I am spes quod he aspye / a spye · and spere after a knygth
þat took me a maundement · vpon þe mount synay
to rewle alle rewmys wyþ · y bere þe wryt here
ys it asseled y seyde · may men see thy lettrys
Nay he seyde y seke hym · þat haþ þe seal to kepe
and þat is þe cros and crystendom · and cryst þeronne to honge ·
and whan it is asseled so · y wot wel þe soþe
that lucyferes lordschipe · laste schal no lengere
¶ Lat see þy lettres quod y · we mygth þe lawe knowe
thanne plucked he forþ a patent · a pece of an hard roche
where-on were wryte two woordes · on þys wyse y-glosed
Dilige deum & proximum tuum · & cetera
¶ This was þe text trewly · y took ful good ȝeme
the glose was gloryously wryten · wyþ a gylt penne
In hijs duobus mandatis · tota lex pendet & prophecia · & cetera
¶ Ben here in þese two alle þe lawes quod y · ȝe leeue me wel he seyde
and who-so wurcheþ after þys wrytt · y woll vndertakyn
schal neuer deuyl hym dere · ne deeþ yn sowle greue
for þowh y seye it my-sylf · y haue sauyd wyþ þys charme ·
of men and of wommen · many score thowsandys
¶ Ȝhe seyn sooþ quod þys heraud · y haue founden it ofte
loo here yn my lappe · that leeuyd on that charme
Iosue and Iudyth · and Iudas machabeus
ȝhee and sixty thowsand by-syde forþ · that ben nouht seen here
¶ Ȝowr woordes ben wondurfull quod y þo · whiche of ȝow is trewest
and lelest to lyue so · for lyf and for sowle ·
¶ abraham seyþ þat he sey{.} · ho{.}oly the trynyte
three persones yn parcelles · departable fram oþere ·
and alle þree but oo god · thus abraham me tauhte
and haþ sauyd that byleeuyd so · and sory for her synnys
he can nougth sygge the somme and somme arn yn his lappe
what neded it þanne · anewe / a newe lawe to bygynne
syþþe þe ferste suffyseþ · to saluacyoun and to blysse
¶ and now comeþ spes and spekeþ · þat haþ a-spyed þe lawe
and telleþ nougth of þe trynyte · þat took hym his lettres
to byleeue and louye · yn oo lord all-myghty ·
and syþþe rygth as my-sylf · so louye alle peple
¶ The gome that goiþ wyþ a staf · he semeþ yn gretter hele ·
þan he þat goiþ wyþ two stauys · to syȝt of vs alle
and rygth so by þe rode · resoun me scheweþ
it is lyȝter to lewyd men · oo lessoun to knowe
than forto techen hem two · and to hard lerne þe leste
it is full hard for any man · on abraham to byleeue
and wel a-way wurse ȝit · forto loue a scherewe
it is lyȝter to byleeue · on þre louely persones
than forto louye and lene · as wel loselles as lele
¶ Go þy gate quod y to spes · so me god helpe
tho that lernyn þy lawe · wel lytel while vsyn it
and as we wentyn thus yn þe way · wordyng to-gydres
than say we a samarytan · syttyng on a mule
rydynge ful rapely · þe rygth wey þat we ȝedyn
comynge fro a contre · that men callyn ierico
to a iustys in ierusalem · and he chaced awey faste ·
boþe þe heraud and hope · and he mette at onys
wher aman / a man was wounded · and wyþ þeuys takyn
he mygth neyþer steppe ne stonde · ne stere foot ne hondys ·
Ne helpe hym-sylf soþly · for {..}semyuyf he semyde
and as naked as anedle / a nedle · and noon helpe about hym
¶ Feyþ had ferst sygth of hym · ac he fley {ȝe} on syde
and nolde nougth neyhen hym · by nyne londes lengþe
¶ hope cam hyppyng after · that hadde so bostyd
how he wyþ moyses maundement · hadde many men holpe
ac whan he had sygth of þat segge · a-syde he gan hym drawe
dredfully by þis day · as doke doiþ from þe fawcoun
¶ Ac so sone as {as} þe samarytan · hadde sygth of þys lede
he lygth a-dounn of lyard · and ladde hym yn his hand
and to þe wye he wente · his woundys to byholde
and parceyued by his powse · he was yn peryl to dye
and but ȝif he hadde recouerer þe raþer · þat ryse schulde he neuere
wyþ wyn and wyþ oyle · his woundys he weisch LG ·
enbawmyd hym and bond his heed · and in his lappe hym leyde ·
and ladde hym so foorþ on lyard · to lex christi a graunge
wel sixe myle or seuene · by-syde þe newe markat
herberwyd hym at an hostry · and to þe hostyler called
and seyde haue kepe þis man · tyl y com fro the iustus
and loo here syluer he seyde · for salue to his woundys
and he took hym two pans · to lyflode as yt were
and seyde what he spendeþ more · y make þe good her-after ·
for y may nougth lette quod þat leode · and lyard he bestrydeþ
and rapid hym to ierusalem-ward · þe rygth wey to ryde
¶ Feyþ folwyd after faste · and fonded to mete hym ·
and spes specially hym · spedde · spede ȝyf he mygthe
and ouertakeþ hym and talkeþ to hym · er þey to towne keme
¶ And whan y say þys y soiornyd nougth · but schoop me to renne
and sewyd þat samaritan · þat was so ful of pyte ·
and grauntyd hym to ben his groom · grauntmercy he seyde
and þy frend and þy felaw quod he · þu fyndest me at nede
¶ And y þonked hym tho · syþþe y hym tolde
how þat feyþ fleyh · away · and spes his felawhe boþe
for sygth of þe sorwhfull man · þat robbed was wyþ þeuys
¶ Haue hem excusyd quod he · her helpe may lytyll auayle
may no medycyn on molde · þe man to hele brynge
neyþer feiþ ne fynhope / fyn hope · so festred beþ his woundys
wyþ-owt þe blood of a barn · born of a mayde
and be he baþed yn þat blood · baptized as yt were
and þanne plastred wyþ penaunce · and passyoun of þat baby ·
he schuld stonde and steppe · ac stalworþ{y} wurþ he neuere ·
tyyl he haue etyn al þe barn · and his blood drunkyn ·
for went neuere wy{e} · yn this world · þurgh þat wyldernesse
þat he ne was robbed or ryfled · rode he þere or ȝede ·
saue feyþ and his felawe · spes and my-sylue
and þy-sylf now · and suche as sewyn our werkes
¶ For owtlawes yn þe wode · and vndur banke lotyeþ
and mown eche man see · and good marke take
who is byhynde and who byfore · and who ben on hors
for he halt hym hardyer on hors · þan he þat is on fote
for he seyhe me þat am samarytan · & sewyn feiþ and his felawe
on my capul þat hatteþ caro · of mankynde y took yt ·
he was vnhardy þat harlot · and hydde hym · in inferno ·
and er þys day þre dayes · y dar vndurtakyn ·
þat he wurþ fettryd þat feloun · faste wyþ cheynes
and neuere eft greue gome · þat goiþ þulke gate
¶ And þan schal feyþ be forester · and yn þys fryþ walke
and kennyn owt comoun men · þat knowyn noȝ / noȝ[t] þe contre
whiche is þe weye þat y went · and wherfore to ierusalem
and hope þe ostelers man schall be · þere þe man lyþ on helynge
and alle þat feble and feynt be · þat feiþ may nougth teche
hope schall lede hem foorþ wyþ loue as his lettre telleþ
and hostelle hem and hele · þurgh holy cherche byleue
tyl y haue salue for alle syke · and þanne schall y turne
and come aȝen by þys contre · and conforte alle syke
þat craueþ it or coueyteþ it · and cryeþ þer-after
for þe barn was born yn bethleem · þat wyþ his blood schal saue ·
alle þat lyuen yn feiþ · and folweþ his felawes techyng
¶ A swete sere seyde y tho · where schall y byleeue ·
as feyþ and his felawe · enformeden me boþe
yn þre personys departable · that perpetuel were euere
and alle þre but oo god · þus abraham me taugth
and hope aftyrward · he bad me to louye
louye hem lyke my-sylfe · ac our lord abouen alle
¶ After abraham quod he · þat heraud of armys
sette fully þy feyþ · and ferme byleue ·
and as hope higth þee · y hote þat thu louye ·
thyn euyncrystyne · euermore euenfoorþ wyþ þy-sylue
and ȝif conscyence carpe þerageyne · or kynde wytte eyþer
or heretykes wyþ argumentys · thyn hond thu hem schewe ·
for god is after an hand · y-here now and know it
¶ The fader was first as a f{.}ust{e} · wyþ o fynger foldyngge
T tyl hym lykede and lust to vnlose his fynger
and proferyn it forth as wiþ apawne / a pawne / paw[m]e · to what place it schulde ·
¶ The pawme is purly the hand · and proferyth forth þe fyngres ·
to mynystre and make that mytht of hand knowe
and betokeneth trewely telle it who-so it lykeþ ·
The holygost of heuene he is as a pawme ·
the fyngres þat fre been · to foolde and to serue
betoknyn sothly the sone · þat sent was to erthe ·
that touchyd and tastyd at techyng of the pawme ·
seynte marie a mayde · and mankynde laugthte ·
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto ex maria virgine ·
¶ The fader is {......}þanne as a f{.....}ust · wyþ fynger to touche
Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum · & cetera
¶ Al that þe pawm parceyueþ · prophitable to fele
¶ Thus ar they alle but on · as it an hond were ·
and þree sondry syghtes · yn oo schewynge
the pawm for he putteþ foorþ · fyngrys & þe fuyst boþe ·
rygth so ful redyly · resoun it scheweþ ·
how he þat is holy goist · syre and sone preueþ
and as þe hand halt harde · and alle þyng faste
þurgh four fyngrys · & oo þombe · foorþ wyþ þe pawm
rygth so þe fader and þe sone · and seynt spyryt þe þrydde
halt all þe wyde world · wyþ-ynne hem three
boþe þe welkene and þe wynd · water and erþe
heuene and helle · and all that is þerynne
thus it nedeth no man · trowe noon other
þat þre þyngys bylongeþ · yn our lord of heuene ·
and ar sere{....s}ples by hem-sylf · assondry were þey neuere
nomore than myn hond may · me{..}ue wyþ-owt fyngres
¶ and as my fuyst is ful hand · y-holde to-gydres
so is þe fader a full god · formour and schapper
Tu fabricator omnium · & cetera
¶ and al þe mygth myd hym · is yn makyng of þynges
þe fyngres formen a ful hand · to portrey or peynte ·
keruyng and compasyng · as craft of the fyngres
¶ Rygth so is þe sone · the scyence of þe fader ·
and ful god as is þe fader · no febler ne no bettre
the pawm is purelych þe hand · haþ power by hym-sylue ·
T oþer-wyse þan the wrythen fust · or werkmanschipe of fyngres .
for he hath power to putte out alle þe ioyntes
and to vnfolde fust · at þe fyngres wille ·
¶ So is þe holigost god · neyther grettere ne lasse
þan is þe syre and þe sone · and in þe same myght ·
and alle are thei but · o · god · as myn hand & my fyngres ·
vn-foldyn or foldyn my fust and my pawme ·
al is but on hand euyn in the myddes
he may receyue ryght naught · resun it schewith ·
for þe fyngres þat folde schulde and þe fust make ·
for peyne of þe pawme · power hem fayleth ·
to clucche or to clawe · to cluppe or to holde ·
¶ Were þe myddel of myn hand ymaymed or perisched ·
y schulde receyue ryght naugth · of þat y reche mygthte ·
ac þouȝ my thumbe & my fyngres · bothe were to-swolle ·
and þe myddel of myn hand · wiþ-oute maal-ese
in many kynne manerys y mygthte my-self helpe
boþe mooue and amende · thouȝ alle my fyngres ooke ·
¶ By this sk{...}yle me thynkeþ · y see an euydence
þat who-so synneþ yn seynt spiryt · assoyled wurþ he neuere
neyþer here ne elles-where · as y herde telle
Qui peccat in spiritu sancto · & cetera
¶ For he prikeþ god as yn þe pawm · þat peccat in spiritum sancto
for god the fader is as a fuyst · the sone is a fynger
þe holygost of heuene is · as it were a pawme ·
so who-so synnyþ in seynt spiryt · semeþ þat he greueþ
god þat he grypeþ wyþ · and wolde his grace quenche ·
¶ And to a torche or a taper · þe trynyte is lyknyd
as wax and weyke · were twyned to-gydres
and þanne a fyer flawmynge · foorþ owt of boþe
and as wax and weyke · and hote fyer to-gydres
fostryn foorþ a flambe · and a fayr leye
so doiþ þe syre and þe sone · and also spiritus sanctusT
þat alkyn crystyne · clenseþ of synnys
¶ and as thu seest somtyme · sodeynly a torche
þe blase þerof y-blowyn owt · ȝit brenneþ þe weyke
wyþ-owtyn leye or lygth · þat þe macche brenneþ
so is þe holy goist god · and grace wyþ-owt mercy
to alle vnkynde creatures · þat coueyte to destruyȝe
lele loue oþer lyf · that our lorde schapte
¶ and as glowynge gledys · gladyeþ nougth þyse werkmen
þat werchyn and wakyn · yn wyntres nyhtes ·
as doiþ a kix or a candel · that caugth haþ fuyr and blaseþ
nomore doiþ syre ne sone · ne seynt spirit to-gydres
graunte no grace · ne forȝyuenesse of synnys ·
tyl the holygost gyn{n}nyþ to glowe and to blase ·
so þat the holy gost · gloweþ but as a glede
tyl þat lele loue · lyȝe on hym · and blowe ·
and thanne flaumbeþ · he as fuyr on fader and on filius
and melteþ her mygth ynto mercy · as men may seen yn wynter ·
ysecheles in eueses · thrugh hete of þe sonne ·
melte in a mynute-while · to myste and to water
¶ So grace of þe holy gost · the gret mygth of the trynyte ·
melteþ to mercy · to mercyable and to othere ·
¶ and as wax wyþ-owtyn moore · on a warm {c}glede ·
wol brenne and blase · ben they togydre
and solacen hem þat mowe seen · þat syttyn yn derknesse
so woll þe fader forȝyue folke of mylde hertes
that reufully repenten · and restitucyoun make
yn as moche as þey mowe · amendyn and payen ·
and ȝif it suffyse nougth for a-seeþLX · þat yn suche a wyl dyeþ
mercy for his mekenesse · woll maken good {...?...}þe remenaunt
¶ and as the wyke and fyer · wol makyn a warm flaumbe
forto merthen men wyth · that yn myrk syttyn
so wol cryst of his curtasye · and men crye hym mercy
boþe forȝyue and forȝete · and ȝitte bydde for vs
to þe fader of heuene · forȝyuenesse to haue ·
¶ Ac smyt fyer at a flynt four hondryd wynter
but thu haue tonder to take it wyth · towe oþer broches
al þy labour is lost · and all thy long trauayle
for may no fier ne flaumbe make · and it fayle his kynde
¶ So þe holygost god · and grace wyþ-owt mercy
to alle vnkynde creatures · cryst hym-sylf wytnesseþ
Amen amen dico vobis · nescio vos · & cetera ·
¶ Be vnkynde to thyn euencrystyn · and al þat thu canst bydde ·
delen and do penaunce · day and nygth and othere
and purchasen all þe pardoun · of pampiloun and rome
and indulgences ynowe · and be ingratus to thy kynde
the holy gost hereþ þe nougth · ne helpe may the by resoun
for vnkyndenesse quencheþ hym · þat he can nougth schyne
ne brenne ne blase cleer · for blowynge of vnkyndenes
poul the apostle · preueth · whe{...?...}yther y lye ·
Si linguis hominum loquar · & cetera
¶ Forþy beþ waar ȝe wyse men that wyþ the world deleþ
þat ryche ben and resoun knoweþ · rewleþ wel ȝowr sowleP ·
beþ nougth vnkynde y counseyle ȝow · to ȝowr euencristene
for many of ȝow ȝe ryche men · by my sowle men telleþ
ȝe brenne but ȝe blase nougth · þat is a blynd bekene ·
Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit · & cetera
¶ Diues dyed dampned · for his vnkyndenesse
of his mete and of his moneye · to men þat it neded ·
eche aryche / a ryche y rede · reward at hym take
and gyue ȝowr good to þat god · þat grace of aryseþ
for þ{..}ey þat ben vnkynde to h{..}yse · hope y noon other ·
but þey dwelle þere diues is · dayes wyþ-owtyn ende
¶ thus is vnkyndenesse · þe contrarye þat quencheþ as it were
þe grace of þe holygoost{e} goddys owen kynde
for þat kynde doiþ vnkynde fordoiþ · as þese cursyd theuys
vnkynde crystyn men · for coueytyse and envye ·
sleeþ aman / a man for his moebles · wyþ mowþ or wyþ hondys
for þat þe holygoost haþ to kepe · þe harlottes destruyeþ
the whiche is lyf and loue · þe leye of mannys body
¶ for euery good man may · belyknyd / be lyknyd to a torche ·
or elles ynto ataper / a taper · to reuerence the trynyte
and who-so morþereþ a good man · me þynkeþ by myn ynwytt
he fordoiþ þe leuest lygth · þat our lord louyeþ
¶ Ac ȝet yn many moo maneres · men offendyn þe holy gost
{...?...}ac þis is þe wurste wyse · that eny wygth mygthe
synnyn aȝen seynt spuryt · assentyn to destruye
for coueytyse of enykyn þyng · þat cryst dere bougthe
þat wykkydlyche and wyldfullyche / wyl[l]fullyche · wolde mercy anyentyce
Innocence is next god · and nygth and day cryeþ
vengeaunce vengeaunce foȝyuefo[r]ȝyue be it neuere ·
þat schent vs and schad our blood · forschapte vs as it were
vindica sanguinem iustorum · & cetera
¶ Thus vengeaunce · vengeaunce · verrey charyte askeþ
and seþþe holycherche · and charite · chargeþ þys sore
leeue y neuere that owr lord wyll loue · þat charyte lackeþ
ne haue pyte for any prayere · there that he pleyneþ
¶ y pose y hadde synnyd so · and schulde nougth dyȝe
and now am y sory þat y dude so · seynt spirit þus a-gylte
confesse me and crye his grace · god þat alle made ·
and myldelyche his mercy axe · mygth y nougth be sauyd
¶ Thus seyde þe samarytan · so wel thu mygth repente
þat ryȝtwysnesse þurgh repentaunce · to rewþe mygth turne
ac it is but seldom seyn · there soþnesse bereþ wytnesse
eny creature þat is cowpable · afore a kynges iustyse ·
be raunsomed for his repentaunce · þere al resoun hym dampneþ
for þat partye purseweþ · the peple is so huge ·
þat þe kynge may do no mercy · tyl boþe men accorde
and eyþer haue equyte · as holy wrytt telleþ
Numquam dimittitur peccatum · & cetera
¶ Thus fareþ it by suche folk · þat falsly all her lyues ·
euyl lyuen and letten nougth · tyl þe lyf hem forsakeþ
good hope that helpe schulde · to wanhope turneþ
nougth of þe nounpower of god · þat he ne is myhtful ·
to amende al þat amys is · and his mercy grettere ·
þan alle our wycked werkes · as holy wryt telleþ
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius · & cetera
¶ Ac ar his ryȝtwysnesse to rewþe turne · sum restitucioun bihoueþ
his sorowe is satisfaccioun · for hym þat may nougth paye ·
¶ Thre þynges þer ben · that don a man {aman} by strengþe
forto fleen his owen hous · as holy wrytt scheweþ
þat on is a wycked wyf · þat woll nougth be chastised
her feere flee{n}þ from here · for fere of her tonge
and ȝif his hous be vnhelyed · and reyne on his bedde
he sekeþ and sekeþ · tyl he slepe ·P dryȝe
and whan smoke and smolder · smyt yn his sygthe
yt doiþ hym wurse þan his wyf · or wete to slepe
for smoke and smother · smyt in his eiȝen ·
tyl he be blereiȝid or blynd · and horce yn þe þrote
cougheþ and rouȝtheþ · and byt cryst ȝyue hem sorowe
þat schuld brynge yn bettre wode · or blowe tyl it brenne ·
¶ these þree þat y telle of · ben thus to vnderstonde
the wyf is our wycked flesch · þat wol nougth be chastysed ·
for kynde cleueþ on hym euere · to contrarye þe sowle
and þowȝ it falle it fynt skylles · þe freelte it made
and þat is lyȝtly forȝyuen · and forȝetyn boþe ·
to man þat mercy askeþ · and amende þenkeþ
¶ The reyn þat reyneþ · there we reste schulde ·
ben syknesses and sorwes · þat we suffryn ofte ·
as poule the apostle · to the peple tauȝte ·
Virtus in infirmitate perficitur · & cetera
¶ And þowȝ þat m{.}en make moche doel yn he{.}r anger
and be{þ} impacyent in her penaunce · pure resoun knoweþ
þat þey han cause to contrarye · by kynde of her syknesse
and lyghtly owr lord · atte her lyues ende ·
haþ mercy on suche men · þat so euel may suffre ·
¶ Ac þe smoke and the smolder · þat smyt yn our eiȝen ·
þat is couetyse and vnkyndenesse · þat quencheþ goddys mercy ·
for vnkyndenesse is contrarye · of alkyn resoun ·
for þere nys neyþer syke ne sory · ne noon so moche wrecche ·
that he may louye and hym lyke · and lene of his herte ·
good wille and good woord · b{...}oþe wyschen and wyllen ·
and louye hem lyk hem-sylf · and his lyf amende ·
y may no lenger lette quod he · and lyard he prikede
and went aweye as wynd · and þerwyþ y awaked ·
id est christus