 | Handlyng Synne |  |
[Of Holy Bapteme.]
The fyrst sacrament ys holy bapteme,
Houe of watyr, and noyted with creme;
‘Crystendom,’ or ‘crystynyng,’
Þat ys on englys, oure spekyng.
Houe of watyr, and noyted with creme;
‘Crystendom,’ or ‘crystynyng,’
Þat ys on englys, oure spekyng.
Crystendom, to cryst hyt longeþ,
And to alle þat crystendom vndyrfongeþ;
Þys ys þe fyrst and pryncypalle,
Þurgh þe whych we are saued alle;
Saued we are, þurgh crystendam,
Of þe heued synne of Adam,
yn whych synne alle mankynde ys bore,
Ȝyt, and shal be, and was byfore.
And to alle þat crystendom vndyrfongeþ;
Þys ys þe fyrst and pryncypalle,
Þurgh þe whych we are saued alle;
Saued we are, þurgh crystendam,
Of þe heued synne of Adam,
yn whych synne alle mankynde ys bore,
Ȝyt, and shal be, and was byfore.
Adams synnë was so grefe,
Þat þyr was to God, none so lefe,
Þyt he ne shulde to hellë gone
But he were wasshe yn þe fonte stone,
yn fonte stone and watyr baptysed,
As Ihesu cryst haþ dyuysed.
Þat þyr was to God, none so lefe,
Þyt he ne shulde to hellë gone
But he were wasshe yn þe fonte stone,
298
As Ihesu cryst haþ dyuysed.
Ȝyf þou beleue þat any wham
ys saued with-oute crystyndam,
y seye, forsoþe þou hast mys went
Aȝens þys holy sacrament.
ys saued with-oute crystyndam,
y seye, forsoþe þou hast mys went
Aȝens þys holy sacrament.
Ofte we here þe lewed men seye,
Þat erre ful moche oute of þe weye,
Þat of þe Iewës seye sum oun,
‘Þey ne wote wheþer þey be saued or noun;’
But of sum prestes ys gretter tene,
Þat so of þe Iewës also wene;
Certes, þey are alle yn were,
And yn þe feyþ þey are nat clere,
For, shal neuer Iewe þat deyeþ Iewe,
Of heuene blys haue part ne prewe,
But he be crystened yn þe holy gaste,
And yn þe sacrament be ful stedfast.
Þat erre ful moche oute of þe weye,
Þat of þe Iewës seye sum oun,
‘Þey ne wote wheþer þey be saued or noun;’
But of sum prestes ys gretter tene,
Þat so of þe Iewës also wene;
Certes, þey are alle yn were,
And yn þe feyþ þey are nat clere,
For, shal neuer Iewe þat deyeþ Iewe,
Of heuene blys haue part ne prewe,
But he be crystened yn þe holy gaste,
And yn þe sacrament be ful stedfast.
Lo, here a wurde to leue ȝoure drede!
yn þe gospel þat we rede,
Þat god Ihesu vs allë techeþ
Þurgh seynt Mark, þat hyt precheþ,
“He þat beleueþ and ys baptysed,
He shal be saued, so ys dyuysed;
And he þat beleueþ nat, forsoþe & ywys,
Boþe body and soulë, lore he ys.”
yn þe gospel þat we rede,
Þat god Ihesu vs allë techeþ
Þurgh seynt Mark, þat hyt precheþ,
“He þat beleueþ and ys baptysed,
He shal be saued, so ys dyuysed;
And he þat beleueþ nat, forsoþe & ywys,
Boþe body and soulë, lore he ys.”
loke how ȝe mow be a-bawed,
þat seye þat þe Iewe ys saued!
Þe Iewe, þe oldë lawë kan,
But þat alone may saue no man;
And þarfore was hyt fyled and left,
For heuenë blys, vs hyt refte
Þurgh Adams synne fro vs echone,
Tyl hyt was clensed yn flume Iordone,
whan Ihesu was baptysed þer-ynne
For to wasshe awey þat synne;
And al þat euer to Cryst wyl teme,
Behoueþ be baptysed yn watyr and creme:
Þan art þou clene, þou shalt beleue,
Of Adams synnë, and of Eue.
þat seye þat þe Iewe ys saued!
Þe Iewe, þe oldë lawë kan,
But þat alone may saue no man;
And þarfore was hyt fyled and left,
For heuenë blys, vs hyt refte
Þurgh Adams synne fro vs echone,
Tyl hyt was clensed yn flume Iordone,
whan Ihesu was baptysed þer-ynne
For to wasshe awey þat synne;
And al þat euer to Cryst wyl teme,
Behoueþ be baptysed yn watyr and creme:
299
Of Adams synnë, and of Eue.
Þarfore hyt ys þe fyrst sacrament
Þat þou art to, fyrst made present;
Lokë þat þou kunne hyt knowe;
hyt makeþ þe hygh, þere þou were lowe,
hyt makeþ þe fre, þat er were þralle,
Fro þe fendës seruage alle,
Þat þe þar neuer þe fendë drede
But hyt be þurgh þyn owne mysdede.
Þat þou art to, fyrst made present;
Lokë þat þou kunne hyt knowe;
hyt makeþ þe hygh, þere þou were lowe,
hyt makeþ þe fre, þat er were þralle,
Fro þe fendës seruage alle,
Þat þe þar neuer þe fendë drede
But hyt be þurgh þyn owne mysdede.
Ȝyf a chylde be dedë bore—
Þogh hyt were quyk yn wombe byfore—
And, receyue nat þe bapteme,
Of heuene may hyt neuer cleme;
with-outë doute, beleue ȝe þys,
Þat hyt shal neuer come to blys;
Ne peyne of hetë, ne of colde,
Hyt shal non fele, no ryȝt hyt wolde;
Hyt noght mysdyd, ne serued wo,
Ne to nonë shal hyt go;
Þys ys peyne with-outen ende,
hyt shal neuer to Ioyë wende.
Gretë grace ys to hem lent,
Þat here receyue þys sacrament.
Þogh hyt were quyk yn wombe byfore—
And, receyue nat þe bapteme,
Of heuene may hyt neuer cleme;
with-outë doute, beleue ȝe þys,
Þat hyt shal neuer come to blys;
Ne peyne of hetë, ne of colde,
Hyt shal non fele, no ryȝt hyt wolde;
Hyt noght mysdyd, ne serued wo,
Ne to nonë shal hyt go;
Þys ys peyne with-outen ende,
hyt shal neuer to Ioyë wende.
Gretë grace ys to hem lent,
Þat here receyue þys sacrament.
Also, ȝe þat heue chyldryn al day,
loke ȝe be stedfast yn oure lay,
Þat nonë haue yn hertë doute,
Ne to wycchecrafte leste no loute.
loke ȝe be stedfast yn oure lay,
Þat nonë haue yn hertë doute,
Ne to wycchecrafte leste no loute.
Þou settest þy self yn borghgage
To teche þe chylde whan hyt haþ age;
Ȝyf þou se hyt mysdo or seye,
Þou shalt teche hyt better wey,
Ȝyf hyt be so þat þou maght,
Þou art holde þat hyt be taght;
Quyte þe weyl oute of borghgang,
Þat þou ne haue for hyt no wrang.
To teche þe chylde whan hyt haþ age;
Ȝyf þou se hyt mysdo or seye,
Þou shalt teche hyt better wey,
Ȝyf hyt be so þat þou maght,
Þou art holde þat hyt be taght;
Quyte þe weyl oute of borghgang,
Þat þou ne haue for hyt no wrang.
loke also, ȝyf þou euer ware
Yn place þere wymmen chyldryn bare;
Ȝyf þou sawe hyt yn perel of dede,
And þou ne coudest do bote ne rede,
Ne seyë wurde, ne helpe at nede,
So þat hyt to þe deþë ȝede;
Þou shalt þerforë perel haue;
Vnkunnyng shal þe nat saue;
For euery man, boþe hygh and logh,
Þe poyntes of bapteme oweþ to knowe,
To helpe chyldryn yn many kas;
Men wete neuer what nede one has.
who so ne kan, y rede hym lere
Yn syȝte, yn dede, and he may here.
300
Ȝyf þou sawe hyt yn perel of dede,
And þou ne coudest do bote ne rede,
Ne seyë wurde, ne helpe at nede,
So þat hyt to þe deþë ȝede;
Þou shalt þerforë perel haue;
Vnkunnyng shal þe nat saue;
For euery man, boþe hygh and logh,
Þe poyntes of bapteme oweþ to knowe,
To helpe chyldryn yn many kas;
Men wete neuer what nede one has.
who so ne kan, y rede hym lere
Yn syȝte, yn dede, and he may here.
Y shal ȝow teche, as y herde telle
Onës a frerë menor spelle:
“Ȝyf þou se a chylde yn swyche perel
Þat none may saue hyt with no wylle,
Sey þan þus, ȝyf þou haue haste,
“y crysten þe yn þe name of þe fadyr & sone & holy gast,”
And ȝyue, what þou wylt, hyt a name,
And kast on water; þan ys hyt frame;
And ȝyf þou ȝyue hyt namë none,
Noþer Robert, Wyllyam, no Ione,
Loke þat þese wurdës be weyl seyd,
And water þer-on algate leyde;
And þat þyr be none ouþer waste,
But yn þe fadyr and sone, and holy gaste;
Þese wurdes forȝete þou naght,
Ne watyr, what as euer elles be wroȝt.”
Onës a frerë menor spelle:
“Ȝyf þou se a chylde yn swyche perel
Þat none may saue hyt with no wylle,
Sey þan þus, ȝyf þou haue haste,
“y crysten þe yn þe name of þe fadyr & sone & holy gast,”
And ȝyue, what þou wylt, hyt a name,
And kast on water; þan ys hyt frame;
And ȝyf þou ȝyue hyt namë none,
Noþer Robert, Wyllyam, no Ione,
Loke þat þese wurdës be weyl seyd,
And water þer-on algate leyde;
And þat þyr be none ouþer waste,
But yn þe fadyr and sone, and holy gaste;
Þese wurdes forȝete þou naght,
Ne watyr, what as euer elles be wroȝt.”
Mydwyuës þat wyþ wymmen wone,
Alle þe poyntes, behoueþ hem kone;
Prestes shuld teche hem þe ordynaunce,
what þey shuld sey and do yn chaunce,
And examyne her what she couthe,
what she shuld do, and seye with mouþe.
Alle þe poyntes, behoueþ hem kone;
Prestes shuld teche hem þe ordynaunce,
what þey shuld sey and do yn chaunce,
And examyne her what she couthe,
what she shuld do, and seye with mouþe.
301
[The Tale of the Midwife who christend a Child wrongly.]
Y shal ȝow telle of a mydwyfe,
Þat loste a chylde, boþe soule & lyfe.
he tolde hyt yn hys sermoun,
And ȝaue here ofte hys malysoun.
Þat loste a chylde, boþe soule & lyfe.
he tolde hyt yn hys sermoun,
And ȝaue here ofte hys malysoun.
Þys mydwyfe, whan þe chylde was bore,
She helde hyt on here lappe before;
And whan she sawe þat hyt shulde deye,
She bygan, loudë for to crye,
And seyd, “God and seynt Ione
Crysten þe chylde, boþe flesshe and bone.”
She helde hyt on here lappe before;
And whan she sawe þat hyt shulde deye,
She bygan, loudë for to crye,
And seyd, “God and seynt Ione
Crysten þe chylde, boþe flesshe and bone.”
Þys mydwyffe noghte ellës seyde,
And yn þe cherche-ȝerde þey wulde hyt haue leyde,
As a-nouþer chyld shuld ha be
Þat hade receyuede þe solempte.
And yn þe cherche-ȝerde þey wulde hyt haue leyde,
As a-nouþer chyld shuld ha be
Þat hade receyuede þe solempte.
Þe prest askede þe mydwyffe,
‘Ȝyfe hyt were cristenede whan hyt hade lyffe,
And who hyt cristened, and on what manere,
And what was seyde, þat any myghte here.’
‘Ȝyfe hyt were cristenede whan hyt hade lyffe,
And who hyt cristened, and on what manere,
And what was seyde, þat any myghte here.’
Þe mydwyffe seyde unto þe prest,
“Þys herde þey þat stode me nest,
‘Þat God almyghty and Seynt Ioun
ȝyue þe chylde cristendom yn flesshe and boun.’”
“Þys herde þey þat stode me nest,
‘Þat God almyghty and Seynt Ioun
ȝyue þe chylde cristendom yn flesshe and boun.’”
Þan seyd þe preste, “God and seynt Iame
Ȝyue þe boþe sorow and shame,
And Crystys malysun haue þou for-þy,
And alle þe ouþer þat were þe by!
Yn euyl tymë were þou bore,
For yn þy defaute, a soule ys lore.”
She was commaunded she shuld no more
Come eftesones þere chyldryn were bore.
Ȝyue þe boþe sorow and shame,
And Crystys malysun haue þou for-þy,
And alle þe ouþer þat were þe by!
Yn euyl tymë were þou bore,
For yn þy defaute, a soule ys lore.”
She was commaunded she shuld no more
Come eftesones þere chyldryn were bore.
Mydwyues, y tolde thys tale for ȝow,
Þat ȝyf ȝe kunnat, lerneþ how
To sauë þat, God boȝt ful dere,
Þe poyntes of bapteme y rede ȝow lere;
Mydwyfe ys a perylus þyng
But she kunne þe poyntes of crystenyng;
302
To sauë þat, God boȝt ful dere,
Þe poyntes of bapteme y rede ȝow lere;
Mydwyfe ys a perylus þyng
But she kunne þe poyntes of crystenyng;
Ne beleueþ nat on þese shappers,
Ȝoure mysdede ful mykyl deres;
y wolde þo shappers were on lowe,
And al þo þat on hem trowe.
Ȝoure mysdede ful mykyl deres;
y wolde þo shappers were on lowe,
And al þo þat on hem trowe.
Þe beleue ys, ‘þe fadyr and sone & holy gaste;’
Alle ouþer beleue ys wykked and waste;
Þurgh hem ys alle þyng shape & wroȝt,
And ouþer shappers ne are noȝt;
God ys shapper of alle þyng,
he wote þe mydward, and þe endyng;
Þe oþer shappers, þat men of seye,
Hyt ys a beleue of deuyl weye.
Alle ouþer beleue ys wykked and waste;
Þurgh hem ys alle þyng shape & wroȝt,
And ouþer shappers ne are noȝt;
God ys shapper of alle þyng,
he wote þe mydward, and þe endyng;
Þe oþer shappers, þat men of seye,
Hyt ys a beleue of deuyl weye.
Þe mete þat ȝe leye at þe chyldës hede
For swyche shappers, were bettyr leued;
Ȝyf hyt for hem þerë lye,
Þan ys hyt a wykked erysye;
ley hyt for þe loue of þe holy gaste,
Fadyr, and sone, oo God stedfaste,
As wysly as he become a chylde,
Bore of Marye, mayden mylde,
Þat he ȝyue hyt to lyue yn gode grace,
And gode endyng, and se hys face.
For swyche shappers, were bettyr leued;
Ȝyf hyt for hem þerë lye,
Þan ys hyt a wykked erysye;
ley hyt for þe loue of þe holy gaste,
Fadyr, and sone, oo God stedfaste,
As wysly as he become a chylde,
Bore of Marye, mayden mylde,
Þat he ȝyue hyt to lyue yn gode grace,
And gode endyng, and se hys face.
Ȝyf þou were euer so vnwys
For to crystene a chyldë twys,
Or ȝyf þou euer consentedest þar-to
Þat any ouþer shulde so do,—
At home, as yn pryuyte,
Anouþer tyme, þat men myȝt se,—
For ȝyf hyt were baptysed at hame
wyþ alle þe poyntes of bapteme name,
Þan were hyt aȝens þe feyþe to werche,
Eftesones to baptyse hyt at cherche;
But ȝyf þou suppose þyr fayleþ a poynte
Þat to þe crystendom shuld a-mounte,
Þan were hyt nat for to drede
For to fulfyl þat shulde be nede;
For alle þe poyntes of watyr & creme,
Þurgh alle crystendom ys o bapteme,
O baptemë, and nat two,
Of alle þe poyntes þat þou sest do.
Þarfore he þat ys ones baptysed,
Ones for euer ys; þus ys auysed.
For to crystene a chyldë twys,
Or ȝyf þou euer consentedest þar-to
Þat any ouþer shulde so do,—
At home, as yn pryuyte,
Anouþer tyme, þat men myȝt se,—
For ȝyf hyt were baptysed at hame
wyþ alle þe poyntes of bapteme name,
303
Eftesones to baptyse hyt at cherche;
But ȝyf þou suppose þyr fayleþ a poynte
Þat to þe crystendom shuld a-mounte,
Þan were hyt nat for to drede
For to fulfyl þat shulde be nede;
For alle þe poyntes of watyr & creme,
Þurgh alle crystendom ys o bapteme,
O baptemë, and nat two,
Of alle þe poyntes þat þou sest do.
Þarfore he þat ys ones baptysed,
Ones for euer ys; þus ys auysed.
Also, ȝe þat chyldryn heue,
ȝ shul nat forȝete ne leue
To teche hyt pater noster & crede;
Ȝyf ȝe ne do, hyt ys to drede.
ȝ shul nat forȝete ne leue
To teche hyt pater noster & crede;
Ȝyf ȝe ne do, hyt ys to drede.
To foly þou shalt nat drawe ne wone
Þy goddoȝtyr ne þy godsone,
Namely to þat vylayny
Þat falleþ vn-to lechery,
Ne to no foly þat may be;
Þou shalt teche hem synne to fle.
Ne nat be so fole hardy,
Þy goddoȝtyr to lye þe by,
Ne for to dwelle a-lone with þe,
For perel þat may falle and be.
Þy goddoȝtyr ne þy godsone,
Namely to þat vylayny
Þat falleþ vn-to lechery,
Ne to no foly þat may be;
Þou shalt teche hem synne to fle.
Ne nat be so fole hardy,
Þy goddoȝtyr to lye þe by,
Ne for to dwelle a-lone with þe,
For perel þat may falle and be.
Many a pryuy peryl þyr ys,
And specyaly yn drunkenes;
yn drunkenes men wyl rage,
And, ragyng wyl reyse korage;
And sonë may a man be shent
Þat doþe aȝens þe comaundement.
And specyaly yn drunkenes;
yn drunkenes men wyl rage,
And, ragyng wyl reyse korage;
And sonë may a man be shent
Þat doþe aȝens þe comaundement.
Seynt Gregory telleþ yn hys spelle
Of swyche a shame þat onës felle.
Of swyche a shame þat onës felle.
304
[The Tale of the Bad Bourgeois who lay with his God-daughter and was kild for it.]
A man hefe onës at þe fonte
A maydë chylde, as men are wonte;
Þys mayde wax, and bygan to belde
weyl yn-to womans elde;
And at Ester tyme gan hyt falle
whan men hadde fastë lenten alle,
Þys man bysoghte, for specyalte,
Þat hys god-doȝtyr wyþ hym myȝt be,
And alle þat ychë Esterday
And lenger, ȝyf hyt were here pay.
A maydë chylde, as men are wonte;
Þys mayde wax, and bygan to belde
weyl yn-to womans elde;
And at Ester tyme gan hyt falle
whan men hadde fastë lenten alle,
Þys man bysoghte, for specyalte,
Þat hys god-doȝtyr wyþ hym myȝt be,
And alle þat ychë Esterday
And lenger, ȝyf hyt were here pay.
Þe fadyr and þe modyr graunted sone;
Þey þoȝt none euyl myȝt be done.
Þys man, for drunkenes & vnryȝt,
lay by hys god-doȝtyr þat yche nyȝt:
Þys man on þe mornë þoȝt
How synfully þat he hadde wroȝt;
Ful grete þoȝte þan was he ynne,
Þat he hadde do so greuus a synne;
Twey þoghtes yn hys hertë come,
To go to þe cherche, or byde at home:
“Ȝyf y vnto þe cherchë ȝede,
Of venïaunce y haue grete drede;
And, ȝyf y nat þedyr go,
Men wyl wene y haue do sum wo.”
So algate vnto þe cherche he name;
he drede nat God, but morë shame.
Þey þoȝt none euyl myȝt be done.
Þys man, for drunkenes & vnryȝt,
lay by hys god-doȝtyr þat yche nyȝt:
Þys man on þe mornë þoȝt
How synfully þat he hadde wroȝt;
Ful grete þoȝte þan was he ynne,
Þat he hadde do so greuus a synne;
Twey þoghtes yn hys hertë come,
To go to þe cherche, or byde at home:
“Ȝyf y vnto þe cherchë ȝede,
Of venïaunce y haue grete drede;
And, ȝyf y nat þedyr go,
Men wyl wene y haue do sum wo.”
So algate vnto þe cherche he name;
he drede nat God, but morë shame.
Þe fyrst day, he dred hym sore
he shuld be cumbred sumwore,
And ȝyt a-noþer he lokede ay,
whyche tyme þe fende wulde bere hym away;
Alle þe woke, for worldës shame,
He ȝede to þe cherche, but lytyl to frame;
he shuld be cumbred sumwore,
And ȝyt a-noþer he lokede ay,
whyche tyme þe fende wulde bere hym away;
305
He ȝede to þe cherche, but lytyl to frame;
whan he hadde long a-bydë so,
And, no skaþe come hym to,
Þys þoght he yn hys herte ful raþe,
For he hadde þarfore no skaþe,
he wendë God had hyt forgete
As ouþer men do þat haue forlete;
Or þoȝt þat he hadde hyt forȝyue,
And hym neded nat þer-of be shryue,
Ne shulde þerof come no myschaunce,
For he was of so longe suffraunce.
And, no skaþe come hym to,
Þys þoght he yn hys herte ful raþe,
For he hadde þarfore no skaþe,
he wendë God had hyt forgete
As ouþer men do þat haue forlete;
Or þoȝt þat he hadde hyt forȝyue,
And hym neded nat þer-of be shryue,
Ne shulde þerof come no myschaunce,
For he was of so longe suffraunce.
But God, þat fórȝeteþ no þyng,
he sente þarfore grete heuenyng;
Þe seuenþe day þys man deyde,
As þe holy man vs seyde;
Sone aftyr þat byryed he was,
Veniaunce come for þat trespas;
Vpp of hys graue a fyre vpp smote—
Ful stynkyng and ful hote—
And brenned þat cursed body alle,
And stone and erþe, boþe grete and smalle;
Alle was so brend yn-to þe grounde,
Þat of hys body myȝt noȝt be founde.
he sente þarfore grete heuenyng;
Þe seuenþe day þys man deyde,
As þe holy man vs seyde;
Sone aftyr þat byryed he was,
Veniaunce come for þat trespas;
Vpp of hys graue a fyre vpp smote—
Ful stynkyng and ful hote—
And brenned þat cursed body alle,
And stone and erþe, boþe grete and smalle;
Alle was so brend yn-to þe grounde,
Þat of hys body myȝt noȝt be founde.
Here mow ȝe here apertly why
God toke veniaunce greuusly,
Þat God shewed so moche hys Ire,
For he synned þat tyme with hyre
Þat he lyfte of þe fonte stone:
hyt ys a warnyng to vs echone
þat we kepe þe sacrament,
Oure bapteme þat God haþ sent;
And þat we bettyr hyt holde
For þys tale þat y ȝow tolde.
Ȝe, Ihesu lordë, þou hyt graunte
þat we mow holdë þat cunnaunte
þat we at þe fonte stonë make,
Ihesu to serue, and Satanas forsake.
God toke veniaunce greuusly,
Þat God shewed so moche hys Ire,
For he synned þat tyme with hyre
Þat he lyfte of þe fonte stone:
hyt ys a warnyng to vs echone
þat we kepe þe sacrament,
Oure bapteme þat God haþ sent;
And þat we bettyr hyt holde
For þys tale þat y ȝow tolde.
Ȝe, Ihesu lordë, þou hyt graunte
306
þat we at þe fonte stonë make,
Ihesu to serue, and Satanas forsake.
| Handlyng Synne | |