The poems of John Audelay Edited with introduction, notes and glossary [by Ella Keats Whiting] |
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 | The poems of John Audelay |  |
17
Hec dicit Dominus Deus conuertimini ad me et salui eritis. Nolo mortem peccatoris sed vt magis conuertatur et viuat. Quia Cananeum et puplicanum vocauit ad penitenciam et peccatum lacrimantem. Ita et vos venite et audite incredoli quod timorem Domini docebit vos. De misericordia Domini.
All Cristyn men, Y bid ȝou cum,
Ȝe vnbeleuyd, cum wyle ȝe may,
And þenkis apon my dredful dome;
Hit schal ȝou teche, hit is no nay,
Hou dredful þen is domysday.
In þe wyche nowþer grace ne merce is;
Þer is no saynt may fore ȝoue pray.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Ȝe vnbeleuyd, cum wyle ȝe may,
And þenkis apon my dredful dome;
Hit schal ȝou teche, hit is no nay,
124
In þe wyche nowþer grace ne merce is;
Þer is no saynt may fore ȝoue pray.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Ego sum Deus iudex et iustus et do vniquique secundum opera sua.
Þenke þat I am God ryȝtwyse,
And ȝif vche mon after his wark;
To my blissid I haue orden blis,
And to þe cursid dampnacion darke;
Leud and lerd, prest and clerke,
Þai schal be rewardid, y-wis,
Affter here dedis; þis word ȝe mark.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
And ȝif vche mon after his wark;
To my blissid I haue orden blis,
And to þe cursid dampnacion darke;
Leud and lerd, prest and clerke,
Þai schal be rewardid, y-wis,
Affter here dedis; þis word ȝe mark.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
The valey of wepyng þis word I cal,
I say ȝou, serys, foresoþ fore-hwy,
Fore al day in myschif of syn ȝe fal,
And greuen me ful greuosly;
Vcheon for oþer may be sory,
Fore anon ȝe lesin heuen blis
Sauyng my grace and mercy.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
I say ȝou, serys, foresoþ fore-hwy,
Fore al day in myschif of syn ȝe fal,
And greuen me ful greuosly;
Vcheon for oþer may be sory,
Fore anon ȝe lesin heuen blis
Sauyng my grace and mercy.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Nono veni vocare iustos sed peccatores ad penitenciam.
I come not to cal ryȝtwys men
To penans, as I ȝou say,
Bot þos þat in erþ synful bene,
Hem I clepe boþ nyȝt and day,
With disese and sekenes, ȝif þat I may
Make ham to mend þai done amys;
Cum to me now I ȝou pray.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
To penans, as I ȝou say,
Bot þos þat in erþ synful bene,
Hem I clepe boþ nyȝt and day,
With disese and sekenes, ȝif þat I may
Make ham to mend þai done amys;
Cum to me now I ȝou pray.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
125
Magis gaudium est in celo super vnum.
For þer is more ioy i-wys
Of a synner þat foresakis his syn
And wil mend he doþ amys,
Þen iiij sc[ore] of ryȝtwys men,
Fore hom [þer] is no medesyne;
Bot he þat in soule seke he is,
Hom I clepe to my grace þen.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Of a synner þat foresakis his syn
And wil mend he doþ amys,
Þen iiij sc[ore] of ryȝtwys men,
Fore hom [þer] is no medesyne;
Bot he þat in soule seke he is,
Hom I clepe to my grace þen.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Tradide me ipsum pro vobis ad mortem vt mecum.
Fourte days fore ȝou I fast
To fulfil my Fader law;
Fore my deþ I was agast;
I wist ryȝt wel I schuld be slaw;
And al hit was fore loue of ȝow,
Lest þat ȝe schuld fare amys;
My grace, my goodnes, now ȝe schul know.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
To fulfil my Fader law;
Fore my deþ I was agast;
I wist ryȝt wel I schuld be slaw;
And al hit was fore loue of ȝow,
Lest þat ȝe schuld fare amys;
My grace, my goodnes, now ȝe schul know.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Sic oportet vos ieiunare propter peccata vestra et pro amore passionis Ihesu Christe.
So fourte days ȝe schul fast
Fore loue of my passion, I ȝou pray,
In þe tyme þat hole lentyn last
Saue onle apon þe Sunnday;
In þe clensyng days hom fast ȝe may,
Þe fourte days to fulfil hit is;
Þis is my comawndmentis, hit is no nay.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Fore loue of my passion, I ȝou pray,
In þe tyme þat hole lentyn last
Saue onle apon þe Sunnday;
In þe clensyng days hom fast ȝe may,
Þe fourte days to fulfil hit is;
Þis is my comawndmentis, hit is no nay.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Saue wemen w[ith] child, and sekelou men,
And laborers þat worchyn boþ nyȝt and day,
And pilgrems, and palmers, and ȝong childer þen,
Al oþer schuld fast as I ȝou say;
Ȝif a resnabil mele haue þai may,
Relegeus, prestis, and seculers,
Non excusacion haue þai may.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
And laborers þat worchyn boþ nyȝt and day,
And pilgrems, and palmers, and ȝong childer þen,
Al oþer schuld fast as I ȝou say;
126
Relegeus, prestis, and seculers,
Non excusacion haue þai may.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Qui cum jeiuneo visia comprimis mentem eleuas.
Fore, serys, I say þat bodele fast
Lifftis vp ȝour mynd to heuen on hye,
And visis and synnus adown doþ cast,
And getis ȝoue vertus and mede with me,
And putis away þe fyndis pouste,
And distroys ȝour iij enmys,
Curst pride, false couetis, and glotone,
And bryngis ȝou into heuen blis.
Lifftis vp ȝour mynd to heuen on hye,
And visis and synnus adown doþ cast,
And getis ȝoue vertus and mede with me,
And putis away þe fyndis pouste,
And distroys ȝour iij enmys,
Curst pride, false couetis, and glotone,
And bryngis ȝou into heuen blis.
On aske Wenesday ȝe schul come
To hole cherche, serus, I ȝou pray,
And takis askis al and sum,
Fore þus þe prest to ȝoue wil say
Vmþynk þe, mon, þou art pouder of clay
And in to askis schal turne, i-wis,
Haue mynd here-on boþ nyȝt and day.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
To hole cherche, serus, I ȝou pray,
And takis askis al and sum,
Fore þus þe prest to ȝoue wil say
Vmþynk þe, mon, þou art pouder of clay
And in to askis schal turne, i-wis,
Haue mynd here-on boþ nyȝt and day.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Fore clansyng days I do hom calle,
In hom to clanse ȝour concians
Of al ȝour synnus boþ gret and smal,
And schryue ȝoue clene with repentans,
And with good wil do ȝoure penans
Fore al þe ȝere ȝe han don amys,
Þen I wil withdraw my venchance.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
In hom to clanse ȝour concians
Of al ȝour synnus boþ gret and smal,
And schryue ȝoue clene with repentans,
And with good wil do ȝoure penans
Fore al þe ȝere ȝe han don amys,
Þen I wil withdraw my venchance.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Fore ȝe most nede do ȝour penans
In þe tyme of hole lentyn,
And schryue ȝoue clene of repentans
In þe clansyng days, ȝif þat ȝe moven,
To make a syþ satisfaccion
Fore al þe ȝere ȝe han don mys,
Fore þen I grawnt remyssion.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
In þe tyme of hole lentyn,
And schryue ȝoue clene of repentans
In þe clansyng days, ȝif þat ȝe moven,
127
Fore al þe ȝere ȝe han don mys,
Fore þen I grawnt remyssion.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Now ȝe schul schryue ȝoue, I wil ȝoue telle,
Mekele to þe prest ȝe knele adoune;
Hele no þyng bot truly spel
Hov and were þat ȝe han done,
Hw[en], to hwom, ouþer God or mon;
Tellis forþ treuly ryȝt as hit is,
Þen þis is treue confession.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Mekele to þe prest ȝe knele adoune;
Hele no þyng bot truly spel
Hov and were þat ȝe han done,
Hw[en], to hwom, ouþer God or mon;
Tellis forþ treuly ryȝt as hit is,
Þen þis is treue confession.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Iij þyngys longis to confession,
Beware, seris, now I ȝou pray,
Tru schryft of mowþ, contricion,
And þen satisfaccion, hit is no nay;
Neuer on without oþer be þer may;
Ȝif ȝe wil bryng ȝour soule to blis,
To heuen þer is no noþer way.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Beware, seris, now I ȝou pray,
Tru schryft of mowþ, contricion,
And þen satisfaccion, hit is no nay;
Neuer on without oþer be þer may;
Ȝif ȝe wil bryng ȝour soule to blis,
To heuen þer is no noþer way.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Trust ȝe not to esy penans
Þat þe prest inyoyns ȝou to,
Bot ȝif ȝe haue vere repentans,
And þynke neuer more so to do,
And make satisfaccion also,
Ellis þe pop asoylis no mon, i-wys;
To purgatore or to hel ȝe most nede go.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Þat þe prest inyoyns ȝou to,
Bot ȝif ȝe haue vere repentans,
And þynke neuer more so to do,
And make satisfaccion also,
Ellis þe pop asoylis no mon, i-wys;
To purgatore or to hel ȝe most nede go.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
128
Penetentes penitentes et non irritentes, si estis penitentes imitate mores
corigite vitam et conuertemini ad dominum.
Bot ȝe haue very contricion
To me hit is a he scornyng;
Ȝour schryft is bot co[n]fusion;
Ȝe schul haue schame at ȝour endyng;
Bot ȝ[i]f ȝe change ȝour maners, ȝour cursid leuying,
And clanse ȝour consians of al malis,
To euel end hit wel ȝou bryng.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
To me hit is a he scornyng;
Ȝour schryft is bot co[n]fusion;
Ȝe schul haue schame at ȝour endyng;
Bot ȝ[i]f ȝe change ȝour maners, ȝour cursid leuying,
And clanse ȝour consians of al malis,
To euel end hit wel ȝou bryng.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Ȝe þat foreȝete me in ȝour leuyng
And on my passion haþ no pete,
I wil foreȝete ȝoue in ȝour dyyng
And withdraw my grace and my mercy,
And ȝour good angel fro ȝou schal fle
And betake ȝow into þe honde of ȝour enmys;
Þen ful woful schul ȝe be,
Þat nyl not mend þat þai do mys.
And on my passion haþ no pete,
I wil foreȝete ȝoue in ȝour dyyng
And withdraw my grace and my mercy,
And ȝour good angel fro ȝou schal fle
And betake ȝow into þe honde of ȝour enmys;
Þen ful woful schul ȝe be,
Þat nyl not mend þat þai do mys.
Quia numquam peccatum diluatur nisi satisfaccio operis restituatur.
Ȝe curateours, wysely ȝe wayt,
Þat han mon soule in ȝour kepyng;
Enioyne ȝe not penance to strayt,
Lest ȝe slen mon soule with ponyschyng;
A pater noster with repentyng,
To send ham to purgatore better hit is,
And saue bode and soule fro peryschyng.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Þat han mon soule in ȝour kepyng;
Enioyne ȝe not penance to strayt,
Lest ȝe slen mon soule with ponyschyng;
A pater noster with repentyng,
To send ham to purgatore better hit is,
And saue bode and soule fro peryschyng.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
129
Misedicordia et veritas obuiauerunt sibi, iusticia et pax osculate.
Ȝe þat sittyn here in my place,
Ȝe most haue treuþ and ryȝtwysnes;
Þen let treuþ, mercy, and grace,
And ryȝ[t]wysnes, take rest and pese;
Þese iiij sistyrs mad me pese
Of my vengans and my males,
Fore merce and grace hit ȝou mo[t] ples.
Nolo mortem peccatorys.
Ȝe most haue treuþ and ryȝtwysnes;
Þen let treuþ, mercy, and grace,
And ryȝ[t]wysnes, take rest and pese;
Þese iiij sistyrs mad me pese
Of my vengans and my males,
Fore merce and grace hit ȝou mo[t] ples.
Nolo mortem peccatorys.
Qui sola contricion deluit peccatum.
Fore as possebil foresoþ hit is
With a tere of þyn ye
To quenche al þe synns þou hast do mys,
Ȝif fore þi synns þou be sory,
As al þe water is in þe se
To qwenche a gnost of fuyre, i-wys,
Fore to hom I grawnt mercy.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
With a tere of þyn ye
To quenche al þe synns þou hast do mys,
Ȝif fore þi synns þou be sory,
As al þe water is in þe se
To qwenche a gnost of fuyre, i-wys,
Fore to hom I grawnt mercy.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Dimittite et demittetur vobis.
And loke ȝe bene in charyte,
And foreȝif vncheon oþer þen,
And quetis ȝour det treuly;
Þen brekis ȝour bred to my pore men,
And ȝif ham drynk þat þorste bene,
And cleþe nakid þat nede is,
And harbare þe pore þat woful ȝe syn.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
And foreȝif vncheon oþer þen,
And quetis ȝour det treuly;
Þen brekis ȝour bred to my pore men,
And ȝif ham drynk þat þorste bene,
And cleþe nakid þat nede is,
And harbare þe pore þat woful ȝe syn.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
130
Date elemosenam et omnia nobis munda.
And vysette þe seke þat in preson be,
And bere þe dede, I ȝou pray,
And cownsel þe vnwyse pur charyte,
And here my word when þat ȝe may,
And do þer-after boþ nyȝt and day,
Fore þis wil bryng ȝou to my blis;
To heuen hit is þe hye-waye.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
And bere þe dede, I ȝou pray,
And cownsel þe vnwyse pur charyte,
And here my word when þat ȝe may,
And do þer-after boþ nyȝt and day,
Fore þis wil bryng ȝou to my blis;
To heuen hit is þe hye-waye.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Conuertimini ad me in toto corde vestro.
And turne ȝou to me fore one þyng
In al ȝour hartis with myȝt and mayn,
In fastyng, in wepyng with sorowyng,
Ȝif ȝe haue gon mys, cum home aȝayn,
Þen of ȝoue I wil be fayne;
And kuttus ȝour hertus with contrecion hit is,
Bot kutt not ȝour cloþis, let hem be playne.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
In al ȝour hartis with myȝt and mayn,
In fastyng, in wepyng with sorowyng,
Ȝif ȝe haue gon mys, cum home aȝayn,
Þen of ȝoue I wil be fayne;
And kuttus ȝour hertus with contrecion hit is,
Bot kutt not ȝour cloþis, let hem be playne.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Anima que peccauerit ipsa moreatur.
A soule hit doþ a dedle syn,
He schal dye in good soþnes,
Bot þe fader of þe child þen
Schal not bere his synns, his wyckidnes;
Be þe Fader of þe Sun,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
He schal dye in good soþnes,
Bot þe fader of þe child þen
Schal not bere his synns, his wyckidnes;
Be þe Fader of þe Sun,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Þat for my loue han forsakyn þis word,
Þat nyȝt and day knelis on knen,
Þai pray for ȝou to me ȝour Lord;
Þen loke þat ȝe han here cumford,
And wit ȝe han not fare amys,
Fore in heuen I wil ȝou rewarde.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Þat for my loue han forsakyn þis word,
Þat nyȝt and day knelis on knen,
Þai pray for ȝou to me ȝour Lord;
Þen loke þat ȝe han here cumford,
And wit ȝe han not fare amys,
Fore in heuen I wil ȝou rewarde.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
131
And euer depart with þe pore
Of þe gracis and goodis þat God ȝou send;
Ȝe haue non oþer sycur tresoure
Aȝayns þe day of Iugement,
Ellis wil ȝe be chamyd and chent
When I cal ȝoue to ȝour cow[n]tys, i-wys,
How wordle goodis ȝe han spend.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Of þe gracis and goodis þat God ȝou send;
Ȝe haue non oþer sycur tresoure
Aȝayns þe day of Iugement,
Ellis wil ȝe be chamyd and chent
When I cal ȝoue to ȝour cow[n]tys, i-wys,
How wordle goodis ȝe han spend.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Meche be ȝe aldyn to þe pore
Þat ȝe ȝeuen here one þyng,
Fore þat is ȝour trew truste tresoure,
Ȝe ȝif hit to me is heuen Kyng;
Fore þai get no more bot here leuyng,
And ȝe schul haue þer-fore heuen blis,
And þat lyue þat is euer-lastyng.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Þat ȝe ȝeuen here one þyng,
Fore þat is ȝour trew truste tresoure,
Ȝe ȝif hit to me is heuen Kyng;
Fore þai get no more bot here leuyng,
And ȝe schul haue þer-fore heuen blis,
And þat lyue þat is euer-lastyng.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Fore þe pore schal be mad domysman
Apon þe ryche on domysday;
Let se how þai con answere þen
Fore al here reuerent, ryal aray,
In hungere, in þorst, in gold, wel ay,
Affter here almes ay waytyng;
‘Þai wold not vs vesit nyȝt ne day,’
Þus wil þai pla[yn] to me, heuen Kyng.
Apon þe ryche on domysday;
Let se how þai con answere þen
Fore al here reuerent, ryal aray,
In hungere, in þorst, in gold, wel ay,
Affter here almes ay waytyng;
‘Þai wold not vs vesit nyȝt ne day,’
Þus wil þai pla[yn] to me, heuen Kyng.
Date et dabetur vobis,
To my pore þat leuen in payne;
Dimitte et dimittetur vobis,
And þen foreȝifyn schul ȝe ben;
Querete et inuenietis;
Tare not to long bot cum betyme,
Pulsate et aperietur vobis,
Or I me ȝatis for ȝou tyne,
Ȝif ȝe wil one þyng þat is myne,
Petete et accepietis;
Here may ȝe know wel and sone,
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
To my pore þat leuen in payne;
Dimitte et dimittetur vobis,
And þen foreȝifyn schul ȝe ben;
Querete et inuenietis;
Tare not to long bot cum betyme,
Pulsate et aperietur vobis,
Or I me ȝatis for ȝou tyne,
132
Petete et accepietis;
Here may ȝe know wel and sone,
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Take ensampil be S[aint] Martyne,
Þe nakid he cloþid with gret pete;
With his swerd he swapt atwyn
His mantil, and said, ‘Þis ȝif I þe.’
Anon in heuen he con hit se,
Myselue þer-in was cloþy[d], i-wis,
And sayd, ‘Martyne, þis ȝif þou me.’
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Þe nakid he cloþid with gret pete;
With his swerd he swapt atwyn
His mantil, and said, ‘Þis ȝif I þe.’
Anon in heuen he con hit se,
Myselue þer-in was cloþy[d], i-wis,
And sayd, ‘Martyne, þis ȝif þou me.’
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Þenke on þe ryche mon had no pete
On þe lazare ly[ing] on þe ȝate,
And þer he dyed myschifusly;
Þe ryche mon sterue in his astate,
Hes soule to hel hit toke þe gate;
Þe laȝar was borne to heuen blis;
Haue mynd on þis erle and late.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
On þe lazare ly[ing] on þe ȝate,
And þer he dyed myschifusly;
Þe ryche mon sterue in his astate,
Hes soule to hel hit toke þe gate;
Þe laȝar was borne to heuen blis;
Haue mynd on þis erle and late.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Þus I cal ȝoue to my grace vcheon,
Cum to me for ȝiftis, I ȝou pray,
And I wil ȝif ȝou remissiown,
And ioy and blis fore euer and ay;
No hert con þonke, ne tung tel hit may,
Þe lest ioy in heuen ȝe schul haue, i-wys,
Ȝif ȝe wil do as I ȝou say.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Cum to me for ȝiftis, I ȝou pray,
And I wil ȝif ȝou remissiown,
And ioy and blis fore euer and ay;
No hert con þonke, ne tung tel hit may,
Þe lest ioy in heuen ȝe schul haue, i-wys,
Ȝif ȝe wil do as I ȝou say.
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
Ioy be to þe Fader and to þe Sun,
And to þe Hole Gost, al þre e-fere,
Þat in þe Word of Wordis to-geder þai were,
Þat now is, and was, schal be euer;
To þat perles Prince without pere
Be worchip and ioy in heuen blis,
Þat says to vs with so good chere,
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
And to þe Hole Gost, al þre e-fere,
Þat in þe Word of Wordis to-geder þai were,
Þat now is, and was, schal be euer;
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Be worchip and ioy in heuen blis,
Þat says to vs with so good chere,
Nolo mortem peccatoris.
| The poems of John Audelay | |