The kyng & hys knyghtes to the kyrke went
to here matyns off the day & the masse after
then waked I off wynkyng & wo was wyth-all
that I ne hadde slept sadder & seene more
& or I had faren a forlonge a feyntnes me hente
that I myght no f{u}orther for defa{u}vte off slepyng
and satt softlye a-downe & seyde my bele{u}ve
and so I babbeled on my beydes they bro{u}vght me a-slepe
and þen saghe I moche more then I before told
I seghe the felde f{u}vll of for / that I ere off sayde
how reason gan arreyne hym all the realme to preache
{an} and wyth a cros a-fore the kyng comsed þus to teychen
he pro{u}ved þat theyre pestylences were for p{u}vre synne
and þe southewesteren wynd on sayterday att e{u}vene
was pertelyche for p{u}vre pryde & for no poynte elles
pyreys & plomtrees / were pvffedP to the yerthe
In ensample ye segges ye sholde do the better
beeches & brode ookes were blowen to the gro{u}vnde
t{u}orned vpward theyre tayles In tokenyng off drede
that dedely {att} ar domesday / shall fordone theym all
off thys matter I myght mamele full long
but I shall say as I saghe so me god helpe
how pertly afore the poeple reason beganne to preyche
he bad waster go worche watt he best co{u}vlde
and wynnen hys wastyng wyth some maner crafte
he preyyd pernell hyr p{u}vrfell to lete
and kepe ytt In hyr cofre for catell att nedeT
thome stowue he taght to take two sta{u}ves
and fecche Felyce hoome fro the wyuen pyne
he warned watt hys wyffe þatT was to blame
hyr heyd was worth halffe a mare / hys hoode not a grote
and bad bette k{u}vtte a bowe other tweyne
& bett kytone therwyth but yff she wold worche
& then he charged chapmen to chasten theyre chyldre
lett no wynnyng theym wanye wyle they be yonge
my syre seyd so to me & so dyd my dame
that the le{u}vere chylde the more lore beho{u}vethe
and salamon seyde the same that sapyence made
qui percit virge odit filium et cetera
the englysshe off thys laten ys wo-so wyll ytt knowe
wo-so sparethe the spryng spylleth hys chy{d}lldren
that {they} ye preychen to the poeple pro{u}ve on yoursel{u}ven
and dothe ytt In dede ytt shall drawe you to good LX
yff {e} ye wole ly{u}ven as ye leyren vs we wyll le{u}ve you þe better
and sythen he radde relygyone theyr rewle to holde
and be stuerdes off your steedes to ye be rewled better
and sythen he counseylyd the kyng the comm{u}vne to lo{u}ve
ytt ys thy treso{u}vr yff treyson ne were and tryakell att þi nede
and sythen he prayyd the pope to ha{u}ve pyte off the holye churche
and are he gyffe any grace goueren f{u}vrst hym-sel{u}ve
and ye þat haue lawes to kepe lett trewthe be your co{u}vytyse
more then gold other gyftes yff ye wold god pleasse
For wo-so contraryethe trewthe he telleth In the gospell
that god knoweth hym noght ne no seynte In hey{u}ven
amen dico vobis quia nescio vos.
& ye that seke seynt Iames & seyntes at rome
seketh seynt trewth for he may sa{u}ve you all
qui cum patre et filio that fayre theym befall
then ranne repentance & rehersed hys teeme
and gerte wyll to wepe water wyth hys eyene
and byhyght to hym that vs all made
to affayten hyr flesshe that freyle was to synne
shall neuer heghe herte me hente but holde me lowe
and s{u}offer to be myssayde and so dyd I neuer
but now wyll I meke me & mercy byseche
for all thys I ha{u}ve hated In my herte
to make mercy for hys myssdedes betwene god & hys so{u}vle
wyth þat he sholde þe saterday sey{u}ven yere þer-after
drynke but myd the doke & dyne but one{s}ce
en{u}vye wyth hey{u}vy herte asked after shryffte
and carefullyche mea culpa he comsed to shewe
he was pale as a pelet In þe palsye hym semed
& clothed In a ka{u}vryma{u}vrye I co{u}vld ytt not dyscry{u}ve
In kyrtell & co{u}vrtyby and a knyffe by hys syde
off a freres frocke were þe forsleues
so loked he wyth leyne chekes lowryng fo{u}vle
hys ladye was bolle for wrathe that he boote hys lyppes
wryngyng he went wyth þe Fyst wreyke hym-selfe he thoght
wyth workes & wordes when he seghe hys tyme
eche word þat he werped was off a neddres tong
off chydyng & off chalengyng was hys cheffe ly{u}velode
wyth bakbytyng & bysmer & beyryng fals wyttnes
thys was hys co{u}vrtysye where þat he shewed hym
I wold be shry{u}ve quod thys shrewe & I for shame dorste
I wold be gladder by god þat gybbe had myschance
then I had thys weeke wonne a weye off essex chesse
I ha{u}ve a neyghbo{u}vr nye me I ha{u}ve anoyede hym oft
& lyen on hym to lordes to done hym leese hys syl{u}ver
and made hys frendys hys foone / thrugh my fals tong
hys grace & hys good happes gre{u}ved me full sore
betwene many & many I make debate oft
that both lyffe and lymme ys lost thr{u}vgh my speche
and when I mete hym In merkett þat I moste hate
I haylsed hym hendelyche as I hys frende were
for he ys dooghtyer then I I dare do non other
but had I maystrye & myght god wott my wyll
and when I come to the kyrke & shold knele to þe rode
and prey for þe pepole as the prest teychyth
for pylgrymes & palmers & all the poeple after
that bare a-wey my bolle & my broken shete
away from þe awter then torne I myn eyne
& behold how {h}ellen hath a new cote
I wysshe þat ytt were myne & all the webbe after
off menes lesyng I lagh that lyketh my herte
& for theyr wynnyng I wepe & weyle the tyme
and deme that þei done yll / where I do well worse
wo-so vndrem{oi}ynethe me I hate hym deydly after
I wold that eche a wyght were my knave
for wo-so hath more then I þat angreyth me sore
that all my bodye bolneth For bytter off my gall
I myght not eyte many yers as a man oghte
For en{u}vye & e{u}vell wyll ys e{u}vell to defyen
mey no s{u}vker ne swete thyng swage my swellyng
ne no dyapenidyon dry{u}ve ytt from my herte
ne neyther shryffte ne shame but wo-so sharpe my mawe
yes reydyly quod repentance & {d} radde hym to the best
sorow off synnes ys sal{u}vatyon off sowles
I am sorye quod þat segge I am seld other
a-mong b{u}vrgeysys ha{u}ve I bynne dwellyng att london
and made backbytyng be a broker to blame mennes ware
when he sold & y noght then was I reydy
to lye on my neghbo{u}vr & to lacke hys chaffeyre
I wyll amend thys yff I mey thr{u}vgh þe myght off god allmyghtye
Now awaketh wrathe wyth too wyte eyne
& sne{u}velyng wyth þe nose & the necke hangyng
I am wrathe quod he I was some-tyme a frere
tyll they bare ley{u}vys off low speche lordes to pleasse
and sythen they blossomed a-broode In bower to here shryftes
showe theyr shryftes to them then to theyre persouns
thees possessyoners preyche & depra{u}ve the freres
& freres fynden theym In fa{u}vte as folke beyre wyttnes
that when they preyche the poeple In manye places abo{u}vte
I wrath walke wyth theym & wysse them off my bokes
or eles all ryche & {.} ryden a-bowte
I wrath rest neuer þat I ne mvste folowe
thys wyked folke for s{u}oyche ys my grace
I haue an auwnte to nonne & an abbesse bothe
I ha{u}ve bynne koke In þe kechyne and the co{u}vent ser{u}ved
manye mo{n}vthes wyth theym & wyth monkes bothe
I was þe pryoresse portager / potager
& other poere ladyes
and made þem Iowetes off Ianglyng þat dame Iohan was a bastard
and dame claryce a kynges doghter a kockwold was hyr syre
& dame peronell a prestes fyle pryoresse worthes she ne{u}ver
For she had chyld In cheryetyme all our chapter ytt wyst
off wykked wordes I wrathe theyre wortes made
tyll þou lyest & þou lyest lopen ovte att one{s}ce
& eyther hytt other vndre-neythe the cheeke
had they had kny{u}ves eyther had kylled other
seynt gregory was a goode pope & had a good forwytt
that no pryoresse were preest for that he ordened
þei had ben e{u}vell losed for þei can heyle no co{u}vnseyle
among monkes I mot be but many tymes I shony
for þer be many fell freykes my feres to aspye
both pryo{u}vr & subpryo{u}vr & o{u}vr pater abbas
& yff I tell any tales they taken theym to-gedders
and do me fast frydays to breyde & to water
& chalenged In chapterho{u}vse as I a chylde were
& baleced on þe bare ar{s}ce & no breche betwene
Forthy I ha{u}ve no lykyng wyth tho leedes to wonne
I eyte þer vnthend fysshe and feble ale drynke
but other whyle when wyne comythe when I drynke wyne at e{u}ve
all þe wykkednes þat I woott by any off your brethren
I cowthe yn your cloyster þat all your co{u}vent woote ytt
now repent quod repentance & reherce thow neuer
co{u}vnseyle þat þou knowest by co{u}vnteynance ne by nyght
& drynk not ouer dylycately ne to de[e]pe nother
esto sobrius he seyde and assoyled me after
& bad me welne to wepe my wykednes to amend
And then cam co{u}vetyse can I hym noght dyscry{u}ve
so hongerly & holowe syr henry hym loked
wyth too bleyred eyne as a blynd hagge
and as a leythren p{u}vr{s}ce lolled hys chekes
as a boundman off hys bacon hys berd was bedra{u}veled
wyth a hoode on hys heyde a losye hatt abo{u}ve
and In a tawny tabberd off twel{u}ve wynter age
all to-torne & bawdye & full off lyes crepyng
but yff a lowse co{u}vlde ha{u}ve lopen the better
I ha{u}ve byn co{u}vetyng quod thys keytyffe I beknowe ytt here
for some-tyme I ser{u}ved symme att {h} the style
and was hys prentys plyght hys profytt to weyte
F{u}vrste I lerned to lye a leeffe other tweyne
wyckedlyche to wey was my f{u}vrste lessone
to wye & to wynchester I went to the feyre
wyth many maner merchandyse as my master me hyght
ne had þe grace off gyle gonne among my chaffer
ytt had byn vnsolde þis sey{u}ven yere / so me god helpe
then drew I to drapers my donett to lerne
among þe ryche reyes I rendered a lesson
to broche theym wyth a packnelde & plett þem to-geddres
and p{u}vt theym In a presse & pynned theym therynne
tyll .xen. / ten yerdes or .xijffe. / twelffe had told owte thyrtene
my wyffe was a webbster & wollen clothe made
she spake to spynsters to spynnen ytt owte
but the pownd that she payyde by paysed a q{u}vartren more
then myne owne a{u}vncer / wo-so weyyd trewthe
pennye ale & p{u}vddyng ale she po{u}vred to-gedders
For laborers & for low folke þat ley by them-sel{u}ve
and wo-so b{u}vmmed theroff boght ytt there-after
a galon for a grote god wote no lesse
and yet ytt cam yn cvpmele þis craft my wyfe vsed
rose þe regrater was hyr ryght name
she hathe holden h{u}v{cce}kkerye all hyr ly{u}ve tyme
but I shrewe now so þe yk / þat synne {vo} wole I lete
and neuer wykedlyche {way} wey ne fal{s}ce chaffere vse
and wenden to walsyngam & my wyfe als
and byd the rode off bromholem bryng me ovte off dett
repentest thow e{u}ver quod repentance or restyt{u}vcyon made
I ros when they were att rest & ryfeled theyr males
that was no restyt{u}vtyon quod he b{u}vt a robbers thefte
thow haddest bynne better worthy ben hanged therfore
I wend ryf{u}vllyng had byn restyt{u}vtyon I lerned neuer on boke
and can no frenche butt off þe farrest end off norfolke
vsedest thowe euer vs{u}vrye quod he In all thye ly{u}ve tyme
nay sothely he seyde sa{u}ve In my yo{u}vthe
I lerned among lomberdes & Iwes a lessone
to wey pence wyth a peyse and pare the hey{u}vyest
s{u}oyche dedes I dyd wryte yff he hys day breyke
I ha{u}ve no maners thr{u}vgh reragys þen thr{u}vgh / miseretur et comodat
I ha{u}ve lent lordes & ladyes my chaffer
and ben þer broger after & boght ytt my-selfe
eschanges & che{u}vysances wyth suche chaffer I deyle
and leyne folke that leese wole a lyppe att euery noble
and wyth lomberdes letters I ledde gold to rome
and toke ytt by teyle here for lo{u}ve off hyr meyntenance
yet ha{u}ve I lent lordes lo{u}ved me neuer after
hastowe pyte on pore men that most nedes borowe
I ha{u}ve as moche pyte on powre men as pedder hath on cattes
that wold kyll theym yff he myght for co{u}vetyse off þer skynnes
art thow manlyche among þi neghbo{u}vrs off meyte & drynke
I am holden as hende as homyde / ho[un]de In the kechynne
among my neghbo{u}vrs namely s{u}oyche a name I ha{u}ve
god le{n}ve neuere quod repentance but þou repent the rather
the grace off thys gro{u}vnd thy good welle to besette
ne thy heyrs after þe ha{u}ve Ioy off þat þou wynnest
and þat was wonne wyth wrong wyth wycked men dyspende ytt
for were I frere off that ho{u}vse þer goode faythe & charyte ys
ne ha{u}ve a pennye to my pyttance so god my so{u}vle helpe
For þe best boke yn o{u}vr ho{u}vse thoghe gold were the ley{u}vys
and wyst wytterly þou were swyche as thowe tellest
seruus es alterius cum sercula / [f]ercula pinqua queris
pane tuo pocius vescere liber eris
thow art vnkynd creat{u}vre & kan the noght assoyle
tyll þou make restyt{u}vtyon & rekne wyth theym all
and sythen þat reason rolle ytt In þe regestre off hey{u}ven
tyll þou hast made eche man goode I may þe noght assoyle
non dimittitur peccatum donec restitu{e}atur ablatum
for all that ha{u}ve off thy goode ha{u}ve god my troghe
be holden att the h{e}ye dome to helpe þe to restyt{u}vte
and wo-so le{u}veth not thys be sothe loke In the sawter boke
In miserere mei deus where I meane trewthe
ecce enim veritatem dilexisti et cetera.
shall neuer workeman thry{u}ve wyth þat thowe wynnest
cum sancto santus / san[c]tus eris constrewe me þat yn englysshe
then waxt þat {sre} shrew In wanhope & wold hang hym-selfe
ne had repentance rather comforted hym In thys manere
ha{u}ve mercy In þi mynd & wyth thy mo{u}vthe beseche ytt
for goddes mercye ys more þen all hys other werkes
and all the wykkednes In þis world þat man myght thenche
ys no more to þe mercy off god then In þe see a gleede
onnis / o[m]nis Iniquitas quantum ad misericordiamP dei.
est quasi sintilla In medio maris
forthy ha{u}ve mercy In þi mynd & marchandyse lo{u}ve ytt
for thow hast no good grownde go geyte þe wyth a wasteyle
but yff ytt were wyth thy tonge or eles wyth thy handes
for þe good þat þou hast goten began all wyth falshed
and as long as þou ly{u}vest thow yeldest noght but borowest
and yff thow wytt {not} neuer to which ne whom to restyt{u}vte
beyre ytt to þe bysshope & byd hym off hys grace
bysett ytt hym-selfe as best ys for thye so{u}vle
For he shall answere for þe att þeiLX heye dome
watt he lerned you In lent le{u}ve þou non other
and lent you off o{u}vr lordes goode to lett you fro synne
Nowe bygynnyth gloton for to go to shryft
and kayryth hym to the kyrke-ward hys synnes to shewe
but beton the brewster bad hym good morowe
and asked off hym wydderward he wolde
to holye churche quod he for to here masse
and sythen I wylbe / wyl be s{r}hry{u}ven & synne no more
I ha{u}ve good ale gossep glottone wylt þou assey
hast þou oght In thy p{u}vr{s}ce anye hoote spyces
I ha{u}ve pepp{u}vr and pyones quod he a po{u}vnd off garlycke
a farthyng-worthe off feynell seede for fastyng-dayes
then goyth glotone Inne & greyte othes after
Cysse þe so{u}vrseresse sat on þe benche
watt þe werner & hys wyffe bothe
thome þe tynker & tweyne off hys prenteces
hycke þe hakneyman and h{u}vgh the nedeler
claryce off cokeslane & þe clerek off þe ch{u}vrche
daw þe dyker & a dozynne other
syr pyers off pryde and p{u}velle off flanders
a rybybo{u}vr a ratoner a raker off þe cheype
a roper a redyngkyng & rose þe dysshers
godfrey off garlykhethe / & gryffen þe welche
and vpholdres a heype / yerly by þe morowe
gy{u}ven gloton wyth glad chere good ale to hansell
clement þe cobler cast off hys cloke
& att þe newfayre / new fayre he neue{n}ved / neue[n]ed ytt to sell
hycke þe hackneyman cast hys hood after
& bad bett þe bocher bene on hys syde
þer were chapmen chose þis chaffre to pryce
wo-so ha{u}veth þe hoode shall ha{u}ve a-mendes off þe cloke
too rysen vp In þis rape & romed to-gedders
and preysed þes penyworthes a-parte by theym-selffe
tyll robyn þe roper aroose by the so{u}vthe
and nyue{n}ved / nyue[n]ed hym for an no{u}vmpere þat no debate were
hycke þe hosteler had þe cloke
& ha{u}ve hyckes h{..}oode hosteler & holden hym ser{u}ved
& wo repented rathest sh{u}vld aryse after
there was laghyng & lowryng & lett go þe cuppe
tyll gloton had I-globbed a galon & a gyll
hys g{u}vttes began to gowle as toogredye / too gredye sowes
he pyssed a potell In a pater noster whyle
& blew hys rownd rowett att þe ryggbones end
and wysshe{n}d {had} ytt had be wexed wyth a wysspe off fryses / f[yr]ses
and sometyme a-syde & some-tyme arere
as wo-so leyethe lynes for to kacche fowles
& when he drew to þe dore þen dymned / dym[m]ed hys eyne
he stomeled on þe thressfold & threwe to þe yerthe
clement þe cobler kaght hym by þe mydle
for to lyft hym a-loft & leyde hym-selfe on hys knees
& coghed vp a kaudell In clementes lappe
ys non so hongrye ho{u}vnde In herdfordshyre
wyth all þe wo off thys worlde hys wyffe & hys wence
bare hym hoome to hys bed & broght hym therynne
and after all þis exses he had a a{c}xces
then waked he off hys wynkyng & wyped hys eyne
þe f{u}vrst worde þat he warped / was where ys þe bolle
& repentance ryght tho reb{u}vked hym þat tyme
as þou In wordes & werkes hast wroght e{u}vell In þi lyffe
shry{u}ve þe & be shamed & shew ytt wyth þi mo{u}vthe
I glotone quod he grome gyltye me yelde
that I ha{u}ve tresspassed wyth my tong I can not tel how off[t]
there no nede was neyne h{u}vndrethe tymes
that I gloton gyrte ytt vp er I had gone a myle
and I-spylt þat myght bespared / be spared & spendyd on þe hongrye
ouer-dylycately on fastyng-dayes dronken & eyten bothe
& satte some-tyme so long there þat I slept & ete att one{s}ce
For lo{u}ve off tales In tauerens to drynke þe more I dyned
and hyed to þe meyte or none when fastyng-days were
thys shewyng f{u}vrst quod repentance shalbe / shal be merytt to þe
and gan glotone grete & greyte dole maked
For hys lyther ly{u}ve þat he ly{u}ved had
Shall neuer Fyche on frydayes dyfyne In my wombe
and yet ha{u}ve I hyr hated all my ly{u}ve tyme
Than came slewthe
albe / al be-slauered wyth two slymye eyne
I m{u}vst sytt sayd þat segge or elles m{u}vst I nappe
were I broghte a-bedde b{u}vt yff my talent made ytt
sh{u}old no ryngyng do me ryse er I were rype to dyne
he began benedicite wyth a bolke & hys brest knocked
and roxed & rored & r{u}vtted at the last
awake re{n}vke / re[n]ke quod repentance & rape þe to shryfte
yff I sh{u}old dye by þis day me lyst not to loke
I can not perfytlye my pater noster as þe prest yt syngethe
but I can rymes off robyn hood & randolfe erle of chester
but neþer off our lorde ne our ladye þing þat euer was made
I ha{u}ve made wowes fo{u}vrtye & forgett þem on þe morowe
I performed neuer pennance þat þe preste me hyghte
ne ryght sorye for my synnes yet was I ne{u}ver
and yff I byd my beydes but yff ytt be In wrathe
þat I tell wyth my tonge ys two myle from my herte
I am oc{u}vpyed eche day halyday & other
wyth ydle tales att þe ale & other-whyle yn ch{u}vrche
godes peyne & hys passyon selde thynke I þeronne
I ha{u}ve ly{u}ver here harlotrye or a somer game off sowters
or leysynges to laghe att or belye my neghbo{u}vrs
then all þat euer marye made mathew l{u}vke or Iohn
and vygylles & fastyngdayes all thes lett I passe
and lygge yn bedde In lent{u}on my lemman In my armes
tyll matyns & masse be done & then go to þe freres
come I to Ite missa est I am well I-ser{u}ved
I am not shry{u}ven some-tyme but syknes ytt make
noght twyes In too yeres & then vpon gesse I {sryu} shry{u}ve me
I ha{u}ve bene preste & person xxxti / thritti wynters passyng
yet can I nother solfe ne syng ne seyntes ly{u}ve {l} reede
yet kan I fynd In a felde or a forlong a hare
better then yn beatus vir or yn beati omnes
constrew on cla{u}vse well & kenne ytt to my perochenys
but In canon ne yn þe decretalles I can not rede a lyne
I forgett ytt as e{u}vene yff men me ytt aske
syxe sythes or sey{u}ven I forsake ytt wyth othes
and th{u}vs tene I trew men ten h{u}vndreth tymes
and my seruantys some-tyme þer salarye ys beynde
re{u}vthe ys to here the rekenyng when we rede accomptes
so wyth wycked wyll & wrathe my workemen I pay
yff any man do me byenfayte & helpe me at my nede
I am vnkynd ageynst hys co{u}vrtysye & can not vndrestand yt
for I ha{u}ve & ha{u}ve had somedeale ha{u}vkes maners
I am noght leyred wyth lo{u}ve but oght lygge vndre þe thombe
þe kyndnes that myne e{u}ven-crystyen kydde me fernȝere
syxtye sythes I slothe haue forgett ytt sythen
In speche & sparyng off speche I-spylte many a tyme
both flesshe & fysshe & many other wytayles
both bred & ale b{u}vtter mylke & chesse
Forslo{u}vthed In my ser{u}vyce tyll ytt wold ser{u}ve no man
I ran a-bo{u}vte In yo{u}vgh & ga{u}ve me noght to lerne
and euer syth I ha{u}ve be begger for my fowle slo{u}vghe
heu mihi quia sterilem duxi vitam Iuuenilem //
repentest þou not quod {.......}repentance & wyth þat he sowned
tyll Cvigillate þe weyle fette water at hys eyne
and fell flattLX on hys face & fast on hym cryed
& sayd war the fro wanhope wold the betrey
I am sory for my synnes say to thy-selfe
& beyte þi-selfe on þe brest & byd hym off grace
for ys no gylt here so greyte but hys goodnes ys more
then satt slo{u}vthe vp & seyned hym swythe
and made a wowe before god for all hys fo{u}vle slo{u}vthe
shall no sonday be þis sey{u}ven yere but syknes ytt lett
and here masse & mattyn{s}ceP as I a monke were
shall non ale after meyte holde me thence
tyll I ha{u}ve e{u}vensong herd I hoote to þe rode
and yet wyll I yelde a-geyne yff I so moche ha{u}ve
all that I wykkedly wanne sythen I wytt had
that eche man shall ha{u}ve hys ar I heythen wende
and wyth the remnaunt by þe rode off chester
I shall seke trewthe erst ar I see rome
robert þe robber on reddite loked
For ther was noght wheroff he wept swythe sore
but yet þe synfull shrew seyde to hym-sel{u}ve
cryst þat on cal{u}verye vp-on þe cros dyed
tho dismas my brother by-soght you off grace
and haddest mercy on þat man for memento sake
ne neuer wene for to wynne wythe crafte þat I sheewe
but for þi moche mercy mytygatyon I beseche
ne damme me not on domesday for my dedes ylle
what befell on þis fellone I can not fayre shewe
well I wotte he wept fast water wythe hys eyne
and knolegyd hys gylt to cryste eft-sones
that penetencia hys pyke he sholde pullysshe newe
and leype wyth hym o{u}vere land all hys ly{u}ve tyme
for he had ley{n}ve by latro l{u}vcyferes auvnte
then had repentance re{u}vthe & redde þem all knele
For I shall beseche {all} for all synfull our sa{u}vyo{u}vre off grace
to amend vs off o{u}vr myssdedes & {.}do mercy to vs all
now god þat off þi goodnes gan all the worlde make
and off noght madest oght & man most lyke thy-sel{u}ve
and sythen soferdest to synne a syknes to vs all
O felex / fel[i]x culpa o nescessarium ade peccatum //T
and became man off a meyde mankynde to sa{u}ve
and madest þi-selfe wyth þi sonne & vs synffull I-lyche
faciamus hominem ad Imaginem et similitudinem nostramP :
et alibi . qui manet In charitate In deo manet & deus In eo:
and sythen wyth thye sel{u}ve sone In o{u}vr s{u}vyte dyedest
On goodfryday / good fryday for mannes sake at full tyme off þe day
there thyselfe & thy sone no sorowe In dethe feldest
but In our secte was þe sorowe & þi sone ytt ladde
captiuam duxit captiuitatem //
the sonne for {for} sorowe þeroff lost syght att þat tyme
att mydday when most lyght ys & meyle tyme off seyntes
Feddest wyth thye flesshe & blo{u}vde our forfaders In derknes
populus qui ambulabat In tenebris vidit Lucem magnam //
& thr{u}vgh þe lyght that cam off the l{u}vcyfer was blente
& Blew all thy blyssed In-to þe blysse off paradyse
the thyrd day after þou wendest In o{u}vr s{u}vyte
& all to solas synfull þou sufferedest ytt so wele
non veni vocare Iustos sed peccatores ad penetentiam .
off þi doghtye dedes were done In o{u}vr armes
verbum caro factum est et habitauit In nobis
byd & byseche yff ytt be thy wyll
þat arte our father & our brother be mersyfull to vs
þat euer they wrathed the In word thoght or dede
þen hente hope a horneP off deus tu conuersus vivificabis nos
and blew ytt wyth beati quorum remisse sunt Iniquitates
then all þe seyntes In hey{u}ven songen att one{s}ce
homines et Iumenta saluabis quemadmodumP //
multiplicasti miserecordiam tuam deus et cetera
a thowsand off men tho thr{u}vnged to-gedders
cryed vpward to cryst to hys cleyne mother
but bl{u}vsteren forthe as bestes ouere bankes & hyllys
tyll late was & long þat they a lede mett
appareled as a peynym In pylgrymes wyse
he bare a bo{u}vrden I-bo{u}vnde wyth a brode lyst
In a wythywyndes wyse I-w{y}o{n}vnden a-bowte
a bolle & a bagge he bare by hys sydes
sygnes off syney / and shelles of galyce
and many a cro{u}vche on hys cloke & keyes off rome
&P the wernakell before for men shold knowe
and se by hys sygnes whome he soght had
thys folke freynyd hym f{u}vrst from whence he cam
fro syney he sayde & from our lordes sep{u}vlker
In bethelem and In babyloyne I ha{u}ve bene In bothe
In Iermonye yn alysandre In many other places
ye mey se by my sygnes that sytten on my hatt
that I ha{u}ve walked wyde In wete & In drye
& so{u}vght good seyntes for my so{u}vle helthe
knowesthowe oght a corseynt þat men call trewthe
nay so me god helpe seyde þe gome then
I seghe neuer palmere wyth pyke {n} ne wyth skryppe
axen after hym er tyll now In þis place
petre quod plouman & p{u}vtt forthe hys heyd
I know hym as kyndly as clere / cler[k]e dothe hys bokes
conscyence and kyndwytt / kynd wytt kennede me to hys place
and dyd me s{u}vren hym sykerly to ser{u}ven hym for euer
bothe to sowe & to sett whyleT I swynke myght
bothe sowen hys seede & s{u}ven hys bestes
wyth-ynne & wyth-o{u}vte weytyd hys profytt
I dyke & del{u}ve & do þat trewthe hotethe
some-tyme I sowe & some-tyme I thresshe
In teylyers crafte & tynkers what trewthe can de{u}vyse
I weue & I wynde & do watt trewth hootethe
For thogh I sey ytt my-selfe I ser{u}ve hym to pay
I ha{u}ve myne hyre well and other-whyles more
he ys þe preystest payer þat poere men fynden
he ys as lowe as a lambe & lo{u}velyche off speche
and yff ye wylnen to wytt where that he dwellythe
I shall wysshe you wytterly þe wey to hys place
Le{u}ve pyers quod thes pylgrymes & profered hym hyre
For to wend wyth theym to trewthes dwellyng place
nay by my sowles helthe quod pyers & gan for to swere
I nold fang a farthyng for seynte thomas shryne
trewthe wold lo{u}ve me lasse a long wyle after
but yff ye wylneth to wende well / þis ys þe way thydder
that ye lo{u}ven our lord god le{u}vest off all thynges
and þen yo{u}vr neghbo{u}vrs next In non wysse apeyre
other-wyse then þou woldest be wroght to thy-sel{u}ve
and bowethe forthe by a broke / be boxome off speche
tyll ye fynden a {forthe}T forde your fadres honerythe
honora patrem et matremP et cetera //
wadeth In that water & wasshe yeLG well there
and ye shall leype the lyghtlyer all your ly{u}ve tyme
and namelyche In Idle þe name off god almyghtye
then shalthowe come by a crofte but come not therynne
ne non off theyr ser{u}vantes þat noyen theym myght
loke ye breke no bowys there but yff þei be your owen
two stockes there stonden but stynt ye not there
they hett / steyle not / & sley not / P stryke forthe by bothe
and ley{u}ve theym on þe left hal{u}ve & loke not therafter
and hold well thyne halyday hyghe tyll e{u}vene
then shalthowe blenche att a brygge / beyre no fals wyttnes /P
he {h}ys frytthed In wyth floreyns & other fees manye
loke þou pl{u}vcke no plant þer for perell off þi so{u}vle
In no maner elles noght for no mannes byddyng
then shalthowe come to a co{u}vrte as clere as þe sonne
the mootte ys off mercy the maner all a-bowte
and all þe walles byn off wytt / to holden wyll owte
and kyrnelled wyth crystendome mankynd to sa{u}ve
botrased wyth byle{u}ve / so or þou best not sa{u}ved
and all þe ho{u}vses byn hylled halles & chambres
grace hett þe gateward / a good man for sothe
I perfo{u}vrmed þe penn{n}vance / pen[n]ance þe preste me InIoyned
I am full sorye for my synnes & so shall e{u}ver
when I thynke þeron thogh I were a pope
byddyth amend you meke hym to hys master one{s}ce
to weyue vp þe wykett that þe woman sh{u}vtte
tho adam & e{u}ve eyten app{u}vlles vnrosted
per euam cuntis / cun[c]tisT clausa est: et per mariam virginem patefacta est.
for he hath þe kay off the clykett thogh þe kyng slepe
thow shalt se In þi-selfe / trewtht In thy hert
In a cheyne off charyte as þou a chyld were
to s{u}vffer hym & to sey noght ageyn þi syres wyll
be ware þen off wrath þe that ys a wycked shrewe
he hath en{u}vy to hym þat In thy herte syttethe
and prykketh forthe pryde to preyse thy-sel{u}ven
þe boldnes off þi byenfaytes make þe blynd then
þen beest þou dry{u}ven out as dewe & the dore closed
keyyd & klyketed to kepe þe wyth-owten
þus myghtesthowe lesen hys lo{u}ve to lete well by þi-sel{u}ve
& neuer happylyche eft entre but þou grace ha{u}ve
but þer are sey{u}ven systre{n}s þat ser{u}ven trewthe e{u}ver
and are porters off the posternes þat to þe place longethe
/charyte & / chastyte /P bene hys cheffe meydens
she hathe holpen a thowsand out off þe de{u}velles pynfold
and wo-so ys sybbe to thes sey{u}ven so me god helpe
he ys wonderlyche welcome & fayre vnderfongen
but yff ye be sybbe to some off þes sey{u}ven
ytt ys full hard by my heyd for any off you all
to gett Ingong att any gate ther but grace be þe more
now by cryst quod c{u}vttp{u}vrs / I haue no kynne there
nor I quod an apeward / by oght þat I knowe
sh{u}vld I neuer forther a foote for no freres preychyng
mercy ys a meyden there hath myght ouer all
and she ys sybbe to all synfull & hyr sonne also
& thr{u}vgh þe helpe off theym two {helpe} hope non other
thow myght gett grace there so þou go betyme
by seynt powle quod a perdoner I trowe I be not knowe þer
I wyll go fecche my brey{u}vettes & a b{u}vll wyth letters
by cryst quod a comen woman thy company wyll I folowe
þou {mast} meyst say I am þi s{u}vster I not where they become
explicit sextus passus de visione
superbia
luxuria
Inuidia
Ira
[a]uaricia
gula
accidia
CC
eC