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pp. 36-45
1400 Alle-mighty god in trinite (Roy)
1 Pref. ed, of only MS printed.
Ref. All
al400 Alle wandreths (Roy)
Pref. ed. of unique MS.
pp. 70–71
(1506 (a1425) Contempl. DLGod (Wde W:Hort)] pp. 72-105
Horstmann ed. of a 16 c Wdeñ print. Use
sparingly for vocab. only.
pp. 367-374
a1500 Counsels Isidor (Hrl)
Pref, MS
a1500 Craft Dying (Rwl) .
Pref. MS
pp. 406-420
pp. 60-62
(item 6)
pp. 274-282
pp. 62-63
a1400 DCChrist (Roy)
Pref. MS
fc1400 dial. Bern. 7 v.2 (Tbr)
ref. line
Non-pref, MS; pref. MS see shelf
no, 11:16
a1400 Epist. SSacerd. (Roy)
Pref. MS
101390 Form Conf.? (Vrn)
Pref. MS
Forim iniving = Ilke marr p. 283
c1400 GGuy (Tbr). Spirit
ref. line
print
... mor
Non-pref, MS; pref, MS edited shelf
|_no, 206, pp. l-119 (upper sections
of page). - AltO LATIF) .

bi
pp. 340–345
pp. 292-333
(upper sec-
tion of pages,
c1390 GGU
Prer, MS
.
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pp. 292-333
(lower sec-
tions of page
pp. 67-70 of
a1400 Grete ferly (Roy)
Pref. ed. of unique MS.
.
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​(page 2)
ref. page unless otherwise indicated.
p. 64
21400 Heuen is wonnen (Roy)
Pref. ed. of unique MS.
Dan
pp. 283-292
-1400 Ilka man (Tbr)
ref. line
Pref. ed. of unique MS.
pp. 381-389
al500 LDirige? (Hrl)
ref. line
. Non-pref. MS.
Vrr. in footnotes:
a1500 LDirige“ (Cmb)
-1410 Love God (UC)
Pref. MS and ed.
pp. 454-455
21410 Medit. 5 WChrist (UC)
Pref. ed. and Ms.
pp. 440-441
pp. 441-443
21410 Medit. sSelf (UC)
· Pref. MS and ed. A very few vrr.
from Sim c1400.
pp. 377-380
21500 Medit. St. Aug. (Hrl)
Pref. MS
· Vrr, in footnotes:
na475 D = 67450 Medit. St. Aug. (Dc)
Hh = al500 Medit. St. Aug. (Cmb)
pp. 436-440
1410 Mirror Sinners
Pref. ed. and Ms. [There are a few
in vrr. from Sim (c1400).
pp. 375–377
1500 9 PPGod (Hrl)
Pref. ed. and MS.
1500 9. PPGodt (Hri)
Pref. M5
Vrr. in footnotes:
F = 721450 9 PPGod
J = c1450 9 PPGod
pp. 455-456
(Cmb Ff)
(Cmb Ii)
Rolle. Form of Living (cat. Tiberis )a.

Seka man
3 8 3

2S
(page 3)
ref. page unless otherwise indicated.
21400 NVPsalter (Eg)
ref. psalmgverse,
MS E =
Non-pref. MS
KESEPTE AV
pp. 130-143
(ps. 1-9)left
cols.lower
half of page;
157-158 (P8.26)
176-178(Ps. 44)
196–199(Ps.67)
lower half of
page;143-157
(Ps. 10-25), 158
176 (Ps. 27-43),
178-196 (Ps.451
66), 199-273(Ps.
68–150), vrr.
lower half of
page.
21400 NVPsalter (Hrl)
ref. psalm verse
MS H.
Non-pref. MS
pp. 130–143
(Ps. 19), right
cals lower half"
of pg; 143-27%
(Ps. 10-150),
vrr. lower hal
of page.
a 1400 NVPsalter (Vsp)
- ref. psalm verse
: Pref. Ms®
pp. 130-273
(upper half of
page)
p. 65
21400 Quant homme (Roy 17)
Non-pref. MS; pref. MS (cl330) edited
shelf no. 456, pp. 251-252.
pp. 106-123
(item 2)
.
508 (c1400) Remedy TTempt. (WeW:Horst.)
(Item 1 (p. 106) is a chap. of Rolle
Fliving and cannot be used. Item 3
(pp. 123–128) not certain whether this
is part of Remedy TTempt. in the MSS
and it has tentatively been omitted.
eRolle
1400 Roy. Counsels (Ro
Only ed. and Ms.
pp. 66-67
Spiritus Ary p. 292
pp. 24-36
(page 4)
ref. page unless otherwise indicated.
pa1400 Spec. Guy (Roy)
ref. line
Non-pref. MS; pref. MS (dated c1330)
is edited in shelf no.542..
31410 St. Anselm Medit. (UC 97)
Pref. MS
mir
pp. 443-445
.
-
.
A1500 St. Aug. Contemptu Mundi (Hrl)
PrefMS
p. 374
!
a1400 Swete Ihesu now (Roy)
pp. 9-24(up-
ref. line
per half of
Non-pref. MS; pref. MS (c1390) edited page,left hand
right col. same pp., same book. But col; on p. 17
see bib. card chart for transfer if just left han
quote is earliest, Can possibly be col.)
taken back to c1275.
1390 Swete Ihesu now (Vrn)
pp. 9-24(up-
ref. line
per half of
Pref. MS and ed. But see bib. card page, right
i for transfer if quote is earliest. hand col; on
Can possibly be taken back to cl275. p. 17 just
right hand
col.)

Transfer
1.390 Takking blod firmy
pp. 345–366
Prer. M$ and edo
(Certain passages can be transferred
to the Orison Lord and Wooing Lord
and transfer should be attempted if the
quot is important for early date:
p. 346 para. 2- p. 348 para. 2 =
Orison Lord..
p. 362 para, 2 = Orison Lord
P. 353 para. ? - p. 362 para. 1 =
Wooing Lord
p. 362 para. 3 - end (p. 366) =
Wooing Lord

#556
L2

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.
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(page 5)
ref. page
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1410 3 Arrows Doomsday (OC)
a Pref. ed. and MS.
pp. 446-448
$6
****
.
a1500 Treat. GBattle (Hrl)
pp. 420_436
Pref. MS. (Vrr. marked R may be from
Rwl C .894 or Roy 17. C. 18 both
dated al500.) Par Mal source in Dives Ep 2.304 ff..
DD-
.
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-
1400 12 PTrib.) (Roy) yr. L: C1400 (hd) pp. 45-60
Pref. MS and ed.
a1500 12 PTrib/2) (Rui) (MS)
pp. 391-406
Pref. MS (main portion of text)
Vrr. in footnotes:
C = al500 12 PTrib. 2 (Corp-0)
H = a1500 12 PTrib.. (Hri)
R = a1500 12 PTrib.a (Roy 17. C. 18)
al425 12 Pirib. (Roy)
p. 390
Appar. only edited MS of this section,
treat as pref. MS but do not omit (Roy).
1 c1410 Visit. Infirm." (UC)
pp. 449_453
Pref. MS
al500 Whi is his world (Hrl)
pp. 374 375
Non-pref. MS; pref. MS (?a1425) edited
shelf no.1001, pp. 237-239. Cu cat L ?
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c1410(1399) Will Folkyngham in Yks. Wr. 2
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448-449
hitetto
1.6:
a
in
.
WAT
-
YORKSHIRE WRITERS
RICHARD ROLLE OF HAMPOLE
1 II
AND HIS FOLLOWERS
EDITED BY
C. HORSTMAN
VOL. II.

01111MDMMUTIAITANDO
i
ve
imam
U
SSS
SME
A
.
-
ARDVA. QVÆ PVICRAE
· LONDON
SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & Cº.
NEW YORK: MACMILLAN & Co.
1896.
828
R 75
H82
v.2
Printed by BREITKOPF & HÄRTEL, Leipzig.
Introduction.
Christus in unoquoque nostrum, unus-
quisque ipse Christus, i. e. homo;
ego homo, filius hominis, Christus.
(R. Rolle has hitherto been an enigma. I will attempt to construe that remarkable
man, so far as the materials extant, viz. his writings, and the “Officium de S..
Ricardo? with a Vita in its lessons (ed. by Perry, and in Breviarium eccl. Ebor.
II, 1882, Surtees Soc.) will permit.)
Richard Rolle, from the place of his death and burial surnamed Hampole,
was born about, or shortly before, 1300', at Thornton (now Thornton Dale), a
village 21/2 miles E. of Pickering, at the foot of the hills in the North Riding of
Yorkshire. He died on the 29th of September 1349. His father was William
Rolle”, a man apparently of respectable position, being called an intimate friend
of John de Dalton (iste armiger patrem suum veluti sibi familiarem grata affectione
diligebat); he was perhaps a dependant of the Nevilles. Having received his
primary education at home, he was at a more advanced age sent to Oxford by
Thomas de Neville 3, afterwards (since 1334) archdeacon of Durham. Oxford, at
that time, was in the zenith of its glory: only a few years had elapsed since the
1 John Wilson in his "English Martyrologe” (1608 & 1640) has it that he died "full of sanctity
and venerable old age", but this statement of a late writer is not borne out by any older
authority. In the works of R. Rolle, who generally is very communicative about himself, I find
no allusion to his old age. The large number of his works, however, proves that he must have
attained a fair age. The Vita tells us that he was "exhibited” at Oxford by Thomas Neville.
Now this Neville was not born before 1292-5. He may have taken R. Rolle with him while
himself going to Oxford for his course, in which case Rolle might be of equal age; but more
probably he sent him there after finishing his studies, in which case Rolle would be younger.
In his earliest work, the Melum, in which he calls himself juvenculus, puer, pusillus, he pro-
phesies a bad end for the King and Queen: “Reginas quae reprobe regebantur vermes rodent
invisibiles; reges a regnis ruent quia sanguis sarcinatus sceleribus duces et divites inaniter
decepit”, alluding to the misgovernment of Edward II and his spouse. Now the Queen's in-
famous adultery with Mortimer, to which, it seems, allusion is made, commenced in 1325 and
was known in England in 1326. In that year R. Rolle, if born in 1300, would be 26 years, an
age which would allow him to call himself juvenculus and puer. So I fix 1300 as the most
approximate date.
2 The name, probably Norman, is not found in northern registers of the time.
3 This Thomas, a member of the great family of the Nevilles (who with the Percys played
the most prominent part in the history of the North during the border wars), was the son of
Ralph Nevil, Lord of Raby, Branspeth, Sherifhoton and Middleham (1262—1337), who in 1282
(his father Roger having died in 1271 of a wound received when caught in adultery) succeeded
his grandfather Robert, the 1st lord of Raby, Branspeth and Sherifhoton (sometime governor
of York Castle, of Pickering Castle, and of Bamburgh Castle). Of this Ralph it is said "that
he little minded secular business, but for the most part betook himself to conversation with the
Canons of Merton and Coverham; as also, that he committed incest with his own daughter
(Anastasia, afterwards wife of Sir Walter de Fauconbery), and that Richard de Kella
of Durham, did for that crime compel him to do publick pennance" (Dugd.; this was in 1313,
cf. Reg. of Archb. Greenfield). He had many children: Robert, Ralph, Alexander (of Raskell),
John (slain at Halidon Hill), Thomas (the archdeacon), William (rector of Simondburne?), Ana-
stasia , Mary, Joan, Margaret, Alice.' The eldest, Robert, called "the Peacock of the North”,
having been killed by James of Douglas at Berwick Park, the 2nd, Ralph (1290 2–1367), succeeded
to the title - he was one of the principals in command at the battle of Neville's Cross in 1346. He
nage; D. Rowland, Account of the noble family of Neville 1830). Thomas Neville, born
C. 1292—5, was appointed Archdeacon of Durham in 1334 (cf. Hardy Řeg. Dun. IV, 189), received
in 1339 from . Kellawe "curam et custodiam hospitalis nostri de Shirburn (in Durham, an
hospital for lepers, founded in 1181), is mentioned in 1340 in a license to appoint a confessor,
in 1345 (Hardy IV, 340) and in 1356 (Le Neve, Fasti III p. 303), but in 1362 we find another
archdeacon. He was the uncle of Alexander Neville (son of Ralph), archdeacon of Durham
5369—72, archbishop of York 1374-88, deposed 1388, who died at Lovain in 1394. -- The reason
why R, Rolle was sent to Oxford by the archdeacon of Durham, is either because his father had
some sort of connexion (as dependent ?) with the Nevilles, or because the district was then under
the jurisdiction of Durham, it being a fact that parts of Yorkshire (as Allertonshire) at that time
VI
Introduction.
great Duns Scotus had given a new impulse to scholasticism and no fewer than
30,000 students had sat listening at the feet of the great master. R. Rolle cannot
but have felt the influence of the great time, of the great men and the ardent
young spirits then gathered there. His spirit, too, was kindled, but in another
direction. Being a man of feeling rather than of discrimination, and endowed
with strong religious instincts, he was not made to grapple with the subtle and
barren questions of the schools. Indeed, he ever afterwards retained a strong
dislike of the philosophers. His studies were chiefly given to Holy Scripture and
theology, and no doubt he then and there became imbued with the doctrines of
the mystics, St. Bernard, the Victorines, Bonaventura'. So, conceiving that sal-
vation was not to be obtained through dialectics and philosophy but through flight
from the world, and fearing some imminent danger for his soul?, be in his 19th
year, when he can scarcely be supposed to have attained to classic composure 3
and to a sense of method and investigation, left the University and returned to
his father's house, soon to adopt the profession of an hermit after the example
of St. Guthlac. One day he procured from his sister two kirtles, a white one
and a grey one, and a hood of his father's, cut off the buttoms of the white frock
and the sleeves of the grey, donned the white one next his skin and the grey one
over it, put on the hood, and so, in the semblance of an hermit, ran away from
home, frightening off his sister who raised the cry that he was mad. On the
eve of Assumption he appears at a church near John of Dalton's estate * (probably
at Topcliffe near Thirsk, the parish of which includes a township of the name of
Dalton"), taking his seat on the spot where Lady Dalton is wont to pray. On
her entering, her servants would have turned him away, but she, seeing him in
his devotions, will not allow him to be disturbed. Her sons recognize him as
the son of William Rolle, whom they had seen at Oxford. Next morning he -
sine mandato cuiuscumque -- puts on a surplice and sings in the choir at Matins
and Mass; after the gospel he, having first obtained the benediction of the priest,
ascends the pulpit and delivers a sermon, so moving the hearts of his hearers
that all wept and declared they had never heard anything like it before. After
mass John of Dalton invites him to dinner: he hides himself in an outhouse, from
sheer humility, but is found and placed at table before the sons of the house. Silently
he takes his meal, and, having eaten his fill, rises to withdraw, but is reminded
that it is not the custom to leave before dinner is over. After dinner, the host
takes him aside, asks him whether he is really the son of William Rolle, and,
having satisfied himself as to the sincerity of his purpose, invites him to remain
in the house, and provides him with the proper habit of an hermit, a solitary
cell on his estate, and his daily sustenance.
Having so entered upon the career of an hermit, he tried to realize, and put
to the test of his personal experience, the mystic ideal of contemplative life. He
1 There is no trace to show that he read Dionysius. Indeed, the influence of Dionysius on
the English mystics is of later date, being chiefly perceptible in the author of "Þe cloud of
unknowing”, who also translated Dionysius De mystica theologia (“Deonise hid diuinite”, in
Ms. Harl. 674, Kk vi. 26). (The same author wrote Benjamin minor (I p. 162), "a tretis of
discrecyon of spirites”, “a pistle of preier", "book of priue counseling”, all extant in Ms. Harl.
674, Harl. 2373, Kk vi. 26).
2 It seems that he passed through an early love with all its bodily consequences. The lady
g woman who continued to haunt his imagination in the beginning of
his conversation (cf. Off., Lect. VII). “Domine deus meus" – he confesses afterwards — "infantia
mea stulta fuit, pueritia mea vana, adolescentia mea immunda: sed nunc inflammatum est cor
meum amore sancto" (Inc. Am.); "Arripui iter agendum, habitum assumens prae omnibus ab-
jectum; prorsus prospexi ad placitum potentis, sed prius peccavi, quod plane me penituit; et
potius parabar purgare peccatum quod puer perpetravi, quam aliud addere" (Mel.).
i 3 He had a smattering of Greek, as proved by the many Greek words in his earlier writings
(f. i. usya, sophia, cauma, eur pia, onoma, theoria, sophisma, carisma, trisagios), and of Hebrew,
as proved by the interpretation of the Hebrew letters in his Postilla in Threnos.
The Daltons, extant in many branches, belonged to the inferior families (the gentry) of
Yorkshire, who were originally dependents of the great families (the Percys, Nevilles), but had,
as the feudal system grew weaker, acquired independence. The feudal system had been intro-
duced in the North by Alan Rufus, a younger son of Eudo Duke of Bretagne, who after the
defeat of Edwin, Earl of Mercia, had acquired the vast possessions of this earl and distributed
large tracts of his possessions among his more favoured dependents, who in their turn rewarded
their followers (the founders of the minor houses). Topcliffe was a dependency of the Percys.
Introduction.
VII
first went through the stage of "purificatio” or “purgatio”, a time of penitence
and repentance, of tears and sorrows, of fastings and watchings, of severe dis-
cipline, of ascetic exercises, so to withdraw the mind from the world and the
:self, from sin and carnal affection;- as long as any remorse is felt, the mind is
not yet perfectly purified. Then through the stage of “illuminatio”, in which the
mind is kindled to perfect love of God, by meditation and prayer, by the re-
membrance of God's benefits to man as Creator, Redeemer, and Saviour, by
meditations on the passion of Christ &c. After this preparation – which, as he
carefully sums up, lasted 3 years minus 3–4 months, he at last got to the
third stage, the "contemplatio” or “sight", when man sees into heaven with his
ghostly eye”; when “through the open door of heaven with unveiled face the eye
of the heart contemplates (sees) the heavenly spirits (superos)”. In this stage he
subsequently — the doors of heaven remaining open -- experienced the 3 phases
which he describes as calor, canor, dulcor'. Nearly a year had passed in the
stage of contemplatio, when, sitting one day in meditation in a certain church,
he suddenly felt in him a strange and pleasant heat as of real, sensible fire, so
that he often felt his breast to see if the heat was caused by some exterior cause ;
but finding that it arose from within and not from the flesh, and was a gift from
his Maker, he was all liquefied in love, and the more so because with the cauma
he felt a dulcor inexpressibly sweet. In this warmth he had continued for 9
months, when suddenly he felt the canora. “Dum enim in eadem capella sederem
et in nocte ante Cenam psalmos prout potui decantarem, quasi tinnitum psallen-
tium vel potius canentium supra me auscultavi. Cumque coelestibus etiam orando
toto desiderio intenderem, nescio quomodo mox in me concentum canorum sensi
et delectabilissimam armoniam coelitus excepi, mecum manentem in mente. Nam
cogitatio mea continuo in carmen canoris commutabatur et quasi odas habui medi-
tando; ac etiam in orationibus ipsis et psalmodia eundem sonum edidi; deinceps-
que ad canendum quae prius dixeram, prae affluentia internae suavitatis prorupi”.
This gift, so wonderful that, as he says, “nec putavi tale quid etiam nec sanctis-
simum in hac vita accepisse”, he calls a free gift of Christ (hoc arbitror nulli
datum meritis, sed gratis, cui voluerit Christus), “accorded to those only who so
specially love the name of Jesus that it never recedes from their minds”3. The
dulcor — an ineffable sweetness, an anticipation of the joys of Heaven — accom-
panies both the calor and the canor. The stages once attained, remain hence-
forth;. not "raptim” or “momentanee", but "jugiter” he feels the calor, canor,
dulcor, though not always alike intensely, or all at the same time, sometimes the
calor, sometimes the canor prevailing.
The whole process from his conversion to the attainment of the canor had
lasted 4 years and 3 months. — (Thus far, we have the authority of the Vita).
1 Cf. Inc. Am.: Cum homo ad Christum perfecte conversus cuncta transitoria despexerit et
se in solo Conditoris desiderio immobiliter fixerit, tunc, vires viriliter exercens, primo quasi
aperto coelo superos cives oculo intellectuali conspicit, et postea calorem suavissimum quasi
ignem ardentem sentit, deinde mira suavitate imbuitur, et deinceps in canoro iubilo gloriatur.
2 This canor is the perpetual theme in his writings. It is also called musica spiritualis,
invisibilis melodia, canticum spirituale, sonus coelestis, iubilatio, canorus iubilus, canor iubilaeus,
clamor, myrth and soun of heaven; and identified with contemplatio (contemplatio est iubilus
divini amoris suscepto in mente sono coelicae melodiae vel cantico laudis aeternae) and perfecta
caritas.
3 All this recalls what Bede says of Caedmon: Ipse non ab hominibus neque per hominem
institutus canendi artem didicit, sed divinitus adiutus gratis canendi donum accepit. This
canor - this divine melody chiming from above and resounding in his breast which henceforth
is full of delightful harmony, so that his thought, his very prayers turn into songs to Jesus or
Mary and that he now modulates what before he was used to say what can it mean but the
.awakening of his poetical powers, which to him appear a miraculous gift imparted at the height
of the ecstasis? We have here an instance how R. Rolle takes up the traditions of the North.
4 Cf. Inc. Am.: Ubi electus ad culmen elevatur, in magno gaudio plenus omni virtute vivit
in suavitate, morietur in magno gaudio, et post hanc vitam inter angelicos choros excellentior
et Deo propior assistit. Interim autem haec habet, sc. dulcorem, fervorem, et canorem. Sed,
quia corpus quod corrumpitur aggravat animam, et terrena inhabitatio deprimit sensum multa
cogitantem, non eadem facilitate semper iubilat neque canore aeque perspicuus iugiter et in
omnibus clamat. Aliquando namque magis de fervore et dulcedine sentit et cum difficultate
canit, quandoque vero ad canendum mira suavitate ac facilitate rapitur cum tamen fervor
remissior sentiatur, saepe etiam in canorem cum maxima amenitate evolat et etiam fervorem ac
dulcedinem sibi adesse cognoscit.
VIII
Introduction.
So in his youth - the age most fitted for love - he has forsaken the wisdom,
the love of the world and carnal love, and given himself entirely to divine love;
enthralled by the sweet humanity of Christ, he has followed Him in voluntary
poverty and lives in solitude, in divine contemplation. The beginning of his con-
versation had not been without temptations, especially of the flesh'; but now he has
overcome. Now his tears are dried, his sorrow is turned into joy. Fasting and
watching are no longer required; nay a moderate fare is more conducive to con-
templation than outrageous abstinence. He has attained to the highest stage of
contemplation, to the highest degree of love, the degree represented by the Seraphin
("ardentes”) in Heaven. He is now perfectus, justus, sanctus in his sense, and lays
claim to saintship - for Saint is he who forsaking the world and the flesh, is all ab-
sorbed in the love of God (Istum virum jam justum, perfectum, et sanctum Christus
dignatur ostendere, qui in vera caritate non cessat flagrare). Yea, by the gift of
canor, so rarely, if ever, given to mortal man, he belongs to the few privilegiati.
Contemplative life necessarily requires quiet and rest, quiet of body and mind. 2
The mind must be abstracted from visible things, be free from sinful thoughts,
from carnal love, from envy, wrath and pride; be even-tempered in adversity
and prosperity. The body must be in rest; “Tanto minus quis internis gaudiis
rapitur, quanto externis rebus magis implicatur". Exterior works, fatigue of any
kind, interrupt the canor (Fervorem felicem et cantum captatum fatigatio fugat,
et fugere facit ministerium mechanicum vel cursus corporalis, Mel.). Even the
psalmody of the congregation disturbs the holy strain. The true contemplative
must be solitary, not conjoint (non conjunctus, in congregatione et tumultu positus)
or “communis”; - “solus suscipiet quod conjunctus carebit”. He must be poor,
unfettered by office or dignity; poor in spirit, unspoiled by worldly wisdom.
His place is the solitude, the desert, where no discordant noise jars upon the ear
listening to the divine melody. Lovers will not kiss in public but seek solitude,
Christ is not found in the multitude but in the desert: "In solitudine Christus
loquitur ad cor, tanquam verecundus amator qui amicam coram omnibus non am-
plectitur nec amicabiliter sed comiter tantum velut extraneam osculatur”; “Pax est
in cella: nil exterius nisi bella”. He must not rove about — instability proceeds
from vice. The best thing he can do is to sit; not to run about (discurrere) on
exterior work, but to sit; to sit still, inactive, to sit by day and night, all absorbed
in his raptures. Indeed, exterior works, almsgiving, preaching &c.; are not the
proper domain of the contemplative, but belong to active life; his domain is
"love-longing and still mourning” — “Hic a tumultu solus sedens sed in Christo
1 An instance of this is the temptation related in Off. Lect. VII. In the Melum he relates:
"Porro dum pergere in pace putabam, inopinate impulit inimicus et irruit in animum adhuc non
in affluentia amoris occupatum ut everteretur, et inde autumans auferre omne quod unquam
operatus sum ad honorem Omnipotentis, arguebat me ut aut illectus in laetitia libidinosa abirem
in errorem et assumam mihi amicam in mundo amantissimam et non parcerem persistere ad
peccandum dum halitus esset in ore et donec putresceret prorsus caro in cadaver collata, aut
promisit quod sine pietate peius me pungeret undique obsistens et vsquequaque adversarius
existens dum in praesenti potuero pernoctare.. Et scitote quod tanta severitas insaevit quod
nisi sanguinem Salvatoris mihi in subsidium semper sumpsissem et mortem amaram medullitus
meminissem in mente, illam continue cogitans, sine contradictione ceciderim subito in scelus,
nec substitissem usque ad sanationem”. In the Inc. Am.: "In principio conversionis heremitae
multis et diversis temptationibus fatigantur; sed post tempestatem malorum motuum Deus sereni-
tatem infundit sanctorum desideriorum; ut si viriliter se exercuerint in lacrimando, meditando,
orando, solum Christum quaerendo, post modicum tempus magis videbuntur sibi vivere in deliciis
quam in lacrimis vel anxietate laboris".
2 Animus divina et coelestia cogitans, tanto velocius et securius ad sempiterna gaudia infatiga-
biliter properat quanto in carnis sapientia et mundi pomposa gloria non gaudet. Cumque vero
omnia quae visibilia sunt mundi et vana, pro invisibilibus coeli gaudiis libenter postponimus, ad
aeterni amoris suavitatem gaudentes advolamus. Inde nobis Christus incipit dulcescere, paulatim
in nobis praesentiae suae dulcedinem ostendere. Eo ipso etenim nos ab omnibus istius vitae
concupiscentiis coelitus abstrahit, quo in eius amoris solatio nos magis succendit. Requiritur
utique necessario ut magnam mentis et corporis quietem capiat qui igne sancti spiritus curat
inflammari (Cant.).
8 “Summus amor consistit in tribus, sc. in fervore, in canore, et dulcore, et haec tria ega
expertus sum in mente non posse diu persistere sine magna quiete, ut si volui stando vel ambu-
ari vel procumbendo, videbar mihi multum ab illis deficere et quasi desolatum
me existimare; unde sedere elegi” (Inc. Am.). "In hoc ardens et perfectus amator Christi verissime
cognoscitur si per totum diei noctisque spatium sedere delectatur. Divinus namque amor illum
compellit quiescere, ut totus homo supernae dulcedinis repleatur iubilatione” (In Ps. 20).
Introduction.
IX
glorians, ardet et amat, gaudet et jubilat; caritate vulneratus, amore liquefactus
canticum amoris canit dilecto, repletus dulcore suavissimo" (Cant.); “Velut Seraphin
succensus, ardet et amat, canit et jubilat, laudat et aestust, et tanto fit accepta-
bilior Deo, quanto in amore est ferventior; non solum mortem non timet sed et
mori laetatur” (Inc. An.); “Solvi cupit a carnis carcere, clamat: Mors veni, festina
propere, Curre, vola, noli pigrescere, Dulcis mors, en diu langui, fac me meo
dilecto perfrui” (Off.). “De special gift of pas pat ledes solitary lyf, es forto lufe
Jhesu Criste” (1, p. 29). "Amore langueo, mori desidero, dissolvi cupio et esse
cum Christo”, “Ego dormio et cor meum vigilat” — such is his work. He does
not say his prayers: he sings (Jam non dicit orationes suas: sed in sublimitate
mentis positus et amore raptus, mira suavitate supra se rapitur et Deo decantare
spirituali organo in mirum modum sublevatur, Cant.). Yet, contemplative life is
not "otium”; it is not attained without great efforts, not sustained without severe
spiritual exercises. Indeed, contemplation is labour, though a sweet labour (Est
utique contemplatio labor, sed dulcis, desiderabilis et suavis: laborantem laetificat,
non gravat). It so emaciates and consumes the body that the contemplative is
hardly fit for preaching and exterior work (Cum divinae caritatis dulcedo mentem
absorbuerit, caro deficit et ulterius jam ad exteriores labores sustinendos fortis non
erit). So the true contemplative is the solitarius, anachorita, eremita.
The degree of sanctity depends on the degree of love ("Þe diuersite of lufe
makes pe diuersite of halynes and of mede"); the more ardent in love, the greater
is the Saint: “Perfectior et excellentior, qui suavius ac jocundius in caritate ardeť”.
The Seraphin are the highest angels because they are most ardent in love. There-
fore contemplative life, as it is most given to love, is the saintliest, the highest
life, and in dignity and merit exceeds all active life. St. Bernard had ranked
contemplative life between the two kinds of active life – a lower and a higher;
R. Rolle proclaims the superiority of contemplative life. “Maria (the contemplative)
optimam partem elegit”; “Haec est perfectissima vita, sanctissima et angelis si-
millima, sed et coelesti suavitate plenissima, quam puto inter mortales quempiam
posse comprehendere”; “Sunt multi activi meliores aliquibus contemplativis, sed
optimi contemplativi superiores sunt optimis activis; dicimus ergo quod contem-
plativa vita simpliciter suavior est, nobilior et dignior, ac magis meritoria quantum
ad praemium essentiale quod est gaudium de bono increato, quia ardentius diligit
Deum et major gratia requiritur ut contemplativa vita recte ducatur quam activa"
(Inc. Am.). As the soul is more excellent than the body, so spiritual labour is
more commendable than bodily labour; “Tanto quis aeterni amoris dulcedinem
affluentius haurit, quanto solummodo divina et celestia cogitans, ad nullam exte-.
riorem mundi occupationem se tradiť. The contemplative, therefore, ranks before
the prelate, the priest, and the monk. The prelate, the priest, are distracted
· by outward work, the duties of their office. The monk, the sobedientiarius sub
abbate”, is bound by obedience and not free. The monastic profession is com-
mendable, if rightly observed; but it has not the monopoly of perfection. A lay-
man, a man in the world, can attain to caritas (Tanta caritate nonnunquam aliquis
inter homines conversatus erga Deum exuritur, quanta ille qui inter claustrales
etiam optimus approbatur); then à fortiori the solitary who forsakes the world
for the love of God. Anselm therefore errs in maintaining the superiority of
conventual life under obedience'. Christ certainly will prefer him who loves
nothing but Him; nothing but love is accepted by God, and He counts not so
much the work as the will. The contemplative is God's special darling (specia-
lissimus). “Talem suavitatem habet in mente qualem angeli in coelo, licet non
tantam”. He has true rest and freedom; he lives happy and dies secure (dulciter
vivit, secure morietur); he will have a high place in Heaven and sit on the throne
with God to judge the wicked. His privilege is such that he cannot err, because
God would not allow it (inspiratus est a Spiritu sancto, non potest errare; etsi
voluerit assensum praebere persuasioni aliorum, non permittitur a Deo, qui constringit
? Praesumpsit Anselmus docere monachos, ideo eos plus quam aliquis saecularis Deum diligere
quia fructum et arborem Deo volebant sub abbate offerre. Nam et videtur Anselmus magis
blandire monachis quam veritatem sequens (Cant.).
Introduction.
eum ad suam voluntatem; agat quicquid libet, securus est, Inc. Am.); and though
he may be subject to temptation while he lives in this world, his ardent love will
burn out all sin (incendium amoris cuncta vitia destruit et omnium virtutum florem
plantat; cum mortali peccato nunquam stat, etsi aliquando veniali, sed tamen tam
ardens esse potest quod omnia venialia consumit.) The contemplative is truly
a king, yea a fourfold king - "non unum tantum sed quatuor regna devicit: regnum
mundi per paupertatem voluntariam, regnum carnis per temperantiam et prudentiam,
regnum diaboli per humilem patientiam, regnum coeli per caritatem perfectam; regnum
ejus non est de hoc mundo, quia gaudium non quaerit nisi de coelo" (In Ps. 20).
The hermit has no ministry, no place in the hierarchical body. R. Rolle
himself belonged to no monastic institution, was not in holy orders, was neither
priest nor monk, and consequently was not allowed to preach from the pulpit?;
he was a mere layman. The hermit must give himself entirely up to contem-
plation, and to spiritual exercises as reading, prayer, meditation. He may occa-
sionally give spiritual advice, exhort to peace and charity; he may also write, if he
feel inspired by the Spirit; but preaching is not his concern; indeed, contem-
plation makes him unfit for preaching:. In the main, he is a free liver --- in the
better sense of the word --, subject to no control, to no rule but his own.
"Abbas amor dat morum formulam" (Off.), “Soli Deo debet heremita obedientiam
facere, quia ipse est abbas, prior, et praepositus claustri cordis sui” (Reg. her.).
He has to submit to the statutes of the Church, to say the Hours, to hear Mass,
to confess and to receive holy communion; he must also notify his life to the
diocesan, or to the patron of the place if he be a prelate or priest of good life,
and if they find in him something to correct, obey their counsels; or he may,
with the consent of the bishop, have a wise old priest appointed in a neighbouring
monastery or church to whom he may confess rarely and who may advise him in
questions of conscience. But practically he is independent, his own master, and
follows the dictates of his spirit. He claims exemption from the Congregation,
which would tend to disturb the canor. He must be chaste, he must be poor,
1 It is erroneous to call R. Rolle a famous preacher. In the Melum he complains that the
hermits are not allowed to preach. In "Cupienti mihi” he states : Sciatis quod de verbis prae-
cedentium patrum illud extraxi et ad utilitatem legentium in quodam brevi compendio redegi,
ut quod ego nondum in publico praedicando cogor dicere, saltem vobis ostendam scribeudo qui
necessitatem habetis praedicare (“nondum”, he says, as if possibly he may yet take holy orders
later on, like Guthlac; but he never did).
2 It is advisable that he should live by the work of his hands : “Provideat ut si fieri potest
de labore manuum suarum vivat - hoc enim perfectius est. Si autem teneritudo non permittit,
antequam heremi vasta subeat certas personas quaerat a quibus singulis diebus quo i diei
sufficiat humiliter recipiat, nec causa pauperum vel hospitum quidquam adiciat. Nam si praeter
necessarium victum aliquid habeat, monachus non est. Ad heremitam enim plus pertinet ut
pauper cum pauperibus stipem accipiat quam relictis omnibus suis pro Christo aliena quaerere
vel erogare” (Reg. her.). As to his habit, the Reg. her. prescribes: "Indumenta habeat secundum
ordinationem episcopi in cuius moratur diocesi, vel patroni sui si fuerit praelatus ecclesiae.
Habitus penitentialis exterior non sit de panno subtili vel precioso sed de mediocri, griseo vel
nigro. Cavere etiam debet ne habeat habitum ullius religionis in omnibus conformem, ne detur
religiosis occasio malignandi in eum. Non utatur prope carnem lineis vel mollibus vestimentis ;
nec utatur caligiis sed sotularibus humilibus. Stramenta lecti habeat ut monachus: mattam,
sagum, lenam, et tapetam, et in tunica sua iaceat cinctus zona vel cordula. Et quia dicitur Vae
usquam solus eat si commode socium secum habere poterit heremitam vel famulum".
3 Bonum est praedicatorem esse, pro salute animarum discurrere, movere, fatigari : sed melius
est, securius et suavius, contemplatorem esse, aeternam suavitatem praesentire, delicias canere
aeterni amoris et in laudem rapi Conditoris per infusionem canoris iubilaei. Si quis autem utrum-
que potuerit adipisci, tanto laudabilior esset, sed hoc non continget nisi prius efficeretur
contemplator quam praedicator. Et proculdubio cum divinae caritatis dulcedo mentem absor-
buerit, caro deficit, et ulterius iam ad exteriores labores sustinendos fortis non erit (Mel.).
4 Soli Deo &c. (as above). Episcopo tamen in cuius diocesi habitat, vel patrono loci si fuerit
praelatus vel sacerdos bonae discretionis, debet notificare vitam suam, et si aliqua viderint in
eo emendanda, libenter obediat consiliis eorum propter Christum qui dicit doctoribus: Qui vos
audit me audit. Vel alter cum consensu episcopi eligatur in vicino monasterio vel ecclesia
presbyter aliquis senex, sapiens, maturus moribus et bonae opinionis, cui de confessione et
animae aedificatione heremita raro loquatur, a quo consilium petat in dubiis, et in tristibus
consolationem; cuius non solum consiliis, necnon etiam praeceptis in his quae non sunt
contra Deum vel praesentem regulam(!) devote obediat, imitans Dominum de quo dicitur: Factus
obediens usque ad mortem. Licite quidem potest his sacerdos cum heremita dispensare contra
districtionem regulae in alimentis, ubi potest habere bonam recompensationem, utpote propter
dem laborem et necessarium, quemadmodum et propter corporis infirmitatem. Ieiunia tamen
indicta ab ecclesia, de facili non immutet (Reg. her.).
Introduction.
XI
but obedience is not in his regulation. Indeed, the word "obedience” is distasteful
to him — Magis oportet Deo obedire quam hominibus. His approbation he has
from God, not from men; his ruler is Love.
The soul of holy contemplation is Love-Cor vulneratum, liquefactum, crematum
amore; love precedes and leads to it, and contemplation itself is perfect and
highest love (contemplatio est caritas perfecta et summa). “Nisi Christum quis
certe diligit, proculdubio in canore coelestis contemplationis non jubilat”. Love is
desire of the heart, ever thinking on that that it loves, and when it has that it
loves then it joys (quia gaudium non creatur nisi ex amore) and nothing may make
it sorry; a yearning between two, with lastingness of thought; a coupling together
of the lover and the loved, sum of affections (I, p. 36); transformation of the
affect into the thing beloved. Where is love? “in the heart and in the will of
màn, not in his hand or in his mouth, that is to say, not in his work; but in
his soul”. Love is a universal principle (universalitas mundialis creaturae diligere
diligique cupit, et motiva cordis intentio quodammodo semper in amatum tendit,
jugiter mens in illud quod summe amat progreditur, nec in ejus desiderio fatigatur);
but it is the privilege of youth (abilis est haec aetas ad ardenter amandum) — what
knows the child of love? and old age has spent it. No reasonable soul is, or
can be, without love. Love, therefore, is the foot by which man goes either to
Heaven or to Hell. A thing can be loved only "propter bonum quod est aut
existens aut apparens”. But love of woman, or of the world, is no real, no lasting
good, but an illusion, a deceit, a sham. Therefore we damnably neglect our soul,
if we fix our love on woman for lust; 6dum oculi visus animum incendit, mox
intrabit delectatio, et in corde concupiscentiam generat”. “Omnis amor qui in
Deum non intendit, iniquitas est, ac iniquos reddit suos possessores”; “Amarior
absinthio huiusmodi amor algescit, et finis felle erit ferocior, quia fervor infinitus
carnales consumet." Woman is the devil's deception. Carnal love leads to per-
dition. "Propter speciem mulieris multi perierunt, pulcritudo plurimos decepit, et
concupiscentia corda etiam sapientum quandoque subvertit”. Therefore flee women,
“fugito feminas”; “Ecce o homo qui amori anhelas, si videre desideras vim dilec-
tionis quam flagrans sit cum fuerit in mente concepta, noli nodari in amaro amore,
experiri non audeas mundi dilectam; nam inde torqueberis dirissimo dolore, tenebis
tristitiam, lotus non eris cum mentem involverit vitiosa voluptas feminae formatae;"
“Mamma muliebris non moveat mentem, nec molle mysterium te mergat in malum; en
ornamentum illarum originem abscondit, in latebris ligatur deformitas non dulcis” 3
(Mel.). But divine love leads to Heaven. This love is true love, which deceives
not. True love is chaste, holy; voluntary, selfless, impetuous, undying *. It loves
God for Himself, and all other things for God. It is meek, humble, suffers gladly
tribulation; patient and stalworth as death-as death slays all, so love overcomes
everything (amor vincit omnia); he that loves God perfectly, delights in persecution,
joys if men reprove him, covets to be worthy to suffer torment (I, 40). It loves
poverty, penance, and hard travail. It is shy and seeks solitude, to be alone
1 Inc. Am.: Quid est amor nisi transformatio affectus in rem amatam; vel amor est desi-
derium pulcri, boni, et amabilis cum continuatione cogitationum tendentium in id quod amat;
quod cum habuerit tunc gaudet, quia gaudium non creatur nisi de amore. Assimilatur autem
omnis amans coamato, et similem facit amor illum qui amat ei qui amatur.
2 Non potest anima rationalis esse sine amore quamdiu in vita est; unde et amor ejus est
pes ejus quo post hanc peregrinationem ad Deum vel ad diabolum defertur, ut ei tunc se sub-
jectum videat cuius hic voluntati serviebat. Amari autem aliquid non potest nisi propter bonum
quod est aut existens vel apparens ; aut amato inest vel certe inesse aestimatur. Hinc est quod
amantes corporalem speciem vel divitias temporales quasi per praestigium falluntur, quia non
est in istis visilibus quae vel tactu sentiuntur vel oculo videntur delectatio quae apparet, aut
gloria quae fingitur, aut fama quae captatur. Nemo ergo est qui animam suam dampnabilius
negligit, quam qui in mulierem propter luxuriam oculum suum figit. Dum enim oculi &c. (Inc. Am.).
3 This is strong language, stronger and more powerful than even Schopenhauer's.
4 Est verus amor castus, sanctus, voluntarius, amatum pro se non pro suis amans, in amato se
totum figens, nil extra se quaerens, de se contentus, flagrans, aestuans ex amato, et inardescens
vehementer, se in se ligans, impetuosus, miro modo omnem modum excedens, ad solum amatum
se extendens, cuncta alia contempnens sed et obliviscens, in amato canens, illum cogitans, illum
incessanter meminens, ascendens desiderio, pergens in 'amato, ruens in amplexibus, absortus in
osculis, totus liquefactus igne (Inc. Am.).
6. Non est Christiani honoribus exaltari in terrenis, sed potius despici, humiliari, a mundanis
invideri et odiri.
XII
Introduction.
with the beloved (non potest commisceri societatibus saecularium, qui solummodo
delectatur in gaudiis angelorum). The first step is to keep the ten commaund-
ments and eschew the deadly sins; the next is perfect love—when man forsakes
his kin, despises the world and follows Christ in poverty; the highest is con-
templative love, "in which the soul is as burning fire, and as the nightingale that
love are defined as love insuperable, inseparable, singular (illum solum in solatium
recipiens quem jugiter amare concupiscit). This love is attained only by the
simple-minded, the pure-hearted, the poor-not by the proud, the rich, the philo-
sophers and sophists – “Caritas recedit a superbis, quiescit in humilibus”; “Dum
investigationi immoderatae incumbimus, dulcorem profecto aeternae suavitatis non
sentimus”; “Pauper solus, sincerus in simplicitate, ad summum ordinem amoris
pertingere poterit, quia nec habet quid inter homines nec ad habendum arripitur”.-
Divine love is painful in the beginning, and attained only with greatest labour;
but when possessed, it gives ineffable joy. It alone gives real joy. All carnal
comparison to the least drop of the sweetness infused by God into the loving
soul; “Tantus est dulcor infusus in mentem Christum amantem, quod si omne
mundi gaudium in uno loco fuerit adunatum, magis delectaretur in solitudinem
currere, quam illud semel oculo aspicere”; “Tota terrena consolatio sibi videtur
potius desolatio quam recreatio". It is a sweet burden. It makes us one with
God, it couples Christ with the elected soul, reforms in us the image of the
virtues. Without it, no man can please God; with it, no man sins. Who feels
the sweetness of eternal love, cannot relapse to temporal love (Ut lac semel
coagulatum nunquam iterum ad pristinum statum redire potest, sic qui vere aeterno
delight and security. It gives true rest and freedom (quam nobilem libertatem
omnes in aeternum ignorabunt qui nesciunt diligere suavitatem in Christo sentire).
It secures salvation. And love only merits. “Nulla bona nec magna opera sine amore
Dei prodesse poterunt; qui caritatem veram non habent, quidquid habuerint dampnati
erunt. Hinc miro et occulto judicio agitur ut nonnunquam nil exterius agens,
coram Deo in futuro sublimiter coronatur; et plerique qui multa bona coram
hominibus videntur agere, coram Deo seipsos reprobos non cessant indicare”;
“Multi multa tribuunt, alii magna faciunt, alii dura patiuntur, alii mysteria sciunt:
sed ille solus salvandus est qui caritatem habiturus est”; “Qui non habet caritatem,
nihil ei prodest quidquid habet; et qui eam habet, perfectus est quamvis non
habeat propheciam nec mysteria noverit nec miracula agere videatur; vere audeo
dicere quod sanctissimus, beatissimus, et excellentissimus est, et Deo vicinior,
propior, et similior erit in aeternum”; “Cadet, in examine districto stare non
poterit qui per aliud quam per veram caritatem stare confidit. Qui autem peccato
illectus ac per pravam consuetudinem illecebris carnis demersus per preces pauperum
vel intercessionem sanctorum propter opera quae fecerat salvari aestimat, nimirum
in Deo salvationis spem non posuit unde et per ipsum salvus non erit. Incassum
quippe laborare nititur qui non amando Deum certat ut salvetur. Talis namque,
ab habitaculo carnis expulsus, cum ad opera vel ad amicos in quibus confidebat
oculos pro adjutorio direxerit, se utique a beata spe inveniet vacuum, qui creaturam
plus dilexit quam creatorem. Nemo ab eo quem non amat et a quo scit se non
amari, magnum sperat beneficium. Ergo nullus aeterni gaudii videbit regnum qui
non amavit Christum.” Therefore “nemo praesumat quamvis multa fecit: quia
solus gaudebit de salute qui Deum amavit”; “Non confidat quis nisi solummodo
in Salvatore”. Not to us is anything to be imputed but to grace: “Non nobis
aliquid imputandum est sed totum graciae Dei, in quo sumus, vivimus, et movemur ;
vt dum in solo Conditore nostro, nobismetipsis velut inutiles instabilesque ac im-
potentes ad aliquod bonum contemptis, recte currere et feliciter pervenire perfecte
1 Cf. Mel.: Zelotes siquidem in domo se tenet et amans assidue amota mensura in oculis
amicae libenter laetatur, aspiciens in ipsam cum apte amatur; amicabiles affectat allocutiones,
ut audiat ubique quod intime amatur”.
Introduction.
XIII
possimus, ad laudem et honorem nominis ejus cursum nostrum consummemus.
Deus enim sine seipso glorificari non potest; qui vero Deum in suis operibus,
quasi a seipso factis non per Deum, laudare putaverit, sciat profecto quia Deum
laudare nequit. Usurpat autem talis justitiam et potentiam Dei, qui quod solus
Deus per se facere poterit, ipse hoc sibi tribuere non formidat. Igitur qui bene
vivit, cognoscat quia Deus, qui solus vere bonus est, etiam per se hoc sibi tribuit ;
alioquin jam non bene vivit. Et sciat similiter quod bonam vitam non meruit,
sed Deus hanc sibi ex sua bonitate dedit. Neque vero aliquando seipsum audeat
extollere nec se quasi digniorem aliis ostendere, quamvis forsitan illos videat
mundum potius quam Deum amare”. God works justification and sanctification
through his grace: “Nisi Deus electos quos salvare decreverit, gratia praeveniret,
inter filios hominum non inveniretur quem justificaret; ipse inspirat ut recte velit;
subsequitur ut voluntatem perficere possit”. Contemplation, also, is the work of
grace: "Non in humana potestate est contemplationem accipere, nec labor alicuius
quantumcumque extensus ipsam meretur: sed a bonitate divina tribuitur vere dili-
gentibus se, qui utique supra humanam aestimationem Christum amare desidera-
verunt”. Grace and will combined, work salvation (1, p. 306). Will, not works,
is the essential thing, and will is love: “Sine bona voluntate nemo salvabitur ;
cum qua nec aliquis dampnabitur. Deus est finis bonae voluntatis. Caritas nun-
quam est nisi in bona voluntate, nec bona voluntas nisi in caritate". Works are
but a sign, not a test or proof of love, or love itself: "Many speak good and
do good, and love not God; are holy in men's sight, and in the sight of God
the devil's sons and ravishing wolves; as hypocrites. Nothing that I do without,
proves that I love God; for a wicked man might do as much penance, might
wake and fast as much as I do-how may I then ween that I love, or hold myself
better, for that that each man may do? Certes, my heart, whether it love or not,
no one knows but God, for nought that they may see me do. Wherefore love is
in will only, and not in work, save as a sign of lofe. For he that says he loves
God and will not do in deed that in him is to schew love, tell him that he lies;
love will not be idle: it is working some good evermore; if it cease of working,
know that it cools and fades away” (1, p. 38). - So “dilectio est quoddam maximum,
quoddam optimum, quoddam carissimum; quod nos intus et extra disponit, ad unum
solum Deum amandum colligit, opera nostra componit et Deo placere facit; cum
qua pauper dives est, sine qua dives pauper, immo nihil est”. “Amor itaque omnia
excellit, nemo nisi diligens ad Deum ducétur”. “Pro caritate cuncti coronantur”.
Only divine love gives true happiness and bliss. The mind which revels in
the sweetness of this love, in the intoxication of holy contemplation, cannot but
loathe the world and all the glory of the world (Ita fit quod praeter illa interna,
solatia nec aliquid amare aut cogitare quaerat; inde exteriora vilescunt, transitoria
quaeque ac omnem mundi inanem gloriam nec appetere curat nec respicere). It
has no taste for other love (Si mens aeterni amoris dulcedine perfunditur, non
potest fieri quod ultra in carnali amore nequiter delectetur). Carnal love is beastly,
horrid, bitter as absinth, leads to ruin, disease and death – the world is
being diminished "de multis maculatis". The pleasures of the world are shallow;
beauty, riches, honours, dignities, worldly wisdom, are absolutely vain. “Mundi
gloria est causa aeterni doloris.” “Flos mundi dulcis cernitur, sed ne dulciter
fructificet cito succidetur.” “O quam fallax gratia et vana pulcritudo! Quid est
flos carnalis formae nisi vana veritas et vera vanitas? Omne transitorium vere
dicatur vanum, ergo omnis mundi gloria est vere vana.” “Pulcritudo puellae ho-
mines evertit et animas ab alto attrahit ad imum.” “Sapientia mundi, per quam
magnos se esse putant, nimirum stultos efficit et a verae sapientiae lumine in obs-
cura ducit.” “Al perisches and passes that we with eghe se; it wanes into wret-
chednes, the welth of this worlde” (s. p. 53). This earthly life is a vale of tears
and woe, its pleasures and joys are illusory, being always accompanied by sin
and suffering and evil, from which we can escape only by fixing our hopes upon
the world to come. Man is foul from beginning to end : conceived and born in
filth, at last "worms' cook”, “Heu quam miser homo qui perdidit omnia pomo!
Labimur et cadimus, praesto peccamini sumus : Vermibus dum morimur caro, spiri-
XIV
Introduction.
tus igni donatur (706). Men are blinded by their vices (Excaecantur oculi saecularium
tenebris vitiorum); all seek riches and carnal love; the rich and proud are honour-
ed, the poor are despised, the saint is persecuted and exiled. The best thing
is death which removes us hence and puts an end to our misery. So pessimistic
world-sadness is the reverse side of divine love.
Such are the outlines of R. Rolle's system, if system may be called what lacks
every philosophic or metaphysic ingredient. His system is not a metaphysic system,
his God not a metaphysic God; he implicitly believes in the Bible and in
the Fathers, and rigorously resists any attempt to introduce reason into the domain
of faith or to construe the Trinity from a psychological basis 1. His God is Christ;-
“Totiens glorior, quotiens nominis tui, Jesu, recordor.” His mysticism is “in
amore Dei canere et jubilare quasi raptus super terrena, in se deficere et in
Deum pergere 2". His system is religious life, not theory. His principle” is Love.
In a time of utter depravity, of gross materialism, when immorality and cupidity per-
vaded all classes from the highest to the lowest; in juxtaposition to the reigning
scholasticism, the vain efforts of the brain, he re-discovered, re-introduced the prin-
ciple of Love, Cor, and proclaimed salvation through the heart. He contains the ele-
ments which constitute Christ, and came very nearly to the same results-but the
greater light outshone the lesser; the work had been done before, had been
done well, and that which crowned the work, the crucifixion, could not be over-
done; every departure on the same line is necessarily drawn into the way of
imitation. Still, his example may serve to explain the genesis of Christ. On the
other side, by re-developing the original ideas of Christ which had been overlaid,
and partly obscured, by an artificial, elaborate hierarchical system, he opened and
started that revolution which commenced by restoring and re-asserting individual
right and conscience, and ended in the Reformation, the breach of obedience to
Rome by Luther. Many of the arguments of Wicliffe, Savonarola, and Luther are
first found in R. Rolle. As a matter of fact, the renaissance of letters and the Re-
formation were preceded by the regeneration of the heart, and R. Rolle is the link
between Bonaventura and the Reformers. In England, this regeneration met
with the individual principle of the Saxon, and by it received that tincture of
self-independence which negatived a given rule, a formal authority, obedience.
Though perfectly correct in dogma, yet, by living a life after his own taste,
in solitude, apart from a Congregation, without a head, with God only as his
praepositus, with abbas amor ruling his life, a self-made saint, a "homo sui juris”,
a king in the realm of the Spirit, R. Rolle represents the extreme, excessive
height of individualism on the side of feeling, as Scotus on the side of intellect.
The novel ideal of the hermit, revived from more primitive times when a less
elaborate organisation of the Church left more space for individual freedom; the
unique position of the contemplative as above the religious orders and pre-
lacy; the emphasis laid on the inner man, the heart, love, as against works; his
unsparing criticism of the existing system, — all this was sure to give offence to
the dominant classes, and might, if followed up in its consequences, lead to
serious complications. —
Of R. Rolle's later life the Vita gives but scant information. We learn that
he was wonderfully, and very usefully, busy in holy exhortations, by which he
converted many to God, and in writing mellifluous treatises and books for the
edification of others which in the hearts of the devout resound the sweetest
melody; that from the abundance of his holy love he was wont to befriend re-
cluses and such as needed spiritual consolation or suffered vexations from the
i God and the Trinity is to him simply incomprehensible: Ille Deum perfecte cognoscit qui
ipsum incomprehensibilem et incognoscibilem esse deprehendit; nihil enim perfecte cognoscitur
nisi causa eius, unde et quomodo sit, perfecte sciatur. En quaeris quid est Deus? ego tibi breviter
respondeo quod tale et tantum est quale et quantum est(!), nec aliud est nec esse potest. Si vis
scire proprie quid est Deus, dico quod nunquam solutionem huius quaestionis invenies; ego non
novi, angeli nescierunt, archangeli non audierunt - quomodo ergo tu vis scire quod inscibile est
et indocibile? Deus cum omnipotens sit, non potest të docere quid ipse sit; si enim scires quid
est Deus, esses sapiens sicut Deus, quod nec tu nec aliqua creatura esse potest (Inc. Am.).
2 "in Deum pergere" is his formula for the mystic process, as (the more pantheistic) “in Deum
redire" that of the German mystics.

Introduction.
XV
malign operation of evil spirits in body or soul, and that God conferred on him.
the singular grace of relieving those that were so troubled. We learn that after
a time he went to other parts—no doubt, by the will of Providence, that he,
dwelling in many places, might be useful to many, and sometimes, also, to evade
obstacles of contemplation; and that this frequent change of place gave occasion
for fault-finding, although the holy Fathers of Egypt had done the same and the
canons allow a change of place in certain cases (cum necessitas persecutionis loca.
eorum gravaverit; cum difficultas locorum fuerit; cum sancti malorum societate
premantur). That so he went into Richmondshire, where for a time he had his.
cell 12 miles from his spiritual friend Margaret (Kirkby), a recluse near Aſinderby;
whom he used to instruct in the art of the love of God and in the ruling' of life,
and twice by his mere presence cured from a seizure, promising her the second
time that she shoult not be seized again during his life-time. When-transactis.
postea quibusdam annorum curriculis—the same fit returned a third time, it was.
found that he had just died “apud domum sanctimonialium de Hampole, ubi.
illis diebus solitariam vitam egit. Thither the said recluse afterwards removed.
This meagre account of a life which must have been rich in incident and full
of interest, can be largely supplemented from his works which abound in self-
confessions, he being a very subjective writer. All the 4 years odd from his.
conversion to the attainment of the canor, he appears to have stayed with the
Daltons, and there in his lonely cell, "remotus inter homines”, provided with the
necessaries of life by his kind friends, to have enjoyed that rest and quiet so in-
dispensable to contemplation. “Comedi et bibi de his quae meliora videbantur.”
The solitude has taught him his "love" and the canorus jubilus, and he is happy.
“Parentum seu amicorum subitis doloribus non concutitur nec illorum calamitate
turbatur (contemplativus)”—he says, alluding perhaps to his own family. It was pro-
bably Lady Dalton ("domina quaedam in cuius manerio idem Ricardus cellam
habuit longe a familia separatam ubi ipse solitarius sedere consuevit et contem-
plationi vacare"), at whose death he drove away a troop of horrible demons, as.
the Vita relates (Lect. 8); and we may suppose that it was this same lady (ma-
trona quaedam in mundo magna quae me una cum marito suo per annos non-
nullos sustentaverať), whose aspect in death produced in him that great horror
described in “Contra amatores mundi" 1, and which seems to re-echo in his awful
descriptions of death. At the time of his conversion Lady Dalton had been an
elderly matron, having grown-up sons at Oxford. Perhaps it was her death and
her husband's that put an end to his residence there. When he left that place
he was still young"non inutile, he says, arbitrandum est si in juventute mea plura
loca viderim, ut de melioribus statui meo convenientibus unum eligere possem."
Hitherto he had enjoyed rest: henceforth his rest is broken. He becomes a
wanderer upon earth”. “Quemadmodum Caynvagus et profugus super terram factus
fuit pro facinore fratricidii, ita et ego in hoc exilio incertae sedis fio; de loco ad
locum transeo, donec omnipotens deus dignetur servum suum dirigere, ut deinceps
jam non indigeam circumquaque transmigrare” (Mel.). The next period of his
life is one of restlessness, conflict and fierce strife. He remained an hermit and
adhered to contemplative life; but he had to live somehow. England was not Egypt,
his time not St. Guthlac's; there were no longer lonely islands or waste places
to occupy, the land had been parcelled out; to till the ground, to live by manual
-
-
i Contigit dudum dum deliciis affluerem et cellam meam solus inhabitans die nocteque in
aeterni amoris secura suavitate requiescerem, quod quaedam matrona in mundo magna viam
universae carnis iubente Deo migraret, quae et me una cum marito suo per annos nonnullos
sustentaverat. Et cum spiritus eius me praesente transiret, "inhorruerunt pili carnis meae”, non
obstante quod antea plura noctium fantasmata apparuerunt continue in aeternitatis amore
iubilans talia penitus non recolui reputanda Verum tantus horror cor meum et carnem circum-
volvit quod cellam meam intrare mihi apparuit horridum, quod prius erat oblectamentum. Tunc
"obriguerunt omnes habitatores Chanaan", "Timor et tremor venerunt super me, et contexerunt
me tenebrae". Et iterum "accepi alas utk columbae, et volavi, et requievi” sine horrore. Sed
quousque cadaver illud terrae datum fuerat, horror a me non recessit, e
horror a me non recessit, et postea paulatim evanuit
funditus. Attamen inter haec non abstulit á me Deus amoris sui iubilum; sed permisit me exterius
sentire horrorem.
...? Of course, it was ultimately the "trieb" which, being unsatisfied, drove him about and made
him ex-centric.
3 It is surprising to find the Cain-idea anticipated by R. R,
XVI
Introduction.
labour, did not agree with his delicate health and with his aspirations - he was
dependent on men for his living. But, being no professional, neither priest in
orders nor monk, he could offer little or no service — he had only ideas to give.
He had to find friends who for God's sake could spare him a cell and his suste-
nance. And such friends he did find: we learn from his writings that he con-
tinued to live cum divite domorum”, dwelling on their estates and heartily joining
in their meals. Who these friends were we know not – he never gives names
of persons or places : but they must be sought amongst the gentry, the lords of
manor, of the neighbourhood. However, not all friends were so kindly disposed,
so constant, as the Daltons. He was of a sensitive, irritable nature, easily giving
and taking offence, and yet exacting as to his dignity; his ways were strange,
not in tune with the "world" ("non feci sicut ipsi fecerunt"), his theories new and
incomprehensible to common intellect. He could not agree with men (cum ho-
minibus concordare non potui); his friends soon became estranged (statim mutati
fuerunt qui ministrare consueverunt), showed the cold shoulder; he suffered rebuff
and ignominy. · Slanderous tongues helped to embroil him with his patrons and
to drive him a domibus in quibus diligebar”. Personal frictions hindered his
contemplation. So he had no permanent home and changed his cell several
times, living where he found a welcome, and leaving when friendships cooled ;
depending on the goodwill of men, on the seasons, on circumstances; staying a
year or two at this manor, half a year at another, and changing from bad to
worse l.
Or, he left his cell for a while to return to it at convenience, in the mean-
while traversing the country. The reason is not far to seek: he began to appear
in public. It is a remarkable fact that new systems of Love have generally im-
plied a tendency to remodel the world, or rather that moral revolutions have
proceeded from a deeper grasp of the principle of Love. Love and mercy are
akin. Having found his system, he was naturally desirous to make it known, to
propagate his ideas, to teach his love, to save others, to win souls. He appeared
in the manor-houses of the neighbourhood, made friends with the lord, chatted
with the women, knacked jokes with the girls, but all with that intent to preach
1 An instance of the difficulties he had to contend with, appears in the first lines of his Judica
me deus, which are as follows: "Judica me deus et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta'.
A Deo qui scrutatur cor et renes, volo iudicari, non ab homine qui solummodo videt ea que
exterius apparent. Quoniam qui de alienis cordibus iudicare presumit, indubitanter sciat quod
in errorem cadit. Et qui per motum corporis de loco ad locum instabilitatem mentis pronunciat,
absque dubio grave pondus super se posuisse cognoscat. Quamobrem, ut ab invidentibus et
maliciosis de me incaute cogitantibus ac loquentibus clemencia Christi me liberet, necesse mihi
supervenit clamare cum propheta: Domine libera animam a labiis iniquis &c. O bone Iesu , si
heremita dicerer cuius nomine indigne vocor, nec erit nec merito esse poterit scandalum audien-
tibus şi corporalem habitationem mutarem aliquando vel ab una cella ad aliam transirem ; cum
non sum plus obligatus in uno heremo quam in alio moram meam stabilire. Vnde non inutile
arbitrandum est si in iuventute mea plura loca viderim, ut de melioribus statui meo convenien-
tibus unum eligere possem. Nam vos scitis, et a me saepius audivistis, me ibi velle morari - et
certe de hoc mentitus sum? Nequaquam; quia statim, ut Deus scit et vos cognovistis, mutati
fuerunt quantum ad me, qui ministrare assueverunt. Propter quod mihi gravius fuit mora mea;
et ut putabam antequam ibi venirem, habere non potui propter colligentes fructus. Quorum causa
ita locum abhorrui ut in illo. nunquam a festo Pentecostes usque ad festum S. Martini manere
cogitavi. Et quid proderit mihi in hieme locum tenere, et in aestate propter incommoda compelli
recedere? Melius puto ibi sedere in hieme, ubi etiam quiete in aestate valeam esse. Verumtamen
non dico totum quare recessi; nec alicui viventi indicare volo. Porro, ut videbatur mihi, parum
vel nihil de me curavit. Adquirat ergo sibi alium, quem amplius amare disponat. In omnibus
enim dictis et promissis meis conditiones subintelligo generales, viz. si vixero, si hoc melius pro
me mihi visum fuerit, et super omnia, si Deus sic voluerit. Si conditiones ergo sint mutatae, in
quo culpandus sum si non persistam in ea qua fui prius voluntate? Nunquid non in frustra vellen
si quod volo me non posse habere cognoscerem? Optimum est tales voluntates penitus dimittere,
quarum effectum facultas nostra non sufficit perimplere. Ad ea quae improperavit mihi in littera
sua, non respondeo, quia iusti iudicantis sententiam gaudens expecto”. (Ms. Mm. VI, 17). - That he
could not agree with men, he readily acknowledges: "Recessi a plerisque non quia me communiter
et duriori modo paverunt, sed quia non concordavimus in moribus, vel propter aliam rationabilem
causam; audeo tamen dicere cum b. Iob: Stulti despiciebant me, et cum recessissem ab eis
detrahebant mihi; sed melius est quod contemnam, quam desiderare quod non videam” (Inc. Am.).
And again: “Ego in solitudinem fugi quia cum hominib
hominibus concordare non potui, me
gaudio saepe impediebant, et quia non feci sicut ipsi fecerunt, errorem et indignationem mihi
imposuerunt quamobrem tribulationem et dolorem inveni (ib.; it would seem as if the Inc. Am.
- was written after he had severed himself from his patrons and retired to Richmondshire).
Introduction.
XVII
his love, chastity and charity. Comparui”, he says, “communiter inter carnales et
familiaris fueram cum divite domorum, jocum cum puellis raro gerebam, loquebar
cum feminis de fide Factoris, ludens nonnunquam et laudans latenter, ridens cum
reliquis ut eis videbatur. Sed haec est intentio qua sic peregebam: ut omnes
addiscerent Auctorem amare vanaque relinquerent et retia ruinae, plus Deo quam
hominibus desiderent servire ac sapere coelestia, contemnerent terrena; studui ut
starent spurcitiam spernentes, et procul percunctans verba virtutis, quatinus con-
cuperent Christum, non carnem, et virgines viverent, a vitiis volantes ad vitam"
(Mel.). He appeared in the villages and mixed with the people; colloquially (as
Socrates), not from the pulpit, inculcating love, loving-kindness, peace. He formed
connections with clerics-one of his epistles (Cupienti mihi) is addressed to a young
priest? whom he instructs in charity and invites to seek the solitude. He tried
to revive anchoritical life. The "Regula heremitarum”, which is undoubtedly bis
work, is a proof that at one time he contemplated to form a community of her-
mits under a rule. How far he succeded in his missionary work it is difficult to
judge: the Vita says that he converted many to God by his exhortations; I find
no confirmation in his writings. He himself begs to be excused if, his health
failing under the strain of contemplation, he, infirm and dead to the world,
keeps within his cell, “non visitans villanos, fugiendo festis psallentiumque
sonoro"; he maintains that “exterius ministerium” is not the sphere of the con-
templative. In another work (Contra amatores mundi) he complains that his
labour is lost, that “inter multos morans nec uni scio prodesse, et quae putabam
lucrata timeo ne evanescant”. As to his propaganda for anchoritical life, he
complains that he can find no one willing to join him : "Heu mihi misero quali-
cunque solitario, ita fit in temporibus meis quod nec unum invenio qui mecum
cupit currere ac sedendo et tacendo aeterni amoris delicias desiderare”, “Vix unum
invenio quem solitudinem amantem videbis”, that no woman will last in his love:
“Amor mulieris multivolae cito fluens evanet et nullicubi persistens innumeras
mansiones affectat evagando; non miror si in amore nei non moretur aliqua, cum
ab aeterno amore modico venti flatu in aliud redigatur." . On the other side it
would seem that the order of hermits, which before his time had become nearly
extinct, was really revived by him, and that after a time his example was foll-
owed by many'. Piers Ploughman directs his satire against the hosts of begging
hermits traversing the country. On the whole, his oral mission does not seem to
have met with much success, or to have been long continued. Indeed, he had
found a better and more congenial mode of conveying his ideas.
At that time he began to write. Love forces him to write. Love has given
him wisdom and subtlety; the gift of canor, the power of lucid speech (lucide,
liquide loquor). The old Fathers had written: so why should not he? why should
a modern be less able? God is of no less bounty now than in the primitive times.
If he is not allowed to preach, he will write, and preach in writing. “Non sum
episcopus nec praelatus nec rector ecclesiarum, tamen solicitus sum pro ecclesia
Dei, si possem aliquo bono modo quidquam facere aut scribere quo ecclesia Dei
augmentum capiat in divina dilectione”. He fears not, Love makes him bold. --
His first attempts had been private, the outcome of the canor modulated into
song : : short rhapsodic effusions, ejaculation of love-longing, rhymes, -of course,
in English , made afterwards into songs to Christ and Mary. The Virgin he
i Perhaps one of the young Daltons who had studied with him at Oxford ?
2 The hermits in R. Rolle's sense have nothing to do with the order of the hermits or friars
of Knaresborough, founded by Robert Flower or Robert
New Minster Abbey in Morpeth, resolved to lead a solitary life as an hermit and resorted to the
rocks by the river Nid, where, 'being joined by others, he “instituted his companie in the sect
of Friars of the order De Redemptione Captivorum, alias S. Trinitatis" (Dugdale Mon); or with
the Friars Eremites of the Order of St. Augustine, who were brought into England ab. 1250 and
soon had 32 houses in England and Wales (they were one of the 4 begging orders, and some of
the most celebrated learned men were of their number, as John Waldeby, Robert Waldeby,
Capgrave). Piers Ploughman may allude to the latter. Of St, Robert of Knaresborough we have
an Engl. metrical life ed. Roxb. Club 1824 by Thomas Drury, in Northern dialect.
3 Suavissima est requies quam capit spiritus dum dulcisonum descendit divinitus quo delecta-
tur, et in himno iperlirico et ludifluo rapitur mens ad canendum delicias amoris aeterni. Resonat
iam in ore laus Dei et beatae Virginis, in qua inaestimabiliter gloriatur, Inc. Am.

XVIII
Introduction.
held in special veneration and to her he had dedicated his virginity'; in her praise
he wrote a Latin poem (Zelo‘tui langueo virgo speciosa, in Ms. Rawl. C 397) in.
39 4-lined stanzas, one of his earliest works-an imitation of Bonaventura's (or
Peckham's). famous “Cantus philomenae", and in the same metre, but with frequent
alliteration. But now he comes forward as a writer (proferor)?, and having once
commenced, he wrote on, issuing work after work in quick succession. He writes
with astounding facility, with an eloquence which brings out with ease whatever is
in his mind, but he takes no trouble to revise or refine his writings. He writes
to bring out his system, to win souls, to attack vice, to castigate society. Yes,
he will not only edify, he will strike and sting (spinis pungendo principes per-
versos); he will not only show love, but hatred (Amorem et odium utrumque
ostendi). He appears as a champion, enters the lists against the vices of the time-
cupidity and concupiscense, throws down the gauntlet to the "saeculares miseri”,
the tyrants, the egotists, the hard-hearted, the princes, the proud, the rich, the
lovers of vanity, the pharisees and hypocrites —"Tutus non timeo tundere temp-
tantes: contra tyrannos thema tetendi”. -- In embracing anchoritical life he had
followed in the steps of St. Guthlac and other Northerners; his gift of canor
reminds of Caedmon's miraculous gift of song—as a writer he took up the old
traditions of the North: he revived the alliterative verse. I cannot discover any
previous attempt in that direction, and do not hesitate to ascribe to him the
revival of this verse which forms so prominent a part in the vernacular literature
of the 14th century 3. He first employed it in Latin. The first work-or one of
his first with which he appeared before the public, “Of the glory and perfection
of the Saints" i.e. hermits (in Ms. CCCO 193 titled “Melum contemplativorum"), is
written in alliterative verse, mixed with alliterative prose". His next works
are in prose: a "book on the life of hermits”, quoted — with the preceding-in
his "Job" and probably identical with the “Rule of hermits” in Ms. Mm. VI. 17;
6Against the lovers of the world"; on God's judgment as against man's (Judica
i Cf. Melum: Cogitavi in claustio cordis mei constans esse in caritate, et despicabilius deduci
inter divites ne ad dignitatem deportarer; amicam autem adamavi in quam angeli Omnipotentis
anhelant aspicere, et mirificam Mariam misericordiae matrem mulcebam mihi mollicie melliflua,
nec despexit dilectionem quam detuli, at potius procuravit a Piissimo ut animus ornaretur ad
amicabiles amplexus intimi amoris. Illam utique habui adiutricem quae oravit amatorem aeternum
ne abicerer ab electione amantissima, alioquin non amassem Altissimum ardenter nec suscepissem
suavitatem sonantis citharae neque caperer ad concentum canorum ; quoniam illa ardentissima
erat in amore, et omnes amicos eius accendit ad amandum. Pulcherrima profecto puella cleri-
culos cupit sibi conformari quos secum communicandos capiat, ut quaemadmodum illa castissima
continuabatur, ita et ipsi sine concupiscentia carnali consistant. Hanc amavi a iuuentute mea,
et iam in iubilum geror sine gemitu; nec abstulit aliena quod ipsi obtuli ab initio, virginitatem
videlicet, ut vivam virtuose et vestiar virtutibus.
2 Says he in the Melum: Qui latui libenter, tamen non liber a linguis, occulte ludendo in
laude laetabundus, propter invidiam impii errantis in abditis aiebaii, et hactenus cxterius vix
schnel ad alios erunzpere audens. Nunc Christus quaesitus quem carissime cupivi, quem amans
inveni, veniens ut vivam, manu assumtum, dum mens moderata in melos moretur, clanculo com-
pellit ut scribam, clamando quod concito carnales cadunt in chaos, et culpidi in cassum quaerunt
conscendere culminis caminum, dilatari desiderant divitiis ditati de quibus decepti digne a Deo
dure delebuntur. Pusillus profecto plangendum non petens, potentiam percepi ut porter ad polum
pietatis propagine, impuris proiectis in puteum penalem, foetentes in fulgure funeris ferventis.
Denique et Deus dedit mihi donum quo ducar a dampno: deliciis delibutus dignissimi dulcoris, in-
trinsecus intentus colligor ad cantum, profuens ut posteri a maculis mundentur et munus mereantur
quod mollit mutatos a mundi merore. Lumen laetificans lamentum levavit, et laetor levissime
in laudibus liquescens, ut loquar luculenter levitega laborais et dicten devotins quan ceteri
solcbant, more mirando divisus divinitus ab his quae decipiunt, dolo ne deprehendar. Audacter
introeo in ostium apertum, hauriens ab altis sonum coelestem. Utique non omnes hoc habuerunt,
hinc et operibus altis obstupescunt, nam inaudita veraciter viderunt, dum vixi visibiliter vernans
virtute, vanum ut, virus vomens a vita, Christum glorifico quo iubilo ingenter, non glorians in
gladiis sed gratia grandescens, quatinus iam carpens solacium serenum, dolorem devitem &c.
3 The English alliterative poetry of the 14th cent. is chiefly, it seems, bound up with the
names of Huchowa and Radulfus Strode, whom some years ago I first conceived to be the
probable author of the Pearl and of Gawain, communicating my proofs to the then editor of the
Pearl (who simply adopted my views, without adding additional proofs). It is possible that these
poems originated from a circle of Northerners at Oxford, headed by Radulf Strode, the "philoso-
phical Strode" to whom (and Gower) Chaucer directed his Troilus & Creseid, the “poeta Anglus
to whom the bibliographers (Leland, Bale, Pits) ascribe an elegiac peem: Phantasma Radulfi,
which is possibly the “Pearl”.
4 An imitation of this style, but with the addition of rhymes, is the piece in Ms. Vernon, titled
A talking of the love of God, in English, ed. II p. 345.
Introduction.
XIX
me Deus); an epistle to a young priest inculcating charity and contemplation
(Cupienti mihi); postils on the first 2 verses of Canticum canticorum (Osculetur
me osculo oris sui), and on the chapters of Job used as lessons for the dead'.
All these works are in Latin, at that time the common language of the learned.
They all belong to this period and are written in his youth: in the “Melum” he
calls himself juvenculus, puer, pusillus -- it was written probably in 1326, when
presumably he was 26 years old; in the other works he calls himself juvenis.
They all bear the mark of youth in the strongly personal, subjective, combative,
passionate, nervous, eruptive style, in the sweeping and uncompromising character
of his assertions; the Melum betrays its primogeniture in a certain juvenile—shall
I say frivolity? They are written in a time of conflict, when he had to make head-
way, to lay open, to maintain, and to defend his theories, and subjectivism will
naturally appear when the "Ich" is not in concord with the time and has to assert
itself. --- All these works are written in praise of contemplation and divine love
as against carnal love and the love of the world. His favourite form is the postil,
i.e. he comments Holy Scripture-he is dependent on scriptural texts for the ex-
position of his views. In the “Melum” he thus chooses his texts indiscriminately,
according to their bearing on contemplative life ; in the postils on Canticum and
Job he comments a couple or a series of texts. Those of his works in which he
either abandons the support of texts (as Incendium amoris) or more regularly
expounds whole books of the Bible verse by verse (as Psalter, Threni), must be
assigned to a subsequent period—he certainly commenced his literary career as
a--somewhat irregular-postillator; “de gloria et perfectione sanctorum praecel-
lentium postillas proferam”, “Positus in praesenti patiens pressuras pro pane perbenni,
puto quod potero.. in publicum procedere probatus postillator, strictam scripturae
masticans medullam, ut degam delicate dulcoribus divinis”, so he says in the
Melum. This is characteristic of his method. He propounds a biblical text:
this text evokes a certain note or tune, a certain emotion, and on that he enlarges,
so bringing out his views. His method is lyrical or musical, not deductive — a
translation into words of the canor, the chiming in his breast; he is a poet, a
lyric poet, not a philosopher, he writes from feeling. Guided by a biblical text
as "Leitmotif”, he brings out the sensations attending holy contemplation. In the
Melum he so follows up the whole course of contemplative life from the first
conversion to the attainment of caritas perfecta, and ends with the grand Finale:
Doomsday, the glory of the saints, the pains of the damned; in the postils on
Canticum he more particularly dwells on the dulcor. His plans are loose, invisible,
introduced from without, the parts are exteriorly slung together like beads in a
rosary, the sentences loosely connected, his style is strangely incoherent, there is
no development, no progress: the progress is obstructed by variations and repe-
titions of the same theme, much in the wise of A.S. poetry; sometimes he repeats
himself in different works in identical terms. His strength lies in his lyric fervour,
in the truth of his feeling, in the depth of his inner life, as in graphic descrip-
tiveness, in happy illustration from nature, life, his own experience; he strikes
some of the deepest chords that ever have sounded in the human breast; he
excels in terse sentences epigrammatically pointed and full of antithesis, which
often convey truths far in advance of his time and of almost modern impress -
indeed his style is largely made up of sentences, each the result of a spiritual
experience, a nioinentary inspiration. He is strangely deficient in reasoning and .
all that pertains to reason and scientia acquisita: he is strong in point of feeling
and scientia inspirata; he is all, entirely, and nothing but feeling. This, I think,
explains the peculiarities of his strange style. — But he not only gives the sen-
sations in the progress of contemplative life: he is also a preacher and teacher;
his lyric effusions are mixed with admonitions and warnings, with polemic and
satire. He appears as a reformer: he propounds his scheme of a bigher and un-
i That Job belongs to his carlier works, follows from the following words: “O sancti seniores,
orate pro me juvene ut non errem in hac expositione sed potius digna et congrua valeam
pronuntiare". What he calls juvenis, appears from his words: “Christus resurrexit in aetate juvenili,
quando fuerat 32 annorum et 3 mensium, et haec aetas fortis, robusta, pulcra et decora et per-
fecta, quia tunc cessat motus augmenti”.
**
A
XX
Introduction.
worldly life, exhorts others to follow him, criticises the existing order of things,
attacks the worldliness of the ruling classes. All these elements are combined in
the Melum, his chief and most comprehensive work, while his other writings are
more uniformly either exegetic and mystical, or exhortatory, or polemic, or written
in self-defence; indeed, the polemic element may be said to prevail in his earlier
writings in the same degree, as it recedes in his later. How he labours to win
souls! O come, he says, ye youths and maidens, learn from me, a wonderful
lover (amator mirabilis), how to love: forsake the impure love of one another
and embrace eternal love! O maidens, do not hanker after men, do not adorn
yourselves for men, to tempt them: lo Christ, lovely of shape before the sons of
men, the King of Heaven, wants your beauty, woos your love~he loves maidens
chaste and poor, he loves caritas, not libido (caritas est color quo pulcri paremus) :
he will adorn you with a wonderful crown, a worthy diadem, with shining garments;
and her that now languishes in love for him, he will requite with everlasting
sweetness. "Heu, dominae tam dulces diligunt indigne et dirae dilectioni deditae
domantur et mentem immunditiae maculant amore, manentes in morsu multiplicis
meroris, languendo ad lubricum in lugubri labore, quae Deum diligere devote de-
buerunt et hymnum extendere amoris aeterni, in Jesu qui se gerit jugiter jubilantes !
Itaque et alii lascivia laetantur, domicellae et juvenes invicem arserunt, aestuant
amplexibus dum dari differuntur; mentes in malum sine modo moventur, non cessant
se secernere a soliis coelorum, copulis carnalibus cupientes coronari. Heu virgines
et viduae vilissime venduntur, vacillant et ventilant vadentes vitiatae, ornantur ob
oscula, se portant impure: nam harum elegantia plurimos ſprostravit, quia pul-
critudo placens suscipitur tam cito; et exulat aeternitas, ad terminum transducta!
Vae non verentur in venere vestiri, florem felicem foetori effundunt-puritas perpetua
sic separatur, formam fallibilem diligunt, non deum, fruuntur fantasmate Christo
contempto, et abeunt cum illis quos amaverunt, ubi odium et ignem habebunt
aeterne! Hanc cuncti communiter callem conquirunt, in carnibus sunt capti et
comedunt crudum; nesciunt quod pro nihilo a nitore nudantur et portas appropiant
amarissimae mortis, dum delectabile ducentes, prospere se putant in pace proficisci.
Vae verecundiam evacuaverunt, sordibus scelerum se substernentes; ut bestiae se
bajulant ratione repulsa... Vae vae vescuntur vitiis et vanis, et homines amplexantes.
stercoribus steterunt: comedunt crudelia et crapulam quaerentes stultitia strangu-
lantur !" (Mel.). - Be comforted o ye poor! you will be the rich in Heaven and
sit with God on the throne to judge the wicked princes: “Gaudete pauperes in
paupertate vestra: patientiam probat caritas, probatio spen operatur, spes autem
non confundit; exultamini inopes, gaudete mendici, pauperes suspicite: quia vestrum
est regnum Dei; modicum et breviter patimini, multum et aeternaliter gloriabimini.
Cum jam pauperes cotidie in contemptum cadant et prae calamitate confusi etiam
inter epulantes egeant, plerique profecto pauperes primatum percipient et per-
versos principes populorum in judicio judicabunt. “Divites mundi pauperes sunt
inferni, pauperes vero saeculi divites sunt coeli, honorati hominum socii et cives
sunt infernorum; qui quaerunt manentem civitatem in mundo proculdubio illam
invenient non hic sed cum daemonibus in inferno. “Quid enim habet pauper nisi
ut pergat ubi est vita? Aerumpnam utique habet et angustiam in hoc exilio, et
omnes dies ejus miseriis pleni sunt: deserens ergo hanc inopiam deducetur ad
delicias domus Dei et regnabit cum regibus quia seipsum recte regebať", He
attacks the cupidi, carnales, directs his satire against all classes of society from
the King down to the selfish poor, but mainly against the great, the proud, the
rich, against all who love the world and the flesh, not God. “Cum saeculares
miseri, reges viz. terrarum et principes hominum, divites, necnon et omnes mundi
potentes superbiae amatores, nec Deum nec divina nituntur quaerere sed pomposis
et vanis honoribus exaltati, terrenis divitiis praediti, solummodo ea quae sua sunt,
carnalia scil., et ea quae mundi sunt, noscuntur perpetrare, constat profecto quod
nec unus illorum ut bene agat veraciter intelligat, nec caritatem qua salvaretur
habere cupiat: vnde et quemadmodum in voluptatibus suis aequissimi judicis oblitis
judiciis non timent existere, ita et in futuro Christus manifestis omnibus eorum sceleribus
coram cunctis oculis eos videbitur condempnare. Vae eis! coram aeterno et vero
dominatore ad nihilum redacti, evanentes ab omni solacio dominio subjecti fiunt
Introduction.
XXI
daemonum, qui in hoc saeculo positi laetabantur se reges et duces superborum.
O dirum; o deforme dominium praesentis vitae potentium, qui dum paucorum
domini constituuntur hominum, servi fiunt innumerabilium vitiorum. “O mundani
et carnales miseri, vere fraudati estis gaudio Dei et fraude decepti diabolica
merito aeternam mortem patiemini, quia vitam hic quaeritis quam scitis non posse
hic haberi; excaecati sunt oculi vestri, immo diabolus potius eos plene eruit, quia
nec hoc quod videtis creditis, quando morientem cernitis et tamen mortem non
timetis; confusi estis, quoniam Deus sprevit vos; maledicti, execrati et abominabiles
facti estis, omnes angeli sancti et amatores Christi immenso gaudio replebuntur
quando ille totus coetus vester reprobus aeterno igni dampnatur. Vae vobis di-
vitibus! vae vobis superbis! vae vobis luxuriosis ! qvae denique omnibus peccare
volentibus: quia merces vobis reddetur. “In tonitruo tonante terminabuntur regna
regum qui nunc resident reprehensibiles et ratione non reguntur. “Reges a regnis
ruent, quia sanguis sceleribus sarcinatus duces et divites inaniter decepit. Reginas
quae reprobe regebantur, vermes rodent invisibiles, virginum vero virtuositas
virescit in aeternum”. No less he censures the manifest abuses in the Church,
insisting on inward religion, on caritas, as against ministerium mechanicum”, the
formalism of the time; he censures the prevailing worldliness, exteriority, work-
service, hypocrisy, the lack of true religious spirit. He declaims against the
“ficti et falsi fideles, qui Deum se amare fingunt cum non diligunt"; against the
priests who eagerly claim their tithes but neglect the cure of their parishioners
(Vae presbiteris qui tanto zelo et clamore decimas et ea quae ad altare pertinent
exigunt et de animabus parochianorum tam parvum curant; instanter petunt pe-
cuniam sed raro aut nunquam proferunt sermonem, excommunicant illos qui ab
ecclesiis jura sua subtrahunt et ipsi sacerdotes primo excommunicantur quia ec-
clesiam Christi ut tenentur non regunt, Job.); against the monks who are implicated
in secular affairs, and in their presumption claim to possess the sole way to per-
fection; against the book-wise, the “doctores et philosophi et theologi, infinitis
quaestionibus implicati, in omni scientia summi sed in amore Dei inferiores”;
against the prelates, who bent on worldly pursuits, on secular business, on mam-
mon, on carnal pleasures, and anxious to shine, to excel, indifferently perform
the duties of their office and neglect to attend to the spiritual needs of their flocks,
sending incompetent preachers and prohibiting the “missi a Deo”, the poor hermits
(heremitas abiciunt et horrent cum ipsis bonos esse et conscios, audire hos nolunt;
quidquid homo dixerit quod laude sit dignum, semper ad malum interpretantur;
quamquam jam sciant summa secreta et necessaria noverint humanae saluti, utique cum
ipsis acceptabiles non erunt, Mel.). “Qui nos pascere debuerint, occidere conantur".
“Praelati et sacerdotes et religiosi, quanto magni sunt se deberent in omnibus humi-
liare, suam quoque infirmitatem cognoscere et descendere ad instructionem populi,
verbo et exemplo pascendo gregem Christi: sed dum unusquisque ad temporalia bona
possidenda humanumque favorem amplectendum innititur, nimirum apud Deum omnes
reprobantur. Omnes diligunt munera, omnes ad terrenam dignitatem aspirant,
a propheta ad sacerdotem omnes faciunt dolum, omnes in laqueo terrenorum positi
sunt, ad vanam et fallibilem gloriam universi concurrunt”. “Milites Christi, sacer-
dotes et religiosi, eremitae et monachi, atque alii et aliae, voluntariae paupertatis
amatores esse deberent, qui non solum a seipsis hostilia jacula repellere, verum
etiam et ab aliorum cordibus in quantum poterunt niterentur auferre: at, ut videtur,
vecordes sunt, infirmos se fingunt, mundum quaerunt, Deum amare nesciunt immo
contemnunt, hostes non expugnant sed introducunt. Heu, servitium idolorum libenter
admittunt, et christianae militiae decuş amiserunt, et qui prae aliis in vitae sanctitate
et morum honestate excellere tenentur, jam terrenis desideriis involuti et pravis
actibus mancipati, in omnibus scandalum efficiuntur. Aut enim sacerdotes comes-
sationibus et ebrietatibus et impuditiis atque illicitis lucris deserviunt, aut otiositati
et somnolentiae dediti a divino servitio per torporem deficiunt et negligentes et
vagabundi fiunt” (Job). If so the columns fall, how can the fabric stand: (Si
columnae cadunt, quomodo stabit quod frondificatum est ? Membra sequuntur
caput; quia superiores insaniunt, etiam inferiores in vanitates et fantasias falsas
deducuntur): So much the more it is necessary that the few elected should raise
XXII
Introduction,
their voice against the prelates (tanto electi dei, cuiuscunque ordinis sunt, ad
caritatem et castitatem retinendas. se student erigere, quanto ipsos qui principatum in
populo perceperunt vel alios minores in lubricam viam et latam quae ducit sectatores
suos ad infernum vident declinare, non attendentes perversis actibus praelatorum,
sed Christum imitantes qui est caput humilium et doctor mansuetorum (Mel.). He
so, leaning on his mission by God, challenges his own bishop: “Ecce juvenis, zelo
animatus justitiae, insurgit contra senem, heremita contra episcopuni et contra omnes
taliter opinantes qui in quantumcumque exterioribus actibus supereminentia affir-
mant esse sanctitatis” (Mal.). — Alas, the world is sadly deteriorated! "Jam mali in
mundo multiplicantur et pauci inter populos inveniuntur qui sancte subsistunt, omnes
paene proficiscuntur ad peccata, loquuntur turpia, cogitant immunda, agunt nephanda!"
“A plerisque jam in praesenti tempore immo ab omnibus cupiditas in aulam regiam
introducitur, caritas vero quasi esset perditioni consentiens incarceratur, immo a
regno ejicitur in exilium — sed tamen habitaculum invenit in cordibus electorum."
“Ubique jam abundat turpitudo terrena, vilissima voluptas in viris vacillat, ratio
refrigescit, non reficit ruentem, bellant ut bestiae, breviantur beati, nullus est
nimirum qui nemini non nocet.” “Neque jam ut solent sancti subsistunt, nec electi
habentur qui Auctorem adorent pro aliis audacter et interim alantur habiles amore;
unde nec terra in tantum habundat, non floret nec fructificat ut fecerit in finem,
cum fuerint fideles falsi et ficti; ac fame feriuntur et funus fabricant in quo fren-
debunt infeliciter ferventes” (an allusion to the famine and pestilence of 1316-8).
“Heu non aliquem invenimus amantem qui inhiet ardenter habitare cum almis;
omnes indifferenter ad delectabilia declinant, in voluptatibus vanis viliter vacillantes."
“Jam nulli exeunt (in solitudinem): omnes amant solatium hominum et ideo sine
dubio visitatione carent angelorum; ita placet eis sonus exterior et solemnia corporis.
ut parum vel nil curant de sono coelico aut de solempnitate mentis” (Inc. Am.).
“Solitarii siquidem despecti habentur , in omnium opprobium abierunt; ubi alii in
aulis honorifice assistunt et ad mensam magnatum praecedere ponuntur, ad ostium
mendici morantur et his de micis mittunt multi magnates et reprobant ut reprobos,
qui plane penitebunt. — Truly, the end of the world is near: "Et quidem in istis
temporibus, in quibus deveniunt fines temporum, maxime superbi regnant, hypocritae
praesident, homicidae dominantur, fornicatores sublevantur, avari divitias et digni-
tates adquirunt, iracundi et invidi praeponuntur”.
From so appearing in public as a teacher and writer, his name soon began to
be noised about. But in the same measure he found violent opposition: he was
attacked by a host of enemies. His earlier works are full of bitter complaints
against his detractors; he had to maintain his reputation, to defend bis principles.
His system ran counter to the common opinion of men, of the world that lives,
and struck against the very root and foundation of society. He proclaimed chastity,
divine love: but, mothers will marry their daughters although they know that the
price is their virginity; girls will have their sweethearts and adorn themselves to
please men, and will not cease to believe that they possess what men desire to
kuow; young men are expected to be infatuated, illusioned - and disillusioned —
it is the way to knowledge and to wisdom; — such is the course of the world.
Matrimony is the natural law (lex) of man, though no community has ever formally
proclaimed it such, leaving it to nature to enforce her ends. The sex is man's
natural incumbency, his fate, his Cross, the tree on which he grows. The ways
of sex are hideous indeed: but they are indispensable — the way to life leads
through that gate, and nature herself has given beauty and illusion, love and
curiosity, to unite the sexes for the creation of new life; chastity is the beau ideal,
the essence of morality, indeed morality itself, but chiefly as the nursery, the
mainspring of love, which is the foundation of human society. Love is life itself,
and life was given to return love; it is primarily sexual, and divine love is but
secondary love, love transferred in its ends. His system was transcendental idealism -
flight from the "trieb”, and, as such, as much above truth, as mere sensuality is
beneath it, truth lying between the two, as between body and soul, between
matter and spirit. His system was hostile to kind, and he who forsakes kind,
is forsaken by kind, and liable to fall maybe as Joseph by the wife of Putiphar;
H
•
Introduction.
XXIII
the whole world becomes his enemy. He had raised the whirlwind: he became
the “lapis offensionis, petra scandali”, “scandalum Judaeis, gentibus autem stultitia." —
He. was a strange man : strange in his ways, strange in his words and teaching:
people asked: Who is this man that so cometh forth? They did not understand
him, or misunderstood him. They saw his gloominess, but not the joy he felt
within ; they saw him constantly absorbed, ecstatic, constantly talking of a love
not of this world, and could not make him out. They called him a fool, mad,
demented (stultus, insipiens, alienatus mente), nay wicked (iniquus), saying he did
irreverence to God and did not keep the statutes of the Church (dicentes irreve-
rentiam Deo facere et statuta ecclesiae non observare), and did not run the right
way to God (affirmant non recte currere ad coelestem mansionem). Others said:
We give alms, feed the poor, clothe the naked and do all the works of mercy:
how can those be equal to us who daily love quiet and do nothing of the kind ?
it is better to be in the world and do some good, than to sit idle in the solitude
or in the cloister. His wanderings, his shifting from place to place, seemed at
variance with the notions of an hermit, with the rest and quiet claimed by himself
for the contemplative: people said he was no hermit (nonnulli cum heremiticam
vitam considerant, me etiam heremitam non esse impudenter affirmare non formi-
dant), but an hypocrite; some said he was a scamp (trutannus). His converse with
the rich gave another occasion for slander: he who is so exhausted by abstinence
that he suffers excruciating head-aches, is said to be led away by the pleasures
of the rich (dicunt derogantes: deliciis deducor quibus divites delectant, et indignus
sum Deo), is accused of being a glutton and a wine-bibber, and they said of him
as was said of Christ that he ate with sinners and publicans (Sancti saepius inter
saeculares etiam solitarii sedebant: ideo tu dicis quod de Domino dicebatur: Quare
cum peccatoribus et publicanis manducat magister vester ? et iterum vocabant veri-
tatem viventem quae angelos alit in sola visione, vini potatorem), that he was impure
and ran after the girls (lubricum et lapsum me judicaverunt, putantes quod pro puellis
persisterem cum pravis), that his "sittings” in holy contemplation were due to an over-
full belly and to good wine, and his penance merely for the eyes of men (assere-
bant sophistice loquentes quod pro sumpto cibario sustinui sedere, et potibus
deputantes quod Piissimus praestavit, ac populis ut placeam plerique publice
praedicabant penitentiam me pati). These attacks he ascribes to envy, the envy
of those who saw his goodly life and the wonders God worked in him, and found
themselves deficient ("invidebant autem eo quod in magnis muneribus munitus mi-
rabilis manebam, et seipsos mordebant morsibus malignis quia magnifica majestas
me mirificavit in mente per musicum in melle melodis”; “Invidia uruntur quia lucide
loquor”). But his worst enemies were those who called themselves followers and
disciples of Christ; the professionals, the monks, the doctors, and especially the
prelates; those that were encrusted in their traditional ways, in their self-conceit,
their self-righteousness, and failed to comprehend the new gospel ("Odium et in-
vidiam tantam non inveni nec habui sicut ab his qui dicebantur discipuli Jesu
Christi"; "Hi qui praeferuntur (i. e. the prelates) maxime me odiunt"). They derided
his self-assumed saintship- if he is a saint, where are the miracles which signalize
the saint? They found fault with his quietism, his idle inactivity, his contem-
"plation without works, his salvation by love, his independence without obedience.
The generality of men are business-men and cannot understand the enthusiast:
They jeered at his canor. The book-wise asked: Where has he learned and
from what doctor? (Docti per acquisitam scientiam, non infusam, et inflati argu-
mentationibus implicitis, dedignantur dicentes Ubi didicit iste et a doctore audivit ?).
They despised the layman who was not of their guild, scorned his inadequacy in
things dialectic, questioned his qualification, thought it easy to beat him in dis-
putation (nonnullos audivi me disputationibus velle vincere, quia apud opinionem
hominum eos vivendo videbar superare), called him a rustic, an idiot (rusticus,
idiota, insipiens). They maintained that he had no capacity to preach (Putant
quod non potui pure praedicare nec sapere ut ceteri qui sancte subsistunt); they
despise his words because he is poor, not a bishop, a prelate, or a rector (Quia
pauper sum et non reputatus inter magistratus mundi, parvi penditis verba quae
XXIV
Introduction.
loquor vobis). They ridiculed his authorship-his teaching is to them a mystery
(mysterium mitto modernis); they maintain that he errs in his interpretation of
Holy Scripture (dicentes aut me in expositione errasse, aut sacra verba congruenter
non tractasse, non acceptantes me quia modernus sum, 706) — to them he is a
“homo novus”, a modern. So — because he did not "run". as others in this
world (quia non cucurri quemadmodum qui adhuc carnalitati inhaerent). — he was
an object of universal hatred — Horridum me habebant omnes insensati. Those
became his worst detractors whom before he had thought true friends (Eos pessimos
detractores habui quos prius amicos fidos putavi). “Multi qui mecum loquebantur,
similes fuerunt scorpionibus, quia capite blandiebantur adulantes, et cauda percutie-
bant detrahentes". They would fain have seen him fall into sin (Invidi undique
obsistebant adversus me, qui si lapsus ligarer in lacum laetarentur); they tried to
lure him into sin, so to catch him therein and make him belie his saintship.
They contrived to drive him out of the houses where he was loved, and so did
him great harm, as he was dependent on the benevolence of men. He has had
so much annoyance from their defamations that in his “Cupienti mihi &c” be
begs the dedicatee to use discretion in showing the book, lest he should incur
new slander (vobis habenda est discretio non modica, ne dum circumquaque hunc
libellum indesinenter ostenditis, juventutem meam invidorum dentibus acerbiter
corrodendam exponatis).
How far this conflict went we are not informed. The annals of the time are
silent with regard to him. His age treated him as a nonentity and gave him
over to oblivion. Society simply took no notice of him. He himself will not dis-
close the names of his tormentors (Dirisiores et detractores non divulgavi ad
dampnum, necnon et amavi eos qui me arguerunt et ostenderunt odia ut ab omni-
bus abominarer). Yet it seems that matters came to a crisis. It appears that he
had one chief adversary - in his Melum he chiefly addresses one, who vainly
curses ("O miser sine modo, non metuis mensuram quae tibi metietur ? cur es sic
captivus? non tremis pro tormentis quibus traderis ? tu iniquus et impius hic
judicas justum qui postea probatus ex tuo ore te ipsum condemnabit! .. non putes
quia pereo quia mihi maledicis et praedicas quod in penis perendinabo: en ego
assumor extra terrena, temporale non tangens teneor tranquillus ac uror interius
affluens amore, gaudiumque gusto in quo nunquam gloriaberis, quia omnibus ob-
sistis qui optime operantur !" "Quid arguis o impie, quem approbat Auctor:? non
poteris tu perfide destruere in dolo quem Deus dedicavit. Frustra furis infelix,
tabescens in tenebris, quia Trinitas me temperavit et dedit mihi quod te doceo.
O miser sine mititia, adhuc beata bonitas benefacientibus benedicit, et magnifica
majestas mirabiles facit in mundo"), and I have no doubt that he refers to one and
the same person. I mentioned before that in one passage of the Melum he
directly challenges his bishop, and it is very probable that his bishop was
this one adversary. He also complains that the prelates prohibit the hermits from
preaching and send unfit persons (prohibent praecipuos proferre sermonem, et alios
admittunt qui a Deo non mittuntur; heremitas abiciunt), and that those in prelacy
hate him most. In the register of Archbishop Melton (1317-442) I find the
following memorandum: 1334 Aug. 5: An order forbidding anyone to listen to
the teaching of friar Henry de Staunton hermit (Raine, Fasti Ebor. p. 421). Nothing
more is known of this hermit, but we may readily suppose that he was a disciple
or follower of R. Rolle. It is quite possible that some similar restriction, if not
a severer censure, was issued against R. Rolle at an earlier date, and that he
suffered some kind of check at the hands of his diocesan.
So, what with these conflicts, what with the loss of patrons and friends, and
the increasing difficulty of living, what with his restlessness, his life in this period
became more and more sad. In the two great passions of life, ambition and
love, he is checkmated. He saw others rise to honours, and himself was nobody.
He had a loving heart, was bound by no vow, was free to marry if he chose :
yet he clung to chastity, a self-imposed burden. He was a fair young man,
florid, not uncomely, and well worth a woman's love: all the greater was his temp-
tation (elegans eligitur amplius amori, nam formosus in facie, qui fuerit facundus,
TTY
Introduction.
XXV
oculos solicitat et taliter temptatur). Yet, absorbed in his holy love, he managed
to escape carnal love and so to remain chaste — we have his positive testimony that
he kept his chastity. But who can tell the struggles he had to go through as years
came on, those years especially when the "trieb” is strongest, virility most potent,
when every one succumbs — the height of generation, the years of Christ? The
victory is gained, but at what price! By refusing himself to kind, he is refused
by kind, his friends forsake him, his patrons repudiate him, no maiden will abide
in the love he offers, he is overrun by enemies. His life is that of the lonely
man who, forsaken by all, is sent adrift, a prey to all. He tasted of that desti-
tution in which man, stripped of all belongings, is reduced to the state of man
simple, the son of man. He should so like to have an associate (sodalis in itinere;
who would understand him, who could modulate his clamor (canor)?, so that it
might become objective to him—but there is none. He has no home, no place
where to rest his head. Despite his converse with the rich he is extremely poor,
so poor that at times he has no water to drink, only rags to cover him, and
suffers severely from frost and heat (Denique inter divites demorans, panni put-
ridi me paene deprimebant, et nudus nocebar per morsum muscarum ; cutis quippe
sine coopertorio confortabili calcabatur, pellis mea in pulvere induta squalorem
scaturizabat; sed et aestu affligebar inter obumbratos ab omnibus quae optabant,
ac frigore frendebam dum opimis utebantur ornamentis et in superfluitatibus salierunt
qui datorem tamen suum in his non dilexerunt) 3. His health is delicate, his
constitution is weakened by contemplation, he suffers from intolerable head-aches
(Quippe sic carnem modo maceravi et caput contunditur dolore deducto, quod
consistere non queo-ita gravatur-nisi corroberer cibario sanante); he has the
presentiment of an early death (the Melum concludes with the remarkable words:
Amorem et odium utrumque ostendi, et puer nunc propero ad finem felicem, nam
paene perfudi gressus gravantes, ut calcans contagium in cantico consummer;
caritatem carissimam cunctis commendo: amen). And what has come of his efforts,
his vast projects? his plans have failed, his labour is lost, he is of no use to
anybody. The world is too much for him; the very noises of the world are
painful to him (penales sunt mihi vociferantes et crucior quasi per incommodum
quando clamor clangentium me tangit). He languishes in still mourning, his youth
is all consumed in yearning (prae amoris magnitudine assiduis horis ferme consumor),
and there is no relief; the beloved tarries so long! He grieves over the sins of
· 1 His parents, also, seem to have been dead by this time; cf. Iob: "Quasi putredo consumendus
sum': hanc conditionem omnes homines habent; non enim necesse est haec exponere, quae
omnes jam in visu parentum didicere: ossa viderunt mortuorum, vsque ad putredinem consumpta
cognoscunt corpora parentum.
2 Amator aestuans in incorporeos amplexus, habet clamorem ad conditorem suum ex intimis
medullis amoris affectuose excitatum et erumpentem; quasi a longe clamaret vocem elevat in-
teriorem, quae nonnisi in ardentissimo amante ut in via fas est invenitur. Hic deficio prae insi-
pientia et hebitudine ingenii, quia non sufficio hunc clamorem describere. Sentire et offerre pro
modulo meo potui: sed vobis enarrare non potui nec potero. Quis igitur mihi nodularetur car-
mina cantuum meorum et gaudia affectuum cum ardoribus amorum, et amorosae adolescentiae
meae ustionem, ut saltem ex canticis caritatis sodalis subtiliter indagarem substantiam meam, et
inensura modulationum in quibus praestabilis putarer mihi innotesceret si forte ab infelicitate
exemptum me invenirem, et quod per me praedicare non praesumo quia nondum repperi quod
exopto, in solaciis socii me requiescerem cum dulcore? Utinam illius modulationis inveniam
auctorem hominem qui etsi non dictis tamen scriptis mihi gloriam meam decantaret et neupmata
quae nexus in nomine nobilissimo coram amato meo edere non erubui, canendo et neupmatizando
depromeret. Hic etenim esset mihi amabilis super aurum, et omnia pretiosa non adaequarem
ei quae habentur in hoc exilio; diligerem illum sicut cor meum, nec esset aliquid quod ab ipso
occultare intenderem, quia canorem quem cupio intelligere mihi exprimeret et jubilum jocundi-
hac itaque apertione exultarem amplius aut certe uberius ejularem
quoniam mihi ostenderetur incendium amoris et sonora jubilatio evidenter effulgeret, clamosa
quoque cogitatio sine laudatore non laberetur neque sic in ambiguis laborarem. Nunc vero me
deprimunt labores aerumpnosi exilii, et molestiae aggravantes vix me subsistere permittunt, et
cum intus inardescam calore increato, foris quasi fuscus infelix sine luce delitesco. O Jesu, utinam
vel sodalem in itinere ostendisses ut illius exhortatione langor laetificaretur &c. (Inc. Am.).
: 3 Cf. Melum: Laudo libentissime latorem legis et cum laetitia sine languore lugubri leviter
iam ad lumen levor, quia in praesentia non potior potentia, nec habeo quid accipiam nisi quando
alii erogant indig enti, et non datur mihi cum voluero sed in voluntate virorum vescor. Profecto
non puduit mihi propulsari a potestate inter pauperes, fame affligi cum florentes ut fenum facerent
festivitatem, ac siti sine compassione carnalium cruciabar nec quidem aquam habui ad haurien-
dum dum breviter benedicti usque ad balbutiem bibebant.
XXVI
Introduction.
the time, the wickedness of man; that so many souls are lost that the king has
redeemed (Dolui pro desolatione, nam multi merguntur mortifero in mari: quos
Rex redimebat, vanos vidi et vacuos virtute); turpitude reigns supreme, the Saint
has left the earth, the solitary are despised—and he can do nothing. So he suffers,
his misery at times is extreme; his words sometimes betray utter desolation and
sound like the outcry of the beast wounded to death. He wishes to die—it is
better for him to die, as he is of no use : “Deus meus, tolle me, suscipe me se-
cundum eloquium tuum et vivam: melius est mihi mori quam vivere qui inter
multos morans nec uni scio prodesse et quae putabam lucrata timeo ne evanescant
quia in mundana re et non in Deo gaudent; ecce domine relictus sum solus, qui
videbant me foras fugiebant a me, oblivioni datus sum tamquam mortuus a corde,
sed et factus sum tamquam vas perditionis quoniam audivi vituperationem multorum
commorantium in circuitu—in circuitu meo, non mecum, sunt amatores terreni,
quia etsi eis te vitam praedico tamen eos amantes mortem doleo ; stulti quoque
despiciebant me et recessisse ab eis detrahebant mihi'; hinc cogito, cupio, de-
posco : Salvum me fac domine quoniam defecit sanctus” (Contra am. mundi). He
wishes to die because true love is gone and mean concupiscence only remains:
“Clamo et affectu suspirans aio: “Salvum me fac deus quoniam defecit sanctus';
deficiunt hymnidici, silent voces canentium., non apparet sanctorum amatorum
ardor; unusquisque declinat in viam suam malam, dolorem quem corde concepit
in effectum deducere non desistit, consumunt in vanitate dies suos, et annos suos
cum festinatione. Héu, juvenem simul ac virginem, lactentem cum homine sene
ignis concupiscentiae devoravit”. He can hardly await the end: "Heu quid agam?
quamdiu dilationem patiar ? quo fugiam, ut fruar feliciter ad quod festino? Egens
sum et esuriens, angustiatus et afflictus, vulneratus et decoloratus ob absentiam
amatoris mei; quia cruciant me accessus amoris, et spes quae differtur affligit ani-
mam .. Dolores et miseriae in corpore consistunt, languor vero in anima perseverat,
donec videam quem tanto ardore desideravi, cuius amore emarcuit caro mea atque
viluit inter venustos huius vitae” (Inc. Am.). He longs for the day when the Saviour
will come and do justice to the poor; when the truth will come out and he will
be seen as he is, not as his detractors paint him. He joys that the end of the
world is near: “Nam finis mundi appropiat, paene paratus est tubam caniturus,
adest finis mundialis malitiae, terminus terrenae cupiditatis longe non moratur”;
“Iam judex ut fulgur gladium suum acuit in quo ad judicium veniens peccatores
ferit.”—In this time of suffering be caine to realise the sorrows of the “man of
sorrows”, the desolation of the son of man”. In this time he formed his
pessimistic views of the miserableness of this earthly existence. In this time he
conceived that deep sympathy with the suffering, the poor, the oppressed, which
is one of his chief characteristics.
But all this misery and persecution is not able to overcome him : he bears up,
stands firm, strikes home and hits hard. "Das Individuum richtet sich herrlich
auf”. He has found Jesus—he has found him in poverty, in affliction, in pe-
nance, in the desert. He joys in his poverty, he joys in his solitude, more than
the king in all his riches: „Amplius gaudeo sedens in solitudine quam rex in
cuius omnes terrenae divitiae veniunt potestate”. He has found such joy that the
tongue cannot express it; he is in so sweet a life that no misery, no wrong, no
pain can make him sad, that he is as it were impassible in his mind. He allows
no disparagement of his profession, and blesses the solitude that has taught hina
his love: "Absit ut tam crudeliter deviarem quod aliquid sinistrum vel demeritum
de appetentibus heremi loquerer, sub cuius nomine diabolum non timeo, terrena
contempno, carnem spiritui subjungo. Benedictum sit illud nomen heremiticum et
illud singulare propositum, in quo amare disco, jubilare consuesco, salvationem
securus expecto; nullum in ecclesia ordinem reprehendo, sed solitudinem maxime
diligo et laudo”. Perfect love kills pain : “Perfectus amor , vincit penam, vincit
minas, quia non sentit timorem creaturae”; tribulation and persecution will only
enhance his merit and win him a higher reward in Heaven. Temptations, "fan-
tasmata noctis”, have disappeared by the invocation of the name of Jesus; the
flesh is overcome, he can live amongst women without feeling any emotion: "Inde
nociva virtus corporalis arescens evanet, vnde mentem divinitus adamatam aeterni
Introduction.
XXVII
amoris fervor suaviter incendit, ut jam, superno dulcore debriati, etiam inter feminas
possimus vivere et nullam delectationem feminae in animo sentire”; “In illo qui
contemplationis culmen ascendit per jubilum et ardorem amoris, jam quasi ex-
tinctae jacent carnales concupiscentiae, nam mors malarum cogitationum et affec-
tionum ad illum pertinet qui contemplationi vacať”. In his illnesses he is consoled
and strengthened by the canor: “Misit in me imperator aeternus melos mirificum,
et quamvis penis pungerer et intollerabili tormentarer turbine, tamen huiusmodi
illectus abundantia et sublatus solatio incessabili, semper sicut sanus subsistebam
etiamsi infirmarer; in tantum tonuit amor interius affluens quod lectus mihi non
libuit nec jacebam aliquando in gemitu ut aegrotus agit quando amisit oportunitatem
operandi et mutatis membris in morbum stratum sibi sternit in quo convalescere
cogitaret”. What does he care for grandeur or men's praise? “Ego in hac habi-
tatione altitudinem inter homines non elegi, non humanum honorem, non laudem
labilem, non miraculorum magnificentiam, non praelatiae principatum, sed Deo
servire desideravi amore deitatis, Christum concupivi, et ad hoc avidissime aninum
extendi incessanter aspirans in Auctorem, ut ardentissime amorem Altissimi am-
plexarer”. He prefers to be despised : "Non timeo torqueri et despici inter tyrannos,
nam spes nostra ponitur in patria perbenni; tanto acceptabiliores cum angelis et
almis apparebimus, quanto inter homines minus acceptamur"; "tanto ad majorem
judiciariae potestatis altitudinem in futuro excrescimus, quanto nunc a minus per-
fectis et reprobis despecti et judicati sumus”. His tormentors cannot disturb him :
Storquere temptantes non tangunt tranquillum: fruor tam fortiter fervore Factoris”.
His detractors he treats with contempt: “Mali malum loquuntur, quod et facerent
etiam si Jesum perspexissent, quia consuetum est illis. De latrina amoto operculo
non exhalat nisi foetor, et male loquentes ex abundantia cordis loquuntur in
quo venenum aspidum latet. Hoc cognovi quod quanto magis contra me verbis
detractoriis homines insanierunt, tanto amplius in profectu spirituali succrevi;
denique non cessavi ab his quae utilia erant animae meae propter verba illorum,
immo exercui studium, et semper inveni Deum faventem”; “Christus me elegit
ad audacem animum, ut riderem ad irrisiones, et laetarer cum non laudarer, ac
ardentius ambularem in amore aeternorum quia abjectus eram inter homines”.
Against their defamations he flees to God, under the shadow of His wings, and
appeals to Him who alone knows the heart and reins and does not judge by the
exterior as man; He will reveal the truth in the last Judgment. He vindicates
his character, the integrity of his life. He is no glutton, no wine-bibber, no
parasite of the rich: he takes only what is necessary—“nullus enim sufficit seipsum
portare nec etiam fortissimus per seipsum subsistit”, and, aye, "inebrior ab ubertate
domus Dei et torrente voluptatis suae potavit me” (Ps. 35). “Amator meus quem
amo mihi affuit et non obrigui in impietatibus quando astiti in agnitione illorum
quos modicum me mulcere memini; neque vero vigilavi nec veni inter viciosos ut
laquearer in lubricitate aut fruerer forma feminea sine firmitate ; sed neque cibaria
saecularium me sustinuerunt in sessione; et in divitum deliciis non delectabar nisi
dumtaxat in temperantia et necessitate naturae ut caro pro Christo custodiretur."
Even in the repasts of the rich he hears the canor: “Inter delicias divitum saepe
in me resonat melos coelicum et amoris canticum amoenum". He is not unchaste :
“non fallit me femina nec pereo puellis, neque glorior in gula quae jugulat gentiles”;
his addresses to women are only meant to teach them "ut amico mundano non
maculentur nec langueant pro lubrico labentes in lacum, horridum habentes hu-
manun amorem, osculis amplexibus non aveant immundis, caste et pie deinceps
degentes”; if his words are not believed, let inquiries be made and the truth will
appear: “Haec si non creditis, quaerite quid dixi, interrogare potestis qui me
audierunt, si docui dampnabile, injuriam aut Deo, vel cogitavi corrumpere fragilem
facturam”, and he calls Christ to witness: “Christus quem cupio hoc contestetur
et contra me consurgere faciat fideles, sed et ipse conquasset caput captivi et
cunctos corroboret me premere procellis, si ab adolescentia ipsum non amavi(!)”;
adding however: "Nimirum non nego plurima non prospera in me pervenisse ac
temptamenta inter tales tolerasse, turbatus, tribulatus et turbidus primitus permansi”,
and concluding: “Tamen hoc teneo ut sistas securus : Fugito feminas qui Christum ·
amare voluntarie vovisti, nam vitii venenum sic vincere vales, alioquin, nisi Auctor
HALL
XXVIII
Introduction.
te altius assumpsit, in dira dulcedine decipieris” (Mel.). In another passage he affirms:
“Ex quo ardebam aeterno amore, quievi a cupidine carnali”, and praises God
who has kept him chaste (In laude levabor gratias agendo, Conditorem complectens
qui castum me custodit dum alii errabant juvenes a jure). He maintains his saint-
ship: “Sanctus subsisto". Though it may seem strange that a man, however ex-
cellent, should call himself a saint when even St. Paul confesses himself a sinner,
yet one must speak the truth when asked. “Sanctitas non est in signis et labore
corporali, sed in virtutibus animae Deum veraciter diligentis”; “Scivi, propter
jubilum qui ingeritur et canorem quem carpsi, quod sanctitas non sistit in cilicio
et cinere nec in aliquo quod exterius operamur, sed in gustu gaudii amoris aeterni,
in contemptu corporalium, ut suspiremus semper sedere cum societate civium
supernorum, non attendentes his quae aguntur in istis infimis, prout perfecti
peregrini properantes ad patriam pulcherrimi paradisi”; “Ille sanctam vitam
ducit qui quamvis in corruptibili carne sedeat, solam tamen aeternae gloriae sua-
vitatem incessanter affectat”; “Non quis sanctus est quia multas literas didicit, sed
quia voluntatem suam voluntati divinae in omnibus conformavit. One can be a
saint without miracles, and may not be a saint with miracles: “Non omnes
sancti faciunt vel fecerunt miracula nec in vita nec post mortem, neque omnes
reprobi vel in vita vel post mortem miraculis caruerunt; saepe mediocriter boni
et minus perfecti miracula faciunt, et plerique etiam summi in coelestibus sedibus
coram vultu Dei constituti, penitus quiescunt; “Multa corpora translata sunt
in terris quorum animae forsitan ad coelum nondum pervenerunt"; "Sancti non
ideo in supernas sedes sublimati sustolluntur quia mira ostendebant, nam et non-
nulli mali huiusmodi obtinuerunt, sed veritas hoc voluit quod amans ardentius altius
assumatur, honorabilius assideat inter angelos”. God is still wonderful in his
saints, but in these latter days of the world miracles are not necessary, but example
of elect work: "Deus non minus mirificat multos quamvis perpauci publicentur ad
populum, quam pueros suos quos in primordiis praeparavit ad pacem, et hoc
utique agit usque ad consummationem universorum existentium in hoc exilio unde
et ipse ait Ero vobiscum omnibus diebus usque ad consummationem saeculi; hoc
attamen excipitur in istis terminationibus temporum quod exterius ita omnino non
operantur ut antiquitus agebant. Et nimirum non est necesse nunc ut miracula
monstrentur, cum per totum orbem terrarum multiplicata maneant memoriter; sed
exemplum electi operis indigetur ostendi in oculis omnium, ut luceat lux luminarium
inter leves et lubricum lingentes. Non propter hoc jam sunt sancti quia signa
eos sequuntur, immo potius putandum est pro tanto eos perfectiores esse quia non
procedunt ad potentes nec honorificantur inter homines ut praesideant in praelatia ;
ergo pro eo quod non capiuntur ad dignitatem inter ditatos quae non est desi-
deranda, amplius uruntur aeterno amore et abundantius consurgunt in contempla-
tionem” (Mel.):? Oh the wretched who argue against the Saint, whom they ought
to honour as intercessor and patron: “Illi miseri tanto se deterius vitiis subjiciunt,
quanto contra Sanctum Dei inutilibus verbis contendunt; quem nimirum apud Deum
intercessorem habere pro eis poterant, malitia sua excaecati sponte relinquunt;
quomodo ergo audent illum arguere quem ut patronum deberent potius honorare ?”
“O quam magna est mundanorum insania qui non solum si quem bene agentem
audierunt Deum non glorificant, verum etiam falsis interpretationibus servo Dei
pertinaciter obsistunt. O nequissima praesumptio peccatores contra justum arguere,
et aeternis ignibus cruciandos virum sanctum diffamare. Detractores Deo odibiles,
utquid frustra dilectis Christi derogatis quos jam velut agnos inter lupos aspicere
potestis? Plane miseros vosmetipsos ostenditis cum non parum vobis videtur Christum
non diligere, nisi etiam ipsum in sanctis suis studeatis impugnare;" "Populi deberent
sanctos viros revereri et honorare, et semper cavere ne offendant eos aut verbo
i He is, however, not quite without signs. In the Inc. Am. he mentions as “mirum” that the
conlemplative is able to do two things at the same time, that "etiam studendo ac meditando in
scripturis ac etiam scribendo vel dictando, cogitat amatum et a solito laudis organo non recedit —
quod quidem mirum aestimabitur, cum una mens duossimul impleat utrique eodem tempore intenta,
hoc est ut laudes et amores suos canendo offerat mente iubilans, et simul cum hoc quae in libris
sunt intelligat, neutrumque alterum offendat". Hence the miracle in the Off. Lect. VI. (an instance
of how miracles often originate; so the story of Christ's conception is a reflex of his system).
Introduction.
XXIX
aut facto, quia etsi sint mites et patientes injurias, vel irrisiones non recolentes,
sine dubio Deus non obliviscitur quin vult vindicare sanctos suos". He maintains
the superiority of contemplative over active life, of love over works, of hermit
over monk. Anselm, in asserting that monks love God more than any secular
because they "offer fruit and tree to God under an abbot”, appears to flatter the
monks rather than to speak the truth; "Ego Ricardus utique solitarius heremita
vocatus, hoc quod novi assero : quoniam ille ardentius Deum diligit qui igne
Spiritus sancti succensus a strepitu mundi et ab omni corporali sono quantum potest
discedet; non monachi vel alii quicunque ad congregationem collecti summi sunt
aut maxime Deum diligunt: sed solitarii contemplationi sublimati". No one can
see another man's heart; no one, therefore, ought to judge himself worthier
than another: “Non deberet etiam devotissimus dicere: dignior sum ante Deum
quam plures qui inter populos pernoctant; praesertim cum non potuit praevidere
pectus progredientis quanta caritate concaleat. Nescit nimirum si alius amplius
ardorem habeat aeterni amoris cuius memoria non magnificatur in hoc mundo,
quam sanctus cuius inter Christianos commemoratio celebratur et de eo fit festivitas
quia feliciter finivit; nempe sive natalitia nominentur nobilium sive taceantur velut
totaliter terrae traditi, siquidem scitote quod inter angelicos ordines excellentius
ac reverentius residet qui praesenti positus penuria habet abundantius ardorem
amoris aeterni et praestantius praelibat dulcedinem divinitatis”. The monks say:
“Propter obedientiam quam praepositis exhibemus, inter omnes ordines ecclesiae in
meritis majores sumus”: but those in congregation cannot realise in what sweetness
of love he burns that is solitary, and those bent on exterior works are ignorant
of the delights of eternal love; “Quia ignorant quam amoena et meritoria sit illa
quam gustamus aeterna suavitas, non putant aliquem sanctiorem fieri posse qui
exterioribus actibus non studeat mancipari". Therefore, ye monks &c, "illa quae
contra conversationem vestrae vitae sunt scripta a sanctioribus, non debetis repre-
hendere, sed in quantum potestis humiliter imitari; nec dicatis: nos coram Deo
maximum meritum habebimus; quia sic mentitores arrogantia totum amittitis”. He
maintains bis literary position. His power is from God, his wisdom is infused,
not acquired, he is taught by the interior doctor, the Holy Ghost, who inspires
his lovers no less now than of old-he needs no further approbation: “Amans
accepit sapientiam et subtilitatem ut sciret loqui inter luculentos et audacter pro-
ferret quod dicendum duxit, quamvis idiota et insipiens antea aestimaretur et etiam
existeret. Sed docti per acquisitam scientiam . , non arbitrantur ab interiore doctore
amatores aeternitatis edoceri ut eloquentius loquerentur quam ipsi ab hominibus docti
qui omni tempore pro vanis honoribus studuerunt. Si autem antiquitus Spiritus
sanctus plures inspiravit, cur etiam nunc non assumeret amantes ad gloriam suam
speculandam, cum ipsis prioribus moderni approbati non sint inaequales ? Appro-
bationem autem hanc ab hominibus non appello qui saepe in approbationibus suis
errant, eligentes tales quos Deus despexit, et despicientes quos elegit: sed tales
annuntio approbatos quos amor aeternus medullitus inflammat et Spiritus sancti
gratia ad omne bonum inspirat, qui omnium virtutum flore insigniti, in dilectione
Dei jugiter jubilant et cuncta quae ad vana mundi gaudia pertinent, falsosque
honores superbae vitae sub affectuum pedibus conculcant. . Hii nimirum eiciuntur
ab hominibus, sed in conspectu Dei et sanctorum angelorum magnifice commen-
dantur; quorum corda ad omnia adversa toleranda sistunt inconcussa nec vento
vanitatis se sinunt circumferri ;" "Non ab homine nec a carne et sanguine, neque
vero a meipso habui, sed a Christo et per Christum sapientiam apprehendi”. God
has predestined and emboldened him to preach, and he is full of the Spirit of
God: "Praeceptor potentissimus parvulum suum praedestinavit ad pietatem, ut non
parcerem praedicare peccantibus; vnde et cum Michaea manifestari non metuo ut
memorentur miseri quia divinitus didici quod dico: Repletus sum fortitudine Spiritus
domini et judicio et virtute, ut annuntiem Jacob scelus suum et Israel peccatum
suum”. His enemies in their envy-quia lucide loquor—say that he is not fit to
preach: but “Sciant simpliciter Auctorem amavi qui animum ardore Olympi implevit
ut proferam praecipue sermones amoris, scripturam scrutans quae latet carnales”;
“Hoc profero quod plures non possunt: nam lubricos latet luminis lucerna et
XXX
Introduction.
nucleum nitentem nesciunt nudare nec pascere parvulos qui properant ad polum
lacte laetitiae aut cibo salubri, cum seipsos substernunt stultitiae in stagno et
student cum stolidis qui strangulantur". If his works are a mystery to them, it
is because they do not understand the true meaning of Scripture: “Nimirum
mysterium mitto modernis, etenim antiqui sublimia sciebant; archanum absconditum
ab omnibus avaris vix unus hoc accipit dum est in hoc mundo. Claudit enim
Conditor januam scripturae, ut lateant legentes quae liquide lucescunt; sed amicis
hanc aperit ardenter qui amant, ut aliis ostenderent quod hi intellexerunt. If
they sneer at his canor, it is because they have not got so high: “Nonnulli quia
nequeunt in jubilo gestari et nodantur nequaquam nominis in nexu quod fixos in-
flammat in fide Factoris, non credunt quia capior ad carmen canorum aut scriberem
constanter in modo mirabili de cantu caritatis. Nimirum non mihi sed sibi nocebant;
ideo pro eis docére non dimitto; tanto secretius subsidia. sentivi quanto callidi me
cupiunt quassare a flamma felice”. They read his words, but do not know the
tune: “Mundi amatores scire possunt verba vel carmina nostrarum cantionum, non.
autem cantica nostrorum carminum; quia verba legunt, sed notam et tonum ac
suavitatem odarum addiscere non possunt". If they despise him because he is
poor and nobody, let them know “quod nunquam Deus nec papae nec episcopo,
nec alicui alii cuiuscunque status fuerit, singulari Virgine excepta, de gloria aeterni
amoris in hac vita illam praerogativam tribuit quam vero solitario delegavit. They
call him modern: "sed profecto qui bonos modernos reprobat, hesternos non
laudat; non enim Deus est nunc minoris bonitatis quam fuit in primitiva ecclesia,
qui adhuc electos suos ad amorem aeternitatis desiderandum praeparat et quos vult
coelesti scientia sapientiaque divina inspirat”. Many depreciate the moderns, as
void of the spirit, but not all are so: “Hoc comperi quod virorum volumina
moderne manentium minime cum multis magnificantur qui putant quod spiritus in
istis non assistat quemadmodum affuit antiquos inspirans; et rationem reddere aliam
non habent quam, quia ipsi vacuos se vident a flatu felice, etiam sic omnes esse
suspicantur." And what are the arguments of the book-learned, compared to the
inspirations of the living Spirit? how can they judge of what they have not got?
“Sophismata sapientium saecularium superstitiosa sunt et non sana, ideoque a soliis
superbiae saliunt in sulphur sempiternum”; “Qui habere putat quod non habet,
quamvis etiam scolas disputantium usque ad nomen magistri frequentaverit , . non
me sed seipsum approbabit dum in hoc se sapientem ostendere nititur quod penitus
ignorat”; “Ipsi insipidi divina sapientia non imbuti sed scientia acquisita inflati,
male de seipsis senciunt et Deum adhuc cum amore tenere nesciunt”; “In argu-
mentis artistarum et in sophismatibus sine sanctitate, non in operibus electis et in
fervore fidei cum digna dilectione, superare suspicantur quos Cunctipotens in cali-
dissima et canora caritate coronavit”.
So he stands up firmly against his adversaries, and has an answer to all their
accusations. So far from being overawed by their learning, he speaks with
authority in his own person, leaning on his own experience as against book-
knowledge (Ego Ricardus solitarius heremita dictus hoc melius cognovi quia ex-
pertus sum ; or: hoc quod novi, assero), and triumphantly maintains his own views,
his individual conviction.
These are the outlines of his live during this — his first-period. No more
positive facts or dates can be gleaned from his writings, but in general his life
was such as might be expected of a man who, raising a new religious ideal,
meets with the hostility of the powers that be, is resisted by the inert mass of
prejudice and tradition which always impede progress, and so becomes a martyr
to his convictions. Indeed, though he manfully resisted and maintained his ground,
he seems at last to have fallen a victim to his enemies. It may be presumed
that his troubles at last reached such a climax that his life in the old neigh-
bourhood became unbearable or impossible, and that this was the reason why he
removed from thence and went into Richmondshire; but whether the immediate
cause was his conflict with the authorities, or the persecution of his detractors,
or the desertion of friends and patrons and the difficulty of his living, or
whether all these points worked together, we have no means to ascertain. .
Introduction.
XXXI
From that time, however, a new period seems to begin. His life seems
to enter into smoother waters. The storm is passed, the tension subsides; he
recovers his equanimity and calms down. His works of this period are com-
paratively free from bitterness and from the excessive subjectivity of his earlier
days, and show the serenity peculiar to those that have overcome. He is less
personal, less combative, his language more moderate, his assertions are less
sweeping and uncompromising. There are traces to show that he wishes to
appear more in line with the general practice of the Church ; f. i., if formerly
he had said of the contemplative : "Iam non dicit orationes suas, sed in sublimitate
mentis positus et amore raptus mira suavitate supra se rapitur et Deo decan-
tare spirituali organo in mirum modum sublevatur” — words which might easily
be misconstrued as' implying that prayers in that stage were dispensable, we now
read in his Inc. An.: (Talis amator Christi non dicit orationes suas more aliorum
hominum etiam justorum, quia in sublimitate mentis positus atque amore Christi
raptus supra se suscipitur in mirabilem jocunditatem, et infuso in se sono divinitus
quasi cum quodam neupna canens preces modulatır:". In the Incendium amoris he
gives his creed, which is rigidly orthodox, and he emphatically declines to admit
reason in matters of faith. In substance, his views are the same as before, but
he is more guarded, more conciliatory, in his utterance. The wild exuberance
of his former works is sobered down; he is matured by experience and shows
the even temper of the sage. His tone is even more pathetic than before, and
sometimes seems to rise from an unfathomable depth. Before, he had meant to be
a Saint: now, he is a Saint, stripped, at it seems, of all earthly concerns and passions.
His remove into Richmondshire seems to have taken place in the earlier half
of the third decade of his age. He stayed there for a considerable time. Of
his outward life we know nothing beyond the fact that he remained an hermit and
for a time had his cell 12 miles from Margaret the recluse of Ainderby. But I
am inclined to think that he now was a real hermit, no longer dependant on
the goodwill of the great, and really lived retired in solitude, perhaps supported
by voluntary contributions of friends. On the whole, however, he seems to have
been comparatively at ease and to have had no difficulty about his daily bread.
At least he was sufficiently at ease to concentrate his thought on comprehensive
works. His literary activity continued with unabated or increased vigour. In his
Incendium Amoris (an imitation of Bonaventura's Stimulus Amoris) he once more
follows up the course of contemplative life from the first conversion to the final
perfection-but now in prose, and without the guidance of biblical texts. In other
works he is postillator, but now expounds more regularly and methodically whole
books of the Bible verse by verse, a task which required a more settled mind,
close study, and mature reflection. He so wrote commentaries on the Psalter and
Cantica, and on Threni. Besides, he is now more bent upon questions of prac-
tical usefulness—so he wrote a direction for priests how to hear confession (in
the Mss. combined with Cupienti mihi); expositions of the Creed, the Athanasian
symbol, the Pater noster, for the instruction of laymen, &c. All these works are
in Latin. But at the some time he now began more largely to write in English.
Foiled in his vast attempts at prostrating the tyrants and regenerating society,
he now contents bimself with a more moderate aim: he befriends recluses and
nuns, and gives his spiritual advice to those that ask. One of his friends was
“Margareta reclusa apud Anderby” (Vita), “Margareta anachorita, dilecta sua dis-
cipula” (Form of living), the Margret Kirkby mentioned in the Prologue (by a
later poet) to his English commentary of the Psalms. She seems to have been
his good angel, and perhaps helped to smooth down his ruffled spirits. This
friendship was lasting-it lasted to their lives' end. He loved her perfecta cari-
tatis affectione”, and used to instruct her in the art of love of God, and to
direct her in the ruling of life by his holy institution”. He twice cured her, by
his mere presence, from a seizure. What a pathetic picture is that given in the
Life. She had been ill for 13 days, losing the power of speech and suffering such
prickings and pains that she could nowhere find rest. A certain husbandman
rides off to fetch R. Rolle. “Veniens itaque ad reclusam, invenit eam mutam et
XXXII
Introduction.
vexationibus acerrimis perturbatam. Cumque resideret ad fenestram domus ejusdem
reclusae, et simul comederent, contigit ut completo prandio reclusa desideraret
dormire. Oppressa itaque somno, caput suum decidit ad fenestram ad quam se
reclinavit sanctus Dei Ricardus; et sic cum modicum dormivisset appodiando se ali-
qualiter super ipsum Ricarduni, subito cum impetu vehementi apprehendit eam in
ipso somno tam gravis vexatio ut videretur velle violenter fenestram domus suae
dirimere, et in ipsa vexatione tam forti evigilavit de somno, et cum magna devo-
tione, potestate loquendi sibi concessa, in haec verba prorupit: Gloria tibi domine!
et b. Ricardus versum inceptum complevit dicens: Qui natus es de virgine, et
cetera quae sequuntur completorii verba. Ait illi: Modo restitutum est tibi labium :
utere eo sicut mulier bene loquax." Another friend was a sister in the nunnery
of Yedingham (Little Mareis, or De parvo Marisco, in the Easť Riding-a nunnery
founded in 1139 by Roger de Clere for 8 or 9 nuns of the Benedictine order),
to whom he dedicated his Epistle Ego dormio et cor meum vigilat. Whether the
Cecil to whom the Form of living is addressed in Ms. Rawl., was also a friend
of his, cannot be made out. This relation to recluses was, no doubt, the main
reason why he now began to employ the vernacular. The time had long passed
when-as in the Ancren Rivle--the ladies were expected to understand Latin :
he had perforce to write in English if he wished to be understood; he translates
even the few Latin quotations extant in his epistles, and these epistles are all
addressed to ladies. So his first English prose works must be assigned to this
period. In form, they are epistles, but written in a rythmical, half-poetic prose,
interspersed with bits of poetry (ejaculations of love-longing). So the beautiful
“Form of living” addressed in most Mss) to Margaret (the same epistle in which
he instructs her in the ruling of life”), and the no less beautiful and epistle
(Ego dormio &c),-epistles which I do not hesitate to count amongst the pearls
of Old English literature, and which are all the more valuable because they are
the first really original productions and the first prose works of medieval English.
To the same Margaret he dedicated his English prose commentary on the Psalms
and Canticles? (ed. by Bramley), which is substantially a translation of his Latin
Psalter, with this difference that, instead of expounding the verses phrase by
phrase as in the Latin work, he leaves the verses entire and not broken up in
phrases, each verse being headed by the Latin text with its English translation
(which often agrees with the version given in the Northern Metrical Psalter). —
To the same period must be ascribed most of his lyric poems, which form per-
haps the best part of his productions-his genius being essentially lyric. Some of
them are apparently written to ladies (f. i. I p 74. 79. 83). I think I detect his
hand in some stanzas inserted in the Vernon version of the old West-Midland
song "Swete Ihesu now wil I synge” &c, which certainly bear the mark of his
peculiar style (II p. 9 ff.); this—if my assumption be right--would not only prove his
acquaintance with the earlier national literature, but directly connect the lyric of
the North with that of the West (in Ms. Harl. 2255 &c)3. His first lyric attempts
were, no doubt, short ejaculations of love-longing, effusions of the canor, and
they seem to belong to his earliest works. These he now formed into songs,
by combining them, or adding new stanzas on the same tune. Some of these
combinations—those inserted in his epistles and written as prose in the Mss
1 Wharton, in his Appendix to Cave's Hist. lit. quotes Archb. Ussher as saying that R. Rolle,
in his Commentary on the Psalms, pronounced the necessity of vernacular translations of Holy
Scripture. This is a mistake. The error seems to have arisen from a remark to this effect in
an exposition of the Pater noster in Ms. Bodl. 938, which may have been reputed a work of
R. Rolle, but is of Lollard origin.
2 This English commentary is undoubtedly genuine; it contains one poetic ejaculation: I
wate na betere wele, than in my thoght to fele, the life of his lufynge; of al it is the best,
Ihesu in hert to fest, and zerne nane othere thynge (Bramley p. 215), which proves R. Rolle's
authorship.
3 He also was acquainted with, though he did not approve of, the secular songs, the cantilenas
carnales, of the day; so he says in the Melum: Nec lira letitiae quam lubrici laudabant mihi
libebat, sed et cantum .carnalium concito calcavi, ad Christ14112 converters 9110d cantabatur,
Cantilenas quidem de feminis fecerunt - hoc reputavi rursum ruinam.
Introduction.
XXXIII
(I p. 30. 34. 57. 60-are very irregular in form, consisting of rhyme-tirades of
an unequal number of verses, and stanzas mixed together, and somewhat resem-
bling the old French or German laîs. Others are regular poems of even stanzas,
but they too exhibit certain irregularities and may be dissolved into ejaculations.
His favourite form is the 4-lined stanza (that employed in his Latin poem Zelo
tui langueo), but besides he uses a great variety of forms: rhyming couples,
rhyme couee, 6 and 8-lined stanzas, alliterative verses (I. 53), and makes freely
use of inner rhyme and alliteration, sometimes showing considerable art'. He
seems to have been in close touch with the popular poetry of his time, and
even to have derived some of his themes from it (so I. 73. 373). His lyric
poems comprise those extant in Ms. Dd v. 64 (under his name) and most of
the poems of Ms. Thornton (though here his name is not given), and probably
several of the minor poems of Ms. Vernon, especially some songs to Mary, who,
as he expressly states, was next to Christ the object of his amorous effusions.
In Ms. Dd they are called Cantica divini amoris, a title also used in John Hove-
den's poems. They include addresses of Christ on the Cross to sinfull man, of the
poet to Christ on the Cross, songs to Jesus, the Trinity, Mary, poems on mercy,
on what is love, on the vanity of the world &c. The lyric fervour, the beauty,
the melody of these lines have never been surpassed. He seems to have accu-
mulated and issued his poems in batches, as they are often intermixed with prose
sentences. Probably he also wrote some Latin hymns, perhaps those found
in Ms. Thornton (I. p 381 and 410). -- To the same period may also belong the
Meditation on the Passion (I. 83 ff-devotions to be said in following the
successive stages or stations of our Lord's Passion-and another meditation on the
three arrows on Doomsday (I. 112; in the Mss., however, not given with his
name); both written in rhythmical prose, the former intermixed with alliterative
verses, the latter with occasional rhymes.
At last — presumably in the beginning of the fourties of his age ~ he removed
to Hampole, and there stayed during the remainder of his life. The reason why
he left Richmondshire for the South of Yorkshire, does not appear. One of his
epistles (Þe commandment &c, I. 61) is written to a certain nun of Hampole" —
perhaps it was this lady who invited him there or was instrumental in his coming.
The place was a Cistercian nunnery, founded by William de Clarefai in 1170 for
14 or 15 nuns. He there continued his solitary life, having his cell near or in
the grounds of the nunnery, and supported by the nuns, who seem to have em-
ployed him as their spiritual adviser. This time forms the 3d and last period of
his life. More details cannot be gleaned of his life, as his later writings are
singularly free from personal remarks. But he certainly continued to write in
the same pace. Which of his works belong to this period it is difficult to make
out in every instance; but I think we shall not be far wrong if we attribute to
this time those works in which he appears least personal and subjective, most
sobered, most practical; those in which he sums up, and in which he is most
engrossed by the life to come. Of this kind is the Emendatio peccatoris (or 12
Capitula), which contains an abridged résumé of his doctrines; De octo viridariis
(in Ms. Magd. Coll. 71, and here ascribed to R. Rolle) in which the verses of
the Psalter containing the words misericordia, misericors, miserator, miserere,
are connected and bound together in 8 viridaria or gardens of salutiferous herbs
(these herbs being the auctoritates psalmorum de Dei misericordia); and his mis-
cellaneous collections of epigrams, aphorisms, sentences, sayings from the Fathers
&c., in Latin and English, likewise brought out in batches (as those in Ms. Baliol
224, Reg. 17 B XVII), and which form an important part of his works, he being
1 The North was for England the school of form; many new forms were here invented and
introduced ; I even find an attempt at an hexameter, in Ms. Ff 1. 14 (in a Latin treatise on the
Hours &c.: "Dolenter refero"):
Hi sunt qui psalmos corrumpunt nequiter almos:
Ourelepers, forskyppers, bebbers, momelers quoque stutters.
2 “Die Kraft der Erregbarkeit nimmt mit dem Leben ab, bis endlich den aufgeriebenen
Menschen nichts mehr auf der leeren Welt erregt als die künftige", Göthe.
XXXIV
Introduction.
one of the chief contributors to the stock of northern epigrams then forming
(see I. p. 421). Of his English works, I ascribe to this period his well-known
poem "De prick of conscience”, which in the descriptions of old age, of death,
of the day of judgment, of the pains of Hell and the joys of Heaven, shows the
objects then predominant in his mind, and is the most matured of all his works.
But though, as in this poem, he describes the signs of old age, we nowhere
in his works find him complaining of his own old age, and when death, so long
anticipated, so impatiently desired and prayed for, overtook him at last, it found
him still in the prime of manhood. He died, after several years' residence at
Hampole, on the 29th of September 1349, probably of the pestilence' which
in that year raged in the North, not sparing even the remotest and healthiest
villages in the county of York (cf. Raine, Fasti Ebor. p. 444, Knyghton col. 2598,
Stubbs 1732), and to which his enfeebled constitution could offer little resistance.
He was buried at Hampole, and by the nuns regarded as a saint and their patron.
Not long after his death his name began to be celebrated for miracles, especially
of healing, and pilgrims flocked there not only from the neighbourhood, but
from distant counties. The miracles related in the Officium, refer to events of
the years 1381-3, and this most likely was the time when the nuns of Hampole,
to whom the fame of his sanctity was a source of honour and profit, bad his
Officium? compiled, in view of his expected canonisation, which, however, never
took place. His works were kept by the nuns in iron chains, to prevent their
being further polluted by the Lollards, who had begun to interpolate his writings
in their sense and to give out these interpolated writings as his, so covering their
heresies with the authority of his name (see Prologue to Engl. Psalter). 3
A well-preserved portrait of R. Rolle is extant in Ms. Faustina B VI (end of
14th cent.), in a northern poem on the trees of vices and virtues growing in the
wilderness of life (falsely attributed to W. Hilton), illustrated by figures of hermits
and nuns; he is represented sitting, with a book in his lap, in a white habit,
Jhesus is written in gold letters on his breast, angels above bear a scroll with the
words Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus dominus deus sabaoth, pleni sunt celi et terra
gloria tua; the picture is surrounded by the legend: A solitari here hermite life
i lede, For Jhesu loue so dere all flescli lufe i flede; Pat gastli comforthe clere
þat in my breste brede, Might me a thowsand zeere in heuenly strenghe haue
stedd. Of the correctness of the likeness we have as little proof as in the case
of the portraits of Wicliffe: but the features are certainly such; as might be ex-
pected in a man of his character, and agree with the description he himself gives
of his personal appearance as good-looking, florid, yet pale and emaciated.
R. Rolle was one of the most remarkable men of his time, yea of history.
It is a strange, and not very creditable, fact that one of the greatest of Englishmen
has hitherto been doomed to oblivion. In other cases the human beast first
crucifies, and then glorifies or deifies, the nobler minds who, swayed by the Spirit,
cdo not live as others live", in quest of higher ideals by which to benefit the
race; he, one of the noblest champions of humanity, a hero, a saint, a martyr
in this cause, has never had his resurrection yet -- a forgotten brave. And yet
he has rendered greater service to his country, and to the world at large, than
all the great names of his time. He re-discovered Love, the principle of Christ.'
He re-installed feeling, the spring of life, which had been obliterated in the reign
of scholasticism. He re-opened the inner eye of man, teaching contemplation
in solitude, an unworldly life in abnegation, in chastity and charity – an ideal
not unlike Christ's and Buddha's. He broke the hard crust that had gathered round
1 In the same year, of the same disease, died Rob. Holcot, and Tho. Bradwardine.
2 The Vita in the Officium is made up of traditions (transmitted probably by Margaret Kirkby)
and extracts from R, Rolle's writings; the Miracula is a later work by another author (perhaps
identical with the author of the Miracula S. Edmundi regis apud Wainfiete, Ms. Bodl. 240).
3 It is probably on account of his being identified with reformatory tendencies or Lollard
heresies, that his canonization was not effected.
4 He did not, however, come to equally realise the other principle of Christ, the Spirit (“Geist"),
both - Love and Spirit the evolution of the “Trieb" (the Absolute, the “Father"), which first
proceeds into Love, and from Love into “Geist” (expressed in the biblical *cognovit eam").
Introduction.
XXXV
the heart of Christianity by formalism and exteriority, and restored the free flow
of spiritual life. He fought against the absorption of religion by the interested
classes, and re-asserted the individual, individual right and conscience, against all
tyranny, both seculer and ecclesiastic. He broke the way for the Reformers, and
was the predecessor of Wicliffe and Luther, though to his credit it must be said
that he himself never left, or meant to leave, the unity of the Church'. He was
a great religious character, made of the stuff of which the builders of religions
are made. Of all the ideals of humanity -- the hero, the sage, the poet, the
king — the saint is perhaps the greatest, and that ideal he realised. Besides,
he is one of the greatest English writers. He was the first to employ the ver-
nacular. He is the true father of English literature. He revived the alliterative
verse. He made the North the literary centre for half a century. He is the
head and parent of the great mystic and religious writers of the 14th century —
of W. Hilton, Wicliffe, Mirk &c, all of whom received their light from his light
and followed in his steps. He shaped the thought of the next generations, and
it is his influence when the typical Englishman even of the 15th century is des-
cribed as a man seldom fatigued with hard labour, leading a life more spiritual
and refined, indolent and contemplative, preeminent in urbanity but devoid of
domestic affection (cf. Gairdner, Paston letters III. p. IXIII).
His position as a mystic was mainly the result of the development of scho-
lasticism. The exuberant, luxuriant growth of the brain in the system of Scotus
called forth the re-action of the heart, and this reaction is embodied in R. Rolle,
who as exclusively represents the side of feeling as Scotus that of reason and
logical consequence; either lacking the corrective of the other element. Both
are antagonists — but both are individualists, who subject the existing system to
the test of their individual feeling and thought and, though supporting the dogma
even to the exclusion of reason, yet, as individualists, break through that harmony,
that "in Reihe und Glied” - catholicity wherein the individual as such disappears.
R. Rolle, though following in the wake of Bonaventura, was not a mere repetition
of Bonaventura, but, by bringing out his individuality, developed mysticism in the
English spirit; his abhorrence of obedience and of a rule, his love of liberty and
independence, his practical sense, his democratic tendencies are national features,
which impart a new character to his system. But he is not only an Englishman:
he is more especially a Northerner, and continues the traditions of the North.
His "hermit” - the embodiment of his religious ideal -- is a revival of an in-
stitution long familiar in the North. His almost morbid love of solitude and
isolation, his boldness in defying prejudice, the uncouth, rugged side of his character
are northern traits. It is this influence which made him revive the northern alli-
terative verse and vie with Caedmon in the gift of canor, with Bede as a com-
mentator and epigrammatist. His chief charasteristic as a writer is originality -
he is essentially a genius; everywhere he cuts out new ways, lays now foun-
dations. Next, he is preeminently a lyric; whether he writes in prose or verse,
he writes from feeling, from momentary inspiration. Besides, he is of a remar-
kable versatility and facility; he writes with equal ease in Latin and English , in
verse and prose, and in all kinds of verse, frequently mixing prose and verse in
the same work; he writes postils, commentaries, epistles, satires, polemic treatises,
prayers and devotions, lyric and didactic poetry, epigrams. His defects lie on the
side of method and discrimination; he is weak in argumentation, in developing
and arranging his ideas. His sense of beauty is natural rather than acquired, and
his mind is too restless to properly perfect his writings. His form is not suffi-
ciently refined, and full of irregularities; his taste not unquestionable; his style
frequently difficult, rambling, full of veiled allusions—much depends on the punc-
tuation to make it intelligible; his Latin incorrect and not at all classic – it is
the Latin of his time and, besides, full of solecisms and blunders of his own”,
i His difference from Wicliffe is briefly this: he is all love, Christ-like; Wicliffe all hatred,
negation.
2 as f. i. fragillimus, tranquillimus, nulle and sole mulieri, nocere and opitulari aliquem, memi-
nens, odio odis odiri oditur, combinations as sed et, etiam et, nec = ne quidem, constructions as
SYTY
XXXVI
Introduction.
it is not surprising that the learned of the guild should have looked down upon
his rusticity. But all this cannot detract from his great qualities as a writer -
the originality and depth of his thought, the truth and tenderness of his feeling,
the vigour and eloquence of his prose, the grace and beauty of his verse, and
everywhere we detect the marks of a great personality, a personality at once
powerful, tender, and strange, the like of which was perhaps never seen again.
A full account of his literary activity – which are his works, and where to be
found — has hitherto been wanting. The lists of his works in the old biblio-
graphers (Leland, Pits, Tanner) are equally baseless and conjectural; works of his
and of his followers, Latin and English works, have been confounded; many works
have been ascribed to him without the slightest foundation, while genuine works
have been omitted. The following list, comprising the works I have been able
to trace in the libraries of Oxford, Cambridge, and London, will, I hope, help
materially to solve the difficult problem or at least bring it within more defined
lines. ?
Latin works?
Hymn to the Virgin : “Zelo tui langueo virgo speciosa” in 39 4-lined stanzas ,an
imitation of Bonaventura's (or Peckam's) Cantus philomenae: Ms. Rawl. C 397.3
Melum contemplativorum ardentium in amore dei (so title in Ms.) or De gloria et
perfectione sanctorum praecellentium (orig. title, as appearing in the work and
mentioned in Job), beg. “Amor utique audacem efficit animum”, a series of postils
in 57 Capp. on the progress of contemplative life, in alliteration (partly allitera-
tive verse, partly alliterative prose): Ms. Corp. Chr. Coll. Oxf. 193.
3 prose tracts which in the oldest Ms., Mm vi. 17, appear separate, viz.:
Capitulum de Judicio dei sec. Hampole: “Judica me deus &c, A Deo qui
scrutatur” (Laud 528: Confessiones Ricardi, Tanner: De non judicando proximo),
an epistle addressed to a priest and treating of God's judgment as against man's,
Exhortatio quaedam bona: “Cupienti michi” - an epistle to a parish priest
inculcating charity and contemplation,
Quomodo apparebit dominus in iudicio : “Attende quod ait Crisostomus”,
but in other Mss. are combined (so in CCCO 193, Laud 528), the 2nd being joined
by an instruction to parish-priests for hearing confession: “Istis iam dictis” –
perhaps a later work of R. Rolle (CCCO, Laud 528, Rawl. C 397, Bal. 224),
and this by a passage on the general resurrection: "In die iudicii resurgent"
(Rawl., Bal., Ashm. 751), after which follows “Attende quod ait Crisostomus”
(Rawl., Ashm., while Bal. instead concludes with an instruction for monks:
“Studium cuiuslibet religiosi”), the whole (excepting the 1st piece “Judica me”)
nobis ut inutiles contemptis, videt carnem amantes ministri altaris et praelati effici, inveni Iesum
in monte solus sedentem ; donamur proficere; necesse est ut unusquisque ad celestia tendens
caritate non ficta informari; liquet quia si vultis, quod potestis; debet iniungere ei quod si
convaluerit, ut vadat; exemplum habetis de domino de quo legitur nunquam gravem penitentiam
iniunxisse, &c.
1 The principal Mss. containing the works of R. Rolle, are: Ms. CCC Oxf. 193 ("olim Iohannis
Hanton monachi Ebor., postea Rob. de Lacy qui fundavit prioratum de Pontefracto"; a fine and
well executed Ms. in 266 fol., the most complete collection, but the texts are not very correct),
Ms. Mm vi. 17 (oldest Ms., with some pieces of R. Rolle, and others of doubtful origin), Baliol
224, Dd v. 64 (Latin and Engl. works), Rawl. A 389, Ashm. 751, St. John's Oxf. 77, Rawl.
C 397 &c.
2 These Latin works I have collected, and shall publish them in one of the next volumes.
3 The last 2 stanzas, in different metre, are:
Praefulgenti virgini do praeconia,
Virgo decora, pari fine vivens pure dilexi,
Et dignentur imprimi floris gaudia,
Squalentis heremi cupiens et in arvis haberi
Amans intus ardeo, vincens vilia,
Per cytharam sonui coelicam subiectus amori:
Zelo tui langueo, virgo regia.
Virgo quam cecini, animam sublima Ricardi.
The last verse proves his authorship.
4 so in Cap. 5: de gloria et perfectione sanctorum praecellentium postillas proferam quae piis
placeant; at the end: Hactenus egimus de viris sanctis praecellentibus quantum ad ipsorum per-
fectionem, similiter etiam quantum ad ipsorum gloriam. In Job he mentions this work under the
same title: Sed quaerite de hac materia (the merits of contemplative life) in libello de vita
eremitarum, etiam et in libro de perfectionze et gloria sanctor 1912, quia ibi invenietis de eminentia.
sanctitatis.
Introduction.
XXXVII
having in Rawl, the title: Forma sive regula de modo confitendi, extracta per
Ricardum heremitam ex verbis sanctorum patrum. ?
Regula heremitarum: "Heremita dicitur ab hereo", 7 Capp.: Ms. Mm VI. 17 -
probably identical with (or part of his libellus de vita eremitarum, mentioned
in Job.
Liber de amore dei contra amatores mundi: “Quoniam mundanorum insania”,
6 Capp. : Ms. CCCO 193, Bal. 224, St. John's Coll. Oxf. 127, Lincoln.
Postillae ejusdem super Cantica v. 1—2: CCCO 193, Cott. Vesp. E I (abr. in
S. John's Coll. 127); viz:
Osculetur me osculo oris sui: “Suspirantis animae deliciis”,
Quia meliora sunt ubera tua vino: "Fidelis et delicate depasta",
Fragrantia unguentis optimis: “Cum laudasset sponsa”; at the end the Col.:
Explicit tractatus super im versiculum Canticorum. Then follows
Oleum effusum nomen tuum: “Expulsus de paradiso”, extant separately in
Laud 528; a part of this piece is the Encomium nominis Jesu ed. Colon.
1536, and translated in Ms. Thornton, see I p. 186),
Ideo adolescentulae dilexerunt te nimis : "Et quia tale est nomen tuum” (ed.
Colon. 1536).
Trahe me post te: “Radix cordis nostri sit caritas”,
Curremus in odore unguentorum tuorum: “Ecce fratres mira amatoris”.
Col.: Explicit super 2" versum Cant. sec. Ric heremitam.
Postillae ejusdem heremitae super novem lectiones mortuorum (Job): “Parce mihi
domine, Exprimuntur autem in his verbis”: Ms. CCCO 193, Laud 528, id. 94,
Dd. IV. 54, Ff v. 36, Ji 1. 26, Magd. Coll. O. 71, Univ. Coll. 45, New Coll. 93,
St. John's Oxf. 147, Lincoln, &c. (ed. Rembolt Paris 1510, Colon. 1536).
Moralia in Job (Pits), ed. Colon. 1536 under the title: In aliquot capita Job enar-
ratio compendiosa, ex libro Moralium b. Gregorii desumpta: "Parce mihi
domine, Sunt nonnulli justorum”; containing mere extracts from Gregory's Moral.
VIII. Cap. 26 ff. (slightly abridged, and with a few additions) on the same chapters
of Job as the preceding piece.
Postilla ejusdem super Threnos sive lamentationes Jeremiae : "Et factum est post-
quam &c. Treni ut ait Ieronimus”: Ms. CCCO 193 (ed. Colon. 1536).
Tractatus super psalmum 20 (Domine in virtute tua laetabitur rex): “Cum Christus
qui est veritas": Ms. CCCO 193, Lincoln (ed. Colon. 1536).
Expositio psalterii: “Magna spiritualis iocunditatis suavitas”: Ms. CCCO 193, St.
John's Oxf. 195 (ed. Colon. 1536); the verses are commented phrase by phrase;
the psalms are followed by the 7 canticles of the Old Testament, but not by
Magnificat, which, however, is extant separately in
Magnificat: “Istum psalmum benedictae virginis”: Ms. Rawl. C 397, Ashm. 751.
Incendium amoris (CCCO : Melodia amoris): “Admirabar amplius quam enuncio”;
full text in 42 Cap. and 2 books (lib. I Cap. 1—30, lib. II Cap. 31–42) in
Ms. Dd. V. 64, CCCO 193 (without titles), Reg. 5 C. III; abridged text
(with the omission of certain passages) in Mm. V. 37, Bal. 224, and (with ad-
ditions at the end from other works of R. R.) Addit. 24,661; other Mss.:
Rawl. A 389, Caj. Coll. 140. 332, Laud 202. 528. (It gives bis theory of
contemplative life, as the Melum). A Chapter of this treatise is
Qualiter Ricardus pervenerit ad incendium amoris: “Cum infeliciter florerem”,
which is frequently found separate (ed. Colon. 1536). ?
i So the pieces are distributed as follows:
Iudica me: Mm vi. 17, CCCO 193, Laud 528, id. III, Baliol 224
Cupienti mihi: Mm, CCCO, Laud 528, id. 111, Bal., Rawl. C 397
Istis jam dictis: CĆCO, Bal., Rawi., Laud 528
In die judicii: Bal., Rawl., Ashm. 751
Attende quod ait Cris.: Mm, Rawl., Ashm.
(Studium cuiuslibet religiosi: Bal.).
2 The piece beginning “Omnis actio laudabilis” in Mm v. 37 and Bal. 224, ascribed to R. Rolle
by Tanner, is nothing but a chapter of Incend. amoris (“Si quis sancte et juste vival"), preceded
by a passage from Anselm (“Omnis actio" &c.), which occurs alone in Ff 1. 14.
XXXVIII
Introduction.
De emendatione peccatoris (Emendatio vitae, Vehiculum vitae, Duodecim capi-
tula): “Ne tardes converti”: Ms. CCCO 193, Dd v. 64, Dd Iv. 54, Ff v. 36,
Gg 1. 32, Hh IV. 13, Laud 528, 202, Magd. Coll. 0. 71, Merton 68, Brasenose
15 &c. (ed. with the Speculum Spiritualium Paris 1510; Colon. 1536).'
Tractatus super oratione dominica: "Haec oratio privilegiata est : Ms. CCCO 193,
Dd v. 64 (imperfect), Dd IV. 50 (ed. Colon. 1536).
Expositio symboli apostolici: “Decimo die post ascensionem”: Ms. CCCO 193
(ed. Colon. 1536).
Expositio symboli Athanasii (Quicunque vult): “Hic beatus Athanasius”: Ms. CCCO
193 (ed. Colon. 1536).
Super “Mulierem fortem quis inveniet” (Prov. 31. 10): “Quantum aurum argento est
pretiosius”: Ms. St. John's Coll. Oxf. 77 (Col. Explicit Mulierem fortem, expositum
per Ric. Hampole) -- a short piece on contemplation,
De dei misericordia 3, sive de VIII viridariis: "Misericordias domini in eternum can-
tabo &c": Ms. Magd. Coll. Oxf. 71 (Col. Explicit liber iste compilatus per Ri-
cardum Hampule, quem benedicat Christus Marie filius amen). Under the parable
of a miserable fugitive who is brought back to health and happiness by the
herbs in the garden of Mercy it strings together and connects the verses of the
psalms containing the words misericordia , miserator, misericors, misereri, in
8 parts (viridarii).
Miscellanies in Ms. Baliol 224, containing prayers, bona et utilis tabula fidei
christianae, short notes, aphorisms, sentences from the Fathers, definitions, an
index of biblical words with their mystical meaning, epigrams &c. (The name of
R. Rolle is not given, but all the other contents of the Ms. are works of his).
Prayers (collected in Ms. Kk VI. 20: Orationes excerptae de diversis tractatibus quos
composuit b. Ricardus heremita ad honorem nominis Jesu, fol. 11–26b), hymns,
epigrams, sentences, short notes, &c., dispersed in various Mss. and collections,
and not easy to be identified as his in every instance.
The following works have been ascribed to him, but are more or less doubtful:
Consilia Isidori: "O homo scito temetipsum”: Ms. Mm VI. 17 and ed., with the
Speculum Christiani, by Machlinia (1484?). (An Engl. translation, ed. p. 367,
has been ascribed to R. Rolle).
"Memento miser homo quod cinis es”, a meditation: Ms. Mm VI. 17 and Ashm.
.751 (here with additions at the end).
Meditatio divinae laudis et spei veniae sec. Ricardum heremitam: “Memor fui dei et
delectatus sum”: Ms. Ashm. 751.
Bonum notabile sec. Ricardum Hampol heremitam, quod temptationes spirituales
multum prosunt animae peccatrici : “Sicut tenebrae eius ita et lumen”, and
Aliud notabile dictum per eundem Ricardum de cautelis diaboli contra timidam
conscientiam : “Pave tu qui timidae es conscientiae” 5: Ms. St. John's Coll. O. 77;
(these 2 pieces are more probably by W. Hilton).
1 The Incendium amoris, and Emend. peccatoris were translated into English (Lincoln dialect)
by Rich. Misyn, Carmelite, in 1434 and 1435: Ms. CCCO. 236.
2 Another exposition of the Lord's Prayer: "O immensa clementia, o ineffabilis benignitas”,
extant in Ms. St. John's Coll. Oxf. 77 among works of R. Rolle, is probably not his work. A
longer tract (by R. Rolle?) is extant in Ms. Harl. 1022 &c.
3 In hoc tractatu qui intitulatur "de dei misericordia", auctoritates quae sunt de misericordia,
per singulos psalmorum VII nocturnorum et octavum psalmorum sequentium, tanquam herbas
quasdam spirituales salutarias in unam seriem et tractatum recolligam et in 8 partes in processu
distinguam; quem processum si quis voluerit devote legere et in verbis eius dulciter meditari,
misericordiam dei consequi poterit et a cunctis piaculis expurgari.
4 So the sentences in Reg. 17 B XVII (ed. II p. 64) are most likely his, and many of the epi-
grams in Arund, 517 (ed. I P. 421); perhaps also the excerpts and Proverbs in Mm vi. 17, fol.
90-III, and II2-5; the hymns in Ms. Thornton (1 p. 381. 410); the prayers in the same Ms.
(I. p. 435).
5 Another treatise on the same subject is in Ms. Laud 497 and Ff 1. 14 (Remedium contra
rituales et contra cogitationes fantasticas et immundas : “Quia sicut ait apostolus
sine fide impossibile est placere Deo"), ascribed to R. R, in the Catalogue. An English tract
on the subject is in Ms. Hh I. II, and this is the basis of the piece printed 1508 and 1519 by
W. de Worde (ed. II p. 106 ff.).
Introduction.
XXXIX
Meditatio S. Augustini: "Miserere mei &c., Credimus quod hanc orationem”: Ms.
Magd. Coll. Oxf. 93 (fragment). (An Engl. transl., ed. p. 377, has been
ascribed to R. R.)
Meditatio: “Domine deus spiritus sancte, timeo et desidero loqui de te pro me" :
Ms. Thornton and Magd. Coll. 93 (fragm.), cf. I p. 441.
Matutinae in veneratione nominis Jesu editae a b. Ricardo de Hampule: “Salutem
mentis et corporis donet”, and
Missa de eodem et ab eodem ut creditur edita: “In nomine Jesu omne genu”:
Ms. KK VI. 20.
Liber de arte moriendi: “Cum de praesentis exilii miseria”: Ms. CCCO 226, Magd.
Oxf. 72, New Coll. 304, Ff 1. 13 (an Engl. transl., ascr. to R. Rolle, see p. 406).
Novem virtutes: Ms. Caj. Coll. 140, see p. 455.
Works wrongly ascribed to him:
De XII utilitatibus tribulationis : “Da nobis domine auxilium de trib., o anima tri-
bulata &c"), ascribed to R. R. in Mm VI. 17 and extant with his works in
CCCO 193 ; it is an old tract, attributed to St. Cyprian, Augustine, Peter of
Blois, ed. in Petri Bles. Opp. by Giles III. 307, Migne 207; see p. II. 389.
Speculum peccatoris : “Quoniam carissimi”, in Ms. CCCO 193 and many other
Mss.; it has also been ascribed to St. Augustine (ed. with his works, Migne
VI. 983) and St. Bernard; see p. 436).
Scala coeli, or Scala claustralium: “Cum die quadam corporali manuum labore”,
also ascribed to St. Augustine (ed. Opp. VI. col. 1451), St. Bernard (II. col. 647),
Adam Carthusianus, Guigo Carthusiensis.
Cantus philomenae: “Philomena praevia temporis ameni”, also ascribed to Bona-
ventura (Opp. XII), but more probably a work of Peckham; it is given in Ms.
Rawl. C. 397 with an extract from R. Rolle's Inc. Amoris, after “Zelo tui langueo”.
Only part of the Latin works have hitherto been printed; an old edition, Coloniae
1536, contains the following works: In Psalterium Davidicum enarratio, In aliquot
capitula Job, In Threnos, In Psalmum xx, Emendatio peccatoris, Nominis Jesu
encomium celeberrimum, “Cum infeliciter florerem”, “Adolescentulae dilexerunt
te nimis”, In Orationem dominicam, In Symbolum Apostolicum, In Symbolum
Athanasii. Of these, the latter part (Emendatio peccatoris and the following)
were reprinted in De la Bigne Magna Bibliotheca vol. XV, Colon. 1622.
English works
To trace and fix his English works is even more difficult. His name was so
associated with a certain class of literature that all works of that character, or
found in certain collections (as Ms. Harl, 1706), were readily ascribed to him,
while some of his genuine works soon ceased to be recognised as his. His works
got mixed up with those of his followers, especially W. Hilton and Wicliffe, and
the more easily because both authors not only followed in his steps but freely
borrowed from him (several of the supposed tracts of Wicliffe 2 begin with the
same words as works of R. Rolle, and Hilton's style and manner is almost identical
with his). Or translations and imitations of his works assumed his name. In some
cases, his works were broken up in parts, or different pieces joined together, and
these parts and combinations went by his name. So confusion soon commenced
to set in; it begins in the Mss., appears in the early prints, was magnified by
Tanner, and has since invaded the modern catalogues of Mss. In fact, there is
hardly a religious work in early English that has not been ascribed to him. How
then are we to get at his real works and to sever the corn from the chaff? The
principal test is the dialect. As R. Rolle never-excepting the years of his stu-
dentship-left the precincts of Yorkshire, living first in the northern, at last in
1 On another Scala coeli (with Narrationes) cf. Th. Fr. Crane, Exempla of Jacques de Vitry,
London 1890.
2 So the Commentary on the Psalms and Canticles (ed. Arnold, Select works of Wicliffe), which
is a bold appropriation of R. Rolle's original work, interpolated in a Lollard sense.
XL
Introduction.
the southern parts of that county, it is obvious that he can only have written in
the northern dialect- unlike Wicliffe who, though a northerner, from his long
residence in the South adopted the southern speech, and W. Hilton who, though
originally writing in northern English, gradually admitted the mixed forms of the
neighbourhood where he resided (Thurgarton in Notts). Indeed, all the genuine
works of R. Rolle have been traced in northern texts, exbibiting the same pure
northern forms, the same vocabulary?. It follows that works which on closer
examination are found to be of Midland or Southern origin, cannot be his; hence
many works in Tanner's list must be rejected. Nor can even northern texts which
give translations of his Latin works, be accepted as his, if they are found to
seriously misunderstand the meaning-for it is impossible that he himself should
have mistaken the sense of his words; such is the case in several of the pieces
of Ms. Thornton, though here given with his name. On the other side, we may
safely ascribe to him those northern texts which in the Mss. are found mixed up
with works of his and contain the same peculiarities of language and style, the
same cadenced prose &c., though not bearing his name. The only possible means
of approximately arriving at the truth is, therefore, to follow up the northern
Mss. which contain, or may contain, his works. This course I have taken, and
laid down the materials in these volumes, so that henceforth the question will
rest on the works here given.
Worla
Works bearing his name:
The form of living an epistle to Margaret Kirkby, in 12 Chapters and 2 parts
(Forma vivendi and Amore langueo)?,
"Ego dormio et cor meum vigilat”, epistle to a nun of Yeddingham,
"Þe commandment” &c., epistle to a nun of Hampole,
Cantica divini amoris, and another poem of the same kind (“Thy ioy be ilka
dele &c."),
“A grete clerk þat men cals Ricard of Saynt Victor” &c., a fragment in a few
lines of another epistle, --- all these works extant in Ms. Dd v. 64 and
ed. I, p. 1–82 (other Mss. are given with the respective pieces).
Meditatio Ric. heremite de passione domini, in 2 Mss.: Ll 1. 8 and Cambr. Addit.
3042--both greatly differing in text, and both southern transcriptions, the former,
however, retaining traces of northern origin; ed. I p. 83--103.
Some minor pieces in Ms. Thornton, viz. :
Encomium nominis Jesu: Oleum effusum nomen tuum, also extant in Ms. Harl.
1022, a verbal translation of a passage in the Postillae super Cantica (it in-
cludes: A tale bat Rycherde hermet made),
De imperfecta contritione, 2 tales from Caesarius (the 2nd also extant in

Ashm. 751)
Moralia Richardi beremite de natura apis
De vita cuiusdam puelle incluse propter amorem Christi, a tale from Heraclides
A notabill tretys of the ten comandementys
i Words peculiar to his vocabulary are f. i.: never-be-later, i-whil, i-myd, i-twix, whine (whi
ne), warne (=ne war), takil, laite, tharn, ug, wark (= ache), wlate, rosen, fraist, gang, held (= in-
cline), hing (= hang), gilder, ginge (folk), garth, droue, hidill, aforcen, engleymen, disperpill, daynteth,
totiler; he makes freely use of words in abil, ness, te, iss (prayabil, delitabil, singabil, trowabil,
unfillabil, unstirabil, sernes, unnoyandnes, caitifte, plentouste, unconabilte, puniss, nuris, warnis,
forgetil), of the prefix um- (umthink, umlappen, umwhile), uses priue=deprive, parcenel (=partner),
moght = might, &c.
2 This was a very popular tract; passages of it, with the Engl. text, are given in Watton's
Speculum Christiani ed. by Machlinia 14847, and in the Speculum spiritualium Paris 1510 (the
work of an English author, in Ms. Dd iv. 54 ascribed to Henricus de Balnea Cartusiensis). It
was paraphrased in English verse, probably by Will. Nassington, see ii p. 283. A Latin trans-
lation is extant in Ms. Caj. Coll. 140 fol. 181 1"Omnes homines peccatores istius mundi morta-
libus nequitiis ligati, tribus miseriis subiecti sunt” &c.; Col.: Explicit Ricardus heremita de modo
vivendi ad M. inclusam); fragments of a translation are found in Ms. Laud III fol. 177 and
Douce 107 f. II (beg.: in spirituali canone voce prorumpens); Harl. 106 f. I contains a fragment
of an abridged Latin text.
Introduction.
XLI
De ty donis Spiritus sancti (in Dd v. 64 a chapter of the Form of living)
De dilectatione in deo; all ed. I p. 186–1977
of which pieces, however, several are translations from the Latin, and only the
Moralia de natura apis and the treatise on the commandments can be regarded
as genuine.
Commentary on the Psalter, ed. by Bramley Oxf. 1884 from Ms. Univ. Coll. 64;
another northern Ms. is Ms. Newcastle and, partly, Laud 286, II other Mss. are
southern transcriptions; a later prologue, in Ms. Laud 286, contains that it
was written at the prayer of Margaret Kirkby. It is substantially a translation
of the Expositio Psalterii, the commentary following each verse, and the trans-
lation of the Psalms often agrees with the Engl. Psalter in verse (Ms. Vesp.
D VII, ed. II p. 129ff.) which has also been ascribed to R. Rolle. The Psalms
are followed by the Old Testament canticles and by Magnificat (the New Testa-
ment canticles appear only in Lollard adaptations of R. Rolle's commentary, cf.
Th. Arnold, Select Engl. works of Wicliffe Oxf. 1869).
The Prick of Conscience, a poem in 9624 vv. (rhyming couples), extant in
2 northern Mss.: Galba E Ix and Harl. 4196, and in a great many southern
transcriptions; ed. by R. Morris (Philological Soc., Berlin 1863); it treats,
in 7 parts, of the beginning of man's life, of the instability of this world,
of death and why death is to be dread, of purgatory, of the day of doom,
of the pains of Hell, and of the joys of Heaven."
Of the anonymous works in northern Mss.,
which are mostly found mixed up with works of R. Rolle, the following are
probably or possibly his:
Meditation on the Passion, and of three arrows on Doomsday: Ms. Rawl.
C 285 and Arundel 507, ed. I p. 112 (another treatise on the same subject
and derived from this, is the treatise ed. II p. 446, which is usually ascribed
to Wicliffe).
9 points: Ms. Rawl. C 285, ed. I p. 110 (other texts: Ms. Vernon and Harl.
1704, ed. ib., and Ms. Harl. 2409 &c., ed. II p. 455; a Latin text is extant
in Caj. Coll. 140).
St. Anselm's Admonitio morienti: Rawl. C 285, ed. I p. 107.2
On grace, and
Our daily work (a rule, it seems, for anchorets), both extant in Ms. Arund.
507 and Ms. Thornton, ed. I p. 132 ff., p. 300--321.
On prayer: Ms. Thornton, ed. I p. 295.
1 A Latin translation, Stimulus conscientiae, is extant in Ms. Dd iv. 50 fol. 56––98, with the
heading: Iste tractatus vocatur Stimulus conscientiae, qui ab anglico in latinum a minus sciolo
est translatus; si quis igitur sapiens in illo aliquos reperiat defectus, deprecor ut eos corrigat
mente pia et transactori imponat. I give the beginning:
Ab aeterno et ante tempora fuit deus semper, trinus in personis et unus in substantia et essen-
tia, semper aeque potens et sapiens; potestatem et sapientiam a se ipso habuit, quia non est alius
a quo reciperet. Idem deus vero principium sine principio et fine creator fuit et principium
omnium creaturarum, et sicut principium omnium ita erit et finis, quia per ipsum omnes creaturae
viventes ad suum ultimum deveniunt finem, praeter hominem, daemones et angelos, qui post hanc
vitam vivent semper. Deus ergo creans ex nichilo, omnes creaturas secundum suam voluntatem
disposuit habere esse in natura aliqua. Vnde creaturae irrationales suo modo deum laudant, ut
volucres et huiusmodi, deum laudant et honorant in hoc quod naturam suam quam a deo habu-
erunt reservant. Ex quo ergo creaturae irrationales deum laudant in natura illa quam acceperunt,
multo magis tenetur qui creatura est rationalis, deum honorare et laudare in sua natura, et non
peioris esse conditionis quam creatura irrationalis. Natura enim humana est sequi voluntatem
dei et implere eius mandata quia inter omnes creaturas dei homo excellentior est creatura, quia
animae propter ipsum creatae sunt &c. — It is, of course, not by R. Rolle himself. Latin trans-
lations of English works are not unfrequent; so we have translations of the Form of living, of
W. Hilton's Scala perfectionis (in Ms. Rawl, C 397).
2 Of the other smaller pieces of Ms.'Rawl. C 285, the 1st, 2nd, and 5th (I p. 104 ff.) are chapters
of W. Hilton's Scale of perfection, the 8th is part of Iohn of Gaytryge's Sermon, the 11th® and
12th are probably W. Hilton's, the 7th is ascribed to Iohn Morton (see Tanner). Of the pieces
given from Ms. Harl. 1022 (I p. 157), Benjamin minor is by the author of The cloud of unknow-
ing (Ms. Harl. 674), De sancta Maria possibly by W. Hilton. The pieces given from Ms. Dd v.
55 : Proper will, On Angels' song, Of deadly and venial sin, I p. 173—183, are probably by
W. Hilton.
XLI
Introduction.
The Mirror of St. Edmund (a transl. of the Speculum S. Edmundi): Ms.
Thornton; ed. I p. 219.
Poems in Ms. Thornton, ed. I p. 363-374 (with the exception, perhaps, of
the first 3, which may be by Will. Nassington; some of the pieces are
extant in Dd v. 64 with R. Rolle's name)?.
Also most of the pieces of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII, though written by a West-Mid-
land scribe, ed. II p. I-71, viz. :
Lay-Folks Mass-Book, a poem in 627 vv., containing directions and prayers
for Mass, and intended for use in the chapels of the great; one of the
poems, v. 428–36, is identical with a poem in the Form of living (I p. 30).
A poem on Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, World, Man, Sin, Grace, Virtue, Good
works, God's Mercy, God's Justice, in 8-lined stanzas — also extant, with
works of R. Rolle in Rawl. A 389 fol. 99 (and in Ff II. 38, Add. 10,053).
The twelve profits of tribulation, a transl. of the XII utilitates tribulationis
(Petri Bles. Opp. ed. Giles III. P. 307), also extant in Laud 210; (a later
Midland translation, derived from this older text and combined with other
elements, is given II p. 389 ff.).
Of the double coming of Christ, a transl. of St. Bernard De adventu Domini
sermo vi, Migne 183 col. 52.
Miscellanies in Latin and English, including 2 poems on themes of the Prick
of Conscience: Of þo flode of þo world, and Þo whele of Fortune.
Possibly also some additional stanzas in the poem "Swete Ihesu now wol
I synge” II p. gff. are his work.
Also some of the minor poems of Ms. Vernon (ed. EETS 1893) are probably
R. Rolle's, so N. II and 12, 5, and perhaps some of the poems 3-16.
Doubtful works:
Psalter in verse: Ms. Vesp. D VII, Eg. 614, Harl. 1770; ed. II p. 129ff. (it
seems to belong to a very early date, but the archaic character is in some
degree artificial and due to the use of A. S. glosses; it was freely used in
R. Rolle's prose Psalter).
St. Mary's lamentation on the passion of Christ: Ms. Tib. E VII, ed. II p. 274
(ascr. to a hermit in Dd I. 1, but perhaps a work of Will. Nassington).
Minor pieces in Ms. Ashm. 751 (West Midland dialect):
On active, contemplative and mixed life fol. 45, tales from Caesarius (= Ms.
Thornton) and Jacobus de Vitriaco, De miraculis in nativitate Christi, tales
from St. Gregory, Caesarius, and from "liber de dono timoris” = Harl.
1022, I p. 157), the story of Furseus from Bede. De mandatis Dei fol. 83
("'Ilk a cristen mon is bounden to kepe ho comaundmentis of god” &c.),
Note on the apostles' creed fol. 856 "Nota quod post missionem spiritus
sancti Apostoli fecerunt symbolum: Petur sayd pus &c.), 2 short poems: po
sauter of Ihesu, and þo sauter of charyte, each of 12 vv. (beg.: Ihesu lord
þat made me & with þi blessed blode has boght, Forgyf þat I hafe greued
Þe with word, werk, wyll and thoght, &c.) fol. 142; (these pieces would
suggest R. Rolle, if they were not intermixed with extracts from Joh.
Maundvyle, fol. 48 and 142b).
Short pieces in Ms. Harl. 1022: 2 tales (1 p. 156), poem: Thurgh grace
growand &c. (I p. 161), sentences (1 p. 172).
Works wrongly ascribed to him:
Contemplatyons of the drede and love of God, under R. Rolle's name printed
by Wynkyn de Worde 1506; ed. II p. 72 ff.?
1 Of the other pieces of Ms. Thornton, the Abbey of the Holy Ghost cannot well be R. Rolle's
because it deals with monastic life, to which he is alien; the epistle in I p. 293 is more likely a
work of W. Hilton. (The abridged Psalter, I p. 392 ff., is by an unknown author, it is also found
in Ms. Ee v. 13, Ff v. 8, Gg IV. 32.)
2 The proof that this is not a work of R. Rolle, is simple enough. In Chapt. 2 it alludes to
"ful holy men of ryght late tyme, some of whom, as I haue herde and redde were vysyted by
Introduction.
XLIII
The remedy ayenst the troubles of temptacyons, printed (with Four profitable
things, from R. Rolle's Form of living) by W. de Worde 1508 and 1519; ed.
II p. 106 ff.
2 epistles “maad of Richard Hampul as some men supposen, but whoeuer made
it, myche deuout þinge is þerinne”, in Ms. Arundel 286 fol. 82—100 ("To t.
d. bis derworpe broßer in Crist, his euenbroper in þe lord, desirip þis þat
t. d. do awey now be elde man, þat is viciouse conuersacion” &c.).
Speculum vitae (Mirror of life), a long poem on the prayers of the Paternoster,
the 7 deadly sins &c., in the northern dialect: Ms. Tib. E VII &c. (in Ms. Ll
I. 8 ascr. to R. Rolle, but more probably a work of Will. Nassington.)
And many of the pieces in the lists of Tanner and Pits, f. i.:
Orologium Sapientiae: Harl. 1706 &c.; (this is Chapter V. of a larger tract
of that name, an Engl. reproduction of Heinrich Suso "Buch von der gött-
lichen Weisheit by an unknown author, ed. Anglia x).
Consilia Isidori “O man knowe pi-selfe” : Ms. Harl. 1706 &c.; ed. II p. 377.?
Meditatio S. Augustini “Seynt Austyne the holy doctour techeth”: Ms. Harl.
1706 (and Laud 23, Hh I. 12); ed. II p. 377.
Pety Iob, “Parce michi domine &c.", a poem in 12-lined stanzas: Ms. Harl.
1706 &c.; ed. II p. 381 (it is made on the verses of Job commented in R.
Rolle's Postillae super 9 lectiones mortuorum).
The seven penitential psalms in verse (in Ms. Digby 18 ascr. to R. Rolle).
The profits of tribulation (a later version of the text ed. II p. 45ff., combined
with the treatise "How þer weren six maisters” and a “Nota de paciencia
infirmitatis”),
The boke of the craft of dying (a transl. of a Latin tract De arte moriendi
in Ms. CCCO 226 &c.), and
A tretyse of gostly batayle; ~ all these 3 treatises extant in Ms. CCCO 220,
Reg. 17 A XXV, Harl. 1706 &c., and ed. II p. 389-436 (they are all the
work of a later Midland writer).
The Myror of synneres (a transl. of the Speculum peccatoris wrongly ascr.
to R. Rolle), and
Of three arrows on Doomsday (an imitation of the piece.ed. I p. 112); both
extant, with other Midland tracts, in Ms. Univ. Coll. 97 (Laud 23 and 174,
Add. 22,283) and ed. II p. 436. 446.
the grace of god with a passynge swetenes of the loue of Cryste, whiche swetenes for an example
they shewed afterwarde by theyr wrytynge to other men folowynge, yf ony wolde trauayle to
haue that hyghe degre of loue”, and then gives the 3 degrees of love found in R, Rolle's Form
of living, and the 3 degrees found in Ego dormio, in nearly the same words. So, by the “ful
holy men of ryght late tyme" R. Rolle is meant.
1 The reason why this treatise and the Contemplacyons were regarded as works of R. Rolle,
is, because they are found in Ms. Harl. 1706 and cognate collections which were supposed to
contain works of R, Rolle. The "Remedy" rests on an older tract iu Hh I. II by an unknown
author; a Latin tract on the same subject, falsely ascribed to R. Rolle, is extant in Ms. St. Iohn's
Oxf. 77.
2 It is followed by Augustinus de contemptu mundi, ed. II p. 374, also extant in Ms. Laud 23.
thy
✓ Transfer to poflid, skelfzo.309
?
Quote Lay 7. m. ..
EETS 2,2-60, even, leps.
LOR
Poems & Treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.? (C. 1370).
I, (Lay-Folks Mass-Book).
Ed. by Simmons Lay Folks Mass Book EETS 1879, with the younger Mss.:
Auchinleca (ed. in Turnbul Vision of Tundale), Corp. Chr. Coll. Oxf. 155 (written
in Rievaux in Yorkshire), Cambr. Gg. V. 31 (northern), Cajus Coll. 84 (West
Midland), Ms. Yates Thompson of Thingwall Liverpool (West Midland); of these,
Ms. Reg. and Cajus Coll. represent the original, as intended »for use in the
chapels and oratories of the great«, Ms. Thompson an adaptation for general use,
the rest an adaptation for use in monasteries. The poem professes to be a trans-
lation from »Dan Ieremy«, an unknown author, who probably wrote in French.
Now one of the prayers (that at the levation, V. 428-436) is identical with a poem
in R. Rolle's »Form of living « (cf. I p. 30), a fact which goes far to support
R. Rolle's authorship of the Mass poem, the more so as it was designed for the
chapels of the great, and not for monasteries. — The directions, red underlined
in the Ms. (orig. written in red), are called »rubrics« in the poem, the prayers
»black letter«. Some prayers for mass are amongst the Vernon poems..
fol. 3.
Po worthyest þing, most of godnesse, In boke fynde I [writen] of ane,
In al þis world, is po messe.
dam Ieremy was his name,
In alle po bokes of holy kyrc
a deuoute mon fi a religyus,
þate holy men þat? tyme con wyrc, In his boke he spekis pus:
20
5 po miesse is: praysed mony-folde. he saies, pou shulde gode tent take i
Þo (uertus mi)ght neuer be tolde: þat pou at bo messe no ianglyng make-
for if (a thousand) clerkes d(id noghlt ellis, grett saumpel he settis per-to
after þat (bo boke) tellis,
whi hit is ful ille to do;
bot tolde (po vertus of) messe syngynge als-so he telles po manere
10 and þo (profet of messe herynge, how pou shulde și messe here.
git shuld pali neuer) [po] fift parte, When po preste saies he or if he singe,
for al þaire wit & alle paire arte, to him pou gyue gode herknynge;
telle bo vertules, me)des & pardoun when po preste praies in priuete,
to hom þat (with deuocyo )un,
tyme of prayere is pen to þe.
30
15 In clennes (and in gode en)tent
When I vp-on po boke know4 hit,
dos worship (to) þis sacrament.
In til englishe pus I draw hit.
1 This Ms., vellum, 4º, one of the earliest containing works of R. Rolle, does not give the
author's name, except that the 2 Latin tracts (Spec. peccatoris, and Emend. pecc.) are ascribed
to him by a modern hand. The dialect is mixed and impure. However, the contents have a
close relation to R. Rolle and his favourite themes, and very likely he is the author of most
of them; though it is difficult to decide what he may have to do with N. 2 and 3, which were
originally composed in a southern dialect. — Forms like mon con stond, ho (= she), hom
(= them), hore, bo (= be), - en as ending of the Plur. Praes. &c., are characteristic of the
scribe, who is a West-Midland man. - Final g, t, c, f have little dashes, 2 r. bar. 3 A hole
in the Ms. 45. knew?
25
II.
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VAUS
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
and þo preste, to praye for me,
þat god haue merci & pyte,
for his man-hede,
of my wreched synfulnes,
& gyue me grace & forgyuenes
of my mys-dede. Pater. Aue. Credo.
80
185
90
When po auter is al dight,
of po preste is reuysht right,
35 þen (he) takes in bothe his hende
a clothe o-pon po auter ende,
and comes obac a litel doune,
dos hit 0-pon him al a-boune,
alle men knelen, bot he stondes,
40 and haldes to god vp bothe his hondes;
þere, or he po messe bi-synne,
wil he meke him for his synne,
til alle bo folk he shryues him þare
of alle his synnes lesse & mare.
45 so dos po clerk[is] a-sayn to him,
shryuen hom þere of al hor synn,
and askes god forgyuenes,
or pai bigynne to here po mes.
Po preste assoyles hom þere belyul,
50 lered fo lewed pat wil hom shoyue
& knowe to god pat pai are ille,
wheper hit be in Loude or stille.
Perfore knelande on þi knese,
als Þou bi-syde þe oper sese,
55 shryue be pere of alle Þi synnes,
bi-gynnande pus when he bigynnes,
als next binethe þis robrik standes,
and per-with ioyntly hold pi handes;
and þat hit so may be,
60 eke-to pater and aue,
and, og þou ryse, pou saie þi crede, -
al po better may pou spede.
many saien confiteor?;
were als gode saie pis per-for:
(Confi- I knowle to glod, ful of myght,
teor).
& tlo his) modir mayden bright,
& (to alle h)alouse here,
& (to þe, fa)dre gastly,
þat I (haue s)ynned largely,
In mony synnes sere:
In thoght, in speche, & in delite,
In worde, & werk, I am to wite
and worth to blame.
þer-fore I praie saynt Mary
and alle halouse haly,
In gods name,
When pou pi crede pus has done,
vp-on þi fete pou stande vp sone,
for bi pis tyme, als I gesse,
po prest bi-gynnes office of messe,
or ellis he standes turnande his boke
at po south auter noke.
euen þen so stondande,
wolde I þat þou were pis sayande: 90
God, for þi godnes,
at þo bigynnyng of pis mes,
graunt alle, þate hit shal here,
of conscience be clene & clere.
lord, saue þo prest þat hit shal say 95
fro temptacions to-day,
þat he be clene in dede & þoght,
þat yuel spiritis noy him noght;
þat he fulfille pis sacrament
with clene hert & gode entent. 100
first heghly to þin honoure,
pat souerayne is of al socoure;
& to þi modir, mayden clene,
& to þi halouse alle bi-dene.
& to alle pat beres hit, soul-hele, 105
helpe & grace & al kyns wele;
and to alle þate we haue in mynde,
sib (or fre)mde bi ony kynde,
gold lo)rd, graunt hom for pis messe
of alle hore synnes forgyfnesse;
And rest & pese þat lastis ay
to cristen soules passed away:
and til vs alle þi socoure sende,
& bring vs to ioy with-outen ende.Amen.
IIO
115
On hegh festis, og on haly dayes,
when-so men outher synges or sayes
gloria in excelsis in hor mes,
saie pou þen als here wryten es:
i Ms. corfiteor. ·
2 gostly corr. to gastly.
1 orig. so þen.
helfes. 309

Lay-Folks Mass-Book.
(Gloria)
120
125
130
.
loy be vn-to god in heuen,
with alkyns myrthe pat men may neuen;
and pese ir erthe, alle men vn-tille
þat rightwis are, & of gode wille.
We looue? þe, lord god almyghty,
and als we blesse pe bisyly,
we worsh(yp þe) als worthi es,
& makes (ioy to) pe more & les,
we than(k pe lor)d of al þi grace;
for po g(rete ioy þat þou hase,
oure lord (oure) god oure king heuenly,
oure god oure fadir almyghty;
oure lord po son of god of heuer,
Ihesu Crist, comly to neuen.
oure lord, lamb of god name we þe,
& son of god þi fadir fre.
Pou pat wostis“ po worlds synne,
haue mercie on vs, more & mynne;
pou þat wostis po worlds wrake,
oure praiere in pis tyme pou take;
þou þat sittes on þi fadir right hande,
with merci help vs here lyuande:
for pou art holy 8, made of none
bot of þi-selue, & lord al-one,
þou art þo heghest, of wisdam most,
Ihesu Crist, with po holy gost,
wonand with po fadre of heuen,
In more ioy pen mon may neuen.
vn-to þat ioy, Ihesu, vs ken,
thorght prayere of þi modre, amen.
135
140
bothe po reders & po herers
has mykil nede, me penk, of lerers,
how pai shulde rede, fi pai shulde heve 165
Po wordes of god, so leue & dere.
Men aght to haue ful mikel drede,
when pai shuld here or els hit rede;
and loue als-so unto þat swete
þat with poo wordes oure bale wold bete. 170
bot syn oure natir is of hering,
Þer-of newe shal be oure lering.
Clerkes heren on a nanere,
bot lewed men bos anoper lere.
At po bigynnyng tent pou take 175
a large cros on þe pou make,
stonde & saye 012 bis manere,
als pou may se wryten here :
In po name of fadre, & son, & po
holi gost,
a sothfast god of mightis most; 180
Bi' gods worde welcome to me;
Ioy & loouyng’, lord, be to þe.
Whils hit is red, speke pou noght,
bot benk on him þat dere pe boght,
sayande pus in þi: mynde,
185
als pou shalt after wryten fynde :
Thesu my (lo)ue, graunt me pi grace,
and of amendment might & space,
þi word to kepe & do pi wille,
po gode to chese & leeue þo ille; 190
and þat hit so may be,
Gode Ihesu, graunt hit me. Amen.
Reherce pis oft in þi poght,
to po gosple be don, for-gete hit noght;
Som-where bi-syde, when hit is done, 195
pou make a cros, and kys hit sone.
Men oen to saie þo crede som-tyme :
when þai saie hore, loke pou saie þine ,
pis pat folouse in englishe letter-
I wold pou sayde hit for po better.
bot þai say hore, say pou non ellis,
bot do forthe after als Þis boke tellis.
Here-to loke pou take gode hede,
for here is wryten þin englyshe crede :
145
5
And when þou has þis al done,
150 knele doun on pi knese sone;
If pai singe messe, or if þai saie,
..þi pater noster reherce al-waie,
|(Evan- til deken or prest po gospel rede.
gelium)
stonde vp þen, £ take gode hede;
155 for þen po prest flyttes his boke
north to pat oper auter rroke,
and makes a cros vpon po letter
with his thoume, he spedes po better,
and sithen an oħer opon* his face;
160 for he has mikel nede of grace,
for pen an erthly mon shal neuen
þo wordes of Ihesui Crist, gods son of heuen.
200
10 overl.
4 Ms. open.
2 r. wastis.
5 om. Ihesui.
3 Ms. holly.
1r. Be.
erased.
2 10 overl.
3 a word (my)
Transfer to prefed
W
USA
4
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
(Credo)
T
205
210
þai Offerd gold, ensense, & myrre, .
and pou forsoke none of pirre, 250
bot wissed hom wele alle thre
home a-gayne to hor contre :
Right so oure offrandes þat we offer,
and oure praieres þat we profer,
þou take, lorde, to þi louyng, 255
& be oure helpe in al-kyn thyng,
þat alle perels be for-done;
oure gode zernynges pou graunt vs sone,
of al oure mys þou vs amende,
In al oure nede vs socoure sende. amen, 260
215
220
I Trow in god, fader of might, i
pat alle has wroght,
heuen & erthe, day & night,
And alle of noght.
And in Thesu þat gods son is
al-onely,
bothe god & mon, lord endles,
In him trow I;
thurgh mekenes of po holy gast
þat was so milde,
he lyght in Mary mayden chast,
be-come a childe;
vnder Pounce Pilat pyned he was,
vs forto saue,
done on cros & deed he was,
layde in his graue ;
po soul of him went in to helle,
po sothe to say;
vp he rose in flesshe & felle
. po thryd day;
he stegh til heuen with woundis wide
thurgh his pouste?;
Now sittes o-pon his fader right syde
In mageste;
þepin shal he come vs alle to deme
In his manhede,
qwyk & ded, alle þat has ben
In Adam sede.
Wel I trow in þo boli gost,
And holi kirc pat is so gode;
And so I trow þat housel es
bothe flesshe & blode;
of my synnes forgyfnes,
If I wil mende;
vp-risyng als-so of my flesshe,
and lyf with-outen ende.
Saye pater noster zit vp-standande
al po tyme po prest is wasshande,
Til after wasshing þo preste wil loute
po auter, & sithen turne aboute.
Ben he askes with stille steuen
265
Ilk monnes prayers to god of heuen.
Take gode kepe vu-to po prest,
when he him turnes, knoc on þi brest,
And þenk þen, for ”i synn
pou art noght worthe to pray for hymm, 270
bot when pou prayes, god lokes þi wille,
If hit be gode, forgetis Þin ille ;
for-Þi with hope in his mercie,
Answere po prest with pis in hie:
Po holi gost in þe light,
275
& sende in to þe right,
Reule þi hert & þi speking
to gods worship & his louyng.
230
235
240
toriui
Pen þo prest gos to his boke
his priuey prayers for to loke ; (Secreta) 280
knele pou doun, f say pen þis,
pat next in blak wryten is :-
hit wil þi prayere mykel amende,
If Þou wil holde up bothe þi hende.
to god with gode deuocioun,
when pou sayes jis [o]resoun:
God, resayue þi seruyce
And þis solempne sacrifice,
for po prest & for vs alle,
þat now are here, or here be shalle, 290
After þat, fast at hande,
(Offer- Comes po tyme of offrande ;
Offer or leeue, wheper Þe lyst,
:how pou shulde praye, I wold you wyst.
245 1-whyls pou stondes, I rede pou saye
als next is wryten, god to paye:
Thesu, þat was in Bethlem borne,
And thre kynges come be by-forne,
285
I u overl.
B3), 309
Lay-Folks Mass-Book.
5
5
þis messe to here or worship do;
po sakring to se, or pray per-to;
And for alle pat lyuen in gods name,
þat þai haue helpe fro synne & shame;
And for po soules þat hethen are past,
þat þai haue rest þat ay shal last. amen.
Pater noster. Aue maria. Credo.
295
350
Loke pater noster pou be sayande,
I-whils po prèste is priuey prayande.
po prest wil after in pat place
300 Reinore him a litel space,
To he come til þo auter myddis;
stande vp pou”, als men pe biddis,
hert die body & ilk a dele,
take gode kepe & here him wele :
(Prae- pen he bygynnes per omnia,
fatio)
And sithen sursum corda;
At bo ende sayes sanctus thryese,
In excelsis he neuens twyese.
Als fast als euer þat he has done,
310 loke þat þou be redy sone,
and saye þese wordis with stille steuen
priuely to god of heren:
In world of worlds with-outen endyng
þanked be Ihesu, my kyng.
315 Al my hert I gyue hit þe,
grete right hit is þat hit so be;
with al my wille I worship þe,
Ihesu, blessid mot pou be;
with al my hert I þank hit þe,
320 po gode þat þou has don to me.
Swete Ihesu, graunt me now þis,
þat I may come vn-to pi blis;
þere with aungels for to syng
þis swete song of þi louyng,
325 sanctus: sanctus: sanctus.
Thesu graunt þat hit be pus. Amen.
for-Þi with-outen taryinge
on pis wise be pi sayinge:
Lord, honourd mot Þou be, 335
with al my hert I worship þe;
I ponk þe, lord, als me wele owe,
Of more gode pen I con knowe,
þat I haue of þe resayued,
syn po tyme I was consayued.
340
My lyue, my lymmes pou has me lent,
my right witt þou has me sent,
Þou has me keped of þi grace
fro sere perils in mony place.
Al my lyue & al my lyuynge 345
holly haue I of pi gyuynge;
þou boght me dere with Þi blode,
and dyed for me o-pon po rode;
I haue done a-gaynes ji wille
synnes mony, grete & ille,
pou art redy, of þi godnesse,
for to graunt me forgyuenesse.
Of (pere]" godes, and mony moo
I ponk þe, lord. I praye als-soo
þat al my gylt þou me for-gyue, 355
and be my helpe whils I shal lyue,
And gyue me grace for to etchewe
to do þat þing þat me shulde rėwe,
And gyue me wille ay wel to wirk.
Lord, þenk on þo state of holy kirk, 360
And þo pope?, bishops, prestes &
clerkes,
þat þai be keped in alle godė werkes,
po kyng, þó quenė, po lördes of þo
lande,
þat þai be wele mayntenande
hore states in alle godnėsse : 365
and reule po folk in rightwisnesse.
Oure sib men, and oure wele-wil-
landes,
Oure frendes, tenandes, & seruandes,
Olde men, childer, & alle wymmen,
marchandes, men of craft, & tilmen, 370
Riche men & pore, grete & smalle,
I pray þe, lord, for hom alle,
pat pai be keped specialy
In gode hele & lyué haly.
I a word erased. 2 erased.
Missae)
(Canon When bis is sayde, knele pou doune,
and þat wyth gode deuocioune;
Of al gode pou thonk god pan,
330 And pray als-so for ilk a man
Of ilk [a]state, and ilk degre,
so wil po law of charite;
11. þen.
.
Transfer to pre
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Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
375
380
To hom þat are in ille lyue,
In.sclaunder, myscounforth, or in stryue,
seke or prisonde, or o-pon po see,
pore, exilde, deserit, if þer be,
til alle hom, þou sende socoure,
to pi worship and pin honoure.
Alle þat are in gode lyue to-day,
& clenly lyuen to þi pay,
kepe hom, lord, fro alle foly
and fro alle synne, for þi mercy,
And gyue hom grace to last & lende
In pi seruyce to hor ende.
Dis world þat turnes mony-wayes,
make gode til vs in alle oure dayes;
þo weders grete & vnstable,
lord, make gode & sesonable,
þo froytes of þo erthe make plenteuus”;
als Þou sees best, ordayn for vs;
[&] swilk grace til vs bou sende,
þat in oure last day, at oure ende,
when þis worlde & we shal seuer,
Bring vs til ioy pat lastis euer. Amen.
sondry men prayes sere,
Ilk mon on his best manere.
420
Short prayere shulde be, with-outen drede,
and per-with pater noster & po crede.
If pou of ane be vi-puruayde,
I set here ane þat may be sayde;
þof I merk hit here in lettir,
425
pou may chaun[ge]' hit for a bettir:
Loued be bou, kyng,
& þanked be pou kyng,
& blessid be pou kyng,
Ihesu al my ioying,
of alle pi gyftes gode,
þat for me spilt þi blode,
and dyed o-pon po rode;
þou gyue me grace to sing
po song of þi louing.
435
Pater noster. aue maria. Credo.
385
430
390
When pou has sayde al þi crede,
þis short prayere I rede pou rede
þat next is wryten in blak letter,
ful mykel shal pou fare po better: 440
Lord als þou con & als þou wille,
haue mercie of me, þat has don ille;
for what-so þou with me wil do,
I holde me payde to stonde per-to.
þi merci, Ihesu, wold I haue, 445
and I for ferdnes durst hit craue,
bot pou bids aske, & we shal haue:
Swete Ihesu, make me saue,
and gyue me witt & wisdame right,
to loue þe, lord, with al my might. 450
Loke pater noster pou be sayande,
to po chalyce he be saynande? :
þen tyme is nere of sakring.
400 A litel belle men oyse to ryng,
Bilen hen shal pou do reuerence
vatio)
to Thesu Crist awen presence,
pat may lese alle baleful bandes;
Knelande holde vp bothe þi handes,
405 And so po leuacioun pou be-halde.
for pat is he þat Iudas salde,
(ind sithen was scourged & don on rode,
and for mankynde pere shad his blode,
and dyed & ros & went to heuen,
410 and zit shal come to deme us euen,
Ilk mon aftur he has done ;
þat same es he pou lokes o-pone.
Pis is po trouthe of holy kirk,
who tyowes 120ght pis mone sitt ful myrk;
415 for-þi I rede with gode entent
þat pou biholde pis sacrament.
Swilk prayere ben pou make,
als lykes best þe to take ; –
I corr. from plenteuos. 2 = sign with the
cross (same word frequent in Barbour).
When pou has made þis orison,
pen shal pow with deuocion
Make pi prayeres in pat stede
for alle și frendes þat are dede,
And for alle cristen soules sake, 455
swilk prayere shal Tou make:
Lord, for þi holy grace,
here oure prayers in þis place,
1 Ms. chaunc on corr. 2 written in long
lines (2 vv. in one); the metrical structure has
been misunderstood by Simmons. Same poem
see I p. 30.
ed shelf zo. 309.
Lay-Folks Mass-Book.
and lede vs in no foundynge,
bot shild vs fro al wicked þinge.
Amen.
e
dei)
graunt now, lord, for oure prayere,
460" þat cristet soules, þate passed here?
fro þis lyue þat synful esse,
bat ilk one haue part of his messe;
for hore soules, I pray derly,
þate I shal neuen serly,
465 þat þis messe may be hore mede,
helpe & hele fro alkyns drede :
fader soule, moder soule, breper dere,
Sisters soules, sib men, & oper sere
þate vs gode wolde, or vs gode did,
470 or ony kyndnes vn-til vs kid;
and til alle in purgatory pyne
þis messe be mede & medicyne,
til alle cristen soules helya
graunt þi grace & þi mercy;
475 forgyue hom alle hor trespasse,
lese hore bondes, & let hom passe
fro al-kyns pyne and [fro) al care
In til po ioy þat lastis euer-mare. amen.
Den eft-sone po preste wil saye; . 505
stande stille si herken him al-waye,
he saies agnus thryse or he cese,
(Agnus
po last worde he spekis of pese.
In þe þat pese may noght be
If pou be outte of charyte;
510
ben is gode of god to craue
þat þou charyte may haue ;
þere when po prest pax wil kis,
knele pou f praye þen þis :
Gods lamb, þat best may
515
do bo synne of his world a-way,
of vs haue merci & pite,
and graunt vs pese & charite.
For in charyte are thre kyns loues,
þat to perfite pese nedlyng behoues. 520
Po first loue is certenly
to loue þe', lord, souerenly.
Perfore I pray be, god of myght,
Þou make my loue, both day & nyght,
sykerly sett euer-ilk dele
525
soueranly to loue be wele;
þat be þi myght & gouernynge
I be euer in zernynge
soueranly be to pay,
In al þat euer I con or may;
and prest be I, erly & late,
to my degre & myn a-state
alle gode dedes to fulfylle,
& to eschewe alle pat are ille.
Þo secunde is a priue loue, 535
þat is nedeful to my behoue,
þo whilk loue is propirly
by-twix my soule & my body.
Perfore make þou, gode lorde,
my body & my soule of one a-corde, 540
þat ayther part by one assent
serue be with gode entent;
Let neuer my body do þat ille,
þat hit may my soule spille.
Po thrid loue is with-outen doute, 545
to loue ilk neghtbur me aboute,
1o corr. to e.
noste
Loke pater noster pou be prayande,
480 Ay to pou here po preste be sayande
per omnia secula al on hight.
Pen I wold pou stode up right,
for he wil saie with hegh steuen
hestart pater noster to god of heuen;
485 herken him with gode wille,
and whils he saies, hold þe stille,
bot answere at temptacionem:
set libera nos a malo, amen-
hit were no nede pe pis to ken,
490 for who con not pis are lewed men.
When pis is done, saye priuely -
other prayer none perby —
pater noster first in laten,
and sithen in englishe als here is wryten :
495 Fader oure, þat is in heuen,
blessid be þi name to neuen.
Come to. vs Þi kyngdome.
In heuen & erthe þi wille be done.
oure ilk-day bred graunt vs to-day.
500 and oure mysdedes forgyue vs ay,
als we do bom pat trespas us,
right so haue merci vp-on vs.
1 = ere. 2 r. hally. 3 Ms. trespasus.
530
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Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Dogt bon wire mate prince ope
550
wheper we ryde, or be goande,
lyg, or sitt, or if we stande;
what sodan chaunce þat comes vs tille,
.. operwayse pen were oure wille;
we praye pis messe vs stande in stede, 595
of shrift & als of housel-brede.
And, Ihesu; for pi woundes fyue,
wys vs po waye of rightwis lyue. Amen.
555
UO
and of þat loue for no þing cése.
Perfore I pray þe, prince of pese;
þat þou wil make, als Þou may best,
my hert to be in pese & rest,
& redy to loue alle maner of men,
My sib-men namely, ben :
Neghtburs, seruandes, & ilk sugete,
Felouse, frendes, none to forgete,'
bot loue ilk-one, bothe fer & nere,
als my-selue with hert[e] clere ;
and turne bore hertis so to me, .
þat we may fully frendis be,
þat I of hor gode, & þai of myne,
haue ay ioy with hert[e] fyne.
als I pray for my-selue here,
graunt so til oper on selue manere,
so þat ilk mon loue wele othere,
as he were his owne bropere.
swilk loue among vs be, .
þat we be wel loued of þe;
þat be pis holy sacrament,
þat now is here in present,
and be po vertu of þis messe,
we mot haue forgyuenesse
of al oure gilt & al oure mys,
& be þi help come to pi? blis. Amen.
560
605
565
When þis is saide, knele doun sone,
saye pater noster til messe be done, 600
for po messe is noght sest
or tyme of ite misa est.
Pen, when pou heris say ite,
or benedicamus, if hit be,
þen is po messe al done;
bot zit þis prayere pou make right sone;
after hit, wele you may
In gods name wende Þi way:
God be ponked of alle his werkes,
god be ponked of prestes & clerkes, 610
god be þonked of ilk a mon,
. and I ponke god als I con.
I thonk god of his godnesse,
And nomely now of his messe;
and of alle po prayers þat here are 615
prayde,
pray I to god þat he be payde.
In mynde of god here I me blesse”,
with my blessyng god sende me hesse.
In nomine patris & filii & spiritus sancti.
Amen.
Pater noster. Aue maria. Credo.
570
Loke pater noster pou be sayande,
I-whils þo preste is rynsande.
(Post- When po preste has rinsynge done,
com-
munio) opon și fete pou stonde up sone;
þen po clerk flyttis po boke
agayne to po south auter noke,
po preste turnes til his seruyce
580 and saies forthe more of his office.
Pen with-outen tarying
on his wyse be Þi saying:
Thesu my kyng, I pray to þe,
bow doun þin eren of pyte
And here my prayer in þis place,
gode lord, for þi holi grace
for me & alle pate here ere,
þat þou vs kepe fro alkyns were
þat may byfalle on ony way
590 In oure dedes do to-day,
How pou at þo messe pi tym shuld spende 620
haue I told: now wil I ende.
Po robryk is gode un-while to loke, .
þo praiers to con with-outen boke.
Hit is skille with-outen doute,
þat ilk mon [be] messe loue & loute: 625
For of alle in þis world, þen is po messe
po worthiest þing, most of godnesse.
Explicit. Amen, Fiat.
1 Ms. bis.
1 1. blisse.
of
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Mass. Bhi
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a
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23 140 deretle Verse, now (2)
1
N
.
.
Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge.
.
i
Jovesna
21390 Sepete Real Hot
Lee
2. · (Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge &c.).
This piece is written in another (southern) hand, to fol. 19, v. 321, where the
first hand récurs. The same poem, still more enlarged, is extant in Ms. Vernon 1
fol. 257. It is a composite of 2 old hymns found in Ms. Harl. 22532 (ed. Bödeker
Altengl. Dicht. des Ms. Harl. 2253 p. 191 and p. 198), which Ms. was written c. 1310
in Leominster Abbey in Herefordshire (cf. Wright Specimens of lyric poetry) and
gives them in the southern dialect. But not only have the 2 hymns been com-
bined, but the story of the Passion (with the 7 words on the Cross) has been
added, and the whole has been subdivided by inlaid stanzas to St. Mary. These
additions were apparently made by a northern poet (cf. dede = death, wore
Þore &c.), presumably by R. Rolle, whose poetry re-echoes the same theme. The
poems are an imitation of the famous hymn Jesu dulcis memoria (Mone I, 329,
Daniel I, 227); but the Engl. poets, by introducing the story of the passion, give
action to the mere reiterations of the Latin hymn. — Ms. Reg. is prior to Vernon.
Ms. Reg. 17 B 243, fol. 13b.
Here 'bygynnus þo passion of Ihesu. Ms. Vernon f. CCXCVII.area
Ho so says þis with gode wille,
Schal fynd grace his luf to fille ;
Po holygóst his hert schal tille,
From synne hym brynge & fendes ille. —
5 Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge
Swete Ihesu, now wol I synge
To be a songe of luf-longynge; To be a song of loue-longinge;
Do in myn hert a welle to sprynge Do in myn herte a welle springe
Þe to luf ouer al þinge.
De to louen ouer alle pinge.
Swete Ihesu, kynge of blysse, 4 Swete Thesel, kyng of blisse,
10 Myn hertus luf, my hertus lisse: Min herte loue, Min herte lisse:
Di luf, lorde, pou me wysse,
In loue, lord, þou me wisse,
Arid lete me neuer þerof mysse. And let me neuere și loue misse.
Swete Ihesu, my hertus lyghte,
Swete Ihesu, myn herte libt,
Po art day with-outen nyzte:
Þow art day wib-oute niht:
: 15 Gyf me bobe grace and mygte
Ziue me bobe Grace and miht
For to luf Þe aryzte.
For to loue be ariht.
Swete Ihesu, my soule bote :
1 Swete Ihesu, my soule bote,
In my hert Þou sette å rote
In myn herte pou sette a Roote
. Of Þi luf þat is so swote,
Of þi loue þat is so swote,
20 And wete it þat it sprynge mote.
And weete hit þat hit springe mote.
1 I give this text from my 2nd vol. of Vernon poems. Of this vol., C. 150 pages have been
seen by me through the press of the EETS., and the greater part of the rest of my copy has
been sent to the same press, together with Misyn's translation of R. Rolle's Latin works; so I
fail to understand how both these books of mine can be announced under another name in the
Prospectus of the Society. 2 These 2 hymns are:
Harl. 2253.
fol. 75. I.
Suete Iesu, king of blysse,
þou zeue me streinþe & eke myht
myn huerte loue, min huerte lisse, forte louien þe aryht.
pou art suete myd-ywisse,
Suete Iesu, min huerte bote,
wo is him þat þe shal misse.
in myn huerte pou sete a rote 10
5 Suete Iesu, min huerte lyht,
of þi loue þat is so swote,
þou art day wipoute nyht:
ant lene þat hit springe mote.

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A nyon kote Dienso no
01390 Swete Menn now Miros

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25
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Poems and treatises ºf Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Vernon.
Swete Thesu, myn hertus glem, | Swete Thesu, myn herte gleem,
Bryzter þen po sunne bem:
Brihtore pen þe sonne Beem:
As þou was borne in Bedlem,
As Þou weore boren In Bethleem,
Pou make in me pi luf-drem.
Pou make in me pi loue-dreem.
25 Swete Ihesu, þi luf is swete,
Swete Ihesu, bi loue is swete,
Wo is hyn pat schal it lete:
Wo is him þat hit schal leete:
Gyf me grace for to grete
1 Zif me grace for to wepe
For my synnes teres wete.
For my synpes teres wete.
Swete Ihesu, kynge of londe,
Swete Ihesu, kyng of londe,
30 Make pou me to vnderstonde,
Mak pou me to vnderstonde,
Pat I may in my hert fonde
Pat I may In myn herte fonde
How swete is þi luf-bonde.
Hou swete is þi loue-bonde.
Swete Ihesu, me rewes sore
9 Swete Ihesu, me rewep sore
. Of my mysdedes I haue do zore: Of my misdedes I haue don zore:
35 For-gyf hom me, I wil no more, For-zif me, lord, I wol no more,
Bot aske þe of myl[c]e? and ore. But I Þe aske Milce and ore.
Swe[te) Ihesu, lorde myn,
9 Swete Ihesu, Lord myn,
My lyf and my soule is þin:
Mi lyf my soule is al þin:
Vndo my hert and come perin,
Vndo myn herte and lizte perin,
40 And saue me fro wicked pyn.
And saue me from wikked engyn.
Swete Ihesu, lorde gode,
Swete Ihesu, lord good,
For me pou scheddist al þi blode, For me pou scheddest þi blessed blod,
Out of þi hert ran a flode,
Out of þin herte hit com pe flod,
Þi modir it saw with drery mode. Þi Moder hit sauz wiþ druyri mod:
1 Ms. mylde.
30
35
40
Transfer to prefed , shelf no. 1068
V
pp.
4
251-52.
yndo myn herte, & liht þer-yn,
and wite me from fendes engyn.
Ms. Harl. 2253.4
Suete Iesu, myn huerte gléém,
bryhtore ben pe sonne-béém:
15 ybore pou were in Bedlehéém,
þou make me here þi suete dréém.
Suete Iesu, þi loue is suete,
wo is him þat þe shal lete;
barefore we shulden ofte pe gyete
20 wiþ salte teres & eze wete?.
30
Suete Iesu, my soule fode,
þin werkes buep bo suete & gode,
pou bohtest me vpon be rode,
for me pou sheddest bi blode.
Hans
35
Suete Iesu, kyng of londe,
pou make me for? [to) vnderstonde,
þat min herte mote fonde
hou suete buep þi loue-bonde.
Suete Iesu, me reoweþ sore
gultes þat y ha wroht? zore:
þare-fore y bidde þin mylse & ore;
merci, lord, ynul na more.
Suete Iesu, louerd god,
pou me bohtest wiþ þi blod,
out of þin huerte orn Þe flod,
þi moder hit seh, þat þe by stod.
25 Suete Iesu, louerd myn,
my lyf, myn huerte, al is þin :
40
i Ms. wepe.
2 Ms. fer; to om.
i Ms. wroþt.
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Swete Ihesu, pow wil I synge.
Ms. Reg. 19 B XVII.
Ms. Lernene
.45 Swetlej "Thesu, brygt and schene,
Swete Ihesu, Briht and Schene,
Here me, lorde, for I me mene, Heere me, lord, for I me mene,
Thurth Marye prayer, mylde qwene, Porw preyere of Marie, Milde qweene,
Pat? þi luf be on me sene.
Pat și loue on me be sene.
Swet[e] Thesu, my soule fode,
Swete Ihesu, Mi soule foode,
45
50 Alle werkes of pe ben gode,
Alle werkes of þe ben goode,
Pou bouztest me vpon po rode
Þou bouztest me vppon pe Rode
And schaddest þeron þi hert blode. And scheddest þeron þi swete blode.
Swete Ihesu, child best,
9 Swete Ihesu, Barn Best,
Pi luf you in my hert fest;
Þi loue pou in myn herte fest; 50
55 When I go northe soupe est or west, Whon I go North, Soup, Est or West,
In þe, a luf?, fynd I rest.
In þe al-one fynde I rest.
Swete Thesu, wele may hym be I Swete Ihesu, wel may him be
Þat þe schal in blysse se:
Pat pe schal in þi blisse se:
With luf-cordes draw pou me,
Wiþ loue-cordes drauz pon me, 55
60 Pat I may come & wone with þe. Pat I may comen and wone wiſ þe.
Swete Ihesu, heuen kynge,
9 Swete Ihesu, heuene kyng,
Fader (!)3 and best of alle pinge: Feir and best ouer alle þing:
Brynge in to me þat luf-longynge Bring me in to þat loue-longyng
To come to be at myn endynge. To come to be at myn endyng.
... Lovesonz reous z
65 Mary moder, mylde qwene,
1.:: Marie Moder, Mylde Qween,
Sende vs (grace) synne to flene,
Send vs grace synne to flen,
· Pat we may þi son sene,
Pat we mowe þi sone isen
And euer with hym in blysse to bene. And euere wiþ hym in Blisse ben. Van
Ihesu, swete is po luf of þe,
Ihesu, swete is þe loue of þe;
70 Here nys no þing so swete may be; Ne may no þing so swete be,
Noght þat man may benk or se Nouzt þat mon may þenke or se,
Has [s]wetenes agaynes þe.
Ne haue swetnesse azeynes Þe.
1 Ms. Þate? 2 V al-one. 3 r. Feir.
Ms. Harl. 2253. Transfer to sleep no. 1068 , p. 51-52.
Suete Iesu, bryht & shene,
þou bring me of þis longing,
y preye þe, pou here my bene, & come to pe at myn endyng.
pourh erndyng of be heuene-quene, Suete Iesu, al folkes rééd,
pat my bone be nou sene.
graunte ous, er we buen ded,
45 Suete Iesu, bern'e best,
Þe vnderfonge in fourme of bred,
wiþ [he] ich hope habbe rest,
ant seppe to heouene þou vs led. L 60
wheber y be souþ oper west
Þe help of pe be me nest.
Suete Iesu, wel may him be
50 þat þe may in blisse se:
lesu, suete is pe loue of þe,
after mi soule let aungles te,
noping so suete may be;
for me ne gladień gome ne gle.
al þat (me] may wiþ ezen se, í
haueþ no suetnesse azeynes be.
Suete Iesu, heuene kyng,
i This poem has just 50 stanzas, so it was
feir & best of alle þyng.com
probably meant to form a rosary.

lovlana
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fol. 776.
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Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Reg: 17 B XVII.
Ms. Vernon.
Thësu, no þing may be swetter; 1 Thesu; no song mai be swettore, X,
Ne þoght' in hert blisfuller,
Ne pouzt in herte Blisfollere,
75 Noght may be feled worthyer;
| Nouzt may be feeled lihtsomere,
Þen þou, so swete a louer.
Den pou, so swete a louyere.
Ihesu, þi luf was vs so fre
Ihesu, þi loue was vs so fre
Þat it fro heuen brougt þe;
Pat hit from heuene brouzte þe,
For luf pou dere bougtest me,
For loue ful deore bouztest pou me, 75
80 For luf bou hynged on rode-tre. For loue þow henge on' Roode-tre.
Ihesu, to þi disciples dere
Ihesu, to þi disciples dere 17
Þou saydest with drery chere,
Þou seydest wiþ ful dreri chere
As ze siten alle (in fere),
As þei seeten alle I-feere
A litil er þou taken were:
A luytel ar þou taken were-
85 Thesu, pou saydest þat þou wore T Ihesu, pou seydest þat þou wore 21
Ful of sorow and hert sore,
Ful of serwe and herte sore,
And bad hom duelle a whyle pore And beed hem dwellen a while þore
(Þo) whyle pou praydest þi fader ore. While þou beo-souztest þi ffader ore;
Ihesu, pou zedist on pi fete
| Ihesu, pou eodest on þi feete 85
90 To po mounte of Olyuete,
To pe Mount of Olyuete,
And to pi fader, ere pou lete,
And to þi ffader, er þou leete,
Pou madest a bone with hert swete: Pow madest a boone wij herte swete:
Ihesu, pou saydest: »if it may be, To him þou seidest: »if hit may be, 24
Dere fader, I praye þe
Deore ffader, I preye þe,
90
95 Pis payne passe a-way fro me;
Pis peyne passe a-wey from me;
As pou wilt so mote it bec.
As þow wolt so moot hit be.«
Thesu, pou turnydist agayne to ham, | Ihesu, pou tornedest to bem þan:
And fonde hom slepynge euery man?; And founde hem slepen vch a man;
Po bad hom wake', & can hom blam; Þow beede hem waken, &, er þou blan, 95
100 Anone po way agayne pou nam. A-non azeyn þe wey Þou nam.
Ihesu, zit efte pe sel[ue] bone 9 Ihesu, þus eft þe selue boone
Þat pou be-fore by-gan to done, Pat pou beo-fore bigonne to done,
And eke po prid tyme efte-sone And eke be þridde tyme sone
Pou madist prayer, with mylde mone. Pow madest, wiþ a Milde mone. 100
105 Ihesu, with þat pou praye can, q Ihesu, wiþ þat þou preye gon,
Þo swote al blody fro þe ran;
Þe swot of blood from þe ron.
Fro heuen a bryzte aungel cam, From heuene an Angel lihte pon
And be confortyde god and man. And þe cumfortede, God and Mon.
1 H noht. 2 Ms. may man. 3 Ms. walke.
1 Ms. or.
Ms. Harl. 2253. Thayer to a hea. 99
%* 20$
5 Iesu, noþing may be suettere,
Iesu, þi loue wes ous so fre
ne noht in eorpe blysfulere,
þat we from heuene brohten þe;
noht may be feled lykerusere,
for loue pou deore bohtest me,
þen pou, so suete a luuiere '.,
for loue pou hong on rode-tre.
1 Ms. alumere.
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Swete Ihesu, now wil Į synge.
Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Vernon.
Mary moder, lade brygte,
MArie Mylde, freo and gent, 105
110 Þou darst, þou wilt, þou art of myzte: Preye for membou art present,
My hert luf, my lyf, my lyzte,
Whon my soule is from me went,
Pou be my helpe bope day & nyzte. Pat hit haue good Iuggement.
Ihesu, for luf pou sufferd wronge, | Ihesu, for loue pou soffredest wrong,
Woundes sore and paynes stronge; Woundes sore and peynes strong; 110
115 Pi rewful paynes were ful longe, Þi peynes reupful weore and long,
Ne may hom telle spel ne songe. Ne may me hit telle in spel ne song.
Ihesu, for luf pou dree so wo 53 9 Ihesu, for loue pou suffredest so wo
Þat blody stremes ran be fro,
Þat bloodi stremes Ronne pe fro,
Þi swete body was blak & blom
Þi white bodi was bleyk and blo- 115
120 Oure synnes it made so, welawol Vre sunnes hit made, weylawo!
Ihesu, þi croune it satte ful sore, | Ihesu, þi Coroune sat þe sore,
Þi scourgynge, wen pou scourged wore; Þe scourgyng whon bow scourget wore;
It was for me, Ihesu þin ore,
Hit was for me-Ihesu, pin ore!
Þi paynes þat þou sufferd þore. Þe peynes þat þow þoledest þore.. 120
125 Ihesu swete, Þou hynged on tre,
Ihesu swete, pow heng on tre,
Noght for þi gylte bot al for me; Not for pi gult, but al for me,
With synnes I gilte, so wo is me, For sunnes and gult azeynes bem
Swete Ihesu, forgyf it me.
Swete Ihesu, for-zif hem me.
Ihesu, wen pou streyned wore, ſ Ihesu, whon þow streyned wore, 125
130 Þi paynes were more & more.
Þi peynes woxen more and more.
Mary ay with Þe was pore
Þi Mooder euer wiþ þe was pore,
With sorewful chere & sykynge sore. Wiþ serweful sikynges and wiþ sore.
Ihesu, why were pou pyned so,69 q Ihesu, whi weore pou pyned so 69
Þat neuer didist wronge ne wo?
Pat neuer wrouztest wrong ne wo? 130
· 135 It was for me, & mony mo,
Hit was for me, and moni mo,
Þat þou so hard were be-go.
Pat þou so harde were bi-go.
Ihesu, what sees þou in me,
Ihesu, what sauh þow on me
Ouzt þat nedeful was to be,
Of ouzt pat neodful was to be,
Pat pou so hard on rode-tre
Pat pou so harde on Roode-tre
135
140 Woldist for me pyned be?
For me woldest pyned be?
Ihesu, why were pou so gelouse, q Ihesu, whi weore pou so gelous,
So feruent and so curyouse,
So feruent and so disirrous
To bye with prys so preciouse
To buggen wiþ pris so precious
Wrecched man so viciouse ?
Wrecche Mon so vicious ?
140
..

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Ms. Harl. 2253. Trazor AURORI AD 9, 205*
Iesu, for loue pou þoledest wrong, Iesu, for loue pou drezedest wo,
woundes sore, & pine strong;
blody stremes ronne þe fro,
15 þine peynes rykene hit were long, þat þi bodi wes blake ant blo;
ne may hem tellen spel ne song. for oure sunnes hit wes so.
S
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11390 duete Neos non
(Vis)
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Vernon.
145 Ihesu, for luf þu hynged on rode, Ihesu, for vs Þou henge on Rode,
For luf pou gaf þi hert blode;
For loue pou zeeue þin herte blode;
Luf be made oure soules fode,
Loue he made vre soule foode,
Þi luf vs brouzt to al gode.
Þi loue vs brouhte to alle goode.
Ihesu my lemman, þou art so fre, 8 Ihesu my lemmon, Þou art so fre 145
150 For al pou dedist for luf of me, Pat al þou dedest for loue of me.
What schal I for þat zelde þe? What schal I for þat zeeldé þe?
Pou askes nougt bot loue of me. Pow kepest not but be loue of me.
Thesu my god, my lord, my kynge, ( Ihesu my god, my lord, my kyng,
Þou ne askyst me none oper pinge Pou askest me non oper Þyng
155 Bot trewe luf in al wyrkynge,
But trewe loue and herte longyng
And luf-teres with swete mornynge. And loue-teres and stille mournyng.
Ihesu my dere, my luf, my lyzte, Ihesu my deore, my loue, my liht,
I wil þe luf & þat is ryzte.
I wol be louen, and þat is riht.
Do me luf Þe with al my mygte, Do me Þe louen wij al my miht,
160 And for þe morne day & nyzte. And after þe Mourne dai & niht !
Ihesu, do me to luf so pe 7 q Ihesu, do me so loue Þe 97
Pat euer my pouzt vpon pe be;
Pat my pouht ay on be be;
With pi swete eyze pou loke on me, Wip þin ezen lok on me,
And myldelyche my dede se.
And Myldeliche my nede se.
160
MArie ladi, Mooder briht, -
pou darst, bou wolt, pou art of miht,-
Myn herte loue, my lyf, my liht,
Þou prey for me bope day & niht.
165 Thesu, þi luf be al my pouzte, q Ihesu, þi loue is al my Þouht; 165
Of oper þing ne recke me nouzte, Of oþer þing ne recche I noubt
Bot þat I baf agayne be wrouzte But þat I haue a-zeyn pe wrouht
And þou hast me so dere bouzte. And þou hast me so deore a-bouht.
I al. bat.
Ms. Harl. 2253. Transfer SA no. 99 .1999-205
Iesu, for loue pou stehe on rode, Iesu my lyf, Iesu my lyht,
for loue pou seze? þin heorte blode; ich loue þe, ant pat is ryht:
loue pou madest? oure soule fode, do me loue be wiþ al mi myht, - 35
þi loue vs brohte to alle gode. ant for þe mournen day & nyht.
25 Iesu mi lemman, þou art so fre Iesu, do me so seruen pe
þat pou dezedest for loue of me. þat euer mi þoht vpon Þe be;
whet shal y pare-fore zelde pe ?
wiþ þine suete ezen loke towart me,
þar nys nobt bote hit loue be.
ant myldeliche myne, y preie, al þat pou' se. 40
Iesu my god, Iesu my kyng,
Iesu, bi loue be al my þoht,
30 þou ne askes[t]’ me non oper þing of ober þing ne recche y noht;
bote trewe loue & eke seruyng,
y zyrne to haue pi wille ywroht,
ant loue-teres wiþ suete mournyng. for þou me hauest wel deore yboht.
1 r. zeue. 2 al. be made. 3 Ms. askesd i V my nede, R my dede.
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Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge.
Ms. Reg. 17 B xvir.
Ms. Vernon.
Ihesu, al-þof I synful be,
q Ihesu, al-þauz, I synful be,
170 For longe hast þou spared me; Ful longe hastou spared me;
170
Þo more ouzt I to luf pe
Þe more owe I to loue be
Þat pou to me hast ben so fre.
Pat pou wiþ me hast ben so fre.
Mary mylde, fre and gent,
Pray for me, pou art present,
175 Þat wen my soule (is) fro me went,
Pat it haf (god) iugement.
Ihesu, for sobe now is no þinge 1 | Ihesu, forsope now nis no þing
In al pis world of suche likynge, In al pis world of such lykyng;
Þat can so myche of luf-longynge, Pat con so muche of loue-longyng, 175
189 As þou Ihesu, my dere swetynge. As pou Ihesu, my deore swetyng.
Ihesu, wele owe I to luf þe, il
( Ihesu, wel ouzt I loue þe, il
For þat me schewed po rode-tre, For Þou me schewest þi Rode-tre,
Þi corone of pornes, pi nayles þre, Þi Coroune of þornes, and nayles þre,
Po scha[r]pe spere þat þorowstonge pe. Pe scharpe spere þat þorw-stong þe. 180
185 Thesu, of luf is sope tokenynge 1 Ihesu, of loue I seo tokenyng
Þi hed doun bowed to luf-kyssynge, Pin armes spradde to loue-cluppyng,
Pin armes sprad to luf-clyppynge, Pin hed bouwede to swete cussyng,
Þi syde al open to luf-schewynge. Pi syde al opene to loue-schewyng.
Ihesu, wen I pink on þe
q Ihesu, whon I þenke on þe
190 And loke vpon po rode-tre,
And loke vppon pe Roode-tre,
Pi swete body be-bled I se:
Þi swete bodi bi-bled I se:
Lord, do þat syzt to wonde me. Lord, do þat siht to wounde me!
Ihesu, þi moder þat be pe stode, 1 Ihesu, þi Moder þat bi þe stood,
Of luf-teres ho wepped a flode;
Of loue-teres heo wepte a lood; I9o
195 Pi woundes and pi holy blode
Þy woundes and þyn holy blood
Made hyr2 hert of drery mode. 13.) Heo maden hire haue a dreri mood. 132
Ir. Ful. 2 overl.
Ms. Harl. 2253. Transfer oakley no. 99, 53204
45 'Iesu, þah ich sunful be,
Iesu, of loue soth tocknynge,
wel longe pou hauest yspared me; pin armes spredep to mankynde,
be more oh ich to louie þe
þin heued doun-boweb to suete cussinge,
þat þou me hauest ben so fre.
Þin side al openep to loue-longynge. 60
Iesu, when ich þenke on þe
(6 vv. wanting).
ant loke vpon pe rode-tre,
þi suete body to-toren y se,
hit makep heorte to smerte me.
Iesu, þe quene þat by be stod,
. . . . . . . . . . . ... of loue-teres beo weop a flod;
55 þy bacl of þornes, þy nayles þre, Þin woundes & pin holy blod
Þe sharpe spere þat þourh-stong þe. made hire huerte of dreori mod.
1 Hall. beke: brim of a hat.
185
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Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Reg. 17 B xvII.
Ms. Vernon.
Ihesu, luf did pe to grete,
Ihesu, loue be dude to wepen,
Luf be made blode to swete,
Loue þe dude Þi blod to sweten,
For luf pou were we[l] sore be-bete, For loue pou were sore beten,
200 Luf be made lyf te lete. 136 Loue be dude þi lyf to leten. 195
Ihesu, pou saydest: »alle zee
MArie, I prei þe, as pou art fre, 137
Pat passen in way here be me,
Of þi serwe parte wiß me,
A while abydes, comes and se
Pat I mowe serwe here wil þe
If ony in sorow is like to me«.
And partiner of þi blisse be.
205 Ihesu, pou saydist: »telle po me,
My dere (folk]', what it may be
Pat I haf gilte agaynes þe,
Why þis payne is so hard to me?«
? Ihesu pou saydist after zitte:
210 »My dere (vynzard] }, I haf Þe [s]ette,
My fadres blysse I be be-hette
With al my-self, what wil pou bette?
Thesu, po saydist þen more:
»My dere folk, Þou tell [me] zoure
215 Why haf I for my holy lore
And for gode dedis hert sore?«
Thesu, pou saydist: »how is þis,
My swete, what haf I don of mys
Þat pou withouten ony lys
220 Me zeldist pyne agayne my blys ?«
Ihesu, þi luf Þou tauztest me 1 q Ihesu, þi loue pou taubtest me 1271 200
With swete wordes of hert fre
Wiß swete wordes of herte fre
Þat pou spake on rode-tre,
Þat pou speek on Roode-trem
So ful of luf may none be.
So ful of loue ne mihte non be.
225 Thesu, þo first was, I rede,
Ihesu, þe furste word was, as I rede,
Þat pou þi swete fader bede
Pat pou þi deore ffader beede 205
Þat he for-gyf hom þer mysdede Þat he forzaf hem heore misdede,
Alle þat diden [be] to po dede, Alle pat duden þe to dede.
Thesu, þat oper was, I-wis,
Ihesu, þat oper was I-wis
230 Þat pou saydist, as wryten is:
Þat þou seidest, as writen is:
Pat po thef schuld be in blys
Þat pe þeef schulde haue blis
With þe þat day in paradys. :
Wiß pe þat day in paradis.
1 Ms. fader. 2 The next 2 st. are tr. in V.
SI ALEXAN

210
3 Ms. kyoreden.
4 Ms. fette.
6 r. zore.
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Transfer to hell no.99, .198 2050
Ms. Harl. 2253.
Iesu, suete loue þe dude gre[t]yn, for loue pou were sore ybeten,
70 loue Þe made blod to sueten,
loue be dude þi lyf to leten.
i Ms. gredyn.
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Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge.
Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Vernon.
Thesu, pat obeg was of mon,
q Ihesu, pe pridde was of Mon:
Wen þi moder schuld fro be go[n], Whon þi Mooder pe schulde forgon,
235 Also þou hir betauztest? one
A sone pou hire be-tauhtest on,
And say dist: »wommon, lo here Ion«. And seidest: »wommon, tak heer Ion.« 215
?Ihesu, as Þo was pyned zore, | Ihesu, as pou weore pyned more,
Po [fourthe]4 worde pou saydist þore: Þe ffeorpe word þou seydest. Þore:
»A now, god, me thy[r]stes sore
»A«, seydest þow, »me þursteþ sore«-
240 It was for hom þat synful wore./60 Hit was for hem þat dampned wore. 160
Ihesu, po fy[f]the rewe[s] me,
Ihesu, þe ffyfpe word Rewep me, 220
Pat þou spake on rode-tre:
Pat pow seidest on Roode-tre:
»My god, my god, how may þis be, »Mi God, Mi God, hou may þis be
It semes pou hast forsaken me?«
Pat pou hast al forsake me ?«
245 Ihesu, po sexte worde it was
Ihesu, þe sixte word hit was
Wen þou saydist in manus tuas, Whon Þou seidest In manus tuas, 225
· Betoke þi fader in þat plas
Be-tauhtest þi ffader in þat plas
Pi soule as pi wille was. 16 Þi soule, as his wille was.
•1 Ms. betauztast. 2 The next 2 stanzas
are tr. in Ms.' 3 Ms. zoure, u expunged.
q Ihesu, In al þi p.eyne mest
4 Ms. fyft. 5 Ms. fyrthe.
Neuere was so meke best:
Pou seydest Consummatum est,
Pyn hed fel doun, Þou zelde pe gost.
| Ihesu, pou seidest: valle ze
Pat passen be þe wey bi me,
A while a-bydep, comeþ and se
Zif eny serwe is lyk to me.co
235
Ihesu, pou seidest: »tel þow me,
Mi deore folk, what hit may be,
What haue I gult azeynes þe
Pat pou so bitter art to me?«
q Ihesu, pou seydest þenne more: 240
»Mi deore folk, ze tel me zore,
Haue I wiþ myn holi lore
And gode dedes I-hurt so sore?«
f Ihesu, pou seidest after zet:
»Mi deore wynzard, ne haue I be set, 245
Mi ffader blisse pe bi-het,
Wip al my-self-what woldest þou bet ?«
q Ihesu, pou seidest: »hou is þis,
Mi swete, what haue I do mis
Pat pou wip-outen eny lis
250
Me zeldest schome azeyn Mi blis ?«
Marie, þat slakest alle wo, 192
Helle-peynes schild me fro,
And zif me grace her do so
Pat I from henne to heuene go. 255
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Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Vernon.
| Ihesu, ffyue welles I fynde in þe:
Pat loue-spring to-drawel me;
Of Rede blod be stremes be,
Mi soule of synnes wasschen heo.
| Ihesu, my soule drauz þe to, 25/ 260
And mak myn herte wyde vndo;
Zif bit Þi loue to drynke so,
Þat flessches lustes ben fordo.
Ihesu, Muchel Ich owe þe:
Who schal hit al zelde þe?
Me bi-houeþ þi-self hit be,
As pou pyne suffredest for me.
Ihesu, þi loue zef me follyke,
In myn herte þat hit stike,
Mi soule hit þurle Inwardliche,
Þat hit be þyn enteerliche.
Ihesu, do me loue be so 2 od
Þat, wher I beo, or what I do,
Þat I for weole ne for wo
Ne let myn herte torne þe fro.
1 ?Ihesu lord, Mi swetyng,
Hold me euere in þy kepyng,
Mak of me pi derlyng,.
Pat I Þe loue ouer alle þing.
q Ihesu, my weole and al my wynne, 280
Al my Ioye is þe wiþ-Inne:
Now and euere kep me from synne,
To do þi wille let me not blynne.
q Ihesu, mihtful Heuene-kyng,
Di loue beo al my lykyng, - 285
Mi mournyng and my longyng,
Wiþ swete teres wepyng.
q Ihesu, zif me for þi name hay
Pacience In peyne and schame, .
Þat to my soule is note and frame; 290
And mak myn herte Mylde & tame.
1 H tacheḥ. 2 The next 3 stanzas cer-
tainly suggest R. Rolle.
Thamper here they wan99 , .107 205.
Ms. Harl. 2253.
· Iesu, fyf woundes ich fynde in þe, pis hure of loue to drynke so,
þy loue-sprenges tachep me;
þat fleysshliche lust be al for-do.
75 of blod & water þe stremes be,
Iesu Crist, do me loue be so
vs to whosshe from oure fon pre. þat wher y be, & what so y do,
Iesu, my saule drah be to,
lyf ne deb, weole ne wo,
min heorte opene, & wyde vndo, Ne do myn huerte pe turne fro.
27.12
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Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge.
Ms. Vernon.
q Ihesu, al þat is feir to [s]e?,
Pat to be fflessches lykyng may be,
Al worldes blisse, do me fe
And al my tent ziue to be.
Marie, swete Mayden fre, 23
For Ihesu (Crist] be-seche Í þe,
Þi swete sone do loue me,
And mak me worþi þat hit so be.
Ihesu, in þe beo al my þouzt-
Of oper þyng ne recche I nouzt;
Whon I of þe may felen ouzt,
Þen is my soule wel of-pouzt.
Ibesu, zif pou for-lete me,
What may me lyken of þat I se? 305
Blisse may non wiþ me be,
Til þat þou come azeyn to me.
Ihesu, þat me hast deore abouht,
Al þat to synne drawep ouht
Holliche puyt out of my þouzt, 310
So þat I ne wrappe pe nouzt.
Ihesu, my soule is weddet to pe 253
Wiþ rihte hit ouhte pin owne to be;
| Þauz I haue synget azeynes þe,
Di Merci is euere redi to me.
ORS
Decorate Orche
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1 Ms. Þe.
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Ms. Harl. 2253. Thorper lo se hy. 99, 9 0
85 Marie, suete mayde fre,
when ich of þe mai felen oht,
for Iesu Crist byseche y þe,
þenne is my soule wel ywroht.
þi suete. sone do louie me,
Iesu, zef þou for-letest me,
ant make me worpi þat y so be.
what may m[e] lik[yn]" of þat y se?
Iesu, do me þat for bi name
mai no god blisse wit me be,
go me likep to dreze pyne & shame, o? þat þou come azeyn to me.
þat is þ[e]? soule note ant frame,
Iesu, zef pou bist zeorne bysoht,
ant make myn herte milde & tame.
when pou comest, ant elles noht,
Iesu, al þat is fayr to se,
no Aleishliche lust ne wicked þoht
al pat to fleyhs mai likyng be,
in to myn heorte ne be ybroht.
95 al worldes blisse, to leten me
Iesu, mi soule is spoused to þe;
graunte, for þe loue of þe.
ofte ych habbe misdon azeynes pe;
Iesu, in þe be al my þoht,
Iesu, þi merci is wel fre:
al oper blisse ne recchy noht;
Iesu, merci y crie to be.
"V hit. 2 Ms. by.
1 Ms. mi likyng. 2 = till.
105
110
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Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII. .
Ms. Vernon.
9 Ihesu þi Merci ! bi-leue I craue-
Me bihoueb þat I hit haue;
Pe deuh of grace vppon me laue,
And worþi me make bi loue to haue. '
T'Ihesu, pou be al my zernyng, 320
In þe be, lord, al my lykyng,
Mi pouzt, my dede, and my Mournyng
To haue Þe Euere in loue-longyng.
Ihesu, my leof, Mylde of mood, 26
Mi soule haþ neode of þi good: 325
Mak hit clene and þolemood,
And ful hit of þi loue-flod.
Ihesu, my soule preyeþ þe,
Let hit nouzt vncloped be;
Clope hit wip þi loue fre,
330
Wiþ goode werkes þat lyken þe.
| Ihesu, Beute ne aske I pe noužt, 207
Ne proude clopes nobli wrougt,
Londes ne Rentes, deore bouzt,
But hertly loue and clene pouzt. 335
Ihesu, whonne so hit lykep þe,
Loue-sparkes send pou me;
Mak myn herte al hot to be,
Brennynde in þe loue of þe.
M Arie, și sone preye hertely
For me, wrecche vnworpy,
Pat he wole enterly
Graunte me bis Merci.
1 This st. suggests R. Rolle.
ertely 28
340
TARA: SNS
125
Ms, Harl. 2253. Transfer to tell her. 79, thered 9 8205
Iesu, wiþ herte (bi-leue)? y craue, Iesu, my soule bidde y þe,
hit bihoueþ nede þat ich bit baue; eueremore wel vs be?;
115 þe deu of grace vpon me laue, Iesu, al myhtful heuene kyng,
ant from alle harmes Þou ne saue. þi loue is a wel derne þing.
Iesu, from me be al þat þyng
Iesu, wel mai myn herte se
þat [be]? may be to mislikyng;
þat milde & meoke he mot be,
al þat is nede pou me bryng:
alle ynþewes & lustes file,
120 to haue þi loue is my zyrnyng.
þat felen wole pe blisse of þe.
Iesu mi lif, of milde mod,
Iesu, þah ich be vnworbi
mi soule haþ gret neode of þi god: to loue þe, louerd al-myhti,
[m]ak 3 hire treufole ant polemod, Þi loue me makeþ to ben hardy
ant ful hire of þi loue-[f]lod*.
ant don me al in pin merci.
Ms. Þi loue. 2 Ms. me. 3 Ms. tak. I some vv. wanting?
4 Ms. blod.
130
135
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Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge.
Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Vernon.
1 Ibesu almihti, heuene-kyng,
Pi loue is a ful derne þing;
May no mon hit witen porw knowyng,
But he hit feele porw herte þenkyng.
Ihesu, gyf me þat I may se
| Ihesu, zif me þat I may see
250 Po grete gode þat þou hast don to me. De Muchele good þou hast do me.
Vnkynde agayne haf I ben to þe: And I vnkynde azeyn haue be,
For-gyf me, lord pat art so fre. For-gif me, lord, þat art so.fre.
Ihesu, þi luf & fleschely þouzte
Ihesu, þi loue and fleschly pouzt
Won to-geder may pay nouzte,
Wonen to-gedrene mouwe pleji nouzt,
255 As hony and gal to-geder brouzte; As Hony & galle to-gedre brouzt;
Swete & bytter acordes nouzte.
Swete and Bitter a-cordeþ nougt.
Ihesu, with hert I vak (1)? þe, q Ihesu, wij herte I ponke þe.
Þof I a wrecche synful be;
Pouz I wrecche and sunfol be,
In trwe hope I pray þe
In trewe hope I preye þe,
260 Pi blys and mercy graunte pou me. Þi Blisse & Merci graunte pou me.
Ihesu, þof I be vnworþi
| Ihesu, þauh I be vnworpi 30!
To luf þe, lord almyzty,
To loue þe, lord Almihti,
Þi godenes makes me hardy
Þi godnesse me makep hardi
To do my soule in þi mercy.
Mi soule to don in þi Merci.
265 Ihesu, þi mercy confortes me; ( Ihesu, þi Merci cumfortep me,
For no man may so synful be
For no mon may so synful be,
Þat wold leue synne & turne to be, Þat synne wol leue and to pe fle,
Pat redy mercy ne fynd he.
Pat Merci ful redi [ne] fyndeþ he.
Ihesu, þof I synful be,
270 Trysty hope I haue to þe:
Perfore, lorde, I pray be
Pat of my synnes 'amende pou me.
Ihesu, for synful, as writen is, 19 Ihesu, for synful, as writen is,
Þou lyztest fro pi bye blys
Pou lihtest from pin heize blis
275 In to Maries wombe, I-wys,
In to Marie wombe, I-wis,
To brynge vs alle to rest & blys . To ziuen vs alle reste and lis.
i V ponke. 2 to overl. in red; þat, and Ihesu, þauz I synful be,
I haue euere trust hope in þe:
1 Perfore, lord, I preye þe
Pat of my synnes amende pou me.
365
370
bou, crossed out in red.
36 added.
375
Ms. Harl. 2253. Franselon lo shey 324.9% . 196-205.
Iesu, bi mildenesse frorep me;
For sunful folk, suete Iesus,
for no mon mai so sunful be,
þou lihtest from þ[i]' heze hous,
zef he let sunne, ant to be fle,
pore & loze pou were for ous,
140 pat ne fynd socour at þe.
þin heorte loue pou sendest ous.
1 Ms. Þe.
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Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Vernon.
19 Ihesu, þou art so good a mon, ? Harry
Pi loue desyre I as I con:
Me to lette suffre þing non,
Swete Ihesu, my deore lemmon.
Ihesu, euer beseche I þe
Ihesu, euere beo-seche I pe,
Py luf inwardely graunte pou me; Pin Inward loue pou graunte me;
Þof I per-to vnworþi be,
Pouz I Þerto vnworpi be,
280 Make me worpi, þat art so fre. Pou mak me worþi, þat art so fre. '
| Marie Milde, ful of pite, 325
Prey þi deore sone for me
385
Pat he graunte me to be
Euere in blisse wiß him and þe.
Thesu, pou art al swete & gode : Ihesu al swete, þat art al good,
Do þi luf drynk my hert blode; Do þi loue drynke myn herte-blod;
Di luf makes so swete-wode,
Þi loue me makeþ so swete-wod 390
Þat wonder blysful is my mode.. Pat wonder blisful is my mood.
285 Thesu, do me to do þi wille
| Ihesu, do me do þi wille,
Now and euer, lowde & stille;
Nou and euere, loud and stille ;
With Þi luf my soule pou fille,
Wiþ þi loue my soule fulfille
And suffur (neuer]þat I do ille. And soffre neuere þat I do ille. 395
Thesu, þi luf is swete & stronge, ( Ihesu, þi loue is swete and strong, 3
290 My lyf is al þer-on longe:
Mi lyf is al þer-on I-long:
Teche me, lord, þi luf-songe,
Tech me, lord, þi loue-song,
With swete? teres euer amonge. Wiþ swete teres euer a-mong.
Thesu, if pou be fro me go,
Ihesu, zif pou be from me go, 400
My hert is ful of sorow & wo;
Min herte is ful of serwe & wo;
295 What may I say bot welawo,
What may I sey but weylawo,
When pou, my god, art gon me fro? Whon pou, my swete, art went me fro?
1 Ms. me. 2 With s added, orig. Wete.
ezveranv t . **
Ms. Harl. 2253. Thereafer de la 89, 9 aos
145 Iesu, forþi byseche y be,
by Iesu, þi loue is suete & strong,
þi suete loue, pou graunte me
mi lif is al on þe ylong :
þat ich þare-to worþi be,
tech me, Iesu, þi loue-song,
make me worþi, pat art so fre.
wiþ suete teres euer among.
160
Iesu, pou art so god a mon,
Iesu, do me to seruen þe,
150 Þi loue y zyrne al-so y con;
wher in londe so y be;
pare-fore ne lette me nomon,
when ich be fynde, wel is me-
pah ich for loue be blac ant won. Zef þou ne woldest awey fie!
Iesu al suete, Iesu al god,
Iesu, zef pou be from me go, 165
þi loue drynkep myn beorte blod, mi soule is fol of serewe ant wo;.
155 þi loue me makeþ so swybel wod, whet may i sugge bote wolawo,
þat y ne drede for no flod.
when mi lif is me atgo?
1 al. swete.
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Swete Ihesu, now wil I synge.
Ms, Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Vernon,
: Mary, Þi son praye hertely
For me wrecche and ynworþi,
Pat he now wil inwardely
* 300 Graunte me his mercy.
Ihesu, þin ore, pou rewe on me, 1 Ihesu pin ore, pou rewe on me,
When schal my soule come to be? Whon schal my soule come to be? 405
How longe schal I here be
Hou longe schal hit here be,
Þat I ne may þe, my lemman, se? Per I ne may þe, my lemmon, se?
305 Thesu, þi lore teche pou' me q Ihesu, þi lore techeb me
With al my hert to luf þe;
Wip al myn herte to loue pe:
Porow þi myzte make it so be,
Porw pi miht mak hit so be, 410
And þerto, lord, constrayne me. Þat þerto, lord, constreyne me.
Ibesu my lord, Ihesu my kynge, q Ihesu my lef, my lord, my kyng,
310 My soule to pe has grete longynge, To be my soule haþ gret longyng,
Pat bir weddist with bi rynge:
Pou hast hit weddet wip þi Ryng:
When þi wille is, hir to Þe bringe. Whon þi wille is, to þe hit bring. 415
Ihesu, þat dere bouztest me,
q Ihesu, þat deore bouztest me, 357
Make me worþi to come to be;
Mak me worþi to come to be;
315 Al my synnes forgyf þou me,
Alle my sunnes forzif pou me,
Þat I in blys may þe se.
Pat I may comen & wone wiþ þe.
Ihesu so fayre, Ihesu so bryzte, q Ihesu al feir, my lemmon briht, 420
I Þe beseche with al my mygte
I Þe be-seche wiþ al my miht,
Brynge my soule in to þi lygte,
Bring my soule in to pi liht,
320 Þere ioy is euer bope day & nyzte. Þer is day and neuer niht.
fol. 19. Ihesu, þi helpe at myn endinge; Ihesu, þin help at myn endyng;
Take my soule at my deinge,
Tac my soule at my dizyng,
425
And sende vsº counfort & sokeringe Seende hit socour & cunfortyng,
Þat ho drede no wicked þinge. Þat hit ne drede no wikked þing.
1 r. techeb. 2 r. hir.
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iro
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Ms. Harl. 2253.
Iesu, þin ore, pou rewe of me,
170 for whenne shal ich come to be?
Iesu, þi lore biddep me
wiþ al myn herte louie þe.
Iesu mi lif, Iesu my kyng,
my soule haueh to þe zyrnyng :
175 when þi wille is, to be hire bryng,
Þou art suetest of alle þyng.
Iesu, þat deore bohtest? me,
make me worþi come to þe;
alle mi sunnes forzef þou me,
þat ich wiþ blisse be mowe se.
Iesu so feir, Iesu so briht,
þat i biseche wiþ al my myht,
bring mi soule in to be lyht,
þer is day wib-oute nyht.
Iesu, þin help at myn endyng,
ant ine þat dredful out-wendyng
send mi soule god weryyng,
þat y ne drede non eouel þing.
i al. in.
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Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Ms. Vernon.
325 Thesu, form þi ercie fre
Ihesu, ffor þi Merci fre
Suche grace ben sende to me
In siker hope do pou me
to scape pyne & come to þe, 1! To scapen peyne & come to be 430
And euer with Þe in blis to be. And euere in blisse wiß Þe be.
Ihesu Crist, mer[r]i. ben he
q Ihesu, Ihesu, Blessed ben heo
330 Pat euer in blis may be se
| Pat in pi blisse mowe pe se
And haue fulliche po loue of þe: And haue folliche pe loue of pe:
Swete Ihesu, pou graunt hit me. Swete Ihesu, pou graunte hit me. 435
Ihesu, þi? loue has non ending, Ihesu, þi Blisse haþ non endynge,
Pere nys..no sorow ne no wepyng,
| Per nis no serwe ne no wepynge,
335 but ioy & blis & ful likyng: 37 But pees & Ioye wij gret lykynge:
Swete Thesu, þer-to vs bryng, Amen. Swete Ihesu, þerto vs bringe. Amen.
1 Ms. merci. ? r. þer ?
T Hose ofte seip þis wiß good wille, 440
Schal fynde grace his loue to fille;
Holygost his herte schal tille,
From synne him bringe & ffendes ille.
I BRENOVALA
NURJAAN
MO
Ms. Hari. 2253. Transfer to delle nost. 99 /982056
Iesu, þi grace, þat is so fre! ant fulliche habbe pe loue of þe: 195
190 in siker hope do pou me
suete Iesu, þou graunte hit me.
at scapen peyne ant come to be,
Iesu, þi? loue hauep non endyng,
to þe blisse þat ay shal be.
þer nis no serewe ne no wepyng,
Iesu Iesu, ful wel ben he
bote ioie & blisse ant lykyng:
þat yne și blisse mowen be
Suete Iesu, þare-to vs bryng; Amen. 200
11. berl i maup205
a 1400 Blaga. Anneye (Ray)
✓ 3. (Speculum mundi)."
(A Sermon of Alquin to Guy of Warwik).
Super Other, later , Mss.: Arund. 140 fol. 147, Harl. 525 f. 44, Cambr. Dd XI. 89
f. 1622. The poem is founded on Alcuin's Liber de virtutibus et vitiis ad Widonem
comitem (Migne 1o C, 613), of which an old extract in Ags. is extant in Ms. Cambr.
Ii I. 33 (c. 1100). The poem is Midland, probably by the author of Ipotis, and
can, therefore, have nothing to do with R. Rolle; yet I give it here, in pursuance
of my plan to follow up the northern Mss. — Ms. Reg. gives the best text, though
northern endings have been introduced.

4
.
SAAS
Speculum Tuus.
parlamenter
.
2
Herkens alle to my speche
And hele of soule I wil zou teche;
þat I wil speke hit is not fabul, .
but hit is ful profitabul. -
Mon, if pou wilt heuen wynne,
thorou loue to god pou most bigynne ;
þis shal be þi bigynnyng:
pou loue god ouer al þing;
1 Title at the end; Speculum vtile istius mundi.
2 Ms. Ar. contains: Ipotis, Mandeville's Travels, Prick of Conscience, »Gy Earl of Werwyke
& Deken Alquynea, 7 Sages, Story of Melibeus. Ms. Harl.: Sege of Troy, Robert of Sicily,
» Speculum Gydonis de Warewyke sec. Alquinum heremitama. Ms. Cambr. Dd XI. 89: be Abbey
Þe prick of conscience f. 9-162, our poem titled »he Sermon þat a clerk
made bat was cleput Alquyn to Gwy of Warwyko, a poem vhow ich Cristenman owe for to hafe
a remembraunce of þe passion of our lord Ihesu Cristea, beginning: »Of alle þe ioyus þat in
þis worlde may be«, and a poem on the lord's prayer fol. 186-196, beg.: God of hesus þat
sittest in trone«.
Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.
And þin euen-cristen loue also
10 right as þi-selue pou most do.
And if pou wilt þus bigynne & ende,
þou may [be] siker to heuen to wende.
But if pou loue more worldis? gode
þen god him-selue in þi mode,
15 pou shalt hit fynde an yuel plaw,
to dethe of soule hit wil þe draw.
For when þo world þe has kaght
In his panter thorou his draght,
At his wille he wil he lede,
20 pou shalt not spare for no drede
ne for loue to god ne for his awe
to go out of po right lawe;
for soche hit ben bat louen more
þo world & his foule lore,
25 þen þai don god þat hom wroght
& on po rode ful dere boght.
Here I wil a while duelle
& a tale I wil zou telle
Of an erle of gode fame,
30 Gye of Werwik was his name,
how in a tyme he stode in þoght,
þo worlds blis him poght noght:
þo world a-non bere he forsoke
And to Ihesu Crist him toke,
35 And loued god & al his lore,
And serued hynn after euer-more.
A gode mon per was in pat dawe
þat leued wel alle gods lawe:
Alquyne was his right name,
40 and man he was of gode fame;
Deken he was, bo ordre he had,
In holynes his lyue he lad;
witt of clergy he had I-noghe,
& perfore to godnes euer he droghe.
Perof pe erel was wel war,
& al his wille to him he bar]},
45 & of hym he toke his rede
to kepe his soule fro þo quede.
. On a day, I vnderstonde,
Sir Gy po erle sende his sonde
to þat holi mon Alquyne,
50 & sayde: »I grete be wel, fader iyne,
and praye be for gods loue,
þat vs alle sittes a-boue,
þat þou wilt per charite
& in amendement of me
make me a gode sermone,
55
and write hit in a leccione, .
þat were my ioy & my delite
& to my soule a grete profite.
For þo world thorou his foule gyle
has me lad to long while;
60
perof I wil counsaile take
how I may Đo world forsake«.
Þen Alquyne po erle answerid,
and Ihesu Crist ful zerne he herid
þat siche a witt was comen hym to, 65
and saied his praier he wolde do;
»& sithen þat I shal be pi leche,
Aller-first I wil pe teche
ffaire vertues for to take,
And foule thewes to forsake.
70
Þus may pou not do, leeue brober,
but if þou knowe bothe one & oper.
I shal þe now shew bothe,
whoche are gode, & whoche are lothe.
And at po best I wil bigynne, 75
po better grace for to wynne,
po vertuz I wil first showe
whoche pai ben on a rowe.
Wisdam in gods drede
vse wel, þat is my rede,
Trewe [bi-leue]’, & charite-
þese thre shul leeue with be,
Stedfast hope, & mekenes,
Pees, mercie, & forgyuenes,
Loue of hert ful of pite
þat is verray humilite.
And if pou wolt (haue] gods ore,
zit pou most vse more
ffor þi synne repentaunce,
& redy þerfore to do penaunce, 90
with sorou at þi hert rote,
& shrift of mouthe shal be þi yote.
In almes-dede & charite
þi lyue shal euer-more be.
Pes ben po thewes þat I wil þe teche 95
wher-thorow pou may to heuen reche;
i Ms. worldlis. 2 Ms. of of. 3 These
2 vv. are om. in Ms.; but so AH.
1 These virtues form the subject of the poem,
with many digressions; the vices are not
treated. 2 Ms. loue.
aloo
26
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
& so þou may bo world forsake,
If þou wilt hom to þe take.
Now I wil þe nemen þo wicked thewes,
100 þate are swithe mykel shrewes-
for if þou dos by hore rede,
To strong pyne þai wil þe lede ;
þen is gode þat þou shon
forto drawe hom in to þi won:
105 Herken now unto me
And hom I wil nemen þe.
Pride, wrath, & enuye,
fals Iugement, & trechorye,
fals wittnesse is one of poo-
IIO Mony a soule hit dos ful woo;
Loue not to myche pis worlds bles,
hit brynges mony vnto merkenes;
Auarice, & glotonye,
wicked slownes, & lechorye.
115 Accide is a ful foule synne
To mon þat he may com with-Inne,
And what hit is I wil þe wisse,
Vnderstonde þat þou not mysse:
Accide is slownes broper
I20 wicke is one & wicke .ober;
hit is a derne mournyng in mode,
& makes mon fro mynde to do gode.
Oft thorou siche wicke mournyng
wanhope bygynnes for to spryng;
125 but mon turne away per-froo,
Saued bes he neuer-moo.
Wroper-hele was Iudas borne,
for thorou þat synne he was forlorne;
Mercie he lest' thorou þat synne,
130 wher-thorou he might no ioy wynne.
Iche mon be redy in his sight
to fle þat synne with al his might,
And alle oper þat I haue nempned,
If þai wil to ioy be demened 3.
135 Herken now to my sermoune
what I wil telle in my lessoune.
(De sa: Wisdam in gods drede,
of whiche þat I bifore saide,
Two þinges hit wil þe teche
140 wher-thorow pou may to heuen reche:
þat is, leeue synne, & do gode,
1 A lees. 2 A nempt. 3 A dempt.
for his loue pat died on rode.
But for to loue? al onely
Is not ynoghe, sikerly:
pou most do gode forth Þerwith, 145
If þou wolt haue mercy & grith.
Bis wonder is? of mony a synful mon
þate penken hit were mykel for hom
to haue grete worlds honoure,
As londes, rentes, halle & boure, 150
Riche vessel of siluer & golde,
& grete tresoure & faire holde,
Riche mete & riche drynke,
And litel perfore forto swynke,
hele of body & boon & hide,
155
& grete loos of pompe & pride.
Qui[d] felicius quam vita peccatoris.
A myrry lyue hom þenke hit were:
but eft hit mot be boght ful dere.-
3 but no-bo-lesse hit may bifalle wel,
þof a mon haue myche catel
хбо
As londus, rentes, & oper gode,
Zit he may be pore of mode,
And ful low of hert I-wise,
& holde þerof litel prise.-
but now I wil speke & rede
Of hom þate I bifore sayde,
þat thorow hore pride & hore wille
fallen oft in grete perrille.
Saynt Austyn holdes per-with right noght,
& saies hit shal be dere boght. 170
And skilfully hit most be so:
for when a mon has synne I-do,
Ouper he most hit bete here,
Or ellis suffur payne ellis-where.
Wilt þou here now what I rede4 175
god kithes hom þate wil hym drede ?
he wil holde hom here lowe,
for þai shuld hym po better knowe;
he wil chastise hom with smale pyninge
and make hom to lese pat hote brennynge, 180
& mony angwisshes he wil hom gyue
to suffur here whil þai lyue,
and hongur & thrust & trauel strong
Þai shul haue euer a-mong,
losse of catel, & sekenesse-
185
- 165
e
I al. to leue bi synne. 2 1. T'is wonder?
3 Cf. S. Edm. Spec. sal. louerede.
Spes. Try Ray)
Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.
235
& alle is to eke hore bles.
þen to god pat gaue hym lyue.
mon, if þou leues not me,
& for þat he did after hir lore,
Seke aboute & þou may se
he boght hit sithen swithe sore:
þese holy men alle by-dene
His fredom was fro hym tane all,
190 how þai lyueden in woo & tene. & putte in seruage as a thrall;
And if pou my tale not for-zeite, Not onely he, but alle poo
þen may pou þo better witt
þate of hym comen for euer-moo.
þat þo worlds blis is noght
But for hit was for gile done,
when þou hast hit thorou-soght; God had pyte per-vp-one,
240
195 for if a mon haue here his wille, & eke for loue þat he hade
ful lyghtly he may spille. —
to monkynde þat he made:
(De fide) Here I wil a while blynne,
to saue mon, mon he bicome, .
Anober þing I wil bygynne:
& pyne grete for hym he nome,
To speke more of þi bileue;
And gaue for hym his hert blode 245
200 for hit is gode & wil not greue. with harde deth vppon po rode.
Mon, þi bileue shal be soo:
Biryed he was, in tombe he lay,
þat on god is & no moo,
til hit come po thrid day:
þat one god is in vnyte,
vp he ros po thrid day
thre persons in trinite.
fro deth to lyue with-outen nay. 250
205 Pou shalt bileue also,
To heuen he steghe thorow his might
& treuly in pi hert hit do,
Right in to his fadre sight,
þat god had never bigynnynge,
And sittes on his fadur right side,
ne neuer shal haue endynge,
po grete dome to a-byde.
And shaper is of alle shaftes,
He wil come sithen on domes-day, 255
210 & gyues witt in alle craftes;
Cruel & sterne, with-outen nay;
And mon made after his oune face he þat was wont to be
þat was for louel of heghe grace, meke as lombe, ful of pite,
And gaue to mon fre powere
þere þen he wil light adoune
to chese 2 bothe fer & nere,
wrathful, sterne as a lyoune;
260
215 Of gode & yuel shede to make, Mercie wil he shewe none,
po yuel to leeue, po gode to take; but right after þat mon has done
wheber he wil chese he has powere, pai shal take hore Iugement,
thorou might of god, whil he is here. to ioy or to strong tourment.
Þen hit is not on god longe
Alas, how shal þai on take
220 If mon wil chese to do wronge.
þate wolden here god forsake
Adam was po first man
Thorou synne of flesshely likyng,
þat euer ony synne by-gan,
& wolden hit bete with no pynyng!
And þat was god to wite noght; Perfore pai shul wende til helle,
þerfore hit was ful dere boght.
nyl þai wil þai þere to duelle,
225 God gaue hym witte as his owene & pere bileeue for euer-moo
gode. & wicke for to knowene:
In strong pyne & eke in woo.
& thorou þo eggyng of þo fende & Eue Sent Austen spekis of alle seche Habent
mortem
he did a synne pat did hym greue; And saies wordes ful reulyche:
sine
Vnbuxumnes was his 3 gilte-
„Þai shal haue deth with-outen deyng,
morte, &
finem
230 þerfore oute of paradise was he pilte. & ende of dethe with-outen endyng;« mortis
sine
Buxummer he was to his wyue
hore deth pai shal wille euer,
fine.
1 al. Nas þat greti oue...? 2 Ms. these. 3 Ms. hit.
265
.
270
al400
28
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B xvII.
330
proxi-
mum
tuum
quem
non
potes
dili-
but to ende of deth come pai neuer;
þai shal euer-more dire?
280 In strong payne of hote fire.
Here a while I wil dwelle
& of a myrrier ping zow telle:
Telle I wil now forthe, I-wis,
Of bo ioies of paradis,
285 þo whiche gods childre þat gode bene
shul haue & al-so sene;
& of? I hade in my baylye
po witte of alle clergye,
hit might neuer so byfalle
290 þat I might thorouly telle hom alle;
but as god wil gyue me grace,
I shal zou shewe in pis place
what ioy pai shul haue ir-fere
þat seruen god on erth here.
295 When þat þai shal parte hethen,
ful wel þai shul hore way kenen
Right to po blis of paradyse
þat god has zarkid to alle hyse.
Pere is eucr ioye ynoghe,
300 and euer right with-outen woghe,
witt & conyng & coyntyse,
A trewe loue with-outen fayntise,
Strengthe y-now & fairenes,
& light with-outen merkenes.
305 Þere shul pai haue no gylt,
for alle hore wille shal be fulfilt;
Þai shul haue per-with, I-wis,
ful ioy & ful blis,
bothe po pore & po riche.
310 but witt þou wil", not alle yliche,
Ilkone shal haue his wonnyng
Right after his oune doseruyng 5;
But trow pou wel in þi thoght
pat non of hom shal want oght:
315 ffor who so has leste in pat wonnynge,
he has ful ioye of alle pinge.
Perfore, mon, with al þi might
pou loue god wel by day & night;
for I wil speke of charite.
Of alle vertuz hit is po hext,
& gods wille hit is next?.
If þou wolt witt what hit may be, 325
herken & I wil telle þe.
Hit is : loue god ouer alle þing,
In thoght & dede & in spekyng.
And if pou wilt euer come perto,
Anoper ping þe? most do:
pou most loue, how so hit be,
bin euen-cristen forthe with pe.
Mon, wilt þou make a gode prouyng
If pou loues po heuen-kyng?
Si non
If þou loue god wel I-wisse,
diligis
pou wolt loue alle þat is hisse.
Men saien sothe bi witt myne:
„Who so loues me he: loues my hyne«.
vides:
deum
»But pou loue pin euencristen þat is by þe, quem
þat (pou] may al day with eghen se, vides
how pou louest god I con not douyse
quo-
modo
whom pou may se on non wiser
pis saies Poule & beris wittenes,
gere?
As he may wel in sothenes.
* Abraham saw but he not wist how, 345
herken & I wil telle be now:
po fourme of childer he mette,
thre he saw & as one hom grette;
In toknyng hit was, I telle þe,
Of Þo heghe holi trynite;
holly as one he grett hom bere
In tokenyng of one god þat þai were.
How Moyses saw him wilt þou now lere?
In fourme of a buske alle on a fire
At po mount of Synay by olde dawe, 355
per god hym gaue þo first lawe:
Al on fire po buske was,
but brent no-þing bo buske nas.
Þere shewid god his grete myght,
And hym-selue in þat syght.
5 Do busk tokend ou[r]e lady
with hir clene mayden-hed sikerly;
ffor hit was euer I-like clene,
No might hit not I-[wemmed]' bene;
hete of flesshe might hir not wemme, 365
þo Inwardloker pou loues hym here,
320 þo more shal be þi ioye þere. -
(De Herkens now alle to me,
chari-
tate) 1= dure. ? = hof. 3r. henne.
4 = wel. 5 Ms. doseruyng; cf. douyse
v. 341, dopartyd 4, 760.
i Same 2 vv. see 655-6. 2 r. hou.
3 overl. 4 The foll. long digression has
nothing to do with the theme. 5 v. 361–6 are
impertinent. 6 Ms. one. 7 Ms. I-nemed.
350
an
- 360
2
-7451
Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.
29
420
no more might þo busk brenne.
And mony an oper hym seghe
& spake hym with pat was hym neghe,
But not, onely in his god-hed,
370 but mynged with po mon-hed;
ffor sikerly, I telle þe,
mon saw neuer his deite
Bodily in erthe here
men might not, hit is so clere.
375 And if pou wilt witt (whi]? now,
herken & I wil telle zow;
ffor so heghe þing is po godhede,
þerof to speke hit is grete drede.
God is so clene & so clere a þing
380 þat heuen & erthe he gyues shynyng,
& sonne & moon & sterne-beme
Of hym pai han alle bore leeme.
Þou seest, moil, apertlyche
þat þo sonne has brightnes myche,
385 & [of]? he is sett so wonder heghe,
[zit]' hit greues monnes eghe
Inwardly on hit to se
for his grete c[l]arite?:
Now for sothe I telle þe,
390 & sikerly leue pou me,
þat god, pat gaue þo sonne his light,
Is an hondrid sithe so bright;
how þen might bit euer be
þat bodily eghe might hym se
395 here on erthe [in]' po godhede ?
nay: no mon may do þat dede.
& þat is proued and shewed
bothe to lerid & to lewed.
Pen may pou þenke: »how may pis be,
400 ne may no mon god ser«
zis, zis, by my lewte,
herken & I wil telle þe.
If pou wilt se in bi sight
god of heuen þat is so bright, -
405 vnderstonde now what I men!-:
pou most be of hert clene,
In word, in dede & in thoſght),
þat þou be fyled right noght;
for god sayed hym-selue in sothnes,.
410 & þo gospel þerof beris wittnes,
I om. 2 Ms. charite.
þat is to saye, I telle þe:
Beati
mundo
»Alle clene of hert blessid Þai be, corde
quoniam
for at bo grete dome sikerliche
ipsi
Þai shal se god apertlyche
deum
vide-
In his godhed & in his blis,
bunt.
þo whiche þai shal neuer mys«.
ben shul þai here þat bene couthe,
A blisful worde of gods mouthe:
»Comes now, my blessid, in-fere,
þat to my fader bene leue & dere,
In to my blis ze shul wende
þat lastes euer with-outen ende,
[for}? euer-more pere to won
with po fader & with po son
And with po holi gost in vnite, 425
þat is po holy trinite«.
»And ze, cursed gostes, gos a-non,
se shul be dampned euer-ilkon«.
Pere þai shul se hym al-so,
but þat shal be al for hor wo; 430
for toward hom he wil hym turne
bothe wrathful & eke sturne-
And namely to pat cumpanye
pate slowen hym thorou enuye
And kene nayles dryuen eke,
435
thorou his honde & fete ? did hom to
seke 3,
And þere þai shul se sothly
his grisely woundes opunly
þat þai diden hom-selue make;
for drede þen shul þai quake'. 440
Þen wol god to hom saie
with sterne voice & grete aie:
»Cursid gostes, ze ben me lothe:
Gos a-non, gos now, gothe
In to [bo] strong fire of helle,
445
for euer-more pere to duelle
& brenne pere in hote fire,
for ze han serued no noper hire;
Mercie is al fro zow gon,
for whi on me ze haden non«. - 450
He pat wol no mercie haue
On hym þat wolde hym mercy craue",
be shal be luged witterly
Rightfully with-outen mercy.
1 Ms. And. 2 pai on margin. 3 A Porouz
his honden & his fete. 4 v. 431-440 on, in H.
5 Ms. graue.
аңoo
30
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
SIO
quoniam
cordia,
(De spe) 'For’ seynt Dauid saies, if pou wilt loke, when we byseke hym pat right is. 500
In a verse of po psauter-boke:
Holy writt is oure myrroure,
Spera in »Hope to god, and do godea.
In whom we sene al oure sokoure;
face Right so I vnderstode.
& if we hit wil vnderstonde,
bonita- But ydel hope a mon may habbe, þere may we se & vnderfon[g]e?
tem.
460 I saye be sothe with-outen gabbe; to haue of god po knowleching, 505
for al onely to hope, with-outen gode dede, bothe in boght and in speking.
Is ydel hope, so god me spede.
And if pou wilt haue po loue (De pace
But I ne saie not-forthy,
of Ihesu pat ir heuen sittes aboue,
þou may be charged sikerly
pou most be euer in gode acorde,
465 with grete synnes, heuye & sore, In pes & loue, & hate discorde,
zit shalt pou dispaire nere-po-more: And be a-boute with al þi myght
but stedfast hope haue pou to wynne to make pes by day & nyght.
gods mercie of þi synne
For Ihesu Crist hit saies ful wel,
Thorow shrift of mouthe & repentaunce, as we hit fynde in gospel,
470 & redy perfore to do penaunce;
A sothe worde hit is & not leese: Beati
If þou do pus, by day & night, „Blessid be pai pate maken peese,
pacifici
Put al þi hope in god of might,
hom oow to be honourid alle,
filii dei
uoca-
And trist hope to hym þou haue for gods childer men shal hom calle«. buntur.
þat he be wil helpe & saue.
Mon, if pou wolt berken to me, (De
miseri-
475 Herken what I wil [say] nouthe,
I wil speke of mercie to be.
for hit come oute of gods mouthe: Sothly with-outen fabul,
et indul-
gentia)
Vbi te »Mon, right bere as I pe fynde, Mon, pou most be merciabúl.
inuenic
ibi te right þere I wil þe iuge & bynde. On Ihesu Crist think witterly,
iudico. Alas, what shal pai pen do
how he deiid? for mercy,
480 þat are founden in sorow3 & wo, And al for he wolde mercie haue 525
pat wolder not hon-selue shryue
On hom þat wolde hym mercy craue;
whil pai mighten, in hore lyue ?
for or he deiid in flesshe & bon,
þerfore, mon, I warne þe,
mercy was per neuer non.
whil þat þou may go & se
By pis ensaumple ze may se
485 þat þou be redy & zare
merciabul for to be.
Oute of þis worlde for to fare;
Of3 pi neghtbur haue misdone to be,
for sikernes no mon witt may
more or lesse wheper so hit be,
when shal be his endyng-day.
ober in dede or vmbrayde,
Perfore thinke oft, I Þe reide,
or with word has þe myssayde:
490 of þis word bat god saiede:
And he perafter forthinkus hit sore 535
»Der I Þe fynde, I wil þe bynde«; & þerof cryes mercie & ore,
Lett oft þis word be in þi mynde. forgyue hit hym for gods loue
(De lec- Mon, if pou wolt pis world forsake þat vs alle sittes a-boue.
tionis
studio, & Ihesu Crist to þe take,
And þou wilt no merci · haue
495 pou most be oft in orisone,
on hom þate done pe mercy craue, 540
and in reding of gods lessone.
Mercy getys pou neuer non
With vs god spekus when we rede Of trespasse pat þou hast don;.
of hym & of his blissed dede;
for god hit saies in his gospel,
& we with hym, I-wis,
þer mony mon may fynde hit wel:
I v. 455--804 om. in H. 2 om. in A. 1 Ms. vnderfonde. 2 Ms. deud. 3 = þof.
3 r. synne?
530
4
Spec. Guy (Roy)

Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.
1
31
605
Eadem »Siche mett as pou metis me,
mensura
qua “right siche I wil meete to pe;
fimeri forgyue, mon, for þo loue of me,
reme-' & I wol for po loue of þe«.
tietur
vobis. Take, mon, gode geme per Þou saiest,
550 In po pater noster what pou prayest;
pou saiest: »swete lord, for-gyue me
þat I haue mysdone a-gaynus þe,
Et Right as I do to alle poo
dimitte
nobis þate to me haue oght mysdoc.
deb. & pou þat art so cruel in thoght
nostra:
sicut & And wolt to mercie herken noght,
n.d. d. n.
. "'what wil hit stonde in ony stidde,
po holy Pater noster pof pou hit bidde?
Noght, if I dar hit saye;
560 for a-gayne pi-selue pou dos praye.
And þo holy boke of sothnes
perof beris wittnes
And saies: »he pat wil no mercy haue,
ful ydel may he mercy craue«.
|(De pa- Oure swete lord in his speche
a) his disciplis he con teche:
In pa- »In alle maner disturbulaunce
ciencia
estra he bad hom be of gode suffraunce«.
possi: If þou art seke in flesshe & blode,
animas pou most be meke in al þi mode,
kas. & thenk þat god hit pe sende
þi sely soule to a-mende.
If pou haue losse of þi catel,
Loke & vmthink Þe swythe wel
575 þat of þi-selue pou haddest hit noght,
but as' hit was thorow god wroght,
& if god wil hit fro pe take,
pou shalt perfore no grutching make,
but suffur alle goddis wille
580 bothe loude & eke stille.
& if þe falle trauelle on honde,
or pyne of body, or shame in londe,
Of alle pes pou suffrande most be,
þof þou thenk hit greues þe;
585 Thenk how Ihesu in to erth came
& for mon he tholyd pyne & shame
And foule þere was myssayde
& mony a scorne vpon [hym] layde,
with-outen grutchyng [he] held hym stille
590 & tholid hit al with mylde wille;
And al he did for oure sake,
for we shulde at him ensaumpel take
to be suffrande in ilk a stidde
Right as oure lord hym-selue dydde.
and if ony mon thorou his powere 595
Dos be wrong on erthe here,
Thenk in þi hert, I praye þe,
Of Þo wrong & of þo vilete
þat men to Ihesu Crist did
here in erthe in mony a stid,
600
And how he tholid hit myldely
alle for þi loue sikerly.
One ensaumple of hym pou nym
to suffer wrong for þo loue of hym.
For I dar saye sothly,
he may be martrid treuly
with-outen shedyng of monnes blode
þat is here of thole mode
to suffer wronge & vnright
for po loue of god al-myght.
610
But vnneth siche a faithe is þere,
for agayne kynde hit were,
why, for po kynde of mon
wold haue vengaunce a-non.
But of Ihesu take þi mynde
615
& feght agayne þin owne kynde:
And pou shalt haue for þi gode dede
Of martirdam þo heghe mede.
But pou feers mon þat so proude art, (De
humili-
And heghe of mode & stoute of hert, h
tate)
[bou]! wil not bowe for no þinge,
to mon ner to heuen-kynge.
And he þat wil heghe hym here,
& wol not bowe on no manere,
In litel while he shal hit knowe 625
& falle perfore swythe lowe.
Qui se
humiliat
Po mylde thorou his humilite
exalta-
ful lely honourid shal he be,
bitur;
qui se
for he shal be drawen on heghe exaltat
humilia-
& wonne god swithe neghe;
bitur.
and pride, hit is so foule a last
þat oute of heuen he was cast-
pou shalt wel witt þat I not lye,
for Lucifer & his companye
thorou þo pride þat hom con folow, 635
po pyne of helle hom con swolow;
1 r. al.
1 Ms. he.
vest
altoo
32
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
meo
animam
meam.
700
So he wil do alle men
þat in pride ben taken.
Now be war, bou proude grome,
640 þat þou in pride be not nome;
Cast hit a-way, I wil þe rede,
Or ellis of strong pyne pou may drede:
for sikerly, & pou be tane per-Inne,
heuen may pou neuer wynne;
645 & oper way is pere none
but to heuen, or helle gone.
Pen do by consaile & by rede,
and ouer-com þo foule quede
þat foundes þe on ilk a side
650 for to holde pe in pride.
But if pou kouthe knowe or se
po vertue of humilite,
for no ping pou woldist hit shon,
but hit shuld euer with be won;
655 of alle vertuz, hit is po hext,
& gods wille hit is next.
Seint Gregor berof beris wittnes,
þat mykel spekes of sothnes:
Qui sine»Mon, pof Þou do neuer so mikel gode,
humili-
tate vif.but pou be meke & of thole mode,
tutes. Seint Gregor saies þat holi clerk,
congre-þat mykel ir ydel is [bi]' werk;
quasi hit faris by soche, as we fynde,
As who so bere powder in grete wynde:
rem in
vento for of he bere neuey so myche,
portat.
· hit flyes away ful lightlyche.
Of mon hit faris right so,
for gode dedes of he do 2
Mony & fele on iche a side,
670 þer may non with oper a-bide,
but he haue verray humylite :
Alle þai wol fro hym fle«.
A gode þing is humilite
Of bym comes verray charite,
675 And penaunce & eke shrift-
þis is of god a ful fayre zift,
& forgyuenes of synne-
wel is hym bat hit may wynne.
(De Who so is a-ferde of his trespase,
punc- he shal haue confort & solace
tione, Of Þo holy gost witterlye,
cordis)
i Ms. his. ? vy. 667 & 8 are tr.
þat wil þ[o]' soule confort in hye?
& make men to haue per-with, I-wis,
trist hope to heuen-blis.
Seynt Dauid þer-of spake & saiede 685
In po psauter as men reide:
»bo more a mon doutes his synne, Secun-
dum
þo more ioye he shal wynne«. multitu-
For who so has of his synne drede,
dinem
dolorum
& wil no more do hit in dede, in corde
hit semes þat he has trew loue
[conso-
to Ihesu Crist þat sittes a-boue.
lationes
tue]
One þing is comen to my thoght,
letifica-
uerunt
to shewe hit I wil spare noght.
If ony is in holy lyue,
mon, mayden, childe or wyue,
& dos a litel trespase 3
In one tyme thorow a case
þat is agaynes gods wille,
be hit loude be hit stille :
he wil haue more sorow & drede
for pat litel synful dede,
pen mony one wil in ony stounde
pat lien in dedly synne I-bounde.
If þou wilt here of po skille, 705
herken & I pe telle wille.
Po mon pat lyes in dedly synne
& po synne he wol not blynne,
Gostly witt he has I-lore;
I wil þe telle why & wherfore:
710
for gostly sight witterly,
mon, is þi reson sikerly,
where-[þorou]“ þou may in þi mode
know bothe po yuel & po gode,
& sheed to make in alle þi dede 715
by-twyx sothnes & fals-hede;
& when monnes soule, I-wis,
tborou dedly synne fyled is,
his knowyng is al gon,
for witt ne sight has he non.
720
Wherfore po synful mon
Nouper he may ne he con
his owen state right se
ne know irl what lyue þat he be,
for merkenes þat he is Inne
thorow po fylyng of dedly synne.
But þoo þat lyuen in holy lyue,
1 Ms. Þi. 2 A comforty. 3 v. 697 & 8
are tr. in Ms. om.
ceteras
5
com-
725
spec. Tuy (Roy)
Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues.
33
fessione
mon, mayden, childe or wyue,
& serues god on erth here:
730 his gostly sight is ful clere",
for with-Inne hym is god al-might,
þat is?, grace of gostly sight,
To se & knowe in his mode
þo long lyue þat is so gode,
735 And po drede of domes-day
& po pyne þat lastis ay;
wher-thorou þai shal bo more drede
to file synne in alle hore dede.
Here ze may se po wronge,
740 & se wher-on bit is longe,
þat synful mon may not se
his giltes, þof þai grete be.
(De.con- Listen now to my speche
my & nedeful þing I wil pe teche,
745 Of holy kirc hit is po lore,
þat spekes to alle lesse & more
& saies: »mon, whil þou may lyuen,
loke pat pou be clene shryuen;
als sone as pou hast syrne wroght,
750 whil hit is new in þi thoght,
Anon to shrift þat pou gange,
ne duelle pou not per-with to lange:
for if pou dost, pou may wel wit
þat sumwhat shal be for-zete of hit,
755 wher-thorou pou may be blamed
& at po dome ful sore a-shamed.
Derfore, mon, whil pou may lyuen,
Loke þat þou be clene shryuen,
with sorow of hert & repentaunce;
760 & of po prest take pi penance.
Pis is a rightful medicyne,
hit shildes mon fro helle-pyne;
A better þing was neuer founde,
for hit makes holle dedly wonde,
765 & who-so-euer wil hit craue,
with-outen cost he may hit haue.
Mon, ne let pou for no shame,
lest pou perfore falle in blame;
If pou wilt not for shame shew hoin here,
ichil abs- Þai shul be shewed ellis-where
fonditum
buod non to alle po men þat euer were,
feueletur, & alle Þai shul hom se & here,
neque
fccultum & per-of (þen] Þou shalt haue shame,
Juod non
ciatur. 1 A has 4 vv. more. ? A þat zeue} hym.
and perto ful mykel blame.
Two maner of shame men fynden in boke, 775
who so wil þerafter loke;
þat one gos to dampnacion,
þat oper to saluacion. ·
If pou wilt witt how pis may be,
herken & I wil telle þe.
780
Mon, if þou haue synnes, done
lodely and foule mony one:
if pou art þi-selue berof a-shamed
& at þi hert sore a-gramed,
and sparist not for loue ne ay 785
þat þou hom wilt in shrift say,
Of god þen may pou lightly
forgyuenes baue sikerly.
Fis ilk shame, by my croune,
drawes he to saluacioune.
790
þat oper shame for sothe hit is,
If a mon haue done a-mys
And foule synnes has wroght,
& wil for shame shewe hom noght
In his shrift to po preist;
795
he wratthus sore Ihesu Crist,
forgyuenes I-wis tidus hym neuer,
but in helle-fire brenne euer.
Why art pou more a-shamed to speke
a word, þen gods hestes to breke? 800
Pis ilk foule wicked shame
brynges synful mon in mikel blame.
· Po lore þat comes oute of gods mouthe, (De
to alle men hit shulde be couthe; tentia)
Ibesu spake & saied ene: .
Laua-
mini &
»wasshis zou & bes clene
mundi
kyndely of men sene«.
With water men wasshen þat foule bene;
And hote water, be pou bolde,
wasshes clenner pen dos þo kolde. 810
Alle pis I saie sikerlyche
for to speke openlyche
what is hit for to mene
»wasshis zow & bes clene«.
Somme wasshen hom, bot not a-right, 815
for po clenner are pai not dight.
Po hote teris of monnes eghe
Makes clenner þen ony leghe?.
Mony wepes for hore mysdede,
Ms. Harl. here stops shert.
5
peni-
estote.
.
.
I.
SVA
-
a 1400
34
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
820 but to do synne þai han no drede;
Þai wenen to wasshe hom with þat water,
& Þai ben foulid ner-þo-later:
ffor if þai wil not synne fle,
I-wis, vn-clene þai shul be.
825 But a noper maner wasshing
Makis clene of alle þing;
Mon, if Þou haue synne done
lodely & foule mony one:
If þou hast wille to leeue þi synne,
830 þat þou no more falle þer-Inne,
Of pin eghen po hote teris
þate gon a-downe by þi leris,
Þai wil make gode a-corde
by-twene pi soule & oure lorde,
835 & make be clene of pi synne,
wher-thorou pou may heuen wynne.
Now may pou witt what is to mene
»wasches zou & bes clene«.
(De non But ze pate wil clene be,
tardando
converti). Certes, sumwhat ze most fle,
wil ze here zit efter sone
One þing þat nedeful is to done.
Hit is gods oune lore,
þat spekes to alle lesse & more,
Ambulate »Go, mon, whil þou hast light,
dum lucem
habetis, ne Lest þe ouer-take po derk nyght«.
tenebre uos Þi lyue, mon, is cald þi light,
compre-
hendant. & þi deth þo derk night;
whil pou art on lyue, pou may wirke
850 gode werkes of holy kirke,
& certes, when þou art deed,
þen may pou nouper do gode ne
queed.
Perfore, mon, I warne þe,
whil þat pou may go & se
855 In gode waies spede pe fast,
Lest po night wil þe a-gast.
& sikerly, with-outen nay,
at þi deyng shal be þi domus-day:
for þere shal be reckned alle
860 þat euer þou didist, grete & smalle;
père pou shalt know & se
Gode or yuel wheper hit be.
& þen perauenter woldest pou fayne
bygynne to wirk & turne agayne:
865 but certes pou shalt not so,
bot right after þat þou hast do
Þou shalt take verament
þere și rightwis Iugement.
Deth is gilor swythe stronge,
& bigiles mony one euer a-monge:
Et ideo
ambu-
þerfore wirke whil þat þou maght, late dum
lucem
for sodenly pou may be kaght.
habetis.
Drede of god in alle þing (De timore domini)
Of wisdam is þo bygynnyng.
Inicium
sapien-,
& mony one hauen of god drede, cie
timor
· but not for loue of his god-hede,
domini.
bot þat þai shulden for hore gilt
In to strong payne be pilt.
Hit fares by soche, I vnderstonde,
as hit dos here by po bonde.
880
Þo bonde wil nouper loude ne stille
do oght agayne his lordes wille,
But þat is for no loue ne for non
a-corde
þat he has to his lorde,
[but] for if he did, he wist hit wel 885
he shuld lese of his catel.
& zit hit fares by mon also
þat lettes more synne to do
for doute of grete pynynge,
þen for loue of heuen-kynge.
Hit is not yuel so to bygynne,
for drede of pyne to leeue his synne:
for soon after he may katche grace
to be-benk hym of gods face,
how mirry hit were to haue po sight 895
Of gods face þat es so bryght;
And so ben shal he cast his loue
to Ihesu Crist þat sittis a-boue,
& leeue & fie alle synful dede
bothe for loue & for drede.
900
But who so wil do by my lore,
I-wis, he shal lett more
to fle synne bothe day & night
for drede to leese þat faire sight
Of gods face þat is so clere,
905
of whom we han alle oure powere,
pen for drede of oure woo
þat ony þing vs might doo.
(De ele-
Leeue frende, herken to me,
emosyni
& more I wil speke to be
Of bo vertues of almes-dede.
890
910
peaa. Mesong Roy
Alquin's Sermon to Guy of Warwik, on the virtues. 35
for in po gospel as we rede,
bryng with be a shyuer of bredea.
pin almes-dede bou shalt forthe pitte, Po wydogh vnswerid a-non:
& spare hit not þof hit be litte.. »Sikerly, ho saied, bred hane I non, 960
915 God saies þus in his lore:
ne noght þat I might be ziue
»mon, if pou may gyue no more
for to helpe þe to lyue
but a dische ful of colde water,
but a hondful of mele in a pichere,
þou putt hit forth nere-þo-later
& a litel oile þat is clere;
with gode wille & charite,
þat I mot make on meete here 965.
920 & ful wel bit bes zolden þe«.
to me & my childer in-fere,
& when pou shalt haue ponke & mede And sithen we moten die sore,
for so littel an almes-dede,
for meete haue we no more«.
Siker þen may pou be,
Þo prophet vnswerid hyr so:
if Þou gyues mykel in charite
»I bid þe, he saied, or þou go 970
925 to god pou may po better spede ffirst þerof make me mete;
& þo more shal be și mede.
& when þat hit I haue ete,
Ones hit I vnderstode
Of þat þat leeues pou shalt make
In almes-dede is dowbul gode:
ffor þe & for þi childer sake«.
hit fordos synne, witt hit wel,
Po sely wydogh þen ful sone
975
930 and hit wol eke þi catel.
grauntid wel to do his bone,
& of pou be herof in drede
for his loue bat Iudas solde';
how hit might be so in dede,
hir litel mete shewe ho wolde.
I[n] gode wittnes I wil drawe
When þo prophet pis hym seghe,
One ensaumple of po olde lawe. his eghen to god he kast on heghe, 980
935 Holy writt wil not be leis,
to hym he made an orison:
þat spekes of þo prophet Heleis & a-non god put his fyson
how Ihesu Crist, oure lord swete, vp-on hir mele in hir pichere,
spake to Helise po prophete;
And in hir oyle þat was clere.
to a pore wydogh he him sende, Þen saied a-non po prophete
985
940 hore bothus lyue to amende;
to þo wydogh wordes swete:
He saied: »Helise, pou shalt fare »ne drede Þe not, wommon, in þi thoght:
In to Sarept & wonne þare;
þi mele shal want right noght,
þere is a widogh pat wil þe fede, & pin oyle shal wax sykerly,
& I wil zelde her ful wel bir mede« and þi loom shal not be empty«. 990
945 Po prophet Helyse by-gan a-non Grete plenty had þo wydogh þoo
forth on his way for to gon.
whil þat ho lyued euer-moo.
At bo zate of þat cite po widogh he mette, Now þou knowest in þi mode
And faire a-non he hir grette;
In almes-dede is doubul gode:
he bad hir for gods loue,
Almes-dede fordos synne
950 bat vs sittes alle a-boue,
& þer-thorou pou may heuen wynne,
A dische ful of water he’ shuld hym gyue And þi gode shal multiplye-
for to helpe hym for to lyue.
so saies po boke þat wil not lye.
Po wydogh saied ho wold fayne, Þo gospel saies to be & me:
& to serue hym ho turned agayne. »Gyue, and men shal gyue þe«.
955 After hir he bygan to crye
In a noßer stede I haue wittenes
And bad hir þat ho shuld hye; þat god hym saies in sothnes:
»Do, he sayed, by my rede,
995
1000
»Al þat þou dost for þo loue of me
| 1 vv. 9II & 2 are tr. 2 I. ho.
i Cf. p. 6, v. 406.
*
3
alhoo
Sree. Guy (Pray)
36
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
to po leste of my meyne,..
Ihesu Crist forto fede:
1005 Right to my-selue, witt hit wele, for Þou may þer-with wel spede, 1015
pou dost þi presont ilk a dele«. & heuen-blis gete to þi mede.
Glad may Þou (ben) be in þi thoght To þat blis be vs bryng
Als oft as þou may gyue oght,
bat is lord ouer alle bing,
ffor Þou may nowe wel vnderstonde, And gyue vs grace, whil we ben here,
1010 pou takist hit god in his honde to serue hym þat vs boght dere, 1020
for gods wordes in sothnesse
In trewe loue & charite,
perof beris gode wittenesse.
Amen amen, so mot hit be.«
Per-fore, mon, be not to gnede
Explicit hic speculum vtile istius mundi..
- waffembre
4. (Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, World, Man, Sin,
Grace, Virtue, Good works, God's Mercy, God's Justice).1
-
?
21400 Athe-migdig god at these se Ke?)
-
WAS
TYR
25
A later Ms. is Ms. Addit. 100532 (a free copy of Ms. Reg.). The poem treats
partly the same topics as the Prick of Conscience, often in identical terms. The
dialect is Yorkshire, the frequent o-forms (bore wore, wone shone, go two, gost
most &c.) are not necessarily original. I think, R. Rolle's authorship : inquen
stionable.
fol. 36.
Alle-mighty god in trinite,
For fro bigynnyng of oure childehede
fader and son & holy gost,
ilk day to dye we are dredande;
þat is one god & persones thre, þen þis (lif]* is faylande at po nede,
One sothfast lord of mightus most, for whils we here lyue (we): are dyande.
5 Gyue vs grace synne to fle,
Mony lyuen þate lyue kan noght,
and wel to lyue, & kepe vs chaste;
and mony dyen ate dar not dye;
so þat oure soules redy be
to god, when we po deth shal taste.
but of deth haue pai no thoght
þat con lyue wel & ese ay [f]lye 4.
He may wel be calde witty
Thorou bodily deth po gode.are broght
10 þat can wel lyue in þis exille;
to ioye, & no payne to drye;
30
who so here lyues rightwisely,
aftex þo werkus þate pai haue wroght
he wirkes wel after gods wille.
alle shal be demed, witterlye.
He pat mas hym to god redy
Deth is of endeles lyue bygynnyng,
and lyues wel, shal not die ille ;
and of dedly lyue po last ende,
15 & alle oper may be dredy,
but he þat wel con lyue thorou skille.
to poo þate here are of gode lyuyng, 35
when þai shal oute of his world wende.
Alle oure lyue þat we here lede, Þen shal deth be to hom likyng
is noght but a dethe lyuande;
þat in his lyue made god hore frende;
& deth is noght ellis to drede
but hit is entrie of duellyng
20 but as a passing of lyue failande. In helle to hom þate seruen þo fende. 40
1.1 Title on margin by a later hand: An Induction to good life by the consideracion of Heaven,
Hell & Purgatory. 2 This Ms. at the end adds 2 stanzas, asking to pray for him »that this
tretis on englisshe drowea, and the following note: Orate pro anima domini Iohannis Pery,
canonici ecclesie sancte Trinitatis Londonie infra Algate, qui lunc libruin fieri fecit; cuius
anime propicietur deus, amen. This Pery, the alleged compiler of the Ms., cannot be the author
of our poem, which is older and northern. 3 om. 4 Ms. slye; A. & ay is slye (!).
w
2480 ale- Poger
CA 9
.
autoradio amatu
To live well, consider Hell, Purgatory, Heaven' &c.
37
po night
85
ones on þo day or on po night
þo while pou lyues, where fendus are felle':
þere shalt þou se thorou gostly sight
more sorow & pyne hen tong may telle:
for synful men are grymly dight
þat for hore synnes þere shal þai duelle.
Wherfore, mon, if þou wilt lere
to lyue wel, & die rightly,
& of gode & ille haue knowyng clere,
and loue & drede conceyue herby:
45 wende oute iche day of þi-selue here
thorou thoght, & forgete þi body,
and pen by-holde thre places sere
In þat oper world, of sere party
Þere shal þou se, if pou loke euen,
50 Somme in ioye, &somme in paynes stedde,
& here & knowe by hore steuen
what-wise pai haue hore lyue ledde.
[ÞJo? thre places I wil þe nemen?,
as I haue herd & in boke redde:
· 55 One is helle, an oper is heuen,
And purgatorye is po thridde.
90
-Alle sorow þat monnus hert wolde fle
þou shalt se with-Inne helle-zate,
and of alle woo grete plente,
& grete defaute, as clerkes wate.
3 Fire þat neuer sleckid shal be
is here, with brymston brennande hate,
þat al po water in þo see,
þof hit thorou-ran, ne myght hit bate.
95
100
Pese thre places, as we trowe,
In þat oper world, are certayne;
to one of hese thre wende shalt þowe
60 when deth has here și body slayne.
Pou shalt hethen wende & wot not howe,
& neuer shalt þou come a-gayne:
þerfore, or þou wende, chese þe nowe
wheber þou wolt to ioye or to payne.
For as fire is hatter euerywhore
þen is a fire paynted on a wowe:
right so þo fire is hatter Þore
þen is þo fire here þat we knowe..
Zit þere is siche colde euey-more,
soche stormus þat euer shal blowe,
þat if þo fire fast brennande wore,
hit shuld sone turne to yse & snowe.
105
110
65 First, at helle þi thoght shal be,
to se how synne is wirkid 3 þare;
and in purgatorie may pou se
how synne is clensyd, with pynes sare;
In heuen pou shalt se grete plente
70 of blis þat shal last euer-mare,
for hom pate are with hert fre
for gode werkus wolde hom not spare.
Pere is ay smeke, & stynke a-mong,
and marknes more þen euer was here;
þere is hungur, thriste, and throng,
& vgly fendes of grete powere;
þere is gretyng & deulful song,
gnastyng of tethe & grisly chere,
& oper tourmentis harde & strong
more pen hert may pink fer or nere.
Pere is no hope of helpe ne* rede
to hom þate duellen in þat payne,
ne non relefthorou no gode dede,
for hit is endeles sorow souerayne.
Þere is deth with-outen deede,
& lyue with-outen lyue, certayne;
þai dye ay lyuande in þat stede,
& euer-more lyues & dies agayne.
115
120
Þer-after byholde po worldus lawe,
how ful hit is of vanyte;
75 & sithen agayne þi thoght þou drawe
In to þi-selue & þi-selue se,
& what pou hast done & what pou awe,
And what god has done & dos to þe:
& so may pou gode and ille knawe,
80 and con lyue & die and redy be.
(Hell)4 First, if pou wilt con lyue right,
pou shalt sende pi thoght to helle
Quer al paynes þere haue þai
a special sorow day & nyght:
of po sight of blis þat lastes ay,
þat ober baue in heuen bryght,
1 Ms. to. 2 r. neuen. 3 A. wroken.
4 On the margin by a modern hand.
1 Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 6461 ff. 2 Cf. ib.
7326 ff. 3 Cf. ib. 6595 ff. 4 Ms. orig. ner;
r. erased. 5 A, reles.
A
24400-nin effeamboat
0 1400 Alle - mighting
YS
YILI
.
38
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
125 fro po whilk þai are putt a-way,
for þat þai here lyued not right;
And þat shal last to domes-day,
but fro þen þai shal want pat sight.
Þat sight of blis confortis hom naght,
130 but ekes? hore sorow þat þai haue tane;
thorou enuye pai haue hit kaght
þat oper has ioye & pai haue nane.
Po leest payne þat hom is wraght
In helle is more þat neuer shal wane,
135 þen alle po paynes in erth taght
if pai were alle to-geder in ane.
to pat pyne is not to telle
but as a bathe of water clere.
For þat fire is more mighty
þen pis fire here, & more brennande, 170
as is þis fire erthly
hatter þen po sonne shynande.
In þat fire brennus soules mony,
And shal ber-Inne ay be duellande
til þai ben clensid clene þer-by, . 175
as gold is founden? in fire meltande.
But þai haue ay gode hope in thoght
oute of þat payne to wynne a-way, ..
for þai wot wel þat þai are noght
In helle, per payne is lastande ay. 180
But sum-tyme pai haue þis not in þoght,
So harde payne is per night & day
þat þai are oute of mynde broght
& con not think where are bai.
For alle po paynes here as we duelle
al-if þai to : so mony wore,
zit po lest payne in helle
140 men saien a hundrid-folde is more;
[f]or alle po paynes sharpe & felle
of þis world, þat greuen here sore,
solace & ioy men might hom telle
to regarde of po lest payne pore.
145 When pou hast sene pis hydowis place.
& þo sorow þat is þer-Inne,
þou shalt haue drede, if Þou haue grace,
to do here ony dedly synne.
For who so folowes þo fendes trace
150 & of his wickednes wil not blynne,
but he amende hym whil he has space
to payne of helle pai wil him wynne.
(Purga- Lit sende pi thoght forther-mare
tory)
019) to purgatorye: where pou may se
155 soules in brennande fire al bare
for synne vnclensid, & may not fle;
In þat fire pai shal duelle pare
til þai of alle synnes clensid be
And made als clene as first þai ware
160 when þai were baptised & made fre.
"Þat payne of fire where pai duelle,
is so mykel, to clense synnes sere,
þat alle tourmentes sharp & felle
þat alle martirs han suffrid here,
165 & paynes pat wymmen when þai swelle
of childeng thole þat to deth are nere,
Þai haue dowbul payne pere dight: 185
One is feling of hore payne,
An oper hore letting of þat syght
of god þat is ioy souerayne;
þat zerne pai euer day & night,
but pai may not be certayne
190
til þai be made clene & bright
of al þat þai haue done in vayne.
Þus may pou þere thorou gostly e
se harde peynes on sere manere,
þat po lest payne is more to drye 195
þen þo most payne of þis lyue here.
Per-fore clense Þe here or Þou dye,
thorou penaunce of alle þi synnes sere;
for ellis pou shalt, with-outen lye,
In purgatorie bye hom ful dere. 200
Afterwarde pi hope vp lede (Heuen)
& lyft þi hert holy to heuen.
3Pere shalt pou se, if pou take hede,
more ioye pen erthly men con nemen.
Alle clerkes þat on boke con rede, 205
& maisters of alle po science seuen,
þo ioye þat þere is & þo mede
mighten not think ne shewe with steuen.
i Ms. sekes. 2 r. raght.
4 Cf. Pr. of Consc. y. 2722 ff.
3 A. twies.
5 A. yelle.
1 Cf. Pr. of. Consc. v. 3094 ff.
3 Cf. Pr. of Consc. v. 7782 ff.
2 r. fyned?
toomaaialflesta mano
olan trenete (Roy)
GRAY
To live well, .consider Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, World.
39
5
Þere is ay grete fulnes of lyght,
210 & largenes of roume? with-outen prese,
mirthis þat passen alle mennus sight,
& perfite loue pat neuer shal cese;
þere is souerayne sikernes dight,
& siker pasibulnes & pese,
215 paysibul ioye with likande sight,
& ioyful scilence with ese.
Þere is cely endeles beyng,
and endeles blis. in pat place,
And likyng & endeles loouyng,
220 and thonkyng of mercy & of grace....
Þere is al maner welth endeles,
& of alle delites grete plente;
þere is flowyng of more riches
þen euer was here, by mony degre;
225 þere is more wurship of heghnes
þen euer might eghen in þis world sé;
þere is alle ping þat gode isº,
& wantyng of alle þat yuel may be *.
Þere are medes of halowes serem
230 þat ioye no mon mesure may;
pere are so mony ioyes 5, þat no mon here
may hom recken nyght ner day;
þai are so preciouse & so dere,
and of so mykel nowblay,
235 and so plentiuous on sere manere,
þat no mon hon may gesse ne say.
Þere is lyue with-outen deth dight,
po wille is euer-more lastande;
þere is zouth with-outen elde right,
240 & rest with-outen swi[n]k’ folowande;
þere is with-outen merknes light,
and ioye pat euer-more bes duellande;
þere is ay day & neuer nyght,
& pes with-outen stryue holdande.
245 Þere is light & bryghtnes more
þen euer had sonne when he bright shone;
& þere is grete myrthe, as I saied ore,
and melodie þat neuer shal wone.
So mykel ioye & so mony are pore
250 þo whilk bai haue þat þider are gone,
þat alle þo clerkes here of lore
Kouthe not telle po lest poynte of one.
For po lest ioye þat is in heuen
of alle þo ioyes þat are sere,
is a hundrid-folde more (to] neuen 255
þen al po ioy of his lyue here;
for al po melodie of monnus steuen,
& delites fer and nere,
were noght but sorowe to telle euen
al to po leste ioy of heuen clere. 260
Þerfore, when þou hast hon sene
thorou eghe-sight of hert fre:
at pi synnes pou shalt sore tene
þat putten þe fro þat faire cite.
For al-þof helle neuer shulde haue bene, 265
& synne shulde neuer vengyd be,
zit shuldes Þou zerne to kepe þe clene
þat ioy to haue & god to se.
What mon wolde tyne þat ioy & þat blis,
if he oght of hymn-selue wolde rewe, 270
þat god has hight to alle his
þat in his seruys here are trewe?
for sikerly, I dar saie þis,
gyue a mon pat ioy right knewe,
hym were leuer, þen hit to mys, 275
Ilk day to be slayne here newe. –
When þou thorou thoght of þi hert fre (World)
hast sene po ioye: þou shalt loke downe
& biholde his world with his fals gre
pat worldly to serue are bowne; 280
bo whilk is ful of vanite,
of wretchidnes & corupcioune;
þen shal hit seme nogt ellis to se?
but as a depe, dymme dungeoune.
For hit shal seme pen to þi sight - 285
merke & layth, litel & lawe,
to regarde of heuen so bright
pat pou so faire & bright sawe:
hit shal seme voied of alle gode right
þat monnus hert might to likyng drawe, 290
to regarde of po plente dight
of heuenly godes þat are to knawe.
1 Ms. rourme. 2 The wanting vv. are also
wanting in A. 8 r. es. 4 Here A. has 4 vv.
more. 5 om. in A. 6 » Wille zum Leben,
Trieba, 7 Ms. swilk.
I orig. last, corr.
? A. the.
a 1400 in iflos. Wrtha1400 Alle -nights
HE
.
40
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
340
1
Alle worldly riches bothe more & lesse
pe shal (þink] foule as muk stynkande,
295 to regarde of heuenly richesse :
þat are so faire & neuer faylande;
Al þo ioye & al po gladnes
shal be sorow for sothe semande,
to regarde. of po ioy pat es
300 In heuen with-outen ende lastande.
Alle þo witt of þis world to lere
pe shal pen penk aperte foly,
to regarde of þo sightes sere
þat are in heuen with melodye....
305 Alle purships of þis world here wast
shame & sheneship’ shal seme to þe,
to regarde of po wurship maste
In heuen þere we fayne wolde be;
Alle þat þo world zernes in haste
310 þe shal pink vayne & vanite,
to regarde of alle pinges to taste
þat fallen to heuen þat we wolde se.
If þou byholde on bis wise
po world when pou þus hit has sene,
315 þat fals is & ful of fayntise
And euer deceyueabul has hit bene:
þat sight shal make þe to dispise
& forsake his world be-dene,
and tent to god & his seruyse,
320 & fro synne here to kepe pe clene. -
(Manes When pou pus has sene heuen & helle,
selfe
Purgatorie, ioy & payne,
& þo fals world þer we duelle
Þat summe men louen & seruen in vayne:
325 biholde þi-selue þen, flesshe & felle,
and þis lyue (here] vncertayne,
& when þou hast done as I telle,
wende þen in to pi-selue agayne.
1 & be-thenk Þe what wast þowe,
330 And whepen pou come in þi hert caste;
& think also what pou art nowe, -
& þat þou be in thoght stedfaste! —;
And what þou shalt be think & trowe,
& whider Þou shalt wende atto laste:
335 for þi lyue here, I dar a-vowe,
“is noght but a wyndes blaste.
First Þou shalt thynk & know in thoght
what þou (was]? first or þou come here.
Sum tyme was when þou was noght,
to fele ne se, fer ne nere;
sithen pou was conceyued 3 & wroght
On catif*, wlatsomes manere.
Penk on hym þat þe dere boght,
& pat pou shalt not ay lyue here.
TAnd whethen þou come, pink also: 345
fro þi moder wombe ful right,
Oute of a wlatsome stynkande wro
þat was al merk with-outen light.
Pen was Þou waike & myght not go,
& nakid & pore, with-outen might; - 350
pou broght no-þing with pe perfro
but a foule skyn al blody dight.
Þenk what pou art now, & se
þou art al stynk & slayme with-Inne,
and a seckeful of muk pryue®,
þat is couerde with þat foule skynne.
Fouler filthe may not here be
ben of þe comes bothe thycke & thynne;
þer come non oper fruyt of þe
but onely filthe, stynk, & synne. S 360
355
For if þou se on ilk party
what comes thorou mouthe & what thorou
nese,
& what thorou oper places of þi body
when pe list here þi body ese:
A fouler myddyng of vilanye
pou saw neuer in lond of pese
pen pou art with-Inne nomely;
þen has pou matir, of pride to cesel
365
Thenk where pou art, & knowe in haste
pou art here in an exille sene, 370
þat is þis world þat somme louen maste,
þat fikul is and ay has bene;
pou art in a dale of deol to taste,
ful of trauel, traye & tene;
þou art as in a wyldernes waste, 375
fulle of libardus & lyons kene 8.
1 Ms. shemeship.
i Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 440 ff. 2 Ms. art.
3 Ms. conceueyued. 4 Ms. catift. 5 Ms. .
whatsome. 6 Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 564.
7 Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 624–9. 8 Cf. Prick
of Consc, Y. 1225 ff.
A
od in trinetic atteo in feshin
ur
cu turn
To live well, consider Hell &c., Man, God's goodnes, Man's sin.
41
and what he dos þe day & night
On mony wise as pou may se,
420
what he shal do þe thorou his might
& in his mercie þi helpe shal be:
þen may pou knowe thorou hyin in sight
how mighty & how gode is he.
Þou shalt thynk first in þi thoght 425
what kyndenes god has for be done.
First, for þe heuen & erth he wroght,
water & ayre, sonne & mone,
& bestus & trees pat fruyt forth broght
for þi profett he ordeyned sone; 430
þi-selue, mon, he made of noght; --
on his werkus pou thynk ful sone!
Þou art as in a forest duellande,
fulle of robburs & of theues;
pou art as [in] a see flowande,
380 ful of wawus & stormes þat greues;
pou art as [in) a noen? brennande,
ful of fire of synne þat cleues :
þou art as in an vncouth lande,
ful of angurs & myscheues.
385 Þou art as in a felde of bataile”,
where pou: byhoues with enmyes fight;
but pere thre wil be hardest a-saile :
þi Aesshe, po fende, po world right:
pai wil not leeue for no trauaile
390 pe to asaile bothe day & night-
If þou fight fast, pou shal rot faile
to ouer-come hom thorou gostly might.
Think also what Þou shalt be,
when pou shalt wende hepen a-way.
395 Pou shalt be wormes mete to se,
Roten erth & stynkande clay.
Po dethe shal come to assaile þe
when me[r]cie fayne woldest þou pray;
but non abyding wol he graunt þe
400 of his comyng, night ne day.
Whider pou shalt, bithynk þe zitt
and for þi wendyng þou ordayne.
Oute of þis world þou shalt flitt,
And neuer after come a-gayne;
405 þi body shal in to a pitte,
þou art not of þi soule certayne,
whider hit shal wende pou may not witte,
wheper hit shal to ioy or to payne.
Þus al þi lyue & pi lyuyng
410 is ful of synne & sorowes sere.
How may pou ben laghe or syng
In siche a lyue, & make gode chere?
me þink be aght haue no likyng,
ne make no ioy po whils pou art here,
415 & lyue [in]“ drede and haue zernyng
to endeles lyue þat most is clere. -
Þenk when þou was dampned to helle
for synne, he boght be þen agayne,
for þe he come in erth to duelle, 435
& suffrid harde passion & payne;
for þe he hade sore woundes & felle,
for pe his body was rent & flayne.
And if pou wilt his woundes telle,
here may pou se po noumbur certayne: 440
Fyue thousande woundes, as I wene,
& fully foure hundred & sixty
for pe he tholed & zit fiftene,
In honde, in hed, in fete, in body;
fro po crowne of po hed noght was sene 445
to po soule of þo fote but al blody.
At po last he died, ellis had pou bene
dampned to helle with-outen mercie.
Think what god dos þe ay:
and how on mony sere manere 450 **
he saues þe here bothe night & day
fro al meschaunce & perels sere;
he sendes he grace wher-thorou pou may
wynne with strength þi lyuyng here,
And in al þat þou shalt do or say 455
he gyues Þe strength & witt clere.
4 When pou shalt ony ping bygynne,
with-outen god pou may not spede;
þou may nouper go ne rynne,
ne do no þing, but he be lede, 460
(God's °Al afterward bi-thynk be right
good-
'ness, what god has done & did for þe,
man's
1= an ouen. 2 Cf. Prick of Consc. v, 1245.
sin)
3 r. Þe. 4 Ms. &. 5 Cf. S. Edmund's Spe-
culum.
attoomkinantflesta
a 1400 Orle-miglie
42
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII..
ne stir honde ne fote, lyppe ne chynne,
ne no lym with-outen hym in nede;
for what so þou dos, with-outen synne,
Onely may hit be calde his dede.
465 lik day for þe & þi mete
he multiplies of his godenes
foules & fisshes, smale & grete,
sere bestus, trees, fruyte & gres;
for þe he sendes bothe drye & wete,
470 sum-tyme more & sum-tyme lesse,
& sumn-tyme colde & sur-tyme hete,
þat most to þe sesenabul es.
At po last, what he shal do to þe
thenk when pou art went hepen away.
475 If bou hym loue with hert fre
& serue hym treuly here to pay,
he wil þe bring to þat contre
þer neuer is nyght but euer is day,
where þou shalt more ioy & blis se
480 þen euer hert might think or tong say.
520
Pat contre is his kyngdome,
of whiche he wil þe his aire make
if þou po fende here ouer-com
thorou gode lyue & synne forsake.
485 Bot if pou to god be vnbuxom
& wickednes of synnes take,
pou shalt wende for þat wicke custom
to Helle, Þere payne shal neuer slake.
Also what shame & vilanye
505
Þou dost þi soule bithink be swithe:
how foule pou mast hit & vggely
thorou synne pou dost here mony sithe,
how pore, how nakid, how nedy
of alle þing þat shuld make hit blither.... 510
Thenk what harme pou hast don & skathe
to hym þat was þi neghtbur kidde,
in body, in soule, or ellis in bathe,
thorou sklaunder, if hit so bitidde,
or on oper wise has made him wrathe. 515
Make hym amendis if pou þus didde,
or ellus þi soule is in grete wathe;
for no þing may fro god be hidde. –
More zit bihoues þe know & se (Sine)
& haue in mynde in ilk a stede,
what synne bifore pi dede dos pe
po whiles bou here on erth may trede,
& what harme to be syrne may be
when þou shalt (dy, &]? after þi dede;
so shalt pou synne hate & fle,
þen were þis a siker rede.
First know & think what dos synne
bifore þi deth whil pou lyues.
Synne woundes pisoule with-outen dynne,
& sore oft-sith hit [be] greues ; 530
synne makes þi conscience foule with-Inne,
& iche synne with oper clyues;
synne mas god & pe to twynne,
& puttes to mony foule ynthewes.
Synne dos pe to folow po fendus trace, 535
& alle pi dedis makes thonkles 3;
synne reeues be gostly solace,
& vertuz pat passen al riches;
synne waste[s]* alle þi godes of grace,
& leeues bes voide of al godenes; 540
synne mas be here helle to purchace,
to haue at po last, þer ay payne es.
Thenk also & pou may lere
wh[at]“ synne dos pe at þi deth stoure:
Synne (priues]? Þe pen8 of þi lyue here, 545
of alle welthe, might, of honoure;
1 A. adds: Hou thral thou mais it to thy body,
That to thy soule shold seruice kithe.
2 Ms. haue. 3 Ms. ynthonkes, I overl. 4 Ms.
syrnes wasten. 5 Ms. ho. 6 Ms. when.
7 Ms. repreues. 8 hen overl.
Per-after þenk, & for-gete noght,
490 what synne bou has done & what foly:
what vnkyndenes Þou hast wroght
& what dispite til god al-mighty,
and what sheneship þou has thoght
to pin oune soule, & vilanye,
495 & what harme & wrong pou hast wroght
& done to și neghtbur þe by.
Think what ynkyndenes, if þou mene,
þou hast to god done, & dispite:
first how ynbuxum pou hast bene
500 to his byddynges, vmthink pe zite
how þi loue is to hym noght sene,
& has not serued (hym) with delite,
OTY
of pin vnkyndenes þou art to wite.
.
endit
toominwufhausberett
.
62
To live well, consider Hell &c., Sin, Grace, Virtue, Good Works.
43
for solace ne ioy on no manere
Getes pou after ner? no fanoure,
but endeles paynes & sorowes sere,
550 but þou þe a-mende of al erroure.
2 Synne pynes 3 þi soule also
of þi body with mikel care,
& oft þai to helle to-gedur go
Þi body só faire shal be neuer mare;
555 for at po metyngs of hom two
bi soule shal se pi body so vgly fare
þat siche a body as he went fro
fayne wold he haue roten þof hit ware.
Grace settis Þi wille in god lastande,
and makus be to hym acceptabul;
grace may make þi hert heldande
to þat þat is most prophetabul. 590
Grace po boundes of synne wil slake,
and fully light þi hert with-Inne;
grace may make be for gods sake
to suffur angers & þi lyue wynne;
Grace may þi werkis medeful make, 595
& gete þat lost is thorou synne;
grace wil gare pe po right way to take
to heuen per blis shal neuer blynne.
Vnderstonde also & þenk right
560 what synne shal do after þi deed:
Synne shal þer draw þe fro þat sight
of god, and fro his sone bes pou sheed;
Synne shal reeue þi soule of al might,
& make hit wayke & heuye as leed;
565 synne shal put þe fro rest & light,
& fro alle mercie, helpe & reed.
I hynk also ay when pou may (Vertu)
what vertue dos & what hit spedis. 600
Vertue puttis foundyng away,
and multiplies alle gode dedis ;
vertue makus [be] night & day
to haue likyng in god þat þi soule fedis;
vertue in charite holdes þi-selue ay, 605
And holly to god hit þi loue ledis.
I Vertue Þe kepis fro fire brennyng,
fro helle hardships & fro payne,
fro lecherie, lust & lykyng,
þat þou noght in hom drunken be; 610
vertue be kepis fro fallyng,
In alle nedis he vp-holdes þe,
& drawes þi hert fro dyuers þing,
fro coueytise & vanyte.
Synne shal to endeles payne pe lede
In helle þat hidowus is and myrke ;
Synne shal þe put fro al gode dede
570 þat þou here wroght or euer wold wirke;
Synne shal put þe fro al mede
& fro al po helpe of holi kirke.
Pus shal synne do, but þou god drede
& forsake syrine & with hit irke. —
works)
(Grace) Afterward think in þi thoght
what grace shal do pat noght may fayle,
& what vertue thorou grace is wroght,
& what gode werk may þen availe.
And when þou hast pes thre wel thoght:
580 with hom þou shalt pi soule vitayle,
& of alle bo synnes Þou euer wroght
make amendes thorou gode consaile.
I hink also day & night
(Good
what gode werk dos þat is right wroght. "of
Gode werk stablis vertue right,
& ekus þi mede, & glades þi thoght;
gode werke away puttus slouth thorou
right,
& fordos synne pat pou art Inne broght; 620
gode werk strengthis þe so to fight
with þo fende, þat he be ouer-com noght.
Gode werk þat wroght is in charite,
is holden medeful & certayne,
& specialy to pinges thre:
pat is, to endeles lyue souerayne,
First þou shalt þenk & vnderstonde
with stedfast thoght & hert stabul
585 what grace may do Þe here lyuande,
if þou to grace wilt make pe abul.
625
i Ms. ner after. 2 This st, is corrupted.
3 r. pryues? 4r. or ? 5 r. twinnyng.
6 om. in A.
a 1400 Alle- mighty
UL
W
.
79
44
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
& to po ekyng of grace so fre,
and also to forgyfnes of payne.
& pus may gode werk vaile to þe,
630 if pou with charite hit ordayne.
But gode werk”, shalt pou ynderstonde,
oute of charite may noght a-vayle
As to po lyue ay-lastande;
but to one of þes foure hit shal not fayle:
635 Ouper hit shal sonner breke synne bande,
or leese po sorow þat þe shulde ayle,
or make pi welth more here filowande,
or more lett þo fende Þe to assayle.
of mercy þis shuld to hym falle
to forgyue vs, þat we not spille. 670
4 Of mercy god sendes angers sere
for synne shuld be clensid per-by,
of mercy he gyues vs welth here
to gare vs to loue hym of curtesy,
of mercy he gyues vs with-outen were 675
Sacramentis, to take wurthily,
of mercy he wil þat we lere
his comaundements, for mede gostly.
Of mercy god ledlis]hom agayne
þate wronge went day & nyght,
of me[r]cyempat is certayne-
he ledis hom þat han no lyght,
Of mercye to helpe vs he is fayne
when we are fallen & wanten myght,
of mercy þat wil he not layne 685
he hom vp-holdes pat stonden vp-right.
680
(Gods Euer-more þink how mykel is
mercy)
of god godenes of his mercy,
& of po harde dome of his rightwisnys
how mykel hit is on oper party;
& pat shal make pe to loue lesse
worldus welth bat passis lightly,
645 & forsake honoure & richesse,
& wel more drede god al-myghty.
Mercie shewes sere benefises
pat men receyue of god here :
Mercy delyuers a mon & saues (!)
650 fro? strong perels þat mon is nere,
Mercy here to mon hetes heuen delices 3
& to alle þat to god are leue & dere,
mercy vs confortis on sere wyses
when we are broght in synnes sere.
655 Of mercy god vs here abides
(suffrandly]* when we do wronge,
of mercie fro vengaunce he vs hides
& gyues vs grace here frely a-monge,
of mercie he multiplies on mony sides
660 þat he gyues, where-sere we gonge,
of mercy he kepis vs what so bytides
þat :uas ben ordayned to last longe.
Of mercie god wil agayne-calle
mon pat turnes fro hym to ille,
665 of mercie he receyues hom alle
þat turne agayne to hys wille,
Of me[r]cy he makis oure hertis smalle
and meke penaunce to fulfille;
i Ms. werkus. 2 Ms. for. 3 Ms. delites.
4 Ms. soueraynly.
5
Also benk with hert stedfast, (Gods
· Iustis)
when pou wost what gods mercye is,' "
how mykel shal be, in þi hert cast,
po reddir? of his rightwisenes
690
to poo þat shal be at þo last
On domes-day (demed); more & les
After po dredeful bemes blast,
as tellis po gosple in po mes.
Þen shal god his mercye hide
1 695
fro synful men pat are gilty,
his rightwisnes Þai shal abide ,
& þai be (dampned]“ þat þe wurthy ;
þen shal þai stonde on his [left] side
with-ſouten] hope of alle mercy, 700
And helle opende shal be wide
& swalow þat synful company.
For bai hade 'no reuth on po pore
þat for myscheeue might for hom spille,
ne to hore owen neghtbore
705
mercy (did]' here with gode wille,
þai shal be dampned thorou reddoure
8 rightwysnes Þen to fulfille,
& (haf]° endeles woo with-outen mesoure
with-outen mercye, & þat is skille. 710
1 Ms. ledde. 2 r. reddur. 3 Ms, damp-
ned, 4 Ms. demed. 5 Ms. right. Oom.
7 Ms. do. 8 Ms. of rightw. ğ Ms. of.
VAT,
good in trinitie (Roy)
LE
To live well, consider Hell &c., God's Mercy, God's Justice.
45
Rightwisnes with mercy is ay . Þere þus shal mercye here of spede
In alle gode werkus, as shewes he; thorou grace of god, ouer al mighty,
but sum-tyme pat one is by sum way if mon serue god & paynes drede
aperte, when þat oper is priue,
& to endeles blis hym dight.redy.
715 & sum-tyme bothe se men may,
If god schuld zelde to ilk man
745
& sum-tyme nouper may pai se:
After po werkes pat pai haue wroght,.
but rightwisnes [in] po last day
gode for gode as he wel kan,
bes shewid, & mercie hidde shal be.
& ille for ille fully thoght, ,
Mercye is shewid, as I wene,
fro po tyme Þai lyue bigan,
720 and rightwisnes priue & stille,
of alle werkus, wylle, worde or thoght: 750
when po wicked of synne is made clene, Þo rightwisnes of god bes? þan
& so is rightwis[ed]” thorow gods wille. Onely shewid, & mercye noght.
But rightwisenes is openly sene
2And perfore chese pe, or Þou wende,
& mercy hidde for certayne skille,
wheber pou wolt to payne or blis.
725 when childre yncristened dampned bene
But if Þou puruyaunce by-fore sende 755
to helle for ày, þat neuer did ille.
til þat place pat redy is,
And rightwisnes with mercye tite with gode dedes Þi lyue amende,
are bothe hidde & holden doune, ellis comes pou neuer þer al ioye is,
when innocentez & men perfite
but euer to duelle with þo fende,
730 suffren here persecucioune.
dopartyd fro god and fro alle his. - 760
But bothe are shewid in a plite,
For his loue on rode con blede
þof pai haue sere condicioune,
& boght monnus soule ynto blis,
when god þo gode hore mede shal qwite,
on pis boke takes gode hede
& to þoo ille payne & dampnacioune.
& reulis zow after rightwisnys.
735 For god to po gode grauntis more mede he pat loues god & bym wol drede, 765
in heuen þen þai haue serued fully, mon & wommon, more & lesse,
& to po ille for bore mys-dede
to þat blis he wil zou lede
lesse payne in helle þen þai ben worthy. þere ioy & blisse euer es. amen. per
Pis is grete godenes of god to rede
C[harite). mea tua.
740 þat þus dos of his grete mercy.
1 A. were. 2 A. has 2 other final stanzas.
1 Ms. rightwisnes. 2 Ms. alle.
ima 1400 IQ PTrid.
T ey
5.. (Twelve profits of Tribulacion.)
A southern transcription (but with many northern forms remaining) is extant in
Ms. Laud 210 fol. 99 (c. 1370); the original text was northern, and is, no doubt,
a work of R. Rolle (cf. neuerpelater &c.). The treatise is a close translation of
Duodecim utilitates tribulationis by Petrus Blesensis (ed. Giles III p. 3074); other
translations of it are found in Ms. Reg. 17 C XVIII fol. 2b and Arund. 286 foi 100
(both southern texts). — (A different treatise on tribulation is that in Ms. Harl. 1706
and other Mss., which treats of »how there were sixe masters assembled togeder
and ycheon asked othere what thynges they myght best please god and were most
profytable to the people, and all they were accorded to speke of tribulacion«.)
fol. 4gb. Da nobis auxilium domine de tribulacione.
Pou soule tribulid and temptid, to be is þis word shewid, þat þou lere wher-
of tribulacion serues, and þat þou not onely susteyne hom suffraandely, but also
1 This ed. is not very correct.
want4-comww.ke.Wapema
F
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
arsoo 12
46
gladely, & þat þou be gladid with-Inne of þat ilk þat þou art angrid with-outen;
for, als sayes Senec, { »þere is non so grete glading, as þat þat is drawen of
angre«. Whilk glading no mon may haue, but if he know first po dede of
tribulacione; hou, þat is to saye", God, þat sendes tribulacions, ordeynes hem?
to po profite & forthering of hom þat suffren hom, but zif þai setten hom
agaynus po ordynaunce of hore creatore 3 with wickednes of* rebelnes. Wherfore
þog þat knowen hore defautes of þat one syde, & po profites of tribulacion
on þat oper : asken of god in þo fore-sayed word forto be helpid of tribulacion,
& not zit“ to be remoued; for if þai aske po remewyng, perauenture pai aske
agaynes hom-selue, as Poule þat askid po prik of his flesshe to be remewid
I po secunde Cor. po tuelft chapiter; to whom is answerid of god: »My grace
sufficis to be«. q Per are mony fruytis of tribulacion: but now of tuelue shal
we touche, in whoche mony.oper are contened; þat lightly shal be vnderstonden,
who þis tretice diligently redis or heris; for as po mete ille chewid ille is defyed
& litel profitis: so techyng of holy wrytt with-outen entent red or herd, litel
profitis.
Po first profite þat tribulacion dos is in þis : þat tribulacion is a trewe
socoure sende fro god to take po soule fro handis of his enmyes. I Þese
enmyes are, þo fals ioyes & deceyuande welthes of þis world, whilke þat in so
mykel po more perelousely bigylen po indisciplyned hert, in als mykel more as pai
flateren & cherisshen. Þese are po enmyes of whilk (þo] comune prouerbe tellis:
»ffoole ne drede[s] [bam] noght«; þat in als mykel are pai more to drede þat þai
more flaterandly cherisshe. [Þese are po enemyes þat flaterandly sleen, & sleand
flatren] ®; þat are tokened by Iohab, þat holdande Amasis chyn, as he wolde
haue kissid hym, sloghe hym, I bo secund Reg. tuentid Chapiter. Wherof sayes
Gregor : »þof al fortune be ſto drede)”, nerepoles more is to drede po weltheful
þen þo wooful«. Pat opunly apperis, for þo enmye pat priuely werres is more
to drede ben he þat werres opunly. And take hedes þat þese socoures of tribu-
lacion are not sende al-onely of god, but god hym-selue is leeder & marchal
of his hoost, ordynande al to po delyueraunce of his frendis. Wherfore he hetis
Dauid: by Dauid saieand: »With hym I am in tribulacion : I shal take hym oute & glorifye
Cum
sum in hymu. Wher-fore sith god is with vs in tribulacion: yt is to susteyne suffrandely
trib. & gladly, for in als mykel as po tribulacion more greues, per-after god more
Dauid: neghes hym þat is troblid; wherof sayes Dauid: »God is nere to hom þat are
Iuxta
est de troblid in hert«. Perfore if þo presens of tribulacion anger þe, po presens of
minus god þi saueoure, þat is with be in tribulacion, gyues pe gladyng with-Inne.
hiis qui
tribula- q But pou may saye: »I fele wel po presence of tribulacions, but I ne fele
corde noght þo feliship of god in my tribulacion; for if he shewid so suettenesse of his
presence as þo bitternesse of tribulacion, I shuld susteyne po tribulacion gladly«.
And þou may saye also þat þou feldes more suettnesse of god bifore po tribula-
cion, þen þer-Inne. To pat may be answerid þat þo feliship of god may be on
two maners vnderstonden. First (of gyuyng of vertu & grace: for]° as po tribulacion
is ekid, so god multiplies vertu. and grace; as seyes po apostle first Cor. Tende:
»God is trewe, þat suffres zou not be temptid ouer zoure myght, but makis
i Petr. Bl. effectum tribulationis, qualiter scilicet deus &c. 2 on erasure. 3 Ms. creature.
4 Ms. or. 5 r. hit, 6 om.; but so Ms. Laud. 7 Ms. pof al be fortune; to drede om.
8 r. kepe. 9 Ms. þat. 10 om.
མ་ཡལ་པར་ཡroཔས་ལ་ར་གཡབས་༦༩
པྤཡང་ན་ཕྱི་ཡག་པ་བས་དད་པ་ལ་འམཁས་
Trik (Roy) poti
(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation.
47
com with po temptacion þat ze may susteyn hit«; as who'saye: he shal gyue
eking of grace & vertu to susteyne tribulacion suffrandly. For right as po lordes Exem-
plum
of castles are wonte to sende help & socoure to hon þat ben ensegid in
castles: so god is wont to sende eking of grace to po troblid soule. / Pat oper
feliship of god in tribulacion may be vnderstonden of gyuyng of myrrily gladyng,
þat god sendis to po troblid; where-[of] þo apostle saies secunde to Cor. po. »As
þo passions of Crist abounden in vs, so thorow Crist aboundis oure gladyng«.
T Þo passions of Crist are saied abounde in vs, for þai are sende of hym, & for
hym shal pai be sufferandly susteyned, and þat to likenesse of Crist, & with-
outen gilt; þat no mon suffre as a theue or a mon-sleer, þat desserues wel
þat þai suffre. / But take kepe þat þo eking of grace þat is gyuen ir tribulacion,
is not euer-more gyuen to be felde of po troblīd; whilk þing is don to his
prouyng, drede, & delyueraunce. Also po glading ne shuld not come, to po
stede ne be graythid to hym, þat tribulacion graythis; as saies Tob[ias] fferthe:
„Þou makis stille after storme, & pou sendis glading after sorowyng & gretyng«.
And Dauid: » After po monynessis of my sorowes in my hert þi gladingis haue
Ioyed my soule«. / As? bo gladingis of one houre passis po tribulacions of mony
zeeris. For hegh god þat first come to socoure þe, after po tribulacione shal
du[e]lle with be confortande þe, as sayes seynt Bernard. | And if perauenture
þou playne be þat þis glading taries ouer-mykel, as playnen þese loouers: here
answeris Cassiodor, sayand pat po selue swiftnesse semes slownesse to po hert þat
is desyrande & louande. / And [bou) aske of rightwise men þat neuer didde deedly
synne, hou hit, is sayed þat þai are delyuerid oute of hore enmyes honde: To
þat may be saied þat þof po gode be not fallen in honde of hore enmyes by
assent of deedly synne, not-forþi pai might haue fallen; but helpand god þai ne
felle not, & so askapid hore hondis. Whilk þing seynt Austyn touchis, spekande
to po rightwyse þat god had keppid fro synne þus : »He heldė pe þat þou ne
felle in synne«. ! Of þese forsaied pingis may be concludid þat po troblid soule
ne haues noght to holde hym verrayd when he suffres tribulacione, but delyuerd
& tane a-way fro po welthe of þo world deceyuande, & [fro] po flesshely glading
mysconfortande. Wherfore sith tribulacion[s] delyuers of enmyes: þof pai ben
sumtyme heuysome, nereþoles þai are to susteyne for god gladly & with-outen
grucchyng; vmwhile þof” a mon be sette agaynes tribulacions with grucchingis,
þen he lettis his helpers, & helpus his enmyes.
Po secund profite of tribulacion is: þat hit stoppis po deuels mouthe, þat he
ne dar speke ne tempte po soule þat is in tribulacion; for he dredis to be put
agayne & ouer-comen. Pat is tokened in po secunde chapiter of Iob, where is
sayed: »no mon spake to hym a word, for pai sawe his sorowe was greet«. He 3
spekis þere of feynt frendis of Iob, þat bitokene deuels werrayande po soules;
þat dar not negh po troblid soule ne tempte hit seen his grete tribulacion, for
þai drede to be ouer-comen of siche a soule. Noght* þat temptacion of po fend
be perilouse to þe but by þo folowand answere, þat is, by delite & assent; as
þo speche of po cursid mon noyes pe noght, but if pou bym answere. / And
þat is tokened in þo threttid & sex of Vsaie where is sayed. þat Ezech[ias] forbed
i Lat. Consolationes autem &c. 2 Lat quia si; r. ellis if?
Sed nota quod diaboli temptatio non sit periculosa nisi &c.
3 Lat. Scriptura.
4 Lat.
Det460.min
hesablama
tante
a 14oo.
Y
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
þo peple to answere to po blasphemes of Rapsace prince of po kingis hoost of
Assiris. By Rapsace is tokened po deuel, by his blasphemes are tokened ille
þoghtis whoche he totils"; but þai noye noght but if pou answere by assent.
For [þof] po let[h]ey? blasphemes tourmenten mykel monnes hert, but þai noye not
als long as he answeres not; but on þat oþer halue þo blasphemand folk are
angerid when þai se hom þat þai blaspheme noght answere.
Po thrid profite of tribulacion.
Po thridde profite of tribulacione is : þat [it] clenses po soule troblid. And hit
is to witte þat fyue maners of clensyngis ben of bodily þingis. q Đo first
clensing is, of monnus body; þo whiche is on two maners: in drinkyng & in
blode-letyng. Po secunde clensing is of metals; þo whoche is on two maners:
with fire as gold, and with fyle as iren. I Do thrid clensing is of trees, po
whiche is in cuttyng of braunchis & vp-deluyng of wedis. T Po ferthe clensing
is of corne, with a flayle. Po fift clensyng is of vynes, in po pressure. In
alle þese maners clenses tribulacione.
(1) First is monnus body clensid with drynk : and for-þi when tribulacion takis þe,
þenk hit is medycyne, sende to pe fro þi lord to clens [be] 3 of outerage humore and
[vnskilwis) likyng. For why as wicked humours are clensid with bitter medicyne,
so po wicked maners of po soule are clensid with tribulacion ; for as seynt Gregor
saies, wicked humours are wicked maners. & for-Þi take with glading þo medicyne
sende to be fro pi lord, þo whilk is souerayne leche knowand al po complexcion
of þi hert; for he wot hou mikel pou may susteyne, & he ne gyues noght to
Þe but þat is to be profitable. For why hegh gods son drank þo tribulacion of
deed, not for his, but for þin clensing. On po same maner drink pou þo
medicyne of tribulacion for þi heele & þi clensyng. For hit is saied Cant.
sexte: »Drinkis frendis, & gladis zou derlingis«. And to po childre of Zebedeis
was saied : »May ze drinke po drink þat I shal drinke?« Þis is po drink of hele
Calicem þo whilk Dauid receyued with making of þonkis, sayande: T »Po drink of heele
sandrs I shal take«. and perauenture pof hit be hard to be to swolowe bis drink for
Et no- bitternesse, calle gods help, as did Dauid when he saied: » And gods name I
domini shal in-calle«. / & ſtake]5 kepe þat as bodily medicyne ne shuld not be tastid ne on
inuo- po tong long holden, but sone be doun swalowid: so tribulacion ne shuld not
fro his course with grutching be þoght on. But as po profite of medicyne is
lettid sum-tyme not of defaute of hit-selue, but ille disposicion of po takand: so
po profite of tribulacion is lettid for ille disposicion of po hard hert & rebel;
as is shewid in Pharao Exod. ferthe, for why ay po more he was tourmentid,
þo more hard was his bert. And perfore saies Salomon : »bo hard hert shal haue
hard at po last«. Po secund maner monnus body is clensid with blode-letyng,
& þat on two maners, þat is to saie, with opunnyng of vayne, & with ventuse.
Openyng of vayne is lickened to shrift, & ventuse to tribulacion. And take kepe
þat (as vnnaite)' bodily blode corumpis po body: so synne, þat in holy writt is cald
blode, corumpis po hert. Po vayne thorou whilk þis blode, þat is to saie synne,
is oute-casten, is po mouth, as Salomon saies in Prouerbe: 1 »Po vayne of lyue
is po mouthe of þo rightwyse«; for þo rightwyse in þo bigynning is wryer of
cabo
1 Lat, suggerit. 2 Ms. For to po letter. 3 Ms. clennes; þe om.
om. in L. 5 Ms. (and L) to. 6 Lat. rętardari. 7 om.
4 r. hc? Lat. ipse ;
1
P
r
.
(R )
atqoo in the
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(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation.
49
hym-selue, þat is to saie in shrift. And take kepe: as a mon shuld let oute Exem-
plum
ille blode to clensyng of þo body, & withhold gode blode to po norisshing
of þo body: so men shulden in shrift saie hore synnes, pat pai be casten
away, & holde stille po gode dedisé þat þai ben not leste?, for why gode
dedis tolde in shrift for rosyng & for vayne-glorye, are lost; as is shewid in
bo pharise po whiche rehersid his gode dedis in loouyng, sayande Luc. aghtend? :
»I fast twies in þo woke, (þo] tende I gyue of (al] þat I haue«; but þo puplycane
ne durst not lift his eghen to bo heuen, but smote his brest sayande: »God,
haue mercie on me synful mon«; and þa[n]“ folowis pat »po publicane come doun
iustified thorou meke shrift fro po pharisee«, bo whilk duellid in his synnes.
For why poo synnes þat are shewid in sothefast and lawe shrift, are for-
done, as Dauid saies: »I saied I shuld shryue me to lord, & þou forgaue bo
wickednesse of my synne«. Do blode-letyng of ventuse is like to tribulacion:
forwhy als mony tribulacions as god sendis to po hert, so mony strokes for blode-
draght he gyues to his purgacion. But take kepe þat bifore po stroke of blode-
letyng hit is nedeful þo flesshe be enchawid, þat þo stroke may lightlier be
suffred: So hit is nedeful pat monnes hert be kyndelid with þo fire of loue, to
suffre tribulacion lightly; as seynt Austyn saies : »Alle fel þingis & grete þingis
light & nerehand none makis loue«. In tokenyng of þis lightid po holy gost
vp-on po apostlis in tong[is] of fire, as hit is saied Act. secunde; of þo whilk þai
were so strengthed þat after po receyuing of hit fro po sight of þo conseil pai
7,eden ioyande, for pai were holden worþi to suffre noye for þo name of Ihesu.
Pai were bifore po receyuing of þat light dredeful, as semed in Petre po whoche
denyed his lord at þo voice of a womman; þo whilk nereþolater after þo
receyuyng of po holy gost suffrid for his lord gladly passion of po crosse.
q Po secunde maner of clensyng is thorou whilk metals are clensid, as gold with (2)
fire, & ierne with file. First tribulacion clensis po soule & makis hit clene as fire
dos Þo gold; þerof saies seynt Austyn: { » Pat po flayle dos to po corne, þat
þo fire dos to po gold, þat þo file dos to po iern, right so & on þo same
maner tribulacion clensis þo rightwyse mon«; þat is to saie: As þo fire departis
po gold fro oper metallis & makis hit clene of drosse, so tribulacion makis po
soule clene. Perfore hit is saied of po martirs in Sapienc[ia]: »He proued hom as
gold in þo berthe«. With þo fire of tribulacion proued was lob, þat saied:
»he proued me as gold pat passes thorou po fire«. And take kepe þat gold is
po moost preciouse among alle metallis, & leed po most vyle, & nere-po-later
· gold ne is not clensid with-outen leed, for why leed drawis with hit in po herthe
þo filthe of po gold. So po gode men, þo whiche are bytokened by po gold,
are clensid oft with ille men, þat are bitokened by leed. Þen, if hit be askid
, »of what þing seruen þo ille men to po gode«, hit may be answerid: of þat þing
þat þo leed serues to þo gold; as Salomon saies: » po fool shal serue to po
wyse«, þat is to saie, clensand hym. Þus serued Esau Iacob, þat is to saye,
pursuyng hym; of whom hit is saied Gen[esis] fyue & tuentid: »po more shal serue
1 Ms. here adds: Luc. aghtende In willing loouyng saied: »I fast twyes in þo wickea, þat he
had don, bat bai &c.; L. Luce xvIIIO In willing loouing sayde: »I fast twíes ir be wikea; þat
he had done he tolde, berfore were bei lefte, for whi &c. These words are intercalated from
the following line; it is clear that Ms. Laud is posterior to Reg., and not vice versa.
% = loste. 3 Ms. adds: as bifore. 4 Ms. þat, L ban. 5 r. pursuand.
II.
contplastore.
1980
.
50
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
to po lesse«. / Sith, tribulacion clensis po soule as file dos bo iern, furblisshand
hit & makand bright. For why as po swerd þat neuer passis out of po shethe,
& bo knyue þat neuer-more sheres, gedres rust: so monnus hert gedres rust
gostly with-outen vse of tribulacion; as Ieremye? saies: » Bareyne was Moab fro
his zouthe: he restid in his filthea. For-[hy]? ne pleyne be not þof god furblisshe
þi hert þat hit shyne & be made clene; for in oper maner pou may not se god;
Beati mundo as saies seynt Matheu: »Blessid be po clene of hert: for pai shal se god«. //
corde q.i. d.
(3) Þo thridde maner of clensyng þat fallis to tribulacion, is þo clensyng of trees as
of vynes, po whilk is in cuttyng of vnnayte 3 braunchis; of þo whilk Io. .xx.* : »Ilk
a boghe not berande fruyt he shal smyte of, & he shal clense po boghe pat
beres fruyt, to make more fruyt«. By po vyne is vnderstondenmonnes hert,
po moysture of whom makande hym to bere fruyte is loue; / Þen als mikel as
he has of loue: so mikel has he of moysture; for why when po moysture of
po trees is sprad in po vnnayte braunchis, po tree beres po lesse fruyt. So po
loue of þo hert þo more hit is sprad a-mong flesshely frendis, po lesse hit is
able to gostly fruyte. And if þo wyse gardiner sheres a-way po vnnayte 5 braunchis
of po tree þat hit may bere more fruyt: hit is no wondre pof god, þat is tiller
of monnes hert as saies po gosple Ioh. tuentidº: »My fadre is a til-mon«, he
shal shere a-way po vnnayte loue of þi hert, þat is to saie þi kinraden & þi
frendis worldly & flesshely, with þo loue-croke of þo deed po whilk he holdes
in his hondis, or if he do fro þe worldly godis, to þat þat þo loue of þi hert
ne passe not his propre termes; and al þat dos god þat þo loue of þi hert
draw not fro hym, & þat hit be not spred in worldly þingis, where mykel mon
byhoues lay & per-thorou no gode wynne but oft ille ende, as saies seynt
Gregor: 9 »Who so leenes to po sclithand, hym byhoues sclithe with po sclithand«.
(4) 9 Þo ferthe maner of clensyng þat fallis to tribulacion, is clensyng of corne, with
flayle, þat [Þo) corne be partid fro þo chaf; as saynt Austyn sayes : »Pat po flayle
dos to po corne: þat þo tribulacion dos to po rightwyse mon«. For as po strok
of þo flayle gares po corne passe oute of þo chaf: so tribulacion gares monnes
hert be departid fro flesshly loue, for þo world mys-payes to po troblid hert.
perfore Dauid knowande po profite of po flayle of tribulacion, saied: »Lo I am
redy to anoyes : to suffre bat my hert may be clensid«; as seynt Austyn saies :
»Ne pleyne Þe not of þo flaile of tribulacion, if pou wilt haue clene corne, & be
set in heuen, where noght shal be set but clene corne. But as hit fallis
ooper 6-while bat corne not ripe ne dried ne is not departid fro po chaf thorou
þo strok of po flaile, but clyues more brissed per-Inne: so monnes hert hauand
moysture & likyng of flesshely loue, ne is not departid fro þo perelous world,
but more drawis perto with loue & lyking; of po whiche nereþolater he receyues
noght but tourment & trauel, for why: »mon is borne to trauel & þo brid to po
flight«, as saies Iob. And perfore saied seynt Ion in his pistil: »Ne loues not
(5) þo world ne þoo þat are per-Inne«. I Po fift maner of clensyng þat fallis to
tribulacion, is clensyng of wyne in po pressure; for as bo pressure presses ho
grapis þat þo preciouse wyne may be departid fro po dreggis: so god settis þo
soule in þo pressure of tribulacion, þat is to saie in sekenes of body, in pur-
i orig. Ieromye.
ouber.
2 Ms. for why.
3 L ynþriuand.
4 r. xy.
5 I wicked.
Borig.
4x446-oimh fh
*
**
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(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation.
51
suyng of wickid men, in dethe of frendis, in losse of erthely godis; þat he may
clense po soule of filthes of synne & of wicked lykingis. And þerfore ne put
not a-way po pressure of tribulacion: if pou wilt be sett in celere of Crist, as
Salomon saies Cant. first: »Po kyng led me in to po wyne-selere«; & seynt
Austyn saies þat »po martirs in þis lyue are so pressid, þat þo greet mater of
hore body laft in þo pressoure, & þo preciouse soules are sett in celere of aye-
lastyng lyue as preciouse wyne«. Ne pleyne pe not if god sett be in po
pressoure of tribulacion, siþ' he defoulid? first po pressoure, as Ysaże saies: T »Po
pressoure I defoulid alone, & of þo folk no mon was with me«. »no mon« be
saies, & not ɔno wommon«, for alle po apostles in his passion laften hym &
fledde ; but. þo blessid mayden ne departid noť fro hym thorou mys-bileue, but
suffred with hym thorou compassion, as Symeon heght hir saieand: »þo swerd of
his passion shal passe thorow þi soule«.
Po ferthe profite of tribulacion is: þat hit lightis þi hert to knowyng of god
& kuowyng of þi-selue; in þo whilk is þo perfeccion of monnus knowyng; as
seynt Austyn, þatso mykel had red & herd, more ne askid he not, saieand
in po boke Soliloquiorum: »God, if I had knowen þe! god, if I had knowen
me!« And in þo boke of Wysdome is hit saied: » Knowe þe, is witt fulfilda.
For as we se pat po strok of þo zerd gares po disciple hold doun his heed
& loke on po boke & recorde his lessone: so tribulacion is sende to pe fro
god [þat]4 þou may lere to knowe þi creatore *; as seynt Bernarde saies : »God makis
hym to be knowen betande, bo whilk was forgeten & vnknowen sparande«.
Of þis haue we ensaumple, Daniel ferthe, of þo kyng Nabugodenosor, bo whilk
god cacchido oute of his kyngdome, and was his wonnyng with wylde beestis, &
hay he ete as an ox: but in þo ende of his dayes »he liftid vp his eghen to heuen,
& his witt is gyuen agayne to hym.. [He]' liftes his eghen to heuen þat sett-
is his knowing on his creatore. In þis liftyng of eghne his witte is zolden to
hym þat thorou bowing doune to erthely þingis lost hit. Nabugodonosor þat
bifore tribulacion stekid his eghen to his creatore, lokand to þo erthe, after
tribulacion he lyftid his eghen to heuen where he was þat bete hym: as po
maner es þat when þo child beten feles po strok of po zerd, he turnes po eghe
to hym þat hym bete. And perfore god betis ouperwhile his face ®, for he
-
-
maner is of louande to sende letters by-twys hom, to holde loue in mynde,
and þat hit be not forgeten: and perfore þo lord Ihesu Crist sendis to be
tribulacion, þat was forgeten of þe perauenture in þi wele, as po botiler of
Pharao forgate in his wele Ioseph his dreme-reder, Gen[esis). Byhalde pat oure lord
Ihesu Crist withholdis in mynde of [be] po tokeny[s] º of þo woundis þat he suffrid
for þe, as if a knot were made on a girdul to holde sum þing in mynde; as
oure lord saies thorou Ysaie fourtid fi nyne : »I shal not forgete þe: in my hondis
I haue wrytten þe«, þat is to saye: »when I had hom thurled in po crosse for
ne wrathe Þe not if he sende to be tribulacion to hold þo mynde of hym; ffor
why als mony tribulacions as Þou haues, als mony messageris (sendes]º he callyng þe
i on erasure.
2 Lat, calcavit; = Fr. defouler, fouler. 3 Ms. saied þat. 4 Ms. &.
5 orig. creature. 6 = chasid. 7 Ms. and eft. 8 I. fase = foes? 9 Ms. tokenyng.
10 Ms. haues.
*
X
Preleta. Questa
=
52
.
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XYII.
Tazen' to po mynde of hym. Ne agayne put pou not perfore pi gode sommoners :
for why hit is saied, »mykel is worpi in citee a gode summoner«. / But pou
myghtis saie pat »tribulacions ne are not nedeful to make pis sommones, for god
sommonus I-noghe by his gyftis, as seynt Austyn saies: ,Gods giftis are not ellis
but sommonus to cum to hym'; perfore hit is semely to hym þat he make
sonmones gyuande giftis, for soche sommones semen a lord, more pen þo
sommones þat are with betyngis«. To pis may be answerid: þof hit so be
pat giftis callen pe agayne to knowyng of þi lord, neuerpolater ouperwhile
vnskilful loue drawes? to worldly giftis, and so is forgeten þo maker þat gyues
godis aye-lastyng. Derfore of soche he pleynes hym Prouerb. first & seies: »I
spred out my honde«, þat is to saie gyuande worldly giftis, »& þere was none
byhelde«. He ne saies not þere was non pat »toke«, for mony are pat gladly
taken; but fewe are þat »byholden«; (for) fro þo moste to po leest, alle louen giftis
& folowen rewardyngis. / But pou might saie : » pof hit be semely þat god calle
agayne thorou tribulacion : hard hertis & vnchastised po whilk ne wil not turne
to hym thorou giftis, he calles* agayne thorou tribulacions: neuerþolater semely
ne is hit not for þo gode, bo wbilk knower thorou þo gyftes po gyuer«. To
þat may be saied þat þof hit so be pat po gode hert knowes bo gyuer in po
giftis thorou kyndely likynge, neuer-þo-later hit comes not to perfite knowyng
with-outen prouyng of tribulacion, as hit is saied Ecc.: »What kon he þat is not
assaied? T. Po mon þat is proued ir mony pingis, knowis mony þingis«. But
take kepe þat he calde Salomon to his knowyng gyuande giftes, Iob he calde
takande away his godis. Aduersitees and tribulacions ladden Iob to perfeccion,
giftes ladden Salomon to foly & losse. Derfore if Salomon, þat was riched with
so mykel wisdome, lost po knowyng of his god in weele: be pou not siker þat
þou may in þat", longe holde po knowyng of god. q Perfore suffre pou tribulacion
þat þou may come to perfite knowyng of þi god. And if Þou be mysconfortid for
þo grettnesse of tribulacion : in his confort pe pat po more tribulacion makes pe to
com to po more coroune. // Now hit is saied hou þat tribulacion[s] calles po
hert to knowyng of his creatoure. Now is to saie hou þai calle mon to knowyng
of hym-selue. For why po hert þat þo ioye of þo world drawes fro hym-selue: ne
Lumen may not fele ne knowe hym-selue ; wherfore Dauid saies in po name of soche: »Po
rum light of myn eghen ne is not with me. Woo worthe hymn þat dispendis po light
meo (of his knowyng] in po knowyng of outeward pingus and holdes no[z]t to knowyng of
& ipsum hym-selue!...' for why worldly weele so mykel more drawus po soule fro hit-selue,
non est
mecum in hou mykel more he folowes hit & loues hit. But as po assegid is gart ouper-
while thorou assaute of his foes to turne in to his propre holde fro whiche he
dar not passe for drede of his fooes, [also]S, as seynt Gregor saies: »tribulacion
gares po hert to turne to hyt-selfe, & aye po moo tribulacions þat he has: þo
fewere issues are to passe oute fro hym-selue«. q Per-fore happye is aduersite pat
zeldes [he] to þi-selue & makis pe to turne yn-to pi propre home; and per-fore hit
is saied Exod. Tuelft: q »Duelle ilk mon with hym-selue«, þat is to saie, knowe
hym-selue, & take kepe to hym-selue; for why as a hous þat no mon wonnes
Inne is broght to noght: so po hert not inhabited, is broght to waast & to
ocul
rum
Ion. margin. 2 r. clyues? Lat. inhaeret. 3 calle-trib., is to be om. here. 4 r. calle;
om. he? 51. yt? 6 Ms. by-holdes, by overl.; Lat. reservat nihil. 7 Lat. adds: Sed quo-
modo se cognosceret, qui secum non est ? 8 Ms. and, om, in L.
Qemlikooniphe
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(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation.
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noght. Woo is þo hert þat to po likenesse of a ioguler etes shameful morsels
oute-with his hous, bo whiche po more he synges in o per mennes houses, po
more he fyndus þat he may wepe in his owne. For why aye po more po hert
likis in worldly þingis, þo lesse he fyndis confort in hym-selue. Tribulacion
forþi is sende to po hert, þo whiche garis hit to turne agayne to hit-selue fro
worldly ioyes, as po ioguler after þo feest is gart to turne bome agayne to hym-
selue to his house. So þo dowue when sho founde not wher-on sho myght
reste bir fote, turned agayne to Noe in to po shipp. Noe is vnderstonden
po reste of po hert?; when pat monpes hert ne fyndis not oute-with in bo whiche
his loue may rest: þen he turnes to hym-selue. q ? Po dowue pen ne fyndes not
where sho may rest hir foot: when po hert ne fyndis noght in erthely þing
where he may sette his loue; & þen he turnes to hym-selue, & he is gart to
saie þat Dauid saied: »My soule, turne in to þi reste«. And in Cant. saies oure
lord to po soule þat had dispendid his hert by worldly þingis: »Turne agayne, pat
we may byholde be«, þat is to saie: I & pou; [þou) shal byholde pe with eghe of
conscience, I shal byhold þe with eghe of mercie. / Perfore pou soule, suffre þe
to be agayne cald to þi-selue & to god thorou tribulacions, po whiche wele
had liftid fro þe; and namely for tribulacions bynden & festen pe to þi creatour,
whom po ille fredame of þo world lousid. And perfore saied Iob, þat was
proued in soche þingis: »If I were gird with po prik of pouert, bit shulde shewe
to hom hore werkis«. And take kepe he ne callis not here pouert wantyng of
erthely godes, but wantyng of erthly solace po whiche is had in worldly richesse,
as hit is written Ecco: » Sum mon is pore al-þof he be in mony richessis«. Po
bondis of pouert are calde alle tribulacions po whoche are sende fro god to
bynd þo hert fro worldly solace. I Þese are po bondes of Adam oure forme-
fadre, þo whoche fallen to vs thorou þo right of heretage, thorou whilk god
drawes to hym mony as hit were agaynes hore wille. Of þat saies Osee: » In
po bandes of Adam«, pat is to saie in tribulacions, »I shal drawe hom, in bondis
of loue«, þat is to saie sende thorou loue; as saies seynt Bernarde: q »We are
drawen (f. 59) when we are wont to tribulacions. And perfore pou soule hat
art bounden with þese bondis, ne hold þe not reuyled; ne hope pou not þoo
þat are not bounden be in verray fredame to whom is grauntid al þat þai zerne;
for why pou hopis not po seke mon in gode state ne in hope of heelyng, pof
al þat he zernes be grauntid to hym of his leche,- for þen he despaires of his
heele, ffor why þat is certayne token of his dethe. Thorou whiche hit semes pat
worldly fredame ne is noght but spedyng to perisshyng, and perfore, po more
frely pai fulfille þat þai wil with-outen tribulacion, þo sonner þai falle to hel[l]e.
And þerfore if pou wilt haue god helpande to þe, suffre þat þou be bounden
with bondes of tribulacion, whoche comen fro god & to god drawen. Þerfore
he saied to Ezechiele: »Lo I gaue my bondis vpon þe«; & thorou þis may
men vnderstonde þat po bondis of tribulacion are giftis of god. Þerfore thorou
þese þingis hit semes þat tribulacions are bondis byndande po soule to god,
and ay po more po tribulacion is, þo faster byndis hit po soule to god.
1 Lat.: Noe Christum significat, Arca Noes requies mentis intelligitur.
pedem columbae, amor cordis intelligitur. 3 Iob. 36, 8.
2 Lat. adds: Per
Rastle. Quand
autheils Womenten
54
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
Tribulacio quinta.
Po fift profite of tribulacion is: þat hit hastis þi way to god; and perfore als
mony tribulacions as jou haues: als? mony messageres sendes god to be to haste
þe to hym and þat þou duelle not in þo way. & se hou wickid þai are þate ,
tarien þo wickid hert [þat]? men ne haste not to go to god. ( And þerfore when
tribulacion dos away likyng & loue in worldly þingis þat tarien, Þen þo hert is
prikked to go hastily to god, as bo prophet saies: »Hore sekenessis are mony-
fold«, þat is to saye tribulacions, »and after þat þai hastida, þat is to saie to go
to god. And seynt Gregor saies: » Đo harmes pat pressen vs here, garen vs
to go to god«. Perfore ne hald þou not litel po gyft of tribulacion po whilk
delyuers þe of a hard prison and haastis Þi way to po kyngdome, as hit is saied
Ecc. : »Mon is led sum-tyme oute of prison & of bondis to po kyngdome«. T Þo
prison is þere calde what þing þat þo hert loues vnskilfully in þis world; T Þo
boundes with whilk be'is bounden, is wicked zernyng; & ay þo more þis loue
is, po depper is po prison. Oute of þis prison god ledis þe thorou tribulacion:
when he takis fro þe, or makes froward to þe, po þing þat þo loues vnskil-
fully or þat þou wolde loue afterward; þo whilk þing is tokened Act. Twelft
where he saies þat Petre was keppid in prison of Herode, and hit folowis
after » þat þo aungle of god stode by hym & smote hym on po syde and raysed
hym saiande : ,Ryse bilyue'«. By þi syde is vnderstonden þi broþer þo whilk
come of po same syde of þo whilk þou, or alle poo generaly þat are bounden
to þe of blode or of frensship. When þat he þat shulde be to pe frende.
thorou kyndely right, is to pe frowarde, or drawen fro þe with dede, vnderstonde
Þe smytten in þo syde to go oute of þo prison, & pat pou sett þin hert al-
onely in god po whilk ne may not fayle. ( But byholde þat Petre ne playned
hym not of po strok in þo syde thorou þo whilk he was delyuerd of prison; so
Þou ne shulde not playne þe of tribulacion þo whilk delyuers þe fro worldly
loue wicked & fals. & perauenture if hit be hard to be to suffre po strok of
tribulacion: byholde Crist þat for þe was woundid in po syde, & þen po lightlyer
þou shalt suffre; as po gode knyght, when he sees þo woundis of his lord, he
ne feles not his owne woundes. T And þerfore ne put not away po messangeres
of þi lord po whilke callen þe agayne & garen þe to haste to hym; for why he
þat puttis agayn: þo messagere, agayne-puttis po lord. [ Đo messagere pen is
put agayne when þo hert stryues agayne tribulacion with ynbuxumnes. & take
kepe þat tribulacion dos two þingis: I hit tourmentis po soule clensande
hit, & hit clenses tourmentande; but when po hert receyues tribulacion with
vnbuxumnes, þen twynnes he po clensyng fro po tourment of tribulacion, and
þen he feles þo bitternesse of tribulacion & tynes po profite; & neuer-þo-later,
wil he nyl he, hym byhoues suffre tribulacione.
Po sixt profit of tribulacion.
Po sext profite of tribulacion is: þat hit4 is gyuen to quytyng of þi dettis in
þo whilke pou art bounden to god, whom þou may not fle ne no ping reeue
fro hym, ne no þing of þi dette fro hym layne. Þese dettes are po peynes
þat ben aght for po synnes þat þou haues don; & þof hit so be þat ay-lastande
bo 16 alacion: byholdes to gode knygh And þert
il overl.
2 Ms. þen.
3 a overl.
4 overl.
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.
(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation.
55
17.
peyne be aght for deedly synnes, nereþolater þat peyne aye-lastande is chaungid
in to erthely peyne thorou contricion & shrift. | Also þis peyne erthely is made
lesse thorou fastyng & tribulacion, and operwhile is al releeshid, & namely by
tribulacions. And perfore witt þou þat what so pou suffris for god, hit is
acountid of god in paye of þi dett. (And as po kyngis stiward when he zeldes Exem-
a'counte of þo receyt of his lord, he acountes & castis with penyes of leed or pune
of coper, and operwhile in po ende of his "acounte a peny of leed or of coper
lies for al hundrid marke of gold or of siluer, po whilk in hym-selue is of litle
prise: Tso po tribulacion of one houre in His world receyued with pacience,
delyuers fro po peyne of helle, bo whilk is heuy & aye-lastande. Ensaumple of
þis pou haues in þo theue þat on þo right syde of Crist was hengid, po whilk
for his ille dedis suffrid payne on po crosse, & was oblisshid to oper payne pat
is to saie of helle, 7 and nerepolater he hauande contricion for his synnes,
turned hym to his lord & saied: T »Benk on me, lord, when pou comes in to
þi kyngdome«: & als-tyte he assoyled hym & delyuerid hym of al po dette of
hard payne, thorou þat mylde voice: »For sothe I saie to þe, to-day with me in
paradyse shalt þou be«. Woo is hym þat noght payes in þis lyue, but ekis synne
vp-on synne, of whom hit is saied in þo psalme: T »Po synful mon shal borowe, Mutua-
bitur
& not quyte«. Woo is hym pat shal be gart to come to strayte acounte of þopeccator
large exspensis þat he made: for why he pat lyued aye with-outen acounte, & non
y soluet.
hit by-houes þat he paye aye paynes in helle with-outen releshe of any dette.
Pere a mony marchaundes shal wepe þat here laghen & ioyen of dyuersite of
worldly solace; þat is bitokened Apoc., where is saied: »Po marchaundis of po
erthe shal wepe. By po marchaundis of po erthe are ynderstonden þoo pat
haue sette hore poght & hore loue in erthely þingis; þo whilk shal wepe
bitterly, for god 3 shal shewe to alle hore wicked marchaundysis. But þo
marchaundis of heuen þen shal laghe, when þai se þat þai haue wonnen þo
ioye of paradyse for a litle tribulacion; þo whilk is tokened Ecc., where is
saied: | »One is þat mikel byes ? with litle prise«. Pis litle prise is po suffring
of tribulacion of þis lyue: þo whilk god takes for mykel dette, for as men
comunely saien, »Of an yuel dettoure men taken roghe ootes for wheete«. And
[if] perauenture pou art holden in no dette for deedly synne or veniale of þo whilk
tribulacion shulde delyuer þe, nereþoles hit kepus pe fro fallyng in to dett: for
as seynt Gregor sayes, f »Mony are clene of synne po whilke shulden sone falle
þer-Inne but if tribulacion kepid hom«. T Þerfore pou soule þat feles þe bounden
in dettes & dredes po paye to make: suffre mekely po tribulacions of þis world
whiles þai haue hore tyme & are payed for po dettis in þo whilk pou art holden
to god; ffor why alle po tribulacions of þis lyue may vnnepes be lickened to
po tribulacions of one houre po whilk are in helle. Also alle po tribulacions
of þis world, þof pai were sette to-gedre, ne were not worþi to gete po ioye
of paradise : saiande po apostle: T »Po passions of pis tyme are noght worþi to
po ioye þat is to come, bo whilk shal be shewid in is«.
VII tribulacion.
Po seuent profite of tribulacione is: þat hit makis brood monnes hert to po
receyuyng of po grace of god. 1 For as þo goldsmythe hamer makis broode Exem-
plum.
1 acounte-for a, on the margin. 2-2 The same passage occurs on a fly-leaf in the beginning
of the same Ms., by the same hand. 3 Ms. for hore g.
ktowaneffekt
a 180m
2
56
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
po gold or po siluer with oft smytyng, to make a preciouse vessel: 1 so god,
maker of ilk creature, ordeyned tribulacion to po enlargyng of þo hert, to hold
þo giftis of grace. Of pis enlargyng saies po prophet: »In tribulacion pou has
enlargid me«. & perfore suffre gladly po strok[is] of tribulacion, for aye po
more po hert is enlargid in suffryng, þo more gostly gyftis god settis þer-Inne.
| And' byholde þat aye po more noble po metalle is, þo more is hit bowande
to po strokes of þo hamer: I Right so po preciouse hert & po meke, po more
pacience has he in tribulacion. And al-þof hit so be þat þo strok of po hamer,
þat is to saie tribulacion, tourmentis þe hard: nereþolater confort þe in þis pat
þo goldsmythe þat is to saie god almyghty, holdes in his hondis þo hamer of
tribulacion, þo whilk con mesure wel po stroke after po myght of po receyuande
mater. And perfore ne be pou not as metalle in a lomp, with-outen bredyng,
I as harde hertis are & vnchastisid, in po whilk tribulacions or chastysingis
fynden no stede. And also ne be pou not as an olde friyng-panne þo whilk
brekes ynder po strok of po hamer for drosse, & þo whilk for a litel olde
brekyng receyues mony newe brekyngis; so po hard hert and vnsufferyng in tri-
bulacion ekes his harme. And perfore suffre gladly tribulacion makande brode
þo hert. To þat somõnes Þe po wyse mon, sayande Ecc. II° : »Suffre po vp-
holdyngis of god; & be fast to god, & suffre; þat þi lyue may waxe ir po last
tyme«; as if he saied: Suffre gladly po tribulacions of pis world for god, for why,
for god suffrid for þe mony tribulacions, and perfore zelde to hym po tyme ?
of þi seruyse; »be fest to god, & suffre«, as if he saied, be felowid to god, and
what so he laies on þe, suffre, and witt þat he wil not charge pe ouer þi
power, for po apostil saies po Cor. xº: 9 »Trewe is god pat suffres zou not to
be temptid ouer þat þat ze may suffre«. Perfore suffre in þo foresaied maners:
»þat þi l[y]ue : wax at po last«, for thorou þat shalt þou lyue with-outen ende,
in þo ioye aye-lastande.
VlIIa tribulacio.
Po aghtid profite of tribulacione is: þat god, sperrande oute worldly solace *
whilk are vndernethe, gare[s]5 men to seke heuenly solace whilk are aboue. As ir
worldly þingis a lord when he wil selle hys wyne, defendis þat no mon
open hore tauarne til he haue solde his wyne: so god operwhile sperres away
worldly solace, þat he may gyue his solace. | Þis is bitokened in Ioele, where
is saied: »Po beestus of þo felde &’ þo grownde thristy loked vp to þe: for
þo welles of watre are drye«. Po beestis of þo felde he callus affections &
flesshely zernynges, I po welles (of water he calles worldly solace; perfore
when þo welles] 8 of þo water are dried, þat is to saie when worldly solace failes
in noyes, þen þo hert is gart to loke vp & seke mede of solace of heuen.
I Perfore so mykel is oure lord to po hert more louande, in hou mykel po hert
fyndis more bitternesse in outewarde pingis. / But pou myght saie: »of þat I am ,
not sorye þat po tauerne of worldly solace is not open to me, but of pat þat þo
tauerne of gostly solace is stoken to me: for noubey aboue ne by-nethe fynde I
solace«. To þat is answerid þat thorou þat al-onely þat worldly solacis are
i Ms. And þerfore. 2 Lat vicem huius servitii. 3 Ms. loue. 4 r. solacis.
garen. Lat. Sicut terrenus dominus &c. 7 r. as; Lat. quasi area sitiens.
but so L.
5 Ms.
8 om.;
12 Phrib !!!
Trid. Roy
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A
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(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation.
57
withholden fro þe, Þou ne shuldes haue heuenly solaces: but if pou first fynde
hom zernande & askande, for god wil þat þou seke hom & desire hom. For
more mede is in desirande & sekande? god, þen likande in hym. On po same
maner þo more brennandly þat þou sekis & desires hym, po more solace is
gyuen to be & þo more swetnesse shalt þou fynde in hym, as þo meete sauers
better to ho hongrye pen to po ful. And witt pou pat solacea of heuen shal not
long be holden fro þe if þat worldly solaces be sperrid oute thorou tribulacion,
if þat þou haue askid hom & soght hom brennandely, al-þof þai seme to be fer
drawen fro þe; as Salomon saies: »His desyre shal be gyuen to po rightwyse«.
IXa tribulacio.
Po nyntid profite of tribulacion is: þat hit settis þeir þo mynde of god: for
thorou tribulacion he calles Þe agayne in to po mynde of hym; and þo more po
tribulacion is: po more art þou festid in po mynde of god. Not for þat god
forgetis any, po whilk al þing sees: but þat holy wrytt saies god has »forgeten« þo
mon to whom he gyues not helpe of tribulacion confortande hym, & sum mon haues
he in mynde to whom he gyues po help of tribulacion, confortande hym gostly &
ekande grace. | Þerfore pou soule, if pou wil be put in po mynde of god, in
mynde of whom is þi heele, & forgetyng of whom is þi dampnacion: lere to suffre
anoyes mekely, & so sufferande þenk on god: & he shal eftersones þenke on þe,
for a frende penkis on his frend when he is in a-noye ofter þen if he were with-
outen. T Perfore pou soule, if pou fele pe mys-confortid: confort þe of tribulacions,
for tribulacion puttis be in mynnyng of god, [and]* þo mynde of god auayles more to
þe þen what-so-euer tribulacion may reeue þe. In bitokenyng of þis saies oure
lord Exod. III° : »I saw po affliction of my puple þat is in Egypte, & I herd
hore crye, & I went doune to delyuer hon«. In þese wordis two þingis are to
byholde: 9 Đo first is þat god loki[s]5 to his folk with þo eghe of mercie; þat
ober þing is þat god zeldes couenaunt þat he made with þo folk anoyed thorou
tourment. Pat byholding bryngis a gostly gift thorou þo whilk god is bowed to
haue mercye on his frende in tourment. And perfore if hit so be þat þo
Egypciens, þat is to saie po wickid, pursuande 'tourment þe: nereþolater haue
confort in pis for po byholding of god to po affliction mykel is worthe to be.
And perfore hit is saied Secund. Reg. XVI of Dauid pat fled fro Absolon his son,
þat Semey seande hym, myssayed hym saiande: »Cum out, cum out monsleer !«
And Abisay seande þat, sayed to þo kyng: „Why myssaies þat hounde my lord
kyng? I shal go & smyte of his heed«: And Dauid answered: »Let hym myssaye
me by po comaundement of oure lord, perauentur if god byholde myn affliction,
and zelde me gode for þis myssaiyng to-day«. In þat, vmbythenk be þat Dauid
wolde suffre po myssawe of his enmye, þat he might gete po beneson of god.
I Perfore in als mikel more þats pou desires po beneson of god, in so mykel
, more mekelyº pou shal suffre po myssawe of þin enmye, for þo sufferaunce of
þoº myssawe of þo wicked wynnes po beneson of god, & delyueraunce. Pat is
bytokened Daniel Tercio, where hit is saied þat gods aungle went doun with
Azaria & his felowis in to po oouen; & made þo myddes of þo oouen as po
i Lat. in desiderando et querendo deum. 2 r. solacis. 3 Lat. Si ergo sentis te desolatam
ex tribulatione, consolare quia &c. 4 Ms. for. 5 Ms. lokid. 6 Lat. quoddam speciale
donum, 7 Ms. to tourment.
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Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
wynde of dewe blowande, & shooued oute po mynistres of po kyng þat brende
hit; and loke þat þo fire of þo ouen not al-onely put hom a-way, but gaue
colenesse. q Perby is bitokened þat Crist is redy to po troblid. Þerfore if pou
wil colenes be gyuen to be in tribulacion, and pin enmyes þat procuren po tribu-
lacion ben brent: suffre mekely tribulacion, for god is with be in tribulacion, &
shal delyuer þe oute of tribulacion, & for tribulacion shal gyue be mykel mede.
Cum Of þis [þre] hit is saied in po psalme: »With hym I am in tribulacion--lo here
sum in gods felowship! »& I shal delyuer hym«— 10 here delyueraunce, »and I shal
trib., glorifie hym((--lo here mede. Perfore loke pat tribulacion settis þe ir mynde of
Eripiam
eum & god, þat gyues more þen tribulacion may withdrawe..
glorifi-
cabo
eum. Po tente profite of tribulacion is: þat hit makis þi prayer to be herd anentis
god; for hit is not þo? custome in þo sight of god þat he put agayne po
prayer of po troblid, but titter þat he here hit. Wherof Salomon saies: 9 »Lo,
he shal here po prayer of po hirt«. And perfore oft-sithes god chastises mon &
sendis tribulacion, þat he gare hym aske mercy, and þat he open his mouthe to
aske hym in tribulacion þo whilk had hit sperred in eese. Perfore saies seynt
Austyn: »God sendus tribulacion to summe men þat þai be stirred in tribulacion
Ad do- for to aske pat of god pat god wil gyue home. In po persone of soche men
ncum saies po psalme: q »I cried to oure lord when I was troblid, & he herd me«.
tribu- (And]2 if hit falle perauenture þat þou calle on god in eese, þat eese ne lettis þe
larer
clamaui not al-out (to] 3 slepe: nerepolater hit makus þe slepy summe tymes, so þat þi
& exau-
diuit
it criyng in eese ne is not so spedeful as hit is in anoye. And perauntre if anoye
me. so mykel fulfille þi hert þat hit may not be so entendaunde to prayer in anoye
as hit may in weele: nereþolater þo anoye makus po prayer more preciouse;
but if þo anoye so mykel holde pe vndre þat þou ne may not open þi mouthe
to crie to þi lord: nereþolater tribulacion prayes for þe whiles þou haues suffryng.
For why maystir Peris 4 saies of Lazer þat als mony woundes as he had, so mony
mouthis had he cryande to god; for when Lazarus was stylle with his inouthe,
þo woundis cried for hym, as oure lord saied to Caym of Abel his broþer þat
he slogh: 1 »Þo bloode of þi broßer cries to me fro þo erthe«. So perfore
semes hit þat tribulacion makis po prayer more preciouse & more receyuable;
for tribulacions are as hit were po payment for po letter of oure delyueraunce,
as Iob saies: 1 »Who gyues me þat myn asking myght come, & þat god gyue
me þat þat I abyde? he pat toke me he defoule me; louse he his honde & kerue
me? and þis be my solace þat he tourmentande me thorou sorowe ne spare
noght«. T Take now kepe þat Iob, þat had loste alle his godis, his sones & his
doghters, is striken with po werst sore fro po soole of þo foot to po hatrel of
þo heued, reproued of his frendis, myssaied of his wyue, nerepolater hym þoght
þat god tourmentid hym litle, ne in none oper ping asked he confort, but al-
onely þat god shulde not spare hym. But if pou aske: »what fallis hit to dely-
ueraunce, po askyng of his tourment?«, þerto may be answerid: þat his tourment
was po payment of his letters; as when a pore mon drinkes in po tauerne &
has not wherof he may "paye his scott, byds dyng hym wel & let hym go. If
1 Ms. in þo.
non faciat.
3
2 Ms. As, L And.
Petrus Lombardus.
3 Ms. of, L to. Lat. ut prosperitas te totaliter dormire
YS
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(Petri Blesensis) Twelve profits of Tribulation.
59
hit be askid wher-Inne po confort of Iob was. when he praied to be tourmentid:
þerto is answerid by seynt Gregor þat »god spares summe men here þat he may
tourment hom afterward, & agayneward The tourmentis suinme men here pat
he may spare hom afterwardes«. 4 Þo confort of Iob was in pis ping: þat for
po tribulacion here he wist wel forto eschape þat þat was to come. Be pou
confortid perfore, for if pou be here tourmentid suffrandely, oure lord shal spare
Þe afterwardes, for hit is saied Naum II°: f » Oure lord shal not deme a þing
twyes«. & als-so Iob, þat prayes pat god ne spare hym not here, in an oper
stede prayes he þat god spare hym afterwardes, sayande: »Lord, spare me !«
Þerfore suffre pou here tribulacion þat god spare pe afterward; for tribulacions
heelen po soule, as Iob saied: »He woundus & heelis«, for why he woundes po
body in sendande tribulacion, but in þat? he heeles po soule.
Eleuent profit of tribulacion.
· Po elleuende profite of tribulacion is: þat hit kepis, & norisshis, þo hert. For
why as po fire is keppid in po askis: so po hert of gods seruaunt is keppid in
tribulacion. T Forþi god bad in þo olde lawe þat þai shulden couer þo taber-
nacle with seckis of heyris; þo whilke seckes couerde po preciouse curtynes and
alle þo vessel of golde & syluer agayne þo wyndis & raynes, to tokenyng þat
þo preciouse vertues of þo seyntis, & namely mekenesse, are keppid in tribula-
cione; for why tribulacion gares mon penk off his vnworthynesse, and so gares
hit mon be lowid, whom worldly wele lyftid a-boue po mark of his sekenesse.
| Also tribulacion norisshis po hert, as po norisse hir childe. For why as po
modre chewes þo harde meete ? bo whilk þo child ne may not chewe? & takes
hit in to hir body where pat mete is turned in to mylk to po norisshyng of þo
childe: so Crist is called oure moder in holy wrytt, for þo mykelnesse of loue
þat he has to ys, and for po bitternesse þat he had in po crosse: where he
chewid bitternesse & harde dyngyngis & shames to vs, for to norisshe, vs and
strengthe vs gostly forto suffre by his ensaumple po tribulacion of þis worlde.
| For why right as wyne syed thorou a poke ful of spices chaungis his sauoure,
þat is to saye drawande po sauoure of spices: so a mon sufferande tribulacion
shal sye hom by gods body, byholdande his passion whilk he suffrid for hym;
and so shal þai be endouced & shal be made light to suffre, po whilk semed
byfore ouuer-harde to suffre.
XII tribulacio.
Po twelft profite of tribulacion is: þat hit gyues a mon certeyne witnesse pat
god loues hym. Wherof he saies Apoc.: 9 »I reproue & chastise hom þat I
loue«, and in Eccl.: »He pat loues his sone: he wonnes 3 to hym betyngis«,
pat is to saie: he sendus to hym continuly somme betyngis, þat is to saie one
after an oper. Þerof saies seynt Ierome: »Oure souerayne fadre Ihesu Crist holdes
his sones euer-more vnder sum scourge or wande, pat 4 when pai are delyuerid of
one, þai ben vnder an oper«. And he ne sendis hom note alle at ones, but one
after an oper, as a mon shotis an arowe after an oper. But wicked men bat
(here)' with-outen gods scourge & his disciplyne (lifs]“, & whom none amendement
I in þat expunged.
margin.
2-2 on margin. -
3 Lat. assiduat.
4 L &.
6 Ms. are.
601
ནས་11 པའི་བྱེད་ལས་པར་ཐུགས་ལ་མཉམ་ཞིང་ཡ་ང་བ་མར་མར་ཕྱིན་པ་གདམས་པའི་རིས་ཟིན་པ་ཡ་
a1400 12 Prif (egy)
.
.19
60
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
with-drawes fro wrangwysenes, he shal shote to hom here-afterwardis alle his
arowes at enes, bo whilke he sendes here to gode men serely, þat is to saie
one after an oper, & þat is to hore purgacion. T For why alle po tourmentis
po whilk are here departid thorou al þo world, þen here-afterwardis shal rest as
hit were in a stede; as oure lord saied Leuit. XXXII° : »I shal gedre to-gedre
vpon hom yuels, & I shal fulfille myn arowes in hom«. q Perfore þou soule,
if pou' wilt be loued of god: ne cast þou not away tribulacion po whilk shewes
to Þe testymonye of þo loue of god. But if pou saie þat »bo childer receyues
of gods honde gode & ille, (why perfore is}? po receyuyng of yuels more: tokenyng
of loue of god, þen po receyuyng of godes ?«: to pat may be answerid: Certayne
hit is þat god gyues to his speciale frendis po best godis, & to poo þat he best
loues; but more loued he Crist with-outen comparison ben al po world, and
nereþolater he gaue to hym in þis world mony yuels & fewe worldly godis, but
as seynt Bernarde saies, & »ffro his birthe of his modre to po peyne of po crosse
he had neuer* but pouert & tribulacion«. And perfore po sendyng of tribulacion
is more tokenyng of loue of god, þen þo sendyng of worldly eese. Ouer þat,
Ihesu Crist gods son, þo whilk lyued in þis world, as a marchaunde þat cheses
in po marketis gode marchaundysis & leeues po yuel The chese tribulacions &
forsoke worshipis, as hit saies in po gosples, forwhy he fled in to wildernesse
when þai wolden haue made hym kyng Ioh. Vi°, and nereþolater he ne fled
not when þai soghten hym to slee, but he saied to hom: »I am he«. And perfore
if Crist be wysest in chesyng, hit semes Þai are foolis þo whilk despiseno tribu-
lacions and aduersites, & chesen worldly profites, po whilke shal not delyuer hom
of þo hondes of hore fooes, þat is to saie of fendes, here-afterward. And per-
fore suffre now tribulacion with Crist, þat þou may haue at po last þo coroune
of lyue in po kyngdome of heuen; for why in oper maner þoa ne may not
entre in to po kyngdome of heuen, saiande po apostle: »Thorou mony tribu-
lacions byhoues vs entre in to po kyngdome of heuen«. Po whilk graunt vs
Ihesu Crist: þat with-outer, ende lyues & regnes. A ME N.
@Hoo Dreher (Rose
6. (Of the double Comminge of Christ.)?
(A translation of St. Bernard De adventu Domini Sermo VI, Migne 183 col. 52.)
fol. 67.
Seynt Bernard spekis of þo comyng of oure lord Ihesu Crist & saies :
1 , I wil not, breper, ze forgete po tyme of youre visytacion, ne þat þing þat
shal þis tyme be visytid in zou; for why pis tyme is ordeyned to soulis, & not to
bodies. For why po soule is more worthy pen þo body; he chalangis to hym
by kyndely worthynes po first bysynes, and first shal be amendid þat fel first;
for why po soule filed in synne made þat þo flesshe shal be punysshid in peyne.
And perfore if we wil be founden Cristis lymes, with-outen doute hit fallis to
vs to folowe oure heued: þat þo first bysynesse be to vs to po graythyng of
oure soules for bo whilk he is comen, [&]8 whos corrupcion he studyed to heele
firste. q Po heelyng of po body holde we to þat tyme & abyde to pat day in
Gre.
V
C
XI
I u overl. 2 Ms. wherfore. 3 Ms. is more. 11 added. 5 overl. Ms. despiseder.
7 This title by another hand. This piece has cadences. R. Rolle's authorship is doubtless.
8 Ms, to,
*
A
AL
1
+4-06-bantay
Os 40o DC.Charmel Rey
St. Bernard De Adventu Sermo VI.
61
þo whilk he is to come to glorifye po body, as po apostle makes mynde: q »We
abyden oure saueoure oure lord Ihesu Crist, þat shal make agayne po body of
oure mekenesse, lickened to po body of his clerenesse«.... q Pou haues þat wher-
fore Crist is comen, & wherfore cristen mon shuld studye: and perfore, þou body,
ne reeue pou not þis tyme fro þo soule; forwhy pou may let þi heele, & make
hit may pou not. Al þing has tyme. Suffre þat þo soule now trauel for hym-
selue: & trauel more with hym, for if pou suffre with hym, pou shal regne with
hym. | Als mykel as pou distourbles his amendement, in so mykel pou lettus
þine owne; for why pou ne may not bifore be amendid, til god se in hit his
likenesse graythed. q Þou flesshe, pou haues a noble gest, & al þi heele hengis
on his hele: gyue pou worship to so greet a geste; for why pou wonnes in þi
cuntrey, & po soule pilgryme & femyng, is herberwid with pe. I pray be what
symple mon ne wold not gladly ligge in a hirne of his house, to gyue rowme
til a greet lord þat wolde vouche-saue to herberow with hym? And þerfore do
pou on þo same maner; wrongis & þine angres ne charge pou not namely, þat'
þi geste may honourablye duelle with þe; hit is worship to be for hym in þo
mene tyme (to] be nackened of honoure. & take kepe bysily þat þou despise
not þi geste for þat þat þou sees hym pilgryme & comelyng to þe; and bi-
holde pou what po presence of þi gest gyues to be. He [it] is þat gyues sight to
þo. eghen, heryng to po eeres”, speche to po tong, taast to po mouthe, styrryng
to alle po lymes. Knowe pou þat by po gyft of þi geste pou has what so pou
has of lyue, what pou has of witte, & what hou has of beute; forwhy po de-
partyng of þi geste proues what his presence gaue pe. I Forwhy sone after
when po soule departis, po tong is stille, po eghen are blynde, þo eeres are
deeue, al þi body waxes stark, þo face waxes pale: and in a litel whyle al þi
carion waxes stynkand & roten, & al pi beute is turned in to noght. I Perfore
why hurtes pou & makes sorye, for a litel worldly likyng, þis gest, with-outen
whom pou ne myght fele no þing? If þi gest filemed by encheson of wrathe,
& oute-casten fro þo face: face of his lord, gyues pe so mykel: how mykel
shal he gyue to þe, when he is saghtelid to his lord? And perfore, pou body,
ne let pou not þat saghtelyng; forwby thorou hit, grete ioye is graythid to pe.
Putt þe forthe sufferandly & gladly to alle þingis; fayne pou no ping þat myght
profite to þat saghtelyng. Saye to pi geste: »þata oure lord shal þenk on þe, &
he shal sett þe agayne ir Þi first state, & pen pou þenk on me«. For why if
pou serue now wel to hym, he shal þenk on be on al maner for gode. And
when he comes byfore his lord: he shal totil to hym of þe, and speke þe gode
for his gode hoste, & saie: When he was flemed in vengaunce of his synne“, »a
pore mon þi seruaunt, with whom I was herberowid, did mercy to me; and god
lene my lord zelde hym for me! first al þat he had. and sithen al hym-selue 5he
sett forth to my profits, he sparid not hym-selue for me in mykel fastyng, in
trauels oft-sithes, in wakyng ouer mesure, in hungur & thryst, in colde, in
nakednesse. Perfore holy writt gabbis not þat saies: 9 »He shal do po wille of Dauid:
Volun-
dredande hym, & hore prayer he shal here & saue hom«. q A god, if pou tatem
myght taast þis swettnesse, if pou myght perauenture gesse þis ioye! I shal timen-
cium se
faciet &
1 Lat. tantum ut. ? Ms. orig. zheeres. 3 Lat. Quia. 4 Lat. Cum in ultionem culpae dep
depreca-
suae exsularet servus tuus, pauper quidam, apud quem &c.; r. When I.... of my synnea?
cionem
5-5 on margin.
e, ex. &
1. eos.
recht:
0
1400 mAfko: W. TI.
iWARA
Qlhoo DOC
arasevecente
62
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
saie wondres, but nerepolater sothe and on al maner with-outen doute to
trewe men.
Of þo secunde comyng.
God hym-selue Sabaoth, lord of vertues & kyng of ioye, shal come doune to
make agayne oure bodyes, & to make hom like to po body of his bryghtnesse.
| Hou mykel ioye, hou mykel gladenesse shal be pere, when þo maker of al
þing, þo whilk come byfore meke & pryuey for amendement of soules, to glorifye
be A þou wretchid flesshe, he shal come heghe & openly, not in febulnesse
Quis but in worship & in his magestee! Who may þenk þo day of his comyng, when
cogitare he shal come doune with plente of light, aungelis comande byfore And? [bi] þo
diem soune of po trump: shal rayse of powder Þo body, & lede hit: agayne Crist
tus tui. in po aier? Perfore pou wretchid flesshe, madde & blynde, fonned & wode,
hou long sekes bou worldly confortis, passande & fallande lykingis: perauenture
if hit happid pe to be put agayn & be Iugid (vn]worpi to pat ioye, & neuerpolater
be tourmentid at po last in peyne with-outen ende ? I pray you, my breper,
not so, not so; but zoure soules delyte hom in pis poght; & zoure flesshe shal
rest in hope, abydande oure lord Ihesu Crist, þo whilk »shal make agayne po
body of oure mekenesse, lickened to þo body of his clerenesse«. Amen.'
q Explicit &c.c.
(Follows: Speculum peccatoris per Rich. Hampoole iso title by another hand)
f. 6gb76:
Quoniam carissimi in huius uie vita fugientes sumus & dies nostri sicut vmbra
pretereunt &c.
Rich. de Hampoole: De emendatione peccatoris, 765—966, Col. Explicit secun-
dum R. H.)
a 34-00 Fret. Saat Ford
7. (Miscellanies).2
fol. 066. I. Epistola ad simplices sacerdotes.
Hit semes medeful to susteyne: prestis to-gedre; for so did Crist: mayster best
of alle. But men shulden be war of hom: in þese thre poyntis. 9 First þat
þai be not en-erited: as in perpetuyte, / but vp-on trewe lyuyng: hauyng godis
in mesure. And more-ouer þat þai be in nounbre acording to po place; for
bothe excesse & defaute smakes vices: as clerkis saien. I Do thrid þat þai be
bisy: to serue wel in hore office; for vices & ydelnesse : maken hom vnable.
1 And not iche occupacion: is pertinent to prestis, as tauerne-gate & hunting,
and playng at þo tables; but lernyng of gods lawe: & prechyng or praiyng.
| And þo most of alle : is prechyng of þo gosple; for þat bad Crist to prestis :
more þen oper office; for by þat he conquerid þo world: out of þo fendis
honde; by þat he broght his reume: in to po blisse of heuen. He þat prechis
not apertly: conseil he apert[1]y / and so if ony speke: speke he gods wordis; /
by þese shulden prestis thryue: & edifie po puple. And who-so-euer kon best
IT *.
.A
Ir. þat? 2 Under this heading I comprise the following short pieces, sentences &c. of the
Ms. All these bits seem to belong to R. Rolle.
3 Ms. ye.
Ep14.00 w Who Writ-

*
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*..
.
..
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At
a $100 SSacerdin
Acomposito*****.
Rou
." Miscellanies.
:
63
bring: prestis to þis state / he has auctorite of god: and merit in his dede, /
prelate or seculer: or what mon so euer he be. Vnde sap[iencia]: Vnicuique
mandauit deus vt adiuuaret proximo suo.
*******. -----
cator,
II. Messis quidem multa: operarii autem pauci.
Predi-
Potest predicator : nuncio comparari. 9 Nuncius autem debet esse expeditus:
sic & predicator debet, id est, sine onere temporalium, vnde in Math. : »Nolite
portare aurum neque argentum«. q Debet eciam esse velox: ita & predicator,
vnde Ysai[as]?: »Qui sunt isti qui vt nubes volant?« I Currit eciam nuncius : et
predicator debet velociter currere, unde in Parab.2: » Discurre, festina: suscita
amicum bono exemplo«. | Post nuncius debet esse eloquens & discretus: ita &
predicator, vnde dominus in Luca: »Ego dabo vobis os & sapienciam« - sapienciam,
id est discrecionem; et Ecclesiasticus :: » Aurum & argentum confla: et verbis tuis
facito stateram«. Per aurum & argentum notatur eloquencia, per stateram: dis-
crecio. Item audax debet esse nuncius: ita et predicator vt reprehendat vicia,
& non palpet ad modum adulatoris, unde dominus per Ezechielen24: »Ve illis qui
ponunt pului[n]ar sub cubito«; et Ieremias: »Dedi te in gentibus, noli timere«; et
in Math.: »Nolite timere eos qui occidunt corpus: animam autem non possunt
occidere«: unde psalmista : »Ignitum eloquium tuum vehementera &c; item Iohannes
Bapt. : »Posuit os meum ut gladium acutum«. Item nuncio non est credendum
sine literis singillatis : nec predicatori sine auctoritate noui & veteris testamenti,
unde Augustinus : »Nisi hoc quod dixero fluat de medio duorum moncium, non
credas michi.«
III. Secundum Iohannem ewangelistam de anticristo š.
Johannes ewangelista interrogauit dominum de fine seculi. Refert ei dominus :
»Sol conuertetur in tenebras, & luna in sanguinem; et de arboribus stillabit
sanguis; lapides dabunt uoces, populi mouebuntur. Anticristus i. [e.] diabolus regnabit
et faciet prodigia maxima & signa multa in populo«. q Et Iohannes ad dominum :
»Domine, cuius similitudinis erit, ut uidentes non credant in illum ?« Christus dixit:
»De muliere meretrice nascetur ex tribu Dan; sexcentos cubitos habens in longi-
tudine corporis sui, quadragintos in latitudine; oculum vnum in fronte, aurem
vnam in capite; labrum pendens vsque ad pectus. Dentes superiores non habebit,
neque genua. Plante pedum eius rotunde quasi rote plaustri. Costa vna ap[p]arebit
sibi in sinistra parte. Capilli capitis sui nigri erunt & terribiles. Triplex fumus de
naribus exiet, et flamma sulphurea pertingens usque ad celum. & nemo poterit ab-
scondere se ab eo. Omnes qui credunt in illum signabit vno carectere in fronte, et
poterit delere id artificium. Nutrietur in Corozaim, postea morabitur in Beth[s]eida
ciuitate, sed paucis diebus. Omnes quos ipse occidit & qui mortui fuerunt fame
& siti sub eius potestate: ipsi electi dei erunt. Suscitabit falsos mortuos, co[n]-
uertet flumina retrorsum.,, eradicabit arbores & euertet ramos in terra et radices
earum sursum, & faciet eas florere per suas artes diabolicas. Seducet multos in
die quando nascetur. Omnes qui habitant in quatuor partes mundi, cognoscent
i Is.. 60, 8.
V. 4153 ff.
? Prov. 6, 3.
3 Eccl. 28, 29.
4 Ez. 13, 18.
5 Cf. Prick of Consc.
a 1400 in ihhs. Wr. I
64
.
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
illum esse natum, teste scriptura que ait: q In vnaquaque domo cadauer vnius
hominis mortui' erit signum. Tunc in tempore occidet pater filium & filius patrem,
frater fratrem; et fidelis in omni re deficiet. Mulieres menstruaciones suas aperient
et non abscondent se ab omnibus. Et fideles sacerdotes plorabunt: nullam memo-
riam homines habebunt sanctarum reliquiarum, nec de illis locis vbi sancta corpora
quieuerunt; set adorabunt prophana ydola, sicut pagani et iudei. T Surget gens
contra gentem, & regnum aduersus regnum; & terremotus magni erunt per loca,
pestilencie & fames, et stelle cadent in terram. Flumina conuertentur in sanguinem
& omnes aque que sub celo sunt, regnante illo [et] erigente bellum contra bellum.
Duo prophete Enoc & Helias qui modo collocantur in paradiso pro respectione
mortis, (venient] et interficiet eos anticristus, in plateis ciuitatis iacebunt mortui
tribus diebus & tribus noctibus, in quarta die surgent ad vitam eternam. In
postremo in ultimis deus Christus qui uult omnes saluos fieri, (per) Michael archan-
gelum? rumphiam acutam manu tenentem, id est gladium sancti spiritus, interficiet
eum & secabit eum in duas partes, a summo usque deorsum. ... non ut destruatur
mundus: sed vt renouetur: in melius. Tribus annis et sex mensibus erit ita usque
ad consummacionem seculi. q Post has tribulaciones erit silencium magnum in
celo & in terra, triginta diebus & noctibus nulla creatura resonabit neque audietur.
Et venient angeli a quatuor partibus terre et clamabunt dicentes: Surgite, surgite,
surgite. & resurgent omnes qui mortui fuerunt ab Adam usque in illo die, in
etate triginta annorum & trium; quicquid ignis combuscit in terra', bestie come-
derunt, mare demerscit, adorabunt«. Explicit.
IV. (Sentences). 5
Quantus erit fructus cum dixerit ipse »venite«,
Tantus erit luctus cum iudex dixerit »ite«.
Isidor. Non potest autem esse in pace: qui spem suam ponit in homine. q Cum pacien-
cia relinquitur, eciam bona reliqua que iam gesta sunt destruuntur. T Paciencia
enim vera est que ipsum amat quem portat. Nam tollerare & odisse non est virtus
mansuetudinis: sed velamen furoris. a PhDo Wearca sa boron
Heuen is wonnen with woo & shame,
Helle is wonnen with gle and game:
9 Quod
I aske pe pen of þese twoo,
In world were better haue wele, or woo?
19
9
C
C
bonum
est
tenete.
Virtus. ecclesia. clerus. demon. symonia
Cessat. calcatur. errat. regnat. dominatur.
Quicquid agunt
stulti, tu memor
esto tui.
Transsit yems, estas, transit terrena potestas,
Transit & omne nouum, vis mundi non valet ouum.
Semper
aliquid
boni
facito.
Aut lege aut ora: aut cum feruore labora,
Sic erit hora breuis & labor ipse leuis.
1 Ms. mortuus. ? Ms. archangelus. 3 Ms. remouetur. fr. quotquot. 5 Some of
the Latin epigrams are found in the Collection of Latin Epigrams in Ms. Arund. 507, ed. at the
end of vol. I.
attoo in thes. Wrth
Sentences, Epigrams &c.
65
2
Dauid. Gigas non saluabitur in multitudine virtutis sue, nec sapiens in multa sua sapien-
cia; quia ut dicit Ihesus Christus: Laycos elegi michi; sed solummodo propter
bonam vitam saluabitur homo. Ideo vigilate &c.
Veri Vos estis qui iustificatis vos coram hominibus, Deus autem nouit
L
tas dicit.
corda vestra: Quia quod hominibus altum est, abhominabile autem
est ante deum. q Augustinus : Qui credit se persecucionem non
habere: adhuc non incepit esse Christianus.
Est homo res fragilis, viuens sub tempore paruo;
Hic est, hic non est, quasi flos qui crescit in aru...
Recordare: Sunt tria ve, que faciunt me sepe dolere:
Est primum durum, quoniam scio me moriturum;
Et magis doleo morior sed nescio quando; ampo Ghelardo
Inde magis flebo [quia] nescio quo remanebo.
med
Lex is layde ouer-al: fraus fallax regnat vbique,
Loue is bot smal: quia gens se gestat inique,
Woo walkis wyde: quia commouet ira potentes,
Right may not ride: nec valet ad insipientes.
Lex est defuncta: quia iudicis est manus vncta.
Now gos gyle in euer-ilk flok, IQOQ How FBAL TESTING
And treuthe is sperrid vndre a.lok;
May no mon pat lok vndo,
But if he syng si dedero.. Omnes diligunt._muner.d.--.
***Augustinus. Si essent in tę solo omnia peccata que vnquam facta sunt uel possent
de cetero perpetrari in infinitum : superexcellet misericordia eius, & tibi hec omnia,
si ad se recurreres, propter suam pietatem largissimam condonaret & propter
matris sue intercessionem. q Gregorius : Nullus potest perfecte inuenire
deum: qui se perfecte non perdit. q o homo, vis cognoscere quomodo tu dirigas
· cogitatum tuum: semper debes cogitare te esse in presencia dei tui, et ipsum
semper habeas in tuo cogitatu, et quod ipse sit deus tuus qui pro te uulneratus
est & pro te talia passus est.
2
: VS
v
.-.1
TE
F
T
.4
.
LV
77UNAWE=""
V. (From R. Rolle’s Incendium Amoris).
Vigilate & intelligite, viri, & nolite falli: quia ostendi vobis ad honorem
omnipotentis dei et ad comodum vestrum, cur fugiebam cantantes in ecclesiis, et
qua racione me ipsum eis inmiscere non amaui, ac ludentes in organis non audire
optaui. qInpedimenta enim exhibebant sonoris amenitati, et preclaram carmenam
deficere cogebant. Non ergo mirum si fugissem quod me confundit, et in quo'
culpandus fueram si destiti ad hoc quod me a dilectissimo cantico meo depellere
sciebam. Errassem utique: si aliter egissem; sed non ignoraui? a quo accepi;
vnde conformaui omnino ut eius perficerem voluntatem, ne ingrato aufferret quod
gratis largiebatur. q Delectabar itaque in solitudine sedere: ut extra tumultum
positus liquidius canerem, et feruentibus precordiis meis suauissimam iubilacionem
experirer, quod ipsam sine ambiguitate de munere ipsius quem super omnia in-
1
1 Ms, ignoram.
II.
66
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
6
sunnolla
estimabiliter amaui, accepissem. Non enim efferbuit cor meum in concupiscen-
ciam carnalem, neque a creatura accepi consolatorium carmen, quod canens in
Ihesu iubilaui. Amor quidem ad hoc inducebatur ut non consisterem in qualitate
qua indigni deprimuntur, set ut subleuarer supra altitudinem suorum visibilium, et
ab empirio essem accensus & illuminatus ad laudandum d'eum ... &c.
a 1400 R
fol. 100.
I routhe. Hope. Loue. Grace. Honoure. Reuerence. Compassion. Mercie.
Mildenesse. Clennesse. Holynesse. Stedfastnesse.
I. Ad pm.: Trouth. Trowe in god: loue holy kirk. Trow in holy ewcarist. Honoure
po ewangely. Worship þo sacramentis. Kepe gods comande-
mentis. Holde þat is heght in bapteme. Kepe po trouthe of
wedlok. Take holy enoyntyng.
II. | Hope. Be tholemode. Despice vices. Fle pryde. Forsake auarice.
· Put away glotonye. Fle lechorie. Put away enuye. Fle Ire.
Quercome Sloghenesse.
III. | Loue. Be symple in worde & dede. Drede god. Loue god ouer al.
þing. Honour god. Pank god. Despise þo world. Worship
halowes. Halogh po holy-day. Clense și conscience.
IIII. f Grace. Be wel willy. Be not surquidrous. Be not deynouse. Be not
violent. Be not stryuande. Be no ligher. Loue silence. Speke
of leueful þing. Be stille of vnleueful.
v. Honour. Fologh gode men. Fle yuel men. Fle vayn-glorie. Fle auaun-
tyng. Be not coueytouse. Be large & fre. Be not fole large..
Take none oker. Do no symonye.
VI. Reuerence. Do reuerence to hym þat is more þen þou. Honoure olde men.
Teche zong men. Loue þi pyers. Despise no mon of lesse
state pen pou. Worship fader & modre. Be shameful. Serue
gode men. Be no flaterer.
VII. Compassion. Haue compassion. Kenne po vnlerid. Lagh with laghande.
Grete with gretande. Wrath no mon. Do no wrong. Accuse
no mon. Deme no mon. Dampne no mon.
VIII. Mercy. Counsayl po redlesse. Forgyue hym þat askus forgyuenesse.
Clothe po naked. Fede po hungrye. Gyue a drink to thristye.
Visite po seke. Solace po caytyues in prison. Herberowe pil-
grymes. Biry po deed.
IX. Mildnes. Be piteful. Loue pi neghbore. Kepe și soul clene. Seke ay
pees. Be no traytoure. Be no backebiter. Be no mon-beter.
Make no stryue ne discorde. Make pees per discorde is.
X. Clennesse. Be sober & a-tempre. Be no Ioguler. Be no outragouse eeter.
Be no outragouse wyne-drynker. Restreyne þi heryng. Re-
streyne þi sight. Restreyne þi smellyng. Attempre pi taastyng.
Lede pi felyng right.
पछDre
a1400 Roy. Soundcle (R.
of the flood of the world.
67
..:
S
Aurter
VMA
)
XI. Holynes. Do to an oper þat þou wolde men did to be. Zern to com
to paradyse. Drede po last dome. Penke on po deed. Lerne
gode for ille. Wittnesse no þing þat is fals. Hate no mon.
Slee no mon. Loue þin enmyes.
xii. Stedfastnesse. Be rightful. Be no totiler. Be war of forsweryng. Deme
rightwysely. Take no gyftus namely? in dome. Reeue fro no
mon þat is his. Swere litel. Steele noght. Zelde agayne pat
with wrong is taken..ware
24.1400 Rreth terly 2
VII. (2 poems on subjects in the Prick of Conscience.)
1. 1 Of þo flode of þo world.?
Grete ferly hit is why men þat fraysten to fisshes pat in þo see swymmen & houen. 30
po world, so mykel þer-Inne traysten, Mony sere fisshes lyuen in þo se, .
And so mykel hit louen & folowen in vayne, of sere kynde, & þat grete plente,
þat is so vnstable & so vncertayne; of whilk summe are more & summe are les,
5 wher-Inne noon eese ne rest siker es, Þat swymmen & bouen as hore kynde es ;
But angres & trauayle & bysynes ; summe swymmen abouen among Þo 35
of whilk þo wysdome is noght but foly, wawes,
ne po wurship anente god but vilany; And summe doune to po grounde drawes;
Ne po welthe of þo world is noght but gyle, Summe fisshis haue siche strength &
10 And þo ioy of hit lastis but a whyle.
myght
þo world chases a mon to & froo, þat þai may agayne þo flode swymme
now to weele now to woo,
ryght,
fro joy to sorowe, fro tene to gamen- summe fisshis are dryuen to & fro,
þus mengis hit weele & woo ay samen. summe folowes po flode as hit wil go; 40
15 Po world makus a mon to ryse & falle, Summe haue most likyng to be
And chulles hym as men don a balle where most filthe gedris of þo se,
þat is casten fro bande to hande- As in mudde & gruttis & in skum,
pus dos po world with men here lyuande. þat .to oper fisshis is ynbolsum.
Þen here is noght ellis, as men sees, Po see is strong, when hit is flowande 45
20 but sere bysynesse & vanytees.
vnethis may oght agayne hit stande;
(space of 9 lines left vacant.) And so depe þat passe hit may no mon
3 To mony sere þingis, if men wille, but in ship with shippe-men þat kon
Men may licken po world by skille, thurgh witt & wisdom hit gouerne & lede,
but to no þing may hit lickened be & zit sumtyme pai are in greet drede 50
more propurly þen to po se.
And in perel thorgh stormes & wyndus
25 For þo see ilk day or ilk nyght ones
blastes,
ebbis & floes, waxes & wones;
þat þo ship vp & doun with wawes.
In whilk rysen mony grete wawes
thurgh stormes of wedres & wyndis þat Þus who so in ship passis þo se,
blawes.
In perille & drede oft may be.
And men may lickened be pat po world Right þus faris þo world for certayne: 55
louen,
kastes.
hit ebbis & floes & fallis agayne.
i Ms. mamely. 2 Cf. Prick of Conscience v. 1090 ff.
3 v. 21—28 similar in Prick of Consc. v. 1213-1224; the rest is a new theme.
01406-
miffattant
angoo Grete ferly brey)
PAS
A
.
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17BWI.
Do world floes in richesse & vanytees
to men of sere states, as men oft sees:
for when richesse & welthe heghes a
man,
60 þo world as flowand hym vp-beris þan;
but þo wawes of po world weltren to
& froo
& kesten a mon now to wele nowe to wo;
Do world bigynnes to ebbe & to with-
drawe
fro a mon when he fallis fro hegh state
to lawe.
65 Whe[na mon is at myscheue & happlesse,
po world to hym at þo grounde-ebbe
þen es;
when he is risen heghe thorou worldly
gode,
þen is po world to hym at fulle flode.
And as fisshis swymmēn aboute in po se,
70 so don men in þo world aboute vanyte;
for fisshis swymmen sekande al þing
In whilk þai haue most loue & likyng:
Right so worldly men in þo world tra-
uayles
poo drunken in. þo flode of þo world &
synkis ;
hit is right þat soche men duelle
with po riche mon biryed in helle.
Summe agayn þo flode of þo world 95
swymmen hard
& þoo are vnbuxom men & froward
to god & mon & to hore soueraynes
& are agayne þat holy kirc ordaynes,
And ay are grucchand & vnpacient.
In angres when any to hom are sent. 100
Summe swymmen with þo flode of po
world as hit gas:
þoo are men þat flateryng & fawenyng
mas
to lordis namely in hore presence,
Agayne sothfastnesse & gode conscience;
For bothe in wrong & in right þai 105
plese ay, .
to lordis namely, & sayen al as Þai say,
& if þai wil do wrong pai assent perto,
& saien al is wel don þat þai do.
Perfore lite may now with lordis duelle
but þoo þat kon conraye fawenelle. 110
Summe in filthe & in mudde in þo world
houen :
poo are men pat lust & likyng louen,
& seken al þo eese þat þai may take,
And liste not trauel for gods sake,
but lyen & lurken in hore synne stille-- 115
soche men are slowe & of ille wille.
Summe swymmen vp & doun, to and
froo:
þoo are men þat nouþer kun thole weele
De woo,
In no sted con þai rest ne duelle,
but stirten about ay as a squyrelle, 120
for þai may no while in one sted laste-
soche are vnstable men & vnstedfaste.
Summe thorou wawes of po world are
weltrid ouer
fro welthe to myscheue, & may not couer;
Summe po flode of po world castis fro 125
waw to wawe,
vp & doune, nowe heghe now lawe:
Þoo are men þat are greetly taryde
with bysynesse & angres on ilk syde;
aboute worldly þing þat passes & fayles.
75 And al worldly þing is noght but vayne,
for hit is ynsiker and vncertayne. .
Summe men vpward in þo world swymmes
And þoo are men þat to heghe state
clymmes,
As to office & dignyte & grete powere,
80 For to haue maystry of oper & worship
here;
pat aboute pompe of po world wil spende
largely, for men shulde hom comende.
Summe in þo depe of þo world swymmes
dounward
& boo are auarouse men of hert hard,
85 þat worldly godes to-gedre gettes
& hore hertis þeron settes,
So þat þai neuer-more uowche-saue
to parte with no gode þat þai haue
nouper to god ne to mon here,
90 ne spende bom in po world on oper
manere,
And of noght ellis but on hore gode
þinkis:
Wiki
Q-400 antes. Wrzuno
a 14oo Preta Perliste
Of the food of the World:
69
For þoo þat to swymme in þo flode
are leue,
130 po wawes sumtyme casten to myscheue,
And so summe in þo world þat semen
sleghe,
are casten doun when þai are cloumben
heghe,
& when þai are rysen abouen & are
fayne, .
also-sone pai are casten doune agayne.
135 Pus swymmen men in þo world aboute
as þo fisshes in þo see don in grete
doute,
And namely worldly men swymmen pus,
& as fisshis þai are naked of grace &
of vertuus.
Vp-on þo flode of þo world are fisshers
sleghe:
140 þat are wickid spiritis þat fallen fro
heghe,
þat fisshen aboute men bothe nightus
& dayes,
& hore nettis to take hom sleghly layes,
And casten hokes to hom with lykande
beyte,
& so take þai men thurgh deceyte.
145 Hore nettis with hokes are trappis of
synne :
þat men of þo world are combred Inne;
& hore beyte þat is likandly dight,
is al þing þat men zernen thurgh sight:
thurgh whilk likande beyte at po last
150 mony are tane & holden fast,
And to po wicked fisshers hondis vp titte,
& at þo ląst doun kasten in to helle-pitte.
But a shipe thorgh po flode of po world
sayles,
þat is laden ful of gods? vitayles,
155 In whilk are men þat of þo world are
irke:
-& þat shippe is noght ellis but holy kirke.
Per-Inne are dyuerse men of religion,
and mony oþer of grete deuocion,
þat to po trouthe of holy kirc are lele
160 & with þo maners of þo world list not
For whils a mon folowes po worlds
wysdome,
he may not in to pat ship come;
And to po bauen of lyue he may not
wynne,
but thurgh þis ship, if he be þer-Inne.
Pis ship leedes holy men of deuocion 165
euen to po hauen of saluacion,
thurgh al þo flode of þo world & wawes,
In alle po. stormes & wyndes pat blawes,
bat is to saye thurgh mony persecucions
sere
& angres þat gode men tholen here. 170
Summe in þis ship rowes, & summe
steres,
And summe trauels þer-Inne on oper
maneres,
þat is summe fastes & praies, & summe
wirkis
po werkes of mercy & neuer-more irkis.
In myddis po ship stondis a mast, 175
þat no storme may stir hit stondis so fast:
bis ilk mast is noght ellis to telle
but Crist, þat boght mon-kynd fro helle,
þat was drawen & nayled on po rode
& peron for ys shed his hert-blode. 180
þis mast has a brood saiel dight þerby:
þat is noght ellis but his grace & his
mercy,
with po wynde of his myght þat fayles
noght,
thurgh whilk þis shyp to po hauen is
broght,
þat is to po blisful londe of lyue, 185
where endeles pees is with-outen stryue.
Þis ship thurgh þo flode of po world
gode beres,
of whilk summe are made gods fissheres,
þat casten hore nettes oft to poo
þat in þat flode swymmen to & froo- 190
for Crist to summe of his apostles spake
And saied he wold hom fisshers make,
»Comes, be saies, now after me,
(Venite
post me:
fissheres of men I shal make zou be«. faciam
But mony are so froward & so vnbuxum vo
vos fieri
pisca-
þat to hore fissher nettus pai wil not cum; tores
dele.
i Ms. gods..
homi-
num.
9 PX
QIYOS UW Audade
Quentran Wrochas

&
*
os
70
Poems and treatises of Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII.
but summe comen in to pat nett at po last, Chaunce when hit comes so sodenly,
and poo are taken & holden fast, Is so stalworthe & so myghty,
And alle poo þat are so tane
þat agayne-stonde hit may ful fone;
200 are drawen vp in to po ship ilkane. & perfore may hit be cald fortune?.
Pese fisshers þat þus fisshen ouer po Pis worde to ynderstonde is light, 15
ship borde,
for afſt]or po latyne hit sounes right,
Are noght but bo prechours of gods þat is to saie þus, fortuna;
worde,
but hit is in frenshe wordis twa :
þat to men prechen þat here wrong lyuen fort, & vne, þat is on englis
& to po world & delytes of flesshe hom stalworthe, & one, þat bymenes pis, 20
gyuen;
þat is to saie by yndurstondyng:
205 of whilk summe are stirrid hore synne Chaunce of þo world is a stalworthe
to fle
þing;
& to forsake worldly vanyte
for þere may no mon in þis world
& drawen hom toward holy kirke
lyuande,
where þai shal serue god & gode werkis when sho comes so sodenly, agayne hir
wirke.
stande.
Þese nettes þat þai are taken Inne, Þo world is lord, & sho is lady, 25
210 are manasses & snybbyngus of hore synne, to worldly men ouer whom pai haue
And gode ensaumples þat in boke are maistry;
sette,
1 & for sho is pus lauedy, & strong with-
thurgh whilk þai are tane as fisshus alle,
thurgh nette
|þerfore Dame Fortune men may hir calle.
In to po ship of holy kirc, þat shal hom Po strength of hir þat men may fele,
leede
þen? may be lyckened vnto a whele. 30
to po lond of lyue & of blisful-heede For a whele when hit turne[s] in-virowne,
215 where pai shal god face to face se 1 þat turned is vp is titt turned downe,
als he is & sittes in trynite,
& þat is heghest is lowest turned sone.
þat is heuen, where ay is blis & likyng- Þus fares hit by po whele of fortune.
to whilk londe louerd god vs bring. Mony men where Dame Fortune suggurnes 35
Amen.
E x-
with hir whele of treuthe a-boute sho
@MOO Biller andro ) turnes:
2. Po whele of fortune. Tags
Summe turnes sho vp, summe turnes sho
doune,
Alle wandreths, welthis & lykingis sho spares none in felde ne in toune.
by chaunce or happe on pis lyue hyngis: Summe at po heghest duellen a stounde,
For ilk mon wheper he wake or slepe, & summe at po lowest are casten to po 40
In þis lyue byhoues his chaunce kepe, grounde;
5 when hit sodenly fallis, be hit gode summe þat holden hom by hir whele
or ille;
sadly
for he may not fle hit aftor? his wille. on þat one syde is turned vpward þerby,
Chaunce is couplid with þo world here Summe þat aboue sitten in pompe & in
as a wyue is with hir weddid fere,
pridé,
And dos al þat þo world bids as his are turned dounward on þat oper side.
houswyue,
As men may se here propurly & fynde 45
10 & turnus vp & doune a monnes lyue. In a purtreyd figure ymagynde:
i Cf. Prick of Consc. v. 1273 ff. 2 t overl. 10 overl. over u. 2 Ms. men. 3 Ms. turned.
te
P
G4400wamwankflettente
a 1400 alle svandrettsch
Twelve profits of Tribulation.
.
tex
AS
OMAS
..
CA
71
(Figure is wanting, but 1/2 page is left
vacant).
In whilk figure is a quene stondande
with a whele, foure kinges aboute tur-
nande,
Of whilk one with þo whele his course
mas
50 vpwarde, and an ober dounwarde gas,
po thrid sittes abouen as he king ware,
þo four[t]e liggis vndre po whele naked
& bare;
he pat gos vpward, saies »I regne shalle«,
he þat gos dounward saies »I falle«,
55 he þat is heghest saies » I regne nobly,
þo lowest saies »with-outen regne am I«.
Pis figure of fortune þat is as fabul,
bitokens his lyue þat is ynstabul.
Po quene, þat men Dame Fortune calles,
60 Is chaunce or happe þat in þo world
falles.
Hir whele is hir strengthe as men may
fele,
þat turnes summe to woo, & summe to
wele.
Þo foure kyngis þeron turned aboute,
are foure maner of men þat here lyuen
in doute:
65 One are poo. Þat are bysye erly & late
& zernen to clymbe here to heghe state;
zit are pai in doute, for al þat þai do,
to fayle or falle er þai com þerto.
Anoper are poo pat are heghe & myghty
70 & ouer oper hậuen lordship & maistry;
& zit are þai in doute & drede with-alle
fro hore heghe state doune to falle.
Po thrid are poo þat at hegh state han
bene
& are put þerfro & at lower are sene;
75 And zit þai drede, whiles þai lyue,
to be put lower at more myscheue.
Po fourte are poo þat are pure & nedy
& noping haue here to lyue by;
and zit þai are in greet doute & drede
thurgb defaute to perisshe in þat nede. 80
Also by þese foure kyngus pus purtrayed
may be vndurstonden openly & sayed
Of alle maner of men po states,
þat vp & doune turnen mony gates
and chaungen oft-sithes to & froo, 1 85
fro woo to weele, & fro weele to woo;
fro pouert to richesse pat is but vayne,
and fro richesse to pouert doune agayne;
fro angre & sorowe to welthe? & lyking,
And fro liking to sorowe & angre in 90
sum þing;
fro sekenesse to heele & cooueryng,
& fro heele to‘sekenesse. & throwyng;
fro wayknesse to strengthe pat ypward es,
and fro strengthe dounward to wayknes;
Fro childe-heed to mon-heed vnto 95
strength be maste,
þat þen with-drawes hit, as olde men
may taste,
pat aye lesse & lesse may hom-selue
welde,
& so fare pai til þai com at po last elde,
And fro lyue to dethe byhoues hom falle,
as po last is & lowest purtrayed of alle. 100
Al pis may vnderstonden be
in þo figure pat men may purtrayed se.
Pus turnen alle states aboute as a whele,
fro wele to woo & fro wo to wele.
And ay whil mennus statis þus turnen 105
aboute,
pai lyue ay here in grete drede & doute.
Pus are alle men in grete drede & were
when chaunce or happe comes to hom
here.
Pen semes in þis lyue þat we here lede,
Is no ioye lastande with-outer drede, 110
but woo & wandreth and bysynesse :
Perfore god bryngis vs to po blis ende-
lesse. Amen.
Quicquid agunt stulti: tu memor esto
tui: semper.
Radix omnium uirtutum: humilitas.
1 Figures or drawings of this kind are not
unfrequent in northern Mss., and R. Rolle him-
self seems to have made designs. Ms. Arund.
507 contains several trees of vices & virtues,
(Bonaventura's) Arbor vite &c.; Ms. Faustina
B VI (which is, however, a later Ms.) is full of
trees, and paintings of Saints (among which
R. Rólle), beautifully executed.
qd W.
1 r. wele?
( W die W: Howest.)
(1506(a. 1425) Contemtal. DLGed] LATE
**
-
:.
mangu
r
11
- --
Early editions of works of R. Rolle.
I. Ed. Wynkyn de Worde 1506.
. (Contemplations of the dread and love of God).
(The same treatise is extant in Mss. Reg. 17 A XXV f. 13', Harl. 2409, Harl.
1706 f. 1546--204, and Cambr. Ji VI. 40 f. 4—73 (»An holy mater þe which is
clepid XII chapiters«?), all southern Mss. A northern Ms. is unknown to me.
None of these Mss. gives R. Rolle's name.)
fol. 1.
Rycharde Rolle hermyte of Hampull in his contemplacyons of the drede and
loue of god, with other dyuerse tytles as it sheweth in his table.
(figure of an hermit.
backside, picture of an hermit before his cell surrounded by devils.)
. fol. 2.
Opus Ricardi Rolle heremyte de Hampull, qui obiit Anno christi M.ccc.xlix.
I His shorte epystle that foloweth is dyuyded in sondry maters , & eche
mater by hymselfe in sondry tytles, as this kalender sheweth. And þat thou
mayst sone fynde what mater the pleaseth / these tytles ben here in the Epystle
marked with dyuerse lettres 8 in maner of a table:
A3 | How 4 eche man sholde desyre to loue god.
B How men somtyme loued god / & how holy men somtyme were vysyted
with swetnesse in the loue of almyghty god.
C ( What is drede & how a man shold drede god.
D ( What is charyte & how & why pou shalt loue thy god.
Of foure degrees of loue , & in the fyrste ben fyue poyntes.
Ordeyned loue.
The fyrst is that thou shalt loue thy flesshë onely that it be susteyned.
The .II. is þou shalt loue he worlde to no superfluyte. .
The .IlI. is pou shalt loue thy neyghbour for god.
| The fourth is thou shalt loue thy frende for his good lyuynge.
The fyfth is thou shalt loue thyn enemye for þe more [m]ede.
In the seconde degre of loue ben thre poyntes.
Clene loue.
K (The fyrst poynt is thou shalt loue no vyce with vertue.
L | The seconde is Þou shalt hate all euyll customes.
| The thyrde is thou shalt not sette lyght by synne be it neuer so lytell.
In the thyrde degree of loue be fyue poyntes.
Stedfast loue.
N | The fyrst is thou shalt loue god with all thy desyre.
O f The seconde is thou shalt in the begynnynge of thy werkes thynke on
pe worshyp & drede of god.
P The thyrde is thou shalt do no synne vpon trust of other good dedes.
Q | The fourth is thou shalt rule the discretly that thou fayle not for ſto]"
feruent wyll.
1 In Reg., another hand sets in on fol. 25, which is less correct. 2 The title of »XII Cha-
pitersa is given to several treatises of R. Rolle. 3 Ms. R. has numbers 1-24 instead of
letters. 4 al. Whi, 5 al. & how hiely sum men. 6 E drede. 9 E none,
Contemplations of the dread and love of God.
73
R The fýfth is thou shalt not leue thy good lyuynge for feynte herte ne
for temptacyon.
In the fourth degre of loue ben .VIII. (!) poyntes.
f Parfyte loue.
S T How by encreace of vertues thou mayst come to perfeccyon.
T (How good wyll is & may be in dyuerse maners.
U | What profyte? is in prayer and in what maner thou shalt praye.
X (How thou mayst be ware & knowe of temptacyons wakynge or slepynge /
& howe thou shalt withstande theym.
Y | How thou shalt be pacyent & what tyme pacyence is moost nedefull.
Z [How perseueraunce is nedefull & how pou mayst be perseueraunt.
AB ( By what prayer or thought thou mayst be styred to deuocyon.
Explicit tabula.
fol. 3.
In the begynnynge and endynge of all good werkes worshyp & thankynge be
to almyghty god / maker & byer of all mankynde / begynner and ender of all
goodnes / without whose gyfte & helpe no maner vertue is ne may be / whether
it be in thought / wyll / or dede; / than what euer? we synfull creatures 3 thynke
or do / speke or wryte / that may tourne in to proufyte of mannes soule / to
god onely be the worshyp that sente al grace / to vs no praysynge* / for of vs
without hym cometh no thynge but fylthe & synne. Now than good god of his
endeles myght & plenteuous goodnes graunte me grace to thynke somwhat of his
dere loue & how he sholde be loued; / of that same loue some wordes to wryte
whiche may to hym be worshyp / to the wryter mede / and proufytable to the
reder. Amen.
A ( How eche man sholde desyre to loue god.
AMonge all creatures that euer god of his endeles myght made / was there
none þat he so loued as he dyd mankynde / whom he made [to reioyce) euer-
ląstynge blysse in stede of aungels / whiche dyd fal from blysse downe in to helle.
But that good god loued so man / that for as moche as man had forfeyted that
blysse thorugh synne of Adam / he of his plenteuous charyte became man / to
bye body and soule that was lost. In what maner he bought vs / euery crysten
man knoweth or sholde knowe: / that no lasse pryce / buts suffred his owne pre-
cyous body to be all to-rente Ⓡ with bytter paynes of scorgynge. He suffred also
a garlonde of sharpe thornes pressyd to his heed / whiche percyd so the veynes
that the blood ran doune in to his eyen / nose / mouth & eeres. Afterwarde
vpon the crosse his bones were drawe out of loynte / the veynes & the senewes
were borsten for strayte drawynge / to be crosse he was nayled honde & foot /
and so fayled' the blood of kynd with bytter paynes of deth. He betoke his
spyryte to the fader of heuen / and than suffred at the last his gloryous herte to
be thorugh-percyd 8 with a sharpe' spere for to gyue his herte-blood to bye man
body and soule into Ioye without ende. | Yf god of his grete goodnes loued
thus man, gyuynge hym ouer this wytte and reason and all other thynge that hym
nedeth: / kyndely a3 man sholde nyght and daye with all his wyttes loue hym,
and feruentely desyre to conne loue suche a good god that all thynge made,
all thynge gyueth and susteyneth. Of this desyre there ben many, men and
women, whiche haue full grete lykynge to speke of the loue of god / and all daye
I E parfyte. 2 al. what euer þan. 3 al. om. 4 al. pr, ne þankynge. 5 al. þan.
6 al. to-r. & rasid. 7 al. failinge.., he betoke. 8 al. stonge. 9 E shapre.
[ 1506
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Bow byghe delete this tyme mwy.
askyne? how they sholde loue god & in what maner they sholde l[y]ue ? to his
pleasaunce for his endeles goodnes. To suche men & women, of that good wyll
and [of] thatholy desyre, I wyll shewe fyrste of holy men before this tyme how
feruent some were in the loue of god, Also in how hyghe a degree some were
vysyted in þe swetenes [of þe loue]" of cryst. But it may be so that it is full
harde for the more partye of men & women to come to so hyghe a degree of
loue / therfore after the shewynge of suche hyghe degrees of loue sonwhat I
wyll wryte to other of symple knowynge how they sholde loue god / as that
gracyous god wyll gyue me grace.
B | How men somtyme loued god / & how holy men somtyme were
vysyted with swetenes in the loue of almyghty god.
I Fynde & rede of oure holy faders in olde tyme that for the loue of god
they forsoke the worlde and all worldely thynges and lyued in wyldernes by
grasse & by rotes / suche men were feruent in the loue of god. But I trowe
there ben but fewe or elles none that folowen them now / for we fynde not by
goddes lawe or heste that we sholde l[y]ue so. For all-be-it they were kepte
& susteyned so'moost by the myght and grace of god / as no goodnes may be
without hym: yet I trowe they lyued so moche by be strength of kynde that
was in man tho dayes. I wyll not counseyll the to lyue as they dyde / for thou
mayst by other maner lyuynge come to the loue of god / as thou shalt se after-
warde. I fynde also 5 furthermore of other ful holy men of ryght late tyme
whiche lyueden a ful holy lyfe, and toke theyr lyuelode as feblenesse of man
asketh now in our dayes. Some of these men as I haue herde and redde were
vysyted by the grace of god with a passynge swetenes of the loue of cryste /
whiche swetenes for an5 example they shewed afterwarde by theyr wrytynge to
other men folowynge / yf ony wolde trauayle to haue that hyghe desyre or degree
of loue. This loue whiche they haue wryten to other is departed in thre degrees
of loue / whiche thre degrees they hadden one after an other, standynge stablysshed º
in theyr desyrė / and suffrynge pacyently for the loue of god many trybulacyons
& temptacyons tyll they come by holy contemplacyon to be hyghest degre of
loue of tho thre. By this I suppose he that hath grace to come to the fyrst
may by goddes helpe come to the seconde / & so with a feruent desyre & good
perseueraunce he may come to the thyrde. Shortely I wyll shewe here these
degrees of loue / for (percase) º all men and women that sholde rede this haue
not knowynge of theym / ne neuer herde speke of suche degrees of loue before-
tyme. | Degrees of hyghe loue. .I. The fyrste loue is so feruent that
no-thynge whiche is contrary to goddes wyll may ouercome that loue / welth ne
wo, helthe ne sykenes; Also he þat hath this loue wyl not make god ones angry "l
for all the worlde withonte ende / but rather suffre all the payne that myght
come to ony creature than ones wylfully dysplease his god in thought or (in) dede.
.II. The seconde loue is more feruent, for þat 12 is so stronge / that what man
loueth in that degre, all his thought, herte & myght is so entyerly, so besely &
so perfyghtly stablysshed in Ihesu cryste that his thought cometh neuer from hym
I E askynge, 2 E loue. 3 E. deg. of loue. 4 om. 5al. om. 6 E loue. ? E so
it was. 8 des. or al. om. 9 alstabyly. 10 E by cause. 11 al, wrabe god eny tyme
for to haue alle he w. 12 E yt = pat? al. þat.
***
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Contemplations of the dread and love of God.
75
but [only] whan he slepeth. .III. ( The thyrde degre of loue is hyghest and
moost wonderfull / for what man cometh to that loue / all comforte and all
solace is closed oute of his herte / buta onely the Ioye of Ihesu cryste | Other
Ioye inay his herte not receyue, for swetnesse that he hath of the Ioye euermore
lastynge. This loue is so brennynge & so gladynge that who so hath that loue
may as well fele the fyer of brennynge loue in his soule / as an other man may
fele his fynger brenne in erthely fyre. This loue may well be called a brennynge
loue. And yf men had suche swetnesse in the loue of god of so late tyme, I
suppose wel þat þe same we may 3 haue now by the gyfte of god yf we were as
feruent in loue as they were. But these degrees of loue ben set vpon so hyghe
loue to god / that what man sholde haue the fyrst of these thre / behoued that
he were a sad contemplatyf man or woman, And by cause mankynde is now &
euermore the lenger the febler or perauenture 4 more vnstable / therfore vnethes
sholde - we fynde now a sad contemplatyfe man or woman. Men of relygyon
haue taken dyuerse habytes of contemplatyf lyfe; Men & women also that ben
enclosed, as it semeth lyuen a contemplatyfe lyfe , & so with goddes grace they
do for the more partye: But for to speke of hyghe contemplatyfe lyfe as
holy men lyued before this tyme, it semeth there ben ryght fewe. Therfore I
trowe that I may sykerly say that fewe there ben now that wyl or may trauayle
now' to haue suche hyghe degrees of loue as I haue reherced before. Neuertheles?
what so euer thou be that redest or herest this / be neuer [be] 8 slower to trauayll.
For yf thy desyre be sette feruently & lowly', holdynge the vnworthy to haue
so hyghe a ghoostly gyfte before an other man / & puttest thy desyre to goddes
dysposycyon trustyngly 10, he wyll dyspose that is best for the / whether thou haste 11
thy desyre or haue it not. But it is fyrst 12 nedefull to be that thou haue other
thre degrees of loue that the same holy men wrote in theyr treatyse / whiche
be not of so hyghe a degree as tho that be reherced before. .I. | The
fyrst degree of these is / whan a man or a woman holdeth the commaundementes
of god & kepeth hym-selfe 13 out of dedely synne / & is stable in the fayth of holy
chyrche. Also whan a man wolde not for none erthely thynge dysplease 14 god /
but truly standeth in his degree whether he be religyous or seculer. In this
maner euery man behoueth to loue his god that wyll be saued: / therfore I
counseyll the to haue & kepe this loue or thou clymbe to ony hyer degree.
.II. | The seconde degree is whan a man forsaketh all the worlde for the loue
of god / that is for? to saye his fader, his moder & all his kynred 15, & foloweth
cryst in pouerte. Also studieth 16 nyght & daye / how clene he may be in herte,
howe chaste in body / how meke & buxom / howe clene in all vertues / & hate
all vyces / soo that all his lyfe be ghoostly & none thynge flesshely. .III. 1 The
thyrde degree is hyghest / for that is a ful contemplatyfe lyfe, as whan a man
or a woman loueth for to be alone from all maner noyse. And whan that he
is saddely sette in this lyfe and in this loue, with his ghoostly eyen than may
he se in to the blysse of heuen; And than his eyen be soo enlumyned and so
clere lyghted with grace of ghoostly loue, and also thrugh-kyndeled 17 with the
gracyous fyre of crystes loue, that he shall haue a maner of brennynge loue in
1 al. om. 2 al, saue. 3 al. myzte. al. percas. 5 al, schollen. 6 E do so. 1 al.
Nobeles. 8 E to; al. be loper. Ø 'E louyngly. 10 al. trustili. 11 al. haue. 12 al. first
it is. 13 al. hym. 11 al. wrabbe. 15 al. kyn. 16 E standeth. 17 al, his eyen ban be
so liztned & kyndelid.
[ 1506 (a has) Contempl. Dlood
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his herte euermore lastynge, and his thought euermore vpwarde to god. Thus
as I haue reherced god hath vysyted his seruauntes, gyuynge theym a specyall
sauour to loue hym by theyr holy lyuynge. Many other men and women there
be whiche please god full well standynge truely in theyr degree as men & women
of the worlde / both? lordes & ladyes & other husbonde men women' & wyues.
For al be it they may not come to suche hye contemplatyfe lyfe, it suffyseth (to]
them to haue the fyrst degree of these thre whiche I reherced last / for that
euery man is bounde to kepe. I q Yf thou desyre to haue an hygher degre of
loue in to the worshyp of god / trauayle as other men dyde & aske helpe and
grace with good perseueraunce / yf it please god to a performe thy wyll & brynge
the to thy purpose. But for as moche as there be many that haue not a sadde
grounde ne but lytell felynge how they sholde loue and drede god / whiche is
spedefull & nedefull for all men to knowe: Therfore to suche as 3 be not knowynge
I wyll shewe fyrste in what maner they sholde loue & drede god' / that they may
be be more stable in the loue of god. After that I shall shewe by the grace
of god foure degrees of loue / whiche euery crysten man relygyous & seculer
sholde holde and kepe, & may performe for the more partye yf his wyll be fer-
uently set to the loue of god. ( Now than as I sayd I shall in the begynnynge
with the helpe of god wryte & shewe somwhat of the drede of god / that shal
be to his worshyp, & proufyte to the reder.
C | What is drede / and how a man sholde drede god.
I Rede that þe drede of god is begynnynge of wysedom. | Drede, as clerkes
haue wryten before this tyme, is in many maners. But I suppose thre kyndes of
drede ben moost nedefull for to knowe. The fyrst is drede of man or drede of
the worlde. The seconde is called drede of seruage. The thyrde is called a
chaste * drede or a frendely drede. .I. The fyrst whiche is drede of man
or of the worlde is / whan a man or woman dredeth more the punysslynge of
the worlde, as betynge the body 6 or prysonynge, than the punysshynge of the
soule; Also whan a man dredeth more to lese his temporall goodes in this pas-
synge worlde than to lese the blysse without ende. | this drede is counted for
nought / for god almygbty forbad this drede whan he sayd thus: Dredeth hym
not that may slee þe body / but rather drede hym that may sende the body &
soule in to euerlastynge fyre. .II. And the seconde drede whiche is the
drede of seruage / is whan a man withdraweth hym or absteyneth hym fro synne /
more for drede of the payne of helle than for loue that he sholde haue to god.
Euery suche man what goodnes he doth it is not for drede to lese euerlastynge
blysse whiche he desyred' not / but for drede onely of suffrynge of grete paynes
whiche he dreded 8 sore. this drede suffyseth not as thou shalt see afterwarde /
but yet it may be good & proufytable. .III. The thyrde drede whiche is
called a chaste or a frendely drede is / whan a man dredeth the longe abydynge
here for grete desyre that he hath to be with god; Also whan he dredeth that
god wyll go fro hym; as peraduenture her withdraweth his grace fro hym; Also
whan he dredeth to dysplease god for the grete loue & desyre þat he hath for
to please god. / suche drede cometh of loue & that pleaseth moche god. Take
1 al. om. 2 al. he wole. 3 al. bat.
de timore domini. 6 the body al. om.
4 E chasted.
7 al. desyreb.
5H cites Magister Sent. li. 3 d. 38
8 al. dredib,
1
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77
than hede how here be reherced thre maner? degrees of drede : / file the fyrst for
it is not proufytable. The seconde may be proufytable for some men there be
whiche drede god by cause they sholde not be sente into hell to brenne there
with the deuyls in euerlastynge fyre. This drede may be good, for by this waye?
they may come in to the loue of our lorde god, as by this waye that I shall
shewe. All be it that? thou drede our lorde’ god onely for payne, yet louest thou
not god whome pou dredest, thou desyrest not yet goodnes of vertues / but thou
withstandest þe wyckednes of vyces / whan thou withstandest the’ wyckednes
thou begynnest to desyre goodnes. Whan thou desyrest goodenes & vertues /
than cometh in to the the thyrde maner of drede / whiche is called as I sayd a
chast or a frendely drede. For than thou dredest to lese the goodnes & grace
that god hath put in pe / thou dredest than also to lese the blysse that is
ordeyned for the , & so by this thou shalt drede god that he forsake not the /
whan thou dredest god in this maner thenne hast thou hym sykerly with the , &
so for his loue thou shalt desyre to be with hym. Thus mayst thou well knowe
how drede of god may brynge the in to the loue of god / yf thou loue god than
thou hast wysedom / so thus the drede of god is the begynnynge of wysedom.
Take hede than and drede god in the maner as I haue reherced / for yf thou
drede wel god thou shalt not be slowe in his seruyce. He that dredeth well
god leueth no goodnes yndo whiche he may do to the pleasure of god. Yf thou
drede god thou wilt kepe his commaundementes , and the drede that thou hast
to god shall brynge the in to euerlastynge sykernes where pou shalt neuer drede.
* Of the drede of god wexeth as grete deuocyon and a maner sorowe with full
contrycion for (thy) synnes / thrugh that deuocion and contrycion thou forsakest thy
synnes , and perauenture somwhat of thy worldely goodes. By that forsakynge
thou lowest the to thygod & comest in to mekenes / thorugh mekenes thy
flesshely lustes ben destroyed / by þat destruccion all vyces be put out & vanysshed 6
awaye /by puttynge out of vyces than? vertues begyn to wexe and sprynge. Of
the shynynge of vertues the clennes of the herte is purchased. By clennesse of
thy herte thou shalte come to full possessyon of the holy loue of Cryst. By these
wordes thou mayst knowe howe pou shalte drede for loue , & how thou mayst
come to loue thrugh drede of god. But the more [þat] loue encreaceth in the /
the more drede gooth from the / so that yf thou haue grace to come to a feruent
loue thou shalt but lytell thynke on drede for the swetnesse that thou shalt haue
in the loue of god. but yet be thou neuer so parfyte it is nedefull that thou
drede discretely as longe as thou art in this worlde. [And] for as moche as I sayd
thou mayst come to loue yf thou drede god / see now furthermore what is charyte
& loue to god, How & in what maner thou shalt loue hym / why thou shalt loue
hym, How pou shalt knowe whan god of his mercy graunteth the that grace to
conne loue hym.
D 4 What is charyte and how & why thou shalt loue thy god.
Of foure degrees of loue , & in the fyrst ben fyue poyntes.
Ordeyned loue.
CHaryte as I rede? is a loue that we sholde haue to god / for as moche as
he is almyghty god; also charyte is a loue wherby we sholde loue our neygh-
...1 al. maners; deg. om. ? al. om. 3 al. pleasance. 4 H cites Cassiod. de instit. monach.
lib. 3. 5 al. a heelful &. cal. waschen. 7H0. m.: Magister sentent. li. 39, d. 2. quid sit caritas.
LL
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bour as our-selfer for god. And these be two pryncypall commaundementes? of
god. The fyrst longeth to be loue of god / whiche is pe gretest commaundement
of þe lawe of god; The seconde longeth to þe loue of thy neyghbour and this
is lyke to the fyrst; / & 3 thus thou hast what is charyte and loue. See now how
thou shalt loue god. / thou shalt loue god with all thy herte / all thy soule / &
with all vertue, as thus. Whan pou puttest away from the or withstandest with
all thy power all thynge that is pleasynge or lykynge to thy flesshe for the loue
of þe blessyd flesshe of cryste / than thou louest hym with al thy herte & al
thy soule. Of this mater thou shalt her“ more afterwarde; / but : se now ferther-
more (why]” thou shalt loue hym. The causes a why thou shalt loue god ben
without nombre hauynge rewarde to his benefaytes / but two causes we haue
pryncypally aboue other. One is for he loue[d]? vs fyrst with all his herte and al
his soule swetely & strongely. Swetely whan he toke flesshe & blood & became
man for oure loue. Strongly whan he suffred deth for loue of man. The seconde
cause is for ther is no thynge that may be loued more ryghtfully 8 ne more
proufytable. More ryghtfull is there none than the loue of hym that made man
and deyed for man. More proufytable thynge is there none that may be loued
than almyghty god / for yf we loue hym as we be bounde / he wyll gyue vs
Ioye and blysse without ende / where no thynge lacketh but all thynge is plen-
teuous and euerlastynge. Se now how thou shalt knowe whan god putteth grace
in the for to knowe' loue. Whan the trauayle whiche thou hast for the loue of
god is lyght & lykynge to the / than thou begynnest to baue sauour in the loue
of god. For ther is no maner trauayle greuous ne trauaylous to hym þat loueth
god feruently & trauayleth wylfully for the loue of god. | Also stedfast loue
feleth no bytternesse / but all swetenesse / for ryght as bytternesse is syster to the
vyce of hatred / right so swetnesse is syster to be vertue of loue, so that in loue is
all swetnesse. Also the trauayle of louers may be in no maner trauaylous o ne
greuous. For ryght as hawkers & hunters what euer trauayle they haue it greueth
them not for the loue & lykynge that they haue in theyr game / ryghth so what
thynge it be that a man loueth & taketh vpon hym a trauayle for that thynge that
he loueth", (either] 12 it is no trauayle [to hym] / [or elles] 13 yf it be trauaylous it
lyketh hym to haue trauayle for þat thynge whiche he loueth. Take than good
hede of these wordes / for yf thou loue god thou wylt gladly trauayle & suffre for
þe loue of god; yf thy trauayle semeth than lyght to the / or ellys yf thou louest
or desyrest gladly to haue trauayle for the loue of god thou mayst wel knowe
that god of his grace hath put in the a begynnynge to come to loue ?4. Whan
thou hast suche a gracyous begynnynge withdrawe not pat loue from hym for no
maner dysease that may fall to the. For many men & women there be that
whyle they be in prosperyte / that is to say / whyle they be in welth & in rest,
gladly they wyll shewe loue to god suche as they can: But yf god sendeth hym 15
ony 3 dysease or ony maner of chastysynge, anone her loue swageth ; & that is no
sadde loue. For who so loueth trustyngly 16 & sadly he loueth as well in his : ad-
uersyte as in prosperyte / for what god sendeth toys it is for our proufyte
therfore be it helth 17 be it wo þat he sendeth we sholde hertely 18 thanke hym &
1 as o. al. om. 2 al. hestis. 3 al. om. 4 al. se. 5 E how. 6 al. skyllys. ? E loueth.
S al. riztful. I al. kunne. 10 al. chargeous, 11 al. for loue of hat bing. 12 E or elles.
13 E and. 14 al. to kunne loue. 15 r. them. 16 al, trewely. 17 al. welpe. 18 al. h. & lowly.
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not withdrawe our loue from hym; for no nede that he hath to our loue / but
for grete profyte that we sholde haue to loue hym / & for his grete goodnes
that he wyll chastyse vs here all for our better.
Thus than hane I shewed in fewe wordes what is charyte & loue to thy god/
howe thou shalt loue hym / why thou shalt loue hym/ and how thou shalt
knowe whan thou hast grace to conne loue hym. Lerne than thus to loue; 1 & se
now ferther-more what proufyte and grace cometh of loue. | In the loue of
god ben fyue gracyous thynges: Fyre / lyght / hony / wyne / & sonne.
.I. 1 The fyrst is fyre, clensynge the soule of all maner vyces thrugh holy
medytacyons. . II. 1 The seconde is lyght, shynynge in the soule with clerenes
of vertues thorugh holy prayers. .III. 1 The thyrde is hony, makynge swete
the soule whan he hath in mynde the benefaytes & þe grete gyftes of god
almyghty / &? yeldynge to hym thankynges. .IIII. I The fourth is wyne,
fulfyllynge pe soule with a grete gladnes thorough a swete contemplacyon.
.v. I The fyfth is a sonne, makynge the soule clere with a shynynge lyght in
myrthe withouten ende, & gladynge the soule with an easy hete in Ioye & blysse
euermore lastynge. Thus thou mayst see what proufyte he shall haue that can
well loue. God than of his grete grace graunte vs hymn so to loue as it is moost
to hym pleasynge. Amen.
I Now ferthermore I wyll shewe to the as I sayd before / foure degrees of
loue, whiche thou mayst kepe & easely come to one after an other yf thou haue
good wyll.
F Oure degrees of loue there be / the fyrst is called an ordeyned loue or els
ordynat loue / that is to saye a loue ordeyned to be knowen and kept of all
maner men & women of euery degree in the worlde. To this degree of loue
longen .v. poyntes to be kepte. The fyrst is thou shalt loue thy flesshe onely
that it be susteyned. The .II. is that thou loue the worlde to no superfluyte.
The .III. is that thou loue thy neyghbour for god. The .IIII. is that thou loue
thy frende for his good lyuynge. The .v. is to loue thyn enemye for the more
mede of god.
E ( The fyrst is that thou shalt loue thy flesshe onely that it be susteyned.
He fyrste poynte is as I sayd: thou shalt loue thy flesshe onely that it be
susteyned, as thus. Thou shalt take mete & drynke, clothynge and al other
thynge that is nedefull to thy body / in resonable maner, to kepe thy body in
his estate, in comforte of thy soule, to trauayle & contynue in the seruyce of god /
& not for to nourysshe thy flesshe in lust & lykynge with dyuerse [&] delycate metes
& drynkes / for ther-of cometh foule stynkynge synne & many bodyly sykenes /
namely whan ther is to moche excesse. This wytnesseth an holy clerke 3 & sayth /
they that delyted" them in lustes of the flesshe they haue ful often many dyseases
in theyr flesshe. Also as I redes a soule that is wonte to delytes of the flesshe
gadreth togyder many fylthes and wyckednes'. Thou mayst also do no exces /
for yf thou vse the to excesse/ thou fallest in to the vyce of glotonye / whiche [as]
thou knowest well is dedely synne. Of þat synne I rede thus 8 : / where pe vyce
1 Hon m.: Rabanus in quodam sermone. 2 al. om. 3 H 0. m. Gregor. in quadam omelia.
A al. delyten. 5 H o. m. Io. Cris, de reparacione lapsi. 6 al. delyces. ? al. wrecchednes.
8 H 0. m. Greg. li. 3 Mor.
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of glotony reygneth in ony man he leseth pe ghoostly strength yf he had ony
before; And but yfi the wombe of glotonye be swaged all his vertues ben cast
downe. / therfore loue thy flesshe to [his] sustentacyon & not to delytes ? & to excesse /
for here thou mayst well knowe & se that it is good & nedefull to flee delycacyes.
But thou shalt vnderstande here pat I counseylle the not to forbere ony mete or
drynke in specyall / for the vyce of delycacye is not in the mete / but in þe
lust that thou hast in mete; / therfore sayth an holy clerke 3: Often we take deynte
metes without blame / & somtyme other* metes and comyn 'to euery man not
without gylte of conscyence. So thus it semeth wel whan we take ony mete for
delyte more than for sustenaunce we offende god / therfore flee delytes ? & lustes
of mete & drynke and loue thy flesshe onely that it be susteyned / & than thou
hast the fyrst poynte of this degree of loue.
F 9 The seconde is thou shalt loue the worlde to no superfluyte.
I He seconde poynte is thou shalt loue the worlde to no superfluyte. As thus:
Yf thou loue god thou shalt not desyre ne loue vanytees of the worlde / ne
worldely goodes more than þe nedeth. Yf god hath ordeyned the to an hyghe
degree in the worlde / as for to be a lorde or a lady / or for to haue ony
soueraynte ghoostly or worldely / by reason reuerence must be done to the more
than to an other man or woman. For after that the fyrst man Adam was in-
obedyent to goddes commaundement it was ordeyned by almyghty god that man
sholde be subgect to man; Also for as moche as he people must [nedes] haue
gouernaunces / therfore it is reason to do reuerence to them that haue power &
gouernaunce aboue other. But all be it þat! Þou be grete & worldely worshyp
must be do to the / loue it not ne desyre it not but mekely yelde all þat worshyp
to god whiche myght haue made the a subget there he hath ordeyned the a
lorde or a souerayne / & thrugh that lownes thou shalt haue some grace to
withstande Þe desyre of worldely vanytees. I say[d]e ferthermore / yf thou loue
the world to none superfluyte / pou shalt not desyre ne loue worldely good more
than the nedeth. As thus: thou knowest well ynough in thy begynnynge whether
thou art lord or subgect / poore or ryche / holde the apayde with thy degree
so that thou haue thy sustenaunce / & desyre to be no greter / but onely as
goddes wyll is & as he wyll dyspose for the. Yf thou holde the not payde with
that that’ god hath sente to the and to thyn a resonable lyuelode / but euer desyrest
for? to be greter and greter in the worlde, than thou louest the worlde to super-
fluyte for thou desyrest more than thou nedest, & soo by that foule desyre thou
fallest in to the vyce of couetyse whiche is repreued by [al] goddes lawe as a foule
dedely synne. This synne is full peryllous / for I rede where that the synne of
couetyse is in a man, pat man is made subgect to all other vyces. I fynde also
that couetyse and pryde be as it were one vyce or one wyckednes / in so moche
that yet? where pryde reygneth there is couetyse / & where couetyse reygneth
there is pryde. / this vyce is so wycked & so greuous [þat]' as longe as it reygneth
in ony man he shal haue no grace for to drawe to god-warde'. This wytnesseth
well a full holy clerke saynt Gregorye & sayth thus in an Omelye: That in none
other wyse we may ne can 10 neuer come ne drawe to be begynner & maker of
I al. om.
6 al. what.
2 al. delyces. 3 H o. m. (reg. li. 30 Mor. 4 al. loper; r. liber?
7 al. wher, inst, of with that that. 8 al. yuelis. '9 E &.
5 al. gouernaile.
10 ne can al. om.
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all goodnes / but that we caste awaye? frome vs the synne of couetyse whiche is
rote of all euylles. Than it semeth well, yf thou wylt come to the loue of god
thou must flee the synne of couetyse. q ?Thre thynges there be in the worlde
as I rede whiche men desyre aboue all other worldely thynges. The fyrst is
rychesse. The seconde is lustes. And be thyrde is worshyp. Of rychesse cometh
wycked dedes. Of lustes cometh foule dedes. And of worshyp cometh vanytees.
Ryches engendreth 3 couetyse; lustes noryssheth glotonye & lecherye / & worshyp
noryssheth boost & pryde. Thus thou mayst knowe what peryll it is to loue
the worlde. (Therfor yf thou wylt stande sikerly, loue not the worlde]' more
than nede is / & than thou shalt kepe the seconde poynte of this degree (of loue].
G 9 The thyrde is thou shalt loue thy neyghboure for god.
I He thyrde poynte is howed thou shalt loue thy neyghboure for god / 5 to this
thou arte bounde by the commaundement of god where he coinmaundeth & sayth /
thou shalt loue thy neyghboure as thy-selfe; / yf thou shalt loue hym as thy-selfe
nedes thou must loue hym. / thou shalt loue bym also for god. Of this loue
speketh saynt Austyn & sayth / thou shalt loue god for hym-selfe with all thy
herte / & thy neyghboure for god as thy-selfe / that is to saye / loke where-to
and for what thou louest thy-selfe so thou shalt loue thy neyghboure. Thou
shalt loue thy-selfe in all goodnesse & for god / ryght so thou sha[l]t loue thy
neyghboure for god & in all goodnes, but in none euyll. / therfore sayth the same
clerke 6 : He that loueth men þat is to saye his neyghbours, he loueth or sholde
loue them for they ben good & ryghtfull or els that they may be good & ryght-
full / & that is to saye thou shalt? loue them in god or els for god , & in this
maner euery man sholde loue hymselfe. Also of the loue of thy neyghbour I
rede, whan thou forsakest a synguler prouffyte for þe loue of thy neyghbour than
pou louest thy neyghbour. 'Also thou louest thy neyghbour as thy-selfe whan
thou doost hym no harme but desyrest the same goodnes & prouffyte ghoostly &
bodely to hym that pou desyrest to thy-selfe. Loue thus thy neyghbour or 10 els
pou louest not god. To this accordeth an holy clerke 1l & sayth: By the loue of
god the loue of thy neyghbour is purchased / & by be loue of thy neyghbour
the loue of god is nourysshed / for he þat taketh no hede to loue his neyghbour
he can not loue his god. But whan thou hast fyrste sauour in [be] loue of thy
neyghbour / than thou begynnest to entre in to pe loue of god. Loue thus 12 thy
neyghbour for god & than thou kepest the thyrde poynte of this degree of loue.
H 9 The fourth is thou shalt loue thy frende for his good lyuynge.
I He fourth poynte is / thou shalt loue thy frende for his good lyuynge. Yf
thou baue a frende that is of good lyuynge / thou shalt loue hym in double
maner / for he is thy frende, and for the goodnes that is in hym; yf he be not
good of lyfe but vycyous thou mayst loue hym but not his vyces. !3 For as I rede
parfyte frendshyp is whan thou louest not in thy frende pat sholde not be loued /
and whan thou louest in hym or desyrest to hym goodnes whiche is to be loued.
I al. om. 2 H10. m.: Innocenc, de vtilitate cond. humane. 3 al. gendreth. 4 om., but
so al. 5 H 0. m.: August. de doctrina christiana 1. Iº capº. 4. 6 H o. m.: Aug. de trinitate
li. I Cº. Io. 7 al. he shal. 8 H 0. m.: Hugo de substancia dilect. 9 H 0. m.: Cass. super
Ps. 133. 10 al. for. 11 H 0. m. Greg. in quadam hom. 12 al. than. 13 H 0. m.: Aug.
de uera religione.
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As thus : though it be so þat thy frende lyueth' folysshly’ thou shalt not loue hym
[for his] foly lyuynge but that he may by goddes grace amende hym and be parfyte
in lyuynge. For what man it be þat loueth hymselfe in folye he shal not prouffyte
in wysedom. Also the same clerke* sayth in an other place: Loueth not the vyces
of your frendes yf ye loue your frendes. Loue than thy frende for his good
lyuynge / & than thou shalt kepe the fourth poynte of this degree of loue.
I The fyfthe is thou shalt loue thyn ennemye for the more mede.
In the seconde degree of loue ben thre poyntes.
( Clene loue.
THe fyfth poynte is thou shalt loue thyn ennemye for the more mede. A
grete dede of charyte it is & medeful to forgyue them þat haue trespaced ayenst
vs, with all our herte. q It is but lytell goodnes & full lesse mede to be wel
wyllynge to hym that doth the no harme / but it is a grete goodnes & a greter
mede that thou be well louynge to thyn ennemye, And þat thou do good &
wyll good with all thy power to hym that doth euyll or is in wyll to do euyll
to the with all his power. Of this mater speketh an holy clerke’ and saytb: It
is holden a grete vertue amonge worldely men to suffre pacyently theyr ennemyes /
but it is a greter vertue a man to loue his enemye / for that vertue is presented
as for sacrefyce before the syght of almyghty god. Also to this purpose accorden
the wordes of cryst where he sayd to his dyscyples: Loue your ennemyes / do
good to theym that hate you / & praye for them þat pursyewe you to dysease /
& for them þat despyse you, that [z]es may be the chyldren of the fader in heuen.
Loue than thyn enemye for þe more mede yf pou wylt kepe pe fyfth poynt of
this fyrst degree of loue. - Shortly thus ben declared to the the fyue poyntes
of þe. fyrst degree of loue. In the fyrste, yf thou take good hede, thou art
warned and counseyled for the loue of god / and as thou art bounde by all crysten
lawes / to withstande the synne of glotonye & al other flesshely lustes. In the
seconde poynte to withstande pe foule vyce of couetyse, pryde & all other vanytees
of the worlde. In the thre last poyntes to loue thy neyghbour, thy frende & all
other men for the loue of god and for the more mede. Loue than god in this
fyrst maner of loue , and thou shalt thrugh his grete grace yf thou wylt come
to the seconde degree of loue.
I He seconde degree of loue is called a clene loue. Yf thou wylt come to
this seconde degre of loue thou must kepe thre poyntes. The fyrste is / pat
thou loue no vyce with vertue. The seconde is þat thou despyse all euyll custome.
The thyrde is that thou sette not lytell' by synne whether it be lytell or grete.
K | The fyrste poynte is thou shalt loue no vyce with vertue.
| He fyrst poynte is / thou shalt loue no vyce with vertue. As thus: what
euer thou be in mannes syght / be ware that thou be not vycyous Inwarde in
thy soule vnder colour of vertues whiche pou shewest openly. Our ghoostly
ennemye pe fende hath many subtyltees to dysceyue mankynde, But amonge all
this 10 is a grete dysceyte / whan that he maketh a vyce lyke to vertue, & vertue
I al. lyue. 2 E so f.; al. folili(che). 3 al. for. 4 H 0. m.: Aug. in quodam sermone.
SH_o. m.: Aug. in enchirid. Gal. grete. 7 H: Greg. in past. 8 E we. 9 al. lyzt.
10 E this it.
تهران /
ا ا ا ا لل : /
ا
ا ا ا
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83
lyke to vyce. This thou mayst see by ensample. For all be it that mercy is a
grete vertue where þat it is kepte 'in þe worshyp & in pe name of god, yet it
is vycyous where it is do in worshyp? of man & not of god. Also [the] 3 vertue
of ryghtwysnes is tourned in to vyce * , whan it is do for worldely couetyse or
els for anger or inpacyence. The vyce also of pryde is byd somtyme vnder
mekenesse, As whan a man loweth & meketh hymself in speche and in berynge
to be holde meke & lowely. Pacyence also semeth in many a man whan there
is none: As whan a man wolde take vengeaunce yf he myght for the wronge
that is do to hym / but for he may not / or els he hath no tyme to wreke hym
on his enemye / for that cause he suffreth, & not for the loue of god. By these
ensamples & many other thou mayst well knowe that vyces somtyme be lyke to
vertues. To this accordeth saynt Iherom & sayth thus: A grete & an hyghe
connynge it is to knowe vyces & vertues, for all be it that vyces & vertues be
contraryous / yet they be so lyke that ynnethe the vertue may be knowe from
the vyce / ne pe vyce fro the vertue. Be ware therfore & loue so sadly vertues
without ony faynynge that pou hate all maner vyces / and so þou mayst kepe the
fyrst poynte of this degree of loue.
L 1 The seconde is þou shalt hate all euyll customes 6.
I He seconde poynt is thou shalt despyse all euyl customes. A grete peryll
it is to haue an euyll dede in custome. For as I rede / synnes be they neuer
so grete ne so horryble / whan they be drawe in to custome they seme but
lytell to theym that vse suche synne in custome / in so moche that it is to them
a grete lykynge to tell and shewe theyr wyckednes to al other men without ony
shame. Of this & suche 8 vsage speketh an other holy clerke & sayth: Whan
synne cometh so in vse that the herte hath a lust & a lykynge ther-in / that
synne shall ful fayntly be withstande. For whan a synne is brought in to custome
it byndeth sore the herte & maketh the soule bowe to bym, that it may not ryse
agayne & come in to the ryght waye of clene lyfe; For whan he is in wyll to
ryse / anone he slydeth & falleth agayne. For this sayth the same clerke "º in an
other place: Many there be þat desyren to come out of synne / but for as
moche as they ben closed in the pryson of euyll custome they may not come out
from theyr wycked lyuynge. Also to this purpose I rede" that he þat vseth
hym not to vertue[s] in his yonge age he shal not conne withstande vyces in his
olde age. Thus pou mayst well se pat yf thou be vsed in ony synne it wyll be
full harde to withstande it. And but thou leue all maner synne to thy power
þou hast none clene loue to thy god / therfore withstande all maner synne & take
none in custome / than Þou shalt kepe the seconde poynt of this degree of loue.
D
M ( The thyrde is thou shalt not sette lyght by synne be it neuer so lytell.
In the thyrde degree of loue be fyue poyntes.
Stedfast loue.
| He thyrde poynte is / thou shalt not sette lyght by synne / as thus. What
euer synne it be lytel or grete / drede 12 it ryght dyscretly in thy conscyence and
1 E & in. 2 al. plesaunce. 3 E where. 4 E vices. Ho. m.: Ieron, ad Demetriadem.
6 al. custome. . 7 H 0. m.: Aug. in ench, 62 cº. & al. H Of which yuele v. 9H 0. m.:
Greg. li. 4 Mor. 10 H: Greg. li. 5 Mor. 11 H: Maximus in quodam sermone. 12 al. charge.
6*
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set not lytell there-by. For as I rede? what man pat? passeth mesure in takynge
of his lyuelode as often more than hym nedeth that man offendeth god / this
semeth to many men full lytell trespas: But this holy man: saynt Austyn sayth :
It is no lytell synne for as moche as we trespas euery daye there-in for the more
partye; In as moche as we synne therin euery day we synne therin often / & by
that we multeplye our synnes & that is full peryllous / therfore it is full nedeful
to drede al suche venyall synnes & sette not lytell by theym. Also venyall synnes
be they neuer so lytell / they be moche to be dradde. As the same clerke?
sheweth by ensample of lytell bestes where they be many to-gyder , be they
neuer so lytell yet they slee & do moche harme; Also be granes of sande be
full lytell / but yet where a shyp is ouer-charged with sande it must nedes synke
or drenche. Ryght so it fareth by the synnes; be they neuer so lytell they be
full peryllous. For but yf? a man be (be) rather ware & put theym awaye they shall
make hym forto ? synne deedly. Therfore yf thou wylt haue a clene loue to god /
charge in thy conscyence euery synne lytell & grete & withstand in the begynnynge
& put it out as soone as god wyll gyue to a the grace, with contrycyon, confessyon
& som almesdedes 4. And than thou shalt kepe the thyrde poynte of this degree
of loue. — Here is reherced the mater of these poyntes. Thus ben declared
the thre poyntes of the seconde degre of loue. In the fyrste thou art counseyled
to loue all vertues and hate all vyces. In the seconde poynte, that thou haue
no synne in vsage but that thou voyde it soone & that thou hate all other euyll
custome. In þe thyrde poynt that thou [be]not to lyght of conscyence / but that
thou be ware & drede euery synne lytell & grete by counseyl of thy confessour.
Yf thou kepe thus these poyntes for the loue of god than thou louest god in the
seconde degree of loue / that is to saye in a clene loue. Loue than saddely in
this degree / & by goddes grace thou shalt the soner come to the thyrde degree
of loue.
THe thyrde degree of loue is called a stedfast loue. Vf thou wylt come to
this degre of loue pou must kepe fyue poyntes. The fyrste is thou shalt loue
god with all thy desyre. The seconde is: what euer thou do thynke vpon the
worshyp & drede of god. The thyrde is thou shalt do no synne vpon trust of
other good dedes. The fourth is thou shalt rule the so dyscretly þat thou fayle
not for ſto] feruent wyll. The fyfth is that thou fall not from thy good lyuynge
for feynte herte or? by temptacyon.
N 1 The fyrste is thou shalt loue god with all thy desyre.
I He fyrste poynt is thou shalt loue god with all thy desyre / thou mayst not
loue stedfastly but thou loue with all thy desyre. An holy desyre it is to desyre
the presence of almyghty god for the grete loue that thou haste to god. Suche
an holy desyre is soo acceptable to god as I rede / that what man hathe a grete
desyre, all be it he speke not with the tonge / he cryeth full loude with the
tonge ofº his herte; And (he) that not desyreth, how euer he loueth to our syght out-
warde / or speketh to our herynge, he loueth not in his hert & as a dombe man
he is to-fore god whiche may not be herde. Of suche holy desyre I rede 10 also,
iH o. m, : Aug. de .x. cordis. ? al. om. 3 al. clerk.
6 E noo. I al. ne. 8 H 0. m.: Aug, super Ps, 86,
Ambros. Super Ps. Beati immaculati.
4 al. dedes of almes. 5 E art.
9 the t. of al. om. 10 H 0. m.:
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the lenger that loue lacketh whiche is so sore desyred þe more feruent is his
desyre whiche abydeth, & that desyre begynneth to brenne thorugh strength of
þat desyrynge loue / in so moche that though the body or the flesshe fayle pat
desyre is nourysshed & encreaced. To this accordeth saynt Gregorye? & sayth /
holy desyres wexen & encreasen in taryenge & abydynge / for where desyres
fayle in abydynge there is no sad desyre. Thus than loue god stedfastly with
all thy desyre / & so thou shalt kepe the fyrste poynte of this degree of loue.
.0 The seconde is thou shalt in the begynnynge of thy werkes thynke
on the worshyp & drede of god.
I He seconde poynte is: what euer thou do thynke vpon the worshyp & drede
of god. If thou kepe this thou shalt the more sykerly? lyue to goddes pleasure 3.
For what dede thou art“ in wyll to perfourme in worshyp of god, thou mayst be
syker of grete mede. Also yf thou drede god, thou art aferde - for to do ony
thynge that sholde be dyspleasynge to hym , & for as moche as pou dredest
thou doost it not; Soo by that drede thou leuest that thynge vndo whiche shold
tourne the in to grete peryll of thy soule yf it had ben perfourmed in dede. By
this thou mayst wel knowe that it is full spedfull to thynke in þe begynnynge of
all thy werkes vpon the worshyp & drede of god. To this accordeth the techynge
of saynt Paule? where he sayth thus: What euer ye do in worde or in dede / do
it in the name of our lorde Ihesu cryst. For 6 he that begynneth all thynge in
Þe name of almyghty god he begynneth in the worshyp of god. Loue than
so stedfastly almyghty god, that what euer thou shalt do thynke fyrst in þe
worshyp & drede of god / & thus thou shalt kepe the seconde poynte of this
degree of loue.
P ( The thyrde is thou shalt do no synne vpons trust of other good dedes.
I He thyrde poynt is thou shalt do no synne vpon trust of other good dedes.
What man that synneth wylfully he neyther loueth ne dredeth god. Yf thou
synne vpon 8 trust of ony goodnes wylfully thou synnest, so in þat þou louest not
stedfastly. To this purpose I rede also that he is full vnkynde that is full of
vertues & dredeth not god. Also a grete folye & a grete pryde it is for to synne
vpon 8 trust of ony good dedes. For be thou neuer so full of vertues or goodnes /
vnkyndnes to thy god may destroye all tho vertues. More vnkyndenes mayst thou
not shewe than dysplease god wylfully / whiche is begynner and gyuer of all
goodnes; be ware therfore & flee suche vnkyndnes / & do no synne vpon8 trust
of other good dedes. Of suche vnkyndenesse also it is nedefull for to be ware
for the more acceptable [that] thou art to god thorugh thy good lyuynge / Þe more
culpable shalt thou be yf that thou fall agayne in to synne and in to euyll lyuynge.
And of this thou hast ensample of Adam. For as moche as he was fulfylled
fyrst with goodnes / therfore his trespas was moche the more whan that he fell
in to synne. Also I rede 10 þat it is buto a sclyder hope where a man synneth
vpon trust for to be saued / for he that so doth he neyther loueth ne dredeth
god, And but yf that we loue and drede god to our connynge or knowynge 12 we
H Greg. Omel. 23. 2 al. muche be sikerer. 3 al. plesauns.
6. al. om. H o. m.: Col. 3. & al. vp. 9H 0. m.: De pe. di. 5.
singularitate clericorum. 11 yf that al. om. 12 or kn, al. om.
4 al. be. 5 al. agast.
10 H 0. m.: Aug. de
ALG
[1506 Calhasj Contempl. De cod
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may not be saued / therfore it is more spedefull for? to drede well than to trust
amys. Also it is more prouffytable a man to holde hymselfe lowe & feble than
than what goodnes that god putteth in the and thanke hym mékely & praye hym
of contynuaunce / & doo no synne vp trust of other good dedes. And thus thou
shalt kepe the thyrde poynte of this degree of loue.
e I The fourth is thou shalt rule the dyscretly that thou fayle not for
. [to]? feruent wyll.
I He fourth poynt is thou shalt rule the so dyscretly that thou fayle not (for)
to feruent wyll. To kepe this it is nedefull to the to haue the vertue of dis-
crecyon; as thus: Yf thou take for þe loue of god so moche abstynence, wakynge
or other bodely penaunce þat thou mayst not for feblenes contynue to trauayle
in þe seruyce of god / than is thy wyll to feruent: For be thy loue neuer so
grete god is not pleased whan pou rulest þe in suche maner that thou mayst not
abyde in his seruyce thrugh thy mysrule. Therfore be ware and rule the vp
reason / take nomore vpon the than thou mayst bere / besy not the to folow
other stronge men or women of olde tyme in doynge of penaunce other wyse
than thy strength wyl aske; And gouerne thy lyuynge by good counseyll that
thou fayle not thrugh thyn owne folye. For almyghty god of his endeles mercy
hath ordeyned heuens blysse to the synfull men thrugh dedes of charyte & of
mekenes where they be done in mesure and with dyscrecyon, The deuyll is so
enuyous to mankynde that somtyme he styreth an vnparfyte man or woman to fast
more than he may, ſto] begynne thynges of hyghe parfeccyons hauynge no rewarde
to his feblenesse / in soo moche that whan his bodely strength begynneth to
fayle, eyther he must contynue that he hath begonne so folysly for shame of men /
or ellyså ytterly leue all“ for feblenesse. To this accordeth saynt Austyns and sayth:
loue of god from mannes? herte / than to [m]ake 8 vs by his fals suggestyon to l[y]ue
vnwysely & without reason, that is to saye as I sayd before: To styre vs for to
take fastynges, wakynges and other bodely penaunces ouer our myght. Take
therfore to the dyscrecyon & rule the so dyscretly that thou fayle not for to
feruent wyll / and than thou mayst kepe the fourth poynte of this degre of loue.
R 9 The fyfthe is thou shalt not leue thy good lyuynge for feynte (berte]
ne for temptacyon.
I He fyfthe poynte is / thou shalt not fall fro thy good lyuynge for feynte herte
ne for temptacyon. To kepe well this poynt it is nedefull to haue a perseueraunt
wyll & a stable hert ayenst all temptacyons. Some men there be whan ony heuynesse
bodely or ghoostly or whan that ony grutchynge of the flessh cometh to theym /
anone they ben so heuy & so full of vnlust 10 that they leue theyr ghoostly trauayle &
fal fro theyr good lyuy[n]ge / suche men haue no stable ne stedfast herte. Therfore
yf thou wylt loue god stedfastly suffre no (heuynes ne dysease 11 chaunge thy
trauayle ne thy herte fro th[e]"2 seruyce and loue of god / but take hede of the
wordes of almyghty god where he sayth: He is blessyd that is perseueraunt vnto
lal, om. 2 Ms. none. 3 al. add: faile &. 4 al. all of. 5H 0. m.: Aug. in quadam
epa. Gal. gyn. i al, oure. 8 E take. 9 E loue. 10 al. vnlusti. 11 E ne chaunge.
12 E thy.
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his lyues ende. Here-of thou hast ensamples of holy martyrs & confessours
whiche neuer wolde be departed fro the loue of god for all the persecucyon that
myght be do to them. Also to suche men of feble herte & vnlust speketh saynt
Bernarde? and sayth thus : Whan thou art vnlusty or dyseased with heuynesse /
haue none vntrust therfore ne 3 leue not thy trauayle / but suffre mekely & aske
conforte of hym that is begynner & ender of all goodnes. And all be it that*
thou haue not suche deuocyon than as in other tymes / thynke well how he that
gafe pe suche deuocyon hath withdrawen it for thy defautes as for a tyme / &
happely to th[i]“ more mede / therfore withstande all suche heuynes and stande
strongely / suffre lowely / & * take gladly the chastysynge of god / & euermore aske
helpe & grace. Ferthermore some for defaute of knowynge & for ynstablenes
haue fall thorough trauayle of temptacyons / therfore whan thou art soo trauayled
with ony temptacyons that shold be lettynge / or els is dredefull to the / chaunge
not therfore thy wyll / but stande stedfastly? & shewe thy dysease to thy gboostly.
fader, askynge of hym to gyue the suche counseyll that may be moost helpynge
to thy soule. Yf thou do thus mekely with a ful good“ wyll to please thy god &
to withstande the temptacyons of thyn enemye, the grace of the holy ghoost wyll
fully4 fulfyll bothe hym & the / hym for to teche / the for to lerne / & take of
hym suche counseyll that shall be moost strength & conforte to the & confusyon
to the deuyl. And so by the helpe of god thou shalt be conforted in suche
maner that pou shalt not fall thorough trauayle of temptacyons / but euer the
lenger the more stable and the more stronge [be] in the loue of god to thy lyues
ende. Thus than take hede that thou fall not from thy good lyuynge for feynte
herte ne by temptacyons / and than thou mayst kepe the fyfth poynte of this
degree of loue.- ( Here is shortly declared the mater of these fyue poyntes.
Thus be declared the fyue poyntes of the thyrde degree of loue. In the
fyrste thou art taught to loue god with full desyre. In the seconde for to do
all thynge in þe worshyp of almyghty god / and euer for* to drede god in the
begynnynge of all thy werkes. In the thyrde fully to withstande all maner synne /
and no synne for* to do vpon trust of other good dedes. In the fourth that thou
fall not for defaute of dyscrecyon. In the fyfth thou art taught & counseylled
for* to haue a stable herte and for* to withstande all temptacyons that thou fall
not from thy good lyuynge. Yf pou kepe thus these fyue poyntes than thou hast
the thyrde degree of loue / whiche is called a stedfast loue to god. And yf thou
loue god stedfastly thou mayst soone come to perfeccyon , and so by: the grace
of god thorugh encreace of vertues thou shalt lyghtly come to º the fourth degree
of loue.
q In the fourth degree of loue ben .VIII. poyntes.
| Parfyte loue.
S | How by encreace of vertues thou mayste come to parfeccyon.
I He fourth degree of loue is called a parfyte loue. An other loue there is
all be it I make noo mencyon but of foure / whiche is called moost parfyte loue.
Of that loue speketh saynt Austyn!& sayth: Charyte is parfyte in some men &
inparfyte in some men, But þat charyte that is moost parfyte may not be had
1 al. ensample. 2 H 0. m.: Bern, in quodam sermone.
o al. kunninge. 7 al. sadliche. 8 al, with. 9 al. haue.
3 al. &. al. om. 5 E the.
10 Ho. m. Aug. ad Ier. de pe. d. 2.
[150b (a. 1425) Contempl. Olled
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Early editions of R. Rolle's works.
here whyle we lyue in this worlde. Of the same? moost parfyte loue speketh the
same clerke thus: In the fulfyllynge of the countre of charyte / that is to saye /
in fulfyllynge of heuen where that all is loue and charyte, This commaundement
of god shall be fulfylled where he sayth / Þou shalt loue thy lorde god with
al thy herte / with all thy mynde / and with all thy soule; For whyle ony
flesshely desyre is in man god may not be loued with all the herte and full mynde.
And by this thou mayst knowe that there is a passynge loue whiche may not be
fulfylled in this worlde / and that may well be called moost parfyte loue. But
here perauenture? some man wyll aske / why it is commaunde[d]3 / but it myght
be performed in this worlde 4? To that the same clerke answereth and sayth /
that it is skylfull that suche a perfeccyon sholde 6 be commaunded / and this he
sheweth by ensample in this wyse. Ryght as no man may renne euen and sykerly
but he knowe whether he shall renne, In the same maner noo man sholde knowe
[t]his moost parfyte loue / but it hadde be shewed in the commaundementes of
god; Yf noo man hadde knowen it no man wolde haue laboured bym to come
nedeful we]' sette vs in a redy 8 waye, whyle we be here, that wyll brynge
vs euen to that moost parfyte loue. A more syker waye is there none in this
worlde than the waye of parfyte loue. Wherfore I counsell the to haue this
fourth degree of loue whiche is called a parfyte loue, that (thou]º may come
the more sykerly to (be most] parfyte loue. Of parfyte loue speketh Saynt
Austyn 10 and sayth: He that is redy to deye gladly for his brother, in hym is parfyte
loue. To this acordeth the wordes of Cryste where he sayth: No man hath more
charyte in this worlde than he that putteth his soule for his frendes / that is to
saye than he that gyueth gladly his lyfe for the loue of god to wynne his frendes
soule. This loue is the gretest loue in this worlde / & many there be, I trowe,
thrugh the gyfte of god that haue this parfyte loue; but yf it thynke the harde
to come to suche an hyghe loue / be therfore not agast. For other parfyte loue
there is wherin thou mayst loue parfytly thy god / as I fynde by the techynge
of an holy clerke 11 where he counseylleth in this wyse: Yelde we vs to god
of whome we be made / and suffre we not theym to 5 baue the 5 maystrye ouer vs
whiche ben not of so grete value as we be / but rather haue we pe maystrye
ouer theym; As thus / lete reason haue the maystrye ouer vyces / lete the body
be subgect to the soule and lete the soule be subgect to god / & than is all þe
parfeccyon of man fulfylled. Thus we sholde lyue by reason as pe same clerke
sheweth by ensample. / For as we put lyuely thynges before them þat be not
lyuely, Also as we put wytty thynges before them that haue no wytte ne reason,
ryght so yf we wyl lyue parfytly we must putte proufytable thynges before theym
that ben lusty and lykynge, Also put them that ben honest before theym that
ben proufytable, Also putte theym that ben holy before them that ben honest,
And put all thynges that ben parfyte before them that ben holy. Take hede
than of this / for yf thou wylt lyue after this techynge thank thou mayst lyue
parfytely / yf thou lyue parfytely pou sha[l]t loue parfytely; lyue than thus & thou
I al. this. 2 al. percas. 3 E commaundeth. 4 al. here. 5 al. om. 6 al. bysyed.
| E it well that it is moost parfyte loue, we must nedeful loue it and &c. & al. in such a syker.
9 E we. 10 H 0. m.: Aug. super epist. Ioh. 11 H 0. m.: Prosper li. 3 de vita conte
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4
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shalt come to parfyte loue. But for as moche as it is full harde to come
1 sodaynly to suche a parfyte loue? / therfore take hede to tho thre degrees of loue
whiche ben reherced before / & begynne to lyue sadly in the fyrste / & than
from pe fyrst clymbe vp to the seconde / & fro the seconde to the thyrde / &
yf thou be sadly stabled vpon the thyrde thou shalt lyghtely come to be fourth
where is all perfeccyon /yf thou haue perfeccyon thou shalt I[o]ues perfytely. Begyn
than at the fyrst degree of loue , & so encreace in loue & pertues yf thou wylt
come to this degree of parfyte loue. I rede that some men begynne to be
vertuous, som encreace in vertues / and some be parfyte in vertues. Ryght so
it fareth by the loue of god; as soone as thou art in wyll & begynnest to loue
god / that loue is not yet parfyte but thou must stande fast & nourysshe pat
wyll / & yf it be well nourysshed it wyll wexe stronge / & yf it hath full strength
than it is parfyte. To this purpose I rede* also that no man may be sodaynly
in so hyghe a degree / but euery man that lyueth in good conuersacion / whiche
may not be without loue / they must begynne at the lowest degree yf they' wyll
come to an hyghe parfeccyon. Thus than, good brother or syster whether thou
be, withstande all vyces / and gadre to the vertues for the loue of god, and
encreace in them tyll they ben parfytely stabled in the. And amonge all vertues
loke that thou haue a feruent wyll / bes besye [in]' deuout prayers / stande
strongely ayenst temptacyons / be pacyent in trybulacyons / & stable in per-
seuerauncel', that thou lyue parfytely & so come to parfyte loue. Take none hede
of them that set lytell by parfeccyon / as of them that saye patê they kepe not
to be parfyte / it suffyseth to them to be lest in heuen / or come within the
yates of heuen; these be many mennes wordes & they be peryllous wordes. For
I warne be forsothe what man hath not parfyte loue here he shall be purged
with paynes of purgatorye / or ellys with dedes of mercy performed for hym in
this worlde , and so be made parfyte / or he come to heuen blysse / for thyder
may noman come but he be perfyte. Beware therfore of suche lyght & foly
wordes, & trust more to thyn owne good dedes whyle pou art in this worlde than
to thy frendes whan thou art deed. / Thynke also this lyfe is but short, be payne[s]
of purgatory passe all the paynes of the world, the paynes of hell is euerlastynge /
& the Ioye & blysse of sayntes is euermore durynge. Thynke also ryght as god
is full of mercy & pyte, ryght so he is ryghtfull in his domes. Yf thou wylt
thynke on these wordes ofte, I trust to the mercy of god thou shalt waxe (so] stronge
in vertues & withstande so vyces þat within a short tyme thou shalt come to a
parfyte loue. Whan god hath so vysyted the that thou can loue bym parfytely
tban shal all thy wyll & all thy desyre be for to come to þat loue whiche is
moost parfyte / that is to saye euermore to se almyghty god in his gloryous
godhede, euermore with hym to dwelle. But for as moche as we may not come
to our desyre / but we begynne somwhat to loue hym here in this lyfe: Therfore
almyghty god mercyfull thorugh the besechynge of his blessyd moder Marye
graunte vs grace so to loue hym here / þat we may come to the Ioyfull & euer-
lastynge lyfe , where is moost parfyte loue, & blysse without ende. Amen.
T Here is reherced shortly how by encreace of vertues thou mayst come to
parfeccyon & what vertues thou shalt loue.
1 E so s.
6 al. om.
? al. liuinge. 3 E lyue. Ho. m.: De pe. de. 2. h. que.
7 al, he. 8Ě to be. E & d. in p. 10 E perseueraunt.
5 al. a.
[osob (alhas) Contempl. De La
es
E2
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Early editions of R. Rolle's works.
In this fourth degree of loue / whiche is called a parfyte loue / thou art
taught and counseylled to begynne at a lowe degree yf pou desyre to haue an
hygh degree, as thus: Yf thou wylt haue this fourth degree of loue thou must
begynne at the fyrst, & so encreace in vertues tyll thou come to parfeccyon. But
amonge all vertues & al other poyntes whiche ben reherced before / fyue poyntes
there be as me thynketh spedefull & nedefull euery man to haue & kepe þat ony
good dede shall begynne & brynge to good ende. The fyrste is þat thou haue
a feruent wyll. The seconde is that thou be besy in deuoute prayers. The thyrde
is þat thou fyght strongely ayenst all temptacyons. The fourth is that thou be
pacyent in trybulacyons. The fyfth is that thou' be perseueraunt in good
dedes. Of these poyntes I spake before in the fourth degree of loue / but for
as moche as they be not there fully declared / my wyll is by be helpe of god
to wryte more openly of eche of them one after an other & fyrst to wryte of
good wyll, for þat must be begynnynge & endynge of all good dedes.
T T How good wyll is and may be in dyuerse maners.
W yil may be [& is) in dyuerse maners / ?good and euyll / besy & feruent /
grete & stronge / but for as moche as reason whiche god hath gyue onely to
mankynde techeth & sheweth in euery mannes conscyence full knowynge of euyll
wyll / & by cause pats good wyll may be in dyuerse kyndes / therfore I leue at
this tyme to speke of euyl wyl / & purpose me fully thrugh þe techynge of
almyghty god to declare somwhat openly be vertue of good wyll. I trow wel *
þat euery man wold“ be good or woldes do some good dede be he neuer so synful
& perauenture not chargeth gretly to be good ne besyeth hym to do good dede.
But for as moche as he wolde 6 good I may not saye but (þat] he hath a good wyll.
So [þat] euery man that wyll well be it strongly or feyntly / lytell or grete? / 8 in
as moche as he wolde 6 good he hath a good wyll. Neuertheles though this be
a good wyll it is worthy lytell or no mede / for it is no feruent ne besy wyll,
for he desyreth º to be good without onyº trauayle 1 & so be suffreth that good
wyl passe & chargeth not gretly to be good ne to do good dede. But what tyme
he besyeth hym to performe that good wyll in dede / in that he desyreth º to be
good & besyeth hym to do good though he haue not fully his purpose ne may
not performe his wyll in dede , yet there is a feruent wyll & a besy wyll & [as]
I hope a medeful wylly. So that what man desyreth 6 to be good & to do good
dede, & therto besyeth hym to performe that wyll in dede, of hym it may wel
be sayd that he hath a feruent wyll. Yet is þat wyll but lytell acounted & feble
hauynge rewarde to a grete & stronge wyll. But what tyme thou hast performed
in dede that thou hast so feruently wylle[d]?, than thou hast a grete & a stronge
wyll / so that of euery man that is in wyll to be good or to do good dedes,
whan he performeth that wyll in dede it may be sayd sothly of hym þat he is
a man of a grete and a stronge wyl. To this acordeth saynt Austyn 11 & sayth
thus: He that wyl do the commaundementes of god & sayth he may not hel2 bath
a good wyll / [but] that wyll is but lytell & feble / for he may do & kepe the com-
maundementes whan he hath a grete & a stronge wyll. As who sayth what man
hath a grete & a stronge wyll may kepe the commaundementes of god / and but
i E þou thou. 2 E & is g. 3 al. om. 4 al. I may wel trowe. 5 al, willej to. al.
willeh. 7 al. muche. 8 E and in .. 9 al. ony more. 10 E wylleth. 1 H 0. m.: Aug.
de libero arbitrio, & ponitur in decre, de pe. d. 2. hinc &. 12 E but he.
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91
he kepe them he hath no grete ne stronge wyll. Yf thou wylt thou mayst kepe
the commaundementes of god / yf thou kepe them thou shalt be good & do
good / so yf thou wylt þou mayst do good & be good. But yet somtyme & ofte
it falleth that by the grace of the holy ghoost we wyl do somwhat with al our
herte to the worshyp of god that is not in our myght ne power to performe in
dede; whan our wyll is sette in this maner the goodnes of god is so moche
that he receyueth that wyll as for dede. Of this saynt Austyn? bereth wytnes &
sayth: What thou wylt & mayst not do, god acounteth for dede. Thus mayst
thou knowe with-in thy-selfe whan thou hast a lytell or a feble wyl / a grete or
a stronge wyll / & how acceptable a good wyll is to almyghty god where thou
doost thy besynes to performe it in dede. But se now more openly & ? in specyal
poyntes how thou shalt knowe whan thou hast a good wyl. Saynt Gregory sayth 3 :
We haue a good wyl whan we drede the harme of our neyghboure as our owne
dysease / & whan we be Ioyfull of the prosperyte of our neyghboure as of our
owne proufyte. Also whan we trowe other mennes harmes (our harmes) as by
waye of compassyon/ & whan we acounten other mennes wynnynges our wynnynges
as by waye of charyte. Also whan we loue our frende not for the worlde but
for god / & whan we loue & suffre our enemye for the loue of god. Also whan
we do to no man that we wolde that no man dyde to vs*. Also whan we helpe
our neyghboure to our power and in wyll somwhat ouer our power. These poyntes
stande moche by the wyll withoute dede/ but who so wylleth these fully in his
herte to be do hath a good wyll, And as I sayd before his good wyll shall be
acounted before god as for dede. Thus than haue I shewed whiche is good &
feruent wyll though it be not performed in dede / whiche is a grete and a stronge
wylls / and how good wyll in some poyntes is acounted for dede before god all
be it that it be not performed / so that the wyller do his besynes to his power.
I Take hede now ferthermore and be ware for though thou haue all these maners
of good wyll to thy felynge. / it may be so that yet thy wyll is not rygtfull / se
how. Be thou neuer so full of wertues: but thou conforme thy wyll to goddes
wyll in all maner thynges bodely and ghoostly thy wyll is not ryghtfull. To
this purpose saynt Austyn sayth thus: The ryghtwysnes of god is that thou be
somtyme hole of body & somtyme syke , and perauenture whan thou art hole
and in prosperyte / than the wyll of god pleaseth the moche and thou” sayst that
he is a good god and a curteys; yf thou say so or thynke so onely for thou
hast helth or welth of body / thou hast no ryghtful wyl for as moche as thou
conformest not thy wyll to goddes wyll / but onely in helth and welth. For yf
he sente the sykenesse or other dysease , perauenture thou woldest be sory and
grutch ayenst the wyll and the sendynge' of god / & soo in thy wyll thou woldest
make the wyll of god / the? whiche may not be but euermore ryght and euen,
bowe downe to thy wyll / whiche boweth and is full crocked and in this thou
hast neſipler & ryghtfull herte ne ryghtfull wyll. But what tyme thou dressest thy
wyll that is so croked and makest it stande ryght with Þe wyll of god whiche
may not be croked but euer standeth euen / that is to saye noo thynge wylle[st] º
helth ne sykenesse / welth ne wo / but euer holdest the pleased with the wyl
iH 0. m.: Aug. super Ps. 57. 2 al. om. 3 H 0. m.: Greg. in omel. 5.
wil nat suffre to be don to vs. 5 al. add: as whan yt ys performed in dede.
Aug. super ps. 35. 7 al. sonde. 8 neuer. 9 E wylleth.
4 al. þat we
6H 0. m.
*
105o6 la425) Contemsel DL God
92
Early editions of R. Rolle's works.
of god, than thou hast a ryghtfull wyll. Also it is nedefull to a good wyll that
[shall]? encreace in vertues and come to the loue of god, that it be stable and
resonable. What tyme thou art trauayled sore with temptacions and grutchest not
ayenst goddes wyl” but with a glad herte thous thankest god & suffrest hym lowely
& thynkest well it is chastysynge to the for thy synnes, than is thy wyll stable.
And whan thou desyrest not* hygh rewarde in blysse for thy good lyuynge or
ghoostly trauayle whiche thou hast here in erthe but onely at goddes wyll what
he wyll dyspose for the & no thynge at thy wyll, than thou hast a resonable wyll.
Thus I haue shewed the dyuerse kyndes of good wyl whiche be full spedefull &
nedefull the for to knowe yf thou be in good wyll to (conne] loue god / & yf thou
haue a stable & a resonable wyll pou shalt soone come to parfyte loue. 'Now
perauenture thou þat trauaylest in ghoostly werkes wylt thynke or say thus / som-
tyme it happe[th]º that thou' woldest do some ghoostly trauayle & thou? may not
performe it in dede / & all be it so thou' do it in dede it is full oft with so grete
heuynesse pat thou' grutche somwhat for defaute of ghoostly comfort. To this I
may answere as I sayd before: yf pou grutche pou hast no stable wyll, & yf thy
wyll be stable pou shalt not drede in this case / & se why. Thou shalt vnder-
stande þat the flesshe is euer contraryous to be spyryte & þe spyryte contrarye 8 to
Þe flesshe: herof þou hast ensample where saynt Poule sayd of hymself in this
wyse: Pat goodnes whiche I wolde do I do not / as yf he had sayd thus : Some
good dedes I wyll & desyre in my soule / but I may not fulfyl them for feblenes
of my flesshe / & all be it somtyme I performe them in dede it is without ony
gladnes. but what, for this trowest pou pat thapostle sholde therfore lese his mede/
for he wolde & myght not or els [for] he dyde good somtyme without gladnes ?
Nay, but moche the more his mede was encreaced, for two causes. Fyrst for the
trauaylous werkynge of his body that he suffred whan the flesshe stryued soo sore
ayenst the goodnes of the spyryte. The seconde cause is for the heuynes &
trauayle whiche pe spyryte suffred whan he had no ghoostly comforte. In the
same maner what euer grutchynge thou hast of thy fesshe ayenst good dedes or
what heuynesse thou suffrest for defaute of ghoostly conforte / be not therfore
abasshed so thy wyll be stable, but suffre & abyde lowely the grace of god for
thy more mede. Be than stable in wyll & the deuyll ne thy flesshe shall neuer
haue maystrye ofº the / for all the deuyls in hell may not make the to synne but
pou put therto 10 thy wyll. Ne all the aungels of heuen may not make the to do
good dedes but pou put-to thy wyll. I Take hede than that thy wyll be well
dysposed to god & that it be set stably & resonably / & than thou hast a spede-
full begynnynge to come to the loue of god. but for as moche as mannes wyll
is ordeyned fyrst & dysposed with the grace of god that he shall wyll good: to
haue that grace in wyll & in all other dede | Prayer me thynketh is nedefull &
therfore somwhat I wyl wryte of prayer as god wyll gyue me grace.
U T What profyte !l is in prayer and in what maner thou shalt praye.
PRayer (&] 12 ensample of good lyuynge [be] 13 moost spedefull to gete grace & to
drawe men to loue god. A deuoute prayer & often vsed purchaseth grace of al-
myghty god & putteth awaye the fals suggestyons of the fende & stablyssheſth] "4
1 E it. ? al. ay. god. 3 al. & ponkynges to god hou suffrest hem. 4 al. no. 5 al.
But now. 6 E happed. 7 al. 1. 8 al. contrarious. I al. ouer. 10 al. to. 11 E par-
fyte. 12 E is. 13 E & is. 14 E stablysshed, al. stabileh.
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Contemplations of the dread and love of God.
93
a man in all goodnesse. Therfore god sayth to his dyscyples thus: Waketh &
prayeth that ye fall not in [to] temptacyons. Ryght as it is nedefull for a knyght
that shall go in to batayll haue with hym armoure & wepen / ryght so it is
nedeful & spedefull to euery crysten man to? haue with hym contynuell prayer /
for what of our owne freelte / what by (the) malyce & enuye that the fende hath to
vs / we be euer in this worlde in gboostly batayll more or lesse by the suffraunce
of our lorde? god. Therfore saytb saynt Gregory:: The more we be trauayled
with thoughtes or flesshely desyres / the inore nede we haue to stande besely in
prayers. So thus pou mayst se that prayer is spedefull & nedefull. Also
prayer as I rede is a souerayne helpe to thy soule , confort & solace to thy
good aungell / torment & payne to be deuyl / acceptable seruyce to god / par-
fyte Ioye / sad hope / & ghoostly helthe without corrupcyon. Prayer is also
a nedefüll messager from euery mannes soule to almyghty god in heuen / &:
namely from that mannes soule whiche is moche troubled & hath no reste. Some
conscyences there be whiche be good / that is to saye be well ruled & be in
reste / to suche prayer is also a nedefull messager to holde pe soule in gboostly
confort & to encreace it & stable it in goodnes. But there be many other men
& wymen of dyuerse conscyence. Some there be that haue a bad conscyence
whiche be in rest & not troubled / & that ben they 5 that ben sette fully to euyll &
not to good. Some haue a bad conscyence & somwhat be troubled in theyr con-
scyence / & tho be suche þat be somwható euyll or begynne to be euyll. Some
haue good conscyence & also? ben greued in theyr conscyence / & [tho] be suche
as 8 lyue euyll & begynne to be good. Whyle the conscyence is thus troubled the
soule hath no reste / therfore to pursyewe for helpe & grace / prayer that nede-
full messager must do well his offyce / that is to saye besely without ony taryenge /
& strongely without ony feynynge; & rather [to] come to the presence of almyghty
god hym nedeth to haue' two specyall frendes / þat is to say stedfast fayth and
trusty hope: with these two frendes prayer taketh his waye & renneth fast to be
yates of heuen / & entreth without ony lettynge / for he goth to the presence
of þat good lorde truly to do his message with full fayth & sad hope / full
pyteously he sheweth his nedes & the perylles of [the] 1° soule. Than anone the
good lorde so ful of pyte & mercy sendeth his blessyd loue in to be soule thorugh
the pursute of that good prayer. Whan this loue entreth in to that soule anone
he maketh all glad þat was full elenge & sory / he maketh in peas & reste that
was sore troubled. Hope cometh agayn that was out / and ghoostly strength pat
was awaye is fully restored. Whan the enemyes of the soule / that is to saye the
fendes se this helpe & confort to the soule / with sorowfull chere they torne
awaye & thus they? begynne to crye: Alas alas, sorowe & wo is come to vs / fle
we fast awaye for god fyghteth for this soule. Thus mannes soule is delyuered
fro the fende by prayer / & so it may sothly be sayd that prayer is a spedefull
& a nedefull messager fro mannes soule to almyghty god in heuen. Thus
pou hast herde? what is prayer / se now ferthermore how pou shalt praye.
1 As often as thou prayest / or what euer thou prayest, put all thy wyll in [to]
goddes wyll / in the ende of thy prayer / desyrynge euermore in euery askynge
his wyll to be fulfylled and no thynge thy wyll. For thou mayst praye & aske
1 al. to.
þo be suche.
2 al. om. 3 H 0. m. Greg. in omelia.
Gal. somdele.
Gal. somdele. Tale
7 al, whiche be also.
4 H 0. m. Aug. in sermone.
8 al. that. O al. with him.
5 al. &
10 E his.
Loooo bado linlemal. L
a
.
..
94
Early editions of R. Rolle's works,
some thynge that he wyl not here ne graunte / as yf þou praye for soules that
be dampned thy prayer is not accepted. Also it may so be that thou desyrest
not that is moost helpynge to thy soule ne to other perauenture for whom pou
prayest. Also many men praye’ somtyme for no good entent / and for that they
be not herde. Therfore to be alwaye syker, whan euer thou prayest put thy
desyre and thy entent in 3 askynge in goddes wyl, for he knoweth all thynges, and
what euer thou prayest he wyll not graunte 4 the but that is moost proufytable
for the. To this accordeth an holy clerke 5 and sayth : Oftentyme god graunteth
not many men at theyr wyll / for he wyll graunte them other grace than they
aske, to more helth of theyr soules. So that it is nedeful that we put all our
askynge in to his ordynaunce. To this acordeth (also] saynt Bernarde' and sayth :
No man sholde set lyght by his prayer / for he to whom we praye aftertyme the
prayer is passed from our mouth or from our herte / he wryteth it in his booke /
and trustyngly we may hope that he wyll graunte that we aske or ellys that is
more proufytable to vs. Thus than what euer thou prayest put all thy wyll in to
goddes wyll. Also whan that thou prayest thou shalt praye generally / that
is to saye / as thou prayest for thy selfe so thou shalt praye for other. Thus
thou must do for thre causes : Fyrst for loue and charyte wyll that thou do so.
And therfore sayth the apostle 8: Prayeth eche of you for other that ye may be
saued. The seconde cause is , for the lawe of god wyll that euery man helpe
other in nede. This thou hast by the techynge of saynt Poule' where as he sayth
thus : Eche of you bere others 10 burthen / that is for to say / "leche of you
praye for other or helpe other in nede & so ye shall fulfyll the lawe of cryste.
The thyrde cause is , for who so prayeth for al other as for hymselfe / þe
goodnes of god wyll that he shall be partyner of all other mennes prayers.
To this acordeth saynt Ambrose 12 & sayth thus: Yf thou pray onely for thy self
and for none other than shall none other pray for the but thy selfe / & yf thou
praye for all other than all other shall praye for the. Thus than whan pou
prayest praye for all other. Also whan thou shalt praye thou must praye
with full herte & put away fro the all vanytees of the worlde, all ymagynacyons
& all ydel thoughtes. To this acordeth an holy clerke 13 & sayth : Whan we
stande to praye we must with all our herte gyue our entent to that we praye /
that is to say we must voyde all flesshely & all worldely thoughtes & suffre not
our herte otherwyse to o be occupyed than about our prayer. But to this per-
auenture thou sayst that though pou be neuer in 14 so good wyll to praye / thyn
herte is awaye 15 from thy prayer & encombred 16 with dyuerse thoughtes that thou
mayst haue no whyle thyn herte sadly vpon thy prayer. To this I graunte þat
what (thrugh) the fende whiche euer is besy to lette all goodnes & what thrugh the
vnstablynes of man thyn herte shall not be stable 18 vpon thy prayer I trowe scarsely
the tyme of a Pater noster. But whan thou go to thy prayer / take good hede
what nede thou hast to praye / what thou wylt praye / & how grete, how myghty
& how ryghtfull & mercyfull he is to whom þou wylt praye. Yf thou set thyn
herte thus in the begynnynge of thy prayer / thou shalt not I trow gretly be
1 al. þat is not. 2 Ms. prayed. 3 ent. in, al. om. 4 E gr. it. 5 H 0. m. Isidorus de
summo bono. Bal. om. ?H Bern. in quodam sermone. S H adds Jamys; 0. m. Jacobi 4.
9 H Gal. 6. 10 al. other. 11 E that eche. 12 H 0. m. Ambr. in examero li. vltimo.
13 H o. m. Ciprian & ponitur in decret. de. g. d. i. quando. 14 al. in neuer. 15 al. anoon
alyened. 16 al. acombred. 17 E shalt. .18 al. stabili.
CWLW: Hors.) J LATE
Contemplations of the dread and love of God.
95
letted / & though it be so that somtyme thou be letted with other thoughtes /
fyght ayenst them with all thy besynes / & anone tourne to thy prayer. Yf thou
wylt fyght wylfully in this maner god of his grete grace & endeles pyte wyll
alowe thy good wyll / & moche the rather for thy trauayle graunte that bou
askest. Thus than whan thou wylt praye pou must praye with full herte. | Also
an other maner prayer there is / that? who soo hath grace to come therto his
prayer shal soone be herde yf he praye resonably. This maner of prayer is
whan thou art vysyted by the grace of god with grete conpunccyon of herte and
swetnes of deuocyon. Conpunccyon is a grete lou[nes] of thy soule spryngynge out
of thy herte with teeres of thyn eyen, whan pou bethynkest the vpon thy synnes
& vpon the dredefull dome of god. Whan hou hast this conpunccyon & these
teeres than pou hast full deuocyon / with suche deuocyon besely praye for all
tho that haue nede / for what thynge pou prayest in pat tyme so it be worshyp
to god pou art anone herde without ony taryenge. For as I rede 4 prayer peaseth
almyghty god & maketh hym torne to mercy; but whan deuoute teeres come with
prayer than of his grete pyte he may no lenger suffre / but anone as he were
constrayned he graunteth what we aske. Ferthermore yf bou be vsed to suche
deuocion pou shalt feruently desyre to conne loue god / & so by goddes grace pou
shalt soone come to loue / thus than loue prayer yf thou wylt come to be loue of
god. And for as moche as many men & women be moche trauayled by dyuerse
temptacyons or they come to loue / therfore {to] be ware of theym & sooner to
withstande them / somwhat I wyl shewe of temptacyons as me thynketh is nedefull.
X | How pou mayst be ware & knowe of temptacyons wakynge or sle-
pynge / & how pou shalt withstande them.
By the ordynaunce of almyghty god there be ordeyned' good aungels to
defende vs fro euyll &? to styre vs to vertues and to kepe vs in goodnes.
Also other badde aungels & euyl spyrytes there be whiche trouble mankynde
with dyuerse temptacions to preue mannes stablenes, & that to grete mede to
mannes soule. The power of this wycked spyryte / that is to saye the fende is
so grete þat the more a man besyeth hym to please god þe rather he is about
to greue hym. For as I rede oftymes it happeth þat many men whan th[e]y
gyue them hole to contemplacyon or to other deuocyons than they be trauayled
with stronge temptacyons by [be] suffraunce of god, that they may knowe theyr owne
feblenes & to kepe theym meke & lowes, for they sholde not lese pe grete mede
of god for ony maner spyce of pryde / whiche mede is ordeyned for theyr
ghoostly trauayle. Also in whateuer maner of lower degree [a] man or woman be
that wyll withstande synne to his power & lyue after the techynge of goddes
lawe / to al suche the wycked spyryte hath enuye / & euermore gyueth theym
some maner of batayll grete or lytell, slepynge or wakynge.
Other men
& women there be that he suffreth to be in reste & peas / & tho ben suche as
drede not god but nyght & daye gyue them to all maner lustes’ & lykynges
of theyr flesshe ! for they ben so redy to synne & to do his wyll that bym
nedeth not to styre them to euyll / & therfore he suffreth them in peas & without
ony trauayle of temptacyons. Of suche men speketh saynt Austyn & sayth thus:
I al. om. 2 al. sonde. 3 E loue. 4 H o. m. Beda in sermone. 5 H adds and all ys. 6 al.
suche þat seruen þe deule and. 7 E lustynges. 8 H 0. m. Aug. & ponitur in decret. de pe. d. 5.
LY
B
L 1506 (anas) Contempl. DL Joe
2
.
.
.
.
.
..
:
Early editions of R. Rolle's works.
Some men & women profer theymselfe to synne wylfully & abyde not the tempta-
cyons of the fende / but they go before the temptacyons & be redyer to synne
than the fende is to tempte them?. And sythen it is so that euery man whiche is
besy to please god shal be trauayled and pr[e]ued 2 with dyuerse temptacyons, I wyl
shewe the to my felynge, and as I rede of other auctours, Þe maner of begynnynge
of euery temptacyon, that thou mayst be ware of them & rather withstande the
begynnynge, & so ouercome the hole temptacyon. I rede 3 that our enemye
the fende whan he wyll make vs to? folowe his wyll or ellys for enuye wyll
trauayle and greue vs, he begynneth with fals suggestyons / that is to saye he
putteth in our myndes diuerse ymagynacyons / as worldely & flesshely thoughtes,
and somtyme other thoughtes whiche be full greuous & peryllous / eyther to make
vs haue a grete lust & lykynge in then that be worldely or Aesshely / or ellys
to brynge vs in grete heuynes or drede thrugh tho thoughtes whiche be greuous
& peryllous. As to the worldely or flesshely thoughtes, yf we suffre theym to?
abyde in oure herte so longe wylfully tyll we haue lykynge in them / than hath
the deuyll wonne a grete stronge warde of vs & pursyeweth ferthermore with all
his besynes to make vs assente to hym as in wyll to performe it in dede. By
that dede thou mayst ynderstande euery dedely synne after þe suggestyon is in
Þe begynnynge. To some he begynneth with a fals suggestyon of pryde / or
ellys of couetyse / to some with a suggestyon of glotonye or lecherye / and so
of all other synnes wherin he supposeth soonest to haue maystrye ouer man /
for euery man is enclyned 4 more to one maner synne than to an other. And
where he hath maystrye / that is to say where that synne is performed in dede /
he besyeth hyn sore to brynge it in to custome / & so thorugh the custome to
haue vs hole vnder his power. GoS fle & withstande all these perylles, the pro-
phete Dauyd sayth in the sawter: Go awaywarde or bowe awaye from euyll &
do good / that is to saye after the exposycyon of doctours: Go from the euyll
of suggestyon / from the suggestyon of entysynge / from þe euyl of delytynge /
from the euyll of assentynge from the euyl of dede / & from the euyll of
custome. Withstande than all suche worldely or flesshely thoughtes as moche as
god wyll gyue the grace, þat thou fal in none of these euylles whiche as I haue
sayd be full peryllous. T Ferthermore as to þe greuous thoughtes & peryllous,
perauenture pou wylt aske whiche be tho thoughtes pat be so greuous & peryllous.
All tho thoughtes that thou hast ayenst thy wyl whiche make the heuy or sory,
be greuous. And for to shewe the more openly: what man that ymagy[n]eth vpon
hyghe maters þat be ghoostly whiche passe all erthely mennes wytte, As vpon
be fayth of holy chyrche or suche other that neden not to be specyf[y]ed' at this
tyme, 8 that man hath greuous thoughtes & peryllous. Yf we suffre suche ymagy-
nacyons abyde & take none hede in the begynnynge to the fals suggestyon of
pe fende, within [a] short tyme or euer we be ware eyther he wyll make vs lese
our kyndely wytte & reason / or ellys he wyl brynge vs (in) to vnreasonable drede.
Of suche temptacyons it is nedefull to be ware & put theym awaye yf pou may
with deuoute prayers & other occupacyons / & yf thou may not voyde them suffre
them than esely. For þou shalt vnderstande þat they be ryght nedeful & mede-
full for thy soule / for but it were so þat suche thoughtes come somtyme in to
1 al. om. 2 E pryued. 3 H 0. m. Isodor de summo bono.
5 al. To. 6 from-ent. al. om. 7 al. nedith not to specifye.
4 H inclynyng, R enclinant.
SE for that. 9 E dououte.
(WLW:Head ]LOR
1
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Contemplations of the dread and love of God.
97
thy mynde pou sholdest seme in thyselfe that þou were an aungell & no man /
therfore it is nedefull that thou be tempted otherwyle with euyll thoughtes that
thou mayst se & knowe thyn owne feblenes & vastablenes whiche cometh of
thyselfe / and that pou mayst fele the strength whiche pou hast onely of god.
Also thou shalt suffre suche thoughtes esely / but thou mayst voyde them for
all suche thoughtes so þat thou delyte the not in them they? ben a grete purgynge
for thy soule / & a grete strength to kepe within the vertues , & all be it þat!
they be sharpe & bytter for the tyme thynke well pat they shal make thy soule
clene that was ryght foule / & make it hole that was ryght syke / and brynge it
in' to euerlastynge lyfe & helth without ende to the whiche lyfe & helth may no
man come withoute grete sharpenes & bytternes. Also whan pou art trauayled
with thoughtes whiche pou mayst not put away, thynke wel that it is a grete
ryghtwysnes of god that thou haue suche thoughtes: For ryght as pou hast had
full often thy wyl & lykynge in worldely and flesshely thoughtes ayenst the wyll
of god / ryght so it is be wyl of god that thou haue other thoughtes ayenst thy
wyl. q But yet it is good that thou be ware of them & that pou drede them dys-
cretly and truste stedfastly in god. For whan the soule hath no delyte in suche
thoughtes but hateth & lotheth them / than they be a clensynge & a grete mede
to be soule; but yf it so be that there come somtyme ony lykynge of synne or
of ony vanyte thorugh suche thoughtes / than withstande & thynke that it is a
fals suggestyon of the deuyll / & therwith be dredful and sory that pou hast
offended god in lykynge of suche fals ymagynacyons. I rede? that for suche
thoughtes onely pou shalt not be dampned though they become in to thy mynde /
for it is not in thy power to let them to come: But yf it be so that pou assente
or delyte in them than be ware, for there thou dyspleasest god. Also it is good
that pou drede 3 though pou assente not to euyll thoughtes, that pou fall not
for pryde. For eche man that standeth in vertues standeth onely by Þe vertue
& grace of almyghty god. Thus than be ware of thoughtes, for bere pou mayst
se that all temptacyons begynne with fals suggestyons of the wycked spyryte.
And yf bou haue grace to withstande suche thoughtes pou shalt ouercome allº
temptacions. And for moost souerayn remedy ayenst all maner temptacions it
is good that pou shewe thy disease to thy ghoostly fader as oft as it nedeth
[or] els to some other good man of ghoostly lyuynge, as I sayd before in the fyfth
poynt of be thyrde degree of loue. Ferthermore to speke of temptacyons,
I redeo that whan the wycked fender may not ouercome a man wakynge / than
is his besynes to trauayle & to tary s hym slepynge. And that is to dysceyue
hym yf he may in thre maners. One is to begyle hym thrugh glad & confor-
table dremes. The seconde is to greue & to lette hymn thrugh sorowfull & drede-
full dremes. And the thyrde is to make hym the rather assente to synne wakynge
thrugh foule syghtes or other dyuerse vanytees whiche he suffreth slepynge.
therfore it is good to be ware of dremes / for in some thou mayst wel byleue
& some it is good to sette at nought. for somtyme god sheweth comfort to wycked
men slepynge þat they sholde the rather leue theyr synne, & somtyme he com-
forte[th]' good men slepynge to make them more feruent in his loue; but for as
moche as pou myghtest lyghtly be disceyued thrugh suche illusyons, I counseyll
lal. om. 2 H 0. m. Isidorus de summo bono. 3 E drede god. E all suche. 5 E for be.
6 H 0. m. Greg. in mor. 7 al. þat be wicked f. whan he. 8 E taryenge. 9 E comforted.
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the to put them all out from thy herte or els to shewe them to thy ghostly
frendes. For oftymes he þat hath moche? lykynge in dremes is moost ? taryed and
out of reste. Also pou shalt not drede suche dremes what-soeuer they be: For
as I rede yf thou be stable in the fayth of holy chyrche / yf pou loue god with
all thy herte / yf þou be obedyent to god & to thy souerayns what euer pou be
as well in aduersyte as in prosperyte, and yf pou put all thy wyll at goddes
dysposycyon, than shalt pou drede no maner of dremes; for though they be drede-
full & sorowfull to thy syght be therfor not agast ne heuy / but trustyngly put
al togyder in to goddes honde he to ordeyne for the as he wyll. Also though
they be to thy syght glad & confortable, desyre them not ne 4 byleue not in them
but yf it (so] be that they tornes to the worshyp of god. Yf pou do thus by the
grace of god þou shalt ouercome all temptacions slepynge. Thus than, slepynge
& wakynge, yf thou withstande in the begynnynge pe fals suggestyons of that
wycked aungell, þat is to saye wycked thoughtes & peryllous ymagynacyons as
I sayd before / than pou shalt ouercome all temptacions. To this acordeth saynt
Austyn & sayth: Yf we withstande the lust & lykynge of vnclene' thoughtes there
sholdes no synne reygne in our dedely bodyes. Withstande than thoughtes & be
stronge ayenst temptacions i & so thrugh that ghoostly strength Þou shalt lyghtly
come to the loue of god. And for as moche as suche temptacyons & other
worldely trybulacyons fall oftentymes to goddes seruauntes in to grete mede of
theyr soules so that? they can suffre them mekely & thanke god therfore, I wyll
shewe a fewe confortable wordes of pe vertue of pacyence by the whiche pou mayst
be styred for to suffre bodely and ghoostly dyseases gladly for the loue of god.
Y | How thou shalt be pacyent & what tyme pacyence is moost nedefull.
CHaryte whiche is moder & keper of vertues is lost full often by Inpacyence.
To this acordeth saynt Gregoryeº & sayth thus: Men that be Inpacyent whan they
wyll not suffre gladly trybulacyons / destroye 10 the good dedes whiche they dyde
whyle be soule was in peas & reste , & sodaynly they destroye [w]hat" ghoostly
werke that? they haue begonne by good auysement & grete trauayle. By these
wordes it semeth pat it is nedefull to kepe with vs the vertue of pacyence yf we
sholde come to the loue of god / for without encreace of vertues we may not
come to þat loue. To speke than of pacyence : I rede 12 þat in prosperyte
it is no vertue to be pacyent / but what man is troubled with many aduersytees
& standeth stably hopynge in the mercy of god / he hath the vertue of pacyence.
In thre maner of wayes goddes seruauntes haue nede to be pacyent in trybula-
cions. The fyrst is whan god chastyseth them with his rodde / as with losse of
worldely godes or ellys with bodely sykenes. The seconde is whan our enemye
the fende trauayleth vs with dyuerse temptacyons by the suffraunce of god. The
thyrde is whan our neyghbours do to 13 vs wronge or despytes. In eche of these
thre our enemye besyeth hym to brynge vs oute of pacyence / & in eche of these
we sholde 14 ouercome hym yf we be pacyent. As thus : yf we suffre easely & gladly
the chastysynge of god without ony grutchynge; Also yf we delyte vs not in the
fals suggestyons of the fende & assente in no maner to his wycked temptacyons ;
I al. om. 2 al. moche. 3 H 0. m. In reuelac, Brigide regine li. 4 C, 23. 4 al. &. 5 al.
shal t. 6H o, m. Aug. de uerbis apostoli. 7 al. vnlefull. & al. sal. 9H 0, m. Greg. in
past. 10 al. schende. 11 E that. 12 H 0. m. Greg. in moralibus. 13 al. dob, to om.
14 al. shul.
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Also yf we kepe vs sadly in charyte whan we suffre ony' wronges or despytes of
ony of our neyghbours / thus we sholde? ouercome that wycked fende with the
vertue of pacyence. I sayd as for the fyrst we shold’ ouercome the fende yf we
suffre easely & gladly the chastysynge of god without ony grutchynge / this is
good þat we suffre for it is for grete loue whiche he hath to vs & (for) : grete
mede that he wyll ordeyne for vs. To this purpose saynt Austyn* speketh &
sayth thuss to eche mannes soule callynge the soule doughter, and sayth thus:
Doughter yf thou wepe ynder thy fader wepe not with Indygnacion ne for
pryde / for that thou suffrest is for medycyne to the & for no payne / it is
a chastysynge & no dampnacyon; yf thou wylt not lese' thyn berytage, put not
from the that rodde / take no hede to the sharpenes of that rodde / but
take good hede how well thou shalt be rewarded in thy faders testament.
These wordes may be remeued to euery crysten man & woman, as thus: Yf our
fader in heuen sholde chastyse vs with losse of goodes or with sykenes of body we
sholde? not grutche / but we sholde be sory þat we trespaced ayenste our fader /
& take mekely his chastysynge & euer aske mercy. His chastysynge is hel[b]e?
to our soules & reless of grete[r] penaunce / his chastysynge is but a warnynge for
loue & not dur(esse)” for wrath. (If] we sholde ? not be put out frome the hergtage
of heuen it is nedefull we be boxum to our fader in heuen & suffre lovely &
gladly his ryghtfull chastysynge for our greuous trespasynge, that thrugh the vertue
of pacyence we may come to that grete herytage / that is to saye to the blysse
of heuen to be whiche he ordeyned vs in his last testament, that was whan he
gafe for vs his herte blood vpon Þe crosse. Thus we must suffre gladly the
chastysynge of god without grutchynge. This chastysynge as I sayd is somtyme
in sykenes of body / & somtyme in losse of worldely goodes. Yf thou be chasty-
sed with sykenesse of body / haue in thy mynde the wordes of the apostle 10 whan
he sayd thus: All be it that our body outwarde be corrupted with sykenes our
soule within is made newe & more clene frome daye to daye. Also yf (thou] "l be
chastysed with losse of goodes / take hede to pe pouerte of Iob: where pou may
haue a grete example of pacyence, for with grete thankynges to god he toke full
mekely & gladly grete pouerte, sykenes & many dyseases & sayd: Our lord gafe /
our lorde hath take awaye / as it pleaseth hym so it is do / blessyd be the name
of þat lorde Iesu'. Thus þou hast example to suffre gladly the chastysynge of
god. I sayd also as for the seconde we sholde ouercome Þe fende yf we delyte
vs not in his fals suggestyons & yf we assente in no maner to his wycked
temptacyons. In the last chapytre before thou hast how thou shalt be stronge
& stable ayenst all temptacyons: Se now more openly why thou shalt gladly
suffre temptacyons without ony grutchynge. One skylle is for yf thou suffre them
not gladly but grutchest ayenst them than pou lettest them that sholde helpe
the / the whiche be good angels & other sayntes / & helpest thyn enemyes whiche
be wycked fendes / for a greter confort is none to theym but 13 whan they fynde
a man heuy and grutchynge; therfore suffre them gladly and aske helpe & mercy
of hym in whom all grace is and confort. Also yf thou suffre suche temptacions
gladly and assentest not to them in lykynge ne in wyll / than thou stoppest the
I al. om. ? al. shul. 3 E so, Ho, m. Aug. super ps. 89. 5 & s. thus om. in H.
o al. chastiseh. ? E helpe. 8 E rules. 9 E durynge. 10 H 0. m. 2 Corinth. 4. 11 E we.
12 H 0. m. Iob I. 13 al. than.
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fende that he dar not assayle the with other temptacions, for he dredth to be
put out from the & be ouercome whan he feleth the so stable & so pacyent; that
is a grete drede to hym. For whan he trauayleth a man with temptacyons and
he be withstande / than be his paynes moche the more encreased in hell. With-
stande than his temptacyons with the vertue of pacyence & so thou shalt ouer-
come hym. q As for the thyrde way of pacyence I sayd þat we sholde kepe vs
sadly in charyte whan we suffre wronges or despytes of (our) neyghbours / suche
wronges it is [m]edefull: to suffre for the loue of god: For as saynt Austyn* sayth /
he that is so pacyent that gladly wyll suffre wronges shall be ordeyned grete and
myghty in heuen. If than thy goodes be taken from the wrongfully / suffre esely
and thynke in thy herte that thou came naked in to this worlde & no better than
naked shalt thou go aways out of the worlde. Also thynke vpon be wordes of
the apostle“ where he sayth: Nought we brought in to this worlde and no thynge
we may bere with vs / thynke vpon these wordes & I trowe they shall styre the
moche to pacyence. If thou be dysp[y]sed" or defamed wrongfully / thynke vpon
the wordes of cryst whan he sayd tbus to his dyscyples: Ye be blessyd whan
wycked men curse you or despyse you wrongfully, whan they pursyewe you or
saye ony euyll makynge lesynges ayenst you wrongfully / Joyeth than & be glad
for your mede is plenteuous in heuen. These wordes me thynketh sholde make
the to suffre gladly despytes & euyll wordes. It falleth somtyme that some
mennes hertes be full grete & stoute by pryde & Inpacyence: But goddes ser-
uauntes whan they se suche men so dyseased and trauayled in theyr soules, haue
grete conpassyon of them knowynge wel that it cometh of ynstablenes of herte
and of wycked sterynge of the flesshe / & therfore they suffre wycked & angry
wordes for pe tyme, hopynge bat after so grete noyse shall come some, maner
ease & lownes of herte; they suffre also for þe tyme for they knowe well it is
full harde a man to ouercome hymselfe; / for thyse causes euery good man sholde
gladly suffre angry wordes. Also some men and women there be that wyll not
suffre / but for one wycked worde they saye an other and take noo hede to the
rewarde that they sholde haue of god yf they wolde suffre / suche men al daye
fall in temptacyons for angre of herte and for inpacyence. Therfore what euer
thou be that art despysed of thy neyghbour, suffre gladly / & feyne the as thou
herdest hym not / vnto s the tyme that his herte be eased, and than yf it be suche
mater that chargeth pou mayst speke to hym in easy maner , and yf it is no
chargynge than it is no force though thou holde thy peas and answere ryght
nought. Thus I haue shewed the examples for to styre the to pacyence, Fyrst
how thou shalt gladly suffre the chastysynge of almyghty god as sykenes of body
or ellys 5 losse of goodes. The seconde how thou shalt gladly suffre the tempta-
cyons of the fende. And the thyrde how thou shalt gladly suffre wronges and
despysynges 10 of thy neyghbour. q But now ouer all the ensamples I counseyll
the fors to haue one thynge specyall[y] in thy herte / the whiche sbal be a generall
ensample of pacyence to suffre gladly all maner trybulacyons for the loue of god :
This ensample is for 5 to haue euermore in thy mynde in eche dysease the grete
pouerte, trybulacyon and the bytter passyon of Ihesu cryst goddes sone whiche
he suffred gladly & wylfully for the loue of all mankynde. 9 Of this good lorde
Tal. malyce of he f.
5 al. om. OH Tim. 6.
2 E other. 3 E nedefull. 4 H 0. m. Aug. in quodam sermone.
7 E dyspleased. 8 al. into. 9 al. not. 10 al. despites,
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speketh saynt Bernarde! & sayth thus. Cryst goddes sone of heuen? frome the
tyme þat: he came out of the gloryous maydens wombe Marye / had neuer but
pouerte & trybulacyon tyll he went to suffre deth. Whiche maner of deth it nedeth
not at this tyme for’ to shewe it to the, For hou hast it openly by pe techynge
of all holy chyrche. Haue than sadly in thy mynde 6 as moche as god wyll gyue
the grace / how gladly, howe lowely & what he suffred for the / & þat thought
I trowe shall make the to wynne the vertue of pacyence / & to encreace in other
vertues / & so forth within a whyle to come to the loue of god. And now
ferthermore for as moche as all þe vertues be moost pleasynge & acceptable to
god whiche be contynued & brought to good ende, therfore to strength be in
these vertues I wyll shewe be now some wordes of þe vertue of perseueraunce.
Z How perseueraunce is nedefull & how thou mayst be perseueraunt.
PErseueraunce is fulfyllynge & ende of all vertues / keper of all goodnes /
without whiche perseueraunce no man may se god. But thou be perseueraunt ,
pou mayst haue noo mede, thanke ne worshyp for thy seruyce. Yf thou be per-
seueraunt thou shalt haue mede for thy true seruyce / & a grete rewarde for thy
ghoostly trauayle & a worshypful crowne of vyctorye for thy stronge batayle. Of
this mater Þou hast before in þe fyfth poynt of the thyrde degree of loue / ther-
fore at this tyme it nedeth not to speke but lytell more as of this purpose. But
I counseyll the in fewe wordes yf thou wylt be perseueraunt in goodnes that pou
trauaylest to wynne the vertue of pacyence wherof I haue touched somwhat in
the last chapytre before. For many men begynne full well and ende theyr lyfe
full peryllously / & the cause is for the more partye Inpacyence / for they wyll
not suffre gladly temptacyons & other trybulacyons; For whan they fele neuer
so lytel dysease ghoostly or bodely anone they fall awaye from vertues & torne
agayne to synne, And often it falleth that some men fall so sore that they deye
by that fall / that is to saye they fall in to (so) grete sykenes & peryll of soule /
that to our syght they deye in grete synne & errours without ony amendement.
Of suche men speketh god almyghty' & sayth: No man pat putteth his honde
to the plowe & loketh behynde hym is dysposed to come to the kyngdom of
heuen. Here perauenture thou woldest 10 aske what is be that holdeth the plowe
& loketh behynde hym. He putteth his honde to be plowe that amendeth his
synnes with contrycyon & confessyon to brynge forth fruyte of penaunce & to
encreace in vertues. He loketh behynde hym that torneth agayne to synne[s] whiche
were forsaken” after tyme he had begonne good werkes. Therfore what euer
thou be that hast begonne to leue vyces / torne not agayne to them for a lytell
dysease, yf thou wylt have the grete mede that longeth to perseueraunce. Also
yf thou wylt be perseueraunt thou must be stable in herte / yf bou wylt be stable
in herte pou must be ware of the lykynge & pleasynge of the worlde / & flee
from wycked company / thou must tº take no hede to praysynges ne to blamynges /
for of all these cometh vnstablenes, And yf thou haue ony lykynge in ghoostly
werkes, that vnstablenes wyll put it awaye; therfore be ware & flee suche maner
of occasyons yf thou wylt be stable. I saye not that hou shalt flee bodely
from þe world or fro (þi] worldely goodes for they be pryncypall occasyons / but I
1 H 0. m. Bern. in quodam sermone. ? of h. al. om. 3 al. om. 4 it to al. om. 5 al. herte.
6 al. now last. 7 al. traueyle, 8 E that they, 9 Luc. 9. 10 al, wolt. l1 al. he forsoke. 12 al. maist.
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counseyll the in herte and in wyll that thou flee all suche vanytees. For though
þou be lorde or lady / husbonde man or wyfe / thou mayst haue as stable an herte
& wyll as some relygyous that sytte in the cloystres?. But sothe it is that the
moost sykerest? waye is to fle as relygyous do / but for all may not be men or
women of relygyon , therfore of euery degre in pe worlde god hath chosen his
seruauntes. What euer than thou be þat wy[l]t come to be loue of god begynne
fyrst to do good dedes with a good wyll and a contynuell desyre. After that
desyre fulfyl thy wyll in dede with dyscrecyon that thou mayst contynue to thy
lyues ende. Whan thou hast begonne thynke in thyn herte that god hath gyue
the suche grace to begynne that thynge to his worshyp / thou mayst well do it
yf thou wylt performe it in dede with the helpe of god. After this poynte * stande
stably in wyll / aske grace of perseueraunce / and performe it in dede with a
feruent: spyryte. And whan thou hast begonne dyscretly / though it be trauaylous
in the begynnynge / all that trauayle be it in fastynges i wakynges / prayers or ony
other ghoostly trauayle, all shall be lyght to the & shallø torne the ſto] in so grete
myrthe and ghoostly conforte that thou shalt sette lytell by the passynge Ioye
and the vanytees of the worlde. Stande than stably in wyll and in dede / and
god almyghty that hath begonne good werkes in the / wyll norysshe the forth
in all’ vertues / defende the from thyn enemyes / teche the to loue hym / and kepe
the in his loue to thy lyues ende; After this deth thou shalt not drede for
thou shalt euer abyde in his kyngdome where that: is no care ne drede / but all
Ioye & conforte for 3 euermore lastynge. Now I haue shewed to 3 the foure
degrees of loue & declared here. fyue specyall vertues whiche as me thynketh
be moost nedeful euery man for to haue that wyl trauayle in ghoostly werkes /
& to al other maner men and women they be full spedefull to knowe whether
they be relygyous or seculer. And for as moche as many in the begynnynge
haue full lytell sauour in deuoute prayers or in holy medytacions, some perauenture
for tender age , & some for vnconnynge / therfore to suche symple folke I wyll
shewe a maner forme how by medytacyon they may be styred to deuocyon, and
what maner prayer shall be to theym nedefull.?
AB | By what prayer or thought thou mayst be styred to deuocyon.'
[W]Hans thou ordeynestº þe to praye or haue ony deuocyon, founde to haue a
preuy place from all maner noyse, & tyme of reste without ony lettynge. Syt
there or knele there : as is moost to thyn ease. Than be thou lorde or 10 lady,
thynke wel thou hast a god þat made the of nought / whiche hath gyue to the
thy ryght wyttes / ryght lymmes & other worldely ease more than to some other
as pou mayst se aldaye þat lyue in grete dysease & moche bodely myschyef.
Thynke also how synful thou art, & were not the kepynge of þat good god thou
sholdest fall in to all maner of synne by thyn owne wretchednes, & than pou mayst
thynke sothly as of thyself pats there is none so synful as ! thou art. Also yf pou
haue ony vertue or grace of good lyuynge thynke it cometh of goddes sendynge 12
& nothynge of thyselfe. Thynke also how longe & how often god hath suffred
the in synne / he wolde not take the in to dampnacyon whan pou baddest deserued
it / but goodly hath abyden the tyll þou woldest leue synne & torne to goodnes /
Tal. cloistre. 2 al. syker. 3 al. om. 4 al. hout. 5 al. glad. 6 E in to. 7 This
Chapter is found as an independent piece in Ms. Harl. 2398 f. 186, Harl. 1706 f. 76, Cum autem
oraueris &c. 8 E Than. Ial, schapest. 10 al. be bou. 11 ai. more s. þan. 12 al, sonde.
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for loth hym were to forsake þat he bought so dere with bytter paynes. Also
þou mayst thynke for he wolde not lese the he became man & was borne of a
mayde / in pouerte & trybulacyons all his lyfe he lyued, & after for thy loue
deth he wolde suffre to saue the by his mercy. In suche maner thou mayst
thynke of his grete benefytes / and for the more grace to gete to the compunc-
cyon beholde with thy ghoostly eye his pyteous passyon.
4 A short medytacion of the passyon of our lorde Ihesu cryste."
Hou mayst here? ymagyne in thy herte as yf: þou sawe thy lorde take of his
enemyes with many repreues & despytes / brought before a Iuge / falsely there
accused of many wycked men/ & 3 he answered ryght nought but mekely suffred
theyr wordes. They wolde nedes haue hyn deed / but fyrst to suffre paynes.
Beholde than that good lorde cheuerynge* & quakynge all his body naked bounde
to a pyler / about hym standynge wicked men without ony reason sore scorgynge
þat blessyd body without ony pyte. Se how they cesse not from theyr angry
strokes tyll they se hym stande in his blood vp to his ancles / from the toppe
of his heed to the sole of his foot hole skynne they leftes none / his flesshe
they rased to the bones / & for werynes of themselfe they lefte hym almoost
dede. Loke than asyde vpon his blessyd moder ! se what sorow she made' for
her dere sone / & haue compassyon of her payne that laye there aswowne.
Torne agayne to thy lorde & se howe they vnbynde hym / how hastly they drawe
hym forth to do hymn more dysease. A garlonde of thornes they put 8 vpon his
heed tyll the blood ran downe in to his eyen / nose / mouth & eeres. Than they
kneledº downe with scornes, & arose vp' with repreue & spette in his face. See
than how þat blessyd lady beteth her breste / draweth her clothes / & wryngeth
her hondes / & I trowe thou wylt wepe for that pyteful?' syght. Loke yet
agayn to thy lorde & se how they hurle hym forth to an hyghe hylle there to
nayle hym hande & foot vpon the rode tree. Se than fyrst how fyersly they
drawe of his clothes & how mekely that: he than wentell to the crosse / he spre-
deth his armes abrode / but strayter with cordes they drewe forth his armes tyl
the synewes & the Ioyntes be all to-broke!? | & than with full grete nayles they
nayled his precyous hondes to the crosse. In the same maner thou mayst se how
greuously they drawe his dereworthy legges and nayledº his feet downe to the
tree. Se than how they profered 13 hym for: to drynke bytter galle & eysyll / and
kneled agayn before hym with many despytes. Than herken to that good lorde
how mekely he taketh leue of his gracyous moder and of his dere apostle 14 &
betaketh them eyther to other as dere moder and sone. Than with a grete
voyce he commended 15 his spyryte to his father in heuen / and hanged downe
that blessyd heed ryght forth vpon his brest. Se also how soone after they
perced 16 his herte thrugbº with a spere with full grete anger, and ?? ranne downe by
his body medled blood & water. Than mayst thou haue full grete pyte beholdynge
that good lady how for sorowe she synketh downe in her systers armes. Take
hede to the chere of his apostle saynt Iohan, to the teres of Marye magdalene
and of his other frendes , and I trowe amonge all these thou shalt haue com-
i This Chapter, with quite the same text, occurs separately in Ms. Harl. 2445 f. 83 (a collec-
tion of prayers). 2 al. pere. 3 al. om. 4 al, chyuerynge. 5 al. leue. 6 al. rase.
7 al. maketh. & al. þreste. I al. knele. 10 al. dolfúll. 11 al. gob. 12 al. broste.
13 al. profre. 14 E apostles. 15 al. commendeth. 16 al. perce. 17 al. þan rennep.
AN
YA
[1506 (1425) Contempel. De God (Wdew: Alorat)
***
104
Early éditions of R. Rolle’s works.
punccion & plente of teres. Whan there cometh suche deuocyon than is tyme
that thou speke for thyn owne nede & for all other quycke or deed that trusten
to thy prayer. Caste downe thy body to the grounde &? lyfte vp thy herte on
hye with dreedfull? chere / than make thy mone & yf thou wylt thou mayst thynke
thus & saye: A lord god almyghty blessyd mote thou be / pou madest me /
thou boughtest me / thy suffraunce is full grete in me / bou woldest not take me
in to dampnacyon that’ often I haue deserued / but thou hast kepte & saued mė
tyll I wolde forsake synne and torne hole to the. Now lorde with sorowfull
herte I knowleche to thy godhede that falsely I haue spended and without prou-
fyte all my wyttes and vertues whiche thou hast gyuen me in helpynge of my
soule all the tyme of my lyfe in dyuerse vanytees / all the lymmes of my body
in synne & superfluytees / the grace of my crystendom in pryde & other wret-
chydnesse. And sothly good lorde I haue loued other thynges moche more than
the / & notwithstandynge my grete vnkyndenes euer thou hast nourysshed me
and tenderly kepte me. Of thy grete suffraunce I had full“ lytell knowynge / of
thy grete ryghtwysnes I had but lytell drede. I toke no hede to thanke pe for
thy grete goodnes / but al my lyfe from daye to daye grete mater of wrath I
haue shewed to be thrugh myn owne wyckednes. herfore lorde I wote not what
I shall saye to the but onely this worde in whiche I trust: God of thy grete mercy
haue mercy on me, I wote well lorde all þat I haue cometh onely of pe / I
wote well without the no thynge may be / but my synne & wretchydnes cometh 5
all of me; wherfore lorde with meke herte I beseche thy grace do not to me as
I haue deserued but after thy grete mercy , and sende me [þat] grace of thyn holy
ghoost to lyghten myn herte / to comforte my spyryte / to stable me in the ryght
waye to performe thy commaundementes that I may haue perseueraunce in that
I haue begonne & that I be nomore departed from the by my vnstablenes or by
temptacyons of myn enemye. It is lorde yet? ful worthy that I be chastysed for
my wycked lyuynge with what rodde thy wyll is / welcome be thy sendynge 6.
Pacyently? good lorde sende me grace gladly to suffre thy chastysynge / comfort
me amonge fors thy grete grace / & whan thy wyll is withdrawe thy rodde &
take me to thy mercy. Full bytter be these temptacyons & full greuous to suffre /
& 10 though they be dredefull I wote well hereafter they shall be medefull to my
soule / but good lorde þou knowest well myn herte is ryght feble / moche is
myn vnstablenes / my connynge is but lytell: therfore good lorde strength me /
stable me & teche me / [&] as pou madest me & bought me so kepe & defende me /
body & soule I take to the / no thynge after my wyll but as pou wylt lorde so
mote it be. And now good Ihesu goddes sone knower of all thynge, helpe me
in wycked thoughtes that I dysplease the not in ly[k]ynge" ne in assentyng / efull
often I haue dyspleased the in dyuerse thoughtes all ayenst thy wyll & moche to
my lykynge, therfore it is thy ryghtwysnes that I be trauayled with other thoughtes
at thyn ordynaunce & greuous to me / but curteys Ihesu whan thy wyl is put
them awaye & take me in to thy grace. Iesu cryst goddes sone whiche stode
styll before pe Iuge nothynge to hym answerynge / withdrawe my tongue tyll I
thynke what & how I shall speke þat may be to thy worshyp. Ihesu goddes sone
Tal. om.
Pacience.
2 al. doelful. 3 al. ber. 4 al. but. 5 al. whiche c.
8 al. om. I al. of. 10 al. but. 11 E lyuynge.
6 al. sonde.
7 al.
R
.
V
?
1
.
.
**
115ol (a 1425) Continul. Dibed
wides: House
LATE
-
Contemplations of the dread and love of God.
105
whose hondes were bounde full sore for my loue 7 gouerne & wysshe myn hondes
& al myn other lyimes that all my werkes may begynne & gracyously ende to
thy moost pleasure?. Also lorde bou seest well that many ther be that trust to
my prayer for grace that ye shewe to me more than I am worthy / ye wote well
lorde I am not suche as they wene, but though my prayer be vnworthy / take
hede to theyr lownes & to theyr deuocion: & what they desyre to your worshyp
graunte it them for your goodnes. Graunte them & me & to all other for whom
we be bounde to praye grace to loue all that is to your lykynge / and you to
loue to your moost pleasynge / nothynge to desyre that sholde dysplease you, All
maner temptacyons myghtely to withstande / all other vanytees for your loue to
despyse / you good lorde euer to haue in mynde / and in your seruyce for to
abyde to our lyues ende. And yf ye graunte vs ony thynge to doo that shall be
to vs medefull / graunte parte to the soules whiche be departed from the body
in the paynes of purgatorye abydynge your mercy Amen.
In suche maner thou mayst praye in the begynnynge / & whan thou art well
entred in to deuocyon thou shalt perauenture baue better felynge in prayers and
in holy medytacyons otherwyse than I can saye or shewe. Good broder or syster
praye than for me whiche by the techynge of almyghty god haue wryten to the
these fewe wordes in helpynge of thy soule.
de sanyades mortorte me that is grave. And
'A Good curteys aungell ordeyned to my gouernale, I knowe well my feblenes
& my vnconnynge / also well I wote pat strength haue I none to do goddes
seruyce but onely of his gyfte & of your besy kepynge. The connynge pat I
haue cometh no thynge of me but what god wyll sende me by your good enty-
synge. Now good gracyous aungel I aske you lowely mercy / for lytell hede I
haue taken of your good besynes; but now I thanke you as I can, with full herte
besechynge you þat ye kepe me truely this daye & euermore slepynge & wakynge
with syker defendynge & your holy techynge. Defende me & kepe me from
bodely harmes, defende me and kepe me from ghoostly peryles to goddes worshyp
& sauynge of my soule. Teche me & wysshe me my wyttes for to dyspende moost
to goddes worshyp & pleasynge. Fede me with deuocyon & sauour of ghoostly
swetnes / conforte me whan nede is ayenst my ghoostly enemyes & suffre me
not to lese pat grace that is graunted me / but of your worthy offyce kepe me in
goddes seruyce to my lyues ende. And after he passynge of the body presente
my soule ynto the mercyfull god. For though I fall aldaye by myn owne freelte
you I take in wytnes bat euer I hope in mercy. Gladly wolde I worshyp the & I
myght to your lykynge therfore god to worshyp for you / you also in hym after
his holy techynge. I thanke hym with this holy prayer. Pater noster. Et ne
nos. Sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
Deo gratias.
Enprynted at London in Fletestrete in þe sygne of the sonne By Wynkyn
de Worde. Anno dñi. Mccccc.vi.
1 r. wysse. 2 al. pay. 3-3 E here follows Harl. 2409; the other Ms. read: Also lorde zif
ber be any bat hape of here lewdnes commended hem to my prayere, take rewarde to here
lownes & not to myn ynworbines, &c. E me. 5 E prate. 6 This prayer is not found
in the Mss.; it was ed. from Harl. 2445 by Maskell Mon. Ritual. III p. 291.
quote
for

Do not
0
100
-
Early editions.
Sre bit card
Reusdy a
I. Ed. Wynkyn de Worde 1508, and 1519.
The remedy ayenst the troubles of temptacyons."
(fol. 1b picture of hermit).
(1. Four profitable things.) 2
Here after foloweth foure proufytable thynges to haue in mynde, whiche
hath be taken out of þe thyrde chapiter of a deuoute treatyse & a
fourme of lyuinge that the dyscrete & vertuous Richard hampole wrote
to a deuoute & an holy persone for grete loue.
I He fyrst: mesure of thy lyf whiche is so shorte that ynnethes it is ony
thynge / for we lyue here but in a poynte that is the leest thynge þat may be. .
And for to saye sothe, our lyfe is lesse than a poynte yf we sholde lyken it to
the lyfe euerlastynge. / An other thynge is the vncertaynte 3 of our endynge / for we
wote not whan we shall dye nor how we shall dye nor whether we shall goo
whan we be deed. And the wyll of god is that it be to vs vncertayne / for he
wylleth that we be alwaye redy to dye. / The thyrde is þat we shall answere
before the ryghtwyse luge of all the tyme þat we haue ben here, how we haue
lyued / what our occupacyon bath be, and what good we myght haue done whan
we haue ben ydle. Therfore þe prophete sayd: he hath called the tyme ayenst
me / that is forº euery day he hath lente vs here to spende in good vse as in
penaunce and in goddes seruyce. And yf we waste it in erthly loue and vanytees,
full greuously must we be demed and punysshed. Therfore it is one of the moost
sorowes þat may be to vs / but yf we enforce vs to the contrary / & set our
herte to the loue of god, And doo good to alls that we may in þe shorte whyle
that our tyme lasteth. For eche tyme pat we thynke not of god we may counte
it as loste. / The fourth is that we thynke how moche the Ioye is that they shall
haue whiche contynuethº in the loue of god to? theyr endynge / for they shall be
bretherne 8 & felowes with aungelles, seynge the kynge of loye in his beauty and
shynynge maieste the whiche shall be to them aboue all the delytes that ony
creature may thynke. Than, to remembre the grete and intollerable sorowe, payne
& turmentes whiche they shal haue that louethº not god aboue all thynge as we
may se in this worlde many of that dysposycyon whiche set all theyr pleasure in
lust and lykynge of this lyf | as in pryde / couetyse / and other synnes / they
shall brenne in the fyre of helle with the deuyll whome they serued as longe as
god is in heuen-with.his..seruiuntes that.lasteth-cuero zpes
1508 (61400) Romedy I Foubt. (Woeus: How
(2. The remedy ayenst the troubles Sf temptacyons.)
(Same treatise is extant in Ms. Harl. 1706 f. 115, Cambr. Hh I. 11, both southern texts,
and greatly differing from the text of the Ed. R. Rolle's authorship is very doubtful.)
1 Here foloweth and enseweth a souerayne notable sentence to comforte a
persone that is in temptacyon.
Our mercyfull lorde god cryst Ihesu chastyseth his chyldren and suffreth them
to be tempted for many proufytable causes to theyr soules helth / & therfore
1 This is the general title of the Ed., but refers only to the 2nd piece. The editor seems to
have regarded all the pieces as R. Rolle's, though his authorship of the 2nd, and still more of the 3d,
piece is very doubtful. The Ed. of 1519 is bound together with the vcontemplationsa of 1506. 2 Cf.
; in Ms. Harl, 1706 this piece is found separate, and followed by the Remedy &c., as in the Ed.
3 E2 vncertayne. 4012. for. 5 Ez al. 6 E2 contynuth. 7 om. in E2, 8 E2 bretheren. 9 Ez loueht.
:-*
*
. :-
om.
MM
-
1. D. To. in
1508 (C1400) Remedy I Tempt. (We W. Wanat!
The remedy against the troubles of temptations.
107
sholde noo man nor woman be heuy or sory for ony temptacyon. For as saynt
Tames the appostle techeth. vs we sholde haue very greate Ioye whan we be
tempted with dyuers temptacyons / for as the golde is pured and purged by the
fyreand a knyght in batayle is proued good: ryght so is a man by temptacyon
proued for good / but yf he suffre hymselfe to be ouercome / that is to saye but
he consent therto by delyberacyon. For sothely whan a man is sharpely tempted
he may than haue hope of gr[etje' vertue / and it is necessary? for a man moche
to be troubled with temptacyons / for euery vertue is proued by his contrarye.
Our enemy the fende is besy daye and nyght to tary and trauayle good men and
women with dyuers temptacyons ) in doubtes of the fayth and dredes of saluacyon
and other many moo in dyuers maners, and specyally now in these dayes he is
full besy to deceyue many soules / and therfore wysely rule you to withstande his
vyolent sterynges of temptacyon ; & for all that take ye noo dredes of his
assawtes / ne haue ye ony: doubte of his erroures ne dyspytes nor of his false
leasynges or fantasyes or ony maner of trauayle of that foule fende; whether ye
here hym“ , se hym” or thynke of hym take noo hede therof/ for all be maters
of grete mede and noo synne in noo wyse be they neuer soo troublous or full of
anguysshes whyles it cometh of the malyce of the fende or of euyll dysposycyon
of mannes nature or compleccyon. And therfore all suche trauayle 6 men ought
not to charge but suffre mekely and abyde pacyently tyll god doo remedy therto.
And for as moche as they be maters of grete mede none ought to stryue there
agaynst / nor meruayle of them ne seke the cause nor thynke by what skyll he
is soo trauaylled / for the more that a man laboureth in sechynge and thynkynge
of suche anguysshes the more depely he falleth in to errours / and therfore in
as moche as mannes thought is often vayne and dyuers and none ende hath: it
ought not to be forced or be taken hede of , ne a man sholde not angre hym-
selfe therwith ne blame ne impute' it to his owne defaute that he is so troubled /
for suche trauaylles ben paynefull but not synfull in soo moche as they be gretely
agaynst his wyll. Saynt Augustyne sayth that euery synne lyeth in wylfull wyll,
And what that is agaynst mannes wyll is noo synne. And the holy doctour ysodore
de summo bono 8 sayth that the fende tempteth a man noo more than god gyueth
hym leue. Therfore let vs haue alway a good wyll to wyll well and doo well / and
god wyll kepe vs and gyue vs the vyctory / & so the fende shall be confounded.
Fayth & hope is grounde of all perfeccyon and rote of all vertue / and therfore
our olde enemy the fende is full besy with all his sleyghtes to drawe the soule
downe therfro, And it happeth somtyme that the fende tempteth and trauaylleth
a ryghtwyse soule so sharpely that it is ouerlayde with care and dryuen to dy-
spayre: and yet all that tyme though the soule perceyue it not it dwelleth styll in
the drede and loue of god / and all that trauayle is to theyrlo grete mede afore
god / for our lorde of his endles mercy arrecteth not to be soule that synne
whiche hymselfe suffreth the fende to werke in the soule without the consente
or wyll of the sayd selfe soule. But whan we wylfully doo ayenst1l the wyll of
god with delyberacyon than we commytte synne actually. But whan we be drawen
with wycked vyolence or vyle12 thoughtes & turmented with dyspayre ayenst our
I E grace.
3 E2 noo.
9 E2 to god.
? H for seynte Austyn seyth þat þe perfeccyon of euery vertue ys for a man &c.
E, this. 5 H hem. 6 E2 trauayled. 7 H arette. S H adds 30 libro.
10 H his. 11 Ez agayenst. 12 H wycked vylenous.
1508 (C1400)
108
Early editions.
pray cool bath orestery
wyll thorugh the fendes vyolent temptynge we suffre payne but we do no synne /
& yet the sely soules knowlege is hydde by that turment.
The seconde chapytre.
But yet ryght often the temptynge of the fende that maketh the soule to erre
in fayth and foule fantasye & in dyspayre: semeth to the selfe soule grete synne /
but it is not soo. For all holy doctours sayth? that fayth and hope be vertues of
mannes wyll / wherfore who so wolde ryghtwysly byleue in this lyf: he is in
ryght byleue before god / and lykewyse who so wolde here trustly hope he is
in trusty hope before god / though he be neuer so moche troubled with ferefulla
thoughtes. The appostle saynt Poule sayth that in a mannes byleue 3 is wylfullº
byleue of ryghtwysnes; Of the whiche wordes sayth the glose that all onely in
mannes wyll whiche may not be constrayned lyeth bothe mede and gylte / that
is to saye: a man afore god hath neuer mede ne gylte for no dede but onely of
the dedes that be done wylfully. But somtyme mannes thought[es] and womans be
soo troubled and ouerlayde that they knowe not theyr owne wyll / & yet though
it soo be they ought not to care. For good dedes sheweth alwaye good wyll /
and euyll dedes euyll wyll, wherfore a man that dooth in dede the seruyce of god
that man hath a good wyll to god / though his trauaylous herte deme the con-
trarye. Also there sholde noo creature deme his euencrysten for ony doubtfull
fantasyes / but yf they haue a very open knowlege of that thynge whiche they
sholde deme hym for: Than it is euyll and vnreasonable for ony creature to
deme his owne soule in that plyght, that he sholde be parted from god for ony
doubtfull fantasye.
( The thyrde chapytre.
And than yf it so be ye haue consented & fallen to synne' by ony tempta-
cions / than be sory and crye god mercy therof. And yet be ye not dyscomforted
but thynke well on the grete mercy of god how he forgaue Dauid his grete
synnes, Peter & Magdalene, and not onely them, but also all those that haue
ben or now be or shall be contryte for theyr synnes & meke them lowly and
crye our lorde mercy. And therfore syster flee to hym that all mercy is in / and
aske mercy & ye shall haue it with forgyuenes of all your synnes , and meke
you lowly & take the sacramentes of holy chirche / & than ye ought to byleue
faythfully that your synnes be forgyuen / and that ye be receyued in to the grace
of god. For god sayth hymselfe by his prophete Ezechiel® that whan a synfull
man soroweth for his synnes he wyll neuer haue mynde therof. & yf a man
perceyue in his herte no very sorowe / and though he thynke whan he byddeth
his bedes or cryeth to god for mercy that he dooth all ayenst herte: yet ther-
fore sholde he not deme hymselfe graceles / for who so wolde haue very sorowe
for his synnes or? wold crye god mercy for them or in his berte wold crye for
mercy: he cryeth god mercy truly / for as I haue sayd before I god taketh hede
to mannes wyll & not to his trauayllous fantasyes, it is good that a man take
noo hede of suche fantasyes or sterynges that cometh in suche maner. For god
hydeth from them the knowleges of suche fantasyes for many causes ynto the
i E2 saye. 2 H werefull. 3 H wylle. 4 H the. oH weersum or d. 6 E Ezechie.
* H in the dome of god he hath very sorowe for hys synnys, & who so wolde in herte crye god
mercy verely &c. 8 E2 to.
Remedy
Tempt. (Weets: Hond)
·
The remedy against the troubles of temptations.
109
proufyte of theyr soules | wherfore suche passyons be not synfull / but rather
mater of grace and of grete meryte. And soo good syster thynke ye alwaye !
and yf it be soo that temptacyon cease not but wexe alwaye more & more be not
afrayed but saye somtyme amonge in the worshyp of god and in the spyter of the
fende your credea and knowlege your byleue and hope [by mouthe), and thynke on
the wordes of saynt Poule that sayth: Knowlege of mouth is done to the helpe 3
of soules; and they shall not be deceyued by the fendes whyles * that with a good
auysement bothe in worde and wyll withstandeth hym strongly. For there was
neuer man deceyued of the fende but by consent of his owne wyll / & that
with suche a wyll as the herte consented with the same / for other fantastycall
troublous wylles putteth not awaye man from god.
The fourth chapytre.
And therfore sholde noo man care nor be heuy that he is so troubled more
than an other. Syster alwaye whan I speke of a man in this wrytynge take it
mankynde: and ferthermore as touchynge your troubles thynke in all your dyseases
what troubles goddes seruauntes hath suffred and what paynes and turmentes they
haue had here in this worlde in many sondry maners and ye shall fynde cause
to suffre. Leo the pope sayth, it happeth somtyme that good and ryghtwyse
soules be styred sharpely by the fende / & somtyme by theyr owne compleccyon
to angers, troubles, dredes & suche other taryenges that it semeth to them theyr
lyf a turment', in so moche that somtyme for very drede the[y] begyn to dyspayre
bothe in lyfe of body and soule / thynkynge they be forsaken of god! whiche
dooth it but to assaye and proue his chosen chyldren and frendes by suche
temptacyons. For as I afore haue sayd at the begynnynge of this wrytyng, in
lyke maner as fyre purgeth golde and as a knyghte is proued good and hardy by
batayle: ryght so temptacyons and troubles purgeth a ryghtwyse soule; this is
proued well by Toby / for the aungell Raphaell sayd this to hym: Toby for
thy wyll. And well it is knowen that sykenes falleth to a man after the dyspo-
sycyon of his compleccyon: So lyke wyse temptacyon, as Leo the pope sayth:
The fende our ghostly enemy aspyeth in euery man what wyse he is dysposed
by his compleccyon , and by that disposicyon he tempteth hym. For there as
he fyndeth a man full of malencoly he tempteth hym moost with ghoostly temp-
tacyons of Ire. But they that wyll attende to withstande it for the loue of god
they must shape them to pacyence & saye with Iob: Sythen we haue receyued
of god so grete benefaytes why sholde we not receyue and suffre dyseases. And
thynke on the grete anguysshes, sorowes and dyseases that our lorde Ihesu cryste
suffred hymselfe here in erth, And also suffred his blyssed moder to haue the
same. And thynke that to suffre dysease pacyently is the waye to heuen-warde.
And that ye may not in this frayle worlde be so free as an aungell that is con-
fermed by grace / but whyle your body and soule be togyder in this lyf they
must receyue troubles as well as eases. And thynke not that god hath forsaken
iH in despyte.
6 H of humorys of.
2 E2 credo.
3 H helhe.
4 H wyles.
5 H adds and her deepe an ese.
1508 (C1400) Grand
IIO
Early editions.
you: but mekely abyde the comforte of hym and without doubte whan it nedeth
ye shal not fayle therof.' But some men whan they haue drede of saluacyon or
be tempted to dyspayre by vysyons? or ghostly sterynges of theyr owne frayltye /
they wene anone that they haue synned in the synne of the holy ghoost / and
than the fende putteth in them that they may neuer be saued nor forgyuen of
theyr trespaces. Thus speketh the fende within them, so ferynge s[um]es good
creatures that they wene to goo out of theyr myndes. But [ye]" that ben thus
tempted answere the fende thus agayne that he is false and a lyer as his nature
is to be. For the synne of the holy ghoost as clerkes sayth 5 is infynyte without
repentaunce. And that is whan a man wylfully by delyberacyon wyll neuer repente
nor aske god mercy ne forgyuenes of his synnes / nor wyll be tourned / but
wylfully departeth hym from the goodnes of god , and in [t]his 6 wretchednes
abydeth wylfully with full consent of wyll’; he that doth thus synneth in the holy
ghoost whiche may not be forgyuen here nor elles where / for he wyll not trust
in the goodnes of the holy ghoost nor aske forgyuenes of his synnes, And ther-
fore he that wyll noo mercy aske noo mercy shall haue / for his synnes be
infynyte without repentaunce. But thoughe a man or a woman haue or fele all
these vycyous sterynges and as many moo as ony herte can thynke ayenst theyr
owne free wyll, and whan reason cometh to them they be sory therof & flee
alwaye hastely to the mercy of god: it is to them but a preuynge or a clensynge
of theyr synnes though they be neuer soo ofte in the nyght and the daye now
vp now downe as wrestelers 8 be / & thoughe ye haue ony tyme fall in ony synne
ghoostly or flesshely & layne therin wylfully by delyberacyon and full contentº of
herte: ye than ought to be sory and aske god forgyuenes with as grete contry-
cyon as god wyll gyue you grace, and than thynke fully the goodnes of the holy
ghoost surmounteth all synnes that euer was done or euer shall be done / [for]
though a man had synned in them all / as well in dede as thought / be beynge
truly contryte & confessed mekynge hymselfe lowly to almyghty god and to his
sacramentes of holy chyrche / doubte ye not he so askynge mercy shall haue full
forgyuenes of all his synnes / for the mercy of god is so grete that it passeth
all his werkes. And therfore thoughe ye somtyme here by spekynge or elles of
wrytynge or redynge in bokes sharpe wordes and harde sentences: yet comforte
your selfe and thynke well that all suche harde wordes be sayd and wryten to
chastyse the synners and to withdrawe them from euyll / and also to pourge and
pure goddes specyall 10 louers as the metall is in the fyrell afore rehersed / and in.
them god wyll make his hous. And wete it well many wordes that seme full
harde be ment full tenderly whan they be well vnderstonde / and though some
wordes be ment ryght hardely as the playne texte sheweth / yet sholde ye not
take them to you-warde / but comforte your selfe and thynke that all those harde
sentences shall be fulfylled in Iewes and sarasyns / for the crysten people that
wyll be contryte & trust in goddes mercy or haue a wyl so for to do: they shal
escape all perylles / so þat they shall not perysshe but be saued / where as the
Iewes & sarasyns in theyr perylles shal ytterly perysshe to pardycyon / for they
H adds: For trusteþ welle perto þat whanne ye felen you in suche plyte, þat grace is verely
wiþ you. 2 H or yf þei haue ony vycyous goostely stirynges or greete felynges &c. 3 E
synne. E they. 5 E2 sayen. Ő Ej his. i Hľadds and lyueb and dyeh þere-ynne.
8 E2 wrastelers. 9 H concent. 19 H specyalls, louers om. 11 H furneys; af. reh. om.
D
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The remedy against the troubles of temptations.
III
haue not the strength of Baptym ne the precyous oyntement of crystes passyon /
that sholde gyue to theyr soules lyf and helth. Of this [we]? haue example & a
grete fygure in holy wryte that where as Moyses ledde the chyldren of Israell
ouer the reed see whiche were goddes people, Moyses wente before them and
smote the water with his rodde and therwith the water parted & the chyldren
of Israell wente ouer in suertye, And they of egypte that folowed perysshed &
were drowned. By Moyses I vnderstonde our lorde Ihesu cryste / and by the yerde
or rodde that departed þe water I vnderstonde his holy passyon / and by the
chyldren of Israell that were not perysshed all crysten people : for ryght so our
lorde Ihesu cryst came from his faders bosome to the ? see of trybulacyons &
temptacyons to be our guyde & leder / he gooth before vs with his precyous
passyon & smyteth awaye the perylles of our troublous temptacyons / so that we
shall not perysshe / but it shall brynge vs to suertye of euerlastynge lyf; and ther-
fore gyue we to hym thankynges, louynges & infynyte praysynges as the chyldren
of Israell dyde. For thoughe a crysten man were neuer soo synfull thynkynge
hymselfe þat he stode in the sentence of the hardest wordes that be wryten: yet
sholde he trust faythfully in the mercy of god / for and he wyll forsake his synnes
& tourne hymn to good and vertuous lyf: he shall haue grace and forgyuenes / and
the harde sharpe wordes of dampnacyon sholde tourne hym to mercy and salua-
cyon. For thus sayth our lord god in holy wryte by his prophete Ieremye:
though I make grete thretes I shall repent me of my wordes yf my people wyll
repent them of theyr synnes. O beholde the grete goodnes of our lorde / and
how pyte alwaye constrayneth hym to mercy, worshyp and thankes be euer to his
goodnes; he is so benygne and mercyfull to them that be repentaunt“ that he
frely wyll chaunge his sentences from sharpe vengeaunce to forgyuenes / & of
the paynes that they be worthy to suffre / gyue them alygeaunce or lyghter payne
to suffre. He sayth also by the prophete Isaye 6 : I shall forgyue the synnes of
euery man that with very true contrycyon wyll drawe hym to good and vertuous
lyfe. And this grete mercy shewed our lorde openly vpon the Cyte of Niniue /
and also by kynge Ezechie. Therfore lette noo man dyspayre but alwaye trust
fully to goddes mercy that so well can redresse our myscheues and tourne all our
woo to wele / and our sorowe to Ioye. O thou gloryous [&]? myghtyfull god that
thus merayllously werketh 8 in thy creatures, it is to se that thy mercy is large and
brode whiche maketh the to chaunge thy sentence that before was bothe thy wyll
and worde / blessyd be thou good lorde in all thy vertues for thou canst / may /
and wyll tourne and chaunge all our infyrmytees to our moost proufyte yf we
wyll not flee from the / but tourne to thy goodnes and aske mercy. But for all
this?º grete goodnes / god forbede that ony an sholde be the more bolder
to synne, or wylfully and wyttyngly by delyberacyon sholde presume to falle to
synne vpon trust of (his]” mercy; and (for)"? our lorde is so mercyfull I surely
trust that euery true courteys soule wyl be the more lothe to offende his goodnes.
[But]" as for you that be tempted ayenst your wyll / and wyll not for all the worlde
dysplease god wylfully: but that ye be thus begyled and encombred 14 by the fende
with many paynefull thoughtes / be ye not afrayde of the fende nor of his fere-
i E they 2 H this. 3 Ei sentences. 4 H to the repentauntys. 5 H lytter, payne om.
OH. Ezechyel. 7 om in Ei. 8 r. werkest. 9H what; it is to se om. 10 E this thy.
11 E thy. 12 E therfore. 13 E and. 14 H yled & trayd.
1508(21400)
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I I2
Early editions.
full assawtes / for he is full sore dyscomforted? whan that he seeth a man or a
woman whiche he soo tempteth is not aferde of hym. Somtyme the fende cometh
and tempteth a soule fyersly lyke a dragon, and somtyme he assaylleth hym
lyke a rampynge? lyon; but and yf3 a creature strength º hymselfe saddely in the
passyon- of almyghty god / and arme hym with that holy passyon / a thousande
suche fendes how someuer that they come shall haue noo more power ouer hym
thenne hath as many flyes or gnattes. And therfore strength you all in god / and
be not abasshed soo to strength and arme you in hym though ye be synfull
for. he sayth hymselfe in the gospell he came for synners. And in an other place
of the gospell he saythe that he came for mercy and not for noo vengeaunce 1
and to be our shelde and strength; and so lette vs humbly with a meke herte
take hym. And yf ye fele ony dredes by ymagynacyon or temptacyon or for
wordes that ye haue herde or redde in bookes by the whiche ye doubte of
saluacyon / than thynke on the wordes that cryste hymselfe taught to a man that
doubted / sayenge and askynge of our lorde who sholde be saued / for he thoughte
it was to harde to hymselfe for to eschewe all the poyntes that ledde man to
pardycyon. And our lorde badde hym for to saye? Credo in deum patrem
omnipotentem creatorem celi et terre, Et in iesum christum filium eius, Byleue
sayd our lorde Ihesu that god the fader is almyghty and that no thynge to hym is
impossyble but that he may forgyue all synnes and redresse all wronges and
brynge the soules to his blysse. and thynke ferthermore that his myght and power
may do all that his wysdome can / and his goodnes wyl / and therfore truste fully
that by his goodnes he wyll saue you and brynge you to euerlastynge Ioye whan
he seeth best tyme / for he hath bought you full dere with his precyous blode
and paynefull deth. And I dare sauely saye that there is none so synfull a caytyf
whiche is crystened or wolde be crystened this daye on the erthe allº thoughe he
were in the syght of god dampnable and in the syght of all creatures also, ye
and yet were luged to be dampned by all scrypture, and he wolde forsake his
synne and be contryte and aske god forgyuenes he sholde haue mercy and for-
gyuenes of hym , & yf it were so that he stode in that case or had a good
mynde to stonde lº so in the tyme of deth he sholde be saued / the myght & mercy
of god is so grete that it surmounteth all his lawes, Iugementes and scryptures.
And so our lorde Ihesus" sheweth vs by an example in the gospell of a woman
that was founde in aduoutry and by Moyses lawe whiche was ordeyned by god
þat she sholde be stoned to the deth: But the myght and the wysdome of that
blessyd lorde god was soo gretely shewed to the pharyzens whiche accused her
that they so largely perceyued theyr synnes that they myght not for shame deme
her but stale awaye out of the temple, And our lorde Ihesu wolde not deme her
but of his gracyous mercy forgaue her all her synnes. And therfore be a man
or woman neuer soo synfull and that 12 they fele neuer soo many bodely and ghostly
synnes alwaye rysynge and sterynge within them, they sholde neuer the rather
dyspayre of the mercy of god / ne be dyscomforted. For there as moche synne
is / there is shewed moche mercy and grace, and the goodnes of god is knowen
by the forgyuenes of the synne whan a body turneth hym there-from and is very
1 H dyscomfeted. 2 H rampandly lyke a l. 3 om in H. 4 E strengthynge. 5 H good-
nesse. OH homely. 7 H sayd to hym Crede. 8 H as who seyp. 9 H and. 10 E2
stande. 11 E2 Ihesu. 12 H bouz.
I Tempt. (Wide W. Han!)
The remedy against the troubles of temptations.
113
contryte; but god forbede as I sayd before that ony creature be the more recheles
or bolde to synne wylfully / for in so moche the mercy of god. is so large we
ought to be the more besy and dylygent to loue and prayse? hym. Almyghty god
werketh lyke a leche , for a leche suffreth somtyme the deed flesshe to growe
on hym that he hath in cure / but afterwarde he taketh away the same and
maketh the quycke flesshe to growe, and soo he heleth the pacyent?. Ryght soo
dooth our lorde Ihesu cryste maker of heuen and erth, suffreth somtyme a man or
a woman to fall in deedly synne: but afterwarde of his grete inercy and pyte he
putteth-to his hande of grace / for they : that were deedly wounded thorough * synne
he heleth them and wassheth away theyr synnes with the water of his wells of
mercy / & maketh in them quycke vertues to growe wherby he gyueth to theym
euerlastynge lyfe. Our lorde god is also lyke a gardyner: for a gardyner suffreth
somtyme wycked wedes to growe in his gardyn / and whan the erth thorugh
moysture of rayne wexeth tender he taketh & pulleth awaye the wedes bothe
rote & rynde. So in lyke wyse dooth our lorde Ihesu cryst, he suffreth som-
tyme in his gardyn whiche is mannes soule wycked dedes 6 of synne to growe /
but whan the herte of man wexeth tender by mekenes and moysture of contry-
cyon he than taketh away all the synnes bothe rote and rynde and planteth and
setteth in his gardyn herbes and fruytes of good vertues / and watreth them with
the dewe of his blessyd goodnes / wherby the soule of man shall come to euer-
lastynge Ioye and reste. Now than sythen our lorde god is so good, so pyteous
and soo mercyfull to synners that wylfully offendeth hym by commyttynge of
horryble synnes / moche more he is mercyfull and hath pyte and compassyon
of a soule that thorughe trouble and temptacyons falleth to synne / for almyghty
god suffreth often tymes the soule of man for to be tempted and vexed in with-
standynge temptacyons / wherof it deserueth the more meryte. And therfore be
ye not doubtefull nor heuy for it shall neuer tourne you to peryll? ne daunger but
to grete proufyte. For therby ye shall wynne the crowne of glorye and the
palme of vyctorye whiche shall be gyuen to you for withstandynge of suche
temptacyons & to the fende it shall tourne to shame and confusyon; and though
it semeth to you somtyme that ye fele dyscorde bytwene god and you be not
therfore recreaunt ne dyscomforted, For almyghty god sayth by his prophete Isaye:
A lytell whyle I haue forsaken and bydde my face from the: but I shall call the
to me agayne by my ma[ny]folde mercyes whiche euer shall endure.
9 The fyfte chapytre.
ANnd therfore grutche not agaynst the wyll of god ne meruayle not of these
temptacyons for the more that a man or a woman be tempted in this maner
or in ony other agaynst theyr wyll and they withstande it that is to saye not
wyllyngly consentynge therto but mekely suffreth the same: the more they shall
encreace in vertues to the proufyte of theyr soules in the syght of god thoughe
it be hydde from them. For 8 perauenture whan ye be sharpely tempted ye
thynke ye be to dull and neglygent in ghoostly excercyse thorughe wyckednes of
your spyryte that is soré trauayled and vexed / wherby ye thynke that ye haue
[in]' wyll consented to suche temptacyons as ye be tempted with; but it is not so.
1H plese.
2 H man.
3 H & hem.
4 E2 through.
5 E2 wyll.
6 H wedes.
Ez
perell.
8 H
But.
9
E
a.
8
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114
Early editions.
For ye shall vnderstonde that euery man and woman hath two wylles', a good wyll
and an euyll / the euyll wyll cometh of sensualyte the whiche is euer inclynynge
downwarde to synne , and the good wyll cometh of grace whiche alwaye
styreth the soule vpwarde to all goodnes; and (for)? whan reason cometh to
you ye haue alwaye a good wyll to do well / & [ar] 3 myscontent with all euyl
thoughtes & sterynges that ye fele / and putteth your wyll onely to the wyll of
god: though ye thrugh suche wycked thoughtes & sterynges by vyolence and
sharpnes be enclyned to sensualyte yet ye do it not ne consent therto but it is
the sensualyte that dooth it in you, and your good wyll abydeth in you styll
vnbroken though the cloudes of euyll thoughtes stoppeth your syght from the
felynge of your good wyll: as ye may se by ensample of the mone4 / for the mone*
shyneth alwaye in her dewe place as well whan we se her as whan we se her
not, But oftentymes the cloudes shadoweth and putteth from vs the syght therof;
and so in lyke wyse it fareth by your good wyll whiche standeth alwaye vnbroken
in you by the grace of almyghty god though ye fele it not thrugh trauayllous
thoughtes whiche taketh awaye the syghte of your knowlege. Therfore ye good
chyldren that sharpely be vexed with suche temptacyons & tribulacions, comforte
yourselfe in your benygne & mercyfull fader that sayth to you by his prophete in
holy wryte: my chyldren though ye go in þe fyre drede ye not / for pe flambe
therof shall not trouble you. As who sayth ye that be crysten people wyllyng 5
to do well, though ye goo in the fyre of trybulacyons & temptacyons drede you
not for it shall tourne you to no peryll / but thorugh my goodnes & the merytes
of my passyon it shall tourne you to grete proufyte & comforte of your soule.
The maner of all these temptacions & þe remedyes of þe same sheweth our
sauyour Ihesu cryst to his apostle saynt Peter as it appereth in þe gospel where
he sayth thus: Peter sathanas asketh & desyreth to syfte the as men syfte whete
wherby' it appereth well pat the fende hath no myght ne power to attempte pe
seruauntes of almyghty god but by his suffraunce / & that was euydently knowen by
the temptacyons of Iob whome the fende besyfted and tempted. Fors þe more pat
whete is syfted & cast from syde to syde the more clene it is: Ryght so the more
þat a man or a woman be tempted with the fende ayenst theyr wyll / the more
clene they be afore god / wherfore it appereth playnly þat almyghty god suffreth
not his seruauites to be tempted but for theyr grete wele & profyte yf they pur-
pose them-selfe myghtely to withstande the fendes temptacyon; whiche no man
may withstande without the helpe of god, Therfore of his helpe he maketh vs
sure lyke as he sayd to peter these wordes: I haue prayed for the that thy
fayth fayle the not. And therfore that man whiche pacyently is redy to suffre all
troubles and dyseases for the loué of his maker almyghty Ihesu not takynge hede
of all the fendes mocyons and temptacyons: that man thrugh the myght and grace
of cryst bereth downe and ouercometh the fende / wherby be may be called a
vaynquyssher or ouercomer. And to suche men may be sayd thus: thou that arte
thus tourned to almyghty god by the vertue of pacyence / but yf thou helpe to
counseyle & conferme thy bretherne And teche them to suffre as the grace of
god hath taught the: oro elles thou arte vnkynde. For Salamon sayth that one
brother well counseylled & confermed by an other is a myghty Cyte ayenst the
1 E2 wyllys. 2 E therfore. '3 E as. 4 H sunne.
as myche as Sathanas askep his, it scheweb welle &c.
5 E wyllyngly. 6 E in to. Hin
& al. om. well-other al. om.
Tłempt (ude us: hone)
The remedy against the troubles of temptations.
115
YYY
fende / and therfore they that be sharpely trauaylled and tempted, whan they haue
had' the good counseyle of theyr brother they ought to take comforte to them
sayenge with Dauid whiche sayth: O my soule why arte thou so ynstedfast thus
to assayle and trouble me: trust onely to almyghty god that is full of benygnyte and
mercy, whome I onely confesse and knowelege to serue be I neuer so sore trauaylled
ne troubled. And to suche men thus vexed with thoughtes, mocyons & sterynges
is behouefull to take the counseyle and techynge of the wyse and dyscrete persones
fleynge ytterly theyr owne wylde fantasyes whiche often tymes gretely troubleth
them. And in eschewynge ² of suche temptacyons and troubles they must gyue them-
selfe to good & vertuous occupacyons / as to redynge and sayenge the seruyce
of almyghty god / and doynge other vertuous dedes / and euer amonge prayenge
to almyghty god they may haue strength in theyr soules to resyste suche mocyons
and temptacyons. And though they fynde in themselfe noo maner of swetenes
ne sauour in goddes seruyce: yet they ought not to be heuy therfore yf theyr
wyll and mynde be to fulfyll the same. For as holy wryte sayth euery good wyl
is accepted for the dede. Saynt Barnarde sayth that somtyme god withdraweth
deuocyon from prayer to make the prayer more medefull / for he wyll be serued
somtyme in bytternes and somtyme in swetenes whiche bothe two we muste
mekely receyue. And therfore? Arystotle sayth that with the more dyffyculte and
trauayle vertuous3 ben goten: the more they proufyte and encrease in the soule.
It was no maystry for saynt Peter whan he sawe almyghty god on the hyll of
blysse, to saye / lorde it is good for vs to dwell here. But afterwarde whan be
sawe hym amonges his enemyes cruelly turmented a womans worde fered and
put hym in suche drede that he forsoke and denyed his mayster. But whan
thorugh the myght of the holy ghoost he was reconsyled and confermed agayne :
than was there no turment in erth that kinge or prynce put vnto hym coude
fere hym. Ryght so yf a man be in perfyte rest and quyetnes of herte / it is
no maystry for hym to serue god: But it is a maystry to hym that is in trauayle
and out of quyetnes of berte to serue hym. Therfore that creature that is tempted
or vexed in the seruyce of almyghty god and is in wyll to withstande the sayd
temptacyons tyll he after be strengthed and comforted by the holy ghost the
fende shall neuer haue power to fere ne put hym in drede / for though it be
longe or he fele comforte yet let not hym drede / for our mercyfull sauyour
knoweth what tyme comforte is moost nedefull to hym [&] than* he fayleth not to
gyue it hym. For somtyme the felynge of swetnes is withdrawen from man ors
elles he sholde wexe proude and presumtuous or neglygent and recheles in ver-
tuous lyuynge / and therfore it is withdrawen for the best to the helth of his
soule / wherfore hardnes and sharpenes sente to a creature is full proufytable to
the soule: as saynt Austyn sayth in techynge vs of the maner of almyghty god
that whan a man is feble and newly tourned to hym he gyueth hym peas and
swetnes to the entent to stablysshe hym in his lawe and loue / But whan he is
stablysshed and sadly grounded in his loue: than suffreth he hym to be vexed
and trauaylled, for two reasons / one is to proue hym and to crowne hym the hyer
in the blysse of heuen, An other is to pourge hym of his synnes in this worlde
that in noo wyse he be from hym in the euerlastynge worlde.
CU
Tal. om.
2 H in the mene tyme.
3 r, vertues,
E2 whan.
5 H for.
8*
1508 (C1400) Remedy
Early editions.
[ The syste chapytre.
And for as moche as many men can not nor wyll not in tyme of temptacion
se or perceyue it but haue a dredefulnes and a sorynes in themselfe by sterynge
of theyr compleccyon / therfore to all suche men thre thynges be nedefull &
necessarye. The fyrst is that they be not moche alone. The seconde is that
they thynke ne study to depely in ony one thynge / but fully ordre? them by some
dyscrete persone as afore I sayd / and thoughe it come in theyr mynde that they
sholde be in leopardye or peryll vtterly to be lost: they sholde take no hede of
suche sterynges or thoughtes / for it neuer may tourne them to daunger of theyr
soules. Almyghty god sayth in the gospell: yf the entent of a mannes purpose
be good the dede is good. The thyrde remedye is this / that for as moche as
the fende laboureth to make a man dredefull and sorye / a man agayne ought to
the honour of god and confusyon of the fende to strength hymselfe and be mery
though it be ayenst his herte / and drede noothynge the fendes malyce. For
the lesse gladnes that he feleth in hymselfe the more meryte he shall haue whan
he so enforceth hymselfe to be mery to the honour of god / and in spyte of his
ghoostly enemy the deuyll. For as holy wryte sayth the holy appostles wente
awaye mery & gladde whan the lues enemyes of god had shamefully beten them.
turmenteth hym: The fyrst is that he is troubled by the enemy of god. The
seconde is by suche temptacyons and turmentes the fende sheweth playnly that he
is his enemye, and euery man ought to be gladde that goddes enemy is his enemy.
And the thyrde is that by suche turmentes a man is not onely released of the
paynes in purgatorye but also it maketh hym to wynne euerlastynge blysse. Our
lorde Ihesu sayth in the gospell: blessyd be they that suffreth persecucyon for
ryghtwysnes for they shall haue the kyngdome of heuen.
The seuenth chapytre.
Also it is to vnderstonde that our olde enemy the fende is ofte tymes aboute
to begyle mannes soule in dyuers and many maners / somtyme he styreth man
ynder colour of goodnes to deceyue hym whan he is well dysposed, and specyally
in thre thynges whiche I wyll speke of. One is that though a creature be it
man or woman be neuer so well ne soo ofte shryuen / yet the fende maketh
them byleue they are not well shryuen / and that he dooth to brynge the soule
in heuynes / and so anoyeth & troubleth the poore soule that he maketh hym to
forgete what he wolde saye / & therby maketh hym out of rest tyll he be newly
sbryuen agayne. But this doth he not for that he wolde that ony were often
and well shryuen: but fully to lette and trouble hym, and to make hym byleue
that he were blynded by synne and out of grace wherfore he myght not make
hymselfe clene. The seconde whyle and colour that the fende maketh to with-
drawe goodnes is th[is]* whan a man or a woman by deuout sterynges of thoughtes,
haue felynges of contemplacyon and medytacyon as perauenture some solytarye
persones hath : and he maketh them to thynke that to holde & kepe that medy-
tacyons is to theyr moost proufyte to thentent they sholde leue theyr dyuyne
i om. in E2.
2 H reule.
3 E2 releyshed.
4 E that.
5 om, in E2.
w
Tempt. (w de.es: How
The remedy against the troubles of temptations.
117
seruyce that they be bounde to / and bryngeth them in suche a combraunce that
they wote not whyche waye is best to them to take; and all this he dooth ytterly
to deceyue them and cause them to be vnquyet to doo ony of theym bothe. The
thyrde crafte or wyle that he tempteth with is whan a man or a woman gyueth
them to honest dysporte to strength themselfe ayenst his false wyles to the com-
forte of theyr owne soule? / than wyll the fende cause theym to haue a con-
scyence therof / and putteth in to theyr myndes that all suche dysportesis but
synne and vanyte, And many tymes bryngeth in to theyr myndes agayne the
synnes that they before had done and were confessed of; And all that dooth he
to brynge them in to heuynes and dyscomforte to thentent he 'myght brynge
theym to dyspayre. Neuertheles there be good remedyes in these temptacyons.
For as vnto the (first]å where the fende' whan they be neuer so clene shryuen alwaye
putteth them in a doubte that they haue not shryuen them well or elles that
there is yet some synne in theym that they perceyue not: but for all these fantasyes
they oughte to take noo fere nor thought but verayly thynke that it is by sug-
gestyon of theyr ghostly enemy that wolde lette theym from rest and peas of
theyr soules; and though it be so somtyme that by the meane of suche fantasyes
and troubles they forgete some thynge of theyr charge whiche they. ought for to
haue sayd: lette hym than be confessed yf he may, and yf he may not con-
uenyently and lyghtly haue his confessour: than lette hym haue a full wyll and
purpose to be confessed as soone“ as he can possyble, And in the meane tyme
crye.god mercy and with a contryte herte aske forgyuenes for his synnes / and
than trust fully it is forgyuen hym; for a man is not soo redy to aske forgyuenes
and mercy: but our mercyfull lorde of his grete goodnes is moche more redy to
forgyue theym. And as to the seconde temptacyon wherby the fende wolde lette
a man from his dyuyne seruyce that he is bounde vnto ytterly. temptynge hym to
leue it: than ought he to be the more dylygent deuoutly & reuerently with good
aduysement to saye it; & yf it be so he say alone his seruyce he may whan
good thoughtes come or that it wyll please god with swetenes or some hye
vysytacyon of the holy ghoost to vysyte and touche hym? | than shall it be but
well done for to stynte of his seruyce & attende to that medytacyon for a tyme,
and after to saye forth / soo that his seruyce that he is bounde vnto be not lefte
vnsayd or vndone; and in thus doynge it shall be but lytell lettynge to his
seruyce / and he shall fynde grete comforte and ease therin; For though it lette
hym for the tyme: it shall well further hym to the quyckenes of his soule an
other tyme. The thyrde temptacyon is this: whan a man in due tyme gyueth
hymselfe to honest company & dysporte for the strength and comforte of his
soule / and the fende putteth in his mynde his synnes tofore & done and that
he synneth in vayne spendynge the tyme; for all suche temptacions gyue ye no
charge for it is the ghostly enemy that so tempteth and troubleth you; For
neuertheles ye may be sure that all thynge whiche is truly grounded in god
pleaseth his goodnes & nothynge offendeth hym. Wherfore all goddes seruauntes
must grounde them fastely in god / and do by the counseyle of holy chyrche /
and yf they soo doo they shall neuer be deceyued | and therforé a man that
1
1 E2 soules. 2 Ez dysporte. 3 E last.
dyspose them to honest dysporte. And also &c.
8 Ez before.
E adds: putteth them in a fere / whan they
5 al. om. GF2 sowne. 7 Ez hem.
1508 (61400) Remedy
118
Early editions.
hath ben sore troubled wel done it is to take hym to dysporte in dyspyte of the
fende / and put awaye all other fantasyes / and at tyme conuenyent to aske god
mercy of his offences and to praye vnto hym for grace.
The eyght chapytre.
Also the fende is full besy to meue? men & women to? tender conscience /
and' to brynge them in suche erroures and maketh them wene somtyme whan
they do euyll they do noo synne, And somtyme that is well done they thynke it
synne, and maketh a venyall synne as greuous as a deedly; And somtyme also
the fende encombreth them so gretely that what soeuer they do or leue vndone
they be so sore bytten in conscyence that they can no whyle togyder haue ony
rest in themselfe. And all this the cruell enemy dooth by the meane of puttynge
them in a false drede and blynde conscyence that he bryngeth them to. But
the remedy of these and all other temptacyons is to be gouerned by theyr con-
fessour or some other dyscrete persone / and fully put them to theyr rule as
afore is sayd and nothynge folowe theyr owne blynde conscyence; For yf they
folowe theyr owne conscyence it were a grete pryde / in that he wolde holde
his owne wytte better than the true counseyle of holy chyrche. For a man that
so wyll doo must nedes fall in grete errours and in to the fendes handes. And
yf suche an errour of conscyence made to you by your ghostly enemy make you
thynke that other men fele not that ye fele And for that cause they can not
gyue you good counseyle or remedye, And therfore ye nedes must folowe youre
owne fantasyes: yet for all this charge not your herte therwith / but put away
all suche errours of conscyence as fast as they come to mynde / and let them
not tarye ne sinke in your soule. And yf ony persone wyll saye that they may
not ne can not put theym awaye they saye not truly / for who so is in very. wyll
to doo away ony suche false suggestyon, tofore º god it is put awaye though they
haue in them neuer soo false demynges, and therfore haue he? neuer so many of
them ayenst the wyll of his conscyence: be nedeth not to drede them. For out
of doubte almyghty god wyll comforte hym or he dye / and the lenger tyme
that he suffreth suche vexacyon and trouble the more is he thankefullS in the
syght of god.
The nynth chapytre.
Also though the fende put in you ony thought of dyspayre or make you to
thynke that in the houre of deth ye shall haue suche euyll thoughtes and greuous
sterynges, and that ye than shall be but lost: yet for all that byleue hym noo
thynge / but answere that ye haue fully put your truste in god / and therfore for
all his temptacions by the grete power of almyghty god and merytes of his
passyon thynke verayly. it shall be to you noo peryll of soule / but tourne to the
shame and confusyon of your ghostly enemye. And yf ony creature man or woman
speke to you sharpe or dyscomfortable wordes / take it mekely and pacyently &
thynke that perauenture it is done by the temptacyon of the fende to trouble and
lette you / or that it is a' chastysynge of god for some worde or dede that ye haue
done contraryė to his wyll. For our lorde god dooth lyke a kynde moder; for
I al. om. 2 H of. 3 H þat þey wene. «E loue. 5 H þerfore. 6 E2 before. E ye.
8 H worpi. 9 om. in E2.
I Tempt. (W de W. don')
..
5
2
The remedy against the troubles of temptations.
119
a louynge moder that is wyse and well taught herselfe she wolde that her chyldren
were vertuously and well nortured / and yf she may knowe ony of theym with a
defaute she wyll gyue theym a knocke on the heed / and yf the defaute be more
she wyll gyue hym a buffet on the cheke , and yf he doo a grete faute she wyll
sharpely lasshe hym with a rodde. And thus dooth god that is our louynge fader
from whome all vertue and goodnes cometh. He wyll that his specyall chosen
chyldren be vertuously and well taught in theyr soules / and yf they doo a defaute
he wyll knocke them on theyr hedes with some wordes of dyscomforte and dys-
pleasure, and yf they doo a greter faute he wyll gyue them a buffet with grete
sharpenes in sondry maners after the dyuerse condycyon of the defautes / and yf
they doo a moche greter trespas than he chastyseth theym moche more sharpely.
And all this our blessyd lord doth for the specyall loue he hath ynto vs / for
as he sayth hymselfe: them that he loueth / them he chastyseth. Now truly,
and we toke good hede of these wordes we wolde be gladder of his chastysynge
than of all this worldes cherysshynge / and yf we so dyde / all dysease and
trouble sholde tourne vs to comforte and Ioye. But it is full harde thus to doo?
in the tyme of sharpe heuynes whan a soule standeth naked from all ghoostly
and bodely comforte, to take and fynde Ioye invidysease; al be it? they that be
in suche inwarde dures they must seke in all wayes how they may comforte
themselfe in god / and thynke and trust fully that god sente : neuer suche chasty-
synge but that he wolde in longe tyne or in shorte sende comforte wherby they
sholde be brought out of these heuynes. For the prophete sayth many be the
trybulacyons of ryghtwysmen, and all suche god shall delyuer. And though
ye fele somtymés sterynges of (dyspayre or of]* vnkyndly euyll thoughtes com-
forte you euer in the goodnes of god ) and in the paynefull passyon that his
manhode suffredde: for you; for the fende tempteth many of the seruauntes of
god to dysperacyon and drede of saluacyon / as well worldely men as other
ghoostly lyuers / puttynge in worldely mennes myndes the greuousnesse of theyr
synnes / and to the ghoostly lyuers he putteth drede & strayte conscyence in
many more sondry wyses than I can tell: and full gracyously god hathe com-
forted theym and brought theym out of theyr errours. And now I am styred and
moued for to tell you of one of them whiche was a squyer that hyght Iohñ
Holmesº. A narracyon. This squyer that I haue named had ben a grete synfull
man / and soo at the last thorugh' the beholdynge of his grete synnes, And by
the temptacyon of the fende, he fell in to dyspayre, soo depely and greuously that
he had nygh loste hys mynde. And thus he was troubled forty dayes that he
myght neyther slepe ne ete but wasted awaye and was in the poynte to destroye
hymselfe. But that blessyd gracyous lorde that is soo full of mercy and pyte
wolde not haue hym loste. And vpon a day as he walked in a wood alone an
aungell came to hym in fourme of a man and saluted the squyer full goodly /
and talked with hym in full curteys maner / sayenge vnto hym: man thou semest
to haue grete heuynes and sorowe / tell me I praye the the cause of thy dys-
ease. Nay sayd the squyer it is not to be tolde to the. Yes hardely sayd the
aungell / thou wotest not how well I may helpe and remoue thy dysease; For
a man beynge in dyscomforte & sholde alwaye dyscouer bis heuynes to some
1 thus to doo al. om. ?H but. 3 E2 sende.
69 Homeleys. 7 E2 throught. Ez dyscomforted.
E desyres of suche.
5 E suffreth.
.1508 (11400)
remedy
I 20
Early editions.
creature that myght ease hym / for thorugh good counseyle he myght recouer
comforte and hele / or in some wyse haue remedye. The squyer answered the
aungell agayne and sayd that he wyste well he neyther. coude ne myght helpe
hym, And therfore he wolde not tell it to hym. This sayd! squyer wenynge ?
alway that this aungell had ben an erthly man / and dredde that yf he had
tolde it vnto hym he sholde haue sayd some worde that sholde vtterly haue
greued hym more. And whan the aungell sawe he wolde by no way tell it
vnto hym / he sayd vnto the squyer in this wyse: Now sythe thou wylte not
tell me thy greue I shall tell it the. Thou arte sayd the aungell in dyspayre
of thy saluacyon: but trust me faythfully thou shalte be saued / for the mercy of
god is so grete that it passeth all his werkes / and surmounteth all synnes. It
is sothe sayd the squyer, I wote wel that god is mercyfull, but he is also ryghtfull
and his ryghtwysnes must nedes punysshe synne, And therfore I drede his ryght-
full lugementes. The aungell spake vnto hym agayne and tolde hym many grete
examples how gracyous and mercyfull our lorde god is to synners. But the
squyer of whome we spake was so depely fallen in dyspayre that he coude take
no comforte of ony thinge that he coude saye. Than the aungell spake agayne
to hym in this maner: O sayd he that thou arte harde of byleue! but wylte thou
haue an open shewynge that thou shalte be saued? Than sayd he to be squyer
I haue here thre dyce that I wyll throwe, and thou shalte throwe them also /
& who that hath moost of4 the dyce sykerly shall be saued. A sayd the squyer
how myght I in this throwynge of the dyce be certayne of my saluacyon? / &
helde it but a Iape; / that notwithstandynge the aungell threwe the dyce and he
had on eriery of the dyce vpwarde the nombre of syxe. And he than bad the
squyer throwe the dyce. O than sayd the squyer certaynly that dare I not doo /
for I wote well though I caste , more than thou hast caste sholde I not cast ne
haue / and yf I had lesse than sholde I fall in ferther dyscomforte. / But so
specyally the aungell desyred and spake that at the last the squyer threwe the
dyce , and in throwynge by the gracyous myght and power of god euery dyce
deuyded in two / & on euery dyce was the nombre of syxe / and so he had the
double that the aungell had. And as he was meruaylynge therupon the aungell
sente from'god to brynge hym out of his sorowe / and than he toke moche
comforte and loye in the grete mercy & goodnes of god in suche maner that all
his dredes and sorowes were clene departed / and he became a vertuous man
and the very seruaunt of god / and lyued blessydly. And whan he sholde departe
from this worlde he deuysed there sholde be a stone layde vpon hym / with
these wordes wryten aboute it that foloweth: Here lyeth Iohñ holmes that of
the mercy of god may saye a largesS. I knoweº a worshypfull persone that was
in the same abbey here in englonde where as he lyeth, that redde the same
wordes afore sayd wryten on his tombe. Now than sythen our mercyfull lorde
god sent?0 thus his gracyous comforte to this man that was a worldly synfull man
& receyued hym to grace and brought bym. out of dyspayre: There sholde noo
man be dyscomforted nor dyspayre of ony temptacyons / for hardely god wyll
I E sady. 2 H wend.
S E alargys, H alageys.
3 al, om.
9 Ei knewe.
4 H on. 5H clafe.
20 E2 send.
6 H halfe.
7 Ez wolde.
کیا مدل
ولی
The remedy against the troubles of temptations.
ons
.
121
comforte hym whan he seeth his tyme ! and thoughe he sende not a man com-
forte shortely it shall be to his more mede / & therfore? thynke alwaye whan ye
thynke of? ony temptacyons bodely or ghostly that ye stande in the blessynges of
all holy chyrche / for holy wryte sayth : blessyd be they that suffreth temptacyons,
For whan they be well proued they shall haue the crowne of lyf the whiche
almyghty god hath promysed to them that loue hym.
1 The tenth chapytre.
O ye chyldren of holy chyrche that hath forsaken the worlde for the helth
of your soules & pryncypally to please god: comforte you in hym whome ye haue
chosen to loue and serue / for he wyll be to you full free and large : as ye may se
by example of Peter in the gospell where as he asked our lorde Ihesu cryst what
rewarde he sholde haue that had forsaken all thynge to folowe hym, And our
lorde answered bym and sayd that he sholde Iuge with hym the twelue trybes
of kynredes of Israell at the daye of dome; and ferthermore our lorde sayd also
vnto him that not onely one or two or some / but he sayd all tho 3 that forsake
for his loue kynne / frendes / possessyons 1 or ony erthly goodes: they shall
haue in this lyfe an hondred folde moreº / and after blesse withouten ende. Ther-
fore syster cast awaye all suche: false dredes that wolde trouble and lette you
from loue and hope of our mercyfull lorde god / for no thynge pleaseth soo moche
the fende as to se the soules withdrawe from the loue of god And therfore
he besyeth hymselfe full sore daye and nyght to lette and trouble loue and peas
in mannes soule) and on the other syde noo thynge confoundeth nor dyscomforteth
hym so moche as whan he seeth a man sette all his desyre to haue the loue of
god. Alas though ye fele not that feruent loue of god / shall ye by your Imagy-
nacyon fall in dyscomforte and heuynes of herte / & thynke yourselfe lost? Nay /
nay / put awaye all suche dyscomfortable heuynes & thynke well it cometh of
your enemy the fende / & euer haue a good wyl to loue and please god / and
prynte well these wordes in your herte that a good wyll is accepte[d] as for a' dede
in the syght of god; and comforte you alwaye in the name of Thesu / for Ihesu
is as moche to saye as a sauyour / & therfore thynke well euer therupon / &
bere it in your mynde with his passyon , and also his other grete vertues / for
nothynge shall so soone put awaye all dredefull temptacyons & fantasyes as the
remembrannce of this name Ihesu / his bytter passyon and gloryous vertues.
These thre be shelde and spere / armure , & strength to dryue downe the fendes
power be he neuer so fyersly set to tempte man or woman; & specyally to
thynke on his grete vertues: how god the fader in hymselfe hath all dyuyne nature
&? in whome is all myght and power and to whome is all thynge possyble and
no thynge impossyble to hym, And god the sonne is all wysdome that all thynge
may make and gouerne 8 / and god the holy ghoost is all loue and bounte that
in a moment of tyme all synnes may forgyue. I saye not to you thre goddes
but thre persones and one god / in whome is all blysse and glory. He is so
fayre and bryght shynynge that all the aungelles meruayle of his beaute / his
gloryous blessydfull 10 beaute &" presence fedeth and fulfylleth all the courte of
-
---
lal, om. 2 H fele.
8 H made & gouerne).
3 E, those.
9 E, mynnte.
4 H mede. 5 E, blysse. 6 E excepte.
10 H blessful. 11 beaute & al. om.
7 H
is.
15ѕѕ сrse Коопад
I 22
Early editions.
heuen with suche myrthe and melody that is euerlastynge. In hym is all benyg-
nyte kepynge vs from vengeaunce / and in hym is all grace and gentylnes / curtesy /
fredome , and largenes i pyte / mercy / and forgyuenes / Ioye / swetenes / and
endles helth; our socour he is in all trybulacyons whan we call vpon hym / our
comforte / our strength / our helpe / and our soules helth. Iwys syster this
is [y]our spouse / whome ye desyre to loue and please; the gretenes of his vertues
ne the multytude of his Ioyes whiche spredeth to all them that be in the courte
of heuen noo herte can thynke nor tonge tell / for the blessydnes of his pre-
sence can neyther be sayd nor wryten. Ioye ye therfore jin four lorde cryst
Ihesu' / for he hath bought you full dere to brynge you to that blysse / and ther-
fore saye to hym: O holy god in whome is all goodnes / whose pyte and mercy
made the to descende from the hygh trone downe in to this wretched worlde
the valay of woo and wepynge / and here to take our nature /.and in that nature
thou suffre[a]st payne and passyon with cruell sharpe deth to brynge our soules to
thy kyngdome: Therfore mercyfull lorde forgyue me all my synnes that I haue
done / thought / and sayd. Gloryous trinite sende me clennes of herte / purete
of soule / restore me with thy holy vertues / strength me with thy myght / that.
I alway may withstande the fende and all euyll temptacyons. O good lorde
comforte me with thy holy ghoost and fulfyll me with perfyte grace and charyte:
that I may from hens forth lyue vertuously And loue the with all my herte /
with all my myght and with all my soule / so that I neuer offende the but euer
to folowe thy pleasures in wyll / worde / thought and dede; now graunte me
this good lorde that arte infynyte / whiche eternally shall endure. And now
good syster yf ye doo thus I hope it shall do you grete ease. And thoughe ye
fynde noo maner of comforte, swetnes nor deuocyon whan ye wolde / be not
therfore dyscomforted , but suffre it mekely. For ryght many there be that stryue
with themselfe as though they wolde haue swete deuocyon by maystry: And I
saye you for trouth so wyll it not be had / but by mekenes moche sooner it may
be goten, And that is as thus that a man holde and thynke hymselfe vnworthy
to haue ony swetnes or comforte & offre hymselfe lowly to the wyll of god and
put his wyll fully to the wyll and mercy of that blessyd lorde ; for a man sholde
not desyre to haue that swetnes & deuocyon for his owne comforte and pleasaunce:
but purely and onely entendynge to please god and to folowe his wyll / and than?
it suffyseth ynto vs whether we haue it or noo3. Some also weneth that and they
haue not suche swetnes & deuocyon that they be out of grace: but certaynly
some there be that in themselfe feleth noo swetnes nor deuocyon that be in
more grace then the other that feleth' it / for they haue many comfortes / and
better it were mekenes without felynge than felynge without mekenes. Therfore
syster suffre mekely and pacyently what euer falleth ynto you , & euer haue a
good wyll to do that may be moost pleasynge to god / and whan ony dyscomforte
cometh by temptacyon or ymagynacyon of your enemy haue the wordes in your
mynde that ofte is sayd in this wrytynge before, whiche is that a good wyll
shall be accepted for a dede/ for and ye desyre to be vertuous and to loue and
please god it is accepted as for dede before our lorde god / yf you so folowe
1 E cryst Ihesu cryst.
2 E2 whan.
3 E2 not.
1 E2 fleth.
5 E excepted.
de uso
w
(Alanus de Rupe on the origin of the Rosary).
123
it with your myght and power / as whan reason cometh to you with a desyrefull
wyll to lyue and doo well; and yf ye ony tyme fele comforte & swetnes and after
fele these temptacyons as ye dyde before / yet be ye not dyscomforted therfore
ne thynke therupon, Say not alas it is comen agayne it wyll neuer away from
me, And by the meane of your owne ymagynacyon fall agayne in discomforte;
doo not soo / but comforte you in god / & be gladde that the fende hath enuy
vnto you for whyle the lyfe is in the body he wyll alwaye trouble and tary the
seruauntes of god / he is so fully sette ayenst them with al malyce to dysease
and dyscomforte theym in all the dyuerse maners that he can or may. Saynt
Augustyne sayth þat? in many maner wayes temptacyons be hadde by the whiche
the serpent adder enemye to all mankynde tourmenteth mannes soule. And saynt
Gregorye sayth that there is noo thynge in the worlde (in] whiche we ought to be
soo syker of god as whan we haueạ these tourmentes and troubles. And yf a
man saye that bodely turmentes be medeful and not ghoostly turmentes he sayth
not ryght / for doubtles the ghoostly tourmentes be more greuous and paynefull
that come ayenst mannes wyll than be bodyly tourmentes / and soo moche more
be they medefully, and therfore many men doo dyshonour to god that sayth with
full aduysement that the fende in this world may more turment than god may
gyue meryte / wherfore truly there is no thynge more medefull, charytable nor
more godly than for to strength and comforte the soule that the fende soo
troubleth / for who so comforteth them that be dyssolate and in sorowe the lorde
of comforte Ihesu cryste our lorde and god wyll comforte them without ende
in the blysse of heuen / the whiche lorde thorugh the myght and meryte of his
paynefull passyon and precyous blode hath put downe Þe power of þe fendes* Į
& hath graunted to crysten soules the vyctory ouer them to the worscyp: of all
the hole trynyte / fader / sone / and holy ghoost that lyueth & reyneth with-
outen ende. Amen.
9 Here endeth be remedy ayenst the troubles of temptacyons.
13.)
Do not
quote.
See
Bit
coad for
Here begynneth a deuoute medytacyon in sayenge deuoutly þe psalter
of our lady with dyuers ensamples. (Picture: Mary and the child).
(Translated from Alanus de Rupe, see Beati Alani Redivivi Rupensis tractatus
mirabilis de ortu atque progressu Psalterii Christi & Mariae, ejusque Confraterni-
tatis, auctore J. A. Coppestein, Venet. 1665, Cap. 59, p. 416)".
He gloryous mayster Iohñ of the mounte in his moryall? telleth / whiche also
I founde in þe boke of frere Thomas of the temple. In the tyme pats moost
blessyd Domynyck the noble fader and leder moost famouse of þe ordre of
prechers / preched throughout the worlde in many regyons and exhorted in-
cessauntly pe people to the laude and prayse of be blessyd marye vyrgyn ynde-
fyled / & to her angelyke confraternyte: It fortuned hym to preche at Rome in
the audyence of the grete prelates of the worlde, and shewed by fygures and
examples this blessyd vyrgyn to be saluted moost specyally by her psalter. All
they meruaylled of thaffluence of his wordes, They were astonyed at the
1 E he. 2 E gaue. 3 E nedefull.
4 Aug., S. Dominicus, Proleg. $ 3; 2; 19.
E fondes.
? r. Mariale.
5 E worstyp. Cf. Act. SS. Boll.
s E he?" 9 r. he? 10 E2 worde.
1.
See
Do not
Bib
I 24
Early editions.
grete wonders. To whome he sayd: O faythfull and true lordes and other
true louers of the fayth: here this synguler holsome sayeng'e to you all / that
ye may veryly knowe those thynges whiche I haue spoken to be true: Take
the psalter of this blessyd vyrgyne / and in sayenge it: call deuoutely vnto your
remembraunce the passyon of cryste: Thus I shewe ynto you that ye shall haue
in experyence the spyryte of god?. Truely soo greate a flambe may not stonde
in ony place without makynge hote, Neyther soo grete lyghte without gyuynge
lyght / nor soo godly à medycyne without the vertue of makynge hole. What
sholde I saye more? all the people gaue audyence and in maner astonyed:
they meruaylled of his godly wordes i [&] many persones not onely of the comyn
people, but also of grete prelates of the chyrche as reuerende cardynalles and
many honourable bysshoppes toke vpon them to saye this psalter of our lady / to
thentent they myght gete some grace of almyghty god. A méruayllous thynge:
The cyte beynge in trouble / dyuerse multyplycacyon of prayers was (made]
amonges * the people in euery state or degre. For truly thou myght se bothe
mornynge / euenynge / and at myddaye men and women euerywhere berynge the
psalter of our lady. Cardynalles whiche be named the pyllers of the worlde and
bysshoppes shamed not to bere in theyr handes & at theyr gyrdelles these soo
grete tokens of the godhede and of our fayth veryly to be byleued. Truely by
the myracles of our lady shewed by saynt Domynyck they doubted not but in
excercysynge of this psalter s goddes helpe to be redy at all tymes. What more?
All that dyde assaye this psalter perceyued some knowlege of the pyte of god.
And amonges * all I shall shewė this wonder or myracle onely folowynge.
At Rome was a certayne mysdysposed woman of her body, moost famouse aboue
all other lyke dysposed / in beaute / eloquence / apparayle / and worldly gladnes /
whiche fortuned gracyously to haue the psalter of our lady by thaduyse 6 of holy
saynt Domynyk / whiche she hydde vnder her kyrtell and sayd it many tymes
on the daye. But alas she neuertheles vsed the vnlawfull flesshely pleasure and
vnclennes of her body aboue all other / more men resorted to her than to ony
other woman of suche vayne dysposycyon. This woman, named fayre Katheryne
for the incomperable beaute of her body, contynued in her mysse-lyuynge? | and
ones on the day at the leest she dyde vysyte the chyrche sayenge the psalter of
our lady / and thus was her medytacyon and thought: The fyrst fyfty she sayd
for the infancye of cryst in the whiche hře bare all his passyon to come, and yf
it were not at that tyme in execucyon / neuertheles it was in his entent and
mynde. The seconde fyfty she sayd for crystes passyon exhybyte and done
ryally8 lyke as he suffred in his manhode. The thyrde fyfty she sayd for the
passyon of cryste as it was in his godhede / not bycause the godhede as the god-
hede myght suffre / but bycause this infynyte godhede loued so moche the nature
of man / that yf it had ben mortall it sholde haue suffred deth; Therfore by-
cause the eternall wysdome of god in hymselfe myght not dye for vs / he toke
vpon hym our manhode / whiche his wyll was sholde suffre passyon & dye for
all mankynde. And as this fayre Katheryne thus contynued in prayenge / it
happened on a season as she wente aboute Rome wandrynge after her olde
1 E2 ynto. 2 E1 & 2 add: bothe in sayenge and in forgyuynge (a senseless addition). 3 E2
multyplycacyons. 4 E2 amonge. 5 C in tali exercitio. 6C ex manibus. 7C Perseuerauit
... in suo psalterio. 8 E royally.
quota
Card dow
temedy I Trusted
(Alanus de Rupe on the origin of the Rosary).
125
maner / a meruayllous fayre man mette her & sayd: Heyle Katheryne / why stondest
thou here / hast thou noo dwellynge place? To whome she answered sayenge : Syr
I haue a dwellynge place and euery thynge in it ordred to the best and goodlyest
maner. To whome he sayd: This nyghte wyll I soupe with the. She answered: I
graunt with all myne herte , and what soeuer thou wylte haue I shall gladly pre-
pare. Thus goynge hande in hande they came vnto her hous where as were many
wenches of lyke dysposycyon. Souper was prepared and this vnknowen geste sate
with fayre Katheryne / the one dranke to the other. But euery thynge that this
straunge geste touched / were it drynke or other thynge lyke' / anone turned? in
to blody colour, with a meruayllous excellent smell & swete sauour. She meruay-
lynge sayd to hym: Syr what arte thou / eyther it is not well with me 3 elles.
thou arte very meruaylous / for euery thinge that thou touchest is anone made
of blody colour. And he answered sayenge: Knowest thou not that a crysten
man neyther eteth nor drynketh but that is dyed or coloured with the blode of
cryste. Thus this woman was merayllously abasshed of this straunger / soo moche
that she fered for to touche hym. Notwithstondynge she sayd: Syr I well
perceyue by your countenaunce that ye be a man of grete reuerence: I beseche
you whobe ye , and from whens comes ye? To whome he sayd: Whan we
be togyder in thy chaumbre / I shall shewe the all thyn askynges. And thus.
lefte in doubte of the mater: she made redy the chaumbre. This woman
Katheryne wente fyrst to bedde / & desyred the straunger to come to bedde to.
her. A wonderful thynge and suche one as in maner neuer was herde of ony
creature : Sodeynly this straunger chaunged hymselfe in to the shappe of a lytell
chylde / bare vpon his heed a crowne of thorne / vpon his sholder a crosse /
and tokens of his passyon with innumerable woundes vpon all his body / and.
sayd vnto Katheryne: O Katheryne now leue thy folysshenes. Beholde / now
thou seest the passyon of Cryste veryly as it was in his infancye for the whiche
thou sayd the fyrst fyfty of thy psalter. I shewe ynto the / that from the fyrste
houre of my concepcyon vnto my deth I bare contynually this payne in myne
herte / whiche for thy sake was soo grete that yf euery lytell pece or stone of
grauell in be see were a chylde and euery one of them had as moche payne as.
euer suffred al the men in the worlde at theyr deth: yet all they togyder suffre
not so grete payne as I suffred for the. This woman was sore abasshed seynge
and herynge this wonder. And anone agayne he was tourned in to the lykenes
of a man, euen after the same fourme whiche he had the tyme of his passyon
ryallº, And sayde : Doughter beholde now thou seest how grete paynes I suffered
for the / whiche dooth excede all the paynes of helle / for my power of suffrynge
is of god and not of man. And my passyon was so grete that yf it bad ben
deuyded amonge all creatures of the worlde / they sholde all haue dyed or ben
dystroyed. After this sey[i]nge he chaunged hymselfe in to the clerenes of the
sonne / notwithstandynge the tokens of his passyon remaynynge also gloryously" /
in all his woundes were sene al and infynyte creatures of the worlde for com-
passyon of the same , and he sayd vnto her:
(new page, and picture)
lom, in E2; C aliquid simile.
fiunt sanguinea. 4 E2 whome.
2 E2 all it t.
5 E2 came.
3 C aut sum insana, aut cuncta quae tangitis
E royall. ? E& 2 add: he apered.
Do no
Early editions.
126
See
Prebeo
BEholde i take hede / now thou seest what I suffred' in my godhede for thyn
helth ; syth all thynges be in me and I in euery thynge / in all these I se the /
I loue the / & in them all I am redy to suffre eternally the payne for thy soules
helth whiche thou seest, for my loue is jinfynyte (after saynt Dyonyse) and all
thynges in me be infynyte as the same Dyonyse sheweth. Therfore knowe the
mekenesof god / and call to mynde the threfolde passyon of cryste / for the
whiche thou sayd thryse fyfty Aues , & fyftene Pater nosters, And here after
amende thyselfe / that as thou were before the example of all malyce and vnclene
lyuynge / soo now from this tyme forwarde (pou) lyue in suche maner that thou may
be to all other a myrrour of purete and clennes. I do not appere to the for thy
merytes but onely for an example of penaunce / and byçause thy brethren and
systers of myn vndefyled moders fraternyte haue prayed for the / that by thy
conuersacyon many sholde be conuerted and be the chyldren of god / lyke as
before innumerable were made the chyldren of the deuyll by thy wyckednes.
What more? This vysyon vanysshed awaye. It was also vnfayned / for the
woman afterwarde felte in her handes and fete the sorowe of crystes passyon /
and in other partes of her body. Therfore she rose from synne & toke her to
penaunce / and on the morowe after made her confessyon to saynt Domynyk ;
to whome he enioyned“ in penaunce to saye the psalter of the blessyd vyrgyn Marye
as she was wonte to doo, and to be one of her fraternyte i whyche she had
not before in dede but onely in purpose and entents as it is afore sayd; where
it is to be noted how moche this sayd fraternyte is worth to them whiche haue it
in dede / syth it was soo grete valure to this woman hauynge it but in purpose.
[&] whyles that she prayed deuoutely ynto this vyrgyn Marye / the same blessyd
lady appered to her with saynt Katheryne, sayenge to her: Doughter beholde /
take hede / thou hast synned moche: therfore thou must suffre grete penaunce;
for this cause take in penaunce euery daye thre dyscyplynes or thre correccyons /
wherof euery one shall be of lv. strokes whiche make a penytencyall psalter.
She sayd also / it shall not alwaye nede to haue a rodde / but prycke the with
thy nayles / or pynche thy flesshe in euery place. Thou mayst at all tymes doo
this penaunce ayenst euery wycked temptacyon and for to obteyne all goodnes /
and this is a royall', preuy penaunce and naturall, It may be called the quene of
all penaunces. This woman herde all these wordes and fulfylled them in dede.
And as she was thus dayly penytent: vpon a tyme saynt Domynyk anaunced by
the power of god sawe in the nyght a wonderfull thynge to all the worlde. He
perceyued that from the hous of this same' Katheryne yssued out .lv. flodes from
the membres of a lytell chyld / ewhiche flodes descended to hell, in whose comynge
the soules, there to be purged, were gretely comforted. O how grete and Ioyfull
noyses made they than: how many blessynges gaue they vnto this sayd Katheryne ;
veryly the erth sounded agayne to theyr voyces for Ioye. There were soules
delyuered / comforted / made hole & excluded from theyr paynes, by the medyta-
cyon that Katheryne had of crystes passyon in his chyldehode. She was alwaye
aboute to applye it to the comforte of all true crysten soules departed out of this
worlde. O meruaylous thynge: After this saynt Domynyk sawe a man entre
(D
i C patior nunc. 2 C clementiam.
5 E2 intent. 6 Ez of v. Ez ryall.
purgatorium.
3 C Disparet visio, nec fuit inanis. 4 E2 inioyne.
s C sublimatus; r. anhaunsed. 9 E2 saynt. 10 Cad
nedy
T Tembt
.
*
3. Лоу QA
Alapus de Rupe on the origin of the Rosary).
127
in to Katheryns chaumbre / & from .v. (woundes] ^ of his body yssewed out .lv.
[fountaynes] ? whiche nourysshed and watred all the chyrche mylytante / and also
this present worlde; trees and plantes dyde burgyn / byrdes and fysshes were
quyckened / true crysten people were bathed in those flodes 3. O how grete
swetenes was there and how grete worldly gladnes. All creatures blessyd this
woman Katheryne and prayed for her to almyghty god maker of all thynges.
And these two meruaylles were shewed for the fyrst fyfty and the seconde. And
where as this penytent Katheryne began the thyrde fyfty of her psalter, Saynt
Domynyk sawe a meruaylous grete gyaunt clerer than the lyght" / of whome yssewed
out fyue fountaynes / of the fyue fountaynes sprange fyftyø flodes whiche neyther
descended to therth , nor to hell / but meruayllously ascended togyder ynto
heuen, And by them all heuenly paradyse was watred. Theyr swetenes was so
grete that the aungelles and holy sayntes dyde drynke of theym / gyuynge grete
thankes to almyghty god. Whan saynt Domynyck sawe all these meruaylles as
Thomas of the temple wryteth: he meruaylled gretly why they sholde be shewed
and done in the hous of so grete a synner. To whome marye the vyrgyn appered
and sayd: O my frende Domynyk why doost thou meruayle in suche causes ?
Knowest thou not I am a frende to all synners and that the mekenes of god is
in me? It was my wyll to shewe these vysyons to the of this my doughter that
thou sholde preche them to the worlde / for this entent that no crysten persone
be theyr synnes neuer so grete sholde dyspayre in ony condycyon, but alwaye
trust in god and his mercy / and namely they that wyll flee vnder my proteccyon
with this woman Katheryne. The holy vyrgyn and martyr saynt Katheryne socoured
her very moche whiche alwaye she loued and serued with some prayer from her
yonge aege / for the congruence of the name 6. More ouer the blessyd moder
of god sayd: O Domynyk thou haste sene these meruaylles : Here now and
preche that I soo holy and meke shall saye. Shewe that I haue purchased of any
sone to all suche as sayth my psalter and are of my fraternyte / they shall haue
the same excellence whiche the sayd Katheryne hath. & though they can not se
it in this worlde, lykewyse as men can not se god / his aungelles / the deuylles /
neyther theyr merytes and vertues in this lyfe, Also they can not se the vertue
of a precyous stone' nor of the sterres: therfore the knowlege of heuenly thynges
must be moche ferther from them; Notwithstondynge they shall beholde this
excellence after theyr deth. Therfore Domynyk be of good comforte [&] preche my
psalter & my fraternyte / for vnto all suche as hath them I haue purchased not
onely to se this excellence / but also to haue it eternally in possessyon. What
sholde I saye more ? Saynt Domynyck gaue thankes to almyghty god for his
grete mercy. And this Katheryne made herselfe a recluse [&] she dystrybuted her
goodes to the poore people. Whiche afterwarde was of so grete holynes that
many 8 very holy persones came ynto her bycause of her godly reuelacyons. To
whome appered our lorde Ihesu .c.9 dayes & fyfty before her departynge out
of this lyfe shewynge the tyme of her deth / whiche afterwarde departed out of
this lyfe very holy. Thre holy vyrgyns one named Iohanne 10 | an other Martha /
the thyrde Lucya ?! sawe her soule departe from the body bryghter than the sonne /
13C fountayncs. 2 E woundes. 3 E2 fode.
6-6 om in C i C magnetis. 8 E2 very many.
suae. 10 E, Lohane. 11 E. Lucie.
4 C luce solari clariorem. 5 C .Iv.
9 Ez a hundreth; C ante dies xv mortis
SY
ot
Guote -
o you
see raub cara
Remede Tranp
128
Early) editions.com
bytwene the armes of her spouse cryst. Her sepulture is in the chyrche of saynt
Iohñ lateranence. All crysten people by this take hede of how grete vertue
the psalter of our lady is with the remembraunce of crystes passyon / it is alwaye
in strength bothe in lyf and at the houre of deth. Therfore let vs prayse and
laude our lorde Ihesu and Marye his moder in theyr psalter / to thentent we
may deserue to haue the Ioyes of heuen / here by grace , & after this lyfe
by glorye.
Here endeth a deuoute medytacyon in sayenge deuoutly the psalter of
our lady with dyuers ensamples. Enprynted at London in Fletestrete
at the sygne of the sonne. By Wynkyn de Worde. Anno domini
.M.CCCCC.viii. the fourth daye of February?.
1 E2 Iohann.
2 E2 The yere of our lorde M.ccccc.xix, the .xxi. daye of Ianuarius.
ele&
Frattes.
130-273
Emainan
The Psalter,
in verse.
Ms. Vespas. D VII.
This translation of the Psalter is extant in 3 northern Mss.: Vespas. D VII,
Egerton 614, and Harl. 17701, and was ed. from Ms. Vesp., together with the
Latin Psalter and an ags (Northumbrian) interlinear gloss from Ms. Vesp. A I,
by J. Stevenson, Surtees Soc., 2 voll., 1843–7; hence it is known as the Surtees
Psalter. A note in Ms. Vesp. by a later hand describes it as »Psalterium Davidis
in metra anglicana antiquis temporibus elegantissime translatum, cuius operis bina
etiam reperiuntur exemplaria in Bibliotheca Bodliana. Ms. Vesp. is the oldest,
and purest and most correct; Ms. Eg. frequently changes the text, by forming
4 lines out of 2, and vice versa, and sometimes introducing cross rhymes; Ms.
Harl. combines Vesp. and Eg., besides making changes of its own, by contracting
4 lines into 2, but at the end (from Ps. 109) closely follows Vesp.? Stevenson places
Ms. Vesp. in the middle of Edward II's reign; this is a mistake, the Ms. is not
earlier than 1350, and the 2 other Mss. are still later. Nevertheless, language
and style, and the comparative rarity of French terms, give the impression of
antiquity. All the Mss. are Yorkshire: Ms. Vesp. seems to belong to the neigh-
bourhood of R. Rolle; Ms. Eg. with its frequent o-forms, to South Yorkshire ;
Ms. Harl, which is marked as » Liber Monasterii de Kirkham", was most likely
written at that priory. It should be noted that in all the Mss. the -en endings
of the Pres. Plur. are frequent. A tradition ascribes this Psalter to R. Rolle (see
note). But R. Rolle is already the author of the prose translation and exposition,
ed. by Bramley Oxf. 1884.3 Comparing the two, we find that the prose work
frequently uses the same terms, and repeats whole verses in almost identical
1.
i Ms. Vesp. D VII, a small vol. in 8, 104 foll., is written in a small, but clear and neat
Yorkshire hand of about 1350; the writing is somewhat pale, so that the dashes on f, g, g, d, !1
are not always distinct. The inscription : Sum liber Vincencii Mundy, and Sum Guil. Charci,
give the names of former owners. The initials are uniformly red, the Latin beginni ngs of the
psalms and of the verses are given on the right margin, the former in red, the latter in black.
Ms. Egert. 614, 49, 99 foll., was written about 1360-70. The Latin beginnings of the psalms, and
of the single verses, are written over the Engl. text, and the initials are given to the Latin
words. Former owners were Gilbert Barrell, and John Fauntleroy. A fly-leaf in the beginning
bears the modern notes: »I conceive this Psalter to be wrote in the 13th century, by the Charac-
ter & Language. J. W.«, and: Videtur hoc Psalterium in linguam anglicanam transtulisse
et versibus haud elegantibus concinasse Richardus de Hampole, vero nomine Rollus, gente
Anglus, Ebor. comit., ord. August., eremita; in coenobio Hampoliense prope Doncastrum vixit;
obiit anno 1349. Praeter hoc varia scripsit. Vide Cave hist. lit. vol. I p. 35 Append.a Ms.
Harl. 1770, fol., in 241 leaves, marked as Liber Monasterii de Kirkham, is written in a large
northern hand of ab. 1380. The contents are given in the title: Psalterium triplicatum, in
verbis latinis, gallicis, et anglicanis. The first part, f. I-158, contains the Latin Psalter with
a French translation in parallel column; the psalms are followed by the Canticles. The Engl.
metrical Psalter follows f. 158–241. Both the Latin-French and the English Psalters are accom-
Marianum ascribed to Albertus Magnus (ed., with an
Engl. transl. in verse, in Vernon poemsa), and, in a 2nd column, Latin prayers, as thus:
Ave virgo virginum, parens absque pari, | Effice nos domine deus noster tanquam fructiferum
Sine vi nine digna fecundari,
lignum ante conspectum glorie tue, ut tuis ymbribus
Fac nos legem domini crebro meditari cotidie irrigati, mereamur tibi suauium fructuum uber-
Et in regni gloria beatificari.
tate placere, per ...
In the Engl. Psalter, however, the Psalt. Marianum and the Prayers, are only partially given
stanza: Ave solis ciuitas in quam introiuit, fol. 165h).
2 These alterations in Eg. and Harl. have mostly been made without reference being had to
the Latin Psalter, and do not help the sense.
13. Another old English prose Psalter was ed. by Bülbring, EETS 1891; it frequently para-
phrases the text.

II.
9
atboote. Pratter
a 1400 NV Poalter Trab)
130
The Psalms. V
a 1350 Verse
LIS.
L
words; and there can be no doubt that the prose translator is largely indebted
to the older Psalter. The greater freedom from French words and the archaic
character of the older Psalter do not of necessity imply another author. In a
transition time, an author may write very differently when a young man, and
when advanced in years. R. Rolle died in 1349 an old man, and his earlier
life belongs to the 13th century. The metrical Psalter might well be a work of
his youth, his first attempt. The question is one of difficulty, and I cannot now
attempt to solve it.' But that the Psalter belongs to Yorkshire, is to me beyond
doubt; and therefore I include it here, the more so as the recently edited prose
Psalter is easily accessible, and the club-edition of the metrical Psalter is not.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
Pat stremes ofe watres set es nere,
Pat giues his fruite in time ofe yhere,
Eli biern þat noghte is gan
4. And lefe of him todreue ne sal;
In þe rede ofe wicked man,
Whate swa he does sal soundefulle' al.
And in strete of sinfulle noghthe stode, 5 Noght swa wickedmen, noght swa;
Ne sat in setel ofe storme! yngode; Bot als duste pat winde perthe tas fra.
2 Bot in lagh ofe lauerd his wille be ai, 6 And barfore wike in dome noght rise,
And his lagh thinke he night and dai. Ne sinfulle in rede ofe rightwise.
3 And al ? his liue swa sal ite be 7 For lauerd ofe rightwise wate Þe wai,
Als it fares bi a tre
And gate ofe wicked forworth sal ai. —
i Vulg. pestilentiae. 2 Ms. als:
V. prosperabuntur.
**
Q1400 NV Poallos ar
altoo AN Paaller i
Ms. Egerton 614.8
Harl. 1770. fol. 158.
I.
(S)eli beerne þat noght is gan
Seli berne þat noht is gan
(I)n be red of wicked man,
In þe red of wiked man,
And in stret of sinful noght he stode, And in strete of sinful noht he stode,
(Ne sat in setel) of storme vngode; Ne sat in setel of storme ungode ;
2 Bot in lagh of lauerd his wil be ai, 2 Bot in lagh of lauerd hijs wille be ay,
And his lagh pincke he night and dai. And hijs lagh pinke he niht and day.
3. And al his lif swa sal it be
3 And al hijs liųe swa sal he be
Als it fares be a tre
Als itte fares be a tre
Pat streme of water sett is nere,
Pat stremne of waters set is nere,
Pat gifes his fruit in tyme of yere; Pat giues hijs frute in time of zhere;
4 And lef of him todreue noght sal; 4 And lef of it todreue ne sal;
What swa he dos sal soundful al. Wat swa he dos sal soundful al.
5 Noght swa wicked men, noht swa; 15 Nob[t] swa wicked men, noht swa;
Bot als dust þat wynd þe erbe tas fra. Bot als dust þat winde pe erpe tas fra.
6 And perfor wicke in dome noht rise, i 6 And perfor wicke in dome noht rise,
Ne sinful in rede of rightwise; Ne sinful in rede of rihtwise ;
7 For louerd of rightwise wot þe wai, 17 For lauerd of rihtwise wate pe way,
And gate of wick forworth sal ay. And gate of wike forwurbe sal ay.

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1 The archaic character is greatly due to the fact that the translator, in his difficult task,
utilized ags. glosses or versions (as those ed. by Stevenson 1. c. and by Thorpe 1835), retaining
many of the words found there las soundful, pild), even such as he 10 longer understood and,
therefore, misread or misapplied (so, ags. nyhtsom is to him mihtsom, lickam has the sense of
face). The seeming antiquity, therefore, appears to be partly artificial. Other words he seems
to have formed hiniself, by litterally translating Latin terms, in the manner of the old glosses
(as neghsom propitius a prope, ouer-tomehed = supervacue, stedful = locupletare, stith-
coming = impetus, stithstreme & :). — The division of verses is the same as in R, Rolle.
Pealter
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Psalm I-II.
131
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
Blisse to pe fadre and to þe sone 4 Þat wones in heuen scorne pam salle,
And to be haligaste wil with am And lauerd sal [bam] snere with-alle.
wone,
5 Dan sal he speke to bam in his
Als first was, es, and ai sal be
wreth,
In werlde ofe werldes, to be thre. And todreue am sal he in his breth:
6 ».I. sothlike, set am for-hi
Kinge fro him witerli
Wharfore gnaisted gomes swo, Quer Syon, bille hali his,
And folke vnnait thoght þai Þo? Spelland his bodeworde al with blisse.
2 Vpstode kinges ofe pe land,
7 Lauerd to me saide: ,mi son arte pou,
And þe princes in pair hand
And .i. to-dai gate pe nou.
Ogaine pair lauerd þai come on ane 8 Aske ofe me, and .i. to be sal
And ogaine his criste to gane;
Giue genge wele mare with-al
3 »Bandes of þa breke we ai,
Heritage pine in pi hand,
And fra vs. werpe þair yoke awai«. And pine aghte, meres ofe lande.
II.
Les

Ms. Egerton 614.
Blisse to fader and to be sone
And to be hely gast wil wyth þam
wone,
Als frist was, is, and ay sal be,
In werld of werldes, vn-to be þre.
Harl. 1770.
Blisse to be fader and to be sone
And to be hali gast, wil with pam
wone,
Als first was, isse, and ai sal be,
In werld of werldes, te be thre.
II.
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Cherfor gnaisted gomes swa,
And folke ful vnnait phoght þai þa?
2 Vpstoden kynges of erbe strange,
and þe princes þaim amange
Agayn þair god þai com in an,
and agayn þar crist to gan.'
3 »Bandes of þam brek we ai,
And fra vs werp þar yhocke awai«.
4 Þat wones in heuen scorn (þam sal),
And lauerd sal þam swere (!) with-al.
5 Þen sal he spek to þam in w(rath),
And to-dreue pam sal be in his brat(h): 1
6 »I soghlic sette am for-thi
Kyng fra bim ful witerli
Ouer Syon, heli hille hisse,
Spelland his bode al with blisse.
7 Lauerd to me said: ,my son pou hatte,
And .i. my-self to-dai pe gatte.
8 Ask of me, and .i. gif þe sal..
Genge and wel more with-al,
Þine heritage al in þi hand,
And þine abt meres of land.
Wherfore gnaysted genge swa,
And folc ful unnait poht þai þa?
2 Vpstoden kinges of pe lande,
And þe princes in þar hande
Agayn þar god þat come in an,
And agayn par crist to gan.
3 »Bandes of þa breke we ai,
And fra us werp þar zhoc awai«.
4 Pat wones in heuen scorne þam sal,
And lauerd sal þam swere wiht-al.
5 Pen sal he speke to pam in brath,
And to-dreue þo sal he in hijs wrath :
6 »In' sothlic set am for-bi
King of him ful witerli
Ouer Syon, his hil beli,
Spelland his bode sothfastli.
7 Lauerd saide to me: ,mi sone þou hat,
And .i. me-self to-dai be gat.
8 Aske of me, and .i. to þe sal
Giue genge wel mar with-al
Eritage þine in þi hande,
And þine ath meres of lande.
1 r. I.
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The Psalms. (Van)
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
9 In yherde irened salt Þou stere pa, Fele rise ogaine me, 2 fele saies pis
Als lome ofe erthe breke pam als-swa’«. To mi saule: »nys hele nane in gode
10 And nou, kinges, vnderstande!
his«.
Ye ere lered? þat demes lande... 3 And, lauerd, mi fanger art pou in
II Serues lauerd in drede at wille,
lande,
And, with quakinge glades him tille. Mi blisse, and mi heued vpheueande.
12 Gripes lare, leswhen lauerd wrethide 4 With my steuen to lauerd cried .I.;
be,
And he herd me fra his hille hali.
And fra righte wai forworth yhe. 5.I. am methful, for .i. slepe';
13 When in schorte his wreth tobrent And .i. raas, for lauerd me kepe.
has he?,
6 Noght sal .i. drede a thousand
Þat in him traisted alle seli be.
Ofe folke, ar me ymgyuand;
Rys, late3d, ai ful ofe blisse,
III.
Saufe make me, my god þat isse.
Lauerd, hou felefolded are pa 7 For pou'smate doune with þi hand
Pat droues me to do me wa!
Alle to me witherwendand
IV erudimini. 2 V Cum exarserit in brevi IV Ego dormivi, et soporatus sum.
ira eius.
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Harl. 1770.
9 In irne yherd salt þou stere pam weke, 9 In irne zherd sal pou stere am weke,
Als lome of erbe pou salt þam breke«. Als lome of erpe pou sal þam breke«.
10 And nou, kinges, vnderstandes, 10 And nou, kinges, vnderstandes,
Yhe be whilke pat demes landes. Yhe þe whilc þat demes landes.
II Serues to louerd in dred at wille, Il Serues to lauerd in drede at wille,
And with quakynge glades him tille. And with quaking glades him tille.
12 [G]ripes lare, les whenne lauerd wrath be, 12 Gripes lare, leswhen lauerd wrath be,
And fra right wai for-wrpe ye.
And fra rith wai forwurth zhe.
13 When in short his wragh to-brent is so, 13 Wen tobre[n]t in short is wrath has he,
Pat in him traist seli alle þo.
Pat in him traist alle seli be.
III.
III.
Lauerd, whi fele-folded are þa Lauerd, whi manifalded are pai
Pat me droue and done me wa? Þat drouen me bi niht and dai?
Fele rise again me, 2 fele sain pisse Fele rise gain me, 2 fele sain pisse
To mi saule: »nis hele pai in god hisse '«. To mi saule: nis hele þai in god isse.
3 And þou, louerd, my fonger in land, 3 And pou, lauerd, mi fonger art, mi blisse,
Mi blisse, and mi heued vpheuand. And heueand up mi heued pou isse.
4 With mi steuen to louerd cried .I. ; 4 With mi steued to lauerd kried .i.,
And he herd me fra his bille heli. And he herd fra his hil beli.
5 .I. am methuf (1)2 for .i. slepe; 35 I slep and methful am .i.; :
And .i. ras, for lauerd me keppe. And lauerd me kep, .i. ras for-pi.
6.I. sal noht drede a phousand
6 Noth sal .i. drede a bhousande
Of folke are me vmgiuand;
Of folke are (me] vmgiuande;
Ris, lauerd, berihed make me,
Rise, lauerd, bi dai and nith,
Mi god þat isse and ai sal be.
Sauf me, mi god ful of mith.
7 For þat þou smate with þi hand 7 For þat þou smot with Þi hande
Alle againe me wiper-wendand
Alle again me wiper'-wendande
1 V non est salus ipsi in deo eius. 2r. methful. i Ms. wiþet.
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Psalna III-IV.
133
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
With-outen sake or any skil;
4 And wites þat lauerd his haligh selkou-
Tethe ofe sinful brised pou il.
þede he!
8 Ofe lauerd es hele for-by al þinge; When .i. to him crie, lauerd sal
And ouer þi folke be pi blissinge. here me.
5 Wrethes, and ne wiles sinne;
Pat your hertes sayne with-inne,
W hen .i. kalled herd me with blisse And in your kleues you bitwene
God ofe my rightwisnesse pat isse'; Sar þat ye stangen' bene.
Ife þat drouyng in .i. ware,
6 Offres offrand ofe rightwishesse,
Þou tobreddest' to me pare :
And hopes in lauerd mare and lesse.
2 Hafe mercy ofe me inwardeli,
Many with þar mouth sais pus:
And here pou my beede for-þi. „Wha sal goddes schewe til vs ?«
3 Mennes sones, towhen ofe herte vn- 7 Takened light ofe þi face, lauerd,
meke?
ouer vs es,
Whi loue yhe fantom, and lighinge seke?? Þou gafe in to my herte faynes.
i dilatasti. 2 Ms. speke.
1 r. stungen.
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Ms. Egerton 614.
With-outen sak or outen scil;
Tegh of sinful bretnedest pou il..
8 For(!) louerd it is helynge,
And ouer þi folke be þi blissinge.
Harl. 1770.
With-outen sake or ani skil;
Tegh of sinful bretned þou il.
8 Of lauerd it is helinge,
And ouer þi folk be blissinge.
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When .i. cald, louerd of rithnes me
herd be;
In drouynge tobrededest þou to me.
2 Haue merci of me in þe stede,
And with pine eres here my bede.
3 Mensones, towhen of hert ynmeke?
Why loue ye fantum, and lyhinge seke?
4 And wite ye bat louerd is halgh
selkouped' he;
When.i. cri to him, louerd sal here me.
5 Wrathes, and ne wiles sinne;
Pat yhour hertes sain with-inne,
And in your cleues yhou bitwene
Sore þat yhe stungen bene.
6 Offres offrand of rightwisnesse,
And hopes in louerd more and lesse.
Fele sain, wil þat þai liue :
»Who sal vs giftes shewe or giue ?«
7 Tokened is ouer vs pe liht
Of þi lickam”, louerd, so briht;
Þou gaf with ful mikel quert
Fainnes most in to mi hert.
1 Ms. selkoured. 2 V vultus.
W en' .i. cald, lauerd of mi rithnes
me her[a] he?;
In drouing to-breddest þou to me.
2 Haue merci of me in þe stede,
And with pine eres here mi bede.
i 3 Men sones, towen of hert unmeke?
Whiloue zhe fantom, and leyhing seke?
4 And wites, lauerd his halgh selcuped
he;
Lauerd wen.i. to him crie sal here me.
15 Wrathpes, and ne wiles sinne;
And Zhour (!) hertes sain with-inne,
And [in] zhour kleues zhou be-twene
Sare þat yhe 'stungen bene.
6 Offres offrand of rithwisnesse,
Hopes in lauerd mare and lesse.
Mani sain whil þat þai liue:
»Who sal us giftes shew or giue ?««
7 Tokned is ouer us, lauerd, lith of face
pine;
Þou gaf fainnesse in hert mine.
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2 Ms. herhe.
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134
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vi.
8 Ofe fruite ofe whéte, of his oli, & 4 Erli sal .i. to be se and stande:
wyne
For noght god artou wiknes willande,
Ar pai manifolded ine:
5 Ne wone sal lither biside þe,
9 In pees in him-selfe", is beste,
Ne vnrightwise bifor pin eyhen be.
Sal .i. slepe and sal i. reste;
6 Pou hated al þat wirkes wiknesse;
10 For þou, lauerd, sengely
Þat lighe spekes leses tou mare and
In hope set me witerly.
lesse,
7 Menslaers and swykel lanerd wlate
sal.
Myne wordes, lauerd, with eres And .i., in Mikelhede ofe þi mercy al,
byse;
8 Ingo in þi hous sal .i.,
Vnderstande pe crie ofe me.
.I. sal bid' in þi drede at þi kirke,
2 Bihald vnto my bede stenene,
hali.
Mi kynge and my god ofe heuene. 9 Lauerd, lede me in þi rightwisnesse,
3 For to þe, lauerd, bidde sal .i.;
for fas myne,
Mi steuene sal tou here erli.
Ryght my wai in syghte þine.
1 V In pace in idipsum dormiam.
i V adorabo.
V.

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Ms. Egerton 014.
8 Of frute of whet, of is oly, and wine
Are pai manifolded ine.
9 In pais in him-self is best
Sal .i. slep and sal .i. rest;
10 For bou, louerd, singelli
In hope sette me weterly.
Harl. 1770.
8 Of frut of whete, of is oli, and wine
Are pai mani-folded ine.
9 In pais in him-seluen best
Sal .i. slep and sal .i. rest; .
10 For þou, lauerd, sengelli
In hope set me witerli.
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Mi wordes, louerd, with eres bise;
Vnderstand þe cri of me.
2 Of mi bede bihald to steuen,
Mi kyng and mi god of heuene.
3 For to pe, louerd, bidde sal .I.;
Mi stenen sal tou here erli.
4 Erli sal .i. to be se and stand,
For bou art noht god wicnes willand.
5 Ne liber sal noht wun bi þe,
Ne vnrightwise befor pin ezhen be.
6 Pou hated al þat wirk wicke pinge;
Pou leses alle þat speke liyhinge.
7 Mensloers and swikel louerd wlat
sal.
And .i., in mikelhed of pi mercy al,
8 In þi hous inga sal .I. ;
.I. sal bidde in pi drede at Þi krik
heli.
9 Louerd, lede me in pi rithnes rith,
And for mi fos in þi siht in (1. mi)
wai riht.
V.
Mi wordes, lauerd, with eres bise;
Vnderstande pe krie of me.
2 Bihald of mi bede to steuen,
Mi king and mi god of heuen.
3 For to be, lauerd, bid sal .i.;
Mi steuen sal tou bere erli.
4 Erli sal .i. to pe se and stande,
For noth god art tou wicnes willande.
5 Ne liber sal wun bi þe,
Ne unrithwise bifor pine ezhen be.
6 Þou bates alle þat wirke wicnesse;
Þou leses þat liybe speke mare and
lesse.
7 Menslores and swikel lauerd wlate sal.
And .i., in mikelhed of þi merci al,
8 In þi hous .i. sal in-ga;
I sal bid at þi heli kirke in pi drede
swa.
9 Lauerd, lede me in þi rithnes, and
fro fas mine
Rith mi waye in siht thine.
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For to be rightwise blisse pu salle.
15 Lauerd, als with schelde pus
Of þi godewille crouned pou vs.
VI.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
10 For noght es in þar mouth sothnesse;
Pe hert ofe baim vnnaite ite esse.
11 Thrugh openand' es prote of þam
swa,
With þar tunges fikeli pai dide; lauerd,
deme þa.
12 Fra pair thoghtes falle pai mare and
lesse ;
After pe mikelhede of þair wikednesse
Outpute pam pare pai sal be,
Lauerd, for pai taried? pe.
13 And fayne sal alle þat hope in þe;
In ai sal þai glade, and þu in am be;
14 And mirpe sal in þe pat loue þi
name alle :
IV Sepulcrum patens. 2 irritaverunt.
Lauerd, ne threte me in þi wreth,
Ne ouertake me in pi breth.
2 Lauerd, haf mercy of me,
For þat seke am .I. to se;
Hele me, lauerd—best pou mai -
For alle mi banes droued ar bai.
3 And my saule mikel droued isse;
Bot pou, lauerd, towhen' al þisse ?
4 Torn, lauerd, and mi saule outtake;
For þi mercy saufe me make.
I usquequo.
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Ms. Egerton 614.
Harl. 1770.
10 For noht isse in þar mouth soghnesse; 10 For noth is in þar mouth sohtnes;
Þe hert of þam vnnait it esse.
Þi' hert of þam unnait hit es.
II For open prugh is þrote of bam swa; 11 Purgh openand it? þrote of þa;
With þar tunges swikli bai did; louerd, 1 With þar tunges swikeli bai dide;
deme pa.
god, deme þa.
12 Þai fal fra þar þhothtes mare and 12 Þai falle fra þar zhotes mare and
lesse;
lesse;
After mickelhed of þar wickednesse After mikelhed of þar quednes
Output þam þar þai sal be,
Out-put þam þar þai sal be,
Lauerd, for pai taried pe.
Lauerd for þai traied þe.
13 And fain alle in þe hopen so; 13 And faine sal alle þat hope in þe;
Pai sal glad, and þou sal wone in po. In ai sal bai glade, and pou in pam be.
14 And þat loue pi name in pe al glad 14 And þat loue pi name mirpe sal ini
sal pai,
be alle,
15 For to be rightwis blisse sal tou ai. 15 For to rithwis blisse pou salle.
: Louerd, al[s] with sheld þus
Lauerd, als with sheld þus
Of þi gode wille pou crouned vs. Of þi gode wille pou krouned us.
.
VI.
VI.
Louerd, ne prete me in þi brath,
Ne ouernymme me in þi wrath.
2 Milþe of me, louerd, for sek am
.y.;
Min bones are droued, hele me for-pi.
3 And mi saul swipe droued isse;
Bot pou, lauerd, hulange pisse ?
4. Turne, louerd, and mi saul out-take; !
For þi merci saufe me make.
Lauerd, ne zhrath me in pi brath,
Ne ouernime me in þi wrath.
2 Haue merci of me, lauerd, for seke
am .i.;
Mi banes are droued, hele me for-pi.
3 And mi saule swipe mikel droue is;
Both pou, lauerd, pou' when pis?
4 Turn, lauerd, mi saule outtake;
For þi merci sauf me make.
Tr. be. 21. is. 3 r, to.
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VII.
136
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
5 For noght es in dede þat is myned 10 Þai schame and todreue al my faes
ofe be;
swiftely;
And in helle wha to þe schryuen Þai be went, and schame swith radely.
sal be?
6 .I. swanke in mi sighinge-stede;
.I. sal wasche bi al nyghtes mi bede; Lauerd mi god, sauf me, .I. hoped
With mi teres in mi bede
in þe,
Sal .i. wete mi liggynge-stede.
Fra al me filyhand; and lese me;
7 Lete es fra wreth myn egh for-þi; 2 Leswhenne reue [he] als lioune
Bitwix my faes al elded .I.
Saule myne to bring it doune,
8 Wites fra me, al þat wirkes wyke While nane es pat bie sal,
þinge,
Ne whilke saufe þat mas with-al.
For lauerd herd steuen ofe mi we- 3 Lauerd mi god, yife .i. dide pis,
pynge;
. Yife wikednesse in mi hende is,
9 Herd lauerd bisekynge ofe me, 4 Ife .I. yelde yeldand mè iuele, .I. falle
Lauerd mi bede kepid has he.
Gilti? vnnait fra mi faes alle,
i V decidam merito inanis.

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Ms. Egerton 614.
5 For noht is in ded þis' mind of þe;
And in helle who to be shriuen sal be?
6 I swank in mi sikinge-stede,
Ilke niht sal [i] wesshe mi bede;
With mi teres in mi bedde
sal .i. wete mi ligginge-stede.
7 Let is mine egh for wrath to falle;
Innelded” bitwix mi fos alle.
8 Wites fro me alle þat wirk (wic] pinge,
For louerd herd steuen of mi wepinge.
9 Herd louerd bisekynge of me;
Lauerd mi bede kep has he.
10 Sham and to-dreued be mi fos swiftli;
Pai turne, and shame swith raddeli.
-APR -
Harl. 1770.
5 For noth is in dede pat manes of þe;
Pat in helle who sal be shriuen to be?
6 I swank in mi sikinge-stedde,
Ilke nith sal .i. washe mi bedde;
With mi teres witerli
Mi straile sal .i. wete for-bi.
7 Let is min egh fra wrang onan;
I elded bitwix alle mine fan.
8 Wites fra (mej alle þat wirke wic þing,
For lauerd herd steuen of mi weping.
9 Herd lauerd besekinge of me;
Lauerd mi bede kep has he.
10 Þa shame and be let alle mi fas swiftli;
Þai be turned, and shame swipe radli.
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VII.
Lauerd mi god, in þe hoped .I. ;
Berzed make þou me for-þi
Fra alle þat are me filiand,
And lese me out of þar hand:
2 Lesqwen reue he als lioun
Saule min to bringe it doun,
Whil non is þat bie mai,
Ne pat beryhed mas, nith or dai.
3 Lauerd mi god, if .i. do pisse,
Whor wickednes in mi hend isse,
4 If.i. yheld to yheldand me iuels, .i. falle
Gilti vnnait fra mi fas alle.
11. þat is. 2 r. I elded.
Lauerd mi god, in þe hoped .i.;
Sauf make pou me for-pi
Fra alle þat are me filyhande,
And lese me out of þar hande:
2 Leswhenne reue he als lioun
Saule mine to bring it doun,
Whil nan is þat bies rith,
Ne sauf makes day ne nith.
3 Lauerd mi god, if .i. do pis,
Ware wickednes in mi hende is,
4 If .i. Zheld yheldand me iuels, .i. falle
Gilti fra mi fas unnait alle.
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a 1400 NV Paltin (129)
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Psalm VTI
137
Ms. Vesp. D vi.
5 Fylegh saule mine Þe faa,
Ransakand pair hertes clene
Grypes', and fortredes swa
And þair neres, gode, bidene.
In erthe my life, mi blisse with wa 11 Mi rightwis helpe fra lauerd in querte,
In duste ledes, par pai come fra.
Pat saufe makes right ofe herts.
6 Vprise, lauerd, in wreth þine, 12 God rightwise demer, stalworth, and
And vpheue in endes ofe faes myne; tholand, .
7 And rise, lauerd, in bode pou sente Nou wrethes be al dais in land??
to be;
13 Bot ye be torned, his swerde schakes
And kirke ofe folke sal vmgife pe; he righte;
8 And for pat, torne vpe in heghte. He bente his bough, and graiþed ite,
Lauerd demes folke righte.
14 And in it grayped he lomes of dede,
9 Deme me, lauerd, aftir my right- His arwes he made to brennand
wisenes,
rede.
And after ouer me myn vnderandnes. 15 Bihald, he kyneld vnrightwisnesse,
10 Endede nith ofe sinful be;
Onfange sorwe and bare wicked-
And right sal tou rightwise to þe;
nesse;
1 r. grype, fortrede, lede.
1 V numquid irascitur per singulos dies ?
Ms. Egerton 614.
Harl. 1790.
5 Filihes saul mine pe fa
5 Filyhes saule mine pe fa
And gripes, and fortredes als-swa And gripes, fortredes als-swa
In erpe mi lif, mi blisse with wa In erþe, mi blisse with wa
I[n] dust turnes þar it come fra. In dust ledes þar hit com fra.
6 Ris vp, lauerd, in wragh pine, 6 Ris, lauerd, in wragh pine,
And vpheue in endes of fos mine; And upheue inendes of fas mine;
7 And ris, lauerd mi god, in bode pou i 7 And ris lauerd in bode bou send
sent to be;
to be;
· And kirk of folk sal vmgiue me(!). And kirk of folk sal umgiue pe.
8 And for pat turne vp in heght. 8 And for pat again turne in beth.
Lauerd demes folk ful righte.
Lauerd demes folke ful reth.
9 Deme me, lauerd, after my rihtwis 9 Deme me, lauerd, after mi rith-
nesse,
wisnes,
And ouer me after min vnderandnesse. And ouer me after min underandnes.
10 Ended nigh of sinful be,
10 Nigh of sinful ended be,
And rightwise sal tou riht to be, . And rith salt þou rithwis to be,
Ransakand hertes of tho
Ransakand þar hertes clene
And þar neres, god, als-so.
And þar neres, god, bidene.
11 Riht help min fra god in quert, ir Rith help min fra god in quert,
Þat berihed mas rihtwise of hert. Pat sauf mas rithwis .of hert.
12 God demer riht, þoland, and strange, | 12 God demer rith, strang, and pholand,
Nou wrakes be daies alle lange? Nou wrathes be alle daies in land?
13 Bot ze turne, he shakes his swerd 13 Bot zhe turne, he shakes his swerd
of stel;
of stele;
He bent his bow and graibed it wel. He bent his bogh and graiped it wele.
14 And in yt he graiped lomes of dede, 14. And in it he graiþed lomes of dede,
His arwes he made tobrennand rede. His arwes he made to brennand rede.
15 Loke he kyneled vnrightwisenesse, 15 Loke he kineled unrihtwisnes,
Onfonge sorgh, and bare wicnesse. Onfong soryhe, and bare wicnes.
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138
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
16 Þe slough he opened and it groue he:
And in dyke he felle þat he made
to be.
17 His sorwe torne in his heued with-
alle,
And his wiknes in his scalp doune-
falle :
18 .I. sal schriue to lauerd aftir his right-
wisnes,
And salme to name ofe lauerd heghist
es.
2 For vpehouen es þi mykelhede
Ouer heuens þat ere brade. I
3 Ofe mouth ofe childer and soukand
Made pou lofe in ilka land,
For þi faes, þat pou fordo
Pe faa, pe wreker him vnto.
4 For .I. sal se pine heuenes hegh,
And werkes of þine fingres slegh,
De mone and sternes mani ma
Pat pou grounded to be swa:
5 What is man, þat þou mines ofe
him?
Or sone ofe man, for pou sekes him ?
6 Þou liteled him à litel wight
Lesse fra þine aungeles bright;
VIII.
Lauerd, oure lauerd, hou selkouth is
Name þine in alle land þis!
Avez-
LYSS-
TIPENDAY
Harl. 1770.
16 Þe slogh he opened and grof with
spade:
And in dike felle he pat he made.
17 Turne his soryhe in heued with-alle,
And in his scalp his wickednes doun-
falle.
18 I sal skriue to lauerd after is rith-
wisnes,
And to lauerdes name, heghist es.
Ms. Egerton 614.
16 Þe flogh' he opened, and grof with
spade:
And in dike felle he þat he made.
17 Be turned is sorgh in his heued with-al,
And in his scalp his wickednesse
doun fal.
18 .I. sal shriue to louerd after is right-
wisnesse,
And syng to louerd name, heghist esse.
VII.
Lauerd, our lauerd, hou selkouth
isse
Name pine in al erþe pisse!
2 For vphouen is þi mikelhade
Ouer heuenes hat are brade.
3 Of mouth of childer and soukand
Made bou herying in þi land,
For þi foos, þat þou fordo
Pe foo, he wreker him vn-to.
4 For .i. sal se þine heuenes hegh
And werkes of þi fingres slegh,
Þe mone and sternes sal .i se
Pat pou stapeled for to be.
5 What is man, þat pou mines of him?
Or sone of man, for pou sekest him?
6 Pou liteled him a litil witht
Lesse fro þine aungels bright;
I r. slogh.
VIII.
Lauerd, our lauerd, hou selkouth
isse
Nam pin in al erbe pisse!
2 For uphouen is þi mikelhode
Ouer heuenes þat are brode.
3 Of mouth of childer and soukande
Made pou lof þurgh pe lande,
For þi fas, þat þou fordo
Þe fa, þe wreker him unto.
4 For .i. sal se pine heuenes hegh
And werkes of þi fingres slegh,
Mone and sternes baphe þa,
Whilk þat þou stapheled swa.
5 Wat is man, þat bou menes him ?
Or mannes son, for Þou sekes him?
6 Pou litteled him a litel wiht
Lesse fra aungels þat ar briht;
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Psalm
VIII
Ad 139
IX. *-*. Persson
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
With blisse and menske pou crouned
him yet,
And ouer werkes of pi hend him set;
7 Pou vnderlaide alle pinges
Vnder his fete pat ought forthbringes,
Neete and schepe bathe for to welde,
Inouer and’ beestes of be felde,
8 Fogheles ofe henen, and fissches ofe se
Þat forthgone stihes ofe be se.
9 Lauerd, our lauerd, hou selkouth is
Name þine in alle land þis!
S
2 .I. sal fayne and glade in þe,
And salme to þi name, heghist
mai be;
3 In tornand hindeward mi faa; —
Þai ar vnfest and forworth fra þi
face sal þa.
4 For pou made my dome and mi skile
þat es;
Pou sites ouer trone, þat demes
rightnes.
5 Pou snibbid genge mare and minne,
Forworthed wiked for his sinne;
. Name of þam pou dide awai
In werlde of werlde and in ai.
1 Ms. vnfestand.
IX.
I sal schriue to þe, lauerd, in al
hert myne,
i V insuper et.

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Ms. Egerton 614.
Harl. 1770.
With blisse and menske him crouned With blis and menske pou crouned
tou so,
him yhet,
And set him ouer þine hendwerkes mo. And ouer þi hendwerkes him set.
7 Pou vnderlaidest alle þinges
7 Þou underlaid alle pinges .
· Vnder his fete þat oht sorgh' bringes, Vnder his fet þat oht forhbringes,
Shep and nete, for to weld,
Shep and nete alle forto welde,
Inouer and bestes of be feld,
Inouer bestes of pe felde,
8 Fozheles of heuen, and fhisshes of se8 Fliht-foyheles of heuen, and fisshes of se
Pat ouerfaren stizhes of se.
Þat ouergan stiyhes of se.
9 Lauerd, our lauerd, hou selkouth yssel 9 Lauerd, of' lauerd, hou selkouth isse
Name þine in al erbe pisse!
IX.
1. sal shriue to be, lauerd, in al hert 1. sal shriue to be, lauerd, in al mi
myne ;
hert;
Telle .i. sal alle wondres pine.
And telle alle wundres pin in quert.
2 .I. sal fayne and glad in þe,
2 I. sal fainte 2 and glade in þe,
Salm to bi name heghist mai be. I. sal singe to pi heghist name mai be.
3 Intunand mi fo hindward al;
3 Inturnand hinwand (!) pe fa;
Pai are vnfest, and fra þi face forwrgh Pat are unfest, and forwurth fra þi
pai sal.
face sa[l] Þa. .
4 For pou made mi dome and my scila 4 For pou made mi dome and mi scil
bat esse;
þat es,
Pou sites [ouer) trone, þat demes Pou sites on trone, þat demes rith-
rihtnesse.
5 Pou snibbed genge more and lesse, i 5 Pou snibbed genge mare and minne,
And wike forwrped in wicnesse.
Wicke forwurbed in his sinne.
Pe nam of þam pou did awai
Name of þam pou dide away
In werld of werld and in ai.
In werld of werld and in ay.
1 r. forgh. 2 Ms. acil.
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* Mod The Psalms.
140
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
6 Faes waned ofe swerde in ende,
And pair cites doune dide pou wende.
7 With dine forworthed mynde of þa;
And lauerd in ai he wones swa.
8 He graipede in dome to be
His trone; and als deme sal he
Werlde ofe erbe in euennesse,
Deme sal he folk in rightwisnesse.
9 And made is lauerd to-flight þe
pouer to ;
Helper in nedinges, in drouynge so.
10 And hope in þe þat þi name knewe
oghte,
For sekand þe, lauerd, forletes tou
noghte.
1 V Inimici defecerunt frameae in finem.
II Salmes to lauerd wones in Syon;
Bitwix genges schewes his thoghts
on-on;
12 For sekand þar blode he mines in
thoght,
Þe crie of pouer forgetes he noghte.
13 Hafe mercy ofe me, lauerd, and se
Mi mekenesse of my faes pat be;
14 Pat vpheues me fra yhates ofe dede,
Pat .I. schewe forth to sprede
Pine loueynges euerilkone
In yhates ofe doghtres? of Syon.
15 In þi hele pan sal .I. glade.
Genge feste are in forward” þat þai
made;
V in portis filiae Sion.
2 V in interitu.
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Ms. Egerton 614.
6 Fos waned of swerd in ende,
And par cities doune dide pou wende.
7 Forwrped with din minde of tho;
And louerd in euer wones so.
8 He graped in dome sete hisse,
And he sal deme with mikel blisse
Werld of erghe in euenesse,
Deme sal he folke in rihtwisnesse.
9 And mad is louerd to pouer in'-
flenge,
Helper in nedinges, in drouynge.
10 And hope sal in pe þi name knew
oht,
For sekand þe, louerd, forsoke pou
noht.
II Salmes to louerd þat wones in Syon;
Shewes bitwix genge his zohtes o-non;
12 For sekand þar blode he mines in
Zoht,
Þe crie of pouer forgetes he noht.
13 Haue merci of me, louerd, and se
Mi mekenesse of mi fos þat be;
14 Pat þou heue me fro zhates of ded,
Þat .i. shew forth and spred
Pine heryinges sone o-non
In zhates of doghtres of Syon.
15 .I. sal glad in þi hele; folke festened
..."
Harl. 1770.
6 Faas wanes of swerd in ende,
And þar cites doun dide pou wende.
7 Forwurped with din minde of þa;
And lauerd in ai he wones swa.
8 He graiped in dome for to be
Setel his, and als sal he
Deme werld of erbe in euennes,
Deme sal he folk in rithwisnes.
9 And made is lauerd to pouer in-
feing,
-Helper in nedinges, in drouing.
10 And hope sal in pe þi name knew
oht,
For sekand þe, lauerd, forsoke pou
noht.
II Singes to lauerd þat wones in Syon;
Shewes bitwix folk his zohtes onon;
12 For sekand þar blode he mines in
þoht,
Pe crie of pouer forgetes he noht.
13 Haue merci of me, lauerd, and se
Mi mekenes of mi fas pat be;
14 Whilc heues me fra zhates of ded,
Þat .i. suld shew forth to spred
Þine louinges euerilkon
In yhates of doghtres of Syon.
15 In þi heling sal .i. glade.
Genge festened are in forward bat
þai made;
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Ms. Vesp. D vii.
16 In þis snare whilke bai hid swa
Gripen es pe fote ofe þa.
17 Knawen be[s] lauerd domes doand,
Sinful is gripen in werkes ofe his hand.
18 Torned sinful in hell be pai,
Alle genge þat god forgetes ai.
19 For forgetelnes in ende
Noght bes of pouer whare he wende;
Pild ofe pouer ouer alle
Noght in ende forworth salle.
20 Rys, lauerd; noght strenbed man, es
righte,
Genge be demede in pi sighte.
21 Set lagh-berer ouer þa,
Wite genge pat men er bai ma.
i V non confortetur homo.
141
(Ps. X sccundum Hebraeos)
22 Whi wited [bou] fer, lauerd kinge,
Forsest in nedinges, in drouynge ?
23 Whil proudes wicke, pouer brent is ;
Þai ere gripen in redes whilk þai
thoght mis.
24 For loued es sinful in yernynge
Of his saule, and wicke sal haue
blissinge.
25 Gremed lauerd sinful in thoghte;
After mikelhede of his wreth, seke
sal he noght.
26 Noght es god in his sight to se;
In alle times his waies filed [b]e'.
27 Outborn be hisdomes fra his face alle;
Of alle his faes be lauerd he salle.
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Ms. Egerton 614.
16 In pis snare whilke þai hid so
Gripid ys þe fote of tho.
17 Knawen be louerd dome doand.
Sinful is gripen in werke of hand.
18 Turned sinful in helle þai be,
Alle genge bat god forgete to se.
19 For forgetelnesse noht in ende
Bes of pouer whore pai wende;
Zholmodnesse of pouer þat are
Forwurgh in ende sal neuermare.
20 Ris, louerd; manstrenpes noht of
miht;
Genge bene demed in þi siht.
21 Set, louerd; berer of lagh ouer þam ai,
Wite genge þat men are þai.
22 Whi witedest tou fer, louerd kynge,
Forse[s]t? in nedinges, in drouinge?
23 Whil proudes wicke, pouer brent is so.
Þai are gripen in redes whilke zoth
po.
24 For loued is sinful in þar minges
Of his saul, and wicked has blissyngs.
25 Gremed louerd sinful alle;
After mikelhed of his wragh, noth
.seke he sal.
26 Noht is god in his siht to sen,
In al tide his waies filed ben.
27 Outborn fro his face þi domes be,
Of alle his fos louerd sal he.
1 Ms. forset. 21. yerninges.
Harl. 1770.
16 In his snare whilc pai bid swa
Griped is pe fote of tha.
17 Knawen be lauerd domes doand.
Sinful is gripen in werkes of his hand.
18 Sinful in helle be turned pai,
Alle þat god forgeten ai.
19 For noth forgetelnes in ende
Sal be of pouer ware he mun wende;
Pholmodnes of power with-al
Noht forwurth in ende sal.
20 Ris, lauerd; noth strenphes man with
mith;
Be demed genge sal in þi sith.
21 Set, lauerd, lagh-berer ouer þam swa,
Wite genge for þat men are pa.
23 Whi wited pou fer, lauerd king,
Bihaldes in nedinges, in drouing?
23 Whil proudes qued, pouer tobren is.
Þai are griped in redes whilc pai
poht mis.
2 4 For loued is sinful in zhorninges al
Of his saule, and wic be blissed sal.
25 Gremed lauerd sinful þat be;
After mikelhed of his wragh, noht
seke sal he.
26 Noth is god in his siht ai,
I[n] al tide filed is his wai.
27 Outborn fra his face și domes be,
Of alle his fas lauerd sal he.
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142
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
28 For he saide in his hert: »noght sal Meke him-seluen sal he ai;
.I. wende,
He sal boughe him, and falle sal he,
With-outen iuel, fra strend in strende«. Of pouer when þat lauerd he be.
29 Of whas mallok his mouth ful is, 34 For he saide in his hert: »god for-
Of swykedome, and of bitternes;
geten is”;
Vnder tunge of him als-swa
Pat he ne se in ende, he tornes
Swynk and sorwe and mikel wa.
face his«.
30 He sites in waites with riche of land 35 Ris, lauerd, and vphouen be pi[h]and;
In derne, to sla þe ynderand.
Ne forgete pou pouer in land.
31 His eghen bihaldes in pouer men; 36 For what taried god wicked al?
He waites in hidel als lioun in den. For he said in his hert: »noght seke
32 He waites to reue þe pouer in dim, he sal«.
To reue pe pouer whil he todrawes 37 Ses tou, for swink and sorwe bihaldes
him.
tou,
33 In his gilder night and dai
Pat in þi hende pou gyue paim nou.
1 V humiliabit eum. 2 V Oblitus est deus.
Ms. Egerton 614.
Harl. 1770.
28 For he saide in his hert: noht sal 28 For he saide in his hert: noht sal
.I. wende
.i. wende
With-outen iuel fro offrend in strende. Wiht-outen iuel fra strende in strende.
29 Of whos malloke mouth ful esse, 29 Of whos malloc his mouth ful es,
Of swikdome and of bitternesse; And of sorgh and of bitternes;
Vnder tung of him als-swo
Vnder tunge of him als-swa
Swynke and sorgh and mikel wo. Swinc and sorgh and mikel wa.
30 He sites in wittes with riche in land, 30 He sites in waites with riche of land,
Pat he slo pe vnderande.
In derne to slo pe underand.
31 His ezhen bihald in pouer men; 31 His eyhen loken in pouer men;
He waites in hiddel, als lioun en den. ! He waites in hiddel, als lioun in den.
32 He waites to reue be pouer in dym, 32 He waites to reue be pouer in dim,
To reue pouez whil he todrazhes To reue pe pouer wil he with-drayhes
him.
him.
33 In his snare sal he meke him, held 33 In his snare sal he meke him, held
he sal,
him he sal,
When he louerdes of pouer fal he And wen he lauerdes ouer pouer falle
with-al.
34 For »god is forgeten« in his hert | 34 For he said in bis hert forgoten god
said he,
isse,
»He turnes his face in ende he[ne] sea. Þat he ne se in ende he turnes face
35 Ris, lonerd god, and vphouen be þi 1 hisse.
hand;
| 35 Ris, lauerd god, and houen be þi hand;
Ne forgete pou pouer in land.
Ne forgete pou pouer in land.
36 For what taried god wicked al? 1 36 For wat gremed wicke god al ?
For he said in his hert: noht seke For he said in his hert: noht seke
he sal.
he sal.
37 Sest, for swynke and sorgh bihaldes 37 Sest, for pou swink and sorgh bi-.
tou so,
haldes nou,
In þi hende þat þou giue þo. In þi hend þat þa giue pou. '
*
*
*
sal.
lao0NV Patien lis)
a HAD NV Problem
C
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...
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a 1300 kertreadten
Prater. aloo NV Prautu (V2X
Psalm IX-X.
E
-SA2A1IA1-
ART
143
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
38 Bileft es þe pouer to þe;
To fadreles help sal tou be.
39 Brise arme ofe sinful and liber in
thoghte;
Soght bes his sin and funden noghte.
40 Lauerd ryke in ai and in werld ofe
werld sal [b]e';
Forworth, genge, fra his land sal ye.
41 Yernyng ofe pouer herd lauerd mine;
For-gra[i]þynge of þair hert herd ere
þine,
42 ?Deme fadreles and meke, and noght
set he
Our mikel him man ouer erpe to be.
2 For loke, sinful þair bowe þai bent,
Pair arwes in a quiuer sente,
Þat pai schot — to make ynquerte -
In mirkenes rightwise ofe herte.
3 For whilke made pou fordide pai;
R yghtwise sothlike what dide he ai?
4 Laucrd in kirke hali hisse;
Lauerd in heuen his sete it isse.
5 His eghen lokes whare pouer wones,
His brwes askes mennes sones.
6 Lauerd askes rightwise and wike to se;
And þat loues quednes his saule hates
he.
7 Raine sal it ouer sinnand
Snares; fire, brimstan brinnand,
Blaste ofe stories stipe and strange,
Sum sal be þar drinke amange.
8 For right lauerd, and loues right-
wisenes;
His likam ses euennes.
X.
IN lauerd traist .I.; hou sai ye
Of mi saule hou sal it be:
.I. sal forthfare, ife .I. wil,
Als a sparwe in to be hil?
1 Ms. be. 2 V judicare pupillo et humili,
ut non apponat ultra magnificare se homo super
-
-
..
-
.
.
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Molina NV Deals
Ms. Egerton 614.. **
1400 Netoltes con

Harl. 1970
38 To be bileft is pouer al,
38 To þe bileft is pouer whare he wun,
• To fundyng helper be pou sal.
To funding helper be pou mun.
39 Brise arm of sinful and liber to se; 1 39 Brise arme of sinful and liber to se;
His sinne be soht, and noht funden Besoht sal his sinne, and noht funden
be.
be.
40 Louerd rik in ai and in werld of 40 Lauerd in ay and in werld of werld
werld sal he;
rike sal he;
Forwrth, genge, fro his land sal zhe. Genge, fra his land forwurth sal yhe.
41 Zhorninge of pouer berd lauerd god 41 Zborning of pouer herd lauerd hou
myn;
ferd;
Forgraip[i]ng of þar hert herd ere For-graiþing of þar hert þin ere
bine.
herd.
42 Deme fardels? and meke, and noht 42 Deme faderles and meke, and noht
set he
set he
Ouer mikel him man ouer erzhe to be. Ouer mikel him man ouer erbe to be.
1 r. fadreles.
EH lonerd. EH yhe. E saul. H hit. H forfare. E wille. EH sparw. E in
pe hille. E om loke. EH par bogh. H shote and m. . EH po (ba) þat rith-
wis(e) are of h. HE whom (E pat) pou maked. H Louerd is in his kirke of
blisse. E holi. E set. EH love per. Er browes asken. E Lotterd. E wic pat
isse H wic pat be. Hom And. H wicnes. E He hates his saule pat loues
wicnesse. H Rain. H sinnande. EH fir. H brustan. H brennande. EH
Blast. H stigh E stith. EH Del sal be. E riht Hrith. E louerd. E licham
H lickam. H sees.
atrooier Prachten
aldoc
a 135o verso
144.
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
XI.
9 In vmgang wicked ga sal nou;
Sauf me, lauerd, for halgh nouper
After þi heghnes mensones felefaldes
tou.
wones,
For lessed ere sothenes fra mennes
XII.
sones.
2 Idelnesses spake pai thurgh pair breste To-when, lauerd, forgetes pou me.
Ilkan to his neghburgh neste;
in ende?
With lippes swikel swith smerte
Houlange saltou pi face fra me
Spake pai in hert and herte.
wende?
3 Lauerd lesses? alle lippes swikel, 2 Houlang redes in mi saule set .I.,
And þe tunge pat spekes mikel, Sorw in mi hert bi dai for-þi?.
4 Þat saide : »oure tunge mikel we; 3 Towhen sal mi fa houen ouer me
Oure lippes ofe vs are; wha oure god be?
mai be?«
Bihalde, lauerd mi god, and here me.
5 »For wrecchedhede helples, and pouer 4 Light min eghen and be mi rede,
sighinge,
Ne euer þat .I. slepe in dede;
Nou sal .I. rise«, saide lauerd kinge, Leswhen mi witherwin he sai:
6 ».I. sal sete in hele ilka lim;
».I. betred? againes him ai.co
Ful treweli sal .I. make 3 in bim«. 5 Þat droue me sal glade ife stired
7 Speche ofe laucrd, speche clene and
be .I.;
schire;
.I. soethli hoped in þi mercy.
Siluer fraisted with pe fire,
6 Glade sal mi hert in hele þine;
Fanded of erbe, als it es talde, .I. sal sing to lauerd myne
Againe clensed seuenfalde.
Pat godes gafe to me with blisse,
8 Þou, lauerd, sal loke vs night and dai, And salme to name ofe lauerd heghist
And yeme vs fra þat strende in ai.
i V quoniam defecit sanctus. 2 r. leses; lal. felefalded. 2 V Praevalui.
V Disperdat. 3 V agam.
isse.
XI.
EH Sauf make (H ma me. E om for. H nauper. Ewanes aiwhare. H For
sothnesse are l. E For l. sothnesses fro men sones are. E Vonait, H Fantomes.
EH þurth þar. EH brest. E Ilkon. EH neghburth nest. Eom With EH
swikel tunges swipe. E Speke. E Forleses louerd. H leses. E swikelle.
E tung. E spkes. H saiden. E Whilk þat saiden ouer alle, Oure tunges
mikel we salle, Oure lippes fra vs are pai, Who our louerd is in ai. Hm. sal we.
E of helples, H and h. H of p. EH sikyngle). E said louerd. EH in þi hele.
E set inst. of make. E louerd. H klene, E chast. H shir. H Als siluer.
EH fonded. EH Fraisted of e. Dat is kold (H kalde), Fulli klensed. E fold.
E Pou louerd salt kep vs and yhem vs so In euermore pat strend fro, H Pou sal
loke us and zheme us Fra þat sterne(!) in euer þus. H quedes. E go. H om þi.
H felefalded E felefolded. Hþou.
XII.
E louerd. E tou. end. E To when. E om saltou; H salt þou E fro.
E om in. E saul sett. E sal .I., H .i. sal. EH Sorgh. H be dai with-al. E fo.
E ouer me houen. EH Lith. EH ezhen are heui als lede. E om þat. H speke.
H Neleswenne saie mi fa. E I better wrþed. EH again. H swa. EH me droue.
E glad. EH sothlic. EH Gladed in þi hele (H In þi hele gladed) mi hert.
H Singe sal .i. EH to l. in quert. E Whil[c] godes gaf to me, And salm to
louerd name hegist be.
V Poartra (VAR)
Booster Pradter
salter
non.
Psalm XIII-XIV.
· 145
Ms. Vesp. D vII.
XIII.
Ofe pees noght knewe pai; noght is
Pe vnwise sąide in hert his
swa
Als a foele, þat god noght is.
Drede ofe god bifor eghen ofe þa.
2 Forbroken and wlatful made pai are 8 Pai knawe noght', alle þat wirkes
In pair thogbts lesse and mare;
quede,
Whilke þat gode dos es þáre nane,
Þat swelighis mi folke als mete of
Es pare nane to lepi ane.
brede!
3 Lauerd fra heuen, bare he wones,
9 God noght kalled Þai apon;
Forthloked quer mennes sones,
Pai qwoke for drede par drede was
Pat he se whar he vnderstand”,
Or yife he be god sekand.
10 For lauerd night and dai
4 Alle helded pai, samen ai
In rightwise getinge es he ai ;
Vnnoteful maked are pai;
Rede ofe helples toyute bou,
Wbilke þat gode does is pare nane,
For bat lauerd his hope es nou.
Is þare nane to lepi ane.
II Wha sal gife ofe Syo'n hele to Irael !
5 Openand thrugh es throte ofe þa,
When lauerd has torned wrecchedenes
With pair tunges swikelli dide pai swa;
wele
Atter of snakes swythe strange
Of his folk, Iacob glade salle,
Vnder lippes ofe paim amange.
And faine sal Irael with-alle.
6 Mouth ofe wham ofe malloke es
Fulfilled and ofe bitternes;
Swifte pe feet ofe paim yngode
Lauerd, in þi telde wha sal wone ?
Ai are for to spille blode.
In þi hali hille or wha reste mone ?
7 Forbreking 8 and vnselines ai
2 Whilke þat incomes wemles,
In waies ofe þaim, and be wai
And ai wirkes rightwisenes;
i V Corrupti. 2 al. be vnderstandand i V Nonne cognoscent..?
cf. Ps. 52. 3 V Contritio ; R. R. Brekyng.
XIV.
XIII.
EH vnwis. E said. EH hisse. EH fol. E gode. H noth god. isse. EH Pai
are wenned and wlatand ai, Madde in par zhothes (H In þar þhoghtes made)
are pai. EH is tar. E non H nan. EH Is tar (par) non (nan). E on. H Lauerd
forthloked fra heuen Ouer sones of men ful euen. E Forghlokes. E whor,
H if. EH he be. H understandand. H Oper god himself filyand. E Vnnotful.
E god dos. E is tar. E non. EH is tar. H Open zhroth is. El De þrote of bam
is open prugh, With þar tunges wic and rugh Swikelic dide pai, atter als-so
Of snakes ynder lippes of po. H Atter of neddres nith and dai Vader tunges
of båm is ai. E Of whom he mough of weriednesse Is ful and .., H Of
whilke þar mouth ful it es Of mallok and .. H are fete. E fote. EH þam.
EH Euer' for to. E Forþinkinge. EH and vnsele an(d) wo (wa). EH In þar
waies par pai go (ga). EH And wai of (om in E) pais noht knew po (H pai
swa). E Godes drede. E nis H noht is. E b. þar eyhen two. E Noht knaw
pai. H knew. E al. EH wirken qued. EH swolihe. bred. EH ne kald pai
noht. E opon. E quoc. EH ffor pat. E louerd ful of blisse. EH In strend(e)
rihtwise. E ai be isse. EH Red. E helpes. EH toyhutte. EH For 1. hope
of him. EH Who. E sal of Syon gif. EH hele. E as turned. H glade Iacob.
EH sal. withal.
XIV.
E who in þi teld who sal H wha in pi telde sal. EH wun. EH heli. H hil.
EH who rest mun. EH He pat. H wemmelesse. EH euer. E sothnesse.
II.
Ιο
SS
anorarerfacoltes
4400 NVip
an 11:50 Verte
.
146
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
3 Pat spekes sothnes in hert his, 4 Noght sal .i. samen þar forwarde.? ofe
And noght dide swikeldome in tunge blode,
his,
Ne myne pare names bi mi lippes
4 Ne dide to his neghburgh iuel ne gode.
gram,
5 Lauerd dele ofe mine heritage isse,
Ne ogaines his neghburgh vpbraidinge And ofe mi drinke, with mikel blisse:
nam.
Pat ogaine yheldes pou arte he
5 To noghte es lede lither in his sight; Heritage mine ynto me.
And dredand lauerd he glades' right. 6 Rapes to me felle in schirenes;
6 He þat to his neghburgh sweres
For mine heritage to me schire ite es.
And noght biswikes him ne deres; 7.1. sal blisse ai lauerd kinge
Ne his siluer til okir noght es giuande, Pate to me gafe vnderstandinge;
Ne giftes toke ouer vnderande.
In-ouer and to be night
7 Dat does þese, night and dai,
Swiped me mine neeres right.
Noghte sal he be stired in ai. 8.1. forloked dai and night
Lauerd euer in mi sight;
XV.
For at righthalues he is to me,
Yheme me, lauerd, stedfastly
Swa þate .i. ne stired be.
For þat in pe hoped .i.;
9 For þat fayned [es] mi berte,
.I. saide: »mi gode artou nou,
And gladed mi tunge in querte;
For ofe mi godes noght nedes tou«. Als-swa mi flesche ouer alle
2 Tille haleghs þat in land are ma, In gode hope reste ite salle.
He selkouped alle mi willes in þa. 10 For noght sal tou lete mi saule in
3 Felefolded ere pair sekenesses ai,
belle to be,
. After pa þan highed pai.
Ne gife þi halgh wemmed-stede to se.
1 V glorificat.
i V conventicula. 2 r. Snibbed, V incre-
puerunt.
E hisse, H in his ha isse. EH swikedom. hisse. H ne sham. EH Ne vp-
braidynge again his n. (H neghburyhes). EH is. E ledde. H mirpes rith.
EH Whilc pat. E om noght. E Pat his s. noght gafe til oker in land, H Ne
his siluir til oker noht gaf in lande. EH dos. H baphe niht & d., E wele wite
he mai. E Pat noht bes he st.
XV.
E Louerd ai wel yheme pou me, For þat .i. hoped in the; H Zheme me 1.
for bbat .i. In þe hoped witerli. E said. E louerd H to l., mi godart pou.
nou om. H to mi g. EH n. tou nou. EH To. E his. EH halyhes, E in
erbe are mo H in his land pat are ma. E alles. FH his w. E po. E Þar
sekenesses felfolded are, H F. þar s. are ai. EH And after. E po. Þan om; H fast.
E yorned pai yhare. H forwardes. E blod. Emin of par n., H min þam.-
E god. E Louerd del of min irfwardnesse And of mi drinke als-so he isse, Pou
art pat again yeld sal Eritage myn to me al; H Lauerd del of min eritage and
of mi drink is he, Pou art pat againset sal min eritage to me. E Ropes: EH
fellen to me. E shiruesse. H Sothlic inst. of For. H om it. E esse. EH bl.
louerd ouer al pinge. EH gaf to me. EH Ouer al. H unto Dhe n. EH
Snibbed. E mi lendes. EH vorilt. EH niht and dai. EH L. to be in mi siht
(H in mi siht to be) ai. E on, H fra, r. h. E So. H noht st. EH fained is.
E gladid. Hmi tunge gladed. E And als so, H Inouer and (on erasure).
H with al. H For þou me (r. ne) salt. E hele. H giue. H wemming for to se.
LUT
- azizsockic Pratter
ralter
Psalm XV–XVI.
147
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
11 Kouth made pou to me waies ofe lif; 8 Selkouth Þi mercies in þe lande,
Þou salt fille me with faines rife Þat saufe makes in be hopande.
With þi lickam es swa brighte: 9 Fra ogainestandand righthand of þe
Lustes til in ende in þi hande righté. Als appel ofe eghe yheme pou me;
10 Hile me ynder schadou ofe pi wenges
XVI.
twa,
Here, lauerd, mi rightwisenes;
Fra face ofe wicked þat twinged me
Bihald what mi bisekinge es.
swa.
2 With eres mi bede bise,
II Mi faas mi saule vmgafe ful wide;
Nogbt in lippes swikel be.
Pair fattenes Þai stake", pair mouth
3 Fra þi lickam mi dome forthga,
spake pride.
Euennes sene þine eghen twa. 12 Me vmgaf nou me forthwerpand;
4 Þou fanded mi hert, and bi night Paire eghen pai set til helde in land.
seked;
13 Pai onfanged me als lioun
With fire me fraisted, and in me nes Til reuinge ware redi boun,
funden wickedhed.
And als lioun kitelinge
5 Pate noght speke mi mouth men Pat es wonand in hidinge.
werkes, for-hi
14 Ris vp, lauerd; forcome? him swa,
For wordes of þi lippes hard waies And als-swa him vnderga”;
yhemed .i..
Fra wicked pou outake saule mine,
6 Fulmake' mi steppes in sties pine, Þi swerde fra faas ofe hand pine.
Pat noght be stired gainges mine. 15 Lauerd, fra fone ofe erthe in pair
7 .I. cried, god, for me herd pou:
life twinne þa;
Helde pine ere to me, and mi wordes Ofe þi hidinges filled paire wambe
here nou.
es swa.
i V Perfice.
1 V concluserunt. ? V praeveni. 3 V sup-
planta.
en
YYYT
.
E Rugh m. ton. E fil. H fainnes. H licham is. E l. for to wende. E Lustes
in pi rihthand til in ende. H Likinges to in e.
XVI.
H Her. E louerd. H in (inst. of mi). H mi bisekinge what. E esse. E Wiht.
H pou bise. EH s. þat be. E Fro þi face. E go. E Euenesse sen pin. EH eyhen.
E two. E Pou fraisted mi hert with miht And tou sohtes hit be niht, With fir
þou fondedeste and noht esse Funden in me wickednesse; H Pou fonded mi
hert and sout be niht, With fir pou fraisted me ful riht, And noht is funden
inwith me Wickednes nan for to be. E Pat noht spek mi mouth mare Werkes
of na men þat are, For wordes of pi lippes twa I hard waies yhemed ma.
H Pat mi moubt noht sp. m. w. heghli. EH goinges. stiyhes. E stired be.
EH steppes. EH I kried (to be H) for pou herd me god dere. E Hel. EH
om nou. E S. pine m. for to be. H land. EH mas. E hopand in pe. E Fro ag..
þi rihthand Zleme als appel of egh in land. EH Vnder shadw (E shaldw) of þi
(H þine) wenges forhile me so (H forhile fra). E Fro, om in H. H wicke.
EH om bat; me twinged po (H swa). E fos. EH par fatnes. E spal H spek.
EH Furth;werpand me nou (H bai) vmgaf me yhet, To held in erpe þar ezhen
(H Dar eyben to held in erbej Þai set. E vnderfong .., Þat to his prai. H Pai
kep me als graith lioun to reuing, And als lioun kiteling wonand in hiding.
E And als lioun kitelyng esse Erdand ai in wildernesse. EH om up. EH bifor-
come him so (H swa). H als bou. E vndergo. EH Lese (H Outtake) mi saul
fro wick in land, Mi sw. fro fos (fra faas) of þi hand. Etwinne bo ir lif of
þam. E bidings. E fild is wombe of am. E Fild with ernotes are pai ai.
IOS
actsoort. Praattor
QLHOONV Poalle
Qonal350-Verre
148
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
16 Þai ere filled with sones night and dai, 8 And he herd fra his hali kirke mi
And þar leuinges to pair smale left
steuen,
þai:
And mi crie in his sighte in eres yhode
17 And .i. sal schewe in þi sight in
euen.
rightwisnes;
9 Stired and quoke þe erthe þare;
.I. salle be filled when schewes þi Groundes ofc hilles todreued are,
| blisse.
And pai ere stired, ofe! Þaim be lath,
For þat he es with þaim wrath.
XVII.
10 Vpstegh reke in his ire,
I sal loue þe, lauerd, [mi]1 stalworth And ofe face ofe him brent pe fire;
hede;
Koles þat ware dounfalland
Lauerd mi festnes ai in nede
Kindled ere ofe him glouand.
And mi toflight þat es swa, . II He helded heuens, and doune come
And mi leser oute ofe wa;
he;
2 Lauerd mi helper þat es alle,
And dimnes vnder his fete to be.
And in him ai hope .i. salle; 12 And he stegh ouer cherubin, and
3 Mi schelder, and ofe mi bele horne, flegh þare;
And mi fonger:-ai per-forne
He fiegh ouer fetheres ofe windes
4 Louand lauerd calle sal .i.,
ware.
And fra mi faas be saufe for-þi. 13 And he set mirkenes his lurkinge lange,
5 Vmgafe me sorwes ofe dede,
His telde to be in his vmgange,
Vmgriped me weeles ofe. quede. Mirke watres pat ware ofe hewe
6 Soreghes vmgafe me ofe helle,
In pe kloudes of pe skewe.
Bisied me snares ofe dede ful felle. 14 For leueninge in his sighte cloudes
7 In mi drouing lauerd called .i.,
schire
And to mi god cried .i. witerli: Forthyhoden: haile and koles ofe fire.
1 Ms. in.
1 = bof.
H with ernotes nith.. EH And .i. in (pi H) rihtwisenesse shew sal (H sal shew)
in þi siht. E om I sal. E pi bl. riht H bi bl. in niht.
XVII.
E I sal loue pe piht and dai, Louerd mi stalwurnesse is ai. Mi festnes mi to-
fliht als-swo, And mi l. 0. 0. Wo; H I sal loue he lauerd mi strengh mi festnes,
And mi tofilght and mi leser es. E Mi god mi helper is al, H God mi helper
niht and dai. H hope sal .i. ai. E shilder H forbiler. EH horn. E & on-
fonger myn, ai om. E Herzhand. H kalle lauerd. Efro .. fos. E sorhes of
helle mo, H s. of ded pat bé. H And weles of wicnes droued me, E Bournand
of wicnesse todreued me so. E me vmgaf. E Vmgriped me. H snare. EH om
ful. E kald .I., H .i. kald for pi. H And he herd mi steuen fra is heli kirke
gode And mi krie in is siht in eres in yhode; E And he herd sone ful euen For
(r. Fro) kirke heli his mi steuen, And mi crie in his siht Inyhode in his eres riht.
EH Stired is (and H) quoc. E pe e. amange, H pe e. swa. H droued are þa;
E þat are strange. E Dreued are and st. E zof H þof (yof?). E loth H lagh.
H god is. E wroth H wragh. E Vpstegh þé smoke ful hegh In be wragh of
him so slegh, And fir of his face brent þare, Koles kindled fro him are; H Vp-
stegh reke in is wrath and fir þare Of is is(1) face brent, koles kindled of him are.
E dimmes. H om he. E om He flegh. E And he set merkenes lange Lurkynge
his in þe vmgange, His teld merke watres of hew. H Merke. hw. H scw.
EH For leuininge (H leuing) cloudes forhferd in his (H is) siht, Hail and koles of
actoradcadiredha
talter
149
ра;
Psalm XVII.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
15 And lauerd thonered fra heuen, and 24 For waies of lauerd yemed .I.,
hegheste sire
Ne fra mi god dide .I. wickedly.
Gafe his steuen: haile, coles ofe fire. 25 For al his domes in mi sighte ere þa,
16 And he sent his arwes, and skatered And his rightwisenes noght put .I.
me fra.
Felefalded leueninge, and dreued þam 26 And .I. sal be with him wemmeles,
swa.
And loke me fra mi wickednes. ·
17 And schewed welles ofe watres ware, 27 And lauerd to me foryhelde he sal
And groundes ofe ertheli werlde vn After mi rightwisnes al,
hiled are,
And after clennes of mi hend swa
18 For þi snibbing, lauerd myne,
In sight of eghen his twa.
For onesprute' of gast of wreth pine. 28 With hali, halgh bes of þe,
19 He sent fra hegh, and vptoke me; . With man vnderand, ynderand be,
Fra many watres me nam he;
29 With chosen and be chosen pou sal;
20 He outtoke me þare amange
With il torned and il torneste al.
Fra mi faas þat war sa strange, 30 For pou meke folke saufe make sal
And fra ba me þat hated ai;
nou,
For samen-strenghþed ouer me war And eghen of proude meke sal tou.
pai.
31 For pou lightes mi lantern bright;
21 Þai forcome me in daie ofe twin- Mi god, mi mirkenes lighte.
ginge,
32 For in þebe.I. outtane fra fandinge al,
And made es lauerd mi forbilinge. And in mi god sal ... ouerfare pe wal.
22 And he led me in brede to be; 33 Mi god vnfiled es his wai;
Saufe, made he me, for he wald me. Speche of lauerd with fire es ai
23 And foryhelde to me lauerd sal
Fraisted; forhiler es he
After mi righwisenes al,
Ofe al þat in him hopand be.
And after clensing” ofe mi hende 34 For wha god bot lauerd we calle?
Sal he yhelde to me at ende.
Or wha god bote our god of alle ?
i V ab inspiratione spiritus irae tuae.
2 al. clennes.
fir ful briht. EH And l. zunnerd (H þhunnered) fra heuen, And alderheghest gaf
his steuen, Hail þat was dounfalland (H falland shir), And koles of fir brinnand
(H ful bote of fir). EH send. E pam H am. H Manifalded E And felfolded.
E to-drened. E am H pam; EH om swa. E shewden H sheweden. H watres of
welles. H in-sprout E out-sprent. EH blast. E wrath H wragh. H sende. E & out
nam H an he nam. H And fra. EH fele. E toke H uptoke. H And he o. me
dai and niht. E pore. E Fro mi wiberwine to st., H Fra stalwurthest ware of
miht. E po whilc me. H om pat. Estrezed. H are. EH forthcom(e). of mi t.
H me led. E lauerd to me. HE rihtwis(e)nesse. EH klennes. E hend. E yheld
H foryheld. E end. E For .i. yhemed waies of louerd to go in, Ne wickedlic
dide .i. fra god min; H For .i. Zh. w. of lauerd wel, Ne quedlic bare .i. fra mi
god na del. EH in mi siht to se. EH put .i. noht fro (fra; me. E wemlesse.
EH yheme. E om me. E foryheld loucrd to me H foryhelde to me lauerd;
EH om he. EH rihtwis(e)nesse. EH om And. E als so H als swa. EH of
his ezhen. E two. EH With heli dwelle halzhe (halgh). H be pou sal. H And with
underand man underand al. E salt be. E' And with corn be corn p. s., H And
with chosen men chese pe mun. E And with liber liber best al, H And with
qued qued beste if pou wun. H sauf salt make, nou om. Hmeke and slake.
H lithtes. EH Lauerd mi god. EH merkenes(se). E fro. EH fondynge. E .I.
sal. E God min. EH vntroden. E pi. H Sp. of 1. is fraisted ai With fir.
E Fonded. E Halle. E who H wa. Hlauerd bot our god. E om Or; H And.
antroorrarhaathen
.
altOON VPaal
a 135o Verse
sal,
150
The Psalmas.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
35 Lauerd pat girde me with might, 45 Þai cried, ne was þat sauf made
And set vnwemmed mi wai right;
oughte;
36 Þat set mi fete als of hertes ma, To lauerd, and he herde pam noghte.
And ouer beghnes settand me swa; 46 And .I. sal gnide als duste bifor
37 Þat leres mi hend at fight nou,
winde likam,
And mine armes als brasen bow set Als fen of gates owai do pam.
Þou;
47 Outtake fra ogainsaghes of folk pou
38 And pou gaf me forbilinge of hele
of þe,
In heued of genge me set with-al.
And þi righthand onfanged me; 48 Folke, whilke .I. ne knewe, serued
39 And þi lare in ende me rightid al, . to me;
And þi lare, it' me lere sal.
In heringe of ere me boghed he.
40 Pou tobreddeste mi gainges vnder me, 49 Outen' sones to me lighed pai,
And mi steppes noght vnfest pai be. Outen sones elded er þai;
41 .I. sal filghe mi faas, and ymlap pa; And pai halted þare þai yhode,
And noght ogаintorne to pai wane Fra þine sties þat ere gode?.
swa.
50 Lauerd lives! and mi god blissed
42 .I. sal þam breke, ne stand þai be!
mighte;
And god ofe mi hele vphouen be
Þai sal falle ynder mi fete doun-
he!
righte.
51 God pat giues wrekes me to,
43 And pou girde me with might at fight And vnders folke vader me so;
in land,
. Mi leser artou night and dai
And vnderlaide vnder me in me rise Fra mi faes ben wrathful ai.
and.
52 And fra in me risand vpheue sal
44 And mi faas obak pou gaf me nou, tou me,
And hatand me forlesed pou.
Fra wickeman outtake me to fle.'
i V ipsa.
IV alieni. 2 et claudicaverunt a semitis
suis. 3 subdis.
E bot our god louerd. EH Lauerd (H God) hat with miht gierd (girde) me ai
And ynwemmed set mi wai (E me vaij, Pat made mi fete als of (om H) hertes to
be And (om H) ouer heghnesses settand me. H to fiht þat was. E & als brasan
bogh mi armes. H Pou set mine armes als bogh of bras. E And forhilinge of
þi hele gaf þou to me, And me onfong rihthand of pe, And pi lare me rihted
in ende zhit. H lore me rihted in ende al. E me lered fal hit, H me lere hit
sal. E tobred H bred. E goines H goinges. E fos; þo. E again. H turne
again to wane ma. E til; so. E brek pam. H Breke pam .i. sal. E fite. E And
tou gerde me with mint, Bogh niht and dai to fiht, And tou vnderlaid in risand,
In me vnder me to stand. E fos. E onbake to me gaf þou, H to me on bac
gaf pou. E forles H tospred. EH tou nou. E Whilk sauf mad oht. E And to-
gnide sal .i. tham, Als wynd bifore dust lickam, And als fen in waies swa, Alle
awai .i. sal do tha. H to-gnide am als; custe om. H of waies. H Outnim me
fra gainsayhes. E Fro folke again-sainges outtake salt me. EH Me set in hened of
genge, E to be. H Folk þat .i. ne knew me serued pai. E erye. EH hit (pai)
boyhed to me (ai H). E om Outen--lighed pai. E vnelded. H Outen sones
lighed me, outen sones elded are, And bai halted fra þine stiyhes ware. E &
vphouen god of mi hele be, H & uph. be god mi hele he. E God þat wrekes to
me giues nou, And vnder me folke vndres tou. H Lauerd.. to me ma. swa. E Leser
min; artou om; be niht. E wrakeful are, H wrathful pat are. H & ar in mi r.
H me opheue sal bou, E vph. me pou sal. H man wicke. Houttake me nou,
aprooche. Pradhan
Dalam
Psalm XVII-XVIII.
151
Ms. Vesp. D uII.
53 For-Þi in birpes sal .I. to be schryue 8 Lagh of lauerd ynwemmed esse,
Lauerd, and to bi name salm sai mi Tornand saules in to blisse;
liue;
Witnes of lauerd es ai trewe,
54 Heles of his kinge mikeland,
Wisedome lenand to littel newe.
And als-swa mercy doand
9 Rightwisenesses ofe lauerd right,
To his criste pat es Dauid,
hertes fainand;
And to his sede til in werld þar-wid. Bode of lauerd light, eghen lightand.
-
10 Drede of lauerd hali es ite,
XVII. .
In werld ofe werld, and ful ofe wite;
Heuens telles goddis blisse;
Domes of lauerd soth er ai,
De walken schewes handeswerkes And rightwished in þar-selfe er pai.
hisse.
II Yornandlike' ouer be golde
2 Dai to dai worde riftes right,
And stane derworthi mikel holde;
And wisedome schewes night to nighte. And wele swetter to mannes wambe
3 Noght ere speches, ne saghes euen, Ouer honi and þe kambe.
Of whilk noght es herd pair steuen. 12 And þi hine yhemes þam, ouer al
4 In al land outyhode þair rorde,
thinge;
And in endes of werld of þam pe In pam yhemand, mikel foryheldinge.
worde.
13 Giltes wha vnderstandes nou?
5 In sun he set his telde to stand; Of mi helinges me clens tou;
And he als bridegome ofe his boure And fra outen night and dai
comand,
Forbere vnto pi hine ai.
6 He gladed als yhoten to renne his 14 If myne lordeschepes noght be al?,
wai;
Pan viwemmed be .I. sal,
Fra heghest heuen his outcome ai, And .I. sal be clensed clene
7 And his ogaine-raas til hegh sete; Of gilte mikel, albidene.
• Nes whilke þat hides him fra his 15 And be mon, at queme sal þa,
bete.
Speches of mi mouth at ga,
TV Desiderabilia. 2 V Si mei non fuerint
dominati.
E outta me al. H For pat sal .i. to pe lauerd in birpes shriue Anto bi name
şalme sai m. l., E To be lauerd in birpes sal be shriuen forpi And to pi name
salm sai sal .I. H Mikeland heles al wiht blisse To his king þat swa gode isse,
And doand mercies to is crist Dauid. E & mildhertnes als-so d. E & til.
EH þer-wid.
XVIII.
EH tellen. EH wolken. handwerk. EH wisdom. H Pai ne are wordes
ine. EH saybes. EH Of wh. pat. E In alle erpe. Houtyhede. E ende,
H werld of erbe. EH sunne. E teld. H stande. É bridgome. bour. EH eten.
E Fro. EH heghist. E his cominge. EH gainres to his hegh sete. EH Nis.
H whilc mai hide. EH isse. EH Turnand. Evn-to. Hom es. EH euer.
E Lenand wisdome. E Rithnesse. E heli isse H h. bit isse. EH ai ful of
blisse. H soghe. E are pai. EH om And. H Rithwised E Rihtwisehed.
EH pam. E seluen, er om. E ai. E More to be yorned, H Mare zhornanlic.
EH om pe. EH Or. E ston H stan. E derwrth. EH bat is h. EH Mikel
swetter. E wombe. E pi kombe. H .i. hine. E sal pam yhem, H sal gete
am. H In yh. pam. E who. E v. mo H ma. EH klens(e) me so (swa). EH
Vnto pi hyne forbere bou ai. E louerdinges noht min. H If mine noht lauer-
dinges, pen unwemmed be i. sal, And be klensed of mikel gilt with-al. E And
be mun pai pat sal queme Sp. of m. m. to yheme, &c; H And pat speches of
G006
axboreak sakter
i3 50-- Vilniaus
The Psalms.
XX.
152
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
And thinginge ofe hert mine
Euer-mar in sight pine.
16 Lauerd mi helper ai he isse,
And mi bier yn-to blisse.
XIX.
Lauerd here be in þi drouinge dai;
Name ofe (god] Iacob forhile pe ai.
2 He sende pe helpe fra halgh onon,
And he helpe þe fra Syon.
3 Of al Þine offrand mined he be',
And þine offrand fat made be.
4. He gife to be after þi herte,
And (al] þi rede he feste in querte.
5 Faine in þi hele sal we,
And in name of oure god mikled be.
6 Lauerd fil al pin askinges with blisse.
Nou knewe .I. þat saufe made lauerd
criste hisse;
7 He sal here him fra his hali heuen;
In mightand, hele of his right hand
euen.
E 8 [Þai in waines, þai in horses al;
And we in name of louerd our god
sal kal.]
9 Þai ere bonden, and felle sare ;
And we raas, and rightid are.
10 Lauerd, make saufe be kinge to be;
And here ys in what dai we calle to pe.
1 r. be he.
Lauerd, in þi might be kinge faine
sal,
And ouer þi hele swith glade with-al.
2 Þou gafe him gerninge ofe hert and
thoghte,
And ofe wille ofe his lippes biswiked
him noghte.
3 For pou forcome him, als tou es,
In blissing[es] ofe swetenes;
Þou set on his heued on-ane
A croune ofe a derworthi stane.
4. Life þan asked he of þe,
And pou gafe it him to be
Lenght ofe daies, al with blisse,
In werld and in werld of werld þat
isse.
5 Mikel es his blisse, night and dai,
In pi hele sa gode es ai;
Blisse and mikel fairehede with-al
Insete ouer him ai pou sal.
6 For pou sal gife him in blissings
In werld ofe werld; forbi alle thin-
ges
Þou salte faine him in mirth righte
With þi lickam, es swa brighte.
7 For þe kinge in laverd hopes he,
And in mercy of heghiste noghte:
stired sal be.-
mi mouth like be sal þai, And phoght of mi hert in þi siht ai. EH L. m. h.
out of wo (wa), & m. b. is als-swo (swa).
XIX.
E god Iacob. EH Fro halghe he (om in E) send pe h. O. E forhelp. E Of
bine off. m., H Mened of p. off.; EH be he. H maked. E al þi rede, H pi
red al. EH We sal be fained (H faine) in hele of pe. E om name of. E fille
þi bodes al. H wist .i. Hom. sal. E Fro his heli heuen he be him herand.
E miht and h.; H mithtandes, hele om. H pi. E om euen. EH are bunden.
fellen. Eros.
XX.
H wigh-al. H om him. E yorninge H zhorning. E bifore-come H biforcom.
EH him swo (swa), EH In blissinges of s. to go (ga). EH in h. h. onon (onan).
E ston. EH He asked he lif, pou gaf himn strengh, In werld and in werld of
werld daies lengh. EH Mikel of him it es the blisse In þi hele so god þat isse.
EH Ouer him outset (H onset); ai om. H For pou sal gif him in blissing in werld of
werld riht, Þou salt faine him in blisse wiht þi lickam briht. E salt. blissinge. þingé.
E Faine salt pou him. is swo. EH hopes alle (al). be stired (stire) he salle (sal).
YYYY
.
VVPsaliter VR
bariererostar
malter
Psalm XX--XXI.
153
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
8 Be funden þi hand til al þin ille-
willand,
And al þat þe hates find þi right-
hand.
9 Pou sal pam set als ouen of fire
In time ofe pi lickam schire;
Laucrd in his wreth sal dreue pa,
And sweligh fire ite sal als-swa. .
10 Pair fruit fra erthe forlese pou sal,
And fra sones of men þair sede al.
11 For þai helded in þe iuels vnright;
Þai thought redes whilk stapel pai
ne mighte.
12 For set am hindward sal tou swa,
And in þaire leuynges? forgraipe
lickam of pa.
13 Vpheue, lauerd, in might of þe;
Þi mightes singe and salme sal we.
Oure fadres in pe hoped pai;
Þai hoped, and þou lesed þar ai.
4 To be pai cried, and sauf pai ware;
In pe þai hoped, and noght schente
Þai are.
5 And .I. am worme, and man nathinge;
Mennes vpbraidinge, ofe folke out-
kastinge?
6 Alle me seand me scorned swa,
With lippes pai spake, and heued
stired pa:
7 »He hoped in lauerd, him he oute-
nime;
Sauf make he him, for he wille
hime«.
8 For pou ert whilke pat me outdroghe
Fra þe wambe, mi hope inoghe
Fra pappes ofe moder ofe me;
Of maghe forkast .I. am in þe.
9 Fra wambe of mi moder mi god ar-
XXI.
God, mi god, in me bise,
Wharfor forletedest pou me ? :
Ful fer fra mi hele ere ba
Wordes of mi giltes ma.
2 Mi god, .I. sal crie bi dai,
And þou salt noghte here what .I.
sai;
And bi nighte, ife þat ite be,
And to unwisdome? noght to me.
3 Þou sothlik in haligh wel
Erdest, loofe of Irael.
IV in reliquiis tuis praeparabis. 2 Ms.
mi wisd.
Ne wite pou noght fra me nou;
10 For þate drouinge es neghande,
And es nane pat es helpande.
II Vmgaf me ful mani kalues;
Fat bules visete me on al halues.
12 Pair mouth ouer me pai ware open-
and,
Als lioun reuand and rorand.
13 Als watre outyete .I. am at anes;
And tospred ere al mi banes.
Iso R, abjectio.
EH Þi hand be funden in. E ping inst. of pine. Hilwalland. EH alle. H om
todreue (droue) salt pou þo (pa). EH & swolihe (swolyhe) þam sal fire als swo
E pat stapel. EH For on bac salt pou (sal tou) set pam, In þar 1. (E leueninges)
forzharc þar lickam. E And pi H And in þi.
XXI.
E Wherfor H Whefor. EH om Ful. are. E po. mo. E kri. E noht til ynw.;
H til v., noght om. EH vn-to. E halgh H halyhe. H Erdes; E Wones heryhinge.
E Israel. E hopes. EH and tou. am. E I inst. of ai. EH om and, before
noght. E wurm. no. EH Men. EH om of. outkestinge. H shorned. EH ai
inst. of swa. H om and; þar h. shoc. EH pai. EH out him he nim. EH
made. E om he. EH wald. E ert. H om whilk. E wombe in h. E Of p.
EH of þe m. H Of wambe E Fro wombe, EH forcusten. H Fra magh of
moder. EH art bou. E non, H name. E is H isse. EH Fatte boles. alle. Þar.
E wor. EH romiandle). E to-yut H toyhut. EH ones. alle mi bones. EH
+
7 12.1
.7.
ve
r
.
.
asraordren Prealhes
(4-74400 NV
-61350 Valitse
.
.
154
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
14 Made es mi hert als wax meltand 25 Ne he tornes his face fra me,
In mides of mi wambe dwelland. And when .I. to him cried me herd he.
15 Dried als a pot might be
26 At pe mi lofe with mikel blis
Alle mi might with-innen me,
In þe kirke þat mikel is;
And mi tunge to mi chekes cleued red; Mi hetes sal .I. yhelde in land
And þou me led in duste ofe ded. In pe sight ofe þe dredand.
16 For me vmgafe fele hundes yhete: 27 Ete pouer and be filled pai sal;
Red of liberand me ymsete.
And looue lauerd pai sal with-al
17 Mi hend, mi fete pai delued wide, Pat him sekes for saule quertes ;
Pai talde mi banes in ilka side.
In werld ofe werld sal life þar hertes.
18 Þai sothlike bihelden swa
28 Þai be mined and to lauerd torne pai
And als me inloked' þa;
Alle endes ofe erth in ai,
Pai delt to pam mi schroudes ilkan, 29 And lout sal pai in his sighte
And mi cle pinge lote kaste pai on. Alle hinehedes of genge ful righte;
19 And pou, lauerd, ne fer bi help fra me; 30 For of lauerd es pe rike,
At mi weringe bihald and se.
And he sal lauerd ofe genge ilike.
20 Outtake mi saule fra swerd to bringe, 31 Pai eten and louten þare
And fra hand ofe hunde mine oninge? Alle fattes ofe erthe pat ware;
21 Sauf me fra mouth ofe lioun es,
In his sight sal be falland
And fra hornes of vnicornes mi Alle pat dounestiyhen in land.
mekenes.
32 And mi saule to him liue sal;
22 Telle þi name to mi breber . I. sal; And mi sede him serue with-al.
In midde pe kirke looue be with-al. 33 And schewed sal be to lauerd strend
23 Þat dredes lauerd, loues him swa; toward es ;
Alś sede of Iacob, blisse mas him to. And schewe sal heuens his right-
24 Drede him al sede of Irael als kinge, wisenes
For he ne forsoke ne forsegh pouer To folke whilke pat born sal be,
biseginge* ;
Whilke lauerd him-selfe maked he.
i V generatio ventura.
3 Ms. Als. 1 = biseking.
1 V inspexerunt.
2 V unicam meam.
Als wax meltand made is mi hert, In mid mi wombe (H In mi magh) for mikel
vnquert. EH Welihed (Welyhed). E mouth H mai. EH Is mi om in E)
miht. E with mine(!) me. EH cliued (kleued) to mi ch. E tou. E About gaf
me fele boundes al dai, Red of l. vmset me ai; H Fol fele hundes me umset,
Red of l. about me met. EH dolued. E told. E bones. EH on. H biheld me.
E swo. EH & inlokeden) me tho (tha). E Þai todelt mi sh., H Mi sh. todelt
þai, ilkon. Ecletynge H keping. EH lot set. The next 2 lines transp. in H.
EH om pou. EH fer noht. EH om bihald and; pou be-se. EH fro (fra) swerd
mi saule. E and br. EH hound. E liounesse H lioun esse. E vnicorn. EH min
onnesse. E Tel. EH In mid. E loue. H heryhes. Eso H swo. E Al H Als.
EH mirpes him to. EH Al (Als) sede of Israel dred him a. k. H biseking E blis-
singe. E om he; H Ne he ne t. EH blisse. isse. H Mine. EH hotes. Hom I.
E yh. ful riht, Of him dredand in pe siht. EH Ete (Ede) mote (salı pouer and
filt be so (swa), And 1. 1. sal pai po (ha). EH seke. H liue mot. EH Pai be
m. & turned yhare, To louerd alle endes of erpe pat are; And bid in his siht
sal þai, Alle be hine folke (H of genge) in' ai. E For bat louerdes is. E ikke
inst. of ilike. EH & baden. EH Fal sal bai in siht hisse Alle þat doun go
(H stiyhe) in erbe pisse. H & line to him mi saule. EH & serue to him mi
sede sal al. EH om And. E Shewed bes, H Shew sal (be om). H heuen.
EH To pe folke pat. E Whilke pat. EH om him-self. H al maked.
1
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Psalm XXII—XXIII.
155
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
XXII.
2 For ouer sees it grounded he,
Lauerd me steres, noght wante sal
And ouer stremes graiped it to be.
3 »Wha sal stegh in hille of lauerd
me:
winli?
In stede of fode þare me louked he.
2 He fed me ouer watre ofe fode,
Or wha sal stand in his stede
hali ?«
Mi saule he tornes in to gode.
3 He led me ouer sties of rightwisenes,
4. Vnderand ofe hend bidene
And pate of his hert es clene,
For his name, swa hali es.
4 For, and ife .I. ga in mid schadv
In vnnait þat his saule noght nam,
Ne sware to his neghburgh in swike-
For þou with me erte iuel sal .i.
dam;
noght crede;
5 He sal fange of lauerd blissinge,
5 Þi yherde, and þi stafe ofe mighte,
And mercy of god his helinge.
Pai ere me roned? dai and nighte.
6 Pis es pe strend of him sekand,
6 Þou graiped in mi sighte borde to
Þe face of god Iacob laitand.
be,
7 Oppenes your yates wide,
Ogaines pas pat droued? me;
Vhe pat princes ere in pride;
7 Þou fatted'in oli mi heued yhite;
And yates ofe ai, vpbouen be yhe,
And mi drinke dronkenand while
And king of blisse income sal he.
8 «Wha es he king of blisse ?« Lauerd
schire es ite! 3
8 And filigh me sal þi mercy
strange
Alle daies ofe mi life for-bi;
And mightand, in fight lauerd might-
9 And þat .I. wone in hous ofe laucrd
and lange.
isse
9 Oppenes your yates wide,
In lenghte of daies al with blisse.
Yhe pat princes ere in pride;
And yates of ai, yphouen be yhe,
XXIII.
And kinge of blissé income sal he.
10 »Wha es he þe kinge of blisse þate
Of. lauerd es land, and fulhed his; isse ?«
Erpeli werld, and alle par-in is. Lauerd of mightes es king of blisse.
i V me consolata sunt. 2 al. drouen.
3 V et calix meus inebrians quam praeclarus est!
Lanegd
XXII.
EH wane. EH He fostred. in water. turned. Evn-to. H on, EH stiyhes.
E nam so. EH heli. E om For. E om I. EH om mid. E ded. EH art.
H om iuel. E me sal iuels d., H noht sal .i. d. EH Þi y. & pi st. par-to,
Mikel ronynge (H rominge) pai me do. EH Againes. E po H pa. EH drouen.
EH Mi heued in oli mad tou fat, Drunkenand mi (in drinke hou shir is pat.
EH merci pine. H Alle he daie. EH of lif mine. H And .i. sal. EH wun
with mikel strengh In louerdes hous (H In bous of l.) in daies lengh.
XXIII.
EH Louerdes is erpe. hisse. perin isse. EH For he lit grounded (stabeled)
ouer þe (om in H) se, & o. st. bit graiped he. E Who. H stigh E vpstiyhe.
E in louerd hil. EH isse inst. of winli. EH in heli sted (H stede heli) hisse.
H unnaitnes E ydelnes. E om pat. EH swor. EH tak(e) fro (fra). fro god.
EH is. EH are of pride. H om yates. H uphouen E open. E Qwo. H om he.
EH Openes your yhates with your hand Ye bat (om in H) princes are in land.
H yhates ailic. E open. H yhe be. E Who H What. EH om pe.
راه است و من از همه لى
arazoorarrer Pracalters
a 13.50
Verse
156
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
XXIV.
12 For bi name, lauerd, milpe to mi
To þe, lauerd, mi saule houe .I.
sinne,
sothli.
For mikel it es, þat .I. am inne.
Mi god, in be .I. traist; noght schame 13 Whilk es man dredes lauierd? with-
sal .I..
outen les
2 Nene scorne me sal mi faa;
Lagh set he to him in wai þat he
For, þat þe vphald, noght schent
ches.
ben pa,
14. His saule sal dwelle in godenesses
3 Schente be alle are quede doand
ma;
Ouer tomehed' in ani land.
And his sede erde pe land sal swa.
4 Schewe me, lauerd, pine waies to se, 15 Festnes es lauerd him dredand to;
And pine sties lere pou me.
And his witeword pat be schewed
5 In pi sothnes hou me righte,
to po.
And lere me bath dai and nighte; 16 Mine eghen ai to lauerd þai be,
For mi god heler art pou ai,
For mi fete ofe snare outschouue
And .I. vpheld be alle þe dai.
sal he.
6 Lauerd, ofe bine reuthes mine bou 17 Loke in me, and ofe me hafe mercy;
mare,
For aneli and pouer am .I..
And of pine milþes, of werld þat 18 Felefalded ere mi hert drouings;
are.
Outtake me of mi nedeinges.
7 Giltes of mine youthe in thoghte, 19 (Se mi swinke and mi meknesse, E
And mine vnwitandnesses min noghte; And forgif me giltes more and lesse).
8 After [bi] mercies mine of me, 20 Bihald mi faas, for felefalded ere
Pou lauerd, for godenes ofe pe.
9 Swete and right lauerd; for pat And with wic batereden þa hate
sal he
me ai.
Gife lagh to giltand in wai be. 21 Yheme mi saule, and outtake me;
10 Right handtame he sal in dome, And .I. sal noght schame, for I.
And lere pe milde his waies to come. hoped in pe.
II Alle waies of lauerd mercy and soth- 22 Vnderand and rightwise cleued to me,
fastnes,
For þat .I. vppeheld þe.
To sekand his witeword and his 23 Lese, lauerd, Irael
witnes.
Ofe alle his drouinges ilkadel.
I supervacue.
pai,
XXIIII.
• EH om sothli. EH trast, .i. ne sal shame forbi. E fo. EH om pat. E po.
EH om are.' E wiclic d. E pin w. EH stiyhes. E sohtnesse. E be inst. of
bath. EH For mi beryher art. H pe opheld i. E bi. EH min. E pi. EH
mercies. EH mi 3. H And of. H unwitandes. EH min pou n. EH After þi
(pine) m. min. E godnesses. H rihtwis. E for pat ai Şal he gif; H ai, For
pat sal he gif. EH om be. EH milpe & sohtnes(se). H om lauerd. EH Who.
H man is. E with-out. E dwel. EH in godes alle (al). EH be erbe erd(e) sal.
EH to him dr. so (sa). H pa. EH eyhen. E at 1. Hout-shouued , E out-
houued, he. E For pat. ÉH onlik. E Felfolded H Manifalded. are. EH
drouinges. E fro H fra. nedinges. H me sw. H mine g. mare. E fos. EH
om for. Hþai E þat. E out-nim. EH kliued. E vpheld H uphelde. H al is.
E wel, H pou mai wel.
althoorhonen Pazahtone
Psalter
Psalm XXV-XXVI.
157
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
XXV.
TYYYYTT
Deme me, lauerd, for .i. am gane
In min vnderandnes on ane;
And in lauerd hopand am .i.,
.I. sal noght be vnfeste forþi.
2 Lauerd, fande me and fraiste me als-
swa;
Swibe' min neeres, min hert, with wa.
3 Bifor mine eghen þi merci es,
And .i. quemed in þi sothnes.
4 Noght sat .i. with vnnait reede”,
Ne .i. sal inga with berand quede.
5 Kirke ofe liberand hated .i.,
And with wike sal .i. noght site forbi.
6 Mi hende bitwix vnderandes wasche
.i. sal,
And vmga, lauerd, þi weued with-al;
7 Þat .i. here steuen ofe lofe, and telle
Alle pine wondres þate bifelle.
8 Lauerd, .i. loued fairehede ofe pi
hous isse,
And stede ofe woning of pi blisse.
9 Lese noght with wicked, gode, saule
mine,
Ne with menslaers mi life pou tine;
i V ure. ? V cum concilio vanitatis.
10 In whas hend wickenesses ere ma,
Paire righthand filled with giftes swa.
11 And in min vnderandnesse gane am.i.;
Bye me, and ofe me haue merci.
12 Mi fote stode in rightinge to be;
In kirkes, lauerd, blis sal .i. Þe.
XXVI.
Lauerd mi lightinge es in lede,
And mi bele; wham .i. sal drede ?
2 Lauerd forhiler of mi life;
For whate sal [i] quake, swerde or knife?
3 Whil neghes ouer me derand,
To ete mi flesche fote and hand,
4 Pat droues me mi faas pat are
Þai are vnfeste and felle sare.
5 Ife stand ogaines me kastelles ma,
Noght drede sal mi hert for þa;
6 Ife vprise ogaine me fighte,
In pat sal .i. hope in mighte.
7 Life? ofe lauerd asked .i., .
Pat sal .i. seke inwardeli:
Pat (i} wone hous ofe lauerd ine
Alle be daies ofe life mine,
8 Pat .i. se wille of lauerd swa,
And seke his kirke in forto ga.
1V. Unam (translator read Vitam).
Land
XXV.
EH: gan. Eynderandes Hunderandnesses. H .i. inst. of in. EH fond(e).
H frait. EH om als. E so. H mi n. EH mi h. E po, inst. of with wa. H For
bifor. EH esse. sohtnesse. EH I sal noht site wiht. E ga, in om. EH wic.
EH Wesshe (Wasshe) mi hend bitwen(e) vnderand I s. EH wundres. H leued
fairher. E Ne lese wiht. E om god. H wih. EH mensloers. EH In whos h.
is wickednesse, Par r. filt (fild) of g. esse. E gon H ingan. H blisse lauerd.
XXVI. a 1400 NV Pealtern
EH give the text in a different strophe: 5 If castelles again me stand(e),
Lauerd mi lihting, mi hele so (swa) rife; a
Yhit sal mi hert haue no (na) drede.
Whom I. sal (H sal .i.) dred whil patº
6 If fiht again me be risandle),
.I. wake?
In þat sal .I. hope to spede.
2 Lauerd forhiler of mi life;
7 Lif fro louerd (Fra lauerd lif) asked .I.,
Wa (Wha) is for whom (wham) sal .I. Þat sal .I. seke to he me gine:
(þat .i. sal) quake? In his hous to wun him bi
2 Whil neghen ouer me derand(e)
Daies alle whil .I. mai (whil pat.i.) liue;
Til ete (mi H) fesshes pat are boun, 8 Þat .I. se be wille in quert
4- Mi fos (fas) pat are me (om in H) dro Of lauerd, is fader and son,
uandle)
And pe kirke of him in quert (H with hert)
Pai are ynfest and fellen doun.
Seke .I. per inne for to won (wun.
al4OO NU Palto
axtsooibranprather
a 18.50 Verse
YYYYTT
158
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
9 For he hide me in his kirke in iuels 17 Lagh set to me, lauerd, in waie
dai,
pine,
He hiled me in hidel ofe his telde ai; And right me in right stiyhe, for faes
10 In stane heghed me on-ane,
myne.
And nou heghed mi heued ouer mi 18 Ne hafe giuen' me onbande
fane.
In saules ofe me drouande ;
II .I. vmyhode, and offrede in telde hisse For in me raas wicked witnes,
Offrand ofe berand steuen' þat isse; And leghed to pam þair wickenes.
.I. sal singe bi night and daie, 19 .I. leue godes of lauerd to se
And salme to lauerd sal .i. saie.
In pe land ofe liuande be.
12 Here, lauerd, mi steuen, þat .i. crie 20 Abide lauerd, manlike do nou,
to þe;
And strenphed be þi hert, and lauerd
Hafe merci ofe me, and here me. - vphald þou.
13 To be mi hert saide: »be soght face
XXVII.
mine;
.I. sal seke, lauerd, to face þinea. To þe, lauerd, crie sal .I. ;
14 Ne turne pine anleth me fra;
Mi god, ne blinne fra me for-þi!
Ne helde in wreth fra þi hine swa. Ne pe? when leue fra me in land,
15 Mi helper be; ne me forlete,
And .I. sal be like in flosche falland.
Ne me forse, god mi hele swete. 2 Here, lauerd, ofe mi [bi]sekinge steuen,
16 For mi fader and mi moder me for Whil .I. bidde to pe til heuen,
soke pai;
Whil .I. vpheue hende mine
Lauerd sothlike vptoke me ai.
Vntil bali kirke þine.
i V hostiam vociferationis.
1 V Ne tradideris. 2 r. Þou; V ne quando
taceas-ame...... 3.V.in lacum........
Tatoo Wroad to
9 For in his teld(e) hid he me
15 Forsake me noht, mi-helper be,
In þe dai of wicked blode,
Ne forse me, god of hele mine.
He hiled me in hidel to be
In his teld pat is so gode.
16 For mi (fader, mi H) moder me forsoke
10 In ston (stan), richest þat mai be,
And louerd me kep (nam) als his wil was.
Heghed he me als he dide ofte, 17 Set to me lagh (H lagh to me), louërd.
And nou mi heued heghed he
in pi wai,
Ouer mi fos ful (om in H) hegh o-lofte. Riht me in riht wai (H stigh) for mi
II .I. ymyhode and offred ai
fas.
In his teld of berand steuen; 18 Ne haue bou giuen me wiht (bi H) wille
I. sal synge and salm sai
In saules of me drouandle),
Vnto louerd þat is in heuen.
For in me ros witnesse(s) ille,
12 Herle;, louerd, mi steuen when .I. cri oht, Par (H pat) wicnesse to pam was (H is)
Haue merci of me and here me.
liyhand(e).
13 To pe mi hert said mi face pe soht, no
oht, 19 Godes of lauerd to se leue .I.
Þi face, lauerd, sal .I. seke to se. 19
. In pe land of liuand(e) nou. -
14 Ne turne pou þi face fro (fra) me, 20 Abide louerd and do manli,
Ne held in wragh fra bi hine (H hine And þi hert be strenghed and lauerd
þine).
vphald tou.
XXVII. -
H Lauerd .i. sal krie to pe. EH stint. H pou fra me. E Leswhen H Ne
whenne. E pou blinne. E om sal. E Hel. H beseking. H Whil pat .i. beue,
vp om. E heue vp. E hend. EH To kirke heli pat is pine. E giue ne. E speken.
bai,
+011.
.
.
.
alsooraandrollen
27
YY
salter
Psalm XXVII—XXVIII.
159.
Ms. Vesp. D vii. '
3 Ne samen gif me with sinnand,
XXVIII.
Ne lese me with wicnes wirkand;
Bringes to lauerd, goddes sones
. 4 Þat spekes pees to neghburgh hisse ?,
þat be,
And iuels in þaire hertes isse.
Sones of schepe? to lauerd bringe
5 After pair werkes gif to pa,
yhe.
And after nithe ofe pair findings ma;.
. 2 Bringes to lauerd worschep and blisse;
6 After þair handwerkes yhelde til am,
Bringes to lauerd blis to name hisse;
Yhelde foryeldeinge of þa to pam.
Biddes to lauerd inwardeli
7 For pate bai noght ynderstode
In his porche þat es hali.
Werkes of lauerd [pat] ere gode;
3 Steuen of lauerd, þat es balde,
For-[þi] in pair handwerkes pam
Ouer watres þat ere kalde;
fordo,
God of masthede? bonnered he
And noght big þam pou salt als-so.
Ouer watres fele pat be.
8 Blissed lauerd, for he herd steuen
4 Steuen of läuerd in mighte it es ;
Ofe mi bisekinge in til heuen.
Steuen ofe laucrd in mikelnes.
9 Lauerd mi helper, mi schelde[r], for-þi; 5 Steuen of brekand cedres onane,
And in him hoped mi herte, and And breke sal lauerd cedres ofe
helped am .I.;
Libane;
10 And blomed mi flesche ouer-al, 6 And grinde pam als Yban kalues he
And ofe mi wille to him schriue .I.
mon:
• sal.
And loued als vnicornes son.
II Lauerd strenght of his folke he isse, 7 Lauerdes steuen of bitwixfalland low
And forhiler ofe beryhinges es? of of fire es ;
crist hisse.
Steuen of lauerd smitand wildernes,
12 Berybed make pou, lauerd, to be And stire sal lauerd with his hand
Folke bine, þat leue in þe,
Wildernes of Cades land.
And blisse pine heritage; and stere 8 Steuen of lauerd forgraipand hertes
am,
ma,
And til in euer vpheue þam.
And ynhil thickenesses sal he swa;
IV qui loquuntur pacem cum proximo suo.
i V arietum. ? majestatis. 3 V Vox
2 al. om.
domini intercidentis flammam ignis.
EH to par (H his) n. pais. H iuel. EH saies inst. of isse. E hertes. E pam.
H om And. EH nigh. E of findinges of am. H hendewerk, E werkes. EH yh.
þam to. of pam to po. EH noht þai. þat are. H For, E And. E hendwerke
H henwerk. EH Pou salt and noht (H nogh) bigge (big) þam (H ha) þerto.
E Blissed loucrd ouer alle pinge, Þat herd steuen of mi bisekynge. H shilder;
hulpen, and om; E Lauerd mi helper is he ai, And mi forbiler night and dai,
And in him hoped mi bert, And bulpen am .I. alle in quert. "EH shriue to him.
E strenth H strengh. E beringes. EH om es. EH Beried. E om pou. E liue.
EH & bl. þ. h. niht and dai, Stere pam and vpheue am to (tilj in ai.
XXVIII.
E louerd. EH shep. Ewrchip H wurchip. Ewrchip inst, of blis. E forthi
inst. of inwardeli. E is. EH beli. EH bold(e). are kold(e). E mosthed H mikel-
hed. E þunred H punnered. Eso H swa. EH O. w. mani mo (ma). EH
louerd brekand. EH yban. E gnid H tognide. Ham, E po. EH kalf.
E mun. E om loued. E vnicorn sun. E Louerd steuen logh of fir of bitwix-
falland, Steuen of l. wildernesse smitand; H Louerdes st. bitwixfalland logh of
fir, Louerdes st. sm. w. shir. E Wildernesses H Wilderles. EH Cade. HE
Lauerdes steuen graiband (E Louerd of gr.) hertes esse, And vnhil he sal picnesse,
I
astroartcartralter
a 13.50 Verse
Y
.
I
VA
160
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
And in temple of him þat isse 9 Fra me pou torned þi likam,
Alle sal bai sai »blissed.
And to-dreued made .I. am.
9 Louerd stithstremel in mas to wone, 10 To þe, lauerd, crie .I. sal,
And site lauerd kinge in ai mone. And to mi god biseke with-al.
10 Lauerd mighte to his folke sal giue, II „What notfulhede in mi blode es,
And blis his folke in pees to liue.
Whils .I. dounga in wemmednes?
12 Nouwhat? sal dust be schriuen to þe,
XXIX.
Or schewe pi sothnes for to be?«
I sal vpheue þe, lauerd, for pou 13 Herd lauerd, and es rewed of me;
keped me,
Lauerd mi helper made es he.
Ne tobreddest? mi faas ouer me to be. 14 Pou torned mi wepinge in mi wa
2 Lauerd mi god, to be cried .I.,
In blisse to me for to ga;
And þou heled me for-pi.
Pou slitted mi seke in twa,
3 Lauerd, þou led mi saule fra helle; And vmgafe me with fainnes swa:
Pou keped me fra bat in fosche felle. I5 Pat to be singe mi blisse wele
4 Singes to lauerd, his halwes mare mare,
and lesse,
And noght sal I. be stungen? sare.
And schriuess to minde of his halines.
Lauerd mi god þat es in ai,
5 For wreth es in his mislikinge,
To be sal .I. schriue night and dai.
And life in his wil, ofe alle pinge ;
6 At euen wepinge dwelle sal,
XXX.
And at morwhen fainnes al.
In þe, lauerd, hoped .I.: noght
7 I sothlik saide in mi mightsomnes :
schent .I. be
». I. ne sal be stired in ai þat es«. In ai; in þi rightwisnes lese me.
8 Lauerd, in þi wille right
2 Helde pi nere to me and lipe;
Lent pou to mi fairehed might: Pat pou outake me high þe swipe.
...? V diluvium.. .V delectasti; tr. read V Numquid. 2 V compungar.
dilatasti. 3 confitemini.
CY
TE
And in his kirke Dat is heli, Alle sal blisse sai for-thi. H stigh E stegh. H mas
in. E sitel. EH he mon (E mun). EH blisse. EH pais.
wille bit ?: om. Stuued, i lepotest.
XXIX.
E om þou. E kep H keptest. H tobredest E brededest. E fos. E tou.
EH out-led. E sauued, H beried. H om pat. E Salmes to louerd halihes besse;
mare & l. om. EH helinesse. EH wragh. H misliking hisse. H & lif in his
wille hit isse. E om in. E moro H moryhen. HE And in mi (om in E) miht-
somnes (E miht sonnes) said(e) .i., Noht sal I. be stired (H stire) in ai for-thi.
*EH Lauerd in gode wille thine, Pou lent me miht to fairhed mine. H & mi god,
to om. EH What notfulhed is in mi blode, Whil .I. falle in wenimedhed (H
wemminge! vngode. E Whore dust sal. E shriue. E Oper. E godnesse what
it be. EH Lauerd herd. H rewped. EH Mi helper maked (H made) lauerd is he.
E bou went. EH and mi. Ewo. H In to bl. to me to. E go. H sake.
E two. E so. E om þe. E more .. sore. EH L. god mine (min) þat ai sal
be, In ai (H euer sal I. shrine to be.
XXX.
EH In pe lauerd hoped .I., Noht sal I. be (H I sal noht be) shent for-Þi In
euer (H ai) in alle (al) time þat esse, Lese (H Here) me in pi rihtwisenesse.
E pine ere H Þin ere. EH vnto me; and lipe om. E And þat. Elith þe,
actboor in Prakter
..
.
pai
Pralter
Psalm XXX..
161
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
3 In god forhiler be to me nou, 14 Ouer al mi faas made am .I.
And hous ofe toflighte, þat me saufe Vpbraidinge ful witerli,
pou.
To mi neghburs swipe ma,
4 For mi strenghte and mi toflighte Radnes to mi kouth als-swa.
ertou al,
15 Þa pat sagh me euerilkane
And for þi name me lede and froper Out fra me pai fled onane;
pou sal.
To forgetelnes for vnquerte
5 Pou salt lede me fra þat snare whilk A m .I. giuen, als dede fra herte.
16 .I. am made als lome forlorne,
Hid to me, for (mi) schilder artou ai. For þat .I. herd, me biforne,
6 In þi hend .I. gife mi gaste pat es; Mikel snibbinge pam amange
Pou boght me, lauerd, god of sothnes. Ofe fele dwelland in vmganga;
7 Pou hated in ilka lande
17 In pat whil pai samen come ogain me,
Fantomes ouer tomehe[d] yemande; To take mi saule reded pai be.
8 Sothlike in lauerd hoped ...
18 I sothlike, bi night and dai,
I sal glade and faine in pi mercy. In þe, lauerd, hoped ai;
9 For pou biheld mi mekenes nou, I saide: »mi god ertou to kalle;
Mi saule fra nedinges sauued pou,
In þine handes mi lotes allec.
10 Ne pou me belouked in bend ofe fa; 19 Outtake me ofe hend ofe mi faa,
In roume stede pou set mi fete And at ere filyhand me fra pa.
- to ga.
20 Light þi face ouer þi hine,
II Lauerd, of me haue mercy,
And saufe me make for mercy þine.
For droued am .I. witerli;
Lauerd, fordone sal [i] noght be,
To-dreued es in wreth for wa
For pat .I. ai kalled pe.
Mine eghe, mi saule, mi wambe als- 21 Schame mot wike, and be led to "
swa.
helle;
12 For in sorwe waned mi life,
Dombe be swikel lippes felle,
And mi yheres in sighinges rife. 22 Þat spekes ogain rightwis wickenes,
13 Vnfest in pouerte es mi might,
In pride, and in outweringnes'.
And mi banes ere droued dai and 23 Hou mikel manihede? ofe pi swetnes
night.
Lauerd, þat þou hid to be dredand es!
i V in abusione. 2 Ms. mainhede, V multitudo.
H high pou be. EH to me be. H om nou. EH infliht. H pat tou sauf
me. EH strengh; min inflight. E om þat; H pe s. E pai hid to me, H to
me hid pai. EH For mi forhiler art pou, E to be H ai. E gast þou wroht,
H g. to be. EH Lauerd god of sohtnes pou me boht (H boht me). EH ouer
tomehed. E sauue sal tou. E Ne me bilouked pou. H belac. E foo .. go.
EH haue m. of me. EH am I. for (H on) to se. EH wragh. Min egh. E om
als. EH sorgh. E sikynge H siking. E droued are ynriht. E To neghburyhes
mine swipe mikel ma. EH And raddenes (radnes). E om als. E po; seyhem;
E om euer. H Þat seyhen me out flegh fra me smert, To forgetelnes am .i.
giuen als ded fra hert. E pare amange, H againcom to me. EH red. H baphe n.
E And in pe .I. hoped lauerd .i. sal til end, Mi god art tou, mi lottes in hend.
E om me; fra. H Fra hend of mi fas outtake me. E And fra bilzhande me
als-swa, H And fra pa me filyhande be. E mi f. H Sauf make me lauerd.
H Neuermare shent sal .i. he. E om i. EH inkalde. E til. EH Doumbe.
E om be. E lippes swikel. EH speke again. E wicnesse H wic pinge. H out-
weringe. E Hou gret felehed lauerd of pi s., Pat pou hid. EH to dredand pe.
II.
artisoor Eren Piratter
I.
1.- 12.mani
al3.50Valit
162
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vi.
24 Pou fulmade hopand in þe
4 For ouer me, bathe dai and night,
In sight of sones of men to be. Henied es þi hand ofe might;
25 In hidel ofe pi face pou salt am hide .I. am torned in mi sorw þar-forn,
Fra fordrouinges ofe men biside, Wiles pat pricked es pe thorn.
26 Pou salt forhil am in þi telde stille 5 Mi gilt to be schewed .I. made,
Fra ogaine-sagh ofe tunges ille.
Mine vnrightwisnes and hid .I. ne
27 Blissed lauerd, for he selkouthed
hade.
to me
6.I. saide: »toward' me sal .I. schriue
His mercy in warned cite.
To lauerd mine vnrightwis liue«;
28 And I. saide, in outgange of thoght And þou forgaf þe mare and lesse
mine :
Of mi sinne pe wickednesse.
»I. am kast fra face ofe eghen þine«. 7 For pat, sal bid to be with blisse
29 For-þi herd pou þe steuen ofe me, . Al halegh in tideful time þat isse.
Whiles þat .I. cried to be.
8 Bot of watres in strang cominge,
30 Loues lauerd, al haleghs hisse,
And to? him sal pai negh nathinge.
For sothnes seke sal lauerd þat isse, 9 Mi toflight ertou to be
And roumlike sal he yhelde in land Of drouinge þat vmgafe me;
To pas bat ere pride doand.
Mi gladschepe, haue me ba fra
31 Dos manlike, and your hert strengh Þat me ere vmgiuand swa.
ped be,
10 »Vnderstandinge gife to be .I. sal,
Alle þat in lauerd hope yhe.
And .I. sal lere pe; mare with-al
In wai whilke pou sal ga ine
XXXI.
Sal .I. fest on be eghen mine.
11 Als hors or mule ne wil: be made ane,
Seli whilke wikenes forgiuen ere ai, In whilke vnderstanding es nane;
And whilke paire sinnes hiled ere bai. 12 In keuil and bridel pair chekes straite,
2 Seli man to wham noght wenes’ lauerd Pat þe noght neghen ne laite«.
sinne,
13 Mikel sweping ouer sinful cliues 4 ;
Ne in his gaste swykedome es inne. Hopand in lauerd mercy vigiues.
3. For .I. blan”, mine banes elded ai, 14 Faines in lauerd and glades in querte,
Whiles .I. cried alle pe dai.
And mirphes, alle rightwise ofe herte.
i V in excessu. 2 imputavit. 3 tacui. TV adversum me. 2 r. Vn-to? 3V Nolite.
. 4 V Multa flagella peccatoris.
EH Pou made to pa þat hop(e). E Pou salt in hiddel of pi f. pam h. E for-
drouynge H fordreuing. EH againsaihe. EH kusten. E steuen (he om) of bede of
me. H of mi bede steuen. EH Whil. H om þat. Hkried to pe til heuen. E his
halihes alle. H hesse. E For Dat sohtnesse seke he salle, H For lauerd seke
he sal soghnesse. EH And yheld roumlic he sal. EH To pa. are. E Manli
dos and streynhed be your hert, Alle yhe pat hope in lauerd wilt quert. H manli.
strenped. Alle whilke.
XXXI.
EH Seli whilke forgiuen is wickednesse, And whilke par sinne biled it esse.
E whom H qwom. EH louerd wot no (wate na). E blam. EH mi. EH Whil
pat. al. EH apon. EH om bathe. sorgh perforn. Whil. E zorn. E kouth to
þe. E om me. H unrischwis. E more. E bide H bidde. E tidful. H Þowhe-
per inst. of Bot. H Bot. E I negh. EH Pou art min infleynge.. E glad-
shim H gladihip. EH take. þam fra. EH I giue pe. EH Pat (om in H) wai
whilc pou sal ingo (H salt ga in) best, Mine ezben sal I on pe feste. E nil,
H nil pou. Hom be made. EH keuel. EH Þat pe wil noht negh and l.
E swynkynge; H Mani swinginges. EH & blisse mas.
3
actsoortaaskaalter
salter
163
Psalm XXXII.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
XXXII.
12 Seli genge whilk lauerd god bisse is.;
Glades, rightwise, in lauerd kinge;
Folke þat he ches him in heritage
his.
Pe right feres to haue louinge.
2 Schriues to lauerd, in harpe and! 13 Fra heuen bibeld laulrd pare he
sautre
wones;
Of ten stringes to him singe yhe.
He loked ouer al mens sones ;
3 Singes to him newe sange and euen; 14 Fra his forgraiphed telde on hegh
Wele singes to him in berand steuen. Ouer al pat erden erthe he segh:
4 For right es worde ofe lauerd ai, 15 Þat feined' sinderlike hertes ofe þa;
And alle bis werkes in trewethe ere Pat vnderstandes al paire werkes
bai.
swa.
5 For he loues merci, dome, pa twa; 16 Þe kinge sal noght [be] beryhed
Ofe lauerdes merci berthe ful es swa. right
6 With worde of lauerd heuens fest T[h]orgh-out nakins mikel might,
ere ma,
And pe eten noght be sauued sal
And blast 3 ofe his mouth al might In mikelhed of his might al.
of þa.
17 Swikel hors at hele; ofe mightsomnes
7 Samenand als in lome watres ofe se; Sothlik of his might noghte bery-
In hordes settand depnes to be.
hed es.
8 Alle erthe lauerd be dredand, 18 Loke, eghen of lauerd ouer him
(And of him stired al þe werld erdand. dredand,
9 For he saide, and þai maked are; And in þas in his merci þat ere
He sent, and þai schapen ware.
hopand;
10 Lauerd scaters rede of genge ma, 19 Pat pair saules dede take he fra,
He schones“ thoghts of folke als And in hunger fostre pa.
swa,
20 Oure saule lauerd vphalde sal,
And pe redes schones 5 he
For he es oure helper and oure
Of al þe princes þat mai be.
schelder al.
II And rede of lanerd es with-outen 21 For faine sal oure hert in him to be,
ende;
And in his bali name hoped we.
His hert thoghts in strende and 22 Pi merci, lauerd, be ouer vs,
strende.
Swa als we hoped in þe pus.
1 r. in ? 2 r. bi blast? V spiritu. .3 Ms. 1 V finxit.
For. V mandavit. br. schoues ? V reprobat.
02
XXXII.
EH om Pe. harp. EH om es. E wordes. EH om alle. H om For. EH
dome mercy. E lauerd. EH pe erþe. heuenes. are. H mouht. E als. EH in bit.
EH Settand in hordes. H depnesses. EH For.. is stired. EH om pe. EH made
pai. EH send(e). E are. EH scateres redes. H gomes. E pohoghtes H bothtes.
H & r. again fondes be. EH alle. E aldermen. E om mai. E outen (with-
om). EH (And H) zhohtes of is hert. EH his isse. E Lauerd loked fra heuen.
EH He segh. H alle. EH mennes. EH graiped (for- om). EH alle. H fein-
yhed E friped. E sinderlic H sengellic. H alle. EH w. ma. H Noht sal þe
king be. É purgout H þurhtout. H nakin E nokyn. H berihed. E om his.
H Les hors. EH to h. of his. E of him dredant. H om And. E po H pa.
E om he. EH he foster. E saul H saules. EH vphald. Hom es oure, E om
oure. H shilder. H om his. H name heli. EH ouer us be. EH om pus.
II*
extraorisafrodhes
a 350 Verse
--
164
The Psalms.
s. Vesp. D VII.
XXXIII.
IN al time lauerd sal .I. blisse,
And his lofe ai in mi mouth isse.
2 In lauerd mi saule be loued sal:
Here handtame, and faine with-al.
3 Mikel yhe lauerd with me,
And his name in him-selfevpheue we.
4 .I. sought lauerd, and me herd he,
And fra al mi drouinge[s] toke he me.
5 Neghes to him, and yhe be lighted
sone;
And youre faces sal noght be fordone.
6 Þis pouer cried, and lauerd herd him,
And ofefal his drouinges sauued he him.
7 He’ sent lauerdes aungel in vmgange
þare;
He (sal) outake pa him drouand ware.
8 Listes 3, and sees sa softe lauerd isse;
Seli man þat hopes in him for blisse.
9 Dredes lauerd, al halghes his to sene,
For dredand him noght helples bene.
10 Riche men, of aght þat ware,
Pai neded, and hungred sare;
And sekand lauerd after fode
Noght be pai lessed of alle gode.
Il Comes, sones, me yhe here,
And drede of lauerd .I. sal you lere.
12 Wha es man pat ofe life wille be,
Loues gode daies for to se?
13 Forbid pi tunge fra inel ai,
i V in idipsum. 2 r. In ? V Immittit angelus
domini. 3 V Gustate.
And þi lippes pat swikedom noght
speke bai.
14 Torne fra iuel, and do gode yhit;
Seke pees, and euer filigh pou ite.
15 Eghen of lauerd ouer rightwis swa,
And his eres at bedes ofe þa.
16 And face of lauerd ouer iuel doand,
Pat he lese minde of pam fra land.
17 Cried rightwise, and lauerd herd am,
And [of] alle paire drouinges lesed
he pam.
18 Negh es lauerd to pa þat ere droued
of herte,
And meke of gaste sal he saune in
querte.
19 Mani drouinges of rightwise,
And lauerd lesed am of alle pise.
20 Lauerd yhemes alle paire banes swa :
Noghte ane sal be brised ofe pa.
21 Dede of sinful werst it isse,
And þat bates rightwise giltes misse.
22 Bi sal lauerd saules of his hine ai;
And al pat in him hope noghte gilte
sal pai.
XXXIV.
Deme, lauerd, me derand be;
Oucrcome pe infightand' me.
2 Gripe wapenes and schelde of fighte,
And rise in helpe to me with mighte.
IV inpugnantes.
XXXIII.
EH Ai in mi mouth louing (E heriynge) hisse. E Mikelis name of l. E whit
H wiht. E sal we. EH soht. EH of al. H drouinges nam. E son. H of alle
his. E heled. EH send. E lauerd, aungel om. E swa H sa, inst. of þare. EH
Of him dredand and outtake (H outtoke) pa. EH so. H god. EH alle h. hisse
(to sene om). EH isse inst. of bene. Eben Hare; E om pai. EH al. E dred.
EH Who is. on line wil. Hom to. E Forbede H Forswere. EH om And. EH
swikedom pat. H Do gode and turne fra inel and sinne, Seke pais and filyhe to
wun per-inne. E & fast filyhe bit. E Eyhen of 1. 0. riht doand, And his here
to par bede heldand; H Eyhen of l. 0. rihtwise ai, His eres at par bede niht &
dai. EH And ouer iuels doand louerdes lickam, Þat he lese fra erpe pe mind of
pam. H Rihtwise cried. E Biside. EH om pa bat ere. E dreued. E gost;
EH he heles. Hom lesed. E pam. E al. H pat noht an. H om And. E hate
H haten, EH gilten. EH Bie. E lanerd sal. E om al bat. H alle hope in him.
XXXIV.
H derande me be. EH om pe. EH wepens. EH sheld; E to be, H swipe.
E And vpris in help to me; with m, om. H biliue. E Y. s. and louke againes pam.

sonorarerfraktor
fralta
Psalm XXXIV.
165
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
3 Yhet swerd '; pat filigh me, ogain Pat .I. ne wist me asked þai.
louke pam;
14 Þai yhelde to me for goednes ille,
Sai to mi saule: »þi hele .I. am«. Geldehede swa mi saule vntille.
4. Pai be schent and schoned be? þa 15 .I. sothlike, whils þai to me ware
Þat sekes mi saule for to sla;
Hackande", haire cled .I. þare;
5 Pais torne hindward and schent be pai 16 .I. meked in fastinge mi saule alle,
Thinkand to me iuels ai.
And mi bede in mi bosum be torned
6 Þai be als dust ogain wind lickam,
salle.
And louerdes aungel narwand pam. 17 Als neghburgh, als your 3 broßer
7 Mirkenes and sliper be þare wai,
right,
And lauerdes aungel filighand þam ai. Swa quemed .I. with al mi might;
8 For wilfuli pen hidden þa
Als wepand and als dreri,
Forward“ of bare snare swa;
Swa meked .I. witterli.
Ouer-tomehede vpbraided pai
18 And ogain me pai fained, and come
Saule mine bi night and dai.
in ane,
9 Come to him snare noght es him kid, Samened on me swepinges, and .I.
And be takeinge þat he hid
wist nane.
Vmgripe him it mot with-alle;
19 Pa ere scatered, ne stungen sare -
And in pe snare, in him he falle. Pai fraisted me be lesse and mare,
10 And mi saule sal glade in lauerd ofe Pai snered me with sneringe swa,
Bot gnaisted ouer me with þaire
And like ai ouer hele his;
tethe þa.
II Alle mine banes Þai sal sai:
20 Lauerd, when pou bihald sal?
»Lauerd, to be wha like be mai? Ogaine-sette ii saule with-al
12 Outakeand helples fra his stalworper Fra libernes ai ofe pa,
hand;
Als mine oninge liouns fra.
Nedeful and pouer fra him reueando. 21 In mikel kirke sal .I. to be schriue,
13 Vprisand witnes, swikels ware ai, In heui folke looue pe mi liue.
i V Effunde frameam. ? revereantur. IV sterilitatem. ? = akande, V molesti.
3 Ms. bat. 4 V interitum. 5 Ms. swiked. 3 V nostrum.
blis,
H om me. E fordon and shomed .. pai. E Sekand mi saule niht or dai. H seken.
EH Pai. E wend. EH obacke. EH pai be. E Pat pinken iueles vnto me,
H pat iueles pinkande ar to me. EH bifore. lauerdes. EH Merke. Ham.
EH For wilfulli hid pai to me Steruing (H Forward) of par snare to be. H Quer
tomehed alle pa Vpbraided pai mi saule sa. E To him come. EH þat nis him
kid. E Vmlap. EH mot it him. EH him-self. EH Mi saule soghlic (H For in
mi s.) in lauerd glad sal And lust (H like ouer his hele wiht-al. EH sai sal bai.
EH wha to be. E nedful. EH of. E stranger. E And helples & p. EH om Vp.
EH witnesses wick. H ware he. H Pai. E west. H pai asked me. E Pai forzheld
iuels for godes to me H Iueles for godes yhelde pai to me. EH Leghhed
(Geldhed to mi saule to be (H me). E whil H whil pat. Hom to me. H
Hackand to me. E in saule al. EH bosem. H turne, be om. E sw(a) inst. of right;
E Als I quemed vnto tha, Als wepand and als mournand, Swa .I. meked purgh
þe land; H Als n. & brober i quemed sa, Als sobband and mournand i meked
to þa. E in on. E Pai s. H ouer. E non. EH Scatered pai are ne stungen
are pai, Pai fr. me (H he) be (om in H) niht and dai. E Pai swered whit snerynge
to se. E Þai botegnaist whit þar tegh on me, H Wiht þar tegh botgnaist ouer
me pa. H Lauerd when pou salt loke? set mi saule to bring Fra par lipernes,
fra liouns min oning. E Sette tou saule mine whit-al Fra pe lipernesse of tha,
Mine onnesse fra liouns ma. H In m. k. shriue to be i sal, In h. f. loue pe
☺
4
.
4
.
arsoorterar Pradler
Q1:00NV Hum
21350 Verse
TY.
166
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
22 Noght ouermirthe pai to me for-pi 31 Þai glade and faine bape mare and
Dat wiperpretes' me wickeli ;
lesse
Whilke bat hates me wilfulli,
Whilke þat wilen mi rightwisenes;
And beckes with paire eghen lesli. And saies? ai: »mikled be lauerd in
23 For þat to me summe it ware
| blissed,
Paisfulike þat spekes þare;
Pat wil pees to hine hisse.
And in wrethe of erpe spekand, 32 And mi tunge pi rightwisenes thinke
Swikedomes ware pai thinkand.
sal,
24 And pai tobred þare mouth ouer me, Alle þe dai Þi loofe with-al.
And said: »wa! wą!” oure eghen se«.
XXXV.
25 Pou segh, lauerd: ne blinne pou;
Pe vnrightwis saide with tunge bisse,
Ne wite pou noght fra me nou.
Þat in his-selfe noght gilte misse? ;
26 Ris, and bihald to dome mine;
Noght es drede of god to be
Mi god and mi lauerd, in skil mine.
Bifor his eghen for to se.
27 Deme me, lauerd, after rightwisnes
2 For swikelike dide he in his sight isse,
ofe pe
Pat be fonden at hatereden wicnes
Mi god, and noght pai ouermirthe
hisse.
to me.
3 Wordes of his mouth þat ga,
28 Ne pai sai in þare hertes: »wa, wa” be
Wickednes, swikedome als-swa;
To oure saule«; ne sain: »him sweligh
He ne wald noght vnderstand,
sal we«.
Þat he dide wele in ani land.
29 Schente and schoned samen be pai
Pat faines of mine iuels ai;
4 Wickenes thoght he night and dai
In his kleue l'ar he lai;
. 30 Pai be cled with schenschipe and
Al wai he stode 3 noght gode to se,
schonignes 3
Iuelnes sothlike noghte hated he.
Pat ouer me spekes liþernes.
Tal. sain, y dicant 2 Stey. inisse; v Dixit
1 V adversantur. 2 V Euge, euge. 3 re injustus ut delinquat in semetipso. 3 V Astitit
verentia.
omni viae non bonae.
wiht-al. E Noht ouer-glade sal pai to me, Þat wiperwendaņd wiclic be, Pat
wisefuli haten me swa, And becken with þar ezhen twa; H Noth ouer-mirpe pai
pa to me, Pat wiperpretand to me be, Wilfulli bat hate me swa, And becken
wiht þar e. twa. E For to me soghlic niht and dai Paisfullic pat speken pai;
H For sothlic to me summe pai ware, &c. H spaken. EH wraghed. E wore.
H bred. E par mouth to-bred pai. H sagh. H ne stint nou. H Lauerd ne
fra me vite hou. E iz dome. H om me. E Deme me l. mi god after pi riht-
wisnes And noht ouerglade þai to me more ne lesse. H ouermirpe pai me.
E Noht sai pai in bar bertes. EH ye be. H To your; E om To-saule. EH
Ne (ne) pai sai him swolyhe s. w. EH Þai shame and shoned s. be pai. E fainen
H fainned. EH Wiht shenchip and shoninges (H drednes) kled (H shred) þai be,
Þat libernesse speken ouer me. H Glade and faine mote pai ai. E om bape;
be more. E Pa pat wilen. H Þat wilen mi r. niht and dai. E And saine mikle
be lauerd ai Whilſc) wilen pais to his hine al dai; H And sain ai lauerd mikled be
he, Pat wilen pais to pi hine se. EH & mi t. sal pink pi rihtwisnesse. E Al dai
bi heryhinge. EH pat esse
XXXV.
EH Saide pe vnrihtwise (H unwis) in his' (H in hert and) þoht, Þat in him-self
(H h. seluen) gilt he nohte. H Radnes of god for to ga Is noht bifore his eyhen
twa. E of lauerd. hezhen. EH For swikdom (H swikelic) in his siht dide he,
Pat bis wicnesse at hatereden funden be. E Wickednesse swikdome. EH wel
dide. EH Wickednes(se) boht has (haues) he ai. E liggingsted; par om. E He
stode al wai. H to gange. EH om soth-like. Hl. he amange. EH om þe.
Y
? alten
a bookler Practer
Psalm XXXV–XXXVI.
167
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
5 Lauerd, in heuen pi merci es, 3 Hope in god, and do godenes;
And to pe kloudes Þi sothnes.
Big þe erbe, and beste fed' in his
6 Als goddes billes pi rightwisnes;
riches.
Pine domes mikel depnes.
4 Like in lauerd, and gife sal he
7 Men and meres, lauerd, sauue sal Þe askinges of pi herte to be.
tou nou, .
5 Vnhil to lauerd þi wai al,
Swa als pi merci felefalded pou; . Hope in him, and do he sal.
8 And sones of men in bilinge al 6 And he sal lede als light þi right-
: Of þine wenges hope þai sal.
wisnes,
9 Pai sal be drunken áls of wine
And als mid-oucrnone bi dome bat es.
Of be fulhed of hous pine,
Vnderlout to lauerd pou be,
And with welle of þi likinge ai
And bid him-for best es he;
Sal tou drinke pam, night and dai. 7 Nil filegh in him night ne dai
10 For welle of life es at þe,
Whilke þat smertes’ in his wai,
And in þi name lighte sal we se. Ne in man þat es liueand
II Forsprede pi merci thorgh þe land Vnrightwisnes þat es doand.
To pas þat ere be witeand,
8 Blinne fra wreth, and lete breth
And þi rightwisnes in querte
swipe;
To pas þat right ere ofe herte.
Pat pou be lipered nil pou nibe.
12 Noght come to me pe fote of pride, 9 For þat liperes, outende sal þai;
Ne sinful hand me stire biside.
And vphaldand lauerd, erde land
13 Pare felle þat wickednes ere wirkand; sal ai.
Þai [er] output, ne pai might stand. 10 And yite a littel, þe bise
And sinful he sal noght be;
XXXVI.
And pou salte seke his stede ofe won,
Nil pou fileghi in liberand,
And neuer finde it eft pou mon.
Ne loue? pat wikenes ere doand; 11 And handetame sal erde pe land
2 For swipeli drie þai sal als hai,
pat es,
And als wortes of grenes 3 tite falsal pai. And like of pees in mikelnes.
1 V aemulari. 2 zelaveris. 3 olera lV pasceris. ? prosperatur. 3 V extermina-
herbarum.
buntur; be om?
H hilles of god. E Pi rihtyisenesse als of pe dai, Þi d. m. depnesse ai. EH
mares. H pou sal, nou om. E Als pi merci god f. tou, H Als tou felefolded
god bi merci al. E Sones sohtlike of men ouer al, In hilyng of pi wenges hope
pai sal; H Mennessones sothlic in hilinge, Of pi wenges hope sal ouer al pinge.
E dronken. H weel. E & wiht bourdant(!) of pi lickam swa. H swa. EH Alle salt
pou drink tha. EH in þi liht liht. H Forth-sprede. E Sprede pi mildhertnes
in l. E po H Þa. EH are pe. E rihtwise. H are riht. Estire me. EH felle
bai wicnes. EH are o.
XXXVI.
E filzhe, H nigh. H Ne filyhe. E swipe, H swifi. H wurtes, E blades.
E gresse H greses. H in lauerd. EH godnesse .. richesse. H om and. E he
sal giue pe, H he sal þe giue.' E Askynges of hert þat be, H Þi hert a. whil
pou mai liue. H pi rihtwisnes als liht. EH And þi dome als midouerunder esse
(H briht). E Nel f. in him pat_smartes in is wai, Ne man doand vnrihtwisnesse
ai. H Nil filyhen in him ai, Þat is sma[r]tful in is w. H liyand esse, Pat is
doand unrihtwisnesse. EH vragh. H leue. E brath H bragh. H ne be. E miþe.
EH liberen. EH sal ai. E erde pe erpe sal pai, H big herpe sal pai. E þe
sinful sal. E om eft; E pou ne mun. H And yhit a litel and sinful noht sal
be oht. And pou salt seke his stede and finde it noht. H sal big perpe. E &
h. big þe erpe sal pai, & l. in mikelhed of pais al. H sinful sal. EH tegh
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The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
12 Bihald sal sinful rightwis þenne, 24 At lauerd gainges of men ai
And with his tethe on him sal he Ere right[ed]?; and he wille his wai.
grenne.
25 When rightwise falles, hortes na lime;
13 And skorne him sal lauerd ofe blis, For lauerd has set his hand on hime,
For he bihaldes pat comes daie his. 26 .I. was yonger, .I. elded sone,
14 Swerde outscheped sinne doande, And .I. sagh neuer rightwise fordone,
He bent his bowe with his hande, Ne sede of him comande
15 Pouer and helples þat he biswike Pat it was pe brede sekande.
And quelme rightwis of hert ilike. 27 Alle daie he rewes and lenes his
16 Þaire swerd mot in þare hertes ga, þinge,
And þair bowe be broken in-twa. And sede of him sal be in blissinge.
17 Better es litel to right, with wele, 28 Helde fra iuel, and do gode ai,
Quer richesses of sinful fele;
And erde in werld of werld þou mai;
18 For armes ofe sinful brised be pai, 29 Forſlauerd] loues dome, noght forlete
And lauerd rightwis he festenes ai.
sal he
19 Lauerd daies of vnwemmid knawes His haleghs, in ai sal yemed be.
he,
30 Vnrightwise sal be pined son,
And þaire heritage in ai sal be.
And sede of wicked be fordon.
20 Dai sal noght be fordone fra blisse 31 Rightwise be land erde pai mone,
In na time þat iuel isse,
In it in werld ofe werld to wone.
In daies of hungre pai sal be filt; 32 Mouth of rightwise sal thinke wisdam;
For sinful sal be schente and spilte. And dome sal speke pe tunge ofe þam.
21 For lauerdes wiperwines al bidene, 33 Lagh of god in his mouth? on-ane
Sone when þai menshed' bene
And his steppes sal noght be vıder-
And þai ere vphouen oght,
gane
Wanand als reke Þai wane to noght. 34 Bihaldes sinful be rightwise,
22 Sinful sal borwe, and yelde he ne And sekes to sla him on al wise:
sal;
35 Lauerd sothlike noght lete sal he
Rightwis sal milþe, ogaine-yelde al; Him in his hende to be,
23 For blissand him sal erde pe land, Ne fordo him sal he noghte
And forworth sal him weriand.
When he es demed to him for oghte!
1 r. mensked.
1 Ms. rightwise, wise expunged. ? r. hert.
3 V supplantabuntur.
sal he on him. E Lauerd sohtlic sal scorn him ai, For (he) ses com sal his dai;
H & lauerd sal him scorne with-al, For he sees pat his dai com sal. EH vn-
shebed. EH Þar bogh pai bended wiht þar hand. EH þai b. E hert. H breken.
H to ribt in lande, Ouer welbes mani of sinnande. E richesse. E broken.
EH ben. H festes. E Lauerd of ynwemmed wote be wai, H Daies of unwemmed
lauerd wel wate he. E sal be in ai. E l'a. E of bl. E no. E And in. E For
pat sinful sal be spilt. E Godes foos sohtlic b., H Fas sohtlic of lauerd b.
E When sone. E wrchiped. E And when þai are v. 0., H And uphonen when
pai are o. H borgh H foryhe. E For big sal þe erbe him blissand, H For
bl. h. De erpe big sal pai. H And weriand him forwurth sal ai. EH At lauerd
steppes E men are ai, H of man pai be. EH Rihted. H & his wai wil he.
EH hurtes. E no. E om lauerd. EH of. EH yhunger. H om And. E segh.
H pe riht. EH Ne pe s. E his H hit. E & his sede be sal. H wun. EH
lauerd 1. EH lete (for- om). E pinned. EH And rihtwise, E erbe erd pai
m., H sal big be erbe yhit. E In werld of w. in hit to w., H And in werld wun
ouer hit. Vv. 33 & 340m in E. H in his hert. Hslo. E And l. noht forlete.
H And 1. in his hend letes him noht, Ne fordos him when he is demde to him for
araokec Prades
Ralter
7
: Psalm XXXVI-XXXVII.
169
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
36 Abide lauerd and yeme his wai: And ouer me pou fest þi hand to be.
And him-selfe sal hegh pe ai
3 Noght es hele in flesche mine
Pat in heritage pou take land to be; Fra pe face of wreth pine;
When sinful lorne bene, pou salt se.
37 Vphouen .I. saw be wicked man Fra pe anleth ofe mi fone.
And lifted als cedre of Yban:
38 And .I. ferd, and (lokej he was to gon,
misse;
Als heui birþin heuied me on.
And .I. soght, and his stede noght 5 Stanke and roten mine erres ere ma,
funden isse.
Fra face of mine vnwisdome swa.
39 Yheme vnderandnes, and do euennes; 6 Wrecched and croked til ende am .I.;
For pa ere relikes to man þat pais Alle dai dreried .I. inwent for-pi.
ful es.
7 For mi lendes filled with bismers
40 And vnrightwise samen forworth pai
are,
sal,
And hele in mi fresche es na mare.
And relikes ofe wicke sal sterue with-al. 8 .I. am twinged, and meked for vn-
querte;
And paire forbiler in drouinge tide. .I. romied! fra sighinge of mi herte.
42 And lauerd helpe sal he pa,
9 Lauerd, bifor pe alle mi yorninge,
And he sal lese am out of wa,
And fra be noght bid es mi' sighinge.
And fra sinful outake am ai,
10 Mi hert es droned with-Inne me,
And saufe þam, for in him hoped pai. And forsoke mi might with me to be;
And light of mine eghen twa,
XXXVII.
And it" es noght with me swa.
Lauerd, ne threte me in pi brethe, 11 Mine frendes and mine neghburs
Ne ouertake me in þi wrethe.
gode
2 For þine arwes stiked ere to me, Ogaines me neghed and stode;
11. se.
i V rugiebam, R. romed. 2 V et ipsum.
TTTTTT
YTYYTY
oght. Hyheme inst. of begh. E Pat land in eritage take hou to be. E be inst.
of se. EH sagh. H uplifted, E vpraised. H cedres. EH and loke he was.
EH se inst. of do. E po. E leuinges. EH om pat. EH For vnrihtwise sal be
fordone, And (H Samen) leuinges of wike forwrth sal sone. Hom paire. HE he
(om in E) sal helpe) tha. E pam; E om out. EH & fra s. out þam nim, &
sauf pam for þai hoped in him.
XXXVII.
E L. þrete noht in; me om. E brabt H bragh. EH ouernim. wragh.
H in me. E And pou fest ouer me EH band H be h.) of pe. E om þe. EH
lickam. E wragh H wrath. EH Ne pais in mi ban(e)s gas, Fra (For) pe lickam
of mi fas. E For mine wickednesses o-nan Ouer mi hered are pai gan, Als
heuy birpine mai be, Are pai heuied ouer me. E St. & wemmed min eires
are bai, H Mine erres stanc and pai ramilj. E of. m. wisdom ai. H unwisdam,
swa om. E Wr. am .i. made and broked (!) til end, Al dai mourmed inne .I.
wend; H Wr. made am .i. to be, And kroked .i. am to se Vntil in ende, al
dai for-hi Samen-morned in yhode .i. EH hepinges. E in mi flesshe hele is
H hele is in mi fi. E I am and swngen.swibe smert, H I am meked and
twungen smert. H siking E sorgh. EH Bifor pe laterd. E om pe. EH hid
ne is (nis). E Mi hert is droued niht & dai, And mi miht forsake me ai; H Samen-
droued is mi hert, Mi miht forsoke me for unquert. EH Mi. neghburpes. Againes.
+
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exproo anerkralteri
Q13-5-0-Versie
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
12 And þat bi me ware, pai stode Whilke hated me wickeli.
0-lenght;
. 21 Pat yheldes iuels for godes, bacbate
And (þat] soght mi saule, þai maked me,
strenght.
For .I. filybed godenes to se.
E 13 [And þat soht to me iuels, fantoms 22 Ne forlete me, lauerd mi god, ai;
spake bai,
Ne wite fra me, night ne dai.
And swikdoms þoht þai al þe dai]. 23 Bihald in mi help for þi blisse,
14 And .I., als defe, noght herd of pis; Lauerd god of mi hele isse.
And als doumb noght openand mouth
his.
XXXVIII.
15 And .I. [am] made als (man) noght I saide: mine wais yeme .I. sal,
herand,
Pat .I. ne gilt in mi tunge with-al.
And storest speches' in his mouth 2 .I. set yheminge to mi mouth at be
noght hauand.
Whil sinful stode ogaines me.
16 For in þe, (lauerd], hoped .I. nou; 3.I. doumbed, and meked, and was
Lauerd mi god, me here sal tou.
ful stille
17 For .I. saide: leswenne ilkane
Fra godes; and mi sorwe es newed
Quer-mirthe to me mi fane;
ille.
And whil stired ere mi fete, ouer me 4 Het? mi hert with-inne me swa;
Mikel thinges speken he.
And in thoght sal bren fire for wa.
18 For in swepinges am .I. dight, 5 .I. spak in mi tunge: Kouth ma to me,
And mi sorw ai in mi sight.
Lauerd, mine ende when it sal be,
19 For mi wikenes schewe I. sal al, 6 And tale of mi daies whilke es, for-bi,
And for mi sinne thinke .I. sal.
What me wanes pat wite mai .I.
20 Mi faas sothlike liueand pai be, 7 Loke, methfullike" mi daies sete pou;
And festened ere pai ouer me;
And mine aght3 als noght bifor þe
And manifalded ere bai for-pi
nou.
? H storspeches; V redargutiones. 2 plural, i V Concaluit. 2 mensurabiles. 3 sub-
= bai.
stantia.

E om me. E om pai. E stoden on. EH lengh. EH & pat s. H & pat iueles
to me soht. H spake pa alle. EH And i als d. berd no mare, And als d. his
mouth noht openand (H op. nobt) ware. E & i am made als man, H & made
am i als man. E forspeches H storspeches. H om noght. EH in be lauerd.
E h. I al; H om nou. E pou here me sal. H Pou salt here me lauerd mi god
for-bi. E swa inst. of ilkane. E Ouerglade .. fa. E And whil mi fete stired are,
Grete pinges speke pai ouer me þare; H And whil mi fete stired ouer me ware,
Grete b. spekande pai are. sorgh. E om in. E om al. EH And þinc for mi
sinne wiht-al. EH om þai. H fest. EH And felefolded are pai pa, Pat wiclike
me baten (hated) swa. H yheld. E iuels for g. yeld. H gode. H godnes
filyhed .i. EH forto. E Ne f. me lauerd nou, Ne fra me noht wite pou; H Ne
forsake me I. god mine, Ne wite fra me with wille pine. E Bihald in help to
'me to be, Lauerd god is hele of me; H Bih. mi help bi niht and dai, L. god
of mi hele is ai.
XXXVIII.
H mi. E Mi tunge bat i ne gilt w., H Þat noht i gilt in mi t. al. EH to mi
mouth yheming to be. EH When. EH am meked, and I. was stille. E om me.
EH & in mi poht brend fir. EH I spak in mi tung wiht (H þurch) mi mouth, L.
mine (H of m.) ende make to me (om in H) kouth. H take. EH whilk pai (H mai)
be, Pat I (mai H) wite what wantes me. Hmetlic daies mine. E Loke moten
hou set mi daies to se. EH mi sped. E om nou. E Sothlic H For bot. E al
171
acksoortze Prodten
Psalter
Psalm XXXVIII—XXXIX.
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
8 Þowheper al' fantomes? in land, 18 Forgiue me; pat kalde .I. ware?
Ilka man pat es liueand.
Er .I. sal ga and be pamare.
9 Bot in liknes thurghfars man ;
. Bot and ydel es he droued on-an:
XXXIX.
10 He hordes, and he wate noght
Abidand lauerd abade .I.,
To wham þat he samenes oght.
And he biheld to me for-pi.
11 And non, whilke es m[i]n3 abidinge 2 And mine bedes herde he,
dai?
And als-swa penne led he me
Noghtne lauerd? and mi spede at þe Fra þe slogh of wrecchednes
es ai.
And fra fen ofe drege þat es ;
12 Of alle mi wikenes outake me nou: 3 And he set mi fote” on stane,
Vpbraiding til vnwis me gaf þou. And righted mi steppes onane.
13 .I. doumbed, and noght opened mouth 4 And he insent in mi mouth newe sangc,
mine,
Newe sang 3 til oure god, and lange.
For pou made; stire fra me woundes 5 Fele men se and drede pai sal,
pine.
And hope in lauerd sal pai with-al.
14 Fra strenghte ofe bi hand waned .I. 6 Seli man of wham þat isse
In snibbinges witerli;
Name of lauerd hope ai hisse,
For wickednes pat he was inne
And noght biheld he in fantomes als
Ouerthrew pou man and his kinne, And in wodenesses pat ere fals.
15 And to skulke als irain' pou made 7 Mani thinges maked bou,
saule his:
Lauerd mi god, þine wondres nou;
Bot vnnaitlike to-droued ilke man is. And with pine thoghtes, þat ere slike,
16 Here, lauerd, mi bede and bisekinge Nane es whilke es to be like.
mine;
8.I. schewed and spak wele mare,
Bise mine teres with eres pine.
And ouer tale felefalded pai are.
17 Ne blinne; for comelinge .I. am at þe, 9 Offrand and onelote 5 wald þou noght
And pilgrim, als al mi fadres be.
se;
i Ms. als. 2 r. fantom es? V universa i V ut refrigerer, ? al, fete. 3 al. Loft-
vanitas. 3 Ms. man; V quae est exspectatio sang; V carmen.
om in EH; but so R.
mea? 1 V Et tabescere fecisti sicut araneam 5 V oblationem.
animam ejus; R aran.
f. here, H fantomes, als om. E Sothlic H bowheper. E .i. yheld inst. of ydel.
· EH dreued. H & wat noht swa To whom he sal samen tha. H wh. is abiding of
me. E bidding. E Noht-ne mi sped lauerd at he is ai, H Sothlic and mi spede is
at þe. EH wicnesses. H madest. E wondes. E Of strengh of pi hand i waned
onan In snibbinges, for wicnes ouerprw pou man; H For strengh of pi hand in
snibbinges waned i, For wicnes ouerbrw pou man trewli. Eyran. E idel,
H om unn. E to-dreued, H dreued. EH Here lauerd (bede and H) bisekyng of
me, Wiht eres mi teres bise. EH stint. E alle. E Againsende. EH to me.
EH om sal. & I (om in H) sal be.
XXXIX.
E abode. EH And he herd mi bedes, out led me pen(ne) Fro slogh of wrec-
chedhed, fra middynge fen(ne). EH fete. E apon be stan. H o-nan, E ilkan.
E send. E songe. EH Loft-song. E on longe. EH Fele sal se & drede
wiht-al, And in l. hope pai sal. E whom H whilke. H om of. E om ai. Ehe
bih. noht H he ne bih. E Mani maked tou to be, Lauerd god min wndres of
the. H Fele made tou laucrd mi god pi wondres to be, And with pi boghtes
nis whilk is like to pe. E Nis swa mai be to pe l. EH I sh. and i spake ai,
Felefolded ouer tale (Ouer t. felef.) are pai. E Offrandes & onelotes w. b. non
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172
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
Eres sothlike made pou to me. 18 Queme to þe, lauerd, þat pou outake
10 Offrand for sinne noght asked pou; me;
Panne saide . I.: loke, .I. come nou. Lauerd, to helpe me bihald and se.
11 In heued of boke writen es of me 19 Schent and schoned samen be pai
Þat .I. suld do þe wille of þe.
Pat seke mi saule to bere it awai;
Mi god, swa .I. wald in querte, 20 Þai torne hindward, and schoned
And þi lagh in mid of mi herte.
Þai be,
12 .I. schewed pi rightwisnes
Þat wilen iuels ynto me.
In be kirke þat mikel es;
21 Rathlike paire schenschepe bere þa
Lo, mi lippes noght forbide .I. sal, Þat sais to me: »wa, wa!«
Lauerd, pou it wist wele al.
22 Glade and faine mote ouer þe
13 Noght hid .I. Þi rightwisnes in hert Alle þat þe sekand be;
mine :
And »mikled be lauerd« ai pai sai
... saide pi sothnes and hele pine; Whilk loue þi hele, night and dai.
14 Noght hid .I. Þi merci and þi sothnes 23 And thiggand and pouer am .I.;
Fra þe rede þat mikel es.
Lauerd bisied es ofe me for-pi.
15 Þou sothlike, lauerd, noght fer pou 24 Mi helper and mi schelder ertou:
Make pine rewyngs fra me nou; Mi god, ne late' pou noght nou.
Þi merci and þi sothnes ai
Me' vmgaf” pai, night and dai.
16 For vmgaf me iuels ma
Seli þat wil vnderstande
Of whilk na tale es [of] þa;
Ouer pedeful and pouer in lande:
Mi wickednesses me vmlapped negh; Fra wickednesse in iuel daie
And noght might .I. þat .I. segh; Lauerd lese him sal he aie.
17 Felefalded ouer hare of mi heued 2 Lauerd yeme him and quiken him
ere pai,
sal,
And mi hert forlete me ai.
And seli make him in land with-al;
1 Ms. Mi. 2 EH onfonged, V susceperunt. V ne tardaveris.
ei
XL.
se. V 10 om in E. E is writen. E God mine i. wald in wald i. q. EH om
of. H I shewed þi r. pat isse In kirke mikel al with blisse. EH Loke. EH
forbede. EH vel pou wist it. E Pi r. hid I.. Di sohtnesse I. said ... H Ine hid
in mi hert fi rihtwisnes, I saide bi hele and pi sothnes. E I ne bid pim. De..
Fra na. H Noht i pi sothnes and pi merci Fra na red mikel for-pi. EH Pou
s. l., (noht H) fer to be Ne (om in H) make (bou H) rewbes pine (om in H) fra
me. EH Onfcnged me be (H babe) n. & d. H iueles umgaf. EH of þa. EH
Me griped (H Vmgriped me) mine wicnesses n. H i ne milt noht. E pai be.
EH forsok(e) me; Ē om ai. E outnim. E loke & se. E Þai be sh. & sh.
samen ai. H om samen; be pai ai. E om it. EH wend(e). Hobac. E Radlic
H Swiſie. shenship. E om bere. EH kai pa. EH sain. , EH Pai glad(e). E om
inote. EH Alle seken (H sekande) pe to (H for to) se. E And sain ai lauerd
micled be, Whilk pat willen be help of pe; H And sain mikled lauerd be ai,
Pat wilen pi hele niht and dai. E Pouer and piggand sohtlic am .I., H And .i.
am piggand and pouer to se. E bisie is. H om for-pi. EH forhiler art pou.,
XL.
E Seli pat ynderstandes oht, ... in poht. H Seli þat understandes ouer nedful
and pouer ai, Lauerd lese him sal in iuel dai. E In inel dai fra alle wa, ... he
sa. H L. quiken him and yhem him sal he And s. m. him for to be. E &
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ایران در دوران عمران
با
را
i
فر
Polly
Paalter
Psalm XL-XLI.
173
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
And noght giue him pene sal he 11 Bot pou, lauerd, of me hafe merci,
In hende' of his faas to be.
And rere me; and yheld am sal .I..
3 Lauerd helpe (sal] bring him to 12 In þat knew .I. þat þou wald me sa,
Ouer bed of sorwe and wo;
For mirth ouer me sal noght mi faa.
Alle pe straile of him pat es
13 And me for ynderandnes onfanged
Torned bou in his sekenes.
pou,
4 .I. saide: »lauerd, haf merci of me; And fest me in þi sight in ai nou.
Hele mi saule, for .I. sinned to be«. 14 Lauerd god ofe Irael blissed be he,
5 Mi faas saiden to me iuels, pis:
Fra werld, and in werld: swa be,
„When sal he die, and forworth name sta be."
his ? «
XLI.
6 And ife he inyode þat he segh, vn-
naitnes
Als yhernes hert at welles of watres
Spake be; his hert samened to him
to be,
wicnes,
Swa yhernes mi saule, god, to be.
7 He yhede out and held him þare, 2 T[b]risted mi saule night an dai
And he spake in him-seluen? mare. To god, quicke welle' þat es ai:
8 Againe me rouned al mi faas stille; When ... sal come and schewen in
Againe me thoght þai to me ille.
sighte
9 Wike worde set þa againes me. Bifor pe face ofe god ofe mighte.
Nou pat slepes, noght ekes pat rise 3 Mine teres vnto me pai wore
sal he? 3
Laues cai and night þarfore,
10 For man of mi pees sothli,
Whil ilkadai" es said to me:
In wham mikel hoped ...,
„Whare es bi god? what es he ?«
Pat ete mi laues best might be, 4 Pis haf .I. mined what mai be,
Mikled vnderganginge ouer me.
And .I. yhet mi saule in me:
1 EH saule. 2 in idipsum; cf. R. 3 V i V fortem, R fontem.
Numquid qui dormit non adiiciet ut resurgat?
.
neuermare gif him sal he. H g. h. sal he swa. EH In saule. H to sla.
EH L. help sal bring to him H) and (H with) blisse. E To him on bed. EH of
sorgh hisse. H þat of him esse. E tou. EH Mi fos iuels saiden to me pisse.
E om be: H dee E dei. E And if he outyhede bat he segh, Fantoms spake he
apon begh, Pe hert of him samned wiht mine (r. inne) Wickednesse to him and
sinne; H And if he inyhed þat he segh fantomes spake he, His hert samened
wicnes to him to be. E yhode. H & he held. EH & in (om in E) him-seluen sp.
m. E to-teld inst. of rouned. E to me poht pai. E om worde. EH pai set againe
me al. E Whor þat, H Whilc. EH he sal. EH Sothlic man of pais mine
(H of mi pais ai), E In pe whilke i hoped inne, H In whom i hoped niht
and dai. H undergoing. E Vndergange mikelhed. E And. H milbe of me
swa. E om And. & to pam yheld. H & raise me and .i. sal yheld to pa.
EH In pat (H pat pat) hou wald me knew .i. swa (H wel!. E For noht ouer
glade me sal mi fa H For mi fas sal mirpe ouer me nadel. E Me sohtlic for v.
EH kep bou. EH Blissed lauerd god of (om in E Israel; Hom be he. E sa
be sa be, H be be wel.
XLI.
E hert yhorhes at welle watres H hert at welle watres yhornes. E saul.
E pristes. H Mi saule pristed. H is. EH com and shew. E liht. E of god
sa briht; H Lickam of lauerd þat is briht. E Mi t. to me ware pai, H Þai ware
to me mi t. ai, EH Laues babe be niht and dai. E ilke. EH is. E Pese
haue moned; H I haue mined what þese. H toyhut E het Hof telde
1350Verden
artisoon
radtere
174
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
When? .I. sal fare in stede of selkouth 15 (Whil al dai bai sain to mel: E
telde,
„Whare is þi god, whare is he?«]
Vnto þe hous ofe god to welde, 16 Whi, mi saule, driried ertou ?
5 In steuen of gladschip and of And whi todroues pou me nou? .
schrifte-
17 Hope in god, for yhit sal .I. to him
Dine of etand þat es swifte.
schriue,
6 Whi, mi saule, dreri ertou ?
Hele of mi face, and mi god of line.
And whi todroues pou me nou?
XLII.
7 Hope in god; for yhit sal .I. to him
schriue,
DEme me, god, and schede mi skil
Hele of mi face, and mi god ofe liue. Fra men þat noght be hali wil;
8 Mi saule todreued es at me;
Fra man wicked, swikel als-swa
For þat sal .I. mine ofe þe
Outake pou me ai fra þa.
Ofe bellandi of Jordan, and Hermon 2 For bou ert god, mi strenght in þe,
Ofe pe littel hille on-on.
Wharfore awai draue pou me?
9 Depnes depnes inkalles hegh,
And wharfore dreried in .I. ga,
In steuen of pi takenes 3 slegh;
Whil þat twinges me Þe fa ?
10 Alle þi heghnes and stremes of þe
3 Outsende þi light, þi sothnes swa;
Forth pai ferden ouer me.
Pai led me to and pai led me fra
II In dai sent laverd his merci,
In þi hali hille þat isse,
And bi night his sange for-pi.
And in pine teldes al with blisse.
12 At me bede to god of ini life nou.
4 And to goddes weued inga .I. sal,
.I. sal sai to god: »mi fanger ertou;
To god pat faines mi yonthede al.
13 Wharfore, if þi wille be,
5 In harpe to be sal .I. schriue,
Haues pou forgeten me ?
God mi god pat es on liue.
And wharfore murned in .I. go,
Wharfore, mi saule, dreri ertou ?
Whil þat tvinges me be fo ?«
And whi todreues pou me nou ?
14 Whil broken ere mi banes on-an
6 Hope in god, for yhit sal (.i. to him
Vpbraided me pat droue, mi fan,
schriue},
IV quoniam (tr. r. quando). 2 Ms. hil. Hele of mi face, and mi god [0]-liue.'
3 V cataractarum.
1 E be.
Selkouth of hous. H Wherfor. E dreri mi saule. Hom to; E dreues tou. E
Hole. EH oliue. EH At mi (H me) self ini saul droued is he (H to se). E be mined.
E Of land H Of le land. E euen H swa, inst. of hegh. E Of þin tokningges
in pe steuen H In st. of pine toknes ma. EH pine heghnesses. E Pai forth-
ferden. EH send. E om sai. EH keper art pou. EH Whi forgetes tou me
and whi in dred i go (H dreri in i ga), Whil bat. E om pe. EH Whil br.
are mi banes, vpbraided me, Pat drouen me mi faas pat be. H Whil pai sai to
me be daies alle Whar is þi god on whom yhe kalle. H dreri. E dreri mi
saul. EH & wherfor. EH om to; E droues me pou n. EH oliue.
XLII.
EH om me. E lauerd. E shil. EH folk. E se heli H heli be. E wick and.
H wicked is als-swa, And swikel outtake me fra þa. E om pou. H strengh of
me ai. E drof. H Whi todrof pou me awai. E dreri H murned. E and led.
hil þat heli. & pi teld wiht mikel bl. H Outsend pi liht swa briht pat es And
als-swa þi sothfastnes, Pai led me to & led me fra In pi heli hil in pi teld'.
als-swa. E i sal in go. EH To god mi yhouth þat faines so (H al). E Shriue
to (be) in barp .I. sal. E God god mine ai art bou al H God god mine art
hou oliue. E Whi. EH dreri mi saule. EH & wherfor droues tou. E om sal.
H saule inst. of face. EH oliue.
len:
LM
NV
benzete e paraktica
(Veel Psalm XLIII.
Psalm XLIII.
175
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
XLIII.
God, with our eres herde we pus,
Our fadres schewden vntil vs,
2 Werke in pair daies pat pou wroghte,
And in daies alde þat nou ere noghte.
3 Pi hand geng tospred, and pou set
pam;
Pou twinged folk and outdraf am.
4 Ne forin paire swerde lande aght
bai,
ve par arme beryhed pam ai;
5 Bot þi righthand, pin arme als-swa,
And lighting ofe þi face, for pou
quemed in þa.
6 Pou ert he mi god and mi kinge,
Pat sendes to Iacob hailsinge".
7 In þe (we) sal blaw with horn our
ilwiland,
And in þi name forhone in vs risand.
8 For noght in bowe hope sal .I. al,
Ne mi swerde noght sauue me sal:
9 For pou sauued vs fra vs twingand,
And pou tospilte vs hatand.
10 In god sal we be looued al dai,
And in bi name be schriuen in
| werld ai.
II And nou, pou output vs and spilt vs
swa,
i V Nec enim. 2 mandas salutes.
3 ventilabimus.
And in our mightes, god, noght sal
tou outga.
12 Pou torned vs hindward after our
faan ;
And þat hated vs, refte him' on-an. .
13 Pou gaf vs als schepe ofe mete pat
ware,
And in genge tospred vs þare.
14 Pou salde pi folke with-out waringe,
And noght was mikelhede in pair
manginge.
15 Þou set ys vpbraidinge ful wide
Til our neghburs vs biside,
Sneringe and bepinge ful lange
To pas þat ere in our vmgange.
16 Þou set vs in liknes 3 in genge to '
s e,
Stiringe of heued in folke to be.
17 Mi schame ogaine me es al dai,
And schenschipe of mi face ouer-
hild me ai:
18 Fra stenen of vpbraidand and for-
spekand,
Fra face of fa and filighand.
19 Alle pes come ouer vs; ne we for- :
gat þe,
Ne wiclike in þi witeworde noght:
dide we,
i V diripiebant sibi. 2 E wurthinge; V sine
pretio.
3 V in similitudinem; R
i obloquentis.
liknyng.
XLIII.
H we herde, pus om. E toulden. H shewed us hou it ferde. E Werk þat:
pou wroht in daies of pa And in daies alde ma. H om And. H elde. E spred
folk H les folc. H planted ha. E genge. H om and. EH output H bam
swa. E om for; H söthlic. EH sal sauue. H Bot pi rithhand and pin arm and
lithting nou Of þi face, for in pam quemed bou. E liht. E om pou. H mi g.
mi king als-swa, Pat s. heles to Iacob ma. H sal we . ur. E forsake H forset.
EH in mi H bogh. EH And. E forspilt are vs. H & toyhut þa are us h.
EH loued. E om And. E om be. EHİn w. to be ai. EH Bot. E om nou. E
toyhet H toyut, inst. of spilt. H & god in our m. H pou. EH went. Eom us.
EH fa. E & pat bateden pai reued tha, H & pat us hated reft him swa. E om
vs. E als mete of shep we w. H of metes ware. EH pou to-spred. Ewiht-
out wurthinge H With-out wurgh þi folc solde pou swa. H in manging of pa.
E for-thi inst. of ful wide. E TO. EH neghburyhes. E vs be. H pa, om
in E. EH are. E Pou s. vs in l. to genge swa H Pou s. to folke in licnesse.
E Steringe. E in folk ma H in f. þat esse. H Again me mi shenship al dai,
And shame. EH ouerhiled. E & spekand. EH & of filiand. EH Alle pise
(phese) ouer vs pai soht, Ne forgeten haue we pe (Ne yhit forgate we pe) noht,
Ne we dide noht wickedli (And wickelic noht dide we) In þi witeword for-thi
ExBBorsaak patter
1
a 1550 Verse
176
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
20 And hindeward wited oure hert na
XLIV.
dai;
And þou helded oure sties fra pi wai, Mi hert riftet gode worde to bringe ;
21 For Þou meked vs in swepinge stede, .I. sai mi werkes to be kinge ;
And ouerhiled vs pe schadw ofe dede. 2 Mi tunge rede-pipe' maister-writer,
22 Ife we forgete name of oure god we Ofe swiftlike writande be per.
kend,
3 Fairest ofe schap opon to se
. And til oper god if we spred oure Forbi sones ofe men þat be,
hend,
Yhotin es hap? in pi lippes twai:
23 Noght-ne sekes god þese to se? - For-ji blissed pe god in ai.
For hidinges of herte knawes he. 4 Girde pi swerde of iren and stele
24 For al dai dedelike er' we for pe; Ouer þi thee mightlike and wele 3.
Als schepe of slaghter wend er we?. 5 For pi wlite and fairehed ilike
25 Ris; lauerd, whi slepes tou?
Bibald soundful, gaforth, and rike;
Ris, ne outschoue : in ende nou. 6 For sothnes, and handtamenes,
26 Whi tornes pou pine anneleth, kinge? And rightwisenes þat in þe es;
Forgetes oure wrecchedhed and oure And it sal lede [be] selkouthli
drouing?
Pi righthand ful stedefastli.
27 For meked es in dust oure saule pus; 7 Þine arwes er swa scharp of might
Swelihed' es in erbe pe wambe of vs. Folke vnder pe be dai and night
28 Ris, lauerd, helpe vs for-pi,
Sal falle whider so pou gas“
And bi vs for bi name hali.
In hert of þe kinges faas.
1 V mortificamur. 2 aestimati sumus.
i Ms. piper; V Lingua mea calamus scribae
3 ne repellas. conglutinatus.
velociter scribentis. 2 V gratia. 3 V poten-
tissime ! (voc.).
(D
(for to se). E & noht wited hindward H & again-went. EH no. EH Þi stihes
fra our w. EH For pou m. (us H) in stede of twinging vs (H pus) And shadw of
ded(e) (hit H) ouerhiles (H ouerhiled) vs þus (H om þus). E & to god outen-
spred o. h., H & til outen god sprede o. h. EH Ware god sekes noht
þese. H ful smert. E Hidinges of hert wel k. he, H For he knawes hidinges
of hert. EH For be dedlic we are al dai. EH wend are we ai. H Vpris;
slapes. E Rise whi slepes tou god nou. E Ris and in end ne outshouue pou
H Ris and ne againshouue in e. nou. EH Whi turnes tou þi lickam swa, For-
getes our drouyng and our wa. EH in dust our s. is. EH Swolihed in erbe is
W. (E wombe). H Vpris. EH heli. Det
Q1400 N I LIV------
EH in cross-rhymes.
EH Mi hert (om in E) rifted gode word 5 For wlite (brihtneş) and fairhed of
þurgh me,
ре
I telle pe kyng werke of mi handie); Bihald (Take kepej smart, ga forth,
2 Mi tung(e) rede-pipe mot maister
be kynge ;
(master) be,
6 For sohtnesse and softenesse (H Soth-
Writer of swiftli writand(e).
nes handtamenes) for-thi,
3 Fairist of shap for-be alle
And rihtwisnesse bat in be esse
Of sones of men bat ere (euer)
(isse) ;
ware (wer) born;
And it sal lede pe selkoutli
Hap wald in pi lippes falle,
Þi rihthand in to mikel blisse.
God ai bas blisse(d) pe perforn. 7 Pine arwes are ful sharp and boun—
4 Gird pi swerd ouer pi the,
Folk wider so (swa) pou gas
Mathlic (Maghli; þe sharpist men Vnder pe sal falle adoun-
pe bringe.
In hertes of the kynges faas.
.
e
Psalter
armorere Roalha
177
TOGA
Psalms XLIV.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
8 Pi sete, lauerd, werld of werld es And pe hous ofe fadre pine.
inne;
13 And yhern sal þe king þi fairehed ai,
Yherde ofe rightinge yherde of rike For he lauerd þi god, and him bid'
þine.
sal þai.
9 Þou loued rightnes, and hated wicnes; 14 And dogbtres of Tiri in giftes salle
For-þi pe smered god, þat es
Þi face bid; richest ofe folke alle.
Þi god, with oile of fainenes, 15 Alle blis of him to biginne,
Forbi þine feres mare and les.
Doghtres of kinges fra withinne,
10 Mir, and drope, and bike', of schrou In gliterand gilted hemminges,
des pine,
Vmlapped with selkouth Þinges.
Ofe houses iuoyred, bright þat schine; 16 Led sal be to pe kinge maidene
Ofe whilk lusted þe doghtres ofe after ma,
kinges
Hir neghbures offred? er to pe swa.
In pi worschip, forbi alle thinges. 17 Þai sal be outbornᵒ in gladeschip and
I Þe quene on [þi] righthal[u]es stode, fainenes;
In schroude gilt, vmgiven with Þai sal be led in kirke pe kinges es.
sernesa gode.
18 For þi fadres, er pe born sones on
12 Here, doghter, and se nou,
hand;
And þine ere helde pou;
Set sal pou pam princes ouer alle
Forgete pi folke for to rines,
Þe land.
i V cassia. 2 V varietate. 3 = touch. 1 Y adorabunt. 2 Lafferentur.
11400 NV Psalter (6)
8 Þi sete, god (H lauerd), in (H is) hegh 13 And þi fairhed sal yorne Þe kynge,
on heght
For he (is H) lauerd þi god of alle,
In werld of werld and ai ilike; And to him, for-be alle pinge,
Þe yherd of rihtinges (H rihting) is Sal þai bidde bogh (H þe) gret
reght
and smalle.
Yherde of þi nawen (bin auyhen) 14 And þe doghtres of Tiry
rike.
In giftes bi fair face
9 Þou loued euer rihtwisnesse
Sal pai yorne ful inwardli,
And hated wickednesse pi yhers; Richest of folke þat mast gode
For-þi wiht smerls of fainnes
hace.
Þe smered pi god for-be þi feres. 15 Kynges doghtres alle his blisse,“
10 Mir and (om H) drope and bike als-
Als he wil fra (H swa) inne he
swa (H mare)
bringes,
Of þi cleþinges (clepinge), of big In gilt orlinges (H hemminges) als
ginges
it isse,
Iuoired, of whilke pe yhorned (!) ma - Vmlapped al wiht selkouth hinges.
(H sare)
16 Ledde are bifor be (H þi) kinges kne,
In þi wurchip doghtres of kynges. After hir, maidens ful swete;
II Pe quene stode on pi rihthand
His neghburghes (H Neghb. of hire)
In clepinge gilt þat fåirist esse-
þare wald þai be,
Is non (nan) swilke in alle Þe (Hi) To be wilt godnesse for to grete.
land,
17 Pai are out borne into fain(n)esse,
Vmgiuen (H Vng.) alle wiht sel And in gladship are pai stedde;
kouthnesse.
Alle þat þare ware mare and lesse
12 Here nou, doghtre, and se,
In to pe kynges kirke are ledde.
Held þine ere and to (om H) me 18 For þi fadres are (to H) þe born
here;
Sones yunge (yhing) and summe
Forgete þi folke what so pai be,
of eld(e);
Bi fader hous þat esse (is) þe Pou salt þam princes set perforn
deke.
Ouer alle Þe land apon þe feld.
II.
12
پی وی سی
اما ای
است
س
ت
را
178
ansoorkhackten
950 Verse
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
19 Mined be, lauerd, of þi name sal þai Oure fanger god of Iacob be.
In strend and strend, be night and dai. 8 Comes and sees werkes of lauerd hand,
20 For-þi þe folke sal to be schriue Takeninges whilk he set ouer þe land:
In ai, and in werld of werld biliue.. 9 Awaiberande--for to wende-
Fightes to pe landes ende;
XLV.
Bowe sal he bris, and breke wapenes
God oure toflight and might þus,
ma,
Helper in drouinges pat mikel fand vs. And scheldes brinne with fire als-swa.
2 For-þi sal we noght drede when 10 »Bihaldes, and sees pat god am .I. ;
land letbe,
Be heghed in genge, be heghed in
And hilles ben borne in be hert ofe land sal .I.«.
be se.
II Lauerd of might with vs es he;
3 Þai dinned, and dreued ere watres Our fanger god of Iacob be.
of pa;
To-dreued ere hilles in [his] strenght
XLVI.
Alle genge, plaies with hend til
4 Stith cominge? of streme faine[s] heuen,
goddes cite;
Miries to god in gladful steuen:
He balyhed his telde heghist es he. 2 For lauerd hegh, aghful to se,
5 God in mid, it sal be stired nathinge; King mikil ouer alle land es he.
Helpe it sal god ereli in grikinge. 3 He yndrelaid folke vntil vs,
6 Todreued er genge, and helded And genge vndre our fete þus.
rikes are:
4 He ches til vs his heritage som dele,
He gaf his steuen, stired landes 4 þare”. Fairehed ofe Iacob whilk he loued
7 Lauerd of mightes with vs es he;
wele.
1 V turbabitur. 2 impetus; R swall. 3 Ms. 1 V Vacate, R Takis tome.
fained. fr. land es. 5 Stey....y.are..mm
swa.
ÀÑ Oopsi
Poalter
19 Þi name lauerd sal þai (om E) min 20 For-þi þe (om H) folk sal to þe
par liue
shrine
In getyng of strend and strend In werld and werld (H om and w.)
☺ (H In g. and geting of st.);
wiht-outen ende.
XLV.
EH infliht. H is pus. H drouing. EH om pat; to mikel com vs. E For pat.
EH whil. E om land; H perpe. H be. E & outborn ben hilles. EH in hert of
se. EH dined. H droued. are. H om To. in his st. E Todreued in his strenth
are hilles ma. E Stif H Stigh. H faines. E halied. EH h. mai be. E it
stire it, sal om; H hit sal stire. EH He (H God) sal help hit erli. EH Droued.
H folke. E rikes helded, H boyhed rikes. EH Þe erpe stired (is H) þare.
EH in blisse inst. of es he. E fonger H keper. E esse H isse. E om and.
H Comes werkes of lauerd to se. E Pat he set fortokens &c, H Tokneinges ouer
erpe whilke set he. E Awai berand fihtes strange Vntil ende of erbe amange.
H welrdes inst. of landes. E Brise sal he bogh and breke in twa Wepens, wiht fir
bren sheldes ma, H Brise sal be bogh and tobreke þenne Wepenes and sheldes
wigh fir brenne. E Bihaldes and sees witerli Pat god am .I. soghfastli, .I. sal be
heghed in genge for-thi, And be heghed in erpe sal .I.; H Emties and se yhe
for-þi Pat god am .i. witerli, .I. sal be uphouen in folke ma, .I. sal be uphouen
in erbe als-swa. E God. EH mihtes. EH with vs in blisse. EH fonger. isse.
XLVI.
H folc. EH to. H Mi[r]yes. EH gladand. H for to se, E is he. EH erþe;
E to be. EH til. E vs ma. E f. als-swa. E to. EH om his. H leued.
0278oozzardradar
Psalm XLVI—XLVII.
179
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
5 Vpstegh god in mirthe and blisse, 5 Forwondred ere pai seand swa,
Lauerd in steuen of beme þat isse. Þai ere droued, þai ere stired,
6 Singes til oure god, singe yhe;
drede griped þa;
Singes til oure kinge, singe yhe! 6 Þare sorwes als of kineland nou;
· 7 For king of alle erthe god es strange; In strange gaste schippes of Thars
Singes wiseli, wele and lange.
forthrist saltou.
8 Rike sal god ouer genge þat is; 7 Als we here', sa se we right
God sites on sete hali his.
In cite of lauerd of might,
9 Princes of folke þai samened þam Of our god in þe Cite;
With Þe god of Abraham:
God grounded it in ai to be.
For goddes stalworthe of erthe þat 8 We onfanged, god, þi merci
· are,
In mid of þi kirke inwardeli.
Swith mikel vphouen pai ware. 9 After þi name, god, swa isse
| Pi loofe ful of mikel blisse
XLVII.
In þe endes ofe þe land.
Mikel lauerd, and loouelike swithe Of rightwisnes ful es þi righthand.
he is,
10 Faine mote pe bille of Syon,
In cite of oure god, in hille hali his. And glade sal pai sone on-on
2 Grounded with gladschepe be onon Þe faire doghtres of Iude,
Alle landes; hille of Syon',
Lauerd, for domes of þe.
Sides of north, þe cite
II Vmgiues Syon, and vmklippes it;
Of god? mikel pat ai sal be.
Telles in his toures yhit.
3 God in his 3 houses be knawen sal 12 Settes youre hertes, night and dai,
When þat he has fanged ite al.
In might of him to be ai,
4. For loke, kinges of erthe ilkan
And to-deles his houses ma,
Pai ere samened, and comen in an: In othre kinde pat ye telle swa.
I V Fundatur exultatione universae terrae 1 r. herd.
mons Sion. 2 r. king. 3 V ejus.
EH in mirpe ful queme. H And lauerd. EH om þat isse. E ..yhe singe
H singes. H om Singes. E to. E ye singe H singes. E For of alle erbe kyng
is god str. H For god king of al erpe str. EH Singes wislic (wisli) yhou amange.
H ouer genge wisli. E ouer sete heli b. H God sit sal ouer his sete heli.
EH om þai. H Bifor god of A. E strange. EH ware. EH are.
XLVII.
EH Mikel 1. and swipe loouendli. EH in his hil heli. E Gr. w. gl. alle erbes be,
Þe hille of Syon for to se, Sides of norh for-be alle pinge, Þat is cite of mikel
kynge; H Grunded be hit al with blisse, With gladship of al erbe pat isse, Hil
of Syon, norht sides riht, Cite of mikel king of miht. H om his. H om pat. E kepe
hit has, H has tan hit. H Samened are. EH com. E Ferlied are pai H Pai
are forwundred, EH seand þat þinge. E let inst. of droued. EH pam nam
quakynge. H soryhes E sorgh. H om nou. E brise salt þou; H In. strang gast
brise salt pou shipes of Thars lande. EH als se we. H god. EH In cite of our
god þat (om in H) isse. EH God gr. (H made) hit in ai wiht blisse. H fonged
E keppen. Elauerd. H om of. H ful inwardli E heli. E Als þi name god
alle-weldand, And swa pi lof in endes of land, Wiht rihtwisnesse be niht and
dai Fulfild is pi rihthand ai; H After þi name god sa and pi lof in endes of
landé, Ful of rihtwisnesse is Þi rihthande. EH Faine Syion hil and glade doghtres
of Iude, Lauerd f. d. of the. H om his. E Set your hertes in his miht, And
todeles his houses riht, Þat yhe tellen you bitwene, In oper kynde pat yhe haue
sene; H Set yhoure hertes in his miht and deles houses hisse, Pat yhe telle in
12*
9
.
VA
voor Udaltera a)HOONV Paul
0-1350-Verse
180
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
13 For he es god, oure god in blisse, 8 And worth of againbijnge of his
In ai, and in werld ofe werld þat saule to wende;
isse;
And he sal swinke in ai, and yhit
He sal stere vs with his might
life in ende.
In werldes, bi dai and night.
9 Noght sal he se forworth in land,
When he has seen wise diand;
XLVII.
Samen pe vnwis als-swa
Heres þese, alle genge; with eres With be fole forworth sal þa.
bi-se
10 And leue til outen pair welthes sal
Alle þat erden werld, in to be;
þai
2 Whilk and' erthelike", mennes sones And pair graue paire hous sal be
ilkon,
in ai.
Poure and riche samen on-on. 11 In kinde and kinde teldes of pa!
3 Mi mouth sal speke wisedome on Þai kalled paire names in þair landes
heght,
swa.
And thoght of mi hert, sleght. 12 Man, in worschipe when he was
4 I sal helde mine ere in forbiseninge; broght,
I sal open in sauter: mi forsettinge“, – He ne vndrestode ite noght;
5 Whi sal .I. drede in iuel dai?
Til vnwise meres euenmete es he,
Wiknes of mi helespor sal vigiue And made to paim like for to be.
me ai.
13 Pis paire wai schame to pam alle;
6 Þat traiste in þaire mighte and in And after, in paire mouth queme þai
mikelhed
sal.
Of þaire welthes mirpen, to mede 14 Als schepe in helle set ere bai;
7 Brothre sal noght bie, man bie sal Dede fedes pam night and dai.
al ?
15 And lauerd' of pas forbi alle thinge
Noght gif his queming to god he sal, Sal be rightwis in morneinge;
1 V Quique. 2 V terrigenae. 3 V in 1r. lauerdes?
psalterio. A propositionem.
5
oper kinde pat isse. E For he god swa gode to se, Oure god in euermare sal
be, And in werld of werld pat isse, He sal vs stere in werldes blisse; H For
he is god our god in werld of werld and in ai, He sal stere us in werldes niht
and dai.
XLVIII.
E Pat biggen pes werld alle yhe, H Whilke pat big þe w. alle yhe. E erpelic
H erpeli. EH mensones ilkan. E Pouer. H Riche and pouer. EH in an.
H wisdam. E riht inst. of on h. E mi forseit þinge. Ein yụel dai pat be
H in i. d. al. EH -spur. E vmgiues me Humgif me sal. E Þat traisten in
þar miht þat esse, And glade in mikelhed of par richesse; H Pat traist in par
m. niht and dai, And in mikelhed of þar welpes mirþen ai. H bie man sal þisse.
E om al. E Noht sal he gif to god bis queming al, H Noht gif sal he to god
queming hisse. EH wurth. E of biing, om in H. EH to his s. H te. E &
lyue yhit. E He sal noht se. EH forward. H he ses. EH Þe wise. E doand
H deeand. H Samen bape the wis with-al And þe fole forwurbe pai sal. E And
pe folke(!) E l. þar godes til oper H þar welbes til outen leue. E & proyhes
of þam þar hous in ai, H & þar biries hous of þam in ai. E Par teldes in
kynde & kynde, H Par t. in k. & k. standes. E Par names kald þai. EH om
swa. Hom was. EH And; E om til. EH mares. is. Þam. E vn-to H til.
E pa, alle om. H after þa. E sal þai sa. H done ar. E sal fede. E And
lauerd be sal [of] þa for-thi Rihtwise in mornyng erli, And þe help of þam þat isse,
arasoaiseziladhen
Pratter
ve
181
Psalm XLVIII—XLIX.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
And be helpe sal elde of þa
3 God he [sal come]' openli,
In helle alle þaire blisse fra.
Our god, and noght blinne forbi.
16 Bot god mi saule bi sal he
4 Fire in his sight sal brenne sothli;
Fra hand of belle, when he tas me. And in his vmgange storme worthi’.
17 Ne drede pou when riche made 5 He kalled be heuen abouen of
man is,
blisse,
And felefalded of his hous es blis; And þe land, to schede folke hisse.
13 For, when he sterues, take sal he6 Samenes his halighes til his hand,
noghte alle,
Pat welesettes 3 witeworde ouer off-
Ne with him his blis lightdoune salle. rand.
19 For his saule in his life sal blissed 7 And schewe sal heuens his right-
be;
wisnes,
When pou bas gode done him schriue For god domesman he es.
sal he to þe:
8 »Here, mi folk, to me somdele :
20 Inga intil kinde of his fadres sal he, And .I. sal speke to Irael,
And til in ai lighte sal he noght se. And .I. sal witnes to be for-þi
21. Man, in worschipe when he was God, god pine þat am I..
broghte,
9 Noght in offrandes sal .I. threte be
He ne vndrestode it noghte;
righte;
And til vnwis meres euenmet es he, For pi smereinges' ai ere in mi sighte.
And made to pam like for to be. 10 Noght sal :I. take fra þi hous kalues,
Ne fra þi faldes bockes, on na halues;
XLIX.
Il For mine ere alle bestes of wode,
God of goddes, lauerd, spake he, Meres in hilles, and nete gode..
And be erthe he kalled to se, 12 I knewe alle pe flightfoghel of heuen,
2 Fra sonne springe to setelgange;
And fairehede of felde with me es
Fra Syon wlite of his fairehed lange.
euen.
i Ms. spake. 2 V valida. 3 ordinant.
4 holocausta.
Elde sal in, helle fra þar blisse; H And lauerd sal of pam ribwise in morning
swa, And þar 'help sal eld in helle fra blisse of þa. EH bie. E Of. H taas.
EH om pou. E riche man maked H man riche made. EH And when mani-
folded be (is) blisse of hous hisse. EH he nimes. EH Ne his blisse wiht' him
sal doun falle (doun ga salj. E And when pou gode has don. H has wel don.
EH sal he (om E) shriue to be. E to ir H til in. EH noht sal he. EH mares.
XLIX.
EH God of g. louerd of blisse (H þat isse), He (om H) spake and cald þe
erbe pisse. EH sunne. E til. E Fro S. swetnesse. EH God openli(c) come
'sal to se (H he sal), Oure god, and noht lete (blinne) sal he (with-al). H brenne
sal. E wiseli H for-pi. H om in. E wurtli. E om þe. fra aboue pat isse.
H Fra aboue he kald heuen of blisse. H als inst. of þe. EH erbe. E halies
H halyhes. to. H his witeword. Erihtwisenes hisse H om man. E om he.
E isse. E Herk. ynto the, forbi om. þine I am to be. H Here mi folc and
[i] sal speke to Israel forþi, And witnes to be, god god þin am .i.. E offrand.
E prete .I. sal, H prete sal .i. Þe. EH pine offrandes. E in mi siht ai al
H ai in mi siht to se. E Noht sal .i. nim fra calues nan H .I. sal tak of þi
hous k. nan. EH Ne fra (of) þi foldes buckes neuer nan (an). EH For al bestes
of wod mine are pa. EH Mares. Hom and. EH net(e) als-swa. E knaw.
EH om pe. EH f. of h. to se. H And pe f. of wod. EH is wiht me (euen
'
.
ansoorzar Pratter alHOONvPoal
a43.50 Verse
182
The Psalms.
Ms Vesp. D VII.
13 Yife me hungre, noght sal.I. sai Þe pis; Set pou sclaundre witerli.
Mine es ertheli werld, and fulhed his. Pes dide pou, and ai blan .I..
14 Wher .I. sal ete of bules flesche? 22 Pou wendest ful wickedli
Or drinke pe blode of buckes nesche ? Þat .I. sal be like to be for-pi:
15 Offrand of loof to god offre pou, .I. sal threte be, and with-al
And yhelde til hegheste pi hates nou. Set ogain þi face .I. sal«.
16 And in dai of drouinge kalle pou me; 23 Vnderstandes þese in thoghte,
Þou salt worschipe me, and .I. sal Whilke þat god forgeten oghte;
outake per.
Leswhen pat he reue on-an,
17 To sinner sothlike said god þat es: And wha þat outake bes þare nan.
»Whi telles pou mi rightwisenes ? 24 Offrand of lof, gode es and right,
And nimes als-swa bi þi mouth
Sal worschip me be dai and night;
Mi witeword hat es swa kouth ?
And pider whilk .I. sal his wai
18 Þou sothlike hated lare,
Schewe him hele of god in ai?.
And forthkeste mi saghes hindward
pare.
L.
19 Ife pou sagh thefe, pou ran with God, Þou haue mercy of me, .
him yete;
After mikel mercy of þe;
And with wedbrek Þi dele pou sete. 2 And after of þi reuthes Þe mikelnes
20 Þi mouth mihtsomed? iueles swa, Pou do awai mi wickednes.
And þi tunge herded swikedomes ma. 3 Noumare ? me wasche of min iuel
21 Sitand, þi bropre pou spake ogain, bidene,
And ogain þi modre sun with main And of mi sinne pou klens me klene.
1= whether. 2 Stev, nuhtsomed; v Os i V et illic iter quo ostendam illi salutare
tuum abundavit malitia; cf. 64, 14; 72, 12. dei. 2 V Amplius.
3 V concinnabat.
om). E If me hunger neuer swa sare, Sai to be sal .I. nomare, For þat werld
of erpe isse mine, And alle pe fulhed þat is pare-inne. H For min is. E Whore
H Ware. EH nou inst. of of. E bulles H boles. E Oper: E Offre to god
offrand of lof swa, H Offre offrand to god of lof þat be. EH to heghist. E pin
hotes ma H hotes of þe. H And kalle me in þi drouing dai. E And tou salt
me menske and .I. sal out-take þe, H And .i. sal oậtake pe and pou sal men[s]k
me ai. E To sinful sohtlic in land Said god þat isse alle-weledand, Whi telles
tou rihtwisenesse mine And nimes mi witeword be mouth pine. H sinfulman,
sothlik om; And mi witeword is swa kouth, Takes tou als be pi mouth.
E hated ai 1., H And þou hated lare niht and dai. E forthkast H forth prw.
EH saihes. E ai hindw. þare, H hindward ai. E soht. EH wiht him ran pou
(E iou). EH spousebreche. E dol. EH set pou nou. EH micled. E iuelnesse.
E amange H strang. H herded sw. amang E swikdom hit sange. E pou
spake þi broßer. H Again þi broper po[u] spake sitand. EH son. H in land.
E samen inst. of sclaundre. E ful witerli, And set again pi face for-thi (rest om).
H yhit inst, of ai. H Þou wend wicli þat .i. be like to be sal, I sal þret be
and again pi face set al. E phese; E Yhe pat god forgeten o., Lesewenne
that reue he, And whilke þat outnimes nan. be; H Pat god forgetes understandes
pisse yhe, Leswhen he reue and wha outtake nan be. E Offrand þat isse of
heriynge, Sal wurchip me for-be alle pinge, And þider whilke that .I. sal Shew
to him hele of god al; H Offrand of lof sal menske me, and þar wai Pai sal
to him shew hele of god ai.
E A. Þe mikel. EH & after manihed (mikelhed) of rewphes (E rihtwise) pine,
Pou (E om) do awai wicnesse (H wickednes) mine. E ne inst. of me. · EH of
mi wicnesse, And klens me of (om H) mi sinne pat esse. EH knaw .I. i am i.
VaR aceboortrefrolter
Psalter
Psalm L.
183
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
4 For mi wickenes .I. knaw þat .I. 12 Ne forwerpe me fra face of þe,
am inne,
And þi hali gaste bere noght fra me.
And ai ogain me es mi sinne. 13 Yhelde to me of þi hele fainnes,
5 To be an sinned .I. mare, .
And with heghist (gast]' me fest
And iuel bifór þe dide .I. þare;
þat es.
Þat in þi saghes pou be rightwise, 14 Þine waies wicked sal .I. kenne;
And ouercome when pou demed is. And quedes torne to pe sal þenne.
6 Lo for? in wickenesses onfanged 15 Lese me fra blodes, god, god of mi
am .I.,
hele es,
And in sinnes me onfogh (!) mi modre And glade sal mi tunge Þi right-
for-bi.
wisnes.
7 Lo for' pou loued with al þi mighte 16 Lauerd, pou salte open lippes mine,
Sothnes, bath bi dai and nighte; And mi mouth sal schewe lof pine.
Vnsiker and derne of þi wisdam 17 For if pou wald offrand had .I.
Pou opened vnto me ofe þam.
broghte;
8 Pou sal strenkil? me ouer-alle
Sothlik til offrandes lustes pou noghte.
With strenkil, and klensed be .I. 18 Offrand make pou on baste
To god þat ert droued gaste?;
Pou þi-selfe salt wasche ine,
Hert forbroken and meked thoghte,
And ouer snawe sal .I. whitened be. God, forsake saltou noghte.
9 To mi heringe saltou give
19 Welli make, lauerd, and noght ille,
Blis and fainnes, whils .I. liue,
To Syon in þi gode wille,
And glade sal þai night and dai And bigged be pai bright als bem
Banes þat ere meked ai.
De walles of Iherusalem.
10 Þi face fra mine sinnes torne pou nou, 20 Þen saltou take with Þi hand
And alle mi wickenes awai do þo[u]. Rightwise offrand“ in pe land,
: II Clene herte make in me, god, and Onelotes and offrandes on alle halues;
trewe,
Þen sal þai set ouer weued pine
And right gaste in mi guttes . newe. kalues.
1 V Ecce enim. ? same word R.
i V spiritu principali. ? V Sacrificium deo
spiritus contribulatus. 3 Benigne fac. 5 V ut.
4 sacrificium justitiae.
salle ;
E om ai. H ane E on. EH om mare. EH Bifore be iuel (ille) .I. dide for-
thi. EH om þi. EH sayhes. E Loke .I. am onfonged in wickednesse H Loke
.i. am wicnesses onfonged inne. E And in sinne me onfonge mi m. þat esse
H And mi m. onfonge me in sinne. E Loke sohtlic pou loued ai Rihtwisnesse
be niht and dai. H om for; H Rihtwisnes bape d. &n. E heled inst. of derne.
H Opened pou to me.. EH Lauerd pou sal strenkel me (H adds bidene) Wigh
st. & klene sal (I] be (H & .i. sal be klene). E Þou salt wasshe me ouer alle, And
be whitned ouer snaw .I. salle. E pou sal. E whil H wil. EH And forpi þai
be glad, Pe meked banes (bat H) pou made. E min H mi. E wend. EH ai
inst. of nou. H om alle. Ewicnesse H wicnesses. EH do awai; pou om.
E om God. E om right. H gas. E forthwerp H werpeforth. H om me.
EH heli. E ne bere f. m. E fainnes of hele pine. "Hof, EH heghest gast. E me
festin ine. H to wicked. E .I. sal lere wicke pine waies to ga. E om to.
E sal swa. EH om Godz. E isse. EH & mi tung sal glade in pi r. E sal.
EH shew sal louing þ. E giuen had .I.. E Til offrand lustes pou noht sohtli.
Hiustes tou. EH art. E wele inst. of thoght. H ne salt. E no dele. EH
Welli do. E son onan, In þi gode wille to Syon. EH ben. E be inst. of bem.
E take wiht blisse Offrand of rihtwisnes pat isse.
0
PN
2
apsoraranfaatan
al400 NV Poeller l
a 1350 Versea
.
184
The Psalms.
. Ms. Vesp. D VII.
LI.
LII (cf. XIII).
W hi glades bou in iuelnes,
Pe vnwis saide in hert his
Þat mightand? ert in wickednes? Als a fule, þat god noght is.
2 Vnrightwisnes thoght pi tunge al dai; 2 Pai ere wemmed, and wlatful ai
Als scharp rasour swikedom did pou ai. In wickednes made ere þai;
3 Þou loued iuelnes oure betternes; Whilke pat gode dos es par nan,
Mare to speke wicnes pan euennes. Es þar nan to lepi an.
4 Pou loued alle wordes of dounfallinge, 3 Lauerd fra heuen, þare he wones,
With swikle tunge, oure al thinge. Forthloked ouer mennes sones,
5 For-þi god sal fordo pe
In ende, output pe for to be,
Or if he be god sekand:
And ferre pe fra þi telde in land, 4 Alle helded pai, sammen ai
And þi rote fra þe erthe of liuand. Vnnoteful maked ere pai;
6 Rightwise sal se, and drede pai sal; Whilk þat gode dos es þar nan,
And on him lagh, and sai with-al: Is [þar) nan to lepi an.
» Loke here man þat noght set he 5 Noght-ne wate pai alle pat wirkes
· God helper his ai for to be,
qued,
7 Bot hoped in mikelhede of his Pat swelyhes mi folk als mete of bred?
6 God ne kalled pai neuer an;
And forwortheds in his ynnaitnesse«. Par qwoke pai for drede, par drede
8 And .I., als oliue fruitberand
was nan.
In þe hous of god liuand; . 7 For god skatered banes of þa
.I. hoped in goddes merci,
Vnto men þat qwemes swa;
In ai and in werld of werld. for-þi, Schent ere pai, bi night and dai,
9 In werld þou made sal .I. to be For þat god forsoke pam ai.
schriue,
8 Wha sal gife of Syon hele to Irael!
When torned has god wrechednes wel
For gode es it in pe sighte
Of his folk, glade Iacob sal,
Of þine haleghs ful of mighte.
And faine sal Irael with-al.
i V potens. 2 R dounfelling, V praecipita-
tionis. 3al. bettred; V praevaluit.
richesse,
LI.
EH tou. art. EH Þi tung poht ynr. H rasur. H swikedam ; E euelnesse o.
E oliueand. EH Mani inst. of Rightwise. H & Þai sal drede. H & lagh on him.
E laghand. H & saie to mede. H om here. H whilke pat. EH his helpe; ai
om. EH he h. H mekehed. H om his. EH & bettred. H lauerd. EH dwelland.
H om of werld. E þat þou. H & þi name abide. EH þi balghs.
LII.
H in h. and þoht. EH fol(e). H is noht. EH wlatand. E mare and lesse.
H wicnesses. E Mad are pai in þare wickednesse. EH is. E non. E one.
H God. þer. E ware he ynderstand. E Ore ware bat. E Alle samen helded
Þai, V. are pai maked ai. EH Is þar. EH Þai wate (witen) noht (alle H) þat
wirken (wirkes) q. EH swolyhe. E fole. E om ne. EH noht apon. EH Þai
q. for d. E om For. H om god. E Pat vn-to men quemen tha H Whilk
pat queme un-to men swa. E Þai are forspilt H Pai are shent. EH bath n.
H of Syon sal gif. E lauerd has turned H god bas t. E Iacob glade. Hom
faine.
Parooree, healter
Realter
Psalm LIII—LIV.
185
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
LIII.
God, in þi name sauf make me nou,
And in þi might me deme pou.
2 God here mi bede; with eres bise
Wordes of mi mouth þat be.
3 For outen ras ogain me ma,
And stalworth soght mi saule to sla,
And noght forset Þai dai na nighte
God to be bifor þaire sighte.
4 Lo, sothelike god helpes me,
And lauerd helper of mi saule es he.
5 Torne iuels ynto mi faas;
And in þi sothnes tosprede pas.
6 Willi sal .I. offre to be yhite,
And schriue to bi name, for gode
es ite.
7 For alle drouinge me outoke pou fra,
And min egh forsegh ouer mi faa.
LIV.
Here, god, what es mi bede,
And ne forsake pou in na stede
Mi bisekinge .I. make to þe;
Take kepe to me and here me.
| Ms. worwes.
2 Dreried .I. am in mi bedgange?;
And to-dreued am .I. lange
Of steuen of ilwiland,
And of drouinge of sinnand;
3 For pai helded in me wicnes ai,
And in wrath to me hakand war
Þai.
4 Mi hert es dreued in me to be,
And radnes of dede felle ouer me.
5 Drede and quaking ouer me come pa,
And weued? me mirkenes in to ga.
6 And .I. saide: wha feberes sal gif
me beste
Als of douue, and .I. sal flegh, and
reste?
7 Loke, .I. lenghped fleand,
And in an[n]es 3 .I. was wonand;
8 .I. abade him þat sauf me made
Fra littelhed of gast, and fra storme
brade.
9 Felneper“, lauerd, þat it be swa,
And þe tunges twinne of þa;
For .I. sagh be wickednesse
And þe againsagh in cite esse.
i V in exercitatione mea, r. begange. 2 V
contexerunt (!). 3 V in solitudine. Prae-
cipita.
OT
LII.
EH Lauerd. E om þi. H sauue me nou E sauf make pou me. E And sauue
me in pe miht of the. H pe bede, E wiht eres þine H of me, E Bese pe
wordes of mouth mine H Wordes of mi m. wiht eres bise. E in me. EH om
And. H Starwurth. H And pai set noht. E And pat forset noht before par siht
God be daies na be niht. EH Loke. EH om And. H God. EH keper. V 7 om
in E. H forlese pas. E Wilfulli. E om I. E to þe wiht blisse. E it isse.
E Fra al d. H For fra alle mi fas. E outtoke pou me H me o. pou. E And
ouer mi fos min egh forsok to se. H ouer fas mine nou.
LIV.
E Here god mi bede loud and stille And ne forsake pou wiht pi wille, H Here
g. of me the bede And forsake noht in þe stede. EH Bihald to me. E I am
dreried. H & t. i am amange. H For st. EH of min. E ille weland. H And
for. E wicnesses H iueles. E ma. E wragh. EH hackand to me. E pa. E
dred; r. oft felle, of dede om; felle inst. of come; & ouerhiled me merknesses al
dai; H Mi hert it (r. is) let in me to dwelle And radires of ded ouer me felle,
Drede & qu. come ouer me, And merknesse wof me in to be. E who sal gif me
fethes (!) H feperes wha sal gif me. Hom Als. E om of. Efligh H fliyhe.
EH .i. ferred. E fast f. E onnesse H onne. EH abode. H wha sauf me
m. amang. E made me. H litelnes. EH om and. E fra st. to se H fra st.
strang. E Felleneper lauerd twinne tunges of þa me(!), For .I. sagh wicnesse
and gainesaw in cite. H And twinne pou t. E Dai and niht vmga sal hit.
hay
arerobrererkpalter
ty
ON
T
WA
a135.0 Verse
186
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
10 Vmgif sal it night and dai
19 Late, and areli, and at middai euen,
Ouer walles of it wickednes ai;
Sal .I. telle and schew, and he sal
And swinke in mid of ite be sal,
here mi steuen.
And vnrightwisnes with-al;
20 Bi mi saule in pais sal he
II And noght waned of waies of ite Fra þam þat swa neghed me;
Okre and swikedome to be yhite. For bitwix mani þai ware
12 For ife me weried had mi faa,
With me, bath be lesse and mare.
Tholed sothlike had .I. swa; 21 Here sal god, and meke pa,
13 And if to pa? þat hates me
Bifor werldes pat es swa.
Quer me grete thinge spoken had he, 22 Noght es to þam formanginge,
Thorgh hap swa might haue bitid And þar-with drede pai nathinge:
Pat .I. me had fro him hid.
God forþi thorgh-out þe land
14 Þou sothlik man of a mode?,
Tospred his hand in foryheldand.
Mi leder, and mi kouth sa gode, 23 Pai bismitted night and dai
·15 Þat samen swete metes toke with His witeworde: todelt ere bai
me,
Fra wreth of his face forbi;
In goddes hous with [a] wille yhode And neghed hert of him sothli.
we!
24. Nesched als oyle his saghs bene,
16 Come mote dede sone ouer þa; And pai ere gauelokes þam bitwene.
And in helle liuand doune pai ga; 25 Thraw on lauerd þi wille to be,
17 For nith in teldes of þam ai,
And him-selfe sal fostre þe;
In middes of am, night and dai. And noght sal he gif with-outen
18 Sothlik to be, god, cried .I.,
ende
And lauerd heled me for-Þi.
Floddrede? to rightwis to wende..
1 V is (tr. r. his) qui oderat me. 2 unanimis. Ms. floddredre; V fluctuationem, R quakinge.
itha
H Vmga hit sal. E of him; H his walles. EH wicnes(se). E yh[iſt inst. of ai.
E sorch. E him. H wanted. E of his waies ma. H Oker als-swa swi[c]dam yhit.
E sw. als-swa. E om if. E missaid. E pole. H Sothlic poled. E haid.
EH haten. E Grefe þinges ouer me, H Mikel þing, ouer me om. EH om
Thorgh hap. E Swilc pinge. H mint hit wel haue. E suld me fra him haue
H hade me fra him. EH Pou sohtlic man o wille (H of o mede) nou, Mi leder
(H duke) & mi knawen (koupe) art pou. H nam. E om me. E wiht o wille.
H With o wille in godes bous ga sal we. E Com dede ouer þam hiyhand, And
doun falle þai in helle liuand, For in þar teldes is quedenesse, In mid of þam
more and lesse;' H Com ded ouer pam to quelle, And liuand ga þai doun til
helle, For nigh in þar teldes esse, In midde of þam mare & lesse. EH to
louerd. EH erli. H And telle. E He sal bie mi saule in pais fra pa negh
me, For bitwix fele ware pai wiht me to be; H He sal bie in pais mi saule fra
þam ai, Pat me negh, for bitwix fele with me ware pai. EH God sal here.
E tho. E are swo; H And bifor weldes is swa. E For noht to þam is manging,
gan (r. and) pai drede na pinge, God he sal streke his hand in forybeldynge, Pai
be-smitted his witeword esse, To-delt are pai mare and lesse Fra wragh of his
lickam smert, And of him neghed be hert, Smepe are mi (r. his) sayes ouer oli,
And þai are gau[el]okes witerli; H Sohtlic to pam noht is manging, And god
dred þai na þing, He streked his hand in foryhelding, Þai bismitted his witeword,
todelt þai are Fra wrath of his face, neghed is hert þare, Smepe als oli his
sayhes bene, And pai are gauelokes pam bitwene. E Kest ouer lauerd alle þi
wille, And he sal fostre pi felle, And noht sal [he] gif in ai Floddrede to rihtwise
niht no dai; H Kest þi wille on louerd and he sal fostre þe, And noht floddred

armoniseedaalher
Psaltea
Psalm LIV_LV.
187
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
. 26 Bot pou, lauerd, lede salt þa
7 Als þai mi saule abade: for noght
In pitte inrest for to ga.
saltou nou
27 Menslaer and swykel his dayes halfe? Sauf make pam; in wreth folke breke
sal;
sal tou.
And .I., lauerd, in þe hope sal al. 8 God, mi life schewed .I. to be
righte;
LV.
Mine teres set pou in þi sighte,
Milpe of me, lauerd, for man for- 9 Als and' in [þi] hete: pen sal mi
trade me;
faa
Al dai fightand, me droued he.
Hindward torne again to ga; .
2 Mine faas fortrade me al dai þare; 10 [In whatkin dai .I. cal the nou, E
For mani fightand ogaines me ware. Loke, .I. knew pat mi god art pou).
3 Noght sal .I. drede fra heghnes of II In god, worde heryhe .I. sal,
dai,
In lauerd sagh looue with-al.
Bot in þe hope sal .I. ai.
In god hoped .I. ai on an:
4 In god looue sal .I. sagh 4; in god Noght sal .I. drede what me dos
hoped .I. ;
man.
Ine sal drede what flessche dos me 12 God, þine hotes ere in me,
Whilk .I. sal yhelde loouinges to
5 Alle dai mi wordes cursed þa;
þe;
Ogaine me in iuel þar thoghtes 13 For mi saule dede toke þou fra,
ma.
Mi fete fra slipinge” als-swa,
6 Inbigge þai sal, hide pam with-al; Pat .I. queme bifor god in land,
Mi helespor bihald þai sal.
In þe light of liuand.
i V in puteum interitus (!). 2 V non dimi i V sicut et. 2 al. sliperinge.
diabunt. 3 R Ab altitudine diei timebo?
4 V sermopes meos.
for-þi.
in ai to riht gif sal he. EH Þou sohtlic salt lede po (H Þam ai). E In pitte
of stiringe f. go, H In pit in rest niht and dai. EH Mensloers. E is daies
twinne noht H twinne par daies noht. E I sohtlic louerd hoped in pe alle,
H And l. hope sal i in þe al.
LV.
E Miles. E god. E fortrade me man. H me ai. E And dai in-fihtande me
droued pan, H In fihtande droued me al dai. EH Fortrade me (om E) mi foos
al dai. H fele. E ogayn me ai H agayn me ras pai. EH Fro heghnesse of
dai (noht H) drede .I. sal (H sal .i.), E .I. sohtlic in pe sal hope alle H For
.i. hope in pe witerli. EH In god mi saihes loue (heryhej sal .I. (.i. sal), In
god hoped .i. stedefastli (wiht-al), I sal noht (Neuer sal .i.) dredand be, What ani
flesshe mai do to me. E Mine sayhes cursed pai al dai. EH Alle par bhohtes
in iuel again me ai. E Pai sal inwun and hide þam swa, H Pai sal inbig, þam
hide w. EH -spur. E sal þa. E Swa als thai yphe[l]den nou Saul mine, for noht
salt þou Berihed make pam lesse and mare, In wragh folke breke salt pou þare ;
H Als pai poled mi saule, sauf sal tou pa Make, in wrath folc to-breke swa.
Hom to. E om righte. EH Þou set mi teres, E in pi s. to be. E Als and
in þi hote onon, Pen turned hindward sal be mi fon; H And in bi hote, ben
sal ilkan Be turned himwarde mi fan. H kalle sal the n. H kn. Þe, for mi
god a. E loue; H loue worde sal .i.. H god. E loue sayhe w., H loue sagh
forthi. Hom ai. E Iu lauerd hoped .I. noht dred sal .I., What man mai do to
me for-thi. EH Pat .I. sal yh. heriynges.. E pou toke mi saul. EH sliperinge.
E Bi god þat .I. q. E siht.
.
a21300 Errrksakton
atoo NVPrait
1.3-5-0 Ver
188
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
10 Graiped mi hert, god, graiþed mi
LVI.
herte;
Haf merci of me, god, haf merci I sal singe and salme in querte.
of me,
I Ris, mi blisse; ris sautre for-þi
For mi saule traistes in þe.
And harp; in grikinge ris sal .I. .
2 And in schadw of þine wenges hope 12 In folke sal .I., lauerd, to Þe schriue,
.I. sal,
And salme to be sai in genge mi
To wickednes awaifare al.
liue.
3.1. sal crie to god heghist es he, 13 For mikled to heuen þi merci esse,
To god þat wele dide to me.
And to be cloudes þi sothnesse.
4 He sent fra heuen, lesed me of band; 14 Vpheue ouer heuens, god pat isse,
He gaf in vpbraidinge me fortredand. And oure alle erthe be pi blisse.
5 God sent his merci and his sothnes,
And toke mi saule fra wickednes,
LVII.
Fra þe kitelinges of liouns ware If sothlik speke ye rightwisnes,
I slepe al fordreued þare.
Mensones, demes rightlike þat es..
6 Mensones, wepenes and arwes teth 2 For in hert wickenes ye wirke in
of pa,
land;
And paire tunge scharp swerde es Vnrightwisnes herdes youre hand.
swa.
3 Outened' fra wambe sinful ere ai;
7 Vpheue ouer heuens, god þat isse, Pai dweled fra magh, lese spake
And ouer al land be þi blisse.
8 Snare graiped pai to mi fete twa, 4 Wodenes to po after lickenesse
And mi saule pen croked þa;
Of a snake in wildernes;
9 Bifor mi licham groue bai dike: - Als of a neddre def als-swa
And felle þam-self þar-inne ilike. Pat stoppand es his eres twa,
i V alienati.
LVI.
H Milpe of [me] god milpe. H traisted. EH Þi. E winges. H heghist mai
be. E om To. É vn-to. EH send fra hegh. E me lesed. H outlesed me,
of band om. E fordredand. H fortredand me. E God send his merci & soht-
nesse hisse And lesed mi saul al with blisse. H And outtoke mi s. pat es.
EH Fra midde of whelps (kitelinge) of lioun, Slepe I droued (I slep dr.) liggand
doun. E Men sones par tegh wepens arwes ma, And sharp swerd Þe tunge of
þa. Hals-swa inst. of es swa. EH erbe. EH Snare to mi fete graibed þa
(pai). H pai croked ai. E Pai croked mi saule als-swa. EH face. E pai dolued.
E & pai felle in hit i., H & f. in bit pam-self i. H god god. E Mi hert
graipe god, mi hert graipe ai. E & salm sai. E wiht-al inst. of for-bi. E gri-
pinge. E .I. sal. H lauerd sal .i.; saie to be; ' E I sal shriue to pe lauerd in
genge ma, And salm sai to be in genge swa. H For m. is þi merci to heuen
And þi sothnes to kloudes euen. E heuens. E om þe.
LVII.
EH If s. rihtw. deme (speke) yhe, Rihtlic demes, men sones pat be. E For
E Bragh to pa after of nedder licnesse, Als def snake his eres stoppand
esse; H Wode[ne]s of wicke is to tha After licnesse of nedder swa, Als of
def snake and stoppand His eres pat he be noht herand. E Þat he here
artooozkriezPratter
Paalter
Psalm LVII—LVHI.
189
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
5 Pat noght sal here be steuen of And lese me fra in me risande.
wicchand,
2 Dutake me wirkand wickenes fra,
Of wichand wiseli in land. And menslaers sauue me fra þa.
6 God bris sal þaire tethe in mouth of þa; 3 For loke, mi saule toke pai pare;
Toskes of liouns lauerd breke sal ma. In me onreseden stalworth þat ware.
7 To noght sal pai bicome als watres 4 Ne mi wicnes, lauerd, ne mi sinne
rinnes ai ;
for-bi;
He bent his bogh til vnfest be pai. With-outen wiknes .I. ran, and
8 Als wax pat meltes hete biforne
righted .I..
Alle sal þai be outborne;
5 Ris in againres mine, and se wel.
Ouerfel pe fire sa brighte,
And bou, god of mightes, god of Irael,
And he sunne noght se pai mighte. 6 Bihald to seke [al] folke mare and
9 Artil pai vndrestande biforn
lesse;
Of youre thornes of theuethorn”, Pou rewes? noght alle þat wirke
In wreth salt þou fote and hande
wickenes!
Swelybe þam als liuande.
7 Pai be torned at euen, and hunger
10 When he sees wreke faine sal pe gode; thole ha
He sal wasche his hende in sinful Als hundes, and cite Þai sal vmga.
blode.
8 Loke, in þair mouth speke sal þa,
II And man sothlike sai sal he:
And swerd in pair lippes; »for herd
»If þat fruite to rightwis be,
wha?
Sothlike þanne es god swa
9 And þou, lauerd, scorne þam sal,
Here in land demand bac.
And to noght lede pe genge al.
io Mi stalworthede night and dai
LVIII.
Sal .I. yheme vnto pe ai;
Outake me, god, fra mine ille For god mi fanger: mi god, for-pi
willande,
Bifor me sal come þi? merci.
ia word (galder?) left out; V venefici. V non miserearis. 2 al. his, V ejus.
2 V Priusquam intelligerent spinae vestrae
(nom. pl.) rhamnum. 3 V absorbet.
noht steuen of wiccand, And of hunter (!) wislic wichand in land; H Whilke pat
noht here steuen for-hi Of witchand and of hunter witchand wiseli. H sal brise. -
EH tegh. H of am. H Breke sal lauerd tuskes of þam. EH water rennand.
Hom ai. H to pai be unfest in land. EH Als wax þat meltes out-born (bor)
be pai ai, Ouerfel (H Querfer fel) fire and noht sunne segh pai. EH Er pai.
E zhornes H zornes. Ezhe-fiorne H beuezorn. EH Als liuand riht als-swa
In wragh sal he (H tou) swolyhe (forswolyhe) tha. E Rihtwis faine when he sees
wreke he sal And in blod of sinful sal he wasshe his hend wigh-al; H Faine
sal riht when he ses wreke in land, He sal wasshe his hend in blod of sinnand.
E sai man sothlic; Sohtlic pen is god demand Pam after par dede in land;
H And saie sal man if frut to ribt be swa, Þen is god in erbe demand þa.
LVIII.
E lauerd. E om And. E fra wirkand wicnesse be H fra wicnes wirkande.
EH And fro (fra) men-sloers (slaers) sauf pou me (s. me in lande). E Onresed
in me. E pai. E ran .I. H rethted. E in mine angres, H in mi gainres god.
H lauerd god of m. E Abide. EH alle genge. H of alle. E went. EH pe cite.
EH Loke bai speke in þar mouth (sp. in par m. pai) sal. EH for who herd al.
EH tou. E scorn salt po H salt sc. þam nou. E om And, EH alle genge
E als-swo H salt þou. EH Mi strenth sal .I. yheme to pe, For mi keper art
pou (pou a, mi k.) to be, And mi god, of him (H ai his) merci Bifor come me
1
Boorroz Practer
altooNviralli
atso Verse
LIX.
190
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
II God schewes me ouer mi faas; ne
þam sla,
Leswhen mi folke forgeten be þa': God, pou outpute vs, and fordid
12 Tosprede þam in might pine,
vs pus;
And lete’ am, lauerd, forhiler mine. Þou ert wrath with vs, and rewes?
13 Gilt of þar mouth, sagh of lippes of vs.
of þa;
2 Pou stired þe erthe, and droued it
And gripen in þaire pride ere 3 Þai yhite ;
swa.
Hele his forbrekinges, for stired
14 And of legh and of cursinge
es ite.
Sal þai be schewed in endinge, 3 Þou schewed to pi folke hard thinge,
15 In þe wreth of ending al,
Pou dranke vs with wine of stinginge.
And noght pan be pai sal.
4 Pou gaf takeninge to dredeand pe,
And wite sal þai þat god lauerde Fra face of bow þat þai suld fie;
sal he
5 Pat lesed pi chosen be,
Ofe Iacob, and of endes of erthe Sauf make þi righthand", and here
þat be.
me.
16 Þai sal be torned at euen, and hunger 6 God spak in his halegh swa:
thole þa
».I. sal faine, and dele in twa
Als hundes, and þe cite Þai sal vmga. Drieds, and pe dale with-al
17 Pai sal be tospred to ete al dai; Ofe pe teldes mete .I. sal.'
And ife pai be noght filled, grucche 7 Mine es Galaad, Manasse mine leued,
sal pai.
And Effraim strenght of mi heued.
18 And þi strenghte singe sal .I., 8 Inda mi kinge es of blisse,
And hegh ful areli þi merci;
Moab pot of mi hope isse.
19 For made ere tou mi fanger ai, 9 In Ydume sal .I. þinne 4 mi scho;
And mi toflight in mi drouing dai. Outen vndreloute ere me toc.
20 Mi helper, to þe singe .I. sal; 10 Wha sal lede me to warned' cite ?
For god mi fanger, god mi merci al. Vntil Ydume wha sal lede me?
i v obliviscantur. 2 R set them doune; lr. rewed. 2 V salvum fac dextera tua
V depone. 3 V comprehendantur.
(abl.). 3 V Siccimam (tr. read siccatum).
4 V extendam; ags. benie.
5 V munitam;
R warnist.
sal for-thi. Hom me. H forgoten be swa. EH pou þam. E leeue H dof.
þam. E Gil. E sagh of par lippes al Hand sayhe als-sa. E And in þar
pride be griped pai sal, H Of par lippes and gr. in par pr. are pa. EH And
of cursinge and of liyinge. E Shewed sal pai be. E In wragh of ending witerli,
And noht sal pai be for-thi; H In pe wragh of endinge, And pai ne sal be na
þinge. EH pai sal wite. E s. be, H salle, he om. E om ofz. H alle inst.
of pat be. EH om sal. E And h. E om þe. EH til ete. E om dai. E om
be. E murke H and grucche. E pai sal. EH Sohtlic inst. of And. EH And
vpheue erli. EH For bou art made mi keper and mi infleynge In pe dai of mi
drouynge. E salm. EH sal I. E For mi fonger mi god mi merci, H For bou.
art god mi keper god mi merci.
LIX.
EH outdroue. E om þus. EH art. Ewrogh H wragh. EH om with us.
E & reupe haues H rewþed art. E foryhes. E om gaf. EH tokninge. H drede.
E bogh H boyhe. EH sal. EH Pat (Swa þat) þi corne mote (om H) lesed be.
E halyhe H halgh. EH De drihed. E dene. E in blisse. H underloutes.
E are made. E me led, EH in. E Whare noht H Whare. E om pat. E out-
nap)
az2zoozled. Eraltar
191
LX.
Pralter
Psalm LIX-LXI.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
II Noghtne pou, god, þat output vs 6 Dayes ouer daies, to be ma,
swa?
Of þe kinge eke saltou swa;
And in oure mightes, god, noght saltou Yheres of him for to wende
outga ?
Til in dai of strend and strende.
12 Gif til vs helpe of drouinge,
7 He es in ai in sight of god al.
For hele ofe man ful vnnait thinge. His merci and his sothnes wha seke
13 In god might make sal we;
sal?
And to noght vs drouand lede sal he. 8 Swa salme saie sal .I., Þe same
In werld of werld vnto pi name,
Pat .I. yhelde sa als .I. mai
Here, god, mi besekinge nou;
Mi hetes fra dai in dai.
Vnto mi bede bihald þou.
LXI.
2 Fra endes of erthe witerli
Vnto pe pan cried .I.,
Noghtne to god mi saule ynder-
Whil þat swnken es mi herte;
laide be sal?
In stane vphuue pou me with querte. Fra him sothlike mi hele al.
3 Pou led me, for mi hope made ert 2 For and he mi god, and mi hele
swa,
for-hi,
Tour ofe strenghte fra face of faa. Mi fanger; be stired namare sal .I..
4 In þi teldes in werldes in sal .I. won, 3 Til þat? ye onrese in man swa,
· Be forhild in hilinge of þi wenges Yhe al, ynto yhe sla,
.I. mon.
Als a heldeand wagh mai be
5 For bou, ert mi god, herdes bede And a stanewalle douneput to se.
mine;
4 Bot mi worth þai thoght to schouue
Pou gafe heritage to dredand name awai?;
pine.
In thrist ran .I. night and dai;
1 al. teld(e). .
IV Quousque, R How lange. 2 V repellere.
drof. H om us. E om oure. H salt þou. E Gine H Gitte. E to. H om
ful. E In god sal we do miht in land And noht sal lede vs drouand. H &
drouand us to n.
· LX.
H God mi b. here pou, Take kepe to mi bede nou. EH Fra endes of erpe
cried .i. to be, Whil swonken was (is) mi hert in stone (up H) houe pou me.
E For made art mi hope pou led me swa. H pou art made mi h. s. E .I. sal
wun in he teld in werldes ma, Be biled in hilinge of þi wenges twa; H Inwun
in þe telde in werldes .i. sal, In biling of þi wenges be forhiled al. Hom ert.
E here H herdest. E Dai our daies eke salt of kynge to wende, His zheres to
in dai of strend and strend. H Daies euer daies ma, &c. (=V). E He sal be in ai
in godes siht al, H He is in siht of god in ai. H seke mai. EH In (Swa in)
werld of werld to þi name sa (om H) salm (om H) sal .I. sai, Pat .I. yheld mi
hotes fra dai in dai.
LXI.
E Whor noht H Noht (ne om). H underkast mi saule. EH sal be. EH pe
hele of me. E om and be. EH & mi beryer. E is he H al, inst. of forbi.
EH Mi keper & nomare stired sal .I. be (be st. .i. sal). H Vnto yhe. E men.
E vn-to pat yhe. EH Als tile a woogh (wagh) þat heldand be. H output. E Þo-
wheper. EH wurgh. E poht pai wili H pai poht for-hi, EH TO (Til) again-
shouue (H -houue), in þrist ran I. EH pai bl. ai. H in þar hert. EH weried (E
abourechealtor
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192
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
With þaire mouth þan blissed pai,
LXII.
And with pair hert þai weried ai.
5 Bot to god, mi saule, vnderlaide God, mi god ai ful of might,
pou be,
Vnto pe wake .i. fra light.
For fra him al pe pild' of me. 2 Thristed mi saule in þe to be;
6 For he es mi god and mi beryher al, Þan manifalde mi flesche to be!
Mi helper; noght outga .I. sal. 3 In þe land of wildernesse,
7 In god mi hele and mi blisse;
In-wai', and vnwattri esse,
God of mi helpe, and mi hope in Swa in haligh .i. schewed to þe,
god isse.
Þi blisse and þi mighte pat .i. suld se.
8 Hopes in him stedfasteli,
4 For bettre ouer liues is þi merci,
Alle sameninge of folk, for-þi;
Mine lippes looue be sal for-þi.
Bifor him your hertes yhet yhe; 5 Swa sal .I. saine be in life mine,
God oure helper in ai es he.
And sal lift mi bandes in name þine.
9 Bot fantom, sones of men ere bai, 6 Als with grees and fathed fild be
Liyhers sones of men are ai
mi saule al,
In weghtes, pat 2 biswike þa
And with lippes of gladnes mi mouth
Of fantom in him-seluen swa.
looue sal.
'10 Nil pou hope in wickednes,
7 Swa² was .i. mined of þe ai
And reuinges nil yhern mare ne les. Ouer mi straile þare .i. lai;
Welthes if þai stremen smert,
In morninges sal .i. thinke in þe;
Nil þou set on þam þi hert.
For bou was helper to me.
II Anes spak god, twa þese herd .I.: 8 And in hilinge of pi wenges ai
For might of god es ite, and merci Sal .i. glade bath night and dai:
To þe, lauerd: for pou yhelde salle Kliued mi saule after þe,
Til ilkan after his werkes alle.
Þi righthand onfanged me.
1 patientia. 2 V ut decipiant ipsi de vani- i V inuia. 2 V Si (tr. r. Sic).
tate in idipsum.
.
werched) thai. E vnderlout. H be bou. E om is. EH om al. E pheld. Hmi
Þhilde nou. EH om and. E mare H swa, inst. of al. E noht out sal .I. fare,
Hn. out sal i ga. E Hopes in him al gederynge Of folke bat is bath alde
and yhinge. H Yhoure h. bifor him. E For god. H help. E Powheter fantom
mensones ai, Liyhers men sones are thai. H For bot. men sones. are mensones.
H þat þai b. H In wicnesses hope ne wil pou, & reuinge yhorne ne wil pou.
E yhorn. E oht inst. of smert. E set þi hert ne þoght. EH Enes. E om
god. Etwa pat H two pa. E For godes is & to be lauerd merci, H For
miht of god is & to be m. E For yhelde salt þou til ilkone After dedes þat he
has done. Hom To be. H Lauerd for pou &c.
LXII.
EH is inst. of ai; H witerli. E To. fra the 1. H fra 1. wake i. E In be
þristed mi s., H Mi s. pr. in pe. H manifaldelic. EH In land of (om H) wildernesse
and in wai And in drihed swa in heli (halyhe) ai, E Shewed I to be þat I. suld
se Pi miht and he blisse of the, H Shewed [i] to be god þat isse Pat .i. segh
þi miht and pi blisse. EH is ouer liues. Mi. sal pe. EH blisse. E & heue sal
I., H & upheue. EH hende. E And wigli senere. EH mi saul fild (om E) be,
al om. EH & wigh glad lippes. Hom mi mouth. E sal loue be H loue sal
.i. Þe. E om i, H min str. H þer. EH in (of) be pinck .I. sal, EH For pat
(om H) pou was mi help (helper) al. E bine. H hope; E Glade sal I. E be
inst. of bath, H om. E Mi saul cliued. E onfonge H onfonged. E Vnnait
193
Propiedaller
Psalters
Psalm LXII- LXIV.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
9 And in vnnait mi saule soght þa: 6 Pai ransaked wicnesse and iuel thinge:
In inereste? of þe erth sal þai ga, Pai waned ransakand of ransakinge.
Be giuen in hend of swerd with-al, 7 Come sal man to hegh herte;
Deles of foxes be pai sal.
And vphouen sal god be in querte.
10 Þe king sothlik faine sal he
8 Arwes of smale made ere pair woun-
In god; looued al sal be
des sare,
Þat sweres in him thurgh pe land, And vnfest ogaine þam þaire tunges
For stopped es mouth of qued spek-
are.
and.
9 Droued ere alle þat þam segh,
And dred was ilkaman þat was negh;
LXIII.
10 And schewed goddes werkes gode,
Here, god, mi bede when .i. bi- And his dedes pai vnderstode.
seke swa;
11 Faine sal rightwise in lauerd al,
Outake mi saule fra drede of fa. And hope in him euer he sal;
2. Pou forbiled me fra herd of liber And looued sal pai be in querte
and,
Alle þat rightwis ere of herte.
Fra mikelhed of wickenes wirkeand.
LXIV.
3 For als swerd þair tungeş, scharped
pai;
Pe feres loftsang?, god, on-on .
Þai bent bow, thing bitter ai,
For to haue in Syon,
Þat þai schote and make vnquerte And to be, brighte als bem,
In hiddles ynwemmed of herte.
Be ? yolden hote in Ierusalem.
4 Ferinkli? schote him sal þai swa, 2 Here mi bede, what it mai be;
And noght drede; qued sagh to him Alle fresche sal come to be.
feste þa.
3 Wordes of wike bettred ouer vs nou;
5 Þai talde bate snares hide suld þai, And til our quednesses neghtsom 3
And saide: »wha se pam nou mai?«
saltou.
i V inferiora. r. niþerest? 2 V Subito, IV Te decet hymnus. 2 r. bes. 3 V pro-
ags. faeringa.
pitiaberis.
4
O
sohtlic H And pai in v. H s. ai. E inrest H neperist. EH om be. E in
sal pai ga H inga sal pai. E In hend of s. be g. EH And, pe kyng in god ...
faine sal he (H ai), E Alle in him swere sal loued be H Pat in (him] s. loued
be þai, EH For stopped is pe mouth and ande Of þat quednesse are spekand.
LXIII.'
E mi bede god. H nou inst. of swa. H Fra d[rjede of fa mi saule take pou.
H hiled. E om me. EH ferd. H For þar swerd whetted pai. EH par bogh.
H In dernes. EH Þai sal (om H) shote him feringli and (noht H) drede pai ne (om H)
sal, Pai fest to him quede sagh wigh-al. EH s. pai ma. EH Pai (And) saiden
wa sal se (nou H) Þa. EH Pai r. wickednesse in land, Pai w. of ransake (ran-
saking) ransakand. EH Tocum. H & god sal be uphouen. EH made are wondes
of þa (H am). EH & vnfest are par tunges again am sa (H againes þan).
E Todreued. E alle bam po segh Halle pat segh þa. E & ilke man dred.
H & dred ilka man for wa. EH Pai sh. H & dedes of him. E be inst. of al;
And in him ai hope sal he. H Faine sal r. in louerd and in him hope al, And
riht of hert be beryhed sal.
LXIV.
E pe feres god for to haue o-non Ymne, god in Syon, And to be be yolden
bright als bem Sal hotes in I.; H Þe feres ymne in Syon god als lem, To þe
bes yholden best in Ier. H what swa it be. E Word. H wicked. H bittred.
II.
13
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194
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
4 Seli wham pou ches and nam to þe: In his goters? night and dai
In þi porches wone sal he.
Faine sal he sproutand ai.
5 We sal be fild in godes of þi hous es; 12 Blisse saltou þe croune þat es
Hali es Þi kirke, selkouth in Of yhere of his? frendsomnes,
euennes.
And þine feldes, als þou wilte,
6 Here vs, god, our bele; hope es he With fulhede sal be fulfilte.
Of alle endes ofe erthe, and fer in se. 13 Fat sal faire of wildernes 3,
7 Graiþand hilles in þi thew righte; And gird sal be knolles with faines.
Gird with mightinge dai and nighte; 14 Kled ere wepres of schepe þat blete,
Pat todreues depnes of se,
And mightsom sal dales with whete;
Dinne of his stremes pate be.
Krie dai and night sal þai,
8 Be dreued sal genge, and drede And sothlike ympne sal þai sai.
þare
Pat erden meres lesse and mare,
LXV.
Of þi taknes; outgang of morninge
Mirthes to god, alle land þat is;
Lust saltou, and of eueninge.
Salme saies to his name, to his loof
9 Þou soght þe land, and dronkened giues blis.
it yhite;
2 Saies to god: »hou dredful are
Þou manifalded to stedful? ite.
Þine werkes, lauerd, lesse and mare!
10 Streme ofe god with mikel blisse In þe mikelhed of þi mighte
Fulfilled with watres it isse;
Lighed to þe pine faas vnrighte.
Pou graiped be mete of þa;
3 Alle land loute pe and sing to be sal,
For forgraiband of him is swa.
And salme sai to þi name with-ak«.
II Brokes of it indronkenand,
4 Comes and sees, goddes werkes
Felefalde his estres in þe land;
mones;
i V locupletare.
1 V stillicidiis. 2 V benignitatis tuae. 3V
Pinguescent speciosa deserti. 4 Stev, nught-
som; cf. Ps. 49, 20.
TTT
E to. E winsum H wimsom. EH whom(e). toke. EH inwun. H We are filt.
E godnes. E Hele H heli. E om us. E om alle. H in pe se. E Foryharkand.
EH h. in bi miht. E mihtynge H strengh; E þat is riht. EH om to-. E droues.
EH of the se. EH And din of str. 'H Droued ben g. EH & drede sal pai,
Pat e. m. of þi toknes ai, De outgange of pe morninge (al H); H & of be euen
lust pe sal. E of pe e. E erbe. H drungened E indrunkened. E felefolded.
EH Streme of god filt (is H) wiht watres isse (ma), Pou grayied (graiped) þar
mete, for sa þar forgraiping isse (for is forgraiping is swa). E Brokes of him
indrunknand ma Manifald estres of him swa, In goters of him þurgh pe land
Faine þen sal he sproutand; H His br. indrunkenand wiht blisse, Pou mani-
falded estres hisse, In goters of him þat be Faine spr. ai sal he. E Pou salt
[bliss) kroun of erpe(!) of is fremsomnes, And þi feldes sal be filt wiht fulnesse;
H Pou sal blisse croun of yhere of is frensomnes, And þe feldes ben filde
wibt his fulnes. E fairhed H fairher. E And be gird sal knolles wiht gladnesse
·H & knolles ben gird w. gl. E webhers H weberes. EH & dales mihtsom sal.
E Krie wigh loude steuen sal thai, · H Krie sal þai niht and dai. EH Sohtlic
loftsange sal pai sai (saie sal þai).
YTT
LXV.
EH Mirphes to god al erphe, salm sai yhe (H sais þat isse) To his name, giues
blisse of is lof þat be (to lof hisse). E dreful. E Þi. H Werkes bine. E bine
face; H om þi. E Alle erbe sal bid pe god, singe to þe, Salm sai to pi name
I. sal þat be; H Alle erbe to be godde bid sal ai, And salme unto þi name
sai. EH Comes godes (lauerdes) werkes ses & m. EH Ayheful. E Pat turnės
astronochrardeadton
Psalter
-
Psalm LXV-LXVI.
195
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
Dredful in redes ouer menes sones. 13 And spoken has mi mouth som thinge
5 Whilk þat tornes Þe se
When .i. was in mi drouinge:
In mikel drihed for to be;
14 »Offrandes merghed' bede .i. sal
In streme on fote sal wel forthfare, To þe, brinninge of schepe with-al;
In him sal we faine þare.
Bede sal .i. oxen ynto þe
6 Pat lauerdes in his might in ai,
With buckes, gode and fate þat be«.
His eghen on genge bihald þai; 15 Comes and heres, and .i. sal telle,
Pat smert?, nogbt vphouen al
al yhe
In þan-seluen be þai sal.
Þat dredes god, what to, mi saule
7 Genge, our god al ye blisse,
dide he.
Herd makes steuen of loof hisse; 16 To him with mi mouth cried .I.,
8 Pat set mi saule at lif to be,
And .i. gladed vnder mi tunge for-pi.
And mi fete in stiring noght gaf he. 17 In mi hert if .i. biheld wikenes,
9 For Þou fanded vs; with fire, god Noght here lauerd sal, what ite es.
| of blisse,
18. For-Þi berd god of heuen kinge,
Pou fraisted vs, als siluer fraisted isse. And biheld to steuen of mi bisekinge.
10 Þou led vs in snare to ga;
19 Blissed god, for noght stires ? he
Pou set drouinges in our bake ma; Mi bede, ne his merci fra me.
Pou insete men mani swa
LXVI.
Ouer our heuedes to be pa:
II Bi watre and fire ferde we,
God milbe of vs, and blis vs pus;
And þou led vs in kaldhed to be. Light ouer vs his face, and milpe vs;
12 In þi hous inga sal .I.
2 Pat we knawe in erthe pi wai,
In offrandes sothfastli;
In alle genge þi helinge ai.
Yhelde .I. sal to pe mi hotes swa 3 Schriuen to þe, god, folke be,
Whilke twifaldedº mi lippes twa; Schriuen alle folke be to be.
i V pertransibunt. 2 V exasperant. 3 Ms. V medullata. 2 V amovit.
þat, þ expunged; al. at. 4 V distinxerunt.
Þe se in drihed, in strem þurgh-fare Þai sal on fote, in him faine sal þai pare.
H In strem purchfare on fote pai sal, Pare sal we faine in him with-al. E eyhen,
om in H. E ouer. EH Whilk smarten. E Oure god genge ai yhe bl. H Blissés
genge our god þat isse. E And herd. EH mas. H laid. EH at liue. E &
noht gaf in stirynge mi fete to be, H & in stiring noht mi f. g. he. EH For
pou (om H) fraisted (fonded) vs god, fonded (fraisted) vs wiht fire, Als fonded
(fraisted) is pe siluer shire. EH Pou inled vs in to snare. E bac bare, H Dro-
uinges in our bac set pou þare. H mani ma, E Pou set men be niht and dai.
H heued. E to be ai H for to ga. EH fire & water. H we forhyhede. H om
to be. H Inga in þi hous. H stedfastli. E I sal yheld. Hom to. H hates.
E Offrand meryhed gode pat be, Sal .I. offre vn-to the, Wiht brenninge of
shep, bede 1. sal To be net, buckes wigh-al; H Offrand merihed sal .i. bede
to be, With brenninge of shep pat be, I. sal bede to pe nete bi tale, Wiht
buckes babe grete and smale. EH Comes, heres sone o-non (o-nan), And I. sal
(om H) telle you ilkon (euerilkan), Pat dredes (dreden) god, alle yhe (opon to se),
Hou mikel to mi saule dide he. E gladide. E loke wickednesse, H If .i. loke
wicnesse in mi hert al. E Lauerd sal noht here what it isse H Lauerd here
noht he sal. E For þat herd god and biheld euen Of mi bisekynge to be steuen.
Hlauerd pat n. stired. H and.
LXVI. .
E haue merci H rew. EH L. his face ouer vs & rew of vsse (us). H om we.
E hele in ai. E Alle folke shriue to pe god of blisse, To be be shriuen al
13*
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Q13.50-Vurde
VaR
.
196
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
4 Faine and glade genge, mare and Of god, and like in fainnes righte.
lesse,
4 Singes to god, salme saies to his
For bou demes folke in euennesse, . name;
And genge in erthe with þi mighte Waie makes to him, he same
Steres pou, þat þai do righte.
Þat vpstegh ouer setelgange;
5 Schriuen to be, god, be folke; al Lauerd name to him be lange.
folke to pe schriue.
5 Glades in his sighte to seen:
De erthe gaf his fruite biliue.
Fra his face sal letted been;
6 Blisse vs, god, oure god, vs blisse, Of fadre? of foundlinges ma,
And drede him alle endes of erthe Of domesman of widous swa.
þisse.
6 God in his hali stede; god pat
inwon
LXVII.
Makes in hous of a won";
Rise god, and skatered his faas be; 7 Pat outeledes bonden-in-wa
And þat him hated, fra his face fle. In stalworthede in for to ga,
2 Als wanes reke, als wane þa;
Als-swa þai pat smertes 3 ai,
Als meltes wax face of fire fra,
Þat herde 4 in throghes night and dai.
Swa sinful forworthe pai
8 God, when pou gas in sight of þi
Fra þe likam of god in ai.
folke es,
3 And rightwise ete, and glade in sighte When pou forthfares in wildernes,
1 Ms. fadres. 2 V unius moris in domo.
3 exasperant. 4 = erde.
.
www.is
bląco NV Paaltura
folke þat isse; H Shriuen folke god to be the (!), Sh[r]iuen alle folke te the be.
E Faine and glade mote pai alle, Genge þat are grete and smalle, For pou
demes folk in euenesse, Pou rihtes genge in erbe þat esse; HF. & gl. mote
genge pat esse, For pou demes mare and lesse Folke in euenes ai nou, Genge
in erbe rihtes tou. EH Folke to be shriue god. EH oure god god. E erpe
þat isse.
LXVII.
EH in cross rhymes:
Rise vp (Aris) god, in heuen is hegh, Pat stegh on setel[g]ange in pas (pais),
And toscatered be his fas (face), S. Lauerd name be to him ai.
And fra his lickam flegh (drayhe) on 5 Glades in his siht to sen
dregh
For fra his face sa (E sol) sal be-
Pa þat here him hated has (hace).
falle
2 Als reke wanes, wane (swurth) to Of fader of fundynge letted ben,
noht;
Of (H & of, demer of widues alle.
Swa wax meltes againe fire (fra 6 God is þar he ai sal be,
face of f.)
Wonand in his hele (bali) stede,
Als (Swa) sinful to gronde be broht, God intobige þat (þat inwun) makes
Fra godes face (f. of god) is (sa)
he
faire and shire.
Alle of o wun in hous of bede.
3 And rihtwise (ete H) þam freli fede H7 (Þat ledes pa pat bunden are
And make am (pam) glade in godes
In to stalwurthnes of mibt,
siht,
Als-sa þa þat sharpen phare,
Par lif in faines ai to (mot ai) lede, Pat won in þroyhes dai and niht).
Pat him seruen (here him menske) 8 God when þou comes out in siht
wiht (al H) þar mibt.
Of þi folke mare and lesse,
4 Singes to lauerd (god), salm(e) saies When pou wiht (purch) Þine awen
Vnto his name; him giues (gif yhe)
(hi nawen) miht
wai
Wendes in to wildernesse,
azookerladtera
Ppalter
Psalm LXVII.
197
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
9 Þe erthe es stired: for þat heuen
Droppes, fra þe face ful euen
Of god of Sinay somdel,
Fra face of god of Irael.
10 Wilful raine sundre pou sal -
Vntil heritage þine al;
Sothlik vnfest es ite yhite:
For þat", pou fulmaked ite.
II Þine bestes erde in it sal nou;.
In swetnes, god, to poure graipeď þou.
12 Lauerd sal gif worde to godspelland,
With mikel might, in ilka land;
13 Of loued of loued al-mighti kinge;
And of wlite hous twióne robed
thinge".
14. If ye slepe bitwix middes clerkes,
Of fepre of douue of siluered werkes 3,
And baft of bak of him be
In golnes' of gold to se.
1 r. For-bi? 2 V et speciei domus dividere
spolia. 3 V pennae columbae deargentatae.
4 R. palnes, v pallore.
15 Whil schedes of ai lastand kinge!
Oure it, for-bi ani thinge
Snawe wbittened in Selmon be þa,
Godes bille, hil fat als-swa;
16 Lopered hil, hil fat als-swa.
Whi ilhope" ye lopered hilles ma?
17 Hil in whilk welqueminge yhite
Is to god to won in ite;
For þat sothlike lauerd þat is
Wone in ende he sal with blis.
18 Goddes wayne to tenthousande
Felefalded, thousandes of fainande;
Lauerd he is ai in pa
In Sinay in halw swa.
19 Þou stegh in heght, toke wrecched-
nesse,
Name giftes in men mare and lesse:
20 For noght leuand night ne dai
Inwon lauerd god suld þai.
1 V Dum discernit celestis reges. ? V suspi-
camini. 3 V etenim non credentes, inhabi-
tare dominum deum.
9 Pe erbe is stire(d), wha wate whi,
For pat (Bot for) heuen(es) droppen
wel
Fra face of god of Synai,
Fra face of god of Israel.
10 Wilful rain, lauerd, sunder
Vn-to pi (þin) eritage pou sal;
Hit is vnfest, (þat H) is na wunder,
For bou (om H) Þi-seluen made.
it al.
11 Bestes þat þine awen is (es),
Pai sal wun ber-in (in hit) ful stille;
Pou graiped in þi swetnes
To pe pouer, god, at þi wille.
12 Lauerd sal gif to pa (pam) þat spelle
God'e) spelles þurt-out lin ani) land
Word wiht miht (mikel mith), forto
(to) telle
To (be H) folke þat þai bifor am
(H þarı fand.
13 Kynge of mihtes, of loue, of loue,
Of fairhed is biginninge;
Late þi heli hous a-boue
· Twinne fra folke (al H) robbed
(reued) þinge.
14. If yhe slep bitwix (bitwixen) fast
Middes klerkes, made of molde
(of feber on folde)
Of fepres of douues siluerd, þat last
¡Of douue siluerd, þar alderlast)
Of bac in gulnes be of golde.
15 Whil ai-lastand god (king) sone o-non
Shedes (Demes) kinges ouer that,
Sn[a]we whitned be (ben) þai in Sel-
mon,
Godes hille, hil þat is fat.
16 Lopred hil, hil fat als-swa;
Pof þat (om H) yhe be ner so
dregh (drayhen on d.),
In ille hope (hoping) whi haue yhe
tha?
Þe (om H) lopered hilles are so
hegh (hat are h.),
17 Hil in (om H) be whilc is (it is)
quemand (liking)
To god in hit (inne) for to won;
Sohtlic lauerd of al land
(For pat l. of heuen king)
Wun euer in ende (in e. euer) he
mon.
18 Godes waine of ten bhousand,
Of faine bhousandes maked (wel)
ma;
Lauerd (God) in tha (þam) is (is ai)
dwelland,
In Syna in þat heli swa.
19 Pou stegh in (on) heght (hegh), nam
(toke) wrecchednes,
In men giftes toke (nam) pou pare;
20 For noht leuand suld be bous-les,
In for to wun þat godes (lauerdes)
ware.
algoazierkraller
and too NVPoaller
Out3-50-Versē
L
198
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
21 Blissed lauerd to-dai, ilkedai! smart 28 In kirkes lauerd blisses 'vele,
wai
Lauer[d] of welles of Iraele.
Sal make to us god of cure heles ai. 29 Pare Beniamin, yhongest es he,
22 God our god sauf of makand qued"; In outgang of thoght to be;
And of lauerd of lauerd outgang of 30 Princes of Iuda forthga pai,
ded.
Dukes of þa, with am ai ;
23 Bot god sal breke heuedes of his Princes of Zabulon wele ma,
ilwilland,
Princes of Neptalim als-swa.
Scalp of hare in þair giltes gaand. 31 Sende, god, to mighte pine pus;
24 Saide lauerd: »of Basan torne, torne Fest, god, þat whilke pou wroght
sal .i.
in vs.
In depnesse of pe se; for-þi 32 Fra pi kirke in Ierusalem,. '
25 Pat þi fote be lited in blode o lim, Sal bede giftes kinges to be als lem.
Þe tunge of þi hundes fra faas, of 33 Snibbe bestes of rede þat are,
him«.
Sameninge of bules lesse and mare
26 Pai sagh þi steppes, god, steppes In kye of folke, þat outsteke þa
of god mine,
Pat fanded er with siluer swa.
Of mi king, þat halw es ine. 44 Scater genge þat fightings wilen al.
27 Bifor come princes samened to sing Come legates fra Egipte sal;
and þar,
Ethiop bifor come sal he,
In midde wenches of timpans war. Hand of him to god to be.
IV Deus noster, deus salvos faciendi.
-
M
-
-
21 Blissed god (lauerd) to-dai, ilke-dai !
Smart wai ys make god of our rede.
22 God our god, sauf makand (sal sauue
us) ai;
Of lauerd of lauerd outgange of
dede.
23 Bot lauerd (Poweper god) sal heue-
des breke
Of his fase þe (om H) mare and
lesse,
Pe scalp of þar heued (har ful) weke
Of goand in þar wickednesse.
24 Lauerd said : of (is of) Basan,
Als (Swa als) .I. wil swa sal it be,
I. sal turne, turne o-nan
In þe depnesse of þe se:
25 Swa (om H) þat þi fote (mot H)
lited be,
Tos (Tas) and hele (heles) alle, in
(E mi) blode;
Per tunge of þi hundes to se,
Of him fra fas (frendes) are yngode.
26 Pin ingoinges (Pe ingainges), god, pai
segh,
Of mi god þe ingo[i]nges,
Of mi kynge (god) þat is so (sa) slegh,
Pat (E þar) euer (ai) wones in hali
(heli) Þinges.
27 Bifor-come princes to syngand
Samenli wiht-oute wans;
Bifor þe maidens of þe land,
Of yinge (yhung) wenches of tym-
pans.
28 In kirkes to (ai) god yhe blisse,
To (om H) lauerd of welles of
Israel.
29 Þar Beniamin pe zungest (yhunist) isse,
In outgange of poht sum-del.
30 Princes of Iude (Iuda) forth pai gon,
Ilkan dukes als (has) wiht him;
Pe princes of Zabulon,
Pe princes of Neptalim.
31 Send þi miht lauerd (S. god to pi m.)
als þe (om H) leme;
Fest (And f.) in vs pat pou has
(om H) wroht.
32 Fra þe (þi) kirke of (to) Ierusalem
Kynges to be giftes broht.
33 Snibbe bestes of rede rout,
Samening (Gering) of boles þat
(wil H) rare
In ki of folke, þat (þai H) steke out
Pa (om H) þat wiht siluer fonded
are.
34 Scater folke wil fihtynge sare (sore).
Of (Fra) Egipt comes of þat (out of
þej land
Chosen (Legates); anoper comes bi-

fore,
Etheop to god is hand.
1400 NV Coaster en
oplessoorsh?katter
Pralter
Psalm LXVII—LXVIII.
199
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
35 Rikes of erthe, to god yhe singe; Þat wilfulli hated me ai; .
Salmes to lauerd of alle thinge; 6 Samen-strenghted ere pai pa
36 Salmes to god, þat vpstegh mest Whilk þat me fileghen, mi faa-
Our heuen of heuen, ynto Þe este. Vorightwiselike pai dide; for- Þi,
37 Loke, he sal giue vnto his steuen Pat .i. noght robbed, pan yhald .i..
Steuen of might: giues blisse ful 7 God, mine ynwisedome pou wate
euen
bitid;
To god of Irael; mikelnes his
And mi giltes fra þe noght ere bid.
And might of him in kloudes is. 8 Noght schame in me pam sal bitide,
38 God in his haleghs selkouth to se; Lauerd of mightes þat þe abide;
God of Irael giue sal he
9 [Þai sal be shente in me na-del, H
Might and strenghte to his folke al. Pat seke be, god of Israel.]
Blissed god, pat liue sal al !
1o For vpbraidinge tholed .i. for pe;
Oure-hiled schenschip þe face of me.
LXVIII.
11 Fremed am .i. made to mi breper al,
Beryhed make me, god, of pine, Mi moder sones pilgrime me kal.
For income watres in saule mine. 12 For loue of þi bous swa gode
2 .I. am festened in slime depe esse?, Ete me ai als ani fode,
· And es þare na stapelnesse 3.
And vpbraidinges of vpbraidand pe .
3 .I. come in heghnes of þe see,
Alle þai fellen ouer me.
And pe storme it sanke me.
13 And .i. hiled mi saule in fastinge,
4 .I. swanke criand, haase ere made And it es made to me in vpbraidinge.
Chekes mine for pine .i. hade; 14 And .i. set mi klepinge haire swa,
Mine eghen waned me of sighte, And in forbisen am .i. made to pa.
Whil .i. hope in mi god of mighte. 15 Againe (me) spaken þat yhate sat inne,
5 Felefalded our hare of mi heued ere A nd in me songen pat drunken wine.
16 .I. sothlike, lauerd, mi bede to pe;
1 Ms. inest. 2 V in limo profundi. 3 sub-
stantia.
35 Rikes (of erbe H), to god yhe synge; Is (His) mikelnes, is blisse (of miht)
Singes to lauerd is mest;
in cloudes.
36 Singes to god maked (þat made) 38 God in his (om H) halyhes selkouth
stiyinge
esse;
Ouer heuen of heuen, to be est. God of Israel sal giue
37 Loke he sal gif his steuen sumdel Mint and strengh his folke wiht
Steuen of miht þat (sa H) loudes.
| blisse.
Giues blisse to god ouer (of) Israel; Blissed god þat ai sal liue! amen.
LXVIII.
EH Make me (om H) beryhed g. of sinne, For to mi saule come watres inne. I am
f. in fen ful depe, And noht (Ne) is stapelnes þat me mai kepe. EH I s. c. and
are made Mi chekes hos (hous). Ewane to me. E Felefolded o. hore. E wil-
fullike. EH haten. EH filyhen me. E And þat I reft noht. H reued. EH
yheld. H Min unwisdom god. E wel wate tou. E noht hid are nou. H are
Þai h.: E Shame sal pai in me na-wight, Pat abide the lauerd of miht. H God.
E Noht sal pai be fordone in me, God of Israel þat seken the. H i. Þholed upb.
E For for þe vpbraidynge pholde I., Shenship ouerhiled mi face for-pi. H Hiled.
E br. ma, H F. to mi br. made am i. E Pilgrim to sones of mi moder als-swa
H And p. to mi moder sones for-pi. H For þat loue of þi hous ai, Hit ete me
babe niht and dai. E Hit ete me als. H ouerprw inst. of hiled. E & I h. in
fast mi saule to be, & it [is] m. in vpbr. to me. Hclopinge. E om in. EH is
ịt made. EH Again me spake. EH sange. H at þe. E Tide. H of wel-
pai
.
Cooler ca
61400 No
200
artisoo earhealtera
-6-7350 Virror
The Psalms.
al 400 Nu Poalhi
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
Time welquemed, god, ite be: 27 Þaire borde be in snarc bifore þa,
17 In mikelhed of merci þine
And in foryheldinges, and in schame
Here me, in sothnes of helé þine. als-swa.
18 Outake me fra fen of sinne,
28 Dimmed be þair eghen, þat þai ne se;
Þat .i. be noghte feste pare-inne; And paire bak ai croked be.
Þat me hates lese me fra þa, 29 Yhet ouer þam þi wreth,
And fra depenesses of watres ma. And vmgripe pam mote pi breth.
19 Noght pai sinke me amange
30 Wildernesse be mad paire woninge,
Storme of watres stith and strange!; And in þaire teldes wone nathinge.
Ne oureswelyhe’ me depenes þat is; 31 For wham pou smate, forthfiliyhed
Ne schouues ouer me pe pit mouth his.
- pa,
20 Here me, lauerd, witterli,
And ouer sorwe of þair(!)? wondes.
For frendsome es þi merci;
eked þai swa.
After mikelhed pat be
32 Set wickednesse ouer baire wickednes,
Of þine rewthes bibald in me.
And noght inga þai in pi right-
21 Ne torne pi face fra þi childe dere; wisenes.
For .i. am droued, swifteli me here. 33 Of boke of liuand be pai done awai,
22 Bihald to mi saule, and lese ite;
And with rightwise noght writen be
For mi faas, outake me yhite.
pai.
23 Pou wate mine vpbraidinge,
34 .I. am pouer and sorwand to se;
Mi schenschip, and mi schoninge.
Pi hele, god, onfanged me.
24 In þi sight ere alle pat droues me; 35 Loof sal .i. name of mi god with
Vpbraidinge and wrecchednes abade . sang,
mi bert to se.
And mikel him in loof amange;
25 And .i. abade wha samen was morn- 36 And it sal queme to god ouer kalf
and
newe is,
And nane was; wha roned, and .i. Forthledand” hornes and klees his.
ne fand.
37 Se mote pouer and faine with-al;
26 And in mi mete gaue pai galle to be, Sekes god, and yhoure saule liue sal,
And in mi thriste with aysile dranke 38 For lauerd herd pouer if þai wald
pai me.
oghte,
1 V Non me demergat tempestas aquae.
And his bonden forsoke he noghte.
2 absorbeat. 3 urgeat.
1 r. mi. .2 V producentem.
queme. EH In m. of pi mercy here me, In soghnesse of (bi H) hele to be (se).
Ē filbhe. EH pere. H Pa pat. EH hate. E om me. H pam fra. H om And.
EH depnesse. H als-swa. EH Noht ne, pai om. E pare-amange. H water. EH
þat are (is) str. EH forswolyhe (E forssvoghe). d. yhit. E ouer-shoue. EH is mouth
the pitte. EH Here me lauerd for frensom (winsom) is merci of be, After mikelhed
of pi reupes bihald in me. EH And ne. Ewate wele. H Min upbraidinge wel
wast tou. E And mi. E scominge, H shoning nou. E In pi siht are alle mi fo, Pat
me drouen and done wo, H Alle mi fas are in thi siht, Pat drouen me bape dai and
niht; EH Vpbraidinge abode mi hert, And wrecchednesse (wrecchedbed) for mikel
vnquert. EH abode. E who. H ware. H & ne was. H om and. E in snare be.
H bifor bam be in snare. E sclaund(er), E sa H mare. EH Dim. E backe in c.
H ai in c. E Yhet o. b. pi wragh to ga H Yhet Þi w. ouer þam swa, EH And
bragh (hatereden) of þi wragh vmgrip þa. E In w. EH om mad. E filihed pai
sa H Þai filybed ai. E to sorgh. H mi. E pa, EH om swa. E wicnesse. E Fro
boke. E om with. H And i. H soryhand E sorful. EH onfonged. H Heryhe.
E I sal hergh. EH om mi. EH lof. E queme sal it god. E kles H cles. Hisse.
H Pouer mot se. Hlauerd. E For herd lauerd ai pouer þat be, And his bunden
201
- a 130ease draller
Pralter
Psalm LXVIII–LXX.
i Ms. Vesp. D VII.
39 Loof him heuens and erthe als-swa,
LXX.
Þe se, and alle crepand in pa.
40 For god Syon sauf make sal he, IN þe, lauerd, hoped .i.; noght
And bigge pe cites of Iude;
schent .i. be
41. And inwone pare sal pai yhite,
In ai; in þi rightwisenes lese me,
And in eritage winne ite.
and outake me.
42 And sede of his hine.agh it mone, 2 Helde to me bine ere of mighte,
And þat loue his name, in it wone. And sauue me, bi dai and nighte.
3 In god forhiler to me be,
LXIX'.
And in stede warned, þat þou sauf
God, bibald in helpe.of me;
make me;
Lauerd, to helpe me high pou pe. 4 For mi festnesse ai and nou
2 Schent and schoned be pai, pa
And mi toflight best ertou.
Þat sekes mi saule to do it wa. 5 God, outake (me) fra sinful hand,
3 Pai torne hindward and schame mote And fra hand ogain lagh and iuel
pai,
doand.
Pat willen to me iuels ai.
6 For pou ert mi þilde, lauerd, in nede;
4 Þai be went sone and schamed swa Lauerd, mi hope fra mi yhouthede.
Pat saies to me: »wa, wa!« 2
7 In þe fra wambe fest am .i. nou,
5 Þai glade and faine pai mote in pe, Fra magh of' mi moder mi forhiler
Alle þat sekes be to se;
ertou;
And saies 3 : »lauerd be mikled ai«, 8 In þe ai alle mi singinge.
Whilk loues þi hele night and dai. Made am .i. als fortakeninge
6 Sothlik nedeful and pouer am .i.; Vnto mani and ful lange;
God, helpe pou me for-þi.
And þou helper euer strange.
7 Mi helper and mi leser arte pou; 9 Be fulfilled mi mouth with loof, þat
Lauerd, dwelle pou noght nou.
.i. singe ai
I Cf. Ps. 39, 19. 2 V Euge euge. 3 al. sain,
V dicant.
bot
noht forsoke he. Hom lauerd. H when. H bunden. EH Heryhe: EH om
and, EH alle wurmes in pa. EH bigged ben c. E pai sal. EH on yhit. Ew.
it al H w. hit ai. E sal weldet ihit. H louen. E wun in it.
LXIX.
H Bihald god. E high of þe. E alle be þa. EH seke. Þai-ai om in E.
H Þai turn obac and shent þai be, Đai wilen iueles unto be. EH turned. H swiftli.
H om and. EH shamand. EH sain. EH om þai mote; H alle in pe. E Whilk þat,
H om Alle. E seke H be seken. EH forto. EH sain. E ai lauerd mikled be
(Ms. he) H mikled lauerd be ai. E Pat louen ai pe hele of pe H Pat wilen
þi hele niht and dai. H And .i. am nedful & pouer to se, Derfor god pou helpe
me. H & mi bier. E L. lang ne dwelle bou.
LXX.
H .i. hoped. E n. sh. in ai bė Sal .i., in þi r. lese me (and o. me om).
E Helde pine ere vn-to me And sauue me for merci of pe, H Helde unto me
ere thin And s. me ai out of pin. 'EH Be to me in god forhiler nou And in
st. w. þat me sauf pou. E niht and dai H ai to be. H om mi. H tofleinge.
E art pou ai H art þou to me. E Mi god lese me. H Mi god fra sinful band
outtake oute (r. me) for-hi. EH again l. wicli doand H doand wicli. H mi
phild lauerd pou art. E yhoughhede H yhou yhede. E mi shilder. EH In þe
ai mi sange (mi singing ai), als fortoken (forto sek) lange Made .I. am (Am .i.
made) to fele; and tou helper strange. H Mi mouth fild be. E Be fild. E s. þi:
ansainterakter
GHOONV Pialb
a 13.50 Verse
202
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
Pi blisse, bi mikelhed alle dai.
10 Ne forwerpe me in vnwelde,
In time when .i. am of elde;
When mi might it wanes oghte,
Lauerd, þou forlete me noghte.
II For saide vnto me mi faane,
And pat getel mi saule rede made
in ane,
12 Saiand: »god forsoke him ai;
Filiyhes bathe be night and dai,
And ymlappes ? him on-ane,
For þat outakes es it nane«.
13 God, ne fer pou fra me;
Mi god, in mi helpe bibalde to se.
14 Schent and wanande be pa
Bakbitand to mi saule swa;
Ouerhiled with schenschipe and
schame be
Pat sekes iuels ynto me.
15 .I. sothlik ai hope sal inwardeli,
And eke ouer al þi loofe sal .i.
16 Mi mouth sal schewe þi rightwisenes,
Alle þe dai þi hele þat es.
17 For .i. knewe noght boke3 writen al,
Ingo in mightinges of lauord .i. sal;
Lauerd, .i. sal mine witterli
Ofe pine rightwisenes aneli.
18 God, þou taght me fra yhoupe mine;
And to nou sal .i. schewe (wondres) *
þine.
1 V custodiebant. 2 comprehendite.
3 litteraturam. 4 Ms. wordes.
19 And til in vnelde and alderelde',
God, ne forlete (me) in vnwelde,
20 Til .i. schew pine arme with blis
To strende alle pat towarde is;
21 Þi mightinge, and þi rightwisenes,
God, in til heghist ai þat es;
W hilke grete thinges pou made to
bem
God, wha like is to be?
22 Hou fele bou schewed me drouynges,
And mani oper iuel thinges!
And turned, pou quikened me to be,
And fra depenes of erthe led pou
me.
23 Þou felefalded pi mikelnes;
And turned, roned me pou es.
24 For and" in lomes sal .i. to be
schriue
Of salme pi sothnes, god on liue,
And singe sal .i. to be wel 3
In harpe, halgh of Irael.
25 Glade sal mi lippes when .i. hafe
sungen to pe,
And mi saule þat þou boght fre.
26 Bot and mi tunge sal thinke alle
daie
Þi rightwisenes, whiles liue .i. maie,
When pai schent and schoned be
Þat iuels seken ynto me.
2 Nam
I V usque in senectam et senium.
et ego. 3 Ms. to wel.
blisse, Al dai pi mikelhed that isse. H mikelnesse. EH Ne forwerp me in tide (time)
of eld pat be, When wanes mi miht ne forsake (noht forlete) me. EH vn-to (to)
me saiden. E fon. E in on. E God forlet saiand filyhe zhe And gripes him for
þat outtas nan be, H Saiand god forlete him filyhes with-al And gripes him for is
nan þat outtake sal. E Mi god. H ne f. thou noht. E om me. EH and se.
EH Shent mot þai be (S. be pai) and wanand, Pat to (om H) mi saule are backe-
bitand. H Ouerhiler. H Þai be. EH seken. E om ai. H sal ai hope for-thi.
H Al dai. H hele god. É swa inst. of al. E In þi mihtinges lauerd in sal I
ga, H In mihtes of lauerd inga .i. sal. EH min sal I. E for-thi. H om Of.
EH þi. EH onli. E Lauerd. EH lered. E shew sal (I). EH wundres. E And
in elde and in vneld pat be, Lauerd ne forsake pou me. H Forsake me noht
god in v. H Til pat. E sal shew. E alle strend. EH miht. E Lauerd.
EH ynto h. esse. E gretinges. H Pat pou made mikelnesses to be. E Lauerd. .
E is like H like mai be. E Hou many shewed tou to me Drouinges fele and iuels
pat be. H to me. E me pou quikened nou H me q. pou nou. Herpe eft. EH
me lede pou. E manifolded. E om and. H i in lomes sal. H om þi sothnes.
H god pat is. E oliue. EH to pe sal I; to om. E Mine 1. sal glade when I
singe to be. EH om bou. E whil H wil. H shent & sh. þai be. H pinken.
salter
Psalm LXXI.
203
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
LXXI.
to be
God, gif þi dome to kynge pat es,
And to. Þe kinges son þi rightwisenes.
2 In rightwisenes þi folk deme pou?,
And þi poure in dome nou.
3 Nime billes pais to folke to go,
And knolles rightwisenes als-so.
4 Deme pe poure ofe folke sal he,
And saufe sal he make to be
Sones of poure men with-alle,
And meke pe crauere? so he salle.
5 And with be sunne sal he wende,
And bifore be mone, .in strende and
strende.
6 He sal douncome als in flesche 3
raine,
Als goters droppand pe erthe ogaine.
7 Springe sal in his daies alle
Rightwisenes to grete and smalle,
And mightsomnes ofe pees, in ai,
Vnto pe mone be borne awai.
8 And lauerd fra see to see he sal,
And fra streme to meres ofe werld al.
9 Bifor hime falle sal Ethiopes thicke,
And his faas pe erthe sal licke.
10 Kyngis of Thars and of isle lede,
i V Iudicare (inf.). 2 V calumpniatoren,
'R chalenger. 3 Ms. fiescher, al. flees; V vellus.
Giftes gode pen sal þai bede;
Kynges of Arabie and, of Saba
Giftes lede þai sal als-swa;
11 And loute hime sal kynges alle,
Alle genge hime-to serue salle.
12 For lese sal he poure fra mightand,
And poure þat had na helpe in land.
13 To poure and helplesse forbere sal he,
And saules of poure make saufe to be.
14 Ofe okres and wickednes alle
Saules of þam bie he salle;
And worschepfulle þe name of þa
Bifore hime it sal be swa.
15 And he salle liue, and be gyuen for-þi
To him sal gold of Arabi;
And bid of him sal pai ai,
Blisse him sal þai alle pe dai.
16 Be festenes in erthe sal he
In heghiste of hilles; ouerhouen
sal be
Ouer Yban his fruyte, and blome
sal þai
Fra cite als fra erthe does hai.
17 In werldes name of him haue blis;
Bifore sunne name of him it is;
18 And blissed be in him sal kyndes alle,
Alle genge mykel him þai salle.
LXXI.
E of inst. of gif. H Þi d. to be k. gif. EH To deme (Deme) þi folke in ...
rihtwisenesse And þi pouer in dome mare and lesse. EH Fange. ga. E He
sal deme pouer of folke, sauf make wiht-al Sones of pouer, and crauer meke he
sal. H om þe. beryhed. Þe crauer meke; so om E And he sal be wiht þe
mone (l) in ende, Bifor þe mone.. H And he sal be with sunne and bifor mone,
In getinge and getinge sone. EH com doun. E as rain in flees soft. H flees.
E And. E dr, ouer erbe oft. EH pais, E perfore. H To. E be out borne. EH &
1. sal he (he sal) fra se to se. of w. pat be. EH Etheops falle sal. EH K. of
Th. and (om H) of yle (E pe) land Giftes bede pai (Bede sal giftes) wiht pare
hand. E om sal; H sal pai lede. EH bid inst. of loute. E kenge. E om to.
H to him serue pai s. E & p. to whom help nan was in land H & p. to whom
nan was helpande. H Forber pouer & h. E sauf make. Ewicnesses. EH
wurchipful. Hom þe. E om of; H of þam ai. E sal be ai swa H babe
niht & dai. EH and (to H) him sal for-Þi Be giuen of gold. H biseke. E pai
.sal ai H ai sal pai. E om him. E Festenesse in e. be s. he. E vphouen.
H In heghnesses of hilles be, Querhouen ouer I. is frut bes ai, And þai sal
blome fra cite als fra erpe bai. E Als fra cise dos of e. hai. E In w. blissed
be name hisse, H. His name be blissed in werld þisse. EH þe, Hmone.
E om it. Heuer name hisse. EH And be blissed, E sal in him kinde of erpe
al H in him sal al kinde of land.. H sal be him mikelland. E onlike H onli.
Arrogariahradler
a MOD NU Pasta
al350 Verse
TYT
204
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vir
19 Blissed lauerd, god of Irael,
8 Þai thought and spake quedenes
Pat does wondres aneli wel.
vnrighte;
20 And blissed name bi night and dai Quedenes spake pai on heghte.
Of his mastehede sal be in ai,
9 Pai sete þair mouth to be in heuen,
And be filled with his mastehede And þair tunge in erthe it ferde ful
so fre
euen.
Sal alle erthe, swa be, swa be. 10 For-pi be torned mi folke bider alle,
And fulle daies in pam be funden salle.
LXXII.
II And þai saide: »hou wate god pis ?
Hou gode god of Irael es,
And wher wisdome in heght is ?«
To pa of hert þat ere rightwis ! 12 Bihald, þai sinfulle, and in werld
2 Mi fete sothlyke negh stired ere bai, mightsomand,
Negh yhoten ere mi steppes ai;
Haden welthes fulle þaire hand.
3 For .i. loued' oure wicke in land, 13 And .i. saide: »withouten skille for-þi
Pees of sinful men seand.
Mi hert with-inne me righted .i.,
4 For noght es bibalteż to dede of pa, And bitwix vnderand ware
And festenes in þare woundes ma. Mine handes wesche .i. pare,
5 In swynke of men noght ere pai alle, 14 And .i. was swongen al þe dai,
And with men noght [be] swongen And in vghteninges mi phraying' ai.«
Þai salle.
15 Ife .i. saide: ».i. salle telle swa«,
6 Forthi helde þam pride; hiled ere Lo, birthe of mennes’ sones schoned 3
i. Þa.
With wickednes and þar quednes ai. 16 .I. wend þat .i. knewe pisse;
-7 Forthyhode als of fattenes wickednes Swynke bifore me mikel isse:
of þa;
17 Til in god halines in .i. ga,
Pai fore in zerninge of hert swa. And vndirstand in newest of þa.
i V zelavi. 2 respectus.
i V castigatio. 2 al. þi. 3 V reprobavi;
r. schoued?
5
pai
EH And blissed be niht and dai Name of his mikelhed in ai, And be filde sal
(H sal be, filde om) wiht mikelhed hisse Alle erbe, swa be siva be, wiht blisse.
LXXII.
H of Israel god. E isse H ise, are. H ai. E yhutten. H Mine steppes negh
toyhut are pai. H wicked.. EH Pais. Hom es; E nis. EH bihaldinge. E tham
H am. E Ne. EH in woundes (wounde) of þam. E For in. E pai are, alle om.
E noht ben bai sw. H be svungen noht pai; E sare. H For-þi help(!) pride
pam mare and lesse, Pai (er] hiled wiht wicnes and par quednesse. E In wic-
nesse. H Outyhede. H fathed. EH ferd. yhorning. E & þai spake quednesse
H & qu. spake þai, E In heght þai spaken wickednesse H Wicnesse in heght
spake pai ai. E Pai s. mouth of pam in h., H Pe mouth of þam pai set in h.
E & tunge of bam ferd in erbe euen. H ferd in erbe, it om. E went. H here Ehe,
H swa. E daies fulle in po. H sal be funden in þa. EH hou wat (om E) god
of Israel, Whare wisdom be in heght (is h.) sumdel. E Loke sinful and in werld
mihtand, H Loke þai sinful and mihtsomande. E Haueden. H In werld haden
w. in hand. E And .i. saide penne witerli Wiht-out scil mi hert rihted I, H And
wiht-outen scil saide .i., Rihted .i. mi hert for-thi. EH ma inst. of ware. EH
Wesshe .I. (om H) baphe (pen) mi hend swa (twa). E swungen H swunge. E om
And. Evghtendite Huthtentide. Ezhraghing H phrayhing. E telle sal I.
swa, H swa telle .i. sal. EH Loke. E pine Hþi, sones. H al. EH And
(Hom) I. wende at knawe (hat i knew) to se, Pis swinke is (ai H) bifore me.
E om in; godes; I inga. H In godes helinesses til .i. inga. EH newist. EH Bot for
Potem
TTT
ve all az abone Prakt
-Prolter
Psalm LXXII–LXXIII.
205
Ms. Vesp, D VII.
18 Noght-forbi for swikedomes (pou) set Pou forlest? alle saufe to be
to pam ai;
Þat strenen? with-outen þe.
Þou out bhrew þam when vphouen 27 And me, cliue to god gode isse,
ware pai.
And set mi hope in lauerd god of
19 Hou ere pai made in vnronyngnesse ! | blisse;
Ferinkli bathe mare and lesse
28 Pat .i. schewe pi spellinges ilkon
Waned pai, forworþed pare
In yhates of doghtre of Syon.
For þaire wickenes þai in ware.
LXXIII.
20 Als of risand of slepe, lauerd, in þi
cite nou
W hare-to outpote pou in ende, god
Liknes of þa to noght thryng sal tou.
gode,
21 For inlowed? es mi hert,
Wrathe es pi breth ouer schepe ofe
And mi neres ere torned for vnquert; Þi fode?
And .i. am to noghte for-bi
2 Mined be pou ofe pi sameninge,
Thrungen, and na thinge wiste .i.; Pat pou aght fra biginninge.
22 Als mere made .i. am at se,
3 Þou agaynboghte yherde ofe þine
And .i. am ai with þe to be.
eritage yhite,
23 Pou toke mi righthand, and in þi Syon hille whilke Þou woned in ite.
wille
4 Heue þi bandes in par pride in ende.
Led me, and toke me with blisse Hou lithered“ in halew es pe fende!
mi fille.
5 And mirthed er þat hated þe.
24 What sothlyke to me es in heuen,
In midde of pi solempnite.
And on erthe fra þe, pat .i. wild 6 Pai set paire takenes, taknes wrange;
neuen ?
And noght knewe þai ouer heghts
25 Waned mi flesche and mi hert al dai; als in outgange.
God of mi hert, and mi dele god in ai. 7 Als in wodes of trees þat are,
26 For loke, pa þat þam ferre pe fra, Þaire 6 yhates with axes pai doune
Forworth sal pai euer swa;
schare
i V inflammatum. 2 al, at þe; V apud te. V perdidisti. 2 fornicantur. 3 al. to
5 V super summum.
ine. f malignatus est.
li r. His.
sw. set þou to pam (am) ai (om H). E outwarpe. whil. H Wil uphouen þai ware
outkast þou þam. E Hou are pai maked for to se In vnronandnes to be. EH
Feringli waned pai mare and lesse, Þai forwurped for þar wickednesse. H om
of; om þi; Par licnesse to noht; E Als of slep risand þat are, In þi cite lauerd
þare Licnesse of tham ouer alle Vn-to noht þringe pou sal. EH inloyhed. E om
And-unquert. H om ere torned. E And to noht þrungen am .I., And I ne wist
witerli. H Manged are, and .i. to noht Am bhrungen and noht wist .i. oht.
E And als m. am I made EH at þe. EH om am. H forto. H held. EH in
wille of pe. EH Þou led me and wiht blisse kep me. EH For what is to me
(to me is). EH And fra pe ouer erpe. wald. EH om þa; þat ferre (ferren! pam
fra the EH Forwurþhen sal pai euer (sone sal pai) be, Þou forlesed (forspilt ai)
alle tha Wiht-out pe pat strene(n) swa. EH & to me to kliue. E om And; H To.
H om god. EH þine. E ilkan. EH doghtres.
LXXIII.
EH Whi. E avaiput Houtdrof. EH Wragh is. E bragh H brath. EH om pou.
H Whilke. EH om agayn. H of e. pine, yhite om. H Hil of Syon. E in whilke.
E wones. Hine, it om. EH hand. H in pride of þa. E of inst. of es. E & blisse
maken; hate. H & glade are bat hate mare and lesse In middes of pi mirinesse.
EH tokenes. E lange H ai. E als our heht. H & als in outgang ouer slep (!)
noht knew pai. H trees of wod. EH Wigh axes zhates (his yh.). E In h., in
azobairastaathen
Q1400 Noppalter
661358_Verslas
*
.
206
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
In him-seluen; at þe laste
Stremes ofe Etham dried pou.
In ax and in thixil þai ite dounecaste. 17 Pine es dai, and þine es nighte;
8 Þai brent þi halines with fire; in Þou smiped griking and sunne brighte.
erthe same
18 Þou nade al meres ofe erthe ma;
Þai fortrade telde ofe bi name.
Somer and ware', pou schope þa.
9 Pai saiden in þaire herte swa 19 Mined be ofe þis dai and nighte:
Samen pe kynered ofe pa:
Pe faa vpbraided lauerd ofe mighte,
»To reste make we mesdaies? alle And folke vnwis als-swa þe same
Ofe god fra erthe, for oght mai falle«. Þai schoned? þi hali name.
Io Oure taknes noght se we; nou profete 20 Ne giue pou to bestes til be
nane is;
Saules schriuand vnto þe,
And vs knawe namare sal he for his. And saules of þi poure frend
II Towhen, god, vpbraide sal he fende? Ne forgete pou neuer in end.
Gremes wiperthret Þi name in ende? 21 Bihald in þi witeworde swa,
12 Wharto tornes pou þi hand, and For fulfilled er þai þa
righthand ofe pe
Pat sestrede er in mirkenes
Fra mide pi bosome in ende to be? Of erthe til houses of wickednes 3.
13 Bifore werldes god oure kinge, with 22 Ne be turned þe mekemade yotten*
hand
same;
Wroght has hele in midde Þe land. Poure and helples sal looue pi name.
14 Þou feste in pi might be se swa; 23 Ris, god, deme pi skille in querte;
Pou droued dragunes heuedes in Mined be pou in þi herte
watres ma.
Of þine vpbraidinges, of þa whilke ai
15 Þou brake dragoun heuedes, mete Are fra þe biginnand“ alle dai.
gafe him
24 Ne forgete steuens of þi faas;
To folke of Ethiope ilka lim.
Pride of pas þat þe hates ai vpstegh
16 Þou brake welles and weles nou;
Þas.
i so R; V ver. 2 V incitavit. 3 V quia
i V dies festos.
repleti sunt qui obscurati sunt terrae domibus
iniquitatum. *4 V confusus, 5 V ab insipiente.
ax yhit And þixel doun pa kusten hit. H om in 2; þai doun hit. EH Pali) brend
wiht fire (bi H) helines pe s. H In erbe pai f. E Alle be kinreden þat was of
pa, To rest alle make we Fra erpe mesdaies of god pat be; H Pai saide in
þar hert samen kinred of pa, To rest ma we alle messe-daies of god erpe fra.
E Oure toknes that are of miht, Noht se we pam dai ne niht, Nou prophete is
nauther-ware, And vs knaw sal he nomare. H nis, nane om; nomare he sal
what is. EH lauerd. E Taried wiper-7rhet. E Whi pi hand and pi rihthand
turnes tou Fra mid of þi bosem nou. H Whi. of þi. EH God (sothlic H) our
kinge bifore werldes isse (werld pisse) He wroght hele (Broht has he b.) in mid
erbe pisse (pe e. isse). H festened. EH om swa. E Droued heuedes of dra-
gouns. H dragun. EH be inst. of ma. H welles. EH ilkan inst. of nou.
EH Pou dried stremes of Ethan. E Þe fa vpbraided, lauerd mine of pisse, And
taried vnwis folke þi name þat isse; H Min of þis, upbraided lauerd pe fa, And
folc unwis wackened pi name als-sa. E Ne g. Þou to b. in land Saules þat are
to be shriuand. H Ne gif to bestes saules shriuand to þe, Ne forgete in ende
saules of þi pouer þat be. H Loke in pi witeword for fild are pai, Pat sestred
are of erbe to houses of wicnesses ai. E For þat. Pat cestered are of erpe
pat esse Vn-to houses of wickednesse. EH om be. E shent H toyhut, þes.
Ê Ris vp god, deme sal (!) mine, Be mined of vpbraidinges þine, Of tha be whilke
that ware ai Fra biginninge al þe dai; H Ris god, deme mi scil, min pou ai
Of Þin upbraidinges pat fra biginning are al dai. E of pi fas yhit, H of þi f.
al dai. EH Pride of þa the hate (hate pe), E ai vpstiyhes hit Hupstiyhes ai.
plan bear
Parabara
salter
Psalm LXXIV—LXXV.
207
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
Singe to god Iacob with-alle.
LXXIV.
10 And alle hornes of sinful breke sal
W e salle schriue to þe, lauerd, we .i. Þa;
sal schriue,
And vphouen ben hornes of right-
And we salle kalle pi name biliue; wys ma.
2 We salle telle þi wondres. When
LXXV.
time tane hafe .i.,
.I.P rightwisenes deme sal sothli. Knawet in Iude god es wele;
3 Molten es erthe and alle þat erd in ite; Mikel es his name in Iraele.
.I. festened pilers of it yhite.
2 And made his stede es pais opon,
4 I saide to wicked: »nilles do wicli«; And be wonynge of him in Syon.
And to gilti: »nilles heue horne for- 3 Pare brake he myghtinges righte,
þi;
Bogh, schelde, swerde, and fighte.
5 Nilles heue in heghte your horne 4 Lightand þou wondrelike fra hilles
Þat es,
of ai;
Nilles speke ogaynes god wickednes«'. Alle vnwise of hert droued ere bai.
6 For ne fra este, ne fra weste, ne 5 Pai slepe paire nappinge, and noght
fra wilde hilles;
Þai fand,
For god demer at his wille es.
Alle men of welthes, in þair hand.
7 Þis mekes he ful ofte,
6 Fra þi snibbynge; god of Iacob,
And þis vpheues he olofte.
Þai napped þat horses stegh up.
For drinke hand of lauerd es ine 7 Pou aghefulle ert, and wha to be
Ful menged with ripe wyne”;
Ogainestand sal fra þen þi wreth be?
8 And he helded fra þis in pis; 8 Fra heuen herd dome pou made :
Bot drege of him noght is
Þe erthe qwoke, and rest it hade;
Litteled, drinke sal al þa
9 When god raas in dome to stande,
Sinfulle of erthe þat ere swa.
Þat he make saufe alle handetame
9 .I. sothlike in werld schewe salle,
of lande.
1 Ms. I bi. 2 V quia calix in manu domini IV quievit, R was still.
vini meri plenus mixto.
LXXIV.
E god, we sal to be s. EH wundres. E tide. EH I haue tane. EH I riht-
wisenesses deme sal (sal deme) o-nan. EH Multen. E om þat. E erde H won.
H I sal festen his p. y. EH wicke. E niles wicli H wicli niles EH do (to) þer-forn.
EH & to giltand, niles (ne wiles) vpheue yhoure horne. V 5 om in E. H Ne wiles
upheue. H again god unrihtwisnes. H om For. E of; este om. E of. EH
domesman. E alle at. H Pat. he heues op. E Pis mekes he þis heghes he, for
drinc is ine Lauerdes hand ful menged wiht ripe wine. E Bot dregge of him
noht liteled is H And his dreg noht l. is. E Drinke sal of hit alle þat are
Sinful of erbe lesse and mare, H Of hit sal drinke and haue in hand Alle pe
sinful of the land. Eshew in werld. H To god of I. singe.. E And I. sal
breke alle hornes of sinful ai, And hornes of rihtwise vphouen ben pai. Hom
pa; of riht for-pi.
LXXV.
EH Israel. E is his stede. H stede of him made p. is on. E his erdyngsted
H his woninge. H Þare pen sal he breke miht. E wunderli H sellic. E par
slep. H om pai. EH For. E horses pat st. op H pai st. on h. ob. E Agh-
ful pou art and wa againstande Pe, fra þenne bi wragh and ande, H Pou aghful
art and wha againstand þe, Fra þenne wil Þi wrath mikel be. H When in dome god
was risand. E To saufe make, H Pat s. he make. H alle soft. E wight hert al; 1. of
208
allo
.
Q7358Verse
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
10 For thoght of man, of hert es alle, 6 And .i. thoght bi night with mi hert
Vnto pe be schriuen salle;
maste,
And leuynges of (thoght] þat be, And .i. swanke, and .i. swepid mi
Mesdaie sal þai make to be.
gaste.
II Behetes and yheldes to lauerd god 7 „Whethir in ai god forwerpe sal?
kynge,
Or noght set þat .i. queme yhit
Alle þat in his vmgange giftes bringe: with-al?
12 Til aghefulle, and til bim ai
8 Or in ende awai kerue mercy his,
Pat gastes' of princes beres awai; In getynge and getynge pat is?
Til aghefulle and ai iſlijke ?
9. Or sal forgete to mylthe god ouer al ?
At kinges of erthe þat rike.
Or his rewthis in his wreth withald
he sal?«
LXXVI.
10 And .i. saide: nou bigan .i. negh;
W ith mi steuen cried .i. to lauerd, Pis wendynge of righthand hegh'.
with mi steuen
II .I. Mined of werkes of lauerd for-hi,
To god, and he biheld to me euen. For fra biginninge of his wondres
2 In þe daie of mi drouynge
mine sal .i.;
Soght .i. god of alle thinge,
12 And .i. sal thinke in his werkes alle,
With mi hend ogaine him bi night; And in his findynges be woned .i.
And biswiked .i. am nawight.
salle.
3 Forsoke mi saule roned to be: 13 God in his hali wai? :
.T. was mined of god with me,
Wha god mikel als oure god ai?
And .i. am lusted; and feredam .i., Þou ert god, and other nane,
And mi gaste waned for-pi.
Þat dos wondres manyane.
4. Vmgriped min eghen wakynge; 14 Kouth made pou forto be
.I. am droued, and .i. spake nathinge. In folke be mikle might of þe.
5 .I. thoght daies alde bat nou ere noght; Pou boght in þin arme pi folke at kep,
And yheres of ai .i. had in thoght. Sones of Iacob and of Iosep.
1 al. gast. 2 Ms. ike. 3 V exercitatus. i V haec mutatio dexterae Excelsi. V
4 V anticipaverunt.
Deus, in sancto via tua,
poht; Hali-dai; pai om; H For poht of man shriuen sal to be be And leuinges
of poht mesdai make to be. E Bihotes H Hotes. H om to. El. our
god E pinge H sum þing. E To dredful and to him þat gast beres awai Of
princes, to dredeful at kinges ai. H To dredful & to; beres gast of prince; To
dredful & alle ilike; or e.
LXXVI.
E Wigb mi stenen to louerd cried I, And he biheld to me for-thi; H To
lauerd .i. kried with steuen of me, With mi steuen and to me biheld he. H Bi-
soht, i om. E In mi drouinge-dai wiht mi hend god I. soht, Be niht again him
and biswiked am .I. noht. E Mi saule forsoke. EH to r. be. H minand.
EH & lusted I am. E ferd. E Griped eyhen mine. E Todreued I am. H om i.
H I poht daies elde witerli And yheres of ai in poght hade i. E & be niht wilt
mi h. þoght I m. E swange. EH om i; sweped. E Whore H Whare. E forgh-
werp. H forthwerpe in ai god. E om I. EH swa (sa) yhit; E al. E Ore
awaishere he sal in ende His merci fra strend in strend; H Or he sal awai kerue
is milpe in ende Fra geting and geting of strende. H Außer, EH god forgetes.
H wiht-al. Hald (with- om). EH manginge. E of þi. EH 'Of lauerd werkes
mined I witerli. E of þi. E min inst. of thinke. H & wone in his f. EH heli.
H Wha mikel als o. g. is ai. E do wundres. EH Kough pou maked. EH In þin
arm pou b. E and kepe H swa. H om and; of Iosep ma. EH segh. H lauerd.
Pralter
appaltial Vap)
Psalm LXXVI–LXXVII.
209
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
15 Watres sagb þe, god; watres sagh þe, . And his wondres he dyd in land.
· And dredes"; and droued depenesse be. 6 And he raised wittnes in Iacob wel,
16 Miklehed ofe din of watres ma;
And lagh he set in Irael,
Steuen gafe Þe cloudes swa.
7 'Hou many sent he, so pai wore,
17 Sothlike pin arwes forthferd wele; Til our fadres vs bifore,
· Steuen of pi thoner in a whele.
To þar sones kouth to make þa;
18 Lightned þi brightnes to werld þis; Pat other strende knawe it swa.
. Þe erthe .qwoke and stired it is. 8 Sones þat sal be borne and rise,
19 In fele watres þi styes, and in see Salle telle þar sones on ilka wise;
þi wai,
9 Pát þai set par hope in god ai,
And þine steppes noght knawen er And werkcs of god noght forgete pai,
pai.
And bodies of him dai and night
20 Þou ledde als schepe pi folke on-one, Seke þai with alle þair might;
In hand of Moises and Aarone. 10 Þat þai ne be, als þar fadres fals,
Getynge wike and tenefulle als;
LXXVII.
II Strende þat noght righted hert his,
Bihaldes mi lagh, mi folke, es kouth; And noght leued with god his gaste
Heldes your eres? in wordes of mi it is?.
mouth.
12 Sones of Effrem, bendand and bowe
2 .1. sal open mi mouth in forbi sendand,
seninges;
In dai of fight ere ogaynewendand.
Speke sal .i. fra biginninge forset- 13 Witeworde of god noght yhemed þa,
tynges;
And in his lagh noght wald þai ga;
3 Hou fele we herd and knawen þa, 14 And ofe his godededes forgate pai,
And our fadres talden vs swam
And ofe his wondres, he schewed
4 Noght heled fra þair sones ere pai
In other getynge, night ne dai—; 15 Bifore þar fadres dyd he wondres
5 Looffes of lauerd and his mightes mani an
telland,
In land ofe Egipt, in felde of Than.
1 al. dred. 2 al, ere.
i V quanta mandavit patribus nostris nota
facere ea filiis suis. 2 et non est creditus
cum deo spiritus ejus.
EH dred. H dreued. EH depenesses. E watres kolde H w. are. E c. bolde
H c. pare. EH forghferden. EH þunner. quel. EH Til erpeli werld lihted
þi brihtnesse, .. esse. H Þi stiyhes in fele w. EH om and; þi waies (wai) in se.
EH þi. be, bai om.
LXXVII.
H Bihald. H Held. EH ere. E talde, H tolde to. E Fra sones of pam
noht helded.. H Pai are noht heled þar s. fra In o. g. for to ga. EH Telland
louerdes loffes (1. of lauerd) and mihtes hisse, .. he dide wiht blisse. EH rered
witeword. E Hou fele he send to oure fadres ware, Kough to make pa lesse
and mare To þar sones come after pa, Pat o. st. hit knaw swa; H Hou fele he
s. to our f. couth to ma þa, Pat o. getinge knaw þam swa. H om þat. H born
be & sal. E Þat pai set in god þar hope riht And noht forget þai dai ne niht
Werkes of god þat god are are(!) And bodes of him seke thai pare; H Pat pai
s. in god þar h. and noht for[ge]te pai Werkes of god and his bodes seke bai
ai. E als fadres of pa. E om and; tenful als-swa. E Getinge. H Getinge pat
þar hert noht rihted mast, Ne with god leeued is þar gast. E Ne leued is his
gast wilt god of blisse. EH om of. H ware bendand. E om and. E-turnand.
H gette. E Ne in lagh his wald þai noht ga. H þa inst. of ga. E godes, dedes
om. E om of. Hþam; E anay(!). E om dyd. E om land of. EH om and.
_
-
.
II.
14
Porechpadta
+350 Verse
210
The Psalms. :
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
16 He brake pe see, and forthlede am 27 And he sent to kloudes fra aboue ware,
pare,
And yhates of heuen opened he þare,
And set watres als in bit2 ware. 28 And manna to ete rained to pa,
17 And he ledam in kloude of dai brighte, And brede of heuen he gafe am swa.
In lightinge ofe fire alle nighte. 29 Brede of aungels ete man pat wes;
18 He brake pe stane in more: þat es, He gafe pam metes in mightsomnes.
And watred am als in mikel depenes. 30 He forthbroght southenwind fra
19 And he outlede watre of þe stane, heuen,
And he led als stremes watres on-ane. And inled affryke in þar might euen,
20 And pai set yhit to him to sinne; 31 And on am rained flesche als dust
In viath hegh wakened" þai drines might be,
inne:
Fogheles fethered als sand of see;
21 And god in þair hertes fraisted þa, 32 And in mid þar kastelles fellen þai,
Þat þai asked to par saules metes ma, Obout þar teldes þar þai lai.
22 And yuel of gode þai spake, saide 33 And pai ete, and filled pai are
worde:
Swithewele, pe lesse and mare;
»Wher god in wildernes mai graipe And þar gerninge to pam he broght,
borde?
Biswyked ofe þar zhorninges? ere þai
23 For he smate pe stane and watres noght.
outran,
34 Andyhit þar metes in þar mouth ware
And be welles vnwatred 5 pai ilkan. And wrake of god stegh ouer þam
24 Whether and brede giue mai he,
þare,
Outhre graithe borde to his folke 35 And he slogh þar fattes“ ilka del,
to be?«
And he let þe chosen of Irael.
25 For-þi god herd, and he forbare; 36 In alle þese, sinned(þai) yhit in thoght,
And fire kindeled ful brinnand þare And in (his) wondres leued pai noght.
In Iacob, and ire somdele
37 And þair daies waned in vnnaitnesse;
Vpstegh þanne in Iraele;
And þair yheres with haste ware lesse.
26 For in god noght leued pai, 38 When he had am slaine", bim soghten
Ne hoped in his hele na dai.
Þai
I al. burthled; V perduxit. 2 V in utre. V in virtute sua. 2 al. yhorninge. Sal.
3 in eremo. 4 in iram excitaverunt. 5 inun- om. 4 V pingues. 15 V Cum occideret eos.
daverunt(!).
EH þurthled pam. bitte. EH pam, E als in. EH dai shire. EH Al (And al)
niht in lihtinge of fire. E om als. E om V 19. H watres of st. E om pai.
EH pai (E pat) wakned hegh. EH And pai fraisted god in þar hertes ai, Pat
mete to þare saules aske suld pai. E & Þai spake iuel of god saiden wic w.
H & of god þai spac and saide ille w. E Wor H Ware. E om god. E And.
E smot H brac. H water. EH And scaldand. E Whare H Ware. H mai he giue.
E And. H to liue. EH For-þi god herd (herd lauerd) & forbare & kin[d]led is fire
(E fis) In Iacob, and in Israel vpstegh ire (E fire). EH For pai leued noht in
god of blisse, Ne pai hoped in helynge (hele) hisse. E om to. H aboue pat
ware. E til ete. H And it rained to pam manna swa. E pam; H he gaf to pa.
E Aungel bred. E inled wind. H & winde in þar miht inled he euen. H ouer.
E flesshe rained ouer pam. E om dust. H to se. EH Fliht-foyheles. E of par.
EH Biside. EH filde. H bathe lesse. EH yhornynge. H And b. EH yhorninge.
EH om And. H Þar metes yhit. H swa inst. of ware. EH om And. H Wragh.
H ouer tha, þare om. EH corn. H om alle. E zhese. EH þai yhit. H with.
H om in. EH his wundres. EH wigh high. E & when he had slain am þai soht him.
E ..in griging comen to him; H Pai turned and him soht wen he had am slain,
2200herman
Pratter
Eu poatte Vap) Psalm LXXVII.
2 II
3
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
And turned, and in þe grikynge come
to him þat dai;
39 And pai ere mined for god þair
helper es,
. And god hegh þar ogainbier es to
blis;
40 And in þar mouth him loued þo:
And in þair tunge pai lighed him to.
41 For þar hert noght right was with
him þare,
Ne trewe in his witeworde had þai
are'.
42 [Bot]? he es milderthede 3, neghsome
made swa
To pair sinnes, and noght lese sal
he pa;
43 And he mightsomed to torne his
wreth ,
And noght kindeled he alle his breth.
44 And he es mined þat þai ere fiesche
in land,
Gaste gaand and noght ogаintornand.
45 Hou oft þai gremed in wildernes,
In wreth þai wakened him in drines,
46 And þai ere turned and god fanded þa,
And hali Irael gremed pai swa!
47 Noght ere bai mined of his hand,
Dai pat he boghte am ofe hand of
drouand,
i V nec fideles habiti sunt. % Ms. For;
V Ipse autem est. 3 r. mildherted. 4 V Et
abundavit ut averteret iram suam.
48 Als he set in Egipte his taknes mani
an,
And his fortaknes in felde of Than,
49 And turned in blode þar stremes
ranke,
And par raynes, þat þai ne dranke;
50 And sent in am hundeflegh and it
ete ba;
Tade, and [it] forspilt pam swa;
51 And to lefewormel þar fruite gafe he,
And þar swynkes to gresshope to be;
52 And þar wineyherdes in haile he
slogh,
And þar molberitrees in froste inogh;
53 And he gafe til hail meres of þa,
And þar aght to fire als-swa;
54 He sent in þam wreth ofe his mis-
likynge,
Mislikynge and wreth and drouynge,
In-sandes ? for euermare
Bi aungeles þat iuel ware;
55 Wai made he to stye of bis wreth bare,
. And fra dede noght be forbare
Ofe par saules, and þar meres ma
In dede bilouked he als-swa,
56 And he smate doune with his hand
Alle firste getynge in Egipte land,
Pe firste sproutes als-so þe same
Of alle þar swinkes in teldes of
Chame;
i V aerugini. 2 V immissiones.
U
And in griking to him þai come again. EH þat god. isse. EH om ogain.
EH 1. pai. EH him ai. E For þar hert to him riht nisse H For þar bert
was noht trew to him bot misse, EH Ne trew are (pai H) hade in witeword
hisse. EH mildherted and winsum; E om made, H om swa. E & noht for-
spilt he pa H & spilt noht þam he hade. E to turne his vragh awai H þat
is w. suld turned be. E als his wragh ai, H & al his wragh not kindled he.
EH om es. E om bai. H om ere. Hfl. liuande. EH goand. EH him in. EH
wragh. E waked. E om ere. EH fonded pai. EH heli. H Þai gremed. EH ai.
E Pai are noht mined. E whilc. EH þam. E tokninges, mani an om. E & in
feld of Than his fortokninges. EH & he. EÈ send. bam. EH Froske & hit.
E om to. EH gressop. mulbiritres. 53 in H after 54. E to h. þar mares ma,
H And par mares he gaf til bail and wa. E He send in pam wragh of misli-
kinge hisse, Mislikynge and wragh þat isse, And drouynge, in-sondes þare Be
a....; H He send in þam alde & yhinge Pe wragh of his mislikinge, Misli-
king & wragh & drouing mare, Insandes be aungeles iuel þat ware. E To stigh
of his wragh made he wai. E Noht spared fra ded niht ne dai Par saules, and
mares of tha In dede he bil. swa, H Par saules fra ded noht he forbare, And
mares of þam þa þat ware, In ded bilouked he lesse and mare. EH smot.
E fristkinned H first-kined. EH sproutinges als; so om. EH swinc. H outdrof.
14*
31
Santorortetralleta
AHOO NU Pealter
a 15:50 Verse
212
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
57 And he outbare als schepe his folke And to noghte he thrange swythe
mare and lesse,
Iraele.
And led am als herde in wildernesse; 66 And he awaiwarpe' telde of Sylo,
58 And he led am in hope and noght His telde, in men þar he woned so.
dred he',
67 And he gafe þar might in wreched-
And þar faas ouerhiled be se.
hede,
59 And he inled am in hille of his And in hend of faa þair fairebede.
halines,
68 And he ymlouked? in swerd his folke
Hille whilke wan his righthand es; to be,
60 And fra þar face he threwe awai And his eritage forsoke he.
Genge bath bi night and dai, 69 Pair yhongemen ete fire and brente,
And with lote he delt am land
And þair maidenes ere noght mente.
In a rape ofe to-delegiueand?, 70 Pair prestes in swerde fellen sare,
61 And he made to wone fulle wele
And þar widous noght weped pai ware.
In þar teldes kinred of Iraele. 71. And wakened es lauerd als slepand,
62 And þai fanded and gremed god on Als mased of wine mightand.
heghte,
72 And he smate his faas in baft swa,
And his wittenesses noght gate pai Vpbraidynge of ai he gafe to pa.
righte.
73 And be telde of Iosep he warp fra
63 And pai turned? Þam and noght keped
him,
forwarde ;
And noght he ches kinred of Effraim.
Als þar fadres, in ill bow er turned 74 Bot he ches kinred of Iuda,
ogainewarde.
Hille of Syon, þat he loued swa.
64 In wreth Þai wakened him in þar 75 And he bigged als ofe vnicornes his
knolles;
halines,
And in þar graues at nithe pai In land þat he grounded in werldes es.
forthkalled him als.
76 And he ches Dauyd, hyne hisse,
65 God herd, and forsoke 6 ilke dele: And vpbare him alle with blisse
I= bai. 2 V in funiculo distributionis. V repulit. 2 al. bilouked; V conclusit.
3 V averterunt. 4 V sculptilibus. 5 ad 3 V non sunt lamentatae.
aemulationem eum provocaverunt. 6 sprevit.
EH folk hesse; mare and lesse om. H om he led. EH fos. EH led, in om. H Þam.
H helines hisse. E om wan; H biwan. H isse. E And he to-werp folke, and
wiht land He delt in strenge of to-delgiuand; H And he werped awai penne
pare Fra þar face genge lesse and mare, And with 1. he gaf þam lande In a
strenge of todelgiuande. E & he m. in þar teldes wel To wun pe k. of I.
E god hegh ai. E witword, E noht yhemed pai, H get pai noht reht. E went.
H am. E & forward noht þai get þare H & f. noht yhemd þai. E fardels.
E in il bogh turned þai are, H in a bogh pai turned are ai. EH in þar hals.
E niht H nigh. EH om forth. E ilkadel. H & noht warpe he s. I. E &
forwarp, H & awai-werp. Etheld. H of S. pen. E Teld per he woned in
men so H His teld þar he woned in men. E And in wrecchednes miht of þo,
I v. om. H wrecchednesse; fairnesse. E And in swerd his folke bilouked he, And
his e. he forsoke to se. H bilouked h. f. in s. E Yungmen of þar fir ete. H fellen
in swerd. E widwes H widwed. H wep E werp. EH And wakned als sle-
pand is lauerd of blisse (lauerd isse), And mihtand mased of win isse (misse).
E in fast. H And in baften he smate his fa. H And u. H om pe. E & he
warp Iacob telde. E om he. Hhe ches noht. E pe kynd. E þe kynde.
H whilc. E his helines als vnicorn H als v. helines hisse. H In erþe.
E groundet H grounde. E in werld biforn H in w. pisse. E & him vpbare
150orerezzPerakhir
naltex
Psalm LXXVII—LXXVIII.
213
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
Of herdes of schepe þat be;
5 Towhen, lauerd, saltou wreth in
Ofe after blismed' him name he:
ende?
77 To fede Iacob, his hyne, ful wele, Kyndled sal be þi loue' als fire þat
And his heritage of Irael.
brende?
78 And he fed am alle in querte
6 Vhete þi wreth in genge þat noght
In vnderandenes of his herte,
knewe? be,
And in vndrestandinges ma
And in rikes þat þi name noght kald
Ofe his hend þan lede be þa.
to se;
7 For þai ete Iacob ilka lim,
LXXVIII.
And vnronedþe stede ofe him.
God, folke come in þin eritage; 8 Ne mine of our alde wickenesses,
sothli ,
for-þi;
Þai fortrade þi kirke hali;
Tite vmgripe* vs þi merci,
Ierusalem set þa
For pat poure made ere we
In yheminge of apples ma?.
Swithe mikel opon to se.
2 Þai set dedelike. of þi hyne euen 9 Helpe vs, god, oure hele es pus;
Metes of þe foghles of heuen,
And for blis of þi name lese vs,
Flesches of þine haleghs ware
And winsom to oure sinnes be,
To bestes of erthe þat are.
For þi name þat es so fre.
3 Pai yhotten blode als watre strem 10 Leswhen in genge þai sai:
In vmgange of Ierusalem,
»Whare es par god in' wham leue
And þar aboute was it nane
Þai?«,
Þat walde biry lepi ane.
And in berthes vnknawen o be,
4 Vpbraidinge ere we made al tide Bifore oure eghen, þat we se,
Til our neghburghs vs biside, II Wreke of blode, when þat pou wilte,
Snerynge and hepinge fullang
Of þine hyne þat es so spilte.
To þas þat ere in our vmgange.
Inga in þi sight to seene
1 V de post fetantes. 2 V in pomorum i V zelus. 2 noverunt. 3 V desolaverunt.
custodiam. 3 morticina: 4 al. to.
4 anticipent. 5 propitius. 6 V Et inno-
tescat (!) in nationibus .. ultio &c.
TTTT
1
he. H .. of shep ilka lim. E Of afterbredand H Of afterbrodded. H nam
he him. E om V 77. EH And he fed þam in vnderandnes of his hert, And
in vnderstandinges of his hend led am (bam led) in quert.
LXXVIII.
E God folke come pine e. ine, Pai fortrade kirke heli pine; H God genge
in pin e. come ma, Þi kirke heli fortrade pa. E pai. H Þai set I. niht and
dai. EH ai inst. of ma. EH dedlic. H to (1) pine hine pare. EH to. EH om þe;
Alihtfoyheles. H þat ware. H And fl. of þi halybes gode To b. of e. pe fode.
E yhütte H yhutten. E In gange. H om And – ane. E pore. E Whilke.
E We are made vpbraidinge þus Vnto o n. biside vs, H Vpb. maked are we
Til o. n. bi us be. H Sweringe. E bismer. E pa, om in H. E wraghes tou.
EH K. is. EH þat knew pe noht. Hom þat. EH noht cald ne soht. E For
þat Iacob eten pai An his stede ynroned ai. E om forbi; H Of oure wicnesses
ne min bou. E pi mildhertnesses H pine mercies nou. E For þat vnweli for
to se Swipe mikel made are we. E Help lauerd oure hele for-thi And blisse of
þi name heli, H Help us god oure hele þat isse And for of þi name pe blisse.
H om And. E & w. euermore pou be Til oure sinnes for name of þe.
H Lauerd for be name of þe. E Leswhenne pai sai in genge swa Whare is
nou pe god of tha, &c. H Leswhenne (bai] sai in folke whare is god of þa,
And unkid [be] in birþes bifor oure eyhen twa. EH Wreke of blod of þi bine
azasorrar Poaldere
a 1400 NV Prades
ܝ
350ultra
214
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
Sighynge of fotefestes? þat beene; Be wrath ouer bede of þi hine is ?
12 After Þe mikelhed of þin arme 6 Þou salt fede vs with brede of teres.
Agh? sones of dedelike 3 þat haue . eth,
harme;
And gif vs drink in teres in meth ?
13 And yhelde til oure neghburs balde 7 Þou set vs in gainesagh til our negh-
In þair bosum seuenfalde
burs þus,
Vpbraidinge of þa þat be,
And our faas snered vs.
Þat þai vpbraided, louerd, to be. 8 God of mightes, turne vs and se,
14 And we, bi folke, and schep of þi And schew pi face, and hale we
fode al,
sal be.
In werld to pe schriue we sal; 9 Winyherde broght þou fra Egipt land,
15 In getinge and in getinge
Outkeste genge and set it with Þi
Schew sal we þi louinge.
hand;
10 Leder of wai was pou ai
LXXIX.
In sight of it night and dai;
Pat steres Irael, take kepe,
Pou plantedeste rotes bisse,
Pat ledes Iosep als a schepe;
And it fulfilled land þisse;
2 Pat sites oure cherubin :
II His schadw ouerhiled billes hegh,
To schew 4 bifore Effraim, }
And his twigges goddes cedres dregh';
Manasse and Beniamin,
12 He streked his paltres 2 to be se,
3 Waken þi might and come nou,
And his sproutes to pe streme to be.
So pat beryhede vs make þou. 13 Wharto did þou his stanwalle awai,
4 God, pou turne vs and se,
And biripe 3 itę alle þat gane forbi
And schew pi face, and saufe sal we be. þe wai?
5 God, lauerd of mightes, houlang 14 Outended it bare of wode swa,
saltou þis
And a beste frate it and nama.
i V compeditorum. ? posside. 3 morti- 1= long, tall. 2 EH palmetres, V palmites.
ficatorum. V manifestare (Imper. Pass.); 3 V vindemiant. 4 exterminavit.
R be shewid.
pat spilt is sa (swa), Sikynge of fotefest (fetefest) in þi siht inga. E om þe.
E arm heli. E Haue pou nou sones of dedli. Hto, om in E. E pat are bolde
H pat are talde. EH bosem. E in seuen folde. EH Of par (be) vpbraidinges
E for to se. EH Laucrd þat þai (Pat þat lauerd) vpbraided the. H om þi.
E om al. E Be sbriucn to be sal for gode. E & geting al. E And þi louyng
shew wesal. H Þi lof in al pinge.
LXXIX.
Estires. tas. H Bihaldes þat steres Israel, Pat als a shep ledes Iosep wel.
EH Pat sites ouer cherubyn to shèw to se (to shewand be), Bifor Effraim (&)
Beniamin and Manasse. H Wacken lauerd E Wake in. E pusse inst. of nou.
H Swa. E mak bou vs. EH om pou. H t. nou us. E & hale. EH be (ben) we,
sal om. E Lauerd god of mihtes to-when sal tou Wragh ouer bede of þi hine nou,
H God of mihtes lauerd mine To-wen sal tou wrath ouer bede of hine pine. E yhit
inst. of eth; & gif dr. to ys in t. of mete; H Fede us with bred of teres pou sal;
And g. us d. in t. in met withal. H gainsainge pus Til o. n... E to; ai inst.
of bus. E vs ai. E wend. H sauf. Ē we be H be we. E Pou broht wineyerd.
E Outwarp folke H Warp genge. EH Leder of wai pou was (Pou w. l. of w.)
in siht hisse, Þou set his rotes and it fild land (erpe) pisse. EH hiled (ouer- om)
· h. ma. E om And. E als-swa H swa inst. of dregh. EH palmetres. EH &
to be streme his sproutes. EH Whi. E fordide pou h. s. ai. E om pat.
EH fare forbi wai. H Pe bare of wode fordide hit swa. E of inst. of a.
!
1
+
IAR Arboorirarhaalder
Psalter
215
Psalm LXXIX-LXXX.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
15 God of mightes, bibalde and se fra And dome to god of Iacob wel..
heuen,
5 Wittenes in Iosep forto be ' .
And se and seke pis wineyherde Þat ilka thinge set he, .
euen;
Fra þe land of Egipte when he ferd;
16 And fulmake þat þi righthand.set Tunge þat he nie knewe he herd.
to be,
6 He turned fra birthines his bake ai;
And ouer mensones', þat þou feste His hend in hoper serued pai.
- to pe.
7 »In drouinge kalledeste pou me,
17 Kindled to fire and blawen?with-alle, And .i. lesed þe; and .i. herd þe
Fra snibbinge of þi face forworth In bidel of storme: pe fanded .i. .
Þai salle.
Ate watre of againsaw for-pi:
18 Ouer man of þi righthand þi hand be, 8 'Here, mi folke, and .i. sal witnes þe;
And ouer son of man þat þou feste Irael, if Þou had herd me,
to þe.
Fresche god bes noght in þi thoghte,
19 We sal noght wite fra þe; quyken Ne fremed god bid saltou noght.
vs pou sal,
9.I. sothlike am lauerd to se,
And we sal calle pi name ouer-al. Bi god, whilke pat outled pe
20 Lauerd, god of mightes, bihald Fra land of Egipte at þi wille;
and se,
Pi mouth outsprede and .i. it sal fille.'
And schewe þi face, and hale be we. 10 And noghte herd mi folke mi steuen,
And Irael noght biheld to me euen.
LXXX.
II And .i. left? am after par herte
Glades to god our helpher with gerninges;
blis, .
Þai sal ga in þair findinges.
· Mirthes to god of Iacob is.
12 If mi folke haued herd me,
2 Nimes psalmes, and giues timpan, Irael in mi wais if gane had he,
Sautre winsome with harp on-an. 13 For noght thurgh hap had .i. neked
3 Blawes in beme of newmone be“, · þar faas,
In miri dai of your solempnite;
And sent mi hand ouer drouand pas.
4 For boden ite es in Irael,
14 Faas of lauerd to him lighed þa,
i v super filium homines. 2 Incensa igni i V in cophino. 2 dimisi.
et suffossa. ' 3 V psalmum. 4 Buccinate in
neomenia tuba.
EH turne bihald fra h. H & f. m. it þat set þi r. b. best. EH sone(s) of man
(men). H to be fest. H Kindel. EH wiht. EH blaw. EH And fra (for). H Pi
hand ouer m. of. H And we ne sal w. E And noht sal we wite fra the, Pat
sal quiken vs, and þi name cal sal we. H with-al. EH turne vs & se. H ben.
LXXX.
EH 0. h. (help) is he; To God of I. mir þe yhe. EH salm. H winful. E om harp.
E b. newledand be H and newmoned be. EH oure. E to I. E of god to.
E om for; .. þen set; H Witnesse euer for to be. In Iosep pat fet he. EH om þe.
E he noht knawed had H he had knaw noht. EH Fra birb[i]ns his bac he wend,
In hoper serued his hende. EH kaldest. E tou. E And perfor lesed I the, rest om.
H om and. E hiddel H bildel. Efraisted. E witerli inst. of for-hi. E fremd
H god fremde. E I s. am and ai sal be Lauerd pine þat led the; H .. l. to
be; God pin pat outled þe. EH Fra 1. of E. bred breded) is yhit Pi mouth
and I. sal fulfil hit. E om And. E biheld noht, H to me noht biheld. EH delt.
H þam. EH yorninges. H If þat. E hade h. H herde bade. E Israel if in.
EH For noht hade I meked par illeweland And ouer am (om H) drouand send:
mi hand. EH Louerdes faas. E l. Þai H liyhed to him wide. E .. in werld
HOD NVPBalita
*
Þai.
ansooreenmatten
24350 Valse
216
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
And þar time sal be in werldes swa. 2 For loke, pine faas dined ai,
16 And with fatnes of whete he fed And þat þe hated heued vphoue
am ai,
And of stane of honi he filled am ai!« 3 Ouer þi folke liphered þai rede,
And ogaines pi haleghs thoght þai
LXXXI.
quede.
God stode in sinagoge of goddes ma; 4 Þai saiden : »comes nou to ga,
In middes sothlike goddes demes And fra folke forlese we pa,
he þa.
And be mined sal na dele
2 »Towhen deme ye wickenes þat be, OuerÞe name of Iraele.
And face of sinfulle nime ye? 5 For þai thoght hali samen ai,
3 Fadreles and nedefulle demel to þa; Ogaines Þe bi night and dai
Meke and poure rightwises swa;
Witeword set pai, for (to] wite:
4 Outakes poure, and nedefulle ai
Teldes of Idume and Ismaelite,
Fra hand of sinful leses al dai. 6 Moab, Agariene, Gebal,
5 Þai ne wist ne vnderstode ; in mir Amon, Amalech with-al,
kenes þai ga;
Outen als of oper land
Alle groundes of erthe stired ere pa. In tounes ofe Tiri ware wonanda;
6.I. saide: ‘goddes ere. yhe,
7 Sothlike Assur with þam come he,
And sones hegh? al on to se.'
In helpe of sones of Loth to be.
7 Yhe sothlike als men die sal alle, 8 Als Sisar and Madian make to pa,
And als an of princes sal yhe falle.« Als Iabin in scaldand: Cyson, swa-
8 Rise, god, deme Þe land nou, 9 Pai forworthed in Endor,
For in al genge herde saltou.
Pai ere made als thoste of erthe þar-
for.
LXXXII.
10 Als Oreb set þe princes of þa,
God, wha like to be be sal ?
Als Zeb and Lebee and Salmana;
Ne stint ne blinne, god, with-al. 11 Alle þar princes whilke saiden he:
1 al. demes. 2 filii Excelsi. 3 V heredi- i V ultra; = R. 2 V alienigenae cum
tabis (!).
habitantibus Tyrum. 3 in torrente.
sal be ai, H And in werldes sal be þar tide. EH om he; fed he þa. H ston.
EH om he. E fild pam swa H fild are pai swa.
LXXXI.
EH in kirk of godes to (bat) be. H And. EH in mid. Hom sothlike. H of
godes. EH om þa. EH wickednesse; þat be om. E nimes þat esse; H &
nimes Þe f. of sinful esse. EH Nedeful and faderles demes pa E Meine. Hma.
H om ai; Enedful and pouer þat be. E lese yhe; H Leses fra hand of
sinful. E Be stired alle groundes of e. ma. E arte. E dei. E om alle. H sal
dee als men. E om an. H And falle als on of princes þen. Ewerld. EH erde.
E salt tou H salt þou.
LXXXII.
EH God wha sal be like to be, Ne stint (pou H) god ne letted be. EH þi
faas pai. H om þat. E hated þe. EH vpbare. H Þai liber. EH again.
E phot. E Comes alle pai saiden swa H Þai saiden comes a[n]d we sal ga.
H genge. E om pe. H Pe name ouer of Israel. H höllic. E For on hollic samen
zoht pai. H Again. H bape n. H Set pai witeword. EH for to. E Of þar teldes.
Ydum. EH Withouten of. E Do to' þa als Madian and Sysar land H Make to
þa als M. & Cysar. E Als Iabin [in] Cyson scaldand. H þar inst. of swa. E zhost
H post. E Set pr. als O. H om þe; principes. E Alle pr. Þat saiden of tha þat be
op artzoor forskraltea
-Roadter
Psalm LXXXII-LXXXIII.
217
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
» In eritage goddes halines hagh we«. And be turtil to him a neste,
12 Mi gode, als whele set þam,
Þar he mai with his briddes reste.
· Als stubble bifore wind lickam'. 4 Weuedes pine, lauerd of mightes,
13 Als fire þat brennes wode, swa, Mi kinge and mi · god dai and
Als lowe swipand hilles ma,
nightes !
14 Swa in þi storme filghe pas pou 5 Seli þat in hous pine won;
sal,
In werlde of werldes loue þe pai
And in þi wreth todreue am al.
mon.
15 Fille par face with schenschip ai, 6 Seli man of wham es helpe fra þe,
And þi name, lauerd, seke sal þai. Vpsteghynges in his hert to be
16. Þai schame and be let in werld of Sete, in dene of teres ma,
werld swa,
In stede whilke he sete swa.
And þai be schent and forworthe þa; 7 Sothlike blissinge giue sal
17 And þai knawe þat name to þe, Lagh-berer; þai sal ga with-al
lauerd is;
Fra might in mighte; be seene on-on
Pou ane heghiste in alle erthe þis. God of goddes sal in Syon.
8 Lauerd, god of mightes, here bede
LXXXIII.
of me;
Hou loued pine teldes bene,
God of Iacob, with eres bise.
Lauerd of mightes, albidene!
9 Oure forbiler, bihald nou,
Gernes and wanes mi saule als- And in face of þi criste se pou;
swa
10 For better es a dai dwelland
In porches of lauerd to ga;
In pi porches, oueg a thousand;
2 Mi hert and mi flesche onhand II .I. ches outcasten forto lin
Gladed in god liuand.
In be hous of god is min,
3 And sothlike ilka sparw
Mare pan forto won with-inne
Findes him hous, wide or narw,
Teldes of bam bat ere in sinne.
i V ante faciem venti.
Godes helines in eritage agh we, H Als be pr. þat saiden mare & lesse With e.
agh we godes helinesse. E quel H a quel. E s. Þam to find. EH And als.
E bifor pe face of wind. H om fire. E wod in land H wode of tre. E Als
blastes billes ar swipand H Als logh mas hilles to brennand be. EH In þi storm
salt pou filyghe ham swa. EH to-dryue (dreue) Þa. EH al inst. of ai. E seke
lauerd. EH Þai sal. E be dreued H be to-dreued. EH ai inst. of swa. E For-
done and for-wurpen be ai H And shente and forwurpen be pai. EH lauerd
to be. E one.
LXXXIII.
EH wel loued. E teldis. E mightis. EH Yhorned and waned saule of me.
E for to. EH be. H Mi flesshe and mi hert in land EH Þai gladed. Hyhit
ilka; Hous to him findes. E And sohtlic sparow hous findes him to, And turter
nest þer may his briddis do. EH Lauerd of mihtes weuedes þine, Mi kynge art
pou and god mine. H Blissed. E whilc. EH in þi hous wun. E In werldes of
werld. H of werld. H hai looue pe. E whilc. E Vpstiyhinges in hert sette he H In
is hert upstiyhinges wel set he, EH In pe dale of teris ma. H In pe st. E whilc
pat, H pat. E S. blissinges giue sal_ai Berere of lagh, ga sal pai, .. Sal god.
H For laghberer blissinges giue sal, Pai sal ga fra miht with-al, Be sen ben he
sal o-non God of g. in S. E god loke nou. H bibald god mine. E.. of crist
þin bihald þou, H And loke in face of criste bine. E outkaste f. be. E of
god of me. E Mare pan to wone teldis inne Of sinful þat lin in sinne. E For
antion on drinfraldas
abo. NV Prati
a 13.50 Verslun
218
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D yii.
12 For mercy and sothnes loues god alle, And in þas þat turned ere. til hert.
Hap' and blis lauerd giue salle. . 10 Powheper negh dredand him his
13 He sal noght scherę fra godes þa
· hele isse,
In vnderandnes þat ga. . .
Þat in our land mote wone his blisse.
. Lauerd god of mightes, blissed be 11 Merci and sothnes with him' met þa;
Þe man þat hopes ai in þe.
" Rightwisenes and pais kissed ereº swa:
12 Sothnes fra erthe sprongen es,
LXXXIV,
And fra heuen forthloked rightwise-
Pou blissed, lauerd, land þine esse, nes.
Þou torned Iacob wricchednesse? 13 Sothlike frendsomnes lauerd gine sal,
2 Þoti forgafe of þi folke wickednesse, And pe, erthe sal giue his fruyt
Þou hiled þar sinnes mare and lesse. with-al.
3 Þou leyed alle pi wreth þat þou 14 Rightwisnes bifore him sal ga ai,
was inne,
And his steppes sal he set in wai.
Pou torned fra wreth of misliking pine.
LXXXV.
4 Torne vs, lauerd, our hele es ai,
And turne þi wreth fra vs awai. . Helde, lauerd, þine ere and here me,
5 Wher pou salt wreth to vs with For helples and pour .i. am to se.
outen ende?
2 Yheme me, for halgh .i. am in land;
Or streke þi wreth fro strende in Saufe make þi hine, mi god, in þe
strende?
hopehand.
6 God, þou turned qwycken vs sal, 3 Haue merci of me, lauerd, ai,
And þi folke sal faine in pe al.
For to be cried .i. alle dai;
7 Schew til vs, lauerd, þi merci,
Faine saule of pi hine for-pi,
And þi hele gyue vs for-Þi.
For to be mi saule houe .i..
8.1. sal here what lauerd god spekes 4 For þu, lauerd, softe and milde to se,
in me,
And of fele rewthes til al kalland þe.
For in his folke pais speke sal he 5 With ere bise mi bede, lauerd kinge,
9 And ouer his halyghes al in quert, And bihald to steuen ofe mi bisekinge.
i V gratiam. 2 captivitatem.
i V obviaverunt sibi. 2 osculatae sunt.
3 V animam meam.
god loues sothnes with-alle. H For god loues merci and sothnesse, Lauerd giue
sal hap and blesse. E Noht sal sckre. E vndarandnes. EH om god. H om man.
H ai hopes.
LXXXIV.
EH erbe. H pat inst. of pine. E om of. H for solke bine w. H slaked. E om
bat. E om es. EH & fra vs wend þi w. E War þi wrath in ai sal til vs wend.
Hom to vs. H Oper. E salte streke. H tu. EH in pe with-alle. E Shew lquerd
þi merci til vs. EH til us, E bus. E spekis. E pais in his folk sp., H speke
pais in his f. E po H Þa. EH Bot. E hele isse bis H h. is hisse. E wone
mot, Hinwun (mot om). E om his. E.. pai, .. ai; H With him met merci
and sothnesse, Kist are pais and rihtwisnesse. EH is sprungen euen. EH And
rihtwisnes biheld (loked) fra heuen. EH And f. EH om ai. E And in wa'sal
he set his st. swa, H & h. st. in wai sal be swa.
LXXXV.
EH þin ere lauerd. EH ann i. EH Yheme mi saule for baligh am I to be.
E mi god þi hine H þine mi god. EH hopand in þe. EH al þe day. E s.
& meke, H milde and meke. EH om of. É mercies. E Bise mi bede with
eres pine, H With eres bese lauerd mi bede nou. E .. of by-seking meine;
H Aud steuen of mi sekinge bihald þou. E om i. H Is nan like to be in godes
Mor) alborenentata
Pratte
Psalm LXXXV-LXXXVI.
. 219
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
6 In day ofe my drouynge cried ... 14 And þou, lauerd, rewer and milde-
to þe,
herted maste;
For þat pou ai herdeste me.
Tholeand, and ofe fele milþes, and
7 Nane es in goddes to þe, lauerd, like, sothfaste.
And after þine werkes es nane slike. 15 Bihald in me witterli,
8 Alle genge, whatkins pou made to be, And ofe me þou haue merci;
Sal come and bide bifore þe,
Gife heste' to þi childe in to wone,
Lauerd, bath day and nighte,
And saufe make þi handmayden sone.
16 Make taken in gode with me,
9 For mikel ertou, and wondres doand; Þas þat me hates þat þai se?;
Pou ert god ane in alle land.
10 Lede me, lauerd, in þi wai þat esse, And me roned ertou nou.
And .i. sal inga in þi sothnesse;
Euer faine mote mi herte,
LXXXVI.
Swa þate ite drede þi name in querte. Groundewalles his in hali hilles;
II .I. sal schryue to þe, lauerd god, in Lauerd he loues, als his wille es,
alle hert myne,
Yhates of Syon, wele mare
And in ai sal blisse name pine;
Ouer alle teldes þat Iacobes ware.
12 For mikel es pi mercy ouer me to 2 Blissefullike? es saide ofe þe
dwelle,
Pat erte goddes aghen cite!
And mi saule pou toke fra inreste 3 »Mined ofe Raab sal .i. be,
helle.
And ofe Babiloyn, witand me;
13 Lauerd, wicked inrase in me,
4 Loke, outen, and Tirus mare,
And sinagoge of mightand be,
And folke of Ethiope, þai war
And soght mi saule dai and nighte,
þarea.
And noght set þai Þe bifore þar 5 Nou whar Syon sai sal: »man" yhit,
sight.
And a man es born in ite,
i V imperium. ? et confundantur, is om.
3 Gloriosa.
auerd mine. E lauerd to bel. EH And is nane after þi werkis ilike (a. werkes
þine). EH Alle genge whatkins pou made com pai sal (sal pai) And bid (om E)
bifor þe lauerd and blis þi name al (ai). E For bou art and doand wundres swa,
Pou art g, ane and no ma; H For pou mikel doand for-thi Wundres, bou art
god onli. Hom lauerd. E Lede [me] lauerd in þi wai, And inga sal I. night
and day In þi sothnes, faine mot hert mine, So þat hit drede ai name pine.
H Faine sal mi hert þe same Swa þat hit ai drede pi name. EH ..l. mi god in
al mi hert, And blisse þi name in ai with (in) quert. EH þi merci is mikel.
H nam, E An pou outake mi s. EH God. E ouer. E Pai soht; bi dai; And
noght forsete pe in paire s.; H Quer-al in saule pai sobt, And bifor par siht
Þai set pe noht. Hlauerd god. E rewand H rewþeful. EH om of; mercis.
E Se in me and haue merci of me, Giue host to þi child wil be, Sauf make
to won in blis Son of þi handmaiden esse. E toknen; H Tokeninge in gode m.
E to. EH Þa. haten. E For þou lauerd helped ay And roned art me be
niht and day; H And be shent, for pou niht and dai Me helped lauerd and
roned ai.
LXXXVI.
E His groundwallis in hillis hey, H Groundes of him in hilles heli; EH L.
he l. witerli. E Yhatis. EH al be. E Cite of god swa faire to se. EH Of
Raab sal I, E be wonand H mined be. E & B. me are wittand. E Syon
inst. of outen. H Nouwhat. E Nou Syon sai sal man & man born in hit isse,
TYVYYT
eroorraadler
ahoo NU Poalet
at3.50 total
re-
T
220
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
And he ite grounded forto be, 7 Ouer me es Þi wreth stedde,
Heghiste es of alle to se?
And al þi stremes ouer me pou in-
6 In writtes ofe folke lauerd sal telle pare
ledde.
And princes, ofe þam þate in ite ware. 8 Fer made pou mi kouth fra me,
7 Als of alle fainede may be,
Þai set me wlatinge to þam to be.
Is? Þe woningstede in þe.
9 .I. am giuen, and .i. noght outyhed;
Mine eghen heuid' for mi wrecched-
LXXXVII.
hed.
Lauerd, god of mi hele, in dai 10 Lauerd, to be al dai .i. cried,
cried .i.
Mine hend to be .i. outspred.
And bi nighte bifore þe, sothli. II Wher wondres to dede saltou do?
2 Inga in þi sight bede mine,
Ore leches sal rere, and schriue
Vnto mi praier helde ere Þine.
Þe to?
3 For fulfilled es mi saule of wa, 12 Wher ani in thrughes sal telle þi
Mi life neghed to helle als-swa.
milthnes,
4 .I. am wened in ilka land
Ore in tinsel? þi sothnes?
To pas þat ere in flosche falland?, 13 Wher knawen sal be pi wondres in
· Made am .i. als man to se
mirkenes,
Withouten help, bitwix dede fre; Ore þi rightwisenes in land ofe for-
5 Als wounded, slepand þat are
getelnes?
In throghes, of wham mined (pou 14 And to be, lauerd, cried .i.,
es namare,
And mi bede bifore-come pe arli.
And pai oute ofe þi hand for ai 15 Wharto, lauerd, awaiputtes pou bede
Ere outschouuednighte and dai.
mine,
6 Pai set me in slogh inrest* esse, Fra me pou turnes face bine ?
In schadow of dede, and in mir- 16 I am poure, fra mi yhouth in swinke
kenesse.
and wa;
1 Ms. in. 2 V Aestimatus sum cum descen V languerunt. ? so R. 3 V praeveniet.
dentibus in lacum, 3 repulsi. 4 in lacu inferiori.
And he grounded hit, heghest in blisse. H And he pat wones ai in blisse
Grounded hit, þat heghist isse. E Laucyd sal telle in writes of folc yhite And
of princes, of þa þat war in hit, Als of al gladand pat be, Woningstede his in
the. H telle sal ; & of pr. of þa; Als of fainande alle m. b., Is.
LXXXVII.
E I cried be day; H in daies liht Kried .i. bifor pe and bi niht. E ai inst.
of sothli. E Inga in bedde in sight pine, Helde Þine ere to bone mine; H Inga
in pi siht mi bede nou, To mi beene pin ere helde pou. EH For filde is mi
saule with iuels ma (& wa). H & mi l. H in h. EH wend. E purgh-oute be
1. E Wigh. H þa, om in E. E I am made ... be, H Als a man made is of
me. E Als wounded in zhrohes slepande, Of whilk þat namare in land Nis
minde, and fra þi hand be pai Outshouued babe n. & d.; H Als w. Þat sle-
pand ware, Of pe whilke minde is nomare, And pai are baphe niht & dai Out-
shouued of þi hande ai. E and of m. E O. me fest is þi brath nou H 0. m.
festened is wrath of he. E ouer me led tou H led pou ouer me. H me fra.
H to pam swa. EH noght out I. EH soryheden for w. E I kried to be lauerd niht
and dai, I spred to be mi hend ai; H To be lauerd ai .i. gredde, Al dai to þe
mi hende .i. spredde. E Whore H Whare. EH rise. E Whare telle sal ani in
þrogh pat' esse Þi mercy or in .. H Whare telle sal ani in proyhes þi mild-
hertnes, Oper .. E Whare sal pi wundres Þi merknes Or in land of forgeting
þi rightwisnes. · H ben, sal om. E forthcom sal H sal forthcom. EH Whi.
Hmi bede fra þe, Turnes Þi lickam fra me. E om pou. E Pouer am I. E om
6
TTTT
artoooreca.caroodos
Praltor
Psalm LXXXVII—LXXXVIII.
221
Ms. Vesp. D vi.
I am vplifted, .i. am meked, to In strende and strende, pe se[t]e ofe
droued swa.
þe«.
17 In me forthferd wrethes ofe þe, 6 Schriue sal heuens pi wondres, lauerd,
And þi radneses todreued me.
swa,
18 Þai vmgafe me als watre al dai, And pi sothnes in kirkes of halyhes,
Þai vmgafe me samen ai.
ma.
19 Neghbu[r]gh and frend fered þou 7 For wha þat in kloudes, sal
fra me,
Euened be to lauerd al,
And mi kouthe, fra wrecchedhed Like to lauerd sal he be
to be.
In sones ofe god forto se ?
8 God, þat blissed es dai and nighte
LXXXVIII.
In rede ofe his halyhes brighte,
Mildehertnesses of lauerd in ai Mikle and aghfulle es fullange
Sal .i. singe, bi night and dai;
Ouer alle þate ere in his vmgange?
2 In strende and strende schew sal .i. 9 God lauerd ofe mightes, wha to be
Þi sothnes in mi mouth for-hi.
like mai be?
3 For in euer, saidest þou
Mightand ertou, lauerd, and þi sothnes
Pi merci sal be bigged nou
in ymgange ofe pe.
In heuens; graiþed sal' be als-swa, 10 Pou lauerdes ofe mighte ofe see nou,
Sal þi sothfastnes in þa.
And stiringe ofe his stremes slakes
4 »I graibhed witeworde to be with
pou.
Mi chosen; .i. swore to Dauid, ni Þou meked, als wounded, proude
Mi hyne: til in euermare
swa,
Sal .i. graipe þi sede mare,
In mighte of pine arme forspilte þi
5 And bigge sal .i., for to be
faas.
Tom?
1 Ms. sede. 2 r. faa (pl.).
fra. Ewo. EH I am heybed and mekid and droued so (swa). E In me
þurghferden wragh pos (I) of þe H In me feirden þine wraghes ma. H & þine
radnesses me droued þa. E Samen þai vmgaf me ai. E Pou fled frend and neghbur
fra me; H Pou feired fra (me] neghburgh & frende, And fra wr. mi koupe kende.
LXXXVIII.
E Mercis of lauerd ouer al In euer-mare singe I sal. H bape n. 2 om in H. E In
st. & st. shew and ma kouth Sal I pi sothnes in mi mouth. E For in ai said þou
witerli, Be bigged in heuens sal mercy; H For pou saide in ai with steuen, Di
merci bigged bes in heuen. E For graiþed sal be day and nighte Pi sothnes izz
þam ful right; H For gr. wel sal be swa Pi sothfastnesse mast in þa. EH I
set my (om H) witword to chosen mine, I swore to Dauid (Daui) mi hine, Til in
euermore (euer) þat be (for to be) Sal I forgrabe (set) be sed (sete) of þe. E And
til in strend and in strende Sal I bigge pi sede (r. sete) in ende; H And als-
swa i bigge sal In strende and st. pi sete with-al. E Heuenes lauerd pi wondres
shriue sal H Shriue sal h. lauerd wundres pine. H For pi s. kirkes of h. is ine.
E al inst. of ma. E For who in kloudes bes euend to lauerd pat wones, Like
bes he to god in godes sones; H For wha in cloudes to lauerd sal enened
be, In godes sones to lauerd like bes he. EH God þat glades, E niht and dai
H with his miht. E ai inst. of bright. E is amange H is he lange. H To þat are.
E Lauerd god of mightes mast to se, Wha es may be like to þe?, H Lauerd goà
of m. þat is ai, Wha is like to be be mai?; EH Mihtand art (pou H) lauerd and
strang (amang), And þi sohtnes in hin vmgang. H of mihtes of pe se, nou om.
EH leyes tou, H adds: pat be. E proude in might H pr. dounriht. E Of þin
arm forspilte pou þi fas dounriht, H Pou to-spilt þi fas in arm of þi miht.
o 12 gevorrirfrallora
1400AIV Psalto
13 Soverose
222
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
12 Pine ere heuens, and land þine isse; 21: For mi hand sal helpe him beste,
Ertheli werld and folhed hisse
And mine arme ite sal him feste.
Þou grounded; be north to be, 22 Noghte fremėl in him sal pe faa,
And pou maked als pe se.
Ne wicke son? set to dere him swa.
13 Thabor and Hermon in þi name 23 And .i. sal slide 3 fra his face his
Sal glade; þine arme, with mighte illewiland,
Þe same.
And torne sal .i. in fleme him hatand.
14 Feste be þi hand in ilka land, 24 And mi sothnes and mi merci with
And vphouen be pi righthand.
-" him al; .
Rightwisenes, and dome als-swa, And in mi name his horne be vp-
Forgraipinge ofe pi sete ere þa.
höuen sal.
. 15 Miltbe and sothnes sal forgan 25 And set his hand .i. sal in see,
Þi face. seli folke þate mirthinge And in stremes his righthand to be.
kan.
26 He called + me: 'mi fadre bou erte,
16 Lauerd, in lighte of þi likame : : : Mi god, and keper of mi querte'..
Sal þai ga; and in þi name
27 And .i. firstgeten sal set him reghte,
Glade sal pai alle be dai,
Forbi kinges of erthe on heghte.
And in þi rightwisenes be vphouen ai. 28 In ai sal .i. yheme to him mi merci
17 For blisse ofe þar might ertou biforne, And mi witeworde trewe to him for-pi.
And in þi welequeme vphouen bes 29 And .i. sal set in werld ofe werld
oure horne.
sede his,
18 For ofe lauerd es oure vptakinge, And his trone als daies ofe heuen,
And ofe hali Irael oure kinge.
in blis.
19 Þan spake þou in dreme to þa 30 And ife sones ofe him forlete mi lagh
Þine halyhes, and saidest swa:
And in mi domes noghte haues gane
».I. sete helpe vnto mightand,
with agh;
And vphoue chosen ofe mi folke in 31 Ife mi rightwisenes wemmed haue þai
land.
And mi bodes noghte yhemed ai :
20 .I. fand mi hine þat es, Dauyd, 32 .I. sal seke in yherde wickenes of pa,
And mi hali oyle .i. smered him with. And in swepinges par sinnes swa;
I V proficiet. ..2 filius iniquitatis. 3 al.
slitte; concidam. 4 V invocabit.
EH erpe. E Werld of erpe. EH And (Pou) stapeled. E to be. H om And.
Hals-swa. H name riht. H Pai sal glade, pin arm with miht. E Be fest be(!)
hi hand of might H Þi hand be fest als alweldand. E band riht. EH Merci.
EH mirpe kan. H of miht of þam. E pou art. H art pou al. H queming, wele
om. E pair b.; H our h. be uphouen sal. EH heli. E in dreme sohtli To þi
halyhes pat are heli. H are and. E And saidest I set help in mihtande. H vnto
om; mihtand for-thi. E mi corn of folce. H And chosen of mi folke uphoue i.
EH heli oli. E wiht H wid. E Mi [hand] sothlice. H Ne sun of wicnes ...
wa. EH slit, sal om. E om bis face. EH om sal i. E alle him H are him.
Hom merci. H with him perforn. E be houenup. H uphouen bes his horn.
E & hand sal I set in þe se H & .i. sal set his hande in se. E his rithand
in stremes. E & fonger. E & firstkinned him set sal .I. H & .i. first-kined
sette him salle, EH Hegh for-be kinges of erpe for-Þi (alle). E wisli inst.
of for-hi. E om of werld. EH his sede euen, And his sete als daies of
heuen. E And if his sones mi lagh forlet po H & if sones forlete mi lag swa,
EH And in mi (om H) domes noht wil þai (wil noht) go (ga), Mine rihtwisnes(ses)
if weime pai oght (om H). H mine. E yheme H yhemen; E in þoght.
E wicnes H wicnesses. E of am. E sinnes of pam. Hma. EH Bot mi
11
-
Pealtor
Ribeaskar Pradhan
Psalm LXXXVIII.
223
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
33 Bot mi merci noght sprede fra him And his sete in lande pou gnade bidene.
.sal .i.,
44 Pou lessed daies ofe his time ware,
Ne dere in mi sothnes, for-Þi; : Pou toyhet' him with schenschip þare.
34 Ne wemme mi witeworde, and þat 45 Towhen, lauerd, turnes tou in ende
forthga
at laste? .
Ofe mi lippes, vnspedy noght make þa. Als fire sal brein þi wreth faste?
35 Anes swore .i. in mi baligh-ife .i. 46 Min whilke mine aghte”, for sothlike
liegh Dauyd ?-:.
nou
: His sede in ai sal wone me with, Wher mennes sones vinaitelike set
36 And his setel als sonne in mi sighte, - bou? :
And als 'mone þat schines brighte 47 Wha es man þate liues, dede sal
Fulmade in euer newe,
Doghte se?
And wittenes in heuen trewe«.
Fra hand ofe helle his saule take
37 Þou awaipute and pou' forsegh,
sal he?
· Forbare þi criste þat es slegh. 48 Whare, lauerd, þine alde mercies
38 Pou towarp witeworde of þi hine es, ere þa,
Pou wemmed in erthe his halines. Als to Dauyd in þi sothnes sware
39 Pou fordide his haies? mare and lesse, þou swa?
Þou sete' his festninge ferdenesse. 49 Mined be, lauerd, ofe vpbraidinges
40 Bireued him alle forthgaand þe wai, of þi bine,
He es made vpbraiding til his negh Ofe fele genge .i. witheld in bosume
burghs ai.
mine;
41 Þou vphoue righthand ofe him thrin- 50 Þat pe vpbraided þi faas, lauerd ofe
gand,
blis,
Þou fayned alle his illewilleande. Þat vpbraided of manginge of þi
42 Pou towarp help of swerde his,
criste is.
And noght helpand him in fight bou is. 51 Blissed in ai lauerd of mighte:
43 Þou fordede him fra klensinge klene, . Swa be, swa be, dai and nighte.
1 V quae procedunt. ? sepes.
i perfudisti. ? V Memorare quae mea substantia.
milpe merci) noht spred him sal I (sal i sp. him, fra, Ne dere him in mi sohtnes swa.
EH Ne ine sal wemme (om E). E om þat. E Fra. EH Enes. E om mi. E if
Dauid a dai Legh I, his sede sal wun in ai. H wid. E sete als sinne (I); .. þe
mone shinis bi night, F. maked in euermare n.; H And setel of him als briht Als
pe (sun) is in mi siht, Als mone ful maked in ai new. E Pou sohtlice H And
pou. EH awaidrof. Eom pou. EH Hiddest. swa s. H to-wurp E to-wurd. isse.
EH helinesse hisse. H ford[i]dest. E festnes H festinge. ferednesse. H Alle
bireued him. EH forbi-yhode vyhed) way. H om made. EH to. H om right.
E gladed. EH to-wurp. E helper of swerd H swerd of helper. E in fiht noght
helpand him H in f. him belpand noht. H om in land. EH tognod; pou om.
EH Daies of his tide (time) made pou lesse. E forspilt H toyhut. E with shendnesse
H wiht dreuednesse, þare om. E turnes tou lauerd in ende H 1. in ende turnes
tou, E Brennis pi wrath als fire þat brende H Als fir brennes Þi brath nou.
E Min whilke is mi staphelnesse, For pou set men sones in ydelnesse; H Min
whilke mi sped, for soghlic yhet Vnnaitlic alle mensones pou set. EH Who.
H om man.* H noht sal. H His saule fra h. of b. EH tak he. EH Pin elde
(alde) mercies lauerd whare are, Als tou to Dauid in pi sothnes (To D. in þi s. als
tou) sware. EH Min. Hof upb. lauerd. E vpbrayding. E Pat of fele folce I
helde H Of f. folc pat .i. withheld. EH bosem. EH Pat þai (Pai þat) vpbrayded,
E pe louerd þi fa H 1. þi fas pat be. E Pat þai vpbrayded þe of manginge of
þi crist swa H Manging of pi crist þat pai upbr. pe. E Blissid lauerd ai be he
H Bl. lauerd is in ai. E In eucrmare sal be sal be. H niht & dai.
*.li
.
..
-
aJH00 Av Poallit
antooraran Pralker
་ “བ|་ཇུས།-0བཀའདུག
224
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
9 For alle oure daies waned pai,
LXXXIX.
And in þi wreth waned we ai.
Lauerd, pou ert made toflighte til vs 10 Oure yheres til vs ere ai,
Fra getinge in getinge þus.
. Als spinnandweb' thoght pai;
2 Ere þat hilles ware bat bene,
Daies ofe oure yheres in þa
Ore schapen was land bidene
Sexti yhere and ten als-swa,
And werld, fra werld and in werld 11 And ife in mightandes, fourskore
isse
yhere;
Pou ert god ai, fulle ofe blisse.
And mare of þam swinke and sorw
3 Ne turne pou man in mekenes nou; here;
And pou saideste: »mensones, torne 12 For ouercomes Þan handtamenesse,
you«.
And we ben mended mare and lesse?.
4 For bifore pin eghen a thousand 13 Wha knawes might ofe þi wreth es,
yhere
And telle þi wreth for þi radnes ?
Als yhistredai pate forthyhed here, 14 Þi righthand kouth make pou swa,
5 And yheminger in night; for noght And lered ofe hert in wisedome
ere hade,
Vheres ofe þam sal be made. 15 Turne — towhen, lauerd mine? -
6 It wites als gresse areli at dai;
And winsome 3 be ouer þi hine.
Areli blomes, and fares awai; 16 Fullefilled ere we wele areli
At euen doun es it broght,
Thurgh þi mighte with þi merci;
Vnlastes”, and welkes and gas to And we gladed ere, grete and smale,
noght.
Lusted in oure daies alle.
7 For þat we waned in þi wreth, 17 We ere fained for daies whilke pou
And to-dreued ere we in þi breth; ' meked vs,
8 Pou set oure wickenesses in þi sight Yheres in whilke we segh iuels pus.
to be,
18 Bihald in þi hine, and in þi werkes
Oure werld in lightinge ofe face ofe þe. ma,
i V custodia. 2 V induret (!).
i V aranea. 2 V quoniam supervenit
mansuetudo, et corripiemur. 3 deprecabilis.
ma.
LXXXIX.
E L. in-flith art made to vs H L. to us made art in-fleinge. E and g.; H and
in getinge. H om þus. E Er hilles ware nou pat are, Or þat erpe shapen it ware
Or werld, fra w. and vn-to w. þisse, ... H Er billes ware made or shaped erþe
nou Or werld, fra werld in werld god art pou. EH om pou. H to be inst. of
nou. EH said. E pat gane es here. E zemninges. H of n. H & gas awai.
EH At euen late. EH welyhes. EH gos. E om þat. EH wanen. E wraht
H wragh. E braght H bragh. EH om to be. E lithing H lithting. EH. of
þi face briht. Eom V 9. Hwane. E Oure zheres als irain þhohte are swa,
Daies of oure zheris sexti ten in þa; H Oure yheres til us are wroht Als an irain
are thai phoht, Daies of oure yheres als-swa Sexti yher & ten in tha. E If sothlic.
EH in weldinges. EH faur-skore. Esoryhe. H soryhe and swinc. E sal
mended be. E of þi wrath to se H of wrath of pe. EH Or for pin agh (pi
radnes) dar (om H) telle pi wragh what be. EH Bi rihthand make swa (swa make)
kouth in quert, And in wisdom lered of hert. E Turne lauerd to nou, and be
Bisekandlic ouer hine of þe; H Turne l., towhenne nou, And bisekandlic ouer
þi hine be bou. EH At moryhen er we filde (filde are we) erly, Purgh Þi might
with (of) pi merci, We (And) gladed and lusted are we In al oure daies for to
se {be). V 17 om in H. E whilc pou mekednes (!), And zheris whilce iuels seh
we pus. EH Bihald in þine (þi! hine swa (ma), And in þi werkis, right and (om H)
asociereaboodles
VaR
Paalter
Psalm LXXXIX-XC.
225
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
And stere ai wele sones ofe pa.
Fra wighte? þat es forthgaand
19 And brightnes of lauerd be
In mirkenes, and ofe inras ai,
Our vs, ofe oure god, to se;
And of pe deuel ofe middai.
And werkes of our hend ouer vs 7 Falle sal þai fra þi halfe bi tale
righte,
A thousande ofe grete and smale,
And werke ofe our hand righte dai And ten thousand fra þi halfes righte;
and nighte.
Bote to pe sal þai negh na-wight.
8 Bot with þine eghen bihald þou sal,
XC.
And foryheldynge of sinful se with-al.
Pat wones in help heghist' mai be, 9 For pou ert, lauerd, hope mine;
In forhilinge ofe god ofe heuen dwelle Heghist set pou toflight pine.
sal he.
10 Noght sal iuel to be helde,
2 He sal sai to lauerd: mi helper ertou And swepinge sal noght negh to pi
And mi toflight; mi god, in him telde;
hope sal .i. nou.
11 For to his aungels sente he of þe
3 For he lesed me fra snare ofe hun-
to sai,
thand,
Þate þai pe yheme in al þi wai;
And fra wither-worde? in land. 12 In handes Þai sal pe bere on-ane,
4. With his sculdres sal he vmschadow Þat thurgh hap pou ne spurn þi fote
Þe al,
til stane.
And vnder his fethres hope pou sal. 13 Oure aspide and basiliske saltou ga,
5 With scheld vmgife pe sal his soth And fortrede lioun and dragoun al-
nes;
swa.
And noght saltou drede fra drede 14 ».I. sal lese him, for he hoped in me;
þat night es,
Forhile him .i. sal, for mi name
6 Fra arwe þat es in daie fleghand,
knewe he.
i V in adjutorio Altissimi. 2 V a verbo i V a negotio.
aspero. 3 a timore nocturno.
sones of þa. E And be shining þat is so bright Of lauerd our god ouer us liht,
H And be shining of lauerd briht Of our god ouer us dai and niht. E And
werkis of oure hend right nou Ouer us, and werkis of oure hend right pou.
H ouer us r. Þou, ... riht ouer us nou.
XC.
E in heghest help he salle. E In for[hi]ling H I[n] shilding. E om he. H Vnto
lauerd sal he sai. E keper H onfonger. H art þou al. H And als mine in-
fieing al. E I sal hope i12 him n. H i sal, nou om. EH For snare of honters
lesid he me fra EH als-swa inst. of in land. E om his. EH axeles (axles).
E shadw he he salle. E hope sal tou alle. E om scheld. H sal umgif þe.
E for niht-drede esse H frá nihtlic radnesse. E Fra arwe þat fliyhand is in dai,
Fro with goand in merknesse ai, For ir-renning nane þat mai be, And for
deuel of middai to se; H Fra pe a. in dai fliyhande, Fra be wiht þat is goande,
Fra merkenesses, fra inres ai, And deuel of m. E Fall sal fra þi side of þa
A phousan, and ten thousand ma Fra þi riht halues, bot to be Noght sal þai
negh ne derand be; H Fra pi side sal pai falle A thousand fulli with-alle, ..
(= V). E Bot bihald pou salt þine eghen withal H Bot b. wiht pine eyher pat
be, EH & f. of sinne (sinnes) se pou sal (sal tou se). EH in-fleing. E Noght
com to be sal iuel to weld H Noht to be sal come iuel Þinge, E Ne swinging
sal negh þi telde H And noht negh sal to (is tou) þi teld swinginge. E For
with his angels he send for be, Pat þai zheme þe, ir al þine waies be; H For
til aungeles his of þe send he, In alle þi waies þat þai yheme þe. EH hende.
EH ilkane. E on H to, stane. E sal to. E om and. Hom al. EH him
II.
TER
antbrakres Practer
altoo Nv Pealte
Quid 3.50 Verslo
XCI.
226
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vil.
15 He cried vnto me witerli,
And schewed ere al pat wirke wicke-
And .i. sal here him for-Þi.
• nes ai:
With him .i. am in drouinge hisse, 8 Pat þai sterue in werld of werld, pis';
.I. sal him outake and him blisse; And þou, lauerd, heghist in euer is.
16 With lenghte ofe daies fille him .i. sal, 9 For loke, lauerd, pine faas alle,
And schew to him mi hele with-al«. For loke þine faas forworth Þai salle,
And to-sprede sal mare and lesse
Pas pat wirken wickenesse.
Gode es to lauerd for to schriue, 10 And vphouen als vnicorne sal be mi
And salme to þi heghist? name bi-
horn,
liue;
And mine elde in merci ofe fulhed 2
2 To schew areli þi mildehertnes,
þar-forn.
And bi night þi sothfastnes;
11 And forsegh min egh, lokande,
3 In a tenstringed sautre,
Pas þat ere mine illewillande,
With sange in harp and mikel gle. And riseand in me liberande
4 For þou lusted me, lauerd, in þi Here sal min ere in ilka lande.
makinge al,
12 Rightwis als palme blome sal he,
And in werkes of þi hende glade Als cedre ofe Yban manifalded be.
.i. sal.
13 Set in hous of lauerd, in porches swa
5 Hou mikel, lauerd, þine werkes ere Ofe hous ofe our gode blome sal þa;
Þai!
14 Yhite felefold in elde ofe fulhed pai
Swyth depe pine thoghtes ere ai.
sal,
6 Man vnwise sal knawe noght,
And welequemandº be; þat þai
And foele noght vndrestand þese schewe with-al:
oght.
15 Forî rightwis lauerd our god he esse,
7 When sinful ere sprungen als hai, And in him is noghte wickednesse.
1 V Altissime.
1 = þis is. 2 V in misericordia uberi.
3 V bene patientes (tr. r. placentes).
annuncient quoniam.
lese. EH I sal him forhil. E He kried to me, I sal for-Þi Here him, for with
him am I, In drouinge be niht and dai, I sal him outake and blis him ai; H He
cried to me .i. sal here him, wiht him am .i. In drouing, .i. sal outtake him,
glade him for-þi. EH om him H .i. fille.
XCI.
E To shrine to lauerd gode it esse, And singe to hegest name hisse; H Gode
is to shriue to lauerd of blisse, And singe to his name hethist isse. EH erli þi
mercy, And þi sothnes bi niht for-Þi. H strenged. E sautery. E mekil. H With
singinge in harpe pat be. E For pou me lusted in makinge of pe And in hend-
werc þine glad sal I be. E mekled H mikled. E þi. EH ai. EH made are
þai. H Vnwisman, E be noght knawand H sal noht knaw in land, EH &
fole sal nogh zhees (phese noht) yndirstand. EH sprungen are. E shewden
H shewen, ere om. E om al. EH wiches wirken. E pat isse H nou, inst. of pis.
E & Dou art louderd i10 ai hcghest in blisse, H Lauerd hephist in ai art bou. E For
lo lauerd Þi fas, lo þi fas forwurth salle, And þat wirke wicnes to-spred bene alle.
H ben þai m. & 1. Alle þat. E be houen .. sal mi. E fulli inst. of of fulhed.
EH And forsegh mi (min; egh mi fas and in me risand, And here sal mine ere
(Mi e. sal h.) in me (to) liperand. H And als. EH felefalded. E Planted in
hous of lauerd ai, In porches of godis hous blome sal bai. Hal inst. of swa.
H he sal. E And Zhit in eld of fulhed manifal þ. s. H felefolded .. ben pai. E And
þai sal be wel pholand þat þai shew al. H om be. H be sal þai inst, of with-al.
H riht. EH na w.
TESTLY
14
VARL astaga isentralter
ارجعلهم
Psalm XCII—XCIII.
227
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
3 Towhen, lauerd, sinful pate isse,
XCII.
Houlange sinful sal make blisse?
Lauerd riked, fairhed schred he 4 Þai spake and saiden wickednes,
to se;
Pai sal speken, al þat wirken yn-
Schred is lauerd strenghte?, and him rightwisenes.
girde he.
5 Pi folke, lauerd, meked pa,
2 For he festned werld ofe erthe al, Pine eritage pai swanke als-swa.
Whilke þat noght be stired sal. 6 Widow and comelinge slogh þai,
3 Graiped pi sete fra þenne and nou; And stepchildre pai drape al dai.
God, ofe pe werlde? ert þou. 7 And þai saiden: »god sal noght se,
4 Pai vpboue, louerd, stremes euen, Ne vndrestand god Iacob sal he«.
Vphoued stremes þair steuen.
8 Vnwise in folke, vndrestand yhite;
5 Vphoued stremes par flodes amange, And foles, operwhile yhe wite?!
Fra steuens ofe watres fele strange. 9 Þat planted ere, noght here sal?
6 Selkouth are heuinges ofe pe se: Ore þat feinyhes: egh, noghte sees
Selkouth in heghtis lauerd es he.
with-al?
7 Þine wittenesses leuelike 3 are pai 10 Þat vndretakes 4 genge, noght threpe
Maked swith mikle, nighte and dai. mon,
Þi hous, lauerd, halines ite feres“, Þat leres man wisedome to kun ?
In lenghte ofe daies and ofe yheres. II Lauerd he wate mennes thoghte,
For 5 vnnaite ere pai and worth noghte.
XCI II.
12 Seli man, lauerd, wham lere pou
God ofe wrekes lauerd, ai sal be; sal
God ofe wrekes f[re]lis dide he.
2 Pat demes land, vpheue nou;
13 Dat þou slake him fra daies ille,
To proude foryheldinges yheld þou. Whils dike be doluen sinful tille.
i v indutus est d. fortitudinem. 2 a seculo. IV Effabuntur et loquentur. 2 V aliquando
3 credibilia. 4 decet. 5 Ms. ferli. Gal. sapite. 3r. feinyhed. 4 V corripit.
foryheldinge.
5 quoniam.
XCII.
EH F. werld of er þe (erpeli w.) festened he a. HW. be stired noht hit sal. E Gr.
is þi sete nou H Gr. Þi sete god is nou; EH For pan of. EH om Pai. E fodes
lauerd H stremes lauerd. E Vphoue H Vpraised. E pe flodes. E Vphoue
flodes. EH þar stremes (steuen) strang. E Fra st. of fele watres amange
H Fra watres ful mani amange. E hauenes E Pine wittenesses leuandlic in ai
Swipe mekil maked are pai, H Þine wiknesse (!) niht and dai Mikel leuandlic made
are thai. EH om lauerd. E feres helinesse. H and in. E daies mare and lesse.
xCII.
E wrekis. EH lauerd sothli. EH he did freli. E Vpheue pat demes Þe erbe
swa, Yheld foryhelding to proude ma; H Vpheue he land þat demes nou, To .
proude foryheldinge yhelde pou. E To-when sinful lauerd alle, To-when sinful
glade salle. H s. þat are ai; .. blisse make sal pai. E Da said and spaken.
È Al spake, H Þai saide alle. EH wirke. EH Widw. E pai drape ai H drape
þai with wogh. E slogh thai H als-swa þai slogh. E noght se sal lauerd þis
H god noht se sal. E god of I. isse; H Ne god of I. understande al. E Vndir-
standis unwis in folke pat be H Vnd. wise (!) in f. yhit. E witte yhe. H set.
E sal with-al H sal he. H And. E feinhed H feinyhen. E noht bihald sal
H noht sal se. E þhretes Hayhes. EH he mun. EH mannes. E ydel.
E whom lerid has tou H þat lered in sagh. E him taght has nou; H & þat
þou taht him of þi lagh. EH leyhe. EH Whil. E sinful dike be d. EH For
15*
WA
athrowsere. rPAreter
c) Hoo NV Psalt
a 1350 Verse
228
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
14 For lauerd sal noght his folke schouue Forlese he sal þam fra blisse,
awai,
Forspille'am lauerd our god pate isse.
Ne his heritage forlete neuer a dai.
15 Vntil þat rightwisenes
XCIV.
Be turned in dome þat es; .
Comes, to lauerd mirthe we;
And whilke bisiden ite in querte? Singe we to god our hele es he;
Alle þat rightwise are ofe herte. 2 In schrifte his face bifore we nim,
16 Wha sal rise with me ogain liberand? And in salmes mirth we to him.
Ore wha sal stand with me ogain 3 For god mikel lauerd apon to se,
wickenes wirkande?
And kinge ouer alle goddes es he.
17 Bot for þat lauerd helpe[d]' me snel, 4 For alle endes of land in his hand
Littelles? woned mi saul in hel.
ere pa, i
18 Ife .i. saide: »stired mi fote beas, · Heghnesses of hilles his ere al-swa.
Þi merci, lauerd, helped me.
5 For his es þe see, and ite made he,
19 After mikelhed ofe mi sorwes in herte, And drinesse schope his hand to be.
Þine roninges fained mi saule in 6 Comes, bid weand dounefalle,
querte.
Wepe we bifore lauerd alle,
20 Whor sete ofe wicknes sal cleue to þe, Þat vs maked til his blisse;
Pate feinyhes swinke in bode to be? For bate he lauerd our god isse,
21 Þai sal yherne in saule ofe right- 7 And we folke ofe his fode in land
wise ai,
And þe schepe ere ofe his hand.
And blode ofe vnderandes 4 fordo sal 8 Ife yhe haue herd his steuen to-dai?
Þai.
: »Ne willes harden your hertes ai,
22 And made es god toflighte to me, 9 Als aftre dai in taryingnesse
Mi god in helpe ofe mi hope es he. Ofe fandinge in wildernesse?,
23 And yhelde to þam he sal wickenes Þar your fadres fanded me swa,
Ofe þam, and in þar iuelnes
Fraisted, and segh mi werkes ma.
1 Ms. helpes. ? V paulo minus. 3 motus i V adoremus. ? V sicut in irritatione,
est. 4 et sanguinem innocentem condemnabunt. secundum diem tentationis in deserto.
1. noght awaiput sal (utput lauerd sal noht) folc his, Ne his b. forsake (forlete
his h.) þat is. E Vnto þat þenne; & biside it alle .., Whilke þat ..; H Vnto
þat rihtnes be turned in dome with quert, And biside hit alle rihtwise of hert.
E Or stand. EH om þat. E me helpes. EH Litellesse. EH mi fote stired.
EH it helpid (helped). soryhes. E Þi. E fained mi hert; in q. om. H Whare.
EH cliue. E pat fripes (!) s. in bedde. EH zhorned. H of rihtwis gode. E vn-
dirand blode. H And pai sal fordo unrihtwis (!) blode. E & lauerd made infliht
is t. m. H lauerd inft. EH And. E om mi. E g. helper .. to be. E And he
sal yheld þo par wiches, and (in) þar iuelnes Forlese am, forlese þam sal lauerd
oure god es; H And he sal yheld until þam ai Wicnesse of pam niht and dai,
And in þar iuelnesse forlese pa, Forlese pam lauerd oure god sal swa.
XCIV.
EH glad'e) we. EH Mirthe. E Bifor-nim we in shrift face his. H His f. in sh.
E spalmes. E to him with blisse. 4 om in E. H For mikel god lauerd and king
of blisse, Mikel ouer alle godes he isse. E in his hand al endis of erþe. Herpe.
EH And h. H hees. E of him ar ma. E & he made itte; H For hit made
his is pe se. E & d. hand of hin shope yhitte. H doun we. H And wepe
b. E Bifor god and wepe we alle. Hm. us to. E Whilk pat vs maked for to
be. El. 0. g. es he H god oure lauerd he isse. Hom haue. E His steuen
if zhe h. h. H wiles E whilis. E hertis. E tariingis; H Äls in tariinge after
dai esse. EH fondinge. EH Per (Whare) fonded me zhoure fadres ware. H Fonded.
OXY
Var) azterocrastrakten
Pealter
TH
S
Psalm XCIV—XCVI.
229
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
10 Fourti yhere to þat strende wrath. Bringes to lauerd blisse to his name.
was .i.,
8 Beres offerandes, and ingas in por-
"Pai dwele? in hert' and ai saide .i., ches his;
II And þai knewe noghte mi waies; Biddes lauerd in porche hali hisse.
als .i. swore swa?
9 Stired fra his face alle erthe be;
In mi wreth: In mi reste if þai salinga«. Pat god riked, in genge sai yhe.
.
10 For he righted werld, noght stired
. XCV.
sal be;
Singes to lauerd a newe sange,
Deme folke in euennes sal he.
Singes to lauerd alle erthe amange. I1 Faine heuens and ſoladel land bisse:
2. Singes to lauerd, and his name ye blisse;
Be stired pe se and fulhed hisse;
Schewes frą dai in. dai hele hisse.
Mirthe sal faire feldes ma,
3 Bitwix genge his blis schewe ye;
And alle þat euer es in þa.
'In alle folke pat his wondres be. 12 Dan sal glade alle trees of wode
4 For mikel lauerd, swith looflike to se;
Ofe face of lauerd faire and gode,
Aghfulle ouer alle goddes es he;
For he comes with mikel blis,
5. For alle goddes of genge deuelnesses 3
For he comes to deme land pis.
ere þa,
13 He sal deme pe werld in euennes,
Lauerd sothlike heuens made ma.
And pe folke in his sothnes.
.6 Schrift in his sighte, and fairenes;
Halines and miklehed in his hali-
XCVI.
hingnes“.
Lauerd riked: glade land for-þi;
7 Bringes to lauerd, genge of contres, Faines? yles mani blissefulli.
Bringes to lauerd blisse, pate be, 2 Kloudes and dimnes amange,
And worschip als-swa; pe same
Pa sal be in his vmgange;
i Ms. dwelle. 2 V ut (R et, al. quibus) 1r. Faine.
juravi. 3 daemonia. sanctificatione.
5 patriae gentium.
H seghen. EH w. pare. E Faurti zhere to pat str. knelid [I], HF. y. kliued
i pis str. bi. EH And, E in hert dwele pai H Þai d. with hert ai s. I. H swar.
E And þai zhese knew noght right Waies mine day and night, Als in mi wrath
swore I best, If þai sal inga in mi rest.
XCV.
EH om a. E new s. with blisse. E al e. pat isse. E blisse ze ay. H lof
hisse; E Sh. his hele fra day in day. H In alle folke. H In alle genge,
EH wundres his (his w.) þat be. E and inst. of swith, H and swipe. louelic.
E Shipe (r. Swipe) aghful. H Ouer alle g. aghful. E riht H ma, inst. of er
þa. E m. with might H maked pa. E In his siht shrift and fairehede. E He-
lines H Helinesses. E helihed H helinesse. EH cuntre. H Blisse to l. bringe
yhe. E gode ping pat be. E Blis and w. als, H And w. bringe yhe, ..
H Blisse to l. to .. E ingos. H & in is porches in yhe ga. EH in his p. heli,
E isse H swa. E Al erbe of his f. st. be. EH lauerd. EH For he rihted
(stered) erpeli werld be stired (þat stire) noht sal. E D. sal he folc in e. al.
H sal he al. EH Faine sal h., E and glape erpe þ. H & pe erbe glad be.
E Stire. H And with his fulhed be stired be se. E Make blis sal þe f. ma, H De
feldes faire þai sal make blisse. H om alle. E are. H in pam isse. E Þenne
al trees of wodes sal glade. E For face of 1. pat pam made, H For be f. of
1. gode. E erpe H be erbe. EH He sal deme erpeli werld in euennesse,
E And his folc in sothfastnes H & pe f. in his sothnesse.
XCVI.
Eg. Þe erpe 'with-alle H g. Þe e. with gle. E Ylles mani glade þai sal
H Faine mote ylles mani be. E ful lange, Þai. H Kloudes in is umgang and
astrooieran traktora
a 50ml
230
The Psalms.
altoo
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
Rightwisenes and dome als-swa
Saules ofe his haliyhes, swa
Rightinge of his sete ere þa.
Fra hand? of sinfulle leses he þa.
3 Fire bifore him sal forgane,
12 Light to rightwise sprongen es,
And in his vmgange swipe sal he And to right of herte fainenes.
his faane.
*13 Faines in lauerd, rightwise, with
4 Lightend his leueninges to werld of blisse,
land þis;
. And schriues to minde of halines
Segh and stired þe erthe it is.
hisse.
5 Hilles als wax stremeden pai
Fra face of lauerd night and dai;
XCVII.
Fra face ofe lauerd, es swa brighte, Singes to lauerd newe sange pat be,
Alle Þe land thurgh-out his mighte. For wondres mani an did he.
6 Heuens scheweden rightwisenes his, 2 He keped to him righthand Thisse”,
Alle Þe folke pai segh his blis.
And his arme þat hali isse.
7 Alle schente be pat bidden graues", 3 Kouth made lauerd his hele esse,
als
In sighte of genge he ynhiled his
Þat mirthen in þar vigours? [f]als 8. rightwisenesse.
8 Biddes him, his aungeles ilkon. 4 Mined he es ofe his merci wele,
Herd and fained es Syon,
And ofe his sothnes to hous ofe
9 And gladeneden doghtres of Iude,
Iraele;
Lauerd, for domes of þe.
5 Alle meres ofe land þai segh
10 And þou, lauerd, heghist ouer alle De hele of oure god swa slegh.
land nou;
Mirthes to lauerd, alle land, with gle;
Swipe mikle vphouen ouer alle god Singes and glades, and salme yhe.
des ertou.
6 Singes to lauerd in harp euen,
I Þat loues lauerd, iuel hate yhe;
In harp and ofe salme with steuen;
Lauerd swa wele yhemes he
In bemes ledandlike to se,
1 V sculptilia. ? = figours; V simulacris. i Ms. land. 2 V Salvavit sibi dextera ejus
3 Ms. als.. 4 al. For; V Quoniam.
(nom.). 3 in tubis ductilibus.
dimnesse, Rihting of his sete dome and rithnesse. E forga lange. H sal he scald
his fa; E And in-loyhe (ms. soyhe) it sal his fas in his vmgange. E Lighteden -
H Lihted. E om his. EH leuininges. E to erþeli werld H til erbe þ. H Segh
pe erbe & st. E Hilles als w. melted pai For louerdes face, for louerdes face
al erpe ai; H Hilles stremed als wax for lauerdes face, For lauerdes al erpe
þat wace. E Shewden heuens. E om his; H his r. E And folc segh his blis
more and lesse H And segh al folke his bl. þat esse. EH Shent be al,
E pat loute biries als. EH Pat (And pat) blis man (make). E licnes EH fals.
E alle halyhes o-non. E gladed H fained. EH For lauerd heghest ouer al erpe
(H ouer al erbe lauerd heghist) art tou. E om mikle. H om vp. E art nou
H nou. E louen. H Hates iuel þat lauerd loue. E ful wele loues(!). HL. yhemes
þat is aboue. E of helle lesid. E isse. EH F. rihtwis in lauerd of b. E om
And-hisse.
XCVII.
EH New sang to l. sing yhe For pat (om H) w. done has he, He helid to
him his hand righte And his heli arme of (wiht) miht. E his h., in sight esse
Of genge ynheled h. r.; H his b. to be, In s. of g. his r. unhiled he. E Of
his mildher[t]nes mined he w. H He is mined of his mercis sum del. E om his.
H of þe hous. EH erpe. H seh pai. H god is ai. E al erpe pisse. H erbe.
H om and. H gl. al with blisse E ful euen. E in salme. EH in st. E beme.
arrososa.Pealtes
*
Pradter
NV Pea
Psalm XCVII-XCIX.
231
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
With steuen ofe beme horned þat be.
7 Mirthes in sighte ofe kinge lauerd is;
Stire pe se, and fulhed his;
Werld ofe erthes do so yhite,
And whilke þat erden in ite.
8 Stremes sal plaie bandes, samen
Hilles glade sal with gamen,
Ofe sighte of lauerd alle-mightand,
For he comes to deme Þe land.
9 Deme sal he be werld in right-
wisnes,
And pe folke in euennes.
5 Vpheues lauerd oure god, and biddes
yhite
Schamel ofe his fete, fore hali es ite.
6 Moyses and Aaron in his prestes be,
: Samuel bitwix am for his name
kalled he;
7 Pai kalled to god, and he herd am ;
In beme ofe kloude he spake to pam;
8 Pai yhemed his wittenesses ma,
And þe bode þate he gafe to þa.
9 Lauerd oure god, pou herd am swa,
Neghsom was tou vnto pa;
And wrekand bi nighte and dai
In alle par findinges was tou ai.
10 Vpheues with alle your mighte
Lauerd our god ofe heuen brighte,
And biddes in hille hali his,
For hali lauerd our god he is.
XCVIII.
Lauerd riked: folke wrethed”; he
Þat sites ouer cherubin: pe erthe
stired be.
2 Lauerd in Syon mikel isse,
And hegh ouer al folke in blisse.
3 Be schriuen to þi mikel name be pai,
For aghfulle and hali es ite ai,
And þe worschip of þe kinge
1 Loues dome ouer alle thinge.
4 Þou graibhed rightinges; dome nou
And rightwisnes in Iacob made þou.
1 Ms. do. 2 r. wrethe? V irascantur.
XCIX.
M irphes to lauerd, al erthe þate es;
Serues to lauerd in fainenes.
2 Ingas of him in þe sighte
In gladeschip bi dai and nighte.
3 Wite ye pat lauerd he god is þus ;
1 r. þat? V qui.
T
E ledenlic, E with gle H þat ben. E And st. H h. bidene. HM. to lauerd
kinge pat isse. EH Be stirid. EH als-swa inst. of do so; H Þa. E & þe
swilk þat wones i. h., H & al bat euer wun in pam ma. H plaie sal. H hende
E with hend. E vpheue sal for. H sal pai. H In s. E of 1. for to se H of
1. for mikel blisse. E For to deme pe land coms he. H Þe erpe pisse. E He
sal deme EH erþeli werld.
XCVIII.
H pe folke, E wragh ma H wraghed yhit. E stire pe e. swa H pe e.
stire hit. H mikel is in Syon. E is he. H Heghist ouer folke ilkon. E al
f. to be. EH To þi mikil name, Eshriuen be pai H be pai sh. forþi.
H For hit is mikel and heli. E dome pat es, Pou made in I. and rightwisness.
E .. and loutes wisli Pe sh, of his fete for it is heli; H .. wihte blisse, Loutes
pe sh. ... it isse. EH Moyses in his prestis (In his preste M.) Aaron þe same,
And (om H) S. bit. am þat kald his name. EH kald. EH om to; H him.
H And in. H Witnesses of him yhemed tha. Hom And. EH om þat. H to
þam als-swa. E pou h. þa H þa herdest pou. EH to pam, Eswa H nou.
E And wr. of al pinges Was pou in al paire findinges, H God and als-swa
wrekande In alle par f. here in lande. EH Vpheues lauerd oure god in blis (in
ai), E And biddis in hille heli hisse, For þat euer isse heli Lauerde oure god
sothfastli; H And biddes him bape niht and dai In the hil swa heli hisse,
For heli lauerd our god he isse.
XCIX.
H god. E Inga zhe ai in is s., H Ingas in his s. to se. E .. þat is so
bright; H In gladnes and mikel gle. E yhe wele H yhe lauerd. Eħ þat god
apsorbinfratter
aloo appalter
*+750g
CERUZ
LLLLLL
232
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
And he vs made, and oure-selfe 5 Dernlike his neghburgh bakbitand
noghte vs.
Him filiyhed .i. with fote and hand.
4. His folke, and schepe ofe his fode, 6 With proude egh and vnfillandlike!
Ingas his yhates þat ere gode
herte, .
In schrift; his porches þat be,
With ite ete .i. noghte in querte.
In ympnes; to him schriue yhe. 7 Min eghen to trew of land þat be,
5 Heryes ofe him name swa fre,
Swa þat þai ai site with me;
For þat lauerd softe es he;
Gaand in vnwemmid wai,
In euermare his merci esse,
He serued me nighte and dai.
And in strende and strende his soth- 8 Noghte sal he won me biside
Desse.
In mid ofe mi hous, þat does pride;
Pat spekes quednes, noghte righted ?
swa
M erci and dome with-alle,
In sighte ofe min eghen twa.
Lauerd, to be singe .i. salle.
9 In vghteninge .i. slogh with hand
.I. sal salme, and vnderstand in Alle pe sinful ofe pe land,
ynwemmid wai,
Þat .i. forspille fra goddes cite
When pou salte come to me ai.
Alle þat wickenes wirkand be.
2 .I. thorghyhodel in vnderandnesse
ofe mi herte
In mid ofe mi hous in querte.
Lauerd, here be bede of me,
3 Noght set .i. to be in sighte
And mi krie mote come to be.
Bifore min eghen thinge vnrighte; 2 Noghte turne þi face fra me; in
Wemmednesses ere doand
whatkin dai
Hated .i. in ilka land.
.I. be droued, helde pin ere to
4 Noght kleued to me wickeherte me ai;
for-þi;
3 In whatkin dai .i. kalle þe,
Heldeand fra me liper noght knewe.i.. Swithlike þan here þou me.
i V Perambulabam.
TV insatiabili. 2 direxit.
O
)
CI.
es he bus. E He made vs. E Folk his. EH shep. EH Inga zhe (Ingas in)
his zh. gode. E p. biliue H yhour liue. EH to him ye shriue. E Loues his
name with mekil blisse, For pat soft lauerd he esse; H Name of him ai looue
yhe, For soft is l. for to se. H In ai merci of him e. H and in.
H witerli E es so fre. H sal i, E L. sal I sing to þe. E And I sal vnd...,
When þat þou coms ...; H In unwemmed wai when pou comes to me, I sal
salme & understand be. H I þurthyhode wiht mikel quert in underandnesse of mi
hert. E with quert. H And noht set i dai ne niht. E Noht set I before mine
eghen þing variht, Doand wemmednes hated I with miht. H Pat ware w. d.,
I hated. E N. cliued with me hert wicke f., H N. c. to me hert untrew.
E Boyhand. H i knew. H Stilli. E Bacbitand dernli neghburyhe hisse, Him
f. i with-outen misse. E om egh. H unfilland. H With him. H at trew. E of
erpe be H of hert to se. EH om ai. E sal sit. EH Goand. H He sal noht wun.
E spekis. EH rihted I. H om swa. H of m. e. for-þi. EH In morning sal I
(om E) slo w. h. EH forles. E fro.
CC,
EH Ne turne. E in what dai H to be, H In what (dai] i be dr. E þin ere
held. H om ai. E kald haue I pe H i kalle pe sal. EH Swiftli. H here pou me
arkroorairParadtan
Pradten
CI.
233
Psalm
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
4. For waned als reke mi daies swa,
And mi banes als krawkan' dried pa.
5 .I. am smiten als hai, dried mi herte,
For .i. forgate to ete mi brede in
querte.
6 Fra steuen of mi sighingnesse
Kliued mi mouth to mi flessche.
7 Like am .i. made to pellicane of
annesse?;
Made am .i. als nighte - rauen in
housefes 3 esse.
8 .I. woke, and made .i. am for-Þi
Als a sparw in hous aneli. :
9. Alle dai vpbraided me mi faa,
And þate me looued ogain me swore
þa:
10 For askes als ite ware brede .i. ete,
And .i. mengid mi drinke with grete;
11 Fra face ofe wreth, ofe dedeinyhe
of þe;
For vpheueand tognodded pou me.
12 Mine daies als schadwe helded pai,
And .i. dried als it ware hai.
13 And þou, lauerd, erte with-outen
ende,
And þi mininge in strend and strende.
14 Pon riseand, lauerd, onon
Salte haue merci of Syon;
For time of ite to haue merci,
For þat time comes, witerli.
i V cremium. 2 V solitudinis. 3 Ms.
houseses; V in domicilio.
15 For quemed to și bine his stanes ai,
And ofe land ofe it hafe reuth sal
pai.
16 And drede sal genge, lauerd, þi
name þat is,
And alle kinges of erthe þi blis,
17 For bigged lauerd Syon bidene,
And in his blis ite? sal be sene;
18 He biheld þe bede of meke þat be,
And þar praier noghte forsoke he.
19 Be writen þese? in othre strende al,
And folke þat sal be made looue
lauerd sal.
20 For he forthloked fra his hali heghte,
Lauerd fra heuen in erthe biheld
righte;
21 Þat be herd sighinge ofe fotefeste
sone,
Þat he lesed sones ofe fordone;
22 Pat þai schewe in Syon lauerds name,
And his lofe in Ierusalem þe same,
23 In comand 3 pe folke in on ai,
And kinges pate lauerd serue Þai.
24 He answerd him in wai ofe his mighte,
Feunesse of mi daies schewe me
righte.
25 Ne again ekalle me in mid of daies
mine,
In strende and strende ofe yhere
þine .
R he. 2 V haec. 3 Ms. Incomand.
4 V anni tui, pl. .
with-al. E For mi daies als reke waned þai And mi bones als kraukan dried pai.
H ai, ... Þai. EH and dried. H For. E sikingnesse; H of sikinge strange. EH
Kliues. E flesse, H fesshe lange. EH I am made E like H als; to om. E wilder-
nesse. EH I am made a(l)s. E houseuesese H housheues esse. E I am made,
H I woke, als sparw and made [am] .i. In a hous that isse oneli. E Als sparow
in b. þat es onli. EH Mi fos (fas) vpbrayden (upbraided) mne al dai.. E om pat;
loued me. EH Þai. H For pat. E aske als ware b. H bred als aske. E &
mi drinke menged I. E For face of wragh of þe mislikand, For þou to-gnod
me vpheuand. H For ... of mislikinge of þe; .. tognod. EH shadw. E ai.
E als dos be h. E laucrd risand. E For comen is pe time H For time comen
is. EH his stones to pin hine qu. (qu. to þi hine). EH & of his [land] merci
haue. E & dr. sal þi name al geng þat isse, H & bi name lauerd dr. sal folc ..
EH om alle. EH For lauerd bigged Syon to bene. Hom his. EH om pe.
E & bede of pam. H bene. EH In oper strend (kinde) be þisse writen alle.
E om folk, EH om þat. H lauerd loue. Hom forth. EH heli. H fra er þe
to heuen. EH segh reght. E om he. EH siking. EH om And. E om folk.
H an. EH om ai. EH þat þai serue (serued) lauerd (om in H) ilkone. H om
him. E Fewnes H Fonenesse. E om me. E middes. H stabeled þou. H om sal.
Q1HOO NI U Paal
mone.
anzoorberkrattar
135.0 kersen
cama
234
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
26 In biginninge, lauerd, þou grounded 6 Doand mercies lauerd' in land,
land,
And dome til alle vnright tholand.
And heue[n]s ere werkes ofe þi hand. 7 Kouthe made he to Moises his waies
27. Þai sal forworth, and pou sal be ai; wele,
And als klepinge elde sal alle bai, His willes til sones of Irael.
28 And als bilinge wende saltou þa, 8 Rewful and mildeherted lauerd gode,
And þai sal be turned swa:
And mildeherted, and langmode.
And pou þi-selfe þat ilke ert al, 9 Noghte wreth he sal in euermore,
And pi yheres noght wane pai sal. Ne in ai sal he threte, par-fore.
29 Sones of pi hine þar-in sal wone, 10 Noght after our sinnes dide he til vs,
And þar sede in werld be righted Ne after our wickenes foryheld vs
pus.
II For after heghnes ofe heuen fra
СП.
; land,
Blisse, mi saule, to laued at isse, Strenghped he his merci ouer him
And alle þate with-in me ere' to hali dredand;
"name hisse.
12 Hou mikle estdel stand westdel fra,
2 Blisse, mi saule, to lauerd ofe alle Fer made he fra vs oure wickenes
thinges,
swa.
And nil forgete alle his foryheldinges; 13 Als rewed es fadre of sones,
3 Þat winsom es? to alle pine wicke Rewed es laụerd, þare he wones,
nesses,
Of þa þat him dredand be;
Pat heles alle þine sekenesses;
Fore our schaft wele knawes he.
4 Þat bies fra steruinge þi life derli, 14 Mined es he wele in thoghte
Þat crounes Þe with rewbes and with Pat duste ere we, and worth noghte:
merci ;
Man, his daies ere als hai,
5 Þat filles in godes þi yherninges al: Als blome ofe felde sal he welyen
Als erne þi yhouthe be newed sal. awai.
i V omnia quae .. sunt. 2 propitiatur. 1 Ms. larued.
.
Hom and. H salt. H And alle als. EH om alle. H om als. H mange.
E sal þou. H manged. EH & pou þat ilke þi-self is al. EH om pai. E pai
inst. of parin. wun. E be rihted in w. mun.
CII.
EH Mi saule to lauerd pou blisse. E pat in me are H þat is wiht me.
EH om to. EH heli. EH om to. E ouer þinges H als kinge. H nil þou.
H om alle. H foryheldinge. EH winsomes. H Þi wickednesses. E al þi.
E Pat fra steruinge Þi lif boght he H pat boht fra steruing pi lif wisli. E Pat
with merci and reuthes corounes þe. E þi yhorning al H y. of þe. E Be
newed als of erne bi zhoupe sal H Newed als e. þi y. sal be. H Lauerd
mercis is doande. Eto. E His waies to M. kouth m. he w. H his w. to M.
EH And his. to. EH Merciful. E Mikil m., H And mikel m. EH and of.
E long. EH Noht in euermare (euer) E wragh sal he H w. he sal. E pretand
sal he be H sal he pr. with-al. E efter. H om he. EH wicnesses yheld to (til)
vs; E om þus. · E fro h. to l. H He stre[n]phed. Heuer. EH fra westdele esse.
E wickednesse; EH om swa. EH Als rewes fader Þe (of) sones als-swa Is
lauerd rewful (Rewþed is 1.) vn-to (to) þa, Þat (Ham) him euer dr. be. E He is
mined þat we er dust of wai, Man his daies als pe hai, Als blome of feld bi
niht & dai Swa sal he welyhe al 0-wai; H He mines pat we are dust man als
hai, His daies als blome of felde swa welyhe sal þai. Hin him phurthfare.
Wag) altboo Eser Pradter
Ralter
Psalm CII-CIII.
235
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
15 For gaste, thurghfare in him it sal,
CIII.
And noghte vndrestand? he sal with-
al;
Blisse, mi saule, lauerd nou!
And knawe namare sal he
Lauerd mi gode, swith mikel ertou.
His stede whare þat ite sal be. 2 Schrifte and fairehed schred pou
16 And lauerdes merci eure dwellande, righte;
And til ai our him dredeande;
Vmlapped als klepinge with lightë.
17 And in sones ofe sones his right- 3 Strekand heuen als fel with blis;
wisenes,
Pat hiles with watres ouerestes? his,
To pas þat yhemes witeworde his, 4 Pat settes pin vpsteghinge kloude,
18 And mined sal pai be? nighte and dai Pate gaas ouer fetheres of wyndes
Of his bodes to do pam ai.
loude;
19 Lauerd in heuen graiþed sete his, 5 Pat makes þine aungels gastes fligh-
And his rike til alle sal lauerd in and,
blis.
And þin hine fire brinnand.
20 Blisses to lauerd with alle your mighte, 6 Pat grounde[d]? land ouer stapelnes
Alle his aungels þate ere brighte,
his --
Mightand ofe thew, doand his worde Noghte helde sal in werld ofe werld
swa,
pis.
To here steuen of his saghs ma. 7 Depnes als schroude his hilinge : alle;
21 Blisses to lauerd, alle mightes his, Ouer billes his 4 watres stande salle.
His hine, þate does þat his wille is. 8 Fra þi snibbinge sal þai fle,
22 Blisses lauerd with wille and thoghte, For steuen ofe pi thoner fered be.
Alle þe'werkes þate he wroghte, 9 Vpsteghes billes, and feldes doungas
In alle stedes ofe his lauerdschipe ma. In stede whilke pou grounded to bas.
Blisse, mi saule, ai lauerd swa. 10 Mere sete pou whilke ouerga þai ne sal,
1 V subsistet. 2 V sunt.
i V superiora. 2 Ms. groundes.
3 V amictus. 4 al. om,
EH om he sal. E And in euer (!) knaw sal he Mare his stede whare it .. H And
noht sal he knaw mare His st. whare þat hit was are. EH merci of lauerd fra
euer. EH & to in ai. E And his rihtwisnes ir sones of sones To pa þat is
witword zemes and mones. H rihtw. his. yheme his witeword isse. E And
mined are of his bodes ai To do pam bi niht and dai, H And his bodes are
minande To do pam in alle lande. E diht. H gr. his sete al. E om rike.
E sal 1. to al in blisse H til alle louerd sal. E Blisses lauerd dai and niht
Al his angels faire [&] briht, Mihtand with phew doand his word, To here of
sayhes of him þe rorde; H Blisses lauerd alle aungeles hisse isse, Mihtand
with þew doande word hisse, Forto here euer the steuen Of his sayhes gode
and euen. H om to. E Al his mihtes lauerd zhe blisse. E.. yhe pat don
willes hisse H .. þat done his wille þat isse. E Blisses laverd al þat is oht,
Werkis of him .., H Vnto lauerd blisse yhe Alle werkes of him þat be.
EH stede of lauerdship isse. EH Mi sale ai lauerd Dou (in to 1.) blisse.
СПІ.
EH Mi s. blisse lauerd ai and nou. E mikled. E kyng inst. of right. E V.
with lith als with kleping, H V. als with shroude with liht. H Spredand
heuenes. E hilest. E ouemast H bouermast. E setted. Hupstiying þine pe
kloude. EH mas. H gastes þine aungeles briht. E bi. Hfir br. liht.
EH grounded. Houer stapel[n]esse pe land. EH In werld of werld E noht held
sal misse H bes noht heldand. EH watres, his om. EH For. þunner.
EH Vpstiyhe sal h. .. ga. EH to pa. H Þou set mere þat forbi-ga .. E til.
a 2008raspraken
alhoo NVPpalte
Caul-3-50mVierse---
236
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
Ne turne to hile þe lande with-al. 22 Lyoun whelpes romiand þat þai reue
II Pat outsendes welles in dales ma;
swa,
Bitwix mid hilles sal watres ga. And seke fra god mete vnto pa':
12 Drinke sal alle bestes of felde wide; 23 Sprungen es sunne, and samened
Wilde asses in þar thriste sal abide. ere bai,
13 Ouer þa wone sal foghles ofe beuen; And in þar dennes bilouked sal be al dai.
Fra mid of stanes gife sal þai steuen. 24 Oute sal man ga vnto his werke,
14 Fra his ouermastes hilles watrand; And til his wirkeinge til euen merke.
Of fruite ofe his werkes filled bes 25 Hou mikeled ere, lauerd, þine werkes;
þe lande;
ma
15 Forthledand hai to meres ma,
Alle in wisedome made pou þa;
And gresse to hinehede of men swa; Ilka land fulfilled es ite
16 Þat pou outelede fra erthe brede, With Þine aghte thurgh þi wite.
And herte of man faines” wyne rede; 26 Þis see mikel and roume til hende :
17 Þat he glade likam in oyele beste, Par wormes ofe whilke es nan ende,
And brede pe herte ofe man sal feste. 27 Bestes smaller with pe mare.
18 Be fullefilled sal trees ofe felde ilkan, Þider schippes sal ouerfare;
And pe cedres of Yban
28 Þis dragoun pat pou made biforn
Whilke he planted with his hand; For to plaie with him in skorn.
Þare sal sparwes be nestland,
Alle, fra þe pai abide
19 Wilde haukes hous [es] leder of þa. Þat pou gife pam mete in tide.
Hilles hegh til hertes ma,
29 Giueand þe to þam, gedre þai sal;
And þe stane bi dai and nighte
Þe oppenand þi hand, with-al
Vntil irchones es toflighte.
Alle sal þai mare and lesse
20 He made pe mone in times lange; Be fulfilled with þi godenesse.
Þe sunne, it knew his setelgange. 30 Þe sothlike turnand þi likam,
21 Þou sete mirkenesses, and made es Pai sal be dreued; þe gaste ofe þam
nighte gode;
Pou salte outbere and wane sal þai,
In ite sal forthfare alle bestes ofe wode: And in þair duste sal turne for ai.
i V servituti. Pr. faine.
i V sibi.
te
H er þe. EH om out. E hilles. E in d. bare H in d. pare. EH fare inst. of ga.
E of vode when am liste H of felde in list. EH Abide sal wild asses in þar þriste.
EH sal wun. H Aiht-foyheles. E om of. EH pai sal giue. E Fra ouemast his
h. springand H Hilles fra his ouemastes springande. E be filt sal H fille sal.
E Fortheledend. E to mares hai H hai to m. þen. H om swa; E ai.
E lede out. EH faine sal. EH oli. E om pe. H & hert of man bred.
EH Be filt (fild). H Whilke pat he sette. E be sparowes nesteland. es om. E to h.
E ston EH þat lies in ling(e). EH Til. ÉH is it infleinge. EH Iņ time
(times) he made pe m. for lange. EH om it. H Þe s. E merknes. H om and.
E om es. H niht is. E purghfare. H forthfare sal. E whelpis. Er. at reue
pa Hr. smale and grete. E m. Þam swa; H Pat þai reue and seke fra god
þar mete. H Pe sunne is sprungen. H om and. E þai are Hare þai
þenne. E And byloked in par dennes are pai þare H & b. are pai in þar
denne. E Outga sal man. Hto. E to, om in H. E derke. E louerd ar.
H Hou m. are pai for to se Pine werkes louerd, pou made to be Alle in
wisdom bi dai and naht, Fulfild is pe erbe with pin aht. E Þe land ouer-al
it is fulfilt With pine aght swa als pou wilt. E roume end. EH wurmes.
E Shipes pare-þurgh (ouer þare) sal fare. E Þi. H tou. EH shope. E Al.
H Openand þe. E Al sal þai sothlic .. Ewendand. Hom sal. E lette.
EH & wane (E wans) þare mayne. E sal pai. EH t. ogayne. Hom and.
AVAD) ansoortreskradler
Psaltet
Psalm CIII-CIV.
237
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
31 Outsend þi gaste and made þai sal 3 Faine mote herte of lauerd sekand.
bene,
Sekes lauerd in ilka land,
And new saltou pe face of erthe And ye be feste; whil þate yhe mai,
bidene.
Sekes pe face of him ai.
32 Be blis of lauerd in werlde pis; 4 Mines ofe his wondres pat [b]e made
And faine sal lauerd in werkes his.
kouth,
33 Þat bihaldes land and to qwake Fortaknes and domes ofe his mouth.
makes ite;
5 Sede ofe Abraham, hine hisse,
Pat neghes 2 billes and þai smoke Sones ofe Iacob, his chosen to blisse,
yhite.
6 He lauerd oure god in euermare;
34 .I. sal singe to lauerd in mi life for-þi, In alle erthe his domes are.
.I. sal salme to mi god hou lange am .i.. 7 He was mined in werld ofe his wite-
35 Winsomes to him be mi speche al; worde hende,
.I. sothlike, in lauerd like sal.
Ofe word þat he sente in thousand
36 Wane sinful fra erthe, and wike þat strende;
isse,
8 Pat he welesete for Abraham sake,
Swa þat þai noght be. mi saule, And ofe his aath vntil Vsaace;
| lauerd blisse!
9 And he set it to Iacob in bode vele,
CIV.
In witeworde ai? to Iraele;
10 Sayand: ».i. sal giue be pe land of
Schriues to lauerd, and his name
Chanaan
ye kalle ;
Stringe ofe þine heritage on-an«;
Bitwix genge schewes his werkes alle.
II When þai ware ofe schorte tale,
2 Singes to him dai and nighte,
Fone and his tilthe grete and smale.
Alle 4 salmes to him; telles righte
12 And þai fore fra genge in genge þare,
Alle wondres of him witerli;
And fra rike til other folke þat ware.
Heryed be his name hali.
1 Ms. be. ? = ece? cf. ayhed v. 22; V in
1 al. om. ? V tangit. 3 Iucundum testamentum aeternum. 3 V paucissimi et
4 r. And.
incolae ejus.
T1
E. be made pai sal H made ben pai nou. E om þe; f. of e. alle H Þe f.
of e. salt pou. E In werld be of l. blisse, H In w. p. blisse of l. be. EH om
And. H Lauerd in his werkes faine sal be. EH erpe. E om and. EH mas.
E in lif min wisli. EH om sal. E Bliþeful be mi speche for-thi, Sothlic in l.
like sal I. H Blipeful. EH Sinful fra erpe (H euer) wane pai (pa), E And
wicked als babe niht and dai H Fra erbe, wicked do als-swa, EH Swa þat
noght (om H) be bai (bai be) bot to (forto) misse, Mi saule vn-to lauerd blisse.
CIV.
EH & kalles name his. H Shewes bit. g. EH werkis his is (om H).
EH Singes to him and salmes him to, Telles al his wundres mo (to), Heryhed be
yhe witterly (mare and lesse), In his name pat es heli (In his heli n. that esse).
E Faine mot hert of þe sekand, Lauerd þat wones in ilk a land, H Faine hert in
ilka land Of þat are lauerd sekand; EH Sekes lauerd and fest be yhe (ben), Seke
(Sekes) his face (name) ai to ſforto) se. H of him. EH whilc. H His fortoknes.
E hine his ai. E his ch. are pai H Lauerd our god in ai is he, And in al
er þe his d. be. E Mined of his witword in world was he H He mined of his
w. in w. to wende. EH om pat. E str. to be. H om wele. E aght H agh.
E om it. EH And in. E to ai in H in ai to. EH Kanaan land EH Streng.
H om þine. E erit. þi hand H in þi hand. EH When of short tale (Of sh. t.
whenne) pai ware, E To fone and his erers thare H Few and of his comeling
þare. EH And fra geng (folke) in genge (folke) fore þa (ferd pai), E Fra rike
to oper geng als-swa H And fra r. in folke oper ai. H om he. H to dere
atsoo te Rraller
alhoo Nuloa
a 13.50 Vers
-
pa,
238
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
13 Noght lete he man dere to pa;
And do swikedom in his hine is?.
And kinges for þam threte he, swa: 24 He sent Moises, his bine was, so,
14 »Nil yhe negh min cristes nou,
Aaron wham he chese him to.
And in mine prophetes nil lithre pou«. 25 He set wordes of taknes in þam,
15 And he called hungre ouer land And of fortaknes in land ofe Cham.
brode
26 He sent merkenesses, and dimmed þa,
And alle festnes ofe bred forgnode. And noghte gremed his saghes swa”.
16 He sent bifore þam bierne to be; 27 He turned pair watres in to blode,
In hine salde Ioseph es he.
And sloghe þair fisches þate ware
17 Pai meked of him fete pare
gode.
In fotefest[i]es', harde þat ware; 28 He forthbroghte froskes, pe land ofe
Irne thurghyhode his saule ful grim:
Til þat worde come of him.
In thirles 3 of þar kinges ma.
18 Speche ofe lauerd þat was ofe mighte 29 He saide, and hundfleghº come to
Inloghed him bi dai and nighte:
falle,
Þe kinge sent, and lesed ilka lim; And gnattes in þar endes alle.
Prince of folke, and forgafe him. 30 He set par raines haile ful schire,
19 Lauerd ofe his hous him he made, In land of bam brennand fire.
And prince ofe alle Þe aghte he hade; 31 And smate þar vinyhes and figetres
20 Pate he lered his princes als him-
in-twa,
selfe regate,
And forgnode tres ofe endes ofe þa.
And his aldemen teched sleghte. 32 He saide, and gressop sone come
21 And inyhode Irael in Egipte hand; þarė,
And Iacob tiler was in Cham land. And brese of whilke na tale ne ware;
22 And he ayhed? his folke swith mikel 33 And he ete in land of pas alle þe
on-an,
hai,
And he feste him ouer his faan.
And it ete al pe fruyte of þar land
23 He turned þair herte, þate pai suld
awai.
hate folke his,
i V in servos ejus. 2 V et non exacerbavit
sermones suos. 3 in penetralibus. 4 Ms.
1 Ms. fotefestnes. 2 V auxit.
handflegh. sr. it.
þa E d. Þam amange. Hom And; .. ma, E And he pret for þam kynges
strange. H Þou; criste. E Ne wiles negh mi cristis be. EH mi. E liber nil
yhe H noht l. wil bou. EH erpe. E He send a berne by-for pa. H Iosep
in hine salde. E is I. swa. E Pai meked babe niht and day In fote-festeles
his fete ai. H fete of him þat ware. festles. E þurhtfor H þurthferd.
EH Vnto. E Speche of lauerd at he end Inloyhed him pe kyng send, And he
him lesid ilkalim, H Speche of 1. inloyhed him, Þe king send and lesed him.
H Þe prince .. E and he lete him. E he him. H als h. ware. E & þat he
taht his elde sleght H & his elde sleght tath pare. E outlend, H was tiler.
E Cam. H swipe mikel his folc. Eonon. E fon. E pat is folc hate suld pa;
H To hate his folke turned he hert of pa. H To do. E sw. do. E swa
H als-swa. E He send his bine pat es Moyses, Aaron him whilc þat he ches;
H He send M. hine hisse, A. whilke he ches to blisse. EH Wordes of (his H)
tokenes he set to (in) þam (E þat). EH He merkenes send (s. merkenesses) and
cestred þa. H gr. he þar EH sayhes. E watres of pam in b. EH in l.
E of þam. E of kynges of ham. E boundflegh. E paire endis. E hail swa,
Fire brenand in land of þa. H In þar 1. þe. H And he. E smot. H win-
yherdes. E om and; þar figetres pare. EH tognod tre. E of þar e. þare.
EH grishop (gressop) com onon. H breses. EH na (E to) tale was on. EH it.
in þair 1. al þar (be). Hom þe; E þar. E erbe. E firstgeten H firstgoten.
K
a Wapen hoe te Pralla
Pralter
Psalm CIV-CV.
239
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
34 And he smate al firstkinned in land
CV.
ofe þa,
Sproutes? of þar swinke als-swa. Schriues to lauerd, for gode he is,
35 And he led am with siluer and golde, For in werld es merci his.
And was nane in þar kinne seke on 2 Wha sal speke of lauerd mightinges,
molde.
Herd sal make alle his louynges ?
36 Fained es Egipte in forthcome ofe 3 Seli pat yhemes dome pat es,
am,
And in alle time does rightwisenes.
For inlai drede of þa ouer þam. 4 Mine of vs, lauerd, in welqueme ofe
37 He spred kloude in þar forbilinge folke þine;
brighte,
Seke vs in þi hele, god mine :
And fire to schine to pas bi nighte. 5 In godenes of þi chosen to se,
38 Þai asked, and come Þe edissehenne”, To faine in faines of þi genge þat be;
And with brede of heuen he filled Pat þou be loued nighte and dai
am penne.
With pine heritage in ai.
39 He brake þe stane, and watres out 6 We sinned with our fadres mide;
sprange,
Vnrighte we dide, wicnes we dide.
Yhoden stremes in drie ful strange. 7 Our fadres in Egipte noght vnder-
40 For he mined of his worde hali and
stode
milde
Þine wondres þat ere swa gode;
Þat he had to Abraham, his childe. Þai ware noght mined for-pi
41 And he led his folke in gladnesse, Ofe mikelhed of þi merci.
And his chosen alle in fainenesse; 8 And þai taried vpsteghand in se,
42 And gaf þam rikes of genge þare, Rede se. and þam sauued he
And swinkes of folke aghte pai mare: For his name, swa hali isse,
43 Pat þai yheme his rightwisenesses ai, Pat kouth sulde þai make mighte hisse.
And lagh of him seke nighte and 9 Ande he snibbed Þe rede se,
dai.
And drie es it made to be;
1 V primitias. 2 coturnix.
E in þaire land. E First groyhen H Al firstgroyhen. E of al s. of þar land.
EH pam. E non. EH kinde. EH of m. E in þar cominge swa. H inyhede
radnes. E of þam ouer þa (ms. ga). E He shewed in þar forth-com coulde (r.
cloude) br. H riht. EH to liht to pam. H om be. H edishehenne. H om
with. E om brede. Hom he. E fed. H pam. V 39 om in E. H water.
H And stremes yhoden in drie amang. E heli worde. E And led. H outled.
H corne in to f. E als in. EH And rikes of folc (genge) he gaue þam þ.
E swinc. E agh H aht. H rihtwisnesse, ai om.; E rihtwissnesse his. E &
seke þe lagh of him þat isse, H & seke his lagh þe mare and lesse.
CV.
E goude. E his merci isse. E Who. E om of. E Herd make al of him l.
EH Seli whilc þat (om H) Zhemen dome ai (dome yh.) wide, And done rith-
wisnes (Pat 1. done) in al tide. E Lauerd in queme of þi folc min of vs, In
þi hele þou seke vs pus. H Seke us hele penne pou art ine. E To se of þi
chosen in godenesse, To faine of þi genge in fainenesse, Pat pou .. H For
to se ai in godnesse Of þi chosen mare and lesse, In fainnes of pine genge nou,
In þin eritage looued be bou. E with o. f. þat be, H Oure fadres we sinned
mide. H Vnrihtli .. wicli. E did we .. did we. EH om in Egipt. E so.
H minande. E In H Þe. H upstiyhand E up[s]teyhand. E om seg. H beryhed.
E isse ful of blisse Hswa gode þat isse. EH make (E made) sulde pai (he).
E m. misse. H dried. E And he snibbid pe rede se, dried it isse, And he led
Ex500&t. Pralton
al M00 Nubuh
a35e Verse
240
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
And he led am in depnesse
20 And þair blisse turned pai
Als it ware in wildernesse.
In liknes ofe a kalfe etand hai.
10 And he sauued am ofe hand ofe 21 Pai forgate god þam sauued hade,
hatand,
Þat mikelnesses in Egipte made,
And boghte am ofe hand ofe ille Wondres in land of Chám to be,
willande.
Aghfulnesses in pe rede se.
I1 And he biled with watre pam dro- 22 And he saide, forlange biforn,
uand;
Pat he suld am haue forlorn ;
Ane ofe þam noghte left in land. If noght Moises his chosen righte
12 And in his wordes leued! Þai,
Had standen in breking in his sighte,
And looued his lofe nighte and dai. 23 Pat he suld turne his wrath am
13 Tite dide pai”, his werkes forgate;
fra,
Þai held noghte vp3 his rede with Pat tospilte he had noghte þa.
þate.
And for noghte pai had þe land
14 And þai yherned yherninge in wil Þat yhernandlike was in þar hand;
dernes,
24 Noght leued þai to his worde oghte,
And þai fanded god in drines.
And morkedenel with pair thoghte
1.5 And he gafe to þam þair askinge, In þar teldes þare pai lai;
And to pair saules he sent fillinge. Steuen of lauerd noghte herd pai.
16 And in castelles Moises taried pa, 25 And he houe his hand ouer mare
Aaron, ofe lauerd halgh, als-swa.
and lesse
17 Þe erthe es opened and swelyhed For to felle þam in wildernesse,
Datan on-on,
26 And ate? he toworp in birthes sede
And biled ouer sameninge ofe Abiron; S ofe þa
18 And brinte in þar sinagoge fire ful And forspilt þam in rikes swa.
brighte,
27 And bigunen es Belphegor pe quede 3,
Þe lowe it swath sinful dounrighte. And pai ete offrand ofe pe dede.
19 And a kalfe in Oreb maked pai, 28 And þai gremed him in þair findinges :
And baden þe graue nighte and dai, And felefaldede in þam ere fallinges*.
1 Ms. noghte 1. ? R þai had done.
i V murmuraverunt. 2 overl. 3 V Et
3 V sustinuerunt.
initiati sunt(!) Beelphegor. 4 ruina.
am in depnes als in wildirnesse. E And fro band of hatand sauued he pa, And
he boght þam of hand of fa. H s. Þam fra. H & ouerhiled water. E helid.
H of pa. E Noht of pam left on liuand. E And pai leued wordes his ware.
H 1. þai ma. E And þai loued his loue pare H And his heryhing herybed þa.
EH Sone. E om dide pai; H Þai dide. E pai f. EH yhorned. E yhorninges.
H & god pai fonded. E And he send in þar s. f. E godes Hlauerdes.
E And þe. EH om es. E swoloyhed H swolyhed. E om onon. E Abyran.
E & in þaire s. brend fire pare, De logh swabe sinful pat ware. H And þe
logh swoth. E of O. E And bai bade pe deueles vigour ai H And deueles
uigours þai bad aldai. E manged. H Þai ai. H Vnto a kalf ware etande hai.
E And Þai. H sauued þam. EH in Cam land. E Aghnesses H Vggliis. -
EH pam. E Ne had .. Standen. H corn. EH And (Pat) he turned his wrath
þat ne tint (& noht forles) þa, And for noht þai had þe land zhornanlic sa.
E Pai trowed noht his worde þare And bai groched les and mare In þaire
teldes and noht herd bai Steuen of l. niht no dai; H Pai leued noht is word
and murkeden un-euen In þar teldes and herd noht lauerdes steuen. E ouer
þam his hand þat esse. EH Pat he feld þam .. H And outwurpe; E And
in byries he outkast of pa. E ma. E & Offred B., H & b. are .. quedes.
EH offrandes. H dedes. E in his f. EH is in þam. E sqwattinge H swacching.
241
Psaltea
Psalm CV.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
29 And Finees stode and quemed wele: 37 And wrath es lauerd with his folke
And pe scatthingel lefte ilkadele;
in wrathi,
30 And it es wened to him in right- And his beritage he has in wlath.
wisenes,
38 And he gafe pam in hend ofe genge
28 And
: In strend and strend til in ai pat es.
ma;
31 And gremed þai him in scorninge And lauerdes ere of þas, þat hated
At watres ofe againesainge;
þa.
And swonken es Moises for þa; 39 And þai droued pam swithe sare
For þai gremed gaste ofe him swa, Pat þar iuel frendes' ware;
32 And he twifalded” in his lippes. And meked vnder þair bend pai are.
Noght spilt pai
Ful ofte he lesed am of kare,
Genge whilke saide lauerd til am ai; 40 [Bot]? in þair rede Þai gremed him ai;
33 And menged bitwix genge pai are, And in þar wickednesses meked ere
And pai lered þar werkes þare;
pai.
And þai serued fals vigours ofc bam, 41 And he sagh when droued pai ware,
And in sclaunder es it made til am: And þar bede herd he þare.
34 And þai offred[þar] sones and doghtres 42 And he mined ofe witeworde, him
rewed for-bi
Vnto deuels þate ere fals,
After mikelhed ofe his merci ;
35 And pai spilt blode vnderand swa, 43 And in mercies gafe he þam,
Blode ofe par sones and doghters ma, In sighte of alle þat þam nam.
Whilke pai offred blode and bane 44 Saufe make vs, lauerd our gode, pus,
To fals vigours of Chanaane.
And fra birthes samen vs;
36 And dropenº espe land in blodes swa; 45 Pat we be schriuen to þi name hali,
And smitted in werkes ofe þa;
And glade in þi loofe witerli.
And þai streneden mare and minne 46 Blissed lauerd, god ofe Irael,
In þar findinges al with sinne.
Fra werld and vnto werld wel;
1 quassatio. 2 distinxit. 3 V infecta,
R V inimici. 2 Ms. For.
interfecta.
als
EH wend. E Fra st. in st. E om til. H til in aines. E pai gremed H pai
taried. E om him. H water. E of þa. H & for pam swanke M. ilka lim.
H om pai. E his gast swa H Þe g. of him, swa om. EH And he twifolded in
his lippes two (twa), Noht tint (forles) pai genge pat (whilc) lauerd said to pa.
EH & þaire werkis l. Þai Þ. EH & þaire fals vigoure (uigours) serued pai, And
it is made (om H) to pam in sclaundre (shame) ai. E om pai; E par s. Þar d. a.
H & pai o. par sones swa And par doghtres to deueles ma. E of vnderand.
E om swa; H þare. E d. in land; H And þar sones and þar dothtres ware.
H had offred, EH euerilkane. E & d. is pe l. blode inne, And bismitted is hit
with sinne, In werkis of pam niht and dai, And (in) paire findinges strened pai;
H And slain is pe land to dede In blodes that ware swa rede, And bismitted in
par werkes it is, And þai strened in par findinges mis. E & lauerd is wragh in f.,
E with wragh H with bragh. Hom he. EH in lagh. E om of. E pare inst.
of ma. H lauerd are of pam. E And þat hated lauerd ouer þam are. E And
þen (ms. Þou) drouped pam þar fa And al meked are pai swa Vnder hend of pam
to ga, Ful oft (he] lesed pam of wa; H And þen droued pam in land Pa pat
war þar ilwilland, And meked under þar hende are pai, Oft lesed he þam niht
and dai. EH For. EH And in (om E) þar wicnesses. EH þai droued w. H he h.
par bede. H om And. EH of is w. EH & in his m. E al pa pat. E Lauerd oure
god vs sauf sauf (!) þou. H nou inst. of þus. E And samen vs fra birpehes nou
H & fra b. vs s. bou. EH Pat in þi heli name (In pi b. n. pat) we be shriuen,
An[d] glade in þi loue in whilc (whil, in om) we liuen. E vn-to in w. in wel.
II.
16
a 1500€. E. Pralter
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-
-
a1350 Verse
242
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
And alle folke with hert sal saie
Bunden in iren and wrecchednes,
Swa be, swa be, nighte and daie. 11 For speches ofe god gremed Þai
And taried rede ofe heghist ai,
CVІ.
12 And meked in swinkes es hert ofe
»Schriues to lauerd, for gode he is, Þam,
For in werld' es merci his«,
Þai ere seke, and nane was pate
2 Saie pai with gode wille and thoghte helped am:
Whilke pat ofe lauerd ere boght, 13 And pai cried to lauerd when dro-
Wham he boght of hand of faa,
ued ware þa,
Fra rikes samened he pa,
And ofe þar nedinges he lesed þam
3 Fra sun-springe to setelgange,
swa;
Fra north, fra þe see swa lange. 14 And he outled am fra schadow ofe
4 Þai dweled in annes, in drihede; wai dede and mirkenes,
Ofe cite ofe woningstede noght fand And brake þar bandes mare and
pai;
lesse.
5 Hungrand and thristand als-swa, - 15 To lauerd mercies ofe him be schri-
Þe saule ofe þam waned in þa:
uen,
6 And pai cried to god when droued And his wondres to mensones pat
pai ware,
liuen:
And of þar nedinges he outnam Þam 16 For he forgnod yhates brased ware,
þare;
And slottes irened brake he pare.
7 And he led pam in right wai, 17 [He toke þam fra wai of þar wicnesse, H
In cite ofe woningstede þat ga suld þai. For þai are meked for þar unriht-
8 To lauerd his mercies be schriuen, wisnesse].
And his wondres to mensones pat 18 Alle mete es wlated par saule suld
liuen:
fedel,
9 For vnnaite saule he filled with fode, And negh þe yhates of dede pai
And hungrand saule be filled with
yhede:
gode.
19 And pai cried to lauerd when droued
10 Sittand in schadow ofe dede and ware pai,
mirkenes,
And fra þar nedinges he lesed am ai;
i V in seculum.
i V Omnem escam abominata est anima
eorum.
(
E .. þerto sai pai H þat isse pai sai. Hom bei. E mot it ai.
CVI.
E of inst. of es. E Sain þat are boht of lauerd whilc he boht fra Hand of fa,
fra rikes samened he pa. H Pa whilke. Whilke. E in drines ai, Wai of .. non.
H Pai dweled alle in onnesse, In unwattri, in drinesse, Wai of cite niht and dai
Of wonin[g]stede nan fand pai. E Hongrand. E om Pe. EH lauerd. H ware pai.
E outoke H lesed. H am ai. EH His mercies to lauerd. EH For be fild empti
(tome) s. EH and in m. EH with. EH Speche of l. for. E pa. EH & rede of
heghest pai taried swa (ai). EH For. E es þar bert H is þar h. in swinkes onan.
EH And pai. EH om and. E nis þat helpis in quert H wha helped ne was
nan. EH war pai. E fro. EH am ai. EH & fro merkenes and shadw of ded
led (om E) he pa And þar bandes he brak in-twa. EH His mercis to 1.
E For he gnod brasan uhates swa H For brasan yh. to gnod he. EH And
iren bandes (slottes) brak he ma (he brak in þre). E He nam þam fra þaire wicked-
nesse. E fra. E Þar saule is wlated als (r. al) mete gode H Al m. wlated is
saule of þa. E om negh. zhode; H And to yh. of. d. neghed þai swa. E om þai.
vooboole. Poallere
Pralter
swa.
Psalm CVI.
243
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
20 He sent his worde, and heled pam, And he led pam in hauen of wille).
And fra þar steruinges be þam nam. 31 To lauerd his mercies be schriuen,
21 To lauerd his mercies be schriuen, And his wondres to mensones þat
And his wondres to mensones þat liuen;
liuen ;
32 And in kirke of folke him vpheue þa,
22 And offre pai offrand ofe loofe þat is, And in setel ofe elde' pai him loofe
And in gladeschip schewen werkes his.
23 Pat in schippes in' see ere dounga- 33 Strenes in wildernes sete he,
ande,
And outgange ofe watres in thriste
In fele watres wirkinge makande,
to be;
24 Þai sagh werkes ofe lauerd þare, 34 In saltmersche land fruitberande,
And wondres of him in depe pate are. Fra iuel ofe in it wonande.
25 He saide, and stode of storme pe gaste, 35 He set in weres? ofe watres wildernes,
And vphouen ere stremes maste. And in outgange ofe watres land
26 Pai vpstiyhen vntil heuen,
watreles.
And pai dounga to depnesses euen; 36 And þare bilouked he hungrand ware,
De saule ofe þam lesse and mare And cite ofe woningstede sete he þare;
In iuels sculked? ite pare.
37 And þai set wineyherdes, and feldes
27 Þai ere dreued and ere stired als þai sewe,
dronken mis,
And þai made fruite ofe birthe newe.
And al þe wisedome ofe þam swe- 38 And he blissed am, and felefalded
liyhed is:
pai be;
28 And þai cried to god when droued And þare meres noghte lessed he.
ware þai,
39 And pai ere fone made, and swon-
· And ofe þar nedinges he outeled ken ere pa,
am ai;
For drouinge of iuels, and sorw and wa.
29 And he sete in winde 3 his stormes 40 Yhotten es a fitinge* oure princes a
stithe,
dai,
And his stremes leften lithe *.
And made to dwele in Wigelinge,
H 30 (And þai fainned pat þai ware stille ; and noghte in wai.
I al. Þe. 2 V tabescebat. 3 in auram; IV seniorum. 2 stagna. 3 constituerunt.
R in soft wind. siluerunt.
4 V contemptio, R contentio. 5 V et errare
fecit eos in invio.
H pai.ware. EH of. H am þare. E om þar. H outnam. E Mercies of him to l...
H Shriuen be lauerd inercies hisse And his w. to m. with blisse. EH & pai
offre o. of l. esse (al dail. E And shew his werkis in gladnesse H & his w. in
gladship shewen þai. H Þe se E pe se in shippes. E dounstiyhand. H mani.
H doand. E Werkes of l. al pai segh And in depnes his wondres slegh.
H & his w. in depe þat ware. EH and blast of storme (it H) stode. EH his
stremes wode. E Pai stiyhe to heuen, þai ga to depenes, Þaire saule sculked in
euelnes; H Þai upstiyhe til heuenes and to depe doun ga, In iueles sculked þe
saule of pa. H om ere. EH droued. H als drunken and stired misse. E om
ere. EH & al þar w. swolohed (swolyhed: is. EH lauerd. EH led, oute om. pam.
E inset in. EH storme. EH wexen. E are faine. E & in hauen he led þam
of þar w. E Mercies of him to l., H His m. to l. E pai; H & þai upheue
him in kirke of f. ma. EH pai loue him, E ai. He set stremes in wilder-
nesse. H .. þat esse. E euelnesse H iuelnes. E He set dam of w. w., H In
weres of w. he set w. Herbe. V 36 om in E. H & þare he louked
þat .. H Þam. E felfolded H Swipe mikel & þar ares n. 1. he. EH &
fone made ar þai (are pai m.). E om and. E pai are. H for sorch. E s.
sare. E A flit is yhotten. H Aitte. E ouer par p. Þai To dwelle in. H And
wolyhea, mi
him in kirke Merciement Et
16*
o 1500
E
Pratter
-
1
1
a1400 NVPpalta
a13.50 Viersen
2:44
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
41 And he helped poure fra wrecched 9 Iuda mi kinge es ofe blis,
hede,
. Moab ketel of mi hope is; .
And he set als schepe hinehede. 10 In Ydume sal .i. þinne mi scho;
42 Rightwis sal se, and glade with-al; Outen, frendes ere made me to«.
And al wicnes his mouth stoppe sal. 11 Wha sal lede me in warned cite ?
43 Wha wys and sal yheme þese in land? In Ydume wha sal lede me?
And mercies ofe lauerd sal vnder- 12 Noghte-ne pou, god, outdrafe vs swa?
stand ?
And in oure mightes, god, noght
saltou outga?
CVII.'
13 Gif til vs helpe .of drouinge ;
Graiphed mi hert, god, graiphed And' hele ofe men ful vnnait thinge.
mi herte is;
14 In god might make sal we, .
.I. sal singe and salme in mi blis. And to noght our faas lede sal he.
2 Ris, sautre and harp for-Þi;
In pe grikinge rise sal .i..
CVIII.
3 Schriue to þe, lauerd, in folke i sal, God, mi loof ne lete pou’!
In birthes singe to be with-al;
For þat mouth of sinful nou
4. For mikel ouer heuens Þi merci es, And mouth of swikel, þat does mis,
And to be kloudes þi sothnes.
Ouer me open it is.
5 Vpheue ouer heuens, god, and ouer 2 Pai spake againe me with tunge
al land ai
swikel,
Be þi blisse; þat þi loued lesed be And with wordes ofe hatred mikel
Þai,
Vmgafe pai me witerli,
6 Saufe make pi right hand, and here And ouerwonnen me selwilli 3.
me.
3 Als * þai me loued, me bakbate pai;
God in his halegh spake he:
And .i. sothlike badde night and dai.
7 ».I. sal glade, and drihed” twinne .i. sal, 4 And þai set againes me for godes wa,
And dene of teldes mete with-al. And hatereden for mi louerede swa.
8 Mine es Galaad, Manasse mine leued; 5 Set ouer him sinful in land;
And Effraim fanger ofe mine heued. Pe deule on his righthalues stand.
. Cf. Ps. 56, 10–14; 59, 5–13. 2 V Siccimam. 1 al. For. 2 V ne tacueris. 3 gratis.;
R of selfe will. 4 V Pro eo ut.
made am to. E And pouer and helples helped he And set his hinehed als shep
to be. EH Se sal rihtwise & faine w. E Wha w. and is þis Zhemand.
H and yhemes. EH sal he.
CVІ.
H Graiphe E Diht. EH lauerd. H d. is ini bert. H & s. in quert. E Rise
mi blisse rise sautre f., And herp in grikin r. s. I H Aris s. ris h. f. EH To
be in folc lauerd (1. in folke) shr. I sal. E And in birpe salme .. E isse. EH om
þe. EH om Be. E și corn. E Hale. E riht half. EH spoken has. E twin
with-al; H & dele dr. .i. sal. EH dale. E mete I sal. H keper. EH mi. EH I.
kynge is of mi b. E pot. E Ydum. H are frendes. E me lede. EH Vntil Y.
E Whare noht þou, H Whare pou, noht om. E lauerd. E outdroue H output.
E om our. E to. EH For. man. E oure fas to n.
CVIII.
For-nou om in E. E of sinful, E for to se H ouer me, EH Opened it is
(is hit) E ouer me H forto be. H With swikel tunge again me spake bai. H sayhes.
EH hateredene, Hai. H alle for-thi. E self wisly. EH om And. bade.
E again H gain. E louer[e]den. H again. E And þe d. EH om his.
.
.
71
V ) toe Beatles
- Pratter
Psalm CVIII.
245
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
: 6 When he es demed, fordone outga And stungen with herte, to quelle
he;
in land.
And his bede in sinne it be. 16 And he loued malloc dai and nighte:
7 Fone be he daies ofe him,
And come sal it on him to lighte;
And his bischeoprike þate other nim. And blissinge wald he noght swa,
H 8 [His sones be faderlesse par lif, And ferred sal it be him fra.
And a widw be his wife].
17 And malloc he cled als wede –
9 Drecchand' his sones be outborne And als watre it inyhede
awai,
In his inwardes al at anes,
And thigge mote Þai night and dai, And als oyle in his banes.
Outekaste be pai for euermare 18 Be [it] to him als schroude with whilke
Fra þar woningstedes þat ware.
hiled he is,
10 Ransake mote gaueler his aghte; And als girdel þat ai gird es mis.
And outen reue him swinke and 19 Pis mote be Þe werke of þa
maghte.
Þate bacbite me ate lauerd swa,
II Nane be him helper þat him knew; And þat spekes iuels ma
Ne be, þat his stepchilder rew.
Again mi saule to do it wa.
H 12 [Þe sones of him in were ? be ai; 20 And þou, lauerd, do with me for-þi
In o strende his name be don awai]. For þi name, for soft es Þi merci.
13 In minde turne þe wickednesse 21 Lese me, for poure and nedful
Of his fadres mare and lesse
am .i.,
In sight of lauerd; and sinne na And mi herte es dreued with-inne
dai
me, sothli.
Ofe his moder be done awai.
22 Als schadw when heldes, fornomen ,
14 Again louerd ai be þai swa,
.i. am,
And forworth fra land þe minde ofe And forschaken? als gressop, with
þa:
gram.
For pat noght es he witerli
23 Mi knees vnfeste for fast ere þa;
Mined forto do merci;
And mi flesche es manged, for oyle
15 And filiyhed helples and thiggand,
swa.
i V Nutantes. 2 in interitum.
i V ablatus. ? excussus.
EH om es; demde. E forspilt. H in s. made be. EH be made daies.
E wedu. E Drecchand ouer born be is sones and bigge ai, Outkast fra þar
woningstedes ai be bai. H Dr. be pa o. a., And þiggande pai n. & d. Hom
for. EH al his. Er. his sw. H & reue mote fremde his s. E .. þat liuand
esse; .. rew st. hisse. E And in a. H againturne w. E and pe sinne
H & sinne yhit, E Of his moder neuer blinne H Of his m. fordon noht be hit.
H Ai be pai againe 1. s. EH erbe. E For þat þat he mined noht To do
merci in hert ne poht. H he is noht. H And he. EH man helples. · H to
sla. H &'malloc loued he niht and dai; E .. in to gan. E An com to him
it sal o-nan H And hit sal com unto him ai. H als-swa, E haue noht wald he.
E fra him sal it be. E inrest. EH ones. EH oli. E bones. EH om it. H hiled
with (whilk om). E is he. E om als. E with whilc he ai gird sal be H he
girde is ai with misse. E Pis werke of þam be to se Pat at lauerd bacbite me,
& þat speken i. als-swa, A. saule mine to sla; H Pis werke of þam at lauerd
pat bacbite me, Pat speken iueles again mi saule to be. E & bou l. for pi
name do to me, For soft is be mildhert[n]es of þe. EH nedful & pouer. EH in
me, E for-Þi H dreri. E kusten inst. of fornomen. E forsaken. E grishop
H gresshop; E þat is am H am i lame. EH M. k. for fast (fasting) E vnfest es
shent H are manged shent, And for oli my fleshe is went. E to EH þam.
'
11111
.
..
& 1300
. Pratt
Q1H00 NV Paalia
0-1350 Verso
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
24 And .i. am made vpbraidinge til am ai; To be lauerd' thurgh pe land
Þai sagh me, and þaire heuedes In middes ofe þine illewilland.
stired pai.
4 »With þe, biginninge in dai of þi
25 Helpe me, lauerd mi god, and me. mighte,
Make saufe, for be merci ofe þe. In schineinges of haliyhes brighte;
26 And wit þai pate þi hand þis yhite, Ofe wambe, in þis werld to be,
And þou, lauerd, maked ite.
Bifore daistern gate .i. þe«.
27 Þai sal werye him,' and blis saltou. 5 Lauerd sware, and noghtewith-al,
Pas þate in me rises nou,
And forthinke it noght him sal :
Schente mote pai be, nighte and dai; »Pou ert preste, ofe for to recke 3,
Pi hine sothlike faine sal ai.
After ordre of Melchisedeke«.
28 Kled mote pai be als, þe same 6 Lauerd fra þi righthalues breke
Þate bacbite me, ai with schame, Sal' kinges in dai of his wreke.
And hiled be þai mare and lesse 7 Deme in birthes he sal to se,
Als twifold kloth ? with paire schend Fulfille fallinges als sal he,
nesse.
Sqwat sal he heuedes, blode and bane,
· 29 To lauerd in mi mouth sal i. schriue, In þe land ofe maniane.
And in mid of fele loofe him mi liue: 8 He dranke ofe wel in þe wai;
30 Dat on righthalues of poure es stan- For-þi he heued his heued vp ai.
dand,
Þat he saufe make mi saule fra fili-
CX.
yhand.
In al mi hert, lauerd, to be schriue
i. sal,
CIX.
In rede of rightwise, and sameninge
Lauerd saide to mi lauerd ofe might:
»Site opon mi halues righte,
2 Grete werkes of lauerd ere wroghte,
2 Whils .i. sal set pe faas ofe þe
In alle his willes ere þai soghte.
Schamel ofe þi fete to be«.
3 Werke ofe him schrifte and mikel-
3 Yherde of þi mighte on-on
nesse;
Send sal lauerd fra Syon,
And in werld es his rightwisenesse.
i V illi, nom. pl. ? sicut diploide.
i V Dominare. 2 al. a nothe. 3 V Tu
es sac. in aeternum. 4 V confregit.
al.
EH segh. E om me. H om pair. EH heued. EH Sauf make. EH om pe.
E Pai sal wery him & pou sal blisse pat rise in me, Þi bine sotblic faine sal
he. H .. & pou blisse sal Pat in me inrise wiht-al, Sh. be þa be n. & d. ..
E Þat bacbite me kled be pai Wiht shame babe bi niht & dai; H Þai be kled
in werld þe same, Þat .., ai om. E ouerhiled. EH twifald. E mantel
H klagh. E To 1. swipe mikel in ... E om of. H on pouer rihthalues.
H To sauf make.
CIX.
H apon. EH Whil. E foos. E om to. E For to lauerd þurgh-out. E In-
mid of pi. E of dai. E With brihtnesse of h. liht. E Of wombe ful witerli,
.. pe gat I. EH swor a nothe. E in ai to reke. H After hode. E sal breke,
Kinges in his dais sal wreke. H in his dai of w. E Dome in b. so sal he.
E .. for to be. E Swatche H Squatche. H heues. E bone. one. E of
bournand. E For þat heued he heued vp ai. H om he; heuen.
CX.
E om lauerd; shr. sal I pe to. E so. E are ai; .. soth are pai. E Shrift
a hooga. Pealter
Pralter
is,
Psalm CX-CXII.
: 247
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
4 Minde he made ofe wondres his; 4 Sprungen in mirkenes to righte lighte
Milde-herted and rewfulle lauerd is.
Mete he gafe in ilka lande
Mildeherte and rewfulle and rightwis.
To þas þate ere him dredande. 5 Blithefulle man he es for-bi
5 Mined of his witeworde in werld sal He þat lenes and has merci,
he be;
Wele-settes his saghes in domes al;
Mighte of his werkes to his folke For in ai noghte be stired he sal.
schew sal he,
6 In euer minde rightwis sal be?;
6 Pate heritage of genge gife he to þa. Of iuel heringe noght drede sal he.
His hendwerkes sothnes, dome als- 7 Graipe es his herte, nighte and dai,
To hope in lauerd; fest es ai
7 Trew al his bodes, in werlde ofe His hert; noght stired sal he be,
: werlde feste ai;
His faas til he forsee?.
Made in sothnes and in euennes ere 8 He tospred, gafe to poure pate had
swa.
Þai.
nede.
8 Biynge to his folke lauerd sent he;
He bade his witeworde in (ai) schulde
be.
9 Hali and aghfulle es name his.
Biginninge of wisedome lauerd drede
is;
10 To alle him doand, gode vnderstan-
dinge.
In werld ofe werld es his loueinge.
Þe rightwisenesse ofe him, to mede,
Wones in weride ofe werld þer-
forn;
In blis vphouen sal be his horn.
9 Sinful sal se, and wrath he sal,
And gnaiste his tethe he sal with-al,
And sal sculke to be awai;
Yhorninge ofe sinfulle forworth sal ai.
CXI.
Seli man þat dredes lauerd of blis,
Swith mikel he wille in bodes his.
2 Mightand in erthe his sede bes alle;
Strende ofe rightwise blissed be salle.
3 Blisse in his hous, and ricchesse,
And in werlde ofe werlde his right-
wisnes.
CXII.
Herihes lauerd, þat childer be;
Name ofe lauerd herihe ye.
2 Name ofe lauerd ai be in blisse
Fra hepen forth into werld þat isse.
3 Fra sunne springe to setelgange
Herihandlike name ofe lauerdamange.
4 Hegh ouer alle genge lauerd isse,
And ouer heuens es his blisse.
i V In memoria aeterna erit justus. ? V
despiciat. 3 V laudabile.
m. of w. h. E po H Þa. E hand-werkis. E sheued he. E Pat giue erit.
of g. to po. E handwerke. deme als-so. E Trew are al his bodes ai, Fest in
werld of werld ar pai, Maked most in sothnesse, And als-swo in euennesse.
E send inst. of bade. E in ai to be. E om es. EH dred of lauerd. E Til.
CXI.
E dredis. E om he; wil in b. isse. E & werld. E To riht in merkenes
libt sprungen isse. E Milsful. EH sayhes. EH dome. E In eueninge rihtwis
rihtwis sal be. E Of heryng iuel. E Graibed til hope in louerd hert hisse,
Samen festened hert hisse isse, He ne sal noht stired be Til þat his foos ..
H His wiperwines. H and gaf. EH om had. E om Þe. E par-forn. E &
he. H tegh. E om he sal. E & he. E Sinful zhorninge. E sal I ai.
CXII.
E childre. EH ai haue bl. E For his nou vntil in. E Herghlic. EH is.
1
anoo
V
Pealter
e
« 400NV Ppalha
A-1350-Verse
weininn.iU
NO
.
CXIII. ( 1151
248
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
5 Wha als god oure lauerd þate wones Noghte til vs, lauerd, noght til vs
in hegh,
nou,
Meke thinges in heuen and in erthe Bote til þi name blisse gife þou,
he segh',
2 Ouer þi merci and pi sothnesse;
6 Fra þe erthe helplesse raisand,
Leswhen sai genge: »þair god whare
And ofe thoste pe poure rerand,
esse ?«
7 With princes þat him bilouke? he, 3 Oure god sothlike in heuen es kid;
With princes ofe his folke to be. Alle bat euer he wald he did.
8 Pat geld in houses makes wonand, 4 Lickenes ofe genge, siluer and gold,
Moder ofe sones to be faineand... Werkes ofe men hend ofe mold.
5 Þai haue mouth, and sal noght speke
with-al;
I IN outegate ofe Iraele,
Eghen þai haue, and se pai ne sal.
Oute ofe Egipte come swa wele; 6 Þai haue eres, and here ne sal þai
Iacob hous—was glad for-pie –
oghte;
Ofe pe folke ofe barberie :
Nese-thirles þai haue, and smel sal
2 Made es Iude his halinesse,
noghte.
Irael his might he esse.
7 Hend þai haue, and noght sal þai
3 Pe see segh, and flegh onane,
Grape with þam, night ne dai;
Hindeward turned es Iordane;
Fete þai haue, and sal noghte ga;
4 Hilles als wetheres fained þare,
In paire throte noght crie sal pa.
And knolles als lambes ofe schepe 8 Like be to pam þate make am swa,
þate are.
And alle þat traistes in þam ma.
5 What es þe, see, þat þou flegh nou? 9 Israel hous hoped in lauerd ofe
And þou, Iordan, obake þat went blisse ;
eretou?
Þar helper and þar forhiler he isse.
6 Hilles, als wetheres gladed ye? 10 Aaron hous in lauerd hoped þai;
And, knolles, als lambes ofe schepe Þar helper and þar forhiler he es ai.
· þat be?
11 Pat dredes lauerd, in lau[er]d hoped
7 Ofe face ofe lauerd þe erthe stired ma;
isse,
Helper and forhiler es he ofe þa.
Ofe face ofe god ofe Iacob blisse; 12 Lauerd ofe vs was minand,
8 In weres ofe watres pat turnes stane, And vs he blissed with his hand.
And kliffes in welles ofe watres to He blissed be hous ofe Irael;
gane. —
He blissed þe hous ofe Aaron wel.
i V respicit. 2 collocet.
E Who. EH louerd oure god. E Mekenesses. E Help[l]es fro pe e. risand.
E zost H post. EH hous. E erand. E swo fainnande; to be om.
CXIII.
EH outgang. E barbari. EH helinesse. E Þe se he s. E a-non. E Hinward.
EH is. E wepers H Als. E ware. EH & Iordan. E fained. E meres. E to þi
n., H om til. E milpe. E werkis. H wid-al. E se ne pai. E & here sal þai
noht oght H & noht here sal o. EH Grope. H bi niht. E go. E Noht kri
in þar throte sal þo. H Leke be þam. E po so. EH traisten Eoght in
þo. EH louerd. E forheler. E hoped in l. so. E Helper & forhiler he is of
Þo. EH dreden. E in him h. pai, Þar h. & par f. he is ai. E he was.
E he vs. E vs inst. of be hous. H dreden E dredend. E be mekil. E om
.
180o e
Pralter
Raalter
Psalm CXIII–CXV.
249
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
14 Pat dredes lauerd, al blissed he, 8 For he toke mi saule fra dede, min
. Þe littel with þe mare to be.
eghen twa,'
15 Eke mote lauerd ouer yhou,
Mi fete fra slithinge per .i. ga.
Ouer yhou and ouer yhour sones 9 Qweme to lauerd .i. sal in land
. nou!
In þe rike ofe liueand.
16 Blissed ofe lauerd be yhe ma,
Þat maked heuen, erthe als-swa.
CXV (continuation of preceding).
17 Heuen ofe heuen to lauerd be; 10 I leued, .i. spake for-pi;
And erthe to mensones gafe he. Swithe mikel sothli meked am .i..
18 Noghte dede, lauerd, sal looue þe II .I. saide in min outgange? :
alle,
»Ilke man ligher es amange«.
Ne in to helle þa þat doune falle. 12 What sal .i. yhelde to lauerd fre
19 Bot we þate liuen, lauerd we blisse, For alle þat he has yholden me?
Fra hethen and in to werld þate isse. . 13 Drinke ofe hele take .i. sal,
And name of lauerd kalle with-al.
CXIV.
14 Mi behotes yhelde sal .i.
I luued, for þat lauerd ofe heuen Bifore alle his folke for-pi.
Ofe mi bede sal here pe steuen.
Derworthi es in lauerd sighte
2 For he helded to me his ere wiseli, Pe dede of his haliybes brighte.
And in mi daies kalle sal .i..
15 A, lauerd, for .i. am þi hine;
3 Sorwes ofe dede vmgafe me ai,
I. Þi bine, ande sone ofe hande-
And wathes ofe helle me fand pai. maiden þine:
4 Drouinge and sorwe bath fand .i.: 16 Pou brake mi bandes, .i. sal to
And name ofe lauerd .i. kalled for-þi, þe
5 »A, lauerd, lese mi saule«. mildeful Offre offrand ofe lofe þate be, .
lauerd al
And name ofe lauerd ful ofe mighte
And rightwise, and oure god milse? Sal .i. kalle bathe dai and nighte.
sal.
17 Mi behotes yhelde sal .i.
6 Vhemand smalle lauerd es he;
In sighte ofe alle his folke for-Þi ;
: .I. am meked, and he lesed me. 18 In porches ofe lauerdes hous brighte
7 Turne, mi saule, in þi reste to be, als beme,
For lauerd wele did he to pe.
In mid ofe þi Iherusaleme.
1 Ms. misse.
1 V oculos meos a lacrymis. 2 excessu.
UA
TI
mote. E Blisse yhe louerd with hand Þat maked erbe als-so pe land. E of
heuens. E heryhe. E Noht in til. E om þa.
CXIV.
EH loued. H his ere to me. E For louerd heldid his ere to me al. EI
sal. E Sorghes H Sorihes. E wozes H wopes. H fonde E onfong, E ai.
E po inst. of bath. E om of. EH kald. E_milsful. EH om lauerd. E Louerd
and r. E fra ded and pine, Mine eghen for (r. fro) teris, fro slidyng fete mine.
CXV.
E For þat I spacke leued I, I sothlic mikild and (!) meked for-hi. E lither.
E helynge. E yheld for-þi. EH Þe folke. E sal I. E mi l. E Pou br. mi b.,
vnto þe Offre o. I sal þat be Of herzing, and name with-al Of louerd euer I
sal (cal]. EH Mine hotis. E y. ful witerly. E.. sal I. EH louerd. E And in mid.
atsoo et. Pratter
altooNvPombites.
a 1350 Verse
.
.
....
HAIRS
. .
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er
250
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
CXVI.
12 Als bees vmgafe þai me pare,
Heriyhes lauerd, alle genge þat be;
And þai brente als fire in thornes ware;
Alle folke, him heriyhe yhe.
And in name ofe lauerd for-þi
2 For ouer vs feste his merci esse,
Wroken wele in pam am .i..
And in ai es lauerdes sothnesse.
13 .I. am pute, .i. am turned', þat .i.
suld falle;
CXVII.
And lauerd vpfange me with-alle.
Schriues to lauerd, for gode he isse, 14 Mi strenghte and mi lofe lauerd es he;
For in werld es merci hisse.
And made ite? es in hele to me.
2 Saie nou Irael: for gode he isse, 15 Steuen ofe gladschipe and ofe hele
For in werld es merci hisse.
sal rise
3 Saie nou Aaron hous for-pi:
In þe telde ofe rightwise.
For in werld es his merci.
16 Lauerdes righthand made might,
4 Pat dreden lauerd, saie bai:
lauerd hand righte
For in werld his merci ai.
Vphoue me; lauerd righthand made
. 5 Fra drouinge lauerd kalled .i;
mighte.
And lauerd herd me in brede for-Þi. 17 Noght sal .i. die, bote liue .i. sal;
6 Lauerd helper to me es he;
And lauerd werkes telle with-al.
Noghte sal i. drede whate man does 18 Zraihand? lauerd me zrahed he,
me.
And to dede noght gafe he me.
7 Lauerd helper es to me;
19 Rightwise* yhates open to me þa:
And mi faas .i. sal forse.
And in þam .i. sal inga,
8 Gode to traiste in lauerd it es ai, .I. sal schriue to lauerd. þis yhate
Pan traiste in ani man be mai.
lauerdes isse,
9 Gode to hope in lauerd es ite,
Rightwise sal ga in ite with blisse.
Pan to hope in pri[n]ces yhite. 20 .I. sal schriue to þe, for þou herd me,
10 Alle genge vmyhode me ma;
And made ere tou me in hele to be.
And in name ofe lauerd for .i. am 21 De stane whilke biggand forsoke,
wroken in pa.
Ite es made in heued ofe pe noke 5.
II Vmgivand vmgafe me swa;
22 Fra lạuerd maked es bisse,
And in name ofe lauerd for .i. am And in oure eghen wonderfulle ite isse.
wroken in þa.
23 Pis es be daie pat lauerd made to be;
1 V Impulsus eversus sum. 2r. he. 3 = ags.
þreagan brean (pr. þreade) castigare. 4r.
rightwisnes. 5 V in caput anguli.
CXVI.
E him ai H lauerd. E hergh H heyhe. E fest ouer vs. E And sothnesse
of lauerd is in ainesse.
CXVII.
E his merci isse. H Irael hous. E his merci esse. E Sai nou Aaron hous for
god he isse. E his merci isse. E sai pai for-hi. E is his merci. E Fro.
E And in brede louerd herd me f. V 6 om in E. É Gode is to traist in louer[d] of
blisse. E man þat isse. E To hope in louerd it is gode yhit. H traist; E pr.
wiht. E mo. É in þo. E so. þo. E pai vmgaue me pore. E brind. E For
pat wroken in þ. EH onfonge. E strenth H streng. E om lof. E om sal rise.
E In teldis of r. and lele. EH Louerd. E and riht. E did might. EI sal noht
..degh bot l. with-al And werkis of l. tel I sal. H dee; lauerdes. E Praghand
.. praghe, H Zrayhand .. zrayhed. E Open me rihtwis yhates so. H om to.
E go. E louerd yhate þisse. E in hit sal go. EH art to. E om Pe. E of
poke. E Of. E And wundre in oure eyhen. H om þat. E om to be.
Psalter
pe.
Psalnı CXVII-CXVIII.
251
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
Glade we in ite, and faine we.
In þate þat .i. lered mare and lesse
24 A lauerd, saufe make pou me;
Domes ofe þi rightwisenesse.
· A lauerd, in querte to be.
8 Phine rightwisenesses .i. sal yheme
Blissed be, be wilde and tame,
in thoght:
Whilke þat comes in lauerdes name. Towarde, frawarde ?, forlete me noght.
25 Fra lauerdes hous to you blissed we; 9 In what yhunger righte[s]? his wai? 3
Gode lauerd, and til vs lighted he. In yhemand þi saghes ai.
26 Settes miri daie in thickenésse, 10 In alle mi hert soghte .i. Þe:
Vnto hom þat ofe weued esse.
Fra þine bodes schouue : noghte me.
27 Mi god pou erte, and .i. sal schriue II Þine speches hide .i. mine hert with-
to pe;
inne,
Mi god þou erte, and .i. sal vpheue Pate .i. sul noght to þe sinne.
12 Blissed, lauerd, ai ert þou;
28 .I. sal schriue to þe, for hou herd Pine rightwisenes lere me nou.
me nou,
13 In mi lippes schewede .i..
And to me in hele made ertou. Alle domes ofe pi mouth for-hi.
29 Schriues to lauerd, for gode he isse, 14 In þe waie ofe þi wittenesses
For in werlde es merci hisse.
Am .i. lusted als in alle richesses.
15 In þine bodes wun* sal .i.,
CXVIII.
And bihalde pine waies witerli.
SEli vnwemmid ere in wai, 16 In þi rightwisenesses bithinke .i. sal,
In lagh ofe lauerd þat gane ai.
Þine saghes noghte forgete with-al.
2 Seli þat ransakes witnes hisse; 17 Foryhelde to pine hine, quiken me, ,
In alle þar hert sekes him for blisse. And .i. sal yheme saghes ofe þe.
3 Noghte þate wicknes wirken ai 18 Vnbile mine eghen, and bihald .i. sal
In his waies yhoden þai.
Wondres ofe þi lagh with-al.
4 Þou bade pine bodes ilkedele 19 Comelinge am .i. in erthe to se,
To be yhemed swith wele.
Hide noghte pine bodes fra me.
5 Whine' ware mine waies righted swa 20 Langed mi saule to yherne ful wide
To yheme pine rightwisenesses ma! Þine rightwisenesses in alle tide.
6 Panne schente sal .i. noghte be, 21 Þou snibbed proude; werihed be pai
In alle pine bodes when .i. se.
Pat helden fra þi bodes ai.
7 Schriue vnto pe sal .i.
22 Bere fra me vpbraidinge and for-
In rightinge ofe hert for-þi,
hoghtes,
IV Utinam.
i V usquequaque. 2 Ms. righted. 3 V
repellas. exercebor. 5 contemptum.
E Faine we in it and glade. E sond for to be. E yhe wild. E Fro. H Zhitnesse.
E Settes mirie dai perforn In thicnesses to be weued horn. E his mercy isse.
CXVIII.
E vnwemed. EH ar. E And godes lagh þat gangen ai. EH ransake.
H witnesses. EH seke. E with b. EH bad. E Suld be. EH swipe. E wor
mi. E so. mo. H suld. E it. E more. E rihtwissenesse EH sal I. H lere.
E froward. E yhonger yhemed þi w. EH þine. H sayhes. E Fro. EH mi.
EH ne suld noht. EH art. EH rithwissenesses. E I shewed in lippes mine
Alle pe domes of mouth Þine. E om pe. E rihtwisnesses. E I lusted als in
richesesses. E þi. wone. H sayhes. EH Þi. E Vnbele. EH Wundres. E C.
in erþe am I. E fro me for-hi. E Mi saule wiled. EH zhorne. H prude.
EH weried. E fro. EH þine. E Vpbraydinge and forsakinge bere fro me, For
.
atroot. E. Pratter
alhooNv Ppatter
a 1350 Verso
**
252
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
Pine witnesses for .i. soghte.
For þat .i. walde in it be.
23 Sothlike aldermen pai seten
36 Helde mi hert in witnesses þine,
And againes me þai speken ;
And noght in yherninge! to be ine.
And þi bine þat eure esse
37 Turn min egben, þat þai fantome
Woned in þi rightwisenesse.
ne se;
24 For and þi witnesse thoght mine; In þi wai quiken pou me.
And mi rede rightwisenesse pine. 38 Sete to hine þine for mede
ng 25 Cliued mi saule to pe' flet:
Speche þine ai in þi drede.
After þi worde qwiken me yhete. 39 Cute mine vpbraidinge þat .i. am
26 .I. schewed mi waies, and þou herd wende ;?
me:
For þi domes winsome and hende.
Lere me pi rightwisenesses þat be. 40 Loke pine bodes yherned .i. :
27 Ofe þi rightwisnesses lere me Þe wai, In þine euennes quiken me for-Þi.
.I. aryhed (!) in þi wordes ai. 41 And þi merci, lauerd, come ouer in
28 For sleuie : sleped saule myne:
me;
Festen me in wordes pine.
Þi hele after speche ofe þe. .
29 Wai ofe wicknes stire fra me nou, 42 And answer to vpbraidand me .i. sal,
And ofe pi lagh milthe of me pou. For .i. hoped in þine saghes al.
30 Wai ofe sothnes ches .i. for-þi, 43 And ne awai-bere fra mi mouth
And þi domes noghte forgete .i.. Worde of sothnes þat es kouth,
31 To þi witnesses cliued .i. to be:
Toward fraward, night ne dai;
Lauerd, nil tou schend me.
For in þi domes ouer-hoped .i. ai.
32 Wai ofe pi bodes ran .i. with querte, 44 And þi lagh ai sal .i. yheme,
When þou tobreddeste mi herte.
In werld and in werld ofe verld to
33 Lagh set to me, lauerd, wai
queme.
Ofe þi rightwisnesses, and .i. sal 45 And .i. yhode in brede to be,
seke ite ai.
For .i. soghte bodes ofe þe.
34 Gife to me ynderstandinge al, 46 And .i. spake of þi witnesses in kinges
And þi lagh ,ransake .i. sal,
sighte,
And yheme wele bi night and dai And noght was schente, dai ne nighte.
In al mi herte, whils liue .i. mai. 47 And .i. thoght in bodes pine,
35 In stihe ofe pi bodes lede pou me, Pat .i. loued als life mine.
i Ms. Þi. 2 EH wundres; V et exercebor in V avaritiam. 2 V suspicatus sum.
mirabilibus tuis. 3 Ms. sleme? V prae taedio.
I s. w. of þe. E And sothlic pe prince s. E And I þi hine ai pat isse, Was
woned. H pine witnesses. H rihtwisnesses. E Mi saule cliued. E quikend.
E Pine (!) waies I kid. E rihtwisnesse of þe. E om þe. EH wundres. E Slepid
mi saule for sleuthe in rest, In þi wordes pou me fest. H sleuie. E fro me stire
pou, & in lagh milzhe of me nou. H & pi l. of me m. bou. E I ches and soght,
& þine d. forgete I noht. E In þi witnesse louerd cleued I, Ne wil pou
shend me for-Þi. E I ran in q. E to-brededest þi h. E Vndirstanding giue to
me And I sal ransake lagh of þe, And yheme whil I haue quert Til I liue in
al mi hert. H yheme hit. E Lede me in stigh of bode pine For it wald I to
go ine. E pi witnesses. HE yhorning E of richesses. H om pat. H Þai
ne fantum Ef. Þai ne. E In pi sothnes. E ynto hi h. to. E om þi. E Kut
m. v. for ilhoped am I, For pine d. winsun witerli. EH zhorned, E I to se.
E om for-pi. E And come ouer me louerd hi mercy. E pi speche for-Þi.
E til. EH word I sal. E For in þine s. hoped I al. E of mi. E of rihtwisnesse
is. E T. f witerli. H om ouer. E om ai. E yheme I sal. E .. with-al.
E witnesse. E shent was I. E And in pi bodes ai I phoht Whilc I loued more
=

an) 306 Iver Problema
altes
Psalm CXVIII.
253
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
48 And .i. houe mi hend to pi bodes Pate .i. yheme pine bodes wele.
mare and lesse
61 Stringes of sinful vmclipped me,
Þat .i. loued, and woned' in þi And .i. forgate noght lagh ofe þe.
rightwisnesse.
62 At midnighte .i. ras to be at schriue
T 49 Mined of þi worde to þi hine be. Ouer domes ofe þi rightnes biliue.
nou,
63 Deltakand' .i. am of al þe dredand,
In whilke hope to me gafe pou. And of þi lagh wele yhemand.
50 Pis roned me in mekenes mine, 64 Ofe pi.merci, lauerd, Þe erthe fulle esse:
For me qwikened speche pine.
Lere pou me pi rightwisnes.
51 Toward frawarde proude dide wicli, 65 Godenes dide pou with þi bine, u
And fra þi lagh noght helded .i.. Lauerd, after worde þine.
52 .I. mined ofe pi domes fra werld 66 Lere me godenes, wisdome, and lare,
sumdele,
For in pi bodes le[u]ed.i. mare.
Lauerd, and roned am .i. wele. 67 Ere .i. was meked gilted .i.,
53 Waninge helde me, for sinnande
Pi speche yhemed .i. for-pi.
Pat þi lagh ware forletande. 68 Gode ert þou, and in þi godenes
54. Sanglic? to me ware rightwisnesses Lere bou me pi rightwisenes.
pine
69 Manifalded es ouer me
In stede of pilgrimage mine.
Wickednes of proude þate be;
55 .I. mined, lauerd, of þi name bi .I. sothlike in alle hert mine
Ransake sal ai bodes þine.
And þi lagh .i. yhemed righte. 70 Lopred als milke es hert ofe þa;
56 Þis es made to me for-þi,
And .i. Þi lagh am thinkand swa.
For þi rightwisnesses soghte .i.. 71 Gode es to me þat pou meked me,
57 Dele mine, lauerd, saide .i.,
Pat .i. lere rightwisenesses ofe þe.
To yheme pi lagh ful stedfastli. 72 Gode to me lagh of þi mouth holde,
58 .I. bisoghte þi face in al hert mine; Ouer thousandes ofe siluer ore golde.
Milþe of me after speche pine. 73 Þine hend made [me] for to be, y
-59 .I. thoght mi waies, and turned swa And als-swa þai schope me:
Mi fete in þi witnesses ma.
Gife to me vnderstandinge,
60 .I. am boune, and let na-dele,
Pat .i. lere þi bodes ouer al thinge.
1 V exercebar. 2 V Cantabiles.
i V Particeps. 2 Ms. lered.
nighte,
Þen oght. E And I houe mi hend olofte To þi bodes þat are softe, Whilc I loued
stedefastli, And in pi rihtwisenesses woned I. E pou be, nou om. E pou gaue to
me. E me roned. E Proude quedli dede toward froward, And fro pi l. boghed
I noght awaiward. E I m. of þi d. witerli Fro werld louerd, & 1. am I. E fro.
E wore. E Songlic me wore. Hrihtnesses E rihtwisenesse. E And I get þi
lagh ful right. E Mi dele 1. witerli For to yheme pi lagh said I. E I th. mi
w. more and lesse And turned mi fete in pi witnesse. E I am graiped, noht
letted so. E pi b. mo. H Strenges. E vmclippe. E om i. E And midniht
ros I to shriue to þe. E om domes. E rihtwisenesse þat be. E And þine
bodes. E De erpe louerd is ful of þi merci, Mine rihtwisnesse lere me for-Þi.
E lore. E pine. EH leued. E om i. more. E For pat yhemed I pi speche
sothli. E Teche me in þi. E Manifolded are. EH Wickednesse. E I s. in mi
hert al R. þi bodes sal. E Loperd. E of pam. E I sothlicke pi lagh thinkand
am. E Gode to me for þou lered (1) me. E rihtwisnesse. E Lagh of pi mouth
to me gode and holde. E a phousand. E and g. E Pine h. pat ar heli two,
· Made me and shop me als-so. E Giue v. vnto me, Pat I lere bodes of be.
ههههههه ههههه
1
C
alH00 NV Poate
1-3-5- ves
254
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
74 Pat drede pe sal se and faine for-þi, 87 Almaste in erthe hai me forname;
For in pi wordes ouer-hoped .i..
And þi bodes forlete .i. noghte for
75 I. knewe, lauerd, þat þi domes þame.
euennesse,
88 Quiken me after þi merci,
Pou meked me in þi sothnesse.
And witnesses ofe pi mouth yheme
76 Be þi merci þat ite rone me,
sal ...
After þi speche to þi bine wil be. 89 IN euermare, lauerd ofe blisse,
77 Come to me, lauerd, þi rewthes, and Þe worde ofe pe in heuen it isse.
liue .i. sal;
90 In strende and strende și sothnesse;
For þi lagh mi thoghte es al.
Pou grounded pe land þat euer esse.
78 Schent be proude mare and lesse, 91 With pi welesettinge lastes dai,
For vnrightwiselike wickednesse
For al thinge serue to pe sal ai.
In me dide pai; and .i. al dai 92 Bote for þi lagh mi thoghte esse,
Woned' in pine bodes ai.
Þen thurgh hap .i. forworped in mi
79 To me be turned dredand pe,
mekenesse.
And ate knewe þi witnesses, to se. 93 In ai forgete .i. noght rightnesses
8o Be mi hert vnwemmid with-in me
ofe þe;
In þi rightwisenesses, þat schente .i. For in þa quikenedeste pou me. .
ne be.
94 Pine am .i., saufe me make þor',
> 81 Waned in þi hele saule mine, For þi rightwisenesses sogate .i. nou.
And .i. ouerhoped in worde bine. 95 Me abade sinful, þat me forles pai; .
82 Waned min eghen in speche ofe pe, Pi witnesses vnderstode .i. ai.
Saiand: »when sal tou rone me?« 96 Of alle fulfilling ende sagh .i.;
83 For als [b]it? in froste am .i. wroghte; Swith brade þi bode witerli.
Þine rightwisenesses forgete .i.noghte. 97 Hou luued .i., lauerd, þi lagh ai!
84 Hou fele daies of þi hine ere in land ? Mi thoghte es it al þe dai.
When saltou do dome ofe me fili- 98 Ouer mine faas slegh me made pou
yhand?
yhite
85 Wicked, fablinges talde to me,
Topi bode, for in ai to me es ice.
Bot noghte als þe lagh ofe þe. 99 Ouer alle lerand me .i. vnderstode;
86 Alle pine bodes sothe ere bai:
For mi thoghte pi witnesses gode.
Wicked filiyhed me, helpe me ai! 100 Ouer elde? .i. vnderstode in thoghte;
i V exercebor. 2 Ms. hit; V uter.
V mandato tuo, abl. 2 senes.
11
E pe dred. Ewith-al. E I al. E I k. Þi (dom] louerd for e. E And pou me m.
E To pi hine after speche (of] þe. E om lauerd E in pi. E sal I. E in yhot.
H zoht. E is witerly. E Sh. be pr. niht and dai, For v. wicnes did þai In
me sohtlic ai, and I Aryhed (!) in þi bodes for-Þi. E Þai turne to me are pe
dredand, And þat þi witnesse are knawand. H bat knaw. E Be made vnwemed
Þe hert of me. E And bit in frost I am made for-pi. E Pi. E noght forgat I.
H daies are E ar daies. E make d. E saghes tolden. E laghes. E bi b. soth-
nesse. E fylehen H filyhe. E Litel les, me pai. E forsoke. E witnes. E In
euer louerd god to neuen Worde of þe hit wones in heuen. Hom þe; land
pe mare and lesse; E Þe erbe and it es. E Purgh [bi] dihting lasted be dai.
E to þe serue. E ai esse. E In ai pi rihtwisenesses forgete I ne sal. E pam.
E me al. E sauf me for-Þi. E bine. E om nou. EH abode. E bine riht-
wisenesses. E I sagh ende of al fulfillinge, Swipe mikil brode is þi bigining.
H ful witerli. E lagh (þi om) louerd. H zhot. E 0. mi fos sl. þou made me
to be. E it is to me. E Ouer elde I v., For I soght þine bodes g., I vnd-
irstode ouer al lerand me, For mi þoht is w. of pe. Hal il E al iuel. EI

لهممطعممتلط
altero
Psalm CXVIII.
255
Ms. Vesp. D vir,
For þate pine bodes .i. soghte. 115 Withdragh yhou, lither, fra me for-
IOI Fra iuel wai forbede .i. fete mine,
pi;
Pat .i. yheme wele wordes Þine. And bodes ofe mi gode ransake sal.i..
102 Fra þine domes noght helded .i.; 116 Kepe me and .i. sal liue, thurgh
For þou set lagh to me wiseli.
speche Þine,
103 Hou swete to mi chekes Þi speches ai! And noghte schende pou me fra
Ouer hony to mi mouth ere bai.
abidinge mine.
104 Ofe pi bodes vnderstode .i.; 117 Helpe me, and saufe be .i. sal,
Alle waie ofe wikenes .i. hated for-hi And thinke in þi rightwisnesses al.
3 105 Lanterne to mi fete es worde bine, 118 Þou forsoke alle witand þin right-
And lighte vnto stihes mine.
106 .I. swore and set, mare and lesse For vnrightwise es be thoght ofe pa.
To yheme domes ofe pi rightwisenesse. 119 Wemmand' al sinfulle of erthe wend
107 Toward fraward meked am .i.;
.i.;
After pi worde quiken me for-Þi. Pi witnesses luued .i. for-pi.
108 Wilnes' ofe mi mouth, lauerd, make 120 Stike in þi drede fiesches mine;
wele queme,
For .i. drede of domes pine.
And þi domes lere me to yheme. 121 I made domes and rightwisnes ♡
109 Mi saule es ai in hende mine,
in land;
And .i. forgete noght lagh þine. Noghte gife pou me to me crauand?.
110 Sinfulle to me snares sette ;
122 Onfange þi hine in gode to be;
And fra þi bodes noghte dweled .i. Noght be proude sal craue me.
yhette.
123 Mine eghen waned in þi hele esse,
III In eritage soght? .i. Þi wittenesses ai; And in speche ofe þi rightwisnesse.
For gladschipe ofe mi herte ere þai. 124 After þi merci do with þi hine,
112 .I. helded mi hert to do forbi al And lere me rightwisenesses bine.
thinge
125 I. am pi bine, vnderstandinge gife me,
Þi rightwisenesses in ai, for for Þat .i. wite witnesses of þe.
yheldinge.
126 Lauerd, time ofe makande 3 ; ai*
D113 Wicked to hatereden had .i., Skatered þi lagh, night an dai.
And þi lagh .i. luued for-Þi. 127 For-þi luued .i. Þi bodes ilkon
114 Mi helper and mi keper ertou,
And in pi wordes ouer-hoped .i. nou. 128 At alle pi bodes righted .i. was for-pi:
i V Voluntaria. 2 acquisivi.
V Praevaricantes. 2 calumniantibus.
3 tempus faciendi. 4 = bai?
helded noht fro domes of þe. E vnto me; wiseli om. E speches pine (ai om).
E to mouth mine. E Fro. E Pi word to mi fete lantern bright, And to mi
stiyhes is it light. E more. E Meked am I toward froward to se, Louerd
quiken me after word of þe. E Wilnesnes. E bine. lerne. E om es. E Setten
sinful snarre to me, And noght dwelled I fro bodes of pe. E pi w. soght I.
E phot inst. of gladschipe. E to yheme in al Þinge. E om in. E til h. am I.
E loued I witerli. E word. EH Heldes fro me liber for-Þi. E Kepe me after
þi speche and liue I sal, And shend me noht (fra] þin abiding al. Hom
pou. E beryehed sal Ibe. E ai in rithwisenesse of pe. E þi domes fro
f. m. E I drede sothlic. H dome, om in E. E r. þat be. E Ne giue me
noght to krauand me. EH Opfong. E bine. E in g. al, Noht kraue me
be proude sal. E heli. H om Afte-þine. E Do with þi hine after þi milz-
nesse. . E om bine. E Pi bine am I. E witnesse. E Time of makyng louerd
mine, Pa to-schatered lagh pine. E Til al þi bodes I rihted f. E til hate
atboot. E. Pratter
CPA
MooNvpallite
-07-350 Kesse
256
þe.
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
. Alle wai wicked hated ... : 142 Þi rightwisnes, in ai rightwisnes,
129 Selkouth, lauerd, witnesses þine; And þi lagh it es sothnes.
For-þi ransaked es? saule mine. 143 Drouinge and angrom fonden me;
130 Schirenes? of þi specbe lightes wite, And mi thoght es bodes ofe þe.
Vnderstandinge to litel giues ite. 144 Euennes witnesses pine in ai;
131 Mi mouth .i. opened, and withdrogh : Vnderstandinge gife me and liue .i.
gaste;
mai.
For þi bodes yherned .i. maste. 145 I cried in al herte: »lauerd, here?
132 Bihald in me, and rewe of me,
me;
After dome of luuande name ofe Pine rightwisnesses sal .i. seke to
pe?«.
133 Right mi steppes after þi speche 146 .I. cried to pe: »saufe me make
esse,
pou,
Þatº noght lauerd ouer me al vn Pate .i. yheme pi bodes nou«.
rightwisnesse.
147 .I. forcome in ripenes, and made
134 Fra crauinge ofe men me bie pou,
crie;
Pat .i. yheme pi bodes nou.
In pine wordes ouerhoped .i..
135 Onlight þi face ouer þi hine, 148 Bifore-come mine eghen at þe in
And lere me rightwisnesses pine.
grikinge,
136 Outgange ofe watres lede min eghen Þat .i. thinke þi speche ouer alle
thinge.
For þi lagh noght yhemed þa. 149 Mi steuen here, lauerd, after þi
137 Rightwis ertou, lauerd mine,
merci,
And (right) in ai es dome pine. And after þi domes qwiken me
138 Pou sent rightwisnes þi witnes,
for-pi.
Swithe mikel and þi sothnes. 150 Neghed me filiyhand to wickenes ai,
139 To skulke me made þi luues on-an, Fra þi lagh sothlice fer made ere
For forgeten pine wordes haue mi
pai.
faan.
151 Nere ertou, lauerd, in godenesse,
140 Fired þi speche es swithe wele,
And alle pine waies sothfastnesse.
And þi hine luued ite ilkadele. 152 In biginninge, ofe þi witnesses knew
141 Yongelike am .i. and hated; for-þi
.i. swa,
Pine rightwisnes noght forgete .i.. For in ai grounded pou þa.
i V scrutata est ea. 2 V Declaratio. i angustia. 2 H se.
3 attraxi spiritum. IV et. 5 V zelus meus.
twa,
5
had I. E witnesse. E saghes. E & v. to smale. E to-drogh. H Þine.
EH zhorned. E most. E mi[1]zhe. E Mi steppes r. Hmi goinges steppes.
E of me. E Bie me fro krauinges of men so. H crauinges. H Þine. E b.
mo. E Bi likham ouer þi hine pou light, & pi rihtwisnesse lere me riht. El.
ehen mine, For þai yh. noht lagh þine. E l. ay, And riht es þi dome niht
and day. E to pi. E And shified (!) m. Þi s. É mi loue onone. E For þi
wordes forgat mine fone. H forgoten. E is þi sp. EH loues. E Yunglic
am I forsaken als-so, Pi rightwisenesses noht forgat I bo. E þi r. louerd.
E angrum funden. E phot. E E. Þi w. in ai al, Giue me v. .. I sal. E al mi.
H to se, E Seke sal I rihtwisenes of þe. E sauf make me ai. E pine bodes
niht and dai. E forthcome. E Forthcom .. to be. E To þinke þi speches
forbi hal pinge. H speches. H om alle. E Mi st. after þi milzhe louerd here
pou. EH dome. E me nou. H fil. me to, Ef. to me w. E And fro þi
lagh fer. EH Negh. E ful of g. E pi. E knew I of pi witnes so. E po.
Alle 1300 Praltes
Praltes
Psalm CXVIII.
257
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
153 Se mi mekenes, and outake me; And to pam es na schame in land.
For .i. forgete noght lagh ofe þe. 166 .I. abade þi hele, lauerd, al dai,
154 Deme mi dome, and me bie þon; And þine bodes luued .i. ai.
For þi speche quicken me nou. 167 Mi saule yhemed þi witnesse,
155 Fer fra sinful hele es ai,
And swith mikel luued am mare
For þi rightwisnesses noghte soghte
and lesse.
þai.
168 .I. gate? þi bodes and witnesses
156 Pine mercies, lauerd, mani be,
þine,
And after þi dome quiken me.
For in þi sighte al waies mine.
157 Fele þat filiyhen me, and drouen 169 Negh mi bisekinge, lauerd, in
me swa;
sight ofe þe;
Fra þi witnesses noght helded .i. Bi þi speche, vnderstandinge gife me.
for ba.
170 Inga min askinge in bi sight nou;
158 I. sagh wemmand and skulked awai, After þi speche, me outake pou.
For și speches noght yhemed pai. 171 Rifte sal mine lippes ympne dai and
159 See for þi bodes, lauerd, luued .i.;
nighte,
Þou quiken? me in þi merci.
Þi rightwisenesses when þou has
160 Biginninge ofe þi wordes sothnesse;
me taghte.
In ai alle domes of þi rightwis- 172 Schewe sal mi tunge þi speche pat
nesse.
esse,
the 161 Princes filiyhed me selfwilli;
For alle pine bodes euennesse.
Ofe pi wordes dred mi hert for-bi. 173 Be pi hand þat it sauue me,
162 .I. sal faine ouer þine speches mare, For pine bodes ches .i. to se.
Als wha swa fande mikel þat reft 174 .I. yherne[d], lauerd, hele pine,
ware 3.
And þi lagh es thoght mine.
163 Wicknes to hatereden had .i. sothli, 175 Mi saule sal liue, and loue þe,.
And am wlated“; and þi lagh luued i. And þi domes sal helpe me.
164 Seu'ensithe in dai lofe saide .i. to þe, 176 .I. dweled als it ware a schepe
Ouer domes ofe pi rightwisenesses Pat forworped with-outen kepe;
þat be.
Seke pou, lauerd, þi bine;
165 Mikel pais to þi lagh luuand,
For .i. forgete noght bodes pine.
1 Ms. skulded. 2 Ms. quikened. 3 V spolia V scandalum. ? servavi. 3 r. naght.
multa. abominatus sum.
E om and; lese me for-hi. E For þi lagh noht forgete I. E bie me nou,
For și lagh me qu. pou. E fro. E Þi r. for noht. E om lauerd. H mani
lauerd. E pai be. E om And. E whilc. Hfilyhe E me filyhe. E droue ..
so. E For bi witnes. E bohed H helped. EH om for. H pine. E pine.
E om bodes lauerd. E Louerd quiken.' E worde. E rihtwisnesses. E And
of. E Faine sal I. E more. E who so. EH fond. E robbed wore.
E Wicnes I hated and wlated am I, And þi lagh loued I sothfastli. E of riht-
wisnes of þe. E louande H loouande. EH is. E no. E in hande. E abode. E om
lauerd. E bi. H rihtwisnesse; E w. mo. E loued it þo. H get E yhemed.
E witnes. Hom þi. H seking. . E In þi sight louerd negh mi biseking, After
þi sp. gif me v. E Income. E om nou. E outtak me riht. E Mi lippes sal
rift loft-sang þat is, When pou bas lered me pi rihtwisnes. E Shew m. t. þi
speche sal, For euennes þine bodes al. E For I ches þe bodes of þe. EI
yhorned pi hele louerd of blisse, And þi lagh mi bhot it isse. E leue & heryhe
me(!). E wore. E Seke þi hine louerd pat pou wroght, For pine bodes forgete
I noght.
II.
17
anisoonenatal
a WOONV Palta
643-50avere
258
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
CXIX.
6 Bi dai noght be sunne skalde pe sal,
To lauerd, when .i. was droued,
Ne þe mone bi night with-al.
cried .i.,
7 Lauerd fra alle iuel yheme pe;
And he herd me witterli.
Lauerd pi saule yheme he.
2 Lauerd, fra wicked lippes mi saule
8 Lauerd yheme pine ingange and þine
lese tou,
outgange,
Fra hethen and in to werlde lange.
And fra swikel tunge nou.
3 What es Þe giuen, or what set es to be,
CXXI.
At swikel tung, ife pat it be?
I am faine in þa pate saide are' to
+ »Arwes scharpe ofe inightand,
me:
With koles ful voronand'«.
»In hous ofe lauerd ga sal we«.
5 Wa to me, for mi teldestede swa
2 Standande ware our fete als beme
Forthferred es me fra?!
In þi porches ofe? Iberusaleme.
.I. erded with erdand Cedar; .
3 Ierusalem, pat bigged als cite isse,
Mikel comelinge mi saule was par.
Ofe wham in him-selfe del-taking
6 With þa þat pais hated ai
hisses.
Was .i. paisfulle, night and dai;
4 Pider sothlike vpstegh. on heght
When .i.. spake to pan for-Þi,
Kinde, kinde ofe lauerd reght,
Pai infaght me selfwilli.
Witnes ofe Irael þe same,
СХХ.
For to schriue to lauerdes name.
I houe mine eghen in hilles, to se 5 For þare sat þai setels in dome with,
Whethen sal come helpe to me., Setel ouer pe hous ofe Dauid.
2 Mi belpe sal be lauerd fra,
6 Biddes whilkes at pais ere Ierusalem
Pat maked heuen, erthe als-swa.
land,
3 Noght in stiringe mi fote giue he, And mightsomnes to be louand.
Ne be sal slepe pat yhemes pe.
y Pais be in þi might esse,
4 Loke noght sal slepe ne, slepe sal wele, And in pi toures mightsomnes.
Whilke þat yhemes Iraele
8 For mi brethre and mi neghburghs be,
5 Laucrd yhemes be, lauerd bi schilder Spake .i. mikel pais of þe.
be
9 For hous ofe lauerd, our god es be,
Ouer pe righthand ofe pe.
Soght .i. godes ynto þe.
Iy cum carbonibus desolatoriis. . V Heu ! V in his quae dicta sunt. ' ? om, of. 3 V
mihi, quia incolatus meus prolongatus est.
cuius participatio ejus in idipsum. 4 Quia illic
3 V non dormitabit neque dormiet.
sederunt sedes in judicio, sedes &c. 5 V quae
ad pacem sunt I.
KY
CXIX.
E When I was droued to lauerd k. I. E fro. EH wicke. E bou. E fro.
E is þe set. H om es. E Vn-to sw. t. yhete. E Arowes. E vnrounandand.
E Wa me vntilyngstede swa. H tilstede. Efered. E Pat mikil hated pais
with po Was I paisful for to go. E Pai ouer-com.
CXX.
H Weben. E fro. E als-so. E Þi fote in stiring noght. EH giues. E Loke
he ne slepe ne slepis wel. H ne slepes. EH ybeme. E pe forhiler. E 0. hi
r. to be. E In dai swipe nobt sinne (r. sunne) pe sal. E pe niht. E fro...
CXXI.
E fained in po ar said. E wore. E lem. E om whain. H whom. E del-
taging esse. E Þepen. hight. right. E pore. EH setel. E om þe. E Askis.
ar. E Louerd pais be in miht þat isse. H neghburyhes E neghbures. E me
bi. E Pais spak I of pe for-pi.
.
-AR armont
palter
Practer
Psalm CXXII-CXXIV.
259
O
.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
CXXI.
1o pe mine eghen houe .i.,
Pat wones in heuen witerli.
2 Loke als eghen ofe hine be
In hende ofe þair lauerdes to se,
3 Als eghen ofe handmaiden klene
In hende ofe hir leuedy bene:
Our eghen to lauerd our god pus,
To þat he haue merci ofe vs.
4 Milþe ofc vs, lauerd, milþe ofe vs
þare,
For ofe forletenesse? mikel filled we
are.
5 For mikel filled es our saule; vpbrai-
dinge
To mightand, and to proude forletinge.
CXXII.
Bot for lauerd was in vs, sai nou
Irael,
Bot for lauerd was in vs wele
2 When men ras vp in vs swa,
Thurgh hap qwike swelyhed vs þa;
3 When wrethed breth ofe þa in vs þus,
Thurgh hap watre had ouerschouued
ys.
4. Our saule ouerfore scaldandº;
Swilke hap might haue bene in land
Ouerfaren had our saule swiftlike
iH zhare. 2 V. despectione. 3 absor-
buisset. 4 V pertransivit torrentem.
Watre þat was vntholandlike.
5 Blissed lauerd, þat pogbt gafe vs swa
In takinge ofe? tethe ofe pa.
6 Our saule als sparw es ofe band
Outane, fra snare ofe huntand;
7 De snare forbroken es in ai,
And we lesed ere awai.
8 Our helpe es in lauerdes name,
Þat made heuen and land, Þe same.
CXXIV.
Pat traisten in lauerd ilkon,
Als þe hegh hille in Syon:
He ne sal be stired in euermare,
In Ierusalem þat wones pare.
2 Hilles in his vmgange; and lauerd in
vmgange
Ofe bis folke, fra hethen and in to
werld lange.
3 For (lauerd] noght forelete? sal he
Yherde of sinful for to be.
Ouer lote of rightwis, þat noght
streke pai,
Rightwise, to wiknes þair hende ai.
4 Wele do, lauerd, to gode in querte,
. And to rightwise are ofe herte.
5 And heldand in bindinges lauerd lede
sal
With wirkand wicknes. pais of* Irael
al!
11. to? 2 V relinquet.
4 EH ouer, V super.
3 obligationes.
CXXII.
E For loke. E of h, to se. Hom pair; E þi. H lauerd. E be. E And
als hend. E handen mayden. E Til; pat om. H Zhare. E forsethenes. E filed
H filde. E om es. E of vpbraydin[g] wide Til erdand and forsighnes of pride.
CXXIII.
E When þat men risen had in vs, Purgh (hap] quic had þai swologhed vs.
H om qwik. H swolzhed. E When w. in vs brath of þo. E had shouued vs
so. E Querfore oure saule sclaldand, Purghi hap hade ouerfaren oure saule water
vnpoland. H swiflic. H om bat. H om bat. E so. E to teche H of tegh.
E po. E is in land. E fro. E hontand. E is it ai. E are lesed al owai. Hom
V 8. Eom es; in name of louerd so, Pat heuen and erþe bobe made þo.
CXXIV.
E traist. E euerilkone. E om hegh. EH of. E-more. þore. EH om Of
his folk. E louerd, om in H. EY. of s. ouer lote to be Of r., pat noght in
land Rihtwise to wicnesse streke þar hand. E In bindinges sothlic heldand
Lede sal louerd with wirkand Wickednes, þat do noght wele; Pais be ouer
Irael. Houer.
17*
1
artisanent Roaller
a 400 HV Poals
also verss
26.0
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D vi.
4 When he has giuen pat es beste,
CXXV.
Slepe ynto luued hisse and reste,
in turnande lauerd wrecchednes of | Loke eritage ofe laterd ofe blisse
Syon,
Sones hires, fruite ofe wambe isse.
Made ere we als roned onon.
5 Als arwes in hand ofe mightand,
2 Pen es our mouth fulfiled with blisse, Swa sones ofe forschaken in land.
And with gladschip our tunge þat 6 Seli bieren es whilke þat swa
isse.
Filled has his gerninge ful ofe pa:
3 Þan bitwix genge sai sal þai swa: He ne sal be schent, ereli ne late,
»Mikled lauerd to do with þar.
When he spekes with his faas in
4 Mikled lauerd to do with vs;
yhate.
Maked ere we fainand þus.
5 Turne, lauerd, our wrecchednesse',
CXXVII.
Als skaldand in south esse.
Seli alle þat (dreden] lauerd ofe
ó Þat sawen in teres al dai,
blisse,
In mikel gladschip repe sal þai.
Þat ai gane in waies hisse.
7 Gaand yhoden and wepen sare, 2 Swinkes ofe þi hende for ete saltou ;
Sendand þair sedes pai ware;
Seli erte, and wele bes to pe nou.
8 Come sothlike þai sal comand
3 Bi wife als winyher[a] mightsomand,
With gladschip, pair handfuls” berand. In halues ofe pi hous dwelland;
4 Þine sones als newe plantes ofe
CXXVI.
oliue,
Bot lanerd haue bigged þe hous In vmgange ofe pi borde to liue.
yhite,
5 Loke, swa man be blissed salle
Vnnait swanke þai þat biggen ite; Pat dredes lauerd ouer alle!
2 Bot lauerd yheme Þe cite ai,
6 Blisse mote he þe onon
Pat yhemen ite vnnaite wake þai. Pat es lauerd ofe Syon,
3 Vnnait es to you bi nighte .
pe godes of Ierusalem pat" pou se
Forto rise bifore be lighte:
Alle daies ofe pi life þat be;
Rises after ye haue siten swa,
7 And sones of þi sones se pou wele.
Pat eten brede ofe sorw and wa.
Pais be ouer Iraele.
I captivitatem. ? manipulos.
i Cf. R. R.'s exposition. ? V et.
CXXV.
E wrechenes E fildful. E Oure tonge with gladship so it isse. E betwene
folke. E om sal. so. H to tha E with þo. E fained. E Als swithand in
esteld(!) þus. H estdel. E in t, mo, Alle gladship repe sal þo. EH Goand.
E sore. E wore. E pai pai c. EH handfoles.
CXXVI.
E had biged. E þi cite. E yeme it, idel. E om to. E after siten hane yhe,
And e. E of soryhe pat be. É om he; giuen bas. E To his louerd (r. loued)
slepe & rest: E Hires of wones. E wombe hisse. E So. H forsaken E shaken.
H berne. E Seli man þat fild his zorninge of þo, Noght bes he shent when
he speke in yhate with his fo.
CXXVII.
Hom dreden. E om ai; gangen. EH art. H and inst. of als. E wunyherde.
E wonand. E Pi. H of liue. E Loke se man. Emot be son o-none.' E And
gode of I. se pou Alle d. of þi 1. nou.
va)
Phalter
extisao
na Prald
12
261
Psalm CXXVIII-CXXXI.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
. CXXVIII.
4 For at þe, peghtsomnes' es to be;
Ufte me ouercome pai
And for þi lagh, lauerd, vpheld .i. pe.
Fra mi yhouth, Irael nou sai;
5 Vpheld mi saule in worde hisse;
2. Oft fra mi yhouth me ouercome pa:
Hoped mi saule in lauerd ofe blisse.
Sothlike noght might pai to me swa.
6 Fra yheminge ofe morninge to be
3 Ouer mi bake smithed sinful ai;
nighte
Pair wickednesse forlenghþed Þai.
Hope Irael in lauerd ofe mighte;
4 Lauerd rightwise slite sal he
7 For at lauerd it es merci,
Hernes? ofe sinful pat be;
Fulli byinge at him for-þi.
Pai be schente and turned hindward 8 And he sal bie Irael
onon
Ofe alle his wicednesses wel.
Alle pas pata hated Syon.
CXXX.
5 Pai be als ofe houses hai,
Lauerd, vphouen es noght mi hert,
Pat or it be outschouued” it dries
Ne vpborn ere mine eghen in querte;
awai; .
2 Ne in gretnesses .i. yhode to be,
6 Ofe whilke pat repes noght fild his Ne in wondres ouer me.
hand,
3 Ife .i. feled noght mekeli,
And his bosum þat handfules es ge Bot mi saule vphoue .i.;
derand;
4 Als soukand? ouer moder hisse,
7 And pai saide noght þat forbi yhede: Swa foryheldinge in mi saule isse.
„Blisse ofe laucrd you to mede«, 5 Hope in lauerd Irael,
»To yhou eue, blisse we
Fra hethen and in to werld wel.
In name ofe lauerd þat ai sal be.«
CXXXI.
CXXIX.
Mine, lauerd, ofe Dauid,
Fra depnesses cried[i], lauerd, to be; And ofe al handetamenes his per-with;
Lauerd, here pe steuen ofe me; 2 Als he sware to lauerd of mighte,
2 Bihaldand be pine eres euen
Hote to god Iacob he highte:
Ofe mi bisekinge in þe steuen. 3 »In telde of mi hous ife .i. inga ;
3 Ife wicknes, lauerd, pou bihald al, Ife.i. vpstegh in stede ofe mi strail swa;
Lauerd, wha ite vphald sal3 ?
4 Ife .i. gife to mine eghen slapinge,
i V cervices. ? evellatur. 3 quis sustinebit? ? propitiatio. 2 V ablactatus, R wenyd.
CXXVIII.
H E ouer-wun(n)en. E youphe. E fro. youhe. E po. E And þai ne miht
noght. H noht to me miht pai. E s. pat esse, Pai forlenphed paire wicked-
nesse. H turne. E hendward H hindhard. E po pat H pa pat. E haten
H hate. E Als hai of houses made be pai. EH er. E dried. EH ai. E fil
sal. E Ne. EH bosem. EH handfoles is. E gedrand. E Blissing .. ouer yhou.
CXXIX.
EH depnes. E louerd kried I H cried i lauerd. E pe bede. E Be pine
eres bihaldand e. E biloke al. EH vphald it. E winsumnes is at þe. E om
And. E Fro get morninge H Fra zhemed morning. Evn-to. EH Hoped.
E mi saule. E For þat 1. is m. E om 8.
CXXX.
E Ne vphouen are. E milksoukand H soukedand. E esse. E So. H hezhen. E vnto.
CXXXI.
EH al bis h. E par EH wid. EH swore. E Iacob of miht. E ingo. H up-
stigh. E in straile of mi bed so. E If to mine eghen I giue. H browes mine.
enthoortrenkaa
alHOONV Poal
6+150 Verses
262
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
And to mi browes nappinge,
And his haleghs with gladschip glade
5 And rest to mine times', to .i. find sal þai.
in welde
18 Þethen sal .i. forlede! Dauid horn ;
Stede to lauerd, to god Iacob telde?« .I. graiphed lantern? to mi criste per-
6 Loke in Ephrate herd we þa;
forn.
In feldes of wodes find? we pam swa. 19 His faas sal .i. kleth with schend-
7 We sal inga in his telde with blisse; nesse,
We sal bide in stede par stode fote 3 And ouer him blome sal mi halinesse«.
hisse.
S Rise, lauerd, in þi rest þat esse,
CXXXII.
Pou and arke ofe þi halinesse.
Loke swa gode, swa winsom yhite,
9 Þine prestes rightwisnes klethe ai, Til eerde brethre in ane es ite:
And þine haleghs glade hai.
2 Als þe smerle in heued onon,
10 For Dauid, þat es þi hine,
Falles in berde, berde ofe Aaron,
Noght turne pou likam ofe crist þine. 3 Pat doune falles in vrlinge 3
II Laucrd to dauyd swore he,
Ofe him þat es Þe klethinge' ;
And vnnaite to him sal ite noghte be: Als þe dew ofe Heremon,
»Ofe fruite ofe þi wambe, for-Þi, Pat falles in hille ofc Syon.
Quer pi sete sette sal .i..
4 For þider laucrd blissinge sende,
12 Ife pi sones mi witeworde yhemen And life til in werldes ende. .
alle,
And mi witenesses þese þat lere am
CXXXIII.
.i. salle,
Loke nou lauerd blisse yhe,
13 And sones ofe þam to in werld ai, Alle hine ofe lauerd þat be;
Site ouer þi sete sal þai.
2 Whilke standes in hous ofe lauerd
14 For lauerd Syon chese he,
ofe blisse, ".
He chese ite in eritage ofe him to be. In porches ofe hous ofe our god
15 Pis mi reste in werld ofe werld ybite; isse.
Here sal .i. wone, for .i. chese ite. 3 In nightes heues your hende in hali,
16 His widow blissand blisse .i. sal, And blisses lauerd inwardeli.
His pouer with laues fille .i. sal. 4 »Lauerd ofe. Syon blisse þe,
17 His prestes with bele clethe sal .i. ai, Pat maked heuen and erthe to be«.
i V temporibus, R tempils. ? E fond. i V Illuc producam. 2 Ms. lanterd. 3 fr.
3 EH fete.
ags. orl, hem of a garment. 4 V quod descen-
dit in oram vestimenti ejus.
E mi time. E om to 2. E po. E In trees of EH wode. E fond. so.
E ingo. of b. EH fete. E isse. E archa. EH belinesse. E om prestes.
E kleth pe. E pi halyhes in þe. E Turne noght lickam. Ewomb. E set.
E yemed hafe al. E witnes. Ephese H zhese. EH om þat. E I lere þam
al. E in to werld þat isse, Sal sete ouer þi sete with blisse. H to him;
E om of him to. E om 14. H wun. H widw. E sal fil loues withal.
H alle inst. of fille. E Fro þen. H forbede E lede. "EH lantern. E biforn.
E foos. E om i. E shendenes. helines.
CXXXII.
E so. EH winsum. H in an breber. E on. E Als-so s. E om in; heuen
(r. heued) apon. E bi kl. E Eremon H Heremon. E vnto þe w. e.
CXXXIII.
E Pat standis. H stande. E houses. EH heli. E witerli. E L. of heuen.
atasonera. Praltar
alter
Psalm CXXXIV-CXXXV.
263
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
CXXXIV.
Heriyhes name ofe lauerd ofe blisse;
Heriyhes, hine, lauerd þat isse:
2 Pat in hous ofe lauerd stande yhe,
In porches ofe hous ofe oure god
:: es he.
3 Loues lauerd, for gode lauerd yhite;
Salmes to his name, for softe es ite.
4 For Iacob to him lauerd ches he,
Irael in aght to him to be.
5 For .i. knew þat mikel es lauerd we
kalle,
And our god bifore goddes alle.
6 Alle þat euer he wald hafe done,
Lauerd in heuen he dide als sone,
And in erthe, and in þe se, .
And in alle depnesses þat be.
7 Fra vttreste of erthe kloudes ledand,
Leueninge in raine he made in land;
8 Pat forthledes windes strange
Fra his hordes forto gange.
Pat smate firstgeten of Egipte ware,
Fra man to beste, noght ane lefte
þare;
9 And sente taknes forto see
And fortakines, Egipt, in mide ofe þe,
In Pharao with mikel wa
And in alle his hine als-swa;
10 Pat smate mani genge amange,
And slogh kinges þat ware strange;
11 Seon, þat was witerli
Kinge ofe pe land ofe Amorri,
And Oge þat kinge was ofe Basan,
And þe rikes ofe Kanaan;
12 And he gafe þar land eritage ilkadel,
Heritage to his folke of Irael.
13 Þi name in ai, lauerd, sal be,
And þi minde in strende and strende
to se.
14 For lauerd his folke deme he sal,
And in his hine besekandlike he
with-al.
15 Liknes? ofe genge ofe siluer and golde,
Werkes ofe mennes hende ofe molde :
16 Mouth haue pai, and noght speke
with-al;
Pai haue egben, and se pai ne sal.
17 Eres haue pai, and noght here sal swa;
Ne sothlike gaste es in mouth ofe pa.
18 Like to þam be made þat maken þa,
And alle þat traisten in þam swa.
19 Hous ofe Irael, god you blis;
Blisse lauerd, Aaron hous þat is.
20 Blisse lauerd, hous ofe Leui ;
Þat dredes lauerd, blisse lauerd for-þi.
21 Blissed lauerd ofe Syon be,
Pat in Ierusalem erdes he.
CXXXV.
Schriues to lauerd, for gode be isse,
For in werld es merci hisse.
2 To god ofe goddes schriues nou:?
3 To lauerd ofe lauerdes schriues yhou:
4 Þat makes aneli grete wondre thinge:
5 Pat made heuens in vndrestandinge:
i Simulacra. 2 The refrain of each verse
(: quoniam in eternum misericordia eius)
was om. by the translator.
CXXXIV.
EH with blisse. E H. name of 1. E Whilke. E; Heryhes. E louerd to him
Iacob. E L. did in heuen; he om. E om in 2. E om in. E inrest. E Leuinyng.
E forghlede ledes (!). E Of. H þar h. E þare amange. EH smot. H first-
goten E firstkined. E For. one. E He outsend. EH toknes. E in mid Egipt
be. E Pharaon. Wo. E om And. als-so. EH smote. E omange. E wore.
E Syon. EH om þe. EH Armori. E & of king was B. E om land. EH il-
kedele. E Lauerd pi name in ai sa wend, Lancrd þi mind in strend and strend.
E sal he. E besoght sal he be. EH men. E Eyhen pai haue. E Pai haue
eres. E pai sal so. po. E om V 18. H Leke. H man = maken). H leuen.
sa. E po H pe bl. E dredis H drede. E Bl. louerd briht als ani beme,
Pat herdes in Ierusalem.
CXXXV.
E om V 1. H mas onli. E Pat makes wundres grete on mo. E in v. so.
antrooire fratter
AH00 NOWPAC
a-t-3-50 verss
264
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
6 Pat festened land ouer watres to be:
CXXXVI.
7 Pat grete lightnesses naked he:
8 Þe sunne in mighte ofe daies lighte: Stremes ofe Babilon, þare sate we on,
9 Pe mone and sternes in might of And wepe, whils we mined of Syon.
nighte.
2 In selihes in mide ofe ite
Io Pat smate Egipte with firstgeten ofe Our organes henge we ybite.
þa:
3 For þider? asked vs, pat wrecches
In Pat lede Irael fra mide ofe pa,
swa
12 In hand mightand þat was slegh
Led vs, wordes of sanges ma;
And arme als-swa wondre hegh. 4 And þat outlede vs: vympne singe yhe
13 Pat delte pe rede see in delinges Til vs of sanges ofe Syon be«.
wele,
5 Hou sal we singe sange with blisse
14 And lede thurgh mide it Irael;
Ofe lauerd in outen land þat isse ?
15 And Pharao als-swa smate he
6 Ife .i. forgete pe, Ierusalem land,
And his might in þe rede se.
To forgetelnesse giuen be mi righte
16 Pat led his folke thurgh wildernesse : hand.
17 Pat smate kinges mare and lesse; 7 Mi tunge to mi chekes cleuand be,
18 And he slogh kinges stalworth ware: Ife þat .i. noght mine ofe þe;
19 Seon kinge ofe Amorri þare ;
8 Ife .i. forsete pe noght, Ierusalem, ai
20 Oge kinge of Basan als-swa;
In biginninge ofe mi fainenes al dai.
21 And eritage gafe Þe land ofe þa: . . 9 Mine, lauerd, ofe Edom sones, pat
22 Heritage to his ſhine) ofe Irael.
tem,
23 Pat' in our mekenes mind ofe vs In daie ofe Ierusalem,
wel;
10 Þat saies: »lesses?, lesses yhite,
24. And he boght vs with his wille Vnto pe grondstapelnes 3 in ite !«
Fra our faas þate wald vs ille. II Doghtre of Babilon, wrecched alle!
25 Pat giues mete til al flesche þat Seli þat foryhelde salle
isse.
To be pi foryheldinge nou
26 Schriues to god ofe heuen blisse: Pat til vs foryhelded pou;
27 Schriues to lauerd night and dai, 12 Seli þat sal hald on-ane
For his merci es in ai.
And giue 4 pi smale vnto pe stane.
1 V Quia.
1 Villic. ? exinanite; R temys. 3 funda-
mentum. r. gnide.
CA
E watres ouer erde mo. E lightnes in. so. E Pat ș. E om in. E dai brizht.
E Pat m. EH smote. Ewight firstkined of am. E of pam. E In be hand of
mikel might, And arme hegh ful wele dight. H In þe h. E be (r. se) in doles.
E ledde. EH Pharaon. E als-so. EH smote. E & might of him. EH And led.
EH And smote. E more. E k. stronge for-pi. EH Armori. E om þare.
E Ogge. E als-so. E po. EH to his hine. E om vs. E Fro. foos. E f. mai
be. E of h. is he. E for gode he isse, For in werld his merci isse.
· CXXXVI.
H site. E We sal site ouer str. of Babilon. E whil H wil. EH min(e).
H salyhes E wilthes. E of it to se. E hynge sal we. E pide. EH bad.
E so. EH songes. E mo. H om þat. E loftsonge. E om of. E songo
H songes. EH songe. E werld inst. of lauerd. E Ierusalem if I forgete þe,
Mi rihthande to forgetinge giuen be. H cliuand. E cliue it. E If I min noght
of þe yhit. E Ierusalem if i set pe noght. H set. EH In mid of mi faines,
E with boght. E In þe dai. EH saine. E In þe. E grounstaþelinge of it.
£H foryheld(e) bou. E onon. EH gnide. E his saule (!). E to. E stone, H ban.
1500 re. Pealter
or VAR
Psalter
Y LL.
Psalm CXXXVII-CXXXVII.
265
Ms. Vesp. D vir.
9 Lauerd sal foryhelde for me. lauerd,
CXXXVII.
Þi merci
IN alle mi hert, lauerd, sal.i. schriue In werld: þi hendwerke ne forsake
to þe,
for-þi.
For Þou herd wordes ofe mouth ofe
CXXXVIII.
me.
2 In sight ofe aungels brighte
Pou fanded me, lauerd, and knew
Sal .i. singe to be fulle righte,
me, kinge;
At pi hali kirke bid sal .i.
Þou knew mi seete and mi risinge.
And' schriue to bi name witerli, 2 Mi thoghtes fra fer vnderstode pou;
3 Ouer pi sothnesse and pi merci, Mi stie and mi stringe instepped?
For pou mikled ouer al pi name hali. pou nou,
: 4 In what dai .i. Þe kalle, here me; 3 And þou forsagh mi waies ilkan;
Pou sal felefald might in mi saule For in mi tunge sagh es nan.
to be.
4 Loke, lauerd, pou knew alle new
5 Be schriuen to þe, lauerd, alle kinges and alde bat be;
ofe land,
Þou made me, and set þi hand ouer
Pat? herd alle wordes ofe pi mouth
me.
comand;
5 Selkouth es made [þi?? lare ofe me
6 Pat” þai singe in waies of lauerd al yhite;
dai,
It es strenphed", and .i. might noght
For mixel es blisse ofe lauerd ai..
at ite.
7 For hegh lauerd, and mekenesses 6 Whider fra þi gaste sal .i. ga?
sees he,
And whider fra þi face file sal .i. swa?
And heghtes 3 fra fer knawes he. 7 Ife .i. vpstegh in heuen, pare ert
8 In mid ofe mi* drouinge ife gane afe.i., pou;
Þou sal qwiken me for-þi;
Ife .i. falle til helle, sone comes tou.
And ouer wreth ofe mi faas Þi hand 8 Ife .i. take in grikinge fetheres to me,
streked pou,
And eerde in vtreste ofe pe se,
And saufe me maked pi righthand nou. 9 Sothlike þi hand ite lede me sal,
i V quia. 2 V et, R ut. 3 alta. A om mi. V investigasti, R steppyd. ? om; V scién-
tia tua ex me. 31. strenyhed?
CXXXVII.
E I to be shriue. E of mi inouth biliue. E Of pine aungeles in þe sight.
H of pin a. E And þi. EH heli. E bidde I sal. E with-alle. E Ouer bi
milz pi sothnes same. E pi heli name. E manifolded H felefalded. E om mi.
E Louerd to be be pai shriuen, Al kynges of erpe þat liuen, For þai herd
and vndirstode Of þi mouth al wordes gode Hworde. E is inst. of al dai.
E is of louerd be blisse. E meknes. E & heghnes he knawes fro fer to se.
E om of. Egon H gain. EH salt. E wragh H wrath. E fos. EH streke.
EH make. E Louerd foryhelde sal for me, Louerd mildhertnes of he is in
werld þat þou wroght, Werkis of þi hend forsake noght. H foryheld sal.
CXXXVIII.
H fonded. E Louerd pou me fraisted. E Fro fer þi(!) þoghtes. EH stigh.
EH strenge. EH forsegh. E ilkone. H om in. E sah. E non. E newest
an eld. E shope. E Ferlic. H inade is. E pi lore. E streynghed. EH in
hit. E fro. go. E sal I fle so. E stegh til h. pore art pou nou. E sal inst.
of falle. H griging. Eom it. H And if. Ewhilk hap. EH Merknes.
atsoo E. &. Practer
CM400 Nupoald
13.50 Vene
266
The Psalms.
.
And yhit .i. am with Þe for-þi.
18 [If þou slaas, god, sinful þat be, H
Men-sloers, heldes fra me;
19 For in þoht saiezhe, mare and
lesse:
Þar cites take þai in unnaitnesse.
20 Pat hated þe, lauerd, hated .i.;
I sculked ouer mi? fas for-þi.]”
21 With fulli hatereden hated .i. Þa,
Faas to me made ere bai swa.
22 Fande me, gode, and mi hert wite
þou;
Aske me, and knaw mi stiyhes nou.
23 And se ife wai ofe wicknes es in me; .
And lede me in wai þat ai sal be.
T
Nis. Vesp. D vir.
And þi righthand sal halde me al.
10 And .i. saide: »swilke happe might be
Mirkenesses sal fortrede me,
And þe night be lightinge mine,
In mi lustes to ga ine..
11 For mirkenesses, alle þat be,
Noght cestred sal be fra þe;
For be lighted als daie sal þe nighte;
Als his mirkenesses, and swa his
lighte.
12 For bou aghte mi lendes nou;
Fra maghe ofe mi moder me keped
bou.
13 .I. sal schrine to pe for-þi,
For mikled ertou aghfulli ;
Wondrefulle ere werkes þine,
And wele knawe sal saule mine.
14 Noght hide es mi mouth' fra þe,
Pat pou made in derne to be;
And þe stapelnes ? ofe me
In nethereste ofe erthe to be.
15 Pine eghen segh vnfulmakinge 3 mine,
And be writen sal alle in boke Pine;
Schapen sal be daies ma,
And na man sal be in þa.
16 To me sothlike mikel vorscheped
bene,
Gode, þine frendes alle bidene;
Swith mikel strenghþed es in blisse
Pe alderman" ofe pam þate isse.
17 .I. sal telle pam night and dai,
And ouer se-sande felefalde sal pai.
.I. vpras fulle witerli,
1 V os, R. bane. ? V substantia. 3 V
imperfectum meum. 4 V principatus; R prin-
cipate.
on
CXXXIX.
Qutake me, lauerd, fra iuel man;
Fra wike bieren outake me on-an.
2 Pat thoght wickenesses in hert ai,
Fightes set þai alle pe dai.
3 Þai scharped pair tunges als neddres,
swa;
Attre ofe snakes ynder lippes ofe. Þa.
4. Fra hende ofe sinfulle, lauerd, yheme
me,
Outake me fra men þat wicked be:
5 Pat thoghte mi steppes til vnderga;
Proude, snares to me hide pa,
6 And strenges in snare pai set to be,
Biside pe wai schame set þai to me.
7 .I. saide to lauerd: mi gode ertou ;
Here steuen ofe mi bisekinge nou.
1 r. bi? 2 V 18-20, om in Vesp., are
supplied from H.
E om sal. E And þe n. lighting in me so In mi likynges sal me go. E For
merkenesse mani mo N. be cestred sal þe fro. E om sal. E Als is merkenes
als-so is l. E mi lendes abt þou n. E Fro wombe. E kep; H mi fonger
pou. H athfulli. EH Wunderful are. E werkis. E & knaw swipe mikil.
H kn. Þam. H hid derned (!) is. E pe fro. E in hidil so. H neperist. E se.
E Daies sal be shapen mo. E no man. Þo. E om V 16—21. EH Fond.
E louerd. E & wit hert mine. E stiyes mine. E if wicke wai.
CXXXIX.
E Fro iuel man louerd outake me nou, Fro berne wicked me outake pou.
H berne. Hom me. E wicnes. E poght inst. of set. E so. po. E Yheme
(me) louerd fro sinful hand, Fro men wicke outake me in land. H hand. Hom
þat. E vndirgo. þo. E strengis. E pai streked. E om þe. E of mi blissing.
si no)
Practer
a 1300
Erk. Pealter
Psalm CXXXIX-CXL.
267
Ms. Vesp. D vii.
8 Lauerd, lauerd, ofe mi hele es mighte, 2 Mi bede be righted als rekles in þi
Þou schadowed ouer mi heued in sighte,
dai ofe fighte.
Heuinge ofe mi bend offrand ofe
9 Noght gife pou me, lauerd, fra mi nighte.
yherninge
3 Set, lauerd, to mi mouth yheminge,
Vnto sinfulle, for nakin thinge ;
And to mi lippes doer ofe vmstan-
Pai thoght ogaine me: ne forlete me, dinge?.
Þat thurgh hap vphouen þai be. 4 Noght helde mi herte in wordes ofe
10 Heued ofe vmgange ofe þam es alle, iuelnes,
Swinke ofc þar lippes ouerhile am Til outscere? in sinnes out-scerand-
salle.
nesses ?
II Falle sal ouer þam in land
5 With men wirkand wickenesses for-
Koles þat ere hate brennand;
þi,
In fire sal tou thrawe pam swa;
And with þar chosen, noght be rife
Fra wrecchednesses noght vnderstand
sal .i...
sal pa'.
6 Threte sal me rightwis in merci,
12 Man iltunged, ai spekand",
And he sal snibbe me witerli;
Noght righted sal be in land;
Oyle sothlike ofe sinful al
Vnrightwise man, at his endinge Noghte infat mi heued sal.
Take sål him iuels in steruinge. 7 For yhite and mi bede in weleque-
13 .I. knew pat laucrd dome sal do
menesses ofe am:
Ofe helples, wreke ofe pouer als-so. Þai ere outloted, samevd to stane
14 Bot rightwise to bi name schriue. demers ofe Dam 3;
sal. Þai;
8 Þai sal here mi wordes, for þai mighte
And righte eerde with Þi likam ai.
yhite,
Als fattenes ofe erthe zhutten ouer
. CXL.
erthe es ite.
Lauerd, .i. cried to þe, here me; 9 Skatered" ere our banes biside helle:
Bihald to mi steuen when .i. hafe For at þe, lauerd, lauerd, min eghen
cried to pe.
to dwelle,
i V In miseriis non subsistent. ? Vir i V ostium circumstantiae. 2 Ms. outster.,
linguosus.
V ad excusandas excusationes in peccatis.
3 V absorti (1) sunt juncti petrae judices eorum.
4 Ms. Stakered.
E om es. E shadued H shawed. E o. me hend. E sighte. EH om bou.
E for. EH zborning. E To sinful man. Dokyn. E phot H zoht. EH agaynė.
E ouer-al, es om. EH hote. EH salt þou. H zraw. E so. E wretchednes.
E n. sal be þo H n. be sal þa. E be rihted sal. E iueles at ending Take
s. h. in st. E om right.
CXL.
E Here pou me nou witerli, A louerd to be krye I, Be-hald vn-to steuen of
me, When I haue kried to þe. E Dighted be mi bede right Als of brininge
in þi sight, Of mi hend pe vp-heuinge Offrand be it of heuenynge; H Mi b.
be r. in þi siht als brenning, .. o. of uthtening. EH dore. E Held noght.
EH outscerandnes(se). E wickednes so. H corn. E Noght like rike(!) sal I with
corn of po. H Zrete .. sinful. E Ouertake me Þe rihtwise sal. E me with-al.
EH Oli. E yhit. E sal it. E For yhit and mi bede to go In þe quelmynges of
Þo, Pai are out-loted samen to ston, Domes-men of þam ilkon. H welquemes.
samen. am. E Here mi wordes al sal bai For (pai) miht by niht and by day, Als
of erþe pe fatnesse Yutten ouer erbe it esse. EH Scaterd. E om our. E bones.
althearttrahter.
alHOON V Poalti
a 1350 Verse
268
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
In þe hoped .i. nighte and dai; For samenstrenghpede ere pai ouer
Noghte bere pou mi saule awai.
me,
10 Yheme me fra snare þat þai set to 10 Outlede fra yheminge saule mine,
me,
Forto schriue to name pine ;
And fra schames ofe wirkand wicke Me abiden rightwise to se,
nesse be.
To pat tou foryhelde to me.
II Falle sal in his nette sinful pat are.
Sengli .i. am til .i. forthfare.
CXLII.
Lauerd, here pe bede ofc me;
CXLI.
With pine eres pou bise
W ith mi steuen to lauerd cried .i.; Mi bisekinge in pi sothnesse;
With mi steuen to lauerd bisoght Here me in pi rightwisnesse.
haue .i..
2 And noghte inga in dome with pi
2 .I. yhet mi bede in his sighte,
hine,
And mi drouinge bifore him schew For noght bes righted al liuand in
.i. righte,
sighte bine.
3 In wapand mi gaste fra me,
3 For filiyhed es mi saule pe faa,
And þou knew mi stiyhes to se. Mi life in erthe he meked swa;
4 In þat wai whilke .i. yhode ai
4 In mirkenesses he bilouked me,
Snares to me hidden pai.
Als þe dede ofe werld sal be,
5.1. biheld at righthalfe, and segh wele, And gremed' mi gaste es in me smerte,
And nan' was þat me knew a dele ; In me todreued es mi herte.
6 Forworphed fieinge fra me,
5 ... mined ofc daies, alde, bithoghti
And nan es pat sekés mi saule to se.
am .i.
7.I. cried to be, lauerd, .i. saide: mi In alle þi werkes witerli;
hope ertou,
In makinges þat þou has wroghte
Mi dele in land: 'ofe liuand nou.
Ofe þine hende .i. wele bithoghte.
8 Bihalde to mi bede for-pi,
6.1. tospred min hende at pe to be;
For þat mikel meked am .i.:
Mi saule als erthe waterlesse to be.
9 Lese me fra mi' filiyhande be, 7 Here me, lauerd, swifteli,
. 1 al. Angromed; V Et anxiatus est.
1 r. me.
H om For. E pat inst. of at pe. E In pe hoped [I] with þoght, Mi saule 0-way
bere pou noght. EH snares pai set. E Fal in his nette sinful sal sare. E Sen-
gelic H Sengellic.
CXLI.
EH kried I (om E) wisly. E om And. Eshewed. E fro me mi gost to be.
E & my stiyhes pou knew. E non. E Fleynge forwurbed fro me. E sekis.
E I kried ful inwardli, Louerd vnto pe for-þi, I said pou art my hope on hand,
Mi dele ir land of liuande. E Vn-to mi bedę behald pou, For mekel meked
am I nou. H me f. E fro filyand me pat be. E samenstriped. E Lede
H Lese. EH abide. E Til.. E forheled me.
CXLII.
E om þine. E nou þou H nou. E And þou ne (ms. me) salt go in In dome
with hine pine, For rithwished sal noght be Al leuand in sight of [t]he. H And
pou salt noht. E om es. E fo. so. E In merkenes louked he me. E pat be.
EH Angromed. E om in. E droued, to om. E Of daies elde mined was I,
Wele 'bebhot I am for-pi In bi werkis pat Þou wroght, In makinges of pi
hend I þoght. H þine w. E I spred to be mi hend þat be. E Louerd mi
..-.-
- vool earsoor Peables
Praltera
Psalm CXLII–CXLIII.
269
Ms. Vesp. D vi.
Mi gaste waned ful bisili:
Ore sone ofe man, for þou weneste?
8 Noght turne þou þi face fra me,
him ?
And to falland in flaske like sal .i. be. . 5 Man til ydelnesse like made isse;
9 Herde make to me areli þi merci, Als schadow forthgane daies bisse.
For þat in þe hoped .i.;
6 Lauerd, helde heuens, douncome
10 Kouth make to me wai whilke ga .i. with-alle;
sal,
Negh? billes, and reke þai salle.
For to pe mi saule houe .i. al. . 7 Leuen 3 brightnesses, and skater salt
11 Outake me fra mi faas, lauerd, to be Þam;
flegh .i. nou;
Outsend þine arwes, and todreue
Lere me to do þi wille, for mi gode salt am
ertou.
8 Outsend þi hande fra heght nou,
12 Þi gaste, þat esse sa gode at nede, Outake and lese me bou
In righte land ite sal me lede;
Fra watres mani, and fra hand
And for þi name swa hali esse,
Ofe outen sones ofe other land:
Qwiken me saltou, in pine euennesse. 9 Whas mouth spekes vonaitnesse,
13 Pou sal outlede fra droninge saule Pair righthand righthand ofe wicke-
mine,
nesse.
And forlese mi faas in merci þine, 10 God, new sang sal .i. singe to þe,
14 And þat droue mi saule al tine pou sal; To be sal .i. singe in ten-strenged
For .i. hine pine ai`am al.
sautre.
II Pate giues hele to kinges, þat boght
CXLIII.
Dauid
Blissed lauerd mi god, þat leres righte Þi bine fra sperde lithre: outake
Mi hende at cocle', mi fingres at fighte. me with,
2 Mi merci and infleinge mine,
12 And outake me fra þe hande
Mi helper and leser mine;
Ofe outen sones ofe other lande,
3 Mi forhiler, and in him hope .i. ai; Mouth ofe wham spekes vnnaitnesse,
Pat vndres folke vnder me al dai. Pair righthand righthande ofe wicke-
4 Lauerd, whilke es man for þou in-
nesse.
knew? him?
13 Whas sones als new plantes bene
1 r. cocke; V praelium. 2 V innotuisti ei. V reputas. 2 tange. 3 Ms. Leuens;
V Fulgură coruscationem.
JI
god here swiftli. Ewaned witerly. E Ne, fro. H flosshe. E to in Alesshe (1)
falland. E to mi (r. me þi) milpe erli. E om to. E wai ingo I s. E Fro mi
foos me outake bou, For þat I flegh to be nou, Lere me to do þi wil þat isse,
For pou art mi god of blisse. E so. EH heli. EH salt pou me. E Fro drouyng
mi saule salt pou lede, And þi milthe mi foos to-sprede. H lede. E And tine
salt þou al þat droue saule mine, For þat I am hine. þine.
CXLIII.
E Blissid be bou ilkadele, Louerd god of Irael, Pat ledis mi hend to sighte(!),
And mi fingres to fightinge riht. H cocke. E Mi milze mine in-fleyng als-so,
Mi finger(!) mi leser of wo. E om ai. E vndre me wisly. E who. E pat pou
ne k. E to fantome. E is so. E His daies als shadw forth pai go. H help.
EH Leuen brightnes. E Outsend fro hegh þe hand of be. EH Outake me.
H me lese. E om pou. E Of w. fele. EH Whos. E And þar. EH Louerd.
E I sal synge to pe in. E Pat giues hele to kynges mo, Pat broght Dauid out
of wo, Pi hine I is and ay sal be, Fro swerd liper outake me. H outta me
wid. E Whos mouth spekis. E And þar. E Sones of whom als impes new :
Lih
a M400 NVPpart
LC
1
on hooinontaalter
50mVerse
270
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
In þar yhouthe apon to sene; 6 And mighte ofe pine aghfulnesses sal
14 Doghtres ofe þam samen-dighte?,
bai sai,
Vmtiffed als licknes ofe kirke brighte. And þi mikelhed telle al dai.
1.5 Cleues ofe pa fulle ere yhite,
7 Minde ofe mighthed' ofe pi softnesse
Bolkenand fra þat in to pite;
Sal pai rifte, and glad in pi right-
16 Þair schepe brodefulle, mightsomande wisenes.
In þar outgange; þar noute fat in 8 Mercifulle and mildeherted in lande
lande.
Lauerd, and mikel milde-herted and
17 Noght es fallinge ofe stanewalle swa; tholande.
Ne forthgange; ne crie in waies ofe 9 Soft lauerd to alle he isse,
þa.
And his rewpes ouer alle werkes
18 Seli folke to wham þese ere, saide hisse.
pai;
10 Schriuen alle þi werkes , lauerd, to
Seli folke ofe wham lauerd gode es ai. Þe be;
And þine haleghs blisse to be.
CXLIV.
II Blisse ofe pi rike sai mai sale,
I sal vpheue þe, gode, mi kinge isse; And þi mighte speke ouer-alle ;
And in werld, and in werld ofe werld, 12 Pat þai make kouth to mensones þi
bi name blisse.
might ilike,
2 Bi alle daies sal .i. blisse pe same, And pe blisse ofe mikelhed ofe þi rike.
And in werld and in werld ofe werld 13 Þi rike, rike of alle werldes ende; .
bi name.
And þi lauerdschip in strende and
3 Mikel lauerd, and loflike es he;
strende.
And ofe his mikelhede nan ende mai 14 Trewe lauerd in alle his wordes isse,
. be.
And hali in alle werkes hisse.
4 Strende and strende pi werkes loofe 15 Lauerd raises alle þat doune falle,
sal,
And þe hurte he vprers alle.
And þi mighte forthschewe with-al. 16 Eghen ofe alle, lauerd, hope in þe
5 Mikelhed of blisse ofe bị halines ai wide,
Sal þai speke, and þi wondres telle And þou giues þar mete in time
sal pai.
fultide ? :
1 V compositae. 2 eructantia ex hoc in illud. l abundantiae. 2 in tempore opportuno ; cf. 31.7.
Y
In þar youpe opon bew. E Vmtifid. E Yedinges H Vinges (?). E ful are of
þo. E fro pis in þat so. E Shep of pam bope gret and smal Brodful are
pai ouer-al, Mihtsomand in þaire out-gange, Nete of pam ful fatte omange.
E Nis f. E stone-wal H stanwal. E so. E To whom þese are seli folcke
Saide pai. H to whom zese are.
CXLIV.
E I sal vpheue he forby al thinge, God mine of heuen kynge, And to pi
name I sal blisse, In werld and in werld of werld þat isse. E Be al daies
whilke I liue, To bi name blis sal I giue, And þi name eryhe I sal, In werld
and in werld of werld þat isse (!). H Þe pe same. H lof þi name. H om and.
E louelic. E mekilhede none. E St. & st. pine werkis ay Sal loue and þi
miht forthshew sal þai. E Pai sal speke mikelhed of blisse And tel þine
wundres þat isse. E aghfulnes. E mihtand. sothnes. E rihtnes. E Milzer & milze-
herted. E om and. E Sothefast til al is louerd of blisse. E om alle. E Al þi
werkis louerd shriuen. E Þi. E To make kouth. H ma. E om ilike. EH om
þe. E rike briht. E werldis. E Louerd trew. H heli E seli. E werkis.
E L. her. EH om pe. E vpreris Hupreres. EH Alle eyhen. E om hope.
Vop) artsaomanan Prodler
P Ralter
Psalm.CXLIV-CXLVI.
271
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
17 Openes tou þi hand ouer alle thinge,
Þat made heuen and erthe, be se,
And filles ilka beste with blissinge. And þat euer in þam be;
18 Lauerd rightwise in alle his waies isse, 5 Þat in werld yhemes sothnesse;
And bali in alle werkes bisse.. Þat dos dome to mare and lesse
19 Negh lauerd to alle him kalland esse, Vnrightwisenes þat ere tholande ;
Til alle him kalland in sothnesse. He giues mete til hungerande.
20 Wille ofe dredand him sal he do, 6 Lauerd fotefest vnleses he,
And here þar bisekinge, and saufe Lauerd lightes blinde pat mai nogbte
make po.
se,
21 Lauerd yhemes alle him louand”, 7 Lauerd reres hurt þat are;
And forlese sal he, alle sinnand. Lauerd loues rightwis fulle yhare.
22 Heryinge ofe lauerd mi mouth speke 8 Lauerd ful wele yhemes ai
sal,
Comelinges bath night and dai,
And blisse sal alle flesche with-al Fadrelesse and widowe onfang he sal,
Vnto hali name es bisse,
And waies ofe sinfulle forlese with-al.
In werld and in werlde of werlde pisse. 9 Rike sal lauerd in werldes to wende,
Þi gode ofe? Syon in strende and
CXLV.
strende.
Herye, mi saule, lauerd alle!
· In mi life lauerd berye .i. salle,
CXLVI.
And salme to mi gode sal .i.
Loues lauerd, for gode salme es to
Als lange als .i. am, witerli.
singe;
2 Ne wiles in princes traiste neuer ane, Til oure gode be blithfulle and faire
Ne in mensones, in whilke hele es louinge.
nane.
2 Biggand Ierusalem lauerd wele,
3 Outga sal his gaste, and turne in Samen sal he spredinges ofe Iraele;
erthe swa;
3 Dat heles forbroken ofe hert for wa,
In þat daie forworth sal alle thoghtes And toknittes : þar sorwes swa;
of pa.
4 Þat telles mikelhede ofe sternes ma,
4 Seli of wham gode Iacob his helper And names kalles til alle pa.
isse,
5 Mikel lauerd, and mikel might hisse;
His hope in lauerd gode hisse:
And ofe his wisedome na tale isse.
1 diligentes.
1 Ms. blath. 2 al. om. 3 V alligat
contritiones eorum.
E pou. E om alle. E ilk H ilke. E pi bl. E to him kalland e., To him k.
E him dredand. E par bone. E alkyn A. EH heli. E om es. E þat isse.
CXLV.
E tr. noght on. E Gast of him it sal outgo, And he sal agayne turne in is
erhe so, And forwurpe sal in pat dai Al.boghtes of þam in ai. H in is erbe.
E Seli wo god Iacob is helper is. E Hope of him. E maked. E om and.
erbe als-so, De se and al þat are in þo. E Pat are ynrihtwisenesse. H 30-
lande. H until hungrande. E. leses. E vpreres. EH rihtwisenesse E euer-
mare. E yemes he C. whore so þai be. E & widous louerd kepe sal. E wai.
E forlese al. E Loucrd rike sal in w. with-outen end. E om of.
CXLVI.
E Heryhes. E is it. E Louer[d] biggand I. ful wele E of h. mo. E Pat;
E gnïdes H tognides; E forbrekynges of þo. E tellis. Esternes briht. E &
names til al po kalland righte. E oure louerd. Eoin might. Eom his.
otsoontt. Trattor
a1350
O
272
The Psalms.
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
6 Lauerd handetame es kepande, 17 He sendes als snodes? his cristal:
And sinfulle til erthe mekande.
Bifore face ofe his kalde wha thole
7 Singes to lauerd in schrift þat be,
sal?
In harpe to lauerd salme yhe: 18 He sal outsende his worde, and
8 Þate with cloudes hiles heuen,
melte þa;
And graibes raine til erthe ful euen; He sal blawe his gaste, and watres
9 Pat forthledes in hilles hay,
outga.
And gresse to hinehede ofe men ai; 19 Pat schewes his worde to Iacob wele,
10 Pat giues to meres mete ofe þa, Rightwisenesses and his domes to
And to Crawebriddes him kalland Iraele.
swa.
20 Noght til alle birthe dide be swa,
In Noght in strenghþe ofe hors sal he And his domes noghte schewed til þa.
haue wille,
Ne in schines ofe man queminge bes
CXLVIII.
him tille;
Heryhes lauerd, ofe heuen? isse,
12 Welequeme es to lauerd ouer him In heghtes heryhes him with blisse.
dredand,
2 Loues him, alle his aungeles be;
And in pas ouer his merci ere hopand. Alle his mightes, him loue yhe.
3 Loues him, sunne and mone bi nighte;
CXLVII (contin. of preceding).
Loues him, sternes alle and lighte.
Herybe, Ierusalem, on-on;
4 Heryhes him, heuens ofe heuens þe
Heryhe pou þi gode, Syon.
same;
13 For lokkes ofe pi yhates strenghþed And watres vnder 3 heuens ere, loues
he,
lauerdes name.
He blissed þi sones in þe.
5 For he saide, and made þai are;
14 Þate set þine endes pais al dele, He sente, and þai schapen ware.
And with fattnes ofe whete filled pe 6 In ai, and in werld ofe werld, sete
wele.
he þa;
15 Pate sente his speche til erthe pisse: He sete bode, and it sal noghte forbi
Swiftli rennes sagh[e] hisse.
ga".
16 Pat giues snawe als wolle to se, 7 Heryhes lauerd, ofe erthe þate esse :
Cloude? als aske spredes he.
Draguns and alle depnesse;
I V nebulam.
i V buccellas. 2 al. heuenes. 3 V super.
V praeteribit.
L
EH no. E til oure s. yhe. E fortledis. E hinhed. EH mares. E om mete.
þo. so. EH strengh. E his wille. E liking; bes om. E Wel[llikand. E po
H þa. E om ere.
CXLVII.
E louerd o-non. EH strenbed. E Pat þine endis pais to be E fild H filt.
E om wele. E sendis. E to erbe pat isse. EH wulle. E strewes. EH Kolde.
E who. E sende (out om). po. E His gast sal blaw & water outgo. E Riht-
wisnesse. E Til al birpes noght. EH om til. E he so.
CXLVIII.
E om of. EH heuenes. E Heryhes him al with angels so, Herybes him al
his mihtes mo. E Heryhes mone and soñ bright, Heryhes him sternes & þe l.
E heuen of. E v. heuen. E om ere .. E lof louer n. E send & made þai
ware. E he set po. go. E Loues. E alkin depenesse. E haiel snaw. EH ise.
SRL
.
1800 s. Pealta
Spalter a 1400 NV Psalter
Psalm CXLVIII—CL.
273
Ms. Vesp. D VII.
8 Fire, snawe, haile isse,
And he vphoue' softe in bele to
Blaste ofe stormes, þat makes worde blisse.
hisse;
5 Glade sal haleghs in blisse alle,
9 Hilles, knolles alle men kalle;
And in þair cleues faine pai salle.
Tries fruitefulle, and cedres alle; 6 Gladschipes ofe gode in throte ofe
10 Bestes, and alle erfes ma,
þa,
Neddres, fogheles febered als-swa; Gripinges ofe swerde in þair hende
II Kinges ofe erthe and alle folke li-
als-swa:
uand,
7 In birthes wrekes for to do,
Princes and alle demers ofe land. Snibbinges in ma folke þar-to;
12 Yhungmen, als-swa maidenes clene, 8 To binde pair kinges in fotefestenes,
Elder with yhunger, al bidene
And þair worthi in iren festeles; .
Loues name ofe lauerd witerli, 9 Dome writen in þam þat do pai —
13 For vphouen es his name, ofe aneli. Blisse pis es to alle his haleghs ai.
14 His schrifte ouer heuen and erthe
with blisse;
CL.
And he vphoue horne ofe folke hisse. Herybes lauerd in haleghs hisse;
Ympne to his haleghs, to sones ofe Heryhes him in walken ofe his mighte
| Irael,
isse.
To folke neghand to him wele. 2 Heryhes in his mightes mare and
lesse;
CXLIX.
Loủes him after manihede ofe his
Singes newe sange to lauerd þat mikelnesse.
isse;
3 In din ofe beme him loue yhe;
In kirkes ofe haleghs louinge hisse. Loues him in harpe and in sautre.
2 Faine mote Irael in him þat ite made, 4 Loues him in crouth ? and timpane;
And doghtres ofe Syon in pair kinge Loues him in stringes and organe.
glade.
5 Loues him euer in lande
3 Heryhe þai in crouth? his name ai, In chimbes ful wele ringande;
In timpan and sautre to him singe pai. Loues him in chimbes ofe mirthe
4 For welequeme es lauerd in folke and blisse.
hisse,
:6 Alkine gaste loue lauerd þat isse...
I al. ise. 2 V in choro.
i V exaltabit. ? V in choro.
E Gast. E dou wille. H make. EH hise. E alle knolles me k. E frutful
H frutfol. E erpes mo. E and foyheles. E als-so. E om and. H Yhingmen.
E als-so H als-sa. EH Elde. ÉH Loue Hom of. EH onli. E pat isse.
E Loftsonge til al his h. E om of. H him is wel.
CXLIX.
E S. to louerd new s. EH kircke. E heryhing. E om mote. E him.
EH Syon doghters. E In crough his n. loue pai ai. E Vpheue. E phrotes.
þo. E And gripings. als-so. E Wrekis in birphes. E mo. E fotefesteles.
E vine hendfestenes. E pis is bl.
CL.
H wolken E festnes. E of m. bisse. E Loues him in his mihtes isse.
E Heryhes. E om in 2. E Heryhes. E krough H croth. € Heryhes.
E strenges and. E Loue zhe him in ilka land. E cimbals (on erasure). E om
ful. E Heryhes. E cimbes. E mirthes pat isse. E Lett iche gast heryhe.
IS
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII
(by William Nassyngton ?).
Among the contents of Ms. Thornton is a poem titled » Tractatus Willelmi
Nassyngtoñ, quondam aduocati curie Eboraci, de Trinitate & Vnitate, cum declara-
cione operum Dei, et de passione domini nostri Ihesu Christi &c. (ed. Perry), which is
mainly a reproduction of St. Edmund's Speculum. To the same William Nassyngton
is generally ascribed the long poem »Mirror of life«, a translation of Joh. de Waldeby's
Speculum Vitae; although in some Mss. (LI I. 8) the Engl. poem is ascribed to
R. Rolle. The oldest, and probably original, Ms. of the »Mirror« is Tiber. E VII,
of about 1350, a fine folio in double columns, and carefully written, but greatly
damaged by fire and partly destroyed. Now the same Ms. Tib. contains, after
the »Mirror« fol. I-82, 3 more poems: the Lamentation of St. Mary on the
Passion (after St. Bernhard); a versification of R. Rolle's Form of living; and
a metrical version of the tract titled Spiritus Guidonis (from a prose text still
extant in Ms. Vernon); then follows a set of homilies and legends in verse,
which is a revised and greatly augmented edition of the Evangelia dominicalia in
northern verse (cf. Alteng. Leg. N. F.)'. I have no doubt that the 3 poems
mentioned - all translations — have the same author as the „Mirror of life«, viz.
William Nassyngton, and to him I also ascribe the additional parts in the homilies
and legends of the same Ms. So we have in him another Yorkshire poet of
R. Rolle's time, and his follower; but he is rather an easy versifyer and trans-
lator, than an original thinker and poet. His chief merit is facility of form. Of
his life nothing is known beyond what is implied in the above note of Ms. Thornton.
The purity of a-forms shows him to belong to the same parts as R. Rolle. As
an edition of the »Mirror of life« has been undertaken elsewhere, I do not give
it here. In the pieces given, I have tried as much as possible to fill the gaps
made by the fire and to complete the text.
Ì. (St. Mary's lamentation to St. Bernard on the passion
of Christ).
A later, southern version of this poem, from Ms. Vernon, with the readings of 3
other Mss. (Dd. 1. 1?, Trin. Coll. Oxf. 57 f., L. 70), was ed. in »Vernon Poems«
p. 297. The present text proves the northern origin of the poem. (Another northern
poem on the same subject, but omitting St. Bernard's name, is contained in the
Cursor Mundi v. 23945 ff.; Old French poems in Ms. Gg 1. I, and Reg. 19 C 11.)
The subject is taken from a sermon of St. Bernard (Opp. Antw. '1616, cf. Migne
182 col. 1133).
fol. 82.
31
Fader and sun and hali gaste, als I am sinful, help in haste,
almighti god in trinite,
lorde, pou send sum grace to me
þurgh bisekeing of Mari chaste, sum word to say hat be noght waste,
maiden and moder of pete,
bot þat oure saules be better be..
1 The set in Ms. Tib. is repeated, and again augmented – especially in the legends — by
a third poet, in Ms. Harl. 4196; cf. Altengl. Leg. N. F.
? Ms. Dd, in an additional stanza at the end, ascribes the poem to a hermit, meaning R. Rolle.
* The other Mss. have 4 additional stanzas in the beginning.
€1400 Diad. Berno.o. Bet br)
?
1. (St. Mary's lamentation on the passion of Christ).
· 275
Saint Bernard beres witnes omang,
so dose saint Iohn bir cosyn right,
þat sorow so to hir hert thrang
þat blude ran of hir eghen bright.
55
It cs grete dole to tel or say
10 or forto think in mannes mode
how Crist opon pe gude friday
for vs sched his blissed blude;
al his desiples fled oway,
for drede of ded pai war nere wode;
15 it es no tung þat tel þam may
pe sorowes of Mari, his moder gude.
For scho him bare bath god and man,
and sepin þai cald his name Ihesu ;
pai offerd him to sir Simion --
20 þat prophet wele his louerd knew;
an angel sun warned þam þan
of king Herod pat was vntrew,
and bad Mari til Egipt gane
for drede of ded of mani a Iew.
De blude out of hir eghen so ran;
for care hir hert nere clefe in two.
Saint Bernard, þat haly man,
beres witnes pat it was so.
60
for til a kirk wightly he wan
whare he might wit more of hir wo;
scho schewed hir þare, and asked him þan
what he wald, or scho went him fro.
He sayd: »if þat it war þi will, 65
tell me, lady, heuyn quene,
how pou for wo wepyd þi fill
when þai did þi sun slike tene,
band him ful fast & bet him ill,
and corond him with thornes kene, 70
and gert him bere vnto a hill
a cros, and toyled him þam bitwene.
25 Mari euer had ioy inogh
whils sho was hir dere sun neghe;
into what stede so euer he drogh
come he neuer out of hir eghe.
sepin men did him mekel wogh
30 and mekil dole scho. saw him dreghe:
his handes nayled pai til a bogh
and on a tre hanged him heghe.
Of sorows sere myght scho noght sese
when he was bludi bak and croune,
35 and scho wist þat he was sakles;
of bodi and bak þe blude ran doun;
to se his pine was ful grete prese
of folk þat folowed him out of toun;
wemen wepid, withowten lese,
10 and pleined mekil his passioun.
Ihesus turned him to þam þare
and spak þir wordes of grete pete:
»wemen, wepes for me no mare,
bot for zowre-seluen wepe mai ze,
+5 and for zowre childer ze mai haue care,
þat dose me shame als ze may sec.
no wonder if hir hert was sare
þat saw hir sun so pined be.
A, lady, whare wastou for wo
when þai him band and bet so fast ?
I wote pou wald noght fe him fro, 75
so was þi hert stif and stedfast.
allas, he said, whi was it so
and my hert noght alto-brast
or els for care to-cleue in two,
or wepe whils þat my life may last? 80
Lady, he said, pou had grete pyne
when þat þou saw þat freli fode.
his heuyd doun so law enclyne
when he was hanged on he (rode);
al-if he war goddes sun and þine, 85
his faire fless famed al of bllode).
allas, whine had þat bale be (mine)?
I wald have standen whare þou stode)«.
»Bernard, scho said, who (list to loke)
when my dere sun to ded (was dight)? 90
he bowed his heuyd and (leue toke)
thankand his fader (ful of might).
Þe stones brak als (sais þe boke),
be son also with(drogh his light);
Þe temple clef, (þe erthe quoke),
be ded to lyfe (ras ful right)«.
When he was (beten) with scourges st(rang),
jo his frendes to fle war ful wight;
þan oure trowth al hally hang
in Mari milde both day and nyght.
18*
ainoo hliad
276
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII
I
Mr.160
»(Ladi, he s)ayd, tak noght (tó grefe)
(if I) speke of his paynes strang;
(of) þam to lere war me ful lefe
100 more graythli, or pou fro me gang.
pou saw þi sun hing als a thefe
wounded sare and al with wrang;
to wit him haue so grete meschefe
no wonder if pou murned omang.
105 Now, lady, quene of heuen-blis,
sen þat no gamyn to me may gayn,
out of my wo be bus me wis,
al-if I b[e] sin(ful) for sertayn.
als pou ert mayden and moder his:
110 what did my lord in al his payne?
when he was pined and did no mys,
whilk war his wordes ? þis wald I frayner.
»Bernard, scho said, pi bousom bede
into mi hert has smeten a spere:
115 for .who so neuyns my dere sun ded,
vnto me do pai Þan grete dere,
(fo)r wepeing mase me wil of rede.
and zit I may none wise forbere,
what so pou fraynes here in þis stede
120 (þi) wepeing gers me gif answere«.
»(I tha)nk þe, lady faire and fre,
(þat) pou wil cumforth me of care
(and sogat schew þi hert to me
(and) tel me of his paines sare.
125 (wald) god þat I had bene with þe
(and) sene pe sorow þat pou saw þare!
(han mig)ht I euer in wepeing be
desdienstenland þi)nk þaron for euer mare.
Þou has sene) lordes vntil him lout
130 . . . . euer þai might him seghe;
(of his) dedes Þai had grete dout,
. . . . . . . haly and highe.
(when þat) þai presed so him obout,
(whi sufferd he) þam so forto leghe,
125 (in his face) to spit and spout,
(how might he al þir) doles dreghe?«
, »(Mekeli he sufferd) þat mischefe —
(and wald haue sufferd m)ekil mare –
(for mannes saul was) him so lefe;
140 (for him he sufferd) þo paines sare.
1 In the other Mss, here precede the events
of Holy Thursday, v. 537–648; cf. v. 419.
I saw him hang he)ghe als a thefe,
(he saw I stud in sorow a)nd care;
(zit did mi weping him m)ore grefe
(þan al þe paines he suffe)rd þare.
And sertainly þat (was wel sene) 145
when he bitoke me vnto (I)on;
ful meke he was withowten wene
when þat him liked to luke me on.
for wa I wex both gul and grene,
of murnig may I mak my mone. — 150
I sal þe tell hali bydene.
Þe paines he sufferd euerilkone«.
Pan Bernard toke to hir rewardes
and thanked hir with hert ful sare;
forto here of his lufli larde
...155
him thoght it was a like and lare.
Sho said: »sen I pis space haue spared
to tell pe sorow þat I sau þare;
here efterward sal be declared
paines a thowsand tymes mare.
Bernard, i saw mi dere son hang, 2 381
als he had bene a maister-thef,
with sides blo als pai him dang
þat are war white and me ful lefe,
corund he was with thornes strang; 165
ful gern þai soght to do him grefe:
þai drogh him out with rapes olang
opon be cros, til his fless clefe.
When þat he was so straitli sted,
þe cursed Iewes liked ful wele! .: 170
al with blude his cors 'was cled
and with spiting fro heuid to hele.
opon be cros so was he spred,
and nailed with thre nailes of stele;
þus was he drawen & laithli led - 175
and for mans dedis was illadele.
I saw als it foure welles ware,
fro ilka naile a streme of blude;
al þus with dole pai dight him þare
Þe Iews þat war wilde and wode. 180
I had grete blis when I him bare,
so war his maners milde & gude:
sepen was al turned to sorow sare
when he was rugged & rent on rode.
Sernion. (Tar)
1. (St. Mary's lamentation on the passion of Christ).
277
- R362
240
245
n so hende,
185 So faire a fode was neuer nane,
and þat beres witnes bali writ;
þare was his fairhed fro him tane,
with filthes fouly was he smyt.
and sertes I was so wil of wane
190 me wanted hali welth and wit;
I had no gates graithli to gane,
with sorowes so mi hert was hit.
f. 83
(I wald þai had me han)ged him by,
to ses my paynes in pat plas;
195 no wonder if I war sary
(t)o tharn mi ioy and my solace.
(b)e Iewes bad I sold me hy
(Þ)eþin oway tyte better pase :
bot fast efter him folowed I
200 and saw al paines þat he in was.
Wanan Ful fast I cried on my manere
2! to lat him gang and get his pese:
bot my crying wald þai noght here
ne in his paynes do no relese;
205 for al my site and sighing sere.
his sorow wald pai no thing sese.
I said: 'Ihesu my sun so dere,
whi lattes pou þam merk me pis mese?'
Wit þou wele ful wa me was
210 when þai him nailed thurgh hend & fete;
ful loud I cried and said "allas,
when þat I saw his wowndes wete,
‘my lord, mi sun and my solase,
þat euer has bene so mylde & swete,
.215 haue mercy on me or þou pas,
or els no blis mi bales may bete'.
I said : “my sun þat euer was hende
and blith to do what I Þe bad,
whi leues bou me pus at þe ende
220 to dwell in site and sorow sad ?
lord, lat ded now in me lende —
of his cumyng wald I be glad;
so sone he may noght with me wende
þat I ne wald soner þat he me had'.
225 I made my mane to pe Maudelayne
me forto cumforth in þat case;
pou pray for me with might & mayne
vnto him þat þe helpid hase,
so þat I might alsone be slayne.
with pain or euer I pas þis place, 230
for I wald be ded ferly fayne:
and þou for me na murnig mase ?
Þe Maudelain said: 'I can no rede,
for sorow es set in me so sare;
þi colure þat was white and rede 235
es now al wan with dole and care;
I se my souerayn draw to ded,
and zit [bi] murnig greues me mare.
I wald we went out of þis stede,
into þe tempil I rede we fare'.
(I askid hir whar was) swilk (place)
ober in dale or els on hill
whare I migh be sperd in þis space
so þat no care sold cum me tyll;
my ioy, mi blis and my solace
despitusli I se Þam spill;
my welth al halely in him was:
now es no. wight in werld so will’. Per
I cried vnto my sun so hende,
and said: 'in werld me es ful wo! - 250
I may noght help pe als bi frende
to ger Þi famen fle þe fro.
ful lang in sorow here we lende,
pe Maudelayn & oper mani mo:
wele better vs war oway to wende: 255
bot sertes I may noght fra pe goº.
Þe Maudlayn cumforth me of care,
to wende oway scho sayd war best,
it helpid noght oure dwelling þare,
for of rewth myght we haue no rest. 260
I said to hir : ‘whider sold we fare
or walk for wo by est or west?
ded with him I wald we ware,
allas, whine wald oure hertes brest ?
I se my sun twa theues bytwene --- 265
naked & nayled opon a tre;
ful blith & blissed euer has he bene,
and now has ded tane him fro me.
slike sorow sertes was neuer sene
als we now on my sun may se: 270
I war noght kind, þat wele [I]’ wene,
when he pus hinges if I suld fle.
elem
i Ms. Þai.
M!
eltoo liad.
27.8
.
. Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
Vnder pe cros here bide I will,
I wate in werld no better won);
275 of murnig might I haue (mi fill)
so forto sit and se him on.
here will I hald me on pis (bill),
if þat ze wende oway ilkon;
with mi sun sal I bide her (still),
280 and file I will for (Iewis non)'«.
3201
ende, . RW
(ban) said he to my cosin Iobn:
(bihald) þi moder lefe and dere'.
(ay)þer luked we oper opon
(sari)ly with symple chere.
(He said: 'Ion, als! pou ert hende, a po
(be ay) redy vntil bir bone;
(luke to) hir whare scho will wende
(als I bifor wa)s won to done.
(here I mai) 10 lenger lende
325
(for my time) es cumand sone,
(hepin now bihou)es me wende
(on hegh vnto my) fader in trone.
.
+ 4
Bernard þan answerd (hir ogaine)
and til hir softly gani (he sai):
»ful grete mater had ble Maudelain),
it es no man þat . . . .
285 þi bale was I ful . . . .
bot þeder I durst . . . .
how þat þai. . . . .
more forto . . . . .
330
(Moder pat mi) bodi bare,
(it es hard pined) als þou mai se,
(for al man-kind als I) said are
(fra ded to lif suld) raised be.
(I sek a schep, suld els) forfare,
(þat with wrang was stolen) fro me;
(I sal it bring þar it was are)
(and of his þraldom mak it) fre.
335
Þat schepe bitakens (mannis kinde),
my fader will pat it be soght;
ober þan I may none it finde,
for with mi blude it bus be boght;
out of þe place whare it es pynide
to bigly blis it sal be broght.
he said I suld leue him bihinde;
parfore ful dreri was my thoght.
340
345
...i . pou has ..
290 . . . ferdenes als þou pam fand,
· · my hert es ful hard to holde
and al hi wordes to vnderstand.
bot what my lord to be say wolde
to aske pe zit will I noght wande,
295 when pe Iews so breme and balde
nayled him thurgh fute and hand,
11? *** And when þai corond him with thorn
þat newly war tane of þe tre.
pou was ay redy him byforn,
300 I wate (mare) might none euer be.
pai hailsed him with many a scorn,
als oper men has tald to me:
What answerd he on euyn and morn?
a to tell me, lady, pray I þe«.
305 Sho sayd: »I haue talde pe my thoght,
what wald þou now wit of me mare ?
ay when þat sorow es furth soght
it mase my hert in sighing sare.
bot if it may amend þe oght
310 (zit forto) knaw more of mi care,
(vnto) pe sal I nyte right noght
(a)t tell þe fully or þou fare.
(Mi sun) þat died at þe houre of none
(he) said to me on þis manere:
315 (wo)man, be noght will of wone,
biha)ld þi sun bisid pe here'.
Þus war his wordes more and myn_
þat Ion my cosyn to me suld luke.
al-if he war nere of my kyn,
for my sun þare I him toke.
al with swilk talking gan we twin,
and my solace so I forsoke.
þir wordes þat þus gan bygin
ful wide pai sal be wreten in buke.
350
Bot a thing, Bernard, did me wo:
when my sun said 'me thristes sare”.
to get him drink fast gan þai go. 355
with grete despite wald þai noght spare,
aysell and gal þai menged so,
and in a spounge þai hid it þare;
pai bad him baldely pareof to
and drink on fast, he sold haue mare. 360
in
li
5
Besna V. (Tea)
1. (St. Mary's lamentation on the passion of Christ).
270
9
- Rw1529
tand:
410
410
- I cried þan: “dere sun, drink it noght!
for hething wald þai pou it had;
of aysell and gall es it wroght,
sune of þe sauore pou mai be sad'.
365 ful mildly þan he me bysoght
so pat I suld be blith and glad;
for with þis drink man-kind es boght,
it bus be als my fader bad.
"Þarfor, moder, þi murnig mend,
370 and for me murn pou now nomare !
ynto mi fader bihoues me wend
and lede ogayn þat lost was are.
and sune efter pe sal I send —
bot me byhoues bifor þe fare ;
375 and sepin saltou with me lend
in ioy and mirth for euermare'.
Þe Iews ful of pomp and pride
? hanged two theues despitusly
bi mi dere sun on ayther side;
380 pe tone to him gan merci cri,
Þe toper answerd in þat tyde:
'he hinges hegher þan pou or I,
and es wete with wondes wide:
to ask him help þou dose foli'.
f. 84
385 (Þe t)ober answerd with milde mode:
'he es dampned with fals rede,
for he did neuer no thing bot gude,
and we haue wele serued oure ded.
haue mercy on me, mayster gude,
390 when pou cums vp in þi stede;
thurgh vertu of þi blissed blude
pe way to blis, lord, þou me lede!'
My sun said: “þou askes rightwisly,
for þine asking blissed pou be;
395 þis day grante I pe forþi
in paradis to won with me'.
I saw þat sight, and was sary
when þat þai died so on pe tre;
Þe gude thefe went to heuyn in hi,
400 and þe ill to hell went he.
To se þat sight I had solace
how tyte Þe tone vnto heuyn wan;
for wele I knew pan by þat case
2 my sun was verray god & man.
and als I stode still in þat place, 405
to cry ful loud my sun bygan:
'ely ely', his criyng was,
'lamazabatany' efter pan«.
þir wordes er als men may se
in ynglis tung to vnderstand:
»-fader, whi forsoke pou me,
þus to be bun in [b]ittegol band?
heder I come thurgh rede of pe:
mi saul I send into þi hand.
for man þus am I pined on tre: 415
now es fulfild als Þou cumand.'«
Bernard þan to hir answerd:
»Lady, blissed mot pou be;
of schere-thursday now haue I herd
how pi dere sun was tane fro pe, 420
and on gude friday how it ferd,
how þat he died opon a tre;
bot now, how he in graue was sperd,
ladi, þat tale now tell pou me.
45
And how þat he was taken doun 25
tel me, moder & mayden mylde,
2 of pe cros efter his passioune,
and how pai wroght pan with [bi] childe,
and how þat Ioseph come to toune
þi sun bodi for he wald bilde; 430
he wan it with his orysoune
fro Pelat and pe Iewes wilde.
(And how he was laid in pe ston)
tell me, mayden and moder fre;
whilk of his frendes euerilkone 435
walde þare at his beriyng be; .
Þe murnyg of þe and of Iohn,
mayden mylde, mene vnto me —
for wele I leue ze left allone
with-owten mo of zowre menze«. 440
»Bernard, scho said, allas allas, Sé!
þir wordes dose me mikell wo;
to tel al halely how it was
my hert for bale might brest in two.
Ioseph gan vnto Pilate pas,
445
and asked he bodi þat hanged so;
and both Pilat and sir Cayphas
gaf him leue it doun forto to.
1 Ms. witter. 2 Ms. and of.
c/00 .
.
280
..
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
Rusta
and get him pepin by any gate
fro þe Iews fals and felowne.
Ioseph said: “lat be pi late;
to bring him þe er we ful boun'.
495
?
Pelates knyghtes sterne 'and stout
450 furth with Iosep gan þai wende,
and oper folk a ful grete rout —
sum was his fa & sum his frende;
Þai brak þe theues the-banes obout,
to luke if paire life had made ende.
455 þat pai sold do so had I dout
with my sun þat was so hende.
Ban RWAG17
Nichodemus þe nayles out drogh, smo
and Ioseph lapped him in his arme —
both pai lufed him wele inogh,
and toke him doun withowten harme. 500
(pai) lesed mi barn þus fro pat bogh
and broght him euyn ynto my barme:
I kissed his mowth with mekil wogh-
cald it was and nothing warme...
505,
22
(An) hundreth sipes gan I kis
his mowth and als his eghen two,
(and said): 'dere sun, sen I be mys - 1
(gla)d now sal I neuer go,
(& Ioseph) ful fast oboutward is :
(þat þou) war in pi graue me fro.
(now in pis) werld who sal me wis ?
(whine) war I grauen with be also ? :
510
515
I foloud fast with al my myght,
with Ion and with my systers two.
omang þam þare þan stode a knyght,
460 blind he was and lame also,
and al þai said Longius he hight;
vnder pe cros þai gert him go -
and sertes þan I saw a sight
182 þat was Þe werst of al my wo.
fueron 465 Pai gaf þe knyght a spere ful gude,
and set it to my dere sun side,
Þai bad him sting fast pare he (stode)
for any thing þat might bi-ſtide).
he put it up with eger mode,
470 to my sun hert he gert it (glide):
and sune brast out both (water & blude)
of þat wound þat was (so wide).
Þe blude ran doun vntil hiſs hand),
and þarwith wiped Þe knight . . .
475 so gat he sight als he . . .
and luked brade with e. ...
and thanked god of (al his sand),
liftand his hert to . .
þat sight saw (I þar I gan stand),
480 and oper mo . . . . .
Þan wex mi hert heui als led)
(when) I saw pat rewful sight,
Þe water clere and be blude rede
pat ran out of be wownde ful right;
485 þan fel I doun als I war ded,
langer to stand had I no might.
Ion me comfort in pat stede,
so did Ioseph þat nobil knyght.
(To wepe) might I nothing forbere,
(so was mi) hert enclosed with care;
(his wou)ndes did me slyke dere
(whilk I saw) on his body bare.
(mad of þe nabyles and of þe spere,
(þat it wou)nded my hert ful sare;
(all men sorow)ed þat þar were,
(bot mi sorow) was mekil mare.
520
con
con
cast.
(Slike sorow þar in) me was cast - t
(þat I most wepe) on alkins wise;
(bot zit my hope ay) was stedfast
. . . . . . . he sold vp rise
. . . . . . . . war past,
. . . . . . . . (s)eruise ;
(ful wele wist I a)t þe last
(I suld him se omang al hi)se. Jie
525
Þan went pe knyghtes to sir Pilate,
490 and I left þare ligand in swowne:
and when I couerd out of þat state,
I prayed Iosep to tak him doune
Had I noght . . . . . . .
and trowed þat he suld ris up right, 530
Bernard, mi hert had brusten bene ..
when mi dere sun to ded was digbt.
Ioseph & Nichodeme þam bitwene
to beriyng bare þat bodi bright;
þai lapped it in clathes clene, "535
and closed in a stane þat night«.
VIS
Berna Vutha
1. (St. Mary's lamentation on the passion of Christ).
281
un
** 1»Now lady, quene of heuyn and hell, he kid noght þat he was myghty,
pont als bou him bare þat vs dere boght bot bare him euer simpil and still.
I pray þe þat þou wald me tell Pilate sayd he suld noght dy,
- 540 more of þi murnig if þou moght: for in him fand he none kins ill.
whare wastou whe[n] þai did him dwell?
Þai hid his eghen and band him fast 585
in Ierusalem, whare he was soght and bet him þan with buffettes sare, wara Rei
and taken with pe Iewes fell
and bad him rede wha smate bim last,
and byfor sir Cayphas broght?«
a trew prophet if þat he ware.
545 »Bernard, þat sight I saw also, two of my sisters þeder past
mi blissed barn how þai him band, forto se bat sorow and care,
590
and led him furth ful fast me fro; and pe Maudelaine was noght last —
I folowd him ful sare wepeand.
scho lufed him lely and his lare. .
no wonder was if me war wo,
Hir luf to him was euer new,
550 bot more meruail how I might stand,
to wirschip him als was worthy.
at se mi sun to paynes go;
ful strang es luf of frendes trew,
to folow and wepe might I noght wand.
and of pe moder maste namly.
On schere-thursday within þe night he was so faire of hide and hew,
Þai soght him, Iewes ful grete plente, my murnig was be more forpi;
555 with lanternes & with swerdes bright, al men him lufed þat euer him knew, .... 18
and ilkone asked 'whore, es he ?' slike blis it was to beld him by.. bee
: 'I am here', he said ful right,
Þai nakend him þan in þa stoundes 1.9
. bot dose my men no harm for me' -
and till a peler band him al bare, with
he wist what dole to him was dight,
and bet him þan þare in þaire boundes
560 þarfore he wald his frendes went fre.
despitusly wald þai noght spare;
2 Al-if him-self to paynes zede, . foure thowsand and sex hundreth woundes 605
she wald none oper Þe wers ware; dight pai on his sydes ful sare,
pat schewd he by his speche gud spede and cried on him on heght als houndes:
both in þat stede and els. whare. bi propheci mendes Þe nomare'.
565 Peter gan his swerde out lede
Bernard, I was ful will of rede
and Malkus ere sune of he schare;
when þat I herd þam sogat say
610
my sun him blamed for pat dede
þat Thesu sold be done to dede
and hastily he (he)lid it þare.
and Baraban go quite for ay.
Iudas þat was (ful) of þe fende, it was þe custum in þat stede ---
570 al-if mi sun his treson wist,
to saue ane on paire sabot-day;
at his cumyng he cald him frende god sun þai slogh with wikked red, 615
and curtaisli þare he him kist.
and lete a thef go quic oway.
þan knew pai wele my sun so hend,
Þus pe Iewes ful sterne and stout
þai laid hand on him als þam list;
held my sun in ful hard band.
575 omang þam al no man him mende.
Pilat had of þam more dout
on pis manere my mirth I mist.
. f. 85
pan of him þat was alweldand:
3. . . . . . . . . . .
he rase up right omang þat rout
and sepin (to Pilat), him to spill; and liuerd him into paire hand.
my dere sun was noght ferd forþi, þan presed pai bremely him obout,
580 bot þeder went he with gude will; and euer ful mekeli gan he stand.
1 v. 537-648 precede v. 129 in the other Mss. . al.
qwell. 3 v. 577—84 follows after 600 in the other Mss.
.620
C1400 Dial. Bern. V. (iba)
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
w
282
Rul
625 (When he was dampned pan pai went)
with him out of pe tun ful tite,
Þe cros opon his bac pai bent
and waited to do him despite.
allas þat lamb þat innocent
630 pat neuer was worþi to wite,
omang pa wolues was to-rent.
I folowed fast with sorow and site.
0
Clint 233
Þe Iewes war fayn when he fore ill,
and fast pai logh, both moste and leste:
635 “if pou be king tell vs vntill,
so þat þi payn may be relesť.
he answerd noght bot held him still,
with countynance fayre and rest,
and bare pe cros vp to be hill
640 ful bousumly als any beste.
33 I swouned pan ful many a sith,
so did wemen þat war with me;
I cried loud, for he suld me lith,
when I for prese might him noght se:
645 “A sun, whi hies pou þe so swith
sen þat þou beres so heuy a tre,
ay and lattes þi moder be vnblith,
and oper frendes þat folowes þe?'
Sen heuyn was and erth also
9 650 and Adam merked efter man,
had neuer woman so mekil wo
ne care in hert als I had pan.
now haue I tald bitwen vs two
of grete greuance sen I bygan;
655 zit may I mene of many ane mo,
fro his graueing how þat we wan«.
Þan wald Bernard no speking spare
bot til hir said he sone onone:
»I thank þe, ladi, of þi lare,
660 þat þou to me will mak þis (mone).
when he was ded als pou said are
and stalworthli stoken in ston,
forbermare how gan ze fare,
9 pe Maudlayne and þi cosyn Ion)?«
665 »Sertes, Bernard, pe soth ...
grete hardnes þan in h...
when þai pe stone wal . . .
for wa þan wex I al . ...
be heuynes might I ; . .
ouer him hertly g. ...
I wend to were Þe ....
so þat my so ....
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . Þai gan me (win),
(ilka)ne at oper leue pai toke 675
and led me home vntill owre in..
for sorow I might speke ne luke,
and al pai murned more and myn.
no wight in werld might write in buke
oure bitter bale þat might noght blin. 680
Intill a chamber pai gert me go
whare mi dere barn was won to be;
Ion and þe Maudelayn went also,
for no thing wald þai wend fro me.
I wayted obout in ilka wro
6 85
bot of my sun kouth I noght se;
omang vs was so mekill wo R y
þat in swounyg we fell al thre.
Pus war we set in sorows sare,
and out of bale might none vs bring, 690
til þat we wist how he sold fare
þat was oure conforth ouer althing.
now haue I tald þe of my care,
(wh)at pain I had in his parting;
bot efter I was ful redi þare 695
to luke efter. his vprising«.
(Saint) Bernard said: »my ladi fre, - KH
I thank þe, moder and maiden milde, 735
þat þou wald þus mene ynto me
(he) sorow of pe and of þi childe. 700.
(now) am I seker, whare so I be,
(þat) his passioun sal me schilde
(fra þe fend) and his powste,
(and also) fro al werkes wylde.«
(Now, ladi,) for þat mekyll wo 705
(and pe murn)yg þat þou made omell,
(be pas)sioun of þi sun also
(& bis djed so foule and fell,
(lat vs neu)er depart pe fro,
(bot grant vs) euer with (be) to dwell, 710
(and hepen owai) when we sall gown
(schild vs fro) Þe paynes of hell.it
A M E N. -
.
6
Sort
2
283-92
mu
-
283
Combathellustoom Livina
ring
2. (The Form of living, in verse).ssan .
C1400 Ilka man (Ter)
2. (R. Rolle’s Form of living, in verse).
Tui
The following interesting piece is a metrical paraphrase of the 1st part of
R. Rolle's Form of living, most likely by Will. Nassyngton. It demonstrates the
great popularity of R. Rolle's treatise. No other Ms. is known to exist.
fol. 856.
(llka man þat bunden es)
For when he fende ful of enui
(in dedli sin), has (thre wrechednes), can parcayue here preueli
40
þat bringes þam to be ded of hell; þat man or woman, ald or zing,
and whilk pai er I sal zow tell. wald turn þam vnto gude lifing
5 De first es defaut of gastly strenkith and forsake werldly vanite,
þat þai sold haue þaire liue to lenkith; a hundereth wiles pan has he
þat mase Þam so wayk in al. thinges to put þam fro swilk purpose sune, 45
pat þai may noght gainstand fandinges, and ger ham leue yf oght be done;
ne þai may noght lift vp þaire will and so warly oft will he wait
Io pe luf of god at zerne yntyll.
þat þai sal noght se his desayt.
De toþer es vse of fiesli syn
Sum (he desaiues) thurgh þe syn f. 86 .
and a desire to dwell þare-in,
of erroure þat he puttes pam in; 50
and for þai haue no will to stand and sum with singulere wittes here,
in lustes er þai lightly falland,
when þai think on pis manere,
15 and [in] þaire lustes so will þai lend whare so þai walk by est or west
many vnto paire liues end.
þat þaire owin wit euer es best,
Pe thrid wrechednes es chanieing and þarfore will þai no counsayle 55
of lastand gudes for pasand thing, al-if it might þam mekil avayle,
als when þai leue þe ioy endles
his a wit think him best of all-
20 for vaine ioy here þat pasand es. þat gers him oft in folis fall;
and if pai turn þam ald or zing, þis es a stinkand sin of pride,
god will ordaine paire wonyng
þat pe fend gers walk ful wide. 60
with angels and with hali men,
Sum he desaiues' thurgh vain glori,
þaire wrechidnes if þai wil ken; þat es idel ioy, als when any
25 bot for þai folow pe filth of sin
has pride in hert.on ill manere
and likes more to lend þarein
of penance þat þai suffer here,
pan in þe grete fairehed of heuyn, or els of gude dedes þat þai do, 65
both it and he werld lose pai euyn. or uertus þat er gifen pam to;
For he þat has noght Ihesu Criste, and er sari when men þam lackes,
30 al gude thing es fro him rauist;
and meri when men rose of þam maks;
al creatures sal uengance cry
þan think paire werkes & paire gude dedes
on him in dome, als es worthi. — fer passes Þe lif þat oper ledes; 70
Þir wrechidnes er noght anly
þam think þat no man, ald no zing,
in pam þat luffes here licheri
suld reprehend pam in no thing;
35 and glotony and oper sines
þai despise al sinful men
þat þaire luf oft fro god twines : þat will noght wirk als þai pam ken.
bot pai er in sum man and wife how suld men find more sinful here 75
þat semes in penance and gude life. þan be þat lifes on pis manere ?
1 Ms. desayued.
7400 Foam Levina
C140o alllea maxs (Tus
284
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
wane
and more sinful þarfore he es
þat he wate noght his wrechidnes.
Sum er desayued in lust & liking
80 of mete and drink outrage taking,
when þai haue grete delite þarin
and wenes þat þai do no syn,
þarfore pai amend pam noght,
and so þai er in bondage broght;
85 al gude vertus þai put byhind,
in þaire wittes er þai made so blind.
Sum er bigiled thurgh abstinens
fro mete and drink and oper spens;
þat es desayueing of þe fende
90 to ger þam faile and pam-self schende,
þat if þai bigin any thing,
pai sall noght bring it to ending;
and þusgat es þaire mede made les
thurgh foli of þaire frawardnes.
95 Þis gilder pe fende vntill man merkes
when he bigins to luf gude werkes;
he suffers ... of hert and (hend)
þat þai bring no gude werk till end;
he gers þam wene at þai sall do
100 more pan þai may atteyn vnto,
and gers þam wene paire werkes er lele,
when pai do harm to þaire saul hele.
For, als þir clerkes may knaw ful euyn,
we haue a lang way vnto heuyn,
105 and ay when we a gude dede do,
a pase pan mak we heuyn ynto,
and when we think gude thoghtes or
pray,
vnto heuen we mak vs way;
þan, if we mak vs here so wayke
110. pat vs list nowper lif ne (l)ayke
ne now bir gude werkes forto wirk
ne forto pray ne go to kirk -
we er so febill we may noght rise
ne be lastand in goddes seruise:
115 me think we er worthi to blame,
and aght forto think mekill shame,
pat in oure werkes er failand
when we had moste mister to stand.
and sertes it es [noght] goddes will;
120 bat proues pe prophet by his scill:
he said, »lord, I sal kepe mi might
vnto þe both day and nyght« —
his meneing was ban on pis wise,
þat he suld maintene goddes seruis
lastandly to his ded-day,
125
and noght sune waste his strenkith (oway)
and sepin lig waneand by Þe waw.
þat es more perill þan we knaw;
Saint Ierom sais, to vnderstand,
pat he makes of rauyn ofrand
130
þat here will turment his body
fro mete and slepe outrageusly.
And saint Bernard sais þat f(asting)
ne wakeing lettes noght g(astli thing)
bot helpes it in ilk sesoune
if it be done with discrecioune,
and if discrecioun be n(oght) . . .
þan er þai tald vices al ...
Parfore to pine vs es (na nede)
and þan haue vnth(ank for our dede). 140
Bot par er sum mein þat wenes)
þat þaire life es (noght al þai menes)
bot if þai vse (swa mikil fasting)
þat all (men spek þarof, ald & zing):
(bot oft þe mo ioy pai haue þen) 145
(withow)ten of þe speche of men,
pe les ioy haue pai within
of þe luf of god þat neuer sal blyn.
It war wele more to goddes honore
to sustine þaire bodis in mesure - 150
and forto tak with gude talent
what sustinance so god pam sent,
forto maintene his seruyse,
160
thurgh penance & ypocrisy
155
to ger þam be halden haly.
for þe les þat men þaire gudnes neuyn,
pe more it es with god of heuyn.
What helpes it to more or les
to haue pe abit of halines
160
and be noght so, bot couer pride
and ire and enuy on ilk side,
and hide so many wikked dede
vnder pe clothes of Cristes barnhede ?
(A) foul lust es it unparfite
165
(of) oper mens wordes to haue delite,
(bat) of oure dedes may deme right
noght
namore pan þai may of oure thoght;
N
تنها به
ن
ها
ای
atbotom Kuraa
C100 Mea Meen 704)
2., (The Form of living, in verse).
LU
Es...
285
220
230
(b)arfore weper pai say gude or ill,
170 (a) man sold gif no tent partill;
(an)d if we hide oure werkes þen
(fro) þe loueing of werldly men,
(þan) will god for oure gudenes
(sche)w vs ioy þat es endles.
175 (For his) ioy es when alde and zing
(bas) strenkith to fell þe fendes fanding
(and sekes) no thing forto haue
(bot lu)f of god bis saul to saue :
(and pis de)sire of his luf smert
180 (ay sul)d kyndel in oure hert, .
(and be swetn)es of his grace
(be oure comfo)rt and oure solace.
(Lo bus haule I talde here now
. . . . . fende decayues & how
,185 (men & women) þat er noght quainte
. . . . . . . be ataynt ;
(if þòu wil do bi gu)de counsayle
* (and folow lare þat mig)ht availe,
(his malis sal turn him til) anoy
190 (and al his trappis pou sal) destruy.
God suffers ple fend to temp gud men)
for þaire profit, als clerkes ken,
þat þai sal be hegher in blis
when [þai] haue ouercumen him and
his.
195 Þe fende on thre wise has powere
forto dwell in a man here:
Ane es, hurtand pe gudes of kind,
als reuand men speche, wit & mynde.
Anoper ès thurgh þe gudes of grace,
200 þat he makes men in many place
to haue swilk delite and liking
in werldli gudes þat es vain thing
þat þai forget god euer omell
and wendes with pe fende to hell.
205 Þe thrid maner es, turmentand
a mans body by water or land,
als Iob was turment lifand here
with maladies and sekenes sere.
Bot wit pou wele, for ani gyn
210 if he may noght temp pe within
nowper with his worde ne dede,
withowten thar þe noght him drede;
for vnto no man may he greue
ferrer þan god will gif him leue.
Þe fende, als hali writ witnes, 215
transfigures him in sere liknes :
sum tyme als ane angell of light
tempes he men both day and night,
and hides ill to ald and zing
vnder Þe liknes of gude thing.
and þat es on two maners done :
Ane es when he at morn or none
egges men till esse of body
and forto kepe pam tenderly;
he sais if þat þaire fless be pinde, 225
pai may sustyne (noght] wele paire
kinde,
and þat es nede on alkins wise
forto mai[n]tene goddes seruise;
on his wise makes he vs to think,
bot if we ett wele and wele drink
and lig soft and sit warm,
els may we lightly haue grete harm,
and els till end bese it noght won
pe trauail þat we haue bygun;
þus bringes he men both more & les 235
to lust and liking of þaire fless.
Anoper es when he thurg chance
entices vs to grete penance :
. . . . .
. . . . f. 87
of gastly gudes, and pusgat sais: 240
»He pat moste hard life wil lede
· for goddes luf, sal haue most mede:
þarfore ett lityl and febil mete,
and thinest drink þat þou may gete,
vse litel slepe, and were Þe hayre, 245
and fast mekill þi fless to payre,
þat þare be none for nokins chance
pat may pass pe in penance«.
pus sais pe fende in þi conciens
to sla be with grete abstinens, 250
right als he said pe toper thing
to sla þe with outrage etting.
and þarfore, if we right lif wald,
a gude mene bihoued vs hald,
þar-thurgh we may gett oure saul bute 255
and hald oure fless ay ynder fote,
and suffer it to haue strenkith þarto
at serue god als it suld do.
Also oure (enmy] wil noght sese
ne suffer vs here to rest in pese 260
I
14-06-Fowketing
ROSEZEA
286
"Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.'
onightes, when we suld slepe a while:
bot þan he sekes vs to bigile
with uanitese, to mak vs glad,
and sumtyme sightes to mak vs rad
265 and ger vs lathe with oure awin state-
for al oure febilles wele he wate.
with faire sightes he makkes vs fain
forto ger vs be glad in vaine,
to ger vs wene so þat we er
270 better pan we may be bi fer.
sumtyme he puttes intil oure mode
þat we er halden hali and gude,
to mak vs proud of oure gude dede
and so to ger vs lose oure mede;
275 sumtyme he sais we er werst of all,
at gerr vs into wan-hope fall
and so forto di in despaire.
Pus colures he his falshedes faire.
bot god ful kindely wil vs kepe
280 and saue, wheper we wake or slepe,
if we rewle vs efter his will,
þat þe fende noght dere vs till.
Pou sinnes noght slepeand, sais pir
clerkes,
if pou be wakeand with gude werkes,
285 withowten outrage of mete and drink,
and euil thoghtes on none wise think.
of þe fende, oure fals enmy.
þe ferth es thoght of werk with hand
and illusiouns þarfore folowand.
þe fift er reuelaciouns of pe haligaste,
and þat es for oure (saul ese) maste. 310
be sext es when men er (rauliste
thurgh thoghtes bifore þat falles to
Criste.
on þir maners, wha will tak kepe,
may men dreme when þat þai slepe.
and in so mekill it es worthy
315
þat men sold set þe les þám by
and trow nowper til all ne sum,
for we wate noght whareof pai cum,
wheper pai cum of þe haligaste
or of þe deuil þat deres vs maste; 320
bot whare men many dremes (ses),
þare er many vanitese.
wharfore men þat kindli wit (can),
right als þai cum so lattes þam . .
and lattes þaire hert ay. . . 325
als þaire lifing es she .. .
What helpes to seme hali . . .
and þan oure conciens . . .?
turn þi hert to god hallli)
als it semes pou dose (þi bodi).
pou sal noght say . . . . .
þat al er haly þat . . . . .
and beres abite . . . . . .
and with pe .......
(ne pou sal noght wene þat al er ill) 335
(bat) werldly thinges tentes vntill
(& occu)pies þam with trauayle,
(fo)r defaut of fude pat pai noght faile;
Bot þai er haly in al degre,
lered or laude wheþer þai be, 340
þat werldly gudes can wele despise
and luf god euer on alkins wise,
and settes in god al þaire desyre
and þaire luf brinand als fire,
and couaites noght þat men ma neuyn 345
bot all anly be blis of heuyn,
and hates sin with main and mode,
and seses noght of werkes gude,
and in paire hert feles a swettnes
of þe life pat ay lastand es:
350
and haldes pam-self werst of all
Pſe fend desayues), ....
thurgh dremis þat þai se slepe(and);
and sum dremes gers he sothfast seme,
290 for þat men sal þarefter deme
and trow þat al dremes þat þai se
on þat wise soth sal funden be,
· þan shewes he oper vnsuthfast thinges,
and so in wrang trowth he men bringes.
295 And forþi þat none, alde ne zing,
sall be desayued with swilk dremeing,
þarfore I tell, wha will tak zeme,
sex maners of dremis may men deme.
and twa maners may nane askape:
300 þat es with tome wambe if þai slape,
anoper, ouey-full if þai be —
sum vanitese pan sal pai se
and sightes þat er noght sertayne,
and al es for paire febill brayne.
305 Þe thrid es desayt and gilri

a-1:400 Form Living na
@ 2400 Mor Man
2. (The Form of living, in verse).
VO
287
400
and þe foulest þat may byfall,
and knawes wele þaire wrechidnes.
þis manere of lifing haly es;
355 and who so lifes in pis degre,
haly and blisced sal he be.
If þat þou will haue mede in heuyn
(and) be with Cristes apostels euyn,
(think) noght þan what pou forsakes,
360 (bo)t what Þou despises and noght
takes.
(pai) forsake so mekill and no les
(pat followes Criste here in mekenes,
(in char)ite and in pouert
(and in) parfite paciens of hert,
365 (als þai) mai couait in þaire thoght
... ane þat folowe him noght.
'(& þar)fore luf god with gude will,
· · · · (h)as he eghe þartill;
(with grete desir) wha to god tentes
.370 (& offers) þaire praiers in his presence
(& sekes na comforth of) erthly thing
(bot pe blis of heuin) at his ending,
(Crist him reue s)all fro pe fende
(& his werkes) þat him suld shende,
375 (& als fro lu)stes and likinges
(of fless & blude þat in) him hinges,
(& mak him will na er)thely gude
. . . . . . . Þaire mode
(& drede na sorow þat m)ay bifall
380 . . . . . . . . all
. . . . . . . . . . . .
and þat es to mene on þis wise :
turn þe fro al couatise
and fro liking and bisines
both of þe werld and of þi fless,
so þat pi hert, þat was dounward
whils þi hert in þe erth was harde,
be vpward now als fire ful euyn,
sekeand þe heghest place in heuyn,
til þi spous whare he beldes in blis, 405
and zeren to won with him & his.
þi hert to god wele turned es
when it forsakes sins more and les
and fleis al felischippes of schrewes,
and confouroms it to gude thewes 410
and to debonerte and mekenes,
and in goddes loueing lastand es,
and es noght with nonkins strife,
ne irkes noght with hardnes of life.
Bot foure thinges bus hin haue in 415
thoght
þat to parfite luf will be broght.
Ane es, of þis life be mesure,
I.
þat so schort time mai endure,
þat vnnethes es oght forto tell,
for als in a point here we dwell - 420
þat es þe leste thing þat mai be;
zit es oure life wele les to se,
if þat we haue rewarde alway
vnto pat life pat lastes ay.
Anoper es pe vnsertainte
of oure ending when it sal be;
for we wate neuer when we sal deghe
ne what dole þat we pan sal drighe,
ne we wate neuer into what stede
þat we sal turn when we er dede; 430
god will lat vs no sertaine se
for þat we suld ay redy be
(in) what e . . . . we . . . f. 88
pus suld a man ay think in thoght.
De thrid, þat we acount sal zelde III.
of al oure dedes in zowth and elde
bifor Ihesu, þe domes-man dere,
and of al pe tine þat we had here,
and what oure bisines has bene.
for þare sal all be soth be sene;
al euil dedes þat we here hid
sal þare plainly be knawen & kyd,
II.
· · · · · · · · · · · ·
. . . . . . . . . . . .
385 þat þai be noght (in þat sesoune)
letted of þaire deuocioune.
Pus mai men se wha will tak zeme
how sum er better þan þai seme,
and also sum man wikked es
390 þat schewes semeing of halines.
And who so will pis lesson lere
and lif þarefter with gude chere, .
thurgh help of god þan sal he be
als gude in saul, als forto se.
440
395 At þe biginnig enterely
turn þe to god almighty.
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Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vI.
right als gudemen with god sal lende.
Parfore luf god, als I said are,
with all þi might and main euermare; 490
and lat pi luf ay in him stand
and more and more ay be waxand,
and bigin þi luf so lawe
þat þou may ai god better knawe,
and set þi luf so sad in him
495
þat þou may euermore upward clim;
and noght bigin so highe thurgh ruse
and cum dounward, als sum men dose
þat ouer-grete penance wil bigir
þat þai may noght til ending win, 500
wharfore pai fail in goddes seruise —
wha wirkes þus pai er noght wise.
þi merit mai be neuer þe les
if pou do noght so grete destrese
vnto þi fles, at ger it faile; · · 505
bot kepe pe klene, es my counsaile,
and vmthink be at morn and none :
to luf god more þan pou has done;
þan sal þi luf be more and more,
and þi mede ay waxand þarfore.
510
and what gude werkes we might haue
wroght
when we war ydell and did noght.
445 þarfore pe prophet sais sertayne:
»Lorde, þou has calde pe time ogayne,
to wreghe vs of oure wikkednes.
in al oure lifing more and les«.
for ilkaday þat god has send
450 in his seruise forto despend,
in wikked werkes if we it waste,
þarfore in bale we mun be braste
and by it dere on domesday,
bot if we mend it whils we may;
455 and al pe time we waste to noght
whils god es al-out of oure thoght.
þarfore on him we suld think ay,
and also on pat dredeful day.
IIII. Þe ferth thing folowand es þis:
460 forto think what ioy and blis
þat þaire hertes er to rauiste
þat lendes in þe luf of Criste
lastandly ai whils þai lif,
and al þaire hertes vnto him gif;
465 for pai sal be, als clerkes ken,
breper with angels and hali men,
in heuyn whare þai sall plainly se
god in his grete maieste.
þat sight ouer all es souerayn blis,
470 and pareof sal pai neuer mis;
it sal be to þam mete and drink
and all þat þai will efter think.
þare sal be more ioy þam omell
þan ani man with tong mai tell;
475 and to þat welth wele mai þai win
þat here will kepe þam clene of sin.
Also to think with gude entent
what sorow and care and hard tur-
ment
þat þai sal haue withowten ende,
480 pe sinfull pat to hell sall wende,
(pat lufed noght god whils) þai liued here
bot filed þaire thoght with folies sere,
als pride and ire and oper syn.
þarfore in bale-fire sal bai brin,
485 þat es in þe fire of hell,
with deuils þat þarein sal dwell;
for pai sal dwell ay with pe fende
He þat here will leli lyf
and his luf all to god gif,
stabilly sall he vnderstand
þir foure thinges þat er folowand:
Ane es what thing files a man; 515
anoper what thing clenses (him þan);
þe thrid when þat he clensed es,
what thing þan haldes him (in clennes);
þe ferth what thing may a (man bring)
at ordain him to goddes li(king). . 520
For pe first, what files a (man),
may men knaw wele . . . . .
þat we sin on ma(ners thre)
and makes oure sau(les foule to be);
pus er þai talde who (wil take hede): 525
with hert, with (mouth, and with dede).
Pe sins of hert (er þir) . . . . pecca
ill thoghtes . . . . . . . .
cord
(wik)ed will and yre in hert to hald for 530
rose.
and to haue ill suspecioune,
and pray with-owten deuocioune.
f
IS
IN
2. (The Form of living, in verse).
289
som er be what hier lett to do onde mode
600
and if þi hert euer ydel be
with-outen werkes of charite,
535 and void withowten swete sauoure
of þe luf of god oure creature. .
ill drede, ill luf to ald or zing.
all errour and al ill trowing.
ioy of oper mens ill fare,
540 and sorow if þai in welthes ware.
to despise pure men more or les,
to honore pe riche for þaire riches.
despite of sinful þat we se,
and ioy of werldli vanite.
545 vntholemodnes oure soueraines to.
and dout of dedes þat er to do —
for what we sold do suld we knaw
and nowper lett for luf ne awe.
noy in hert forto do gude.
550 anger at serue with milde mode
(god &) þam þat we suld vntill.
and sorow we haue done namore ill,
and þat we haue noght fulfild sone
(wi)kkednes þat we might haue done.
555 (and) vnstabilnes of thoght.
(pini)ng with penance if we do oght.
(ypoc)risi in goddes seruise.
(drede) ill doers to despise (!).
(shame) of gude dedes, ioy of ill.
560 (singul)ere wit with-owten scill.
(couaiti)se of dignite,
(or to be) halden of gude degre,
(or rich, or to) be halden faire,
(or strang) oure enmies forto payre.
565 (vain glori) forto haue in mynde
(of gudes of) grace or gudes of kinde.
(forto haf) shame of simpil frendes,
(& prid of ri)che þat with vs wendes;
(for fre ilike) al sall we be
570 (bifor þe face of gods mageste),
(bot if our dedis) mak vs were
(or els better þan oth)er err.
(also despite of gud) counsaile
(and teching þat vs might) auayle.
575 . . . . . . . . . pouert
ccata . . . . . . . . . . .
Þe sins of mouth er, (if pou fraine):
to swere grete athes & oft in vaine.
to sklander. Crist or oper vs by.
to neuyn his name vnreueren[t]li. 580
vnsothfast schrift þat es noght clere.
grocheing to god for angers here
or tribulacioun, þat er send
till vs for we oure mis suld'mend.
to pray [to] god in his presens 585
with-owten deuocioun and reuerens.
bakbiteing. Aatering, and lesing.
missaying. werying. and defamyng.
sawing of discord. and tresoun.
and fals witnes in feld and toune. 590
ill counsail. scorn. ynbowsumnes.
to say thing es gude pat ill es,
or forto say þe thing es ill
þat men dose wele and with gude
will —
for we suld lap oure negburs dede 595
ay in þe best, for þaire moste spede.
to excite oper men ynto
swilk dedes als þai dar noght do,
forto ger þam be halden wer
efter þat þa dedes err.
oper men forto myssay
for werkes þat we do ilkaday.
with mekill speche oure heuid to breke,
or mani ydell wordes to speke.
and als of wordes faire polising, 605
to mak pam soth þat es lesing.
and in oure sinyng fals defens.
crying & laghing with no reuerens.
forto mak mowes on ani men.
sanges of lust to sing and ken, . 010-
or more for mens luf forto sing
Þan for Criste pat knawes al thing.
to prais ill dedes with karping kouth-
al swilk er cald þe sins of mowth.
Bir er þe sins þat falles in dede, peccata
als þai er set on raw to rede:
als glotoni, and licheri,
and dronkenhede, and symony.
wichecrafte. breking of halidays.
and sacrilage by any ways.
620
to resayue goddes body in sin,
and als forto [lig] lang parin.
Brekeing of vowes þat er made right.
and ydell saying in goddes sight.
(to) gif en(sampil of il) life. f. 89 625
operis
bris
II.
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Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
sakles to greue ouper man or wife,
or forto ger þam haue il name
or forto lose of þaire gude fame.
Thift. rauin. vsure. decayt,
630 lesinges and lithernes to layt.
gladli forto herkin yll.
to gif oure gudes harlottes untill.
to reue oure bodis nedful wage,
or els at vse vs till outrage.
635 to bigin any thing ouer might.
custum to do ill day or night.
also feyning of halynes,
rosing of thing þat noght oures es,
to hald vs fayrer or wiser
640 pan oper, when we er wele wer.
forto tak any charge vs to
þat we er vnabill to do.
to wreth vs lightly als vnwise.
and also to bring vp new gise.
645 to be ouer rebell vnto seruandes,
to do noght als soueraines cumandes.
forto do sin here in oure liue
thurgh any of oure wittes fiue:
In sight, in hereing, or in smelleing,
650 in handes towcheing, or in tasting;
in giftes gifing, or quant saiinges,
in gilry or in sutyle signes,
ynlefful thing to resayue parchance -
for of sins er þir circumstance(!).
655 and þar er circumstance wele ma,
als time, stede, maner alswa,
nowmber, person, and dwelling,
eld, and degre, and cunyng;
þir makes Þe sin more or les,
.660 efter be condicioun es.
also to sin forto be boune
or a man fele temptacioune;
or ani bowrding to bygin
at make occasioun vnto sin.
665 Þir er þe'sins þat falles in dede,
and mani ma if men tak hede.
peccata Sins of omiscioun I sall say sone,
omissio-
niso pat es, leueing of gudes vndone,
when ani leues þat þai suld do
670 or reklesli tentes noght parto :
noght thinkand on god þat sese all,
ne of þe mede þat þarfore sold fall,
or th(ankand him noght of his gudes
þat he vs lenes here more and les..
or duse noght here oure dedes ilkane 675
þat gude er, for goddes luf allane.
to sorow noght here for oure sin.
to dispose vs noght grace to win,
or þat kepes noght þe gift of grace
or vses ill in any place.
- 680
forto confourum noght his will
goddes liking forto fulfill.
vntill prayers noght forto bow,
bot rabill on and rek neuer how.
or will noght enforce þam to fulfill 685
thing þat þai haue avowed vntill,
or bunden by sum sertaine poynt,
or els for penance es enioynt.
to draw on lenkith pat suld be sone.
or haue no ioy of gude dedes done 690
vntill oure neghburs þat er knawen,
als we wald kaue of oure awn.
noght sorowand of oper mens ill fare,
frendes or fase wheper þai ware.
noght standand if temptaciuns rise. 695
noght forgifand al oure enmise.
noght kumforthand neghburs in care,
als we wald bai till vs ware.
noght zeldeand þam þat vs gude wins.
to let noght þam we se vse sins. 700
striueinges noght to stint and stere.
and vnkonand men noght to lere.
noght forto cumforth on oure wise
þam þat er seke and may noght (rise),
or help þam noght þat er broght (in wa) 705.
thurgh pouert, or prest, in presſon
alswa).
Þir sins, and oper þat er (mare),
makes men foul als I said are,
and Þai er vsed of zong (and ald)
on thre maners als I (zow tald). 710
Ogaines pa thre m(ai help vs win) II.
oper thre thinges þat (clenses of sin).
First ogains pe sin of (thoght)
es sorow of hert parfſitli wroght),
þat es, to rew oure s'ins sare),
and be in will to sin (no mare),
and for for sorow of . . . .
715
214.00. Ferm Livinga
.
@1900 Hea Babe (711
AL
WS
PO
emain
2. (The Form of living, in verse).
291
put out al ioing . . . . . .
so pat oure · · · · · ·
720 ne oure h. . . . . . . .
(Þe toþer, ogains þe sin of mouth,)
(es) trew schrift, forto mak kowth
(al) sins done with oure body;
and [þat] sal be done hastily
725 with-owten any lang delaying;
and naked with-owten excusing;
and all hale & noght sunder tane,
als sum þat telles sum sins till ane
and sum till anoper, als we gess
730 forto mak þaire penance les,
or els þat haldes oght in þe tayle -
swilk schrift sal þam nothing availe.
Þe thrid, of satisfaccioun may rise;
and þat es done opon thre wise:
735 in fasting, prayers, and almusdedes —
noght (anly to gif) pouer men pat nedes
mete & drink to paire releues,
bot to forgif þam þat þe greues
and pray for þam with gude entent
740 þat god bring bam vnto mendement,
and enfourom both ald and zing
(pat) er in poynt of perising.
(Clennes of mouth bus keped) be
· · · · · · · (on) maners thre:
. . . . . . . . . (t)hoght 765
. . . . . . . (spe)ke oght,
· · · · · · · · · · d
. . . . . . . . . . nayd.
Anoper es pis, (als I pe teche),-
to be noght ouermekil (of speche); 770
for he þat mikell carpand is
sum tyme sall he say omis.
Þe thrid es pat pou for no thing,
ne for no mekenes, mak lesing
on þi-self ne on none els,
775
bot luke it be trew þat pou telles.
Clennes of werk with ald and zing
of thre thinges also has kepeing:
Ane es assiduele thoght of ded
þat maystris makes in mani'a stede, 780
and on his paynes þat er so (fell)
and more ban any man mai tell;
for pus men heres þe wiseman say:
»ymthink þe, man, of þi last day,
how pou out of þis werld sal twin, 785
and þan, he says, þou sal noght syn«.
Anoper: he þat clennes will kepe
byhoues fle all ill felaghschipe,
þat more ensampill will to him neuynı
to luf þe werld þan god of heuyn, 790
and more to luf esse of bodi
Þan forto plese god almighty.
Þe thrid es right discrecioune
to ete and drink yn' gude musoune”, ...
þat it pas noght right ordinance 795
ne want of skilwis sustinance;
for both es demid to ane ending,
outrage, and ouer-mikell fasting;
for nowþer es till goddes pay-
pat will sum noght wene by no way. Soo
if pou tak sustinance of swilk gude
als god þe sendes ynto þi fode,
and 3 out-tak no maner of mete
pat cristen men vses fortill ette,
and vse mesure in ilkadele
and ett and drink: þan dose pou wele ;
on þat maner did Crist him-selue
(in) erth here, and his apostels twelue.
1orig. on. 2 = 0 Fr. moison measure. 3 r. I.
III. He þat clennes more wil kepe,
within his hert to goddes wurschipe
745 (it) bus kepe on maners thre;
I sal þe tell how þat sall be.
(Ane) es waker thoght and stabill,
(hat) he to god be euermore abill.
(An)ober es besines to zeme
750 (bi fiue) wittes als best will seme,
(so þat) ilkone in his degre
(be rewli)de als him aw to be
(& wickid) stiringe þat in pam es
(be closed cle)ne out of þi fless.
755 (Pe thrid es) forto be ay boune
(till honest oc)upaciowne
(in gude ded)es of charite,
(& þat þou neu)ermore ydel be,
. . . . . . . . . . ght
760. · · · · · · · · ght
805
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 1. .fing.
19*
.
5
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2
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Bot if pou in þi-seluen se
and to drede him both day & night.
810 þat þou haue strenkith & stalworth be þarfore now er þai hegh in heuyn,
in goddes seruise to pray and wake, in more mirth þan men may neuyn;
and þou will fast þan for goddes sake, and if we folow here paire trace,
so þat pou no faintise fele
we sal won with þam in þat place. 840
to serue god þan dose pou wele; Anoper es gudenes of god allane,
815 and if pou fast vntill pou fayle,
þat al lufes and despises nane
pou sins and it sal noght availe.
bot gladli takes and with gude will
f. 90 (For wit Þou wele þat rightwi)snes al þat in time will turn him till,
nowper in etting ne fasting es,
and his mercy will to vs bede
bot if pou tak here with gude hert als oft-sipes als we haue nede,
820 illike both riches and pouert,
and hamlier he will vs take
hunger, nede, catell to lese
what time so we bure sin forsake,
als gladli als delices and dayntese; and angels of vs er more glad,
if pou tak al þir ilyke wele,
þan ani frende þat euer we had;
and loue god euer of ilkadele,
þan aght vs forto be ful fayne
825 and gruche noght for nokin thing, at gif oure willes to god ogaine.
þan ertou rightwis in lifing.
Pe thrid es noteful forto neuyn,
þat es, for endles ioy in heuyn,
IV. Also zit may men forþer knawe þat es gretter & more plente
oper thre thinges, þat will vs draw pan eres may here or eghen se
forto confourme all oure will
or hertes think or tonges tell —
830 goddes liking forto fulfill.
wele es pam pat pare may dwell;
Ane es ensampill of halimen
and þat has god al ballely hight
pat lely lifed, als clerkes ken,
vnto al þa þat lufes him right
860
pat war ententyue night & day
and honors him in stede and stall.
at serue god euer vnto pay,
vnto pat blis be bring vs all. A. M.E.N.
835 and to luf him with al þaire might
u tlottant
e Spir. Qey. 3. Spiritus Guydonis. -_Gastoty
This piece is a metrical version of an older Engl. prose text (probably of northern
origin), of which a copy is extant in Ms. Vernon', and which is a translation of
a Latin tract de Spiritu Guidonis', extant in Mss. Vesp. E I (oldest Ms.), Vesp.
A VI (text from which the prose translation was made), and Harl. 2379. A similar
* apparition is the 'Revelation' in Ms. Thornton (vol. I p. 388).
(Tractatus) de quodam spiritu ..
oceny
Spiritus Guydonis.
fol. go.
- Colfo
SAint Michael goddes angell (clere), and oper maisters mare & myn,
and saint Austin þe doctur dere, sais þat men grete mede may wyn
IT
rta
a 139.0
A
piritus Guydonis.
c
.
Fichiermo A
(۳) پسوه 1405
AU
+
? I here give the prose text of Ms. Vernon:
Ms. Vernon fol. 363.
с 3°o Qсля
Theer begynnep a good tretis :
Þat Men clepep Spiritu Gwydonis.
For as muche as seint Austin seip to Peter in þe Booc of be-leeue, „Þat is
a Miracle what heih þing oþur vncostumable þing so comep ouur Monnus faculte
2 1996 Gay Town)
DETE.
2
Q-1466
- Spur
-
Guy
azgo
at totton that
Vernon) thottant
.
ui Spiritus Guydonis.
293
40
C1400 Q
5 and nameli clerkes þat can %f lare,
if þai þaire cunyng will declaré
vnto pe laude men þat can les,
and namely thinges þat nedeful es,
þe whilk may ger þam sese of sin
1o and help þam vnto heuin at win.
And saint Paul Cristes apostell dere
sais till vs on þis manere:
all þat þir clerkes in bukes rede
er wretin anely for mans mede,
15 so þat men may ensaumpill take
to saue þaire saules and sins forsake
and lede þaire liues more and les
als haly búkes beres witnes.
And for þat god of his grete grace
20 will þat his pople in ilka place
trow in thinges þat er to cum,
als in ded and pe day of dome,
and how ilk man sall haue his mede,
be saved or dampned efter paire dede:
25 þarfore he schewes ensamples sere
on pis molde omang vs here,
to ger vs in oure trowth be stabill
and lif in faith with-owten fabill,
and so he will vs wisely wis
30 at kepe vs clene and cum to blis.
Þarfore who so will lyke to lere,
a soth ensampill sall ze here
how it byfell byfor his day;
and þarfore beres it wele оway. 3
It bifell in a faire sesowne Rei
35 efter Cristes incarnaciowne
a thowsand winter, be ze bald,
and thre hunderet, als clerkes (tald),
and þarto thre and twenti (ger),
Þan byfell on pis maner.
In Alexty pat nobil towne,
þat threti mile es fro Balioune),
Þe XII. kalend, als clerk(es tell),
of decembre, als þan (bifell) :
A gude buriace Þ(at hight Gy) 45
in pat same (cete gan dy);
(and when þe bodi in graue was. laid),
(vnto pe) saul slike grace was (graide),
(vn)-till his wife it went ogayne Rul H
and schewed hir porcioun of his paine; 50
he did hir dole both day and night,
bot of him might scho haue no sight;
and in hir chamber oft might sho here
mikil noyse and hidos bere,
and oft scho was so rugged and rent
þat for sorow sho was nere shent. 55
þus was scho turment in þat stede
egtene (!) dayes efter hat he was dede,
and scho ne wist noght weterly
wheper it war þe gaste of Gy
or it war funding of sum fende 60
þat so pursuyd hir forto shende.
Parfore sone efter opon a day
vnto pe freres scho toke þe way
pat prechures war in pat cete,
(we)le lifand men of gude degre, 65 .
and to be prior gan scho tell
all þis ferly how it bifell,
5
.רוסמיום
to be strengping of vr feip« \foP whi? alle pinges pat beop writen ben writen
to vr techyng, þat we mouwe haue hope porw soffraunce and cumfort of writynges
Ihesu Crist vr saueour, knowere of alle priuites, seoinge þat þing and wiln[ing] '
strongloker and stabliloker to strengben yr feip among Cristene men of þe certeyn
of þat lyf þat is to comen, In pe zeer of his Incarnacion a pousund & preo
hundred and twenti and þre? wolde schewe such an ateliche Miracle porw his
ordinaunce, so þat we mihte haue Þe more certeyn of pe lyf þat is to comen.
In pe Cite of Alexti, þat is from þe Apostoyles séé þat is I-cleped Bayon 3
þritti Mile, pe twelfpe Kalende of Decembre, a Citeseyn of þat ilke Citéé of
Alexti dyed whuche Citeseyn hizte Gy, whos gost, whon his bodi was buried,
wib-outen sihtlich forme apeered to his owne wyf and turmented hire gretliche,
eizte dayes aftur his buryinge. And pe pridde day aftur þe Natiuite of vr lord,
i Ms. wilneþ. 2 Ms. bere. 3 Lat. Avinione.
Spis
Rulbs
Choo
guga
RU, 294
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
Capto Yi)n saint Iohn day þe euangeliste, and wele I hope . . . . . . ( Cet
70 þe thrid day efter þe birth of Criste; ordain sum point . . . . profe
(pan) tald scho þe prior lest & maste and schew omang his seruandes dere
(how) sho was greued with pat gaste to paire helping als men sal here; 100
(and) how scho was sted in pat stede and þarfore, dame, gif þe noght ill,
(sen) þe tyme þat hir lord was dede; bot be right blith, and hald þe still..
75 (»Sir), scho said, right wele hope I vnto my breper I will a space
(þat it) be þe spirit of Gy;
to ask þaire counsail in þis case;
(& in) þat chamber moste es he
for omang many witty? men
105
(whar) mi lord was won to be,
sum gude kounsayl may men ken,
(& in) þat bed will be noght blin and sekerer may it so be tane
80 (bat) mi lord and I lay ina.
pan of a man by him allane.
(and þan) scho said with simpel chere: þarfor, he said, dame, hald þe here,
». . . r I namore cum nere,
and vnto god mak þi praiere;
ΙΙο
. . . . ze me cownsaile
for lang sall I noght fra pe dwell«.
(what best) might in þis case auaile«. Þan gert he ring þe chapetil bell
85 (When þe prior) had herd þis case, to geder pe couent al togeder ; - is
. . . . . . in his hert he mase, and hastily when pai come peder,
.... . . . . noght be affrayde, he declared pam al pis case
. . . . . . . . (þu)s he sayde: als þe woman said it wase,
... (dr)ede Þe noght, and praied þam forto tell him to
. . . . . . Þe boght. þarof what þam thoght best to do.
·.'. . . in þi minde Pan ilka man sais his avise
. . . . . . . . . g mankinde and laytes whare moste medcin lise; 120
. . . . . . . . . . . clerkes and graythly pan with gude entent
. . . . . . . . . . . werkes pai ordaynd by Þaire aller assent
95 . . . . . . . . . . .
þat þe Pryor sone suld ga,
. . . . . . . .
. .,
and with him oper maisters twa,
1 Ms. witty witti.
•
115
.
•
.
•
Q-5D
Ms. Vernon.
as a seint Ion pe Ewangelyst, þe wydewe, his wyf, wente to be hous of þe Frere (Wern
Prechours of þat ilke Citéé, and asked aftur . Þe Prior of þat ilke freres. Þe
wzuche Prior com to þat 'wommon, and heo tolde him alle be pinges pat hire
beo-fel porw pe gost of hire hosebonde sipen þat he was ded; and for as
muche as heo ne wuste whepur hit weore a gilerie of pe fend or non, heo seyde
þat heo com þider to aske counseil what hire weore best to don of þat þing,
ffor whi? heo ne mihte no lengore hele such a wonder; and in þe endynge of
hire wordes heo seide also þat wib-oute doute pe spiret was in þe bed bat hire
hosebonde died inne. Whuch þing whon þe prior hedde [of] hire herd, he seyde,
to cumforte pe wommon: »Beo not a-wondred of þis caas ! ffor whi? vr lord is
wonderful in his werkes; I wot wel þat he wol schewe sum newe þing in þis
caas to his trewe seruauns for to strengpen vr feip. Gode dame, abyd here a
while & I schal aske counseil at my wyse breberen, ffor whi? Þe counseil of
mony wyse men is beter pen pe counseil of o mon al-one«. For-Þi he rong þe
Chapihtre-belle wiþ þe wąuche he gederde his breberen to-gedere; and schewede
hem þat wonderful cas. And whon bei hedde I-herd hit, bei zaf counseile pat
C 190
I Gu
Hr
Spir
Grunge
-3. Spiritus Guydonis.
295
24400
125 þe tone maister of geomettri (!)'
And of Requiem he sang a mes—
- Cotton
and þe toper of philisophi,
for cristen saules it ordand es;
150
samen sold pai wende al thre
and parin made minde of Gy
vnto pe mayre of þat cete
and prayed for him ful specialli,
and tell pis same tale him vntill, and pat god suld gif þam grace
130 ạnd pray him, if it war his will,
forto haue knawing in þat case ;
pat he wald vouche-safe forto send and efter mes þan howseld he
155
sum sertain men with þam to wend al þe men þat wald howseld be,
to Gy hows þat was newli ded, for þat þe fende suld þam noght fere
to se þa wonders in pat stede
ne in þaire dedes do pam no dere.
135 and to bere witnes of paire dede, Pe prior þan ful preuely
and to mayntene pam, if it war nede. in a buste toke goddes body
160
and þus þai did with al þaire maine; vnder his gere with gude entent-
l þe woman was þareof ful fayne. bot no man wist þat with him went. I
He and þe men and þe maisters twaal
na Sune when þe maire had herd þis thing, to Gies hows þan gan þai ga,
151
140 twa hundreth men he bad forth bring, and þe wife went with þam in-fere, 165 ,
and armed pam fra top to ta,
sigband with ful simpil chere.
and bad þam with pe Prior ga
Þe armed men pan ordand he
and baldely do what he wald bid. al obout þe hows to be
foor and als he demid right so þai did. wele vmset on ilka side,
145 (Þe prior þan bad pam al) bidene to se what auentures wald bitide, 170
þat þai sulde be schreuen clene
sum in window, and sum in dore,
and here mes with deuocioune,
with wapins þat war strang & store,
and sepen baldli mak pam boune. and sum in gardines gert he lig,
1 al. theology.
sana is die een
frien
d
Ms. Vernon.
þe prior wiþ þe Maistre of Theologye and þe Maystre? of Philosophie þat weore
wysore ben pe o buy freres, þat þei schulde wende to þe Meir of þat ilke Cite
and preye him þat he wolde asignen sum goode men þat mihte wende wij hem
to Gyes hous pat nou late was ded, for more sykernesse and witnesse. And he
dude so; þe wzuche Meir asigned two hundred men wel armed to wenden wij
h[e]m? and seo what hit weore.
And þe prior, seoinge þat hit weore profitable to his owne helepe and to
oper mennes bope, he amonestede alle po þat scholde. wende wij him þat þei
scholde schriuen hem, & he him-self dude also ; and afturward he song a Masse
of Requiem eternam for alle cristene soules, and as monye as wolden asken
housel, he hoselde hem, so pat no gylerie of pe fend ne scholde don hem harm.
And he tok priueliche wip him, þat no mon ne wuste, pe box in whuche Cristes
bodi was, and he honged hit priueliche be-foren his brest vnder his scapeleri, as
worschupliche a[s] he mihte 3. And þenne pe prior tok be wei toward Gyes hous,
wiþ his foreseid two hundred men. And he set hem aboute pe hous þreo to-
gederes' and þreo to-geders, in pe nome of þe Trinite, and he sette summe
vppon þe tyles and summe on pe houses rugge and summe in þe wyndouwes
and summe in þe gardines", to abyde and wayte pe caas of þat wonderful þing.
1 Ms. Msistres. 2 Ms. him. 3 Ms. mihti. 4 omit togederes? 5 r. gardine.
.
Sper
goog.
Choo
296
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
Subtitrat & sum in bretice obout þe rig; bot to be bed sone scho him talde ;( Cotton)
175 and euer in ilka place thre,
and in hir wa so als scho was,
in takining of þe trinite.
scho said: »Sir prior, or ze pas
and when þai war pus sett obout, I prai zow for mending of me 205
Þe prior bad þam haue no dout. and als in dede of charite
He enterd pan in þat place,
þat ze wald bid sum hali bede
180 and his twa breber with him gase, and mak zowre prayers in þis stede
and þir wordes þan he saide in hi: for his saul þat was husband here«;
Pax sit huic domui,
and when scho had said on pis manere, 210
þat es in inglis þus to say:
down scho fell als scho wald dy,
»pese be to pis hows alway«.
opon a noper bed par-bi,
185 to chamber he went with-outen rest,
for dole and wa scho wex al wan.
and haliwater obout he kest,
and þan þe prior pus bigan P!
and said: dominus vobiscum, - 14
with vidi aquam; þan said he pus:
215
his breber answerd all and sum;
Veni creator spiritus,
And efter þan. he said onone
--with pe colet þat sal efter cum:
þe first godspell of saint Ione,
190 Deus qui corda fidelium,
In principio clerkes it call;
askand help of þe haly gaste
when þat was said, þan sat þai all 220
al wikkednes oway to waste;
opon a burd þe bed biside,
(hali)water eftsones kest he
and said þe seruise in þat tyde
and said asperges me domine.
þat for þe ded aw for to be,
195 Þan cald be þe wife with-outen mare, Placebo with pe dirige;
and sho com wepeand wonder sare; and efter laudes pai said in hi 225
he said: »dame, teche me to pe stede seuen spalmes with be letany.
and to bed ware Gy was dede.
and agnus dei when þai said (thrise),
Pe woman was ful' mased and mad, þai herd ane answer on þis (wise),
200 scho trembild pan so was scho rad, a febill voyce þare might (þai ken)
for care hir hert bigan to calde ; als of a childe, saiand amen.
i V in þe stude of, L loco laudum.
Ms. Vernon.
And be prior wiþ his two breþren & wiþ þe seruauns of þe hous wenten in to
pe hous, and pe prior seide Pax huic domui — þat is as muche to seyn as »Pes
be to pis hous«. And whon he com in-to pe Inemaste chaumbre, he spreynde
hit wij halywater & seide Vidi aquam egredientem &c., and afturward he seide
Veni creator spiritus, wiþ þe orison Deus qui corda; and he spreynde hit wiþ
halywatur eft-sonus and seide Asperges me domine. (And þenne pe prior cleped
Þe wommon to hym & bad hire to techen hem to be stude þat hire hosebonde
dyed in. And heo tremblinde onswerde & seide: »Pat is pe stude þat he diede
inne. Gop for-bi, I preye ow, & seip sum goode beodes for his soule, & per-
auenture ze schul fynden him per«. And as pei wente forp, Þe prior seyde
wiþ loud voys Dominus vobiscum, and afturward he seyde pe gospel of In
principio erat verbum; and þer stood a fourme bi-fore be bed, and þei seeten
adoun & seiden al þe seruise of þe dede, þat is to seyen þe Placebo & Dirige,
wib-outen laudes—ffor in pe stude of laudes Þe prior hedde a deuocion to seye
Þe seuen psalmes wiþ þe letanye. And whon pei come to Agnus dei, þey herden
a mer vois & a smal as of a child, seyinge Amen. And whon Þe prior herde
230
t
A
CT br)
Spir
gug
3. Spiritus Guydonis..
297 Rol 235
NO
270
too þarfore pai war all ful a(ffrayd). Pe prior bad þai suld stand still,
and þan þe prior pusga(te said) : & þus he spak þe voyce vntill: roo
»I coniore þe, þou creat(ure),
»Whether ertou ane ill gaste or a gude ?« .
in þe vertu of oure (saueure),
Pe voyce answerd with eger mode
235 þat es a god of mig(htes mast),
and said: »Sir, I am a gude gaste;
fader and sun and h(ali gast),
þat may I proue be here in haste. 260
þat was and es. . . . . . . for hali writ pus beres wittnes :
þat þou me ans(wer) . . . . . when god had made both more & les,
and tell me . . . . . . .
(he luk)ed his werkes in ilka wane
240 als fer als . . . . . . . . (and) þai war wonder gude ilkane.
(al werkes) er gude þat he gan ma, 265
w (It answe)rd hym on þis manere: (and) sen þat I am ane of þa,
Syr) prior, aske sune what þou will, (a gulde gast I am forbi
and I sal tell it be vntill
(al) for my maker souerainly.
245 als fer als I haue might or minde (þarf)ore may pou haue in minde
or als I may haue leue by kinde«. (þat I) am a gude gaste by kinde.
Pis ilk voice þan herd þai all
(Bot I a)m euyl for mine euil dede,
þe armed men obout þe hall,
(& par)fore haue I payn to mede«.
and in pai come ful fast rinand, (Pe prior) answerd him in hy
250 ilkone 'with wapin in paire hand, (and said): »Pou sais noght sothfastly;
for wele it was in paire trowing
(þat may I proue) pe here in haste. 275
þat þai suld se sum gastely thing.. (pou sais pou ert) ane euil gaste
bot neuer-þe-lese þare saw þai nane (for þe pain)es þat þou has here;
ne noght herd bot a voyce allane. . . . . . . pis manere :
.... (g)ude, þat proue I þe,
2019 Ms. Vernon.
þat vois he Coniured hit in þis fourme: 1 »I Coniure þe, Godes creature, be pe
vertu of pe holygost, and bi alle pe vertues of heuene, þat þow speke to me
zif pou may, and þat þou wende nouzt out of þis stude til þou telle vs þat we
wol aske þe«.
And þenne spac pe vois loudore ben hit dude to-forehond and seide : »A,
Mi prior, aske hastiliche þat þou wolt, & I schal onswere be as ferforb as I may
borw leue and kynde«. And whon alle be men herde þat voys, pei comen alle
eornynde to be Chaumbre & trouweden þat þey scholde seon sum gostly ping
sihtilich; and not-for-ban þei ne seze noþing sihtilich, ac Þei herde onliche a vois.
And Þe Prior dude hem alle sitte stille, & putte forb his question to pat vois :
I »Whepur artou a good gost or a wikked ?« And þat vois onswerde & seide:
»Ich am a good gost; ffor vche a creature of god is good in as muche as hit is
creature, as holy writ witnesseþ and seip ‘God seiz alle pinges þat he hedde
I-maad and þei weore ful goode'. Zif vche gost beo godes creature, hit is good
& not wikke; and seppe þat I am pe gost of Gy þat is ded, I am a good spirit
& not a wikke, als to my kuynde. Ak I am a wikked spirit as to my wikked
peyne þat I now suffre«. And þenne seide pe prior to þat vois: »In þis 'on-
swere pou seist þat þou art a wikked spirit; þat I preue in pis manere hit is
not so. Vche a peyne is good þat is rihtfoliche i-don to eny mon for his
1 Ms. I onswere.
dery
vanj
Spir
Jug
Kri
@noo
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
a 4400-298
fottons
sara
.
.
287
·
· · ·
·
·
lwe 280
280 . . . . . . . . gude degre Þe voice answerd to him in hy 305
· · · · · · onis sin
and said: »I am [be] spirit of Gy,
. . . . . . ld noght blin Þe whilk ze wate was newly dede
. .. goddes will and was husband here in pis steder. Alt
. . . . ht ill
Þe prior said: „Pan wele I finde gobie
285 . . . . . . . . . . þarby«. by reson þat þou ert vnkinde, 310
· · · · · · · · · · Gy: pat pou makes slike sclander & strife
» · · · · · · : le
vnto Gies bodi and to his wife.
for ay whils Gy was lifand man,
· · · · · · · · · · ·
ful rightwis was he halden þan
290 . . . . . . . . . . .
and trew in faith, of nobill fame, 315
by iugement and .....
and his wif was halden þe same;
for euil dedis þat þai did here;
and for þir meruailes pat pou mase
bot neuer-þe-les þe pain es ill
now will men say in ilka place
to þam þat it es gifen vntill.
þat Gy was man of wikked life
295 so es mine ill to me allane,
and þarfore turmentes he his wife; 320
for me it pines and oper nane.
for laud folk in ilka land
and sen I haue swilk euyl payne sais euyll men er oft walkand.
for mi sins, als es sertayne,
and Gy was halden gude alway,
ane euill spirite men may cal me, wharfore bou ert vnkind, I say«.
300 vntill time þat I clensed be
Þe voice answerd þan als him thoght 325
of euil þat I haue done«.
and said: »ynkinde ne am I noght
Þan al þus said pe prior sone:
nowper to mi wif ne to my bodi.
»Tell vs apertly; or pou pas,
enchesun sal I say be why,
whilk mans spirite þat þou was«.
1 Ms. euyll euyll.
Vernon)
synnes, ffor þat is good and rigtful þat synne be punissched. And pou seist
þat þou suffrest nou peyne for þi synnes: ffor-Þi þat peyne is good in him-
seluen, ffor pat hit is Rihtfuliche I-ziuen to be of god. For-þi hit is fals pat
pou seist þat þou art a wikked spirit for pou soffrest wikked peyne«. q Pen
onswerde pat vois and seide »pat vche a peyne is good in as muchel as hit
comeþ from godes Iugement; ac hit is vuel to him þat hit is zeuen to, ffor
whi? peyne is ziuen to no mon wib-oute desert of his synnes. For-[bi] þis
peyne þat I nou suffre is onliche vuel to me ffor hit is zeuen to me for
my wikkednesse þat I haue don toforen; & aftur þat þat ichaue an vuel
peyne, ne may ich not ben seyd an vuel spirit, til þat I be ipurget of myn
vuel þorw [sw]uche? peyne ?« And þe prior asked þe vois, whos spirit he
was. And he onswerde : vich am pe spirit of Gy, & his soule, þat nou late was
ded«. q Pen seide pe prior: „Þen þinkep me þat þou art an vnkuynde spirit to
þy-self & to Þe bodi of Gy: ffor whi? for þat pou apeerest in þis stude, pou
makest sclaundre a-ryse to pi wyf & to pi-self anentes men, þat Gy was an vuel
mon in his lyue. Þe contrarie of such þing þe Citeseyns of þis Cite hope[de]n
to ben sop, þat is to seyn, 3 Þei hopeden þou weore a good Mon; of (sw]uche *
þyng non o buy was knowen of þe Þe whiles þat þou liuede«. And þe vois
onswerde: »I nam non vnkynde spirit to my-self ne to non opur. For whi? I
i Ms. wzuche. 2 Ms. adds & wzuche vuel I dude in my lyue. 3 Ms. whon bei. 4 Ms.
whuche; cf. Lat. quia nulla mala opinio fuerat de te quando vixisti.
Ms. Vernon.
299
@ 1300
Thug (br) Sper guy
A
A
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
299
360
370
3 of 5
375
100 by sause bat pou sal noght forsake, ouþer in þis erth whare pai dwell, Cotton
330 for swilk a scill here I pe make. or els in purgari, or in hell;
if þou had gifen a man to were
and ilka man might better here
kote or hode or ober gere,
suffer pain thurgh seuen zere
and he pat so þi cote had tane
als mekill als ani man suffer may,
wald suffer for þi luf allane
Þan in purgatori a day;
1335 in gude and ill to lif and dy,
and a day here to suffer care
man war he noght kinde to pe forbi ?« may of a zere relese him þare.
-Þe prior said: »zis, for sertayne«. Gyes bodi has now no skathe
365
and þan answerd he voyce ogayne and I am pined to saue vs bathe;
f. 92 & said: »(right so bi me bifell).
and efter when we cum to blis,
340 here in pis erth wils I gan dewell, what ioy so I haue sall be his,
of Gy I toke none oper thing
for bath togeder sall be þan
bot his cors ynto my clething;
bodi and saul of ilka man.
and þat cors pat I dedli call,
and sen I haue pir paines grim
gert vs both in folies fall,
noght anly for me bot for him,
345 and for þe wikkednes pat it wroght till he of all filthes be finde,
am I in all þir bales broght,
þan am I noght (to] him vnkinde.
and his doing was ilkadele;
And, sir Prior, also pou sais
als haly writ witnes ful wele
þat I of Gy suld sclander rais.
and sais pat liking here of Aess
þat will I answer on bis wise
350 contrari vnto pe saule es.
and say pat I ger no sclander rise.
and if I sufferd noght pis payne, for þat es sklander kindely kend
Gyes bodi and als his saul sertaine þat sownes in ill or has ill end;
sul suffer paine with-outen ende
wha so it dose mun dere aby,
in fire of hell with mani a fende.
for haly writ sais weterly
355 'For ilka man both more and myn Vnto þat man sall wa be wroght
sall suffer penance for paire syn
thurgh wham sclander first vp es broght.
1 355—64, and 367–70, are useless additions.
of this non
Ms. Vernon.
sopose þat þou zeeue eny mon þi Cote, and whon he haþ taken hit, he wolde
dye for þe for þe loue of þi cote zif mester were: scholde he not be cleped kynde ?«
And þe prior seide: »žus, for sobe«. And pe vois seide: „Þe while þat I was
in Gyes bodi, I ne receyuede non opur þing of him but pe cote of his dedlyhed:
and nou lith Gyes bodi in pe eorpe iburied and velep no trauayle, and ich, his
spirit, am turmented here for synnes of his bodi seppe pat suche delyces liked
me neuere; ffor holy writ seip þat flescliche delyces ryden' azeyn pe soule'. For-
þi þat Gyes bodi wiþ his spirit ne scholde not be brent wip fuir at þe day of
Iugement, Ich am turmented as kuynde spirit to him for pe vueles of his bodi
seppe þat I ne dude non euel, in as muchel as I was his spirit and his soule.
For-þi ne mihtest pou not seye þat I am an vnkynde spirit to him. And þat is
nouzt worý, sir prior, þat þou seist, þat is to wite þat I make sclaunder to a-
ryse of vuel ortrouwynge of Gy [in]? þat þat I speke & apeere heer to you. For
þat sclaundre is iseyd oper don in to repreue 3 of eny mon, goinde to vuel ende,
and perfore hit is writen in holy writ ‘Wo beo pat mon be whom sclaundre
1 Lat. militant. 2 Ms. and. 3 Ms. reprece; Lat. Quia scandalum est dictum vel factum
in vituperationem alicuius, tendens ad malum finem,
380
111
than
van
Spin
quz.
@MO
300
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vo.
420
Dewť 3 7.30
400 385 and all if answer pus for Gy
when he es ded, sen þat he was ( Cottomat
I do to him no vilany.
schreuen clene or he gan pas,
my spekeing es all for his spede and was in will gude werkes to wirk 415
þat I haue neuynd to zow his nede, and ended in trowth of haly kirk
and als my speche may gretly gayn and had his sacramentes ilkane ?«
390 till oper saules pat suffers payn.
Pe voice answerd sone onane
and þat may pou þi-seluen se:
and said : »pat men may euyl be
for mani folk of pis cete
on two maners, þat proue I be, 420
cums to þis hows ful hastily,
when þai er ded and hepin gane.
and ilkone pray pai fast for Gy
þat may on þis maner be tane:
395 þat god deliuer him out of care, for pai er ill whare so pai wend,
als pou and þi breper did are:
þat dampned er, with-owlen end;
and in paire praiers þat þai say, and þai er euill for sertayn (space) 425
for al cristen saules pai prai,
þat suffers pains in any p(lace)
and be prayers þat men makes for ane for þaire sins, þat es to sai
400 may help to oper saules ilkane.
till tyme þat it be wasted (owai).
And also þai þat er on line
þis same right in mi. . . . .
sall suner of paire sins þam schriue for I was schreuen . . . . .
and gif þam vnto penance hard, zit am I euill, þis es . ..
þat þai be noght pined efterward till I baue sufferd . . . .
405 als I am pined now for my plight For als men . .. ..
þat Gy amended noght whils he might. clerkes sais . . . . . . . .
I say I sklander noght forþi
. . . . . . . . . . . . 435
nowþer Gyes wife ne his body,
.. here syn was.
bot all þir sauwes þat I say now (þar)fore fully it suffices noght
410 er for þaire honore and for þaire prow«. forto be schreuen in will and thoght,
De Prior said: »pan ask I pe
bot if men may in dede fulfill
how any man may euill be
be penance þat es gifen þam till; 440
** ENVernon
Vennom
ago
comep'; ac ich, Gyes spiryt; ne dop him no repreue nouper in seying ne in
my dedes for pat ich am suffred to speke wiþ ou heere and I schewede' ou my
nede & of opure þat ben in purgatorie. And in þat do ich more honour to Gy,
fforpi þat al þis Citéé comeß eornynde hider to-day, makynge mony gode prezeres
for Gy pat God of his Merci dilyuere him of his vuel peyne, [as]? þou, sir prior,
dudest zarwhile wiþ þi breperen: þou prezedest God for me. For-þi beop my
wordes apert inouz to ou þat i do no sclaundre to my-self ne to Gyes bodi«.
Þenne seide pe prior: »Nou ich aske þe: In hou mony maners may [mon] ben
euel after his dep, sebben þat he was schriuen in his lyue and afturward tok þe
sacremens of holychirche?« 1 And þe vois onswerde and seide »þat a Mon may
ben euel in two Maners þat is ded: Ouper in beynge* as bei ben pat ben dampned,
obuy for tyme in to certeyn tyme. Wharof I, Gy, was holliche schriuen of alle myne
synnes and I receyued [Þe sacramens) afterwardes as men ouzte to donne, whar-
ore I ne may not ben euel wib-outen ende; ac I schal ben vuel as to vuel peyne
til þat I haue mad amendement of my synnes þat I was schriuen of to-foren.-
Hit is not I-now to a mon to schriuen him and vnderfonge pe sacramens of
holichirche, but zif he haunte his penaunce in werk; ffor whi? al þat is to luyte
1r. to schewe. 2 Ms. And. 3 Lat. Quomodo. 4 Lat. sc. eternaliter, sicut qui dampnati
suint, vel tcmporaliter vsque ad aliquod certum tempus.
li390
ef Gary (76) Spir. Gug.
ZA
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
301.
.
.
..
2
.
stede
49)
483
toe for þat þai do noght or pai dy, (might) say pe soth als he had sene. (Collon)
sall fulfillde be in porgatory;
(and) sen I am þe gaste of Gy 465
and a day þare to suffer paine
(and) suffers pain in purgatori,
semes als a zere here for sertayne. (pain)es in hell may I noght se -
445 þarfore es gude þat men pam schriue, (I was neuer þare ne neuer sal be;
and suffer penance in þaire liue«. (and to he)uin may I noght win
Pe Prior pan of him gan craue
(till I be clen)sed clene of sin; 470
if þat he wist oght wha war satie (þarfor þe) soth may I noght say
or whilk men war dampned bidene, (wha sal be saue)d or damned for ayı. Boli
450 in þe stedes whare he had bene. (Þe prior sai)d: »pou ert noght stabill, yo
De voyce answerd sone þartill
(bot a spirit) fals and desayueabill,
and sayd: »it es noght goddes will: . . . . . . . . noght here, 475
þat I suld swilk thinges ascri;
. . . . . . . þis manere.
I will þe say encheson why.
. . . . . . . . . kes k[n]awe
455 all þat in purgatori er dwelland
. . . . . . . . in þe ald lawe
to blis of heuin er þai ordand,
. . . . resowne
l þarfore pam au nothing to say
. . . . , oune 480
0 bot þat þai may warand alway.
. . . . . . . (incar))nacioune, .
and pe soth of þis may no man tell · · · · · · · · · · ·
460 bot he had bene in heuyn and in ·
· ·
hell
in Mari þe mayden milde of mode;
and sene what sorow es in þe tane, and als þai talde in mani a stede
and ioy in þe tober þat neuer bese how he in erth suld suffer dede,
gane;
and of his rising talde bai right:
(bu)s in pam bath wha só had bene, and zit þai saw him neuer in sight.
340-Ms. Vernon.
of peyne in þis world, hit schal beo fulfyld in purgatorie«. And þe prior asked
him zif he wuste eny mon beo saaf oupur dampned, þe while he was in such
peyne. | And þe voys onswerde & seide : »Vre lord wol not þat I speke to þe
of pat Matere; and þis is pe enchesun whi. Euerich pat is dwelland in purga-
torie is bi ordinaunce goode, ffor þat he is ordeynd to goode allerhizeste and
euerlastynde; ffor-hi vche a spirit schal be sopfast & not lyande. Ac non such
spirit ne may sopli seie to men of sauacion & dampnacion, but zif þat he baue
beo in eiper stude, þat is to wite, in heuene to seon wzuch and hou monye pat
ben saued, and in helle to sen whuche & hou monye schul beo dampned. ·
And I am þe spirit of Gy, I-set heer to purge me of myn euel, and I was
neuure in þe stude of hem þat ben dampned, for I am not dampned ne nout
schal be; ne I ne mai not zit come in heuene, þat? is þe stude of hem þat ben
saued; and perfore ne may I nouzt sopli seye wzuch schul be saued or dampned«.
ÞEn þe prior wij gret wille of his gost spac and seide: »Nou hit semeþ and is
I-seene þat þou art a spirit lizinde and deceyuable. For þat holy writ witnessep
þat þe prophetes in þe Olde lawe seide þe sobe of þe Incarnacioun of Crist,
godes sone, and of þe Maner of him hou he tok flesch & blod of þe Mayden,
and þei seide pe sobe of his, werk, and nouzt-for-ben bei seze neuer Crist in
flesch'in þis lyf; and also bei seiden soþ of? mony sopnesses of þe arysing of
Þe depº, and not-for-pen þei ne perceiuede nouzt ne þei ne seze not zit þe vp-
i Ms. þer. 2 omit. sob of. 3 Lat. de resurrectione mortuorum.
Behring (2)
брене ---
-
alhot
302
paylawing
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
Ecotton
4+40o And sen pai war men bodily
and better trow how Criste was born, 515
490 and said slike thinges thurgh prophecy by saus þat þai had said biforn;
and kend pe folk how þai might knaw for sen paire saus fra god war sent,
swilk thing als þai neuer saw,
men sal þam trow with gude entent.
of more force pan thinkes me
And I am set for sertaine space,
a clene spirit, als bou suld be,
to time þat god will grante me grace, 520
495 sold haue more might swill thinges to þus for my sins to suffer paine,
tell
and, sir, I say be for sertayne
þan pai þat lifed in fless and fell; pat I may now none angels se
and þan aght pe to wit by þis
bot þam þat has kepeing of me,
whilk er in bale and whilk in blis«. and to me will pai tell right noght 525
Þe voyce answerd to him in haste till I out of mi paines be broght.
-500 and said: »forsoth Þir wordes er wast; Parfor I may noght say sertaine
I may wele proue Þe in þis place, whilk er in ioy or wlik in payne«. llo
it es no liknes þat þou mase
Þan said pe Prior sone onane :
by-twix prophetes pat standes in stori, »right in þi saus pou sall be tane. 530
and saules þat er in purgatori.
(þou) sais no spiſrit mai sai to) me. f. 93
505 Þe prophettes had, whils þai wond here; whilk saules sal saued or dampned be;
of god and of his angels clere
and bukes beres witnes, be balde,
and of gift of þe haly gaste
þat fendes sum tyme to men has talde
al paire maters leste and maste
and said pe soth haly bydene
þat þai might tell and preche ouerall of þam þat saued or dampned has bene«.
510 byfore als it sold efter fall;
swilk grete grace was gifen þam till, Pe voice answ[e]rd and said ogayne
and all was for þis sertayn scill: pat no spirite þat dwelles in paine
for laud folk in ilka laud
ne none of fendes þat er in hell
by Þaire steuyns might ynderstand may haue no power forto tell
540
vero pwl
535
..-
LV-
,
.
-.
-.
.
-
-.
-
-
-
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-
--
VTT
29TY-Thin... 1.171
2 5
T
Ms. Vernon.
- Vernon)
rysing. Forþi porw strengor skil þou þat art despoylet out of pe bodi & art a
puire spirit, may better seon hem þat ben dampned & saued, þen þe prophetes
þat weore puire men, whon þei prophecied of þe Incarnacion of Crist«. q Penne
onswerde pe vois & seide: »Sir prior, pou arguest a-mis. For whi? hit is not
lich of prophetes, & [of] spiritus and soules pat bep in purgatorie. For, þat þe
prophetes hedde, was porw schewyng of god & of his holy angeles; alle pe
pinges þat þei seide to-fore of pe incarnacioun of Crist & þe risyng of pe dep,
al was þorw þe.holigost þat was put in to hem, þat þei mizte þer-bi conuerte
Þe peple to þe worschupe of God. And I am set in pe peyne of purgatorie
in-til a certein tyme, and as longe as I am in such peyne, be schewyng of
angeles faylep me & [he]' schewyng of pe holigost; ffor I schal seo non oper
angeles pen heom þat gouernep me in þis peine«. And þe prior seide to pat
vois : »I take þe in pi wordes. Pow seist þat pe spirit may not seyzen to vs
of hem þat bep dampned & hem þat beop saued, ſand þat is fals]? : For whi?
hit is writen in holy writ þat þe fendes seide sum tyme Þe sobe of hem þat
beoþ dampned & of hem þat ben saued«. (And þe vois onswerde and seide
»þat [no]spirit þat is in purgatorie ne no fendes mowe noping tellen of
1 Ms. ir. 2 om. 3 Ms. Þe.
0.1390
Елит м) ахих - Qт
5
575
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
303
Hoo ne any thing to man at neuyn
purgatori es þare always«. k attoon )
þat toches to preuetes of heuyn, Þan said pe voice on þis manere:
bot it [be] thurgh goddes sufrance, »Sir, þare er purgatories sere:
or oper angels þam tell thurgh chance; Ane es comun to more and les,
545 »and ynto me pai tell no thing,
and departabill anoper es«.
570
þarfore I may noght haue knawyng Pe prior said: »now se I wele
of heuinly blis how it es pare;
þat þou ert fals in ilkadele.
ne in hell how þe fendes fare.
a saul may noght in a time ga
bot saules þat þare sall suffer pyne, forto be pyned in places twa,
550 þaire penance es wele more þan mine; for whils he sall be in pe tane,
for I haue hope to cum till blis,
of þe to per he may haue nane.
and þareof sall pai euer mis.
In a stede bihoues him suffer paine«.
þarfore es no liknes to tell
Þan said pe voice: »þis es sertayne.
bitwix me and be paines of hell«. ll I am now (pined, þis) es na fabill,
555 Pan said pe Prior: »I pray þe now in purgatory departabill
580
tell me in what stede ertou«.
ilka day, als god vowches saue;
Þe voice answerd and sayd in hy: bot oper paynes byhoues me haue,
»I am here in purgatori«.
for ilka night bihoues me
Þan said pe Prior: »proued þou hase in comun purgatory pined be,
560 þat purgari es in þis place;
forto suffer paynes sare
for if þat þou be pyned here
with oper sawles þat dwelles pare«.
þan may so oper saules in fere;. Pe pryor sayd þan: »can pou ges 1
and þare whare saules be purged sall, in what stede comun purgatory es
purgatori men may þare call.
whare paine es [to] saules puruaide ?«
565 þarfore by pir saues þat þou sais Þe spirite answerd pan and said: 590
emain
- 585 .
.
.
-
U
390 Ms. Vernon,
heueneriche priuetes bote porw soffrance opur sum schewynge of eny' angeles; ( Derasin)
wherof, þe whiles þat I am in þis peyne, I ne haue no schewyng of angeles
abouen bote porw suffraunce. Ne I ne schal not se pe peine of hem þat bep
dampned: ffor whi? zif hit weore so, þen schulde pe peyne of helle stonde
wiß Þe peyne of purgatorie, and þat is fals; ffor whi? Þe peyne of purgatorie
is wiþ goode hope of glorie & of grace, and in helle is no zeyn-buggyng.
Wherof beo? al myne seyinges hit semep inouh þat þou arguest amis to me as
of prophetes & of fendesc. And þe prior asked him wher he was. And þe
gost onswerde: »I am heer in purgatorie«. q And þe prior seide: „Þen semej
hit þat heer is purgatorie of soules. For whi? bi þat resun þat pou art heer
purget, bi þat ilke resun oþur soules ben I-purget heere; and þat stude pat
soules ben l-purget (in) is cleped purgatorie of soules. And þe vois onswerde:
»I sey pe þat þer beoþ double purgatories: Comuyn Purgatorie, and departable«.
To whom pe prior seide: »Now I conclude pe þat þou art a lygere: For hit
is certeyn þat no soule may in o tyme and in on hour be punissched in diuerse
· studes«. And pe vois onswerde: „Þat is sop; wherfore I am punissched be
daye in þis partable purgatorie, and be nihte in comuyn purgatorie wiþ oþer..
soulesić. And be prior asked him wher be comuyn purgatorie was. | And þe
1 Ms. eny oþur. 2 Ms. beoþ.
no
eg laves cram
ti
1
Spin
Gup
C140
-*
7
0
625
304
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vII.
(cotton)
m »in middes of al þe erth ful right and zit here er noght stede(s twa). 615
es comun purgatori dyght,
and hereby may pou se als(wa)
and þare es pain ordand for vs«. how haile and raine & sle(t & snaw)
And pe Prior answerd pus:
er in þe ayre klerely to (knaw),
595 he said, »me think bi alkins ways and ilkone has his cours . . .
it may noght be suth þat þou says. so es pat place whare . . . . 620
be middes of erth es a sertaine space, De Prior said: »tell vs (now mare)
and þe purgatori a noper place, whi þat þou ert pinſed þare)
and twa stedes may noght be in ane. more þan in anoper (stede),
600 þarfore me think pou has mistane ; sen þe tyme (þat þou was dede)«.
if purgatori whare sawles dwelles De voice answ(erd . . . .:
war in middes erth als bou telles, »for in þis . . . . . . .
twa stedes in ane pan bud be þare, . . . . . I gan me . . .
and þat saltou se neuermare.
(& made no) penance in mi liue;
605 þarfore so es it noght arrayd«.
þarfore here sall I penance haue
De voyce pan answerd sune and said for pat sin till I be saue«.
pat places er ordand ful rathe
bodily and gastly bathe.
Pe Prior said: »now, if pou can, wier CM
»a saul es gastly, and forpi
tell vs what thing moste noyes man,
610 it ocupies no stede bodily,
wit paynes of ded when he es tane«.
þat es to say by it allane,
De voice answerd and said onane
when mans bodi þarfro es tane.
þat vgly sightes sall moste him dere 635
þis ilk how[s] als pou may se
of foule fendes þat him sal fere ;
haldes both þi saul and þe,
»ful many sall obout him be
Ms. Vernon.
spirit onswerde and seide: »In þe middel of þe eorþe«. Þenne seide pe prior:(Vern
»Now schal I conclude þe: For whi? hit is an Inpossyble ping and an vnrihtful
þing þat two studes schulde be to-gederes in O stude, as 1 hit is an Inpossible
þing and an vnrihtful þing þat two bodies be in o bodilich & kuyndeliche. Ac
Þe middel of pe eorpe is O stude, and be comun purgatorie is O stude; ffor-Þi,
zif þe stude of comuyn purgatorie be in middel of þe erbe, ben folewep hit þat
two studes scholde beo to-gedere in o stude, and þat is fals«. And be gost
onswerde: »Hit be double studes, pat is to wite gostliche & bodiliche. For
whi? Þe soule ocupiep no stude be hit-self, not-for-ben hit is in þe bodi as in
his stude. And pou wiþ þi soule & þi bodi is in þis stude and pis stude holdep
bope þe and þi soule, and not-for-pen þey beoþ not two studes. Also ne
seost pou not þat Reynes and haules and snowes and opur tempestes and Cloudes
ben to-gederes in þe Eyr, and not-for-pan non of her alle nis in oper, ac
vche bi-side? opur kuyndeliche. For-þi beo pe miht of god þe stude of comuyn
purgatorie may beo in þe middel of pe eorpe, wib-oute þat two bodies & two
studes ben to-gederes in O stude«. And pe prior asked him whi he was punis-
sched þer. | Þe vois onswerde: »for þat I sunged her partabliche be my-self,
and ne made non asep in my lyue of þat synne. And þe prior asked him:
»What anuyzeń most mon in þe poynt of dep?« | And pe gost onswerde: »Pe
comynge of fendes þat ben gedred þenne to-gedere abouten hem þat ben in
i Ms. Ac. 2 side overl.
@1340
I.lt
AVT
o) Spir.
qug
.
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
305
16!1
657
Hot defigured all in foule degre,
(be sacra)mentes when he despised (collon)
and grisly sall pai grin & gnaiste, (& wald noght) schriue him of his sin
640 out of paire wit? þam forto wraystę, • i ... and ended þarin.
and als byfor him sall be broght (when his wer)kes er thusgat sayd, 665
al wikkednes þat euer he wroght; (be fendes şall) obout him braid
so will þai fande with any gin
(and him take) with all þaire might
thurgh wanhopę if þai might him win.. (and sai to him): ‘bou weried wight,
645 Þe prior sayd: »þat wald I frayne (cum with vs now in) to hell,
what remedy war þare-ogayne
(þare withowten ende) to dwell', 670
and thing þat might help men maste (Bot if a man be schreuen) clene
in (band)es of ded when þai er braste«. . . . . . . . . . .bydene
(Pe) vo[i]cę sayd: »þare es sum man · ..
ilkąne
650 (þat) may hope for no helping þan:
· · · · · ·
(g)ane,
(for) if a man lede all his lyue
all-if his penance be noght done 675
(in) sin and sepin wil him noght schriue his gude angell says to him (sone):
(and in) his hert will have no, care 'cumfort be wele, I sall be were
(for) ill dedes he has done are, þat þe deuils sall be noght dere';
655 (þan s)all his angell to him tell
and ynto. Þe fendes þan sal he say:
(how Cr)iste for him had paines fell ze weried wightes, wendęs oway, 680
(and ho)w he died for his byhoue, for ze hạue no part in þiş man'. . .
(bot þat) sall be to his reproue ; and pe fendes sall answer þan
(& sai als) how he was vnkinde
and say on þis wise: ‘oures he es
660 (vnto god) whils he had minde
by resun and by rightwisnes”,
(and als þa)t he was mys-avised
and parto sall þai schew full sone 685
1 Ms. with.... **
Ms. Vernon.
3.90
poynt of dep, ffor to drawe men out of heore bileeue & out of heore memorie
beo gryndynge of heore teep and heore grimlich & grisliche lokes?, wzuche
Fendes castena azeynes men alle beor euel dedes pat þei han I-donc.
And pe prior asked him eft-sones: »What þing helpep most Men in heore
dep?«...3 I Þe spirit onswerde & seide; »Zif eny mon dye in dedly synne wip-
oute serwe & repentaunce of herte & schrift of Moup, þen schal Cristes passion
ben rehersed to pat mon of his goodę angel, for to conclude þat mon þat he
was vnkynde to God in as muchel as he polde not schriuen him of his synnes
þe while þat he mixte, ac he despisede Þe sacramens of holychịrche, Þe whuche
sacramentus clansen synners porw be vertu of Cristes passion of heore gult &
bringe hem azeyn to be miht“ of grace & of glorie ; and whon pe þinges ben
seid, pe Fendes schul take þis mon and seye to hym: ‘A, Þou vnkuynde mon in
þe siht of god, cum wiþ vs in to helle, þere þat alle bo þat ben ynkuynde
to god schullen haue heore heritage'. 1 And zif eny dye schriuen & hoseled
wiþ Cristes bodi, al-beot he naue not maked aseep for his sunnes þat he hedde
serwe fore and was I-schriuen of, þen schulle goode angeles comen and cum-
forten him az,eynes Þe comyng of pe fendes, and þei schul seye to Þe fendes:
Ze ne haueþ no part on pis mon, ffor þe merit of Cristes passion is his scheld
and a mene bi-twene him and ow'. Þenne schul pe fendes seie: ‘Hit may not
1 Ms. bokes. 2 Ms. c. hem. 3 Some words om., cf. Lat.: Respondit vox quod meritum
passionis Christi, et beneficium virginis Mariae, et intercessio sanctorum. Cui prior; Indica nobis
quomodo passio Christi iuuat in morte hominis. 3 r. stat.
*
en sn)
II.
20
Sper
Gug
2140
17
306
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vII.
735
*4-09 all euell dedes þat he has done
so bat ze sall haue no powere c lorheen)
both in eld and als in zowth,
him forto dere on no manere;
sen first he kind[l]y wittes kowth, and be lims of Ihesu fre
715
and say: ‘he sinned þus and pus, þat for mankind was pined on tre,
690 þarfore him aw to wend with vs’. sall clens him now of his foly
His gude angell will mak debate he did whith lyms of his body;
and say: ‘he sined, wele I wate, þe saul of Crist, als we wele ken,
all on þis wise als ze haue talde; þat zolden was for erthly men, 720
bot he es borowed, be ze balde, sall purge him now of all pe plight
695 for with schrift was he clensed clene þat þis saule did with his awin myght.
and toke his sacramentes bidene, so þat in him (sal leue no gilt) f. 94
and he had sorow for his sinyng; (whar)fore he (suld) with .. (be) spilt,
to clensing fire þat sal him bring, ne no pain vnto him sall stand
725
and pe merit of Cristes passion now bot purgatori þat (es) passand;
700 sal [be mene]" bitwyx him and 30w he sall be purged in pat place
and serue him both for sheld and spere, and suffer pain a sertayne space,
þat zowre desaytes sal him noght dere. and sepin with vs sall he wende
and Cristes hend and als his side, and won in welth with-owten ende'. 730
þat thirled war with wowndes wide, Pus sall þe gude angell help him
705 sal be bitwix him and zowre hend ogaynes Þe deuils griseli and grim,
and fro zowre felnes him defend; and pus es Cristes passioune
and Cristes face þat buffet was,
set bifor vs redy boune
bitwix him and zowre face sal pas, forto defend vs fra þe fende
so þat he sall, if he zow se,
out of his werld when we sall wendemos
710 for zowre boste noght abaist be; and þarfore aw ilk man bi kinde RO
Al Cristes bodi spred on rode
to haue þat passioun most in minde, 7
sal be ynto him armure gude,
and namely in þe tyme of dede,
i Ms. bene.
for þan it standes man moste in stede. 740
(Version
Ms. Vernon.
390 beo so, Iugge we his dedes bi-tweone vs; seo hou þis mon sungede pus & þus,
bi al his limes pus, and þus haþ he sunged be al þe mixtes of his soule: ffor-
þi we haue sum riht to þis mon'. Denne schulle pis holy godes angeles onswere
and seye: ‘Hit is soþ þat he sungede in his manere; ac of al pis he is schriuen,
and he tok Cristes bodi in to his mete into witnesse of þat þing; ffor wzuch þing
Þe Merit of Cristes passioun þat he polede on þe cros for hym, (schal] beo nou
a mene bi-twene him and zou. For þat Cristes honden, burlede for him, b'e nou
bitwene him & zoure honden. Cristes Eizen Buffeted on Þe cros for hym, go now
bitwene him and zoure ezen, so þat ze schul no more seon him ne agasten hin.
Al Cristes Bodi spradde on þe cros for him, schal beo to him now a puyre
scheld & a strong azeynes zoure deceytes [bi] þe whuche deceytes ze duden him
to sungen. For-Þi Cristes lymes poled? on pe cros for hin, wasschep now awey
alle his synnes þat he sungede be Þe limes of his bodi. And Cristes soule pat
he zaf for pis mon, purgep nou his soule of al his synne wzuch þat soule dude
be his mihtes. So þat in pis mon ne leue no gult euerlastynge, ac pe peyne
of purgatori þat is passaunt'. And þus helpep þe passion of Crist men in
beore depe.
i Membra .. in cruce passa pro eo, abluunt &c.
70-17
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by CT 02) Spezire Game
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
307
wa
Also men sall haue helping guide in heuyn sall he haue his mede. (Cottont
of Mari mayden mild of mode;
And also sen I am lady
if we here oght for hir haue done, of all þe erth, þarfore [will]? I,
baldeli may we ask hyr bone
thurgh be will of my sun dere,
745 and vs to help scho will bir haste þat ilk gude dede? and ilk prayere
in ded when oure mister es maste. (þat owhar in þis) werlde er (said),
For if a man, or he hethen fare, vnto his profet be puruayd,
be schreuen clene, als I said are, messes and oper almus-dede
oure lady pan will be ful boune sall turn þis man to mekel mede,
750 to socore him in pat sesoune,
and thurgh Þe merite of þe mes 775
and fend him fro pe fendes in fere, sal his penance be made les
and say to [bam]' on bis manere: þat him es ordand for his syn,
*Moder and mayden both am I
whilk zowre falshede gert him fal in.
of Ihesu mi sun, god almighty,
And sen I am emperyce of hell,
755 and of heuy am I coronde quene, þarfore zowre force now sall I fell : 780
and lady of all erth bydene,
I cumand zow ze hepin fare,
and I am emperise of hell,
so þat ze noy þis man nomare
whare ze and oper deuils dwell. þat es ded in my suns seruyse.
And sen þat I am quene of heuyn, And when scho has said on þis wise,
760 vnto my sun þus sall I neuyn
all be halows in heuyn on hight 785
þat he sall wine for luf of me
will help bir halely with paire might;
þis saul in purgatori to be
to Thesu will þai call in-fere,
till he be clensed clene of sin,
and þus pai will mak þaire prayere :
and so to heuyn I sall him win; ‘Lord Ihesu god almighty,
765 he serued me in word and dede, fader of heuyn, man of mercy,
i Ms. him.
1 Ms. sall. 21. bede.
Ms. Vernon.
a »And also be gode dedes of þe virgyne Marie helpeþ men in heore debe. (Vernon
For whi? zif eny mon dye hoseled & schriuen as him ouzte to be, anon come
þe gloriouse virgyne, resonande pe fend in his Maneere: 'I am Maiden &
Moder of Ihesu Crist, Qween of heuene and Ladi of þe world and Emperesse of
helle. Bi þat i am qween of heuene, I schal seye to my sone Ihesu Crist þat
he Iugge bis mon to be stude of purgatorie, þat he mowe make a-sep in to be
tyme of his trespas wib opur soules pat schul be purget. And bi þat Ich
Mayden & Moder am and! ladi of al pis world, ich ordeyne, 2 þorw þe wille of
my sone Ihesu Crist, þat alle holy beodes and alle holy Masses and almes-dedes
pat alle trewe cristene men þat ben in pis world maken & seyen & mowe seyen,
turne to þis dede Mon in to forziuenesse, and I wole þat suche beodes & Masses
& almes-dedes alegge him of his peyne þat him ouzte to haue for his sunnes.
And bi bat ich, Marie, am Emperice of helle, Ichaue pouwer and wol comaunde
to 30w, fendes, þat ze anuye nougt þis Mon þat tok be sacramens of my sone
er þen he dyed'.
»And also be preyer of alle halewen helpep men in þe poynt of heore dep.
For whi? whon vr ladi haþ spoken & endet hire wordes, þenne comeß alle
halewen anon, honourynge & preyinge vr lord & seyinge to him: I ‘Lord Ihesu
Crist, Lord of glorie, Fader of grace, Mon of Merci þat com doun from heuene
i om and ? 2 Ms. þat þorw.
mama
752
790
.
KAN
T
'
--...
momento
20*
Spinging
elhod
30,8
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
830
835
haue mercy on þis man þat es »bot on þis wise .i...etrtton)
oure awin broper and oure liknes; : if any be so. . . . . . .
sen Þou wald wend fro heuyn on þight þat has . . . . . . . .
and suffer payn for mans plight,
. . . . . . . . . . .
795: Þou meng þi mercy with þis man'. ... may se þam ... 820
Pus sal his saul be saued pan,
(bot sin)ful men may noght þam sę«.
and his gude angell sall him take (Þe) prior sayid : »þan thinkes me
to clensing fire aseth to make
(bat) þou sais now þi-self to scorne
and ynto. him he sall take tent
(ogai)nes þę saws pou said biforne;
800 till he haue sufferd his turment;
(for) þou said angels suld be boune 825
and þan þe weked gastes sall ga þare to reherce Cristes pascioune,
þepin oway with mekill wa.
and pou said Mari suld be þare
In þiş manere may gude pr(ayere) and oper halows les and mare
and almus-dedes þat men dose (here), in sight bifor be sąules ful euyn,
805 and merit of Cristes pascioun,
praiand for þam to god of heuyn;
and of halows gude orisown,
pan semes it þạt he se pam maya.
help a man here in his (dede)
Þe voice answerd and said: »nay;
and vnto clepsing fire (bim lede).. Þai sal be þare I grante pe wele,
Þe prior (sayd vnto) him (ban)
bot he sall se of þam no dele
810 and asked if þat any (man)
in þaire lyknes verrayli;
of Ihęsu may haue (in ded a sight) and þis es Þe enchesoun whi.
and of Mari his moder (bright)
for þe most blis in heuyn it es
or of pe halows . . . . . .
forto se Crist in his liknes,
in paire right (forme). . . . . þat es to say in his godhede;
815 Þe voice ans(werd and said nay); (ha)n neded saules none oper mede 840
Ms. Vernon.
saranno tan h oito
ago forte make sunful men saaf, haue Merci on þe soule of þis mon:, for he is vre
flesch & vr broper'. And whon þeos þinges ben seid, þen schal þe soule ben
lad in to purgatorie of his gode angeles; and þe wikked angeles wende schulle
awey from him as confoundet, and serwynge perfore. On þis manere pe
merite of Cristes passion, and be goode beodes of pe virgine Marie, and þe
preyers of alle halewen helpep men at heore dep«. And pe Prior asked him
zif a mon mihte in his dep seo Ihesu Crist, and þe virgyne Marie, and þe oper
halewen, in heore oune fourme. 1 And þe gost seyde nay; but zif hit beo so
holy a Mon þat he hedde no neode to ben purget bi eny luitel dwellyng in
purgatorie.
Penne seide pe prior: »Þen þinke$, me pat alle pinges beoþ not soþ þat
pou seidest aboute pe dep of eny mon þat is schriuen & hap serwe for his
sunnes: For whi: þou seidest þat þe merit of Cristes passion and be preyers
of al halewen and be goode dedes of þe virgyne Marie helpep men in heore
dep, and also pou graunted beo þi wordes al þes? comep to a monnes. dyingu.
9 And þe gost onswerde: »Alle þeos comeħ to a monnes dep, and not-forþen
he pat dyeþ ne schal not seon hem in heore oune liknesse. For whi? zif hit
weore so, sephe hit is non opur blisse. þen for to sen [hesu Crist in his oune
liknesse of his monhed & of his godhed, þenne weore hit soþ þat a ded mon
1 Ms. þat þou. 2 Ms. þis.
LL
"
1
,
ATYS
C1340
Wit
gelange CT bu) Spein-Group
3. Spiritus Ĝuydonis.
309
14
20
B (bo)t in paire dying him to šė,
for cristen (saules þat) pou sang; ( Culton
and in pat blis þan solde pai be böt zit I (said soth) neuer-þe-les
Samantsod)ainly in paire passing,
þat of saint spirite was þi més. 870.
(and) þat war vn(ak)ordand thing þat saltou by ensameple se.
845 (þat sin)ful men súld sé þat sight. for wele Þou knåwes in ilk cuntre,
(if men) be puried of all þáire plight if ani man oper alde or zing
pan sall pai se god als he es;
of a noper suld ask a thing,
(hali) writ so beris witnes«. .
and he hoped wele forto haue
875
(And þan) pe prior frained him fast þat ilk thing þat he walde crauè;
850 (if spirit) es pat es hepin past
first to ask he walde him haste
(wist) what dedes er for þám done Þe thing þat might amend him mast;
(on pis) molde at morn or none, and what so his hert lai moste nere
(and þe) praiers mėn for pam ma. þat suld first in his speche apere 880
(Þe voice) answerd and said: ža. and first be in his wordes alwaysë,
855 . . . . se wele by þis thing
als god þus in his gospell sayse:
... es bas saules helping.
Ex habundancia cordis os loquitur:
(Pe prior said: »pan) can pou say Of þe fulnes of þe hert
(wharof I sång) mess to-day ?«
spekes Þe mowth pe wordes. smert. 885
(Pe voice answerd) þarto ful tite: and messes sungen of saint spirite
860 (»þou sang mess) of saint spiritec.
vnto me er most profite,
(Pe prior said þan) als he knew : and next pan of be trinite-
». . . . . . . . noght trew, Þir messes moste amendes me.
(for I sang mess, þis) es sertayne, and here now be encheson whi. 890
(for cristen saules þat) suffers paine; for whils I lifed here bodily,
865 (þarfore poü sais noght) suthfastlý«. I spended my wit and mi powere
(Pe voice pan answerd him) in hy ful oft-sipes in sinnes sere,
and said: (»I wat wele) ... when I sold ham haue spended right
(Vermont
weore anon in blisse in his dep: and þat is fals«. And þe prior askede him
zif þe gostes wuste Þe dedes of men & of heore frendes, sebbe þat þei beo
de-parted from þe bodi. | And þe gost seide ze. I Þenne seide pe prior:
»Pou const telle me wher-of I song masse to-day?« | And be gost seide: »Sir
prior, Þou song Masse to-day of seint Spirit«. And þenne seide Þe prior: »Now
I seo wel þat þou art a deceyuable gost: For whi? certeinliche, I ne song no
Masse to-day of seynt spirit, ac I song Masse to-day of Requiem eternam for
alle cristene soulus.
And þe gost ońswerde and seide: »Wel I wot wherof þou songe Masse to-day
and þat þe Massé was of Requiem eternam; and not-for-pen I lyze not þat pou
nel songe Masse of seynt spirit. Heere forpi þe vndoingel I Pou wost wel, sir
prior, whon ény món askep eny ping of anopur, þat þing þat lyþ next his herte
2 comep furst out of his moup, as vr lord witnessep & seiþ ‘Of þe folnesse
of þe herte spekep pe moup'. Ac among alle pe Masses þat beop songen and
schul be songen in þis world, þe Masse of Þe holigost lyþ next my þouzt or þe
Masse of pe trinite, ffor pat most helpep me nou. | Heer nou þe enchesun
wherfore pis is. I Þe while I was in his valeye of wrecchednesse & of trauayle,
I dèspendet my siht & my bodiliche pouwer in diuerse synnés : ál-pouz i scholde
1 om ne? 2 Ms. þat comeþ.
.
..
39.
0
Ms. Vernon.
I hug vind
1
Spir. quage
e 1400
310
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
(cotton)
w1400 to goddes honour with al mi might.
895 Þe fader I suld haue mensked with main,
for of him cumes al power plaine
þat men has here ai whils þai lif,
efter his grace als he will gif;
þarfore what man so dose ynright
--900 bi his power or by his might
or by his strenkith if þat it be,
ogaines pe fader of heuyn sins he,
for al power he weldes always,
als Dauid in pe sauter sais:
Omnia quecunque uoluit dominus fecit,
905 he sais : pe fader mai fulfill
in heuyn and erth what so he will.
To Crist, god sun, es gifen ful right
wit and wisdom dai & night,
to mesure it till erthli men,
910 als þir clerkes mai clereli ken;
þarfore godes sun pai sin ogain
þat here despendes paire wittes in vain
f. 95 (and) settes pam so (on erthly) gude
(þat) reches es more in þaire mode
915 þan Crist god sun þat boght þam dere.
and my-self on þis same manere
sined in his werld whare ze won
both ogaines pe fader & þe sun.
To þe haligast es gifen al grace (
and beaute plain in ilka place, 920
at his liking to dele and dight
in þis werld to ilka wight;
ogaines him oft-sipes sinned I
when þat I vsed in foul foly
swilk giftes als he me gaf bi kinde, 925
and honord him noght in mi minde;
for mi fauore and my fairehede
haue I done many sinful dede,
and vertus haue I turned to vice
thurgh wekid werkes als wreche vnwise. 930
wharfore aseth byhoues me make
to thre persons for my sin sake;
þarfore messes of þe trinite
er mekill medeful vnto me
for greuance þat to me es graide, 935
als my gude angell has me saide.
Bot for þat I haue sined maste
ogaynes Þe giftes of þe hali gaste,
couaytand here more reches
Þan he me gaf of his gudenes
or þan he vowched safe me to send,
and wrangwisli his gudes despend
and honord him noght for þaire sake,
940
-1940
Ms. Vernon.
haue despendet hit in godes seruyse, bidding to God þe Fader porw monnes them
pouwer, ffor þat pe Fader is mihti and of him comeb al mizt to me & to opure
þorw mesure of his ziuynge-wherfore hose dop eny vuel (borw]' his strenghe and
his pouwer, he sungep azeynes god pe Fader to whom is zeuen alle pouwer-
also witnessep pe prophete Dauid: Al þat he wole he dop, in heuene & in
eorpe'. TO Godes sone is ziuen alle wisdame: Azeynes him Ichaue I-sunged
as ofte-tymes as Ichaue vsed bisyliche my wit, I-ziuen to me of God, aboute
deceyuable þinges & vanites & richesses of pis world. Bote to be holygost is
ziuen alle grace & bounte: Azeynes whom Ichaue sunged as ofte-tymes as I-chaue
I-zeue my kuyndeliche goodes, as Feirhede Fauour & Speche, & my good pat
is ziuen me porw freo wille, as vertues next my soule, and goodes happiliche
beo-zeten, [as]? ese of pis present lyf-whuche : þinges Ichaue late & erliche
I-zeuen aboute flescliche sinnes of þis world & of þe deuel. Of whuche þing ichaue
be schriuen, bote I haue not maad a-seep to be trinite for alle be synnes in my
lyue; wherfore my saueour, as myn angel seide to me, hap ordeyned pat masse of
þe Trinite songen for me schal helpen me most. (And for þat I haue sunged
ofte-tymes azeyn þe bountes of þe holigost, coueyten[g]4 to haue more of þis
worldes godes þen þe godnesse of þe holygost wolde zeuen to me: perforenou,
1 Ms. for. 2 Ms. also. 3 r. swuche. 4 Ms. coueyten. 5 Ms. And perfore.
@1340
y Guy "tery
ber)
LA
Spir.
Varem
Guy
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
311
7400 þarefore, of þis amendes to make,
945 messes sungen of saint spirite
may tittest saue me out of site.
and þarfore, sir, sothli I say
of saint spirite pou sang to-day;
al-if þine office ordand ware
950 for cristen saules als pou said are,
pou toke with gude deuocioune
of saint spirite ane orisoạne,
and þat ilk orisoun sertaine
aleged me more of my paine
955 þan al þe o þer þat þou sayd,
for till all saules war þai puruaid;
And sen þat helpid me allane PW,
more þan all þe oper ilkanę,-
of saint spirit I say pou sang-
960 if pou me wites Þou has be wrang«.
(Pe prior asked) þan Þ(is thing):
c
for how mani saules a prest may s(ing)
in a tyme and in a stede,
wheper it be for quik or ded,
965 and ilkone haue in lyke gudenes
and in like merite of þat mes.
Þe voice answerd and gan say (-Cortont
þat a preste anely on a day
for all saules may sing and rede
and ilkone of his mes haue mede, 970
thurgh vertu of þe sacrament;
»pat proue I þe, if pou tak tent.
Ihesus Crist with Iewes uoice
was anes offerd on pe croyce,
and þare he died and gaf þe gaste 975
vntill his fader of mightes maste
for saluacioune of all man-kin,
and noght anly for a man sin:
right so be preste in ilka mes
offers Criste right als he es
in hale godhede, als clerkes mai ken,
in mendment of all cristen men;
and so in a mes may be tane
a l cristen saules als wele als ane,
and plainli mai (it) part þam till. 985
þat proue I Þe bi proper skill.
Ful grete deference may men fele
bitwene spiritual thing and tem(porele);
for temporal thing, þat þou sese here,
980
1390Ms. Vernon.
Vibreren
for to make amendement to be boligost for my synnes, pe Massen songen of pe
holigost beon best for me. And [for}" þou, sir prior, to-day in þi masse after þi
principal orisoun pou seidest þe orisoun of pe holygost, wzuch orisoun balp me
more? þen al pe o pux orisouns in þi masse, perfore?, as pou askedest me wherof
þou songe masse to-day, I seide ‘of pe holigosť' ; bote nobeles þi principal offys was
Requiem eternain. Wherof al þe office of þi masse, outake pat orisoun, wente to
Þe help of al pe soules þat ben in purgatorie: bote pe mencion þat þou made
to-day in þi masse of pe holigost, wente al to my profyt. ( Wherfore þat I
lyzede not whon I seide þat þou songe masse of pe holi gosta. And pe prior
asked pim ffor hou mony soules and hou mony men mihte a prest synge, and
vche haue I-liche goodnesse of pe masse. | And be gost onswerde and seide
»þat o prest onliche to-gedere and at O tyme mizte synge for al þe quike &
dede, ffor þe vertu of þe sacrament of Godes bodi schewep him to hem vchone.
And enchesun of þis ping is: As Ihesu Crist, God & Mon, ones lifted his bodi
vppon pe Cros and þenne he offrede [him) al to-gedere to God, his Fader, not on-
liche for þe sauacion of o Mon bote for pe sauacion of al Monkynde, so in vche
a Masse pe prest offrep al to-geders þe sacrement, God and Mon, ffor þe
sauacion of alle men; wherfore may vche a prest singen for vchon as for two,
and betere. | For þis is þe encheson & þe difference bi-twene spirital þyng &
temporal þing: Temporal þing, in as muche as hit is departet to monye, in
1 Ms. þerfore. 2 Ms. most. 3 Ms. And þerfore. .
Spar
Goog.
alloc
4
1030
312
Poems of Ms. Tibér. E VII.
(cotton)...
00 990 if it be párted in placés seré,
On þis wise pan þe prior sais : 1015
in þe ma pártyès þat it és
»haly writ wittnes always
it-self leues ay wėlė þė (les),
pat saulės er helpid for sertaine
þat es for poreion partės þarfra ; and oft deliverd out of payne
als if þat þoü añ áppéll ta
thurgh speciall praier and special dede
995 and parte it into many hend,
þat frendes dose here for þaire méde, 1020
with þi-self sall litell lend.
and þá frendes dose på dedes allané
On þe toper side pou vnder(stand) for a saúl and for oper nané.
wwwþat spiritual thing es ay (wežañd); (ban þi)nk me. þat hís méde sall fall
parto I may gude liknés (ma):
. . . Þan it war done for all
1000 pis orisoune if þat þlou ta),
and more alege him of his påynéc. 1025
þe pater noster, and (teche it þen) De voice answerd and said ogayne
here on pis molde to (mani men), þat all þe prestes þat messes singes
when it vnto all te(ched es);
nedes forto do twá thinges :
in itself it es noġht (þe les),
(f)irst his praiers fortó make
1005 bot to knawing. ...
specialli fór þat saul sake
when mo it (sais þan ane or twa). þat hé és most halden yntill,
so er messes . . . . .
(b)at god deliuer him of all ill;
· þat ordand . . . . . .
(and) when he has so praied for ane,
. . . . . . . i . .
(þan) sall he pray for oper ilkane.
1010. . . . . it es in þat dégre
(so) ilkane has mede of þát mes,
1035
.... wham só it ordand es, (and) þai for wham it ordánd es
þaire) merit may noght be pe leś, (er he)lpid maste fro bale þarby.
(b)ot mare ioy sall þai haue þat tide (And on) þis same maner am I
þat oper er helped þam biside«. (deliuerd) of mi penance here
. . . . . lasted bi foure zere 1040
alt
Ms. Vernon.
[so]? muche hit is þe lasse to himself — as gif pou departed an appel to moni (Varme
partes: euer þé mó partes. þat pou departest hit, þe lasse hit waxep in hit-self.
Bote hit farep not so bi spirituale þing 2. Forsope spirituale þing, euere pe
more þat pou departest hit, be more hit waxep in him-selue -- as þus: tak þe
orison of vr lord, þat is pe påter noster, and teche hit to monye men: þat ilke
orison in him-self þorð þat téchynge nis not maad Þe lasse, böt in vnderstondynge 3
is founden þe more, in as muche as hit is seid of mony men. So hit is of ény
massé óf þé prest: Þe vnderstondyng of þe Masse is more in hit-self in ás müche
as hit is schewed to moný men, dede and quike. And þe prior spać to be göst
& seide: »How is hit þenne þat þe holy scripturé seiþ þat frendes soules mowe
be delyuerd porw special masses and porw special orisons and special almes, in
þe delyts of İhesù Crist dòn & of pin euen-cristen, and þou seist þat masses
songen for mony men is more worþ?« ſ And þenne onswerde pe spirit: »I sey
þat vchon þat singep masse bihouep to don two þingés: Þe furste þing is,
ze wite wel, him bihoueþ dressen his preyeré to god for him or for hire or for
heom to whom he es holden specialiche; and seppe him bihoueþ dressen his
preyere for alle — and pe fursté masses ben seid masses speciale, and so þei
helpen vs specialiché þat ben in peyne of purgatorie. And in þis manere I, Gy,
am delyuered of Þe peyne of purgatorie be foure zeer raper and hastiloker þeń
i Ms. as. 2 Ms. þinges. 3 Lat. sed effectus major reperitur. 4 Lat. in dilectione.
01390
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Spin
Swan
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3. Spiritus Guydonis.
313
. . .
· · ·
.
·
:
O
mm. • (m)isdedés als it was det. Pe voice answerd sune and sayd: (bottom
. . . . . frendë here has it sett »Sir, I tald þe are fül euyn
.... þat þóu welè knew þat I come neuer ſit in heuyn, 1070
· · · · · þat I find trèw;
parfore I may tell be nomare
1045 . . . . . when he bad nede
of thinges þat er ordaind þare.
.. i i. Þe scoles zêde
Bot of þat blis I mai be balde;
...d most mistér here for þus myne angell has me talde,
· · · · · · · · fiue zéré. þat I tó passe in painė sold be 1075
.... Wele I wroght and þan, he said, þat I sall se
1050 . . . . . . . forgetes he noght þe king of beuyn in his godhede
. . . . . . . . bas mé maste with his angels all on brede
. . . . . . . . . in haste and with his balows euerilk-ane.
and I answerd to him onane
1080
· · · · · · · · · · · passe and said: 'lord, ful lang think me
1055. . . . . . . . . . . .
pat semely sight vntill I se'.
. . . . . . . . . . payine; bot he be loued in ilka place
and if þou here no(ght) þán of me þat vnto me has gifen swilk gracé,
sothly sertayne may pou be
for třewly mai I trow by þis
1085
þat I in (blis) of heuen am stád«. — þat I sall be in þat ilk blis
1060 Þe prior did right als he bad,
whare god and his angels sal be,
at þe pase? efter he him soght:
sen þat I sall pam pusgat sec.
2 bot of þé voice he herd right noght; Þan said pe prior: »what helpes maste
o þarfore in heuyn he hopid he warë. -- a saul vp into heuyn at haste
1090
poo bot in þat time zit asked he mare. out of pe paynes of purgatori ?«
1065 He said: »can pou óght trewli tell Pe voice answerd to him in hy:
if pou in þat ilk heuyn sal dwell »messes may moste help þam þen
þat for goddes halows es puruaid ?« þat here er said of hali men,
13. pasche.
Ms. Vernon.
340 I scholde wiþ rihte of my dettes. I haue foršope a pore frere ful religious, þe (Vienne)
whuché Frere bou, prior, knowést wel, and I sustenede him, seppe he was maad
Frere, in þé scoles of Ramónibil fyue zere: and he specialiche made diuerse
přeyers for me, benne & nou, and specialiché dressed 2 his preyere to God; þorw
whüche orisóuns I am jus holpen þat Ine schal beo in peyne bote nou til ester ...3
and zif þat ze herë me not heere, wite pou wel þat I am in heuene wiþ godes
hale wen« - And be prior wiþ summe of his ounė men fond sop þat hie seide.
And þe prior asked him zif he wuste þat he scholde be in þat ilke heuene per al
Godés halewen wèore Innė. [ And þenne onswerede pe spirit: »I seide be furst
þat I was neuerė git in heuene, and perforé I ñe con no þing seye to þe of
þat ordre oþur þén is told to me. Þús muchel seide pe Angel to me: 'beo in
peñauncë in til áster, and þenne schaltoú seo þe kyng of heđene sittynge in
his godhed wiþ bis angeles & wiþ his hálewen’; and I onswerde: A, A, A, long
is þat tyme”. Blessed bé God þat sent me his Merci wiþ his Rihtwyšnessé la
And þe prior asked him what þing mixte most helpe mon in purgatorie.
And he onswerde þat spiritual masses songen specialiche of spiritual men", and
i Lat. Bononiae. 2 r. þenne, & nou dresseþ. 8 Lat, adds: et si volueris hoc probare
verum essė, venias tunc ad locum istum etc. Lat. speciales missae specialiter celebratae.
Guy (vin)
Spis
Guy
Clafc
1050
4
1125
314
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
amboo
Eotton).
1095 and ordand of milde Mari fre«. and þe Aue made angels
I 120
De prior said: »ban thinkes me
vnto Mari for manes mede,
Þe office pat es for saules sertain, and XII. apostels made þe, crede;
of Requiem, was made in vayn, and be seuyn psalmes er erthli werkes,
sen oper helpes pam more pan it«. ordand of bisshopes and oper clerkes
1100 Þe voice answerd vnto him zit
men for to say for sin allane,
and said: »þat office es gude to say and Dauid made þam euerilkane;
when a man for al saules will pray and nowper Dauid, wele we ken,
þat saued sall be efter þaire paine; ne bisshoppes, ne none oper men,
fr of þan may þat office gretely gaine. vnto Criste pai (er) noght at neuyn
1105 and for þat laud men here in land ne zit vnto angels of heuyn
1130
can noght graythli vnderstand
ne till apostels er þai noght pere.
þat saules has mede of oper mes, þarfore me think þat þaire prayere
þarfore þat office ordand es«.
may noght of swilk merit be
Pe prior said: »sen pou has kend als Þe pater noster and Þe Aue,
I110 pat speciall messes may moste amend: ne als þe Crede, for þam it wroght«. 1135
whilk oper praiers withowten þa
Þe voice answerd ban als him thoght:
may tittest saules fro penance ta?« „Þir praiers er ful mekill of mede
Þe voyce sayd þan: »Syr, sertaynly, and ful hali, if we tak hede,
seuyn psalmes with þe letany«.
in þam-self, þis es sertayne,
1115 Pe prior said: »þat war noght right; and þaire makers er mekill of mayne; 1140
Þe pater noster es more of might, men sal þam honore als worthy es
for it was made of Criste god sun bifore al ober, out-tane pe mes.
vntill all crysten folk to kun,
Bot neuer-þe-les, syr, sertaynly
als prise of praiers, als men telles, Þe seuyn psalmes and be letany
atrao
Ms. Vernon.
nomeliche songen of vr ladi Marie for hem. To whom he prior seide: »What is (þenne]
worý Þe asygned offys for dede men specialiche, as be offyse of Requiem eternam ?«
q And Þe spirit onswerde & seyde »þat hit auaylep muche, and aller-most whon
eny wol bidden for alle. | Þis is þe encheson wherfore þat offys was ordeyned
for hem: ffor þat lewed men ne trouwed not þat dede men scholde haue part
of spirituale massus«. And [be] prior asked him: »Seppen pou seist þat special
masses most helpeþ soules in purgatorie: wherfore, out-taken þe masse, wzuch
ben pe orisouns þat profytep most to soules in purgatorie?« 1 And he onswerde
& seide : »Þe seuen psalmes wiþ þe letanie«. To whom þe prior seide ; »For-
sobe me pinkeþ þat fals: For whi? Ihesu Crist made pe pater noster, and þe
angel þe Aue Marie, and pe twelue apostles pe Crede; bote pe seuen psalmus
wip pe letanye maade pe Bisschopus & be prestes of holichirche and ordeynde
hem to be seid, of wzuche prelatus & Bisschopes non of hem ne mihte touche
Þe holyhed of god ne of his angeles ne of his apostles. And perfore me pinkep
þat þe ordinaunce of prelates of þe seuen psalmus of Dauid is not so good ne
so profitable to soules as be pater noster & pe Aue Marie & pe crede«. | And
þenne onswerde pe spirit & seide »þat þe pater noster & þe Aue Marie and þe
crede in hem-selue, in as muche as into pe holyhed of pe makers, þei beoþ.
Þe beste orisons to sigge in holichirche, outaken þe Masse--for þat is þe prin-
cipalest Orisoun; bote nobeles pe seuen psalmus wiþ þe letanye, in as muchel
€1390
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Goog.
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
315
A
1145 forto say er moste souerayne
how gretely þat it may pam gayne, ( Gutt
400_vnto þe saules. Þat suffers payne, ban hope I pou wald be ful fayne 1170
for þai er ordand more and myn oft forto bid þat blisced bede.
euer a psalme ogaynes a sin,
for þi frendes hat heben er dede!
so pai destroy pe sines seuyn;
and for pou sall it better knawe,
1150 þarfore pai er noteful to neuyn.
I sall be rekin right on rawe
Þe first psalme ful gudely grayd
Þe preuetese þat falles parto
1175
ogaines pryde it es puruayd ; I
and what prophit þat it may do.
and pus it sais: ‘god lord and (syre), . First in placebo er puruayde
deme vs noght in þi grete yre,
fiue psalmes þat sal be sayd
1155 als pou did Lucifer þat fell
aneli for þe euynsang,
for his pride fra heuyn to bellº; wit[h] fyue antyms menged omang; 1180
and so be oper psalmes on rawe pa ten togeder when þai er mett,
ilkone a sin away may drawe,
for þe saul er þusgat sett
thurgh help of all halows in-fere
forto restore, wha to pam tentes,
1160 pat neuind er in pat praiere«.
vnto pe saul ten cumandmentes;
pai sall mak minde how he pam (did), 1185
Sone þan be prior him assailes: so þat his mede sal noght be (hid).
i »tell me, he said, what it availes nyen psalmes þan said sal (be)
99 or if saules oght þe better be
next efter in þe (dirige),
to pray placebo and þe dirige,
and pai sall signifi ful ri(ght)
1165 with office þat for þe ded es dight?« nyen orders of angels bright),
1190
Þe voyce answerd and said on hight to whilk Þe saul sall wis(li win)
with grete force out gan he bryst, when it es clensed of (al sin);
and said: »a, prior, and pou wist - Þir psalmes witnes alls it es scill)
Ms. Vernon. ***
3.9Das into þe ynderstondyng of þe makers and forte ben þus seid', þei ben þe
deuoutest orisouns to be soules in purgatorie: ffor whi þat [bo]? men haþ ordeyned
for to seyen þe seuen psalmus in þe remedie of þe seuen dedliche synnes, so
pat azeynes pruide be seid Domine ne in furore — wherfore my lord God in his
wrappe blamed þe angel Lucifer whon he sunged porw pruide, in his wrappe
cast him doun in to helle; and so is of þe oþur psalmus«.
And þe prior asked him: »What þing profytep hit þe soules in purgatorie
zif for hem beo seid placebo & diriger and al þe offys for pe dede ?« | And þe
vois onswerde loudere ben he dude biforehond & seyde: »A, A, Mi prior, zif pou
wustest hou þe soules ben cumforted þorw þat offyse whon hit is seid for hem,
ofte-tymes woldest þou sey hit for þi dede frendes! ( Heere nou & I schal seye
Þe Þe priuite of þat offis. As pou wost wel, in be placebo & dirige* ben seuen
psalmus and fyue antempnes: Þe wzuche antenpnes whon pei ben seid folfullen þe
soule þat hit is iseid fore [as] to be comaundemers of god, wzuche comaundemens
he folfullede mony a tymes Þe wziles he was a-lyue aftur his talent, pouz he dude
not in al þinges to heor beoinge. q Pe Nyne salmus pat ben seid in þe Dirige
bifore pe nyne. lessouns, signefyen þe nyne ordres of angeles in heuene, to wzuche
degre þat soule þat is purget of his sinnes is taken to; and perfore porw pe nyne
1 om and-seid. 2 Ms. mo ; L. patres nostri. 8 The office of the dead had 2 parts: Placebo,
said at First Vespers; and Dirige, at Matins; the latter being again divided into 3 Nocturns, and
Laudes; cf. Maskell Monum. Ritual. III p. 115. 4 omit & dirige. 57. fyue. 6omit antempnes.
Vernon)
VA
I thay Ecran
Spir. quy
CHOU
1
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Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vII.
Que40o
þat he pa orders sall (fulfill).
(Pe) fyue psalmes of þe laudes alláne (bout
1195 By nyen antymś . . . .
for fiue wittes may wele be tane
and thre versykils . . . . . .
· · sauéd saules þan sall fele
XII poyntes of þe. . . . . .
..pai sall beré witnes fül wele 1220
to be saul þat. ...
... molde with al his might
and telles h . . . . . . .
(vs)id þa wittes wele and rightaminen
1200 here on Þ . . . . . . . .
(be) fiue antims pan folówand
. . . . . . . . . .
(in wiltnes for þe saul sal stand
· may him mekill amend.
· · faithli help forto fulfill
1225
(Þe nyen) lessons by paim allane (be) strenkith þat god gifes saules vntill.
(of nyen) degrese er trewli tane; (for glod gaf when þis werld bigán
1205 (for) ilka saule þát sufferś pyne
(fiue) strenkithes to saules of ilká mán;
(bus) nedes be in ane of þir nyen, (and thre) strenkithes of might er slike
þat es to say, oper zong or alde, (þai mak þe) saule ynto god like; 1230
oper pouer or els of pouste balde, · · aynly oper strenkithis twa
oper chaste life forto lede
. . . . . body he gaf alswa
1210 or in wedlaik or widowhede,
. . . . . .' dose na socoures
oper clerk or laud man-
. . . . . . like goddes creatures.
in ane of (bir) sal he be þan,
, . .; . . strenkith of thoght 1235
(and) in whilk degre so he es in, . . . . . . . . god es wroght;
þir lessons fra wa will him win; . . . . . strenkith of vnderstanding
1215 and pe nyen respons fortó rede, : . . . . . . . . in all thing;
may mak pam to haue mekill medé. . . . . . . strenkith of will
Ms. Vernon. -
ANON
psalmus þat soule þat þei ben I-seid fore is fulfilled as to be nyne ordres to angeles,
to whuche ordre[s] for to fulfille, men ben I-maad. ( And þe nyne antempnes þat
ben seid aftur þe psalmus, wiþ þe þreo vers, signefyeþ þe twelue articles of þe fey,
whuche twelue articles his soule heold after his Bapteme; and perfore þis vers & pis
antempnes whon þat þei ben seid fulfillen þe soules in purgatori as to be twelue
articles of pe fey, þe wzuche articles he leeuede aftur þe techinge of holichurche.
And also be nyne lessons þat folewen folfullen pe soules in purgatorie [as to
Þe nyne degres þat soules hap in purgatorie]": ffor eueri soule þat is in purgatorie,
ouþur hit halt þe degre of pouert oþur of pouste, oþer of elde oþur of zoube,
opur of virginite obur of sposayle oþur of widewhod, opur of clergye opúy of
lewed men—ffor in wzuch degre pat eny sungeb heere, in þat ilke degre & in
pat ilke stat he schal beo punissched þere. And þe fyue psalmus of þe laudes
of þe dede men, whon bei ben seyd for þe dede men, folfullen þe? soulés as
to heöre fyue wittes: wžuche wittes goinge bi-twene, sumtyme Þe soule sérüéd
to God and sumtyme sunged to be deuel. | Bote þė fyue antempñes of þe
laudes of þe dede men, whon bei bėn seid for dede Men, ffolfullen soules in
purgatori as to heore fyue strengbes, þé wzuche strengpes God jaf to Monnés
soule as to alle ping aboue & bi-nepe: 4 Whèrfore God maade to eueri mónnus
soule þreo strengbes porw wzuche střengþe[s] soule is ilyk God, ( and also
he made two strengbes to him-self Þorw wžuche strengbes he is lyk opur cřeá-
turus maked of God. Be his þóuztful poüwer soule is lyk God be fader, beo
strengbe yndurstondable soule is maad lyk Godės sone, and bi wilful pouwer
i om. 2 Ms. to be.
aligo
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3. Spiritus Guydonis.
317
cottont
1240 . . . . . . . . . . vtill. : þat saued saules to god sal zelde 1265
. . . . . . . . and ynwit with all wirschipps þat pai mai welde,
. . . . . . . . . es itt þus when þai er mended of mis;
. . . . . . . . als a stane þan sall Þai lend in lastand blis.
. . . . . . . . . . allane. Parfore, sir prior, pir prayers
1245 . . . . . . (als cler)kes telles helpes saules pus als Þou heresc. 1270
. . . . . . . . . . angels When he had þus declared pis thing,
. . . . . . . . . . araid all þat it herd had grete liking enesen per
and meri made þai ilka man.
bot þạn þe gaste ful sone bigan
Also þe psalme of Benedictus, to morn and mak ful simpil chere, 1275
1250 and of Magnificat, helpes pus :
and said to þam on þis manere:
forto saue be saules fro skath
vaskes hastily what so ze will,
thurgh godhede & thurgh mahede bath, my time es fast cumand me till
whare-of pai may be sertayne
þat me bus gang', als es mi grace,
to se when þai er past þaire payne to suffer paynes in oper place«.
1280
1255 and lat Þam witt how þai sal wend Þe prior said: »sen pou sais swa
and won in welth, withouten end. þat þe bus till slike greuance ga:
Þe twa antyms þat er puruaid.
þis wald I wit now, or bou wend,
with bir psalmes forto be sayd, if we might oght to be amend«.
may be cald þe gude cumpany
With simpill voice þąn answerd he 1285
1260 of angels on þe to party,
and said: vif ze wald say for me
and of halows on pe toþer side, fyue sithes right specialli
whare pe saules in blis sal bide. þe fiue ioyes of oure lady,
De colettes þat men efter tase,
þat might help mekil me vntill«.
er demid for be dedes of grace
i Ms. gang gang.
Ms. Vernon.
90-soule is mad lyk to God þe holy gost; and be ynresonable pouwer soule is mad
lyk to tren, and be felynge strenghe soule is maad lyk oper bestes ~ 'and þe
soule, as pou wost wel, haþ beoinge as stones, and liuep as tren, and vnder-
stondeþ wiþ god & angeles?. 1 And also be psalme Magnificat and þe psalme
Benedictus, whon þei ben seid in placebo & dirige for dede men, folfullen soules
in purgatorie [as] to be godhede of Ihesu Crist & to þe Monhede, Þe wzuche soules,
whon bei ben purget in purgatori, schul herien god & blissen in heuene wiþ-
outen ende. q And be two anțempnes þat ben seid wiþ þe two psalmus, bi-
toknep be cumpanye of angeles bi þe on partye, and be cumpanye of halewen
bi þat opur partye, wzuche cumpanye[s] soules þat ben purget in purgatorie, after
his? purgacion schul haue. And þe Colectes þat schul ben seyd in þe offys
of þe dede, bi-toknep dedes of grace, Þe wzuche dedes of grace soules þat ben
purged & dil[i]uered out of purgatorie schul zelde to god«. And alle pis herden
holliche þat stoden aboute. And þenne seide pe spirit wip wepynge vois: »Aske,
what pou wolt, hastiliche, ffor be tymę neizhep pat me bihoueþ be stille, for
my peynes aryseþ«.
And þenne seide pe prior to him: »may we eny þing helpen þe?« (And
pe spirit onswerde & seyde: »zee, zif þat ze wolde wiþ good deuocion sey fyue
siþes pe fyue Ioyes of vr ladi«. And þat þei duden anon wiþ gret deuocion.
l-1 a useless addition from Edm. Spec. 2 r. heor. 3 Lạt. Haec omnia placent multum astantibus.
re
RS
ch
Spir - Gug
@loot
318
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E vII.
1757
Rue
12 30 ,
1290 Pai granted him with ful gude will, or destourb it by ani way. ( Co
do and on þaire knese pai set þam doune Pe voice answerd and said: »nay,
and said with gude deuocioune
bot if þat þe preste be vnclene,
Gaude uirgo mater Christi,
in dedly sin þat es to mene
1320
with fiue verses folowand fully,
or oper sins if þat it be;
1295 bowsomly als he þam bad.
in swilk prestes has þe fende powste
and þarof was be gaste ful glad, forto mer þam in þaire mes,
f. 97 . . . . . . . . . .
if þai won in þaire wikkednes.
and said: »wele haue ze . . ., And zit he cums noght comunly 1325
my pain es sumdele pasand now, to ger þam be abaiste þarby,
1300 þat I may better speke with zow«. bot when he wate þat þai lif wrang
Pan said þe prior: »can pou oght tell þe ofter wald he þat þai sang,
what deres moste pe deuill of hell?« and þat es to encrese paire paine -
Þe voice answerd and said in hy: for of þaire ill fare es he faynec. 1330
»be sacrament of goddes body;
Þe prior asked withowten lett
1305 for in what stede goddes bodi ware, if þare war any angell sett
and pe fendes of hell war þare, to zeme pe auter fra euyl thing
vnto it bud þam do honowre;
whils goddes bodi es in offering,
and so sall ilka creatoure«.
and þe preste in þat tyme to wis. 1335
Pe prior said: »ban thinkes me
Þe voice answerd and said: »zis;
1310 þat al spirites suld it se
if gude angels war noght present,
when it es on pe auter graydı.
with euyl spirites might al be shent,
Þe voice answerd sone and said:
for bai wald sone desturb pe preste
þat all gude spirites may it ken
and put vain thoghtes into his breste, 1340
more verraily þan erthly men.
so þat he suld noght worthily
1315 Pe prior asked þan þis skill:
haue might forto mak goddes. body
if deuils might do ani dere þartill with honore als it aw to be,
i Cf. I p. 408. In the Latin tract this hymn
is not mentioned.
Ms. Vernon ===
attoo | Penne onswerde þe spirit: »God zelde hit ow! nou I am cumforted, þat I may
þe better speke to ow«. And þenne pe prior asked Þe spirit: »What þing
anuyzeþ most pe fendes ?« And þe gost onswerde and seide »þat godes bodi
anuyzeb hem most; ffor wher-so godes bodi beo, & pe deueles ben per, hem
bihouep honouren hit, wol þei so nul þey«. To whom þe prior seide: »Ne
may not be spirit[es] sen Godes bodi on pe auter?« And þe gost onswerde & seide :
»ge, brihtloker þen men«. And þe prior seide to be spirit: »May not be fendes
distorben pe sacrament of godes bodi?« And he onswerde and seide: »no, bote
in sum prestes þat gon vndeuoutliche to pe auter, and in hem þat singen in
eny dedly synne; and in alle suche prestes sum-tyme bifore & sun-tyme after
Þe deuel haþ pouwer to destorben þe makyng of godes bodi. Wherfore is þat?
for þat þe deuel wolde þat suche prestes songe ofte-tymes forte encresen þe
more heore peynę pat schal be put to hem afterward«. And be prior asked:
» Is per non angel set forte kepe pe auters & þe prestes at pe auter in þe tyme
of makyng of godes bodi?« And þe spirit seide: »ge; ffor zif godes? angel[es]
weore not per, þe euel angel[es] scholde entre to confounde pe prest in his masse,
and so distorben hym þat he scholde not worschipfulich make godes bodi, ouber
1. makynge. L Possuntne demones impedire consecrationem corporis Christi? 2 r. gode.
1320
E)
*Ста) зусіх .
с.
r
Ral 1300
ere,
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
319
408 so suld he think on vanite«.
for on þi breste pou beres it, ( Cottory370
1345 (Þe prior pan bigan to frain)
in a box þou has it broght,
what remedy war þare(-ogayn),
als it was on pe auter wroghta.ie
forto defend pe fendes fell.
Þan al þe folk awonderd ware,
Þan said pe voice: »I sall þe tell. for of þat thing wist pai no(ght are)
If þat þe preste in goddes presens þat þe prior had goddes body, 1375
1350 be clene in his awin conciens ?' bot resayued in his mes anely.
and mak his praiers with clene thoght, Þe prior said: »pan wald I wit
þan þe deuils may dere him noght«. whi þat þou noght honord (it),
Pan þe prior said pir saus:
sen pou sais þat ilk a creat(ure)
»es þare no prayer þat pou knaws to goddes body sall do hon(oure), 1380
1355 a preste to say bifor he sing,
and þou wate wele þat (it es here)..
þat might fordo swilk euil thing?« Þe voice answerd on þis (manere):
Pan said þe voice: »sir, be þat hade »I haue it honord in my (kinde)
Þe praier þat saint Austin made
with all mi might (and all my minde)
pe whilk Summe sacerdos es (tald), sen first þat þou it (hider broght), 1385
1360 and he with gude deuocioune (wald) (al-if) þat þou parsaſiued it noght)..
say it ilkday or he sang,
Pe prior þan with (gude entent)
to mes þan might he baldli gang; toke þat solemp(ne sacrament)
fro wathes it will so wele him were, out of his clath (þar it was hid),
vnnethes suld any thing him dere«. and to be (spirit þus gan he bid): 1390
1365 Þe prior fraynde him þan ful right »If þou trow (be soth þarbi)
if he saw euer þat solempne sight, þat þis (es goddis awin bodi),..
of goddes bodi þe sacrament,
out of þis werld sen þat he went. . . . . . . . . . to bow
Þe voyce said: »sir, I se it zit: . . . it es of swilk pouste, 1395
39 A Ms. Vernon.
be fendes scholde put in to hem vanites opur variande pouztes Þe wzuche scholde (Vee
destourben be worschipful preyers in þe Masse«. To whom þe prior seide: »Is
per no remedie azeyn þe deuel ?« And þe spirit onswerde & seyde: »zus, Clannesse
of his oune Concience & deuocion of his þouzt, wiþ clene preyeres«. To whom
Þe prior seide: »Is per non good preyere to putten awey ţe vuel þing?« | And
þe spirit onswerde: »qus. Zif a prest wolde bifore pe Masse sey Þe preyere
þat seint Austin made for such euel, ynnepes þenne schulde he beo tempted of
eny deuel in his masse — wzuche preyere bigynnep þus: Summe Sacerdos. And
Þe prior asked him zif þat he seze euere godes bodi sebþe he departed out of
þis world. And pe gost onswerde and seide: »ze, and nou I seo hit hongen
bifore þi brest in a Box« -- and pouz? no mon wuste þat pe prior hedde godes
bodi in opur manere but as he receyuede hit þat dai in his masse. Þen þe
prior seide : »Whi honourest Þou not Godes bodi seppe þat þou seost hit hongen
bifore my brest ?« q And þe gost onswerde: »I in my kuynde haue honoured
hit wiþ as muche reuerence as I mihte al pis day seħħe pou come hider, pouz
pou perceyued me nouzt doinde pat þing«. And þenne pe prior drouz out of
his bosum þe Box wiþ godes bodi, holdynge hit openliche in his hond bifore
al þat þer were, and seide pis wordes to be foreseide spirit: »Þenne, zif pou
leeuest þat þis beo godes bodi, and ſhe spirites): ne mowe not azeynstonden his
1 Ms. scholde Þe fendes. 2 Lat. et tamen. 3 Ms. þei.
1
.
.
1
.
DOWVIDUST
.
ROV.WRITA-
-
-
-.
.
.-
Spor
Gugo
Rose
e lungo
.
.
.
.
.
3.20
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
(cotton)
ato
(in uer)tų pareof I cumand be
(and whan pai) in þe chamber ware
(þat þou) wend with me a plain pase ......... bigin,
(to þe) vterest end of all þis placea. (Þe woman bigan) to gnayst and grin
(Pan said) Þe voice : »sir, I am boune, (and for) to cri als sho war wode, 1425
1400 (bot noght) to folow þi persoune, (þat al war) ștonaid þat þare stode,
bot with mi lord fain will I vend
· · þai had þat sight to se
þat þou haldes bitwix þi hend«. . . . . . . was grete pete.
(Þe pople þan) with al paiſe might
Sune þan þe prior toke þe gate
· · · · · se pat sight,
1430
fast toward pe vtterest zate;
. . . . . vạto pat place
1405 with him went his breper twa,
... (þa)t wonder case.
and so did ful many ma.
. ..(lik) vnto lede
of þe spirite he saw right noght;
. . . . . . sho war ded.
bot in his hereing wele him thoght
· · · · · · are
1435
þat a noyce efter him come
· · · · · · · · come pare,
1410 like a besom made of brome
. . . . . . . . . stode he still
þat war swepeand on a pament;
. . . . . . . . . . . . till:
swilk a noyse ay with þam went. ». · · · · · · · · · (pa)scioune
and þarto said he prior pus:
· · · · · · · · · ne 1440
„Þou spirit, shew pe vntill vs
1415 (als cle)rly als pou ert wroght«.
þat þi w(if mas slike) murnig«.
Pareto he voice answerd right noght. Pan sayd þe voyce ful sarili:
(Pe) prior þan ogain gan pas
»sho wate pe cause als wele als I«.
(vnti)il þe wedow whare sho was
Pe prior pan in þaire present
1445
(liggand) seke sare on a bed,
sone to be woman he went
(& had) sho lang bene euill sted; and vnto hir þus gan he say:
(pe nolyes folowd als it did are.
»In þe name of god, dame, I be pray
Ms. Vernon
1590 vertu, þenne I comaunde be in þe vertu of þis godes bodi þat pou folewe me to
þe otemaste zate of bis hous«. 9 And þe gost onswerde: »gladli, nouzt pi persone,
bote my god Ihesu Crist þat þou holdest in þin honden.. pen pe prior bigon
to gon a gret pas to þe foreseid zate, his twey breperen goynge to-foren & mo
obur men. [&] Þe prior lokynge be-hynden him, seih" him not folewen, bote
he herde a meruylous vois? be-hynden him als a soun of a brom swoping a pament.
T To wzuche vois? Þe prior spac & seide pus: »Pou Gyes spirit, scheuh þe now
to vs siztiliche!« To whuche ping pe spirit onswerde nouzt. And þe prior
goinge be-fore wiþ godes bodi & þat vois folwynde him: whon he com to be
wyues bed þat was in þe lufthalf of þe chaumbre, his wyf liggynge in þat ilke
bed anon bigon to grenne wiþ bire tep and crizede riht heize wib-oute fourme
of vois in þe Maner of a wood wommon. To wzuche wommon ron as moni
men as mizte, þat þei schulde sen pe ginnynge & 3 endinge of bat ilke cas. (Sone] *
Þe wyf fel doun in a swouh, as heo were ded. For wzuche caas pe prior wolde
(not]' go to Þe zate, bote he turned azeyn to be forseyde bed. And be prior
spak to Þe spirit, askyng him in þe passion of Crist what was þe encheson pat
his wyf was so sori. q And þe spirit onswerde & seide þat hire-self wuste pe
encheson. Þenne Þe prior asked þe wommon in þé nome of God þat heo
1 Ms. & seih. 2 r. nois. 3 on ginnynge &. 4 Ms. For. 5 Ms. haue. I propter
quem casum prior ulterius versus portam noluit ire, sed revertebatur ad spiritum.
(1390
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
321
1470 and said: sto sause of at be bri
iW
4.6D tel ynto me al þi thoght«.
and to pe voice eft-sones he said: cotton
1450 sho lay ful still and answerd noght. „Þou creature, I coniure pe
So still obout þe bed Þai stode, by goddes might and his pete,
to luke if oght might mend hir mode, and bi vertu of his body
and for hir wa fast gan þai wepe. and of his moder mild Mari, 1480
Sone efter sho bigan to crepe
and by Þe milk he souk swete,
1455 vpon hir knese so als sho may,
and pe teres þat sho for him grete
and cried loud and þus gan say:
when sho saw hir sun be slane,
»Ihesu mi lord, als þou boght me, and by pe halows euerilkane:
of my paynes pou baue pete,
þe sertain soth þat þou me say 1485
and grante me of þi help in haste of þis meruail, if þou may,
1460 to bete þis bale þat me has brastec. whi Þi wife has all pis payne«.
De prior saw hir sorow and site
And pan pe voice answerd ogayne
and to be voice þus said he tite: & said: »syr, . . . . . f. 98
»Whi es Þi wife pus trauailed here?« (it es) all for an vnkindly syn
1490
Þe uoice answerd on bis manere : þe whilk was done bifor my dede
1465 »I talde right now here pe vntill bitwix vs twa here in pis stede;
pat hir-self wate for what scill,
pareof we bath war shreuen sone,
and if pou will wit more alway, bot be penance was noght done,
ask bir-self, sho kan be say«.
þarfore penance vs bus fulfill
1495
Pan eft þe prior to hir gase
now als fer forth (als) falles þartill«.
14.70 and mekill mane to hir he mase, (Pan said þe) prior: »or Þou pas,
he said: »to salue pi-self of sare, say to me what sin it was,
otell me be cause of al þi care,
þat wedded men may warned be
and out of bale I sall pe bring«. to do swilk thinges in þat degre, 1500
sho lay and answerd him no thing. or like to it in dede or thoght«.
1475 And þan he stode als man amaid, Þe voice sayd: »nay, god will it noght
39. Ms. Vernon
scholde telle him þe enchesun of hire anguissch. And heo onswerde nouzt.
And a luitel afterwardes Þei stoden stille al þat þer weoren aboute pe wommon
and þe forseyde wommon heo bigon to crepe vppon hire lymes & seide wih
heiz vois: »Lord Ihesu Crist, as pou bouztest me, help me in þis trauaile!« Þe
wzuche þing þe prior herde, & asked þe spirit whi his wyf was so trauayled.
9 And þenne onswerde pe spirit: »Ne tolde I not riht now þat heo wuste þe
encheson of hire anguissch? And zif pou wolt wite, aske hirela And penne
seide Þe prior to þe wommon: »tel me pe enchesun of þin anuy!« And þenne
heo lay stille & onswerde no-þing. And þenne pe prior wiþ good entent seide
to be spirit: »I Coniure þe, creature, be al þe mihtes of god, and be al pe vertu
of godes bodi, and be Þe milk & pe teres of vr ladi Marie, and be al þe dedes
of al halewen, þat þou sey me Þe sope of pis ilke ping«. And pe spirit
onswerde: »Zif pou al-wey wolt witer whi my wyf is nou folfuld of serwe, I seye:
ffor an vnkuyndeliche synne pat we dude to-gederes in þis stude; of wzuche
sunne we beoþ bope schriuen, but heo haþ not maad aseep þerfore?. Þenne
seide Þe prior: »Tel me now what sunne þat was, þat oper weddede men mowe
be war. Þerby pat þei do nouzt þat ilke synne ne non opur sinne þat bęo lyk
þerto«. Þe spirit onswerde and seide: »Vr lord ne wol not þat men heere
1 r. stonding? 2 L adds: sed isto modo jam tristatur et satisfaciet pro eo.
fring (van)
21
Sper
guap.
ene
322
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
Qurthubhast þat I þat sin vnto zow say
þat thurgh shrift es done oway;
1505 and of þat sin we bath war schreuyn,
þarfore of god it es forgifen
als to be blame, þat be pou balde,
(bot tochand) þe penance, I Þe talde
aseth bus be made for þat sin
1510 or we to any welth may wyn.
and sen it es done fra goddes sight,
at tell it to men war noght right,
bot if it war, als god forbede,
pat men eft-sones did þe same dede.
1515 Bot warn wedded men & to pam say
þat þai wisely kepe alway
Þe rewl of weding with paire might,
and duly do both day and night;
for þare er many commun case
1520 in whilk weded men may trispase,
and þa cases er kindli to ken
in þis werld omang witty men.
Pis was pe soueraine point, sais he,
whi þat god lete me speke with he,
1525 for þou suld trow þis stedfastly
and oper men be mended þarby,
so þat þai may paire sins forsake
5
and in þaire liues amendes make«. College
Þe woman wepeand als scho lay,
with sari hert pus gan sho say: 1530
»Gude Gy, mi lord, for luf of me
say if I sall saued be
or I sall dwell in dole euermare
for pat dede pat we did are,
whareof I wate god was noght paydı. 1535
De voice answerd ful sune and sayd :
». . . . . . . . . .
þi penance nere till end es broght,
(pou sal be) saued for sertayne«.
and þan be woman was ful fayne, 1540
and said þare kneleand on hir kne
ane pater noster and ane Aule,
and loued god in word and will.
and þan pe prior sayd hir till:
»Dame, whils þou þis life sall lede, 1545
luke pou ilk day do almus-dede;
for almusdedes may sines waste«.
Parto pe voice answerd in haste:
»dame, he said, par charite,
when pou dose almus, think on me, 1550
forto alege sum of my payne«.
And þan pe prior gan him frayne
2008
Ms. Vernon.
þat sinne þat is don awey from heryng bi schrifte; we beop bope perof I-schriuen,
be wzuche schrift vr lord hab for-zete pat sunne as to þe blame, but nouzt
as to þe penaunce, [&] per-fore he zeuep to me & to hire penaunce nou, þat
we schule amenden ys of pat ilke synne. And þat sunne þat is idon awey be
schrifte, hit nis not ribt ne resonable þat men witen bit in eny maneere, bute
hit beo eft-sones don—þat god for-beode! | Wherfore sei and preche to wedded
men þat þei holde among hem þe rules of Matermoyne. Per ben diuerse (cases
in]: wzuche þat wedded men sungen, and bote þei kepe hem beter þey-fro, God
wol take greef vengaunce – pe Caases are knowe Inouz to be and to opulta
goode men«. 9 And þenne seide pe spirit : »Dis was pe principal cause whi þat
god let me speke wiþ þe, þat I scholde seye al þis pinges in amendement of
oþure«. Wzuche þe wommon herde and bigon bitterliche to grede, seyinde:
»Goode Gy, schal I beo saued & not dwellynges in þat synne þat I nou þenke
on?« And þe spirit onswerde & seide : »ge ; ffor Þou hast don þat peyne, al-pouz
pou beo in þouzt þerfore 5«. Þen heo for Ioye gon seye pater noster and Aue
Maria. To wzuche wommon pe prior seide: »From pis day forþward do almes-
dedes; ffor almes-deedes purgeþ synne«. Wzuche þing þe spirit herde and seide:
»And as Þou dost almes-dedes, þenk on me«. And be prior asked him whi he
1 Ms. And be. 2 L quoad culpam. 8 Ms. rules be. fr. notwibstondynge, Lat. non
obstante illo peccato. 5L quia jam egisti penam pro illo, tamen invita.
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Spear. Guy
· · · · · · ·
and many to sod, bai warn
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
323
To whi he come noght in þat sesoune þat sho (!) sal haue ..... ( Colton)
vuto men of religioune,
Pe voce said: sho sal .....
1555 forto tell to þam his life,
als lang als my. ... . . . . 1580
titter þan vntill his wife,
bot weterly ful . . . . . . .
sen þat he wist þai war more nere þat hastily it . . . . . . .(
at pray to god, pan wemen were, Þe prior said: ». . . . . . .
and more wiſseli) þai kowth him wis. how pou to ........
1560 Þe voice answerd þan to pis
. . . . . . . .
1585
and said: »I lufed more my wife ... (ins)trumentes of spekeing«.
þan any man þat beres life,
Þe prior said þan on pis manere :
and þarfore first to hir I went,
»(Ne) sese pou noght, a carpentere,
and when me was gifen bi iugement (pat) diuers werkes oft-siþes has wroght,
1565 to suffer penance in þis place,
withouten ax may he do noght, 1590
I asked god of his grete grace
and ay pe ax will redi be
þat my wife might warned be
to hew with him on ilka tre,
forto amend hir mis bi me,
and it may nowther stir ne stand
and of his grace he gaf me leue withowten help of mans hand ?
1570 on þis manere mi wife to greue
Right so a man here zow omell 1595
a nd forto turment bir biforne,
with-owten tung may no thing tell, .
so þat sho efter might be for(borne) and with his tung zit sais he noght
Le prema and þat sho sold noght haue (pe pyne) (bot it be) ordande of þe thoght,
for hir sius als I haue for (mine),
(and) þat es of pe saul alwais,
1575 bot fulfill it in hir life-day«.
þat ordans all þat þe tong sais. 1600
And alsone pan þe prior (gan say): And by þis tale pou may tak tent
»Kan pou oght · · · · ·
pe body es bot ane instrument
m
--
Sastav
Ms. Vernon.
they go nolde not cop
nolde not come to men of religion forte seien hem al his staat, raþer þen to cka
his wyf, seppe Men of Religion ben neer godes seruise? þen wymmen. ( And
þe spirit onswerde & seide: »I louede more my wyf pen eny mon of religion,
þerfore I eode furst to hire. For whon I was luged to my penaunce for my
sunnes, I beo-souzte god I scholde schewe my wyf hire peril, and he grauntede
me þat I scholde troublen hire, bat heo weore nouzt loren oubey in purgatorie
2 turmented for hire sunnes, as I am nou for my synnes«. And pe prior
asked him how long tyme he schulde ben in peyne. | And þe gost onswerde
& seide: »til aster þat comeþ«. To whom þe prior seide: »What signe schul
we haue whon pou art diliuered out of peyne?« I De gost onswerde & seide :
»Zif eny of ow comeþ to þis place at aster and zif ze heere not my vois, wite
ze wel me receyued in to heuener. And be prior seide to him : »I am a-Merueyled
hou pou maizt speke and ne hast nouber Moup nor tonge, wzuche ben Instru-
mens of speche«. | And þe gost onswerde & seide: »Ne seost pou nouzt þat
a Carpunter dop nouzt wip-outen his ax, and be ax is redi to eueri treo forte
hewe, and noþeles hit may not hewer wib-outen Monnes honden? And also
a mon may not speke in þis lyue wib-oute tonge, and þouz he haue a tonge,
he may not speke per-wiþ but hit beo ordeyned porw pe vertu of monnes soule
wib-Innen. Wherfore al Monnes bodi is bot an Instrumens of monnes soule;
il propinquiores deo in obsequio divino. 2 Ms. be t.
21*
ma
.
Spir
Guog
altor
-
-
324
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
(cottont
21:
40. Do of þe saul, als Þou may se,
1630
and þe saul in himself has fre
. . . . . . . . . . bright
160,5 (powere) of vertuse, might and minde, . . . . . . . . . plight
(þat god) has gifen to him bi kinde; . . . . . . . . . . .
(and) so he may speke properly
whider þat he sall iuged be
(with-owten help of þe body.
to comun purgatori þat es stabill, - 1635
(and) if pou say a man mai noght or vnto purgatori departabill,
1610 (speke) pe thing þat cumes of thoght or els vnto pe paynes of hell,
(but) if he haue mowth & tung als, or ynto heuyn in blis to dwell..
(I say to be pi) saus er fals:
(for hali writ) bers witnes ful right Pe prior pan with wordes hende
(pat gold and al his angels bright asked how sone a saul mal (wende) 1640
1615 (spak graipeli) to ald and zung
when it es past fra Þe body
(and zit had) nowper mowth ne tung. to heuyn or hell or purgatori.
(right so) may ilka gude spirite
Þe voice answerd and said: »it may
.... voices ful parfite,
in litill space wende all pat way,
(and I may) at mine awin will
sone es it broght whare it sal be. 1645
1620 (speke) with-ou)ten tong zów till«. þat mai pou bi ensampill se.
(Be prior asked) him in þat stede Pou sese when þe sun es riseand,
(whar saules) dwelles when men er dede pe light gase sone ouer ilka land,
.. . . . . . . Þe dome be done ouer al pis werld it passes playne,
. . . . . . . . sold wele sune bot if þare stand oght þarogaine. 1650
1625. . . . . . . . . payne. right so be saules, when men es ded,
(Þe voice answerd & said) ogayne: alsone er in þaire sertain stede,
» . . . . . . . forn
to heuyn or hell pai wend in hy;
. . . . . . . . . be lorn and if þai pas to purgatori,
. . . . . . . . . . nd
sum-tyme wend þai noght so sgne, 1655
Ms. Vernon.
ngo ner-þe-later be soule haþ frelyche in him-selue alle his vertues, and perfore he
may freliche speken in his kuynde wib-outen eny Instrumens of pe bodi. Hit nis
nouzt worp pat pou seist pat no mon spekep but gif he haþ mouþ & tonge; I
seye þat hit is fals, ffor whi? ne redest þou not in holi writ þat God & angeles
formen voises & speken wib-outen tonge?'«
And [þe) prior asked him where pe soule[s] weore þat tyme þat þei weore
Iugged to ben in purgatorie or in heuene or in helle. q And be spirit onswerde
and seyde þat whon soules schullen departen from heore bodies, beo a luytel
oure biforen þei schulen sen heore dedes, and goode angeles and wikked angeles
brizttore & brihtore after be quantite of heore trespas, and þenne in þat ilke
tyme þey ben lugged to heuene opur to comuyn purgatorie oper to helle opur
to purgatorie departable«. And þenne pe prior asked him: »beo hou long tyme
may a soule pat is out of pe bodi come to heuene opur to purgatorie opur to
helle?« And þe spirit onswerde and seide »þat assone pe soule is lad þer
hit schal beo. As pou seost pe sonne whon hit arist schewep his lyht ouur-al,
but hit be let wip eny obstakel, so be soules be lad as swipe to his stude, but
zif in þe mene tyme beo don for him eni almes-dede opuy eny deuout orisones
destorbynge eny soule to ben lad to purgatori. For whi? such almes-dedes &
i Lat. adds: sic ego, spiritus, virtute animae fero tlbi vocem meam et loquor tibi sine lingua.
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uy (The) Spir. queen
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
325
H
1690
oo and þat es for þaire profet done.
If þai haue any faithful frende
in þis werld here, when þai wende,
þat for þam will ger sing and rede
1660 or els do ani almus-dede,
pai may so do for þam þat tide
þat in pe ayre pe saul sall bide
vntill it baue þe merit tane
of þaire prayers euerilkane,
1665 and so by help of þaire gudenes
may his penance be made les;
Þe dedes þat þan er done in haste
vnto mens saules amendes maste.
on pis same maner als I say
1670 in pis cete was done þis day: Auto
a frere died and demed was
to comun purgatori at pas;
bot in þe time of his transing
of his breper he asked his thing:
1675 þat þai sold do in dede. and saw
for him als þai war bunden by law
and messes þat þam aght to say,
par charite he gan þam pray
þat þai suld be said in hy,
1680 and euerilkone of oure lady,
f. 96 . . . . . . . . .
. (and) afterward pan pus bitid :
when he was ded, þan þus bifell :
his angel demed him forto dwell (Bottom
in comun purgatori playne
1685
thre monethes to suffer payne
als worthi was, efter his dede ;
bot þan oure lady ful sune zede
vntill hir sun and prayed þat tide
þat þe saul suld in pe aire abide
vnto it had be merit clere
of dedes þat war done for it here.
and twa owres so dwelled it still
in þe aire, als was goddes will;
and mercy of god had he
1695
thurgh praier of his moder fre
and thurgh be dedes þat here war done,
þat he sal be in blis ful sone;
in pain he has no langer tyme
bot fra now till to-morn at prime«. 1700
Þan said pe prior till hym sone:
„Whilk dedes of all þat here er done
may titest help a saul to heuyn ?«
Þe voice answerd and said ful euyn:
„Þe parfite werkes of charite
þat er done als þam aw to be,
þat es to say till goddes bihoue
and oure euin-cristen if we lufe,
þan of oure werkes will god be paid«.
Þe prior answerd? ful sone and sayd: 1710
»If þat þou can, tell vs in haste
1 r. asked.
1705
14
.*
*
*
.37 1.1.7VV
390 Ms. Vernon.
orisouns mowe be don and seid for a soule, þat hit schal dwelle in þe Eir, abi- Vermont
dynde his gode dedes and þe meryt? of Ihesu Crist. As hit was don to-day in þe
toun be þe reson? of a frere pat dyed whuch Frere was lugged beo pe angel
to comuyn purgatorie, but he asked furst of his breperen þat þe masses pat þei
weren endetted to do for him be lawe of heore ordre, þat þei were songe of
vr ladi seynte Marie bifore be passyng out of his soule; whuche þing was don,
and þenne vr ladi seynte Marie afterwardes þat þe angel hedde seid to be
soule þat he scholde be þre Monphes in þe comuyn purgatorie, pen com vre ladi
Marie preyinge for him to hire lene sone, so pat pe soule to-day be pe space of
tweyne vres scholde dwelle 3 in þe hote Eir abydynge [be] gode dedes of pe Merci
of god; þe wzuche Merci he fond so glorious þorw þe preyeres of þe virgine
Marie, þat he ne schal dwelle in pu[r]gatorie nougt bote til to-morwe at prime«.
And þe prior asked him wzuch were þe werkes þat sannest brouzt a mon to
heuene. And þe spirit onswerde and seide: »Dedes of Charite wiþ þe loue of (god
&] þin euen-cristen don«. And þe prior asked him of what monkuynde* beo most
i Lat. exspectando beneficium misericordiae Christi. 2 L in villa Simonis. 3r. dwelled;
ita quod stabat.
L de quo genere hominum.
.
I thining
(Viro)
Spir. quy
CIMOC
326
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
f
*op
what maner of men þat now er maiste
in purgatori to suffer paine?«
Þe voice answerd and said ogain: .
1715 »no men cumes pat place within
bot anli þai pat haue done sin;
and al þat sines & saued sall be
er pined þare of ilk degre
efter be dedes þat þai haue done.
1720 And þan be prior asked sone
what maner of folk þat he here fand
*----þat in þaire life war best lifand.
Þe voice said: »sir, soth it es,
and hali writ wele beres witnes,
1725 þat noman aw oper to praise
wheper he do ill or wele alwaise,
for mans lif es to prais nothing
bot he may haue gud ending ;
»In ilka state I se, he sais, bollam).
sum thinges to lac, & sum to prayse, 1740
þarfore I will prais no degre
ne none sall be empaired bi me;
bot neuer-he-les zit wald I rede
þat all fulli in ilk a stede
serue god with all þaire might, 1745
in what degre so pai be dight«.
Þe prior asked with wordes stabill
if þat god war oght merciabill
to sawles þat er in purgatori.
Þe voice said: »za, sir, sertanli; 1750
vnto sum saulles, pis es sertaine,
releses he forth part of paire paine,
of sum þe thrid part he releses,
of sum. Þe secund part he seses;
and þat es for gude praiers (sere) 1755
pat lifand frendes for ham (dos here);
if mani dedes for þam be done.
þan mai pai pas fro pai(nes sone).
lifand frendes pus mai Þam (ses)
of paines þat þai suld (haue les);
1760
and praiers helpes pam (of angels)
and of halous þat in (heuyn dwells)«.
Þe prior said: »pan wald I . . .
whatkin pain þi-selfe . . .
in purgatori wills (hou sal dwell)«. 1765
I
1730 wheper [he] be worthi luf or (hate),
(ne) wheper his werkes er ill (or lele),
vntill pe dome be done ilk dele;
Þan sal he se him-self sertayne
wheper he es worthi ioy or paine«.
1735 Pe prior said: »ban ask I þe,
whilk es most parfite degre
of all þat on his grownd er grayd ?»
Þe voice answerd ful sone & said:
***
740
ssholde preise bytes wher met bote pe
Ms. Vernon.
in purgatorie. And he onswerde : »of be kuynde of sunners; ffor non dwellep
þer bot zif þat he haue don sunne«. Also be prior asked him what Mon was
of best lyf? in pis world. q Pe spirit onswerde and seide : »Hit is writen þat no
mon schal preisen opur in pis lyf, bote preise more his goode endyng”, ffor no
mon wot while he lyuep wher he beo worpi to haue loue or hate; wherfore no
mon scholde preise pe lyf of þis world til þat þei come beo-fore heore Iuge«.
Also be prior asked him wzuch weore be most parfyt stat among al þe states
in pis world. And be spirit onswerde and seide: »In eucri stat [I]: fynde
summe worþi to preise and summe to lakke, and perfore no stat of þis world
nouper i ne preyse nor i ne lakke; but ich rede þat vche mon in þis world be
his oune nome, in what stat so þat he beo oþur what degre, þat he costumabliche 4
serue God«. And þe prior asked hym zif pat god were Merciable to hem þat
dwellen in purgatorie. q And pe spirit onswerde and seide : »,éé; ffor to summe
he relesep þe feorpe parti of heore peyne þat þei ben a-dettet for heor sunne,
and to summe pe þridde parti, and to summe pe secunde parti, after þat more
or lasse is preyed for hem in pis world oþur in heuene of angeles«. And þe
prior asked what peyne [he]' hedde in purgatorie. And þe spirit onswerde:
iL quae fuerunt meliores vitae in mundo. 2 L Ne laudes hominem in vita sua, sed lauda
post mortem. 3 Ms. þei. 1 L sollicite. 5 Ms. þei.
34ла
(т.)
Spur
22
Rul bar por
OX
174
Guego
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
327
$400 Þe voice said: »I sall þe tell ;
and þat fire es als bodily (Cottón)
in flaume of fir . . . . . .
als pe fire of purgatori
pat all pir . . . . . . . .
and zit pines it pe fendes in hell; 1795
and haue no . . . . . . .« als god witnes in his godspell
1770 Þe prior said Þ(an: »it es na fabil) (ho)w he to pe fendes sal say
þat þou ert (a spirit deceyuabil); and to be dampned on domes-day:
own pat sall I proue . . . . . .
(ze) weried wightes, I bid zow wende
þis wate pou . . . . . . .
(to be fir) þat 1(ast)es withouten ende 1800
o god dose no . . . . . . .
(þat ordand) es for nothing els
1775 for . . . . . . . . . .. (bot) to be deuill and his angels'.
his w. . . . . . . . . .. (And) whare pou sais þat god duse noght
ogay)nes kind in þe werkes he wroght,
. . . . . es a gaste spirituall, (I sai god) dose, als men mai finde, 1805
(and bodili) thing mai haue no might l.. m)irakill oft ogaines kinde,
1780 (in spiritual) thing bi dai ne night. (als sum)-time fell of childer thre
(and by) þis resoun may pou se
(þat in fir war set) brint forto be-
(þat) fire may haue no might in be, (bair nam)es er þai named so:
(al)-if pou þarin sit or gang«.
(Sidrak, Mi)sac and Abdenago; 1810
Þe voice said: „sir, Þou has be wrang . . . . . with ful grete yre
1785 bat pou me haldes so decaiuabill, . . . . . ful of fire,
and þou has fun in me no fabill. (bot als it was) oure lordes will,
* Bot neuer-þe-les, sir, whare pou sais (Þe fir did) no harm þam till. -
pat bodili thing bi nokins wais
. . . . . . . . . . .
1815
in gastli thing mai haue powere,
1790 I answer þe on pis manere.
Þou wate wele þat þe deuils sal lend ...........
in fire of hell with-owten end,
--Ms. Vernon.
»flaume of fuir aller-hattest«. To whom þe prior seide: »Now I seo wel þat þou fteri
art a deceyuable spirit. For God doþ noping azeynes kuynde in þinges fourmed-
ffor zif he dude, ben scholde he distruye pe kynde of hem. And flaume of fuir
is bodilich þing, and no bodilich þing, in as muche as hit is bodiliche, ne may
do no-ping in spiritual þing. And pou art a spirit, as pou se[i]st; perfore -þe
flaume of fuir ne may no-þing don in þe«. (And þe spirit onswerde & seide :
»Whi clepest þow me a deceyuable spirit, seppe þat þow ne fond no deceyt
in me? But nouzt-forbi, Þou arguest þat no bodiliche þing ne may do nouzt in
spirituale þing; I seye þat hit is fals. For pe fuir of helle is bodiliche þing,
and hit dop in þe deueles pat is gostlich, as pou redest in þe gospel þat god
seide Go ze warizede in to pe fuir wib-outen ende, pe wzuche fuir is ordeyned
to Þe deuel and his angeles'. And þis is fals also whon pou seidest þat God
doþ nouzt azein kuynde of monyþinges ... als he dude of þe preo children pat
weoren set in fuir and not-forþi pe fuir dude hem non harm; and as God þorw
his rihtwysnesse made heom saf, and his miht, from pe kuynde of fuir, so porw
his miht he made þat no faume of fuir ne dude nouzt in heom (!)«?. To whom þe
prior seide: »perfore zif þat pou art in brennyng fuir , hou is hit þenne þat þis
hous nis brent of þat fuir, seppen pou art wiþ flaume of fuir þer-inne ?« And
1 r. mad? 2 Lat.: Vnde sicut deus per justiciam suam et potenciam saluos fecit eos a naturali
actione ignis, ita per potenciam suam fecit quod fiamma ignis purgatorii agit in me modo,
-
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SSS
--39.0
A au
com
Sepperfrak
alloo
328
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
(-Cotton)
a l
..
1820 . . . . . . . . . . .
in ilka place cum in and out C
eo . · · · · · · · · · .(
and brin noght þat es him about,
howses ne clathes ne oper atyre,
» . . . . . . . . . .
al-if him-self be flaumd in fire. - 1850
. . . . . . . . . . .
right so his hows mai resaiue me
1825. · · ·
and it-self noght empaired be.
Bot, sir, pis saltou vnderstand,
(sen pat) it es so hate and kene«. if all bowses in ilka land
De voice said: »now es wele sene in a stede war brinand shire,
1855
þat in þe es ful litil scill.
it might noght be so hate a fire
1830 (but right) now tald I be yntill
als I now suffer night and day..
: þat god may mesure thurgh his might Þe prior þan to him gan say
Þe strenkit of fire both dai & night and asked of him þis questiowne: .
so þat it no harm (mai do)
if he trowed pe incarnacioune, 1860
till thing þat it es put vnto,
how Ihesus Criste toke fless & blude..
1835 als he did to be childer thre
De voice answerd with eger mode
of wham I haue tald vnto pe.
alls it) war greued inwardli,
Also pou sese fire of leuening
with loud voice þus gan he cri:
wendes obout in alkins thing,
»A, sir, he said, whilk er þa men 1865
clereli als clerkes declare it can,
þat þe incarnacioun wil noght ken ?
1840 and nowper brines it hows ne man, whilk er pai þat will noght knaw
bot if it be thurgh' ani chance
how angels said it in þaire saw,
· þat it brin bi goddes sufrance.
and deuels trowes it wonder wele,
and als pou ses Þe sun mai pas
and saules in pain hai mai it fele? 1870
thurgh windows þat er made of glas, ful mekill wa þai er worþi
1845 and pe glas noght empaired þarby; þat will noght trow it stedfastlio ar
so may a spirit sekerli
(and all þat trowes it noght) in ded, f. 100
Ms. Vernon.
þe gost onswerde and seide: »A ful luyte liht of wit is in þe; ne seide I pe nouzt
her-bifore pat God may wip-drawe pe vertu of fuir þat hit brennep nouzt ping
þat hit is zeuen to: as he dude pe þreo children, þat is to wite Sydraak, Misaak
and Abdenago ? And also þow seost bodiliche þat þe fuir of ponder alihtep from
heuene kuyndeliche wip-outen brennynge of eny hous—bot vnderstonde wel,
whon hit pondreh', þat hit is gret signe of vengaunce of sum mon. And also, as ?
þou seost pe sonne comeb porw þe glas of þe wyndouwe wib-outen brekyng
of glas, also I, spirit enflaumed of fuir, may entre þis hous and gon out azeyn
wip-outen brekyng of glas. And also hit is on þis manere : þauz pe flaume of
fuir brenne me in þis hous, þis hous nobeles is nouzt damaged porw his flaume.
Bote ynderstond: ffor sobe, þauz al þe houses in þis world weren in o stude set
afuire, alle bei ne scholde not make so hot a flaume as is þat flaume þat I now
suffre. And pe prior asked him zif he leeued pe incarnacion of Crist. And to
þat question pe gost gon allerhizest to speken and seide : »A, Mi prior, who is
þat troweb bit nouzt? Þe angeles seon hit, þe deueles trouwen hit, soules in
purgatorie. velep hita. And þe prior asked: »What peyne beo þei worþi þat
trouweþ not in þe Carnacion ?« And þe gost onswerde and seide : »Whi askest
i Lat. quando fulgur facit malum, 2 om in Lat. 3 Lat, sine ejus (sc. domus) laesura ; the
ere ends the Latin text in Ms. Vesp. E I; the rest is a
later addition extant in Ms. Vesp. A VI (while Harl. 2379 gives a different continuation).
VRV KRY
wemmel toe behend benciana
11390
.
I
n
ster)
Spir. Gug.
T
.
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
329
a 14-09
(in) hali writ pe (soth) may rede And þan þe prior asked mare: e-Cotton
1875 how þat þe godspell sais of Crist: »Kan pou oght tell whilk maner of syn:
wha trewli trowes and es baptist, es vsed moste omang man-kyn ?«
to endles blis pai sall be broght, Þe voice þan answerd on þis wise: 1905
and als he sais: 'wha trowes it noght »Pride, Licheri, and Couatise,
pat Crist of Mari toke oure manhede, and Vsuri, þir foure in fere,
1880 þai sal be dampned withouten drede with þair branches many and sere,
and euer baue bale, and neuer blis'«. þai er ful foul both day and night
Þan said pe prior: »(tell me) pis : bifor god and his angels bright. 1910
sen þat þe Sarzins and pe lowes Thre sins þare er if þai be done,
and þe paienes it noght trowes :
for whilk god will tak vengance sone:
1885 wbi god lattes pam dwell so lang Ane es, if man and woman here
in þaire trowth, sen it es wrang, won samyn als pai wedded were
and sen þai will for no resoune and wandes noght þaire will to wirk 1915
trow Cristes incarnacioune ?«
out of þe sacrament of haly kirk,
Þan þe voice said þus him till:
or if both be wedded þat tide
1890 »no questioune es it of goddes will, and ouper do sin on oper side
and þarfor (falles) it noght be to
and brek paire sposaile in þat space -
(to) ask whi god dose so or so
to god þis es a grete trispase. 1920
or thing þat towches his godhede, . . . . . . . . .
bot fande to do his will in dede.
. . . . kindly . . . .
1895 I wate noght whi þam life es lent, sodom . . . Þe sin es cald
bot if it be to his entent
unkindli sin men sall it hald.
þat cristenmen mai on þam fight, Þe thrid sin es ful euyl thing,
19
in trowth forto defend þaire right; þat es manslaghter with mainsueringiam
for batell on þam forto bede
þis greues gretly to god mighty,
1900 may cristen men encrese paire mede, whare it es done wilfully«.
If faith be fulli in þaire fare«.
-
Ms. Vernon.
3340
(Vernon
þou me pat, seppe hit is writen in holy writ ‘Whose pat troweb and is Baptised
schal beo saaf, and whose trouwep hit nouzt schal beo dampned'. To whom
Þe prior seide : »Sephe þat Sarazines ne Iewes ne paynymes troweb nouzt in- þe
Incarnacion of Crist, hou is hit þat god wol leten hem so liuen in heore errour ?«
thing.
And þe gost onswerde and seide: »A, my prior, in godes wille schal beo
no question, and perfore hennes-forbward aske me no more whi God wol do
þis or þat, but studie to folfullen Godes wille! I ne wot neuere forsope whi
God wol suffren hem be pus longe in heore errour, bote zif hit be for pat
cristene men scholde fibte azeynes beom for þe feip, forte encrese pe merit of
Cristus men«. q And þe prior asked him wzuche weore pe sunnes þat ben mest
vsed in þis world. | And þe spirit onswerde and seide: »Vsure, Pruide, and
Lecherie, and Auerice, wij heore spices, beob. abominables to-fore god & his
angeles. Bote pre vices þer Ben ffor wzuche vices God vengep him sone:
of þe wzuche vices on is Matermoyne þat is mad? whon mon and wommon
sungen to-gedere wib-outen pe solempnite of þe sacrement; anoper is a vice
þat is nougt to nempne; Þe pridde is Monslauzt wiþ Ire®.
IL invidia. 2 L matrimonium pollutum. 3 L cum perjurio.
.
y they & Viny
Spar
quy
CI HOC
(cotton)
1970
330
Poems of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
B
2*400
Sone when al þir saus war said, Thre hundreth messes was (for him sone)
1930 Þe woman to be prior prayde
on pe maner bifore said (done).
þat he wald speke pat gaste yntill And þus when þai . . . . .
so bat he did hir namore ill,
pe gaste . . . . . . . .. . 1960
for goddes luf of mightes maste. pus may men h . . . . .
Pe prior pan spak to be gaste:
þat messes er m . . . . . .
1935 »I coniore pe by god allane,
Bot zit þe prior (in þat sesoune)
and bi his halows euerilkane,
vnto pe voice malde pis questioune) :
if pou may, þat þou will sese
he asked if he wist (in ani wise) 1965
and lat þi wife now lif in pese, in wh(at tyme anticrist suld rise) ;
and pursu bir nomare with paine«. to pursu (cristen men) . . . .
1940 And þan pe voice answerd ogayne: De voice . . . . . . . .
„Þat mai I noght do, for no nede, " . . . . . . . . . .
bot sho lif chaste in widowhede, ·····goddes preuete,
and also ger (sing for vs twa)
. . . . . question zow ynto
thre hundreth messes withouten ma; . . . . his will es forto do«.
1945 a hundreth of þe haligast sal be (Þe prior) said: »me think right wele.
or els of þe hali trinite,
(bou) hers oure spekeing ilkadele«.
and a hundreth of oure lady,
Pe voice said : »so I do, sertayne«. 1975
and of Requiem fifty,
And þan þe prior said ogayne: use a
and oper fifti all in-fere
»Þou has eres þan to pi hereing; I
1950 of saint Peter pe apostell dere«. wharfore pou ert a bodily thing comment
Þe woman herd þir wordes wele, and noght gasteli als þou has tald«.
and granted to do ilka dele;
De voice answerd with wordes bald: 1980
sone als sho might sho made hir (boun) »hali writ pus telles vs till:
till all þe abbays of þat toune,
Pe spirit enspires whare so he will,
1955 al prestes and freres gan sho (prai) and his voice well' may pou here,
þat þai sold sing al on a day.
bot pou may noght on no manere
1 Ms. will.
Ms. Vernon.
Atao Penne com Gyes wyf to be forseide prior & seide to him: »For Godes loue
aske of hym hou I may be dilyuered of þis peyne þat he dop to me«. Anon
per-wiþ þe prior seide to hym: »I Coniure þe be God alweldinge, zif þat þow
may leuen, þat þou lete þi wyf ben in pees«. (And þe spirit seide: »Pat do
I not, but þat heo wole liue chast in widewehod and do synge þreo hundred
Masses for hire-self & for me, on pis manere: An hundred of pe trinite or of
Þe holygost, and an hundred of vr ladi Marie, and ffifti of Requiem, and ffifti
of seint Peter þe apostela. And herynge þat stod be-syde heo grauntede; and
anon heo sente to be freres of þat toun and to alle opur prestes, and on 0
day heo dude so mony masses to be songen ... in þe couenaunt bifore-seid: And
afterward heo was not turmented. And be prior asked him zif he wuste wzuch
tyme Antecrist schulde arysen azeyn þe chosene bat ben trewe cristene men.
And þe gost onswerde and seide: »Of þis þinges pat ben onliche godes priuites,
nis no question, ne non certeyn to vs«. | And þenne be prior asked him zif
he herde men speke to hym. q And he spirit onswerde: ze. To whom þe
prior seide: „Þenne hastou Eren, ffor whi Þow art sumping bodiliche«. q And
Þe spirit seide : »Ne seiþ hit not in holy writ: Þe spirit enspirep þat wole, and
.N.
Spir. quy
gan "cter)
A
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
331
yo.
oulon)
2015
2020
1985 wit what place þat he cumes fra,
...... noght cum nere f
ne vnto what place he will ga—
. . . . . . . . vse
Spiritus ubi uult spirat & uocem eius audis: . . . . . . . . .
sed nescis unde ueniat aut quo uadat. . . . . . . . . .
And right als he pir wordes gan say, . . . . . . . . .
1990 (al sodain)li he went oway,
(so) þat þai herd of him nomare. þat had . . . . . . till ende,
(&) al þe tyme pat þai war þare and bisoght him with all hir maine
(it) was till time of euynsang.
vntill þe hows to wend ogayne,
Pe prior þan bad ilk man gang
to loke if þat þai might here mare
1995 (in) þe name of god whare þai wald be; or find oght of þat ferli fare.
(and) bad pam als in ilk cuntre,
De prior pan with wordes hende
(if þai) war asked of þis case,
granted gladly forto wende;
(bat) þai suld sai how þat it wase, he toke of oper orders twa,
.....it es proued in dede; of austines & menures alswa,
2000. . . . . . . . . Þai zede. so þat þai war twenty freres
(Þe prior) þan withowten faile
al samyn with-owten seculeres,
(gaf) Þe woman his counsaile
and al samyn so pai went
(þat sho suld) kepe hir clene and chaste, to Gyes hows with gude entent.
(als scho was) warned with þe gaste; and in þat hows said þai and he
2005 (and als he) bad anoper thing :
Placebo with pe dirige
(þat ilka dai a) preste suld sing
for his saul þat was husband þare,
. . . . . in þat ilk place
and for all saules þat sufferd care.
. . . . . . . . . was.
When all was said in gude degre
(and als he bad, þe) woman did till Requiescant in pace,
2010. . . . . . . . . id
þai herd a voice cum þam biside
.... gude chere
als it did at þat oper tide,
2025
2030
rige
Rio
1951
2035
Vernant
12.
Ms. Vernon.
þou herest his vois, and þou ne wost whennes hit comeþ ne whoder hit gop?'«
And þis þinges hit seide, and vanischt awey, so þat noping afturward was herd
of him. For sobe, þenne was tyme of Euensong.
And þe Prior seyde to alle þat were gedered: »In þe nome of vre lord
Ihesu Crist, go vche mon to his stude. And whonne þat ze ben asked of þis
merueylous caas, siggep al þe auenture of pis þyng as ze witen þat hit is proued«.
And be prior counseylede pat wonmon þat heo scholde kepen clene hyre-self
in chastite al hire lyue, and þat heo scholde vche a day til aster haue a prest
syngynge in pat stude; be whuche þing heo dude. Forsobe, al bat ilke wike
Þe wommon dorste not entren hire hous for drede. But on þe morwen aftur þe
Epiphanye of vr lord þe wydewe wente to be hous of þe Frere prechours for
to speke wiþ þe prior; þe wzuche þing heo dude and ordeinde so þat þei
scholde eft-sones wende to be forseide hous of Gy; and þei tok opur freres
wij hem of þe hous of seynt Austin and of Menours, twenti, wip-oute seculer
men. Þe wzuche freres whon þei weore come to þe foreseide hous of Gy,
ÞE prior begon placebo and dirige in þat ilke maner as he dude biforen wiþ
his wyse breberen. And whon hit com to be tyme þat Requiescant in pace
schulde be seyd, þer com bi-sydes heom a wynd and a soun as of a brom
spir
Guy
to
given
332
Poenis of Ms. Tiber. E VII.
2014-0Q like a besom by þam it went
»tell vs what pain þat þou has here ( Cotron)
2040 þat war swepeand on a pament. fro (purgatori s)en pou es past«.
sum of þe folk þarfore war flaid; Þe voice answerd at þe last: 2070
and sone þe prior ynto it said :
»with flaume of fire I haue grete pain«.
»I coniore be with main & mode And þan þe frere answerd ogayn
in þe vertu of Cristes blode,
and said : »if pou fele fire so hate,
2045 in þis stede þat þou stand still
tell vs what may it best abate,
and answer what we ask be will«. or if ani thing amend pe maya. 2075
Pan þe voice with wordes meke, De voice answerd and said: »nay;
als a man þat had bene seke,
me bus it suffer sertain daies«.
vntill þe prior pus gan say:
And pan pe prior to him sais :
2050 »Whi deres pou me pus ilk day? »Lo how þat I haue gederd here
it es noght lang sen I tald þe
freres and oper folk in fere
2080
all þat þou wald ask of me;
of þi wordes to here witnes
what sold I now say to zow here ?« and of þi meruailes more & les,
And pan answerd anoper frere,
þat we mai al þis case declare
2055 a diuinowre of grete clergi:
bifor þe pape, when we cum þare zmes
he said, »tell here till vs in hi
and þarfore tell vs sum meruaile 2085
wheper þat þou of pain be quit, þat we mai tell with-owten faile«.
or els what pain pou suffres zitt«. Þe voice answerd vnto pir saus:
Þe voice answerd sone onane
»I am noght god, þat wele pou kn[a]wes,
2060 and said : »I loue god al his lane ! and meruailes fals ynto none els
for swilk grace ynto me es graid
bot vnto him and his angels.
2090
thurgh messes þat war for me said and neuer-þe-les þus I zow teche:
þat fro þis time now efterward
bot if ze better be popil preche
fotor am I past fra all paynes hard
þan ze haue done þis time biforn,
2065... · · · · · · · ·
lightly may ze be forlorn;
. . . . . . . . . no mare«. and luke ze speke moste specially 2095 ·
...... said þat frere: ogains þe sin of symony
"Ms. Vernon.
A790 swopynge a pauement. De whuche þing þe prior parceyued and gon to conioure Chart
him in þe vertu of Ihesu Cristes bloode þat he scholde stonde stille in þat stude
and speke to hem. And þenne seide Þe voys as hit weore of a seek mon,
ful heize, seyinge: „Whi greuest þou me pus al day? hit is not long þat I ne
onswerde zow to al zor askynges, ffor-[t]hi? what haue ze more to asken me?«
To whom a frere, a gret diuinour, seide : »Is per zit peyne to þe?« And þe gost
onswerde: »Icham alegged of þe flaume of fuir þorw Masses þat weore songen
for me, so þat fro þis tyme forbward i schal no more comen in comuyn purga-
torie, I-blessed be god almihti«. To whom þe frere seide: »What peyne soffrest
þou here?« And þe spirit onswerde and seide: »flaume of fuir«. To whom
þe frere seide: »Is per no remedie?« Þe spirit seide, no. Þen þe prior seide to
him: »Lo, we beon gederet here þat we may bere witnesse to-fore vre lord þe
pope whon tyme comeb: wherfore sei to vs sum meruaylel« (And þe spirit
onswerde: »I nam not god; I-wis, hit is he þat seip and doþ Meruayles. Bote
not-forþi I sei to zow: bote ze preche betere ben ze han I-don herbifore az eyn
þe vice of Symonie, Vsure, Monslauzt and Spousbruche, gret Swerynge and fals
i Ms. ffor-whi.

Sri
Ibe)
Gag
e guy
3. Spiritus Guydonis.
333
thes and vsure, manslaghter, and maneswering, hali kirk praies noght so fast lortu
- avowtri, and fals witnes bering.
for cristen saules þat heþin er past
bot if þe folk þir sins forsake,
als þai war won, right wele I ken,
2100 I warn yow god will vengance take; ne namore dose none oper men.
2130
bot if he let for þe praiere
þarfore I rede pai mend þam sone,
of milde Mari, his moder dere,
or any euill to þam be donea.
and of pe halows euerilkane,
When he had tald þir tales pam till,
els suld vengance sone be tane
he said nomare, bot held him still.
2105 ful mani tymes omang man-kin
And for pai herd of him nomare, : 2135
when þai vse swilk outrage sin;
al þe men þat þan war þare Krk
and ze sall suffer pe same paine, went, and tald þir tales ilkone :2052
bot if ze preche fast þare-ogaine. playnly vnto þe pape Iohn
for now es sin vsed wele mare
pe twa and twentide, I vnderstand,
2110 þan any werkes of goddes lare-
for he was nere in pe same land. 2140
þat sall þai sumtime ful sare rew!« hereof was meruaild mani a man.
Pan asked Þe prior if he knew
and at þe pase next efter þan
how many papes suld (be of Rome) pat same pape sent men of his
al fro þat time till þe dai of dome forto seke pe soth of þis.
2115 þat asked he for men suld knaw and als he bad þai did in dede; 2145
when he werld nere till end suld draw. and be prior with þam zede.
Þe voice said: »I can tell no thing Þe hows of Gy oft-sipes Þ(ai soght),
what sall bitide in time cumyng; bot of pe gaste ne herd pai (noght);
þarfor þou may noght wit of me and þarby might men (wit ful euyn)
2120 how many papes of Rome sal be,
þat he was hent vp vn(til heuyn), 2150
ne meruailes of me wit ze nane.
whare conforth es with . . . .
and þarfore I kownsail zow ilkane,
als himself had said . . ..
whare so ze will wend forth zowre way.
Vntill þat con(forth . . .
bot prayes for me more, if ze may,
. .
2125 and for all saules þat suffers pain;
thurgh praiers of . . . . . .
for þis I say zow for sertayne :
Explicit tractatus (de quodam spiritu). 2155
1290 Ms. Vernon.
Vernong
witnesse beryng, þe world schal sone perissche, and ze schul perissche wip hit.
Pis þing forsope: neore þe preyeres of pe blessede virgine Marie and þe merit
of halewen, God wolde take wikked vengeaunce of hem þat wonep in eorþe; ...!
but spousbruche and monslauzt and opes sweryng and alle wikkede dedes pat
folk mowe þenkena. Þenne pe prior asked him hou mony popes scholden be
bifore þe endynge of þe world. And be gost onswerde & seide: »God knowe”
þinges þat beħ to comen, and I ne con telle no-þing oper þen is told to me;
and perfore I ne con not telle zou þe sope of þis question. Gop zor weyes,
and preyeþ for me and for hem þat dwellen in purgatorie! Forsobe, holichirche
lokep euele to hem nou, and pe Religioun preyep nou lasse for be dede ben
Þei weore wont to do. Amendep ow, þat ze perissche nouzt«. And þis he
seide, and heold him stille. — Ai þeos þinges weore proued bifore pope Ion XX
and two. And in þe day of Ester þat next com, pe pope sent þidere, and fond
nouzt pe fore-seide spirit; ffor whi Men trouweb wel þat he is nou in heuene. :
To wluche heuene bring vs Godes sone, þat liuep and regnep wiþ þe Fader
and wiþ þe holy gost. Amen.
i Ms. Vesp. A VI: non enim est veritas nec sciencia dicitur in terra, sed adulterium &c.
( 1390
g qui
Noun)
A
me. Thorton: Will. Massynet hele no. 432A,
Barat
sattoo Relin. G. Thornton (1974)
ñ fotelisions peces Thorntonio ho #432
334 Ms. Thornton: Will. Kassyngtou De Trinitate et Unitate &c. Jako
anoles to brel. ed., shelf no. 43RA, pp. 6ğun5
Appendix: WNlian) Nassyngton's Tractatus de Trinitate et
Vnitate &c.,
from Ms. Thornton, fol. 189 (ed. Perry Rel. Pieces p. 60).
Incipit tractatus Willelmi Nassyngtoñ, quondam aduocati curie Eboraci, de
Trinitate & Vnitate, cum declaracione operum Dei, & de passione Domini nostri
Ihesu Christi, &c.
fol. 189.
A, Lorde god of myghtis maste, Heuene þou made, whare pou duelles,
Fadere and Sone and Haly Gaste; For oure Endles woñny[n]ge with angells; 40
Fader, for þou erti almyghtty,
And þe werlde, owre suget here to be,
Sone, for thow ert all-wytty,
To serue vs þat we þare-In serue pe.
5 Haly Gaste, for thow all wyll
The firmament pou made mouande,
That gude is, and na thynge yll; To noresche all thyng pare-vmdire lyf-
A Gode and ane lorde yn thre-hede,
ande,
Ande thre persons yn ane-hede,
And the sonne, to schede pe day fra 45
Thus was thow aye and euere sall be, Þe nyght,
10 Thre yn ane, ande ane yn thre;
& þe mone & pe sternes, to tak paire
And begynnynge ande end of all thatt is lyghte
Ande pat euere was, bathe mare & lesse; Of þe sonne, for to schyne one nyghte
Begynnynge with-outene begynnynge, clere,
Ande ende with-outene endynge ; In takynyng þat we sall reschaife here
15 Thatt be-for any thynge wer wroghtte, The lighte of grace þat gastely gifte es,
Or any begynnynge was, or oghtte, Of þe, þat. es soñe of ryghtwisnes. 50
Ande befor all tymes gode was thow, The mone lyghte thow made to waxe
& allmyghtty, & wysse, as pou ert now; & wane,
Thy myght & thy witt of thy-selfe whas Als semes, pat Ensample per-by es tane
tane,
Of owre lyfe þat passes here soñe,
· 20 For neuer god was bo[t] pou ane; & waxes & wanes als lyghte of þe Moñe.
And alls bou was gode ay suthefaste, The sternes pou made on pe sky stand- 55
Swa sall þi godhede euer-mare laste;
ande,
And alls þou begañ all þat euer was, & the planettes in þeire course passande,
Swa sall pou ende all þat sall passe. For Ensaumple til vs, to knawe & se
25 Louede and blyssede ay mote pou be; How we sulde liffe here in ilke a degre.
And with all my herte I thanke the The foure Elementes pou mad sere
Of all þat þou has done and wroghte, To sustayne oure bodyly kynde here; 60
Fra þe firste tyme þat þou began oghte, And all oper creatoures, als was thi will,
For me and for all man-kynde;
In sere kyndes pou made for certayne skyll.
30 Whare-fore vs aghte ay haue be in mynde 'Of wilke some are noyeand till vs kyndly,
And loue the; for þou has done to mane And some are profytable and Esye;
Als I here thurgk þi grace reherse cane. And all are they for owre profet wroghte, 65
Fyrste, heuene & erth for man pou made, Bathe they þat noyes, & þat noyes noghte.
& all þis werlde here wyd & brade, The noyeand þou made vs for to chasty,
35 And al thyng þat es þer-in;
And to clense vs here of owre foly,
For with-owttene the es noghte bot synn, And to make ys to knawe & se
The wilke was neuer thurgh the wroghte, How febill & how frele are we; 70
þerfor in haly writt es synne called »noghter. Cf. S. Edmund's Speculum.

1
: Tranh
Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c.
335
The vnnoyeand, to sustayne vs & fede,
& to helpe vs & ese vs in owre nede.
Thy creatours are ay-whare in sere stede,
Of whilke some are qwyke & some are
dede;
75 For some semes noghte bot als dede
thynges,
Als stanes pat has noghte bot beynge;
Some, als gryse & treez pat mene sese
sprynge,
Has beyng & lifynge, bot na felynge;
Some, als bestes þat crepis & rynnys,
.80 & als foghles with fethirs, & fiscħe with
fynnes,
Hase batħe beyng, lyffynge, & felynge,
Bot na witte nė skyll of demyng ;
Some, als mene & angells, has thurghe the
& thurghe și myghte, beyng & lifynge
fre,
85 And feling bath of gude and ill,
And discrecyone of witte and skylle.
Thus has man beyng, als men sese,
With stanes, & lyfe with grysse & treez,
And felynge with bestez, of sere kynde,
90 And with angells skill & mynde.
Thus walde pou, are pou oghte be-gane,
Þat somwhat of ylke creatoure hade mane.
Mane thow made maste dynge creatoure,
& maste semly of schape & of stature,
95 Of all oper creatours mare or lesse;
For þou mad hym aftire thyne owene
liknesse,
And gafe. hym lordechipe & powere
Abowene all oper ynskillwise creatures
sere;
And to rewle hym with witte & skyll,
100 And for to knawe bathe gud & ill.
Whare-fore gret lufe to man pou kide,
When pou this fore man ordaynede &
dide;
It semes Þou hade gret lufe tyll man,
Be-fore are pou oghte begane.
105 Lorde, I am man for whaym pou dide thus,
And þat man es ilke man & womane of vs.
And als wele all þis Þou did for me
Als for ilk man or womane þat are
made thurghe the:
And for-thy þat I am þat man
For whayme pou al thyng be-gane, . IIO
I awe thurghe ryghte the to lufe ay,
And to loue the bathe nyghte & daye,
And to wirchipe the with saule & body,
Righte als þou had done all (for mej' anely.
Lord gode almyghtty, zit thanke I the, 115
That mekill mare walde doo for me
And for all? man-kynd for thy gudnes
And thy mercy þat till vs ay redy es:
That fra heuene til erthe downe walde
com,
To brynge vs here owt of thraledome 120
And of pe fendis dawngere, that we
ware In
Thurghe oure foremaste fadire syne.
Lorde, mekyll pou mekede the for owre
sake,
Pat come fra so heghe, oure kynde to
take;
And vouchede-safe swa lawe to lighte 125
Pat.swa heghe a lorde es of grett myghte.
Bot lufe the made of vs mercy to haue
Þat fra the was tynt, vs for to saue
Thurghe processe of lyfe þat þou walde
lede
In erthe in oure kynde of manhede. 130
Firste pou lyghtede in a maydene chayste,
Pat conceyuede the of þe Haly Gaste,
And of hir body þat was ay wemlesse
Thow tuke fesche & blude & oure lyk-
nesse
And oure kynde here, & of nan ober, 135
And be-come mane for Vs, and oure
brothire;
And for
hade
ai
I
Walde be borne of hir, & calde Ihesus.
For Ihesus es als mekill for to saye
Alls »hele« or »helere«, þat all hele maye. 140
Thow come to hele vs þat ware lorne.
Bot in na reall place pou was borne,
Nowthire in palays, castell, ne toure,
Ne in none othir stede of honoure,
Bot in a lawe hows; and laid bou was 145
In a crybe be-fore an Oxe & an Asse.
Thow wald nowthir in purpure ne byse
Tom. 2 Ms. all for.
oranola
3.36
Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c.
Be lappede, ne in nane oper clothes of
pryce,
Bot in vile clowttes for to couer thi body:
150 For we sulde take ensample per-by
To lufe mekenes & gastely pouerte,
And fra reches & pompes with-draw
oure herte.
One Þe aughtene day of thi byrthe here,
That pe firste day es of be newe zere,
155 Circumsysede in body walde pou be,
Alls þe law was þane in sere contre,
In saffynge of þe lawe and in full-
fillynge,
& In Ensampill till vs & in takenynge
That als pou was Circumsisede in body,
160 Swa sulde we circumsise vs here gastely,
That es, we sulde schere fra vs awaye
All þat til luste & lykyng styre vs maye.
One the twelfte day pou was vesete
with kynges
And wirchipede with thre precyous
thynges,
165 That es at say, with golde & Ensence
And myre, þat þey offerde in þi pre-
sence.
Be be golde may vndirstand[en] be
That pou arte kynge of maste pouste;
The Ensence, þat þe was Offerde nexte,
170 Be-takyñs pat pou art souerayngne priste;
The myre, pat kepis all thynge fra ro-
tynge,
Be-takyns thy dede & þi beryenge.
The thritty zere of pe Elde of þe
Of sayn Iohñ wald þou bapteste be
175 In þe fome Iordane specyally,
For to gyfe vs Ensample ther-by
That all sulde be, þat till heuene suld
passe,
Baptizede in watyr als bou was.
Bot for na cause of syne in the hyde
180 Was pou baptizede, þat neuer syne dide,
For In the neuer was fundene gyle,
Ne nathynge pat any saule myght fyle;
Bot for to lere vs howe we sulde begyne
To wesche vs of þe Origenall syne,
185 And for to mak vertue in all watirs to be
For to get vs agayne with grace to be fre.
Sythene whene þou had fasted þourghe
myghte
Fourty dayes & fourty nyghte,
Thow sufferd thi-selfe temped to be
Of þe deuell, þat þare-to had leue of 190
the;
To lere vs to wrestyll & stand styfly
Agayne þe fandyng of þat Enmy.
Thow lett the of Iudas traytour balde
For thritty penys to pe Iewes be saulde,
Thow lette the alls thefe be tane bodyly 195
Of Þe Iewes þat till Þe hade Envye;
The wilke till Anna house the ledde,
And than all thi discypills fra þe flede.
Till the was done thare at pe be-gynnynge
Many-fawlde dispyte & hethynge: 200
Firste þey spittede appone þe thare
And gafe be many bufettes sare; -
And thyne eghne with a clathe pey hide
And smate Þe & askede wha it dide.
Sithene þey dide pe mare hethynge: 205
They lede pe to Herodes hows þe
kynge,
That helde pe a fule as hyme thoghte,
For Þou till his speche ansuerde noghte;
He did clethe þe in whitte garment,
And til Pilate agayne he pe sente. 210
Eftirwarde pou was skowreghide sare
In Pilatez, hows, nakynde bare,
That thi hide was all to-reuene thane,
And be blude one ylke a syde downe
ranne.
The knyghtes aftire þat skourgegynge 215
Abowte pe lappede a mantill in he-
thynge,
That with pe blude till thi body cleuede;
Sythene drew pay it ofe, & þat þe
greuede,
And racede of all þe skyne þat tyde,
For till þat clethynge cleued faste þi 220
hyde.
And whene þey had done Þe þis payne,
They clede Þe in þi awene clothyng
agayne ;
And thryste þane appone þi heuede thare
A crowne of thornnes þat prykkedé þe
sare,
Translate
Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c.
337
225 Of wilke þe prykkes ware swa scharpe
þane
That bey percede nere thurghe þi herne-
panne;
They gafe þe a rede in thi hande
In stede of a ceptire, the skornande,
And knelide be-fore be in hethynge,
30 And said till þe, »baile, Iewes kynge«.
Sythene was boue demede at þe Iewes
voyce
Thurghe Pilate, to be hynged one be
croyce,
The wilke pou bare to-warde Þe stede
Whare bou was ordeynede to be done
: to dede.
35 Sithene was pou straynede one be crosse
so faste
Thurghe pe Iewes, þat þi vaynes &
synows al to-brast,
And naylede per-one thurghe hand &
fute,
For hele of my saule & for my bute.
And whene þey had naylide þe one be
crosse swa,
40 They did pe aftire strange payne & wa:
For they reysede pe crosse with pi body,
And fychede it in a tre-mortasse vyo-
lenttly,
In wilke þe crosse swilke a Iage tuke
Pat pi body thurghe weghte al to-schoke;
45 Than rane thy wondes thurghe fute &
hande,
And ware sene full wyde gapannde,
And pe Ioynetes of ilk lym & bane,
And þe vaynes ware strydand ilkane.
Sithene þou said, hyngande one pe rude-
tree,
50 The threstede; & pane pe Iewes bed the
A full bittire drynke þat was wroghte
Of aysell & gall, þat þe lykede noghte;
Neuer-þe-lattere to taste it þou was
bowne, .
Bot pou walde noghte swelowe it downe;
55 For þat thriste was noghte ells þane
Bot a zernynge aftyre pe sawle of mane.
Thow suffirde many repreues pat tyde,
Bathe of? Þe thefe þat hange one bi
lefte sy.de,
And of othire maysters of þe Iewry,
That mekill schame be dide & velany. 260
At noune of þe daye pou cried »Hely«,
& zeldide Þi gaste to þi fadir Almyghty.
Thus pou diede to make vs free
Fra þe grett thraldome in whilke ware
we.
Bot mekill payne & mekill reprefe 265
Þou tholed be-fore pi dede fore oure
lufe:
And noghte for to bye vs agayne anely,
For why þi dede moghte suffice vs all
to bye,
But for we sulde pare-by Ensampill take
To be pacyente in angers for þi sake, 270
And for the to thole all þat harde es,
Alls pou tholede for vs thurgħe pi gudnes;
Ells thurte pe hafe tholede nane oper
payne
Bot be dede anely, for to bye vs agayne.
Sythene was pou smetyne in þi reghte 275
syde
With a spere þat till þi herte gune glide,
Fra whilke owt rane to oure saluacyone
The precyous blode of owre raunsoñe,
With pe water of baptyme clere & thyne,
For to wesche vs here of pe Oregynall 280
synne.
Lorde, for þire bitter paynes & fell,
With othire, ma þan? I kane tell,
That pou swa mekill suffire walde -
For me synfull, þi traytoure baulde,
I thanke þe here Inwardly
285
With all my herte and my body.
A, Ihesu Crist, Lorde full of myghte,
Whene I thynke outhire day or nyghte
Of swa mekill kyndnes of þe,
And of þe paynes þat þou tholide for me, 290
And of myne ynkyndnesse many-fawlde,
& how I to wrethe pe ay hafe bene
bawlde,
Of myne hard herte pan es gret wondire
Pat it for sorowe bristez, noghte In-
sundyre.
1 Ms. one. 2 Ms. þat.
22
Transfer
338
Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c.
295 Bot flescly herte in me semes nane,
For my herte es hard als it ware stane.
A, Ihesu, I grante to be my trespas,
And knawes þat I am wers þane Iudas
was
That the bytrayede als traytoure balde
300 & til þe Iewes for thritty penys sawlde:
For I, synfull wreche, has ofte sawlde the
For a littill worldly vanyte
And for a littill fleschely delyte;
Whare-for I am mare pan Iudas to wyte.
305 I halde me zitt werse & mare wode
Pan þe Iewes ware þat did þe one þe
rude:
For why, þay dide pe bot anes þat dede,
& pey knewe be noghte gode in man-
hede,
And I, þat wate & knawes righte
310 Þat pou arte gode ay full of myghte,
Thurghe myne awene malece, as I ware
wode,
Full ofte-sythes hafe I done be one pe
rude;
For als ofte als. I hafe done dedly syne
And thurghe malece wetandly fallyne
there-Ine,
315 Alls ofte hafe I done þe one Þe rude,
In þat þat in me was, and schede þi
blude.
Lorde, all-if I hafe done swilke foly,
Putt me noghte awaye fra þi mercy,
Bot graunte me grace þat may me wysse
320 To amende me of þat I hafe doñe mysse;
Sen þat þou saide pi-selfe pou will
noghte
The dede of synfull þat pou has boghte,
Bot þat he turne hyme to doo þi will,
And lyfe, for pou will na man spyll,
325 Lorde, swylke grace pou me gyffe
Þat I may turne me to be and lyffe!
A, Lorde Ibesu Criste, zit thanke I the
Pat all þis & mare hase done for me
And for saluacyone of mankynde
330 For whayme pou was swa bitterly pynede
And sufferde dede, als I befor saide,
And lett þi body be in sepulcre layde:
Thow Zernede sa mekill agayne to wyne
All pas þat þou hade loste for syne, .
That whene pow was dede & zeldede 335
Þe gaste,
Als tyte till hell þou gun þe haste,
In saule & godhede, als was þi will,
Thy body whils in þe sepulcre lay styll;
Till pou at hell come pou walde noghte
stynte
& ware sesede of pas þat þou hade tynte. 340
Thow spoylede hell whene pou come
þare,
And tuke owt with pe all þat thyne
ware.
Bot pou lefte pas pare þat walde noghte
trowe
In þi lawe, ne in pi biddynge bewe.
Sythene when pou come fra þat stede, 345
At þe thred day aftyre și dede
To vpe-ryse fra dede pou vouchede-safe,
To eke pe trow[t]he þat we here hafe,
And schewede the bodily in thi man-
hede,
To conferme pe trowthe for oure mede. 350
Whare-fore þi bodily vp-ryssynge
Till vs Ensample es and takynny[n]ge
That we sall ryse all genereally
At pe day of dome in saule & bodye;
Thane sall all þat are fundyne reghte- 355
wisse
Thurghe thyne vprysynge to blysse ryse.;
Bot þay þat lyffes ill vn-to þeire Endynge,
Gettes na parte of thyne vpe-rysynge,
Bot pay sall ryse with dule þat day
Till þe fire of hell þat lastes aye. 360
Zitt thi rysynge forbysene till vs es
[Þat als þou) rase fra dede til blyse End-
lesse,
Swa sulde we, þat til blysse wyll wyne,
Gastely ryse fra dedely syne.
Eftire þi rysesynge, als pe buke sais, 365
Pou duellede in erthe zitt fourtty dayes,
And at þe fourtty day Þou stey vp righte
Til þi fadire in till heuene bryghte,
To teche vs pe way þat we sall wende
Til þe gret blysse þat has nan Ende; 370
And sittis þare one pi Fadire reghte hande
Ms. For all þat.
Transit
Ms. Thornton: Will. Nassyngton De Trinitate et Unitate &c.
339
Als god & Lorde alweldande,
That es to saye, in godhede euene
With thi Fadir & owrs in heuene.
75 The tendaye aftire þat þou vp wente,
At vndrone þe Haly gaste downe pou
sente
Till thyne appostills, als bou þeme
hyghte,
Þat þeire hertes comforthede & made
þeme lyghte
Thurghe whame lyghtenede & leride
ware we.
30 Of all pis, Lorde, I thanke þe.
A, Lorde Ihesu, at þe dredfull daye of
doñe,
When pou sall fra heuene come
With thyne angells bryghte & clere
And apostells & oper halowes sere,
35 In þe same fourme of man & lyknesse
In wilke pou was demyde here giltlesse,.
To deme gud & ill of ilke lande,
Schewande þi wondes al bledande
That bou walde thole for synfull mane-
30 What sall I say, or what sall I do pane?
Whene all oure werkes þat euer we
dyde,
Sall þane be schewede & nathyng hide,
Of whilke we sall zelde acownte straitly,
And be demyde aftire we are worthi?
15 And I than with me na gud sall brynge
Be-fore sa heghe domesmane & kynge,
Bot synnez, þat are swa many-faulde
That þey may noghte by tonge be
tawlde?
Certes, I am parefore full dredand,
90 My herte for dred aghte to be full
tremblande,
Whene discussione sall be of all dedis,
And þi wrethe sall be maste, þat all
mene dredis.
Certes, I ne wate whate I may say pane,
Bot alls Dauid did, þe haly mane:
»Do pou, Lorde, with Þi seruande, 405
Eftyre þi mercy, pat es ay sauande
And in till dome come pou noghte
With Þi seruande þat þou has boghte;
For I hafe hade grete drede in thoghte
Of bi domes, & pat drede leffe I noghte«. 410
For þou, Lorde, arte reghtewysse domes-
mane,
That all thyng reghtewissly dem kane
And thi reghtwysse dome & reghtwyssnes
Demes synfull mene to payne Endlese
That of þeyre wikkidnesse will noghte 415
blyne
And þi mercy here may nott wyne.
For sekere of mercy nane getes he,
In his life bot he turne hym till þe;
And nane may þat daye be saffe,
Bot he þi mercy In þis lyfe hafe, 420
Of whilke pou erte large & leberall
To grante it bathe grete & smalle
That mercy askes & folowes pare-to,
And dos þare-fore pat þeme falles to
doo.
Whare-fore, Lorde, sene bou arte ay redy 425
To graunte till ilke a mane bi mercy
That sekes par-to whils pay here lyffe,
Swilke grace in his lyfe pou me gyffe
To turne me & to file syne,
Þat I may here þi mercy wyne', 430
Thurghe whilke I may at pe dredfull day
Be led to be blyse þat sall last ay.
Amen.
(Then follow the poems ed. in I p. 363).
1 Ms. wyne Amene,
22*
a
N
.
a 1898 in offer. Wr.
61390 Forum Cornel Core
Ko
to,
TV
19
Pieces of Ms. Vernon.
Among the contents of Ms. Vernon, written 1380—90, the great collection of
Old Engl. verse and prose, are many pieces of northern origin, but all transcri-
bed into a southern (Somerset) dialect; so R. Rolle's Prick of conscience, Form of
living, the epistle Pe commandment &c. (I p. 61), and several of his minor pieces?;
William Nassyngton's Mirror of life; Walter Hilton's Scale of perfection, Of mixed
life (ed. I p. 264), his translation of Bonaventura's Stimulus amoris, Exposition
of the Psalms Qui habitat, and Bonum est confiteri; besides the northern Homilies
in an augmented edition. The treatises of W. Hilton will be given with the
works of that author. I here give those of the pieces which have not yet been
published and seem to be of northern origin.
1. (Forma confitendi).
This piece is perhaps by R. Rolle, who is the author of a Latin tract De modo
confitendi. Similar pieces, often greatly enlarged, are frequent in Mss., so in
Laud 210; Harl. 1706 and Hh I. 12 contain a form ascribed to St. Brendan.
fol. 366.
þat techeb mon to sauacion,
how þat mon schal schriuen hiri here
To techen him wel þe Maneere. .
I knowleche me gulti and zelde? me to God Almibti, and to his blessed Moder
seynte Marie, and to al þe holy cumpanye of heuene, and to pe mi gostliche
fader here in godes stude, of alle pe sunnes þat ich haue greuousliche sunged
Inne, ffrom þe tyme þat I was bore in to þis day, as in word, in werk, in wille,
in pouzt, in speche, in delytyng, in concentyng, and in dede-doing.
Furst and foreward, I knowleche me gulti in þe seuene dedly synnes; principa-
liche in Pruide, [&] in alle pe circumstaunces of pruide: In veyn glorie, holdynge me
betere þen I am, in clopinge, in spekynge, in strong beoinge, in feynynge, in
Connynge; in pruyde of herte and of bodi, in vuel berynge to god & to myn
euencristne, inobedient to god & to holychirche; in alle Þe spices þat suwen pruide
I knowleche me gulti, and beo-seche God of Merci.
In Envye I knowleche me gulti: Regoiesyng ofte-tyme of myn euencristene
harmes, serwyng of heore gode dedes doyng; also in Bakbyting hem, also in heryng
schrewede wordes of myn euencristne, raþer makyng hem more þen lasse in as
I Of the lyric pieces of Ms. Vernon, ed. in Minor poems of Ms. Vernon, EETS., several are
either by R. Rolle or imitations or variations of poems of his. 2 Laud : I kn. & zelde me g.
بھاسم طلسمنههقه
Forma confitendi.
341 .
muche as in me is; in alle þe spices þat touchen envye I knowleche me gulti,
and crie God Merci.
IN Wrathe I zelde me gulti: Ofte-tyme beryng wrathe in myn herte azeyn
myn euencristne, and haue maad vnsaugt disyring for to beo venged on hem; in
hatyng hem, in scorning hem, in striuyng azeyn hem, hauyng dedeyn of hem, in
lauhwhyng hem to scorn, in wrappe beryng in myn herte azeynus him operweys
þen I scholde; and in alle pe spices of wraythe I knowleche me gulti, and crie
God Merci.
Also i crie god merci of Sloupe in Godes seruise: Not heryng hit deuoutliche
as I scholde do?, not hauynge delyt in godes seruise in Matyns, in Masse, in pre-
chinge of godes word, but proudliche entryng in to godes hous; in slepyng, in
slomeryng, not risyng to here masse and Mateyns whon I wel mixt, as I weore
holden to do; in such sleupe and in alle pe spices of sleupe I knowleche me
gulti, and crie god Merci.
Also I crie god Merci þat I haue sunged in Couetise: Coueyting to haue
worldly goodes, not holde me payed of pe stat þat god haþ sent me, but desyred
for to beo at beter astat, at more worschupe of þe world; in deseyt' and dissey-
uyng of myn euencristen, in forswering, not paynge my dettes þat I ouzte to
paye, ne helpe him þat haþ nede”; and in alle pe spices of couetise I knowleche
me gulti, [&]: Crize God Merci.
Also I crie God Merci þat I haue sunged in Glotonie: Ofte-tyme eten and
drunken out of tyme, haue lykynge in dilicious metes and drinkes, and eten and
dronken' more pen I schulde, and also eten and drunken ofte whon I hedde.no
wille þerto; and in alle be spices of Glotonye I knowleche me gulti, and crie
god Merci.
Also I crie God Merci þat I haue sunged in Lecherie: In lechours * pouztes,
disyryng wimmen, in chirche, in chepyng, ofte whon I seo feire wimmen be-
holden hem disyringe for to haue dalyaunce wip hem, in cluppyng, in cussyng,
in vnclene touching; ofte-tyme stured to þe foule synne, and in þouztes and
ymaginacions of lecherie, and penke ofte-tyme of Þe membre of mon and
wommon, and what lykynge hit is to haue' dalyaunce wiþ hem; and ofte-tyine
concentyng to þat foule synne, þat neore bit more for sclaundre of þe world
pen for drede of god ... I crie God Merci in polucions of niht or tymes slepyng
or wakyng diuersliche, not wel con telle wher hit come of eny fore-bougt of
Mon or wommon, or of eny sorfet of mete or drinke. And of alle suche vnclene
þouztes and ymaginacions of lecherie I crie God Merci in circumstaunces and
spices þat toucheh lecherie; and to“ seuen dedly synnes I knowleche me gulti
and biseche god Mer(ci).
Þe ten Comaundemens.
Also I knowleche me gulti in brekyng of [be] Ten Comandemens: Not worschup-
ed on God of whom al goodnesse comeþ wiþ al myn herte, wiþ al my pouzt and
deede. I crie God Merci and of forziuenesse.
i Not-do repeated in Ms. 2 not-nedi transp. in Ms. after gulti. 3 Ms. I. 4 r. lecherous.
5 r. In bo.
+340 m
.
duha
.
tflex. ton
C1390
Fram
342
Pieces of Ms. Vernon.
: Also I crie God Merci þat I haue taken his blessed nome in Idelnesse zeorne
and ofte, and also I-swore bi his herte and his blood and bi alle his membres,
as wel fals as trewe, bope in soburnesse and in hastite. I criz.
Also I crize God Merci þat I haue not holden myn haly-dayes as I scholde
do, in goinge to Churche to here Masse and Matynes; I preye god of forziuenes
þat on pe sonenday and oper haly-dayes I go raper to tauerne and ale-hous,
fihtyng and bakbityng myn euencristne, raper speking bi hem euel þen good.
I criz, g. Mer.
Also I crize God Merci þat I haue not worschupet Fader & Mooder as I
schulde do, wiß goode preyers & almusdedes not biddyng for hem as I schulde
do. I crie God Merci?.
Also I crie God Merci þat I haue coueyted feire wimmen whon I seo hem,
disyring hem for to haue beom and for to sunge wij hem, azeynes godes comaun-
demens, þat? god comaundeþ þat þat I schal do no folye bi no wommon. I cri
g. Mer.
Also I crie God Merci of þefbe, takyng ober þinges þen myn oune azeyn
þe, wille of him þat owep hit. I Crie God Merci.
Also I crie God Merci of ffals witnesse beryng, sleing myn euencristne wib
bacbyting, seying behynden hem worse pen I wolde biforen hem. I cri g. Mer.
Also I crie god Merci þat I haue I-sunged in couetyse of þe world, ofte-
tyme coueyted for to beo at betere astate pen I am, and coueyted worldly
richesse; and zif I seo my neihgebor haue eny þing þat I haue not, desyring
for to haue hit; and zif he haue a feir wyf or a seruaunt, desyring hem, doing
azeyn þe comaundement of god: ffor whi: he seip in þe gospel ‘Coueyte not þi
neihzebores wyf ne nout þat his is'. Of þe whuche I Crize God Merci.
VII dedes of Merci.
Also I crie God Merci þat I haue not folfuld þe seuen deedes of Merci: Not
visyted hem þat ben in prison, not fed hem þat ben hongri, not ziuen drinke to
þe þhursti, not cloped þe naked, not visyted hem þat ben bedreden; nouper
wiſ peny ne wiþ half peny. I crie god Merci, doinge azeyn þe wordes of þe
gospel wher God rehersep þat þat ze doþ to pe leste of mine, ze do to me'.
Þe fyue wittes.
Also I crie God Merci þat I haue euel dispendet my fyue wittes : what wiß
ezen sezen, wiþ ffeet i-gon, wiþ honden hondlet, wiþ Neose smulled, wip Eren
herd, wiþ mouþ spoken, wiþ herte I-þouzt, wiþ al my bodi mis-wrouzt. Of þeos
defautes, and of alle opure þat I haue mad azeyn god, and myn euencristne, I crie
god Merci, and his dere Moder seynte Marie, and al þe cumpanye of heuene,
and þe, my gostliche fader in godes stude, bat ze be my witnesse at þe day of
dome, seoinge my sunnes and my defautes holdynge hem stille and not schewyng
hem, but be loye of hem and of me sungere, as god seip in þe gospel þat Ioye
i So far Ms. Simeon; the following leaf torn out.
2 r. for?
a 1990 inflas.-Wa*
A catechism.
· 343
ake what "Whon loh my wille is my be-le
schal be to godes angeles vppon a sungere penaunce doing. He hit graunte þat
liueþ and regnep God amen. –
Þe X comaundemens.
»How mony Comaundemens beþ þer ?« Ten. „Whuche Ten ?« God Comaundep
me to loue him wiß al myn herte, wiþ al myn soule, wiþ al my pouzt, wiþ al
my strengbe. Also he biddep me to take pouzt his nome in veyn. He biddep
me halewe myn hali-day. He biddep me worschupe my Fader and my Moder.
I He biddep me þat I sle no mon. q Ne þat I do no lecherie. ( Ne pat I
stele not. Ne bere no fals witnesse. Ne pat I coueyte pe hous of [m]yl neihge-
bore. q Ne his wyf, (Ne his seruaunt, q Ne his Oxe, q Ne his Asse, ne
alle pinges pe whuche ben of him. 4 »Whon louest pou god wiþ al Þin herte ?«
Whon I queme him wiþ al pe vnderstondynge of my be-leeue. »Whon louest
pou god wiþ al þi soule? Whon al my wille is I-set to loue þat he louep, and
to hate bat he hatep. »Whon louest pou god of pi pouzt?« Whon I wip al
my muynde þenke what is his plesaunce. { »Whon louest pou god wiþ al pi
strengþe?« Whon myn vnderstondyng and my wille and my muynde are wel set
o werk doinge pe wille of my god. 1 »Whon takest pou þe nome of god in
veyn ?« Whon I nempne God or eny creature porw Idel speche or costumable
sweryng. [ „Whon halewes pou not Þin haly-day?« Whon I benke not bisyliche
in pe haly-day of my sunnes, doing not þe werk of Merci to my neodi neihze-
bors. 1 »Whon vnworschupestou þi Fader and þi Moder?« Whon I wilfuliche
greue hem, or leue to helpen hem or to counseyle hem, or, zif þei ben dede,
zif I preye not for hem bisyliche in clannesse of lyf. For preyeres of wilful
synners are abhominable bi-fore god. f »Whon slest þou eny mon?« Whon I
smite eny mon or hurte him wherþorw he dye, or wrongfoliche reue him his
lyflode, or his gode name.. | »Whon dest pou lecherye?« Whon I of my wilful
lust misvse, or coueyte to misvse, my kuyndely limes of gendrure. »Whon
stelest .bou þi neihzebores godus ?« Whon I eny þing take of? his vnwitynge of
him azeynes his wille. I „Whon berest pou fals witnesse?« Whon I porw malyce
or drede or fauour or mede sei operwyse of myn neizhebore pen I knowe pat
is trewe, or wolde bat he seide of me. 1 »Whon coueytest pou þi neihgebores
hous ?« Whon I coueyte vn-mouable þing of his wrongfoly be wzuche is neces-
sarie to him. »Whon coueytest þou his wyf?« Whon I porw cluppyng or
cussyng or eny zifte zeuyng or bi-hotyng am aboute to turne pe loue of my
neihgebores wyf from him to me. q »Whon (coueytest]: þou þi neihgebors seruaunt?«
Whon I knowe þat pe seruaunt of myn neihzebor is nedful to him and I tyse
him porw word or zifte, I coueyte him wibi wrong. 1 »Whon coueytest pou bis
Oxe or his Asse?« Whon I coueyte eny mouable ping from myn neihgebore
operwyse þen I wolde he dude from me. And sipen alle pe comaundemens
of God stonden in trewe obedience to him: he þat offendep in on, is maad
þorw his vn-obedience gulti of alle, as seip seint lame; and hose þat wilfuliche
brekep pe comaundement of god, he deseruep his cors, ete he drinke he, wake
he slepe he, in hous and out of hous, in toun and out of toun, as godes lawe seip.
, or leave theme bisylicke in elaq»
S
1 Ms. þy.
2 omit of?
3 Ms. knowest.
+390 in ths. Wr. Il
mm
344
Pieces of Ms. Vernon.
»Wžuche are pe seuene dedli synnes?« – Pruide, Envye, Ire, Sloupe,
Couetyse, Lecherie, Glotonye.
„Whon is a Mon proud?« Whon he wol not ben knowen such as he is.
9 „Whon sungep a Mon in Envie?« Whon he grucchep in his herte and hap
dedeyn of his neizhebors encresyng, and of þe welfare of his enemy, or is glad
of his enemys vuel-fare. „Whon is a Mon wropful?« Whon he porw his
wrappe bisyep him to venge his owne cause, folfullynge his malicios desyr in
word or in dede, barmynge his broßer wib-outen drede of god. | »Whon sungeh
a Mon in sloupe?« Whon he is Idel in doinge good, or ocupie[d]? aboute vnfruc-
tuous þing. q »Whon sungeb a Mon in couetise?« Whon he coueitep, for worldes
fame & lust, þing þat is not necessarie for him ne his, or whon he halt him
not apayed of be goodes þat god hap him sent. „Whon sungep a mon in
lecherie ?« Whon he porw Idelnesse wiþ lusti felyng of his flesch norisschep hit
& suffrep hit to haue maystrie of his spirit, ledyng hit, in wille or werk, to do
þe sunne of lecherie. * »Whon sungeș a mon in Glotonye ?« Whon he þorw
vndescret etynge or drinkynge vndisposep him-self to serue his god, for ful wombe
makep empti soule; ffor wher glotenye & dronkenesse regneb, may no wisdam beo.
»Whuche are a Monnes fyue wittes ?«--Heering, Seoing, Smellyng, Tastyng,
and Touching.
»Whon sungeș a Mon in heeryng?« Whon he wilfoliche leeuep þat he schulde
heere, and' ziuep herynge to pat be schulde not heere. f »Whon sungeș a mon
in his siht?« Whon his eize is ynstable be-holdyng diuerse þing, and lusti wlier-
þorw he is ofte tempted to do synne bope in lust and couetyse; ffor hose haþ
a liht eize and an vnstable, schal han a Merk bodi ful of sunne. 1 »Whon
sungeș a Mon in smellynge?« Whon he porw delicat smel after his pouwer
folfulleþ þe lust of his flesch. f »Whon sungep a mon in tastyng ?« Whon he
þorw tast of mete or dryng ledep him wher-þorw he is not disposed to trauayle
to serue his god. 1 »Whon sungep a mon in touching?« Whon he wilfuliche of
his delyt toucheþ þe ping þat are defendet hem bi godes lawe and Reson.
»Whuche are pe seuen werkes of Merci??
I Þe ffurste is: ffeede Þe hungri, þat is him þat haþ nouper strengÞe ne Miht
ne wit ne good wherwiþ to susteynen him-self. | Þe secounde bodily werk of
Merci is: to ziue drynke to be þursti, þat haþ not, as is before seid, to buye
him drinke wiþ. q De pridde werk of Merci is: to clope þe naked. I Þe
ffeorpe werk of Merci is: to herborwe be herborweles. Pe ffyfpe is : to cum-
forte pe seke. I Þe sixte is : to visyte pe pore prisoner. 9 And þe seuepe is:
to burie pe pore dede. | And zif endeles mede schal folwe pes werkes of Merci,
hem bi-houeþ beo don in charite, to pe distruccionº of vices, and to be encres
of vertues. q Per nis no mon pat haþ wherwiß, þat may ben excused but gif
he releue his neodi neizgebore aftur his pouwer wiß his bodily goodes. Muche
more is vche mon endetted, and specialiche prestes, to departe wiß Þe neodi
heore gostly tresour, þat is, to do þe gostly werkes of Merci.
1 Ms. os.
2 Ms. ocupieþ.
3 r. him.
4 Ms, distruccions,
a 1390-an-tpla
Foruman Confe r
n
C1390
A talking of the love of God.
345
te gostly werk of Mercigode vertues, be-aymaçle pe wilysum to be one
arsteche þe viciouse no Merci is : to be of Merci is : to chas of his
.
.
-
-
***
--
-.,
-
-
0
1 Heer beș pe gostli werkes of Merci.
PE ffurste gostly werk of Merci [is]: þat a Mon teche pe vncunnynge, þat is to
seye, To teche be viciouse mon gode vertues, be-nyme him vices after his pouwer.
I Þe secounde gostly wer[k] of Merci is: to counsayle þe wilysum to kepe pe
rihtwysnesses of god. Þe pridde gostli werk of Merci is: to chastise Þe rebel
bi word or bi dede or beo wiþ-drawyng from him pe occasion of his sunne
wherwiſ his sunne is meyntened. I Þe ffeorpe gostli werk is : to cumforte pe
sori to beo pacient in aduersite. q De ffyfpe gostly werk is to forziue, þat we
in vre owne cause desyre no vengeaunce. Pe sixte werk of gostly Merci is:
to teche pe vnpacient to suffre muchel aduersites. And pe seuenpe is : to
teche men to preye hertiliche for þe conuercion of enemyes & also for þe per-
seueraunce of frendes.
»Whuche ar. Þe foure principal vertues ?«
Þe ffurste Is Rihtwysnesse. q De secounde is Temperaunce. I Þe þridde is
Prudence. And þe ffeorpe is Strengpe. „Wher-Inne stondep Rihtwysnesse ?«
In Iust demynge. 1 »Wher-in stondeþ Temperaunce?« In mesurable Etyng and
Drinkyng, ... Spekyng, Sleping, and trauaylyng. f »Wher-Inne stondeþ Strengþe ?«
In mihti wip-stondyng of temptacion, continueliche seruyng God. God ziue vs
grace to serue God. Amen.
comments -**** C+34 Fordern taas ta
2. (A talkyng of þe toue of God)
Tranf. tot
The following important piece is in the Ms. written as prose, and was meant to
be so written, as alliterative long-lines (cadences), which form the prevailing
metre, alternate with rhyming verses (couplets, tirades, and stanzas), prose passages,
Latin quotations &c. It is an imitation of R. Rolle's manner, and the work of a
(probably young) monk of the Fra Angelico type, who, shut out from the world
in his monastery, finds comfort in sweet meditation and song. It is one of the
pearls of Old Engl. literature. Several of its peculiar words are found again in
Piers Ploughman (as daunselen). No other Ms. is known to exist.
_ fol. 367. Heer Is a tretys: A talkyng of þe loue of God.
Pis tretys Is a talkyng of þe loue of God; and is mad forto sturen · hem þat
hit reden: to louen him be more, and to fynde lykyng · and tast in his loue.
Hit fallep for to reden bit . esyliche and softe, so as men may mest · in Inward
felyng · and deplich þenkyng · sauour fynden; and þat not beo-dene, but bi-
ginnen and leten · in what paas so men seop · þat may for be tyme · ziuen mest
lykynge;, and whon men haþ conceyued · þe maters wiþ redyng : Inward penkyng •
and deoplich sechyng . wip-outen eny redyng · vppon be selue maters, and of
such opere · þat god wol senden · hose wole sechen, schal ziuen inward sizt · and
felyng in soule · and swetnes wonderful, zif preyere folwe. But hose wole in
Meditacion · swete fruit fynden: hit mot be taken in wone · wiþ preo poyntes þat
folewen: affyaunce, and continuaunce, and louh herte and clene; þat he truste
sikerliche · to fynden þat he sechep, and þat his pouzt beo harde iset · and ful
bisyliche I-kept, and holden' him-self vn-worp · out of godes zifte, and wlate on
him-seluen · porw siht of his fulpe. | Men schal fynden lihtliche pis tretys in
Cadence · after be bigynninge · gif hit beo riht poynted; & Rymed in sum stude;
. 1 r. holde.
TLG
-a 1390 in theo. Wa. T Tranh
1. etogo Talk
346
Pieces of Ms. Vernon.
to beo more louesum · to hem þat hit reden. God ziue vs grace · so for to rede:
þat we mowen haue heuene · to vre Mede. Amen.
TLO
TLG
Thesu sop God, Godes sone; Thesu sop God sob mon, mon Maydens child.
Ihesu myn holy loue, mi siker swetnesse. Ihesu myn berte, my sele, my soule-
hele. Thesu, swete Ihesu; Ihesu, deore Ihesu; Ihesu, almihti Ihesu. Ihesu mi lord,
my leof, my lyf; myn holy wey?, myn hony-ter. Ihesu, alweldinde Ihesu: Ihesu pou
art al þat I hope. Ihesu mi Makere · þat me madest of nouzt, and al þat is in
heuene · and in eorpe. Ihesu my Buggere · þ[at]? bouztest me so deore, wiþ
þi stronge passion · wiþ þi precious blod, and wiþ þi pyneful dep on Roode.
Ihesu my Saueour · þat me schalt sauen, þorw þi muchele Merci · & þi muchele
mizt. Ihesu my weole & al my wynne: Ihesu þat al my blisse is inne. | Ihesu
also bat pou art · so feir and so swete, zit art pou so louelich · louelich and
louesum, þat þe holy angeles · þat euere pe biholden: ben neuere folle · to loken
on þi face. Thesu þou art al feir, whon pe sonne azeyn þe: nis bote a
schade, and schomep azeyn þis brihte leor · of hire þesternesse. Pou þat ziuest
hire liht. and al pat liht haueb: Lihte my þester herte. Graunte pat bi briht-
nesse · clanse my soule: þat is ynseliche, wiþ sunne foule 1-fuiled. Lord mak.
hire worþi: to þi swete wonynge. Candele me wiß Þe blisse: of þi brenninde
loue. q Swete Ihesu my leoue lyf, Let me beo þi seruaunt, and lere me for
to loue þe, & mak me for to serue be · louynde lord: so þat onliche þi loue :
be euer al my lyking, my þouzt and my longyng; amen, Ihesu heuene kyng.
T Swete lord wo is me. þat I am pe so fremde: Bote also pou hast bodiliche.
torned me from be world, torn me also herteliche · to be · lord of soþ loue,
and studefast beo-leeue; þat I haue no mong, felauzschupe ne speche, ne non
oper tellyng · wiþ no worldliche þing. For wel ichot lord, þat feschlich loue
and gostlich, erpliche loue and heuenlich: mowe none wyse · bedden in a brest.
Hose-euere haue longe defaute of gostly cumfort · and heuenly murþes: hit
is forþi þat he hauep. or þat he wilneþ to haue: cumfort of eorpe · þat is fikel
and fals, faylep whon men lest“ wenep · and ate mest neode; hit is I-meynt wiń
bitternesse · and bleendynge of bales. q Nis no blisse otewip pat hit nis to
deore abouzt, as hony þat me likkep on prikkynde þornes. Nis he a sori
Chapmon · þat ziueþ al þat he haþ · for a þing þat nouzt nis, and leuep a pre-
cious þing Pat beete may alle bales, þat me beodep him for nouzt, & bi-hotep
him muche meede. þat he hit wole taken? A derworbe lord · pou beodest vs
þi Ioye, pe lykyng of þi deore loue. Þe socour of þin helpe; and berest hit
on vs stifliche · al wip-outen askyng; and perto pou bi-hotest vs · wiþ þat we
wollen hit taken: heuene-riche blisse · þat is wib-outen ende. And we vs turne
þerfro · as þeiz hit nouzt ne weore; and bugge Þe schadewe of þe world, a
seynynge of þat is nouzt, but fikel faylynde and fals · and tollyng to serwe;
and zit ne haue we hit for nouzt. but buggen hit wiþ bisynesse, wip angwysch
and daunger · and hard swink and teone. A lhesu þin ore, whi haue I likyng
In oper ping þen in þe · þat bouztest me so deore? q Whi ne beholde i
algates' wiþ eze of myn herte, hou jou henge for my loue · streyned on Roode,
þin armes wyde I-spradde · þi derlyng to cluppe, wiþ toknyng of trewe loue ·
And
1 r. halewey.
? Ms. bou.
3 Ms. be.
4 Ms. best.
a 1990 in thes. Wro. I
to #556
hled
-
A talking of the love of God.
347
TLG
er alle
þat sprong out of þi syde? Whi nul I beo þi derlyng, and loue þe ouer alle
þing, and comen to þi cluppyng, to cleuen in þin armes · and cluppen þe 6
swete? A derworpe lord · muchel is þi myldeschupe, þat spraddest so pin armes ·
bodiliche on Roode, and in toknyng of þat · openest þi grace, þat sprad is so
wyde · wiþ loueliche tollyng, & open is and redi: to alle þat in synne · beoþ gost-
liche storuen. Clepep hem? to lyue · and to loue-cosses, as Moder do hire deore
sone · þat hereþ hitwepen: Takej hit? in hire armus · and askep him so swete-
liche: “Ho leof, ho lef!' heo doþ him hire bitwenen(!), 'ho wole be bi-clupped.
and cusse me swete; who hap do my deore · who haþ do pe so?' Heo zeuep
him hire pappe · and stilleþ his teres. Pat pappe beo my lykyng, my mourn-
yng my longyng, swete Ihesu heuene kyng : to souken of my fulle; þat þorw þe
speres openyng, in feole mennes gounyng, wij dewyng of þi deore blood · stille™
alle bales. And wher eny mon wene þat he schal · haue part of þat ilke sok' T ]
of þi deore herte · in heuene-riche blisse, and þere be þi derlyng, in þi deore
cluppyng, bote he be heere cluppe · hongynge on Roode, and parte of þi pas- bord
sion · þorw holy meditacion, wip loue -lykynde pouzt · and reupe of his herte?
Nay, sikerliche nay, ne trouwe þat no mon! | Whose euere wol haue part.
per of þi blisse: he mot dele wiß pe · heer of pi pyne. Nis he nouzt good
felawe : ne felauschupe worþi: þat nul scoten i þe los · as i þe bizete. Hym bi-
houeß scoten · after his euene: þat wol be þi felawe · louynde lord; he mot
þi steppes folwe · þorw sore and þorw sorwe, in peyne and in pouert · and
þolyng of wo, wiþ schome and wiß schenschupe • zif hit so falle”, for to clymbe !
to þi weole · & lastinde winnes. Ne trowe no mon wiß ese · to steize to be a
sterres ; ne bugge wij delyces · pin endeles bl[i]sse. A swete lord Ihesu, whi
wiſ armes of loue · ne cluppe I be so faste: þat no þing from þi loue · departe d
myn herte? Whi ne cusse I pe lord · sweteliche in soule: wiþ a lykinge cos
of a swete menyng ..& hertliche ponkyng · of þi gode dedes? Whi nis me
vnworp • vche worldliche þing, azeyn þe muchele delyt · of þi swetnesse? | Whi
ne fele I Þe lord · in my brest roote? 1 Whi art þou me so fremde · þow þat 7
art so swete? ( Whi ne con I loue þe, and loueneliche a wouwe þe, wiþ sweete &
loue-wordes · and lykynge pouztes: Aller ping swettest · aller þing louelokest;
þi worþ and þi worschupene may no tonge telle. T Weylawey my deore lord,
Þe vnsely bitternesse . of my foule sunnes ! my worldliche bewes and flescliche
lustes: aren be-twene pe and me, and lette me to come to þe, and stoppe me
þe felyng of þi swetnesse. [ Mi sunnes hap me fuiled · wiþ monyfold fulpe,
and makep me so wlatsum · and fere 5 of þi face, and wriep me schomeliche :
and worp i am þi wreche: þat I ne dar. Þe neize · loueliche lord, ne comen in
þat fulpe to þin eze-sihte, but zif I fele me lad · wiþ drauzt of þi grace.
TA Thesu þin ore · what schal þeine pe pris Of þi deore blood don · pat
sched was on Roode? | What schal þe large brok don · of þi softe syde; þe
stremes of pe rede blod · þat stryked doun so breme: of þi derworpe feet · and
of þin holy hondes ? Nis hit for to wasschen · sunfole soules ? nis hit forte saluen
hem · þat seke ben in sunne ? Ho is þenne vnwasschen · þat haþ þis holy wetyng;
þat helinde dewyng · wiß-Inne his herte ? q Who þar felen him sor · or sek
vn-salued, þat salue so mihti · haþ at his wille: as ofte as he takep hit · wip
.
I be so faste : feliche in soule: ws? Whi
.
.Ms. him.
2 r. him.
3 Ms. nas.
r. louendliche ?
5 r. ferd.
a 1390 in thes. Wr. I Transh to
Pieces of Ms. Vernon.. etsto tolleung

348
herte in his muynde, wiþ a studefast hope · and trewe be-leeue ? | Euer be pou
blessed · myn heueneliche leche, þat madest us of þi-self · so mihti medicyne!
As my trust is per-inne · let hit beo my bote, þat is of alle Medicine · fruit
and Roote. Zif myn eueles ben muchele · and ouerdon sore, pe mizt of pat
medicine · is monyfold more. As wisliche as a drope of þi derworpe blod. mizte
wasschen awey • alle Mennes sunnes : also wisliche lord · þat il[k]e ? fyf welles, þat
of þi blessede bodi · sprongen o blode, my soule mote wasschen of alle maner
sunnes, þat [it] I-fuiled is wiß · porw my fyf wittes; of al þat ichaue amis ·
sezen wip myn ezen, herd wib myn Eren · or tasted wiþ Moupe, or elles eny
wyse a-gult · in sunfol speche, or luperliche lyked · in sauor of neose, and pat
ichaue wiß eny lyme · misliche feled, and wiń my fesch sunget · in eny kunnes
wyse. Let þy woundes hele · pe woundes of my soule; pi dep sle in me · flesch-
liche lykynge, worldliche leetes · and bodiliche lustes, and make me lyuen in pe:
liuinde lord, þat I be to pe world ded · and a-lyue to þe; so þat I mai verrey-
liche · sigge wiþ þe apostle, Paulus : Viuo ego, iam non ego, viuit autem in me
Christus, »I liue not Ich · but Crist lyuep in me«. Dat is Poules wordes · and
þus for to siggen: In’ liue not in lyue · þat I liuede 3 : but Crist liuep in me · þorw
wonyinde grace, pat from dep of sunne · me tornep and quikne to lyf þat is
blisful. of gostliche bele, ffrom alle worldliche loue · & fleschliche lustes · al
one forto lyuen · in likyng of Crist. T A deore lord Þin ore · wel weore him
bigon, pat feled in his soulė · þat seli word to siggen; to goderhele weore he
boren · & to muche blisse: for eueri grome were him gome, & eueri wo winne.
A Milde Marie · moder of Merci, socour of serweful · and cumfort of care:
Nartou lodesterre to alle po þat in þe séé Of þis worldes anguissche · seilen and
faren ? Pou þat art qween of angeles, ladi of alle schaftes; to whom is bitakene ·
Þe cure and þe cumfort · of hem þat hem felen · caytif wrecches, 9 ze þat in
hor owne ezen · seon hem-self wrecches, and sechen þin helpe · wiþ trust hope
of herte; in pin aduocatye is put · pe cause of vre sunnes, to stonden at domes-
day · vr aller Iugges mooder, in help & in Meyntenaunce of vre soule-hele.
| Penk heer on þis wrecche · Moder and Mayden, þat falleh pe tofote · in hope
of þin helpe, cryinde reupely · after þi grace. Pese me ladi, for þi muchele
merci, to þi derworbe sone · þat Ichaue wiḥ sunne · schomeliche and lihtliche
so fele tyme a-gulte. Mi sunnes ben so gastliche · grisliche and grete; makep
me so wlatsum · and stinkinde foule: þat I ne dar him neihzen ne folwe my
neode. I haue wib hem willes · my soule forschupped: from þe liknesse of
god · to þe deuel of helle; wrapped haue I willes · þorw fulħe of my sunne •
mi makere mi buggere · þat bouzte me so deore: wiß his derworþe dep. from
þraldam of helle; þat wolde raper suffre · to dyen on Roode, pen to þolien in
his siht. Þe wlatynge of sunne. ( Him-self souzte my4 pes · in myn owne gultes,
as his hedde be pe gult · moni tyme and ofte: wiþ sturyng of my concience •
& preching of wyse; wip hard wrake þat I sauz. of: oper mennes sunnes; wip
bi-heste of blisse · & vnimete mede, þat holi writ vs be-hat. zif we leten sunne ;
wiþ ziftus of grace · bodiliche & gostliche, anentes worldliche weole · to don al
my wille, and to schilde me from myn enemy · þat I haue ay folewed and ziue
i Ms. ille. 2 = I ne. 8 r. liue. 4 From here the text is extant in Ms. Simeon fol. 171 u.
2, till A now bei setten, p. 360. This Ms. is a more copy of Ms. Vernon, and worthless.
a 13.90 in ther. When I
#556

A talking of the love of God.
- 349 TLG
me to his wille · and to his luper lore · and flowen f[ro]' pe loue of him · my der-index
worpe lord god: þat wiß his derworpe blod · bougte me so deore. He wusch
me wip cristendam . of Adames sunne, and I me fuglede sipen · mony-fold worse;
he helede my soule · þat woundet was þenne Porw myn eldres gult : ofe Adam
& Eue, and I haue slayn hit al out ... þat I haue feole tyme wrouzt · and
longe leyzen per-inne. (Siben porw his grace · he prented in my soule: pe
ymage of him-selue, and I enprented aboue: Þe liknesse of helle. Allas, my
deore ladi, allas what haue I don! hou haue I chaunged þat prente · and dampned
my-seluen! T Allas þat euere I was so wood · so foule for to fallen! þat me
ne schomede not · to worche þat fulpe: þat is me nou so gryslich . and schome-
ful to nempne! Allas whi ne dredde i not · his sute and his werkes, þat is me
now so dredful · to nempnen his nome! He fel willes · pat furst fel foule, but
wip-outen knowyng.. or warnyng of wreche; ac I was war þerbi · and bi mony
opure, bi warnyng and wissyng · on mony-maner halue, and fel in þe selue ·
and in moni mo. Hee fel in pruide · þat hedde sum matere, sipen þat he was
so feir · and so briht an angel; and I fel in þe selue · wip-outen eny matere,
þat nouzt haue of my-self · but sunne and flesches2 fulpe. He fel ones · and I
fel feole sipes. He azeyn his makere · and I azeyn my makere · and myn eft
makere · azeynes my lord: þat bouzte me wiß his herte blod · and zaf me al
hin-seluen. He forsok vr lord god : þat suffrede him to gulten, and wib-outen
sparyng · drof him al to wreche; and I forsok þat ilke lord · þat lettep my
gultus, and sechep me and folwep me, whon so euere I from him fle; and callep.
me loueliche · to zift of his grace. ( Allas allas nou fynde I me grisloker in
my gultes, pen þe grislihed* of him · þat helle gryseb offe. Allas zif I seo
my-self • I ne may soffre my-self; and zif i ne seo my-self nouzt · þenne gyle I
my-self .... þen stynkinde careyne, and muche more wlatsum · bifore godes face:
þen eny fulpe so foul · þat eny mon may þenken; so þat me grysep of my-
self . and wlate of my fulpe; þat I ne may soffre mi-self. pat wrouzte haue al
þis serwe. A lord þyn ore, þat I may sike sore! Whi ne griseb of me · bope
my mete and my drynk, my schroud and al oper ping · þat me scholde helpe?
Hou may rihtwysnesse pole .... þat þer ne riseþ azeyn me · alle þyne schaftes,
wiþ schome & wiß schendschupe · wiſ gounyng & wiß spornyng, to fihten on
þis traytur þis tiraunt and þis tormentor, þat haþ• al his schappere · so fouliche
dispiset? ( Whi nam I hunted wip hem · foule as a dogge? For þei mowe
alle crie · and siggeno in heore kuynde: „Þees is þe foule corselyng · þat haþ vr
aller makere · þat maade vs to his worschupe. so schomeliche offendet; pat
vsep vs in his werkes · to schome of vr lord. 9 Pees is he þat more beyz · in
wille & in werk, to þe deueles tollyng - þen to godes drawyng, and more haþ
rewarde? . to Þe deueles gyle, pen to godes benfez 8 • bat bouzt him onº Rode;
and hedde more likyng · in þe Malice of þe deuel, þen he hedde delyt in
Godes goodnesse; and ches muchel rapere · to beo pe deueles cundle , þen wij
endeles lyf · godes child of heuene. [ Whon god daunselede 10 him muchel & Two
worschuped him feyre: he ne set hit at nouzt. ne dredde not his wreche; but
more dredde to wrappen: a worldliche wrecche: pen schomeliche offenden · god 14 / 37
þat him wrouzte; and more was aschomet · to don in monnes siht an epeliche
,5
>
1 Ms. for, S from. 2 S fleschliche. 3 S seches .. folwes. 4 S grished. 5 S has. 6 S synge(!).
is rewardet. 8 S benfet. 9 Ms. on on, Son be. 10 = caress; so Langl. A XI. 30. 1 Ms. and.
390 in uks
n the
Transfer
ex390
350
Pieces of Ms. Vernon.
f
Tha
16/10
truifle · of vnsittyng þing: þen mony a foul sunne · in siht of god almigti.
More him delyted · forte enbrace Mock", and styngk of worldliche Mok · pat
gylep so foule, þen baben in þe lykyng : & in þe loue-cluppyng, in þe brennynge
loue • of be holygost. Al-beo pat on defendet. and azeyn be lawe, and pat
obur nomeliche · I-ziuen vs in heste. Pat on is wonnen wiß swynk · & wib
muchel anguissche, and endep atte laste · wiſ zeldyng of wreche; Trauayle pe
wynnyng, drede in þe keping, serwe in þe leosyng · and helle at þe ende. | Pat
opur nis not so deore a-bouht · bute is ful muche menskeful, wij waxinde likyng
& bodiliche fyndyng, & bringe” atte laste · endeles blisse.
God seiþ hit him-self · þat hose secheh him furst, & ouer al oþur þing ·
askep his blisse, al þat him be-houep to bodiliche neode, schal be graunted
þe[r]-wiþ · and ziuen in þat boone – Luc.: Querite primum regnum dei &c. // Þis
is he pat al day · tornej god his hindewine, and hertliche loutep · to cluppe
worldes dweole. Pis is þat blynde wrecche · þat in his owne ezen Weneb?
him so vertuous : & is ful of vices ; leetep him feir and freoly · and haþ þe
deueles liknesse ; and wenep? þat he beo witti · and al ful of sleizbe: and lokep 3
on his chaffare · þat4 he is afolte, pat sold hab his soule · for stinkynde lustes,
and chaungeh god for þe deuel · and heuene for helle. He halt him ful douzti,
stalworpe & hardi, and al day is ouercomen • of him þat baþ no mizte Forte
wip-stonde Þe moste wrecche of þe world : þat wolde azeyn him fihte. He letep
him gentil · and is þe deueles þral, and demep hem wrecches · and makej hem
his harlotes, þat ben so gentil of blod · þat god is heore fader. Pus he lokep
him-self · wiß a fals eze, seoþ þat þat is nouzt · and demeħ al wrong. Hit is .
Þe deueles Mirour · þat he in lokep, and he fendes argumens · þat him þinkep
resouns, þat he bobbep him wiband ledep as him lykep. A Ihesu Crist þin
ore, hou schal I euer dryzen · to penken on þi domes: azeynes my gultes · þat
alle þyne schaftes · þus harde mouwen acusen? And not onliche pus, but zit mowe
þei crizen · and siggen in heore wyse: »Pees is þe deueles Maumet, þat hap
vs alle wrongliche Vsed in his werkes · azeynes yr kuynde. He hedde godes
liknesse · and torned him-self out of þat In to be liknesse · of vch of vs alle;
he is more eorply · þen euer was eorpe, fikelore pen he wynt, more veyn þen
is pe eir, hattore in his lustes · pen is pe fuir pat brennep; bardore pen eny
ston · of wikkede herte: azein his euencristne · þat Crist representen; caldore of
charite · þen forst in his kuynde. What schal I more siggen? he ne dredde
not god. ne mon he ne louede, but mengede his owne wikkednesse · among moni
opure, and dude þat in him was · ladde hem his weies, and was to hem en-
saumple · and ledere to synne', wiþ vnclene speches 8 • wip lecherous lokynges,
wij schrewede dedes and mony luper leetes. q Ne phouzte hinz nouzt inoub •
þat godes dep on Roode Weore lost anontesº him-self · but anontes mony mo,
and dude þat in him was · as þe deueles promotour · and godes oune traytor,
to leden hem to sunne. He bar him as he weore a god · sipen þat he nolde
Beo ilad bi godes wille · ne bi no lawe, but as him lyked him-self · azeyn godes
hestes Strayen out of lawe in wrong and in outrage, as mon al laweles: & don
what him luste. Zif God ne dude for him · al þat he wolde: he gruyned
azeynes him · as pauz, he weore his knawe; and zif he eny tyme · letted for [t]o 10
i word frequently used by Wicliffe. 2 S wenes. 3 S lokes. S &. 5 r. chaunged.
6 S dredeh. synnes. 8 S speche. 9 S anentes. 10 Ms. do ; S for to do.

G 390
lbs. Wh mit
00
A talking of the love of God.
351
prond offe, anibe and my muchel I me beo-turnen, eynes alle schat
sunne, hit Was not for godes loue · but for Monnes drede, or for bodiliche harm:76
or worldliche enchesun. Bope of goode and of euel: he wolde be loued”, as þeiz, 18
he weore god self • of whom alle þing þat? is, bope? goode an vuel, is ordeynt
for goode. [ What schal I of him . more speke ? his pruide passe” Lucifer · þat
fel into helle; his gult Adames gult · þat cast him out of paradis, and nouzt
onliche, himbut alle monkuynde. For þey hedde muchel þat hem drowe · to
be proud offe, and he nedde but wrecchednesse: þat scholde him wipdrawe.«
Allas my foule fulpe: and my muchel ynsleihpe! What schal I nou to rede?
whoder schal I now gon? Wher schal I me beo-turnen · nou alle þing is þus
risen · azeynes me one: and wondreþ þus on me? | Azeynes alle schaftes: haue
I mis-taken, and my deore lord god: luþurliche dispiset, and alle his holy
angeles: greuousliche I-erred", and alle his holy halewen: foule deshonoured, and
myn euencristne: in mony maner greued, and alle creatures: haue I mis-vset,
Anselmus. A serwe and sikyng, crizing & gronyng, wher be ze ryue: zif ze here
faylen? q wher be ze feruent: zif ze heere slaken? Nou ne wot I whoderward
I may me best bi-tornen, ffor I haue maked me fon: in alle kunnes balue. | Allas
allas my lord god · stured is to wrappe, and no ping ne haue I me laft · þat
al nis offendet: þat scholde me helpe. or eny good wille". T Zif I ha wrapped
be sone, nis pe moder erred 3? And zif þe Mooder be wrop, hou is Þe sone
quemed? Who schal pese me wiß Þe sone · zif þe Moder beo my fo? | Or
who schal me geten þe Moder loue · zif þe sone me hate? But deore lord
of Merci · þat art al merci, and þou his deore Mooder · pat art ful of grace :
zif I haue ow bobe a-gult · ne be ze ful of Merci? And wherto schulde merci •
zif gultus ne weore? Schal þe Malice of myn euel · passen oure goodnesse ?
-line
or alle myne sunnes: ben more pen oure Milce? | Ne art pou lord bi-come-
mon · and taken hast yr kuynde ? And hou my deore ladi, bicomen art his OS
Mooder? 9 and hast al þi menske · in heuene & in eorþe, for resun of sunful · TLG.
and wreche. to slaken? | Þou lord bicome mon · and a Mylde Maidenes barn, 20 l
þat hard dep and schendful: þoledest for þyn enemys; and þou his deore Mooder •
wiß Maydenes menske, Þe swerd of þi peyne: þurlede pi soule - animam tuam
pertransiuit gladius. And þat wolde ze þole · for Merci al-one: to sechen hem
þat weoren at-reizt · and drawen hem þat fledden. T And I þat seche Merci ·
and truste in zor Merci, and knoweleche my gult · wiþ sore herte-sykes, schulde
fayle Merci · þer welle is of Merci, þat is to alle synful · so ryf and so large ?
4 Wher is þenne þat word · of cumfort & blisse, þat þou seidest þi-self · der-
worpe lord: Nolo mortem peccatoris, »I nul not, pou seist, pe dep of pe synful,
but I wole he turne · and stunte of his sunne, and ryse to my grace · in lyf
wib-outen ende«. And þat also pou seisto: In quacumque hora ingemuerit, saluus
erit, „Whon so euere be sunful · forþinkep his sunne, & wilnep for to stunten,
anon he schal be saued«? Ne seidest pou not lord · to be peef on Roode,
þat euer seppen he coupe · hedde I-vsed þefþe, þat in þe selue day . he scholde
ben in blisse? and for no more decert · but for he kneuz his gultes, and be
for his saueour : &? asked þi Merci? Ne was he put in no delay · to ligge longe
in peyne, but seidest so redily · wiþ so mylde steuene: Hodie mecum eris in para-
dyso. Nart þou derworpe lord · þe Merciable ffader, þat þou liknest þe to: as
is be biloued.
2 om in S.
3 = irritated.
4 S willen.
6 = zoure.
6 S seidest.
a 1890 in thes. Wr. It
Transfer
to
352
Pieces of Ms. Vernon. Qu
a lity
TLG
.
telleþ þe gospel, q þat whon so euere pe luper sone · beo he neuer so gulti,
þenke$ in his herte · to seche și Merci: anon Þou seost him a-fer · in þat
ilke pouzt, and eornest azeynest him · wonderliche swipe, and er he speke eny
word · but in þe þouzt al-one, so þat hit be studefast · and? wil for to rysen,
pou fallest aboute his nekke · and cluppest him & cussest, wiþ chere ful blis-
ful 3 • & welcomest him hom, and clepest alle frendes · and makest a feste, slest
þe fatte feste-calf · for þi sone sake, and biddest hem beo glade · and bliþe
blissen wiþ þe, þat þi sone is founden · þat þou heddest loren -- Occurrit filio
prodigo videns eum a longe. And whon þow heng on Rode · preyedest to þi
ffader · for þatilke traytors · þat duden þe to be dep: Pater ignosce illis,
quia nesciunt quid faciunt. And hedden alle Merci · þat hit wolden asken; and
of alle þing · most was þi zernyng, þat þei wolden eny wey · þi merci vnder-
fonge. Þat Merci is so plentiuous · so redi and so large: profred and presed.
euer ar men hit asken. For asken hit ne mai me not · ne haue þat ilke grace,
but þou hit specialich · put hit in vr wille. And zit of alle pinge · ben furstest 6
pou most · aftur heor soulus · þat merci for-soken. Ne art pou lord vr fader,
and maked vs hast pin eires : of pi grete blisse, and in pe pater noster · biddest
clepe pe so, and þat we asken of be · al þat vs likeþ, and þat not luitel · but
al hol pi-seluen, wiþ al þat vs nedep to bodi and to soule? Hou schulde
euere pe child · failen of his askyng: anentes such a ffader · þat muchel more
louep pe child, þen he dop his owne bodi · or deep pe child him-seluen? Nai
sikerliche nay. ne may he' neuer faylen Of pat or better perfore, but zif hit beo
mis-asked. And al-beo pou vr ffader · Lord in persone, of be ffader pou art
bicome yr broper · in persone of Crist; vr Iuge & vr domes-mon · þat al þe
world schal demen, art bi-comen vr broßer of filesch and of blod. And sei[st] $
derworpe lord · þorw þe prophete, as fader al ful of loue · wordes so swete:
Numquid potest mater obliuisci filii vteri sui: & si illa obliuiscatur, ego non obli-
uiscar tui, 1 »Pouz þe moder mizte for-zeten · þe child þat heo bar, þou ne
maizt forzite mon · þat wole to be callen«; but seist þat al þi likynge · & al
þi delices, euer is wiß vs for to wone · and dwelle wiþ mon— Salomon: Delicie
mee, esse cum filiis hominum.
A pou Blisful moder · þat art yr oune Moder, Þou ne askest neuer wreche ·
ar list of no monnus sunnes, but were pe gult neuer so gret · ne sunnes so monye,
# I askest ay merci · wiſ moderliche reube; and perfore bicome þou · Ihesu Cristes
moder, & moder of sunfole · to bringen hem to grace. How scholde I desa-
fyen. to fallen in zor grace: þat am zou bobe so sibbe · Zoure sone and zor
broþur, and pou lord my Iuge · and myn oune broper, 9 and þou ladi my Moder •
and my Iugges Modur, and of be selue Iuge · asignet to my counseil, to be mynº
aduocatrix · beo-fore him in pe dom! ( Wher may be grace . zif heer beo
reddour; or eny hope founden · zif hit heere fayle ? hou scholde I euer dreden.
to fynden alle fauour, and vnimete merci · bi-fore so sib a Iuge, I þat haueþ
me so frendly · zif þat I seche merci · while tyme is of merci · bi-tauzt so leof
an helpe? Who schal my cause sauen · zif heo ne may suffisen, þat haþ hit
vndertaken · þat and alle suche, and haþ hit of offyse · for sunfol to causen:
and is þe Iuge hire owne · to forþeren al hir wille ?
IMs. & penke$. 2 r. in. 3 S ful of blisse. 4 S pose. 5 Ms. illum. 6 S þurstest.
is hit. 8 Ms. seip. 9 Ms, nyn; om in S.
#556.
a 1390 in
thes. Wo. Il
www
4
A talking of the love of God.
353
echinde; det m. bat ben TLC
er 262
TLG
Penk on þi Caytyf · lord God almihti, and þou his Mylde Mooder · þat ben
so ful of Merci; þow Lord ffauerynde · and pou ladi be-sechinde; let me neuer 2
faylen · þat I Merci ne fynde; or elles sei me where is eny of more Merci, and
more mihtful þen ze · and largore of grace, at þat in zour defaute · whon ze
me forsaken, schul my neode beeten · and graunten my bone. But sipen onliche
in ow · & in non nopur, is welle of alle Merci · þat euermore flowep: ffor pat
muchel Merci · clanse my soule, and wasch hit of þat fulpe · þat hit is fuyled
wib: 1 þat. I porw or grace · askape þat wreche, þat is me worþiliche · for
gult of my dedes; and schild me from þat serwes · nou and euer-more, þat bep
to be dampnede · greyþed in helle; þat I wip alle þó þat ben · blisful in heuene,
may ow bobe blessen · ay wiþ-outen ende, amen.
Thesu my derworpe lord · Ihesu myn oune Fader; swete Ihesu heuene kyng, T.
mi druri my derlyng, mi deoring mi louyng, myn hony-brid my swetyng; myn 26/!?
hele & myn hony-ter, min hony-lyf min halewy?. Swettore art pou þen hony.
or Milk in Mouþe, Meode Mep or pigement · maad wiß spices swete, or eny
lykinde licour · þat ouzwher may be founden. Ho ne may loue lord · pi leoue 3
lofsum leore"? What herte is so ouer-hard · þat ne may to-melte, in þe monyg:
of pe · loueliche lord? And ho ne may loue þe: swete Ihesu? For in-wiþ þe-
selue aren · alle pinges gedered, þat euer may maken eny mon · loueworý to
oper. Feirnesse, louesum leor, flesch whit vnder schroud, makeþ mony mon
þeo bi-loued . and be more deore. T Summe freodam & largesse. þat leuere is :
menskeliche to ziuen · þen quedliche to wip-holden. q Summe wit and wis-
dana · and hap of þe world. I Summe Miht and strenghe · to ben kud Kene
in fiht · his riht to defenden. q Summe nobleye & hendelek · and gentrise of
kuynde. q Summe gret Cortesye · and loples leetes. Summe mylde and
Mekenesse · & deboner herte, wiß swete louereden · and godliche dedes. And
zit ouer alle þeose · kuynde mest; sibbe frendes · vchon louen oþur. Now my
derworpe loue ' my swete lyf my lykyng, my louelichest" leof · myn herte and
myn halewy?, mi longyng mi mournyng · mi soule swetnesse : pou art lufsum of
leor · mi swete Ihesu; þow art also schene · þat alle angeles lyf: is to biholden ·
þi loueliche face. For þi leor is so briht · and vnimete lofsum, þat zif þe
for-wariede · þat wallen in helle, mihten hit [se] wiþ ezen · and loken þer-onne, al
þat pyninde pich · þat þei wallen Inne, ne wolde hem pinke · bote a softe baþ 6
baþinge; T ffor zif hit so mihte' beo·derworpe lord, leuere bem were euer-more ·
in wo forte dwelle, and on Þi lofsum leor · euer-more to loke, þen in alle blisse
ben · euer wip-outen ende, and of þat brizt blisful leor · forgon þat swete sihte.
T Þou art so schene & so briht · þat pe sonne weore desk, zif hit to pi blisful
leor · mihte ben l-enenet. Zif I wol loue eny mon · for his feirnesse, forso þe
derworpe lord · I wol loue be, mi leoue blessede lord: moder-sone feyrest, of.
alle þing swettest · founden in tast. A swete Ihesu gode leof. let me beo þi ser-
uaunt, and lere me for to loue be · louynde lord, þat onliche pe loue of þe.be
euer al my likyng, mi zeornyng mi longyngº, mi þouzt and al mi worching. Amen.
Bote my swete lord · for þat sibbe frendes Kuyndeliche loueb hem · vchon TL
· to oper, þou cloþedest þe wiþ oure fiesch · mon boren of wommon; þou toke
hon TLG
ab 28/19
2 S halewey.
8 S louyng.
3 om in S.
4S lore.
6 S loueliche.
IS cause.
7 S myht so.
6on bah?
II.
23
a 1310 in the Wall
3.90mget
Tre

Pieces of Ms. Vernon.
354
TLG
of hire swete flesch · wip-outen. hire wemmyng • monkuynde follich, to pole
al pat mon mai pole, and don al þat mon dop .wib-oute synne one, and bicom.
vr bropur of Fader and of Mooder, to maken hol [loue] vnbeden · bituenen vs alle.
7 Who is þenne pat ne may • & ouzte to be kuynde, to louen his oune broþur ·
of flesch and of blod? | Nou my swete Thesu my derworpe bropur: my sibbe
kun haue I leeued · for be loue of þe, and þeiz heo me forsaken · ne recchep
me noping, whiles þat I mai haue Þe · al one for hem alle. ( For zif I be
haue · what scholde I more asken? I nouhé þat me neod is. ne may me frendes
lakken. Pou art me more þen Fader · more þen Moder; Broþur or Suster · or
eny worldliche frend, nouzt aren hem to telle · azein pe al one. A swete Ihesu.
mi derworpe brober, of flesch and of blod • of fader & of moder: T Mi swete
derworpe lord · let me beo þi seruaunt, & teche me forte loue he · benyngne
lord, þat onliche þe loue of þe · beo al my likyng. q Wel artou swete a · and
louelich ouur alle, ffor in þe one is founden · þe pris of alle beute, pe pris of
al richesse . of loue and of largesse, of wit & of wisdam of miht and of strengbe.
In þe 'is pris of sibreden · & of alle frendschupe, of al loueliche þing · pat mon
may wiſ [in] loue ben. But ouer al oþur þing · þat makep þe so louelich, & so
loueworp to me. my derworpe lord, ynimete more: þin ouerharde hurtes, Þi
schome and þi woundes · þi pyne & þi passiouns, þi deore dep on Roode · þat
was so schendful for me; heo asken al hol my loue · and reuen al myn herte.
A swete Thesu leoue lyf · let me beo þi seruaunt, and lere me forte loue he .
louynde lord, þat onliche þe loue of þe · beo euer al my likyng, mi zeornyng
and my longyng, my pouzt & al mi worching. amen.
Bote moni for richesse · lemmon cheosep; ffor eueriwher mai men wij
-- catel loue chepen. T Bot is per eny Ricchore pen pou · my leue lyf my lemmon,
pat richeliche regnest · in heuene & in eorþe? Þou art kud Cayser · pat al þis
world weldeþ; ffor as pe prophete seip · Dauid in his psalme: Domini est terra,
& plenitudo eius, »þin is pe eorpe · and al þat þer-in woneþ«. Þin is þe
heuene · and al þat þerin lyuep; þin is al þe wyde world · and al þat þer is .
inne. ST Al is Þin my swetyng . and al Þow wolt hit zeue me, zif I wip: al myn
herte · al-one wol4 þe. But Þou lord þi-seluen · art wib-outen ende, vnymetę
more worp 5. ben ben alle beose. Perfore wol I loue pe' my leue lyfø my deore,
and al-one for þi loue · alle þinges leten, þat mihte myn herte · from þi loue
leden, or ben encheson perof. to louen þe pe lasse. (A swete Ihesu &c.]
Bote what is Richesse worp · or muche forto welden, þer wib-outen largesse ·
freodam lakkeþ? | And ho is freore ben pou · or largore of zifte, þat furst
madest al pis worldand zeue' hit to my wille. Pow zeue & me such lordschupe ·
ouer alle þi schaftes, and puttest vnder my feet · al þat þou schope. But I hit
wikkedliche fordude · þoru my foule synnes. And þou for þi freodam · zaf for
me þi-selue, to leese me from þraldam · þat I was put inne. T Zif I eny benne
wole · for largesse louen, pe al one wol I louen · swete Ihesu. For opure pat
ben large men · and corteis I-kudde, ziuen of heore goodes · after þat hem
lykep: but pou sweete. Ihesu · largest of alle, ne zeuest not one of pi good to
wouwe wiþ þi lemmon, bote [zeue]" þi-self for me in prys of my soule, pat
1 r. I ouh.: 2S adds lord. 3 om in S. 4 S wol ziue. 5 S worbi. 6 Ms. leuelyf.
7 Ms. ziue. 8 S ziue. 9 Ms. to ziue.
line
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3 TLG
TIG 34/
Þin owne herte-blood · ne' woldest not wipholden. So derworpe dreweri · ne
so deore zifte, ne zaf neuer in þis world • lemmon to oþur. And also þat þou?
for me · zaf so þy-seluen, hou hast me bized ? to be · and gaf me al þi-seluen,
to sitten on þi riht hond · coround in þi riche, wiß euer-lykynde loue · to regnen
in blisse. Who is þenne largore · þen pou art of* zifte, or so loue-worpi · [as
þou] swete Ihesu? Wher may mes eny loue · so worþiliche setten, whose seche”
eny þing · þat eny loue askep, as on Þe my lemmon · þat art loue-welle,
and zeldest alle pat pe louen · wellynde stremes? A swete Ihesu &c.
But largesse is luyte worp and luyte loue worpi, þat riht rulynde wit · and
wisdam wontep. Zif I wol eny þenne loue · for wit or for wisdam, Þen wol i
32/93
loue [be] · swete Ihesu; for þi wit is wonderful · and wib-outen make. | Þou art
wisdam i-clept · and wit of pi fader ; ffor be porw pat wisdam made · bope heuene
and eorpe, and als’ his swete willes 8 was · al Þis world wrouzte, schop pe sonne
and pe séé · and alle maner schaftes, and al he dihte wonderliche · as hit best
semede. In-wiß Þe my leue lyf is welle of alle wisdam, bat haþ so wonder-
liche wit · sprad so wyde-where: al þat is and euer was · and euer schal be-
tyden, al hit is before-hond · to pi wit knowen. Ne may per-wiþ no wisdam.
in al pis world be founden, bute hit of þat welle · of þi wit streme. A swete
Ihesu swete lef. swettest ouer alle, zif me wit to loue be, let me beo bi seruaunt,
þat I euere serue þe, and teche me forte qweme Þe · louynde lord, so pat on-
lich Þi loue 'be euer' al my likyng.
Bote mony mon for strenghe · and mony for his hardischupe, is ofte muchel
i-leten of · and loued and honoured. And is eny so hardi, so bold and so
dougti: as pou art my leue lyf · founden in a-say? Nay forsobe swete lef · þoul
berest pe pris of alle; for pow pi-self al one. ne dreddest not þyn oune bodi,
to fihten a-zeyn alle · þe deuelen of helle; Þe wzuche of hem alle · so is lest
lodlich, mizte he him schewen · [in] ° Þe makyng þat he is, alle scholde ben a-
gast · and grysen of him one, ffor no mon mihte him i-seo ' and in his wit wone,
but zif þi grace special · baldes "1 his herte. Pou art zit þeg-wiß so vnymete
mihti, pat wip ſpi]12 deore hondes · Dayled on Roode, pou bounde helle-dogges ·
and raftes hem heore preye, þat þei faste helden · for Adames sunne; and as a
kene kempe. robbedest helle, and laddest out þi deore leef · þat is monnes
soule, to þi brizte boure · ful of alle blisse, to wonen in þi cluppyng · euer
wib-outen ende. And perfore zif me lykep · stalworpe lemmon, louen penne
wol I be · louely Ihesu, þat art al mihti · and strengest of alle. Strengpe me
to loue be · [swete Ihesu), pat al my feblesse maizt: strengpen at þi wille, and
wiß Þin heize hardinesse · bi nigtes and bi dayes, azeyn my wiperwines · bolden 13
mi soule. A swete Ihesu mizti leof strengest of alle, strenghe me to loue þe,
14 let me beo þi seruaunt · derworpe lord, &c.
Noble men and gentil · and of heiz kuynde: mony wimmen leeten · menske TL
· forte loue. A swete Ihesu Merci · on what herre mon, mai I sette my loue · zif zich be
þat I be lete? Wher is eny gentilore · þen þi-self founden ? Pou art þat ilke
kynges sone · þat þis world weldep, and kyng wiþ þi ffader · kyng of alle
is no. 21. hou bat. 3 = hezed. 4 S of hi.
8 S wille; s erased. 9 om in S. 10 Ms. to.
13 S holden. 14 S & let.
5 in S corr. to i. 6 S ruled. ,S al.
11 Ms. baldest; S haldest. 12 Ms. his.
23*
1890 in the White Transter
Pieces of Ms. Vernon. 21340 Tema
356
TLG
- 36112 me
kynges, and lord al-mizti · lord of alle lordes. And zit art þow ouer þis boren
of mylde Marie, of Dauides: kunreden · þe. kyng of Abrahames blod. Of herre
cunreden þen þou art · nis non vnder sonne. Louen wol I þenne be · swete
Thesu, as be gentileste leof · þat euer was in eorpe, bat neuer was? no lac · ne
last wiß I-founden; and þat com þe nomeliche : of kuynde of þi fader, of whom
is al gentilrie? · and cortesye sprongen. Let me be pi seruaunt · gentil and hende,
and lere me forte loue be · my derworpe lord, so þat in þe loue of þe · my
lyking and my Ioye, wipouten eny oþur mong · euer be rooted fast.
MEkenesse and myldeschupe · are swete loue-tacches, and makep 3 ofte mony
amon · leof and dere. And þou Ihesu my leoue leof. for þi muchele Mekenesse,
ullas witnesseß holi writ · to lomb were bou euenet. For azeyn alle schomes &
serwes · þat men duden þe, neuer ne opnedest pou pi mouþ. to grucchen azeyn.
And zit to eken al þat al pe schome & sunne, þat synful wrecches of þis world
vche day recheles · don azeyn þi godhed · as pou no god ne were, pou þolest"
al myldelich, and takest hit lihtlich, ne takest“ not sodeynlich · wreche of yr
gultes; but þorw þi muchele myldeschupe · abydest vs longe, euer sechinde loue ·
& beodyng of grace. And þexfore my leimon · my loye & my blisse, euer glad
mai I ben · & blisful to wisse, Þe false murpes of þis world to leuen & misse,
& euer resten in þe.. to cluppen & cusse. A swete
Los Thesu my leoue leof my loueliche lemmon, mi derworpe derlyng · mi soule
swetnesse: preo foos fihten · azeynes me faste: pe false world and my fiesch.
Þe pridde is þe deuel; q he world to make me fals · and tolle? me to þefpe;
Tmi flesch to mony fulpes · of vntounes lustes; Tþe deuel wiþ his sleih þes.
and wiþ his queynte crokes, to trappe me lopliche · to drawe me to helle. And
for I was so ouer-arwh · and wok of my-selue, þei be-segede me · and kene
besetten: And maden me mony a res · wiħ grennynde beere, fful grimme and ful
grisly as wolues as hit weore; wenden in heore wyse · wiþ sum kunnes ginnes,
wij a poynt of chekmat · comen me wih-inne; and forsope ful neib · hedde i
foule fallen, bi-trapped in heore clokes · and cauzt til heore preye. And so dude
I sikerly · þorw my foule sunne, so fer þat I hedde · be worþi to helle, ne
hedde onliche i-ben · pin vnymete Merci, þat euer is so redi · and þi swete
grace; þat after long abode · whiles I lay in sunne, and wolde not arysen · for
non of þi callynges, ne for þi milde wouwynges · þat pou penne madest, al [min]
vnponkes · derworpe lord, drouh me from myn enemy, so freoly & so frendly,
þat I so wrecchedly · folewode so faste. q Pat euer beo pou blessed · in heuene
and in eorpe, heized and heried of al þat þou schope! for whon þe bale was
most · þen was þe bote next; þe grace of pe holigost · hit taylede so. For
whonne pou seze hit beo so · þat I ne wolde arysen, ne my-self stonden · azeynes
my foos, ne blenchen heore wyles, heore crokes and heore gyles, but slouz slug-
ginde lyen · slumbrinde in sunne: q þenne come pou my leof · my lemmon my
deore, wiħ liht leytinde loue · to seche me here. q Pou felle for me gostly ·
from heuene to eorþe, and ruddest me raply · of al þat þer was; zif I lyze lodly ·
pou reysedest me redily, and zif I fallynde was · pou breyde me azeyn. At
Þe poynt of my fal · whon I most dradde, pou kuddest þe quikly · to make res-
IS nas. 2 S genterise. 3 S maken. 4 Ms. þoledest. 5 Ms. takest hit. 6 r. Þi ?
Ms. tolleh. & S gynnes. 9S of a ch.
to
#556
-8 1390 in ifhs. Wheth
3
me in TLG.
) A talking of the love of God.
357
cous. And al fihte bou. Þus •vche day neowe, to wite me and were mein Tuy
gostliche weorre. Pou .vnderfonge bodiliche. for me for to fihten, here in world- 3
liche lyf · azeynes hem : alle: I wiþ pouert and wiß schome · ageyn þe saut of
Þe world; wip peyne & wiþ passion · azeyn þe flesches lustes; wip louhnesse and
Mekenesse' wiß loue and studefastnesse, azeyn þe þridde fo, þe fend: and al
þou ouercome. (And taugtest me beo þi-self . & sendest me mizte, forto
weorre wiþ hem in þe selue wyse, þat I ne dredde? meschef: ne recchen of
worldlich wo, of seknesse bodiliche · or gostlich fondynge, wrong of luper
monnes werk · or of wikked moupes, of schome or of schendschupe · wib-oute.
mi gult, but euer stonde wiß þein studefast herte , and pole ponkyndeliche.
al þat þou sendest. For alle suche bales · hose riht kennes, as witnessep 2 holy
writ. beop toknes of blisse— Iacobus: Omne gaudium existimate, fratres, cum
in variis temptacionibus incideritis. Per art pou redilich · and stondest bi-sydes :
wij alle bat bep so biset and troubled in care / or in anguisse . or wandrep
wawes Of þis worldly séé · seilen and faren; / þi-self steerest þe schip. & ledest
to be hauene Of euer-lastynde pes · þer alle weoles aren, / and art in vch a
such fiht in þe vanwardes, & makest scheld of þi-self. þi lemmon to sparen. //
Now mi dere lemmon · whonne hit so fareu , þat hose harde be stond · hauep
þe to feere, / euer wolde I fihten and seilen in care / wij eni worldliche wo:
to haue be so neere. / Euer-lastinde fiht · leuer me ware, / to ben so sikerlich.
scheld at þi baneere, / þen after fikelynde weole · for a gynge fare, , and leuen
Þe my lemmon · my derlyng my dere. TA my deore lemmon · whil I be harde.
cluppe, wip loue-likynde pouzt · lastinde in herte, / al siker am I schild · azeyn
þat me werren, ne þar i dreden here res: ne beo bei neuer so smerte. į Peruu
wol I resten · and taken my truwe, þi-self stoppest my foos · and makest her bo s
to sturte, / and so me witerliche witest · euer while i dwelle, of heore ferliche
affrayes · þat comen ouerbhwerte. || A mi swete lemmon my derlyng my deore, /
hold euer my pouzt · in siht of þi chere, / þat I ne fitte be from · in fiht þat
is here, / but euer schild me wip þi-self · to fiht in pi feere. Mi swetyng
mi derlyng, min hony-brid mi luffyng, swettest of alle ping: zif me þat lastyng /
of þi loue-likyng. Do me for to serue þe, lere me forte loue be · louynde
lord: so þat onliche și loue · be al my likyng.
A Ihesu my swete loue pat pou art wonduy riche, as al-weldinde lord · in TL
heuene and in eorpe: and pore penne pou bi-come · for me þat am so wrec-
40 726
ched, whon pou in þi childhod . weore leyd in þe cracche; schend pou weore 40/ 60
and schomed • of wikked mennes moupes, fondet after wiń þe fend · on fele
cunne wyse, and sipen atte laste · schendfuliche & schomeliche, wiþ strong
dep & pyneful · hongede on þe Roode. I Pore were pou furst boren · of þi
leue mooder, þat mayden is and moder · of pe þat art hire fader. For in þe
borwh of Bethleem : ne fonde pou no leupe", wher in þi Bury-tyd · pou mihtest
pe resten, but in a wouhles 5 hous · a-midde pe strete, þat was a symple
refuit · in so cold a tyme. Per weore pou wounden · and swapeled in Ragges,
and after coldliche i-leyd · in a beestes Crubbe. So woldest pou be conuer-
saunt · and comuyn wiħ bestes, to maken vs caytyues. · þat 'beestlich liuen
i S drede.
?S witnesse.
3 Ms. vauwarde.
4 = shelter (Halliwell).
5 = wall-less.
I
0-13-90 in
the. th. I
Transfer
358
.
Pieces of Ms. Vernon.
Po
TLR
42/1o
heere, wiß þi-self conuersaunt · in heuene-riche blisse. Þus poreliche bi-gunne
bou · Ihesu my swete lemmon, for to lede pi lyf · in londe for me. // But whon
þou eldore weore · þow wox more pore. For furst in pi childhod · þou beddest
to þi foode / Þe Milk of þi mooder brest · pe Maydenes pappe, and þi Moder
redi · euer whon pou woldest, & whon pou sore weptest · to stille pe þerwip:
But whon pou eldore was: pou pat alle feddest, bobe foules in þe flyht. &
.fissches in þe flod, men & alle beestes · þat heere lyf leden, poledest for
defaute of mete · mony hote honger, in bote of vre sunne · as tellep holy
writ. And þou þat þe heuene · and al þis world wrouztest, ne heddest in
al pis wyde world. whon pou scholdest dyen, wher-on pou miztest · þin holy
hed resten. But euer bi-foren heddest þou · in zoupe and in elde, wher-wiß
pou mihtest · hulen þin holy bones. But atte laste of þi lyf · in þi meste
neode, whon pou for me so reuply · heng vppon pe Roode, þer ne heddest
pou so muchel · of al pis worldes wynne, wher-wip þin holy bodi · pou mihtest
inne folden. q Al þus my swete lemmon • pore pou were þi-seluen, & to
pouert of þis world · sannest þow þe toke. Pouert þow louedest · and pouert
þou taugtest, and treweli Þou be-hiztest · þin endeles blisse / to alle þat here
for Þi loue · pouert and pyne, Mesey[s]e and Mischeef · in pacience taken. TA
swete lord · hou scholde i ben riche / here vppon eorpe: & pou my leof so pore?
... as þi-self weore pore · for be loue of me, for to beo riche wiß be · in pin
for, oune blisse; ffor wiþ pouert & wiþ wo · schal me wele buggen.
H41.' But pouert wiß menske · is eth forte þolen. (B)ut þou lord for my loue ·
wib al þat ilke pouert, þou weore schomeliche ischent · reuyled and dispyset.
For often men pe seiden · schomeful wordes / & scornful hokeres: longe weore
i al to tellen. // But [more] schome þoldest þow · þat neuer sunne wroubtest;
weore I-taken as a peof · & brougt bifore luber men, hepene houndes · fforte
be demed of hem, þat art þi-self demere · and Iuge of alle worldes. And
pou lord pat art lyf · of al monkuynde, weore dempned to be deb. & þat to
schomeliche deb, and be mon-quellere · was to lyf i-saued; ffor alle þei crizede
on pe · so grisliche and loude: »honge Ihesu on Roode · & leese out Barraban«,
and was pat Baraban a þef · worþi forte dyen, þat wiß tresun in þe Borwh •
hedde à mon quelled! || But more schome þow poledest · my sunne for to
beeten, whon sunfol men so viliche · in þi face spitten. A mi swete lemmon.
my derlyng my deore, ho mihte more schome þolen · cristen or hepen, þen
þat men so lodlich · in his face spitten? and þou in þi louesum leor · þat angeles
to biholden: nare neuer folle, such schome poledest"! & al pe þhouzte menske
for be loue of me, so þat pou miztest wiþ þat foule spittyng · wassche my
soule, & maken hit louelich · & schene in þi sihte. For-pi pou biddest me · euer
þenke þer-vppon, and seist on pis wyse: Scito quoniam propter te mortificamur tota
dies; [propter te sustinui] obprobrium, operuit confusio faciem meam, »Vnderstonde,
pou seist, and þenk · þat I for þe loue of þe. suffre schome & bismare: schend-
ful spittyng · of ynworþi mén, hepene houndes · amidde my face. And perfore
ne dred pe nouzt · ffor be loue of me, to pole worldes schome · despyt and
wikked wordes Of wikked mennes moupes · wip-outen þi gult«. q And schome
line
1 Ms. muche.
cf. Ps. 68, 8.
2 Ms. mon.
3 = ne are.
4 Ms. boledest bou.
5 Ps. 43, 22.
com;
LU
to #556
a 1890 in ithes. Wr. I
LRT
2
things we
talking of the love of God.
359
schome · La
of alle schome · soffredest þou lord, whon Þou weore hongedal mooder-naked:
wiþ-oute clop or clout · be-twene two þeues. Also. Þei seiden · þe envyous
· Iewes: »He is worse þen a þef · & more schome worþi, and perfore hong
him heize · bi-twene hem bope, as he þat is heore mayster & worse pen
þei«. q A Ihesu my lyues loue · my derworpe lemmon; herte may to-bersten
þat þcron þenkep, folliche as hit was · in þi deolful deþ! q Þou þat art
worschupet. of al Monkuynde, of alle bales bote · and angeles blisse: mon
for to worschupen & salien from pyne, woldest of wikked men · þole so muche
schome. Men speken mony tyme . of wondres pat fallen, of selcoup þinges,
þat in þis world misliche · ofte be-tyden: 9 But pis was þe moste wonder.
þat euer bifel in eorþe, wonder ouer wondres · seppe þis world bigon: þat on-
lepi kuynde kyng · coround in heuene, pat schop alle schaftes and weldep
alle þing, to worschupen his enemys. wolde so mekelich, he þat is so loue-
lich · honge so schomelich, bi-twene two þeues · as he were a þef. TA
swete Ihesu swete leof, tech me forte loue he. so deore as pou louedest me.
my deore lemmon; so þat onlich hi loue · beo euer al my likyng, my mourning
my longyng, wip-outen eny endyng, amen.
But my swete lemmon · Inouh were și pouert · [&]? þi muchele schome : 1
wiþ-outen oper peynes. But be ne þhouzte neuer Inouz · for to buggen fol- 446
liche · my loue al enterliche · whil þi lyf laste. // A swete Ihesu Merci: what
pris settest on me? Ne was neuere vnworpi þing · half so deore abouzt! For
al þi lyf in eorbe · euer was in muche swynk · for me ynworþi wrecche, and
euer þe lengor be more; þat bifore pin endyng • so harde pou swonk, & trauay-..
ledest so sore: þat red blod pou swatest — Factus est sudor eius sicut gutte san- ker
guinis decurren[tis)? in terran; ffor as seynt Luc seiß · in his holy gospel: þou com as
weore in so strong swynk · þat þi swot as blod-dropes, ron from þin holy bodi •
doun vppon pe ground. But what tonge may tellen · what herte may þenken ·
for serwe or for roupe, of þat harde boffetyng, þat horlyng and defoulyng,
þat þou þoledest schomelich: at þi furste takyng ; whon þat Iudas Scariot ·
brouzte helle-houndes, wiß treson þe to taken & bringe til heore princes. And
hou heo be bounden · so egerlych & so faste, þat þe blod sprong out · at þe
fynger nayles: as holy halwen hit siggen · & writen is in boke. And bounden
þe so harde : & ladde pe forý ruydlich, betynde reuplich, on Bac & on scholdres :
and on vch a syde. And. bi-foren pe princes, buffeteden [be] & scornden · &
blyndfellede þyn ezen, pleieden a-Bobbep : & maden þe heor fool, & spitten in
þi face · mony tyme & ofte, and maden hit so wlatsum · so bleyk & so blo:
wij betyng & bustyng · and spittyng & spoutyng; wipouten eny merci: pei dihte
pe so. "Þei grenneden vppon be · and waggeden heor heuedes · and blatten
out heore tonges' and bonteden on pe schomeliche · and maden þe pe mouwe.
Sipen by-fore Pylate · hou þow weore naked · bounden til a pyler · and scourget
so sore; so þat þow ne miztest . none weys wrenchen: ne heore smarte lassches •
bi none gate blenchen. q Per weore pou for my loue · wiþ harde knotti
scourges, swongen and beten · so smart and so sore: so þat þi lonely leor,
þat was so briht and so cleer, was al to-fouled and I-schent, þi skin to-riuen
i Ms. of.
? Ms. decurrens.
to
1390 in the Web Transfer
Pieces of Ms. Vernon. C1390 Hotteita

360
TLG
48
and to-rent; þer stremed on vche syde a flood, of water and of red blod: þow
lord wiþ so meke mood · þoledest al heore wille. Sipen on þin hed was set •
a Coroune of scharpe pornes: so þat after vche a þorn · be rede blod gon
folwen. Sipen zit þei beoten doun · þe coroune vppon pin hed; and dres-
seden bit and praste, and duden hit sitte faste, so þat þe scharpe pornes . wente
in to be brayn. Setten a reod in pin hond · in stude of kynges septre, in
scorn & in heping, and maden to be heor knelyng, and seiden »heil be pou kyng«:
and spatten in þi teep. And afturl al pat vileny, ne wolde pei not be? þerbi, but
lupurli & falsly · dempned pe to be dep. '
A derworbe lord · what schal I nou don? Nou mai I liue no more, for
13 serwe and for sore: now my dere lemmon · schal vnderfonge dep. Nou mai
I Murne strongly, nou mai I wepe bitterli; nou may I syke sore · & serwen
euer-more. 11 A, now me leden him forý - to mount of Caluarie, to be qualm-
stouwe · to don him pere o dawe. A, my deore lemmon · he berep þe Roode-
tre: on his bare scholdre · for þe loue of me; his bodi is so tendre · his bones
longe and lene: al stoupynde he goś · þat. del hit is to seone. | A, mi swete
lemmon, Þe duntes þat þei smyte þe, pe serwe þat þeiº don þe! on vche a syde
Þei þreste pe · forbward vnwrestly, crizinde hidously, to pi deb hastily; & al
þou þoledest louely: for me wrecche vnworþi. Lord þat art almihti, zif me for
þi merci · muynde of þat vileny, and felyng at myn herte: þi peynes hou þei
smerte. 11 A swete Ihesu leoue lyf, hou mony men nou folewe pe · for to
wondren on pe; þy frendes ben sori · and serwhfol in herte; þi foos folwen
hokerly, and lyken in heore maystri, and horlen þe lodly · in al þis worldes
sihte. || Allas: nou þei han I-brouzt him · þider þer þey wolen hin slen.
Now þei casten him doun · and leien him on pe cros. Now pei streynen out
his lymes · his senwes al to-bersten; his lipes breken out of Ioynt: þat non of
hem may lasten. q Allas my deore lemmon · hou may men for reupe, azeyn
so muchel fordede · do pe al pat wo? To be þat art so loueli, so feir and
so freoly, and poledest so mekeli'" al þat þei wolde do! TA Ihesu now þe
driuen · pe blunte vnruide nayles: porw pi feire hondes · and þi frely feet.
Nou berstep pi skin · þi senwes and pi bones; min herte cleuep in my brest :
for reupe of þi mones. TA Ihesu swetyng, wher is eny wepyng, wher is welle
of teres, to lauen on my leores, þat I neuere bi day · stunte nor be nihte, nou
I seo þi feire lymes so reupli I-dihte. Pe blood of þi woundes · springes so
breme, and stremep on pi white skin · so reupe to sene; þy. Moder lokep þeron.
þat virgyne clene: hir serwe sit Þe sarre · ben pin as ich wene. A: now bei
setten vp3 þe cros · & setter vp þe Roode-treo, & pi bodi al be-bled · hongep
þer-onne. A: Ihesu now Þei setten þe cros · in to be morteis : þi Ioyntes
sturten out of lip · þi bones al to-scateren, pi woundes ritten a-brod · for-goled
so wyde: lord þat pe was wo bigon · in pat ilke tyde! A, my deore lemmon.
whon bou heddest al bled, pou yox al druye · and gonne þhirste sore; þei
boden þe to drinken · Eysel and Galle, but whon pou tastedest þcrof · þow
woldest no more. // A: my swete lemmon · teken* al þyn oper wo, Þei bonte-
den vppon Þe · whon pou heng on roode, so mylde and so meke · as hit weore
i overlined.
2 r. let be?
3 So far Ms. Simeon.
4 = to eken.
a 1890 in Ups Wr. "
56.1

e here TLC
A talkyng of the love of God.
361
a lomb; louzwhen þe to bisemare · grennynde foule, wib schome schakinde here TL
hed · in hoker & in scorn, q seiden in vbbreid · »lo wher he hongep, þat coupe -1/32
saue oper men: and sauep nouzt him-seluen«. Weo: lord: vre loue is luitel
worp • pat costen þe so deore, and zit vnne we hit nouzt · þat þou hit haue
here, but folwen vr lustes . in pe deueles fere, as þauz he be? beter pen þou: and
more worý were. q Allas allas for reupe · þat I schal pe my lemmon, so foule
seo demeynet: and myn is al þe gult; al for-drawen and for-rent, bi-spit &
schomeliche schent, to sauen vs per we weore: for þat was al pi cause. (A
Ihesu swete lemmon: hou mai I nou libben: Nou I seo be leoue lyf · Þe loue
of myn herte, mi derlyng my longyng, mi blesset ilord my swetyng, wiþ armes
white and louely · streyned so streytly · wib-outen eny merci · naked on þe
Rode: so þat men may tellen · al pin holy bones. q Per pow hongedest reuply,
so cold and so blodi; al rau and wori: is þi swete bodi. q A swete Ihesu · deore
lemmon, nou pou dizest for me, hongynge on Rode-tre, & letest þin hed falle
doun · pat del hit is to se. pe white of pin ezenis tornd upward. A
Ihesu · nou deskep pe sonne. Nou pe eorpe tremblep: and pe stones bersten.
Nou pe temple cleouep for serwe of my lenumon. Nou rysen vp þe dede, in
witnesse of þi godhede: & walken in Ierusalem · as writen was biforen. q Allas
no ping ne serwes · ne noping ne rewes: for my deore lemmon · þat pineful dep
and schendful, wib-oute sake of sunne · soffred on Þe cros. TA mi deore
lemmon, mi serwe mi blisse · myn only lyues loue, þat dizedest so strong dep:
for al þis worldes lyf; pe pynfolest & reupfolest · þat euer þolede eni bodi,
or mihte dyen onne: for be loue of me: 9 A swete Ihesu pin ore · Let me nou
dyen · in þi blisful armes, from al pe loue of þis world · in to be loue of þe; hace
2.gr
But zit my derworpe leof · whon bei hedden þe slayn: al at heor wille, ne T2G
þzouzte hem not þat Inouz, þat þei seze și dede bodi · so reupli honge on
52/26
Roode; ne wolde Þei not spare pe · de[d]ne o-lyue, but brouhte forý Longius :
þat was a blynd kniht, and token him a scharp spere · to stinge porw pin herte,
so þat hit clef a-two and of þat ilke welle of lyf, þorw þat grisly wounde :
runne two floodes: [ þi Riche precious blod · pat al be world bouzte, and þat
deore holy water · þat al pis world wosch Of sake and of synne, þat þei were
fallen Inne: what þorw heore oune gult · & Adames sunne. q A Ihesu swete
lemmon · hou kuyndeliche openest pou me: þi derworpe herte · lyues and
depes, / fforte knowen witerli · al þi loue per-inne, and writen hit dernely · in
myn herte trewely, wiß trewe loue-lettres: of pin berte-blood. Wiþ wronge
þenne schulde I pe · al myn herte wernen: seppe pou hit bouztest · so harde &
so dere: myn herte wiþ þin herte · mi loue wip þi loue, mi soule wiß al þi
blisful bodi: & pin holy soule! TA, swete Ihesu gode leof · let me be pi
in myn herte: as pou wiþ pe speres ord. was stongen for me; so þat onliche
þi loue · be euer al my lykyng, mi zerning mi longyng, swete Ihesu heuene
kyng, in þouzt and al my worching, wib-outen eny makyng · of eny oþur mong.
LAdi seinte Marie · Moder & Mayden, muche was þe serwe · set at þin herte,
whon pou at þi sones dep stoode him so neih! Þou seiz, al his serwes · þat
i omit be? 2 r. or. 3 Ms. deb
54/13
a
Transfer

362
Pieces of Ms. Vernon.
at
was so harde bi-lad: II-streyned on pe Roode · his bodi al on bloode, pe kene
coroune yppon his hed: þat loueliche foode; His syde wiþ þe speres ord
opened so wyde; bi feet and bi hondes · to-reiht on vch a syde, Þe stremes of
his deore blood · þat gunne dour glyde: Ladi wo was þe bi-gon: in þat ilke
tyde. | Þou lokedest on his swete leor - Þi derlyng þi deore, houngynge reup-
liche · on Roode in þeues feere; Þe peyne of his passion · be chaungyng of his
cheere, pin herte stongen Þorw-out · þi dep als hit weore -- animam tuam per-
transyuit gladius. q Pou fel swonynde doun · ofte als I wene, and sikedest &
sobbedest · ful sore bitwene; þi rode wox al won. Þin heuz al grene, þat was
biforehond so briht · so feir & so clene. Ladi þe teres · þat þou þere leete,
þi breste & pi chekes · maden al weete; pou lokedest vpward · to him þat was
so swete, & euer at þe ende · ful sore pou dudest wepe. T Whon pou bi-heolde
his woundes · so grisly and grete, and þat þou scholdest him for-gon & bodi-
liche leete: þen wox in þi breste · my ladi so swete, monyfold serwe · and
muchel vnymete. Ladi for þat serwe · þat sat pe so sore, þat þou heddest
for him · and he for pe zore, to slaken out of serwe · al þat per-Inne wore :
led hem to þi blisse · al þat he polede fore.
LAdi Milde Marie · Mooder of Merci, help of alle helplese · and sunful of' hele,
socour of alle serwe · & boote of alle bale, to alle þat trusten in þe: and sechen þin
helpe: T help me Marie · milde queene, ladi of heuene ... Emperisse and Mayden · &
Godus deore Mooder. Derworbe ladi · for to saue synful: Ihesu Crist bicom þi sone**
and dude pe þat menske; ffor vre sake weore pou maad · Maiden Godes Mooder.
Neore pow nouzt as pou art · hized quer alle , qween of alle blisse: zif synful
ne weore. For-þi ouzten sunful · calle to be sikerly, for whom þou hast þin
heyznesse · and þi muchele grace. Maiden and Moder pou art: and his Mooder
þou art, his hondewerk þou art · his spouse and his douzter: his pat welde and
wrouzte · alle maner schaftes, þat regneþ ay in blisse · wib-outen eny ende.
9 A swete ladi Marie · muchel is þat menske: euer to ben in blisse · such a
sones Mooder, wij al hol Maydenhod. and Maydenes menske; and hast him so
in baundoun · and al at þi wille: þat he wole al þat þou wolt · ouer-al be
forbed. And forte schewen vs þis · he streihte þe his Riht arm · as he heng on
Roode · and bouwede touward pe · his derworpe hed · as zif he seide to þe:
»Moder al þat þou wolt · schal ben at þi wille«. TA swete ladi · whi ne haue
I euere · by-fore myn herte eizen · youre þreo serwes: pi sone i-streyht on
Roode · þorw-driuen feet and hondes · wib Irene nayles, blodi his syde; and
bou stode him bi · and seynt Ion þe Ewangelist, weopynde on eiper half · wiþ
serewhful sykes. Whi ne bi-holde I euere · þis in myn herte, and þenke þat
hit was for me and for our sunfol, þat he rudde out of helle · and zaf vs
heuene-blisse? | Þis pouzt wolde sikerliche . cundle a brennynde loue; þat
weore þe herte neuer. so cold · ne schulde neuer sunne · ben folfuld in dede.
þer (þat] þouzt ware.
A Ladi þi? Ioye · þou heddest of his vprist, after al þi serwe · pe þridde
day of his dep; whon Þou wiß Þin eizen · seze him o-lyue, in vndedliche lyf.to
Ilan liuen wib-outen ende! Þer com þe cumfort · and Ioye after care: whon pou
561
1r. and of sunful.
? r. þe.
to #556.
= 1390 mm Hloutta

more A talking of the love of God.
363
lle ping. T La
seze him glorifyet · bope god and mon, his bodi þat was seuenfold · briztor
þen þe sonne; blisful was pe swete siht · þe to loken onne! || Ladi for þat
blisse · þat þou heddest þenne, bring me to þat blisse · þat þou wonest Inne.
And parte wiſ me of þi deol · in herte for to felen · sum of his serwe · þat
þou for him heddest. And help me þat I here mote dyen · in oure bobes
loue: and rysen at domes-day · in oure boþes? blisse; Pat I may per felen · þe
fruit of bugginge: and ze brouken of me. pat was so dere bouzt.
A swete Ihesu sweete leof my lemmon my deore lord, swettest of alle þing.
my leue lyf my lyues loue: // pou me hast defendet . azeyn myn enemys preo, wiþ so
al þi lyf. wiþ þi dep, and madest of me vnworþi: þi lemmon and þi spous, // and
brouztest me so seliliche · out of pe false word?, as Þin owne derling · to pin owne
boure, q and as I weore pin owne brid · here in to þi cage, to wone wiþ þi-self. in
þis holy place, þat no mon of al þis word · ne þar me wip delen: but þi-self al one ·
1 Ihesu my deore lemmon; where þat I may þe sen · In muynde so priuely · and
wouwe be so louely · and cluppe pe swetely · and clepe pe so redili, and as I
were þi druri · ay dwelle þe bi; wip a loue longyng · and a stille mournyng,
þat me ne schal beo lykyng · in þouzt of worldliche þing, but in Ihesu heuene
kyng, mi leue lyf mi derlyng, þat haþ me loueliche lad · in to his seli wonyng.
T A lord blessed mote pou be · þat hast ordeynt for me : bope mete and drinke:
cloping and oper ping & me ne þar not swynke, but only tende to þe: Ihesu
blessed mote pou be. TA swete Ihesu swete leof · my lyues loue my swetyng,
to þi chaumbre: leue lord þou hast me brouzt, and more blisse pou hast me hizt:
þen wiþ herte may be þouzt. 9 A, swete Ihesu my deore lemmon · þat þus
muchel hast don for me: what may I þenke • what may I speke .what may - 25
I worþly don: for pe loue of þe? what may I zelde pe · what may I þole for
pe · azeyn þat þou hast poled for me? TA, mi swete spouse · mi deore loue:
me be-houeþ þat pou beo . eep for to paye, as I wot wel þat þou art; for a
wrecche bodi and a weyk · I haue heer on eorbe, pat I hedde of þi zifte · ful
zit such as hit is, I ziue hit þe enterlyche · to pi seruise: nayled and sprad faste
in my roode · in þis holy ordre, as Þou weore nayled for me · in þin harde
roode. TAnd here wol I dwellen · wip pe my swete lemmon: and neuer-more
wol I . of my Roode comen, neuer wbil þat I lyue: for be loue of þe; þen
wol I beo grauen · heer ynder Þe eorbe · as pou weore grauen for me: and
on domes-day wol I rysen azeynes þe, and wenden þenne al hom wiþ þe: and
wonen in þi blisse · þat þou greiþest nou · vche day to me. A swete Ihesu
leoue lyf · so murie and so swete hit is · forte dwellen heere, on Rode as þi
fere, to pole pyne for pi loue · þat bouztestø me so dere.
For whon I in my soule · wij al hol muynde · seo be so reuply · hongen 1 la
on Rode · þi body al on blode, și limes al to-reygte · þi Ioyntes al to-pligte, bo
þi woundes and þi leoue leor · þat was so briht and so cleer, ben now mad so
grisli · and þow lord so mekely · tok hit' al so louely · for me þat was þin
enemy: penne fele I redili · a tast wonder ferli of þi derworpe loue · þat
L
1 Ms. bābes.
= world.
3 st. overlined.
ats
in
thes. When
Transfer

364
Pieces of Ms. Vernon.
TLG
precious druri, þat fullep myn herte so.. pat al worldliche wo: hit makep me
þinken hony-swet · whoderward so euer i go.. Swete lord pin ore · where is
eny blisse · azeyn þe tast of þi loue · at þin owne come: Whon þyn . oune
Moder · so louely of chere, þyn owne bodi on Þe cros · derworpe deore, in þe
selue liknesse · þat pou þenne were, beodep me to cluppen · as myn owne fere.
Penne ginnep þe loue · to springen at myn herte, and glouwep vp in my
brest:wonderliche hote: pe loue-teres of myn neb · rennen ful smerte, my song
is likynge of loue · al wip-oute note. I lepe on him raply · as grehound on
herte, al out of my-self. wip loueliche leete?: and cluppe in myn armes · þe cros
bi pe sterte, pe blood I souke of his feet · þat sok is ful swete. I cusse and
I cluppe · and stunte operwhile, as mon þat is loue-mad · and seek of loue-sore:
i loke on hire þat him bringe · and heo biginneb to smyle, as pauz hire likede
wel · and wolde i dude more. I lepe eft þer i was · and auntre me pore, i
cluppe and I cusse · as I wood wore: I walewe and i souke · i not whuche
while, and whon I haue al don · zit me luste more. I Þenne fele I pat blood ·
in pouzt of my Mynde, as hit weore bodilich. warm on my lippe : and pe flesch
on his feet · bifore and beohynde, so softe and so swete • to cusse and to
cluppe? Heo openeþ hire Mantel · þat ladi so kuynde, and happeb vs per-vnder.
in pat muri fitte; zif eni mon vs askep · þeer men may vs fynde, as hem þat
lykep þer þei ben · & lop is for to flitte. Swete lemmon leoue lyf / mony
wo haue bei · þat are not holliche wiß þe: in þin holi cluppyng. But wel is
me þat I may, euermore niht and day, al þis world forsaken · and beo wiþ
Þe al one. Also my swete Ihesu · my deore lyues loue, as Þou on þe roode ·
sperred wiþ þenayles · zeue Þi soule out of þi bodi · for þe loue of me: I also
my swete lemmon · I as on my Rode · sperred in myn ordre · from worldliche
murpes · and fleschliche lustes · in peyne wiþ þe, zeue my soule · and my bodi •
and al myn herte blisse: wiſ al þe lust of my lyf · to Þe loue of þe. And I
preye pe derworpe lord · for þyn holy nome: þat þou receyue loueli · of me
wrecche vnworþi · þat zifte so freoly · al in to þi merci, þat I neuer loue opur
þing · but al one þe. For I ne may nouzwher my loue · my bodi ne my
soule: bi-setten better elles-where · pen on pe al one, so louelich lord as pou art ·
so worþiful and so precious, in bodi & in soule: and eke in deite, bat hast
only in þi-self. alle maner Þinge: wherfore eny þing · mai be loue-worpi. For
zif I my wrecche loue · beode for to sullen, and sette þeron as heiz pris · as
herte may beo-benken: zut weore al þat for nouzt · þat þou ne most hit hauen.
For sikerliche my swete lemmon · pou hast don more perfore: and zit woltou
more don · þen I my-self con þenken: And perfore I coude not · ymagen so
heiz pris, þat þou nast don heer-tofore · moni-fold more. For lord whon þat I
nas nouzt · þenne pou me maadest: and þat lyk bi-seluen; and for pou madest
me lord · al pat I am: I am al pat I am · holden to be one. For in þat ilke
makyng: þou madest me so clanly . so feir and enterly, wip-outen lac of eny
lyme: lyk þi-self al-one, wip al my fyue wittes · resonable as angel, and þin
holy angel .a-signet my seruaunt, and nouzt onliche he: but also þi-seluen;
and don me muchel more, ziue me wiþ my cristendam · al hol þi-seluen,
and muchel more þen I con · my-self vnderstonden. 15But zit þow (þat]
1 r. lote. 2 r. clippe. 3 r. bre? 4 Ms. wiþ me wil. 5 The last part offers difficulties
in text and metre, owing probably to its not being fully perfected by the poet.
to #556.
a 1390 in
ther. When the
A talking of the love of God.
365
madest me · pou art so noble in þi-self an hondred þousend fold. and vnymete
more: þen al þis world may þenken. And also muchel as Þou art worth · am I
holden to þe, þat al þi-self hast ziuen to me: and madest me of nouzt. // Wher-
fore in þat wit · þat þou lord hast ziuen to me, wot I wel forso be and seo ·
þat I am bolden · fully to loue pe for me, and þat þou hast me don · muchel
more monyfold · þen I con seon or knowen; and zit a pousend-fold · and vni-
mete more · am I holden for þat þou art · more ben for my-seluen.
1 TL G
But swete Ihesu my lyues loue · nouzt onliche madest pou me of nouzt: But
þerto, whon I was loren porw myn oune defaute, pou founde me and bouztest 64
me · azeyn wiþ þi blod. But what zeue' pou for me. to bugge me to blisse ?
forsobe lord a deore prys: pi-self to be dep. But swete lemmon leoue lyf ·
of my furste makyng: an I holden to be · muchel more pen I am · & more þen
I con penken; and siþen of my fyndyng · & of my deore buggyng, þat þou me
bouztest wip þi dep · am I nou double holden. But so muchel monyfold · and
vnimete more: is in þat deore buggyng · þi derworpe loue i-kud · þen was in
þat makyng, þat I ne wot what I may siggen · ne rikene peronne. But ouer
in(!) al þis worldes wit · may nempnen or penken · am I holden so fer · and so
muchel more: þat al þat euer may beo þouzt · al nis as riht nouzt · azeyn
þat I am holden. ( But zit my swete derlyng · my lyues loue my swetyng, not
onliche madest pou me of nouzt · and after whon þat I was loren · azeyn pou
bouztest me wiß Þi dep · so deore vppon pe Roode: But zit ouer al pis · pou
hast me trewely be-het · al þi-self in blisse; þou þatme madest so · and me
so deore bouztest, woldest wedde me to be · & ziuen euermore þi-self · al hol
to be myn owne.
1 TLG 64 /24
Disko
A swete Ihesu my leoue lyf · my lemmon my gode lord, ini swetyng my - 25
derlyng · swettest ouer alle þing: f what schal I nou siggen? ffor nou am I
þrefold holden for to louen þe: // In as muchel as I am: // and prefold more
þen I con • /) and þrefold wib-outen mep more þen in al þis „world: wij herte
may beo þouzt. 7 On is for my makyng · Tanoper for my buggyng, þe þridde
is for my weddyng: to be myn owne spouse. I A Mi swete lemmon: what
schal I nou don: þat I nam but o-fold · and I-holden to be · al my-self þrefold,
muche more vche fold: Þen herte may þenken? T Nou swete Ihesu leoue lyf .
my derworpe lemmon: al pe pouzt þat i con. onliche bit is for þe, where pat
I may fynde loue: Inouz for to zeue þe. // And þauz I wuste where · so muche
loue to fynden: ne haue I wher to leggen hit. ne wher-in to don hit. I For
wel I wot be sobe · þat þauz my sely herte · weore widdore and largore · ben is
al þis wyde world: zit weore hit not suffisant · half þat loue to holden, ne þe
pousend part · þerof to biclosen; ffor wel I wot sikerly · þat neede hit moste
bersten: wiþ strengbe of loue-longyng to be my leoue lord. Swete Ihesu my
leoue lyf · my lemmon so deore, ffeir swetely and freo and louely of chere,
let me beo þi seruaunt and serue be here: þat I may in pi blisse · sitte pe
neere. · 4 Swete Ihesu my lyues loue, þat sittest so heize in heuene aboue,
9 what schal I don. what schal I seyen · 9 what schal I þenken in þi loue ?
For hit is so wonder muchel · wib-outen eny3 bigynnynge, þat þou me formedest
i Ms. ziue.
? Ms. þæt bou.
3r. in þe.
Transfer to
yks. Wat
366
Pieces of Mş Vernoll.
•
con
TLG
66/28
furst · and madest lyk þiself of nouzt; and eft zit hit is so muchel in þe
middel worchyng: þat wiþ þi bodiliche lyf · þou hast me sipen longe I-souzt,
and wip pi den þat was so hard · vppon pe Roode so deore bouzt; and heiztest
me more monyfold: þen wiß herte may be [b]ouzt'. For al þi-self al one · al-.
weldinde lord, verrey god and sopfast mon in bodi and in soule, þou hast me
higt trewely · forte ben myn oune, in more blisse endeles · þen herte may benken.
And tokne special · bifore mony opure, pow takest me of þi cortesy · as pin
owne druri: Drawen out of þis false world: my trichour and myn enemy,
and put me her priueli · to lere me louely · ffor to singgen swetely · in þin
oune cage: so þat þou beo al my song . wip loue-teres euer among, þat i do
neuer þat wrong · to maken eni oþur mong · of no worldliche þrong · til tyme
of myn hepen-zong, þat I hepene to þi-self: make my passage.
But swete Ihesu leue lyf · my lyues loue mi lemmon, loue be wol I as I
con · and leten for no mon. For nou wot I what I wol don. Sipen þat þe
loue of þe · is so vnymete muchel Tþat I ne con not þenken perof no bi-
gynnyng · for my furste makyng; ne I ne con seo perof · mesure in þe
middel · for my middel buggyng wiþ þi deore dizing; ne I ne con þer-onne :
penke non endyng · for my troupe pliztyng · pat I made at chirche-dore: whon
I was a child zyng · to þyn owne weddyng: Swete Ihesu swete leof · sipen
I ne con of þi loue · be-gynnyng ne endyng, forsope swete lemmon · swettest
of alle þing, a-midde þi loue I wol me don · bitwene to pin armes; T and pere
wo I Islepen and waken, and þere my preyers maken, murpes in mournyng - þer
wol I taken, and al þis worldes lykyng · for þi loue forsaken. q Per wol I cluppen
& cussen, and swete loue-sawes ine wissen, and in a lykynde bap · bapen of
blisse, per flowe teres of loue · wip-outen eny lisse. q Per wol I souken of þi
syde, þat openep azeyn me so wyde, wip-outen eny fluttiyng · per wol I a-bide,
as” hit was opened for me · so blessed be þat tyde. q Per wol I lyuen and
d[e]ye, bi-loken in þyn armes tweyze, and þe my lef loueliche preye, þat þou
me so wiþ þi loue t[e]yze, þat I may of þi merci wiþ þi-self steize, to loue þi
fader in siht of his eyze. A swete Ihesu swete lef · my deore herte my lyues
loue, mi lyf · mi dep · mi blisse: ffor Þou ordeyndest me. to þi deore lemmon,
Bi-twene þin armes ley I me, bi-twene myn armes cluppe I þe; nou zif me
felyng · in þe wipouten ending, and hold me in þi kepyng, swete Ihesu heuene
kyng. Amen.
1 Ms. bouzt.
2 Ms. as as.
p=0.0.in flae-Wor
ALA
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Many religious tracts have, both early and recently?, been attributed to R. Rolle
without sufficient authority, or erroneously. This remark applies chiefly to Tanner,
the acknowledged authority in medieval bibliography, whose long list of works
of R. Rolle (Bibl. Brit. 1748, p. 375) contains divers pieces that are either doubt-
ful (no older or northern Mss. being as yet known to exist) or spurious (being
later adaptations, imitations, or translations of works of his); while others as the
Scale of perfection) must be ascribed to W. Hilton. Many of these pieces are
found in Ms. Harl. 1706 (and Douce 322), the same Ms. that contains the pieces
printed in 1516 unter R. Rolle's name (ed. p. 72—123); others in Rawl. C 894,
Reg. 17 C XVIII (these 2 Mss. having the same contents), Corp. Chr. Coll. Oxf.
220 (contains N. 6—8); others in Ms. Univ. Coll. Oxf., 97. &c.
1. - 7Consilia Isidorit. +
Ms. Harl. 1706.
(Ascribed to R. Rolle by Tanner. This piece occurs twice in the same Ms.
Harl. 1706, fol. 140, and fol. 90; also in Rawl. C 894, Reg. 17 C XVIII fol. 104.
It is a close translation of a Latin text extant-with works of R. Rolle — in Ms.
Mm VI. 17 (without title) and printed with the Speculum Christiani by Wil. de
Machlinia 1484?) under the title: Sequuntur monita de verbis b. Ysidori extracta
ad instruendum hominem qualiter vicia valeat euitare et in bonis se debeat in-
formare. The headings are a later addition; in Mm all the sections begin with
O homo. The translation agrees more with Machlinia's text than with Mm; it is
possibly by W. Hilton or one of his followers.)
f. 140.
? These ben the gadered counsey[les) of seynte Isodre, to conferme man howe
The] schalle fie vyces and folowe vertues.
T Consyderacyon of a man hym-selfe.
U Man, knowe pi-sylfe“, knowe what Þou arte, knowe þy begynnynge: whye
pou were borne, into what vse or ende pou were goten, why pou were maade“,
to what þinge in þis worlde pou were formede. Haue mynde of þy makynge, b[e]"
suche as pou were maade, zee suche as þi maker formede þee, suche as þi creator
ordeyned þees.
Off yuel þouzttys".
Euery day ransake pin herte, euery day examyne pin herte ;. kepe pi soule
fro synnefulle pouzte, and’ lette not foule pouzte ouer-prove." Þi mynde. Whan a
1 In the Mss., several pieces are erroneously ascribed 10 R. Rolle, so in Ms. Digby 18 the
poem on the 7 Penitential Psalms, which more probably is by Rich. Maydestone; in Arund. 286,
2 epistles (:Here byginne) a pistle maad of Richard Hampul as somme supposen, but who euer
made it, myche deuout pinge is perinne'), which, in my opinion, belong to the author of the
Pore Caitiſ ; in Ji vi. 40, f. 207, an extract from the Mirror of St. Edmund; in Harl 674
The clowd of unknowing, and other tracts. Recently, the Catalogues of Mss. have ascribed
many works to R. Rolle without any foundation, so the Memoriale credentium in Ms. Dd I.
I and Harl. 2398, the northern Homilies (Dd 1. I), and all or most of the contents of Mss,
Ji vi. 55, Ji VI. 40, Ff v. 45, the contents of Ms. All Souls' Coll. 24 (and Harl. 2330) &c.
2 title al. om. 3 al. om. 4 Hi adds & thy lyff. 5 Reg. adds; of whos makynge thou
were maade. .6 Lat. Memento condicionis tue.
7 Ms. by.
S Hi om zee-bee.
9 Ms. pounttys. R omits the titles. 10 Hi goo thorough.
von 500 in-fr-
I
Osmanli
T
368
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms Harl. 1706.]
schrewed pouzte towecheþ þee, consent not to hyt; kylle þe serpent? whane he
fyrste apereb, trede a-downe pe serpentys hede, Tcaste ynder foote pe by-
gynnynge of yuelle suggestyon or styrynge to synne, amend synne þere w[b]ere yt
is knowen?. In þe bygynnynge wibstond a schrewde pouzte, and þou schalte
ascape welle the remenaunte.
Off chastyte.
Be pou not defoulyd wiþ eny vnclennes, be pou not spotted poruze eny luste;
lete lechyrye growe no more in þe. T Chastyte ioynep a man to god, to chastyte
ys byhyte pe kyngdome of heuen. Yf þou zite fele the styryngges of þi flesche,
yf þou zite be touched wiß pryckenges of þi flesshe, yf þou zite be styryd wij
pe suggestyon of luste, yf pe mynde of lecherye tykylle zite þi wylle, yf þi flesshe
zite fyzte agens þe, yf lecherye zit temptep þe, and yf luste zit styrep the to
synne: sette byfore pee pe mynde of deep, putte byfore pee pe day ofe bi deep,
sette byfore þinne yzen þe ende of þi lyf, putte byfore þee þe streyte dome þat
is to come, putte byfore pee pe hard tormentys þat ben to come, sette byfore
þee Þe euerlastynge fyer of helle, putte byfore þee pe orryble peynes of helle.
Off contynuale preyer.
Preye 4 wiþ wepynge contynually, preye besylye, byseche god day and nyzte,
morne and sorowe euer for synne, Aryse in þe nyzte to preyer. Lette preyer
be to pe contynualle armure. Pis ys þe fyrste vertu agens temptacyon: deuellys
ben ouercome by preyer; preyer avayleb azen alle yuellys.
Off fastynge.
Chastyse pi body, by fastynge, by abstynence and by scarsnese; bou ma[i]ste
not ouercome temptacyons in her lyze hete, but yf pou be lerned to faste. Poruz
mete forsoße groweb luste, plente of mete styrep þe flessh to lecherye; but by
fastynge luste ys restreyned, by fastynge lecherye ys ouercome.
Off drynke.
Drynke forso be ys þe instrumente of lecherye. Fyer by castynge-to of wode
encresep more and more; be more mater ys in þe fyer, be more ys þe flame.
Off lokynge.
I hynne yzen ben pe fyrste dartys of luste, syzte ys desyer of woman, and
woman of man"; mynde ys cauzte by Þe yzen. Wiþ-draw þin yzen from wantownes,
set hem not in the bewte of flesshe; byholde not a woman to desyre hyr, do
awey the cause of synnynge, and leue bysydes pee pe mater of trespassynge; yf
þou wolte be sure fro lecherye, be bou desceuered fro women, bob in body
and syzte.
Off wommen.
If pou be departed in body from wommen, Þou schalte (falle) from be entente
of synne. Yf þou sytte bysydys a serpente, pou schalte not longe be unhurte; yf
pou be longe byfore a fyre, zhe alle-þouz pou were made of yren, sume tyme
pou schuldeste melte; yf pou' abyde ryzte nye perelle, pou schalt not longe be
syker. Ofte-tyme leyser' haþ ouercome whom wylle myste not.
Off good bysynes.
Lecherye ouercomeþ8 soone a man zouen to ydylnes, luste brennep greuousely
whom sche fyndep ydylle. Luste zeueþ place to trauele, to werke, to bysynes
and to laboure. Perfore: be ware of ydyines, lede not þi lyfe in ydylnes, spende º
þi body in laboure, vse sume maner of bysynes, seke vnto pe sume profytable
werke 10 where-vpon be entent of þi soule may be sette.
i Lat. scorpio.
6 al. ley; Lat aufer.
2 Lat nascitur(!).
; L. assiduitas.
3 al om. 4 Ms. Preyer. 5 and-man al. om.
8 R ouerturnyth. 9 al, were; L. fatiga. 10 R wirker.
* 50
O
rtho-wang
Consilia Isidori.
369
Ms. Harl. 1706.)
Off redynge.
Leeue be moche to redynge, take hede in medytacyon of scrypture, bysye pe in
þe lawe of god; haue a customable vse in deuyne bokes. Redynge trewely (techeb]
what pou schalt schone ..., redynge telleþ whyder pou goeste. In redynge,
wytte and vndyrstondynge encreseþ. Þou schalt moche profyzte in redynge, yf
pou do as pou redyste.
Off mekenesse.
Be pou meke, be pou grounded in mekenesse, [be pou)? laste and loweste of alle.
By mekenesse make pi-selfe leste 3, sette pi-selfe before noman, trowe pi-selfe a-
boue noman; a-vaunte not þi-selfe, boste not þi-selfe", enhaunce not þi-selfe
wanntounly; streche not forbe þe wynges of pryde; so moche pou schalt be pe
more precyouse afore god, þat pou setteste lytylle pryce by þi-selfe. Bere
þerfore schamefastenes in chere by mynde of þi defauzttes, for schame of þi
synnes be dysmayed to loke prowedly, walke wiþ a lowe chere, wiþ a meke
moupe, and wiþ a sad vysage. In hyze worschype, haue grete mekenesse; alle-
pouz pou be of hyze power, restreyne hyznes in þi-sylfe, lete not worschype
make pe prowde; þe beyzer pou arte in dygnyte, pe lower by mekenesse pou
make þee.
Sadnes of mynde.
Be not sory in þi dysesys“, in þi sekenesse panke pou god. Be rather
more bysy" to be hoole in soule, pan in body. If prosperytees. come: be bou
not prowde; yf aduersytees falle: be pou not heuy. Knowe in pi-selfe pat god
hab prowued be in sorowe for þat pou schuldeste not be prowd. Be euen
þerfor in alle pinges; for ioye neyper for sorowe chaunge neuer þi mynde.
Vnderstonde welle pere is no pinge but yt may falle as god wolle, and yf þese
pinges be pouz[tļe on byfore, pei ben pe esyer whan pey fallen; and perfor what-
so-euer happep, suffre yt mekely wip fre wylle.
Off paciencye.
Be more redy to suffre dysese, ben to do yt. Be pacyent, be meke, be softe,
be esy. Kepe pacyence in alle pinges, kepe softenes, kepe mekenes. Sette by-
fore a scharpe worde pe schylde of sufferaunce, and 8 pouz eny man sterre pe to
wrape, pouz he whette þee, þouz he chyde þee, pouz he blame þe, pouz he
repreue þee, pour he do wronge to þee: be bou stylle, holde þi pees, sette
not here-by', speke not a worde® þere-azens; for by sylence pou schalte þe
sonner ouercome.
(Of manhod?'.)
Lerne of Cryste manlynes, take hede at Cryste and be not heuy; he sufferynge
wrongges lete to vs ensample. He bobbyd and buffetyd, spytte vpon and
scorned, nayled honde and foote, crowened wiþ þornes, dampned to be crose :
euermore helde hys pees; ..."and so tempre pou þi dysese by consyderacyon of
rygtewysnes—and pou schalte suffre yt pe lygtelyer, yf bou take hede wherefor
yt comeb.
Off peece.
Loue peece wipoute-forbe, loue peece wipinforþe, kepe peece wij alle
men, wipholde alle men in myldenesse, beclyppe charyte, proue more þi-selfe to
1 al. add: Redynge shewith what bou owiste to drede; L. lectio docet quid teneas (!). ? Ms.
oon, al. be thou. 3 R om By-leste. 4 R om boste-hiselfe. 5 al. disese. 6 al. be besy
rathar. I al. prosperite. 8 al. om. IR adds: kepe silence, answere not wronge, strive
not þere-ayenste. 10 al. no new title. l1 al. add: berefore what disese euer falle to the,
witt þou welle it comyth to the for synne and for thi beste.
II.
24
370
a 1.500 in the Wr.
21509 Courselo -
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
loue pen þou to be louyd. Make peece þere hate ys; haue stabylnes of mynde,
haue goodnes of wylle, be redy in good desyre, speke gladly to alle men; flee
chydynge, be ware of stryues, do awey þe occasyon of stryffe, dyspyse stryffe,
and lyue alwey in peece; stryffe not in eny wyse:
Off compassyon.
Be not glade vppon Þe deep of pin enemye, leeste perauenture yppon pe
falle be same, zhe and' leeste god turne hys wrape fro hym to þee. Who forsope
ioyep of pe falle of hys enemye, he schalle sone falle into Þe same. I Be
(not]glade to sorow vppon hym pat ys dy[s]esyd ; in oper mennys mysesys be not
harde-hertyde, and so oper mennys myscheefe morne as pin owne.
Folowynge of goodnesse.
In alle pi bysynes, in alle þi werkys, in alle þi lyuynge folowe good men,
folowe hooly men, haue before þin yzen þe ensample of seyntys, take hede to
worche welle after vertues of hooly men, lerne to lyue welle by Þe techynges
of rygtewys men.
Dyspysynge of preysynge.
Dispyse pou cheryschynge, preysynge and fauoure of peplys; stodye raþer to
be good þen to seme good; take noon hede who preysep þee, or who dyspysep
þee, leste preysynge dysceyue þee, or blamynge lete pee. If Þou sette not be
preysynge, lygtely pou schalt sette bysydys þe: blamynge. Derfor suppose not þi-
selfe good, bous pou be holde goode in oper mennys tungges; aske þin owen
conscience, deme pi-selfe by pin owne dome, and not by oper mennys speche
but in pin owne mynde enscherche pi-selfe; þere may noman knowe better what
pou arte, pen pou pat knoweste pi-selfe; what profytep [it] pee, sypen pou arte a
schrewe, to be hoolde goode?
Honeste conuersacyon.
Flee pou symulacyon, feyne not holynes in derke cloþinge"; suche as pou
woldeste be holde in alle þi conuersacyon', suche be bou in dede. Schewe þy
professyon in lyuynge, and not in tokenes oonly; in clopinge and in-goynge haue
wiþ be sympylnesse, in þi gate and in þi mouynge clennes, in pi berynge sadnes,
in pi walkynge honeste; nopinge of vylonye, nopinge of vnclennes, noþinge of
wantownes, and nopinge of wyldenes. q Bei ware in pi gouernaunce þat þere
apere nopinge of beestelynes. Zeue not to o þer men cause to scorne þee, zeue
not to eny man occasyone to bacbyte þee.
Good felowschype.
Schone yuele men, be ware of wyked men, flee schrewys, dele not wiþ bro-
pelles; flee be companyes of po men raþeste whiche ben euer redy to vyces.
Ioyne be wiþ good men, desyre pe felouschyppe of dyscrete men, seke pe com-
panyes of vertues men; for who (so] goep wiþ wyse men, he schall be wyse; and
who so draweb to folys, schalle be lyke to hem; for lyke to lyke ys woned to
be ioyned.
Kepynge of þinne eres.
Schytte pin eres þat þou here none yuele; forsake vnchaste spechys, flee
vnhoneste wordys; for a vayne worde soon defouleþ þe soule; and pat ys lyztly
doon (þat is)* gladly herde soone.
i zhe and al. om. 2 om; L. non delectet te dolor super eum qui afflictus est. 3 L. reiicies.
4 L. obscuriori veste. 5 in-conu. al. om. 6 Lat. professionem tuam habitu(!) et incessu
demonstra; sit in incessu tuo simplicitas, in motu puritas, in gestu grauitas, in incessu honestas;
nichil indecorum, nichil lasciuie, nichil petulancie, nichil leuitatis in incessu tuo appareat; non
prebeas de te aliis spectaculum, non des aliis obtrectandi locum. 7 Ms. By. 8 Ms. and;
R that is.
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...
a 1500km-tphce
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Consilia Isidori.
371
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
Kepynge of þinne moupe.
Lete nopinge passer þi moupe pat myzte lette vertue. Lete pe sowne of þi
voyce breke? noþinge but þat þat : nedyþ. Lete pat procede of þi lyppys þat
defoulep not be erys of þe herer. A veyne worde ys taken“ of a veyne conscyence;
pe tunge of man scheweý hys maners, and suche as he worde ys, suche ys þe
soule, for þe moup spekyÞ of þe: habundaunce of pe herte. Refreyne þi tunge
from veyne speche and ydyle, for an ydyle worde schalle not passe vnponysshede;
who so wylle not refreyne hys tunge from ydyle wordys, he schale falle lyztely
in to synefule wordys. Lete pi worde be wip-owte reprefe, lete yt be profitable to
the herers. 9 Bysye pe not ſto] speke þat þat lykep, but þat þat nedep. Take hede
what Þou spekeste & what pou spekeste not, and bobe in spekynge and not
spekynge be rygte ware. Take good avysemente what pou seyeste, leste pou
mayste not calle azen þat þat þou seydeste. Flee pe chaunces of tunge, lete
not þi tunge lese þee. Haue euermore scylence to þi frende; speke whan tyme
ys, and be stylle whan tyme ys; speke not or Þou here, and lete askynge open
þi moupe.
Synne of bacbytynge.
Bacbyte not be synner, but be sory for hym. Kutte 8 fro þi tunge the synne
of bacbytynge, hurte not a nober manys lyfe ..... 9 That þat þou bacbytyste in
a noper, drede pou þat in þi-selfe; whan pou blameste ano per, rep[reue] 10 þin
owen defawtys". If þou wolte bacbyte, þenke on pin owen synnes; byholdel2 not
oper mennys trespasses, but inwardely by-holde pin owne; pou schuldeste neuer
bacbyte, yf þou wolte byholde þi-selfe. Here no bacbyters, lysten not to
tale-tellers; for lyche gylty ben pe bacbyters and be herers. Desyre not pou to
wytte þat þat perteynyþ not to pee; po þingges 18 þat meni speken by-twene hem-
selfe, bysye pe not to knowe; axe pou neuer what eny man spekep, seyeh or
doep; be not to bysye 14, leue suche [bysynes þat perteynep not to þee; by as
grete) "5 bysynes amende Þin synnes, by howe myche pou byholdyste oper mennys.
Off lyynges.
Flee bysylye alle maner of lyynge, and neyper by hape ne be avysemente sey
pou neuer 16 fals; ffor the moupe pat lyej: sleep pe soule. Perefor flee dysc[elyte,
avoyde lesynges, be ware of falsenes, speke chenly, be trewe in worde; deceyue.
no man in lyinge, ne brynge no man in to mys-wenynge. q Speke not oo pinge
& doo à nopere; sey not oo pinge and mene anopere.
Off swerynge.
I utte from þe swerynge, doo awey þe vce of swerynge. Vengiaunce goop
not fro pe housys of hem! þat swereþ myche, but schulde 18 be fulfyllyd wiþ
wyckednesse. Hit ys perylouse sopely for to swere, for ofte swerynge makep
þes custome of sweryngels. Treueh nedep noon oope; a feyþfulle speche holde
the place of a sacramente-20 as who seip: a feyþfulle worde ys as myche as alle
the swerynge of pe worlde 20.
Off a-vowe made.
Do be good þat þou haste be-hote; be not lyzte in worde and harde in
dede. Pou schalte beimyche gylty to god, yf pou zeelde not þat þat þcu haste
a-vowede; Þei dysplesen god pat fulfylen not her avowys; þey ben a-counted
amonges hepen men pat performen not her avowys. 20 I seye not of avowes pat
ben yuelle, but good; ffor yf pou poruz pin owne folye haste made a forned a-
vowe, poruz Þe doome of a dyscrete man be yt wysely turned in to good 20.
1 al. p. out of. 2 al. br. forth. 3 R at. tal. tokyn. 5 al. om. alto the
helpe of the. 7 al, may. Sal. Kitt. I al. add: defoule not thi mouth of a noher mans
synnes. 10 Ms. repente. ll al. synnes. 12 al. loke not vpone o. m. defaltis, but see.
13 al. hat. 14 Lat. euita curiositatem. 15 om. 16 al. not. 17 al, fro his house. 18 al.
and he shall. 19 Lat. periurii. 20-20 added.
24*
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Q-500-müha tre
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W
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Q1500 Pumasta
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#
in
372
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
- To god alle þinge ys open.
Seye not an yuele worde in pin herte: an yuele worde may not be hydde in
scilence; þat þingel þat þou doeste or seyeste wip-in þi-selfe, byleue pou verely
pat yt ys open be-fore god; if men ben stylle, bestes speken. Derfor flee synne
as pour þou myzte not kepe yt preuye, synne pou þere where pou knoweste
god ys not; for þere ys no pinge hydde fro hym. Pou schalte befunden gylty
in pe iugementys of god, pouz pou be hydde to mannys iugementys; ffor he be-
holdep be herte, bat ys wipinforpe he seep, and knowej þat man hym-selfe
knoweb not. f ? Turne þy counceylle and þi werke euermore to god, in euery
dede aske goddys helpe; arette pou alle pinges to goddys grace and to goddys
zifte, truste not to pin owne desertys, in pin owene vertu presume pou nopingea.
Off conscience.
There may no man flee 3 hym-selfe, & pouz an opene fame harme be not, [yit] 4
pin owne conscience dampneþ þee; ffor þere ys no peyne gretter ben ys
pryckynge of conscience. If pou woldeste neuer be sorye, lyue welle; a syker
conscyence sufferep esylye heuynes, a good lyuer hap euermore ioye; þe con-
science of a synnefulle man ys euermore in peyne, a gylty soule ys neuer-
more syker; neyper wounde neiper deep schalle fere þe, yf pou lyue welle
and treuely.
Hydynge of vertu.
If pou wolte multyplye þi vertues, schewe hem not by þi wylle, [hide thi vertues] 6
for dred of pryde and veyneglorye; flee to be seen and þan pou deserueste
mede'; þat þat þou mayste lese by schewynge, kepe pou yt be hydynge.
Off confession.
Schewe þe synnys of þin herte, make open þi8 sch[r]ewed pouzttes. A synne .
schewed ys sone helyd; a defauzte forsope hyde ys made more, synne doon? by
scylence encresep more and more. Truly yt behouep more to schone yuele pen
to amende yt, leste parauenture whan pou falleste pere-ynne, pou mayste not
avoyden yt.
Of fore-pouzte.
By-binke 10 þe longe byfore þe” deede, avyse [be] longe byfore be warke þat þou
wolte doo; encerche yt longe, proue yt longe and so do yt. And whan? pou
haste longe by-pouzte þee, do pou þanne as hou haste proued; in þinges þat
ben certeyn'e of welle-doynge, tary not in puttyngell-ouer tylle to be morowe.
In good pinges tariynge harmep, and lette[b] 12 po pinges þat ben nedfulle 13..
engelaste pronea mia pahamas son
Off techynge.
Lerne þat þou canste note, lest pou be founden an vnprofytable techer; þe good
þat þou haste herde, seye yt; be good þat þou haste lernyd, teche yt; þe more (bat
it is yeuen, be more]14 yt wexyþ. But (yet]"5 lette 16 dedys goo byfore he worde he
whyche pou scheweste wiþ þi mouþe; ffulfylle pou þat in warke whyche pou
tech este in wordys, in schewynge yt by ensample; ffor yf þou teche and doo yt, pou
schalte be holden gloryous. In þi techeynge kepe pe from mannys preysynge;
I al. om. 2-2 follow in Lat. after next passage. 3 Ms. slee. Ms. yf. 5 Ms. for a.
6 om; al.: hide thi vertues preuely. 7 Lat. fuge videri quod esse meruisti. 8 Ms. Þe.
9 L. reuocare. 10 The next 2 foll. are misplaced in the Ms. Il al. ne put. 12 Ms. letten.
13 So far the 1st text in H. R adds here (as in Lat.):
There is no thynge bettir than wisdome, no thynge swetter þan curnynge, no thynge lustier
than knawlech, no thynge wers thane lewednes. Itt is an hygh cunnynge to knowe what hou
shalt flee, and it is ane hygh wrechednes not to knowe whethir bor
and it shalle be shewed to the, go to itt and it shalle come to the, be besy bere-aboute and
it shalle lerne be. Iso R: om in H. 15 Ms. yt. 16 Ms. good' d.
n
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Consilia Isidori.
373
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
so? enforme opere þat þou ? kepe þi-selfe, so teche þat þou lese not be
grace of mekenesse; be ware whyle pou reyseste oper by techynge, þat þou
falle not þi-selfe be desyre of preysynge. Whan pou techeste, vse note derkenesse
of wordys, sey so þat þou mowe 3 be vnderstonde; Þe dyuersyte of personys ys
to been seen; wheré, howe, and whom þat þou techeste be avysed; speke
comon pinges to alle men, and to fewe men schewe pat ys hyd. Be not aschamed
to speke þat þat þou canste welle defende; þat þat þou wanteste of kunnynge,
aske of oper men. By kunnynge 4 trewely schewed hyde þinges ben openned, and
harde pinges ben made lyste.
Curiosite.
Be not besy to knowe pat ys hyde, couyte note to knowe þat owep not to
be knowe. In dysputynge do awey stryfe, do awey frowardnesse and assente
sone to þe troupe; seye not agens ryztewysnesse, stryfue not to avoyde þat ys
ryzte; loue more to here þan to seye, here in þe begynnynge & speke Þe laste
of alle; pe laste speche [is]" better pen pe former.
Off obedience.
W orsshype euery man for be meryte of hys holynesse, after her worpines
zeue to eche man honoure. Suppose not þi-selfe euyn to þi souereyn, zeue
obedience' to pin elders, serue to her byddyngges, bowe to her auctoryte, folowe
her wylle; abeyes to alle men in good byddynges; zite so obeye pee to man pat
pou offende note he wylle of god. Þerfor fulfylle mekely be charges pat pou
haste take vpon þee, be obedyente to goddys ordynaunce, be not hardy to do
a7ens hys wylle. Dyspose alle pinges not wiþ a sturdy wylle, but wip an esye
herte. Be ware of worshippes (which pou maist not haue withoute synne; the
lightnes of worshippis) º ys be grettenes of synnes, and be gretter þi degre ys
pe gretter ys pe peyne.
Off souereynte 10.
Be besy 11 raper to be loued of þi sogettys, pen to be drade; lette pi sogettys
raper worschyppe þee and serue' pe for loue, pen for drede or nede. Qwyte
be so 12 to bi sogettys þat pou be more loued pen dred. Wiþ a souereyne goodnes
gouerne þi sogettys; be not feerdefulle to pi sogettys 13, be suche lorde to hem
þat þey may be glad to serue þe. Boje in ponsshynge and in cheryschynge
kepe a maner; be not to streyte, ne forzeue not to sone, but kepe maner in alle
þi werke. Hit longep to a wyse man to mesure alle pingges, leste of good be
made yuelle. Byholde certeynly what ys conuenyable for pe tyme, wher, whan,
howe, and wherfor, pou comaundeste eny þinge to be done; and pat pou woldeste
were doon to pee, do pou þat to a noper. Be suche to oper men as pou
desyreste oper men be to pee. | Hynder noman wiþ þi wytnes; do noman
harme, leste pou suffre pe same. Kepe manerlynes, kepe ryztewysnes; defende
noman agens trouþe; whyle pou' demeste, be he pore be he ryche, byholde pe
cause and not be persoone. Kepe troupe in alle pingges; sytte pou neuer in
dome wipoute mercy. Be as meke in oper mennys defauztys as in pin owne;
9 so deme oper men as pou desyreste to be demed pi-selfe. Whyle pou arte
mercyfulle in opere mennys gylte, pou haste mercy on pi-selfe; the doome pat
pou putteste vpon a noper, pou schalte bere 'pi-selfe. By what mesure pou
mesureste, yt schalle be mesured azen 'to pe. T Deme noman by suspecyon;
fyrste prou and so deme. In douztys reserue pe sentence to goddys iugemente,
14 and at hys dome be yt demed; and pat þat þou' welle knoweste, at pin owne
dome be yt demed.
1 Ms. Do. 2 Ms. mowe k. 3 al. om. 4 r. comunynge; Lat. collacione enim certa
clarescunt. 5 Ms, schalle be. 6 R furste. R obeysaunce. 8 R Obey. 9om; so R.
10 The next passage is wanting in the older Latin text, but extant in the Ed. 11 R Byse the.
12 R such. 13 be-sog. om in R. 14 R and that thou knowiste to thyne owyne doome be hit
demyd, and þat þou knowiste nott, to goddis doome late it be demyd.
01500
-&45.00 in thes. tr. 2
Cöramailo Sandro (Amin
*
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T
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PL
374
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
Dyspyte of the worlde.
Ife pou wolt be in reste, desyre nopinge of þe worlde; pou schalt haue reste
of soule yf pou putte fro þe be bysynes of þe worlde. Caste fro pe alle pat
may lette be fro good purpose. Be mesured to the worlde, and be worlde to be.
As þouz Þou were dede, byholde not the glorye of þe worlde; sette not by
þat, whyle pou lyueste, þat þou mayste not haue whan pou arte dedde. What-
so-euer þou zeueste, zeue yt wiß good wylle; do mercy wipoute zifte, zeue
almes wipoute heuynes; be good wylle is more ben pe þinge þat is zeuen. Pat
pat ys zeuen wiþ good wylle, þat god accepteþ; but he þat zeueþ wiþ heuynes,
schalle leese hys mede; þere ys no mercy wher ys no good wylle. Doo nopinge
for preysynge, noþinge for worldly opynyon, but oonly for lyffe euerlastynge.
Amen.
These ben pe counselles of seynte Ysodore, whiche ben good and holsume, yf
þere be hade in þe reders and louers of hem wylfulle execucyon.
Follows immediately in the same Ms. Harl., the next 2 pieces, not mentioned
by Tanner:
AL
TY
S
:
..
...
.
2. Augustinus de contemptu mundi.
Ms. Harl. 1706.
(Same text, a little abridged, in the same Ms. Harl., fol. 92).
fol. 1420.
Augustinus de contemptu mundi.
Iffe pou sey to me »pis ys an harde worde whiche pou spekeste; who may
forsake be worlde as pou seyeste and hate hys flesshe? I seye pe forso pe I may
not so dooc: T To hym þat haþ þis mocyon? or pis consyderacyon, seynte
Augusten answerep to bym pus and seip: »My frende, I prey þe telle pou me
where ben nowe Þe louers of þe worlde, whiche weren wiþ vs here but a whyle
a-goo? Pere ys nowe nouzte lefte of hem but asshes and wormes. Byholde
bysyly in þi mynde and se a-ferre wip þi gostely yzen, what pey weren sumtyme,
and what pey ben nowe in tyme presente. Forsope men and wommen þey weren
as we be nowe; þey eten, bey drunken and made hem merye, and lede alle her
dayes in lustys and lykyngges after þe wylle of her concupyscence, and wolde
not be azene-seyde, but leften vtterly Þe wylle of god. Pese peplys a lytyle whyle
floryschydden in her lustys, and in a poynte bei fellen doune to helle. A, what
profytyde to hem her veyne worschyppe and a schorte gladnes, pe pryde of þe
worlde, pe luste of her flesshe, and false rychesse, a grete meyne, and yuelle
coueytyse ? Where ys nowe her loude lauzynge? where ys nowe [her] grete braggynge
.and al[lje her bostynge? Of her gladnes ys nowe made grette heuynes, after a grette
luste suep a fulles greuous ferdefulle peyne wiþ alle vntellable wyckednes. | And
what-so-euer haþ fallen to hem, þe same may falle to þe, for þou arte a man
as pey were, zee a man made of cley-molde. Of pe erpe pou_arte, and of the
erpe pou lyueste; forsope and in to erbe pou schalt turne«. Pis sentencė seip
seynte Austyne.
Whye ys þe worlde byloued þat ys fals and veyne, sypen þat hys welþis been
vncerteyne?
Also soone slydip hys power away: as dope a brokele potte þat fresshe ys
and gay.
Truste ze raper to letters wrytten in yis : þan to be wrecched worlde pat fulle
of synne ys.
H
.
.
.
-
-
-
-
.
--.
-
.-
--...
.
...,
-
-
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
world is
satee
i om in R. 2 Ms. morcyon. 3 Ms. a fulle a; 2nd text: a full gret peyne and wrechednes
1 Title in Harl. f. 92: Despyte of the worlde.
Various readings of the 2nd text (f. 92): I louyde. fals ys. werkis. 2 hys poore powere.
brokyne. false inst. of fresshe. 3 ze om. in the Ise. this wr. that synfulle ys.
*
h
.
1800 Wte
, hoje)
ir
WICE
TACT
.
375
0-1500-
k yho. Utrin
a1500 Whis is pia world ihre)
Nine points.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
Hyt ys fals in hys byheste and rygte deceyueable, yt haþ bygyled manye men, yt
ys so vnstable.
Hyt ys raper to byleue be wagerynge of þe wynde: þen þe chaungeable worlde 5
þat makep men so blynde.
Wheþer þou slepe eiper wake pou schalte fynde yt fals, bope in hys bysynessys
and in hys lustys als.
Telle me where ys Šalamon, sumtyme a kynge ryche ? or Sampson in hys strengbe,
to whom was no man lyche?
Or þe fayre man Absolon, meruelous of chere?' or pe duke Ionatas, a welle-
beloued feere?
Where ys bycome Cesar þat lorde was of alle ? or þe ryche man cloped in purpur
and in palle?
Telle me where Tullyus ys, in eloquence so swete? or Arystotel þe fylosofre wip 10
hys wytte so grette ?
Where ben þese worpi þat weren here-byforen, bope kyngges and bysshopes ?
her power ys alle lorn.
Alle þeys prynces wiþ her power so hyze, ben vanysched awey nowe in twynke-
lynge of an yee.
The ioye of thys wrecched worlde ys a schorte feeste, yt ys lykened to a schadewe
þat may not longe laste :
And zit yt drawep man from heuenes ryche blyse, and ofte-tyme makep hym to
synne and doo amys.
Calle noþinge Þin owne þere-fore þat þou mayste here leese, for þat þe worlde 15
haþ lente pee, efte he wolle yt cese.
Sette pin herte in heuene aboue and þenke what ioye ys þere, and þus to dyspyse
þe worlde y reede þat þou leere.
Thou þat arte but wormes mete, powdre and duste, to enhaunce þi-selfe in pryde
sette not Þi luste,
For þou woste not to-day þat þou schalte lyue to-morowe; þerfore do pou welle,
and þan schalt pou not sorowe.
It were fülle ioyfulle and swete, lordshipe to haue, yf so þat lordshype myzte a
man from depe saue;
But for as myche as a man muste deye at þe laste, yt ys no worschype but a 20
charge lordschype to taste.
4 I the behest. manye om. 5 H. i. r. to be waueryng wynde. 6 or. besynes. and om.
7 sumtyme om. in h. str., noon to hyme manly. 9 was lorde. or om. a ryche, purpylle. in om.
10 ys Tully, wyttis grete. II be. were. theyre. alle om. lore. 12 gret pr. nowe om. with a
t. ey. 13 of thé, that abydeth lest. 14 zit om. a mane. fro heuyne. tymes. hym om.
15 þat om, for om, oft. 16 abouene, to om. Þe worlde om. 17 That thou. 18 wotyst, thow
shalt nat. 19 So om. fro, 20 as myche as a om, a om. caste. At the end, this text has
the foll. verses: Opes terrene per vices sunt aliene, Ne
huius. Dic homo quid speres si mundo totus adheres: Nulla tecum feres, licet tu solus omnia
haberes.
cet al solus opinia
*...
-
.-
.-
..--.
..-.
....
.
:-.*.
"
*
a 1500
g
3. XIX poyntys.)
win
A man þat wylnep for to profyzte in pe wey of perfeccyon and souereynly to
plese god, he muste bysylye studye to haue pe maters of pise .ix. poyntys in hys
herte þat folowep after :
Fyrste byþenke þe howe pou myzte holde þi-selfe wrechyde, foule, and
vnworþi to eny benefyce of god, Also studye howe pou myzte dysplese þi-
selfe, and desyre to plese god aloone. Also desyre pou not to be holden
good & meke, holy and vertuouse, but desyre bou to be holde suche of opere
as pe pinkeþ þat þou art to pi-sylfe; and of his knowe pou pe grette goodnes
of almyzty god pat alle-be-hyt þat man ys so vnworpi and freyle for to synne
and for to offende god, zite he wolle vouchesafe for to takej man to hys seruaunte,
and desyere” man to be hys chylde: and perfor? holde pou not myche pat
1 Ms. by.
2 Ms. we holde.
theo.to
-1800
21500 app God the
376 0
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
þou serueste god, but holde yt a souereyn goodnes of god þat he wolle brynge
Þe to very meekenes of herte, and þat ys be bygynnynge of perfeccyon & of
goodnes of man. The .ii. poynte ys pat pou be not sory neyper mys-payed
wiþ nopinge pat falleḥ, but for synne oonly eyþer for þinge pat ledyþ to synne :
But of alle maner tribulacyon and wronge, dyseses and dyspytys, study for to be
glaade, and hem þat dysesen be studye for to loue specyallye, and for hem prey
to god inwardely,sand of alle maner tribulacyon and woes þanke god lowely and
freendly—for certys po pat god louep he betep hem and chastysep by woo of
Þe worlde, be which wo and dysese makep man to turne to god and hate of þe
worldys condycyons. And pis medytacyon makep a man pacyent, and wij eese
of herte to suffre anguysch and woo for goddys loue, pat suffred alle maner woo
for pe loue of man. The iiide poynte ys þat pou studye for to loue pouerte,
mekenesse and symplenesse, and for to conforme și lyuynge to Crystys lyuynge
þi lorde, and of worldly goodys haue not ouer-moche bysynesse, ne couetyse but
pereto þat þe nedeþ to be sustynaunce of pi body. And býþenke þe welle and
ofte þat þe more ryche and worschypfulle þat þou arte: be more vnlyche pou
arte to Cryste pi lord in lyuynge, and so myche more mater pou haste of sorowe.
And perfor yf pou wolte lyfe withe Cryste in blys, folowe hym in lyuynge and
conforme pi lyffe to hys. The iiiithe poynte ys pat pou dyspyse no creature
seme he neuer so yuele, synnefulle and vnworbi or symple, but haue rewe, pytee
and compassyon of alle as a moder wolde haue of her chylde. And þenke
and holde þat þe dysese and mysese of þin euyncrysten ys þi dysese ; | And as
pou woldeste ese þi-selfe, or ellys as Þou woldeste þat he esyd þe in þi dysese,
so be aboute to esyn hym. The .y.the poynte ys pat pou deme no man ne
no womman, for hou wooste not what þe grace of god worchep in hys soule ;
but whan pe semeþ by eny worde or dede þat eny man or wonman ys falle into
synne, be more sory for hys synne ben for eny bodyly myschefe þat mygte falle
to be, and þenke inwardly þat more precyouse ys þat soule pat ys wownded wip
synne, ben be alle þe erpely bodyes þat Cryste haþ made. And perfor a man
skylfully schulde be more sorye whan he wyste hys euencrysten falle in to a
deedly synne, þan he schulde for bodyly debe of hym-selfe or of enye frende
of hys, for god ys more myspayde wiſ gostly deepe of soule, wiche makep a
man to be departed from hym and from hys blysfule ende, ben for bodely deep
of eny man or womman. The .vi.te poynte ys þat þou loue Þe go[o]d' and be pro-
fyte and be worschype and preysynge of pin euyncrysten as myche as of þi-selfe,
and as þe moder ys glade of pe profyte of her chylde, so be pou glade of þe
good and profyte of þin euyncrysten, and namly of gostly goodys and profyte.
The .VII.the poynte ys pat pou loue man neyper womman ne eny ober þinge 'but
oonly for god, so þat þou loue god for hym-selfe, and? alle oper pinge for
god; for god wole haue nopinge euen loued wiß hym; for þe loue of god where
euer yt be, eyper yt ys aloone eyper yt ys souereyne. The .VIII. poynte
ys, what-euer pou doo þat þou studye to haue god specyally in þi mynde, & in
alle þi werkys princypally desyre the worschyppe of god and be profyt of þin
euencrysten. And in alle þingys and werkes bysyly be aboute for to haue god
present in pi mynde and in þin herte as pouz pou syze hym present wiþ þi
bodyly yze, and so drede hy.m and reuerence bym and loue hym as he were
euermore in pi syzte; for goddys seruaunte schulde neuermore þenke ne speke
ne do but as he wolde do in þe presens of god. For certeynly al' pat pou
þenkeste, spekeste or doeste, god seep yt as verely as pous pou were in hys
presence, bere as he syttyp in heuene. And for goddys loue take hede, yf pou
arte a-schamed for to do a deedly synne byfore pin euyncrysten þe wbiche ben
freyle & synfulle as pou arte and may not greue but þi body, moche more
schuldeste pou be agaste to synne byfore pi god pat neuer trespased and schalle
be þi domysman at þe day of dome. : The .ix. poynte ys þat incaas pou
1 Ms. bi god.
2 Ms. and in.
3 Ms. 25.
377
Q1500 q PPead ()
Meditacio S. Augustini.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
myztteste come to be perfeccyon of t[h]ys poyntys, þat þou knowe welle þat yt ys
a grette grace of goddys goodnes þat he wolle vochesafe to zeue he so myche
grace and perfeccyon. Neuerpeles ofte byþenke þe of oper manye benefetys
of god : how he haþ worschyppyd þi soule by inpryntynge of hys owne ymage,
and howe he haþ graunted to be pi foode in pis lyfe, and wolle be pi ioye and
þi blysse in a noper lyffe. And for encheson þat þou myzte not see hymn in
hys godhede whylys þou arte in þis worlde, perfore ofte byholde hym in bys
manhede, hongynge for þe vpon pe crosse, And haue sorowe and compassyon
of hym as pouz pou haddeste and sufferdyste alle hys woundys and peynes in þi
body, and be inwardely sory pat pou myzte not feele in pi body þe peynes bat
he suffred for pee, synfulle wrecche. 9 Pese poyntys haụe ofte in pi mynde,
and specyally whan pou seeste pe holy sacramente of Crystys body at pe masse
or on þe auter; And þan sey in pis maner: T »Lorde Ihesu Cryste þat arte
breede of lyffe, þat camste oute of heuene to fede me an[d] to fulfylle me wih.
pee, so graunte me pat y haue noon hunger after eny þinge but oonly after bee,
And so make me druncke wip pi blood and of pi loue pat.y be not a-purste
but after bee; lord holde so faste my soule and my loue to pee, pat for noon
oper loue ne for synne y neuer be departed from be. Amena.
Man byholde byfore pee howe pi lyffe wastep .... Man byholde on pi ryzte
Þe fyleh. Man byholde bynepe þee pe peyne þat endep neuer, o man byholde
aboue to pat ioye pat lasteþ euer.
(Follows Contemplations of the love and dread of God, ed. p.72).
a 15oo medit. st. ang na
7. Meditacio S. Augustini."
Harl. 1706.
(Cf. Tanner p. 375. Same text is extant in Ms. Douce 322' and Cambr. Hh
I. 12 (where it is included in a manual of private devotion). It is a free trans-
lation of a Latin piece wrongly ascribed to St. Augustine (beg. Miserere &c.,
Credimus quod hanc oracionem spiritus sanctus dictavit &c.), of which the begin-
ning is extant in Ms. Magd. Coll. Oxf. 93. The translation, made — it seems —
in rhythmical prose, is possibly by R. Rolle).
fol. 81.
Meditacio Sancti Augustini.
SEynt Austyne the holy doctour techeth thorough declaracion of holy wryte
that the synfulle mane for noo synne falle in despeyre; ffor more ys the mercy of
gode to mane thane any mannes synne, yef mane wolle forsake hys synne and be
· sory theroff and turne no more ayene; for mannes synnes may be nombred or
tolde”, but the mercy of gode may nomane telle, for mercy ouercometh synne be
hit neuer so grete; and therfor seyde Dauyde the prophete forthynkyng hys synnes :
Miserere mei deus secundum magnam misericordiam tuam, | »Haue mercy one me,
almyghty gode, for thy grete mercy, and for the mekelheede off thy[n] endeles mercy
do awey my wyckednesc. Hit ys trewe that the holy gost thys prayer made, thorough
whos steryng synfulle mane ys prycked with a bytter sorow of hys synne, and yeff
he [be] * feythfulle with a sely hoope he seketh one gode as he that knoweth hym-
self gylty, and with a grete drede as a nedeffulles wrecche he falleth doune and
cryeth to hys gode and beseketh (hym] for the inekelheede of hys endeles mercy haue
mercy vpone hyme and for hys moche pyte foryeue hyme hys synnes. Thys
ys the offyce off the holy gost to stere the synffulle thus to forthynke hys synne,
and to doo the werkis that most may pay hys lorde, as he that hath nede of
helpe for to baue off hyme that alle goodnes and grace lyeth in; for that noone
may do thys thorow no'myghte of hym-selfe but thorougħ grete steryng before of
1 Ms. Harl. 1706 is, in this as in other pieces, a copy of Douce.
2 Ms. to olde.
3 Hh
-t500 m-tthet
a1500 Medit. St. Aug (Tel)
378
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
the holygost that oonly vysyteth whane so he wolle with bytternes and loue of hys
holy grace, and maketh the synffulle to ryse fro derkenesse of syne and rewffull[y]?
to crye to hyme that ouer alle myghtis may and with these wordys dolfully say:
Miserere mei deus, Haue mercy one me gode. With thys prayere Dauyde cryede
one gode, that prophete was and kyng, and knew that he hade synnede and. was
gylty to gode in .III. heede-synnes: of spousebreche, of manslawghter, and tresone.
These the holygost let wryte in bookis, nat that the lytelle shulde be welle payde
that the grete dyde amys, but that the fallyng off the grete be drede? to the
smale; thys ys nat wretyne in ensample to falle in to syne, but, yeff mane be fallene,
' with contrycione and penaunce ryse owte off hys synne, and worschyp heme that
be[n] nat fallene, and lere: to heme that bene fallene ; with a trysty hope besechyng
almyghty gode, seying or crying with this holy prophete : Miserere mei deus: q Al-
myghty gode, for thy endeles mercy haue mercy one me. The synfulle mane that
· knoweth hyme-selfe gylty in many lothely 4 and horryble synnes, and that he shalle
come to a dredeffulle dome, he knoweth the domesmane so wytty that noone may
hyme begyle, so ryghtffulle that hyme behoueth to doo ryghte, so myghtfulle and
stronge that nomane may hyme withstande, so pryuey that nothyng may be hydde
—for alle thyng he seeth, and alle thyng to hyme ys knowene; the synffulle mane
thane seeth that there ys noo helpe ne defence in noo[n] other mane but nedys
hym behoueth. to come before the domysmane and of hyme be demed, and with a
dredeffulle and a' sorowfulle herte fleeth to mercy and falleth doune, and as [he] ' that
ys fulle of alle sorowes cryeth after helpe to hyme frome (whom] alle helpe cometh,
seying these wordys that the holy (gost] * wryteth (in þe] hertys of hem that shalle be
sauyde: Miserere mei deus. 9A, what vertu and powere bene in these wordys that
the synffulle with thus to gode prayeth with a fulle tryste that he may and wylle
and (can]"helpe, that of hyr grete sekenes wolde fayne be hoole for drede off the
dethe that hit wolle brynge heme to, and therfor in these wordys the synfulle mane
seyeth: 9 » Olorde, I knowe me synfulle and graunte me gylty to the, I knowe
what I haue done and what I haue seruyde, and [that] to thy dome me behoueth
bowe and come, and ther off alle my lyfe yelde a strayte accounte, and suffer ther
alle that that 10 thoue wylt to ne doo. My synnes I wolde fro the hyde, but thow
heme alle knowest; I wolde withstande the yff I myghte, but ouer alle my lº myghtes
thoue mayst; wheder" so I go or what so I do, alle thou beholdest. Forthy I se
no better to doo in harde stresse but fle fro the vue-to thee, that ys, fro thy
wretthe I flee that fereth me owte off wytte, and vn-to thyendeles mercy that
alle helpeth fully I take me, ande thys I hope be best. Miserere mei deus, q Mercy-
ffulle lorde, helpe me of my synnes and brynge me to thy grace: so seyne they
that goode bene, and so seyne they that clene bene, and so seyne they (that thi'?]
frendys bene, that pe[y]neth hem or besyeth heme nyghte and day how they may
plese the and do thy-wylle; I and so seyne thy chyldrene and thyne heyres, lorde gode.
I [þat] am so vnclene and so fowlede, that outtakyng ame of (alle]®, that forsakyne haue
my fader and solde me to the fende. folyly for a stynkyng lust of the flessh that
sone shalle rote and passe awey; for, welawey the whyle, owtlawede I am fro my
faderes reame, that lost haue alle the goodys that gode me hat[h] lent13, and wasted
hem so in lusty lyfe and many other synnes that noughte now with me ys lafte
but forthynkyng ande ferdnes of endeles peyne: wherfor I dare nat calle hym
my fader ne my lorde, ne nat elles dar I sey but: Miserere mei deus, Lorde gode
haue mercy one me; Et fac me vnum ex mercenariis tuis, quia non sum dignus
vocari seruus tuus, q and make me on of thy hyrede mene yeff hit be thy wylle,
fo[r] vnworthy I am, sothely I hit knowe, to be callede thy seguaunt, or thy chylde.
And therfor, lorde fulle of mercy and of pyte, haue mercy one me yef hit be thy
wylle. 9 I knowe that thou art al myghtfulle, and what thou wolt so behoueth [it]"4
be, for thy prophete thus wytnesseth by the there he seyth thus: Omnia quecum-
que voluit dominus fecit, in celo et in terra, I Lord, alle thyng that thou wylt ys
done, in heuene and in erthe, and yet in helle and in alle other places. And I
i Ms, rewfulle. 2 HD dredde. Cf. S. August. In Psalm 51. 3 Ms. lerne. 4 Ms. loth-
thely. 5 Ms. hem. 6 Hh his. 7 om D. 8 om H. 9 om in Mss.; Hh alle inst. of and.
10 om Hh. 11 DHh whether. 12 thi om DHh. 13 Ms. sent. 14 Ms. to.
q 1500 files .
W
a 1500 Medit. St. Qua line
to Meditacio S. Augustinis
379
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
knowe lorde , and sothely I wote, that thou wolt (nat] the dethe of the synfulle,
as thou seyst thy-sylfe thorough the prophete: Nolo mortem peccatoris, sed ut magis
conuertatur et viuat, I wol nat the deth of the synfulle; but thow wolt that the
synfulle turne fro hys synne and lyue thorough thy grace. And lorde, sythene
thou art alle trewe and may nat contrary thy[n] owne wordis that seyth thow wolt
helpe me oute of syne, that I may lyue with the in ioye; and lorde, I wote
welle thy mercy ys moche more then my synnes or alle the mennys synnes vpone
erthe, for alle the erthe ys fulle of mercy as the prophete seyeth: Misericordia
domini plena est terra - T and therfore Dauid the prophete of alle hys synnes
that were many and grete, thorough grace hade knowyng of thy mercy that was so
moche, and to the comfortyng of alle synfulle mene that wol forsake her syne he
seyth the mercy of gode he shalle haue? withoutene ende: Misericordias domini in
eternum cantabo; T and lorde, thorough a nother (prophete]thou seydest: In qua-
cunique [hora] peccator conuersus fuerit et gemuerit, omnia peccata eius in obliuione
crunt coram deo, That in what oure so a synſfulle mane were turned fro hys synnes
(and be full sory for his synnes]}, alle hys synnes shalle be forye{tjene“ before gode :
And therfor, lorde, feythfully I trow that thou wolt doo fully alle thyngis that thou
seyst, syth thow art alle trewthe that may nat fayle by no wey; synfulle as I ame,
fully to thy grete mercy I me take, forthynkyng for 5 alle my synnes that I haue
done ayenst thy wylle. And also lorde, by olde tyme thow seydest (thow woldest
come] º opynly to make thy peple (safe] 3 of hyr synnes : Deus noster manifeste
ueniet, vt saluum faciat populum suum a peccatis eorum. Lorde, [for] “ thy
wylle was euer to haue mercy on the synffulle mane, lorde thou come in to thys
worlde, as in the gospelle thy-selfe wytnessest where he thus seyth: Non veni
vocare iustos sed peccatores ad penitenciam, | I come nat to clepe ryghtwysemene
but synfulle vnto penaunce. | Therfor, lorde, for thy endeles mercy graunt me
thorough thy grace suche penaunce for my synnes, to do that that most may
please the and [ys] most helfulle for my synnes. And that hath, lorde, ben euere thy
werke to make ryghtwyse of hem that bene synfulle, to shap worthy of vnworthy,
and to reyse Abrahame ys chyldrene of harde stones, and reyse tho that fallene
bene, and helpe tho that syke bene; for they that bene hole han no nede of
leche, but they that ben syke, as thou seyst thy-selfe: Non egent qui sani sunt
medico, sed qui male habent. Off whyche sykenesse I may [pleyne] most of alle
other, that of longe tyme haue rootyde in sykenesse of synne and as a sory wrecche
peyned to the dethe. Thys sekenesse that I me off compleyne', that many one hath
pyned, made the to come fro heuyne to erthe, to brynge oute of sykenes tho
that sore were pyned with yuelle; of whych nombre I ames one that most ys syke,
for-thy lorde thy mercy, yeff hit be thy wylle, that to synffulle mane euer hast bene
redy, as the prophete seyth: Misericordia autem domini ab eterno et usque in
eternum super timentes eum, Sothely the mercy of gode fro the begynnyng was,
and shalle be with-outene ende, vpone tho that drede hyme. Therfore, lorde,
wrecchede as I ame with a grete drede, as he that moche hath trespassede ayene
the 'wylle of hys lorde, but for the grete goodnesse and pyte that I here telle of
the that foryeuest alle, be her trespasse neuer so grete, that asketh the foryeuenesse,
with a trusty hope, as I dare [I] 3 clepe vn-to the: Miserere niei deus, q Haue mircy
on me almyghty god, and for [the] mekylnes of thy mercy do awey my synnes, and
wasshe me clene yef hit be (thy) wylle. And, lorde, syth thou woldest thy[n] enemyes,
that euer withstode the and were ayenst the, drawe hem to the with harde peynes
and with thy precyous bloode hele heme of her synnes: whether thou wolt lese
me, or suffre me fro. the passe, that haue so moche nede, and so rufully cryed
after helpe? But sothely, lorde, I trust on thy goodnes and knowe hit so moche
that hit may nat so be and I durst sey as I thynke, for grete lykyng hit ys to
the to rewe on the synffulle mane and haue mercy one hyme whene he wolde leue
hys syne and amende hymelo; for baddest thou (nat] hade grete lykyng the synfulle
to amende thorow thy mercy and thy grete pyte, thow woldest nat haue suffred "
1 = bof? 21. loue (= praise) ?
in Mss. ? Hh pleyne. 8 Ms. ane.
3 om H. 4 Mss. 'foryeuene.
9 Ms, and euer. 10 DHh hem.
5 Hh sore. Com
11 Ms. s. hym.
I
alboo ledu. a.
ezt Ferya banyo
.
380
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
so harde peynes, [betyn]' with scorges that alle thy body was with noo[n] hoolle
place, nayled feete and handys to the roode-[tree], alle to-drawe with roopys that
the synewes [of]? the body brostyne, woundyde in to the herte with a sharpe spere;
and suffrede: one the crosse an horryble deth; and thus woldest (thow] nat suffre,
haddest thou nat hade lykyng one the synfulle mane to haue hade mercy one man-
kynde. Therfor, lorde, for the grete loue thow haddest to mankynde, haue
mercy, haue mercy apone me; lorde, sythene thou graunted to a legyone of
fendys that askede the with thy leue to entre into a drove of swyne to graunt
heme here askyng, with better wylle lorde I knowė hit thou 'wylto graunte to thy
pore creature and frende, that thou madest lyke to thy-selfe, that prayer to the
of mercy (to]? graunte hyme [that] S with syghyngis and sorowfulle herte asketh
foryeuenesse of hys synnes that he bath doone ayenst thy wylle, and resceue hyme
in to thy grace to be oon of thyne. Lorde, alle the bookis that we redyne in
holy chyrche, of thy mercy vs tellyne how thou vs louest, and of thy grete pyte
that so redy ys to alle the synffulle that wolde' hit aske or seke: T Whether thow
shalt nat saue me as thou other hast sauyde that her 10 synnes forthynkene? lorde,
shulde the condyte of mercy that alle resceyueth and gladeth that soore repenteth
heme of her mysdedys, shal(!) become drye oonly for me? And for the grete
hope that in the ys thorough the whyche alle manere of folke bene sauyde: 9 allas
why shulde hit peryssh in me? whethere thow wolt be so harde to me, that alle
mene prechene so large to alle that nede hathe? Yeff I haue noone? Who ys
syke yeff I am hoole, who hath nede of mercy but I? who hath nede of]ll com-
forte but I? And therfor o pater misericordiarum et 12 deus tocius consolacionis, qui
consolaris nos in omni tribulacione nostra, 9 O fader of alle mercy and gode of
alle comforte, that comforteth vs in alle oure trybulacion: haue mercy one me, and
brynge me owte of synne, and comforte me in thys woofulle sykenes, and rewe
one me though 13 I haue longe tyme leyne in syne; for in thy grete goodnesse I
truste for the wordys that by the prophete ys seyde: In eternum seruabo illi
misericordiam, T Withoutene ende I shalle kepe mercy to synffulle mane ; and ther-
for, lorde, ayenst thy kynde hit were and thy trewthe, but thou one synfulle hade
mercy that forethynketh hys synne and wolle aske mercy. And I forthynkyng my
synne in alle my[n] herte, pray the allemyghty gode for thy endeles mercy haue mercy
one me, that thou 14 most swete art. My gode, my goode 15 lorde, hertyly I be-seche
the to my seke soule and synffulle thou sende some comforte and socoure off thy
grace, and for thy moche mekenesse be mercyffulle to me that ame thy pore
creature, off thy[n] owne makyng. And thy mercy, lorde, ouerpassetħ alle thyng that
thow madest, as the prophete seyth, that thow may nat for thy goodnesse for-
sakene heme that askene thy mercy: Quia misericordia eius super omnia opera eius,
9 For (thy]s mercy ys aboue alle thy werkis; and therfor, lorde, welle I wote that
thow may nat for thy goodnes and for thy endeles mercy put me fro thy mercy,
yeff alle 16 myne synnes be neuer so many ne neuer so grete; for thane thow were
nat gode whos mercy and goodnesse passeth alle mennes wyckednes that wolle leue
her wyckydnesse and here synne with alle here herte, as the prophete seyth: Core
contritum et humiliatum deus 120n despicies, 9 The herte (that is] contryte and
mekyde, God shalle nat despyse. Wherfor fully I trust and hoole I me take to thy
endeles mercy: and for mykylnesse off thy mercy haue mercy one me, Ihesu, Ihesu,
Ihesu, amene.«
1 so Hh. 2 Mss. as. 3 Hh suffredist. 4 Hh bis. 5 a word frequently used by
R. Rolle. 6 DHh woll. 7 Mss. thats om in Mss. 9 D wolle. 10 DÉh hir. 11 so
DHh. 12 Mss. vt. 13 Hh bogh-al. 14 Hh pou þat. 15 DHh god. 16 r. pof-al.
5. Pety Iob.
Ms. Harl. 1706.
(Cf. Tanner. Other Mss. are: Douce 322, Ff II. 38 fol. 19*, Merton Coll. 68
f. 97. This poem is made on R. Rolle's Parvum Iob sive lectiones mortuorum,
by a later, East-Midland poet, perhaps Richard Maidestone).
* Ms. Ff, which omits the title and Latin parts, greatly helps to restore the text, though often
equally corrupted.

zation to thes.to
Jeramies a 1500 L Durial
9
SO
40
✓
Pety Tob.
381
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
fol. Iob.
HEre begynneth the .ix. lessons of pe diryge whych Iob made in hys trybu-
lacyon lying on the donghylle and ben declared more opynly to lewde mennes
vnderstandyng by a solempne worthy and dyscrete clerke Rychard Hampole, and
ys clepyd pety lob, and ysful profytable to stere synners to coppunccioun.
(Iob 7, D.
16 ff.). Parce michi domine, nichil enim Me, in synne that depe dyue ?
sunt dies mei.
Thou woldest suffere nevermore
[Parce michi domine]',
Me to swolowe my salyue'?
Lyeff lorde, my soule thou spare; I haue the gylt ande greuyde soore,
The soth I sey now sykerly”
For synne wyth me hath ben to ryue:
That my dayes nought they are;
But, lorde, now lere ? me with thy lore,
5 For though I be bryght off ble,
Thatdediy synne fro me may dryue;
The ffayrest man pat ys ough-whare, Ande, Ihesu, for thy voundes fyve, 45
Yet schalle my ffayrnesse fade and file As thou be-cammest mane for me,
And I schall be [but]' wormes ware. When I shalle passe oute off (this lyue
And whan my body ys alle bare
Than parce michi domine.
10 And on a bere brought shalle be,
Quid faciam (tibi] o custos homi-
I not what I may synge thare
num? quare posuisti me con-
But parcė michi domine.
trarium tibi, & factus (sum) michi-
Quid est homo quia magnificas eum ?
met ipsi grauis? .
• What ys a man, wete I wolde,
What shalle I doo vnto the,
That magnyfy eth hym-self alle-way, O thou kepar off [al] mankende ?
15 But a marke made in molde
Off suche a matere * why madest pou me
Off a clyngyng clot off clay?
To the contrarious me for to fynde?
Thou shopest ys ffor that we schulde o • ffadere off heuene fayre ande ffre,
Haue bene in blysse ffor euer ande ay: As thou art bothe gode ande hende,
But now allas (bothe] yong ande olde Yet be kynde, as thou hast be, 55
20 Foryeten hit bothe nyght ande day. Ande spare me, lorde, that am vnkynde;
A, goode lorde “, what shalle I sey, Thy ffrendesshyp, ffader, late me fynde,
I that stande in thys degre?
As thou art gode in trynyte;
I wote no thyng that helpe may
Off thy mercy make me haue mynde 6
But parce inichi domine.
Wyth parce michi domine.
Aut quid apponis erga eum cor
Cur non tollis peccatum meum, et
tuum? visitas eum diliculo, et
- quare non aufers iniquitatem
subito probas illum.
meam?
25 Or why puttist (bou] thyn herte ayenst Why takest thou nat my synne away,
mane,
[A thou]' gode off al goodnesse ?
That thou hast so dere bought?? Ande why also, as I the say,
Thou vysytest hym ande art ffulle ffayne Dost notº awey my wykednesse?
Sodenly to preue yeff he be ought. Thou madest me off a clot off clay
To longe in synne we haue layne, That breketh ofte thorough brotylnesse°;
30 For synne hath (so] oure soule (thorow] Ful brotylle I am, itt ys no nay:
sought
That maketh me ofte to do amys.
To helpe oure-selff haue we no mayne, But, good Ihesu, I pray [the] thys
So moche woo hit hath vs wrought. For thy grete benygnyte:
But to the pytt whene we be brougt, Thy mercy, lorde, late me nots mysse,
Then men wylle wepe ffor the ande me; But 10 parce michi domine.
35 But certys, alle that helpeth nought,
Ecce nunc in puluere dormio; &
But parce michi domine.
si mane me quesieris, non sub-
Vsquequo non parcis michi, nec
sistam.
dimittis me ut gluciam saliuam
Loo, in poudere I shalle slepe,
meam? Peccaui.
For oute off powdere ffyrst I cam;
010 why so longe or thou wylt spare Ande in to poudere must Ill crepe,
i So the 1st v. in Ff; om in HD, 2 Ff i Ff spotull blyfe. 2 Ms. lerne. 3 Ff þat y.
sekerle, 3 Ms. ought-where. 4 so Ff. 4 Ff nature. 5 om Ff. 6 Ff hat y may
5 Ff But what. 6 Ff A lord god. 7 Ffy-b. mynde. Iso FfD; Ms. As thou art. 8 D nat.
8 so D; Ms. 0. S. so s. 9 D wolle. 10 D Or. 9Ff bretulnesse. 10 Ff Thorow. 11 Ff nie.
60
U
NTITLEmi.
* 15 the theme a 1500 LD
382
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
For off' that same kynde I am.
Warne me whane I ame mys-tane,
That I ne am poudere I may not threpe, That I may fflee ffro fowle sathane
For erthe I am as was Adame.
That ys aboute to peryssh me.
And now my pytte ys doluene depe, Lese nat [that]' thou ones wane,
So Thougħ mene me seke ryght nought I But parce michi domine.
I 20~
ame.
Nunquid sicut dies hominis dies
O thou ffadere? Abrahami,
tui, et anni tui sicut humana sunt
For Mary loue that mayde so ffree
tempora?
In whos bloode thy sone swamme, Whethere thy dayes, lorde, be [s]lyke ?
So 3 parce michi domine.
As mennes dayes that dwellyn here,
(Iob T
Or thy yeres be ought lyke
10, 1). I edet animam meam uite mee; To the tymes off mannes yere?
dimittam aduersum me eloquium Th[ys] day a mane ys fressh ande ffryke 125
meum, loquar in amaritudine And sheweth (forth] a gladsome* chere,
animé mee, dicam deo: noli me But to-morow he wexeth syke
condempnare; Indica michi cur And happyly [is] borne forth on a bere.
me ita iudices.
Thus mannes tyme ys in a were:
But thy“ tyme stondeth in o0 degre. 130
85 Fit fforthynketh my soule I-wys Therfore I pray in thys manere:
The lyff þat I haue ledde alleway, Lorde º parce michi domine.
For now my speche ayenst me ys,
vt queras iniquitatem meam, et !
Sothly my-[self]* I sballe dysplay,
peccatum meum scruteris, et
In sorow ande in byttyrnesse
scias quia nichil impium fecerim,
90 Off myne oune soule thus shalle I say:
cum sit nemo qui de manu tua
Now, goode Ihesu, kyng off blysse,
possit eruere ?
Dampne me nat att domysday;
For to seche my wykednesse,
Ande, goode Ihesu, to the I pray And for (to] s[er]che (thus]? alle my synne:
Telle hows thus thow demest me. Me thynketh hit cometh off gret hardnes 135
95 Now yeue me mercy, & say not nay With me, lorde, so to begynne!
Wyth parce michi domine.
Schewe thou forth thy gret goodnesse,
Nunquid tibi bonum videtur si And thyn hardshyp vp thou pynne;
calumpnieris et oprimas me opus Thynke vpone the brytylnesse
manuum tuarum, et consilium That alle-way worcheth me with-inne; 140
impiorum adiuues ?
And sythyne I may nott' fro the twynne
Semeth hit goode, lorde, vnto the Neffrome thyne hand warysshede be,
To thryste me doune and me 'accuse ? Though I offende more ore mynne
I am thy werke, thou madest me; Euer parce michi domine.
100 Thyne oune handewerke 8 thou nat refuse.
Wythyne the close of cheryte,
MAnus tue fecerunt me, & plas-
Good god, thou me recluse,
mauerunt me totum in circuitu :
Ande yeff I gylte the in any degre,
et sic repente precipitas me?
With thy mercy thou me excuse,
I hyne handes, lorde, haue made me 145
105 Ne late me neuer off maters muse
That fallene vnto deshoneste.
And formede me in schap off mane,
And me thow settest in degre
Thys prayer [lord]º thou nat recuse,
Off grete nobley 10 after thane.
But (parce michi domine.]
But whane I thorough the sotylte
Nunquid oculi carnei tibi sunt? aut
sicut videt homo, et tu uidebis 10?
Deceyued was off foule sathane, 150
Whethere thyn eyene fflesshly be?
Thow puttedest 11 me fro that dignite
110 Or yeff thou seest as seethi à mane?
He[dl]yng 12 doune one my brayne-pane.
Nay fforsothe, butt only we
Noone other cause alege I cane
Off outewarde thyngis beholdyng hane.
But that synne hath depryuyde me.
Now ffor the blood that frome the rannel3, 155
But inwarde thyngis dost thou see
So 14 parce michi domine.
That non other may sell ne cane.
115 Therffor, lorde, I pray to the
Iso Ff. 2 Ff slyke, HD lyke. 3 DH That.
4 Ff gladly. 5 Ms. thyne; Ff thy tymes. 6 Ff
Tom Ff.: 2 Ff f. fayre. 3.Ff Euer. Euer. 7 so Ff; H for suche ys.
4 HD lyffe. 5 Ff whi hou hus, 6 Ff hurste. 9 Ff And. 10 Ff noble lord, 11 Ff puttyst.
7 Ff to a. 8 ff adds lord. Iso Ff. 10 D 12 so Ff; HD Heldyng. 13 Ff downr. 14 Ff
vides. 11 Ff odur man may, se om.
Euyr.
on
V
--
47580 ta thee. Waom!
F
--
ISO
-
-
-
383
Pety Iob.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
Memento, queso, quod sicut lutum But I denyed hit allwey,
feceris me, & in puluerem re So woodly synne made me to raue; 200
duces me.
I seruyd synne and was hys knave,
Haue mynde-therffore, I the pray, I dyd that [that]? was ayenst me.
o thow god almyghty kynge,
Now, lorde, whane I am leyde in graue,
Thynke thow madest me off clay
Than parce michi domine.
60 And in to clay thow shalt me brynge-
Et visitacio tua custodiuit spiritum :
Suche ys thy myght ande hath be[n] ay.
...meum.
And sythene bou madest furst alle thynge,
Thy vysytacione, lorde, hath kepte 205
Who dare say ayene the nay
My spyryte that ys me with-inne? :
To lete? thy wylle or thy lykyng?
For whane I wold to synne haue
65 Ther ys [no] mane olde ne yonge ?
lepte,
That stryue dar ayenst the.
Thin 3 holy grace made me to blyne ;
Therffore nede maketh me (to] synge
And ofte-tyme I haue sore wepte
Lorde 3 parce michi domine.
The more grace off the to wynne, 210
Nonne sicut lac mulsisti me, et And thus with wepyng håue I wypté
sicut caseum me coagulasti?
My soule, lorde, ffros dedly synne.
Mylkedest nat me, lorde *, as mylke,
Lorde, late me neuer werke begynne
70. With nessh blood whane thou me made?
That in “ any wyse may displease the;
And sythyne, lorde, [bou madest]" that
And somtyme though I frome the twyne, 215
ylke
Yet, lorde, parce michi domine.
Ryght as the hardnesse off chese º ys
По
hade ?
о.
13, 23). Lvantas habeo iniquitates et pec-
My blood ys nessher thane ys sylke
cata? (scelera] mea atque delicta
In reyny weder that sone wolle ffade,
ostende michi.
75 And thus me made doo dedys swylke
With whyche my goste ys ofte vnglade; W hat wyckednes alle that I haue,
And thus in sinne fulle depe I wade, With my synnes alle one ane hepe,
That nygh I droune thorow freelte. Shew me hem, or I go to graue,
Allethough I can off synne nat sade, That I for hem may (here] sore wepe: 220
80 Yet parce michi domine.
My soule, lorde, that I may saue .
Pelle & carnibus uestisti me; ossi- From be pytte off helle soo depe,
bus & neruis compegisti me. Where synfulle soules tumbylle and raue
With fflesh and felle 9 thow hast me In endeles woo-A, taketh good kepe-
cladde,
Toodes o[n]' hem doth crowde & crepe, 225
With bonys and synewes to-gedyr knyt; In suche peynes the soules be.
Lyffe and mercy off the I hadde, From that place I may [me] nat kepe
To gouerne me thow yaue me wytt; Withoutene parce michi domine.
85 To kepe thy[n]łº bestes thow me bade Cur faciem 8 tuam abscondis, &
And seydest that I shulde ffor hit
arbitraris me inimicum tuum ?
In heuene-blysse be euer gladde. Why bydest pou from me thy fface
And yet I wylle nat fro synne flytte, That ys so ffulle off alle ffayrnesse- 230
But freelte, lord, so me smytte
I mene thys, somtyme thy grace
90 Vnnethe kepte ys oone for me;
That pou withdrawest and yeuest me
Nat-for-thane I pray the yet
lesse 10?
Forll parce michi domine.
As thy[n] enemy thoue dost me chace, .
Vitam et misericordiam tribuisti Demyng me in gret hardnessell:
michi.
Thy loue fayne wolde I purchase, 235
Lyff and mercy thou yaue me ay; Yeff pou wolt me hit graunte 13 of þi
Whane I wolde thy mercy crave,
goodnesse.
95 Thow saydest to me natt ones nay, Now graunte me lord {suche]"4 sted-
But gladde was whane I wolde hit
fastnesse
haue;
That I may stonde 15 in oo 16 degre;
Thow were redy nyght ande day
With mercy, lorde, me to saue.
I so Ff. ? Ff y haue me inne. 3 Ms.
Than. Ff goste. 6 D from. 6 om Ff.
1 Ff lett. 2 Ff zyng. 3 Ff Thus. 4 om 7 Ms. off. 8 Ms. faciam. 9 DFf fro. 10 Ms.
Ff. 5 so ff. Ff flesche. 7 Ff bys. lace. 11 Ms. hardynesse. 12 Ff lord. 13 Ff.
8 Ff lade. 9 Ff felle & f. 10 D thyne. woldyst me gr. hyt. 14 Ms. off thy. 15 D
11 Ff Of.
stande. 16 Ff. good.
500 m thasher a 1500 LT
384
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
And though I falle thorough brotylnesse, So body and soule a-sundre goth. 280
240 Lorde parce michi domine.
I am made of a lothly hume,
Contra folium quod uento rapitur
Hit” ys a thyng to mane most loth.
ostendis potenciam tuam, & sti-
Wheroff thane shulde I presume
pulam siccam persequeris.
To be hygh-herted or lyghtly wroth?
Ayenst a leeff that lyght ys to? blowe,
Though I be he that ofte mysdoth, 285
To me that am [full] freel off kynde,
Off mercy art thou large and fre;
Thy myst and powere dost thouc schowe,
As I leue that thys • ys soth,
As though I myght berys bynde.
So parce michi domine.
245 With wyndes ofte I owerthrowe
(Iob II
14, 1). Homo, natus de muliere, breui
Suche fondyng, off the (fende) I fynde,
I renne forth fro rowe to rowe
viuens tempore repletur multis
Somtyme before somtyme behynde;
miseriis.
I grope as a mane that ys ffulle blynde. A man pat ys off womane bore,
250 But thowgh I stomble thou ffolowest me. But lytelle whyle he lyueth here, 290
A, lorde, though I to the be vnkynde, And euery day more & more
Yet? parce michi domine.
Replenysshed ys with synnes sere,
Scribis enim contra me amaritu With hote' and 8 colde and 8 hungerº sore
dines, & consumere me uis pec Turmentyd 10 ys frome yere to yere,
catis adolescencie mee.
And ofte hym wante[th]" goddes lore 295
Thow wrytest, lorde, ayenst me
That gostly wey 12 he schulde lere.
Byttyrnesse, that I shalle rede
And thus he wandreth in a were
255 Att domesday in syght off the
AsS a mane blynde & 13 may not see.
And alle the worlde in lengthe and brede; Therffore I pray the with louely 14 chere
That I dede in pryuyte
For 15 parce michi domine. . . 300
There opynly owte hit shalle sprede;
Qui quasi flos egreditur & conteri-
And thus" thou wyllt, fulle welle I see,
tur, et fugit uelud umbra, et nun-
260 º distroy me for my wycked dede.
quam in eodem statu permanet.
But, lorde, to the I clepe and grede : The whych oute spryngeth 16 as a floure
As thou art lorde' off alle pyte,
That groweth ffressh alle niene to glade,
That day whane I shalle drope and drede But whane be with a sharpe schowre
Than parce michi domine.
Ys smytene, begynneth sone to fade.
Posuisti in neruo pedem meum, et So lese I the ffayre coloure
obseruasti omnes semitas meas, That god almyghty ffurst in me made,
et uestigia pedum meorum con And thus I chaunge in euery houre",
siderasti.
And file away ryghts as a shade.
265 In a synew thou hast my feet settes And herewith. I am ffulle 18 lade
With the whyche that I goo shalle, With synnes off dyuerse degre. 310
And alle the pathes thou hast mette Off heuene-blysse 19 me nought degrade,
That euer I yede in wey or walle; But parce mnichi domine.
There ys noo thyng that the may lette Et dignum ducis super huiuscemodi
270 To knowe my steppes grete and smalle;
aperire oculos tuos, et adducere
Wycked and worse, good and bette
eum tecum in iudicivm ?
I wote welle thou consyderest alle. And, lorde, thou letestaº that hit be dygne
But, lorde, to the I ciepe and calle :
Thyne eyene to opene vpone suche one,
Whan I slyde supporte thou me,
And hyme thou shewest be that sygne 315
275 And though somtyme I take a falle
That he with the to dome shalle gone ?
Yet parce michi domine.
Haue mercy one me, Ihesu benygne,
Qui quasi putredo consumendus Me thynketh myne herte ys harder than 21
sum, et quasi vestimentum (quod] a stone
comeditur a tinea.
And besyed with a spyryte malygne,
The whyche as rotyng shalle consume, Ff slyme. ? Ff That. 3 Ff lord.
And fare as mowth”-etene clothe;
Ff beleue. 5 Ff hyt. O DIf a w. i Ff
And l' as frome the fyre departeth fume
heete. S om. Ff. 9 D hungor; Ff h, & s.
10 Ff Turned he. 11 Ms. wanted. 12 Ff lore.
i Ff Euyr. 2 Ff to be bl. 3 Ff graspe. 13 Ff that. . 14 Ff mylde. 15 Ff Of. 16 Ms.
4 D hit owte. 5 HD thys. 6 HD And d. spr. oute. 17 so Ff; HD shoure. 18 Ff all
1 Ff welle. & Ff In stockes hou haste sett full. 19 Ff Lord of heuene, 20 Ms. lettest.
my fete. 9Ff moght. 10 om Ff.
21 Fi harde as.
305
3
R
1980 in there
.
Pety Iob.
• 385
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
320 My fflessh, the worlde they bene my fone. With-drawe þy[n] hand þat mane may
These be' my enemyes, lorde, eche one, reste,
Euere aboute to peryssh me:
Tylle he desyre hys dethe-day
Lorde, ffor the loue off Mary and Iohne And wylne? to be shutte vp in hys?
Euer parce michi domine.
cheste;
Quis 3 potest ſfacere) mundum de And late hyme lyue yeff he lust ay, 365
immundo conceptum semine? Thys holde I, lorde, ffor the best;
Nonne tu qui solus es?
Alle dysease frome hyme delay,
325 But“, lorde, who may clene make
Tylle the careyne in erthe be keste.
Conceyuyd thyng off seede vnclene? Allas, alle* þis world now ys mys-wrest
Nat thow? a, yes, I vnderſtake]5, To carpe th[a]s“, lorde, ayenst the. 370
Yeff the lesto to make hit clene. Make me to thy mercy trest
Allas, I walke in a lake
Forº parce michi domine.
330 Off dedly synne that doth me tene:
(Iob .
But lorde, ffor the 2 loue off Maryes sake 14,13). Quis michi hoc tribuat ut in in-
Amende the harme that I off mene.
ferno protegas me, donec per-
Y-wys? I ame nat worth a bene
transeat furor tuus?
Off my-self to commendyd be:
Who to me may yeue or graunte
335 Yet helpe me, lorde“, with thy grace For loue or any affeccyone,
shene,
For’ thy wratthe that ys duraunte 375
And euers parce michi domine.
I may haue mye proteccyone?
Breues dies hominis sunt, numerus In helle yeff I be concurraunte,
mensium eius apud te est.
Ther ame I in (thy] subieccyone;
Mennes dayes belo shorte-be ware In heuene though thou woldest me
And therto take [hou) good entente haunte',
For in respyte off tyme euermare
Yet ther ame I att thy correccyone. 380
340 They beth nothyng equipolent;
I may nat frome thy respeccione
The nombre off hys monthes are
By no wey, lorde, hyde now' me:
Alwey att the, lorde, verament.
Therffore sey I thys lessone
Oure lyff ys nought but sorow. & care, Off parce michi domine.
Tylle we be passed iugement.
Et constituas michi tempus in quo
345 My wyttes, lorde, I haue myspent
recorderis mei ?
That thou me yaue to rewle with me:
And thou woldest a tyme ordeyne 385
But þat I may ryse vp and here 11 repent,
In whyche thoue woldest of me haue
Lord ?? parce michi domine.
mynde,
Constituisti terminos eius, qui pre With some solace me to susteyne
teriri non poterunt.
That off thy blysse ame so ferre 10 be-
Hys termes, lorde, thou hast ordeyned hynde ?
550 How longe he shalle now? lyue here, My woo frome the cane I natt layne
That may he nat passe ne be refreyned But telle hit the, for thoue art kynde: 390 ,
· But be thyne absolute powere.
I ame fast boundell here with a chayne
Thys sentence may be welle susteyned Off dedly synne, ffulle welle I fynde.
By a story as we may here:
But woldest thoue, lorde, me vnbynde
155 How Ezechye to dethward peyned Thorough the vertu off thy pyte,
And yet god addyd ouer xv. yere; Thane were I gladde and lyght as lynde 395
Hys kyndely tyme was comene fful nere, To haue 12 parce michi domine.
But for hys synnes tho wepte he.
Putasne, mortuus homo rursum
Lorde, yeue 13 me grace that I may here
60 Haue 14 parce michi domine.
Trowest thoue nat that mane shalle ryse
Recede (ergo]"5 paululum ab eo ut
Ayene to lyfe that dyed onys?
quiescat, donec optata ueniat,
Yes, and that in a wondyrffulle wyse,
sicut, mercenarii , dies eius. With fessh and felle, blood and bonys. 400
Therffor, lorde, a lytelle goo awey, Than shalle god hys dome deuyse
1 DFf ben. 2 om Ff. 3 Ms. Quis michi.
And to hyme take the goode attones;
4 Ff A. 5 Ms. vnderstande. 0 DFf lyst.
? Ff Forsoth. 8 Ff Wyth. 9 Ms. homines, 1 Ff wylle. 2 Ff a. 3 FfD hym. om Ff.
10 D ben, Ff beeth. 11 Ff here &. 12 Ff Euyr. 5 Ms. thys. 6 Ff Thorow. . 7 r. Fro? S Ff
13 Ff So graunt. 14 Ff Wyth. 25 so D. haue may any. I Ff daunte. 10 Ff Pat am
16 Ms. mercenarius.
of bl. full f. 11 Ff bounden, here om 12 Of.
viuat ?
II.
25
betfattete a 1560
our
386
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
But dampned soules shullene sore gryse (Iob c.
And yeue a shoute with hydous gronys.
17, 1). Spiritus meus attenuabitur, dies
405 Th[u]s' make they shulle wooffulle mones
mei breuiabuntur, et solum michi
Alle that shullene dampnede be.
superest sepulchrum.
Thaſt] I may dwelle" withyne thi” wones, My spyryte shalbe ffebylle and feynt 445
(Lord)“ parce michi domine.
Whene? I am fallene in any? age,
Cunctis diebus quibus nunc milito, My dayes, make I never so queynt,
expecto, donec ueniat immutacio
Shullene abregge ande somwhat swage,
And I ful sone shalbe atteynte
mea.
Whan I haue lost my[n] hote corage, 450
Alle the dayes that I lyue here
And though I dyede thane as doth a seynt,
410 In thys woffulle wepyng. dale,
A pytte shalbe myne herytage-
I byde allewey frome yere to yere
In erthe gete I none othere wage
Tylle I chaunge as mene do falle .
Off alle rychesse, that mane may see.
Chaunge I shalle withowtene were,
Whane I ame closed in that cage, 455
Nat ay be dwellyng in thys vale.
Than parce michi domine.
415 But, lord, whane I ame leyde one bere,
Hye vp to heuene my soule (pou] hale-
Non peccaui, et in amaritudinibus
For there comene neyther grett ne smale,
moratur oculus meus.
But thou drawe hem, lorde, to the ;
I baue nat synnede wylfully
That my soule be nat in bale;
Thorough my feynt febelle nature,
420 But’ parce michi domine.
Ne greuede the so greuously 4
Wherffore I shulde thys woo endure;
Uocabis me, & ego respondebo
Thou punysshest me ande I not why,
tibi; Operi manuum tuarum por-
Passyng resone and goode mesure.
riges dexteram.
Hit ys my flessh, lorde, ande nat I
Thou shalt me calle att domesday
That groccheth ayenst thy harde reddure.
Whene thoue art set one iugement,
And I to the withowtene delay
[But, lorde, as .I. am thy creature,]" 465
And(pou] thatylke gode that bougthest me,
Shalle yeue my[n] answere verament.
425 But, goode Ihesu, to the I prey
So my care recóuere and cure
Thynke allewey with ffulle entente
With parce michi domine,
Thou madest me off a clott off clay; 17, 11). Dies mei transierunt, cogitaciones
Thyne handwerk helpe as pou furst
mee dissipate sunt, torquentes
mente;
cor meum.
And with my thought I haue myspent My dayes, lorde, passede are
430 Thorougħ malyce here off frealte Ande olde I am, I am no faunto; 470
Here, leeff lorde, late me repent, My thoughtis wandre[n] wyde-whare,
But 1° parce michi domine.
For they bene, lorde?, fulle variaunte,
Tu quidem gressus meos dinu My herte they greuyne wondersare
merasti, sed parce peccatis meis.
For euer aboute hyme they haunte.
Forsothe my steppes euerýchone
Thys maketh me to drowpe & dare, 475.
Thou nombrede hast and tolde" bem alle:
That I ame lyke a pore penaunte.
435 But, lord, to the I make my mone, Though I be, lorde, vnsuffysaunte
As thou art lorde off heuene & helle 12, Any helpe to gete off the,
Vertues, lord, though I haue none
Yet, for I ame thy8 creaunte,
Late thy grace in me now welle 18;
Lorde", parce michi domine.
480
For woo ys hyme that stante alone
Noctem verterunt in diem, & rursum
440 And hath non helpe 14 yeff [that] he
post tenebras spero lucem.
falle.
The nygħt they turnyde in to pe day,
My syne ys bytterer thane eysel or For they madene me to 10 wake alle nygħt;
galle,
I myght nat slepe be no way,
And stynkyth, lorde, in syght off the: Suche thoughtis were in myne hert
But nought-for-thane to the I calle
For parce michi domine.
In derknes dymme as I so lay, 485
1 Ms. Thys. 2Ff Graunt me to d. 3 Ms. the. i Ff When pat. 2 om Ff. 3.Ff lost y haue.
4 HD Off, Ff Wyth. 5 Ff woopes. o Ff fale. 4 Ff grysely. 5 so D; Ff But as y am 1. thy
7 Ff Euyr 8 Ff an. I Tf & wyttis myne logh. C.; om in H GTf now faynte. 7 If ofte.
20 Ff Thorow. 11 Ff telde. 12 Ff alle. 13 Ff 8 Ff thus. . . Tf Euyr. 10 Ff me maden;
walle. 14 Ff & no h. hath.
to om. 11 HD plyght.
(Iob
Pyght?).
Diringe (Ilejer 600 milloneba
387
530
Pety Iob.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
Yet hoped I after the clere day-lyght; (Iob. D
But thoughtis me so trobled ay
? 19, 20). I elli mee, consumptis domine
That I was thane a woffulle wyghte.
carnibus, adhesit os meum, et
But, lorde, as pou arte mekylle off myghte,
derelicta sunt tantummodo labia
190 Alle euylle thoughtis putt frome' me;
circa dentes meos.
And that I off the may haue a 2.syght,
To my skyn my mouth(!) ys loo1
Lorde : parce michi domine.
And cleued fast, as ye se may 3,
Si sustinuero, infernus domus mea And wasted ys my fflessħ also,
est; in tenebris straui lectulum And bothe my lyppes bene away,
meum.
My whyte tethe they 4 bene fulle bloom
Lord, yeff I shalle suffre thys grete dysease, Ye wolde be agasts yeff ye me say 6.
Hit wolle me brynge ynto my graue; Myn heryng ys ffulle clene agoo, 535
+95 And yet I-wys I may nat chese,
Myne eyene be[n] dymme that were[n]
Whether I be 4 kyng, knyght or knaue. ffulle gray;
In derkenes dymme alle owte off ease And I that was ffulle stoute and gay,
My lytelle bedde spredde I hane;
Fulle 4 horyble am now opone to se.
That bed shalle I neuer lese,
Tyme ys that4 mene now for me pray
joo Though I wolde ffor angor raue,
For8 parce michi domine.
540
Tylle the day off dome that off my“ graue
Miseremini mei, miseremini mei,
I shalle aryse, and moo with me.
My soule lorde I prey theo saue
saltem uos amici mei, quia manus
Wyth. parce michi domine.
domini tetigit me..
Reweth one me, reweth on me
Putredini dixi: pater meus es;
My frendys namly, now' helpelo att
· mater mea et soror mea, uer-
nede,
: mibus.
For I am there I may nott fle,
505 To rotene erthe ryght thus sayd I:
The hand off god ffulle sore I drede.
»Thou art my ffader off whom I came«,
And frendys, seeth" that I am he 545
And ynto wormes sekurly:
Thys other day that' on the erthe yede;
»Thow art my moder, thy sone I am’;
Now helpe yeff that youre wylle be,
My systrene alle 8 ye bene, ffor why
With prayer, fastyng, and almes-dede-
10 None other þane ye ffor sothe I [n]amº«.
For these mowene1? best gete me mede,
I shalle calle hem systres lo for-thy,
With placebo and dirige;
For I shalle roote amonge hemelº; Here-with my soule 13 I pray you fede
Off the lowest erthe god made Adame,
With parce michi domine.
Off whyche my kynde I had as he.
515 Now, lorde, that art lykened to a lambe, Quare persequimini me sicut deus,
So parce michi domine.
& carnibus meis saturamini?
Why as god do ye pursewe
Vbi est ergo nunc prestolacio mea
Me, that suffre these sharpe schowres ?
et paciencia mea? tu es domine
Ye late me payne 14 here in 15 peynfulle 555
deus meus.
ретте
Where ys myne abydyng nowe,
That ys a place off grett doloures.
And alle my pacyence therto ?
Yow I chese for frendes trewe
They beñ away, I wote 12 neuer howe,
And made yow myn executoures.
520 For sothe me wanteth both two.
But tyme xalle come that ye shalle
Yeff myn herte be styff and towe
rewe
To thanke the in wele and woo,
That euer ye were to me 16 false trey- 560
Hit ys nat I but oonly thow;
toures.
Thow art my lord and god also.
My good ys spentli as hit were youres,
525 O thow gret lorde, alpha & 13 00,
But nat a peny yevyne ye me.
Helpe me ffor thy grett pyte;
Now for alle suche ffaytoures 18
I haue Inough I pray the hoo 14, Lorde, parce michi domine.
And 15 parce michi domine.
i Ff To my mouth my skynne ys blo. ? om
iD fro. 2 Ff may of be h.; a om. 3 Ff Ff. 3 Ms. may se. 4 om Ff. 6 Ff gast.
Thorow. Ff Be y. 5 Ff bat. G D thow, 0 Ff ye may sce. i Ff now men. 8 Ff
Ff he bou. 7 Ms. am I. 8 Ff also. 9 so Wyth. Ff ye. 10 D helpeb. 11 Ff Now
Ff; HD am. 10 Ff ham.
11 Ff lam. fr. syth. 12 Ff may. 23 Tf My hungry s.
12 Ff not. 13 Ff et. 14 Ff sey hoo.
14 Ff pype. 15 Tf in a. 16 Ff so f. 17 Ff
Wyth.
ye spenden. 18 Ff false (overl.) factowres.
550
25*
Mests.
12
a 1500 h Dirige
(tre)
388
Works wiongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
Quis michi tribuat ut scribantur Shalle ther for me noone other wyght
sermones mei?
Se my god that ys durable,
565 Who may graunte me thys bone
But I my-self with eyene bryght
That my wordes wretene were,
Shalle hyme be-holde most honorable.
In ensample off euerychone
O lord, that charyte that ys? so amyable 610
That hap may to bene in care?
And bryght shynyng in thy mageste,
For yeff they woldene makene moone That syght to see lorde make me able
570 Eyther grocche with herte sare
Thorow parce michi domine. ..
Ayenst god that sytteth in trone,
Reposita est hec spes mea in sinu
[Percase yet]' they woldene spare
meo.
And make natt so ferly ffare
Thys hope ys in myne herte sette,
But take ensample woldene off me. That neuer ffrome me sshalle dysseuer; 615
575 Now, lord, as I am buta wormes ware, Thereyne my trust also ys knette,
So parce michi domine.
The whych to haue now ys me leuer.
Quis michi det ut exarentur in
I hope to god that I shalle gette
libro, stilo ferreo aut plumbi
Off alle dyseases yet rekouere,
lamina, uel celte sculpantur in
And se my lorde in hys turete
620
silice?
With whome I hope to dwellene euer.
Who shalle graunte me, or I be dede,
Thouh I be synfulle, lord, take me neuer
To wryte hem by oone and oone
In any thyng 4 that may dysplease the,
580 [In]booke with ynke blak or rede,
Thy blysse late me haue for euer
Made with gumme and vermylone,
Thorow. parce michi domine. : 625
(Iob
Or ellys yet? in plate off lede,
10, 18). Quare de vulua eduxisti me?
Or gravene in harde flynte off stone,
Qui vtinam consumptus essem,
That alle mene, where-euer? they yede,
ne oculus me uideret!
585 Myght otherwhyle loke theropone ?
I wolde my frendys and my ffoone
A lord, why leddyst thou so me
Ensample take myght be me.
Oute off þe wombe that? I was in?
As thow art thre and gode alloone, Wold god I had consumed be
Now 5 parce michi domine.
With-inne my[n]® owne moders skynne,
Scio enim quod redemptor meus That the eye with whyche I see
viuit, et in nouissimo die de
Had nat seyne no more ne mynne,
terra surrecturus sum, et rursum
That I myght in that degre
circumdabor pelle mea, & in
Neuer haue wyst what had be synne;
carne mea videbo deum salua-
For synne maketh me from the to twyne.
torem meum.
That off nought madest pou 10 me, 635
590 I wote ryght? welle that my redemptoure Thy mercy, lorde, ma[k]ell me to 12
Lyueth yet, and lyue shalle aye,
wynne
And I shalle ryse, I not what oure,
With 13 parce michi domine.
Owte off the erthe att domes-daye,
Fuissem 14 quasi non essem, de utero
And take to me my ffurst coloure,
translatus ad tumulum.
595 In 6 flessh & felle cladde on clay, And wolde god that I be hadde
And (so] shalle I see my sauyoure As a thyng that neuer was!
Deme the worlde in wonder aray. For alle with synne I am be-stadde, 640
The wycked than withowtene delay And euery day I doo trespas.
As arowes to helle they shullene flee. No wonder though I be vngladde
600 Lorde, that I goo nat that way,
And though I synge oftene allas!
So parce michi domine.
For pure woo I wexed madde,
Quem uisurus sum ego ipse, &
co ipse & Nere goddys mercy my solace. 645
oculi mei conspecturi sunt, et
Lo, lorde, lo, I am ryght as
non alius.
A wytles mane with-owtene the:
Whame? I my-selff shalle se in syght
But as thoue off plente 15 mercy has,
With eyene clere and herte stable,
So parce michi domine.
And knowe hym as god almyght
1 HD therfore. 2 Ff O l. that arte. 3 Ff
605 That was for me man desparitables.
rekeuer. 4 Ff Wyth oght. ..5 Ff. Wyth.
o Ms. 0. tuus. 9 Ms. thas. 8 Ff In myn.
i Mss. Because yeff. 2 om Ff. 3 Mss. 9 Ff me. 10 Ff Ye from be lord that madyste.
My. 4 Ms. Emsample. 5 Ff So. 6 Ff 11 Ms. made. 12 Ff graunte bat y may. 13 Ff
And. 7 Mss. Whane, 8 so Mss.; r. despitable. Thorow. 14 Ms. Fuissent. * 15 Ff lord all.
M
a isoon iftes. Why I
a1500 L Dirige i
(The profits of tribulation).
389
Ms. Harl. 1706.]
Nunquid non paucitas dierum meo-
rum finietur breui ?
Whether the ffewnes off my dayes
650 Shulle nat hastyly haue an ende?
Sythen I cane se be no wordly wayes
But owte off? Þe worlde sone shalle I
wende.
The wordles wyles ryght nat me payes,
For they bene false and ful ynthende (!);
655 My fflesshly lust my soule affrayes,
And I am tempted with the ffende.
Thys maketh me to bowe and bende
Alle-wey to synne, that woo ys mę.
Lorde, that arte curteyse and hende,
660 So parce michi domine.
Dimitte ergo mne domine, ut plan-
gam paululum dolorem meum;
antequam vadam, et non reuer-
tar, ad terram tenebrosam et
opertam mortis caligine.
Therffore, lorde, suffre thow? me
A lytylle what, that whylle 3 I may
The tyme that euer I greuedº the
In dede or thought be nyght or day,
665 And graunte me, yeff thy wylle be,
That here in erthe I wepes may,
The derke lande that I neuer 6 see
That keuered ys with blacke alle-wey.
i Ff fro. 2 Ff now. 3 Ff A 1. whyle
that wepe. 4 Ff gyltyd. 5 Ff wepe I.
6 Ff ne. 7 om Ff.
Now, good' Ihesu, to the I prey,
As thow art god in trinite, - 670
From that lande thou kepe (
me] aye
Thoroughi parce michi domine.
Terram miserie et tenebrarum, ubi
umbra mortis et nullus ordo, sed
sempiternus horror inhabitans.
The lande off myscheff and off derknes
Where as dampned soules dwelle,
The londe off woo and off wrecchednesse 675
Where bene moo peynes þane tonge
may telle,
The londe off dethe and off duresse
In whych noone order may? dwelle,
Thelonde off wepyng and off drerynesse
And stynkyng sorow' on to smelle. 680
Now from that lond þat clepyd ys helle,
Worthy lord, rescue now thow me,
So that I may euer with the dwelle,
Thorough parce michi domine.
Here endeth the IX lessons of the
diryge whiche Iob made in hys trybu-
lacion.
(Follows another poem with the same
refrain Parce michi domine, beg. By a
forest syde walkyng as I went Dysporte
to take in o mornyng).'
Of the 3 following tracts (6—8), which are mostly found together in the Mss.,
the 2 last have been ascribed to R. Rolle by Tanner; but all are later compilations
by a Midland writer,-in-a-negligent, slipshod sort of style...
6. (The profits of tribulation.)
(Under this heading I give the 2 (or 3) originally distinct pieces which in the
Mss. have subsequently coalesced. The ist (How six maisters &c.) is found inde-
pendent in Ms. Reg. 17 A XXV and Ji IV. 9, but generally, as in Ms. Harl. 1706 f. 54
(Douce 322), Rawl. 894, Reg. 17 C XVIII, Corp. Chr. Coll. Oxf. 220", connected
(though-loosely), through an intervening Nota de paciencia infirmitatis in Latin, with
the XII profits of tribulation. The ist piece is, in Ms. Harl. 1706, and by Tanner,
ascribed to Adam Carthusianus (see Tanner s. v.). The other is a translation of
De XII utilitatibus tribulationis (ascribed to Peter of Blois, ed. Giles III. 307,
Migne 207), and is derived from the older translation (probably by R. Rolle) ed.
p. 44 ff. The whole tract was printed London 1530.) *
1 Ff of all. 2 Ff m. here. 3 oin Ff.
1 Ff orrour vnto. 5 Ff Worschypfull 1. res-
cowe.
1 The same Ms. Harl. 1706, fol. 60, contains a translation of R. Rolle's De emendatione pecca-
toris (12 Capitula). Also, the 'Orologium Sapiencie' ascribed (with the beginning of Ms. Harl.)
to R. Rolle by Pits and Tanner, but which is nothing but Chapter V. of a larger tract of that
name (a free English reproduction fof Henry Suso's work) by another author, ed. in Anglia X.
2 Corp. and Rawl. are the best Mss., though neither' is the original; Reg. closely follows
Rawl.; Harl. often alters freely.
3 In Ms. Mm vi. 17 fol. 125 and C. C. C. Oxf. 193 this Latin tract is erroneously attributed
to R. Rolle; others ascribe it to Adam the Carthusian. R. Rolle is probably the author of the
Ist translation (Ms. Reg. 17 B XVII).
. 4 Another treatise on tribulation (»Seint Poule techib us &c.a) in Ms. Ji vi. 40 and Bodl. 938,
is wrongly ascribed o R. Rolle in the Cambr. Catal. of Mss.
Ons
m oovifferWiseman
a1425 12 Pirib & CRoy)
$
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle
390
Ms. Reg. 17 A xxv.]
.
.
.
A
Ms. Reg. 17 A XXV.
fol. 62.
Here begynnyth a litil schort tretice that tellyth how per weren sixe maisters
asembliden to-gidur, and askiden eche oon of opere what? pey myzte best speke
of that mygte moost plese god & were moost profitable to Þe peple, and alle
þey weren acordid to speke of tribulacioun.
(1)He friste maistir seyde þat if eni þinge hadde be bettir to eny mannis 3
lyuynge in þis world þan tribulacioun, god wolde haue zeue it to his sone; but
for he say wel þer was no þinge better þan it, perfore he zaf it to him, and
made him to suffre moost tribulacioun in his wrecchid worlde, more pan dide
euere eny man or euere schal. (T)he secunde maistir seide þat if þer were eny
man in þis world that myzte be with-oute spot of synne as oure lorde Ihesu Crist
was, and myzte lyue here pritti Zeer and it were possible with-oute mete and
drinke, and were also so deuout in preynge þat he myzte speke with aungelis in
be eir as dide Marie Maudeleyn, zit myzte be not deserue in that lijf so greet
mede as a man deserue in sufferyng of a litil tribulacioun. (T)he þridde
maister seyde that if it so were þat the modir of god and alle pe halewis of
heuene preieden alle for oo man, zit schulde bei not gete him so myche meede
ne so greet as he schulde gete hym-silf bi meeknes in suffringe of a litil tribu-
lacioun. (Tjhe fourbe maistir seide: We worschipe pe cros for oure lord Ihesu
Crist hyng ther-upon bodili, but I seye we schulde raper and by more rizt and
resoun haue in mynde he tribulacioun þat he suffride ther-upon for oure gyltis and
trespasis. (Tjhe fifpe maistir seide: I hadde leuere be of myzte, of strenkbe
and of power to suffre pe leste peyne of tribulacioun þat oure lorde Ihesu Crist
suffride here in erþe wij meeknes in herte, þan þe meede or the reward of alle
worldly goodis, for as seint Petir seip þat noon ys worþi to haue tribulacioun
but po that desyren [it] with clene herte and wib-oute errour"; for tribulacioun quen-
chiḥ synne, and it lernep a man to knowe Þe priuytees of god, and tribulacioun
makiþ a man to knowe hym-silf and his euen-cristin, and it multiplieþ vertues
in a man, and purgith hym and clensith hym lijk as fier doob golde; and what
man that meekli in herte suffriþ tribulacioun, god is with-inne hym and berith:
þat heuy charge of tribulacioun wiþ hym; also tribulacioun beyep azen the tyme
þat is lost, and holdiþ a man in þe wey of riztwisnes; and of alle pe ziftis þat
god zeuep ynto man, tribulacioun is pe moost worpi zifte, also it is [a] tresour
to be which no man may make comparisoun; and tribulaciour ioynep a mannis
soule ynto god. Now axiþ þe sixte maistir whi we suffren tribulacioun with
so euel wil; and it is answerid per-to & seyd pus: for pre thingis. The firste
is for we haue litil loue to oure lord Ihesu Crist. The secunde is for þat we
thenke litil of be greete meede and profite þat comeþ þerof. The birdde is pat
we penke ſul litil or nouzt of þe bittir paynes and pe greete passioun pat oure
lord Ihesu Crist suffride for us in redempcioun of oure synnes“, and to bringe us
to his blis that neuer schal haue ende. AMEN. —-
kah
In Ms. Rawl. C 894 &c. then follows:
B. Nota de paciencia infirmitatis.
SI sciret homo quantum ei infirmitas vtilius fuisset, nunquam sine infirmitate viuere uoluisset,
quare? Quia infirmitas corporis est anime sanitas. Quod apostolus considerans: Cuni infirmor?
(inquit) tunc forcior sum & potens. Quomodo? quia infirmitas corporis extinctio est libidinis,
distruccio vanitatis, effugacio curiositatis, adnichilacio mundi & inanis glorie, euacuacio superbie,
exterminacio inuidie, expulcio luxurie, adquisicio gracie uirtutis diuine — Domino dicente ad
apostolum Paulun: Sufficit tibi Paule gracia mea, nam uirtus in infirmitate perficitur, Quod dictim
I al. asemblid. 2 al. & yche on asked oher what bing.
5 al. gret paynes & be bitter p. 6 al. soules. 7 Ms. infirmior.
3 al. man.
4 r. irour.
é 1500-kiliffes. Tur. T-
V
.
391
(The profits of tribulation).
Ms. Rawl. C894.]
bene intelligensi apostolus ex maximo cordis sui gaudio dixit: Libenter gloriabor in infirmitatibus
meis. Valde ergo desideranda est infirmitas, quoniam in nobis peccatorum flammas extinguit & a
Thesu Christo graciam adquirit. Infirmitas ir nobis culpan purgat & coronanı nobis preparat. O
infiimitas, quam amabilis es & nobis vtilis; nunquanz sine te ambuleni, nunquam sine te sedeam,
nunquam sine te in hac uita fugiente viuam, quare? Quia infirmitas corporis est purgacio &
anine sanctificacio. Infirmitas corporis est euidens nobis diuini amoris indiciuni & castigacionis
sue signum, Christo domino testante qui ait: Quos amo, flagello & castigo. Certe si velimus ab
eo amari, debemus ab eo desiderare flagellari. Quia si ab eo non fuerimus flagellati non pote-
rimus ab eo recipi, scriptura teste que dicit: Flagellat omnem filium quem recipit. Constat
ergo quod illuin que non flagellat non recipit, vnde de illis quos hic non flagellat dicit per
prophetam: Dimisi eos secundum desideria cordis eorum. Necessarium est ergo nobis flagellum
domini, quia si ab eo flagellamut absque dubio ab eo recipimur. Pacienter est ergo tolleranda
infirmitas corporis que est preparació salutis, igitur cum graciarum accione est suscipienda,
cuni cordis leticia est tolleranda. Infirmitas eniin corporis generat odiun mundi & parat amorem
dei. Cogit nos uitam presenteri tanquam erumnosan peregrinacionem & exilium odio habere
& vitan eternam desideranter concupiscere. Sed honines miseri & mundo dediti, si sane seniper
in hac uita potuissent viuere, nunquain (vitam aliam habere voluissent. Nunc ualde est
dolendum & fiendo dicendum quod non nulli statim cun a deo flagellantur, eius salutiferunt
flagellum ab eis auferre nituntur. Mox vasa vitrea querunt, vrinan consulunt vtrunn viuere an
mori debeant. Heu! heu! Tales et huiusmodi per illuin pessimum regem Ocoziam designantur
qui, in libro Regun quarto, cun egrotasset misit nuncios dicens: Ite corsulite-Belsebub deun
Accaron vtrum moriar an viuanı; quibus nunciis Helias propheta domino iubente occurrens ait:
Dicite domnino vestro, nunquid deus non est in Israel, quia misisti ad deur Accaron ut con-
suleres euni; propter hec dicit dominus: de lecto tuo non consurges sed morieris; et ita factum.
est iuxta verbum doinini. Simili modo morte pessima morientur qui suur Accaron', qui vrina
interpretatur, et fiagelluin donini a se expellere conantur, et ita dei ordinacioni?' resistunt,
nescientes ceci et insipientes quia deus dilectos suos hir. flagellat vt eos probet et purget,
: mundet et sanctificet, vt postmodum eos coronet et glorificet qui est super omnia deus bene-
dictus in secula. Amen.
Meet
sbr
.2
SEO
34
41500 la Trib.
On
m.
.
.
Here sueth a prologe vpone pe XII prophetis and auauntegis 3 of tribulacion.
Prologus.
Da nobis domine auxilium de tribulacione,
LOrd god, graunte us helpe of tribulacion'. To þe, soule, þat art distroublid
and temptid, to he is purposed pat pou schalt lerne wherof tribulacions seruen,
and (not]4 only þat þou schalt suffre hem paciently, [but]5 gladlye, and comforte
the inwardly of pat pou arte discomforte outwardeº. For Seneca seipe: Non est ita
magna consolacio sicut illa que ex desolacione extrahitur, There is none so gret
comforte as is þat þat is drawen oute of discomforte. Which comforte may noman
haue, but he know first the frute of tribulacion, þat is to seye, but he know how
god sendith tribulacions and ordeynepe heme to be prophet of the soffrers, but
if it so be that rebelnesse of frowardnes with-stonde pe ordinaunce of god.
Therfor þei þat knowen her defautes one pat one parties, and pee profetis of
tribulacion on þat oper parti, askyn to be holpyne in tribulacion, & not tribula-
cion to be put a-weye from hem; for if pei askyn puttynge awey þerof, þei
askene a-yence hym-selfe, as seynt Poule dyd which asked pries Þe prikynge of
his flessh to be done a-weye; to whome god answeryd thus, II° ad Corrinth. 12° :
Sufficit tibi gracia mea, My grace suffiseth to the. Many prophitis per ben of
tribulacion, but of XII I purpose to speke in speciall; the which who so will
with good diligens reed or here, he schal lyghtly with goddis grace fynde gostly
sauoure. For ryght as mete euel chewed is euel to defye, iyght so techynge of
hooly writt neccligently redd or herd profiteth lytell or ellis nouzte.
Of the first prophet of tribulacion. Capitulum primum.
I he firste prophet of tribulacion is 'vnderstond pat it is a trew socoure of
help sent frome god to delyuer the soule fro pe handis of his enemyes, whiche
enemyes ben pese: preuy suggestions!' of þe fende pat cruel enemy, ffalse ioyes
1 Mss. intelligit. ? Ms. ordinacionem.
Reg.) yit; HC & that only. 6 Mss. and.
9 H to v. 20 H suggestion.
3 CH euangelistes (!), corr, in Reg.
6 Coutwardly. 7 H helpe & p.
4 Ms. (&
8 CH parte.
a 1500 in
there. th. The
WS
1.
a 1500
12
392
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Rawl. C 894.]
& richesse of the world bat disseiuable enemy, vnclene lustis of the fflessh
þat homly enemy. Thes enemyes sleen þe soule, and so mych be more (perl)osly,
þat þei disseiuen it with false feyned frendshyp and so preuyly. The which ben
figured bi Ioas, Iro Regum .XX., that feyned hym : frend to Amas holdynge hyme
by be chyne as he wold baue kyssed hyme, and so with his swerd in þat oder
hond preuyly stiked" hyme. Vpone þis seipe seint Gregor: Yf euery: fortune is
for to be drad, moch more is for to be drad prosperite pan aduersite—as schewe
opynly. And note wel þat god ordeyneth all þingis in tribulacion to [be]' dely-
ueraunce of his seruauntis, as he behotipe be pe prophet Dauid, seying þus: Cum
ipso sum in tribulacione, eripiam eum & glorificabo eum, I am with hym in tribu-
lacion, I schal delyuer bym of tribulacion, and I schal glorifye hym for tribula-
cion. For als much þan as god is with vs in tribulacion, we schal suffre it
& paciently and gladly, for be more pat tribulacion groweth º to be, the more nere
god neizhith to þe, as pe prophet seith: Iuxta est dominus hijs qui tribulato
sunt corde, d humiles spiritu saluabit, Oure lord is faste-by to bem pat ben in
tribulacion of herte, and he schal saue hem þat ben meke of spirite. Therfor
if the peyne of tribulacion make the heuy and greuyth the, pe myzt and the
mercy of god thy sauioure þat is with the in tribulacion, schall inwardly comfort
the. But now perauenture pou myztest 10 answere & sey thus: The bitter payne ofe
tribulacion I fele wel, but swettnesse of his fellowshyp I fele none; ffor if he
schewed to me the present swetnesse of hy[s] 11 myrth as he doth the bitternesse of
tribulacion, I schuld suffer it gladly'. Also perauenture thow woldist 12 seye that
afore tribulacion thow felist 13 more swetnesse in god ban pou dedist whan pou
were 14 in tribulacion. Here-to may be answered, pat be frendshipe of god in
tribulacion is 15 vnder-stond in twey maners. First: ás tribulacion encresith, so god
multiplieth grace & vertu for to suffre tribulacion paciently & gladly. Example:
as lordis send socoure and helpe to comforte hyr seruauntis pat be in castellis 16
besegid of her enemyes, 1yzt so oure lord god sendipe comfort of grace to soules
þat ben be-segid with temptacions & tribulacions. The secund maner of the
fellowschype of god in tribulacion may be vnderstonde by the comforte þat he
sendith hem þat bene in tribulacion; as the apostil seithe, I Cor. 11°: Sicut ħabun-
dant passiones Christi in nobis, ita habundat consolacio 120stra, As the passion of
Cristel encresith in us, so encresith oure comforte. Cristis passions encresyne 18 in
us when thei be sent fro hym and we to [he] 19 lyknesse of hym mekely & paciently
suffer hem as goddis seruauntis, and not as mansleers and thevis, whiche hane
deseruid þat þei sufferne. And vnderstond well, þat comforte of grace in tribula-
cion is for he schulde 20 dred god and trist in hym to be delyuerde; 21 as we rede in
the boke of holy fader 22 seint Anton, how he after many gret spirituall temptacions
was troublyd of fendis, bodyly betone and woundid all hys body, so pat whan
his seruaunt 23 cam to viset hym he found hyme lying dede & so he toke hym vp
and bare hym to the next towne where he watched?4 tyll abowzt mydnyzt; and
ban by the will ofe god he releued 25 and bad his seniaunt preuyly, all other sclepyng,
bere hym azen; and so he did. And whan he was brouzt ayen thedir so feble
þat he myzt not stonde, but sittynge vp he seid pus: Where bene ye 26 euill
spiritis, wicked feendis ? lo I am here be pe myzt of god redy to withstond all youre
malice”. & after þes and many [othir] wonderfull temptacions: oure lord appered
to hym in wonderful lyzt & comfortable. To whom hooly Antone seid: 'A lord
Ihesu, where hast þou bene? good lord, where hast pou be?? so longe fro me in
tribulacion ? And oure lord answered and seyd: 'here with the, beholdynge thi
fyghtynge, redy to reward the and comforte the after thi uictory, as I am wont
to do for my chosin childerne. For wit pou well pat comforte oweth not to
com, tyl that a place be rayed therto by tribulacion. Also we rede of Sare, the
1 H of. 2 CH’in. 3 om in H. 4 H caste, RC kylde (R styked on margin). 5 H any.
6 Ms. as he. 7 Ms. be. 8 H the more p. 9 Ist transl. greues. 10 H myght. 11 RC his,
· om in H. 12 H wolde. 13 H felt. 14 Hom whan bou were. 15 H to v. 16 H om in c.
17 H om of C. 18 H encreseth. 19 Ms. be; H be the. 20 CH he s. preve hym-silfe, he s,
21 The foll. tale is added. 22 Ms. faders. 23 H seruauntis. 24 RC was w., H was washed.
25 = re-lived. 26 Mss. be. 27 good-be om in H.
sack500mmffertaWe
1
.
..
.
i
Trib. Pred
.
.
(The profits of tribulation).
393
Ms. Rawl. C 894.]
douzter of Raguell, Tobie IIIo: Hoc autem certum habet omnis qui colit te quia
vita eius si in temptacione fuerit coronabitur, si autem in tribulacione fuerit libera-
bitur, et si in correpcione fuerit ad misericordiam tuam peruenire licebit. Non
enim delectaris in perdicionibus nostris; quia post tempestatem tranquillum facis, et
post lacrimacionem et fletum exultacionen infundis: Euery man þat worschippith
the', god, hath this for certeyn that yf his lyfe be here in temptacion, he schalbe
crowned, and yf he be in tribulacion he schalbe delyuerd, & [yf] he be in chastisyng
it schalbe leffullto com to þi mercy; pou delitest not in oure per[i]chynge, for
after tempestis pou makist tranquillite, & after teers and wepyng pou sendist
gladnesse. as the prophet seith: Secundum multitudinem dolorum meorum in corde
meo consolaciones tue letificauerunt animam meam, After the multitude of the sorrowes
in myn herte thi comfortis hane gladdid my soule. The comforte of on oure
passith pe sorrowes of tribulacion of many zeris ; ffor god þat commyth 3 for to
helpe & comforte, after tribulacion schal abyd with pe, gladdynge și soule. And
perauenture yf pou pleineste pe pat pou tarrieste ouer-longe abydynge his con-
forte, as louers be wont to pleyne: here-to answeribe a gret clerke, Cassiodorus :
Ipsa uelocitas 4 deis desideranti & amanti tarditas videtur, The swiftenesse of god
· to a desirynge & a louynge soule semyth longe tariynge, (or thus: a thyng þat is
moche couetyd semeth grete tariyng] to a louynge soule. Pan .of þese tofore-
seid may be concluded pat a soule discomforted in tribulacion oweth' not to hold
hym-selfe ouercom of his enemyes, but rather delyuerde. Sipe pan pat pis is
sothe pat tribulacions delyueren us from oure enemyes, pough so be þat þei be
heuy and chargeable yet neuer-the-lesse þei schulden be suffred paciently &
gladly, with-out grocchynge a-zens tribulacions; for yf we gruches a-yence hem,
þan we strive a-yenst oure helper's & we helpen oure enemyes. And for we be
not stronge of oure-silfe to delyucu vs from oure enemyes, pray we to god
mekelye seyinge with the prophet: Da nobis domine auxilium de tribulacione,
Lord god graunte us helpe of tribulacion".
The secund prophet of tribulacion. Capitulum secundum.
I he secund prophet of tribulacion is þat it stoppith the malice 10 of the fend;
for he is a-ferd to tempt pe soule þat is in tribulacion, for he dredith hym to
be ouercome or ellis refused. & þat is figured by the frendis of Iobe, where it
is seyd, Iob. IIO: Nemo loquebatur ei uerbum, videbant enim dolorem eius uehe-
mentem, Noman speke to hym a word, þei sigh his sorrowes werne grete. The
feyned frendis of Iobe betokyn wicked feendis þat vexenl or troublyn soules,
which dare not com nyse a soule þat is in tribulacion, ne tempt it beynge
distroublyd. '& not oonly tribulacion stoppith the malice of the fende, but also
bere-thorou?, the soule deseruith conforte as? of angels and of seyntis, as we rede
of holy faders many oone. Of which one commyth to mynde. Abbot Sisoy after
meke sofferrynge of tribulacions & desesis, a litill to-fore the soule schuld passe
from the body, he seyd: 'brethern, bene (!)12 glad, lo holy Anton commyth to us ;
& sone after he seyd: lo here conmyth the worshypful company of prophetis" ;
and the thrid tyme he seid: ‘now commyne the holy apostillis'; and as it semed
to hem þat stodyne abouzt he spake with hem; and pen pei prayeden [hym] þat he
schuld tel hem with whom þat? he spake, and he answerid and seid: with holy
angels pat commyn to take my soule; and I prayed hem to byd[e] a while, þat I
schuld 13 suffre more pennaunce'; and pese wordis I-seyd, pe spirit passeth 14 with
gret lyzt, all bei felynge a wonderfull 15 swete sauoure'. 16 Note well pat þere is no
perell in tribulacion of temptacions so þat pou answere not to hem by dilectacion or 17
consentynge, as Þe spech of ane opyne cursed man noyeth not but yf pou answere
to hym. þat is figured in holy wrytt where it is seyd, Ysaie XXXVIO: Mandauerat
enim rex Ezechias rze populus responderet blasfemijs Rapsacis, Kynge Ezechie
commaunded þat þe peple schuld not answere to the blasfemis 18 of that tiraunt
D
.
Tom in H. 2 H leuefull. 3 H coueteth. 4 H uoluntas. 5L cordi. 6 H forsayd.
9 H ought. S R gurch, H groge, 9-9 added. 10 ist tr. mouthe. 11 al. vexen, ist tr.
werrayande. 12 Ms. (& R) bene; HC be. 13 H myght. 14 H passyd oute. 15 H w. grete
& s. 16 H Than note. 17 H &. 18 H blasfeniis.
ei15co
l phe commander tre
EDUALE
QISOO
394
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Rawl. C894.]
Rapsacis. By Rapsacis is vnderstond the feend, and by his blasfemyes bene vnder-
stond temptacions of wicked þouztis, which noyeth nouzt but yf pou wilfully
assent to hem. ?And if pou fele pe feble by frelet[e] of the flessh, pray pou god.
prophet seith: Lord god graunt us helpe of tribulacion.
Of the thrid prophet of tribulacion. Capitulum tercium.
I he thrid prophet of tribulacion is þat it purgibe the soule. Buť it is to wit
þat ther bene v. maner of materiall purgyngis. On is purgynge of mannys body
for corrupcion 3 of humoris wicked; & þat is in two maners: one ys be medi-
cinable* drynkys, a nother be crafty blood-lettyngė. The secund purgynge ys of
metal, as gold be þe fire, & iron be the fyle. The thrid purgynge is of trees,
as cuttynge of vynes, and voydynge of onfrutfull branches. The fourth purgynge
is of corne, as betyng or thresshyng with a flayle. The fyfte purgynge is of
grapis, & that is by a pressoure. One pus many maners god doth purge the
soule by tribulacions. For as the body is purged by medicinalle 6 drinkis of euell
humoris, ryght so is the soule made clene by tribulacions sent from the souereyne.
leche oure lord god of veyne affeccions and euell maners; for seynt Gregor seyth:
medicyne of tribulacion sent to the fro god, for he is a wise leche and knoweth
all þi preuy syknesse & how much pou maist suffre and how much pou nediste,
for he sendipe the no thynge but þat þat is profitable to the. And he s
hape tasted and assayed and drunke afore the, not for hym-selfe but for þi
purgynge, he suffred pe º passione of deth ; wherof he seyd to the lo apostellis Iohñ
and Iamys, Mat. xxo: Potestis bibere calicem quem ego bibiturus sum, Mow ye drynke
þe passione pat I schal drynke? Þan sith this 'l wise lech hath dronke this medicyn
for þi loue, drynke pou therof with-oute drede, for it is holsom. This drynke
thirsted the prophet Dauid whene he seid: Caliceni salutaris accipiam et nomen
þinke it bitter!?, clepe þi lord god vnto þi helpe as he seid: Da nobis domine
auxilium de tribulacione, Lord god graunt us helpe of tribulacion. And as a
purgacion schuld be receyued hastyly with-oute ouer-much tastynge or longe
tarryng, so schuld tribulacion be acceptid 18 wilfullye with-out argumentis of 14 dis-
putynge or rebellyone or 15 grucchynge. But now be wel ware: for as some-tyme
pe prophet of the medicyne is letti[d] 16 and worchith the contrary to corrupcion,
not for thel7 defaute of be medcyne, but for pe euel disposicion of hym þat
receyueth hit, so in the same wise the prophet of tribulacion is lettid of purga-
cion 18 and doth the contrary, for it is begynnynge of payne, after which foloweth
euerlastynge dampnacion; as we reden of kyng Pharo kynge of Egipt, for the
more þat he was visettid by tribulacion, the more his rebellious herte encresyd
inl' to his dampnacion. The secund purgacion of mannys body for euel humoris
is by crafty blood-lettynge, and that is of two maners, as by openynge [of þe
veyne, or els by boxynge or ventusynge. Openynge of the veyne]' is properyd
to confession, and boxynge or ventusyng, to tribulacion. And not[e] wele, ryght
as foule blode corruptith the body; so syn which is called in holy writ blood
defouleth the soule. "The veyne be the which blod or syne ys voidid oute, is
the mouth, as it is seyd Prouerb. X: Vera vite os iusti; quia iustus in principio
accusator est sui, The mouth of a ryztful man is the veyne of lijf; for the ryghfull
man in the begynnynge accuseth hym-selfe, þat is to sey, be confession. Also .
note that?? as a man oweth by this 20 veyne to voyde oute wicked blood for the
purgynge of his body, and kepe his 21 good blood for his norisshynge, ryght so in
confession he oweth by his mouthe to shew all his synnes, and with-hold and
kepe preue all his good dedis for fere of lesynge; for good [dedis) schewed in
I al. noy. 2-2 added. 3 Ms. corruinipcion. 4 H medicinall. 5 H thyse. GRC medicinable.
7 Ms. Mala. 8 Mss. he bat. I Ms. bi. 10 H hys. 11H the. 12 Ms. better. 13 HC accepte.
141 H or. 15 C of. 16 Ms. lettith. 17 om in H. 18 H is l. & d. the c. of hys p. 19 om.
20 H his. 21 RH the.
fal.5.0-6--
-ffreshed on
same
Who
#
1:
. (The proflits of tribulation).
395
Ms. Rawl. C 894.]
confession by veyneglory or avauntynge, turnyn fro vertu vnto vicis for defaute of
wise kepyng, as we redyne of the pharase that seyd, Luc. XVIII°: Gracias ago
tibi domine quia non sum sicut ceteri hominum, raptores, adulteri, uelut eciam hic
publicanus; Ieiuno bis in sabbato, decimas do omnium que possideo: Lord I banke
be for I am not lyke as other men, robbers and auoutrers, also not lyke this
publycan; I fast twise in a' weke, I paye tythes of all pat I haue. Lo here pou
maista vnderstond by this pharase a false feyned and a prowd confession. Sed publi-
canus a longe stans noluit oculos ad celum, leuare, sed percuciebat pectus (suun) dicens
Deus propicius esto michi peccatori: But the publican stondynge a-ferre behynde,
holdynge hym-selfe vnworthi, wold not lyfte up his zien to heuen, but he smote
his: herte and seyde God baue merci on me synner; and so this publican yode
thens iustified, or made ryght, by his verry meke confessione. To this acordith
the prophet Dauid where he seith thus: Dixi confitebor aduersum me iniusticiam
meam domino, f tr remisisti impietatem peccati mei: I schall knowlege [by]“ meke
confession ayence my-silfe to my lord myn vnryztwisnes, and þou haste forzeuen
the wickidnesse of my synne. 9 Boxynge or ventusyng, a-cordyth to tribulacion ;
for als many desesis as god sendith to the in tribulacion, so many remedies he
ordeynith for thi purgacion. But note wel as it is nedeful afore ventusynge,
the Hessh to be het and clensid“, fór þan the smytynge of the blood-yryne may
be suffred the more esily; so it is spedful afore tribulacion pat the hert be hett
with parfite loue and charite, þat temptacion of tribulacion may be suffred the
more paciently and gladly. In figure here-of the holygoste cam downe to the
apostilys in lyknesse of fire, bi whome thei were so strengthid and comforted þat
afterward bei werene“ gladd and yedyn' loyinge for pei were maade worthi to
suffer tribulacion, angre and repreue for the name of Ihesu, the which afore þat
tyme were so dredful þat þei fleddyn aweye fro hym and som forsokun [hym],
as Petir—þat was prince of the apostilles—for fere of a woman swore þat he
knew hym not, the which after [be] commynge of the holygoste dred not the
cruell turment of Nero the emperour, but paciently and gladly suffred to be cruci-
fied and dede. The secund maner of materyall purgacion is of metallis, as gold
be fyre, and irone by 8 file. For ryght as fire departith gold from other mettallis,
and purgith hym of ruste and fylth, and makibe hire faire and clene: so tribula-
cion departith the soule of his aduersaries, and clensith hym of the filth of synnes,
and it makith hym to god lovely and acceptable; and therfor it is seyd Sapienc.
vo: Tamquam aurum in fornace probauit electos dominus, et quasi holocaustalº hostii
accepit illos, & in tempore erit respectus illorum, Oure lord hath preued his chosen
men by tribulacion as gold is preued in the fornaise, and he hath accepted hem
as sacrifice of offrynge, & in tyme of reward þat schuld be hold(!). With this fire
of tribulacion was Iob preved when he seyd, lobe XXIII°: Probauit me deus sicut
aurum quod per ignem transit, God preuith—by tribulacion-me as gold pat
passith by Sfire. And note pat amonge all metallis gold is moste preciouse, and
leed is leste of price, & yet neuertheles gold is not purged with-oute leed, for
leed draweth with hym in the forneis the filthes 12 of gold. On the same maner
chosine soules (the whiche be likned to gold), bene purged by dampned soules 13
the which be likened to leed; wherof Salomon seith: Stultus seruiet sapienti,
The fole schal serue to the wise man- bat is to seye, euell men schal serue to
purge good men by tribulacion. Also 14 Iron is purged bi the file of ruste, and
inade schynyng and is bryzt: so is the soule purged by tribulacion from vnclennesse
& conforted with gostly lyzt. And as a knyfe þat is not vsed, abydynge in the
sheth draweth 10 ruste : so doth the soule with-owte excersise of tribulacion, desireth
vnclene luste; as we redyne of Dauid, II° Reg. 11°, (þat] whan he was with-owt
tribulacion of werrynge with his enemyes,'17 fell into auoutrye with the wife of Vry
þat worpi knyzt, & after into homicide or manslauzter. Derfor seibe Þe prophet
Ieremye: Fertilis 18 erat Moab in diebus adolescencie sué, do requieuit in (fecibus ] '' suis:
1 H the. 2 H may thou. 3 H on h. Mss. my. 5 Mss. clensid; r. chaufid.
6 H wentyn. 7 RHC yodyn. S RH the f. 9 HC hit. 10 H holocaustum. 11 CH thai shullen.
12 H fylthe. 13 H euyll men. 14 HC Also as. 15 om in H. 16 H dr. to hym. 17 H he f.
18 r. Sterilis ... ab adol. 19 Mss. diebus.
autboomine ferontitten
w 1500 12
396
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle,
Ms. Rawl. C 894.)
Moab, pe which is vnderstonde the son of my people, was plenteuous by grace
in tyme of his tribulacion, and he hath rested in filthes of syn. Than gruche not
ayence god whan he filyth? thi soule to make it faire and clene, louely and lyzt,
or els may it neuer com to haue of hym that blissed syzt whereof it is seide
Mat. Vo: Beati inundo corde quoniam ipsi deum videbunt, Blessed bene pei pat bene
clene of hert for bei schull se god. The thrid maner of purgynge pat accordyth
to tribulacion, is of trees, as cuttynge of vinis, or wedyng? of vnfrutefull braunchis;
wherof Crist seith, Iohn. XX°: Omnem palmitem 112 me non ferentem fructum,
tollet eum, & omnem qui fert fructum, purgabit cum, ut fructum plus afferat,
Euery vyne-braunche bat bringeth forth no frute in me pat am a warre 3 vyne, <
my fader, pat is a tilier“, schal kut hym of and cast hym a-weye, and pat braunche
þat beryth frute he schall purge hym, þat he may bringe forth more frute. By
this vyne may be ynderstonde mannys herte, bi tho humoris is vnderstond affec-
cion or loue, and by vnfrutfull braunchis bene vnderstond flesshly lustis, vnordinate
loue of creaturis, carnall affeccions of kynred, and worldly richesse. When þe
humoris of a vyne or of a tree is spred aboute vnto oubers many vnfrutefull
braunchesse, hit bringeth forbe the lasse frute or ellis none; perfor? it longith
to a wise tilier or to a good gardiner to cut of pes vnfruteful braunches, þat the
vyne or the tree may brynge forth the better frute and the more. Right so
almyzti god, which is a wise tilier & a souereyne gardiner, cuttipe a-wey vnclene
lustis of pe flessh with the knyfe of bodyly siknesse, he cuttepe a-wey vnordinate
loue of creatures with the hoke of aduersite & tribulacions, he cuttith a-wey
carnall affeccions of kynred with be swerd of depe, & he cuttipe a-wey worldly
riches with iss irone rodde, as with brennynge of fyre, drenchynge of water, rob-
byng of theves and such other. On all these maners doth god chastice and
purge by tribulacion, ffor he wold þat the loue of thine herte schuld abyde with
hym & bringe forth plenty of spiritual frute in hym, & not abyde ne trust in such
deseyuable frendshyp; for seynt Gregory seith : Qui autem labenti adheret'', necesse
est ut cum labente labatur, He bat lenepe to a fallynge pinge, nedis with pat
fallynge he most fall.
The foureth maner of materiall purgynge pat acordibe to tribulacion, is of
corne, as by betynge or thresshynge with a flayle, to departe pe corne fro þe
chaffe; wherof seith seint Austene: Quod flagellum grano, quod fornax auro, quod
lima ferro, hoc facit tribulacio viro iusto, As the fleile seruith to corne, as the
fornais 11 seruith to gold, & as the fyle seruibe to yren, so seruith tribulacion to
Þe ryztful man. 12 As we rede þat the angel Raphael seid to Tobye, Tobie XII° :
Et quia acceptus eras deo, necesse fuit ut temptacio probaret te, And for þou were
acceptable to god it was nedfull þat tribulacion schuld preue the. For as betyng
of a flaile constreyneth the corne to departe fro the chaffe, so tribulacion con-
streyneth the herte to forsake the disseiuable loue on the world and the false
frendship of synners, which ar vnderstond in 1: chafe. The prophet of this flayle
knew he prophet when he seid: Ecce ego in flagella paratus sum, Lo I am redy
to suffer the betynge of tribulacion. And therfor seith seynt Austin : Noli con-
quererel!) de flagello tribulacionis, si vis habere purum granum, fi reponi cupis in
celo vbi rzon nisi purum granum reponetur, Pleyne pe not of pe 14 fleyle of tribu-
lacion, if pou wilt haue clene corne of concience, & ifº pou wilt coueit to be in
pe garner of þeblisse of heuen irrto be which pou maist not com till pou be
clene purgid. Be well ware: for as corne pat' is grene & moiste, & not ripe ne
. drye, is not departed from the chaffe with betynge ofe the flaile, but rather cleuith
therto, so it is for to dred bat hertis which arne grene in begynnyng of conuer-
sion and moiste in carnall affeccions, which hane not assaid pe profet of tribula-
cion, be not departed from þe fals frendship of hir enemyes, but rather cleuen
to hem as pouz, bei wold be conforted by hem; "offor when god sendipe us
visitacions 16 for to purge pe soule þat he louyth, be it be bodyly siknesse or by
losse of godes þat ben temporall or aduersite of enemyes or eny other temptacion
1 Ms. felyth. 2 r. voidyng. 3 = verray; H ware. 4 H tyle-inan. 5 HC ouer.
o al. braunches. 7 H Thane, C that. 8 H hy. 9 om in H. 10 PB innititur.
11 H fornax. 12 added. 13 H'by. 14 Ms. bi. is The foll. is added. 18 H tribulacions.
ats.com-flex-Addfrom
*
<
*
(The profits of tribulation).
397
Ms. Rawl. C 894.]
or heuynesse, anon pe herte rennyth all abouzte to seke comforte of his fals
frendis, & it hath grete dred pere as is no nede, as pe prophet seipe: Ibi ceci-
derunt timore vbi non erat timor, Thei fellyne doun for dred pere as no dred
was. Hit may be clepid a cursed conforte pat is sett raper in a creature pan in
god, ffor pe prophet Ieremie seith, Ieremie XIIII°: Maledictus homo qui confidit in
homine, & ponit carnem brachium suum, & a deo recedit cor eius, Cursed be pat
man pat tristith in man, & he pat settith any creature to be his strength, & he
þat departipe his herte from god. But it may be clepid a blessid comforte þat
is sett in god, as he same prophet seith: Benedictus uir qui confidit in domino,
Segit dominus fiducia cius, Blessed be þat man pat tristeth in oure lord god, &*
oure lord schalbe his trust. And þat we schul haue ful trust oonly in god ir
all maner of tribulacion, & dred fals? comforte & euel concell of oure enemyes,
we hane ensample of Ochosias þe kynge þat sent messangers to Belsabub pe
feend of Acharon to haue comforte & councell where he schuld escape pe tribu-
lacion of siknesse or no; & god sent an angel to Hely be prophet & bad hym
sey to Ochosi: For Þou hast sent messengers to aske Courcell of Belsebub pe
feend of Acharon, as pouz bere were no god in Israel of whom pou mygteste
asken councell & comforte, perfor þou schalt not go oute of þi bed þat þou
yedist vpon, but pou schalt dye2 perin'. Also that we schuld not loue be world
ne truste worldlye þingis, seint Iohn biddith, lº Ioh. II°: Nolite diligere mundum
neque ea que in mundo sunt, Will ye not loue þe worlde ne worldly þingis.
The fifte maner of materiall purgacion is as of grapis, and that is by a pressoure.
For as a pressoure pressith the grapis' to departe the preciouse liquore of wyne
fro draffe & drastiss, so god purgith pe soule þat he louepe in the pressour of
tribulacion fro corrupcion & wickednesse of syn, som-tyme by bodyly seknesse
or preuy gostly heuynes, & some-tyme be losse of temporall goodis or persecu-
cion or slaurder of euell men and enemyes, some-tyme for lackynge of noble
kynred or by the deth of feythfull? frendis; and perfor suffre paciently the prophet
of his pressoure, yf þou wilt be brouzt into Cristis blessed seller, of which is
seyd Cant. 11°: Introduxit me dominus in cellam suam vinariam, The lord pe
kyng hath brouzt me in to his wyne-seller. Herto accordith seint Austen & seith
þat holy martires were so pressid be tribulacion in þis present lyfe, þat þe bodyly
mater lefte in the pressoure of bis erth, but þe precious soules were resseyued
vnto the seller of euerlastyng blesse. Gruch not þan ayence god if he haue put
þe in his pressoure of tribulacion; for he hath asayed it afore the, as Ysaie the
prophet seith in the person of Crist, Ysaie LXIII°: Torcular calcaui solus fi de
gentibus non est uir mecum, I alone haue tred” þe pressoure of tribulacion & no
man is with me of folkis. And þat he seith, not ‘no woman'', for þat blessed
woman moder & maide oure lady seynt Mary abode with hym in full feith when
all þo11 apostilles fled from hym, & was redy to suffre deth by compassyon of hyr
son, as þe prophet Symeon seith, Luc. II°: Et tuam ipsius animam pertransibit
gladius, The swerd of deth schall passe thorow thyne owen soule. Now þan sith
þis is soth þat oure lord Ihesu Crist hath seyd 12 þis pressoure of tribulacion and
that blessed lady his moder mayd 3 Marye, what so euer pou be þat feliste be in
þis pressoure of tribulacion, take it mekely & gladly, praying with pe prophet Da
nobis domine auxilium de tribulacione, Lord graunte us helpe of tribulacion.
Of Þe IIIlth prophet of tribulacion. Capitulum quartum.
I he IIIIth profet of tribulacion is þat it lyztneth pe to haue be knowynge 13 of
god, in which is perfeccion & pe profet of mannys knowynge; pe which seynte
Austyn desired seing in the boke of answers to hym-selfe -- libro soly-loquiorum —
thus: Wold god I schuld know þe, lord, wold god I schuld know the 111 And also
it is writtun in þe boke of Wisdom '5, Cap. XV: Nosce te iusticia est consummata,
iH & of f. 2 RC deyn; RCH om berin. 3 om in
H
a nd-grapis om in H.
5 H drystes. G H by. 7 H nobyll & f. SH rauysshed. 9 H trode. 10 CRH And
note that he seith 'no man', but he seith not 'no w. 11 al, be (Ist tr. bo). 12 RC sayed
H assayed. 13 H knowlege. 14 wold-the om in H. 15 CRH add Sap.
an 1500 in thes. Wn. I
O
A500
398
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Rawl. C894.]
To know þe, lord god, it is fulfilled riztwisnes endid?. To this knowynge 3 helpith
tribulacion; ffor as the rod constreyneth a child to bowe doun his heed & take
heed of his boke & record his lesson, so tribulacion meketh be herte & makith
hym to be-hold his owene freelte & to know god. Wherfor seith seint Bernard :
Deus se facit cognosci verberando, qui oblitus fi incognitus erat parcendo, God
makith hym-selfe to be knowen in betynge with tribulacion, which was for-yete
& vnknowe in his mercyfull sparyng. Daniel 11°, of this we hane ensample of
thekynge Nabugodonosor, which for prid was cast oute of his kyngdom & leued
with wild bestis & ete hey as an oxeº, but when he lifte up his yze to his maker
of hole herte, his witt was restored to hyme azen & he knew god þat chastised
hym in tribulacion; as is the maner of children, when þei felen scharpe strokis
of the rod, þei lifte up her yen to hym pat smytten(!)' hem, for bei wolden þat
he schuld turne his face to hem by pite & compassione. Now pan, pou lowly
soule pat arte vnder Þe rod of tribulacion, considre & know wele þat þe maner
of louers is for to send yeftis, tokens and prevy letters ecch of hem to other,
for to kepe loue & mynde of knowynge eche to operos ; on pe same maner oure
lord Ihesu Crist; as a trew louer, sendith to his belouedº children such siknesse as
he toke here for hem. For here he tokelº mankynde (in] which he suffred many
tribulacions, detraccions, blasphemies, scornes, repreues, sclaundris, hungir, thrist,
& cold, & many betyngis, scharpe scourgyngis, gret strokis, many thousand of
depe woundis, & was nayled vpon the crosse be-twene pe 12 thevis, & died pe
schamfullest 13 deth þat the Iues cowde ordeyne for hym; and after þat he was
resen fro deth & yed vp vnto 14 heuen, he keptis his woundis as for tokynnes, pat
pou schuldest know wel þat he wold haue mynde of þe, as he seith by the
prophet Ysaie, Vsaie xlix: Numquid obliuisci potest mulier infantem suum ut non
miseriatur filio vteri (sui]? Et si illa oblita fuerit, ego tamen non obliuiscar tui. Ecce
in manibus meis discripsi te: Whether a woman may foryete her child, þat sho 10
haue no mercy of the sone of hir owen body? and pouze sche foryete her child, I
schal neuer foryete pe; lo I haue writtyn the in my handis, — þat is, in all my
woundis. whiche I suffred for love of the. Sithen it is so þat he kepith þe
shewynge of his wouudis as for a tokyn of love to haue mynde on the, why
shuldist pou not?7 be glad when he sendith to the such tokyns of loue as he toke
here for the, for he wold pou schuldist haue mynde on hyme & know hym"? for
he is thi frende & wil not for-yete the. For als many dyuerse 5 tribulacions as
he sendith the, so many sondre 19 messengers Þou hast, clepyng þe & warnynge
pe to haue mynde on hym. But now perauenture pou wilte sey pat such tſibula-
cions ar not most necessary to clepe pe to haue mynde of hym, but rather his
gracious benefices 20 of profet, for seynt Austyn seith: Dei beneficia nil aliud sunt nisi
moniciones veniendi ad eum, The beneficis of god bene nopinge ellis but warnyng
or clepyng to com to hym. To this may be answerid: All-þouz pe gracious
benefettis of god & yeftis of profet, riches, bewte & bounte”, clepyna the to haue
mynde on hym, yet23 neuerthelesse inordinate loue is so cleuynge to such yeftis,
þat it draweth pine herte rather to haue mynde on the yeftis pan on be yeuer;
wherfor he pleyneth to be prophet seying: Expandi nanus meas & 12on erat qui
respiceret, I haue spred oute my handis, pat is, yeuyng benefettis, & pere was no
man þat wold [behold. He seid not that ther was no man that] wold take hem 24,
Quia omnes diligunt munera, sequntur retribuciones, For all men loue yeftis &
Þei pursuen after rewardis, fro pe most to pe leste; But ther bene few or ellis
none þat beholdyn, mekely knowynge the zeuer of hem. Also perauenture pou
woldist sey: all-pouz it be accordynge to god to clepe indurat & rebellyng
hertis to know hym by tribulacion, neuer-the-lesse it nedith note so 25 to god
and meke hertis , the which desiren to know hyme by benefettis & yeftis. To
1 CRH thi. 2 HC it is ryghtwisnes (& H) ende of kunnyng; R orig. ende, fulf. on inargin.
3 H knowlege. 4 HC fecit. 5 om in H. OH as they cyde. 7 so R; H smyteth. 8 for
to-oper om in HC. 9H welbelouyd; to his om. 10 CH t. to hym. 11 H many a MM.
12 H. ii. 13 Ms. moste shamfullest. 14 H & ascendyd to. 15 H kepys. 16 R sho H she.
17 RH not bou. 18 H om & k. hym. 19 H s. & dyuerse. 20 H benefites. 21 H & all
such other. 22 Ms. clepyng; H be to the but clepyngis. 23 H but. 24 Mss. hym.
25 H alters freely.
.
Carlso-and-
.
ru
.
AVA
(The profits of tribulation).
399
Ms. Rawl. C 894.]
this may be answeryd: All - Þouz good meke bertis by naturall delytynge in
benefettis knowyn' be yeuer of hem, yit neuerthelesse to pe profet [of]? parfite
knowynge of god mow þei not com without provynge of tribulacion. Example
here-of we redyn þat Salomon was clepyd by benefettis & yeftis, lobe was called
by drawynge awey of his temporall goodis & sendyng hym tribulacions & aduer-
sitees. But þes tribulacions brouzt lobe to be parfite knowynge of god; Salomone
be prosperite fill vnto folye, lesyng þe profet of pe parfite knowyng of god. Yf
Salomon, þat was so wise, lost þe profet of pe parfite knowynge of god: what-
so-euer pou arte trist not þat þou myzteste longe' abyd in þis knowynge (in]* such
prosperite. & perfor suffer paciently tribulacions & aduersitees: & if pou be dis-
comforted þat þei be many & grete, be bou comforted, for be more & gretter
þat þei ben be more profet of knowynge of god þei brynge to be. & if þou can
not yett fele any comforte for 5 frowardnesse or freelte of þi-silfe, pray to god
þat he comforte the in tribulacion & graunt pe grace to com to 6 pe profet of
parfite knowynge of hym, & sey Da nobis domine &co, Lord graunte us helpe of
tribulacion.
?The fyfte profet of tribulacione. Capitulum quintum.
The fyfte profet of tribulacion is þat it reuokith or bringeth pe to pe S knowynge
of þi-selfe. For þat hert þat hath not put a-wey fer from hym worldly veyn-
glory', may not trewly fele 10 ne know hym-selfe, for þat hert" hape not verry
knowynge of lizt; wherof þe prophet Dauid seith: Lumen oculorum meorum, od
ipsum non est mecum, Lyst of knowynge bere is of myn yen, but þat lyzt is not
with me. [Wo]"? vnto hem pat dispendyn 13 hyr lyzt of her knowynge in veyne ioies
& worldly þingis, & noping kepyn to knowen hem-selfe, þat ben not with hym-
selfe; for þe more þat þe soule loueth & desireth vayne ioyes & worldly pro-
speritees, be more ferther he draweth fro knowynge of hym-selfe. & Derfor seith
seint Gregor: As he þat is be-seged with enemyes dar not go fer oute but he is
constreined to turne azen for dred, so tribulacions constreynen pe hert to turne
into hym-selfe, & be mo aduersitees þat ben aboute hym, þe fewer he hathe of
rennyngis-oute 14 fro hym-selfe. Than it is a blessed aduersite pat bringith pe to
pi-selfe & makith þe, þat þou hast mysgo, to turne a-yene 15. Wherof it is seid
Exodi XII°: Maneat vnusquisque apud semetipsum, Dwell ech man with 16 hym-
selfe—þat is ??, know hym-silfe, take he kepe to hym-selfe, abyd he 8 with hym-
silfe ; for as an howse in which noman dwellith, is wasted's & fallyth to nourt,
ryzt so 19 pe herte þat dwellipe or abydith not with hym-selfe. Wo to pat herte
pat renneth from hym-silfe all abowzt like as doth a iaper or a iogiller 20 vnto
oper mennys howsis, for be more he syngith & iapith & ioiepe in oper mennys
placis”, be more cause he fyndis in his owene place of sorrow & of wepynge;
so the more þat þe herte delyteth hym owtwards in vayne þinkingis & worldly
ioyes, he lasse he fyndeth in hym-selfe wherof he schuld be comforted. Therfor
tribulacion is well necessary to be herte to make hym turne ynto hym-selfe, &
its constreineth hym to seye with the prophet: Conuerte, anima mea, in requiem
tuam, Torne a-yen pou my soule vnto bi reste. & also oure lord god, hauynge
pyte of þat soule bat hath for-wrappid hym-selfe with worldly þingis, seith thus:
Reuertere reuertere, sunamitis, reuertere reuertere, ut intueamur te, Turne azene,
turne azen pou wrecchid caitiffe soule, turne azene turne azene, þat we may
be-hold pe; pat pou behold pi-selfe with pe eye of concience, & pat I move
be-hold be with pe eye of mercye. O pou soule pat arte distroublyd in aduer-
sitees, suffer be to be ?? reuoked to knowynge of pi-selfe by tribulacion; and namly
for pat tribulacion byndeth or knytteth to be pi maker, whom wicked & large
1 Mss. knowynge. 2 Mss. profet & p. 3 Mss. not l. 4 Mss. of. 5 H for worlde-
,fulnesse & for the 6H to comforte & to p. k. . î No new chapter in the orig. tract.
Soin in H.
9H v. of the worlde. 10 H see. 11 H he. 12 H Wo be hit.
13 H dispendith. 14 Ist tr.: bo fewere issues are to passe out. 15 H a, into the parfyte
knowlege of thy-selfe. 16 H be hym-selfe & with. 17 H is to say. i$ H is dwellyng,
wasteth. 19 H so doth, 20 H mynstrell. 21 H howses. 292 H to be trobled thus &
to be r.
afbeen able
X
:
Baso-Busties
a 1500 12
400
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Rawl. C894.]
fredom of be world hathe lettun rynne longe louce fro þi-selfe. Wherof spekith
be prophet pus: In funiculis Adam traham eos & in uinculis caritatis, I schal
drawe hame in þe smale cordis of Adam & in þe bondis of charite. Pese smale
cordis of Adam oure fore-fader, which longyn to us as by weye of heritage, ar
clepid all maner of pouertees sent from god. to refreyne þe hert frome veyne &
worldly comfortes; by which god draweth many one as it semeth by vyolence.
Wherof seith seynt Bernard: Trahimur, quando tribulacionibus excercemur, We bene
drawe, when we ben haunted with tribulacion. Derfor bou þat art streyned with
pes cordis & bondis of charite, suppose not þat pou arte defouled or forsakyne,
but raperl maad fayre & chosyn of god, all-pouz pou haue not all pat pou askista;
ne trow not hem þat be not streyned with þese bondis to be in verry liberte,
pouz þei han þat þei asken; for like as pe lech whan he graunteth to pe sike
all þat he desireth, it is a certeyne signe of deth, ryzt so the false fredom of
this world is a certeyne signe of p[e]rechinge. For þe more frely pai desyre &
fulfillen her owen desire with-oute tribulacion, the rather bei fall down ynto hir
danzpnacion. Therfor pou sely soule pat art troublyd, yf pou wilte haue god to
Þe merciable, suffre pe to be restreyned with pes bondis of tribulacion, which
come from god. Wherof oure lord seyd to be prophet Ezechiel: Ecce dedi uin-
cula mea super te, Lo I haue zeue my bondis vpon the. Be pis is vnderstond
þat bondys of tribulacion bene yeftis of god, & be more tribulacion is, he strenge"
hyt byndeth thy soule' to god.
Also be prophet of tribulacion is þat it spedith the wey to god; ffor als
many tribulacions as hou hast, so many messengers god hath sent to the pat
pou schuld haste? to hym & not lett be the weye. Whereof seith the prophet:
Multiplicate sunt infirmitates eorum & postea accelerauerunt, Hir seknesse were
multiplied & afterward bei basted hem to god. Hereof seynt Gregor seith:
Disesis pat oppressen vs, to haste to god compellene us. Suppose pou not pe
benefettes of tribulacion to be diseseº; for it delyueryth pe from a greuouse presone
& hastith Þi weye to the kyngdom of heuene, as it is seid Ecci. 40: De carcere
cathenisque interdum quis introducitur ad regnum, From preson & from yron
bondis oper-while a man is brougt into a kyngdom. Þis preson is called all þat
Þe herte loueth inordinatly in þis world; þese irone bondis arne such þingis þat
wicked affeccions bene boundyn too. Oute of his presone god delyueryth many
oone by tribulacion, as when he putteth a-weye from hem such þingis as þei
loue inordinatly; and þat is fygured be seint Peter þat was kept in Heroudis
presone, whane oure lordis angel stode be-syde hym, onº Petris syd smote, he
excited hym and seyd: ryse vp swyth', & anone the yron bondis fellen from
hys hondis 12. Be the syde of Petir is vnderstond þi brother, þat cam owte of þat
same syde pat pou cam of, or ellys generally all po pat arne alyed to be by
kynred or by affynite. For when enye of these or all which be lawe of nature
ouzt to be Þi frendis 14, is contrarious to pe, or elys is taken fro the by deth or
elly[s] 15 by ony other maner, vnderstond pou art smytte in the syde, for þat þou
schuldiste go oute of the preson of inordinate loue, & sett þin herte only 16 in god
þat may not fayle þe. But take good heed þat as Peter pleyned not vpon þe
smytynge in his syde, so pou owest not to pleyne ne to gruche of tribulacion,
which delyuerth the fro the false & disseyuable loue of flesshly & worldly frendis;
& if the smytynge of tribulacion in the side be scharpe & greuouse to suffer,
be-hold Crist thiły maker & þi17 brother wounded in the syde for pi loue, & pou
schalte suffre it be more esily is, as 10 a trew knyzt when he seeth his lordis woundis,
he felyth not his owen woundis. Therfore refuse not þi lordis messengers pat
commyne & clepe þe with hym 20 & constreyne pe to haste toward hym; for he
pat refuseth pe messengere, refuseth his a lord. Whan is a messengere refused ?
1 H but thynke that thou art the more. 2 Mss. askith. 3 H streyned. R strenger,
HI the more strenger.
5 H the s. of pacyent. 6 Cap. v in orig. tract. ?H hast the.
8 Mss. benefettis. 9 r. litele, H alters freely. 10 RC and P. S. s, H and smytte hys s.
11 H swyftly. 12 H from hym doune be hys sydys. 13 H allye. 14 RH frende, 15 om
in H. 16 H all-only. 17 Ms. (& R) the, HC thy. 18 H the m, esilyer. 19 H as doth.
20 H to cl. & calle be with hem. 21 H the.
2-4500-
ffroa. When the
pl
F
VU
.
.
401
(The profits of tribulation).
Ms. Rawl. C 894.]
whan the herte with avisement contrarieth & grucchith a-yence tribulacion. Note
well þat tribulacion turmentith in purgynge, and it purgith in turmentynge; but
when the herte grucchyth a-yence tribulacion, þan he partith purgynge fro tur-
mentynge of tribulacion, & he leseth the swete & profitable purgynge borow his
foly & contrarious grochynge'.
Of the vi profet of tribulacion. Capitulum vīm.
The sixte profet of tribulacion is þat it is a zefte” in payinge of þi dettis in
which pou art boundyn to god, whom pou may not flee ne disseiue ne hyde
nopinge fro hymes ofe þi dettis. These dettis bene pennaunce' which bou owest
for thy synnes; &: pouze euerlastyng pennaunce be det for on dedly synne by
the ryztwisnesse of god, neuerthelesse by his mercy it is chaunged in to temporall
pennaunce by contricion & confession, & ferthermore it is for-yeuen by satis-
faccion& som-tyme its is all relesed namely by tribulacion. Wherof vnderstond
well; ffor 3 what-so-euer thow suffreste paciently in trybulacion, afore god it is a-
compted to hym as a fore 6 - paymente of thy dette. For as a lordis auditor' som-
tyme in the ende of acomptes leyth a cownter of brasse or copey or a nother
pinge of a lytyll value to be worth or sygnifie 10 an hundripe pound of gold or
syluer, so tribulacion of lytill tyme, with pacience receyued in þis present lyfe,
delyuerth pe from euerlastynge tribulacion of þe peynes of hell, & bryngeth pe
into" euerlastynge blisse of the rich kyngdom of heuen. Wherof we hane ensample
of the pefe þat hyngel? on Cristis ryzt 13 syd, þat, when he suffred pe tormente of
pe crosse & was bound by du det of syn to peyne of hell, he, hauynge contri-
cion of his wickidnesse, irz pat same oure turned hym to [his lord 14 & seyde: 'Lorde,
when bou comest in to pi kyngdom,] benke on me': & anone he was vnbounde
& delyuerd from all be dette of peyne & herd pe swete voice of Crist seiyng to
hym: Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in paradiso, Sothly I sey Þou schalt to-day
be with me in paradise. Wo to bym þat nopinge payeth of his dette in pis
lyfe, but addith syn vpon syn; wo to hym: of large expencis þat he makith he
schalbe constreyned to com to streyte accomptis 15. Sopely such as hath leued
euer with-oute acoinptis, must pay for her dettis euerlastynge payne in hell with-
opte any relese. Der schullen wepe many marchauntis þat in þis lyf lawzhen &
ioyen; wherof it is seydir be boke of Apocolipsis : Mercatores terre flebunt,
Marchauntis of þe erbe schullene wepe. Marchauntis of the erth, arne po þat
sett all þeg pouzt & her loue on erpely þingis ; which shullen wepe bitterly, ffor
god schall schew her marchaundyse to all the world. But marchauntis of heuen,
bei schullene lawze & enioye 16, for bei for suffryng lyttill schort tribulacion hane
gette?? the blysse of paradyse; where-of yt is seyd in Ecclesiastici: Est qui multum
redimit de modico precio, Some per bene þat byen much pinge with lyttill price,
þat is to seye, pacience is in tribulacion of this present lyfe, bat god receyueth for
pi gret dette, for it is conmunly seid: of an euyll payer men receyueth 19 otis for
whete”. & þouze it be so þat þou arte not bounde in eny dette of dedly syne
or veniall fro which tribulacion schulde delyuer the, neuerthelesse tribulacion
reseruith 20 the frome fallynge into dette, [for) as seynt Gregor seith : Multa sunt inno-
cencia que cito innocenciam perderent, nisi ea tribulaciones p[reserularenta, Many ben
innocentus 22 the which schuld lese innocensi, but yf tribulacion preserie hem.
Therfor Þou soule þat fyndest þe bounde in dettis, or pou pat dredist þe pay-
ment, suffer paciently tribulacions as 23 longe as tyme indureth, hyt payeth to god
for þin dettis in the which pou arte bounden 24 as by an oblygacion. For þouz
all be tribulacion[s] of þis world weryne to-gyder, bei myzt not be lykened to be
leste payne of tribulacion of hell. Ne all be tribulacion(s) of erth be not in com-
U11 H adds; therfore Bonum est sustinere pacienter tribulaciones. 2 H adds yeuen to the of
god. 3 om in H. 4 Lat. poenae tuae debentur. 5 & ferth.- it om in H. 6 H as for a p.
7 L. dispensator, Ist tr. stiward. 8 H computacion. I H br. or pewter. 10 Ms. sygnifieth.
11 RH to.
12 CR henge.
13 H on the ryght of oure lorde I. C.
14 CRH god.
15 H reconyng. 16 H ioye. 17 R got. 18 Mss. pacient, H pacient forto be. 19 H of badde
detters men take. 20 Lat. preservat, H kepeth. 21 Mss. perseuerarent. 22 HC innocent.
23 CR als. 24 CR bondon.
II.
26
o
que
no
arrasa
402
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Rawl.C 894.]
parisone of the leste ioye of paradyse, as seynt Poule seith : Non sunt condigne
passiones huius temporis ad futuram gloriam que reuelabitur in nobis, Ad Romanos
octauo; Ther be non? worthi passions of þis tyme to be blysse þat is to come
pat schalbe shewed in vs. 3 Vpone pis seithe seynt Bernard: Non sunt condigne
passiones ad preteritum peccatum quod nobis dimittitur, ad presentem gloriani que
720bis innittitur, Ther be no worthy passions to be syne pat is foryeuen us, to
be present grace þat is yeue[n] us, [&]" to blisse commynge þat is be-hyzt vs.
Of be seuenth prophet of tribulacion. Capitulum septimum.
I be seuenth profet of tribulacion is þat it spredith a-brode or opynneth pin
herte to receyue be grace of god. For gold with many strokis of the hammer"
spredith abrode, as" a pece of gold or of sylucr to make a vessell for to put in wyne
or preciouse licoure; so all-myzty god makith' of euery creature , & ordeyneth
tribulacion to sprede or open the soule to put per-in zeftis of his grace. Wherof
seith the prophet in pe salme: In tribulacione dilatasti michi', In tribulacion thou
hast spred abrode þe herte, in suffrynge paciently & 8 pe more gladly zeftis pats
oure lord god putteth therin graciouslye. & considre as be more (pre)ciouse 10 metall
is more ductible & obeyingell to be strokis of þe goldsmyth, so be more prec[i]ouse
& meke herte is more pacient in tribulacion. & all-pouz be scharpe stroke of
tribulacion greuously turmentith þe, yet comforte pe, for be goldsmyth , almyzti
god, holdyngel? pe hammer of tribulacion in his honde, knoweth full well what
pou maist suffre, & mesureth his smytynge after þi freel nature. Ne will not pou
be þan as metall in a boystous gobette, with-owte spredynge of schape, as hard
hertis bene with-oute techynge, in which god fynt no place in worchynge. Ne
will pou not be as an oold fryinge-panne pat for frelte of a lytill stroke (al
to-breste in mannys brekynge 13; right so farin frele & impacient hertis in tribula-
cion, by a litille stroke]14 isl temptacion of assayinge þei fall in to many gret
harmys of apayrynge. Therfor suffre with good will tribulacion to worch his crafte
in pe; for so byddith Salomon Ecci. II° : Sustine sustentaciones dei coniungere (te]
deo, so sustine ut crescat in nouissimo uita tua, Suffer pe beryngemvp ofis þe
helpis of god to ioyne pe to god, & suffre, pat pi [lyfe] 16 increce at þi laste
ende; as who seith : Suffer tribulacion in þis world for god, for whi god suffred
inany 17 for the, & 18 yeld hym somwhat be whyle of his seruyse; & what tribulacion
he putteth to the, take it mekely, & know well þat he woll not charge pe ouer
pi myzt, as seynt Poule wittenessith, ad Corinth. xº: Fidelis [est]"', deus, qui non
pacietur vos temptari super id quod potestis, Sothly god ys full trew, þat schal
not suffre you to be temptid ouer pat ye mow suffre. Therfor suffre tribulacion in
such maner, þat þi lyfe increce at pe laste ende ; for per-by pou schalt leue
after pou bast made ende in pis world 20.
Of pe VIII profet of tribulacion. Capitulum VIII.
I he VIII profet of tribulacion is whereby god shettith 21 owte of the soule all
worldly comfortis pat bene here-benethe 22, & constreyneth be to seke heuenly
comfortes þat bene above. As an erthly lord, whan he wyll sell hys wyne, for-
byddith all oper to open her tauernes, till þat he haue sold his.23 : so oure lord
god som-tyme forbyddyth erthly comfortis, þat he may brynge forth hys conforte.
& bat is tokened 24 by the prophet Ioell where it is 25 seyd: Bestie agri quasi arena 26
scicieiis imbrem suspexerunt ad te: quoniam exsiccati sunt fontes aquarium, The
2
i H be not able to deserue. 2 H nat. 3 added. 4 so R, Ms. in; H alters freely.
5 ist tr. : For as bo goldsmythe hamer. -6 om in C; H so that a man may make therof a pece
to put in vine, or another to put in other pr. 1. Ô Ist tr. maker; H maketh of e. c, a precyous
vessel(!). Š om in C. 9 H cor meum. 10 so CR, Ms. graciouse. 11 H applicabyll.
12 C holde .. & knowith, (corr. in R). 3 H Hande; L subictu: 14 so R: om in C. 15 HC 'or.
16 Mss. bi selfe. 17 H many tribulacions. 18 H & therfore. 19 Ms. enim. 20 H adds Et
ideo bonum est tribulaciones paciendo sustinere. 21 H almyghty god putteth away. 22 ist tr.
vndernethe, L inferius; H in erthe. 23 H tyll hys wyne be solde. 24 H seyd. 25 H he
seith. 26 L, area.
1500 mths. ter. T-
de
A
0
.
(The profits of tribulation).
403
Ms. Rawl. C 894.]
bestis of the feeld bene as drye erth desyrynge reyne, "þey loken vp to the, for
be wellis of watris ben drye. The bestis of the feld ben? clepid affeccions &
fiesshly desyres, the wellis of he water he clepith 3 worldly comfortis; perfor
whan pe erthly confortis faylen in aduersite, þan is be herte costreyned to loke
vp & to seke help of heuenly comfortis; and so much more benynge is oure lord
god to the soule, in asmuch as be hert fynt gretter bitternesse in inward þingis.
But now by these þingis pou maist sei: [Of] þat I am not sory pat þe tauerne of
erpely comfortis is not opyn to me, but for be tauerne of heuenly comfort is so
longe shit fro me, for neper shyzer ne lower I fynd no conforte. To his may
be answered pus: Pou owest to haue gostly comforte, yf þou besy the desyrynge
& sekynge, for per is more myrth in the desyrynge & sekynge of god þan (in) delytinge
in hym; for whi be more pou desirest & sekyst god, Þe more comforte he schal
brynge þe, & be more swetnesse pou schalt fynde in hym, as mete sauereth more
to an hungry man þan to an vnhungrye man; & wit pou well pat beuenly com-
fortis schul not longe be deferred, yf worldly comfortis be shette owt by tribula-
cion, yf pou aske desyryngly & seke besylye, as Salomone seyth: Desiderium
10
Of the ixth profet of tribulacion. Capitulum nonum.
I he ix profet of tribulacion is þat it putteth þevnto the mynde of god, &
be more pe tribulacion bec, pe more he impressith be in his mynde. Not for pat
god forzetteth pe or eny creature, Þe which seipe & knoweth all be prenyte of
be herte, but for pat scripture seith god foryettith a man pat tribulacion ys not
zeuene ļo; ffor hymn bat he sendyth tribulacion he hath in mynd, zeuynge goostly
put in þe mynde of god in whoes mynd is þin helth & þi saluacioñ, in whoes
foryettynge is þin harme & pi dampnacion, leren perfor to suffre paciently aduer-
sitees & tribulacions, & in his suffring þinke mekely in god, & he eftsons schall
þinke mekly on the & merciably; for a trew frend pinketh more frendly on his
frende bat is in disese, pan yf he were withowte desese. In figure here-of oure
lordº seith Exo II0: Vidi affliccionem populi mei qui est in Egipto, si clamorem eius
audiui, I haue seyen the desesis of my peple bat is in Egipt, & I haue herd hyr
sorrow, & 10 I haue goo downe to delyuer hem from be hondis of pelº Egipcions.
Therfor all-pouz be Egipcions, þat is to sey euell men or enemyes, turmentyne
& desesyn þe, be pou comforted, for pe merciable beholdynge of god iu þi disese
sone Absolone, bat Semeyll, which was Dauid his enemye, cursedi hym & spake
euel to hym & seyd: Egredere egredere, uir sanguinum & ruir Beliall, as who
seith go þi weye go thi wey, pou mane of synnes & pou man of Belyall; and 10
Abisay, þat was Dauid is frend, seynge bis seyd to kyng Dauid: This dede hounde
hath mysseyd or cursed my lord the kynge; I schal goo & smyte of his heed 12:
& Dauid answerd: Suffer hym to mysseye or curse Dauid vp pe commaundement
of god; perauenture god will be-hold my desese & yeld me good for his mysseyinge
& cursynge pis same daye’. Considre in his pat Dauid wold suffer pe mysseyinge
or pe cursynge of þis aduersarye, þat he myzt gett þe blissynge of god; þan
loke how much pou desire[st] 13 pe blessynge of god, suffer so much paciently be
mysseyinge or cursynge of pe aduersarye, ffor paciencels of euell mennys cursynge
disserueth to haue goddis blissynge. & pat is tokened where it is seyd Daniel 1110 :
That the angel went doun with. Azarye & his felowes in to be forneis, & he
made pe myddes of the forneis as a blowynge wynde of a dewe; but pe flame
brent þe kyngis mynister's pat hett pe forneis, but sothly pe fyre touched not ne
greued hym 16 in any maner". Lo here pou mayste see þat pe fire not oonly brente
"? H & they. ?R be, r. he. 3 H ben cleped. H but I am sory that. 5 H in
h.; L. nec inferius nec superius. 6 H ys. 7 H tr. to. Som CRH. H 0. l. Ihesu
Cryste hym-selfe. 10 oin in H. 11 Ms. semeth. 12 H alters freely. 13 Ms. desireth.
141 RHC much more. 15 L sufferentia. 16 RC hem.
26*
anthoonmfho, Wronten
1.
a 1500
12
404
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Rawl. C 894.]
hir fomen; but also it refresshed hem; bel which is vnderstond bat Crist is present
with hem? þat be in tribulacion, & yeueth hem refresshynge in desese, & blessith
hem þat ben mysseyde or cursed for his name. Therfor yf bou desyre refresshynge
in tribulacion, & pin enemyes to be brent, suffer paciently tribulacions, for in
tribulacion god is with pe, & fro tribulacion he schall delyuer the, & for tribula-
cion gret meed he schall yeld the. Of thes thre spekyth pe prophete where he
seith pus: Cum ipso sum in tribulacione, eripiam eum, et glorificabo eum, I am
with hym in tribulacion-lo here a graciouse fellowshyp 3 confortyng; I schall
delyuer hym--lo here a full feith of delyuerynge; & I schall gloryfye hymelo
here a serteyne hope of rewardynge.
The x profet of tribulacion. Capitulum decimum.
The x profet of tribulacion is pat it makith pi praier to be herd of god; ffor
it is note pe maner of god to put awey the praier of hym þat is in tribulacione,
but rather mekely to here his prevy praier. Wherof seith Salomon: Ecce depreca-
cionen lesi exaudiet, Lo oure lord schall here be praier of lym þat is hurte. Sothly
god smytyth & chastiseth many men & sent hein tribulacion, for to compell hem
to aske or to cry mercy, & þat þei schuldy[n] opyne hyr mouthes to god in tribula-
cion for to aske help, which hadden schett hyr mouthes frome hyme in prosperite.
Wherof seith seynt Austene pat god sendith tribulacion to some men to styre hem
to aske bat he woll graunte? In be persone of such seith pe prophet: Ad dominum
cum tribularer clamaui, et exaudiuit me, When I was in tribulacion, I cryed to
oure lord, & he herd me. & bouze-all it hap þat in prosperite pou prayest god,
þat prosperite schull not make pe to slowe, yet neuertheles it makyth the sume-
tyme both insolente 4 & slowe, so þat þi prayer in prosperite is not so spedfull as
it (is) in aduersite. & all-pouze aduersite occupye so much pin hert þat þou þenkest
þat it hath none entente ne deuocion • lyke as it had in prosperite, yet pat same
aduersite makith þi prayer more precious. And sothely all-þouze tribulacion
oppresse the so moch þat þou maist not open þi mouth to crye to god, certeinly
thi tribulacione crieth and prayeth to god for þe, so þat þou haue pacience; for
as seith a gret clerke, Magister Petrus“, of Lazar, That als many woundis', so
many prayers or cryers he had to god: ffor when Lazar stilled with his mouth,
his woundis cryeden to god for hym. Wherof oure lord seyd to Cayme þat had
kylled his broder Abell, Genes. : Vox sanguinis fratris tui Abel clamat ad me de
terra, The blood of thy broder Abell crieth to me fro the erth. Thus þan ite
schewythº þat tribulacion makith the prayer be more preciouse & be more acceptable
to god. Tribulacions ben as it were a payment for a letter seled of delyueryng;
wherof seith Iob: Quis michi det ut ueniat peticio mea, et quod expecto tribulatio
michi deus; qui cepit me ipse me conuertatil, soluat manum suam et succidat12 me, &
[hec) michi sit consolacio ut affligens me dolorem 13 non parcat : Who sch' 1 geve me
myn askynge, & who schal graunt me þat I abyde? god þat began me, he comforte?!
me, louse he his hondis 15 & cut me vp, & pat be to me comforte bat he turmen-
tynge me spare not my sorrow. Note well bat Iobe, which had lost his posses-
sions, bis sonnes & his douzter's, & all his body was smyten with woundes of
leper fro pe sole of the fote ynto þe ouer-parte of þe heed, & was repreued of
his frendis & scorned of his wyfe, he desired in none other pinge comforte, but
þat god schulde not spare hym. Yf pou aske what perteyneth [it] to his delyueraunce,
hit may be answered pus: be asketh his 16 affliccion 17 or turmentis, for his turmentis
wer18 paymentis of his dettus 1º ; [as]20 it is vsed in som place þat whan a pore man
drynketh in a taverne & hath not wher-with to paye his scott, he asketh to be
bettun & so to be delyuerde. Yf pou aske where-iz was [the] 21 comforte of this
Iobe when he asked to be. turmentyde: Seynt Gregor answeryth & seith That god
1 Mss. be. 2 H alters freely. 3 om in H. 4L te somnolentum reddit. 5 L quod
non sit ita intentum orationi in aduersitate. Lm. P. Lombardus. 7 RHC as he had.
S L tacebat. 9 L patet. 10 Ms. tribulat. 11 V conterat; H confortat. 12 Ms. succidit;
V scindat. 18 V dolore. 14 RHC conuerte. 15 RHC honde. 16 Mss. of his. 17 Mss.
affeccions, 18 RC wore. 19 HC letters. 20 Ms, &. 21 Mss. his.
Porok 5-o-gumo
klimacoolibus.com
Trit & (Rol)
(The profits of tribulation).
405
Ms. Rawl. C 894)
spareth sum men here in pis world, to turmente hem afterward, & som men he
turmentith here which he afterward (wil]' spare. The comforte of Iobe was, pat
he wist well be present tribulacion he schuld escape? euerlastyng dampnacion-
ffor, as it is seyd: Non iudicabit bis deus in idipsum, God schall not punnysh or
deme twyse for o þing. & perfor þis same Iobe, þat askith pat god schuld not
spare hyme here in pis world, asked in a nother place and [seid]: Parce michi
domine , Lord spare me ir tyme conmyng. Therfor þat god spare be in tyme
commynge, suffer paciently here in pis world tribulacion; for tribulacion sauith
the soule, as Iob seith : Ipse vulnerat di medicinat, he wondyth & be helyth; for
he woundeth the body, & helyth the soule.
Of the xi profett of tribulacion. Capitulum vndecimum.
I he XI profit of tribulacion is þat it kepipe & norissheth be herte. Sothly
ryzt as fyre is kept in asshis, rizt so be hertis of pe frendis of god arne kept in
tribulacion. Therfor oure lord commaunded Exodi, quod tabernaculum saccis 3
silicinis cooperi[re]tur: þat þe tabernacle of god schuld be heled with heren sackis,
and" goddis rich vessellys of gold & siluer a-yence wyndis & reynes; in tokenynge
pat vertues of goddis seruauntis, & namly mekenesse, ben kept in aduersite of
tribulacion. For tribulacion inforceth the herte to penke on pe wrecchidnesse
of his owen infirmitee, & so it costreyneth a man to be meke, whanº worldly
prosperite had enhaunced hym be veyne-glorye above hym-selfe. Also tribulacion
noryssheth the herte, as a norice her chyld. For as a moder with chyld cheweth
hard mete, which the chyld may [not] chewe, & drawith it in to her body where
þat mete is turned into mylke to norissh the chyld, so Crist, patê in holy chirchº
is clepid oure moder for be gretnesse of hys tendyr love þat he hath to vs, he
chewed for vs bittex paynes, hard wordis, repreves & sclaundrys, with bitternesse
of his passione þat he suffred for us, to noryssh us & strengh us gostly by en-
sample of hyme to suffer tribulacions & aduersitees of þis world. As wyne pat
is clensed þorrow a bage-ful of spicis, chaungith his owen sanoure, drawynge to
hym the sauour of þe spicis, so a man suffrynge tribulacion oweth to clense hyme 10
by the blessed body of oure lord Ihesu, considerynge be passyon þat he suffred
for hym; & so schul it be swete & tollerable, pat to-fore semed full bitter &
vntollerable &c.
Of the XII profett of tribulacion. Capitulum duodecimum.
The XII profet of tribulacion is pat tribulacion is a certeyne tokyne of loue
þat god hath to hem þat [it] is sente to. Wherof he seith: Orlos amo, arguo S.
castigo, Hem þat I loue. I vndernyin & chastiseth 11. & also Salomon seith Ecci..
Qui diligit filium, assiduat ei flagella, He pat loueth his sone, he scorgith it ofte-
tymes. Whereof seith seynt Ierome: Summus pater Ihesus Christus filios suos semper
sub aliquo flagello uel uirga retiret, ut quando cripiuntur ab vilo, sub alio capiun-
tur: Oure sauyoure 12 fader Ihesu Criste kepith eucr his children yndyr a scorge or
a rodde, & whene pei bene delyuerd of oone bei bene cawzt of a nother. But
oure god meke fader sent not all his scorgyngis all at onys togeder, but one
after another, knowynge oure frelte; ffor he will pat no mane perisshe, but he
will þat all men be saafe. But euell men & wicked þat leuen hym not ne louyn
hym notte, pe which leuen with-owte scourge or tribulacion, whan 13 no correccion
of chastisynge may with-drawe heme fro her errowris, God schal ponyssh with
all his arowes of vengeaunce. For sothly all tormentis pat now ben departed
abowzt in all pis world, than schulbe gadered to-gider & abyde as in her owen 14
place; as oure lord seith Deuteronomii XXXII°: Congregabo super cos mala,
sagittas meas complebo in eis, I schal gader to-gider euell þingis ypone euell
Tom in Mss.; H spareth. 2 H nat haue. 5 Mss. sacris. 4 ist tr. bo whilke seckes
couerde bo preciouse curtynes and. 5 Ms. (& CR) conforteth. Ist tr. whom. 7 HC of
the. 3 Mss. þat is. 9L in Scriptura.
11 RC chasty. 12 r. 'souereyn.
13 Ist tr. & whoni. 11 r. as in 0. pl.
.
406
+5.00ma h es the one
a 15oo lo
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Rawl. C 894)
men, & I schall spende all myne arowes of vengeaunce amonge hem. Derfor
pou good soule, yf pou wilt be loued of god, will pou not put awey tribulacions,
for bey schewen to be wittnesse & tokens of pe loue of god. But pcrauenture yf
pou seiest þat goddis childerne take of hym bope good þingis & euell þingis, (why
is pe]? takynge of euell þingis schewynge or tok[n]ynge of pe loue of god more ban
þe takynge of good þingis ? To this may be answeryd þat god geuyth many good
þingis & gret to his spiritual frendis, & better & gretter to hem þat he loueth
more; but pe blissed fader of heuen louith with-oute comparisone more his blissed
sone oure lord Ihesu Crist þan all þe world, & yet he sent hym here many
anguyshis, pouertees, tribulacions, aduersitees, sclaunders, repreves, scornyngis,
many woundis, & cruell deth, & but fewe temporall goodis. Than is pe zefte
of aduersite more schewynge (or) tokyne of loue of god pan be zefte of temporall
prosperite. Also forbermore oure lord Ihesu Criste goddis sone, pat leued here
in þis world, as a wise marchaunte vsed to ches good marchaundyse & refused
pe bad; for when pei wold baue maade bym kynge of Iude, he refused it & ches
rather to flee in to deserte, & when bei souzt him to turment hym & to sle hym,
he fled not but ches rather for to deye & seid Ego sumn, I am he whome 7e sech.
Pan yf Crist was wisest in chesynge, be which ches aduersitees, pei bene moch
folys pat dispisene tribulacion & aduersitees, & chosyn 3 worldly prosperitees pat
may not delyuey hem in tyme commynge from pe handis of her enemyes, the
cruell fendis. Suffer þan with Criste tribulacion, (þat] pou mow take afterward
be crowne of lyfe in the blysse of heuen; for sothly (othir-wyse] mayst þou not
come to pat blysse, for the apostill seith: Per ultas tribrilaciones oportet nos
intrare in regnum celorum, Hit behouetb us by many tribulacions to entre in to
Þe kyngdome of heuen. To the which kyngdome brynge he all us, That suffred
deth oure lord Ihesus, amen.
I so R; C which is the.
2 Ms. tokynge, RC tokyn.
3 RC chesyn.
.
14
w a 1500 Crite Dupreme Court
7. (The boke of the craft of dying).
Ms. Rawl. C 894.
(Other Mss.: Reg. 17 O XVIII f. 24, C.C.C. Oxf. 220, Harl. 1706 f. 26, Douce
322, Addit. 10596, Ff. V. 45. Rawl. C 894 (Reg., CCC.), and Harl. (Douce)
represent 2 groups of Mss., from both of which the text has been reconstrued;
a 3d group is Ff and Addit. Tanner p. 375 ascribes this piece to R. Rolle, but
it is a later translation of a Latin tract (by R. Rolle ?) De arte moriendi (in
Mss. C.C.C. Oxf. 226, Merton 204, Magd. 72, New Coll. 304; beg.: Cum de
presentis exilii miseria mortis transitus propter moriendi imperitiam &c.).
Here begynneth the boke of crafte of dyinge.
F Or as much as be passage of deth owt of the wrecchidnesse of the exile
of this world for vnkurnyng of dyinge, not oonly to lewd men but also to reli-
giouse men! & deuoute personys semith wonderfull harde & ryzt perlouse & also
ryzt ferefull & horrible: perfor in this present mater & tretis, pat is of the crafte
of dyinge, is draw & conteyned a schorte maner of exortacion for techynge &
confortynge of hem þat bene in poynt of deth. This maner of exortacion ought
sotely to be considryde, notid & vnderstond in the syght of maiznys soule, for
douztles yt is and may be profitable generally to all cristen men & women 3 to
haue Þe crafte & knowynge i forto dye well.
1 om in H.
? CA insight.
3 H to lerne.
4 HA knowlege.
** ...,
waze-50-02
Sen
21500m the Wesco
a 1500 Craft Dung (Paul)
The book of the craft of dying.
407
Ms. Rawl. C 894)
This mater & tretis conteynepe vi partis :
The firste is [of] commendacion of deth, & of curnynge to dye well. The secunde
conteyneth be temptaciouns ofe men þat dyene. The thrid conteyneth pe inter-
rogacion þat schuld be asked of hem þat bene in her deth-bed while bei may
speke and vnderstond. The 11th conteyneth ane informacion with certeyne ob-
secracions to hem þat schulden dye. The fyfte conteyneth an instruccion ynto
hein þat schulden dye. The vi conteyneth praiers that schulden be seyd vpone
heme pat bene adyinge of sum man? Þat is abovte heme.
Capitulum primum. The ffirst chapter is of commendacion of deth, &
[of] cunnynge for to dye well.
I houze bodyly deth be most dredfull of all ferefull þingis as the philosopher
seith in the thrid boke of Etikis, yet 3 spirituall deth of pe soule is as much more
horrible & * detestable as the soule ys more worthy & more precious þan þe body,
5 as the prophet Dauid seith Mors peccatorum pessima, The deth of a synfull man ys
worst of all dethis; but as the same prophet witnessith: Preciosa est in conspectul
domini nors sanctorum eius, The deth of good men is euer preciouse in the syzt
of god, what maner of bodyly deth þat euer thei dye. & pou schalt vnderstond
also þat" not only the deth of holy martires is so preciouse, but also be deth
of all other ryztfull & [good]' cristen men; & ferthermore douztlesse pe deth of all
synfull men, how longe, how wicked & how cursed pei hane bene all her lyſe
be-fore to her laste ende, & bei dye in pe state of verry repentaunce & contri-
cion & in peo verrey feith & vnite & charite of holy chirch, is acceptable & pre-
ciouse in the sight of god; as seint Iohñ seith in þe apocalipse: Beati mortui
qui in domino moriuntur, Blessed be all ded men þat dien in god. & þerfor god 6
seith in the fourth chapter of the boke of Sapience: Iustus si morte preocupatus
fuerit in refrigerio brit, A ryztfull man þouze he be hasted or hastyly or sodenly
dede, he schalbe had to a place ofº refresshynge. & so schal euery man þat dieth,
yf it so be þat he kepe hym-selfe stably & gouerne hym wisely in be temptacion[s]
þat he schall haue in the agony (or stryfe)of his deth as it schalbe declared
afterward. And þerfor of þe commendacion of [pe deth of] good men only, a wyse
man seyth þus: Deth is noping els but a goynge owt of presone, & endynge of
exile, a' dyschargynge of a heuy. bordonė þat is pe body, fynysshyng of all infir-
mytees, escapynge of all perellys, distroynge of all eueli pingis, brekynge of all
bondis, payinge of dette 10 of naturall duteell, turnyng azen into his contree, &
entring into blisse & ioye’. & perfor it is seyde in De VII chapter of Ecclesiastes 12 :
Melior est dies mortis die natiuitatis, The [day] 13 of mans deth is better pan þe
day of his birth & pis is (to] vnderstond 14 oonly of goodmen & pe chosyne peple
of god, for to euel men & repreuable neper þe day of hir byrth neper be day of
her deth may be callyd gode. & perfor euery good parfit cristen man, & also
euery oper mane pouze he be vnparfite & lat conuerted fro synne, so he be verryly
contrite & beleuyth in god, schuld not be sory ne troublyd neper dred þe deth
of his body in what maner of wise & for what maner of cause þat he be pute
therto, but gladly & wilfully, with reson of his mynde pat rulyth his sensualyte,
he schuld take his deth & suffer it paciently, conformyngels & committynge fully
his wyll 16 vnto goddis will [& disposicion alone, if he will go hens and dye
well] & surely, witnessynge pe wise man seiynge 17 bus: Bene mori est libenter
mori, To dye well is to dye gladlye & wilfully. & perefor he addith Herto &
seith: Vt satis vixerim nec anni nec dies faciunt, sed animus, Nether many
dayes nether 18 many yeres cause me to sey & fele þat I haue leued longe Inow,
but oonly the resonable 19 will of myn herte & of my soule. Sith more pan 20
þat of dute & of naturall ryzte all men muste nedly dye, & þat whan [&] how
i Ms. a. 2 H of hem. 3 Ms. bat. H & more. 5 H for as. com in H.
7 Ms. trew, H good. S H vnto. 9 H &. 10 Ms. dettis. 11 Ms. dutees. 12 Ms.
Ecclesiastices. 13 Ms. end. 14 H to v. 15 Ms. confermynge, 16 H hym fully.
'17 H that seyeth: 18 H ne. 19 Ms. (& RC) vnresonable. 20 Ms. bou. 21 om in H.
7
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408
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Rawl. C 894]
& where pat? almyzti god will, & goddis will is euermore & ouyr-all good in
all þingis, good? & iuste & ryztfull, for as lobñ Cassian seith in his Collacions:
‘Almyzty god of his wisdome & his? goodnesse all þingis pat fall, both prosperite
& aduersite, disposith euer finally for oure profete & for þe beste for us, & more
prouideth & is besyº for þe hele & saluacion of his chosyn children pan we oure-
selfe may or can be”; and sith, as it is 8 afore seyd, we may not in no wise nether flee
ne“ escape nether chaunge the in-euitable (or [in]-eschewable)? necessite & passage
of deth : therfore we ought to take oure deth whan god will wilfully & gladly
without any gruchchynge or contradiccion, þorouz be myzt & þe? boldnesse of pe
will of oure soule vertuousely disposed & gouerned by reason & verry discrecion,
pouze pe lewd sensualite & the freelte of oure flessh naturally gruch or stryue
þere-azence; wherof“ Seneca seith thus: Feras, non culpes, quod inmutare non
potes 6, Soffer esely & blame bou? nouzte bat pou maist. not chaunge ne voyde; &
Þe same clerke addith & seith : Si uis ista cum quibus vrgeris effugere, non ut
alibi sis oportet sed alius, Yf pou wilt ascape pat at pou art streiztly be-trapped
in, it nedith not þat þou be in a noper place, but þat pou be anoper man..
Forbermore, þat à cristynman may dey well & surely, hymn nedip. þat he cun
dey: and as a wiseman seyth: Scire 11ori est paratum habere coge suum et animan.
ad superna, ut quandocunque mors venit paratum cum inueniat ut absque omni
retraccione eam recipiat, quasi qui socii sui dilecti aduentum desideratum expectat;
To cun dey is to haue a herte & a soule euer redy vp to godward, þat whan
þat? euer deth com he may be founden a'-redy, & withoute any retraccion? or
withdrawynge receyue hym as a man wold receyue his welbelouyd & trusti frende &
felows þat he had long" abyd and lokid afterlo. This cunnynge is most prophe-
table of all cunnynge; in þe which cunnynge religiouse men specially more ban
oper, & euery day contynually schuld stody more diligently pan oper men þat
bei mygt apprehende yt, namly for pe state of religyone askiþ & requireth it
more in hemla þen in other, not-withstondynge þat euery seculer man, bope clerke
& laye-man, where 13 he be disposed 14 to dye or no yet neuerhelesse he must nedis
dye whan god will. Therfor ought euery man not only religiouse but also euery
good & deuouzt cristen man pat desireþ to dye well & surely, leve in such wise
& so be?-haue hym-silfe all-wey þat he may sauely deye euery oure when god
will, & so he shuld haue his lyfe ir pacience, & his deþ in desire, as seynt Poule
had whan he seyde: Cupio dissolui fa esse cum Christo, I desire & coueit to be
dede & to be with Crist. 1 & þus much suffisith at þis tyme schortly seyd of þe
crafte 15 of dyinge.

The secund chapter is of be temptacion[s] of men that dyene. Capitulum
secundum.
Knowe all men douztles þat men þat dyen in her last siknesse & ende bane
grettest & most greuouse temptacions, & such as bei neuer had be-for in all her
lyfe; & of þese temptacions v be most principall. The first is of be feibe, for
as much as feyth ys fundament of all mannys soule-hele, wittnessyng the apostill
pat seipe: Fundamentum aliud nemo potest ponere, Oper fundament no man may
put; & perfor seynt Austen seipe: Fides est bonorum omnium fundamentum 8.
humane salutis inicium, Feihe is fundament of all goodnesse, & begynnynge of
mannys hele; & perfor seip seint Poule: Sine fide impossibile est deo placere , Yt
is. vnpossible to plese god withoute feibe; & seynt Tohñ seyth: Qui non credit
iam iudicatus est, He pat beleuiþ not is now demyd. & for as much [as] 16 þere is
such & so gret strengh in feipe þat withoute it no man may be sauid, perfor þe
deuyll with all his myzte is. besy to auerte 17 fully a man fro pe feipe in [his) 18 last
ende, or yf he may not pat', he laboribe besily to make hym douzt perin or
sumwhat draw hym out of pe wey, or disceyue hym with som maner of supega-
l om in H. 2 H besyer. 3 H hit ys as. 4 H neyther. 5 H wherfore.
; Ms. detraccion. 8 Ms. folow. 9 Ms. lond. 10 H fore. 11 Ms. a r. man.
om in 'H. 13 HC whether. 14 H d. & redy. 15 H cr. off the scyence.
17 Ms. aduerte. 18 Ms. be.
G H vales.
12 in hem
16 Ms. bat.'
امبولالماهدسهده مقاله
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409
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sticiose & false? errouris or herisies. But euery good cristene man is bound
naturally 2 namely habitualle pouz he may not actually & intellectually apprehende
hem", to beleve & full feipe & credence yeue not only to be principall articles of
pe feipe but also to all holy wrytt in all maner of þingis, & fully to obey he
statutis of pe chirch of Roome, & stabilly to abyd & dey in hem; ffor“ also sone
as he begynnepe to erre & douzt in eny of hem all, as sone he gobe out of þe
weye of lyfe & his soule-hele. But witt þou well withowte doute pat in pis tempta-
cion, & all ober þat followene after, the deuyll may not noy be ne prevaile ayence
no mane in no wise as longe as he hath vse of his free will & of reason well
disposed, but yf he will wilfully consent to his temptacion; & perfor no verrey
cristen man ouzt not to dred eny of his illusions or his false persuasions or his
feyned feryngis or gastyngis", for? Crist hym-selfe seipe in þe gospell: Diabolus
est mendax d. pater eius, The deuell is a lyar & fader of all lesyngis; but manly
perfor & styfflye & stedfastly abyde & perseuyr & dey in pe verrey feipe & (vnite] *
& obedyence of oure moder holy chirch. & it is ryght prophetable & good, as it
is vsed in some reſli]gioncs whan [a] man is in his agonye (or stryfe) of dyinge, with
an hyz, voice oft-tymes to sey pe crede before hym, pat he pat is sike may be
[fortified]'' in stablenes of pe feipe, & fendis þat mow not suffre to here ite mow
be voyded & drawen" awey from hym. Also (to] "2 stablenesse of verry feipe schuld
strengh a sike man principally the stable feibe of oure holy faders Abraham, Isaac &
Iacob, the perseuerantly abydynge feipe of Iobe, of Raab pe womane, & Achior, &
such oper, [and also the feipe of the apostils, and of] 13 martiris, confessours & virgyns
vnnombirable; ffor by Þe feipe 14 all po pat hane [be] of old tyme befor vs, & all þei
pat be nowe & schalbe here-after, pei all plesene & haue & schall plese (god] bi
feyth; for as it is aforseyd, withoute feibe it is imposible to plese god. Also double
profytt schuld induce every syke man to be stable in feipe: One ys for feipe may
do all þingis, as oure lord hym-selfe witnessith in the gospell & seipe: Omnia
possibilia sunt credcarti , All þingis be possible to hym þat beleuyth stedfastly.
Anoper is, for verry feipe gettiþ a man all þingis, as oure lord seipe: Quicquid
orantes petitis, credite quia accipietis, & fiet vobis, What pinge? þat? euer it be pat
ye wollen praye & Caske] , beleuyth verryly pat ye schull take it & [ye) shull haue
it, þouze pat” ye wold sey to an hyll þat he schuld lyfte him-selfe vp & fall in to
þe see, -as pe billes of Capsie be preier & peticion of kynge Alysaunder pe gret
conqueroure were closed to-gider 10. The secund temptacion is disperacion, be
which is a-yenst hope & confidence bat euery good" man schuld haue vnto god;
for when a sike man ys turmentid sore & vexid with sorow. & siknesse of his
body, þan pe deuell is most besiest to superad (or put-vpone)? sorrow to sorrow,
with all be weyes þat he may obiectynge his synnes ayence hymn for to induce
hym into dispeire.. Forthermore, as Innocente pe pope in his þrid boke of þe
wrecchidnesse of mankynd seipe: Euery man bope good & euell, er his soule pas
out of his body, he seith 18 Crist put in 19 pe crosse, the good man to his consolacion,
the .euell man to his confusion, to make hym aschamyd þat he hath lost pe frute
of his redempcion. Also, the deuell bryngith azen to mainys mynde that is in
poynt of deth, specialli the synnes that he hath don & was not schreven of, to
draw hym perbye ynto dispaire. But perfor. ther schuld no man dispaire in no
wyse; for pough eny o man or woman had do als many theftis or manslauters
or as many other synnes as be droppis of water in the see & grauell-stones in
the stronde, though he neuer had do pennaunce for hem afore ne neuer had bene
shreven of hem afore, neither pan? myzt baue no tyme for syknesse or lacke of
spech or schortnesse of tyme to be shreuen of hem, yette schuld he neuer dis-
peire; ffor in such a cas vesty contricion of herte with-in, with wyll to be schreven
if tyme sufficed, is sufficient & acceptable ?0 to god for to [s]aue hym with 21 euer-
lastyngly; as the prophet witnessith in the psalme: Cor corrtritum & humiliatum
'i Ms. f. maner of.. 2 om in H. 3 Ms. hym. 4 H And. 5 Ms. as sone as. 6 Ms.
gnastyngis. 7 H for as. S Ms. humylite. 9 H religiouse. 20 so RC; Ms. com-
forted. : 11 H dryven, 12 Ms. be. 13 CR ober. 1! by be f. om in H. 15 Ms. also.
16 Cf. Hist. de praeliis. 17 H besy. S H seeth. . 19 H on : 20 Haccepte. 21 Ms.
(& RC) for to haue hym with hym.
SHTO
20150oforette
a 1500 Craft lying (Rol
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deus non despicies, Lord god thou wilt neuer dispice a contrite & a meke bert;
and Ezechiel seith also: 112 quacunque hora conuersus fuerit peccator et ingemuerit,
saluus erit, In what oure þat euer it be þat the synful man is sory inward &
conuerted fro his syne, he 'schalbe saued. & Derfor seynt Bernard seith: The pite
& be mercy of god is more pen eny wickidnesse; & Austene vpon Iohñ seith :
We schuld neuer dispeire of [no]man als longe as he is in pis bodily lyfe, for pere
is no syn so gret but it may be helyd, outakyn dispaire alone; & seynt Austen
seith also: All synnes pat a man hath done afore', mow not noye ne dampne a
man, but he be well a-payde in his herte þat he hath don hem. Derfor no
mane schulde dispaire, pouze it were so &3 it were possible þat he alone had
don all maner of synnes þat myzt be done in pe world; for be dispaire a man
gettith nouzt ellys but þat god is moch* more offendid þesby, & all his oper
synnes bene more greuouse in goddis syzt, & euerlastyng payne is therby aug-
mentyd infinitlye to bym þat so dispaireth. Therfor a-yence dispeire for to induce
hym þat is syke & laborith in his dying to verry trust & confidence bat he schuld
principally haue to god at that tyme, the disposicion of Criste in the crosse schuld
grettly draw hym, of the which seynt Bernard seith thus: What man is it pat
schuld not be rauysshed & draw to hope & to haue full confidence in god, & he
take heed diligently of the disposicione of Cristis body in the crosse; take heed
& see his heed enclyned to salue the, his mouth to kysse the, his armes I-spred
to be?-clyp the, his bondis I-thrilled to yeue the, his syde opened to lone the,
hys body alonge strauzt to yeue all hyn-selfe to the. Therfor no man schuld
dispeire [of]foryevenesse, but fully baue hope & confidence in god; for the vertu
of hope is gretly commendable & of gret merite before god, as the apostill seith
& exortith us: Nolite amittere confidenciam vestram, que magnam habet remunera-
cionem , Lesith not youre hope & confidence in god, be which hath gret reward
of god. Forthermore pat no synfull man schuld in. no wyse dispeire haue he
synned neuer so gretly ne neuer so sore ne neucy so ofte, ne neuer so longe con-
tynued therin, we haue (open]“ ensample [in]? Peter pat denyed Crist, in Poule
pat pursued holy chirch, in Matheu & Lache the publicanes, in Mary Maudeleyne
the synful woman, in the woman pat was takyn in avoutry, in the thefe pat
honges on the crosse be-sid Crist, in Mary Egipciane, & vnnomberable ober gre-
uouce & grete synncrs. The thrid temptacion is in-pacience, the which is ayenst
charite bi the which we be bounden to loue gode above all þingis; for þei pat
bene in syknesse in her deth-bed suffren passyngly gret payne & sorrow & woo,
& namly they pat dyen not be nature & course of age bat hapynneth ryght selde
as (open)'° experience scheweth all daye to euery manell, but dyen oft-tymes thorow
an accidentall seknesse, as a fever, a posteme & such other greuous & paynfull
& long seknes, the which many men, & namly hem the which bene vndisposed
to dye & dyen ayenst her wyll, & lackene verry charite, makyth so inpacyent &
grucchynge, þat other-while thorow woo & inpacience bei be-com wood & witles,
[as]"? it hath ofte be seyen in many men; & so be þat it is open & certeyne þat
pey pat dyen in pat wyse faylen & lac verry charite, wittnessynge seynt Ierome
bat seith pus: Si quis cum dolore egritudinem uel mortem suscipit, signum est
quod deum sufficienter non diligit, that is to seye: Who so takyth syknesse (or deth]
with sorrow & displesaunce of herte, it is ane open sygne pat lie louyth not god
sufficiently. Therfor a man þat wyll dey well, yt is nedfull þat he gruche not
in no maner of seknesse bat fallyth to hym be-fore his deth or in hys dyinge,
be yt neuer so paynefull or greuouse, longe tyme or schort tyme durynge; for
as seynt Gregory witnessith in his Morallys: Iusta sunt [cuncta] que patimur, et ideo
valde iniustum est si de iusta passione murmuremus: All þingis pat we suffren we
suffyr ryghtfully, & perfor we ben '4vnryztfull yf we grucch of þat we suffer rygtfully.
Than euery man schuld be pacient, (for) as seynt Luke seith : In paciencia vestra possi-
debitis animas vestras: In youre pacyence ye schull possesse.l5 youre soules; for [as]."
1 om in H. ? Ms. for bouze. 3 H þat. Hm. dyspleased & moch m. o. 5 Ms. for.
6 Ms. (& RC) vpone an. 7 Ms. of. . 8 H hynge, Rhenge. 9H happeth. 10 Ms.
vpon. 11 H techeth men. 12 Ms. (& RC) & 13 H o. & a certeyne. 14 H gretely v.
23 H welde. 16 H for as.
arog in Eks. Wr
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be pacience mannys soule is trewly' had and kept, so? be vnpacience & murmuracion
it is loste & dampned, wittnessyng seynt Gregory in his omely þat seith pus:
Regnum celorum nullus 112urinuraiis accipit, nullus qui accipit murmurare potest,
Ther schal no man haue pe kyngdom of heuen þat grucchit[hj & is inpacient, and
ther may no man gruch þat hath it. But as Þe gret clerke Albert seyth, spekyng
of verry contricion: [If] a verry contrite man offerryth hym-selfe gladly to all maner
affliccion of seknesse & ponysshynge of his synnes, þat he may therby satisfye god
worthyly for his offensis: moch more [þan] schuld euery sike man suffer paciently
& gladly his owen seknesse a-lone, þat is lyzter withoute coinparison þan many
syknessis pat2 other men suffer; namlye sythen þat siknes be-fore a mannys depe
is as a purgatory to hym whan pat it is suffred as it ought, þat is to ynderstonde,
yf it be suffred pacientlye & gladly, with a fre {kynd] 5 wyll of herte. For as the
same clerke Albert seyth: we bane neede to haue a free kynd wyll to god not
only in such þingis as bene to oure [consolacion, but also in such þingis as
bene to oure]" affliccion. [And]' seynt Gregor seyth: Diuina disperzsacione agitur
zit prolixiori vicio prolixior egritudo adhibeatur, It is do by the dispensacion &s
be ryztfull ordynacion of god pat to the lenger syn is ordeyned the lenger sik-
nesse. & perfor lett euery sykman & namely he pat schall dye, sey as seynt Austen
dydº to god: Hic seca, hic ure, ut ineternum mnichi parcas, Here cutt, here brein,
so þat þou spare me eucrlastynglye. And seynt Gregor seith: Misericors deus
temporalem adhibe[t] scueritatem, ne eternam inferat vlciorem, God þat is mercy-
full yeveth his chosyn children temporall ponysshyngis 10 here, lest he yeve hem
euerlastyng vengeaunce ellys-where. This temptacion of inpacience fyztteth ayenst
charite, & with-oute charite may no man be saued; & therfor, as seith seynt
Poule: Caritas (vera] paciens est, omnia suffert, Verry charite ys paciente & suffreth
all þingis. & in þes wordis yt is notably to be marked þat he spake of suffryng of
all þingis, & oute-takell noping: pan schuld all syknesse of the body [bi reson] be
suffred paciently without murmuracion or 12 difficulte; and therfor seynt Austen seith :
Amanti richil difficile uell3 impossible, To hym pat loueth ther is no pinge hard
ne no þinge impossible. The IIIIth temptacion is complacens or plesaunce of
a man þat he hath in hym-selfe, pat is spiritual prid, with the which be devyll
temptyth & vexith most relygiouse & deuoute & parfite men; for when pe deuel
seth þat he may not brynge a man oute of be feibel, ne may not induce hym
vnto 15 dispaire, ne into impaciens: han he assaileth hym be complacens of hymselfe,
puttyng such maner of temptacions in his herte: 0 how stable arte pou in he feibe,
how stronge in hope, how sad ir pacience! O how many good dedis hast pou do!
& such oper pouzttis. But ayenst þese temptacions Isodur seith thus: Non te arroges,
non te iactes, non te [irzsolenter] extollas 10 vel de te presumas, nichil boni tibi tribuas,
Ne bost be not, ne vaunte pe not proudly, ne make not moch of thi-selfe wantonly,
neper adiectel no goodnesse to pi-selfe. For a man may haue so much delectacion
in such (maner of complacens] 18 of hym-selfe pat a man schuld be dampnyd euer-
lastyngly perfor. And þerfor seynt Gregor seith : Quis reminiscendo bona que gescit
dum se apud se erigit, apud auctorem humilitatis cadit: A man þat þinkebe in good
dedis þat he hath do & is proud therof 19 of hym-selfe, he fallith down anon
Derfor be-for hymn þat is auctor of meknes. & perfor he pat schall dye most be
ware when he felith lym temptid with pride, þat þan he low & meke hym-
selfe, þinkinge in his synnes & þat he wit neuer whepere he be worþi loue or
hate, þat is to sey saluacion or dampnacion. Neuerthelesse, lest he dispayre, he
mote lyfte vp his herte to god by hope, penkynge & remembryngeaº stably þat pe
inercy of god is above all pinge & all his werkis, & þat god (þat] is trewe in 22 all
his wordis, & pat23 is treube & ryztwysnes þat nether begilepe neper is begiled,
be-hight & swor24 by hym-selfe & seid by the prophet: l'illo ego, dicit dominus,
n
H sewrely. 2 H & so. 3 Ms. of hat. som in H. 5 H f. & a kynde ; Lat. cum
gratitudine. Com. 7 Ms. as. Š H dispos. of. 9H seyde. 10 H punycion.
11 H toke. 12 H &. 13 H nichil. 14+ FI wey of f. 15 H into. 16 H insolenter tollas.
17 HA arette. 18 Ms. (& RC) temptacion. 19 H berfor. 20 H reuoluyng. 21 all þ. & om
in H. 22 Ms. &. 23 Ms. bat he: 24 Ms. sory.
ఉకరం -Preg- reason
a 1500 Craft ale na ĪR
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nolo mortem peccatoris, God all-myzti seith: be my lyfe, I will not the deth no per
the dampnacion of no synner or of no synfull man, but þat he conuerte bym-
selfe to ine & be saued. Euery man schuld followe seynt Antonye to whome the
deuell seyd: Antony, pou hast ouercom me, ffor when I wold baue the vp by
pride, pou kepist þi-selfe a-downe by meknesse, & whan I wold draw be downe
by disperacion pou kepist þi-selfe vp by hope”; “thus schuld euery man do
both seke & hole, & pan ys the deuell ouer-com. The yth temptacion pat
temptith & greuyth most carnall men & seculer men, [is]? ouer-much occupacion &
besynesse a-bouzt outward temporall þingis (as her wyfes, her children, her carnall
frendes, and wordely riches and other pingis]: þat þei hane loued inordinatly be-
fore. For he pat will dey wyll & surely, most: vtterly & fully put oute of hys
mynde all temporall & outward pingis, & plenerly a conmytt hym-selfe all to god.
& Derfor the gret clerke Duns" (Scotus) seith pus vpon the fourth boke of
Sentence: What man þat is seke whan he seth þat he schall dey, If he put hys
wyll perto 3 to dey wilfully & consentith fully into deth as pouze he had chosyn
hym-selfe [pe]“ payne of þe: deth voluntaryly, & so suffreth deth paciently, he
satisfyeth to 3 god for all his veniall synnes, and forthermore he takyth aweye' a
parcels of satisfaccion pat he oweth to do for dedly synnes. & perfor it is ryght
profitable & necessarye in such a poynte [of]" nede pat a man conforme his will to
goddis will in all pingis [as] 10 euery man owzt both seke & hole. but seld it is seyne
pat any seculer & carnall man or relygiouse man (other)" will dispose hym-selfe to
deth 1%, other ferthermore, þat is wors, will here ony pinge of the mater of deth
þouze in-dede he be laborynge faste to his ende-ward, hopynge þat he schall
escape pe deth—& þat is [be] most perlous þinge & most inconuenient þat may be
in eny cristen man, as seith the worthy clerke Cantor parisiensis 13. But it is to
be noted well þat the deuell in all be temptacions above-seid may conpell no man,
[neither] in no maner of wyse prevayle ayenst hym to consent to hym, als long as
a man hath the vse of reason with hym, but if he woll wilfully consent to hym,-
þat euery good cristen man & also euery synful man be he neuer so grete a
synner owzt to be were of aboue all thyngis. For be apostell seyth : Fidelis [est]
deus qui non pacietur vos temptari supra id quod potestis, sed faciet eciam cum
temptacione prouentum ut possitis sustinere, God, he seith, is trew & will not suffre
yow to be temptid more pan ye may bere, but he will yeue yow such supporta-
cion in youre temptacion[s] þat ye may bere hem. Wherypon seith the glose : God
is ſtrew]"4 in his promissis, & yeuyth us grace to withstond myzttyly, manlyis, &
perseuerantly: yevyng us myzt þat we be not ouercome, (grace to gete vs meryte,
stedfastnes to ouercome] 16; with pat he yeueth such increse of vertu þat we may
suffre, and not faylle ne fall. & pat is by mekenesse, for as seynt Austen seith :
Thei breken" not in the forneyse bat hane not be wynde of pride. Therfor
euerry man, ryghtfull & synfull, l[ow]e 18 hym-silfe fully vnto the mysty honde of
god, and so with his helpe he shall surely opteyne and haue the victorye in all
maner of temptacion, seknesse & tribulacions, euyllys & sorrowes, & deth therto.

The prid chapiter conteynepe the interrogacions pat schulden be asked of
hem þat were l' in her deth-bed while bei may speke and vnderstond.
Capitulum terciun.
..Now followyth the interrogacions of hem pat drawen to the deth-ward while
bei hane reason with hem & her spech, for his cause pat if ony man be not
fully disposed to dye, he may better be enformed, & confortid 20 therto. And as
Ancellyne21 þe bisshop techith, the[se] interrogacions schuld be had ynto hem 22 pat
ben in þat plyte. Fyrst aske hym pis: Brother, art pou glad þat þou schalt dey in
..
lofmör om in H. 2 Ms, bat bene in. 3 om in RC. 4 H clerly. 5 Ms. dinise,
H Scotus.
Ms. in to. 7 Lat. immo affert aliquid ad satisfaciendum pro mortalibus.
8 H parcellys. 9 Ms. at. 10 Ms. bat. 11 H other, crossed out in R. 12 H dye.
13 sc. Petrus Cantor Paris. (d. 1197 ; Opp. in Migne 205). 4 Ms. good. 15 Lat. vtiliter.
16 om 17 H brennen; Lat. crepant. 18 Ms. leue; H lowe hymselfe & submytte. 19 al.
ben. 20 & c. om in H. 21 = Anselme. 22 Ms. hym.
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ſpel? ferth of Crist? The seke man seibe, ze. Knowest pou well bat pou bast not
do so well as pou schuldist haue do? He answereth, ze. Repentis pou þe berof?.
He answerith, ze. Hast pou will to amend, & pou haddist space and lyfe? He
answerith, ze. Beleuist pou fully þat oure lord Ihesu Crist goddis son dyed for
the ? He answeryth, ze. Thankyst þou hym therof with all thy herte? He answeryth,
ze. Beleuist þou verily that thow maist not be sauyd but be Cristis deth and his
passion? He answerith,.7e. Than panke hym euer3 therof* while the soule ys in
be body, and put all thi truste (in his passion and in his dethe onely, hauyng truste]5
in no other pingis; to this deth conmyt the fully, with his deth couer the fully,
(in this deth wrap all thi-self fully] ; and (if] itº com vnto thy mynde or by thin
enmye be put in to thy mynde that god will deme the, sey thus: Lord I put
the deth of oure lord Ihesu Crist be-twene me & myn euell dedis, be-twene ine
and thi Iugement, other-wise I wyll not stryve with the; Iff he sey bat (thou hast] $
deserued dampnacion, sey thou azen : The deth of oure lord Ihesu Crist I put be-
twene me and allº myn euell meritis, and the merite of his worthi passione I offre
for the merite that I shuld haue had and alas I haue it not; Sey also : Lord put the
deth of oure lord Ihesu Criste be-twene me and thi ryztwysnes. Pan lat hym sey þis
thrise: Ir2 manus tuas (domine] commendo spiritum meum, In to thin handis I commyt
my soule; and lett the couent sey the same; and if he may not speke lett the
couent, or þei þat stont aboute, sey thus: In manus tuas commendo spiritum eius,
In thin hondis lord we commend his spirit or to his soule. And thus he dyeth surely,
and he schal not dye euerlastyngly. But thouze þese interrogacions above-seyd
be competent and sufficient to religiouse (and deuoute persones, neuertheles all
crysten men bothe seculers and religiouse), after the doctour 11 the noble clerke the
chaunceller of Parise, in her laste end schuld be examyned, enquered and informed
more certeynly (& clerly) of the state [&] 12 þe hele of hir soule[s]; and fyrst thus: Bele-
vyst thowe principally 18 an fully in the articles of the feyth, and also all holy scripture
in 14 all þingis after be exposicion of the holy and trew doctours of holy chirche,
and forsakist all heresies, errouris and oppinions dampnid by the chirch, and art
glad also þat þou schalt dey in the feyth of Criste & in be vnite & obedience of holy
chirche? The secund interrogacion shalbe this: Knoweſlege]st 15 pou þat often-
tymes and many-maner wises and greuously þou hast offendid þi lord god þat made
the of nouzt? For 16 seynt Bernard seibe þus vpon Cantica canticorum: I know
well þat þer maye no man be saued but yf he knowe hym-selfe, of the which
knowynge wexith in a man the moder of his helpe that is humilite, and also the
dred of god, the which drede [as it is the begynnyng of wisdom, so it]" is the
begynnynge of helth of mannys soule. The thryde interrogacion schalbe this:
Art þou sory in thy herte of all maner of synnes pat pou hast don ayenst the hyze
mageste & be loue & pe goodnes of god, & of all goodnes þat þou hast 18 not
& myzttest haue do, & of all graces þat þou hast for-slewthed; not oonly for
drede of depe or ony other payne, but rather more for love of god & ryztwisnes
and for hou hast displeased his grete!' goodnes & kyndnes, & for be due crdre
of charite by the which we be bound to loue god above all þingis; & of all þese
þingis pou askyst foryevenes of god ? Desirest þou in þin herte also to haue verry
knowynge of all the offensis pat pou hast doo ayenst god and for yete]”, to haue
speciall repentaunce of hem all? The IIIIth interrogacion schalbe pis: Por-
posist þou verrily and art in full wyll to amende the, and pou myght leve lenger,
and neuer to synne more dedly wittyngly and with þi will, and rather pan pou
woldist offend god dedly 21 eny more, to leve & lese wylfully all erpely þingis
were bei neuer so lefe to the, and also the lyf of þi body therto; and forther-.
more pou prayest god to yeve the grace to contynue in this purpose ? The vith
interrogacion schalbe þis: Foryevist þou all ?? maner of men 23 þat euer habe 24 don.
i Ms, bis. 2 andl. om in H. 3 om in H. H therfore with all thyne herte. 5 om.
O Ms. and it be. 7 Ms. denye. 8 Ms. he hath; H thow deseruest. IH I. 10 his sp.
or om in H. 11 H doctryne of. 12 Ms. of. 13 H fully alle the pryncypalle art. 14 H and.
16 H Knowelegest. 16 om in H. 17 om. 18 H myghtest haue doone and hast nat; Lat, de
bonis omissis. 19 H hygh. 20 H foryete; Lat. oblitorum cognicionem. 21 om in H.
22 H fully all. 23 H adds in thyn herte. 24 al, hane.
y all.
23 H adds in the 20 H foryete ; Lat. Shlitst haue doone and hast“;
Afles. W
.w
atsoo w
a 1500 Craft luna aul)
414
Works wrongly attributed to K. Roller
Ms. Rawi. C 894]
be ony wronge or grevaunce vnto pis tyme orl in word or in dede, for be love
of oure lord Ihesu Crist of whome pou bopyst to haue? foryevenes also 3 pi-selfe;
[& askist also thi-selfe foryeuenes)' of all hem þat þou hast offendyd in ony maner-
wise? The vith interrogacion schalbe pis: Wilt þou þat all maner of þingis
þat þou hast in eny manes wise mysgett, be fully restored als · much as pou
maist and art I-bounde, after the value of pi good, & rather leve.& forsake all
þi goodys of the world, yf pou maist make due satisfaccion in none other wise?
The seuynth interrogacion schalbe this: Belevist pou fully þat Crist dyed for the
& pat pou maist neuer be saued but by the merite of Cristis passion, and pankist
perof god with pin hert as much as pou canst or' maist? Who so, euer-
may verrily of verrye good conscience and trouth with-owte eny feynynge answere
þee to these forseyd sevyn interrogacions, he shalbe savyd verrily and hath an
euydent argument I-nough of the helbe of his soule, pat, & he dye soo, he
schalbe of the nombre of hem pat schalbe saued. Who so enem is not askyd of
a nother man of thes seven interrogacions when he is in such a perell of deth,
for ther be ryghtº fewe bat have be kurinynge of this crafte of dyinge, he most
remembre hym-selfe [in his soule & aske hym-selfe] ', & sotely fele & considre
where he be so disposed as it is above seyde or no; for with-owte (bat) a man
be disposed in such wise fynally, Þere may no man douztles be saved euer-
lastyngly. And what man ?? þat is disposed as yt is above-seyd, let hym commend
and 13 cominytt hym-selfe all in-fere fully to the passion of Crist, and contynually
als much as he may and ashys syknesse will suffre hym lett hym remembre
hym-selfe 3 and pinke in the passyon of Crist: for therby all the deuellys tempta-
cions and giles be most 't ouercomm and voyde[d].
The IIIIth chapites conteyneth ane instruccion with certeyne obsecracions
to hem pat' schullen dye. Capitulum IIIm.
· F Orthermore for as much as seynt Gregor seith euery doynge of Crist ys oure
instruccion & techynge: Derfor such pingis as Crist dyd dyinge on the crosse, the
same shuld euery man do at hys laste ende after his connyng and power. And Crist
dyd fyve þingis in the crois: he prayed, [for he prayed]“ these psalmes: Deus dcus
meus respice and all þe psalmes followyng next 3 vnto þat vers In manıs tuas, and
also þat vers 15; and he cryed in the crosse as be apostil witnessith; also he wept
in the cross; also he commyt his soule to his fader in the cros; [also he yaf vp
wilfully the gost in the crosse. Furst he prayed in the crosse]"; so a seke man
þat is in poynt of deth schuld prey, namely with his herte yf he may not with
his mouth, ffor seynt Isodyr seyth pat it is better to pray styllic in the herte with-
oute ony sounde of voyce outeward, pan to pray with wordis alo[ne]" without any
deuocion of herte. The secund was he cryed; soo shuld euery man in his dying
crye strongly, with be herte, not with be moupe 18, ffor god takibe more heed of
Þe desire of the herte pan of the cryinge of the voice. The criynge of the her-
to god is not ellys but the gret desiringe of a man to haue foryevenesse of his
synnes and euer-lastyng lyfe. The lIIlll was he wept; so shulde euery man in his
dyinge wepe, not with his bodyly yer, but with the terys of (his] herte, that is to sey,
verrily repentynge hym? of all his 19 misdedis. The IIIIth was he commendyde his
soule to god; so shuld euery man in his ende, seyinge bus with herte & mouth
if he may, and 3 ellys in his herte: »Lord god, into pin handis I commende my
spirit; ffor truly pou þi-selfe bouzt me 20 dere«. The yth was he yafe vp wilfully
his spirit; so schuld euery man in his deth, bat is to sey, he shuld dye wilfully, con-
formynge fully perin his owen will to god[dis will]as he is bounde. Therfor
als longe as he þat is in poynte of deth may speke & haue þe vse of reson with hym,
lett hym“ sey the prayers followynge. Oracio : » thow hize godhed and endeles
1H other. .. to hauc om in H. 3 om in H. 1 om. 5 H r. ayene.
6 H good.
i canst or om in H. S shalbe--and om in H. H And who. 10 H but. 11 Ms. ar.
12 H. m. or woman. 13 com, and om in H (and Lat.). 14 Ms. he must. 15 Ms. and a.
bat verse 1r manus t. 16 H stylly. 17 Ms, alowd, H alone. 18 HI voyce. 10 H h.
sinnes & m. 20. H hit. 21 H goddys wylle. 22 leť hym om in H.
an1_500---fhtWow
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415
Ms. Rawl. C894)
· goodnes, most inercyable & gloriouse trinite, bat art hyzest loue [&]? charyte, haue
mercy on me wrecchid sinfull man, for to the I commende fully my soule«.
Oracioj: »My lord god most benyng fader, (fader] of mercy, do pi mercy to me pi?
pore creature, helpe now lord my nedy &* dissolate soule in her last nede, þat hell
houndis deuoure me not. [Oracio:] Most swettest and most louely lord my lord Ihesu
Criste goddis owen dere? sonne, for the worship and þe’ ves tue of þi blessid passion
admytt and receyue me with-in pe nombre of þi chosen peple; my sauyoure &
redemptor, I yeld all my-silfe fully to pi grace and mercy, forsake me not; to
þe, lord, I com: put me not aweye. Lord Ihesu Crist, I aske pi paradise and
blysse, not for the worthynes of my deseruyngis pat am but dust & asshis and a”
.synfull ,wrech, but borow be vertu & effecte of þi holy passion, [bi]' the which
pou vouchist-safe & woldists by me synfull wrech with þi preciouse bloode &
brynge me into paradise. Let hym sey also ofte þis verse: Dirupisti domine
vincula mea, tibi sacrificabo 'hostiam laudis: Lord hou hast broke my bondis, and
perfor I shall panke be with pe sacrifice of the oblacion of worship.; For pis
verse, as Cassiodir seipe, ys of (so]o grete vertue pat a mannys synnes bene foryouen
hym, and' it be seyd prise with good trewe feyth at a mannys lasta ende. Oracio :
»Lord Ihesu Crist, for pat bitternesse þat þou suffrist for me in the crosse, & most
in pat oure whan pi most blissed soule passid out of pi body, haue mercy of my
soule in hir streite. passynge«. Also afterward with all þe instaurce & deuocion
hat he may, with herte & mouth, lett hym cry to oure blessyd lady seynt Marye
þat is most spedfull and most redy mene and b.elpe of all synfull men to god,
seying pus: Oracio: »O gloriouse (lady) quene of heuen, moder of mercye, & refuge 9
of all synfull men, reconsile me to bi swete sonne my lord Ihesu, and pray for
me synfull wrech to his gret mercye, that for loue of the, swete ladye, l'he voll
foryeve me my synnesc. Pan lat hym pray to angellis & sey thus: Oracio : »Holy
angels of heuen, I besech yow pat ze wold assist to me þat schall now passe
out of þis world, & myztyly delyner & kepe me from all myn enemyes, and take
my soule ynto youre blissed company; & namly pou good blissed aungell þat
hast bene my contynuall keper ordeyned of god«. Pan lett lym pray the same
wise deuoutly to all the apostillys, martires, confessoures, and virgines, & specially
to po seyntis 1l which he loued & worschipped moste specially in his hele, þat þei
will helpe hym pan in his last & most neede. Pan? afterward lett lyme sey pries
or more pese wordis or lyke in sentence the which ben ascryved to seynt Austene :
Oracio: »The pese of oure lord Ihesu Criste, and the vertu of his passione, and be
signe of the holy cros, & pe maydenhed of oure lady blyssed,l? seynt Marye, & pe
blyssynge of all seyntis, & pe kepinge of all angels, & pe suffrage 13 of all þely chosen
people of god be betwene me & all’ myn enemyes visible & invisible, in pis oure of
my depe. Amen 15«. Aftyrward let laym sey þrise bis verse: 16 Largire clarum vespere,
quo vita rusquam decidat, sed premium 11.0rtis sacre, perheninis ijzstet gloria, Graunt
me lord a clere ende, pat my soule fall neuer downe-ward, but yeve me euer-
lastyng blisse, þat is pe reward of holy dying«. And if he þat is sike can not
all þis prayers, or may not sey hem for greuouse[nes] of his siknesse, lett som man
þat is about hym sey hem be-fore hym as he may clerely here hym sey hem,
chaungynge pe wordis þat ought to be chaunged in his seying?; and he þat is
dy[i]nge, also longe as be hape vse of reasone, lett hym prey deuouztly within
hym-selfe with his herte & his desire as he canı & may: & so yeld be gost vp
to god, & he shalbe saued.
The fyfte chapiter conteyneth an instruccion ynto hem þat shullen dye.
Capitulum quiritum.
But it is gretly to be notid & to be take heed of, pat rigt seld any man, [ze]
amonge religiouse & deuoute men, disposeth bym-selfe to debe be tymes as he
i Ms. &. ? om in H. 3 Ms. & my. Ms, to. 5 H woldist vouchesafe to.
© Ms. a. i H yeff. S H suffred. H refugye. 10 Ms. Þat he. 11 H be seynt.
12 H bì. lady. 13 H suffragyes. 11 Ms. bi. 15 H And aft. 16 See Hymnus ad Nonam,
Daniel I. 52. 17 Ms. ad.

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a soe in yks With an
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416
Works wrongly attributed to R. "Rolle.
So
Ms. Rawl. C 894)
ought, ffor euery man weneth hym-selfe to leve longe, & trowyth not pat
he schall dye. in short tyme; & douztles pat sterynge commiyth of the deuellys
sottill temptacion, and ofte-tymes it is seyne opynly þat many men porow such
Idyll hope & trust bath for-slewthed hem-selfe & dyed or vntestate or vnavised
& vndisposed sodenly. Therfor euery man pat hath loue & drede of god & a
zeele of þe hele of mannys soule, let hym besyly induce & warne euery of his
euencristen þat is seke or in any perill of body or of soule, pat principally &
fyrst of all ober þingis & withoute ony oper? delayes or longe tarry[i]ngis he dyli-
gently prouid & purvey for Þe spirituall medycyne & remedy of his soule. For ofte-
tymes, as a certeyne decretall seyth, bodyly syknes commyth of the siknes of the
soule; and therfor pe pope in the same decretall chargith streiztly euery bodyly
lech þat he zeue no sekman no bodyly medicyn, vnto þe tyme þat he haue warned
& inducid hym to sech his spirituall lech. But his councell ys now for-slewthed
almost of all men, & is turned in to pe contrary ; ffor men seken sonner & besi-
lier after medicyns for þe body, pan for be soule. Also * oper euellis & aduersitees
be ryztwise dome of god come euer-more to men for syn, as he prophet witt-
nessith pat seipe pus: Non est malum in ciuitate quod dominus non facit, Ther
is non euell in the cite but god do it. Pou schalt not vnderstonde bat god doeth
Þe euell of syn, but he' yeldith ponysshinge for syn. Wherfor euery sikman, &
euery other man þat is in ony perill, shuld be diligently inducid & exhortid pat
he make hym-selfe be-fore all oper þingis pes with god, resseyving spirituall
medicins, þat is to seye takynge the sacramentis of holy church, ordeynynge and
makynge his testament, & laufully disposynge for his household & other nedis if
he haue any to dispose for. & pere shuld not be yeue (first] to no man to miche
hope of bodyly hele; but the contrary perof now ys ofte-tymes do [bi] many men
[into] º gret perill of soules, & namely of hem þat actually & openly ben drawynge?
& in poynt hastily to deye, for none of hem will here nobinge of deth; and so,
as the gret clerke the chaunceler of Parise seipe: oft-tymes bi such a veyne &
a false cherynge & comfortyng & feyned behotynge of bodyly helth, & trustynga
pervponn, men ryn and fall in to certeyne dampnacion euerlastingly. And perfor
a seke man shuld be councellyd & exortid to prouide & procure bym-selfe his
soule-hele be verry contricion & confession; & if it be expedient for hym, þat S
schall gretly avayle to his bodyly helth, and so he schalbe mo[r]e quiete " & sure.
And for als muche, wittnessinge seint Gregor, as a man hath seelde verry contri-
cion, And as seint Austen seibe also in the fourth boke of sentence the twel[f]the 10
distinccion, and oper doctours also, Repentaunce þat is deferryde and had in a
mannis last ende, vnneth is verry repentance or pennauncell sufficient to euerlastynge
hele, and specially in hem 12 þat all her tyme be-fore nether the commaundementis
of god nether her voluntarye vowes kepten noti effectually ne truly, but only
feynyngſly] & to be semynge owtward: therfor 13 euery seke man þat is in such
case & is com to his last ende, is to be counselled besily þat he labour with
reason of his mynde after his power to haue ordynate & verry repentaunce; pat
is to me[n]ynge lid. not-withstondynge the sorrow & greuaunce of his seknes and
[he] drede þat he hath of hasty deth, þat he vse reason als moch as he maye,
& [in]force 15 hym-selfe to haue full displesynge of all synnes for the due ende &
parfite intent, þat is for god, and withstand 16 bis euell naturall in-clynynge to
syn þough he myzt leve lenger, and also þe delectacion of his synnes be-fore,
and labour als much as he maye to haue a verry displesaunce of hem pouze it
be neuer so shorte; and lest he schalll fall in dispeire tell hym & arme hym
with such þingis þat bene seyde above in the secund parte of the temptacion of
dispeire. Exorte hym also þat he be stronge in his soule ayenst [he] opcr tempta-
cions þat be put and tolde þere also, myztily & manly withstonde (hem] all, for he
may not be compellyde by the deuell to consent to none of hem all. Also lett him
1 om in H. 2 ony ober om in H. 3 H ordeyn. H And alle. 5 H off. Ms. of.
1 H drawyne. 8 1. it?. 9 Ms. moste quitte. 10 H xxti. ll or p. om in H. 12 Ms. hym.
13 H to e. 14 Ms. mevynge, H menyng, r. menyn; Lat. scilicet. 15 Ms. conforte. 16 Ms.
withstandynge.
a 15:00 in 4ks Wr.
...
f
I
The book of the craft of dying.
417
Ms. Rawl, C 894)
be monysshed & conceilede þat he dye a verry trew cristen man & full beleuyd.
Also it is to be considred whether he be in-volued with eny sensuris of the chirch,
and if [he]? be, lett hym be taught þat he summytte hym-selfe with all his myzte
to the ordynaunce of holy chirch, þat he may be assoyled. Also yf be pat schall
dye haue longe tyme and space to be-pinke hym-selfe, and be not take with
hasty deth: ban may be red afore hym, of hem þat be abowte hym, deuouzt
histories and deuoute praiers in the which he delyted moste in whan he was in
hele; or reberse be-fore hym pe commaundementis of god, þat he may be-pinke
hym be more profoundly if he may fynde in hym-selfe pat be hape necligently
trespased a-yenst hym. And if þe seke man haue lost his spech, [but] yit he hath
hole & full knowlech of the interrogacions þat be made to hym or the prayers
pat bene rehersid be-fore hym, pan with som vtterly sygne or only with consent
of herte lett hym answere therto. Neuerthelesse it is gretly to be charged &
hasted pat pe interrogacions be made vnto hym or he lese his speche; for if his
answere[s] be not lyclyó or shewith noto in all sides to be sufficient to full hele &
perpetuell remedye of his soule, þan' must be s put þerto remedy & councell in
the best maner þat it may be doo: pan pere schuld be told to hym pe perillº þat he
shuld (plainly] fall in, pouze he shuld & wold gretly be a-ferde therof;—it is better
and ryghtfuller þat he be compuncte and repentaunte with holsom fere and dred and
so be saued, pan pat he be campned with flaterynge and false dissimilacion ; for it is
to inconuenient & contrary to cristen relygion and (deuellike)?', þat pe perill of deth
& of a soule for eny veyne drede of a man lest hell ware ony þinge distrobilled
therby shuld be hyd to ony cristen man or woman þat shuld dye. but Isaye þe
prophet did pe contrarie, ffor when kynge Ezechi lay seke & vpon pe 12 poynt of
depe, he glosed hym not ne vsed no simulacion 13 to hym, but playnly & hol-
somly agasted hym, seyinge bat he schuld dye; & yet nathelesse he dyed not at
þat tyme. And seint Gregori also holsomly agasted be monke þat was a pro-
prietarie, as it is red in þe (fourthe] boke of his Dialogis 14. Also present to the seke
Þe Image of the crucifix be whiche shuld be euermore aboute seeke men, or ellys
Þe Image of oure lady, or of als seynt þe which he loued or worshipped in his
hele. Also lett þer be holy water abowte pe seke, & sprynge oft-tymes vpon
hym & oper pat bene abouzte hym, þat fendis mowe be voyded from hem 16
therbye. Yf all þingis above-seid may not be do for hastines & shortnes of tyme,
þan put forbe praiers, & namely such as be directid li specially to oure sauyoure
lord Ihesu Crist. Whan a man is in poynt of depe & hastis fast to his ende, pan
schuld pere no carnall frendis ne wife ne children ne riches ne no temporall
goodis be reducid to his mynde neper be comoned of before him, but 18 (in) as much
{as þe]"' spirituall belbe & profett of þe seke man askyth & requireth. In þis mater
þat is of oure last & moste neede, all maner of poyntis & sentencis perof, with
aduerbis also þat ben put perto, shuld most sotely & diligently be chargid & con-
sidered of euery man, for alse muche as per schal no man be rewardid for his
wordis alone but for his dedis also Ioyned & accordyng to his wordis, as it
is seid in þe boke þat is clepid Compendy of the trupe of diuinite, pe secund
boke pe tenth chapiter. And what man pat listepe, & will gladly dye well &
surely and meritorily withoute perill, he most take heede besyly and stody & lerne
diligently þes craft 20 of dyinge and þe disposicions perof above-seyd while he is
in hele, & not abyde vntill pat deth entre in to hym; for in truth, dere brother
or sistre, I tell the soth-leve 21 me therof-
mpat whan deth or gret seknesse fallith
vpon the, deuocion passith owt from the, & be more nere þat (bei taken] þe &
gripen þe, the ferther fleyth deuocion from the. Therfor yf pou wilt not be
disseyued ne erre, if pou wilt be sure, do besily what pou maiste while bou art
here in hele & hast the vse & fredam of þi wittes & reason well disposed, &
1 H holy. Ms. it. 3 H submytte. H withoute s, other. 5 H lyche or verreysimile.
6 H nor semeth, 7 Ms. bat. 8 Ms. he. 9 Ms. perillis.
lyke; R and to do welle like, expunged; Lat. immo diabolicum. 11 Ms. he be. 12 om
in H. 13 H dissimulacion. 24 Ms. diolegis. 15 H some other. 16 H hym. 17 H
directe. 18 H with. 19 Ms. of. 20 Ms. craftis; H his crafte. 21 H beleue.
11 Ms. he ha
L.. ---, vapuugeu; Lat. immo diabolicum.
II.
27

MY
7
SWS1
VER
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418
. Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Rawl. C894)
while pou maist be maister of þi-selfe & of þi (dedis)". O lord god, how many [ze]2 .
with-oute nombre þat hane abyden soo ynto her last ende hane forslouthed
& deceyued hem-silfe euerlastingly. Take heed, broper & suster, & be ware if
pou list, lest it happen pe (be) same wise. But lett no man wondre ne þinke þat it
is inconuenient þat so grette charge & diligence & wise disposicion & prouidence
& besy exortacion shuld be bad & mynystred to hem þat bene in poynt of depe
& in her last ende as it is above seyd: for bei be in such perill & so grete nede
at pat tyme pat, & it were possible, all a cite schuld com to-geder with all the
haste to a man þat is in dyinge; as þe maner ys in som religiouse, in which it
is ordeyned pat whan a seke man ys uyze pe deth pan euery of the breperne
schall when bei here pe table ysmyte, what oure þat euer it be & where pat
euer þei be, all pinge l-lefte hastily to com to hym þat is dying *; & þerfor it is
redde þat religiouse people, & womens, for þe honeste of hir astate schall not
ren, but to a man þat is a-dyinge, [&] for fere“.
The sixte Chapiter conteyneth praiers þat shullen be seid vpon hem pat
bene a-dyinge of som man þat is abowt him. Capitulum vim
LAst of all it is to be knowe þat þe praiers þat followen mow? be con-
ueniently seyd vpon a seke man pat laborith to his ende. & if it be a religiouse
person, þan whan pe couent is gadrid to-gidre with Þe smytynge of the table
as pe maner is, ban shall be seyd first the letanye with the psalmis & orisons
þat ben vsed per-with ; afterward, if he leue yet3, let som man þat is aboạte hyma
sey the orisons that followen after as the tyme & oportunyte will suffre, & pei
mowen be oft rehersid ayene to excite þe: deuocion of the seke man if he haue
reason & viderstondynge with hym; but 3 netheles pis ought not to be do of
necessite, as pouze he myzt not be saued but ite were do, but for be profett
& deuocion of the seke þat laboreth to his endeward it may, and it is well doo
þat it be so doo. But amonge seculers þat be seke, lett þes praiers be seyd
as deuocion & disposicion & be profett of hem & oper pat ben abouzt hem askyn
& requiren, &3 as the tyme woll suffre. But alas per ben full 8 few not only amonge
seculers but also in dyuerse religiouse, þat hane be kunnynge of þis craft & will
be nyzh and assist to hem þat ben in poynt of dethe & departynge out of this
world, askyng hem & exortyng & enformynge & prayinge for hem as it is above
seid, namly whan þei þat ben in dyinge wolden not or hopyn not to dye yet, &
(so]łº be seke mennys soules stonden" in gret perell.
Oracio: For þat loue þat made þe to be wounded & dey for þe hele & salua-
cion of mankynde, bat were most worpi & delicate loue of god pi blessed fader
of heuen & for oure sake made man, swete lord Ihesu full of mercy, foryeve
þi seruaunte all þat he hape trespased in þouzt, word & dede, in all his affec-
cions, desires, mocions, strenghthis & wittis of his soule & of his body, & in
verrye remission of hem all yeve hym þat most sufficient amendement bi the
which pou wyssh' awey bel2 synnes of all þe world, & in supplecion of all his
necgligencis adde & put to hym þat holy conuersacion pat Þou haddist from þe
oure of pi concepcion ynto pe oure of bi depe, & forthermore pe frute of all
good dedis pe which han pleased & shullen (please] pe in all pi chosen people
fro pe begynnynge of the world vnto þe13 ende therof, swete lord Ihesu þat leuest
& regnest with Þi fader & þe holy gost, o verri god withowten ende amen.
[Oracio:) For be vnyon of þe most feruent loue pat stered & made þe, life of
all þingis þat is levynge, to be incarnate of oure lady, & with gret anguysshis of
Þe spirit to dey for cherite & be love of vs, we crye to be rote of þż 14 moste
benigne herte bat pou foryeve pe soule of þi seruaunte (me) 15 all his (my) 16 syrnes,
& with þi most holy conuersacion & (he) most worthi merite of thi passion fulfill all
his (my) 16 necligence & omyssions, & make hym. (me) 18 to fele by experience þe
1 Ms. bis goodis; H thy dedys: 2 Ms. many be. 3 om in H. 4 H a-d.
6 H fyre ; Lat. et ad ignem. 7 H now. SH but. 9H & in. 10 Ms. for.
soule standeth. 12 H alle the. 13 Ms. bis. 14 Ms. he. 16 Ms. me bi s.
17 H foryeue. 18 Ms. me.
5 H the w.
11 H maunes
16 Ms. all my.
+500-cm fleste
24
.
The book of the craft of dying.
419
Ms. Rawl. C 894)
most superhabundaunt gretnes of þi mercies, and us all & specially þis (my)
person oure broper be which pou hast disposed hastily for to be called before
bi gloriouse mageste in þe most plesaunt maner to be & most profitable to hymn
(me) & vs all make hym (me) to be presentid to you with swete pacience, verry
repentaunce & full remission, with ryztfull feipe, stable hope & parfite charite,
pat he may dye blissedlye in parfite state be-twene bi moste swettest (clippyng
& moste swettest] kyssynge, vnto pin euerlastynge worshipe & preysynge, amen.
Oracio: IN to the handis of pin endelesse & vnquenchable mercy, holy fader,
ryghtfull & moste beloued fader, we commaunder the spirit of oure broder →
seruaunt after the gretnes of loue pat pe holy soule of thi blessed sonn commendid
hir-selfe to the in the crosse, prayinge? interly (bat) for pilke inestimable charite
þat þi holy godhed & faderhed drow fully to þi-selfe þat blissed soule of þi
sonn, þat now in his last oure pou receyue swetly be spirit of oure broßer þi
seruaunt in pe same love. Amen.
Oracio: SEynt Michael þe archangell of oure lord Ihesu Crist, helpe us at oure hyze
Iugement. O pou most worpi gyaunte & protectour þat neuer maist (be) ouercom,
be nygt to oure broper (ine) þi seruaunt laborynge now sore in his (myn) ende, &
defende hym (me) myztfully from pe dragon of hell & from all maner of gile of
wicked spiritis. Forthermore we praie pe pat art so clere & so worbi a mynyster
of god, þat in his last ende or4 houre of pe life of oure brober (me) pou will
receyve pe soule of hym esyly & benignly into pin holy bosom, & brynge her
into a place of refresshyng & of pes & rest. Amen.
Oracio: Euer clene & blessed mayde Marye, synguler helpe & socoure in euery
anguyssh & necessite, helpe us swetly & shew to oure broper (me) þi seruaunt
þi graciouse visage now in his (my) last ende, and voyde all his (my) enemyes fro
hym (me) thorow pe vertu of þi dere beloued son oure lord Ihesu Crist & of þe
holy crosse, & delyuer hym (me) from all maner of desese of body & soule, pat
he (1) may panke & worship god without ende. Amen.
Oracio: My moste swete redemptore, most mercyable Ihesu & most benigne
lord, for bat sorowfull voyce þat pou haddist in þi manhed when pou shuldist dye
for vs & were so consumed with sorowes & trauellys of pi gret' passyon pat pou
cridest) be for-sake 6 of þi fader, be not fer fro oure brother (me) și seruaunt but yeve
hym (me) [be helpe of]' þi mercye in þe houre of his (my) depe, & haue mynde of [be]
greuous affliccion & payne of hys (my) soule the which in his last houre of passynge
for faylinge & consumynge of his spiritis habe no myzt to call vpone þe of helpe;
but by Þe victory of the crosse & by pe5 vertu of pi holy passion & þin amorous
depe þinke vpone her pouztis of pes, & not of affliccion but of mercye, & com-
forte & delyuer hyr fully from all maner of anguysshis; with pe same handis þat
pou suffresto to be nayled vpon pe crosse for hir sake with sharpe nayles, good
Ihesu swete fader & lord, delyucr hir fro pe turmentis ordeyned for her, & bryng
her into everlastinge reste with a voyce of exultacion & knowlechyng of þi
mercy, amen.
Oracio: Most merciable lord Ihesu Crist goddis son, for be vnyon of þat recom-
mendacion þat þou commendist pine holye soule to pin heuenly fader dyinge in
the cros, we commende vnto pin vnnombrable pyte pe soule of oure broper (me!
þi seruaunte, praiynge þi most merciable goodnesse pat for all be worship &
meritis of þi most holy soule by be which all soules be saued & delyuerde from þe
dett" of depe, pou haue mercy vpon pe soule of oure dere broßer þi seruaunte,
delyuerynge hir mercyably fro all myseries & peynes, and for þe loue & medi-
acion 12 of þi swete moder brynge her to be contemplacion of pe ioy (of þi most]
swete 13 & mery syght euerlastynge, amen.
Oracio: MErcifull?4 & benigne god, þat for pe 15 michelines of pi mercies doyst
aweye pe synnes of hem þat be verry 16 repentaunte, & voydist þe blame of synnes
1 H cormendyn. 2 Ms. pr. to be. 3 H iuge; Lat. apud altissimum iudicem. 4 e, or
om in H. 5 om in H. & Ms. for be sake. 7 Ms. bi hope &. 8 Ms. saylinge. 9 r.
amarous. 10 H suffred. 11 H darte. 12 Ms. meditacion. 13 so H; Ms. & swete
14 H Merciable. 15 Ms. bi. 16 H verrayly.
27*
WY
Y
19
soothediye
7
0
X
420
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Rawl. Ć 894]
pat ben passed & done before porow grace [of]' foryevenesse, we be-sech þat þou
loke mercyably vpon oure bropez (me) þi seruaunte, & grac[i]ously here hym (me)
askynge with all confession of his (my) hert remission of all his (my) synnes.
Renu? in hym (me), most mercyable fader, all þingis þat is corrupt in hym be
bodily freelte or defouled with pe fraude of the deuell, & geder hym in; to be
vnite of the body of holy chirch & make hym a membre of þi redempcion; haue
mercy, lord, vpon his wirkynge“, haue mercye vpon his teris, & admytte hym
to the sacramentis of þi reconsiliacion, þat hath no truste but vpon þi mercye,
by oure lord Ihesu Crist. Amen.
Oracio: DEre broßer, I commende pe to almygti god, & commyt the to byme
whoes creature pou art, (þat]whan pi manhed hath payd his det by the mene of
deth, pat pou turne a-yene to god þi creature þat made pe of the slyme of the
erth. When thi soule passith oute of thi body, gloriouse companyes of angellys
com ayenst the, [the] victoriouse oste worthie Iuges and senatourys of holy apostilys
met with þe, the fayre shynnynge company of holy confessoures, with be victoriouse
nombre of gloriouse martires com abowte the, & be worthi felowship pe Ioyfull
companye of holy uirgynes receyve þe, & be worþi felawship of holy patriarchis
open to the [the] place of her ioye & rest & deme pe to be amonge hem þat þei
be amonge euerlastyngly. Know pou neuer þat is horrible in derknes, þat gryntipe
& flamepe' fyre, þat ponysshebe in tormentis; yeue place to be & gieve be not
þat foule sathanas with all his seruauntis; in his commynge a-yence (be), agast
hym' the presence of holy angels, & flee (he) vnto the derkepes of euerlastynge nynt,
vnto be grete troublous see of hell. Oure lord aryse & his enemyes be dispart-
lyd aboute, & fe pei (þat hatin hym fro his visage, faile þei] as be smoke fayleth, as
þe were meltibe at the fyre so perissh synners fro the visage of god; & lett ryztfull
men entre & reioyce in pe syght of god. All pe contrarie [legions] and mynystres
of sathanas be not so 10 hardy to lett þi iornaye. Crist delyuer pe from turment,
þat vouched-safe to deye for the; Crist goddis sonn brynge pe to Ioyes of meryl
paradyse, & þe verry shipperd know be amonge his shepe; he assoyle pe from
all synnes & put þe in his ryzt syd in þe [sorte] 12 of his chosen children, þat þou
may see thi redemptour visage to visage & presenciall(i) assistynge to him (se
wiþe] 13 pine Ie I-blessid everlastynge trupe openly; & amonge pe blissed companye
of the children of god haue pou & reioice be ioye of pe 3 contemplacion of god
withoute ende, amen,
Oracio: GO, Cristen soule, out of þis world, in þe name of þe almyzty fader
þat made þe of nouzt, in be name of Ihesu Criste his sone pat suffred his passion
for þe, [& in þe name of þe] holy gost þat was infounded into be; holy angels
[&] archangels, trones & dominaciones, princehodes, potestates & vertuis, cherubyn
& seraphin met with þe; patriarches & prophetis, apostiles & euangelistis, mar-
tires & confessoures, monkis & heremytis, maydyns & wedowes, childrene &
Innocentis helpe þe; [be] prayer of all prestis & dekens & all he degrees of
holy chirch helpe pe; þat in pes be pi place, & þi dwellynge in heuenly Ierusalem
euerlastingly 14, by the mediacion 15 of oure lord Ihesu criste þat is most hyzest
mediatoure be-twixt god and man. Amen.
i Ms. &; H of thy. 2 Ms. Reñ, H Renewe. 3 om in H. 4 H waylyngis; Lat. gemituum.
5 Ms. &. &-fel. om in H. 7 H in flammyng. 8 Ms. a-yence hym to agast hym of.
9 r. ete; Lat. epulatur. 10 Ms. &. 11 H to the mercy & ioyes of. 12 Ms. store, H sorte.
13 Ms. schewipe. 14 H euerlastyng. 15 Ms. meditacion.
Moy a vence hym sto sagast hy more de
8. A tretyse of gostly batayle.
Ms. Harl. 1706, fol. 366.
(Cf. Pits and Tanner. Other Mss. : Douce 322, Rawl. C 894, Reg. 17 C XVIII,
C.C.C. Oxf. 220. The treatise is made up from a chapter ('Hors eper armur of
heuene) of the Pore Caitif, the tract Of pre arowes on domesday (Ms. Univ.
Coll. 97, ed. p. 444), and other ill-connected ingredients, and is a poor com-
position, which it is surprising. to find attributed to R. Rolle. Another treatise
GRAD uz
1
421
-a-1500 in itfks. r. I
a 1500 Treat. Batete Charles =
A treatise of ghostly battle.
Ms. Harl. 1706]
on the same subject, Milicia Christi', with genuine passages from R. Rolle, is
extant in Ms. Arund. 286.
Here . . begynneth a tretyse of gostly batayle.
Brother or sustere that desyrest to come to the endeles blysse that mankynde
was ordeyned to in hys fyrst creacion, whyche 'oure fadere Adame lostthorow
brekyng off [the] : conimaundement off oure lorde gode, and commyttede* to ende-
les trauayle, woo and payne, and alle mankynde in hym, that neuer shulde haue
hade ende, ne hade oure lorde off hys endeles mercy becomyne mane; in the
whyche manhode he suffrede grete peynes, trybulacions and sclaunders, reproues
and shamefulle dethe vpone the rode-tree, the whyche was for pure lofe and con-
passyone that he hade in a mannes soule, and made aseeth to the fader in heuyne
for the gylt off mankynde. Also oure gracyous [lord] Cryste Ihesu, that ys bothe
gode and mane, hath grauntede to alle tho that kepe hys commaundementis, 'louene
vertews.and hatyne syne', the pardone off hys mercyfulle redempcion, and there-ayens
[to] alle tho that brekyne hys commaundementis and wolle nat restreyne hem fro
synne and wyckydnes but enforse hem to lyfe in lustis and lykyngis and to ful-
fylle the apetytis off her 10 fleysshly desyres, endeles peyne: and therfore, yeff thow
· wolt come to endeles blesse and avoyde frome endeles peyne, the be-houeth to
haue in mynde that* oure lorde seyth by holy Iob: Milicia est vita hominis super
terran, Iob 8°, that ys: Alle mannes lyfe vpone erthe ys but fygthynge and
knygthode ayenst gostly enemyes. These enemyes bene the fende, the worlde,
and the flessh. And therfore the holy gost techeth vs in [the] booke of Wys-
dome, seying to eche mane thus: 'Son, when thow be-gynnest to serue gode, loke
thow stande styfly in rygthwysnes and drede, and make redy thy soule to with-stonde
the dysceytis off the fende”. Also seyrt Powle byddeth you to clothe yow in trewe
armoures of gode, that ye mowe myghtyly with-stande the temptacions of oure
enemyes. For mannes body ys (as) a clothe in the whyche the soule ys clothede 12.
Horse**. Also hit ys lykenede to an horse ; for lyke as ane horse welle-taughte 13
beryth hys mastere ouer many peryllys and saueth hym fro perysslyng, so the
body welle-rewled berethi the soule ouer many peryllys off thys wrecched worlde.
And lyke as ther longeth 14 many thyngis to the 15 horse thorow the whych hys
mastere may sytte sadly and nat falle, and as there may noo mane fyzte" ayenst
hys enemy but yef hys horse be meke and mylde, ryght so the sowle may nat
fyghte ayenst the deceytis 17 off the fende but yef the body by meke and mylde;
ffor yeff the body lyfe in lustis and lykyngis at hys oune wylle, hit ys lykes to
peryssħ the soule in the fyre off helle, for holy wrytte seyth: he that noryssheth
hys body delycatly and lustyly, shalle fynde hym rebelle whene he leste weneth'.
For assone as a mane wolle lyfe wysely 19 after the lawes 20 of gode and to fle the
false lustes off thys 21 worlde and to withstonde fflesshely desyres and to bowe 22
hym vnder the yooke off goddys lawe, than begynneth hys enemyes to com-
passe bym with wyles and wrenches, 23 to make hyme ouerthrowe frome the
blysse that he ys ordeynede to, in to the horryble pytte off helle; wherffore
hit ys behouefulle that the body be buxome and mylde to the soule in thys gostly
batayle, yeff he shalle haue victory off hys enemyes. For yeff the body and the
sowle be welle accordede to-gydere and eche helpe othere in thys gostly batayle,
thane shalle the enemyes soone fflee, ffor holy wryte seyeth: ‘Withstande the
ffende and he sballe flee fro the’. But hit were grete ffoly for any mane to fyghte
apone ane horse vnbrydelyde: ffor yeff he be wylde and off euylle condycions24, he
ys lyke 25 to be hys masters confusyone and to cast hym in to the handes off hys
enemyes, and therfore hit ys nedeffulle that he be brydelyde. And yeff he be
* The following is taken from the chapter of the Pore Cartif.
** These titles have been added in H.
i Ms. of oure. 2 Ms. bost. 3 Ms. hys. 4 R commyt. 5 om in R. 6 R to.
7 R & l. 8 R vertus. 9 R vyce. 10 Ms. hey. 11 R armoure. 12 R closid. 13 R
techid. 14 R longyn. 15 Rane. 16 Ms. sytte. 17 R fendes disc. 18 R likly.
19 Ms. wylfully and w. 20 R lawe. 21 R the. 22 R lowe. 23 Ms. and to. 24 R &
eville disposid or eville condecionyd. 25 R likly.
o 1500 in this web
a1500 Treat
422
. Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706]
wylde and off euylle condycions, than nedeth the brydelle to be beuy and sum-
dele sharpe, to restrayne hyme from hys wyckyde lustys; and yef he be buxome
and mylde, thane nedyth the brydelle to be softe and smothe.
Brydylle. Thys brydylle ys clepede Abstinence, with the whyche the ffiessh shalle
be refraynede? from flesshly desires and worldely affecciouns to the loue off gode
and heuyuly desyres: for he ys wylde and wyllfulle, and lothe to bowe to good-
nes, and therfore with thys brydelle thou must refreyne? hyme tylle he be meke and
mylde to the sowle. And yeff3 [he] be wylde in flesshly lustis land in 3 worldely
worschyppys, thane brydelle hym with sharpe abstynence, bothe with fastyng and 3
wakyng and with honest occupacion doyng; for yeff thow on hym wolle fyghte
and late hym lyfe after. hys desyre, truste sekyrly that thow shalt be ouercome.
And ther[to]* refreyne hyme discretely with abstynence, so that the kynde be
kepte in strengthe; for ellys he xalle fayle: the att nede and (make þe] lese the
victory off thys gloryous batayle.
Reynes. The two reynes off thys brydelle shullenes be two partyes off tem-
peraunce: that ys to say, neythere to moche nere to lytelle, 6knytte to-gedyr by
the knot off discrecione. And holde the reynes euene to-gedyre by the knotte
that none passe othere; ffor yeff any of hem be owte off mesure, hit wylle make
thy horse to glyde a-syde, and so to lese the rygth waye of that gloryous blysse
whyche mankynde was ordeyned to in hys furst creacion.
That oone Reyene. That one reyne ys to large whane thow suffrest thy flessh
to haue to moche hys wylle in etyng and drynkyng, in slepyng, in spekyng, in
veyne talys tellyng other" in rebaudy, in lesyngis, in sweryug or any other vn-
profytable talkyng. Also hit ys to large yeff thow noryssh hit delycately in ouer-
moche ease off softe lying, goyng, others syttyng, or in any othere thyng doyng
that thow dost to fulfylle the (vnleful] desyres off thy flessh, and nat rewlede in
mesure as reasone asketh. For euery thoughte and 3 euery worde and eucry dede
that a ' mane doth whyche ys nat pryncypally done in the worschyp off gode and to
helpe and furtheryng off hys euy[n]crystene dewly and rygthfully as charyte asketh,
hyt ys veyne, and synne, other venyalle or dedely synnel', off whyche 'thow shalt yeue
a ffulle streyte rekenyng at the dredeffulle day off dome, but yeff hit be amendyde in
thys lyff here with sorow off herte and with confessyone and satisfaction makyng.
That other Reyne. That other ys to streyte whene thow art to sterne ayenst
thyne oune fleyssh, in with-drawyng that reasone wolde that he hadde bothe in
mete and drynke &#1 slepe, or [by) any other vnresonable abstynence, where-thorow
hit ys so ffebylle that hit may nat serue gode durably with feruent herte, with
myghty desyre and with parfyte loue, but hit ys so ffebylle that hit may neythere
pray ne werke ner 12 speke 13 as hit oughte, but lyeth stylle as a vnresonable beste
with grete fantasyes and vnclene thoughtis be cause off ydelnes off the bede or
for febylnes off the body; and so yeff thow be ouersterne agayne thy fflessh,
hit may lette the in [this] gostly batayle. And therfore susteyne thy body dys-
cretely, so that he be neyther to wylde nel4 to febylle, but of euene strengthe.
For yeff thow suffre hyme to haue alle hys fulle lykyngis and desyres 15, thane he
that shulde be thy beste ffrende wolle be thy fulle enemy; and yeff thow with-drawe
from hyme that he ougth for to baue in susteynyng hys kynde by reasone, than
thow dystroyest bys mygth, where-throwe he may nat helpe the to haue the vic-
torye off thyne enenyes, but [is] rather lykely to be thy confusyone.
A Sadylle. Also thy horse be-houeth to haue a sadylle, that thow may 16 sytte
the more sadly and semely to othere mennes sygth. Thys sadylle ys Pacience
and Mekenesse; that ys to say, thow muste be pacient in aduersyte, both in
sclaunders and reproues, in sekenes, in temptácion?, in tribulacions, and inº alle
aduersytees, and so mekely resceue heme with dewe 18 thankyngis to gode off hys
gracyous vysytacions'', thynkyng that thow were moche more worthy for thy grete
offensys ande trespases 20 that thow hast doone ayenst hyme. Also what-so-euer
IR thorow. 2 R restreyned. 3 om in R. Ms. therfore. S R shulde. 0-6 R
neythir to mych knytt togethir by the knot, that non pas othir.
R outhir. 8R or.
9 R thynges. 10 Ms. synnes; Rothir venially or dethly. 11 Ms. in. 12 R nie. 13 R sp.
duely. 14 R nethir. 15 E likynge & desyre. - 16 R maist. 17 R and temptacions.
18 R ofte. 19 R visitacion. 20 R offence & trespas.
GBattle
500 tbfhes.top
A treatise of ghostly battle.
423
Ms. Harl. 1706]
thow doo, thynke or speke, that hit be do with goode avysement, [&] wysely to
thynke. on the begynnyng and on the endyng; and that hit be doo swetely,
benygnely and with mylde chere, and greue the nat in no wyse. And [boff]' thy
flessh be grogyng? thorow freelte off hys oune corrupcion that he hath in hys
oune kynde, yet kepe mekenes in herte, and late hit nat owte with wykkede wor-
des, but mekely resceue heme, and thynke that they bene grete matyers off mede
in the blysse off heuene, and grete peyne to heme that doone so to the, wherfore
thou owest to pray for heme with pure herte to almygthy gode, that they may
haue grace off foryeuenes. And yeff thow do thus, thow shalt be gladde, for
the prophete seyth that the meke and the mylde suffryng trybulacions in rygth-
wysnes for goddys loue, shullene ioye'. Therfore meke 4 the with ale thy mygth,
bothe inwarde with herte thynkyng, and owtewarde with goode dedis werkyngs,
so that other mowe be conuertede by thy goode example yeuyng, and thane shalt
thow haue grace, off synnes forgyfnes and to encrese in vertew, and so to come
to endeles blysse that mane was ordeynede to in hys furst creacion.
Stirop. The styropes of hys sadylle shalle' be lownes and sadnes; lownes ayenst
pryde, and sadnes ayenst worldly couetyse and flesshly lustis; so that thow be nat (to]
sory for no wo, ne to glad for no wele ne welfare. Now syt sadly in thys sadylle
and kepe welle thy styroppys, that for 'no pryde off strengthe, off byrthe, off
fayrnes, off kunnyng, or 8 ryches, or any vertew that gode hath sent the other
bodyly or gostly, thow be not cast owte off thy styroppes off lownes and
sadnes. Also (for] 10 noo wrathe nere vnpacience for sekenes, or for losse off gode,
ne losse of name, ne for no vysytacion that gode sendeth the, other sufferyng 12
the fende to vexe the by 13 temptacions, or by vexacion 4 off thy euene-crystene, late
nat thy horse caste the owte of thy 15 sadylle off pacience; but sytte sadly and streyne
thy ffeete in thy styroppys by the vertew [of]" gostely strengthe, and doo as Cryste
byddeth in the gospelle where he seyeth thus: In paciencia uestra possidebitis
animas uestras, that ys: Ye shullene kepe your soulys in youre pacience. And
thane lyke as the sadylle maketh the horse semely and lusty to the eye off mane,
so pacience and mekenesse makis the soule louely and amyable in goddys sygth,
semely and gracyous in mannys sygth, euylle and confusyously in the fendys sygth.
And there-ayenst wratthe and 17 impacience, hastynesse and hyghfulnes in herte
makyne a mane yngracyous ande hatefulle in goddys sygth, sporte and gladnes to
alle the deuylles in hellē, and increasyn 18 the peynes that never shalle haue ende.
Off thys sadylle oure lorde spake to Cayne whane he was wroth with hys brothere
Abelle: Why, seyde oure lorde, art thow wroth, and why ys thy face and thy
chere so fallene ? -- for he was fallene owte of the sadylle of pacience in to
-the foule pytt of wretthe; for yeff thow doo welle, thow shalt resceue off me
goode mede, and yeff thou do euylle, anone thy synne cometh to the "7 yate, to be
punysshede; but the desyre off synne shalle be vnder the and thy powere, [as] 19 the
horse vnder hys master, ande thow shalt be lorde theroff yff thou wylle, Geries. 4º,
And so Cayn be mysgouernaunce off hys horse felle owte off the sadylle off pa-
cience in to manslawghtere off hys brothere, be-cause he consentede to the
wyckede desyres off hys flessh and wolde nat restreyne hym by the knotte off
dyscrecion. But sytte sadly as Iob dyde, and sey as he seyde whane he had
lost alle lys goode?o, and alle hys chyldrene were slayne and hym-self smytene
with grete sekenes ful horryble; than he seyd: 'Yeff we hanel? take goode
thyngis off goddis sonde, why shulle nat we suffre paynffulle thyngis off hys
vysytacion? Gode gaff and gode .bath takene awey; as gode volle so be itt
doone, blessyde by oure lordis name, Iob 1° & 2º capit.
* The master off kynde telleth libro 4º de qualitate clementorum, that there ys a
byrde callede a barnake. Thys byrde vexeth owte off a tree (ouer the watir, and
* The foll. fable has nothing to do with the theme. The whole passage to Sporys (p. 425)
has been inserted into the chapter of the Pore Caitif.
1 Ms. yeff. 2 PC greued 3 R gladid. - Ms. make. 5 R doynge. 6 R men.
7 R shuld. 8 R of. 9 R or of. 10 Ms. that. 11 R for no l. of no g. 12 R to suffire.
13 R in. 14 R vexacions, 15 R the 10 Ms. and. 17 om in R. i8 Ms. increasyug.
19 Ms. and. 20 R godes.
a 1500 in the war. I
a1500
Treat.
424
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706]
als longe as it hongith one the tre]' hit ys dede, but assone as hit loseth frome
the tree and falleth into the water, anone hit ys quycke and swymmeth forth. Thys
byrde hath lytylle fflessh and lasse blood. By thys tree I vnderstande. mankynde
that came off Adam ande Eue; by thys byrde I vnderstande euery crystene mane
and womane; the whyche whane they be furst borne off here modere, be dede by
orygynalle synne and nat able to the lyff off grace ne to blysse, for seynt Powle
se[i]th: we be alle borne chyldrene off wrathe’: but assone as we falle in to?
the fonte-stone and in watere off bapteme bene baptyzede, anone we resceyue
the lyff off grace and bene able to the blysse thate' mane was ordeynede to in
hys furst creacion, yeff we kepe vs fro the floode off syne. Seynt Petyr byddeth
vs in thyse wordes: Abstinete vos a carnalibus desideriis etc., 1° Petri 2° : Ab-
steyne yow frome flesshly desyres that fyghtene ayenst the soule'. Sythene thane
that alle mannys lyff ys but fyghtyng ayenst gostly enemyes: therfore hit [ys]
nedefulle to euery crystene mane nat only to gouerne welle hys horse, but also
to be suerly armede for to withstande the strokys of hys enemyes. Rygbte so hit
ys nat Inowh to rewle thy body, but also thow must arme the with gostly armure
(Ephes. to withstande the dyntis off the dartis off the deuyllis 6 foundyng?, for seynt Powle
6. 12).
• 12), seyth Ad Eph. 6: Alle oure fyghtynge ys ayenst wyckyde spyrytes off derkenes,
that ben prynces and gouernoures off synfulle mene. “And therfore, he byddetli,
arme yow in gostly armures off gode, sº that ye mowe withstande the busshemen-
tis and the sleyghtis off the fende, and to stande stedefastly and parfytely in alle
thyngis off ryghtwysnes. Stondeth, he seyth, in trowthe, and gyrde you with
the gyrdelle off chastyte, and doth one the habergeone off ryghtwysnes, and
keuer zoure feete in dyghtyng (or makyng redy) º of the gospelle off peese; and in
alle thyngis take to you the shelde of feyth, with the whyche ye may quenche
alle the dartis of youre enemyes. And taketh to you the basnet off belthe, and
the swerde off the holy gost, that ys goddes worde”; for, as he seyth in a nothere
place, bit ys sharpere thene any two-egede swerde, Ad Hebre. 4. Thus Seynt
Powle by lykenes off bodyly armoure techyth vs gostely armure. He byddyth yow
arme yowre body by the vertew off trouthe that ys callede the Habcrgeoun off
Ryghtwysnes; he byddetli you do ryghte to alle and yelde 10 to gode that longeth
to hyme, to youre euyncrystene that longeth to hem, bothe to youre sufferaynes
and to youre felawes and” to youre subgettis, and to bem that be passede owte
off thys worlde with almesdede doyng and yeldyng off dettis, and to hem that
bene to come in sauyng off her ryghte inherytaunce. Thus armeth you with the
habergeone of ryghtwyssnes, bothe be-fore and be-hynde and on eyther syde.
And as in the habergeone euery ryng accordeth with othere and ys knytte in othere,
so shulde alle trouthe accorde and be knytte to-gedere in ryghtwysnes; for yef ye
fauour othere lorde or lady spiritualle or temporalle, souereyne or subgette, kyne or
frende, or any la creature hygh or lowe, so moche that [it] ys hynderyng to a nothers
ryghte, than? youre 3 ryngis in youre 13 habergeone accordyne nat ne be nat welle
knytte to-gedere, but there ys ane hole where-thorow the fende may sle youre 13
sowle. And he byddeth that? ye shalle arme youre leggis with gostly pouertė,
so that youre hertis, and’ youre affeccions and” youre desyres bene drawene frome
erthely thyngis, and nat to sette youre loue to moche in worldely goodes 14 ne 15
flesshly lustis, neyther to stryue ne 15 to plete for no worldely goode, but the more
nede compelle, seeke to lyue in pease with alle mene yef ye mowene. And thus
arme yow with gostly pouerte bothe leggis and feete, that ys to sey youre loue
and youre affections'o, ayenst temptacions ?? off false couetyse. And therfore he
byddyth you shoo youre feet 'in makyng redy off the gospelle of peese'; for euery
crystene mane or womane oughte to baue gostly pouerte, whyche Cryste taughte
in the gospelle where he seyeth thus18: Beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorunn
est regnum celorum. Also thow owest 19 to forthere the gospelle and susteyne
bothe in worde, 20 wylle and deede vn-to 21 thy powere; yef thow be a preste,
than 18 preche hit and teche hit dewly and trewly, reuerentely and charytabely,
i om. ? om in R. 3 R the. 4 Ms. thade. 5 R forto. 6 Ms. deuylle. 7 R fondynges.
8 R adds that is the armour. 8 or—redy om in R. 10 Ms. yeldeth. lIR euery. 12 R eny
othir. 13 Roure. 14 R thyngis ne godis. 15 R nethir, 16 R affeccion. 17 R temptacion.
18 om in R. 19 R oughtiste. 20 Ř and w. 21 R vpon.
cept soonzalflow-bedroom liten
A treatise of ghostly battle.
425
Ms. Harl. 1706)
with meke herte and parfyte lyuyng, where-thorowgħ sympelle mene that be
nat letterede and! hane noo power of prechyng and techyng as thow hast, may
be stabelede in trewe feyth off goddis lawe to encrese in vertewe and to hate
synne?; and yef thow be a lay-mane, the behoueth to helpe ande susteyne heme
that hane powere ande trewly techyne hit. Also the be-houeth to here and to
be-leue trewly one hit and in alle the sacrementis of holy churche, and nat (to]
dyspute and ymagyne howe they: myghte be so, but fully be-leve in heme, and
so to conforme the in the lawes of gode and the ordynaunce off holy churche.
Shelde. And“ taketh to yow the shelde off feythe ; for as a shelde ys a tryangle
and hath thre. corners, in whyche tryangle yef frome the myddes be drawene thre
lynes in to (the) thre corners, ther shulle be thre tryangles, whyche thre be butó
oone tryangle and yet noone off heme ys othere; and therfore the feyth off the
holy trynyte ys lykenede to a shelde, for there be III persones ande oo gode, the
ffadere the sone the holy gost, and yche of heme ys gode ande none of heme
ys othere, ande yet they be alle thre but oo gode in mageste: Thys shelde of
feyth of the holy trynyte ye muste take to youe in gostly fyghte, and so to sett :
alle youre feyghter and alle youre truste in o gode in trynyte, and prayeth to the
fader almyghty that ye may haue myghte and powere, to the sone alle-wytty that
ye mowe haue wytte and wysdome, ande to the holy gost that ye mowe haue
gostly enemyes. Also ye muste take to yow the basnett of helthe, that ys hope
off foryeuenes off alle the trespas that ye hane done ayenst gode, and to come
to the endeles blysse off heuene thorow the endeles mercy that he schewyde in hys:
byttere passyone; and so to haue vyctory off® (your]° enemyes thorow hys gloryous
vysytacions. And lyke as hitt ys clene, brygth and smothe, that shote 10 ande strokes
mowe sone glyde off: so muste youre herte !! be clene, brygth ande smothe ffrom
wyckede thowgthys, wyckede desyres and wyckede wylles. Ande lyke as a basnet
ys hyghest off alle armoure, goyng and gaderyng vpwarde in to a lytylle coppe:
so muste youre hope ande youre truste pryncypally go vp to gode, and not to
sette hitt 12 to moche in mannys mygth ne in erthely goodys that ys but rust wast-
yng the basnett off helthe. And therfore the prophete seyeth: Acursyde be he
that setteth hys truste in mane ande in fflesshly mygth, and letyth hys herte goo
away fro gode; and blessyde be he that settyth hys hope ande (truste] in oure lorde
gode, Teremi. 17. Also seynt Powle byddeth you take vambrace and rerebrace
and gloves of plate, that ys goode occupacions and besynes in gostly werkes eyther 13
bodyly whyche be in helpyng and sauyng thy soule frome synne and wyckednes.
And therfore he byddeth you laboure ande wake in honest werkes ande in kepyng
goddis commaund[m]ente. For the wysemane seyth Ecclesiast. 33°: 'Idylnes ande
slouthe ys cause off mochylle wyckydnes'. For an Idyl mane ande lustles ys lykenede
to a mane lustles ande 13 handeles and wepynles amonge hys enemyes, or lyke a
mane naked in bateylle, that for defaute off armure leseth bothe arme ande
handelt. So mane beyng Idylle in sufferyng hys tyttis to wandyr aboute in
wordely desyres and 15 flesshly lustis and vnclene ymagynacions, ys lykely.'' to lese
the soule with-outene ende.
fast gyrte to a mane beryth vp the haberioune and saueth the body 18 from akyng
ande werynesse, so the gyrdelle off chastyte wele festenede in the loue off gode
with clene thowghtis ande heuynly desyres, bereth vp the soule from the foule
pytte off synne' and strengtheth hyme in vertew and goodenesse. Also ye muste
haue the lakke off fence that ys Charyte: ffor as the lakke thorough the nesshe-
nes and softenes that ys in hitt, feynteth ande wasteth alle the dyntes off thy
enemyes that cometh ayenst hit, so charyte feyntethi and wasteth alle the dyntes
off thy enemyes; ande therffore Seynte Powle seyth Ad Cor. 14: Caritas omnia
suffert, omnia sustinet, that ys: ‘charyte suffreth alle thynges paciently, and maketh
euery trauayle soft, and beryth alle thyng esyly. Also the glose seyth there that
I ne.
8 R ouer.
& arinys.
2 R vices & synnys. 3 R it. 4 R Also. 5 om in R. 6 R & the.
9 Ms. hys. 10 R shottis. 11 R hertis. 12 R hom. 13 R or.
15 R in. 16 R like. 17 R the. 18 R adds and the shuldris..
i al, feith.
11 R handis
lestr
rseTreat
426
:
Rastisol
a
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706]
charyte, pacience and benignite, with compassyone-hauyng off othere mennys
myscheff, bene the pryncypalle armoure that longeth to Crystis peple. Thys
Iacke off charyte ys betokenede? by the clothe off Cryste withoutenē seme alle
wouene aboue in to oone, (which) in ’ tyme off hys passyone the knyghtys wolde not
kytte hit but kepte hit hole and castyde lott therfore", in tokyne that euery goode
knyght off gode besyly shulde arme hyme with the cloth off charyte 5 to saue
pease ande vnyte among alle mankynde to hys power. For the ende off euery
batayle shulde be peese, and to that ende ant to no other shulde euery mane
fygth, as seyth seynt Powle thus: leue ffrendes, I pray yow to arme yow in
gostly armoure as goddys knyghtis; for thougħ ye be natt able to bodyly fygth,
yet be ye able to gostly fygth, and in that ye be crystenede ye Crystis knyghtis
beene to fygth in gostly batayle, yeff we wylle come to the blysse off heuene.
Swerd. Also taketh with yow the swerde off goddis worde with the whych ye
shulle defende yow from youre enemyes. For as the swerde peryssheth“, kutteth
and maketh separacion, so goddys worde be prechyng, redyng or heryng cutteth
and maketh separacion be-twene the soule and synne, frome flesshly desyres
and from wordly couetyse. And therfor Cryst seyde he came nat to make syn-
fulle peese, but to sende the swerde off separacion in erthe to dystroye wyckede
peese that mene hane in theyr hertis with synne. Therfore, goode frendys, as
goode knyghtis haueth with youe the swerde of goddis worde bothe be heryng,
redyng, and by dede werkyng.
Spere. And thane taketh with youe the speare of Crystis passyone. Furst ta-
keth hede how hys hedes was crownede with a croune off thorne lo that went in
to hys brayne, & the bloode brestyng oute one every syde, to dystroye. the hygħ
synne off pryde. For" lyke as the hede ys hyghest 12 and most worthy of the ytter
partes 13 off mane, so pryde ys worst off alle synnes and most vnworthy in the sygth
off gode. Take hede how hys armes were spredde abrode and drawene ffulle
strayte in the tre tylle alle the synewes and veynes brestyne a-sondre, and hys
hondys smytene thorowe with raggede nayles to the tre, and bow grete stremes
off bloode ranne owte, to dystroye the synne of wyckede werkes that mane doth
with hys wykede 3 bandes. Take hede how hys syde was openede ande hys herte
clovyne a-two with a sharpe spere, and how he shadde owte both bloode and water,
the whyche (shewed] that yef he had hade more bloode, more he wolde haue yeuene
for mannys soule to the fader of heuene; and water, to wasshe vs frome oure
synne. Also he suffrede thys to dystroye pryde, couetyse, enuye, hate, wratthe
and malyce, that renneth 15 most in mannes herte and womans. Take hede how
hys feete were naylede to the tree streynyng oute bloode, to dystroye the synne
of slouthe in goddys seruyce and in the VII dedys of mercy doyng. Take hede
how hys body was alle for-rente and alle to-tore with scharpe scourgis that frome
the sole off the fote to the top off the hede there was noone hoolle place, and
that was to dystroy the synnels of lust and lechery that reygneth in mannes body
& womans. Take hede how nakedi and pore he hynge vpone the tree, to
dystroye the synne of couetyse and 19 wordely worschyppe. Take heede how he
dranke eyselle and galle, to dystroyes the synne of glotonye. And so he suffrede
payne in alle partyes of hys gloryous body, to dystroye alle synne[s] in mannys [body]
and womans. Thys spere of Crystis passyone ys the best and sykerest wepyne ayenst
oure enemyes. [More]ouere20 ye schallc vnderstande that a wyse mane off armes
wolle chese hym a goode grounde and a playne to fygth in, for itt ys perlyous to
fygth in mory grounde or in stobely grounde or in pytty grounde. And therfore
seynt Powle techethºl yow stonde (fast) in trowthe and equyte, that in alle youre
cloyng ye loke that youre grounde and youre cause be god and 22 trewe, rygthfulle,
clere and clene fro couetyse. And 23 a wyse knygth wylle haue with. hym the hylle
and the sonne and the wynde. One the same wyse must ye in thys gostly fygħt
take with you the hylle of good lyuyng, that ye may sey with the apostylle:
i Ms. to be tokenede. 2 Ms. With-in. 3 om in R. R & castyn itt in lote. 5 Ms. and to.
G = perceth. 7. R leve. 8 Rhe, IR garlonde. 10 R thornys. 11 Rand. 12 R moste
hieste, 13 R parte. 14 R vnto. 13.R regnith. 16 r. stremyng. 17 the s. of om in R.
is Ms. synnes. 19 R in. 20 Ms. axereouere. 21 R biddith. 22 R om god and. 23 R Also.
GR He te pa mtsoOndeletten
A treatise of ghostly battle.
427
Ms. Harl. 1706]
Nostra conuersacio in celis est, that ys: ‘oure conuersacione? ys in heuyns and in
heuynly thyngis', and therfor seynt Powle byddeth you stonde parfytely in these
thyngys. Also ye must haue the sonne and the lygth of goddis grace, and the
wynde off holy prayere, the whyche ys a specyalle remedy to gete grace to with-
stande temptacions of oure enemyes.
Sporys. Also ye muste haue a peyre of sporys, the whyche muste be sharpe
to pryke with youre horse yef nede be, that he stynte nat in hys weye, ffor many
horsys 2 be dulle and slowe in theyre iorney but they be pryked. These sporys
shalle be loue and drede of gode, whyche among al othere vertues displesyne
most the fende and sonnest bryngeth a' mane or woman to heuyne-blysse.
Rigthi spore. The rygth spore ys loue that mane oweth to god for the grete and
excellent goodnesse that he [hath] shewed and sheweth at alle tymes. Furst how
he made man off noughte to hys gloryous lykenes, and made hyme lorde of alle
erthely thyngys; and for that excellent loue þat he schewed to mankynde in hys
mercyffulle redempcion; and for the vysytacions that he sheweth to you coty-
dyally bothe in sparyng yow fro endeles peynes off helle, and yeveth' yow space
and grace and tyme to amende yeff ye wolle, for Cryst seyth; Nolo mortem pec-
catoris sed ut magis conuertatur et viuat, that ys: 'I wylle nat the dethe of a
synnere but rathere more that he turne therfro and lyue”. Also he yeueth goodys
plenteriosly that bene necessary and profytabely 8 to yow, yef they be gouernede
dyscretely; and so sheweth yow alle-wey grete tokenes off loue and mercy.
Lefte spore. The lefte spore ys dreede off paynes of helle and of purgatory
that be Innumerable eyther to be thougth or seyd or tolde. Now with thyse
II sporys pryke youre horse yeff he be dulle and euylle-wylde to goodnes-warde.
Furst with the ryghte spore that ys loue; and yeff he wolle nat haste hym in hys
iorney, than pryke hyme with the lefte spore, that wylle make bym to sprynge
yef he be in the wey off grace. In thys manere, lyfe frendis, arme yow in thys
gostly armure and myghteth yow in thys gostly batayle, and gouerne youre horse,
that ys youre body', dyscretly, so that hit be nat ouer10-feble by ouermeche
abstynence and trauayle, ne to wylde by oulermoche ease and fulfyllyng of hys
appetyte as in glotony or in lechery or in any other yngoodly desyres, for in
case wykede lustes and desyres mowene be dedely synne, as thus : yeff thow luste
to medle with womane or mane ayenst the lawe off gode and thow dost alle that
lyeth 12 in the to performe hitt in dede yeff thow myghtest, thane hit ys dedely
synne. Dauyd seyth that god knoweth and preueth mannes herte and hys leen-
dys', that ys to sey, god knoweth mannes wylle and hys lustys, for there ys no
thyng so pryuey neyther 13 in thoughte ne in dede but that ys opyn in goddys syghte.
Therfor suche as a mane ys in herte and in wylle, suche he ys by-fore gode.
Also a wysemane!", or be goo to batayle, wol knowe's for what cause he shalle
fyghte and whethere 10 that hit be trewe, ande what shalle be hys rewarde l' ; and
yef hit be sygnede in two thyngis hym to chese, thane he wolle sende hys most
belouede and trusty frende to see and enquere whyche ys best and most confor-
table. In the same wyse muste ye in thys gostely batayle. Ye muste fyghte to saue
the soule that gode bougthí so dere with hys precyous bloode vpone the rode-tree.
For Also hit ys rygthfulle, 18 sythene god made the of noughte va-to hys gloryous
what
se lykenesse and therto made the ffelaw with aungelys in blys that neuer shalle haue
mnene ende, that thow be fyghtyng ayenst thy gostely enemyes, and never to haue pease
fyghtenewith heme-for yeff thow doo, thou art traytoure to gode and lykely to lese thy
herytage the whyche thow mayst blue by grace. Also thy rewarde ys assyg-
nede's in two thyngis, to chese the best as longe as thou trauaylyng arte?° in thys
batayle, but be thow onys hynnes went, thow mayst?l not do soo, for [to] 2% whether
so thov furst comest, lyke hit the welle or euylle, there the be-houeth to dwelle for
euermore; shalt thow neuer after thys dwellyng chaunge, syt itt neuer so euylle
with the. Heucize and helle ben these two thyngis whyche thow mayst chese as
1 Ms, conuersacions. ? R hors. 3 om in R. 4 R Also. SR visitacion. OR co
tidianly. i r, yeuyng. 8 R profitable. I Ms, bodyly. 10 R to. 11 R and. 12 R in
theis. 13 R ne. 11 R adds of armys. 15 R wytte. 16 R where. 17 R & where he shall
haue h. r. 18 Ms. for sythene. 19 R signed. 20 R art tr. 21 R maiste bou. 22 R to wh.
12
na
R adds of armys. . 15 R wytte.
In
a-t500 in
flee
*
.
a 1500 Treat
428
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706]
long as thow arte? lyuyng, but [be]? the soule onys departyde fro the body, than,
whether thou lyke welle or euylle, nedys thou must kepe hit, and never after to be
chaungyde; for thane, lyke as thou hast trauayled in the kepyng off goddis com-
maundementis and in the fulfyllyng off he dedys of mercy, so shalle thow be
rewarded, that ys for to say: yeff thow hast kepte goddys commaundementis and
fulfyllyde the dedys off mercy and with-stande thy enemyes myghtfully, than shalt
thou haue the blysse of heuene and be ffelaw with aungellys euerlastyng; and
yeff thow breke goddys conmaundementis and wylle Dat withstande the tempta-
cions off thy enemyes but consentest to theme and performest in dede, ande wylle
natt amende the by sorow in herte, by confessyone of mouthe, and by satysfac-
cion in dede, than shalle thy rewarde be endeles payne in helle withowtene ende.
Wherfor my counselle ys that thow departe thy soule * frome thy body by inwarde
thoughte; and to sende thy herte, whyche ys (thy) most louyde and trusty frende,
before, to wete off that two thyngis whyche ys moste profytable to abyde in. Sende
[Helle] thyne herte in to helle and ther shalt thou fynde [all]* that that thou haſte]st?
here, that ys à 8 fawte off alle goodys, and plente off alle euylles: hote ffyre bryn-
nyng with-outyne lyghte, with brymstone moste stynkyng; foule stormes and tempestis ;
gredy deuylles as wode lyones wyde yellyngº; hunger ande thryst 10 that neuer
shalle be quenchede; adders, toodys ande alle venemos wormes" (pat] one the synfulle
shullene gnawe!?; wepyng, gronyng ande gryntyng 13 off tethe; fulle off!4 derkenes ;
smoke and smother, þat shalle make hem to wepe mo teerys glowyng 15 thane ys
water in the see; eueryche hatyng 16 other as the deuylle most horryble, and euer
cursyng the tyme that?' they were borne 18, and euer desyryng dethe. And so they
be euer dying but neuer ffulle dede, but shul lyue euer in payne, woo and tur-
ment. They hatedene dethe whane they lyuedene in lustis ande lykyngis of this
worlde and fulfyllede here flesshly appetytys and wolde not restreyne hym by the
brydylle off abstynence, in 19 holdyng the reynes of temperaunce by the knotte off
dyscrecion. Also the 20 soules that shalle be there must?l be dyrke ande dymme,
hydously stynkyng and lothsome to see; for the bodyes off heme shulle be so febylle
and so chargede with synne that they ne shalle (mow]aº remeve the lest worme frome
no party off theyre body, but23 must suffre alle here malyce, and yets nat only heme,
but alle the paynes, woo ande tormentis that herte may nat thynke ne tonge may
nat telle, for they shal haue noo mynde off no goode to theyre comforte, but eucrº
in 24 payne lyche newe. Ther ys ane olde prouerbe that, ne 25 hope were, herte
wolde 26 breste; andar ther shalle be neyther herte 28-breste ne hope off releuyng.
O thow delycate creature tha[t] lyuest in wordely worschyppes and flesshly lustis in s
consentyng to the wykede intysyngis of thy enemyes : haue mynde how they shulle
passe as the shadow, for thy body, be hit neuer so beauteuous and myghty,
ande though thou kept 29 hit neuer so welle with delycate metys and drynkes, with
ryche clothes or eny other maner restorytyfys, yet hit shalle dye and turne ayene
to erthe and wormes mete. Also haue mynde off thy[s] place that ys so horryble
and so paynffulle, and forsake syne whyles gode suffreth the to lyue ande hast
helthe ande thy wyttes at wylle; for Salomone seyth: 'In alle thy werkes thynke
one thy ende, ande thou shalt neuer doo syně. Thynke thats thou shalt dye
and thow wottest 30 neuer where ne whene ne what dethe, ne in what state ne in
what daye ne whats tyme; ande therfore seyth seynt Austyñ that euer shulde
oure last day be in oure mynde, for whene pou rysest thow arte nat sykere to
[liue to euen, ne when thou gost to thi bed thou art nat syker to] ryse with thy
lyfe. Also haue mynde howe the sowie shalle departe frome the body with grete
drede: for the fendys shulle be present and goode aungellis for to dyspute thy
lyff fro the begynnyng to the ende, ande the goode aungellis shalle sey to the
goode, ande the ffendys the wyckede, that noughte shalle be forgete to the leste
thought that euer thou thowghtest other consentest to, ande alle the wordys that
IR haste. 2 om; so R. 3 R myghtili. 1 thy s. om in R. 5 R the, 6 Ms. off.
? R hatiste, on eras. 8 om in R. 9 PC zanyng. 10 Ms. hungry and thrysty. 11 R bestis.
12 PC gnawyng. 13 R grunchyng; PC gryndyng. 14 PC & so bicke derknesse þat men may
it grope. 15 expunged in R. 16 PC haten. 17 R that evir. 18 R adds or cvir syune
wrought, & so. 19 R not. 20 R tho. 21 R shullen. 22 om; Rinowe to. 23 R &, 24 R hir.
25 R nere. 26 R shulde. 27 R alas. 28 R that nethir h. shall b. 29 R kepe. 30 R woste.
tsoorinflac Within the
A treatise of ghostly battle.
429
Ms. Harl. 1706]
euer thow speke shullene be examynede, and alle thy dedys shewede. And thane
many' synnes that thow may nat now? see nor thynke, shalle than come be-fore
the opynly ande perauenture more to drede ande more grysely thane thoo that
thow may now see, and many thyngis [that] thow wenyst be now welle done shalle
[Domes-schew than fowle synne. *Moreouer haue mynde off the dredefulle day off dome:
day] for than shalle oure lorde come and deme alle mankynde, as wytnesseth the pro-
phete sayyng thus: Egredietur dominus de loco sancto suo ut uisitet iniquitatem
habitatorum terre, Oure lorde shalle wende oute of hys place for to vysyte the
wykednes of hem that inhabytene the erthe'. Certes, thys dayoweth sore to be
dredde, for as moche mercy as oure* lorde sheweth nowe to mankynde, so moche
shalle thane be shewede streytevengeable ryghtwysnes; for oure lorde seyth by
hys prophete Moyes: Congregabo super eos mala et sagittas meas complebo in eis,
I shal hepe vpone hem theyre euylles, and I shalle spende alle my arowes vpone
heme. Thre sharpe arowes shalle be shotte off oure lorde in that day vpone
[The ist hem that shullen be dampnede. The furst arowe shalle be off clepyng to the
arowe] dome, wheroff Cryst seyths in the gospelle: Venit hora ut omnes qui in monu-
mentis sunt audient uocem filii dei, di procedent hii qui bona egerunt in resurrec-
cionem uite, qui uero mala egerunt in resurreccionem iudicii, that ys: 'the oure
cometh in the whyche alle mene that bene ded in beryelles shulle here [the] voyce
off goddys sone, and they that bane done goode thyngis shullene gone in to ayene-
rysyng off lyff, but they that hane doo euylle thyngis in to ayene-rysyng off dome',
that ys to say, to be demede. Than the dampnable soule shalle come to the body
and sey to hit: Aryse, thou cursyde caytyff (careyne]’, from thys tyme forwarde to
be felaw with the horryble fendis in belle and enemy to almyghty gode. Nowe thy
ioye shalle be turnede in to woo, thy delyte in to bytternesse, and thy laughyng in
to wepyng; now thy wrechyde lust shalle passe in to 8 euerlastyng sorowe and
peyne; nowe ys falle to the alle that thow hatedest, and nowe ys passyde fro the
alle that thow loue[de]st'. Cursyde be thow wrecchyde careyne, for in payne for thy
synnes and thy delytes and thy wykednes from the tyme that” I passyde from the
I haue brennede in helle; so cursyde be thow helle-bronde, ordeynede for thy
synnes to the fyre off helle that neuer shalle be quenchede. Cursede be the tyme
that I was coupelede to the, for now I may nat forsake the nor thy cursyde com-
pany I may nat eschewe, for wylle I nylle I I am constreynede to be knytte ayene
to the. Goo we therfor to-gyder before the dredefulle and rygthful iuge to here
the sentence of oure dampnacion. Thane shullene alle wykede mene se the iust
cause of theyre dampnacion wretyne with theyre owyne handes in the booke of
theyre conscyence, whyche booke both lernede and lewde shullene kunne rede.
Than they shalle see the domys-mane syttyng vpone the reyne-bowe with his] 10
voundys bledyng, and with sterne loke one hem lokyng as he were wode for
wretthe. Of thys wodnes [& wretthe) spekyth the profyte Dauyd where as? he
prayeth to be delyueryde of bothe, seying thus: Domine ne in furore tuo arguas
me, that ys: Lorde, in thy wodenesse 12 ouercome me nat with skyles, and chastyce
me nat in thy wrathe'. Nomane thynke that wodenes or wratthe or any suche
troblede passyons of mannys kynde be in gode; but they be sette in scrypture
for the werkes of gode in punysshyng and vengyug synne in hem that be worthy
to take suche passyons off punysshyng as beene wrothe and wodnes in alle syn-
ners, that ys eyther they muste be chastysede by paynes that shalle haue ane ende
as purgatory, that ys clepyde in scrypture is the wratthe of gode, or ellys they shalle
be punyssḥede in the payne off helle that neuer shalle haue ende, that ys callyde
the wodnes of gode. Alle thys the prophete Dauyd sawe in spyryte, and ther-
fore in pe persone off alle suche synners he, felyng hym-selfe vnmyghty to bere
euer eythere, furst asketñ to be delyueryd frome helle, and (sithen from] purgatorye,
seying thus: Miserere mei domine quoniam infirmus sum, "Lorde haue mercy one
me, for I ame ynmyghty to bere euereyther, that ys to sey, þin14 arguyng in thy
* The foll. is taken from the tract Of three arowes, ed. p. 444.
1 Ms. my. 2 om in R. 3 R one. 4 Ms. as oure as oure. 5 R spekith .. seyinge.
6 Ms. monumento. ? om; so R. 8 R shalbe turnyd into wo &. 9 R louediste. 10 Ms. the.
11 Ms. delyueueryde. 12 Ms. w. or wretthe. 13 in sc. om in R; U here.. 11 Ms. in.
(2500m the town
WE
a 500 Trsat.
430
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706]
dome, eyther thy chastyment in purgatory, but hit so be that I be vpborne or
supportede by thy mercy'. That dredeffulle day off oure lorde! thane shalle
wykede mene seene hem? sytte in dome with Cryste whome they haddene [here) in
despyte, and in thys syghte they shalle be troblede with ane horryble drede, saying
thus?: Hii sunt quos habuimus aliquando in derisum et similitudinem improperii;
nos insensati uitam eorum &c3, that ys to say: 'Thyse beene tho the whyche
[sumtyme] we haddyne in scorne and in to lykenesse [of]4 shenshypp. We vn-
wytty wrecches heldyne ther lyffe wodenes, ande here ende with-owtene honoure :
but loo now thyse beene amonge the sonnes off gode countede, and amonge
the seyntis of gode ys the lote off theme. Therfore we hane errede frome the
wey off trewthe, and the lyghte off ryghtewysnes hath not shynede to vs, (and
the son of ynderstondyng is not spronge to vs] *; we be made wery in the wey
off wykednes and of perdycion, and we hane goone harde weyes, for the wey
off gode we knewe nat. What hat[h] pryde profyte® vs ? or the boste off rychesse
what hath hitt brougth to vs? but (they] bene passyde as the shadowe. And
nowe we may shewe no tokyne off holynesse, for we bene wastyde in wyked-
nesse'. And' amonge alle the multydude off seyntis they shullene fynde nat oone
that shalle haue compassyone of hem, but [þei) shullene be gladde and consent with
gode in hys ryghte Iugements off here dampnacion. Thys" wytnesseth the pro-
fete Dauyd, seying thus: Letabitur iustus cum uiderit &c, that ys to sey: The
ryghtwyse mane shalle be glade when he shalle se vengeaunce. For the fadere
that shalle be sauyde shalle ioye the dampnacion off hys sonne, the modere off
the dowghter, the sone shalle ioye the dampnacion of hys modere, [the] dough-
ter of the fadere. For Cryst seyth they shulle seche for to entre in to creues of
stonys and in to swolowes of the see, for fere off the syghte of the dredefulle
face of Cryste; thane they (shul) prey 10 mounteyns to falle opone theme, and hylles
to hyde theyme. So woo they shulle be one euery syde, for nothyng shalle
res[ei]uell theyme but only helle. And thys ys the younde of the furst arowe.
The secunde arowe shal be sharpe reprovyng of alle false crystene mene and
womene, whene oure lorde shalle seye to hem thus: 'I was hungry ande ye gaff me
no mete, I was thrysty and ye gaue (me) noo drynke, I was nakede and ye gaue
me noo clothes, I was herborowles and ye herborowede me nat12, I was seke [&]
in presone ande ye vysyte me nat ne dyd me no comforte'. O what thys voyce
shalle be dredefulle, for as ofte as they dyden nat thyse dedis off mercy to the
leste off hys that had nede, so oftyne they dyde hit’ nat to hyme. And noo wonderc
[poff]13 thys voyce be dredefulle in the day off dome, sythene we redyne in the
The iide gospelle that whane Cryste came in the forme of a seruaunt to be demede of
arowe
false Iewes, he sayde to hem" that came to take hyme: 'I am he', [&] anone they
yedyne abak and fellene to the erthe. Thene, yeff he is whene he was deedly and
cam to be demyde had so ferefulle a voyce that att one worde dyde throwe 16 to
grounde so many mene of Iewes, how moche (more) ferefulle thane shalle be the
voyce of hyme whene [he] shalle come vndedely with hys oste off aungellys and off
seyntys to deme the qwykke ande the dede lyke as they hane deseruede. Wherfore
Iob seyth: Cum vix paruan sintillan 17 sermonum eius audire non possunt, toni-
truum magnitudinis eius quis poterit intueri, Sythe mane vnnethes may here a
lytýlle drope of hys wordes suffre eyther beholde(!), how 18 thane shulde 19 they
beholde the thundres 20 of hys domes whene he shalle sytte as a ryghtfulle 21 domes-
mane?' as who seyth, noone. And therfore seyth seynt Bernarde: “When the
synfulle wreche shal be accusede and hys owne conscyence shal bere wytresse
ayenst hym [& euery creature of god shal rise ayenst hym]22 in vengeaunce, thane
greuous as ane arowe shalle be þe voyce off gode to suffre'. And therfore the
profete Ieremye seyth: Sagitta vulnerans 23 lingua cius, that ys: the tunge of hym
shalle be as a arowe woundyng. And thys ys the wounde of the secunde arowe.
1 Ms, hym. 2 om in R. 3 Sap. 5, 4. 4 Ms. ande. 5 om; so R. OR profited to.
? And than. 8 R rightwysnes. 9 R thus. 10 Ms. preyene. 11 Ms. reserue. 12 R ye
yafe me no harborow. 13 Ms. yeff. 14 Ms. hym. 15 Ms. we. 16 R threwe. 17 r.
stillam. 18 U who; they om. 19 R shullen. 20 R thondre. 21 R rightwis. . 22 om in
Mss. 23 Ms. vulneratus,
stboomtffree: the
XX TENRY
ALA
*
A treatise of ghostly battle.
431
Ms. Harl. 1706)
The Ilide The thrydde arowe shalle be the sentence of endeles dampnacion of alle
arowe.] wykede mene, whene he shalle sey to heme thus: Discedite a me maledicti in
ignein eternum qui preparatus (est] diabolo et angelis eius, that ys to sey?: Departe
ye frome me, cursyde and wrecchede”, in to euerlastyng fyre, the whyche ys
made redy to the deuylle and hys: angelys'. Thys arowe shalle wounde heme so
grevously that alle the leches ne alle be creatures in erthe neyther in 'heuyne
shulle mowe hele the wounde of hit. Than shal the erthe opyne hys mowthe
and swaloweº hem doune in to helle, where they shalle be tormentyde with
ffeendes withoutyne ende. But allas, ther bes, I drede, fulle many that wolle natt
beleue thyse thyngis, tylle they felene heme; of whome seyth seynt Euseby: Ve
ue quibus datum erit prius sentire quam credere,. that is: 'Woo (woo] be to hem to
whom hit shalle be youy, rather to fele thyse thyngis than to beleue heme'.
Thys ys the wounde off the thrydde arowe.
[Purga- More-ouer sende thyne herte in to purgatory, that ys the free prysone off
tory.d oure lorde gode to punyssh heme that were clene-shryvene off alle here synnes
or they passyne owte off thys worlde, and bane nat perfourmede here penaunce
here in thys lyff ne were nat fully clensyd as hem behouyth® for to be. In the
· whyche purgatory they shalle be purede withº bytter peynes, and that payneslº ys
more harde to suffre eyther'l to fele than alle thel2 paynes that euere martyres suff-
redene, ande more payne thane tunge cane reherse or telles. Ther shalle thy"4 soule
be turment thorow ane hole 15 yere for the penaunce that myght haue be done here
in o 16 day-here-foreli oure lorde seyth: Dien pro anno dedi tibi, that ys: I haue
yeuene [the] a day for a yere'. And trustethi for certeyne that that is payne doth nat
ellys but clenseth the soule frome syne; for the more ioye in heuene shalle he
neuere purchase therby 19 for that peyne sufferyng, though he were there from the
begynnyng off thys worlde in to the day of dome. But the payne that thou
suffrest here with meke herte, thynkyng that thoue art worthy bit and moche
more for the grete trespaces and vnkyndenes that thou euery day dost ayenst
oure lorde gode, shalle bothe helpe to clense thy soule, and to encrese thy blysse
in heuenė.
Also haue mynde of20 .VII. paynes that thy 21 soule shalle haue.* The furst shalle
be whane thy body ande thy soule shalle parte 22; for thane shullene the fendys
appere in theyr lykenesse to rauyssh the soule in to helle with grysely chere,
with chalangis 23 ande thretenyngis 24 as hit were theyre ryghte to haue hit, and
so to brynge hit in to dyspeyre yeff they mowene.
The seconde peyne ys thys 12 : the grete drede that the soule shalle haue tylle
the Iugement be endyde be-twene the aungelles ande the ffendis; for lyke as a
mane beyng in grete tempestis on the see hath grete drede of drenchyng, so
the soule heryng the grete and borryble synnes that he hath done rchersyde be
the fende, stondetki 25 in grete fere for 12 to be dronchede 20 in the fyre of helle;
for though the soule haue ryghte be-leue ande ryghte trusty hope to be sauyde,
yet oure lorde suffreth hit to haue the drede, for to clense hit frome synne.
The Iiſde ys exylyng; for the soule ys exylyde oute off thys lyfe, from hys
frendis, and from hys herytage-whyche ys paradyse—thorowgħ syne; the whyche
they shullene neuer be restorede 27 to, vn-to the tyme that hit be purede and clary-
fyede as clene as hit was att the day off bapteme; for seynt Austyne seyth: 'lyke
as golde ys purede and claryfyede be fyre here, ryghte so shalle the soule be
purede ande claryfyede by the fyre 28 there'. And loke, howe moch bere the fyre 29
ys hotere thane the sone-beame, so moche ys the fyre off purgatory more hote
thane the fyre here; and loke, what peyne hit were to suffre any parte 30 off the
body to brynne in the fyre here, so moche peyne ande more hit ys to the soule
to be in [the] fyre there; for seynt Ancelme seyth that the fyre off purgatory ys
* Cf. Prick of Consc. v 2892.
1 Rom to sey. P R cursid wrechis. 3 R alle his. 4 E swolow. 5 Rom ther be.
O Ritt. 7 R bene. S R behoued. 9 R in. 10 R payne. 11 R and. 12 om in R.
13 R telle or reherce. 14 R the. 15 R hale. 16 R a. 17 R Therefore. 18 R thilke.
19 R hym. 20 R one. 21 R the. 22 R departe. 23 R chalengingis. • 24 R thretyngis.
25 R stont. 26 R drenchid. 27 R rekeuere tylle bey, o. m. (om in text). 28 R om by the
fyre. 29 R the f. here. 30 R party.
2-7500-
Aflesom blommor
521506 Treat.
432
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706)
off so moche? myghte and so kene, that as longe as hit ffyndeth aughte in the
soule that toucheth (to] synne, hit stynteth? neuer.
The fourthe payne ys that the soule ys boundyne with bondys off synne, that
hit may nat helpe hit-selfe but nedys muste suffre, to the bondys be wasted; for
lyke as a mane boundene muste suffre the malyce off hys enemyes, ryghte so the
soule muste suffre the peynes tylle hit be purede.
The fyfte payne ys the sekenesse that the soule shalle 3 be greuede with; for
[lyke] as the body ys. peynede ande greuede with dyuerse sekenes (here), so the
soule shalle be peynede ande greuede (in purgatori] with dyucrse peynes in dyuers
partyes or powers off the soule in whyche he synnede in thys lyfe. Som shalle
be as they were in a dropesye, for myscouetyse“ off erthely thyngis; som as
they were in a pallsey, for slougthe in goddis seruyce; som as they were in the
feuers, for wrattħ; som as they were in the iaundys, for enuy; som as they were
in the menysone or in the flyse, for lecherye; som as they were in the 3
meselry, for pryde; off the whyche synnes they were shryvene, but they hade
nat doone theyre penaunce parfytely or they passyde hennes.
[The sixt payne is that the soulis bene there as in dissert, where defaute is of
alle gode, and plenty of alle eville.1?
The seuenth payne ys the grete colde that they shullene be caste in after the
feruent hete, for sodaynly oute off the brynnyng fyrre they shalle be caste in a
lycoure that ys caldere thane any Ise or snowe; and oute of that colde sodaynly
they (shal) be caste ayen in to feruent hete; ande so to be paynede with paynes
innumerable , tylle oure lorde off hys endeles mercy wylle graunte heme grace off
delyueraunce, and so to come to the endeles blysse that mane was ordeynede to in
hys furst creacion. Now whane thou hast welle examynede what peyne ys
in purgatory for penaunce that ys nat done in thys lyfe, and for venyalle synnes
that he was natt shryvene off neyther made [a]sythe for heme in noone other
waye : be ware thane that thou delay nat from day to day to do penaunce, ney- ·
ther be recheles in doyng,' ne sory to do hit, but do hit with grete mekenesse
and gladnesse off herte, hauyng mynde what peyne thow were worthy. to suffre
for thy trespasse that thou dost custumablye ayenst thy makere, thyne ayenebeyere,
and thy mercyffulle sparere, and [þat] therto foryeueth the thy lo peynes of purga-
tory for so lytelle penaunce doyng with meke herte. More-ouer be ware off
venyalle synnes: for hit ffareth therby as hit doth" by a shyppe that hath a lytelle
hole in the botome, in the whyche hole yeff the water entere, though hit be but
lytelle and lytelle1%, yet by processe off tyme 13 hit may drenche the shyppe, but hit.
be caste owte. So, venyalle synnes so many there' mowene be that yeff they be
nat caste (oute] by sorowe of herte, by prayere ande by allemos-dede doyng, (they]
may drenche the soule in to endeles paynes of helle as a 14 dedely synne may doo.
Sythyne than that alnyghty gode ys dyspleasede and dyshonowrede by venyalle
synnes, that be callede smale synnes, how moche more thane ys he dyshonourede
and dysplesyde with dedely synnes ? and sythyne euery15 venyalle syne ys so grete in
goddys syghte, how meche more than ys dedely synne? Therfore haue mynde on
thyl6 trespas that thou hast done ayenst gode bothe in worde ande3 in thougth, in dely-
tyng ande 17 consentyng, in desyryng ande in dede-doyng, and euer with meke herte
ande with conpunccion of teeres aske foryeuenes; and therto make satysfaccion
to thyne euynecrystene off alle the trespasses that thou hast done ayenst hyme 18 as fer
forth as thy goodys wolle strecche; ande yeff thy goode wolle nat suffyse, thane be-
houeth the to aske foryeuenesse; and yeff thow may not come to the partyes19 eyther20
for febylnes or ellys that they be dede, thane be in wylle to aske foryeuenes, and
pray for hem; so that?) thou maystạº escape thyse23 peynes off helle, and the sonnere
be delyueryd owte off the peynes off purgatory thorowe the endeles mercy off
oure lurde gode. For alle tho that bene quykenyde with the gracyous illumina-
cion of the holy gost, dredyne thyse two placys, that ys, helle ande purgatory,
WA
IR such a. 2 Ms. styndeth. 3 om in R. 4 R the. 5 R mys-couatynge. OR meni-
sons. 7 om. 8 R ynresonable and vnn. 9 R nethir. 10 R the. 11 R farith. 12 R om
and l. 13 R adds be litill and litill.
UR
5 Rech. 16 R of the. 17 R in.
18 R ham. 19 R partyse. 20 aither, expunged. 21 R that so. 22 R mow. 23 R the.
1500 in tffoca: tert
.
SPY
SY
A treatise of ghostly battle.
433
Ms. Harl. r706]
and so kepe[n]? hem with alle theyre mygth from alle maner off synnes. But for
the kynde off mannys flessh ys so freelle ande so inclynyng to synne that no day
passyth withowtene synne eyther more or lesse: therfor oure forme'-ffaders that
werene in grace and knewene the[r]$ freelnes, lyuedene in mornyng, and ofte for-
thynkyng in herte with ffastyng and almes-dedys, with prayere ande grete wep-
yngys“, sorowdene' for her synnes, thorow the whych they were clensyde and caste
oute off the soule. Also som mene that hane bene before, sore s defoulede with
dedely synnes and withë venyalle Innumerable, oftyne-tymes for drede to offende god
more, and also to haue (grace &]' foryeuenesse of the 10 [synnes] before-doone, and to
fle frome thyse two places that bene so paynefulle, hane!! forsake alle the worlde,
bothe the[r] goodis 12 and also the presence off people for the ey!4 off mane ys a
grete occasyone to 15 syne and thane cometh speche off mowthe, and so ofte-sythes
fulfyllede in dede; wherfor they seing ther freelnes, Aleddene in to deserte places,
to lerne to loue oure lorde Ihesu Cryste, and there they wayledene 16 theyre synnes
before-done and therto continuelly lyfedene in prayere and in abstynence with
bodyly werkes, in chastysyng the body from wykydnes!?; and also hauyng com-
passyone off theyre euene-crystene, seyng the grete torment that they were yne
bothe in getyng off worldely goodes and is worldely worschyppys and flesshly lustys
and so lyuedene as vnresonable bestis hauyng noo mynde that they shulle dyene
neythere that they shalle come ande be demede in the dredefulle day off dome,
but contynuede in theyre malyce ande ins wykydnes as they shulde neuer dye, or
ellys wenyng that (god). ys so mercyfulle that he wylle natt punyssh synners.
Now sende thy herte in to heuyne, to wyte how it'ys there. And ther shalt thow
fynde plente off alle goodys'', for there ys no maner of peyne but euer-ich]20 in ioye
and ?? lykyng in helthe, and so euer fyllede with alle maner off ioye and swetnesse.
For there ys al maner off: melody with songe of angelles brygth, and therto
sekernesse of euerlastyng blysse that neuer shalle haue ende. Also mannys body
shalle be. brytere thene the sonne whene hit shyneth?? brygthest, and shalle haue
more sw[ift]nesse 23 then alle erthely creatures mow deuyse 24, and her thoughtis, her
wylles and her desyres shal be fulfyllyde in the twynkelyng of ane eye. No
thyng shal be there but alle goodnes and comforte; nouther no thyng shalle with,
stande heme, for they shalle be so myghty that they shalle mowe passe al 25 hylles
and valeys, and so to be frome the one ende off the worlde to the othere in as
breeff tyme as hit may be thoughte. For thowgh they were so26 febylle here, there they
shullene be so lyghte, so lusty, so beauteuouse, ande so fulfyllede with ioye, that
nothyng shalle withstande theymer that ys contrary to theyre wylle2s. For they shulle
haue ffulle knowyng of alle thyngis that euer were doone or shalle be doone, for they
shulle haue fulle knowyng of the trynyte, the myghte of the fadere, the wysedome
of the sone, the goodnes of the holy gost; for in the syght of the gloryous 8 face
of oure lorde gode they shullene (se] 29 alle that may be seene 30 off any creature; for
as seynt Austyñ seyth, they shulle see hyme both gode and mane, and they shalle
see hem-self in hym, and alles other thyngis more and lesse—for alle thyngis that
nowe be hidde, shulle thene be opyne both in syghte ande knowyng. Ande so they
shalle be fulfyllede in theyre .v. wyttes with alle maner of ioye; for lyke as a vesselle
that ysl dyppyde in the water ys wete bothe with-inne & with-oute, aboue ande
benethe ande on euery syde, and nomore lykore may resceyue for fulnesse, ryghte
so shulle they that shalle be sauyde be fulfyllede with ioye and blys with-outen
ende. Also they shullene haue endeles , lyffe in the syghte of the holy trinite,
and thys ioye shalle passe alle other ioyes, for they shalle be in ful sekyrnes
that they shullene neuer fayle off that excellent ioye. Also they shullene haue
parfyte loue to-geder, for eche off heme shalle accorde to odyr wylle ; that he
that ys in the leste ioye shalbe as ioyfulle of hyme that ys in the hyghest ioye,
Iso R; Ms. to kepe. 2 om; so R. 3. so f. ande om in R. 4 Ms. formere, R fore.
SR hir owyne. OR wepynge. 7 R in sorowynge, for om. S om in R. 9 Ms. grete.
10 R tho; s, om. 11 R han. 12 Ms. goode. 13 R poeples. 14 Rioy, on eras. 15 R to-
warde. 16 R be-waylidyn in. 17 R wildnes. 18 R of. 19 R godenes. 20 om. 21 R in.
22 R shewith.. 23 Ms. swetnesse. 24 R devyne. 25 Ms. as. 26 R nevir so. 27 Radds :
for thei shulle haue to grete fredom that nothynge shalle wíthstonde hem. 28 R likynge.
29 R know. 30 R done (corr.). 31 R om that ys.
II.
28
a 1500 in
those that
S5o. Treat.
434
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706]
as though he were there in the same ioye. And so the ioyes' of that gloryous
blysse may noo herte? thynke nor tonge reherse; ffor though alle the ioyes that
alle erthely creatures couthe deuyse myghte be comprehendyde in oo ioye, yet
were hit nat* in comparysone to the lest ioye that ys in that gloryous blysse. For
the ioyes that bene there be so delycate, so comfortable and so fulle off swet-
nesse that they myghte dey for ioye, but þat god prescruyth hem fro deth; as
thoo that be in (the) horryble pytte off helle & stynkynge paynes myghtene dyene
for payne and tormentis the whyche (they) musten suffre, but that gode preserueth
theym fro dethe. For oure lorde wolle that thoo þat hane kepte hys commaunde-
mentis and hane submyttyde? hem to hys lawes, to lyue in blysse with-outene ende;
and there-ayens tho that wylle nat obeye to hys lawes neyther kepe hys commaun-
dementis, that they shalle 8 lyue in payne with-outyne ende. – Thys ys the ryghte
spore that shalle haste hem to loue oure lorde in vertewe [of] º goodnes, ande to
hate synne for fere of peyne (!)20. For yeff a creature myghte fele the lest drope off
the leste ioye whyche" ys in that blysse, [he] shulde fele lytylle payne or ellys noone
thowgh alle the peynes that euer were in erthe or shullene be, myghte be putte to
hyme; for the grete loue (pat] suche a soule shulde haue to gode, and be grete desyre
that hit shulde haue to that endeles blysse, shulde so rauyssch the soule 12 that hit
[shuld] fele noo paynes 13 that myghte be putte therto; neyther hit shulde haue no
ioye of noone erthely goodys neyther off worldely worshyppys, but rather
noying thane plesyng therto. Thys loue steryth a mane more be a thowsandefolde
thane done the peynes of helle eyther\4 of purgatory, to lyue vertuosly; ffor loue
perysshyth 15 and putteth oute drede, and clenseth the soule fro synne, and maketh
hit to see gode thorough gostly thoughtis, thorow gostly 16 redyngis of holy wrytte,
and thorow gostly and holy? prayers, and to styls to heuynly desyres. But I drede
ther be many [þat] farene as 19 a chylde that ys borne in a depe prysone whyche ys
bothe stynkyng and horryble to see. The moder, knowyng the wellefare that
she hadde owte of prysone, ys in moche sorowe and care ande heuynesse, desy-
ryng with alle her myghte to be oute of prysone ayene in hyr welfare: but the
chylde borne in myscheff of the prysone, ande neuer hade better knowyng of wel-
fare 20, yeuetk lytelle tayle to that?! myscheff in the prysone, for as longe as he
hath bys moder with hyme and hys sustenaunce thowgħ hit be but ffebylle, he
maketh neyther sorowe 22 ne 23 care, for he longeth after no better fare, for he
knoweth no better; for though hys moder telle hyme off che ioye ande off the
welffare that ys oute off prisone, off the sone ande off the mone eyther 24 off the
sterres, or24 off the fayre floures spryngyng opone the erthe, ors of the byrdys
syngyng, off myrthe, of melody, or of ryche aray of lordys, of24 ladyes, and of
welthes owte of prisone the whyche she was wonte to haue, yet alle hyr tale ys
but a dreme to the chylde, for he leueth 25 hit nat and therfor he longeth nat
ther-after, and wylle nat for alle that blysse and welfare that she spekyth of
forsake. hys moder ne hys 26 febyllë fare that he hath with hyr; and that ys for
he leueth hit nat. Ande yet hit ys as pe modere seyth. But were the chylde
onys owte off prysone, and se the myrthe, welthe ande welfare that she spake 27
off, he wolde be fulle sory to go 28 ayene in to prysone there to lyfe 29 with hys
modere; ffor alle hys lyf in prisone, whyche was furst lykyng Inowgh to hym,
shalle 30 thane be to hyme fulle bytter and paynfulle, and therto he shulde neuer
haue ioye ne reste in herte tylle he were ageyn in that welffare whyche he sawe
oute of prisone. Ryghte so this 31 folk of thys worlde borne and browgth forthi
in sorowe and care and moche trauayle in thys wrecchede worlde 32 tbat ys foule
and stynkyng as a prisone; for they hane so moche loué and lykyng one theyre
erthely moder andes of theyre company, that ys to say one erthely thyngis, that
they hane no lykyng in heuynly thyngis ne longyn 33 nat ther-after; for though
IR ioy.
6 R han.
11 R that.
om in R.
it doth by.
24 R and.
30 R shuld.
? R man. 3 R noght. 4 R and. 5 R horribill & stynkkynge p. of helle.
7R & submitten. 8 om in R. 9 Ms. ande. 10 PC & haste in heuenli weie.
12 Ms. soules. 18 R peyne. 14 R or. 15 R partith. 16 thoughtis-gostly
17 and holy om in R. is Ms. sey; PC & ofte to fle to heuen by desire. 19°R as
20 R bettir faire. 21 R of the m. of. 22 R om neyther s. 23 R no.
25 R sawe, on eras. 26 R the. 27 R sho spekith. 28 R wend. 29 R lye.
31 R thus; so om. 32 R liffe, 33 Ms. longyng.
upstod
.
the tone
20
Seattle
A treatise of ghostly battle.
435
Ms. Harl. 1706]
her gostly moder, holy chyrche, ande her gostelyffader gode? hym-self, fader off
alle, telle hem the blysse ande the wellfare whyche ys in the blysse off heuyne,
hit ys to theyme but a dreme as the tale off the moder ys to the chylde in pry-
sone, 3 that they hane noo sade feyth theryne. And tryste itt fully, though" they
beleue nat that hit ys so 5 as oure moder holy chyrche tellyth, howe ther ys in
this worlde but stynke ande horrybylyte and a foule dongeone in comparysone of
that heuynly blysse, yet hit ys so as her gostly fader seyth, ande nat the lese for
her mysbeleue. Neuer-the-lese take bit for certeyne that they shalle neuer haue
parte neyther ffelyng of that blysse“, but they wol beleue ande trust fully that
hit ys so as theyre modere holy chyrche telleth. Wherfore withdrawe youre
hertis from erthely thyngis and sette (not) youre loue to moche one youre erthely
moder, ne 8 truste her nat, for though she speke neuer" so fayre and behote yow
neuer so welle, she ys false ande wolle dysceyue yow at the last. For she fareth
as the nykare" orlº meremaydene, that cast? opone the water syde dyuerse thyngis
whyche semene fayre 12 and gloryous to mane, but anone 13 as he takethi hit ande
weneth to be sure theroff, anone she taketh hyme ande deuoureth hym. · Ryghte
so thyne erthely moder casteth oute fayre ande gloryous thyngis to thy syghte,
she casteth oute grete rychesse and worldely goodys andeld worshyppes ande flesshly
lustis, whyche bene fastnede to 15 the rope off hope of longe lyff, and“ assone as
thow towchest heme, that ys to say as sone as thow desyrest heme and laborest
with alle thy myghte, with alle thyne herte and with alle thyne thoughtis ta to haue
heme, anone she drawetħ the rope off longe lyfe, that ys, she seyth thow 17 arte
yonge and may lyue longe, ande therfor laboure to haue goodys ande gete the
worschypp, that thow mayst lyue esyly in thyne age. And thow is lyue in lechery,
in glotony, in pryde, in extorsyone or in any wrongfulle takynge, whene thou
comest to age than shalt thow mowe doo grete almes, and so by prayers 19 off
pore men shalt thow haue foryeuenesse'; and so thorow hope off longe lyfe
ande of other mennes prayers 19 thowh20 thou lyue stylle in synne, (she] wylle take
ande deuoure the in the fyre off helle. And therfor trust her nat; but set thy
trust, thyne hope, thyne loue in thy gostly moder that ys to beauteuouse and
trust[i]21 to be-leue opone hyr, for she seyth nowthere behotytħ but that?” shalle be
performede, yeff thou wolt obey to 23 here byddyngis 24. For yeff thou haddest felt
ore seyne the lest blysse that ys in heuyne, thene alle the ioyes and lykyngis
that thow hast in thys worlde of erthely thyngis, shalle thane“ be to the grete
bytternes, sorowe ande care. Example haue we off seynt Petyr whom Cryst ladde
opone the hylle off Thabor with Iohne ande Iames, and ther he schewede but a lytylle
off [the]25 blysse of hys manhode, whyche was hys face shynyng as the sonne, hys
clothys were whyte as snowe, ande Moyses ande Helyas apperede with hyme in
grete blysse ande in grete 26 mageste. Than Petyr seyde ynto oure lorde Ihesu:
Lorde, hit ys good to vs to be here, and make we thre tabernacles, on to the,
another to Moyses, and another to Hely, and late us allewey dwelle here", and so
anone in the syghte of that lytelle blys in comparysone off the blys that ys in heuyne,
he forgatte alle the blysse off thys worlde, for he carede neythere for mete ne 27
drynke ne 28 for clothyng; 29 hym thoughte he myghte haue lyuede there withoutyne
ende by that blysfulle syghte, Luc. 90. Also seynt Powle was rauysshede in to
heuene ande hade seene the vysyons and the pryuytees off gode; afterwarde alle
hys lyfe in thys worlde was to hyme a peyne, so moche he longede agayne to
that blysse: wherfore he seyde: Infelix ego homo sum, quis me liberabit de corpore
[mortis] luuius, that ys: “[I] vnsely mane, who shalle delyuer me from the body (of
this deth? I covett to be departid the soule from the body] and to be with Cryste
withoutyne ende?' Moyes was with gode in the mount of Synay fourty dayes and
fourty nyghtes meteles ande drynkles, fedde 3o be the presence and the speche of
gode; and yet sawe he but lytelle off lys blysse. Sythene than Petyr, Powle,
i R holy g. 2 Ms. (and R) ande gode. 3 R for overl. dom in R. 5 R it is not so.
6 R gloriouse bl. R oucr. 8 Rand. 9 R nekir. 10 R or the. Il R will cast.
12 R golde feir. 13 R als sone. .14 R & worldely w. 15 R bi. 16 R thoght. 17 R bat
pou. 18 thogh thou. 19 R prayer. 20 R if. 21 R caste be. 22 R bat at. 23 R till,
24 R byddynge. 25 Ms. hys. 26 R om in grete. 27 R ne for. 28 R nethir. 29 R for
hym. 30 R full.
28*
a 1500
matsoo . Ifhen part
Treat. Battle (hrl)
FDMRackrarmann
a
436
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Harl. 1706]
and Moyses werene fulfyllede and myght haue lyfede withoutene ende in the syghte
off that lytelle blysse, moche more thene after the day of dome alle tho that
shullene be sauyde and go to blysse bothe body and soule, shullene be fulfyllede
with ioye, blysse and comforte whyche neuer shalle haue ende.
Now, brother or syster that heryst or redest 3 thys sympylle wrytyng, take hede
off thy horse, whyche ys thy body, that he be made buxome and mylde vnto the
soule whyche ys hys master. Also take hede that the soule be welle armede
with gostly armour, whyche beene vertewes, and that the spere, [the] swerde, and
the shelde be pat lefte be-hynde; and haue mynde off thyne rewarde whyche ys
putte in thyne eleccione. Thynke what blysse thow mayst haue, yeff thow wolt
trauayle and quyte the as a trewe knyghte in thys gostly batayle; and ther-ayens
what peyne, woo and tormentys thow shalt haue in fyre off helle, yeff thow be
a cowarde and wylle nat fyghte ayenst thy gostly enemyes but consentest to there
wykede counsellys and wylle nat obey to goddys commaundementis and to hys
lawe. Also be ware off thy erthely moder that she dysseue the nat; but trust
in thy gostly moder, for she ys trew ande trusty to truste vpone and to be-leue
vpone; and yeff thou doo thus, thane shalle thow come to endeles blysse whyche
man was ordeynede to in bys furst creacione, amen.
Explicit tractatus de bello spirituali et Armatura pertinente.
IR by. 2 R com. 3 R seiste.
erunt
Treatises of Ms. Univ. Coll. Oxf. 97.
The following 5 pieces are given from Ms. Univ. Coll. Oxf. 97, written at
the end of the 14th century; they are also all extant in Ms. Addit. 22283 (Simeon
Ms.), which, though mainly a copy of Ms. Vernon, in these pieces copies the
Univ. Coll. Ms.; all except the 2nd are found in Ms. Laud 174, the 1st and, 5th
in Mss. Harl. 1706 (2nd half of the Ms.), Ff V. 45, Ff VI. 55, Tanner 336,
Douce 13; the 5th in Ff II. 38 f. 6. The ist and 5th have been ascribed either
to R. Rolle or to Wicliffe (cf. Tanner s. v.), but belong probably to neither,
being — with the rest of the tracts — the works of a southern author of the end
of the century: Ms. Univ. Coll. is the leading Ms. S
altoan this the fun toute 1410 mirror Jenners (ue)
miģin (The myror of synnerest.
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, p. 253.
(An abridged, free translation of the Speculum peccatoris, ascribed to St. Augustine
(Opp. Migne VI, 983), St. Bernard, and R. Rolle“).
Heere bigynneth a sentence ful good and profitable to rede, which is i.-cleped
'the myrour of synneres'.
For þat we been in the wey of this failyng lyf ande oure dayes passen as a
schadewe, perfore it nedeth ful ofte to recorde in oure mynde that? oure freelte
and oure deedly seeknesse maketh vs so ofte to forzete. But what thyng is bat?
Certis, it is þat highe sentence of hooly writ þe whiche al-myzty god, wilnyng
oure profit porugh his grace, hath zeuen to vs by þat blessed Moyses his prophete,
seienge thus: Vtinam saperent & intelligerent, ac nouissima prouiderents, that is:
Wolde god þat men sanouredyn and vnderstoden, and purueieden for the laste
thynges! O þat noble and þat profitable sentence, not oones but ofte-tymes
needful to be rehersed, that is: Wolde god þat men sanouredyn and vnderstoden
and purueieden for the laste thynges! My deere brother, i. prey þee vnderstond
wel what pow redist. For þe bisy vnderstondyng of this sentence is distruccion
of pruyde, quenchyng of enuye, medicyne of malice, dryuying awey of licherie,
voidyng of boost and of vanytee, informacion of leernyng, perfeccion of hoolynesse,
1 The Mss. (Vesp. E I, Reg. 17 B XVII, &c.) mostly contain an abridgment of the original
Latin tract, and it is perhaps this abridgment which is owing to R. Rolle.
? al. bat bing bat. 3 Deut. 32. 29.
(1410 Mirror
Senners (0)
The Mirror of Sinners.
437
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
and reparaylyng of euerlastynge heelthe, and perfore the prophete pleinyng oure
greete blyndenesse, preieth with pitee seiynge thus: Wolde god þat men sauouredyn
and vnderstooden and purueiedyn for the laste þinges! But allas, allas! for al
to fewe han this vertew, fful fewe þeer been þat sauouren pis heelful sentence:
fful fewe there been þat setten bifore pe eizen of here mynde pe knowynge of
here owen infirmyte, here bodily corrupcion, pe mynde of here synnes, pe day
of here deeth, and the horrible peynes of helle. Be-hold now, freend, hot
profitable a myrour it is for synneres, the inwardly biholdyng of this highe sentence,
that is: Wolde god þat men sauouredyn and vnderstoden", and purueieden for
the laste thynges! For zef þow ofte biholde thi-self in this myrour, and zef þow
bisily studye to sette thus bi-self bifore thy-self, doutelees, thow schalt be strengere
þan Sampson, moore waar pan Dauyd, and wiser than Salomon. Thise men, for
pei weren rechelees in biholdyng of hem-self in this myrour of for[e]sight, thei
fellen in to here lusty desires, and to blyndenesse of here fiesch. And sitthe pise
men fellen in to so horrible synne, in the whiche theer was so greet strengthe,
so heigh wisdom, and so greet waarnesse: with how muche studye mooten we
þanne awake in biholdyng on this myrour, in the whiche is soo muche freelte,
so greet vnkunnyng, and so muche recheleeshede. And for this skyle been þise
pre men i.-red and i.-spoken of in hooly churche, that bei schulden be to vs a
myrour of for[e]seynge, and not to be ensaumple of fallynge; so þat noon of vs
truste in his owene strengthe, ne presume in his owene wisdom, but euermoore
to be bisy for the helthe of oure soule, and neuere to forzete oure deedly
corrupcion. For alle bei þat been recheles in suche maner of lokynge in
this myrour, neither thei sauouren, ne thei vnderstondyn, ne bei bysyen hem
to purueye for the laste hinges. And for þat we schulden euere be bisy
aboute this studye of bifore - waarnesse, the sentence of god moeuyth vs,
seiynge thus: The men that been withouten counseil and purueaunce, wolde god
pat thei sauouredyn, and vnderstoden, and purueieden hem for be laste thynges !
To this heelful sentence loke pat þow biholde, and that nouzt passyngly, but
with greet studye & rizt good auysement: ffor rizt as encens smelleth not but
zef it be put in to the fuyr, só no sentence of hooly scripture may sauoure to
the redere ne to be herere peerof but zef it be i.-boyled in? herte with bisy and
brennyng studye of it. And therfore, wolde god pat men sauouredyn, and vnder-
stoden, and purueieden for the laste thynges. Biholde, brother, thre thynges
been set bifore be in this myrour: Sauoury knowyng, vnderstondyng, and pur-
ueaunce. For god wole that pow sauoure þat þou knowest; that þow vnderstonde;
and þat (pow] be of good purueaunce. As for the firste, god wole þat þow knowe -
þat this lyf is passyng, al bilapped in wrecchednesse, soiet to alle maner of vanytee,
defouled with filthes of synne, corrupt with couetise, and þat it schal perisshe
with-ynne schort tyme; so þat in as muche as this world is knowen to bee moore
vil, in so muche it may the liztloker be dispised for loue of pat lif that euer
schal laste. For the secounde, god wole þat pow vnderstonde þat þow koome
naked in to this world, and naked pow schalt goon hennes 3; ffor of eerthe pow
· weere i.-maad, and in to eerthe How schalt turne. Wepynge bow koome in to
this wrecchednesse, with teene and traueil þow hast endured thi dayes, and
with sorwe & woo þow schalt passe hennes. Vnderstond perfore how wooful is þin
entree, how cbaungeable is thy lyuynge heere, & how feerful is thy passyng awey.
Ande passyng al this vnderstonde, i. prey þee, that in this vaale of weepyng þow
art bothe seeke and an outlawe, ful poore in vertues, fful vnstable in thy lyuyng,
and happily thow scbalt not abide til to-morwe. Oo brother, ful wel schal þee
bee zef þowe sauoure & vnderstonde thise thynges pat i. telle pee, and zef þow
wolt write hem in thyn herte as in a book; & namely zef thow bisye the to keepe in
thy mynde thise two versis' next folwynge: Viule deo gratus, mundo toto tumulatus,
Crimine mundatus, semper transire paratus, that is: ‘Lyue thankful to thi god,
buried al to the world, Maad al cleene of synne, & reedy euer to goon henne'.
Lo nowe, my deere brother, now hast þow i-seye in this myrour what pow schalt
sauoure, and what thow schalt vnderstonde. But now as for the thridde, lat
1 Ms. vnderstonden. 2 al. in the. 3 Iob 1. 21. 4 Sim. vers. 5 r. toti.
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see what þow schalt purueye: preynge thus with the prophete: Notum fac michi
domine finem meum, et numerum dierum meorum quis est, ut sciam quid desit michi',
that is : ‘Lord, make myn eende i.-knowe to me, & which is the noumbre of my
dayes, that i. may knowe what me fayleth'. O pat profitable preyer, þat heelful
contemplacioun, and þat necessarie askynge of god; nouzt for to coueite to knowe
bifore tymes & momentis, the whiche the fader of heuene hath sette in his owen
power, but þat þow knowe and vnderstonde that þow art bụt an outlawe, a
gest, and a pilgrym heer in this wrecchide lyf, a freel man and a feble, and
luytel while abydyng vpon þis eerthe. For zef þow biholde wel to the schort-
nesse of this lyf, and seest how the lakketh sufficeaunt tyme to fulfille inne
penaunce for thy synnes in trew keepyng of the beestis of god and in encresyng
of thi perfeccion, pow schuldest bothe sauoure and vnderstonde; and zef pow
wolt sette the sodeynte of deeth bifore pe eizen of þi mynde, doutelees how
schuldest þanne withouten lette dispise al pe boost of his lyf, pe bisynesse of
worldly vanytee, & alle pe lustes þat longen to the flesch, and sette wise & waar
kepynge of thi wittes, and bisily purueye bee for the laste thynges. For alle wise
men awaiten as bisily to the eende of euery thyng, as to the bigynnyog, and
rathere moore; & verreily he is proeued for wise, that so wel þenketh of rekenyng
bifore rekenyng, þat he may after in tyme of rekenyng eschewe peril of rekenyng.
9 But now perauenture pow seist to me thus : 'Sire, i am al reedy to doo after the
counseil of god, pat i. may sauoure & vnderstonde & purueye for the laste thynges :
but whiche been my laste thynges that how spekest of?' Soothly thei been thog
the whiche pe holy goost spekith of to pee by Salomon, seiynge thus: Fili, in
omnibus memorare 12ouissima, et ineternum non peccabis, þat is: 'Sone, in alle
thynges haue in mynde thy laste thynges and how schalt not synne with-outen
eende. He synneth with-outen eende, that deserueth peyne withouten eende;
the which synne and peyne a man may redilokest eschewe by contynuel thenkynges
of his laste thynges, as it is schewed by thise verses that folwen: Non melius
poterit caro luxuriosa domari, Mortua qualis erit quam semper premeditari, that
is: A lecherous flesch may no better be temed, than euere to thenke byfore
what it schal be after þat it is deed. And therfore ful blessed schalt pow be
zef þou holde with contynuaunce this holy bithenkyng of thi laste thynges.
But whiche been þise laste thynges for the whiche men schulden purueie ?
Sykerly thei been tho thynges that schullen falle to pee in that feerful hour of
thi deeth, whan þi wrecchede soule schal passe out of thi careful body dredyng
and quakyng. For trust it wel þat in pat dreedful hour þee were leuer to haue
the freendschip of god?, þan alle the lordschipes of the world. For whiche of
thi freendis þouz thei comen with swerdis & armes, with oostis of poeple or with
mylions of goold, mowe in þat laste grisly and dreedful hour doo pee eny comfort
or help? Sothly, þeer schal noon mowe comforte the of alle þat þow now loueste
cleerly without a cleene conscience of thyn owene, pough þow loke to be holpyn
of men, for refut schal þeer noon bee panne, but at god al-one. Thenk per-
fore by the self, i. prey þee, with what dreed he schulde be dred, with what
loue he schulde be loued, and with what honour he schulde be worschiped, oure
lord & oure god verrey Crist Ihesu, the whiche oonly by hym-self is myzty to
do vs refut after oure deth. And perfore bryng it ofte toº thi mynde, that dreedful
day of thy passynge, and eer thi wrecched soule departe fro the prison of thi
flesch, let it purueye whider it may goo. Worche perfore nowe suche thynges
that mowen bothe helpe & spede pee in þat way, and leeue þilke thynges pat
mowen lette þee. In this maner of thenkynge the soule conceyueth forthenkynge,
fforthenkyng bryngeth forth confessioun, and confession norisscheth amendynge
and ful asseth makyngs, and alle thise togidere engendryn in a man verrey hope
strecchyng in to god, and parfit meeknesse in a man self. For what thyng is in
eny mannes wit þat sonner meeuyth a man to mekenesse, to kepyng of hym-self
fro vanytee, to voydynge of vnriztwisnesse, & to perfeccioun of holynesse, than
1 Ps. 38. 5. 2 S vers. 3 Lat. crede mihi, ad huius rei tremende consideracionem maluisse :
debueras providenciam possidere, quam totius mundi dominationem. 4 S in. 5 al. Lat.
24
.NL
U
s ,
(1410 Mirror dinners
The Mirror of Sinners.
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doth the consideracioun of a mannes corrupcioun and hys freelte, of his deedly-
nesse, and of the dreedful day of his deeth? For whan a man bigynneth to wex
seek & his seeknesse groweth, þe conscience dreedith, be herte quaketh, the
heed stoupeth, the wyttes waasten, his strengthe faileth, the visage wexeth paale,
the tunge engleymeth, the teeth stynkyn, the speche wexeth thynne, the breeth
gooth awey, the body croketh, the flesch widerith, and alle the beaute is turned
in to filthe and corrupcioun; whan the body is buried, it falleth in to powdir,
& is turned alle in to wormes. Bihold now, brother, this is an horrible sizt; but
it is a [ful] profitable myrour. O ful happy is he þat bisily biholdeth hym-self in
this myrour: ffor þeer is no craft, medicyne, ne techyng, þat so soone distruyeth
vice, & plaunteth vertewes, as doth pe inwardly biholdyng thus of a mannes laste
thynges. And perfore, wolde god þat men sauouredyn & vnderstoden, and
purueiedyn for the laste thynges! a For what thyng, after þat it is deed, waxeth
so vyl as a man? For the flesch of a man is moore vyl than the skyn of a
schepe?. For though a schepe dye, sum profit cometh þeerof: the skyn is take
fro the flesch, and on it men writen in both sydes; and whan a man dieth,
alle dieth with hym the fiesch, be skyn & pe boones. Be a-schamed, þow proude
man, bee aschamed! thow þat hast moore likynge to leerne & to reede on the
bokes of vanytees than on the bookes of holy writ! Zit be a-schamed, & heere
what the prophete seith to þee and to alle suche in his psalme: Apprehendite
disciplinam, ne quando irascatur dominus et pereatis de via iusta, that is: "Take ze
techyng of amendement of maneres, lest oure lord bee agreued and ze perissche
fro the rigte way'.
U how feerful a sentence is this, and howe muche to be drad! ffor it is
openly schewed be this sentence, that alle poo schullen perisshe that taakyn not
this heelful techyng of amendement. And therfore oure lord seith pus by Moyses
his prophete: Omnis anima que non fuerit afflicta die hac, peribit de populo meo,
that is: Euery soule schal perisshe þat chastiseth not it-self' by hertly forthynkyng
and laweful amendement of his maneres, “this day', that is to seye : in this present
lyf, whan the lizt of grace & of mercy schynyth openly, take it who take wole;
ffor who so wol not now taake tyme of forthynkyng, schal after hys deeth haue
no place of forzeuyng. And þerfore be soore a-dred pow wrecched chaityf
synner, þow proude flesch, thow vile careyne, bee soore a-dred! pow wrecche,
bee a-dred! Cast awey thi pruyde, fflee fro vanytee, and taak to the this heelful
techyng of amendement, lest þow perissche. Be-hold in this myrour and see what
þow hast been, what pou art, and what thow schalt bee. Thenk of how vile
a mater þow woxe vp in thy modris wombe, how vyl al thyng is whan it passeth
fro thee, be it neuer so deynteuous whan thow receyuest it; and last of alle,
bihold how vile wormes mete how schalt be lyggyng in thy graue. Bihold now,
bow wrecche, what mateer þow hast of sorwe moore than of ioye, what mater
of meeknesse moore pan of pruyde. And what so euer þat fooles doon, loke
euer þat pou be muinyng? of thy-self: Let the world wexe vil to pee, eer thou
be vil to hit. And ouer al pis bihold in this myrour how þat in the laste horrible
& dreedful houre, whan thi wrecchide soule schalle passe fro thi body, anoon
peer schullen be reedy & present a greet & an horrible multitude of wykked spirites,
mynistres of the foule feend of helle, rizt as it weeren as meny lyouns rorynge
for to chase thy soule as for here pray. T Thanne sodeynly peere schullen
appeere ful horrible plases of peyne and of derkenesse, Places of drede and of
quakynge, Places of gryndynge of teeth & of wepynge. Theer schal bee fretynge
of wormes, and the hidous noyse of punysschede soules cryengge: Woo! Woo!
Woo be to vs, be synful wrecchede sones of Eue'! And whan alle thise thynges
and oother moo lyk to pise, zee and a powsand-foold worse thynges þen mowen
be spoken, [ben) i-herd, i-seye and felt of the wrecchid soule passynge out of the
caareful body: how grysely and how muche dreed, feerdnesse & tremblynge schal
thanne be in it, the whiche tunge may not telle. I But no[w] i. aske of thee,
seyenge thus: 9 What schal it thanne profite to be al thy boost of kunnynge,
i Cf. I p. 428 v 364.
2 S mungyng (H myndful).
3 om in Mss.
a 1400 in yks. Wr. I
@ 1410 Merror Jenners !
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Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
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pe pompe of the poeple?, the vanytee of the world, and al the dignytee of worldly
couetise ?3 Sothly, it schalle but encrece thi peyne & thi woo, and after the
quantite of thi lusty lyuyng heere, schal stoonde the quantite of thi peyne þeere.
And therfore amende pee now, whiles tyme is of mercy, so þat pow be not
dampned in the dreedful day of goddes greete vengeaunce. And leerne wel, eer
bow go hennes, to sauoure, to vnderstonde, and wisely to purueye þee for the
laste pinges; so þat þow bee euere-moore reedy, what tyme pat oure lord cometh
to clepe thee, for to entre with hym in to the blisse pat euer schal laste. To
þe whiche blisse god brynge vs, that boughte vs with his precious blood. Amen.
61410 Medit. 5 Wehrist (ue)
A meditacion of þe fyue woundes of Ihesu Crist.
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, p. 2624.
Byhold specialy in be fyue mooste notable woundes, two in his blessed
hoondys, & two in his blessed feet, and be mooste opene wounde in his riąt
syde. In to thise woundys of Cristes blessed hoondys & feet, with Thomas of Ynde
put In thyne fyngres, that is to seye thyne mooste sotyle pouztes & desires. And
in the wounde of Cristes blessed syde, sytthen it is the largeste and deppest, put
in alle pin hoond, that is to seye al þi lyf and alle pine werkes, and þeere
feel Cristes herte so hoote louynge pee; ande also beere feel Cristis blessed
herte-blood sched for thee and to rannsome thi soule, also þeere feel the watir
of Cristis syde stremynge out as of a welle of lyf, for to wassche be and alle
mankynde of synne. And panne cleeche vp watir of euerelastynge lyf withouten
ende of þise fue mooste opene woundis of Crist as out of fyue welle-sprynges.
And ynderstond, see & bihoolde & leerne pat pe wounde in Cristes rizt hoond is
the welle of wysdom. The wounde in Cristis lyft hoond is the welle of mercy.
The wounde in Cristis rizt foot is the welle of grace. The wounde in Cristis lyft
foot is the welle of goostly comfort. The largeste and the deppeste wounde pe
whiche is in Cristis rigt syde, is the welle of euerlastyng lyf. Out of þe welle
of wysdom in Cristis rizt hoond, cleech vp pe holsum watir of trewe lerynge and
techyng; leerne þeere how muche Crist god and man louede mannes soule, and
how precious is mannes soule, ffor by-cause of the greete loue of mannes soule
Crist Ihesu, þat is the wysdom of the fadir of heuene, schulde and wolde by þe
ordynaunce of the blessede trynytee suffre his riztwys rizt hoond so dispitously to
be nayled to be cros. Out of be welle of mercy in Cristis lyft hoond, cleech
vp deuoutly the swete watir of remission and forzeuenesse of oure synnes, and
leerne bisyly heere for thy sauacion this lessun of mercy; for not-withstondyng
þat the while mankynde was enemy to god, and eer that man hadde deserued it
of god, zet oure blessed fadir of heuene spared not his owen sone but suffrede
hym to be streyned on the harde cros, moore dispitously & greuously þan euer
was schepys skyn streyned on the wal or vp-on pe parchemyn-makeris barowe
azens pe sonne: to drye, ffor it is likly þat be blessede armes of Ihesu Crist
weren so soore i-strayned and sprad abrood on Þe cros for oure loue, bat pe
veynes to-broston. Leerne heer þanne in this welle of mercy in Cristis lyft hoond,
in whos lyft hoond hongynge and weldynge been alle richesses in heuene and in
eerthe, how muche is his loue & how greet is pat flood euer flowyng and also
spryngynge of his mercy frely profred to man, þat suffrede so grisly and greuously
his blessede armes to be sprad and nayled to be cros, to profre his mercy and
hym-self to vs his vnkynde enemyes. Therfore sitthen euerlastynge goode god
hath it of kynde, of custome & of myzt to do mercy, pat neuer may ceese ne
faile but Zef god loste his kynde, or loste his vertue, or loste his mygt; but
sitthe this may neuer faile in goode god al myzty, al connynge & al welwillynge:
perfore tristily and stedefastly out of bis welle of the wounde of Cristys lyft
S world. ? S people. 3 Lat. terrene cupiditas dignitatis. 4 In Ms. Simeon, this
piece is found fol. 6Ib. 5 Ms, lefte.
(1410 Medit. 5 WChrist Tue)
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hoond clecch vppe watir of euerlastynge mercy of Ihesu Crist. T Out of þe
welle of grace in Cristys rizt foot, clecch vp pe watir of goostly refresschynge,
by bithenkyng pe inwardly what grace of sauacion was profred to vs alle in
þat þat Crist hym-self wolde suffre his rizt foot so grisly to bee wounded of the
whiche foot holy wryt speketh pat the foorme þat it tredith vp-on is worschipful
for it is holy; and so hard to be nayled to the cros pat he wolde neuere parte
fro thee but Zef þow wolt alweies forsake hym. Heere pou mygt liztly cleche
vp watir of greet grace profred to vs alle. Out of pe welle of gostly comfort
in Cristys lyft foot, cleech vp þe Ioyeful watir of spiritual comfort & gladnesse,
pat pe kyng of blisse louede so hertly oure soules pat for sauacion of vs he wolde
suffre so soore a wounde with þat hydous nayl porugh his lift foot þat was so
tender-ffor peer koomen to-gidere pe veynes fro Cristys herte; and þus suffrede
oure blessede Ibesu for helpyng of vs. Heer we mowen cleche vp of þis blesside
welle watir of goostly comfort and ioyeful gladnesse of oure soules with-outen
eende. q Out of þe largeste and deppeste welle of euere-lastyng lif in þe moste
opene wounde in Cristys blessed syde, cleech vp deppest and hertyliest watir of
ioye and blisse withouten eende, biholdyng þeere Inwardly how Crist Ihesu god
and man, to brynge pee to euerlastynge lyf, suffrede pat harde and hydous deeth
on pe cros and suffrede his syde to be opened and hym-self to be stongyn to be
herte with pat grisly spere, and so with þat deelful strook of þe spere peere
gulchide out of Cristys syde þat blysful floode of watir and blood to raunsone vs,
watir of his syde to wasshe vs, and blood of his herte to bugge vs. For loue
of hise blessede woundes creep in to pis boot baap of Cristys herte-blood, and
þeer bathe pee; ffor peer was neuer synne of man ne of wonman pouzt ne
wrouzt þat was laft with louely sorowe and hertly repentaunce, þat þeer ne ys
in pis welle fully remyssion to buggen it, and watir of lyf fully to clensen it and
wasshen it. Therfore reste pee heere, counforte pee heere, lyue in Cristys herte
with-outen eende Amen.
(Follows E. Rolle's Form of living.)
II. (1410 Meditssell (oo)
Heere bigynneth a ful good meditacion for oon to seie by him-self toone.
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, p. 305.
Lef þou coueite to be maad cleene in soule as it may be heere, of al pe stathel
of synne the which wol alweies leeue in þee after þi confession be bow neuer so
besy, so pat pow mowe by pat cleunesse bee maad able to receyue pe special
grace of god in encresynge of pi perfection: thanne bihoueth be a certeyn tyme nyzt
by nyzt or day by day contynuynge, as longe as he pinketh it doth? Þe good, in
sum pryue place [be] by þi-self, and þeere gedere to-gidere pe mygtes of þi soule,
& specially þi mynde, in biholdyng of þi wrecchide lyuyng, seiynge pus with herte
or with mowth, or with bothe to-gedere, zef be bothe leste, & zef þe penketh
þat it doth be good to do so : Lord Ihesu Crisť, and eft-soones reherse pise thre
wordes 'lord Ihesu Crisť, til þe tyme þat pe þenke & þat þow feele verreily þin
herte acorde with pi mouth, and panne passe forth & not erst, pough pow schuldest
seie it neuer so ofte til þat it so bee. And whan þat it is so, seie þanne pus
forth as i. telle þee, with þat saame acordaunce of herte and with mowth: 'Lord
Ihesu Crist, i am þat wrecche, pe mooste wykkede synnere & be mooste wlatsum
of alle, Þe whiche so wondirfullye haue wratthed pin highe maieste & so ofte,
þat my wyt may not suffice? to telle it; for my synnes been as pe soond of pe
see, Þe whiche for multitude mowen not be noumbred. In pis biholdyng &
heere, pow schalt sighe and sorwe as deeply and as hertly as pow maist; ffor,
þat þat sinythes file dooth to pe rusty iren, pe saame goostly doth a sorweful
is do.
? S suffre.
3 S be s.
TER
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C1410 Medit.ssall (
442
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
and a deep-fet sighynge to a synful herte. After pis biboldynge thus of þi
wrecchide lyuynge in general, þow schalt haue mynde and' biholdynge of þe
kyndenesse of þi lord god; and seie þus, bothe with herte & with mouth as it
is seid bifore: Lord god al-myzty, sum tyme whan i. hadde no beynge and was
nougt, þow brouztest me forth to pin ymage and to pi liknesse in to so noble
a beeynge aboue alle oother creatures, porugh þe whiche, hadde i. not synned,
i. myzte haue had þee by grace in his lif, and in þat oother haue seie bee face
to face in blisse. And i, pis wrecchide erthely worm, þe mooste vyleste synnere
of alle, haue in so muche deserued pe streitnesse of pi riztwys doom, pat but
zef þow helpe me zeuyng me pi mercy, it weere bettere to me neuere to haue
been bore'. Heere schalt bow sighe & sorwe as pow dedist bifore. And after
haue mynde of pe kyndenesse of his incarnacion, seiynge bus, bothe with herte &
with mouth zef be bothe luste: Lord Ihesu Crist, art pow not he bat highe kyng
of aungelis, so lowely mekynge pee and so wilfully for me takynge vpon pee
alle be charges & pe wrecchednesses of mankynde as hunger, purst, and coold,
with al þe remanant saue synne & ignorance; and i. lord, this wrecchide erthely
worm, not mekyng me but highyng me in so muche þat i haue displesyd þin
highe maieste, chaungynge þee pat art þe welle of euerlastynge goodnesse for
a fewe foule stynkynge fleschly delytes of þis wrecchide lif? A deere Thesu,
whider may i flee? huyde me may i. not, and schew me dar i. noť. Heere
schalt þow sighe & sorwe as þow dedist bifore. And after haue mynde of the
kyndenesse of his passion, and seye þus: ‘Was it not Inough to þe, my swete
lord Ihesu, bus to bicome man for be loue of man, but zef bow ouer þat for pe
releeuynge of so menye deedly wrecches tokest vpon þee to suffre so harde
betynges, so innumerable woundes, þat fro pe sole of þi feet to be coroune of
þine heed was no lyme ne skyn of pi blessede body bat it ne fomede ful of þi
precious blode? A, i. wikkede curside wrecche, what may i doo ? i am cause of
· þi deeth. Wheer may i wone? for by riztwis doom of resun alle the creatures
þat been bitweene heuene & helle schulden fizte azen my oonly body. Nowe
trewely, lord, i. am wel apaied þat þei so doo: Let hem ryse, lord, as pin
owene seruauntz of pin owene houshold, and venge with maistrie her lord &
here makere of me pis straunche fremde wrecche, þat so traytourly baue been
cause of my lordes turment. Here þow schalt sighe & sorwe as pow dedist
bifore, hauynge goostly mynde of his precious passion, wounde by wounde, to be
holugh of his herte. But by-cause þat thise three kyndenesses bifore nempned,
þat is to seye : thy makynge, his mankynd takynge, and his precious passion,
haan bee do generally to alle oothere as wel as to pee: perfore schalt þow after
þis haue special mynde of suum special kyndenesse doon to pin oonly body bifore
menye oothere, and seye pus: A goode swete lord Ihesu Crist, how menye as
worthi and by a pousand-foold moore worthy pan i, han be suffred of pee, swete
lord, for to dye, sunme in bere modres wombes, and summe soone after here burthe
bifore eny bapteem, and so to bee dampned to eendeles derknesse; and sunime
to lyue in bere hethenesse to here [deth]-day, and so to be dampned to eendeles
peyne? And i., sweete lord Ihesu, of þin ouerhaboundaunt goodnesse & porugh
Þe grace of bapteem am brouzt in to þi foold, þe' whiche is holy churche, to
be a scheep of þi flokke pasturynge in þi lawe, þere be kept and saued fro þat
apert dampnacion of alle mysbyleuynge'. Here schalt þow þanke þi lord god
as hertly as þow maist; & after pow schalt þenke þus and seye with þi mouth :
How meny moore worthy and fer moore able to grace þanne i. am, by-cause of
meny moo goode dedes doon after here bapteem þan i. haue doon after myn,
been riztfully suffred of þee, swete lord, summe to been honged or heded, styked
or drenched or sodeynly, deed in sum deedly synne, and so to be dampned to
eendeles fuyr?. ze, sikerly, lord, it may be þat a þowsand moore worthy þanne
1 m. a. erased in S.
2 S dilices.

NA
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CO
.
4400 anythose tre
Clello Meditssell foi
A meditation of St. Anselm.
443
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
i. am haan bee lawefully dampned to be boilyozge put of helle, beere for to wone
as longe as pou schalt be in heuene, for fewere synnes han i. haue doon myn
oonly body. And zet hast þow, my swete Ihesu, cleped me azen to be grace of
repentaunce in pis lif, Þorugh be whiche i. may be kept & saued fro al apert
vengeaurce in þis lif, and after bis lif fro bat horrible dampnacion of alle fals
cristene men in þe day of doom'. Heere schalt þow þanke þi lord as hertly as
pow maist; and afterward þenk bus & seye with pi mouth: Lord god fadir of
mercy and of comfort, what schal i. doo? for i may not make amendis of myne
innumerable synnes þat i. haue wrecchedly wrouzt azens þi wil, I may not þanke
þee of þe ouerhaboundant goodnesse & kyndenesse þat how hast graciously doon
to me, and zet i., pis? stynkynge wrecche, vinethes kan see pise greete kyndenesses
doon to me. Now trewely, lord, i. weere worthy to be deed, slayn other hanged
as an hound. But for i. may not sle me my-self, & also i. shulde not, perfore
i. biseche pee, lord god al-myzti, þat þow wolt sle me þi-self, þat so wrecchedly
haue doon to pee. And zef it so bee þat þi greete pitee and þi greete goodnesse
so bynde-In þi riztwisnesse þat þow like not to slee me thy-self, þanne i. biseche
þee þat þow wolt sende bin aungel of riztwisnesse with his brennynge swerd, to
taake vengeaunce vpon me. And zef þi muchel meeknesse & þi grete mercy
wol not suffre þee to fulfille þe vengeaunce þat i. haue deserued, and me ouzte
not by þi lawe lord for to slee my-self for þanne dampnede i. my soule, þanne
wol i. do þat in me is, and alle þat i. may doo: Heere i. zelde me to be as
þi boonde-man and þi prisoner, & þi perpetuel seruaunt, and alle þe dayes of
my lif neuer to departe fro þi seruyce. And þis, lord, wol i. do as mannes
freelte wol suffre & specially myn, be whiche freelte i. biseche pee to strengthe
with þi grace for þi muchel mercy Amen. Heere shalt þow falle to pe grounde
& zelde þee to him as meekly and as hertly as pow maist; and after þat sitte
vp and reste þee, þenkynge thus: How gode þat god is in him-self, and how
fair þat he is in his aungelis, and how lordly Dat he gouerneth alle hise creatures;
and after þat, how swete he is in his loueres; and last of alle, how mercyful
he is in synneres. And þanne seye þus bothe with herte and with mowth,
withouten eny feynynge: 'My goode Ihesu, baue mercy on me. My faire Ihesu,
haue mercy on me. My lord Ihesu, haue mercy on me. My swete Ihesu, haue
mercy on me. My mercyful Ihesu, haue mercy on me. And not oonly on me
Ihesu pough i. haue most neede, but in alle be creatures quyke and deede whiche
þow hast bouzt with thy precious blood Amen.'
Chinese
@
12. St. lagannathed
Heere is a good meditacion, the which seynt Anselme maade.
(A translation of St. Anselmi Meditationum II, (Migne 158, col. 722).
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, p. 310.
My lif fereth me soore, ffor whan i. bisyli enserche it it semeth to me outher
synne, or withouten fruyt wel-nygh al my lif, and Zef eny tyme peer be seyn
eny fruyt þeer-Inne, zet it is þanne but as it weere feyned, or imparfit, or in
sum manere corrupt, so þat outher it may not plese god as it schulde do, or
ellys it fully displesith him. Therfore now pow synful wrecche, pi lif not wel-
neigh al, but fulliche al, outher it is in synne & dampnable, or it is vnfruytful &
despisable. But wharto make i. departesun bitwene vufruytful and dampnable?...*
ffor it is certeyn & trewe þat Treuthe seyde him-self in þe gospel: Omnis arbor
que" 12on facit fructum bonum, excidetur et in ignem mittetur, that is to seyn :
3 S in his.
1 om. in S.
dampnabilis.
2 r. in?
5 Ms. qui.
4 Lat. adds: Utique, si est infructuosa, est et
AE
1400-
bfbar trim
61410
St. Aneum
444
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
Euery tree pat berėth not good fruyt schal be kut doun and cast in to pe fuyr'.
And verreiliche, what profitable ping pat i do, outrely i. acounte it nouzt for to
answered to be sustynaunce of body pat i, mysuse. But who fedith eny beest pe
whiche profiteth not as muche as it wasteth? and zet neuerthelees, mercyful
god, þow norisschest, fedist, and abidist þin vnprofitable worm, and stynkynge
in synne. And wel i. may seie 'stynkynge in synne': ffor withoute comparisun
moore suffrable is a roten bound to men, pan is a synful soule to god; and
muche moore wlatsum is such a soule to god, pan is such an hound to men.
Allas allas, now may i. clepe pe no man, but schame & repreue of al men,
moore vile þan å beste, and worse ban a careyne. My soule is soore anoyed
of my lif; I am soore a-schamed for to lyue, and dye dar i. not. Therfore what
schalt pou now doo, aº pow synnere ? Certes nouzt, but þat al pi lyf þow
wepe al þi lif, so þat it al weepe it al. But zet in pis also is þi synful soule,
wrecchidly wondirful and wonderfully wrecchede, by-cause pat it sorweth not so
muche as it knoweth bat hit schulde; but pus it slepeth siker in slouthe, rizt as
it knewe not what it were worthy to suffre. What dost pow, pou bareyne soule?
whi art pou so slough, þow synful soule? De day of þi doom cometh, It is rigt
neiz and swift in his comynge. A day of wrath is þat day. A day of trouble &
of anguyssch. A day of caare and of wrecchednesse. A day of myst and of
derkenesse. A day of cloude and of whirlewynd. A day of trumpe & of
clarionynge. A þat bitter voys of þe dreedful day of oure lord! Whi slepist
pou, þow synful soule and worthy to be wlated; whi slepist þow? For who so
waketh not, & who so quaketh not at so greet a þunder, certes he slepeth not,
but he is deed. Thow ynfruytful tree, wheer been þi fruytes? Thow tree bat
art worthy an ax & a fuyr, worthy to be kut and brent, wheere been þi fruytes?
Sothly pow hast nouzt but prikkynge pornes and bitter synnes; þe whiche wolde
god þat þei prikkeden þee so soore by forthenkynge bat bei weren broke, and
so schulden bei ware to pe so bittre pat þei schulden vanyssche awey. Perauenture
þow wenest þat eny synne be luytel: but wolde god þat þe streyte doomesman
heelde eny synne luytel. But allas, is it not so þat alle synne by brekynge of
goddes heestes ynworschipeth. god? Zus sikerly, zus. What synne þanne dar eny
synnere seie þat is luytel? forto vnworschipe god whanne is þat luytel? A pow
druye and vnprofitable tree worthy to euerlastyng fuyr, what schalt pou answere
in pilke day, whan it . schal been asked of þee to be twynclynge of an ee alle
be tyme of lyuynge zeuen to be how pou hast dispended it? Thanne it schal be
dampned in be what so euer may be founden of werk or of slouthe, of woord
or of sylence, to be * leeste pouzt, ze and of alle þat þow hast i-lyued, Zef it
haue not be dressed to be wil of god. Allas ! how meny synnes schullen breste
vp peere without warnynge as it were enemyes liggynge in a wait, þe whiche
pow seest not now? Certes fer moo, & happily moore grysly, ban been þilke
pat pou seest now. How menye pow wenest now been not yuele, how menye
pow wenest now been gode, with open visage schullen panne schewen hem to
Þe alther-derkest synnes? Theere withouten doute pou schalt receyue as pow
hast wrouzt heere with Þi body. Thanne, as now, schal not be tyme of mercy :
Thanne, as now, schal no forthenkynge be receyued ne eny amendement suffred.
Thenk þerfore heere what þow art worthy to receyue þeere, and what þow hast
doo. Zef þei been meny goodes and fewe yueles, make muche ioye; zef þei been
[meny) yueles and fewe goodes, make muche sorwe. A thow vnprofitable synnere,
whethir þise thynges suffice not to pee for to make in. pe hidous and greet
gronyng in sorwe? whether pise pinges suffice not to pee for to drawe out of
þee mergh and blood in wepynges? Cursed be þat wrecchede hardnesse, þe
whiche pus heuy hameres been to lizte for to breke! A pat ouer-dulled slouthe,
be whiche pus scharpe prikkes been to blunte for to stire! Allas forsorwe of
þat deede slepe, Þe which so grisly a þunder is to hoos for to wakene! A þow
1 Lat. nullatenus illud compenso alimentis.
2 Ms. And.
3 L. clangoris.
4 Ms. þee.
DLL
400wanaffen-Wert
peast.
Tue 90)
M
AGLE
A méditation of St. Anselm.
445 :
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
vnprofitable synnere, ynouz Þise thynges schulden bee to þee euere for to contynewe
in waymentynge: thise pinges, oughten to suffice þee euermore to sobbe bisyly
in wepynges. But wharto schal i. feynyngly be stille, and stele eny ping fro þe
eyen of my soule, of pe heuynesse and be gretnesse of my wrecchede zouthe: In
pyne of be whiche beer schal panne aryse withoute eny auysement so hastif
sorwes & so wonderful woes, þat sodeynly of hem pere schal growe an vnsuffrable
tempest? Ceertes, pow wykkede synnere, al pis spedeth not to bee. And nathelees,
pouz i. seie al þat i. may þenke, Zet may it not be lykned to þat þat þe þing is
in it-self. And perfore let Þin eyen weep by day & by nyzt, and neuere to be
stille. Put-to weigte vp-on weizte, & sorwe vpon sorwe, fferdnesse vpon feerd-
nesse, and woo vpon woo: ffor he schal deeme þee to whom it falleth to punysche
what þat eny trespassour or inobedient to god synneth; be whiche hath zolde
me good for euelle, and to whom i zelde yuel for good; the whiche is now þe
mooste suffrynge, and þanne schal be be mooste vengynge; now þe mooste
mercyful, þanne pe mooste riztful. Allas allas, to whom haue i. synned? God
i. haue vnworschiped. The? al-myzty i. haue wratthed. O i. wrecchede synnere,
what haue i. doo? to whom haue i doo? how yuele haue i doo? Allas
bow wratthe of þe al-nyzty, falle þow not vpon me. Thow wratthe of pe al-
myzty, where maist þow be taken in me? Ceertes þeer is no þing in al me pat may
suffre þee. O pe anguyssches and be annuyes þat schullen þanne bee: For on
þat oo syde schullen bee synnes accusynge, on pat oother syde streit rigtfulnesse
soore afferynge; bynethe, þe opene derkenesse of helle, aboue, be wrathful
domesman; withinne, a smertynge concience, and withoute, Þe brennynge world.
Vnnethes pe riztwys shal bee saued; a synnere þus biseged, where schal he holde
hym? Thus constreyned, where schal i. buyde me? how schal i. appere? For
to huyde me it schal be impossible, and for to appere it schal bee vnsuffrable.
I schal seeche where to buyde me, but nowhere fynde it; me schal agrise to
appere, and euere i. schal be present. A who is he pat schal delyuere me fro
Þe hoondis of wratthed god? where schal i haue helthe? where schal i. haue
counseyl? Who is he pat is cleped pe aungel of greet counseil, pe whiche is
cleped sauyour, þat i may crye on his naame? Ceertes, it is Ihesu, he him-self
is pe iuge whom i. dreede so soore. Looke vp perfore azen now, pow synnere,
bee of good hope and dispeire not. Hope in him whom þow dreddest. Fle to
him fro whom pow fleddest. Crie vpon him meekly for mercy, whom pou hast
soore agreued by pruyde. Ihesu, Ihesu, for bin naame Ihesu, do to me after þi
naame Ihesu. Forzet now Ihesu pis proude trespassour, and bihold with mercy
þis wrecche clepyng þi naame, Thy sweete naame, Thy delitable naame, Naame
of comfort to synneres and of blessede hope. For what is Ihesu - to seie but
‘sauyour'? Therfore Ihesu, for þin owene self be to me Ihesus. Thow þat maadest
me, lat me nouzt perisschen. Thow pat bouztest me, lat me not be dampned.
Thow þat maadest me borwe bi goodnesse, lat me not perisschen þoruz my
wykkednesse. And as bow art pe mooste mercyful, suffre not my wykkednesse
to leese þat þin al-myzty goodnesse hath maade. Mercyful Ihesu, i. biseche þee
know þat þin is, and wipe it a-wey þat is ootheres. Ihesu, Ihesu, haue mercy
whiles tyme is of mercy, þat bow dampne not in tyme of þi doom. For what
profit schalle be to pee in my bloode, zef i. schal descende in to euerlastynge
corrupcion? For dampnede men schullen noone preise þee, ne eny of poo þat
goon down in to belle Lef þow wolt suffre me lord entre in to be broode
bosum of þi mercy, it schal neuere bee pe streiter for me. Receyue me perfore,
moost desirable Ihesu, Receyue me with-inne pe noumbre of pin chosyn ; so bat
i. bee fed in þee with hem, and preise pee with hem, and þat i. withouten
eend ioye in þee, with alle þoo þat louen pi name. Amen.
1 Ms. euere euere.
2 Ms. Thee.
3 Ms. Wheree.
4 Ps. 113. 17.
a 1400 in yks. Wat
(1410 3 Arrows Doomsda
..
446
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
13. (Of three arrows on Doomsday).
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97, p. 316.
(This piece is an imitation of that ed. I, p. 112, and which is undoubtedly
R. Rolle's).
Of þree arwes pat schullen bee schot on domesday.
Who so wol haue in mynde pe dreedful day of doom so þat he mowe be
moeued with dreede to flee fro synne, as be wise man biddeth his sone-Memorare
nouissima et ineternum non peccabis, þat is : Haue mynde on þe laste þinges, þat
is day of doom, and it schal kepe pe fro synne' : heere ze mowe'n fynde sum-
what writen þeerof, how oure lord speketh by Ysaie pe prophete seienge pus:
Egredietur dominus de loco suo vt visitet iniquitatem habitatorum terre, þat is:
Oure lord schal weende out of his place for to visite pe wikkednesse of hem
þat enhabiten þe eerthe”. Ceertes pis doom schulde souereynly be drad; ffor, as
muche as he now doth mercy, so muche schal be panne doo streit vengeable
riztwisnesse. For it is of god in liknesse, as it is of pe sonne. The sonne
holdynge his cours passeth out of be signe of Þe lyoun in to be signe of þe
virgyne, and out of be signe of þe virgyne in to be signe of þe balaunce. The
lyoun is a strong beest and a fel, & in þis signe was Crist þe sonne of riztwis-
nesse bifore be incarnacioun; ffor þat tyme he was so fel þat what man pat
braake hise biddynges, anoon he schulde bee deed—ffor, as it is seid, a man
was doon to deeth for he gederede stikkes on be sabat-day. But out of his
signe of pe lyoun he passide in to be signe of pe virgyne, whan he took man-
kynde & was borne of pe virgyne Marie: and þanne was he maade moore redy
to doo mercy, pan euere he was to doo vengeaunce. Thanne it bigan, & zet it
lasteth; þat he, þat seide whanne he was in he signe of þe lyoun: Anima que
peccauerit cito morietur, þat is: “The soule þat synneth, anoon it schal dye”; now,
whanne he is in þe signe of pe virgyne, seith pus: Nolo mortem peccatoris, sed
magis ut conuertatur et viuat, pat is: I wol not be deeth of a synnere, but
moore þat he be turned þeer-fro and lyue''. But, certes, out of þis signe pus
of þe virgyne, he schal passe in to be signe of þe balaunce, at þe day of doom,
wheere he-schal weye alle oure pouztes, oure woordes, and oure werkes in euene
peys of his riztwisnesse, þat he may zelde to euery man after þe trouthe of his
desert. And what he schal þanne doo? heere þow what he seith now by þe
prophete: Congregabo super eos mala, et sagittas meas complebo in eis, þat is:
'I schal heepen vpon hem here eueles, and i schal dispende alle myne arwes vpon
hem'. Three scharpe arwes schullen bee schot of oure lord in þat day vpon
hem, pat þeere schullen be dampned. The firste arwe schal be of clepynge to
Þe doom, whan as him-self seith: Venit hora ut omnes qui in monumentis sunt,
audient vocem filii dei, et procedent qui bona egerunt in resurreccionem vite, qui
vero mala, in resurreccionem iudicii, þat is : ‘Tyme schal come bat alle þoo þat
been in graues, schullen heere pe voys of be sone of god, and so passe forth
to he doom'. Thanne pe wrecched dampned soule schal come to be body, and
seye to hit: 'Aryse pow curside caityf careyne, fro þis tyme forth withouten eny
eende to be felow to be deuel, and enemy to al-myzty god. Now þi ioye schal
be turned in to woo, þi delit in to bitternesse, and þi lauztre in to wepynge.
Now pi wrecchide schort lust schalle passe in to euerlastynge sorwe. Now it is
fulliche fallen fro the, what so how desiredest; now it is comen to þee alle pat
þow dreddest. Now it is agoo al þat þow louedest; and now it is comen al
þat þow hatedest. Cursid be pow, pow wrecched careyne; for in pyne of þi
synnes, Þi delices, and þi wykkednesses, sith i. passide fro þee i. haue besyly
brend in helle. Cursed be how helle-bronde, ordeyned to be fuyr of helle pat
neuere schal be quenched. Cursed be pe tyme in þe whiche i. first was coupled
i Ms. lyuen.
J
:
a 1400 in lika Wat
cleflo 3 Arrow Doomsday lue)
447
2
Moca
Of three arrows on Doomsday.
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
to pee, for now i. may not leeue pee, thi cursed companye i. may not eschewe;
wol i. or nyl i., I am constreyned to be knyt azen to þee. Goo we perfore to-
gidre bifore pe dreedful domesman, þeere for to heere oure euerlastynge damp-
nacion'. Thanne shullen alle pe wykkede men see pe iuste cause of here owene
dampnacion writen with here owene hoondes in pe book of here consciences,
boothe leerid and lewed, and reedyn it hem-self. And zef pou seie pat lewede
men kunne not reede, .i. seye pat peer is noon so lewede þat he ne kan reede
Þe lettre of hys owene writynge. Thanne Þei schullen see pe domesman as he
weere wood, forwratthed azens hem. Of his woodnesse & þis wratthe speketh
pe prophéte in pe firste psalme of penaunce, where he preieth to be delyuered
of hem bootbe, seienge þus: Domine nze in furore tuo arguas me, neque in
ira tua corripias me, That is: 'Lord, in þi woodnesse ouercome me not with
skiles, and chastise me not in pi wratthe'. Noman þenke þat wratthe or wood-
nesse or eny suche troubled mannes passion may be in god; but herfore bei
been set in scripture, for þe werkes of god in punysschynge and vengynge of
synne schullen taake effect of suche passions as been wratthe and woodnesse in
al synneres, þat outher schullen be chastised by pyne þat schal haue eende as is
purgatorie, pe whiche pyne is cleped heere be wratthe of god, or elles. þat
schullen be pyned by vengeaunce in þe horrible peyne of helle pat neuer schal
haue eende, Þe whiche is cleped heere pe woodnesse of god. Al pis pe pro-
phete Dauid saur in spirit, and perfore he in persoone of alle synneres, felyng
him vnmyzty to bere euer either, first asketh to be deiyuered of helle, and sitthen
of purgatorie, seienge pus Domine ure in furore &c., as zef he seide þus to
oure vnderstondyng: Lord, i. biseche pee þat in pe dreedful day of doom, wheere
þow schalt haaue be to synneres as a man þat weere wood, spaaryng no þing,
þat þow ouercome me not with skiles in fynal conclusion, so pat i. be not convict
for euere and be ateynt in a schameful inconuenyent of euerlastynge reproeue;
& herfore i. seye Argue me not, ffor arguynge, as clerkes knowen wel, is to
ouercome an oothere with skiles. But zef me grace, goode lorde, so to argue
and forto ouercome with skiles of pi lawe pe erroures of my blynde conscience
heere in pis lif, whiles tyme is of mercy, pat' i. may hertly forthenke hem, and
cleerly confesse hem, and lawefully amende hem, by ensaumple of newe cleene
lyuyng to men, feruent preier to god, and by discreet chastisement of my-self
heere whiles i. lyue, so pat pou haue no wil to chastise me in þi wratthe after
þis lif in purgatorie. And þat it be pus, Miserere mei domine quoniam infirmus sum,
þat is: Haue mercy on me lord; for i. am vnmyzty to bere euereyther, that is
þin arguyng in pe doom, ne bi chastysement in purgatorie, but it so be þat i.
be vp born with pi mercy'. O that dreedful day of oure lord! Þanne schullen
alle wykked men see hem sitte in be doom with Crist, whom þei haue heere
dispised; and in þis sight been troubled with an horrible dreede, seyenge þe
woorde of be wise man: Hii sunt quos aliquando habuintus ir derisum &C. Nos
insensati &c.', þat is: “Thise been poo pe whiche sum tyme we hadden in scorn
and despit. We vnwitty wrecches heelden here lif woodnesse, and here eende
withouten honour: but lo now how pei been acounted amonges Þe sones of god.
Thanne amonges al þat multitude bei schullen not fynde oon þat schal haue
compassion of hem, but alle schullen bee glaade & consent with god in here
iuste dampnacion, after pe woordes of be psalme seienge pus: Letabitur iustus
cum viderit vindictan, bat is: 'The riztwis man schal be gladed whan he schal
see pe vengeaunce'. Thanne, as Crist seith in pe gospel: thei schullen seche
for to entre in to be creuys of stones, and in to be swelwys of þe eerthe, fro
pe dreedful face of oure lord. Thanne schullen þei preie monteynes to falle
vpon hem, and hulles to huyden hem, so woo þei schullen be on euery syde.
And þis is pe wounde of pe firste arwe. The secounde arwe schal be an arwe
of scharp repreuyng of alle fals cristene men, whan he schal seie to hem pus:
'I was an-hungred, and ze ,eue me noo mete; I was a-purst and ze zeue me no
drynke; I was naked and ze zeue me? noon herbere; I was seek and in prison
Sap. 5. 3. 2 H adds no clothes ; I was a geste and ze zaue me.
14
448
Wat
CIHO 3 Crowe Doomsde
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
and ze visyted me not ne dede me no comfort. O what pis voys schal bee
creedful whan it schal be seid to hem þat as ofte as bei deden not pise þinges
to eny þat neede hadde in his naame, so ofte þei deden hem not to him. And
no wonder pouz bis voys schal bee dreedfulle in pe day of doom, sitthe we reden
in pe gospel pat Crist, whan he koom in fourme of a seruaurt for to bee deemed
of be false Iewes, seide to hem þat souzten for to take hym: 'I am he’: and a-
noon pei zeeden abak and fellen to pe eerthe. Zef he' pat whan he was deedly
and koom to be demed, hadde so feerdful a voys, þat with his oo woord prews
to be grounde so meny steerne men of pe Iewys, a fer moore feerdful voys
schal he haue whan he schal come yndeedly with his cost of aungelis & of
seyntes for to deeme Þe quyke and be deede, euery man after þat he hath .
deserued. And perfore seith Iob: Cui vix paruan stillam sermonum eius audire
non possunt, tonitruum magnitudinis eius quis potest sustinere? þat is: Sitthe man
may vnneethes heere a luytel drope of his woordes, be greete þunder of his
doom who schalle mowe suffre? As who seith noone. And perfore seith seynt
Bernard þus: Cum peccator accusatus fuerit & consciencia propria contra eun
testimonium perhibuerit et omnis creatura dei insulirexerit contra eum in vindictam,
grauis vt sagitta erit vox domini ad sustinendum, þat is: 'Whanne þe synful
kaityf schal be accused, & his owene conscience schal bere witnesse agens him,
and euery creature of god schal ryse azens him in vengeaunce: greuous as an
arwe schal þanne be pe voys of god to suffre. And be prophete Ieremie seith:
Sagitta vulnerans lingua eius, þat is: 'The tunge of him schal be as an arwe
woundynge'. And þis is pe secounde arwe. The þridde arwe schal bee an arwe
of eendelees dampnyng of alle wykkede men, whan he schal seie to hem: Ite
maledicti in ignem eternum qui preparatus est diabolo di angelis eius, þat is : Goo
ze cursede wiztes in to euerlastynge fuyre, pe whiche is ordeyned to be feend
and to be aungelis of him'. This arwe schal wounde hem þat it falleth on so
greuously, þat alle pe lechis, phisiciens & surgiens, ne set alle þe creatures in
heuene & in eerthe, schüllen not mowe heelē he wounde of it. Thanne schal
þe opene eerthe swelwe hem down in to helle, wheere þei schullen be turmented
with feendis euermore withouten eende. But allas! peer been, i dreede, ful meny
pat neuere wollen bileeue þise pinges eer þei fèelen hem. Of whom seith seynt
Euseby pus: Ve vea quibus est datum hoc prius sentire quan credere, þat is: Woo,
woo be to hem to whom it is zeuen rather to feele pise pinges þan to bileeue
hem”. & þus eendeth pe pridde arwe. But þanne schal Crist turne to hem pat
been on his rizt half, and seie pus: Venite benedicti patris mei, percipite vobis
règnum quod vobis paratum est a patre meo ab origine mundi, þat is : 'Cometh to
me ze bat been þe blesside children of my fadir, and beeth parteneris of my
ioye in pe kyngdom pat was ordeyned for yow by my fadir fro pe bigynnyng
of his world. To be whiche kyngdom and ioye he brynge vs pat bougte vs
with his precious blood. AmeN.
1 Ms. he bat. 2 Ms. de.
3 In the Ms. follows: Sermo per Iohannem Gregory, Fratrem Augustinensem de Neuport: Be
his awne propre blode he entred in, Hebr. 9; and then the following will:
Ci 11999) will
glam Al Al. Wro
so Copia testamenti Roberti Folköngham.
In þe name of almyghty Ihesu I, Robart F., beynge in hool and cleere mynde,
Þe vi day of luylle þe zeere of our lorde a thousand pre hundreth foure-score &
nynetene, make my testament and my laste wylle in pis manere. First I by-take
my soule in to be hondes of al-myzty god, bysechynge to oure lady seynte Marye
and to alle pe hoole compaygnye of heuen to preye for mercy and grace for me.
Also I by-qwethe my wrecchyd synfulle body to been heere in erthe, abydyng
Þe dredful doom of god, in suche place and manere as yt lyketh to his wyse
endeles purueaunce. Also I wylle þat at myn enterement pere be a-bowte my
body bot twey tapres of wex and foure torches of wex, Þe whiche torches I wille
be zeueñ to brenne atte pe leuacioun of be sacrement whil þei wil dure, in þe
same chirche þat I schalle be beryed Inne. Also I wille þat in alle be haste pat
a 1400 in yks. Wr. II.
**
.
..
T
gitatio infirmoru
St.-t
U
.
449
ZN
17
jang
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F
W
.-
I.
..
T
..
AKVA
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Visit. Infirm.
(uc)
LMEDINA
E-
an
.
.
.
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
The same Ms. Univ. Coll. 97 in the beginning contains an Exposition of the 10
Commandments (which I here omit) and the following 2 pieces; all these are also
extant in Ms. Laud 210 (beginning of 14. wanting), and N. 14 besides in Ms.
Bodl. 938, Harl. 2398, Cajus Coll. 209 (a shorter text, from Ms. St. John's Coll.
Oxf. 117, is ed. in Maskell Monum. Ritual. III p. 413).
C1410 14. (Visitatio infirmorum)'.
Here begynneth how men þat been in heele schulde visite seeke folke.
My deere sone or doughter in god, it semeth pat pou hiest the faste in þe
way fro this lyf to godward. Ther pou schalt see alle þi forme-fadres, apostles,
martirs, confessours, virgines, and alle men and wommen þat been sauyd; and
for gladnesse of suche felaschipe be bou of good confort in god. And þenk
howe pou most after this lyf legge a stoon in pe walle of pe citee of heuen
slighliche with-owte eny noyse or stryf. And therfore eer bou wende out of this
worlde, pou most polissche thi stoon and make it redy, zef þou wolt not ther
be letted. This stoon is Þi sowle, which pou most make stronge thorugh rigt
byleue, and faire pou most it clense porghe hope of goddis mercy and parfit
charyte, the whiche heelyn? the multitude of synnes. The noyse þat þou most
make heere in worchynge of this stoon, is ofte for-thynkynge 8 of þi synne, whiche
pou most knowleche to god knowyog the gilty, and ther-after it is profitable
CH10 1399) Will Forside Bois , DR.
yt may be doo after my deth pere Be Sayde a thousande massez for my soule &
for alle Cristeñ soules. Also I be-quetbe to be dooñ in almessé after dyscrecioun
of myñ Executours in alle be bast for my soule, for pe soules of my fadre, modre
and of alle hem pat I am endebtede to by way of kynde, by way of ffrendshipe,
or by way of restitucioun, for pe gode I haue hade of heres by any way, fourty
pounde of golde, and ouer þat, þat þei haue part of alle be preyours, goode dedes
and almesse pat I haue do or ordeyned to be doo, as wel in pis testament as
to-fore in alle my lyf. Sythene I zeue to William Flete my Cosyñ fourty marke
of golde, and alle myn horses, a blew bed of Arras werke, twey payre schetes,
my best haberiour, my pysañ, my ketylle-hat, and myn armynge sworde of Bur-
deux. Also I be-queth to Iohan of Brugge an haberioun, a basynet, a longe
dagger of Burdeux harneyside with syluer in manere of a sword. Also I zeue
to Thomas. Salman an haberiour and a basynet. Also I by-queth to William
Flete my Cosyn alle be remanant of myne armeure. Also I by-qweth to sir
William Countour a longe sangwyn gowne furryd with Calabir. Also I by-queth
to Thomas Heighelme a gowne of blak worstede furred with beuere. Also I
wylle þat alle he debtez, þat any man cane resonably axe, þat þei been payed.
And be iemanant of alle my goode, where so it be in pe handes of my debtours
or elles, I be-qweth it to Ionet my wyfe, to gouerne and susteyne with hir and
Elianore my doughtre, ande eke to doon in almesse for me, and for here, and for
alle hem þat we been endebted to dooñ for by any way as sche may resonabely,
nouzt amenysynge gretely here lyflode ne here poure stat. The execucioun of
whiche thynges above-sayd after my laste wille to be doon and fulfillide, I make
myn Executours Ionet my wyfe, William Wenloke Squiere, Sire William Countour,
Preste Thomas Heighelme, Thomas Salman, William Flete my Cosyn; preyinge
to hem for goddes sake for charitable dede of almesse, and for pe souereyn
trust I baue in hem þat þei wille take pis charge. on hem and refuse it by no
maner way. Writen þe day and zere to-fore nempned with myñ owen honde in
witnesse of my laste wille, and ensealede with my seal. / Probatum fuit hoc testa-
mentum coram nobis Iohanne Lyntoñ, Reuerendi patris domini Thome dei gracia
Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi Comissario generali , XII Kalend. Decembris, Ann10
domini Millesimo CCCINO Nonogesimo Nono. Et commnissa est administracio Iohanne
relicte di executoribus Reseruatis.
This piece is a combination of extracts from St. Augustine's Visit. Infirmorum, and Anselm.
? B couereh. 3 B bibenking bee.
.
OIL
TOT
11.
29
NA
450
Octombshestett
e1410
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
to be to haue conseil of trewe preestes the whiche owen to blesse the poeple,
tellynge hem that been sorwful for here synnes that bei schullen thorugh goddis
mercy been asoylid of hem. The strokerel wherwith pou slykest? this stoon, is
verrey repentaunce þat þou schalt haue in thyn herte sorwyng of þi synne, smy-
tynge thi-self on pe brest with greete sighyng 4 of sorwe and stedefast wil to turne
no moore azeyne to synne. And whan pou hast maad redy þus thi stoon, þat
is thi sowle, thanne myght þou go the redy wey to god, and legge þi stoon
sykerliche with-owten noyful noyse in pe citee of heuene: And therfore i. con-
seile pe in pis lyf þat þou schryue the cleene to god and make pe redy; ffor
grisely deuelys, the whiche han tempted men to synne in this lyf, wollen in the
laste hour been ful besy to begile hem, and nameliche with wanhopes of goddys
mercy. And this is not oonliche to telle º to syke men, but eke to hoole men, ffor
euery day a man neigheth his deeth neer and neer, ffor the moore a man in this
lyf wexith in dayes and zeres, the moore he vnwexith. For, as seyntes seyn: þe
firste day in the whiche a man is born is pe firste day of his deth, ffor euery day
he is diynge while he is in this lyf. And therfore seith Þe gospelle : ‘Awake?, for
pou wost neuere whiche hour god is to come, in thi zouthe or in thi myddel age
or in thi laste dayes, or preuyliche or openliche. And therfore (loke] þat þou be al-
wey redy! For it is semliche þat þe seruaunt abyde pe lord, and not the lord his
seruaunt. And nameliche whan greet haste is, he is worthi blame þat is vuredy. But
grettere haste no man redith of, than schalle be in þe comynge of Crist. Aud ther-
fore' waketh in vertues; ffor whan the gate is schet, it is neuere aftir openyd. And
perfore, brother or suster in god, wete pow pat god visiteth men for here synnes
diuersliche : suime been visitid with scharp prisonynge, summe with sclaundre
and bacbytyng, suinme with ontrowthe of fals men, and 10 summe with diuerse
seeknesse; and zef þat synne were clene awey, thanne seeknesse schulde slake.
Here-of bereth pe gospel witnesse where Criste seide to ten myselis whanne thei
weren heelyd of here lepre: Goth, he seith, and nyle ze synne moore, lest ze
fallen wersse', als who seith: for youre synne ze hadde this seeknesse. And
perfore be lawe wolde by ryght iustice þat no leche schulde zeue bodyliche
medicyne to a seek man, but zef he were in wille to take goostliche medicyne
and to lene pe synne pat woundeth his 12 sowle, schryuyng hym trewliche with
good wille to don no moore euyl. For so 13 he resceyueth god, dwellynge in parfit.
charite. And who þat is treweliche thus i-schryuen and dwellith in verrey repen-
taunce, I drede not that'4 the seeknesse ne schalle slake whiche he hadde for his
synne. Or elles his peynel5 suffred with meekenesse, schal turne hym to muche
merit in blisse after pis lyf. Þerfore zef thi peynes slake not, comforte the in
god in this manere.
How a man schulde comforte a nother þat he grucche not whanne he is
seeke.
Brother or suster, louest pou god thi lorde ? he or sche, Zef thei mowe speke,
wol seye ze 16; or perauenture, zif they mowe not speke, thei wole thenke ze.
Thanne thus : Zef thow louest god, pow louest alle þat he doth; ande he scor-
geth the for thi profit and not for his; and perfore pou schuldest gladliche suffre
hym and loue hym, ffor he wol not punyssche twyes hem þat meekeliche suffren
hym. And þat his chastisynge in this lyf is alle for loue; scheweth Salomon
wher17 he seith : Sone, grucche not a-zeyns the chastisynge of thi fader : ffor
it is no sone whom the fader chastiseth noť. And this acordeth with resoun, and
eke with comun manere of speche; ffor zef a man see a nother mannys childe
do euele in his faders presence, and his fader chastiseth 18 him nought, thanne wol
þat other man say that it is not his childe, or ellis that he loueth hym nouzt;
ffor zef he were his child, or ellis þat hel' louede hym, he wolde chastise hym.
And therfore be nought euele paied of thi fadres chastisynge of heuene, ffor he
1 BH stroke. 2 B strikest, H smytest. 3 B for. 4 B sighingis. 5 BH dispeire.
7 B wake. 8 BH apertliche. 9 B forhi. 10 om in B. 11 n. ze om in B.
13 Ms. se. 14 B þat ne. 15 BH peynes.
16 B sea. 17 B ther. ' 18 B chastise.
he om in B.
o B sey.
12 B the.
19 bat
--
-
attoo in the Wrth
Visit. Infirm, & cuc).
Ал,
*
kisitatio infirmorum.
451
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
seith hym-self: 'Whom i loue I chastise'. Also seeknesse of body, meekliche
suffrid, maketh helthe of sowle', and soule-helthe is not but oonliche of god.
Therfore despise not goddís scorgynge, but whanne god chastiseth the, banke
hym and loue hym, þat he amendeth the, 'yndirnemeth pe, and blameth the; ffor
alle this is token of loue ande scheweth? that he wol not punyssche thein his
wrathe ne in his woodnesse, but of his greet goodnesse he wole haue mercy on
be zef bou woltº leeue thi synne. And perfore pank thi god, and specialliche
that he hath largid to synful men his mercy aboue his wrathe. Drede this lord
as sone & 4 not as seruaunt: ffor he is thi iuge þat wol not dampne the but zef
bow wolt not for. lust and coueitise leeue thi synnne, but he wol haue mercy on
the, and therfore mercifulliche he chastiseth the, and ther how hast deseruyd
· euerelastynglichehis wrathe and to be dampned for euere, he putteth-ouer his
vengeaunce and of grete mercy he suffreth vs to amende owre defautes, and
punysscheth vs but a while. And“ þerfore dispise not his zerde of mercy, ne grucche
not therazeyns, but suffre it gladliche, ffor alle pe domes of god been rightfulle.
Now þanne *, sitthe seeknesse of body is helthe of soule, and wole or nyle pou þow
schalt haue it er þou dye, and zef pou grucche azeyns god, with pi grucchynge
þou makest thi sowle moore feble and so Þou harmest thi-selfe with thi grucchynge
ffor nothyng is wers to a seeek man þan to be malencolious, and eke bou
greuest thi fadir þe whiche coueiteth to be thi leche, and pus as a fool pou
harmest thi-self in' double manere: oon is þat pou greuest thi god, another is
8 pou lesist thi meede pat þou schuldest haue zef þou suffredest alle maner disesesº
pacientliche to be deth; and þogh a man sum-tyme may not kepe pacience in
sekenesse for greet accesse 10 of diuerse passions, neuertheles he schulde, byfore
thei koomen and after he passynge of hem, purpose in his sowle to suffre alle
anoyes pacientliche, and whan his hors grucchith, þat is his fesch, his spirit
schulde be redy to suffre, and aske mercy for pe grucchynge of his flesch, know-
ynge þat alle bodiliche anoyes suffrid meekliche in this lyf maketh þe sowle fayre
and stronge and rightliche'l to passe from purgatorie to heuene: wherfore we
schulden with good wille heriel? god, and with glad herte take 13 diseses. Thenk
þat zef þou haddest be traytour to the kynge wherfore þou haddest deseruyd
hangyng and drawynge, and he hadde forzeue the thi deth and punyssched the
but a lytul while in an esy prisoun: how moche were bou holden to hym. Muchel
moore pou schuldest bythenke the how 14 thow hast be traytour to god and therfore
deseruyd euerlastynge peyne, and zet this merciful lord forzeueth vs heere een-
deles deeth be whiche we 16deseruyd, and punysscheth vs here but 16 a lytel with
bodiliche seeknesse, zef we wollen meekly take his chastysynge.
7,ef deeth goo faste on a man, speke to bym thus.
Brother or suster in god, zif pou save or bithoughtest in thyn herte pe
meschiefs of this wrecchid world and pe ioyes of heuene, pou schuldest desire
to be with god þough pou were lord of alle this world, and zef pou stode in
grace, thow schuldest desire to forsake it to come to heuene; ffor hooly writ
seith: 'Blessede be þei pat dyen in god'. Loke þe bigynnynge of this lif is care
and sorwe; lyuynge ther-Inne, what is it but muchel trauail withowte fruyt,
tene and disese, where-porugh many men been ouer-comen with diuers tempta-
cions and forzetyn here god, and so þei comen to an euyl ende? Loke nowe
whethir it is better to dye wel or to lyue euele. Zef pou stonde in verray repen-
tance and laste ther-Inne, stedefastlyche byleuyng in the mercy of god, thow
maist dye wel. But harde it is to lyue wel fulliche in this wrecchede worlde,
ffor be holy prophete seith þat 'eueriche man is a lyere', þat is to seye, for his
firste forfeture euerich man synneth whiles he lyueth in this wrecchide lyf outher
for lyinge of seruynge god after his comaundement, or ellis for þat he serueth hym
not aftir his worthynesse; ffor hooly writte seith þat seuene sithes in the day
falleth the riztwyse man, and seynt Poul seith that no man lyueth in this lyf with-
IB soule hele. 2 B & v. 3 ande sch. om in BH. 4 om in B. 5 B endelesly.
6 B folily. 7 BH on. 8 BH bat bou. 9 BH of disese. 10 BH axes. 11 B liztlier.
12 B sch. deuoutly bank. 13 B resseyue. 2 B hou þat. 18 B haue d. 16 B wiþ a l. b. s.
29*
.
#t400 in thes. Wh. I
C1410
452
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
owte defaute. Ther-fore we schulden prey to god with greet desir, zif it were
bis wille, þat we weren deede and lyueden with hym. For he wrecchidnesse
of this world may no man telle. For heere is hunger of goddis lawe and fewe
þat desiren ther-aftir , and pei þat thristen þer-aftir, been ofte-tymes slaked
with bittere venym; and therfore be charite of menye? wexith coold thorugh
Þe heete of wykked couetise, ffor long trauaille and greet þat men han aftir
worldliche bisynesse, and lustes maken meny men so weery þat þei suffisen
not to come to a good ende. For this lyf is ful of envye, 2 wrathe, glotonye,
? lecherye, "prude, 'slouth, couetise, ? ffalshed, manslaughtre, and thefte, and of
manye othere wykkednesse þat spryngen of thise, and ther nys no man þat he?
ne hath summe of thise, ffor no man in this lyf lyueth with-owte synne; and
manye men been acombrid with alle thise, and zet thei kunne not ne wollen not
dischargen hem. Ande therfore pise philosofres pe whiche knewen the wrecchyd-
nesse of this lyf, maaden greet sorwe whan here children weren bore, and greet
ioye whan thei dyeden and passeden . from pe wo of this fals worlde; and as
men fynden write, seynt Austyn whan he schulde be deed, spak to deeth in this
manere: Welcome Deeth, end of alle wykkednesses; ffor pou art ende of trauaille
to hem þat han heere wel trauaillyd; ffor thanne and no rathere bygynneth
parfitliche? goode mennes eese in endeles blisses. What man may by-thenke þe
profit and he blisse þat thow bryngest with þe? Therfore bou art desirful to
me. For a trewe cristene man may not euele dien, ffor aftir this lyf he schalle
lyue with Criste.
Whan thowe hast tolde hym alle this, or ellys zef pou myght not for hast
of deeth: bygynne heere eer his mynde goo from hym:
Brother or suster, art pou glad þat þou schalt dyen in cristene feith? Rze.
Knowlechist pou to god pat þou hast not lyued aftir his comaundementz,? Rze.
Art pou soory þat pou lyuedest not as pou schuldest? B ze. Art þou in' good
wille to amende alle trespassis' doon azens god and thyn euencristene, zef pou
haddest space to lyue? Rze. Truste[st] º pou stedefastliche that god may forzeue
the and alle men here synnes, though pou ne noon othere make heere fulliche lo
asseth for bem? RC ze. Leuyst þou in god fadir alle-myghty, makere of heuene
and of erthe and of alle þat been in hem? RC ze. Leuyst þou þat the fadir and
the sone and the holy goost been zre persones and oo god? Bze. Leuyst thow
that oure lord Ihesu Crist goddis sone of heuene was y-conceyued oonliche of
the hooly goost and tooke fesshe and blood of oure lady seynte Marie, and sche
mayden ande moder aftir his burthe? PC ze. 11 Leuyst thow pat oure lorde? Ihesu
Crist suffrede harde peyne and deeth for oure trespassis and' not for his gylt?
R ze. "Leuyst þou þat he was aftir his deeth buryed, nad roos the thridde day
in fiesch, and steygh to heuene, and sente pe holy goost, ande schal come to
deeme boothe wikkede and goode, zeldyng hem aftir here trauaille ? Bze.
Thankest thow hym of al thyn herte for thise greete goodnesses 12 þat he hath
doon wilfullyche to mankynde? R ze. "Leuyst pou pat pou ne no man may be
sauyd. but thorugh his passioun and his mercy? Rze. While thi sowle is in
thi body, put hoolliche? alle thi trust in his mercy, preiynge hym for his moder
loue to 13 sette his greete passioun by-twixe his doome and thi synnes, ande trust
treweliche þat he wol of his goodnesse doo to the bettre pan pou kanst desiren.
And haue pou? therfore stedefastliche to thyn ende his passioun and his greete
mercy in thi mynde, ffor there-thorugh oonliche been alle enemyes ouercomen.
Therfore medle thi bought with his passioun, & wrappeli pe as in a cloth in his
mercy, and trust stedefastliche ther-Inne; nouzt thenkynge on thi wyf, ne on thyne
children, ne on thi richessels, but oonliche 16 and stedefastliche on the passioun of
owre lord Ihesu Crist, hauynge the hard passioun pat oure lord Ihesu Crist suffrede
on the cros lastyngliche in thi mynde. i? And zef pou byholde any cros or ymage
Tom in B. 2 B &. 3 B combrid. 4B soner. ' 5 Bioy. 6 B he answerib zea.
7 B Hauest hou. 8 B defautis. 9 Ms. Trusteth. 10 B ful. 11 B beleuyst. 12 BH goodnes.
13 BH þat he wol. 14 B wlappe. 15 From here extant in Ms. Laud 210, fol. 98. 10 L spe-
cialiche. 17 Cf. St. Aug. Vis. inf.
y
.
Visit. Inter hoon phas h
- (UC)
Visitatio infirmorum.
453
Ms. Univ. Coll. 971
y-maad with mannys hondys, wite pou wel þat it' is not god, and therfore sey or
thenk in thyn herte: I woot wel pou art nought god? but ymaad: aftir hym,
to make men haue bei moore mynde of hym after whom pou art ymagid. Ther-
fore, lord fadir þat art in heuene, mercy I aske the of alle þat I haue trespassid,
and pe wilful passioun of oure lord Ihesu Crist the whiche he suffrede for man-
kynde, mercyful fadir of thi goodnesse be it bitwyxe me and myne euele dedys,
and the greete merite of oure lord Ihesu Crist queeme it to be for al pat i
schulde haue disseruyd and doñ and dede not; and salso, mercyful lord fader
of heuene, zef it be thi wille, i byseche be that alle þe beenfetis (bat] oure
lord Ihesu Crist ?aftir thi biddynge dede heere in erthe for saluacioun of man-
kynde, stoonde bitwixe me and thi wratthe. And blisful lady moodir of mercy
seynte Marie, qwene of heuene, 'lady of alle 8 this worlde, and emperise of
helle, as pou disseruedest byfore alle wommen þorugh the goodnesse of god to
beren with-owten wem of thi maydenhood Ihesu Crist saueour of mankynde, soos
pou biseche thi blessed 8 sone for me that alle 8 myne synnes belo forzeuen".
And lord al myghty 5 Ihesu Crist, sitthe thyn hooly gospel witnesseth þat pou wolt
nought the deeth of synful man but that he bee turnyd from synne and lyue,
haue mercy of me synful wrecches, after thi woord, and as pou blamedest Sym-
ount for he hadde indignacioun þat Marie magdeleyne !? for hire synnes schulde
neighe the, haue mercy of me moost synful, and lord Ihesu 13 as pou clepedist
Zachee and Poul and oothere diuerse from here 14 synnes, dispise nought me pat
come to the wilfulliche wyth-owten suche clepynge; and though i haue longe leyn
in my synne, thenk lord 8 on the greete mercy þat pou baddest and schewedest -
to mankynde that he schulde not schame ne despeire 15 of thi mercy alle-though
he hadie longe leyn in synne, whan Þou haddest no desdayn to reere Lazar alle-
though 16 he hadde leyn in his graue foure dayes stynkynge??. And herfore i. truste
to þe, lord', for hou art fadir al-myghty in whos mercy i. truste, to whos refuyt
i. fle. With greet desire I come to be hyenge: lord, dispise me not is, thowgh i. be
wrecched and synful 19, ffor i. truste fulliche 20 to thyn help in alle my greete neede.
For i. knowleche bats i. may not helpe my-self ne azeyn-bugge me with my
dedys: but stedefastliche i. truste in thi passioun, that it suffiseth to make ful 21
asseth to pe fadir of heuene for my synnes. Therfore, lord, brynge me out of
care and haue mercy on me; 2? I trust not to my dedys but i. despise to trusten
in hem, ffullyche trustynge to thi greete mercy, dispisynge my wikkide dedys.
For þou art my god in whom i. trowe stedefastlyche is alle myght and 23 mercy
and good wyl24, wherethourgh i. hoope to be sauyd. And therfore to the, þat art
ful of mercy, i. knowleche my synne pe whiche i. haue doon thourgh 25 myn owene
defaute. I knowleche my gilt: haue mercy of me, ffor i. trowe treweliche bat
pou denyest thy mercy to noone þat treweliche trusten therto. And in trust ther-
of i. forsake wyth alle myn herte this lyf, to lyue with the. In thyne hondis,
lord alle-myghty and mercyful, I bitake my soule; For fro the bygynnynge of
this worlde hath thi mercy be reedy to synful men, and so i. truste it schal be
to me in myn ende. Therfore, god my lorde ful of trewth, take my sovle,
for it is thyn; 29 doo therto as the lyketh; ffor i. woot welof thy goodnesse
it schalle fare bettere than it hath disseruyd. Receyue it, and help it: for in thyne
mercyful hondys I putte it. AmeN.28
IL þat. 2 L my god. 3 L ymaged, BH ymage. Tom in B. 5 om in L. 6 Ms.
(& LH) of. 1 L whiche a. S om in LBH. Ï &1. 10 LB be alle. 11 LBH f. me.
12 om in LB. 13 lord Ihesu om in LBH. 14 B hed. 15 Ms. disespeire. 16 BH bou%-al.
17 B stynkand. 18 LBH not me. 19 L s. & wr. 20 om in BH. 21 LH a ful. 22 L for I.
23 L & alle. 24 B goodnes. 25 B in. 26 L to do. 27 LB wel I woot. 28 L Explicit
visitacio infirmorum.
KO
454
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
C1410 Love God
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97.
Diliges dominum deum tuum ex toto corde tuo, ex tota anima tua, et ex tota
mente tua &c., Luce decimo.
Thou schalt loue thi lord thi god of al thyn herte, of al thy lyf, of al thi mynde,
and of al thi strengthes or myghtes; and thyn neighebor as thi-self'. In thise two
comaundementz hangeth alle the lawe and prophetis. | Thanne pou louest god
of al thyn herte, that is to seye of al thyn yndirstondyng: whanne pou schapist
alle thyn yndirstondyng pryncipalliche to knowe the endeles myght and right-
wysnesse, the endeles wysdom and charite & mercy of thi god: howe god is redy
& wylly & kunnynge to venge synne and punyssche wykkide men þat wylle not
leue here synine, and how god is mercyful and kunnyng & myghty to forzeue
synnes to hem pat han verray repentaunce of there wykkide synnes; and for this
vndirstondyng of thi god pou most fle and destruye synne bothe in the & in other
men vp thi power and wit, and kepe and teche the comaundementy, of god,
and mayntene rightfulnesse and good lyuynge, verray pees & charite ; and þan
þou louest wel god of alle thyn herte, þat is of al thyne vndirstondyng. Also
pou louest god of alle thi lyf: whanne pou schapest alle thi lyf bothe in zouthe
and in age, and in prosperite and aduersite, to [he] worschip of god in clennesse
and holynesse, herieng and thankyng thi god for al his grace and goodnesse and
mercy, and for alle diseses and tribulacions pat he sendeth to pe in this lyf.
T Also pou louest god of alle thi mynde: whanne thou schapest al thi mynde to
thenke on pe goodnesse of god, how he maade alle thynges of nouzt, not for his
owne neede ne auantage but for his owne goodnesse and (pe] profit of his trewe
seruantz, as been goode angelis and goode men; and to haue mynde on Cristes
wylful and peynful passioun and deth, not for his owne synne but for oure greete
synnes; and to haue mynde on pe dredful day of doome, and on the endeles
blisse in heuene to goode men, and on the endeles stronge peynes in helle to
cursede men that wol neuere amende wel ther foule lyf. q Also pou louest god
of al thi strengthes or myghtes: whanne pou spendist alle pi myghtes bothe of
soule and body in seruise of god, and algates that thi wille be sugget to resoun,
and in alle thynges y-confourmed to the wylle of god; and pat pou waaste nouzt
the strengthe of thi body in vanytees and ydelnesse and synne, but kepe it in
good mesure to do goode dedis 'to worschip of god and help of othere cristene
men, I and þat þou spende wel thi fyue wyttes, as Sight, Heryng, Smellyng,
Tastyng, and Touchyng, and also spekyng; also to despise synne and to do
good, and mayntene trouthe of godis lawe vp al thi power and kunnynge, and
greet desire of rightwisnesse; and thanne louest pou god wel of thi strengthes.
Thou louest thi neighebor as thi-self: whan pou willist bym good bothe in body
& soule as pou schuldest by charite; as, zef thi neighebor be in goode lyf towarde
god, be bou glad and ioyful therof, and norissche hym, conforte hym, and help
hym ther-Inne, and zef he be in synful lyf, haue greete compassion & sorwe
therfore, and vp al thi kunnynge & mygt bryng hym out therof by deuout preyer,
by holy conseillyng and techyng, and by ensample zeuynge of thi good lyf, by
dreede of greetė peynes bothe in this world and purgatorie & in helle, and by
confort of the greete mercy of god, and by confort of the endeles blisse of heuene
how soone he may gete that by godes mercy and verray repentaunce & amendyng
of his wykkide lyf. Zef he be at welfare of body and prosperite of worldly goodis
with trewe lyf kepyng godis hestis, be glad therof and help hym ther-Inne, and
apeyre hym not for no maner good of this world; zef he be at malese of body
or ful nedy of worldlys catel, help hym and socour hym as pou woldest he hulpe
be zef pou were in the same disese, and algates as pou schuldist wilne to be
releuyd by godis lawe of other myghty men. And not oonly loue thus thi
neighebor at hoom, þat is thi frend, but a straunge man and thyn encmy, ze
4*400mm this
ܓ
)
ܝܫܗܬ ܘ++
دیوان نا ( س
n
- Nine pointsi.
455
Ms. Univ. Coll. 97]
though he be hethen or soudon ; for alle ben bretheryn in kynde of o fadir & O
modir, and so neighebors, & we ben i.-holde by charite to brynge men to good
lyf, vp oure kunnyng and myght.' Explicit.
1 The sane Ms. Univ. Coll. 97 contains a sermon on Redde racionem villicacionis tue Luc. 16
(which sermon in Ms. Harl. 2398 f. 140 has the title: Sermo Magistri Thome Wymyldoñ apud
crucem in cimiterio S. Pauli London, and is a translation of a Latin sermon auctore R. Wim-
bledon in Ms. Cajus Coll, 334), a treatise made by Sir John Clanewowe knight the laste viage
that he maade ouer the greete see, in whiche he dyede' (also in Ms. Simeon), Exposition of
the Pater noster, and of the 12 articles of the faith (from Dan Michel), Bonus sermo per Joh.
want to create
Loistaflet Personal
Some northern poems.
0
1 6. (Nine points).
Ms. Harl. 2409.
Some northern pom. a 1500 9 PP Godle che
15000
euro
(Other Mss.: Cambr. Ff I. 14 (Novem virtutes) and Ji IV. 9; Ff, northern dialect,
adds Latin quotations after each point; Ji introduces southern forms. The poem,
written in the North, is a metrical paraphrase of a Latin text (Novem virtutes)
ascribed to R. Rolle, extant in Ms. Cajus Coll. 140 f. 132, of which other ver-
sions have been given I. p. 110; it is perhaps by the author of the Speculum
Christiani.)
f. 756.
7. free
HEre ere neghen poyntes of gret vertu,
Pat oure lorde talde, swet Ihesu,
Til a creature, als ze shal here,
Pat askyde hym on þis manere:
5 How he myzt, and in what Þinge,
Plese god mast to his likynge.
Oure lorde answerde and bus sayde:
»Of neghen þinges I am best payde.
The fyrst, he sayde, is almous-dede,
10 For whils pou lyfes, it may þe spede
Out of þi synne þat þou art inne,
To helpe þi saule heuen to wynne;
Til alle be pouere þat nede has.
For me is wele leuere in þis cas
15 Ane almouse-dede whils Þou here lyues,
Pan alle be remenant pat pou gyues
When pou art dede and layde on molde,
Pan alle be hylles we[r] brynnand golde
And stafful were stoppyde of syluer in
horde
20 Pis warne I pe trewly with worde:
It serues Þe nozt þat pou gyues pare;
For when dede commys, pou may na
A nother poynt. pan is þis
To helpe þi saule to heuen-blys:
To wepe for my passyon,
25
And sythen make redempcion
Alle for pi synnes þat þou haues wroght,
And þinke how dere I haue be boght.
And pat is me leuere þat it so be,
Þan pou wepe for oper Þan for me 30
Als mykelle water as is be see wip-inne; .
For zit a tere titter myzt wynne
Vntil þat Ioye bat ay salle be,
To wonne wiþ me in trinite.
The þridde is, to suffre à worde 35
for me;
For me is welle leuere bat pou be
Buzsom & meke in worde and dedem
For þat helpys mare și saule at nede-
Pan pou ilke day þi body dange,
Babe þi sydis and pi swange.
40
ре
And say an oryson in þe honore of me.
Pat is me leuere bat pou do,
Pan pou þe haly land sent vnto
mare.
15 FJ om dede. Fom here. 16 F remnand.
J were brennyng. 19 J styfly. 23 J is thane.
29 J om þatz. F swa. 30 Fj grete. 31 F als.
17 FJ in m. 18 F om alle. F war birnand,
25 F grete. 26 F syene ) sene. 27 F has.
32 F teyr. J the tyter. F ma. 33 F Vnto.
39 ) ylke a.
J s. to.
40 F om big.
41 J f. resone, F & wakyn, J & wakyng be.
44 F to be.
.
a 1500
tas-Wr. I
app God (a
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle.
456
9c
--
-
-
--
-
---
45 Twelfe men of pi costage,
Pan may pou full welle me pay; 8c
To fynde paim yll a day pair wage. For me is leuere þat þou do so,
The fyfte is, to haue compassion &
Pan pou in spiret walde ilk day go,
hert sare
Til heuen, þat ioy þar to se,
When pou sees any febely fare.
And na lufe haue ne charite.
Pe pore bat ere als gode als bou, The eghetende: if pou couet any 8
50 Pat of þe worlde hayes no prow,
þinge,
Pat ilk a day feles gret myschefe, Aske of me at þe bygynnynge
Pa men are to me dere and lefe; Pe pinge þat is of ryztwisnes,
Als dere I bozt þaim wiþ my blode Be it mare or be it les,
Als paim pat haues he worldes gode, And ask ay fyrste pe blis of heuen
55 And þai schal nerrer wiþ me be
Or bou any opir binge neuen,
Pan pe ryche pat for ryches forsakes me; For be ioy of heuen lastys ay
For pai may nozt wele, pe sope to say, And erpely þinge wytes away.
Bape pe worlde & me sereue to pay. Of couetos men I am nozt payde,
Bot of þi compassion mare me payes, Pat on his worlde þair hertis haue layde,
60 Pan pou fastyd fourty dayes
And þair statis lastis bot a whyle; 95
Til brede and watyr for pe lufe of me; Bot pai be ware dede wil þam gyle.
And mare alowyd schal it be.
For-Þi luke fyrst þi-selfe aske me
The sexte is, to say noure-whare of Pe pinge þat is best for þe.
bakbityng;
And þat is me leuere, whyls pou lyfes
For þat is [a ful] perylous þing.
here,
65 For pai pat sais one before, anoper be-
Þan pou made my modyr messangere, rod
, hynde,
And alle pe halows of ilka degre,
Þat manere paire saules shal bitter fynde Forto pray [to mej for pe.
When þaire bodis er grayede to bere, The neghent is : loue me anly our i
Paire saules be put to paynes sere.
al þinge;
Me ware leuere pou stode stille,
Þan bes pou sykir at pine endynge
70 Þan pou spake of any man ille;
In ioy and blis euere-mare to be, 105
It schoulde do þi soule mare gode, Pat na ere may here ne eghe se
Pan pou ilk day barfote zode,
Ne hert pinke ne tunge telle;
Pat men myzt folow be trace of þe Þan thare pe nozt drede peynis of helle.
Of blode þat þou wold blede for me. And þat is me leuere pan þou zode
75 The seuent: lufe ay wele þine euen Opon a tre þat tille heuen stode IIC
cristen;
Pat ware dryuyne ful of scharpe rasours,
And pan wil I hi prayer lysten.
And louede opir þinge paramours,
For bot pou haue lufe and charite, Pat is erbely þinge, mare pan me
Grace ellys getys pou nane of me.
Pat become man and dyde for þe..
If þou wil do jus als I say,
. A. M. E. N.
45 J costages. 46 J wages. Fom a. 47 F f. vertu, J fyrst resone. Fes, om in J.
Ff in h. 48 J any of ylle f. 49 F as you. 50 F wald. F has. J haue. 51 F ilke day.
52 J That. 53 F bam. 54 J As they. F werlde. J wordys. 55 J derer. F to. 57 J om
wele. J sothely. 58 F warlede & mo. 59 F For of. 61 F w. & br. J om be. 62 F sal,
J schulde. 63 J om to. F nover whare, J no worde. 64 J om ful. 65 FJ a worde. J &
anoper. 66 J That makyth, F Þais men. 67 F bodes. F grathed ; J gone to berye. 68 F
beys. 69 ) they st. 70 J ze sp. J om of. 71 F sulde. J ther sowlys. 72 ) thay i. d.
73 F trays. 74 J of be. 75 F s. es. 76 FJ om And. 79 ) om þus; J the s. 31 F so do.
82 J-vpryght ylke a d. wolde. 83 J for inst. of þar. 84 J And had. I nor no, J ner.
85 FJ e. is. J of bou. 86 J Aske it. 87 FJ Þat. 90 F om opir. 91 F bat. 92 J Whane
other thynges wastes a. 93 J am I. 94 F has, J are. 95 F state, J lyfe. 96 F Bot: þat.
FJ begyle. 97 J loue. IOI FJ ilke, FJ ine, to om. 105 F ioyand. 106 F no nere, I no
hert. F no ee. , 107 J No. Fino, J nor no. 108 F he pyen. 109 J om þat. 112 F
thynges. II3 F Pat is here hartly, J That is hertyly; þinge om.
CV
17. Poems of Ms. Galba E IX.
The following poems are found in Ms. Galba EIX, the same Ms. which
contains the best text of R. Rolle's Prick of Conscience, besides the northern
translation of the Evangelium Nicodemi in verse (ed. in the Archiv), and parts of
the Cursor Mundi (ed. Morris).
Ty
TY
.
.
LA
S
.P.67.
.
)
e
monolin to projekt. Om fled. W . 1817 2 , . Be to
Plywod. do 5.269.206; A.
prale msalani no.10g: 1226
to final. This is beglepe .109,5860
V. fol. 486. D

Poems of Ms. Galba E ix.
SA
.
.
Vos qui transitis: si crimina flere uelitis,
Per me transite: quoniam sum ianua uite.
30
Bides a while and baldes zoure pais,
and heres what god him-seluen sais
hingand on pe rode :
*Man and woman þat by me gase,
: 5 luke up to me and stint þi pase,
for pe I sched my blude.
In my mercy despaire pou noght
sen I be so dere baue boght,
and ensaumpill pou take
of sinfull Mari Mawdelayne,
þat with sin was gastly slayne
and sepin gan it forsake.
Also ensaumple may pou luke
of saint Peter, þat me forsoke
and sepin rewed it sare.
mercy had þai sone of me;
man, þe same I will do þe;
parfore lete at my lare.
35
4
:
27.
1
Themafer to shaped
III.
Mop.181, volio
21 MB
bihald mi body, or Þou gang,
and think opon my paynes strang,
and still als stane bou stand.
10 bihald þi-self þe suth, and se
how I am hanged here on pis tre
and nailed fute and hand.
Bihald mi heuid, bihald my fete,
and of þi misdedes luke pou lete;
15 : bihald mi grisely face.
Of þi sins ask aledgance,
and in my mercy haue affiance,
and pou sall get my grace'.
vurur..Amma
-
II.
YA
.
.
.
In cruce sum pro te: qui peccas desine
pro me;
Desine: do ueniam ; dic culpam, corrige
uitam.
Man, pus on rode I hing for þe:
forsake þi sin fór luf of me,
sen I swill luf be bede...
Man, I lufe pe ouer all thing,
5 and for þi luf pus wald I bing
my blisced blude to blede.
Man, ful dere I haue be boght:
how es it so þou lufes me noght?
vnkindly dose pou þare.
10 if pou will luf vnto me schaw,
for my broper I will be knaw-
what may I do pe mare ?
If þat þou be most sinful man
þat euer in werld on erth ran,
15 and pou will knaw þi state
and sadly seke to my mercy,
pe to resaiue I am redy
euer arly and late.
Of all þi misdedes luke pou blin;
20 more es my mercy þan pi sin:
pou call mercy with hert;
ask mercy and þou sall [it] haue,
and fro pe fende I sall þe saue,
and fro his paines smert.
fol. 46.
Al es bot a fantum þat (we) with ffare:
Vs be-houes ilka day heben make us
zare,
Forto wend fra þis werld naked & bare,
Bot our wyndyng-clathe with-outen any
gare.
Litel while sal we hald þat we so fast 5
spare;
Other men sal it wast þat we obout care.
He pat maste hordes sal rew it ful sare;
Saue þat we do for godes loue, haue
we na mare.
Al es bot a fantum þat we with dele:
Many has hap, and many ynsele; 10
Be ye neuer so hate zit may it kele;
Lat noght þe pouer by þat þe es ouer-
wele.
Do þow il do pow wil, bathe sal þow
fele,
When bathe liges in-lik hegh pi hed &
ty hele.
Al es bot a fantum þat we so fast hald: 15
Litel gode can be zong, & les can pald;
Him-self sal hald him a fole þat most
has in wald,
When he sal on domesday his Iustis by-
hald;
Þan sal he sik & sorow many fald
Pat he had [noght] wroght in pis werld 20
as god wald.
Help þe pouer in honger & in cald:
Pan may pow be for an of his tald.
Al es bot a fantum þat mast es our
thoght,
Þat es Þe welbe of þis werld, þat es
noght.
Þar we sal haue our dome als we haue 25
wroght,
.
.
.
Frequal to profund before
181,4 do 1.abs-200 kalor
preto n.6.c.illleno. 1098b. Bata
WS
*
Q4.5.Qaltar War
Transder to probed herfra, 187, Tel. 2,
458
Works wrongly attributed to R. Rolle." ***
L1,
Yt
A
.
2012
204
i
I hald him a grete fole & kan litel skile,
When he seez bat he sitz opon pe pit-hil,
To take him any sektur gode or Il
Forto dele his gode inwot whartil ;
Pai wil dele nothing bot pain wile list, 6c
Þam thoght it fulitel pai fand in his kist;
Pai nerek of Þe dale how lang it es mist,
Þai wil sai pai haue delt if naman it wist.
He þat kan in his hert wile vndrestand,
He sal dele at his dore with his awen 65
hand,
Whils he mai on his fete in be wai stand ;
Els sal helbel begiled when he mai
noght gang.
Al es bot a fantom þat we about ga,
Pat es be welth o'pis werld þat wirkes
many wa.
When pou lys in þi bed opon þi dedestra, 70
Pou wenes to gif it pi frende, & leues
it þi fa.
When dede has be begiled as he dos
many ma,
Of al þi gode ertow quitt þat tow ferd
fra.
Of al our misdedez forthe sal be soght,
Of manikyn folis pat we littel roght.
Prai we to godes son þat dere has us
boght,
Til þe ioy þar he wones þat we may
be broght'.
30 Lit es þar a fantom lest forto praies:
Pou rekes noght of pi brother bot pou
be at ais.
When pou lyes bonden als hering dos
in maies,
In payne for þi misdedez, wha sal pe
raies?
Of al pas þat befor wald be so fast
praies,
35 Findes Þou þan na frende þat þe wil
up laies.
Litel pite men thinkes of þi mikel care:
Pou ne rekes in þi lif how þi saul fare ;
To gif to pe pouer nothing mightow
spare,
To hald þi caitif saul fra sorow & care.
40 Es þar noman þe menes þe les no pe
mare,
Þou ert wilet withi pe werld & tan in
be share.
Pou ert tan with a snare to put in hel-
pitt
Blam þarfor be naman bot þi aven witt.
Be-side mani sare sal pou þare sitt,
45 Of god & of heuyn-blis ertow ful quitt ;
Gerrard? himº-self sal gif þe a smitt,
Als blak as hinz-self makes he be lik.
Al es bot a fantom þat we with daile:
Al pe gode þat þou has getin it sal
noght be availe
50 When þou ert put in þi pit þi frendez,
pe faile,
Pi sekturs þi gode skift has made be
ataile.
Mikel ferly me think þat men in þare lyfe
Al pe gode pat pai haue geten, pai
leuit with pare wife;
When he es at his langham, scho eges
hire be-lyfe
55 To take hire a zong swayn þat wil mai
Pis weld es bot a fantom, sothe forto
sai;
Now mai pou se a man here, & sone 75
es he awai.
Thynk on þi saule & gif whils pou mai;
He þat hordes most sal rew it for ay.
He thinkes more on his hord þat in
kist lay,
Þan of god him-self be nyght ore be
day.
Prai we to þat iustic, þat al thing 80
wate-
Of al pe dedes pat we haue done he
knawes ore state,
Þat we haue wroght in oure lyue arly
& late:
To pe ioy þare he wones he lede vs
Þe gate,
Grant til vs his Iritage to enter at his
zate,
To folow vs, oure charite of þe lang date. 85
He þat þis sang made, Ihesu mirthé
he hade
Pat we þat stede nogbt se pare saulez,
ay grate; :
Zit sais Ihesu mery als he saide are.'
Al es bot a fantom þat we obout fare.
(Follows: Prophecies of Merlin, beg.
Herkenes speches of manikyn' thinges).
ir overl.
hire swyfe.
1 Hereafter, the first 5 vv. of the st. are
repeated :
Al es bot a fantom bat most es oure thoght,
Pat es be welth obis verld þat saul helpes nt,
When we sal here our dome als we haue wroght,
Of al our misdede forth sal be soght,
Of manikyn folis pat us littel roght.
? = devil; cf. Curs. Mundi 22307. 3 Ms.
hem.
Printed by Breitkopf and Härte

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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