<B CMVICES4>
<Q M3/4 IR RELT VICES4>
<N VICES AND V 4>
<A X>
<C M3/4>
<O 1350-1420>
<M 1420-1500>
<K CONTEMP>
<D EML>
<V PROSE>
<T REL TREAT>
<G TRANSL>
<F FRENCH>
<W WRITTEN>
<X X>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z INSTR REL>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^THE BOOK OF VICES AND VIRTUES. A FOURTEENTH
CENTURY ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF
THE SOMME LE ROI OF LORENS D'ORLEANS.
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, 217.
ED. W. N. FRANCIS.
LONDON, 1942. 
PP. 97.8 - 116.25^]

<P 97>
(^Here 
he teche+t how +te pater noster schal be understonde.^)
   Whan men setten first a child to lerne lettrure,
men teche+t hym his pater noster. Who-so
wole lerne +tis clergie, hym bihoue+t become
meke and vmble as a child, for to suche scolers teche+t
oure goode maister Ihesu Crist +tis clergie, +tat is +te
faireste and +te profitableste +tat is, who-so wel              #
vnderstonde+t
it and holt it. For suche wene+t +tei kunne
it and vnderstonde it wel +tat wite+t neuere what it is
but +te schelle wi+t-oute, +tat is +te lettre; +tat is good,
but it is litle wor+t as afor+gens +te +gelke +tat is wi+t-ynne
so swete. It is wel schort in wordes and ri+gt
longe in sentence, +tat is vnderstondynge; li+gt to seyn,
sutel to vnderstonde. +Tis orisoun passi+t alle o+tere
orisounes in +tre +tinges: in wor+tynesse, in schortnesse,
and in profitabelnesse. +Te wor+tynesse is +tat Goddes
sone made it to God +te fadre in word. God +te 
Holy Gost is +tat a man aske+t; he wolde +tat it were
schort, for no man scholde excusen hym to lerne it,
and for no man scholde +ting heuy to seyn it gladly and
ofte. And for to schewe +tat God +te fadre here+t vs
ri+gt soone as we bidde+t hym wi+t good herte, for he
ne rekke+t nou+gt of longe tarienge ne of wordes y-polesched 
or y-rymed. For, as seynt Gregori sei+t,
'Verrey doynge is not to speke faire wordes wi+t
+te mou+t, but to make gret compleynt for synne and
<P 98>
+terwi+t sore sy+gynges of herte.' +Te wor+t and +te
profi+gt of +tis orisoun is so gret +tat it comprehende+t
in schort wordes al +tat a man may desyre in herte
and bidde +tat good is. +Tat is to seye +tat a man be
delyuerede of alle wikkednesse & fulfild of al goodnesse.
+Tus bigynne+t +te pater noster: 'Fader 
oure, +tat art in heuene.' Now be-holde wel how
oure goode pledour, aduoket, and oure swete maister
Ihesu Crist, +tat is +te wisdom of God +te fadre and 
wot and knowe+t alle +te lawes and vsages of his court,
teche+t +te to plede wisly and sutelly, and schortly
speke+t. Forso+te +tis first word +tat +tou seist, +gif
it be wel vnderstonde and folewed, schal wynne +te
al +ti querele. For seynt Bernard sei+t +tus: '+Te orisoun
+tat bigynne+t bi +te swete name of +te fadre +gyue+t
vs hope to purchase wel al +tat we praien.' +Tis swete
word 'fadre,' +tat make+t swete al +te remenaunt,
schewe+t +te what +tou schalt leue and somoune+t +te
to +tat +tou schalt do. And +tese tweie +tinges sauen a 
man: whan he leue+t wel and a-ri+gt, and do+t +ter-after
as he scholde. Whan +t=u= clepest hym fadre, +tou
be-knowest +tat he is lord of +te hous, +tat is of heuene
and of er+te, and chyueteyn and bigynnere and welle,
wherbi alle creatures and al good come+t, and +tus
+tou bi-knowest his my+gt. After, si+t +tat he is

fadre, he is ordeynour and gouernour and purueyour
of his meyne, and namely of his children, +tat is of 
men +tat he hymself ha+t made to his owne liknesse,
and +tus +t=u= knowest his wisdom. And also, si+t he
is fadre by kynde and bi ri+gtfulnesse, he loue+t al +tat
he ha+t made, as sei+t +te boke of Wisdom; and he is
swete and debonere and loue+t and noresche+t his
children and sei+t to hem here profi+gt betere +tan +tei
kunne hemself deuise; & he bete+t hem and chaste+t
hem whan +tei mysdo+t, for here owne profitt, as a
good fadre, and gladly receyue+t hem whan +tei come+t
to hym; and in +tis +tou knowlechest his goodnesse
<P 99>
and his debornesse. Now schewe+t +te +tis word
+tat +tou seyst, 'fadre,' his my+gt and his wisdom and
his goodnesse. It reherse+t also on +tat o+ter side to 
+tiself +ti nobleie, +ti fairenesse, +ti richesse. Gretter
nobleie may non be +tan to be so gret an emperoures
sone as God is. Gretter richesse may no man haue
+tan to be eir of al +tat he ha+t. Gretter fairenesse
may non haue +tan to be like to hym ari+gt, +te whiche
fairenesse is so gret +tat it passe+t +tou+gt of man and of
aungel. And +tus +tis word 'fadre' meue+t +te +tat 
+tou art sone, for +tou dost +ti trauaile to be like hym,
as a good sone schal be like to his good fadre, +tat is to
seye +tat +tou be dou+gty and my+gty, strong and stedefast
to do good, and +tat +tou be wis and auysee, large and
curteis, swete and deboner and wi+t-out vileyne, as
he is, and +t=t= +tou hate synne and fil+te and al              #
schrewdenesse,
as he do+t, so +tat +tou go nou+gt out of +ti kynde.
+Tan menewe+t +te +tis word as ofte as +tou seist +ti 
pater noster +tat +gif +tou be sone ari+gt, +tou schalt be
like to hym kyndely by comaundement and bi ri+gtfulnesse, 
and +tou schalt do to hym loue, worschipe,
reuerence, drede, seruise, and buxumnesse. Now
bi+tenke +te +tan, whan +tou seist +ti pater noster, +tat
+tou be to hym good sone and trewe, +gif +tou wolt 
+tat he be to +te good fadre and debonere. Whan
a newe kny+gt go+t to a bataile or to +te turnement,
men bidden hym +tenke whos sone he is, and ri+gt
so schalt +tou +tenke. Now sest +tou wel how swete
+tis first word is, and how it meue+t +te to be dou+gty
and wor+ty and wel y-tau+gt, and it teche+t +te what 
+tou schalt be. (^ [{H{]ow a man schal vnderstonde 'Fadre
oure.'^)
   Now wole we aske whi +tou seist 'fadre oure,' and 
not 'fadre myn'; and whiche felawes +tou hast
whan +t=u= seist '+gyue vs,' and not '+gyue me,' we schulle
seye +te. No wi+gt schal seye 'fadre myn' but only he
<P 100>
+tat is sone of kynde, wi+t-out bigynnyng and endyng,
verrei Goddes sone. But we be+t not his sones
of kynde, but in as moche as we be+t made to his
ymage, and so be+t +tee sarazenes; +ge but we be+t his
sones bi grace and bi adopcioun. Adopcioun is a

word of lawe ciuile. For as bi +te lawes of emperoures,
whan a gret lord ha+t no child, he may chese a pore
mannes sone, +gif he wole, and make of hym his eir bi
adopcioun, +tat is to seye bi auowerie, so +tat men
holde+t it as for his sone and auowed to bere his
heritage. +Tis grace dide vs God +te fadre, nou+gt
for oure deseruyng, as seynt Poule sei+t; whan he made
vs come to cristendom, we were pore & naked and
sones of wra+t+te of helle. +Tan whan we seyn 'fadre
oure' and '+gyue vs,' we gaderen yn wi+t vs alle oure
bre+teren bi adopcioun, +tat ben children of holy
chirche bi +te bileue +tat +tei receyuede at here               #
cristenedome. 
Nowe schewe+t vs +tan +tis word 'oure' +te
largenesse and +te curtesye of God oure fadre, +tat
+gyue+t ble+teloker ynow +tan litle, and to manye +tan
to on alone, as seynt Gregory sei+t, +tan an orisoun,
+te more comune +tat it is, +te more it is wor+t. As +te
candele is more wor+ty +tat serue+t in an halle ful of
folke, +tan +tilke +tat serue+t but o man alone. +Tis
word moneste+t vs to +gilde +tanke and grace wi+t al
oure herte of +te grete grace +tat he ha+t y-do vs, wher-by
we be+t his sones and his eires, and ri+gt wi+t brennyng
loue scholde we loue oure eldest bro+ter, Ihesu Crist,
+tat ha+t made vs felawes wi+t hym in +tis grace. +Tis
word amoneste+t vs +tat we kepen besiliche in oure
herte +te Holy Gost, +tat is oure witnesse of +tis adopcioun 
as a wed, as seynt Poule sei+t, wher-bi we be+t
siker to haue oure fadres heritage, +tat is +te ioye of
paradis. +Tis word lerne+t vs and sei+t +tat we be+t
alle bre+teren, grete and smale, pore and riche, hi+ge
and lowe, of on fadre and on modre, +tat is to seye of
God and holy chirche, and +tat non schal scorne ne
<P 101>
despise o+tere, but loue as his bro+tere, and on schal
helpe a-no+tere, as do+t +te lymes of a mannes owne
body, and on bidde for a-no+tere. As seynt Iame
sei+t, and it is gretliche oure profytt, for +tou leist +ti
biddynge in comune, +tou hast part of al +te comunyte
of holy chirche. And for on pater noster +tat +tou seist,
+tou wynnest mo +tan an hundred +tousande. +Tis
word 'oure' teche+t vs to hate +tre +tinges, namely:
pride, hate, couetise. Pride dryue+t a man out of
felawschip, for he wolde be aboue alle o+tere. Hate
putte+t hym out of felawschip, for whan he wre+t+te+t
and werrie+t wi+t on, he werrie+t wi+t alle +te o+tere.
Couetise dryue+t a man out of felawschip, for he
wole not hymself ne his goodes be in comune a-mong
o+tere. And +terfore suche men habbe+t no part of +te
holy pater noster. +Tis word 'oure' schewe+t vs +tat
God is oures +gif we wolen, and +te fadre and sone and
Holy Gost. +Tis is his name; kepe we +tes comaundementes,
and so sei+t Iohn in +te gospel. (^How +tis^)
(\'Qui es in celis'\) (^is vnderstonde.^)
   Whan I seye '+tat art in heuene,' I seye tweie
+tinges, as +tus: I seye, '+Te kyng is at London,'

here I seye +te kyng is kyng and +tat he is at London;
ri+gt so I seye he is, and I seye he is in heuene. Men
fynde+t y-writen [{in{] +te secounde boke of +te lawe
+tat God aperede to Moises in a mountayne and
seide to hym, 'Goo in-to Egipte and seye to +te kyng
Pharao on myn half +tat he delyuere my peple, +te
children of Israhel, out of +te +traldom +tat he halt hem
ynne.' 'Syre,' seide Moises, '+Gif men aske how men
clepe+t +gow, what schal I seye?' 'I am +tat I am,'
seide God. 'So schalt +tou seye to +te children of 
Israhel, "+Tat is, sent me to +gow."' Now seyn goode
men and holy and goode clerkes, among alle +te hei+ge
<P 102>
names of oure lord, +tat is +te first and +te proprist,
and +tat most ri+gtfullich teche+t vs to knowe what God
is, for alle +te o+tere names, ou+ter +tei speken of his
goodnesse, o+ter of his wisdom, o+ter of his my+gt,
o+ter +tat he is suche or suche, +tat is he is ri+gt good.
+Tis is +te ri+gt good. +Tis is +te ri+gt wis. +Tis is
+te ri+gt my+gty. And many o+tere wordes as men
seyn of hym, and +git sey +tei not +te so+t properliche
of +te beynge of God. But we +tat ben grete and
boistreous in speche to speke of so hi+ge +ting, speke
we of God as men ben woned to likne and deuyse a
man +tat men kunne not nempne, as men sei+t, 'He
is a kyng; he is a duke; he is a grete maister, so faire
and large,' and suche o+ter preisynges at +te leste weie
+tat men mowe knowe hym +ter-by. And +git seye
+tei not his ri+gt name; and ri+gt so speke we of God,
and many wordes fynde we +tat schewe+t vs wel what
is of him, but +ter nys non +tat is so propre as is +tis
word '+tat is,' +tat so propreliche and so schortliche and
so attaynauntliche and sotyliche nempne+t hym to vs,
in as moche as oure vnderstondyng may a-reche.
For God is he +tat alone is, as seynt Iop sei+t; he is
alone, to speke ri+gtfulliche. For he alon is euere-more,
wi+t-out begynnyng and wi+t-oute endyng; +tat may
no man seie of non o+ter +ting. After, he alon is
veraliche. For he is verray & trew+te. Alle +tinges
y-schape, +tat be+t alle creatures, be+t veyn & vanite,
as Salamon sei+t, and nou+gtes as to regarde to hym,
and to nou+gt +tei schulde bicome but +tei were
susteyned +turgh his vertue. And more-ouer he
alone is setter and fastholder. For he is euere-more on
and in o poynt, wi+t-oute any turblyng, wi+t-oute any
chaungyng, wi+t-oute any meuyng in any manere,
as seynt Iame sei+t, and alle o+tere +tinges be+t moueable
in sum kynde; +tan is he cleped propreliche '+tat is.'
<P 103>
For he is veraliche wi+t-out vanite, stedefast wi+t-oute
any flittynge, euere-more wi+t-oute any bigynnyng
and wi+t-oute ende and wi+t-oute euer schal be, for in
him passe+t no tyme. Now schalt +tou wel vnderstonde 
+tat +ter nys no +ting +tat a man may bettere
kunne +tan +tat God is, but +ter nis no +ting so hard

to kunne +tan whi & what +ting God is. And +terfore
we rede +tat +tou studie not to moche to wite ne
enquere. For +tou my+gt li+gtliche faile and go amys;
it suffise+t to +te [{to{] seie, 'Faire swete fadre, +tat art   #
in 
heuene.' So+t is +tat he is ouer al present, in er+te,
in +te scee, and in helle, as he is in heuene. But
men seyn +tat he is in heuene. For he is y-seie +tere
most and most y-knowe and most y-loued and most
y-worschiped. And after he is in heuene gostliche,
+t=t= is in holi hertes +tat be+t hi+ge, bri+gt, and clene as
is +te heuene. For in suche hertes he is y-seie & knowe,
douted and worschiped and loued. Now hast +tou
herde +tes foure wordes, (\'pater noster, qui es in celis.'\)
+Te first teche+t +te to honoure God. +Te secounde
to loue God. +Te +tridde to drede God. For al be he
oure fadre, +git is he ri+gtwis and not moueable. +Te 
fer+te teche+t +te to be strong. For si+t he is hi+ge and
+tou low+ge, but +tou be dou+gty and stalwor+t +tou ne
schalt neuere come +tere he wone+t. +Te first word
schewe+t vs +te leng+te of his endelesnesse. +Te secounde
+te largenesse of his charite. +Te +tridde +te dep+te
of his so+tnesse. +Te fer+te +te hi+genesse of his maieste.
Who-so my+gt a-reche wel to +tes foure +tinges wi+t-oute
faile, he scholde be blessed. (^How a man
vnderstant^) (\'sanctificetur nomen tuum.'\)
   Now hast +tou herde +te prologe of +te holy pater 
noster, +tat is an entre of a fi+tele. A, God,
who-so knewe wel al +te song, how he schulde fynde
swete notes! For it is no doute +tat in +te song +tat +te
wisdom of God made, he +tat teche+t breddes synge,
<P 104>
ne ben fele sotile and swete notes. In body +ter is litle
lettre, and +tis song ha+t seuene notes, +tat ben +te
seuene biddynges +tat purchasen +te seuene +giftes of 
+te Holi Gost, +t=t= destroien +te seuene heuede wikkednesses
of herte and setten & noreschen +te seuene
vertues, bi whiche a man come+t to +te seuene blessednesses. 
Of +tes seuene askynges +te +tre first maken
a man holy as he may be in +tis world. +Te foure
afterward maken a man ri+gtful parfi+gtliche. Al +te
holinesse of a man or of a womman +tat is made to +te 
ymage of +te trinite is vpon +tre +tinges +tat ben in +te
soule: memorie, vnderstondyng, and wille. In 
+tat +tat a soule be parfi+gtliche y-clensed in wille.
Parfi+gtliche ali+gt in vnderstondyng. Parfi+gtliche 
confermed in God and wi+t God in memorie. And
+te more plentyuousliche +te soule vnderfonge+t +tes +tre
+tinges of God, +te more propreliche sche nei+ghe+t to 
his propre fairenesse of kynde, +tat is to +te liknesse
of +te fadre and of +te sone and of +te Holy Gost. +Tat
is whan God +te fadre conferme+t hym his memorie.
God +te sone conferme+t hym his vnderstondynge.
God +te Holi Gost clense+t hym his wille. +Tes
+tre +tinges we bidde+t in +te +tre first askynges of +te 
pater noster; whan we seyn, (\'Sanctificetur nomen

tuum,'\) we schewen to oure good fadre curteisliche
oure principal desir +tat we scholde euere-more haue.
+Tat is +tat his name be blessed and confermed in vs,
+tan whan we seyn (\'sanctificetur nomen tuum.'\) +Tat
is to seye, +tat is oure souereyn desire, and +tat bidde
we ouer alle +ting, +tat +tin holy name, +tat is +tin good
renomee, +ti knowleche, +ti fey, be confermed in vs.
In +tis first askyng we bidden +te first and +te principal
+gefte of +te Holy Gost, +tat is +te +gefte of wisdom, +tat
bynt and halt to-gidere +te herte in God, and ioyne+t
so to hym +tat it ne may not be vndo ne departed.
Wisdom is seid of kunnyng, +tat is sauer, +tat is to
sauoure wel; for whan a man receyue+t +te +gefte, he
<P 105>
taste+t & sauoure+t and fele+t +te swetnesse of +te goode
wyn, and better is in his tast +tan in his si+gt. But
+tat +tou vnderstonde betere what is to seye '+ti name
be halewed in vs,' +tou schalt vnderstonde +tat +tilke 
name 'holy' is as moche as cler and wi+t-out er+te
and y-halewed to +te seruice of God, as y-died in blod
and as y-confermede. +Tus +te spirit of wisdom
halewe+t +te herte in sixe maneres. First he clense+t
and make+t clene, as +te fier purge+t and fyne+t +te gold.
After, he do+t awey +te er+te, +tat is of al wordeliche
loue and of alle fleschely affection, and make+t al 
bicome fade, al +tat a man was woned to loue to-fore,
as +te water +tat is fade to hym +tat is woned to drynke
good wyn. After, he halewe+t hym al to +te seruise
of God, for he drawe+t hym awey from alle besynesse
and sette hym al to serue God & +tenke on hym and
loue hym and serue hym, ri+gt as a chirche is halewed
to +te seruise of God, where man schal non o+ter +ting
do but +te seruice of God. After he deie+t hym in
blod, for he sette hym in so brennyng a loue and so
swete deuocioun of Ihesu Crist +t=t= whan he +tenke+t
on hym and on his passion he is so deied and dronke
of +te precious blod +tat Ihesu Crist schedde for hym
as is a soppe of bred al hot whan a man put it in-to
wyn. +Tis is a newe cristenyng, for cristenynge and
deiynge is al on. After he conferme+t hym so in 
God +tat no+ting may parte hym ne vndo hym. Now
+tan sei+t +tis word '+ti name be halewed in vs,' +tat is
to seye '+gyue vs +te spirit of wisdom,' bi whom we
mowe be fyned as gold and y-made clene of alle
foulenesses, +turgh whom we mowe be so dronke of +ti
loue +tat alle o+tere loues ben bitter to vs, be whom
we ne ben not onliche y-wasche but y-deied in fyn
skarlet and y-made newe and cristened wi+t +te blod
of Ihesu Crist bi deuocioun of brennyng loue, wher-bi
<P 106>
oure fadre be so confermed in vs +tat he be oure fadre 
and we his sones and his eires, and so confermed
+tat no +ting +tat may falle mowe vndo +tis bonde ne
+tis grace. Gret grace is it of God whan +te wille 
of a man or a womman is so harde and roted fast in 

God +tat he ne may not wawe for no temptacion; and
wel gretter +ting is it whan a man is so affermed in 
+te loue and so dronke in +te swetnesse of God +tat no
solas ne counfort sauoure+t a man nou+gt but onliche 
of hym. And +tan is +te hert parfi+gtliche confermede
whan +te memorie is so y-woned to hym +tat he ne
may no +ting +tenke on but onliche on hym. And 
+tat bidde we hym whan we seyn ' (\sanctificetur nomen
tuum\) ; sire, +ti name be halewed in vs.' (^How a man
schal vnderstonde^) (\'Adueniat regnum tuum.'\)
   (\'Adueniat regnum tuum'\) is +te secunde askynge
of +te pater noster, where we bidden +tat +te 
kyngdom of God come to vs. Oure lord sei+t in +te 
gospel to his disciples, '+Te kyngdom of God is now
wi+t-ynne +gow.' Now vnderstonde wel how +tis 
may be: whan God +gyue+t a grace +tat men clepe+t +te
spirit of vnderstondynge in-to +te hertes, ri+gt as +te
sunne do+t awey +te derkenesses of +te ny+gt & waste+t
+te clowdes and +te morwe dewes, ri+gt so waste+t +te
spirit al +te derkenisses of +te herte and schewe+t hym
his synnes and his defautes, so +tat he +tat wend he
hadde be alle clene fynde+t +tan so fele defautes and
fil+tes & foule dust wi+t-oute noumbre, as +te sunnebem
schewe+t +te motes and +te dust to hem +tat be+t
in +te hous & biholde+t it. After he schewe+t also,
on +tat o+ter half, not onliche +tat [{+tat{] is wi+t-ynne
hym, but also +tat +tat is vnder hym in helle, and +tat
+tat is aboue hym in heuene, and +tat +tat is abowte
hym. Alle +te faire creatures +tat alle +tanken God, and
+tilke witnessen how God is good and my+gty, wis,
<P 107>
gret, debonere, and swete. And +te bri+gter +tat a
creature is, +te more [{he{] coueite+t to see hymself,
but he see+t wel +tat he is not wor+ty ne fyn to see hym.
& +tan a good herte wexe+t hot and is wro+t wi+t
hireself; +tan take+t he a pycoise and a scholue and
bigynne+t to delue and to myne, and entre+t for+t
wi+t-ynne +te hert & fynde+t +tere so many synnes and
wikkednesses and defautes, so moche dust and motes
and lettynges of herte, of +tenkynges and euele wille,
+tat he wra+t+te+t hym and sorwe+t & take+t euele talent
in his euele lyuyng, so +tat he bigynne+t +tan to clense
+te herte al an-ernest, and caste+t out alle +tes fil+tes
+tat bynomen God +te sy+gt in hym. And +tis do+t 
he wi+t +te scholue of verray schrift. But whan he ha+t
longe myned and y-cast out alle +tes foulnesses, +tan
fynde+t he pais and reste, solas and ioye, so moche
+tat hym +tenke+t +tat al +te world is but an helle, to
regarde of +tilke bri+gtnesse and +tilke pais +tat he fynt
in his herte. And +tis aske we whan we seyn (\'adueniat
regnum tuum,'\) +tis is to seye, 'faire fadre, +gif it be
+ti wille, li+gt oure hertes wi+t +te Holy Gost and clense
hyre and make hire fair'; +tat sche be wor+ti to see
God, and +tat he mowe lust to come and dwelle as
kyng, as lord, as gouernour, as comaundour, so

+tat al be his and +tat he be kyng and +tat we mowe
euere-more see hym. For +tat is to haue wi+t-ynne vs
+te lif wi+t-outen ende and +te kyngdom of God.
& +terfore sei+t oure lord in +te gospel +tat +te kyngdom
of God is as a tresour y-hid in +te feld, +tat is +te herte
of a man, +tat is more +tan al +te world. (^How a man
schal vnderstonde,^) (\'Fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo et in
terra.'\)
   +Tis is +te +tridde askynge, wher-ynne we bidde+t
oure fadre of heuene +tat his wille be fulfilled in
vs as it is in heuene, +tat is as yn holy aungeles +tat be+t
<P 108>
in heuene and +tat be+t so ali+gt and confermed in God
+tat +tei mowe no+ting wilne but +tat God wole. +Tis
boone mowe we not haue but we haue +te +gifte of
conseil, +tat is +te +tridde +gifte of +te Holy Gost, +tat
teche+t his good wille and +tat he turne oure wrecched
wille and conferme it al holliche in-to his good wille,
so +t=t= in vs ne be nou+gt oure owne wittes ne oure owne
willes, but his onliche, and +tat his wille be lady of
oure hertes al holliche and do in vs al +tat he wole,
ri+gt as he do+t and is ydo in +te holy aungeles of heuene,
+tat don euer-more his wille wi+t-oute mystakyng and
wi+t-out a+genseyinge. Now hast +tou herde +te +tre
first askynges of +te pater noster, +tat be+t +te hei+gest
and +te most wor+ty. In +te first we asken +te +gefte
of wisdom. In +te seconde +te +gefte of vnderstondyng.
In +te +tridde +te +gifte of counseil, as we haue y-schewed 
a-boue. +Tes +tre +tinges we bidde+t not
for to haue hem in +tis dedliche lif parfi+gtliche, but
we schewen to oure fadre oure desires +tat ben or
scholde ben +tat +tes +tre biddynges be do in vs and
fulfilled in +te lif wi+t-out ende. +Tes o+tere foure 
+tat comen her-after we bidde+t al an-o+ter manere
+ting, for we seyn al parfi+gtliche to oure fadre, '+Geue
vs, for+geue vs, kepe vs, delyuere vs.' For but 
we haue of hym +tes foure biddynges, we be+t dede
and schent in +tis world, for +tei be+t nedeful in +tis 
dedliche lif. (^How a man schal vnderstonde^) (\'Panem
nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie.'\)
   Wel teche+t vs oure good maister to speke mekeliche
and wisliche whan he teche+t vs, 'Fair fader,
oure euery daies bred +gyue vs to-day.' What may a 
sone lesse aske of +te fadre +tan bred, wi+t-oute more,
for to dryue for+t +te day? He ne aske+t non outrage,
no+ter wyn ne flesch ne fische, ne more ne bidde+t 
he not for +te +ger ne for al +te woke, but onliche to
dryue for+t +te day. Now seme+t +tan it is ri+gt litle
+ting +tat we bidde+t, but, forso+te, it is not so, for we
<P 109>
bidde+t many +tinges. Whan men bidde+t an abbot 
+te bred of his abbey, men bidde+t hym part of his 
bro+terhede and part and companye and ri+gt in alle
+te goodes of +te hous; ri+gt so is here whom +tat God
graunte+t of his bred: he ha+t bro+terehode and part and

companye and ri+gt in alle +te goodes of heuene, +tat is
+te bred of +te blessed couent, +te bred of heuene, +te
bred of angeles, +te delitable bred, +te bred of lif wi+t-out
endynge, for it +geue+t good lif and kepe+t a man from
de+t. As so+tnesse sei+t in +te gospel: 'I am +te
bred of lif +tat come doun fro heuene; who-so ete of
+tis bred, he schal lyue euere wi+t-out de+t.' +Tis
bred is mete a-ri+gt, for it staunge+t al +te hunger of
+tis world and fille+t a man so +tat he ha+t y-now; so
do+t non o+ter bred ne o+ter mete. +Tis is +te bred 
and +te mete +tat +tou takest at +te sacrament of +te 
auter, +tat +tou schalt ete hastliche & gloutliche, as
holy writ teche+t. As do+t +te lechour +te good
mete, for ow+ter-while he swolewe+t a good mossel
wi+t-out chewynge. +Tis is to seye +tat +tou schalt
take +tis mete wi+t grete brennynge [{of{] herte and wi+t
gret desire, and +tou schalt, as it were, swolewe it
wi+t-oute schewynge. +Tat is to vnderstande, bileue
al a-gret +tat +tat is +te verrey body of Ihesu Crist and
his soule and +te Godhed al to-gidere, wi+t-out any
sechyng or +tenkyng how +tat may be, for God may more
do +tan any man may +tenke or vnderstonde. After,
+tou schalt chewe +tis mete newe, as +te oxe rounge+t
+te gras +tat he ha+t swolewed, +t=t= is to seye +tat a man
or a womman schal record swetliche and in smale
peces be many smale +tou+gtes al +te godnesses of oure
lord and al +tat Ihesu Crist suffrid for vs, and +tan
fynt +te herte ri+gt sauour in +tis mete and renne+t in-to
a gret loue of God and in-to a gret desire to do
ynow and suffre for hym al +tat he my+gt. And al
<P 110>
+tat do+t +te vertue of +tis bred, for +tat is +te bred +tat
conforte+t and strenk+te+t +te herte +tat sche be wel 
strong to suffre and do grete +tinges for +te loue of
God. But +tis may not be wi+t-out +te fer+te +gefte
of +te Holy Gost, +tat is cleped +te +gefte of strenk+te,
+tat arme+t Godes kny+gt and make+t hym renne to 
martirdom and make+t hym li+ge in his turmentes.
Now maist +t=u= see how curteisliche, whan we asken
+tis bred, we asken +te +gifte of stryng+te, for as bodiliche
bred susteyne+t and strenk+te+t +te body, ri+gt so +te 
+gifte of strenk+te make+t +te herte hardy to suffre and
do grete +tinges for +te loue of God. +Tis bred we
clepen oure for it was made of oure dou+gh. Blessed
be +tilke good womman +tat leide for+t +te flour, +tat
was +te virgyne Marie. It is oure; for vs it was 
y-bake and fried - bake in +te wombe of +te maide
Marie and y-fried in +te panne of +te cros, as it is so+t,
+ge so+t, y-fried in his owne blod. For +tat diede he
in +te grete brennyng loue +tat he hadde to vs. +Tis is
+te bisquit wher-wi+t he vitaile+t his schip, +tat is holi 
chirche, for to passe wi+t +te grete see, out of +tis 
perilous world. He is oures, for at his leue-takynge
at his last testament he lefte vs Ihesu Crist +te al-+ter
largest, as for +te grettest, tresour +tat he my+gt lete vs,

and +gyue vs hym for +te fairest juel +tat he my+gt +gyue 
vs and +tat we scholde kepe for +te loue of hym and 
+tat we mowe euery daye haue in remembraunce for
loue of hym. So+tely he is oures, for +ter may no
whi+gt bynyme hym vs a+gens oure wille. We clepe+t
hym oure echedaies bred, +tat is of euery day, for +tat
is +te eueridayes +gifte +tat God +gyue+t to his chanounes
euery day +tat don his seruice and syngen his oures,
+tat is to alle goode hertes +tat euery day swetliche
and be verray loue maken memorie and remembraunce
of his passioun. +Te gret prouendres we schulle
take whan oure heruest come+t in heuene, whan we
seen hym al openliche in his fairenesse as he is.
<P 111>
+Terfor he is cleped cotidian, +tat is eueriday, for 
eueriday scholde a man and womman take hym in 
+te sacrament of +te auter, as do+t +te preste, or elles
gostly bi ri+gt bileue. +Tis bred is ri+gt precious, ri+gt
noble, and ri+gt wel adi+gt. +Tis is rial mete, wher-yn 
ben alle manere delices and alle goode sauours, as
sei+t +te boke of Wisdom. +Tis is no mete to +gyue
knaues and pitaile ne to houndes ne to cherles, but to 
noble hertes and gentile and curteis and clene, +tat is
to +te herte +tat is gentel bi grace, noble by good lif,
clene and wel y-wasche bi verray schrifte. Of his
vertue speke+t seynt Mathew +te wangelist and clepe+t
it siker bred substanciale, +tat is to saye it ouer-go+t
alle substaunces and alle creatures from fer in vertue 
and in dignite and in alle manere wor+tynesses. +Ter
may no man betere discryue it ne more sufficiauntly
but clepe it siker bred substancial. A man sei+t +tat 
mete is substancial whan +ter is ynne grete norischynge
and grete substaunce. And +te more +tat men seyn
+tat it is substancial, for in +tat is more vertue and good
and norture +tan any man may +tenke or seye. Men
seyn not onliche +tat it is substancial, but +tat it is 
siker and substancial. +Tis is vertuous and substancial
ouer alle +tenkenges and wenynges. +Tis 
bred bidde we and asken of oure fadre and bisechen 
hym he +geue it to vs +tis day, +tat is in +tis dedliche lif,
so +tat we mowe make a good iorneye and a-bide +te
gladloker oure mede, +tat is +te peny +tat he +gyue+t to
his werke-men whan +tey comen at euen, +tat is +te 
ende of here lif. (^How a man schal vnderstonde^)
(\'Dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus
debitoribus nostris.'\)
   In +tis askynge we bidde+t oure fadre of heuene +t=t= 
he wole for+geue vs oure mysdedes, as we for+geue+t
hem +tat han mysdo to vs, +tan seye we +tus: 'Faire
fader, quyte vs oure dettes, as we acquyten oure
<P 112>
dettoures.' Oure dettes ben oure synnes +tat we 
han lete wexe in oure soules; +tat is +te best wed of al
+te hous, wher-by a synful man or womman, for on 
dedly synne +tat so soone is do as to +te likynge and to

+te dede, is y-bounde in so gret vsure +tat ha+t non
ende, +tat is +te peyne of helle +tat is wi+t-outen ende.
And after, he schal to God, +tat he ha+t wra+t+ted, so
gret amendes +t=t= he ha+t no power to paie it, for in al 
+tis lif, +tey+g he my+gt lyue an hundred wynter or more,
he ne my+gt not do sufficiauntly penaunce for on dedly
synne, +gif God wolde vse ri+gtful iugement. And
+terfore vs bihoue+t to renne to +te court of mercy,
and crie mercye and aske for+geuenesse, for as bi ri+gt
of +te court of ri+gtwisnesse +te synful man or womman
scholde be dampned to de+t wi+t-out ende. And
+terfore oure good maister Ihesu Crist teche+t vs +tus
to aske for+geuenesse and acquitaunce whan we bidden
oure good fadre, +tat is swete and deboner to for+geue,
large and curteis for to +geue, +tat he for+geue vs oure
mysdedes. But take good hede how +tou biddest
whan +tou seist 'for+geue vs oure mysdedes, as we
for+geuen hem +tat han mysdo to vs,' for +gif we for+geue
not to hem +tat han mysdo to vs, God ne wole not 
for+geue vs oure mysdedes, as he sei+t hymself in +te 
gospel: +Tat he +tat sei+t his pater noster and kepe+t
in his herte angre and felonie or wra+t+te, he bit more
a+gens hym +tan wi+t hym, for he bidde+t to God +tat
he for+geue hym not, for he sei+t, 'for+geue me as I
for+geue'; and +terfore, as ofte as +tou seist +ti pater
noster to-for God +tat see+t wel +tin herte, +tou schal 
for+geue +ti maletalent and cast out of +tin herte alle
ire and hates and angrees. & elles +ti biddyng is
a+gens +tiself more +tan for +te. +Gif it +tenke +te euele
and hard to for+gyue +ti maletalent to hym +tat hate+t
+te or +tat wille+t +te euele or +tat ha+t y-do +te harme
or mysseid +te, +tenke +tat God for+geue his de+t to hem
<P 113>
+tat crucifiden hym, for to +geue +te ensaumple to 
for+geue to hym +tat ha+t mysdo +te, and more +git to
bidde for hem +tat God for+geue hem, and +git more 
to do hem good +gif +tei han myster of +te, for he sei+t
in +te gospel, it is no grete +ting ne gret desert a+gens
God to do good to hem +tat do+t vs good, ne to louen 
hem +tat louen vs, for +tat don Iewes and sarezenes
and o+tere synful folk. But we +tat ben Goddes sones
bi bileue and bi grace & ben cristene and nempned
of Ihesu Crist and ben heires of +te heritage wi+t hym
of paradis, we schul for+geue eueriche to o+ter and
loue oure enemys, +tat is to seye here persones, and
bidde for hem and do hem good +gif +tei han nede and
we mowe do it, for so bit +te gospel, and na+teles we
schul hate onliche +te synnes and loue +te soules, +tat
be+t made to +te ymage of oure lord, and ri+gt as +tat 
on membre of +te body helpe+t +tat o+tere - +gif +tat on 
herte+t +tat o+tere be an happe, +tat o+ter ne venge+t
hym not +terfore. We ben alle on body in Ihesu
Crist, as +te apostle sei+t, and +terfore we schulde loue
euery o+tere. And who-so do+t o+terwise, he is mansleer
& dampne+t hymself, as holy writ sei+t. Suche

kunne not seye here pater noster, for it were better
+tei helde hem stille, for he take+t his juge a+gens hymself.
In +tis biddynge +tat we bisechen to God, 
we bidde+t hym a +gifte of +te Holy Gost +tat is cleped
+te +gefte of kunnynge, +tat is science, +tat make+t a
man or a womman to be-+tenke hym wel and to be
kunnyng. +Tis spirit schewe+t a man and womman 
what he is and what perel he is ynne, and wheynnes
he com and whidere he go+t, and what he ha+t y-do
& what he ha+t mysdo, and how wel he ha+t beleued
and what he schal; and whan he see+t he ha+t not
wher-of to make good, and +tan make+t hym +tis
spirit to wepe & seche and crie mercye to God, and
seie, 'Sire, for+geue me my dettes, +tat is my synnes, 
for I am mochel entedted a+gens +te, and for +te
<P 114>
wikkednesse +tat I haue do and +te good +tat I haue
leted and for+gete to do +tat I my+gt and schulde haue
do, and for +te good +tat +tou hast do me and +ti grete
goodnesses +tat I haue alwey receyued, whiche I haue
euele deserued; and +terfore, sire, I ne haue not wherof
to make paiement; for+geue me +tat I schal.' Whan 
+tis spirit ha+t so ali+gt hym +tat he knowleche+t his
defautes, +tan make+t it hym caste out of his herte 
alle wra+t+te and angre, and for+geue al his maletaulent
+gif he haue any, and +gif he ha+t non, he is in good wille
to for+geue and any man mysdo hym in tyme comynge;
+tan may he wel seye, 'Faire fadre, for+geue vs oure
mysdedes, as we do+t to hem +tat han mysdo to vs.'
(^How a man schal vnderstonde^) (\'Et ne nos inducas
in temptacionem.'\)
   Who-so is y-scalded wi+t hote watre, he dowte+t
+te more hot watre; and he +tat is on tyme falle
in synne, and his synne be for+geue hym, he bicome+t
+te more humble and meke and +te more dredeful,
and more he is a-ferd of temptacion. +Terfore he +tat 
God ha+t for+geue his synnes, he bidde+t +tat he kepe
+tat he falle not a+geyn, and sei+t +tus: (\'Et ne nos
inducas in temptacionem.'\) +Tat is to seye, 'Faire
swete fadre, lede vs not in-to temptacioun.' +Te
deuel is +te temptour, for +tat is his crafte +tat he serue+t
in +te hous of God for to assaie wi+t +te newe kny+gttes;
and +gif +tat temptacioun ne were good and profitable,
+te goode God, +tat al make+t for oure profi+gt, ne wolde
not suffre +tat it schold come. But, as seynt Bernard
sei+t, whan +tis temptour smy+gt vs vp +te rigge wi+t his 
hamer, he forge+t vs crounes of ioye, as he do+t +tat 
smyt and lei+t on +te rigge of a good kny+gt, and forge+t
hym loos and pris and his ioye. +Te deuel tempte+t a
man to drawe hym from +te loue; +terfore seynt Poule
bit to his disciples +tat +tei ben founded as a tour and
y-roted as a tree in charite, so +tat no temptacioun
mowe meue hym ne wagge hym. +Terfore in +tis
<P 115>
we bidden oure help of God to +tis bataile +te +gifte of 

pite, +tat is a grace +tat bedewe+t +te herte and make+t
hire swete and pitous and make+t hire wexe al grene 
and bere fruy+gt ynow of goode werkes, wi+t-oute
and wi+t-ynne, and fastne+t his rotes in +te er+te of 
lyueres, +tat is of hem +tat bere+t lif, +tat is also y-cleped 
+te goode syment +tat men make+t wi+t +te walles sarizyneis,
+tat no man may breke wi+t pike ne wi+t howe.
Whan we seyn, +tan, (\'et ne nos inducas in temptacionem,'\)
+tat is to seye, 'my swete fadre, make oure
hertes hardy and stedefast +tat +tei ne meue nou+gt
for no temptacioun +tat may come to hem +turgh
helpe & grace of +te +gifte of +te spirit of pitee.' We
bidde+t not +tat we ne be+t not y-tempted, for +tat
were a foles bidding and schamful, ri+gt as a goode
mannes sone +tat were newe made kny+gt wolde bidde
his fadre and seide, 'Fair fadre, I beseche +te +tat +tou
kepe me +tat I ne go neuere more to turnement ne to 
poyntes of werre.' We scholde welne to be tempted,
for it is oure profi+gt in many maneres, for we ben +te
more meke and more dredful and +te more asaied;
for as Salamon sei+t, 'Who-so ha+t not be tempted,
he may no +ting wite ari+gt,' but as men wite+t of +te
bataile of Troie bi heryng telle, for he may not knowe
hymself ne his siknesse ne his stryng+te of his enemys
ne here slei+gtes, ne how trwe God is at nede to helpe
his frend, ne from how many pereles he ha+t ofte
y-kept hym; and for alle +tis resones he ne schal
neuere wel kunne loue God ne +tanke God of his
goodes. But we bidden hym +tat he kepe oure hertes
+tat +tey ne entre not in-to temptacioun, +tat is +tat +tei
consent not, for as a+gens oureself we ben so pore and
so feble +tat we ne my+gt neuere an houre of a day
suffre +te assaut of +te deuel wi+t-out help of oure 
lord, & whan he faile+t vs we fallen yn a-swi+te, & 
whan he helpe+t vs we wi+tstonde+t and fi+gtte+t &
ouercomen; and +terfore seye we, 'faire fadre, lede not
<P 116>
vs in-to temptacioun.' (^How a man schal vnderstonde^)
(\'Set libera nos a malo, amen.'\)
   Seynt Austeyn sei+t +tat alle o+tere vices, o+ter +tei 
maken vs to do euele, o+ter +tei letten vs to do wel;
but al +tat euere a man ha+t ydo and alle +te +giftes
+tat a man ha+t y-purchased, pride is a-boute and 
hope+t to destroie and byneme. And +terfore whan 
God ha+t +geue a man +tat he ha+t praied hym in +te
seuene askynges tofore seid, +tan is it first tyme to
praie hym a-nernest +tat he delyuere hym of yuele
and of his anguissches; and +terfore come+t +tis askynge
as +te rere-warde, +tat sei+t +tus: (\'Set libera nos a malo,
amen,'\) +tat is to seie, 'faire fadre, delyuere vs of euele,'
+tat is to seye of +te deuel and of his slei+gtes, '+tat we
lese not bi pride +te +giftes +tat +tou hast +geue vs.' In
+tis askynge we bisechen hym he +geue vs +te +gefte of
holy drede, bi whom we mowe be delyuered of +te
schrewe and of alle o+tere euel, +tat is of alle synnes

and of periles, in +tis world and in +tat o+tere, amen.
'And so be it as we haue seid,' +tat is +tis word
'amen' to seye. Now hast +tou herd +te notes +tat
men were woned to noten vpon +tis clene song +tat 
God made, +tat is +te pater noster; now loke +tat +tou
kunne wel synge it in +tin herte for grete good +tat +tou
my+gt haue +terby. 



