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[The tale of ‘Syre Ely’ and his wicked Sons.]
Þys Ely was a man ryȝt ryche,
And, to hys chyldrén ryght blyche;
he hadde twey sonys, þat ys no les,
‘Ofnee’ the toon hyght, þe touþer ‘Fynees.’
Þese twey chyldryn dyd ful wykkedly
To man and woman þat þey come by;
Lyers, robbours, and lechours,
Skorners, and also auoutours;
wymmen þat to þe temple come,
here offryng from hem þey nome.
Þese wymmen come to syre Ely,
And pleyned hem of grete vyleynye,
‘Þat hys sonys were vnhende,
hem also for to shende.
O defaute was, þey by hem lay;
A-noþer, þey bare here offryng away.’
“Do þerof sum chástysyng,
For þe loue of heuene kyng!”
And, to hys chyldrén ryght blyche;
he hadde twey sonys, þat ys no les,
‘Ofnee’ the toon hyght, þe touþer ‘Fynees.’
Þese twey chyldryn dyd ful wykkedly
To man and woman þat þey come by;
Lyers, robbours, and lechours,
Skorners, and also auoutours;
wymmen þat to þe temple come,
here offryng from hem þey nome.
Þese wymmen come to syre Ely,
And pleyned hem of grete vyleynye,
‘Þat hys sonys were vnhende,
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O defaute was, þey by hem lay;
A-noþer, þey bare here offryng away.’
“Do þerof sum chástysyng,
For þe loue of heuene kyng!”
Here fadyr Ely þan was wo,
For þat yche fame shulde of hem go.
Ely kalled hys sone, “Ofnee
And Fyneës, come ȝe to me!
Sonës,” he seyde, “ȝe are me dere;
y bydde ȝow boþe, on feyre manere,
Þat ȝe leue ȝoure foly dedes,
And ouþer foly þat ȝow ledys;
Y herë of ȝow foulë fame,
Þe folkë seyn ȝe are to blame;
Y rede ȝe leue alle swych foly,
Þat y of ȝow here no more cry.”
For þat yche fame shulde of hem go.
Ely kalled hys sone, “Ofnee
And Fyneës, come ȝe to me!
Sonës,” he seyde, “ȝe are me dere;
y bydde ȝow boþe, on feyre manere,
Þat ȝe leue ȝoure foly dedes,
And ouþer foly þat ȝow ledys;
Y herë of ȝow foulë fame,
Þe folkë seyn ȝe are to blame;
Y rede ȝe leue alle swych foly,
Þat y of ȝow here no more cry.”
Þese chyldryn were strong and stout;
Of fadres byddyng þey hadde no dout,
But werë shrewys for þe more,
Or werse þan þey hadde be byfore;
And God was wroþe wyþ here mysdede
Þat þey ne leftë for no drede;
And, God was wyþ Ely wroþe,
For he dyd hys sones no loþe,
To chastyse hem wyþ fyn awe
And with þe smartnes of þe lawe.
Of fadres byddyng þey hadde no dout,
But werë shrewys for þe more,
Or werse þan þey hadde be byfore;
And God was wroþe wyþ here mysdede
Þat þey ne leftë for no drede;
And, God was wyþ Ely wroþe,
For he dyd hys sones no loþe,
To chastyse hem wyþ fyn awe
And with þe smartnes of þe lawe.
Þarfor toke god hys venïaunce
Of hem, and mo, for þat myschaunce;
He lete þe fals Phylystyens,
Þe folk of Isrel to werre aȝens.
Ely and hys, þey gunne assayle,
And ouercome hem tweys yn batayle.
Of hem, and mo, for þat myschaunce;
He lete þe fals Phylystyens,
Þe folk of Isrel to werre aȝens.
Ely and hys, þey gunne assayle,
And ouercome hem tweys yn batayle.
Þese Phylystyens þat hadde þe maystry,
Beleuyd on Dagoun, a maumettry.
On a god þat þey kalled Dagoun,
Beleued þe Phylystynes echoun.
Þarefor hyt was but Goddys suffraunce
Þat shewyd why þey hadde swych chaunce.
Beleuyd on Dagoun, a maumettry.
On a god þat þey kalled Dagoun,
Beleued þe Phylystynes echoun.
Þarefor hyt was but Goddys suffraunce
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Þe folk of Isrel had þoght, and syghte,
For þey were twyys scumfyghte;
Þey ordeyned hem on allë wyse
how þey shulde best to batayle ryse,
Aȝens þe Phylystynes for to go,
And hem dyscumfytë and slo.
þey ordeyned hem for to bere
Goddys arke with hem yn to were.
Ely sones were stoute and stark,
And were chose to bere Goddys ark;
For reuerence þey ded hyt, of Ely,
And for þey were of body doghty.
For þey were twyys scumfyghte;
Þey ordeyned hem on allë wyse
how þey shulde best to batayle ryse,
Aȝens þe Phylystynes for to go,
And hem dyscumfytë and slo.
þey ordeyned hem for to bere
Goddys arke with hem yn to were.
Ely sones were stoute and stark,
And were chose to bere Goddys ark;
For reuerence þey ded hyt, of Ely,
And for þey were of body doghty.
Goddys ark was of swych manere
As men make now shrynës here.
yn þys ark werë þre þynges
Þat men ȝaue to here offrynges;
Þar-yn was Moyses table
whar-on God wrote þe lawë stable;
And Aarons ȝerd, and a potte of golde:
Þese þre relykes þey helde ful holde.
Yn þe pottë was a floure,
whyte, and swete of al sauoure,
Þat floure ys kalled ‘aungelys mete’
Þat God ȝafe þe folke to ete
whan þey were yn wyldernes
Forty wyntyr, yn hard stres.
Þese þyngës þan bare Ely sones
yn-to þe batayle þat ȝyt of mones.
As men make now shrynës here.
yn þys ark werë þre þynges
Þat men ȝaue to here offrynges;
Þar-yn was Moyses table
whar-on God wrote þe lawë stable;
And Aarons ȝerd, and a potte of golde:
Þese þre relykes þey helde ful holde.
Yn þe pottë was a floure,
whyte, and swete of al sauoure,
Þat floure ys kalled ‘aungelys mete’
Þat God ȝafe þe folke to ete
whan þey were yn wyldernes
Forty wyntyr, yn hard stres.
Þese þyngës þan bare Ely sones
yn-to þe batayle þat ȝyt of mones.
Þe phylystyens come hem for to assayle,
And slogh Ely sonës yn batayle,
And rauysshed Goddys ark þere,
And slogh þe folk þat þer were,
And þe relykys þat þere were ynne:
Alle were lore for þe sonys synne.
And slogh Ely sonës yn batayle,
And rauysshed Goddys ark þere,
And slogh þe folk þat þer were,
And þe relykys þat þere were ynne:
Alle were lore for þe sonys synne.
whan þe folk to þe batayle fore,
Ely sette hym at þe temple dore
yn a chayre, and was herkenyng
Fro þe batayle sum tydyng,
On what manere þe folk shulde spede,
For of Goddys ark he had grete drede.
Ely sette hym at þe temple dore
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Fro þe batayle sum tydyng,
On what manere þe folk shulde spede,
For of Goddys ark he had grete drede.
One come rennyng hastyly,
And broghte þys tydyng to Ely
Þat hys sonys were boþe slayn,
And Goddys ark with myght and mayn
was bore away for euermore.
Alas, þe sorow þat he hadde þerfore!
whan Ely herd þys euyl tydyng,
For sorowe he gan hys handys wryng,
And fyl bakward of hys chayre,
And brak on two hys swyer;
And of hys hede he brake þe bone,
Þe harnës lay vpp-on þe stone.
And broghte þys tydyng to Ely
Þat hys sonys were boþe slayn,
And Goddys ark with myght and mayn
was bore away for euermore.
Alas, þe sorow þat he hadde þerfore!
whan Ely herd þys euyl tydyng,
For sorowe he gan hys handys wryng,
And fyl bakward of hys chayre,
And brak on two hys swyer;
And of hys hede he brake þe bone,
Þe harnës lay vpp-on þe stone.
Þys ychë tale ys no tryfyl,
For hyt ys wryte yn þe bybyl;
And to ȝow y telle hyt here,
Ȝoure sonys to chastyse and to lere,
Þat ȝe, ne þey, be nat shent
For defaute of chastysment
Bodyly, yn þys worlde here,
And aftyr þat, þe soule so dere.
For hyt ys wryte yn þe bybyl;
And to ȝow y telle hyt here,
Ȝoure sonys to chastyse and to lere,
Þat ȝe, ne þey, be nat shent
For defaute of chastysment
Bodyly, yn þys worlde here,
And aftyr þat, þe soule so dere.
Þenkeþ on Ely and on hys sonys;
And to gode ȝoure chyldryn wones.
For, ryght so as hem gan tyde,
Swyche as þey were, þe same mow byde.
Of sloghnes þys ys þe assyse
whan þou wylt nat betyme chastyse.
And to gode ȝoure chyldryn wones.
For, ryght so as hem gan tyde,
Swyche as þey were, þe same mow byde.
Of sloghnes þys ys þe assyse
whan þou wylt nat betyme chastyse.
Ȝyt ys þyr an ydulnes,—
A grete vnwysdom for soþe hyt ys,—
whan a ȝunge man dragh lyte on lenkþe,
And wyl nat trauayle yn hys ȝungþe,
Ne lernë hym craft for to wynne,
Yn hys agë to leue wel ynne.
Certes me þenkeþ hym ful slogh;
Hys þryfte wyl melte away with snogh.
And þogh a man haue oght erytage
Þat he may lyue wyþ weyl yn age,
Certes ȝyt behoueþ hym lere
Manhede and curtesye yn fere.
A man hys manhedë shal ȝerne
hymself and hys meynë to gouerne.
A grete vnwysdom for soþe hyt ys,—
whan a ȝunge man dragh lyte on lenkþe,
And wyl nat trauayle yn hys ȝungþe,
Ne lernë hym craft for to wynne,
Yn hys agë to leue wel ynne.
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Hys þryfte wyl melte away with snogh.
And þogh a man haue oght erytage
Þat he may lyue wyþ weyl yn age,
Certes ȝyt behoueþ hym lere
Manhede and curtesye yn fere.
A man hys manhedë shal ȝerne
hymself and hys meynë to gouerne.
Þus seyþ þe kyng Salamon,
And þese holy men echone;
“Hyt ys an ydulnes yn here lyfe,
Alle þat ouþer man or wyfe
Trauayleþ for þe lyuës fode,
And lytyl for þe soulës gode.
And þese holy men echone;
“Hyt ys an ydulnes yn here lyfe,
Alle þat ouþer man or wyfe
Trauayleþ for þe lyuës fode,
And lytyl for þe soulës gode.
Þogh þou trauayle alle þat þou may,
Ne be þou neuer so ryche ne gay,
But þou serue God yn alle þy þoght
Þat þy soule to heuene be broght,
Sykyrlyche alle ys hyt but lore,
Þy grete trauayle syn þou were bore;
Alle for sloghthede be tolde hyt shal,
To werche al day, and lese hyt alle.
Ne be þou neuer so ryche ne gay,
But þou serue God yn alle þy þoght
Þat þy soule to heuene be broght,
Sykyrlyche alle ys hyt but lore,
Þy grete trauayle syn þou were bore;
Alle for sloghthede be tolde hyt shal,
To werche al day, and lese hyt alle.
Ȝyt us þyr an vnkynde sloghþhede,
Þat a man vnneþ, for no gode dede,
wyl wurschep God derwrþly,
But more þarfor aȝens hym ly.
And mayst þou þe soþë se
Of rychë men, how stout þey be;
For many one þat he ȝyfþ to rychesse,
Of God and man þey ȝyue no lesse.
Ȝyf he ȝyue to any hys ryght lemes,
To þanke hym þerof, no man ȝeue nymes.
loke alle þy lymës, fete and hondes,
And, ȝyf þou weyl vndyrstondys
Þat þou ne hast nedë of þo,
Þank hym noþer yn wele no wo;
And ȝyf þou mayst forberë noun,
Þank þan hym of euerychoun;
y rede we þanke hym of euery poynt,
Syn we may nat forbere þe lest Ioynt.
Þat a man vnneþ, for no gode dede,
wyl wurschep God derwrþly,
But more þarfor aȝens hym ly.
And mayst þou þe soþë se
Of rychë men, how stout þey be;
For many one þat he ȝyfþ to rychesse,
Of God and man þey ȝyue no lesse.
Ȝyf he ȝyue to any hys ryght lemes,
To þanke hym þerof, no man ȝeue nymes.
loke alle þy lymës, fete and hondes,
And, ȝyf þou weyl vndyrstondys
Þat þou ne hast nedë of þo,
Þank hym noþer yn wele no wo;
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Þank þan hym of euerychoun;
y rede we þanke hym of euery poynt,
Syn we may nat forbere þe lest Ioynt.
ȝyt þyr ys a sloghþehede yn þys synne;
Vnkynde men are alle þer-ynne;
yn sum man, vnkyndehede ys so rank
Þat he ne may cunne no man þank
For no gode dede þat men hym dous.
A dogge ys kynder, þat goþ lous,
For, ȝyue a dogge þryd part hys fode,
And he shal euer weyte þe gode,
And euermorë be wyþ þe,
For lyfë ne deþ wyl he fle.
Vnkynde men are alle þer-ynne;
yn sum man, vnkyndehede ys so rank
Þat he ne may cunne no man þank
For no gode dede þat men hym dous.
A dogge ys kynder, þat goþ lous,
For, ȝyue a dogge þryd part hys fode,
And he shal euer weyte þe gode,
And euermorë be wyþ þe,
For lyfë ne deþ wyl he fle.
By þys skyl mayst þou se how
An hounde ys kynder þan art þou;
And ȝyt may hyt preuyd be
Þat þou art as vnkynde as he.
Of þe houndë, þys y fynde,
Þat most he hateþ hys owne kynde;
For that yche houndë þat hym gat,
Most of allë hateþ he þat;
And hys modyr he hateþ also;
He byt here, ȝyf he may cum here to.
Ȝyf ȝe vndyrstondë kan,
Þus faryþ hyt of a vnkynd man;
For he loueþ more an ouþer kynde,
And þarto ys wel morë mynde,
Þan he douþ þat ychë flesshe
Of whos kynde he cum forþe ys.
An hounde ys kynder þan art þou;
And ȝyt may hyt preuyd be
Þat þou art as vnkynde as he.
Of þe houndë, þys y fynde,
Þat most he hateþ hys owne kynde;
For that yche houndë þat hym gat,
Most of allë hateþ he þat;
And hys modyr he hateþ also;
He byt here, ȝyf he may cum here to.
Ȝyf ȝe vndyrstondë kan,
Þus faryþ hyt of a vnkynd man;
For he loueþ more an ouþer kynde,
And þarto ys wel morë mynde,
Þan he douþ þat ychë flesshe
Of whos kynde he cum forþe ys.
A-noþer þyng ȝyt ys, ȝyf þou ȝeue kepe,
Þat many loue more nete and shepe
Þan he douþ hys emcrystene,
Or of hys harme wyl oght bemene.
And þys ys a grete vnkyndnes,
And also aȝen manhede hyt ys;
And sloghþëhede wel for to proue,
Vnkyndly, and lowe, to loue.
Þat many loue more nete and shepe
Þan he douþ hys emcrystene,
Or of hys harme wyl oght bemene.
And þys ys a grete vnkyndnes,
And also aȝen manhede hyt ys;
And sloghþëhede wel for to proue,
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Ȝyf þou art yn godë wyl
To seruë God, and leue alle yl,
Repente þe nat, for no feyntyse,
Ne be nat heuy to hys seruyse;
Þou shuldyst raþer to þe deþ turne
Ar þou shust wyþ hys seruyse scorne.
To seruë God, and leue alle yl,
Repente þe nat, for no feyntyse,
Ne be nat heuy to hys seruyse;
Þou shuldyst raþer to þe deþ turne
Ar þou shust wyþ hys seruyse scorne.
Ȝyf þou bygynne weyl, y rede þou ende,
For fyrst and last þou fyndyst hym hende.
And ȝyf þou bygynne any þyng,
Þenk what shal be þe endyng.
For þogh þou seruë God to pay,
Alle þy lyfe, boþe nyȝt and day,
And at þe laste ende of þy lyffe
Þou fallyst aȝens hym yn stryffe,
So þat þou yn þat ychë synne
Makyst þan þy endyng ynne,
God forget alle þy gode dede;
Of hym þerfor gest þou no mede.
Ryght so ys he to þe redy
whan þou wylt leue alle þy foly,
And come to hym with répentaunce,
yn blys he makeþ þy puruyaunce.
At þe ende shal boþe dede and þoght
Shewe hym self how hyt ys wroght.
For fyrst and last þou fyndyst hym hende.
And ȝyf þou bygynne any þyng,
Þenk what shal be þe endyng.
For þogh þou seruë God to pay,
Alle þy lyfe, boþe nyȝt and day,
And at þe laste ende of þy lyffe
Þou fallyst aȝens hym yn stryffe,
So þat þou yn þat ychë synne
Makyst þan þy endyng ynne,
God forget alle þy gode dede;
Of hym þerfor gest þou no mede.
Ryght so ys he to þe redy
whan þou wylt leue alle þy foly,
And come to hym with répentaunce,
yn blys he makeþ þy puruyaunce.
At þe ende shal boþe dede and þoght
Shewe hym self how hyt ys wroght.
Ne be nat þou sorowful, y þe forbede;
hyt semyþ, yn Goddys seruyse þan þou hast drede;
And dredë wyl make a man slogh
To do þe seruyse þat he hogh.
But serue hym gladly with louely chere,
Þan ys þy seruyse to hym dere:
Þus techyþ vs Dauid þe prophete
yn þe sautyr, wurdys swete;
“Ne be nat proude þogh þou weyl dous,
yn þyn herte to make a rous”
Þat þou holy lyfë ledys,
Yn fastyng, or yn almës dedys.
Þe fyrst ys ouer mochë drede,
Þe touþer ys proude hauncenhede.
Holde þe euene hem betwene,
Nat ouer-drede ne ouer-wene.
hyt semyþ, yn Goddys seruyse þan þou hast drede;
And dredë wyl make a man slogh
To do þe seruyse þat he hogh.
But serue hym gladly with louely chere,
Þan ys þy seruyse to hym dere:
Þus techyþ vs Dauid þe prophete
yn þe sautyr, wurdys swete;
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yn þyn herte to make a rous”
Þat þou holy lyfë ledys,
Yn fastyng, or yn almës dedys.
Þe fyrst ys ouer mochë drede,
Þe touþer ys proude hauncenhede.
Holde þe euene hem betwene,
Nat ouer-drede ne ouer-wene.
No make no sorowe, ne myslyke,
Þat wanhope In þyn hertë styke;
For þat ys þe werst poynt of alle;
To hellë þyt hyt doþe þe falle.
Sloghënes, hyt wyl þe grope
To bryngë þe yn-to whanhope;
Sloghnes yn allë godë dedys,
Ys as moche, as sum men redys,
As þogh þou shryue þe of a synne,
And þenke no more to falle þer-ynne.
Ȝyf þou be slogh, and heuy,
And doust no gode dede of mercy,
Þus seyþ God yn hys gospel,
Þat “þou art to me a voyde vessel.”
Ful lyght þan art þou for to turne
Aȝen to synne, and to soiurne;
Þan art þou wersë þan þou was,
Boundë vn-to Satanas;
Þan wylle Satanas begynne to prykke,
And whanhope yn þy hertë stykke.
whanhope, God shelde vs þar-fro,
hyt steryþ a man hym self to slo;
So ded þe treytur Iudas,
And forsoþe, wurþy he was.
why was he moste wurþy?
For he hadde wanhope of Goddys mercy;
For he wendë þat God ne wulde
Haue forȝyue hym, þat he hym solde.
Syþþen loked God vpp-on Iudas,
As who sey, “aske mercy for þy trespas.”
For ȝyf he had asked hyt any syþe,
Ihesu hadde graunted hym asswyþe;
For hys mercy fayled noght
To any man þat hym besoght.
Syn God wulde haue be to hym so fre,
Þan ys he redy to þe and me:
whychë tyme þou wylt hym kalle,
For hys defaute þou shalt nat falle.
Þat wanhope In þyn hertë styke;
For þat ys þe werst poynt of alle;
To hellë þyt hyt doþe þe falle.
Sloghënes, hyt wyl þe grope
To bryngë þe yn-to whanhope;
Sloghnes yn allë godë dedys,
Ys as moche, as sum men redys,
As þogh þou shryue þe of a synne,
And þenke no more to falle þer-ynne.
Ȝyf þou be slogh, and heuy,
And doust no gode dede of mercy,
Þus seyþ God yn hys gospel,
Þat “þou art to me a voyde vessel.”
Ful lyght þan art þou for to turne
Aȝen to synne, and to soiurne;
Þan art þou wersë þan þou was,
Boundë vn-to Satanas;
Þan wylle Satanas begynne to prykke,
And whanhope yn þy hertë stykke.
whanhope, God shelde vs þar-fro,
hyt steryþ a man hym self to slo;
So ded þe treytur Iudas,
And forsoþe, wurþy he was.
why was he moste wurþy?
For he hadde wanhope of Goddys mercy;
For he wendë þat God ne wulde
Haue forȝyue hym, þat he hym solde.
Syþþen loked God vpp-on Iudas,
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For ȝyf he had asked hyt any syþe,
Ihesu hadde graunted hym asswyþe;
For hys mercy fayled noght
To any man þat hym besoght.
Syn God wulde haue be to hym so fre,
Þan ys he redy to þe and me:
whychë tyme þou wylt hym kalle,
For hys defaute þou shalt nat falle.
Beþenke þe weyl of þe þefe
Þat loued nat God, no was hym lefe,—
he þat was hanged on a tre
Bysydë Ihesu for vylte;
he spake o wurde at hys endyng.
“lordë, haue on me menyng!”
And asswyþe he wan þe prys,
And was sent yn-to paradys.
he was þe fyrst[ë] þat hyt wan
Syn Adam lost hyt, oure formest man.
Þat loued nat God, no was hym lefe,—
he þat was hanged on a tre
Bysydë Ihesu for vylte;
he spake o wurde at hys endyng.
“lordë, haue on me menyng!”
And asswyþe he wan þe prys,
And was sent yn-to paradys.
he was þe fyrst[ë] þat hyt wan
Syn Adam lost hyt, oure formest man.
Er was þat þefe yn paradys
Þan alle prophetys þat were of prys.
Þat þefe alle manere wys dyd synne,
And neuer ere leuyd Ihesu ynne;
For a wurde þat he spak so myldëly,
he haþ pes, blys, and mercy.
And, þarfor, dysmay þe noght
For no þyng þat þou hast wroght;
For, haue þou do neuer so mykyl,
Ne be so fals, ne so fykyl,
Ne ley þer-ynnë so long whyle,
And do alle maner synnës vyle,
Ȝyf þou wylt, yn strenkþe and hele,
Þy synne forsake and nat wyþ dele,
with sorow of herte and répentaunce
Þou mayst pay God with lytyl penaunce.
God seyþ þys wurde, to shew vs þe wey,
“y wyl þat nonë synful deye;
To leue hys synne he shal haue space,
And turne aȝen to lyfe and grace;
what so euer he haue done,
y wyl nat hys dampnacyone.”
Þan alle prophetys þat were of prys.
Þat þefe alle manere wys dyd synne,
And neuer ere leuyd Ihesu ynne;
For a wurde þat he spak so myldëly,
he haþ pes, blys, and mercy.
And, þarfor, dysmay þe noght
For no þyng þat þou hast wroght;
For, haue þou do neuer so mykyl,
Ne be so fals, ne so fykyl,
Ne ley þer-ynnë so long whyle,
And do alle maner synnës vyle,
Ȝyf þou wylt, yn strenkþe and hele,
Þy synne forsake and nat wyþ dele,
with sorow of herte and répentaunce
Þou mayst pay God with lytyl penaunce.
God seyþ þys wurde, to shew vs þe wey,
“y wyl þat nonë synful deye;
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And turne aȝen to lyfe and grace;
what so euer he haue done,
y wyl nat hys dampnacyone.”
To ȝyue a sample, a tale here lys,
Þat vs telleþ seynt Dyonys.
Þat vs telleþ seynt Dyonys.
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