Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne".\nMannyng, Robert, fl. 1288-1338., William, de Wadington, 13th cent., Furnivall, Frederick James, 1825-1910.\n[The First Commandment.*. [Amen // Primum mandatum D.]]\n[Non habebis deos alienos coram me. D.]\nThe first commaundment*. [comaundement O, ferste comaundement of euerychon D.] ys of echone\n'Þou shalt haue*. [houyn D.] no god but one,'\nNé but o*. [on .o. O, And in oo g. þou schal D.] god shalt þou leue,\nNe on no þyng þat wyl*. [þynge þat wyle O, to don no þing þat schal D.] hym greue.\nNow*. [loke þou D.] beþenke þe weyl on þys,\nȜyf þou aȝen þys haue*. [hast O.] do ouȝt mys.*. [do owht a-ȝens hym a mys D.]\nThe fyrst askyng*. [askynge O, ferste askyng D, D om. ys.] ys yn oure boke, [folio 2a]\n'Ȝyf þou euer god forsoke;'\nAny tymë, as for nede,*. [ony t . . drede D.]\nOr for folye,*. [foly OD.] or for drede,*. [nede D.]\nOr ouþer chaunce þat you weyl woste,*. [wost O.]\nForsoke fadyr and sone and holy goste.*. [gost O.]Page 7\nFor þys ys one þe mostë*. [is þe moste D, most HO.] synne\nÞat any man may fallyn*. [ony . . . falle D.] ynne.\nȜyf þou haue synned*. [synnyd O.] þus gretly,\nWith sory herte þou aske*. [drery herte aske D.] mercy.\nFor god ys ful euer*. [euere ful OD.] of pyte,\nHys mercy ys euer redy to þe.\nDrede þe noght;*. [nouȝt O.] ȝyf þou wylt craue,\nHys mochel*. [gret D.] mercy shalt þou haue.\nAnd þat may wel*. [weyl.] [i-]preuyd be\nWyþ*. [be D.] a tale of auctoryte.\nÞe tale ys wrytyn, al and sum,\nIn a boke of*. [callyd D.] 'Vitas Patrum:'—*. [[Vit. Pat. p. 579; Libro de los Exemplos, no. 35 (Spanish MS.); Gaston Paris, in Hist. Litt. de la France, xxviii. 193.]]\n[The Tale of the Tempted Monk.] A Tale\nHyt was onys a munke,*. [munk O, monk D.] and had a celle\nIn a wyldernes,*. [wyldyrnesse O, wildernesse . þere D.] for to dwelle;\nÞys munkë*. [munk O, monk of holy D.] of relygyoun\nHad a*. [hadde a D, had Harl. O.] grete*. [gret O.] temptacyoun;\nHe was so temptyd*. [temptyd O, fondyd D.] with lecherye,\nHe ȝede fro hys celle to seke folye;\nHe dede hym sone to a cyte,*. [cytee O.]\nIn-to egypte, þat yche cuntre.*. [cuntree O, ilke cuntre D.]\nAnd, as hé cam*. [com O, cam in to D.] yn a strete,\nwith a womman he gan mete;\nHys flesshe on*. [of O.] here was so abeyted,*. [abeytyd OD.]\nÞat þyke*. [þeke O.] womman*. [þat woman sore D.] he couéytyd.*. [coueytyd OD.]\nTo here fadyr swyþe he ȝede,\nAnd asked here to haue*. [hym hir to han D.] yn dede.\nHere fadyr was prest of sarysyne;*. [sarȝyne D.]\nIn maummetry*. [maumetrye OD.] he leued ynne.*. [leuyd ynne O, leuyde he D (om. ynne).]\nÞe prest seyd þe munke*. [munk O, þat monk D.] vn-to, Page 8\nAs my god*. [god.] wyl,*. [wyle O, without my goddis wil I not D.] so wyl*. [wyle O, without my goddis wil I not D.] y do.\nShe shal noght*. [nouȝt O.] to any be sette*. [to no man ben sett D.]\nWithoutyn leue of my maumette.\nThe munkë*. [munk O, monk seide I graunt wel D.] seyd he graunted weyl [folio 2a:2]\nAftyr hys maumette to*. [I graunt wel, after þi mamett D.] do euery deyl.\nÞe sarysyne to hys god*. [god O, þat s . . . D.] ȝede,\nAnd askede cunseyl of swyche a dede,\nȜyf he were of þe munkë*. [munk D, monk O, þat monk apayȝed D.] payde,\nOr, þe ȝyfte shulde be delayde.'*. [delayȝed D.]\nÞan answered hys termagaunt,*. [teruagaunt O, þat termagaunt D.]\n"Ȝyue hym þy doghtyr*. [douȝtyr O, doutter D.] on þys cunnaunt,*. [vp þis comenaunt D.]\nÞat he forsake, & quytë clene,*. [quyt cleyme O (quit claim, give up), clene H, he must forsake qwyȝt & clene D.]\nGod of heuene and hys bapteme,\nAnd alle*. [al OD.] þe godenesse of hys munkhede;\nÞese þre forsakë, mote*. [muste D.] he nede;\nAnd ȝyf he forsake hem apertly,*. [apertely O.]\nȜyue hym þy douȝtyr hardëly."*. [Harl. hardly, O hardely, D hardily.]\nÞys prest come*. [com O.] to þe*. [þys O, cam to þis D.] munke, & tolde\nwhat*. [how D.] he seyd, and what*. [how O, qwat D.] he wolde;\n'And ȝyf he wolde forsake þese*. [ȝif he forsake þese alle D.] þre,\nHys dougtyr shulde hys ownë be.'*. [lete þi douȝtter his wyf be D.]\nShe was so mochë yn hys þoght;*. [þouȝt O, meche in his foul þought D.]\nHad he here,*. [Hadde he hir D.] he rouȝte of noghte.*. [nouȝt O.]\nAlas!*. [Allas O, Allas þer D.] Ihesus he forsoke,\nAnd þe crystyndom þat he toke,\nAnd þe state of relygyoun,\nAnd chesë*. [ches þer D.] hys Dampnacyun.*. [damnacyun O, dampnacyoun D.]\nCertys he dede grete*. [a gret D.] outrage,\nTo make þe deuyl so moche omage.*. [suych seruage D.]Page 9\nwhan he had grauntede al hys*. [hadde grauntyde O, qwen he had grauntyd his D.] folye,\nOut of hys mouþe he say*. [saghe O.] flye*. [mouþ þer fley a flyte D.]\nA dowue vn-to*. [dowe in to D.] þe fyrmament;\nÞe holy gost þan from hym*. [fro hym þan O, þo fro hym D.] went.\nÞe sarysyne wente to hys maumet,\nAnd tolde hym how þe munke*. [munk D, monk O, þat monk apayȝed D.] had*. [hadde O, had D.] het:\n"Þese*. [þose O.] þre þyngës" he wyl*. [wyle O, haþ D.] forsake;\nShal y, hym my douȝtyr*. [doghetyr O, douȝtter D.] take?\nSey þou me þe*. [Sey me now D.] certeyn of alle,*. [al OD.]\nwheþer y shal, or y ne shalle."*. [shal OD, schal I ȝeuyn hir . or I not schal D.]\nÞe maumet*. [þat deuyl D.] answeryd hastyly,\n"Y warne þe for enchesoun*. [nay I warne þee . & a cause qwhy D.] why;\nÞogh he forsake hys god for euere, [folio 2b]\nHys god forsakeþ*. [wyl forsaken D.] hym neuere,\nFor he ys euer ful of pyte;\nMen clepyn hym god of cristianite;*. [callen . . cristiente D.]\nFor ȝyf he wyl*. [wyle O, wil D.] hym mercy craue,\nRedyly mercy shal he haue;\n19Þouȝe*. [þoghe O, þowh D.] he to-day fro hys god weyue,\nTo-morwe*. [morue O.] hys god wyl*. [wyle O.] hym receyue.19*. [19_19 Þowh he þis day his god forsake, to morwyn he wil a-ȝen hym take D.]\nÞarfor,*. [þarfore O.] y forbede þe weyl,\nNe*. [Ne, om. D.] delë with hym neuer a deyl."\nÞe prest vnto þe munkë*. [munk O, þat monk D.] went*. [wente O.]\nAnd seyd, "y haue*. [he hadde in D.] commaundëment*. [comaundemente.]\nÞat y ne shal delë*. [delyn D.] with þe,\nNe my doghtyr þy wyfe to be;\nFor þy god ys of swych*. [sweche O, þat D.] manere,\nÞogh þou forsake hym ryght now*. [ryþtnow O.] here,\nTo-morwe*. [morue O.] mayst þou com*. [þou mayst soone after comyn D.] aȝeyn,*. [aȝeyne O.]Page 10\nAnd make with hym acorde certeyn;*. [acorde wyþ hym certeyne O, & haue forȝeue|nesse of al certeyn D.]\nÞogh þou haue do*. [doun O.] neuer*. [neuer O.] so ylle\nȜyt wyl*. [wylle O.] he graunte þe*. [aske mercy. & þou schalt han D.] hys gode wylle.\nMy god me bad on none*. [no D.] wyse\nTo dele with þe,*. [hym D.] ne none of hyse."\nÞe munke*. [munk O, þat monk D.] rependyd hym þan, and*. [repentyd hym in þat D.] þoght,\n"Alas!" he seyd, "what*. [qwat D.] have y wroght\nÞat y shulde euer*. [euer O, hym euere D.] hym forsake\nÞat ys so redy me efte*. [euere me D.] to take.\nÞy mercy, god, ys mochyl*. [his mercy is mechil D.] to telle;\nwhen*. [Whan O, qwan D.] y see a maumet of helle\nÞat neuer*. [neuer O.] ȝyt loued þe,\nHe spekyþ of þy mochyl*. [gret D (om. he).] pyte.\nSeþyn þou art*. [and siþþin he is D.] so mylde and meke\nÞy mochyl*. [His mechil D.] mercy wyl*. [wyle O, wil I now D.] y seke;\nHere y forsakë þat y toke,\nTo hym y me betake*. [take OD.] þat y forsoke."\nSeþyn*. [Seþþyn O, Siþþin D.] he ȝede to an ermyte,*. [heremyte D.]\nAnd shrofe hym of hys synne*. [alle his synnys D.] astyte;\nAnd tolde hym þat he had y-doun,*. [how þat he hadde doun O, how he had don D.]\nForsaken god and hys relygyoun.*. [cristendom D.]\nþys forsayde ermyte ful*. [þe hermyte þerfore D.] sory was [folio 2b:2]\nÞat he had*. [hadde O, had don D.] do so grete trespas;\nNoþeles, he bad hym dwelle*. [to dwelle O, dwelle D.]\nÞre wokys*. [Þo þre woukys O, þre wykis D.] with hym yn his*. [his D, om. HO.] celle;\nFor hys synne he shulde þan*. [he shulde D.] faste,\nAnd yn preyers wel*. [weyl O, with wil D.] to laste.*. [laste OD, last H.]\nþys ychë munke*. [munk O, ilke mong D.] þat was so madde,\nDyde ryght*. [ryþ O.] as þe*. [þys O.] ermyte badde.\nþey preyden*. [preyȝeden D, preyd H, preyde O.] boþe þat seuenyȝt Page 11\nTo god, for hys mochel*. [mechil D.] myȝt,\nþat he wulde haue of hym*. [on hym haue D.] mercy;\nÞus preyd þey boþë*. [preyed þey boþen D.] specyaly.\nAt þe fyrste*. [fyrste O, fyrst H, ferste suenyȝttis ende D.] seuenyȝt ende,\nþe ermyte seyd,*. [hermyte seyde D.] "broþer hende,\nHast þou any*. [þou ony good D.] gracë see\nYn þy preyers as þou hast be*. [now hast ben D.]?"\n"ȝe,"*. [þo D.] he seyde, "y sagh a syght\nYn þe*. ['þe' om. OD.] lykenes of a dowuës*. [dowuys O.] flyght,*. [a dowe qwhyȝt D.]\nAboue me*. [Aboue me O, Aboue D.] yn þe firmament,\nOf þat dowue þat fro me went."\nþe ermyte þoght þan astyte*. [þowht as tyȝt D.]\nÞat hyt was þe same spyryte\nþat went from*. [wente fro CD.] hym when*. [wan O, qwan D.] he began\nGod forsake*. [forsake god D.] for þat womman.\nTo gret penaunce eft*. [to gret penaunce D, to penaunce eft HO.] he hym toke\nFor hys cristyndom þat*. [crystendome þat O, cristendom D.] he forsoke;\nȜyt a woke*. [wouke O, þat wyke D.] he badde hym faste\nFor his flessh þat hym downe*. [down O.] caste,\nþat no more þurghe*. [no man þorw his D.] lecherye\nHe fordo*. [for-do not.] hys grace so gretly.\nÞys ermyte preyed*. [þe . . preyed D, preyde O, preyd H.] nyght and day\nþat hys penaunce were take to*. [were to his D.] pay.\nwhan þey had*. [hadde O, qwan þei had D.] preydë day & nyght\nAlle þat woke*. [wouke O, þat wyke D.] yn goddys syght,\nÞys ermyte seyd,*. [þe . . seyde D.] "benedicite;\nBroþer," he seyd,*. [þe . . seyde D.] "how þenkeþ*. [þynke O, þinkiþ H.] þe?"\n"weyl," he seyd,*. [þe . . seyde D.] "þurgh goddys grace,\nÞe dowue haþ be*. [was here D.] byfore my face,\nAnd, a whyle, stylle by*. [a whyle be for D.] me stode; [folio 3a]\nÞe syght þere-of dyde me gode." Page 12\n"þat ys weyl, wyþ*. [þorw D.] goddys wylle,\nDwelle ȝyt with me*. [be-leve [stay] ȝit D.] a wokë*. [wouke O, wowke D.] stylle,\nAnd be*. [Be o wyke D.] yn þyn afflyccyouns,\nYn fastyng*. [fastynge.] and yn*. [oþer D.] orysouns:\nAnd y. shal prey*. [preye O, preyȝe D.] also with þe\nÞat god boþe herë me and þe."*. [here boþe þe and me. O, boþe here . . . D.]\nStedfastlych*. [Stedfastlyche O, stedefastly D.] þey preyd a-none*. [al oon D.]\nTyl þat wokë*. [wouke O, þat wyke D.] were alle gone.*. [al agone O, wyke was al goon D.]\nAt þe woke*. [wouke O, þat wyke D.] ende, spake þe ermyte*. [þat hermyte D.]\nAnd asked þe munke of þe*. [þat D.] spyryte.\nÞe munkë seyde, "y haue hyt seyn,\nAnd on my*. [myn OD.] hede syttyn*. [setyn O, sotyn D.] and beyn;\ny sagh hyt*. [I say it to me D.] so mylde and spake,\nÞat with my*. [myn OD.] hande y myght hyt take;\nMe þoght hyt was þat fro me steye,\nAȝeyn yn-to my mouþe*. [mouþ O, in-to my mouþ wol euene D.] hyt fleye."\nþe ermyte þanked god almyght*. [of myȝt D.]\nÞat ȝafe hym grace to see þat syȝt.*. [syght O, sen þat syȝt D.]\n"Now art þou clene," he seyde, "of*. [clene of al þi D.] synne,\nþe holy goste*. [gost O.] ys þe withynne:\nkepe þe now fro swych a kas,\nAȝen god no more to*. [a-ȝens god do no D.] trespas."\nBy*. [Be OD.] þys ensample may ȝe see\nÞat god ys euer ful of pyte;\nÞogh*. [ȝif D.] a man hym onys forsake,\nEft wyl*. [wyle O, ȝif he lowly D.] god aȝen*. [a-ȝen he wil D.] hym take\nȜyf he with herte wyl*. [wyle O, ȝif he lowly D.] mercy crye\nAnd do penaunce for hys folye.*. [cryȝe . . . folyȝe D.]\nBlessed be he among*. [amonge O.] vs here,\nÞat he loueþ vs alle so dere. Page 13\nGo we now fyrþer*. [furþer O, forth a litil paas D.] on oure pas\nAnd tellë*. [telle we D.] more of oure trespas.\n[On Witchcraft and Dreams.]\nȜyf þou euer*. [euere O.] þurgh folye\nDydyst ouȝt*. [oght O, dedyst ony n. D.] do nygrómauncy.\nOr to þe deuyl dedyst*. [dedist to þe deule D.] sacryfyse\nÞurgh wychcraftys*. [wycchecraftys O, wycchecraft as þe on-wyse D.] asyse,\nOr any man ȝaf*. [ȝafe O, ȝaf D.] þe mede [folio 3a:2]\nFor to reyse*. [reysyn D.] þe deuyl yn dede,\nFor to telle, or for to wrey,*. [or to be wreyȝe D.]\nÞyng þat þe*. [þat þe O, þat HD.] was don awey;*. [a weyȝe D.]\nȜyf þou haue do any*. [don ony D.] of þys,\nÞou hast synned & do*. [þan hast þou synnyd & don D.] a-mys,\nAnd*. [And om. D.] þou art wurþy*. [wrþy O, wurþi D.] to be shent\nÞurgh þys yche*. [for brekyng of þis D.] commaundëment.\nȜyf you yn swerd, oþer*. [or OD.] yn bacyn,\nAny chylde madyst*. [ony child dedyst D.] loke þeryn,\nOr yn þumbe,*. [tombe D.] or yn cristal,—\nwycchëcraft*. [. . . fte O, wycchecraft D.] men clepyn*. [callyn D.] hyt al:*. [al OD, alle H.]\nBeleue nouȝt*. [noght O, trowe not D.] yn þe pyys cheteryng;*. [. . . nge O, pyȝes chateryng D.]\nHyt ys no trouþe, but fals beleuyng.*. [. . . nge O, It ne is but fals & lesyng D.]\nMany beleuyn*. [trowyn D.] yn þe pye:\nwhan she comyþ*. [comþ H, comyþ O, quan he chateryth lowhe or hyȝe D.] lowe or hye\nCheteryng,*. [Cheterynge O, þat cryȝith faste D.] and haþ no reste,\nþan sey*. [seye O, sey D.] þey we shul haue geste.*. [han a gest D.]\nManyon trowyn on*. [Harl. or, on O, of D.] here wylys,\nAnd many tymes þe pye hem gylys.*. [many on þe pyȝe be-gylys D.]Page 14\nAlso ys metyng*. [metynge O, And also it is of metyng D.] on þe morwe*. [morue O.]\nwhen*. [qwan D.] þou shalt go to bye*. [beye O.] or to*. [O. omits 'to.' qwan þou schalt go beyȝe begge or D.] borwe;*. [borue O.]\nȝyf þan þy erende*. [ȝif þou þin arende not D.] spede ne sette,\nþan*. [Þanne O.] wylt þou curse hym*. [hem O, banne hym D.] þat þou mette.\nHyt ys þe tycement*. [þis is þe tysyng D.] of þe deuyl\nTo curse hem*. [banne hym D.] þat þoght þe no*. [none O, non D.] euyl.\nOf hancel y can no skylle also;\nHyt ys nouȝt to beleue þarto:*. \nMe þynkeþ hyt ys fals*. [hyt fals O, for it is fals D.] euery deyl,\nY beleue hyt nouȝt, ne neuer shal weyl.*. [I trowe it not ne neuere wil D.]\nFor many hauyn glad hancel at*. [Many han hansele on D.] þe morw,*. [morue O.]\nAnd to hem or euyn comþ*. [comyþ O.] mochyl*. [þat longe or euyn han sum D.] sorw;*. [sorue O.]\nAnd manyon hauyn yn þe day grete noy,*. [gret noye O, & manye han al day meche noyȝe D.]\nAnd ȝyt or euyn comeþ to hem mochyl*. [hem comyþ gret O, or euyn comyth ioyȝe D.] ioye.\nSo mayst þou wyte, ȝyf þou gode*. [myȝt þou wite . . . good D.] can,\nÞat hancel ys no beleue*. [is not trewe D.] to man.\nBeleuë nouȝt moche*. [Ne beleue noghte mochyl. O, Ne trowe þou not D. ('Sompnia ne' in margin. D.)] yn no dremys,\nFor many be nat but gleteryng*. [beyn but gleterynge O, arn not but gladyng D.] glemys.\nÞese clerkys seyn*. [seyyn O.] þat hyt ys*. [seyn it is but vanyte D.] vanyte,\nÞat nouȝt ys, ne neuer shal be; [folio 3b]\nAnd oftë*. [Harl. oft, oftyn D.] mayst þou fynde hyt ryght*. [ryþt O.]\nþat þou hast mete vpon*. [mette opon O, mett of on D.] þe nyght.*. [nyþt O.]\nBut þerof to haue mochyl*. [But ouer mochyl to haue þer on. O; but haue þerin non D.] affyaunce\nÞe may betyde þe sunner*. [soner O.] a*. [þat þe be-tyde non oþer. D.] chaunce.\nOn syxë maners may a man*. [men may D.] mete:\nSum beyn to beleue, sum beyn*. [summe arn to trowe summe arn D.] to lete.\nSum men dremyn*. [dreme O.] for surfeture, Page 15\nþat etyn or drynkyn ouer mesure;\nAnd sum dremë on veyn þyng*. [of veyn þynge O, metyn of veyn þingis D.]\nFor ouer mychyl and grete fastyng;*. [gret fastynge O, of gret fastyngys D.]\nAnd sum beyn*. [arn D.] þe fendes temptacyoun\nÞat to þe trowþe*. [to trowe D.] ys fals tresoun;\nAnd sum come of ouer mochyl þouȝt*. [þoghte O, summe comyn of mechil þouȝt D.]\nOf þyng þat men wuld hauë wrouȝt;*. [wroghte O, woldyn han wrouȝt D.]\nAnd sum beyn*. [summe arn D.] goddys pryuyte\nÞat he shewyþ to warnë þe;\nAnd, sum come*. [summe comyn D.] þurgh grete stody,*. [stodye O, studye D.]\nAnd shewë to þe apertly.*. [apertlye O.]\nÞese syxë maners a clerk*. [clerke O, as clerkys D.] vs tellyþ,\nSeynt Gregory, þat mochyl spellyþ.*. [tellys, seiþ s. G. þat mechil spellys D.]\nÞe fyrst twey maners, we wote*. [woot O, wetyn D.] weyl,\nBeyn oure defautë*. [is owre owyn defauȝtte D.] euery deyl.\nÞe ton*. [toon O, þat oon D.] ys for ouer mychel*. [oure gret D.] outrage,\nÞe touþer ys febylnesse*. [febylnes.] of corage,*. [þat oþer is febilnesse of oure D.]\n19 As yn mete, or drynk, ouer moche takyng,*. [takynge.]\n19*. [19_19 þat etiþ ofte tymys & doþ gret wast. þat oþer is febilnesse of body & fast. D.]Or yn feblyng*. [feblynge.] þe body with moche*. [wyþ to moche O.] fastyng.*. [fastynge.]\nþe touþer fourë*. [voure.] þys*. [Þo oþer foure as clerkis D.] clerkys wytyn,*. [wetyn OD.]\nFor yn þe byble þey ben wrytyn.*. [wretyn O, arn wreten D.]\nȜyf þey ne come þurgh*. [ne comyn of D.] temptacyun\nOf þe fende, þat ys a felun,*. [is feloun D.]\nNeuere had seyd*. [ne hadde seiþ D.] Salamon\n'þat dremys, men deseyue manyon.'*. [disceyuyth many man D.]\nFor þo þat to dremys ouer moche trastys,*. [þei þat to dremys meche trust D.]*. [beleuyn]\nTo scornë hem þe fende þen frastys.*. [fraystys O. Hym to scorne þe fend is prest D, which leaves out lines 417-478 here, but marks in the margin "hic deficit. Scip to þis signe ⊚," which is at the top of the next leaf 5.]*. [asayþ]Page 16\nȜyf þey come nat*. [noghte O.] also þurgh*. [comyn only of D.] þoght,\nÞe wysë clerk*. [clerk, om. D.] hadde tolde hyt noght,\nNe suffryd hyt*. [suffryd to D.] be wrytyn yn boke [folio 3b:2]\nÞat men alle day rede yn,*. [þat may we alday redyn D.] and loke.\nÞus þe wyse clerk seyþ,*. [seyþ om. D.] Catun,\nAnd techyþ chyldryn þys*. [Lernyth childryn in her D.] lessun,\n'Ȝeue no charge to [þy]*. [non entent vn-to þi D.] dremys,\nÞey been but as [glasyng]*. [for it ben but glasyng D.] glemys\nÞat yn þe þouȝt [stertys &]*. [þy þoghte O, in þi þouȝt it stertyth and D.] lepys\nA-nyȝt*. [nyghte O.] whan þou [restys &]*. [On nyȝt qwan þou restyst & D.] slepys:\n*. [sumtyme þou on nyȝt þinkys D.]þat you wakyng [sumtyme] þenkes,*. [wakynge þenkys O.]\nBeforë þy yȝen*. [þyn eȝyn O.] hyt*. [and be-forn þin yȝe D.] blenkys.'\nȜyf þey ne come*. [it come not D.] þurgh pryuyte*. [þryuyte O.]\nÞat god*. [god O.] wyl shewë*. [shew H, shewe O, ȝeue þe or me D.] me or þe,\nIosep of dremys had ȝyue*. [ȝeue O, ȝouyn D.] no kepe\nwhat*. [qwhan D.] hym was shewed yn hys slepe,\nþat fadyr and modyr & al hys kynde,\nÞurgh hym shuld þey wurshyp*. [wrshepe O, wurshepe D.] fynde.\nyn þe byble men redë*. [redyn D.] þys\nIn þe fyrst boke of genesys.\nAlso hyt was*. [al was it D.] shewyd pryuyly\nTo iosep þat wedded oure lady,\nÞat with þe chyld þey shuldë*. [shulde þey O, schulde þei D.] fle\nTo egypt,*. [Egypte O, in to Egipt þat c. D.] þat yche*. [yche om. D.] cuntre.\nþys ys clepyd*. [klepyde O.] reuelacyun,\nTo shewe byfore what ys to doun.*. [be-forn qwat is to comyn D.]\nȜyf þey com noght þurgh stodyyng,*. [stodyynge O, stodyyng D.]\nþat tokene ys*. [takyn it D.] of selkouþe þyng,*. [selkowþ þynge O.]\nDanyel had noght wyst*. [wyst O; not wyst D; Harl. omits wyst.] byfore Page 17\nÞe dreme of Nabugodonósore.\nDanyel seyd*. [seyde O.] vn-to þe kyng,*. [kynge O.]\n"þou þouȝtyst to*. [þis D, om. H.] nyȝt a selkouþe þyng;*. [selkowþ þynge O.]\n'what manere*. [maner folk O, qwat maner folk it schulde be D.] folk*. [Harl. omits folk.] shuld þey be\nÞat yn þis worlde*. [þys wrlde O, þis word D, yn worlde H.] come aftyr þe,\nAnd how þey shulde þe wurlde*. [wrlde O, world D.] gouerne;'\nyn þy þoght þou gunne*. [gan D.] hyt ȝerne;\nAnd god shewyd hyt yn þy syȝt;\nþat dremed þe*. [þat ilke drem D.] þe touþer nyȝt."\nHe tolde þe profyte*. [prophete OD.] þan*. [þanne O, om. D.] euery deyl;\nAnd þe profete*. [prophete OD.] redde hyt*. [radde hym D.] weyl:\nwysly he seyd, and weyl þurgh*. [& þorw D.] soght, [folio 4a]\nwhan he hede toke to þat þe kynge*. [Whanne . . heyd . . kynge O, þat he ȝern (glost 'leer') D, took of þe kyngis D.] þoght.\nAnd god shewyd what*. [qwat D.] shuld betyde;\nwhat*. [qwat D.] manere folk*. [maner folke O, m. of folk D.] shulde aftyr a-byde.\nSeþyn þer beyn dremys*. [Siþþin dremys arn D.] so many ma|nere,*. [maneyr O.]\nþan*. [þanne O, om. D.] ys doute &*. [is it in douȝtte & in gret D.] gretë were*. [gret weyr O.]\nTo wytë where*. [wete whar O, w. qwher D.] of dremys come,\nÞat euery nyȝt*. [nyght O.] dremyn*. [dremyth D.] þurgh custome;\nÞer beyn*. [þo þat arn D.] so many dremys yn veyne,\nÞat no man wotë no*. [woot no O, wot non in D.] certeyn*. [certeyne O.]\nBut þey*. [þo OD.] þat beyn*. [þo þat arn D.] with god pryue,\nTo whom ys graunted*. [qwom is ȝouyn D.], swych þyng to see:*. [se O.]\nSwych men deseyueþ nat*. [noghte O, disceyuyn not D.] þe deuyl,\nþey haue no grace to knowe hys euyl;\nEllys may no man fynde hem*. [so may . . . knowyn hym D.] stable,\nSo ben*. [beyn O.] dremys*. [For dremys ben so D.] déseyuable. Page 18\nȝyf þou telle hem, þan*. [þowh þou . . ȝit D.] mayst þou erre;\nAnd ȝyf þow trow*. [trowe O.] hem, þat ys wel*. [weyl O, and þou trowe hem ȝit is it þe D.] werre;\nFor þou mayst dreme of sum*. [myȝt dreme ryȝt D.] euyl þyng*. [þynge O.]\nÞat may turne to better for þy preyyng.*. [preyynge O.]\n"Þou, leudman, ȝyf*. [ȝeue O, lewde man ȝeue good D.] godë tent,*. [tente O, good entent D.]\nTrow*. [Trowe O, Trowe not aȝens D.] noght aȝen þe comaundment."\nȜyf þou beleue*. [trowe D.] yn wycchëcraft\nTo chaungë þyng*. [þynge O.] be þe deuylys craft,*. [deuyls crafte O, with deuelys awȝt D.]—\nSwych beyn*. [swech arn D.] þe deuyl betaght,\nwith holy chyrche þey ben*. [with þe holy gost þei arn D.] vnsaght,\nAnd allë þo*. [alle þo D, also Harl.] þat on hem trowe\nMow*. [Mowe O.] drede hem self to brenne yn lowe*. [fyre];*. [mon dredyn hem to be in helle lowhe D.]\nAnd þogh þey fynde hyt soþe oþer whyle,*. [& ȝit þei fynde suyche sumqwhile D.]\nHyt ys þurgh*. [& þat is þorw D.] þe fendës gyle.\nÞe fend fondyþ with alle hys myȝt*. [myghte O.]\nTo put*. [putte O.] sumwat*. [sumqwat D.] yn herë syght\nÞat shal make hem swych þyng*. [þynge O.] beleue*. [Þat þei schulde trowe & leve D.]\nAnd god almyȝty myspay and*. [& so al myȝtty god to D.] greue.\nFor þer*. [it D.] was neuer womman ne man\nÞat any wycchëcraft be-gan,\nÞat euer myȝt*. [myghte O.] bryng hyt to an ende,*. [a nende O, neuere m. truly brynge to þe ende D.]\nBut fals beleue þat wyl hem shende.*. [be-leue hem hadde blende D.]\nþe wurdys*. [wrdys O.] certys beyn ryght*. [of hem be D.] noght, [folio 4a:2]\nBut fals beleue makeþ dede y-wroght.*. [wroghte O. be fals b. þe dede is wrouȝt D.]\nFor whan þou trowyst*. [trowst O, qwan þou trowist D.] yn a fals þyng*. [þynge O.]\nþe deuyl hyt shewyþ for þat trowyng.*. [trowynge O.]\nlo here a tale of a wycche,\nÞat leued no better*. [more D.] þa[n] a bycche.*. [A tale.]Page 19\n[The Tale of the Witch and her Cow-sucking Bag;*. [See a later version in Laud 416 (A.D. 1459), leaf 1: extracts printed in Reliq. Antiq., ii. 27.] and how a Bishop faild to work her Charm, because he didn't be|lieve in it.]\nÞere was a wycche, and*. [It was D, and om. D.] made a bagge,\nA bely of leþyr, a gretë swagge,\nShe sygaldryd so þys bagge bely*. [bagbely O.]\nÞat*. [þat, om. D.] hyt ȝede and soke mennys ky,\nAt euene, & at morw*. [on morue O, at morwe D.] tyde,\nyn here pasture, oþer*. [or OD; D om. ellys.] ellys be syde.\nlong*. [Longge O.] hyt ȝede aboutë fast,*. [alaboute faste O, oueral faste D.]\nTyl hyt was parceyued*. [parseyuyd O.] at the last;*. [laste OD.]\nÞan al*. [Þanne alle O, alle D (om. þanne).] þe godemen of þe toune,\nByfore þe bysshop dyden*. [be-forn . . . dede D.] here somoune;\nÞey dyden þe baggë*. [bagge O, þei do þe bagge D, bag H.] with here bere,\nTo wetë what she shuld*. [qwat she schal D.] answere.\nhyt was shewyd byfore*. [to D.] þe bysshop,\nÞat she dyde to goo*. [dede go O.] swych a melk*. [melke O.] slop,*. [dede it gon with a meche sop. D.]\nÞurgh wycchecraft & mysáuenture,\nTo sugke here keyn*. [soukyn her ken D.] yn here pasture.\nÞe bysshop merueyled, & oþer mo,\nhow þat she myȝt*. [myghte O.] do hyt go.*. [so go O.]\n"Dame," seyd þe bysshop, "do þy quen|tyse,\nAnd late vs se*. [see O, sen D.] how hyt shal ryse."\nÞys wycche here charme began to sey,*. [be-gan a-non D.]\nÞe slop ros vp, and ȝede þe weye.*. [wey O, þe bagge vp ros & gan to gon D.]Page 20\nÞe bysshop seyd, "þys haue we seyn;*. [Isen D.]\nDo hyt now to lygge aȝeyn."*. [stente aȝen D.]\nÞe wycchë dede al at hys wylle:*. [al his wil D.]\nShe made þe slop aȝen lygge*. [& bad þe bagge stonde D.] stylle,\nÞe bysshop made a clerk*. [dede . . þer D.] þan wryte\nAl þat she seyd, mochel*. [seyde meche D.] and lyte,\nAnd allë*. [al OD.] how she made here went;*. [sche dede & mente D.]\nÞe bysshop þarto ȝaf gode*. [ȝaffe gode O, ȝaf his D.] entent.\n"Þan," seyde þe bysshop, "now shal y,\nAs þou hast do, do*. [þou dedyst don. D.] þy maystry."\nÞe bysshop bygan þe charme to rede, [folio 4b]\nAnd as she dyde,*. [seyde D.] he dyde yn*. [dede yn O, dede in D.] dede;\nHe seyd and dedë euery deyl,\nRyȝt as she dede, he dede as weyl.*. [al weyl O, al weel D.]\nÞe sloppe*. [bagge D.] lay stylle, as hyt ded wore,*. [oor D.]\nFor hym ne ros hyt*. [hym it sterede D.] neuer þe more.\n"why," seyd he, "wyl*. [wyle O, qwhy . . . wil D.] hyt nat ryse,\nAnd y haue do*. [don D.] þe samë wyse,\nAnd seyd þe wurdys,*. [wrdys O, wurdis D.] lesse ne mo,\nAnd for my seyyng wyl*. [wyle O, qwhy . . . wil D.] hyt nat go?"\n"Nay," she seyd, "why*. [qwhy D.] shuld hyt so?\nȜe beleue nat*. [nouȝt O, þou trowist not D.] as y do:\nwlde*. [Wolde O, it wil D.] ȝe beleue my wrdys as*. [trowyn as do D.] y,\nHyt shulde a*. [ha O.] go, and sokun*. [schulde gon & soukke D.] ky."\nHe seyd, "þan fayleþ noght*. [nouȝt O, not D.] but beleu|yng;"*. [trowyng D.]\nShe seyd, "þat helpeþ al my þyng;\nAnd so hyt ys for*. [of OD.] ourë lawe,\nBeleue*. [trouþe D.] ys morë þan þe sawe;*. [lawhe . . . sawhe D.]Page 21\nFor, þou mayst sey what*. [qwat D.] þou wylt,\nBut þou beleue hyt, ellys ys alle*. [trowe it is ellis D.] spylt;\nAlle*. [Al.] þat y seyd, y beleue*. [trowe D.] hyt weyl,\nMy beleue haþ do*. [doun O.] þe dede*. [trowyng dede it D.] euery deyl."\nÞe bysshop comaundyd þat she shuld noȝt\nBeleue ne wurche as*. [trowe no wycchecraft D.] she had wroȝt.\nHere*. [Heyr O.] mow we wyte,*. [wete O, may ȝe wete D.] beleue wyl*. [wyle O, qwhy . . . wil D.] make\nÞere þe wurde*. [wrde O, þo wurdis D.] no myȝt*. [þer wurd ne myȝt ne D.] may take.\nÞe bysshop seyd þe wurdys*. [wrdys O, wurdis D.] echoun,\nBut, beleue þeryn hadde he noun.\nNomore shall hyt*. [it schal D.] auaylë þe\nÞat beleuest not þere*. [þat trust not in þat. þi D.] beleue shulde be.\nȜyf þou herdyst a fals þyng*. [þynge O.] or layþ*. [foule]*. [spokyn a fals þing D.]\nÞat were spoke aȝens þe feyþ,*. [were a-ȝens þe feith brekyng D.]\nAnd þou ne wuldest*. [þou woldyst not D.] þeraȝen seye,\nBut beleuyst, oþer for loue, oþer for eye,*. [but lete it passe f. l. or ay D.]\nÞou hast synned, & aȝen went\nÞys ychë fyrst*. [In þe ferste D.] comaundëment.\nÞus seyþ þe lawë þat men hauntes,\n'Ȝyf þou forhelyst, weyl þou grauntes.'*. [for-hile þat it grauntys D.]\nȜyf þou trowest or vndyrstondys [folio 4b:2]\nÞat þre sustren ben*. [beyn O.] shapandys,*. [sustrys arn schaphandys D.]\nAnd comun þere þe chylde ys bore,*. [come . . . born D.]\nAnd shapyn hyt wele*. [weyl O.] or euel before;*. [schape . . be-forn D.]\nFor wykked beleue þat þou art*. [trouþe þat þei ben D.] ynne\nÞey make þe*. [þy O, cause þe D.] chylde to falle yn synne;\nSwyche beleue þou shuldest nat*. [sueche trouþes þei schulde not D.] werche\nAȝens þe beleue*. [trouþe D.] of holy cherche.\nÞer nys no shapper33 but god almyȝt,*. [ys no shaper . . almyghte O, is no schappere of alle þinge D.]Page 22\nÞat yn þe vyrgyne Mary lyȝt.*. [lyghte O, lyȝt D.]\nHe ys shapper33*. [33_33 Left out of D.] of al þyng;*. [þynge O.]\nOf al þat ys, he wote þe endyng;*. [woot þe endynge O.]\nHe ys boþë god and man;\nAlle*. [Al O, alle þinge was be-gynnynge D.] he wote,*. [woot O.] and alle*. [Al O, alle þinge was be-gynnynge D.] he can.\nÞe touþer shappers þat men of telle,*. [D leaves out lines 585-6.]\nBeteche we hem þe fende of helle.\nȜyf þou trowyst synne shal be forȝeue*. [trowe þi . . . for ȝeuyn D.]\nwithoutë répentaunce & shryue,*. [repente here & be clene schreuyn D. D leaves out lines 589-596.]\nAs sum*. [some.] of þys lewed men seys,\n'God of heuene ys so curteys,\nÞat he shal on domysday certeynly\nFor-ȝyue þe synne of lechery;\nlechery ys but lyght synne,\nhe wyl*. [wyle.] haue mercy on al*. [alle.] þerynne;'\nÞus sey þey þat can no gode,\nAnd þouȝ*. [þoghe.] þey hemself vndyrstode.\nȜyf þou þe certeyn wylt lere,\nÞyn forȝeuenes mote be*. [must gynne D.] here;\nyn þe touþer werlde*. [In oþer word D.] þer*. [wrlde þer.] we shul come\nÞere ys but ryȝtfulnes*. [ryȝtwysnesse D.] of dome;\nÞere ys al ryȝtfulnes*. [is ryȝtwysnesse D.] at þe last ende;\nAske mercy or*. [ar O, or D.] þou þedyr*. [hens D.] wende,\nElles gest*. [Ellys getyst O, ellis getyst D.] þou no forȝeuenes,*. [forȝeuenesse OD.]\nHere ne þerë, more no lesse.\nGod ȝyue vs grace, or we be went,\nTo kepë þys fyrst cómaundment.*. [þe ferste comaundement D.]\n[The Second Commandment.*. [Secundum mandatum. 'Non assumes nomen dei tui in vanum' D.]]\nTHe touþer*. [That oþer D.] comandement ys,\n'Swere nat*. [noghte O, not D.] hys name yn ydulnys.'*. [ydylnes O, ydilnesse D.]\n[folio 5a] whan þou yn ydulnes swerest*. [qwan . . . sweryst be D.] hys name,\nÞou dost hym bere wytnes of blame.\nVndyrstond*. [Vndyrstonde O, Vnderstonde þis menyng D.] þys,—þe menyng ys,\nAlle*. [Al O, As D.] yn þe, þe wykednes ys.*. [as in þe is wikkydnesse D.]\nȜyf þou sweryst fals, þy wetande,*. [suere fals wetende D.]\nAnd for soþenes ys*. [it is D.] vnderstonde,\nÞere takyst þou god yn þy sweryng\nTo bere wytnesse of a fals þyng.*. [of fals lesyng D.]\nY askë 'wheþyr ys grettyr eye,*. [qweche is more unhable D.]\nA lesyng, or a fals tale seye.'*. [a tale culpable D.]\nHere mayst þou lerne*. [myȝt þou knowe D.] a queyntyse,\nTo knowe of boþe*. [knowyn of bothin D.] þe ryȝt*. [ryþt O, ryȝt D.] asyse;—\nÞou mayst here and beleue a*. [Vnderstonde þe trewe & D.] fals\nÞat ys seyd of a-noþer als,\nAnd telle hyt forþ þe samë wyse,\nRyght as he vn-to þe seyse,*. [he telliþ his a-vyse D.]\nAnd ȝyf þou wene þat þat*. [ȝef þou wene þat D.] sawe ys ryȝt,*. [ryþt O, ryȝt D.]\nÞouȝt*. [þoghe O, þowh D.] hyt be fals, þou hast no plyȝt;*. [plyght O, plyȝt D.]\nFor, þyn ynwyt, þe shal saue,\nÞou wenyst to seye*. [wenyst seye O.] weyl, no plyȝt*. [he sey wel þonk D.] to haue,\nA lesyng haþ weyl wers*. [Lesyng haþ a wers D.] wey:\nÞe tokyn of a lesyng*. [tokene of lesynge O, tokyn of lesyng D (om. þe).] y shal þe sey.\nwhan*. [qwan D (om. a).] ys a lesyng,*. [lesynge.] but þan ys hyt\nwhan*. [qwan D (om. a).] hyt ys seyd aȝens ynwyt;\nSoþely*. [Soþly O, trewe D.] to sey, a lesyng*. [lesynge.] ys\nwhan þou wost þat þou seyst mys,*. [qwhan þ. w. þou s. a mys D.]Page 24\nAnd ȝyf þou make a grete*. [make gret D.] sweryng*. [swerynge O, sueryng D.]\nFor to manteynë*. [susteyne D.] þy lesyng;*. [lesynge O.]\nHym þan*. [þanne.] þat þou by sweryst,*. [swerys O.]\nFals wytnes on hym þou*. [þou om. D.] beryst.*. [berys O.]\nȜyf þou by god, or oure*. [our O, be god & be oure D.] lady,\nOr ouþer seyntes þat þou sweryst by,\nÞou dost hym berë fals*. [fals O, beryn fals D, fas Harl.] wytnes\nOf þy lesyng,*. [lesynge O.] þat soþ yt*. [hyt O.] ys.*. [þat so ysse D.]\nHow shul*. [shulde OD.] þey þan help*. [helpe O, þei helpe D.] þe at þy*. [þy om. D.] nede,\nwhan þou hem drawyst*. [draghst O.] to þy falshede;*. [qwan þow drawyst hem to f. D.]\nAnd þyn inwyt, þyn ownë*. [owyn D.] skyle,\nAȝen þe seyþ*. [Aȝenseyþ þe þan O, a-geyn seiþ þe D.] and euermore wylle.*. [wyle O.] [folio 5a:2]\nȜyf þou trowest*. [trowst O, trowe D.] þat god was nat byfore\nOr*. [Ar O, not be-forn or D.] he was of þe maydyn bore;*. [beforn . . . . mayde born D.]\nOr ȝyf þou trowyst*. [trowst O, trowe D.] þat he was noght\nBeforë or*. [Ar O, not be-forn or D.] þe worlde*. [wrlde O.] was wroght;\nȜyf þou wene þat*. [þis D.] verement,\nHyt ys aȝens þys comaundement.\nGod was euer wyþ outyn bygynnyng\nAr þe worlde,*. [wrlde O.] or man, or ouþer*. [or þe word was mad or ony D.] þyng.\nȜyf þou trowyst*. [trowst O, trowe D.] þat hys manhede\nHaþ no powere with þe*. [haue no p. w. his D.] godhede,\nRepentë þe, þou art yn synne,\nFor ydylnes hast þou hys name*. [In ydilnesse hast þou name with D.] ynne;\nȜyf þou trowest*. [trowst O, trowe D.] þat he may naght*. [noghte O, not D.]\nYn heuene and erþe hys wyl haue wroȝt,*. [wroghte O, in erþe h. w. have wrouȝt D.]\nÞe manhede þat toke flesshe & bone,\nÞat with þe godhede ys al one;—\nBut þou repente þe byfore þy fyn,*. [ende]*. [beforn for þi synne D.]\nÞou mayst be lore,*. [myȝt be lorn D.] seyþ seynt Austyn. Page 25\n[Against Swearing Oaths.]\nȜyf þou were euer so fole*. [fole om. D.] hardy\nTo swerë grete oþys*. [oþis & D.] grysly,\nAs we folys do alle*. [al O, don al D.] day,\nDysmembre Ihesu alle*. [al D.] þat we may.\nGentyl men, for grete gentry,*. [gret gentrye OD.]\nwene þat grete oþys beyn curteysy*. [þei wene gret oþis were curteysye D.];\nNoþeles, blode,*. [neþeles boþin blod D.] fete, & yȝen,*. [ygne O, yne D.]\nÞey scorne Ihesu, and vpbreyde hys pyn.*. [pyne O.]\nOf hys woundys he haþ*. [wondys he haþ O, handys he was D.] vpbreyd,\nOure*. [or D.] shame hyt ys þat yt*. [hyt.] ys seyd;\nAlle*. [al D.] þat he suffred*. [sufferyd O, suffryd D.] for oure frame,\nAs yn vpbreydyng we sey*. [seye O, in vpbreyd we seyn D.] hym shame;\nHys flesshe, hys blode, he shedde for þe;\nwoundys he*. [wondys he haþ O, handys he was D.] suffred*. [sufferyd O, suffryd D.] to make þe fre;\nSo mochyl*. [meche D.] ys oure shame þe more,\nÞat we eft pynë*. [eft we pynyn D.] hym so sore.\nAnd þo men fallyn more yn plyȝt\nÞat sweryn oþer fals*. [eyþer soth D.] or ryȝt,\nBy any menbre*. [membre O, be ony member D.] of hys manhede\nByneþyn*. [be neþe D.] þe gyrdyl, y þe forbede;\nFor y haue herd men swere swyche*. [I herde m. sw. sweche D.] oþys;\nTo þenke on hem, forsoþe*. [þo þingis of hym hyȝly D.] me loþys. [folio 5b]\nA lytyl tale y shal*. [I wil D.] ȝow telle,\nÞat y herde onys a frerë spelle.\n[The Tale of the Bloody Child.]\nHyt was onys a rychë man*. [A tale.]\nÞat gretë oþys swere bygan; Page 26\nFor ryche men vse*. [vse D, om. HO.] comunly\nSweryn*. [to swere [contra iuratores in margin] D.] grete oþys grysly.\nÞys rychë man wldë nat*. [wolde not D.] lete\nBut þat he swore euer*. [but euere swor D.] oþys grete.\nAn euyl*. [A neuyl HO.] toke hym on a day,\nÞat he syke yn hys beddë*. [bed D.] lay;\nA nyȝt, as he lay a-lone,\nA womman he herdë make here*. [he herde a woman make D.] mone;\nÞat yche womman come hym byfore*. [þat woman cam his bed be-forn D.],\nwith a chylde yn here armys bore.*. [born D.]\n10Of þe chylde þat she bare yn here armys\nAl to-drawë were þe þarmys*. [guttys];\nOf handys, of fete, þe flessh of drawyn,\nMouþe, yȝen, & nose, were alle to-knawyn,10*. [10_10 gretly þat disfyguryd is . brokyn & rent were his armys. of hand & feet þe flesch of drawe . Mouþ. eyȝe & nose . as al to-gnawe D.]\nBakke & sydës were*. [weryn D.] al blody:\nÞys womman sorful*. [Harl. sorful and, was wunder D.] was, and sory.\nÞys man for here wax sore agrysyn;*. [sor agresyn O, hir was sore agresyn D.]\nhe spak,*. [spake to here O, & spak to hir qwan D.] whan he was rysyn,*. [resyn OD.]\n"what art þou womman, þat makyst*. [makst O, qwat . . . makist þis D.] swych cry?\nho haþ made*. [Ho made D.] þy chyld so blody?"\n"Þou," she seyd, "hast hym so*. [þus D.] shent,\nAnd with þy*. [þyn.] oþys al*. [þin oþis hym al D.] to-rent.\nÞus hast þou drawen my dere chylde,*. [drawyn my child D.]\nwith þy*. [þyn.] oþys wykked and wylde;\nAnd þou makest me sore to grete*. [glost wepe in O.],\nþat þou þyn oþys wylt nat lete.\nhys manhede, þat he toke for þe,\nÞou pynyst hyt, as þou mayst se;\nÞyn oþys done hym more greuesnesse*. [greuusnesse O, care & dred D.]\nþan alle*. [al O, alle D.] þe Iewys wykkednesse.*. [wikkydhed D.]\nÞey pyned hym onys,*. [onys, om. D.] & passed a-way, Page 27\nBut, þou, pynest hym euery day.\nÞe*. [þat D.] pyne, he suffred*. [sufferyde O, suffred D.] for þy gode, [folio 5b:2]\nAnd þou vpbreydyst hym of þe*. [þat D.] rode;\nAlle*. [al O.] hys flessh, þan þou*. [flesch þou al to D.] teryst,\nwhan þou falsly by*. [qwan þou so grysly be D.] hym swerest;\nAnd y*. [y þan O.] am euer so*. [I am euere of suych a D.] [in] mynde\nFor to pray*. [preye O, preyȝe D.] for al mankynde.\nhow shulde y lengyr prey*. [preye O, pray D.] for þe,\nSo rulyche makyst þou*. [makst þou O, ruly þou makist D.] hym to be,\nAnd ouþer*. [ouþere O, oþer D.] many mo þan þou;\nHow shulde y þan*. [he þanne D.] be meke to ȝow?"\nÞe caytyfe*. [kaytyffe O, Þat caytyf D.] þat lay yn hys bedde,\nFor here seyyng wax sore adredde,\nAnd seydë,*. [And seyde O, & seyde lady D.] "ȝyf hyt be þy wylle,\nHelpe me, lady, þat y ne*. [not D.] spylle.\nFor al men seyn,*. [seyyn O.] o þou*. [alle men seyn of þe D.] lady,\nÞat þou art modyr of*. [þe moder of al D.] mercy!"\nShe answeryd to þe caytyfe,*. [kaytyffe O, Þat caytyf D.]\n"yn*. [In grete D.] fals oþys ys alle þy lyfe;*. [lyffe O.]\nwhat mercy mayst þou aske þurgh*. [qwat mercy myȝt þou aske of D.] ryȝt\nwhan þou þus my sone hast*. [qwan þou hast þus my dere sone D, Whan þou my sone hast þus ydyghte? O.] dyght?"\n"Lady, alle my*. [al myn O, alle myn D.] oþys grete\nFro þys*. [þys day O.] forward wyl*. [wyle O, þis tyme forth euere wil D.] y lete;\nAnd preche to euery man þy lore,\nþat þey oþys swere*. [suere oþis D.] no more."\n"Ȝyf þou wylt of*. [so ȝif þou wilt þin D.] oþys blynne,\nÞan wyl*. [wyle O, þis tyme forth euere wil D.] y pray*. [preye O, preyȝe D.] for þy synne,\nþat þey máy be þe forȝyue,*. [moun be þe forȝeuyn D.]\nAnd do*. [do þy O, do D.] penaunce whan þou art shryue.*. [qwan . . schreuyn D.]\n33For alle men þat hauntyn grete oþys,\nTo helpe hem at nede, certys me loþys;33*. Page 28\nAnd my sonë wlde noght*. [wil not redyly D.] here\nFor fals oþys, any prayere;*. [falce oþis. no preyȝere D.]\nFor he comaundeþ to*. [to HO, om. D.] more & lesse,\n'Swere nat*. [noghte O, suere not D.] hys name yn ydulnesse.' "\nÞys womman with here chylde gan wende;\nBlessyd be she with-outyn ende!\nFor hem þat ben*. [beyn O, þou þat art D.] of oþys bolde,\nFor hem haue y*. [þe I haue D.] þys talë tolde.\nÞys gentyl men, þys gettours,*. [summe gentilmen & þese gettourys D.] [folio 6a]\nÞey ben*. [beyn O, þou þat art D.] but Goddys turmentours;*. [arn . . . tourmentourys D.]\nÞey turment hym alle*. [al D.] þat þey may,\nwith fals oþys nyȝt*. [boþe nyghte O, falce oþis boþe nyȝt D.] and day.\nBut ȝe leue ȝoure*. [ȝour O, leuyn ȝoure (om. fals) D.] fals sweryng,\nȜoure*. [ȝour O, leuyn ȝoure (om. fals) D.] vnkyndë vpbreydyng,\nȜe shul go a deueyl weye\nBut ȝe amende ȝou, ar ȝe deye.*. [qwyl ȝe may D.]\nFor euery gadlyng nat wurþ*. [wrþ O, a gadelyng þat is not wurþ D.] a pere\nTakyþ ensample at ȝow*. [oþere D.] to swere,\nSo euery man vn-to ouþer*. [oþer O, til oþer D.]—\nÞe porë to þe ryche ys*. [to ryche is his D.] broþer—\nyn oþys and yn wykkedhede,\nÞe toon*. [þat oon D.] þe toþer to helle shal lede.\nȜyf þou euere swore*. [swore euer O, suere euere D.] by oure lady*. [leuedy O, lady D.]\nyn any*. [ony D (om. yn).] tyme fals or wykkedly,\nHastly*. [Hastely O, hastily D.] þe [þerfro] withdrawe;\nVengaunce comþ*. [comyþ O.] for swych myssawe.*. [or venoiounce come for þat sawe D.]\nwhan*. [qwan D.] þou sweryst by here þat he lyȝt*. [lyghte O, lay D.] ynne,\nHe takyþ*. [takyþ O, takiþ D, takþ H.] more to wraþþe þat*. [more hed to hate þe D.] synne\nÞan þou mysdedyst*. [dedist D.] aȝens hym\nwith worde*. [wrde O.] or dede neuer so grym. Page 29\nAnd as moche, he to hym mekeþ*. [meche he mekiþ D.]\nþat here wurschyppyþ*. [wrshepyþ O (here om. D).] or here besechyþ.*. [be sekiþ D.]\nþus seyþ seynt Anselme, þat hyt wrote\nTo þys clerkys þat weyl hyt wote:*. [his clerk wel I wot D.]\nMore drede ys, by*. [dere it is be D.] here to swere,\nþan ys by*. [it is be D.] hym þat she dede bere;\nSunner*. [sonere O, sunnere D.] he takyth for here*. [for hir he takyþ D.] veniaunce*. [vengaunce O.]\nÞan for any oþer chaunce:*. [ony o. greuaunce D.]\nÞat shal y shewe when we be*. [qwan ȝe arn D.] went\nVnto þe þryd*. [þredde O, In þe þridde D.] comaundëment.\nȜyf þou þe talë ryȝt*. [ryghtely O, a-ryȝt D.] canst here,\nTwey þyngës þeryn mayst þou lere:\nÞe toon*. [Þat oon D.] ys, 'holde weyl þyn halyday;'\nÞe touþer, 'oure lady þou wurschyp*. [wrshepe O, þat oþer wurschip D.] ay.'\nNow shul we leue*. [letyn D.] oure oþys sweryng,\nAnd speke fyrþer of ouþer*. [forþ of oþer D.] þyng;\nwe shul eft touche*. [touche eft D.] of þys synne [folio 6a:2]\nwhen we be come*. [qwan we comyn D.] fyrþer withynne.\n[The Third Commandment.*. [¶ Memento vt sabbatum sanctifices. tercium mandatum D.]]\nThe þryd*. [þredde O, þridde D.] commaundement yn oure lay\nys*. [Hys O.] 'holdë weyl þyn*. [halewe wel þe D.] halyday,'\nAnd come blelyche to þe*. [þy O, redily to goddes D.] seruyse\nwhan holy chyrche settyþ asyse.\nOf al*. [alle O, alle D.] þe festys þat*. [þat om. D.] yn holy chyrche are,*. [aren D.]\nHoly sunday men oght*. [þe holy s. m. owe to sparen, D.] to spare; Page 30\nHoly*. [þe D.] sunday ys byfore*. [be-forn D.] alle fre,\nÞat euer ȝyt were, or euer shal*. [shul OD.] be.\nFor þe pope may, þurgh hys powere,\nTurne þe halydays yn*. [alle þe halydayȝis of D.] þe ȝere\nHow as he wyl,*. [With counseyl . . owyn D.] at hys owne wyl,\nBut þe sunday shal*. [muste D.] stondë styl.\nÞe halydays*. [halydayȝes D.] þat yn heruyst are,\nIn ȝolë*. [at ȝool D.] he may sette hem þare,\nAnd of þe ȝolë euery feste*. [fest O, ȝool . . feste D.]\nMay he settë yn*. [yn þe O, he may setten in D.] herueste.*. [heruest O.]\nBut, he may, þurgh*. [ne may be D.] no resun,\nÞe sunday puttyn*. [Harl. put; putte O, puttyn D.] vp no dowun;*. [down O, ne doun D.]\nÞarfore þe sunday specyaly\nys hyest to halew,*. [halewe O, heiȝest to haue D.] and most wurþy;*. [wrþy O.]\nAnd þat day þou owyst and shal*. [by license for shalt.]\nFor to herë þy*. [þou to here þin seruyse al D.] seruyse al;\nMatyns messe here,*. [matenys & masse D.] to rede or syngge,*. [syngge O.]\nEuery deyl to þe endyngge.*. [euerydele . . endyngge O, eche sunday D.]\nweyte þy*. [O. omits þy; þi D.] tyme, and be nat*. [nat OD.] þe last\nTo come whan*. [qwan D.] holy watyr ys cast.\nCome fyrst to matyns, ȝyf þat*. [þat om. D.] þou may,\nFor hyt ys goddys ownë*. [cristis owyn day D.] day.\nGod made þe wrldë, este*. [est O, word est D.] & west,\nyn syxë days; þe seuenþe to reste.*. [he rest OD.]\nÞan restyd*. [restede O, restyd D.] he hym fro al erþly werkys.*. [fro euere werk D.]\nHow dur*. [dur þan O, dar þan eyþer prist or clerk D.] oþer prestys or clerkys,\nOr þou lewed*. [ony lewd D.] man, þat day werche,\nwhan þat day ys*. [qwan it is D.] halewed yn holy chyrche?\nÞe seruyng man, þat seruyþ yn*. [a seruaunt seruynge be D.] þe ȝere,\nOweþ to come when*. [Howith . . qwan D.] he haþ leysere.\nȜyf þou come noght,*. [nat O, not D ('Nota bene' in margin of B).] algate y rede [folio 6b] Page 31\nEte noght ar*. [not til D.] þou haue holy brede,\nFor to*. [to om. D.] many þyngës hyt may auayle,\nTo soule helpe, or*. [(To om.), soulehelpe for D.] lyuës trauayle.\nÞy body, ȝyf it þan*. [it D, þan HO.] smartly endes,*. [endys O.]\nHyt ys for housyl*. [housul O, hosil D.] aȝens þe fendes;*. [fendys O.]\nAnd holy watyr take of þe prestys*. [of pristis D.] hand,*. [honde O.]\nFor anoylyng*. [a noyntyng D.] hyt wyl*. [wyle O.] þe stande.*. [stonde O.]\nSum tyme hyt was wnt to be dowun*. [doun O, wont be don D.]\nTo halewe þe satyrday at þe noun,*. [at non D.]\nNamëlyche*. [a namely D.] yn Ing[e]londe;*. [ynglande O.]\nAnd nawer*. [nawher O, nowhere D.] so moche*. [mechil D.] y vndyrstand.\nwhen þat custome*. [custum O, qwan . . custum D.] was wnt to be,\nÞan was grace, & grete*. [gret O, þer grace & al D.] plente;\nAnd þere men haunted*. [þer men hauntyn O, þer men hau D.] þat custome*. [custum OD.] lest,\nFalleþ oft tymë grete*. [ofte . . . gret O, often many D.] tempest.\nÞe satyrday ys specyaly*. [specyally . is D.]\nOrdeyned to wurschype*. [wrshepe O, honoure D.] oure lady,*. [ladye O.]\nAnd þat for*. [ys for O, is for D.] a grete*. [gret O.] resun;—\nwhan Ihesu deyd þurgh*. [qwan i. deyȝede þorwh D.] passyun,\nhys dyscyplys douted*. [douȝttedyn D.] echoun*. [echone O.]\nwheþer he shulde ryse or noun.*. [none O, qweþer . . non D.]\nAlle þat beleued yn hym byfore,*. [Alle þo þat trowedyn . . . beforn D.]\nAlle here beleuë was nygh forlore,*. [trouþe was forlorn D.]\nFro þe fryday þat he deyde,\nTo tyme*. [deyȝed . til D.] þat he ros, as he seyde.\nBut hys modyr, vyrgyne*. [blessid D.] Marie,\nShe bare þe beleue vp*. [þe truþe D.] stedfastly\nFro þe fryday at þe noun\nTyl alle þe satyrday was doun,*. [non (om. alle) . . al don D.]\nAnd alle*. [al O.] þe nyȝt*. [nyght O.] tyl þat he ros,\nOf alle*. [al O.] oure beleue*. [trouþe D.] she bare þe los;— Page 32\nÞat, crystyn men beleuyn now*. [leuyn D.] echon,\nIn here þat tyme was hyt alone;*. [was a lon D.]\nAnd for þat skylle, þan*. [þen O.] þynkeþ me,\nÞe satyrday may here ounë*. [owyn D.] be:\nÞarefore þat day al holy cherche\nÞeyr*. [Her O.] seruyse of here*. [her seruyse for her D.] þey werche.\nAnd ryȝt*. [ryþt.] now for þe*. [þys O.] samë skylle,*. [þat ilke skil D.] [folio 6b:2]\nA tale þerforë telle y wylle.\nThe Tale of the Vine-Storms and the Saturday half Holy-Day.\nIn Nauerne, be-ȝunde þe see,*. [A tale]\nIn Venyse,*. [O. a later hand has inserted in before a.] a gode*. [grete D.] cyte,*. [Cytee O.]\nDwellyd a prest of Yng[e]lond,\nAnd was a-uaunsed, y vndyrstond.\nEuery ȝere at þe florysyngge,\nwhan þe vynys shuldë*. [qwan her vynnys gunne to D.] spryngge,\nA tempest þat tyme began*. [gan D.] to falle,\nAnd fordede here vynys alle;\nEuery ȝere withoutyn fayle,\nAnd fordyde here grete*. [for-dede al her D.] trauayle.\nÞerfor þe folk*. [folke O.] were alle*. [al O, weryn alle D.] sory\nÞurgh þe cyte comunly.*. [alle comounly D.]\nÞys prest seyd, "y shal ȝow telle\nwhat*. [qwat D.] shal best þys tempest felle:\nOn Satyrday shul ȝe ryngge noun,*. [þe s. s. ȝe rynge non D.]\nAnd late no lenger no werke be doun:*. [lengere werk be don D.]\nBut halewe[n]*. [halewyn D.] alle comunly\nYn þe wurschype*. [wrshepe O.] of oure lady;\nFor, þat manere*. [maner O.] halewe*. [be þat maner halewyd D.] we Page 33\nÞurgh Inglond yn oure*. [þat O, In ynglond my D.] cuntre;\nAnd ȝyueþ*. [ȝeuyþ O, ȝeue ȝe D.] better ȝoure offryngys*. [offryng D.]\nAnd tyþeth weyl alle ȝourë þynges.*. [tyþe ȝe bettere ȝoure newyng D.]\nAnd*. [O and D omit And.] ȝyf ȝe do þus goddys heste,*. [hest O, be-hest D.]\nHe saueþ ȝoure vynys fro þe tempest."*. [fro tempest D.]\nAt hys cunsel, on þys manere\nHalewede þey, al þat yche*. [halewedyn D, om. yche.] ȝere;\nAnd whan hyt come to*. [þe O, qwan it cam þe somerys D.] somer tyde,\nTyme of þe tempest to vnryde,*. [suyche tyme as tempest gan vp hyde D.]\nHere vynys florshedë*. [floreschedyn D.] feyre & weyl\nwithoutyn tempest euery*. [with out tach a D.] deyl.\nÞan commaunded þey, and made*. [Þei comaundyd þan & madyn D.] a cry\nYn the wurschyp,*. [wrshepe O.] of oure lady,\n'On satyrday shulde men noun ryngge,\nAnd syþyn halew of allë*. [al O, halewyn of alle D.] þyngge,\nAnd here tyþys to ȝeuë*. [tyþis ȝeuyn D.] ryȝt*. [ryght O.]\nMochë bettyr at here myght.'\nAnd so, grete*. [þe gret O, þe grete D.] tempest secede al, [folio 7a]\nÞat on þeyr*. [here O, here vynys w. wont D.] frutys was wnt to fal.\nSeþyn, oueral yn þat cuntre\nÞere þey made nat þys solemnyte,\nwere*. [weryn D.] here vynys al destroyed,\nAnd þe folk*. [folke O.] mochyl*. [& all þe folk meche D.] a-noyd.\nFel hyt on*. [it fel so D.] a satyrday\nA man hyréd folke tó*. [herede folk to þe D.] ful pay;\nÞe half day ne haléwd*. [halewede O.] he noght,*. [haleday he halewid not D.]\nFor al*. [al an O.] hole day hyt shulde be wroght;*. [for on þe holyday be wrout D.]\nÞe tymë come*. [com O.] þat noun*. [cam . noon D.] þey rong,*. [ronge O, runge D.]\nAs þey hadde*. [as it was D.] ordeyned hem among:*. [amonge O.]Page 34\nAlle*. [Al O.] þe wyrkmen homward*. [homwarde O, homward þei D.] ȝede,\nBut he and hys dede furþ hys*. [here D.] dede.\nOuþer men seyd,*. [seidyn D.] þey shuld nat werche\nLengyr þan þey rong*. [ronge O, runge D.] none at þe chyrche.*. [at cherche D.]\n"Comyþ alle home, & hauyþ doun,\nAnd haleweþ with vs at þe*. [þis.] noun\nIn þe wurschype*. [wrshepe O.] of oure lady,\nAs now ys custome*. [custum OD.] comunly."\nOne of hem swore hys oþe\nÞat he ne wlde,*. [schulde not D.] for lefe ne*. [no O.] loþe,\nHalew*. [Halewe O.] morë at þe*. [halewyn m. a. þat D.] none*. [noun O.]\nÞan hyt wás wnt to be done;*. [doun O, for t. be don D.]\nNe he ne shulde,*. [he wold not D.] for oure lady,\nBut wyrchë forþe þe*. [furþ þat O.] day holy.*. [forth al dayly D.]\nDowun*. [Down O, Doun D.] he smotë hys mattok,\nAnd fyl hym self ded as a stok.*. [at þat strok D.]\n(21Mattok*. [Mattoke O.] is a pykeys,\nOr a pyke, as sum men seys.21*. [21_21 not in D.])\nÞe*. [þat D.] caytefe lay, and myȝt nat speke;\nFurþ, for ded, men gan hym streke;\nMen crydë*. [creydyn D.] fast 'a prest, a prest.'\nBut no wrde come out of*. [wurd cam fro D.] hys brest.\nAs þey stode, & made grete*. [gret O, stodyn & madyn get D.] þrong,*. [þronge.]\nA gode man stodë hem a-mong,*. [amonge O.]\nAnd seyd*. [seyde O.] "þys man ys at þe ded;\nwyl*. [wyle O.] ȝe do allë at*. [Wil ȝe don alle be D.] my rede?\nAllë men þat þys chaunce sees, [folio 7a:2]\nSyttyþ dowun vpp-on ȝoure*. [down opon ȝoure O, oure H.] knees;*. [seen . . kneen D.]\nAnd pray we god, þat alle þyng*. [al þynge to god þat al D.] may,\nAnd to oure lady þat owyþ þys day, Page 35\nÞat she graunte vs swyche a*. [graunt vs þat D.] ȝyfte\nÞat he may speke, & take hys shryfte,*. [& take . schrifte D.]\nIn swych a forward, þat he & we\nShul euer more chastyed*. [chastyde O, chastysyd D.] be."\nwhen þey to prey on knees*. [qwan þei on knees doun D.] gan falle,\nÞe*. [þat D.] man spake fyrst among*. [amonge O, among D.] hem alle:\n"whan y swore, he seyd, so hastly,*. [& seyde qwan I swor stedfastly D.]\nÞat y wlde*. [I schuld D.] nat leue, for oure lady,\nNe halewe þys day of my*. [to halewe . . myn D.] note,\nAn*. [& D.] hande y sagh come to my þrote,\nAnd hyldë me þarby so sore*. [held me þerby sore D.]\nÞat y to ȝow myȝt*. [myghte O, myȝt D.] speke no more.\nOure lady was with me so wroþe\nÞat y swore by here an oþe,\nÞat y wlde nat leue for here to werche\nÞoght men rong*. [þoghe men runge O, þowh men runge non D.] noun at þe cherche;\nNe here helpe hadde be, þat was*. [hadde here helpe be þat was O, ne wer hir helpe þat is D.] so nere,\nÞe hand me haddë*. [þat hand me schulde a D.] strangled here.\nAnd ȝe þat stondeþ*. [stondyn OD.] me bysyde,\nÞat preyd for me þat ychë*. [preyedyn for me in þat D.] tyde,\nBlessed mote ȝe allë be\nFor ȝoure preyers haþ*. [ȝoure preyer haþ O, ȝoure preyerys han D, oure . . . H.] saued me."\nOf þys tale ys alle*. [al OD.] þe entent\nTo kepe weyl*. [holdyn wel D.] þe commaundëment,—\nÞat ys, to holde wel*. [weyl O, to om. D.] þyn halyday\nIn allë þyngë*. [al þynge O, alle þyng H.] þat þou may.*. [in clene lyuyng . man wyf & may. D.]\nNe þou shalt swere vnwurschyply,*. [ne swere not vn-wurþly D.]\nBy oure lorde, ne by*. [by om. D.] oure lady.\nSwyche men halewe nat*. [sweche men halwyn not D.] gostly,\nÞat on þe*. [þe om. D.] halyday leuyn no foly. Page 36\nȜyf þou make karol or play,\nÞou halewyst nat þyn halyday.*. [brekyst þin holyday D.]\nȜyf þou come ouergladly þar tyl,*. [come gladly þertille D.]\nAnd ȝyuest þarto mochyl*. [ȝeue þerto meche D.] þy wyl,\nyn þat hast þou mochyl*. [haddist þou meche D.] plyȝt, [folio 7b]\nFor synne wyl*. [wyle O.] come þurgh swychë*. [swylke O, of þat D.] syȝt.\nȜyf þou euer settyst swerde eyþer ryng*. [settyst euer swerde or rynge O, ȝif þou cause peple to gret gaderyng D.]\nFor to gadyr a wrastlyng,*. [gadere a wrastlynge O, to make revel or D.]\nÞe*. [þi D.] halyday þou holdest noght\nwhan swyche bobaunce for þe ys wroȝt.*. [qwan suych ryot . . wrout D.]\nCuntek*. [Cunteke D.] þere comyþ, or ouþer bobaunce,*. [or o. dystaunce O, & distaunce D.]\nAnd summan*. [summe men D.] slayn, or lost*. [and lost O.] þurȝe*. [þurghe O, & lorn be D.] chaunce.\nȜyf*. [And ȝif D.] þou euer yn felde, eyþer in*. [or in O, or D.] toune,\nDedyst floure-gerland or coroune*. [Sette fflour garlond vp on þi croun D.]\nTo makë wommen to gadyr*. [wommen gadere O, to do women gadere D.] þere,\nTo se*. [see O, sen weche þ . . ore were D.] whych þat feyrer were;\nÞys ys aȝens þe commaundëment,\nAnd þe halyday for þe ys shent;\nHyt ys a gaderyng for lecherye,*. [of leccheryȝe D.]\nAnd ful grete pryde, & hertë hye.*. [herte enuyȝe D.]\nȜyf þou euer ianglyst at*. [þou make Iangelyng at ony D.] messe\nYn þe cherche with*. [with om. D.] more or lesse,\nAnd lettyst*. [to lette D.] men of here preyers,*. [preyerys OD.]\nFor hem perel soþely*. [al here pereyl forsoþe D.] þou berys;\nÞe halyday þou holdest nat*. [haldyst nat O, þin holiday . . . not a D.] ryȝt,\nAnd lettyst to wurschyp*. [wrshype O, þat lettyst to wurschep god of myȝt D.] god almyȝt.\nHalyday*. [þe haliday D.] was made for preyere, Page 37\nTo god oure herende*. [erende O, arende D.] for to bere.\nCertys we ouȝt þan with ful*. [owyn to be ful of D.] mynde\nTo preye god vs of synne*. [& pray god out of synne vs D.] vnbynde,\nAnd yn gode lyfe vs wysse & rede,\nAnd for-ȝeue vs al*. [he forȝeue vs D.] oure mysdede.\nȜyf þou hauntyst to make þy*. [haunte . . þis D.] play\nAt þe tauerne on þe halyday,\nTo many on comyþ þarfore*. [many come þeder for to do D.] euyl\nÞurgh cumberaunce*. [þorw encoumbraunce D.] of þe deuyl.\nHoly chyrchë wyl*. [wyle O.] þe werne\nÞe halyday to go*. [þat day to gon D.] to þe tauerne,\nAnd namly byfore*. [be forn D.] þe noun\nwhan goddys seruyse owyþ to*. [qwil . . . schulde D.] be doun.\nTauerne*. [þe tauerne D.] ys þe deuylys knyfe\nHyt sleþ þe, oþer soule or*. [sleth boþe soule & D.] lyfe;\nOne of þys, shal hyt*. [þese it schal D.] do, [folio 7b:2]\nȜyf þou haunte comunly þarto.*. [þou it vse to gon D.]\nHytshortyþ þy lyfe, ouer moche*. [meche D.] drynkynge,\nAnd*. [it D.] sleþ þy soule with bakbytyngge;\nHyt wastyþ þy body, and makeþ þe drye,*. [it dreyȝe D.]\nAnd gadryd lecherye*. [gaderyþ lechours O, gaderith many D.] to glotonye;\nAnd þe comaundment ys brokun,\nAnd þe halyday, byfore of spokun.*. [Þe holy day is ofte broken; & þe comaunde|ment al fore-spoken D.]\nȜyf þou do any man o dawe*. [of dawhe D, O. gloss 'to þe deþ.']\nOn þe halyday for any lawe,\nSwychë men greuusly*. [sueche m. g. þei D.] werche\nAȝens þe state of holy chyrche:\nFor holy preyere,*. [preyer O, to be holy in lyuyng D.] and for þe pees,\nþe halyday god hyt chees.*. [ordeyned is D.]\nȜyf þou euer with iogeloure, Page 38\nwith hasadoure, or*. [oþer O, or (ony roytour) D.] with rotoure,\nHauntyst tauerne, or were to any pere*. [were helpere D.]\nTo pley at þe ches*. [at ches D.] or at þe tablere,\nSpecyaly before þe noun\nwhan goddys seruyse owyþ*. [oghte O, qwan . . schulde D.] to be doun,\nHyt ys*. [It were D.] aȝens þe comaundment\nAnd holy cherches*. [þat al holy cherche D.] asent.\nȜyf þou be*. [ȝif he were D, 'ordred' inserted in a later hand.] 'infra sacros,'\nAnd art a clerk, & hast þe los*. [& he were clerk & hadde þe loos D.]\nOf subdekene,*. [Sodeke (om. of) D.] or dekene by name,\nSo moche art þou*. [meche he were D.] þe more to blame.\nÞys lerned*. [lerenyde O, þese lerede D.] men ȝyuen*. [ȝeuyn OD.] ensample so\nÞat þe lewd*. [lewede O, lewde (om. þat) D.] men þe more mysdo.\nGod ȝyue us grace þe halyday*. [oure holiday D.]\nTo kepë*. [þat it be D.], Ihesu cryst to pay.\n[The Fourth Commandment.*. [Quartum mandatum ¶ Honora patrem & ma|trem, vt sis longeuus D.]]\nThe fourþe comaundment ys, "oure\nFadyr & modyr we shal*. [þou schalt D.] honoure."\nCertys þe chylde trespasyþ ful yl*. [doþ ful ille D.]\nÞat wyl*. [wyle O.] nat do þe fadrys wyl;\nÞe chylde owyþ hys wyl al*. [to D.] do,\nBut dedly synne be þar-vnto;*. [þerto D.]\nFor god forbedeþ swych synne algate,\nFor loue, or for*. [O omits 'for.'] drede, erly or*. [Not to do . erly ne D.] late.\nEllys yn al þyng*. [þynge O.] þat we*. [al þat euere þou D.] may, [folio 8a]\nFadyr & modyr wurschype*. [wrshepe O.] we ay.*. [ay and glossed 'euere' in O, D om. we.]\nȜyf þou euer, yn euyl wetand*. [ȝif ony man in euyl euere wetende D.],\nOn fadyr or modyr leydest þyn*. [leyd on D.] hand, Page 39\nHyt ys comaunded yn sum lawe*. [lawhe D.]\nþat swych men shulde be doun o dawe.*. [a man schulde be slawe D.]\nVnneþys shuld þey mercy*. [mercy shulde þey O, Vnneþe mercy schulde he D.] fynde,\nFor swyche a chylde ys kalled vnkynde;*. [on kynde D.]\nNo bysshope may ȝyue þerfore*. [þer of O, þe byschop þerof may not ȝeue doom D.] dome\nBut þe pope of þe court*. [curte O, pope of gret Rome D.] of Rome.\nȜyf þou were euer*. [& ȝif ony be D.] so felun\nTo ȝyue fadyr or modyr þy*. [her D.] malysun,\nOr stonde*. [stant D.] aȝens hem yn answere,\nAnd wldest nat*. [or wil not D.] bowë ne forbere,\nÞou hast synned þan dedly,\nTo endëles penaunce wurþy,*. [wrþy O, & endeles pyne art wurþi D.]\nBut sonë þou þer-of þe*. [þer of þou þe O, þou þerof Harl., þou þer-of þe clene D.] shryue\nAnd be bowyng yn*. [& to hem bowe þe D.] al þy lyue.\nȜyf þy fadyr or modyr bydde*. [ȝif fader or moder D.] þe ouȝt do,\nAnd þou wylt nat bleþly*. [blely O, woldist nat wende D.] þarto\nBy*. [Be OD.] þy wyl, but euer*. [euere O, om. D.] gruchande,\nÞou shalt weyl*. [þer of wel D.] vndyrstande,\nÞat, þogh þou do forþe þy*. [alþowh þou do it in D.] dede,\nÞat synne ys mochë for*. [ȝit þ. s. mechil is D.] to drede.\nÞou oghtyst*. [owyst D.] to bere penaunce grym,\nFor þou greuyst a lytyl*. [a litil greuedyst D.] hym.\nwith al þy myght, and*. [in D.] ryȝt gode wyl,\nÞy fadrys*. [fadyrs O.] byddyng*. [faderys entent D.] þou shalt fulfyl.\nȜyf fadyr or modyr falle*. [fallyn D.] yn elde,\nAnd noþer*. [þat neyþer D.], for pouert*. [pouerte O.], may hem self*. [hym selfe O, hem be D.] welde,\nHere chyldryn are holdë þan, þurgh*. [arn holde be D.] ryȝt,\nTo susteyn*. [susteyne O.] hem at alle*. [al O, after her D.] here myght. Page 40\nȜyf þey se*. [& þei sen D.] hem so at mysese\nAnd þey may lyuë wel*. [weyl O, moun lyuyn wel at here D.] at ese,\nBut þey help hem,*. [hem helpe OD.] þey are*. [arn D.] to blame\nAnd wrþy to haue wrldës*. [wrldys O, & were wurþi worldys D.] shame.\nÞoght*. [þoghe O, þowh þei han to D.] þey hauë þe mysdoun,\nÞou shalt nát fynde*. [fynde none OD (eschesoun D).] enchesoun\nÞat þyn help*. [helpe O, þi helpe be not fro D.] be fro hem went, [folio 8a:2]\nFor hyt*. [it D (om. For).] were aȝens þe comaundment.\nY se men þat purchasours*. [I se pourchasourys in labour D.] are,\nÞat coueyte catel with sorwe & kare\nHere chyldryn godë for*. [& for her childryn good D.] to wynne,\nAnd here*. [þowh her D.] soulës synke for synne.\nAnd oþer men also y*. [many men now I D.] see,\nÞat ȝyue here chyldryn boþe lond &*. [ȝeuyn here childryn good in D.] fee\nFor to fynde hem*. [to fyndyn hem her D (om. For).] sustynaunce\nyn here age*. [her elde D.], for allë*. [al O, alle D.] chaunce.\nÞo men, me þynkeþ, most*. [gretly D.] mysdo,\nÞat ȝyue here godë fro hem so;*. [ȝeuyþ her lond so hem fro D.]\nHyt were*. [ȝyt were hem OD.] bettyr holde here land,*. [better to here lond D.]\nÞan begge hyt at a-nouþers hand:*. [a noþer hond D.]\nMen wexen sone sadde of hem þat*. [orkyn soone with hem to D.] craue\nWhen þey weyl wete þat þey naght*. [þat wetyn wel þei no good D.] haue.\nBy a tale, y shal ȝou mone,*. [warne]\nÞat fyl betwyx þe fadyr & þe*. [be-twen þe good man & his D.] sone.\n[The Tale of the Fond Father.]\nOf a man þat sum tyme was,*. [A tale.]\ny shal*. [I wil D.] ȝou telle a lytyl pas.\nOf hys sone*. [child D.] he was gelous, Page 41\nAnd ȝaue hym alle*. [al OD.] hys land & hous,\nAnd al hys catel in toune & felde,\nþat he shulde kepe hym wel*. [weyl O, schulde hym ȝeuyn D.] yn hys elde.\nÞys ȝong man wax fast*. [faste O, wex (om. faste) D.], & was iolyfe,\nhys cunseyl was*. [ȝaf O.] to take a wyfe;\nhe weddyd one, & broght here home\nwith alle þe*. [O omits 'þe.'] myrþe þat þerto come;*. [al mery he spak to hir & com D.]\nHe badde here fyrst,*. [O inserts 'boþe;' bad of . . . boþe D.] loude and stylle,\nTo serue*. [servyn (om. weyl) D.] hys fadyr weyl at hys wylle.\nSone aftyrwarde,*. [after þat D.] þys ȝongë man,\nHys herte, hys*. [he his D.] þoght, chaunge began;\nTendrere he was of wyfe and chylde,\nÞan to hys fadyr oþer*. [om. oþer D.] meke or mylde.\nOf o day, he*. [hym OD.] þoght [four or] fyue;*. [iiij or fyue D.]\nLong*. [Longe O.] hym þoght hys fadyr a-lyue;\nAnd euery day, boþe þe toon and þe toþer,*. [day after oþer D.]\nSerued hym weyl wers þan oþer.*. [hym wers . & with wil loþer D.]\nY trowe þys man, whan*. [I þouȝte . . qwan D.] he gan mone [folio 8b]\nFor þoght þat*. [þat om. D.] he ȝaf so meche*. [moche O, meche D.] hys sone,\nÞys oldë man was broght so logh*. [brout . . . lowhe D.]\nÞat he lay ful colde besyde a wogh.*. [and lay . . be þe wowe D.]\nÞys oldë man, vp-on a day,\nPleyned hym þat he coldë lay:\n"Sone," he seyde, "for goddys loue\nwrye*. [hyl D. (Wrye, A.S. wríhan, cover.)] me with sum cloþe aboue."\nÞe sone, þat was þe husband\nTo whom was ȝyuë alle*. [al O, ȝowyn al his D.] þe land,\nClepyd hys sone,*. [he callid his child D.] & bade hym take\nA sak*. [sake O.] of þo*. [his D.] þat he dede make,\nAnd badde hym turnë hyt tweyfolde*. [twofolde O, to fold D.]Page 42\nAnd ley*. [leye O, leyn D.] hyt on hys fadyr for colde.\nÞe chylde [dede*. [dede D, om. HO.]] as he bad hym do,\nToke a sak*. [sake O.] & karf*. [karfe O.] hyt yn*. [he tok . . . on to D.] two.\nHys fadyr spakë to hym ȝorne,*. [O. glossed 'vaste.' he seyde to þe child hym be-forn D.]\n"Sey, why hast þou þe*. [qwhy hast þou þus þis D.] sak shorne?"\nþe chylde answered hym*. [hym answerde D.] yn haste\nA wurdë þurgh þe holy gaste,*. [hely gast D.]\n"Þys dedë haue y do for þe;\nGode ensample ȝyuyst*. [ȝyfst O, ȝeue D.] þou me\nHow y shal serue þe yn þy*. [þyn O, þus schal I þe serue in þin D.] elde,\nwhan þou, þy self, mayst nat*. [qwhan þou mayst not þe be D.] welde;\nÞys halfe sak*. [sake O.] shal lygge*. [lyn D.] þy fadyr aboue,\nAnd kepe þe touþer part*. [& I schal kepe þat oþer D.] to þy*. [þyn D.] behoue.\n* D adds 2 lines:\nþou must han nedis cloth & corn\n& I provyde for þe be-forn.\nVnkyndly þou techyst me þe*. [lernyst me to be D.] gode;\nOf unkynde cumþ vnkyndë*. [onkynde . comyþ onkynde D.] blode."\n*. Þys ensample were gode*. [is good D.] to kone,\nBoþe to þe fadyr & eke to*. [for þe fader & D.] þe sone.\nGod ys noght payd, here*. [not plesyd as D.] we fynde,\nÞat þe sone to þe fadyr ys nat kynde.*. [þer þe . . . vnkynde D.]\nÞarfor spekþ*. [spekyþ O, seyth þe wyse D.] Salamon\nTo fadrys & to husbandys echon,*. [euerychon.]\n'Þe whylys þat ȝe may drawe ȝoure*. [ȝour O, qwhyl . . . ȝour ond D.] hand,\nNe ȝyueþ neuer awey*. [ȝeue neuer a-wey al D.] ȝoure land,\nAnd make ȝoure*. [ȝow O, ȝour D.] self, sogettys to be*. [to be soget D.]\nTo hem þat owyn ȝow seruee.'*. [serue O, to serue ȝow bet D. D again adds 2 lines: 'do be counseyl & make it sekyr; þat it be truly sauyd fro bekyr'; but then leaves out two, 1183-4, 'Ne þy . . a-ȝene.']\nAnoþer wysdom a clerk vs telleþ, [folio 8b:2] Page 43\nSenek, þat moche of wysdom spellyþ,*. [mechil of wysdam telliþ D.]\n'Ne be þou neuere*. [Harl. omits 'neuere;' D omits 'Ne.'] yn swych errour\nTo make þyn eyr þy secutour,*. [secatour D.]\nNe þy sekutoure þy fysycyene,\nYn hopë for to leue a-ȝene.'\nFor þy þyng, þy*. [þynge þyn O, Of al þi good . þin D.] eyr seyþ þys,\nÞat byfore was þyn, he halt hyt hys;*. [al þat was or is . he tellith his D.]\nÞyn executure,*. [exekutour O, executour D.] to haue þy þyng,*. [þynge O, þing D.]\nwlde þat þou madyst þyn endyng.*. [endynge O, Wolde þou . . endyng D.]\nÞou owyst*. [owst O.] to do no þyng*. [þynge O, Do no þing lowd ne D.] stylle\nwithoute leue of þy fadrys wylle;*. [D adds 2 more lines: þat is to seyn . tak þou no þing. with-out þi faderys byddyng.]\nÞat ys to seyë,*. [seyn D.] take no wyfe\nFor to make betwyxe*. [betwen D.] ȝou stryfe;\nNe no grete þyng*. [gret þynge O, gret þing D.] beye ne*. [beyȝe ne D.] selle\nȜyf þou vndyr hys gouernaunce*. [gouernayle O, kepyng D.] dwelle.\nTo relygyun þou mayst*. [In-to religioun mayst þou D.] go\nwithoutë cunseyl of any*. [ony D.] mo;\nAnd to*. [to þe OD.] holy land, ȝyf þou haue hyt hette;*. [ȝif þou it hete D.]\nSyb, ne vnsyb, may*. [ne may O.] hyt lette.*. [for sibbe ne frend schalt þou not lete D.]\nA clerk þat folylyche*. [þe clerk seiþ . he þat folyly D.] dyspendyth\nþe godys þat hysfadyr hymȝyueþ*. [ȝyfþ O.] or sendyþ,\nAnd wyl*. [wyle O.] nat ȝyue hym for to lere\nClergye ne*. [er D.] craft, or ouþer mystere,\nwykkedlyche al þat gode he dyspendyþ*. [stelyþ O, þat good þou stelyst wikkydly I gesse D.]\nþat hys fadyr for godenesse spelyþ.*. [godenes. þat þi fader spendith for þi good|nesse D.]\nTo hard a-cuncte*. [acomptis D.] shall he be sette\nAt hys endyng, whan he shal be*. [qwan he is D.] fette,\nÞat so hys tyme haþ al forlore,*. [haþ for-lorn D.]Page 44\nAnd aȝens hys fadyr so hym mysbore,*. [so mys born D.]\nBut*. [But ȝyf O.] he ȝelde hym, ȝyf þat*. [it ȝif D.] he may,\nOr preye for hym boþe nyght and day;\nFor ȝyf þou mayst, & wylt noght,*. [& ȝif þou may & wil not D.]\nÞou art yn weye to peyne*. [to þe pyne D.] be broght.\nFor a-noþer also*. [also om. D.] þou mayst be shent:\nȜyf þou destroblyst*. [desturblyst O, distourble D.] here testament\nYn here lyfe, or aftyr here*. [þe D.] ded,\nwith powere*. [power or ȝyfte O, power ȝifte D.] or ȝyft, cunseyl or rede,\nÞou hast trespast apertly*. [trespasyd a gret party D.] [folio 9a]\nAȝens þys cómaundment so hy.\nOf alle wykked men þat men*. [alle men þat wikkid we D.] calle,*. [nota bene]\nÞe fals executours be*. [arn D.] werst of alle;\nFor þey ne reche*. [rekke not D.] how þe soulë fare,*. [vare O.]\nAnd mennys owne eyres*. [chyldyr O, & her owyn childryn D.], werst with hem are.\ny tolde erwhyle,*. [erwhyl O, qwhyle qwy D.] for no socour\nÞou make*. [mak þou not D.] þyn eyre þyn executour;\nFor alle þat was langere*. [longe D.] þy catel,\nhe halt*. [now he holdiþ D.] hyt hys, euery deyl.*. [euerydel O.]\n'Loue þou þy chyldyr out of wytte;\nTrust to hem, and helples sytte.'\nOuþer ensample nedyþ þe noun*. [thore ȝe non D.] take;\nwhat dost*. [duste O, qwat dost D.] þou for þy fadrys sake,\nȜyt shal þy sone do for þe, les;\nFor euer*. [euer O.] þe lastë, þe werst es.*. [is the werse D.]\nOn hem y rede þyn herte so*. [hym . . þou D.] kest,\nÞat þou louë þy self*. [þe selfe O, loue þi self . & þi god best D.] best;\nLoue so þy chyldyr, loue so*. [loue þou childryn & loue D.] þy wyff,*. [wyffe O.]Page 45\nÞat þou saue þe, boþe*. [þou loue boþe þi D.] soule & lyff.*. [lyffe.]\nLoue fadyr & modyr, þat þe forþe*. [furþ O, forth D.] brouȝt,\nÞenk on þat loue whan þey may nouȝt.*. [her loue qwan þei moun nat D.]\nSeynt poule þat sagh*. [Poule saw D.] goddys pryuyte,\nhe*. [& D.] seyþ yn hys autoryte\nA feyrë wurd*. [feyr wrde O, fayr wurd D.] vs for to saue,\nAnd specyaly to hem*. [þo D.] þat chyldryn*. [chyldyr O.] haue:\nHe seyþ "be ȝe neuer so fole hardy\nTo curse*. [kurse O, waryen D.] ȝoure chyldryn byttyrly;\nNe greuusly, for lytyl*. [no D.] trespas,\nBetechë hem*. [be-take hem not D.] to satanas."\nMoche ys ȝour malysun*. [mechil is ȝoure maleys for D.] to drede;\nCurseþ hem noght;*. [cursith not D.] y ȝow forbede.\nOft*. [Ofte O.] haue men boþe herde & see*. [Oftyn man hau herd & sen D.]\nÞat moche veniaunce þerfor haþ bee.*. [mechil . . . ben D (om. þat).]\nFor to leue ȝoure cursyng*. [ȝour cursynge O, ȝoure bannyng D.] bolde,*. [A tale.]\nY shal ȝow telle what*. [þat D.] me was tolde\nOf a prest þat sagh and fonde*. [saw & fond D.]\nÞys chauncë yn*. [be-fil in D.] þe holy londe.\n[The Tale of the Mother who curst her Child.]\nA womman on a day ful raþe\nȜede to a watyr here*. [hir D.] for to baþe,\nAnd to[ke]*. [bad D.] here doghtyr here cloþys to kepe,*. [cloþis kepe D.]\nAnd baddë here*. [bade here þat O, chargid hir D.] she shuld nat slepe;\n"But, as sone as y þe kalle,\nBe redy with my cloþys alle."\nwhan*. [qwan D.] she was baþed, she kalled*. [calde O, callyd D (om. her).] here faste,\nAnd bade here brynge here cloþys*. [bad bryngyn hir cloþis to hir D.] yn haste. Page 46\nHere douȝtyr was nat alle*. [not al D.] redy,\nNe comë nat at here fyrst*. [& cam not at þe ferste D.] cry.\nÞe modyr þat sat in here baþ\nwax*. [wex D.] ful of ire and of wraþ,\nAnd cleþyd*. [clepede OD.] eft-sonys aftyr here,*. [. . hyre O, clepede hir hastyly D.]\nkursyng*. [Kursynge O.] with ryghte gretë yre,*. [waryed hir ful bitterly D.]\nAnd seyd, "þe devyl come on*. [sche seyde þe deuyl mote come with D.] þe,\nFor, þou art nat redy to me."\n"And y am redy," seyd*. [þo seyde D.] þe deuyl,\n"To take þat þou me betaght*. [betakyst D.] with euyl."\nhe flegh on herë*. [fley in-to hir D.] þere*. [þer.] she stode,\nAnd madë herë wytte*. [here of here wyt O, hir out of hir wit D.] al wode.\nÞys godë man for a-nouþer þyng*. [made a gret spekyng D.]\nTolde hyt oft*. [ofte.] yn hys prechyng,*. [þat non come nyȝe hire for no þing D.]\nÞat none durste speke with here syþyn\nBut ȝyf*. [ȝyf om. D.] he werë clenë shryuyn;\nFor*. [& D.] ȝyf he were yn dedely synne,\nÞe fendë*. [deuyl D.] þat was here with-ynne\nMade here seye hym so moche*. [dede hir seyn hym so mechil D.] shame\nÞat alle men wundred*. [þat alle wundredyn D.] on hys blame.\nAnd þat was preued with*. [be D.] many one\nÞat to þe holy lond was gone.\nÞerfore, ȝe chyldryn, before al þyng*. [þynge O, for alle þinge D.]\nDredyþ ȝoure*. [ȝour O, ȝe D.] modrys warryng;*. [waryynge, glossed 'cursynge,' O; moderys waryynge D.]\nAnd, ȝe wyuys, þenkeþ on þys cas,\nwerryþ nat*. [Waryyþ noghte O, waryyth not for a D.] for lytyl trespas.\nÞey þat wyl*. [wyle O, For ȝe þat wil D. D has in margin, 'be war of waryyng.'] gladly warye,\nhem warryþ*. [waryyþ O, warye hem D.] god & seynt marye.\nFor ho-so haunteþ hyt*. [hauntyþ hyt O, it hawnte D.] comunly Page 47\nYn ernest*. [in sclaunder D.] or yn rybaudy,\nHe shall haue warryng*. [waryynge O, warnyng fro (corr. from 'wary|yng') D.] for blysse, [folio 9b]\nAnd of*. ['his' inserted in a later hand.] blessyng shal he*. [he schal D.] mysse;*. [glost 'fayle' in MS.]\nAnd ho-so curseþ withoutyn*. [ho so warye with-out D.] gylt*. [gylte O.]\nHyt shal on hys hede be pylt.*. [pylte O, spylt D. O. gloss 'caste.']\nCurser[y]s yn alle*. [Kurserys yn al O, for waryerys in al D.] here lyue\nShal*. [Shul O.] neuer haue grace for to*. [þei shul neuere han grace to D.] þryue;\nAs þey vse, so shal hem*. [so schal þei D.] falle,\nFor kursyng*. [kursynge O, waryyng (om. shal) D.] shal come on hem alle.\nwurschepyþ ȝoure*. [ȝour O.] fadrys, & ȝoure fadrys ȝow,\nÞan queme ȝe God, and doun ȝoure*. [ȝour O.] prow.*. [honouriþ ȝoure fader & moder euene; þan plese ȝe god þat sit in heuene. D.]\nGod ȝyue vs grace to oure endyng*. [endyngge O, endyng D.]\nTo kepe*. [kepyn D.] vs fro modrys cursyng,*. [kursyngge O, waryyng D.]\nAnd oure*. [oure O.] fadrys so to queme;\nÞat goddys comaundement we may ȝeme.*. [goddis c. þat we may queme D.]\n[The Fifth Commandment.*. [Quintum mandatum. Non occides D.]]\nTO þe fyfþe*. [fyþe O, fyfte D.] now shul we go,\nÞat ys,*. [ys om. D.] 'þou shalt no man slo.'\nÞe fyfþë,*. [fyþe O, fyfte D.] shalt þou vndyrstonde,\nYs, 'sle no man with þyn*. [ys om. D. sle no man with wil ne D.] honde,\nwith-outyn iustyce, for felonye,*. [for no þing . ne for no folyȝe D.]\nNe for no manere of robbrye.'\nȜyf þou do any man yn*. [or þif þou do ony in to D.] prysun,\nwykkedly, as a fals*. [as fals D.] felun,\nOr bynde yn upland or in burgh,*. [byndyn hym . . . borw D.]\nÞat he haue hys deþe*. [deþ O.] þer-þurgh,— Page 48\nCerteyn þe shal no þyng*. [þynge O.] were,*. [O. gloss 'kepe.' A-ȝens god schalt þou þe not forbere D.]\nÞat*. [þat, om. D.] for hys deþ þou shalt*. [ne shalt O, schalt þou D.] answere.\nȜyf þou euer yn any tyme*. [in ony stryf D.]\nReftë any man hys lyme,*. [reftyst ony man of his lyf D.]\nOr hyt was reftë þurgh þy rede,\nÞou art enchesun of hys dede.\nȜyf hyt be aȝens hys wylle*. [wyl O.]\nOr hys asent, þou synnest ful ylle.*. [yl O, þou schalt fulfille D.]\nȜyf þou þurgh wykked ordynaunce\nFordost pore mannys*. [mans O, for-dedyst p. mennys D.] sustynaunce\nþat aftyrward he may nat lyue,*. [leue O, myȝt not leue (om. he) D.]\nþou art coupable,*. [culpable D.]—a ȝyfte y ȝyue.*. [ȝeue O.]\nȜyf a porë man*. ['of' inserted in a later hand O, of D.] þe craue\nA melys mete, hys lyfe to*. [hys lyffe to O, it may hym D.] saue,—\nȜyf þou mayst ȝyue*. [ȝeue O.] hym, & nat*. [myȝt ȝeuyn hym & not ne D.] wylt, [folio 9b:2]\nBeforë*. [be-forn D.] god þou hast hym spylt.\nSeynt Ambrosë seyþ hardly,*. [hardyly O, hardily D.]\nÞat hyt ys slaghtyr*. [it is manslauȝtter D.] gostly.\nwhat shul we sey*. [seye O, qwat schul seynt þese doctourys D.] of þys dytours,\nÞys*. [a-ȝens þe D.] fals men, þat beyn sysours,\nÞat, for hate, a trewman wyl*. [trwman wyle O, trewe man dyȝtte D.] endyte,\nAnd a þefe for syluer*. [seluyr O, & for gold a strong þef D.] quyte?\nBe he neuer so strong*. [stronge O, strong D.] a þefe,\nȜyf he may ȝyue,*. [ȝeuyn D.] he shal be lefe;\nA porë*. [pore trewe D.] man þat may nat so,\nÞe deþë*. [deþ O.] þey wyl*. [wyle O, to þe deth he dampneth D.] dampne hym to.\nAlso hyt ys of þys dormers*. [al is of fals demerys D.] yn tounne,—\nFalsë*. [Fals H.] treytours & feloune,*. [þe false tretourys to-gedere rowne D.]— Page 49\nþat falslychë, for enuye,*. [þat falsly & felounly D.]\nOn here neghburs wyl gladly*. [wyle g. O, wil þey D.] lye,\nAnd seye*. [to seyn D.] forsoþe þat he haþ wroght\nÞyng*. [þynge O.] þat neuer ȝyt was do ne*. [no O, he neuere dede ne D.] þoght.\nþey sle hem allë*. [al O, slen hym al D.] þat þey may,\nwhan here gode los þey fordo for ay.*. [qwan þei þe wrong don say D.]\nyn alle*. [al O, slen hym al D.] þe wrlde, no ys more felonye,*. [felounly D.]\nÞan of þy neghbur next þe by.*. ['They byed on him.' Halliwell's Gloss. 'O. Norse bia, to spot or besmirch.']\nȜyf þou euer dedyst*. [dedyst euere D.] þyn entent\nyn fals cunsél*. [cunseyl O.] or cómaundment,\nÞat a man to þe deþe*. [deþ O, to dethe D.] were dyght\nwith wrong dome, or euyl syght;\nÞoght hyt semyd*. [semede ȝif al semede it D.] with þe lawe\nTo ȝeue þe dome, hyt ys grete awe*. [lawhe . . . awhe D.]\nwho-so demyþ felunsly,*. [deme felounly D.]\nAnd noþer wyþ pyte ne*. [and hath no pyte no no D.] mercy;\nhe [ne] shal no mercy haue,\nÞat alle wyl sle, and no man*. [al wyle . . . O, alle wil slen & non wil D.] saue.\ny shal ȝow telle for swychë*. [swych O, of suyche a D.] dome\nA tale þat sum tyme fyl*. [fil sumtyme D.] yn Rome.\nOf*. [out of D.] holy wryt, þe englysh*. [englysshe O, ynglysch D.] y toke,\n'Dialogus,'*. [Dealogo D.] men clepyn*. [clepe O, clepyn D.] þe boke.\nÞys tale ys wryte þer-yn*. [þer yn ys wrete O, wretyn þer-in D.] redy,\nAnd*. [It D.] fyl yn þe tyme of seynt Gregory.\n[*. ['Narracio' in margin D.] The Tale of the Knight who had a Vision of the Judgment.]\nyn Romë fyl a grete moreyne, [folio 10a] *. [gret moryne O, gret moreyn D.]*. [A tale.]\nA pestelens*. [pestlensse O, A man-qualm, a veniaunce of peyn D.] of men, a veniaunce to pyne,\nFor some þat ȝedë*. [ȝeden D.] yn þe strete Page 50\nSawe arwys fro heuene shete,*. [seyȝen . . . shetyn D.]\nAnd smote*. [smete O, smet D.] men to þe deþ*. [to dethe D.] doun ryȝt;\nAnd one of þe arwys wounded*. [wndede O.] a knyȝt.\nÞe knyȝt ful sorë syke gan lye,\nAnd was yn poynt as he shuld deye;*. [poynt for to deyȝe D.]\nhys spyryt was take to see a*. [sen þat D.] cas,\nRyght as goddys wyllë*. [wyl O, wille D.] was.\nhys frendys þat stode hym by*. [stodyn hym be syde D.]\nwende þat he hadde be dede bodely.*. [hildyn hym for ded in þat tyde D.]\nBut sonë, yn a lytyl þrowe,*. [sone after it gan falle D.]\nÞe body quaked þat þey alle sowe:*. [a-wok þat þei seyȝen it alle D.]\nSeþþë he tolde where he hadde be,*. [qwere he had ben D.]\nAnd mochë þyng þat he hadde see.*. [meche . . sen D.]\n"y sagh a brygge of mochë*. [saw a bregge of meche D.] wndyr,\nA grymly*. [grysly D.] watyr was þer vndyr,\nBlak and depe & ful stynkyngge,*. [foul styngkende D.]\nDredeful noyse hyt made rynnyngge.*. [a dredful . . rennende D.]\nDunward yn-to*. [vn-to D.] helle hyt ȝede;\nwhan y sagh*. [qwan I saw D.] hyt, y hadde grete drede.\nBe-ȝunde þat*. [þe.] brygge was a cuntre,\nÞe feyreste*. [feyrest O.] þat euer*. [euere O.] god lete be;\nAs a medue hyt was grene,\nSo feyre of syght*. [feyr of syght O, fayr of syȝt D.] ys noun, y wene,*. [is non sene D.]\nSo ful of flourys logh and hygh,\nAnd saueryd swete*. [& saueredyn D.] as spycerye.\nÞarto so feyre syght of coloure,*. [fayr . . kolour O, þerto fayr . . colour D.]\nDelytable, & swete of sauoure,*. [sauour O, & delectable & swete sauvur D.]\nY dar weyl seye*. [seyn D.] þat euermore\nA man myght leuë þat were þore;*. [lyuyn þat þer were D.]Page 51\nDeyë certys shuld he neuere,\nFor lyue*. [lyffe O, lyf D, om. For, for.] and hele ys þere for euere.\ny sagh þere folk*. [y saghe þer folke O.]3[of so feyr syghte,\nHere wonynge placys yn joye were dyghte;*. [her wonyngstede in joyȝe was dyȝt D.]\nAll þe*. [þo D.] folke]3*. [3_3 These two lines (from "of so" to "folke") printed from O, are omitted in the Harleian MS.] þat I saghe þere\nwere*. [O. omits "were"; as fayre aungelys alle þey D.] as feyre as aungelys were.\ny sagh þere housys of ful ryche atyre,*. [of ryȝt fayr tyr D.]\nAlle of gletryng*. [Al of gleterynge O.] golde as fyre;*. [as bryȝt schynyng as gold wyr D.]\nBlesful*. [Blysful O.] bryghtenes was*. [bernys were D.] þerynne; [folio 10a:2]\nÞe syght was cely, & welþe to wynne;\nFor, some of þo wynly wones*. [þe wurþi wonys D; O. gloss, 'sekyr dwell|yngys.']\nwere peynted with*. [al wyþ O, weryn al peynted with D.] precyus stones,\nSome were caste*. [dyȝt D.] with ryche colours\nAnd feyr*. [proudly OD.] peynted with frute & floures.\nÞere ys noun lyuyng here a*. [no man þat is o D.] lyue,\nBut criste, þat may*. [myȝte D.] hyt alle dyscryue.\nÞe soþë myght y neuer wytte,*. [he neuere wete D.]\nwho shuld yn þo stedys*. [in þat place D.] sytte.\nBut yn þe watyr þat was*. [þat water þat is D.] hydus,\nSstynkyng,*. [styngkende & D.] blak, & merueylus,\ny say*. [saghe O, saw D.] moche folk falle þerynne,\nCaytyuys charged ful of*. [false caytyuys chargyd with D.] synne.\nA myste out of þe watyr come,\nAnd to sum housys*. [hows O, hous D, om. And.] hyt gan gone,\nAnd to sum, come*. [com O, hous it cam not D.] hyt noght,\nÞat me merueyled yn my þoght.\nÞe bregge þat ouere þe watyr lay,\nHyt was euer of swyche a-say,\nÞat þer-ouere myght no man passe Page 52\nBut he were clene of euery trespas*. [trespasse O, of his trespas D.]\nÞat he ne shulde yn*. [but he schulde in-to D.] þe watyr falle\nTo þe mayster fende*. [deuel D.] of alle.\nÞo men þat loue to do ryghtly,*. [þe man þat louede to do ryȝt D.]\nÞey shal passe þere sauëly*. [he schulde passe þer safly a plyȝt D.]\nInto*. [In-to D, To HO.] þat blesful cuntre,\nÞere ioyë withoute ende shal be.\nA preste y sagh passe þere weyl,*. [saw þer passede wel D.]\nAnd hadde no lettyng of any deyl,*. [a deyl O, hadde lettyng neuere a del. D.]\nAs he hadde leuyd yn hys lyfe*. [In his lyf he had lyued D.] clene,\nAt hys passyng was hyt*. [it was D.] weyl sene.\nA man y kneugh þere*. [kn. þere also H, kneghe þ. a. O, saw þere (om. also) D.] yn peynys strong.*. [stronge O, peyne strong D.]\nÞat felunlyche dyde euer wrong;*. [wronge O, felounly euere dede wrong D.]\nI knegh*. [knew D.] hym here yn grete*. [gret OD.] bayly,\nHe loued veniaunce with-oute mercy.\n'Pers,' y wote*. [woot O, wot D.] weyl, was hys name,\nYn þe*. [þat D.] watyr he suffred shame.\ny sagh hym bere*. [saw þer D.] vpp-on hys krowne*. [crown Brennynge . . . down O, brennende yryn beryn D.] [folio 10b]\nBrynnyng eryn þat bare hym downe*. [crown Brennynge . . . down O, brennende yryn beryn D.]\nIn-to þe watyr, blak*. [so blac D.] as kole.\nAlas, þe paynes y sagh hym þole!*. [O. gloss 'suffre.' þe peyne I say . . D.]\nMoche y desyred*. [mechil I askyd D.] to wete certeyne\nwhy*. [qwy D.] he suffred al þat peyne;\nAnd asswyþe*. [also swyþe D.] hyt was me tolde,\nFor to do veniaunce he was euere*. [euer O, ay D (om. For).] bolde;\nAnd whan*. [qwan D (om. þe).] he shuldë deme þe ryȝt,\nTo felunly he dyde*. [felunnye he dede O, to deme wrong he deed D.] hys myȝt;\nAt hym myght no man hauë*. [ha D.] grace, Page 53\nMyldenesse, ne mercy, for any trespace;*. [meknesse ne m. to purchase D.]\nAnd for he dede so mochë wogh,\nSuffreþ he now shame ynogh.*. [suffred he so meche now D.]\nSwyche ys goddys ordynaunce,\n'For veniaunce*. [for his cruelte D.] to take veniaunce.'\nȜyt of a-noþer y had a syght,\n'Steuene,' forsoþe, hys namë hyght;\nÞat yche*. [same D.] Steuene was wont*. [wnt O.] to be\nwonyng yn Romë, þys*. [duellynge in Rome, þat D.] cyte.\nAs he wulde*. [wlde O.] passe þe brygge, betydde,*. [bregge þat tyde D.]\nHys fete begunne to slyde besyde,*. [be-gunne for to slyde D.]\nAnd, was yn poynt for to*. [for to OD, to H.] falle\nIn-to þe watyr bytterer þan galle;\nÞe fendës wende weyl hym to*. [wendyn hym a D.] fonge,\n12But by þe bregge þan gan he12*. [12_12 be þe bregge he gan D.] honge.\nÞe fendys here crokys fasted yn hys knees,*. [fest in his leggis D.]\nAnd al to-drowe & rente hys þees;*. [thes O, to-drowyn . . þeyȝis D.]\nFeyr men come þedyr,—but y not*. [noot O, not D (om. but).] how,—\nAnd by hys armys vp hym*. [be þe . . . hym vp D.] drow;\nÞey wulde*. [wlde O.] nat suffre hym falle al*. [to falle D.] downe*. [down O.]\nIn-to þat grete confucyoun;\nHe plesyd*. [preyed D.] god with sum gode dede,\nÞarefore þey hylpe hym yn hys*. [holpyn hym at D.] nede.\nAlmysdede*. [Almasdede O, almesse deede D.] men vndyrstonde\nBy þe drawyng vp*. [vp om. D.] of hys honde.\nY trowe he trespast*. [trespacyd D.] yn lecherye\nÞat þey þe þeës*. [thes O, to-drowyn . . þeyȝis D.] drow*. [þeyȝis drowyn D.] hym by.\nBut forsoþe y can*. [can y O.] nat telle [folio 10b:2]\nwheþyr*. [qweþer D.] he shulde to heuene or helle."\nÞys talë haue y*. [I haue D.] tolde to ȝow, Page 54\nȜyf hyt myȝt fallë ȝow to*. [falle to ȝoure D.] prow,\nÞys domus men, to chastyse,\nÞat deme men wrong þurgh*. [demyn wrong be D.] fals asyse.\nMany beyn*. [arn D.] now, as Pers was,\nHarde domys men as Satanas.*. [þerfore þei stonde in gret caas D.]\nÞat man þat demeþ alle to þe*. [al on D.] ryȝt,\nOf mercy get he no*. [non I- D.] plyȝt;\nAnd ȝyf he demeþ pytyffully*. [pytysfully O, & he þat demyth pytously D.]\nAt hys demyng getyþ*. [demyngge get O, endyng he get D.] he mercy;\nAnd*. [And om. D.] ȝyf he deme fals iuggëment,\nÞere falsnes ys,*. [þorwh þat falshed D.] he shalle be shent;\nHe shal be slayn, þat al wyl*. [wyle O, alle wil D.] slo;\nÞat peyne wyl deme,*. [þat to pyne demyþ D.] to pyne shal go.\nȜyf þou with-drowe any mannys wyl,\nÞat he ne myȝt*. [myghte O, he myȝt not to god D.] þe gode fulfyl\nwhan*. [as ȝif D.] he þoght to haue wel*. [weyl O.] doun,\nOr entycedest any*. [entysyd ony D.] fro relygyoun,\nGostly þou mayst*. [dost D.] hym slo\nȜyf he to ouþer wykkednes go:—\nAs, ȝyf a man haue a chylde,\nAnd to relygyun hys wyl be*. [is D.] mylde,\nAnd þou*. [Harl.; þou O om.; ȝif þou D.] eggyst hym away\nTo folue þe fals wrldës*. [for to folwe þe wordis D.] pay;\nȜyf he þarefore be lore*. [þerþorw be lorn D.] yn synne,\nFor hym grete perel þou fallyst ynne;\nByforë god þou hast hym slayn,\nAnd for hym þou shalt*. [schalt þou D.] suffre payn.\nwhat sey ȝe of þys bakbyters*. [bakbyterys O.]\nÞat wykked wurdes*. [wrdys O.] aboutë bers*. [berys O.]?\nÞey makë oftë mochë*. [meche D.] stryfe, Page 55\nAnd a-peyryn many*. [peyryn many a D.] mannys lyfe.\nȜyf þou bryng*. [bryngge O, he brynge D.] a man yn fame,\nÞat he haue euer lastyng*. [þat after eueremor it is a D.] shame,—\nByforë god, þou hym slos\nwhan þou hym reuyst hys*. [qwan . . . . of his D.] gode los.\nBakbyter, þurgh ryght*. [a bacbitere þorw D.] resun, [folio 11a]\nOf þre mennys deþ ys enchesun.\nÞou wost weyl, with-outyn*. [þat wete ȝe wel with-out D.] les,\nþe bakbyter fyrst hym self*. [hym selfe ferst O.] sles;\nHe slekþ hym þat trowyþ hys lesyng,*. [lesyngge O, sleth . . eryth þe lesyng D.]\nwhan he forþ beryþ hys bakbytyng;*. [furþ berþ hys bakbytyngge O, qwan he beriþ forth þis b. D.]\nAnd hym algate*. [also D.] þat hyt ys on leyde,\nHe ys slayn; god help þe vpbreyde.*. [slayn be þat vpbreyd D.]\nAs mochë þan he ys*. [mechil is be þan D.] to blame\nÞat ȝeueþ a man a vyle ekename;*. [þat causith a sclaundrous name D.]\nȜyf hys ryȝt*. [good D.] name be withdrawe,\nGostlychë*. [Gostlych O, gostly D.] þou hast hym slawe.\nAlso ys*. [þer is a D.] slaghter gostly\nTo vse to spekë*. [þat vsyn to spekyn D.] vyleyny.\nFor many wurdys þat beþ spoke,*. [arn spokyn D.]\nwere better*. [betre O, better D.] yn brest to be loke.*. [in þe brest be lokyn D.]\nAnd, sum owtȝë nat*. [some owte nat O, so owyn men D.] to be\nOf herë wurdys to*. [ouer O, euere D.] fre,—\nBy þese*. [þys O, þese D.] ordryd men, y mene,\nHere wurdys owtȝ*. [oghte to be feyr & O, owyn euere to be D.] to be feyr & clene,\nAnd namlyche to*. [a namely in D.] relygyun\nMen shuld fynde*. [schuldyn fyndyn D.] noun enchesun:\nFor ȝyf þey spekë oute of skore,*. [spekyn ony schame D.]\nÞey beþ to be blamed eft þarfore.*. [arn michel þe more to blame D.]Page 56*. [[This Tale is from Gregory's Dialogues, Bk. IV, ch. liii, says Gaston Paris, Hist. Lit. de la France, t. xxviii, p. 195.]]\nSeynt Gregori*. [gregor D.] of a nunne tellys*. [A tale]\nÞat ȝede to helle for no þyng ellys\nBut for she spake euer*. [ofte D.] vyleyny\nAmong here felaws al ahy.*. [felawys al an hy O, felawis euere in hyȝe D.]\nÞys nunnë was of dedys*. [dede D.] chaste,\nBut þat she spakë wurdys waste*. [of wast D.]\nShe madë*. [dede D.] many of here felawys\nÞenke on synnë for her*. [to þinkyn . . . hir D.] sawys.\nFor many tyme a vyleynys wurde*. [vylens wrde O, & many to vyleyne wurdis D.]\nGadryþ foulë þouþ*. [þoght O, gaderyn foule þouȝtis on hordys D.] to hurde.\nSo dede she her felawys alle,\nFor here wurdys,*. [wrdys O, hir wurdis D.] yn synnë falle.\nNoþeles, yn here*. [neþeles in fleschly D.] dedys,\nSe was chaste as men er hedys.*. [mene rhedys O, was sche chast . as men redys D.]\nSone aftyr þys nunnë deyde, [folio 11a:2]\nAs of herë was purueyde,*. [A-non þei for hir purueyȝd D.]\nShe was beryyd,*. [beryde O, þei beryed hir D.] as fyl to be,\nBe syde an auter*. [a nautyr O, be sydyn an awter be-forn a gre D.] before þe gre.\nSone aftyr, þys*. [a D.] chaunce gan falle:—\nOf þe cherche þe wardeynys*. [wardeyns O, þo wardeynys D.] alle\nwere waked oute of*. [out of O, weren I-wakyd of D.] here slepe,\nSo loude þey herde one*. [herden on D.] cry & wepe;\nÞey sterte vp allë*. [alle O, al Harl., stertyn alle vp D (om. for).] for to see\nwhat wundyr þyng*. [wndur þynge O, wunder þing D.] þat myȝt be.\nÞey say*. [saye O, saw D.] aboute þe*. [þis D.] Nunnë stonde,\nFendys, with brynnyng swerdys yn honde:*. [honde D, hande HO.]\nAl*. [Alle O.] hem þoght þey wulde here*. [alle þei þouȝttyn hir for to D.] slo,\nFor þey cloue here mouþe*. [mouþ O.] euyn o two;*. [o two O, þei clouyn hir euene doun a two D.]Page 57\nAnd, þe to*. [hir O.] syde al to-brent\nBefore þe auter on þe pament.\nÞe wardeynys come eft on*. [comyn on D.] þe morow\nTo see where had be*. [were hadde be O, sen qwere was al D.] þat sorow.\nþey fonde þe brenyng*. [brennynge O, brennyng D.] euery deyl\nAs þey before had seye*. [be-forn had sen D.] hyt weyl;\nHalf þe body was brent a-way,\nAnd haluyndele yn her grauë lay.\nSeynt Gregorye seyþ þat hyt was sygne*. [O. gloss 'a tokene.']\nÞat half here lyfë*. [lyf it D.] was nat dygne;*. [O. gloss 'wrþ.']\nFor þogh here dedys werë chaste,*. [al þowh hir lyf in dede was chast D.]\nHere wurdys were al*. [al om. D.] vyle & waste.\nSo was hyt shewyd before here ygne,*. [as it was s. be-forn here eyne D.]\nÞat haluyndele she*. [half þe body D.] was ȝoue*. [ȝeue O, ȝoue D.] to pyne.\nLoke how ȝeuene*. [euene O, euene dom ȝouyn D.] dome þer was,\nEuene lyke*. [euenelych D.] aȝens here trespas.\nSee how here tunggë made here slayn*. [slayne O, dede hir slo D.]\nAnd foulë wurdes broght here to payn.*. [wrdys . . payne O, wurdys dede hir þat wo D.]\nBy þys ensample þat vs awys*. [feryþ]*. [þat we here se D.]\nY rede þat*. [þat om. O.] we leue alle oure foule sawys,*. [I rede we letyn alle foule wurdis be D.]\nÞat we sle nat vs self*. [vsself O, oure soulys D.] gostly,\nNe noun ouþer so, ne*. [oþer also D.] bodyly,\nÞat we be nat with herë brent*. [not so schent heer D.]\nYn hellë fere, no with here shent.*. [ne with hir brent in helle feer D.]\nGod almyghty shelde vs þar fro, [folio 11b]\nAnd late vs neuer no man slo.\n[The Sixth Commandment.*. [Sextum mandatum (in margin) Non mecha|beris ¶ Sextum mandatum D.]]\nTHe syxte comaundyþ vs*. [sexte comaundement bit D.] al so,\nÞat we shul noun hurdam*. [hordam O, hordom D.] do.\nþys comaundment*. [comaundement OD, it is D.] ys of prys,\nFor hyt was stabled*. [mad D.] yn paradys;\nGod stablede hyt, þou shalt beleue,\nwhan he made of Adam,*. [qwan he made Adam & D.] Eue.\nA clene womman here*. [here om. D.] he hym betaght,\nYn clenë lyfe to lyue she aght;*. [leue shaghte O, lyue sche auȝt D.]\nAl one to be, and of o wyl,\nGoddys comaundment*. [comaundement OD, it is D.] to fulfyl.\nGod made womman man to gyue,*. [kepe]*. [ȝeue D.]\nTo be hys helpë yn hys*. [ben his helpe whil þat þei D.] lyue;\n11he madë here nat, man to greue,\nNo to be mayster, but felaw leue,11*. [11_11 om. D.]\nNo nat ouer logh, no nat*. [nat om. O, nat ouer lowe . ne ouerhyȝe D.] ouer hy,\nBut euene felaw, to be hym by;*. [ben hym byȝe D.]\nAnd he, mayster, lorde,*. [& lord he must be mayster D.] & syre;*. [sere O, syre D.]\nTo hys wyl she shal meke hyre.*. [here O, makyn hyre D.]\nÞe sacrament ys for here*. [s. for þat ilke D.] sake,\nOf two, o fleshe and o*. [of to fleschis . oo D.] wyl, to make.\nGrete mede he getyþ*. [get O, getith you D.] with-outë fayle\nÞat wele wyl*. [wyle O, wil D.] holdë hys spousayle.\nNow some of þe*. [summe of þese D (om. Now).] poyntys wyl*. [wyle O, wil D.] y touche\nÞat men vn-to hurdam*. [hordam O, to þo men þat to holdam D.] souche.\nȜyf þou haue*. [euer ȝaue O, ȝeue D.] trouþë pryuyly\nTo bygyle a womman to*. [and O, & lyn D.] lygge here by, Page 59\nÞogh no wedlok*. [wedloke O.] were yn þy þoght,\nBut þat wuldest*. [þou wldyst O, þ. woldyst D.] þy synne were wroght;\nȜyf she vndyrstode weddyng of þe,\nSo shal þy trouþë charged be;\nÞy trouþe to ȝeue yn swyche*. [swych O, swych D.] a-tent,\nhyt ys aȝens þe comaundment.*. [comaundement OD.]\nNo trouþe oghte to*. [O. omits 'to.' owith to be ȝouyn be D.] be ȝeue wyþ ryght\nBut yn holy cherchys syȝt,*. [syght O, cherche syȝt D.]\nNamlych, þat falleþ to wedlake,*. [falþ to wedlak O, namely . . wedlok D.]\nwhat-so-euer men*. [men euer O, qwat so men seyn þinke or D.] seyde or spake.*. [spak OD.]\nȜyf þou ly*. [lye O, lyn D.] by here seþen, [folio 11b:2]\nAftyr þou hast þy trouþë ȝyuen,\nY sey*. [seye O, sey D.] þe weyl certeynly*. [for certeynly D.]\nþat þou synnedyst þere*. [synnyst þanne D.] dedly.\nFleshly dede þou oghteyst noun*. [owist non D.] werche\nwyþ-outë leue*. [wedlok D.] of holy cherche;\nþogh þou haue here trouþë*. [here trowþe O, alþowh þ. h. hir truþe D.] plyght,\nAnd to here hast so godë ryȝt,*. [ryghte O, haue so good ryȝt D.]\nȜyt holy cherche behoueþ wytte*. [holi cherche must knowe euerydel D.]\nOf ȝoure cunnaunt, ȝyf hyt may sytte.*. [or þe comenaunt be endyd wel D.]\nȜyf þou plyghtyst*. [plyȝt D.] trouþe to any lyghtly\nTo be at holy cherchys cry,\nBut þou dedyst with her*. [with here in margin H, duste wyþ here O, þou dost with hir no fleschly dede D.] no foly dede\nþat ys fleshly felaurede,*. [felawrede O, neyþer be feld ne be thede D.]\nþou gost and ȝyfst*. [ȝeuyst D.] þy trouþe anouþer\nAs þou dedyst*. [dest O, dedyst beforn þat oþer D.] byfore þe touþer,\nAnd lyst by here, and ys þy wyfe,\nyn hordam boþe þan ys*. [boþe ȝe lede D.] ȝoure lyfe. Page 60\nÞe ferst womman þat þou ches\nYs*. [sche is D.] þy wyfe, with-outë les.\nEnsample hauë we þerby,\nOf Iosep þat wedyd*. [weddede O, wedded D.] oure lady;\nÞere was verry*. [verry trewe D.] matrymony,\nwith-outë fleshly dede of any.*. [dede don ony D.]\nBy þys ensample mayst*. [myȝt D.] þou se\nþat þe fyrst*. [ferste O, ferst D (om. þat).] womman þy wyfe shulde be.\nȜyf þou dedyst*. [dest O, dedyst beforn þat oþer D.] euer swyche*. [swych O, ony D.] outrage\nTo*. [don D.] wedde chyldryn or*. [ar O, or D.] þey hadde age,\nþare*. [þar O.]-of may comë grete*. [gret OD.] folye\nȝyf þey so ȝunge to-gedyr lye.\nOft haue men*. [Ofte men haue O, oftyn men han (om. boþe) D.] boþe herde & seyn,\nÞat*. [þat om. D.] of swych lyggyng haþ foly beyn.\nFor some, when þey yn age are come,*. [& summe qwan þei comyn to olde D.]\nþe toon þe touþer may nat loue;*. [þat oon to oþer neuere loue wolde D.]\nÞan make þey men*. [alle men O, þan fare þei boþe alle folk to wunder D.] on hem to wundyr,*. [wndre O.]\nAnd coueyt faste*. [þei coueyte boþe D.] to be asundyr;*. [a sundre O, a sunder D.]\nAlso to brekë here*. [& for brekyn þe D.] spousayle,\nAnd here trouþe, þe whych shuld*. [wheche shulde O, þat schulde D.] nat fayle.\nȜyf þou to swyche*. [swych O, suych D.] weddyng consent, [folio 12a]\nHyt ys aȝens þe commaundment.*. [comaundement O.]\nȜyf þou hast*. [haue D.] auowyd þe\nÞy lyfe to holde*. [holdyn D.] yn chastyte,\nOr þou art yn state of prest,\nOr yn two ordrys alþer nest,\nSuddekene, or dekene hy,*. [Subdekne . . hyȝ D.]\nþys lettyþ weddyng & dede fleshly. Page 61\nNe þou shalt neuer*. [neuer O, neuere D, om. Harl.] wedde, ne synne,\nwyþ any*. [non D (om. haþ).] þat þy kyn haþ weddyd ynne;\nOr ȝyf a man haue houe*. [ȝif þou haue houyn D.] a chylde,\nGod hyt euer forbede and shylde\nÞat þat chylde shulde any*. [þat ilke . . ony D.] haue\nOf hys godfadrys, maydyn or knaue:\nHys breþren or sustren may at here*. [may oþer D.] pay\nwedde; but he þat houe neuer*. [he hoffe neuer O, he þat hof neuere ne D.] may.\nNe þou shalt nat,*. [þou schalt neuere D.] by þy lyfe,\nweddë þy godfadrys wyfe.\nAlso shal þe womman wonde*. [spare]\nTo take*. [takyn D.] here godmodrys husbonde.\nTwey godmodrys shul nat wedde,*. [See 1. 2237, etc., of the French, next page. wede O, to commatres schal þou not wedde D.]\nÞe toon to aske þe touþer to bede.*. [þat oon aske þat oþer to bedde D.]\nMen shul nat wedde*. [Harl. omits 'wedde.' schuld not wedde for no D.] for any gode\nMan or womman þat ys wode;\nFor many þyngys hyt ys grete eye,\nÞe whyche falleþ me nat for*. [þat falliþ me not now D.] to seye.\nȜyf a womman haue an husband,\nAnd he fro here go ouer*. [& he be gon out of D.] land,\nShe shal noun ouþer take ne wedde*. [wed O, sche may take non oþer for no dred D.]\nBut she be certeyn of hys ded.*. [ded O. O. gloss. 'deþ.']\nÞou shal*. [shalt O, schalt truþe no w. D.] nat betrouþe a womman with hand\nþe whylys*. [qwhylys D.] here husband ys lyuand;\nFor þe trouþe þat þou here ȝeuys\nÞe whylys þat here husbund lyuys,*. [þer qwhylis his husbonde leuyth. þat ilke truþe þat þou hir ȝeuyth D.]Page 62\nhyt ys hope, hurdam*. [it is opyn hordom D.] to be,\nAnd slaghter, but*. [but ȝyf O, & manslauter ȝif D.] he deye or she.\n3Ȝyf þou madest euer any wyche,\nÞurgh whycchëcraft, wedlak to flycche,3*. [3_3 om. H.]\nFor to destruble*. [desturble O, distorble D.] þe ryȝt weddyng, [folio 12a:2]\nÞou art a-cursed yn þat þyng.*. [doyng D.]\nȜyf þou fordost þe weylfare*. [hem þat welfare.]\nBetwyx þo*. [be-twen hem D.] þat weddyde are,\nÞou synnest certys*. [þer D.] wykkydly,\nAnd brekyst*. [brekst O, þou brekist þer D.] spousayle & cumpany.\nȜyf þy chylde, mayden*. [mayde D.] or knaue,\nwulde a-noþer yn wedlak*. [wil in wedlok a noþer D.] haue,\nAnd with here wylle þey trouþë*. [truþis þei (om. And) D.] plyȝt\nwithoute cunseyl of fadrys*. [fadery D.] syȝt,\nȜyf fadyr or modyr be þer aȝen,\nSeþþe þey haue trouþed & beyn*. [siþþe þei be truþid & arn D.] certeyn,\nÞey dysturble þys*. [þou stourblyst þe D.] sacrament\nAȝens þys ychë comaundment.*. [a ȝens goddis comaundement D.]\nȜyf a man be*. [were D.] of Ioly lyfe\nAnd mysdo*. [mysdede D.] onys vndyr hys wyfe,\nȜyf she be gode and certeyn,\nTo gode state she turneþ hym aȝeyn;\nBut þere þe wyfe haunteþ foly*. [haþ folyȝe D.]\nVndyr here husbunde a ludby,*. [hir lord a lotebyȝe D.]\nComunly she wyl*. [wyle O, wil not D.] neuer blynne,\nBut euere*. [euer O, euere be ardent D.] be brennyng yn here synne;\nVnto þe deuyl confounde*. [confunde O, confoundith D.] her here*. [here her O, hir þer D.]\nAnd bryngë her*. [here . . . fer O, bryngiþ her . . . fer D.] to hellë fere.\nAȝens swyche maner wyuys*. [A namelych suych a m. wyf D.]Page 63\nþat wyl*. [wyle O, wil not D.] nat amende here lyuys,*. [amenden her lyf D.]\nShal y*. [I schal D ('narracio' in margin).] tellë ȝow a tale,—\nTo swychë wyuys byttyr*. [suyche wyuys han bitter D.] bale.\n[The Tale of the Adulterous Wife, whose Skeleton split in two.]*. [[Source not found by G. Paris, Hist. Lit. de la France, xxviii. 195.]]\nÞer ys an Ile be-ȝunde þe see,*. [A tale]\nÞer men were wunt*. [wnt O, wunt duellyng D.] wonyng to be;\nÞys ychë ylë wax*. [ilke yle wex D.] al waste,\nAnd þe folk*. [folke O.] drogh þen*. [þenne O, þe folk þens drow (om. And) D.] yn haste;\nSo with-ynne a lytyl whyle*. [so þat . . qwyle D.]\nMen helde hyt*. [hylden it D.] a forsakyn yle.\nSeþþë,*. [siþþin D ('dragoun' in margin).] wonede þere a dragun,\nÞat dede many man confusyun;\nMen and wommen faste he slogh,\nAnd dede ouer al shame ynogh;*. [slow . . . a now D.]\nAl þat he fonde with-outë*. [outtyn D.] house [folio 12b]\nÞys dragun slogh so*. [þe dragoun slow D.] merueylouse;\nSo mochë folkë*. [many folk D.] gan he quelle,\nMen seyd*. [seyden D.] he was a fende of helle.\nAlle þe folk*. [Al þe folke O.] of þat cuntre\nCunseyled*. [Cunseylde O, counseyldyn D.] hem what þat*. [best O, qwat myȝt best D.] myght be;\nÞey armyde hem alle*. [many armyd hem D.] at here myght,\nAȝens þe dragun for to fyght,\nBut noun of hem myght vndyrstande\nWhere þe dragun was wonande.*. [vnderstonde; qwere . . . dwellende D.]\nBefel ȝyt,*. [hyt O, So fil it in þat ilke D.] þat ychë tyde,\nAn ermyte wonede*. [hermyte duellede D.] þere besyde,\nA godë man and ryȝt*. [and a ryȝt O, þat a good man was for D.] certeyn,\nDwelled*. [Dwelde O.] besydë þat*. [& woned þer be syde in a D.] wasteyn,— Page 64\nOne of hem ȝaf cunseyl tyte,\nÞat þey shulde go*. [for to wende D.] to þat Ermyte,\nAnd aske cunseyl of swyche*. [swych O, suyche D.] adede\nIn hopë alle þe bettyr*. [þe better alle O, þei hoped alle þe better D.] to spede.\nwhan þey hadde tolde hym*. [qwan þei had told D.] alle here dere,\nÞys was þan þe ermytys*. [þanne his D.] answere:—\n"Ȝyf ȝe wyl wepe*. [wepyn D.] for ȝoure*. [ȝour O, ȝoure D.] synne,\nAnd shryue ȝow clene, and þerof blynne,\nAnd grauntë me þat ȝe shul*. [grauntiþ þat ȝe schul alle D (om. And).] faste,\nAnd yn preyers wel*. [preyerys weyl O, ȝoure preyeris wel to D.] to laste,\nPerauenture*. [Perauenter O, perauenture ȝe moun D.] ȝe may be al-eggyd,\nAnd sum of ȝoure*. [ȝour O.] sorow abreggyd."\nTo do alle*. [al O, al as D.] þat þe ermyte bad,\nÞey grauntede alle, & were ryȝt glad.\nÞe ermyte seydë, "ȝe shul be\nIn penauncë þre days*. [al in penaunce here D.] with me;\nAnd, aftyr þe þre days*. [þe þridde day is D.] ende,\nTo ȝow shal y come or sende."\nAlle þe folk went*. [Al þe folke wente O, alle þo folk went D.] home þere weye;*. [here wey O, her wey D.]\nÞe ermyte hys preyere*. [preyer O.] began to seye,*. [sey O, say D.]\n"Ihesu cryst, god*. [cryste O, crist D.] almyghty,\nOf þys folk*. [folke O, on þese folk D.] haue þou mercy,\nÞat þou boghtyst on*. [þat boutist on þe D.] rode so dere;\nFor hem shewe me on sum manere\nwhere*. [qwere D.] y may þe dragun fynde, [folio 12b:2]\nAnd hys power, lorde, þou bynde,*. [on bynde D.]\nÞat þe folk may knowe*. [þo folk moun knowyn D.] and se\nÞe*. [þi D.] mercy and þe myȝt of þe."\nWhan*. [qwan D.] he hadde preyde hys orysun\nLong yn grete*. [Longge yn gret O, longe in gret D.] afflyccyun, Page 65\nGod sagh allë*. [al O, saw al D.] hys entent,\nAnd hys*. [an D.] aungel to hym he sent\nFor to techë hym þe way\nÞedyr þere*. [þer O, qwere þat D.] þe dragun lay.\nÞe aungel seyde to þe ermyte,\n"Do sumnë þe folk astyte,*. [sumnien . . as tyte O, somounne þo folk as tyte D.]\nÞat þey comë*. [comyn D.] allë hedyr\nBeforë þe, echone to gedyr.\nY shal be ȝoure*. [ȝour O, ȝoure alþerys D.] alþer ledere,\nÞat þe dragun ȝow*. [schal ȝow D.] nat dere."*. [desese]\nÞe folk*. [folke O, folk ecchon D.] echonë þedyr com;\nÞe aungel before*. [be forn D.] hem gan gon,\nAnd led*. [ladde D.] hem to þat wasteyn\nÞat sum tyme was a stede*. [place D.] certeyn.\nVnto a place þey ȝede*. [stede þei come D.] echone,\nAnd þere þey fonde a tumbe*. [towmbe O, foundyn a toumbe D (om. And).] of stone.\nÞe aungel bad hem lyfte*. [bad left D.] vp þe lydde;\nAnd as he bad, ryȝt*. [And, ryȝt, om. D.] so þey dydde.\n"here, he seyde,*. [be syde D.] ys hys wonnyng\nwith anoþer wykked þyng;\nDrede ȝow noght þoȝt he*. [nat þoghe he O, douȝete ȝe not þowh he D. H om. he.] be fownde,\nFor all hys power haue y*. [al his power I haue it D.] bownde."\nwhan þey had þe toumbe o twynne,*. [.o. twynne O, qwan þei haddyn þese stonys at D.]\nÞe folk stode and loked*. [stodyn & loked D.] with-ynne.\nÞey sagh*. [sawe O, seyen D.] a womman þere*. [þer OD (D om. vyly).] vyly lye,\nAnd here body cloue yn twey partye;*. [clouyn on to partyȝe D.]\nBetwyxe þo twey partys þe*. [þat O, be twen þo to partis D.] dragun*. [body Harl., dragun O, dragoun D.] lay,\nGresly to se wyþ grete*. [gret O, grysley to sen with grete D.] affray. Page 66\nGrete*. [gret O, gret ferly it was D.] wndyr was hyt to see;\nÞey asked alle what hyt myȝt*. [myghte O, askedyn qwat it myȝt D.] be,\nAnd why hyt was, and wherë*. [qwy it was & qwen D.]-fore,*. [wharfore O.]\nÞat þe dragun lay so þore;\nAnd what*. [& in qwat D.] manere she synned so, [folio 13a]\nÞat here body was cloue yn*. [clouyn a D.] two.\nhe shewede þan vnto*. [tolde þere to D.] hem alle,\nFor what synne þat sorow gan*. [qwat . . was D.] falle.\n"Þys womman," he seyd,*. [womannys body D.] "þat here lys,\nAnd ys departyd yn two*. [on to D.] partys,\nShe was weddyd, and here wedlak*. [wedlake O, & in hir wedlak D.]\nFul falsly an on-truly brak,*. [and vntrewly brake O, hir wedlok sche brak D.]\nwhan she was o*. [qwan . . in D.] flessh and blode\nwith hym þat here to-keyn loue gode;*. [þat sche vnderstood D.]\nþurgh matrymony, þe sacrament,*. [of sacrament ywis D.]\nwere two o flessh made be assent,*. [to bodyes mad in o flesch D.]\nholy togedyr*. [to gedere O.] for to leue*. [leue O, lyuyn D.]\nAnd noun fro ouþer hys flesh may ȝyue.*. [neyþer may here flesche fro oþer ȝeuyn D.]\nBut þys womman þat þus ys shent,\nShe brak*. [brake O, brak þat D.] þe holy sacrament;\nhere flesh she ȝaf, o*. [a D.] party\nyn hordam and yn*. [to hordom & to D.] lechery,\nA-noþer party to here*. [& anoþer part to hir D.] husbonde,\nÞat for shame ne myȝt*. [myghte O, myȝt not (om. she) D.] she wonde.\nAnd, for þat yche*. [Harl. and D om. yche.] vyleyns*. [vyleyn D.] synne,\nYs here body partyd*. [so partyd D.] a-twynne;\nAnd betwyx*. [be twyxe O, be twen þo to D.] þe twey partys,\nFor veniaunce, þe dragun lys.\nAlas þe tyme þat she was bore!\nwith-outyn endë she ys lore."*. [forlore O, born . . lorn D.]Page 67\nÞe aungel seyd, "y cómaunde þe,\nDragun, hennë*. [þou dragoun hens D.] þat þou fle,\nÞat þou neuer*. [neuer more O.] any man noye\nNo*. [? for Ne.] þys cuntre no more dystroye;\nNo*. [? for Ne.] þat þou comë no more here\nyn þys stede*. [place D.] for to apere."\nAnd a-none, for drede and eye,*. [as tyd for dred of þe aungel on eyȝ D.]\nÞe dragun fleygh furþ hys weye.\nÞe folk þanked god echone,*. [echon O, ecchon D.]\nÞat þe dragun aweye was gone.*. [gon O, was a-wey gon D.]\nwommen þat breke wedlak, mow*. [Wymmen moun here D.] yn þys tale\nHere, þat þey brew to hemself*. [þat breke wedlok brewyn her D.] bale.\nFor þe foule dragun, þe fende*. [þe fende om. D.] of helle, [folio 13a:2]\nwyþ hém yn peyne shal euer*. [hym in p. schul þei D.] dwelle\nÞat half here flesh haue partyd or brokun*. [þat han her flesch so partyd & broke D.]\nÞat holy yn matrymony was lokun.*. [holy wedlok was be-loke D.]\nȜyf þer be twey*. [tweyyn O.] yn cumpany*. [ȝif þou euere in place were D.]\nAs beþ*. [byþ O.] yn wedlak specyaly,*. [þer wrong wedlok schulde a-rere D.]\nAnd þe toon do aȝens*. [but þou for-do þat D.] spousayle\nwhereforë felaushepe may fayle,*. [so þat her cumpany may preuayle D.]\nBut þe toþer wyl*. [wyle O.] hym*. [& but þou wilt hem þerfore D.] blame\nwhan he wote hys foulë*. [foul O.] fame,*. [siþþin þou wost her foule schame D.]\nhe consentyþ to hys*. [þou consentyst to her D.] synne\nBut he desturble hym*. [þou destourble hem D.] þer-ynne.\nȜyf þou wendest*. [wentyst D.] oute of cuntre,\nAȝens þy wyuys wyl to be,\nBut she mow wonë*. [myȝt wonyn D.] yn þat stede Page 68\nTo haue þy fleshly felawrede,\nȜyf þou do hyt aȝens her*. [dedyst a-ȝen hir D.] wyl\nCerteynly þou synnyst ful yl.*. [wylle . . . ille D.]\nȜyf þou hyt do*. [do it D.] to holde þe chaste\nwyþ-oute here wyl,*. [leue O, leve D.] þou werchyst*. [dost D.] waste.\nFor but*. [but ȝif D.] hyt be for grete resun,\nȜyf she mysdo, þou art enchesun.\nȜyf þou louyst*. [loue D.] to haue þy wyfe\nYn clennes and yn godë lyfe,\nvpbreyde here neuer for*. [of D.] gelusye\nOf no mannys cumpanye;\nFor ȝyf þou dost, þan*. [dost . þen O, do . þan D.] wyl she do\nþyng þat she neuer þoghte to do.*. [þouȝt to D.]\nMen sey, þer*. [seye þere O, seyn þer D.] a man ys gelous,\nÞat þer*. [þere O, þer D (om. þat).] ys a kokewolde at*. [at þat D.] hous.\nMany a gode man ys kokewolde;*. [kukkold (om. ys) D.]\nÞere þe wyfe ys a shrewe, þer ys wykked*. [qwere þe wif is schrewe . þer is euyl D.] holde.\nBut where*. [þer D.] þe wyfe haþ gelousye\nÞere beþ wrdys grete and hye;*. [Ielowsyȝe . . hyȝe D.]\nhere mayster shal nagher go ne sytte*. [hir lord schal neuere out of hir syȝt D.]\nÞat she ne shal wommen on hym wytte.*. [but sche schal on hym women wyȝt D.]\nÞan ys þere*. [boþe D.] chydyng and boste,\nÞere ys nat*. [noght O, & þer is wantyng of D.] þe holy goste;\nFor no þyng Ihesu cryst more quemeþ*. [more i. c. quemys D.] [folio 13b]\nÞan loue yn wedlak, þere men hyt ȝemyþ;*. [ȝemys D.]\nNe no þyng ys to man*. [þanne is D.] so dere\nAs*. [as a D.] wommanys loue yn gode manere.\n26A gode womman ys mannys blys\nÞere here loue ryȝt and*. [ryght O, þer þat hir lyþ D.] stedfast ys;26*. [26_26 A gode woman ys veryly mannys blys When she louys trew and stedfaste ys (? source)]Page 69\nÞere ys no solas vndyr heuene\nOf al*. [Harl. al, alle D.] þat a man may*. [moun D.] neuene,\nÞat shuld a man*. [man do O, man so meche D.] so mochë glew\nAs a gode womman þat loueþ trew.\nNe derer ys*. [ys om. D.] none yn goddys hurde\nÞan a chaste womman with louely wrde;\nEnsample haue y þerof ful fayre*. [haue we þare D.]\nyn þe lyfe of seynt Makayre.*. [makayr O, Machare D.]\n[The Tale of St. Macaire and the Two Good Married Women.*. [Narracio, in margin O.]] *. [[Vitas Patrum, p. 656. Libro de los Exemplos, no. 145.—G. Paris.]]\nÞere*. [It D.] was an abbot of great renoun,*. [A tale]\nAn holy man yn relygyoun,\nhe preydë god*. [om. god D.] vpp-on a day,\nAnd seydë "lorde, as þou weyl may,\nȜeue*. [ȝyf O, ȝif D.] me gracë for to wete\nwho shal with me yn heuene sytte;\nÞat wulde y wyte*. [wete D.] on al manere,\nwho yn heuene shal be my pere."\nA voys spakë*. [spak O.] to hym ful fayre,*. [hym þare D.]\n"wete*. [wethe D.] þou wele, for soþe, Makayre,\nÞere beþ*. [Þyr byþ O. It arn to D.] twey wymmen yn a cyte,\nOf so moche boneryte*. [O. gloss 'godenesse,' of ful mechil honoryte D.]\nþat alle þe penaunce þat þou mayst do\nNe may nat reche here godenes to."\nhe toldë hym þe cyte ryȝt,*. [ryght O, to þat c. ryȝt D.]\nAnd the wommen what þey hyght.*. [hyght O.]\nMakayrë wulde no lenger byde,*. [a-byde D.]\nBut to þat cyte gan*. [wolde (om. But) D.] he ryde;\nAs sonë as he comë*. [com O, & . . . cam D.] þere\nhe askede where swyche*. [aspyed where þo D.] wymmen were. Page 70\nMen taghte hym sonë to hem weyl;*. [tawtyn hym soone with wil D.]\nhe come and toke þere hys osteyl.*. [O. gloss 'herborue.']\n"wymmen," he seyde, "y wyl*. [wyle O.] me reste\nyn ȝoure Ine*. [yn O, hous & ben ȝoure gest D.] as*. [O. omits 'as.'] a nyȝtys geste."\n"Syr," þey seyde, "we graunte hyt þe [folio 13b:2]\nȜyf þou hyt aske pur*. [for D.] charyte."\nTo a chambre þey hym broghte;*. [broght O.]\nþan*. [& þo D.] hys erende forȝate he noughte.*. [noght O.]\n10he madë*. [O. inserts 'hem.'] boþë by hym sytte,\nAnd seyde, "y am come, at ȝow to wytte10*. [10_10 om. D.],*. [wete O.]\nyn what manere ȝe lede*. [qwat maner lede ȝe D.] ȝoure lyuys\nyn holynes, and byþ here*. [ȝe arn D.] wyuys:\nForheleþ hyt nat,*. [for ellis not D.] y ȝow forbede,\nhow þat ȝe ȝoure*. [ȝour O.] lyuys lede;\nÞarfore, y am come*. [I cam D.] to þys cyte,\nAnd haue trauayled many a iurne."*. [many Iourne D.]\nÞes wymmen answered al at gesse*. [O. gloss. 'hap'; ansuerden D.]\n"Syr, we knowe no*. [noun O, knowyn non D.] holynesse,\nBut whan oure husbandys byþ*. [ben D.] vs by\nÞan beþ we yn loue ryȝtly,*. [ar . . loue all ryȝtfully D.]\nAnd yn parfyte charyte\nwhan*. [qwhan D.] oure husbandys with vs be;\nÞys ys moste of ourë lyuys,\nAnd euer haþ be, syþ*. [syn O.] we were wyuys."\n"y beseche*. [beseke D.] ȝow, on my blessyng,\nÞat ȝe forhele fro me*. [forhile for D.] no þyng."*. [þynge O.]\nÞe toon*. [þat oon D.] answered to seynt Makayre*. [macare O, machure D.]\n"To twey breþryn we weddyd are\nA-passyd be*. [And passyde byþ O, & passid arn D.] twenty ȝere\nÞat we to-gedyr*. [gedere OD.] haue lyuyd here, Page 71\nÞat neuer with hem*. [with hem, om. D.] were we onys wroth\nNe þey with vs þat wedded vs both,\nNe for no þyng þat euer*. [Ne . . euer, om. D.] may betyde\nTo-gedyr shul we neuer chyde.\nYn relygyun we wulde*. [woldyn D.] vs do;\nOure husbondys graunte nat*. [grauntyn not D.] þar-to;\nȜyt haue we leuer leue*. [to letyn D.] oure wylle\nÞan oure hosbundys greue with*. [to greuyn D] ylle.\nSo moche loue ys vs among\nÞat none to oþer wyl do*. [meche . . . non of vs wil oþer D.] wrong."\nAmong oþer*. [Alle oþer H, of many D.] þynges to hym þey spake,*. [O. gloss 'seyde.']\n"We þenke so moche on oure wedlake,\nFor hyt ys*. [was O, It was D.] yn þe olde testament, [folio 14a]\nAnd yn þe newe hyt ys*. [it is þe D.] sacrament;\nAnd God*. [God OD, om. Harl.] haþ ordeyned hyt for þe pes,\nAnd þeryn,*. [O. to inserted in a later hand. þer in to (om. And) D.] be bore he ches,\nÞat we ne shul, by oure*. [our O, þerfore we schul not be oure D.] lyue,\nNeuermore to-gedyr*. [gedere OD, ben at D.] stryue,\nNe foly wrdys be*. [be O, om. Harl., no foly wurdis betwen vs be D.] betwyxe vs seyd—\nAs ouþer wymmen makyn vpbreyd,—\nFor noun enuye ne coueytyse,\nNe for noun ouþer maner*. [maner of D.] wyse;\nBut seruë*. [seruyn D.] god and oure husbondys\nyn alle þyng þat*. [þat, om. D.] he sendeþ hys sondys."\nMakayre ioyed þat*. [þat, om. D.] þey were so stable,\nAnd so long whylë*. [qwyle D.] so tretable;\nhe þankeþ God*. [þankyde god O.] þat he haþ*. [hade O, þankid . . had D.] founde\nSo mylde wymmen yn wedlak bounde;\nhe toke hys leue and went hys weye,\nAs an abbot shulde, to hys abbeye. Page 72\n*. [See ll. 2475-80 of the French.]God wuld hyt werë now so here,\nSo meke wymmen 2of so fayre2*. [2_2 of here O, mylde women of here D.] manere;\nBut of ouþer, men mowe*. [mow O, may D.] fynde\nwymmen yn wedlak ryȝt on-kynde,*. [vnkynde O, ful on-kynde D.]\nÞat for a gamë wurde*. [gamyn wurd D.] yn veyn\nÞey wyl ȝyuë forty*. [ȝeuyn .xxti. þer D.] aȝeyn.\nSe how þese*. [þys O.] wymmen*. [women with D.] a-cordaunce\nPlesyd*. [plesedyn D.] god with lytyl penaunce,\nAnd preysed hem to*. [euere preysid he D.] seynt Makayre\nFor þey bare hem*. [hem bare O.] yn wedlak fayre;*. [so trewe in wedlok ware D.]\nAs mochë þan shal he hem*. [& as meche mote hem of D.] blame,\nÞat chydyn to-gydyr, & reysyn shame.*. [ch. & fyȝttyn & don meche scame D.]\nȜyf þou euer þy wyfe lay*. [owher . . ly D.] by\nYn tyme of penaunce, to seye flesshly,*. [it was foly D.]—\nȝyf þou be custumable þar-to,\nÞou synnest gretly, my boke seyþ so.\nyn holy tyme and halyday\nForbere þy wyfe,*. [lust D.] ȝyf þat þou may.\nNe þou shalt nat know*. [k. fleschly (om. Ne) D.] þy wyfe\nyn holy placë, by*. [be O, þe h. day be D.] þy lyfe;\nȜyf þou do hyt custumably, [folio 14a:2]\nÞou synnest, y sey,*. [be hir þan D.] dedly;\nCherche or cherchëȝerd, y sey,*. [seye O, or in cherche sawe D.]\nyn holy stede hyt ys grete eye.*. [awe D.]\nyn lentyn tymë*. [it is tyme D.] of fastyng\nShalt þou leue to do swyche þyng.*. [þou schalt leue al swych doyng D.]\nyn estyr tyme also, y*. [pasche tyme I þe D.] forbede\nÞat þou haunte any*. [vse no D.] swyche dede.\nȜyf a womman yn hordam*. [þou in hordam dost D.] do swyche outrage*. [L. 2525 Fr.]Page 73\nÞat a*. [a, om. D.] wrong eyre bere herytage;\nBut she wul seye hyt,*. [wyle O, þou wylt seyn it D.] y dar wel telle\nÞat she þarfore may*. [þou mayst þerfore D.] go to helle;\nFor she ys cursed, yn stedys sere,*. [þei arn a-cursyd also in fere D. D puts lines 2031-2 before 2029-30.]\nFourë tymës yn þe ȝere.\nAnd swyche an eyre, y vndyrstande,\nShal neuer wel reioshe*. [schal he neuere ioyȝe in D.] hys lande.\nMany synnës to hordam longe;\nSum byþ lyȝt, and sum beþ*. [many be l. & many arn D.] stronge,\nÞat beþ aȝens ryȝt*. [þei arn a-ȝens trewe D.] spousale,\nÞat y nel rekene, ne telle of*. [I can not . . . be D.] tale,\nBut opunly þat seyd may*. [þat opynly seyd fel to be D.] be;\nFor many longe*. [longen D.] to pryuyte.\nFor pryuytees,*. [preuytes O.] ȝyf y hem named*. [l. 2039, 2040, om. D.]\nLyȝt[e]ly myȝt y be blamed.*. [l. 2039, 2040, om. D.]\nBut þogh a*. [þowh sum (om. but) D.] man sey neuer so weyl\nVnto hys sawys men fyden*. [fyndyn O.] teyl.*. [summe contrarye it euerydel O.]*. [scorne]\nÞat weddyd beþ,*. [þo þat weddid ben D.] God ȝyue hem myȝt,\nhere wedlak to holdë weyl and ryȝt,\nAnd ȝyue hem grace, hordam to fle,\nÞat yn clenesse wuld leue*. [lyuyn D (at foot 'Amen. quod. con. Rose:').] and be.\n[The Seventh Commandment.*. [Non Furtum Facies. Septimum Mandatum. D.]]\nThe seuenþe shul we nat forhele\n'No mannys*. [mans O, mannys good D.] godë shalt þou stele,'\nFor þys ys one of ten;*. [þe ten D.]\nÞarefore y pray*. [preyȝe D.] allë men\nÞat þey kepe hem fro þys*. [kepyn . . þat D.] synne, Page 74\nFor þere ys moche veniauuce þerynne;*. [ynne O.]\nyn þys worldë,*. [wrlde O.] shamely dede;*. [deþ]\nAnd seþyn, helle; for god hyt forbed.*. [lines 2053-4, om. D.]\nGod forbedyþ men*. [man D.] to stele [folio 14b]\nAny maner of worldës*. [wrldys OD.] wele.\n"Þou man, beþenke þe wel before*. [be-forn D.]\nhow þou mayst þerfore be lore,*. [for þou . . . for lorn D.]\nAnd what þou shalt haue*. [qwat . . . han D.] þarefore,\nyn þys world, and elyswhore."\nBut manyone wyl neuer beware\nTyl sum myschaunce make hem aȝenchare;*. [myshap bringiþ hym in car D.]\nSlayn,*. [takyn & slayn D.] or, yn prysun*. [prysone O, presoun D.] be,\nOr hanged, þat al þe worlde may se.\nSo shul men þe body shende;\nAnd ȝyt to peyne þe soule shal*. [þi soule to peyne D.] wende.\nwuldë men se what myschaunce\nCumþ for þeft,*. [þyfte O, comyth for þefte & ȝit D.] and what penaunce,\nÞeftë*. [þyfte O.] shulde nat be so lefe;\nA foule poynt*. [poynt O.] ys, be clepyd a þefe.*. [name it is to be callyd þef D.]\nOuþer poyntes of wykkednes\nMow be soffred, sum more, sum les;\nBut þefte*. [þyfte O.] serueþ of wykkede note,*. [seruyse]\nhyt hangeþ hys*. [þe D.] mayster by þe þrote,\nOr doþe hym lese hys godë fame,*. [good name D.]\nOr bryngeþ hym oute*. [ellyswher O, ellis qwere D.] of þe towne forshame.\n'Þefte shal neuere more be hyd,\nFor, here or elyswhore,*. [O. hyt out . . wyþ OD, (D om. hym, hyt, þe).] hyt shal be kyd;'\nÞus seyþ þe prophete þat men on leuys,\nAnd*. [þat D (om. 2nd to).] spekeþ to fals men and to þeuys.\nÞe synne ys nat forȝyuen*. [is not forȝoue D.] þe man\nBut he restore þat he haue*. [haþ O, b. þou r. þat þou hast D.] tan;\nFor ȝyf þou make any man*. [ȝyf þou ony good D.] falsly tyne,*. [lese]Page 75\nAs for þeft,*. [þefte OD.] þou shalt haue pyne;\nAnd mochë more, for swyche*. [mechil m. for sum D.] falsnes,\nÞan for any ouþer falsnes þat es.*. [for sum þat falsnesse isse D.]*. [A tale]\n*. [¶ A tale in margin HO.]A gode ensample þes clerkys wote*. [woot O, þat cl. wot D.]\nOf a tale þat an abbot wrote,*. [wroot O, þat in a bok he wrot D.]\nÞat þeuys shulde*. [schuldyn D.] before hem loke\nAr*. [or D.] þey ouþer mennys þyng toke;—\nyn 'vytas patrum' hyt ys wryte;*. [wrete O, wreten D.]\nhyt ys a boke þat*. [þat þys cl. O, þat cl. weten D.] clerkys wete,\nAnd*. [And a OD.] ful fayre techyng ys þer-ynne*. [lernyng þerin D.] [folio 14b:2]\nFor to leue of þeft*. [þyfte O, to letyn of þefte þat s. D.] þe synne.\n[The Tale of Zenon, the would-be Thief: how he reformd himself.] *. [[Vitas Patrum, ed. Roseweyd, p. 569.—G. Paris.]]\nÞys yche abbot, Ȝenon he*. [It was an ab. þat ȝenan D.] hyght,\nAnd wel*. [weyl O.] he was with god almyght;\nVppon a day*. [tyme D.] he went hys wey\nTo Palestyne, þat ys an*. [ys an, om. D.] abbey,\nTo make hys vysytacyun\nAs falleþ yn*. [it falliþ in his D.] relygyun;\nAnd as he went by*. [wente be O.] þe strete\nhe behelde a fruyt ryȝt feyre and*. [frut þat was ful D (om. he).] swete;\nÞys yche fruyt he desyred*. [ilke frut he coueytid D.] faste,\nAnd hys herte moche þarto*. [þar to moche O, þerto mechil (om. And) D.] he caste,\n'Gourdys'*. [Gourdus O, turcus . . . calle D.] þus men clepe þe name;\nÞys gode man þoght, "y am to blame\nȜyf y take ouþer mennys þyng\nwyþ-outë leue of any*. [my D.] askyng.\nFor soþe, he seyde, þan were y a þefe*. [þef OD (om. he seyde D).]Page 76\nAnd þefte ne ys gode, ne gode*. [gode O, no H, þ. to god is not lefe D.] man lefe;*. [lef O.]\nAnd ȝyf y stele, y am a felun;\nhanged y shal be, þurgh*. [hangen schal I be D.] ryȝt resun.\nFyrst y wylle wyte*. [wete O, wete þe certeyn D.] þe soþe certeyne.\nȜyf y may suffre þat yche*. [ilke D.] peyne\nÞat þefys*. [þeuys OD.] suffre for þeft*. [þefte O, þeftis D.] sake,\nAr y wyl*. [wyle O, or I wil ony D.] oght of þe fruyt take;\nAnd ȝyf y may nat suffre þat wo,\nTo þeftë wyl*. [þan wil D.] y neuer go."\nRyght as he þoght, he dede eche dele,\nhe ȝede and clambe*. [þer he clomb D.] vpp on a pele,*. [peyl O, pel D.]*. [perche]\nAnd hyng*. [hynge O, heng D.] þeron by þe hond,*. [handys D.]—\nNat by þe nekke, y vndyrstonde*. [not be . . . we vnderstandis D.]—\nFor hyt ys nat oueral þe lawe\nFor to do so, men to*. [men so to O, don men so of D.] dawe.\nFyuë days he hyng*. [hynge O, hong D.] þere stylle\nAȝens þe sunnë by*. [þat synne be D.] hys wylle;\nAnd hyt was*. [& was D.] yn þe somerys tyde,\nwhan þe hete ys al yn*. [qwan hete is in al his D.] pryde.\nÞan seyd*. [spak D.] he, to hymself þore,\n"Þys peynë wyl*. [wyle O, of þ. fr. wil D.] y suffre no more:\nÞefte, he seyde, y here*. [here I D.] forsake; [folio 15a]\nÞys fruyt, wyl*. [wyle O.] y nat take.\nSyn*. [Siþþin (om. for) D.] y may nat suffre for grefe\nÞe peyne þat befalleþ to*. [falliþ for D.] a þefe."\nÞys ensample were gode to kone,*. [example is good to knowe D.]\nAlle hem þat to þefte hem wone;*. [þat to þefte wil hym drawe D.]\nÞo þat haue here handys as lyme,*. [han hool handis & lym D.]\nTo hem were gode to here þys ryme; Page 77\nÞan myght þey wytë*. [wete OD.] redly\nwhat*. [redily; qwat D.] shamë þat þey were wurþy,\nAnd swych grace myȝt god*. [god myȝt D.] hem sende\nÞat þey, þurgh þys myȝt*. [myȝte þorwh þis D.] hem amende.\nA*. [O om. A.] þefë to hys þefte haþ*. [in to þ. hath alwey D.] rape,\nFor he weneþ euer-more for*. [more HO, om. D; for HD, om. O.] to skape;\nyn þat hope he doþe hys euyl,\nAnd al ys*. [is þe OD.] entycement of þe deuyl.\nÞarefore beþenke þe wel*. [weyl, man O, man wel D (om. þarfore).] with-ynne\nÞat þefte ys cumbrement*. [encumbrement D.] of synne.\nȜyf a man make a chylde oght*. [owht a child to D.] stele,\nSwyche styl*. [stylle O, stille D.] þefte shal he nat hele;\nA þefte hyt ys, ȝyf þou do so,\nTo tyse*. [tyce O, teche D.] a chylde swyche synne to do.\nOr ȝyf þou euer stale a*. [þou stele ony D.] chylde aweye,\nyn swychë þefte ys grete affraye.*. [it is gret fray D.]\nyn þys twey þynges and yn þys*. [Of þese to þingis & of swych D.] fame\nAre wymmen mochë for*. [arn many women meche D.] to blame.\nFor þey haue*. [han D.] cumlyngys yn and oute;\nOf swyche shuld men haue*. [han D.] gretë*. [gret OD.] doute.\nÞey shul neuer weyte but wo,\nSwychë cumlyngys, to ne*. [sueche . . and D.] fro,\nÞey are wurþy to be shent\nyn þys yche*. [ilke D.] comaundëment.\nȜyf þou brake euer any kyrke*. [O. gloss. 'cherche,' werk D.]\nOn day, or yn*. [on O.] nyȝt, yn myrke,*. [day or nyȝt in þe merke D.]*. [derke]\nÞou art a-cursed, þou wostë*. [wost OD.] weyl,\nAnd hange were wurþy*. [& wurþi to hangen vp D.] on a peyl. Page 78\nAnd ȝyf þou bere*. [beryst O, bere D (om. ȝyf).] awey þe þyng,\nÞe more þou fallest yn cursyng.\nȜyf þou haue be a þefe of pray [folio 15a:2]\nTo robbë men be*. [vsyd to robbe men D.] nyȝt or be*. [OD om. be.] day,\nGretly þou dost aȝens þe lawe,\nÞou oghtyst to do swyche men a*. [o O, of D.]dawe.\nOr ȝyf þou swyche foly began*. [began OD.]\nTo rauyshë any*. [to rauaschyn euere ony D.] womman,\nÞat ys to seye, any*. [seyne ony D.] wedded wyfe,\nÞe more ys þy synne &*. [in D.] perel of lyfe.\nȜyf þou rauyssh any*. [a O, rauasehedyst ony mayde D.] mayden clene—\nAȝens here wyl, þat*. [it D.] ys to mene,—\nhyt ys seyde þurgh lawë wrete,\nÞat þyn hede shulde be of smete*. [wretyn . . his hed . . smeten D.]\n(Lawe makeþ þat commandëment)\nwith-outyn any iuggëment;\nÞat mayst þou fyndë al an*. [and O.] sum\nIn code 'de raptu virginum.'\nȜyf þou rauysshe a mayden powre,*. [rauaschyst . . pure D.]\nÞou art holdyn*. [holde O, be holde hir to recure O.] to here socoure;\nAnd, þat shal be*. [þat schal be don D.] at here wylle,\nFor, as she wyl,*. [wyle O, & al þat sche wile D.] þou shalt fulfylle;\nFor þou hast do here*. [here a O, don hire a D.] tresun,\nÞou hast stole here*. [& stolyn hir chef D.] warysun;\nhyt may þe brynge to more cumbryng\nÞan þoght*. [þogh O.] þou haddest stole moche*. [þan þou had stole meche D.] ouþer þyng.\nTo comun lechours, y þys*. [þis I D.] seye,\nMany with-outë shryfte shul deye.\nȜyf þou be a*. [a gret D.] lordyng,\nAnd outraiusly*. [þat outrageusly D.] takyst mennys þyng\nyn tyme of werre or tyme of pes,\nÞou stelyst hyt, with-outë les,— Page 79\nBut þurgh ryȝt or þurgh cunnaunte,*. [ryȝt of comenaunt D.]—\nÞou art a þefe ȝyf þou hyt haunte.\nAnd ȝyf*. [ȝif þou be D.] a lorde of a tounne\nRobbe hys men oute of*. [& þi men robbe with-out D.] resoune,\nÞogh hyt be yn*. [al be it in his D.] bondage,\nAȝens ryȝt*. [þe ryȝt D.] he doþe outrage.\nhe shal so take, þat he may lyue,*. [leue O, schuld . . oþere myȝt D.]\nAnd as lawe of londe wyl*. [wyle O, wil ȝeue D.] forȝyue;\nFor ȝyf*. [& ȝif D.] he take ouer mesure, [folio 15b]\nlytyl tymë shal hyt dure.*. [endure D.]\nÞogh*. [ȝif D.] god haue ȝeue*. [ȝeue O, ȝouyn D.] hym þe seynorye,*. [lordshyp]\nhe ȝaf hym no leue to do*. [make (om. hym) D.] robborye;\nFor god haþ ordeyned al mennys*. [alle mens O, for he . . . euery mannys D.] state,\nhow to lyue,*. [leue O, schuld . . oþere myȝt D.] and yn what gate;*. [O. gloss 'maner.' How he schal lyuyn & on qwat g. D.]\nAnd þoȝt he ȝyue*. [þogh he ȝeue O, ȝif he ȝeue a man meche m. D.] one ouer oþer myȝt,\nhe wyl,*. [wyle O.] þat he do hym*. [he do no man (om. þat) D.] but ryȝt.\nÞys ys þe ryȝt of goddys lokyng,\n"Ȝelde euery man hys ownë*. [owyn D.] þyng."\nBut god takeþ euermore*. [mechil D.] veniaunce\nOf lordys, for swych myschaunce,\nFor swych robbery þat*. [as D.] þey make\nÞat*. [þat þey O.] oftë of þe poure*. [pore O, of þe pore with wrong ofte þei t. D.] men take.\ny shal ȝou telle a. lytyl wyght\nhow hyt befel onys of*. [be fil of suyche D.] a knyȝt. *. [A tale.]*. [narracio D.]\n[The Tale of the Knight who robd a Poor Man.]\nSum tymë was, hyt were twey*. [it was þer were to D.] knyȝtys\nÞat loued weyl at*. [louedyn to-gedere with al D.] herë myȝtys;\nA sykenes*. [syknes O, syknesse on þat oon D.] on þe toon gan falle, Page 80\nhe deydë*. [& deyȝed D.] sone, as we shul alle.\nÞe touþer knyȝt seyd ofte, alas,\nFor*. [þat oþer . . þat D.] hys felawe so sone dede was.\nFyl hyt*. [it fel . . lyuende D.] so, þys lyuyng knyȝt,\nyn hys bed he lay*. [lay on D.] a nyght,\nAnd was yn swyche a-wakyng\nÞat he myȝt*. [myghte O, myȝt not D (om. þat).] slepë for no þyng;\nÞe mone shone yn hys*. [hys OD, om. H.] chaumbre flore;\nÞe knyȝt lay, and lokyd furþe.*. [foor D.]\nAt a*. [þe D.] wyndowe come yn a beme,\nAnd yn þe shynyng he saghe a gleme\nRyght lyche þat knyȝt euery*. [eury O.]deyl\nÞat sum tyme he loued ful*. [was he louede so D.] weyl.\nÞys knyȝt þoght 'hyt ys*. [þe k. hym þouȝt it was D.] fantome\nÞat y se þus yn þe monë*. [yn þe mone þus O, he saw in þe mone lyȝt D.] come.'\nHe was a-frayd*. [a ferd D.] with-outë fayle,\nAnd, þat was no grete merueyle.\nBut þe knyȝt þat was dede\nCumfortyd hym sone, & seyde hys rede,\n"Be nat adred,*. [a ferd D.] for hyt am y [folio 15b:2]\nÞat þou louedyst*. [þe louede D.] so specyaly.\nY was þy felaw, þy trewe frere,\nFor help y come to þe now here:\nÞogh y be dede, þou darst*. [darst þou O, ȝif þou be ded, þar þe not D.] nat drede,\nOf helpe had y neuer er nede.\nAt nedë shul men proue*. [preue O, preuyn D.] here frendys,\nAnd frendes loue oþer whyle wel*. [weyl O, sumtyme wel D.] endys.\nhelp me now, y am yn wo,\nÞat y may come þe sonner*. [þe sunner come O, come þe sonere D.] þerfro." Page 81\nÞe*. [þis D.] knyȝt, þat lay yn hys bed,\nwax bolder, and lasse*. [wex boldere & was not D.] a-dred,\nAnd seyd "felaw, for charyte,\nwhat ys þy wo? shewe hyt*. [qwat is þi wo, þou telle it D.] me."\nÞan spake to hym þe dedë knyȝt,\n"Þoght*. [Þogh O, ȝif D.] y had space a day & a*. [O om. 'a.'] nyȝt,\nAlle þe penaunce ne coude y telle,\nÞat y suffre yn a welle.\nA peyne y suffre hard*. [harde, om. D.] for þe nones,\nFor a cloþe þat y refte*. [stal D.] ones\nOf a poure*. [pore OD.] man with-outë ryȝt;\nAlas þat euer y say*. [sagh O, hadde D.] þat syȝt;\nÞat cloþe ys caste on me to peyne\nAs heuy as any mounteyne;\nHyl ne mounteyne, erþe ne stone,\nVndyr heuene so heuy ys none;\nNo so hote fyre*. [fere O, fyr D.] ys yn no land*. [is now in londe D.]\nAs hyt ys aboute me brennand.*. [aboue me brennande D.]\nÞarfore, felaw, y pray*. [preyȝe to D.] þe,\nÞat þou haue on me*. [on me þou haue D.] pyte,\nAnd, to pore men do noun*. [do þou non D.] ylle,\nNe aȝens holy chyrches wylle;\nBut al þe gode þat þou mayst,*. [alwey good þat þou D.] werche\nTo porë men and*. [do and O, boþe to p. m. & D.] to holy chyrche.\nMe were leuere deye an hundyr syþe*. [to deyȝe an hundred syþe D.]\nÞan suffre þys peyne þat noght may*. [þat may not D.] lyþe."\nÞan seyde þe knyȝt, & wepe*. [þis kn. & wepyd D.] ful sore,\n"My swete felaw, telle me ȝyt*. [now telle me D.] more,\nȜyf any þyng be so*. [ony þing were ful D.] certeyne [folio 16a]\nÞat may delyuer þe*. [myȝtte delyuere þe out D.] of peyne." Page 82\nÞan seyd þe knyȝt, "y myȝt*. [myghte O, myȝt D.] be clere\nÞurgh þe sacrament of þe autere."\nÞe knyȝt nemnede prestes*. [Harl. 'p'test,' om. OD.] manyone;\nÞan stode þe dedë, stylle as*. [stille as a D.] stone,\n"wylt þou þan*. [þat O, þat þei for D.] any of þese for þe syng,*. [syngge O.]\nÞe of peynë*. [out of peynys D.] for to brynge?"*. [bryngge O.]\nÞe dede meuede hys hede*. [hys hede meuede O.] to & fro,\nFor he was payd of noun*. [plecyd with non D.] of þo.\nwete ȝe forsoþe, boþe*. [boþe, om. D.] man and wyfe,\nÞey were nat of*. [alle of D.] clenë lyfe;\nOf hem þe dede ȝaf noun answere,\nhe made no fors of here preyere.\nNeþeles,*. [Noþeles O, not for þan þe self D.] þe seluyn messe\nys noþer þe wursë, ne þe*. [neuere þe wers no of pris D.] lesse;\nÞe sunne, hys feyrnes neuer he*. [ne.] tynes,*. [O. gloss 'lesyþ.']\nÞogh hyt on þe muk hepe*. [mukhyl D.] shynes,\nBut þe muk ys þe more stynkyngge*. [mukhil . . stynkend D.]\nÞere þe sunne ys more shynyngge.*. [hoot schynyng D.]\nNe*. [No O, no more is lorn D.] more hyt ys lore, þe vertu\nOf þe messe, but*. [to D.] mannys pru.\nÞogh*. [If D.] þe prest be fals or frow,\nÞe messe, ys euer gode ynow;*. [a now D.]\nBut þe preyere haþ*. [preyeris of hym han D.] no myȝt,\nFor hys lyfe ys nat clene dyȝt.\nÞe knyȝt nemnede one at þe laste,\nA gode man, and a ryȝt*. [ryȝt, om. D.] stedefaste:\n"wylt þou þat he preye for þe?"\nÞo seyde þe dede "wel were þan me*. [þou seyde . . were me D.]\nȝyf he wuldë for me syngge,\nhe myȝt me of*. [out of D.] peynës bryngge." Page 83\nÞe knyȝt seyd*. [he seyde D.] truly, "truste to me,\nÞat samë prest shal prey*. [preye O, ilke p. s. preyȝe D.] for þe;\nAnd þat þy peyne mow*. [myȝt . . lesse (om. And) D.] be þe lasse,\nEuery day shal he for þe*. [for þe shal he O, certeyn dayȝis schal he for þe s. masse D.] synge a masse."\n"May y þan trust to þy*. [trusten þan to þe D.] sawe\nÞat þou be now my*. [þou wilt be to me (om. þat) D.] trew felawe?"\n"ȝe, as y am a trew knyȝt, [folio 16a:2]\nhyt shal be do, at*. [don with al D.] my myȝt."\n"A tokene betwyxe*. [be-twen D.] þe and me,"*. [me and þe O.]\nÞan seyd þe dedë,*. [þe dede seyde þat D.] "shal þys be?"\nhe toke and grepe*. [grypyd D.] þe knyȝtys arme,\nBut he felt þer-of none harme;\nAlso he touched hys bare þe;*. [so he touched þe bare skyn D.]\nÞe bare bone myȝt men euer after se;*. [myȝt be sen D.]\nBut sorë*. [sor O, and for D.] þerof felt*. [felte O D.] he noght,\nBut for þe felyng, more on hym*. [on hym more (om. but) D.] he þoght.\nÞat mark saw alle men comunly,*. [þe tokene saw many on þerby D.]\nBut no man wyst*. [wyste O, non wyste r. qwy D.] redely why.\nÞe dedë seyd "þou shalt leue*. [not lyuyn D.] here\nNo lenger but*. [þan D.] þys two ȝere."\nhe tolde what day þat he shuld deye,*. [t. he schulde deyȝe & qwat day D.]\nAnd seþyn he went forþe*. [ȝede furþ O, þe dede knyȝt þo ȝede D.] hys weye.\nÞe knyȝt amended seþyn*. [seþen amendede O, siþþe amendyd D.] hym weyl,\nAnd to þe dede was as trew*. [trewe (om. as) D.] as steyl;\nFor he dede*. [(om. For) he dede for hym D.] as he hym hette,\nÞe prest for hym song þat he hem hette.*. [hym to synge he let D.]\nÞys aperyng,*. [schewyng D.] yn my*. [myne O, myn D.] auys,\nAuayled*. [It a-vayled D.] to boþe partys. Page 84\nSeþyn*. [Syn O, siþþe . . a palmerys D.] toke þe knyȝt palmers wede,\nAnd yn*. [yn om. D.] to þe holy londe he ȝede;\nIhesu cryst*. [crystys O, cristis D.] sepulcre he soght,\nFor þe synnys*. [synne hadde D.] þat he had wroght;\nAnd, at þe*. [at þe, OD, at H.] two ȝerës ȝende,\nGod almyghty for hym gan sende;\nFor þat day þat*. [þe same day D.] þe dede knyȝt seyde,\nÞe touþer knyghte þat same day*. [for soþe þat oþer knyȝt D.] deyde.\nBlessyd be god, of*. [grace be god D.] heuene kyng,\nÞat sent hym þat yche*. [to hym þat D.] tokenyng.\nNow may ȝe se, by þys tale,\nÞat þeftë breweþ mochë*. [mechil D.] bale.\nCertys þefte ryȝt*. [ful D.] wykked ys\nwhan*. [qwan D.] þe dede bereþ wytnes,\nNamly, pore men for*. [a namely pore men D.] to pele\nOr*. [And O (om. D), robben & beten w. o. skele D.] robbe or bete with-outë skyle.\nÞeftë wyl hys mayster shende, [folio 16b]\nAnd hym fordo*. [& for don D.] wyþ-outyn ende.\nȜyf þou be a serïaunt,*. [were euere ony seruaunt D.]\nAnd takë*. [toke . . . comnaunt D.] more þan þy cunnaunt,\nCustummablychë, mete or drynk*. [drynge O, & drynk D.]—\nÞoht for noght hyt be þe þyng*. [it is al for nouȝt as þe þinkith D.]—\ny redë þat*. [rede sum tyme D.] þou þer-of lete,\nFor many smale makeþ a grete.\nholy chyrche callyþ hyt þefte,\nwyþ-outë skylle, for hyt*. [skyl al þat þat D.] ys refte.\nȜyf þou euer reysyddyst*. [receydist ony fals D.] custome,\nÞou mayst be sykyr of hard*. [myȝt . . ryȝt hard D.] dome.\nBut ȝyf þat þou mayst hyt*. [ȝif þou may for don it & D.] felle,\nhyt ys robbery, gostly to telle.*. [g. þou gost to helle D.]Page 85\nȜyf hyt so betyde þat hyt lasteþ*. [laste O, so be it l. D.] ay,\nÞy medë*. [song D.] shal be welaway.\nȜyf þou amende hyt nat yn þy lyue,\nwhat*. [qwat D.] prest may þe þer-of shryue?\nNow telle we forþe, þat ȝe*. [we D.] may lere,\nhow þeftë comþ*. [comyþ OD, & on qwat m. D.] yn queynt manere:—\nȜyf þou*. [þat þou D.] euer þy werke withdrowe,\nOr dedyst hyt nat weyl to*. [dede it not wel to þe ful D.] prowe,\nTyde or tyme þat þou shuldest*. [shust O, qwhan þou schal D.] werche,\n'Þou art a þefe,' seyþ holy cherche.\nȜyf þou do custummablyche swych*. [þys OD.] lak,\nTo begyle*. [falsyn D.] þy mayster be-hynde hys bak,\nÞou mayst nat excuse þe with rous,*. [proud wordys]*. [must not defende þe with ros D.]\nAnd sey, 'al þe worlde so dous.'*. [þowh al þe wyde word so gos D.]\nÞe worldë may nat sauë*. [word may not sauyn D.] þe:\nShryue*. [amende . . word D.] þy defaute, and late þe world be.\nȜyf þe be leyde a borde*. [þou ley ony hurd D.] to wedde,\nOr a cloþe to bak or bedde,\nȜyf þou hyt vse aȝens hys*. [her D.] wylle,\nholy cherche seyþ þat þou dost*. [doust O, þou dost (om. þat) D.] ylle,*. [yl O, wil . . . il D.]\nAnd warneþ þe þerof ȝyt efte,\nÞat hyt ys boþe okyr*. [gowl D.] and þefte.\nOkur*. [goul D.] hyt ys, for þe outrage\nTo take þy catel, and haue*. [haue, om. D.] auauntage;\nAnd for þefte, he may þe greue [folio 16b:2]\nTo vse hys þyng aȝens hys leue;\nAnd ȝyf hyt be so þat þus ys*. [be sueche forth D.] gone,\nCharyte ne cristyndome*. [trewe charyte D.] ys þer none.\nÞyn euencristyn þou owyst to lene,*. [releue or relene D.]\nȜyf þou mayst spare hyt,*. [hyt, om. D.] þat y mene.\nAlso,*. [As D.] ȝyf a þyng be þe lent Page 86\nAnd þou wyþ-outë hys asent\nlene furþer þat þyng*. [put þat þing often D.] to were,\nFor þefte to hym*. [to hym O, þer of D, om. H.] þou shalt answere.\nÞou wost weyl, þou dost*. [doust O, þou dost (om. þat) D.] nat ryȝt;\nÞat a-noþer hyt useþ, hyt ys þy plyȝt.*. [to a-peyre his good forsoþe I plyȝt. D.]\nȜyf þou haue a þyng yn ferme\nTo a certeyn day of terme,\nAnd ȝyf þou ouer þat terme day\nTrauelyst hyt*. [Traueylyst hyt O, trauaylyst it D; hyt om. H.] aȝens hys pay,\nÞou hast synned yn a spece,*. [I telle þe D.]\nyn þeftë þou art come a grece.*. [In a spyce of þefte in þat degre D.]\nNow wyl y speke of okerers,*. [gouleris D.]\nÞat þefys ben*. [beyn O, arn on þe same D.] yn sum maners.\nTo whom þat vsery*. [he þat to gowle D.] ys lefe,\nGost[e]ly,*. [gostly to telle D.] he ys a þefe.\nȜyf þou of any okerere*. [ony gowlere D.]\nwyþ wrong hys þyng awey dest*. [a-wey his good D.] bere,\nÞoghe*. [ȝif D.] he be no cristyn man,\nÞefte vnto*. [to D.] þy self þou wan;\nÞou ne owyst nat of hys*. [þou owyst not of hym D.] to haue\nwith wrong, ȝyf þou þy self wylt*. [wylt om. D.] saue.\nAlso, ȝyf þou haue founde a þyng,\nAnd makyst þerfore*. [þer of D.] none askyng\nAt cherche ne at þe market an hy,*. [hij O, þe cherche ne market by D.]\nBut forhelest*. [kepist D.] hyt pryuyly\nSo þat þe þyng with þe dwelle,\nhyt ys þefte, þys clerkys telle.\nȜyf þou withdrawest*. [wyþdraghst O, with-drawe H.] a mannys*. [mans.] ryȝt\nStyllyche, þat hyt be nat yn*. [þat he haue þer-of no D.] syght,\nÞogh*. [alþowh D.] a man parseyue hyt noght, Page 87\nÞou stelyst hyt, and þefte*. [& as a þef D.] hast wroght.\nȜyf þou wyþholdest*. [withdrawe D.] a mannys seruyse [folio 17a]\nFor euyl herte or fals*. [for D.] queyntyse,\nOr withdrawest*. [wyþdrahst O, with-drawyst ony mannys D.] any manere pay,\nAnd ledyst hym furþe*. [& taryest hym D.] fro day to day,\nBut ȝyf hyt be*. [Harl. omits 'be'; be O, be be D.] with grete resun,\nOf þeftë þou art*. [art þe O, art þou D.] enchesun.\nFor þe gospel commaundeþ ryȝt\n'holde nat*. [withholde non D.] hys seruyse ouer nyght;'\nwhan þe man haþ do*. [qwan a m. h. don D.] hys dede,\nGod wol*. [wyle O, wil D.] þat he haue hys mede.\nwhat sey*. [qwat seyn (om. þes) D.] men of þes fals husbandys\nÞat ere aweye falsly*. [falsly ere awey O, falsly eryn a-wey oþer D.] mennys landys;\nOf a land, þurgh and þurgh,\nTakyn and eryn awey a furgh?*. [takiþ welny a wey a forw D.]\nÞat ys boþe thefte and*. [ȝit it is a þefte & a D.] robberye,\nAnd hyt ful derë shal he a-bye.*. [he O, om. H., & ful dere he schal it a-bey D.]\nOf swychë, fewe men*. [fo men god D.] hem amende,\nFor þey beyn*. [þo men arn D.] þe deuylys frende.\nTauuarsyns*. [gannokerys D.] and vserers,\nÞys are, Lucyfer, þy*. [arn lucyferys D.] peres;\nFor þey are alle*. [þei arn D.] þe deuyl betaght\nÞat okeryn falsly þe worldes aght.*. [gode]\nOkyr ys also,*. [goul it is D.] ȝyf þou hyt haunte,\nTo lenë þyng to*. [vp D.] certeyn cunnaunt;\nAlso, to bye*. [a noþer to beyȝe D.] a þyng byfore,\nhalfe vn-to þe*. [þe OD, om. Harl.] sellers*. [soweris D.] lore;\nFor ȝyf þe byer may weyl*. [ȝif þe beyȝere myȝt wel D] lene\nÞat þyng*. [þynge O.] with-outë losse or*. [trey & D.] tene, Page 88\nhe ys holde to helpe*. [þou art bounden to helpyn D.] hym with-alle,\nOr holy cherche seyþ, þat he hyt stalle.*. [seith þou it stal D.]\nOkeryng ys on many*. [goulyng haþ a noþer D.] manere,\nMo þan y kan telle now here.\nBut wete ȝe weyl, swyche gode shal go\nAs hyt come, with sorowe and wo;\nFor some haue*. [summe han (om. For) D.] so grete cumbrement\nÞat þey may make no testament;\nFor holy cherche neuer vndyrstode\nTo haue of okerer[ë]s gode.*. [han ony of goulerys good D.]\n[The Tale of Seint Forsyne's Visit to Hell.] *. [[Acta Sanctorum, Jan. iii. 404.—G. Paris, Hist. Litt. de la France, xxviii. 196.]]\n[folio 17a:2] A tale ys tolde of Seynt Forsyne,*. [A tale]\nwharefor he suffryd onys*. [qwerfore . . meche D.] pyne.\nÞys samë tale*. [þat ilke D.] tellyþ seynt Bede\nyn hys gestys þat men*. [gestys men it D.] rede.\nwhan*. [qwan D.] seynt Fursyne had lyued long,\nÞyr toke hym þan*. [hym took þanne (om. þyn) D.] an euyl strong;\nÞat tymë þat he wende*. [tyme wende he al for D.] to deye,\nCome one to hym and*. [þer cam an aungel to hym D.] þus gan seye,\n"Rys vp, Fursyne, and go with me!\nMerueyl mochë shalt þou*. [mechil þou schalt D.] see."\nwheþer he wulde, or he ne wulde,*. [qwheþer he wolde or he nolde D.]\nhe toke hym vp, and furþe he shulde;\nMany stedys he late*. [lete O, many a place he lete D.] hym se,\nMerueylys and grete*. [grete & of D.] pryuyte;\nhe shewed hym þe*. [hym þe OD, om. Harl.] depnes of helle,\nAnd þe peynes þat þeryn dwelle;\nSeþþe þey toke a weye ryȝt*. [gate ful D.] euene, Page 89\nAs hym þoght, toward heuene.\nyn þe fyrmament as þey ȝede,\nFoure fyres he sawe*. [ferys hi sagh O, fyrys he saw D.] of gretë*. [gret OD.] drede;\nÞes foure fyres*. [ferys O, fyris wexyn D.] wax hygh & hote,\nAnd yn-to one, alle*. [al O, to on of þo (om. And yn) D.] foure þey smote.\nwndurful*. [wunderfully D.] was þan þat fyre,*. [fere O, fyr D.]\nAnd dredful, and also*. [And also dredful, & O, & so dredful D.] brynnyng shere.\nÞe aungel þydyrward*. [to hym ward D.] toke þe weye;\nÞo*. [þo om. D.] þoght seynt Fursyne, 'here shal y deye.'\nÞe aungel ȝede furþ ful boldely,\nBut seynt Fursyne durst nat come ny.\nÞe aungel say*. [sagh O, saw D.] he gan abyde,\n"Come furþe," he seyd, "and þe*. [þou D.] nat hyde;\nOf þys fere ne drede*. [fyr drede D.] þe noght,\nBut þou with wrong euer toke oght;\nȜyf þou haue take any*. [any om. D.] þyng with wrong,\nÞou shalt brenne yn þys fyre*. [brennyn in þis (om. fyre) D.] strong.\nwith mochë*. [mechil D.] þoght, sorowe, and drede,\nFursyne vnto þat fyre*. [þe fyr D.] ȝede.\nÞe fyre*. [fere O, fyr D.] on boþë half hym was,*. [halue was D.]\nBut furþ he ȝede fast*. [faste he ȝede furþ O, (forth) D.] on hys pas,\nyn þat fyre saghe*. [fere sagh O, fyr saw D.] he lye [folio 17b]\nSaulys brennyng,*. [soulys brennende D.] and ruly crye;\nÞe fendës ȝedë*. [ȝeden D.] hem among,\nAnd fast echone on oþer þrong\nwith brynnyng crokys sorowfuly,*. [hokys dolefully D.]\nAnd pyned hem*. [sore pyned hem D.] with-oute mercy.\nNone lay by hemself a-lone,\nBut eche*. [ache O, eche D.] on oþer, with sorowe and wone.*. [mone D.]\nEchone*. [eche D.] to oþer was sorowe and peyne,\nwith-outyn endë for*. [þis is D.] certeyn.\nFor pynyng, for wepyng, for cryyng,*. [for-pyned and cryed he seyde D.] alas,\nFursyne almoste*. [ny D.] confunded was. Page 90\nAs he sagh þys sorowe so grym,\nCome a deuyl rennyng*. [Cam . . rennende D.] to hym\nwith glesyng yȝen*. [eȝyn O, grysly eyȝen & hook D.] and croke yn hande,\nÞe steme stode oute of hys mouþ brennand:*. [ȝenande O.]\nhe broght on þat brynnyng croke*. [kroke O, hook D.]\nA brennyng soule þat al to-shoke.*. [sore quook D.]\nToward Fursyne*. [þe prist D.] he*. [he OD, hys Harl.] ran hys cours,\nAnd calyd*. [kalde O, callyd hym feloun of tretours D.] hym 'fals, felun, treytours.'\n"haue þys soule! þys hast þou slayn!\nÞou ȝeldyst nat*. [hym nat O, ȝelde hym now D.] hys gode aȝeyn.\nhe kast þe soule vpp-on þe prest,\nAnd brenned hys o*. [he brent his oo D.] syde, and half hys brest.\nhe went*. [wende O.] þat tyme haue deydë*. [wende þ. t. a be left D.] þore,\nFor the soule brennyd*. [þat saule brende O, þat soule hadde brent D.] hym so sore;\nhe hopyde neuer to haue come þen,*. [þeþen O, wende . . þenne D.]\nSo had*. [hadde O, had D.] þe soule broght hym be-neþen.*. [on brenne D.]\nBut at þe last þan gan he crye,\n17 And seyd, "mayster, me17*. [17_17 mayster D.] helpe now, or y dey!"\nÞan seyde þe aungel to Fursyne:\n"y tolde þe langer of þys*. [er. þis is þi D.] þyne;\ny sed langer*. [seyde þe er D.] at þe bygynnyng,\nȜyf þou haddest of oþer mennys þyng\nÞat þou madest nat of, amendëment,\nyn þys fyre hyt shulde be brent.\nloke now, ȝyf þou kanst hyt oght*. [can it D.] knowe,\nÞe soule þat þe brenned*. [brennede O, þat þer brent D.] so lowe."\n"Ȝe," [folio 17b:2] seyde Fursyne,*. [þan side þe prist D.] "y knowe hyt wele\nFor whom*. [qwom D.] y suffre þys peyne eche dele:\nÞys he dede, whan*. [qwan D.] he shuld deye,\nhe ȝaf me a cloþe for hym to preye;\nFor no maystry, ne for noun eyuyl,*. [non ille D.]Page 91\nhe ȝaf it me; but with*. [me be D.] hys gode wyl.\nAnd now, weyl y hyt*. [& wel I knowe now & D.] graunte,\nÞat y helde hym nat*. [not his (om. þat) D.] cunnaunt;\nwyllyng, certys, y dyd*. [dede O, aȝens his wil certis dede he D.] hyt noght,\nBut for rechelesshepe*. [rentylnesse D.] of þoght."\nÞe aungel þo toke þe*. [þat (þo, om. D.)] soule forlore,\nAnd dyd*. [dede OD.] hyt þere hyt was byfore,\nyn-to þe peyne, þere*. [þe, þere, om. D.] for to dwelle,—\nhyt was an okerere,*. [he was a gowlere D.] y ȝou telle;—\nÞan touched Fursynys*. [touched he Fursyns O, þe aungel touchyd hym D.] brest and syde,\nAnd þe fyre myȝt no lenger*. [no lenger myght O, myȝt no lengere (om. And) D.] abyde.\nÞurghoute þe*. [þat O, þorw þe fyr he hadde hym D.] fyre he ledde hym euene,\nAnd shewed hym of þe blys of heuene:\nhe shewed hym alle*. [of al D.] þe pryuyte\nÞere men befalleþ yn flessh to be.*. [þat men falle . . to se D.]\nhe broght hym þan*. [brout hym D.] to þe body aȝen\nFor*. [For, om. D.] to shewe þat hyt was certeyn.\nÞre days keptë men*. [dayȝes men keptyn D.] þe body,\nAlle for dedë comunly.*. [þanne contynuelly D.]\nhe lyued seþþen many ȝeres,\nA quyk man, and a feres.*. [ȝerys . . fers D.]\nBut þe brynnyng alle*. [be O.] be dene,*. [O. gloss. 'rewe.']\nEuermore aftyrward was hyt*. [hyt, om. O, it was D.] sene;\nAs long as he here*. [longe after as he D.] lyued,\nÞe brynnyng on hys*. [þe D.] body cleued.\ny trowe god shewed þys merueyle,\nFor þou ne shuldest of*. [ne shust of þy O, þat non schulde D.] trowþë fayle.\nSeþen leuyd*. [leuede O, lyuede D.] he so holyly\nÞat men callyn hym nowe*. [now O, om. D.] seynt Fursy;\nHe was fyrst*. [fyrst, om. D.] founder and syre\nOf þe cherche of Knares*. [Canyes D.]-myre; Page 92\nAnd of Norwyche þe modyr cherche\nhe ded hyt fyrst make and werche;\nAnd þere he lyþ be-ȝunde þe see, [folio 18a]\nhe ordeyned a mynster*. [mynstyr O, mynstre D, mynyster H.] for to be;\nFoure ȝere or*. [ar O, om. D.] þe cherche were ful set*. [was endyd D.]\nwas hys soulë to god*. [heuene O, or h. s. was to heuene sendyd D.] fet.\nOkerers men oght to weyue,*. [gouleris owyn for to whyue D.; O. gloss 'fle.']\nȜeue hem noght, ne of hem receyue,*. [ȝif hym nouȝt ne not retyue D.]\nȝyf þou wetë what þey are,*. [OD. transpose these lines. In 2593, D reads 'qwat þei ware.']—\nyn no manere of chaffare.*. [OD. transpose these lines. In 2593, D reads 'qwat þei ware.']\nSum tyme þer was yn*. [Sumtyme was D.] a cyte,\nÞat ȝyf an okerer*. [ȝif ony goulere þerin D.] myȝt founde*. [founden O.] be,\nÞey helde hym vyler*. [hyldyn hym wers D.] þan a Iew,\nFor no man wuldë hys prew;*. [O. gloss 'profyte,' held hem but on-trew D.]\nMen clepyde*. [callyd D.] hys hous yn euery strete\n'Þe hous of þe fendës sete.'\nFyre,*. [Fer O, þe fer & D.] watyr, þat he shuld note,*. [O. gloss 'okepye.']\nÞey cursed hyt*. [hyt, om. D.] euery grote;\nAnd euery syde to ouþer, "sere,*. [men seyde to oþer sone D.]\nlo, þere þe cursed vsurere!"*. [qwhere þe cursyd goulere come D.]\nyn cherchë no man ȝaf*. [ȝeue D.] hym pes,*. [O. gloss 'pax.']\nFor a fend þey*. [men D.] hym ches.*. [[6 syllables]]\nNo man was so hardy*. [[6 syllables]]\nTo bryng hym þyng*. [bryngyn hym good D.] opunly,\nÞat he ne shulde vyly*. [but þat he schulde opynly D.] be shent\nOf alle þat by þe stretë*. [stret O, strete D.] went.\nAnd whan any vsurere*. [qwhan a goulere D.] was dede,\nÞe cherchëȝerde þey hym forbede. Page 93\nÞey wuld nat, for loue ne awe,*. [O. gloss 'drede.']\nȜeue hym crystyn mennys*. [ȝeuyn . . mannys D.] lawe;\n'Requiem' ne shulde be note*. [wyþ note O, r. schulde noon D.] be sunge\nNe seyd for hym, wyþ mannys tunge.\n'Lux perpetua,' and he, were wroþe,\nFor*. [For, om. D.] yn hys lyue he solde hem boþe.\nA nyȝt, when men hadde here*. [qwen men holde D.] reste,\nhe okered pens yn hys*. [goulyd pens he put in (om. He) D.] cheste;\nAnd also, vpp*. [vpp, om. D.]-on þe day lyȝt\nhe gadered gode*. [pens D.] with alle hys myȝt.\nÞan semyþ hyt weyl yn oure lay\nÞat he solde*. [he selliþ (om. þat) D.] boþe þe nyȝt and þe day;\n'Requiem,' (þe reste with outen ende,) [folio 18a:2]\nÞar-to*. [to þat D.] shal he neuer wende;\nNe 'lux perpetua'*. [l. p. ne D.]—þe endles lyȝt—\nÞer-of shal he neuer haue syȝt;\nwhere*. [þer D.] he ys wurþy, þer shal he be;\nyn hym nas neuer no*. [founde D.] charyte.\nNow of þeft haue we*. [þan haue I D.] seyd,\nAnd þese*. [þys O, of þese gouleris D.] vsurers made vp-breyde.\ngod ȝeue vs gracë þefte to fle,\nAnd al*. [alle O.] okerers wel*. [wylle D, alle gouleris, euele mote þei be D.] to amendyd be.\n[The Eighth Commandment.*. [Non loquaris contra proximum falsum testi|monium:· ¶ Octauum mandatum D.]]\nNow of þe eytþë wyl we speke,*. [Telle we now of þe eyȝttande D.]\nÞat fals sysours vse moste to breke.*. [han most in hande D.]\n'Þous halt no fals wytnes bere,\nÞyn euene crystyn for to dere.'*. [O. gloss 'harme.]\nwho-so with hys mouþe, one,*. [& how þat w. his mouth D.] seys,\nAnd with hys herte þenkeþ*. [þenkþ O, þinkiþ oþer D.] ouþer weys,— Page 94\nhe ys wurþy to be shent,\nFor a doþ*. [D'.s order is l. 2644, 2643, 2642, 2641; ho so do D.] aȝens þys comaundment.\nBut many one þat are*. [But man on erþe D.] þus fykyl\nSynnyn nat*. [nat alle, synnyth not only she O.] ylychë mykyl;*. [O. gloss 'moche.']\nÞarfor behoueþ*. [it behouyth.] be tolde þe skyl*. [skylle.]\nAs holy men seyn vs tyl.*. [tyll O, seyn it wel D, O. gloss 'to.']\nwho-so beleuyþ a wycches*. [telle a fals D.] sawe,\nhe bereþ wytnes aȝens þe lawe.\nSwyche wycches*. [suych wikke D.] are for to weyue,*. [O. gloss 'fle.']\nFor many men þey*. [it D.] wyl dysceyue.*. [deseyue O.]\nSome men*. [& summe D.] wytnessen a lesyng\nFor nonë ouþer wynnyng\nBut for to begyle sum man þer-ynne;\nȜyf hyt delyte hym, grete ys þat*. [ȝif þou delyȝt it meche. synne D.] synne.\nOn ouþer manere synnen*. [synne O, on oþer halue ȝit summe (om. synnen) D.] sum\nÞat makeþ lesyng*. [makyn lesynges O, maken lesyngis D.] þurgh custum\nTo plese*. [a-peyre D.] þe folk yn rybaudy:\nÞat y halde no synne*. [calle no s. but D.] dedly,\nBut þey*. [But ȝyf þey OD.] haue þeryn delyte;\nÞan mow þey*. [mayst þou D.] synne dedely ful tyte.*. [O. gloss 'sone.']\nAnd sum vsë*. [vse as O, lyȝen also D.] for curtesye\nTo speke*. [þat spekyn D.] nobly, and ȝyt wyl lye,\nÞey synnë*. [þou synnyst ȝit D.] yn þat feyre spekyng [folio 18b]\nȜyf þey*. [þou D.] haue delyt yn þat lesyng.\nAnd some lye oþer*. [& summe lyȝen D.] more or lesse,\nTo preyse one bettere þan he es;*. [preysen . . . isse D.]\nSwyche lesyng ys nat*. [lesyng ys nat D, a lesynge is nat ful HO.] grete folye\nBut þey hyt vsë comunly. Page 95\nAnd somë lye*. [& summe lyȝen D.] as þey were wode\nFor men shuld*. [a man shulde O, þat . . ȝeuyn (om. sum) D.] ȝyuë hem sum gode,\nAnd seyn þat he*. [om. Harl., he O.] haþ do so or*. [seiþ þat he dede O.] so\nÞat he myȝt neuer come-to to do.*. [come þerto D.]\nBut þogh no man haue þer-of euyl,\nȜyt hyt ys*. [ȝyt ys hyt O, ȝit it is a D.] þe tycement of þe deuyl.\nNo lesyng ys with-outë synne,\nBut þat þer ys algate, sum plyght þerynne*. [plyght ynne O, þowh a man þerfore no þing wynne D.];\nAl aftyr þat þe lesyng ys,*. [es O (þat, om. D).]\nSum ys more, and sum ys les.\nBut some*. [sum O, summe m. synnyn D.] men synnë greuusly\nyn þys comaundment so hy,*. [hyȝ D.]\nÞat of grete þyng fals*. [fals, om. D.] wytnes beryn,\nAnd þar to-also*. [also, om. D.] grete oþys sweryn.*. [bere . . suere D.]\nSwyche synnë greueþ now*. [regnyth now ryȝt D.] mekyl,\nFor many one are boþe*. [many on is D.] fals and fykyl;\nÞat oþer*. [or D.] for loue, or for awe,\nWyl men swere falsly*. [fals D.] a sawe,\nAnd bere wytnes*. [beryn a witnesse.] of swyche a fals\nTo make a man hang*. [don . . hangen D.] be þe hals.*. [nek (O. necke)]\nGod haþ sent for swyche veniaunce,\nBut many trusten of long*. [lange O, on long D.] suffraunce.\nMen hope so moche*. [hopyn so meche D.] hys mercy to,\nÞat some neuer recche what*. [not rekke qwat D.] þey do.\nBut þe wys man seyþ yn hys lore,*. [O. gloss 'techyng.']\n'Þat here synne ys moche*. [he synnyth meche D.] þe more\nȜyf þey*. [he.] synne custummably\nyn þe hope of hys mercy.'\nY shal ȝou tellë how hyt fore*. [A tale.]\nOf a man þat hym forswore. Page 96\n[Tale of the Rich Forswearer at a Trial in London.]\n*. [narracio D.]Yn Londun toune fyl swyche a chek,\nA ryche man and pore*. [a pore O, a pore weryn D.] were at cuntek,*. [debate]\nAnd pleted*. [motedyn D.] a-boute a lytyl land [folio 18b:2]\nTyl a day was take yn*. [on D.] hand;\nþat day was so ny[e]*. [nyghe O, ny D.] dreue\nþat þe othe was to þe ryche man ȝyue:*. [dreuyn . . . ȝeuyn D.]\nwytnes þey allë gan hym bere\nÞat he ne wuld[ë] falsly*. [þat þei woldyn for hym D.] swere;\nFor rychë men are holdë*. [arn holdyn D.] trewe,\nÞogh here falsnes be*. [be her falsnesse (om. þogh) D.] neuer so newe.\nwhan*. [qwan D.] he was charged þe soþe to seye,\nÞat he ne shulde, for loue ne eye,*. [say . . ay D.]\nNe for lefë,*. [No for lef O, ne f. lef D.] no for loþe,\nBut trew[ë]ly to*. [schulde D.] swere hys oþe;\nA-nouþer þan*. [but a noþer D.] was yn hys þoght,\nFor*. [For, om. D.] falshede he wlde haue furþ broȝt;\nAnd God toke veniaunce apertly,\nÞat alle hyt say þat stode*. [(om. For) alle it seyȝen . . stodyn D.] hym by.\nFor whan he hadde hys oþë swore,\nAnd kest*. [kessid D.] þe boke hem alle before,\nVp ne ros he neuer more,\nBut, lay dede befor hem þore.*. [fil doun ded hem alle be-fore D.]\nÞan y trowe þat y dar*. [I dar wel (om. þat) D.] seye\nÞat he ȝede an euyl weye.\nBy þys tale, ȝe mowe se alle\nÞat fals sweryng wyl euyl befalle,*. [of f. s. w. e. falle D.]\nNamlyche, on þe halydom*. [namely vp-on þe holydom D.]\nwhan he ys charged of any*. [qwan . . ony D.] whom. Page 97\nVndyrstand þys weyl yn þy wyt,\nÞat god seyþ yn þe holy wryt,\n'Þat fals oþys, ne*. [& D.] wrong Iugement,\nShul neuer morë be vnshent.'\nSe how veniaunce was hys mede\nwhan*. [qwan D.] he hadde of God no drede:\nAlmyghty God,*. [God OD, om. H.] þat ys soþfastnes,*. [sothfast is D.]\nhé wulde*. [wlde haue O, wolde haue takyn D.] take to fals wytnes.\nFals sweryng ys nat ellys to say,\nBut 'forsakyng of god, and alle*. [alle, om. D.] hys lay.'\nA man þat swereþ*. [swerþ O.] fals swerynges,\nHe forsakeþ fyuë þynges:*. [sueryng . . þing D.] —\nÞe ioye of heuene he forsakeþ,*. [forsakþ O.]*. [[I]] [folio 19a]\nwhan he, wetyng,*. [qwan he wetende D.] fals oþys makeþ,*. [makþ O.]\nAnd alle hys blessyd cumpanye\nÞat þey hym neuer helpe ȝyf þat he lye;*. [þei helpyn hym neuere ȝyf he lyȝe D.]\nAnd Ihesu crystys passyun*. [[II]]\nþat for hym to þe deþ*. [to dethe D.] was doun,\nþat hyt helpe*. [þat helpith D.] hym neuer at*. [yn O.] nede,\nȜyf he swere fals, or falsdom*. [fals doom D.] bede.\nÞe þryddë,*. [þredde ys O.] ȝyf he swerë fals,*. [[III]]\nhys crystendom he forsakþ als,*. [O. gloss 'also.']\nþat hyt helpe*. [helpith D.] hym neuer more\nȜyf þat he lyë þore.*. [lyȝe of þat he haþ swore D.]*. [[6 syllables]]\nÞe fourþe*. [vourþe O, ferþe D (om. ys).] ys, he forsakeþ*. [forsakþ O, forsakiþ D.] þe preyers*. [[IV]]\nþat holy wryt wytnes of beres,*. [bers O, cherche wytnesse berys D.]\nþat þey neuer stonde hym by\nȝyf he swere hys oþe falsly.\nÞe fyueþë*. [fyfþe O, fyfte D.] þyng wyl hym shende,*. [[V]]\nFor he ȝyfþe hym self wyþ-oute[n]*. [(om. For) ȝeuyth . . outtyn D.] ende\nTo þe fende þat ys yn helle,\nȜyf þat he lye, or falsly telle. Page 98\nOn þese fyue maners hymself*. [wyses hym self he D.] deryþ\nþat on þe bokë falsly sweryþ.\nFor hys loue þat deyde on*. [hym þat deyde vp-on D.] þe rode,\nForswere ȝow neuer for worldys*. [forsuerith ȝow not for wordis D.] gode.\nFor ȝe wyte weyl, aud haue*. [ȝe wetyn it wel & han D.] hyt herde,\nþat trouþe ys more þan alle þe worlde.*. [word D.]\nȜyt þer ys*. [is þer D.] anoþer sweryng\nwhere-þurgh comþ oftë grete cumbryng,*. [cumberynge O, þer þorw comyth gret coum|bryng D.]\nÞe whyche*. [þat D.] ys, an oþe oute of mesure,\nÞat he shulde haue a mysauenture\nOn wyfë, and on chylde, to*. [wyf & child þat schulde D.] falle,\nAnd on hys ouþer godys alle,\nBut he holdë at hys myght\nhys oþe þat he swereþ to alle*. [swerþ to al O, oth he sueriþ it is al D.] ryght.\nSwyche an oþe ys grete doute*. [it is douȝtte D.] to swere,\nFor chauncë comþ*. [chaunsis comyn D.] on many manere.\nÞou settest þy chylde to mychë rewþe\nBut þou holde þyn*. [þyn O, þin oth with D.] oþe to trewþe.\nA-nouþer oth comþ ȝyt*. [ȝit comyth D.] yn place, [folio 19a:2]\nÞer*. [þat D.] a man swereþ by fallace.\nFallace ys, as who seye,*. [ho seiþ D.] 'gyle,'\nAs many one sweryn vmwhyle.*. [O. gloss 'sum tyme;' sum qwyle D.]\nȜyf þou swere to me for oght,\nAnd a-nouþer ys yn þy þoght,\nwenyst þou þan*. [þan, om. D.] þat þou swerest wel\nwhen*. [when, om. D.] þyn oth to me ys gyle eche del?\nNay: for,*. [& (om. Nay) D.] as y vndyrstande of þe,\nSo shal þy*. [þyn O, þin oth D.] as othë charged be.\nÞus techyþ vs seynt Austyne\nÞat was a clerk of gret dyuyne.*. [gret D, om. HO.]\nY pray ȝow alle, boþe*. [boþe, om. D.] lefe and loþe, Page 99\nÞat ȝe charge neuer body*. [chargyn non D.] with oþe\nÞat ȝe suppose wyl be forswore;*. [hopyn . . . forsuorn D.]\nFor, y warne ȝow wel byfore,*. [þerof I w. ȝ. alle be-forn D.]\nÞat*. [& D.] who-so putteþ hym to swere,\nGrete chargë for hym shal he*. [he schal D.] bere.\nȜyf þou madest awhere any*. [euere ony D.] vowe\nTo wurschyp God for þy prowe,—\nȜyf þou dedyst*. [dest O, dedist for g. w. D.] hyt with þy gode wylle,\nwith-outë stresse*. [out distresse D.] or ouþer ylle,\nÞou art holde to ȝelde hyt*. [holdyn to ȝeldyn it D.] hym\nOr þy synne ys grete and grym;\nwytnes of othë and of hote:*. [of oþere þat þin hot D.]*. [vowe]\nYn heuene, allë þyng*. [þyngis D.] þey wote.\nNoþeles, y sey hardly,*. [þe hardily D.]\nȜyf þou vowe to do foly,*. [a vowe . . . folyȝe D.]—\nAs*. [As O, om. Harl. D.] a man to bete or*. [beten or to D.] slo,\nOr to take hys gode hym fro;\nOr ȝyf þou vowe yn ȝungþe*. [ȝunþe O, ȝungþe D.] or elde,\nAnd þou mayst nat*. [not may D.] but wykkedly ȝelde,—\nGod wyl nat þou hold yt so\nþat þou þy vowe yn wykkednes do;\nGod haþ leuer þou þe*. [þat þou D.]20wyþdrow\nÞan do*. [do, om. D.] euyl dede after foly vow,\nBettere ys*. [ys . . be, om. D.] a foly wrde be20*. [20_20 Harl. omit these two lines.] wyþdrawe\nÞan wyþ euyl dede to fulfyl þat*. [þi (om. wyþ) D.] sawe.\nÞurgh*. [be D.] goddys wurd yn þe gospel,\nÞys may be preuyd ryȝt wel.\n[The Bible-story of John the Baptist's Death.]*. [[Mark vi. 22-28]]\nHyt speketh*. [spekþ O, þer it spekiþ D.] of seynt Ion*. [Ioon O, Ioh D.] baptyst, [folio 19b]\nÞe best chylde borë*. [best barn D.] vndyr Cryst. Page 100\nHyt telleþ þat Eroud*. [he telliþ þat herodis D.] swore*. [A tale]\nTo here þat tumbled*. [sayled D.] yn þe flore,\nÞat what-aseuer*. [qwat D.] she wuld aske to mede,\nhe wuld*. [schulde D.] fulfyl hyt here*. [here O, hire D, om. H.] yn dede;\nhalfe hys kyngdom, ȝyf she wuld craue,\nhaluyndele*. [Hauyndele O, halfuendel (om. hyt) D.] she shuld hyt haue.\nEueyl he vowed,*. [þer he a vowed D.] and swore hys oth,\nÞer-for with hym ys now god wroth.\nFor ouþer mede wuld she haue none,\nBut þe hede of swete seynt Ion;\nHere modyr bade here askë þys,\nÞe hede of seynt Ion*. [Ioon O, Ioh D.] yn a dyssh.\nFolylyche, certeyn, Eroud*. [herodis he (om. certeyn) D.] swore,\nAnd yn dede weyl*. [þe D.] werse he fore.*. [dede]\nBut ȝyf she hade asked Eroudes ye,\nTroust þou he wuld nat a*. [trust þerto he schulde haue D.] made a lye?\nY trowe he wulde haue be forswore*. [ha be forsworn D.]\nAr he hade hys ye forlore.*. [or . . yȝe lorn D.]\nSo had hym better,*. [be better O, were he b. D.] for hys prowe,\nFor to haue broke þat ychë*. [brokyn hys D.] vowe,\nAnd with-oute mede haue late here*. [a letyn hir D.] go,\nÞan for hys*. [þat D.] vowe a man do*. [do O, to D.] slo.\nȜyt may y preue hyt by*. [prouyn it be D.] ouþer sawe\nÞat wryte*. [wreten D.] ys yn þe oldë lawe;\nYn þe gest of syre Ieptë,\nYn þe byble men mow hyt se. Page 101\n[þe Gest of Syre Jepte, — or the Tale of Jephthah and his Daughter.*. [narracio D.]]*. [[Judges xv. 30-39.]]\nIeptë went onys to batayle\nAnd preyd God*. [he preyed D.] hys powere shuld nat fayle;—\n"Graunte me, Lorde,*. [O. (not D) inserts 'he seyde.'] þe maystry nowe,\nAnd y shal make to þe a vowe,\nþat þe fyrst þyng*. [þyng O, þing D, Harl. omits.] þat y mete\nBefor me homward yn þe strete,\nÞerof shal y make sacryfyse;"\nFor to sle hyt, was þan þe asyse.*. [to þe god. with good a-vyce D.]\nwhan*. [qwan D.] he had, þurgh goddys vertu,\nOf þe batayle prys and pru,\nHomward as syre Ieptë ȝede [folio 19b:2]\nhe þanked god for*. [of D.] hys gode dede.\nhys doghtyr was þe fyrstë*. [ferste D, fyrst HO.] þyng\nþat mette hym and made hym*. [hym, om. D.] welcomyng;\nShe grette here fadyr fayre with mouþe\nAnd made hym all*. [hym all, om. D.] þe ioye þat she couþe.\nÞan þoght Ieptë on*. [þouȝtte . . . of D.] hys vow,\nAnd hadde yn herte*. [In herte he made D.] sorow ynow.\nTo hys doghtyr þan seyd he,\n"Þou art deseyuyd, and y for þe;\nY made my*. [a D.] vow to heuene kyng\nÞat y shuld sle þe fyrstë*. [ferste D, fyrst HO.] þyng\nÞat y mette homwarde fro þe batayle;*. [h. be the way D.]\nAnd my vow y wyl nat fayle."*. [& myn a-vow me muste holde ay D.]\nHys doghtyr answered myldly,*. [myldely D.]\n"Fadyr," she seyde, "y am redy\nFor to take my deþe of*. [for D.] þe;\nBut y am glade þat y þe*. [ȝow D.] se. Page 102\nBut, swetë fadyr, y pray þe*. [D. puts this line after 2874, and reads, 'Now s. f. I ȝow preyȝe.']\nGraunte me two moneþes ar y dye,*. [or I deyȝe D.]\nÞat y may wepe*. [wepyn D.] my virginite\nwith hem þat noryst be*. [beyn O, weryn norysched D.] with me."\nHere fadyr graunted weyl þarto,\nAnd she forsoþë ded ryȝt so;\nShe weptë nat for any*. [non D.] outrage,\nBut for of here come*. [þat of hem cam D.] no lynage;\nÞat no fruyt of here myȝt spryng,\nÞare-for she madë here wepyng,\nAnd for here fadyr had chylder*. [childryn D.] no mo\nÞat furþer myȝt*. [myȝt ferþere D.] yn kyndë go.\nBut, ryȝt át þe moneþes ende,\nhere fadyr dede nat þerof*. [as þe D.] hende,\nÞat he hys ownë doghtyr*. [þat his owyn child D.] slowe\nFor a foly and a wykked vowe.*. [foly wikkyd a-vow D.]\nSeynt Austyne seyþ certeynly\nÞat he synned ryȝt*. [ful D.] dedly;\nFor he auowede, and nedyd naght,*. [noght O, & trust not D.]\nAnd ȝyt yn dede wel werse he wroght.\nSeynt Austyn seyþ so*. [a D.] redy wey [folio 20a]\nÞat y to ȝou dar*. [to ȝow þat dar I. [The Dulwich fragment stops with 1. 2894, and the catchwords at foot, 'ȝoure wikkid vowys.']] weyl seye\n'Ȝoure wykked vowys shul ȝe nat fylle,\nNe make no vowe to any ylle,\nBut chaungë hem to better prow,\nAnd take penaunce for foly vowe.'\nGod shelde vs alle wykkedly to swere,\nAnd late vs neuer fals wytnes bere,\nNe foly vow for to make,\nlordë, for þy wurschyp*. [wrshepe O.] sake.*. [O. adds 'Amen.']\n[The Ninth Commandment.]\nThe nynþe comaundment yn oure tellyng\nYs "coueyt nat*. [noght.] þy neghbours þyng,"\nFor to reue hyt hym wykkedly\nwith wrong pleys or ouþer maystry,\nNo with glosyng, no with queyntyse,\nNo wyþ destressë, on noun wyse,\nNo wyþ wykked procurement,\nTo make hym lese hys tenement.\nAnd for hyt haþ þe same assyse\nÞat longeþ vn-to coueytyse,\ny wyl now ouer-lepe hyt here,\nAnd aftyrwarde ȝe mowe hyt lere\nwhan y speke of þe dedly synne\nOf coueytyse, hyt ys þer-ynne;\nFor hyt ys one of þe seuene,\nAmong hem y wyl hyt neuene;\nAnd of hys spycys telle ȝow neyde,\nAs holy man*. [men.] haue wryten*. [wrete.] and seyde.\nOf þys nynþe wyl y endë now,\nAnd of þe tenþë speke*. [telle.] to ȝow.\n[The Tenth Commandment.]\nThe tenþe comaundment ys, "by þy lyfe\nCoueytë nat þy neghburs wyfe."\nAnd þys ys now a comun synne\nÞat many onë fallyn ynne,\nFor almost hyt ys euery-whore\nA gentyl man haþ a wyfe and a hore;*. [[All future various readings are from O.]]Page 104\nAnd wyuës haue*. [hauen.] now comunly\nhere husbondys and a ludby.\nYn euery place now mow men se [folio 20a:2]\nÞe wyfe wyl gladly þe mayster be;\nAnd ȝyf she onys þe maystry*. [þe maystry onys.] wynne\nAlle newë lawys she wyl bygynne;\nFor þan wyl she make hyt alle*. [þan makyþ she hyt al.] newe,\nAnd bygynneþ to be a shrewe;\nAnd whan she haþ wune*. [wnne.] þe maystry\nOure syre ys noght but 'veyes moy sy.'*. [Cp. Ves me ci tot en ta bonté De faire volon|té. Roman de Dolopatos (in Roquefort).]\nÞan wyl folys fonde and fare*. [O. gloss 'go.']\nTo chepë þe wyuys chaffare.\nAnd ȝyf þe wyfe lestene here*. [Harl. omits 'here.'] lore,\nhere wurschyp ys lost for euer more.*. [Harl. euery more.]\nÞus wyl bygynnë wykked lyfe\nTo coueyte a-noþer mannys wyfe;\nFor no man ful comunly\nBesecheþ a wyfë of foly,\nBut þere þe wyfë ys aboute,\nÞe godë man, for to stoute.\nY dar no morë telle for drede\nOf vnkyndë wyuys hede;\nNoþeles, y haue grete skylle\nTo sey morë þan y wylle.\nȜyf þou euer, þat þou wystyst,\nA-nouþer mannys wyfë kystyst,\nOr ȝaue here ȝyft for þat enchesoun\nÞat sum synnë myght be doun;\nÞan as yn þe, þou fallyst yn synne,\nȜyf þou to foly wuldest here wynne.\nȜyf þou þys foly haunte,*. [[6 syll.]]\nOuþer mennys wyuys for to daunte,\nyn foly wurdys, or yn foly play,\nyn vntyme, be nyȝt or day,\nÞat here herte to þe myght tourne,\nAnd late of here husbunde skorne,\nFor soþe þou synnest þer dedly Page 105\nÞogh þou lygge neuer here by.\nBy foly wurdys mow men a fole kenne;*. [O. gloss 'knowe.']\nÞurgh blast of mouþe þe fyre wyl brenne.\nȜyf þou euer dedyst þy myght [folio 20b]\nA womman to tylle with foly syght,\nAs men hauntë now alle day,\nTo hauë glysyng yȝen and gay,\nA weddyd wyfe y þe forbede,\nFor, þat ys most for to drede.\nAlso, ȝyf þou dedyst*. [dest euer.] letter sende\nTo weddyd wyfe, or wrote or kende;\nOr ȝyf þou*. [O. inserts 'euer.'] letter bare,\nAnd þou were þerof weyl ware,\nÞogh hyt were ouþer mennys synne\nȜyt art þou partáble þer-ynne.\nÞys comaundment þat ys þe tenþe,\nwylle y no lenger drawe or*. [on.] lengþe;\nFor yn þe syxtë þer y spake,*. [[p. 58-73]]\ny touched of þys ychë lake.\nNow of þys ten wylle we lete,\nAnd speke of ouþer synnys grete;*. [O. adds 'Þat ys to seyë, of þe seuene, How þey forbarre þe blys of heuene.']\nGod graunte vs gracë so to sey\nOf trouþe to shewë þe ryȝt weye.