Nay he sayd I seke him , that hath the seale to kepe

And þat is crosse & christendome , & Christ theron to hang

And whan it is ensealed so , I wot wel the soth

Than Lucifers Lordeshyp , shall last no lenger

Let vs se the letters quod I , we myght the lawe knowe

Than pulled he forth a patent , a piece of a hard roche

Wherin were written these words , on this wise iglosed

Dilige deum , et proximum tuum . &cetera .

This was the text truly , I toke full good yeme

The glose was glorious , written with a gylt penne .

In hiis duobus mandatis , tota lex pendet et prophete .

Be here al thy Lords laws , quod I , yea leue me he sayd

And who-so worcheth after this write , I wyl vndertake

Shal neuer deuil you dere , ne death in soule greue

For thoughe I saye it my-selfe , I haue saued with thys charme

Of men & women , many score thousandes

He saith soth said this heraude , I haue it found oft

Lo here in my lappe , that leued on that charme

Iosue and Iudith , and Iudas Machabeus

Yea and .vi. / six thousand beside forth , þat ben not sene here

Your words are wonderful quod I tho , whiche of you is truest ?

And lelest to leue on , for life and for soule

Abraham sayth , that he se wholy the trinitie

Thre persons in percels , ech departable from other

And al thre but one god , thus Abraham me taught

And hath saued that beleued so , & sory for her synnes

He can not se the commune , and some are in his lappe

What neded it than , a newe lawe to beginne

Sith the first sufficeth to saluation and blysse

And now commeth Spes , & speaketh þat hath espied the law

And tellith not of þe triniti , þat toke him his letters

To beleue and loue in our Lorde almyghty

And sith right as my-selfe , so loue all the people

The gome þat goth with a staffe , he semeth in great heale

Than he that goth with two staues , to sight of vs al

And ryght so by the rode , reason me sheweth

It is lighter to lewde men , one lesson to knowe

Than for to teach hem two , & to hard to learne the leste

It is full harde for any man on Abraham bileue

And wel away worse yet for to loue a shrewe

It is lighter to leue in thre louely persons

Than for to loue and leue as wel lorelles as lelly

Go thy gate quod I to Spes , for so me god helpe

Tho that learne thy lawe , wel litle while vsen it

And as we wenten in þe way , thus wording togithers

Than se we a Samaritan ryding on a mule

Rydinge well rapely , the right way we yeden

Cumming from a contrye men call Iericho

To a Iustice at Ierusalem he chaseth away fast

Both the heraude and hope , and he met at once

Where a man was wounded , and with theues taken

He might neither steppe ne stand , ne stirre fote ne hand

Ne helpe him-self sothly , for Semiuife he semed

And as naked as a nedle , & no helpe about him

Fayth had first syght of him , and he fle a-syde

And would no nyghen him by nine landes length

Hope came hippinge after , that had so bosted

Howe he with Moses maundement , had many men holpen

And whan he hadde sight of þat segge , aside he gan hym draw

Dredfully by this day , as duck doth from faucon

And so sone this Samaritan had syght of this leode

He lyght downe of liarde , and ladde him in his hand

And to the wye he went , his woundes to beholde

And perceiued by hys pulse , he was in perel to dye

And but he had recouered the rather , þat rise shoulde he neuer

With wine and with oyle his woundes he washed

Enbaumid him & bound his hed , & in his lap him laide

And lad him so forth on lyard to Lex Christi , a graunge

Wel sixe miles or seuen beside the newe market

Herberd him at an hostry , and to the hostler called

And sayd haue kepe thys man , til I come from the iustis

And lo here siluer he sayd , for salue for his woundes

And he toke him two pence for liuelode as it were

And said who-so spend more , I make it good heraftir

For I may not let quod that leode , & liarde he bestrideth

And raped him to Ierusalem the right way to ryde

Fayeth folowed after faste , and fonded to meten hym

And Spes spaklich him sped , spede if he might

To ouertaken him & talke to him , er he to towne come

And whan I se this I soiourned not , but shope me ren

And sewed that samaritane , that was so ful of pytye

And graunted him to be his grome , gramercy he said

And thy frend & thy felow , thou findest me at nede

And I thanked him tho , and syth I him tolde

How that fayth fle away , & Spes & his felow both ,

For sight of þe sorowful man , þat robbed was with theues

Haue hem excused quod he , her helpe may little auayle

May no medicine on molde , the man to heale brynge

Neither faith ne fyne hope , so festred be his woundes

Without the bloude of a barne , borne of a mayden

And he be bathed in that bloude , baptised as it were

Than plastered with penaunce , & passion of that baby

He shold stand & step , & stalworth worth he neuer

Til he haue eaten all the barne , & his bloude dronken

For went neuer wye in this world through þat wildernes

That he ne was robbed or rifled , wode he or yed

Saue fayth and his felowe , Spes , and my-selfe

And thy-selfe nowe , and suche as suen our workes

For outlawes in the woode , and vnder banke loutith

And may ech man see , and good marke take ,

Who is behinde & who before , & who-so ben on horse

For he halt him hardier on horse , than him þat is on fote

For he se me þat am Samaritan , suen faith & his felow

On my caple that hight Caro , of mankind I toke it

He was vnhardy that harlot , & had him in inferno

And er this day thre dayes I dare vndertaken

That he worthe fettred that felon , faste with chaines

And neuer eft greue gome , that goeth this ilke gate

And than shal faith be foster / forsterN here , & in this frith walke

And kennen out common men , that knowen not the contry

Which is the wai þat I went , and wherfore to Ierusalem

And Hope þe hostilers man , shal be ther þe man lieth in healing

And al , þat feble & faint be , þat faith mai not tech

Hope shall leade hem for loue , as his lore teacheth

And hostelen hem & heale , through holy kirkes beleue

Tyll I haue salue for al sycke , & than shal I returne

And come agayne by this contrie , & conforten all sycke

That craueth it or coueteth it , and crieth therafter

For þe barne was borne in Bethlem , þat with his blode shal saue

Al þat liuen in faith , & folowe his felowes teching

A swete sir sayd I tho , whether shal I beleue

As Fayth and hys felowe , enfourmed me both

In thre persons depertable , that perpetual wer euer

And all thre but one god , thus Abraham me taught

And hope afterward he bade me to loue

One god with all my good , and al gomes after

Loue hem lyke my-selfe , and our lord aboue al .

After Abraham quod he , that heraude of armes

Set fast thy faythe , and fyrme beleue

And as hope hyghe the , I hote the that thou loue

Thyne euen-chresten euermore , euen-forth with thy-selfe

And if conscience carpe ther-againe , or kind wit other

Or heritikes with argumentes thine hand þou him shewe

For god is after an hand , here nowe and know it

The father was first as a fyst , with one fynger holdyng

Tyll hym loued and lust , to vnlosen hys fynger

And put it forth as with a paum , to what place it shuld

The paume is pureli þe hand , & proferith forth þe fingers

To minister & to make , þat might of hande knoweth

And betokeneth truly , tell who-so lyketh

The holy goste of heauen he is as the pawme

The fyngers that fre be , to folde and to serue

Betokeneth sothly the sonne , þat sent was to the earth

That touched and tasted , at techinge of the pawme

Saynt Mary a maide , and mankinde laught .

Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto .

The father is than as a fiste , with finger to tonch / to[u]chN

Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum .

All that pawme perceiueth profitable to fele

Than are they all but one , as it an hande were

And thre sondry syghtes in one shewynge

The pawme , for he putteth forth fyngers & fist both

Ryght so reddily reason it sheweth ,

That he that is holy goste , syre and sonne preueth

And as the hande holdes harde , & all thinges fast

Through four fingers & a thombe , forth with þe pawme

Right so the father & the sonne , & saint Spirite þe thyrd

Wythin hem thre the wyde worlde holden ,

Both the welken and the wynd , water and earth

Heauen and hell , and all that therin is

Thus it is , nedeth no man trow none other

That thre thynges belongeth in our lorde of heauen

And are Serelopes bi hem-self , a-sonder were they neuer

No more than my hand may , moue without my fingers

And as my fiste is full , hand folden togythers

So is the father a full god , former and maker .

Tu fabricator omnium . &cetera

And all that myght myd him , is in making of thinges

The fingers formen a full hand , to purtrey & to paynte

Caruynge and compassinge , is craft of the fingers

Ryght so is the sonne , the science of the father

And full god as is the father , no febler nor no better

The paume þat is pureli þe hand , hath power bi him-self

Otherwise than þe wretchen fist , or workmanship of fingers

For the pawme hath power to put out all þe ioyntes

And to vnfold the folden fiste at the fingers wyll

So is the holy goste god , neither greater ne lesse

Than is the syre and the sonne , & the same myght

And al ar they but one god , as is mi hand & mi fingers

Unfolden and folden , my fist and my pawme

All is but one hande , howe-so-euer I turne it

And who-so is hurte in the hande , euen in the middes

He may receyue ryght nought , reason it sheweth

For the fingers that folde should , and the fist make

For payne of the pawme , power hem fayleth

To cratche or to clawe , to clyppe or to holde

Were the middle of my hand maymed or perished

I should receiue ryght uought / [n]oughtN , of that I rech myght

And though my thombe be & my fingers boeth were to-shullen

And þe middle of my hand without malese

In many kinnes maners , I might my-selfe helpe

Both moue and amend , though all my fingers oke

By thys skill me thinketh I se an euident

That who-so sinneth in the saint Spirite , assoyled worth he neuer

Nether here ne else-wher , as I here tell .

Qui peccat in spiritum sanctum . &cetera .

For he þat pricketh god as in þe pawm , Qui peccat in spi / spi[ritum sanctum] .

For god þe father is a fist , the sonne is a fynger

The holy gost of heauen , is as it were the pawme

And whoso sinneth in saint Spirite , it semeth þat he greueth

God that he grypeth with , & would his grace quench

And to a torche or a tapoure , the trinitie is lykened

As waxe and a weeke were twyned togither

And than a fyre flaminge forth out of both

And as waxe and weeke and hote fyre togyther

Fostren forth a flame , and a fayre laye .

So done the sire and the sonne , & also Spiritus sanctus

Fostren forth amonges folke , loue and beleue

And all kinne christen , clenseth of synnes

And as thou seest sometime , sodenly a torche

The blasse therof blowen oute , yet burneth the weke

Without ley or lyght , that the match brenneth

So is the holy goste god , and grace without mercy

To all vnkind creatures that couet to destroy

Lelly loue or lyfe , that oure lorde shapte

And as glowing gledes gladeth not these workemen

That waken and worken in winter nyghtes

As doth a kex or a candle , þat caught hath fire & blaseth

No more doth sire ne sonne , ne saint spirite togythers

Graunte no grace , ne forgeuenes of synnes

Tyll the holy gost gynne to glowe and to blasse

So that the holy gost gloweth but as a glede

Till that lelly loue lygge on hym and blowe ,

And than flameth he as fyre , one father , & one Filius

And melteth her myght into mercye , as men may se in winter

Isicles & eueses , through heate of the sunne

Melten in minute while , to mist and to water

So grace of the holy gost , the great might of the trinitye

Melteth to mercy , to merciable , & to no other

And as waxe without more , and a warme glede

Will brennen and blase all togythers

And solacen hem that may see , that sate in darckenes

So the father for-geueth , folke of milde hertes ,

That rufully repenten and restitution make

In as much as they may amende and paye

And if it suffice not for assethN , þat in such a wil dyeth

Mercy for his mekenes wold make good þe remnaunt

And as the weeke and fire , wyl make a warme flame

For to myrth men myd , that in the merke sytten

So will Christe of his curtesye , & men cry him mercy

Both forgeue and forget , and yet byd for vs

To the father of heauen forgiuenes to haue ,

And hewe fire at the flynt four hundred wynter

But thou haue towe to take it , with tinder or broches

All thy labour is loste , and thy longe trauayle

For maye no fyre flame make , fayle it his kinde

So is the holy goste god and grace without mercye

To all vnkinde creatures , Christ him-selfe witnesseth .

Amen dico vobis nescio vos .

Be vnkind to thine euenchristen , & al that þou canst bydde

Deale and do penaunce daye and night euer

And purchace al the pardon of Pampilon and Rome

And indulgence inowe , & be ingratus to thy kynd

The holy gost hereth the not , ne help may þe by reason ,

For vnkindnes quencheth him that he can not shine

Ne brenne no blase cleare , for brennyng of vnkindnes

Poule the apostle proueth whether I lye .

Si linguis hominum loquar . &cetera .

For beware ye wyse men that with the world dele .

That rych ben & reason knoweth , rule wel your soules

Be not vnkinde I connsell / co[u]nsell you , to your euenchristen

For many of you rych men , by my soule men telleth

Ye brenne but ye blase not , that is a blynd becon .

Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit . &cetera .

Diues died dampned for hys vnkindnes

Of hys meate and of hys money , to men that it neded

Eche a rych I rede , rewarde at hym take

And giue your good to your god , þat grace of riseth

For that be vnkind to his , hope I none other

But they dwell there Diues is , daye without ende

Thus is vnkindnes þe contrary þat quencheth as it were

The grace of the holy gost , gods owne kynde

For þat kind doth , vnkindnes fordoth as done thesen cursed theues

Unkind christen men for couetise & enuye

Sleue a man for his mouables , with mouth or with hands

For þat the holi goste hath to kepe , tho harlots destroyeth

The which is life & loue , þe leye of mans body

For euery maner good man may be likened to a torche

Or els to a tapour to reuerence the trinitie

And who þat murdereth a good man , me thinketh by mi inwit

He fordoth the leuest lighte , þat our lord loueth

And yet in many moe maners , men offend the holy gost

And this is the worst wise that any wyght myght

Sinne against saint Spirite , assenten to destroyen

For couetise any kynnes thyng , þat Christ dere bought

Howe might he aske mercye , or any mercy him helpe

That wicked and wilfully , woulde mercy anyent

Innocence is nexte god , & night and day cryeth

Uengeaunce vengeaunce , forgyue it neuer

That shent vs & shed our bloud , forshapt vs as it wer

Uindica sanguinem iustorum .

Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce very charitie asketh

And sith holy kyrke and charitie , chargeth this so sore

Leue I neuer þat our lorde wil loue , þat charitye lacketh

Ne haue pitie for any prayer , there that he pleynyth

I pose I had sinned so , and shoulde nowe dye

And am sory that I so the saynt spirite agylt

Confesse me and crye his grace , god that all made

And mildly his merci aske , might I not be saued

Yes sayd the Samaritan , so well thou might repent

That rightwisnes by repentance , to ruth might turne

And it is but seldome sene , her sothnes bereth witnes

Any creature that is culpable before a kinges iustice

Be raunsomed before his repentaunce , ther al reason him damneth

For ther þat pity pursueth , the plee is so huge

That the kinge may do no mercy , til both men accord

And eyther haue equitie , as holy write telleth

Nunquam dimittitur peccatum . &cetera .

Thus it fareth by such folke þat falsely al her liues

Euil lyue and lyueth , tyll life hem forsake

Good hope that helpe shoulde , to wanhope turneth

Not of the nounpower of God , that he is mightful

To amende all that amis is , and his mercy greater

Than all our wicked workes as holy wryte telleth .

Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius .

And errightousnes / er rightousnes to ruth turn , some restitution bihouith

His sorow is satisfaction for him , þat mai not pai

Thre thinges there be , that done a man by strength

For to flye his owne house , as holy write sheweth

That one is a wicked wife , that wyl not be chastised

Her fere flyeth frome hir , for feare of her tonge

And if hys house be vntiled , and raine on his head

He seketh and seketh , tyll he slepe drye

And whan smoke and smolder , smight in his sight

It dothe him worse than his wyfe , or wete to slepe

For smolke and smolder smyteth in hys eyen

Tyll he be bleard or blynde , and hoose in the throte

Cougheth and curseth , that Christe gyue hem sorow

That shold bring in better wood , or blow it til it bren

These thre that I tel of ben thus to vnderstande

The wife is our wicked flesh , that will not be chasted

For kinde cleueth on him euer , to contrary the soule

And though it fall , it fint skiles þat frelety it made

And that is lightly forgyuen , and forgetten both

To man that mercy asketh , and amend thynketh .

The rayne that reighneth there we reste shoulde

Be sykenes and sorowes , that we suffren oft

As Poule the apostle to the people tought

Uirtus in infirmitate perficitur .

And though that men make much dole in her anger

And ben impatient in her penaunce , pure reason knoweth

That they haue cause to contrari , bi kind of her siknes

And lyghtly our Lord at her lyues ende

Hath mercy on such men , that so euil may suffer

And the smolke & the smolder , that smyte in our eien

That is couetise & vnkindnes þat quencheth gods merci

For vnkindnes is the contrary , of al kinnes reason

For there nis sicke ne sorye , ne none so much wretch

That he ne may loue if him like , & leue of his herte

Good wyll and good word , boeth wishen and willen

All maner of mercy and of forgiuenes

And loue him like him-selfe , and his life amende

I may no lenger let quod he , and lyard he pricked

And went away as wynd , & therwith I waked .