Instructions for Parish Priests By John Myrc [i.e. Mirk]. Edited from Cotton MS. Claudius A. II, by Edward Peacock |
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Quanta sit penitencia pro mortalibus.
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 | Instructions for Parish Priests |  |
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;
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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.
| Instructions for Parish Priests | |