University of Virginia Library

3. Spiritus Guydonis.

[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

Sune when þe maire had herd þis thing,
twa hundreth men he bad forth bring,
and armed þam fra top to ta,
and bad þam with þe Prior ga
and baldely do what he wald bid.
and als he demid right so þai did.
(Þe prior þan bad þam al) bidene
þat þai sulde be schreuen clene
and here mes with deuocioune,
and seþen baldli mak þam boune.
And of Requiem he sang a mes—
for cristen saules it ordand es;
and þarin made minde of Gy
and prayed for him ful specialli,
and þat god suld gif þam grace
forto haue knawing in þat case;
and efter mes þan wald howseld he
al þe men þat wald howseld be,
for þat þe fende suld þam noght fere
ne in þaire dedes do þam no dere.
Þe prior þan ful preuely
in a buste toke goddes body
vnder his gere with gude entent—
bot no man wist þat with him went.
He and þe men and þe maisters twa
to Gies hows þan gan þai ga,
and þe wife went with þam in-fere,
sighand with ful simpil chere.
Þe armed men þan ordand he
al obout þe hows to be
wele vmset on ilka side,
to se what auentures wald bitide,
sum in window, and sum in dore,
with wapins þat war strang & store,
and sum in gardines gert he lig,
& sum in bretice obout þe rig;
and euer in ilka place thre,
in takining of þe trinite.
and when þai war þus sett obout,
þe prior bad þam haue no dout.
He enterd þan in þat place,
and his twa breþer with him gase,
and þir wordes þan he saide in hi:
Pax sit huic domui,
þat es in inglis þus to say:
“pese be to þis hows alway”.
to chamber he went with-outen rest,
and haliwater obout he kest,
with vidi aquam; þan said he þus:
Veni creator spiritus,
with þe colet þat sal efter cum:
Deus qui corda fidelium,
askand help of þe haly gaste
al wikkednes oway to waste;
(hali)water eftsones kest he
and said asperges me domine.
Þan cald he þe wife with-outen mare,
and sho com wepeand wonder sare;
he said: “dame, teche me to þe stede
and to bed ware Gy was dede”.
Þe woman was ful mased and mad,
scho trembild þan so was scho rad,
for care hir hert bigan to calde;
bot to þe bed sone scho him talde;
and in hir wa so als scho was,
scho said: “Sir prior, or ȝe pas
I prai ȝow for mending of me
and als in dede of charite
þat ȝe wald bid sum hali bede
and mak ȝowre prayers in þis stede
for his saul þat was husband here”;
and when scho had said on þis manere,
down scho fell als scho wald dy,
opon a noþer bed þar-bi,
for dole and wa scho wex al wan.
and þan þe prior þus bigan
and said: dominus vobiscum,
his breþer answerd all and sum;
And efter þan he said onone
þe first godspell of saint Ione,
In principio clerkes it call;
when þat was said, þan sat þai all
opon a burd þe bed biside,
and said þe seruise in þat tyde
þat for þe ded aw for to be,
Placebo with þe dirige;
and efter laudes þai said in hi
seuen spalmes with þe letany.
and agnus dei when þai said (thrise),
þai herd ane answer on þis (wise),
a febill voyce þare might (þai ken)
als of a childe, saiand amen.
þarfore þai war all ful a(ffrayd).
and þan þe prior þusga(te said):
“I coniore þe, þou creat(ure),
in þe vertu of oure (saueure),
þat es a god of mig(htes mast),
fader and sun and h(ali gast),
þat was and es [OMITTED]
þat þou me ans(wer) [OMITTED]
and tell me [OMITTED]
als fer als [OMITTED]”
[OMITTED]
(It answe)rd hym on þis manere:
“(Syr) prior, aske sune what þou will,
and I sal tell it þe vntill
als fer als I haue might or minde
or als I may haue leue by kinde”.
Þis ilk voice þan herd þai all
þe armed men obout þe hall,
and in þai come ful fast rinand,
ilkone with wapin in þaire hand,
for wele it was in þaire trowing
þat þai suld se sum gastely thing.
bot neuer-þe-lese þare saw þai nane
ne noght herd bot a voyce allane.
Þe prior bad þai suld stand still,
& þus he spak þe voyce vntill:
“Whether ertou ane ill gaste or a gude?”
Þe voyce answerd with eger mode
and said: “Sir, I am a gude gaste;
þat may I proue þe here in haste.
for hali writ þus beres wittnes:
when god had made both more & les,
(he luk)ed his werkes in ilka wane
(and) þai war wonder gude ilkane.
(al werkes) er gude þat he gan ma,
(and) sen þat I am ane of þa,
(a gu)de gast I am forþi
(al) for my maker souerainly.
(þarf)ore may þou haue in minde
(þat I) am a gude gaste by kinde.
(Bot I a)m euyl for mine euil dede,
(& þar)fore haue I payn to mede”.
(Þe prior) answerd him in hy
(and said): “Þou sais noght sothfastly;
(þat may I proue) þe here in haste.
(þou sais þou ert) ane euil gaste
(for þe pain)es þat þou has here;
[OMITTED] þis manere:
[OMITTED] (g)ude, þat proue I þe,
[OMITTED] gude degre
[OMITTED] onis sin
[OMITTED] ld noght blin
[OMITTED] goddes will
[OMITTED] ht ill
[OMITTED] þarby”.
[OMITTED] Gy:
”[OMITTED] le
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
by iugement and [OMITTED]
for euil dedis þat þai did here;
bot neuer-þe-les þe pain es ill
to þam þat it es gifen vntill.
so es mine ill to me allane,
for me it pines and oþer nane.
and sen I haue swilk euyl payne
for mi sins, als es sertayne,
ane euill spirite men may cal me,
vntill time þat I clensed be
of euil þat I haue done”.
Þan al þus said þe prior sone:
“Tell vs apertly, or þou pas,
whilk mans spirite þat þou was”.
Þe voice answerd to him in hy
and said: “I am [þe] spirit of Gy,
þe whilk ȝe wate was newly dede
and was husband here in þis stede”.
Þe prior said: “Þan wele I finde
by reson þat þou ert vnkinde,
þat þou makes slike sclander & strife
vnto Gies bodi and to his wife.
for ay whils Gy was lifand man,
ful rightwis was he halden þan
and trew in faith, of nobill fame,
and his wif was halden þe same;
and for þir meruailes þat þou mase
now will men say in ilka place
þat Gy was man of wikked life
and þarfore turmentes he his wife;
for laud folk in ilka land
sais euyll men er oft walkand.
and Gy was halden gude alway,
wharfore þou ert vnkind, I say”.
Þe voice answerd þan als him thoght
and said: “vnkinde ne am I noght
nowþer to mi wif ne to my bodi.
enchesun sal I say þe why,
by sause þat þou sal noght forsake,
for swilk a scill here I þe make.
if þou had gifen a man to were
kote or hode or oþer gere,
and he þat so þi cote had tane
wald suffer for þi luf allane
in gude and ill to lif and dy,
war he noght kinde to þe forþi?”
Þe prior said: “ȝis, for sertayne”.
and þan answerd þe voyce ogayne
& said: “(right so bi me bifell).
here in þis erth wils I gan dewell,
of Gy I toke none oþer thing
bot his cors vnto my clething;
and þat cors þat I dedli call,
gert vs both in folies fall,
and for þe wikkednes þat it wroght
am I in all þir bales broght,
and his doing was ilkadele;
als haly writ witnes ful wele
and sais þat liking here of fless
contrari vnto þe saule es.
and if I sufferd noght þis payne,
Gyes bodi and als his saul sertaine
sul suffer paine with-outen ende
in fire of hell with mani a fende.
For ilka man both more and myn
sall suffer penance for þaire syn
ouþer in þis erth whare þai dwell,
or els in purgari, or in hell;
and ilka man might better here
suffer pain thurgh seuen ȝere
als mekill als ani man suffer may,
þan in purgatori a day;
and a day here to suffer care
may of a ȝere relese him þare.
Gyes bodi has now no skathe
and I am pined to saue vs bathe;
and efter when we cum to blis,
what ioy so I haue sall be his,
for bath togeder sall be þan
bodi and saul of ilka man.
and sen I haue þir paines grim
noght anly for me bot for him,
till he of all filthes be finde,
þan am I noght [to] him vnkinde.
And, sir Prior, also þou sais
þat I of Gy suld sclander rais.
þat will I answer on þis wise
and say þat I ger no sclander rise.
for þat es sklander kindely kend
þat sownes in ill or has ill end;
wha so it dose mun dere aby,
for haly writ sais weterly
Vnto þat man sall wa be wroght
thurgh wham sclander first vp es broght.
and all if answer þus for Gy
I do to him no vilany.
my spekeing es all for his spede
þat I haue neuynd to ȝow his nede,
and als my speche may gretly gayn
till oþer saules þat suffers payn.
and þat may þou þi-seluen se:
for mani folk of þis cete
cums to þis hows ful hastily,
and ilkone pray þai fast for Gy
þat god deliuer him out of care,
als þou and þi breþer did are;
and in þaire praiers þat þai say,
for al cristen saules þai prai,
and þe prayers þat men makes for ane
may help to oþer saules ilkane.
And also þai þat er on liue
sall suner of þaire sins þam schriue
and gif þam vnto penance hard,
þat þai be noght pined efterward
als I am pined now for my plight
þat Gy amended noght whils he might.
I say I sklander noght forþi
nowþer Gyes wife ne his body,
bot all þir sauwes þat I say now
er for þaire honore and for þaire prow”.
Þe Prior said: “þan ask I þe
how any man may euill be
when he es ded, sen þat he was
schreuen clene or he gan pas,
and was in will gude werkes to wirk
and ended in trowth of haly kirk
and had his sacramentes ilkane?”
Þe voice answerd sone onane
and said: “þat men may euyl be
on two maners, þat proue I þe,
when þai er ded and heþin gane.
þat may on þis maner be tane:
for þai er ill whare so þai wend,
þat dampned er, with-owten end;
and þai er euill for sertayn (space)
þat suffers pains in any p(lace)
for þaire sins, þat es to sai
till tyme þat it be wasted (owai).
þis same right in mi [OMITTED]
for I was schreuen [OMITTED]
ȝit am I euill, þis es [OMITTED]
till I haue sufferd [OMITTED]
For als men [OMITTED]
clerkes sais [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] here [OMITTED] syn was.
(þar)fore fully it suffices noght
forto be schreuen in will and thoght,
bot if men may in dede fulfill
þe penance þat es gifen þam till;
for þat þai do noght or þai dy,
sall fulfillde be in porgatory;
and a day þare to suffer paine
semes als a ȝere here for sertayne.
þarfore es gude þat men þam schriue,
and suffer penance in þaire liue”.
Þe Prior þan of him gan craue
if þat he wist oght wha war saue
or whilk men war dampned bidene,
in þe stedes whare he had bene.
Þe voyce answerd sone þartill
and sayd: “it es noght goddes will
þat I suld swilk thinges ascri;
I will þe say encheson why.
all þat in purgatori er dwelland
to blis of heuin er þai ordand,
þarfore þam au nothing to say
bot þat þai may warand alway.
and þe soth of þis may no man tell
bot he had bene in heuyn and in hell
and sene what sorow es in þe tane,
and ioy in þe toþer þat neuer bese gane;
(þu)s in þam bath wha so had bene,
(might) say þe soth als he had sene.
(and) sen I am þe gaste of Gy
(and) suffers pain in purgatori,
(pain)es in hell may I noght se—
(I was) neuer þare ne neuer sal be;
(and to he)uin may I noght win
(till I be clen)sed clene of sin;
(þarfor þe) soth may I noght say
(wha sal be saue)d or damned for ay”.
(Þe prior sai)d: “þou ert noght stabill,
(bot a spirit) fals and desayueabill,
[OMITTED] noght here,
[OMITTED] þis manere.
[OMITTED] kes k[n]awe
[OMITTED] in þe ald lawe
[OMITTED] resowne
[OMITTED] oune
[OMITTED] (incar))nacioune,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
in Mari þe mayden milde of mode;
and als þai talde in mani a stede
how he in erth suld suffer dede,
and of his rising talde þai right:
and ȝit þai saw him neuer in sight.
And sen þai war men bodily
and said slike thinges thurgh prophecy
and kend þe folk how þai might knaw
swilk thing als þai neuer saw,
of more force þan thinkes me
a clene spirit, als þou suld be,
sold haue more might swilk thinges to tell
þan þai þat lifed in fless and fell;
and þan aght þe to wit by þis
whilk er in bale and whilk in blis”.
Þe voyce answerd to him in haste
and said: “forsoth þir wordes er wast;
I may wele proue þe in þis place,
it es no liknes þat þou mase
by-twix prophetes þat standes in stori,
and saules þat er in purgatori.
Þe prophettes had, whils þai wond here,
of god and of his angels clere
and of gift of þe haly gaste
al þaire maters leste and maste
þat þai might tell and preche ouerall
byfore als it sold efter fall;
swilk grete grace was gifen þam till,
and all was for þis sertayn scill:
for laud folk in ilka land
by þaire steuyns might vnderstand
and better trow how Criste was born,
by saus þat þai had said biforn;
for sen þaire saus fra god war sent,
men sal þam trow with gude entent.
And I am set for sertaine space,
to time þat god will grante me grace,
þus for my sins to suffer paine,
and, sir, I say þe for sertayne
þat I may now none angels se
bot þam þat has kepeing of me,
and to me will þai tell right noght
till I out of mi paines be broght.
Þarfor I may noght say sertaine
whilk er in ioy or wlik in payne”.
Þan said þe Prior sone onane:
“right in þi saus þou sall be tane.
(þou) sais no spi(rit mai sai to) me
whilk saules sal saued or dampned be;
and bukes beres witnes, be balde,
þat fendes sum tyme to men has talde
and said þe soth haly bydene
of þam þat saued or dampned has bene”.
Þe voice answ[e]rd and said ogayne
þat no spirite þat dwelles in paine
ne none of fendes þat er in hell
may haue no power forto tell
ne any thing to man at neuyn
þat toches to preuetes of heuyn,
bot it [be] thurgh goddes sufrance,
or oþer angels þam tell thurgh chance;
and vnto me þai tell no thing,
þarfore I may noght haue knawyng
of heuinly blis how it es þare;
ne in hell how þe fendes fare.
bot saules þat þare sall suffer pyne,
þaire penance es wele more þan mine;
for I haue hope to cum till blis,
and þareof sall þai euer mis.
þarfore es no liknes to tell
bitwix me and þe paines of hell”.
Þan said þe Prior: “I pray þe now,
tell me in what stede ertou”.
Þe voice answerd and sayd in hy:
“I am here in purgatori”.
Þan said þe Prior: “proued þou hase
þat purgari es in þis place;
for if þat þou be pyned here
þan may so oþer saules in fere;
and þare whare saules be purged sall,
purgatori men may þare call.
þarfore by þir saues þat þou sais
purgatori es þare always”.
Þan said þe voice on þis manere:
“Sir, þare er purgatories sere:
Ane es comun to more and les,
and departabill anoþer es”.
Þe prior said: “now se I wele
þat þou ert fals in ilkadele.
a saul may noght in a time ga
forto be pyned in places twa,
for whils he sall be in þe tane,
of þe toþer he may haue nane.
In a stede bihoues him suffer paine”.
Þan said þe voice: “þis es sertayne.
I am now (pined, þis) es na fabill,
in purgatory departabill
ilka day, als god vowches saue;
bot oþer paynes byhoues me haue,
for ilka night bihoues me
in comun purgatory pined be,
forto suffer paynes sare
with oþer sawles þat dwelles þare”.
Þe pryor sayd þan: “can þou ges
in what stede comun purgatory es
whare paine es [to] saules puruaide?”
Þe spirite answerd þan and said:
“in middes of al þe erth ful right
es comun purgatori dyght,
and þare es pain ordand for vs”.
And þe Prior answerd þus:
he said, “me think bi alkins ways
it may noght be suth þat þou says.
þe middes of erth es a sertaine space,
and þe purgatori a noþer place,
and twa stedes may noght be in ane.
þarfore me think þou has mistane;
if purgatori whare sawles dwelles
war in middes erth als þou telles,
twa stedes in ane þan bud be þare,
and þat saltou se neuermare.
þarfore so es it noght arrayd”.
Þe voyce þan answerd sune and said
þat places er ordand ful rathe
bodily and gastly bathe.
“a saul es gastly, and forþi
it ocupies no stede bodily,
þat es to say by it allane,
when mans bodi þarfro es tane.
þis ilk how[s] als þou may se
haldes both þi saul and þe,
and ȝit here er noght stede(s twa).
and hereby may þou se als(wa)
how haile and raine & sle(t & snaw)
er in þe ayre klerely to (knaw),
and ilkone has his cours [OMITTED]
so es þat place whare [OMITTED]”
Þe Prior said: “tell vs (now mare)
whi þat þou ert pin(ed þare)
more þan in anoþer (stede),
sen þe tyme (þat þou was dede)”.
Þe voice answ(erd [OMITTED]:
“for in þis [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] I gan me [OMITTED]
(& made no) penance in mi liue;
þarfore here sall I penance haue
for þat sin till I be saue”.
Þe Prior said: “now, if þou can,
tell vs what thing moste noyes man,
wit paynes of ded when he es tane”.
Þe voice answerd and said onane
þat vgly sightes sall moste him dere
of foule fendes þat him sal fere;
“ful many sall obout him be
defigured all in foule degre,
and grisly sall þai grin & gnaiste,
out of þaire wit þam forto wrayste,
and als byfor him sall be broght
al wikkednes þat euer he wroght;
so will þai fande with any gin
thurgh wanhope if þai might him win”.
Þe prior sayd: “þat wald I frayne
what remedy war þare-ogayne
and thing þat might help men maste
in (band)es of ded when þai er braste”.
(Þe) vo[i]ce sayd: “þare es sum man
(þat) may hope for no helping þan:
(for) if a man lede all his lyue
(in) sin and seþin wil him noght schriue
(and in) his hert will haue no care
(for) ill dedes he has done are,
(þan s)all his angell to him tell
(how Cr)iste for him had paines fell
(and ho)w he died for his byhoue,
(bot þat) sall be to his reproue;
(& sai als) how he was vnkinde
(vnto god) whils he had minde
(and als þa)t he was mys-avised
(þe sacra)mentes when he despised
(& wald noght) schriue him of his sin
[OMITTED] and ended þarin.
(when his wer)kes er thusgat sayd,
(þe fendes sall) obout him braid
(and him take) with all þaire might
(and sai to him): ‘þou weried wight,
(cum with vs now in) to hell,
(þare withowten ende) to dwell’.
(Bot if a man be schreuen) clene
[OMITTED] bydene
[OMITTED] ilkane
[OMITTED] (g)ane,
all-if his penance be noght done
his gude angell says to him (sone):
‘cumfort þe wele, I sall þe were
þat þe deuils sall þe noght dere’;
and vnto þe fendes þan sal he say:
‘ȝe weried wightes, wendes oway,
for ȝe haue no part in þis man’.
and þe fendes sall answer þan
and say on þis wise: ‘oures he es
by resun and by rightwisnes’,
and þarto sall þai schew full sone
all euell dedes þat he has done
both in eld and als in ȝowth,
sen first he kind[l]y wittes kowth,
and say: ‘he sinned þus and þus,
þarfore him aw to wend with vs’.
His gude angell will mak debate
and say: ‘he sined, wele I wate,
all on þis wise als ȝe haue talde;
bot he es borowed, be ȝe balde,
for with schrift was he clensed clene
and toke his sacramentes bidene,
and he had sorow for his sinyng;
to clensing fire þat sal him bring,
and þe merit of Cristes passion now
sal [be mene] bitwyx him and ȝow
and serue him both for sheld and spere,
þat ȝowre desaytes sal him noght dere.
and Cristes hend and als his side,
þat thirled war with wowndes wide,
sal be bitwix him and ȝowre hend
and fro ȝowre felnes him defend;
and Cristes face þat buffet was,
bitwix him and ȝowre face sal pas,
so þat he sall, if he ȝow se,
for ȝowre boste noght abaist be;
Al Cristes bodi spred on rode
sal be vnto him armure gude,
so þat ȝe sall haue no powere
him forto dere on no manere;
and þe lims of Ihesu fre
þat for mankind was pined on tre,
sall clens him now of his foly
he did whith lyms of his body;
þe saul of Crist, als we wele ken,
þat ȝolden was for erthly men,
sall purge him now of all þe plight
þat þis saule did with his awin myght.
so þat in him (sal leue no gilt)
(whar)fore he (suld) with . . (be) spilt,
ne no pain vnto him sall stand
bot purgatori þat (es) passand;
he sall be purged in þat place
and suffer pain a sertayne space,
and seþin with vs sall he wende
and won in welth with-owten ende’.
Þus sall þe gude angell help him
ogaynes þe deuils griseli and grim,
and þus es Cristes passioune
set bifor vs redy boune
forto defend vs fra þe fende
out of þis werld when we sall wende.
and þarfore aw ilk man bi kinde
to haue þat passioun most in minde,
and namely in þe tyme of dede,
for þan it standes man moste in stede.
Also men sall haue helping gude
of Mari mayden mild of mode;
if we here oght for hir haue done,
baldeli may we ask hyr bone
and vs to help scho will hir haste
in ded when oure mister es maste.
For if a man, or he hethen fare,
be schreuen clene, als I said are,
oure lady þan will be ful boune
to socore him in þat sesoune,
and fend him fro þe fendes in fere,
and say to [þam] on þis manere:
‘Moder and mayden both am I
of Ihesu mi sun, god almighty,
and of heuyn am I coronde quene,
and lady of all erth bydene,
and I am emperise of hell,
whare ȝe and oþer deuils dwell.
And sen þat I am quene of heuyn,
vnto my sun þus sall I neuyn
þat he sall wine for luf of me
þis saul in purgatori to be
till he be clensed clene of sin,
and so to heuyn I sall him win;
he serued me in word and dede,
in heuyn sall he haue his mede.
And also sen I am lady
of all þe erth, þarfore [will] I,
thurgh þe will of my sun dere,
þat ilk gude dede and ilk prayere
(þat owhar in þis) werlde er (said),
vnto his profet be puruayd,
messes and oþer almus-dede
sall turn þis man to mekel mede,
and thurgh þe merite of þe mes
sal his penance be made les
þat him es ordand for his syn,
whilk ȝowre falshede gert him fal in.
And sen I am emperyce of hell,
þarfore ȝowre force now sall I fell:
I cumand ȝow ȝe heþin fare,
so þat ȝe noy þis man nomare
þat es ded in my suns seruyse’.
And when scho has said on þis wise,
all þe halows in heuyn on hight
will help hir halely with þaire might;
to Ihesu will þai call in-fere,
and þus þai will mak þaire prayere:
‘Lord Ihesu god almighty,
fader of heuyn, man of mercy,
haue mercy on þis man þat es
oure awin broþer and oure liknes;
sen þou wald wend fro heuyn on hight
and suffer payn for mans plight,
þou meng þi mercy with þis man’.
Þus sal his saul be saued þan,
and his gude angell sall him take
to clensing fire aseth to make
and vnto him he sall take tent
till he haue sufferd his turment;
and þan þe weked gastes sall ga
þeþin oway with mekill wa.
In þis manere may gude pr(ayere)
and almus-dedes þat men dose (here),
and merit of Cristes pascioun,
and of halows gude orisown,
help a man here in his (dede)
and vnto clensing fire (him lede)”.
Þe prior (sayd vnto) him (þan)
and asked if þat any (man)
of Ihesu may haue (in ded a sight)
and of Mari his moder (bright)
or of þe halows [OMITTED]
in þaire right (forme) [OMITTED]
Þe voice ans(werd and said nay);
“bot on þis wise [OMITTED]
if any be so [OMITTED]
þat has [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] may se þam [OMITTED]
(bot sin)ful men may noght þam se”.
(Þe) prior sayd: “þan thinkes me
(þat) þou sais now þi-self to scorne
(ogai)nes þe saws þou said biforne;
(for) þou said angels suld be boune
þare to reherce Cristes pascioune,
and þou said Mari suld be þare
and oþer halows les and mare
in sight bifor þe saules ful euyn,
praiand for þam to god of heuyn;
þan semes it þat he se þam may”.
Þe voice answerd and said: “nay;
þai sal be þare I grante þe wele,
bot he sall se of þam no dele
in þaire lyknes verrayli;
and þis es þe enchesoun whi.
for þe most blis in heuyn it es
forto se Crist in his liknes,
þat es to say in his godhede;
(þa)n neded saules none oþer mede
(bo)t in þaire dying him to se,
and in þat blis þan solde þai be
(sod)ainly in þaire passing,
(and) þat war vn(ak)ordand thing
(þat sin)ful men suld se þat sight.
(if men) be puried of all þaire plight
þan sall þai se god als he es,
(hali) writ so beris witnes”.
(And þan) þe prior frained him fast
(if spirit)es þat es heþin past
(wist) what dedes er for þam done
(on þis) molde at morn or none,
(and þe) praiers men for þam ma.
(Þe voice) answerd and said: ȝa.
[OMITTED] se wele by þis thing
[OMITTED] es has saules helping.
(Þe prior said: “þan) can þou say
(wharof I sang) mess to-day?”
(Þe voice answerd) þarto ful tite:
(“þou sang mess) of saint spirite”.
(Þe prior said þan) als he knew:
“[OMITTED] noght trew,
(for I sang mess, þis) es sertayne,
(for cristen saules þat) suffers paine;
(þarfore þou sais noght) suthfastly”.
(Þe voice þan answerd him) in hy
and said: (“I wat wele) [OMITTED]
for cristen (saules þat) þou sang;
bot ȝit I (said soth) neuer-þe-les
þat of saint spirite was þi mes.
þat saltou by ensameple se.
for wele þou knawes in ilk cuntre,
if ani man oþer alde or ȝing
of a noþer suld ask a thing,
and he hoped wele forto haue
þat ilk thing þat he walde craue,
first to ask he walde him haste
þe thing þat might amend him mast,
and what so his hert lai moste nere
þat suld first in his speche apere
and first be in his wordes alwayse,
als god þus in his gospell sayse:
Ex habundancia cordis os loquitur:
Of þe fulnes of þe hert
spekes þe mowth þe wordes smert.
and messes sungen of saint spirite
vnto me er most profite,
and next þan of þe trinite—
þir messes moste amendes me.
and here now þe encheson whi.
for whils I lifed here bodily,
I spended my wit and mi powere
ful oft-siþes in sinnes sere,
when I sold þam haue spended right
to goddes honour with al mi might.
Þe fader I suld haue mensked with main,
for of him cumes al power plaine
þat men has here ai whils þai lif,
efter his grace als he will gif;
þarfore what man so dose vnright
bi his power or by his might
or by his strenkith if þat it be,
ogaines þe fader of heuyn sins he,
for al power he weldes always,
als Dauid in þe sauter sais:
Omnia quecunque uoluit dominus fecit,
he sais: þe fader mai fulfill
in heuyn and erth what so he will.
To Crist, god sun, es gifen ful right
wit and wisdom dai & night,
to mesure it till erthli men,
als þir clerkes mai clereli ken;
þarfore godes sun þai sin ogain
þat here despendes þaire wittes in vain
(and) settes þam so (on erthly) gude
(þat) reches es more in þaire mode
þan Crist god sun þat boght þam dere.
and my-self on þis same manere
sined in þis werld whare ȝe won
both ogaines þe fader & þe sun.
To þe haligast es gifen al grace
and beaute plain in ilka place,
at his liking to dele and dight
in þis werld to ilka wight;
ogaines him oft-siþes sinned I
when þat I vsed in foul foly
swilk giftes als he me gaf bi kinde,
and honord him noght in mi minde;
for mi fauore and my fairehede
haue I done many sinful dede,
and vertus haue I turned to vice
thurgh wekid werkes als wreche vnwise.
wharfore aseth byhoues me make
to thre persons for my sin sake;
þarfore messes of þe trinite
er mekill medeful vnto me
for greuance þat to me es graide,
als my gude angell has me saide.
Bot for þat I haue sined maste
ogaynes þe giftes of þe hali gaste,
couaytand here more reches
þan he me gaf of his gudenes
or þan he vowched safe me to send,
and wrangwisli his gudes despend
and honord him noght for þaire sake,
þarefore, of þis amendes to make,
messes sungen of saint spirite
may tittest saue me out of site.
and þarfore, sir, sothli I say
of saint spirite þou sang to-day;
al-if þine office ordand ware
for cristen saules als þou said are,
þou toke with gude deuocioune
of saint spirite ane orisoune,
and þat ilk orisoun sertaine
aleged me more of my paine
þan al þe oþer þat þou sayd,
for till all saules war þai puruaid;
And sen þat helpid me allane
more þan all þe oþer ilkane,
of saint spirit I say þou sang—
if þou me wites þou has þe wrang”.
(Þe prior asked) þan þ(is thing):
for how mani saules a prest may s(ing)
in a tyme and in a stede,
wheþer it be for quik or ded,
and ilkone haue in lyke gudenes
and in like merite of þat mes.
Þe voice answerd and gan say
þat a preste anely on a day
for all saules may sing and rede
and ilkone of his mes haue mede,
thurgh vertu of þe sacrament;
“þat proue I þe, if þou tak tent.
Ihesus Crist with Iewes uoice
was anes offerd on þe croyce,
and þare he died and gaf þe gaste
vntill his fader of mightes maste
for saluacioune of all man-kin,
and noght anly for a man sin:
right so þe preste in ilka mes
offers Criste right als he es
in hale godhede, als clerkes mai ken,
in mendment of all cristen men;
and so in a mes may be tane
al cristen saules als wele als ane,
and plainli mai (it) part þam till.
þat proue I þe bi proper skill.
Ful grete deference may men fele
bitwene spiritual thing and tem(porele);
for temporal thing, þat þou sese here,
if it be parted in places sere,
in þe ma partyes þat it es
it-self leues ay wele þe (les),
þat es for porcion partes þarfra;
als if þat þou an appell ta
and parte it into many hend,
with þi-self sall litell lend.
On þe toþer side þou vnder(stand)
þat spiritual thing es ay (wexand);
þarto I may gude liknes (ma):
þis orisoune if þat þ(ou ta),
þe pater noster, and (teche it þen)
here on þis molde to (mani men),
when it vnto all te(ched es),
in itself it es noght (þe les),
bot to knawing [OMITTED]
when mo it (sais þan ane or twa).
so er messes [OMITTED]
þat ordand [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] it es in þat degre
[OMITTED] wham so it ordand es,
(þaire) merit may noght be þe les,
(b)ot mare ioy sall þai haue þat tide
þat oþer er helped þam biside”.
On þis wise þan þe prior sais:
“haly writ wittnes always
þat saules er helpid for sertaine
and oft deliuerd out of payne
thurgh speciall praier and special dede
þat frendes dose here for þaire mede,
and þa frendes dose þa dedes allane
for a saul and for oþer nane.
(þan þi)nk me þat his mede sall fall
[OMITTED] þan it war done for all
and more alege him of his payne”.
Þe voice answerd and said ogayne
þat all þe prestes þat messes singes
nedes forto do twa thinges:
(f)irst his praiers forto make
specialli for þat saul sake
þat he es most halden vntill,
(þ)at god deliuer him of all ill;
(and) when he has so praied for ane,
(þan) sall he pray for oþer ilkane.
(so) ilkane has mede of þat mes,
(and) þai for wham it ordand es
(er he)lpid maste fro bale þarby.
(And on) þis same maner am I
(deliuerd) of mi penance here
[OMITTED] lasted bi foure ȝere
[OMITTED] (m)isdedes als it was det.
[OMITTED] frende here has it sett
[OMITTED] þat þou wele knew
[OMITTED] þat I find trew;
[OMITTED] when he had nede
[OMITTED] þe scoles ȝede
[OMITTED] d most mister here
[OMITTED] fiue ȝere.
[OMITTED] wele I wroght
[OMITTED] forgetes he noght
[OMITTED] has me maste
[OMITTED] in haste
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] passe
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] payne,
and if þou here no(ght) þan of me
sothly sertayne may þou be
þat I in (blis) of heuen am stad”.—
Þe prior did right als he bad,
at þe pase efter he him soght:
bot of þe voice he herd right noght;
þarfore in heuyn he hopid he ware.—
bot in þat time ȝit asked he mare.
He said: “can þou oght trewli tell
if þou in þat ilk heuyn sal dwell
þat for goddes halows es puruaid?”
Þe voice answerd sune and sayd:
“Sir, I tald þe are ful euyn
þat I come neuer ȝit in heuyn,
þarfore I may tell þe nomare
of thinges þat er ordaind þare.
Bot of þat blis I mai be balde,
for þus myne angell has me talde,
þat I to passe in paine sold be
and þan, he said, þat I sall se
þe king of heuyn in his godhede
with his angels all on brede
and with his halows euerilk-ane.
and I answerd to him onane
and said: ‘lord, ful lang think me
þat semely sight vntill I se’.
bot he be loued in ilka place
þat vnto me has gifen swilk grace,
for trewly mai I trow by þis
þat I sall be in þat ilk blis
whare god and his angels sal be,
sen þat I sall þam þusgat se”.
Þan said þe prior: “what helpes maste
a saul vp into heuyn at haste
out of þe paynes of purgatori?”
Þe voice answerd to him in hy:
“messes may moste help þam þen
þat here er said of hali men,
and ordand of milde Mari fre”.
Þe prior said: “þan thinkes me
þe office þat es for saules sertain,
of Requiem, was made in vayn,
sen oþer helpes þam more þan it”.
Þe voice answerd vnto him ȝit
and said: “þat office es gude to say
when a man for al saules will pray
þat saued sall be efter þaire paine;
þan may þat office gretely gaine.
and for þat laud men here in land
can noght graythli vnderstand
þat saules has mede of oþer mes,
þarfore þat office ordand es”.
Þe prior said: “sen þou has kend
þat speciall messes may moste amend:
whilk oþer praiers withowten þa
may tittest saules fro penance ta?”
Þe voyce sayd þan: “Syr, sertaynly,
seuyn psalmes with þe letany”.
Þe prior said: “þat war noght right;
þe pater noster es more of might,
for it was made of Criste god sun
vntill all crysten folk to kun,
als prise of praiers, als men telles,
and þe Aue made angels
vnto Mari for manes mede,
and XII. apostels made þe crede;
and þe seuyn psalmes er erthli werkes,
ordand of bisshopes and oþer clerkes
men for to say for sin allane,
and Dauid made þam euerilkane;
and nowþer Dauid, wele we ken,
ne bisshoppes, ne none oþer men,
vnto Criste þai [er] noght at neuyn
ne ȝit vnto angels of heuyn
ne till apostels er þai noght pere.
þarfore me think þat þaire prayere
may noght of swilk merit be
als þe pater noster and þe Aue,
ne als þe Crede, for þam it wroght”.
Þe voice answerd þan als him thoght:
“Þir praiers er ful mekill of mede
and ful hali, if we tak hede,
in þam-self, þis es sertayne,
and þaire makers er mekill of mayne;
men sal þam honore als worthy es
bifore al oþer, out-tane þe mes.
Bot neuer-þe-les, syr, sertaynly
þe seuyn psalmes and þe letany
forto say er moste souerayne
vnto þe saules þat suffers payne,
for þai er ordand more and myn
euer a psalme ogaynes a sin,
so þai destroy þe sines seuyn;
þarfore þai er noteful to neuyn.
þe first psalme ful gudely grayd
ogaines pryde it es puruayd;
and þus it sais: ‘god lord and (syre),
deme vs noght in þi grete yre,
als þou did Lucifer þat fell
for his pride fra heuyn to hell’;
and so þe oþer psalmes on rawe
ilkone a sin away may drawe,
thurgh help of all halows in-fere
þat neuind er in þat praiere”.
Sone þan þe prior him assailes:
“tell me, he said, what it availes
or if saules oght þe better be
to pray placebo and þe dirige,
with office þat for þe ded es dight?”
Þe voyce answerd and said on hight—
with grete force out gan he bryst,
and said: “a, prior, and þou wist
how gretely þat it may þam gayne,
þan hope I þou wald be ful fayne
oft forto bid þat blisced bede
for þi frendes hat heþen er dede!
and for þou sall it better knawe,
I sall þe rekin right on rawe
þe preuetese þat falles þarto
and what prophit þat it may do.
First in placebo er puruayde
fiue psalmes þat sal be sayd
aneli for þe euynsang,
wit[h] fyue antyms menged omang;
þa ten togeder when þai er mett,
for þe saul er þusgat sett
forto restore, wha to þam tentes,
vnto þe saul ten cumandmentes;
þai sall mak minde how he þam (did),
so þat his mede sal noght be (hid).
nyen psalmes þan said sal (be)
next efter in þe (dirige),
and þai sall signifi ful ri(ght)
nyen orders of angels br(ight),
to whilk þe saul sall wis(li win)
when it es clensed of (al sin);
þir psalmes witnes a(ls it es scill)
þat he þa orders sall (fulfill).
By nyen antyms [OMITTED]
and thre versykils [OMITTED]
XII poyntes of þe [OMITTED]
to þe saul þat [OMITTED]
and telles h [OMITTED]
here on þ [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] may him mekill amend.
(Þe nyen) lessons by þaim allane
(of nyen) degrese er trewli tane;
(for) ilka saule þat suffers pyne
(bus) nedes be in ane of þir nyen,
þat es to say, oþer ȝong or alde,
oþer pouer or els of pouste balde,
oþer chaste life forto lede
or in wedlaik or widowhede,
oþer clerk or laud man—
in ane of (þir) sal he be þan,
(and) in whilk degre so he es in,
þir lessons fra wa will him win;
and þe nyen respons forto rede,
may mak þam to haue mekill mede.
(Þe) fyue psalmes of þe laudes allane
for fiue wittes may wele be tane
[OMITTED] saued saules þan sall fele
[OMITTED] þai sall bere witnes ful wele
[OMITTED] molde with al his might
(vs)id þa wittes wele and right.
(Þe) fiue antims þan folowand
(in wi)tnes for þe saul sal stand
[OMITTED] faithli help forto fulfill
(þe) strenkith þat god gifes saules vntill.
(for g)od gaf when þis werld bigan
(fiue) strenkithes to saules of ilka man;
(and thre) strenkithes of might er slike
(þai mak þe) saule vnto god like;
[OMITTED] aynly oþer strenkithis twa
[OMITTED] body he gaf alswa
[OMITTED] dose na socoures
[OMITTED] like goddes creatures.
[OMITTED] strenkith of thoght
[OMITTED] god es wroght;
[OMITTED] strenkith of vnderstanding
[OMITTED] in all thing;
[OMITTED] strenkith of will
[OMITTED] vntill.
[OMITTED] and vnwit
[OMITTED] es itt
[OMITTED] als a stane
[OMITTED] allane.
[OMITTED] (als cler)kes telles
[OMITTED] angels
[OMITTED] araid
[OMITTED]
Sune þan þe prior toke þe gate
fast toward þe vtterest ȝate;
with him went his breþer twa,
and so did ful many ma.
of þe spirite he saw right noght;
bot in his hereing wele him thoght
þat a noyce efter him come
like a besom made of brome
þat war swepeand on a pament;
swilk a noyse ay with þam went.
and þarto said þe prior þus:
“Þou spirit, shew þe vntill vs
(als cle)rly als þou ert wroght”.
Þareto þe voice answerd right noght.
(Þe) prior þan ogain gan pas
(vnti)ll þe wedow whare sho was
(liggand) seke sare on a bed,
(& had) sho lang bene euill sted;
(þe no)yes folowd als it did are.
(and whan þai) in þe chamber ware
[OMITTED] bigin,
(þe woman bigan) to gnayst and grin
(and for) to cri als sho war wode,
(þat al war) stonaid þat þare stode,
[OMITTED] þai had þat sight to se
[OMITTED] was grete pete.
(Þe pople þan) with al þaire might
[OMITTED] se þat sight,
[OMITTED] vnto þat place
[OMITTED] (þa)t wonder case.
[OMITTED] (lik) vnto lede
[OMITTED] sho war ded.
[OMITTED] are
[OMITTED] come þare,
[OMITTED] stode he still
[OMITTED] till
“[OMITTED] (pa)scioune
[OMITTED] ne
[OMITTED]
þat þi w(if mas slike) murnig”.
Þan sayd þe voyce ful sarili:
“sho wate þe cause als wele als I”.
Þe prior þan in þaire present
sone to þe woman he went
and vnto hir þus gan he say:
“In þe name of god, dame, I þe pray
tel vnto me al þi thoght”.
sho lay ful still and answerd noght.
So still obout þe bed þai stode,
to luke if oght might mend hir mode,
and for hir wa fast gan þai wepe.
Sone efter sho bigan to crepe
vpon hir knese so als sho may,
and cried loud and þus gan say:
“Ihesu mi lord, als þou boght me,
of my paynes þou haue pete,
and grante me of þi help in haste
to bete þis bale þat me has braste”.
Þe prior saw hir sorow and site
and to þe voice þus said he tite:
“Whi es þi wife þus trauailed here?”
Þe uoice answerd on þis manere:
“I talde right now here þe vntill
þat hir-self wate for what scill,
and if þou will wit more alway,
ask hir-self, sho kan þe say”.
Þan eft þe prior to hir gase
and mekill mane to hir he mase,
he said: “to salue þi-self of sare,
tell me þe cause of al þi care,
and out of bale I sall þe bring”.
sho lay and answerd him no thing.
And þan he stode als man amaid,
and to þe voice eft-sones he said:
“Þou creature, I coniure þe
by goddes might and his pete,
and bi vertu of his body
and of his moder mild Mari,
and by þe milk he souk swete,
and þe teres þat sho for him grete
when sho saw hir sun be slane,
and by þe halows euerilkane:
þe sertain soth þat þou me say
of þis meruail, if þou may,
whi þi wife has all þis payne”.
And þan þe voice answerd ogayne
& said: “syr, [OMITTED]
(it es) all for an vnkindly syn
þe whilk was done bifor my dede
bitwix vs twa here in þis stede;
þareof we bath war shreuen sone,
bot þe penance was noght done,
þarfore penance vs bus fulfill
now als fer forth (als) falles þartill”.
(Þan said þe) prior: “or þou pas,
say to me what sin it was,
þat wedded men may warned be
to do swilk thinges in þat degre,
or like to it in dede or thoght”.
Þe voice sayd: “nay, god will it noght
þat I þat sin vnto ȝow say
þat thurgh shrift es done oway;
and of þat sin we bath war schreuyn,
þarfore of god it es forgifen
als to þe blame, þat be þou balde,
(bot tochand) þe penance, I þe talde
aseth bus be made for þat sin
or we to any welth may wyn.
and sen it es done fra goddes sight,
at tell it to men war noght right,
bot if it war, als god forbede,
þat men eft-sones did þe same dede.
Bot warn wedded men & to þam say
þat þai wisely kepe alway
þe rewl of weding with þaire might,
and duly do both day and night;
for þare er many commun case
in whilk weded men may trispase,
and þa cases er kindli to ken
in þis werld omang witty men.
Þis was þe soueraine point, sais he,
whi þat god lete me speke with þe,
for þou suld trow þis stedfastly
and oþer men be mended þarby,
so þat þai may þaire sins forsake
and in þaire liues amendes make”.
Þe woman wepeand als scho lay,
with sari hert þus gan sho say:
“Gude Gy, mi lord, for luf of me
say if I sall saued be
or I sall dwell in dole euermare
for þat dede þat we did are,
whareof I wate god was noght payd”.
Þe voice answerd ful sune and sayd:
“[OMITTED]
þi penance nere till end es broght,
(þou sal be) saued for sertayne”.
and þan þe woman was ful fayne,
and said þare kneleand on hir kne
ane pater noster and ane Aue,
and loued god in word and will.
and þan þe prior sayd hir till:
“Dame, whils þou þis life sall lede,
luke þou ilk day do almus-dede;
for almusdedes may sines waste”.
Þarto þe voice answerd in haste:
“dame, he said, par charite,
when þou dose almus, think on me,
forto alege sum of my payne”.
And þan þe prior gan him frayne
whi he come noght in þat sesoune
vnto men of religioune,
forto tell to þam his life,
titter þan vntill his wife,
sen þat he wist þai war more nere
at pray to god, þan wemen were,
and more wi(seli) þai kowth him wis.
Þe voice answerd þan to þis
and said: “I lufed more my wife
þan any man þat beres life,
and þarfore first to hir I went,
and when me was gifen bi iugement
to suffer penance in þis place,
I asked god of his grete grace
þat my wife might warned be
forto amend hir mis bi me,
and of his grace he gaf me leue
on þis manere mi wife to greue
and forto turment hir biforne,
so þat sho efter might be for(borne)
and þat sho sold noght haue (þe pyne)
for hir sins als I haue for (mine),
bot fulfill it in hir life-day”.
And alsone þan þe prior (gan say):
“Kan þou oght [OMITTED]
þat sho(!) sal haue [OMITTED]”.
Þe voce said: “sho sal [OMITTED]
als lang als my [OMITTED]
bot weterly ful [OMITTED]
þat hastily it [OMITTED]”
Þe prior said: “[OMITTED]
how þou to [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] (ins)trumentes of spekeing”.
Þe prior said þan on þis manere:
“(Ne) sese þou noght, a carpentere,
(þat) diuers werkes oft-siþes has wroght,
withouten ax may he do noght,
and ay þe ax will redi be
to hew with him on ilka tre,
and it may nowther stir ne stand
withowten help of mans hand?
Right so a man here ȝow omell
with-owten tung may no thing tell,
and with his tung ȝit sais he noght
(bot it be) ordande of þe thoght,
(and) þat es of þe saul alwais,
þat ordans all þat þe tong sais.
And by þis tale þou may tak tent
þe body es bot ane instrument
of þe saul, als þou may se,
and þe saul in himself has fre
(powere) of vertuse, might and minde,
(þat god) has gifen to him bi kinde;
(and) so he may speke properly
(with-o)wten help of þe body.
(and) if þou say a man mai noght
(speke) þe thing þat cumes of thoght
(but) if he haue mowth & tung als,
(I say to þe þi) saus er fals:
(for hali writ) bers witnes ful right
(þat go)d and al his angels bright
(spak graiþeli) to ald and ȝung
(and ȝit had) nowþer mowth ne tung.
(right so) may ilka gude spirite
[OMITTED] voices ful parfite,
(and I may) at mine awin will
(speke) with-ou)ten tong ȝow till”.
(Þe prior asked) him in þat stede
(whar saules) dwelles when men er dede
[OMITTED] þe dome be done
[OMITTED] sold wele sune
[OMITTED] payne.
(Þe voice answerd & said) ogayne:
“[OMITTED] forn
[OMITTED] be lorn
[OMITTED] nd
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] bright
[OMITTED] plight
[OMITTED]
whider þat he sall iuged be
to comun purgatori þat es stabill,
or vnto purgatori departabill,
or els vnto þe paynes of hell,
or vnto heuyn in blis to dwell”.
Þe prior þan with wordes hende
asked how sone a saul mal (wende)
when it es past fra þe body
to heuyn or hell or purgatori.
Þe voice answerd and said: “it may
in litill space wende all þat way,
sone es it broght whare it sal be.
þat mai þou bi ensampill se.
Þou sese when þe sun es riseand,
þe light gase sone ouer ilka land,
ouer al þis werld it passes playne,
bot if þare stand oght þarogaine.
right so þe saules, when men es ded,
alsone er in þaire sertain stede,
to heuyn or hell þai wend in hy;
and if þai pas to purgatori,
sum-tyme wend þai noght so sone,
and þat es for þaire profet done.
If þai haue any faithful frende
in þis werld here, when þai wende,
þat for þam will ger sing and rede
or els do ani almus-dede,
þai may so do for þam þat tide
þat in þe ayre þe saul sall bide
vntill it haue þe merit tane
of þaire prayers euerilkane,
and so by help of þaire gudenes
may his penance be made les;
þe dedes þat þan er done in haste
vnto mens saules amendes maste.
on þis same maner als I say
in þis cete was done þis day:
a frere died and demed was
to comun purgatori at pas;
bot in þe time of his transing
of his breþer he asked þis thing:
þat þai sold do in dede and saw
for him als þai war bunden by law
and messes þat þam aght to say,
par charite he gan þam pray
þat þai suld be said in hy,
and euerilkone of oure lady,
[OMITTED]
(and) afterward þan þus bitid:
when he was ded, þan þus bifell:
his angel demed him forto dwell
in comun purgatori playne
thre monethes to suffer payne
als worthi was, efter his dede;
bot þan oure lady ful sune ȝede
vntill hir sun and prayed þat tide
þat þe saul suld in þe aire abide
vnto it had þe merit clere
of dedes þat war done for it here.
and twa owres so dwelled it still
in þe aire, als was goddes will;
and mercy of god had he
thurgh praier of his moder fre
and thurgh þe dedes þat here war done,
þat he sal be in blis ful sone;
in pain he has no langer tyme
bot fra now till to-morn at prime”.
Þan said þe prior till hym sone:
“Whilk dedes of all þat here er done
may titest help a saul to heuyn?”
Þe voice answerd and said ful euyn:
“Þe parfite werkes of charite
þat er done als þam aw to be,
þat es to say till goddes bihoue
and oure euin-cristen if we lufe,
þan of oure werkes will god be paid”.
Þe prior answerd ful sone and sayd:
“If þat þou can, tell vs in haste
what maner of men þat now er maiste
in purgatori to suffer paine?”
Þe voice answerd and said ogain:
“no men cumes þat place within
bot anli þai þat haue done sin;
and al þat sines & saued sall be
er pined þare of ilk degre
efter þe dedes þat þai haue done”.
And þan þe prior asked sone
what maner of folk þat he here fand
þat in þaire life war best lifand.
Þe voice said: “sir, soth it es,
and hali writ wele beres witnes,
þat noman aw oþer to praise
wheþer he do ill or wele alwaise,
for mans lif es to prais nothing
bot he may haue gud ending;
[OMITTED]
wheþer [he] be worthi luf or (hate),
(ne) wheþer his werkes er ill (or lele),
vntill þe dome be done ilk dele;
þan sal he se him-self sertayne
wheþer he es worthi ioy or paine”.
Þe prior said: “þan ask I þe,
whilk es most parfite degre
of all þat on þis grownd er grayd?”
Þe voice answerd ful sone & said:
“In ilka state I se, he sais,
sum thinges to lac, & sum to prayse,
þarfore I will prais no degre
ne none sall be empaired bi me;
bot neuer-þe-les ȝit wald I rede
þat all fulli in ilk a stede
serue god with all þaire might,
in what degre so þai be dight”.
Þe prior asked with wordes stabill
if þat god war oght merciabill
to sawles þat er in purgatori.
Þe voice said: “ȝa, sir, sertanli;
vnto sum saulles, þis es sertaine,
releses he forth part of þaire paine,
of sum þe thrid part he releses,
of sum þe secund part he seses;
and þat es for gude praiers (sere)
þat lifand frendes for þam (dos here);
if mani dedes for þam be done
þan mai þai pas fro pai(nes sone).
lifand frendes þus mai þam (ses)
of paines þat þai suld (haue les);
and praiers helpes þam (of angels)
and of halous þat in (heuyn dwells)”.
Þe prior said: “þan wald I [OMITTED]
whatkin pain þi-selfe [OMITTED]
in purgatori wills (þou sal dwell)”.
Þe voice said: “I sall þe tell;
in flaume of fir [OMITTED]
þat all þir [OMITTED]
and haue no [OMITTED]”
Þe prior said þ(an: “it es na fabil)
þat þou ert (a spirit deceyuabil);
þat sall I proue [OMITTED]
þis wate þou [OMITTED]
god dose no [OMITTED]
for [OMITTED]
his w [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] es a gaste spirituall,
(and bodili) thing mai haue no might
(in spiritual) thing bi dai ne night.
(and by) þis resoun may þou se
(þat) fire may haue no might in þe,
(al)-if þou þarin sit or gang”.
Þe voice said: “sir, þou has þe wrang
þat þou me haldes so decaiuabill,
and þou has fun in me no fabill.
Bot neuer-þe-les, sir, whare þou sais
þat bodili thing bi nokins wais
in gastli thing mai haue powere,
I answer þe on þis manere.
Þou wate wele þat þe deuils sal lend
in fire of hell with-owten end,
and þat fire es als bodily
als þe fire of purgatori
and ȝit pines it þe fendes in hell;
als god witnes in his godspell
(ho)w he to þe fendes sal say
and to þe dampned on domes-day:
‘(ȝe) weried wightes, I bid ȝow wende
(to þe fir) þat l(ast)es withouten ende
(þat ordand) es for nothing els
(bot) to þe deuill and his angels’.
(And) whare þou sais þat god duse noght
(ogay)nes kind in þe werkes he wroght,
(I sai god) dose, als men mai finde,
([OMITTED]m)irakill oft ogaines kinde,
(als sum)-time fell of childer thre
(þat in fir war set) brint forto be—
(þair nam)es er þai named so:
(Sidrak, Mi)sac and Abdenago;
[OMITTED] with ful grete yre
[OMITTED] ful of fire,
(bot als it was) oure lordes will,
(þe fir did) no harm þam till.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]”
[OMITTED]
“[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
(sen þat) it es so hate and kene”.
Þe voice said: “now es wele sene
þat in þe es ful litil scill.
(but right) now tald I þe vntill
þat god may mesure thurgh his might
þe strenkit of fire both dai & night
so þat it no harm (mai do)
till thing þat it es put vnto,
als he did to þe childer thre
of wham I haue tald vnto þe.
Also þou sese fire of leuening
wendes obout in alkins thing,
clereli als clerkes declare it can,
and nowþer brines it hows ne man,
bot if it be thurgh ani chance
þat it brin bi goddes sufrance.
and als þou ses þe sun mai pas
thurgh windows þat er made of glas,
and þe glas noght empaired þarby;
so may a spirit sekerli
in ilka place cum in and out
and brin noght þat es him about,
howses ne clathes ne oþer atyre,
al-if him-self be flaumd in fire.
right so þis hows mai resaiue me
and it-self noght empaired be.
Bot, sir, þis saltou vnderstand,
if all howses in ilka land
in a stede war brinand shire,
it might noght be so hate a fire
als I now suffer night and day”.
Þe prior þan to him gan say
and asked of him þis questiowne:
if he trowed þe incarnacioune,
how Ihesus Criste toke fless & blude.
Þe voice answerd with eger mode
a(ls it) war greued inwardli,
with loud voice þus gan he cri:
“A, sir, he said, whilk er þa men
þat þe incarnacioun wil noght ken?
whilk er þai þat will noght knaw
how angels said it in þaire saw,
and deuels trowes it wonder wele,
and saules in pain þai mai it fele?
ful mekill wa þai er worþi
þat will noght trow it stedfastli.
(and all þat trowes it noght) in ded,
(in) hali writ þe (soth) may rede
how þat þe godspell sais of Crist:
‘wha trewli trowes and es baptist,
to endles blis þai sall be broght’,
and als he sais: ‘wha trowes it noght
þat Crist of Mari toke oure manhede,
þai sal be dampned withouten drede
and euer haue bale, and neuer blis’”.
Þan said þe prior: “(tell me) þis:
sen þat þe Sarȝins and þe Iowes
and þe paienes it noght trowes:
whi god lattes þam dwell so lang
in þaire trowth, sen it es wrang,
and sen þai will for no resoune
trow Cristes incarnacioune?”
Þan þe voice said þus him till:
“no questioune es it of goddes will,
and þarfor (falles) it noght þe to
(to) ask whi god dose so or so
or thing þat towches his godhede,
bot fande to do his will in dede.
I wate noght whi þam life es lent,
bot if it be to þis entent
þat cristenmen mai on þam fight,
in trowth forto defend þaire right;
for batell on þam forto bede
may cristen men encrese þaire mede,
If faith be fulli in þaire fare”.
And þan þe prior asked mare:
“Kan þou oght tell whilk maner of syn
es vsed moste omang man-kyn?”
Þe voice þan answerd on þis wise:
“Pride, Licheri, and Couatise,
and Vsuri, þir foure in fere,
with þair branches many and sere,
þai er ful foul both day and night
bifor god and his angels bright.
Thre sins þare er if þai be done,
for whilk god will tak vengance sone:
Ane es, if man and woman here
won samyn als þai wedded were
and wandes noght þaire will to wirk
out of þe sacrament of haly kirk,
or if both be wedded þat tide
and ouþer do sin on oþer side
and brek þaire sposaile in þat space—
to god þis es a grete trispase.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] kindly [OMITTED]
sodom [OMITTED] þe sin es cald—
unkindli sin men sall it hald.
Þe thrid sin es ful euyl thing,
þat es manslaghter with mainsuering;
þis greues gretly to god mighty,
whare it es done wilfully”.
Sone when al þir saus war said,
þe woman to þe prior prayde
þat he wald speke þat gaste vntill
so þat he did hir namore ill,
for goddes luf of mightes maste.
Þe prior þan spak to þe gaste:
“I coniore þe by god allane,
and bi his halows euerilkane,
if þou may, þat þou will sese
and lat þi wife now lif in pese,
and pursu hir nomare with paine”.
And þan þe voice answerd ogayne:
“Þat mai I noght do, for no nede,
bot sho lif chaste in widowhede,
and also ger (sing for vs twa)
thre hundreth messes withouten ma;
a hundreth of þe haligast sal be
or els of þe hali trinite,
and a hundreth of oure lady,
and of Requiem fifty,
and oþer fifti all in-fere
of saint Peter þe apostell dere”.
Þe woman herd þir wordes wele,
and granted to do ilka dele;
sone als sho might sho made hir (boun)
till all þe abbays of þat toune,
al prestes and freres gan sho (prai)
þat þai sold sing al on a day.
Thre hundreth messes was (for him sone)
on þe maner bifore said (done).
And þus when þai [OMITTED]
þe gaste [OMITTED]
þus may men h [OMITTED]
þat messes er m [OMITTED]
Bot ȝit þe prior (in þat sesoune)
vnto þe voice ma(de þis questioune):
he asked if he wist (in ani wise)
in wh(at tyme anticrist suld rise)
to pursu (cristen men) [OMITTED]
Þe voice [OMITTED]
“[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] goddes preuete,
[OMITTED] question ȝow vnto
[OMITTED] his will es forto do”.
(Þe prior) said: “me think right wele
(þou) hers oure spekeing ilkadele”.
Þe voice said: “so I do, sertayne”.
And þan þe prior said ogayne:
“Þou has eres þan to þi hereing;
wharfore þou ert a bodily thing,
and noght gasteli als þou has tald”.
Þe voice answerd with wordes bald:
“hali writ þus telles vs till:
Þe spirit enspires whare so he will,
and his voice well may þou here,
bot þou may noght on no manere
wit what place þat he cumes fra,
ne vnto what place he will ga—
Spiritus ubi uult spirat & uocem eius audis:
sed nescis unde ueniat aut quo uadat”.
And right als he þir wordes gan say,
(al sodain)li he went oway,
(so) þat þai herd of him nomare.
(&) al þe tyme þat þai war þare
(it) was till time of euynsang.
Þe prior þan bad ilk man gang
(in) þe name of god whare þai wald be;
(and) bad þam als in ilk cuntre,
(if þai) war asked of þis case,
(þat) þai suld sai how þat it wase,
[OMITTED] it es proued in dede;
[OMITTED] þai ȝede.
(Þe prior) þan withowten faile
(gaf) þe woman his counsaile
(þat sho suld) kepe hir clene and chaste,
(als scho was) warned with þe gaste;
(and als he) bad anoþer thing:
(þat ilka dai a) preste suld sing
[OMITTED] in þat ilk place
[OMITTED] was.
(and als he bad, þe) woman did
[OMITTED] id
[OMITTED] gude chere
[OMITTED] noght cum nere
[OMITTED] vse
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
þat had [OMITTED] till ende,
and bisoght him with all hir maine
vntill þe hows to wend ogayne,
to loke if þat þai might here mare
or find oght of þat ferli fare.
Þe prior þan with wordes hende
granted gladly forto wende;
he toke of oþer orders twa,
of austines & menures alswa,
so þat þai war twenty freres
al samyn with-owten seculeres,
and al samyn so þai went
to Gyes hows with gude entent.
and in þat hows said þai and he
Placebo with þe dirige
for his saul þat was husband þare,
and for all saules þat sufferd care.
When all was said in gude degre
till Requiescant in pace,
þai herd a voice cum þam biside
als it did at þat oþer tide,
like a besom by þam it went
þat war swepeand on a pament.
sum of þe folk þarfore war flaid;
and sone þe prior vnto it said:
“I coniore þe with main & mode
in þe vertu of Cristes blode,
in þis stede þat þou stand still
and answer what we ask þe will”.
Þan þe voice with wordes meke,
als a man þat had bene seke,
vntill þe prior þus gan say:
“Whi deres þou me þus ilk day?
it es noght lang sen I tald þe
all þat þou wald ask of me;
what sold I now say to ȝow here?”
And þan answerd anoþer frere,
a diuinowre of grete clergi:
he said, “tell here till vs in hi
wheþer þat þou of pain be quit,
or els what pain þou suffres ȝitt”.
Þe voice answerd sone onane
and said: “I loue god al his lane!
for swilk grace vnto me es graid
thurgh messes þat war for me said
þat fro þis time now efterward
am I past fra all paynes hard
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] no mare”.
[OMITTED] said þat frere:
“tell vs what pain þat þou has here
fro (purgatori s)en þou es past”.
Þe voice answerd at þe last:
“with flaume of fire I haue grete pain”.
And þan þe frere answerd ogayn
and said: “if þou fele fire so hate,
tell vs what may it best abate,
or if ani thing amend þe may”.
Þe voice answerd and said: “nay;
me bus it suffer sertain daies”.
And þan þe prior to him sais:
“Lo how þat I haue gederd here
freres and oþer folk in fere
of þi wordes to bere witnes
and of þi meruailes more & les,
þat we mai al þis case declare
bifor þe pape, when we cum þare;
and þarfore tell vs sum meruaile
þat we mai tell with-owten faile”.
Þe voice answerd vnto þir saus:
“I am noght god, þat wele þou kn[a]wes,
and meruailes fals vnto none els
bot vnto him and his angels.
and neuer-þe-les þus I ȝow teche:
bot if ȝe better þe popil preche
þan ȝe haue done þis time biforn,
lightly may ȝe be forlorn;
and luke ȝe speke moste specially
ogains þe sin of symony
and vsure, manslaghter, and maneswering,
avowtri, and fals witnes bering.
bot if þe folk þir sins forsake,
I warn ȝow god will vengance take;
bot if he let for þe praiere
of milde Mari, his moder dere,
and of þe halows euerilkane,
els suld vengance sone be tane
ful mani tymes omang man-kin
when þai vse swilk outrage sin;
and ȝe sall suffer þe same paine,
bot if ȝe preche fast þare-ogaine.
for now es sin vsed wele mare
þan any werkes of goddes lare—
þat sall þai sumtime ful sare rew!”
Þan asked þe prior if he knew
how many papes suld (be of Rome)
al fro þat time till þe dai of dome—
þat asked he for men suld knaw
when þe werld nere till end suld draw.
Þe voice said: “I can tell no thing
what sall bitide in time cumyng;
þarfor þou may noght wit of me
how many papes of Rome sal be,
ne meruailes of me wit ȝe nane.
and þarfore I kownsail ȝow ilkane,
whare so ȝe will wend forth ȝowre way.
bot prayes for me more, if ȝe may,
and for all saules þat suffers pain;
for þis I say ȝow for sertayne:
hali kirk praies noght so fast
for cristen saules þat heþin er past
als þai war won, right wele I ken,
ne namore dose none oþer men.
þarfore I rede þai mend þam sone,
or any euill to þam be done”.
When he had tald þir tales þam till,
he said nomare, bot held him still.
And for þai herd of him nomare,
al þe men þat þan war þare
went, and tald þir tales ilkone
playnly vnto þe pape Iohn
þe twa and twentide, I vnderstand,
for he was nere in þe same land.
hereof was meruaild mani a man.
and at þe pase next efter þan
þat same pape sent men of his
forto seke þe soth of þis.
and als he bad þai did in dede;
and þe prior with þam ȝede.
Þe hows of Gy oft-siþes þ(ai soght),
bot of þe gaste ne herd þai (noght);
and þarby might men (wit ful euyn)
þat he was hent vp vn(til heuyn),
whare conforth es with [OMITTED]
als himself had said [OMITTED]
Vntill þat con(forth [OMITTED]
thurgh praiers of [OMITTED]