University of Virginia Library

“In to þin hondes, lord verray,
And in to þin holy Aungeles ay,
I be-teche þis ilke niht
Mi bodi and soule to þe be diht,
Mi breþeren and my sustren alle,
And al my frendes, what-so bi-falle,
And my nexte frendes eke,
And al my gode doeres, i beo-seke,
And also I be-seche at ene
Alle oþur cristene for to mene.
Kep vs, lord, þis niht in hiȝe,
Þorwh þe beo-sechyng of þi Modur Marie
And of al halewen also
Þat euer weore on eorþe i-do,
ffrom vices and couetyse vn-hende
And ffrom temptaciun of þe fende,
Of sodeyn deþ vnwarned to telle,
And also from þe pyne of helle;
Liht myn herte of þe holy gost,
As þou art lord of mihtes most,
And of þi grete grace þou me take,
To þi Comaundemens me boxum make,
And neuer beo departet from þe
Wiþ-outen ende, so mot hit be.”—
Ȝif þou vse þis-Maner þing,
Þen schaltou haue soþfast knowyng,
To knowe þi lord in whom is al,
Þat haþ þe Mad and saue schal.
Loke þenne þat þis beo þe rif,
Her-wiþ to lede holy lyf.—