University of Virginia Library

XXV. A lutel soth Sermun.

Herkneþ alle gode men
and stylle sitteþ a-dun.
And ich ou wile tellen
a lutel soþ sermun.
Wel we wuten alle.
þey ich ou nouht ne telle.
Hw Adam vre vorme fader.
a-dun feol in-to helle.
Schomeliche he forles.
þe blisse þat he hedde.
To yuernesse and prude.
none neode he nedde.
He nom þan appel of þe treo.
þat him forbode was.
So reuþful dede idon.
neuer non nas.
He made him in-to helle falle.
And after him his children alle.
Þer he wes fort vre drihte.
Hyne bouhte myd his myhte.
He hine alesede myd his blode.
Þat he schedde vp-on þe rode.
To deþe he yef him for vs alle.
Þo we weren so strong at-falle.
Alle bakbytares.
heo wendeþ to helle.
Robbares. and reuares.
and þe Monquelle.
Lechurs. and horlyngs.
þider schulleþ wende.
And þer heo schulle wunye.
euer buten ende.
Alle þeos false chapmen.
þe feond heom wule habbe.
Bakares and breowares.
for alle men heo gabbe.
Lowe heo holdeþ heore galun.
Mid beorme heo hine fulleþ.
And euer of þe purse.
þat seoluer heo tulleþ.
Boþe heo makeþ feble.
heore bred and heore ale.
Habbe heo þat seoluer.
ne telleþ heo neuer tale.
Gode men for godes luue.
bileueþ sucche sunne.
For at þen ende hit bi-nymeþ.
heueriche wunne.
Alle preostes wives.
ich wot heo beoþ for-lore.
Þes persones ich wene.
ne beoþ heo nouht for-bore.
Ne þeos prude yongemen.
þat luuyeþ Malekyn.
And þeos prude maydenes.
þat luuyeþ ianekyn.
At chireche and at chepyng.
hwanne heo to-gadere cóme.
Heo runeþ to-gaderes.
and spekeþ of derne luue.
Hwenne heo to chirche cumeþ.
to þon holy daye.
Euervych wile his leof i-seo.
þer yef he may.
Heo biholdeþ watekin.
Mid swiþe gled eye.
At hom is hire pater noster.
biloken in hire teye.
Masses and Matynes.
ne kepeþ heo nouht.
For wilekyn and watekyn.
beoþ in hire þouht.
Robyn wule Gilothe.
leden to þan ale.
And sitten þer to-gederes.
and tellen heore tale.
He may quyten hire ale.
and seoþþe don þat gome.
An eue to go myd him.
ne þincheþ hire no schome.
Hire syre and hire dame.
þreteþ hire to béte.
Nule heo fur-go Robyn.
for al heore þréte.
Euer heo wule hire skere.
ne com hire no mon neyh.
Forte þat hire wombe.
vp aryse an heyh.
Godemen for godes luue.
bi-leueþ óure sunne.
For at þon ende hit bi-nymeþ.
heoueryche wunne.
Bidde we seynte Marie.
for hire Milde mode.
For þe theres þat heo weop.
for hire sune blode.
Al so wis. so he god is.
for hire erendynge.
To þe blysse of heouene.
he vs alle brynge.