Instructions for Parish Priests :: :: University of Virginia Library

Instructions for Parish Priests

By John Myrc [i.e. Mirk]. Edited from Cotton MS. Claudius A. II, by Edward Peacock

Mirk, John

[section]

Instructions for Parish Priests.

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

[_]

Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations.

Instructions for Parish Priests.

[_]

Cotton. MS. Claudius A II. Fol. 127.

Propter presbiterum parochialem instruendum.

God seyth hym self, as wryten we fynde,
That whenne þe blynde ledeth þe blynde,
In to þe dyche þey fallen boo,
For þey ne sen whare by to go.
So faren prestes now by dawe;
They beth blynde in goddes lawe,
That whenne þey scholde þe pepul rede
In to synne þey do hem lede.
Thus þey haue do now fulle ȝore,
And alle ys for defawte of lore,
Wharefore þou preste curatoure,
Ȝef þou plese thy sauyoure,
Ȝef thow be not grete clerk,
Loke thow moste on thys werk;
For here thow myȝte fynde & rede.
That þe be-houeth to conne nede,
How thow schalt thy paresche preche.
And what þe nedeth hem to teche,
And whyche þou moste þy self be.
Here also thow myȝte hyt se;
For luytel ys worthy þy prechynge,
Ȝef thow be of euyle lyuynge.

Preste, þy self thow moste be chast,
And say þy serues wyþowten hast,
That mowthe & herte acorden I fere,
Ȝef thow wole that god þe here.
Of honde & mowþe þou moste be trewe,
And grete oþes thow moste enchewe,
In worde and dede þou moste be mylde,
Bothe to mon and to chylde.
Dronkelec and glotonye,
Pruyde and slouþe and enuye,
Alle þow moste putten a-way,
Ȝef þow wolt serue god to pay.
That þe nedeth, ete and drynke,
But sle þy lust for any thynge.
Tauernes also thow moste for-sake,
And marchaundyse þow schalt not make,
Wrastelynge, & schotynge, & suche maner game,
Thow myȝte not vse wythowte blame.
Hawkynge, huntynge, and dawnsynge,
Thow moste forgo for any thynge;
Cuttede clothes and pyked schone,
Thy gode fame þey wole for-done.
Marketes and feyres I the for-bede,
But hyt be for the more nede,
In honeste clothes thow moste gon,
Baselard ny bawdryke were þow non.
Berde & crowne thow moste be schaue,
Ȝef thow wole thy ordere saue.
Of mete and drynke þow moste be fre,
To pore and ryche by thy degre.
Ȝerne thow moste thy sawtere rede,
And of the day of dome haue drede;
And euere do gode a-ȝeynes euele,
Or elles thow myȝte not lyue wele.

Wymmones serues thow moste forsake,
Of euele fame leste they the make,
For wymmenes speche that ben schrewes,
Turne ofte a-way gode thewes.
From nyse iapes and rybawdye,
Thow moste turne a-way þyn ye;
Tuynde þyn ye þat thow ne se
The cursede worldes vanyte.
Thus thys worlde þow moste despyse,
And holy vertues haue in vyse,
Ȝef thow do þus thow schalt be dere
To alle men that sen and here.

Quid & quomodo predicare debet parochianos suos.

Thus thow moste also preche,
And thy paresche ȝerne teche;
Whenne on hath done a synne,
Loke he lye not longe there ynne,
But a-non that he hym schryue,
Be hyt husbande be hyt wyue,
Leste he forȝet by lentenes day,
And oute of mynde hyt go away.
Wymmen that ben wyth chy[l]de also,
Thow moste hem teche how þey schule do.
Whenne here tyme ys neghe y-come,
Bydde hem do thus alle & some.
Theche hem to come & schryue hem clene,
And also hosele hem bothe at ene,
For drede of perele that may be-falle,
In here trauelynge that come schalle.
To folowe the chylde ȝef hyt be nede,
Ȝef heo se hyt be in drede;
And teche the mydewyf neuer the latere,
That heo haue redy clene watere,

Thenne bydde hyre spare for no schame,
To folowe the chylde there at hame,
And thaghe þe chylde bote half be bore,
Hed and necke and no more,
Bydde hyre spare neuer þe later
To crystene hyt and caste on water;
And but scho mowe se þe hed,
Loke scho folowe hyt for no red;
And ȝef the wommon thenne dye,
Teche the mydwyf that scho hye
For to vndo hyre wyth a knyf,
And for to saue the chyldes lyf
And hye that hyt crystened be,
For that ys a dede of charyte.
And ȝef hyre herte ther-to grylle,
Rather þenne the chylde scholde spylle,
Teche hyre thenne to calle a mon
That in that nede helpe hyre con.
For ȝef the chylde be so y-lore,
Scho may that wepen euer more.
Bote ȝef the chylde y-bore be,
And in perele thow hyt se,
Ryght as he byd hyre done,
Caste on water and folowe hyt sone.
A-noþere way þow myght do ȝet,
In a vessel to crystone hyt,
And when scho hath do ryȝt so,
Watere and vessel brenne hem bo,
Othere brynge hyt to þe chyrche a-non,
And caste hyt in the font ston,
But folowe thow not þe chylde twye,
Lest afterwarde hyt do the nuye.
Teche hem alle to be war and snel
That they conne sey þe wordes wel,

And say the wordes alle on rowe
As a-non I wole ȝow schowe;
Say ryȝt thus and no more,
For non othere wymmenes lore;

I folowe the or elles I crystene þe, in the nome of the fader & þe sone and the holy gost. Amen.

Or elles thus, Ego baptiȝo te. N. In nomine patris & filij & spiritus sancti. Amen.

Englysch or latyn, whether me seyþ,
Hyt suffyseth to the feyth
So that þe wordes be seyde on rowe,
Ryȝt as be-fore I dyde ȝow schowe;
And ȝef þe cas be-falle so,
Þat men & wymmen be fer hyre fro,
Then may the fader wyþoute blame
Crysten the chylde and ȝeue hyt name;
So may the moder in suche a drede
Ȝef scho se that hyt be nede.
Ȝet thow moste teche hem more,
That alle þe chyldren þat ben I-bore
Byfore aster and whyssone tyde,
Eghte dayes they schullen a-byde,
That at the font halowynge
They mowe take here folowynge,
Saue tho that mowe not a-byde
For peryle of deth to that tyde.
A-nother tyme gyf hem folghthe
As the fader & þe moder wolþe.
Godfader and godmoder þou moste preche
Þat þey here godchyldere to gode teche,
Here pater noster and here crede
Techen hem they mote nede.
By hem also they schule not slepe
Tyl þey con hem self wel kepe.

Also wyth-ynne the fyfþe ȝere
Do þat they I-bysbede were;
For tho þat bydeth ouer more,
The fader & þe moder mote rewe hyt sore;
Out of chyrche schule be put
Tyl þe byschope haue bysbede hyt.
And ȝet moste thow teche hem more,
That godfader and godmoder be war be-fore,
That they þat ben at the folowynge,
Holde not þe chylde at the confermynge;
And also þow moste, as þou dost preche,
The cosynage of folowynge teche;
And þow wolt that conne wel,
Take gode hede on thys spel.
In the myddel the chylde stont,
As he ys folowed in the font.
Alle these be cosynes to hym for ay,
That none of hem he wedde may;

The preste þat foloweþ, þe prestes chyldere, þe preste, And the chyldes fader & moder, þe godfader & hys Wyfknowe be-fore folghthe, þe godfader chylderen, the chyldes moder and hys godfader, &c.

The same cosynage in alle thynge,
Is in the chyldes confermynge.

The chylde þat ys confermet, þe byschop, þe byschopes chylderen, þe byschop and þe chyldes fader and hys moder, the godfader and hys wyf, the chyldes fader and hys godfader, the chyldes moder and hys godmoder,

These schule neuer on wedde oþer,
But cosynes beth as suster & broþer.
Ȝet teche hem a-nother thynge,
That ys a poynt of weddynge;
He that wole chese hym a fere,
And seyth to hyre on thys manere,

“Here I take the to my wedded wyf,
And there-to I plyghte þe my trowþe
Wyth-owten cowpulle or fleschly dede,”
He þat wommon mote wedde nede;
For þaghe he or ho a-nother take,
That word wole deuors make.
Loke also þey make non odde weddynge,
Lest alle ben cursed in that doynge.
Preste & clerke and other also,
That thylke serues huydeth so,
But do ryȝt as seyn the lawes,
Aske the banns thre halydawes.
Then lete hem come and wytnes brynge
To stonde by at here weddynge;
So openlyche at the chyrche dore
Lete hem eyther wedde othere.
Of lechery telle hem ryght þys
That dedly synne for sothe hyt ys;
On what skynnes maner so hyt be wroȝt,
Dedly synne hyt ys forthe broght,
Saue in here wedhod
That ys feyre to-fore god.
Thaȝ mon & wommon be sengul boþe,
As dedly synne they schulen hyt loþe.
Also thys mote ben hem sayde,
Boþe for knaue chyldere & for mayde,
That whenne þey passe seuen ȝere,
They schule no lengere lygge I-fere,
Leste they by-twynne hem brede
The lykynge of that fowle dede.
Also wryten wel I fynde,
That of synne aȝeynes kynde
Thow schalt thy paresch no þynge teche,
Ny of that synne no thynge preche;

But say þus by gode a-vys,
Þat to gret synne forsoþe hyt ys,
For any mon þat bereth lyf
To forsake hys wedded wyf
And do hys kynde other way,
Þat ys gret synne wyþowte nay;
But how and where he doth þat synne,
To hys schryffader he mote þat mynne.
Also thow moste thy god pay,
Teche thy paresch þus & say,
Alle that ben of warde & elde
Þat cunnen hem self kepe & welde,
They schulen alle to chyrche come,
And ben I-schryue alle & some,
And be I-hoseled wyth-owte bere
On aster day alle I-fere:
In þat day by costome
Ȝe schule be hoselet alle & some.
Teche hem þenne wyth gode entent,
To be-leue on that sacrament;
That þey receyue in forme of bred,
Hyt ys goddes body þat soffered ded
Vp on the holy rode tre
To bye owre synnes & make vs fre.
Teche hem þenne, neuer þe later,
Þat in þe chalys ys but wyn & water
That þey receyueth for to drynke
After that holy hoselynge;
Therfore warne hem þow schal
That þey ne chewe þat ost to smal;
Leste to smale þey done hyt breke,
And in here teth hyt do steke;
There fore þey schule wyth water & wyn
Clanse here mowþ that noȝt leue þer In;

But teche hem alle to leue sadde,
Þat hyt þat ys in þe awter made,
Hyt ys verre goddes blode
That he schedde on þe rode.
Ȝet þow moste teche hem mare
Þat whenne þey doth to chyrche fare,
Þenne bydde hem leue here mony wordes,
Here ydel speche, and nyce bordes,
And put a-way alle vanyte,
And say here pater noster & here aue.
No non in chyrche stonde schal,
Ny lene to pyler ny to wal,
But fayre on kneus þey schule hem sette,
Knelynge doun vp on the flette,
And pray to god wyth herte meke
To ȝeue hem grace and mercy eke.
Soffere hem to make no bere,
But ay to be in here prayere,
And whenne þe gospelle I-red be schalle,
Teche hem þenne to stonde vp alle,
And blesse feyre as þey conne
Whenne gloria tibi ys by-gonne,
And whenne þe gospel ys I-done,
Teche hem eft to knele downe sone;
And whenne they here the belle rynge
To that holy sakerynge,
Teche hem knele downe boþe ȝonge & olde,
And boþe here hondes vp to holde,
And say þenne in þys manere
Feyre and softely wyth owte bere,

“Ihesu, lord, welcome þow be,
In forme of bred as I þe se;
Ihesu! for thy holy name,
Schelde me to day fro synne & schame;

Schryfte & howsele, lord, þou graunte me bo,
Er that I schale hennes go,
And verre contrycyone of my synne,
That I lord neuer dye there-Inne;
And as þow were of a may I-bore,
Sofere me neuer to be for-lore,
But whenne þat I schale hennes wende,

Grawnte me þe blysse wyth-owten ende. AMEN.”

Teche hem þus oþer sum oþere þynge,
To say at the holy sakerynge.
Teche hem also, I the pray,
That whenne þey walken in þe way
And sene þe preste a-gayn hem comynge,
Goddes body wyth hym berynge,
Thenne wyth grete deuocyone,
Teche hem þere to knele a-downe;
Fayre ne fowle, spare þey noghte
To worschype hym þat alle hath wroghte;
For glad may þat mon be
Þat ones in þe day may hym se;
For so mykyle gode doþ þat syȝt,
(As seynt austyn techeth a ryȝt,)
Þat day þat þow syst goddes body,
Þese benefyces schalt þou haue sycurly;
Mete & drynke at thy nede,
Non schal þe þat day be gnede;
Idele othes and wordes also
God for-ȝeueþ the bo;
Soden deth that ylke day,
The dar not drede wyþowte nay;
Also þat day I the plyȝte
Þow schalt not lese þyn ye syȝte;
And euery fote þat þou gost þenne,
Þat holy syȝt for to sene,

Þey schule be tolde to stonde in stede
Whenne thow hast to hem nede.
Also wyth-ynne chyrche & seyntwary
Do ryȝt thus as I the say,
Songe and cry and suche fare,
For to stynte þow schalt not spare;
Castynge of axtre & eke of ston,
Sofere hem þere to vse non;
Bal and bares and suche play,
Out of chyrcheȝorde put a-way;
Courte holdynge and suche maner chost,
Out of seyntwary put þow most;
For cryst hym self techeth vs
Þat holy chyrche ys hys hows,
Þat ys made for no þynge elles
But for to praye In, as þe boke telles;
Þere þe pepulle schale geder with Inne
To prayen and to wepen for here synne.
Teche hem also welle and greythe
How þey schule paye here teythe:
Of alle þynge that doth hem newe,
They schule teythe welle & trewe,
After þe costome of þat cuntraye
Euery mon hys teythynge schale paye
Bothe of smale and of grete,
Of schep and swyn & oþer nete.
Teyþe of huyre and of honde,
Goth by costome of þe londe.
I holde hyt but an ydul þynge
To speke myche of teythynge,

For þaȝ a preste be but a fonne,
Aske hys teyþynge welle he conne.
Wychecrafte and telynge,
Forbede þou hem for any þynge;
For who so be-leueth in þe fay
Mote be-leue thus by any way,
That hyt ys a sleghþe of þe del
Þat makeþ a body to cache el.
Þenne syche be-leue he gart hem haue,
Þat wychecrafte schale hem saue,
So wyth chames & wyth tele,
He ys I-broȝte aȝeyn to hele.
Þus wyth þe fende he ys I-blende,
And hys by-leue ys I-schende.
Vsure and okere þat beth al on,
Teche hem þat þey vse non;
That ys a synne fulle greuus
By-fore owre lord swete Ihesus.
God taketh myche on gref
To selle a mon in hys myschef
Any þynge to hye prys.
For welle he wot þat oker hyt ys,
And lene .xij d. to haue .xiij.
For þat [is] vsure wyþowte wene.
Teche hem also to lete one,
To selle þe derrer for þe lone.
To preche hem also þou myȝt not wonde,—
Bothe to wyf and eke husbonde,—
Þat nowþer of hem no penaunce take,
Ny non a vow to chastite make,
Ny no pylgrimage take to do
But ȝef boþe assente þer to.
These þre poyntes verement
Nowþer schale do but boþe assent,

Saue þe vow to Iherusalem,
Þat ys lawful to eþer of hem.
Þenne schale þe husbonde als blyue
Teche & preche so hys wyue,
That heo a-vow no maner þynge
But hyt be at hys wytynge;
For þaȝ heo do, hyt may not stonde
But heo haue grawnte of hyre husbonde;
And ȝef þe husbonde assente þer to,
Þenne nedely hyt mote be do;
No more schale he verement
But hys wyf þerto assent.
The pater noster and þe crede,
Preche þy paresche þou moste nede;
Twyes or þryes in þe ȝere
To þy paresch hole and fere,
Teche hem þus, and byd hem say
Wyþ gode entent euery day,

“Fader owre þat art in heuene,
Halowed be þy name with meke steuene,
Þy kyngdom be for to come
In vs synfulle alle and some;
Þy wylle be do in erþe here
As hyt ys in heuene clere;
Owre vche dayes bred, we þe pray,
Þat þow ȝeue vs þys same day;
And forgyue vs owre trespas
As we done hem þat gult vs has;
And lede vs in to no fondynge,

But schelde vs alle from euel þynge. Amen.”

“Hayl be þow mary fulle of grace;
God ys wyþ þe in euery place;
I-blessed be þow of alle wymmen,

And þe fruyt of þy wombe Ihesus! Amen.”

“I be-leue in oure holy dryȝt,
Fader of heuene god, almyȝt,
Þat alle thynge has wroȝt,
Heuene and erþe & alle of noȝt:
On ihesu cryst I be-leue also,
Hys only sone, and no mo,
Þat was conceyued of þe holy spyryt,
And of a mayde I-bore quyt,
And afterward vnder pounce pylate
Was I-take for vye and hate,
And soffrede peyne and passyone,
And on þe croys was I-done;
Ded and buryed he was also,
And wente to helle to spoyle oure fo,
And ros to lyue the þryde day,
And stegh to heuene þe .xl. day,
Ȝet he schale come wyþ woundes rede
To deme þe quyke and þe dede.
In þe holy gost I leue welle;
In holy chyrche and hyre spelle.
In goddes body I be-leue nowe,
A-monge hys seyntes to ȝeue me rowe;
And of my synnes þat I haue done,
To haue plenere remyssyone,
And when my body from deth schal ryse,
I leue to be wyth god and hyse,
And haue the ioye þat lasteþ ay;

God graunte hym self þat I so may. Amen.”

The artykeles of the fey
Teche þy paresch þus, & sey;
That seuene to dyuynyte,
And .vij. to the humanyte.

Primus.

The fyrste artykele ys þou wost
Leue on fader and sone & holy gost.

ijus.

The secounde ys to leue ryȝt
Þat þe fader ys god al myȝt.

iijus.

The þrydde ys, as þow syst,
For to leue on ihesu cryst;
Þat he ys goddes sone ryȝt,
And boþe on god & of on myȝt.

iiijus.

The holy gost, persone þrydde,
Leueth also, I ȝow bydde,
That he ys god wyth oþer two,
And ȝet on god and no mo.
Leste þys be hard ȝow to leue,
By ensaumpul I wole þat preue:
Se þe ensaumpul þat I ȝow schowe,
Of water and ys and eke snowe;
Here beth þre þynges, as ȝe may se,
And ȝet þe þre alle water be.
Thus þe fader and þe sone & þe holy gost
Beth on god of myȝtes most;
For þagh þey be personus þre,
In on godhed knyt they be.

vus.

These þre in on godhede
Wyth on assent and on rede,
Alle þynge made wyth on spelle,
Heuene, and vrþe, and eke helle.

vj.

The sexþe artykele, ȝef ȝe wole fynde,
Holy chyrche taketh in mynde
That þorȝ þe myȝt of þe holy gost
Is in vrthe of power most,
And as myȝty, as I ȝow telle,
Boþe of þe ȝates of heuene & helle
To tuynen and open at heyre byddynge
Wythowte ȝeyn-stondynge of any þynge.

vijus.

The seuenþe artykele, for soþe hyt ys,
Þat he schal ende in ioye & blys
When body and soule to-geder schal come,
And the gode to ioye be I-nome,

And the euel be put a-way
In to the peyne that lasteþ ay.

viijus.

The eghþe artykele ys not to hele,
Þe strengþe of oure feyth þe more dele,
The flesch and blod þat ihesus tok
In mayde mary, as seyth þe bok,
Þorȝ the holy gostes myȝt
Þat in þat holy vyrgyne lyȝt.

ixus.

The nynþe artykele ys for to mene
Þat he was bore of a mayde clene.

xus.

Þe tenþe artykele oure synne sleth,
Crystes passyone and hys deth.

xjus.

The eleuenþe ys for to telle
How he wente to spoyle helle,
In soule and godhede wyth-owte nay
Whyle the body in towmbe lay.

xijus.

The twelfþe artykele makeþ vs fayn,
For he ros to lyue a-gayn
The þrydde day in the morowe
For to bete alle oure sorowe.

xiijus.

The þreteneþe artykele, as telle I may,
Þat cryst hym self on holy þursday
Stegh in to heuene in flesch & blod,
That dyede by forn on þe rod.

xiiijus.

The fourteneþ artykele, ys soþe to say,
Þat cryst schale come on domes day
Wyþ hys woundes fresch and rede
To deme þe quyke and þe dede.
Here ben þe artykeles of þe fey;
Preche hem ofte I þe prey.

Septem sacramenta ecclesie.

To preche also þow myȝt not yrke
Þe .vij. sacramentes of holy chyrche.

Þat ys folghþe þat clanseþ synne,
And confermynge after, as we may mynne,
The sacrament of goddes body,
And also penaunce þat ys verrey,
Ordere of prest, and spousayle,
And þe laste elynge wyth-owte fayle;
Lo here the seuene and no mo,
Loke thow preche ofte þo.

De sacramento baptismatis.

Ȝet I mote in thys worchynge
Teche the more of folowynge,
For hyt ys syche a sacrament
Þat may lyȝtely be I-schent
But hyt be done redyly
In vche a poynte by and by;
Therfore do as I the say,
Lest thow go out of þe way.
Hast þou wel vnderstonde my lore
As I taghte the by-fore,
How þou schuldest wymmen lere
Þat wyth chylde grete were?
But þys ys for þyn owne prow
Þat I here teche the now.
Ȝef a chylde myscheueth at home,
And ys I-folowed & has hys nome,
Ȝef hyt to chyrche be broȝt to þe
As hyt oweth for to be,
Thenne moste þou slyly
Aske of hem þat were þere by,
How þey deden þen in þat cas
Whenne þe chylde I-folowed was,
And wheþer þe wordes were seyde a-ryȝt,
And not turnet in þat hyȝt;

Ȝef þe wordes were seyde on rowe
As lo here I do þe schowe.

Ista sunt uerba baptismi in domo.

I crystene þe, or elles I folowe þe, N. In nome of þe fader and the sone, and the holy gost. Amen.

And þagh þou ȝeue no name to hem,
Ny nempne hem no maner name,
I telle hyt for no blame,
Hyt may be don al by thoght
Whenne hyt ys to chyrche I-broght,
And þaȝ, me say, as þey done vse
Sory laten in here wyse, (As þus)

I folowe þe in nomina patria & filia spirit sanctia. Amen.

Of these wordes take þow non hede,
Þe folghþe ys gode wythoute drede
So þat here entent & here wyt
Were forto folowe hyt;
Ay whyle þey holde þe fyrste sylabul
Þe folghþe ys gode wythouten fabul (As þus)

Pa of patris. fi of filij. spi of spiritus sancti. Amen.

Þenne do þe seruyse neuer þe later,
Alle saue þe halowynge of þe water;
Creme & crysme and alle þynge elles
Do to þe chylde as þe bok telles;
And ȝef þe chylde haue nome by-fore,
Lete hyt stonde in goddes ore,
And ȝef hyt haue not, lete name hyt þare,
Ȝef hyt schule in greyþe fare.
But what and on in hys bordes
Caste on water and say þe wordes,
Is þe chylde I-folowed or no?
By god I say nay for hem bo.
But ȝef hyt were hys fulle entent

To ȝeue þe chylde þat sacrament,
Þenne mote hyt stonde wyþoute nay, (As þus)
And he þerfore rewe hyt may.
But ȝef cas falle thus,
Þat he þe wordes sayde a-mys,

Or þus In nomine filij & patris & spiritus sancti. Amen.

Or any oþer wey but þey set hem on rowe, As þe fader & þe sone & þe holy gost, In nomine patris & filij & spiritus sancti. Amen.

Ȝef hyt be oþer weyes I-went,
Alle þe folghþe ys clene I-schent;
Þenne most þou, to make hyt trewe,
Say þe serues alle a-newe,
Blesse þe water & halowe þe font,
Ryght as hyt in bok stont;
Þenne be þe war in alle þynge,
Whenne þou comest to þe plungynge,
Þenne þou moste say ryȝt þus,
Or elles þou dost alle a-mys,

Si tu es baptiȝatus, ego te non rebaptiȝo. Sed si non es baptiȝatus, ego te baptiȝo. In nomine patris & filij & spiritus sancti. amen.

Þat oþer serues say þow myȝt
On þy bok alle forth ryght;
Þow moste do þe same manere
Ȝef a chylde I-fownde were,
And no mon cowþe telle þere
Wheþer hyt were folowed or hyt nere;
Þenne do to hyt in alle degre,
As here before þou myȝt se.
But what & þou so dronken be
Þat þy tonge wole not serue þe,
Þenne folowe þow not by no way
But þou mowe the wordes say.
Luytel I-noghe for soþe hyt ys,
Thaghe thow be bothe war & wys,

The sacrament for to do,
Thaghe þou be neuer so abul þer to;
How schulde þenne a droken mon
Do þat þe sobere vnneþe con?
And ȝef þow wole þy worschype saue,
Oyle & creme þow moste nede haue,
Alway redy for ferde of drede,
To take þer-to when þou hast nede,
And for to eschewe þe byschopus scheme,
Vche ȝere ones chawnge þy creme,
And þat as sone as thow may,
A-non after schere þursday,
Thow moste chawnge þyn oyle also,
Þat þey mowe be newed bo,
Ȝet wole I make relacyone
To þe of confyrmacyone
Þat in lewde mennes menynge
Is I-called þe byspynge;
But for þow hast þer of luytel to done,
Þer-fore I lete hyt passe ouer sone,
For hyt ys þe bisschopes ofyce,
I wot þe charge ys alle hyse,
But ȝet I wole seche ȝerne
Sumwhat þer of to make þe lerne.
Þat sacrament mote nede be done,
Of a bysschope nede as ston,
Þer nys no mon of lower degre,
Þat may þat do but onlyche he.
He confermeth & maketh sad.
Þat at þe preste be-forn hath mad,
Wherfore þe nome þat ys þenne I-spoke
Moste stonde ferme as hyt were loke,
But ofte syþes þou hast I-sen
Whenne þe chyldre confermed ben

Bondes a-bowte here neckes be lafte,
Þat from hem schule not be rafte,
Tyl at chyrche þe eghþe day,
Þe preste hym self take hem a-way.
Þenne schale he wyth hys owne hondes
Brenne þat ylke same bondes,
And wassche þe chylde ouer þe font
Þere he was anoynted in þe front.
And þagh a chylde confermet nere,
So þat he folowed by fore were,
To dyspuyte þer of hyt ys no nede,
He schale be saf wythowte drede.

Magna sententia pronuncienda.

The gret sentence I write here,
That twies or thries in the yere
Thou shalt pronounce, without lette,
Whan thi parisse is togidir mette
Thou shall pronounce this idous thing,
With crosse & candell and bell knylling
Speke oute redely fir noȝt þou wond,
That all mowe the understonde.

[_]

The prose explication of the form of excommunication has been omitted.

Than þou thi candell shalt cast to grounde
And spet therto þe same stound
And lete also þe belles knylle
To make her hortes the mor grylle
Oþer poyntes ben many and fell
Þat beth not well fore to hele
Þat þou myȝt knowe thi self best
In the chartor of fforest
In þe gret chartor also
Thou myȝt se many mo.

De modo audiendi confessionem.

Now y praye þe take gode hede,
For þys þou moste conne nede,
Of schryfte & penaunce I wole þe telle,
And a whyle þere In dwelle;

But myche more þou moste wyten,
Þenne þou fyndest here I-wryten,
And whenne þe fayleþ þer to wyt,
Pray to god to sende þe hyt,
For ofte þou moste penaunce ȝen
Boþe to men and to wymmen,
Oþer weyes þen wole þe lawe
Leste they token hyt to harde on awe,
Hyt were fulle harde þat penaunce to do
That þe lawes ordeyneth to,
Therfore by gode dyscrecyone,
Þow moste in confessyone,
Ioyne penaunce bothe harde & lyȝte,
As þou here aftere lerne myȝte.
But sykerly penaunce wyþowte schryfte
Helpeþ luytel þe sowle þryfte;
Þerfore of schryfte I wole þe kenne
And to ioyne penaunce þenne,
To here schryft þou moste be fayn,
And hye þerto wythowte layn.
And fyrst when any mon I-schryue wole be,
Teche hym to knele downe on hys kne,
Fyrst þow moste aske hym þen,
Wheþer he be þy paresschen,
And ȝef he vnswere and say nay,
Theche hym home fayre hys way,
But he schowe þe I-wryten,
Where by þou myȝt wel I-wyten,
Þat he hath leue of hys prest
To be I-schryue where hym lust,
For these poyntes wyþowte nay
He may haue leue to go hys way,
And schryue hym at a-noþer prest
Where that hym beste lust,

Leste indyscrete hys prest were,
Hys confessyone for to here,
Or ȝef he knewe by redy token
Þat hys schryfte he wolde open,
Or ȝef hym self had done a synne
By þe prestes sybbe kynne,
Moder, or suster, or hys lemmon,
Or by hys doghter ȝef he hade on,
Or ȝef he stonde hym on awe,
To dedly synne leste he hym drawe,
Or ȝef he hade vndertake
Any pylgrymage for to make,
Or ȝef hys prest as doctorus sayn
By any of hys paresch haue layn,
For þese he may leue take,
And to a-noþer hys schryfte make,
And werne hym leue hys prest ne may
Lest hyt greue hym a-noþer day,
And þaȝ he do for noȝt hyt ys,
Þe byschope wole ȝeue hym leue I-wys,
Of scoler, of flotterer, or of passyngere
Here schryft lawfully þou myȝt here;
And also in a-noþer cas,
Ȝef þou a mon a-corset has,
He mote nede be soyled of þe,
Whoso pareschen euer he be;
And of mon þat schal go fyȝte
In a bateyl for hys ryȝte,
Hys schryft also þou myȝte here.
Þaȝ he þy pareschen neuer were;
And of a mon þat deth ys negh.
Here hys schryft but þen be slegh,
Byd hym & oþer also by fore,
Ȝef þat þey to lyf keuere,
Þat þey go for more socour

To here owne curatour,
And schryue hem newe to hym bo
And take he penaunce newe also.

Or ȝef any do a synne,
And þy paresch be wyth Inne,
Of þat synne a-soyle hym þenne,
Þaȝ he be not þy pareschenne,
But ȝef þe synne be so stronge,
To þe byschope þat hyt longe,
Or ȝef a mon be seruaunt,
In þy paresch by couenaunt,
Or hath an ofyce or bayly,
Þat he ledeth hys lyf by,
And hys howseholde be elles where,
Pareschen he ys þenne þere,
Or ȝef any hath trowþe I-plyȝt
Wyþ-Inne þy paresch to any wyȝt,
Þenne þou myȝt hem wedden I-fere,
As hyt ys the court manere.
But to þyn owne pareschenne
Do ryȝt þus as I þe kenne,
Teche hym to knele downe on hys kne
Pore oþer ryche wheþer he be,
Þen ouer þyn yen pulle þyn hod,
And here hys schryfte wyþ mylde mod.
But when a wommon cometh to þe,
Loke hyre face þat þou ne se,
But teche hyre to knele downe þe by,
And sum what þy face from hyre þou wry,
Stylle as ston þer þow sytte,
And kepe þe welle þat þou ne spytte.
Koghe þow not þenne þy þonkes,
Ny wrynge þou not wyth þy schonkes,
Lest heo suppose þow make þat fare,
For wlatynge þat þou herest þare,

But syt þou stylle as any mayde
Tyl þat heo haue alle I-sayde,
And when heo stynteþ & seyþ no more,
Ȝef þou syst heo nedeth lore
Þenne spek to hyre on þys wyse,
And say, “take þe gode a-vyse,
And what maner þynge þou art gulty of,
Telle me boldely & make no scof.
Telle me þy synne I þe praye
And spare þow not by no waye,
Wonde þow not for no schame
Parauentur I haue done þe same,
And fulhelt myche more,
Ȝef þow knew alle my sore,
Wherfore, sone, spare þow noȝt,
But telle me what ys in þy þoȝt.”
And when he seyþ I con no more
Freyne hym þus & grope hys sore,
“Sone or doghter now herken me
For sum what I wole helpe þe,”
And when þow herest what þow hast do
Knowlache wel a-non þer to.

Hic incipit inquisicio in confessione.

Const þow þy pater and þyn aue
And þy crede now telle þow me,
Ȝef he seyth he con hyt not,
Take hys panawnce þenne he mot.
To suche penaunce þenne þou hym turne,
Þat wole make hym hyt to lerne.

Quod sufficit scire in lingua materna.

Ȝef he conne hyt in hys tonge,
To ȝeue hym penaunce hyt ys wronge,
But of þe artykeles of þe fey
Þus appose hym þenne & sey,

“Be-leuest þow on fader & sone & holygost,
As þou art holden wel þow wost
Thre persons in trynyte,
And on god, vnsware þow me,
Þat goddes sone monkynde toke,
In mayde mary as seyth þe boke,
And of þat mayde was I-bore,
Leuest þow þys? telle me by fore,
And on crystes passyone,
And on hys resurrexyone,
And stegh vp in to heuen blys
In flesch and blod be-leuest þow þys,
And schal come with woundes rede
To deme þe quyke and þe dede,
And we vch one as we ben here
In body and sowle bothe I-fere,
Schule ryse at þe day of dome
And be redy at hys come,
And take þenne for oure doynge,
As we haue wroȝt here lyuynge,
Who so has do wel schale go to blysse,
Who so has do euel to peyne I-wysse.
Be-leuest also verrely
Þat hyt ys goddes owne body,
Þat þe prest ȝeueth the,
Whenne þou schalt I-hoseled be,
Leuest also in fulle a tent,
How þat holy sacrament,
Is I-ȝeue to mon kynne
In remyssyone of here synne;
Be-leuest also now telle me
Þat he þat lyueþ in charyte
Schale come to blysse sycurly,
And dwelle in seyntes cumpany.

Hec sunt .x. precepta dei.

Þe .x. cummawndementes of god almyȝt,
I wole the aske a non ryght,
And ȝef þou haue any I-borste,
Telle me a non þow moste.

Hast þou worschypet any þynge
More þen god oure heuene kynge?
Hast þow lafte goddes name,
And called þe fend in any grame?
Hast þow any tyme I made coniurynge,
For þefte or for any oþer þynge?
Hast þow made any wych crafte,
For any þynge þat þe was rafte;
Hast þow made any sorcery
To gete wymmen to lyge hem by?
Hast þou had dowte, by any way,
In any poynt of the fey?

Seche þyn herte trewly ore
Ȝef þow were any tyme forswore,
At court or hundret or at schyre,
For loue or drede or any huyre.
Hast þou be wonet to swere als,
By goddes bones or herte, fals,
What by hys woundes, nayles or tre,
Whenne þow myȝtes haue lete be?
Hast þou be wonet to swere ȝerne
For þynge þat dyde to noȝt turne?
Hast þow any tyme þy trowþe I-plyȝt,
And broken hyt a-gayn þe ryȝt?

Hast þow holden þyn halyday,
And spend hyt wel to goddes pay?
Hast þow I-gon to chyrche fayn
To serue god wyþ alle þy mayn?
Hast þou any werke þat day I-wroȝt,
Or synned sore in dede or þoȝt?

Be-þenke þe wel sone, I rede
Of þy synne and þy mysdede.
For schotynge, for wrastelynge, & oþer play,
For goynge to þe ale on halyday,
For syngynge, for roytynge, & syche fare,
Þat ofte þe sowle doth myche care.
Þe halyday only ordeynet was,
To here goddes serues and þe mas,
And spene þat day in holynes,
And leue alle oþer bysynes
For a-pon þe werkeday,
Men be so bysy in vche way,
So that for here ocupacyone,
Þey leue myche of here deuocyone;
Þerfore þey schule here halyday
Spene only god to pay;
And ȝef þey do any oþer þynge,
Þen serue god by here cunnynge,
Þen þey brekeþ goddes lay
And holdeth not here halyday.

Hast þow honowred by þy wyt
Fader and moder as god þe byt;
Hast þou any tyme made hem wroth,
In word or dede þat was hem loth;
Hast þou ȝeue hem at here nede
Mete & drynke cloþ or wede;
Ȝef þey ben dede & gon here way,
Hast þow made for hem to pray;
Hast þow done also honowre
To hym þat ys þy curatowre?
Leue welle sone in gode lewte,
I say not þys for loue of me,
But for þow owest to do honour
To hym þat ys þy curatour.

Hast þow any mon I-slayn,
Or holpe þer to by þy mayn;
Hast þou counceled or ȝeue mede
To any mon to do þat dede?
Hast þou any mon wowndet in debate,
Or had to hym any dedly hate?

Hast þou ȝeue any mon of þy mete,
When he hade hongur and nede to ete?
By euel esaumpulle þow myȝt also,
A-noþer monnes sowle slo;
Þerfore take hede on þy lyuynge
Ȝef þou haue trespaset in syche þynge.

Hast þou in synne I-lad þy lyf,
And put a-way þyn owne wyf;
Hast þou I-do þat ylke synne
To any of þy sybbe kynne?
Take also wel in mynde,
Ȝef þou haue sched þyn owne kynde,
Slepynge or wakynge nyȝt or day
In what maner þow moste say.

Hast þou stolen any þynge,
Or ben at any robbynge;
Hast þou by maystry or by craft,
Any mon hys good be-raft;
Hast þou I-founde any þynge
And helet hyt at askynge;
Hast þou vset mesures fals,
Or wyghtes þat were als
By þe more to bye & by þe lasse to selle?
Ȝef þou haue so done þow moste hyt telle;
Hast þou borowet oght wel fayn,
And not I-quyt hyt wel a-gayn
Hast þou wyth-holden any teyþynge,
Or mys-I-teyþed by þy wytynge.

Hast þow boren any wytnes
A-gayn þe ryȝt in falsnes.

Hast þow lyet any lesynge,
To greue any mon in any þynge?
Hast þou geten wyth fals swore
Any þynge lasse or more?

Hast þou I-coueted wyþ alle þy myȝt,
Þy neghbores good agayn þe ryȝt;
Hows or catel, hors or mare,
Or oght þat he myȝt euel spare?

Also þou dost syngen ylle,
Þy neghbores wyf for to wylle,
For þat god for-bedeþ the.
Ȝef þou haue done, now telle þou me.
Þow myȝte synge als sore in þoght,
As þou þat dede hadest I-wroght,
Ȝef þow in þy þoght haue lykynge
To do þat ylke fowle þynge.
Þus þow myȝte synge dedlyche
Ȝef þow þenke þer-on myche,
These ben þe cummawndementes ten,
Þat god ȝaf to alle men.

De modo inquirendi de .vij. peccatis mortalibus.

Of dedly synnes now also,
I wole þe aske now er þow go.
Þerfore sone spare þow noght,
To telle how þou hast hem wroȝt.

De superbia.

Hast þou any tyme wytyngly,
I-wrathþad þy god greuowsly?
Hast þow ben inobedyent
A-gayn goddes cummawndement?
Hast þou for pruyde I-set at noght
Hym þat hath þe gode I-taght?

Hast þou any tyme bost I-mad,
Of any good þat þou hast had
Only of þyn owne wyt,
When god hym self ȝaf þe hyt?
Hast thow forsake þyn owne gult,
And on a-noþer þe blame I-pult?
Hast þou feynet the holy
By ypocryse and foly?
Hast þou any tyme I-feynet þe
Gode and holy on to se,
In hope on þat maner to huyde
Boþe þy synne and þy pruyde?
Hast þow any tyme I-take on þe
Any gode dede of charyte
Þat was a-noþer monnes doynge,
And of þyn no maner þynge?
Hast þow ay oppresset þy neghbour
For to gete þe honour?
Hast þou I-schend hys gode fame
For to gete þe a gode name?
Hast þou also prowde I-be
Of any vertu þat god ȝaf þe?
For þy voys was gode & hye.
Or for þy wyt was gode & slye,
Or for hys herus were cryspe & longe,
Or for þow hast a renabulle tonge,
[Or for thy body is fayr and long,
Or for þou art white & strong,]
Or for þy flesch ys whyte and clene,
Or any syche degre to say at ene?
Hast þou be prowde and eke of port
For tryste of lady and eke of lord?
Hast þou be prowde of worschype or gode,
Or for þow come of grete blode?

Hast þou any tyme þe prodder þe mad,
For any ofyce þat þow hast had?
Hast þow be prowde gostely?
Telle me, sone, baldely.
Of mekenes of pacyens or of pyte,
Of pouert of largenes or of chastyte,
And oþer vertues mony mo
Wayte lest þou haue synget in þo.
Hast þow any tyme wyth herte prowd
A-noþeres synne I-spoken owt,
And þyn entencyone syche was,
Þat þy synne schulde seme þe las?
Hast þou ben prowde & glad in thoght
Of any mysdede þat þou hast wroȝt?
Hast þou ben prowde of any gyse
Of any þynge þat þou dedust vse,
Of party hosen of pykede schone,
Of fytered cloþes as foles done,
Of londes rentes of gay howsynge,
Of mony seruauntes to þy byddynge,
Or of hors fat and rownde,
Or for þy godes were hole & sownde,
Or for þow art gret and ryche
Þat no neȝbore ys þe I-lyche,
Or for þow art a vertues mon,
And const more þen a-noþer con?
Ȝef þou haue be on þys maner prowd,
Sehryf þe sone and telle hyt out.
Hast þou any tyme by veyn glory
I þoght þy self so holy,
Þat þow hast had any dedeyn
Of oþer synfulle þat þou hast seyn?

De accidia.

Hast þou be slowe & take non hede,
To teche þy godchyldre pater noster & crede?
Haste þow be slowe for to here,
Goddess serues when tyme were?
Hast þou come to chyrche late
And spoken of synne by þe gate?
Hast þou be slowe to goddes seruyse,
Or storbet hyt by any wyse?
Hast þou letted any mon
Þat to chyrche wolde haue gon?
Hast þow spoken harlatry
Wythynne chyrche or seyntwary?
Hath þy herte be wroth or gret
When goddes serues was drawe on tret?
Hast þow hyet hyt to þe ende
Þat þou myȝtes hamward wende?
Hast þow wyþowte deuocyone
I-herde any predycacyone?
Hast þou gon or seten elles where
When þou myȝtest haue ben þere?
Hast þou be slowe & loth to faste,
When þy herte þere-a-ȝeyn dyde caste?
Hast þou be slowe in any degre
For to do werke of charyte?
Hast þou be slowe & feynt in herte
To do penaunce for hyt dyde smerte?
Hast þou any pylgrimage laft vn-do
When þou were I-ioynet þer-to?
Hast þow by-gunne any dede,
For goddus loue and sowle nede,
Prayerus, penaunce, or fastynge,
Or any oþer holy thynge,

And afterward were so slowe and feynt,
Þat þy deuocyone were alle I-queynt?
Hast þow slowe & feynt I-be
To helpe þy wyf & þy meyne
Of suche as þey hade nede to?
Sey ȝef þow haue, so I-do.
Ȝef þow be a seruaunt,
Hast þow holde þy couenaunt?
Hast þow be scharpe and bysy
To serue þy mayster trewely?
Hast þow trewely by vche way
Deseruet þy mete & þy pay?
Hath thy neghbore I-trust to þe
To helpe hym in any degre,
And þow for slowthe & feyntyse
Hast hym be-gylet in any wyse?
Hath slowþe so I-schent þy þoȝt,
Þat in dyspayre hyt hath þe broȝt,
And neuer myȝtest þou non ende make
Of no gode dede þat þou dydest take?
Hast þou for slowþe I-be so feynt,
Þat al þy wylle has be weynt,
And soȝt no þynge elles but lust & ese,
And alle þat wolde þy body plese?
Hast þou spared for hete or colde
To go to chyrche when þou were holde?

De invidia.

Hast þow euer be gruchynge
A-gaynes god for any þynge?
Hast þow be in herte glad,
When þy neghbore harme hath had?
Hast þow had in herte gref
Of hys gode and hys relef?
Hast þow had enuye and erre
To hym þat was þyn ouer herre,

Or any þat was in any degre
I-take forth by-fore the?
Hast thow enuyet þyn euenynge
For he had euer in any þynge,
Or for he was more abeler þen þow
To alle manere gode and prow?
Hast þow enuyet þyn vnderlynge,
For he was gode and thryuynge,
Or leste he hade I-passed þe
In any vertu or degre?
Hast þow for hate or for enuye
I-holpen or counselet for to lye
Any mon for to defame,
Or for to destruye hys gode name?
Hast þow bacbyted þy neghbore
For to make hym fare þe worre?
Hast þow reret any debate
A-monge þy neȝborus by any hate?
Hast þow I-sparet for enuye
To teche a mon hys harme to flye,
When þow myȝtest by þy warnynge
Haue hym saued from harmynge?

De ira.

Hast þow for hate or for yre,
Any þyngus set on fuyre?
Hast þow any tyme be wroth so
Þat þy wyt hath be a-go?
Hast þou by malys of þy doynge
Wrathþed þy neȝbore in any þynge?
Hast þow in wrathþe and wyth stryf
I-greuet any crystene lyf?
Hast þow wyþ wordes bytter & schrewede
I-tened any mon lered or lewede?
Hast þow in wraþþe & euel herte
I-made any mon to smerte?

Hast þow I-corsed or I-blamet,
Or any mon to wrathþe I-taimet?
Hast þow in wraþþe any mon slayn,
Or holpe þer-to by thy mayn?
Hast þow be wonet to speke ylle
By any mon lowde or stylle?
Hast þow be glad to here bacbyte,
Any mon myche or luyte?
Hast þou any tyme in malencoly
I-corset any þynge bytterly,
In hope to make hyt fare þe worse
By þe malys of thy corse?
Hast þow be inpacyent
For any gref that god þe sent;
Or elles I-gruched a-gaynes hyt,
In herte or worde oþer in wyt,
As ȝef þy catell fel from the,
Oþer for any infyrmyte,
For los of frendes or of any þynge
Or for any syche doynge?

De auaricia.

Hast þow wylnet by couetyse
Worldes gode ouer syse,
And spared nother for god ny mon
To gete þat þow fel vp-on?
Hast thow be hard and nythynge
To wythholden any thynge?
Hath any mon vp-on a wedde
Borowet at the oght in nede,
And afterward when he pay wolde,
Hast þow þenne hys wed wythholde?
For þagh he fayle of hys day,
Þow schuldest not hys wed wyþ-say.
Hast þow I-land any thynge
To haue the more wynnynge?

Hast þow I-dronke symonye
Spyrytual þynge to selle or bye?
Hast þow werkemen oght wyth-tan
Of any þynge þat þey schulde han?
Hast þow by-gylet in chafare
Any lyf in lasse or mare?
Hast þow ȝeue a fals dome
For any mede þat þe come?
Hast þow falsly be for-swore
For any þyng þow couetest ȝore?
Hast þow I-gete any thynge
Wyth fals countenans and glosynge?
Hast þow I-coueted ouer gate
Worldes worschype or any a-state?
Hast þou I-be any executour
To any frende or neghbour,
And drawe out hys gode þe tylle,
And not I-do þe dedes wylle?

De gula.

Hast þou I-synget in glotorye?
Telle me, sone, baldelye.
Hast þow ete wyth syche mayn,
Þat þow hast caste hyt vp a-gayn?
Hast þow wyþ suche vomysment
I-cast vp a-ȝayn þe sacrament?
Hast þow be dronke ofte by vse,
And schent þy self by þat vyce?
Hast þou by malys or by nyste
I-made any mon dronke to be,
For þou woldest þe mene whyle
Any þynge of hym by-gyle,
Or for þow woldest borde haue,
To se hym dronke and to raue?

Hast þou I-fast as þou schuldest do,
Dayes þat þow were ioynet to,
Or any oþer fastynge day?
Ȝef þow haue do þou moste say.
Hast þow also for glotory
Ete or dronke to frechedely?
Hast þow ete or dronke more,
Þen þy nede askede fore,
Oþer to erly or to late,
Oþer to swete or delycate?
Ȝef þow haue done þus by vys,
Telle me, sone, for nede hyt ys.
Hast þow I-chereschet þy body ofte,
In swete metus and cloþus softe?
Art þow I-wonet to go to þe ale,
To fulle þere thy fowle male,
And drawe þyder oþer wyth þe,
To bere þe feleschype in þat degre?
Hast þou I-stole mete or drynke,
For þou woldest not þerfore swynke?

De luxuria.

Hast þow synged in lechery?
Telle me sone baldely;
And how ofte þow dydest þat dede,
Telle me þow moste nede;
And wheþer hyt were wyf or may,
Sybbe or fremde þat þow by lay;
And ȝef ho were syb to the,
How syb þow moste telle me;
And ȝe[f] ho were ankeras or nonne,
Wydowe or wyf telle ȝef þou conne,
Or any þat haþ a-vowet to chastyte,
Or comyn wommon ȝef ho be,

Or wheþer þow dost by strengþe so,
Or by asent of ȝow bo?
Hast þou ete or dronke any letewary
To enforce the to lechery?
Hast þow any þynge wroȝt or do,
Þat stered þy flesch þe more þerto,
Clyppynge, or kyssynge, or towchynge of lyth,
That thy flesch was styred wyth?
Hast þow be tempted to any wommon,
And myche & ȝerne I-þoght þer-on,
And woldest fayn in thy þoght,
Þat fowle dede wyþ hyre haue wroȝt?
Þen þow dost synne in lechery,
As god hym self seyth verrely,
Wythowte werke or fleschly dede
Þy chastyte from þe doth flede.
Hast þow had lust inwardely,
And þoȝt myche in lechery,
And hast be tempted in syche a þoȝt?
Telle me, sone, spare þow noȝt.
Slepynge or wakynge wheþer hyt were,
Telle me, sone, a-non ryght here.
Hast þow do sorfet of mete & drynke,
And after we[re] polluted slepynge?
Hast þow do þat synne bale
By any wommon þat lay in hale?
Hast þow wowet any wyghte,
And tempted hyre ouer nyghte?
Hast þou made þe gay þerfore,
Þat heo schulde þe loue þe more?
Hast þou desyred syche to be,
Þat wymmen schulde loue þe?
Hast þou hade lykynge for to here
Songes þat of lechery were?

Hast þou counselet or do socowre
By any wey to a lechowre?
Be-þenke þe, sone, in vche degre
What in þy thoghte be-fel þe;
Ȝef þow conne any þynge mynne,
Þat perteneth to þat synne.

Quod si sit femina.

And ȝef heo be a wommon,
Byd hyre telle, ȝef heo con,
Of what degre þe mon was
That synned wyþ hyre in þe cas,
Syb or sengul or any spowse,
Or what degre of relygyowse,
Or wheþer hyt were a-gayn hyre wylle,
Or wheþer heo a-sented fully þer-tylle,
Or wheþer hyt were for couetyse
Of gold or seluer or oght of hyse,
Þenne þe synne dowbul were,
And neded penawnce myche more.
Why & where, how & whenne,
And how ofte aske hyre þenne,
Of alle poyntes þow moste wyte,
As by-fore I haue wryte.

De modo inquirendi de peccatis venialibus.

Now of synnes venyal,
A luyte aske þe I schal:
Hast þow spende þy wyttus fyue
To goddus worschype? telle me blyue.
Þese ben þey as I þe telle,
Towche & tast & eke þy smelle,
Þy herynge also and þy syȝt,
Here þey be fyue on ryȝt.

De visu.

Hast þow I-seyn any thynge
Þat tysed þe to synnynge?
Be-þenke þe, sone, welle I pray
For mony þyngus þat falle may.

De auditu.

Hast þow I-had gret lykynge
For to here euele thynge,
Or nyce wordes of rybawdy,
Or suche maner harlotry?

De olfactu.

Hast þow I-smelled any þynge
Þat hath tend thy lykynge,
Of mete or drynke or spysory
Þat þow hast after I-synned by?

De gustu.

Also ȝef þou synned hast,
In mete or drynke by lusty tast,
Þat also þow moste telle me,
Ȝef I schale a-soyle the.

De tactu.

Hast þou I-towched folyly,
Þat þy membrus were styred by,
Wommones flesch or þyn owne?
Ȝef þow hast þou moste schowne.
Here ben þe wyttus fyue,
How þey ben spende telle me blyue,
And whad þou hast in herte more,
Telle me, sone, a-non by-fore
I praye þe, sone, be not a-ferd,
But telle hyt owte now a-pert.
Telle me, sone, I the pray,

I wole þe helpe ȝef þat I may.

Is þy penaunce alle I-do,
Þat þy schryffader ioynet þe to?
For-gyuest þow wyth herte fre,
Alle þo þat haue trespaset to þe?
Any vow hast þow I-mad?
Hast þou þat holden ferme and sad?
Hast þow eten any sonday
With-owte halybred? say ȝe or nay.
Hast þou I-storbet prest or clerk
Þat were bysy in goddes werk?
Hast þou I-had or wyst where,
Þat was I-asked in chyrche þere?
Hast þow wyþowte knowlachynge
I-wyst þe a-corsed for any þynge?
Art þow I-wont at lychwake
Any pleyes for to make?
Þe werkes of mercy summe & alle
Hast þou I-wroȝt as þe by-felle?

Hast þow holpe by þy myȝt
To burye þe dede as byd owre dryȝt?
Pore & naked and hongry,
Hast þow I-sokeret mekely?
Hast þou in herte rowþe I-had,
Of hem þat were nede be-stad,
To seke & sore and prisonerus
I-herberet alle weyferus?
Hast þou I-lyued also in chost & stryf
Wyþ þy meyne and wyþ þy wyf?
Hast þow also by hyre I-layn,
And so by-twene ȝow þe chylde I-slayn?
Also þy chyldre þat were schrewes,
Hast þow I-taght hem gode þewes?
Hast þow ouer-holde corne or ote,
Or oþer þynge þat come neuer to note?

For to lene hast þow be loth,
And for to quite hast þou be wroth?

Hast þow be in corset cumpany,
Of corset men? telle me why,
To socour hem wyþ bodyly fode,
Or to preche hem for here gode?
Who so sokereth hem in here malys,
He ys as corsed as þey I-wys.
Telle also for the bet
Matrymony ȝef þow haue let.
Hast þow I-come by chyrche ȝorde,
And for þe dede I-prayed no worde?
Hast þow ay cast vp lyde ȝate
Þere bestus haue go in ate?
Hast þow I-struyed corn or gras,
Or oþer þynge þat sowen was?
Hast þou I-come in any sty
And cropped ȝerus of corne þe by?
Art þou I-wont ouer corn to ryde
When þou myȝtest haue go by syde?
Ȝef þow haue more in herte,
Telle me, sone, now alle smerte;
For alle þat þow helest now fro me
Þe fende fulle redyly wole telle þe.
But when he con no more sayn,
Þen ȝeue hym penaunce withowte layn.

De modo iniungendi penitenciam.

Now confessour I warne þe,
Here connynge þow moste be,
Wayte þat þow be slegh & fel
To vnderstonde hys schryft wel;
Wherfore þese þynges þow moste wyte
That in þys vers nexte be wryte.

Quis, quid, vbi, per quos, quociens, quomodo, quando.

Fyrst þow moste þys mynne,
What he ys þat doth þe synne,
Wheþer hyt be heo or he,
Ȝonge or olde, bonde or fre,
Pore or ryche, or in offys,
Or mon of dygnyte ȝef he ys,
Sengul or weddet or cloystrere,
Clerke, or lewed, or seculere,
Byschope or prest, or mon of state,
Þow moste wyte þese al gate.
Þe herre þat a mon ys in degre,
Þe sarrer forsoþe falleþ he,
And ȝef he were in hys wyt,
Also þow moste wyte hyt.
What synne hyt ys and how I-wroȝt,
To wyte redyly spare þow noght,
Wheþer hyt be gret or smal,
Open or hud wyte þow al.
Lechery, robbery, or monslaȝt,
Byd hym telle euen straȝt.
For summe telleþ not here synne al,
In confessyone general.
Þus a mon may other whyle
Þe and hym boþe by-gyle.
Hyt ys to luyte for any mon
To say he hath slayn a mon.
But ȝef he telle hyt openly,
What mon he was, wharfore, & why,
Wheþer hyt be fader or broþer,
Prest or clerke, or any other.
Also men sayn comynly
I haue synned in lechery,

Ȝet most þow wyte by whom hyt ys,
Or elles ȝe mowe do boþe a-mys.
But nome he schal non telle þe;
But ȝef þe synne syche be,
Þat he ne may hys schryfte telle,
But he take hyre in hys spelle,
Þen he may þe name mynge.
Ellus hym aȝte for no þynge;
But wheþer ho be wyf or may,
Syb or fremde, make hym say,
Nonne or ankeras, or what degre,
Algate make hym telle the;
For ȝef þe synne be gret or grym,
Þe more penaunce nedeth hym;
Were hyt was wyte þou also
In holy place or no.
A mon synneþ sarre in seyntwary
Þenne in any oþer place by,
By whom also þow moste mynne,
And whom he gart to do þat synne,
And whad þey were þat were here ferus,
Prestes or clerkus, monkes or frerus,
Þe mo to synne that he droghe,
Þe more for-sothe hym-self he sloghe;
How ofte also he dyde that dede,
Wyte at hym þow moste nede,
For euer so ofter newed hyt ys,
Þe gratter þe synne waxeth I-wys;
So ofter a wounde ys I-cot
Þe worse to hele hyt nede be mot;
Þe ofter a mon doth monslaghte,
Þe more he ys the fende by-taghte;
Þe ofter he doth lechery,
Þe ofter he synneth dedly;
Dedly he synneth wyþowte drede,
As ofte as he þat synne doþ brede,

And why he dyde þat ylke synne,
Also nede he mote mynne:
Wheþer hyt were for loue or drede,
Or couetyse of worldes mede,
Or for enuye, or for debate,
Or for wrathþe of olde hate,
And he dyde he mote say,
And not hele hyt by no way.
Wheþer he dyde þat in hastynes,
Or wel a-vyset ȝef he wes;
For he þat casteth hym to do a dede,
More penaunce he mote haue nede
Þen he þat doth hyt sodenlyche,
And afterward hym reweth myche;
And whenne hyt was and what day,
Byd hym to the that he say,
For on a halyday ȝef he synne,
Nedely to þe he mote hyt mynne,
Or any oþer fastynge day,
Lentun or vygyle, as telle he may,
For gratter synne for soþe hyt ys
On suche dayes to do a-mys,
Myche more wythoute nay,
Þen on a-noþer werkeday,
And ȝet more by-fore none
Þen afterward and hyt were done,
Þerfore þou moste wel hyt mynne,
Boþe tyde & tyme, he þat doth synne.
Alle þese poyntus þow moste wyte,
Þat here be-fore ben I-wryte;
Or elles gode dome þou myȝt not ȝeue
Of men þat beth to the I-schryue,
So þow myȝt knowe sum and al,
Wheþer þe synne be gret or smal,
And ȝef þe synne be fowle & grym,
The gratter penaunce ȝeue þou hym;

And ȝef þe synne be but luyte,
To þe lasse penaunce þou hym putte;
But fyrst take hede by gode a-vys,
Of what contrycyone þat he ys,
Ȝef he be sory for hys synne,
And fulle contryte as þou myȝt kenne;
Wepeþ faste and ys sory,
And asketh ȝerne of mercy,
A-bregge hys penaunce þen by myche,
For god hym self for-ȝeueth syche;
Ȝef he be styf & of herte heȝ,
Grope hym softe & go hym neȝ,
And when þou herest where he wole byde,
Ȝeue hym penaunce þenne also þat tyde,
But non oþer þen he wole take
Wors þenne lest þow hym make.
Take gode hede on hys de-gre
Of what skynnes lyuyuge þat he be,
For on may soffre þat a-noþer ne may,
Þerfore set hym in syche way,
Þat hys penaunce he may do ryȝt,
Be hyt heuy, be hyt lyȝt;
Ȝef þow ley on hym more
Þenne he wole asente fore,
Alle he wole caste hym fro,
And schende hym-self, I telle þe so,
Wharfore be wys and war,
For mony men fulle dyuers ar.
Now take hede what I þe mynne,
Ȝef a wyf haue done a synne,
Syche penaunce þou gyue hyre þenne
Þat hyre husbonde may not kenne,
Leste for þe penaunce sake
Wo & w[r]aþþe by-twene hem wake.

Wharfore þe nedeth to be wys,
For, forsothe, gret nede hyt ys,
Lest þow do oȝt on madhede,
And sende so al to þe quede;
Bettur hyt ys wyth penaunce lutte,
In-to purgatory a mon to putte,
Þen wyþ penaunce ouer myche,
Sende hym to helle putte.
Wharfore lerne þys lessoun wel,
And take gode hede to my spel,
Countur wyþ countur ys I-huled ofte,
When þey be leyde to-gedur softe.

Contra superbiam.

Agaynus pruyde wythowte les,
Þe forme remedy ys mekenes,
Ofte to knele and erþe to kys,
And knowlache wel þat erþe he ys,
And dede mennus bonus ofte to se,
And þenke þat he schal syche be.
Þe peynes of helle haue ȝerne in thoȝt,
And domes day for-ȝete thow noght,
Crystus passyone haue in mynde,
Þat sleth pruyde, as wryten I fynde,
And who so þenketh þus in stedefast thoȝt,
Pruyde he schale sette at noȝt.

Contra Iram.

Agaynes wraþþe hys helpe schal be,
Ȝef he haue grace in herte to se
How aungelus, when he ys wroth,
From hym faste flen and goth,
And fendes faste to hym renneth,
And wyþ fuyre of helle hys herte breneth,

And maketh hym so hote & hegh,
Þat no mon may byde hym negh,
And makeþ hym syche as þey arn
Of goddes chylde þe deueles barn,
Wharfore he mote wyth sofferynge,
Quenche in hym syche brennynge,
A-gaynus wrathþe soferaunce
Mote be myche hys penaunce.

Contra Inuidiam.

Agayn enuye loue ys gryth,
But ȝet he mote do more wyth,
Serues to hym wyth herte fre
To whom he hath enuyes I-be.
Louynge serues and godely speche
Agayn enuye ys helpe and leche.

Contra auariciam.

Do also in thys wyse
I bydde a-ȝeynes couetyse,
Quyte a-gayn a-byde not to longe,
Þat þow hast take wyth wronge,
And to þe nedy ȝeue þow large,
In goddus name I þe charge.

Contra gulam.

Of þy fowle gloterye
Abstene þe, I bydde þe hye,
And for þy lust & þy sorfet
Þow moste do almes fulle gret;
Fede þe pore of þat þow sparest,
And lete hem fele how þow farest.

Contra accidiam.

Slowthe þow moste to gode turne,
And þy pater noster say ȝerne,
In morowe & mydday & euentyde,
Wheþer þow go oþer þow ryde

To chyrche come ȝef þow may,
And here þy masse vche day,
And ȝef þow may not come to chyrche,
Where euer þat þow do worche,
When þow herest to masse knylle,
Prey to god wyþ herte stylle,
To ȝeue þe part of þat seruyse,
Þat in chyrche I-done ys.

Contra luxuriam.

Thagh þow þenke þy lechery swete,
Lef þow hyt I the hete,
And lerne to lyue in chastyte,
In goddes name I charge þe;
And for þy flesch þer-in has game,
With bred & water þou schalt hyt tame,
And ȝef he say a-gayn to þe,
He may not lyue in chastyte,
Charge hym þenne to take a wyf,
In goddes lawe to lede hys lyf,
And þaȝ he say he wole not do so,
Ȝet penaunce make hym to do;
Hyt schale do gode here or henne,
Laske hys peynes or cese hys synne.

Quanta sit penitencia pro mortalibus.

On dedly synne, as lawes techeth,
To seuen ȝerus ende recheth,
Faste bred & water vche fryday,
And for-go flesch on wednesday,
The same dayes þorȝ þe ȝere,
That schal laste fully seuen ȝere;
But now be fewe þat wole do so,
Þerfore a lyȝter way þou moste go;
A monnes contricyone be-holde þou ȝerne,
Þer-by þy domes thow moste lerne;

Ȝef hyt be gret ȝeue luyte penaunce,
Ȝef hyt be luyte þow moste hyt vaunce,
Be hyt more, be hyt lasse,
After þe contricyone þe dome moste passe.
Be not to harde I þe rede,
But ay do mercy in goddes drede,
He ys ful of me[r]cy ay,
Be þou also I the pray,
For lasse synnes venyal,
Lasse penaunce ȝeue þow schal,
So þat þe synne hys herte greue,
And be in purpos hyt to leue,
I hope here be I-noȝ I-wryte,
To teche a prest how he schale wyte,
To ȝeue a dome of monnes synne
Ȝef any wyt be hym wyþynne.

Isti mittendi sunt ad episcopum.

Bvt confessour be wys and ȝop,
And sende forth þese to þe byschop:
Alle þat smyteþ prest or clerk,
And hem þat worcheþ wycked werk,
Hows brenner & sleer of mon,
And fader or modur in vyolens þat leyþ hond vp-on,
Þe modur þat þe chylde ouer lyth,
Þe fader also sende þow wyth,
A mon þat ys a-corset wyþ book & belle,
And eretykes as I the telle;
Hym þat brekeþ solempne vow,
Or chawnge hyt wole, sende hym forþ now;
Clypper of þe kynges mynt,
And hym þat lyueth by swerdes dynt
Alle fals sysourus and okererus,
And hem þat fals wytnes berus;

Alle þat be wedded vnlawfully,
Or susterus or cosynus lyggeþ by;
And alle þo, schortely to say,
Þat þe grete sentens a-corseþ ay;
And ȝef þe byschope a-corse mo,
Sende hem forth-wyth also.

De modo absoluendi penitentem.

Now take hede how þow schalt done
Of thyn absolucyone;
When schryfte ys herde þen ȝeue penaunce,
And bydde hym say wyth fulle creawnce:

Et dicat confitens.

“God, I crye þe mercy,
And þy moder seynt mary,
And alle þe seyntus of heuen bryȝt,
I crye mercy wyth alle my myȝt,
Of alle þe synnus I haue wroȝt,
In werke and worde, & sory þoȝt,
Wyth euery lyme of my body,
Wyth sore herte I aske god mercy,
And þe, fader, in goddes place,
A-soyle me þow of my trespace,
Ȝeue me penaunce also to,
For goddes loue þat þow so do.”

[_]

The prose explication of the form of absolution has been omitted.

De sacramento extreme vnccionis.

Hyt ys not gode to be helut,
How a wyȝt schal be an-elet,
When þat he ys so ouer-dryue,
Þat he may no lengur lyue,
Þenne he schale an-elet be,
And non er, I warne the,
But þaȝ he be an-elet ones,
Ȝet he may eftsones,
But he þat ys in hys wyt,
And be so temptut despyseþ hyt,
Haue he in herte non oþer mynne,
He schale be dampned for þat synne,
But he þat schale be an-oynt,
Aske hym þus euery poynt:

Infirmus dicta ȝe.

“Art þow fayn, my broþer, say,
Þat þow dyest in crysten fay?
Myȝt þou also in þy herte se
Þat þy lyf ys worse þen hyt scholde be? Ȝe.
For-þynkeþ þe, telle me þys,
Þat þou hast lad þy lyf a-mys? Ȝe.
Hast þow wyl þe to a-mende,
Ȝef god wole þe lyf sende? Ȝe.
Be-leuest þow with ful gode deuocyone
On ihesu crystes passyone? Ȝe.
And how hys passyone saue þe schal,
And by non oþer way at al? Ȝe.
Holde vp now boþe þy hondes
And þonke criste of alle hys sondes,

And praye hym, for hys moder sake,
Þat he wole þy sowle take
In-to hys honde and hys kepynge,
And saue hyt from þe fowle þynge.
Ȝef he con þys oresone say,
Byd hym say hyt wyþowte delay.

[_]

The prayer to be said by the sick man has been omitted.

Tunc vngatur infirmus.

Ȝet I wole wryte more,
To hym þat ys mene of lore,
Of neclygens, more & lasse,
Þat may be-falle in þe masse.
Fyrst se, prest, as I þe mynne,
Þat þow be out of dedly synne,
Þyn auter þenne þou do dyȝt,
Þat hyt be after thy myȝt.

Se þe cloþes þat þey be clene,
And also halowet alle by-dene,
Wyth þre towayles and no lasse
Hule þyn auter at thy masse,
Al oþer thynge þow knowest wel,
What þe nedeth euer-y del.
Loke þat þy candel of wax hyt be,
And set hyre, so þat þow hyre se,
On þe lyfte half of þyn autere,
And loke algate ho brenne clere,
Wayte þat ho brenne in alle wyse,
Tyl þow haue do þat seruyse.
Þy bred schal be of whete flour,
I-made of dogh that ys not sour,
Þat hyt be rounde and hol wayte wel,
And loke þy wyn be not eysel;
Poure water to thy wyn,
As þow const wel and fyn,
Sey þe wordes of þat seruyse
Deuowtely wyth gode a-vyse;
Cotte þow not þe wordes tayle,
But sey hem oute wyþowte fayle;
Sey hem so wyþ mowþe & thoght
Þat oþer þynge þow þenke noght,
But al þyn herte & þyn entent
Be fully on that sacrament.
Ȝef hyt be-falle, as god hyt scylde,
Þat þow of wyt be so wylde,
Þat bred or wyn be a-way,
Consecracyone when þou scholdest say;
Ȝef þe be-falle þat ylke cas,
Ley bred on þy corporas,
And þaȝ þow forth I-passet be,
Be-gynne a-gayn “qui pridie.”
Ȝef wyn and water be bothe a-way,
Powre in boþe wythowte lay,

And turne a-gayn as I þe kenne,
And “simili modo” say þow þenne.
Ȝef þou haue water and no wyn,
A-non-ryȝt do hyt yn,
And by-gynne, as I ȝer taȝte,
At “simili modo” euen straȝte;
And ȝef þow be neȝ þe ende,
Ȝef syche mynde god þe sende,
Þat þow haue wyn & no water,
Þen powre hyt in neuer þe later,
And by-gynne “oremus,
Preceptis salutaribus.”
Ȝef þe wonte stole or fanoun,
When þow art in þe canoun,
Passe forth wythowten turne,
But þat þow moste rewe ȝerne;
Ȝef a drope of blod by any cas
Falle vp-on þe corporas,
Sowke hyt vp a-non-ryȝt,
And be as sory as þou myȝt,
Þe corporas after þow folde,
A-monge þe relekus to be holde;
On oþer þynge ȝef hyt falle,
On vestement oþer on palle,
A-wey þow moste þe pece cotte,
And hyt brenne & a-monge þe relekus putte;
Ȝef hyt falle on sum oþer what,
Tabul or ston, vrþe or mat,
Lyk hyt vp clene þat ys sched,
And schaf hyt after þat ys be-bled,
And do þe schauynge for to brenne,
Amonge þe relekus put hyt þenne;
Ȝef any flye, gnat, or coppe
Doun in-to þe chalys droppe,
Ȝef þow darst for castynge þere,
Vse hyt hol alle I-fere,

And ȝef þy herte do wyþstonde,
Take vp the fulþe wyþ þyn honde,
And ouer the chalys wosche hyt wel
Twyes or thryes, as I þe telle,
And vse forth þe blod þenne,
And do þe fulþe for to brenne;
Do more ȝet also thow most,
Vche day chawnge þyn ost,
Redy þat þow haue mowe,
To vche seke ay I-nowe.

Ad huc alia necessaria capellano scire.

Ȝet lerne þys for thy prow,
Þat I wryte after now.
When þow schalt to seke gon,
Hye þe faste & go a-non;
For ȝef þow tarye þow dost a-mys,
Þow schalt quyte that sowle I-wys;
When þow schalt to seke gon,
A clene surples caste þe on,
Take þy stole wyth þe ryȝt,
And pul thy hod ouer þy syȝt,
Bere þyn ost a-nont þy breste,
In a box that ys honeste.
Make þy clerk be-fore þe ȝynge,
To bere lyȝt and belle rynge,
On þy power þen haue þow mynne,
Þat þow myȝt a-soyle of alle synne;
In perel of deth þow hast powere
Of alle synne to a-soyle clere;
But ȝef þe seke turne to lyue,
Of þat same synne he mote hym schryue,
And hys penaunce take newe,
For alle þynge þat he er schewe,
And spare þow not for no let
To aske hym of hys det,

And whether hyt be myche or luyte,
Charge hym þat he hyt quyte,
And ȝef hys godes to luyte be
For to quyte þat oweth he,
Charge hym þenne wyth herte lowe
To aske mercy of þat he owe;
And ȝet þow moste lerne þys eke,
Of a mon þat ys ful seke,
Þat sendeþ to þe to hym to ryde,
And waxe dowmbe in þat tyde,
Ȝef he by synes þat hosul soghte,
Thaȝ þow knowe þow schryue hym noȝte,
Nerþeles þow schalt hym soyle,
And ȝeue hym hosul & holy oyle.
When þou hast þe seke I-schryue,
And þow se þat he may not lyue,
Oþer penaunce þow schalt not gyn
But þe sekenes þat he ys In,
Ioyne þat sekenes & þat sore
By-fore god to be hys ore;
And ȝef he aske hys sauyour,
Gyf hym hyt wyþ gret honour;
But ȝef he be so seke wyth-ynne
Þat of castynge he may not blynne,
He schal not þenne hys hosul take,
For vomyschment & castynge sake,
But preche hym feyre wyth opun spelle
Þat god a-loweth hys herte & hys wylle,
And for he wolde & he myȝte,
God hym takeþ in hys ryȝte.
Ȝet when þou art to chyrche I-went,
Do vp so that sacrament
Þat hyt be syker in vche way,
Þat no best hyt towche may.
Ȝef hyt [were] eten wyth mows or rat,
Dere þow moste a-bygge þat;

Fowrty dayes for þat myschawnce
Þow schalt be in penaunce.
Ȝef any crome of hyt be lost,
Ȝerne seche hyt þow most,
Ȝef þow hyt fynde no wey myȝte,
Þrytty dayes þow rewe hyt ryȝte;
And ȝef þow be so vnwys
Þat þow synge by malys,
Wythowte water and lyȝt also,
And wost welle þe wonteth bo,
Þow schalt þenne for þy songe
Boþe wepe and weyle er a-monge,
Tyl þe byschope of hys ore
To þy songe the restore.

Oracio opificis opusculi huius.

Now, dere prest, I pray þe,
For goddes loue þow pray for me,
More I pray þat þow me mynge,
In þy masse when thow dost synge;
And ȝet I pray þe, leue broþer,
Rede þys ofte, and so lete oþer,
Huyde hyt not in hodymoke,
Lete other mo rede þys boke;
The mo þer-In doth rede & lerne,
Þe mo to mede hyt schale terne;
Hyt ys I-made hem to schowne
Þat haue no bokes of here owne,
And oþer þat beth of mene lore,
Þat wolde fayn conne more,
And þow þat here-In lernest most,
Thonke ȝerne þe holy gost,
That ȝeueþ wyt to vche mon
To do þe gode that he con,
And by hys trauayle and hys dede
Ȝeueþ hym heuen to hys mede;

The mede and þe ioye of heuen lyȝt

God vs graunte For hys myght. Amen.

Explicit tractatus qui dicitur pars oculi de latino in anglicum translatus per fratrem Iohannem myrcus canonicum regularem Monasterij de Lylleshul, cuius anime propicietur deus. Amen.