ; for
1 See p. 13, note 3.
3 MS. in margin: 'narracio de f.
D 2
* See p. 13, note i.
malcdicto & dainpnato.'
36
The Story of the Monk who escaped from his Convent. [CH. v.
And if you are schame & dampnacvoun folwyth in sottre ende ! And aif se
guilty, amend ! r J
be gylty in hem, & je be sory in herte, & levyn hem, & in trewe
schryfte [take] penauwce of him pat hath powere to asoyle jow,
[Pol. 16 a.] & trewly makyn amendys, | be ]?e counseyl of yywr confessowr, 4
je schal be blyssed of god, pere je were before cursyd, and je
schul be full of grace, here je were before futt of synne ! ' Vbi
habundauit delictura, superhabuwdauit & gracia.' secundum
apostolum \ 8
[The Monk who escaped from his Convent^
A sinful monk pis I schewe sou sooth be exauwple 2 . Cesarius tellyth bat dT
fled from his
convent. a munk brak out of his hows, & forsoke his habyte, & jaf him
But he repented to alle lustys, & synnes, & cursede dedys. At be laste, he 12
in time, returned J '
to his order, repentyd hym, & took ajen his ordre & his habyte, wyih sorwe
& schryfte, wepyng, fastyng, & prayerys. he plesyd god, &
forsook synne in-to his ende, & eueremore specyally worschepyd
oure lady. In his deying, for his penauwce, he hadde bis grace. 16
he seyde to be Abbot & to hise bretheryn : ' My worschipfuft
f&derys, I clepe jou to wytnes a-for my god, ]5at I, synfutt
wrecche, lefte my synne, er my synne lefte me, and jif god jyve
me lengere lyif, I am redy, for his loue, to suffre alle turmentys 20
& peynys. for I hadde leuere ben in peyne wytA-outyn ende, &
haue loue of my god, pan ben in heuen)-blysse for euere, & haue
goddys hate, ffor I drede euere, & sorwe more bat I haue
forwretthyd my god, ban I drede or sorwe to gon to helle.' In 24
bise blyssefuft woordys he dyed. & in his syjt of his brethryn,
aungelys, wyih melodye, boryn his soule to heuen).
and, after his
death, was
brought to
heaven by
angels.
God rejoices in
a repenting
sinner,
Lo ! }yf pou be cursyd in be sentens afore-seyd, in perfyjt
penauwce amende pe as he decle, & ioyje schal be to god & to 2 8
but the obstin- alle auwgellys of pin amendment, as be gospel tellyth. And jif
the Devil's joy. po u wylt nojt drede artycles of pe grete sentens, but holdyst be
stylle perin, ioye schal be to alle feendys in helle of pi dampna-
cyoun, &c. 32
1 Rom. v. 20.
2 MS. in margin : ' narrac/o de monacho peccatore et saluato.'
CH. vi.] Of what Things Tithe must le paid. Tithe of Farming Land. 37
C&pitulum sextum.
De modo decimandi.
91 T TEBE-beforn I haue schewyd jou be artycles of be
4 -1 *- sentence of be grete curs, and fals tythyng is an artycle
bere-of. Wherfore I schaii telle a.ou how a.e schul tythe truly,
for to kepe sou sykerly out of be artycle of cursyng. ae owyn to Tithes have to
be paid of all
tythen of all manure of godys trewly gett ; for be tenthe part honest earning,
8 bere-of is dewe to god. ~Extra,vagante8 de decimis, ' Tua nobis Y
& secundum hostiensem 2 .
je owyn to tythen of alle thynges profyjtable bat are of all goods
renewyd be be jere, & als oftyn as bey are renewyd. ex yearly profit,
12 consiitucionibus Kicardi Wynchilse, ' Sawc^a mater 3 .'
U ffirst be tythe muste be payed of londys & possessions ; bat viz - f lands,
is, of swych profyjtes as comyth ber-of, as of corn, hey, wode,
fruytes of treen, herbage of gardynes, & of wyn, of sedys, of
1 6 gardynes. pe tythe awjte to be payed of be profyjt & of be
ferme of mylles. Also of pasture, comoun & seueratt. be tythe mills, pastures,
' J animals,
owjte to be payed vp-on pe noumbre of beestys, or vp-on pe
noumbre of dayes, as it is most profyjt to be cherch. U pe whether milch
ao tythe of be pasture to be drye beestys owjte to be payid as wel
as to pi melche beestys ; for bei spende leyse as wel as pi melche-
beestys. jif bou paye tythe for leyse to bi mylche-beestys, &
nojt of bi drye beestys, bou payist nojt trewly bi tythe. Hec colli-
24 gu/itw : extr&v, de deem. ' Ad apostolicam *,' & capit. ' Pastora-
lis 6 / & ex constitucionibus Bonifacn, capit. 'Qworaam propter 6 .'
Tythe owyth to be payed of aft manere wode, of leynys ofotwooA, fish,
oystrys, of leynys of fysch/ of pondys/ of dowfys/ of dowfe- B nd h ' * wrdens '
28 howsys/' of werys, of jerdys/ of flex/ of hemp/ of turbarye/ of ftiel >
fewatt/ what-so-euere it be, broom or heeth, fyrsyn or turves, or
1 c. 26. X. de decimis, 3. 30 [Corp. Juris Canon, ii. 564].
a Cf. p. 28, note 8.
3 Robert (not Richard) Winchelsey, Archbishop of Canterbury from
1293 till 1313. For the Constitutions referred to, see Wilkins, ii. p. 278.
* c. 20. X. de decimis, 3. 30 [ii. 562]. 5 Ibid. c. 28 [ii. 565].
6 This seems to refer to Communes (scil. extravag.) c. unic. de decimis,
3. 7. [ii. 1273], though the chapter does not begin as quoted in the text.
38 The Tithe to be paid wit/tout Deduction of Farming Expenses. [CH. vi.
[Fol. 16 b.]
of all kind of
fruit;
without deduct-
ing the forming
expenses.
Example from
husbandry.
The tithe to be
paid as soon as
the produce is
taken.
The tithe of
lambs and of
wool,
ony swycfi ober fewalf. ex constitucione \ Ricardi Wynchilse,
qwe incipit : ' Sancta. mater.'
be tythe of aft manere of frute of profyjt pat comyth out of
be ertfi, & out of treen, aw^te to be payed, as of applys, perys, 4
crabbys, barbarynes, plummys, cheryes, nutys, coynys. de con-
secracione, distinccio v., 'Quadragesima 1 '; & ij. q. vij. 'Quicuw-
que recognoverit* '; & cap. ' Omnes decime 3 '; extr&vag. de
deczwi. ' Cowmissuw 4 ' ; & cap. ' Nuncios V 8
Alle pise thynges forsayde owyn to be tythed & payed vryih-
oute rekenyng of ony cost bere-aboute, eyther of be seed or of
be tylying, or of onye expensys abowte be gaderynge, & \vyth-
owte reknyng of ferme, or rente, or kynges taske. Extfravagr. de 12
deem. c Tua nobis 6 ' ; & cap. ' Cum new sit V ' An debeant
portare ad ecclesmm an non, seruanda est loci consuetude.' ar (?)
eiLtravag. de sepulturis, ' Certificari 8 .'
3if bou hyre an acre of lond for ij. s, and be tylying ber-of 16
stondyth be on ij. s, be seed stondyth be on ij. s, be rente stante
be on vj. d, be gaderyng & be repyng standyth pe on xij. d, bou
schalt paye be tythe schef of bat growyth ber-on, or be tythe part
jif it be pesyn, or hey, bowj all bat growyth ber-on be nojt worth 20
vj. d. And bou schalt rekene no cost ne expuwse. Ry3t so, schalt
bou do in tythyng of wyn, of frute of treen, of sedys, of herbys,
of curtylage, of hey, of ferme of mylles, of pasture, of wode, of
leynys, of pontys, of dowfe-howsys, of wareynys, of flex, of hemp, 24
of turbarye & fewalt, of frute of treen ; of alle bise bou owyst to
paye be tythe, & rekne no cost ne expens bere-abowte. Ex
consiitucionibus apwd Mertouw per orrmes episcopos anglie 9 .
H And be tythe of alle bise owyth to be payed as sone as be 28
profyjt & be frute is takyn. IZxtrskvagantes de decimis, ' Tua
nobis 6 ' ; & capit. ' Cum now sit V
be tythe owyth to be payed of lambryn & of wolle, be tenthe
1 c. 16. Dist. v. decons. [i. 1416.] a c. 4. C. 16. qu. 7 [i. 801].
3 Ibid. c. 5. 4 c. 4. X. de decimis, 3. 30 [ii. 557].
5 Ibid. c. 6 [ii. 558], MS. ' Nuncies.' 8 See above, p. 37, note i.
7 Ibid. c. 33 [ii. 568]. 8 c. g. X. de sepult. 3. 28 [ii. 551].
9 These are the same Constitutions which on p. 37, and elsewhere, are
quoted as Winchelsey's (Wilkins, ii. p. 278).
CH. vi.] The Tithe of Farming Produces, of Fish and Game. 39
flees & be tenthe lambe. and jif bere be but vj. lambryn, or vj.
flees, or lesse, for yche owyth to be payed to tythe an ob(o/ws).
And }if Ipere be but vij. lambys, or vij. flees, or aboue, bawne
4 owyth j. flees or j. lambe to be payed to tythe. and as manye
ob(ofo') owyn to be payed as be noumbre fayleth fro ten,
exclusiue, to be owuere pat tythed.
1T Of chese be tythe owjte to be payed as longe as ony chete or cheese and
milk,
8 is made, wynter & somyr, & bat owyth to be by be tenthe day
J?at hool ]>e mylke of f>e tenthe day be put to ]?e tythe chese.
1[ Of mylke owyth f>e tythe to be payed wynter & somyr,
whawne no chese is made.
12 Of fysschyng of freschwatyr & of salt watyr be tythe owjte of fishing and
to be payed, & of wex, & of hony. Ex consiitucionibus Bonifacw,
' Qwow/am propter 1 .'
Of calvys be tythe of J?e valew awjte to be payid benethe of calves
1 6 J3e nouTttbre of ten, & jif it come to J?e noumbre of ten, J?e tenthe
calf owyth to be payed to tythe. Ex constitiwionibus bonifacti,
' Qwomam propter diversas 1 .'
IT pe tythes owyth to be payed of folys of hors, bat is, of hors- and colts,
20 coltys. Ex constitucione quaclam prouincmZt, que sic iwciptt :
' In ecclesiarum rectores.'
IT pe tythe owjte to be payed of swawnys, of gee?, of dokys, of fowl and
game.
of chykenys, of huwtyng, of fowlyng, comourc or obere. Ex
24 comiitucionibus Ricardi "Wynchylse, ca])it . ' Sancta mater. 2 '
U Of alle bise forsayde, of lamberyn, chese, mylk, fysschyng, The tithe of all
the produce to
fowlyng, wex, hony, calvys, coltys, swannys, chykenys, gees, he paid without
( 1 'UlU't I III^ fl-liy
dokys, hawkyng, & huntyng, J?e tythes owyth to be payed, expenses.
28 w?/t/i-oute reknyng of ony cost, | or of ony expenses. Ex [Fol. 17 a.]
consiitucionibus apti Mertoun per omnes episcopoa anglie 3 .
IT Alle J?ot of bise thynges forseyde takyn vp for ony cost, for
expensys, or for here trauayle, tyl be tythe be ferst hooly leyd
32 out, he doth wrong to holy cherche as fus/ J?ou makyst chese,
l^ou takyst vp for ]?i salt, or for bi labour, er bou tythe, pou
doost wrong/ yf \> on selle, jyue, or spende, or do awey, ony chese
1 See p. 37, note 6. 2 See p. 37, note 3.
3 See p. 38, note 9.
40 The Division of Farming Tithes. Tithing of Merchants and Craftsmen. [CH. vi.
tyl pe tythe is ferst assigned, pou art vntrewe in pi tything.
jif J?ou take vp for scheryng of pi wolle, er bou tythe, J?ou dost
wrong, for pou dost ajens be fredam of holy cherche, pat frely,
w?/tA-oute thraldam of suche expensys, schulde haue his tythe. 4
And pou apeyryst & lessyst pat tythe in takyng vp bi cost, here
Quotations ]>ou makyst be cherche thraft. De decemis predialibws, id est,
tionsand Canons de onmibws fructibws de terra crescentzows, vt de frugibws,
on farming . *"'
tithes arboribws, fructibws arboruw, vino, seminious, herbis gardi- 8
norww, de feno, pascuis, firmis molendinis, columbam's, decime
soluantw illi ecclesie, in cuiws parochia crescurit. Ex constitu-
cionibus Stratford, capit. ' Qwanqwam exsoluentibws 1 .' U De de-
and' mixed ctmis mixtis, id est, de agnis, lana, caseo, lacte, piscacione, vena- 12
titn es.' ... .
czone, melle, cera, vituhs, equis, cignis, soluantwr deciwe, vbi
consuetude vult loci illms ; & de pullis, aucis, vbi consuetude now
Those tithes apparet. tune si ammalia continue pascantwr in prediis proprte
have to be paid rr
to the curate of parochie eius, qui est dommws et curam eorum gerit, illi ecclesie 16
the parish where r
the cattle had soluentwr decime. Si pascantwr in prediis aliene parochie,
et ha&ent ouile in proprza parochia, vel in alia secundum
Rajmundum 2 , de lacte, fetu, et lana, detwr decima illi ecclesie,
vbi pascue (sic !) suwt. Ar exra e (?) ' Commissum 3 ' ; sed secun- 20
and if the cattle dum Alanum 4 , si continue iaceant in vnu parochia, & continue
hud been kept
in one parish pascu/itwr in alia, decime diuidende suwt. Et idem dicendwm
and fed in
the th hadoee f n est ' s ^ P 67 * me dietatem anni pascantwr in vna parochia, & per
ferenVlirishes me dietatei anui pascantwr in alia, & secundum \>onifacii ex- 24
to be'divide^ 6 tr&vag. e 5 ; sed consuetude in talibws seruanda est. de omnibus
lem ' venditis medio tempore &nni de vua parochia in alteram
Domini denda (sic !) est deciwa.
Tithes to be II Marchauwtys, & o]?ere, pat in beying & sellyng wynnen, 28
paid by mer-
chants and owyn of bat wynnyng to paye be tythe, eaaf ferst pei may take
craftsmen after J
the deduction V p here resonable costys. Also alle men of craft, as wryates,
of the expenses
of trade. smythes, weuerys, brewsterys, baxterys, thaccherys, cordevvanerys,
taylourys, sowsterys, tylerys, masouns, plomerys, tannery*, peyn- 32
1 Wilkins, ii. p. 704. * Seep. 18, note 5.
3 c. 4. X. de decimis, 3. 30 [ii. 557].
4 Alarms is the author of an ' apparatus ' to the ' compilatio prima.' (Cf.
Schulte, I.e. vol. i. p. 188.)
s Probably to mean the same quotation as p. 37, note 6.
CH. vi.] Tithingof Workmen fy Servants. Four Chastisements for False Tithing. 41
tourys, & alle obere men of craft, as fullerys, mercerys, grocerys,
vynterys, pedderys, owyn to payin be tythe of here getyng
be here craft, whawne here resonable expensis be takyn vp.
4 H Also be coinouw labourer^ & alle seruauwtys owyn to The tithing of
workmen and
payin be tythe of here hyre, after bat bei haue takyn vp here servants,
resonable expense, extr&vagantes de decimis, ' Pastorah's Y in
glossa per Innocewciwm; ex constttfwciora'ows bonifactV, capit.
8 ' propter diuersas 2 ' ; extravagantes de pignerzows, ' Ex K^eris s ';
& secundum hosttewsem 4 .
Dou owyst to paye bi tythe of thynges bat am souyn be be The tithe of
donations and
fre 3ifte, or be byqwething of ony of bi freendys. Hugo notam't, bequests.
12 xvj. questio ij. ' Decime 5> : ' que donatorifews & legatori&ws tenen-
twr decimam dare de re donata vel legata, licet decimata fuerit
a legatore vel donatore.'
3if a sty ward fynde in be old court-rollys & rentallys, & in be AS the due pay
ment of rents is
1 6 newe bothe, bat bou art behynde of bi rente to bi lord for bi still obi iRatory,
' although there
tenement, and bou seyst bat bou wylt no$t payin it, because has been an evil
bou vsedyst nojt to paye before bat tyme ; schal bin euyl vsage behindhand
excuse be, & proue fals bat is wretin in be court-rollys & rent-
so allys? | 6 I trowe, nay. bou schalt paye it, or be put out of bi [Fol. 17 b.]
tenement. Ry?t so, ihesu, be styward of be fadyr of heuen, so the unpaid
tithes will not
whanne he sytteth in be last court of be doom, aif he fynde be be remitted at
the last judge-
in be old la we, & newe, bat bou art behynde of bi tythe, schal ment.
24 bin euyl vsage excuse be for to dystroye goddys lawe 1 Nay,
bi pletyng & bin vsage schal nojt avayle be bere, but bou schalt
be put out of bi tenement of heuen) to feendys in helle, seyth
seynt Austyn. Dicet Innocencms : ' in eo quod now soluantur
28 decime, & minws plene, nulla consuetudo valet.' xvj. questio
vij. ' Quicuwqwe 7 .'
H fifoure vengauwces 8 comyn to man here in erthe for fals The four chas-
tiscinents for
tythvng : fierst he hath goddys curs for brekyng of his lawe. false tithiiiR
are: i. God's
1 c. 28. X. de decimis, 3. 30 [ii. 565]. 2 See p. 37, note 6. curse>
3 c. 5. X. de pign. 3. 21 [ii. 527]. * Cf. p. 28, note 8.
5 ? c. 66. C. 16. qu. i [5. 784].
6 MS. in upper margin : ' De Exhortatione DecimandiS
7 c. 4. C. 16. qu. 7 [i. 801].
* M.S. in margin : ' vindicte pro falsa' deciwzaciowe, i, 2, 3, 4.
42 The Four Rewards for Honest Tithing. Exhortation. [CH. vi.
' Maledicti sunt a deo, qui decimas now soluuwt/ xvj. questio j.
' Reuertimini V
2. povertv and H pe secuwde vengaunce is ]?is : A fals tythere schal come
to pouert, er he dye, & turne to pe tenthe part Ipai fell owt of 4
heuen), Ipai is, to ]?e feendys in endles peyne. xvj. questio j.
' Maiores V Augusfa'rms : ' Redde decimas, alioqum deduceris ad
decimara partem angelorwm, scilicet que cecidit in infernuw.'
3 . vermin, birds 1f pe iij. vengaunce is ]?is, Ipai god schal suffre flyes, foulys, & 8
prey, bestys, to wastyn & to dystryin here godys ; & reyn schal fayle,
wharnie sesonable tyme were for to reyne. xvj. q. j. ' Maiores V
4. taxes and If pe iiij. vengauws is pis : god suffryth hem to be pyled of
extortions of , .. ,
lords. lordys vtytn taxis, tallyagys, & extorcyouns, & for to haue I2
olpere lossys. ' Quod non capit christus, tollit fiscus.' xvj.
questio j. ' Maiores 2 .'
False tithing is H God sumtyme takyth fro false tytherys ix. partys of encres,
cause of and 5euyth hem scarsely pe tenthe part of profyjt for here vn- J6
calamities of
all kind. kyndenes to hym, & for here falssnes. nor pe most cause why
dyssese & myscheef fallyn on man, womman, & beste, & on opere
godys, frutys, & profyjtes on erthe, is for fals tythyng, as seynt
Austyn seyth. & porro in canone, xvj. questio j. ' Maiores 2 .' 20
The four rewards Trewe tytherys schul haue iiij. rewardys 3 of god : If pe firste
tithing: is plente of frute on lond & watvr. pe secuwde is helthe of
i. plenty of
profit, 2. bodily body. Augustinus : ' Si decimas dederis, non solum habundan-
iiealth,
ciawi fructuuw, sed eciam sanitatem corporzs consequeris V 2 4
3. forgiveness If pe iij. reward is forayvenesse of alle bi synnes. If pe iiij. is
of all sins, 4. the . . ' .
kingdom of be kyngdam of heuen). Ansustmus : ' Oui premium comparare,
heaven. .... . .
aut indulgenciaw peccatorum desiderat promereri, reddat
decimawi/ & porro in canone, xvj. q. j. ' decime 4 .' 28
Therefore, re- ^f perfore, jif 36 wyl fie fro be iiij. wrettys of god, & haue bise
nounce your .
evil habit, mi. rewardys of grace & of ioye. leuyth aowr vsage of wrongfun
iimend, and pay J
your tithes tythyng, & makyth amendys in pcrfy3t penauwce, & tytheth
lioiiGbtly !
trewly, as goddys la we tellyth jou, and pawne schul 30 haue 32
plente of good, helthe of 3oure body, for3yfnes of 3owre synne,
1 c. 65. C. 16. qu. i [i. 783]. 2 c. 8. C. 16. qu. 7 [i. p. 802].
3 MS. in margin : *de vera decitactone, i, i, 3, 4.'
4 c. 66. C. 16. qu. i. [i. 784].
CH. vii.] Judas stole the tenth Part out of the Common Purse. 43
& ]?e blysse of heuen). ' Beati qui audiunt verbum del et custo-
diuwt illud.' Blyssed are bey bat heryn J>is woord of god, &
kepyn it in here werkyng, for bey schal be blyssed in endles
4 ioye ! Ad qwod &c.
MS.
vym
De Exhortacione Decimandi.
ER-S-before I told sou how 36 schulde tythen. now
8 J- JL I schal telle 2011 an exauwple, to make sou to drede Example to ex-
hort to honest
per-by fals tythyng, & for to be styred to tythe trewly, as goddys tithing.
lawe techy th }ow, and nojt as euyl vsage techy th jou. Judas
scarioth * stale Ipe tythe \>ai was J>e tenthe part of monye pat
12 com) to be comoun purs of crist & of his apostlys. And wharaie Judas grumbled,
marie mawdelen) pouryd be swete oynement out of here box on daien poured
^ > all her precious
crist. iudas grucchyd. & seyde : ' Why is bis oynement bus ointment on
Christ, main-
wastyd ? it myst a be sold for iii. hundred pens, & haue be tainin* that its
value of three
!6 jouyn to pore folk.' Jo1i. xij. Judas seyde nojt pis for loue & l^rilve"^'
deuocyouw | pat he hadde to poore folk, but he was p urs . ''eved the poor,
mayster, & bare be comouw purs of crist, & receyvyd in-to pe But in fact, he
said so, because
purs an be monye bat was brouat to crist, for to be dysposyd he was the
keeper of the
20 in comouw to be nedefull, and alwey he stale be tythe part of common purse,
and would steal
pe monye bat he receyvid in-to be purse, and fer-fore he wolde th t | I ?* h P art
pat J?o iij. hundreth penyworth of oynement hadde be sold, & be
3ouyn in to his purs for pore folk, pat he myjte a stolyn be tythe,
24 part, as he dede of alt oper monye delyuered to hym. And
J>er-fore he was wroth & grucchyd pat pat oynement, worth
iij. hundred pens, was poured out on crist, & no3t sold, bat
he myjt a stolyn ]?e tythe per-of. per- fore he seyde : ' why is
28 pis oynement pus wastyd ? & it my3te a ben solde for iij.
hundreth pens, & a be 3ouyn to poore folk.' Judas was wo,
bat he had no3t pat vaunt age of \>o xxx. pens bat was pe tythe
of pe iij. hundreth pens, be-cause pe oynement was nojt solde.
1 MS. in margin : 'Judas Scarioth.'
44 The False Tither commits Judas' Sin again. [CH. vn.
T
Therefore, to ber-fore he thouste to rekouere bo xxx. pens, & he wente & solde
recover his loss, J
he sold Christ C nst for xxx. pens, bere he gette asen po xxx. pens pat he
for 30 pence,
which was the forbare in be oyuemewt. And for bo xxx. pens he hadde xxx.
tenth part of the
v?1 t 6 nt hat sythes goddys curs, as it is vryfyed in be psalme ' Deus 4
and he had laudem J ,' be whicn psalme may be applyed to Judas ; for euery
for every penny, peny he hadde a sundry curs of god. If Eyjt so, whann) a fals
tythere heryth or seeth bat an-ober man louyth & worschepyth
god, \fyih be oynement of charyte hym anoyntyng, bat is for to 8
seye, trewly paying to god his tythes, for seynt gregorie seyth :
' Probaceo vere dileccionis est exhibicto opens.' Preef of trewe
loue to god is to schewyn it out to him in dede, bat is, to jeuyn
to god trewly his part, pat is, pi tythe, for bat is a signe bat 12
bou louyst hym, & bis loue is an hoot & a sweet oynement to
god : ' Vnguentum est nardi pistici preciosi.' glossa : ' Nardus
est herba calida & redolens.'
So the false Whann) be euyft tythere seeth or heryth 2 bat bou trewely 16
tither grumbles
at the honest tythest to god, it greuyth him sore bat god & his mymstres
one,
alleging that schulcle be worschepyd & releuyd, & he seyth : ' it were more
the tithes would
better be given almes to jyue po tythes to pore folk pan to god or to preestys,
to tnc poor*
for pei haue ynow & to fele.' he seyth nojt bis for deuocyouw ao
But, in fact, he bat he hath to pore 3 folk, but he seyth it for malyce bat he
hates the
Church, and hath to holy cherche & to curatys, & for he louyth noat god
wants to conceal
his own false trewly. & for he schulde be knowyn fals in his tythyng be be
tithing.
trewe tythyng of bat ober man. and so, for dreed of schame & 24
sclaundere, he muste tythen as be obere man doth, & so his
And if he is profy3t schulde be be lesse. Whawne he seeth bat he muste
compelled to pay '
his tithe, for tythen as be good tythere doth, & so to lessyn his profyst, or
fear of shame, J
he goes and e lly S b e schamyd, he goth as Judas, & stelyth pryuely his tythe, 28
J?at may nojt be perceyved, and, \vyth euyl counseyl, styreth
opere men to tythen evele as he doth, bat he may haue be more
couwfort & be more strengthe in felaschip, & be lesse schame to
tythen euyft. and so he & his cumpanye, thrugh his euyft 3 2
sterynge, sleen crist, as iudas dede vfyih his ost. ffor scripture
1 Ps. cviii.
a The construction is resumed after having been dropped at line 8.
3 pore corrected in margin for fore in the text.
CH. vn.] The False Tither fails in Worship, Love, fy Truth towards God fyMan. 45
& doctourvs seyn : Who-so do aaen be synne which was cause and so slays
Christ, as Judas
of cristes deth, in-as-inyche as is in hym, he doth a3en cnst to did.
be deth. stelyng of be tythe bat longyth to cristes purs was
4 cause bat iudas betrayid crist to be deth, for be oynement was
nojt sold, bat he myjte nojt stele be tythe per-of. Hyjt so, be
fals tythere rehersyth ajen in his fals tythyng be sywne bat
crist was do fore to deth, bat is for to seyn), | he stelyth his [Pol. 18 b.]
8 tythe fro god. here, in-as-mycH as is in hym, he sleeth ajen
crist. ber-fore crist seyth be his prophete Malachias iiij T : ' Vos
affligitis me in decimts & pn'miciis.' ' Vos maledicti estis & vos
me fraudatis & configitis.' 3 e turmente me in yyure false tythes,
12 ber-fore in nede, & in pouert, & in wastyng of 3 owe godys, 36
are acursyd, for je defraude me, & fycchen me, bat is for to
seye, je fycchen me ajen on be cros.
13 pe x. comauwdmewtys of god are kept in thre 2 : In worschipe, The 10 Com-
. mandments are
1 6 m loue, & in truthe. Worschipe god & man, & pou kepyst kept in 3 things :
In worship,
the x. comauwdmentys ! loue god & man, & bou kepyst be x. love, and truth
with regard to
comaurcdmentys ! be trewe to god & man, & bou kepyst be
x. comauwdmentys. 3^ I 3011 do vnworschipe to god & to pi
20 neyghboure, pou brekyst bere onys be x. comaundmentys. m
For who-so is gylty in on, is gylty in alle. parzne, for bou 10 sof od -
brekyst be x. comauwdmentys ouys, bou for onys hast x.
cursys of god, bat is, for brekyng of euery comauwdment
24 a curse. Ps. 3 ' Maledicti qwi declinant a mandatis tuis.' H 3if
bou loue nojt god & bi neyhboure, bawne bou brekyst be secu?ide
tyme be x. comauwdmenta/s ; bawne hast bou be secunde tyme
x. cursys of god. 3if bou be vntrewe to god & to bi ney3hboure,
28 bawne brekyst bou the thredde tyme be x. comauwdmentys of
god, banne hast bou be thridde tyme x. cursys of god. Thre
tymes ten is thretty, bawne hast bou thretty tymes goddys curs,
bat brekyst thryes his x. comauwdmentf/s. lyf bou tythest The false tither
fails in reverenceC
32 falsly, bou worschepyst no3t god, for pou sleest hym & betrayist to God
hym as iudas, for bou stelyst be tythe as iudas dede, whiche
was cause of cristes deth. bou doost vnworschipe to man, pat is, and uinn,
1 Mai. iii. 8, 9. The Vulgate reads : 111 quo configimus te ? In d. et in p.
2 MS. in margin : 'dece?n precepts, [?] tribws.' 3 Ps. cxviii. 21.
46 TheFalseTUherhasThirtyCursesofGod. The Story of the Proud Earl. [CH.VH.
to hem bat schulde lyue be bat tythe, for bou sleest him in bat
bou wythdrawyst fro him his lyving, secundum Gregoriuni.
pawne brekyst bou here onys his x. comaundmentys, & hast
x. cursys of god. Also in bi fals tythyng, bou louyst nojt god, 4
for bou brekyst goddys comauwdment. ' Qui non diligit me,
sermones meos now seruat 1 .'
he fails in love pou louyst nost bi curat, for bou appeyrist hys lyiflode.
towards his
curate, Here brekyst pou pe secunde tyme pe x. comaundementes. 8
Here hast pou pawne be secuwde tyme be x. cursys of god.
and in truth Also in bi fals tythyng, bou art vntrewe to god & fals to bi
towards God,
and his curate, curat, for bou stelyst fro hym be tythe bat longyth to hym.
So he breaks here brekyst bou be thredde tyme be x. comaimdmentws, and 12
three times the
10 Command- here v>ou hast be thredde tyme ten cursys of god. And bus in
ii i. ! 1 1 s, and gets
3 o curses of God, jjj f a i s tythyng, for bou brekyst thryes be x. comaundernent?/s,
bou hast thryes x. cursys of god, pat is, xxx ti cursys, as iudas
hadde, whiche thretty cursynges arn in be psalme ' Deus 16
.
laudem 2 .'
\ \ ' ^ v I'M
;>
to)^- [The Proud Earl carried to Hell by Fiends .]
An earl, while Helimandtts & Petrus, abbas clumacensis. bey seyn bus 5 : (ft
sitting at his
meal, was called bat an erl masticonensis, on a solempne day, sate in his paleys 20
out by a ^
stranger. at mete wyth knyghtes & gentlys. hastely bere com) a strauwge
man rydyng on an hors in at be dore, & seyde : ' Syre erl, ryse
vp & come wyth me to be dore, me muste speke wyth pe.' be
erl myst nojt wyth-Btonde hym, but ros vp, & wente wyth him 24
At the door, he to pe dore. bere he fonde an hors redy, &, be byddyng of bat
found a horse .
that he mounted strauwge man, pe erl wente vp-on pe hors. pe strauwge man
at the stranger's .
command. The was a feend, & be hors was an-obe? 1 teend. be leend took his
stranger, who
was a fiend, hors be be brydel, & bare hym vp m-to be eyr. bane be erl 2 8
carried the earl
up into the air. cryed pytously in * be eyr. alle his meyne comyn out fro mete,
[Fol. 18 *a.] I an d seyn here lord wyth be feend in be eyr. all be cyte seyn
All his knights hem, & herdyn hym cryin : 'helpe me now, my knyjtes & je
and subjects , ... .IP i -jo
cou d not help burgeysis of pe cyte ! tor my stynkyng pride, & my proude 32
him,
1 John xiv. 24.
2 Ps. cviii. 3 MS. in margin : ' narracio de male decimante.'
4 Spoiled in MS. by an ink spot.
CH.VII ] The Earl carried to Hell. The Knight rewarded for Honest Tithing. 47
beryng, & for my fals tythyng, bat I wolde nojt sufFre my meyne but he was
tythe truly to god & to holy cherch, but I haue hynderyd holy for pride and
false tithing.
chercli, to mayntene my prowd beryng, & for fals coueytise no3t
4 made restitucyouw ; ber-fore feendys bere me to helle. be je
ware be me ! '
[The Vineyard of the Pious Knight^]
si Cesarius dicit : A knyjt louyd wel holy chercli, & for loue of A knight paid
honestly the
8 god trewly he payed his tythe, and bat wythoute lettyng. he tithe of his
vineyard.
hadde a vynejerd, be whiche, jere be 3ere, bare hym x. timne of
wyn. and euery 3ere he payed be tenthe tuwne of wyn to tythe.
Afterward, bat vyuejerd bare but on tuwae of wyne, and be One year, he got
only one tun of
12 knyjt seyde : 'god hath takyn fro me ix. partys for my synne: wine instead of
r J . J ' ten, but he gave
I wyl noat take fro hym his part, ae my meyne lede bis tunne it for tithe a11
the same.
of wyne to Ipe curat 1 ' pere he jaf to tythe ail to-gedere pat
his jerd bare pat sere, be same tyme, after- ward on be thredde Three days after,
his vineyard
1 6 day, a preest, pat was pe kny3tes brother, walkyd in pe vyne- hung full of
jerd, & sey3 itt full of grapys, & seyde to f>e kny3t : ' why be
nojt joure grapes gaderyd in 3oure vyne^erd? ' \>e kny3t seyde:
' It are gaderyd clene, f>ere is no grape left J?er-in ; god hath aft
20 for tythe.' pe preest seyde : ' pe vynes were neuere so futt of
grapys as it ar now.' pe knyst wente. & seys it, & dede gadere and yielded
more than ever.
newe be grapys, & had more plente of wyn) ban he hadde beforn. The knight re-
niained faithful
he thankyd god, & was trewe forth in his tythyng tyl bis ende. in tithing, ami,
J j j f at lasti went to
24 and banne wente to heuen), to restoryu in party pe place where heaven.
pe aungellys fyllen out.
Ryat so, sif se tythen euytt, vfyih feendys 30 schul be born The false tither
is carried to hell,
in 3oure ende to helle as pe erl, but 30 leue [joure synne], &
28 make amendys in perfy3t penauns. 3^ 3 e tythe trewely, panne but the honost
schul 2e encresyn in soure wordly good, & in sowre ende gon to on earth, and
endless joy in
be ix. ordrys of auwgellys in-to endles ioye ! Ad quod nos per- heaven !
ducat &c.
48 The Marriage between Relatives. The Three Lines of Kindred. [CH. vm
Captfatlton viij m .
Do gradibits prohibitis in matrimonio contrahendo.
HERE-beforn I haue told jou of euyl tythyng how it is an ^
artycle of be grete curs ; and ber-fore I tolde jou how 4
je schulde tythen for to saue 3011 fro be grete curs, but now
Marriage be- I schal schewe jou of be contract of matrimonye how it is an
tween near . . .
relatives is an artvcle of be grete curs, whann it is don in degrees loriendyd
article of great J
curse.' be lawe, wyttyng & wyllynge. 8
it is prohibited IT Contracte of matrimony in kynrede in-to be fyfte degre
to the fifth - , , ,
degree. is forfendyu. as whan a man or womman, wyttynge, are
weddyd to-gedere in be firste degre of kynrede, or in be secwnde,
or in Ipe thredde, or in Ipe ferthe. In be fyfte degre Ipej mowe 12
be weddyd to-gedere.
The 3 lines of In kynrede are iij. lynes * : A lyne vpward, a lyne douwward,
kindred are: .. TT.I 3 -L.' f j j. -L.
1. The ascendant a lyne on syde, croswayes. In pe lyne vpward, pi ladyr is to pe
line from daugh- . . .
ter to father and in be first degre of kynrede: Pi belsyre to be is in be secunde 16
grandfather, &c.,
degre ; pi belsyres fadyr to be is in be thredde degre ; pi bel-
syres belsyre to be is in be ferthe degre. to hym mayst bou
nojt be weddyd, but to be fadyr of bi belsyres belsyre bou
mayst be weddyd, for he is to be in be fyfte degre of kynred. 20
or from son to H In bis lyne vpward, bi moder is to be in be firste degre of
mother and
grand- kynrede ; pi beldame is to be in be secun&e degre ; pi beldamys
modyr is in be thredde degre ; pe beldame of bi beldame is to
be in be ferthe degre. to here mayst bou no3t be weddyd, but 24
to be modyr of bi beldamys beldame, bou mayst be weddyd, for
bat is in be fyfte degre.
2. The descend- H In be lyne of kynrede douwward, pi sone to be is in be firste
ent line from
[Foi. 18 *b.] degre of kynrede ; pi sonys sone is | in be secunde degre ; pe 28
and grand- 80 " sone f P* sonys sone is in be thredde degre. to be sone bat
comyth of hym in be thredde degre, mayst bou nojt be weddyd,
for it is in be ferthe degre, but to be sone bat comyth of hym
bat is in be ferthe degre, bou mayst be weddyd, for he is in be 32
1 MS. in margin : ' 3 gradus, id est cle gradu sanguinitatis.'
CH.VIII.] Tke Method of fixing the Degree of Relationship). 49
1) fyfte degre. II Eyjt so, in be lyne downward \ pi dowster is to or from father
to daughter and
be in be firste degre of kynrede ; pi dowterys dowter is in be grand-daughter,
secwwde degre ; pe dowter of bi dowterys dowter is in be thredde
4 degre. to be dowter bat comyth of here mayt bou nojt be
weddyd, for it is in be ferthe degre ; but to be dowtyr bat
comyth of here in be ferthe degre bou mayst be weddyd, for
bat is in be fifte 2 degre.
8 H In be lyne bat goth out on syde 3 , too bretheryn of* too 3- The lateral
line is between
systeryn, or a brothyr & a syster arn in be first degre of kynrede. **
bretheryn or systerynes chylderyn arn in be secunde degre. pe
chyldryn bat comyn of brethryn & systrynes chylderyn ben in dantsf 68
12 be thredde degre. pe cliyldryn bat comyn of hem bat arn in be
thredde degre, mowe nojt be weddyd to-gedere, for bey arn in be
ferthe degre. pe chylderyn bat comyn of hem bat arn in be fyfte
degre, may be weddyd to-gedere, for bei arn in be fyfte degre.
16 IT In ony of bise thre lynes afore-seyd, go to be stok, bat is, in fixing the
fadyr or modyr, & noumbre noat hem, but be first persone bat tionship in one
of these lines, go
comyth of bat stok is be first degre : pe secwnde persone fro back to the
stock of the
be stok is in be secunde degre : pe thredde persone fro be stok famiiy.and
count the first
ao is in be thredde degre ; pe ferthe persone fro be stok is in ? h 38C I "! a I lt M
be ferthe degre ; pe fyfte persone fro be stok is in be fyfte
degre. In be lyne bat goth out on syde, as too bretheryn or
too sustryn, or brothyr & syster, be chyld of be brothyr is in
24 be fyrste degre of kynrede fro be stok. of be ober brother
comyn chylderyn, & of bo chylderyn comyn chylderyn in be
sectmde degre, and of bo in be secunde degre comyn chylderyn
in be thredde degre fro be stok. pe chylderyn in be thredde
28 degre of kynrede fro be stok of be ober brother & be chylderyn
in be firste degre of kynrede fro be stok of be ober brothyr arn
of kyn in be thredde degre. Loke in what degre be persone is
bat is ferthest fro be stok, bat is, fro be o brother or sustyr on in the lateral
line, the degree
32 be o syde ; and in bat degre arn fro him alle be obere personys ( ' f the remotest
1 MS. in margin : ' liwea descendews.' a MS. ferthe.
3 MS. in margin : ' liwea extensionis a latere.'
4 For of as & conjunction meaning or, cf. H. Bradley's edition of Strat-
mann's Dictionary.
E
50 Degrees of Compaternity constituted by Baptism and Confirmation. [CH. vm.
must first be on be o])er syde bat comyn of be lyne of be ober brother &
the same decree suster. In Ipe same degre of kynrede bat he is in bat is ferthest
in which he is
related to the fro be stok. bat is. fro be o brother on b e svde, in be same
stock of the
family, he is degre of kyurede to hym is he bat is next be stok. bat is. next of 4
also related to
every one of the kynrede to be ober brothir on be ober syde. Predicta colligi
descendants of
broUier e or r S P ossuw *' : extfrav. de consamguinitate, c. vltimo l ) &c ' Tua nos 2 ,'
& extrav. de teste&tts, ' licet ex quadam 3 ,' & c. ' Non debet *.'
The prohibited ffals contract of matrimonie is also in gostly kynred of C
degrees of spiri-
tual kindred, baptem 5 & of confirmacyovm. If De chyld baptized & his god- 9
constituted
either by bap- fadyr & god-modyr arn of kyn. pe chyld baptized & his god-
tisni
fadyr & godmodyr arn of kyn. pe chyld baptized & be chyl-
deryn of his god-fadyr & god-modyr arn of kyn, bowj bey be 12
bastardys. pe chyld baptyzed & be wyif of his god-fadyr or
be husbond of his gooVmodyr arn of kyn, }if be wyif of his god-
fadyr was fleschly knowyn of his god-fadyr before be tyme bat
he answeryd for him, or $if be husbonde of his god-modyr 16
knewe fleschly his god-modyr, er sche answeryd for him. pe
fadyr & be modyr of bat chyld baptysed & be god-fadir & be
god-modyr of bat chyld arn of kyn. pe chyld baptized & he
[Fol. 19 a.] bat baptyzed be chyld arn of kyn. be chyld | baptyzed & Ipe ao
chylderyn of hym bat baptized hym, bastardys or obere, arn of
kyn. pe chyld baptized & be wyif of hym bat baptyzed him,
jif he knewe here fleschly before, arn of kyn. be chyld baptized
& Ipe husbonde of his god-modyr arn of kyn, }if be husbonde 24
knewe here fleschly before, he Ipat baptized & fadyr & modir
of be chyld bat is baptized arn of kyn.
or confirmation. IT In coufirmacyouw 6 of be bysschop, be chyld confermyd & be 1^
god-fadir bere, or be god-rnodyr, arn of kyn. pe child con- 2 8
fermyd & be chylderyn of hem bat answeryd arn of kyn. pe
chyld confermyd & be wyif of hym bat answeryth arn of kyn,
jif he knewe here fleschly be-forn. pe chyld confermyd & be
1 c. 9. X. de cons, et affin. 5. 14 [Corp. Jur. Canonici ii. 704].
3 Ibid. c. 7 [ii. 703].
3 c. 47. X. de testibus et attestationibus 2. 20 [ii. 337].
4 c. 8. X. de consanguinitate et affinitate 4. 14 [ii. 703].
5 MS. in margin : ' de baptismo.'
6 MS. in margin : ' de conft'rmactowe.'
en. vm.] Marriage prohibited until the Fifth Degree of Affinity. 51
husbonde of here arn of kyn, jyf sche were fleschly knowyn of
here husbonde, er sche answeryd. And }>ei pat answeryn a-forn
pe bysschop & pe fadyr & pe modyr of pe chyld confermyd arn
4 of kyn. pe chyld confermyd & he pat confermyth arn of kyn.
pe chyld confermyd & pe chylderyn of hym pat confermyth arn
of kyn. pe chyld confermyd & Ipe wyif of hym J?at confermyth
arn of kyn, jif his wyif were of hym fleschly knowyn be-forne.
8 He Ipat coufermyd & fadyr & modyr of pe chyld confermyd
arn of kyn. Alle pise degrees, in fleschly kynrede or in gostly
kynrede, be baptem) or be confirmacyouw, are forfendyd fro
contracte of matrimonye be lawe & in peyne of cursyng. and
i a jif personys be weddyd in ony of bise degrees, }?ey owyn to be
departyd asundre. ~Extravagantes de cognations spiritual!, ' Ne
Q dum,' libro vj.' 1 , & capitulo ' Qwatnuis V
In affinite 8 , cowtracte of matrimonye is forbodyn in J?e same Marriage be-
. tween persons
lo peyne as in kynrede in- to pe fyfte degre. as pus : Alle bat arn connected by
J affinity is for-
of ]?y wyues kyn, or of J>i lemmannys kyn, in-to be fyfte degre of bidden to the
kynrede, arn of Jnn affynite, in be same degre of affinyte Ipat The decrees of
pei are to J?i wyif in kynrede. And pou wowman, aft pe kyn
20 pin husbonde in-to pe fyfte degre, & of pi lewman also, arn of p
]?in affinite in J>e same degre of affinite pat pey are to pin l
husbonde, or to bi lemman, in kynrede. extravagantes de con- pa y '
sanguinitate et affinitate, ' Non debet *,'
24 }?e kynrede of pi wyif, or of )?in husbonde, or of ]?i lewman, in
pe firste degre is of J?in aflBnite in pe ferst degre ; and pe secunde
degre of kynrede is to J>e pe seciinde degre of affinite, and so
forth to pe thredde & to be ferthe degre of kynrede of pi wyif,
28 >ei ben of J>e same degre of affinite to pe, and to none of }>e foure
degrees mayst ou be weddyd ; but to ]?e fyfte degre in affinite pou
mayst be weddyd. xxxv. auestio iii. ' Sane 5 ' ; & capitulo ' Porro 6 .' It is not for-
. bidden to marry
pow bou mowe nojt be weddyd to none of be kynrede of pi a person who
1 may have been
32 \vvif, or of bin husbonde, or of bi lemman, in-to be fyfte degre, married to a
member of tlie
J?ou myjt, J>ow}, be weddyd to man or wowman ]?at M'eryn ^n'L 11151 " by
1 c. i. cogn. spir. in Vlto. 4. 3 [ii. 1067]. 8 Ibid. c. 3 [ii. 1068].
3 MS. in margin : ' de affinitate.' ' See p. 50, note 4.
5 c. 14. C. 35. qu. 2. et 3 [i. 1 267]. Ibid. c. 23 [i. 1270],
E 2
52 Second Marriage in Life-time of the First Spouse. Marriage with a Nun. [CF.VHI.
No affinity
exists between
the respective
relations of a
couple.
[Fol. 19 b.]
After having
contracted a
marriage in due
form, it is im-
possible for
either party to
marry again
during the life-
time of the first
spouse,
not even in
another coun-
try.
The marriage
with a nun is
null.
husbonde or wyif to hym bat was of bi wyues kyn or of bin
husbondys kyn ; as bus : bi wyif is deed ; bou myjte wedde here
brotheres wyif. jif bin husbonde be deed, Ipon myjt be weddyd
to his susteres husbonde. extravagantes de cons&nguinitaie & 4
affinitate, ' Non debet V
IT Also bi kynrede, bow^ bei be of affinite to bin husbonde, or
to bi wyif, or to bi lewiman, fei be nojt, bow}, of affinite to be
kynrede of bi husbonde or of Jn wyif. for be fadir & be sone 8
may weddyn be oon be dame & an-ober be dowjter. two
bretheryn may weddyn two susteryn. IZxtravagantes de con-
sanguinitate & af&nitate, ' [Quod] super hiis V
In ]?is affinite wyt/i-ynne be fyfte degre, is matrimonie 12
forfendyd, for it lettyth matrimonye to be sacryd, & jif it be |
sacryd after be affinite, bere owyth to be made a devorce.
secundum Tticardum, distinccio xj. 3
H Also, jif f>ou make a contracte of matrimonie to oon persone Jf
\?yth futt acorde of 3ou bothe, in saying J)us : ' Here I take be 16
to my wyif/ and sche seyth ajen : ' here I take be to myn
husbonde ; ' powj non othe be made, ne trewthe plyjtyng, ne no
fleschly knowyng, ne no wytnes be bere, & afterward bou makyst 20
a contracte vtyth an-ober, leuyng 4 be first persone, J?i secunde con-
tracte is a fals contracte of matrimonie & spouse-breche 5 ,for trewe
matrimonie is in be firste contracte, jif in be ferst contract were no
lawfutt lettyng. extfrav. de sponsalibus, c. 'Ex sponsdlibus 6 .' 24
H Also, jif bou be weddyd here in bis cuntre, & gost fro bi
make in-to an-o)?er cuntre, & art weddyd here to an-o]?er
persone, lyuyng bi ferst make be bi wyttyng, ]?ere is a fals
contracte of matrimonye. JZxtravagantes de sponsafo'ows 7 . 28
H 3if bou wedde a nuwne wyttynge, or ony wowiman bat hath
1 c. 8. X. de cons, et aff. 4. 14 [ii. 703]. 2 Ibid. cap. 5 [ii. 702].
8 Kicardus Anglicus (Bishop of Chichesfcer 1214, of Salisbury 1217, of
Durham 1228, died there 1237), ' Distinctiones super Decretis,' extant only
in MSS. (Cf. Schulte, Geschichte des Canonischen Rechts, vol. i. p. 183.)
* To mean : living ; cf. 1. 26.
5 MS. in margin : ' contractus matrimonii licitw* et illicitus.'
* c. un. de sponsalibus et matrimoniis in Vlto. 4. i [ii. 1065].
7 ? c. 31, X. de spons. et matrim. 4. r [ii. 672].
CH. viii.] The Story of the Torments of an Adulterous Couple. 53
made a solemne vow of chastyte, bat contracts is fals. jif ony
nunne, or ony clerk wytA-inne holy ordrys, or ony relygyows
professyd, make ony contracte of weddyng, bat contracte is fals.
4 In alle bise degrees forsayde, bat is to seyne, in alle degrees
of fleschly kynrede, & of gostly kynrede, & of affinite, & obere
degrees, as I haue schewyd jou beforn, contract of matrymonye
is forfendyd. And aif it be sacryd, ber owyth be lawe to be A marriage con-
tracted within
8 made a deuorce. per-fore knowyth pise degrees in sowr herte, & one of these de-
crees, must be
beth ware bat je be no^t weddyd, ne make no contract of matri- divorced.
monye in swyche degrees, for dreed of curs ! And jif je fyude
jou gylty in pise degrees weddyd, jjerne in y>ur confessiouw beth
12 gouernyd be be couwseyl of y^ure confessour.
[The Tormented Couple.]
(& Helymandws didt ] : bere was a colyere, bat made colys. he One night, a
collier of the
was poore, but he was a good lyuere, & he was homlych & wel county of
Merioneth
1 6 belouyd to an erl, cornitatws meruernencrs. on a nyjt, as he (Mervinia ?),
wooke his dyche of colys, whil bey weryn in brennyng, sodeynly
a wowman nakyd ran abowte be colys brennynge, and after here saw a naked
woman pursued
rood a man \vyih a swerd drawyn. he styked here thrugli here b ? a horse-man
' with a drawn
20 body, as hym 2 thow5te, manye a tyme, tyl sche lay as deed. word. T1 J
panne he kest here in-to be fyre, & alt for-brente here, he g^
drowe here out of be fyre, & toke here vp-on be hors a-forn
hym, & rood away, bus he dede manye dyuerse nyjtes. At be drew her out
24 laste, be colyere wente & tolde it to be erl. be erl, wyih be awa'y'with the
. , , body. After
colyere, wokyn bat cole-pytt. PC womman nakyd com ajen & pe having seen this
several nights,
man on be hors, & he turmentyd bat womman as he dede the collier told
it to the earl,
be-forne. And wharaie he hadde here on his hors, & schulde go, who joined him
in his watch.
28 pe erl wytA-stood hym, & askyd hym what he was. He seyde Then, the horse-
,,,.-,- 11. i i.i.i-11 man told his
to pe erl : '1 was jowre knyght, swyche a persone pat lalsly was story to the
weddyd to my wyif, & fals I haue be to here of my body. And the woman imd
J * been married
pis womman was pe wyif of \>ai knyijt falsely also weddyd to unlawfully,
32 hym. per-fore I had no grace to louyn my wyif, ne bis womman wherefore each
J of them had no
had no grace to louyn here husbonde, for we weryn false to hem grace to love the
other,
1 MS. in margin : ' narracz'o de falso tnatrimonio.'
2 i. c. the collier.
54 The Story of the Rescue of a Faithful Wife. Moral of the Story. [CH. vm.
]?at we made first contract wyih, but I & sche bus had medlyd
and they both to-gedere long tyme in avowtrye, & wolde nojt leuyn tyl uy3
lived in adul-
tery. oure ende, and banne we were scnryuen wyih gret contrycyouw,
Therefore they and ellys we hadde be dampnyd wwt^-outyn ende. per-fore, bus 4
had to endure
those fearful of me euery nyjt sche is turmentyd. in euery stroke of my
[Fol. 20 a.] swerd sche hath more peyne ban | man in his deth, whawne his
herte brestyth asundre, and jit sche hath myche more peyne in
here breraiyng. pe hors bat I sytte on is be feend bat 8
turmentyth vs bothe, on be whiche feend I suffre so myche peyne,
bat, bowj alle tungys to-gedere rnyjte spekyn, bey schulde nojt
tellyn my peyne.'
Unlawful matri- Lo ! bere fals contracte is of matrimonye, after- ward bere is no 1 2
inony leads to
discord, adul- grace of trewe loue, but dyscord, & avowterye, & horryble peyne
tery, and hor-
rible pains. in here ende.
[The Rescue of a Faithful Wife.]
At a pillage of IT Jacobws de Vitriaco \ he seyth : Whan a cyte liodiencis was 16
Liege (?), a vir-
tuous woman dystroyed of brabantynes, wommen of bat cyte for dreed of
tried to escape
defilement by dyffoulyng fleddyn awey, & oon of hem swam in be flood, for to
swimming. Two *
sueh e er P and kepyn nere cnast fro bo brabantynes. two of Ipe enmyes rowyd
a ^*> & tokyn her in-to be boot, and woldyn a leyn 20
by here. Sche seyde sche was wyif trewly weddyd, and sche
But preferring wolde no:t be fals to here husbonde : rathere sche wolde takyn
death to
shame, she here deth. sche brast out of here hondys, & felle asen in-to be
threw herself
mto^the^ea^ gee . an( j be here skyppyng out of be boot, be boot ouyrturnyd, 24
tm-n'ed h over at & drenchyd bo two men. and sche, for here trewe loue in
su'ers'were 1 " matrimonye, be grace of god, wente to f>e londe wyt^-outyn
harm of body & soule, & in here ende com) to heyj ioye.
As god suffred be avowtrerys to drenchyn, and sauyd here bat 28
God punishes kept here chast, so god schal suffre hem bt ben nost trewe in
adulterers, and r
saves faithful matrimonie to perysche in peyne, but pey amendyn hem, and
schatt sauyn hem bat am trewe in matrimonye to endles blysse.
Ad qwod &c. 32
1 MS. in margin : ' narrocio.'
CH. ix.] Recapitulation. InJ "ringers of Privileges of the Church. 55
Cepitulicm nonum.
Recapi^ulac^o compe?idiosa articulorum sentencie
excommimicacionis.
w
E denouwcyn hem alle acursed, dampnyd, & departyd fro Accursed are
god to Sathan, }?e feeud, )?at wyttyngly & malycyously
depriuen of here ryght & of here lawe holy cherche, chapelt, infringersof
J& J ' rights and
chirche-jerd, or ony place halwyd or priuylegyd. And alle J>o privileges of the
8 fot brekyn, dystroyen, dysturblyn, or lettyn, ony poynt of
fredom J?at longyth to holy cherche, eyther general or specyaft
fredam, eyther spiritual or temporal, whethir it be bat sum
o cherche in party hath more oon ban an-ober. And alle bo
12 pat purchasyn wryttes or letter^s in lay court, for to lette J?e
lawe of holy cherche & pe proces ber-of of swhyche causys as
longyth skylfully to cristen) court, bat aw}te to be demyd be non
ober lawe. And alle bo pat lettyn ony man bat is somonwyd,
1 6 or bat hath appelyd to be court of rome, bat he may nojt
defendyn him pere, to pursewyn his ryjt. And alle po J?at
brekyn, bre?inyn, or robbyn,holy cherche, chapett, place relygyous, destroyers
place halwyd or priuylegyd, in vyolence or malyce, opynly or
20 priuely, or holy cherche godys, or opere mennys godys, leyd in
be holy places to be kept. And alle bat stelyn holy cherche and purioinere
of church goods;
godys out of placys vnhalwyd. And alle po ]?at arn wel payed
pat swyche thynges are don in here name of here sugettys. And
24 alle bo bat in vyolence beryn. or drawyn. or do beryn, man or violators of
/ ^ J ' the church's
wowwnan out of holy cherche, or chercn-jerd, or cloystre, or out asylum ;
of ony ober place, halwyd or priuylegyd, bat fleeth thedyr for
socour & helpe, but in suche causys as pe lawe 3euyth leue.
28 And alle bo bat forbydden or lettyn hem of here lyiflode, or
hem agrevyn in body or in | here good, whyl bei be bere. 1T And [Fol. 20 b.]
alle bat are wel payed bat swyche thynges be don in here name.
& alle bat jyuen ber-to helpe, couwseyl, or fauour. H And alle
32 Tpo pat in vyoleuce wastyn, brekyn, peryschen, dystroyen, ^stroyers and
ocupyen, stelyn, beryn, ledyn awey, or do ledyn awey, J>e godys ^^^ pro "
56 Destroyers of Church Goods, Thieves, Murderers, Dishonest Tithers. [CH. ix.
bat longyth to grauwgys, manerys, or oper possessyouws, of
erchebisschopys, bysschopys, or of ony o]?ir men of holy cherche,
ajens f>e wyft of hem or of here deputees pat arn keperys of bo
placys & of po godys. U And alle pat helpyn lper-to, or jyuen 4
protectors of couwseyl or fauour. And alle po pat in here howsys or in
towne kepin or defendyn an opyn theef, after }?e tyme pey be
thryes monestyd of here ordinarye, in specyal or in general, but
thieves, robbers, bey puttyn hym awey fro hem. If And alle opyn thevys, & alle 8
murderers ;
false raueynen/s, murdererys, nyjt-thevys. Alle clerkys wyih-m
clerks who wear holy ordrys pat beryn armys a^ens pe pes, & felawyn hem wyth
arms;
theuys & vtyih euyft lyverys. H And alle pat receyvyn or takyn
those who pre- ony mede, for to lettyn pe pes, )>at pe partyes pat stryuen to- 1 2
ment of gedyre in pe la we schulde nojt ben acordyd. H And alle false
false and dis- tytherys, & alle pat stelyn tythe, or wrongfully wythholdyn it,
3rs; or for malyce or false custom) dystroyen tythes, or don hem be
dystroyed, or wastyn hem, or beryn hem awey, or lettyn hem to 16
be led out of here londys, or tythen pe lesse or )?e werse, but jif
pei mowe haue sumwie jiftes, or wyl nojt suffere po tythes to be
led out of here londys be wayes vsed of old tyme, but be cumpas
and those who aboute. H And alle bat takyn vp here cost or here expensis, or 20
deduct their
expenses before jyuen per-of, or spendyn per-of, of ony parcett, tyl it be first
tit; " e > hool tythed l to-gydere, or ellys sett on, or told in pe noumbre,
as of heyj, corn, wode, fruyte, wolle, chese, fysschyng, foulyng,
except mer- & of aft manere thynges tythable, saaf of chaffaryng, of laborerys, 24
chants and
workmen ; of men of craft ; here resonable expensys pere abowte awjte ferst
to be takyn vp in reknyng, & pe tythe of pe remenauwt ow3te to
be payed to tythe. But pi cost abowte pi corn, or abowtyn pin
hey, ne for makyng of chese, ne scheryng of wolle, pou schalt 28
nojt rekene J?i cost, but payen trewly bi tythe & hooly. and jif
pou do nojt pus, pou depryuest holy cherch of his fredom & of
his ryjt. ffor pe chercti frely, wyt/i-oute thraldom, schulde
haue hool his tythe, w?/tA-oute lessyng & apeyryng, wyt^-oute 32
reknyng of ony cost, or of expenses. IF And alle po arn acursed
those who pre- pat for malyce forbydden opere folk pat pey schulde nojt offeryn
at weddynges, at puryficacyouws, at mortuaryes, but o messe-
1 MS. ' tythed hool tythed.'
:H. ix.] PurloinersofOjferinffs, Violators of Priests Sf of Church Jurisdiction. 57
peny. & jif ony mo be offryd, alle bat takyn bat ofFryng to
here vse or to oberes vse, ajens be wyll of hem to whom be
offryng longy th. IT And alle bat lettyn hem-self or obere men of
4 here offrynges, or of ony oper swyche deuocyoim. And alle Ipat
takyn or ocupyen to here owyn vse or to ony obere* vse ony or purloin,
ii- offerings;
opere onrynges at masse, at ymagys, at crossys, at relykes, in
cherch or in cherch-jerd, chapel or porche, or in ony oper place
8 of towne ; or pe offrynges stele, or dyspose for ony vsage, or for
ony colour of ony good werk, a5ens pe wyll of hem to whom pe
offrynges longyn ; & alle pat jyuen per-to comauralement, fauowr,
couwseyl, or helpe. IT And alle bo bat forsake to fulfylle be and who hinder
the imprison-
12 comaundment of be kyng to takyn hem to prisoim bat ben ment of the ex-
communicate;
opynly acursyd, & haue leyn | pere-in xl. dayes. And alle bat [Fol. 21 a.]
vnryjtfully helpyn hem to be delyuered out of prisouw, ajens be
assent of hem pat acursyd hem, and tyl pey haue made amendys
1 6 Ac satysfaccyoun. If And alle bo bat arestyn, or enprysoum and who im-
prison,
wrongefully, ony man of holy cherche, wherfore he resygneth or
forsakyth his benefyce, for malyce. IT And alle lay-men bat
wrongfully & wyt/i-outyn auctoryte settyn ony man of holy
20 cherche in stockys ajens his wyll, or wytA-holdyn hym, or kepyn
hym opynly or priuely in prysouw, in feterys, or in ony oper
bondys. IF And alle bat leyn hand in vyolens on ony man of lay hands on,
holy cherch. And alle bat myjten lettyn it, & wyll nojt. And
24 alle bat comaundyn here sugettys ber-to, and alle bat arn wel
payed bat [it] is don in here name, & alle bat consente ber-to.
And alle bat mayntenyth, helpe, jeuyth couwseyl or couwfort
K-to, where-thrugh bat violence is don & perfoormyd. f And or act despitc-
fully, toapnest;
28 alle bo bat dyffoulyn, dyspoylew, or robbyn, ony man of holy
cherche, or falsely comettyn ony fals cause in dyspyjt or in
slaundre of hym, for hate or for vengaurcce, wynnyng or loue,
ajens ony of holy chercTi, or ajens be lawe or ryjt of hym.
52 11 And alle bat lettyn be iurysdyccyou?i of prelatys, as wytA and who hinder
the jurisdiction
gret cumpanye & strengthe, \vyih gret dyn & aray, goinge to of prelates and
ony court of holy cherch, and turbelyn be ordynaryes, and here
offycerys, & oper peple bere present, bat be offyce & be iugement
36 is wrongefully lettyd. And alle bo [bat] lettyn be excecucyoun
58
Hinderers of Testament Making, Fraudulent Donors. [CH. ix.
and who hinder
the making of
testaments,
and the pay-
ment of debts
of the dead ;
and who seize
more of the
dead man's
property than
[Fol. 21 b.]
is due to them :
and who make
fraudulent
donations ;
of here lawful! maimdementys, or takyn, or betyn, dyffoulyn, or
vexin wrongfully, pe beren/s of J?o mauwdemeirN/s. And alle
pat endy3tin, arestyn, or enprysonyn, or vexin in lay-court, or
do it be don, or procure ony dyssese, to hem Ipai ryjtfully
pursewyd in cristen-court a^ens here aduersaryes ; or dyssese
here iuge, here aduocatys, procurators, or olpere mynistrys of pe
court, or ony oj^er ]?at helpyn Tper-to. H And alle lordys, & here
baylyes, & opere, pat forbyddyn here tenaunt^s, or here bonde-
men, or oper men wyth-iime here lordschip), J>at pei schulde
no3t gon out of pat lordschijD, pow} pei [be] somouwyd to apere
aforn here lawful! ordynarye for here trespace, or to preue
a testament of Ipe dede ; or in courtys & letys of here lordys
lettyn, or do lettyn, or procuryn )?er-to, pat prelatys mowe no5t
lawfully correctyn here sugettys for here dyffawtys. H And
alle pat lettyn Ipe makyng of a lawful! testement, or chauwgyn,
or procuryn to lettyn, Ipe laste wyll of Ipe dede, of bonde or fre,
seruauwt or prentys, of 1 sengle or of weddyd, of here owne
wyues, or of olpere meraiys wyues, in suche thynges Ipat Ipey
mowe beqwethe be lawe or be custom). H And alle pat lettyn
Ipe prouyng of sucn testamentys. ^f And alle J>e lordys of pe
fee, & opere lordys, & here baylyes, pat wytt nojt suffryn pe
dettys of pe dede pat were here tenawitys or bonde-men, or
opere pat dyen vntestat, or here servauwtys, to be payed of pe
meueable godys of pe dede to pe dettourys, or to holy cherche,
or to oj>ere, as pe wytt of pe dede was; ne pe porcyouw to be
payed to wyif & chylderyn of pe dedys good, pat longyth to
hem be lawe. U And alle lordys, & here baylyes, & opere, pat
takyn to hem pe godys of Ipe dede ouyr pe lawful! dette dewe
to hem, feynyng wrongfully in here stretys pat pe | dedys
godys were no;t sufficient to acquyten pe dettys to here lord,
& alle holderys \\yih hem, counseylourys, mayntenour?/s, couw-
fortour7/s, comaudourz/s, and alle pat arn wel plesyd pat
swyche dedys are don in here name or in here seruyse. H And
alle pat on here dede-bed, or in ony o\>er tyme of here
lyue, jeuyn awey here good in defraude of opere men, pat of
1 MS. or.
16
20
2 4
2<S
CH. ix.] Disturbers of the Peace, Polluters of Churches, Witches, Heretics, &c. 59
pe residue may nojt be payed here dettys to holy cherche,
ne to qwyke & dede, ne to wyif & chyld Ipe porcyoura J^at
longyth to hem be lawe. And alle J>at takyn swyche jiftes
4 for defraude, & alle pat procure per-to, or conseylin, defendyn,
monestyn, or bryngin in. ^1 And alle bo bat reysin or steryn disturbers of
the peace of the
stryif ajens be pes of holy cherch. of be kyng, & of be reme. be church, the
king, and the
powere, dede, or couwseyl, or comettyn, counfortyn, or ymagyn, realm ;
8 deth, tresouw, or ony oper dysceyte, to Ipe kyng, to the qween,
or to ony of here chylderyn. TT Alle Ipat conspyrin ajens hem, conspirators,
&C. ;
alle tretours, alle comouw baratours, vprayserys of 1 vnryjtfuft
batayles, alle comouw ryserys, alle felouws & here maynteynourys,
1 2 couwfortourys, confederatours, & conspiratours. Alle \>ai takyn
on hande wyttyngly false quarellys, alle fals wytnes-bererys, false witnesses,
& forswererys on be holy doom afore a iuge, in eythir lawe.
And alle Ipai don hem forsweryn hem wyttyngly, or hyre hem,
1 6 or teche hern, or couwseylin, mayntenyn, procuryn, or brynge
forth. H And alle hous-brermerys malycyously, but it be in incendiaries ;
leeffuft werrys. H And alle ]>at feyjtin, or drawe blood in polluters of
vyolens, or defoule Vfyih leccherye, or wykh ciper horryble synne,
20 ony place halwyd, wherfore it nedyth to be reconsyled ajen.
& alle mansleers, but in suche causys pat Ipe lawe excusyth.
H And alle Ipat leyn bond in vyolens on fadyr or modyr, or on and those who
godfadyr & godmodyr. And alle J?at dystroyin in Tpe moderns their parents ;
24 wombe ony chyld, or slene wyih drynkys, or viyih olpere craftes, miscarriage;
after ]?e tyme ]?ey haue lyif, or puttyn here chyldren to be fals
eyres. IT And alle wycches, & heretykes, & lollardys, & alle Ipai and witches,
beleuyn on here heresye. alle |?at fauouryn hem, or defendyn, lardg .
28 beryin, or do beryin, suche men, heretykes or J?e beleuerys on
hem, in ony holy place, & alle here mayntenourys or fauourerys.
H And alle pat beleue no3t on >e sacrament of Ipe awtere J?at it misbelievers;
is goddys body, his flesch & blood in lyknes of breed & wyne.
32 11 And alle \>ai beleue nojt in Ipe o>ere sacramentys & in ]>e
artycles of ]?e feyth, as pe chercli of rome beleuyth & techyth.
IF And alle aduokatys \>ai puttyn forth false excepcyouns a'j'i lawyers
to lettyn trewe matrimonye, or in oper causys, ajens ryjt,
1 MS. &.
60 False Measures. Inf ringers of the Great Charter. Prohibited Marriages. [CH.IX.
by vexatious wherfore be proces of bat cause is hyndryd, & be lengere lettyd
and those who & delayid. H And alle bat makyn & vsyn wyttyngly false
measures; auncerys, false wey3tys, false busschellys, or obere mesurys,
ober-wyse ban be statute of be parlement wyft, and a3ens Ipe 4
and infringers kynges standard. U And alle bo bat don asens ony of be
of the Great
Charterand the articles, conteuyd in be gret charts or in be chartre of be
Charter of the / .* Y
Forests; forest. II And alle relygiows men pat mynystre, wytA-oute leve
men ''who 10 " 8 & auctoryte, to letteryd or to laymen, be sacrament of be 8
sacraments 6 awtere, or be last anoyntyng, or sollemnysyn matrimonye, or
thority; asoyle folk bat ben acursyd, eythir be lawe or be constitucyouw,
but in suche causis bat be lawe jeuyth leue, or asoyle folk
and those who ' a pena & a culpa.' II And alle bat puttyn ony debat or plee 1 2
hinder the right . .
[Foi. 22 a.] in n y patronage of ony cherche, whan it | is voyd, wrongfully,
of a patron ; wherfore be verry patrourz, is lettyd of his ry3t, bat tyme. H And
and who marry alle bat makyn ony contracte of matrimonye, or are weddyd to-
in any pro-
hibited degree gedere, wetyngly, in ony degre of kynrede or of affynyte, 16
or compater- benebe be fyfte degre, or in degrees of compaternyte, bat comyth
in answeryng for a chyld in baptem or in confirmacyouw.
and nuns, IT And alle mmnys & relygyous, and alle clerkys wytA-mne holy
clerks, or other
persons who ordrvs. bat makyn swyche contractys. or are weddyd to-gedyre. 20
made a vow of
chastity, and ^[ And alle bo bat han made a solewne avowe of chastyte, bat
marry after-
wards; makyn matrimonye or contracte ber-after. ^[ And alle bat are
weddyd to-gedyr in degrees for-fendyd be lawe. II And alle
and priests who preestys bat wyttyngly, & be here fre wytt, solemnysen ony 24
solemnize such .
marriages; suche matnmonyes, or ony weddynges, but of here owyn pery-
schenys, wytA-oute leue ; or solemnysen ony matrymonye, wyth-
oute be banys askyd. H And alle bat do swyche weddynges be
solemnysed be strengthe or dreed ; and alle bat ben present 28
and thoso who, ber-att wyttynge, & consentyng ber-to. *[I And alle pat beryin,
in time of inter-
dict, bury or do beryin, in sayntuarye in tyme of mterdycte dede bodyes,
persons in holy
places, or who or in place enterdyste ony ober tyme beryin, or do beryin, hem
bury excom-
municates, here- i n sayntuarye bt dyed acursed be name, or opyn heretykes, or 3 2
tics or usurers ;
opyn gouelerys, ajens be lawe, tyl bey haue made restitucyowi.
and who get ^ And alle opyn gouelerys arn acursed. IT And alle bo \>ai. in
absolution at
the P irit o f peryl of deth, or in ony ober nede, arn assoyled of a symple
> e f le , C fi r to !jf vc preest of a sentence of be gret curs, and if bci rekeuere & scape 36
CH.IX.] Conditional Absolut ion. Violators of the Pronouncer of Excommunication. 61
bat peryl, & gon no3t pa?me to hym bat hath powere be lawe after their re-
to takyn of hym here penauwce, bei fallyn a3en in-to be same
sentence. 51 And wharaie a man is assoyled of be court of and wiu> get
absolution from
4 Rome, or of a legate, & is bodyn com) horn to his dyocesan, or the Court of
Rome, and
to his ordynarye, to takyn his penaims of hym, & to make neglect to have
J it confirmed by
satisfaccyouw, but he do so as he was bodyn, he fallyth ajen their blsh P '
in-to be same sentens. 5F And alle bat falsvn be popys bullys. and who falsify
J J ' the pope's bulls;
8 or his selys, or vsyn wyttyngly ony suche false bullys & selys ;
And alle bat defendyrc or fauouryn hem. 5T And alle forsterys, and foresters,
,,,,. . . beadles, bailiffs,
bedelys, & baylyes, bat makyn scottalys, or gaderyn schevys, or who abuse their
office to their
ony swyche gadryng makyn be colour of here offyce. And alle profit;
1 2 bo bat seuy/i leue to sleen. or to takyn, to harmyn. or to greuyn, and those wlio
J ' cause any harm
or to hynderyn in ony dber manere, be iuerys of holy cherch". * be done to
OJ ' the pronouncer
or ony of here mynystr?/s, or ony of here meyne, in here body or of excommuni-
iu here cateft, for bei jaf a lawful sentens of suspendyng, or of
1 6 cursyng, or of enterdyjtyng, on kyng or on prynce, on lord or
on barouw, or on ony oper, greet or small. 51 And alle bo bat
agreuyn hem for whom be be sentence was 3ouyn, or agrevyn
hem bat keptyn pat sentence, or agreuyn hem bat denouwsed
20 be sentens. H And alle bo bat takyn owjt wrongfully of bo
personys for-seyd, but pey restoryn it wyih-iu viij. dayes. 51 And
alle bat vsyn suche leue, & arn so hardy be bat leve, to don so
cursedly. 1T And alle bo bat compellyn a preest to seyn dyvyn) and who compel
a priest to
24 seruyse in place enterdyte, or, be ryngyng of bellys, or in ony officiate in time
ober wyse, in tyme of ente?'dyte, clepyn in be peple to dyuyne
servise. U And alle bo bat byddyn hew bat arn enterdysted, or or who bid the
interdicted not
opynly acursyd, tat bei go no}t out of be cherche, whill goddys to leave the
28 seruyse is in doyng, bowj bei be warnyd & bedyn gon out.
U Alle bo bat arn so warnyd to gon out, & wyft nojt gon out,
fallyn in-to a newe sentens, reseruyd to be popys powere, & | in- [Fol. 22 b.]
to be same sentence falle bei bat byddeu hem abyden. 11 Also
72 alle tat comou?i wyttyngly \vyth ony persone acursyd be name and who support
anexcomimmi-
in 3euyng hym comfort in be same synne, counseyl, fauour, or cate in his sin ;
helpe. 51 And alle bo bat arn acursyd, suspendyd, or enter- and who compel
the pronouncer
dy3te, &, be strengthe, dreed, or manas, compellyn hym, ajens f a sentence to
36 his wytt, pat jaf bat sentens on horn, to reuokyn bat sentence,
62 Exacters, False Coiners, Purloiners of Trees from Churchyards. [CH. ix.
or ellys to assoylen hem ; bei fallyn in-to a newe sentence of
and who exact curse, & bat reuocacyouw or Ipai absolucyou?i is as nouat. If And
taxes from the
church or its alle grete men bat puttyn wrongful! taxes, tallyagys, or obere
wrongful! extorcyoims, to holy cherch" or to be mynystrys, & 4
or make them don hem paye, or procure to don hem pave, of here cherchys for
pay toll, &c., for
goods not des- hem-self or for here godys be whiche bei do nost lede to feyrys
lined for trade ;
or mercatys be-cause of merchauwdyse ; or suffryn hem to pave
toft, pycage, murage, grouwdage, passage or gwydage. H And 8
and lords who alle lordys & grete men of temperalte bat forbydden here
forbid trade J J
with church- bondemen, here tenauwtys, here sugettys, or here seruauwtys,
bat bei schulde nost sellyn to man of holy cherche swyche
godys as are nedefuft to hem, ne byen here chaffare, ne grynden I2
here corn, ne bakyn here breed, ne brewyn here ale, ne don hem
ober seruyse & helpe bat is nedefull to hem. ^[ And alle bo,
and those who saaf bysschopys & abouyn, bat letyn howsys to hyre to ony
let houses to
usurers; alyen bat is an opyn gouelere, to vsyn per-m his synne & his 16
and false gouyft. 11 And alle false monye-makerys, & false clypperys &
coiners ;
and who fell wasscherys of monye. H And alle bo personys or paryschenys
grass', irTc^urch- bat hewyn dourc, or do hewyn, stubbyn, pullyn, schredyn, or
schroppyn, ony tre in cherche-jerd or chapeft-jerd, in vyolens 20
wytA-inne closure, or mowyn, or repyn, ony gras growyrig per-in
WT/tA-oute leue of be curatys or of here deputees. And alle bo
bat suche treen or herbage in seyntuarye takyn to here owyn
vse, or to ony ober vse, w?/tA-oute leue. alle bise dyffoulerys & 24
depryuerys of holy cherche ryjt owyn be put fro comouwyng of
crzsten) men, & fro pe sacrament of be awtere, & fro dyuyne
seruyse, & bey owyn opynly to be schewyd acursyd as bei bat
stelyn ony good out of holy chercfi. If And alle po pat, be 28
and who induce vertu of a wrytt of a-couwte or of trespas, don clepyn here
thefr adver-
saries to plead aduersarves in strauwge schvres, bere bey & here trespas are
in a strange
shiru; nojt knowyn, & so in bat wyse bei ben outelawyd, or for-
and slanderers, banysched be kynges lond. ^[ And alle bo bat for hate, or loue, 32
or wynnyng, or for ony ober cause, malycyously defamyn ony
persone amonges gode men & worschipfult, wherfore he is put to
his purgacyouw, or is wrongfully agreuyd or vexid in ony
All persons manere. If Alle personys gylty in ony of pise artycles aforseyd, 36
guilty in these
articles
CH. ix.] A Monk absolved after his Death. A Woman delivered from the Fiend. 63
we denounce hem acursed in be gret curs be aft be auctoryte will be solemnly
denounced to
of holy cherche, in slepyng, wakyng ; in stoiidynge, syttyng ; be excommuiii-
in lying, goyng ; in spekyng, in sylence ; in etyng, drynkynge,
4 & in all here werkyng, wyth aft solemnyte bat longyth ber-to
be be ordenauwce of holy cherche ; we schewyn hem acursyd,
viyih crosse * standyng, vfyih bellys 1 ryngyng, -with candele J
brennynge ! & as be candele schal departe fro his Iy3t, so bei
8 are departyd fro be lyjt of saluacyoun to therknes of dampna-
cyouw, tyl bei come to darapnacyouw ! ffiat ! ffiat ! Amen.
[The Monk absolved after his Death.]
18 Ex vita Sancti gregorii pape 2 . An abbot told seynte A monk had
. 111 been cu rsed by
12 gregory bat a munke in his hows had kept in propre a certeyn St. Gregory for
I iv i j -A keeping private
monye. | seynt gregorye acursyd pis munke. pe muwke deyid j-ji i 23 a.]
vnasoyled. be abbot seyde to gregory bat be muwke was con- p ll ope n * y 'j Bl {*
tryte & schryuen, & wolde a ben asoyled of seynt gregory, but ^ ^ a bbot's ed
16 he myjt nojt ; deth com) so hastyly. seynt gregory wrote in re ^ uest -
a bylle his absolucyouw, & bad an of his dekenys rede it ouer The absolution
was read on his
his grave, and he dyd so. On be ny}t after, be muwke aperyd grave,
to be abot, & seyde bat he was kept in full hard peyne for be
20 curs of seynt gregory. ' but jysterday, whan be absolucyouw and imme-
tliuttMy no wfls
was red ouyr my graue, I was vnbouwdyn of my peyne.' Here delivered from
it semyth bat acursyng byndyth, & absolucyouw vnbyndyth.
[A Woman delivered from the Fiend's Vexation]
(H/ Ex vita bmiardi 2 . A womman was vexid vfyih a feend in lust A womnn was
seduced by a
25 of leccherye, & vj. jere, in dyuers tymes, he lay by here, sche fiend.
wente to seynt bernard, & told it hym. seynt bernard toke here St. Bernard
bade her go to
his staf, & bad here lay it in here bed, and sche dyd so. be bed with his
Stiltf.
28 feend com, & myjt noat deryn here, & thrett here, & sayde The fiend could
not approach
bat whan seynt bernard were gon. he schulde be vengyd on her, but ho
threatened her
here, sche tolde it seynt bernard. Bernard, in presence of with revenge.
myche folk, dyd yche of hem holdyn a candell in here hand, Then, St. Ber-
J J nard cursed the
32 brewnyng, &, \\yth aft be peple, solemnly he acursyd be feend, "end solemnly,
& enterdy3ted hem bat he neuere after schulde dere bat womman.
1 Underlined with red ink. 2 MS. in margin : ' narracto.'
'
64 The Two Rebel Nuns. Fleas expelled by St. Bernard's Curse. [CH. iy, x
and kept him & be bat cursyng be feend was departyd fro bat womman.
from that
woman. Ry}t so, be cursyng of holy cherche, be gylty ber-in are departyd
communicates fr./-, and
kept from God. lr & UU
[The Two Rebel Nuns.'] 4
TWO nuns vexed ^f Ex gestis sancti Benedict! 1 . Two nunnys weryn ofte tymes IB
their prelate
with their saucy to here prelate rebel! of tunge, & angeryd him ofte. seynt
tongues. St. > J J
Benedict cursed benett seyde : 'amende 3oure tunges, or ellys I acurse 30 w.' be
answer! burfed nu7in y s amendyd hem no^t. sone after, bey deyid acursyd, & 8
m the church. were beryin in cherche. be dekyn, at be masse, as be vse was,
But every day, seyde : ' who-so be acursyd, go out of be cherche ! ' euery day,
at mass, they
rose from their i n bo woordys, a wowwnan seya bo nuwnys rysen out of here
graves and went *
out, till St. graues, & wentyn out of bo cherche. sche tolde it seynt benett. ia
solved them. Benet asoyled hem, & afterwardes bei hadde reste.
[Fleas expelled by St. Bernards CurseJ]
By his curse, 5T Ex legenda bernardi 2 . In an abbey of seynt bernard were (fa.
St. Bernard
killed the fleas manye flees, bernard acursyd hem, arid, on be morwe. be flees J 6
in an abbey.
were dede.
Since innocent Syth curse sleth flees, bat dedyn no syraie, rathere curse sleth
fleas are slain
by the curse, body & soule bat synnen in endles peyne. berfore amendyth
much more are
sinful men sou bat ben gylty bere-m 3 ! 20
punished with '
endless pain.
C&pitulum x.
De Contricione, Confessione, & satisfaccione.
I told you f O ~] yres, here-beforn I told 3ow of a welle, & of a pytt of ^t
pit, your hody, L k.7 J lust, bat is, jour body, & how full it is of corrupte 24
the water, the _
great curse, and watyr. bt watyr infecte, I tolde sou, was be sente?ice ot be
its streams, the
articles. grete curse, be stremys ber-of arn be artycles of be sentence,
1 MS. in margin : ' narracio.' 2 MS. in margin : ' narracio.'
3 The chapter seems to be wanting a few lines. At least, we miss the
typical conclusion. The whole column is less carefully written. The
heading, of the following chapter, in rough irregular characters (red ink),
is joined, without space, to the break of the preceding chapter. The initial
of Chapter X has been omitted. ' Syrea ' may be guessed from the begin-
ning of Chapter I.
en. x.] The 'Scoop of Penance' and Us Handle, Satisfaction. 65
whiche I haue declaryd to 3011 before tyme, & how J?ei drenchyu
J?e soulys }>ai arn gylty. Iperfore jow nedyth, in gostly labowr,
to scopyn out Ipis corrupte watyr of curs, vryih be scoope of The corrupt
water must be
4 penauns. A scope is deep & hool, to resceyue watyr : so bi scooped out
with the 'scoop
penaimce muste be depe, to receyue watt/r of contricyovm in-to of penance.'
Jnn herte, bat, depe in bin herte, pou sorwe for bi curs, bi scope A scoop is deep,
. . and so must be
ot pi penaimce muste ben hool. wyih an hole purpos, neuere to your sorrow ;
it is without a
8 trespacyn asen in pat curs, sif bi scope of penauwce be to fi&w - aild so
must be your
scheld, it takyth no watyr of sorwe ; ]?er-fore, ]?e deppere it be P ur i>ose.
in sorwe of herte, & pe holere it be in purpos to leue bi sywne,
be more largely & clerly it castyth out of bi soule, wyth schryfte 1 ,
. If the scoop of
i a pi cursed synne. 211 pi scope of penauwce be brokyn, bat is, an penance is
broken, i. e. if
bi schrifte be partyd, surame to o preest & summe to an-ober for your confession
is incomplete,
schame, or jif Ipou be schryue | [of] summe synnes, & of summe [Pol. 23 b.]
synnes no}t schreuyn, fmwne }n scope is brokyn, & ]?awne it
16 voydeth nojt clene be watwr of be curs : for be watyr of curs the water of the
curse falls again
fallyth asen in-to be pyt of bi conscyence thrugh be brokyn into the P>* r
J your conscience.
scope of J>i brokyn penauws. jit, bow} pi scope of penaunce in
be heuyd be depe in contrycyouw & hool in confessiouw 2 , jif J?ou
20 wylt spedyly scope out be watyr of j^i sywne, Ipi scope of penau?is
muste haue an handytt, for to holde wyth |?i scope in ]?in handys, Besides, the
... ii_j*i-,-r L scoop must have
pat is, in pi werkys. pe handyn is satisiaccyoun ; per-to sette a handle, satis-
J)in handys, to make amendys for ]>i wrongys. paye to holy
2 4 cherch, to qwyke & to dede, J?at ]?ou owyst for ]?e wrongefutt
harmys Ipat ]?ou hast do to hem ; and but Ipou take J^is handyl
of satysfaccyouw wyth J)in handys, vp-on Ipi power to makyn
amendys for bi false wrongys & harmys, wytA-outyu dowte,
28 j?i scope of penaunce is noujt ellys spedy to castyn out spedyly else it is unfit
to cast out the
be watyr of bis curs, to save bi soule fro drenchyng. Dows it be water of the
curse.
neuere so depe in sorwe, & neuere so hool in schryfte, and ]?ou
be of powere to makyn amendys 3 , & hast space ]?er-to, & wylt
32 nojt, Ipi scope is nojt spedy to bi soule-hele. Wherfore j^e scope
of pi penauwce, it muste be deep in sorwe, & hool in schryfte,
1 MS. in margin : ' de confessione.'
2 MS. in margin : ' contritions, conkasione.'
3 MS. in margin : ' opera peni<ewcVe '
66 Stories of an Obstinate Usurer and of a Sinful Lady. [CH. x
wyih be handle of makyng amendys, jif bou haue power & tyme,
& ellys Jjou scopyst in veyn.
[The Man who would not make Restitution^
A priest said to Exauwple. Li&ro de dono timoris *. A preest, in confessiouw, ^
a sick man :
seyde to a seek man on his ded-bedde, Ipat before, in his lyue, was 5
acursyd in dyuerse artycles for pe good J>at he had get falsely
of holy cherche, of quyke & dede, & for wrongys pat he hadde
don, ' pou synfuft man/ he seyde, ' }if )?ou wylt be assoyled of 8
god of pi cursydnes, &, wyih pi penauwce, be made clene of alle
' Three things bi cursed werkys, bou muste haue iii. thynges 2 . bat is, full sorwe
are necessary
for thy salvation, i n bin herte for bi sywne, & clene schryfte, & to make amendys
viz. repentance,
resttt ss t n ' >and ^ u ^y i n trewe restitucyouw, vp-on bi powere.' pe syke sayde : 12
The sick man ' to be firste. bat is, sorwe in herte & clene schryfte, gladly I schal
was willing to
a b d t*h t^ky 11 * but pe threclde, bat is, to restoryn ajen J?at I haue falsly
S e ^ & to makyn amendys for alle my wrongys, bat wyl I no}t do ;
wrongdoings, ^ or P awne schulde no-thyng beleue to me, ne to my wyif, ne to 16
my chyldryn.' pe preest seyde : ' and but bou restore a^en as
ferforth as J>i good may reche, bou mayst nojt be sauyd.' pe seek
man seyde : ' seyth holy wrytt & holy doctourys so 1 ' pe preest
seyde : ' $&.' pe syke man seyde : ' And I wyft no^t restore, to 20
for fear of mak- make my wyif & my chylderyn beggerys. I wyl prouyn whether
ing his wife and . .
childrenbeggars. it is trewe or false, bat clerkys prechyn. & so he deyid, dredyug
So he died ;
more Je pouert of pe world, J?an endeles pouert of pe peynys in
but after his helle. After his deth, he apeiyd to pe preest als foul as a feeud, 24
peared to the & seyde : ' Now I fele it sooth pat boa seydyst me. I am
priest, and ac-
knowledged the dampcyd to helle-pyne for euere. Had I restoryd, as bou tawjtyst
truth of his
counsel. me, I had be sauyd to ioye.'
[A Sinful Lady saved by the Holy Virgin,] 2 g
A Roman lady 11 Ex miracwlis beate Marie \irginis 3 . At rome was a jentyl (
was so fond of
her son, that she lady, bat for loue lete here sone lyne by here in bedde. be proces of
let him sleep
with her. tyme, sche, styred of )?e feend & of here flesch, lete here sone lyfi)
she got a child by here fleschly. sche was wyih chylde by here sone. Wharaie 32
by him :
1 MS. in margin : ' narract'o de dono timoris.'
8 MS. in margin : ' nota tri&.' 3 MS. in margin : ' narracto.'
CH. X .] The Story of a Sinful Lady saved by the Holy Vergin. 67
J?e chyld was priuely born, sche slowe it, & threwe it in a gonge, but she killed it.
for sche schulde nojt be slaunderyd. but alwey, in here herte, Nevertheless,
she repented,
sche was sory, & alwey preyed god of mercy, & dede scharpe prayed and did
penance, only
4 dedys of penaimce, & made restitucyoim of here wrongys, | eaaf [Fol. 24 a.]
she dare not
sche durste nojt be schreuyn of here cursyd synne, for schame. confess.
be feend, in wede of a clerk, seyde opyuly to be emperowr & to A fi end, in a
clerk's disguise,
be peple : ' ae holdyn bat wowman holy ; sche is cursyd. sche Accused her of
J incest and mur-
8 had a chyld be here owne sone, & hath slayn it, & throwyn it in
a gonge.' pe emperour & pe peple woldyn no3t beleuyn it, but
praysed here, pe feeud seyde : ' do here ben examyned ; & jyf
sche mowe nojt excusyn here, late here be brent qwyk. & 3if
12 I may noat convicte here, brewne me quyk in fyire.' Sche was She was sent for,
and the emperor
sent after, be kyng seyde to here: ' here is a newe prophete, informed her of
the clerk's
pat hath accusyd >e of swyche an horryble synne, wher-of we accusation,
ben sory. knowe bi synne to vs, jif bou be gylty, or ellys
i6.pourge pe pere-of lawfully.' Sche askyd of ]?e kyng certeyn
dayes of avysement, er sche jaf here answere. And ]?araie, \vyth She asked for
some time of
fun sorwe of herte & wepyng, sche schrof here to a preest. he consideration,
went to a priest,
comfortyd here, & jaf here in penauw.ce to seye a pater nosier, and confessed.
20 and specyally pat sche schulde worschepyn oure lady vryih
certeyn Auees. Sche dyde here penaunce : &, on here day of After having
J done the pen-
answere, wente to be kyng. pane eeyde be kyng to be feend n ce, she ap-
J ' peared again
in be clerkys lyknesse : ' lo, pou clerk ! here is pe womman pat before the
24 bou hast accusyd. say now of here what bou canst say ! ' pe Buttheflenddid
not recognize
feend seyde : ' It is noat bis wowman bat I haue accusyd: bis her ; for she was
kept sale by the
womman is holy, & marie kepith here.' Aft pe peple blyssed Ho| y v 'ergi-
hem for wondyr of liis woordys, ]?at weryn contrarie fro pe
28 firste. pe feend, as a smoke, vanysched awey. pe wowiman He vanished
away, and the
hadde an hyj worschype, & was sauyd fro temperait deth & fro lady was saved,
endles deth, & made clene, wyth |?e scope of penaunce, of here
cursyd syr&ne.
32 per-fore, bowj pou be als cursyd as euere was Judas or pylate, Therefore, with
the scoop of
wytA be scope of penaunce scope out be watw of curs, & make penance, cleanse
your pit of the
clene ]?e pyt, ]?at pe watyr of grace may spriugen in pe as dyde water of curse,
in here ! for aft pe stremys of pis watyr of curs, pat is, alle
r 2
68
The ' Ooze of Deadly Sin' Its Four Kinds. [CH. x, xi.
artycles of be grete sentens, I haue schewyd to jou before ]?is
time. berfore, scope out \vyth penauws pat corrupte watyr, and
and then, the bawne schal springen newe watyr of grace in sou, here in aowre
water of grace
win spring with- lyuynge, whiche grace schal flowyn so heyae. bat it schal make 4
in you, and raise
you up to ^ ou in joure ende to swymmyn in-to be hy^e hytt of hevene.
Ad quod nos perducat &c.
Beneath the
'water of the
great curse '
is the 'ooze of
deadly sin.'
Of that ooze
there are four
kinds: delight,
will, deed, and
continued dwell-
ing on sin.
[Fol. 24 b.]
Behold how
deep thou art in
sin, and do sharp
penance!
Ca/pitulum xj.
De luto superbie. 8
HEre-beforn, I haue schewyd jou how 36 schul scopyn out ^
of $oure pyt, bat is, of jowr body, be corrupt watyr
of be grete curs. Now schal I telle jow what stynkyng wose is
in jowre pyt, nedefuft to be fermyd out. pis wose in joure pyt 12
is euery dedly synne. ffor joure body gaderyth euere more wose
of synne, to diffoule jowre soule ; per-fore, joure body is a foul
wosy pytt. Job iiij, Abacuc iij J , ' ve illi qwi congregat contra
se lutuw.' 1 6
Depe watyr in a wosy pytt makyth deep wose. Ryjt so, depe
curs makyth deep synne. Ps. 2 ' Abbissus abbissum iwuocat.' be
body stynketh in foure-fold of wose : be first wose is delyjte, be
secunde is wyft, be thredde is dede, be ferthe is longe hauwtyng 20
bi synne. ' Sic fetes qui quatriduanws es.' ^ Johawies xj. 3 per-fore
crye to bi god : ' Eripe me, domme, de luto, vt now infigar *.'
Delyuere me, lord, out of pe wose of synne, bat I styke nojt
faste ber-in, be wycked custome ! ' Intra in lutum & calca.' 24
Naum in fine 5 . Entre bou in-to wose, & defoule bi-self, bat is to
say, eutre in-to pi-self, wosy in synne ; vfyih bi mynde be- 1 holde
how depe pou art in wose of sywne, and dyffoule bi [body] 6 wyth
trauayle of sharpe penauwce. for who-so styketh faste in depe 28
wose, he may euyft oute. Ryjt so, who-so is in depe synne,
he may euyft out, for he is so fyched pere-in. Ps. 4 ' Infixus
sum in limo profundi.' pis wose is so depe in cure pytt, & so
1 Jobiv. 19; Hab. ii. 6. 2 Ps. xli. 8. 3 John xL 39. * Ps. Ixviii. 15, 3.
5 Nahum iii. 14. 6 self is crossed in MS., but nothing put instead.
CH. XL] The ' Ooze of Pride' Its First ' Corner ' is Presumption. 69
myche, bat vs muste makyn manye dayes werkys for to castyn To cast out the
. ooze, we shall
it owt clene. for bere ben vii dedly synnes, and vche of te seuen have to do
many a day's
sclial be a day werk or more : bere longyth so myche wose work ; for there
are seven deadly
4 berto ! bis day werk schal be, to castyn out of oure pytt be wose Jjj" 8 ^ we wil ,
of pride. cast out the
ooze of
bis wose of pride has viij. corner^*, or viij. quarterys. be And 1 this ooze
first is presumpcyoim l ; bat is, whan bow puttyst be forth in
8 prise in presens of be peple, ferthere ban obere don bat am als sum'ptio'n,
i , , , , , f , i. e. claiming
gocle as pou, or betters ; lokyng after reuerence, to sytten aboue, honour and
to epekyn first, to haue be woordys out of an-obere mawnys
mowth, to takyn worschifD of be world, passing alle obere;
12 demyng bi-self strengere, wysere, hardy ere, worthy ere, ban
an-ober; in trowyng bi-self bettyr ban bou art: in wytyng thinking too
much of one's
an-ober man bi defau^te, & in wytyng bi-self be goodnes bat self ;
bou hast of an-ober. be era.ce of fortune, of goodnes, of pro- imputing one's
r fortune and
1 6 speryte, of vertewys, bat bou hast of god, bou thynkyst Ipat bou virtues to merits
* and not to God ;
hast hem of god for bi gode werkys, & bat bou hast wel deseruyd
hem. or ellys be loue, worschype, rycches, whiche bou hast of
god, bou thynkyst bat bou hast hem of bi good gouernauTice,
20 & wytist it bi-self, & no3t god. bou art prowd in herte, hauyng
gret angwysch to kepe be stylle, & nojt to spekyn out bi proude
woordys. prowd in lokyng, prowd in spekyng, prowde in heyj behaving
proudly.
crying ahouyw obere ; mysprowde in bering, in werkyng, & in
24 mysleuynge ; prowde in goinge, standyng, & syttyng ; prowde
of bin ofiyce, prowde of lordschipp) & of mayntenauwce, prowd
of bi tnyjt & of bi seruyse, prowde of honeste, of largenesse, & of
bi gode condycyouws, of bi vertuys, & of bin holynes ; prowde
28 of bin herytage, & of bi bewte, & of bi welschapp), & of jiftes
of fortune ; prowd of aray & of eloquence, of kuwnyng, of wytt,
of voys, & of vnderstondyng. Alle bise forseyde, & manye mo,
arn in pride in be corner of presumpcyouw. Seynt Austyn
32 seyth, lioro xiiij de civitate dei, c. xiii 2 , bat god sufiferyth ofte God exposes
presumptuous
tymes presumptuouse folk, in here pride, fallyn in-to sum opyn) men to sin and
shame.
horryble synne, bat bey myjt berby be foule aschamyd of hem-
1 MS. in margin : ' presuwipcio.'
2 Cf. Migne, Patr. Lat., torn. 41. p. 13, sqq.
70
Such was the
case with St.
Peter, when he
boasted of his
faithfulness.
Presumption and its Six Parts.
[CH. xi.
' Pride goes
before, and
Shame follows
after.'
The ' corner of
presumption'
[Fol. 25 a.]
has six feet in
breadth; viz.
1. self-will,
2. extravagance,
3. litigiousness,
4. ostentation.
5. scorn,
6. anger.
self, & knowyn perby here wrecchydnesse, & ben sory & hevy
pat pei trustyd so myche in hem-self, & heeldyn hem-self so
worthy. Seynt Austyn seyth pat seynt Petyr was presumtuouse
wharzne he seyde, Mat. xxvj : ' j^owj alle opere lord forsakyn 4
pe, I schal neuere forsake pe, & powj I schulde be deed vfyiJi pe,
I schal no}t forsakyn pe.' fFor >is presumpcyoim, he fell in-to
foulere synne pan ony of his bretheryn, for he forsook crist
thryes in on nyjt. Ryjt so, presumptuouse folk pat makyn 8
myche of hem-self, desyring worschyp aforn opere, trustyn on
hem-self pat pei are most syker & most worthy, and at pe laste
pei schal fallyn opynly in-to a wordly schame & to sum foul
opyn synne. for pride goth beforn, & schame folwyth after. 12
pe cornere of pride in presumpcyouw is vj. fote of wose in
brede. be firste fote is syngulerte ; pat is, whan a man folwyth
his owyn wytt for pompe, & wytt nojt do as wyjsere don, but
euere is selfwylly. J>e secunde fote of brede in pe cornere of 16
pride [in] presumpcyouw is vndertakyng of outerage dyspense ;
]?at is, whan a man makyth gret outrage, & lettyth for no gret
cost, Ipai men schulde holdyn him large & fre ]?erethrugh. J?e
thrydde fote of brede in pride in pe cornere of presumpcyouw is 2
meyntenaurzs of pletynges & of strives, for Salomon seyth Tpai
stryif is ryif amonges prowde men. Ipe ferthe fote of brede
in pride in f>e cornere of presumpcioun is avauntyng ; ]?at is,
whan a man waxith bolde to avauwtyn hym of his nobylnesse, 24
of his wytt, of rycches, of vertewys, of foly, of myjt, of gentyl
blood, of horse & barneys, of lond, of housys, of houshold, of
manhode, of frendschyp), & of such obere thinges, for pompe
& love Jxzt he wolde haue of pe peple. pe fyfte fote of brede 3 8
in pride in J>is coruere of presumpcyouw is, whan a man, thruj
gret nycete, makyth scornyng of opere pat haue no3t vertewys
as he hath. And also scornyth gode men for here deuocyouw
pat pei do to godwarde. J?e vj. fote of brede in pride in pe 32
cornere of presumpcyourc is, whan a man is wroth & froward,
whan men lettyn hym of his foly. he is wonder syke Ipat
may lete no man towchyn hym ; and he is in strong sekenesse
in whom tryacle turnyth to venym. castyth out of pe pytt of 36
CH. xi.] The 2nd 4- 3rd ' Corners of Pride' are Vainglory Sf Disobedience. 71
jowre herte pis wose of pride in ]?e firste corners of presumpcyoun,
J>at is vj. fote of brede, as I haue told $ou.
be secwwde cornere of pride is veyn-glorye 1 , tat is in thre The second
corner of the
4 manerys. On is, whan bou art glad of be gode dedys pat bou ooze of Pride' is
hast don, & thynkyst bi-self more privy wyih god ban bou art. which is done in
An-ober is, whan bou heryst bat men preysin ]?i manerys, and r ^joi c < in er in nUCh
bou hast lykyng in herte bat men holdyn be good, pe thredde f^ifffn^io
8 is, whan pou dost gode dedys, pat pou schuldyst be praysed of j|fgSi? 8 * elf
hem J?at sene po gode werkys ; for he pat desyreth preysyng for works tortiie
his gode dedis, schal neuere haue viper mede. 51 Also veyn-
glorie is, whawne Ipou louyst wel gloserys & flatererys pat
12 preysin pe, & hatyst hem J?at telle J?e pi defawjtys. Mot.
ix: whan crist curyd two blynde men, & made hem to se, he Christ cured
i i f men,
bad hem telle it to no man. ' why so ? seyth a doctoure. for and bade them
not to tell it to
to jyve exaumple to vs J?at, whaine we don ony good dede, we anybody.
1 6 schulde nojt desyre Ipat it were tolde forth, for J?at entent to
haue worschip) or wordly preysing. J>erfore, whan pou dost ony
good dede for pat ende & for pat entent, princypally, to be
preysed perfore, in J>at veyn-glorye pou doost dedly synne.
^ jje thrydde cornere of pride in }?i wosy pytt is vnbuxuwmes, The third
21 vnobedyens 2 , ]?at is, whawne pou brekyst J>e x. comaundementys is Disobedi-
ence towards
of god, & whan pou doste noat alter godclys woord, ne atter be God.theChurch,
the priests, the
techyng of holy wrytte ; and wharane ]?ou brekyst Ipe lawys & parents, the
24 Jje ordenauws of holy cherche, & pe techyng & Ipe lefFutt 3
byddynges of J?i gostely fadyres, & of pi bodyly fadyr & modyr,
& of f>i soureynys, eythir temperall or spi'r&uall, in takyng non
hede to resouw ne to conscyens. deutmmomi'o xvj. 4 , God him-
28 self, in be olde lawe, seyde pat who were rebeft & vnbuxom to
pe preest & to pe mynystres of god, he schulde be deed perfore ;
& deuteroworm'o iiij 4 , who-so were vnobedyent to his fadyr &
modyr, jif pey pleyned on hym in doom, he schulde be stonyd
32 to be | deth. And bat it is perylows to be vnobedyent to bi [Pol. 25 b.]
Bouerayn, eyther tempera! or snm^uaJJ, se it be exauwple, Example of
' Korah, Dathan,
Numeri xvj. Thre men, chore, dathan, & abyron, wyth onandAbiram.
1 MS. in margin : 'vana gloria." a MS. in margin : ' jnobecliencm.'
3 MS. leffutt of. * Deut. xvi. 18 ; xxi. 18 f (?).
72 The Three Parts of iJisobedience. The ' Corner of Boldness.' [CH. xi.
acorde, resyn a$ens moyses & aaron. &, in wreche of hem, be
erthe openyd, & swalwyd hem alle thre in. Ps. ' ' Iritauenmt
moysen & aaron in castris &c. Aperta est terra, & deglu-
tiuit datan, & operuit super congregaczor&em abyron.' ideo 4
Aicitur hebre xiij. 2 ' Obedite prepositis \estris.' Also pou
The same sin is wyif, vnbuxom to bin husbonde vnleffully, bou servaimt vn-
committed by
a disobedient buxom to bi mayster, & bou bat dredyst nost to fallyn m-to be
wife or servant,
and by those gret curse, but hast scorn & iape berof. and bou bat comouwyst 8
who despise the
fhTm?nister8 nd f W 2/^ nem }><*& arn acursyd, or comfortyst hein berin ; bou bat
the church. dyspisyst preestys & obere mynistres of holy cherche, & dys-
pysest obere also, bobe hyje & lowe ; Alle bise is vnobedyens of
pride in pis thredde cornere of wose of bi pytt. caste out pis 1 2
wose, and make clene bis thredde cornere of pride, bat is,
vnobedyens !
The ' comer of ^[ pis thredde cornere of pride, vnbuxomnesse, is thre fote
disobedience ' is
3 feet broad; viz. brood in wose 3 . be firste fote is dyspyjte ; bat is, in doyng no 16
worschype to gode men dewly, but in dyspysing hem, no^t doyng
2. disdain, dewe reverens to sayntes & to souereynys. be secunde fote of
vnobedyens is, whanne bou wylt nojt preysin an-ober, but hast
dysdayn of hym, bowj bou feyne fals contenaunce. be thrydde 20
3. defiance. fote brede of vnobedyens is, whanne bou wylt no}t bowe
buxomly to hem bat bou awjtyst obeyin vn-to.
The fourth be ferthe cornere of pride in bi pytt is boldnesse 4 : bat is, 19
comer is
Boldness; whanne bou art be boldere to sywne for trust of be mercy of god, 2 4
nin de frrafm"is- * ^ or ^P e * ^ rus ^ ^ forjeuenesse, bou doost be more synne, &
Sod^merey and I 56 len g ere VB 7 st &> & te lengere lyest berein, & holdyst bi synne
forgiveness. j^j. jy^ e j peryle, be it neuere so gret peryle, & dredyst no3t pe
wreche of god, ne be peyne of helle, but doost after pin owne 28
lust, & aftyr bin owyn wytt, in hope to haue mercy aftyrwarde,
& in trust to ascape pe wreche of god & be peyne of helle,
thynkyng in }>in herte, bat obere don als euele as bou, & werse,
& haue mercy of god, & berfore bou doost be werse in hope of 3 2
mercy, & dredyst pe lesse pi syraie. pi grete defawtys bou
heldyst lytel & small, & obere meraiys synnes bou heldyst grete
1 Ps. cv. 1 6, 17. 2 Heb. xiii. 17.
3 MS. in margin : { nota trt'a.' 4 MS. in margin : 'boldnesse of pride.'
CH. xi.] The Three Parts of tioldness. The ' Corner of Hypocrisy' 73
& horryble. bou synnest ofte, turnyng ajen to bi synne. bou Thou seest the
seest obere mennys defawatys, but bou seest nost bin owefO but not thine
own.
defautys. of bi-self takyst bou non hede, but evermore demyst
4 oberes defawtys. aft bis is malapert boldnesse ; as Jerom
schewyth be exaumple, whom be lawe rehersyth, de -penitencia,
distinccio iij. de niniuitis l . bat folk of be cyte of nynyve, be Such was the
case with the
be prechyng of Jonas be prophete, dede penauwce, & god hadde people of Nini-
veh who, having
8 mercy on hem. &, for bat mercy, bey were be boldere, & turnyd once found re-
J mission of their
ajen to here olde synne, for trust to haue a^en forjyfnesse of sin d 'T ewb 1 t d
god, as bei haddyn ferst. and anon aftyrward, god, for here ltagam>
boldnesse, suffryd aft bat cyte to be dystroyed vfyth bodyly
ia eneinyes, in whiche cyte were more ban an hundred score
thowsand peple. Jone iij & iiij c&pitulis.
bis boldnes is thre fote brede. be firste fote is vnkyndenesse ; The 'corner of
boldness ' is
bat is, whanne bou forsetyst to thanke bi god of his goodnesse 3 fee' broad =
i. unkindness,
1 6 bat he doth to be, & of his mercy, abydyng be in bi synne,
& takyng no wreche, and bou art be more vnkynde to him in
offendyng hym in cursed lyuyng. be secwwde fote brede of wose 2. wasting time
in sin,
in bis cornere of boldnesse is, whan bou dredyst no3t to
20 myspende bi tyme in synne, bobe in 3outhe & in age. be
thredde fote brede of wose in | bis cornere of pride, bat is boldnes, [Pol. 26 a.]
is fals renayinge, whiche is in foure. On is, whan bou forsakyst which is of four
bi god, & takyst be to be feend. Anober is, whanne bou thou desert
God; 2. if thou
2 4 forsakyst & holdyst nost bi truthe. be thrydde is, whanne bou desert truth ;
3. if thou for-
byest awjte, bou forsweryst be truthe. be ferthe is, whawne bou 8wea JJ tj : uth in
trowyst an othe of him bat bou knowyst seyth fals. All bis ^^ tr r '^ r r
wose of pride in bis ferthe cornere, boldenes, caste out of bi pytt !
(f be fyfte cornere of wose in pride is ypocrisye ; bat is, whawne The fifth 'corner
of pride ' is
29 bou schewyst bi-self outeward, in syst of peple, holyere ban bou Hypocrisy;
i. e. if thou show
art inward, in Ipe syjt of god ; spekyug holy woordys, doyng outward signs
Of llOlIllCSS ;
holy werkys, schewyng holy signes, & spekyng of chastyte, of
3 2 clennesse, of devocyoun, to wryen Iperwyth bi wyckydnesse, in
dyspreysing & dyspysing synne, as bowj bou seydyst : ' 30
mowe wel wetyn bat I am nojt synfult in suche defautys bat
I dyspyse.' wharaie bou doost bus, to blynde be syjt of be
1 Caput 30. Distinctio 3. de penitencia. [Corpus Juris Canon I. 1219.]
74 The Three Parts of Hypocrisy, Story of the Angel fy the Hermit. [CH. xi;
peple be suche repreuyng of synne, bat bey schulde nojt knowe
and if thou give be synfuft; bat is ypocrysie. And whanne bou ;evyst opynly
Rims, iHst, find
do penance to or priuyly almesse, or fastyst, or doost penauns, or ony oper
nol y> holy dede, to pat entent to ben holdyn holy; it is ypocrysie. 4
and if thou And in pi schryfte, whawne pou for schame helyst ony foul
conceal any sin . ,. , f , ,
in confession, synne, or in colouryng pi synne in schryfte, ony parcel! to
o preest & an-oper parcel! to an-oper preest ; all pis is
ypocrysie. Seynt gregone seyth, \\bro 10. moralium, xxxvj. 8
A hypocrite is capitulo, pat an ypocryte, a popholy man, is lyche an irane * ; for
like a spider 111,11 11 11-
toiling at its an eran), whan he hath longe trauayled, & myche, to makyn his
web, which a
slight wind web, bawne comyth a lytel wynd and blowyth awey an to-gedere.
blows away.
Byjt so, an ypocryte, whan he hath gretly & longe trauayled, 12
& vexid his body in penauws & in opere holy werkys, to ben
holdyn holy, panne comyth a lytel wynd of marmys mowth, pat
is, a lytel preysing, & blowyth awey ail his mede. perfore, be
30 nojt as ypocryte*. Mat. vj. 16
' The ooze of for pis wose of ypocrysie is thre fote brede. On is, whan pou
hypocrisy ' is ., , , . . , ,
three feet in dost a foul synne in priuyte, & schewyst pe holy a-lore men.
1. secret sin, An-ober is, whan bou dost gode dedys. bat men schulde wenyn
2. ostentatious
good works, bou were a good man. be thridde is, whan) bou woldyst getyn 20
3. humility in
aspiring to a dignyte or benefvse, or baylyschyn), or ony ober offyse, & beryst
position followed J J J * '
ce after I 56 me kely, to make men wene bat bou were worthy to take so
attaining it. g re j. as t a t e- & whan) bou art in bat estate, bou schewyst what
bou art wythiTine, baraie wexist bou stowt & felt, and puttyst 24
out bi venym of pride, ferst bou semyst a scheep, and paraie
bou schewyst be a wolfe. And so, be be frute, men may knowe
Cast out the be tre. caste out of bi pytt bis wose of pride in be cornere of
ooze of those five Y
corners! ypocrzsye ! caste out pe wose of alle pise v. cornerys of pride 28
forsayde, pat is, presumpcyoun, veynglory, vnbuxumnes, boldnes,
& ypocrysie ; and pe opere cornerys of pride I schal schewe 5011
an-ober day.
[The Angel and the Hermit.] 32
An angel and Ex vitis patruw 2 . An aungyl, in lyknesse of a man, & an JF
a hermit went
past some car- heremyte wentyn to-gedere forby a stynkyng carayn. be her-
rion. The her-
mit stopped his m yte stoppyd his nase for stynche. be aungyl seyde to him :
nose, because J J 6J J
1 MS. in margin :' exemplum.' a MS. in margin : ' narracio.'
CH. xi.] Humility opposed to Pride. Story of the Abbot and the Devil. 75
' why stoppyst bou pi nase ? ' pe hermyte seyde : ' for I may he could not
nojt suffre bis foule stenche.' afterward kom asens hem a prowd smell.
Afterwards,
man, rydyng in prowde aray all dysgysed. panne pe aungyl wlien the y et
4 ferre fro hym helde his nase. be hermyte seyde to him : ' why a^efsto^edh'is
stoppyst pou now pi nase ? be nejdyth nojt.' be axmgyl [Fol. 26 b.]
seyde : 'joue prowde man stynketh foulere for his pride in be "^i O f f the
syjte of god & of alle aungelys, ban be stynkyng careyn dede
i_ f -u i_ u -L- f -i i i.i_ able to him than
8 wheriore pou helde pi nase. for pride in man stynkyth that of the
a thousand-fold more to god ban ony rotyn hound stynketh
in pe syjt of man.' Angustinus : ' Tolerabiliws \tique canis
putridus fetet homimbws quara. aniraa peccatoris deo.'
12 perfore, caste out of bi pytt be stynkyng wose of pride, tyl Cast out of your
pit the ooze of
bou fynde a syker ground & a clene, bat is, lownes. for as gold pride, till you
excellyth in pryce alle metallys, and bawme excellyth alle (
lycourys, & drawyn lowest do\in to be botome of be vessett,
16 passyng obere lycourys; Ry}t so, lownesse excellyth in pre-
cyoushed alle obere vertuys, & euere drawyth down to be
netherest place. In valeys of lownesse entryth watyr of grace ;
in hylles of pride it reraiyth away. Jacobus iiij. 1 ' Superbis
20 resistit, humilibws dat gractam.'
[The Fiend who would smite the Abbott]
& Exaumple. Ex vitis pamm 2 . be feend mette on a day wyih One day, the
Devil tried to
macharye, be holy Abbot, & wolde a smyten hym wyt h a scharp smite the Abbot
J r Macarius with
24 sythe, & he myste nojt towchyn hym. be feend cryed, & seyde : a scythe, but he
could not hurt
' Macharye, bou fastyst mechyl ; I faste myche more, for him -
I neuere eete mete, bou wakyst myche; I wake wel more,
for I slepe neuere. but bou hast lownesse, & bat had I neucre ! He was over-
powered by
28 berfore, in bi lownesse, bou ouyrcomyst me.' the abbot's
humility !
Seynt Austyn seyth : ' be most euydent sygne of hem bat The mark of
those who will
schal be dampned. is pride, be most opyn sisne of hem bat be damned, is
pride; the mark
schal be sauyd, is lownesse & charyte. sif bou wilt be dampnyd, of those who
J ' J r-v i ^n bc ^0,1,
32 kepe in be stylle be wose of pride ; }if bou wylt be sauyd, caste is humility.
out of bi pytt be wose of pride, tyl bou come to be ground of
1 Jas. iv. 6. " MS. in margin : 'exemplum vel narrac/o.'
76 The Sixth * Corner of Pride ' is Disdain. Example from Samuel. [CB. xi, XH.
lownesse ! J>awne schalt Ipou ben heyghed in heuen) ! ' Qui se
humiliat, exaltabitwr V
jns lownes, here in oure }yuyng,
J5at we mowe be heyghed in heuen), in oure endyng, 4
graunte vs he
]?at for vs deyed on rode tre.
t
C&pitulum xij.
De Superbia. 8
CM
THE o)?er day, I schewyd 3ou fy ve cornerys of pride ; & now &
I schali telle 3011 vp Ipe oj?ere cornerys of pride in 3oure
wosy pytt, ]?at is, in 3owre synful herte.
The sixth be sexte cornere of pride is indignacyouw ; bat is, whan bou 1 3
'corner of pride*
is Disdain; hast dysdeyn of symple folk. & lust nost to speke to hem but
i. e. if thou de-
spise simple. folk, f u ft of scorn & of iapys; in beryng be foule to bi sogettys,
JUKI trcftt tny
& ^ are i us b' takyst on wyih hew, & wytA J)i peerys, & wyth J)i
bettyr, & felly & prowdly schamyst & reprouyst hem, more for 16
pride pan for charyte, more for J>i temperal harme pan for hew
trespas a3ens god ; in repreuywg opere of here symple kynrede,
of pouert, of mysschap, & of suche opere thynges. Indigna-
cyouw is ofte tyni) cause of myche harm), ij. Tlegum xxj. c. 2 In 20
in the time of be dayes of kyng Aavid was a gret hungyr in be lond of Israel,
King David,
there was a duryng thre sere. Dauid askyd of god why bat hunger fett
famine in Israel, */
)?ere in ]?at lond 1 god seyde : indignacyoum is cause ! for saul
because Saul had & his meyne wentyn wyih gret indignacyouw, &, wyih dyspy3t, 24
slain the Gibe-
onites who lived oppressedyn & slowyn be pore seruaurz-tys in bat lond, be whiche
as servants in
the country. weryn of J?e cuntre of gabonye, \>ai conD thedyr & 3oldyn hym
to Ipe iewys, & weryn here laborers & here seruauwtys. & 3itt
for aft Ipai, manye of ]?e iewys haddyn gret indignacyouw of 2
hem, and haddyn hem in gret dyspy3t ; Josue ix. ffull of mycn
[Fol. 27 a.] wo | and dyspy3t, of nede & of pouert, was here lyif. for pe
gret indignacyouw of Ipe prowde iewys, pei weryn to hem in
dyspy3t & in abieccyoun. Ps. 3 'Obprobriuw habundantibws, 32
1 Matt, xxiii. 12. 2 2 Sam. xxi. i sqq. 3 Ps. cxxii. 4.
CH. xii.] The Seventh Corner is Impudence, the Eighth is Sturdiness. 77
& despeccio superbis.' for pis pride of indignacyoim was pat
hungyr in Israel thre 5ere, be be wreche of god.
pe seuenthe cornere of wose in pride is vnschamfulnes ; bat The seventh
corner is
4 is. whan) bou hast no schame of bi sywne, & wharaie Ipon auaiw- impudence;
i. e. if thou
tyst be of bi wyckydnes, and spekyst of pin harlotrye opynly to sin
be peple, for delyjt, and leuyst for no schame of god ne of be
world ; and wharaie bou synnest opynly, wytA-oute schame,
8 & whawne bou enioyest of bi wyckydnesse. Ps. 1 ' Quid gloriaris
in malicia, qui potens es in iniqitttate ? ' Why enioyest bou in
bi malyce bat art so myghty in wyckydnes 1 god schal
dystroyen be in-to bin ende. he schal stubbyn be vp, londe
1 2 & roote, & cachyn be out of bi dwellyng- place, he schaft caste
pi roote fro be lond of heuen). Ps. 2 ' propterea deus destruet te
in finem, euellet te, & emigrabit te cle taberaacwlo tuo, & radicewi-
tuam de terra viuencium.' perfore Seynt Poule, Ept. v. 3 , seyth :
1 6 ' Be no swyche foule synne nemlyd in jow, no harlotrye, ne olper
foly, ne foul spekyng.'
bis vnschamfulnesse is two fote brede of wose. be o fote is This comer is
two feet of
fole hardynes : bat is, boldnes in bin opyn synne, & hast no breadth ; viz.
1. foolish bold-
20 dreed ne schame to don euyl, ne to spekyn euyft. Anober fote ess in open sin,
2. foolish
brede of wose in bis cornere of pride, is fole schame ; pat is, 1"^^^^
whawne bou lettyst to do gode dedys in be syjt of folk, for jj %>* f * p
schame of be world ; for bou art a fole bat, for schame of be ofthew5rid C m
24 world, lettyst to don a godd dede bat may plese god, for ony
speche. for he is a fool pat lettyth, for schame, to do wel, for
he plesyth nojt god, but pe world, berfore castyth out of }oure
pyt pis two fote brede of wose in pride in pe seuenthe cornere !
28 pe viij. & be laste cornere of wose in pride is sturdynesse ; The eighth
. corner is
bat is, wharaie bou excusyst bin opyn or pryve synne, pi Sturdiness;
i. e. if thou ex-
wyckydnes, & bi defawjte, & wylt nojt knowyn bi defawte, ne d e ^ n y
wylt no3t suffryn to ben vndertakyn. & bis is on of be werste reproof.
32 parcellys of wose of aft pride, as seynt Austyn seyth, lioro xiiij.
(& & xiij. capit., de ciuitate dei, sic dicens : ' Peior dampnabiliorqwe
superbia est, quwm in peccads suffragium excusacionis exquiritwr.'
perfore caste out pe wose of sturdynesse in pe viij. cornere of
1 Ps. li. 3. 2 Ps. li. 7. 3 Eph. v. 3.
78 Pride is the Root of Sins. It may be Deadly or Venial Sin. [CH, xn.
A proud person pride ! A prowd persone is lyche a lyouw. as seynt Thomas
is like a lion
which would & Albert * seyn. A lyoim wyft bat alle obere bestys do wor-
reii?n over all
animals. schyp) vnto hym, & dredyn hym, & obeyin vnto liym. Ry^t so,
a prowd man desyreth bat alle men schulde hym worschepyn, 4
& dredyn, & to hym obeyin. Jeremie xlix, 2 ' Ecce qwasi leo
Pride most dis- ascendet de superbia.' be sywne of pride most dysplesyth god
of obere synnes, for it dystroyeth alle vertuys. it makyth
a soule, bat is lyche god, lyche be feend of helle. Dicit doctor : 8
' Apostate angelo homo similis efficitwr, dum homo homimbws
and he will swmlis esse dedignatwr.' God schal ponyssche on man more for
punish it more
than any other his pride in peyne ban for ony ober synne. Ps. 3 ' Retribuet
habundawter facientibws superbiam.' gregorie seyth, li&ro xxxiiij. 1 2
For it is the root moraZmm, prope finew, bat pride is roote of alle synnes. for,
but a roote were wryed in be erthe, no braimchys schulde
growyn out. Ryjt so, but pride were rootyd in be herte, no
[Pol. 27 b.] sywne schulde springe | oute. gret multitude of folk euermore 16
folwyth a qween. Ry3t so, synnes wyth-owtyn nouwbre folwyn
and the queen pride. berfore pride is qween of alle synnes, for pryde is
begywnyng of euery synne. Whoso kepyth pryde, he is fuft of
aft cursednesse. Ecc. x. 4 ' Inicium onmis peccati superbia ; qui 20
As soon as a tenuit illam, adimplebitwr maledictis.' In wrastlyng, whan
wrestler lifts the
foot of his ad- a chaumpyoun may lyften an-oberys foot, banne he throwyth
versary, he
throws him hym douw. Ryyht so be feend, whawne he may lyfte be foot of
l 3 ^ 11 an?ecc y ouri V P * P^ide, he castyth be doun to synne and 24
^ dampnacyoun. be heyjere he rayseth be vp be pride, be
tod n anmaffon. im lower<? & }> e fowlere fatt bou schalt haue 6 at bin ende in be pytt
of helle. ' Qui se exaltat, humiliabitwr.' A prowd man is
vnhappy ; for eueremore, of good sede he repyth wycked corn, 28
bat is for to say, of gode dedys bat he doth, he repyth synne
& dampnacyouw, for prowd he is berof, & lesyth his mede.
If you persist in Wharme bou holdyst bi-self in biu herte gret & worthy, jif bat
pride deliber-
ately, it is elacyouw dure stylle wytA full avysement, & delyst, & desyre 32
deadly sin ;
of worschypp), bartne it is dedly synne ; secundum Thomarn,
1 Cf. Albertus Magnus, Compendium Totius Theologice Veritatis, Lib.
iii. Cap. 14. 2 Jer. xlix. 19. 3 Ps. xxx. 24. 4 Ecclesiasticus x. 15.
5 MS. ' haue in helle,' anticipation of the following words.
CH. xii.] Vainglory is either Deadly or Venial Sin. 79
ij a . ij e . q. 92 1 . But sif in bin herte come suche sterynges of but should your
heart be stirred
pride, wvtft-oute delyberacyoun, & bi doom of resoun consente to it unwillingly,
it is venial sin.
no3t berto, ne delyjt nojt longe berin, banne be sterynges of
4 pride are venyaft synne.
11 In veynglory 2 , whanne bou desyrest to ben holdyn gret in Boasting may be
necessary, when
obere mennys mowthys. in praysinges owtward, aif bou desyre men give you
a bad name
bat wordly praysing for to fle a wyked lose & a wyked name, it is falsely ;
8 nedefuft for bat skyl. Samuel preysed hym-self, prt'mo Regum
ij. jif bou desyre preysing, in entent bat god schulde berby be itischarity.ifin-
tciicltitl to edify
worschepyd, & bi neyghboure edyfyed in soule, bat is charite. one's neighbour;
for bat skyl Poule preysed hym-self, ii. corinth. xii. but aif bou but if one should
, . . be desirous of
1 2 desyrest suche praysing for coueytise of lucre, as be pharyseis praise for gain's
* sake, it is deadly
dedyn,in feynyng longe preyerys, bat is dedly synne. 'Et sic deuo- sin -
rabant domos viduarwm.' Mat. xxiij. 3 And whanue bou desyrest, Also, vainglory
is deadly sin if
or dost, ony dede lefful for to haue praysiuge, and be ende & be used as a means
for committing
1 6 entent is for to don berby ony dedly synne, banne is bat desyre another sin.
of praysing, dedly synne. as bus ; bou jeuyst of bi good to be
preysid, worschepyd, or louyd, wherby bou inyjte in be ende do
leccherye, or sum obere dedly sywne ; bawne is bat desyre of
20 praysing dedly synne, as wel as be dede folwynge. And whawne
bou dost a dede bat is dedly synne to be praysed berfore, banne
is bat desyre of praysing, dedly synne. And whanne bou dost But if no deadly
sin follow after,
a venyal synne for to ben praysed berfore, so it be don, bat the desire of
praise is venial.
24 berby no dedly synne folwe in be ende ; bawne is bat desyre of
praysing, venial synne. as bus ; bou hast rycches or precyous
clothys for to be worschepyd or praysed of be peple. be desyre
of bat praysing & bi delyjte in be rycches & clothys is veuyal
28 synne. but yf dysgysing, or excesse of clothys, or wastfull
expendyng, or euyl getyng, or euyl kepyng, or mysvsyng, be
berin, or obere be hynderyd berby, or harmyd, or be entent to
do berby ony dedly synne, or for to stiren obere to dedly synne ;
32 banne is bat desyre of praysing & delyjt in be clothys & rycches,
dedly synne. sif bou do vertuys or gode dedys princepally for Virtues and good
works done for
1 Thomas d' Aquino's Summa Theologies II (pars) II 6 (partis\ quaes-
tio 92 (?). Cf. Migne, Tiiomas Aquinas ; Paris, 1862.
2 MS. in margin : ' de vana gloria." 3 Matt, xxiii. 14.
80 Beware of Pride ! The Story of a Countess damned for Pride, [en. xn.
the sake of bat ende to be praysed, it is to be dedly synne, bo gode dedys
praise, are
[Fol. 28 a.] & vertuys. as bus ; Preche, | synge, rede, saye massys, jeue
deadly sm; a lmes, make bi prayerys, faste, do penaurace, & bou do hem only
for bat entent to be praysed, to be worschyped, or holdyn holy, or 4
to haue be grettere wordly lucre ; it is dedly synne, bo gode dedys,
but if the desire for it arn dyffoulyd in pride, in veynglorye. but 2if bin entent
of praise be not
the main motive, in be begynnyng of bo gode werkys is princypally for be love of
given up, it is g d & for charyte, & nojt princepally for preysyng, banne, bowj 8
bere falle, after be begynnyng of bin gode dedys, in-to bin herte
desyres & thoujtes of praysinge & veynglory, so it be avoyded
sone vfyih dyscrecyouw & doom of delyberacyouw, whawne bou
art avysed afterward ; barme bo desyres & elacyouws of veyn- 12
glory arn but venyalt synne. frerfore, takyth heed be my woordys,
whawne je synnen in pride venyally, & whawne dedly, & castyth
out of jowre pytt be wose of dedly synne in pryde, in alle his
viij. cornerys, bat is, in presumpcyoim, in veynglorye, in 16
vnobedyens, in boldnes, in ypocrysie, as I tolde jou be ober day,
& also in jndignacyouw, in vnschamefulnes, & in sturdynes, as
I haue told jow bis day! & cast out bis wose depe, tyl je fele &
Large fishes are fynde a syker groxmd of mekenes & lownes. grete fyssches are 20
net, while small takyn in be nett, & slayn : smale fyssches scapyn throuj be nett
ones escape ;
the proud will into be watyr, & lyven. Prowde folk are takyn in be feendys
be damned, but
the hu ble wul [nett], & are slayn in peyne of deth ; smale folk l , in lownes,
scapyn thrugti be feendys nett of temptacyouw in-to be watyr of 24
grace, & schal lyvyn in blysse.
[The Countess damned for Pride.]
A pious and Exaumple. \\bro de dono timovis 2 . A countas, chast of body, (j
noble countess . . - .
was brought to gret in doing almes-dedys, devowt in prayerys, deyid, & was 28
damnation,
drawyn vtyih feendys to helle-ward, & cryed, ' alias ! ' & aperyd to
a lady of frauwce, fowl as a feend, & seyde to here : ' be bou ware
be me & alle obere ! for I was a good lyuere in alle obere
because she took thynges, saaf I hadde delyjte in pride & veynglorye, in prowde 32
pleasure in dress- aray of myn heuyd & of my body, in longe traynes, & in brode
hornys, and I desyred werdly worschyppe. and only for bis pryde
I am dampnyd w?/tA-outyn ende ! '
1 MS. folk folk. 2 MS. in margin : ' narracto.'
. xn, MIL] The Story of the Humble Nun. The 'Ooze of Envy.' 81
Sythen bat a countasse was dampnyd for pryde, beth ware, je
poore folk Ipai are prowde, & takyth lownes ! ' Magnus potes
esse & humilis ; pauper potes esse & superbus.'
4 \_The Humble
jf Heraclides dicit. Exauwple 1 . In a Nunnery e was a nuwne There was a nun
W who suffered
bat, for loue of crist, lefte pride, & toke lownes, & made here as every kind of
humiliation
a fool, & obeyid here to alle here susti'en as here fool, sche wyssche tro her ^^'
8 here dyssches, & scouryd here pottys, sche turnyd here spyttes, u P n M a fooK
sche lay in be kechyn ny^t & day, sche sate neuere at borde, but
eete of here trenchourys & of here broke mete bat was most
abiecte. sche wente euere bare-foote, here heuyd was wryed
12 wytA rente clowtys. bey in be kechyn, for iape, pouryd on here
hefd hoggyswasch : sche grucchyd neuere. Be steryng of an A hermit, on his
visit to the con-
auwgyl, an holy man, bat hy}t Pinceriws, kom out of desert to bat vent,
mmnerye, & clepyd aforn hym alle pe nuwnys, saaf sche fayled
16 bat made here as a foole. be holy man seyde to hem, ' On of 3ow
fayleth jit here.' be nuwnys seyden, ' none fayleth but a fool.'
be man seyde, ' clepe here hyder ! ' sche com), be holy abbot fell fell down before
her, and asked
douw to here fete, & seyde to here, ' holy modyr, blysse bou me ! for her blessing.
20 Sche fell douw to his fete, & seyde, ' holy fadir, blysse bou me ! '
here sustryn seyde, ' Abbot, sche is a fool. Why do 50 here
| bis worschip) ? ' be Abbot seyde, ' je be folys 1 for sche is [Fol. 28 b.]
holyere ban je or I.' bawne here sustryn cryedyn here mercy
24 of be dyffoule bat hei dedyn here, & sche forsaf it hem. In bis After her death,
she went to
lownes sche dyed ; & auwgelys, wyth melodye, beryn here to blys. heaven.
fforsakyth pride, takyth lownes, bat aungelys mowe bere jow Therefore, be
humble !
to blyss ! To be whiche &<?.
28 Ca,pitulum xiij m .
De luto Inuidie.
^ rTIHE obe?- day, I tolde 3ou how 30 schulde castyn out of ysure
J- pytt pe wose of pride, now I schal telle jou how 30
32 schal caste out be wose of enuye. I rede in Je?. xxxiiij. capitulo, ENVY' Ze
1 MS. in margin : ' narracio de humi'litate.'
G
82 The Three ' Corners of Envy! The Simile of the Harp. [CH. xm.
Envy conceived pat per was a modyr pat conceyvid two dowsterys. pe modyr
two daughters . .
from the Devil, is Lnuye, here two dowterys arn loye oi pin neyghbourys harme
& sorwe of pin neyghbourys good, pise two dow^terys enuye
conceyvyd of pe deuyl, for pe feend is here fadyr, for he wolde 4
pat alle men weryn evylle, & pat no man were good, perfore,
thrugn his enuye, deth of dampnacyoim entryd in to maukynde.
sapiencie primo l ' Inuidia diaboli mors intrauit in orbem ier-
rsifum.' perfore, pei pat enioyen of wyckydnes, & sorwyn of 8
goodnes in here ney3boure, arn verryly dowterys of pe feend, for
pei folwyn hise condycyouws.
Envy is the If Enuye is werst of alle synnes. why ? for obere synnes arn
worst of all sins,
contrarye to on vertew, as pride is contrarye to lownesse, 12
leccherie is contrarye to chastite, coueytise is contrarye to
largenesse, & so of opere synnes. but enuye is contrarye to
for it is opposed alle vertuys & to alle goodnessis. berfore. envye is noat only
to all virtues.
wyked, but it is werst of alle synnes. ' hec est fera pessima, 16
que deuorauit ioseph ; ' gen. xxj. 2
Envy has 3 Enuye hath iij. cornerys of wose. pe ferste is in J>e herte,
first is in the be secwnde in be mowth, be thridde is in dede. H In be cornere
heart, and it is
3 feet in breadth. O f Enuye in herte s is thre fote brede of wose. be ferst fote of 20
These are re-
spectiveiyj i. wose is fals demyng. An-o]?er is, whafi) ]5ou in enuye demyst
badijTof an- falsely in ]?in herte Ipe goodnesse of an-oper man. J?e thredde
ness, r ' S g d " ft e f brede of wose is foly forthynkynge ; |?at is, whanne Ipou
another's y wei- ^ n herte art sory of an-oj>ere mawnys welfare. Prouerbia xviij. 4 24
' Qui in ruina letatwr alterius, now erit inpunitws.' Whoso
enioyeth hym of an opere mannys harm, he schal no^t be
vnpunysched. Seynt gregorie seyth in prologo moralium,
The string of a whawne an harpe is weel sett in tewne, whanne a stryng of ]?e 28
harp, when
touched, moves harpe is towchyd, anone an-oper stryng bat is acordyng to
others in uni-
son; pat stryng in tewne, is steryd & mevyd of pe towchyng of his
even so, the felawe. Ryght so gostly, whanne a good cristen) man is
good Christian
is seized with towchyd wT/tA ony bodyly or wordly dyssese or myscheef, 32
his neighbour's an-oper good cristen) man, acordyng wyih hym in loue, wyth-
woes.
outyn enuye, is styrred, & hath ruthe & pyte of his dyssese. so
1 Sap. ii. 24. 2 Gen. xxxvii. 33.
3 MS. in margin : ' Inuidia in corde.' * Prov. xvii. 5.
en. xiii.] Envy in the Mouth. Sowing of Discord. 83
hadde Seynt Poule ruthe of opere* harme, and perfore he seyde,
' Quis infirmatur, & ego now infirmor l ? ' Who is syke, and I am
nojt syke perfore 1 as pow3 he seyde, 'no man is syke, but I be
4 syke.' for Poule techyth vs, Ad Komtmos xij. 2 'Gaudere cum
gaudentibtts, & flere cum flentibtw.' Enioyeth vfyih hem pat
enioyen in prosperyte, wepyth wytA hem pat wepyn in aduersite !
pat is to seyne, puttyth awey enuye out of 3oure herte, & Be not envious,
8 enioyeth nojt of operes harm, ne sorwyth nojt of operes welfare ;
but enioyeth of opere* welfare, & beth sory of here dyssese ! but companion-
^ pe secwnde cor-|nere of wose in enuye is in pe mowth 3 , [Fol. 29 a.]
& pat is thre fote brede in wose. pe ferst fote of wose in pis neMsln'the 001 '
P . , , . * , ! la. mouth, and it
12 cornere of enuye is myssaying; pat is, whan pou spekyst euyni S3 feet in
.. . . JDreadth, viz.
ot an-oper marznys goodnesse, & peynest pe to makyn it lees. i. slander,
H be secunde fote brede of wose in bis cornere of envye is ? ' bitterness,'
i.e. to exagger-
bytternesse ; pat is, whan pou heryst euyl of an-opr man, & at !if d ld V*
1 6 ]?0u makyst it more, & dost it be knowyn abowtyn, & whan p-ou
wylt nojt techyn o]?ere, & counseylin hem to J?e beste,ne comfortyst
hem in here gode, ne warnyst hem of here harm, ne tellyst hem
here profyjt ; but iapyst & scornyst opere, & art redy to procuryn
ao hem harm, pe thredde foote brede in wose in pt's cornere of
enuye is bacbyting 4 ; pat is, whan pou spekyst euyft be-hynde 3- backbiting.
a man, & turnyst all pat pou mayst pe gode dedys of an-oper man
to be werste. In bis cornere of wose in be mowth is sowyng of Sowing of dis-
J ' cord.
24 dyscorde 6 ; pat is, whawne pou makyst hem enemyes pat were
freendys, & makyst stryif & debate vfyth talys & lesynges
berynge aboute. I fynde, Prouer. vj. 6 , pat among alle synnes
god gretly hatyth hem pat sowyn dyscord amonge neyjbourys,
28 for pey ben verryly pe chylderin of pe fende, & pei ben con-
trarye to crist, pat is prince of pes & louere of pes, & pei ben
acordyng to pe feend, pat is prmce of debate & of dyscorde.
perfore seyth pe gospel, Mat. v. 7 ' Blyssed be makers of pes!'
32 cursed, panwe, are pey pat sowyn dyscord, to brekyn pe pes.
1 2 Cor. xi. 29. * Rom. xii. 15.
3 MS. in margin : ' inuidia in ore, I, 2, 3.'
4 MS. in margin : ' bacbityng.' B MS. in margin : ' discordia.'
6 Prov. vi. 19. 7 Matt. v. 9.
G 2
84 Envy in the Deed. It turns Goodness into Wickedness. [CH. xm.
The third comer be thredde cornere of wose in enuye is in dede 1 ; & bat is (?
is in the deed,
and is 3 feet in thre fote brede of wose. be first fote brede of wose in dede is
breadth, viz.
1. restraining a puttyBg on bak or restreynyng, bat is, whawne bou restreynyst
mencesweii; & pu ttyst a-bak in bi dede, all bat bou mayst, a man bat hath 4
2. ruining a man a good begynnyng, & wolde do well to god & man. be aecunde
who would fain
do right; fote brede of wose in dede of eraiye is a fordoyng; bat is,
whawne, for eraiye in bi dede, bou dystroyest him bat wolde do
3. discrediting ryjt bothe to god & man. be thridde fote brede of wose of 8
the name of a
good man. enuye in dede is oppressing of wyles ; bat is, whawne bou, for
enuye, abatyst be name of a good man in all bat bou may. be
la we, vj. questio j. capituld ' deteriores ' 2 , [seyth] bat a bakbytere
is werse ban a theef s ; for it is werse to stelyn awey a mawnys 12
good name ban his catell. Prouer. xxij. 4 ' Melius est bonuw
nomew quam diuicie multe.'
Cast out the Caste out of bi pytt bis wose of enuye in bise cornerws : bat
ooze of Envy, 1
is, out of bin herte, out of bi mowth, & out of bi werkys, & 16
forsake be sede of dyscord ! ffor doctourys seyth bat enuye, in
be, turnyth gold to copyr 5 , precyouse stonys in-to wose, corne
in-to chaffe, wyne in-to watyr, hony in-to galle, day in-to ny^t,
ioye in-to sorwe, bawme in-to dunge, electuariuwi in-to venyifD. 20
'Conuertit aurum in cuprum, gewmas in lutuwi, granum in
paleam, vinum in aquam, mel in fel, diem in noctem, gaudium
in merorewi, balsamum in sterquilinium, electuarium in
for Envy turns venenuTW.' bis is for to seyne, all goodnes in him bat hath 24
all goodness into . , . i j n j
wickedness. enuye is turnyd in-to wyckydnes, alle vertues are turnyd in-to
synne ; for of alle goodnes & vertuys in his ney^boure he
sorwyth, & of aft his ney3hbour?/s dyssesys he enioyeth. berfore,
as in a good lyuere all thing, good & wycke, turnyn hym to 28
gode ; Ryjt so, in an envyous man, alle thinges, goode & wycke,
turnyn hym to harm & sywne. ' Diligentibws deum onmia
1 MS. in margin : ' in opere (?).'
8 cap. 15. Causa 6. quaestio i [Corpus Jnr. Canon, i. 557].
3 MS. in margin : ' detractor peior est fure.' e cut off, and the word
wrongly restored as ' furto ' by a later hand.
* Prov. xxii. i.
s MS. in margin : ' Inuidia multa mala facit.' This gloss having been
injured by the binder, it is re- written by another hand in smaller characters.
CH. xiii.] The Six Sins against the Holy Ghost. 85
cooperantur in bonrnn, * ; ' sic per contrarium, inuidentibws omnia
cooperantwr in malum.
Enuye is contrarie to J>e holy gost 2 , & pe sywne pat god most Envy is opposed
4 hatyth ; for it I is so perylous 3 . bat vnethys be enuyous man Ghost.
, , . ' . [Pol. 29 b.1
comytn to repentauwce. In vj. maners a man may synnen ajens Jj, he gix ging -
pe holy gost : Oon is presumpcyouw, 4 , pat is, ouyr-hope; pat is, Hd'yGhostare:
whan bou wylt nojt leue pi synne, but trustyst in goddys mercy. T - presumption,
Sbou makyst goddys mercy to ouyr-large. for, pof bou synne
euere in pi synne, bou wenyst pat god wyl nojt lese pe. bere
holdyst pou god vnryjtwyse, and settyst his ry3twysnes at noujt.
And so bou makyst goddys mercy to large & his rj^twysnes to
12 scars. & so longe pou mayst synnen in pis, pat pou schalt
neuere haue mercy. If pe sectmde synne aijens pe holy gost is 2. despair,
wanhope 5 ; Jat is, whan pou art so fufl of foly, pat pou trustyst
nojt in pe mercy of god ; for pou thynkest pat god may no^t
1 6 forjeue J?e pi synne. & so, in pat wanhope, ])ou makyst god
mercyles, & in pis ouerhope pou fordoost his ry5twysnes. IT pe
thridde synne ajens be holy goste is hardnes of herte 6 ; pat is, 3- hardhearted-
whawne bou art so hardyd in synne, bat no man may wynne be
20 out, and ]?ou wylte nojt amende be for ought bat men may do.
IT be ferthe 7 synne is dyspyjt of penaunce ; bat is, whamie, in 4- contempt of
penance,
comberauTice of be feend, f>ou wylt nojt repente be of bi synne.
IT be fifte sywne is feyjtinge ajens grace of be holy gost ; bat is, 5- opposition to
24 whan bou woldyst for-don hem bat arn led wyih be holy gost. Holy Ghost,
for be enuyous man wolde fordo bat Ipe holy gost puttyth to
hem. ^[ be vi. sywne is fyating asens soothfastnes : bat is, 6. opposition to
J J J) truthfulness.
whazne bou wytingly holdyst ajens truthe, wyth al J?i myjt.
28 & bewne getyst bou no mercy, for so don heretykes, bat hoWin
ajens be feyth.
1 Rom. viii. 28.
2 MS. in margin : ' Inuidia est contraria spirt/uo (sic !) sancio.'
s MS. 'perlyous.'
4 MS. in margin : ' Sex modis potest qwotns peccare in spiritual
sanctum ' ' i. presumpcio.'
5 MS. in margin : ' 2. wanhope.'
' MS. in margin : ' 3. Dtiricia cordis."
7 MS. in margin : ' 4, 5, 6,' without side-notes.
86 Deadly and Venial Sins. Simile of the Barking Dog. [CH. xm.
These sins are bise sexe svnnes bynden a man so faste, bat vnethe I may
seldom con-
fessed, fynde a man 1 bat wyl in schryfte grauwtyn bat bise ben
and therefore syniies, no be repentant of hem. berfore it is selden seen bise
seldom forgiven.
synnes forjeuyn. perfore beth ware of enuye ! for bat in pe 4
is on of pe synnes of be holy gost, for it makyth be, -wyth aft pi
myjt & pi counseyl, to lettyn opere pat woldyn do wel, & it
makyth be to holdyn ajens truthe. caste out of pi pytt bis wose
of enuye, jif pou wylt haue mercy of god ! 8
if thou be envi- In bin enuye, aif bou haue heuynesse of bi neghbourvs pros-
ous from a na- . . ..'.
turai desire, it perite, in appetyte, wytft-outen fun avysement ; jif pou be pi
nature haue enuye, it is, in pe ferst steryng, but venyal synne.
if thou envy thy but whanne bou wyth full avysement & wyth ful delyberacyoun 12
neighbour's
prosperity deli- art sory of bi neghbourys prospery te in pin enuye, panne sorwyst
deadly sin; boa of his welfare, bere pou schuldyst enioyen, & pat is dedly
but if thou be synne. But whan pou art sory of an-obers prospmte, nou3t for
sorry for an-
other's wealth, enuye bat he excellyth be in goodnesse or rycches, in loue 16
because it harms
the man himself or worschin) ; but bou art sory of his temperall godys. for bou
or his neigh- A '
bours, there is seest it turnyn hym to harm of his soule & to harme of his
no sin.
neyj hours ; bat heuynes & sorwe of his wordly prosperyte in be
is good & no synne. And bou seest bat he wyih his temperal 20
welthe doth be wrong, or ellys he hynderyth & noyeth obere
gode & trewe men wyih his 2 temperall godys ; bof bou sorwe for
his prosperyte for bat cause, it is venyal synne, or ellys no
synne. And jif bou art heuy bat pi neyjboure hath myche 24
good, & pin heuynes is nojt for pe good, but because he is
pruddere, pe more teraunt, pe more ouerledere, pe more cursyd
lyvere, for his good ; panne pin heuynes is leefull. j. Cor. iij. 3
' Emulamini spirit ualia.' Ps. 4 ' Noli emulari in malignantib, 28
neq*e zelaueris facientes iniqwztatem.' 'zelaui super iniquos,
[Fol. 30 a.] pacem peccatorum videns V perfore castyth out of 3oure | pyt
pe wose of enuye, pe whiche is dedly synne in alle his thre
cornert/s, bat is, in herte, in tunge, & in dede ! 32
A dog win bark An enuyous man is lykenyd to an hound, an hound is
at a man for
walking by his wo bat ony man goth besyden him in be waye, bof be man
1 MS. aman. 2 MS. his his. 3 I Cor. xiv. i.
4 Ps. xxxvi. r. s Ps. Ixxii. 3.
en. xin.] The ' Ground of Friendship fy Love.' Story of the Hermit $ Bear. 87
do hym non harme, & Jjerfore he berkyth on hym. so pe
enuyous man is wo of an-ojser man Ipai stondyth, or syttyth, by
him, or goth besyden him in pe waye, pof ]>e oper man do hym
4 non harm, jet he wyl berkyn on hym bacbytyng, & lesynges,
& dyscorde. As sum hownd, beforn a man, fawnyth hym viyih
his tayl, & behynde him byteth hym; So pe enuyous man
spekyth sum-tyme fayre beforn an-opere, & bakbyteth hym
8 behynde. perfore, etc pou nojt wyih pe enuyous man, ne desyre
pou nojt hise metys ! Prouer. xxiij . 1 ' Non comedas cum
howime inuido, & non desideres cibos eius ! '
Delue bou depe out of pi pyt bis wose of enuye tyl bou Delve out the
** J J ' ooze of Envy'
12 fynde & fele a syker grownd, bat is, frenschyn), bat is, loue. ffor till you find the
* J solid ground of
who-so styketh faste in wose of enuye, he may euyl out but god friendship and
love beneath.
helpe hym. perfore Dam'd seyth, Drawe me lord out of pis
wose, bat I styke nojt faste perin ! ' Eripe me de luto, vt non
1 6 infigar 2 .' Delve depe out of pi pytt pis wose of enuye tyl pou
fynde J?e trewe ground of loue to ]?i neygheboure. who-so
louyth nojt his neygheboure, he dwellyth in deth, vt dicit
Johannes in ept^ola sua s . fibr enuye ofte tyme is cause of
20 a schamefutt ende.
[The Hermit and his BearJ]
j-
W Exaumple 4 . Gregorie seyth bat an holy man clepyd Florence the
hermit prayed
fflorenciws dwellyd alone in his selle, & had vfiiih him for to God for 39010
creature to live
3 4 his sustynaunce but vj. scheep. he preyid to god to sendyn with him and
him sum wyght to dwellyn vryth him, to kepyn hyse schepe fro
deuowryng of wylde bestys. after his preyere, he fonde at his He found a bear
J ' J J * J at his gate who
gate a bere, inclynyng to him in signe of worschip). he seyde did all he bade
28 to pe bere : ' go & dryue my scheep to here pasture, & kepe hem
fro wylde beestys ! and euery day come home at vndryn ! ' pe
wylde beste dede his byddyng 5 . of pis dede, hys holy name
sprange ouer aft be cuntre. ffoure muwkys of an-ober holy man, Four monks of
Eutychius en-
32 \>ai hyjt Euthicius, hadden enuye vtyih fflorence Ipat he was so vied Florence,
1 Prov. xxiii. 6. 2 Ps. Ixviii. 15. 3 I John iii. 14.
4 MS. in margin : ' exemplum siue narracio.'
5 MS. ' ouyr all J)e cuntre ' crossed.
88 The Story of the Two Faithful Friends. [CH. xm.
and slew the holy holdyn, more ban here mayster Euticius, be-cause of bis
bflflur
bere. berfore, priuyly bey slowyn bis bere, to hynderyn his
good name, be bere com) nojt home as he was wont to do.
fflorence sowjt him, & foude hym slayn, & he wyste who slows 4
hym. he wepte more for here enuye, bat slowe him, ban he
Florence im- dede for be deth of his ber. baraie he sayde 1 : ' I hope in god
plored God s
vengeance, bat in here lyve bei schul haue wreche for here enuye, bat dede
bis dede.' hastely bo same foure muwkys wexyn foule leprys, 8
and the monks & here mewbrys rotyd fro be bone, & after bat deyiden a foul
died a foul
death. deth. So be enuyows, but bei amendyn hem, schul haue a foul
ende !
berfore caste out bis wose of enuye tyl je fynde be ground 1 2
of frenschyp) & of loue, for loue & frenschijD is a good ground
& a clene.
{The Two Faithful Friends]
Two merchants, Exauwple 2 . Two marchaurctes louyd hem to-gydere. bat 16
one of Egypt r .
and the other of on dwellyd in egypt, & be ober dwellyd in Baldac. be of
Baldacca, were
friends. Baldac com) to egypt, & he of egipt was glad of his comyng,
chant 'ofBa er " * schewyd hym alle hise godys & his tresoowres. At viij. dayes
dacca fell ill en( j ej h e of baldac wexe wondyr syke. lechys com), & lokyd his 20
[Fol. 30 b.] watyr, but sykenesse was non fouwde. At be laste he ope-|nyd
his herte to his freend of egipt, & seyde bat he languryd
for love of one & peyned for loue for oon of hise maydenys to haue here to his
daughters. She wyif. his freend herde bat, & gaf here to hym, & aft be good 24
pat he schulde haue receyvid for here, & aft be good bat sche
[schulde] haue receyuyd also, he weddyd here, and led here
Afterwards, the wytA aft bat good horn) to Baldac. Afterward, he of egipt was
Egyptian came
to Baldacca as a a beggere, & for schame. on a nyjt, aft nakyd kam to Baldac, 28
beggar, and hid
ruin^/te 1 * ^ en ^ r y^ i n ~to an old brokyn temple to restyn J?ere-in tyl
found he WaS mor we, bat he myjt go to his freend. Men comyn in-to bat
temple to sekyn oon bat had slayn a man, & fondyn bere bat
and accused of !.*. i
murder. man al nakyd. Men seydm to him, 'pou hast slayne pat 32
fend himself, 6 man.' he seyde 'ja,' for he wolde in bat pouert jerne haue be
for he wished to
die.
1 sayde added in margin. 2 MS. in margin : ' narracio.'
CH. xm, xiv.] The Rescue of the faithful Friends. The ' Ooze of Wrath' 89
deed for schame. he was led to prisoim, & on be morwe he He was led to
the gallows.
was led to be galowys. his frend pere com), wyth opere folk,
to his hangyng, & knewe hym bat he was freend of egypte. His friend re-
cognized him,
4 & he of Baldac cryecl, ' late be ! late be ! he is vngylti of bat and each of the
* two offered him-
mawnys deth! hangyth me vp, for I si owe bat man !' panne self to the exe-
cutioner m place
be ober freend was delyueryd, & he was takyn to ben hanged. of his friend -
be frende bat was delyueryd cryed, 'hange me, & nojt hym,
8 for I dede be dede ! ' be ober freend cried ajen, ' hange me,
for I am gylty, & nojt he ! ' be mansleere was bere present, Then the real
murderer
& eeyj & herde how bei bothe stryven to-gedyr, eyther for
oberes loue, to haue ben hanged gyltles j & had ruthe bat suche repented,
is trewe louerys schulde haue be dede gyl teles for his man-
sleyghter. & he sterte forth, & seyde, 'neyther of hem dede
bat dede. I slewe be man ! ' he was bouwdyn : be obere two and confessed
J J his crime.
were latyn louse, be iustyse dyde hem alle thre be led a-fore
1 6 be kyng. wharrae be kyng knewe be truthe, & seyj be grete But the king
, , . , dismissed him,
trewe loue amonges hem, he jaf lyif to pe mansleere for pe loue
pat he schewyd to pe opere two, to sauyn here lyves, to takyn
his deth for his defawte. & be kyng rewardyd be obere two for and rewarded
r . the faithful
so here trewe loue. be freend of Baldac jaf half his good to his friends,
freend of egipt, bat was so nakyd & poore, whyche good he toke,
& wente a3en home to egypt, wyth ioye & worschyjD, and was
ajen ryche in-to his ende. and eythir of bis freendys hadde
34 a blyssed ende.
Kyat so, louyth jou to-gydere in trewe loue ! kepe wel bis Therefore, love
one another !
ground, & caste out be wose of enuye ! and be kyng of heuen)
schal rewarde 3ou for joure trewe loue, here in grace, & in joure
28 ende in blysse t To whiche blysse &<?.
C&pitulum xiiij m .
De luto ire.
qi T*lE ober day, I told aou how ae. scholdyn castyn out of The 'ooze of
^ V \ v. f T WRATH;
32 J jowre pyt pe wose of enuye, and now I wyil telle jou
how je schul castyn out of joure pytt pe wose of wretthe.
90 The Simile of the Harp. The Three Degrees of Wrath. [CH. xiv.
wretthe is, whanne bou art wroth & angry, fell, malycyous,
desyringe wreche. Bertylmew, de proprietatibws rertwn, \\bro
A harp stringed xvii . 1 . he seyth bat an harpe 2 bat hath strynges of wolfys
with wolfs and J
sheep's guts will guttys & of schepys mengyd to hepe, schal neuere be set wele 4
never keep in
tune; j n tewne, be-cause be scheep & be wolf arn contrarye in kynde.
so a company of Ryst so, bat companye schal neuere acorde, ne lyuen in pes
Koodandofma- J *
licious men will & reste. bere gode men & malycyous men. or ryatfutt men &
never live m
accord. angry men, dwellyn to-gy-|dere ; for an angry man euere 8
rayseth stryif & debate. Prouer. xxvj. 3 ' Vir iracimdws
The wrathful prouocat rixas.' In wrethe bou art lyche a wolfe, [bat] for his
one compared
to a wolf. malyce wayteth his tyme to be vengyd on hym bat agreuyth
hym. Eyjt so, be angry, fell, & malycyous man wayteth his 12
leysere to wrekyn his tene at wylle. Seynt Austyn expouwyth
be tixt : Mat. v.* ' Qui irascitwr fratri suo, reus erit iudicio,'
The three de- he seyth, as bere arn thre degrees of synnes in wretthe, bat is,
are: in herte, in tunge, & in dede, and iche is werse ban obere, so 16
bere are thre degrees of peyne berfore, & iche peyne is werse
ban ober.
1. hatred of the H be firste degre of wretthe is in herte onlyche, & bat is
clepyd hate of herte. ' Qui irascitwr fratri suo, reus erit 20
iudicio.' Who-so is wroth \ryth his brother, he is gylty to be
dome, for he is worthy to be somouwnyd to apere in be doom)
a-fore be hyje 5 iuge, &, as he bat is gylty, to standyn at his
answers, & J?is is drede. for he bat hatyth his brober is a man- 24
sleere, and bis is a peyne. for it is a gret drede to come to his
answere bat is so gylty.
2. malice of the If be secwnde degre of wretthe is in be mowth, bat is, malyce
of be mowth. 'Quicunq^ dixerit fratri suo, racha, reus erit 28
consilio V He bat schewyth out, vryth his mowth, dyspytowsly &
scornfully \>e malyce of his herte to angryn his brother be-cause
of wretthe, & to bryngen hym out of charyte ; he is gylty to be
1 Bartholomaeus, surnamed de Glanvilla. About him cf. Robert Steele,
Medieval Lore, etc. London, 1893.
a MS. in margin : ' examplura. de cithera.'
3 Prov. xxvi. 21 has : ' Sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.' The reading
in our text is identical with Prov. xv. 18 and xxix. 22.
* Matt. v. 22. 5 MS. iustyse crossed.
CH. xiv.] The Two Manners of Forgiving. The Four ' Squares of Wrath' 91
coimseyl, for he is gylty & worthy to haue Ipe sentence of J?e
dome be aft Ipe couraseyl j?at schal sytten wytA crist in demyng,
and bis is a peyne more dredfult J>an Ipe firste.
4 IF Ipe thredde degre of wretthe is in dede ; pat is, whan pou, 3. vengeance.
vtyth ]>i tunge, or wyih ]?i dede, avengyst J>e of Jrin enemy for
wretthe. for he )?at, wykh his mowth, spekyth repreef, schame,
or slaimdre, or doth ony dede in malyce for wretthe, he is gylty
8 to Ipe fyre of helle. ' Quicunqwe dixerit, fatue, reus erit gehenwe 1 .'
and bis peyne is most to drede.
Seynt Thomas & Albert, in compendia theologze, \ibro iij.
cjaj)itulo de ira 2 , bey seyn bat a man 3 may forseuyn his wrong to There are two
manners of for-
12 his enemye in two maneres. In o manere is pis, to puttyn awey giving:
his wretthe & pe rancoure out of his herte which" J?at he hadde one^s wrati"a'nd
this is duty.
ajens hym, & bis is euery man boimdyn to don of lawe of charyte,
jif he wyft be sauyd ; for crist seyth, Mat. vj* . 4 , 3if je forjyue
1 6 nojt joure neygfibours here synnes, pe fadyr of heuen) schal nojt
for^eve 3ou joure synnes. ' Si now dimiseritis hominfous pecca^a
eorwm, nee pater celestis diim'tet vobis pecca^a vesra.' In an-ober 2. by giving up
one s quarrel,
manere is bis, for to fallyn awey fro be quareft bat he hadde to w h>ch is no
duty but adds
20 his aduersarie ; and jpis is he nojt boimde to do as for his to perfection,
saluacyoim, but jif he do it, he is >e more perfyjt, & schal haue
pe more mede ]?erfore. fFor crist, for perfyjt charyte, forjafe his
deth to hem pat slowyn hym, & seynt Steuen also.
24 bis wose of wrethe is foure-square : o sqware of wrethe is The 'ooze of
wrath ' has four
a~3ens god ; bat is, whawne Ipou grucchyst ajens god or ajens squares, viz.
his sayntes, whawne Ipou felyst dyssese ; or whawne god werkyth God,
nojt Ipi wyft, J?ou seyst god is nojt ryjtfuft, he werkyth vnry3t-
28 fully. An-o]5er sqware of wrethe is a3ens J?i-self, bat is, whawne 2. against one's
J?ou art so wroth a3ens Jji-self, ]?at f>ou mayst neyther etyn ne
drinkyn, & perchauns fallyst in sykenesse, for pou mayst no3t
haue ]?i wyll to be vengyd. ]?is wretthe agreuyth but ]?i-self.
32 ^y }?e iij. sqware of wretthe | is ajens ]?i meyne, as a3ens Ipi wyif C Fo1 - 31 b -l
3. against one's
household,
1 Matt. v. 22.
2 The full title of the book is : ' Compendium totius theologicae veritatis,
vii. libris digestum ; ' its author is Albert the Great alone.
3 MS. aman. * Matt. vi. 15.
92 Rancour, Malice, Vengeance. [CH. xiv.
or husbonde, chyld or seruaiwte, as whawne pou warowyst,
cbydest, betyst, & faryst as a wood man, & recchyst neuere
4. against one's what vessell bou brekyst. be ferthe sqware of wratthe is asens
neighbour.
]?i neyjboure, ]?at wonyth be-side J?e. 4
This ooze is bis wose of wretthe is vii. fote of deptbe. be first fote of bis
7 feet in depth : Y /
i. hatred of the wose is bate pnue of herte 1 ; }?at is, whawne ]?ou spekyst lytel, &
quietly waiting tbinkest & menyst in herte myche malyce, abydyng Ipi tyme tyl
for the time of .
vengeance. IpOM mowe be vengyd. & lowryst, & chauwgyst chere, & fleest 8
companye, & waytyst, whawne )?ou mayst eythir be lawe, or be
lordschypp), or be helpe of wycked cumpanye, to harmyn ]?i
neyghboure in his persone or in his good ; glad in herte to plete,
lothe to acorde, & at pe laste pou acordyst wyth Judas kus. j. 12
Joft. iiij. 2 , who-so seyth pat he louyth his god, & he in herte
hate his brothir, in pat wyse he is a lyere. whawne pou desyrest
in herte harm or deth, or in wyl to sle an-oper, jif pou durstyst
or myjtest, or lokyst grysely or egyrly, all bis comyst (sic !) of 16
hate of herte. ' Impudici cordis impudicws oculus est nuncius.'
Caste out pis wose of rankoure & of hate in pe herte !
2. malice of the be secwnde fote depe of wose in wretthe is malyce of mowthe 3 . ^
mouth. . &
pat is, stryif of woordys, & medle dispytous of tunge ; & rehersyst 20
all pe schame & wyckednes of an-opere pat pou kanst, & more pan
pou knowist; & throwyst forth manye scornfull woordys in schame
of an-oper. perfore seyn Poule seyth, Eph. iiij 4 , ' Omnis sermo
mains ex ore vestro non procedat.' No wycked woord springe 24
out of joure mowth ! scornyth no^t, dispyseth nojt, bakbyteth
nojt, werwyth no5t, be-schrewyth nojt, prayeth for no vengeawns !
clepyth olpere be no eke-namys ! schamyth no man ! steryth non
oper out of here charyte ! chydeth nojt ! couwseylyth non harm, 28
ne procuryth, n'e comauwdyth non harm ! pis secunde fote depe of
wose in wretthe of joure mowth, castyth it out !
3. The deed of be iij. fote depthe of wose in wretthe is dede of wrethe 5 ;
vengeance.
pat is, whan J>ou dost wreche, & hast no mercy, but fulfyllest pe 32
cruett & Ipe wycked wyl of fnne herte in dede of vengeaurice, in
1 MS. in margin: 'malicia cordis.' 3 i John iv. 20.
s MS. in margin : ' Malicia oris.' 4 Ephes. iv. 29.
5 MS. in margin : ' operis. '
CH. xiv.] Fierceness in Vengeance, Manslaughter, and Defamation. 93
sleinge, in werryng, in spyllyng of blood, in brewnyng of housys,
in dysherytynge of eyres, in dystroying of londys or beestys, in
prisonyng, in raunsoimyng, in betyng, in wouwdyng; alle pise
4 comyn of wratthe. who-so wyil in dede be vengyd, god schall
take vengeauwce ou him. perfore forjyve him \>ai harmyth \>e,
& panne, whawne bou prayist to god, J)i synnes schal be forjeuyn
to pe. Ecc. xxviij . 1 ' Qui vindicari vult a domino, inueniet
8 vindictam. relinque proximo tuo tibi nocenti, & tune tibi
deprecanti p^ccatfa soluewtur.' >erfore, caste out of dede ait pis
wose of wretthe !
be ferthe fote depthe in wose of wretthe is hastynesse or 4- fierceness in
vengeance.
12 feersnesse; Ipat is, whan )?ou in bi fervent ire, wytA-outyn ony
abyding, or wytA-outyn ony avysement, hastely takest vengeauns
in stertyng Iperto as a wood man, to bete, or to chastyse, or to
don ony ofyer dede of vengauws, or in smytyng ]?i chylderyn, ]>i
1 6 servaimtes, or opere, dyspytously & oute of mesure. caste out
Jns wose !
pe fyfte fote depthe of wose in wretthe is mansleyghter ; J>at s- manslaughter,
is, ^if ony man be J?e hath be slayn, or hurt in body, or | harmyd [Fol. 32 a.]
20 in name or in his godys ; or jif be be ony persone hath ben
enpoysouwd, or ony chyld hath ben oppressyd, dystroyed, or
slayne, be drynkes or opere craftys, or be ony of>ere dedys; or
be }?e, in fals enprisonement, or fals qwest, or false dome, ony
24 man hath be deed or maymed. bou slest an-oper. whan t>ou defamation is
f r akindofman-
defamyst hym,as seynt Austyn seyth, whose woordys am rehercyd slaughter,
in be lawe, de penitencia distinccio j., capitulo ' Periculose 2 .' In
o gospel it is seycl Ipat crist was slayn at vndren 3 , and Ipat was wyt/i
28 f)e iewys tungys, whawne pei cryed, ' do him on pe cros ! ' In
an-o]?er gospel 4 it is seyd Ipat crist was don on ]?e cros at mydday,
& Ipat was of ]?e knyjtes, wytA here handys. whan) pou falsely
apelyst ano)?er, ]?ou sleest hym ; & wbawne j?ou drawyst awey J?e
32 nedefutl lyiflode ; & whawne f)ou wythclrawyst J?i gostly techynge
fro pe peple; & whanne Ipou ^euyst oj?ere wykked exauwple,
& in J>in opyn synnes & euytt werkys. perfore caste out pis wose !
1 Ecclesiasticus xxviij. i . 3 cap. 23. Distinctio i . de poenitencia [i. 1 163].
3 Mark xv. 25. * Matt, xxvii. 46 (?).
94
Impatience and Blasphemy. The ' Ground of Equity' [CH. xiv.
6. impatience,
i.e. grumbling
at a reasonable
chastisement.
7. blasphemy,
i.e. grumbling
at the decrees
of Providence,
despising
prayers and
pilgrimages,
and irreverence
for God and the
Saints.
Cast out the
ooze of wrath,
till you find the
ground of
equity,
which recon-
ciles will to
reason.
J>e sexte fote depe of wose in wretthe is vnpacyence * ; Ipat is,
whan) ]?0u grucchyst ajens resouwable chastysing of pi souereyn,
& ajens reprouyng of J>i synnes, demyng pat alle thynges
are wrong pat arn don to pe ajens Ipi wytt. Poule seyth, 4
2 Tymoth. 2 2 . ' Seruum dei now oportet litigare, sea* mansuetum
esse, ad onmes docibilem, pacientem ad onmia cum modestia.'
It behouyth J>e seruauwt of god no}t to stryve, but to be mylde
to alle, & able to be taw3t, & pacyent to alle, wyth good mesure 8
& temperure ; for pacyens is of soft maneres & of softe berynge,
vnpacyens is full of malyce.
pe vij. fote of wose in wretthe is blasphemye 3 ; Ipai is, (f
whawne pou grucchyst or spekyst ajens god in tribulacyouw, in 1 2
sykenes, demynge ]>at god is vnryjtfutt or vnmyjtfutt, for he
grauwtyth ]?e nojt J>i wyll anon at pi luste ; & whawne ]x>u
demyst pat god jeuyth be more wo & lesse wele j?an ]?ou were
worthy to haue ; & whawne j?ou settyst no pryse be pylgrimage 16
to sayntes & to ymages ; & whawne pou trustyst to no prayerya
& suffrages of holy cherche, be-cause f>ou art nojt delyuered of
)>i dyssese als sone as ]?ou woldyst ; and whanne J>ou iapyst,
& scornyst, & dost irreuerence to god & to his sayntes. |?erfore, 20
Ad Eph. iiij. 4 , late all heuynes, wretthe, indignacyouw, &
blasphemye, be put fro jow, & castyth out ])is wose wytA aft
his vij. fote depthe, tyll J5ou fynde a clene grou(w)d, & a syker, &
J>at is equite or euynhed. for euen)-hede is a vertu fat acordyth 24
resouTi wytA }>i wyft, j^at is for to seyne, wharaie Ipi wytt is
trublyd & steryd in wratthe to wreche, delue out pe wose of
wreche tyl J?ou fynde J>e ground of equite. for equite or
euenhede makyth J?i wyll to acorde to resouw, pat is, be resouw 28
to enqwere pe sothe of trewe men, J>e cause wherfore }>ou art
wrothe, whethyr it is trewe or fals, er ]?ou be to myche trublyd
in wreth. & equite in resouw wytt gouerne pe, pat in wretthe
]?ou schalt nojt demyn ne affermyn a thing, tyl JJQU be syker of ^2
J^e sothe. eqwite schal make J>e in resoun to takyn hede for
ony wretthe, whanne fou schalt speke, & where, & how, and
1 MS. in margin : ' iwipaciencta.'
3 MS. in margin : ' blasphewna.'
2 2 Tim. ii. 24.
4 Ephes. iv. 31.
CH. xiv.] The Stories of the Quarrelsome Maid and of Justice Herkenbald. 95
whawne ]?ou schalt be stylle, pat pou, in pi wretthe, spylle nojt
J>i woordys in veyn & out of mesure. & }>ane schal pi temple
of pi body & soule ben holy & wondyrfuft in euenhed. Ps. 1
4 ' Sanctum est templum tuum, mirabile in equitate.' J>erfore,
caste out Ipis wose of wretthe, tyl J>ou fynde J>is grouwde of
euynhed, pat is, equyte ; for wret-jthe doth myche harme to Jje [Fol. 32 b.]
soule.
8 [The Quarrelsome Maid.]
19 Exaumple 2 . Cesarius tellyth bat a mayde of ryche kynrede A virtuous
youne lady was
was fuft of wretthe & euere more angry, & ouer all bere sche a shrew,
was sche made myche stryif & dyscorde, vryih here angry tuwge, I fj
1 2 bat wel was hym bat my^te ony reste haue by here, or ony pes
haue besyde here. At pe laste, sche deyid & was beryed. & out r^
of here grave euere-more ros a gret smoke. f>e graue was
openyd : & be neber part of here body fro be nouyft downward in her erave,
the lower part
16 was found yn all hoole. be-cause bat sche was a clene mayde : but of her body re-
mained whole,
fro be novvft vpward, sche was all brent & wastyd awey vryt h but the u PPr
* part was all
fyir, & J?at was for be wretthe & be angyr in here herte & in u t ^uth 86
here tur&ge. So \fyih fyir schul ]?ey in soule be brent pat in
20 wretthe be vengeable. and ]?erfore caste out wretthe, & take
J>e grou(w)d of equyte, for J?at helpyth J?e soule !
[The Unbending Justice Herkenbald.]
Exaumple 8 . Herkenbaldws of Bornayre was a gret iustyse Justice Herken-
24 & myjty man in his dome, & eueremore in his dome dede eqwite
to alle men, to freend & foo, to kyn & to straungerys. he
sparyd no persone for loue, ne dreed, ne for wrethe, but Ipai in
his demyng he dyde equite. As he lay syke in his deedbedde, wheniyineon
his death- bed,
28 he herde in be nexte chaumbyr a womman cryen. he askyd of heard, in the
next room, the
obere what it was, & no man durste telle ]?e sothe to hym. he cry of a woman,
bad oon of his sonys, in peyne of lesyng of bothe his eyjen, pat
he schulde go wyten why pe womman cryed, & pat 4 he schulde
32 tellyn him pe trouthe. J>e chyld wente, & wyste why J>e
womman cryed, & telde his fadyr pus : ' Lord my fadyr,
1 Ps. Ixiv. 5, 6. 2 MS. in margin : ' narracto.'
3 MS. in margin : ' namzcio.' * MS. j?at &.
96
The SJirift oj Justice Herkenbald.
[CH. xiv.
whom his
nephew had
attempted to
violate.
He bade two
knights hang
him, but they
let him escape.
On the fifth day
after, the
nephew looked
in at the door.
The justice
made him sit
by his side, and,
putting his
arm round his
neck, slew him.
When he came
to die, he con-
fessed all his
sins except the
murder of his
nephew,
because it had
been done for
the sake of
equity.
[Fol. 33 a.]
The bishop re-
fused to ad-
minister the
sacrament to
him,
but the host
went into
Herkenbald's
mouth sponta-
neously.
susteres sone wolde haue leyn be pat womman, & perfore sche
cryed.' pe lord seyde to two knyjtes, ' goth & hangyth hym for
his trespace, as pe lawe wyft ! ' pei wentyn, & bedyn pat
lordys susteres sone absentyn him out of pe sy3t of his eem. & 4
pei com) ajen to his eem, & seydin pat he was hangyd. pe fyfte
day, after pe none, he wende his eem hadde forjetyn his defaute,
& he lokyd in at pe chauwbre-dore ]?ere his eem lay. His eem
seyj him, & glosyd him to hym wyth fayre woordys, & dyde hym 8
sytten by him, & helde 1 his necke wyth his oon arme, & wyth
his oper hand drewe his knyif, & kutte his throte, & slewe him.
& alle men wondredyw of pat dede. his deth neyghed. pe
bysschop com) wyth \>Q sacrament; to whom pis lord was 12
schryuen wyth wepyng & gret contrycyoim of ail his synnes,
saaf of pat mansleyjt. pe bysschop seyde to him, 'why, in
schryfte, speke 30 no woord of pat chyld )?at je slowyn ? ' -pe
lord seyde, ' pat was no synne, & perfore I aske no mercy ; for 16
I dede it nojt for wretthe & vengeavmce, but I dyd it for eqwite
of ryghtfuft demyng, whiche I haue kept in my doom all my
lyve to freend & fo ; for I louyd my neve as weel as ony of
my kyn, but, be eqwite of my lawe & of myn offyce, I myjte 20
nojt sparyn hym ; wherfore I bad my two knyjtes hangyn him,
& pey wolde nojt ; & perfore I slowe him myself, for loue of
equite in my dome, & nojt for hate.' pe bysschop seyde, ' but
^if je wyl be schreuyn perof, je schal nojt resceyuen pe sacra- 24
ment.' pe lord seyde, ' I louyd neuere bettere | chyld pan
I dyde my neve. I slowe him nojt for rankure of herte, ne for
hate, but for loue of equyte, & for ryght of pe lawe, & for dreed
of god. 3if je wyl nojt jeue me my god, I betake my soule to 28
god.' pe bysschop wente awey vfyih f>e sacrament, pe lord
clepyd hym a^en, & seyde, ' lokyth jist pe host be in pe box.'
pe bysschop lokyd, & pe host was go. pe lord seyde, ' Lo,
byshop, pou woldyst nojt jyue me my god, perfore my god is 32
come to me ajens pi wyS. here in my mowth se pe host pat
was in pi box.' pe bysschop sey3 it in his mowth, & tolde pis
myracle al aboute.
1 MS. heldyn.
CH. xiv, xv.] The Duty of Forgiveness. 97
berfore, iche of jow, in y>ure degre & in 3oure ofFyce, kepyth Therefore, be
equite, & castyth out be wose of wretthe ! & bawne schal joure J "
god entryn jowre soulys, as he dyde in-to be lord, and so he
4 schal }yue you grace here, & blysse in joure ende ! To whiche
blysse & cetera.
rfl
J-
C&pitulum xv m .
De ira.
HE ober day, I tolde jou of be wose of wratthe & of his
brauwchys, & jit, bis day, I schal telle jou more of wratthe.
Seynt Bernard seyth bat wretthe is gate of alle synnes, be be Wrath the gate
of sins.
whiche wretthe alle synnes entryn m-to man. for jyf bis gate
i a of wretthe be schett, alle vrtuys haue reste in man; & whanne
bis gate of wretthe is opyn, alle synnes entryn in-to man.
' Janua oraniwm \'icior.um est ira; qua clausa onmibws virtu-
tibus datur requies, qua aperta adest onme factum.' be angry
16 & be full of wretthe brekyn be pes, & sowyn dyscord, & makyn
debatys, & qwenchyn charyte, bat is moder of vertues. bey
don bat god most hatyth, & bat be feend most louyth ; wher-
fore bei 1 are be childere of be feend. and berfore are bei The wrathful
20 wonder lothe to acordyn, be-cause be feend, here fadir, lettyth of the Devil.
hem ; for he louyth dyscord & trubelyng of pes, of loue, & of
charyte. berfore, bei don as be feend, here fadyr, steryth hem.
jif bou haue rancure in herte to hym bat doth be wrong, bat Thou art bound
24 rancure bou muste fonyue oute of bin herte, bof bou be askyd rancour without
being asked for
no forjyfnesse. be dede of wretthe schewyd outward, in tunge P^dcm.
or in dede, bat muste be forjeuyn, jif bou be askyd forjeuenesse ; and to forgive
an offence,
but bi ryjtfuft & lawefull accyoun bat bou hast ajens bi aduer- when asked :
28 sarie bou art nost bouwdyn to lete falle & forseue, bows bou be but thouart
not bound to
askyd forjyfnes, but jif bin aduersarye wyft make be amendys abandon a legal
vp his powers, wyth-outyn amendys nedyth be nojt to forjeuyn wneu asked,
hym, as for nedefuft dewte of bi saluacyoun ; but of dewte of except for the
sake of perfect
32 perfeccyouri, art bou holdyn 2 to forjeue bi querett, & bin accyouw, salvation,
1 MS. >ei J;ei. 2 MS. art bou nojt holdyn.
98 Venial and Deadly Sins. [en. xv.
& to askyn ferst forjyuenes, & ferst to pursewe to ben acordyd,
bof bou haue no3t trespacyd. why so ? for bawne schalt bou
for then thy haue two corouws in heuen) : oon coroim for bou suffryst wrong,
reward shall be
double. & an-ober corouw for bou ferste pursewyst acorde. crist seyth 4
in be gospel 1 : ' who-so hate his hrober in herte, he schal be gylty
St. Gregory on to be doom ! ' Seynt Gregorie seyth, bat doom is a dyscussyottn
of be cause, bat, in dome, bou bat hatyst bi brother in herte,
schalt be opynly repreuyd before, berfore, be nedyth to for- 8
3euyn bat hate in bin herte, wytA-outyn ony askyng. ' Qui-
cunque dixerit fratri suo " racha," reus erit consilio V who-so
schewe out, wyth his voys of his mowth, be hate of his herte,
wyth angry woordys & chydyng, in bryngyng obere out of ia
[Fol. 33 b.] charyte, he schal be | gylty to couwseyl ! gregorie seyth, bat
counseyl is be holy cumpanye of be dome, be whom be difyny-
cyoun & be determynacyoun of his cause schal be jouyn ajens
him bat hym muste be condempnyd. ' Quiconqwe dixerit ^
"fatue," reus erit gehenne!' Seynt gregorie seyth, whan be 17
voys, in wretthe, schewyth out angrely, & ]?at voys brest out in
dyspysing bi brother, bawne schalt bou be gylti to haue be
excecucyou^i of be sentence jeuyn ajens be, bat is, be fyre of 20
helle 1 berfore, forjeue hate out of bin herte, wythoutyn askyng !
forjyue bi wretthe in woord & dede, whan bou art askyd ! fo'r-
jeue bi lawefult accyoun, & seke ferst loue, bat bou mowe haue
double mede in heuen) ! bus caste oute be wose of wretthe ! 24
indignation no 3^ I 7011 t e wrothe wyth an-o)?eres synne, or ellys art Iy3tly
sin*
styred to wretthe be nature of kynde, & kepyst it nojt in herte,
ne seyst non harm), ne, vryth bi woordys, bryngest non ober man
out of charyte for bi malyce, ne doist non harme ; bawne doste 28
bou no synne, but it be duryng in bin herte, wyih delyberacyouw.
Malice deadly 3if bou be stiryd to wretthe in herte to don harme, or to wyllen
harm, or ellys art vnpacient, wyth futt affecte of wretthe, it is
dedly synne for be euyft wytt durynge wyth delyberacyoun. 32
Aipostolus 2 , ' Caritas non irritatwr, non cogitat malum.' 3if bi
wretthe be wyth-oute delyberacyoun and wyth-oute consentyng
of resouw, it is venyal syune ; jif it be wyth desyre of wreche,
1 Matt. v. 22. * i Cor. xiii. 4, 5.
CH. xv.] Anger Deadly or Venial Sin. Simile. 99
it is dedly synne. In stryif, sif bou fy^te, or smyjte wylfully ifthouhurt
a person in
& vnryjtfully an-ober persone, bou dost dedly synne. he bat a fight, it is
defendyth hym, & he do it for to sauyn him-self, & defende him unless it be
done for
4 in mesure & resouw, & as nede is, & nojt out of curse, for defence,
rancure or pride : he doth lytel synne, or ellys none, jif bou Defence in
separating com-
go a-twixe hem bat fyxten for to sundryn hem, so bat bi de- batants is venial
sin, if it be done
fendyng excede nost myche mesure & resouw, it is venyal synne. without any
intention of
8 jif bou do it in entent of vengeauws, or of hate, or wytA exces revenge.
of vndewe mesure, w?/tA a strong wyll to sle, or greuously to
i hurte, eythir persone ; it is dedly synne. jif bou clepe an-ober
' theef/ or suche an-ober name bat souralyth defame, or repreuyst To abuse a
1 "U i, *. v.- r i_- i- JJT i or person is deadly
1 2 hym, or schamyst him of his opere dedys, for malyce & for sin,
wretthe, wherby he myjte be vnworschepyd ; it is dedly sinne.
aif bou seye to an-ober woordys of dyspysing, noat in entent to reproving a
venial sin, or
don hym vnworschipp), but for his correccyouw, or for suche none at all.
16 an-ober cause lyche; sum-tyme it is no synne, & sum-tyme it
is venyal synne. And happely it myjte be suche a greuows
despyjt, bat, pof it were nojt bin entent to don hym vnwor-
schyppe. be-cause of pin vndyscret dyspysing it doth hym
20 vnworschip) ; & so bou dost dedly synne. and, berfore, it
were ryjt nedefutt to be ware of suche wrethefuti woordys of
3oure mowth ! sowyng of dyscorcle amonges freendys, & hyn- Sowing of dis-
cord and scorn
deryng obere of here good loos, wym delyberacyouw, arn deadly sins.
24 greuowse dedly sywnes. jif bou scorne an-ober, so bat he is
gretly aschamyd, it is sumtyme dedly synne, 3if bou do it in
wretthe, in entent & in delyberacyoun of his schame.
berfore, caste out be wose of wretthe in alle hyse parcellys,
28 tyl pou fynde & fele be grouwde of equyte, bat is, euynhed !
bou kun mesure bin herte, & bi mowth, & bi dedys, fro be
wose of wretthe. for an angry man & a wretthefutt may be An angry man
is like one pos-
lykenyd | to a man pat was vexid wyth a teend 1 . Mat. ix. sessed of attend,
32 Whan be deuyl took hym, be man hurte hym-self, & beet his
hefd & his body ajens be ground, & fomyd out at his mowth,
& grente wyt/t his teeth, & wexe drye. Ey3t so, whawne wretthe
& anger touchyth a dyspytows & a malycyous man, he hurtyth
1 MS. in margin : ' exemplum.'
H 2
100
The Story of a Quarrelsome Gambler.
[CH. XV.
lie ought to be
shunned like
a mad dog.
A dice-player
grew angry at
his bad luck,
and began
swearing
in spite of his
fellow-player's
warning.
Suddenly, he
was struck dead
by a thunder-
bolt.
& betyth hym-self, wyih heuynes & vnpacyence ; he fomyth out
of his inowth, crying, dyspysing, chydyng ; he grynteth vfyth
his teeth, malyce & venym coniectyng ; he waxith drye \ry\h-
outyn grace, -Myth be fyre of wretthe. A man tat is wrothe (jj,
werkyth nojt be wyft of god. Jaco&ws j. 1 ' Ira enim viri iusti- 5
ciawi dei now operator .' berfore doctourys seyn bat a dyspytous
& an angry man bat is wretthfuft owyth to be fled as a ravey-
nous dogge, & as a wood hound, & as an egre and a rampaund 8
leoim.
[The Quarrelsome Gambler.]
Cesariws tellyth 2 bat two men pleydyn at be dees, on of
hem was wrothe & angry fat be ober spedde alwey wele, & he is
myjt nojt wynne. and bawne he began to werwe & to curse,
to swere & to lyen, to chyden & to defyen, & spake manye
dyspitous woordys. bat ober man Ipai pleyid -wyth him kepte
equite in herte, tunge, & dede. he euenyd his herte fro malyce, 16
& his tunge fro angry woordys, & his dedys fro wreche, & seyde
to his felawe euenly : ' speke bou fayre ! blaspheme nojt bou
bus bi god, & his modyr, & his seyntys, wytA suche horryble
othys ! ' be ober fyed on hym ajen, & swore a^en bonys & 20
armys, & cursed, & werwyd. a voys com) dourt fro abouyn &
seyde : ' my dyspyjt bat b&u dost to me in bin horrible othys
& in bin wrecheful & malycyous cursyng, wyl I no lenger 3
suffere.' In bis voys, sodeynly he was smyten to deth, wyt/t 24
leuenyng & wyth thunder- dynt, and be ober was saf & nojt
hurt.
To be angry
with Providence
Ryjt so, whan man or womman, on se or on londe, be wrothe
& angry wyth wynd or wytA wedyr, wawys or stormy s, or wyth 28
ony ober thinges bat god sendyth ajens here wylle & here lustys,
he grucchyn, he cursyn, he sweryn, he defyen, he dyspysen, he
chyden ajens goddys sonde. bis woodnes, bis wretthe is hor-
is a deadly sin. ryble dedly synne & blasphemye, tot is, vnworschip) & despyjt 32
Beware of
wrath,
to god. berfore, beth w&re of bis wose, & castyth it out for
1 James i. 20.
- MS. in margin :
-ger added by later hand.
CH. xv.] Saint Theodora living as a Monk. 101
dreed of vengeauws bat god took on bis man bat was so wood
in his angyr & in his malyce ! & take be ground of equite in
alle bi werkys ! kepe be euen) in pacyence fro trubelyng of and be just in
. . all thy doings !
4 wretthys, in wele & wo, in ry3t & in wrong, for bat god schal
rewarde !
[St. Theodora living as a Monk^
$3 Ex legenda lumbardica 1 . A wcwnnan bat was a worschipful Theodora was
courted by
8 lady, wyif of a gret ryche man in Alysauwder, here name Theo- a youth whom
she refused.
dora sche was fayr whom a ?ung man wowyd to lyn by here. !, n revenge he
' slandered her.
sche denyed him his wyft. he, wroth, slaunderyd here falsely,
and sayde to be peple bat he my3te haue leyn by here, jif he
1 2 had wold, here husbonde beleuyd hym, & dyde his wyif myche
dyssese. sche, in al bat trybulacyouw, kepte here euefD & in
dyscrete mesure, & suffryd aft. bat sche nojt dyspysed, ne
chydde hym bat wolde a leyn by here, ne accusyd hym, sche She disguised
herself in her
16 pollyd her hevyd priuely, & clad here in here husbondys husband's
J clothes, and
clothyng, &. in an Abbey ferre thens, sche was made a munke, entered a
' monastery.
and sche seyde here name was Theodoras. On a tyme, be be
byddyng of here abbot, ledde chamelys 2 to a certeyn cyte, & toke
20 here in, be be waye | thedyrward, in a certeyn place. & bat [Fol. 34 b.]
nyjt a mayde of be hostry kom) to here bed for to haue here
lust, bis wowtman Theodorw*, bat was be muwke, forsoke here.
be mayde was wrothe wyth here, and conceyved a chyld of Once she was
accused of
24 an-ober man, & seyde bat munke hadde beget it, & tolde it be having violated
a girl.
Abbot bat his muwke had defoulyd here ajens here wyft. be
abbot repreuyd his munke, bat was bis womman clepyd Theo-
dorw. Sche kepte here euen) in pacyens, & sufferyd aft, &
28 excusyd here no3t, ne no3t was mevyd wytA malyce, but kepte
pryve fro hem alle bat sche was a wowiman 3 . be abbot kecched She was ex-
pelled, and lay
here put at be gatys. and bere sche lay, vij aere opynly, wwtA-oute before the gates
for seven yeare.
be abbey-gatys, in sy3t of aft be peple. And whan be chyld
32 was born, be modyr broujt it here, & kest it in here barme,
& seyde, ' here is bi chylde ! kepe it bou, for I ne wyft ! ' sche
1 MS. in margin : ' narracto.' 2 MS. chameys.
3 MS. awomman.
102
Saint Theodoras Blessed End.
[CH. XV.
Still, she took
the girl's child,
and reared it.
Readmitted
at last,
she died two
years after.
Through a vision
her innocence
was revealed.
Her husband
kept her cell
until his death.
The child be-
came the abbot
of the
monastery.
receyvyd pe chyld wyih euyn) manere & pacyently, & broujt it
forth -wyih my Ike, pat sche beggyd of pe peple. At pe vij.
3eres ende, be-cause sche bare here so euen) in woord & dede, &
so pacyewtely, pe abbot toke here in-to pe abbey a^en, & here 4
chyld vfyih here, sche closyd here-self, wytA here chyld, in
a celle, and taw^te it to be devowte to god. &, at two jeres
ende, sche deyid. fiat ny3t, in here deying, pe Abbot seyj
auwgellys & sayntes wt/tA-oute noumbre, & amonges hem 8
a wontman fuft of ioye, bryght as pe sunne. A voys seyde
to J?e abbot : ' J>ou abbot, pis gloryous womman is J>i muwke
Theodorus. sche was ful falsly acusyd of conceyuyng of pat
chyld, for sche is no man but sche is a clene mayde, a womman. 1 2
and for sche bare here so euene in aft here tribulacyoim, in
pacyens wytA-oute trubelyng of wretthe, perfore sche is, & schal
be, in pis ioye wyt^-outyn ende ! ' pe abbot, wyih his brethryn,
ran to >e celle, & foundyn here deed, & seyn J>at sche was 16
a womman, & no man. >e abbot clepyd Ipe fadyr of ]?e dowter
Ipat accused here of Ipe chyld, & seyde, ' Lo ! was pes womman
fadyr of J?i dowjterys chylde as )?i dowjter seyde ? ' }>anne, alle
pe scerys weryn astonyed. An auwgyl seyde vn-to ]?e abbot, 20
' Ryse abbot, & go in-to pe cyte, & brynge hym hyder whom
]?ou ferst metyst ! ' Tpe abbot wente in-to pe cyte, & a man
cam rennyng ajens hym. Ipe abbot askyd hym, ' whyder
rennyst pou ? ' he answeryd, ' [where] my wyif is, & an 24
aungyl bad me go & se here.' pe abbot toke him in, & bo]?e
to-gydere wepynge beryed here, here husbonde kepte here
celle, tyl he dyed. J?e chyld was so perseueraunt in gode
werkys, pat he was made abbot, whanne J?e o])er Abbot 28
was deed.
Thus was that Lo, whiche a worschip) sche hadde, & whiche a ioye, for here
woman re-
warded for euen) beryng in here tribulacyourc, ! and be ober womman, for
her patience!
Therefore, cast here wretthefull malyce, lo, sche hadde velony in be ende, & was 32
out the ooze *
of wrath ! knowe fals. perfore, castyth out pe wose of wretthe, of wreche,
& of malyce, & takyth pe ground of equyte, pat is, euyn beryng
in mesure, in sobyrnesse, in pacyens, & in temperure, in all
CH. xv, xvi.] The ' Ooze of Sloth.' Its Parts. Laziness. 103
joure aduersyte ! & Jjanne, as J>e mayde, schul 36 in ijoure ende,
vfyih auwgellys, be takyn to heuen) blysse! To whiche blysse
& cetera.
4 C&pituluio. xvj m .
De Accidia.
E ober day, I told ;ou of pe wose of wretthe; & now
I scbal telle jow of pe wose of slowthe. Slowthe is The 'ooze of
8 whan pou art vnlusty of ]?i-self, to seruyn god or \>Q world,
desyring princepally bodyly ese, lothe to tra-|vayle, outhir for [F 1. 35 a.]
lyiflode bodyly ouper for lyiflode gostly. A slow man is lyche The slow man is
,. , . , . , , like an ass.
an asse, tor an asse louytn weel ese, & is lothe to trauayle, but
12 he be constreynyd Iperto. & pis beeste is wondir slow in going,
vt dicit Bartholomews 1 . Kyjt so, J?e slaw man louyth most
bodely ese, lothe to trauayle for his lyiflode, but nede corastreyne
him. he is slow} in going to ony goodnesse.
1 6 In pis wose of slowthe ben xviij. fote brede of wose. pere ben This ooze con-
yj. fote brede of wose bat lettyn be begynnyng of good lyif ; parts: Six
hinder the
And ober vi. fote brede of woee in slawthe bat fordon good beginning of
a good life.
amendyng; and J?e laste vj. fote brede of wose in slawthe
20 bryngeth a man to an euyft ende.
be firste vi. fote brede of wose in bis slawthe arn mych in vse, The first is
Laziness
of J5e whiche J>e firste is Slugnesse 2 ; ]?at is, whawne Ipou louyst
nojt Ipi god feruently abouyn aft thyng, but settyst )?i loue
24 slowly in god ; & whan) Ipou castyth ]?e aft to lyuen in reste, in common
& to slepe myche, to lyen longe in J>i bed, & whawne ]>ou louyst
to sytten stylle & to don noujt ellys, to lenyn on ]?in elbowe, to
lyen on-long on )?i o syde ; & whaw J?ou omittyst & leuyst J>i and i
lire*
28 prayerys vnsayd, & lettyst opere of here prayer^s, & fro J?e
heryng of goddys woord, & fro dyvyn seruyse ; and whanne |?ou
3evyst fe no3t to lere f>i pater noster, aue maria, & ]?e Crecle, ne
\>e articles of Ipi feyth, ne ]?e x. comauwdementys ; ne whawne
32 Ipon jyuest Ipe nojt to knowe J3e vij. dedly synnes, ne to don )>e
vij. dedys of mercy, ne to kepyn }n v. wyttes ; ne whan) J?ou wylt
1 Cf. p. 90, note I. 3 MS. in margin: ' Slugnesse.'
104 Tenderness of Flesh. [CH. xvi.
nojt jeue be to lere to schryve Tpe, ne to lere to serue & to plese
bi god ; & whanne bou omyttyst, in dewe tyme, holy & gode
occupacyoims, and, in tyme of lernyng, jeuyst be to trowauwdyse,
& myspendyst J)e tyme of bi lyvyng. & J>ou hast nojt futt herd 4
& seyd dyuyne seruyse, but parcellys Iperof; }?ou hast nojt
dewly preyid for be qwyke & for be dede, ne dewly thankyd bi
god for his gyftes. ]?ou hast slepte in holy cherche in tyme of
praying, of dyvyn seruyse, & of prechynges. sluggy in bi werk, 8
& in J?i craft, & in J>i labour, & ofte lefte bi good purpos, & Jje
sterynges of J?e holy gost. Alle )?ise forseyde arn signes Jat
lettyth ]?e begynnyng of good lyif .
The second part be secwwde fote brede of wose in slow}the is tendirnesse of 1 2
is Tenderness of
the flesh flescn, bat lettyth a man 1 bat doth no penauwce, ne sufferyth
no-thyng ]?at deryth his body. & for he is so tendir & soft,
wytA-oute hardnesse, berfore )?e feend restyth in him as in his
softe fedyrbed. Je feend seyth to hym bus : ' bou hast be 16
which prevents norysched tenderly, )?erfore kepe wel J)i body, & put be to no
a man from . . . . .
doing penance, penaunce, for it myjt be pi deth, and ]?ou mayst do no penaunce
as stronge men mown, for ]?ou art of tendyr complexioun, and
it were a foul happe to for-do pi-self.' pus wyl pe feend telle ao
and induces him be to lette bi begynnyng of good lyif. bis tendirnesse 2 in slowthe
to indulge in
comfort. wyft makyn \>Q to delyjtyn in softe clothys next bi body, bothe
on bi bak & in \>\ bed, & often to be wasshyn and bathyd &
kewimyd, in cherschyng of bi flesch; so tendyrly, bat it may 24
suffren non hardnesse, neythir to go barfote ne wolleward, ne
to faste, ne to vse harde metys ne harde drynkes, ne to lyn)
[Fol. 36 b.] wytA-oute schetys, ne to knelyn harde, ne to | suffere cold on
This part of handys or on fete, bis branche of slowthe is myche noryssched a 8
sloth inostlv
found in palaces. { a lordys courtys. Luc 1 vij 8 ' Qui in veste preciosa suwt, & in
delicijs in domibws regum sunt.' Seynt Jerom seyth, capitulo
vij. Ad Julianum, It is hard & vnpossible bat ony man, whan
he deyith, schulde go to delytes, bat had his delytes in bis 3 2
world. ' Impossibile est transire a delicijs ad delicias,' vt dicit
Augustinns. Also tendyrnes maketh be to sayn bi prayerys &
1 MS. aman. 2 MS. in margin : ' nofa de tenerifate corjporis.'
3 Luke vii. 25.
CH. xvi.] Idleness. Sports and Pastimes. 105
J?i seruyse in pi bed, or lying on-long on pin o syde, or syttynge,
& nojt knelynge, nojt stondyng in dewe tyme. pis tendyrnesse
makyth J>e ]?at f>ou mayst suffers no wo, ne dyssese.
) H J>e thredde fote brede of wose in slauthe, )?at lettyth Ipe to The third part
5 begynne J?i * good lyif, is ydelnesse. pat lyketh wel J?e feend. which lead's to
for whanne pe deuyl fyndeth a man ydel, J>arme he makyth hym vice,
to thynken on pride, & lecchery, & on glotonye, & on opere
8 vyces. & after Ipo studying & J?e thynkyng on J>o vyces, fe feend
steryth hem so J?erto, J?at )?ei drede nojt to do J>o synnes. pis
ydelnesse is whawne J3ou louyst non occupacyoim but veyn &
ydeft, as )?us, to thynken ydett thow3tes, to spekyn ydel woordys,
1 2 to don ydett dedys, }?at arn werkys of no profyjt, as to pleyin at
}?e tablys, at pe chesse & pe chekyr, at }>e hasard, & at swyche
oj?re vayn pleyis, in vntyme & out of mesure, leuyng for hem
o]?ere occupacyouws pat wern frutefutt. vnde ezekteZ xvj. 2
16 'hcec fuit iniquitas sodome, superbia, saturitas panis, & ocium.'
J?e wyckednes of sodom was pride, delycasyes, & ydelnes. Jerom
in a pystel seyth, Alwey do sum good werk, pat pe feend may Always be
fynde Ipe occupyed; for he may nojt lyjtly be takyn of Ipe some good work.
20 devytt Jat alwey hauwtyth good occupacyoim. ' Semper aliquid
boni operis facito, vt diabolws iniieniat te occupatum; non
faciliter capi potest a dia&oZo, qui in bono vacat exercicio.'
Idelnes is also wharaie, oute of tyme & out of mesure, bou it is also idleness
to be too much
24 jeuyst Jje to huntyng, hawkyng, foulyng, fyschinge; to gon bent on sports
&nd piistiincs.
to wakys & to wrestlynges, to daunsynges & to steraclys, to
tauernys, to reuett, to ryott, to schetinges, to feyrys, to
markettt/s on J>e holy-dayes, & to chaffarynge, & levyst pi
28 parysct-cherche & J>i seruyse ; & in doinge Jri pylgrimage on
holy-dayis ; & in pleying at pe two hande swerd, at swerd &
bokelere, & at two pyked staf, at pe hurlebatte; & to harpyn,
lutyn, to scornyn, & to jeuyn J>e to euytt cumpany, in mys-
32 spendyng pi good & pi freendys good, & in jeuyng euyl
exaumple, & in wykkyd desyres 3 in euytt wyllys, & in steryng
opere to euyll, in wycked couwseylyng, in defoulyng Ipe halyday,
in sywne & in euytt werkys. Alle Ipise forseyde are werkys of
1 MS. J>i }>i. 2 Ezek. xvi. 49. 3 MS. exaumple crossed.
106 Heaviness of Heart, Wickedness, Cowardice. [CH. .\vi.
ydelnesse, in slawthe of goddys seruyse, lettynge man fro be
begynnyng of his good lyif.
The fourth part be ferthe fote brede of wose in slauthe, bat lettyth good
is Heaviness
of heart, begynnyng, is heuynesse of herte. for bat fordoth sauour in good 4
which takes
away all delight dede. for whanne a man is bevy in herte, hym lyste nost do
in good deeds,
but sytte stylle, or lyen, or slepe, lothe to rysen of his bed.
hym lyst nojt go to cherche ; he had leuere lesyn thre massys
ban to forgo oo slepe or o sweet in be morwenyng, but abowte 8
be wordly nedys he trauayleth besyly to serue be flesch & be
feend ; or wharaie he schulde serue god, bewne he lyste to slepe,
ba?ine hast bou no lykyng, ne no swetnesse, ne deuocyourz., to
serue god, ne no sauour in bi prayere, but heuynes & angwysch, 1 2
[Fol. 36 a.] and | nojt hauyng ony gostly delyjt in bin herte, ne glad desyre
and makes in bi prayerys. &, for heuynes, sumtyme settyst no pryce be bi
a man weary of
his life. lyif, & sumtyme bou art to ouerdone mery, & sumtyme to ouyr-
done sory & to ouyr-done hevy, bof be tunge praye, be herte 16
prayeth no3t. Jerom seyth, whose woordys are rehersyd in be
lawe, de consecracione distinccio v. 'Non mediocriter l ! It is
better*?, he seyth, to seyn be vij. psalmys, vjylh clene herte, &
gostly ioye, & swete deuocyouw, ban for to seyn an hool sawtere, 20
\vyih angwyscn 2 & heuynes of herte. Jwfore seyth Darnel 3 ,
Delyte be in bi lord god, & he schal jyue to be be askynges of
bin herte.
The fifth part is be fyfte fote brede of wose in slauthe is lythernes of herte ; 24
Wickedness of .
heart, which bat is, whanne bou lyest in synne, & felyst be fondyng of be
makes thee
stubborn in thy feend & of bi flesch, &, thru5 lythernes & hardnesse of herte, bou
wylt nojt lyften vp bin herte to god, ne be repentauwt, ne to be
schrevyn, ne do penaunce, ne bou wylt nojt amende be, ne 28
forsakyn bi synne, but bou faryst as a forworthyn man, bat had
leuere to lyen & rottyn in prisouw ban to do penauwce.
The sixth part be sexte fote brede of wose in slouthe, bat 4 lettyth be begynnyng
which prevents of good lyif, is Arwenesse, bat may be clepyd lytelhed of trust 3 2
doing good. O f good dede ; bat is, for bou darst no good dede begynnen, bat
schulde helpe to bi soule-hele, for bou dredyst bat god schulde
1 c. 24. Dist. 5. de consecratione [Corpus Juris Canonici, i. 1418].
3 MS. heuy crossed. 3 Ps. xxxvi. 4. * MS. is crossed.
CH. xvi.] Delay of Amendment. 107
fayle be. bou hast dreed of noujt. bou faryst as he bat hath
dreed of his dreme ; & bou faryst as he bat dar nojt entryn be
cherct-jerd for be snayl bat puttyth his horn oute ajens hym ;
4 bou faryst as a chylde bat dare nojt passe, for be goos hysseth
at him. bis arwnes makyth be jerne to leuyn bi good purpos,
& to falle berfro for drede of peryles, as bus : bou leuyst bi
pylgrimage for dreed of syknesse or of deth be be weye. bou
8 leuyst almesse-dede fro 1 be poore for dreed bat bou schuldyst after
fallyn in pouert. Ec3 vij . 2 ' Noli esse pusillanimus in animo
tuo, & facere eleraosmam ne despicias.' Be nojt arwj & aferd
in bin herte, ne dyspyse bou nojt to don almesse. bise vj. fote
1 2 brede of wose in slowthe forseyd lettyn begynnyng of good lyif.
berfore, caste out bise parcellys of wose in ]?is vj. fote brede of
slouthe !
dH 11 But Ipere ben obere vi. fote brede of wose in slouthe bat Six parts of
Sloth hinder the
j 6 lettyn amendys of lyif. be firste fote brede is tarymg : pat is, amending of
a bad life,
wharaie [god] sendyth be wyll to amendyn be of bi lyif, & to viz -
do wele, bou spedyst be noujt berto, for be feend byddyth be
abyden awhyle, & seyth : ' bou mayst jit amende be al be-tyme, i. Delay of
amendment.
20 & serue bi god, for bou art Jung & heyl, & art strong bothe to
ryden & to gon, & bou schalt lyven longe ; & berfore take bi
sporte, for bou mayst amende be, whawne bou art olde/ bis
couwseyl of be feend makyth in be tarying & delay, bat lettyth
24 be of amendyng. bis tarying makyth be longe to lyen in synne,
er bou wylt be schreuyn, or do penauwce, & bou holdyst it but
lytel synne to abyde longe in bi wyckednesse. Ec3 v. s
' Ne tardes conuerti ad dowmrnm, & ne differas de die in diem !
28 subito ewim veniet ira il\ius.' Tarye bou nojt to turne out of
bi synne to bi god ! dyfferre it no3t, ne putte it nojt forth fro
day to day, for sodeynly, panne, be wretthe & be wreche of god
schal fallyn on be. Seynt Austyn seyth, | whose woordys arn [Fol. 36 b.]
32 rehersyd in be la we, de penitencia distinccio vij. ' Quamquam *.'
I dar nojt seyn, he seyth, bat a man schal sykerly be sauyd, jif
1 Read for (?). * Ecclesiasticus vii. 9, 10 (Vulg. pusillanimta).
8 Ecclesiasticus v. 8 (Vulg. Non).
* c. 2. Dist. 7. de penitencia [i. 1245]. MS. de de instead of de pe
108
Recklessness.
[CH. XVI.
He who delays
his reformation
until his death,
cannot be
assured of
salvation.
The second part
Recklessness.
The reckless
man is selfish,
neglects his
duty,
his household,
and divine
service.
he take his sacrament?/* in his ende & deth, vryih repentauws,
Jat has vsyd his syrme, whyl he my3t, & wolde neuere, leve, tyl
sykenes of deth corn), we mowe jyue hym penauwce, he seyth,
hut we mowe no}t jyve him sykernes to be sauyd. perfore, pou 4
synnere, forsake pi synne, & do penauwce, whil pou art hool, &
tarye nojt tyl pi synne hath forsake pe. Also pis tarying
makyth pe to tarye longe fro pe cherche, & fro dyvyne servyse,
& fro opere gode werkys, & pus pis tarying * lettyth pe fro 8
amendyng of pi lyif.
pe secww.de fote brede of wose in slowthe, lettyng amendyng
of lyif, is reccheleshed or neclygence ; pat is, whawne pou lyst
nojt besyen J>e to amende pe, ne to do gode dedys, ne to do 12
goddys wyft. pou recchyst neuere whepz'r pou gost to cherche
or nay, or whethir pou here divine seruyse or nay. pou recchyst
neuere whethir pi neyjbourc fare wel or euytt, whe]?tr he be
syke or hool, nedy or vnnedy, ryche or poore. J>ou hast an ey3e 1 6
to ]?i-self but to non cfyere. \>OM dredyst no3t god ]5at dost ]5us ;
for he Jmt dredyth god no-thyng he slowjthyth. ec5 xij. 2
Jjis negligens makyth J?e ofte tyme dystracte, & to make manye
defaw3tes in J>in offyce, in ]?i seruyse, & in \>\ prayerys, & in \>\ 20
gouernauwce of Ipi wyif, chylderyn, & seruauwtys, & of houshold ;
& recheles in cure of soule ; and recheles in dysposyng Jin owyn
good, & olperes also. & hast nojt tawjte, ne leryd, ]?i pater
noster, Aue, & Crede. and pou hast seyd rechelesly pi seruyse 24
in rape, in syncopyng, in ouyr-skyppyng, in omyttyng. nojt
kept pe haly-day, nojt kept thy penauwce, takyng non hede of pi
wycked suspectys, & of pi fals demyngee, ne of pi styrynges
opere to synne, ne of pi consentyng to euyft, ne of pi large 28
conscyence, ne of pi trewthe brekynge, ne of pin othys & of pi
pariurye, ne of pi vowys brokyn, ne of pe x. comaundmenty* ;
& neglygent in pi schryfte, & ofte turnyd ajen to pi synne, & don
pi penauns in dedly synne, nojt thynkyng on pin ende ; fals 3 2
& vntrewe of herte, mowth, & dede, bothe to god & to man, &
made manye interrupcyouws in pi prayerys & seruyse, & receyuyd
vnworthely goddys body, & opere sacrrtmentys; & in takyng
1 MS. taryeth crossed. a Ecclesiastes xii. 13.
CH. xvi.] Forgetf illness, Faintheartedness, Slackness, Sfc. 109
more hede & more dreed to J?e world f>an to god ; whawne Tpe
moderys or be cbyldren in chylde-byrthe perysschyn for defawte
of kepyng & of kuwnyng ; and whanne a wowman vtyih chylde
4 is recheles, &, thrugh here recheles gouernaxms, pe chyld
perysscheth ; and whewne bere is no loue in hem J>at are
weddyd ; & whanne 30 be vntrewe, & letterys of oj^eres prayere
& deuocyouns, & trublerys of dyvyne seruyse, & hyndrerys of
8 holy cherche ; all bis neglygens lettyth amendyng of lyif.
19 be thridde fote brede of wose in slowthe is forjetyng, bat The third part
. Forgetfulness,
lettyth also amendyng of lyif. iForjetyng makyth a man in his
schryfte | to forjete bofe smale synnes & grete, & ba,t is gret [Pol. 37 a.]
1 2 peryle ; for bere is no man, & he rauwsake his conseyens, but he
schal fynde yche day manye to schryuen him of; but forjetyng
makyth a man 1 so blynd, bat he seeth nojt what is in his
conseyens, & perfore it lettyth amendyng of lyif.
1 6 be ferthe fote brede of wose in slowthe bat lettyth amendyng The fourth,
Fainthearted-
of lyf, is sleuth ; & ]mt comyth of feynt herte & euyn custome, ness,
&, for ]?in vse to be slawe, it wyll drawe f>e fro all goodnesse.
but sumtyme fou wylt do suche hardnesse as fastyng, or wakyng,
20 or oper penauwce, ouyr myjt, \>ai Ipon fallyst in-to gret sykenes,
so J?at jjou mayst nojt trauayle in goddys seruyse, ne haue no
sauowre in deuocyouw of masse, ne matynes, ne howrys, & Jms
slauthe is redy ]?ere a feynt herte is.
24 be fyfte fote brede of wose in bis slowthe is lacches, bat The fifth
Y Enfeeblement
lettyth amendyng of lyif. lacches putty th a man to swyche of the will,
febylnes, J>at iche day after oj?er he drawyth his wyll sumwhat
fro god, & so iche day he apeyryth, tyl he be made aft in
28 mysese of synne.
be sexte fote brede of wose in sleuthe, lettyng amendement The sixth.
Growing slack,
of lyf, is faylyng, and bai is often in seruaurotys. ferst bei whic b . is ofteu
are buxome to servyn awhyle, & so afterward ry^t frowarde servants.
32 & slowe. so summe begynne to serue weel god, & fayle longe
er be terme-day ; and swyche arn vnworthy to haue ony
mede.
b\se vj. fote brede of wose forseyde lettyn amendyng of lyif;
1 MS. aman.
110 The Story of a Crucifix which slopped its Ears. [CH. xvi
and pe firste vj. pat I tolde jow lettyn pe begynnyng of
good lyif.
1f pere ben opere sexe fote of brede of wose in slauthe pat (j&
bryngeth man to euyH ende, & po sclial I schewe 3011 an-oper 4
Cast out these day. but castyth clene out of joui-e pytt bise xij. fote brede of
twelve parts of
the ' ooze of wose forsayde, tyl se fynde & fele a syker grouwde, bat is, gostely
sloth,' till you
find the 'solid strengthe, pat makytb 3ou, thrugfi grace, to ouyrcomyn alle
tual strength.' V yces, to sufferyn alle dyssesys, & to wythstonde alle tempta- 8
cyoutt.s, & to be perseueraunt in good werkyng. de tali dicitur
Prouer. xx. 1 ' Manum suam misit ad forcia.' he pat hath pis
ground of gostely myjt, he puttyth his hond to myjty werkys,
to wythstonde synne, to suffere dyssese, to duryn in goodnes. 12
Slewthe hynderyth mawnys soule.
\The Crucifix Stopping its EarsJ\
A man was Exaumple 2 . Jacobus de vitriaco, he seyth bat a man was so Jf
sluggish iii
God's service, slawe & sluggy in goddys seruyse, J>at slawly he com) to pe 16
cherche, & selde, & late, & whewne he com) Jedyr, he in slepyng,
- p t -
^or in iangelyng, ocupyed hym, pat he herde neythir goddys
seruyse ne goddys woord, &, vtyih his ianglyng, lettyd manye
o]?ere fro pe heryng of dyviii) seruyse. At J?e laste he deyid. 20
When he was & whil his body lay on be here in be cherche, & clerkys seydin
dead and
priests prayed 'Placebo & dirige for his soule, be crucifix on be here loosyd his
for him, the
crucifix stopped handys fro pe crosse, & stoppyd his eerys ~wyih his handys. pe
peple seyj pis, & merueyledyn sore, an holy preest prayid god 24
pe peple, to wyten what pat ment. A voys fro a-bouyn
seyde to hem : 'pis cursyd man wolde neuere for slauthe heryn
my woord, ne don per-after, ne heryn my seruyse in holy chercn
deuoutly ; perfore, his soule is in powere of feendys dampnyd. 28
perfore, myn ymage on J>e cros stoppyth his erys, to schewe 3011
[Fol. 37 b.] ]?at I, god, | stoppe myn erys in heuefD, Jat I here no prayere,
because God prayed for hym in holy cherche. perfore, prayeth no more for
would not hear
the prayers. hym, for he is dampnyd. 3 2
perfore, leuyth joure slouthe & ianglyng in tyme of goddys
1 Prov. xxxi. 19. a MS. in margin: 'Narraeio.'
CH. xvi.] The Story of an Angel who counted a Hermifs Steps. Ill
seruyse, & heryth it deuoutly, & goddys woord also : and Therefore,
attend holy
ellys god wyll no3t here prayerys in holy chercK, prayed service!
for $ow.
4 [The Angel wJio counted the Hermit's StepsJ\
j*
An hermyte 1 , in desert, fecchyd watyr euery day ferre fro A hermit
his celle. & he was wery for trauayle, &, for sluggynes &
slewthe, thoujte to haue esyd hym wyth schortere travayle,
8 & purposyd to haue sette his celle faste by be welle for to haue proposed to
have his cell
be more ese. he lokyd be-hynde hym. & sey? an auwgyl folewyn placed close to
a well, for
hym, & tellyn his steppys. e heremyte askyd hym what he Heater conve-
mente, & why he dyde so. be auwgyl seyde : ' I noumbre bi But when he
knew that an
12 steppys in pi trauayle 'for to schewyn be noumbre berof a- for ansei counted
his steps,
god ajens ]?e feend, J?at ]?ou ther-thrugh mowe haue mede in
heuen). for feendys noumbre J>e steppys of man & womman to
synne warde, & alle rownynges & ianglynges in dyvyn seruyse, , ^
16 for to schewe Ipe noumbre of hem a-for god to maraiys dampna-
cyou..' be heremyte flytted his celle fyve myle ferthere fro he carried his
cell five miles
J?e welle for to makyn J?e manyere steppys to haue Je more farther from
mede.
20 As be feend wryteth & noumbryth bi slauthe, slugnes, & Thy idle words
are counted by
ydelnes, idett woordys, ianglyng, & ]?i rownyng in cherche, the Devi),
& slepynge, & ydeft talys, and alle J?i synnes, & alle J>in euytt
dedys, for to more bi peyne in helle ; Ry3t so, auwgelys wryteth and thy good
deeds by an
24 & noumbryth Jji gode werkys, & Jn gode ocupacyouws, & ]?i good angel,
gostly trauayle, & alle Ipi steppys to cherche ward, }if Ipou occupye
J?e wel whyft J?ou art J^ere, & alle Y\ prayerys, & \>\ deuocyouns,
& J?in heryng of goddys woord, & of dyvyn seruyse, to encresyn
28 & to inoryn ]n mede in blysse. chese ]?ou J>araie, whethir )?ou
wylt be slawj & sluggy in goddys seruyse, in gode werkys, &
prayerys, & vsyn iaugelyng in cherche & be dampnyd; or, ellys,
to leve YI sleuthe, wyih perfy^t penauwce, & to ?yuen pe to gostly
32 trauayle of gode werkys, & of prayerys, & be sauyd in blysse.
here bou may chese ! jif bou chese to be dampnyd, wyte it Hence thou
inayest choose !
]?iself and nojt god !
1 MS. in margin : ' Narracio de heremita.'
112 The Last Parcel of Sloth. [CH. xvn.
C&pitulum xvij m .
De Accidia.
rriHE o]>er day, I told 3011 a parceft of be wose in sleuthe, & ^
-*- now I schal telle jou of be last parcell berof. I haue 4
told 3011 of vj. braimchys of slowthe bat lettyn begynnyng of
good lyif, & of obere vj. bat lettyn amendyng of lyif ; but now
The last parcel I schal tellvn 3ou of vi. obere braurochys bat brynsen a man to
of Sloth brings J *
a man to an euylt endyng. And bise vj. I clepe vj. fote brede of wose in be 8
last parcel! of slowthe.
1. Disobedience. II be firste of J>ise vj. is vnbuxomnes ; for bat makyth a man
nojt gladly to do penatmce pat be preest ioyneth hym. J>is
vyce makyth a mawnys herte hard & vnbuxom to god, & to holy 12
cherche 1 , & to his souereyne.
2. impatience. IF be secunde fote brede is vnpacyence, bat wyll lere a man
wrong, for )?at makyth a man Ipat he wyl nojt blethely here
[Pol. 38 a.] what he is worthy | for his synne. bis vyce puttyth a man fro 16
resouw, to sufifre ony-bing bat is ajens his wyli.
3. Grudging. 1T be thridde fote is grucchyng ; bat is, whawne a man doth
amys & is repreuyd, & he grucchyth ber-ajens, & thynketh men
don it for dyspy^t. 20
4. Over-sensi- 1[ be ferthe fote is heuynes, bat makyth a man to be gretly
bility. .
greuyd wytA ail bat men don to hym, or seyn, jif it plese
hym no^t.
5. Despondency. II be fyfte fote is langure, bat makyth a man to moornyn out 24
of mesure. bat comyth in-to a maraiys herte for sum dede bat
he hath don, & takyth so myche sorwe, bat he weryeth of his
lyif, & desyreth his deth.
6. Despair. 5[ be sexte is wanhope, bat makyth a man nojt to trusten in 28
goddys mercy ; for hym thynketh his synne is so myche, bat
he may neuere haue ibrjevenesse, & so, perauenture, he may sle
hym-self thru3 pe feendys combryng. And J>us may bise vj.
vyces brynge a man to euytt endyng. ffor bise fyve ferste wyll 33
1 MS. cher cherche.
CH. xvii.] Sloth leads to Despair. Simile of a Hungry Dog. 113
bryngen a man to be sexte. bat is. wanhope, and wanhope wyft The first five
parts bring a
makyn a man to holdyn hyinself so synfull & cursed, bat hym man to the last
tlcsptur.
thynketh bat he may nojt ben amendyd, & bat he is so feble,
4 bat he may wythstonde no tewptacyoim, but sufferyth be feend,
be world, & be flesch, to haue here wylle, & he folwyth aft here
lust in euery temptacyouw, nojt crying to god of helpe, but
demyth him-self to be dampnyd. he wyft no$t be schreuyn, ne
8 repentyn hym, ne cryin god mercy, he thynketh bat god were
vnryjtfuft, jif he jaf hym mercy, he heldyth it a gret foly to
prayin, or to fastyn, to jevyn almes, or to don ony good dede.
18 Seynt Jerom seyth, super Ps. Ixx., bat Judas trespacyd more whan Judas' suicide a
greater sin than
12 he hynge hym-self, banne whanne he betrayed crist, & dyspeyr his betrayal,
was cause bat he slewe him-self. berfore wanhope bat duryth
in be ende, & is nojt amendyd vfyih repentauwce, schal neuere be
for$evyn in bis world, ne in be oj>er world, Mat. 1 2. 1 secundum
1 6 doctors; but bat it schal be ponysched./ doctourys seyn f?at
be blysse of heuen) may no}t be get, wyt/t-outen gret frutefutl
laboure. for be peyne of helle is get wyth ydelnesse, & slauthe,
& in gret ese 2 . berfore, caste out Jn's wose of slowthe in alle Cast out Sloth,
20 his xviii. fote brede, tyl bou fynde & fele a syker ground, & bat solid ground
of spiritual
is gostly strengthe to werkyn well, to wytAstondyn synne, & to strength.
cluryn stylle in good lyif, & to suffre strongly alle aduersytes.
Thob v. 3 ' fforti animo esto, in proximo est, vt a deo cureris.'
24 ffor jif bou be slaw} & sluggy, bou art lyche an hungry dogge 4 . The lazy man
bi mowth hungreth gredyly delycasyes. ]>i tunge hungryth d K-
gredyly ydett woordys. bin handys hungryn gredyly foule
towchynges & foule werkynges. bin herte hungreth gredyly
28 werdly worschippes. bin erys hungryn gredyly newe tydynges,
slauwdrys, & lesynges, & iapys, & rybaldrye. bin ey3in gredyly J
hungryn to se vanytees. Prou. xxi. 5 'desideria occidwwt pig- y',()f[k
(& rum.' Slawthe sleth hym bat is slaw3- quid secundum Ps. 6
32 ' ffamem pacientwr vt [ canes ; id est pigri.' be feend, whawue [Fol. 38 b.]
1 Matt. xii. 32 (?). 2 MS. in margin : ' nota, de accidia.'
3 Tobit v. 13 ; Thob. corrected in margin for Joh. of the text.
4 MS. in margin : 'Accidiosws assimilatur cani fainelico.' This gloss
having been injured by the binder, is re-written by a later hand.
5 Prov. xxi. 25. Ps. Iviii. 7, 15.
I
114 Venial and Deadly Sins. Over skipped Verges and Idle Words. [CH. XVH.
The idle man is he fyndeth a man voyde in slowthe, he takyth vij. spyrites,
entered by the . .
Devil and the werse ban hym-self, pat is, be seuen) dedly synnes, & entryth
seven deadly
sins. bat ydel man, for he is so empty & voyde, wyt/t-outen gode
werkys. for jif lie were all fuft wytA gode vertuys, be feend & 4
dedly synnes myjte nojt entryn, ne dwellyn, in hym. but for
he is empty, berfore be feend, wyt/i dedly synnes, dwellyth in
hym. for be besaimt of grace is takyn fro hym bat hydeth it in
slowthe, & wytt no3t multiplyen it in gode werkys. Mat. xij . 1 8
Sloth, if pro- 3'if bou in bi slowthe hast heuynesse, & no lust in goodnes in
duced by
anguish, is no bin herte, but a manere of angwysch, ;if it be noat asens charyte
sin;
to god ne to man, but lettyth bi deuocyouw in bin herte, jif it
hut, if produced come of kynde, it is no syraie ; jif it come of bin owyn appetyte
by excessive
spiritual labour, for bi gostly trauayle, bof bat appetyte be of delyberacyouw, for
it is venial sin.
If it induces a fr consente to bat venyal synne, bi slauthe is bawne venyaft
man to neglect *
the means of synne. 5if bin heuynes be so sluggy, bat bou leve vusayd or
deadly sin. V ndo bat is nedemft to be heltli of bi saluacyourc, bawne is it 16
dedly synne ; or 3if it be nedefull to be saluacyouw of bi nejgh-
boure, it is dedly synne. jif it be omytted for heuynes &
sluggynesse, and }if bin heuynes brynge be in-to dyspayre, or
to sle bi-self, it is dedly syraie, bat heuynes. jif bin heuynes in ao
sleutt, in consent of bi resoiw and in full avysemewt, suffre bi
slugnes of bi flesch haue his powere aboue bi soule, & omytte,
or fle, or leue vneayde or vndon, or breke, ony goodnes bat bou
art bouwde to, in nede of saluacyouw of bi soule, as to be 24
comauralmentys | of god & of holy cherche, it is dedly synne.
The idle one the Slowthe makyth be be restyng place of be deuyl, for bou art be
pillow of the
IDevil. He is feendys pylwe. slowthe makyth be as a cyte vnwallyd, redy &
like a dis-
mantled town esy for alle eynnes & for alle feendys to entryn in-to bi soule. 28
open to all
fiends ; like a Slouthe 2 makyth be as a schetyng hyll, redy to be schett w?/t/t
hill for shooting
.ar^wroTtenp- ^ arW6 f 6U * r ^ tem P tac y uw -
Aation.
\_Fiends gather Overskipped Verses in a Sack, and write Idle
Words on a Scroll^] 32
Exaumple 3 . Jacobws de vitriaco tellyth bat an holy man 5|J
stood in cherch in a qwere, & seyj a feend beryng a gret saccheft
1 Matt. xii. 43-45. 2 MS. sche crossed. s MS. in margin : 'narracfo.'
CH. xvn.] Story of the Tempted Mcnks. 115
fuft of thyng. J)e feend, as be man askyd be feend what he
bare, be feend seyde : ' I bere in my sacche sylablys & woordys, A fiend gathered
overskipped
ouerskyppyd and synkopyd, & verse & psalmys be whiche verses in a ba^r,
4 bese clerkys han stolyn in be qweere, & haue fayled in her*
seruyse.'
fforsothe, banne I trowe be feend hath a gret sacche full
of 3oure ydell woordys, bat 30 iangelyn in cherche in slowthe.
8 ffor bis same clerk seyth bat be deuyl in a cherche wrote be and wrote on a
scroll the idle
woordys of be peple, whiche bei iangledyn & rownedyn in words spoken
cherch, & whan his scrowe was to lytel, he drewe it out, wytA service,
his teeth, broddere ; and in his drawyng he smote his heuyd
12 ajens be walle. An holy man sey3 bis, & askyd be feend why
he dyde so. be feend seyde : ' I wryte bise talys of be peple
in bis cherche, to recordyn hem a- fore god at be doom for here to show them to
dampnacyoufi, and my book is to narwe to wryten on alle here
1 6 talys; bei say so manye. berfore I drawe it out braddere, bat
none of here talys schulde be vnwretyn.'
I drede me pamie, be feend hath a gret book ajens 3<>u,
wretyn of %oure ianglynges in cherch, & }it 36 excusyn 3ow
ao bere-in, & seyn : ' me muste | speke to hym bat spekyth to me.' [Fol. 39 a.]
beth ware, & leuyth suche talys for dreed of god & for rewthe of Avoid talking in
church !
jowre soule ! forsakyth joure slowthe, & takyth be grouwd of
gostly strengthe, to trauaylen my3tely in prayerys, to duryn
24 my3tely in goodnes, to wythstonden my3tily temptacyouw, to
Bufferyn my3tyly aduersite & tribulacyouw. for pis strengthe
ouercomyth slowthe, & sauyth 3oure soule.
[The Devil tempting the Monks of Abbot Macarius.]
ffi, Exaumple '. Ex \itis patrum. Macharye, be Abbot, sey3 The Devil, in a
man's attire,
20 sathan, be deuyl. in maraiys wede, & his clothyng was lyneri), went to a
monastery to
& full of spayerys, & in euery spayere hyng a crewett. pe abbot
seyde to hym : ' whider gost bou 1 ' be feend seyde, ' I go to
32 enpoysen) pi bretheryu, ]>i muwkys.' be abbot seyde, ' why
beryst bou so many crewettys 1 ' be feend answerde, ' I bere
1 MS. in margin : ' narracio.'
I 2
116
Moral of the Story of the Tempted Monks.
[CH. XVII.
One only suc-
cumbed ;
in iche crewett enpoysouw of dyuerse temptacyouw, Ipat, who-so
wyll nost drynken of on, he wyll drynken of an-o]?er.' Je feend
wente, & kam ajen be Makarye. Macharye seyde, ' feend, how
hast j?ou sped ? ' J>e feend seyde : ' Tpi mwikys are so occupyed 4
in gostly prayerys, & so stronge in here gode werkys durynge,
f>at none of hem wyll drynken of my crewettys of temptacyouws,
saaf one of hem. he hath drunkyn of my crewett of euyft
thoujtys, of slepyng, of iangelyng, of ydelnes, of slugnesse, of 8
heuynes, & of lustys. so he hath drunkyn of vj. of my
crewettys, & hym I haue full enpoysonyd in slawthe, & I haue
wonnyn hym.' "pe abbot rose vp, & wente to ]?at munke Ipat
was so ouercoinyn of J)e feend, & turnyd hym fro slowthe be his 1 2
holy techyng. Ipe feend kam asen be ]?e abbot, & ]?e Abbot seyde,
5 ffeend, whedyr gost Ipou. now 1 ' Ipe feend seyde, ' I go ajen to
J>i mwikys, to lokyn jif I may enpoysen) ony mo ]?an I dede
last.' Ipe feend wente, & kam ajen be Ipe abbot. j?e abbot 16
seyde, ' deuyl, how hast ]?ou sped now ? ' )?e feend seyde :
' I haue sped myche J?e werse for e. for alle j?i munkys arn
so myjty in here goodnes, ]?at I spede nojt in hem. & jit, thrugfi
]?i couwseyl, ]>e muroke J?at was myn is turnyd fro me, & is 20
holyerc J>an ony of his bretheryn.'
here je may se \>ai ;e Ipat heryn nojt futt dyvyn) seruyse in
jowre parysc^-cherche, but a morwemasse, & gon & fyllen jowr
bely ; & je \>at come to late to cherch, sum-tyme vnethe to 24
masse ; & je ianglerys & sleperys in cherche, how 56 haue
drunkyn of )?e deuelys crewettys, & arn enpoysouwed in slowthe,
\>at no lyif of sweete deuocyoun ne gostly gladnesse is in jou,
but dedly heuynes, & angwyscn, & vnlust. and Jwfore, no 28
schryfte, no prechyng, no repreuyng, no syknesse, ne J?e scourge
of god, no dreed, no schame, no drede of goddys vengeauws, no
dreed of Ipe deuyll, ne dreed of dampnacyouw, ne desyre of
heuenJ-blysse, may rayse jow vp fro deth of slowthe to ]?e lyif of 32
deuocyouw & of amendment. 50 be soryly deed wyth }>e poysoun.
So may you, too, of be feend ; ait. as be muwke enpoysonyd \vyth be feend was
yet be cured
raysed fro deth of slowthe, & curyd wytn tryacle of techynge be
and even he
was converted
by his abbot's
teaching.
CH. xvn, xviii.] Covetousness. Simile of the Porcupine. 117
be abbot Macharie to be lyif of deuocyoim, & after was holyere
| ban ony of his bretheryn ; Ryjt so, in be reuerens & in be [Fol. 39 b.]
vrtu of cristes passyouw, and in vertu of his precyows deth,
4 takyth pe tryacle of my techyng in-to Ipe stoinak of joure soule, by my teaching.
& dooth ber-after ! & je schal be raysed fro deth of slouthe to
lyif of deuocyouw, & ben holyere after ban summe bat were nojt
so slaw} to god. & bus 36 schal be sauyd fro be feend & be
8 peyne of helle to god, joure saueoure, & to be kyngdam of
heuen) ! To be whiche &c.
Capitulum xviij.
De Cupiditate.
HE olper day, I told sow of be wose of slowthe ; now I schal The 'ooze of
_ COVETOlJS-
13 -*- telle jow of be wose of coueytise. Coueytise is a vyce NESS. 1
bat rewlyth loue to wordly catetl, whiche loue man hath of
vntrust & vnsykernesse to god, for dreed of pouert, wenyng bat
1 6 god & be world schulde faylen hym, but jif he gaderyd myche
muk to hepe. A coueytous man is lyche to an yrchon l . Ipe The covetous
man like a por-
yrchon) goth, wy\h hise scharpe pryckys, to gaderyn hym a gret cupine which
hurde of applys, thynkynge in his kynde Ipai his lyiflode schulde with its prickles
20 faylen hym, but jif he gaderyd hym to-gedere a gret hepe of
frute. Ryjt so, Ipe coueytous man goth, wyih manye scharpe hoards up
money by means
sleyghtys & sotyltees of falsnes, & gaderyth hym an hurde of of sharp devices,
erthly good on hepe, wenyng ellys bat god & all be worlde
24 schulde faylen hym, but yi he had swiche an hepe to-gydere
of werdly muk. & swyche an hepe of tresoure is happely in pe
feendys kepyng, and swiche keperys arn seruauwtt/s of pe feend,
vt per Cistrencem in suo policronicon 2 li&ro vij., he seyth pere
28 bat a feend was seen kepere of kyng Rychardys chaumbre & of
his tresoure, gaderyd on hepe. berfore crist, Mat. vj. 3 , seyth :
.
1 MS. in margin : ' cupidtw assiwiilfttwr iricia. no<a, qware.'
8 Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden Monachi Cestrensis, ed. J. Rawson
Lumby, in Rer. Brit. M. JEi. Script. 41, vol. viii, p. 142.
3 Matt. vi. 19.
118
Fiend Mammon. Similes of the Otter and the Fox. [CH.
The fiend
Mammon.
Gadere }ow no}t to-gydere on hepe to myche werdly tresour in
erthe, for je mowe nojt to-gedere seruyn god & Ipe feend to
plesaurcs. ' Non potestis deo seruire & mawmone V dictt Gre-
gorius. Mammona is a feend bat is kepere & lord of erthly 4
ryches & cateil, whiche feend $e seruyn to plesauws, & nojt 5oure
god, whan }e gaderyn on hepe in excesse suche wordly good.
Seynt Poule seyth, Ad Tymoth vj. 2 , Ryjt noujt we browjtyn
in-to bis world, &, wyih-onte dowte, no-thyng schal we beryn 8
out fro bis world in oure ende. haue we cure lyiflode, &
clothyng to be wryed Vfyih, helde we vs payid ! ffor bei bat
wyllyn be ryche fallyn in temptacyouns, & in-to grynnes of
Ipe deuytl, & in-to manye noyouse desyres. berfore, he seyth, n
Covetousness is coueytise is rote of all synues. As be ottyr sleth fyscfi, &
the root of all . i . * i
sins. gaderyth it on hepe in-to his hole tyl it stynketh, for he
wenyth neuere to haue ynow ; and bawne, for stynche, he is
syke, & deyith ; Ryjt so, be coueytows man gaderyth rychesse 16
on hepe in-to his coffyre, and bawne it stynkyth to god in heuen)
& to alle seyntes, & his name, for fals getyng of good, stynkyth
ouyr all his cuntre. ysidre seyth 3 , A fox is a dysseyuable
beeste, & rathere he deuowryth & sleth tame bestys ban wylde. 20
Eyjt so, be coueytous man is as a fox, for he, vryih dysseyjtye,
vfyi h false othys & auncei ys, & false weyjta/s & mesurys, harmyth
& hynderyth more symple folk, bat arn his neyghbouryg & kan
[Pol. 40 a.] no wyles, ban he doth strauwgerys, bat | arn slye & als wyly as 24
he. Mat. vij. foxis haue here deraiys, and whan bei ben
As the fox bere-in, bei hope pat bei ben in a syker castel. but when be
thinks himself '
safe in his den, huntere comyth sodeynly, & delvyth hym owt, panne are pei
so the avaricious slayn wyth hondys. Ry?t so, be coueytous man, whil he is in 28
man relies upon
his riches, his erthely muk, hym thynketh he is in a syker castel, & berfore
he kepyth him stylle in his den of erthly ryches, & wytt no3t
till the hunter, bere-fro, tyl be huntere comyth, deth, & deluyth hym out of bat
up. muk, bat [is], deluyth his soule out of his erthely body, banne 32
schal bat soule, wrechyd & nakyd, wt/tA-outyn couert, ben all for-
rent vryth helle-ratchys, bat arn feendys. Seynt Thomas & Albert ^
1 Matt. vi. 24. a i Tim. vi. 7-10.
3 Etymologiarium Isidori Higpalensis, lib. xii. Migne, Patr. Lat. torn. 82.
The covetous
man is like an
otter,
or a fox.
CH. xviii.] Two Manners of Acquiring Wealth. 119
in conpench'o theoZogie, liftro iij. de auaricia 1 . bei seyn : A man Two manners
J . of gathering
may gadere to-gydere rychesse on two manerys. o manere is wealth :
whawne he gaderyth good ryjtfully & in mesure, to bat entent to maintain one 's
4 rewle him-self & his meyne pere-wyth in resonable manere, & to J!^! ieve the
rewle ber-wyth also obere bat arn in myscheef, pouert, & nede ;
and bis coueytise is nedefull, lawfuft, leffuft, & medefuft. seynt
Austyn seyth, whos woordys arn rehersyd in be lawe, xij. q. j.
8 'ha&ebat dowumis V Ipat crist bare pursys \vyth monye,for to releue
bere-wytA pe pore peple. An-oper manere of gaderyng rycches 2. for money's
is pis, whan pou gaderyst to kepe muk, vnry3tfully & falsely
gett, or out of mesure, powj it be trewly gett, nojt for entent
12 to helpyn pe & pine in mesure pere-wyt^., & pe poore, but for to
haue ]?erin ]?i dely3te, ]?i lust & lykyng, in ]?e sy3t & in ]?e
kepyng, or ellys to be }>er-vryih prowde ryatt a wastoure, or
for to ouer-ledyn Jer-wyth J?i neyjbours, or to maynten) ]?ere-
16 wyth ]?i-self in ]?i synne. J?is coueytise is wycked & synful in
dedly synne. beth ware, & castyth out bis wose !
bis wose of coueytise is thre sqware. be firste sqware is The 'ooze of
Covetousness '
angwysch & desyre in coueytise in be herte, to haue, or to pur- is triangular:
One corner is
20 chase, wordly ryches, powj pou haue no good. & so in pis sqware covetous desire,
in coueytise synnen poore manye on bat may no good gete.
An-ober sqware of bis wose in coueytise is straythed in another avarice,
kepyng ryches, whan it arn gaderyd in hepe, nojt suffryng bo
24 to be dysposyd to be nedefuft, ne to be leffutt & medefull
werkys, but vfyih euyl wyft & heuynesse of herte.
be thridde sqware of wose in coueytise is to encrese & to the third greedi-
ness,
moryn alwey bi rycches, in getyng, in purchasyng, for bat
28 entent to haue pi lust & bi delyte berin, & nojt to lessyn hem
in leffuft causys. Alt bis thre square of bis wose in coueytise
arn rote of aft wyckydnes. Ad tymoth vj. 3 ' Radix omnium
maloraw est cupiditas 3 .'
32 bis thre sqware of wose in coueytise is xiij. 4 fote brede in The thirteen
parts of Covet-
wose, pat arn, mawmetrye, Ambycyoun, nygardschipp), tresouw, ousness.
1 Cf. p. 91, note 2.
2 cap. 17. Causa 12. quaestio i [Corpus Jur. Canon, i. 683].
3 i Tim. vi. 10. * MS. thre crossed, and corrected in margin.
120 The Parts of Covetoitsness. Idolatry, Ambition. [CH. xvm.
gouyll, symonye, raneyne, sacrilege, fals chalange, & wyked-
nesse, fals marchauralyse, craft of foly, & foly play,
i. idolatry, be firste fote brede of bis wose in coueytise is mawmetrye * ; (ft/
i.e. to set one's
heart more on bat is, whawne bou settyst more bin herte on bi good, bi catel, 4
wealth than on r
God - bi gokle, bi syluer, & on bin erthely muk, ban on bi god; &
whanS) bou art more wylly to trauayle for wordely lucre, for
loue of gold & of monye, ban for loue of god ; & whawne bou
delytest often to se or to handelyn, to tellyn or to schewyn, 8
bi tresoure, or to makyn avauwtyng of bi good, for to be seen
[Pol. 40 b.] ryche. & 3if bou | haue no good, bou moornyst & sorwyst berfore,
& art more heuy ban }yf bou fell in dedly synne ; and whawne
bou getyst good, & hast it, bou art [more] glad ban of vertewys 12
& of helthe of soule ; & whanne bou lesyst bi good, bou art more
sory ban whan bou lesyst bi soule fro god in dedly synne. & alle
bise is mawmetrye, bat is, worschepyng of false goddys ; for bi
gold & bi muk bou makyst bi god. Ephes. v. 2 ' Auaricia est 16
ydolorara seruitws.' glosa : ' Auarus facit aurum deum suum.'
kyng Ezechie, for be gret delyjte bat he hadde to schewyn his
tresour to folk of babilonye, to ben holdyn ryche & ryall, ber-fore
god sufferyd afterward be folk of babylonye to robbyn him of 20
all bat he hadde, in punyschyng hym of bat gret delyte bat he
hadde in his rychesse. Isidorws de summo bono, lioro 3. c. xxiij.,
he seyth, bat god suffryth many ryche men in be world to be
robbyd, for be gret delyjt bat bei haue in here werdly good, & 24
for here bostyng ber-of. berfore, dam'd 3 seyth : jif rycches come
to jow plentevously, settyth nojt ywre, herte beron. ' Diuicie
si affluant, nolite cor apponere.'
.Ambition; be secwwde fote brede of wose of coueytise is AmbycyouJi 4 ; 28
]?at is, whan bou desireet to ben in hye estate, in hye degre, in
hye worschip), to ben hye avauwsyd, to ben holdyn gret, worthy,
& ryche, & ryall; & wharaie bou vsyst cawtelys & sleyjtys for
to come to swyche worschippe ; & in 3euyng jiftys berfore, & in 3 2
plesyng, & in flateryng, & seruyng lordys, & in trauayling sore
for hem in here seruyse, for bat entent to ben avauwsyd, or to ben
1 MS. in margin : ' ydolatr*a.' 2 Ephes. v, 5.
- 1 Ps. Ixi. ii. * MS. in margin : ' Ambicfo.'
CH. xviii.] Niggardliness. 121
enhauwsyd to heye estatys ; & in makyng ]>e ryche & ryal wyth
opere mewnys godys, & nojt wyllyng to jeldyn hem, for to kepyn
]?e in pin hy^e estate & worschipjD. ]?erfore, Gregorie seyth, \\bro
4 xx. moroZmm super prtmum textum,' qui rodebant in solitudiwe 1 ,'
pat two manere of folk arn longyng to J)is ambycyouw. sumrne some pursue it
by jlflittGryj
flateryn & plesyn wytA pe tunge, for to ben haimsyd in hyje
estate. & summe seuyn here myst & here entent to raueyn others by un-
scrupulously
8 & extorcyouws, to ben enhauwsyd, \ryih of>ere mennys good, to enriching them-
hey3ere degre.
pe thredde fote brede of wose of coueytise is nygardschippe ; 3-. Niggard-
J>at is, whanw ]?ou hast ynow, & sparyst it out of resouw nou3t
12 nedy; &, j^ow^ ry3t harde, & spendyng lytel in good vse, ne
hauyng no rewthe ne pyte on be pore, lyteft or ryst noust i.e. being un-
charitable
seuyng to pe nedefutt for goddys loue. but in wast, in syrane, towards the
' poor, but lavish.
& in euyl vse, spendyng pi good in howsyng, in clothyng, in m ever y otller
1 6 lustys, in delycacyes, in ryott, in reveft, in jyftes, in presentys
to hem pat han non nede, & to J>i kyn, & in superfluite & in
excesse of feestys, & in kepyng vytayle so longe tyl it han
perysched & lost in stynkyng & rotyng, in sowryng, in mowlyng,
20 or lost wyt/t mathys, in clothys lost wytA motthys & wytA myjs,
& in kepyng monye in exces, tyl it be ruste-fretyn, where-wytA
manye pore folk myjte a be relevyd & holpyn. pi rust-fretyn
monye, pi vitayles perysched, j?i mothe-fretyn clothys, schal
34 accusyn pe a-fore god at ]?e dreedfutt dome, & schal askyn
|3 vengauwie on ]?e ! Jacobus v. 2 And seynt bernard seyth : Pore
men schul aske vengeauwce on pe a-fore be rystfull iuge. bat The niggard
. will be accused
myjte haue be releuyd wyth bi rust-fretyn monye, vryth bi by the poor in
' the day of judg-
28 vytayles perysched, wyih J?i mothe-etyn clothis, & were nojt ment -
holpyn Iperwyth. J?erfore, holy wrytt seyth, ecc). xiiij. 3 , to
a coueytous nygard is jouyn good vfyih-oute resouri and cause,
for it profy3teth neythir hym ne opere. perfore, Tobye tawjte
32 his sone, iiij c 4 , & seyde : Of pi good 3yue almes, turne Jn face Give alms,
fro no po-]re man, ]?at god turne nojt his face fro J>e. as ]?ou [Fol. 41 a.]
mayst so be mercyfutt, ;if j?ou haue myche, jyue J?ou plentyvously ;
1 Job xxx. 3. 3 James v. 2, 3.
3 Ecclesiasticus xiv. 3. * Tobit iv. 7.
122
Treason. Dishonest Tithing. Usury.
[CH. XVIII.
for the sake of
thy salvation !
4. Treason
committed for
lucre.
Dishonest
tithing.
5. Usury,
which is of 12
kinds :
to let to use
with,
or without, a
covenant ;
jyf Jwu haue lytel, gladly jeue \>o\n part Iperof to f>e poore.
Almes delyueryth of euery synne & fro deth of soule, for it
suffryth uo;}t soulys to gon in-to therknesse of helle.
pe fertile fote brede of wose in coueytise is tresoim ; pat is, 4
whan pou art fals to hym Ipat pou schuldyst be trewe to, for
coueytise, as Judas, whan he solde crist for xxx d. as a fals
traytowre, Mat. xxvj. 1 Bede seyth : Alle pat beryn fals wytnes
a3ens here neyhbours, for coueytise, in ony dome, arn Judas- 8
felawys, & don tresouw, for pey sellyn crist, pat is, trewthe ; sicwt
recitatw xi. q. iij. ' Abiit iudas V Ryjt so, wharme pou art
lying, or falsly sweryng, or in ony oper fraude dysseyvyng pi
bropr for ony wynnyng, or dost ony falsnes or wrong, or heldyst 12
ajens trewthe, pou dost tresourc, & sellyst trewthe, pat is, c?-ist.
whan f>ou art fals for coueytise to fadyr or modyr, lord or
mayster, or to ony oper gostely or bodyly frend, ]?ou dost
tresoun, for J>ou denyest trewthe as Judas dyde, & art fals, 16
secundum Abuile 3 . whawne pou falsly tythyst, in jeuyng J)i
tytbe to hym Ipat schulde nojt haue it, or in wytAholdyng pi
tythe fro hym pat schulde haue it, or falsly in tythyng to lytel,
or in tythyng pe werse for pe bettere, or in tythyng ry3t uojt of 20
swyche thynges as owyn to be tythed, or in stelyng pe tythe,
panne art J>ou Judas-felawe, pat stale f>e tythe part of pat pat
come to pe comoun purs of crist. Joh xij . 4 So pou stelyst pe
tythe pat longyth to goddys part, ]?ou art fals traytowr to god 24
& to holy cherche, secundum Abuile.
pe fyfte fote brede of wose in coueytise is govytt. pis gouytt is
xij ynche thycke 5 . pe firste inche in pis fote brede of gouytt is
whanne j?ou lenyst, & of couenauwt takyst encres for pi lenyng ; 28
for, Imt pou }elde pat encres ajen, pou schalt haue peyne j^erfore.
ex^ra de vsurt's c p 6 ; & c 'Conquest/^* 7 .' pe secunde inche in pis
fote of gouyl is whanne pou takyst for pi lenyng encres, vfyih-
oute couenauwt of curtesye; but pou rewarde it in pe dette, fou 32
1 Matt. xxvi. 15.
2 cap. 83. Causa n. quaestio 3 [Corpus Jur. Canon, i. 666],
3 Cf. p. 5, note. 4 John xii. 6.
5 MS. in tipper margin ' Note de xij. gradibws vsure. I. vsura.'
cap. I. X. de usuris 5. 19 [ii. 811]. 7 Ibid. cap. 8. [ii. 813].
CH. xviii.] Twelve Kinds of Usury. 123
( schalt haue be wretthe of god. ffor alle men schulde lenyn for
loue of god, & no}t takyn bcrfore. be thridde inche in Hs gouytt to accept the
inheritance ofl
is whan bou hast a thyng bat bi frend gat wyth gouyft, be anything pot
with usury \
4 whicn is deed ; be it fadyr or modyr, wyif or chyld, jif bou
wytte bat he gat it wyth gouylt, bou muste raakyn asethe 1 berfore,
and ellys bou art gylty as he bat dyde be dede. be ferthe inche
of bis fote in gouyl is whanne bou hast a seruaunt bat takyth to practise
_ , , /. . i i j , , usury through
8 gouyn to bin vse ; }if bou be wel plesyd berwyth, bou art a servant ;
to let out en-
mayster vsurere. be fyfte inche in bis fote of gouyft is whan trusted money ;
bou lenyst a man for vsurye be monye bat an-ober toke be to
kepe, or jif bou borwedyst it to lene for encres, bou art a
1 2 dycyple vsurere. be sexte inche of bis fote of gouytt is whawne to advance the
bou sellyst ony- thyng be derrere to lene it to a day, $if bou thing sold on
t credit>
allowe it no3t in be paying, bat 2 bou hast takyn more ban bou
woldyst to haue ben payid in hande, be vij. inche of be fote
16 brede of gouytt in coueytise is whanne bou sellyst a thyng to or to a person
who stands in
him bat hath nede to byen it, & may no5t forbere it, & bane urgent need of
bou sellyst it to double price ; aft bat bou sellyst it more aboue,
more ban bou woldyst sellyin it to au-ober man, it is gouyft. be
20 viij. inche of bis fote brede of go- 1 vytl is wharaie bou seest an- [Fol. 41 b.]
ober haue nede to selle corn or othir thyng, er tyme were, & bou corn-jobbery;
byest it at lyjt price to paye longe a-forn. & be corn schal
a-byde tyl a day, & bou knowyst wel bat bi corn schal be myche
24 derrere at bat day ban whan bou bowjtyst it. & yf bou at bat
day paye hym no more, after be price is resyn, bou takyst
gouylt. be ix. inche of bis fote brede of gouyl is whawne bou
lenyst monye for a rente iu morgage, & takyst be profyjt berof, lending upon ]
28 tyl be day come of payment, and paraie bou takyst ajen bin hole
payment, & rewardyst nojt bat bou hast takyn berof. be x.
inche of bis fote brede of gouyft is whamie bou wyt^-holdyst withholding a '
pawn beyond a
a wedde bat is leyd to a day, be-cause be ownere payeth nojt at fixed term
32 his day ; al-bow} be couenaunt were so, 3it, }if be wed be better
ban be dette, but bou restore it to be awnere, or jif bou vse a
wed bat is leyd be, tyl bou be payed, jif it be appeyrid, but bou
rewarde als myche, whan bou art payed, it is govyft. be xj. inche
1 MS. a selht, '* f>nt refers to it, not to payin;/.
124
Laws and Canons against Usury.
[CH. XVIII.
partaking of the
profit of a busi-
ness, without
sharing the
losses ;
forcing a man
to work without
pay as interest
for a loan.
Laws and
canons against
usury.
Cast out these
five parts of
Covetousness !
of pis fote brede of gouyl is whanwe pou takyst monye to
a marchauwt, in couenaimt to haue halfe wynnyng & pi monye
neuere-pe-les, but pou make couenaimt to stande to half losse &
to half cost. pe xij. inche of pis fote brede of gouyli is whan 4
pou lenyst syluer or catell to a pore man, & pawne puttyst him
to trauaylen in pi werkys, & ellys pou woldyst no}t lenyn hym,
& alowyst hym no3t for his trauayle. or }if pe pore man may
no$t paye pe at his day, pou byndest hym be lawe to werke wytA 8
J?e ; & for a peny of dette, pou takyst two penyworth of werke.
A gouelere doth ajens pe old lawe. Ps. 1 ' Domtne, quis ha&itabit in
tabernacwlo tuo 1 ' ' Qui pecuniam suam now dedit ad vsuram.' JF
A gouellere doth ajens pe newe lawe in pe gospel. ' Mutuum 1 2
date nichil inde sperantes 2 .' A gouelere doth ajens pe byddyng
of alle seyntes. xiiij. q. iij. 3 , & iiij. q. v. per iotum *. A gouelere
doth ajens J?e constitucyouws of J?e lawe of holy cherche. Extfra
de usuris 5 . He doth ajens pe constitucyouns of lawe cyuyle. 16
xiiij. q. v. c ' Quid dicam/ in glossa 6 . A gouelere is a
raueynere, for he stelyth his soule fro god to pe deuyl, & rauys-
schyth oj?ere men falsely of here godd, as seynt Ambrose seyth,
& recitatwr xiiij. q. iiij. c. ' Si quis V A gouelere is a turmentour 20
of goddys pore peple, as seynt Austyn seyth, & recitatw xiiij.
q. iiij. ' Quid dicam V A gouelere is a theef, for his gouylt is
verryly thefte. xiiij. q. v. ' Penale V A gouelere is chyld of pe
deuyl, for he folwyth pe fendys werkys, for gouyl & oper synne 24
makyth man pe feendys chylde. de penitencia distinccio j. c
' hoc idem ' in fme 9 , & c ' Omwis qui odit 10 .' A gouelere is
most cursyd abouyn alle marchauwtys & chapmen; secundum
crl&ostomum. 28
perfore, castyth out of 3oure pytt of joure herte pis fyve fote
1 Ps. xiv. i, 5. * Luke vi. 35.
3 cap. 14. Causa 14. quaestio 3 [Corpus Juris Canonic! i. 734 sq.].
Probably to be : c. 1-5. C. 14. qu. 5 [C. J. C. i. 738 sq.].
X. de uBuris 5. 19 [C. J. C. ii. 81 1 sq.].
c. II. C. 14. qu.4[C. J. C. i. 738]. T c. 4. C. 14. qu. 4 [C. J. C.i. 736].
c. 13. C. 14. qu. 5 [C. J. C. i. 741].
c. 32 D. i. de poenitentia (?) [C. J. C. ii. 1165].
." c. 37 D. i. de poenitentia (?) [C. J. C. ii. 1167].
CH. xvin.] Story of the Gardener cured of Avarice. 125
brede of wose in coueytise, bat arn, Mawmetrie, Ambycyoun,
nygardschip), tresouw, & gouyft, Vfyih aft his xij. inchys in
. thyknes. But obere fyve fote brede of wose in bis coueytise,
4 I schal telle }ou an-ober day.
But for be conclusiowi of bis proces,
[The Gardener cured of Avarice.]
(9 I rede in vitis patrum bat a gardynere aaf to pore folk aft A gardener, who
had been charit
8 bat he myst spare of his trauayle, passyng Ins streyst lyinode, able all his life,
' became avari-
but in his age he dredde pouerte, & to ben bedrede, no}t trustyng clous in his old
fuft bat god schulde kepyn hym in his age as he dede in
his | jouthe. he lefte almes-dede, & jaf hym full to coueytise, [Fol. 42 a.]
12 & gaderyd hym to-gedere a gret summe of monye. banne feft on He got a sore
foot, which was
his fote a maladye, bat it rotyd, & in lechecraft he spendyd aft to be ampu-
bat he had gaderyd. bawne a leche told hym bat his foot muste
be smyten of be be kne, for bere was non ober bote. On be
1 6 nyjt be-forn bat his foot schulde be smyten of, be gardynere, in
his bed, sayde to hym-self wepyng: ' whyle I gaf almes, I was But he repented
heyl in alle my lymes, to getyn my lyiflode, & now, in my
coueytise, I am lame, and to-morwyn my rotyn foot schal be
20 smyten of. my monye is spent ber-aboute, I am a beggere.
Alias, bat euer gadryd I monye on hepe, to trustyn bere-vpon,
& lefte myn almesdede ! god, I crye pe mercy ! whil my trust
was in be, I ferde wel ; whawne I trustyd in my werdly good,
24 I ferde euyft, & bat is now sene in me ! ' In bis mowrnyng, an
aungyl coin) to hym, & seyde : ' where are now alle bi pense
& pi noblys bat bou gadredyst 1 where is bin hope & pi trust
bat bou haddyst in bi muk ? ' be gardynere seyde : ' I haue
28 synned ! I crye god mercy ! I truste no longere in wordly
ryches, I hope in god ! ' be aungyl towchyd his foot, & it was and was cured
, by the touch of
hool. be leche coin) on be morwe to smyten of his fote, & fonde an angel's hand.
hym goyng at be plowj, for he had founde a bettyr leche
32 pan him.
bus faryn nygardys & coueytouse men. bey levyn almes, for So fare avarici-
ous men.
dreed of pouert in age. pey gaderyn to-gydn? myche muk,
126 Life ami Death of the Avaricious. Simony. [CH. xvm, xix.
Their foot, i.e. & truste more ber-on ban on god. berfore here fote, bat is,
their love, is
sore with covet- here loue rotyth in coueytise, bat bei loue no3t god, ne holy
chercfi, ne pore peple, ne truthe, ne vertue. here ey3e is blynde,
for bei se no3t how god takyth vengau?is on hem in here good, 4
bat it wastyth awey, & hath no grace in here ende, to turne hem
to profyjt. bey se no3t how god smyt hem in here body, wyth
sykenes & tribulacyoim. bei be deef also ; bei here no3t be voys
of be poore peple, ne be techyng of goddys woord. bei be 8
crokyd in here handys, nojt wyllyng to werke wel, to serue god
in dewe tyme, ne bei wyl no3t, whan be auragyl, be prechoure
of goddys woord, techyth hem, seyn as be gardynere sayde :
'lord, I haue synned, & I schal no more!' for 3if bey dyde 12
so, here foot of loue, be ey3e of here mynde, be handys of here
werkys, schuldyn be curyd & hole fro fals coueytise, to seruyn
& lovyn god & man, & to don almes-dede, & to purchasyn
vertewys to lyuen berby in grace here, & in blysse in here ende. 16
but bei be so obdurate in here coueytise, bat be more bat god
smyteth hem, w?/tA his wreche, be more bey rotyn in here foot
of loue fro god ward, & be slawlyere gon to goddys seruyse, &
be werse kepyn be halyday & goddys comauwdmentys, tyl deth 20
Therefore, they comyth, & bawne bei deyin gracelesly. berfore, it were good to
ought to amend.
hem, as be gardynere to crye god mercy & to amendyn hem, bat
bei my3t be curyd fro here rotyn coueytise to almes-dede, \ryth
grace of penauwce, bat in here ende bei my3te come to be blysse 24
of heuene. Ad qwod &c.
C&pitulum xix m .
De cupiditate.
T
riHE ober day, I told 3<>u of v. fote brede of be wose of <&
coueytise ; now schal I telle 30 w of obere v. fote brede of 29
bat coueytise.
I. Simony; be firste fote brede of )ns wose is Symonye l . bis fote brede
1 M.S. in margin ' Symonia.'
CH. xix.] Six Kinds of Simony. It a Origin. 127
of symonye is vj. inche thycke. [The firste inche is] whanne its six kinds :
pou leryd man jevyst jiftes for to ben orderyd. An-oper inche is ? r ' ii ?2 tio ?u >b "
whan pou jeuyst mede, or byest a benefyse, cherche, or pro- b u^
4 uendre, fre chapelt, or chaimtrye, | for temperaft lucre, or jeuyst [Pol. 42 b.]
to him pat pou owyst dette to, or for frenschip, but ry^t noujt
for charyte. pe thridde inche is chauwgyng of benefyce, as to exchange of
prebends ;
chaungyn a more & a lesse, & he pat hath pe lesse schal haue
8 bote. pe ferthe inche is in eleccyouw of prelacye or dygnite. election to a
for whan a college or a couent schal chesyn here prelate, thrugh
proyere or procuryng of a lord, pei schal chese one j?at is
onworthy. be fyfte inche is comyng in-to relygiouw be procur- or admission to
a convent ob-
13 yng or be pray ere, for profyjt or for hope of here kyn to be tained by the
J intervention of
couent, & nojt princypally arn receyvid for charyte. pe vj. inche a patron;
is in schewyng of goddys woord or in mynystryng of sacrament.
for he bat wyl no;t preche goddys woord, but he be payid for his payment of
priests tot
1 6 trauayle, or pe preest j?at wyft nojt synge masse, or heryn con- ministering the
fessioun., or jyuen pe housyft or opere sacramentys, wt/t^-oute
mede ; aft pis is symonye, pat is to sayn, jif pou bygge or selle
}?ise gostly thinges forsayde, in couenau?it made beforn, and f>e
20 preest wyll no3t don it, but he haue his couenauwt. but jif pou The acceptation
of devout gifts
jyue, or take, monye or jiftes, nou3t in couenauwt made, but for no simony.
devocyouw for helpe of pi soule & of pi freendys in name of
almes, in helpyng to pe lyvyng of J?e preest ; pat is no symonye,
2 4 but it is deuocyouw & mede to pe ]?at doost it, & to hem pat
f>ou dost it fore, ffor pou perby steryst hem pat pou 3euyst it
to, to pray for pe & for hem pat pou jeuyst it fore, pow3 it be in
schryfte, or housyft, or in weddyngges, or in massys, or in ' Placebo
28 & dirige,' or in opere prayerys. but jif pe preest wyl nojt don
it, but he knowe his couenauwt, & be syker what he schal haue,
panne is it symonye. Symon magws began pis symonye. Acta Origin of
viij. c . 1 Summe come to pe kyng Jeroboam, & jevyn jyftes, pat
32 pei myjte ben his preestys. he took redyly po 3iftes, & pat was
cause of his vndoyng. iij Regum xiij. 2 Gyezi, Ipe seruaunt of
hel} T se pe prophete, was a meseft, for he took swiche jiftes.
iij Regum v. s
1 Acts viii. 18. * I Reg. xiii. 33. 3 II Reg. v. 20 sqq.
128 Theft and its Five Kinds. [CH. xi
II. Theft and be seeunde fote brede of wose in pis coueytise is thefte & 1
Five kinds of raveyn. half )>is fote is thefte, & pis is .v. inche thycke. pe
i open theft ^ rs ^ ^ nc ^ ie ^ 3 o PJ n thefte ; pat is, whann) pou opynly, thrugK
wyll, canst stele, and often hauwtyst it, to susteyne pe & pine, & 4
were worthy, be londys lawe, to be hangyd. pe secunde inche
2. secret theft ; of pis half fote l brede of wose is pryve thefte ; pat is, whanii) pou
takyst ony thyng priuely pat is noujt pin, & prmely heldyst it
as pin owyn, and jit pou art holdyn a trewe man, but pou art 8
3. insidious a prevy theef. be thridde inche thycke in bis half fote wose
theft, com-
mitted by of coueytise is couert thefte ; pat is, whan pou hast kepyng of
pi lordys godys as baly, sergeawit, or reve, J?at reknyst lesse pi
receytys pan pin expensys so slyly, pat pe lord is in pi dette 12
pere pou schuldyst ben in reragys. pus slyly pou stelyst pi
wives, lordys rent in couert thefte. Also a wyif pat stelyth here hus-
bondys godys ajens his wyft, ]?at is couert thefte. or he pat is
or 'religious relygyous, bat takyth be godys of his hows, wytA-oute leue of his 16
persons.'
souerayn, he is a couert theef. for neythir wyif ne relygiows
A wife's rearing haue propirte of pe comouw godys. Also, jif a wyif haue a chyld
her illegitimate . , .
child as legiti- in avowtrye, & be husbond wene it is his, & letyth it ben his
mate.
eyre, & his owne chyld is dysherytyd thruj here foly ; a couert 20
[Fol. 43 a.] theef | sche is. pe iiij. inche thikke in this half fote brede
4. Theft within of wose is vnkyndely thefte ; pat is, whan pou seruauwt stelyst
in house mete & drynke, herme or chekyn, or oper stoor, &
committed by a thynkest neuere to paye perfore, or opere thynges of pi maystrys, 24
& jit pou takyst pin hool hyre, & deseruyst it nojt. all pat pou
takyst more pan pou deseruyst, it is thefte. Also a chyld
by a foundling; fouwdyn be his freendys, jif he take awjt of heres, wyih-oute
leue, ajens here wyll, he stelyth it. or jif his freendys fynden 28
him to scole, & he mysspende his tyme in ryott, & his freendys
godys, & wyil nojt lere, he is a theef, jif he knowe resouw.
concealment of Also, jif bou fynde a thyng pat is lost in ony place, & bou wylt
a thing found.
nojt ben aknowe it, but holdyst it as pin owne, ou stelyst it. 32
]?e fyfte inche thycke of pis half fote brede of wose in coueytise
s. Concealment is thefte of theuys felawe : bat [is], whan bou knowyst a theef,
of thieves or
things stolen. & wylt takyn of him thyng pat is stolyn, be hying or jyfte, or
1 MS. inche crossed.
CH. xix.] Robbery and Us Six Kind*. 129
wyttyngly wylt reseyuyn a thef, pou art felawe wyth pe theef.
Also a balye pat may areste a theef, & letyth hym scape for
mede ; or iustyse, or quest, or he pat procuryth to saue a theef ;
4 or he Ipat is besy to sauyn a theef be bying, jif pei do it for
avauwtage, pei arn assentyng to ])& thefte, & mayntene hem, &
makyn hem bolde.
be secunde half-fote wose in coueytise is raueyne, & bat is Six kinds of
.... robbery:
8 vj. inche thicke. pe firste inche is coinou/i robrye ; Ipat is, whan i. common
bou, be waye & wode, robbyst whom )?ou may, & euere waytynge
to robbe on se & londe, nojt sparyng pylgrym ne marchauwt. by sea and by
be secunde iuche is, whan bou art a fals excecutowr, sworyn to 2 . dishonest ex-
ecution of testa-
12 do pe dedys wyll, & pou takyst bo godys to pi-self in raueyn, ments;
& nojt spendyst hem for pe dede ; pou robbyst be dede. pe
thridde inche is, whan bou art a fals dettoure, bou borowyst 3- contracting of
J dishonest debts,
myche, & no^t qwytest. & pou pat wyih-holdjst pi seruaunfcys refusing to pay
, , servants' wages,
io hyre, pou art a raueynowr be goddys la we, pat wr/th-holdyst pise
dettys. Also lordys pat pelyn pe pore peple for coueytise, &
takyn awey here godys, & pelyn here bondemen & here tenauwtys, exacting money
. . from tenants ;
be lordschip) & maystrye. An Jns is raueyne. Also prelatys of 4 . prelates over-
taxing their
ao holy cnercn pat puttyn here sugettys to outrageous cost, pat is, diocesans;
in vysityng, & in raysinge of procuracyes vnleffully, & so what
pei aske pei muste paye. Offycyallys & denys pat oftyn settyn s-officialsinflict-
chapetlys, to gaderyn pat pei may getyn, powj pei do wrong, n the public ;
24 pei recche neuere, for ]?ei haue more affeccyoun to gadere syluer
ban to don correccyouw. and jit pei do no3t so scharpely reddour
to ryche men as to pore, for ryche pey forbere for mede, & pore
men J>ei greue wrongfully, wyih cursyug^s & puttyng out of
28 chercTi to penaunce, to paye vnry3tfully. pis may be clepyd
raueyn & extorcyouw ] . Also somnours & bedels, pat dwellyn in
offyce vnder hem, spare no conscyens to take what pei may
getyn. Scherrevys & bayles puttyn often trewe men in gret 6. sheriffs and
bailiffs practis-
32 dystres, & feteryn hem, tyl pei haue made a fyne, & payin ing extortions.
a raunsouw. ; but pore men, pat may no}t jeue, schal be holdyu
as harde as a theef for malyce, thrugh colour of here offyce.
and aft pat pei takyn pus is raueyn.
1 MS. in margin : ' Rapiua & extorci'ones.'
K
130
Sacrilege. False Accusation.
[CH. xix.
3. polluting of
noly places ;
ill. Sacrilege, pe thredde fote brede of wose in coueytise is sacrilege '. pis (&
which is of many . i i
kinds ; viz. is manye inche depe. pe ferste mche is to breke, or brenne,
[Pol. 43 b.] | holy chercn, or to beryn awey book or vestement, chalyce or
1. destroying or ony thyng pat longyth to holy chercli ; or doth vylaraiye to ony 4
polluting of ii
church, or any place pat is propryd to holy cherche ; or entryth in, wyt/i-oute
worship; leve, for swyche dyspyte ; pise ben in pe gret curs. Alle swyche
doerys arn acursyd pat in vyolens beryn awey swyche thynges
out of place halwyd, wytA-outyn leve, or out of vnhalwyd place 8
2. withholding thyng pat is halwyd. pe secunde inche is to wytA-holdyu ony-
property; thyng, wytA maystry or be wyK, pat longyth to holy chercli,
ouper lande or rente, or tythe or offryng, wrongfully ; pei ben
acursyd. pe thridde inche of sacrilege is, wharnie pou dost 12
violens in halwyd place, as in schedyng of blood, or in doing
leccherye ; paraie pou diffoulyst pe place, pat it nedyth to be
4. laying hands reconsyled asen. be ferthe inche is, whan bou smytest a preest
on a priest ;
dragging any or a clerk bat hath corowne. or man or womman of relygyouw : 16
one out of
chu jjr h wbo has or drawyst hem wyih force oute of here house, a^ens here wytt ;
or drawyst ony man out of seyntuarye, pat is fled thyder for
socour & for dowte of deth, or wyt^-drawyst his sustenauwce,
or dost to hym ony dyssese, to makyn hym to forsakyn pe gryth 20
of holy chercli ; or puttyst a man 2 owt of pe weye, pat hath
forsakyn pe kyngys land ; or jif pou breke pe frauwchyse of holy
cherche in ony wyse, or jif pou assente perto. pe fyfte inche is,
whan prelate, parsouw, or vykery, spendyn pe godys of holy 24
cherche in euytt manere, pei don sacrilege, pe sexte inche is
spowsebreche, for matrimonie is a sacrament of holy cherche ;
who-so dyffoule pat in avowtrye, he doth sacrilege, pe vij. inche
is, who-so breke a vowe of chastite bat is solempne or pryve, 28
s. profaning the relygyows or seculere, he doth sacrilege, pe viij. inche, who-so
kepyth nojt pe haly-day pat holy cherche comauwdyth; for
holy tyme hath his tyme as holy place hath.
iv. False be ferthe fote brede of wose in coueytise is fals chalange* 19
litigation
effected by a p a t is manye inche thy eke. On inche is a fals pleyntyf pat 33
5. spending of
church goods ;
6. adultery j
7. breach of a
vow of chastity
dishonest plain-
tiff,
sekyth a cause to moote ajens resouw, & feynyth a fals accyoun,
and so, thrugli fals coloure, he puttyth pe trewe to trauaylt & to
1 MS. in margin : ' Sacnilegiuw.' 2 MS. aman.
CH. xix.] Wickedness and its Kinds. 131
gret exspensys, tyl he is fayn to make his pes. ]?e secunde inche by a dishonest
is a fals defendauwt pat sekyth false delaye, whan men mootyn
hym to defendyn his wrong, tbruj false cautelys ; & but pe
4 pleyntyif be wel ware, he wyft for-barre hym of pat he askyth,
for he wyft nojt ben aknowe pe truthe. pe thridde inche is
a fals wytnes ]?at forsweryth hym vp-on pe book, or beryth by false wit-
fals wytnesse in cause of matrimonye. ])e ferthe inche is, whan
8 false cysourys gon vp-on qwestys, & puttyn a man fro his ryjt by a false jury ;
thrugli a fals verdyjte, & wytnessen ajens trewthe. ]?e fyfte
inche is aduocatys pat mayntenyn a fals cause, &, ]?of he alegge by lawyers
maintaining un-
lawe, jit he wyft turne pe ryjt to pe wrong, thru} sotylte. pe just cases;
12 sexte inche is a fals pletere ])at vndertakyth a fals plee. for he by false pleaders;
kan schewe a fals euydence, & make a queste to say wrong, he
colouryth it so in pe lawe, \>at fe falshed may no^t be knowyn.
pe vij. inche is a | fals 1 procuratowr )?at procuryth a fals nede, [Pol. 44 a.]
16 ne he lettyth no^t, tyl he may spede pat nede, for be wyles he by false procura-
begyleth men. be viij. inche is a fals atourne )?at, wytA aft his by dishonest
. attorneys,
wytt, susteynyth wrong als weel as ryght, and jit he wyl be of
assent to letyn his maystery* cause falle, & so he is a tretour to
20 his clyent. J?e ix. inche is a fals notarye f>at makyth false solicitors,
letterys, libellys, or false actys, instrumentf/s, or ony o]?er thyng
to hym. J?e x. inche is, wharcne clerk of )?e kyngys crowne, of secretaries,
J>e kynges court, or of barouwe, pat makyth fals recorde,
24 schewyth his lordys counseyl, or falsyth his seel, or stelyth his
lordys avauntage. be xi. inche is, whamne a fals iuge doth more corruptible
judges,
wrong pan evynhed in iugement, for auauwtage fauouryng a
I wrong, or jif he take mede on bo]?e sydes, & fauouryth him >at
2$ jeuyth him most, & }euyth doom \\yih hym Ipai hath no ryjt,
\ or taryith a ry^t be his assent.
(fa be fyfte fote brede wose in bis coueytise is wyckydnesse, & pat V. Wicked-
ness of nuiio-
is many inche thycke. On inche is renaying ; whan a man for- kinds, viz.
32 sakyth god, & becomyth a iewe or a sarazene, to be ryche ; ))is
is wyckydnesse. An-oper inche is wyche-ci-aft, charmys, experi- witchcraft,
1 The repetition of the word/aZs has induced the scribe to write the pre-
ceding paragraph over again, with slight alterations only in the spelling of
' falshedf' and ' qweste.' Then he begins again : le vij. inche is afah etc.
K 2
132 The Story of King Philip's Steward. [CH. xix.
ment?/s, coniuracyouws, & to rayse be feend. aft bis is wykkyd-
manslaughter, nesse of mawmetrie. be thridde inche is procuryng of mannys
destruction, deth. be iiij. inche is dystroying of towne or of place, or procure
sowing of dis- berto wrongfully, be v. inche is makyng dyscord betweene 4
cord,
denouncement, folke. be vj. inche is to bewryin a pore man to his lord or to
his mayster, to makyn hym to lesyn his good, be vij. inche is,
to endyjte an vngylty man of trespas or felonye.
Cast out these caste out of be pyt of soure herte bise fyve fote brede of wose 8
five parts of
covetousness ! of coueytise : Symonye, Raueyne, sacrilege, ffals chalange, &
wyckydnes, vtyih alle here inches in thycknes, as I haue tolde
3ow bis day. And thre laste fote brede wose in bis coueytise I
schal telle jow an-ober day. 12
[The Steward of King Philip of France.]
King Philip's A styward of be kyng of ffraunce, Philippe in Paryse, as Jf
steward in vain . J
coveted the vine- Cesariws tellyth, coueytyd be vynejerd of his neyjboure, & my^t
Wh F th n0 ^ S^J 11 ^ i* 1 bygyng ne in jyfte. but wharaie his neyjhbowre 16
wcnt d fo d hi^ e afterward was deed, be styward, wyih two false wytnessis, on a
wjtnesses?and n J& wente to be grave, & doluyn out be erthe to be body, &
the ha?idofthe puttyn a bagge of monye in be hand of be dede body, and kest
took S possesskm e doun a3en be erthe. baraie be styward took to him be vyne^erd. 20
The wid'ow^ ' be wyif of be dede playned here to be kyng bat be styward dyde
pleaded before
the king. here wrong, be styward & be false wytnessys dede recordyn bat
be styward bow^t it of hym, & putt a bagge of monye in his
hand, \fyih aft be hool payment bat he proferyd hym before. 24
berfore, be kyng dede his audytours examyn) be wytnessis, and
The king ex- bei seuyn doom asens be wydewe. be wydewe wepte. be kyng
mined the
witnesses, and had rewthe on here, & examyned be wytnessis himself, he seyde
by a stratagem
to be tone, departyd fro be tober, ' Say to me bi Pater nosier ! ' 28
And he dede so. he putt hym awey o syde, & clepyd to hym
pe ober wytnesse, & sayde, 'bi felawe hath seyde to me be
[Fol. 44 b.] verray truthe as his Pater nosier, say bi truthe | also ! for jif
bou dyscorde fro hym, bou schalt be deed.' bat wytnesse wende, 32
be be kynges woordys, bat be tober wytnesse had told be kyng
al-to-gedyr as it was don, & was aferde to dyscordyn, & he fell
avow"i edan doun, and tolde be kyng as it was done, & cryid, ' mercy lord !
CH. xix, xx.] The Last Parts of Covetousness. Dishonest Trade. 133
for Ipi styward dyd vs do so, bat for dreed of hym, & for lucre,
we vventyn vu-to be graue for to se how he putte be bagge of
monye in be dede bodyes hand.' be kyng was wroth. & restoryd The king re-
stored the vine-
4 asen be vynejerd to be Avydewe, & dyde be styward & be two yard to the
widow, and the
wytnessys be brent qwyk. steward and his
witnesses were
burnt.
Ryjt so, be kyng of heuen), in his examynacyoun at be doom, So the King of
JjLOttWS
fyndyng bat be fals coueytise, & be fals wytnessys, & fals
8 colours, trewe folk haue be put from her ry}t & fro here good ;
banne schal he demyn suche coueytouse folk to be brent aft will condemn
the covetous,
qwyk in body & in soule in fyr of helle. berfore, restoryth
jowre wrongys, & caste out be wose of false coueytise !
12 C&pitulum xx m .
De cupiditate.
31 rilHE ober day, I tolde aou of v. fote brede wose in coueytise, The three last
<y parts of
-*- An ober day a-forn also of ober v. fote of wose, And now Covetousness.
1 6 I schal telle jow of be thre laste fote brede wose in coueytise.
On fote brede wose is fals marchaundyse, & tat is v. inche I. Dishonest
trade, which
thicke. be firste inche is lyther bergaynyng ; bat is, whan bou is of five kinds,
seest a man l muste sellyn his thyng for nede & for myscheef, x . profiting by
30 & be sellere is ncjt wyse, & so bou hast it half for noujt, and be
same bou wylt sellyn it hym bat hath nede berto to byin it for or the pur-
chaser's em-
double more ban it is worth, & bus bou pylest bi neyjbours of barrussinent ;
here good lytherly. be secwnde inche is leesyug & forsweryng 2 - false state-
24 in bi sellyng, sparyng none othys, saying bat bi thyng is myche gaiwinK;
bettere ban it is, & bat it coste be myche more ban it dyde ; &
in bi bygyng onythyng bou lackyst it, in sweryng grete othys
bat it is fawty, be it neuere so good, to haue it for lytel price.
28 be thridde inche is, whamie bou hauwtyst false mesurys & 3- usig false
measures;
weyjtys, in bying be be more, & sellyng be be lesse, &, bowj bi
mesure or weyjte be trewe, jit bou takyst it large inward, &
jeuyst it scarse owtward ajens trewthe. be iiij. iuche is fals
1 MS. aman.
134
Disreputable Crafts. Gambling.
[CH. XX.
II. Disreput
able crafts,
vir.
1. prostitutes,
2. jugglers,
4. begging in-
truders,
4. showing the schewyng of chaffare. wharaie bou dyjtyst it so, & makyst it
merchandise in
a favourable to seme bettere pan it is, in a therk place, as drapers don &
light;
s. concealing obere. be v. inche is hydyng of be truthe; bat is, whan bi
merchandise, thyng is fawty, pou hydest be defawte fro hym bat byeth it, & 4
makyst it to seme good. & corsoures bat haue false hors, bei
wyft, vfyih false othys, swere bat it hath no defawte, and bus is
falshed vsyd on yche syde, & trewe men dysseyvid.
be secunde fote brede of wose in coueytise is crafte of foly, bat ^
is ix. inche thycke. On is comotw wommen, for bei sellyn here 9
body to whom bat wyll haue it, & sellyn here soule to be deuyl,
to haue here lyvyng in lust & synne. be secwnde inche is
jugoulours, for bei getyn here good vtyth false iapys & lesynges, 12
3. sham cripples, & getyn here lyvyng \vyth wrong, be thridde inche is faytours
bafc getyn mete & monye of pyteous folk, vtyih wyles, as to makyn
hem seme crokyd, blynde, syke, or mysellys, & are nojt so. be
iiij. inche is lacchedrawerys bat vndon mennys dorys. jif bei 16
fynde be good-man at horn, bei say here good is brent, or takyn
[Fol. 45 a.] awey | \vyih theuys. bei seyn bei were ryche men, & now bei
haue ryjt noujt. summe seyn bei haue lost hors & barneys be-
jonde be se. summe seyn bei are gentyil-men, & here londys 20
are sett to wedde, & so bei wyll nojt go, tyl bei haue sumwhat.
And jif be wyif be alone, bei folwyn here in-to be spense, pat
for dreed sche is fayn to jyuen hem what sche may. be v. inche
is harlotrie, makyng iapys a-forn folk, in pleying at be spore, at 24
j?e bene, at be cat, in ledyng berys & apys, or in swicH ober vn-
thryft. be vj. inche is herowdys of armys bat in iustyng or in
turnementys way ten who doth best, & his name bei crye, & ber-
7. professional fore bei haue jyftes, to mayntene pompe & pryde. be vij. inche 28
champions,
is champyouws dwellynge wyth lordys, feyjtynge in here querels,
& getynge here lordys be maystrye in wrong ajens be ryjt. be
8. dishonest yiij. inche is tollerys bat dystressyn men to payin a3en resouw,
9. executioners. & takyn more toll ban trewth wolde. be ix. inche is hangemen, 32
hauynge no pyte to hange men, ne to smyten of here hevedys,
for ioye of here wynnyng.
e ^ re< ^^ e ^^ e brede wose in coueytise is foly pley; bat is, (
f'vlr. a ^ ^ e * a ^ e ^y 8 * a ^ I 36 dyse. bis fote wose wexith ix. inche thycke. 36
5. public
buffoons,
6. heralds-nt-
arms,
en. xx.] Nine Parts of Gambling. Sim Deadly and Venial. 135
be firste inche is coueytise, for he bat pleyith coueytyth to i- playing for
gain's sake;
Wynne, be secwnde inche is raveyne, for he bat kepyth stylle 2 . keeping the
r a- r 1 v-j. 1. iuri, -L i, i. gambling profit;
iro his felawe pat he wynneth of hym, it is but raveyn. be 3 swearing;
4 thridde inche is inanye othys. be ferthe inche is getyng of veyn 4 . sinful profit ;
godys [wyth ?] lesynges, & gret synne, & ydel speche. be v. inche 5- blasphemy;
is slauwdre of god & of his seyntys, or }if be dese coin) nojt at pay,
he seyth god ne his sayntys helpyn hym no^t, but deryn hym.
8 be vj. inche is euyl exauwple bat bei seue to obere, to don as 6. giving a bad
. ..... . . example;
pei do. be vij. inche is spendyng here tyme in wast & in foly, 7 . wasting time ;
& apeyrin here soulys, whil bei my^t do werkys of profyat. be 8. seducing the
lookers on ;
viij. inche is corrupcyoun to hem bat vsyn to beholden myche
12 here pley. for bei myspendyn here tyme also in veyn. be ix. 9- disobedience
towards the
inche is vnbuxumnes to holy cherch. It forbyddeth suche Holy Church.
pleyis, & namely to preestys. he bat wynneth ony mony at Gambling profit
to be restored.
be tablys or at be dyse, he muste restore it ajen, or dele it for
1 6 here soule.
Now, in thre dyuerse dayes, I haue told jou of coueytise & of
xiij. fote brede wose in him, & of here thycknes of inches in
euery fote of hem. berfore, caste bis wose of coueytise out of
20 aowre herte ! lat seed lyfi) longe to-gydere on hepe, & it wyll Heaped up seed
will rot, but
rote : sowe it a-brode in good lond, & it encresyth & frutyth. sown abroad, it
will bear fruit.
Ry$t so, kepe bi rychesse, bi muk, to-gyder on hepe, & it wyft
rote & stynke in bi soule werse ban ony stynkyng wose ; but
24 sowe it out a-brode in good pore peple, & it schal encrese in
rnede to bi soule !
<P }if bou coueyte an-oberys good, wyt^. full wytl for to haue it, Coveting
' another s good,
^if bou my5t, vnry3tfully, it is dedly synne , pouj bou neuere
28 haue it, for bin euyl wyli. 3if bou coueyte vnleffutt thynges, inordinate as-
pirfltioiif
WT/tA delyberacyoun. & wytA full wylt, as 3if pou doost pi besynes
to haue a benefyse, or an-opr estate, or degre, vnryjtfully, it is
dedly synne, bowj bou haue it nojt. jif bou coueyte opere are deadly sins.
32 thynges, leeffully or vnleeffully, in wylt condycyonatl ; as pus, if no offence be
. done, aspiration
jif bou myjtist haue it, & nojt onendyn god, ne harmyng pi is venial sin.
neyjboure, whethir pat wylt condycional be schewyd owte or
noujt, it is venyaft synne or no synne. }if bou coueyte supe?*-
1 MS. in margin : 'CapidltM, quum eft pccca^nm mor/ale.'
136 Deadly and Venial Sins of Coretousness. [CH.XX.
[Fol. 45 b.] fluyte or excesse to haue hem, & pat wyih a full | appetyte,
exctss n of a \veaith w ytA full delyberacyoim, havyng no reward to pin owyn peryle,
a y sin. ne t a k vn g non nec l e O f goddys vnworschippe, it is dedly synne.
jif pou haue a coueytous loue to superfluyte of temperall ryches, 4
unless it be sur- but sit bi loue of god is aboue, it is venyal synne. sif bou
passed by the
love of God. gete pi good vnryjtfully, in ony onryjtfull manere, it is dedly
Earning money, synne. jif pou gete pi good be ony craft, be ony offyse, be ony
crafts, is deadly werk, pat of hym-self is dedly synne, Jx>wj no wynnyn come 8
pereof, it is dedly synne pat getyng, as comowi strumpettys,
hasardourys, & sucn opera, & halyday-werkerys. 3if pou gete
good be vnleffuft werkys which" arn venyall synne, f>araie pat
Minstrelsy and getynges arn venyall synue ; as pus, jif J?ou be a menstratt, a i a
venial sins. bourdour, & schewyst bourdefutl woordys & many iapys for
wynnyng, so honeste be sauyd, it is venyall synne. but jif pou
do it for dely^t of dyssolucyouw, pawne it is dedly synne, & pi
getyng per-by also, but jif pou do it for nede, to haue pi 16
sustenaunce perby, be-cause pou canst do non oj^er craft to
lyvyn by, & perfore pou vsyst suche bourdys & iapys, sauyng
alwey honeste, pou art nojt in dedly synne. jif pou wytA-
holdyst opere[s] godys whiche pou owyst to restore, in purpos & ao
Withholding of in wyft nojt to 3eldyn it, it is dedly synne. jif pou wyth-holde
is deadly sin, operes godys in tyme of pi gret nede wyttyngly, to helpyn pe &
circumstances ^^ ne ' n 3 oure n ede, & to sauyn pin estate & pe astate of pine,
as it semyth be resoun to pe worthynes of pi persone, in purpos 34
to 5eldyn it als sone J as pou myjt it is venyall synne, or ellys
no synne. but yif pou knowe pe 2 ownere of po godys whiche
pou hast wyth-holdyn hath gret nede perto to hauyn it, pan it
is dedly synne. Beeth ware panne, je pore & ryche, pat are 28
boundyn be wrongys or be dette to pe qwyke pat haue nede,
or to pe dede pat haue more nede in peyne, jowre nede parme
excusyth jou nou^t fro dedly synne, but 36 jerne 3elde to hem
jowre dette & jour* wrong ! Also, jif pou wythholde opers good, 32
powj pe oper haue no gret nede perto, & pe nedyth no3t to
wythholdyn it, it is dedly synne. And }if pou haue & kepe
1 MS. soBone.
a MS. /o godys, the latter crossed, the article left unaltered.
CH. xx.] Example of Ahab and Naboth. 137
myche ryches, \vyih an vnordynat loue, bat sumdel lettyth be fro Keeping wealth
is venial sin.
largenes of expunsys, so vertu be sauyd & almes-dede, it is
venyal syrme. sif bou do for coueytise ony wrong * or ony Wronging any
neighbour for
4 harme to bi neyhboure be bi wyl, it is dedly syrz-ne. aif it be covetousness
J is deadly sin,
but a lytel harm, as an appyl or swicTi an-ober smal thyng bat ""less the harm
be a trifling one.
bou wost wel it schal nojt dysplese bi ney3boure, bow3 he wyst
it. ban it is venyal sywne. Also sif bou besye be to do gostly Performing
. J spiritual 9 mces
8 werkys : to preche, to praye, or swiche obere holy dedys, prm- for lucre is
deadly sin.
cepally for non ober ende & for non ober entent but for wordly
lucre, it is dedly synne. Also, }if bou jyve bi stodye to Omitting
spiritual occupa-
ouyrdonly to temperan occupacyouw. for lucre, wherfore bou tion for the sake
ofprofitisdeadly
1 2 omyttest gostly occupacyoun bat bou art bounde to for be sin.
tyme, it is dedly synne. Also, jif bou drede be bat god schulde
fayle be, but bou occupyed be in vntyme werdly, & leftyst gostly
werkys, all bis is dedly synne. berfore, be coueytouse louyth
1 6 bettyr a d/ & oB. ban god ; for he wyl nojt, for goddys loue,
jyue fro him to a pore man j. d/ ne ot>., bowj be pore aske it for
goddys loue in gret nede, & he myjt jeue it wel, wytAoute
hyndryngof his good, for loue of j. d/ or ot>., bou wylt wretthe
20 god in brekyng be halydaybe chaffaryng, in brekyng be byddyng
of god in lying & forsweryng. berfore, swiche coueytouse men The covetous
are fouler than
stynkyn foulere ban wose in be sy5t of god, | & god hatyth & mire,
dyspyseth hem, for pey hatyn & dyspysen hym. Osee ix. 2
24 ' ffacti sunt abhominabiles sic^t ea, que dilexeruwt.' Seynt
Austyn seyth, 'sythe bou schalt be punysched in peyne & in
fyir of helle, bat jyuest nojt to be poore of pi good, how schalt
bou banne be punyssched in bat fyir, bat getyst obere meraiys
28 godys falsely ?'
[Ahob and NabothJ]
(fa Kyng Achab s , iij. ~Regum xxj., coueytyd a vynejerd of a pore Example of
Ahab and
man clepyd Naboth. pe pore man wolde no5t grantyn him bat Naboth.
32 vynejerd, wherfore be kyng was wroth vfyih him, & be be
couwseyl of be kyng & of Jezabel his wyif, be qween, was
1 MS. ony wrong ony wrong. 2 Hosea ix. i o.
3 MS. in margin : ' Narracto, Achab, Naboth, & Jesabel.' i Kings xxi.
138 Angels and Fiends Contending for the Rich Man's Soul. [CH. xx.
enfourmyd a fals pleynt on bat pore man a-forn a iuge in doom.
be fals wytnes, in a qweste be pore man was dampnyd to Ipe
deth, gyltles, & so Tpe kyng gette ]?at vyne^erd. for J>is fals
coueytise, after-ward, Ipe kyng & ]?e qween bothe, be ]?e wreche 4
of god, haddyn a schamefuft ende. x v th ^\/^ \
A shameful & so comouwly haue alle bo bat falsly comyn to here good,
death is in com-
mon to all the a s verryly it is often wyth eyjen seen, wherfore. caste out bis
covetous.
Therefore, re- wose of coueytise, restore j?i wrongys & bi dettys to holy cherch, 8
wrongs, and to dede & qwike, & dyspose be residue of bi godys in almes to
give alms !
preestys, frerys, to pore men, & to o]?ere gode werkys ! }ms ^euyth
almes, & alle y>ure synes schal be clene forjeuyn ! ' Date
elemosinam, & ecce onmia muwda surat vobis V 1 2
\Angds and Fiends contending for the Rich Man's
A rich man con- Exaumple 2 for be conclusioun & be ende of bis proces. Jf
fessed himself on
his death-bed, Cesariws seyth ]>at a ryche man of fals getyn good schrofe hym
on his dede-bedde, wyth fuft sorwe of herte, to an holy Abbott, 16
& sayde, ' Abbot, aft my good I ^eue te & to J?in hows, bat f>ou
& ]?i bretheryn pray for me, & answere for my soule.' j?e abbot
seyde : ' To robbe Petyr, & 3eue it Poule, it were non almesse
but gret synne. ]?e good bat Ipon hast falsly gett of olpere men, 20
to wythholde it fro hem, & to 3eue it to vs, it were dampnacyoun.
to be, & gret synne to vs. ffor alle oure prayen/s, masses, &
suffragys, & prayerys of preestys, & of alle cristene folk, >e
schulde nojt saue, jif ]?ou dyed in J>is ply^t, but fiou be of futt 24
wyft bat restitucyouw be made to >e ownerys vp-on Jn powere.'
and gave all his ]?e man seyde, ' Abbot, take aft my good, & restore for me to J?e
ill-got fortune _ , .
to an abbot, that ownerys, for 1 mav no;t abyde berto, my deth is nya. & whan
he might make
restitution, and bou hast ful restoryd. aft be residewe take to be & to bin hows.' 28
keep the rest to Y
his convent. , e abbot fuft restoryd his dettys & his wrongys, & dyd for him
olper almes. Ipe residew of a gret summe, >e abbot took it to
hym as be dedys wyl was. Ipe deed body was brou^t to be abbey,
When he was & his bretheryn seydin be seruyse for his soule. ffoure feendys 32
dead, four fiends J J J J i>
stood on the left comyn in, & stodyn on be lefte syde of be cors. be Abbot,
side of the bier, J
1 Luke xi. 41. 3 MS. in margin : ' Narract'o.'
en. xs.] Psalmody of the Fiends. 139
his muwkys, for dreed fleddyn awey, saaf on munke abode. & iiii. and four angels
J on the right, and
fayre auwgelys corayn in, & stodyn on pe ryjt syde of pe cors. they contended
& on of pe iiij. feendys seyde : 'Oure freend here is deed.
4 perfore, we iiij. feendys, saye we oure sawtere for his soule, & I
begynne 1 .
" Dixit iniustus vt delinqwat in semetipso ; non est timor dei
ante oculos eis."
pis synnere in him-self he sayde 2
8 pat he schulde sywne, nojt euyft apayde.
Goddys dreed, a-forn his eyje sy^t,
had he neuere, day ne ny3t.'
1 2 pe secwwde feend 3 sayde :
' " Qwontam dolose egit in conspectu eius, vt iwueniatttr
iniquitas eius ad odium."
He pis hath don treccherously
1 6 In pe syjt of god on hy}, | [Fol. 46 b.]
pat his wyckydnes is fouwdyn hate
to his god, erly & late.'
pe thridde fende seyde :
20 ' " verba oris eius iniquitas & dolus. noluit intelligere, vt
bene agret."
woordys of his mowth were wykydnesse ;
He dyde neuere weel, to more ne lesse.'
24 pe ferthe feend seyde :
' " Iniquitatem meditatus est in cubili suo ; astitit omni vie
now bone, maliciaw autem non odiutt."
Euere wyckydnesse he thou3t,
28 In his bed whan he was broujt.
Wyckyd waye hatyd he noujt,
Malyce & symie euere he sou^t/
(fa pe firste auigyl seyde to pe feendys : ' je feendys haue sayde
1 The following dialogue is taken from Ps. xxxv. 2-8, and occurs already
in Caesarius' original story. In line 20 the MS. has intelligeret .
3 All the verses are written like prose.
3 MS. in margin : ' 2. demon, 3, 4.'
140 Psalmody of the Angels. [CH. rx.
joure sawtere & ysure seruyse for ]?zs synfutt soule. & now schul
we seyn oure sawtere for ]?is synfutl man, & I begynne :
" DoTra'ne in celo misericordia, tua, & veritas tua vsqwe ad
nubes." 4
God lord, pi mercy
is in heuen) in hy3 !
pi truthe on erthe goth to \>e skye,
to saue synnerys pat wepe hertly.' 8
pe secunde aungyl sayde :
' " lusticia tua sicut montes dei ; iudicia tua abyssus multa."
]5i ryjtfulnes
as goddys hylles [it is] ',
J?e domys of J>i goodnes
ben wel depe, wytA-oute les ! '
pe thridde aungyl seyde :
' " homiwes & iumenta saluabis, domtne, qwemadmodum
multiplicasti misericordi&m tuam, deus." ! ^
pou lord, botli man & beste
sauyst, and bryngyst to reste.
Euyr pi mercy meste
to man is multiplyed ! ' ao
pe ferthe aungyl seyde :
' " fl&lij autew hcmimtm in tegmine alaruwi tuarwm sperabunt."
J>e chylderyn of mawnys gettyng
vnder ]?i weengys, god, wrying, 24
In hope schul be gyed !
of mannys getyng ]?is deed man is;
pow3 he dede in erthe amys,
vnder wengys of mercy wryed he is, 3 g
& curyd vfyth goddys grace !
In pis synfutt wyjt
haue je no ry^t,
]:erfore hens slyjt , 2
fieendys 30 pace ! '
And the soul be fieendys wentyn awey ; be aungelys boryn be soule to blys.
was saved.
1 Probably the scribe's addition.
CH. xx, xxi.] . The Ooze of Gluttony. 141
berfore, takyth contricyoim & confessiouw, and makyth
satisfaccyoun, bat 30 mowe haue suche an ende, to be
delyueryd fro feendys \fyih avmgelys to be blysse of heuen) !
Ad quod &c.
4 C&pitulum xxj m .
De gula.
31 ^ I^HE ober day, I told 3ou of be wose of coueytise in aowre pyt The ' ooze of
1J GLUTTONY'
-*- of soure herte : & now I wytt telle sou of be wose of destroys men,
body and soul.
8 glotonye. Glotonye is bat be bely louytb, & it wastyth bothe
body & soule, & a marmys good, it plesyth myche be feend, &
gretly greuyth god. & we fynden in be gospel bat oure lord Miracle of the
J swine (Matt. viii.
Jhesu 3af feendys leve to entryn in-to hoggys. & bei wexin a8 )-
12 wode, & 3edyn & dreyntyn hem-self in se ; In signe bat of hem
bat are lyche hoggys in glotonye, be feendys haue powere to
dwellyn in hem, & to dreuchyn hem in be se of belle, ffor whan
a stronge man hath douw an-ober, & holdyth hym be be throte,
16 it is hard for hym to rekeuere a3en. Ry3t so it is of a man bat
be feend holdyth in be synne of glotonye in his throte ; for be
feend sekyth be throte of man be glotonye, as be wolf sekyth be
throte of be scheep. for so he toke Adam & Eue, when bei etyn Adam and Eve
were seduced
20 of be appyl. bis synne mysplesyth god ; for god byddeth be with gluttony,
fastyn. & bi bely seyth ' nay ' ; god byddeth be rysen, & go to
be cherch, bi bely seyth he is full, & muste take a reste, for be
cherche is non hare, bere men leve it bey may fynde it. And
24 whan bou rysest, god byddyth be prayen ; bi bely seyth, ' what
schal we etyn bis day ? where schul we haue ony good mete or
good drynke ? ' god byddeth be wepyn for bi synnes ; bi bely
seyth, ' I am heuy as leed. I haue ben seke to ny3t for excesse
28 of mete & drynke 3yster euyn. myn heuyd akyd. I schal
ben wel at ese, tyl I haue drunkyn a3en.' bus makyst bou bi The glutton
makes his
bely bi god. bis synne drawyth be | to tauerne, to dyse pleying, stomach his god.
to leccherie, to rybawdie, to slaundre, to reste & ese, and to ^
142 The Five Parts of Gluttony. [CH. *xi
obere synnes. Glotonye is, whan bou hast a talent, wytA-outyn
temp<?rure & mesure, to mete or drynke. Seynt gregorie, iij.
moralium, seyth bat we mowe etyn & clrynken delycacyes, & nojt
There is no sin synnen : for be synne is nost in be mete, ne in be drynke, but 4
in the meat or
drink, but in in be apetyte & in be talent berof, whan bi dely3t is out of
of them. mesure bere-in. be glotouw is lycn a here, in two condyciowis.
Simile of the
bear. On is bis ; be bere hath swiche a talent to summe metys, bat
euer-more he lycketh ber-after, -wyth his tunge. so be glotouw 8
lovyth delycacyes, bat alwey his tunge delyteth to spekyn br-of.
An-ober cause is, be bere delyteth myche in hony, and ber-fore
he goth to an heve, to a swarm) of been, & lycketh awey here
hony bat bei trauayled fore, secundum barthoZomewm de pro- 12
prietata'&ws, \ibro xviij. ; so be glotouw delyteth in delycacyes,
bat he is no3t aschamyd to devowre & waste bat manye obere
haue sore trauayled fore, secundum gregorium.
The five parts ' bis wose of glotonye is v. fote brede, bat is, ouyrtymely, outer- IS
of Gluttony.
agely, ouyrhastely, ouyrdeyntuously, & ouerbesyly. 17
1. Eating and be ferst fote brede of wose in glotonye is to ete or drynke
drinking out of *
time, or ouyrtymely, ouyrsone or ouyrlate. It is a foul wose to a man of
age & of wyft bat wyl nojt abyde be tyme of etyng ; for bat is 20
of lust, of which may come manye synnes. Swyche vse makyth
a man to seye, ' I may nojt faste, ne do penauws, ne go to cherch,
ne bydde my bedys, for I haue a badde heved.' he seyth sooth, for
his evyli vse hath made hym so. to fastyn tyl evin to getyn 24
werdly goodys, it greuy th be no3t ; to fastyn to noon for be blysse
of heueri) & for goddys loue, bat mayst bou nojt do. Ouyrlate
bou etyst & drynkyst tyl mydny3t, in rere soperys, in ryott &
vanyte, & lyist longe in bedde on morwe. bou mysturnyst be 28
tyme bat god ordeynyd, for bou makyst day of nyjt, & nyjt of
day, & so bou lesyst be tyme of bobe in vanyte, at be chesse, at
be tablys, at be dyse, in swyche wakynges, in dysplesyng bi god,
in hynderyng bi body & bi soule. ^it bis glotony is nojt wycke 33
ynow, but to bis glotonye & ryott bou drawyst obere fro here
goodnesse.
2. out of be secunde fote brede of woe in bis glotonye is, whan bou
measure;
etyst or drynkest outragously, wytA-outyn mesure, & so bou 36
CH. X.TI.] On Fasting. Temptations of the Devil. 143
hynderyst pi-self of pi bodyly hele, & hastyst pi-self to pi deth,
er Ipi tyme come. pou pat ly vest pus after pi flesch, jpou sleest pi
soule, for pou makyst pi bely pi god. jif pou lyve after pi iolyte,
4 & loue vanyte, & ryott, & foly cumpany, pou kanst kepe no
mesure. }if pou lyve as an ypocrite 1 , outhyr pou etyst faste, The fasting of a
whann men se pe nojt, to be fayr & fatt ; or Ipou fastyst myct, in
mennys syjt, to be lene & pale, to seme gostely; pou art an
8 ypocrite. jif pou faste as an averous man 2 , pi purs byddeth be the fasting of a
niggard,
faste, pi bely byddeth pe etyn ; pus pi two goddys arn contrarie,
pi bely is large in opere meraiys costys, but pi purs is euere-more
scarse : bou fastyst as a nygard. sif bou faste after fysyk s , fasting accord-
' ing to a strict
1 2 vsyng pe mesure of ypocrace & galyen), pat is lytel & streyst, for diet,
pat is lechys fysyk ; and }et schalt pou dye for all pat phisyk.
but faste pou after honeste ! abyde tyl pe tyme of pe day, & take honest fasting,
panne mekely & reuerently what god sende, & thanke him
1 6 perof ! jif pou faste for pi synne, kepe mesure after pou art
chargyd in penaunce ! }if pou | faste after pi spiryte, pawne, [Fol. 47 b.]
in gret dely^t etyst pou in loue of pi god ; & pe holy gost, pawne,
techyth be to holde mesure & resourc. but be feend, wyth his Temptations of
the Devil.
20 wyles, holdyth pe be pe throte, in begylyng pe \vyih gode wynes,
drynkes, & delycyouse metys, & byddyth pe etyn & drynken as
othere don, & seyth to pe, ' kepe pou felaweschip) ! wytt pou
pat men hoklyn pe a nygard, & seyn pou darst no5t etyn ne
24 drynken ynow.' or ellys pe fend sayth to pe, ' pou muste kepyn
pin hele ; for pou my3t so spare pi purse, pat pou my3t forfare
pi-self.' pe fend seyth to pe, ' take, kepe, what good pou hast
do, & mayst do, & pat is better pan to spare mete & drynk.' or
28 pe feend seyth to pe, ' pou etyst nojt only for lust of pi body,
but to laste in goddys seruyse, & to kepe thy strengthe to
1 MS. in margin ; ' ypocrita qod (?) no<a.'
2 The preceding passage is corrupted in MS., it runs thus : sif Jwu lyve
as an ypocrite outhyr ]>ou etyst faste to be fayr & fatt or ]>ou fastyst
mycn to be lene & pale to seme gostly ]>ou art an ypocrite sif )>ou faste as an
auerous ]>ou etyst faste, whann) men se ]>e no3t to seme fayr & fatt pou
etyst lytel in mennys syjt to seme gostly Jou art an ypocrite jif )>ou faste
as an averous man, etc.
3 MS. in margin : ' de ieiunio no/a & abstinencia.'
144 Greediness. Daintiness. [CH. xxi.
goddys worschepe.' pus, pe feend holdyth men be Ipe throte, in
steryng hem to glotonye be swiche colourys & wyles.
3. Eating pe thridde fote brede of wose in glotonye is, whan pou etyst (f
ouer-hastely, as it were an hownd. It is no synne to haue 4
myche good, but it is gret synne to louyn it ouer-myche. so it
is no synne to etyn good mete, but it is synne to etyn it ouer-
gredyly ; for mete is good to man, be it neuere so delycate, so
mesure be kepte, & pe sause perto be dreed of god, pat gredynes 8
be left ; & in fyllyng of Ipe mete, pat ])e mynde be in be swetnes
of god, pat fedyth Ipe soule, & fylleth pe herte. perfore, men of
relygioun haue a lessoun red at mete to fede Ipe soule vfyih
gostly fode. 12
4. Eating dainty pe iiij. fote brede of wose in pis glotony is for to ete ouyr-
things. deynte metys, for Ipei schal do more cost at a mele pan xl. men
myjte lyve by. swiche synnen in manye manerys, pat is, in
gret outrage of expensys, in vsyng of mete in ouyr-gret lust, in 16
veyn-glorye, no3t only in lyberoushede but for pompe, to make
manye messys.
5. Daintiness in be v. fote brede wose is * coryouste : to seke what mete lyketh
the choice of
dishes. hem most, pei delyjte in pe lust of pe flesch. pei synnen in 20
besynes of getyng pe mete, & after in dely:jte of vsyng pat mete,
& after in veynglorye in rehersyng how pei are fed, how manye
dyuerse metys pei etyn, how coryously it were dyjt, & how iche
coin) after oper. And }it muste pei tellyn tryfellys, & talys, & 24
iapys, to letyn here mete synkyn. panne, at pe laste, pe stomak
seyth to pe throte, 'pou hast fylled me so full, pat I am in
poynt to breste.' panne seyth pe lykerous throte to pe stomak,
' powj pou breste, I schal asayen of an-oper mess.' panne 28
comyth veynglorye after, to reporte how pei were seruyd in
Theconse- mete & drynke. pis veynglorye, vryth his v. fote brede wose,
queiices of
daintiness. makyth pe to synken in so depe in glotonye, tyl pou brakyst out,
or tyl pin herte is al sett in delycacyes, pat pou hast no ioye 3 2
but when pou art delycatly seruyd, & whan pou mayst spekyn
of swich welfare, and stodying at o meel how pou mayst fare
wele at pe next meel ; & in brekyng pi fastyng dayes bodyri of
1 MS. in coiieytise crossed.
CH. xxi. ] The Consequences of Gluttony. 145
holy cherche, or enioyned in penauws, or avowyd ; or in etyng &
dryukyng oftere on pe day & more at ]>e meel J?an pe nedyth ;
or etyst wyttyngly mete pat is stolyn ; or a-fore mete & after,
4 nojt thankyng pi god ; or for glotonye >ou art dystemperyd in
pi | stomak, in }?i sy}t, in pi tunge, in bi specfi, in pi wyttes, in [Pol. 48 a.]
pi lymes, in iangelyng, in bostyng, in proferyng to werkyn
maystryes, in spekyng a^ens resoun, in drunkeschip}, in vsyng
8 tauernys, in stiryng opere perto, in wastyng vitayles pat manye
poore my^te lyve by. for glotony pou sweryst, lyest, cryest,
chydest, dyspisest, cursyst. Crisostomus seyth, & recitatwr in
cawone de consecracione distinccio v. ' Nichil enim '/ bat surfet of Surfeit of meat
and drink de-
1 2 mete & of drynk wastyth & corruptyth pe body, & ponyschith stroys the body,
vfyih long sykenes, & aftyr bryngeth pi body to a foul deth.
Poule, Ad rowan. 1 2 2 , seyth, As in pe day go we honestly, no3t
l^ in glotony & in drunkeschijp) 3 . Innoceuciws, in libello de miseria
16 condicionis humane, he seyth, mesure & temperure is so dyspysed,
& excesse & superfluite is so desyred in dyuerse metys & drynkes,
& in dyuerse causes, J>at delyjte kan no manere, & gredynes
excedyth mesure ; wherthrugli J)e stomak is troublyd, syke, &
20 agreuyd, pe wytt is dullyd & apeyred, pe vnderstondyng is and impairs the
oppressed, here-of comyth non helthe, but sykenes & deth.
perfore, he seyth, pe sentens of pe wyse man, be pou nojt to
lusty & to gredy in J?in etyng, ne falle pou no:jt on iche delycasye
24 out of mesure, for in manye metys & dyuerse drynkes is gret
syknes, & manye for glotonye haue peryssched & deyid. hmc
ille Ecc. xxiij. 4 , be glotonye deth entryd in-to aft mankynde. It Gluttony the
gate of sins,
is gate of synnes, be pe whiche alle opere synnes entryn in-to
28 man. pis gate of glotonye speryd Adam out of paradys, & opere
also pat vsyn J>at synne. Glotonye is figured Prouer. xxx. 6
pcre it is wretyn bat a waterleche or a tyke, pat is soukyng Simile of the
horseleech or
blood, it hath ij. dowterys pat sayn ' bryng, bryng ! pe eowkere tick.
32 is pi bely. his two dowterys glotonye & drunkeschippe. glo-
tonye crieth euere after exces of mete, drunkeschipp) euere cryeth
1 c. 28. Dist. 5 de consecratione [C. J. C. I. 1419]. 2 Rom. xiii. 13.
3 MS. in margin : 'nofobene de gula.' * Ecclesiasticus xxiii. 6.
5 MS. in margin: 'gula q>m*i janua pecoafOHffl*.' 6 Prov. xxx. 15.
146 Sins of Gluttony, Deadly and Venial. [CH. xxi.
after exces of drink, and a waterleche or a tyke hath neuere
ynow, tyl it brestyth ; so pi bely hath neuere ynow but euere
cryeth, ' jeve me more,' tyl it endyth wyili deth.
Four manners glotonye sleyth glotouns in iiij. manere of deth: In deth of (p
glutton. kynde, in deth of synne, in deth of euytt name, & in deth of 5
helle. Prouer. xxiij. 1 'Propter crapulam multi perierunt &
obierunt.' Jperfore, castyth out )?is wose fro ]?e pytt of
Appetite caused body ! sif bin appetyte be in mesure as nede of huneyr com- 8
by hunger is no
sin- pellyth pe & no more, panne is pin apetyjt no synne, ne )?i
dely^t folwyng in pin etyng, jif it be moderate. }if pin appetyte,
Taking delight nedefull to mete, haue an appetyst of delyst & of lust in be mete,
in one's food is
venial sin. panne it is venyal synne. jif pou breke a bodyn fast of holy 12
bidden fast, cherch, but }if it be in nede, or but pe la we jeuyth leue, it is
dedly synne. whan seculere or relygyous etyth flesch in tyme
forbedyn be holy cherch, wytA-outyn leefutt cause, it is dedly
and habitual synne. jif bin appetyte of etyng be wyih lykyng & lust, & wyth 16
delight in deli- J
caciesare deadly ouyrdone effect to pat ende for to cleue to delyjt of mete, }?ane
is it dedly synne. jif ]?ou haue suche a consuetude pat makyth
all ]?i lyif be put in swiche delyces, it is dedly synne. jif ]jou
Drinking more drynke more or oftere pan be nedyth, it is venyal synne 2 . 20
than is needful J
| s venial sin, whanne pou drynkest out of mesure, vnordynatly, more J?an
de^liy 1 shi* 1S dyscrecyoun of resoun wytt, so ]?at J?i mynde is effreynyd in
lykyng, J?at ]?i lykyng is more to ]?e drynk for e tyme pan to
god, paraie is it dedly synne. And also, whanne Ipou hast longe 24
Intoxicating iu vse to be drunken, or whanne bou byddest, or styrrest, or
one's self or J J
others is deadly doost an-o]?er to drynkyn for entent to makyn hym drunkyn,
[Fol. 48 b.] pat J^ou myjt dulle his | wytt, his mynde, his resouw, for to
dysceyvin him, it is dedly synne. ' quia peius est auferre proximo 28
vsum racionis qwam bonum temporale,' secundum doctorem.
It is more synne to take fro J>i neyhbowre his resoun ]?an his
temperal good.
1 The quotation is from Ecclesiasticus xii. 2.
* MS. in margin : ' Gula que est mortole peccatum. & que veniale." The
gloss has been injured by the binder, and restored by a later hand.
CH. xxi, xxii.] Story of the Peasant asked to t?te King's Wedding. 147
[The Peasant asked to the King's Bridal .]
Jf \\bro de dono timoris 1 . A plowman was bedyn to a kynges A peasant was
J J asked to the
brydale, wyih opere. be pe weye thedyrward, he hadde thrust, king's wedding.
4 he fonde stynkynge & trubly watyr, & be-gan to drynke ber-of. But he drank
J ' foul water on his
his felawys prayed hym to abyde awhyle, and at pe brydale he wa y>
schulde drynke good wyn ynow. he wolde nojt abyde but
fylled his bely of pat stynkyng watyr, in so myche pat euere-
8 more he brast out horryble styncfi. wharaie he com) to be and when he
arrived, he was
brydale his felawys were letin in, & he, for his stynche, was shutout because
schett out.
Ryjt so, alle men are bedyn in Ipe gospeft to come to be kynges
1 2 brydale of heuen), pat is, to his blysse. but glotouns & drunke- Gluttons and
drunkards
lewe thrusten in pe weye of here levyng here, & drynke so
myche stynkyng watyr of delyces, in exces of glotonye & drunke-
schipjD; panne, whane opere schal entre pe blysse of heuen) for
1 6 swetnes of here abstynens, pawne schal po glotouws for here
stench of drunkeschipp) be speryd out for euere. perfore, castyth shaiibeexciuded
out of jowre pytt of youre body pis wose of glotonye, pat be
swetnesse of abstynens 56 mowe entre pe kyngdam of heuene !
20 Ad quod &.
C&pitulvm xxij m .
De Gula.
^ rjlHE oper day, I told ^ou of pe wose of glotony in fyve fote Growth of
24 J- of brede, now schal I telle jou where pis wose of glotonye
begywneth & waxit. At pe tauerne often pe glotonye be- The tavern
gynneth. for pe tauerne is welle of glotonye, for it may be
clepyd pe develys scolehous & pe deuelys chapel, for pere his is the Devil's
28 dyscyples stodyen 2 & syngyn, bothe day & ny5t, & pere pe deuyl chapel,
doth meraclys to his seruauntys. God, in his chapel of holy
cherche, makyth blynde men to se, crokyd to go, dombe to
1 MS. in margin : ' Narracio.'
2 MS. in margin : ' Gula Aitcipnli scola est diaboli.'
L 2
148
The Ten Sins of the Tongue. Idle Talk.
[CH. XXII.
where he shows
his miracles
and his lessons.
By the fig-tree
(Matt. xxi. 19) is
understood an
evil tongue.
Its ten branches
are the sins of
the tongue.
, i. Idle talk,
[Pol. 49 a.]
its manners.
speke. deefe to here, & to haue alle here ryjte wyttes; but
pe feend, in his chapel of pe tauerne, schewyth his myraclys.
he takyth awey mannys feet, pat he may nojt go, & his tunge,
pat he may nojt speke, alle his wyttes & his bodyly strengthe. 4
pise myracles doth pe feend in pe tauerne.
Now here je what lessouri he techyth his clerkys in pe scole
of pe tauerne. he techyth hem glotonye, leccherye, for-sweryng,
slauwdryng, bakbyting, to scorne, to chyde, to dyspyse, to 8
reneye god, to stele, to robbe, to fy3te, to sle, & manye opere
swiche synnes. And pus he heldyth hem be pe throte of glotonye
in pe scolehous of his tauerne. he techyth his dyscyples to
mysgouerne here tungys. ia
be pe tre pat crist waryed, whawne he fonde pere-on but
levys, is vndyrstonde euytt tunge. for be levis is vnderstonde
euyli woordys, and as it is euytt to telle pe levys on a tre, so
it is euytt to telle pe synnes of an euytt tunge. out of pis 16
tre, pat is, euytt tunge, springen brauwches, pat is, x. synnes ! ,
as ydett speche, veyn avauwtyng, losengerye, bakbytyng, lying,
sweryng, stryvyng, grucchyng, frowardnes, slauwdre.
pe firste braunches 2 v. I schal tellyn now. pe first brauwche 20
is ydel speche 3 , as iangelerys. for pis synne pei lesyn pe godys
pat pei myjte, or schulde, do. also pei lese pe tresour of pe
herte, & fyllen it vryih vanytes. | in pis speche men may synnen
in v. manors, pe first is outrage in here woordys, as a clapp of 24
a melle, pat neuere wytt be stylle. pe secwnde is veyn woordys,
male-apert, in iangeling, in tellyng of thynges, & often pei are
false & lyerys. pe iij. manere, summe vsyn veyn woordys in
sotyll speche to plesyn pe hererys, to makyn hem lawgh. pe 28
iiij. manere, summe vsyn veyne woordys in lesynges & bourdys.
pe v. manere, summe vsen veyn speche in scornyng of gode
men pat don wel, for pei wolde drawyn hem fro pat vse of
goodnes. for he pat thru} his tunge sleyth a man, or drawyth 32
hym fro good to euytt, hath no more thank of god pan a kyng
1 MS. in margin : ' note io.'
2 MS. goes on : 'is ydel speche as iangelerys,' afterwards crossed.
* MS. in margin : ' vaniloquewcYa.'
CH. xxn.] Boasting and Flattery. 1 49
wold kun a man bat had sleyn his sone, & born awey his
tresour.
|g be secunde braunche of J>e euytt tunge is avauntyng 1 . for 2. Boasting
4 he bat avauntyth him is a theef to god, for he takyth awey J?e
worschip) )?at schulde falle to god. & on bis brauwche hange
v. levis, }>at is, v. manere avauwtyng. oon is of J>ing Ipat hath
ben, anojjer is of thyng bat is now, j?e iij. of thyng >at schal
8 be, f>e ferthe is couert, be fyfte is sotylte. J?e ferst leef is
avauwtyng of thyng bat hath be don ; as bei Ipat reherse J?at of actions,
bei haue don, to be holdyn dowty, & bat men schulde knowe
it, to haue a gret name. Anober is avauwtyng of godys ]?at of wealth and
. nobility,
12 bei haue, as rycches, & nobylte of kyn, or of frendys, or of
strengthe, & bei fare as be cuccuke, bat syngyth but of him-self.
be iij. is bostyng of thyng )?at may nojt be jit ; as bei >at seyn of purposes,
bei schal makyn bis & bat, as castellys or cherche, howse
16 or suche an-ober werk. ]?e iiij. is couert bostyng ; as f>ei bat
couertly doth, & dare nost for schame preysin hem-self, but ait Contempt for
the actions of
]?at olper doth J>ei 2 dyspyse & lakke, as bowj bei cowthe do others.
my en bettere ]?an Ipei. . be v. is sotyl bostyng, bat is, of hem bat False modesty.
20 woldyn men preysed hem, & helde hem gode men, & dare nojt
boste opynly, for men pchulde holde hem gode & meke. Alas !
alas ! seyth seynt bernard ; |?is is a dulefutt bostyng, for Ipei
makyn hem-self deuelys bat woldyn be holdyn auwgelys. but
24 jif on seyde to hem bei myjt no werse be ban bei are, bei
wolde be ryjt angry.
(f be iij. brauwche is losengerye, & bei bat hauntyn it arn ]?e 3- Flattery,
deuelys norsys, for bei norsche men to lyg longe in hera synne,
28 &, vfyih here flateryng, }>ei make men to go boldely to helle
ward, for as men bat wyll takyn a bere anoynten his waye compared to
trapping a bear.
vryth hony, to makyn hym to fallyn in a pytt, so j?ise losengen/s,
wyth flateryng, ledyn a man be veyn-glorye in-to ]5e pytt of
32 helle. bis synne of be tunge is departyd in-to v. partys 3 . be
ferst part is be synne of flatererws. sif a man haue don wel, or Praising a man
. for his good
sayd wel, bei telle it him, to don hym haue veyn-glorye, but j^ei actions.
1 MS. in margin: ' 2. jactancia.' 2 MS. )>e.
3 MS. in margin : ' pecca<m lingue diuiditur i ([Kiw^Me pa> - tes."
150
Flattery and Backbiting.
[CH. XXll.
False praise.
[Fol. 49 b.]
Echoing
another's words,
Concealing
another's sins.
The flatterer
compared to a
mermaid.
4. Backbiting.
Simile of the
adder.
Divers kinds of
backbiting.
wyl nojt tellyn hym his foly. pe ij. part is of hem pat glose
wyth lesyngys. for 3if a man do lytel good, pei wyft, wyih
lesynges, make it rnyche more, & pise, in holy wrytt, are clepyd
false wytnessys. pe iij. is thru} slye woordys & fayre to make 4
a man wene pat he hath vertu & grace in hym self, whan he
hath non. & perfore, in holy writt, pei ar clepyd charmers,
for pei | charme a man so wyth slye woordys, pat he levyth
bettere here talys pan him-self, & trowyth bettere f>at he 8
heryth pan pat he seeth. pe iiij. part is of hem pat seyn,
' Syre, 50 seyn sooth,' or ellys, ' je do wel,' be it neuere so euyft,
& prayse & turne to gode ali pat a man seyth, be it good or
euytt, & seyn it is good, to folowyn his wylt. perfore, in holy n
wrytt )?ei are clepyd Eccho. Eccho is a voys pat reboundyth
ajen, whan a man spekyth ajen a wode, or ajen an hyll, &
souwdyth pe same woord pat he seyth, be it good or euylf.
pe v. part is of hem pat couere pe sywnes of hem pat pei r6
wyl flatere, and perfore pei are lykenyd to a foxis tayl, & are
clepyd tayles in holy wrytt, for pei kouere pe synnes of ryche
men for loue or dreed, as a tayl koueryth pe foul ende of
a beeste. losengers, in pe book of kynde, are lykenyd to 20
a mermayden of pe se. it hath a body as a womman, &
a tayl as a fyscn, & clawys as an eryn. and sche syngeth so
merye in pe se, J?at sche makyth pe schipman to slepe, and
paraie sche drenchith hym. ryjt so, losengers makyn men to 24
slepyn in here synne, tyl J?ei deye perin.
fe iiij. braunche is bacbytyng. A bacbytere, in pe book of J|
kynde, is pe feendys scolere, & he is lykenyd to an eddere. ffor
Salomon J seyth, as pe eddere pei byte & sle iij. at oo strook, 28
pat is, pe bacbytere, pe herere, & him pat he bacbyteth. On
pis brauwche hange v. levys 2 . Jse ferst leef is whan pe bac-
bytere contryuyth ony wyckydnes or lesyng to brynge opere
men in-to blame, pe secwnde leef is whan pei heryn euyl of 32
opere, pei telle it forth, & saye more \>erto of here owne hevyd.
pe iij. leef is whawne pei make a mannys goodnes to be sett
1 Prov. xxiii. 32.
MS. in margin : ' nota qKt'tjuc folia detractoris.'
CH. XXH.] Lying. Story of Julius and Julian building a Church. 151
at nou}t, & so )?ei etyn him hole. f>e iiij. leef is whan f>ei etyn
a man nojt al hole but pece-mele, and, }if )?ei durste byte more,
]?ei wolde. for whan a man wyl preysin an-of)er, ]?e bacbytere
4 wyll afferme it. he makyth ]?ere a bytt ]?at menyth euyli, he
sayth it is sooth, and jit, he sayth, \>ere is a, fawte Ipai me
forthynkyth, and J^us, thrugh a pryve envie, he takyth a bytt.
bis is be scorpiouw, bat fawnyth vfyth be heved, & styngeth Simile of the
scorpion.
8 wyih ]?e tayl. )?e v. leef is whan he turnyth it to euyl Ipai may
als weel be good as euyl, & ]7er-fore he is a fals domys-man.
ffi ]>e v. brauwche of euyl tunge is lying on a trewe man * falsely. 5. Lying.
& as men may falsyn ]?e popys bulle & Tpe kynges seel, as he
12 schal be demyd to deth )mt falsyth j?e kynges monye or his
seel, so schal a lyere at domys-day be demyd to deth endeles. The liar shall be
condemned to
A lyere faryth as a badde peny amonge gode, & as pe chane endless death.
among >e corn, and crist seyth in )?e gospel, ]?e feend is fadyr
1 6 of lyerys 2 . A lyere is lykenyd to a bryd clepyd gamaltan. bis Simile of the
chameleon.
bryd lyveth be Ipe eyre, & hath no-thyng in hym but wynde. he
wyl chauwgyn hym to alle colourys J^at he seeth. On )?is
brauwche, lying, hange iij. levys. on manere lesyng is bre,-
20 nand, an-o|)er plesyng, pe thridde noyand ; & iche of )?ise iij. is
synne. ffor seynt Austyn seyth, j?ouj a man do good to an-o}5er
thruj lesynges, he noyeth hym-self, wherfore it is brerznand.
but lesynges | of j^ise iaperys Ipat bourde wyt/t lesyngys to [Pol. 50 a.] -J
24 make men solace, J?ei lye plesande. but ]?ei Ipai lye to noye
oj>ere men, & wyllyng to hyndeiyn hem, synuen dedly. Out
of f>is branche springen falshede, gyles, & dyspy3t.
' JO ^
[Julius and Julian building a Church.]
(F Ex 3 legenda lumbardica 4 . Julius & iuliaims frames, edifi- Julius and
*' Julian, while
29 cantes ecclesiam, omwes transeuntes per locum ilium eos de building a
church, re-
mandato imperatoris theodosii iuuare teuebawtwr. Quidam illic quested the help
of the passers-
cuw curru transituri vnum de socijs suis super currum iacere b y-
Some men pass-
32 fecenmt, & eum openentes quasi mortuurn, cum ad locum ing with a cart
made a fellow
eclificii peruenissent, inuitati a scmchs, vt eos iuuarent, respon- he across, as if
he were dead,
1 MS. in margin : 'mendacium.' 2 John viii. 44.
3 MS. et. 4 MS. in margin : ' Narrocio de mendacio.'
152 The Story of the Successful Lawyer. Forswearing. [CH. xxn,
So they pleaded derunt se mortuum ducere ad sepeliendtm, & ut. eos iuvare
that they had to
bury their com- nequibant. Quibws sanct'i: ' Quare mentimini? Ite. & sicut
panion.
But their lie was dicitis, fiat vobis ! ' Cum pertransissent excitantes socium suum
turned into
truth. muenerimt mortuum. Ecce mendaciuw, qualiter nocuit ! 4
[The Lawyer who lost all his Convent's Cases.]
A successful Jacobus de Vitriaco *. Quidam magnws aduocatws ordinem (|>
lawyer entered
a convent. cisternencem intrauit, qui frequenter pro causis abbacie defeu-
But he lost all dendis mittebatur, & semper succumbebat. cui abbas et monachi 8
its cases,
indignati dixerunt : ' quomodo tu semper in causis nosiris suc-
cumbis, qui in secitlo existens semper in causis preualebas, in
causis aliorwm ? ' quibus ille respondit : ' cum essem secularis,
semper mentiri non timebam, sed per mendacia & fraudes ad- ia
because he now uersarios superabam : nunc autew. auia non audeo dicere nisi
felt bound to tell
the truth. veruwi, semper succumbo.' sic promittitwr esse in claustro. sic
prornittitwr, quia aduersa pacientes pro veritate in hoc muwdo
eruwt in claustro celi in futwro ; eciam per mendacia preua- 16
lentes in hoc seculo erunt in claustro inferni in futuro, nisi
peniteant.
J?erfore, levyth joure lesynges, & spekyth trewthe ! for trewthe
is ]?e way to heuen) blysse. Ad quod &5). 20
C&pitulum xxiij m .
De gula et vicijs lingue.
THE oTper day, I told jow of Ipe wose of glotonye, where it ^
begynneth and encresyth, J?at is, in f>e tauerne. I telde 24
3ow J?anne \>ai glotonye makyth J?e tunge to spekyn euyli 2 , & out
More sins of the of euytt tunge springeth x. brauwchys. J?e v. I telde jou J^e o]?er
day, \>Q o|5ere v. I schal telle jow now.
6. Forswearing, ]?e vj. brauwche of euytt tunge, & ]?e firste as for Tpis day, is 28
forsweryng. euyl it is to lye, but werse it is to forswere. on
1 MS. in margin : ' iterum narracto de mendacio.'
2 MS. in margin^: ' de vicio lingue.'
CH. xxiii.] The Seven Kinds of Forswearing. 153
bis braurache of forsweryng hange vii. levys. be ferst is whan which isof seven
kinds, namely
on swerytTi ryjt and gladly, god forbyddeth nojt to sweryn x . swearing
readily,
trewthe in nede, but he forbyddeth to haue lykyng in sweryng.
4 be ij. leef is to swere lyjtly for nou^i ; & bat god forbyddeth 2 - swearing in
vmn,
in his comauwdmentys. be iij. leef is whanne men sweryn 3. habit of swear-
ing,
customabely at iche woord, & recke neuere how. jif bei louyd
god, bei wolde be a-schamyd & a-dred to clepyn god to record
8 at iche ydel woorde. for god byddeth be nojt swere but, }a, ja ;
nay, nay ; saaf in gret nede. be iiij. leef is whawne men sweryn 4- frivolous
folyly, & bat may be in manye maners, as whanfD a man sweryth
ouersone for wretthe, & wharaie he hath don, he repentyth hym ;
12 or whan a man sweryth to don a thyng bat may nojt be don,
wyt/t-outyn synne ; or whan men sweryn in certeyn for a thyng
bat is in dowte ; or whan a man behotyth an-ober a thyng bat
he may nojt perfourme ; or whan men swere, be it for ou3t or for
1 6 noujt, be goddys creaturys, as be suwne, or mone, or fyre, or
faderys soule, or moderns soule, or his hevyd, or his hood, or ony
swich obere oth. for it is ajens goddys lawe to drawe ony swich
creature to wytnesse, but oure lord god only, for barme he doth
20 be honour to hem | bat he schulde do to god. And whenn) men [Fol. 60 b.]
sweryn be be book in be which goddys woord is wretyn, bei
swere be god. And jif bei swere be seyntys, or be ony relykes
of hem, bei sweryn be god & be hem also, be v. leef is when s- violent j
swearing,
24 men sweryn vyolently, as be god, or be ony of his sayntes, or be
his soule, his body, his herte, his flesch, his bonys, his peyne, his
deth, his feet, his nayles, or be ony of his ober lymes. bawne
bei rende god iche lyme fro ober, and arn werse ban iewys, for
28 bei rentyn hym but onys, and swiche swererys rendyn him iche
day newe. & be iewys braken nojt his bonys, but bei brekyn
his bonys, & iche lyme fro ober, & levyn non hole, be vj. leef is 6. perjury,
whawne men sweryn fals wytingly, & beryn fals wyttnesse, or
32 sweryn be cautelys. but god takyth an othe after be symple
vnderstondyng, & nojt after wyles & sleyjtes. whenn) a man
sweryth, 'so god saue me or helpe me,' }if he sweryth fals, he
puttyth fro hym goddys helpe & his kepyng, & aft bat he hath
36 of god. be vij. leef is when a man, be his owyn wyl, brekyth his ro ^^ h of
154
Quarrelsomeness and Murmuring.
[CH. XXIII.
7. Quarrelsome-
ness
of seven degrees,
viz. contradic-
tion,
dispute,
contempt. '
(The contemp-
tuous man
compared to a
porcupine
or a wicked dog.)
Bevilement.
reproach,
menace,
raising of dis-
cord.
8. Murmuring.
[Fol. 51 a.]
trewthe, for he Jmt hotyth thru$ truthe, & fulfylleth it nojt, is
for-sworn, for truthe vnkept & othe brokyn is afi on.
j?e vij. brauwche of euyft tunge, & J>e secunde as for pis day, %
is chyding and stryvyng ; for pat plesyth ]?e feend myche, & no- 4
thyng more, & it dysplesyth most god, as Seynt Austyne seyth,
for god louyth most pes *. J)is bravmche hath vij. levis : Oon is
stryif, an-o]?er ischydyng, pe iij. is dysdeyn, pe iiij. is mysseying,
J?e v. is repreef, J>e vj. is manas, J?e vij. is reysing of dyscord; 8
when men lyven in pes, J>e feend steryth hem to wretthe, & pewne
comyth stryif & dyscord. & as after fyir comyth smoke, so after
ire & stryif comyth contek & chydyng. pis begynneth, whanne
on wyft mayntene pat he seyth, & pat an-oper sayth, ' nay,' & 12
bus J?ei come to chydyng. after chydyng cometh dysdeyne ; as
whawne on pryketh an-oper wyth vyleyn woordys. for a vyleyn
woord is scharpere pan a rasour 2 , & more peryschande J?an an
allys-poynt. suche men are lyche a beeste of Inde pat is clepyd 16
a portepyfD s . J?is beeste, whawne he is wroth, he casteth out of
his scharpe pynnes spytefully at hym pat he is wroth wyth.
Also pei are lyke a dogge ]?at berkyth and byteth whom he
may. after dysdeyn comyth myssaying & werying. holy wrytt 20
seyth, who-so weryeth his neyjboure, is weryed of god, and Poule
seyth *, pei schal nojt haue J?e kyngdam of god. after myssay-
ing comyth repreuyng, & f>at is wyckedere pan werying ; as
whawne a man repreuyth an-oper of synne pat he hath don, or 24
of pouert, or of pore freendys. after Ip'is repreef comyth manas,
pat styreth men to ire, & Jeanne pei gynne bate, & leue w$t, tytt
on be avengyd. after pis comyth raysing of dyscord, & pat is
werst of alle pe opere, for it fordoth be loue bi-twene freendys, 2 8
& fordoth pes, & rayseth werre, & swiche folk god hateth.
pe viij. braunche of euyfl tunge is pe synue of grucchyng 5 . ^
& it are pei pat, whanne pei are wrothe, dare riojt answere, but
momyfi ]?e deuelys bedys, whedyr J>ei be greuyd vfyih god or 3 2
man. for ]?is synne god made Dathan & Abyron synkyn to | helle.
1 MS. in margin: 'pacem pl* diligit deus, note 7.' 3 Ps. lii. 2.
3 MS. in margin : ' e\emplum de maligno.' * i Cor. vi. 10.
5 MS. in margin : ' de minacia.'
CH. xxiu.] Murmuring against God and Man. Frowardness. 155
and for bis synne god sente fyir fro heuefi), & brente chore Example of
Dathan and
& C & 1 l of his cumpanye in wyldernes. and for bis synne be Abiram.
iewys lostyn be land of beheste ; whanne oure lord had fed
4 hem xl. wynter in wyldernes, baraie none entryd but calaphe
M
& Josue, and bei were DC., & alle dyed for sorwe. bis braunche
hath ij. leuys 2 : on is grucchyug ajens god, an-ober is ajens
man. fferst ajens god, for dyuerse skylles : on, for a man bat Murmuring
8 hath lost grace, wyl be aboue god, so bat god fulfylle no3t his
wyft. he grucchyth, & seyth bat god doth him wrong, as be
holy gost makyth men to seyn in here hertys, ' Deo gracias,' so be
feend makyth his men to syuge be song of helle, bat is, ' alias &
12 welleaway.' bus bei grucche, jif god sende hem angyr of herte,
or sykenes, or pouerte, or outerage wedyr, or fayling of frute, or
dere jerys, or jif god sende a man werdly good, & take fro an-
ober his good, barme bei seyn bat god is no}t ryjtwyse, &
1 6 blamyn hym for his dede. Ipus bei grucche asens god, for he
doth asens here wytt & here lust. Also bei grucche asens man 3 , Murmuring
against man.
as seruauwtys asens here mayster or maystresse, or as chyldere
ajens fadyr or modyr, or as pore men ajens ryche, or as bonde-
20 men ajens here lordys, or as lay-men ajens preestys, or as frere,
munke, or chanoun, ajens here abbot or priour. In alle bise
statys be sywne of grucchyng is vsed, jif bei be bodyn to do bat
hem luste nojt.
13 be ix. braunche of euytt tunge is frowardnesse. grucchyng is 9- Frowardness
35 euytt, frowardnesse is werse. frowardnes comyth fro be herte,
but be tunge schewt/t/i it out thrugh ouer-thwerte woordys. for
he bat is froward folwyth neyber skyl ne resoun, but he wolde
28 aft thing were don at his wytt. he wolde men plesyd him, but
he wytt plese no man. Salomon 4 seyth, suche a man may no}t
fayle of euytt endyng. as grucchyng is ajens god & man, ryjt
so, suche harde hertys arn froward to god & man. bis brauwche
32 hath iiii. levys. be firste is when be herte is sturdy, & froward, in despising
God's counsel
& euytt-wylly, & wyl nojt bowe to goddys couwseyl. an-ober
1 The number is two hundred and fifty in Num. xvi. 35.
2 MS. in margin : 'nota duo. i. Minacio contra deum.'
3 MS. in margin : ' Menacto contra homines.' * Prov. xvii. 20.
156 Blasphemy. The Tree of Evil Tongue. [CH. xxm
and hi com- leef is whan bei wante wyH to fulfylle be comaundmentys of
mandments, in
rebeiiingagainst god. be in. leef is whan bei wyl nost mekely suffere chastysing,
chastisement
and reasonable as bei are worthy, be iiii. is whan bei forsake resoim. and wyl
reprimand.
nojt leryn mekely bat here freendys techyn hem, or take it at 4
dyspyjt, & wyli nojt do bere-after, but rathere be contrarie.
also bei are rebeft to goddys coimseyl. jif men teche hem soule-
hele, bei scornyn hem. also bei are froward to kepe goddys
comauwdmentys, and jif a man repreue hem of here foly, anon 8
bei excusyn it, wyth lewyd skylles, & mayntene here owyn foly ;
& be more bey excusyn him be more bei encresyn here synne.
And jif god 1 wyl chastyse hem anon, bei wyft seyn, ' lord
god, what haue I don, \>ai I am bus greuyd for noujt 1 ' & i a
bus, bat schulde be medycyne, bei turne to venyme. Also,
bere arn summe bat wyln no^t lerne for 2 techyng, but fallyn
in erroure, in heresye, in lollardrye, & mayntene here owne
opynyouws. 16
10. Blasphemy. J>e x. braunche is slandryng of god & of his seyntys, or to ^
speke a3ens be sacramentys of holy cherch; as charmeris, or
wytches, or swererys, bat wytA othys dyspysen goddys body,
bei faryn as a wood houwd bat knowyth no5t his mayster, but 20
byteth hym. god seyth in be gospel 3 , he bat synneth a3ens be
[Pol. 61 b.] holy | god in slawndryng his god, it scbal nojt be forjouyn him
in bis world ne in be ober ; bat is for to seyne, vnethe it schal
be forjeuyn hym, for vnethe ony swiche slauwderere of god or of 24
hys sayntes in cursed othys begyraieth ony tyme to repentyn
hym, ne to cese of his sweryng & of his blasphemye. but }et
bere is no synne but god wyl forjeuyn it, jif man repente him
ber-of, & amende him. 28
The ooze of ffrendys ! here-beforn I haue told sou of glotonye & drunke-
Kluttony is the
fostering ground schipn), be whiche is be synne of be throte. & out of bis
of the tree of rl
evil tongue ; glotonye, bat is a wose moyst & wete, springeth out at be
mowth ofte, in be feendys scolehows of be tauerne, a tre, bat 32
is, euyl tunge. bis wose, I tolde 3ou here before, is v. fote brede,
bat is for to sayne, it is in v. manery. be tre euyft tunge, bat
springeth out of be wose of glotony, hath x. braunchys, bat is,
1 Added in margin. a To me&nfro. 3 Matt. xii. 32.
CH. xxni.] Story of a Pilgrim cured of Drunkenness. 157
x. spyces, & iche of po spyces hath manye levis, bat is, many
circumstaxmcys.
Medycyne here-of is, ferst to caste out be wose of glotonye & cast out the ooze,
and the tree will
4 of drunkeschypp), bat be tre of euyl tunge, wyth alle his brauw- wither!
chys & wyih alle his levys, may drye & welke.
[The Vision of the Pilgrim who spent his Cloak for Drink.]
Jf Cesarius telly th 1 bat a pylgryin saf his slaveyn for to drynke A pilgrim sold
his cloak for
8 nmty wyne ynow. he drank e so myche. bat he was drunke, & wine, and be-
. ' came dead
hadde no mynde ne resoim, but ferde as a deed man. bat same drunk.
nyat, his spyrite was rauyssched. & led to placys of horryble In a vision, he
saw the Prince
peynys. Ipere he seyj be prynce of helle sytten on a pyt-syde, f Hell con-
1 2 wryed wyih a lyde of tre 2 . bere was broujt forth a-forn hym ? bl ? ot to fearful
an Abbot of corbeye, whom bat prince of deuelys wolcomyd
derely, & jaf hym drynken of a fyren cuppe brynnyng drynk
wyth brymston, tyl it braste out of his eyen, nose, & erys.
1 6 barme bat feend onkeueryd bat pytt, & kyst bat abbot in-to
bat pytt of helle for his glotonye, drunkeschip), & for exces
of delycacyes. be pylgrym, in syjt of all pis, was sore aferd.
banne cried bat feend lowde, & seyde, ' brynge hedyr bat Then the pilgrim
, 1-1 was ? a 'i e d UP,
20 pilgrym pat spendyd jister evyn his slaueyn at pe wyn ! and implored
banne cryed be pilgryme to his good aungyl to helpyn hym, angel.
& sayde he wolde neuere do so more, so his aungytt wolde
delyueryn hym fro pe feend. bat houre, be spyrite of bat When he awoke,
24 pylgrym turnyd ajen to hym-self, & he awooke, & com) horn to
his cuntre. & fonde & knewe bat be Abbot, his neysbour, dyed he was informed
J that the abbot
suche an houre as be pilgrym seyj hym be put in-to pat pyt had died the
of helle.
28 [The Soul of a Glutton swallowed by a Fiend.~\
(jj) Seynt gregorie tellyth : a man pat hy^t Theodorws, in A gluttonous
glotonye, eueremore pamperyd his bely. in exces of mete & of
1 MS. in margin : narracio bona de gula.'
a The Latin original (Csesarii Heisterbacensis . . . Dialogus Miraculorum,
ed. T. Strange, vol. ii. p. 349) has : puteum igneo operculo tectum ; the MS.
from which our story was translated, probably had litjneo.
158
Lechery and its Parts.
[CH. XXIII, XXIV.
came to die.
The Devil put
his mouth into
the glutton's,
and swallowed
his soul.
drynk. euyn & morwe, dayes & nj^ies, halydayes & sonedayes,
a-forn hye masse & after, & in tyme of masse, he delyjted gretly
in delycacyes. At be laste, to hym com) sykenes of deth, & he
cryed, & seyde : ' be feend in lyknes of a dragoim byndyth me 4
hand & foot, lo ! now he puttyth his mowth in-to my mowth,
& swellowyth in my soule for my glotonye.' In bise woordys
he dyed.
wherfore beeth ware of ]ris wose of glotonye, & castyth 8
it out !
LECHERY ;
its parts are :
lecherous
thoughts,
lecherous words
and manners,
Gapittdum xxiiij m .
De Luxuria.
HE vij. part of wose in zoure pytt of lustys is leccherye, ^
whicli I wyl telle jou bis day. lecchery is an vnleeful 13
lust bat comyth of freelte of be flescn, & defoulyth bothe be
[Pol. 52 a.] body & be soule. bis wose of | [lecchery] is iij. fadome brode.
be firste fadom) is lecherous thow^tys in herte 1 , & denting 16
ber-in, or in wyl & desyre to pe?*fourme bat leccherous thoujt,
& duryng in bat thowjt. sap. j. 2 Swiche wyckede thoujtes
departyn bi soule fro god. & Mat. v. 3 who-so se a womman
to lye by here, banne he doth leccherye in his herte. 20
be secunde fadome of bis wose is leccherouse woordys, lec-
cherows manerys & condyciouns, as in syjt of }?in eyje. ' Im-
puclici cordis impudicw oculus est nuncius.' be leccherous
eyje is be signe of an vnclene herte. Also leccherouse woordys, 24
and in groping, felyng, in syngynge leccherous songys, in
daunsyng, in wowyng, in dely3t of leccherows songys, in
feynyng J?e seke for loue, in leccherous aray to styren obere
to bi lust. 28
be iij. fadome is dede of leccherye, whawne bou perfourmyst
it in dede, or art a bawde, & helpyst obere to be dede of
leccherye, or howsyst hem, or couwfortyst hem in here synne,
or mayntenyst or stirrest ober ber-to by charmys, wicche-craft, 32
lecherous
actions.
MS. in margin : ' i corde.'
Sap. i. 3.
8 Matt. v. 28.
CH. xxiv.] Lechery in the Heart, A Saying of Pythagoras. 159
or sorcerye, jlf bou be feble, and may nojt do it; in bostyng
and auawntyng of bi leccherye, in makyng be strong to leccherye
wyth metys, drynkes, & medycynes, in makyng be gay in aray,
4 & fayr heer, & glew in face, more J>an kynde of bi-self askyth,
& aft for to be plesaunt to obere more ]?an to bi wyif & hus-
bonde, to styrren hem to bi lust, as a fysschere dysseyuyth be As the fisher
* J J J allures fishes
fyssches, wyth bayte on be hook, ryjt so, J?e feend dysseyueth with a bait, so
LUG .UCYll
8 a man to leccherye, ferst in thoujt & wyft, & after in beholdyng, seduces men to
sythen thruj speche, & after thru} handelyng & cussyng, & after
to leccherows dede. ' Auerte oculos tuos, ne videant vani-
tatem 1 .' Turne awey J?in eyne, bat bei beholde nojt vanyte,
is seyth be prophete.
be ferste fadome brede of bis wose of leccherye, bat is, lee- Lechery in the-
heart has four
cherie in herte 2 , & bat is iiij. fote depe. On is thoujt, an-ober degrees, viz.
is dely3t, be iij. is consentyng of wyll, be iiij. is brennyng desyre
16 to a leccherows dede. be ferst fote depthe of wose is foly thoujt, thought,
& at is but venyaft synne. & of bat thoujt comyth be secunde
fote depthe, bat is, delyjte, & jif bat delyjte laste longe, it is delight,
dedly synne. be iij. fote depthe is whan wyH consentyth to consent of will.
20 leccherye, & bat consentyng is dedly synne. be iiij. fote depthe
is a brennyng desyre to leccherous dede ; but, bof bat desyre be burning desire.
no^t fulfylled in dede, it is dedly synne. Men may synnen ofte
in sy:t of wommen : as nyce wommen bat dysten hem qweyntly A woman may
sin by merely
24 to make men to mys-vsyn here syjt on hem, and y.t bei wenyn attracting the
bei synnen nou3t, for bei consentyn nojt to hem. but bei synne
grevously, for bei are cause bat be soulys of manye men are
lost, jif be womman in here entent doth so in here aray, bat
28 men bat beholdyn here hadde desyre to don foly -wyih here,
baraie sche is cause of here synne.
be leccherous man or wowman is lyche a swyn, bat louyth to The lecherous
man is like a
be in foul wose ; so be leccherows louyth to be in dyshonest swine,
32 cumpanye, in wose of leccherye. It is rehersyd in be book of
prouerbys of phylosopherys ]?at a leccherous persone seyde according to a
a philysophre, Pyttagoras, bat it was more solace to hym to K ras -
1 Ps. cxviii. 37 (Vulg. meos).
" MS. in margin : ' Inxwria in corde.'
160 The Degrees of Lechery in the Deed. Adultery. [CH. xxiv
be conuersavmt w?/tA foly wommen pan v?yth clerkys & vryth
phylosopherys. ]?e philisophre sayde to him ajen, ' ]?er-of haue
[Fol. 52 b.] I no mervayle. for an hog or a sowe hath | leuere walewyn
him in a foul wose pan in a dene ryvere; so pe lecchoure hath 4
leuere mellen hym \vyth leccherows wommen in wose of leccherye
J?an vtyth grete clerkys in pe clene lyvere of holy wrytt.'
The degrees of But leccherie in dede, bat is iii. fadome of brede of bis wose
lechery in the
deed are the o f leccherye, is xiiij. fote depthe 1 . pe firste fote depthe is 8
i. between un- betwen syngle man & syngle womman 2 , bat are no$t bouwde
married persons, ;
be be lawe to be bonde of maryage, ne to ordre, ne to relygioure.
bis is be ferste dedly fote of leccherye in bis wose of lust, & bis
a. of unmarried is dedly synne. be ij. fote depthe of pis wose is betwen syngle 12
men with pros- . , , , . , , . .
titutes, man & comouw womman , pat leuyth by here body, & pis is more
perylous pan be ober. for it happeth ofte tymes pat Ipei be
wyves or wowmen of relygioun, or takyn bothe brother or
cosyns. J>erfore, pis fote of wose is deppere pan pe oper before. 16
3. of unmarried pe iij. fote depthe of pis wose in dede of leccherye is betwen)
men and widows, riij , 3-1 ,-
syngle [manj and wydewe 4 , pat is vowyd chast, & pis is more
4. of unmarried depe in synne & more grevows. be iiii. fote depthe of bis wose
men and
maidens, in dede of leccherye is bytwen syngle man & mayden 6 ; for to a
be state of maydenhod clene folowyth most mede, }if it be kept,
and be more is be synne to him or to here bat brekyth it.
s. adultery be v. fote depthe of bis wose in dede of leccherye is betwen
a syngle man & a wyif 6 ; and bat is avowterye, and bis is greuows 24
involving two in two wyses. Oon is in brekyng fayth of maryage, bat be ton
sins, viz.
faithlessness schulde kepe to bat ober. An-ober is sacrilege, bat is, brekyng
and violation of
a sacrament. O f b e sacrament of holy cherche ; & thru3 bis synne fallyn many
peryles, as false eyrys, false maryagys, manslaujter & manye a8
opere. and ofte it is double avowtrye, as weddyd man &
weddyd womman, & pat is more grevouse. God knytt pi's
1 MS. in margin : ' luxwria in opere, nota, tria, note xiiij.'
2 MS. in margin : ' i. luxwria inter singulos homines et mulieres.'
3 MS. in margin : '2. single men & comoun wymmen.'
4 MS. in margin : ' 3. betwen syngle men & wydewe.'
5 MS. in margin : ' 4. betwen syngle man & mayden.'
6 MS. in margin : '5. betwene a syngle man & a wyife est (?) adulterio
intra . . . (?).'
CH. xxiv.] Boniface's Prop/iecy. Lechery among Married People. 161
knot of matrimonye in Adam & Eue, whanne he made of
Adames rybbe Eue to ben his wyif. perfore, ware pe pat
brekyst pat knott of maryage, pat god knytteth. ' Quod deus
4 coniuwxit homo now separet V f>at god knytteth man may
nojt departe ne brekyn, wytA-oute grevous synne. distinccio
Ivj. 'diuulgatum est 2 ;' how boniface pe pope & martyr wrote to
be kyng of Ingelonde 3 , & sayde bus : It is publyssched to vs in Pope Boniface's
prophecy about
8 ffrauwce, be maner of prophecye, bat sif englyschmen brekyn England and its
J adulterous race.
pe knott of matrimonye, & folowyn avowtrye & spousebreche,
of hem schal springe in tyme comynge a wycked seed. pat
seed schal ben her* chylderyn, falsely begetyn in avowterye as
1 2 bastards & false eyres ; pe whiche schul multyplie so fer- forth
in Inglond, pat ]?e peple schal be graceles, vnmyjty in batayle,
& vnstedfast in pe feyth of holy chercli. and so pei schul haue
no worschip) of opere londys, as to pe word : god schal hatyn
1 6 hem, as J?ei schal fynde be wreche comyng aftyrward. perfore,
pis fote of wose is deppere in synne J?an ony of e opere feet
before seyd.
$ pe vj. fote depth is whanne a man delyth wyth his wyif 6. The sin of
lechery amoiin
20 vnordynatly & vnkyndely 4 , ajens pe ordynauwce of kynde & of married people,
holy cherch, throw pe whiche a man may be damnyd. for
as a man may sle him-self, \vyih his owne knyif,
so he may sywne dedly, wytb his owne wyif.
^4 perfore, folowe pe ordre of matrimonye, & fare pou no3t as
a beste vnresonable. | for wedlok trewly knytt, trewly kept, & [^o 1 - 5S ]
vsed in ordre, is of suche vertu, pat it kepyth here fleschly dede
fro dedly synne. Also, jif pou vse pi wyif or pin husbonde as
28 pi lemman in entent hollyche for lust, takyng non hede ne
reward to pe mede, ne to pe loue, ne to pe fruyte of wedlok,
ne to pe honeste, but as an vnresonable beeste takyng hede to
bi luste, be ware of be feend Asmodews, bat slowe be vii. hus- Example of the
fiend Asinodeus,
1 Af att. xix. 6.
2 Capitulum 10. Distinctio 56 [Corpus Juris Canonici, i. 222].
3 MS. in lower and bide margin : ' Narract'o quasi prophesia de destruc-
tion e Anglic.'
4 MS. in margin : ' 6. nofa ppriculoBa.'
M
Incest. Breach of Celibacy. Sodomy.
[CH. XXIV.
who slew the
seven husbands
of Sara.
7. Lechery be-
tween persons
connected by
spiritual re-
lationship,
8. blood-
relationship,
9. or affinity.
Lechery
committed
with, or
among,
clerical
persons.
14. Sodomy.
The con-
sequences of
lechery.
bondys of Sare ! j?e womman on j?e ferst nyjt J>at )?ei lay by
here ! and att was, for here husbondys mysvsed here for lust,
and afterward Thobyes sone weddyd here, & Ipe feend had no
powere ouyr hym. whi ? for he vsyd his wyif in honeste, & 4
in ordynat manere, & in tyme leeffutt, & nojt att for lust.
be vij. fote depthe of pis wose is betwen a man & his gossybe, |P
or betwen godfadyr & goddoujter, or be[-twen] pe chyldryn of
godfadyr & godmodyr, for pei ben gostly sustryn & breperin. 8
be viij. fote depthe is betwen a man & his owyn kyn, in-to pe
fyfte degre. & pe nerere of kyn |?ei be be deppere is pe synne.
pe ix. fote depthe is sybred of affynyte ; as betwen a man & his
wyves kyn, or a womman & here husbondys kyn. for whan a ia
man hath medlyd wyih a womman, or a womman wyt/t a man,
neyther may be weddyd to opere kyn in-to \>Q fyfte degre, ne
medle viyih hem ; for jif J?ei don, it is incest, in J?e ix. fote
depthe of pis wose of leccherye, }if a man dele vryth his wyves 16
kyn, he may nojt dele wyih his wyif after but he synne. but
sche may take of hym here dette, & nojt synne, for he is in de-
fawjte, & no3t sche. " be x. fote depthe is betwen a womman &
a man of ordre. & ]?e heyere ordre, J)e deppere synne. pe xj. 20
fote depth is betwen a seculere man & a religyous womman, or
a seculere womman & a relygious man. bis is a synne deppest
of pe opere before, be xij. fote depthe is betwen relygious man
& relygious womman. pis is myche deppere sywne pan ]?e o]?ere. 24
pe xiij. fote depthe of pis wose is betwen a womman & a prelate,
pis synne is more depe for his dignyte & for his wyckyd en-
sauwple. Ipe xiiij. fote deptn is sodomye, f>at is, synne ajens
kynde 2 , for pe whiche god reynid fyir & brumston on sodofn) & 28
gomor, & sanke v. cytees. bis synne is so foul, bat Ipe feend
thynketh schame perof.
pis wose of leccherye in iij. fadome brede, & bis xiiij. fote
depthe, caste it out of $oure pytt ! for pis wose makyth pe 32
blynd in mynde, w/tA-oute resowi, takyng non hede of pin
ende, nojt thynkyng of deth, ne of peyne in helle. it makyth
1 Tobit iii. 8.
2 MS. in margin: ' 14. peccatum sodome conlrti naturam.'
CH. xxiv.] Consequences of Lechery. Sins Deadly and Vetoed. 163
pe vnstedfast to trestyn on [god] in alle pi werkys. pou louyst
non trewly but pi-self, pou desyrest long lyif to fulfylle pi lust,
pou art euere redy to consente & to falle in euery falshed &
4 wyckydnes, in euery synne & euery peryle of body & soule.
god hatyth lecchoures ; pei fallyn in wanhope & in dyspeyr of
forjyfnes & of mercy in here ende wel ofte, & in dyspeyr of
saluacyouw. pei stynken in erthe to man, & in heuen) to-fore
8 god & alle seyntys, passyng alle op^re synners. pe lecchour
schal come porest to pe doom *, for he hath sold & dystroyed
in leccherye aft pe good pat he had, pat is, his god & alle
sayntes, his body, his catel, his soule, his name, his grace, his
1 2 ioye. Luc) xv. 2 ' Dissipam't substanci&m. suam in meretricibw*
viuendo luxuriose.'
(f jif pou haue dely^t or a lust | in pi flesch to leccherye, & pi [Pol. 53 b.]
wyl acorde nojt perto, it is venyal synne, }if pi delyjt dure deadly and ery>
16 nojt, wyih delyberacyouw. jif Ipi wyft folwe after pi dely^t, & is
weel apayed & plesyd in pat dely;t, for to dure perin ; powj pi
wyll consente nojt to pe dede, it is dedly synne. Also, }if of
pi lust pi delyjt come sodeynly, vryih-ouie delyberacyouw, and
20 pe wyli of pi flesch consente to pat delyjt in pe ferst steryng,
it is venyal synne. Also, whan pou, in herte or in syjt,
thynkest, heryst, or seest, an-o]?er persone, for pat ende & for
pat entent to coueytin him or here to pi lust, it is dedly synne.
24 Mat. v. 3 ' Qui viderit mulierem ad concupiscendum, eezam iam
mechatits est earn in corde suo.' And whawne J?ou consentyst
ful to pe dede of leccherie, wyth fuft wyll, pow3 Ipe dede be
nojt do, it is dedly synne. whan pou, wyt/i wowyng woordys,
28 styrest opere to pi lust, it is dedly symne, pof pe dede be nojt
do. whan pou kyssyst, halsyst, towchyst, or gropyst, hem pat
longyn nojt to pe for dely5t & lust in pi-self, or for pat ende
to steryn hem to pi lust, or for to steryn hem to coueytin pe to
32 here lust, pof pe dede be nojt do, it is dedly synne.
perfore, caste out of pi pyt of luste pis wose of leccherye, Cast out the ooze
of Lechery
1 MS. in margin: ' luxuriosus pauper veniet ad judicium. no<a quare,
(\uia dissipauit su'bstanci&m suam.'
'* Taike xv. 13; in meretricibu* from verse 30. 3 Matt. v. 28.
M 2
164 'Exhortation against Lechery and of her Sins. [CH. xxiv.
wyt/t alle his circumstauwces in brede & depthe ! caste out
leccherous thoujtes, wylles, desyres, dely3tes, leccherous woordys,
wowynges, leccherous syjtes, leccherous maners, as kyssynges,
felynges, dern) syngynges, gay aray, nyce chere, leccherows songys 4
of kue paramour, & letterys of loue ! & caste out pe dede of
leccherie, & panne is pe pytt of pi body clene fro pe vij. part of
wose, pat is, fro pe vij. dedly synne. for pou pat art in pis
wose of leccherie & of pe olpere vj. dedly sywnes, whiche I haue 8
told pe here-beforn in dyverse dayes, pou mayst seyn, ' Infixus
sum in limo profundi V I am fyched faste in depe wose. pe
nedyth to crye to god, ' Eripe me de luto, vt now. infigar 2 ! '
lord delyuere me out of Ipis wose, pat I styke nojt fast per-in ! 12
for jif ]>ou styke faste in pe wose of pe vij. dedly syraies, watyr
of pe grete curs schal ouer-flowe ]?e, & drenche pi soule. for in
pe wose of ]?e vij. dedly synnes pou hast made wayes of entre to
and of all the manye waterys of cursynges in-to pi pytt. ' Viam fecisti in luto 16
deadly sins! . .-,,,
aquarwm multarum 3 . Caste oute pis wose of pe vij. dedly synnes,
Ipat pe water of curse entre no}t pi pytt to drenche ]?i soule !
Recapitulation caste out flateryng 4 ! }if pou flatyre an-opr in his synne,
of the vices most t i_ . TJJI. tjjiu
in use, as and praysest hym in euyl dede, pou sywnest dedly. be tunge 20
flattery,
of pe flaterere harmyth more pan pe swerd of pe smytere. yt
scribitwr, ' Plus nocet lingua adulatoris, qwam gladius prcus-
soris.' jif pou flatere an-oper in entent to harmyn him, or to
dysseyuyn him, pou synnest dedly. jif pi flateryng be cause 24
of occasyouw of an-operes synne, & nojt pin entent to don hym
synne, Jeanne pi flateryng is venyal synne, but }if pe synne pat
folowyth of pe occasioun of Jn flateryng be more greuows. jif
pou flatere opere only for dely3t to plese him, or for to fle harme, 28
or for to coueyte a thyng pat is nedefutt or leeffutt, pi flateryng
J?awne is venyal.
hypocrisy, In ypocrisie 5 , whan pou chargyst no3t, ne desyrest nojt, to J|
haue holynes, but pou coueytist to ben holdyn holy, it is dedly 32
synne. jif pou feyne pe holy, pat pou myjt perby dysseyue pe
peple be ]?i fals techyng as lollardys don, panne synnest pou
1 Ps. Ixviii. 3. 2 Ps. Ixviii. 15 ; cf. p. 2. 2 Hab. iii. 15.
* MS. in margin : ' flateryng.' ; MS. in margin : ' ypocrisie.'
CH. xxiv.] Hypocrisy, Vanity, Gambling , fyc. 165
dedly. or jif )?ou feynyst ]?e holy pat art vnworthy, for to gete
J>e a benefyce or olper temperaft godys, for non o\>er ende but
for pat corrupt entent, >ou synnest dedly. 3 if ]?ou feyne J>e
4 holy only for delyjte | & for no3t ellys, it is venyal synne. jif J?ou [Fol. 54 a.]
feyne Ipe holyere Ipan pou art, for to be releuyd in Jn gret nede, it
is venyal synne. }if Ipou plese & flatere J?e peple for to norysche
loue, Tpai J?ou myjte gostly fruyten in hem, it is leeffuft. $if bou
8 plese hem in sywne for vaynglorye or lucre, it is dedly synne.
Precyous clothyng & aray in munkys & in relygiouse *, whan vanity,
it is vnsemly to here degre, & is in manere of euyft lyueris
dysgysed ; or ellys, whan J>ei leuyn here habyte, & takyn seciilere
1 2 clothys, but it be in cause of nede or in suche wyse pat pe lawe
excusyth ; or ellys, whawne superfluyte of swyche precyous
clothyng comyth of dampnable pride ; or ellys, it is ordeynyd
to styrre oj>ere to leccherie ; aft J?is is dedly synne. jif j?e wyif
1 6 do so to plesyn here husbonde, panne it is no dedly synne, but
jif )?e husbonde forbydde here suche aray.
In pleying, whan Ipou. spekyst foule woor'dys, or woordys pat gambling,
deryn Jri ney3boure ; or whan playes arn hantyd in vndewe
ao places & in vndewe tyme, or are pleyid of suche personys >at it
longyth not to. on pis wyse, sumtyme, it is dedly synne, for Tpe
gret affecte to pe play, pat for J>at delyjt in pis {>lay he doth
a3ens pe comaundment of god & of holy cherch. jif ]>ou. vse
24 to go to dauwses, vt dicuni R&ymundus & Wilelmus 2 in glossa, dancing,
for to stire pi-self or opere to synne of leccherye, pou synnest
dedly. & 3if J?ou vsyst it ofte, ]?of it be no3t for pat entent
because ojjere may be steryd )?erby to synne, pou dost dedly
38 synne. 3if Ipou sodaynly, in angre & dyssese, & ellys recchelesly, swearing.
brekyst out woordys of vnworschype to god, wyt/t-outen delybe-
raciouw, takyng non heed to }>e menyng of po woordys, it is
venyaft synne. 3if pou do so wyih delyberacyourc, & lakyng
3 2 hede to pe menyng of po woordys, or ellys of a fals custom)
in vse sayst suche irreuerent woordys of blasfemye, it is dedly
1 MS. in margin : ' vestura monachorm & alioru//*.'
Raymond of Peniafort and William of Rennes. See p. 18, note -,.
MS. in margin : ' note de choreis quw/ est peccatum morale.'
166 Venial Sim most in Use. Story of a Lecherous Woman. [OH. xxiv.
synne. hec omwia ex dictis sancti Thome ij a . ij e ., diuersis argu-
mentts 1 ; & in tr&ctatu de veritate, libro vj. 2
St. Augustin's caste out pis wose of venyatt synnes & dedly also 8 . Seynt
list of the venial
sins most in use. Austyn seyth, venyatt synnes arn )?ise most in vse : when }?ou 4
etyst or drynkest ony tyme more Jane 4 f>e nedyth 5 ; or
spekyst scharpely to pe pore Ipai askyn good at pi dore ; &
etyst, whan tyme were to fastyn, erly or late, in |?in helthe ;
whamie f>ou lyste in slepe, & wylt nojt ryse, & comyst to 8
late to goddys seruyse in holy-dayes, pou preyest vfyih-ouie
deuocyourz, & delyjte ; pou vsyst ]>i wyif most for lust & nojt for
fruyte; & visytest selde pore folc, seke & prisoners, & oj>ere
in tribulacyouw ; ne helpyst but selde soulys in purgatorye, 12
wyih prayere & almesse-dede ; ne \>o\i wylt nojt acordyn hem
pat arn in debate, vp-on f>i powere ; & whan pou spekyst ouyr-
bytterly to au-oper ; & whan J?ou flateryst more J?an* ]?e 6
nedyth ; & whaune pou iangelyst in chercTi, or thynkest 16
vanytees ; & whanne J)ou art sone wroth ; & whanne Jou sweryst
lyjtely, & brekyst J?in othe ; & whawne }>ou waryest ony man
causeles, whan J?ou spekyst wykednesse in euyl suspycyouw.
]?ise synnes, venyatt & oipere, caste out of jowr pytt, & alle dedly ao
synnes, Ipat je peryssche nojt & synke in J?is wose !
[A Lecherous Woman chased by the Fiends of Hell.]
hacUed'ai* her ^ leccherotw womman 7 all here ly ve, on here dedebedde, sche (|>
ous life, dyde here clowtyn a peyre of schoon, & badde here freendys 34
pot sche schulde be schod Ipeiwyth & beryed. sche was beryed
fyerwykh. in pe ny3t folwyng, be ]?e monelyjt, a knyjt of J>at
[Fol. 54 b.] same toun cam) ry-jdyng homwarde, wyth his man. ajens hym
1 Cf. p. 79, note i.
2 Full title : De veritate catholicse fidei contra gentiles, or Summa
contra gentiles. As there are only four books, the quotation of liber vi.
must be a slip of the pen. Cf. Migne, Thomas Aquinas. Paris, 1860.
3 MS. in margin : ' peccala venialia & mortalia.'
1 Added in margin by later hand.
5 MS. nedyst, due to the confusion of the personal and impersonal con-
structions fiou nedyst and J>e nedyth. Cf. L. Kellner's Introduction to
Caxton's Blanchardyn and Eglantine, E. E. T. S. Iviii. p. xlix.
' J>e omitted in MS. Cf. the preceding note.
7 MS. in margin : ' narracto De muliere luxuriosa.'
CH. xxiv.] The Story of the Woman c/iaaed by Fiends. 167
kam bis deed womman crying, & seyde, ' helpe me knyjt ! '
be knyjt lyjt douw, & made a sercle, wytA his swerde, & took
to him bat dede womman in-to bat sercle, wytA here smok &
4 clowtyd schoon. he knewe here wel. sche tolde hym bat was, after her
death, pursued
sche was deed, & feendys pwrsewyd here. bei herdyn fro ferre by fiends.
be voys of feendys lyche be voys of hunters & of here houndys,
wytA orryble hornys & cryes. sche tremelyd for drede, & told
8 J>e kny^t, ' now come feendys to haue me to helle for synne of
leccherie, & for pride, envie, slouthe, coueytise, glotonye, &
hate.' be knyit took his hors to his man, & helde his swerd A knight, seizing
. her by the hair,
drawyn in his ryst hand. & he helde here in his left hand protected her
with bis sword.
1 2 be here beer, wouwdyn aboutyn his left arm. be helle-huntere,
wyth his helle-houwdys, com) ny. be dede womman seyde to
be knyit. ' late me renne ! lo, bei come ! ' be knyat helde here But she was so
frightened that
stylle. sche drewe harde & ofte to gon fro be knyat. At be she tore herself
away, and left
16 laste, sche gaf a brayde, bat here heer lefte a-boute be knystes her hair around
* y his arm.
arme, & sche ran away, be feendys huntedyn after, & all The fiends
for-rentyn here, & for-brentyn here, & leydin here ouer-thwert took her to'Heil.
on a brennyng feend, & so, \fyih horrible cry, born here in-to
20 helle. On be morwe, be kny3t dyd opyn here graue, & fond be
heer of here heed plukkyd of, & put be heer bat was abowtyn
arm, to here heued, & seyde to be peple, ' bis was here heer.'
& he tolde hem att to-gydere how sche mette hym, & how be
24 feendys born here to helle for here leccherie & obere syunes,
be-cause sche wolde nojt leve here synne & dyed vncontrite.
berfore, caste out bis wose of synne, Vfyih a skete of con- Cleanse your
conscience
tricyouw, wyth a scauel of confessiouw, & wyih a echouyl of with contrition,
confession, and
28 satisfaccyou, of whiche thre I schal telle }ow an-ober tyme ! satisfaction!
for whoso castyth out synne, vfyih bise thre instrumentys of
penaunce, synne schal voyde, grace schal entre, & be kyngdam
of heuene schal neyghin. ' Penitencian agite, appropinquabit
33 eim regnuwt celorwwt 1 .'
To pis kyngdom) biynge he jou & me,
bat for vs deyid on rode-tre. Amen.
1 Matt. iv. 1 7.
168 The ' Skeet of Contrition ' Described. [CH. xxv.
C&pitulum xxv m .
De contricione.
IHAUE told 3011 here bi-forn of }oure watyr in jowre pytt ^
stynkyng & corrupt, bat is, be watt/r of be sentens of be 4
I have told you gret curs in be pytt of sowre lusty body. I haue told "ion also
before how to
scoop out the of be scope to scope out wyih bat corrupt waiyr of curs,
curse. I haue told ^ou also of be wose in youre pytt, ]>at is, be vij.
Now I shall tell dedly synnes in Joure conscyens. And now I schal telle aou 8
you how to cast
out the ooze of wheM-wytA bis wose of synne muste be cast out of aowe pytt
deadly sin, with
the 'skeet' of o f jowre conscyens. ffirst be nesch wose muste be cast out wyih
contrition, the '
fission' andthe & s ^ ete ' & after- ward be hard wose wyih a skauel, & after
sSaction. P at P e crommys of pe wose wytA a schouyfl: '. x 2
Description of a Of pe skete I shal telle 3ou bis day. ]?is skeet is sorwe
skctit
of herte, bat is, contricyoun for bi sywne. A skete is opyn
a-forn, redy to deluyn in-to be nesc^i wose, & redy to de-
lyuere it out. A skete also sumdel, in be heuyd, is raysed 16
& reryd on bothe sydes ; for ellys it myjt nojt receyvin
but lytel wose for scheldehed, for to castyn it out. Also be
heved of a skete, in be bothme, is hoole, & ellys be wose wolde
nojt abyden berin to ben cast out, but it schulde fallen douw ao
[Pol. 55 a.] ajen thrugn be skete in-to be pytt. | Also a skete hath a long
handle to be holdyn by, wytA mamiys handys, for to werkyn
berwyth. Ry^t so, sorwe of herte 2 for bi synne muste haue
As the skeet is bise same propyrtees of a skete : fyrst. princepally in be heuyd 24
open in front, so J
must your con- O f j?i contrzcyoun a-forn, bat is, a-forn alle obere sorwys, bi
towards God, sorwe muste be al opyn to god-ward, hauyng most sorwe in bin
herte for bi synne, for bou hast wretthyd bi god. 3if bou wer
weddyd to a kyng, bat ail but a beggere, & J?ou were dyfFoulyd 28
wyih an-ober wyttyng bi lord, bou gretly ofFendyst hym, &
aw3tyst to haue a gret sorwe berfore, secundum Watertouw s ;
1 MS. in margin : ' no/a de scauel & de skete.'
2 MS. in margin : ' contricio & eiws cowdicio.'
3 Fabricius, Bibliotheca Med. et Inf. Latinitatis, torn. v. p. 103, refers
to Lucas Waddingus, Scriptores ordinis minonim, p. 262, where we find :
CH. xxv.] Contrition directed towards Heaven. 169
rayche more owyst pou to haue pat art weddyd to pe kyng
of heuen) in pi baptem, & afterward art dyffoulyd vtyih pe
feend in dedly synne. for why 1 for pou wretthyst horrybly for you have
made Him
4 god, pin husbonde, pat made Ipe, & boujt pe \vyth his blood wroth.
& wyth his deth, & broujt pe vp of noujt. God pleyneth him
be his prophete Osee xij. 1 ' Mamies soule hath styred me to
wretthe/ why so ? for Exo[ows] xij. 2 , ' pou hast forsake pi god
8 pat begat be, pou hast for^ete pi lord pat made pe to his
lyknes, & boujt pe vfyih his precyous blood.' Prims, pe[<re'J ij. s
perfor, in pe heued of pi skete of contricyouw afore, pat is,
a-fore alle sorwys, make pi cohtricyoun. most opyn in sorwe
1 2 for wretthyng of pi god ! ' Scito & vide, quia amarum est
te dereliqmsse domznum deuwi tuuw.' Jeremie ij. 4 knowe
pou & se pat most sorwe-futt & most bytter it is pe to forsake
pi god in dedly synue.
be ryjt syde of bi skete of contricyouw 5 muste be reryd to AS the skeet
is raised on both
1 7 heuen)-ward, wyth a futt sorwe in herte : for bou hast lost, be bi sides ' 80 P 1 "?*
' your contrition
synne, pe blysse of heueii). for jif pou deye in dedly synne, pou ^^H^aven
hast lost pe blysse of heuefi),j. cor. vj. 6 'Iniqui regnum dei now ^ b you have
20 possidebuwt.' f>ou mayst seye, alias to me, my dwellyng-place
of heuen) is alyenyd fro me ! Ps. 7 ' heu mihi, quid incolatws
meus prolongatws est' ; & ire. iij. 8 , Oure heritage of blysse is
turnyd fro vs to alyenys. here wytt we sytten vp-on pe flood
24 of synnes & lustys in pis world, thynkyng of heuen), whiche we
liaue lost for oure synne. we mowe sorwe sore & wepyn pat we
haue lost oure herytage of heuen). Ps. 9 ' Super flwnina babilonis
illic sedimws, & fleuimws, dum recordaremwr tui, syon.'
(^ pe left syde of pi skete of contricyoun 10 muste be raysed vp,
Nicolaus ab Aquavilla, siue Aquaevillanus, edidit: Sermonea de Nati-
vitate. Serinones de Sanctis. Sermones de Tempore per anni circulum.
Viuebat anno 1317 (cf. pp. 280, 287, where he is called Joannes (sic) de
Aquaria Villa). Tanner, Bibliothecae, p. 46, quotes an edition by
M. Makerel. Paris, 1520, 4to.
1 Hosea xii. 14. 2 Mistaken for Deut. xxxii. 18.
3 i Peter i. 19 (?). 4 Jer. ii. 19.
5 MS. in margin : ' dextca pars contrtciorm.'
6 i Cor. vi. 9. 7 Ps. cxix. 5. * Lament, of Jer. v. 2.
9 Ps. cxxxvi. i. J " MS. in margin : 'Sinistm pfl-rs contrfcionis.'
170 Contrition must be Deej), Premeditated, Secret. [CH. xxv.
and towards wwtA gret sorwe, to bi soule-ward, bat thru? synne it is turnyd
your soul, which . '
is turned into f ro be lyknes of bi god in-to a foulere lyknes ban be deuytt l . for
the Devil. seynt Austyn seyth de arra arame, jif bou seyj be feend in his
lyknes on bin oo syde, & bi soule in dedly synne on bin ober syde 4
in his 2 lyknes, bou woldyst fle fro bi soule for drede to be deuyl,
be-cause bi soule in dedly synne is foulere ban be deuyl. banne
nedyth be in be lefte syde of bi skete of contryc?/ou7i raysyn vp
& hevyn bi sorwe for bi synne, bat makyth bi soule so blak & 8
foulere ban be feend. Miche iiij. 3 ' Dole & satage filia syon.'
The bottom of be bothme, bat is, be depthe of bi skete of contricyouw muste |}
and so must be ' be depe in sorwe downward, to helle-warde, thynkyng how bou
your contrition. . , , .
for bi synne art boundyn to pe pytt of helle for euere, 3if pou 1 2
deye wyt^-oute sorwe. EzecA. xviij. 4 ' Awima que peccauerit,
ipsa morte morietwr.' parone nedyth be to lokyn bat bi skete of
contricyouw, in be bothme, in be grouwd, in pe depthe of pin herte,
[Fol. 55 b.] be depe, pat is for to seyn, loke it be euere | duryng in-to pi 16
lyves ende. Ps. 5 ' dolor meus in conspectu meo semper.' ffor
seynt Austyn seyth, who-so wyll euere enioyen in mercy, grace,
& in forjyfnes, he owyth neuere cese to sorwe for his synne.
' Nunqwam debet desinere dolere de culpa, qui semper vult 20
gaudere de venia.'
The skeet has a be heuyd of Hs skete of contrtcyoutt. muste haue an handyK M
handle of 7 spans
in length; so ber-on, vii. sparz-ne lonp- 6 ; be ferst spanne muste be forthowst in
must contrition r
have 7 qualities, thynkyng of pi synnes be-forn, wyth a full vysement, to brynge 24
ii&mciy*
1. it must be hem to bi mynde. Ysa. xxxvii. 7 ' Recogitabo ' pro peccato meo.
premeditated,
bou schalt nojt haue sorwefutt mynde in bin herte for bi good &
for bi gold, but for bi synne, & no3t for bi bely. and bis mynde
in bin herte for bi syime muste be duryng. Ps. 8 ' Meditacio 28
cordis mei in conspectu meo semper.' be secimde spanne lengthe
2. secret, of pe handyfl of pi skete of contricyourc muste be priue, nojt
1 MS. in margin : ' note bene. awima i pcccafo mortali peior et
dia&olo.' Parts of this note are re-written beneath in another hand.
3 Scil. smiles lyknes. For masculine use of soul, cf. p. 2, line n.
3 Micah iv. 10. * Ezech. xviii. 20. s Ps. xxxvii. 18.
' MS. in margin : 'no/a nota.' 7 Isa. xxxviii. 15.
8 Ps. xviii. (xix). 15.
CH. xxv.] Contrition must be Complete, in Order \ fyc. 171
opyn in syjt of alle men, but priue to god alone. Isa. xxxvij . known to God
' Recogitabo tibi/ be iii. spanne lengthe muste be holebede, bat 3- it must be
complete, com-
pi sorwe be hole for alle pi synnes to-gedere. breke no3t pis prising all your
4 handle, to sorwe for summe synnes, & for summe synnes enioyen !
Isa. xxxvij. ' Recogitabo tibi onmes' non dict't aliquos. be iiii. 4. in order ac-
J cording to the
spanne lengthe of >e handle of pi skeet of contricyoim is ordre, events of your
liiG j
pat is, thynk in mynde pe ordre of all pi lyvyng, how synfuft it
8 hath be, and mysspendyd to ]?e vnworschip) of god & plesauws
of J?e deuyl, & in dampnacyouw of pi soule ; pat is, thyuk in J>i
3outhe, in pi myd-age, & in pin age, and thynk also by ordre all
Je tymes of J?e jere, how pou hast mysspendyd hem in synne &
1 2 in euytt gouernaunce ; pat is, both wynter & somyr, heruyst
& lentoun, fastyng dayes, holyday & werkedayes. loke, in pe
handytt of pi skete of coutricyoun, }?at pou kepe pis ordre in pi
contricyoun, \\yih a sorwefutt herte ! Ysa. xxxvij. ' Recogitabo
1 6 tibi omnes annos.' Isaye seyth, I schal thynke to pe all pe
ordre of be serys. IT be v. spanne lengthe of be handle of bi skeet s- concerning
none but your
in contricyouw muste be propyrhede ; ]>at is to sayn, thynke of own sins ;
pin owen) propre synnes & no3t on opere mewnys. perforeYsaye
20 seyth, xxxvij. 'Recogitabo tibi omnes annos meos' now dicit
alienos. I schal thynke to pe, god, alle myn jerys of synne ; he
seyjt nojt of all oberys jeris. pe vj. spawne of pi skeet in con- 6. it must be
sorrowful,
tncyoun muste be bytter moornyng for pi synne, no3t Iey3hyng
24 ne enioying of pi synne, but in bytter heuynes. Ysa. prediciiur :
' Recogitabo tibi omws awnos meos in amaritudine ' non enim
dicit in gaudio & exultacz'orce. be vij. spawne of lengthe of bi ? felt inwardly,
1 not shown
skeet in contricyouw is Inly-hede ; pat is, inly sorwe for pi outwardly.
28 synne in pe herte, & no3t in pe chere, feyned outwarde, to pe
sy3t of ]?e peple, & no sorwe inward. Ysa. predicz'twr :
' Recogitabo tibi omnes annos meos in amaritudine aniwe inee'
non dictt in amaritudine vultus mei. Johel 1 seyth, ij. capitulo,
32 'Rendyth 3oure hertys & m>3t 3oure clothys!' Iey3hyng &
enioyng in a seke body is sygne of deth, wepyng & sorwe is
sygne of lyif ; Ryght so, in a synfull pcrsone Iey3hing & ioying
for his synue is signe of dampnacyoim, and wepyng & sorwe for
1 Joel ii. 13.
172 Recapitulation of the Qualities of Contrition. [CH. xxv.
his synne is signe of saluacyouw. Ysa. xxxix. 1 ' Ecce in pace
amaritudo mea amarissima est.' My byttere wepyng for my
[Fol. 56 a.] synne schal saue me in endles pees. Luc. xij. 2 ' Nolite | flere
super me, sed super vosmet ipsos flete ! ' wepyth for joure owen) 4
synnes vp-on joure-self, & wepyth nojt vp-on me !
If the skeet of jif pe skete of contricyoun in pe heued, pat is, in pe begyn- Jf
contrition have .
all those nyng be opyn a-forn to god-ward, pat prmcypally for wretthyng
qualities,
of hym pou art sory in herte ; & on pe ryght syde pin herte is 8
raysyd in sorwe in heueneward, for pat is lost fro ]?e thrugft pi
synne ; & on pe left syde Jnn herte is raysed in sorwe to pi
soule-ward ; And jif pin herte be depe in dewryng dounwarde
to helleward, bat is, depe in sorwe & duryng, for J?ou art 12
dampnyd thedyr for pi synne ; And also }if pe handle of )?i
contricyouw be vij. spawne lengthe, f>at is, }if it haue pe vij.
propyrtees forseyde, pat is to seyne, jif Tpe contricyouw for pi
synne haue a forthowjt, & be pryue to god alone, & hole 16
repentauwce for alle pi synnes, & ordre of aft pi lyvyng rehersyd
in pi mynde, & niynde of piii owne sywnes, & noujt of oj?ers
synnes, & bytternesse in sorwe in herte, & nojt feynyd in chere ;
then it is fit to bawiie hast bou a good skete to caste wyih out of bi pytt be 2 o
cast out the ooze Y
of deadly sin. nesch wose of ]>e vij. dedly sywnes. for pis skeet of contncyouw
castyth oute wose of synne, }if J?i wyll be futt to be schreuyn
afterward alssone as pou mayst goodly be schreuyn, & secundum
Ricardum 3 , in trewe penaunce alle synnes, grete & smale, are 24
don awey, j?at is, in contricyoun, schryfte, & satisfaccyoun.
And whan schryfte may nojt ben had, ne satysfaccyoun may
nojt be don, for schort tyme, or for pouerte ; pawne ' Sola
contricto delet pecca^wm,' panne perfyjt sorwe doth awey alle 28
synnes.
[The Salvation of an Incestuous Daughter.]
A younf? woman Exaumple *. A song womman synned vtyih here fadyr. be ^
sinned with her
father. modyr wyst it, & repreuyd here dowjtyr. pe dowtyr slewe here 32
slew him. and fadyr, & afterward was a comouw womman, long tyme. at a
became a harlot.
Isa. xxxviii. 17. 5 Luke xxiii. 28. 3 Cf. p. 52, note 3.
1 MS. in margin : ' exemplum st'ue narran'o.'
CH. xxv, xxvi.] The Story of an Incestuous Daughter. 173
sermouw, sche herde preche bat be mercy of god was a-boue aft when she heard
in a sermon that
synnes to hem bat arn ful sory for here synnes. in bo woordys contrition could
win the mercy
of be frere, here herte braste for sorwe of here synnes. & dyed, of God, her heart
J broke lor sorrow.
4 after bat sche [was] beryed, ros out of here graue a fayr tre And a tree rose
from her grave
wretyn aboute m euery leef, -wyth letters of gold, wyih ms sayin* that she
, had found for-
scripture : ' vere, mstus es, doww'ne. misencors. & sracioBus. giveness of her
sins.
Trewly, bou god art ry^tfuft, mercyfuft, & gracyous. be roote of
8 bis tre sprang out of herte. here herte was clouyn in two
partyes. in be o partye was wrotyn, \vyth letters of gold, bis
scripture : ' Conuertisti planctum meum in gaudium V bou
god hast turnyd my sorwe in-to ioye. In be ober partye was
1 2 wretyn bis : ' Circumdedisti me leticia V bou god hast sett me
alabowte wyih endles gladnes.
berfore, wytA bis skeet of sorwe in ^oure herte, casteth out
jowre wose of synne als sche dede, & bawne schal ^oure sorwe
1 6 for jowre sywne be chauwgyd & turnyd in-to endles ioye & solace.
To whycli ioye &c).
Coptiulum xxvj m .
De contric?'one 2 .
TT^
-*-
REENDYS, be ober day I tolde jow bat contrycyoun) was
a skeet wherwyth je-mowe castyn out be wose of youre
dedly synne to make clene be pytt of joure | conscyens. but L Fo1 - 5Q b -l
bis skeet of contricyoun castyth no3t clene out synne, but bi Contrition must
D fOllOWCQ
24 purpos & bi wyll be fuft to be schrevyn after as sone as bou
my3t, & also of fuK wyll to do penaurcs for bi synne, & to make
restitucyouw vp-on bi ppwere, & in purpos to forsake bi synne ;
ellys art bou no3t able ne dysposyd to haue mercy, for bi
28 contricyouw avayleth be noat but schryfte & satysfaccyoun be by confession
J and satisfaction.
don, 3if bou haue power, tyme, & space. And jif bi power is poore,
1 Ps. xxix. 12.
2 MS. in margin: ' notfa b<?ne cle contricione, confessione, & [satisfac-
cfone].'
174 About Contrition Missed or Precluded. [CH. xxvi.
if time or power & hi tyme so schort, bat bou mayst neyther be schreuyn ne make
are insufficient,
restitucyouTi, jit, in bi contricyouw, be of wyft to do it, jif bou
my3t, and barme ' Sola contricto delet peccatum,' panne, in bat
wytt, bi perfyjt sorwe doth awey bi l synne. for in bat wyft & in 4
the good will bat purpos, bi fuft wytt stondyth in be stede of be dede of
stands for the
deed. cowfessioim and of satysfaccyouw in bi parfy^t sorwe for pi synne.
But I putte pis cas ; bou art contryte & sory in herte for bi
synne and in futt purpos to be schrevyn, & to make satys- 8
faccyouw, bat sorwe doth awey bi synne don be-fore, for euere ;
He who has time but afterward bou comyst to swiche place & to such" myst, bat
and power to
confess and re- bou mayst be schreuyn, & mayst make satysfaccyourt 2 , and
does not do so, pawne wylt bou nojt, panne bi sywne don awey be-forn in bi 12
contricyoun, turneth nojt panne ajen to bi soule, but bou fallyst
falls into deadly in-to a newe dedly synne, be-cause bou fulfyllest nojt
sin again.
purpos & pi ferst wyll to be schreuyn & to makyn amendys.
And 5if bi sorwe be neuere so grete, & bou wylt no}t be schreuyn, 16
& do penaunce, ne make amendys, be synne is stylle in bi soule,
for bi sorwe panne castyth it nojt out. perfore, takyth bis skeet
of contricyoun, & begy?ine berwytA to castyn oute joure wose of
synne, & hauyth purpos perwytA to be schrewyn & to makyn 20
amendys, whan 36 mown. Mat. \. 3 ' Bead qui lugent, qwwm
ipsi consolabuwtwr/ blyssyd are pei bat sorwe for here synne,
for bei schal be comfortyd. ' Ve vobis, qui ridetis, quia flebitis *,'
Wo to $ou & curse, bat leyjhin & enioyen for jjoure synne, for 24
je schul wepe in helle-smoke 5 . As longe as pi soule is in bz
body, bou mayst haue repentauwce & sorwe in herte for pi
synne, jif bou haue grace, & bi sorwe may be so gret & so
parfyjt, pat it schal don awey synne, & schortyn be peyne, as 28
it dyde pe theef on pe crosse.
If contrition be But I putte bis caas ; bou lyste so longe in bi synne. & wylt U
hindered by the J J &
pangs of death. no ^t leve, bat bou hast no grace to haue parfy^t sorwe ; or for
peyne of syknesse, or for lesyng pi wyttes & pi resouw in bi 32
deying or a-forn bi cleying ; or, bof bi sorwe be grete, & pou
1 Added in margin.
2 MS. in margin : ' nofo bene de Batisfacciowe. ' 3 Matt. v. 5.
4 Luc. vi. 25. 5 MS. in margin : ' exemplum bonum.'
CH. xxvi.] Want of Contrition in those Days. 175
purpose, sif bou lyve, to turne ajen to bi synne ; or }if bou or be not serious
wystest lyif, bou woldyst nojt sorwe for bi synne 1 , ne be schreue,
ne make restitucyoim ; or ellys bou abydest so longe, tyl be or come to late >
4 soule is out of bi body : banne. in alle bise thynges forseyde, bi then it shall be
unavailing for
sorwe & penaunce auayleth be noujt, for it is noat fruytefult to salvation.
bi saluacyouw, for it comyth to late, secundum Damascenum 2 .
3if bou haue swiche grace in jouthe, or age, or in deying, | bat [Fol. 57 a.]
8 bou sorwyst for alle bi synnes, & bi sorwe is more for bat bou But if thy sorrow
be not produced
hast so longe abyden bere-in, & so vnkyndely and falsely wretthyd
bi god, ban it is for dreed of deth or for dreed of helle, thynkyng by the fear of
death but by
bat bou hadde leuere goddys loue & nost a synned & ben in helle, upright re-
. pentance,
1 2 ban for to haue don bi synne, & had wretthe of god, & ben in
heuen) ; and thynkyng, bof bou wystest to lyve & to skape bi
deth, bou haddyst leuere to chese to do ony penauwce, or to
suffere ony dyssese or myscheef, pan to don ajen ony dedly
1 6 synne ; and 31' f bou haue a full wyll ber-wyth to be schreue, jif
bou myjt, & to make amendys, as ferfurth as bou tny^t ; bawne,
w^/tA-oute doute, bat sorwe schal be bi saluacyouw, bowj it be it shall save thee.
in be laste ende of bi lyif, so be soule be baraie in bi body, for
20 ellys it were to late.
d But manye now in bise dayes faylen bis grace in syknes in Now-a-days
people have no
here ende for to haue parfyat sorwe, & desyre to be schreue, or grace to repent
in time ;
dyspose hem to makyn amendys. for pei abyde so longe, tyl here
24 wyttes are gon, & here resouw. deuocyouw haue bei non. here
speche fayleth. here dreed is go. speke to hem, styrre hem to
gode, bey schewe no signe of verray repentaunce, but lye stylle
as a beste, \vyth-oute swetnes & dreed to godwarde & to here
28 soule. Couwseyle hem to restore here dettys, here wrongys to
be cherch", to be dede, or to be qwyke, bat wyl bei no3t do.
why ? for bei haue no grace berto. for, sif bei payedyn, &
restoryd 83611, bat bei haue falsly wyth-holdyn, bei schulde be
3 2 seuyd ; berfore bei wytt no3t do so, to be sauyd, but bey robbyn
1 MS. in margin : ' noa bene.'
2 Sell. Joannes Damascenus, author of the Vita BB. Barlaam et Josaphat.
Migne, vol. 73.
3 MS. in margin : ' no/a bene.'
176 Example of Imperfect Contrition. [CH. xxvi.
they prefer leav- seynt Petyr, & jeuyn it seynt poule. bat bei falsely haue gettyn il
fro holy cherch, fro here curatys, fro here nejhbourys, bat schal
nojt be restoryd a}en to hem be same persones, but it schal be
their fortunes to souen to obere persones bat haue no skyl berto, as to frerys & 4
convents and to '
the poor, and howsys of relygiouw, & to poore folk, so pat of obere meraiys
with the money good bou jeuyst bin almes in bin ende, noujt to be ownerys but
to alyenis. as jif I robbyd be of bi good, & 3eue it to an-ober
man ; what amendys do I to be in bat dede 1 as Salomon 1 seyth, 8
bere vj. or x. prayen for be on bat oo syde, ccc. cryen vengauwce 8
vp-on be on be ober syde. bou makyst hem to leyjhe whom
bou releuyst wyth oberes good, & makyst hem to wepe whom
bou wytA-holdyst here good; secundum Abuyle 3 . bis contricyouw 12
in bin ende & bin almes is a iape to god & dampnacyoun to bi
sowle. berfore, be sory for bi synne, & restore bi dette & bi
wrong to hem whom bou hast hynderyd or harmyd, or be in
wyll berto, }if bou were of powere, & in pi sorwe purpose futt 16
to forsake pi synne for euere, & loke bi sorwe be more for
wretthyng of god ban for dreed of helle, & barme be skeet of bi
contricyouw castyth out clene be wose of aft bi synne.
[A Young Man damned in spite of his Feigned Contrition.^ 20
A young man Exauwple *. Cesarius seyth bat a jong man ly ved in leccherye, (
& was vicyous in obere sywnes. on his dedebedde, he was
confessed on his schreuyn, & wepte. & proferyd to makyn amendys as ferrforth
death-bed, and /
offered to make as his catell myat areche. he was howselyd & anelyd, & dyed, 34
restoration.
Nevertheless, he & apperyd to oon of his frendys in lyknes of a deuyl, & seyde
friend as a devil. h e was dampnyd. his freend seyde, ' pat is wonder to me ! bou
weptyst for sorwe of pi synne, bou were howselyd & anelyd as
[Fol. 57 b.] holy cherch techyth, why baraie art | bou dampnyd 1 ' pe deede 28
hadno^been" answer ^ e > & seyde, ' my wepyng & my sorwe was nojt perfy3t,
perfect ;
1 Ecclesiasticus xxxiv. 29 (?).
2 MS. in margin : ' no<a bene de vindicta.' 3 Cf. p. 5, note i.
4 MS. in margin : ' Nam7<uo de quodam iuuene luxurioso & vicioso in
alijs pccis confessus fuit commwicat8 & unct & tandem dainpnatws qia
voluit recidiuasse." (The gaps of this note are filled up by means of the
Index in the MS. fol. 233.)
CH. xxvi.] The Story of the Young Canon awl the Jew's Daughter. 177
for it was more for dreed of belle ]?au for sorwe of wretthyng
my god. & also my conscyens telde me pat jif I had wyst to
haue lyued, I wolde ii03t have sorwyd for my syraies, ne haue
4 be schreue, & I thou^te 3if I my3t haue scapyd my sykenes &
haue lyved, I wolde haue turned aaen to my synne. berfore my and, therefore,
he was damned
sorwe avayled me 11031, but I am dampnyd for euere. forever.
]?erfore, beeth ware be-tymes, & sorwyth for joure synne more
8 for ]?e offens of %oure god ]?an for dreed of belle ! & Ip&nne is Ipe
skeet of youre contricyou?i sufficyent & spedefutt to castyn out
%oure wose of synne.
\The Young Canon and the Jew's Daughter .]
$ Cesariws ' sey th : In ingelond was a jong chanoun of a gret A young canon
13 mynstre, cosyn to ]?e bysscbop of pat same dyocyse, & he louyd
a ievvys dowter cf bat cyte, dwellyng vtyih here fadyr & modyr, loved the
daughter of a
and sche louyd him a^en. but sche was kept so streyt in, vtyih Jew.
1 6 fadyr & modyr. bat here loue & sche myst noat come to-gydere But they could
not meet except
but it were on good fry3~ny3t ; for, ]?awne, alle iewys bledyn be- Ol } Good Friday
nethyn for wreche of cristes deth. ffor, whan pylate seyde to ]?e
iewys, ' I am vngylty of pe blood of crist,' pe iewys seydin a3en
20 to pylate, ' his blood be on vs & on alle oure chyldren ! ' perfore,
on good fry2-ny2t, alle be iewys lyen & bledyn be-nethyn. & when the Jews
\ J J lie down and
bat nvst be chanouw lay be be iewys dowter. On be satyrclay, bleed. On Satur-
J ' day inorning,
be be morwen, be fadyr ros be-tymes, whan his blood was t'.' e f ew f und
his daughter
24 staunchyd, & sey3 pe chanouw in his dowterys bed \fyih here. with the c* 11011 -
pe iewe durste no3t sle hym, for he was pe bysschoppys neve,
but J?e iewe cryed lowde, & seyde, ' what doost J?ou here, pou
fals o-isten) man 1 where is pi feyth 1 ' pe chanouw ran out to
28 his cherche, al aschamyd. bat day, he schulde rede be bysschoppys That day the
canon was to
pystett. he durste nost for schame be schreuyn. he stood in read the epistle
at the bishop's
his vestement be-fore )?e bysschop afore J5e pystell. )?e iewe, < llis uncle's)
wytA alle ney3bours, comyth in-to }>e cherche to accuse J>e The Jews went
into the church
32 chanouTi to his bysschop how he lay be his dowter pat ny3t. to accuse him
publicly.
]?ane, pat 3onge chanouw was a-dred to a be schamyd, & was
1 MS. in margin : ' narracio.'
N
178 Power of Contrition. The ' Skarel of Confession! [CH. xxvi, xxvn.
But the canon futt in herte sory for his leccherye, & bat holy tyme don, &
repented in his
heart, and pro- seyde in his herte. ' Lord god, helpe me bts houre, & I behote
wised to do
penance. b e jj a t I schal be schreue, & do penauwce, & neuere do bis
cursyd dede more ! ' Ipe bysschop wende be iewys hadde come to 4
be cherche to a ben conuertyd, & askyd hem why bei coin) thedyr 1 ?
And when the be iewys openyd here mowthys to accusen be chanoim of his
Jews opened
their mouths, leccherye, & bei myst speke neuere a woord. be bysschop
they could not
speak. wende bei hadde scornyd hym & holy cherche, & dyde hem be 8
The canon put out at be dorys. be chanoim, after, schroof hym to be
entered a
stricter order, bysschop of bat synne, & entryd in-to a streytere relygyoun, &
and the Jewess
became a nun. be iewys dowtyr was baptyzed, & was a nuwne.
Such is the Lo, how bis skeet ' of perfyst sorwe sauyd be chanoim fro 12
power of contri-
tion ' wordly schame, & [kest ?] be wose of synne owt of hym & of be
iewys dowter, & brow^t hem bothe to grace of perfy^t lyif, & to
ioye of heuen) in here ende. Ryjt so, take je bis skeet of futt
sorwe in herte for %oure synne, & make jou clene in grace, 16
& it schal brynge jow to heuefD-blys in joure ende. To bat
blysse &S>.
[Pol. 58 a.] C&pitulum xxvij.
De confessione. 20
T^REENDYS, be ob^r day I telde jow how je echulde casten g,
with th 8 *' ^*' t OU ^ ^ 3 owre Py^^ f l us tys, out of jowre body, be nesch
wose ^ dedly synne, \vyth a skeet of cowtrycyouw ; and now
schal I telle jou how je schal caste out be hard wose of joure 24
kavei"f'con- 6 synne, bat is, be hard obstynacye of joure synne, wyth a scauel
of confessiouw. for bat scauel of clene schryfte rnuste nedys
folwe sorwe of herte, jyf bou raovve haue a preest, & ellys bou
Simile of the art out of be weye of saluacyoun. for, bows deed flesch 2 be 28
treatment of a
wound. kut out of a wounde, \vyth a scharp corryzie, bi wouwde, bowj,
nedyth to be pourgyd, vfyih a drawyng salue ; ellys it wolde
rotyn & festryn ajen. Ryjt so, bowj bi dedly synne be kut out,
1 MS. in margin : ' skeet.' 2 M.S. in margin : ' exemplum honmn.'
CH. xxvii.] Recollection of Sins. 179
sorwe of herte, fro be pyt of bi conscyens, jit bi conscyens
nedyth to be pourgyd, wyih a drawyng salue of clene schryfte,
& ellys be wourcde of dedly synne rotyth & festryth ajen in bi
4 soule. ffor a doctour, hugo de sancto victore J , seyth, in a
bodyly soor, bowj it be curyd fro dede flesch, wytA corrosyes,
bere beleuyth stylle in be sore ober fylthes, & ober vnclennes
gaderyth ber-in, bat muste be purgyd out, \fyth drawyng salue.
8 Ryjt so, bowj pi synne is don out of \)i soule, \vyth contricyoun,
jit be wouf&de & Ipe hurt of bat synne, be filthe & be vnclennesse,
be whiche bat synne made in Ipi soule, as lustys mynde, freelte
of wytA-stondyng, custome of ofte hauwtyng, & suche obere,
12 schulde rotyn & festryn ajen in bi soule but bei were pourgyd
out, w^tA clene schryfte. berfore, crist seyth, Mat. viij. 2 , 'vade,
ostende te sacerdoti !' go & schryue J>e to a preest ! bis schryfte
muste be bi scauel to avoyde w/t/t f>e hard wose of J)i syune.
1 6 A scauel 3 , in Ipe heued beforn, hath a scho of yren scharp &
myjti, & an heued hole & narow, & a long stele, an handytt.
Evst so, bi scauel of schryfte 4 muste haue first, beforn, a scho of The'skavel'has
a shoe in front,
yren. bat is, a-forn bi schryfte bou muste haue a-fforn-lrecord- so must your
confession be
20 yng, a-forn-rehersyng, a-for-syjt, a-forn-stodying, a-forn-avyse- preceded by re-
ment, bat bou in owe knowe bi sywnes in bi mynde, bat afterward sms-
in bi schryfte bou fayle nojt thruj forjetynge. berfore be Ps. 5
seyth, ' Dixi/ I haue seyd before, in recordyng, my synnes for
2 4 forjetyng. 50 bat corny n to joure schryfte, & kan seye neuere
a synne bat je haue do, but seyn to be preest, ' I kan nojt
schryue me, good syre; aske me,' for-sothe, jowre scauel of
schryfte fayleth his scho, pat is, a-forn-recordyng of bi synne.
28 why so ? for bou recordyst nojt bi synne beforn, berfore bou
fonetist bi synne, & canst nost schryue Ipe. *|[ bi schryfte be Confession by
means of the
examynacyoun of be preest suffyseth to pi saluacyou??,, jif bou priest's examin-
kuTine nojt schryue be ; but jit Ipi mede is be lesse, for bou expedient;
32 wylt nojt studyen ne trauaylen to leryn for to schryue be.
jif bou knowe be in a synne, & wylt nojt be schreuyn berof but if the person
1 For Hugo de St. Victore, cf. Migne, Patr. Lat. torn. 175. p. 177.
2 Matt. viii. 4. 3 MS. in margin : 'Scauel, qwere e/ nota.'
4 MS. in margin : ' nota. tie confessione.' 5 Ps. xxxi. 5.
N 2
180 Self-Accusation. [CH. xxvu.
knew his sin hut be preest askfe be berof, & banne bou seyst it to be preest,
before, his .
confession is be-cause bou knowyst it, & wylt nojt tellyn it but be preest
inefficient. . J
aske be, & bawne bou seyst it ; bat schrifte profy3teth be nojt
Also your recol- to bi saluacyoim, secundtim quosdam. bis echo of recordyng 4
lection must be
sharp with jji synne muste be scharpe in schame of bi synne. jif bou
[Fol. 58 b.] stood al nakyd opynly in a gret feyre, bou schuldyst | be sore
a-schamyd of bi priue membrys bat alle men seen hem ; inyche
more owyst bou to ben a-schamyd of bi synne fowl & horrible, 8
in be syjt of god & of alle seyntes. Apostolus, ' Quern fructui
habuistis in quibus nurtc erubescitis,' Rom. vj. 1 Hugo de suncto JiJ
victore seyth, schame is a gret parceft of amendys for bi synne.
bis schame muste be so scharpe, bat bou auaunte be nojt for bi I2
and strong in synne for schame. be scho of recordyng bi synne 2 muste be
will.
my3ty, bat it breke no^t of be scauel for ony schame, tyl bou
be schreuyn berof. ffor Salomon seyth in hise prouerbys 3 , he
bat schryueth him no3t of his synnes, he schal nojt be sauyd ; x ^
he* bat is schreuyn berof, & forsakyth his synnes, he schal haue
mercy, berfore, lokyth bat be scho of joure scauel, bat iSj be
recordyng of %oure synne, be scharp in schame & myjti in wytt
to be schreuyn. ber-fore seyth be Ysalmistre *, ' Dixi : confite- ab
bor.' I haue seyd & recordyd my synne in scharp schame,
I schal be schreuyn of my synne, wytA a my3ti wyll & desyre.
The head of the be heued of bis scauel muste be accusyng bi-self. noit excus-
skavel is self-
accusation, yng bi-self in colouns 5 , and puttyng be defawte of bi synne on 24
obere persones, as bus ; ' god 3af me no my3t to wt/t/i-stondyn
it. obcre folk dyde me don it. It was oberys defaute & no^t
myn. myn husbonde dede me don it, my wyif dyde me don
it, or my wyif was cause Iperof more ]?an I. temptacyouns & 28
DO not impute sterynges of obms dyde me don it.' towche non ober ban bi-
your sins to
others'. self! make strey3t bis heued & narow, bat it towche bi-self
& non obefe ! strey3tly accuse bi-self & non ober ! as dauid
1 Rom. vi. 21.
2 MS. in margin : ' ])e scho of \>e scauel siu'e recordacio pecca<orMw.'
3 Prov. xxviii. 13. Ps. xxxi. 5.
5 MS. in margin : ' )>e hede of scauel, xiue accusacio sui ip*i<t no ex-
cusacto no<a.'
CH. xxvii.] Self -Accusation must be Candid, True, Complete. 181
seyde to god, ' Ego peccaui V I dyde j?is synne of myn owen
wyckydnes. Prouerbia xviij.' 2 'Justus prior accusator est sui.'
colours nojt pi schryft pe fayrest owtewarde, but seye ajens pi-
4 self as foul, as horryble, as it was do. perfore seyth pe Ps.
4 Dixi : confitebor aduersum me/ I haue seyd rny synne in
herte recordynge, I schal knowe my synne in schryfte ajens
my-self.
8 bis heued, accusacyouw in schryfte, muste be hole in symply- Self-accusation
must be candid
cite ; pat is, loke in Ipi schryfte pat it be symple & nojt double
in thynkyng oon, and tellyng an-oper ; as pou seyst to pe preest,
I forsake my synne, & in 1pm herte pou purposyst to turne
12 ajen to Ipi synne. ne telle nojt in pi schryfte flateryng iapys andplain-
& tal} s, ne opere processe pat longeth no^t to ])i schryfte ; but
symplely late pin herte & }?i tunge acorde in one, & reherse in
pi schryfte no proces but pat nedyth. for summe in schryfte
1 6 schal tarye J?e preest w^/t/t sleueles talys pat no-thyng longyth
to schryfte.
dL Also loke t>at }>e heued of pi scauel be hole in truthe 3 , pat it must be true
1 and complete,
it be nojt brokyii wyt/i lesynges & falsnes, in lying on pi-self
20 or on operg. And loke pi schryfte be hole to oo preest, # nojt delivered all to
one priest,
to manye ; on gobet told to oon preest, an-oper gobet told to
an-oper preest, is no3t goodly. Also loke J>is heued of lp\
scauel be hole in schryfte of alle bi synnes, bat no synne be and comprising
every sin.
24 kept vnschreuyn ; for panne were aft lost. Exaumple ; 3if an
hole be opyn in a schyppe, pat pe water may entryn in, powj Simile of a leaky
alle opere holys of pat schyppe ben stoppyd, pe schypp)
| drenchyth, for pat on hole is opyn ; ry^t so, in schryfte. for [Fol. 59 a.]
28 on dedly synne vnschreuyn ppu schalt be dampnyd, pof alle
pin opere dedly synnes be schewyd in schryfte to pe preest.
On a kynges borde is sett hole breed 4 & no brokyn breed.
Ry^t so, to pe kynges borde of heuen) sette no brokyn schryfte,
32 but sett peron an hole schryfte ! jif ppu h,aue manye dedly
wouwdys, & alle ben curyd saaf one, jet pat oon woimde sleth
1 2 Reg. (2 Sam.) xxiv. 17. 2 Prov. xviii. 17.
3 MS. in margin : ' )>e lieued of scauel siue ventas.'
4 MS. in margin : ' exemptum.'
182
Self -Accusation must be Reasonable and Humble. [CH. xxvu.
Self-accusation
must be reason-
able,
relating only
your own sins,
not those of
others ;
it must also be
humble.
be. Rj3t so, }if bou echryve be of alle bi dedly synnes saue of
on, bat one dedly synne schal darnpne be.
IT Also loke be heued of bi scauel be hole in discrecyoun &
in resouw *, in chargyng bi synnes after bei weyiu in gretnes,
nojt in holdyng grete synnes smale, ne in heldyng smale synnes
grete, but dyscretly holde hem as bei are, & as bi confessowr
tellyth be, & telle bou nojt as a fool J?i gode dedys, as bus,
' I dede neuere thefte, ne leccherye, I slowe neuere man, I faste,
I wake, I praye, I do penaunce.' Jrise gode dedys nedyn nojt
to be schewyd in schryfte, but schewe bin euele dedys in f>i
confessiouw, & bat is discrecyoun. Ps. 2 ' Dixi : confitebor ad-
uersum me iniusticiam ' non dicit bonitatem.
IF Also bis heued of thy scauel in schryfte it muste be hole
in propyrhed s , in oo pece, nojt brokyn in dyuerse pecys ; bat
is, holly accuse pi-self of bin owne propyr syrines, & breke nojt
bi schryfte in accusyng obers synues, as be husbonde tellyth be
wyves defawtes, & be wyif be husbondys defawjtes. telle bm
owne synnes, & no^t bi ney3bouris synnes; for [jif ]] bi schryfte
be no3t hole of Jrin owen propyr synnes, but it is brokyn in-to
d\>er mennys synnes, it profyteth nojt. berfore, say bin owne
synnes, late olpere mennys be ! Ps. ' Dixi : confitebor adursum
me iniusticiam meam ' non dicz't alienam.
Also be heued of bis scauel in schryfte, bat is, accusyng
bi-self, it muste be hole in lownes & in worschippe, in obeying
lowly to be preest, to receyue of him mekely penaunce, his
techyng & his repreuyng. and nojt vnworschipp) bou be preest !
telle bou no^t his counseyl bat he seyde to be in schryfte, de-
praue hym nojt, lye nojt on him, dyspise hym no3t, carpe ]?ou
no^t ajens him in confessioun, vtyih prowde & vnresonable
woordys, refuse nojt bi penaunce vnbuxomly ! but, as to be
mynistre of god al-holy, meke f>e lowe, obeye be to him, loue
him, drede hym, beleue in his woordys, worschipjD hym; for bi
1 MS. in margin : ')>e liede of )>e scauel sit integnm in discreci'owe & in
racione.'
" PR. xxxi. 5.
' J MS. in margin : ' cowfessio sit tua uo;< aliena.'
16
24
28
32
CH. xxvii, xxvui.] Story of a Clerk ^vho murdered a Goldsmith. 183
schryfte is nojt only to hym ne for him, it is for bi god & to bi
god. Ps. ' Dixi : confitebor aduerswn me iniusticiam meaw.
dommo ' non (licit hommi, sed dommo.
4 be scho & be heued in Ipis scauel of confessioun, I haue teld
JOM ; an-ober day, I schal telle of be handle ber-of.
[A Clerk the Murderer of a Goldsmith.]
($) Cesarms seyth 1 : In be cyte Accabateiici 2 , a sung clerk poore A clerk and his
sister
8 of good seyde to a goldsmyth, hys neyjboure, bat a marchauwt
was come to his hows, & wolde byen vesseK & cowpys of gold &
of syluer of dyuers foormys. be goldsmyth folwyd be clerk, allured a KOM-
' smith into their
\vyth myche vessel of gold & syluer. when he was entryd be house, and
' murdered hi in.
12 clerkys hows, be clerk & his sustyr slowyn hym, & threwyn
hym in a gonge. seruavmtys of be goldsmythes sowjtyn hym They were dis-
at be clerkys hows be suspycyouri, & foundyn hym in a gonge,
slayn. | be clerk & his suster were dampned to be fyir be be [Fol. 59 b.j
16 lawe. be clerk wolde no3t be schreuyn, & brente aft to asschys. to be burnt.
his suster was schreuyn, &, be be vertu of schryfte, was vn- The sister con-
fessed, and was
towchyd of be fyir. saved from the
Lo, what be scauel of shryfte dyde to here ! sche was sauyd. Such is the
J ' power of shrift.
20 here brothyr was brent, berfore, beth schreuyn of jowre sy?ine,
& saue 3011 fro fyir of helle to ly ve in blysse ! Ad quod &c).
C&pitulum xxviij 111 .
De confessione.
<* T 1 1HE ober day, I telde bat schryfte was a scauel, to caste be
25 J- harde wose of joure synne out of jowre pytt of lustys. be
two partys of bis scauel of confessioun, I haue told jow, bat is,
be scho & be heued : and now I schal tel sou of be haudyl in bis The handle of
the skavel of
28 scauel of confessions.. confession.
1 MS. in margin: ' narrac/o cle clerico paup?ro (\ui cum sorore Him
p/'opter iocalia sua aurifabrum occiderunt, nofa bene de co!ebsione.'
- C'orrupted from Civitas Attiabatensis= Arras ; cf. Caesarius Heistei-
bacensis, ed. J. Strange, vol. i. p. 130.
184 Confession must lie Explicit and Accurate. [CH. xxviu.
The handle has bis handyl muste be in lengthe vj. spanne, pat is, it muste
six parts, which n i
are: i. explicit- haue vj. parcellys longynge perto. pe ferste spanne in lengthe,
it muste be nakyd J , bat is, opynly schewyd out in confessioun to
pe vnderstondyng of pe confessour, & no3t coloured in therk & 4
fayre woordys.
2. accuracy, pe secwnde spawne in lengthe of pis handyl muste be ry^thede.
for sif pis handyl be wrong, it is vnspedefutt to werke wyth.
as pus ; in pi schryfte say ryjtly in what astat & what degre 8
were pou, whanne pou dedyst pat synne, & in what astate or degre
was pe oper persone by whom pou synned, were pou or pe oper
persone syke or hole, chyld or of futt resoun, Jung or olde, pore or
ryche or gentyl, fre or bonde, wyttyng or vnwyttyng, wyt/i pi wytt 1 2
or a^ens pi wytt, weddyd or sengylt, of pi kyn or of straungerys,
seculere or relygyous, clerk or lewyd, mayde or wydewe, of pi
gostly kynrede or nay, of pin afiynyte or nay, or cnsteri) man
or iewe. telle also ryjt what synne pou hast do, & where pou t6
dydest bat synne, in pryue place or opyn place, in holy place or
oper place, dedyst pi synne alone or v?y\h helpe & strengthe of
obere, or be operes counfort. telle ry3tly how manye, & whiche
pou hast harmyd be procuryng of opere, or be pin owyn steryng 20
to synne. dedyst pou pat synne be bin owen) malyce, wyt/i-
outyn temptacyouw. or ellys be temptacyouu of pe feend, of pi
flesch, or of pe worlde ? why dedyst pou bat synne, in malyce or
in gamen, for coueytise or for pouerte & nede, for reccheleshede 34
or for despy3t & for contempte 1 dedyst pou synne drunken or
sobre, for loue or for hate, for hungyr or thryst, for cold or hete,
or nedeles in hastynes, or wyth avysemewt ? Telle ryjtly how *$)
ofte pou dedyst bat synne, how foule pou dedyst pat synne, 28
slepyng or wakyng, what tyme dedyst pat synne, in lentyn, in
fastyng dayes, in holy festys, or in \verke-dayes, or in tyme of
goddys seruyse. how ofte & how longe hast pou synned & mys-
pendyd pi lyif 1 how manye matynes, massis, euesangys, howrys, 32
prechynges, offrynges, & opere gode dedys, hast pou omytted &
fayled 1 how ofte hast pou iangelyd, rownyd, & slept, in tyme of
1 MS. in margin : ' handil of }>e scauel most be vj. spanne in lenght.
I, cowfessio sit nuda. cowfessio non [sit] colorata. no<a bene.'
CH. xxvni.] Confession must be Speedy, Mournful, fyc. 185
dyuyne seruyse in holy cherche? telle pou ryjtly in pi con-
fessioim Ipe circumstauwce of Ipe synne, & whawne pou dedyst
Ipai synne, a-forn pi penauwce or after, versus : ' Quis, quid,
4 vbi, per quos, qwociens, cur, quomodo, quango 1 '
(j. Ipe thridde spanne in pe handyl of pi schryfte muste be 3- speediness,
spedyhed, wyt^-outyn delaying, tarye pou no^t fro day to day,
fro woke to woke, fro jere to ^ere, ne tyl art seek, or tyl deth
8 comyth; but whawne Ifou felyst Ipe in dedly synne, spedely &
has-jtely be schreue, & abyde no lengere. [Pol. 60 a.]
4^ pe iiij. sparwie of pis handyl in schryfte is wepyng, no3t 4- weeping,
leyjhyng chere in herte, in face, in ey3e, but, as Marye mawdelen)
12 dede, wassche Ipou. pe feet of crist, pat is, his manhod, wyt/t
wepyng terys in pi cowfessioun, & crist schal cacche out of ]?e
vij. feendys, ]?at is, vij. dedly synnes, as lie dede out of marye
mawdelen). & J?anne schalt \>OM haue forjeuenesse & mercy, as sche
16 hadde & seynt Petyr for here wepyng. for wepyng is Ipe watyr
J?at ihesu desyreth to drynken, secundum doctores, after whiche
watyr of wepyng he thrysted on ])e cros, & seyde, ' I haue
thryst,' Ipat is, for helth of mannys soule, for wepyng of maraiys
20 synne. ffigure hereof Johann\8 iiij . 1 crist restyd him be Ipe l Alle {;, or & r of , ]
pyt & Ipe welle of samarye, Ipat is, be >e synfuft body, sory of his
synne. & crist askyd watyr of f>e womman Samaritan, Ipat is, he
askyth watyr of wepyng terys of synfutt soule for his synnes.
24 scripture seyth, 'lacrime extinguimt victorwm flammas/ wepyng
qwenchytz Ipe flawmys of synne.
(fp \>e v. spanne of pis handyl in schryfte is often Fchryuyug for ^ S gf^ ated con "
forjetyng. jif Ipi scherte be vsyd al pe jere vnwasschyn, be J>e
28 jerys ende it is ryjt foul. Ipi lauendere may nojt, ]?a?ine, wasschen Simile of the
it als why3t & als clene as }if it be wasschyn euery woke onys.
J>erfore, oftyn be bou wasschyn in pi schryfte, & parme schalt pou
be clene. for pe oftere J>i scauel castyth out wose, pe suwnere
32 lp\ pyt is clene; }>e seldere pi scauett is vsed, pe lengere it is or
pi pyt be farmy<J.
if pe vj. sparaie in pe handyl of pi confessiouw is frelyhede ; 6. Spontaneity.
1 John iv. 6.
186
The Story of a Witch who died Unshriveu.
[CH. XXVIII.
Example of a
servant staying
for fear of
punishment.
pat frely, be bi good wytt, for loue & deuocyoim to god, bou art
schreuyn, banne is bi schryfte medefutt. for }if schame of J?e world,
or dreed of deth, or dreed of belle, compelle be Iperio, & nojt loue
to godwarde, ne deuocyoim, ne bi fre wyl, bawne ]?i schryfte is 4
nojt worth. . Exaumple l . pi seruaunt or ])i bonde-maw is fals &
vnkynde to pe, bat wyl nojt serue be, but rennyth awey to ]>i
most enemye, & seruyth him, tyl J?ou puttyst hym in prisouri or
in stokkys, & bawne he turneth to be, & seruyth Ipe awhyle. bis 8
is for no loue but for dreed, for wheraie he is lowse, sone after
he rennyth awey ajen. bou kuraiyst hym no thank, for he seruyth
be no}t for loue. Ryjt so, whyl bou art heyl, bou art fals &
vnkynde to bi god, and seruyst his most enemye, be feend, in 12
synne. wharaie god settyth be in stockys of sykenes, or in
prisouft. of deth-euytt, bawne turnyst bou to god, & art schreuyn,
& behotyst to seruyn hym. but as sone as >ou art heyl ajen, bou
art fals to god, & seruyst ajen ]?e deuyl. god kan Ipe no thank, 16
for bou louyst him nojt. for whan ]?ou art schreuyn no3t for
loue of god but for dreed of wordly schame, or for dreed of
eyknes, or for dreed of deth, or for dreed of peyne of helle, bis
handyll is to schort, it is nojt worth, make it a sparaie lengere, 20
vfyih fre wyl, fre loue, & fre deuocyoun to god, er bou be
compellyd bcrto be sykenes or be deth ! & bawne god louyfch be,
& banne hast bou a good scaueli to caste \\yih out bi wose.
[Pol. 60 b.] take f>ou bis scauel of schryfte, vfyih alle | thre partes, \fyih 24
scho, heued, & handyl, as I haue told pe in two tymes, & laboure
faste, & caste out be hard wose of bi synne! 'Confitemini
alterutrum peccate ves^ra 2 ! '
[The English Witch who died Unshriven.\ 28
Cesariws, bat clerk, tellyth 3 bat a wycche in Ingelonde (&
wolde nojt be schryuen, whann sche dyed, be here byddyng,
whann) sche was deed, here frendys sowedyn [here] in hertys
she was buried ledyr, & closyd here in a stonyn coofere bomwlyn aboutyn \vyth 32
in a coffin of
stone fastened ji). yren chevnes, & be lyd abouyn schett & sowdyd. wtrtn leed &
with iron chains.
1 MS. in margin : ' ExejwpZwm.' 2 James v. 16.
3 MS. in margin : ' Narraoto de coufessione.'
A witch died
un shriven.
CH. xxvin.] The Story of an Unfaithful Penitent. 187
yren. hyre sone, a miwke, & here dowjter, a nunne, wokyn here
body iij. ny^tes in cherche, as sche bad hem ; & jif sche abyde
stylle in be cherche iij. ny3tes, baraie schulde J?ei berye [here] Ipe
4 day aftyr. Ipe two ferste ny3tes, in syjt of alle bo bat wokyu here, But fiends broke
the chains in
feendys comyn. & brokyn vp be cherche dorys. & two cheynes of three sub-
sequent nights,
Ipai, stonyn coffre. >e myd-cheyne was stylle hole, be iij. nyjt,
at cokkys crowyng, Ipe feendys comyn ajen, wytA dyn & crye, J>at
8 all }?e cherct quakyd, & be erthe also. Oon of }?e feendys bat
was mayster-feend, most horryble & foul, prowdely wente to J?e
body, & bad here be name aryse. sche seyde, ' I may nojt for
bis yren cheyne.' Ipe feend seyde, ' for bi synne be cheyne schal
1 2 breke ! ' be feend brak ]?at myd-cheyne, & with his foot smote
awey be lyd. sche ros opynly, in syjt of alle here wakerys, &
roryng went out at be cherche-dore, & was sett on a blak and carried her
to licU-
brennyng deuyl, & born to J)e pytt of helle.
1 6 why 1 for be scauel of schryfte had nojt cast out be wose of
here synne. berfore, beeth ware, & wyth J?is scauel ferme $oure
pytt!
[The Fiend and the Unfaithful Penitent.]
20 Cesarius 1 . A feend wonyd in braban in an howse, & telde
opynly every man ]5at coin) thedyr his synne, whiche he was no^t
schreuyn of. A man was schreuyn of a preest, & in herte he A man who had
confessed, with-
purposyd to turne ajen to his synne. bis man wente to be ieend, out serious
repentance, "as
24 & lokyd in at be dore. be feend seyde, ' come hedyr. freend, bou told all his sins
' Y publicly by a
art catlycked & qwyt of ]?i synnes in bi schryfte/ ]>e feend fiend -
opynly tolde out alle his synnes to aft pe peple, for aft his
schryfte. why ? for his schryfte was no3t worth, for he purposed
28 to turne a3en to his synne. be man was a-schamyd, & was
schryuen to a preest, w?/t h full purpos to forsakyn his synne. & He confessed
aprain, and when
panne he, be |?e byddyng of f>e preest, wente a3en to pe feend, he returned,
& lokyd in at ])e dore. An-ofyer man stondyng besyde seyde
32 to be feend, ' lo feend, J>i freend is comyn ajen to loke how bou
faryst. telle vs ajen his synnes as )?ou dedyst jysterday. be
1 MS. in margin : ' Narreio de confessione.'
188 The ' Shovel of Satisfaction! [CH. xxvm, xxix.
the fiend knew feend seyde, ' I knowe hvm nost, it is nost he bat I accusyd
him no more. "
systerday.' be peple helde be feend a lyere, & bat man was
sauyd fro schame.
Se here bat fals schryfte profy^teth nojt, & trewe schryfte 4
castyth out sywne. take this scauel of trewe schryfte, & caste
out ber-wyth bi wose of sywne ! and baraie schal grace entryn
bi soule here, & in bin ende bou schalt entryn endeles ioye ! Ad
quod & 8
C&pitulum xxix m ,
De Satisfaccione.
When the pit of T HAUE told sou here-be-forn how 2e schul castyn out of be 51
your conscience
^ 3 OMre conscyens be corrupt watyr of be gret curs, 1 2
be scope of penauws, & be wose of dedly synne, wyih be
[Pol. 61 a.] skete of contricyouw & w?/tA be scauett | of confessioun. but
and the ooze of now, me muste telle jow [how] 50 schal schouele clene out be
eventhecrumbs crommys of be wose of synne, wytA be schouyl of satysfaccyouw 1 . 16
out, for bowj bi wouwde, bi sore, & bin hurte, be delyueryd fro deed
with the ' shovel . l jji i_i. it L o
of satisfaction.' nesch, pat is, of dedly synne, be pe corrysie of contricyoun, &
also made clene, wyth drawynge salue of confessiouw, jit, it
Satisfaction is nedyth to ben helyd vp, wyih an helyng salue of satisfaccyouw, 20
like a healing t
salve. ellys it wolde be stylle sore & neuere hole, jif JJQU be of powere, &
haue tyme berto. '<\uia now remittitwr peccawm, donee rettitu-
atv/r ablatum.' xiiij. questio vj. 2 3 if bou be neuere of powere to
restore & to makyn amendys, & bou woldyst makyn amendys, jyf 24
It is indispens- bou myjtest. so bat bou makyst amendys as fer- forth as bi catel
able for attain- y t *'
ing salvation. & bi good mowyn enteyne, bawne bi sorwe & bi schryfte schal
be bi saluacyouw, & ellys nou3t. for hugo de sancto victore 3
seyth, bowj god be mercyfull, he also is ryjtfutt. berfore, he 28
forjeuyth nojt so synne but bat he askyth peyne. as he forjeuyth
sywne be his gret mercy in sorwe & in schryfte, so he askyth
1 MS. in margin : ' schouele of satisfacciouw.'
a Capitulum i. Causa 14. Quaestio 6 [Corpus Juris Canonici, i. 742].
3 MS. in margin : ' hugo de eancto victore.'
CH. xxix.] Three Parts of Satisfaction. Alms -Giving. 189
penauwce & amehdys in satysfaccyoim of his gret ryjtwysnes.
pawne, after you're contricyoim & confessioun, }if je haue tyme &
powere, je muste take Ipe schoueft of satysfaccyouw, }if je wyft
4 be sauyd;
Satysfacevoim is to fulfylle bi penauwce enioyned of be Satisfaction is to
do penance, to
preest, & to pay pi dettys to qwyke & dede & to holy cherche, pay one's debts.
J l J J > to make amends
& to restore bat pou hast falsely gett, to makyn amendys for bi ' or an y ty
8 wrongys & be harmys bat bou hast don, & no more to turne * *"[" to sin
a^en to bi synne. for a wouwde or a sore often hurte is ful
hard to makyh hole. ' Vulnz^s iteratum tardius sanatwr.' ' luanis
pen^ewcia est, quam sequens culpa coinqwinat.'
A schouyl hath iii. thyno-es ; a scho. an heued, & an handyl. The shoe, the
J head, and the
1 3 Ry?t so, secundum hugonem de sancto victore, satysfaccyoun iiandie of the
shovel of satis-
hath iij. thynges ' bis thre princypatt partyes: Almes-dede. faction repre-
' sent alms, last-
fastyng, & prayere. In almes-dede god reseyuyth of vs bat in and P"*y er '
1 6 we jeuyn to be pore, as crist him-self seyth in be gospett,
Mat. xxv. 2 In fastyng & in bodyly penaimce god takyth of vs
sacryfise of a trubelyd spyrite. Ps. s ' Sacrificium deo spm'^us
contribulatiw.' In prayere god takyth of vs an offryng.
20 A.u<ustinus, ' Omwis oracz'o oblacz'o est.'
pe scho of be schouele is be-forn in be heuyd ; ryjt so, in Alms-giving,
schouele of satysfaccyoun, ferst be-forn muste be a scho, & bat is
almes-dede. Criso^omws, in irwperfecto Oj)ere, xv. super Mat-
2 4 theurti*. he askyth whi almes-dede schul go be-fore prayere ? & Why it ought to
precede prayer,
he answeryth berto him-self, & seyth, for almes-dede is noryschere
& makere recly be weye to god a-forn be face of prayere, pat
prayere folwyng after almes-dede, mowe fynde redy weye to
28 god & redy place to his mercy, as a purveyowr goth be-forn
to takyn an jn for his mayster; and as be yren scho of be
schouele entryth be-fore in-to be wose, bat be heued of pe
schouele myjte entren in after : so almes-dede owyth to go be-fore
32 to god to askyn helpe, bat prayere folwyng, mowe spetlyn in
1 MS. in margin : ' satisfaccto tria : elemosina, ieiun/m, oracio.'
3 Matt. xxv. 40. 3 Ps. li. 19.
* For the so-called ' Opus imperfectum in Matthaeum ' cf. Migne, Patr.
(Jraeca, tom. 67. p. 2.
190
How Alms our/Jit to he giren. Prayer.
[CH. XXIX.
Alms must be
Driven with a
will to sin no
more.
grace. Salofnon J seyth, ' Ante oraaonem prepara anim&m
[Fol. 61 b.] tuam/ A-forn pi prayere make redy pi soule, j pat is to seyne,
make redy pi soule, ferst in almes, & panne praye pus after,
Alms is to prayer secundum cr'isostomum vt supra. As oyle jyueth lyst to be 4
what oil is to a
lamp. laumpe 2 , so almes jeuyth lyjjt of feyth to prayere, for to haue
trust & feyth to spede. whanne a leche, be-forn his cure, is wel
rewardyd wyt/i ^yftes, panne afterward pe gladlyere he doth
his kunnyng to make pe seke hole. Ysa. lij.(?) perfore, rewarde 8
pi leche ihesu, ferst in begynnyng of pi satysfaccyoun, wyth
3yftes of almes-dede to pe pore ; for pat pou 3euyst to pe nedefuft,
pou 3euyst it to god, Mat. xxv. 3 : and panne ihesu gladly &
redyly schal make pe hole in soule. Thoti. iiij.* ' Elemosina ab ia
onmi peccato liberat.' but pis scho almes, it muste be scharpe
beforn in wyl to forsake pi synne. for it is more scharp to pe
synnere, & more greuyth him, to leuyn his synne pan to geuyn
almesse. perfore, scharpe pis scho almes-dede in forsakyng pi 16
synne. ' Miserere anime tue placens deo V A leche byddeth pe
syke vnder his cure, jif he be curable & wyl be hole, pat he
absteyne hym fro noyous metys & drynkes. Ityjt so, to pe
in sykenes of dedly synne, 3yf pou wylt be curyd & sauyd, ihesu, 20
pi leche, byddeth to pe, lofi. viij. c ' Vade, noli amplius peccare,'
Go, & be in wytt no more to syraie. for but pin almes-dede
be scharpe, wyt/i a scharpe wytt to leve pi syraie, pe scho almes
in pe schouytt of pi satysfaccyourz, is to dutt pat it schouelyth 2 4
no3t clene out pe crommes of pe wose of pi synne. Crisostomus
vt sujwa, ' Qui peccat & elemosinam facit, perdit quod i-acit ; pro
cessato peccato peccaZoris datur elemosina, non pro occurente.'
Take pis scho almes, wyth scharp wyl to leve pi synne, take Cl/
pawne pe heued of pi schouele in satysfa'ccyoun, pat is, prayere 7 ! 29
Criso^omw* vt supra, he seyth, Prayere is more worthy to
god pan almes or fastyng. why 1 for almes comyth of pi
temperatt godys, fastyng comyth of pi body, but pi prayere 3 2
comyth out of pin herte, & perfore pat is heued & worthyest
Prayer
more valuable
than alms and
fasting.
1 Ecclesiasticus xviii. 23.
3 Matt. xxv. 40. * Tobit iv. 11.
6 John viii. 1 1.
MS. in margin : ' exemplum.'
5 Ecclesinsticus xxx. 24.
7 MS. in margin : ' Qrncio.'
CH. xxix.] How yon ovgJit to Pray. 191
in-myddes betwen) almes & fastyng, as Ipe heued of a schouyft is
in-myddes be-twen }?e scho & Ipe handyft. Crisostomus super
Mattheum, in imperfecto opere xiij., dict't : As frankencense wel Prayer is like
sweet incense.
4 made delyteth man in smellyng, whan it is put in fyir, so Ipi
prayere deuoutly prayed in fyir of charyte, delyteth god in
swetnesse. Ps. 1 ' Dirigatwr oracto mea sicut incensum in con-
spectu tuo.' Crisostomus seyth, als sone as bi prayere is out
8 of Ipi mowth, auwgelys takyn it in here handys, & offeryn it vp
a-forn god. Ry}t so, bi rouwnynges, Ipi iangelynges, bin ydett
woordys, pi chydynges, pi repreuynges in holy cherche & in
goddys seruyse, in processiouns, & in tyme of deuocyouns,
1 2 feendys beryn hem fro j^i mowth, & offryn hem vp to here prince
Sathan in helle. tyerfore, ^if pis heued of Ipi schouett, prayere,
be brokyn in iangelyng, in tellyng talys, in dedly synne, or in
wycked lyvyng; Jeanne \)is heued prayere doth J?e no
16 J>erfore, kepe ]?i prayere hole, wt/tA-oute iangelyng & iapyng in Do not impair
your prayer by
divyfD seruyse, in defines of leuyng, sif bou wylt schouele out talking in
church !
Iper-wyth Ipe wose of Ipi synne. Crisostomus super MattJieum, in
imperfecta omilia, xv., dicit, ' Qui orat in peccato, non rogat
20 deum sed deludit deum,' whan pou prayist, & dost dedly synne,
J>ou prayest 1103 1 god 2 , j but Jxm iapyst god & scornyst him. f>er- [Fol. 62 a.]
fore, late ]?i prayere ben hole, wytA-oute breche of dedly synne,
& wytA-oute iapyng & iangelyng in dyuyii) seruyse & in
24 praying, Ipat it mowe avoyden Ipi wose of synne. II Whanne
a leche 3 is plesyd, wytA fayre woordys & plesyng speche, >araie
gladly he besyeth hym to make j?e seke hole. Ry3t so, whan
}?ou plesyst ihesu, Ipi leche, wyth plesaunt preyere no3t dyffoulyd
28 in iangelyng ne in synne, J>awne ih^su gladly makyth Ipe hole
fro J>i sy,ne. Ysa. lij. (?) & in Psa^mo 4 , ' Ipse enim est qui sanat
infirmitates tuas qui redimit de interitu vitam tuam.' be modyr 5 Simile of a
mother's
for here syke chylde makyth a candeB, & makyth a vowe in offering-candle.
32 prayere. Ryjt so, wheraie ]>ou seest Ipi soule peryssche in dedly
synne, no bodyli leche may cure Ipe. make a candel of gode
werkys of almes-dede, luc. xij . 6 & ' lucerne ardentes in manibws
1 Ps. cxl. 2. 2 MS. god god. 3 MS. in margin: '
4 Ps. cii. 3, 4. * MS. in margin : ' exemption.' 1 ' Luke xii. 35.
192 The Story of Peter the Toller. [ CH . xxix
vestris,' & make a vowe of deuowte prayere to god, & pi soule
schal ben hole. Jerom'mus super Mattheum, ' Oracz'one sanantwr
pestes mentis/
[The Conversion of Peter, the Hard-hearted Toller.] 4
Ex legenda loharmis theolonarij '. bere was a toilers clepyd %$
Perys, wondyr-ryche, to be pore vnmercyfuJtl, non almes jeuynge,
but be pore dyspysing, & hem betyng or cacchyng out at his
gatys, vryth his doggys. A pore man seyde to his felawys, ' for 8
a waiour I schal gon & askyn almes of Perys tollere, bat doth
dyspyjt to alle pore hym alines askynge. pe waiour was leyde.
A beggar went be pore man goth to Perys hows ; & Perys bare rye-louys fro
to Peter the
Toller, and be oven) to pe pantrye. be pore man askyd hym almes. but u
asked for alms. '
Peter angrily Perys had no stone, but for angyr & dyspyst he kyst a rye-loof
threw a rye-loaf
at him, which to haue brokyn his heued. be pore man stowpyd. be loof wente
the beggar took
U P- ouyr his heued. pe pore man ran after be loof, he took it vp, &
bare it to his felawys, seying pat he hadde bat loof of Pers, & 16
While ill Peter so he wan his waiour. Two dayes after, Perys was syke to be
dreamt he ap- .
peared before deth, & thoujte he syje hirn-self led a-forn be neyj luge crist.
his judge.
Angels balanced & feendys he seys, bat puttyn alle his synnes in o scole, and
his sins against J " *
' 3 ~ [ f f ' d aun o e ^y s ^ a ^ neu y> puttyn in an-ober scole on be ober syde bat 20
too light. rye-loof bat Perys keste at be pore mannys heued. it weyed but
lytel, it was no^t euen) in weyjte to his synnes. be auwgelys
seyden to him, ' Perys, make bis rye-loof heuyere in almes-dede,
ellys be feendys schal haue pis soule.' Perys a-wook, & seyde to 3 4
be peple, ' Syth oon rye-loof, pat I keste in dyspy^t at be pore
man, hath comfortyd me, myche more schal profyten me to jyuen
Peter then gave almes to be pore for loue of god.' banne 3af he aft his good to
to the poor, 8 be pore for be loue of god, & solde him-self, & jaf be monye to 28
and is now a
saint in Heaven, be pore, & after dyde myraclys manye in erthe, & now is a seyute
in heuen).
perfore, takyth bis scho almes in be schouett of satysfaccyou?* !
1 MS. in margin : ' narract'o.' The authority of this story is curiously
misquoted. It is the story of Petrus Telonarius from the Vita Sancti
loannis Eleemosynarii in the Vitae Patrum. C'f. Migne, Patr. Lat. vol. 73-
col. 356.
CH. xxix, xxx.] The Story of a Monk saved by his Brethren's Prayers. 193
[A Monk saved by the Prayers of his Brethren^]
(; Petrus damianws dicit l : A munke, deed lying on bere in A dead monk
. rose from his
cherche, at masse, at Agnus dei, he ros vp on pe bere, & cursyd bier, and cursed
God.
4 god. he spytted on pe cros, he dyspysed oure lady, he seyde :
' why synge 36 & pray for me 1 I am dampnyd & brent in fyir
of helle.' panne, be mimkys, his bretheryn, prayed for hym, But the prayers
of his brethren
wyth an here herte, & betyn hem-self nakyd on be brest, wytA made him turn
to God again,
8 here fystes, in here prayere. pe munke turnyd hym to god, &
worschyped hym, & cryed hym mercy, he forsooke pe deuyft,
& kyssed pe cros. he was | schreuyn wyth futt sorwe, he dyde [Fol. 62 b.]
penaunce, and, be next day, he deyid aaen. his soule wente to and he was
saved.
12 heuefD, wyih melodye of auwgellys.
perfore, sythe prayere of his bretheryn halpe him fro deth to
lyif, fro dampnacyoun to penaimce, fro synne to grace, fro peyne
to ioye ; take je pis prayere for pe heued of jowre schouyl satys- Therefore, pray
and give alms !
16 faccyoun, "wyth pe scho of almes-dede 2 . for pe handyl of pe
schouele, I schal telle jow an-oper day. & wyih almesse &
deuowte prayere, caste out pe crummys of 3oure wose of synne,
pat watyr of grace mowe entren pe pytt of conscyens, pat je
20 mowe flowe in sprynge-flood of vertuys, hye vp to pe hytt of
heuefD in ymre ende ! To pat hytt bryng vs he &c.
C&pitulum xxx m .
De satisfaccione.
^l fj^Eeendys, Je oper day, I telde jow of satysfaccyoun, pat is
TS -- pe thredde parte of penaimce, & I lykenyd satysfaccyoun Satisfaction
to a schouele to scliouelt out vsyth pe croTnmys of pe wose of
dedly synne, pat is, alt pe circumstaunce of vyces. I telde ^ou
28 pat pe echo of pe schouelt was almes-dede, pe heued is prayers, " 868 alms>
1 MS. in margin : ' narracio. '
a MS. satisfaccyouTO. crossed; after almes-dede $[ deitoute prayere
repeated and crossed.
O
194 Fasting. [CH. xxx.
of po two, I haue told jow. pe haudyll of pis achouyft is
and fasting. fastyng; of pis fastyng I schal telle 3011 now.
pe schoueft, pow} it haue a scho & an heued, but jif it
haue an handyl, it is nojt spedy to schouelyn out of pi pytt 4
of pi flesch pe wose of synne. perfore, je muste take pis
Fasting has four handytt fastyng 1 in youre [handys] 2 . In pis fastyng is vncler-
The first is stonde alt manere of penaunce. pis handle muste be iiij. spanne
abstinence from .
food. m lengthe. pe firste is fastyng. whyi Cnsostomus seyth, super 8
Mat. in imperfecto, omilia. xv., why folwyth fastyng after prayere,
& goth no^t be-forn, in scripture s ? for fastyng was made to
serue prayere, & nojt prayere to seme fastyng. perfore, prayere,
J>e heued, goth be-forn & pe handylt, fastyng, folowyth after u
him to be redy to seruyn hym, as pe heued of pe schouele is
be-fore, & pe handyl ]?er-of is be-hynde to serue pe heued. what
schulde pe kyng profy^te in batayle alone, wytA-outen helpe ?
ryjt lytel ! for he were to weyke. Ey^t so, pi preyere alone 16
it is 4 to weyk, but fastyng folwe & helpe him. Crisostomus ^
vt supra, ' Oracio sine ieiunio gracilis est & infirma ' ; & idem
dictt : A kny^t 5 wytA-outen armoure, or armoure w?/tA-outen
a knyjt, is vndefensable. so preyere wytA-outyn fastyng, or 20
fastyng wytA-outen prayere, profy^teth but lytel. ]?isrfore, take
Pasting and hem to-gydere, prayere in pe heued, & fastyng after in pe
prayer must go
together. handytt, of pi schouele. perfore scripture sette hem to-gydere.
' Oracio & ieiunium a morte liberant.' ' Hoc genus now eicietwf 24
nisi in oracione & ieiunio.' Mar, viiij. 6 . be leche byddeth
J>e seke vnder his cure, jif he be curable, & jif he wyl be
heyl, to abstene hym fro exces of mete & drynk. ry^t so, pou
syke in synne, }if pou wylt be curyd, absteyne pe in fastyng 28
1 MS. in margin: ''handil of )>e schouel est oracto [?]. note quatuor.
I. ieiutm.'
8 MS. fastyng.
3 MS. in margin : 'qwere. qware ieiunium seqwitur oraeionem & now
oracio ieiunium.'
1 MS. it is it is.
* MS. in margin : ' exemplum.'
6 Mark ix. 29. The Vulgate reads: Hoc genus in nullo potest exire &c.
The preceding quotation is not found in the Bible.
CH. xxx.] How to attain a Pure Life. Humility. 193
fro exces of delycasyes. Joel ij. 1 ' Conuertimini ad me in
ieiunio, &c.'
lokk, bis hanclyl fastyng be hole in clennesse & nojt brokyn
4 in dedly synne ; for seynt Ambrose seyth : he Ipai fastyth in
dedly synne, he ofieryth his body to god as a deed stynkyng
carcase, whan a womman chyldeth, sche peyneth, sche cryeth,
sche trauayleth. Ysai. xxij. 2 Eyjt so, bou soule, jif bou wylt
8 chylden a chyld to god, "bat is, clene lyif, peyne be & greve in A pure life may
t onl.v be attained
herte, wyth contricyouw for bi skeet of penauwce, crye in con- through
fessioun for bi scauel, trauayle bou in satysfaccyoun for bi confession > and
J J ' satisfaction.
scliouele, & banne schalt bou caste out clene be wose & be
12 fylthe of bi synne, & schalt | bou chyldyn a chyld, bat is, [Fol. 63 a.]
clennes of lyif.
be secunde sparaie lengthe in bis handyl of satysfaccyoun. The second
part of fasting
is hardnes of clothyng on bak & in bed. A leche, to helyn is clothing
* roughly.
16 a wou?*de, leyth berto a playstere. ryjt so, to hele bi wounde
of synne, lay berto a playstere of hard clothyng, as Judith dyde,
viij. cajritulo 8 .
be iij. spawne in lengthe of bis handylt in satysfaccyoun The third is
humility.
20 muste be mekenes, lownes, & myldenes 4 . who-so be angry or
fers, his womwle, his malyce, or his sore, is harde to kure.
berfore, be muste be mylde in lownes & in pacyens. as a leche,
wasschyng be wourcde or be sore of be syke, makyth it clene,
24 or he 5 helyth it ; Ryjt so, be wouwde of dedly synne in bi soule
muste be wasschyn & made clene. wher-wyth ? vfy\h watyr
of legh" bat is made wyih asschys & watyr, wyth asschis of Simile of the lye.
lownes 6 , & wyth watyr of wepyng. for asschys & hote watyr
28 makyn good leyghe, & but be watyr go thrugft be asschys, be
leygli makyth nojt clene. ry^t so, but watyr of wepyng be
medlyd wyth asschys of lownes, it pourgyth not 7 pi synne.
thynke wherof bou come of asschys ! thynke what bou art Think that thou
wast, art, and
32 asschys ! thynke what bou schalt be asschys ! bou were shalt be, ashes !
1 Joel ii. 12. 2 Isai. xxvi. 17 (?). s Judith ix. I.
4 MS. in margin : ' humilitas.' 5 MS. it.
8 Added in MS. by later hand.
7 Added in MS. above the line by later hand.
O 2
196 Restitution. [CH. xxx.
asschys, bou art asschys, bou schalt ben asschys ! bus, take bin
asschys of lownes, & putte awey bi stynkynge pride, & medle
wel bis asschys in watyr of wepyng, and bewne hast bou good
legh, to wassche awey bi foule synne. 4
The fourth part be iiij. spawne in lengths of be handle in bi satysfaccyouw $
of fasting is
restitution. is restitucyoun l . A leche byddyth be syke, bat hath super-
As the physician a , , , . , i i i i i i i i , / ! n
cures a patient nuytc of blood, to lessyii his blood in blood-letyng, 31! he wyll
' be curyd of his maladye. Ryjt so, bou bat hast getyn good be 8
haly-day werkyng, haly-day chaffaryng, be false othys, be false
dysceyjtes, be false auwcerys, be false wey3tes or mesours, be
fals labour, takyng more ban bou hast deeeruyd in fals seruyse,
in falsenes of bi craft, & in wytA-holdyng be hyre fro hem bat 12
han deseruyd it ; & bou hast get good in raueyn, thefte, &
mycherye, in false tythynges, & w?/tA-holdyng bi dettys fro dede,
qwyke, & fro holy cherche, & bou hast no^t made amendys for
be harmys & wronges bat bou hast don ; or ellys bou hast 16
good, more ban be nedyth, and lyith stylle, & releuyth nojt be
pore ; bou bat art gylti in ony of bise poyntes, bou hast super-
fluyte of blood, bat is, bou hast superfluyte of ober meTinys
good, for bis superfluyte mayst bou neuere ben heyl in soule, 20
tyl bis blood be leskyd in blood-letyng, bat is, tyl bou parte bis
good a-sunder, & restore it to be awnerys, & jelde iche man his,
& ellys schalt bou be euere syke in synne. for a lessyng of blood
doth awey be maladye, it makyth be heyl, & sauyth bi lyif. 24
so must thou Ry^t so, restoryng 2 of obers godys lessyth bi purs, it dcth awey
wealth by re- f a l s coueytise & be peyne of helle, & bryngeth be to lyif of
storing to others
wron ^teken* 8 r&ce > & sauyth be to be lyif of heuen). bou bat hast getyn
from them. j,j g 00( j j n on y m anr forseyd, restore it ajen, & lengthe bou 28
be handyl of bi penauns -wyth bis iiij. spanne of lengthe, bot is,
of restitucyouw, or ellys be handyl of bi schouylt in satysfaccyouw
is to schort to schouytt wyth out be crummys & be wose of bi
synne. berfore, make it long ynow, bat bou may seye vryth 32
[Fol. 63b.] Zachee, | luc. xix s . 'Si aliquem defraudam, reddo quadru-
1 MS. in margin: 'restitucio facienda est.'
2 MS. in margin: 'restitucio multa bona facit, no^a.'
" Luke xix. 8. The Vulgate reads : Et si quid aliquem defraudavi, &c.
CH. xxx.] The Story of a Usurer carried to the Gallows. 197
plum/ jif I haue dysseyuyd ony man, I restore it to hym foure-
fbld. but wolde god, J>ou woldyst restore hym o-fold, J?at is,
euen) in-as-myche as J?ou dedyst him harm ! but J>ou wylt
4 nojt restore hym a quarter of his harine, or happly ryjt noujt.
Jin handyl is aft to schort, J?i schouyl is nojt worthe. J>ou doost
no note, Jn wose lyith stylle in J>i soule. for Ipi fals labour, pou
schalt haue non hyre in heuene, but be put in prisouw of helle.
8 J>erfore, restore to opere here harmys !
.
\Tlie Usurer carried to the Gallows by an AssJ]
9De dono timoris muenitwr exemplum l . A preest counseylid A priest told a
usurer to restore
a man in his deth, pat was a gouelere, & \vyth fals tythe had get what he had got
with usury,
is his good, pat he schulde be sory, & schiyuen hym, & restoryn
ajen Ipat he had falsely gett. pe gouellere seyde to pe preest pat
Eory he wolde be, & he wolde be schreuyn, but restoren ]>ai he
falsely had get, bat wolde he nost do, for peraie schulde no good but he refused
to do so.
1 6 beleue to hym, to his wyif, ne to his childeryn. J>e preest seyde,
' and but ]?ou restore, pou schalt no3t be sauyd ! ' >e gouelere
seyde, ' seyth smpture so ] ' pe preest seyde, ' ja.' pe gouelere
seyde, '& I wyll assayen jif scripture & clerkys sayn sooth.'
20 so he deyid. & made no restitucyouw, but 2af a parcett of his He only left part
of his fortune to
good to an Abbey, to be beryed amouges hem, & for to haue an abbey in
order to secure
part of pe muwkys prayers, whanne he was beryed J>ere, euery J{ ie prayers of
nyst he ros out of his graue, & cryed as a feend, & vnwryed When buried
there, he rose
24 be munkys in here beddys, & F 1 ?! here seruauwtys. & bet hem ever y 'Kht, and
vexed the monks
wyfc/i here bootys. on ]?e morwe, Jje body was fouralyn out of with all kinds
]?e cyte, & ]>ei tokyn hym, & leydin hym a3en in his graue. At
be laste be munkys were so vexid wwtA him, bat bei dedyn At last, he was
conjured, and
28 hym be coniured, & askyd why he ros & had no reste. pe dede confessed
man seyde : ' I restyd neuere in my ly ve on pe halyday fro
werkyng of wordly werkys, ne of chaffaryng, but I seruyd pe
world, J>e feend, & my flesch, & lefte pe seruyse of god. J>erfore,
32 I schal neuere restyn in erthe ne in heuen), but laboure in peyne.
In cherche I cesyd neuere of iangelyng, but euere, to >e cherche
1 MS. in margin : ' narracio de vsurario.' Cf. p. 66.
198 The Story of the Parson's Donkey. [CH. xxx.
& to his mynystres, I dyde wrong & schame, falsnes & defraude ;
berfore, I may nojt restyn in cristen) beryellys. I hynderyd men
of holy cherct ; berfore, here prayers helps me nojt. as I harmyd
hem whyl I lyved, so I dyssese hem whan I am deed. I hynderyd 4
lay-men & letteryd \fyih defraude & wrongs ; berfore schal me
neuere helpe prayere of leryd ne lewyd. for I wolde no3t restore
my wronges & my dettys be my lyve, be-cause I, & my wyif,
& my chylderyn, schulde bawne haue be beggerys. be preest 8
tolde me, but I restored, I schulde be dampnyd ; & I seyde
I wolde asaye wheber he seyde sooth or noujt. & now I fynde
that he was bat he seyde sooth. I am dampnyd wyth-outyn ende. almes
damned for
ever. n e prayere schal neuere helpe me. I $af my good to pise 12
munkys; what helpe is pis to me, to robbe be, & to jeue it
a frere ? had I restoryd it to be ownerys, I hadde be sauyd \
euere wretthyd I god ; berfore, god schal euere peyne me wytA-
oute reste. leryd & lewyd men I vexid, whil I lyved in 16
wronges; ryjt so, now deed, I schal vexin hem, whitt my body
restyth wyth hem. remevyth awey my body, & je schul haue
reste ! '
[Pol. 64 a.] | hec arcAiepz'scopus bisuntintts, magister in theologia l . 20
but Jacobus de vitriaco dicit : pe frendys of bat cursed man (K
prayed a preest pat he wolde sufferyu bat body to be beryed in
his cherche, & behyjten hym gret mede. be preest wolde nojjt.
A priest kept an be preest hadde an asse bat dyde nouat ellvs but bare be bokys 24
ass which used
to carry his to cherche & fro cherche aaen home, berfore knewe non ober
books to the
knew n' & oth r we y e< f e ^eendys prayed pe preest to ley be dede body on his
way - asse. ]?erto grauwtyd he hem. bat, were be asse dyde abyde
wytA be body, bere be body schulde be beryed ; for bei wendyn 28
be asse schulde a born be body to be cherche as he dyde be
bokys, be-cause he knewe non ober weye. be preest grauntyd
But when the ber-to. be asse bare |?is cursyd body, wyt/i-outyn ledyng neyber
1 This seems to refer to Nicholas de Flavigny, archbishop of Besan9on
(1227 till 1235), who is often quoted by Etienne de Bourbon, the author of
a collection of ' exempla ' known under the title ' De septein donis.' (Cf.
Lecoy de la Marche's edition of Etienne de Bourbon, Anecdotes
Historiques, note on p. 36.)
CH. xxx, xxxi.] Kinds of Restitution. 199
on ]5e ryjt syde ne on f>e left syde, but euen) ryjt furth, wytA-oute ? r . a8 b 1 * i ? "f 011
turnyng, to galowys. & Ipere vnder f?e galowys, J>e asse kest went t st j} e gllt "
doun Ipe body. & ]>e body J?er<5 was beryed wyfcA thevis ; for he fhereTl^usurer
4 was a falsere theef to god, & more good had stolyn, pan manye amons thieves,
thevys J?at }?ere were hangyd.
1T perfore, je proude & ferse, & y. ryche wyth fals getyn good,
je thevis & mychers, false tytherys, raveynerys, extorcyonerys,
8 haly-day werkerys, & iangelerys in dyvyne seruyse, beth sory,
beth schreuyn ! restoryth ! makyth amendys ! 3erne caste out Therefore, make
amends !
\>e wose of ^owre synne, wyth a skeet of contrycyouw, wyth
a scaueft of confessioun, vryth a schouyl of satysfaccyoun ! or
12 ellys jowre ende schal be schameful} dampnacyouw, as je mowe
verryly knowe, jif je takyn hede to ]?is tale. &c.
C&pitulum xxxj,
De restitucione.
^, TT told jou here-be-forn of restitucyouw, Ipat it is iiij spawne
1 7 J- in lengthe of J>e handyl of penaurace in yyure schouyli of
satysfaccyouw ; and now I schal telle jou how many inche in Diverse kinds of
restitution.
lengthe pis handyl of restitucyouw muste be.
20 bou hast here a parcett of bi faderv good, wyttyng bat bi Any portion of
J J ' v an inheritance
fadyr get ]>at good \fyih gouyl or in ony oj?er manere falsly, as increased by
be raueyrD, thefte, or ony o)?er fals defraude ; Ipou. art bouwde to restored -
restore Ipat parcel! of good, jif ]?ou wylt be sauyd. Take Ipis
24 for Ipe ferst inche in J?is handyl of restitucyouw !
aif bou styre obere to synne & to falsnes be bin euyl counseyl, He whonwves
J others to sin,
& art cause of here synne. & brynerest hem in-to synne. bou must induce
them to amend-
muste inducyn hem & styren hem, in-as-myche as }?ou mayst, ment -
28 to amendment,' and jif J>ou avayle hem noujt, pray for hem,
& procure opere to pray for hem & to counseylin & to styrren
hem to ameralement ! ful perylous it is to inducyn & steryn
an-oper to sy?ine, ' quia vix possit restituere ad condignum,'
32 secundum scolam. take Ipis for \>e secundv inche.
200
Damages. Restoration of an Injured Name.
[CH. XXXI.
and man-
slaughter.
Restoration of
an injured
uame.
Payment of ffor be iij. inche. sif bou harme a man in body, maynysthim,
damages for
bodily harms or ober-wyse apeyrist his body, his membre ne his hurt mayst
bou nojt restore, but restore to hym of bi goodes for his harme
after be goodnes of his persoue, & after be qwantyte of his 4
harm), & after be power of bi goodys, bat is for to seyne, bou
muste payen for be expuwsis aboute be curyng of his hurt, &
for his ober harme bat he hath in tyme of his sykenes, &
be-cause he may nojt laboure to gete his lyiflode in tyme of his 8
dysese. & charge bou more, & take hede ber-to, sif he be pore
ban sif he be ryche. eecunduia. scolam distinccio xv.
ffor be iiij. inche. jif bou sle a man be bi fre wyll, his lyif
mayst bou nojt restore, but bou muste pray for him, & do 12
bodyly penauwce for hym, don almes-dede for hym, & susteyne
[Fol. 64 b.] vryih lyiflode his fadyr & modyr & obere of his | next kyn
vp-on bi powere, & euere vn-to bin ende be muste gretly
sorwyn in bin herte for bat dede. 16
ffor be v. inche in be handyl of satysfaccyoun. sif bou 9n
defame 1 an-obgr vnrystfully, bou art bou/idyn to restoryn his
name in-as-myche as is in be, & in bo placys & to bo folk bere
bou defamyst hym ; bere knowe bi-self, & say bat bou lowe 20
vp-on hym, & seydist falsely.
ffor be vj. inche. jif bou slauwdere 2 an-ober ryjtfully, jit art
bou bomzdyn to restoryu his name in-as-myche as bou mayst,
for bou dost dedly synne, & berfore bou owyst to say, bere bou 24
defamyst hym, ' I seyde of hym vnkyndely, vndewly, vngentylly,
vnwysely, folyly, & perylously ; ' but say nojt, ' I lyed on hym
falsly ; ' for bawne lyest bou on bi-self.
ffor be vij. inche. bi felawe defamyth ryjtfully bis man. bou 28
seyst bi felawe lyeth. be bi woord, bi felawe is holdyn a lyere;
bou owyst to restoryn his name on bis manere: 'je men, takyth
non hede to my felawys woordys, for his entent was good, he
wende to haue seyd sooth, & hopyd & beleuyd to haue preuyd 32
his entent, & he was dysseyved. & berfore holdyth hym no
slaunderere ! ' hec scoZa.
1 MS. in margin : ' de diffamact'owe.'
3 MS. in margin : ' de scandalo falso ' (?).
CH. xxxi.] Amends for Partaking of a Theft. 201
ffor be viij. inche. he bat takyth or wyth-holdyth oberes good Restitution of
vnryatfully, is bouwdyn to restoryn it. In many maners oberes ful 'y withheld
from the owner.
good is wytA-holtlyn wrongfully, as be comaundment, whan bou
4 comauwdyst an-ober to take obers good vnryjtfully, or for to
wytA-holdyn hem ; jif it be do be bi comaurcdment, bou art
bouwdyn to restoryn J>o godys. jyf bou jyue counseyl to takyn
or to WT/t/t-holdyn wrongfully oberes good, or to don ony
8 wrong or harm), & be bi counseyl bat wrong is don in-dede,
bou art bouwde to restore be hole, bis is be ix. inche in be
handle of bi restitucyouw.
As for be x. inche, and bou consente expressly, & acorde, bat
12 swyche wrong schal be do, & wytA-outen bin acorde it schulde
nojt be do; jif it be don in-dede be bin acorde, bou art bouwde
to restore be hole harm. ' Consencientem & agentewi par pena
constringit.' ij. qucestio j. ' notuw 1 .'
(JT And jif bat wrong schulde haue be do, bowj bou had nojt
17 consentyd berto, bewne art bou bouwde to restoryn as myche as
was don harme be be or be bine, & as myche as bou haddyst or
spendyst of bo godys. bis is be xi. inche.
20 As for be xij. inche, jif bou flatere or preyse hym bat doth He who en-
wrong, & be bi praysing he is styred & doth bat wrong, bou art offender is
bound to make
bounde to restore be hole wrong bat he doth be bi praysing. good the damage
thus effected.
ffor be xiij. inche. xif bou reseyue a theef wyttyngly, or He who conceals
a thief or things
24 defendyst hym, or kepyst treccherously in prymte stolyn thynges stolen,
or obere thinges falsly get, & be be bat wrong & bat good is
restorydj bou art bounde to restore be hole of bat good.
As for be xiiii. inche, ?if bou be partenere in dede of thefte, or takes part in
any theft,
28 of gouyl, or of ony ober wronges, bat is for to seyne, in
folowynge wyt/i suche doers, in helpyng, defendyng, in strength-
yng, in makyng hem be holders, be hardyere ; bou art bouwde
to restore be hole wrong.
32 5if bou be partynere, but only in be bing bat is stolyn or euyll or shares in the
profit, is bound
get,benne 2 art bou bounde to restoryn only bat parcelt whiche bou to make amends.
toke wyttyngly to bi part, or boujtyst it. bis is be xv. inche.
1 Capituluin 10, causa 2, quaestio I [Corpus Juris Canonici, i. 443].
2 MS. ]fat.
202
Amends to be made for Collusion.
[CH. XXXI.
He who suffers
a theft to be
committed,
[Fol. 65 a.]
or refuses to
give assistance
in discovering
the thine stolen
is bound to
make good the
whole damage.
Any profit de-
rived from a
thing detained
must be re-
stored.
A rich usurer
but for be xvj. inche, $if bou seest thefte be do, & kepyst be JfJ
stylle, & wylt nojt telle, warne, ne speke, whan bou myjt
lettyn it, & art in offyse & in degre in whiche bou art bounde
to publyssch it, & to lettyn it, bawne art bou full bouwdyn to 4
restoryn bat thefte.
ffor Ipe xvij. inche. }if bou, of offyce & of estate, owyst &
mayst wt/t/i-stonde & lette swiche euyft doers, & wylt nojt, | bou
art bouwdyn to restoryn be wrong ; for bou myjtest haue lettyd 8
it, & woldyst nojt.
ffor be xviij. inche. jif bou wytte where stolyn thyng is
wytA-holdyn, & art askyd ber-of, & wylt nojt tellyn it, and of
bin offyse bou were bouwdyn to tellyn it, and bou myjtest tellyn 1 2
it wytA-outen peryle of bi persone or of bin estate, J^ou art
bouude to restore bat thefte in be hole. And bow bou in alle
bise forseyde art bounde in be hole to restore be harme to hym
bat is harmyd, but 3if one of be partynerys restore ]>e hole, alle 16
his obere felawys are delyuered ; but eche of ]?e obere is bouwde,
be eueii) porcyouw bat lougyth to hym-self, to restore to hym
bat restoryd aft be hole, ex dictt's Thowe, ij a . ij e . qucestio Ixj J ;
& scoZa, distinccio xv. 20
ffor be xix. inche. bou schalt no^t only restore bat bou ^
wrongfully hast take, but bou schalt also restore be fruyte & be
profyjte of ]?at thyng bat bou took vnryjtfully. as bus : jif it
be lande or beeste , & be fruyte & Ipe profyjte of bat lande & of 24
beeste in bi tyme.
. ffor be xx. inche. jif bou haue profyjt of goueft, restore be
goueft, but restore nojt ajen be wynnyng ber-of. secundum
scolam vt supra. 28
Mo inches in lengthe of ywre handyl of satysfaccyouw I schal
telle jou an-ober day.
[The Usurer's Church occupied by tJie Devil.]
But I fynde In legenda lumbardica 2 bat bere was a fals Jf
coueytows man, ryche \fyih fals getyn good, wytA gouell & 33
1 Cf. p. 79, note i. 2 MS. in margin : 'narract'o.'
CH. xxxi, xxxn.] Stories of the Usurers Church and of Pope Benedict. 203
raveyn, and vtyth pat good he dyde make a fayr chercTi. f>e founded a
bysschop, in halwyng of ]?at cherche, seyj a feend be-hynde pe
awtere syttyng in a chaire, & seyde to Ipe bysschop : ' whi halwyst But the Devil
4 pou my cherche 1 cese of pin halwyng, for Jris cherche longyth of it,
to me, for it is made wyth my good, -wyih gouel, thefte, raveyn,
mycherye, & fals getyn good.' pe bysschop & pe clerkys
fleddyn awey for dreed, be feend, vfyih a thunder-crakke, and crushed it
to the ground.
8 smote douw pe cherche to pe grourwle.
perfore, restoryth euyl getyn good to ]?e ownerys, & nojt
robbe hem to make Iper-wyth cherchys.
[Pope Benedict damned for Unlawful Alms done for 7n'm.]
C Petrws Damianws tellyth l pat a preest sey} Beneytt pe pope, p pe Benedict
13 deed, rydyng on a blak hors. pe preest seyde, 'art pou
Beneytt ? ' he seyde : ' ja ! I am turmentyd in peyne, for all pe was damned,
. . , . because the
almes pat is done for me, it is of euyl getyn good, whiche. er alms given in
J his behalf had
1 6 I deyid, I bad it schulde haue be restoryd to hem bat awtyn it, been taken from
' ill-gotten goods.
& ellys had I be dampnyd now. but I suffere peyne & sorwe
ynow for here falsnes bat haue nojt fulfylled my wyll. go &
bydde hem restore pat good bat I bad to hem ! & panne saye
20 hem pat pei take of suche an hucche for ]?at is trewly gett,
& do Ipat for me ; for }?at schal helpe me.'
lo now ! restoryth euyll getyn good, & helpyth }ow \ryth
trewly getyn good, for pat bryngeth 5011 fro synne to grace,
34 & fro peyne to blysse ! Ad qwod &c.
C&pitulum xxxij m .
De restitucione.
<2l T7\Eeendys, here-beforn I teld jou pat a schouyl hath iij.
28 -*- party s : a scho, an heued, & an handyl. pe schouyl, I telde
jou, was satysfaccyouw, pe scho per-of is almes-dede, Ipe heuyd
|is prayere, be handytt is restitucyouw. Of almes, prayer, & [Fol. 65b.]
1 MS. in margin : ' narracio."
204 The Usurer's Liability to Restitution. [CH. xxxn.
satysfaccyoun, I haue told 3ow. & of be iij. spawne in lengthe
in be handyll of satysfaccyouw, I haue told jou of xx. inches in
More kinds of lengthe in be handyl of satysfaccyouw. And now I schal telle
restitution.
3ow of mo inches in lengthe of bt's handyft. 4
The usurer is On inche is, sif bou lene mony for gouyli, be muste restore *
bound to repay
interest and be encres bat bou takyst for be lenyng, and ^if bou take beeste
or lande, bou owyst to restore all be profyjt & frute ouer bin
expenses vp-on bat lande or beeste, & restore also be lande 8
& beeste, whawne bou hast vp bin awne. secundum Wilelmum
& glossam 'Rs.ymundi*.
and to make An-ober inche in lengthe of bin handyl is bis: sif bou be
good all other
currant) 'h' & S oue ^ ere lp on ar ^ bouwde to restore to hym bat bou lenyst to 12
debtor. bi good for gouyl, alle be harmys whiche he sufferyth for be
paying & for be hynderyng of bat gouytt ; as bus : jif he selle
his hows, or his land, or ony ober good, for be lesse price, or
ellys borwe monye of an-ober, be gouyl also, for to paye be bi 16
gouyl, secundum Raymundum de vsura 3 , alt bat harm be muste
restore to hym bat hath harme, for bou art cause ber-of.
Things of sus- An-ober inche is bis: sif bou haue a thyng of thefte or
pected origin * '
have to be re- othir-wyse, be whiche bou supposyst was stolyn or falsely get, 20
stored with all
theprpflt de- bou art bouwden to restoryn bat thyng \fyih alle hise profyjtes
bat bou hast takyn, & \vyth alle be profyjtes bat be ownere
schulde haue takyn, jif he had had it, saue bin expensys a-boue
be kepyug and be gaderying of bat thyng. And jif bou 24
suppose bat thyng was no3t stolyn but wel gett, as longe as bou
wenyst so, bou art no3t bouwde to restore be profy3tes ber-of,
jif be profyjtes banne & be fruytes ben wastyd. but als sone
as bou knowyst bat thyng was stolyn, bou muste restore bat 28
bing, & be profy3tes ber-of also bat arn banne redy & no3t
wasted.
if thou take <fi An-ober inche lengthe in bis handyl of satisfaccioun is bis : ^
possession of a &
thing with an ^{f bou takyst a mararys beeste, hors or ony ober beeste, or ony 32
1 MS. in margin : ' vsura restituenda.'
2 Cf. p. 1 8, note 5.
3 This quotation refers to Summa S. Eaymundi, Liber Secundus Titulus
7, De vsuris, on p. 227 of the Roman edition of 1603.
CH. xxxn.] Restitution of a Stolen Beast. 205
othir thyng, nou jt for to stele bat same bing but for to vse bat intention only
to use it,
thyng to bi profy^i, to ryden ber-on, or to werkyn ber-with,
vnwyttyng be ownere, bou art bounde to restore bat thyng ajen
4 to be owenere, & to restore to hym also for be werk of bat thou must pay
for the use.
thyng in bi kepyng, & for be peyrement of bat thyng in be
tyme, & for be harme bat be ownere hath had for be forberyng
of bat bing, secundum R&jmundum.
8 An-ober inche is bis : jif bou haue stolyn an hors or an-ober in restoring a
stolen beast thou
beeste, be muste restore bat asen. aif bou haue do cost ber-on, mayst count the
expenses of
for pasture or for fedyng, or for curyng of ony malady, or for feeding.
norysschyng, & hast no profyjt ber-of, bou mayst settyn on in
12 restitucyouw. bi costes. And aif bou haddyst profyate, be coste
bou haddyst a-boue bi profyate, bou mayst puttyn it on, & taken
it vp to bi-self, as be confessyoun ; but be lawe of dome, neyther
theef ne raueynere schul take vp his costes ne his expensys for no
1 6 besynes but restore hole be thyng & be profyates, and rekenyn
no cost. T-ohannes 1 in c. conti (?) de restitucione (?) questio
lxx a . aif be thyng be werse, when bou restoryst it, ban it was,
whanne bou stole it, be muste restore be peyrement. And jif
20 bat thyng | was more in valewe be comoun prise of be cuntre, [Fol. 66 a.]
whan bou stole it, & is of lesse prise, whanne bou restoryst it,
be muste restore be worth of be hyere pryse ; secundum Ab (?)
super iiij 2 . aif be thyng, aftyr bou hast stolyn it, be deed in bi But if it perish
in thy keeping,
24 tarving. er bou restore it, or be stolyn fro be, or be perysched thou hast to re-
J store the value
or lost, be muste restore be valewe ber-of as it was worthe, it had in its best
condition,
whanne it was in best prise, syth bou stole it. secundum
Jlaymundum. And bothe be theef & be rauenere owyn to aske
28 forjifnesse slely be hem-self, or be an-ober meen) persone, jif it
may be don wytAoute slaundre..
An-ober inche is b*'s : ;if bou beleue or knowe verryly bat He who buies a
. . thing stolen has
a thyng is stollyn or falsely gett, & bou bye it to kepe it to to restore it.
32 bi-selue, or to sellyn it forth, or to jeuyn it an-ober, be muste
restore it, & ellys art bou nojt excusyd, bowj bou alyene it awey
to an-ober, or bowj it pfrysche, or dye, or be stolyn fro be ; ne
1 From the Corpus Juris Canonici ?
2 Reference unknown to me.
206 The Thief's Family Liable to Restitution. [CH. xxxn.
pou mayst aske of pe ownere pe prise pat pou paydyst J)er-fore,
but futt to hym restore Ipe prise pat it was worth, whawne it was
hiest in valewe after pe bying, oute-takyn pi resonable expense.
3if pou vnknowyngly, or for fawte of dyscrecyouw, or of negly- 4
gens, byge a ping pat is stolyn, & afterward pou perceyuyst pat
it was falsly gett, pe rauste restoryn it. jif pou haue do coste in
pe kepyng or in pe amendyng of pat ping pat mayst pou oute-
takyn. pe profyjtes & pe fruytes of pat thyng whiche pou 8
tokyst per-of, er pou knewe pat thyng was stolyn, & it be spendyd
or wastyd, pou art no^t bound e to restore it. but 3if it perysche
after pat pou wost pat it was stolyn, pou muste restore it, & pe
profyjte per-wyth, & Ipe lucre wherby pou art encresyd in ia
ryches. jif pou restore pat thyng to pe ownere, pat pou bou^tyst
wytyngly of stolyn good, pou mayst nojt askyn hym to paye
pe ajen pat bou payedyst per-fore ; but jif pou wystest nojt pat
it was stolyn, panne mayst pou askyn hym ajen pat pou payedyst 16
perfore.
The family and An-ober inche is bis : sif bou be a theef or a rauenere, and (ft
household of a
thief or robber bi wyif & pi meyne knowe it, & etyn & drynken or ober-
have to restore *
what they have -wyse leuyn ber-by, bei are bouwde to restore be valewe of bat 20
spent for their
maintenance, whiche bei expende per-of. jif pou haue oper good be-syde, pat
was nojt getyn be raueyn, ber-by bei mowe leue. jif bei be
mellyd to-gedere, pat it mowe nojt be knowyn a-sunder, bei
mowe lyve ber-by, so pat here entent be for to lyue vtyih bat 24
bat is trewly gett ; but jif here spendyng lette pe, pat pou
mayst no3t restore it, but pou haue no good but of raueyn),
bi wyif & bi meyne muste gete here lyiflode ober-wyse, of here
freendys, or be wirkyng of here owne handys, or ellys be askyng 28
of almes. 3if bei mowe no3t getyn here lyiflode be none of
bise maners forseyde, banne nede hath no lawe, for baraie, in
bat nede, wyif & chyld muste lyue be bi good whiche J>ou hast
falsly get. But be pou ware, bat so falsly getyst pi good, for 3 2
pou art no3t excusyd ! de consecracione distinccio j *. but in
bat nede forseyde, bi wyif & chyld muste sparyngly as hem
1 Part III. of the Decretum Gratiani, de consecratione, distinctio i. ; it
is not explicit which chapter is referred to.
CH. xxxji.] Booty. Persons Exempt from Pillage. 207
nedyth spendyn of pi euyl getyn good & noujt in wast, & alwey
in purpos, when J>ei mowe, to restore. But }if J)ou selle ]>at
thyng ]?at Ipon stole, bi wyif & chyldren & opere mowe lyven
4 be Ipe prise ]>at >ou takyst | for }?e sellyng of \>ai thefte. [Fol. 66 b.]
1T| An-olper inche in lengthe of bis handyl of restitucyovw The booty made
CT in a legitimate
[ is bis 1 1 : att bat bou getyst in rystfutt batayle of bin aduer- war is not sub-
ject to restitu-
sarie, of his helperys, & of his subiettys, tyl bou haue vp full tion until all the
expenses of war
8 \>i cost & bin expensis, & for bin harm, & for ])i trauayle, & for are recovered.
J?i werk, & for att J?in hoste, it is )nn awne, & ]?ou art nojt
bouwde to restore it to ]?in enmye. lawfully profyr hym to
make Je futt amendys for alle pin harmys, xxvij. questio vij.
12 ' Si de rebws 1 ; ' but a-boue ]?i harmys owyst J?ou none to take,
but }>ou restore it ajen, but jif it be of an heretyke or of ony
oTper euyl-doere, & for his euylle dedys his godys be cryed be
Ipe kyng ' haue ok.'
16 An-ober inche in be handyl of restitucyouw is Ipis: Othere Persons whose
property is
subiettys Ipat helpyn no3t here lord in suche vnryjtfutt batayles, exempt from
neythir be counsel ne be fauour, owyn nojt to be spoyled,
robbyd, ne pyled, ne be depriued of here godys. for synnes
20 folowyn here doerys, & it folowyn none otherys. j. questio iiij.
capit, j 2 . no clerkys, no relygyous, no pylgrimes, no mar-
chauwtys goyng ne comyng, no plowmen in here tylthe, ne of
here beestys \>ai tylen, ne of here beestys Jjat beryn here seed to
34 feelde to J>e tylthe to be sowyn, owyn nojt to be spoyled ne
robbyd, & jif J?ei be spoyled, to hem owyth to be restoryd.
extravagantes de treuga et pace, ' Innovamus V ]?ey pat haue
ryjtfull batayle, & in rasydhede, or malyce, or in wodehed, don
28 harme or waste \fyih att here host, whamie be tretyng or coun-
seylyng J?ei my^te haue sped bettere in here trewthe & do
J?e lesse harme ; jmraie here owne harme & J?e harme J>at f>ei
don schulde be estymed & demyd to-gedyr, & att Ipat harme and
32 wast J^at ]?ei don more J?an here aduersaryes dyde to hem, Ipey
muste restore to hem bat haddyn be harme.
1 Capit. 2, causa 23 (not 27), qusestio 7 [Corpus Juris Cahoniei, i. 951].
2 Capit. I, causa i, qusestio 4 [i. 418],
3 Capit. 2, X. de treuga et pace, i. 34 [ii. 203].
208 The Story of the Repenting Usurer. [CH.
Lords are not An-ober inche in be handyl of restitucyoun is bis: he bat
bound to make
up the losses in- ig lord, prince, & gouerncwr, in rystfull batayle is nost bouwde
curred by their
men in a legiti- to restore tyl his men here hors & here barneys whiche bei haue
mate war.
of here aduersaryes, but )if here lord be in defaw^te in reccheles 4
gouernauwce, for be sugettys owyn in ry^tfull batayle for here
lord to auntryn bothe here body & here good.
If Mo inches in lengthe of joure handyl in satysfaccyoun $
I schal telle jou an-ober day. for bow) be scho alraes-dede ^
& be heued prayere be in youre schouyl of satysfaccyouw, but
be handyl berin of restitucyouw be long ynow & large in
ywre, schouyl of satysfaccyouw, it castyth nojt oute spedely be
wose of synne fro be pytt of lustys, bat is, fro joitre fleschly 12
herte.
[The Repenting Usurer. ~\
A usurer in Exauwiple 2 . Cesarius s , a clerk, seyth bat at Parys a ryche J|
man wyth gouyB & fals getyn good wente to mayster Peers, 16
chauntour of Parys, & askyd hym how he my^te be sauyd. be
chauwtour seyde, ' do crye bat bou art redy to restore to alle
made full resti- men!' he dyd so, & restoryd to be ownerys, & com aien to
tution of his ill-
gotten goods, mayster Peers & seyde, ' I haue restoryd alle godys falsly gett 20
[Fol. 67 a.] be my con|scyens.' Mayster Peers seyde, ' Is bere now ony good
lefte to bi-self? ' be man seyde, 'ja, I haue jit good ynow.'
Mayster Peers seyde, ' now, go do bin almes for bi-self, wytA
bin owen good ! ' be man, nakyd saaf his breche, wente euery 24
and the rest of strete in be cyte, & )af almes, & bete him-self vfyih a ijerde
his fortune he
spent in giving crying to be peple : ' lo je folk ! seeth me now wrecchyd, whom
{tiros*
lordys haue worschepyd here be-fore for my muk ! restoryth
^oure fals getyn good, & beth ware be me ! ' 28
Lo, he hadde skeet, skauel, & schouyl, bat is, sorwe, schvyfte,
& satysfaccyouw, & [be] handyl of restitucyou?i in his schouyl
of satysfaccyouw was long & large ynow ; he keste wel out be
Take example wose of coueytise. takyth exaumple of hym ! restoryth first 3 2
by him !
}oure dettys & joure wronges to hem & for hem bat haddyn
1 Mistaken for harmys 1 } Of. p. 210, 13.
a MS. in margin : ' narrercio.' 3 MS. telly th crossed.
CH. xxxn.] The Story of the Usurer devoured ly Frogs. 209
be harme, & barme aeuyth almes of soure owne trewe good for First make
restitution, and
spure synnes ! ' Date elemosinawi & onmia mimda sunt vobis . then give alms !
aeuyth almes in bis manere, & alle synnes in a.ow schal be
4 clensyd out !
[The Usurer devoured by Frogs. ,]
(& Cesarius, a clerk, tellyth 2 : At colonye a ryche man wyih A usurer pro-
posed to give
fals gotyn good seyde to a preest bat he wolde jyue aft bat aims of his m-
8 he had falsely gett to pore folk, be preest seyde, ' nay,' but
bad hym restore it to be ownerys. be man seyde, ' nay.' be
preest, bawne, bad hym takyn euery day bat almes bat poore His father con-
fessor bade him
folk schulde haue of his euyl getyn good, & putte it in a coffere, put the alms
' into a coffer.
12 tyl it were fuft. be man dyd so as be preest bad hym in confes-
siouw. manye dayes after he openyd his cofere in presence
of his confessowr, & fonde ber-in as manye frowdys as he putt There, one day,
he found it all
ber-in almessis. be preest seyde, ' here bou seest how almes of turned into
16 euyl getyn good plesyth god ! ' bat man seyde, 'I schal restoryn
yclie man his.' he dyd so, & seyde to be preest : 'As I in raueyn Moved by re-
pentance,
haue pelyd, vexid, & turmentyd, pore & ryche, & be almes of
here good in bis coffre is turnyd to frowdys ; syth I falsly haue
20 deuouryd be peple of here good, berfore bise frowdys schal
deuowre my body qwyk.' he sterte nakyd in-to be coffere to be he threw him-
self into the
frowdys, and be preest, at his prayere, schett be coffere, & bare chest,
wyth him be keye. be next day be preest coin) ajen, & openyd
24 be cofere, & fonde ber-in ryat nouat but be mannys bonys, for and was de-
voured by the
alle be frowdys & aft his flesch was go. his bonys were beryid frogs.
in be porche of seynt Gereonys 3 ; be vertew of whiche bonys
no frowde bere may abyde.
28 Re&toryth joure wrongys & aowre dettys vfyih be handyl of
restitucyouw ! doth almes-dede, & prayeth faste for be scho & be
heued in soure schouyl of satysfaccyouw ! and bus castyth out
be wose of synne, as bis man dyde. and baraie schal je be clene
32 in grace & bryjt in ioye in soure ende. To bat ioye, &c.
1 Luke xi. 41. a MS. in margin : 'narracto.'
3 Csesarius has : in ecclesia sancti Gereonis Martyris. Of. Csesarius
Heisterbacensis, ed. J. Strange, I. p. ic6.
P
210 War Indemnity. [CH. xxxm.
Ca/pitulum xxxiij m .
De restitucione.
F 1
\B-endys, be ober day I teld 3ou of restitucyoun, how it is <2>
be handyl of be schouyl of satysfaccyoun., and manye inches 4
[Fol. 67 b.] in lengthe | berof I telde 3ow. & now I schal telle jow mo
More cases of inches berof in lengthe, bat be handyl of restitucyouw, be noat
restitution.
to schort but bat it be long ynow & large, spedyly to schouele
out be wose of syraie. 8
be firste inche in lengthe 1 of bis handyll of restitucyoun,
He who begins as for bis tyme, is bis : he bat meuyth vnryatfully batayle
an illegitimate
war is bound to j s bouride to restore afi be hannys whiche he or hys host doth
pay damages to
friend and foe. to hi s aduersaryes, & to here men & to his owne men he owe to ia
restore be harmys bat bey haue of here aduersaryes in hys vnry}t-
fuft cause, jif his men wendyn b,at he hadde ry3t ; but jif bei sup-
posyd Ipai he hadde no ryjt, bei schul stondyn to here owne harme
wytA-oute re&titucyouri, but }if bei be coactyd ber-to be dreed. 16
A subject who An-ober inche of lengthe in be handyl of restitucyoun is, jyf %
command of his bou subiecte vnder bi lord, be hys byddyng, meue ryjtfutt
lord, is not liable
to pay damages, batayle, bou art nost 2 bouwdyn to restore be harmys bat bou
unless the war
be illegitimate, doost to his aduersaries, but bi lord byd be, or ellys but bin ao
entent be corrupte & fals ; but jif be batayle be vnryjtful, bou
art bourz.de to restore ; for bou art bounde more to drede god
ban bi lord. 3if bou dow3te wheber be batayle is ry3tfutt or
nou3t, bou aii excusid be bi lord, jif bou be his subiecte ; but 34
}if bou be his felowe, his freend, or his kywnes-man, bou art
no3t excused, ne owyst no3t to fy3te for bi lord, tyl bou knowe
be truthe.
A clergyman An-ober inche is bis: a clerk, in ryatfuft batayle wyth his 28
may accept a
portion of the lorde, 3if him be 3ouyn pylage of hym bat ry3tfully my3te 3euyn
epyn it ; but be clerk, 3if he take suche
batayle as an-ober temperaK man, bat clerk synneth,
& be penaunce owith to restore it, 3if he may, to hym bat he 3 2
hadde it of, 3if he knowe hym, & may do it wytA-oute peryle of
1 MS. in margin : ' firste inche in lenghe.' a Added in margin.
CH. xxxni.] Alienation of Church Property, fyc. 211
hym-self, & ellys he owyth to 3eue it to pore folk. f>e skyl is
bis : f>e lord may }eue his clerk no leue to fy$te ; Ry}t so he
may jeue him no leue to pyllen & stele ; but be J>e graumt of
4 his lord, whil be werre duryth, he may kepe stylle bat pyllage,
for duryng be tyme of be werre he holdyth pat pyllage as of
his lordys gyfte.
An-oper inche is bis : aif bou bygge pyllage pat is get in The purchaser
of things cap-
8 rystfun batayle, wyttyng bat be batayle is rystfuft, bou art tured is not
bound to restore
nojt bouwde to restore. In summa. coniessoris, Regul& de bello 1 . them,
but prelatys & clerkys bat jyuen holy cherclie-good to strum- Prelates who
pettys, juggelourys, or to here fleschly kynrede, nouat to releue church-property
for the benefit of
1 2 hem in nede but to makyn hew ryche ; or to jyue holy chercfi- their relatives,
good to ryche men & grete, nojt for honeste cause & leeffuft but or in bribery,
for fauour of pe world, or for to be mayntenyd in synne & fals-
nesse ; bei be thevys, for bei stelyn awey fro be poore folk Je
16 godys of holy chercK, wherwyth bei schulde be releuyd, and
jyuen bo ]?ere no nede is. And ]?erfore bei be boundyn to are bound to
. ft. ,. make amends to
restore to pe poore pat pei so vnleenully dyspose fro hem. the poor.
An-ober inche is bis : suche lucre as bou getyst at be hasard Gambling
profits to be
ao & at be dyse be muste restore, (secundum Ricardum 2 , di- restored.
tinccio xv a .
| An-o]?er inche is ]?is 3 : jif bou fynde a thyng >at is no3t bin, [Fol. 68 a.]
"pe muste restore it, jif bou knowe to whom. $if ]?ou knowe Things found
must be re-
24 no}t to whom, pe muste enqwere. And 511 pou mowe nojt stored,
wytte, delyuere it to }>e lord of J>e frauwchyse 4 . xiiij. questio v. or deposited.
' Si qwid inuenisti & now reddidisti, hoc rapuisti s ; ' & secundum
Ricarc?wm, vbi supra.
^ An-ojjer inche is pis: }if ]?ou, for gret prayere of pi byggere, For a thing sold
,, . . , at the instance
29 sellyn hym thy thyng, pe whiche pou woldyst nojt els sellyn ofthepurciiaser
hym but for his prayere, be-cause it were harme to ]?e to forbere
1 This is only a conjectural transcription of the MS.'s contractions.
R might mean a name, but Raymond (cf. p. 18, note 5) has no such title,
nor passage.
2 Cf. p. 52, note 3.
3 Some words of the preceding paragraph repeated and crossed in MS.
4 MS. in margin : ' nofo.'
5 Capit. 6, causa 14, quaestio 5 [Corpus Juris Canonici I. 739].
P 2
212
Sale of Defective Goods, fyc.
[CH. XXXIII.
you may charge
more than the
market-price,
otherwise you
must restore
what you have
overcharged.
The sellers of
adulterated
or defective
goods
are liable to
restitution.
He who buys
up victuals
in order to en-
hance their
price, is bound
to restore his
profit to the
poor.
Restitution to
be made imme-
diately.
it ; pawne mayst pou sellyn it hym derere pan pe comoun prise
goth in markett. & but it be for J>is cause, pou owyst to sellyn
it hym no derere pan pou mayst haue perfore in markett. And
^if pou selle hym derere pan pe markett prise, pou owyst to 4
restore it.
An-oper inche in pe handyl of restitucyouw is pis : ^if pou
selle 1 copyr for gold, wyne medlyd wyth watyr for wyn, or
makyst ony oper suche fals dysseyjtys, pe muste restore, }if 8
pou dysseyue opere wyth aunserys, wey^tis, or mesurys, pou art
bouwdyn to restore in peyne of dampnacyouw. ^if pou selle a
seek beeste for an heyle, pe muste restore, jif pou selle ony
beeste or ony oper thyng pat hath ony pryve defawte, pe muste 12
warne pe byggere per-of, & ellys abate pe prise in-as-myche as
pe thyng is pe werse for \>at defaute, or ellys ]?e muste restore
Ipe byggere his harme. jif f>ou selle a crokyd hors for a clene,
a ruynows hows for trust hows, mete & drynk corrupte for heyl 16
mete, ]?e muste restore it. Vt dicz't Thomas, ij a . ij e . c\uestio
Ixxvij. 2 Sellers ]?at be-cause of dysseyjte apeyrin here chaffare,
or wyttyngly lyen & sweryn, )>ei synnen dedly and owyn to
restoryn. jif }?ou for coueytise bygge lyiflode or o]?ere thynges 20
o tyme, ]?at Ipou myjte sellen hem J)e derere an-o]?er tyme, & for
non olper skyl, ne for non olper mede ne profyjt ; or ellys gadryst
to-gedere corn or vytayles for to makyn a derthe, & ]?at )?e
poore peple schulde nedys bygge of Ipe at ]n prise be J?i lust, 24
Ipou synnest horrybely, & art bouwde to restore to Ipe poore
peple ]5at ]?ou getyst be Ipi fals beying. glcssa dicit : ' con-
silium esse now necessitatwr.'
Whanne pou art bouwde to restore, ]>e muste restore as sone 28
as pou mayst, or aske leue to abyden of hym pat may jeue leue.
secundum Thomom, ij a . ij e . questio Ixij.
pis day & opere dayes as here be-forn, I haue told 3ou of pe
handyl of restitucyouw how manye inche it is long, perfore, 3 2
pis handyl of restitucyou/i, & pe scho of almes, & pe heued of
prayere, takyth & holdyth in %oure schouett of satisfaccyouw, to
schouele out pe wose of %oure syraie! ffor J>ow3 almes be pe
1 MS. in margin : ' not& de ernpcione.' J Cf. p. 79, note i.
CH. xxxiii.] The Story of the Corruptible Judge. 213
scho & prayer* be heued in bi schouyl of satysfaccyouw, sif be Restitution an
indispensable
handyl of restitucyoun fayle, bi schouele is vnspedefuft to castyn P. art f satisfac-
out be wose of bi synne.
4 [The Judge bribed with an Ox and a Cow^]
J3 Exaumple 1 . A man had a gret cause to be demyd & sped in a lawsuit, one
of the opponents
a-forn a gret iuge. be man 5af to be iuge a gret oxe to helpyn bribed thejudge
J e r J with an ox, the
hym in his cause, be juge hyjte hym to helpyn hym. his th r f?^ 6 w
8 aduersarye herde here-of, & jaf | to be wyif of be juge a fayr Wlfe -
cow to helpyn hym in be same cause ajens be ober man bat jaf
be oxe to here hushonde. Sche prayed so ofte to here husbonde
for bat man bat jaf here be cowe, bat here husbowde behyjte
12 here helpe. be day of be doom com), bise two men stryved
in here causes & pletedyn. be iuge seyde no woord vryth hym
bat aaf be oxe, but sate stylle, & lete hym hawe aft his wyll bat He who had
given the cow
3afe be cowe to his wyif. banne seyde be man to be juge, bat won the case.
16 jaf him be oxe, 'bou oxe, speke for me as bou hyjtest me!'
be iuge seyde ajen to hym, 'be oxe may nojt speke, for be 'The ox "could
cowe wyl noat sufferyn hym : ' for be wyif hadde be cowe, & cause the'cow
would not let
lettyd here husbonde, bat hadde be oxe, bat he was stylle nim ''
20 & spak noujt.
Eyjt so it faryth sumtyme in grete men bat haue of offyse to
deme ryjtfully in causys. jif bere come a pore man to hem
wytA a trewe cause, & profere hem to be bedeman for euere,
3 4 jif bei helpe hem in here trewe causes & in here ry3t, for whiche
helpe in here ryght be iuges schulde haue reward in heuen)
myche betere ban an oxe ; be iuge, bat is, here resoun, assentyth
berto to haldyn ber-wytA. but wharaie be aduersarye of be
28 pore man, bat is, whan a ryche man coinyth, & proferyth to
be wyif of be iuge bat hattyth coueytise & wordely lucre, bat
is, be lesse reward, for be cowe as be cowe is lesse in valew
ban be oxe, so tempera!! lucre is lesse ban be lucre of heueii)
32 banne be wyif, coueytise, lettyth so resouw, here husbonde So is judgement
sometimes ham-
weddyd & knytt to here, bat resouw spekyth nost wyth be pered by covet-
ousness,
1 MS. in margin : ' narracfo.' Farther below : ' indicium falsuwi.'
214 A Knight tormented for his Ill-gotten Goods. [CH. xxxm.
poore mewuys cause; for he may nojt speke for pe cowe, pat
is, for pe lucre pat his wyif, coueytise, hath takyn. And so
resouw sufferyth his wyif, pat is, his subiecte coueytise, to
that it decides spedyn in causes of falsnesse in ryche men, & kepyth hym 4
in favour of the
rich man. stylle, & spekyth nojt in trewe causes of pore men, no he wyl
nojt restore pe lucre pat he takyth in his falsnesse, ne pe
harme pat he doth to pe pore, but be ware pou pat doost pus
of pin ende ! 8
[A Knight tormented for his Ill-gotten Goods.]
FreSenca* 116 * 1 Exaumple \ CesaritAs seyth pat a knyjt klepyd ffrederyk (
otizen to a ^ ee( ^ a PP er y^ * a burgeys of a cyte on a blak stede, & out of
pe knyjtes nose com) smoke, & flawimys, & fyir \ryih brimston. 12
pe knyjt was clad wyth schepe-skyraies, & bar in his necke an
and said that he huge weyste of erthe. & he seyde to be burgeys : ' bis hors
was tormented
in Hell, p a t beryth me is a feend, J?at turmentyth me, & beryth me to
peyne of helle; for I dyed & made no restitucyoun of my 16
wrongys. I was schreuyn & was sory for my synne, but I
because he had wolde nost restore be harmys bat I dyde. & berfore I am
not made resti-
tU tte" ^ S iU ~ dampnyd. pise schepysskynnes wyth whiche I am wryed were
scheep pat I took wrongfully of a wydewe, wytA whiche pat 20
I am. brent, pe erthe pat I bere was lond pat I falsely gatt & Jf
falsely purchased, pe whiche me peyneth in heuy weyjte of
beryng. pow3 alle levis of treen, euery gresse on erthe, euery
droppe of watyr in pe se & land, & euery ston smal & gret 24
weryn dyuerse tungys, pei alle to-gedyr my3te nojt tellyn pe
[Pol. 69 a.] peyne pat I suffere, & schal | sufferyn wytA-outyn ende ! ' His
sonys herdyn of pis peyne pat here fadyr hadde, & keptyn
stylle pat lond, and nojt woldyn restoryn it to pe heyris. what 28
feft of hem in here ende, pus a clerk tellyth, Petrus Damianus :
[The Punishment of his Heirs.]
wasTeen^a 11 * ^ n ^heutonia was an erl of good name & of good condy- (>
cyouws, as be pe voys of pe peple. he deyid. A relygious 32
man seyj in his spiryte in helle syttynge on pe ouer-ende of
1 MS. in margin : ' narracto.'
CH. xxxm.] Punishment of the Usurpers Heirs. 215
a laddere bat erle : which leddere stood in be pytt of helle in- to sit on the
upper end of a
myddes of fyir-flammys stynkynge wyih brymston wellyng ladder in the pit
or 1 1 < * J 1.
& brennyng, & sethyng metaft. be relygyous askyd be auwgyl
4 bat led hym, whi bat good erle, bat was so good a lyuere, was
so peyned in helle ? be auwgyl seyde : ' for on of his forn- An angel told
r J the monk that
faderys took a possessions fro holy cherche falsely. & neuere the count and
his ascendants
restoryd it ajen, & berfore he sytteth on be netherest stake of ^^^^j^,.
8 bis ladders in helle in be most peyne; for he was be first h^not re^ored
ground of bat wrong, on icli of bise eyjte stakys a-bouyn
hym on be laddere sytten dyuerse soulys of his successouris bat
weryn heyris after him. iche was heyr after ober, & non of
12 hem wolde restoryn bat possessions, but seydin bei wolde kepe
bat lond as here fornfaderys hadde don. and berfore iche of
hem sytteth a-bouyn ober on bis leddere on dyuers stakys. And
bis erle is of bat blood in be tenthe degre, heyr fro hym bat
1 6 began bat wrong, and for he wolde nojt restore, he is sett on
be tenthe stake. & as bey deyin of bat kynrede, one heyr
after an-ober, bei schul be sett on bis ledder, & bis laddere
schal be lengthyd ber-aftyr, tyl be possession?* is restoryd
20 ajen.'
Be ware 30 bat takyn ony suche good falsely, & jerne re-
storyth it, er je schul be be ground of bis laddere in helle,
be-cause je be begynners of bat wrong ! And je bat heldyn
24 forth swiche fals getyn good, & vsen forth suche false vsagys
ajens holy cherche! for bowj a tyrauwt began bat wrong or AH usurpers and
their descend-
an-ober mys-ouerledere, se alle bat takyn ensauwple of hym, ants shall be
punished in
or couwseyle to holde forth suche false customys a3en holy Hell.
28 chercK-ryjt, & wyl nojt restoryn it be techyng of goddys
woord, je schul be sette on bis laddere in helle & alle bo, heyr
after heyr, man after man, bat kepyn & stylle bat good & pos-
sessiouws bat falsely is gett of temperalte or sptVttfualte, of dede
32 or of qwyke, & wyllen kepyn it furthe as here forn-faderys
haue don, wyttynge bat it were vnryjtfully gett, and wyft nojt
restoryn it. Takyth hede berfore to bis tale 1 , ryche & pore,
1 MS. in margin : ' nofa bene.'
216
The Five Senses are the Watergates of the Pit. [CH. xxxm, xxxiv.
]?at getyn falsly joure good in thefte, in mycherye, in false
marchaurzdyse, in halyday chaffaryng, in false othys, in false
mesurys, in false aur&serys, in fals tythyng, in raueyn, or in
o]>er wyse vnryjtfully, as false seruauwtys, false labourerys, 4
false men of here crafte, bat desemyn nojt here hyre : je alle
j?at ben in ony of bise poyntes, jerne restoryth, bat 30 mo we be
sauyd fro J>is laddere of helle to be blysse of heuefi) ! to whiche
blysse, &C 1 . 8
[Pol. 60 b.]
The ' Pit of
Lusts,' your
body, is now
cleansed
with the scoop
of penance,
the skeet of con-
trition,
the skavel of
confession,
and the shovel
of satisfaction.
Now, the water-
gates, your five
senses, must be
stopped to pre-
vent curse and
sin from return-
ing into the pit.
C&pitulum xxxiiij 01 .
De qimiqite sensibus corporis.
FReendys, here beforu I telde jow of a pytt of lustys, bat is, ^ct
joure body, & of corrupte watyr in yyure pyt, bat is, be 12
sentence of be grete curse, & of a scope to caste oute vryih
be watyr of cursyng, which" scope is penavmce. I haue told jow
also of be wose in jowre pytt, bat is, alle be vij. dedly synnes.
I telde 3ow also of a skete, bat is, contricyoim, to castyn out 16
\ryth be nesch wose of synne, & of a scauel, bat is, confessyouw,
for to caste out wyih be hardere wose of sy.ne. I teld 3ou
of a schouel, bat is, satysfaccyouw, to caste out ber-wytA be
crommys of ]>e wose of joure synne. berfore, \fyih be scope of ao
penauwce caste out clene pe watyr of be grete curse ! & vfyih
be skete of contrycyouw, wytA be scauel of confessiouw, and
vrylh be schouytt of satysfaccyouw, caste out clene be wose of
dedly synne! 24
And for bis day werk vs muste stoppyn be watyr-gatys
of oure pytt, bat be watyr of curse & ]?e wose of dedly synne
renne nojt 83011 in-to oure pytt. ffor ^if 3oure pyt in his entrees
be stylle opyn & vnstoppyd, J>e corrupte watyr of curse & be 28
depe wose of synne rennyth in a3en, and so joure pytt first
1 A few lines' space is left at the bottom of this column as if to mark
the beginning of a new section of the work.
CH. xxxiv.] Sight. Hearing, 217
is depe, & after-ward wexith deppere. ' Abbissus abbissum
inuocat' 1 . perfore, pe v. watyr-gatys of joure pytt am %oure
v. bodyly wyttes 2 , as crisostom seyth, super Mat. in imper/ec<o,
4 omilia, xxxiiij. pe v. entrees of pi body arn pese s : to se, to
here, to swelewe, to smelle, to fele. }nse ben pe v. watj/r-gatys,
J>e fyve entrees wherby watyr of curse & wose of synne entryn
ajen in-to J>i pytt of lustys, but }jei be stoppyd. Jere 4 , ' Mors
8 intrauit per fenestras vestr&s.'
J?e first watyr-gate is pi syjte 5 . when pou openyst J?in eyjne SIGHT.
to se vanytes, iapys, or wommen, for synne, or opere dyshonest
membrys to stere pe to sywne, or to se opere thynges to stere
1 2 J?e to lustys, to coueytise, or to opere vyces ; pawne mayst ]?ou
say pus : myn eyje has robbyd my soule of his lyif with watyr
of lustys. In tre. 6 , ' Ocwlus meus depredatw* est animam meam.'
Jjerfore stoppe J>is watyr-gate, )?in eyje, wyih wepyng terys. for
16 Abuile seyth, whitl wepynge terys come dourz. be J?i chekys, it
gon vp to god, & askyn mercy. Spere pi sy3t fro vanytees & fro Shut your eyes
to vanity, and
pe feend, & opene pis gate of J>in ey3e to god, & se his wonderfuu behold the
works of (ji od !
werkys ! se folke dye, se }je sacrament of pe awtere, se goodnes
20 pat may stere pe to heuynes of sorwe, and att pis schal stoppe
J?e gate of Ip'i syjt, J?at watyr of wyckydnes & wose of sywne
schal nojt entryn to pi soule be pin eyje. & pray to god pus :
lord stoppe myn eyjen pat J?ei se no vanytes. Ps. 7 ' Auerte
24 oculos meos ne videant vanitatem ! '
pe eecunde watyr-gate of J?i pytt is J?in heryng 8 . whanne HEARING,
pou openyst Jrin erys to here flatereris, or lyerys, bacbyterys, or
rybaudye, & opere suche woordys of dyshoneste, J^awne be fe
28 gate of pin erys entryth ajen in-to |?i pytt ]?e watyr & J?e wose stop your ears
of wyckydnes. )?erfore stoppe pis gate of ]?in erys fro Ipe feend fla 116 ^' and
& fro synne, & open) it to god, to heryn his woord, to heryn Q^ " 1 f
his | seruyse, to heryn )?e voys of )?e poore, to heryn goodnesse ! [Fol. 70 a.]
1 Ps. xli. (xlii.) 8.
2 MS. in margin: 'amme qwinque aquosesunt soil. (?) sewstw corpor&les.'
s MS. in margin : ' sensus corporales.'
4 Jer. ix. 3i. 8 MS. in margin: ' i. sensus viss.'
6 Lament, iii. 51. 7 Ps. cxviii. (cxix.) 37.
8 MS. in margin : ' 2. Auditus.'
218
Taste. Smelling. Example of the Palm-buds.
[en.
TASTE.
Abstain from
delicacies !
SMELLING.
l)o not delight
in sweet odours,
but think of the
vileness of your
birth and death !
secundum Abuyle : stoppe pine erys wytA thornys, pat is, wyth
heryng of scharpe repreuynges & of scharpe techynges, wytA
heryng of pe dredefutt dome & of pe dredfutt peyne in helle
& of pe dredfull deth, wyth heryng of alle pise stoppe pi watyr- 4
gate of pin erys, & pe watyr of wykydnes & pe wose of symie
schal nojt entryn in-to pi pytt be pin heryng !
pe iij. gate of pi pytt is tastyng or swelwyng *. whanne J>ou ^
tastyst & swelwyst swete & delycate metys & drynkes, v/yth 8
a frequent delyjt and wytA gredynes as a beste in excesse &
in wast, panne entryth ajen watyr & wose of wyckednesse & of
synne be pe gate of pi swelwyng. perfore echette, spere, stoppe,
pis gate to pe feend, and open) it to god, wytA abstynence fro 12
delycacyes & fro exces, \vyth harde metys & drynkes ! and pis
schal stoppyn out pe watyr & pe wose of synne fro pi swelwyng.
secundum Abuile.
pe iiij. watyr-gate of pi pytt is smellyng 2 . whanne pou hast 16
gret delyjt to smellyn dyshoneste in leccherye & synne, to sterc
pe pe more to euyft, or to smelle swete herbys, swete spyces, or
o]?ere suche swete thynges, for pat entent to stere J>e to lustys
& to vyces of J?e fleseh, pawne entryth be ]?at watyr-gate of 20
J?i smellyng watyr & wose of synne into pi pytt ajen. perfore
stoppe pe gate of pi nase in thynkynge how foul pou were in
]n concepcyoun and in pi berthe ! what art pou in pi flesct ?
stynche & dunge ! what schalt pou be in pi graue ? stynkynge 24
frowdys-mete ! wyth pis stynche, stoppe smellyng of pi nase !
[The Rotten Palm-buds^
Exaumple s . A good man clepyd Arseniw* took burgeonys ^
smeiUngthe o f palmy s, & putte hem in watyr, tyl pei were rotyn, & panne 28
paim-buds. h e sme Hy(l perto wytA his nase, pat he schulde fele pe stynche
of hem in-stede of pe swete smellys pat he hadde dely3t in
a-fore tyme.
1 MS. in margin : ' 3* ianua gustua.'
3 MS. in margin : ' noia bene.'
3 MS. in margin : ' Exewp/um boum.'
CH. xxxiv.] Example of the Sweet-heart'* Corpse. Feeling. 219
Body of the Sweet-heart used as a Remedy against
Temptation^]
In vitis patrum. ' I rede bat a frere, smellyng swete onde A friar delighted
in a woman's
4 & breth in kyssyng of a womman, was temptyd sore to lust kisses.
of here, sche dyed, be frere on a nyst toke here body out of be when she died,
he took her body
graue, and kepte be body prmely in bis selle, tyl sche stanke. as into his cell in
order to over-
ofte as he was temptyd, he smellyd to here body, & be be stynche come his passion.
8 of here be lust of here swete breth was stoppyd fro his smellyng.
Ryjt so, smelle bou what cometh of be, stynche & fylthe.
be swettere mete & dryiike bou vsest, be foulere stynche comyth
fro be. Ryjt so, be more delyjt bou hast to smellyn swete
12 thynges, be tnore stynkyng watyr & wose of synne entryth
in-to bi pytt. Smelle how stynkyng bou art, bou were, & bou
schalt be, and bawne stoppyst bou out be wata/r of lustys fro
bi smellyng !
jjj be v. watyr-gate of bi pytt is bi felyng 2 . whawne bou felyst PEELING.
ij or towchyst wyth mowth in kyssyng, wyth hand in gropyng,
& wyth ony membre of bi body in towchyng bat steryn be to
sywne & luste, banne entreth be be gate of bi felyng in-to
20 bi pytt be w&tyr & wose of wykkydnesse. berfore spere, schette,
& stoppe, | bis watyr-gate of bi felyng, secundum Abuyle, wyth [Fol. 70 b.]
scharpe hayre next bi body nakyd, bothe lyggyng & goyng, Mortify your
and bat schal stoppyn out of be pytt of bi flescli be watyr clothing !
24 of lustys & be wose of synne ! berfore seyth cn'sostom) in
imperfecto, omtlia li. a Spere & stoppe alle bi v. watwr-gatys 3 . 'Keep your five
senses from un-
bi syjt, bin heryng, bi swelwyng, bi smellyng, bi felyng, wytA cleanness,
clermes & goodnes, & bewne watyr of wyckydnes may nojt entre.
C5 ffigwra Ysa. xxxix. 4 ' Eruwt quinque ciuitates in terra egipti
29 loquentes lingua chanaan.' ffyve cytees schal be in be lond of
thirknes spekyng wyth a chauwgyng tunge 6 . bis is for to saye,
ffyve citees schal be in the therk body of man, bat arn be v.
1 MS. in margin : ' narracio.' 2 MS. in margin : ' /act.'
3 MS. in margin : ' note bene.' * Isai. xix. 18.
5 MS. in margin: 'qwinque ciuitates in terra egipti interpretantr (?)
per 5 sensM.'
220
Purification of the Senses.
[CH. XXXIV,
and then your
eye
will weep,
your ear
will be intent
on holy teach-
ing, your mouth
will pray,
your nose will
avoid tempting
odours,
nnd your body
will be chaste !
bodyly wyttes, whiche schal spekyn vfyth a chavwgyd tunge,
whawne bei be stoppyd futt of cleraies, bat watyr & wose of
lustys & of syrnie may nojt entryn be hem. as bus : bin ey}e,
bat spak before lecherous lokynges, afterward stoppyd vtyih 4
clennes spekyth wepyng teerys. ]?in erys, bat first spak dys-
honest herynges of bacbytyng, flateryng, lesynges, & rybaudrye,
afterward stoppyd vfyih clennes Ipe'i spekyn herywg of goodnes,
of goddys woord, of holy techynges. bi mowth l & bi swelwyng, 8
bat ferst spak exces of slaimdere, of othys, of dyspysynges,
lesynges, waryinges, rybaudrye, & exces of delycacyes in metys
and drynkes, whawne pis mowth is stoppyd wytA goodnes,
bawne it spekyth prayerys, gode woordys, & trewthe. bi nase 2 , 1 2
bat spake ferst lykerous & swete smellyng, stoppe wyih clewnes,
& it schal speke stynche & peynefuft odoure to avoyde out lustys
of bi flescn. bi felyng, bat ferst spak lustys of lecchery, of
mychery, & thefte, stoppe it wytA clennes, & it schal speke 16
chastyte, almes-dede, restitucyouw, & scharpnesse of bodyly
penaunce. hcec Abuile. berfore, be woordys of Isay xxxiij."
Spere bin eyin bat bei se non euyll, stoppe bin erys bat bei $
here no slauridre of oper mennys sywne, schette bi mowth bat 20
bou speke non harme ne swelowe nojt exces, stoppe bi nase bat
bou smelle no-thyng steryng be to synne, schette bin handys
fro mycherye & thefte, fro wrongful! getyng of good, fro foule
towchynges & gropynges of dyshoneste, & bawne bise v. cytees, 24
bat is, bi v. wyttes, bat ferst spekyn euytt, whil bei were
diffowlyd vfyih watyr & wose of sywne, stoppe hem ~wyih clennes,
& bei schal spekyn as a chauwgyd tunge. for bei schal be
chauwgyd fro sywne to grace, fro euyl to goodnes ! 28
There was a
king
[The King who never laughed.^
Example de dono timoris*. A kyng euere in herte was
heuy. his eyje was turnyd fro vanytees, his heryug, his swel-
1 MS. in margin : ' OB.' 2 MS. in margin : '
3 leai. xxxiii. 15 (?). MS. in margin : 'note 6ene.'
4 MS. in margin : ' narracio.'
The Story of the King who never Laughed. 221
wyng, his smellyng, & his felyng, were stoppyd wyih good
gouernaunce fro ]>e waiyr of curse & fro be wose of dedly synne.
he neuere leyghed, ne made merthe. he made a feste to alle his who never
laughed.
A lordys & gentlys. in bat feste he sate stylle in sadnes, & made At a f ^* iv , a1 -,
one of his lords
no chere to his lordys, but was aft pensyif & heuy. Oon of his j^as^ver*^
lordys, bat best durste spekyn, askyd hym why he was euere so jj^ead'of an^ d '
heuy of chere, wytA-oute gladnes. be kyng jaf non answere, q^IJticm, the
g but in schort tyme after, be kyng dyde dyjten a chayere wyih
rotyn feet, & it was sett ouer a pytt | fuft of brennyng fyire. [Pol. 71 a.]
a-boue be chayere was hangyng a swerd be a smal threed, be
poynt downwards, be kyng dyde bis lord be sett in bis chayere. ordered the lord
to be placed on
I2 bat repraiyd hym of his heuynesse, and dyde iiii. men wyih iiii. a chair standing
J over a pit of fire,
swerdys drawyn standyn a-boutyn hym settynge, be poyntes of wnile a swo r d .
here swerdys to his breest, ajens his herte, pon a-forn hym,
an-ober be-hyndyn hym, & oon on eythir syde of him. be kyng a
jg dyd settyn a-forn hym aft delycacyes of mete & drynk, & dyde neither eat nor
schewyn a-forn hym aft melodye of menstralsye. he sate stylle sorely afraid. as
heuyly & eete nojt. be kyng bad him Iey3hen, & be merye,
& etyn. be lord seyde, ' I may make no merthe for drede of
20 my deth. 1 may nojt ete for sorwe ; for I se peryles of my deth
a-boue me, & be-nethe me, & on iche syde of me.' be kyng Then, the king
6 told him that
seyde : ' bou repreuedyst me for I am euere sory & pensyif. my his own reason
J for being sad
skyl is bis ! I am be-set al aboute wyih grettere peryles ban was stl11 more
2 , bou seest aboute be. my chayere is my body of speer brotyl
& rotyn bonys, in whiche my soule sytteth. be-nethe is be pytt
of helle brennyng wyih fyir redy to brenne me, whanne my for his soul was
J J threatened with
soule partyth fro my body, pat is frele & brotyl. A-boue me the pains of
28 hangyth be swerd of be wreche of god redy to smyte me.
be-hynde me folowyn my syraies redy to accuse me. a-forn
me I se vnsykernes to w?/t/t-stonde feendys bat temptyn me.
On my left syde I se dyssese, aduersite, tribulacyomz of bis
32 world. On my ryjt syde I se prosperyte, rycches, wordly wor-
schyppe, redy to dampne my soule for my mysgouernaunce.
bise be scharpere to myn herte for dreed of eudles peyne &
endeles deth ban bi peryles owyn to be to bin herte, bat schewyn while the lord'
3 6 to be but a schort bodyly deth. berfore, I stoppe my v. wyttes SJSf*i d 'Ju 11
222 The Five Spiritual Senses. [CH. xxxiv, xxxv.
fro watyr of lustys & vanytees, fro wose of sywne, wytA heuynes
& sadnesse, & make no ioye ne mrthe.'
pou man & workman art gostly be-sett al abowte, abouyn
& be-nethyn, vryth peryles as pe kyng was. perfore, stoppe 4
pi v. watergatys of pi pytt, pat is, pe v. wyttes in pi body 1 ,
Spiritual vfi/ih gostly dreed & heuynes, & banne schal be v. cytees in
anxiety will pro- *
serve your effvpt. bat is. be v. wyttes in bin erthely body, spekyn \ryth
senses from sin. 8J r
a chaungyd tunge ! pei schal be chauwged in-to an-oper langage, 8
pei schal be chaimgyd fro wycked to good, fro fylthe to clennes,
fro synne to grace ! ' hec mutaczo dextere excelsi 2 .' bawne schal
watyr & wose of lustys & sywne be schett out of ))i pytt, )>ane
schal pi pytt be clene & futt of grace in body & soule, and 12
in pe ende of be world fuH of ioye !
To pat ioye brynge vs he, &3 s .
C&pitulum xxxv m .
De quinqwe sensibus spmtfualibus. 16
HEre be-forn I teld jou of v. watyrgatys of y>ure pytt, pat ^
is, of $oure v. bodely wyttes, how 30 muste stoppe hem
fro pe feende & fro sywne, pat watyr & wose of lustys &
wykkydnesse entre nojt, & pat je schull opyn) hem to god- 20
ward, pat goodnes & clennes myjt entre in-to %oure body. As
To your corporal bou hast v. watvrgatys in be vtterg-warde, owtward in be pytt
senses corre-
spond of pi body, be whiche watyr & wose of lustys & synne entryn
[Fol. 71 b.] in-to ]?i body, but | ]?ei ben wel stoppyd ; Ryjt so, pou hast v. 24
five spiritual watt/rgatys in pe indere-warde of bi soule, whiche, whan it arn
senses, which
must also be nost wel schett & stoppyd, be wat?/r & wose ot wyckednes
kept free from
wickedness. entryth in-to J>i soule.
be v. watyrgatys 4 of pi soule ben pise, secundum doctorew 28
1 MS. in margin : ' note bene de 5 senaibas corporolibw*.'
s Ps. Ixxvi. (Ixxvii.) II.
3 Cf. the conclusion of Chapter xi. p. 76.
4 MS. in margin : ' 5 sens* spt'r/hmles.'
CH. xxxv.] ' Understanding, Desire ', Delight, Lust, Will. 223
qui dicituT ffilms ma^ris l : vndyrstondyng, desyre, delyjt,
mynde, & wift. vnderstondying is be sy$t in be eyje of soule,
desyre is be ere & be heryng of bi soule, delyjt is be mowth &
4 be swelwyng of bi soule, mynde is f>e nase & be smellyng of bi
soule, wyft & consent is be felyng of bi soule. whan be eyje The sight ex-
of bi body seeth vanytees, Jeanne ])i soule settyth his ey3e of
vnderstondyng to bo vanytes whiche bi bodyly eyje seeth, & understanding,
8 bawne entry th watyr of lustys & wose of sywne thruj bobe bi
gatys, Ipai is, thruj bi bodyly eyje & thru} bin vnderstondyng
in-to bi soule. whawne bou heryst wyth bi bodyly erys harme, the hearing
dyspyjt, dyshoneste, of obere lustely, bi soule bowyth berto his
12 ere of desyre, havyng berto desyre to heryng of his bodyly erys, desire,
& banne entryth in-to bi soule at bothe gatys, bat is, at bi
bodyly eryn & at desyre of bi soule, be watyr & wose of lustys
& of synne. whanne bou wyth bi mowthe, tunge, & throte, the taste
1 6 tastyst & swelwyst exces & swetnes of delycacyes, barme bi
soule swelwyth \fyih hys throte of dely^t bat exces & bat delight,
swetnesse, & so be bise two gatys, bat is, be be throte of bi
body & be delyjt of bi soule, watyr & wose of lustys & synne
t
entryth a^en in-to bi pyt of body & soule. whanue bou wyih
3 ! bi nase smellyst swete sauowr of dyshonest smellyng, bi soule the smelling
lust,
smellyth ber-to also with his nase, bat is, vryih his mynde,
hauyng mynde futt in bat smellyng, banne entryth a3en in-to bi
24 pytt be bothe ]>o gatys, be be gate of bi smellyng & be be gate
of bi mynde, watyr of lustys & wose of synne. whanne bou be
be gate of bi .bodyly towchyng \fyth hand or mowth or wytA the feeling
ony olper mewibre of bi body art steryd to sywne & lustys, bi
28 soule putteth f>er-to his felyng, bat is, his wytt & consent, bawne will and con-
entryth in-to be at bothe gatys, at bi bodyly felyng & at be
consent of bi soule, be watyr of lustys & be wose of synne.
naum in fine 2 : 'ad apercionem pandentwr porte tue, ignis
1 All that could be found about this name is that Magdalen College,
Oxford, possesses a MS. described as Liber sermonum qui dicitur filius
matris. Cf. Coxe's Catalogus Codicum MSS. qui in Collegiis Aulisque
Oxoniensibus adservantur. Part II. p. 46. Magdl. Coll. No. Ixxxi.
2 Nahum iii. 1 3.
224 The Pool Bethesda means your Conscience. [CH. xxxv.
deuorabit vectes tuas/ bat is for to seye, secundum doctorem
Abuile, bi gatys of bi x. wyttes, bat is, of bi v. bodyly wyttes
& of bi fyve gostly wyttes, whenne it arn openyd to wikkyd-
nesse, be fyir of lustys brewnyth & deuowryth J>e barrys of Ipi 4
gatys, whiche barris arn drede of god & schame of }?e world,
but wharaie be fyir of lustys is entryd wytA-inne bi gatys, it
brewnyth awey J?i dreed to god & bi schame to j?e world, for bou
wexist so bold in bi synne, bat pou dredyst nojt god, ne bou 8
dredyst nojt wordly schame, & so comyth in a}en at bi gatys
in-to Ipi pytt be watyr of curse & be wose of synne, and
drenchyth |?i soule.
bise v. wyttes of bi soule, vnderstondyng, desyre delyjte, (
interpretation mynde, & wyll, mowe be figured 1 , Joti. v. 2 , be be pyt ]?at had 13
Bethesda. v. entrees, & iche entre lay ful of syke folk. An auwgyl, be
[Fol. 72 a.] certeyn ty|mes, steryd be watyr in J?e pytt, and what syke body
myjte ferst entre in-to be pytt after pe styrryng of bat watyr, 16
he was made hole & heyl of what syknesse so euere he hadde
The pool is thy be-forn. bis pvt is bi conscyens, in whiche watw of lustys
conscience. *
& wose of synne standyth stylle & abydeth as watyr in a pytt.
its five porches Ps s ' Statuit aquas quasi in vtre.' be v. entrees of bi con- ao
are thy spiritual
senses. scyens arn J?i v. gostly wyttes a-forn seyde, in whiche v. wyttes
lyen myche folk syke, summe are syke in euyl vnderstondyng,
suwme in euyft desyire, summe in euyl deJyjt, summe in euyl
mynde, summe in euyl thou3t, summe are syke in euyl wyl 24
The angel is the consentyng to be dede of synne. but sum-tyme be auwgyl, bat
priest who
moves thy con- is, be prechour of goddys woord, styrreth & troubelyth be
science
watyr of lustys in fe pyt of bi conscyence, & who-so wyll after
bat styring, J?at is, after be repreuyng & tecliyng of goddys 28
woord, first, or deth come, gon in-to pat pytt, pat is, who-so
jerne entryth in-to his conscyence in takyng hede how stynkyng
his consciens is in watyr of cursydnes of lustys & in wose of
sywne, and ]?arme jerne caste out ajen ]?at corrupte watyr wyth 3 a
to repentance, be scope of penaunce : pawne schal he' be made heyl of his synne,
what sywne euere it be, so pat he stoppe wel )?amie be x. watyr-
1 MS. in margin : ' <\uinque sensws spin'iuales ; ' below : ' figure..'
2 John v. 2-4. 3 Ps. Ixxvii. (Ixxviii.) 13.
CH. xxxv.] Story of the Damnation of a Valiant Knight. 225
gatys pat I haue seyde before, pot pe watyr of wyckydnes come
| noat in aaen. bise syke folk forseyde lyen in be x. entrees of The sick who lie
^ J in the porches
pis pytt, in v. entrees of be body & in v. entrees of be soule, of the pool
4 bat is, in v. bodyly wyttes & in v. wyttes of be soule, wherfore
bei mowe be seyd be x. leprys in be gospel 1 pat cryed to god to
be curyd. berfore crye bou to god, bat he cure be bat lyest in maybecom-
. . pared to sinners
pis tenfolde lepre of syne in bi x. wyttes, out of bis watyr who cry for
mercy.
8 & wose of syne, & bat he stoppe so pi gatys of pi x. wyttes,
when be watyr & wose of synne is cast oute wyih penaunce, pat
pe lepre of wyckydnesse neuere after infecte pi soule.
( [The Damnation of a Valiant Knight]
12 Beda de gestis Anglomra 2 , he seyth: a knyst was in Inglonde. An English
' knight, who was
noble & worthy in armys, but he was wykkyd & cursyd in Vf * li n * but
werkys, for alle pe wyttes of his body & soule, his syjt, his
heryng, his mowth, his nase, his felyng, & alle his membrys of
1 6 body, his vnderstondyng, entente, desyre, delate, mynde, &
wyll, bei openyd hem to receyue all cursydnesse & synne, bow3
he was iche jere onys schreuyn. he stoppyd nojt pe gatys of
his x. wyttes, but euere kept hew opyn, pat pe watyr of synne
20 & of lusty s plentyuously, euery jere more pan oper, entryd ajen
in-to his pytt, & drenchyd his soule. At pe laste he lay syke. fell ill.
& his kyng coin) to hym to loke how he faryd, & conseylid hym The kingad vised
him to confess;
to be schreuyn. be knyst seyde : ' My lege, aif I were schreuyn, but he refused
3 J ' to do so, for fear
24 men wolde saye bat I were feryd of deth. I wyl abyde sit, tyl of being thought
J y ' J a coward. When
I se more nede.' his sykenes wexe euery day more ban oper.
be kyng kom a5en, & bad hym be schreuyn. pe knyjt seyde :
' my lord, now it is to late, for now I am demyd & dampnyd,
28 be-cause I wolde nojt leve my synne whil I myjte, tyl now my
synne hath lefte me. & whawne I was schreuyn, it was more
for schame of pe world & for dreed of helle pan for loue of god.
& in my schryfte, pe gajtys of my wyttes were euere opyn [Fol. 72 b.]
S 2 & redy to turne a3en to synne. Syre Kyng, a lytel to-fore 30
kam in here to me, here comyn in two fayre aungelys. pe ton two angels came
sett at my bed-hede, & pe oper at my beddys feet, pe aungelys
1 Luke xvii. 12. a MS. in margin: ' narrorcio.'
Q
226
The Knight ripped open by Fiend*.
[CH. XXXV.
to save his soul.
But they could
allege only
a few good
deeds that he
had done in his
youth ;
while the fiends
produced a
whole book full
of his sins.
So the angels
left him. The
fiends ripped
him open from
head to foot ;
and when
their swords
met at his
heart, he died.
Keep your
senses clean
from sin !
seyde : " )ns man schal deyin. lete vs loke }if we haue ony ryjt
to haue his soule." J?at one aimgyft drewe forth a book out of
his bosome, wretyn wyth letterys of gold, in whiche book I seij
wretyn a fewe gode dedys J>at I dede in my jouthe, & I seyj 4
how ofte I was schreuyn of my synne : & J>araie gretly I enioyed,
for I wende a ben sauyd. J>awne anon come in two horryble
feendys, & on of hem schewyd out a gret book in whiche is
wretyn all my sywnes. be feendys seyde to J?e aungellys : " why 8
stonde je here 1 $e haue no ryjt to haue pis soule. his gode
dedys in jowre book were don in his jouthe, & he lefte of
manye jerys gon. his schryfte in joure book was no3t worth,
for he had no sorwe for his synne ; & 3it, J>owj sumtyme he had 12
sorwe, he purposyd to turne ajen to his synue ; and jit, sumtyme
pow3 he purposyd to forsakyn his synne, he brake his penauwce,
or ellys dyde his penauwce out of eharyte and in dedly synne.
he wolde make none amendys for his wronger, ne restore, ne 16
paye his dettys to pe qwyke, ne to pe dede, ne to holi cherch.
perfore, his schryfte in joure book is no^t worth ! " pe auwgelys
seydin : " je feendys seyn sooth ! go we hens ! " Syre kyng, pe
auwgelys arn gon, pe feendys arn here stylle by me. Ipe o feend 20
slyteth wyth a swerd my body, & begywneth at myn heued
douwwarde. now his swerd is at myn ey3in, J^erfore I am
blynde. \>Q olper feend viyih a Fcharpe swerde begynneth at my
feet, & cleuyth vpward my body. lo syre kyng, now here 24
swerdys metyn to-gedyre at myn herte! I am dampnyd body
& soule ! ' Jeanne he dyed.
Markyth )?is tale l ! taketh hede, & drede youre ende ! scope
out %oure w&tyr of cursede dedys wyth Ipe scope of penauwce ! 28
caste out J?e wose of dedly synne wyth ]?e skete of eontricyouw,
with ]?e scauel of confessioun, and wytA Ipe schouele of satys-
faccyoun, & stoppe wele joure watyr-gatys of joure v. bodyly
wyttes wyth a full purpos neuere to ttirne ajen to %oure synne ! 32
And whawne )>e watyr of curse is clene stoppyd out, & ]?e wose
of synne clene cast oute, & joure watergatys of joure ten wyttes
1 MS. in margin : ' n
CH. xxxv, xxxvi.] The Pit must be dug deeper in Perfection. 227
we! schett, pat watyr & wose come 1103! a3en in-to jowre pytt,
panne is pe pytt of youre body clene vrykh grace ! whiche grace
schal brynge jou, body & soule, at pe doom to endeles ioye.
4 To which ioy^e brynge vs he, &d.
C&pitulum xxxvj.
De vanis cogitac^cmibus, verbis & operibus.
51 ~| haue told jou be-forn dyuerse dayis how je schul scopyn
8 -*- out of joure pytt of lustys, pat is, $oure body, wyih pe
scope of penaunce pe corrupte watyr of Ipe grete curse, & how
je schul castyn oute Ipe stynkyng wose of dedly synne wyth pe
skete of contrycyoun, vtyih pe scauett | of confessions, and [Pol. 73 a.]
12 wythjpe schouyft of satysfaccyoun. I haue telde jou also how
je schal schettyn & stoppyn pe v. watyrgatys of joure bodyly
wyttes & pe v. watyrgatys of jowre soule, pat is. joure v. gostly
wyttes. }if *oure pytt be fennyd clene fro be watyr of curse & When the pit,
your body, is
1 6 fro be wose of syiine, & alle be watyrgatys of aowre bodyly clear from curse
J J and sin, and the
& gostly wyttes be stoppyd wel fro comyng in ajen of corrupte ten water >rates,
watyr & wose of lustys & of synne/ panne youre pytt is drye ^nsl^a're'well
& clene, but it is schelde in perfeccyouw, frelte, febylnes, P rotepted;
20 vnkunnyng, in ignorauwce & vnknowyng, pat it hath in hym-
self no kyndely spring of watyr of swetnes & of clennes in his
owne ground/ he-cause it is nojt depe ynow doluyn in per-
feccyoun. & but it be doluyn deppere in perfeccyouw, vnclene
24 maters & wose of vyces wyl falle aboue fro wyked spirytes in
pe eyre, & drenchyn asen a soule/' perfore, be nedyth delue pi then your pit
irust be dug
pytt so depe in perfeccyoun pat it mowe be a welle hauyng deeper in per-
a kyndely spryng of swete waters/
2 8 banne muste be do two binges 1 : on is, to deluyn out be First - the gravel
and aand must
grauel & pe sande pat lyith stylle be-nethe )?e wose, tyl pou ^ removed, and
come to a lowe ground of spring. An-oper is, pe muste make
pis welle, whanne it is depe ynow, vryth lyme & ston, and
32 panne wil it dure & 11031 fayle.
1 MS. in margin : ' no/a duo.'
Q 2
228 The Gravel and Sand of Idleness. [CH. xxxvi.
Gravel and sand ffirst bou muste avoyde be srauel & be sand 1 ! bis grauel <m
signify your
idleness, & sand is ydelnesse & ese, w^tft-oute fruytfuft occupacyouw.
bowj bou be clene fro wose & watyr and lustys, & standyst
stylle ydel, wytA-oute good occupacyouw, bou art but bareyn as 4
grauel & sande, bat beryn no fruyte, eecundum cr'isostomum, in
iuperfecto, omilia, xx a . And bou art heuy as sande in slugnesse ;
as be man first slayn of moyses afterward was hyd in be sande,
so bou first art slayn of Moyses, qui interpretatwr Aquaiicus, 8
bat is, of wattry wose of sywne, and afterward bou [art] hyd &
wryed & persched & deed in be sonde of ydelnes. 'Moyses
percussit egipcium & abscondit eum zabulo V bus watery wose
of synne sleth be egypcyan, and hydeth him in be sond of 12
which consists of ydelnesse. bis grauel & sonde is iii. fote depe. bat on fote
idle thoughts, J
is in be herte, bat is, ydel thoujtes. ' Peruerse cogitaczones
separant awwnam a deo ' ; sap) prz'mo 8 . wycked thoujtes de-
partyn mawnys soule fro god. Crisostomus seyth: wo to jou 16
bat speryn out of ymre herte be mynde of cristes passiouTi &
his goodnesse, with ^oure wycked & ydel thoujtys, & haue made
joure herte an hoggys cote & a denne of theuys, pat is, a dwell-
yng- place of feendys ! As je haue schett crist out of jowre 20
hertys, wyth joure euytt thoujtes, so crist schal schette jow out
of heuefB, and wyih feendys, whom je haue receyuyd, 50 schal
dwelle/ berfore, caste out bis sande & grauel of youre ydett
& euytt thou3tes, for bis is be firste fote in depthe. 2 -l
idle words, ^[ pe secun&e fote depthe is in bi tunge, bat is, ydel & euyl (/
woordys. Of euery ydel woord bou spekyst bou schalt )yve
acountys at be day of dome, Mat. xij. 4 Crisostomws seyth:
wo ! wo ! to ydel & wycked spekerys ! 3if bou haddyst openyd *8
[Fol. 73 b.] pi tunge & stynkyng mowth to haue praysed | bi god, bou
schuldest haue sungyn wyth auwgellys in heuen), wyt^-outyn
ende, ' Sanctus ! sanctusl sanctus ! dormVuisdeus omnipotens/holy!
holy ! holy ! almyjty god ! & for bou hast nojt openyd bi mouthe 32
to prayse bi god, but spekyn ydelt woordys & iapys, lesynges &
opere slauwdere, berfore jellyng, roryng, & wepyng, bou schalt
1 MS. in margin : ' I. ociositas.' 2 Exod. ii. 12.
3 Sapientia i. 3. * Matt. xii. 36.
CH. xxxvi.] Idleness in Thought, Word, and Deed. 229
cryin wyfcA feendys in helle, wyt^-outyn ende, ' ve! ve ! ve! qwante
sunt tenebre !' wo! wo! wo! grete arn my therknessis in peyne !
pe mouth Ipat lyeth in ydel woordys sleeth pe soule, Sap. j. 1
4 & j. ad cor. xv. s wycked & ydelt woordys corruptyn gode
manerys: perfore, delue out pis sande, pis grauel of pi tunge,
pat is, ydett & euytt woordys, for pis is pe secunde fote in
depthe !
<U 11 But pe iij. fote in depthe is ydelnes in J)i dedes s , pat is, and idle deeds.
9 whanne pou leuyst 4 occupacyouw of gostly profyjt, & werkyst
dedys of vanytees & of no profyjt ne of frute to Ipi soule. seynt
Austyn seyth : O pou vnprofyteable & drye tre worthy to euer-
12 lastyng fyir, what schalt pou answere at Ipe day of dome,
whawne al pe tyme of Ipi lyvyng schal be inquiryd of pe how
pou hast dyspendyd it in ydett werkys 1 Crisostomws seyth in
imperfecto, omilia, xxvj a : who is ydel ] he Ipat thynketh nojt,
16 gpekyth no3t, ne werchyth no}t, to Ipe worschipp) of god. jif
pou stele, pou art nojt ydel, but Ipou art deed, jif ]?ou releue
nojt ]?e poore wyih J?i good, baTine art pou ydel, for pou doost
no5t pe werk of god. jif pou be drunke or glotouw, pou art
20 deed & nojt ydett. jif pou kepe mesure in etyng & drynkynge 5 ,
& jeuyst nojt perof to pe pore, panne art pou ydel, for pou
doost nojt goddys werkys, pat is, almes-dede. 3if pou leue att
dedly sywne, & kepyst pe in veyn & in ydel restyng pat pou
24 wylt nojt occupye pe in goddys werkys, pawne art pou ydel, for
it is nost ynow to forsake pi synne & ben ydel fro gode werkys, It is not enough
. for you to lor-
but be muste forsake bi synne & don gode werkys. ' declina sake your sin,
but you must do
a malo & fac bonum 6 ! ' pat pou mowe seyn wyth pe apos- K 004 * works.
28telys 7 : lo, we forsake alle pinges, pat is, alle syTines, & we
folowe pe in pi werkys. perfore, jif pou wylt nojt be deed in
dedly sywne, ne ydel & vnfruytefutt as sande & grauel, forsake
pi synne & do wel ! 8 ' Sint lumbi ves^ri precincti, id est, a pc-
32 cato, & lucerne ardentes in manibws \estris, id est, lucidum
1 Sapiential, n. 2 I Cor. xv. 33.
3 MS. in margin : ' 3. opera vana." * MS. yostly crossed.
5 MS. drynk-kynge. ' Ps. xxxiv. 14, and xxxvii. 27.
7 Matt. xix. 27 ; Mark x. 28 ; Luke xviii. 38. 8 Luke xii. 35.
230 The Story of an Idle Youth. [CH.
exeinpluwt sit in operibus vestris.' Crisostomus seyth : he bat
werkyth nojt goddys werk in bis world, but stondyth stylle
ydel, & werkyth vanytees, etyth & drynketh & wastyth vytayles
of god, & seruyth hym nojt, in be ober world he schal fastyng 4
be put oute of goddys hows, whawne obere bat han wfoujt wel
here goddys werk schal be takyn in-to goddys households, &
idle thoughts, etyn of be mete of lyif. Idel thoujtes, woordys, & dedys, it arn
words, and
deeds as graueli & sande ; for be kyrnelys of be grauel or of sande 8
are numberless, arn w/t/t-oute noumbre, so bin ydel thouates, woordys, &
barren, and
incoherent as dedys, arn w^/tA-outyn noumbre, & bareyne as sande vryih-oute
profyjt, & varying, discordeng asundre, departyd in-to dyuerse
dysirte, none haugynge vfyth ober as kyrnellys of grauel. bis 12
unfit for build- sand & grauel of ydelnes is no ground to settyn on cure ston-
ing upon.
werk; wherfore jjou nedyth to takyn a spade, & deluyu out bis
grauel & sande of ydelnes. bis spade muste [be] clennes, of
[Fol. 74 a.] w hich I wyl telle | 30 w an-ober day. 16
[The Young Sinner who could not be saved by Prayers.]
Ex vitis pcrtram \ A jong man was temptyd in herte wyih (fa
ydeit thou3tys, & to ydel woordys, & to ydeft dedys of vanytes,
An old man & to leccherye. he prayed an old man to pray for hym. be 20
prayed for a
young sinner, o \ft man wag an h jy lyuere. be old man prayed for him, & be
who continued
in sin, never- jung man synned neuere be lesse. On a nyjt, in a vysiouw,
the vouth 16 SaW I 76 ^ man Se y3 I 76 3 on > man s J*tyng, & dyuerse feendys in
^ ancfhow lykenesse of wommen pleying a-forn hym, & be jonge man 24
li hadde grete delyjte in here pley, As be old man thoujte in bat
vysiouw. & be gode aungyl of bat Jung man was wroth ajens
hym, for he ros nojt vp & prayed to god of helpe/ On be
in the morning morwe after, be old man seyde to be ?ung man: 'brothir, it is 28
he told the
young man bi defaute bat my prayerys arn nojt herd of god for be; for
I seye bis nyjt how feendys temptyd be to wycked thoujtys,
woordys, & dedys, & bou sate stylle in ydylnesse & ese, &
woldyst nojt ryse to avoyde hem wyih bi pray ere, but haddyst 3 2
delyjt in ]x> ydelt thoujtes, woordys, & dedys. and berfore bi
1 MS. in margin : ' narracto.'
CH. xxxvi.] Temptation Avoided ly Thinking of Death and Hell. 231
good aimgyl was sore agreuyd wyth be. how schulde temp-
tacyoun of ydel thoujtys, woordys, & dedys, avoyde fro pe be
my prayerys, but bou woldyst labours & praye also ? A syke that, without
his own exer-
4 body bat wyl nojt leue noyows metys & drynkys may nojt ben tions, all Dray era
hole & curyd bat whyle be medycyne of his leche/ Ry}t so, ^^-^
bou vsyst ydelnesse, ease, & reste, noyous to bi soule, in sek-
nesse of temptacyouw. berfure, fro bise temptacyouws bou
8 mayst nojt be curyd be my prayere.'
perfore, bou bat syttest stylle here in cherch, vnocupyed (The idle one
& thynkest on pi muk & on ober ydelnes, & spekyst ydeli
woordys, or slepyst as a beste in goddys seruyse, & be tempta-
ia cyouw of feeudys 1 , & nojt wylt arysen in bin herte wyih
deuocyouw to clensyn out be ydel thoujtys & woordys wyth bi
prayerys, ne wyth holy mynde of cristes passiouw, how thynkest
bou to be sauyd wyth ober mennys prayere, & wylt nojt helpe may not be
1 6 berto bi-self wyth bi prayere ? prayers of
others.)
ff Ex vitis ipatrum a . A auue man seyde : 'what schal I do 1 The youth asked
cSl what he should
eueremore ydell & wycked thouato/s sle me in herte. be olde do.
The old man
man seyde: 'whan be modyr wanyth here child, sche wetyth replied : As
J J a mother weans
ao here tetys wyih sum byttere thyng, & so be chyld felyug ofte a er MnK some
bat bytternes leuyth his soukyng 3 . So bou putte pin herte in ^nertreTsu"
byttere thoujt of bi deth, & in thoujt of byttere peynes endles, be saved from
in helle ordeynyd redy for be, but bou amende be; thynke in tnhikingofth / e
24, bin herte as a synfuft wrecche thoujte in his herte, eecundum pa
Jacobum de Vjtriaco : bei bat are dampnyd, schal pei be sauyd
after a M* jer 1 thynke bou, " nay." what after MM* ^ere 1
thynke bou, " nay." what after as many thowsand jere as dropys
28 of watyr arn in pe se 1 thynke bou, " nay." and jif bou thynke
bws, bawne schal bi thoujt be troubelyd and a-dred, & banne it
schal begynne to putte awey ydel thou3tys, woordys, & occupa-
cyouns, & panne schalt bou thynke bat fleschly folke arn foule
32 blynded wyth be feend in here ydeluesse, bat for a schort tyme
1 A gap?
2 MS. in margin : ' narractn.' The first story continued.
3 MS. in margin : ' exemplum bonuwi.'
232 The Devil stretching his Scroll. The Talkative Nun. [CH. xxxvi.
of lyvyng here myspendyn it in ydelnesse & in vanyte, &
darapnyn hem-self to endles peyne.'
perfore, wyth J>is bytternes forseyd, putte fro pe ]>e tetys of
ydylnes, ]?at pou souke no more per-of for no dely3t ! Caste 4
[Fol. 74 b.] out pis grauel & | J>is sond of ydelnes, \fy\h good occupacyowi !
[The Devil writing Idle Words on a Scroll.']
I
The Devil wrote Jacobus de Vitriaco seyth * bat a feend in a cherch wrote d>
on a scroll the
idle words ydett woordys, & iangelynges, & rownynges, & wharaie his rolle 8
spoken during '
holy service. was frj wretyn he sette on his teeth to drawe out his rolle
In an effort to
h* he th l ar g er<s & breddere, bat he myjte wryte )?eron more, as he
he
head k aglinst drewe wytA. his teeth on )>e rolle hys heued smote ajens pe
the wall. watt. An holy man seyj him, & seyde : ' what doost pou 1 2
feend?' pe feend seyde: 'I wryte rowuynges & talys spokyn
in bis cherche.'
. J
I trowe Ipe feend hath nede to drawe lengere & braddere his
rolle here; for it is ellys to lytel to wry ten on alle Ipe talys 16
tolde in jris chercK, for it is neuere lefte, but it be at sacre,
for prechyng, ne schryfte, ne schame, ne dreed of god ne of fe
world, but ]?ey amendyn hem, pei schutt be perysched both
body & soule 1 20
v/
[The Talkative Nun burnt in the Upper Part of her BodyJ]
The body of s A uuwne, chast of body but ydel in woordys, in iapys, & in
a talkative nun
foly speche, & dented ]7erin, sche deyid, & was beryid in pe
cherch. pe next nyjt after, pe kepere of J>e cherch seyj here be 24
was cut through led wth feendys a-forn an awtere. be feendys, wyth a brennyng
by fiends, and
the upper part sawe. kuttyn here in be myddys, & be oner part of here bei
was burnt
before an altar, brentyn fro J>e wast vpward for here ydett woordys. pe nethir
parte fro ]?e wast douwward was hole, for sche was chast in 28
body. And on pe morwe, on J?e paument it was verryly sen
where sche was brent.
1 MS. in margin : ' narraciu.' Cf. the same story on p. n 5, 1. 8.
a MS. in margin : ' narrocio bona contr-A verba ociosa.'
CH. xxxvi, XXXVH.] The ' Spade of Cleanness' Pure Thought. 233
I drecle me, f anne, 36 fat arn ydeft in woord, thoujt, & dede,
schal be brent & sawyd wel werse ban sche was, but 30 leuyn it.
f erfore, caste oute be grauel & sand of ydelnes wyth good occu-
4 pacyoim, fat 36 be sauyd fro sawyng & brewuyug of feendys to
ioye & blysse euere-lastynge ! To whict blysse, &c\
xxxv m .
De Mundicia & humilitate.
^ ri Ihe of er day I teld 3011 how 36 schul castyn out of y>ure
o JL pytt grauel & sand of ydelues, bat is. of ydel thoustys, The ' gravel of
Idleness' must
woordys. & dedys, to makyn $oure pytt deppere in perfeccyouw ; be cast out
for it is to scheld. Now schal I telle 3ou of be spade where-
12 \fyih 36 schul delue 3oure pyt deppere.
bis spade muste be clewnesse *. be scho berof is clene with the ' spade
of Cleanness,"
thou3tis, f e heued f erof is clene woordys, be handyl f erof is which has three
clene werkys. To be firste loke be scho of bi spade be a clene P ure thought
for a shoe.
1 6 herte ! lete bin herte delue depe & scharpe to thynke what J^^^
scharp peyne & deth crist sufferyd for be. thynke how he Q^ ltude to
made be to his lyknesse, & bou3te be wytA his precyous blood,
binke what peyne he sufferyd for be. think how he fedyth
ao fe & sauyth be, & how he schal rewarde be in endles blys, 3if
J>ou loue hym & worschipe hym. thynk how fals & vnkynde
bou art to hym. bou dredyst, louyst, seruyst, & worschepyst,
more bi body, be world, bi rusty monye, ]?i rotyn muk, be
24 feend & synne, ban bou doost bi god. thynke, but bou amende and the dread
of damnation,
bis, he schal dampiie be 2 in endles peyne. Gregorie seyth, fere
may be no more woodnes fan for a schort dely3t & luste in
herte, for f i synne to be boundyn to endles peyne, & to lese
28 f e kyngdom) of ioye. ferfore, late f is scho of f i spade, fat is,
f is clene & | scharp dredful mynde deluyn doun. depe in-to f e [Fol. 75 a.]
rootys of fin herte, and fer-wyth schalt fou deluyu oute fe
1 MS. in margin : ' vanga mudacia.'
3 Added by later hand above the line.
234 Clean Speech. [CH. xxxvn.
grauel & sande of pin herte, of ydeft & euytt thoujtys. Ps. 1
' Memor fui dei mei & delectatws sum.' In alle pi thowjtys
thynke on J>i god, & he schal ryjten Ipi weyis. Proucr. iij. 2
Wyth pis thoujt in god delue oute delyjt of pin olde syraie 4
passyd. delue out consent of synne for to come & euyl purpos,
pat pou enclyne nojt Iperio. delue out desyir of sywne presents
pat pou art temptyd in, & wyl & dede. secundum doctorem :
' Purificate corda \estm.' Jac. iiij . 8 do oute pe ruste of ydeft 8
thoujtys fro joure herte, & it schal be a dene vessel of god.
prouer. xxv. 4 'Aufer rubiginewz, de argento, id est, de iusto
corde, & egredietwr vas purissimum, id est cor mundum & vas
dei.' pawne schalt pou be blyssed & se god. ' Beati muwdo 1 2
corde ; qwwm ipsi deum videbtmt s .'
The head of the To J?e secunde, pe heued of pis spade muste be clennes in 5u
spade must be
clean speech. tunge 6 . prouer. xvj. bermo purus pulcherimws est. Clene
speche is euermore fayrest. wyth J>e heued of J)i spade, pat is, 16
clene speche, clene woordys, delue out pe sonde & J?e grauel of
ydel woordys. delue out lesynges, iapys, rybawdye, chydynge,
bacbytyng, dyspysing, fals & horryble sweryng. Ps. 8 ' Domt'ne
quis habitabit in tabernacwlo tuo 1 ' Et sequitur : ' qui UOTI egit 20
dolum in liugu;i sua.' lord, who schal dwelle in heuen) ? he
pat spekyth no dysseyjt, non euytt. Ps. 9 pou )mt hast louyd
to speke wyckydnes more J?an goodnes, ' dilexisti iniquitatem
magis qwam loqui.equitatem ; ' ]?erfore god schal distroye pe in 24
pin ende. he schal schredyn pe, he schal stubbyn ]?e vp rynde
& roote fro pe ground of lyif, pat is, fro J?e blysse of heuen).
Ps. 10 ' destruet te in fiuem, euellet te, & emigrabit te de taber-
nacwlo tuo, & radicem tuam de terra viuenciuTn.' perfore, wyt^ 28
clennes of spekyng in pe heued of %oure spade, delue out ydelnes
of woordys, of bacbytyng, of olpis, of warying, of dyspisyng, of
chydyng, of lesynges, of iapys, & of foule woordys. Ysa. iij. 11
1 Ps. Ixxvi. (Ixxvii.) 4. 3 Prov. iii. 6. * James iv. 8.
4 Prov. xxv. 4. 5 M;itt. v. 8.
* MS. in margin : ' muwdicia ligue.
7 Prov. xv. 26. 8 Ps. xiv. (xv.) 1,3. 9 Ps. li. (Hi.) 5.
10 Ps. li. (Hi.) 7. u Isa. Hi. n.
CH. xxxvii.] Good works. The ( Ground of Humility? 235
' Mundaniini qui fertis vasa domini.' Beth dene in tuuge je
bat here vessellys of god. Prouer. xiiij. 1 ' Qui custodit os suum
custodit ammam suam.'
fK
\l> To be ili.. be handyft of bis spade muste be cleue occupacyoun The handle
must be good
5 in werkynge 2 . Jerome, ' Semper aliquid boni facito, vt inueuiat works.
te diabolus occupatum.' Stande nojt ydel, but alwey do sum
good dede, bat be feend fynde be occupyed & nojt ydel. Jac\
8 iiij. s ' Mundate m&nus vestras' Makyth clene jottre handys,
bat is, jowre werkys. lord, jeue me clennesse of my werkys !
seyth be Ps. 4 ' Puritatem manuum mearum retribue rm'Ai.'
Whanne bou hast doluyn out be sonde & grauel of ydylnes When the grayel
is removed,
12 out of herte, tunge, & dede, banue schalt bou fynde vnder Ipe
grauel bere pride was first a-bouyn, a syker & a clere grond
be-nethe. & bat ground is lownes contrary to pride K , bat was you will find the
' ground of
first abouyn him. how schalt bou knowe bat ground of low- H , umili *>''
where Pride
1 6 uesse ? In bis manere : whanne bou thynkest bat bou art nojt jj ad been
in worjthynes, but wrecchyd & vnworthy, haldyng obere bettyre [Fol. 75 b.]
ban bou; bawne hast bou founde bat grownd. God hath
grouwdyd alt erthe on nou^t, Job xv. 6 , bat is for to saye, god
ao hath sett & groun-dyd in marmys soule on noujt, bat is, on be
ground of lowness, whenne man haldyth hym-self noujt. As
gold excellyth alle metallys in price, & bawme excellyth alle
lycourys, & drawyth lowest doun to be botme of a vessel! and
24 to be ground, Eyjt so, lownesse excellyth in precyoushed alle
^P vertuys 7 , & euere drawyth doun to be neberest place. Sap.
vij. 8 ' Omne aurum in comparactone [illius] arena est exigua.'
Al manere gold is but as a lytel grauel in regard of lownes.
28 In a braunche of a tre standyng ryst vpward is noat heuy Straight trees
bear no fruit,
ladyn wvtA fruyte, ne on eer of corn standyng ryat vpward* and upright
stalks no grain.
is fuft & heuy vfyih kyrnett. Ry3t so, man or womman raysed
1 Prov. xxi. 23. 2 MS. in margin: 'rnunda occupacio in opere.'
3 James iv. 8. * Ps. xvii. (xviii.) 21.
5 ' humilitas contra (?) superbia7/t ' ' Iniwnlitas <\\\omodo cognoscitur (?).'
6 Job xxvi. 7 (?).
7 MS. in margin : ' humilitas excellit omy<es alias vi'rtutes.'
* Sapientia vii. 9.
236 Exhortation to Humility, [CH. xxxvu.
vpwarde in pride is bareyn wytA-oute fruyte of vertuys *. A
"bo we fuft of fruyte, an eer full of corn bowyn downward to ])e
erthe ; Ryjt so, jif bou be in lownes, bou art full of fruyte of
vertuys, heuy ladyn \tyih gode werkys, berfore bou bowyst 4
douwwarde, & beholdyst be erthe, bat is, be fylthe, be freelte,
& be wrecchydnes, of bi flesch. Seynt bernard seyth 2 : se
where-of bou come ? of foul & of vnclene seed, & be Ipou
a-schamyd. se what bou art ? a sacche fuft of dunge, & be 8
bou sory. se wbat bou schalt be ? wermys mete, whedir
schal bi soule in bin ende, to peyne or ioye ? bou wost neuere.
drede J?ou sore bawne. jif f>ou bowe bus douwwarde, J?a.ne
hast bou fourale Je ground of lownes. A sterre 3 semyth lytel 12
to cure sy3t, & jit, in truthe, it is more J?an ail erthe ; Eyjt
Think thyself so, holde bi-self lytel, & sette no price be bi-self, & bawne, in
little, and thou
shait be great ground of lownesse, bou art gret in syjt of god. EccZes. iij. 4
Godl ' Qwanto magnws es, humilia te in omnibus, & coram deo in- J6
uenies gractam/
3if ]>o\n of a pytt take wat^r \vyih Ipi pot 6 , bou muste ^
bowyn J>i pott to takyn in bat watyr, or ellys puttyn bi pot
depe doun on be mowth to reseyue bat watyr ; Eyjt so, jif 20
bou wylt haue in-to bi pytt a spryng of watyr of grace, J>e
muste bowe }>e pott of bin herte depe doun in lownes J>at be
watyr of grace mowe entryn ]?in herte. EccZes. ix. 6 ' Vas ad-
mirabile opws excelsi.' ]?awne schal J>in herte be a mervelous 24
vessel be be werk of god.
pride Pryde 7 chesyth hyje hylles, bat is, hyje worschepys & pra[i]s-
inges ; lownesse chesyth valeys, bat is, lowe degre, lowe estate.
In hyse hylles of pryde arn iiii. wyckednessys 8 . bat arn, 28
mountain ; it is
dry, hard, dryehed, hardhed, bareynhed, & a foul fatt dou-. for prowde
giddy. men arn (J r ye wytA-oute wepyng & deuocyouw, harde in herte
wyt/t-oute cornpassiouw, bareyn w/t^-oute good werkyng, & in
1 MS. in margin : ' exemplum bowum.'
* MS. in margin : ' dicit Memento vnde venisti . vbi es & vbi futuru*.'
* MS. in margin : ' exemplum de stella.' * Ecclesiasticus iii. 20.
5 MS. in margin : ' Exewtpiam bowum.' * Ecclesiasticus xliii. 2.
7 MS. in margin : ' Supcrbia.' 8 MS. in margin : ' no<a 4 or .'
CH. xxxvn.] Story of Abbot Macarius watching the Devils. 237
here ende bei schal haue a foul fallyng, bat is, to be depe pytt
of helle. for be heyaere in pride be lowere in peyne, be more The higher thy
pride.thedeeper
gloryous in worschip) be foulere in helle, be heyjere & be shall be thy fall.
4 gladdere in souereynte be deppere & be soryere in hard fyir
endeles. berfore, delue doun wykh bi spade in-to bin herte,
& caste out ydelnesse of thouites & of pride, tyl bou. fynde
be ground of lownes, & come to a spryng of grace ; for
8 ' superhis j resistit, humilibws dat gracz'am,' Jac\ iiij. 1 Prowde [Fol. 76 a.]
folk god wythstandyth, to folk in lownes he spryngeth his
grace.
\AHbot Macarius watching the Devils in ChurchJ]
\
Jj 2 A feend seyde to Macharye be abbot, ' go we to be chercbe
13 & se what bei do bere.' . be abbot seyde, 'feend, what hast
bou to don \vyih hem at chercnT be feend seyde, 'Abbot,
come & se what we do ? ' be abbott wente in-to be chirche, Abbot Macarius
watched the
16 & see ouyr-an m be chirche dyuerse feendys smale as chylderyn, devils in church
running about
blewe as men of Inde 3 , rennynge al abowte in be cherche, & and tempting
thecongregation
scornyng bere euery man, makyng a mowe, & puttynge her wi * h . a 'i kinds
fyngerys to be ey^en of summe, and bei sleptyn, & whenne bei
ao awokyn be feendys grecyd here lyppes wyih here oynementys
in here box, & bawne be folk iangelyd, & telde talys. After
bat bei were wery of iangelyng, be feendys skyppedyn a-forn
hem in lyknes of wommen, & banne bo men in here herte were
24 temptyd to leccherye. A-fore suwime be feendys drouyn
beestys, & banne bei thou3tyn on here beestys. A-forn suwme
be feendys teldyn nobelys, & baraie bo men settyn here thou5t
on here tresoure. A-fore summe feendys komyn as merchauntys,
28 banne bo folk thoujtyn att on byggyng & sellyng. A-fore
summe feendys komyn as tylmen wyt/i here hors & carte, and
bawne bo folk settyn att herte on husbondrye, on here lond &
tylthe, on here howsyng, & on here wordly good, so be feendys
1 James iv. 6. a MS. in margin : ' narrac/o bona.'
3 The original in Vitae Patrum (Migne, Patrol. Lat. vo]. Ixxiii. p. 765)
has : ' videt quasi parvulos quosdam pueros jEthiopcx nigros per totam
ecclesiam discurrere.'
238 The ' Well of Grace' [CH. XXXVH, xxxvm.
made hem ydefi oiiper in thoujtys or in iangelyng, or in vanytes.
Why was pis grauel & sonde of ydelnes in hem 1 be tempta-
cyoim of be feend ; for bei were hyje in pride, & ydel fro gostly
occupacyoun, and myjt fynde no ground of lownes, & per-fore 4
pe spring of pe wata/r of grace was stoppyd out of hem & dryed
fro hem. pe abbot seyde to ]>e feend, ' why do 36 bus to pis
They told the folk in cherche ? ' be feend seyde : ' for, on werke-dayes, men
seme Ipe world and nojt god for besynes, ber-fore, on be haly- 8
day, whan bei schulde serue god, we lettyn hem vfy(h ydelnesse
in thou^tes, woordys, & occupacyouns of vanytes, wyth sleep,
that they were vfyth ydel pley, for to be syker of here soulys, be-cause pat pei
making sure of
people's souls, serue god neythir werkeday ne halyday, but pei serue vs, pe 12
world, & here fleschV
loo, takyth hede to bis tale, for I rede it in vitis patrum.
comyth dowi fro pryde. deluyth oute pis grauett and bis sande
of ydelnes. deluyth doun depe in lownesse, tyl je fynde a 16
springe watyr of grace, to flowe jou vp in joitre ende to be
hylt of ioye. Ad qztod, &^.
Capitulum xxxviij m .
De humilitate & timore filial!. 20
Ihaue told jou here-beforn to castyn out of ywre pytt ^
pe watyr of curse, be wose of synne, be sonde & pe grauel
of ydelnes, & to deluyn jowre pyt deppere in lownes tyl je
fyndyn a watyr-spryng of grace. }it now schal I telle jow more 34
From the of bis grond of lownesse, how je schal deluyn dour* ber-in depe
' ground tf Hu-
mility ' springs for to fynde a spryng of grace,
a' well ot grace.' * F ' '
Humility is like In valeys of lownes be iiij. profytea 1 , bat arn, be raoysture,
a valley, which
is moist, soft, wetehed, softhed & neschhed, fruatfulhed, & sykernes. for bei 28
fertile, and safe.
bat arn in lownes arn wete & moyste in wepynge & in de-
[Fol. 76 b.] uocyouw, nessche & soupple in | softnesse & compassioim, fruyt-
futt in werkyng, syker & trusty fro hye fallyng. for be lowere
1 MS. in margin : ' nn/a 4 or .'
CH. xxxinn.] Thf Eight Part* of Humility. 239
a man ' is, be esyere & be softere is his fait jif he falle. br-fore,
crist byddeth be sytteu in be lowest place. ' Recumbe in nouis-
simo loco.' luc\ xiij. 2 for who-so sitte in }?e lowest place, lie
4 schal haue his place in pes wyt^-oute stryif. Ps. 3 ' In pace
factus est locus ems.' Smale lytelt fyssches skyppyn thrus be Small fish
escape from the
maskys of a nett in-to be watyr, & lyven, grete fyssches hange net, large ones
stille in be nett, & am dede 4 ; Ryjt so, grete prowde folk
8 hangyn in be feendys nett, & arn dede in sonle, lytefi sraale
folk in lownes scapyn thruj be nett of be deuyl in-to be watyr
of grace. ffigure 5 here-of iiij. Re<7. xxiiij. B . be kyng of Caldeye
wente in-to babilonye, & grete ryche & proude men he toke to
12 hys prisonerys, & smale & pore folk he late go ; Ryjt so, pe
kyng of helle, be feend, takyth proude men to his prisonerys,
& smale folk in lownes & in pouerte, he letyth hem go, for
bei scapyn fro hym in-to grace.
m This groimd 7 of lownes is viij. fote dene, be ouer-fote is The eight parts
of humility are:
17 homly & lowly to be pore. EccJes. iij. 8 . ' Omne animal diligit * To be kind
suum simile.' be secunde fote is, fle worschipn) & preysing as the poor;
r * 2. to avoid wor-
crist dede, whawne pe comouws wolde haue made hym here ship and^ praise;
20 kyng. lofi. v 9 . be iij. fote is, suffere lowly dyspy3t & repreef ^^? d
as data'd whan he was v/eryid & cursyd of Semey ; obere wolde
haue lettyd hym bat cursyd him so, & dauid sey<le : lete hym
be, & lete hym waryin me, ij Re^r. xvij. 10 ; and as be apostelys
24 wentyn enioyinge fro here aduersaryes bat dyden hem dyspyjt
for be name of ihesu crist, Act). v. "
be iiii. fote is bis, forsake non offyse, bows it be vnworthy 4- to serve
* humbly;
& of lytel price, forsake non vnclene labour, but lowly take
28 aH defowle in euery occupacyouw as abbigail, whan sche schulde
be weddyd to kyng dauid, lo, bin handmayde & seruaunt. redy
to wassche be feet of my lordys seruauty. j. Regr. xxv. 12 be
v. fote is bis, be bou lowly }if nede be to suffre deth for ihesu s-. to be res dy to
die for Christ ;
I MS. aman. * Luke xiv. 10. 3 Ps. Ixxv! (Ixxvi.) 3.
* MS. in margin : ' exemplum bowm.'
s MS. in margin : ' ffigttra.' 8 2 Reg. xxiv. 14 seq.
7 MS. in margin : ' fundua hnmilitattg habet octo, I, 2, 3,'&c.
8 Ecclesiasticus xiii. 19. g John vi. 15. lo 2 Sam. xvi. 10.
II Acts v. 41. '* I Sam. xxv. 23 sei|.
240
The First Gift of the Holy Ghost is Fear. [CH. xxxvm.
6, 7, and 8.
to submit
to superiors,
equals, and
inferiors.
[Fol. 77 a.]
The first gift of
the Holy Ghost
is Pear,
of which there
are six manners
i. the fear of
death ;
2. anxiety for
one's bodily life,
a deadly sin ;
and for his truthe, as cryist dyde for be. Ad Phil iij. ' be vj.
fote is bis, be subiecte to bi souereyn, & preferre be no3t aboue
J?i peerys. be vij. fote is bis, be subiecte to bi perys, & prefers
be nojt aboue J)i subiectys. be viij. fote is bis, be subiecte 4
to bi subiecte, & preferre be to no persone, but lowly vnder-
putte be to alle obere in subieccyoim in bin herte, & halde alle
obere worthyere ban bou, \vyth bi spade of clennesse in herte,
tunge, & dede. glossa Mat. iij. ' Subesto maiori, now preferas 8
te equali ; subesto pari, non preferas te minori ; subesto minori,
& nemini te preferas ! ' Delue out be grauel & sond of ydelnes
& delue depe thruj bis viij. fote depthe of lownes ! & baraie
art bou depe ynow in grond of lownes, and barwie schalt bou 12
fynde vnder bat grouwde of lownes a spring of grace. Seynt
gregorie seyth : but bou loue grace be holy gost may no3t entryn
in-to be. ' Si Imrm'lis & quietus non fueris, non potest, habitare
in te graeia spiritns sancti.' for god sendyth be watyr of grace 16
in-to lowe | valeys, bat is, in-to folk lowe in beryng owt-warde
in gouemauwce, & lowe in herte inwarde. Ps. 2 ' Emittit fontes
in conuallibws.'
What is bis grace ? dreed, bat is be first 3yfte of grace vb
of be holy gost. bis grace springeth in be grouTide of lownesse. 21
Thomas de veritate * Aicit, ' Timor expellit superbiam.' Drede
of god puttyth out pride. Tho/Jias de veritate he seyth, bere be
[vj.] manerys of drede. first, dreed of kynde 4 , bat is, dreed 24
to dyen, as crist dredde his 5 deth. Mat. xxvj. 6 ' Cepit ihc
pauere & tedere.' bis dreed is neythir mede ne sywne. be
secttttde dreed is drede of bi lyif 7 of bi body, as whawne bou
woldyst rathere don a dedly synne ban for to lese ]pi lyif; 28
bis dreed is dedly syraie, as petir forsooke crist for dreed
of his bodyly lyif. Mat. xxvj. 8 berfore seyth crist 9 : drede
nojt hym bat sleth be body but dredyth hym ]?at sleth
1 Philipp. iii. 10 (?). * Ps. ciii. (civ.) 10. 3 Cf. p. 166, note 2.
4 MS. in margin : ' j nl . timor nature.' 5 MS. above the line.
8 The quotation points to Matt. xxvi. 37, confounding this passage with
Mark xiv. 33.
7 MS. in margin : ' 2. timor vite.' . 8 Matt. xxvi. 69-75.
9 Matt. x. 28.
CH. xxxvni.] Kinds of Fear. 241
be sowle. be iij. dreed is \vordly dreed, Ipat is, wlianne bou 3. Fear of the
hast leuere do dedly symie bawne for to lesm Ipi wordly good ;
bis wordly dreed is dedly synne, as it was to be iewys. Ipe'i a deadly sin.
4 slewyn crist for dreed, bat he schulde ellys haue takyw awey
here place & here folke. Joh. xij . 1 be iiij. diced is dreed of 4 Fear of Hell,
though some-
helle , more princepally for dreed of peyne ban for dreed of s times conducive
/ *^ J to amendment,
wretthyug of god. bis dreed is wharaie bou absteynyst be fio
8 syrme, or art schryuen, or dost ony good dede fro dreed of helle
& thynkyng in bin herte, ne were helle to punysche bi sywne *,
bou woldyst no$t amende be, but bou woldyst bat no peyne
were, bat bou my^tyst vsyn furth bi synne. bis drede alloiie
12 schal neuere brynge be to heuene. Ro. viii. 5 ' Non accepistis is unavailing for
salvation.
spiritum seruitutis.' be v. dreed is, whanue bou leuyst bi synne s- Fear of God
princepally for dreed of god 6 , for dreed of his wretthyng, & also
for dreed of peyne. bis dreed is be firste syfte of grace of be the first gift of
the Holy Ghost.
16 holy gcst, bat is, be watyr of grace bat spryngeth in te ground
of lownesse. jif bou haue bis dreed of grace bou diedyst to be
peyned ber-fore in helle ; but jit bou dredyst myche more bat
bou hast wretthyd bi god, & bat bou schuldyst be departyd fro
20 hym. As brystett bryngeth in a threed of a cordewanere iu-to Simile of the
J ' bristle on
a scho, so bis dreed bryngeth in grace to mannys soule. be a cobbler's
brystett is oute when be threed is in ; ryjt so, whan grace is
in be drede, dreed goth oute, as whan be threed goth in
24 be brystett is owte. ' Pe/fecta, caritas foras mittit timore-w.'
Joh iiij. 7 bis dreed is callyd a bygynnyng drede, for it be-
gynneth to bryngyn in grace, be vi. dreed is only dreed for 6. Fear of God's
wrath or ' filial
wretthyng of god ; & bis is loue-dreed & sone-dreed 8 . as be dread,'
28 soue aboue alle obere men owyth to dredyn his fadyr, bat he
wretthe hym nojt, bowj he wyste his fadyr wolde nojt punyssche
hym bcr-fore ; Ryjt so, wyt/i loue-dreed, drede bou to wretthe
bi fadyr of heuen) in ony dedly synne. thynke in bin herte,
1 John xii. 19 i^?). " MS. in margin : '4. tiwor gehejme.'
3 MS. god crossed.
* The following words crossed in MS. : bou woldyst bat no peyne were
banne bat bou my}te vsyn forth bi synne bis dreed alone.
5 Rom. viii. 15. 6 MS. in margin : ' tiwor pro timore dei.'
7 I John iv. 18. 8 MS. in margin : ' timor filialis.'
R
The Story of a Chariiallt Lady, [CH. xxxvm.
bow} bere were non helle ne peyne, & bow bou wystyst for bi
[Fol. 77 b.] tynne | neuere be punysched, bou woldyst nojt wretthyn bi god
a special gift of for dreed of lesyng of his loue. bis is a specyal dreed, a specyal
the Holy Ghost. J '
3yfte of be holy goste & a specyaB watyr of grace, bat spryngeth 4
in be groimde of lownesse. bis dreed makyth oon chast fro eynne,
& a-schamyd of synne & of euery foul dede. ideo dicitur timor
cafctus, secundum tullium 1 . Wyth-outen bis dreed no man $3
It is like a pre- maybe lioneste ne rystfuft. Bernards seyth, bis dreed is as 8
cious stone, &c. J
a schynyng prcyous stone 2 of condycyouws in a junge mawnys
chere & a messagere of good hope, be hows of a good lyuere, be
sustir of good conscyens, be tokyn of symplenesse, wytnetse
of clene lyif, laumpe of clene lyjt, specyal ioye of conscyence, 12
keper of good name, bewte of lyve, pe se of vertewys. As
marie is mayden and bewte of maydenys, O bys loue-dreed is
mayden & bewte of alle vertuys bothe of body & of soule.
8 ' Timor dowmi sanctus permanet in secu\um secwli,' bis dreed 16
is holy, bat eucre schal dure in a perfyjt lyuere. ecc. ix. 4
' timor domini est fons vite.' 3if bou haue bis watyr of grace,
bis dreed, in be groimd of lownes, bi pytt of lustys is turned
in-to a welle of lyif. 20
[The Lord's Wife Charitable to the Lepers.]
One day, a leper Jacobws de Vitriaco 5 tellyth bat a lepre on a day com) to
called at the
hoi ^ e falord ' a lordys place, be lord was oute on huntyng, & he hatyd sore
out hunting. a ]j e l e p r y S- he sufferyd none to come \vyth-in his gatys. hie 34
wyif louyd hem wel as sche durste for hei*e lord, & in his
absence, often for lownes dyd wasschen here feet, & kyssed hem,
& louyd hem, & releuyd hem often for loue-dreed of here god.
1 Cf. Fabricius, Bibliotheca Latina, torn. vi. p. 277. Tullius Dacus
(xiv. cent.), author of ' Lectura super XII. Prophetas minores' and of a
treatise ' de potentiis animae.'
2 MS. in margin : ' Timor dowiini quasi lapis prcciosus.'
8 MS. in margin : ' Timor dowini eanctus permanet in sclui sell &c*
'fons vite.' Ps. xviii. 10. The Vulgate reads permanens.
* Prov. xiv. 27. (Not in Ecclesiasticus.)
5 MS. in margin: 'narracio bona de muliere recipienfe leprosuw? &
iacente eum super lectum sui mariti.'
CH. xxxvm.] Tie Lord converted to Pity and Charity. 243
be lepre cryed at here gate. Ipe lady here-self askyd hym 3if
he wolde ete or diynke. be lepre seyde, ' I am so feynt in Ipe
hete of pe simiie "pat I may nojt ete ne drynke, but I were
4 in pin halle, lady, in be schadowe.' be lady seyde. ' sif my The lady, in
. spite of her hus-
lord kome horn), & fonde be in be halle, he wolde sle vs bothe.' band's cruelty,
be lepre wepte & greuyd sore, be lady took hym in-to here took the leper
into the hall,
arinys, & bare hym in, for he was so feble, and his feet, handys,
8 & face, dysfiguryd, scalt, & rotyn a-wey be flesch, & foule he
stanke. whan he was born in, he wolde neyber etyn ne drynken
tyl lie hadde slepte. he prayed be lady for here lownesse & for
be loue-dreed bat sche hadde to god, brtt he myjte slepyn in
12 here owen chaumbre & in here owefD bed & here lordys, & ellys
he schulde be deed, be lady hadde pyte of his wepyng, & dreed
to offendyn here god. sche lowly browjtyn hym thydere, &
dede of his . lowys & his schoes, & wassched him foot & body
1 6 foule styukynge, & leyde hym in here bed, & a softe pylwere and brought
vnder his heuyd, & schett to be dore, & wente here way. Sone Soon after, her
husband
after, here lord koffi) horn), and badde here letyn hym iu-to returned.
chaumbre to slepyn, for it was in be vnder-meel in somyr. be
20 lady taryed, for sche was a-dred of here lyif, & of be leprys lyif
also, be lord was wroth, & brast vp be dore, & wente in. But when he
. entered the
he com) out ajen onon, & seyde, ' wyif, ] pou hast wel arayed rp l. 78 a.]
my bed, it was neuere ere so wel made, but I haue gret wondyr jtfwa
24 where-wyt/i bou hast made pis chambyr so swete \\yih spycerye ; fra rauce>
it smellyth as it were very paradyis.' be lady went in, & felte
be swete sm eft, but pe lepre was go. be lady, wepyng for ioye, and the leper
tolde here lord all to-gedyr how sche had do. here lord turnyd |ady wept for
joy, nnd con-
28 alt to grace, & louyd god & alle leprys iu-to his ende. verted her lord
to chanty.
lo, how be ground of lownesse in pytt of lustys in his wyif
sprong watyr of grace, bat turnyd here pytt vn-to a welle of
lyif, be pe whiche pytt sche & here lord were sauyd fro deth
32 to lyif, fro synne to grace, fro di-ede, fro sorwe, & fro peyne, to
endeles ioye. Ad quod, &<?.
R 2
244 Humility with regard to oneself. [CH. xxxix.
Qa/pitultcm xxxix m .
De Miticia & eius ramis.
FReendys, pe ofyer day I telde 3011 pat whanne }>e wose jpt
of pride were cast out of joure pytt, 30 inuste deluyn out 4
be grauel benethe & ]>e sande of ydelnes, tyl 30 come to a good
ground of lownesse. & in bat lownesse, I telde 3ou, 30 inuste
delue douw depe tyl 36 fynde a spring of wat^/r of grace, Ipat is,
dreed, pe firste 3yfte of grace of pe holy goste. 3it pis day 8
I sclial tellyn more of J>e ground of lownesse & of meknesse;
how 36 schul delue doun ber-in tyl 30 fynde pe springe of grace,
dreed.
Humility with bis mekenes & lownesse it hath vij. fote in depthe & vij. fote u
regard to one- . .
self. in hrede . be firste fote in depthe is J^s : whan a man knowyth
his defaw3tys & his frealte. Bernard seyth, Mekenesse makyth
a man to dyspise hym-self & to knowe what he is. 11 be
sectmde fote in depthe schewith bat a man schulde fele his 16
defawtys & his fylthe, how it byteth him in conscyens, and
banne he is fayne 3erne to sekyn hym a confessoure to be
clensyd & to castyn oute bat fylthe. 11 be iij. fote depthe is
bis : whanne in schryfte here sorwe is grete, & colouryn ne 20
concelyn no poynt of here synne for schame, recchyng neuere
how synfuft pey be knowe of here confessoure. H be iiij. fote
is pis : bou schuldyst coueytyn to ben holdyn synfuft, & bow3
&n-oper seyde, bou art wrecchyd, 3it in bin herte & tunge bou 24
schuldyst thynkyn & seyn, bou seyst sooth, pere is none
wrecchydere ban I. 1T pe v. fote is ]?is : 3if pou gladly here
bi defaw3tys. for brnarde seyth, he bat is very meke wolde
ben holdyn vyle, & no3t preysed, for he lokyth aftyr no lose. 28
pe vj. fote is bis : whanne bou sufferyst dyspy3t ioyfully as
dauyd dyde, bat sufferyd Semei his seruaunt to revyle hym
foule, and to castyn at hym 2 . bat aft he sufferyd vfyih meke
1 MS. in margin: ' no/a 7.' * 2 Sam. xvi. 5-10.
CH. xxxix.] Humility with regard to God and Man. 245
herte. be vij. fote is bis : whanne bou art pore in spyrite,
desyring no ryches ne worschip), but dely3tyng in herte of
vnworschipp), of dyspysing, & of pouert gostly. berfore crist
4 seyth J , blyssed be be pore in spyrite.
lj H be firste fote in brede of mekeiies is bis : loue bi god wyth Humility with
' 9 regard to God
herte | and body. If be secwwde fote is bis : prayse yche man/ [Fol. 78 b.]
be iij. fote is bis : lakke bi-self, & prayse be nojt/ be iiij. fote : neighbours.
8 loue pouerte, & be homly \vyih bi subiectys/ be v. fote is bis :
seme bou vfyih good wyll hyje & lowe. H be vj. fote is : fle
loos & praysing. be vij. fote in brede is bis : only and prince-
pally truste in god.
1 2 ffor be firste fote in brede, loue bi god 2 , & worschipp) in bi Love God
feyth. }if bou be symple of kuraiyng, trowe & beleue pe
woord of god, wytA-oute sekyng of resouws how it my3t be so,
as a 3ung chyld trowyth it sooth bat men sayu. loue & honours
i6bi god wyth symple mood, & thanke hym of aft gode bat he with a simple
hath don to be, As a poure man thankyth hym wyth aft his
myjt pat doth hym good, loue & honoure bi god \vyth deuoute
prayere. thynk bi-self vnworthy & pray to god \vyth terys, with prayer
and tears !
20 felyng bi-self badde & bare of goodnes, as a chyld bat kan nojt
his lessoun, stant nakyd a-forn hys mayster, dredyng, knelyth
douw ful hertyly praying.
1J ffor be secunde. preyse an-ober, in herte thynkynge oberes Praise your
neighbour for
24 wyttes bettere ban bine arn, wyllyng obere mennys wyll to be his virtues,
do rathere tan bin owyn, And trustyng more in ober mewnys
vertewe ban in [bin] owyn. Preyse in bi mowth alle obere
goodues, & puttyuge here goodnes beforn eueremore,
28 & here defawatys eueremore putte hem be-hynde, and aft bat and overlook
his faults!
is in dowte turne it to be beste, And eueremore putte opere
beforn to profyjt & to worschiji).
(C ffor be iii. fote in brede, dyspreyse bi-self in herte, tunge, & Reprove jour-
selves in your
33 dede 3 . In herte helde bi-self wrecchydest, vylest, vnworthyest. hearts,
putte pi gode dedys be-hynde, & thynke alwey of bin euytl, &
mycli repreue bi-self of bi mysdedys. Schryue be of bi de-^
1 Matt. v. 3. a MS. in margin : ' Dilige dem dui tuu?.'
3 MS. in margin: ' nofa bene.'
246 Behaviour towards the Poor and Distressed. [CH. xxxix.
do penance and fawjtys, jelde bat bou owyst, do penatmce, & almes-dede, &
deeds of mercy!
alle werkys of mercy.
Be kind to the II ffor be iiij. fote, loue pouerte. loue be companye of poore
folk, & helde here manerys in homlyhed. suffere hungyr, 4
thrust, & cold, & olpere dyssesys. Aske prayerys of gode
lyuerys. forsake rycches.
Be helpful to ffor be v. fote, be redy to serue be nedefuft. serue als ^
those in distress!
gladly be leste as be moste. god wasschyd his dyscyples fete. 8
Mekenes l makyth mail to serue in viij. maners, bat is, be
meke seruyth redyly, as be schypmayster redyly sterith be
schyp whan he seeth nede. he seruyth symplely, as a schep
goth mekely where his heerde wytl dryuen hym. he seruyth 12
comly, wyih herte & body, his god. he seruyth as doth be
lady bat is buxom & wel plesyd here husbonde, & non ober
man in folye. be meke seruyth comounly as an asse, bat
hath as leef to here whete as barly, rye as gold ; he goth as 16
faste for be emale as for be grete. be meke seruyth smertly,
& lyjtly, & strongly, and duryngly, as be suwne, bat be more
it ryseth be more strengthe it hath.
Shun praise and H ffor be vi. fote, fle loos & worschin) for wynd of veynglorye, 20
worship of
yourselves! as crist dede. wharaie he had fed be folk, & helyd be seke, he
fledde vn-to a mouwtayn, & bere he was in prayerys, for he
wolde no loos, ffle loos for tempest of tuwge, as a mayde bat
louyth a man peramoure, sche is a-schamyd as sone as sche 24
wott bat ony man perceyuyth it. so doth pe meke man ;
[Fol. 79 a.] whawne men spekyn of his maners, barane goth he in|-to a
preuy place bere he may dresse his thou3t to god, & ber-in
he hath solace. 28
Place your con- ffor be vij. fote, Truste bou in god ouer aft thyng in holy
fidence wholly .
in God ! conscyens, in hardy herte, thynke of goddys presence, and be
raysed to heuen) be holy thou3t. baraie se be world foul &
vggly, voyde of al goodnes. despyee be world, & held it but 32
fautasye, & chyldys game & as a dreem. and bawne forsake
it, for so doth be meke. be so hardy & trusty in god bat
1 MS. in margin : ' Miticia & pietas."
CH. xxxix.] Stories of Lepers. 247
J?ou dure abyde & taste f>e angrys of J?e worlde, or takyn Ipe
deth for goddys loue.
In Ipis vij. fote of depthe & vij. fole of brede in J?is ground
4 of mekenes, delue ]?ou doim, & J?ou schalt fynde pe spryng
of pe watyr of grace, pat is, )?e first jyfte of )?e holy gost,
J>e jyfte of dreed, to drede god & fle synne, & haue grace
to come to blysse.
8 [Earl TJieolald and the Leper.]
(, Exaumple l . Thebaldws au erle, ofte, whe?ine he weiite Earl Theobald
used to wash
forby a leprys hows, he wasschyd Ipe leprys fete, & jaf hyra a leper's feet.
almes. afterward pe lepre was deed, Ipe erl com) forby pe One day, when
heagain thought
12 leprys hows, and wende a waeschyd pe leprys feet, but he he had served
the leper, he
wasschyd be feet of crist clothid lyche be lepre. be erl felte had washed the
feet of Christ;
a swete smel, Ipe swetest pat euere he smellyd. After J?at pe
erl went out of pe leprys hows, and folk teld hym pat pe
1 6 lepre was deed longe be-forn. be erl thankyd god, whos feet for the leper had
died long before.
he wyst wel, present Ipat tyme, he had wasschyd in his propyr
persone, as he had wasschyd hym be fortyme in his membrys.
Lo, what watyr of grace of dreed sprong in Ipis erl !
20 [The Bishop of France and the
1 A bysschop in frauwce wesschyd leprys feet, pe bysschop A bishop
mette be Ipe weye a lepre. pe bysschop kyssed him. pe lepre
seyde : ' Bysschop, for pi lownes, wype wyth pi tunge oute of
24 my nase pe snevyl pat hangyth per-inne, for I may nojt suffere
no lynen) cloth towche it, for it is so sore.' be bysschop w?/tA wiped a leper's
nose with his
his tunge lykkyd it out lowly. And in his lykkyng, sodeynly tongue. Sud-
J J J denly a precious
out of pe leprys nose fel a precyous ston in-to pe byschopys ^"mouth 1 "*
28 mowth, schynyng biyjt & swete smellynge. & forth- \vijth, in be jJJ'dS to 1 **
syjt of ]>e bysschop, Ipe lepre stye vp to heuen).
Lo, in pis lownes how pis precyous ston of grace fell in-to
J>e bysschopys mowth. ]?er-fore, deluyth depe in lownesse tyl
1 MS. in margin : ' narracto.'
248 The ' Ground of Mercy ' and the l Well of Pity' [CM. xxxix., XL.
30 fynde h-e ston of grace, Ipat is, dreed of god, ]?at is, loue-
dreed, for ]?at castyth out synne & springeth in vert ewe.
' Timor domini expellit peccatum & delectat cor/ Ecc. pr/mo ' ;
& it lengyth lyif, Prouer. x. 2 It bryngeth thy soule to blysse. 4
Ad quod, &c\
G&pitulum xl.
De misericordia, & dono pietatis.
HEre be-forn I teld jou, whan J?e wose of pride were out ^
of joure pytt, whow je schul deluyn out grauel & sonde g
of ydelnes tyl je fynde a grouwde of lownes & mekenes 3 , and
}?at meknes, how je schul deluyn doun tyl 50 fynde a watyr-
spryng of grace, ]mt is, loue-dreed of god. ia
Having removed But now I schal telle sou, sif he wose of envye be out of
the ' ooze of
Envy ' and the ^oure pytt, whan je schul deluyn out grauel & sonde of ydemesse
ness.' you will tyl je fynden a groud of mercy. And pat mercy deluyth
of Mercy 'with d ouw tyl je fynden an-ob>er spryng of g7 - ace, bat is, ]?e secunde 16
tto'saroid'ajirt 3)'^ e ^ I 76 ^oly gost, h-e 3yfte of pyte 4 . Abuyle seyth, ]?e more
G^host. H ly grauel & sonde is smet & betyn viyih flodys of )?e se, ]?e more
salt & bytter it is ; Ryjt so, J?e more Ipou. be smett wyth ydett
thoujtys, woordys ; & dedys, J?e more byttere }>ou art in synue 20
[Pol. 79 b.] fro swetnesse of grace. ]?er-fore avoyde out wose of envye, | and
delue vnder hym awey J?e sonde & grauel of ydelnesse, wyth ]?e
spade of clennes, tyl h.ou fyude a sekyr & a cleue ground of
mercy. And in mercy delue doun depe tyl b-e watyr of grace 24
Mercy opposed springe, pat is, be sifte of pyte. Mercy is contrarye to envie.
to Envy
Envie enioyeth of operes dyssese, but Isidre seyth, )?ere mercy
hath rewthe & pyte of otherys harm). >er-fore Petyr seyth,
Prtwia Pe. iij. 5 , Beth compacyent & mercyfutt to joure ueyjbours 28
dyssese. Tpe glcse seyth vp-ou ]?is Ps. 6 ' Misericordia. mea &
refugium nieum/ }?at J>e feend is nojt so oue/'com) of ony o^er
1 Ecclesiasticus i. 27, 12. 3 Prov. x. 27.
3 MS. but now I schal telle $ou crossed.
4 MS. in margin : ' 2 m donum sp/rjtus sancti pieta?.' 'exempZ(tn).'
* I Peter iii. 8. * Ps. cxliii. 2.
CH. XL.] T/te Virtue of Mercy, 249
vertew as he is of mercy, for mercy to pe feend & to envie
is contrarye 1 . for ]>e feend and pe envyous man hath no mercy.
Jere. vj. 2 Seynt bernard seyth : Man, jif ]?ou faste, in ]?at pou
4 dyscordyst nojt fro pe feend ; pe feend fastyth, he eete neuere
mete. }if pou wake, so doth Ipe feend, he slepe neuere. jif pou
be chast, so is ]?e feend, he dyde neuere leccherye. jif pou kepe
sylence, so doth pe feend, he spekyth lytett. jif Ipou be mercyfutt,
8 J?at is contrarye to pe feend, for he hath no mercy 3 . per- fore, and to the Devil
Mat. v. 4 , Blyssed are pei pat be mercyfutt, for pei schul haue
mercy. pis mercy is a sekyr grouwde to fynden pe watyr of
grace, ffor clerkys seyn, jif pou be mercyful 6 , pou art amendyd
is of o]?eris harm, of operis foulnesse Tpou art clensyd, of o)?eris
pouert ]?ou art ryche, of cfyer'is sykenes Ipou art heyl, of olperis
5j charge }?ou art lyjthed. H What menyth pis ? jif pou haue
mercy & ruthe in bin hei te, & compassioun of oceris dyssese, Mercy improves
mind and soul.
1 6 it amendith be, it makyth pe clene, ryche, & heyl, & lyjt in
bi soule. And also whanne )?ou mercyfully forjeuyst pi wrongys,
wytA-oute wreche & raukure in herte, ]?at is mercy. Epli. ij. 8
' Estote benigni, misericordes, donantes inuice?n,' Beeth to-gedere
30 benyngne, mercyfutt, & iche of jou forjyue o]?er. Gal. vj. 7
' Alter alteriita honera portate,' Bere iche of jou o]?ej-is charge
in ruthe & mercyfutt of herte. Mercy excellyth iij. excellent it is superior to
penance,
vertuys, ]?at is, peuauwce, ryjtwysnesse, & charyte. Penaunce 8
2 4 offeryth ]?i body to god, but mercy offeryth to god ]?i soule.
j. thi. iiij. 9 ' Corporalis exercitacio ad modicum vtilis est : pietas
autem ad omnia.' Mercy excellyth ryjtwysnesse, for jif pou to righteousness,
synnere be a-ferd to fallyn in ]?i cause in chapitle of ryjtwys-
28 nesse, pou mayst apele thens to J>e concystorye of mercy, Ipai
is, fro pe ry3tfutt dome of god to his mercy, jif pou be pe
prouocayoun of penaunce apele be tyme a-forn pe notarye, bi
preest. Jac). iiij. 10 ' Superexaltat misericord'ia. iudicium.' Also
I MS. in margin : ' misericordi& contrar\& est invidie. no^a bene
passum.'
II Jer. xiv. 12 (?). 3 Cf. the story on p. 75. 4 Matt. v. 7.
s MS. in margin: ' misericordie virtu*.' * Epli. iv. 32.
7 Gal. vi. 2. 8 MS. in margin : ' penitencia & misericordi&C
9 i Tim. iv. 8. 10 James ii. 13.
250 Pi/y, the second Gift of the Holy Ghost. [CH. XL.
and to charity, mercy excellyth charyte 1 . charite is be flood of goddys goocl-
nesse, but bis flood kepyth hym wytA-inne hys wallys of
goodnesse, for he goth no}t ouer his brynkes, for charyte louyth
only goodues & gode folk, & to hem comounyth 2 his goodnes ; 4
But mercy \fyih pite flowyth ouer his wallys, & comounyth his
good to wycked lyuerys & gode bothe. Mercy is glad of oberis
prosperite, & hath ruthe & pyte of oberis dyssese. luxtfa illud
cor. xij. 3 ' Quis infirmatwr, & ego non infirmor ? qwis scan- 8
dalizat^^r, & ego non vror 1 ' Syn bis flood of mercy flowyth so
plentyuously ouer his wallys to frende & fo, bis is a good moyst
& a wattery ground for to haue in oure welle be-nethyn, bere be
wcse of envie stoppyth hym aboue be-forn. bis moyst ground 12
[Fol. 80 a.] mercy-kepyth sekyrly be watyr of grace. EC, xxvij. 4 ' Mt'seri- (&
cordia viri quasi sacculus cum ipso & graczain habens qwasi
pupillam oculi conseruabit.' Mercy in mararys herte is a sacche
\fyih hym hauyng grace, whiche schal kepyn hym as \>Q bal 16
of his ey^e.
From Mercy In bis ground mercy springeth a watyr of grace bat is clepyd
comes Pity, the
second gift of be 3yfte of pyte, bat is be secwnde jyfte of be holy gost. Pyte
is goodnes, whiche jyfte is in thre 5 , secundum Thomam de 20
veritate 6 . On is in worschepyng bi god, An-ober is in wor-
schepirg bi souereyns, be iij. is in releuyng be pouere. ffor be
firste, worschepe pi god in prayere & praysing, worschipp) holy
wrytt & goddys woord, bat is, beleue veryly bo to, & werke ^4
ber-after. And bou bat hast connyng teche it to be peple,
worschip) bi souereynys, Eeleue & helpe be pore fe bi subiectys.
bis pyte springeth in be ground of mercy as doth a sparogli.
BarthoZomews de proprieta^'&ws, li&ro xiij. capitulo xxxiij. , he 2 g
As the sparrow seyth, a sparowe 7 fedyth & noryschyth an-ober sparovves bryd,
bird forsaken by whan te dame hath forsakyn it; & wharnie a sparowe is takyn
its mother, or
tries to deliver j n a grynde & cryeth, huge multitude of sparwys aboute komyn
a companion 8 J
1 MS. in niargin : ' roisericordia, & caritas.' 2 MS. comouw-nyth.
3 2 Cor. xi. 29.
4 Ecclesiasticus xvii. 18. The Vulgate reads: ' Eleemosyna viri quasi
signacuhim cum ipso et graciam homiiiis quasi pupillam conservabit.'
5 MS. in margin: ' noa i, 2, 3.' 6 Cf. p. 166, note 2.
7 MS. iii margin : ' exewplwm bonuM de passere.'
CH. XL.] Simile of the Sjjarrow. 251
thedyr to-gedyr to helpyn pat sparwe jif bei my3te. Eyjt so, from a snare;
bei bat arn in ground of mercy haue springe-watyr of grace
& of pyte. ayf bei se here nev?boure in nede, serne bei trauaylyn so ought you to
J J behave towards
4 to helpyn hym out of his nede, wyt& here good jif bei be ryche, yourneiglibours.
& vfyth here prayers jif bei ben pouere, bat is to seye, bei 3euyn
or lenyn of here good to be nedefuft jif bei niowyn, & for^euyn
hem bat mown nojt payen, or ellys abyden tyl bei mowe payen,
8 or }if ppu be pouere & mayst nojt leue ne jyue, praye for hem
WT/t/t compassioun in pin herte. And aft pis is pyte, a spryng
of grace, pe secun&e jyfte of be holy gost.
Xl But be sparowe * puttyth here bryddes priuely in an evese As the birds
hide their young
12 of an hows, bat adderys schulde nojt come bere-to, & dystroyen ones,
hem, vt d^ct't Vrbanus, libra viij. ca])itulo vij. 2 A turtyl 8
also puttyth here bryddes in a priue place bat sche myjte be
more sekyrly kepyn hem, secundum bartho7omMm, Ii6ro xij.
1 6 capitulo xxxv. Ryjt so, ^if pe grace of pyte is in pin herte, ,
bou dost be werkys cf mercy priuyly, bat is to sayn, bow} bou so your deeds
doost hem opynly, tou doost hem in preuy entente desyryng
non opyn worschip) for hem, as seynt gregort'e seyth, ' Sic sib
20 opus in publico, vt iutencio maneat in oculto V Do gode dedys
opynly to 3euyn good exaiimple. ' 5 Sic luceat lux vestva, coram
hominibus, vt videant opera vestra bona, & glorificent patrem
vestrum.' but loke bou spere and schette be dore of bin herte,
24 bat in bi priuy entente bou desyre no wordly worschipn) berfore. or at least your
intention ought
' Intra in cubiculum cordis, & clause ostio intencz'onis, ora deum to remain, con-
cealed from the
& fac opera pietatis, & ipse qui videt in abscondito reddet tibi,' world,
secundum euang 8 , & crisostomum super Mat. in imperfect
28 O2>ere xiij. jif pou do bus bi dedys of mercy in priuy entent,
bamie art bou as a sparowe & as a turtyl bat puttyst pi
bryddes, bat is, bi gode dedys of mercy, in priuy hydde place in
1 MS. in margin : ' passer.'
8 The quotation probably refers to Rabanus Maurus, De Universe libri
xxii. Cf. lib. viii. c. vi. Migne, torn. in. col. 250.
3 MS. in margin : ' turtur.'
* MS. in margin : ' & misericordie opera pietatia in oculto & publico. 1
5 Matt. v. 16. Matt. vi. 6.
252 Story of the Knight Fort/icing to his Fathers Murderer. [CH. XL.
that you may pin entent, bat be addere, be feend, pat foul of raueyn, schal
not be tempted
into vainglory. no3t dystryen hem wyih veyn-glorye. but pou, wyt/t pi brydcles,
pat is, wyih pi dedys of mercy, schalt in pin ende flyen vp
to heuen), & pere schalt pou fynde a syker hows & a syker 4
[Fol. 80 b.] nest, | to puttyn in pi bryddes & pi-self bope. Ps. 1 ' Passer
inuenit sibi domum, & turtur nidum, vbi reponat pullos suos.'
Interpretation (figure here-of : Cryist 2 stey fro be mount of olyuete to be
of the Ascension
of Christ. hyl of heuene. Cryist on englysn is for to seyne anoynted, 8
Olyuete is for to seyne mercy 8 , Heuen) is pis hyje hytt. jif
pou be in pe ground of mercy pou art in olyuete ; panne art pou
crist, pat is to seyne, anoyntyd, pat is, vfyth grace, \vyth pe
jyfte of pyte pat spryngeth in mercy, pou crist, pat is, anoynted 1 2
\iyih grace of pyte, pat on pe hyl of olyuete, pat is, in hye
mercy, schalt in pin ende styin vp to pe hyje hyft of heuen).
per-fore, delue depe Vfyih pi spade of clennesse in pis grond
of lownesse tyl pou fynde pis spryng-watyr of grace, pat is, 16
jyfte of pyte, pat is, tyl pou forjyue pine enemy is, & haue pyte
on pe nedefuH. luc. vj. * ' Dinuttite & dimittetur vobis.' panne
pi pytt of lustys schal turnyn to a welle of lyif, in which grace
schal springe to pe woischijC of god, to helpe of pi nejhboure, ao
& to saluacyoun of pi soule.
\The Knight Forgiving to his Father s Murderer .]
A German Cesariws 5 he seyth pat in theutonia was a knyjt pat slowe Jj
knight slew the
father of an- be fadyr of an ober knyst. be sone of be fadyr so slayn mette 24.
other. When
he met the son, p e ober knyat bat slowe his fadir, & drowe his swerd, & schulde
he fell down on '
his knees, and a glayn hym. be kny3t bat slowe his fadyr fyl doun on knees
to his fete, & seyde, ' Syre knyjt, I pray be for loue of him
bat deyid on crosse to 3yue mercy to mankynde, haue bou mercy 28
on me.' In pise woordys pe oper knyjt was steryd to mercy,
& in bat mercy sprang be watyr of grace, pat is, pe jyfte of
1 I's. Ixxxiii. .(. 2 MS. in margin : ' figra
3 MS. in margin : ' X (christus) dicitur vnctus . oliuet misericordia..' 1
4 Luke vi. 37. The Vulgate reads : ' Dimitte, et dimittemini.'
5 MS. in margin : ' narrocio (\\iomodo quidam miles occidit patrewt
altcriws militt's . de pietate & wisericordia, filii militw occisi."
M v [J
:H. XL., XLI.] On Friendship. 253
pyte. And so, in bat pyte & in pat mercy, he lyfted hym
vp wytA his handys, & seyde to hym, ' lo, for bat mercy & for
bat pyte bat ihesu hadde in vs, I wil haue mercy & pyte on be.
4 I for3yue pe my faderys deth, & I kysse be in tokene of loue.' Forgiveness was
granted to him.
On good fryday aftyrward, pei wentyn to-gedyre to crepyn to On Good-Friday
when they went
be crosse. whamie be knyst kyssed be crosse.bat fooaf his to kiss the cross,
the Crucifix put
faden's deth to be ober kny3t, be crucyfixe halsyd hym abowtyn its arms round
8 his necke, & seyde, ' boa forsyue bis knyst bi faderos deth merciful knight,
and forgave nim
for my loue, & kyssed hym ; ber-fore I fo^eue be alle bi synnes a " his sil)Si
& kysse be.'
lo, in bis knj^tes mercy whiche grace & pyte sprang, where-
13 thru3 crist spake in bat crucyfixe, & fo^af bat kny3t his
synne. So do 36 mercy, bat grace of pyte sprynge in 3ow, Therefore, be
whereby youre synne may be for3ouyn. And be watyr of grace
in 3oure welle mowe flowe youre soule heye vp to henene. Ad
1 6 quod, &6.
C&pitulum xlj m .
De Amicicia.
Ere-beforn I teld 3011, 3if be wose of enuye be cast out
of 3oure pytt, bat 30 schulde delue douw depe tyl 36
fynde be ground of mercy. And in mercy deluyth depe doim
tyl 30 fynde a watyr-spryng of grace, pat is, be 3yfte of pyte.
But 3it, as for bis day werk, deluyth also in mercy depe tyl 36
24 fyndeu a syker groimde of frenschipri). And in pat ground 36 The 'ground of
. Friendship.'
schul fynde be watyr-spryng of grace, pe 3yfte of pyte. pis
ground of frenschype is vij. fote depe & vij. fote brode '.
be vij. fote depthe is vij. skylles, whi we schuldyn louyn. be Reasons why we
should love one
28 first skyl is bis : we han alle a fadyr in heuefi), bat made vs to another.
his | lyknes, ber-fore we owyn to be freendys as bretheryn. [Fol. 81 a.J
Anober skyl : we are cristenyd in oo baptera, & bou3t be o
pryse, be o monye, bat is, cristes blood, be iij. skyl : for we
1 MS. in margin : ' Amicicia luibft septem.'
254
The Seven Qualities of Friendship.
[CH. xri.
The seven quali
ties of friend-
ship are:
Innocence,
benignity,
obedience,
charity,
pity,
righteousness,
haue alle oon truthe, & we ben alle bouwdyn be oo lawe. J>e
iiij. skyl : we haue alle o lord, ]?at holdyth vs, body & soule,
vnder his schylde. )?e v. skyl : we arn alle felawys in goddys
host, ]?at yche day fyjten as his kny3tes, and alle we abyde on 4
warysoun. Ipe vj. skyl is j?is : ffor we arn alle of oo spyrite to
lyue gostly as we lyuen here bodyly. thruj pat spirite we are
chosyn goddys chylderyn. Ipe vij. skyl : for we arn alle lymes of
o body. ])e body is holy cherche, )?e heued is crist, & we arn J>e 8
lymes. pise arn J)e vij. fote in depthe, Ipai is, vij. skylles pat
schulde steryn a mawnys herte to loue & to schewe frenschipp).
in Ipe firste fote of brede in Ipis ground, of frenschip) is
innocence 1 , pat is to saye, non harmynge, non to deryn oper, 12
no more pan pe lymes of oo body, for ech-on is leef. 11 J>e
secwwde fote in brede is benignite 2 , pat is, to suffere, & to
be mure, & nojt veniable, ne holde wratthe in herte ; And
as iche lyme sufferyth olper pat hurtyth it & vengyth no5t 16
a3en. f>is benignite is in J^re. It vengyth him nojt. It
kepyth nojt longe wretthe in herte. It felyth no steryng of
hatrede ajens his neyjboure. \>e iij. fote in brede of frenschip) is
obedience 3 , }>at is, whan ]?ou art buxum to J?i souereyus, as alle |5
]>[ lymes arn to J>in herte, besy to don >t lykyth hym. J>e 21
iiij. fote in brede is charyte 4 , J?at makyth iche-on to seruyn &
to helpyn o]?er, wytA-oute mede or 3yfte, as we wolde in nede
}>ei dede to vs, & as oo lyme helpyth an-olper, & esyth hym in 24
peyne. so schulde we do to hem pat han nede or myscheef,
bothe jyue & lene, covmseyle & lere. ]?e v. fote in brede is
pyte 5 , J?at openyth a mawnys herte, and makyth him sory of
olper mennys euyl fare & to haue ioye of here welfare. J>e vj. 2&
fote in brede is ryjtwysnesse 8 , f>at makyth J)e to don ryjt, & to
haue compassiouw on alle syke & sory. Also ryjtwysnes
punyscheth euytt dedys, be lawe & resoim to amendyn hem,
and no^t suffryn hem to be schent. J?e vij. fote in brede is 32
1 MS. in margin : i?mocencia.'
8 MS. in margin : ' benignitas haJe/ trio, i, 2, 3.'
s MS. in margin : ' obediencia.' 4 MS. in margin: ' 4. caritas.'
8 MS. in margin : ' 5. pietas.' e MS. in margin : ' 6. rectitudo.'
CH. XLI.] T/ie Story of a Scholar's Vision. 255
parfy3t loue J , pat makyth man hardy to puttyn him-self in and perfect love,
peryle to sauyn an-ober man fro harm, as do bi lymes of bi
body, ffor }if on smyte at bin heued, J?in hand is redy to
4 defendyn pin heued. In )ns fote brede of frenschip) cryist jaf his
lyif for vs. ]:er-fore, deluyth depe in be grouwde of freudschip),
& je schul fyude a waterspring of grace, ]?at is, Ipe jyfte of pyte,
whiche schal brynge jow fro synne to grace & fro peyne to
8 blysse.
[A Scholars Vision of Righteousness, Truth, Peace, and Mercy '.]
(& Exaumple 2 . Magister Alexander episcopus mimlemensis 3 , in
postilh's suis, he seyth bat bere was a scolere of bononye al A wicked
12 jouyn to synne and wyckednesse, envyous, veniable, feft, &
dyspytous. In a vysiouw, pat clerk thou}te bat he was in dreamt that he
a feeld in an horryble tempest of thunder and leuen). he fledde about on a field
during a thin i-
for dreed to an hows. & clepyd for helpe. A womman answeryd, derstorm. He
went to the
16 ' I am ryjtwysnesse | bat dwellyth here, but J?ou art contrarye to [Fol. 81 b.]
me, for bou art wycked. her- fore, wyth me mayst pou nojt Righteousness,
abyde, for Ipi wrong acordyth nojt to my ryjt.' he fledde thens
for dreed to an-of>er hows, and cryed for helpe. A womman to the house of
20 answerde, 'I am truthe 4 , & J>ou art fals, contrarye to me, we
mowe nojt a-cordyn to-gedyre, go bi wey.' he ran bens in
bat dreedfutt tempest to an-o]?er hows & kallyd for helpe. bere to the house of
answeryd a womman, & seyde, ' I am pees 6 , & bou art dyscord, none would
_ receive him.
24 contrarye to me, for bi barett, Ipi dyscorde, J?i pride, pi felnesse,
pi wreche, bin vnmekenesse, acordyth nojt to my pees. " 6 Impijs
non est pax." J?er-fore, here mayt Ipou no^t dwelle, for J>ou hast
made myche dyssencyouw wytA bi tunge & dede. But I, pees, Yet Peace ad-
vised him to
28 coumeyle be bat ]?ou go to my suster faste by me dwellynge. find her sister
here name is mercy & mekenes 7 . sche is eueremore redy to
helpyn alle wretchys bat cryen to here for helpe.' pe clerk ran
1 MS. in margin : ' 7. perfectu* amor.' 2 MS. in margin : ' narraeio.'
3 ? Alexander (Petit) de Balscot, bishop of Meath (Mindensis), died
1397. (See Gams, Series Episcoporum. )
* MS. in margin : ' veritas dixit.' * MS. in margin : ' pax.'
* Isa. Ivii. 21. 7 MS. in margin : ' im'm'eon7ia & hwm'litas/
256 The Appeal to f/ie Cciirt of Mercy. [CH. XLI.
And Mercy to pe next hows, & cryed helpe. A wowman answeryd, ' I am
mercy 1 pat dwellyth here. I for- sake non pat me louyth, me
seruyth, and to me clepyth for helpe. pou clepyst now to me,
but pou hast nojt seruyd me, ne louyd here-be-forn in dedys 4
& in seruyse of mercy & of mekenes. But be-cause pou clepist
saved him from to me for helpe, I schal helpe Ipe. go pi wey saaf fro bis
the tempest,
that he might tempeste, and serue me, & loue me in dedys or mercy & 01
thenceforth
serve her. mekenesse. be mercyfutt to 1pm enemyes & to opere pat don pe 8
wrong, helpe pou poure, & pamie schalt pou haue mercy pat am
mercy of god ; for pou do mercy, no mercy schalt pou haue.
" 2 Indicium erit illi sine misericordi& qui non fecerit miseri-
cordiam." ' 12
perfore, apele fro pe chapetle of ryjtwysnesse, fro pe court
of truthe, fro )?e chapitle of pees, for in po thre courtys pou
sclmldyst be couuicte in pi cause, for pou art gylty in wrong,
in falsnes, in cruelte, in vnmekenes, and pe sentens of dampna- 16
Righteousness, cyowi schulde he aouyn aaens pe ; for ry3twysnesse may nojt
Peace 'cannot helpe pe in pi wrong, truthe may noat helpe [be] in bi falsnes,
help the sinner,
pees may no^t helpe )?e in pi debate, in pi pryde, in pi cruelte,
in pi dyscorde, in Jnn vnkyndenesse, in pin vnmercyfulhed. 20
perfore, apele fro pise iij. courtys of ryjtwysnes, of truthe, & of
unless he appeal pees, to be heyae archys of mercy be-tymes er be sentence be
to the court of *
Mercy. jouyu a3ens be, whil J?ou art heyl in pi bodyly lyif. bis court
of mercy is penauwce, contricyoun, confessiouw, & satysfaccyouw. 24
He must go to Go to pe iuge of god, pat is, to pe preest, and pere appele piself ^
iiiG spiritual
judge, the & v>i felawys, be feend, be world, & bi flescfi, of aft be felonye
priest, confess, J
bat Ipou, be pi felawys, hast don ajens god. telle Ipere how manye
personys fou hast slayn in soule thrugh" pi synne & pi wycked 2 ^
exaumple ; and panne art pou be kynges chyld of heuene, panne
be iustise, pe preest, schal clothe pe in why3t ledyr, pat is,
and do penance, armoure of clene penaunce. pere-wyth fy3te, & sle liem whom
pou hast appelyd, pat is, pe feend, pe world, & pi flesch. And 3 2
jif pere come a newe qwest, aftyrward, in ony newe felounye of
sinne to dainpne pe, jif ]?e x. comaumlementys wyt/t pe ij.
1 MS. in margin : ' miericord\& sum.' 2 James ii. 13.
CH. XLI.] Penance and Lent as Means of Salvation. 257
comauttdmentys of }?e gospel schuldyn endyte f>e, for pou hast
brokyn hem alle, ^erne, er ]?is quest come in ajens j^e a-forn >e | [Fol. 82 a.]
iustyse, }?e preest, jyue be 1 to }?i salarye, and seye f)ou art a clerk,
4 & canst redyn in bi sawtere. panne schal be iustyse, J>i preest,
do be redyn bis Psalme 2 of be sawtere : ' Miserere mei, dews, Read the peni-
tential psalm,
secimdwm magnam misericordiam tuam. haue mercy on me,
lord, vp-on bi gret mercy. J>is is be psalme in pe sawtere. bis
8 is be psalme of grace as be ^ere is be jere of grace, jif bou rede
wel )?is vers of mercy, Ipou schalt be sauyd for ]?i clergye, & be
put to be bysschopys prisoun of heuen), pat is, in-to purgatorye, andthoushait
and aftyrward be pourgyd out wyth a quest of clerkys, pat is, gtry,
1 2 wyih prayers of prestys & wyth suffragys of all holy cherche. and priests will
But wharaie Ipou hast don J?i felonye of synne, 3erne, er J?ou be
arestyd wyt/t deth, fle to chercfi, & kepe }>e Ipere xl. dayes, & Keep Lent!
after bat take te croys, & forswere be kynges londe, & kepe be
1 6 kynges weye. As ]?us : whan Ipou art onys schreuyn, bou fallyst
ajen after ]>i schryfte in dedly symie, Ipou art ajen ]?e kynges
feloun of heuen), for bou hast slayn ]?i soule. be xij. of ]?e quest,
]?at is, J?e x. comauwdementys & \>e too comaundmewtys of )?e
20 gospel, han endyjted pe. berfore fle to holy chercK, Ipat is, to
J>e sacrament of penauwce, & kepe Ipe Ipere xl. dayes in lentyn
of bi penauwco. ffor clerkys seyn, In xl. dayes be chyld in be And as the child
.in the mother's
moders wombe hath ful schap of alle his bodyly membrys, & in womb, after
forty days, is
24 j?e xl. day god puttyth Ipe Eoule & lyif in-to )?e bcdy of be chyld. ^ d'wfthVife
^ Vude veritas : ' Quadraginta diebus edificatum est templum
corporis pueri.' Ry3t so, pou in dedly synne, dysfyguryd
& dysformyd in alle J?i gostly & bodyly membrys in al ]?e longe
28 jere before, & deed wytAoute lyif of grace in }n soule; hast
grauwt in holy cherche xl. dayes in lentyn, bat bi membrys, so shalt thou be
cured in all thy
dede be-fore in synne, dysnguryd & dysformyd, myjten eucresyn limbs.
& reformyn ajen in-to hei e ryjt schap be penaunce & grace s ;
32 pat bin eyne, blynde be-forn in synne, ^arane mowe sen J>i
defawjtys \vyth wepyng terys ; And pin erys, deve be-forn to
here goddys wooed & Ipe voys of ]?e pouere, J)ane Ipat J>ei mowe
1 Omitted in MS. and added above the line. a Ps. 1. 3.
3 MS. in margin : ' qinqe stnsus.'
S
258 Easter-Communion. [CH. xu.
ben open) to here ; bi throte & bi mowth, dowme beforn &
glotynous, baraie bei ben opyn to * praysen & worschypen god ;
bi nase, be-forn smellyng vnleffully, bat bamie bei mowe smelle
swetnesse & goodnes of deuocyouw ; And bi feet, crokyd be-forn 4
to gon to ony goodnes, bat bawne bei mowe be lyght & redy to
gon to alle thynges bat arn worschipfuft to god & helthe to J>e
soule; Ip'm handys, schett be-forn fro almes-dede, pat f>ane
f>ey mowe ben openyd to alle gode werkys & to dedys of mrcy. g
pus in holy chercfi, be pe sacrament of penauwce, jif f>ou kepe
And on the be wel be xl. dayes of lentyn 2 , barme in be xl. day, bat is,
that is, Easter- estern day, god schal puttyn in-to bi body lyif & soule, bat is,
day, thou shalt J
^purified by hym-self in be sacrament, pat is, god & man, ftescfi & blood, 12
mumon. body & soule. As pi soule is lyif of bi body, so is god lyif of
[Fol. 82 b.] bi soule; whiche lyif entry th in-to bi body be xl. day, | bat is,
estern day. bus bawne fle to schryfte, to be reformyd & norysched
in penauwce, & quyked in grace fro deth of synne be xl. dayes 16
of lentyn. And J?awne J?e coroners, fie preest, schal take )?e
a cros of penauws in J>in handys, pat is, in pi werkys, & he
schall settyn pe in pe kynges weye of heuene, bat is, in be x.
comautt-dinentys. Ysa. xxx. 3 ' hec est * via, ambulate in ea : 20
neqwe a dextris neqtte a sinistris Bed via recta ambulate.' be -tf
The priest will coroner*?, be preest, schal sey to [jowl, goth in bis weye of be
set thee on the J J
right path. x. comau?zdmentys, goth nojt oute on ]?e ryjt syde in prosperyte
of J?e wordely lucre, coueytise & rycches, ne goth nojt out on 24
Je lyfte syde in lustys of %oure flescn, but kepyth J?e ryjte weye
in myddys of pe x. comaundementys. forswere pe kyuges londe,
J)at is, forsake pe lond of ]>e cleuyl, f>at is, dedly synne, & kepe
wel fe cros of penaunce in pin hande, bat is, in bi werk ; for 28
jif bou kaste bat fro be, & go out of be kynges weye on eyber
syde, bat is, out of be comauwdmentys, ober for coueytise or
wordly muk, or for lust of bi flescK ; bin enmye, be feende,
Therefore, keep schal pursewe be, & sle be in soule. ber-fore, kepe be weye of 32
the Ten Com-
inandments, be x. comauTMiementys & be cros of penaunce, turne nojt ajen
do penance,
1 MS. to to.
2 MS. in margin : ' dies 40' qwadragesime . no<a bene.'
3 Isa. xxx. 21. * Added by later hand above the line.
. XLI, XLII.] The ' Gravel of Misconduct.' 259
H to Jri synne. Mat. xx . 1 ' Qui non accipit crucem, & sequitur avoid sin;
me, non est me dignus.' Kepe be in be gronde of mercy &.of
mekenes, baraie schalt sprynge vr&iyr of grace in bi welle, bat is,
4 pyte, be secwnde ayffce of grace of be holy gost. barane scbalt and thou shalt
W have mercy of
bou haue mercy of god, & be sauyd fro deth of dampnacyoun to God !
endles lyif of heuen. Ad quod, &c).
Capitulum xlij m .
De malo regim-me cordis, oris, & operis.
yf be wose of wretthe be cast out of 3oure pytt, as I telde Beneath the
ooze of Wrath'
sou here-be-forn, banne, for bis day werk, kastyth out bis is the 'gravel of
Misconduct.'
grauel benethyn, bere wretthe was abouyn. bis grauel is mys-
12 gouernaunce. for as grauel is bareyn, and beryth no fruyte,
so mysgouernauwce is bareyn, & frutyth noat in goodnesse to
be soule. Job vj. 2 'Arena maris hec grauior apparet.' Abuyle
seyth, Gouerne we vs no3t as drunke men, bat kun nojt gouerne
1 6 hem-self, bat in resoun and in truthe we fayle of oure gouern-
auwce. A man seynge his neyjbourys hows brynne, & kepyth A man who,
nost his owne hows, but takyth of be fyir of his neysbours, & neighbour's
house on fire,
brennyth bere-wytA his owyn hows; he gouernyth hym euele. burns his own,
20 Ry^t so, who-so takyth hede of oberys malyce synnes & de-
fawtys, and takyth non hede of his owne defawtys, but \ryih
be fyir of his neyjbourys synnes & malyce brewnyth his owyn is like him who
destroys his soul
hows of his conscyence in rankoure, wretthe, & hate, or euyl by denouncing
the sins of
24 demyng and supposyng in herte, & slaurwlryng, and in euyl others.
spekyng \fy\Ji mowth, in vnkyndely dedys ; Also pis man hath
mysgouernaunce, bat brennyth & dystroyeth in herte, tunge,
& dede, his owyn soule vtyth be fyir & slaundre of othir meraiys
28 synne. And bou se obere men brenne ]?in hows, & sufferyst
hem to don it, & myjtist lettyn it, bou hast mysgouernaunce.
Ryjt so, whan bou sufferyst bi thoujtys, bi woordys, & bi
werkys, for obere mennys synnes to peryssche bi soule, bou hast
1 Matt. x. 38. 2 Job vi. 3.
S 2
260
The Three Kinds of Misconduct.
[CH. XLII.
[Pol. 83 a.]
The three kinds
of misconduct
are:
Misconduct of
the heart, in
thinking evil of
one's neighbour.
Misconduct of
the tongue, in
22 manners :
i. Blasphemy,
2. grumbling,
3. laying one's
sins to another's
charge,
mysgouernaunce ; | qwiche gouernaimce is bareyn & hevy as
grauel to weyije })i soule douw to peyne. hec Abuyle. ]?us, Ipou
bareyn fro frujte of vrtuys be Ipis grauel of mysgouernauwce,
as a drye tre wytA-oute frujte, schalt ben hewyn dou/t wyth 4
deth in body & soule at Ipe doom, & be cast in-to endles fyir
but it be amendyd. Eze. vj. 1
Ipis grauell of mysgouernauwce is iij. fote depe. fote in pe
herte, an-o]?er is in ]?e tuuge, )?e iij. is in dede. 8
In herte 2 , mysgouernaunce is euyl demyng, euyl supposyng,
euyH thoujtys. of J>is mysgouernauwce schalt fcou ben accusyd
at J?e doom, sapiencia pn'mo 3 . pat is, why pou thoujtist so
euytt, why pou supposyd so euele. Sic dice't Watertourc 4 , who- 12
so diffoule )?e temple of god, ]?at is, J?in herte, \ryih suche euylle
thoujtys, god schal dystroyin hym. j cor. iiij 6 .
In tunge 6 is pis grauel of mysgouernaunce in xxij. inche
thycke. Ipe firste inche is in spekyng blasfemye, Ipat is, woordys 16
ajens be reuerens of god, ajens his 7 my^t, ajens his mercy,
a3ens his goodnes, or a^ens his ry^twysnesse. as an erthyn
pott, empty & voyde 8 , sett on be fyir brestyth on-sundir, and
jif it be full of lycoure, it brekyth nojt ; So, bou pat art empty 20
& voyde w^t/t-outyn grace, in Ipe fyir of tribulacyouw bou
brestyst out wytA woordes of vnworschyfi) to god. But jyf bou
be futt of watyr of grace, J;ou suffryst all, & thankyst god.
Ecc\ xxvij. 9 ' Vasa [figuli] probat fornax aduersitatis & temp- 24
tacionis.' be secun&e inche of mysgouernaunce in be mowth ^
is grucchyng 10 . As a carte-qweel, drye & vngrecyd, cryeth
lowdest of opere qwelys ; So, boa drye & nojt grecyd \fyik
grace grucchyst lowdest of alle olpere ayens bi god in ony 2 8
dyssese & tribulacyoun. H be thridde inche is pis : whanne
pou defendyst bi synne & pe defawte as Adam dede H , & puttyst
I Cf. JVTatt. iii. 10, and vii. 19. 2 MS. in margin : ' i. in corde.'
8 Referring to no special verse. * Cf. p. 168, note 3.
5 I Cor. iii. 17. * MS. in margin : ' 2. ore, nota 22. i. blasfemia.'
7 MS. his hip. 8 MS. in margin : ' exemplum.'
* Ecclesiasticus xxvii. 6. I0 MS. in margin : '2. mwrmuracio.'
II MS. in margin : ' 3. defensio peccuti. nota, bene istu? passum.
exemplum'
CH. XLII.] False Excuses. Swearing and Perjury. 261
pi synne on god or on an-oper man. Adam seyde, lord, J>e
womman whiche pou joue me to be my felawe dede me etyn
of pe appyl. Gen), iij . 1 As who seyth, pou & sche were cause
4 of my synne. So J?ou synfull man, obstynate in Jri synne,
excusyst ]>e, & seyst, I may nojt kepe Ipe halyday, for god wil
sende no wederyng on J^e werkeday, ne lucre of my craft, & so
I schulde lese my good & my profj^t. I tythed falsely, for
8 ellys I dede ajens pe vsage of my neyjbourys, perfore, I wyll
reyse vp non newe vse. I halpe Ipe poore man on J?e haly-day
wytA plowj, & carte, & olpere werk, for I wolde nojt lese my
werke on \>e werkeday aboute myn owyn good, how schulde
"I come be-tymes to chercn pat haue so myche to done ? I may
nojt late my good for-fare. I muste nedys weyin falsly chese
& wolle, spyserye & o]?ere thinges, & selle be false mesurys as
olpere don ; ellys schulde I loose per-on. I muste swere nedys,
16 & forswere me in chaffaryng & in o\>er wyse; ellys no man wylt
beleuyn me. I muste nedys be wyles, defraude, & falsnesse,
dysseyuen my neyjboure ; for sif I dede truthe I schulde neuere
thryue but ben a beggere. And nedys I, & my wyif, & my
ao chylderyn, | and my meyne muste lyve. Why schulde I paye [Fol. 83 b.]
j?e tythe tyl I sette on all J?e expensez of myn howsholde 1
Schal I paye pe tythe, whan I, & my wyif, chylderyn, & meyne,
mowe nojt lyven vfyih pe ix. partys 1 I dede pat sywne for dreed
24 of my deth, for dreed of enmyte, for dreed of lesyng of my
good, an-oper persone temptyd me so sore J?er-to pat I myjt
nojt wyih-stonde it. Lo, how manye false excusacyouws ]>e
tunge schewyth to defendyn & to exeusyn his synne! Whan
28 poule 2 seith, god sufferyth jow nojt to be temptyd so sore but
(ft, bat 5e mowe wz/tA^standyn it sif ae wyll. H Opere two inchys 4- and 5. swear-
ing and perjury,
in mysgouernauwce of J?e mowth 3 arn horryble ojris & for-
sweryng. A pot sethyng ouer J?e fyir boyleth out in swiche
32 lycour as is lper-in ; So, synfull lyuerys full of lycour of lustys
boylen suche synfuft othes & forswerynges as arn norysched
WT/t/i-inne in here synne. Prouer. xv. 4 ' Os fatuoram ebullit
1 Gen. iii. 12. 2 i Cor. x. 13. 8 MS. in margin : ' I. oris.'
4 Prov. xv. 2. MS. ' cor fatuorum,' &c.
262
Divers Kinds of Misconduct.
[CH. XLH.
6. lying, stulticiam.' be vj. inche in mysgouernaurace of Ipe mowth is
7. backbiting, lesynges 1 . ' Perdes omnea qui loquvmtw mendacium V be vij.
inche is bacbytyng s . A bacbytere is a bocherys dogge, euere-
more hauyng a blody mowth full of synfull defamynges, and 4
euere, as a dogge he lyckyth be wouwdys & J?e sorys of an-ober
man. he spekyth nojt of an-o))eres goodnes, but he spekyth
euer-more of his sorys, and of his woundys, & of his defawtys.
II >e viij. inche is }>is : many-full of woordys *. ' In multiloqtao 8
non deest peccatum 5 .' He bat hath manye woordys faryth as
a fool bat sellyth his chaffare wyt^,-outen wyjte & mesure. be
ix. inche is ydel woordys 6 , \>ai profyjteth nojt to be ne to Ipe
spekere; as Jerom seyth, An ydel spekere is as a tre beryng 12
levys & no fruy^t. be x. inche is speche of harlotrye &
rybaldrye, dy[s]honest woordys. bou bat spekyst so faryst as
a sowe or as an hogge, for bou art nojt aschamyd to puttyn
]>i mowth in as foul fylthe as bou puttyst bi fete, be xj. inche 16
is whanne bou behotyst myche thyng vndyscretly, and doost
no3t bi behest. ]?ou kepyst nojt bi promys, bou faryst as a
vyne wyih brode levys \>ai sone welkyn. be xij. inche is in
dyspisyng an-ober. bawne faryst J?ou as a lytel hound, J>at 20
lytel may do, & berkyth more ]?an a gret bocherys dogge. be
xiij. inche of mysgouemaunce of be mowth is chydyng ; whan
bou chydest bou art be ber-wyif of Ipe deuyl. whane J?ou
chydest ajen, bawne jeldyst it ajen to J>e feend wytA gouyll 24
& encres of synne. U ]>e xiiij. inche is whan bou scornyst gode
lyuerys. bou faryst as a blynde man. wharaie he wenyth to
spytten on be erthe, he spytteth on oberes face. Kyjt so,
wenyst Ipou to scornyn an erthly man & a synfull man in synne, 28
& J)ou scornyst & dyspysest his good conscyens, ]?at is, be face
15. bad counsel, of his soule. IT be xv. inche is whanne bou jeuyst to an-ober
8. loquacity,
9. idle talk,
10. ribaldry,
ii. unkept
promises,
13. despising
others,
13. chiding,
14. scorning
good people.
1 MS. in margin : ' 6. mendaciuwt.'
2 Ps. v. 7. 3 MS. in margin : ' 7 . detractor.'
4 MS. in margin : ' 8. multiloquium.'
6 Prov. x. 19. The Vulgate reads : deerit.
8 MS. in margin : ' 9. verba oct'osa.' Then the MS. goes on counting the
inches' without note in margin, till 17.
CH. XLII.] The Kinds of Misconduct concluded. 263
euyl coimseyl to don euyl ajens god & holy cherch, or ajens
obere qwyke or dede. bou faryst as an addere, for bou sleest
\fyih bi tunge whom bou towchyst \ryth 1pm euyl cowiseyl. be
4 xvj. inche is bis : wharaie bou sowyst dyscorde, & makyst wyth 16. sowing of
discord,
bi talys folk out of charyte & out of loue. bou faryst as a
m dragouw. bou spewyst out fyir, & breraiyst bi bettyr. be xvij. 17- cursing,
inche is bis : wharaie bou waryist & cursyst. bou faryst as
8 a iogoloure, bat werkyth be be deuyl. so | dost bou. be deuyl [Fol. 84 ]
is euere in bi mowth in warying & cursyng. bou doost be
feend a manere of worschipe & a sacrifyse, for bou namyst hym
so oftyn; as a iogoloure doth hym sacryfyse for to spedyn him
1 2 ire hys wycche-crafte. be xviij. inche is bis : whan bou flatryst ! l8 - flattery,
an-ober in his synne & in his euyl dede. bou faryst as an
houwde, bat lyckyth an-ober hound, wharaie he metyth hym,
be-hynde in be ers, in bat vnclene membre. vertewys arn
1 6 be-forn, synue is be-hynde, & foulere ban be ers, & bere bou,
wyih bi flateryng, kyssest hym bat is in his synne. be xix. 19. double-deal-
inche is bt's : when bou beryst too tungys 2 in bin heued. bou
faryst as an addere. bou hast a crokyd tunge heldyng wyth
20 hownd and wyih hare, be xx. inche 3 is bis : whan bou vsyst 20. tale-bearing,
faste to tellyn talys & tydynges. bou faryst as a wolf, for he
o monyth in be jere lyueth be be wynde ; so dost bou, in wynd
of swyche tydynges & talys is al bi lust & bi lyif. be xxi. 21. boasting,
24 inche is bis : whan bou bostest and braggyst, schakyst hogge
& avauntyst be. bou faryst as cuckow, bat euere syngeth his
owen name ; so bou euere-more kanst nojt speke ne preyse no
man but be-self. be xxii. inche is bis : wharaie bou bewrevist 22 - disclosing
secrets.
28 couwseyl. bou faryst as a sacche wytA-oute botome, bere may
no-thyng abyde ber-in. bou faryst as a wryed ; so in be no
conseyl may abyde, no couwseyl may be hyd in be vnseyn &
vnknowyn.
?2 bise xxij. forseyde inches of mysgouernawice in tunge arn be
bareyn grauett of bi mowth, secundum doctores. It arn hevy
1 MS. in margin : ' 18. Adulacio.'
2 MS. in margin : ' 19. bilinguis.'
* MS. in margin: ' 20, 21, 22,' without note.
264
The Legend of Julian the Confessor.
[cH. XLll.
Misconduct in
deed.
A stag once
prophesied to
Julian that he
should kill his
father and
mother.
J ulian fled,
[Fol. 84 b.]
served a foreign
prince, and
married. His
parents sought
him, and came
to his house
while he was
absent.
His wife made
them rest in her
bed, and went to
church.
Julian returned,
and thinking
his wife was
committing
adultery, slew
his parents.
to pi soule, as grauel makyth pe bareyn fro fruyjt of vertewys.
per-fore, caste out of pi pyt pis grauell !
J>e iij. fote depthe of pis grauel is mysgouernaunce in dede J ; QC
>at is, whawne f>ou gouernyst pe so in werkys ]?at it profyjteth 2 4
nojt to pe worschipp) of god, ne to ]?e helpe of )?i soule, ne to
)?in even-crysten), but hyndryn, harmyn, & encresyn synne &
malyce to ]?e & to pi ney3boure, as in pleying evylt gamys,
steryng olpere to wratthe ; alle suche gamys arn ydell & bareyn 8
as grauel of 3 mysgouernauwce. At pe doom, }?ou schalt jyue
acouwtys of alle J?i dedys gode & wycke. Ho. xiij .* Of J>i
gode werkys pou schalt rekene in what entent )?ou dedyst hem.
Ipon schalt ben inquyred whej^er pou dedyst hem for god or for 12
pe world, of pin ydell thoujtes & woordys pou schalt rekne
also, per-fore, pe grauel of mysgouernauwce in herte, tuwge,
and dede, caste out of Ipi pytt, & make it dreye as a welle to
springe wat?/r of grace & J?e watyr of lyif. J 6
[The Legend of Julian the ConfessorJ]
Exaumple 5 . Julyan pe confessoure whil he was jung, on JP
a day, in huntyng he pursewyd an hert. pe hert seyde to him :
' ]?ou pursewyst me to sle me. take hede pou schalt sle J?i 20
fadyr & pi modyr.' Julyan was a-stonyed of }?e hertys speche,
& fledde fer fro his cuntre in-to an-oper lande, Ipai suche myshap
schulde nojt fallyn hym. he ser|uyd a prince, & of hym was
made a knyjt. he weddyd a lady J^at hyjt Castellana. his 24
fadyr & modyr, for his goyng awey, sowjtyn hym in dyuerse
londys. At pe laste, whyl Julyan was oute, his fadyr & modyr
komyn to his castel to enquyren after hym. his wyif, be here
woordys, vnderstood \>ai here husbonde was hire sone, & made 28
hem bothe to lyne in here husbondy* bed & in here. Julyan,
erly on ]?e morwe, whil his wyif wente to cherche, come horn),
& fonde hem lyinge in his bed. wenyng pat it hadde ben his
wyif & here lemman, he slowe hem bothe in slepe. his wyif 32
1 MS. in margin : ' 3. inopcre.'
8 MS. &. * Horn. xiii. 4 (?).
2 be crossed in MS.
MS. in margin : ' narracio.'
CH. XLII. XLIII.] On Threefold Peace and Obedience. 265
com) fro cherch, and telcle hym bat his fadyr & raodyr were
comyn, & sleptyn in his bed. banne he wepyng seyde, ' I haue
slayn hem bothe as be hert me telde.' bawne he keste out be
4 wose of bat synne, & be graueft of aft mysgoueraauwce in
thowat, woord, & dede, in penauwce, and fledde to be court of For the sake of
penance, they
mercy, his wyif wente wytA him for-sakyng alt here hows & fh*"^"^^
loncl, lordschiji) & rychesse. And be-syde a watir bere myche
8 folk perysschedyn for defaute of feryage & of helpe, bere he
made hym an hospytalf, and resceyuyd & releuyd alle bat
komyn, & feryed hem ouer be watyr manye serys. At be laste, and kept a ferry
for many years.
at mydnyjt, he herde a rewfull voys wepyng & clepywg, ' Julyan one nteht,
Julian heard a
12 helpe me ouer pis watyr! Julyan ros, & wente ouer be watyr call, and carried
barefoot in cold frost, & fonde one bere ny deed for cold.
Julyan browste hym ouer in-to his hows, barcne turnyd bat
persone to a foule lepre, stynkynge. lie leyd hym in his bed, a leper over the
water.
16 for he hadde but one, he wryed hym. after bat, be lepre stey But the leper
out of be bed to heuen), & seyde: 'Julyan, Julyan, for pi who announced
. to him that he
gouernaunce m herte, tunge, & dede, god hath acceptyd pi had found for-
giveness of his
penauwce, & forjouyn be bi synne. Aftyr, Julyan dyed, & is sin.
20 a seynte in heuen).
lo, caste out be grauel of mysgouernaurace in herte, tunge, &
dede, vryih penauwce, as Julyan dede. and baraie schal watyr
of grace spryngen in jou, as it dede in hym ; whiche grace sclial
2 4 brynge jow to endeles ioye. Ad quod, &3.
C&pitulum xliij m .
De pace triplici & obediencia.
^ "V^
-
ober day, I telde sou, sif be wose of wretthe be out of The ' gravel of
Misconduct'
28 - joure pytt, how je schuldyn castyn out be grauel of mys-
gouernauns vnder pat wose of wratthe.
But now schal I telle aow of be howe or a pek-ex wherwwtA must be re-
moved with a
je muste stubbe out be grauel. bis howe hath an heed wytA pickax,
266
Meekness and Mildness.
[CH. XLlll.
Peace, which
has two ends,
Meekness and
Mildness.
Its handle is
benevolence.
Meekness
two endys, & an handyll \ J?is howe is pees. J>e on ende of Je
heued is reste of herte, bat is, mekenes. Ipe ober ende of f>e
[Pol. 85 a.] heued is myldenes in tunge. Ipe handy 1 is benygnyte in dede.|
Mekenes makyth pes in herte. myldenesse makyth pees in 4
tunge. benyngnyte makyth pees in werkyng. In signe of ]?ise
thre pees, ihesu, after his resurreccyouw aperyng to his apostelys,
seyde to hem thryes, ' Pax vobis,' Joli. xx. 2 , Pees to 3ou. Why
seyde he to hem thryes, pees to jow 1 3 for f>at we schulde kepen 8
thre manere of pees, bat is, pes in herte, pees in tunge, & pees
in dede. who-so loue to haue pes, & to make f>is pees, bei be
blyssed, & clepyd chyldryn of god. Mat. v. 4 ' Beati pacifici,
quoniam. filij dei vocabuwtwr.' 13
Ipe on ende in Ipe heued of Ipis howe of pees is reste, mekenesse,
tranquylite in herte. for whil vnmekenesse is in J>in herte, it
faryth as be see, euere troubelyth, & steryth, & hath no reste
ne pees, but rancoure & euyll desyres, euylle wylles, & ewyll 16
thoujtes. Isa. lij. 5 ' Cor impij qwasi mare feruens, cum. non est
pax, quod quiescere non potest.' f>er-fore, take mekenes in herte 6 ,
& ]?at schal fowyn out alt trouble and vnreste, all rankoure
& euyll desyres, & euyll wylles, & thouj^s. And )ms, mekenes 20
schal makyn J?in herte to restyn in pees & in quyete. Augi*s-
tinus, ' Pax est tranquillitas cordis.' jif J>ou be meke in herte,
Ipou schalt ben eyre of J?e kyngdom) of heuenX Mat. v.* 7 ' Beati
mites, quoniara. ipi possidebuwt terram.' 3if ]?ou be meke in 24
herte, f>ou art a bed of flourys, & a softe bolstre in whiche J>i god
slepyth & restyth. Cant, pn'wo ' Lectus meus floridus/ & in
Ps. 9 ' In pace factus est locus ems.'
fe olper ende in J?e heued of be howe of pees is myldenes in 28
tunge I0 . In J>i woordys be mylde, & ba?ine schalt bou ben eyre
of heuen). ' Mansueti autem hereditabuwt terram ".' And in
fi mylde speche, god redyly schal here bi prayere. Judith
MS. in margin : ' no<a 3" de pyko ys. vel howe. i, 2, 3,"
John xx. 19, 21, 26. s MS. in margin ' pax Xi (christi).'
Matt. v. 9. * Isa. Ivii. 20, 21. 6 MS. in margin : ' humilitas.'
Matt. v. 4. * Cant. i. 15. Vulgate reads : 'Lectulus noster.'
Ps. Ixxv. 3. 10 MS. in margin :' mititas.' " Ps. xxxvi. n.
makes the heart
rest in peace.
Mildness of
speech.
CH. XLHI.] Benevolence. 267
xiij. 1 ' cui humilium et raansuetoram semper placuit deprecacio.'
jif pou kepe myldenes in pi woordys, pou smytest out of J)i
mowth stryif, chydyng, & woordys of discord, and nurscheth
4& kepyth pes in tunge wyth pi neyjhboars. pe vyolence of The shock of
a gurme or of an engyne-ston 2 is qwenchyd, whan softe erthe or dul ^. by soft
softe thyng is sett per-jens ; ry3t so, Vfyih myldenes of softe ^r^b^J^
woordys pou schalt qwenchyn angry and boystous woordys of with mildness -
8 angry folk. Prouer. xv. 3 ' Eesponsio mollis frangt't iram.' Ec3.
iiij. 4 ' Affabilem te facito.' ' responde pacifice.' Be fayr of
speche, answers swetely ! panne deluyst pou out, \\yih mylde-
nes, dyspytows woordys. but pou do pus pou schalt nojt askape
12 pe dredefull ryjt of doom. Sap. j. B ' Qui loquitw iniqua, non
effugiet iudicimn. corripientis.'
1J pe handyl of pis ho we of pes is benygnyte in dedys 6 . do Benevolence.
^ good in benygne dedys to pi neyjhbour & non harme. EpK. iiij. 7
16 ' Estote benigni.' %if an-oper do j?e harrae, do pou hym non
harme ajen ; ]?ou makyst debate and no pees, jif pou do him
8 good for pin harme, J?awne, in pi dede, makyst pou pees,
j. pe. iij. 9 | ' Non reddentes malum pro malo.' Et apostolua 10 . [Pol- 85 b.]
20 ' Noli vincere malum in malo, sed vince in bono malum.' be Do not return
evil for evil !
glose interliniare seyth pat it is nojt worthy god to be mercy-
full to hym pat is cruel & vnmercyfull. for seynt Austyn seyth,
he f>at sekyth on an-oper pat dyde hym harme, he purchasyth
24 to hym-self of god a grevow turment of peyne. whi 1 for god God has re-
served for him-
hath weddyd to hym-self, n secundum doctores, two wyves 12 , pat
is, wreche & worschijD. pise two god hath reseruyd to him-self
fro alle opere creaturys, for he wyll pat worschypp) only be don
I Judith ix. 16. Vulgate : ' sed humilium et m. s. tibi pi. d.'
a MS. in margin: ' exemplum.' * Prov. xv. i.
4 Ecclesiasticus iv. 7. Vulgate : ' Congregation! pauperum a. t. f.' And
ibid. iv. 8, ' responde illi pacifica.'
* Sapientia i. 8. Vulgate : 'nee praeteriet ilium corripiensjudicium.*
6 MS. in margin : ' benignitas.' 7 Eph. iv. 32.
8 MS. & non harm crossed. I Pet. iii. 9.
10 Rom. xii. 21. Vulgate : ' Noli vinci a malo,' &c.
II MS. X. dowterys crossed.
12 MS. in margin : ' vxores duas deas sibi (?) reseruauit, scilicet vin-
dictam & honorem.'
268
The ' Ground of Obedience'
[CH. XL1II.
When the
' gravel of Mis-
conduct ' is
removed,
you will find
the ' ground of
Obedience '
beneath.
Obedience to
God.
to hym, & J>at wreche be takyn to hym, ]?at is to seyne, desyre
no worschijD, for J?at longyth to god. ysa. xliij . 1 ' Gloriam
meai alter! non dabo.' Ipou doost a gret offens to J?i god, J>at
desyrest goddys wyif, ]?at is, worschipjD. J?ou doost a gret 4
trespas to god, ]>at takyst fro hym bis olper wyif, J>at is, wreche,
whanne bou takyst wreche on hem J?at don be harme ; for it
longyth to hym to take )?at wreche, & nojt to be. Deut. xxxj. 2
' Michi vindictaw, & ego retribuam.' ]?er-fore, be benygne in 8
dede, do goodnes to alle men, & make pees in J>i werkys ! Gat.
v. s ' Operenmr bonum ad onmes.'
wyth pis howe of pees & mekenes, myldenesse & goodnes, ^
delue out f>e gravel of mysgouernauwce fro herte, timge, & dede, 12
and panne schal be frute of ry3twysnesse be sowyn in bi welle.
Jac. iij. 4 ' ffructws iusticie in pace semiwatwr.' wyth bin howe
of pees dygge doim deppere in J>i welle, whan be grauel is
out, tyl pou fynde a clene grourale 6 . for mekenesse of herte, 6
myldenes of tunge, goodnes of werkynge, schal brynge be to
fynde a clene grouwd, bat is, obedyence, ]?e ground of grace.
Ps. 6 'Propter benignitatem cordis, & mansuetudinem oris, &
iusticiam operis, deducet te mirabiliter dextera tua, id est, bona 20
occupacio 7 tua, ad funduwi gracie, id est, ad obedienciam.'
whawne ]?ou fyndest bzs ground of obedyens, & felyst it, panne
it makyth be tame as a lambe, }?ere wretthe made J?e first ferse
& wylde as a lyoun. Tper-fore, wyih bin howe of pes dygge 34
doun in bis grounde of obedyens iij. fote in depthe. In pe
firste fote 8 obeye ]?e to bi god & to his comaundmentys. In
be ij. fote obeye jje to holy cherche, & to pe prelatys of holy
cherct, & to Ipe lawys & ordynauncys of holy cherche. In J?e 28
iij. fote obeye be to bi souereynys.
In be firste fote depthe of the grouwd of obedyens, obeye fe
1 Isa. xlii. 8, or xlviii. n.
8 Deut. xxxii. 35. ' Mea est ultio,' &c. seems to be confused with Rom.
xii. 19, ' Mihi vindicta,' &c.
3 Gal. vi. 10. * James iii. 18.
5 MS. in margin : ' Obedicncta Deo,' Ps. xliv. 5.
7 MS. ' occupacio.' ' MS, in margin : ' i, a, 3.'
CH. XLIII.] Obedience to God. , 269
to pi god. lowly kepe his comavmdmentys, breke hem nojt. jif
Jrou be in wordly worschipfD, rycches, & prosperite, and art
sterryd in lustys of fleschly coueytise of muk, or in worschyppe
4 of Ipe world, to breke ony comauwdment of god ; obeye ]?e to- pi
god, & kepe his byddyng and seye to pi flesch, to Ipe world, and
to Ipe feend, as crist seyde, Jofi. vij . 1 , I am nojt comyn iii-to
Ipis world, to fulfylle myn owyn wilt in lustys, worschip), &
8 coueytise, but for to werkyn his wylt pat | sente me hedyr. [Pol. 86 a.]
'Descendi, non vt facerem voluntatem meam, sed voluntatew
eius qui misit me.' jif fou be in sykenesse, aduersite, tribula-
cyouw, slauralre, losse, harm), or in ony olper dyssese, grucche
12 nojt in pin herte ajens pi goddys wylle, but obeye pi wylt to ]?i
goddys wylt, and sey to god in J?i dytsese as crist seyde to his
fadyr in his passyoun, Mat. xxvj 2 , ' Pater, non mea voluntas
fiat, sed sicut tu vis.' ffadyr of heuen), be it nojt as I wylt, but
16 be it as Ipoa. wylt. Obeye pi wyll, & conforme ]?i wyll, to plese
pi god, & to suffers rathere deth ]?an for to brekyn his comauml-
mentys, to wretthin hym in ony dedly synne. Seynt bernarde
seyth, cryist loste his lyif for obedyens to his fadyr. for
20 obedyens he bowyd his heued on Ipe cros lowly doun to his
fadyr Joh. xix. 3 ; vnobedyens drof Adam out of Paradyis.
Gen) iij. 4 So, jif J>ou be vuobedyent to god, & breke his byd-
dynges, pin vnobedyens schal schette pe out of heuen). jif pou
24 obeye to goddys comauwdmentys, & breke hem nojt, J>in obedyens
[echal be pin] heuene-keye, pat schal opyne to pe heuen)-gatys.
ffigure here-of Mat. xvj. 5 ' Simon, tibi dabo claues regni celo-
rwm.' Simon interpreiatur obediens. pou obedient to me, pi
28 god, I schal jyuen to pe \>e keyes of heuen). ^yf "pou wylt
entryn 8 heuefi), take pise keyis of obedyens to god. dygge
doun in pis ferst fote.
JrJ In Ipe ij. fote of depthe of pis ground obedyens 7 , obeye pe to Obedience to
32 holy 8 cherche, to J>e prelatys, to fe sacramentys, to Ipe lawys,
1 John vi. 38. 2 Matt. xxvi. 39. s John x5x. 30.
* Gen. iii. 23. 5 Matt. xvi. 19. ' MS. entryn entryn.
7 MS. in margin : ' Obedicncia prelattj sacramewtis ecclm'e & Aomitii
ordinationi." 8 MS. grouwde.
270 Obedience to the Church awl fo Superiors. [CH. xun.
& to J>e ordenaunce of holy cherch", and to pe teching, & to
correccyouw, to ]?e heryng of pi seruyse & of goddys woord.
jif j?ou do pus, pou schalt haue reste & pes in soule in erthe &
in heuenX ' Obediens dat pacewi.' prouer. xiij. 1 & Malacli. 4
xiiij. 2 ' Qui tenet preceptum, id est, ecclesie, in pace versabitw.'
Obeye \>Q to pe prelatys and curatys of holy cherche. Poule
seyth, Epfi. v.*, Chyldryn, obeyith to 3oure prelatys & to
$oure curatys, and submytte jow to hem ; pei wakyn & prayen 8
for 3ow, as for to jeldyn acouwtys for 3oure soules afore pe
doom) of crist. Seynt gregorie seyth, 3if we be obedyent to oure
prelatys & curatys, god schal obeye hym to oure prayerye.
Seynt Austyn seyth, So prayere schal sonere ben herd of god Ia
to hym pat is obedyent J?an .x. thowsande prayerys of hym Ipat
is vnobedyent. per-fore, in pis secunAe fote of groimde of (fa,
obedyens deluyth douw with joure mattok of pees tyl je come
Obedience to to pe iij. fote of depthe, & bat is, obeye be to ]>i souereyns 4 , nojt 16
to synne & to don euytt; for seynt gregorie seyth, pou owyst
nojt to don euylt for ony obedyens of fader or moder, of lord
ne of mayster. Seynt Austyn seyth, In all goodnesse be
obedyent to ]?i souereyn, but nojt in wyckydnes. In alle 20
[Fol. 86 b.] thynges leffult pat arn no synne | obeye pe to pi souereyn,
)?ow3 Ipou be no3t bouwdyn perto, & pat obedyens is habundaunt
and perfyjt. Petir seyth, je seruau?itys and subiectys, beeth
subiectys to %oure lordys and maystrys, no3t only to gode & 24
sobre souereynes but also to mysgouernyd, so it be in no sywne
ne in wyckydnesse. j. pe. ij. 5 Seynt bernard seyth pat god
ponysschyth no-thyng but propyr wylt, ]?at is, whan on is vn-
obedyent, & dooth hys owyn propir wytt. perfore, leve pin 28
owyn propyr wyll 6 , & be obedyent to god, to holy cherche, to
prelatys, to souereynes, & non helle schal be to pe, seyth seynt
1 Prov. xiii. 13. Vulgate : ' Qui timet preceptum,' &c.
a Malachi ii. 6. 3 Heb. xiii. 17 (?).
4 MS. in margin : ' 3. obediencia superioribw*.'
5 i Pet. ii. 18.
* MS. in margin : ' diinitte v ?) proprium arbitrium & infernwa no/t
erit.'
CH. xxm.] The Story of a Nun who Moped from her Convent. 271
bernard. Cryist eete iii be hous of Symond, luB. vij. 1 , bat is,
in \>Q conscyens & in be soule of him >at is obedyent god
restyth, & is gostly fed. J^erfore, wyt/t be mattok of ]>e howe
4 of pees deluyth out be grauel of mysgouernauwce, & in be
ground of obedyens deluyth dour* depe, bat joure pytt of lustys
may be a depe welle to springe watyr of grace !
[The Holy Virgin holding the Office of a Nun who Eloped
from her Convent.]
JF Exaumple 2 . A nuwne bat hyate Beatrix, sexteyn of here A nun called
* : ... . Beatrix, the
hows, fayr in body, fayrere in soule, meke, mylde, benigne, and sexton to her
obedyent to god, to holy cherche 3 , to here abbesse, & lowly to
ia alle here sustren, deuoute in prayerys & in here seruyse, And
sche louyd specyally oure lady ; often & longe sche was * wowed
of a clerk, to ben his loue. At be laste, after cumplyn, sche, so
sore temptyd, acordyd to gon awey vryth be clerk, but ferst, eloped with a
1 6 a-forn an ymage of oure lady knelyng sche seyde : ' lady, bis having delivered
up her keys to
temptacyouw may I no lengere wythstondyn. haue here ]>e the Holy Virgin.
keyis of myn offyce, jif bou wylt ; I go my wey.' Sche leyde
here keyjes be ]?e ymage, & 6 wente here wey vryih ]>e clerk.
20 Longe after, he was wery of here, & putte here awey fro hym. After a time, the
clerk forsook
oche wepte sore, sche kowde no crafte to lyve perby, sche durste her.
noat gon aaen to here cloystre for schame, but sche was comouw
to alle bat wolde haue here, xv. jere durynge. Afte?- bo xv. Fifteen years
had elapsed,
24 aere. in a beggerys wede sche wente horn to be gatys of here when she again
came to the
hows, wyih a ful sorwe in herte for here synne, purposyng to be gates of the
' r r J ' convent, and
schreue, and to levyn here synue, & to obeye to be correccyowi inquired after
of here abbesse for here defaute, & seyde to pe portere, ' knowyst
28 bou owjt swyche a mmne pat hyjte Beatrix, pat was sexteyn of
bis hows xv. jere gon and more ? ' pe portere seyde, ' I knowe She was told
that Beatrix was
here wel for a blyssed womman, sche is jit here in here offyse, still there,
most meke, mylde, & obedyente, of alle here susterys.' bis
3 2 Beatrix seyde it was no3t so, for sche was out of bis hows xv.
1 Luke vii. 36.
2 MS. in margin : ' exemplum aiue narracio. Miraculum beate marie.'
3 MS. chercher. * MS. wonte dotted. 5 MS. wey crossed.
272 Beatrix resumes her Office. [CH. XLHI, XLIV.
3ere a-forne. pe portere seyde. ' nay, for sche is here jitt ; sche
and had never wente neuere oute sytli sche was professyd.' Beatrix, krowyng
left.
So she turned pat it was nojt so, turnyng fro here hows, purposyd for to go
Our Lady met O n beggyng, wepyng & sorwynge l . oure lady mette wyth here, 4
[Fol. 87 a.] & seyde : ' Beatrix, in thy | lyknesse and in pi clothyng I haue
that 'she had ^ on ^ n oflfyse, syth pou kest to me ]>i keyis of pin offyse,
held her office i r_ i i j o i_ j \. c
all the time, be-cause pou were meke, mylde, & obedyent. perfore, go now
which she might , j / , -L i o> TI i f f
resume now. pou, & do iuith pin oftyice as 1 haue don lor pe ; for no man 8
knowyth pi synne here but pi-self, for alle pi susteryn wendyn
of me, pat it hadde ben pou.' Oure lady biou3te here to here
celle, and toke here ajen here key^es, & vanyst awey fro here.
Beatryx, \vyih-oute schamyng of here susterys, was schreuyn 12
priuely, & dede penauwce, and kepyd mekenes, myldenesse, &
benygnyte, & obedyens, in-to here ende.
Lo, how pe mattok in pe howe of here mekenes, myldenesse,
& benygnite, dalfe out of here in-to pe ground of obedyence all 16
pe grauel of here mysgoueraauwce, and broujt here to worschipp)
fro schame, to vertuys fro synne, fro sorwe to ioyje. Ry3t so,
36 pat are full of grauel of mysgouernauwce in thou3t, in woord,
& in dede, take pis mattok wyih bothe his endys, \vyih his 20
handyl, pat is, mekenes in herte, and \vyth myldnesse in tunge,
& vtyth benygnyte in dede ; here-wyth delue doun depe in pe
Be obedient to grouwde of obedyence to god, to holy cherch, and to pi souereyns,
V'< Ml, tO tilt*
church, and to p a t pi schelde pytt of lustys mowe be a depe welle wyth watyr 24
of grace, whiche grace mowe flowe pi soule hye vp to pe hyll
of heuen). To whiche brynge vs he, Qui viuit, &S.
Ca/pitulum xliiij m .
De equitate & de dono sciencie. 2 8
HEre-be-forn I telde 3ou, whan pe wose of wretthe is out of ^
3oure pytt of lustys, paraie 36 muste wyt/t pe mattok of
pes dyggen vp out of y>ure pytt pe grauel be-nethyn of mys-
gouernauwce ; and pawne I bad 3ow dygge doun deppere in pe 32
1 MS. sorwepyng wepynge crossed.
CH. xi.iv.] Equity reconciles Reason to Will. 273
thredde fote depthe in be grond of obedyens : and now I schal Through obedi-
ence you will
telle jow how je schul deluyn doun deppere in be grouwd of attain to equity,
equyte tyl 3oure welle be depe ynow to springe be watyr of
4 grace.
Equyte is an euynhede. bis vertu euynhed acordyth to which reconciles
^ J reason to will,
resoun wyth wyft. bis groimd of equyte is ij. panellys 1 . II In
be to panel equyte acordyth resouw -vryth wyll, and be ober
8 panel eqwite acordyth wyll vfyih resouw. Eyther of bise ij.
panys is iiij. fote brocle.
In be first pane, equyte in resourt. in be firste fote brede. Equity will
" J ' teach a reason-
inquyreth be sothe of trewe men : how, & fro whens, a thyng able man how
J to behave in life,
12 comyth er he wyll beleue it. In be secw?ide fote brede, equyte
in resouw gouernyth a man in demyng, bat he afferme nojt
a thyng tyl he be syker of be sothe. In be iij., equyte in
resour* makyth a man to thynkyn bat is profyjtable, for it
1 6 fastenyth in herte iij. partys : On is, to thynke on bing bat is '
dary. An-ober is, to vnderstonde be thyng bat is semende. be
iij. thyng is, to purveye be thyng bat befallyth. In be iiij. fote
brede, equyte makyth a man in resouw to takyn hede, whamie he
20 schaft spekyn, or be stylle, bat he spylle no woordys inveyn.
In be secwwde | panel of bis ground in equyte, In be first [Pol. 87 b.]
fote brede. eqwite in wyll makyth wyll to acorde wyth resouw while it directs
J J his will towards
in loue, bat is, to loue no-thynge but bat profyjteth his theprotitof his
24 soule. And in be secunde fote brede, equyte in wyK acordyth
to resouw, for banne he dredyth no-thyng but bat is ajens his
soule. In be iij. fote brede, equyte in wylt acordyth to resouw,
for he enioyeth no3t ellys but of bat bat makyth hym perfyjt.
28 Eqwite in wytt, in be iiij. fote brede, acordyth to resouw, for he
hath no sorwe but of tat ]?at is ajens goddys wyll.
bis equyte in resouw and in wyll, in eyther panell. is vij. Equity affords
J seven kinds of
fote thicke 2 , bat is to seye, equite schewyth vij. degrees, bat is, mental power:
32 vij. nianere of 3 clere syat. In be feist fote thycke of equyte, se i. To examine
one's conscience,
bi-self in bi conscyens wyt/i-ynne *, & ransake on yche syde
1 MS. in margin : 'no/aduo, i, 2. Eqwitas.'
2 MS. in margin : ' eqaitas 7 tem demonstrat.'
3 Added in MS. above the line. 4 MS. in margin : ' i. vide (?) intra te.'
T
274
Mental Powers afforded by Equity.
[CH. XLIV.
s. to control
one's body
and senses.
3. to avoid the
perils of wealth
4. to take exam
pie by good
people,
and 5. to com-
miserate
sinners,
6. to escape the
temptations of
the Devil,
and 7. to live in
the sightof God,
In the 'ground
of Equity '
springs a well
[Fol. 88 a.]
whiche is good, & whiche is euyl, & ordeyne 1pm entent after
pe reward of resoiw, so ])at pi resoim & wyll be ry^t on a-corde.
U In pe sectmde fote of J>is grouwde eqwite, Se pi body vnder
Ipe \ }>at it be euenly gouernyd in penaimce fro lustys, in 4
mesure, in J>at hyin befallyth, in mesure of clothyng, of etyng,
of drynkyng ; for pe body askyth outrage in wyll ajens resoun
in mesure of equyte. Se also pat pi v. wyttes be gouernyd be
equyte in resouw & wyll acordyng, pat pei turne fro vyces & g
vanytees, as Ipe eye to se, Ipe ere to here, Ipe nose to smelle, Ipe
mowth to speke, pe handys & all Ipe body to fele. Jnse arn Ipe
wyndowys of Ipe body, & Ipe gatys of Ipe soule, thru} pe whiche
deth entryth in-to pi soule. In Ipe iij. fote thycke of equyte, se 12
clerly a-fore Ipe 2 , pat wordly rychesse dysseyuyth pe, & stroyeth
pi soule, but equyte in resoun & wyll be kepte acordynge. In
Ipe iiij. fote thycke of equyte, se clerly on Ipi ry}t syde s gode
lyuerys, & take exaumple of hem, & do wel, pat pi dedys be 16
reulyd be resouw as equyte wyll. In pe v. fote of equyte, se
clerly on pi left syde 4 mysdoerys, pat kun nojt hyde here foly,
for pei arn on Ipe lyfte syde of crist. haue compassiou of here
euyll condycyouw, and besyly fle here synne, in equyte of resouw 20
& of wyil. In Ipe vj. fote thykke of equyte, se clerly be-hynde
Ipe 5 . take kepe of pe feend, pat standyth be-hynde J)e, &
wayteth wyih wyles to wynne )?e. ]7erfore, vse equyte in resouw
and wyll, & drede hym nojt. II In Ipe vij. fote thycke of equyte, 24
se clerly aboue }>e 6 . haue god be-fore ]?in eyje, pat pe entent
of pin herte be clene in alle pi dedys. for w?/t/i-oute ry}t entent
almes-dede may be synne, & vertuys may be vyces ; for jif
equyte fayle in entent, pe vertu turnyth to synne, for vryth- 28
outyn equyte in entente is no vertu but vyce. Eutent ryjt
w?/t7i equyte is to do gode werkys only for good love. Yfyth
pe mattok of pes dygge douw. in pe ground of obedyens and in
pis vij. fote depthe of equyte, and 36 schul fynde in ^oure welle 32
a watyr-spryng of grace, whiche watyr of grace schal springen
1 MS. in margin : ' 2. subter te.'
3 MS. in margin : ' 4. a dextris.'
5 MS. in margin : ' 6. post te.'
2 MS. in margin : '3. ante te.'
1 MS. in margin : ' 5. a sinistris.
MS. in margin : ' 7- Supra te.'
CH. XLIV.] Knowledge the Third Gift of the Holy Ghost. 275
oute vij. stremys, bat is, vij. vertuys a5ens be vij. dedly synnes. whose streams
. . . ... are the seven
On is lownesse a^ens pride, Anober is love a3ens envye, be iij. virtues opposed
is debonerte ajens wratthe, be iiij. is strengthe ajens slowthe, sins -
4 be v. is cliastyte ajens leccherye, be vj. is sobyrnesse ajens
glotonye, be vij. is largenesse a^ens coueytyse 1 . bise arn be
vij. stremys bat be watyr of grace in be ground of obedyence
& of equyte springeth vp in bi welle to dystrye be vij. dedly
8 synnes.
But bis grace in be ground of equyte, bat spryngeth vp bise This well is
Knowledge,
vij. stremys of vertuys, is be jyfte of knowynge, of kunnynge 2 . which is the
tli in I trnt of
bis is be iij. 3yfte of be holy gost. jyf bou, in equyte, haue bis the Holy Ghost.
12 jyfte of knowynge, banne seest bi-self wel wrecchyd & syn-
fuft, banne mooruyst bou, & wepyst sore, bat watyr of terys
flowyn out of bi welle, banne art bou blyssed \vyth grace, as
crist seyth, blyssed be bei bat wepe, for bei schal be counfortyd 3 .
16 bis jyfte of grace, bat is, knowyng be-self, makyth be to wepyn
in vj. maners 4 . On is, for bou hast wratthyd bi god. An-obr
is dreed of peynes of helle. be iij. is for angry s bat bou seest
gode lyuerys suffere wrongefully. be iiij. is for sywnes bat
20 folys hauwtyn. be v. is for be wrecchyd lyif bat we felyn here,
and for bis lyif be lyif comyng is taryed longe. be vj. wepyng
corayth of deuocyoun of be mynde of cristes passioun, & of gret
plente of blysse, bat crist hath grauntyd to his, and of be felyng
24 of be grace of be holy gost. bise vj. maners wepyng of terys
spryngeth in bi welle be jyfte of knowyng 5 , jif bou, thru3 grace,
kanst knowe bi-self. wratthe blyndeth J?i gostly ey3e, bat bou
no3t knowyst be-self, ne be wyl of god, for rankour & malyce.
28 Ps. B ' Turbattts est a furore oculus meus.' But bis 3yfte of
knowyng in be grou?zd of obedyens & of equite springeth to be
grace of knowyng to knowe be-self, & to werkyn goddys wyll.
God cursed adam for his vnobedyens, and for he kepte no3t be
32 ground of equyte. Gen), iij. 7 ' Maledicta terra in opere tuo.'
1 MS. in margin : ' Rernedia contra, 7tem pecco/a morfalia.*
a MS. in margin : ' donuw sciencie.' 3 Matt. v. 5.
4 MS. in margin : 'noa 6. i, 2, 3,' &c.
5 MS. in margin : ' de dono sciencie.' 6 Ps. vi. 8. ' Gen. iii. 17.
T 2
276 Knowledge a Means of Coming to Heaven. [CH. XLIV
But god blyssed Symimd, \d est, obediens in eqwitate, ffor he
was obedyent in equite \ ' Beatws es symon bariona.' Mat. xvj. 2
Syn he is blyssed in grace, bat is, in be ground of obedyens in
equyte, and bis grace is a knowyng of be-self, bat is, be iij. jyfte 4
of be holy gost ; vnderstondyth banne weel what bis knowyng
The lessons that is ! it techyth be to ly ven ryjtfully a-monge euyll lyuerys, & to
ofourseives teche ryjtly, & to defende bi feyth wyth resouns fro inpugnyng
of heretykes ; It techyth how bou schalt absteyne fro synne & 8
wyckydnesse, and how bou schalt medefully mynystryn, ex-
pendyn, dysposyn, bi temperall godys ; It techyth be be resouw
to redresse bi werkys lyckly to be conformyd to J>i feyth ; It
[Fol. 88 b.] techyth f>e bat wyckydnesse may | no3t ben hyd to be vnder 12
colourc of goodnesse. be bis jyfte of kunnyng bou knowyst
bi-self what bou art, wher-of bou art, what bou schalt be. It
techytz bi conscyens what bou schalt do, & what J?ou schalt
bydden obere do in resoun and equyte. bis 3yfte of kuraiyng 16
techyth be nojt of be sterrys, ne of ober sotyltes of be vij.
scyencys ; but it techyth be to kun knowe be-self, whawne J?ou
art synfull, & whawne bou art ryjtfult, and how J?ou schalt
gouerne be to saue ]?i soule. 20
\_The Means of Coming to Heaven is to Know Ourselves J]
A fiend, that in Alysander 8 in cromcis \ibro viii., he seyth, A feend was in (ft
a certain city
ft C y^ e w h om m y c he folk worschepyd for here god. and o man
the ^nowfedKe* corn P e ^yd hy m to tellyn hym how he myjt best come to heuen). 24
d f ucted e to C n " }?e feend seyde : ' to knowe bi-self. To knowe sterrys, & ober
coufd be a*c- scyens, bat kunnyng comyth of stodye ; but to knowe be-self
comyth of no skole, ne of no clergye, ne of no letterure. ffor
' doctourys of lawe & of dyuynyte, & maystrys of obere scyence, 28
sumtyme summe of hem knowe no3t hem-self, ne wylt nojt
knowyn hem-self, to gouerne hem fro synne to ryjtwysnesse ;
but summe lay-men kun bettyr knowyn hem-self in gouern-
auce fro sywne ban summe grete clerkys. berfore, bis jyfte 32
of knowynge comyth of be holy gost, & nojt of skole. ffor
1 MS and bw grace crossed. 2 Matt. xvi. 17.
3 MS. in margin : ' narracio.'
CH. XLIV.] The Story of John of Damascus. 277
be holy gost jeuyth nojt bis jyfte of kuranynge for here furryd for it was
granted by th6
tabbardys, hoclys, chymerys, & pylyouws, but be holy gost jeuyth Holy Ghost to
the Icsrnccl find
bis kunnynp- & know~rag to leryd & lewyd bat arn in be grouwde laymen who
lived in obe-
4 of obedyence in ful equyte. to hem springeth be holy gost bis dience and
watyr of grace to knowe hem-self, & to gouerne hem-self in
goodnesse.'
(figure here-of luB. vltimo 1 . Cryst ledde his apostlys out interpretation
of Christ's As-
8 of Bethauye, and blyssed hem, & barme he stey to 2 heuefi). S? 1 }? 11 from
Bethania interpretatwr donms obediencie, bat is, to bethanye
wyth equyte. whan crist hath broujt be fro wretthe to obedi-
ence, bat is, to Bethanye & equyte, barme he blysseth be \\yih
12 his hand, bat is, wyih his jyfte of kurmyng for to knowe be-self
to gouerne be in vertuys, to stye vp fro Bethanye to heuefD, pat
is, in obedyens & equyte to styen vp to endles blys. j. pe. j. 3
' Sperate in earn, que vobis offertur, graciam, ex reuelacione
1 6 ihesu christ'i, id est, filij obediencie.' kepe be in grace, bat
is schewyd to jow be be reuelacyouw of ihesu crist, in be
kmrnyng of be holy gost, as chyldrin of obedyens in equyte
to styen vp to heuenJ in :joure ende.
20 [Our Lady heals the smit off' Hand of John of Damascus.]
13 Exaumple *. Prudenciws ex gestis lohawnis Damasceni, he
pes in herte, tuwge, and dede, he was obedyent, and kepte equyte
24 in alle his dedys. wher-fore be 3yfte of grace, bat is, be jyfte
of knowyng, .sprang in hym, for he kowde knowyn hym-self,
& kowde gouerne hym-self in thou3t, in woord, in dede, in pes,
in obedyens, in grace, as it schewyth be his lyif. he was a munk
28 and priour of his hows, & a clene mayden, & vfyth deuocyouw a P rior and
gretly louyd & worschepyd oure lady, & thrugli be 3yfte of
kuwnyng he | was a gret clerk in letture, in grew, and in latyn, [Pol. 89 a.]
in scyens of clergye. And pacyng obere he was gracyows in
32 wrytynge, in endyjtynge, & in syngynge. he was takyn viyih was captured
1 Luke xxiv. 50. 2 MS. hey crossed.
3 I Pet. i. 13. Vulgate reads : ' in revelationem.'
* MS. in margin : ' narracio.'
278 The Treachery of John's Pupil. [CH. XLIV.
by Saracens, sarasynes. and in bo marchys bere he was prisonere was a gret
lordys sone, whiche sone was put to bis Johuw to lere. Johuw.
enformyd hym in wrytyng, & in endyjtyng, in letture, & ober
kimnyng of clergye, bat his voys, his wrytynge, his endy3tyng, 4
to ony mawnys syjt was lycn be voys, lyche be hand, lyche be
and obtained a endytyng, of Johun his mayster. Theodosius Ipe emperowr toke
tion at court. to him bis Johuw, and louyd hym hugely. be lordys sone hadde
envye ber-wytA, bat his mayster was so louyd of be emperour, 8
& wyste wel bat his owen) hand & his owyn endy3tyng was
A pupil of his lyche be hand & be endyjtyng of Johuw his mayster. and he
wrote acompro- .
mising letter desyred to haue be souereynte aboue alone, he purposed his
in John's hand, J
maystrys deth, and wrote & endyjted a lettre of tresouw to be 1 2
emperour, bat men schulde wene his mayster Johun hadde
wretyn it. be lettere wyttnessyd bat Johuw hadde conceyvid
be emperoum deth. be lordys sone, whawne he had made bis
cursed lettere, he bare it to be emperoum paleys, closyd & 16
and dropped it enselyd, and lete it fallyn in swyche a place bere he wyste wel
in a place where
theemperour be emperour schulde sone fynde it. his skyl was, he wyst wel,
could find it. r J J
whawne it were fouwde & red, it schulde bewytt Johuw his
mayster, and bawne schulde Johuw his mayster be deed for be 20
lettere of tresouw, and bawne schulde he ben hey} bothe in
worschipp) & in loue of be emperour, as Johuw his mayster was
be-forn. be lettere was fouwdyn, & red a-forn be emperour.
John was con- alle men seydin bat it was Johuwys hand. Jolaun was a-freyned, 24
demned for
conspiracy. & dyspysed of be emperowr as a tretour. be emperour seyde to
hym, ' bis is bi lettere wretyn wyih bin owyn hand. bou
mayst nojt seye nay.' Jomm seyde, ' Syre emperour, bis is
lych myn hand & lyche myn endy3tynge ; but I take god to 28
wytnesse, I wrote it neuere.' Alle men seydin bat he ley},
& bat he was gylty to be deth. be emperour seyde, ' I haue
His right hand louyd bym wel : deed schal he nojt be, but his ryat hand, bat
was cut off, and J f
fixed to the wall wrote bis lettere, schal be smet of.' & so it was smet of, and, in 32
in his old con-
vent - dy8py}t of hym, born to his hous bere he was priour, and hangyd
^ ^ n J 56 m y ns ^ re a-forn an ymage of oure lady. Johuw koin)
home to his hous a-foru bat ymage of oure lady, & vnwryed his
wourale, & schewyd out his arme to be Image, & seyde, ' Lo, 36
CH. XLIV.] John's Rehabilitation. 279
lady, is bis be mede for my good dede bat I haue don to bi he complained
worschip) ] is bis Ipe reward, Ipe blysse, & ])e worschipp) to bi
seruauntys 1 lady, why hast bou )ms suiferyd me gyltles to be
4 schamyd & mayned 1 why hast bou sufferyd bis hand to be
smet of, bat hath wretyn to bi worschip) manye swete songys
and prayers of be / And often sacryd in sacrament of J>e awtere
( ]?e holy body of bi sone ? ' Johuw wente thens to bedde. & to The next night,
8 hym kom oure | lady, & seyde, ' what doost bou, my chyld, [Pol. 89 b.]
, , the Holy Virgin
trewe, meke, & obedyent in equyte to my sone & to me i appeared to him
Johim seyde, ' what askyst bou me, lady ? rathere I aske be
why bou hast sufferyd me gylteles to suffers ]?is dyspyjt. where
i 2 were bou, lady, whan I hadde ]?is schame 1 lo, lady, for my
most dyspyjt myn hand smet of hangyth junder a-forn bin
ymage.' Oure lady seyde, ' My chyld, be glad ! for bis sorwe
& schame sclial turne ]?e to heyj worschip) and ioye.' Oure
1 6 lady, in his syjte, fecchyd his hand, & sett it ajen on his arme,
j & blyssed it, & wente here wey. On be morwe, vryih alle his
bretheryn he thankyd god & oure lady, & schewyd his arme and healed his
arm.
& hand hool to aft be peple. be emperour herde of J^ot myracle, The emperor
. asked John's
20 and com) to hym, & cryed hym mercy, and kyssed his hand, pardon,
& askyd him jif he knewe ony swyche wrytere J?at wrote so
lycli hym. Johura. telde hym who it was bat wrote so lyche
hym. paraie be emperour putte bat lordys sone to a schamefull and his pupil
was put to death.
24 deth.
(f| IF Lo, takyth hede how falsnes and ma.lyce broujte be lordys
sone to a schamefull ende ; And obedyens, mekenesse, equyte,
& truthe, brow3te Johun to hey3 worschip) and grace, berfore,
28 castyth out of joure wose of synne grauel of mygouernaunce,
and wyth Ipe mattok of pes dyggeth douw depe in the ground
of obedyens & of equyte ! and panne schal in ^oure welle springe By obedience
and equity you
watyr of grace, bat is, Ipe ni. ?yfte of be holy gost, bat is, will attain to
the gift of know-
32 Ipe jyfte of knowyng, bat 36 mowe knowyu 3ow-self to forsake ing yourselves.
joure synne, to gouerne 3ow in vertewys, to encresyn in grace,
and to come to endles ioye.
To bis ioye brynge vs he, &B.
280
The ' Gravel of Obstinacy'
[CH. XLV.
Underneath the
' ooze of Sloth '
lies the ' gravel
of Obstinacy.'
Obstinacy
prevents your
hearts from
devotion.
[Fol. 90 a.]
C&pitulum xlv m .
De obstinacia cordis, oris, & operis.
3yf ]>e wose of slauthe is cast out of jowre pytt, castyth Q
out Ipe grauel be-nethe pe wose of slouthe. Jmt grauel 4
is obstynacye, pat is, hardnesse. lohannes de aqwaria villa *,
he seyth, A weye ful of grauett or of sande lettyth euyll a man
for to renne pere-in ; Ry}t so, he seyth, jif J?ou be futt of pe
erde and grauell-stonys of obstynacye 2 in herte, tunge, & dede, 8
Ipai is, full of heuynesse, & full of slugnesse, it lettyth euyl
J)i soule of his cours to heuen) ward. lohannea de abbatis villa 3
dicit, ' Arena amara est ; sic obstinacia in corde, ore, & opere.'
Gravel & sande is bytter ; so is obstynacye bytter in ]n con- 1 2
scyence.
pis grauel is iij. fote depe, pat is for to seyne, It is in thre
partys *, in herte, tunge, & dede. In herte B , as whan ]?in herte
is harde as a stone, & hath no deuocyouro to god, ne loue, ne 16
dreed, ne swetuesse, to lieuen) ward, ne ruthe, ne pyte, to J)in
owyn soule ne to )nn even)-crysten), quyke ne dede, ne swetnesse
in heryng dyuyne seruyse, ne in heryng goddys woord, no more
J>an a beeste, but euyl apayjed & wery in jrin herte Iper-of. J>is 20
is an hevy grauel & hard wyth stonys of obstynacye. pis
grauel is in louerys of wordly muk. here hertys ben hardere
]?an stonys of grauel, for in pe passiouw of crist harde stonys
brostyn o-sunder, but here hertys arn so harde in loue of )?e 24
world, and in slauthe to god ward, in loue of Ipe flesch, in lust
of synne; neyper for loue of god, ne for drede, ne for ruthe
& pyte of his deth, J?at it mowe nojt brestyn ne supplyn to
goodnes. perfore, je Ipat felyu pis grauell in joure pytt, casteth 28
it out of joure hertys, and praye to god ]?at he seye to jow Ipise
woordys, Eze. xxviij . 6 , I schal take fro jou 3oure harde hertys
1 Of. p. 168, note 3.
3 Cf. p. 5, note i.
* MS. in margin : ' i. in corde.'
2 MS. in margin : ' obstinacia.'
4 MS. in margin : ' notfa 3"*.'
* Ezek. xi. 19 and xxxvi. 26.
CH. XLV.] Obstinacy hinders Prayer and Good Deeds. 281
in slugnesse & wyckydnes, and I schal jeuyn jou a fleschyn)
herte softe & swete in deuocyoim. ' Auferam a vobis cor lapi-
deum, & dabo vobis cor carneuwi.'
4 be secunde fote of depthe of bis grauel is in bi. tunge ', bat is, Obstinacy pre-
vents you from
whan hardnesse of herte lettyth bi tunge, }?at it prayeth nojt praying de-
deuoutly, ne dystynctely, ne pryseth, ne thankyth swetely, bi
god / Seynt gregorie seyth, be grete mede of J>e blysse of heuen),
8 jif it delyjte pe in pi soule, it wyft lyjtyn be, & couwfortyn be,
bat bou schalt no3t dullyn and slawthyn in bi labour of bi
prayers. Ysa. v. 2 ' Deus plantam't vineawt, & eiecit lapides de
ea.' God sett a vyne, bat is, holy cherche, bat it schulde
12 floryssche in god prayers, & he kest out fro pis vyne of holy
cherche stonys, hem bat arn harde as stonys in herte and tunge
wytA-outyn deuocyoun and prayerys ; for pey be cast out of
pe cherche, bat schal be sauyd, as stonys & grauel, to ben
16 vnder bi feet in foule place, to gon ]?er-vp-on, pat is, in helle
to be dyffoulyd in foule & horryble peyne vnder be feet of
alle hethyn) men, for false cristene men schul be nethirest in
helle.
20 IF be iij. fote depthe of bis grauel is in bi werkys s , bat is, and hinders
good deeds,
whawne bou slawly, & vndeuoutly, & heuyly, wt/ih euyl wyll
doost ony good dede. bis heuy grauel lettyth be of bi cours
to heuenward, for bou may no3t in herte, tunge, ne dede, spedely
84 don Jn iurne to godwarde, neyther to loue hym, ne to knowe
hym, ne to worschipp) hym, ne to preyse him, for all ]?e herte,
tuwge, and dede, arn so harde as grauell-stonys, pat it mowe
nojt brestyn in deuocyouri to godwarde, but it arn supple ynow
28 to Je world, to J?e flesch, & to fe deuyll. A doctour, ffilius
|3 matri's *, he seyth B , whan crist kom) in-to fis world, heuen)
^ knewe hym, & worschepyd h} m, for heuen) sente doun aungelys
& a sterre, in worschipjD of his comynge / pe see & be wyride
1 MS. in margin : ' 2. lingua.'
a Isa. v. 2. Vulgate : ' Et sepivit earn, et lapides elegit ex ilia, et plan-
tavit earn,' &c.
3 MS. in margin : ' 3. in operibws.' * Cf. p. 223, note I.
5 MS. in margin : ' celuwt cognouit dominum mare terra sol.'
28.2
Man's Heart is Harder than Stone.
[CH. XLV.
knewyn him, and worschepedyn hym, for in oo. woord of his
mowth J?e see & J>e wynde were stylle. * ' Et facta est tran-
quil litas magna.' J?e see also obeyid vn-to god, & jaf hym weye
to gon vp-on hym vtyih his feet. pe erthe knewe god, & wor- 4
schepyd hym, for att erthe in his deth styrred and schakyd.
[Pol. 90 b.] J>e simne knewe god | in his deth, for he wyth-drowe his Iy3t.
helle knewe god, & 3alde to hym, whan he kome, Je soulys
whiche he boujte. But man, hardest J?an grauel-stonys in herte, 8
tunge, & dede, J>at hath resouw & vnder-stondyng, wyll nojt
knowe god ne dewly worschepyn him, neyj>er in herte, ne tunge,
ne dede. for he dredyth no wretthe, ne wreche of god, he
louyth no gostlyhede, he desyreth no swetnesse of heuenly 12
thynges, he resceyuyth no techyng of holy cherche, he kepyth
no comauwdmentys of god. he heryth 2 in holy chercli of goddys
woord how he schulde lyve, he seeth myraclys of god, he heryth
what god schal 3yue to hem J>at louyn hym, he knowyth what 16
god forfendyth hym, he is ofte smett wyth sykenesse, aduersyte,
losse, slauwdre, harme, hurte, & olper wreche of god, and ofte
warnyng & techyng in repreuyng ; and jitt he wyll nojt leve his
wyckydnes, ne knowe, ne worschype, his god. Here mayst Jwu 2
se Jat hast hard grauel, how pou art hardere J?an stonys. Ipou.
art werse J?an olpere creaturys ; for stonys brostyn a-sundyr in
his passiouw, Others creaturys knewyn hym, & worschepedyn
hym, in here kynde ; but Ipou art so hard Ipat }?ou mayst nojt 2 4
brestyn a-sunder to knowe f>i god in Ipi kynde. god comyth in
Ipe sacrament of )?e awtere on estern)-day to his creaturys, man
and womman, for to dwellyn in hym to sauyn here soulys ; but
summe arn harde in pride, envye, slawthe, wretthe, coueytise, 28
glotonye, & in wyll of leccherye, but J>ei worschepe hym nojt,
ne knowe him nojt, for J)ei don hym vnworschypp) in here grauel
of euytt herte, tunge, & dede. ' In propria venit, & sui eum
non-receperunt.' Joh. primo 8 . 33
Obstlnac^must ^^f 01 " 6 ? takyth a spade, & deluyth out }?is grauel of obstinacye
J* e nerte > tunge, & dede. J^is spade is mynde. J?is mynde
Man is more
obdurate than
unreasoning
creatures.
Remembrance."
Matt. viii. 26.
MS. yrketh crossed.
3 John i. ii.
CH. XLV.] Remembrance of Christ's Passion. 283
muste haue iij. partys as a spade l : a scharp scho be-forn, an
heued, and an handyll ; pat is to seye, pi mynde muste be in
thre : ferst a-forn in cristes passioun for pe scho ; next for pe
4 heed, pi mynde muste be on pe dredefull dome ; pe thridde for
J?e handyl haue mynde of pe fyir of helle. ffigure here-of Gen).
xv. 2 Abraham kecche awey flyes fro pe sacryfyse ; Ryst so,
kacche out flyes pat vndeuoutyth thou}t, wyth iij. thynges, }?at
8 is, wyth a scourge, wyih colde frost, & wyth fyir of hote watyr ;
Ryjt so, he seyth, kacche out pe flyes, obstynate thoujtes,
woordys, & dedys, fro pi sacryfyse in goddys seruyse
scoorgys of crystes passiouw in bi mynde. thynke how crist Remember
Christ's Passion!
12 made pe, & fedyth pe, & sufferyd deth for pe, and how he was
buffetyd, wouwdyd, betyn, scorgyd, prycked to | pe braynes, [Fol. 91 a.]
nayled to pe cros, stungyn to pe herte, & swette water and
blood, and fed wyth eysift & galle. Tre. iij. 3 ' Recordare pau-
16 pertatis mee & transgressionis mee absinthij & fellis, &cV
(| In mynde of pise woordys of his passioun pou schalt kacche
awey flyes of euyll thoujtys out of pin herte, and pis scho of
]?is spade, Ipat is, mynde of cristes passiouw, schal deluyn in-to
ao pin herte sorwe for pi synne, deuocyoura,, good wyll, holy thou3tys,
& desyres of heuenly thynges. Ysa. xlj. 4 'Visitabo super
fructuwi magnifici cordis.' God seyth, I schal vysite pe fruyjt
of a deuoute herte. what is ]?is fruyte 1 a deuoute herte -The fruits of a
pious heart are
24 sprmgeth out at pe eyjne pe fruyjte of thre manere wepynges :
On is, wepyng for thy synne. Ps. 5 ' Exitus aquarara deduxerunt sorrow for one's
oculi mei;' & tre. j. 6 'Plorans ploram in nocte,' id est, in
pecca^o. An-oper is, It springeth out of compassiouw, and of commiseration,
28 ruthe of an-oj><eres synne or of an-o]?ms myscheef. Eo. xij. 7
' fHere cum flentibws.' pe iij. is, it springeth out wepyng of and devotion.
deuocyouTi. Ps. 8 ' ffueruwt mihi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte.'
pe Psalmystre seyth, My terys of deuocyou?* han ben to me day
32 & nyjt my breed to fede wyth my soule. pise thre manere
1 MS. .'. i, 2, 3. a Gen. xv. n. 3 Thren. iii. 19.
1 Isa. x. 12. 5 Ps. cxviii. 136.
6 Thren. i. 2. Vulgate reads : ' p. ploravit in n.'
7 Rom. xii. 15. 8 Ps. xli. 4.
284 Remembrance of the Judgement and the Pains of Hell. [CH. XLV.
wepynges l arn Ipe fruyte of a devoute herte, whiche be mynde
of cristes passiouw bryngeth in-to J>in herte, & springeth out at
]?in ey}ne. bis wepyng wasscheth Ji soule, it sleth Ipe feend, it
springeth in-to ]?i welle, it qwenchyth Ipe fyir of temptacyoim, it 4
getyth lyjtly bat is askyd ryjtly, secimdum doc tores, it bryngeth
fro wordely sorwe to heuenly ioye. Ps. 2 ' Qui seminant in
lacrimis, in exultaceone metent.' Take J>is scho of }oure spade,
Ipat is, mynde of cristes deth, and wyth bis scourge of his 8
passioim J?ou schalt kacche out Ipe flyes of ydeft thoujtes, & it
schal bryngyn in deuocyouw and wepyng, & Ipe grauel of hevy
thou3tys schal be avoyded.
Remember the ffor be heed of bi spade, haue mynde of bi deth & of be u
dayofjudge-
ment, dreedfult dome s . thynke how bat day schal be a day of wreche,
of tribulacyouw, of angwyssch, of myscheef, of myseyse, of sorwe,
of drede, of dampnacyouw, of schame, & of confusiouw, and bis
mynde here-of schal make be in dreed cold as frost, and J?is 16
cold dreed schal chase awey be flyes of vndeuowte woordys fro bi
mowth 4 , secundum W&tertoun 6 , and it schal bryngyn in deuoute
prayers, prysinges, and thankynges to god, & trewe schryfte of
bi synnes, And ]?is fruyjte of bi mowth schal be ful fedyng to 20
J)i soule. prouer. xij. 6 ' fructu oris sui vnusquisqwe replebitur.'
EcB. x. 7 wycked & vndeuowte thoujtes arn as flyes bytynge R ,
J?at byten awey be swetnesse of J>e oynement of deuocyouw. but
be scourgys of cristes passioun in ))i mynde, & J?e cold frost, 24
Ipat is, be mynde of J?e dredeful dome, sleth bo flyes, or kacchyth
[Pol. 91 b.] hem awey, & qwyketh, & bryngeth inne | ajen, deuocyouw.
bawne, in bin herte and wyih Ipi mowth, bou schalt seye wytA
dauyd 9 , ' Benedicam dom^num in omni tempore, semper laus 28
eius in ore meo.' I schal worschepe god in euery tyme, alwey
his preysing be in my mowth.
He1n hd PainS f ^ or J 56 nan ^yl of fi spade, haue mynde of J?e hote fyr^ of ^
1 MS. in margin : ' fletws xi facit.' 2 Ps. cxxv. 5.
3 MS. in margin : ' dies iudicij.'
4 The quotation from Prov. which follows below, is put in here in MS.
and crossed. s Cf. page 168, n. 3.
Prov. xii. 14. Vulgate : ' De fructu,' &c. 7 Sapientia xvi. 9 (?).
8 MS. in margin : 'Musce quomodo fugabuntur.' ' Ps. xxxiii. 2.
CH. XLV.] The Story of the Angel and the Hermit. 285
helle. thynke, as ysaie seyth capitulo vltimo 1 , Ipe fyir of hem
bat arn, or schul be dampnyd, schal neuere be qwenchyd, ue be
werme Ipat is grucchyng in here conscyence, schal neuere deye.
4 }if bou thynke wel bis 2 , bis hote fyir schal sle or cacche awey
fro be, Ipe flyes of bi soule, & vndeuoute werkys, and it schal
brynge s in dedys of deuocyourt, dedys of penavmce, dedys of
almes, dedys of mercy. banne 30 mowe 4 seye, we be full
8 of frujte of gode werkys be be grace of crist ihesu to be
worschype of god. ' 5 Repleti fructu per 'ihesum christum in
laudem dei.'
bus, wyt/i bis spade, bat is, mynde of cristes passyoim, of be
12 dreedfutt dome, & of helle, pourge out Ipe grauel of hevy slug- sloth
nesse in thou3tes, woordys, & dedys. Ecc. vij. 6 ' A negligencia
purga te,' Make jou clene of bis necglygens wyt^ holy meende.
leronyrmis he seyth, Alwey be occupyed in sum goodnesse, bat is best remedied
by fruitful oc-
16 is, in good thoujt, woord, & dede, bat be feend fynde be alwey cupation.
occupyed, and so he schal fle fro be. jif bou delue bus wyth
bi spade, bat is, wyth bi good mynde, bis grauel of slouthe & of
necglygens fro herte, tunge, & dede, bawne schalt bou fynde
ao be-nethyn a clene ground, bat is, ryjtfulnesse, bat is, goodnes ;
for baruie schalt bou be ryjtfuit and good in herte, tunge, &
dede. bis ground of ryjtfulnes I schal schewe jow an-ober
day.
34 [An Angel showing to a Hermit the Righteousness of GodJ\
(ft lacobws de vitriaco 7 , he seyth bat an Heremyte jaf hym to A hermit began
ydell: & vnryjtefutt thoujtys, woordys, & dedys, wlier-foi-e be
feend broujte in-to his herte thoujtys of blasfemye a3ens be
28 worschip) of god. for hym thou3te bat god was vnry3tfull, for the justice of
he sufferyd wycked lyuerys to haue prosperyte in bts world,
welthe, helthe, worschyji), & rycches, and sufferyd gode lyuerys to
be turmentyd, falsely & gyltles, wytA enemyes, be slauwdrys &
1 Isa. Ixvi. 24.
2 MS. in margin : ' mortis passio X'(Christi) & timor ghewne.'
3 MS. bryngeth in. * MS. 36 schul mowe. s Philip. 1. II.
6 Ecclesiasticus vii. 34. MS. purgate. 7 MS. in margin : 'iiarracio.'
286 T/ie AngeFs Shocking Deeds. [CH. XLV.
harme, be pouert & sykenes, & be obere dyuerse aduersytees.
An angel pro- j n j,j s h e yy grauel of his evyll thou3tys, an aungyl mette wyth
him that God jjym j n mawn y S lyknessc, & bad liym folewyn him, and he
togethy el ' ed schulde se bat god was rystfull in his werkys. bei wente to- 4
The first nisrht, gydere, and be fii'ste nyjt weryn harberwyd wyih a ryjt good
n goblet from an man b a t made hem gentyl chere for goddys loue. On be
honest man, *
a "v 'it'to a, ay morwe > J 56 auw gyl stale awey be gode niannys maseer whiche
wicked one. -p a ^ g 00 j man I uyd best, be hermyte thoujte bat was an 8
vnkynde dede to hym bat made hem to fare so wel. be next
nyjt, bei were herberwyd wyth a cursed lyuere, bat made hem
euyl chere, & jaf hem no mete, ne drynk, ne beddyng, but
[Pol. 92 a.] an hows wykh a lytel strawe. | On be inorwe be auwgyl jaf bat T 2
cuppe whiche he stale, to bat cursyd man, bat made hem to fare
so euele. be hermyte thoujte bat pis was vnwysely don. be
The third night, thrydde iiyjt bei weryn herberwyd \vyih a good man, & haddyn
? e d rite e er the ^ ooc ^ cnere & good fare. On be morwe be auwgyll putte be 16
JTs't f their seruauwt of bat good man standynge on a brygge in-to be
watyr, and drenchyd hym. barine be heremyte thoujte bat his
felawe was acursyd, for he slowe bat seruauwt whiche bat good
n!ght U man mos ^ louyd. be iiij. nyjt, bei weryn herberwyd at an-ober 20
good mannys hows, & haddyn gret wel-fare. on bat ny3t, be
another mam's auri o7^ strangclyd be good mawuys chyld in be cradyl, bat cryed
thehennit'w'as * lettyd hem of slepe. On morwe erly bei wentyn, er men
resyn. J>e hermyte tlioujte Ipai his felawe was a membre of be 24
showed him' ge deuyll for bo dedys bat he sey3 hym do, & thoujte to forsake
how everything . . _,
had been done his cumpanye. be auwgyl seyde to hym : ' Euyr-more poo.
by the decrees n ,
of Providence, demyst euyli & to be werste, & gruccmst a3ens be ry3twysnes of
god. I am an aurcgyl sent to be fro god, to schewe be his preuy 28
domys, bat it be ry3tfutt and 11031 vnry3tfull as bou menyst. J>e
first good man bat we weryn herbarwyd wyth louyd bat cuppe
to fele & to myche, whiche bat I stale, and berfore I toke it fro
hym for his beste, bat his loue schulde be be more in god. and 32
I 3af bat masere to be cursyd man, bat he schulde haue his
inede in bis world, & no3t in heuene, for be fewe gode dedys bat
he dede. I drenchyd be seruauwt of be ober good man ; for on
be next n)3t lie purpos-yd to a slayn his mayster. berfore, bat 36
CH. XLV ; XL vi.] Explanation of the Angel's Deeds. 287
good man is sauyd, & his seruaunt hath be lease peyne in
helle, be-cause he slowe nojt his mayster in dede, but in wyll.
be chyld of be ober good man I slow, for bat good man, a-forn
4 be chyld was born, dede myche almesee, but sythen dede he non
alrnesse for to gadere to-gydere to makyn his chyld a ryche
eyre, and now I haue sauyd hym fro his gret coueytise, and
now he schal do almesse ajen, & be chyldes soule is in heuen). ' <
8 perfore, bou heremyte, haue mynde of cristes passyoun, and of
jf be dreedfutt doom, & of be endles fyir of helle, and bis mynde
schal voyde fro be tuche euyft demynges, & euyll thoujtys,
woordys, and dedys.'
12 Ryjt so, whanne je fele jou heuy with bis grauett of heuy &
ydel thoujtys & demynges, delue it out wytA Ipe spade of good Remember the
mynde in be passiouw of crist, & be dreed -futt dome, & in be Christ, the day
r of judgement,
peyne of helle, And bis mynde schal make jou to fynden a clene in? 6 )/*" 1 "! u f
1 6 ground of ryjtwysnesse, in whiche gi-ound be watyr of grace ri g hteous!
schal springe in-to jour welle, whiche schal brynge 3011 fro
wose [of J slouthe to watyr of deuocyouw, fro heuy grauel of
ydelnesse to fry3t of vertewys, fro sorwe & labour of bis world
20 to en deles reste & ioye.
To whiche ioye brynge vs he, &<3.
C&pitulum xlvj m .
De iusticia & probitate. [Foi. 92 b.]
Ql r I "Mie ober day, I told sow bat whan b e wose of slouthe were Underneath the
& 'ooze of Sloth'
25 -- cast out of 3oure pytt, 30 schuldyn wyt/t a spade, bat is,
mynde of c?'istes deth, of be doom, & of helle-peyne, delvyn out
be grauel of heuy & ydeft thou3tys, woordys, & dedys, bat arn and the ' gravel
28 barayne & vnry3tfult, tyl 36 fynde a clene ground of ry3twysi]esse J r JJ,y l i l j ^ ndthe
and of stedfastnes. Of bis ground schal I telle 3ow now. Righteousness,'
Johannes de Aqwaria villa J he seyth, bis grouncle of ryjtwys-
nesse is iiij. fote depe 2 . Oon fote is, to jeldyn bat bou owyst
1 Cf. p. 168, note 3. 2 MS. in margin : ' no<;i 4^. i, 2,3, 4.'
288
The ' Grounds of Righteousness and Strength.'
[CH. XLVI.
the worship of
God,
the love of one's
neighbour, the
care of one's
body
and soul.
And deeper
below is the
' ground of
Hardiness or
Strength,' con-
sisting of seven
parts :
i. A noble heart
which despises
the world,
:i i ii I aspires to
perfection ;
2. self-con-
fidence,
3. security,
4. patience,
to }>i god, J>at is, worschyp) & seruyse. An-olper fote is, to
jelde to J>i neyjbour f>at Jxm owyst hyra, J?at is, loue & good
counseyl. J>e iij. fote is, jelde ]?at J>ou owyst to J?y body, Ipat
is, trauayle & good occupacyoim. ]>e iiij. fote is, 3elde J>at J>ou 4
owyst to J>i soule, Ipat is, fedyng of goddys woord. Whan ]?ou
felyst in J?e ]>is ground, J?at Jou worschepyst Ipi god, )?0u
thynkest, & spekyst, & dost, non oper wyse to J>i neyjbour
J>an f>ou woldyst he dede to J?e, as f>e gospel seyth, Mat. vij. 1 8
As 36 woldyn o)?ere dedyn to jow, do 30 to hern. And J>ou
chastysest )?i body wytA penau?tce, & labour, and good occupa-
cyouw, and fedyst J>i soule wyih holy techyng, J?awne hast Jou
founde J>e cleue grouwd of ry3twysnesse in alle iiij. fote depthe. Ia
]?anne schalt Ipou fynde deppere a ground of hardynesse, J?at
makyth J>e hardy to ouercome vyces, & to fyjten a3en )?i gostely
enemyes. But jris ground of hardynesse is vij. fote depe 2 , \>ai
arn Ipise : Nobylnesse of herte, Trustyng, sekyrnes, sufferaunce, J 6
stedfastnes, Lastendnesse, Hungyr & thrust of ^twysnesse. ^
J?is ground of strengthe or hardynesse, ]?at makyth a man
strong or hardy to take a gret thyng for goddys loue, & it
armyth Tpe herte ]?at non angyr may hurte it, but futt slouthe 20
it kacchytz fro man.
]5e first fote depthe ]?er-of is nobylnes of herte schewynge in
to partyes : on is, it dyspyseth & fleeth J?e world, & al J?e
welthe J>er-of hym thynketh but wrecchydnesse. & ofyer it 2 4
doth, it makyth a man to chese hardynesse for goddys sake. >is
vertu makyth a man to vndertakyn J>e weye of perfeccyoun,
and to chese ]?e lyif J>at semyth hard here / J?e secunde fote
depthe of J?is ground of strengthe as trustyng. trustynge a8
settyth a mannys herte faste in goodnes, Ipat no-thyng may
lettyn hym, but he, wyih all hys my3t, fulfylleth ]?at he
begynueth / ]?e iij. fote depthe is sykernesse, J?at ledyth a
mawnys herte so ]?at he dredyth no peryle no peyne j?at men 3 a
mown ordeyne hym, but it makyth men to desyren angrys as
knyjtes desyren iustys or turneamentys / ]?e iiij. fote is suffer-
1 Matt. vii. 12.
2 in margin: '7*0 noa. ffortitudo. I, 2, 3,' &c.
CH. XLVI.] Strength the Fourth Gift of the Holy Ghost. 289
aimce pat helpyth a man to ouercomyn his enmyes, pe world,
pe flesct, and pe feeud. ffor sufferauns is to a man a scheeld
of gold, pat koueryth hym so pat * | no strook of tribulacyoun [Fol. 93 a.]
4 schal sore hurtyn hym. pe v. fote depthe is stedfastnesse, pat s- steadfastness,
makyth a numnys herte styff as a towre pat stant on a roche,
& as a rotefast tre pat no stoi me may ouyrthrowe ; so stedfast-
nesse makyth mannys herte, pat no chaunce may remoue ne
8 turne his wyll/ pe vj. fote of depthe is lastyngnes, pat makyth 6. perseverance,
a man alwey a-lych newe in goodnes & in gostly myjt, for it
comyth of a trewe herte, for it fayleth nojt in wele ne wo tyl
pe lyues ende/ pe vij. fote depthe is hungyr & thryst of i-. desire of
12 ryjtwysnesse, pat is, in hertly desyre of god. for a man schulde
desyre to jeldyn to god & to man ryjt, and jif he be myrtles
sumtyme, pat he may nojt do but puttyn his my3t in goddys
wyli; J?awne wylle god fulfyllen pat fayleth in hym. ffor god
1 6 seyde nojt, blyssed be pei pat arn ryjtfuK, but pel pat desyren
to do ryjtfulnesse.
(ft. Delue douw in bis ground alle bise vij. fote depthe in bis in the ' ground
of Hardiness '
ground of eostly nmt ; ba*rae schal pi welle be depe ynowe, & springs a well,
Strength, which
20 watyr of grace schal sprynge per-in, pat is, pe iiij. jyfte of pe is * ne f urt ^
holy gost, pe ^yfte of strengthe, whiche jyfte schal make pe Guost -
strong & myjty to dure in pe ground of goodnesse & of ryjtwys-
nesse in thoujtys, woordys, & dedys, pat pou schalt no3t be
24 wery, heuy, ne sluggy, ne fayle per-in, ne leve of, but euere pou
schalt be myjty fresch, & hungry, & thrusty, after ryjtwysnes
in herte, tung, & dede. panne art pou blyssed in grace of my^t
of pe holy gost. Mat. v. 3 Blyssed be pei pat hungryn and
28 thrysten ryjtwysnes, for pei schal be fulfilled in grace of
strengpe of pe holy gost, whiche strengthe in heueii) schal
fedyn pe wyt/t breed of aungelys, secundum glosam. It schal
also strengthyn pe, & makyn pe myjty, to wytstoudyn teinpta-
32 cyouws in synne, & to sufferyn dyssese for goddys loue, for
ryjtwysnesse, for truthe. prouer. xv. 8 'Domws iusti plurima
fortitude, & in fructibits impij conturbacio.' pe ryjtful man is
1 MS. l>at ]>at. 2 Matt. v. 6. 3 Prov. xv. 6.
U
290 The Story of the Monk-Physician. [CH. XLVI.
my3ty ; pe wycked man is trubelyd. ]?erfore, vryth }>e spade of
good mynde of god, & of Ipe doom, & of helle-peyne, delue out
pi grauel of slugnesse in-to pe grouwl of ryghtfulnesse & of
hardynesse, f>at pis watyr of grace, Ipe myjt of Ipe holy gost, 4
mowe springin in pi welle, to make pe myjtyly to ouercomyn
pin enmyes gostly, & my5tly to sufferyn alle tribulacyouws here,
bat pou in pin ende mowe skape to ioye.
[The Monk-Physician takes Our Lady's MedicineJ] 8
A Cistercian Exaumple \ Cesarius, a clerk, he tellyth bat in ordine cister- 19
monk,
nenci was a muwke ydel, & veyn, & vnobedyent, in herte, tuuge,
being a physi- & dede, for he was a leche, & wente a-bowte pe cuntre to cure
cian, neglected
his monasteriai folk, and wol selde he was at home in cloystre and in be qwere. 12
duties. On St.
[Fol. 93 b.] On a | solempne feste of oure lady, at matynes on pe nyjt, he
sawthat a sain^ stood in pe qweer wyth his bretheryn, and song, he seyj oure
and give 6 a C Oir ' l & dy comyn, & sche jaf out of here box bat sche bare pe lykoure
spoonful of her . . , , . , .,
medicine to pat was per-in, vfyth a spon to yche of his bretheryn, puttyng 16
everyone of his j* . i i i -t. f -^
brethren, pe spon wyin pe lykoure in here uiowthys for pe gret deuocyoun
J>ei haddyn in mynde, in herte, & tunge, in preying, & iu dede
of holy werkys.
I trowe pis lycour comyth nojt in 5oure mowthys pat han no 20
swetnesse in deuocyoun in herte, ne in tunge, ne in dede, but
slepyn in holy cherche, or syngyn, or rownyn, or iangelyu, or
sytten stylle as a beeste, & bydde no bede.
But whan oure lady com) to ]?is muwke pat was pis leche, he 24
seyj here, but his bretheryn seyn here noujt, & he gapid for to
except himself, haue of here lycoure. sche seyde to hym, ' pou getyst non of
my lycour, for alle lycourys of wordly coumfort ]?0u hast in pi
The monk re- lechecraft ; ber-fore, of me getyst bou none.' be muwke was 28
penterl and
reformed; sory, and at here byddyng forsook vanytees of tho^tys, & of
iapys, and of ydelJ occupacyouws, & kepte pe cloystre & Ipe
qweer in holy medytacyouws, in preyerys, & in holy werkys.
and pus, -wyth pe spade of holy rueende of cristes passiouw, of pe 32
dreedfutt dome, & of helle-peyne, he kest out pe grauett of all
veyn slugnesse, & kepte hym in pe clene ground of ryghtwys-
1 MS. in margin : ' narracio.'
CH. XLVI, XLVII.] The Physician takes Our Ladys Medicine. 291
nesse & of gostly myght, tyl be spryng of grace, Ipat is, Ipe jyfte
of strengthe of pe holy gost, sprouge in his welle, ]>ai n^tely
he stood in J>at ground of goodnesse, tyl Ipe feste of oure lady
(Qj corn) ajen Ipe nexte jere. )?anne, oure lady dede as sche dede Ipe and after a year
5 jere be-fore. And whanne sche kom) to him, Ipat muwke, Ipat
leche, sche seyde to him, ' for Ipou. hast forsaken ydelnes &
vanytez of bodyly & wordely coumfort, and jeuyst holy Ipi
8 mynde to deuocyoun, }?er-fore Ipou schalt haue of my lycour.' ? e wa r s t a j[ f ted
sche put Iper-of in his mowth. he felte swyehe a swetnesse Ol e ^j^ a ^ e y ' 8
f>er-of in his mowth, Ipat euere after he forsook aft werdly good
& alle fleschly lustys. And }?anne in him sprang grace.
12 ber-fore, leuyth ]?e grauell of aft ydelnesse, leuyth %oure Attend holy
scrvicC)
slepyng in dyuyne seruyse, jowre iangelyng, $oure rownyng,
youre rewnyng abowtyn on Ipe haly-day fro youre parysch-chercti; ^P the holj '
leuyth %oure pylgrymage on }?e haly-day, & do it on Ipe werkeday;
1 6 leuyth joure rennyng on holy-day es to wrestelynges, markettys,
& feyris, to steraclys & dauwcys, to bede-alys, bede-wynes, &
schetynges. Alle opere swyehe vanytees, ydeft wytA-oute profy3t
of gostely fryjte, kaste out al f>is grauel and [sonde] vryth Ipe
20 spade of holy mynde, and kepe jou in be ground of ryjtwys-
nesse, Ipat is, of good occupacyouw, and in ground of my^ty occupy your-
wyth|standyng temptacyouws ; and J?anne schal Ipe watyr of [Fol. 94 a.]
grace, Ipat is, }>e iiij. jyfte of Tpe holy gost, f>at is, Ipe 3yfte
24 strengthe spryngen in jowre welle, & wasschyn jow clene fro the Hoh' h (f hosts'
synne vfyth vertuys, and it schal brynge 3ow in $oure ende to
Ipe clennesse of ioye in heuen). Ad qwod, &3.
Ca/pitulum xlvij m .
28 De probitate et ramis cius & de dono fortitudinis.
haue told jow be-forn of Ipe ground of ryjtwysnesse, & of Ipe
ground of gostly myght, & of ]?e watyr-spring of grace in
joure welle, ]?at is, f>e jyfte of gostly strengthe. now I schal
telle sow jit more of bis ground of myst & of bis waterspryng More about the
^ J & gift of Strength.
of grace, Ipat is, J?e jifte of strengthe.
u 2
292
The Battle against Deadly Sin.
[CH. XL VII.
Strength en-
ables a man to
overcome his
spiritual ene-
mies in seven
battles.
In the battle
against deadly
sin
he must be
armed with
penance, which
consists of re-
pentance, con-
fession, and
satisfaction.
Repentance.
Confession to be
made according
to seven con-
ditions, that is
to say,
i. deliberately,
[Fol. 94 b.]
(2. quickly>)
3jf ]?e 3yfte of strength e of ]>e holy gost springe futt in lp{
welle, he springeth in Ipe seueii) stremys of grace J?at makyn
Ipe strong & myjty in vij. manere batayles to ouercomyn Ipi
gostly ewmyes. ]?e first batayle is ajens dedly synne. A^ens 4
dedly synne J?ou owyst to fyjte, or ellys to fle wyth all Ipi myjt ;
for who-so fle it, he fyjteth wel; so he Ipat assentyth nojt to
synne ouercomyth it. for jyf he be fellyd )?er-wyth, he ryseth
nojt wytA-outyn helpe, & he J>at is fallyn hath more nede of 8
helpe }?an he Jat stondyth. And so god thru} his grace, but
he arme hym viyih penauwce, he may nojt stonde ; }>e whiche
armure Ipe holy gost bryngeth hym in his jyfte of strengthe.
And J^is armure is of thre thynges 1 : on is repentauws of herte, 12
an-o)?er is schryfte, Ipe iij. is satysfaccyouw.
Bepentauwce of herte is, wharaie Ipe synnere knowyth his
gylt, & hath sorwe Iperfore, and for Ipat he hath wretthyd his
god. )?e more Ipat he hath synned J>e more sorwe he muste 16
haue ]?erfore ; for he is a theef to god, & a tretour, & morderere
of goddys dowtyr. ffirst he is gocldys theef; for he stelyth &
wastyth f>at is no3t his, ]?at is, of J^at god toke hym where-of he
schal jyue acountys. He mordryth goddys dow3ter, )?at is, his 20
owen soule ; for Ipat he sleth thrugn synne J>e whiche god made
to his lyknesse, and is hys dowter thru} grace. He is a tretour
to god; for he betrayeth god whawne he 3eldyth to ]?e feend,
]>at is goddys most enmye, Ipat castel of his herte Ipe whiche 24
god took hym to kepe. ffor Ipise iij. forseyde f>e synnere muste
sore sorwyn in ]?i batayle a-3ens synne.
Schryfte of mowthe hath vij. condycyouns 2 . Schryfte schulde
be don wysely; for a man schulde be-thynken hym wysely of 28
his synnes be-fore, whiche he hath don, er he come to \>e preest.
and also he muste loke what he is J?at schal schryuen hym, and
}if he be comauwdyd to heryn his schryfte, & haue powers to
assoylen hym. Also gode | werkys . . . . 3 32
... as brennyng fyir, J>e whiche may no3t be qwenchyd vryth-
1 MS. in margin : ' noifa 3'*.'
2 MS. in margin : ' confessio oris 7 tem cojzdict'ones,' r, 2, &c.
8 Apparently, there is a gap in MS. probably caused by turning over
CH. XLVH.] The Conditions of Confession. 293
outyn terys of pe eyje & of pe herte. An-oper skyl is pis, for
pe sykenesse of synne, to pe whiche schryfte is medycyne. for
he pat sekyth nojt to ben hole, jeuyth no tale of his helthe.
4 Ipe iij. skyl is J?is, for dreed of deth. for deth is so sodeyn pat
no man may wetyn pe tyme of his comynge. pe iiij. skyl is,
for a man throw} synne may lese alle Ipe gode dedys pat he
hath don, & lpa.t he doth in Ipe tyme whil he lythe in his synne ;
8 and thru} schryfte he may rekure a3en. IF pe v. skyl is pis, for
forjetyng of his synnes, on pe whiche he may neuere thynke.
how may he pawne schryuen him clene pat lythe longe in synne,
but he schryue hym hastely.
12 pe thridde condycyouw of schryfte is pis : it muste ben apertly, 3- openly,
pat is, pou schuldyst sone schewe J?i synnes opynly to pi preest,
& al pi wyll and aft J?in entent pat pou haddyst to do it.
pe iiij. condycyoun is, pou schuldyst [ryjtly *] & redyly tellyn 4. accurately,
1 6 pi synne as it is don, & whawne, and where, & why, & how
oftyn, and in what manere, and how longe leyn perinne.
IF Ipe v. condycyouw is, pat pou schuldyst schryue pe hoolly s- completely
til H l 3,11 to ono
to oo preest pat hath powere to here pi lyif, & noujt to departe P ri est.
20 Y\ schryfte to dyuerse preestys, or leve ony synne vntold vn-to
pi preest, pat ]?ou hast in mynde ; for pat schryfte is veyn, and
perfore pi schryfte muste be told vn-to oon preest & holly wytA
alle pe circumstauwcys. fFor a synne may be more in oo persone
24 pan in oper tweyne or thre, & more in sum place pan in sum,
and more in sum tyme pan in sum, and in sum wyse more than
in sum. And pe oftere pou synnest, & pe lengere pou Iy3st per-
in, pe more penaunce pou art worthy, & pe werse pi cause is, pe
28 hardere penaunce pe muste haue.
But he pat wytt schryue him wel, he muste partyn hym-self A perfect con-
fession must
in thre 2 : fferst he muste begynne at be herte, & sythen at be relate all sinful
thoughts, words,
mowth, & after at aft pe body, tyl he hath ransakyd eche party and deeds.
the leaf. The close of the paragraph referring to the first condition of
shrift must be left to suggestion. For the beginning of the new a linea I
should propose the following conjecture : ]>e secunde condycyoun of schryfte
is, fat it schulde be don hastely ; and )>at is nedefull for v skylles. Oon is,
for synne is as brennyng fyir, &c. (Cf. condition vii on page 297.)
1 Cf. p. 184, 1. 6. 2 MS. in margin : ' no^a 3 ia in cozfessione I, 2, 3.'
294
Sins of the Heart and Mouth.
[CH. XLVII.
ber-of. ffirst he schulde tellyn be euyll thowjtys, & Ipe wykkyd
desyres of Ipe herte, and ber-after alle his wycked woordys of his
The sins of the mowth, & at ]?e laste alle his dedys. ])e synnes of Ipe herte am
bise : thou3t, delyst, consentyng, purpos, wyll, desyring, vnfeyth- 4
fulnesse, slowthe, dulhed, vndeuowtnesse, wanhope, ouerhope,
vntrustynge, wrong wenyng, foly loue, dreed, assentyng, foly
affeccyouw, veyn gysyng, vayn gessyng, wrong suspeccyovw,
wratthe, hate, rankoure, envye, careles dreed, sorwe of othery- g
meraays (sic) welfare, ioye of here evyl-fare, ydelnesse of herte
w?/t7i-outyn occupacyoim of be loue of god, euyl dreed, euyl
loue, errour, fleschly affeccyow* to bi freendys or to olpere J?at
[Fol. 95 a.] bou louyst, dyspyjt of | pore men & of synfull men, vnconahle 12
ioye of ony wordly vanyte, sorwe of losse of wordly catelt, wytt
to worschipe be ryche for here muk, dowte what is to do, obsty-
nacyouw in euyl doyng, & sorwe bat J>ou dedyst no more evytt,
or Ipat J7ou dedyst no3t Ipe lust or Ipe lykyng of Ipi flescli, J?ere 16
]?ou myjtist a don ; vnstabylnesse of thow^t, peyne of penauwce,
ypocrysye, leef to plese men for preysynge, dreed for to dysplese
for losse of catell, schame of good dede, ioye of euytt dede,
syngulere wytt, coueytise of worschipp), of dignyte, or to ben 20
holdyn bettyr ban an-ober, or rychere, or fayrere, or be more
dred ; veyn-glorye of ony godys, of kynde, of hap, or of grace ;
aschamyd of bi poore freendys, pride of bi ryche kyn, or of
pi gentyl kynn, to haue dyspyjt of good couwseyle, or of good 24
techyng ; or dyspyjt of byddyng of souereynys, vnrewthe of hem
bat arn in peyne, mysbeleve in herte. Alle bise arn J?e synnes
of be herte, a^ens whiche to fy5t f>ou hast \>Q jyfte of myght
of be holy gost, jif bou delue depe ynow in pi welle in bi 28
grouwde of gostly strengthe.
be synnes of bi mowth l arn bise : veyn spekyng, ofte sweryng, ^
forsweryng, to tellyn bat is errour, to seyn bedys with-oute
deuocyouw, bakbytyng, nyce lawjhyng, repreuyng, stryuyng, 32
bawnyng, cursyng, mysseying, slauwdre, vpbraydyng, tliretyng,
lackyng, dyspreysing, a3en-seying of obedyence, plycchyng at
loue & charyte, lettyng of loue, false pleynyng of men bat arn
1 MS. in margin : ' peccata, oris.'
The sins of the
mouth.
CH. XLVII.] Sinful Deeds. 295
gylteles, beryng a fals wytnesse, fals flateryng, bewreying of
couwseyl, sowyng of dyscord, tellyng veyne tryfelys, scornyng,
eggyng, or conseylyng, 83ens skylle, turnyng good to euyl, to
4 plete in cherche, to sieve folk to wratthe, to bere men on hande
pat pei dede nojt, to seyn ajens truthe, to reproue dpere of pat
he is gylty hym-self, myclie speche, raanye woordys, foly speche,
veyn avavwtyng, excusyng & defendyng of synne, crying, grucch-
8 yng a3eus god or man, blowyng of bost, to snybbe ajens skyft,
to mote in wronge causys, to lere a man to greue his ewmyes,
fals demyng of opere mewnys dedys, fals endytyng, grewnyng,
dyspytous blering, mowys makyng, to synge songes of iolyte, to
12 rede on bokys of vanyte, to speke harlotrye, to stodye more in
voys-brekyng in cherche pan in deuoute syngynge, to dyspute
in veyn, to aske how a thyng may be pat is of goddys priuyte.
peise & manye mo arn pe synnes of pe mowth, ajens which e pe
16 holy gost springeth watyr of grace in pi welle, pat is, pe jyfte
of my^t, for to fyjte in pe armour of confessioim ajens pise
synnes of pe mowth, jif pou kepe pe depe in pe ground of
gostly myjt in pi welle.
i) IT pe synne of dede * arn pise : drunkenesse & glotonye, ] [Fol. 05 b.]
21 mordre, mansleyjt, leech erye, sacrilege, thefte, raveyn, symonye,
gouytt, brekynge of pe halydayes, forsakyng of ordre, brekyng
of avowys, to takyn housytt vnworthyly, vnreuerence to goddys
24 body, to faylen in goddys seruyse, to jeuyn euyl exaumple in
dede, to hurtyn a man in his persone or in his godys, tresouw,
falshede, gyle, wycche-craft, extorcyouw, sellyng of lawe & of
ryjtwysnesse, fals merchaundyse, vsyng of false weyjtis or of
28 mesurys, pleyis & iapys of vanytees, to vsyn karollys & dauwcys,
feynyng foly contenaunce, to 3eue iogoulours & mynstrallys for
iapys & veyn-talys, to drawyn fro a mannys body his nedeful
fode, or to vse it in outrage, to vndertake to do more pan
32 he may performe, to holdyn ofiyse pat a man is nojt suffycyent
to, to begynne an oflfyis or a craft pat may nojt be WT/t/t-oute
synne, to turne ajen to synne bat a man hath left, custome
1 MS. in margin : ' peccaia operis.'
296 Sins of Omission. [CH. XLVH
of synne, to mayntene batayle, to fynde & vse nouelryes, sturdy-
nesse ajens men of hy$ astate, to don hardnesse to pore folk,
to trespasyn in syjt, in heryng, in tastyng, in smellyng, in
felyng, in halsyng, in kussyng ; to make beknynges of nyce 4
sygnes in wrestlynges, to 3yue or to take ^yftes, nojt to take
be circuwstauwcys of synne, as tyme, stede, mawnys persone, as
it is declaryd be-fore ; and to puttyn hym to synne, or fondyng
coine, or to peyne hym to synne more ban nede were. bise arn 8
suwme of synnes of dede. berfore, delue depe in bi welle in be
ground of gostly strengthe, & banne schal be holy gost springin
in bi welle his firste streme of myght, to fyjten in armour of
penaunce to ouercome bise synnes of be herte, of be mowth, 12
& of dede.
Sins of omission. Synnes of levyng goodnes vn-do arn bise J : as nojt to thynken ^
on god, ne loue hym, ne drede hym, ne thanke hym ; to halden
be dedys bat bou doost nojt don thni3 goddys myjt, nojt to 16
sorwe for bi synne, noujt to make be redy to receyue grace ;
and bou receyue, nojt to kepe it; nojt to hastyn be to be
inspyryng of be holy gost, no;t to conforme bi wytt to be holy
gost, ne to be wyl of god, ne to go to chercn in dewe tyme, 20
& neglygence of obedyens, nou}t to don bin ofiyis, to breke
a vowe, to be sturdy to fadyr & modyr, nojt to be schreuyn
onys in be jere, & hoselyd, nojt to hate his sywnes, noujt to
knowyn hym-self ne his astate, nou3t to reule his conscyence 24
ryjtly, to tarye bat schulde be don redyly, to haue no ioye
of ober mewnys welfare, no sorwe of here euyll-fare, ne nojt
forjeuyn here trespasourys, nojt to holde truthe to bi neyjbours,
nojt to do be werkys of mercy, noujt to chastysen hem bat 28
do mys, to snybbe hem nojt bat vsyn synne, nojt to makyn
acordyd bere stryif is, no3t to techin hem, bei bat arn bouwdyn ;
[Pol. 96 a.] to coumforjtyn hem nojt bat arn in angyr, to don m>3t after be
reed of gode men, noujt to be deuowt in cherche/ bus arme 3 2
jow in penauwce to fyjten ajens pise sinnes of herte, & mowth,
& dede. & of gode dedys lefte, and kepe jow wel in pe grouwd
1 MS. in margin : ' peccafci probitatts now facte.'
CH. XLVH.] Conditions of Confession. Its Obstacles. 297
of jowre welle, bat is, gostly myjt. And banne schal be holy
gost spryngyn in joure welle his streem of grace, bat is, be jyfte
of streugthe.
Jf H be vi. condycyouw of schryfte l is bat bou schuldyst schryue The sixth con-
dition of shrift
5 be mekely. jif bou schryue be mekely bou spekyst to god, and js to confess
bi preest is goddys eere, and aft bat he heryth, he heryth as god
& nojt man.
8 be vij. condycyoun is to be schryuen oftyn of wycked wyft. the seventh to
confess repeat-
dede, & thou^t ; and bat is nedefult for vj. skylles 2 . Oon is to ed'y-
getyn grace, & to be clene wytA-inne. An-ober is, for venyall
synnes bat foulyth vs yche day ; for thyng ofte fowlyd often
12 muste be wasschyd, and thing often soor often muste ben helyd.
And as be schyprnan often castyth out watyr of be schyp as
often as it comyth in, and ellys be schyp schulde peryssche ;
So, euery day, comyth in newe sinnes in-to a mawiys soule.
1 6 b^rfore, wyt/t schryfte often castyth oute joure synnes, for ellys
it welyn weyin vp joure soule. be iij. skyl is bis : to chasyn
awey be feend fro vs. be iiij. skyl is to lere to schryue be wel.
be v. skyft is to tellyn bo synnes whiche wote neuere whethir
20 euere he was schreuyn ber-of or noujt. be vj. skyl is to be more
meke. be vij. skyl is to seke be more mede.
be feend putt in a mannys herte v. thynges 3 bat most lettyn obstacles iiin-
\ dering confes-
schryfte. On is schame to schewyn his synne. An-oper is sion.
24 wycked dreed to do penauwce. be iij. is wycked loue to dwelle
in synne. be iiij. is wrong hope of long lyif. be v. is wanhope.
perfore, deluyth depe doun in 5oure welle, tyl 36 fynde a clene
ground in joure hertys, bat is, gostly hardy nesse, gostly myght,
28 whiche wyft make jow myjtely to kastyn out synnes of be herte,
of be mowth, & of dedys, vfyih batayle & fyjt in be armour
of penauTice. And pawne schal be holy gost flowyn out liis
spryng of grace, bat is, his jyfte of gostly strengthe, to suffre all
3 2 tribulacyou?i pacyently & my3tyly for goddys sake.
1 MS. in margin : '6 a cowdicio cowfessionis.'
2 MS. in margin : ' 7. note 6.' There are, in fact, seven ' skills.'
3 MS. in margin : ' Confessio vera fiat pout (?) quinqne aduersarii.'
298 The Story of St. Ignatius Heart. [CH. XLVH, XLVIH.
[7w the Heart of St. Ignatius was written tJte Name of JesusJ]
"When Ignatius Exaumple l . Ex legenda Ignacii. Ignacius in his martyrdom (>
euere clepyd : ' Ihesu crist, Ihesu crist ! ' his turmentourys
askyd hym why he clepyd alwey pat name, & wolde nojt cese 4
for no peyne ne drede. J)at seynte seide : ' for euere I haue
be ground yd in ]?e vertu of gostly myjt, & f>erfore I drede no
peyne. and in pis vertu of gostly my^t, J>e holy gost hath
sprungyn in me his watyr of grace, J?at is, his jyfte of strengthe, 8
wherby my^tely I suffers joure turment. And in Ipis grace of
strengthe springeth in myn herte ]?is name Ihesu crist, & flowyth
[Pol. 96 b.] oute | so plentyvously at my mowth, pat no drede ne peyne may
make me to cesyn of clepyng pis name ihesu cryst.' pe turmen- 1 2
hadacoom- tourys slowin hym. & slytted hym & his herte a-sunder, and
plished his mar-
tyrdom, there fouwdyn wretyn in his herte vfyth letterys of gold : Ihesu crist,
wordsr'j th us I nesu cris ^ wherby manye turnyd to f>e feyth, & worschepyd
Christ. j, ig name I6
wolde god )>at 50 wolde castyn out of jowre pytt J?e heuy
grauel of ydel & euytt thoirjtys, woordys, & dedys, and kepyn
in joure welle gostly rnyjt, Ipai in ]?at myght J?e holy gost myjte
Mayyour hearts, springe his watyr of grace, Ipai is, his jyfte of strengthe, in 20
watyr of grace ]?is holy name Ihesu mowe springe in
Christ. joure hertys in deuocyouw, and flowyn out at ymre mowth
in preysing, wherby je schul be rewardyd in ioye euere-lastynge !
Ad quod, &B. 24
C&pitulum xlviij m .
De satisfaccione Sc de dono 2 fortitmftnis.
HEre-beforn, I haue told ;ow of a vertu Ipat is clepyd gostly ^,
myjt or gostly hardynesse, & of J?e jyfte of ]>e holy gost 28
J?at is clepyd ]?e jyfte of strengthe, pat makyth one hardy to
don heye gode werkys semyng harde to mawnys myght to
fulfylle ; And pe jyfte of pe holy gost, ]?at is, Ipe jyfte of myjt,
1 MS. in margin : ' narracio.' a MS. timoris crossed.
CH. XLVIII.] The Battles against Deadly Sin and Hard Penance. 299
bat makyth a man to suffere myjtely alle aduersytes for godclys Spiritual
e i i i t ni- i* strength en-
loue. sit bou kepe hem in pi welle, pei wyli springe in be abies a man to
Y fight seven
vij. stremys , bat is, vij. maners of strengthe, myjtyly to fysten battles.
4 ajens bi gostly enmyes in vij. manere batayles. be first batayle
is ajens dedly synne, be ij. batayle is in harde penauwce, be iij.-
is ajens be froward flescft, be iiij. batayle is in welthe, be
v. batayle is in wo, be vj. batayle is ajens wycked men, be
8 vij. batayle is aijens be feend.
be batayle of dedly synne is in thre manerys, in herte, in First, the battle
tunge, & in dede. be synnes I haue told jow, and how be vertu si'if,
of myght & be jyfte of strengthe of be holy gost makyth man
ta myghty in batayle a^ens bo sinnys to voyden hem, bat is,
wycked thoustys vryth be armour of contricyoun, and wycked which must be
fought with
woordys vryih be armour of confessiouw. But now I schal telle contrition, con-
fession and
}ow how gostly myjt and gostly strengthe, bat is, be vertu & be satisfaction.
1 6 jyfte of be holy gost, schul make jou myghty in be armours
of satysfaccyouw in %oure gostly batayle ajens synne, to avoyden
out of IOWTQ welle be synne of ^oure euytt dedys. jif je trewly
and myjtely kepyn & fulfyllen be penauwce enioyned jou, &
20 brekyn it nojt, and 56 truly makyn amendys of %oure wrongys,
and restoryn ryjtfully to dede, qwyke, and to holy cherche, joure
dettys, banne his vertu of gostly myjt in jow, banne be jyfte of
strengtn spryngeth in jow grace of stedfastnesse.
%& But ]?a7tne corny th be batayle bat is be batayle of penauwce, The second is
25 and puttyth a man fro | sufferauns. whan a man schulde re- [Fol.97 a.]
pentyn him of his synne, banne comyth a newe batayle, a newe the battle of
stryif bat makyth a man vnstedfast & chauwgeable. ffor suwme
28 begynne to vse penaunce, and after bei fayle, & faryn as a wedir-
kok, bat turnyth wyih iche wynd ; for now he wyl do penauwce,
& now he wytt no}t. bere is no3t be ground of myjt, ne be
ground of strengthe. But whan a man settyth his herte to
3 2 plese god, & to do penauwce, & to fulfylle it, so bat no-thyng
chaunge his wyH ; bawne be vertu of myght & be jyfte of
strengthe spryngin in him watyr of grace, wherby in bat batayle
of penaunce he hath be victorye.
1 MS. in margin: 'note 7* fortitudtnis.'
300 The Battles against the Flesh, the World, and the Devil. [CH XLVIH.
The third battle banne comyth be iii. batayle, bat is. of be flescli. bat lestyth
is -IU-M nisi the
flesh. longe wyth man. for whan be flescli sufferyth penau/is or hard-
nesse, it grucchyth ber-with ; for ail bat is soft, esy, & delycate,
it louyth, and }if be flescE haue his wyll, he ouercomyth a man. 4
And, berfore, it may be lykenyd to an euyH womman ; for be
more a man folowe here wytt, be more froward & schrewyd
sche is. berfore, late be flescli nojt haue his desyres, and bawne
bou schalt ouyrcomyn him be vertu of myght & be jyfte of 8
strengthe.
The fourth and But bawne comyn be iiij. & be v. batayles of welthe & of wo *. (f
against the ffor be world, with his fortune, asayleth men wyth two batayles.
luck of the be firste batayle is wyth worschyppes, delytys, & ryches ; be 1 2
ober is vfyih angyr, dysese, and pouerte, and bat god sendyth
to chastyse and to prove. And jif a man stande styffly in bat
stoure and in be vertu of myst 2 , be holy gost sokouryth hym
vryth his 5yfte of strengthe, bat he fleeth wordly lykynge, & 16
ouercomyth angyr wytA-outyn grucchyng. and in bis batayle
he scapyth a-wey harmeles ; for he ouercomyth wordely delyjt,
god schal sende him grace and settyn him in his trone, as seynt
Johuw seyth in his apocalyps 3 . And for he ouyrcomyth angrys, 20
god grauwtyth him paradyis.
The sixth battle be vi. batayle is [ofl euylle men, bat be feend hath
is against evil
men. norysched to noyen gode men. And as antecrist schal do to
suwme in his tyme; for bo bat wyll nojt assente to hym, he 24
schal don hem to swiche turment, bat vnethys schal ony dur
seye bat he is a cristene man. but he bat wyll takyn his
greuauwce pacyently, as Job dede, & trustyth in god, he hath
be vertu of myght & be jifte of strengthe, wherby he hath be 28
victorye in bis batayles of welthe & of wo.
The seventh be vii. batayle is of be feend, bat asayleth a man in his last
battle is against
the Devil. ende. for be feend is so wyly bat, whan a man hath ouer-
comyn be vj. batayles be-forn, & is on be mouwteyn of parfyjt 32
lyif, ba?ine comyth be feend vtyiTi sleyjtys to ouercomyn hym,
& assayleth him vtyth veyn-glorye & presumpsyouw, bat he
1 MS. in margin : ' bella multa.' 2 MS. ' of my^t of ])e holy gost.'
3 Apocal. ii. 7.
CH. XLVIII.] The Story of Macarius and the Skull, 301
thynketh him-self worthy ere ban obere am bat arn holy ere ban
he, and so be feend makyth him to fallyn as lowe as he thoujte
hym-self hye, as decle Luoyfer, | bat fell fro heuen) to helle for [Fol. 97 b.]
4 pride. be more nere a man is in parfyjt lyif, pe more besy is
be feend to ouercomyn hym. But whan a man settyth his herte
in lownesse & loue of god, & hungryth & thrysteth ry}twys-
nesse, & kepyth him fro veyn-glorye & fro presumpcyoun ;
8 panne J?e vertew of myght is in him & pe 3yfte of strengthe,
pat makyn hym to ouercome be feend. ffor seynt Johuw seyth
in be book of priuytees 1 , To hym bat ouercomyth in bis fy^t,
bat he schal ete of be fruy3te of lyif in-myddes of paradyse.
3|J bise vij. batayles arn be vij. springes, bat is, vij. degrees or
1 3 vij. brauwchys in Ipe grouwcl of gostly myght, whiche gostely
myght springeth of be jifte of strengthe of be holy gost in pi
welle, and bis flood of bise vij. stremys in J?e ground of pi gostly
1 6 myght & in J>i welle schal flowyn ]?e heye in grace to J?e moim-
teyn of heuen).
[Abbot Macarius and the Skull.~\
(j$ Exaumple 2 . An holy abbot J)at hyjt Macharye fond an heed Macarius found
20 of a dede man, and he askyd him what he was 3 whil he lyved,
and where his soule was. be hevyd seyde, 'I was a paynym, the skull of a
1 J J ' heathen, which
& my soule is in helle. for I was noat in cristene feyth.' be told him tuat
r beneath the
abbot seyde, 'Is ony soule deppere in helle pan pi soule is?' pagans and Jews
24 be heuyd seyde, ' ja, iewys soulys are deppere in helle, for hem
god chees for his peple, and was born amongys hem, & was of
here kyn, And pei, as tretourys, slowyn hym, and so dede nojt
we. perfore, we haue lesse peyne in helle.' J?e Abbot seyde,
28 'Arn bere ony obere soulys deppere in helle ban iewys soulis? ' was the place in
Helloftnose
be heed seyde, ' 3a, be soulys of cristen) men bat in baptem) Christians who
in spite of their
becomyn crysten) men, & fouwdyn borwys, to forsake be feend faith
& his werkys, and to kepyn pe comaundmentys and be lawys of
1 Apocal. ii. 7. * MS. in margin : ' Namzcio.'
3 The scribe had at first omitted the words : ' whil ' to ' was," and went
on a few lines, which he crossed afterwards, starting again with ' whil he
lyved,' &c.
302
False Christians are Deepest in Hell.
[CH. XL VIII.
god & of holy cherche, and arn taw^te & knowyn goddys lawe,
and ban myjt and strengths gostly, jif J?ei wyft, to wythstondyn
temptacyouws of }>e feend, of J>e world, & of here flescft, and
wyttyngly & wylfully J?ei forsakyn Ipe vertu of myjt and Ipe 4
yielded to every syfte of strength e, & aeldyn hem to fallyii in euery temptacyouw.
temptation.
and so, as tretourys, }>ei jeuyn vp J>e castel of god, J?at is, here
soule to \>Q feend, f>at is, goddys most enmye, and ]?erfore Ipo
cowardys, so false in here feyth and in here werkys to god, Ipat 8
forfetyn ajens here owen) lawe & ajens here baptem) for here
false tresoim ajens here god, J>at deyin w^tA-oute repentauwce ;
arn, & schul ben, deppere in helle-peyne ]?an we hethyn men or
iewys eyber. }>erfore, 30 J>at are clepyd cristene men in joure 12
name, 30 are more hethyne in joure werkys J>an we ; for 30
werkyn no3t after jowre name, but 36 be contrarye to crist in
youre werkys. Be ymre name 30 schulde seruyn, louyn, & Jf
[Fol. 08 a.] worschepyn, god, & kepyn his comaimdmewtys, | aud beleuyn 16
in him & in holy cherche, & in Ipe techyng of goddys woord,
and to werkyn J?ere-after, and wyt/t Ipe vertu of gostly myght
& wyth grace of Ipe 3yfte of gostly strengthe wythstonde temp-
tacyouns of J?e feend, J?e world, & Ipe flescE ; but 36 serue & 20
loue be feend in synne, J?e world in fals coueytise, f>e flesch in
lustys. f>^rfore, 3oure peyne in helle schal be more fan Je peyne
of iewe or paynym), but it be amendyd in penauwce.'
Therefore,
amend,
Jerfore, amendyth 3ow wyth parfy3t penauwce, & takyth in-to tf|
3owre welle Ipe ground of J>is vertew, J?at is, gostly my3t, to 25
wythstonde synne. And Ipanne schal springen in 3owre welle
and keep your J>e wato/r of grace, Ipai is, be 3yfte of strengthe of be holy gost,
spiritual
strength! J>at schal makyn 3u my3ty to sufferyn alle aduersytees & tribu- a8
lacyouws for goddys loue, wher-by 30 schul in 3oure ende comyn
to ]?e wat^r of endeles lyif in heueiD. To J?at blysse brynge vs
he, &c\
OH. XLIX.] On Prodigality. 303
C&pitulum xlix m .
De prodigalitate.
^ "T "I" Ere-beforn , I haue told 3ou, whan Tpe wose of slawthe be
4 J-_l_ cas t ou t of 3oure welle, how 30 schulde cast out pe
grauel and J?e sande of obstynacye be-nethyn pere slawthe was,
& delvyn douw in ]?e ground of ryjtwysnesse & of gostly myght
\fy\>h ]>e spade of mynde, tyl 36 fynde a watyr-spryng of grace,
8 J>at is, J>e 3yfte of be holy gost, }?e jyfte of strengthe in joure
welle.
But now I schal telle jow bat whan J>e wose of coueytise is Beneath the
i 11 i ' ooze of Covet-
out of ymre pytt whan je schal caste out be grauell and be ousness ' there
is the ' gravel of
12 sande be-nethe pere coueytise was. bis grauel & sande is wast. Prodigality ,'
lohewwes de Abbat/s villa dictt, As grauel & sande ban stonys
and greynys w/tA-oute noumbre, so wast hath manye expuwsys
and costys in excesse, wytA-outen noumbre in vnmesure & werkys,
16 bareyn wytA-oute fruyte, so wast is bareyn w2/tA-outen vertewys.
' harena sterilis est, sic prodigalitas de virtutib.'
Ipis grauel is iij. fote deep T , bat is to seye, it is in thre
partyes, in herte, in tunge, & in dede. wast in be herte is which may be
in the heart as
20 desyir, wyn, & delyjt. jjowj bou be poore & haue no good, pou a desire
mayst haue Jns grauel of wast in bin herte in wastfuft & feruent
desyris, wyllys, & dely3tes. for to haue good out of mesure of excessive
WGUitll |
vnryjtfully and wrongfully, pis is wast in be herte, and dedly
24 synne in )?e wytt and dely3t, & in ]?e desyir, Ipow J>ou neuere
haue J?at desyir, be-cause Ipat wyll is wastfull out of. mesoure &
vnryjtfutt. perfore god seyth, Deuter. 5- 2 & ecc\ xx. capitulo 3 ,
J)ou schalt nojt coueyte in wyll and desyre of herte bi neyjbours
28 hows ne 4 lond, gold ne syluer, cloth ne corn, ox ne asse, wyif
ne seruaunt, ne non ober good J?at is his. Keyse no3t vp J>e
eyne of ]?in herte, J?at is, bi wyll, desyir, & delyjte, | to good & [Fol. 98 b.]
1 MS. in margin : ' prodigalitas, no^a tria : corde ore & opere.'
2 Deut. v. 21. 3 Exod. xx. 17. * MS. ne ne.
304 Ostentation of Wealth. [CH. XLIX.
to rycches whiche pou mayst noijt haue. Ysaz. xxiij . 1 'Ne
erigas oculos ad diuicias quas habere now possis.' pin herte is
lyche Ipe see-grauel & sande 2 , pat sokyth in, & drynketh in, all
waterys, and jit Ipe see is neuere full ; so J?in herte is euere 4
sokynge in wastfull thou^tes, wylles, delyjtes, & desyres, of
wordly good, and neuere is full, deth hath neuere ende &
ynow, but euere he sleth folk ; pin herte hath neuere yuow, but
euere coueytith. In helle is neuere ynow & full, but euere 8
swelwyth in soulys; so pin herte is neuere full of good, but
euere swelewyth in more. Abac. ij. s ' Dilatauit quasi infernus
ammam suam, & qwasi mors, new adimplebitw.' Jrise grauel-
stonys, pt is, coueytows thoutys, wylles, desyres, delyjtes, after 12
wordly good arn so scharpe & hevy as grauel, Ipat it prycke ]nn
herte day & nyjt pat Ipou mayst haue no pees day ne nyjt, ne
reste. prouer. xv. 4 ' Conturbat domum suam, qui sectatwr
auariciam, icZ est, in corde suo.' 16
or in the mouth, }>e secwwde fote depthe is wast of J>i mowth 5 , J>at is, wastfull ^J
words. woordys, whawn Ipou spekyst all of f>i good, of J?i rycches, of f>i
catell, & Ipat is in cherch & out of chercfi, as wel in sykenes as
in helthe, and in ]?i deying Ipou. thynkest more, & spekyst, of ]?i 20
wordly muk ]mn of f>i god. J)i speche, ]?i thou3t, ]?i mynde, Ipi
loue, J?i sorwe, is more for Ipi good ]?an for J>i soule and for
Ji synne. swiche lycour as is in J?in herte, J?at is, desyir of
wordly good, swiche lycour springyth out of Ipi mowth. ' 6 Qui 24
de terra est, de terra loquitwr.' Erthely muk Ipou desyrest and
]?erfore f>ou spekyst per-of. ' 7 Ex habundancia cordis os loqui-
tur.' Of ]?e gret coueytise of good, desyre in J?in herte, spekyth
pi mowth. pin herte is al in J>e world, so is pi mowth. J>ou 28
seyst wyih Ipi mowth, wolde god I were ryche, wolde god "pat
mewnys good were inyn ! J>at is wast of Ipe mouth, for it is
wrongful & a dedly synne 8 , a3ens goddys wyll desyred. jit on
1 Prov. xxiii. 5. Vulgate : ' Ne e. o. tuos ad opes quas non potes habere.'
a MS. in margin : ' cor homtms simile est mari & arene.'
3 Hab. ii. 5. * Prov. xv. 27.
5 MS. in margin : '2. prodigalitas oris.' 6 John iii. 31.
7 Matt. xii. 34. 8 MS. in margin : ' peccatnm moriale.'
CH. XLIX.] rain ThoitgMs. 305
bi dede-bedde, bin herte is on be world, for suwime tliynken, Even on your
J ' death-beds you
Alias , how schal myn lond, my corn, my beestys. myn hows- think more of
your households
hold, be gouernyd! my wyif, my chylderyn, how schul bey
4 fare, now I am syike ! how schull bey don, & I deye ! who
schal tylle bat lond, who schal mylkyn bo keen, who schal make
my chese & botere, now I may nojt do ber-to ! ' bise arn wast
woordys, but of be soule we speke lytel, to god crye we lytell than of your
8 for mercy, schryfte to a preest speke we nojt of, tyl deth 2 hath
awey oure v. wyttes. of be godes to oure fleschly frendys, & bat In your testa-
incuts
oure excusatourys mown haue part ber-of, whil we speke first
(ft princepally, & to hem we schul ny jeuyn all oure good; But to you do not make
restitution,
1 2 restore alle oure wrongys and oure dettys to qwyke, & to dede, &
to holy cherch", & to oure curatys here dewteis falsly with|holdyn [Fol. 99 a.]
fro hem all oure lyve, ber-of speke we nojt, but it be xl. d/,
happely, for xl. s. or for xl. t/. xs. bei robbyn seynt petyr &
! 5 jeuyn it seynt Poule. bat is to seyne, bei getyn falsely here good
of holy chercn, of qwyke & dede, in raueyne, in extorcyouras, in
thefte, in mycherye, in wrongys, in fals chaffaryng, in falstything,
in fals purchas, in false mesurys, in wy3tes, in false othys, in
20 haly-day chaffaryng ; bis fals getyn good wylt bei nojt restore
to hem bat haddyn be harm, but in here ende bei beqwethe bat
good to obere personys & to obere powre folk to whiche bei were
nojt bouraJe to jeuyn hem ober meraiys good. All bis is wast &
24 no profy3te, in swiche beqwethyng it profyteth be nou^t. ffor
Salomon seyth bus : bou makyst fy ve or sexe to leyjhe in 3euyng
to hem oberes godys ; on be ober syde bou makyst an hundryd
or two hunderyd to wepe of whom bou haddyst falsely bat good.
28 bere xxti. preyin for be, a thousande waryen & cursyn be, &
cryen wreche. And bat wastfull beqwest askyth wreche. bou
bat spekyst bus, be woordys of bi qwest are wast, and avaylen
be nojt, but it dampnyn be for pi falsnesse. And jyf, bowj bi
32 goodys ben wel gett, in bin ende bou spekyst bat it schuldyn
be dysposyd to pi fleschly freendys, but to bi soule ryjt lytel or nor provide for
nou^t, bis wast in woordys schevvyth be a fool, bat beqwethyst y ur sou}s -
1 MS. in margin : ' no<a btne ; vcrba vana.'
2 MS. dcth cnvey oure v. wyttes crossed.
X
306
Prodigality in Deed.
[CH. xux.
Prodigality in
deed.
All riches ex-
ceeding the
necessaries of
life belong to
the poor.
[Pol. 09 b.]
On the day of
judgment the
rich shall be
called to
account.
pi good pere it is lest profy3t to pi soule. pise'wastfull thoujtes
& woordys arn hatyd of god, & arn folye. prouer. xv . 1
' Abhominacio doraini cogitaczones male.' 2 ' Os fatuorwra ebullit
stulticiaw.' 3 ' os stultoram. pascitwr impericia.' It is no won- 4
dyr pew} god hatyth wast of swyche thoujtys & woordys. ffor
in pin herte & in pi mowth Ipou louyst more o peny pan J>i
god. for a peny getyng J?ou wylt lyen, & forswere pe. pat is
heuy graueft to pi soule to weyin pe douw to helle. But vnethys 8
pou wylt jeuyn an halfpeny for goddys loue ; panne louyst pou
pe ob". bettyr pan pi god, perfore god hatyth pe. Os. ix. 4 ' ffacti
suwt abhominabiles deo sicwt ea, que dilexeruwt.'
pe iij. fote depthe in wast is in dede 5 ; pat is, whan J?ou IjJ
spendyst pi good in wast, in ryot, in aray, in delycacyes. Seynt 13
Jerowi and seynt bernard/ seyn: Swiche godys as Jxm hast
abouyn Ji necessarye clothyng & fedyng arn poore mewnys
good 6 , jif bou w?/t/i-holde pe godys fro pe poure folke, & spende 16
hem in oper vse in excess^, J^at is wast ; for pou doost sacrilege
& raveyn. Seynt bernard seyth, be nakyd & J?e hungry cryen
wreche, and seyn : ' what helpyth vs pe gold in jowre brydellys
& in 30 we aray, and be gold in jowre chystes ? be rust fretyn 20
monye in joure cofferys, it doth nojt awey our cold, oure hungyr,
cure thrust, what dooth to vs al be multitude of joure dyuerse
garnementys foldyn in jowre pyles, in jowre malys, in jowre
cloth-sacchys, | in joure fardellys, in %oure summerys, or spred 24
abrode in %oure perchys 1 oure good it is pat je wastyn, fro vs
cruelly it je stelyn, & dyspendyn so wastfully, and afterward,
at pe doom, pe poure & pe ryjtfult schul stondyn stylly, & askyn
suche wastourys, pat wastyn here good, and don hem wrong/ 28
prouer. vj to ., Seynt bernard seyth, bou vanyte of alt vanytees,
more wodere ban vayne, bat makyst clad be chercK-wallys of
dede stonys vtyth peynture of bryjtnesse, schynyng wyth gay-
jiesse, & latyst be qwyke stonys of god, be poure folk, goddys 32
1 Prov. xv. 26. 2 Prov. xv. 2.
3 Prov. xv. 14. MS. impericiam. * Ose. ix. 10.
fl MS. in margin : '3. procligalitas in opcre.'
6 MS. in margin : ' bona pauperum nofa qwe siuit.'
CH. XLIX-L.] The Story of a Father and Son in Hell. 307!
lyknesse, gon nakyd & nedy; bey perschyn for cold, lo, bis
wast in bi dedys ! bou dost wast in bi dedys, whawne bou
getyst good ynow, & wylt nojt blynne, & wylt nojt restore for
4 to makyn bin eyre ryche. bis wast wyl dampne be & hym
bobe.
[A Father and his Son Quarrelling in HellJ\
(& Exauwple *. A man, ryche wyth fals getyn good, hadde too A rich man's
. elder soil re
8 sonys. be elders sone wolde nost ben eyre of his faderys good signed his
heritage, and
falsly gett, and berfore he made hym an hermyte. be jungere Became a
brothir was glad, & was eyr after his fadyr. Sone after deyid
be fadyr, & his eyre, be eldere sone, be hermyte, was rauyssched,
1 2 & led to helle. and bere he seya his fadyr & his brothir comyn in a vision he
saw his father
out of an horrybele pytt in-to an huge flammynge fyir, & eyther and younger
of hem bote ober, and aft forrent ober. be fadyr seyde, ' cursyd cursing each
other lor
be bou sone, for I gett falsly my good to make be ryche ! having been
* * ' avaricious in
1 6 berfore, I am bus dampnyd in 2 endeles fyir.' be sone seyde, life -
' cursyd be bou fadyr ! for haddyst bou nojt falsely getyn bi
good, I schulde nojt a ben bin eyre, but my brothir schulde
a ben bin eyre, & for bi fals getyn good he forsoke it, & I toke
20 it. & I am dampnyd bere-fore, and ellys had I be sauyd.'
berfore, beth ware of wast in expendyng & in getyng falsely Therefore,
good, in desyring & in spekyng 1 kaste out of 3oure pytt bis covetousness!
heuy grauel of wast, bat it drenche nojt spwre soulys in be see
24 of helle ; but caste it out, & make jow lyjt to styen vp to
heueiD in pe flood of grace ! Ad quod, &.
C&pitulum l m .
De paupertate spm'tfus, & de largitate, & elemosina,
28 & -misericordiQ,, & dono consilii.
E ober day, I told jou how je schuldyn castyn out of jowre
pytt be grauel & be sande of wast, bere be wose of The 'gravel of
^ J y Prodiplity '
glotonye lay. Now I schal tellyn 3ou of be spade pat deluytli must bed ( ug out
32 out bat grauel & sande. bis spade is pouerte in spyrite. I f ^f
1 MS. in margin : ' Narraczo/ 2 MS. in in.
X 2
308
The Three Parts of Poverty in Spirit.
[CH. L.
Poor men some-
times are more
covetous
than rich ones.
[Pol. 100 a.]
The poor in
spirit are
humble
and content
with their lot.
The ' spade of
Poverty in
Spirit' has three
parts, which
are:
i. Peaceof mind,
2. mildness of
language,
3. security.
seye nojt pouerte in nede, for manye poure & nedy man is
rychere in herte, in wylt, & desyre, J?an sum ryche man. ffor
sum beggere desyreth in wyl to haue more rycbesse $if he
myjte haue it, & wolde haue more worschypp, and makyth 4
more l of hymself, & heyere in herte beryth him J>an sum ryche
man, J?is man, be he neuere so poure in catel & in nede, he
is nojt poure in spiryte, for he | is nojt lowly but heyj & ryche
in wytt of herte. But whan a man, pore or ryche of catel, & 8
he be nojt heye of herte, & sett no pryis be heye beryng, but
heldyth hym-self vnworthy, & sett no pryis be his good, & is
so poure in herte in lownesse, bat hym thynketh he hath ynow
& to fele, haue he neuere so lytel, and wolde haue no more ban 12
hym nedyth, and heldyth him apayed wyih bat he hath, and
disposyth his good in good vse, & desyreth to kepe no more
ban hym streyjtly nedyth ; he is pore in spyrite, for his wytt
desireth to be no rychere but to be in 2 poure astate. he 16
kastyth out wast fro his welle ; he schal haue J?e kyngdom of
heuen). Mat. v* . 3 ' Beati pauperes spirit u, quoniam ipsorwwi
est regnuw celorwm.'
As a spade hath thre party s, bat is, a scho, an heued, & an ao
handyft, so J>is spade pouert in spirite hath, & doth, thre
thynges 4 : It hath reste, it hath fayrnesse, it hath sykernes.
ffirst it hath quyete & reste in herte 5 , and castyth ]?e scharp
graueft of wast in prickyng thoujtys, wylles, & desyres, of 24
coueytise out of J>in herte. secundum gregorie & bernarcZ.
ffor be heed it hath clennesse 6 and fayrnesse in J>e mowth,
in tunge & speche. for pouert styreth no wast woordys in
chydyng & in reprofe, but clene and honeste woordys in low- 28
nesse, and so pouert in spyrite deluyth out of }?e ruowth }>e
graueft of wasteful! woordys in coueytise. secundum doctores.
Pouert hath an haudyll, J>at is, sykernesse 7 ; it dredyth no
thevys for to be robbyd. it nedyth [nojt] in besynesse to 32
1 MS. and more makyth more. 2 MS. in in. * Matt. v. 3.
4 MS. in margin : < no/a 3 a de paupxrtate.'
5 MS. in margin : ' i. qwies.' 6 MS. in margin : ' 2. puritae.'
7 MS. in margin : ' notfa btue.'
CH. L.] The ' Ground of Liberality? 309
labouryn to by den be rycches fro stelyng. And, bus, bis pouert
deluyth out of bi pytt bis grauel of wast of bi dedys, bat is,
besynesse of trauayle in coueytise, }>at in herte, tunge, & dede,
4 bi swetnesse, bi mynde, bin herte, bi tunge, bin occupacyourc,
Jri besynesse, bi werkyng, is princypally in heuenly thynges,
bat is, in desyir of heuenly blysse, & in holynesse of lyif. Ad
phi. iij . 1 ' Nostra co?uiersacio in celis est.' Seynt austyn seyth,
8 with bis pouerte of spyrite bou schalt byggen heuen). ' Regnwra
celoruw paupertate emitwr.' vryth wylfull pouerte bou schalt
getyn heuen). but it muste be wylfult and nojt ajens bi wyll.
wvth bis spade of pouert delue doun in bi pytt of bin herte Underneath the
'gravel of Prodi-
ia tyl bou fynde a clene grounde. bat grouwde is largenesse ^
contrarye to nygardschypjD and to coueytise. bis largenesse is
alniesse-dede 2 . be large in almesse after bi power is, be bou
poore or ryche. A chyld jeuyth largely of his breed to his
1 6 felawys, & to houwdys, & to cattys. Puer, id est purus 3 .
A chyld, on englysch" tunge, is clene. jif bou be a chyld bat
art | clene in herte, tunge, & dede, wytA-oute be grauel of [Foi. 100 b .]
wast, bat is, wytA-outen coueytise, baraie, as a chyld, bou wylt
so vsyn largenesse, bat is, largely bou wylt jeuyn vp bi powers
almesse to be nedefull, to gode & wycke, to frende & fo.
Exauwiple of crist 4 . he aeuyth vs au?ie;elys to kepin vs, he Takeanexampie
by Christ, who
aeuyth vs all oure sustynauwce here in erthe, And in his sacrificed his
* J J body and soul
24 passiowi he jaf vs hym-self all to-gydere, body & soule, lyif for the sake of
& deth, for to brynge vs to be fedyng of heuen) fro be hungyr
of helle. Ecc. 5 ' Grace'am fideiussoris tui ne obliuiscaris : dedit
enim awimam- suam pro te.' Hyse handes on be cros wern opyn,
28 in exaumple bat bin handys schulde nojt be lokyn in kepyng bin
alraes fro be poore but opyn) in largenesse of almesse. crystea
armys & handys were streyned oute on bothe sydes all on brede,
in sygne bat bou schuldyst on botfi sydes to be poore, bobe
32 freend and fo, largely jeuyn hem, but noujt takyn fro hem,
1 Philip, iii. 20. a MS. in margin : ' elemoa.'
3 MS. in margin : ' puer purus.'
4 MS. in margin : 'exemplum x(Christi).
5 Ecclesiasticus xxix. 20.
310
Three Ways of being Liberal towards the Poor.
[CH. L.
There are three
ways of being
liberal towards
the poor :
or comfort,
Prouer. \\iimo 1 , ' Aperuit manum suaw inopi, scilicet humano
generi, & palmas suas extendit ad pauperem, id est ad genus
humanura.'
In p'is grouTide of largenesse a delue douw iij. fote. ferst 4
delue douTi in pe dede of almesse, as Thobie tawte his sone,
iiij. capitulo 3 . jif pou haue myche good, jyue largely &
by giving alms, plentyvously per-of to pe poore, jyf pou haue lytel good, of
pat ly tell parte wyih pe poore ; for almes delyueryth pe fro 8
eynne, and it sufferyth nojt soulys to gon in-to therknesse of
helle. delue doun in pis largenes an-oper fote. pou pat hast
nojjt to jyue, jyue to pe poure thy mowth, pat is, couwforte
hem vfyih fayre woordys, & pray for hem jif ]?ei ben nedy. ia
And jif pei begge, & nedyn noujt, but myjtyn getyn here
lyvyng vfyih labour, & wyll nojt, jyue hem panne reproof &
blame \fy(h f>i mowth. jif pou pus in pis grouwd of largenesse
jeuyst almesse to hem pat nedyth, & jeuyst couwfort in fayre 16
woordys & prayeris for hem, whan pou mayst jeuyn hem noujt
ellys, and jeuyst hem reproof & blame pat beggyn wytft-outyn
nede ; pou schalt neuere haue nede in pe peyne of helle. jif
pou dyspyse pe poore & pe nedy, pou schalt sufiere nede in 20
peyne, as diues* sufFeryd in helle, for he dyspysed pe poure
man lazare at his gate, prouer. xiiij. 5 ' Qui dat pauperi non
indigebit : qui despicit deprecantem, sustinebit penuriam.'
Delue doun pe thridde fote in pis ground of largenes in-to (f
pin herte. jyue pe poore pin herte, jyue pe poore ruthe & 25
compassiouw of pin herte. 6 ' Alter alteriws honera portate.'
Ps. 7 ' Justus miseretwr, id est, corde.' 8 ' Omni petenti te,
tribue, id est, corde, ore, & opere.' jyue pi-self to euery poore 28
[Fol. 101 a.] | man pat askyth almes, jyve hym of pi good in almes, 3yue hym
pi mowth in coujifort, or jyue hym pin herte in compassiouw,
and in loue, & in rewthe, & mercy, and trewly pou schalt fynde
of LibVraTiiy 1 '' 1 ^ n ^ s g rouw de of largenesse in almesse a spryng of pe watyr 3 2
or by showing
a compassionate
heart.
1 Prov. xxxi. 20.
3 Tobit iv. 9, 1 1 .
6 Galat. vi. 2.
2 MS. in margin :
Luke xvi. 19 sqq.
7 Ps. xxxvi. 21.
5 Prov. xxviii. 27.
8 Luke vi. 30.
CH. t.] Counsel, the Fifth Gift of the Holy Ghost. 311
of grace, bat is, be v. svfte of be holy gost. be syfte of cowtseyl ', springs a well,
Counsel, which
whiche comiseyl sclial coimseylin be & tcchyn, enspyren & is
steryn be, to be large in almesse, & how bou schalt do bin Ghost.
4 almesse, and to whom, for be most worschyppe of god & for
most profyjt of bi eoule. ffor, in bis largenesse of almesse, be
counseyl of be holy gost schal wyih grace make be clene of all
bi synne of wast & of exces. lucX xj. 2 'Date eleniosinaw &
8 ecce onwia murwla sunt vobis.' bis counseyl makyth bin entent,
and bi wylt, and bi dede, clene to hatyn euyl, & to louyn
goodnes, to leve be werste, & to chese be beste, to lyven chast,
& to lyven in wilfuH pouert, to forsakyn be world, to lyven in
12 clene lyif. bis couwseyl is nojt be couwseyl of prmcys, of
lordys, ne of euyl} lyuerys, for here couwseyl steryn often to
synne. prouer. xij. 3 'Consilia impiorwwi fraudulenta.' Ps. 4
'Reprobat consilia principum.' But bis couwseyl of be holy
1 6 gost fayleth nojt, it dysseyveth nojt, but euere it helpyth, and
duryth, & abydeth in bis louerys. ' Consiliuwi autem Aomini in
eternuwi manet *.' berfore, castyth out of jowre pytt be grauel
of wast & of exces fro joure herte, tunge, & dede, vrykh be spade
20 of wylfull pouert in spirite, and takyth bis grouwd of largenesse
in almesse, bat bis spring of grace, be couwseyl of be holy gost,
mowe spryngen in joure welle be watyr of clennes, and baruie
schal joure welle waxen depe wyth watyr of lyif.
24 [77*6 Monk sent to the Fair with his Convent's Horses :]
J Exaumple 5 . Jacobws de vitriaco, he tellyth of a knyjt bat was A knight,
wastfult in coueytise, in wyl, in desyir, & in delyjt, & wastfuK
in coueytouse woordys, & wastfult in dede, in exces of expenses.
28 At be laste hym thouste he ledde a parlous lyif, and he forsoke repenting of his
covetousness,
his wordly good & all be werd. and aaf his good in almes to abandoned his
wealth and
be pore, and took to hym wylfult pouert of spyrite, and was became a monk.
made a muwke. be abbot wyste wel bat he was a wyse kny5t The abbot
32 be-fore whil he was wordly, and hopyd bat he wolde vse forth
1 MS. in margin : ' clonum rowsilii.'
y Luke xi. 41. s Prov. xii. 5.
* Ps. xxxii. 10, ii. 5 MS. in margin : 'Narrocto.'
312 The Story of a Monk sent to the fair. [CH. L.
sent him to the his wordly husbondrye, and sente hym to be feyre for to selle
fair to exchange '
the convent's here olde hors and here olde assys, and for to byen hem aungere
old horses for
young ones. f or here store, bat knyjt maad murcke, for obedience dede be
hewassocandid abbotes byddynff. In be feyre men askyd him sif be horse and 4
about the ani- J J ' J J
mais' defects, pe assys were juwge and clene of lymmes. be muwke seyde,
' nay, It arn olde and feble, and crokyd. wel mowe je wyten,
3yf bey haddyn be junge & gode witA-outyn defawte, we wolde
nojt haue broujt hem hyder to selle, for oure hows hath nojt so 8
gret nede.' Men askyd hym also why here tayles were so
pylled, & haddyn non heer. be mimke sejde, 'for bei fallyn
[Pol. 101 b.] so often vnder here charge | bat bei beryn, & we houyn hem
vp alwey be be tayle, and berfore here tayles arn pyled.' loo, 1 2
bis muwke lefte alle be wastfull thoujtes, woordys, & dedys
of coueytise bat he vsed beforn, and thoujte truthe, & seyde
that he could truthe, and dede truthe. berfore, he wente horn asen, & selde
not sell any of
them; neuere a beste. his felawe tolde be abbot how he dede. be 16
abbot reprouyd him, and dede him sore dyscyplyned. bawne
seyde bat knyjt maad munke : ' I haue forsakyn myn hors,
myn assys, my possessiowns, my wordely good bat I hadde in
be world, and I koin) hyder to chesyn wylfull pouert, & to 20
for he would not forsakyn wastfult thou3tes & woordys, lesynges, dysceyjtes, and
wicked ways, wasteful! dedys of falsnesse, whiche I vsed in be world before
whill I was seculere, for to saue my soule, & for to amende
me of my lyif & fals coueytise, and Berfore I kam nojt 24
hedyr to bis habyte to lyjin, & to vsyn forth my falsnesse,
as I dede beforn, to be dampnyd/ ffor ]?is truthe, be munke
was lefte att home in his cloystre, & in wyllfull pouert seruyd
his god, 28
loo, how bis couwseyl of be holy gost styrred him to forsake
be fals world, be wast of ryches, and to chesyn wylfull pouert
in spyrite. And bis conseyl of be holy gost sprange in hym
swyche watyr of grace in hys grouwde of almes & of pouert in 32
spyrite, pat it tawjte hym to gouerne hym so in truthe fro
falsencsse, bat he was suffryd stylle in goddys seruyse, and no
more lettyd berfro. Takyth exaumple be hym ! in partye
CH. L.] The Moral of the Story. 313
forsakyth wast in thoujt, woord, & dede, takyth wylfult
pouert in spyrite, beeth large in almesse, and bis grace of Poverty in
spirit will help
couwseyl of be holy gost schal sprynge in 2oure hertys & welle, you to attain
the counsel of
4 and schal kepe jow fro all falsnesse of herte, tunge, & dede, tne Holy Ghost.
& brynge jou to hym bat is weye, truthe, & lyif, bat is, joure
god. To hym vs brynge he, &3.
END OF PART I.
OXFORD : HORACE HART
I'RINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
15JUG.;980
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
PRATT
NOV o
FEB 20 1987" t
PRATT
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MAY 6 1983
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AUG 31984
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