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1

ÞE UORE-SPECHE OF ÞE HOLY PATER NOSTER.

2
3    Hvanne me zet a child to lettre. ate begynnynge
4me him tekþ his pater noster. Huo þet of þise clergye
5wyle conne: be-come milde ase a child. uor to zuyche
6scolers tekþ oure guode mayster Iesu crist / þise

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7clergie / þet is þe uayreste / and mest behofsam þet
8is. huo þet wel hit onderstant and of-halt. Vor zuyche
9weneþ hit wel conne and onderstonde: þet neuerte ne
10couþe bote þe rynde wyþoute / þet is þe lettre / þet is
11guod. Ac litel is worþ to þe zyȝþe of þe newen þet is
12wyþinne zuo zuete. Hit ys wel ssort ine wordes: and
13wel lang ine wytte. Liȝt to zigge / an sotil to onderstonde.
14Þis bene / paseþ alle oþre / ine þri þinges. ine
15dignete / in ssorthede. an ine guodnesse. Þe dignete
16is / ine þan þet godessone hit made. To god þe uader
17ine worde. God þe holy gost / þet is þet me acseþ.
18He wolde þet hit were ssort / uor þet non ne ssolde
19him werye: hit uor to lyerny. An uor þan þet non ne
20ssolde him tyeny hit uorto zigge gledliche / an ofte.
21And uor to ssewy / þet god þe uader ous yhyerþ wel
22zone: huanne we him biddeþ mid guode herte. uor he
23ne heþ none hede of longe ryote of tales y-slyked / ne
24y-rymed. Vor ase zayþ sant gregorye. Zoþliche bidde /
25ne is naȝt to zygge uayre wordes / and y-slyked myd
26mouþe: ake keste playntes and dyepe zykynges of
27herte. Þe worþ / and þe profit of þise bene: is zuo
28grat / þet he beloukþ ine ssorte wordes / al þet me may
29wylny of herte. An to bydde wel to done. þet is þet
30me by delyured of alle kueade: and uolueld of alle
31guode.
32
33
34

HYER BEGINÞ ÞET PATER NOSTER.

35
36    Þvs beginþ þet pater noster. 'Vader oure / þet art
37ine heuene.' Loke hou oure guode spekeman / and oure
38zuete mayster Iesu crist /þet is þe wysdom of god þe
39uader / and kan alle laȝes / and þe wones of his cort þe
40tekþ wel to playty / and wyslyche / and sotilliche / an
41ssortliche to speke. Vorzoþe þis uerste word þet þou
42zayst / yef hit is wel onderstonde / and yuolȝed / hit
43þe ssel yeue al þine playnte. Vor saynt bernard þus
44zayþ. Þet þe bene þet begynþ be þe zuete name of þe

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45uader. yefþ ous hope to onderuonge alle oure byddynges.
46Þis zuete word / vader / þet al þe remenont makeþ
47zuete / þe sseaweþ þet þou sselt yleue. and þe somoneþ
48to þan þet þou sselt do. and þise tuo þinges soueþ man:
49huanne he ylefþ wel / and a-riȝt. an he deþ efterward /
50þet he ssel. Huanne þou him clepest uader / þou
51beknaust þet he is lhord of house. þet is of heuene /
52and of erþe: and heaued / and ginnynge / and welle /
53huerof alle ssepþes / and alle guod comeþ. and þus þe
54beknaust his miȝte. Efterward / zeþþe þet he ys uader /
55he is diȝtere / and gouernour / and porueyour / to his
56mayne. an nameliche of his children / þet is of man /
57þet him-zelf heþ y-mad and yssape / to his anliknesse.
58and þus þou beknaust his wysdom. Alast þanne
59þet he is uader be kende / and be riȝte / he loueþ þet he
60heþ ymad / ase zayþ þe boc of wysdome. and is zuete
61and milde. and zuo loueþ / and draȝþ uorþ his children.
62and ham deþ hare prou. and betere þanne hi conne
63deuisi. and he his byat / and his chasteþ huanne hi
64misdoþ uor hare prou ase guod uader / and bleþeliche
65he his onderuangþ / huanne hi comeþ to hym.
66    Nou ich þe sseawy þanne þis word þet þou zayst:
67vader. his miȝte. his wysdom. his guodnesse. He þe
68beþengþ of oþerhalf þe zelue. þine noblesse. þine
69uayrhede. þine richesse. More gratter noblesse ne may
70ich habbe: þanne to by zone to ane zuo greate emperur
71þet is god. More gratter richesse ne may by: þanne to
72by kyng of alle þing. More gratter uayrhede ne may
73by: þanne to by him ariȝt ylich. Huych uayrhede is
74zuo grat: þet hit paseþ þoȝt of man / and of angle.
75Þanne þis word / uader / þe beþengþ þet þou art zone.
76uor þet þou þe paynest him uor to by ylych. ase guod
77zone ssel by ylich his guode uader. þet is to zigge: þet
78þou by bold / and of grat wyl / and strang / and miȝtuol
79wel to done. and þet þou by wys / and y-wer / large /
80and cortoys / zuete / and milde clene and wyþ-oute

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81uileynye / ase he is. and þet þou hatye zenne / and
82uoulhedes / and kueadhedes ase he deþ. zuo þet þou
83naȝt ne do aye kende. Þis vord þanne þe deþ beþenche /
84at alle þe times þet þou zayst þet pater noster: þet yef
85þou art ariȝt zone: þou sselt him anlykny be kende. be
86heste. and be riȝte. and þou him sselt loue. worþssipe.
87and reuerence. drede. seruice. and boȝsamnesse. Nou
88þench þanne huanne þou zayst þi pater noster / þet þou
89by him a guod zone and trewe / yef þou wylt þet he þe
90by guod uader. an milde. 'Þench huas zone þou art': me
91zayþ to þe newe knyȝte huanne he geþ into þe tornement.
92Nou þou yzyxt wel hou þis uerste word is zuete.
93and hou hit þe amonesteþ þet þou by bold and of
94guode wylle. and hit þe tekþ huych þou sselt by.
95    Nou ich þe acxy hueruore þou zayst 'uader oure.'
96and naȝt 'uader myn'? and þet þou him uelaȝest mid þe /
97huanne þou zayst: 'yef ous' / and ne zayst naȝt 'yef me.'
98    Ich wile þe zigge yef þou wylt. Non ne ssel zigge /
99uader min. bote þe ilke þet ys his zone be kende wyþ-oute
100gynnynge / wyþ-oute ende / þe zoþe godes zone.
101Ac we ne byeþ naȝt his zones be kende / bote asemoche
102þet we byeþ ymad to his anliknesse. ac alsuo
103byeþ þe sarasyns. ac we byeþ his zones be grace and by
104adopcion. Adopcioun zuo is a word of laȝe. uor by þe
105laȝes of þe emperurs / huanne an heȝ man ne heþ no
106child: ha may chiese þet child of a guod man yef he
107wyle. and maki him his zone be adopcioun. þet is be
108auoerie. zuo þet he ssel bi yhealde uor his zone auoud /
109and ssel bere his eritage. Þise grace god ous made þe
110uader wyþoute oure ofseruinge. ase zayþ saynt pauel.
111Huanne he ous dede come to þe cristenedome we were
112poure and naked / and child of yre / and of helle.
113Þanne huanne we ziggeþ 'vader oure' and we ziggeþ /
114'yef ous.' we gadereþ alle oure broþren mid ous of adopcion /
115þet byeþ children of holy cherche. be þe byleaue
116þet hi onderuinge ine cristnynge.

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117    Nou ous sseweþ / huer-of þis word / oure. þe largesse /
118and þe cortaysye / of god oure uader. þet ous yefþ
119more bleþeliche / ynoȝ / þanne lyte and to uelen:
120þanne to onen allone. Huer-of saynt gregorie zayþ.
121'þe bene / þe more þet hi is commun: þe more hy is
122worþ. ase þe candele is betere bezet þet serueþ to ane
123halle and uol of uolk: þanne zy þet ne serueþ / bote to
124onlepy manne.' Þis word hat ous to yelde þonkes myd
125al oure herten. of þise grace þet he ous heþ ydo / huer-by
126we byeþ his children / and his eyrs. and þet moche
127ardontliche louye oure ealde broþer Iesu crist / þet ous
128uelaȝeþ wyþ him ine his grace.
129    Þis word ous amonesteþ þet we loki ine oure herte
130holylyche þane holy gost þet is oure wytnesse. Þis
131adopcion is ase weddes / ase zayþ saynte paul / huer-by
132we byþ zikere / þet we ssolle habbe þe eritage of oure
133uader. þet is þe blysse of paradys. þis word ous tekþ
134and zayþ þet we byeþ alle broþren / grat / and smal /
135poure and riche. heȝ / and loȝ / of one uader / and of
136one moder. þet is of god / and of holy cherche. and
137non ne ssel oþren onworþi: ac louie ase broþer. and þe
138on ssel helpe þanne oþre: ase doþ þe lemes of þe zelue
139bodye. and ech bidde uor oþren ase zayþ saint Iocob.
140And zuo hit is oure ureme wel grat. Vor huanne þou
141zest þine bene ine þe uelaȝrede of al holy cherche: uor
142on paternoster þet þou zayst / þo wynst mo þanne an
143hondred þousond.
144    Þis word / oure. ous tekþ to hatye þri þing nameliche.
145Prede. wreþe. and auarice. Prede: deþ man out
146of uelaȝrede. uor he wyle by aboue alle oþren. Wreþe:
147deþ man out of uelaȝrede. uor huanne he werreþ wyþ
148enne: he werreþ wyþ alle þe oþre. Auarice: deþ man
149out of uelaȝrede. vor hi nele ne him / ne his þinges /
150communy mid oþren. And þeruore zuych uolk ne habbeþ
151part / ine þe holy pater noster. Þis word / 'oure':
152ous sseweþ þet god is oure: yef we wylleþ. and þe

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153uader. and þe zone. and þe holy gost. þet is yef we
154lokeþ his hestes. and zuo zayþ ine þe godsspelle saint
155Ion.
156    'Vader oure / þet art ine heuene.' Huanne ich zigge /
157'þet þou art ine heuene': ich zigge tuo þing. þet he is
158kyng / and þet he is at paradis. Alsuo huanne ich
159zigge / 'þet art / ine heuene': ich zigge þet he is / and
160þet he is ine heuene. Me vint ywryte ine þe oþre boc
161of þe laȝe. þet god him ssewede to Moyses ine ane
162helle / and him zede. guo in-to egipte / and zay to þe
163kynge faraon of mine half / þet he þe delyuri mi uolk
164þe children of ysrael / of þe þreldome / huerine he hise
165halt. 'lhord' / zayde moyses. 'yef me akseþ huet is þi
166name. huet ssel ich zigge?' 'Ich am / þet am.' zayde
167god. Nou ziggeþ þe halȝen / and þe guode clerkes.
168þet amang alle þe heȝe names of oure lhorde: þis is þe
169uerste / and þe mest propre. and þet mest ariȝt ous
170tekþ uor to knawe / þet / þet god is. Vor alle þe oþre
171names huer hi spekeþ of his guodnesse. and of his
172wysdome. oþer of his miȝte. oþer he is zuich / and
173zuich. he is þe riȝt guod. þe riȝt trewe. þe riȝt wys. þe
174riȝt miȝti. and uele oþre maneres of speches þet me
175zayþ of him. þet ne ziggeþ propreliche þe zoþe of þe
176byinge of god. Ac we þet byeþ greate / an boystoyse
177to spekene of zuo heȝe þinge / speke we of god / zuo /
178ase we conne deuisi ane man / of huam me ne kan naȝt
179his name / ase me zayþ. he is kyng. he is erl. he is zuo
180grat. zuo uayr. zuo large. and uele of zuyche þinges /
181huer-by me may ywyte hou þet hit by þe man knawe.
182Ac ne ziggeþ naȝt ariȝt his name / ase we spekeþ of
183god: uele we uindeþ of wordes / þet ous sseweþ huet
184þet hit bi of him. Ac þer ne is non zuo propre ase þis
185word / 'þet art.' þet zuo propreliche. zuo ssortliche. zuo
186cleuiyndelyche. zuo sotilliche / þe names nemneþ / ine
187zuo moche / ase onderstondinge him may strechche.
188Vor god is ase þe ilke / þet one is / ase zayþ saint Iob.

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189He one is / ariȝt to spekene. uor he one is / eurelestinde /
190wyþoute beginnynge. and wyþ-oute ende. þet me
191ne may zigge: of non oþre þing. Efterward he one is
192zoþliche. uor he is zoþ / and zoþnesse aboue alle þinges
193yssape. and zuo byeþ alle ssepþes ydele and ydelenesse.
194And ase zayþ Salomon and naȝt to þe zyȝþe of him. and
195to naȝte ssolden come: bote yef he his ne sostyenede
196be his uirtue. Ate laste he one is zetnesse an uestnesse
197ine onelepi poynte wyþ-oute him to trobli / wyþ-oute
198him to chongi / wyþ-oute him remue ine none manere.
199ase zayþ saynt Iacob. Alle oþre þinges byeþ chonginde /
200ine eche manere of hare kende. Þanne is he propreliche
201yclieped: þet art. Vor he is zoþliche wyþ-oute
202ydelnesse / zetnesse / wiþ-oute enye chonge eure to
203yleste: wyþ-oute ende. wyþ-out heaued. wyþ-oute / wes.
204wyþ-oute / ssel by. uor þer ne is no gelt.
205    Nou þou sselt onderstonde zuo þet þer ne is naȝt
206þet me moȝe betere ywyte / þanne þet: þet god is. Ac
207þer ne is noþing zuo strang to conne / ase huet / and
208huet þing is god. Þer-uore ich þe rede wel / þet þou
209ne musy naȝt to moche / hit uor to zeche. uor þou
210myȝtest lyȝtliche guo out of þe riȝte waye. Hit is ynoȝ
211uor þe / þet þou zigge: 'lyeue uader þet art ine heuene.'
212Zoþ hit is þet he is oueral yhered. ine erþe. ine ze. ine
213helle. ase he is ine heuene. Ac me zayþ he is ine
214heuene / uor þet he is þe eldeste / and þe meste yknawe /
215and þe meste beloued / and þe meste yworþssiped.
216Efterward he is ine heuene gostliche / þet is ine holy
217bodyes þet byeþ heȝe. clyre. and clene. ase is þe
218heuene. uor ine zuyche herten: he ys ald. and yknawe.
219and ydred. and yworþssiped and yloued.
220    Nou hest þou yherd þise uour wordes. Pater noster
221qui es in celis. Þet uerste þe somoneþ / to worþssipie
222god. Þet oþer: to louie god. Þe þridde: to drede god.
223Vor þaȝ he by uader oure: alneway he ys bezide / and

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224naȝt chonginde. Þe uerþe þe to strengþi. uor asemoche
225ase he is zuo heȝ / and þou zuo loȝ. yef þou ne art bald /
226and of guode wylle: þou ne sselt naȝt come / huer he
227woneþ. Þet uerste word ous sseweþ þe langnesse of his
228eurebleuinge. þet oþer: þe brede of his charite. þe
229þridde: þe dyepnesse of his zoþhede. þe uerþe: þe
230heȝnesse of his mageste. Huo þet heþ wel þise uour
231þinges zoþliche wyþoute drede he ssel by yblyssed.
232
233

ÞE UERSTE BENE OF ÞE HOLY PATER NOSTER.

234
235    Nou hest þou yherd þe uorespeche of þe holy pater
236noster. þet is ase ane inguoinge of þe viþele. ey god /
237huo þet couþe wel al þane zang: hou he ssolde vinde
238uayre notes. Vor hit ne is no drede þet ine þe zonge /
239þet þe wysdom of god made / þe ilke þet tekþ þe uoȝeles
240zynge: ne heþ uele notes sotiles / and zuete / þaȝ þer
241by lyte lettre. Ine þise zonge byeþ zeue notes. þet
242byeþ þe zeue benes. þet porchaceþ þe zeue yefþes of
243þe holy gost. þet strepeþ þe zeuen haued zennes of þe
244herte. and hi zetteþ / and norisseþ þe zeuen uirtues. be
245huychin me comþ to þe zeue blissinges. Of þise zeue
246benes / þe þri uerste: makeþ man holy / aze moche ase
247man may by ine þise wordle. þe uour efterward him
248makeþ stedeuestlyche: riȝtuol. Al þe holynesse of man /
249þet is ymad to þe ymage of þe trinite / þet is be þri
250þinges þet byeþ ine þe zaule. beþenchinge. onderstondynge.
251and wyl. ine þet þet þe zaule bi stedeuestliche
252yclenzed ine þe wylle. stedeuestliche aliȝt ine þe onderstondinge.
253stedeuestliche yuestned in god. mid god ine
254þe beþenchinge. and þe more þe zaule onderuangþ
255plenteliche þise þri ȝefþes of god: and hy more propreliche
256neȝlecþ / to his riȝte uayrhede of his kende. þet is
257to þe anlicnesse of þe uader / and of þe zone / and of þe
258holy gost. Þet is huanne god þe uader him confermeþ
259his beþenchinge. god þe zone him alyȝt his onderstondinge.

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260god þe holy gost heþ yclensed his wyl. þise
261þri þinges we bezecheþ ine þe þri uerste benes of þe
262pater noster.
263    Huanne we ziggeþ / sanctificetur nomen tuum . we
264sseweþ to oure guode uader corteysliche oure principal
265desyr þet we ssolle eure habbe. þet is þet his name by
266yhalȝed and yconfermed ine ous. þanne huanne we
267ziggeþ / sanctificetur nomen tuum : þet is to zigge. 'sire /
268þis is oure heȝe wyl / þis we bezechiþ toppe alle þing /
269þet þin holy name / þet is þi guode los þi knaulechinge /
270þi beleaue / by y-confermed ine ous.'
271    Ine þise uerste bene: we bezecheþ þe uerste and
272þe principal yefþe of þe holy gost / þet is þe yefþe of
273wysdom / þet uestneþ / and confermeþ þe herte in god.
274and his ioyneþ zuo to him: þet hi ne may by ondo /
275ne to-deld. Wysdom is yzed of smac / and of smacky.
276Vor huanne þe man onderuangþ þise yefþe: he zuelȝþ /
277and smackeþ / and uelþ þe zuetnesse of god. Ase me
278uelþ þe zuetnesse of þe guode wyne ate zuelȝ / betere
279þanne to þe ziȝþe. Ac to þan þet þou onderstanst betere
280huet is to zigge / 'þi name by yhalȝed ine ous:' þou
281sselt ywyte þet þis word / holy / is ase moche worþ:
282ase / klene. ase wyþoute erþe. ase yhalȝed to godes
283seruice / ase y-dept ine blod / ase yconfermed. Ine þise
284uyf maneres halȝeþ þe gost of wysdom / þe herte of
285man. Verst he his wypeþ / and clenseþ / ase deþ þet uer
286þet clenzeþ and fineþ þet gold. Efterward he deþ away
287al þe ilke uelþe / of alle erþliche loue. and of alle wylle
288of ulesse. and makeþ to comene al out of smak. al þet
289me wes ywoned byuore to louie. ase þet weter is out of
290smak to þan þet is ywoned to þe guode wyne. Efterward
291he him halȝeþ of al to godes seruice. uor he deþ
292him al away of alle wreþe. and deþ him al þenche of
293god. and to louie / and serui. Ase þe cherche is yhalȝed
294to godes seruice. zuo þet me ne ssel oþer þing do
295þerinne: þanne þe seruice of god. Efterward he depþ

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296ine blod. Vor he hise zet ine ane zuo berninde loue /
297and one zuo zuete deuocion of Iesu crist. þet huanne
298he þengþ ine him / and his passion: he ys alsuo ydept /
299and al-suo dronke of þe preciouse blode / þet Iesu crist
300ssedde uor him: ase is a zop of hot bryead huanne me
301hit poteþ in-to wyn. þet is a newe cristninge. Vor
302depe and cristni: is al on. Efterward he him uestneþ
303zuo ine god / þet no þing ne may him to parti ne
304onioyni. Þanne he wyle þis word nou zigge: 'þin name
305by yhalȝed ine ous.' þet is to zigge: 'yef ous þane gost of
306wysdom / be huam bi we zuo yclensed ase gold. and
307yuayred of alle uelþe / huer-by we ssolle by zuo uol
308dronke of þine loue: þet alle oþre zuetnesses / ssolle by
309ous bytere: be huam we ssolle by zuo yyeue to þe / an
310to þine seruise: þet neure mo of oþren we ne maky
311strengþe. be huam by we naȝt wyþoute more ywesse:
312ac zuo moche ydept yne grayne / and ynewed and eft
313ycristned ine þe bloode of Iesu crist be deuocioun of
314ueste loue / huer-by þe name of oure uader by zuo
315yuestned ine ous: þet he by oure uader and we his
316zones / and his eyrs. zuo yuestned þet no þing þet moȝe
317beualle ne moȝe ous ondo of þe ilke uestnesse / ne of
318þise grace.' Wel is hit grat grace of god huanne þe wyl
319is zuo yroted ine god huich / ne may to cryepe uor none
320uondinge. Wel gratter þing his huanne me is zuo
321yuestned ine þe loue and adrayngt in þe zuetnesse of
322god. þet no solas ne no confort me ne onderuangþ: bote
323of him. Ac y-yeue is þe herte parfitliche and yconfermed.
324uor þe memorie is zuo cleuiynde ine him: þet
325ne of no þing þenche / bote ine him. And þet we
326byddeþ him huanne we ziggeþ: sanctificetur nomen
327tuum . 'lhord þi name by y-halȝed ine ous.'
328
329

ÞE OÞRE BENE OF ÞE HOLY PATER NOSTER.

330
331    Adueniad regnum tuum. þet is þe oþre bene of þe
332pater noster. huer we byddeþ / þet godes regne come

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333to ous / and by wyþ-inne ous. Oure lhord zayþ ine his
334spelle to his deciples. 'þe regne of god: is nou wyþ-inne
335you.' Nou onderstand wel hou þet may by. Huanne
336god yefþ ane grace þet me clepeþ / þe gost of onderstondinge
337to þe herte. ase deþ þe zonne þet deþ away
338þe þyesternesse of þe nyȝt / and wasteþ þe cloudes / and
339þe hore urostes bi þe morȝen. Alsuo wasteþ þe holy gost
340alle þe þyesternesses of þe herte. and him sseweþ his
341zennes / and his defautes / zuo þet þe ilke wende by al
342klene. þanne wyndeþ hi zuo uele defautes. and of
343motes. and of doust wyþ-oute tale. Ase þe zonne byam
344sseweþ his motes / and þet doust þet byeþ beneþe ine
345þe house. Efterward he him eft sseweþ of oþre half naȝt
346wyþ-oute more þet / þet is wyþ-inne him / ac þet / þet
347is beneþe þe helle. and þet / þet is aboue him ine
348heuene. þet / þet is aboute him / alle uayre ssepþes:
349þet alle heryeþ god / and him wytnesseþ hou god is
350guod and almiȝti. wys. and uayr. grat and milde.
351zuete. and þe more me zyȝt þe sseppinges briȝte: þe
352more hit is wynynde him-zelue to yzyenne. Ac he
353yzyȝþ / þet he ne is clene / ne worþi him to zyenne:
354þanne anhet þe guode herte and trewe / and him wreþeþ
355to him-zelue. Þanne nymþ he his pic / and his spade /
356and beginþ to delue / and to myny. and geþ in-to his
357herte. Þerinne he vint zuo uele zennes / and vices /
358and zuo uele defautes / and zuo moche doust / and
359tribulaciouns of herte / and of þoȝtes / and of wyckede
360wylles / þet he him wreþeþ / and zorȝeþ. and nimþ a
361wycked wyl to him-zelue. zuo þet he beginþ þe herte
362to clensi to þe zoþe / and to keste out alle þe uelþes
363þet him benimþ þe ziȝþe of god ine him. and þet he deþ
364mid þe spade of zoþe ssrifþe. Ac huanne he heþ longe
365ymyned / and he heþ / alle his uelþes ykest out: þanne
366uint he pays / and reste / and solas / and blisse / zuo
367þet him þingþ þet al þe wordle by an helle to þe lokinge

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368of þe ilke clyernesse / and of þe ilke pays: þet he
369uint ine his herte. and þet we oxeþ: huanne we ziggeþ
370Adueniad regnum tuum . þet is to zigge: 'Leue uader /
371ylyky þe / þet þe holy gost ous wille alyȝte þe herte /
372and clensi and zuope / al-huet hi by worþi god uor to
373y-zy. and þet he wile come and wonie ase kyng / and
374ase lhord. and gouernour / and hotere. zuo þet al þe
375herte by his / and he by kyng. and euremo we him moȝe
376yzy. uor þet is lyf wyþ-oute ende. and godes riche habbe
377wyþ-inne ous.' Þeruore zayþ oure lhord in his spelle:
378þet godes riche is ase on tresor in þe uelde yhed. þet is
379ine herte. þet is gratter þanne al þe wordle.
380
381

ÞE ÞRIDDE BENE OF ÞE HOLY PATER NOSTER.

382
383    Fiat uoluntas tua / sicut in celo & in terra. Þis
384is þe þridde bene huerinne we byddeþ oure uader of
385heuene / þet his wyl by ydo ine ous: ase hit is ydo ine
386heuene. þet is ase þe holy angles of heuene / þet byeþ
387zuo aliȝt / and yuestned ine god: þet hi ne moȝe oþer
388þing wylny / bote þet god wille. Þis bene we ne moȝe
389habbe: bote yef we ne habbe / þe yefþe of red. þet is
390þe þridde yefþe of þe holy gost / þet ous tekþ his oȝene
391guod wyl. and þet he ous wende. oure wrechide wil /
392and hise confermy / al to þe heȝe guode. zuo þet he ne
393heþ ne oȝene wyt / ne oȝene wyl. ak his oȝene onlepiliche /
394þet hi by lheuedy of al þe herte yhollyche. and
395maki ine ous al þet his wyle ase hi makeþ ine angles of
396heuene / þet makeþ echedaye his wil wyþ-oute misnimynge /
397and wyþoute wyþzigginge.
398    Nou hest þou yherd þe þri uerste benes of þe pater
399noster. þet byeþ þe heȝeste / and þe dingneste. Ine þe
400uerste / we akseþ þe yefþe of wysdom. Ine þe oþre:
401þe yefþe of onderstondinge. Ine þe þridde / þet guode
402red. ase ich þe habbe aboue yssewed. Þise þri þinges
403we ne byddeþ / naȝt uor þet we hise habbeþ ine þise

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404lyue dyadlich parfitlyche. ak we sseaweþ to oure uader
405oure wylles / þet byeþ / oþer ssolle by / to þan þet þise
406þri benes by ine ous ymad / and uolueld ine þe lyue eurelestinde.
407Þe oþre vour þet comeþ efterward we willeþ
408speke ane oþre speche. Vor we ziggeþ aperteliche to
409oure uader 'yef ous. uoryef ous. wyte ous. delyure ous.'
410bote þise vour benes of him we ne habbe: we byeþ
411dyade / an euele betake ine þise wordle. Vor hi byeþ
412ous nyeduolle ine þise lyue dyadlich.
413
414

ÞE UERÞE BENE OF ÞE HOLY PATER NOSTER.

415
416    Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie. Mochel
417ous tekþ oure guode mayster / to spekene myldelyche /
418and wysliche. huanne he ous tekþ to zigge. Vayre
419uader / oure bryad of eche daye / yef ous to day. Huet
420may þe zone betere acsy to his uader: þanne bread wyþ-oute
421more / uor þane day to endy? He ne acseþ none
422outrage / ne wyn. ne uless. ne uiss. ac bread wyþoute
423more he byt. naȝt uor ayer / ne naȝt uor al þe woke. ac
424wyþ-oute more: þane day to endy. Nou hit þingþ þet
425hit by wel lite þing þet we acseþ: ac uor zoþe hit is wel
426grat þing. Huanne me bit þe broþerhede / and þe
427uelaȝrede / and part / and riȝt / ine alle þe guodes of þe
428house. Alsuo hit is huose þet smackeþ of þise breade.
429He heþ þe broþerrede. and part / and uelaȝrede. and riȝt.
430and ine alle þe guode dedes þet byeþ ine heuene. Þet
431is þet bread of þe ilke holy couent. Þet bread of heuene.
432þet bread of angles. þet bread lostuol. þet bread of lyue
433eurelestinde. Vor hit yefþ guod lyf / and lokeþ þe
434zaule wyþ-oute steruinge. Huer-of zoþ zayþ ine þe
435godspelle. 'Ich am þet bread of lyue / þet com doun
436uram heuene. huo þet ssel ete of þo breade: he ssel
437eure lybbe wyþ-oute steruinge.' þet bryad is mete ariȝt.
438uor hit stoncheþ al þane honger of þe wordle / and uelþ
439man þet he heþ ynoȝ / zuo ne deþ non oþer mete. Þet
440is þet bread and þe mete / þet þou nymst / of þe sacrement

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441of þe wyeuede / þet þou sselt ete zuyþe / and
442glotounliche / ase tekþ þe writinge / ase deþ þe lecherous
443þane guode mete: þet oþerhuil uorzuelȝþ þane guode
444snode / wyþ-oute chewynge. þet is to zigge / þet þou
445sselt nyme þerne mete mid greate wylle of herte / and
446mid grat lost. And þou hit sselt ase hit by uorzuelȝe /
447wyþ-oute chewynge. and þet is to zigge. yleue ine grat /
448þet / þet hit is þe zoþe bodi of Iesu crist. and þe zaule.
449and þe godhede / al to-gydere / wyþ-oute to zeche: hou
450hit may by. Vor god may more do: þanne man moȝe
451onderstonde. Efterward me ssel þerne mete eft chyewe /
452ase þe oxe þet gers þet he heþ uorzuolȝe. Þet is to
453zigge þet me ssel recordi zueteliche and smalliche be
454little stechches / alle þe guodnesses of oure lhorde and
455al þet Iesu crist þolede ine erþe uor ous. And þanne
456vint þe herte þane riȝte smac of þe ilke mete. and onderuangþ
457ane wel greate hete of þe loue of god. and ane wel
458greate wylnynge to do ynoȝ an to þolye uor him al þet he
459miȝte. and al þis deþ þe uirtue of þo breade. Vor þet is þet
460bread þet conforteþ and strengþeþ þe herte / to þet hy by
461wel strang uor to þolye / and do grat þing uor godes
462loue. Ac þet ne may naȝt by wyþ-oute þe uerþe yefþe
463of þe holy gost / þet is y-cleped þe yefþ of strengþe / þet
464armeþ godes knyȝt / and him deþ yerne to by martired.
465and makeþ ham leȝȝe betuene þe tormens. Nou miȝt
466þou wel yzy hou corteysliche / huanne we acseþ þet ilke
467bread: we acseþ þane yefþe of strengþe. Vor ase þet
468bread bodylich / sosteneþ and strengþeþ þet bodi: alsuo
469þe yefþe of strengþe makeþ þe herte strang to þolye /
470and to done grat þing uor god. Þet ilke bread we hit
471clepiyþ oure / uor hit wes ymad of oure doȝe. yblissed
472by þe guode wyfman: þet of hiren þet flour þer to dede.
473Þet wes þe mayde Marie. and yfryd ine þe panne of þe
474crouche / ase he zayþ ine þe sautere. uorzoþe uorzoþe
475yfryd ine his oȝene blode. uor þet dede he / ine þe greate
476wylle of his loue / þet he hedde to ous. And þet is þet

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477bread tuies y-bake / huermide he astoreþ his ssip. þet
478is holy cherche / uor to pasy þe greate ze / of þise
479perilouse wordle. Hit is oure. uor he hit ous let: at
480his yleaue nymynge / and at his laste bequide / Iesu
481crist þe wel large / ase meste greate tresor: þet he ous
482miȝte lete. and hit ous yaf ase þet uayreste iowel / þet
483he ous miȝte yeue. and þet we hit ssolde loky: uor his
484loue. Hit is uorzoþe oure / uor noþing ne may / hit ous
485benime toyens oure wylle. We hit clepieþ oure bread
486of echedaye. þet is to zigge / of eche daye. uor þet is þe
487echedayes dol / þet god yefþ to his wel wilynde: þet
488eche daye doþ his seruice / and ziggeþ his oures. þet is
489to alle guode herten / þet eche daye zueteliche be zoþe
490loue makeþ memorie / and beþenchinge of his passion.
491    Þet greate of þe prouendre / we nimeþ ine oure
492heruest ine heuene / huanne we him ssolle ysy on wryȝe /
493ine his uayrhede / ase he is. Hit is ysed þeruore echedayes:
494þet eche daye / hit is ous nyeduol. and echedaye
495me ssel hit nyme / oþer ate sacrement of þe wefde / ase
496doþ þe prestes: oþer gostliche be riȝte byleaue. Þet
497bread is wel precious / an wel noble / and wel ydiȝt.
498Þet is kynges mete / huerinne byeþ ech manyere lykinges /
499and alle guode smackes / ase zayþ þe boc of
500wysdome. þet ne is naȝt mete to gromes / ne to yeue.
501ne to piecaille. ne to cheuaille. ne to cherles. ac to
502noble herten and gentil. an cortays. and clene. þet is
503to þe herte þet is gentil be grace. noble / be guod lyf.
504yclensed / and ywesse be zoþe ssrifte. Of þise uirtue
505spekþ saynt matheu þe wangeliste / and hit clepeþ ziker
506bread substanciel. þet is to zigge: þet paseþ / and
507ouergeþ alle substances / and alle ssepþes be ver. ine
508uirtue / and ine dingnete / and ine alle oþre maneres of
509worþ. ne me ne may betere write / ne more ynoȝ:
510þanne wit substances. Me zayþ þet mete is þe miȝtuoller
511/ þanne he heþ ynoȝ of myȝte. and of norissinge.
512and þe more þet he is norissinde: me zayþ þet he

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513is þe substancieler. and þere-uore þet ine þise breade is
514more uirtue / and of guod / and of norture / þanne me
515moȝe þenche / oþer zigge. ne zayþ me naȝt þet hit is
516substanciel. alsuo me zayþ þet hit is ope substance /
517þet is / uirtuous / and substanciel aboue onderstondigge
518/ and wenynge. Þet bread we byddeþ to oure
519uader. and him we biddeþ / þet he hit ous yeue to-day.
520ine þise daye / þet is ine þise dyadliche liue. zuo þet
521we moȝe maky ane guode iornee / and to abyde þe
522gledlaker oure ssepe. Þet is þe peny þet he yefþ to his
523workmen / huanne euen comþ. þet is þe ende of þe
524liue.
525
526

ÞE VIFTE BENE OF ÞE HOLY PATER NOSTER.

527
528    Dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus
529debitoribus nostris. Ine þise bene we biddeþ oure
530uader of heuene / þet he ous wylle uoryeue / oure
531misdedes / ase we uoryeueþ to ham: þet ous mis-doþ.
532oþer habbeþ mis-do. þanne zigge we þus. 'Leue uader /
533uoryef ous oure dettes: ase we uoryeueþ oure dettours.'
534Oure dettes: byeþ oure zennes / þet we habbeþ ydo
535wexe ope oute zaulen. þet is þet beste wed of þe house.
536Þe zenuolle be one zenne dyadlich / þet zuo zone is
537y-pased / ase to þe loste / oþer ase to þe dede / is
538y-obliged to zuo ane greate gauelinge: þet he ne heþ
539miȝte to hit endi. þet is to þe pine of helle / þet is
540wyþ-oute ende. Efterward / he ssel to gode / þet he
541heþ ywreþed / zuo grat amendes: þet he ne heþ miȝte
542uor to yelde. Vor ine al his lyue þaȝ ha leuede an
543hondred year oþer more: he ne miȝte naȝt do uoluellinde
544penonce of one dyadliche zenne / yef god wolde
545usy to yelde dom. And þeruore hit behoueþ to yerne
546to þe cort of merci and bidde merci / and aksy uoryeuenesse.
547Vor be þe riȝte of þe cort of dom / þe zeneȝere
548ssolde by demd / and ycondemned to dyaþe eurelestinde.
549Þeruore oure guode mayster Iesu crist ous

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550tekþ zuo to oxi uoryeuenesse and quittinge huanne we
551biddeþ oure guode uader þet is zuete and milde / uor to
552yeuene: large and corteys / þet he ous uoryeue oure
553misdedes.
554    Ac nim wel hede hou þou bidde. 'Voryef ous oure
555misdedis / ase we uoryeueþ to ham: þet ous habbeþ
556misdo.' Vor yef we ne uoryeueþ to ham þet ous habbeþ
557misdo: god ne uoryefþ naȝt ous oure misdedes. ase
558he him-zelf zayþ ous / ine þe godspelle. Þanne he þet
559zayþ his pater noster / and heþ ine his herte hate /
560wreþe / oþer wyckedhede: he bit more aye him-zelue:
561þanne uor him-zelue. Vor he bit god / þet he ne
562uoryeue him naȝt / huanne he zayþ. 'uoryef me: ase ich
563uoryeue.' and uor þet at alle þe times þet þou zayst þi
564pater noster beuore god þet yziȝþ þine herte: þou sselt
565uoryeue þine wyckede wil / and keste out of þine herte:
566alle wreþe / and alle hate. and euelwyl. oþerlaker þi
567bene is more aye þe: þanne uor þe. Yef hit þe þingþ
568strang þing and kuead uor to uoryeuene / þin euel wyl
569to ham þet þe hatieþ / oþer þet þe kuead willeþ / huer
570he al misdeþ: þench þet god uoryaf his dyaþ to ham
571þet him dede aþe rode / þe uor to yeue uorbisne / uor
572to uoryeue to ham / þet þe habbeþ misdo / and more
573yet eft: ham guod do: yef hi habeþ nyede to þe. Vor
574ase he zayþ ine his spelle. Ne is hit naȝt grat þing ne
575grat ofseruinge aye god to do guod to ham þet ous doþ
576guod. ne to louie þo þet ous louyeþ? Vor þet deþ þe
577paen / and þe sarasyn / and oþre zeneȝeres. Ac we þet
578byeþ godes children be byleaue and be grace / and we
579byeþ cristene ynemned of Iesu crist / and we byeþ eyrs
580mid him of þe heritage of paradys / of ous to uoryeue
581þe on to þe oþre / and louye oure uyendes. þet is to
582zigge hare persones. an bidde uor ham / and do ham
583guod yef hy habbeþ nyede and þou hit miȝt do. Vor þus
584he hit hat ine his spelle. Þanne ssolle we onlepiliche
585hatye þe zennes / and louie þe zaules. þet byeþ ymad

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586to þe anliknesse of oure lorde. Alsuo ase a leme of þe
587bodye / loueþ and uorberþ an oþer. yef o leme blecheþ
588an oþer be cas. þe oþer naȝt him awrecþ þeruore. We
589byeþ al o body ine Iesu crist / ase zayþ þe apostel. and
590þeruore we ssolle ech louye oþer / and naȝt hatie / ne
591harmi mid wrong / on / þe oþer. Huo þet oþerlaker
592deþ: he is manslaȝte / and him-zelue damneþ ase zayþ
593þe wrytinge. Zuych can zigge his pater noster: him
594were betere þet he were stille. uor he let his domes-man:
595ayens him.
596    Ine þise bene þet we doþ to gode. we him bezecheþ
597one yefþe of þe holy gost / þet is y-cleped / þe yefþe /
598of connynge. þet makeþ þane man ine þoȝte and uol of
599wytte. Þes gost him sseweþ huet he is. and ine huet
600peril he is. and huannes he comþ. and huyder he geþ.
601and þet he deþ. and þe misdede þet he heþ ydo. and
602hou moche / he heþ hyer ywonne. and hou moche he
603ssel. And huanne he yziȝt þet he ne heþ huermide
604endy: þanne him deþ þes gost wepe / and grede merci
605to god / and zigge. 'Lhord / uoryef me mine dettes.
606þet byeþ myne zennen. Vor ich am mochel ine dette
607ayen þe / and uor þe queades þet ich habbe ydo. and
608uor þe guodes þet ich habbe uoryete / and ylete to done.
609þet ich myȝte / and ssolde habbe ydo. And uor þo
610guodes þet þou me hest ydo. and þine greate guodnesses
611þet ich habbe eche daye onderuonge / huyche
612ich habbe kueadliche yvzed / and þe kueadliche
613yserued. And þeruore lhord ich ne habbe huer-of
614maki þe yeldinge: uoryef me þet ich þe ssel.' Huanne
615þes gost him heþ zuo alyȝt / þet he knauþ his defautes:
616and þanne him deþ keste out of þe herte alle wreþe /
617and alle hate / and al to uoryeue his euele ywyl / yef
618þer is eni. and yef þer ne is: he is ine wylle and ine
619porpos uor to uoryeuene mid herte / yef me him misdeþ.
620And þanne may he zigge wel. 'Vayre uader uoryef ous
621oure misdedes / ase we doþ to ham: þet ous habbeþ misdo.'
622

page I,116

623

ÞE ZIXTE BENE OF ÞE HOLY PATER NOSTER.

624
625    Et ne nos inducas in temptacionem. þe ybernde:
626uer dret. and þe ilke þet oþerhuyl yualle is in-to zenne.
627huanne þe zenne him is uoryeue: he is þe more milde:
628and þe more dreduol / and þe more he heþ grater drede
629of uondinge. Þeruore bit he hier to huam god his misdedes
630uoryefþ / þet he hine loky uram ayen-uallinge.
631Et ne nos inducas in temptacionem. þet is to zigge.
632'Vayre zuete uader / ne led ous naȝt in-to uondinge.' Þe
633dyeuel is þe uondere. vor hit is his creft / huer-of he
634serueþ ine godes house / uor to proui þe newe knyȝtes.
635and yef þe uondinge nere guod and uremuol to guode /
636god þet al makeþ uor oure guode / nolde naȝt þolye þet
637hi come. Ac ase zayþ sant bernard. huanne þe uondere
638ous knokeþ ope þane reg: he ous ssepþ oure corounes
639of blisse. Ase þe ilke þet ope þe regge of þe guode
640knyȝte / smit and beat / him ssept his los: and his
641blisse. Þe dyeuel þerto propreliche uondeþ þane man:
642þet he hine myȝte wyþ-draȝe uram þe loue of god.
643Þeruore bit sainte pawel his deciples / þet hi by yzet
644ase tours. yroted ase trawes: in loue. zuo þet non
645uondinge him ne moȝe refye / ne rocky. Þeruore ine
646þise bezechinge we acseþ help of gode ine oure batayle /
647and þe yefþe of pite. þet is a grace þet bedeaweþ þe
648herte and makeþ his zuete and reuþeuol. and makeþ
649his al become grene / and berþ ynoȝ frut of guode
650workes wyþ-oute and wyþ-inne erþe / strengþi his roten
651ine þe erþe of libbende. þet is ase þet guode mortyer /
652huer-of me makeþ þe guode walles sarzineys þet me ne
653may naȝt breke / ne mid pic / ne mid mongenel.
654Þanne huanne we ziggeþ. et ne nos inducas in temptacionem.
655þet is to zigge. 'Vayre zuete uader / make oure
656herten ueste / an stedeuest / þet hi ne ssake uor none
657uondynge þet to hare comþ.' We ne byddeþ naȝt / þet
658we ne ssolle by uonded: Vor þet were a fole bezechinge /

page I,117

659and ssamuol. Ase þe zone of a guod man þet
660ssel by a newe knyȝt him bezekþ. 'Leue uader ich þe
661bidde þet þou me loki þet ich ne guo neuremo: ne to
662ioustes / ne to tornemens.' We wylleþ wel þet we by
663yuonded. vor hit is oure ureme ine uele maneres. uor
664we byeþ þe more ymylded / and þe dreduoller / and þe
665more wys ine alle þinges. and þe more worþ / an þe
666more asayd. Vor ase zayþ salomon. Ze þet ne heþ þise
667uondinges: he ne may noþing wel conne. bote ase me
668kan þe batayle of troye / be hyere-zigginge. Vor he ne
669may him-zelue yknawe / ne him uestni ine þe strengþe
670of his uyendes / ne hare sotylhede. and hou god is
671trewe to þe nyede / his uryend uor to helpe. ne of hou
672uele zennes / ne of hou uele perils / he heþ þe ofte
673yloked. and uor alle þise skeles / he ne ssel naȝt ariȝt
674conne god louie / ne him þonki of his guode. Ac we
675him biddeþ þet he loky oure herten / þet hi ne guo in-to
676uondynge / þet is þet hi ne consenti. Vor al þet is
677of ous: we byeþ zuo poure / and zuo fyeble / þet we
678ne moȝe naȝt ane time of þe daye þolye þe asaylinges
679of þe dyeule: wyþ-oute þe help of oure lhorde. And
680huanne he ous fayleþ: we guoþ þer-in. Huanne he
681ous helpþ: we wyþstondeþ. and we uyȝteþ / and we
682ouercomeþ. And þeruore we ziggeþ. 'Lyeue uader ne
683led ous naȝt in-to uondinge. þet is ne þole naȝt / þet we
684go in-to consentinge.'
685
686

ÞE ZEUENDE BENE OF ÞE HOLY PATER NOSTER.

687
688    Sed libera nos a malo / amen. Saynt austin zayþ.
689þet þe oþre vices ous makeþ oþer þe kueade to done:
690oþer þe guodes lete to done. Ac al þet me heþ ydo.
691and alle þe yefþes þet he heþ yporchaced: prede is ine
692wille to destrue / and to benime. An þeruore huanne
693god heþ y-yeue to man þet he him heþ ybede ine þise
694zeue benes beuore yzed. þane uerst hit is nyed uorzoþe:
695þet he him delyuri of þe kueade / and of his aspiinges.

page I,118

696And þeruore comþ alast þis bene / ase þe efter-warde /
697þet zayþ þous. Sed libera nos a malo. amen. þet is to
698zigge: 'Lyeue uader deliure ous of þe kueade. þet is to
699zigge: of þe dyeuele. and of his sleȝþes. þet we ne lyese
700be prede / þe guodes: þet þou ous hest y-yeue.' Inne
701þise bene we him biddeþ / þet he ous yeue þe yefþe / of
702drede. huer-by we ssolle by delyured of þe kueade / and
703of alle oþer kuead. Þet is of alle zene / and of alle
704perils ine þise wordle: and ine þe oþre. Amen.
705    Nou hest þou y-herd þe notes / þet me kan noty ope
706þise zonge þet god made. þet is þet pater noster. Nou
707loke þet þou hit conne wel zinge ine þine herte. Vor
708grat guod þe ssel beualle: yef þou zuo dest.

page I,249

709    Sobrete ne is oþer þing þanne to loki riȝte
710mesure. þet alneway halt þane middel ine to moche:
711and to lite. be þan þet scele a-liȝt be grace tekþ. Vor
712ine þise timliche guodes / þet / þet is to moche to
713onen: is to lite to anoþren / and þet / þet is to moche
714to ane poure manne: to ane riche manne hit were ofte-ziþes

page I,250

715to lite. Ac sobrete and temperance / zet ouer-al
716mesure. Alsuo ine gostliche guodes: ase ine uestinges /
717ine wakiinges / ine dissiplines / and ine oþre dedes of
718uirtue / þet byeþ y-do uor god / an uor note of þe
719zaule: zet mesure. zuyche ase scele acseþ. Þe uirtue
720of temperance and of sobrete. þe ilke uirtues lokeþ
721mesure sceluolle. naȝt onlepiliche ine mete and ine
722drinke: ac in alle uirtues. ase zayþ saynt bernard.
723Vor þise uirtue zet alle þe þoȝtes. alle þe willes. alle þe
724steriynges of þe herte. and alle þe wyttes of þe bodye /
725outnime þe lhordssip of riȝte scele. ase zayþ tullius þe
726wyse. zuo þet a liȝte scele be yefþe of wysdome /
727halt ine pese þe lhordssip of þe herte / and of þe bodie.
728and þet is þe ende and þe onderstondinge of alle
729uirtues þet þe herte and þet body by wel y-ordayned to
730god. zuo þet god onlepiliche by heȝ lhord. ine zuyche
731manere þet al by ine his boȝsamnesse al þet he heþ ine
732þe regne of bodye and of þe zaule. and þet makeþ
733sobre loue of god. þet zet of al / þe herte in-to þe wille
734of god. Þanne zaynt austin zayþ. þet þe uirtue of
735temperance and of sobrete / is alone þet is yloked to
736god y-hollyche wyþ-oute corrupcion. and ous wyþdraȝþ
737uram þe loue of hier beneþe. þet is þe loue of
738þise wordle / þet troubleth þe herte of man / and hise
739zet ine zorȝe. and him benimþ riȝtuolle knaulechinge of
740god / and of him-zelue. Alsuo ase me ne ziȝþ naȝt
741briȝtliche ine þe wetere ystered. Ac þe loue of god /
742þet is wel y-clensed of alle erþliche loue / and of alle
743ulessliche willes zet þe herte ine pais. Vor hi him deþ
744and zet ine his oȝene stede. þet is ine gode. Þer he him
745resteþ. þer he is in pais. ne ne heþ blisse / ne reste:
746bote þer. Þanne zayþ oure lhord ine his spelle. 'þou
747sselt by ine trauayl ine þise wordle. ac ine me þou
748sselt vinde reste.' And saynt austin zede. 'Lhord:
749min herte ne may by ine pais: alhuet hi resteþ ine
750þe.' Þe ilke loue ne wext naȝt of erþe / ne of mares.

page I,251

751Of þise wordle. Ac hy comþ doun of þe heȝe roche
752hueroppe hi ys yzet and y-mad þe greate cite of
753paradis / end þe cite of holi cherche. Þet is Iesu
754crist / ope huam byeþ y-set and ymad uestliche be
755guode bileaue. þe stronge casteles. þet byeþ þe herten
756of guode men. Of þo heȝe roche comþ doun þe welle
757of loue ine herte þet is wel y-clenzed uor þe loue of þe
758wordle. Þe ilke welle is zuo clier and zuo y-zendred /
759þet þe herte hire y-knauþ / and y-ziȝþ hire zelue and
760hire makiere. alsuo ase me yziȝþ in ane uayre welle
761wel yzendred. ope þo welle þe herte resteþ efter þe
762trauayl of guode workes / ase we redeþ of Iesu crist
763oure lhord. Þet þo he hedde zuo moche y-guo þet he
764wes al weri / he him zette and restede ope þe welle. Þe
765ilke welle boue þet guode herte / he þet him wille
766berȝe / him resteþ is þe loue of god. Þe ilke welle is
767zuo zuete and of zuo guod smac: þet þe ilke þet þerof
768dringþ / uoryet alle oþre zuetnesses and oþre smakkes.
769Þe ilke welle ne uelþ naȝt þane fanc ne þe erþe / ne
770þane merss of þise wordle / and þeruore hy is zuete and
771of guod smac to drinke. uor ase moche ase þe welle
772yuelþ lesse of þe erþe: zuo moche hi is þo holer and
773þe betere of to drinke. Þet is þe welle of wytte and of
774wysdome. uor þe ilke þet þerof dringþ / he knauþ wyt
775and wysdom and velþ / and smackeþ þe greate zuetnesse
776þet is ine god / and þet is þe heȝeste wyt of
777man: wel to knawe his sseppere / and him louie mid
778al his herte. Vor wyþoute þise filosofie / alle oþre
779wyttes ys folye.
780    Zuych wyt zet þe holy gost ine herte / þanne he
781him yefþ þane yefþe of wisdom / þet is herte of gostliche
782blisse / and hire adraynkþ / and makeþ him
783dronke of holy loue. Huet wyt is þet / þet þe holy
784gost zet in-to þe herte wel y-clenzed: þet ich habbe
785hier be-uore y-ssewed / huer þet is spek of þe wyttes of
786þe zaule / ate ginninge of þe draȝþe of uirtue. and þeruore

page I,252

787ich paci þe ssortlaker. Þet gostliche wyt þet comþ
788of stedeuest loue of god. makeþ þe herte sobre / and
789zofte / and alle þinges a-mesureþ / zuo þet þe herte þet
790is ine zuich stat is ine payse / ase hi may by ine þise
791dyadliche liue. Vor ine þise wordle / non ne may
792libbe wyþ-oute torment / and wyþ-oute zome viȝtinge
793of temptacion. þet god zent ofte uor to uondi his
794knyȝtes. and uor þan þet hi conne usy of armes of
795uirtue. uor oþerlaker hi ne moȝe by guode knyȝtes.
796Þanne me couþe maky þe tornoymens ine time of pays.
797Ac huanne þe guode knyȝt het ouercome þet tornoyment:
798he went ayen to his house. þer he him resteþ
799al in eyse. Alsuo deþ þe guode herte huanne hi heþ
800wel yuoȝte and heþ ouercome þet tornenoyment of
801uondinges: ha comþ ayen to him-zelue / and him
802resteþ ine god. Þet him conforteþ efter þe trauayl / zuo
803þet he þer uoryet al his trauayl. and ne þengþ bote of
804god. huer he uint al þet he wilneþ. Þet is þet frut þet
805þe traw of sobrete berþ / þet comþ of þe yefþe of wysdom /
806ase ich habbe aboue yzed.
807
808

OF ÞE STAPES OF SOBRETE.

809
810    Ase ich habbe aboue yssewed / sobrete ne is oþer
811þing / bote to loky riȝte mesure ine alle þinges. Ac
812specialliche: ine vyf þinges me ssel loki mesure. Þet
813byeþ alsuo ase zeue stapes huerby wext and profiteþ þet
814traw of sobrete.
815    Þe uerste stape of sobrete is / þet me zette mesure in
816his onderstondinge. spacialliche to þe articles and to þe
817poyns of þe beleaue. Þe ilke ouergeþ mesure / þet wyle
818zeche kendelich skele / ine þan þet is aboue onderstondinge /
819ase doþ þe bougres / and þe misbylefde. þet
820wylleþ mesuri þe beleaue be hare onderstondinge. ac hi
821ssolden mesuri hire onderstondinge and hare skele to þe
822mesure of þe beleaue / þet god ous heþ y-yeue. And
823salomon zayde to his zone. 'Vayre zone / do in-to þine

page I,253

824wytte mesure.' Þet is to zigge / þet tou ne bi naȝt / of
825zuo oȝene wytte / ne naȝt zuo ypiȝt in þine ouerweninge:
826þet þou ne flechchi / uor to leue to guod red. and þet
827þou ne lete þin oȝene wyt / uor to bouȝe to þe wyser
828þanne þou. And specialliche to þe articles of þe beleaue
829me ssel lete his oȝene wyt / and his onderstondinge
830flechchi / and zette ine þreldom of þe beleaue / ase zayþ
831zayte paul. naȝt uor to apeluchier ne zeche kendelich
832scele. huer he non ne heþ / ase doþ þe bysye / oþer þe
833malancolien / þet byeþ ylich þan þet zekȝ þe crammeles
834ine þe russoles. oþer þan þet zekþ þet uel ine þe aye /
835oþer þane knotte ine þe resse.
836    Þe oþer stape is / þet me zette mesure ine þe loste
837and mid þe likinge of þe wille / þet me ne him ne aslaky
838naȝt to moche þane bridel to yerne to lostes of þe ulesse /
839ne to þe couaytise of þise wordle. Þanne þe wyse zayþ
840ine þe writinge. 'Ne uolȝe naȝt' he zayþ 'þe couaitises ne
841þe wylninges of þine herte / and þe miswende to do þi
842wyl / þet þou hit ne uoluelle naȝt. and yeld guod skele.
843uor yef þou dest to þine herte his wyl: þou makest
844blisse to þine vyendes / þet byeþ þe dyeulen of helle.'
845uor alsuo ase þe ilke þet makeþ blisse to his uo / ayens
846huam he ssel uiȝte / huanne he him yelt to him ouercome.
847Yef he him yelt ouercome to þe dyeule þet him
848consenteþ to his euele wylninges. Þeruore zayþ zaynte
849peter þe apostel. 'ich you helsny / þet ye ase oncouþe /
850and pilgrimes / you loki uram wilninges.' Þe ilke þet
851is pilgrim and ine oncouþe contraye / huer byeþ manye
852þyeues an robberes þet aspieþ þe pilgrims / and wayteþ
853þe wayes: ham lokeþ moche / þet hi ne ualle ine þe
854honden of þyeues. and þengþ hou he may guo zikerliche.
855Alle þe guode men ine þise wordle byeþ oncouþe and
856pilgrims. Hi byeþ oncouþe / uor hi byeþ oute of hare
857contraye. þet is paradys. þet is þe contraye / and heritage
858to guode men. Hi ne byeþ þenchinde bote uor to
859uoluelle hire iornayes / al huet hi comeþ to hare eritage /

page I,254

860þet is þe cite of paradis / þet þe guode pilgrims zecheþ. ase
861zayþ zaynte paul þet ne habbeþ / ne nolleþ habbe þe eritage
862hier ine þise wordle. Zuyche pilgrims þet willeþ guo
863zikerliche: hi doþ ham ofte ine guode uelaȝrede / and
864ine zikere guoinge. Þe guode uelaȝrede þet let zikerliche
865and guoþ riȝtuolliche / is byleaue / and loue. beleaue /
866let þane way to pilgrimes. ac loue his berþ. zuo þet þe
867way ham greueþ lite / oþer naȝt. Huo þet heþ zuyche
868uelaȝrede: he ne heþ of þyues none drede þet wayteþ þe
869wayes. Þet byeþ dyeulen þet nimeþ and robbeþ alle
870þo / þet none zuiche uelaȝrede ne habbeþ. Þet byeþ þo
871þet wylleþ do hyere / hyre lostes: þet ham doþ in-to þe
872honden / and in-to þe grines of þe dyeule. Beleaue /
873and loue of god. of-halt þe herte / and his wyþdraȝt
874uram queade þoȝtes / and uram fole lostes / þet he ne
875consenti. Alsuo ase me ofhalt þane uoȝel be þe ges /
876þet he ne vly to his wylle. Þe herte is ase is þe uoȝel
877þet wolde vly to his wylle / and bote hy by ofhealde /
878be þe ges of beleaue / and of loue / hy ulyȝþ perilousliche /
879zuo þet hy hyre spilþ / and ualþ ofte into þe
880grines / of þe uoȝelere of helle. þet is þe dyeuel / þet ne
881wylneþ / bote to nime þane uoȝel. Þeruore þe guode
882men and þe wyse / wyþdraȝeþ hare wyl / and hare
883lostes / and hare þoȝtes. be temperance and be sobrete.
884Huerof senekes zayþ. 'yef þou louest to bi sobre / and
885atempre: wyþscore / and wyþdraȝ þine willes / and zete
886ane brydel to þine couaytises.' Vor alsuo ase me wyþ-halt
887þet hors by þe bridle þet hit ne guo naȝt to his
888wille: alsuo me ssel ofhyealde þe herte be þe briddle of
889sobrete / þe hy ne yeue hire naȝt / to þe wille ne to þe
890couaytise of þise wordle.
891    Þe þridde stape of sobrete is / zette and loki mesure
892ine wordes. Huerof salomon zayþ. Þet 'þe wyse / and
893þe wel ytoȝte / tempreþ / and mesureþ his wordes.' And
894saynt Ierome zayþ. þet 'mid ueawe wordes / is y-proued

page I,255

895mannes lyf.' þet is to zigge. by þe wordes me
896may yknawe þe folyes / and þe wyttes of men. Vor
897ase me knauþ þet zuin be þe tonge / yef hit ys hol.
898oþer aboue y-zawe. and þeruore zayþ þe wyse ine þe
899writinge. þet 'þe wordes of þe wyse byeþ y-weȝe ine þe
900waye.' Þet is to zigge / þet þe wyse ssel zuo weȝe þe
901wordes ine þe waye of skele and of discrecion þet þer ne
902by naȝt to wyþ-nymene. Zome uolk byeþ / þet ne moȝe
903ham naȝt hyalde stille / ne naȝt ham loki / þet hi ne zigge /
904by hit zoþ by hit leazinge. Þet byeþ ase þe melle wyþ-oute
905scluse. þet alne-way went be þe yernynge of þe
906wetere. Vor hi habbeþ ase uele wordes / ase þer comþ
907of weter to þe melle. Ac þe wise zetteþ þe scluse of
908discrecion / uor to ofhealde þet weter of fole wordes.
909and to uele. þet hi ne guo be þe melle of þe tonge. Þeruore
910zayþ þe wyse ine þe writinge. 'Yziȝ þet weter
911yerne.' Þet is to zigge: hald þine wordes ine þe scluse
912of discrecion. uor ase zayþ salomon. 'Huo þet let guo
913þet weter to his wille: he is ofte cause of strif / and of
914chidinge / and of manie kuedes / þet comeþ of kueade
915tonge.' ase ich habbe be-uore yzed / ine þe chapitele of
916uices. huer ich spek of þe zenne of þe tonge. Þeruore
917zayþ wel þe wyse ine þe writinge. 'do' zayþ he / 'þine
918wordes ine waye / and guod bridel ine þine mouþe. and
919nim nede þet þou ne ualle be þine tonge be-uore þine
920uo: þet þe asspieþ.' An-oþer zayþ. 'Do to þine mouþe /
921a dore and a loc. and to þine wordes: a waye and a
922yok.' Huo þet ne weȝþ his wordes ine þe waye of discrecion.
923and ne ofhalt naȝt his tonge by þe bridle of skele.
924þet ssel ofhyealde þe tonge of kueade wordes. he ualþ
925liȝtliche ine þe honden of his uon. þet byeþ þe dyeulen /
926þet oueral ous aspieþ / and wayteþ. Huanne þe von /
927þet viȝteþ aye þane castel / yef hi vyndeþ þe gate oppe:
928hi guoþ in liȝtliche. alsuo þe dyeuel þet uiȝt wyþ þane
929castel of þe herte / huanne he uint þe gate oppe / þet
930is þe mouþ / he nimþ liȝtliche þane castel. And þeruore

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931zayde dauiþ ine þe sautere. 'Ich sette guode lokinge to
932þe mouþe aye mine yuo' / þat is þe dyeuel. Þe lokinge
933of þe mouþe / þet is skele and discrecion. þet exameneþ
934þe wordes / erþan hi guo out ate moþe. Þis is þe viȝt
935huerof þe wyse spekþ ase ich habbe aboue yzed / huer
936me ssel weȝe þet word er hit by yzed. And þou sselt
937ywyte / þet zoþnesse halt þise riȝtuolle waye. Vor
938zoþnesse acordeþ þe onderstondinge of þe herte: and
939þet word of þe mouþe / as hit is ine þe herte. Þis waye
940ne ssel hongi of þis half / ne of yend half / ariȝthalf ne
941alefthalf. Þet uor none priue loue of man ne of wyfman.
942ne uor timlich note. ne uor hate of oþren: me
943ne ssel lete to zigge zoþ / huer þet me ssel / and huanne
944hit is nyed. ne leazinges / ne ualsnesse / me ne ssel
945zigge uor nenne man.
946    Ase me ssel loki mesure ine wordes: alsuo me ssel
947loki mesure ine hyerþe. Vor asewel me may zeneȝy ine
948kuede hyerþe: ase ine kueade speche. Þanne þe ilke
949þet yhyerþ bleþeliche missigge oþren: ys partiner /
950and uelaȝe of þe zenne of þan þet he yherþ. Þet non ne
951wolde zigge bleþeliche kuead of oþren / nameliche to-uore
952greate men / bote yef he ne wende þet hit likede
953to him þet hit hyerþ. Þanne an halȝen zayþ. þet 'non
954ne ssolde by misziggere: bote þer by an hyerere.' Þeruore
955salomon zayþ. 'te norþene wynd / to-þrauþ þe
956raynes / and þe lourinde chiere: þe wordes of þe
957missiggere.' Þise greate men hi ssolden wel ham loki / þet
958hi hiereþ / and þet hi leueþ. þet hi vindeþ veawe / þet
959zoþ ham zigge. Ac ulatours / and lyeȝeres / byeþ to
960grat cheap ine hare cort. Þe meste dierþe þet is aboute
961ham / is of zoþnesse / an of trewþe. and þeruore hi byeþ
962ofte y-giled. Þet hi yhereþ bleþeliche / and y-leueþ
963liȝtliche þet me ham zayþ and þet ham likeþ. Senekes
964zayþ. þet þer ne lackeþ to greate lhordes: bote zoþ
965ziggeres. Vor hi habbeþ lyeȝeres / and vlatours: to
966greate cheape. and veawe zoþ ziggeres. Me ssel habbe

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967þe earen opene / uor to hyere bleþeliche / þe guode
968wordes / þet byeþ worþ to þe help of zaule. and y-sset:
969to fole wordes / ydele / and queade. þet moȝe do harm:
970and ne moȝe do guod. Þeruore þe wyse zayþ ine þe
971writinge. 'Stoppe þine earen mid þornes. and ne hyer
972naȝt þe queade tongen.' þe queade tonge: is tonge of
973eddre of helle / þet þe misziggeres bereþ. and enuenimeþ
974þo þet his y-hereþ. Aye zuyche tongen me ssel stoppi
975þe yeren mid þornes / mid the drede of oure lorde /
976oþer mid þe þornes huermide god wes y-corouned / uor
977beþenchinge of his passion: Vor huo þet heþ drede of
978god / and beþenchinge of his passion: he nolde naȝt
979bleþeliche y-hyere þe misziggeres / ne flatours / ne fole
980wordes / ne lodliche. In anoþre manere me may onderstonde
981þis word. 'Stoppe þine yeren mid þornes.'
982Þe þornes þet prikieþ / be-tokneþ harde wordes and
983prekiinde / heruore me ssel wyþnime þe missiggeres /
984and maki his stille and ssewy semblont þet me ne hierþ
985his naȝt bleþeliche. Þer is an eddre þet is y-hote ine
986latin / aspis . þet is of zuiche kende / þet hi stoppeþ þet
987on eare mid erþe / and þet oþer mid hare tayle / þet hi
988ne yhere þane charmere. Þe ilke eddre ous tekþ a wel
989grat wyt / þet we ne hyere naȝt þane charmere / þet is
990þe lyeȝere / and þe flatour. þet ofte be-charmeþ þe riche
991men. Ac huo þet stoppeþ þet on eare mid erþe / and
992þet oþer mid þe tayle: he ne ssolde habbe none hede to
993bi be-charmed of þe dyeule / ne of kueade tongen.
994Þe ilke stoppeþ þet on eare mid erþe: þet þengþ þet he
995is of erþe / and to erþe ssel come. and zuo þenche his
996uoulhede and his ziknesse. hueruore he him ssel moche
997mildi: and naȝt him praysy. Þet oþer eare stoppi mid
998þe tayle / uor to beþenche of þe dyaþe / þet him ssel
999wel astonie. Huo þet þus couþe stoppi his earen:
1000he nolde yhyere bleþeliche zigge / ne recordi þing: þet
1001ssolde misliki god. and zuo ssolde he by wel ytempred /

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1002and amesured ine hyerþe and ine lhestinge. And þis
1003is þe uerþe stape of sobrete.
1004    Þe uifte stape is / to loki mesure of ssredinge of
1005preciouse robes / huerof me paseþ moche mesure / and
1006makeþ moche ouerdoinges. and þeruore þet ouerdede is
1007grat zenne / and ueleziþe anchesoun to zene ine oþren.
1008þeruore me ssel ine zuyche þinges loky mesure. Vor
1009hit is to moche of pris and to moche bysy agrayþinge
1010ne were zenne: oure lhord ne speke naȝt zuo stefliche
1011ine his spelle a-ye þe queade riche / þet zuo ofte ham
1012ssredeþ / ase of to zofte bougeren and of to moche of
1013pris pourpre. O. moche is he fol uorzoþe / and child of
1014wytte / þet of his ssredinge is proud. Me ssolde him
1015wel hyealde fol: þet were proud to bere þe ssredinge.
1016Þet ne ssolde by bote a tokne. and a beþenchinge of þe
1017ssame of his uader / and of his oȝene. Þes wone of
1018robes nes yuounde / bote uor þe zenne of oure uerste
1019uader uor to wry his confusion / and oure. Huanne
1020me yziȝþ bere ane byrie. þet is tokne þet þer is wyþine
1021a dyad. alsuo hit y-ualþ ofte / þet onder þe uayre
1022robes: is þe zaule dyad be zenne / and nameliche ine
1023þan þet ham gledyeþ / and predeþ. Yef þe pokoc him
1024prette uor his uayre tayle. and þe coc uor his kombe /
1025hit ne is no wonder þet kende ham heþ y-yeue / an
1026doþ be hare kende. Ac man oþer wyfman / þet heþ
1027wyt and skele / and wot wel þet kende ne heþ naȝt y-yeue
1028him þet ilke ssroud / he ne ssel him naȝt prede:
1029of þe ssredinge of his bodye. ne of þe quayntises of his
1030heuede. Þeruore zayþ þe wyse ine þe writinge. 'ne glede
1031þe naȝt ine uayr ssroud.' And zaynte paul þus zayþ .
1032Þet þe wyfmen hi ssolle ham agrayþi: mid sobrete. þet
1033is to zigge: be mesure / and wyþ-oute ouerdoinge / be
1034þe stat / þet þe wyfman acseþ. Vor zoþe þet ne is naȝt
1035wyþ-oute ouerdoinge. þet on wyfman. ssel habbe uor
1036hare body ine one yere zuo uele payre of robes / and
1037of diuerse maneres / huerof manye poure miȝten by

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1038sostened of þan þet is to moche. Ac yet eft yef hi
1039weren ate ende y-yeue uor godes loue to þe poure: yet
1040hit were zomþing. ac hi byeþ ofte y-yeue to rybaus þet
1041is wel grat zenne. Þeruore me ssel loki mesure ine
1042zuyche þinge be þe stat þet þe persone acseþ ase ich
1043habbe aboue y-zed.
1044    Þe zixte stape of temperance and of sobrete is / þet
1045ech loki guode mesure ine his contenonce / and ine his
1046beringe. Þanne seneke zayþ. Yef þou art sobre and
1047atempred / nim þou hede þet þe steriynges of þine
1048herte ne of þine bodye / ne by uoule ne onworþi. Vor
1049of þe discordance of þe herte: comþ þe discordance of
1050þe bodie. Zome þer byeþ zuo childhedi / and of zuo
1051nice manere / þet hi makeþ ham-zelue to by hyealde
1052foles. Hit becomþ wel to man of worssipe / and þet is
1053ine grat stat / þet he by wel ordine / and amesured ine
1054alle his dedes / and in alle his zigginges. and of uayre
1055contenonce to-uore alle men / zuo þet non ne moȝe
1056nime of him kueade uorbisne / ne þet he ne by yhealde
1057uor fol / ne uor child. Vor ase zayþ a grat filosofe.
1058'child of elde. child of wytte. and child of þeawes:
1059byeþ al on.' Þe writinge zayþ þet / þet child of an
1060hondred year: ssel by acorsed. Þet is to zigge. þet þe
1061ilke þet heþ uolle elde / and leueþ ase a child: ssel by
1062acorsed of god. Þanne zaynte paul zayde of him-zelue.
1063'Þo ich wes child: ich dede ase a child. ich þoȝte ase
1064a child. ac zeþþe ich com to elde of uol man: ich
1065uorlet alle mine childhedes.' Vor huo þet halt ald
1066man uor child: he hine halt uor fol. And þeruore
1067zayþ zaynte paul. 'Ne by naȝt child of wytte. ac ine
1068queadnesse by lite.' Nou is hit þanne guod þing and
1069oneste. profitable / and worþssipuol to man an to wyfman /
1070and nameliche to grat uolk. þet hi loki sceluolle
1071mesure / ine berynge ine contenonce / and þet hi by
1072wel ordyne oueral. and be-uore god / and be-uore þe
1073uolke. And þis is þe zixte stape of þise trawe.

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1074    Þe zeuend stape is / to loki mesure ine mete and
1075ine drinke. Vor ouerdede of mete and of drinke: deþ
1076moche harm ine bodie and ine zaule. ase ich habbe be-uore
1077yzed. Þeruore zayþ oure lhord ine his spelle
1078'Nimeþ ye hede / þet youre herten / ne by ygreued /
1079ne y-charged of glotounie / ne of dronkehede.' Þet is to
1080zigge / þet þou ne do ouerdoinge of mete and of drinke.
1081Sobrete lokeþ mesure ine mete and ine drinke. þet me
1082ne maki ouerdoinge. Of þe ouerdoinges þet me wes y-woned
1083to do ine drinke and ine mete / ich habbe ynoȝ
1084yspeke ine þe draȝþe of vices huanne þet ich spek of þe
1085zenne of glotunie / to huam þis uirtue huerof ich habbe
1086yspeke / zuo is contrarie specialliche. and þeruore ich
1087nelle nanmore hyer speke.