<B CMHANSYN>
<Q M2/3 IR RELT HS>
<N HANDLYNG SYNNE>
<A MANNYNG ROBERT>
<C M2/3>
<O 1250-1350>
<M 1350-1450>
<K NON-CONTEMP>
<D SL>
<V VERSE>
<T REL TREAT>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z INSTR REL>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^MANNYNG, ROBERT.
ROBERT OF BRUNNE'S "HANDLYNG SYNNE", PART I.
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, O.S. 119.
ED. F. J. FURNIVALL.
LONDON, 1901.
PP. 7.171     - 13.338         (SAMPLE 1)
PP. 63.1741   - 69.1916        (SAMPLE 2)
PP. 116.3353  - 122.3552       (SAMPLE 3) 
PP. 158.4739  - 161.4862       (SAMPLE 4)
PP. 182.5573  - 194.6000       (SAMPLE 5)
PP. 317.10159 - 321.10319      (SAMPLE 6)^]

<S SAMPLE 1>   
<P 7>
[} [\THE TALE OF THE TEMPTED MONK.\] }]
[}A TALE}] 

Hyt was onys a munke, and had a celle
In a wyldernes, for to dwelle;
+Tys munke of relygyoun
Had a grete temptacyoun;
He was so temptyd with lecherye,
He +gede fro hys celle to seke folye; 
He dede hym sone to a cyte,
In-to egypte, +tat yche cuntre.
And, as he cam yn a strete,
with a womman he gan mete;
Hys flesshe on here was so abeyted,
+Tat +tyke womman he coueytyd.
To here fadyr swy+te he +gede,
And asked here to haue yn dede.
Here fadyr was prest of sarysyne;
In maummetry he leued ynne.
   +Te prest seyd +te munke vn-to,
<P 8>
As my god wyl, so wyl y do.
She shal noght to any be sette
Withoutyn leue of my maumette.
The munke seyd he graunted weyl
Aftyr hys maumette to do euery deyl.
   +Te sarysyne to hys god +gede,
And askede cunseyl of swyche a dede,
+Gyf he were of +te munke payde,
Or, +te +gyfte shulde be delayde.'
   +Tan answered hys termagaunt,
"+Gyue hym +ty doghtyr on +tys cunnaunt,
+Tat he forsake, quyte clene,
God of heuene and hys bapteme,
And alle +te godenesse of hys munkhede;
+tese +tre forsake, mote he nede;
And +gyf he forsake hem apertly,
+Gyue hym +ty dou+gtyr hardely".
   +Tys prest come to +te munke, & tolde
what he seyd, and what he wolde;
'And +gyf he wolde forsake +tese +tre,
Hys dougtyr shulde hys owne be.'
   She was so moche yn hys +toght;
Had he here, he rou+gte of noghte.
Alas! Ihesus he forsoke,
And +te crystyndom +tat he toke,
And +te state of relygyoun,
And chese hys Dampnacyun.
   Certys he dede grete outrage,
To make +te deuyl so moche omage.
<P 9>
whan he had grauntede al hys folye,
Out of hys mou+te he say flye
A dowue vn-to +te fyrmament;
+Te holy gost +tan from hym went.
   +Te sarysyne wente to hys maumet,
And tolde hym how +te munke had het:
"+Tese +tre +tynges he wyl forsake;
Shal y, hym my dou+gtyr take?
Sey +tou me +te certeyn of alle,
whe+ter y shal, or y ne shalle."
+Te maumet answeryd hastyly,
"Y warne +te for enchesoun why;
+Togh he forsake hys god for euere,
Hys god forsake+t hym neuere,
For he ys euer ful of pyte; 
Men clepyn hym god of cristianite;
For +gyf he wyl hym mercy craue,
Redyly mercy shal he haue;
+Tou+ge he to-day fro hys god weyue,
To-morwe hys god wyl hym receyue.
+Tarfor, y forbede +te weyl,
Ne dele with hym neuer a deyl."
   +Te prest vnto +te munke went
And seyd, "y haue commaundement
+Tat y ne shal dele with +te,
Ne my doghtyr +ty wyfe to be;
For +ty god ys of swych manere,
+Togh +tou forsake hym ryght now here,
To-morwe mayst +tou com a+geyn,
<P 10>
And make with hym acorde certeyn;
+Togh +tou haue do neuer so ylle
+Gyt wyl he graunte +te hys gode wylle.
My god me bad on none wyse
To dele with +te, ne none of hyse."
   +Te munke rependyd hym +tan, and +toght,
"Alas!" he seyd, "what have y wroght
+Tat y shulde euer hym forsake
+Tat ys so redy me efte to take.
+Ty mercy, god, ys mochyl to telle;
when y see a maumet of helle
+Tat neuer +gyt loued +te,
He speky+t of +ty mochyl pyte.
Se+tyn +tou art so mylde and meke
+Ty mochyl mercy wyl y seke;
Here y forsake +tat y toke,
To hym y me betake +tat y forsoke."
   Se+tyn he +gede to an ermyte,
And shrofe hym of hys synne astyte;
And tolde hym +tat he had y-doun,
Forsaken god and hys relygyoun.
+tys forsayde ermyte ful sory was
+Tat he had do so grete trespas;
No+teles, he bad hym dwelle
+Tre wokys with hym yn his celle;
For hys synne he shulde +tan faste,
And yn preyers wel to laste.
   +tys yche munke +tat was so madde,
Dyde ryght as +te ermyte badde.
+tey preyden bo+te +tat seueny+gt
<P 11> 
To god, for hys mochel my+gt,
+tat he wulde haue of hym mercy;
+tus preyd +tey bo+te specyaly.
   At +te fyrste seueny+gt ende,
+te ermyte seyd, "bro+ter hende,
Hast +tou any grace see
Yn +ty preyers as +tou hast be?"
"+ge," he seyde, "y sagh a syght
Yn +te lykenes of a dowues flyght,
Aboue me yn +te firmament,
Of +tat dowue +tat fro me went."
+Te ermyte +toght +tan astyte
+Tat hyt was +te same spyryte
+Tat went from hym when he began
God forsake for +tat womman.
   To gret penaunce eft he hym toke
For hys cristyndom +tat he forsoke;
+Gyt a woke he badde hym faste
For his flessh +tat hym downe caste,
+tat no more +turghe lecherye
He fordo hys grace so gretly.
   +Tys ermyte preyed nyght and day
+tat hys penaunce were take to pay.
whan +tey had preyde day & nyght
Alle +tat woke yn goddys syght,
+Tys ermyte seyd, "benedicite;
Bro+ter," he seyd, "how +tenke+t +te?"
"weyl," he seyd, "+turgh goddys grace,
+Te dowue ha+t be byfore my face,
And, a whyle, stylle by me stode;
+Te syght +tere-of dyde me gode."
<P 12>
"+Tat ys weyl, wy+t goddys wylle,
Dwelle +gyt with me a woke stylle,
And be yn +tyn afflyccyouns,
Yn fastyng and yn orysouns:
And y. shal prey also with +te
+Tat god bo+te here me and +te."
   Stedfastlych +tey preyd a-none
Tyl +tat woke were alle gone.
At +te woke ende, spake +te ermyte
And asked +te munke of +te spyryte.
+Te munke seyde, "y haue hyt seyn,
And on my hede syttyn and beyn;
y sagh hyt so mylde and spake,
+Tat with my hande y myght hyt take;
Me +toght hyt was +tat fro me steye,
A+geyn yn-to my mou+te hyt fleye."
+Te ermyte +tanked god almyght
+Tat +gafe hym grace to see +tat sy+gt.
"Now art +tou clene," he seyde, "of synne,
+te holy goste ys +te withynne:
kepe +te now fro swych a kas,
A+gen god no more to trespas."
   By +tys ensample may +ge see
+Tat god ys euer ful of pyte;
+Togh a man hym onys forsake,
Eft wyl god a+gen hym take
+Gyf he with herte wyl mercy crye
And do penaunce for hys folye.
Blessed be he among vs here,
+Tat he loue+t vs alle so dere.
<P 13>
   Go we now fyr+ter on oure pas
And telle more of oure trespas. 

<S SAMPLE 2>
<P 63>
[} [\THE TALE OF THE ADULTEROUS WIFE, 
WHOSE SKELETON SPLIT IN TWO.\] }]

+Ter ys an Ile be-+gunde +te see,
+Ter men were wunt wonyng to be;
+Tys yche yle wax al waste,
And +te folk drogh +ten yn haste;
So with-ynne a lytyl whyle
Men helde hyt a forsakyn yle.
Se+t+te, wonede +tere a dragun,
+Tat dede many man confusyun;
Men and wommen faste he slogh,
And dede ouer al shame ynogh;
Al +tat he fonde with-oute house
+Tys dragun slogh so merueylouse;
So moche folke gan he quelle,
Men seyd he was a fende of helle.
Alle +te folk of +tat cuntre
Cunseyled hem what +tat myght be;
+Tey armyde hem alle at here myght,
A+gens +te dragun for to fyght,
But noun of hem myght vndyrstande
Where +te dragun was wonande.
Befel +gyt, +tat yche tyde,
An ermyte wonede +tere besyde,
A gode man and ry+gt certeyn,
Dwelled besyde +tat wasteyn, - 
<P 64>
One of hem +gaf cunseyl tyte,
+Tat +tey shulde go to +tat Ermyte,
And aske cunseyl of swyche a dede
In hope alle +te bettyr to spede.
whan +tey hadde tolde hym alle here dere,
+Tys was +tan +te ermytys answere: - 
"+Gyf +ge wyl wepe for +goure synne,
And shryue +gow clene, and +terof blynne,
And graunte me +tat +ge shul faste,
And yn preyers wel to laste,
Perauenture +ge may be al-eggyd,
And sum of +goure sorow abreggyd."
   To do alle +tat +te ermyte bad,
+Tey grauntede alle, & were ry+gt glad.
+Te ermyte seyde, "+ge shul be
In penaunce +tre days with me;
And, aftyr +te +tre days ende,
To +gow shal y come or sende."
   Alle +te folk went home +tere weye;
+Te ermyte hys preyere began to seye,
"Ihesu cryst, god almyghty,
Of +tys folk haue +tou mercy,
+Tat +tou boghtyst on rode so dere;
For hem shewe me on sum manere
where y may +te dragun fynde,
And hys power, lorde, +tou bynde,
+Tat +te folk may knowe and se
+Te mercy and +te my+gt of +te."
   Whan he hadde preyde hys orysun
Long yn grete afflyccyun,
<P 65>
God sagh alle hys entent,
And hys aungel to hym he sent
For to teche hym +te way
+Tedyr +tere +te dragun lay.
+Te aungel seyde to +te ermyte,
"Do sumne +te folk astyte,
+Tat +tey come alle hedyr
Before +te, echone to gedyr.
Y shal be +goure al+ter ledere,
+Tat +te dragun +gow nat dere."
   +Te folk  echone +tedyr com;
+Te aungel before hem gan gon,
And led hem to +tat wasteyn
+Tat sum tyme was a stede certeyn.
Vnto a place +tey +gede echone,
And +tere +tey fonde a tumbe of stone.
+Te aungel bad hem lyfte vp +te lydde;
And as he bad, ry+gt so +tey dydde.
"here, he seyde, ys hys wonnyng
with ano+ter wykked +tyng;
Drede +gow noght +to+gt he be fownde,
For all hys power haue y bownde."
whan +tey had +te toumbe o twynne,
+Te folk stode and loked with-ynne.
+Tey sagh a womman +tere vyly lye,
And here body cloue yn twey partye;
Betwyxe +to twey partys +te dragun lay,
Gresly to se grete affray.
<P 66>
Grete wndyr was hyt to see;
+Tey asked alle what hyt my+gt be,
And why hyt was, and where-fore,
+Tat +te dragun lay so +tore;
And what manere she synned so,
+Tat here body was cloue yn two.
   he shewede +tan vnto hem alle,
For what synne +tat sorow gan falle.
"+Tys womman," he seyd, "+tat here lys,
And ys departyd yn two partys,
She was weddyd, and here wedlak
Ful falsly an on-truly brak,
whan she was o flessh and blode
with hym +tat here to-keyn loue gode;
+turgh matrymony, +te sacrament,
were two o flessh made be assent,
holy togedyr for to leue
And noun fro ou+ter hys flesh may +gyue.
But +tys womman +tat +tus ys shent,
She brak +te holy sacrament;
here flesh she +gaf, o party
yn hordam and yn lechery,
A-no+ter party to here husbonde,
+Tat for shame ne my+gt she wonde.
And, for +tat yche vyleyns synne,
Ys here body partyd a-twynne;
And betwyx +te twey partys,
For veniaunce, +te dragun lys.
Alas +te tyme +tat she was bore!
with-outyn ende she ys lore."
<P 67>
+Te aungel seyd, "y comaunde +te,
Dragun, henne +tat +tou fle,
+tat +tou neuer any man noye
No +tys cuntre no more dystroye;
No +tat +tou come no more here
yn +tys stede for to apere."
And a-none, for drede and eye,
+Te dragun fleygh fur+t hys weye.
+Te folk +tanked god echone,
+Tat +te dragun aweye was gone.
   wommen +tat breke wedlak, mow yn +tys tale
Here, +tat +tey brew to hemself bale.
For +te foule dragun, +te fende of helle,
wy+t hem yn peyne shal euer dwelle
+tat half here flesh haue partyd or brokun
+Tat holy yn matrymony was lokun.
   +Gyf +ter be twey yn cumpany
As be+t yn wedlak specyaly,
And +te toon do a+gens spousayle 
wherefore felaushepe may fayle,
But +te to+ter wyl hym blame
whan he wote hys foule fame,
he consenty+t to hys synne
But he desturble hym +ter-ynne.
   +Gyf +tou wendest oute of cuntre,
A+gens +ty wyuys wyl to be,
But she mow wone yn +tat stede
<P 68>
To haue +ty fleshly felawrede,
+Gyf +tou do hyt a+gens her wyl 
Certeynly +tou synnyst ful yl.
+Gyf +tou hyt do to holde +te chaste
wy+t-oute here wyl, +tou werchyst waste.
For but hyt be for grete resun,
+Gyf she mysdo, +tou art enchesun.
   +Gyf +tou louyst to haue +ty wyfe
Yn clennes and yn gode lyfe,
vpbreyde here neuer for gelusye
Of no mannys cumpanye;
For +gyf +tou dost, +tan wyl she do
+tyng +tat she neuer +toghte to do.
Men sey, +ter a man ys gelous,
+Tat +ter ys a kokewolde at hous.
Many a gode man ys kokewolde;
+Tere +te wyfe ys a shrewe, +ter ys wykked holde.
But where +te wyfe ha+t gelousye
+Tere be+t wrdys grete and hye;
here mayster shal nagher go ne sytte
+Tat she ne shal wommen on hym wytte.
+Tan ys +tere chydyng and boste,
+Tere ys nat +te holy goste;
For no +tyng Ihesu cryst more queme+t
+Tan loue yn wedlak, +tere men hyt +gemy+t;
Ne no +tyng ys to man so dere
As wommanys loue yn gode manere.
A gode womman ys mannys blys
+Tere here loue ry+gt and stedfast ys;
<P 69>
+Tere ys no solas vndyr heuene
Of al +tat a man may neuene,
+Tat shuld a man so moche glew
As a gode womman +tat loue+t trew.
Ne derer ys none yn goddys hurde
+Tan a chaste womman with louely wrde;
Ensample haue y +terof ful fayre
yn +te lyfe of seynt Makayre. 

<S SAMPLE 3>
<P 116>
[} [\THE TALE OF THE KNIGHT AND 
MONK WHO LOVD NEW FASHIONS.\] }]

+Ter was a kny+gt +tat loued nouelrye,
As many one haunte now +tat folye;
<P 117>
he dede to make, yn +te somers tyde,
A kote perced queyntly with pryde;
And God was nat +ter-of payd,
For yn hys pryde he was betrayd.
   +Tys kny+gt +gede, vpp-on a day,
Aboute roberye, to gete hys pray;
Homward as he hys pray ledde
with hys enmys he was bestedde;
with fors +tey gun with hym fyght,
And slogh +tere +tys yche kny+gt.
+Te kny+gtys frendys herde seye
how he was slayn by +te weye;
Ful feyre +tan gun +tey for hym werche,
+Tey byryed +te body feyre at +te cherche;
hys frendys departed hys katel
Among +te pore men, and +tat was wel.
whan +tey come at +te kote gysyng,
To dele hyt among hys ou+ter +tyng,
Before +te pore men hyt was broght;
+Te pore men seyd +tey wulde hyt no+gt.
A clerk stode +to +tere be syde,
And, prayd for +te kote of pryde.
To werne hyt hym, +tey +toght lo+te;
+Tey toke and +gaue +tys clerk +te clo+te.
+Tys clerk was glad whan he hyt hadde;
+Tys kote asswy+te on hym he cladde.
   Se now here a grete myschaunce
Come ry+gt as for veniaunce:
Ry+gt as he was yn +te kote al dyght,
A fyre brennyng on hym gan lyght,
And brend hys body dounne to +te grounde
whylys oght of hym my+gt be founde.
   +Ter shewed God weyl by +tat kas
<P 118>
+Tat +te kote a-cursed was,
And tokened wel sorowe and wrake,
+Tat none pore man wulde hyt take
For pryde of +te newe gyse
A+gens crystyn mennys wyse;
But +te clerk was wode al gate
To were a clo+te a+gens hys state.
here mow +ge se +tat god ys wroth
with hem +tat dysgyse here clo+te.
   And a clerk ys moche for to blame
+Tat bryngy+t hym self yn foule fame,
Clerk ordeyned yn dignyte
+Tat haunte+t swyche Iolyte;
No+teles, of +te newe gyse
+Te deuyl ha+t made hymself chefe iustyse;
And +gyf he yn folye begynne to stoute,
+Tan bere+t he +te deuylys baner aboute;
Moche folk ys +terwy+t blent;
God do +terof amendment.
   +Gyf +tou haue grete desyre
To be clepyd lorde or syre,
For to glose +te, and slyppe,
And to haue +te wurdys of wurschyp;
Or +ge wymmen also, comunly,
wulde be kallede 'madame' or 'lady;'
Al +tys com+t  of grete pryde;
yn +ty shryfte +tou noght hyt hyde.
he ys ry+gt lorde, +te kyng of heuene;
wrong hyt ys +tat men any o+ter neuene.
   +Gyf +tou delyte +te yn grete meyne,
For men shulde haue drede of +te,
And for +ty meyne wuldyst preysed be,
+gyf harme to o+ter  +tan do +tat meyne,
+Tou for +ty meyne shalt dampned be
+Gyf +tou to euyl vowe +ty meyne.
   +Gyf +tou delyte +te yn grete hallys,
<P 119>
Yn a foule pryde +tan +tou fallys;
For y se many +tat nowe +tey bygge,
And now sone, dede +tey lygge.
y sey for +to +tat haue grete pryde
yn hygh hallys and yn wyde.
+Gyf +tou delyte +te yn ryche beddyng,
yn hors, yn harneys, or yn feyre rydyng,
Alle ys pryde and vanyte;
Of al shalt +tou a-couped be.
   Y seyd langere, yn gode cunnaunt,
Euery man haue to hys auenaunt,
Cytes, tounnes, castellys, and hallys,
hors, armour, and +tat +tar to fallys;
But, yn al +tat moche +trong,
Do holy cherche, ne pore man, wrong.
   what sey +ge men of ladyys pryde
+Tat gone traylyng ouer syde:
+Gyf a lady were ryghtly shreue, 
Better hyt were yn almes +geue;
To soule helpe hyt my+gt do bote,
+Tat trayle+t lowe vndyr +te fote.
wymples, kerchyues, saffrund betyde;
+Gelugh vnder +gelugh +tey hyde;
+Tan wete men neuer, whe+ter ys whe+ter,
+te +gelugh wymple or +te le+ter.
   wymmen +tat go fro strete to strete,
One or ou+ter for to mete,
Of pryde com+t swyche desyre,
<P 120>
For +tey haue on hem feyre atyre:
But she wul to +te prest +tat telle,
She may +terfore go to helle;
For yn as moche +tat she dou+t men synne,
yn so moche shal she haue plyght ynne.
   And, wymmen, y seye of +to
+Tat borwe clo+tes yn carol to go;
+Tat pore pryde, god hyt lo+tes,
+Tat make hem proude of ou+ter mennys clo+tys.
   +Gyf +tou hast spoke wurdys of pryde,
And lettyst ou+ter men any tyde
Of here bedys and of here fastyng,
Or of any ou+ter holy +tyng,
Or of any ou+ter gode dede,
to telle hyt +te prest, behoue+t +te nede.
   +Gyf +tou euer lette began 
+Tat was wurshep to god or man,
As yn cherche to synge or rede,
Or of sum o+ter holy dede;
Or also for boste or for pryde,
with prest or with clerk to chyde,
+Turgh +tat pryde +tou fallyst yn synne,
And cursednes +terwith to wynne.
   Also +tat clerk ys moche to blame
+Tat lette+t to shaue hys krowne for shame;
Y rede +tat he yn tyme hyt shaue,
For he wote neuer what nede he shal +terto haue.
   +Gyf +tou yn ernest, or yn game,
yn scorne blessedyst Goddys name;
Or +gyf +tou were so wundyrly proude
+Tat +tou mysseydyst God al aloude,
For any chaunce +tat may betyde
Skorne nat God, ne wy+t hym chyde:
<P 121>
More pryde, no more synne,
+Tan skorne god, mayst +tou falle ynne.
   +Gyf +tou grucchedest, and seydyst noght,
But to God haddyst euyl +toght,
wete +tou wel, hyt ys grete pryde,
Grucchyng with God, or for to chyde.
   +Gyf a man haue mysdo or seyde,
And men hym blame for +tat mysbreyde,
+Gyf he susteyne hys mysdede,
And hys mysawe wyl nat drede,
+Tat cum+t of mysprout herte and hy
+Tat wyl nat knowe hys owne foly.
Of al folyys +tat beryn name,
+Tys foly ys moste for to blame;
who-so-euer to +tys ys custummable,
hys amendment may neuer be stable.
   what sey men of +tese loseniours
+Tat haue here wurdys feyre as flours?
Now ys +te floure whyte and rede,
And now hyt ys bo+te drye and dede.
+Te losenioure spek+t now +ty pay,
And behynde +ty bak hyt ys away.
+Tere one ha+t smylyng semelaunt
And behety+t +te to holde cunnaunt,
kepe +te +tan fro losengrye,
For feyre spekyng man kan weyl lye.
who-so-euer ys custummable to banne
For pryde, sum tyme or whanne,
+Te apostyl sey+t +tat he may noght
Vn-to +te blysse of heuene be broght.
   A-no+ter spyce hyt ys of pryde,
who so haunte+t for to chyde.
For holy cherche forbede+t +te
To chyde wy+t any of +ty meyne.
Teche hym ferst, yn feyre manere;
<P 122>
And +gyf he wyl nat with feyre lere,
+Tan mayst +tou speke stoutly to hym,
with-oute wra+t+te, wurdys ful grym,
+Tat he be chasted at +ty fre wylle,
But +tat +tou bere yn herte none ylle.
Chydyng cum+t of herte hy,
And grete pryde, and vylany.
   A-nou+ter spyce +ter ys +tat moche deres,
+Tat ys, +tese cursed bakbyteres.
Of al men, +tey do most euyl,
here lorefadyr ys +te deuyl.
+Te fende vs bewreye+t of oure synne
whan he ha+t made vs fal +ter-ynne.
So are +tese bakbyters wunne,
+Tey seye +te werst +tat +tey kunne;
Euer behynde a mannys bak,
with euyl +tey fynde hym to lak.
Swyche men god almy+gty hatys
And with here foule synne hym wlatys.
Seynt Austyn speky+t of swyche +tynges
yn a boke of lesyngys.
No custummable bakbytyng
God for+geue+t, ne no lesyng,
+Tat +tou +tarfore shalt algate drye
Sum manere peyne for euery lye;
As +te lesyng ys lesse or more,
Shalt +tou suffre peyne +tar-fore.
And +tat may weyl preuyd be
with a tale of an autoryte,
+Tat moche peyne shal he bere
wy+t-oute ende, +te bakbytere;
And y shal telle +gou a lyte
Of one +tat coude hys felaus byte. 

<S SAMPLE 4>
<P 158>
[} [\A TALE OF BISHOP ST. ROBERT
GROSTEST OF LINCOLN, AND WHY 
HE LOVD MUSIC.\] }] 

Y shall +gow telle, as y haue herd,
Of +te bysshope Seynt Roberd;
Hys toname ys 'Grostest
Of Lynkolne', so sey+t +te gest.
he loued moche to here +te harpe,
For mannys wytte hyt maky+t sharpe;
Next hys chaumbre, besyde hys stody,
Hys harpers chaumbre was fast +terby.
Many tymes, be ny+gtys and dayys,
He had solace of notes and layys.
One asked hym onys, resun why
he hadde delyte yn mynstralsy:
he answerede hym on +tys manere,
why he helde +te harper so dere,
"+Te vertu of +te harpe, +turgh skylle & ry+gt,
wyl destroye +te fendes my+gt,
And to +te croys by gode skylle
Ys +te harpe lykened weyle.
   Ano+ter poynt cumforte+t me,
+Tat God ha+t sent vnto a tre
So moche ioye to here with eere;
Moche +tan more ioye ys +tere
with God hym-selfe, +tere he wonys;
+Te harpe +terof me ofte mones;
Of +te ioye and of +te blys
where God hym-self wonys and ys.
+Tare-for, gode men, +ge shul lere,
whan +ge any glemen here,
To wurschep God at +goure powere,
As Dauyd sey+t yn +te sautere,
"yn harpe, yn thabour, and symphan gle,
wurschepe God, yn troumpes, and sautre,
<P 159>
yn cordys, an organes, and bellys ryngyng,
yn al +tese, wurschepe +ge heuene kyng."
+Gyf +ge do +tus, y sey hardly,
+Ge mow here +goure mynstralsy.
   +Gyf +tou lygge long yn synne,
And wylt nat ryse, ne +terof blynne,
Certeynly, for euery oure
+Tou shalt +gelde a-counte ful soure;
For euery oure +tat +tou +teryn lay
Yn purgatorye +tou gest +ty pay.
Hyt ys sloghnes, and kalled 'accyde,'
Fro Goddys seruyse so long +te hyde.
   And some, alle +te +gere wyllyn abyde
Of shryfte tyl +te lentyn tyde;
And nygh tyl lentyn be al gone
Mede for fastyng gete +tey none;
+Tat ys, for sloghnes +tey wyl nat ryse;
lyggyng yn synne, ys lore seruyse.
   And, sum men, yn alle here lyue,
Clenly ne wyle +tey hem shryue;
For +tey synne alle yn hope of grace,
At here endyng wene +tey haue space;
+tan +tenke +tey to shryne hem clene:
To swyche men,God shewe+t hys tene.
Hyt ys seyd al day, for +tys skyl,
"he +tat wyl nat whan he may,
He shal nat, when he wyl, [{haue pay{] ."
And +ter by+t many one ful euyl to wynne
To any godenes fro vyle synne;
Euyl tokyn hyt ys of swyche a man,
God hym deme; for y ne kan.
   And +tyr are ou+ter +tat mys dous,
As a best, for defaute +tat go+t lous.
But whan men teche hem +te wey,
And +tey wyl do as men hem sey;
<P 160>
A tokyn hyt ys, +tey shul haue grace
To come to God, and haue space.
And he may hope of euyl endyng
+Tat none may to Gode brynge.
   A slogh messagere, hys wylland,
+Tat charged ys wy+t lordes erand,
+Gyf he go nat as he ys sent,
He ys wur+ty to be shent.
Man +tat wel spedy+t hym yn dede,
And messager smart at nede,
+Tey shul stonde byfore +te kyng,
And haue mede to here askyng.
   A persone ys slogh yn holy cherche
+Tat on hys shepe wyl nat werche
How +tey shul hem-self[{e{] +geme,
And God and holy cherche to queme.
+Te hyghe shepard shal hym blame,
how he late+t hem go to shame.
   +Gyf he se yn any +tyng
+Tat +tey haue defaute of chastysyng,
But he teche hem and chastyse so
+Tat +tey forward better do,
For hem he shal, at +te assyse,
Be ponysshed before +te hygh Iustyse.
Also behoue+t hym, for hem pray,
+Tat God, of grace, wysse hem +te wey.
   +Gyf any of hem defaute has,
And he may helpe hem yn +tat kas,
And wyl nat, for vnkyndhede,
But late hem perysshe +ter for nede,
Ful harde a-counte shal he +gelde
+Tat he my+gt helpe whan he ne welde.
+Gyf he kyndly vndyrstode,
Of hem he ha+t al hys gode;
<P 161>
For, God sey+t yn +te gospel +tys,
Vpbreydyng hem when +tey do mys:
+Te mylke, +te wulle, +tey wyl receyue;
And sy+t+ten +te shepe +tey wyle late weyue.
Holy wryte swyche men holdes
As wylde wulues brekyng foldes.
Swyche a persone ys ful slogh,
Be he hygh, or be he logh.
   Man or womman +tat ha+t a chylde
+Tat wy+t vn+tewys wexy+t wylde,
+Tat wyl bo+te myssey and do
Chastysment behoue+t +tarto;
But +ge hem chastyse at +goure my+gt,
+Ge falle, ellys, for hem yn ply+gt.
Better were +te chylde vnbore
+Tan fayle chastysyng, and sy+t+ten lore.
+Tus seyth +te wys kyng Salamonn
To men and wymmen euerychonn,
"wyle +ge +tat +goure chyldryn be a-ferd,
+Gyue+t hem +te smert ende of +te +gerde;"
And teche+t hem gode +tewys echone;
+Gyt dur +gow breke hem no bone.  

<S SAMPLE 5>
<P 182>
[} [\THE TALE OF PERS THE USURER.\] }]

Seynt Ioun +te aumenere
Sey+t Pers was an okerere,
And was swy+te coueytous,
And a nygun and auarous,
And gadred pens vnto store
As okerers doun aywhore.
   Befyl hyt so, vp-on a day
+Tat pore men sate yn +te way,
And spred here hatren on here barme
A+gens +te sonne +tat was warme,
And rekened +te custome houses echoun,
At whych +tey had gode, and at whyche noun;
+Tere +tey hadde gode, +tey preysed weyl,
And +tere +tey hadde noght, neuer a deyl.
   As +tey spak of many what,
Come Pers for+t yn +tat gat:
+Tan seyd echoun +tat sate and stode,
'here com+t Pers, +tat neuer dyd gode!'
Echoun seyd to o+ter Iangland,
'+Tey toke neuer gode at Pers hand;
Ne noun pore man neuer shal haue,
Coude he neuer so weyl craue.'
   One of hem began to sey
"A waiour dar y wy+t +gow ley,
+Tat y shal haue sum gode at hym,
Be he neuer so gryl ne grym."
To +tat waiour +tey graunted alle,
To +gyue hym a +gyft +gyf so my+gt befalle.
<P 183>
+Tys man vp sterte, and toke +te gate,
Tyl he com, at Pers +gate.
As he stode stylle, and bode +te quede,
One come with an asse charged with brede;
+Tat yche brede Pers hade boght,
And to hys hous shuld hyt be broght.
He sagh Pers come +terwith-alle;
+Te pore +toght 'now aske y shal.'
"Y aske +te sum gode, pur charyte,
Pers, +gyf +ty wyl be."
   Pers stode, and loked on hym
Felunlyche with y+gen grym.
He stouped down to seke a stone,
But, as hap was, +tan fonde he none.
For +te stone he toke a lofe,
And at +te pore man hyf drofe.
+Te pore man hente hyt  vp belyue,
And was +terof ful ferly bly+te.
To hys felaws faste he ran
with +te lofe, +tys pore man,
"lo," he seyde, "what y haue
Of Pers +gyft, so God me saue!"
Nay, +tey swore by here +tryft,
Pers +gaue neuer swych a +gyft.
he seyd, "+ge shul weyl vndyrstonde
+Tat y hyt had, at Pers honde;
+Tat dar y swere on +te halydom
Here before +gow echoun."
Grete merueyle had +tey alle,
+Tat swych a chaunce my+gt hym befalle.
   +Te +trydde day, +tys wryte hyt ys,
Pers fyl yn a grete syknes;
And, as he lay yn hys bedde,
Hym +toght weyl, +tat he was ledde
<P 184>
with one +tat aftyr hym was sent,
To come vn-to hys Iugement.
   Before +te Iuge was he broght
To +gelde acounte how he hadde wroght.
Pers stode ful sore a-drad,
And, was abashed as mad;
He sagh a fende on +te to party,
Bewreyyng hym ful felunly;
Alle hyt was shewed hym before,
how he had lyued syn he wos bore;
And namely euery wykked dede
Syn fyrst he coude hym self lede;
why he hem dyd, and for what chesun,
Of alle behoue+t hym to +gelde a resoun.
   On +te tou+ter party stode men ful bry+gt,
+Tat wulde haue saued hym at here my+gt;
But +tey myght no gode fynde
+Tat my+gt hym saue or vnbynde.
+Te feyre men seyd "what ys to rede?
Of hym fynde we no gode dede
+tat God ys payd of, but of a lofe
+Te whych Pers at +te pore man drofe:
+gyt +gaue he hyt with no gode wylle,
But kast hyt aftyr hym with ylle;
For Goddys loue +gaue he hyt no+gt,
Ne for almes dede he hyt had +toght.
No+teles, +te pore man 
Had +te lofe of Pers +tan."
   +Te fende had leyd yn balaunce
Hys wykkede dedes and hys myschaunce;
+Tey leyd +te lofe a+gens hys dedys, - 
+Tey had no+gt elles, +tey mote nedys - 
+Te holy man telle+t vs, and seys,
+Tat +te lofe made euen peys.
   +Tan seyd +tese feyre men to Pers,
<P 185>
"+gyf +tou be wys, now +tou leres
How +tys lofe +te helpe+t at nede
To tylle +ty soule with almes dede."
   Pers, of hys slepe gan blynke,
And gretly on hys dreme gan +tynke - 
Syghyng with mornyng chere,
As man +tat was yn grete were, - 
How +tat he acouped was
with fendes fele for hys trespas,
And how +tey wulde haue dampned hym +tere,
+Gyf mercy of Ihesu Cryst ne were.
   Alle +tys yn hys herte he kast,
And to hym self he spak at +te laste,
"+Tat, for a lofe yn eueyl wylle
Halpe me yn so grete perel,
Moche wlde hyt helpe at nede,
with gode wyl do almes dede."
   Fro +tat tyme +tan wax Pers
A man of so feyre maners,
+Tat no man my+gt yn hym fynde,
But to +te pore bo+te meke and kynde;
A mylder man ne my+gt nat be,
Ne to +te pore, more of almes fre;
And reuful of herte also he was,
+Tat mayst +tou here lere yn +tys pas.
   Pers mette, vp-on a day,
A pore man, by +te way,
As naked as he was bore,
+Tat yn +te see had alle lore.
He come to Pers, +tere he stode,
And asked hym sum of hys gode, - 
Sumwhat of hys clo+tyng, - 
For +te loue of heuene kyng.
Pers, was of reuful herte,
<P 186>
He toke hys kyrtyl of, as smert,
And ded hyt on +te man aboue,
And bad hym were hyt for hys loue.
   +Te man hyt toke, and was ful bly+te;
He +gede and solde hyt asswy+te.
Pers stode and dyd beholde 
How +te man +te kyrtyl solde,
And was +tarwith ferly wro+te
+Tat he solde so sone hys clo+te;
He my+gt no lenger for sorow stande,
but +gede home ful sore gretand,
And seyd, 'hyt was an euyl sygne,
And +tat hym self was nat dygne
For to be yn hys preyere,
+Terfor nolde he +te kyrtyl were.'
   Whan he hadde ful long grete,
And a party +terof began lete; - 
For, comunlych aftyr wepe,
Fal men sone on slepe, - 
As Pers lay yn hys slepyng,
Hym +toght a feyre sweuenyng.
Hym +toght he was yn heuene ly+gt,
And of God he had a syght,
Syttyng yn hys kyrtyl clad
+Tat +te pore man of hym had,
And spak to hym ful myldely,
"why wepest +tou, and art sory?
Lo, Pers," he sayde, "+tys ys +ty cloth.
For he solde hyt, were +tou wroth;
Know hyt weyl, +gyf +tat +tou kan,
For me +tou +gaue hyt +te pore man.
+Tat +tou +gaue hym yn charyte,
Euery deyl +tou +gaue hyt me."
<P 187>
Pers of slepe oute breyde,
And +toght grete wunder, & se+ten seyd,
"Blessyd be alle pore men,
For God almy+gty loue+t hem;
And weyl ys hem +tat pore are here;
+Tey are with God, bo+te lefe and dere;
And y shal fonde, by ny+gt and day,
To be pore, +gyf +tat y may."
   Hastly he toke hys kateyl,
And +gaue hyt to pore men echedeyl.
Pers kalled to hym hys clerk
+Tat was hys notarye, and bade hym herk,
"Y shal +te shewe a pryuyte,
A +tyng +tat +tou shalt do to me;
y wyl +tat +tou no man hyt telle;
My body y take +te here to selle
To sum man, as yn bondage,
To lyue in pouert and yn seruage;
But +tou do +tus, y wyl be wroth,
And +tou and +tyne shal be me loth.
+Gyf +tou do hyt, y shal +te +gyue
Ten pownd of gold, wel with to lyue;
+To ten pownd y take +te here,
And me to selle on bonde manere;
Y ne recche vn-to whom,
But onlych he haue +te crystendom;
+Te raunsun +tat +tou shalt for me take, 
+Tarfore +tou shalt sykernes make,
For to +gyue hyt ble+tely and weyl
To pore men, euery deyl,
And withholde +terof no +tyng,
+Te mountouns of a fer+tyng."
   hys clerk was wo to do +tat dede,
<P 188>
But only for manas and for drede.
For drede Pers made hym hyt do,
And dede hym plyghte his trouthe +ter-to.
   Whan hys clerk had made hys othe,
Pers dede on hym a foule clothe;
Vnto a cherche bo+te +tey +gede
For to fulfylle hys wyl yn dede.
whan +tat +tey to +te cherche com,
"Lorde, +toght +te clerk, now whom
My+gt y fynde, +tys yche sele,
To whom y my+gt selle Pers wele!"
   +Te clerk loked euery where,
And at +te last, he knew where;
A ryche man +tat er had be
Specyal knowlych euer betwe,
But +turgh myschaunce at a kas
Alle hys gode y-lore was;
'+Gole,' +tus +tat man hyghte,
And knew +te clerk wel be syghte.
   +Tey spak of olde a-queyntaunce,
And +gole tolde hym of hys chaunce.
"+Ge," seyde +te clerk, "y rede +tou bye
A man to do +ty marchaundye,
+Tat +tou mayst holde yn seruage
To restore weyl +tyn dammage."  
   +Tan seyde +gole, "on swych chaffare
wulde y feyn my syluer ware."
+Te clerke seyd, "lo, one here,
A trew man an a dubonure,
+Tat wyl serue +te to pay,
Peyneble, al +tat he may.
'Pers,' shalt +tou calle hys name;
For hym shalt +tou haue moche frame.
he ys a man ful gracyous,
Gode to wynne vn-to +tyn hous,
And God shal +gyue +te hys blessyng,
<P 189>
And foysyn, yn alle +tyng."
   +Te clerk +gaue alle hys raunsun
To +te pore men of +te toun,
Plenerly, alle +tat he toke,
wy+thelde he nat a fer+tyng noke.
   +Te Emperoure sent hys messageres
alle aboute for to seke Pers,
But +tey ne my+gt neuer here
Of ryche Pers, +te tollere,
yn what stede he was nome,
No whydyrward he was become;
No +te clerk wuld telle to none,
whydyrward +tat Pers was gone.
   Now ys Pers bycome bryche,
+Tat er was bo+te stoute and ryche.
Alle +tat euer any man hym do bade,
Pers dyd hyt with hert[{e{] glad.
he wax so mylde and so meke,
A mylder man +turt no man seke;
For he meked hym self ouer skyle,
Pottes and dysshes for to swele.
To grete penaunce he gan hym take,
And moche for to fast and wake,
And moche he loued +tolmodnesse
To ryche, to pore, to more, to lesse.
Of alle men he wuld haue doute,
And to here byddyng mekly loute;
wulde +tey bydde hym sytte or stande,
Euer he wulde be bowande;
And for he bare hym so meke and softe,
Shrewes mysded hym ful ofte,
And helde hym folted or wode,
For he was so mylde of mode.
And +tey +tat were hys felaus 
Mysseyd hym most yn here sawes;
And alle he suffred her vpbreyd,
<P 190>
And neuer naght a+gens hem seyde.
   +Gole, hys lorde, wel vndyrstode
+Tat al hys grace and hys gode
Com for +te loue of Pers,
+Tat was of so holy maners;
And whan he wyst of hys bounte,
He called Pers yn pryuyte,
"Pers," he seyd, "+tou were wur+ty
For to be wurscheped more +tan y,
For +tou art weyl with Ihesu;
He shewe+t for +te grete vertu;
+Tarfor y shal make +te fre;
Y wyl +tat my felaw +tou be."
   +Tar-to Pers granted noght,
To be freman, as he besoght:
he wulde be, as he was ore,
yn +tat seruage for euermore.
he +tanked +te lorde myldely
For hys grete curteysy.
   Sy+t+ten Ihesu, +turgh hys my+gt,
Shewed hym, to Pers sy+gt,
For to be stalwor+te yn hys fondyng,
And to hym haue loue longyng.
"Be nat sorowful to do penaunce;
y am with +te yn euery chaunce;
Pers, I haue mynde of +te;
lo, here +te kyrtyl +tat +tou +gaue for me;
+Terfor grace y shal +te sende,
Yn alle godenesse weyl to ende."
   Byfyl +tat seriauntes and squyers
+Tat were wunt to serue Pers,
went yn pylgrymage, as yn kas,
To +tat cuntre +tere Pers was.
+Gole ful feyre gan hem kalle,
And preyde hem home to hys halle.
<P 191>
Pers was +tere, +tat yche sele,
And euerychone he knew hem wele.
Alle he serued hem as a knaue
+Tat was wunt here seruyse to haue.
But Pers nat +gyt +tey knew,
For penaunce chaunged was hys hew;
Nat for+ty +tey behelde hym fast,
And oftyn to hym here y+gen +tey kast,
And seyd, "he +tat stonte here,
Ys lyche to Pers tollere."
   He hydde hys vysege al +tat he my+gt,
Out of knowlych of here sy+gt;
No+teles +tey behelde hym more,
And knew hym weyl, al +tat were +tore,
And seyd, "+Gole, ys +gone +ty page?
A ryche man ys yn +ty seruage;
+Te emperoure, bo+te fer and nere,
Ha+t do hym seche, +tat we fynde here."
   Pers lestned, and herd hem spekyng,
And +tat +tey had of hym knowyng;
And pryuyly a-wey he nam,
Tyl he to +te porter cam.
   +Te porter had hys speche lore,
And heryng also, syn he was bore;
But +turgh +te grace of swete Ihesu,
was shewed, for Pers, feyre vertu.
Pers seyd, "late me fur+t go."
+Te porter spak, and seyde "+go."
He +tat was def, and doumbe also,
Spak, whan Pers spak hym to.
   Pers out at +te +gate wente,
And +tedyr +gede, +tere God hym sente.
+Te porter +gede vp to +te halle,
And +tys merueyle tolde hem alle,
<P 192>
How +te squyler of +te kechyn,
Pers, +tat ha+t woned here yn,
"He asked leue, ry+gt now late,
And went fur+t out at +te +gate.
Y rede +gow alle, +geue+t gode tent,
whederward +tat Pers ys went.
with Ihesu cryst he ys pryue,
And +tat ys shewed weyl on me;
For, what tyme he to me spak,
out of hys mou+t me +toghte brak
A flamme of fyre bryght and clere;
+Te flaumme made me bo+t speke and here;
Speke, and here, now, bo+te y may,
Blessed be God and Pers to day!"
   +Te lorde and +te gestes alle,
One and o+ter +tat were yn halle,
Had merueyle +tat hyt was so,
+Tat he my+gte swych myracle do.
+Tan asswy+te Pers +tey soght,
But al here sekyng was for no+gt;
Neuer, Pers +tey ne founde,
Ny+gt ne day, yn no stounde;
For he +tat toke Ennok and Ely,
He toke Pers, +turgh hys mercy,
To reste with-outyn ende to lede
For hys meknes and hys gode dede.
   Take ensample here, of Pers,
And parte+t with +te pore, +ge okerers,
For +gow shal neuer come Ioye with-ynne,
But +ge leue fyrst +tat synne;
And +gyue to almes +tat yche +tyng
+Tat +ge haue wune wy+t okeryng.
   Now with God, leue we Pers;
God +gyue vs grace to do hys maners!
<P 193>
   Yn coueytyse synnen marchauntys mekyl,
Yn feyre wurdys and yn fykyl,
And hete+t hym gode +tat he bye+t,
And swere+t +tarto, and algate lye+t.
For fals peys and fals mesure
here soules haue mysauenture.
   Also hyt longe+t to coueytyse
+Gyf +tou hyre one out of seruyse
+Turgh +gyft or +turgh procurment,
+Tou synnest gretly yn swych atent:
Enuye hyt ys, and falsnes yn dede,
But +gyf hyt were for +te more nede.
   +gyf +tou boghtest of any seriaunt
pryuyly, yn stylle cunnaunt,
+Tyng +tat +tou wystyst wel was stole,
And +turgh +ty byyng was forhole,
Hyt ys coueytyse and +teft pryue
To bye +tyng out of commalte.
   +Gyf +tou receyuedyst any what
Of one +tat hys +tyng forgat;
But +tou +gyue hyt hym a+geyn,
Or +te valeu for certeyn,
+Tou art falle +tan yn +te vyce
Of, coueytyse, +teft, and auaryce.
   Or +tou ledyst any man to +te ale
And madest hym drunk with troteuale,
And he solde hys +tyng to +te
More +tan he wulde yn soberte, 
Hyt seme+t +tou art a gylour,
And coueytous, and trechour.
   For men +tat loue to do gylerye,
At +te alehous make +tey marchaundye,
To loke +gyf +tey kunne com with-ynne,
<P 194>
here neghburs +tyng, falsly to wynne.
   And a ryche man hyt noye+t oftyn tyde
+Tat a pore man hat oght besyde.
Alle +tat he may, with euyl he fondys
For to reue hym, and haue hys londys;
+Gyf he may nat hem at hym bye,
He wul weyte hym o+ter felunnye,
hym to sle, or to endyte,
Or +teft he wyl vpon hym wyte,
Or ou+ter ska+te he wyl hym weyte,
Hys bestes for to bete or bayte,
To ete hys grasse, or foule hys corne,
So +tat hys gode shal neuer be lorne: 
Of swyche men, bo+te wryte hyt ys & seyd,
Moche peyne ys before hem leyde;
here synne shal no+ter be for+gyuen ne slakyn
Vn-to +tey +gelde +tat +tey haue takyn;
Here mercy ys ful on-certeyn
But +tey +gelde hem here gode a+geyn.
   Of +tys, before +ge herde me rede,
How seynt Fursyn founde hyt yn dede;
And here y shal telle a lytyl tale
Of swyche a man +tat brewed hys bale.  

<S SAMPLE 6>
<P 317>
[} [\THE TALE OF THE PRIEST WHO WAS 
ENABLED TO SEE FOLK'S SINS
IN THEIR FACES.\] }]

A parysshe prest was yn a tounne,
A man of ful grete dyscrecyounne; - 
Dyscrecyun, a ry+gt wyt ys,
On bo+te partys ry+gtly to ges; - 
Of hys parysshenes he vndyrstode,
whyche were yl, and whych were gode;
Tweyn he hadde for to gete,
+Tat neuer wulde synne lete.
   And fyl hyt at an esterne,
+Tat a prest shul none ou+ter werne
But +gyf hyt be +te gretter synne,
As yn cursyng, or yn vnbuxyme.
+Tys prest was yn grete +to+gt
whe+ter he sulde housel hem or no+gt;
he preyd God, of heuene kyng,
+Tat he wulde sende hym sum tokenyng
whe+ter he shulde hem forbede;
To housel hem, he +to+gt grete drede.
   Fro God he had +tys answere:
'+Tat echone shuld hys owne charge bere,
And +tat he shulde warne hyt none,
But +gyue hyt fur+te to euerychone;'
"Do +tou as Ihesu dyd yn dede,
And +tou shalt no man hyt forbede,
Ne more +tan he ded Iudas,
+Tat hadde do ful grete trespas."
   he +gaue hyt to alle with mylde mode
whan brede was turned to flessh & blode.
<P 318>
For some +tat hyt take+t, hyt shal hem saue,
And some +tarfore peyne shal haue;
Aftyr +tey are of synne clene,
So shal hyt on hem be sene."
   +Gyt preyde he God of more grace,
+Tat he my+gt knowe hem by face,
+Te whyche receyued hyt wur+tyly,
And whyche to have hyt were wur+ty.
And God graunted hym hys wyl,
To knowe +te gode fro +te yl.
   +Te folk +tat to +te preste went
For to receyue +te sacrament,
Of some +te faces were as bry+gt
As +te sunne ys, on days ly+gt;
And some, here vysages al blake,
+Tat no +tyng my+gt hem blaker make;
And some were as rede as blode,
Staryng ry+gt as +tey had be wode;
And sum were swolle, +te vyseges stout,
As +to+g here y+gen shulde burble out;
And sum gnapped here fete & handes,
As dogges doun +tat gnawe here bandes;
And sum hadde vysages of meselrye;
And some were lyke foule maumetrye:
Many wundrys were on hem sene,
Mo +tan he my+gt se at +tat tyme.
   +Te prest, whan he say alle +tys,
Of +tat sy+gt he gan hym grys;
For +tat sy+gt was hydous,
And dreful, and perylous.
   +Gyt preyd he God, with gode entent,
+Tat he my+gt wyte, what al +tat ment;
And God almy+gty loued hym weyl,
And wulde shewe hym euerydeyl;
"+To men +tat are so bry+gt
As +te sun, or day[{e{]s ly+gt,
+To men are +gyt yn charyte,
And clene of synne, & wurschepe+t me;
<P 319>
+To men +tat were so blake,
+Tat no +tyng my+gt hem blaker make,
+Tey are lecchours foule with-ynne,
And haue no wyl to leue here synne;
+To men +tat were rede as blode,
+Tey are Irus, and wykked of mode,
here euene crystyn for to slo
with de+t, or, with pyne do wo;
+To +tat +tou sagh with swolle vysage,
+Tey are enuyous ouer outrage;
And +to +tat gnapped here finger endes,
Are bakbyters betwyxe frendys;
+To +tat +tou sagh, meselles be sy+gt,
+Tey loue more gode +tan God almy+gt;
+To +tat +tou sagh lyke maumetrye,
On wordly +tyng +tey most affye;
More loue +tey gode +tat he ha+t sent
+tan +tey do hym +tat alle ha+t lent;
+tese maner men are +gyt yn wyl,
yn here synne to lyue stylle;
And +tarfore shal +te sacrament
On hem aske harde Iugement,
+Tat +tey haue receyue hyt vnwur+tyly,
And serued +te fende, hys enemy.
   +Tys tale y tolde for loue of +to
+Tat yn synne to housel go,
Or be+t yn wylle to turne a+geyn;
For alle here trauayle +tey do yn veyn.
   +Gyf +tou, whan +ty housel shalt take,
Be yn wylle +ty synne to forsake
For euermore yn stedfaste herte,
+Togh +tou synne sone aftyr, and smert,
+Gyt God take+t hyt nat to so grete grym
As +gyf +tou yn tresoun receyuedest hym.
   yn no +tyng wote y more tresun,
+Tan brynge +ty lorde to hys felun;
And +gyt men sey here synne ys grefe,
<P 320>
+Tat brynge+t a trew man on a +tefe;
And +gyf +tou do +tus, +ty wytande,
+tan charge men hyt most yn hande;
+tarfore loke +tat +tou wyte no+gt,
No synne hyde yn herte ne +to+gt,
Ne wyl nat wyte for neuer more
whan +tou receyuest God ry+gt +tore.
   Also +te clerk +tat haunte+t synne,
But he leue, and +ter-of blynne,
He shal nat serue at +te auter,
No+ter halewed +tyng to come ner.
   Y touched langer of +tys outrage
whan y spake of sacrylage,
+Tat +te holy gost shewed hym no+gt
For +te dekene synned yn +to+gt,
Yn +te tale of Ion Crysostomus;
+Tys tale ys tolde for +gow and vs.
   Also he ys wur+ty to be shent,
+Tat, sone aftyr +te sacrament,
To foly and to synne hym drawe+t:
lytyl of Goddes veniaunce hym awe+t.
   +Gyf +tou forgete or ouersyttes 
Tyme of housel, +tat +tou weyl wytes,
lytel fors of hym +tou +gyues,
+Tou louest hym nat +tat +tou by lyues,
And ouer alle +tyng he loue+t +te beste,
And +tou ne wylt, a ny+gtys geste,
lete hym herber yn hys hous;
+Tou art vnkynde ry+gt merueylous,
+Tat alle +te +gere +tou latest hym weyue,
And with wurschy+t +tou wylt nat hyt receyue.
God manace+t swyche, for swyche enchesun, 
And ry+gt hyt wyl, and gode resun;
For swyche men are holde vntrewe
Yn +te olde lawe, and eke yn +te newe.
<P 321>
Comaundement yn +te olde lawe was,
'Ones yn +te +gere to shewe +ty trespas;'
+te newe law ys of more onour
'Ones to receyue +ty creatoure,'
Ones yn +te +gere, to knowleche,
+Ty lorde to pes, for drede of wreche.
   +Tat prest, y blame ouer alle +tyng,
+Tat with-oute skylle letty+t to synge;
For many a soule my+gt be saued
with +te messe +tat he ha+t leued;
For al[{le{] +tat yn peyne ys,
Abyde+t +te socoure of +te messe;
For euery messe make+t memorye
Of soules +tat are yn purgatorye;
Moche +tanke shal +tat prest haue,
+Tat helpe+t, hem for to saue;
For no +tyng may hem so moche auayle
Of here peyne and here trauayle,
As +te sacrament of +te autere,
Ne make+t hem of peyne so clere.
   And +tat may y shewe apertly
By a tale of seint Gregorye;
Seynt Gregory telle+t for +te same, A tale.  



