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

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.