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I. DAN JOHN GAYTRYGE'S SERMON.

2
3    Here begynnes a Sermon þat Dan Iohn Gaytryge made, þe
4whilke teeches how scrifte es to be made, & whare-of, and in
5scrifte how many thyngeȝ solde be consederide. Et est Petrus
6sentenciarum discrecione prima.
7
8    Als a grett Doctour schewes in his buke, of all þe
9creatoures þat Gode made in heuen and in erthe,
10in water and in ayere, or in oghte elles, þe Souerayne
11cause & þe skyll whi He mad þam was His awen
12gud will and His gudnes, Thurgh þe whilke gudnes,
13alls He es all gude, He walde þat some creatures of þase þat
14He made ware communers of þat blyse þat euer-mare lastis.
15And for þat na creatoure myghte come to þat blyse with-owtten
16knaweyng of Godd, als þat clerkes teches, He made
17skillwyse creatours Angelle and man, of witt and wysdom to
18knawe God Almyghtyn, and, thorowe þaire knawynge lufe
19Hym and serue Hym, and so come to þat blyse þat þay ware
20made to. This manere of knawynge had oure forme-fadyrs in
21þe state of Innocence þat þay ware mad In; and so sulde we
22hafe hade, if þay had noghte synnede. Noghte so mekill als
23hally saules hase now in heuen, Bot mekill mare þan man
24hase now in erthe. For oure fourme-fadyrs synned, sayse þe
25prophete, and we bere þe wykkydnes of þaire mysdedis; For
26þe knawyng þat þay had of Godd All-myghten, they had it of
27Goddes gyfte at þaire begynnynge, with-owtten trauayle, or
28tray, or passinge of tym. And all þe knaweyng þat we hafe
29in þis werlde of Hym, es of heryng, and of lerynge, and of
30techyng of oþer, of þe law and þe lare þat langes till Haly

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31Kyrke, þe whilke all creatours þat lufes God Almyghten awe
32to knawe and to cun, and lede þaire lyfe aftir, and swa come
33to þat blysse þat neuer mare blynnes.
34    And for-thi þat mekill folke now in þis werlde ne ere noghte
35wele ynoghe lerede to knawe God Almyghty, ne lufe Hym ne
36serue Hym als þay sulde do, and als þaire dedys oftesythes
37opynly schewes, in gret perell to þam, to lyfe and to saule;
38and perawnter þe defaute may be in thaym þat hase þair saules
39for to kepe, and thaym sulde teche, - als prelates and persons,
40vicars and prestes, þat ere halden by dett for to lere þam -
41For-thi our Fadir þe byschope þat God Almyghty saue, þat,
42als Sayn Paule sayse in his pystill, will þat all men be safe,
43and knawe God Almyghten, and namely þase vndirlowttes þat
44till hym langes, hase tretide and Ordeyned for þe comon
45profett, thorowe þe councell of his clergy, þat ilkane þat
46vndir hym hase cure of saule, Opynly, one ynglysche, apon
47sonnondayes, preche and teche þaym þat þay hase cure off,
48þe lawe and þe lare to knawe God Almyghty, þat principally may
49be schewede in theis sexe thynges - In þe fourtene poyntes
50þat falles to þe trowthe, In þe ten commandementes þat
51Gode hase gyfen vs, In þe Seuen Sacramentes þat er in
52Haly Kyrke, In þe Seuen werkes of mercy vntill oure euen
53crystyn, In þe seuen vertus þat ilke man sall vse, And
54in þe Seuen dedly Synnes þat ilke man sall refuse. And he
55byddes and commandes in all þat he may, þat all þat hase
56cure or kepynge vndir hym Enioyne þair parischennes and þair
57sugettes þat þay here and lere þise ilke sex thynges, and
58oftesythes reherse þam till þat þay cun þam, and sythen
59teche þam þair childir, if þay any haue, whate tym so þay
60are of elde to lere þam. And þat persouns and vycars and
61all parische prestis, Enquere delygently of þair sugettes In
62þe lentyn tym, when þay come to scryfte, wheþer þay knawe
63and cun þise sex thynges; and if it be funden þat þay cun
64þam noghte, þat þay Enjoyne þam appon his behalfe, and
65Of payne of penance, for to cun þam. And for-thi þat nane
66sall excuse thaym thurghe vnknawlechynge for to cun þam,

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67our haly Fadir þe beschope, of his gudnes, hase ordaynede
68and bedyn þat þay be schewede opynly one ynglysche amanges
69þe folke.
70    Whare-fore, anence þe fyrste of þise sex thynges þat es to
71knawe, þe articles þat falles to þe trouthe, - als gret clerkes
72teches and schewes in thaire bukes, - Thare Falles to þe faythe
73fourtene poyntes; Of þe whilke seuen Falles to Goddes Goddhede,
74and oþer seuen Falles to Cristes manehede. The firste
75poynte þat we sall trowe of þe Godhede, Es to trow stedfastely
76In a trewe Godd, and þat na noþer es for to trowe In. The
77toþer es, þat þe heghe Fadir of heuen es stedfaste and sothefaste
78Godd Almyghtyn. The thirde es, þat Ihesu Criste, Goddes
79Sone of heuen, es sothefastely Gode, euen till His Fadir. The
80ferthe es, þat þe Haly Gaste, þat samenly commes of bathe þe
81Fadir and þe Sonne, es sothefaste Godde, euen to þaym bathe;
82and þe whethir noghte twa Goddes, þe Fadir and þe Sonne, ne
83thre Goddes, þe Fadir and þe Sonne & þe Haly Gaste, Bot thre
84sere persouns, and noghte bot a Godd. The fyfte arctecle es,
85þat þe Trynyte, þe Fadir and þe Sonne and þe Haly Gaste,
86thre persouns and a Godd, es makere of heuen and erthe and
87of all thynges. The Sexte artycle es, þat Haly Kirke, oure
88modire, es hallyly ane thorow-owte þe werlde, that es, comonynge
89and felawrede of all cristen folke þat comouns to-gedir in þe
90sacramentes, and in oþer haly thynges þat falles till Haly Kyrke,
91with-owtten þe whilke ne es na saule hele. The Seuend
92article þat vs awe to trowe es, vppe-rysynge of flesche, and life
93with-owtten Ende. For when þe dede hase sundyrde oure
94bodyes and oure saules for a certayne tym, als oure kynd askes,
95vnto when þat God sall deme þe qwykke and þe dede, Thane
96oure saules sall turne agayne till oure bodyes, and we þase ilke
97(and nane oþer þan we are nowe), sothefastely sall ryse vp in
98body and saule, þat neuer mare sall sundire, fra þat tym furthe,
99bot Samen (if we wele doo whiles we er here) wende with Godd
100to þat blysse þat euer-mare lastes. And if we euyll do, till
101Endles payne.

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102    Thir are oþer seuen poyntes of Cristes Manhede þat are
103nedfull to trowe, till all þat are crystyn. The fyrste es, þat
104Ihesu Criste, Goddes Sone of heuen, was sothefastely conceyuede
105of þe maden Marie, and tuke flesche and blude, and become
106man thurghe þe myghte and þe strenghe of þe Haly Gaste, with-owtten
107any merryng of hir modirhede, with-owtten any mynynge
108of hir maydenhede. The toþer artecle es, þat we sall trowe
109þat He, Godd and man bathe in a persoune, was sothefastely of
110þat blessyde mayden, Godd getyn of His Fadire be-fore any
111tyme, and man, born of His modir, and broghte furthe in tyme.
112The thirde poynte þat we sall trowe es, Cristes Passione
113that He tholede bodyly for synfull man-kynde, How He was
114betraysede with His disciple, and taken with þe Iewes, beten
115with scourges, þat na skynn helde, naylede one þe rude, and
116corounde with thornes, and many oþer harde paynes, and dyede
117at þe laste. The ferthe artecle es, þat whene He was dede,
118and His body tane doun, and wonden and doluen, ȝit þe whills
119His body lay in þe graue, þe gaste with þe Godhede wente vnto
120Helle, and heryede it, and tuke owte þase þat ware þare-in, als
121Adam and Eue and oþer Forme-fadyrs whilke He in His forluke
122walde þat ware sauede. The fyfte poynte es, þat one þe
123thirde day after þat He dyede, He rase fra dede to lyfe,
124Sothefaste Godd and man in body and in saule. For als He
125dyede in seknes of oure manhede, So He rase thurghe strenghe
126of His Godhede, and swa dystroyed oure dede thurgh His
127diynge, and quykkynd vs vnto lyfe thurghe His rysesynge.
128The sexte artecle es, þat we sall trowe þat one þe fourtede
129day eftyr þat He rase, Thurgh strenghe of Hym-selfe, He steye
130in-till Heuen, whare oure kynde es nowe in His blyssyde
131personne, noghte anely euynne ne mete till His angells, Bot hey
132coround kynge abowne all His angells, þat be-fore tym was
133lesse þan þe kynde of angells. The seuend article es, þat
134righte als He dyede, and eftirwarde rase, and stey in-till
135heuen, Righte swa sall He come apon þe laste day, Bathe
136for to deme þe qwykke and þe dede, whare all þe folke þat
137euer was, or es, or sall be, sall sothefastely be schewede and

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138sene be-fore Hym, and ilke a man answere of his awen dedis,
139and be saued or dampnede wheþer so he serues; For, als His
140ryghtwysenes now es mengede with mercy, swa sall it thane be
141with-owtten mercy.
142
143

SECUNDO.

144

DECEM PRECEPTA DEI.

145

THE TEN COMMANDEMENTIS.

146
147    Þe secund thyng of þe Sex to knawe God Almyghten es,
148þe ten Commandmentes þat He hase gyffen vs. Of þe
149whilke ten, þe thre þat ere firste, awe vs hallyly to halde
150anence oure Godd, and þe Seuen þat ere eftyre, anence
151oure euen cristen. The firste comandement charges vs, and
152teches vs, þat we leue ne lowte na false goddes. And in þis
153commandement es forboden vs alkyn mysbyleues and all
154mawmetryes, all false enchauntementes, and all soceryes, all
155false charmes, and all wichecraftes, þat men of myssebyleue
156traystes appon, or hopes any helpe In, with-owtten God
157Almyghten. The toþer commandement byddes vs noghte
158take in ydillchipe, ne in vayne, þe name of oure Lorde Godd,
159so þat we trowe noghte in His name bot þat es sothefaste, þat
160we swere noghte by His name bot it be byhouely, and þat we
161neuen noghte His name bot wirchipfully. The thirde
162commandement es, þat we halde and halowe oure haly day,
163þe Sonondaye, and all oþer þat falles to þe ȝere, þat er ordeynede
164to halowe thurgh Haly Kyrke. In þe whilke dayes all folke,
165bathe lerede and lawede, awe to gyffe þam gudly to Goddes
166seruyce, to here and say it efter þaire state es, in wirchipe of
167Godd All-myghty and of His gud halowes, noghte þan for to
168tente to tary with þe werlde, ne lyffe in lykynge ne luste, þat
169þe flesche ȝernes, Bot gudly to serue Godd in clennes of lyfe.
170The ferthe commandement byddes vs doo wyrchipe to Fadire
171and to modire, noghte anely to fleschely fadyr and modire, þat
172getes vs and fosters vs furthe in þe werlde, bot till oure gastely
173Fadire þat hase heuede of vs, and teches vs to lyffe till hele of

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174oure saules, and till oure gastely modyr, þat es, Haly Kyrke,
175to be bouxome þare-to, and saue þe ryghte of it, For it es
176modir till all þat cristenly lyffes, and alswa till ilke man þat
177wyrchipfull es, for to do wyrchipe eftere þat it es. The fyfte
178comandement byddes vs þat we sla na man, þat es to say,
179bodyly ne gastely noþer; For als many we sla, in þat at we
180may, als we sclaundire or bakbyte or falsely deffames, or fandes
181for to confounde þaym þat noghte serues, or withdrawes lyfelade
182fra þam þat hase nede, if we be of hauynge for to helpe þam.
183The sexte commandment forbeddes us to syn or for to foly
184fleschely with any woman, owþer sybbe or fremmede, wedde or
185vnwedde, or any fleschely knawynge or dede haue with any,
186oþer þan þe Sacrament of matremoyne excuseȝ, and þe lawe and
187þe lare of Haly Kyrke teches. The seuend byddis vs þat
188we sall noghte stele: In whilke es forboden vs robbyng and
189reuyng, and all wrangwyse takynge or with-haldynge, or
190hydynge or helelynge of oþer menes gudes, agaynes þaire witt
191and þaire will þat hase ryghte to þaym. The aughten
192commandement byddes vs þat we sall bere no false wytnes
193agaynes oure euen cristen: In þe whilke es forboden vs all
194manere of lesynges, False consperacye and false swerynge,
195whare-thurghe oure euen cristyn may lese þayre catell, Faith,
196Fauour or Fame, or anything ells, wheþer it be in gastely or in
197bodyly gudes. The nyende commandement es, þat we ȝerne
198noghte oure neghtboure house: In whilke es forboden all
199wrangwyse couetyse of land or of lythe, or of oghte elles þat
200may noghte be lyftede ne raysede fra þe grounde, als thynge
201þat es stedfaste, and may noghte be styrrede. The tend
202commandement an þe laste es, þat we ȝerne noghte þe wyefe
203of oure neghteboure ne of oure euyn cristen, ne his mayden, ne
204his knaue, ne his oxe, ne his asse: In þe whilke es forboden
205vs to ȝerne or to take any thynge þat may be styrride of oþer
206mens gudes, als robes or reches or oþer catell, þat we hafe na
207gude titill ne na ryghte to; For what thyng so we take or
208getes one oþer wyse þan þe lawe and þe lare of Haly Kyrke
209teches, we may noghte be assoylede of þe trespase bot if we

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210make assethe, in þat þat we may, to þam þat we harmede with
211haldande þaire gude. And in case þat we hafe thurghe false
212athes, als in assises or oþer enquestes, wetandly or willfully
213gerte oure euen cristyn lesse þaire patremoyne or þaire heritage,
214or falsely be dyssessede of lande or of lythe, or false deuorce be
215made, or any man dampnede, þofe all we do þat we may to þe
216party, ȝit may we noghte be assoylede of þe trespas, bot of
217oure beschoppe, or of hym þat hase his powere, For swylke caas
218es ryuely reseruede till hym seluen. Thise ten commandementeȝ
219þat I hafe now rekkenede er vmbylowkede in twa of
220þe gospelle. The tane es, þat we luffe Godd ouer all thynges;
221The toþer es, þat we lufe oure euen cristen hallely in oure
222herte als we do oure seluen; For Godd awe vs to lufe hally
223with herte, with all oure myghte, with all oure thoghte, with
224worde and with dede. Oure euyn crysten, als-swa awe vs to
225lufe vn-to þat ilke gude þat we lufe oure-selfe, þat es, þat þay
226wele fare in body and in saule, and come to þat ilke blysse þat
227we thynke to; and whate-so-euer þat he bee, þat þise twa wele
228ȝemes, all þe ten commandementes forsothe he fulfilles.
229
230

TERTIO.

231

SEPTEM SUNT SACRAMENTA ECCLESIE.

232

THE SEUENE SACRAMENTES OF HALY KYRKE.

233
234    Þe thirde thynge of þe Sex þat I firste touchide, es þe
235Seuen Sacramentes þat Haly Kirke gyffes, thurghe
236prelates and oþer prestes þat hase þe powere. Of
237whilke seuen, the first fyve ilke cristen man awe
238lawefully to take efter his elde es; and twa lyes in þaire will
239þat ressayues þaym. The firste sacrament of seuen es oure
240'baptym,' þat we take þe firste tym þat we be-com cristyn. In
241whilke, bathe þe firste synn þat we ere borne with, and alkyn
242oþer synnes, ere waschen awaye, þat we ere fylede with are we
243take it; and þe trouthe of Haly Kyrke es taken þare-in, with-owtten
244whilke na synfull mans saule may be sauede. And till
245þis sacrament Falles foure thynges, if it sall ryghtely be tane
246als Haly Kirke teches. Ane es, ryghte sayeyng and carpyng

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247of þe wordes þat hym awe for to say þat gyffes þis sacrament,
248þat ere þise: - 'I Baptise þe in þe name of þe Fadir and þe
249Sonne and þe Haly Gaste.' Ane oþer es, þat it be done anely
250in watire, For na noþer licoure es lefulle þare-fore. Þe thirde
251es, þat he þat gyffes þis sacrement be in witt and in will for to
252gyffe it. And þe ferthe es, þat he þat takes it be, noþer of
253lerede nor of lewde, Baptisede be-fore; For if þe preste be in
254were of hym þat sall take it, whethire he be baptisede or he be
255noghte, þan sall he say þe wordes one þis wyese, 'If þou be
256noghte baptisede, I baptise þe in þe name of þe Fadire and þe
257Sone and þe haly Gaste.' The secunde sacrament es 'confermynge,'
258þat þe byschope gyffes to þam þat ere baptisede,
259þat gyffes thorowe his powere to þam þat takes it þe grace
260and þe gyfte of þe Haly Gaste, to make þaym mare stalleworthe
261þan þay ware be-fore, to stande agaynes þe fende and dedly
262syn; þat nane hase powere to do bot þe byschope allane, þat
263hase the state and þe stede of Cristes Appostilles. The
264thirde sacrament es callede 'penance,' þat es, sothefaste for-thynkynge
265þat we hafe of oure syn, with-owtten will or
266thoghte to turne agayne to it. And þis sacrament must haue
267thre thynges: - Ane es, sorowe in oure herte þat we hafe synnede.
268Anoþer es, opyn scrifte of mouthe, how we hafe synnede.
269The third es, satisfaccion, þat we maun do for oure syn .
270Þise thre, with gud will to forsake oure syn, clenseȝ vs
271and wasches vs of alkyn syn. The ferthe es, 'þe Sacrament
272of þe Autyr,' Cristes awen body in lyknes of brede, als hale als
273He tuke it of þe blysside mayden, the whilke, ilke man and
274woman þat of elde es, awe for to rescheyue anes in þe ȝere, þat
275es at say, at þe pasch, als Haly Kyrke vses, when þay ere
276clensede of syn thurghe penance, O payne of doynge owte of
277Haly Kyrke, bot if þay forbere it by skillwyse cause, þat awe
278to be knawen to þam þat sall gyffe it; For he þat tase it
279worthily, tase his saluacyone; and wha-so takes it vnworthily,

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280tase his dampnacione. The fyfte sacrament es 'þe laste Enoyntynge
281with oyle,' þat es halowede and handelyde of prestes; þe
282whilke sacrament awe anely to be gyffen to þam þat he wate
283ere of skillwyse elde, and þat he sese sekyrly in perelle of
284dede, in lyghtenes and alegeance of þaire sekenes, if Godde
285will þat þay turne agayne to þe hele, and als in forgyffnes of
286venial synnes, and in lessynge of payne if þay passe heþen.
287The Sexte sacrament of Haly Kyrke es 'ordire,' þat gyffes
288powere to þam þat ryghtwysly tase it, For to serue in Haly
289Kirke efter þaire state es, and to þam þat takes þe ordyre of
290preste, for to synge messe, aand for to mynystre þe Sacramentes
291of Haly Kyrke, þat to þam fallys, Eftyr þe state þat þay hafe,
292and þaire degre askes. The seuend Sacrament es 'Matrymoyne,'
293þat es, lawefull festynnynge be-twyx man and woman
294at þaire bathere assente, for to lyffe samen with-owtten any
295lowssynge, whills þaire lyfe lastes, in remedy of syn and getynge
296of grace, if it be tane in gude Entente and clennes of lyfe.
297
298

THE FERTHE THYNG OF ÞE SEX.

299

THESE BE ÞE SEUENE WERKES OF MERCY BODYLY.

300
301    Þe ferthe thynge of þe Sex to knawe Godd Almyghty, þat
302vs byhoues fulfill in all þat we maye, ere þe seuen
303dedis of mercy vntill oure euen cristen, þat Godd
304sall reherse vs apon þe dredfull day of dome, and wiet
305howe we haue done þam here in þis lyfe, als sayne Mathewe
306makes mynde in his gospelle. Of whilke, þe firste es, to
307fede þaym þat er hunngry. The toþer es, to gyffe þaym
308drynke þat er thristy. The thyrde es, for to clethe þam þat
309er clatheles or nakede. The ferthe es, for to herber þam þat
310er houseles. The fyfte es, for to vesete þam þat lyes in
311sekenes. The Sexte es, for to helpe þam þat lyes or er in
312presoun. The Seuend es, to bery dede men þat hase myster.
313Þise ere the Seuen bodyly dedis of mercy þat ilke man awe
314to doo þat es myghtty. Þar are of mercy alswa Seuen gastely
315dedis þat vs awe to doo till þam þat hase nede till vs. Ane
316es, to consaile and wysse þam þat are wyll. Anoþer es, to

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317chasty þam þat wyrkkys ill. Þe thyrd es, to solauce thaym
318þat er sorowefull, and comforthe thaym. The ferthe es, to
319pray for thaym þat ere synfull. Þe fyfte es, to be thole-mode
320when men mysdose vs. Þe Sexte es, Gladly to forgyffe when
321men haues greuede vs. The seuend, when men askes vs for
322to lere thaym, if we cun mare þan þay, for to lere thaym.
323Þise vn-till oure neghtebours ere full nedfull, and to þam þat
324duse thaym wondir medefull; For he sall Mercy þat Mercyfull
325es; and man with-owtten Mercy, of Mercy sall mysse.
326
327    vij. opera misericordie corporalia:,: vnde versus: -
328Vestio, cibo, poto, redimo, tego, colligo, condo.
329vij. opera misericordie spiritualia: -
330Consule, castiga, solare, remitte, fer, ora,
331Instrue, si poteris, sic Christo carus haberis.
332
333

THE FIFTE THYNG OF ÞE SEX.

334

THE SEUENE GASTELY VERTUS.

335
336    Þe fyfte thynge of þe Sex to knawe God Almyghten, are
337þe Seuen vertus þat Haly Writte teches. Of whilke
338seuen, þe thre first þat are hede thewes, teches vs how
339to hafe vs vn-to God Almyghtty; and þe foure teches
340vs swa for to lyffe þat it be bathe lykande to Godd and to man.
341Þe firste vertu es 'trouthe,' wharethurghe we trow anely in
342Godd þat made all thynges, with all þe oþer vertus I touchede
343be-fore. And þis es nedfull till all þat cristenly lyffes; For
344trouthe es begynnynge of all gude dedis; For noþer es trouthe
345worthe with-owtten gud werk, ne na werke with-owtten trouthe
346may pay Godd Almyghtty. Þe toþer gude thewe or vertue
347es 'hope,' þat es, a sekyr habydynge of gastely gude, thurghe
348Goddes gudnes and oure gude dedis, for to com to þat blysse
349þat neuer mare blynnes, Noghte anely in trayste of Goddes
350gudnes, ne allanly in trayste of oure gude dedis, Bot in trayste
351of thaym bathe when þay are bathe Sammen; For noþer sall
352we fall sa ferre in-till whanhope þat we ne sall traiste to hafe

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353þat blysse if we wele do; Ne we sall noghte com so ferre in-to
354ouerhope for to trayste so mekill in Goddes gudnes þat we sall
355hope to haue þat blysse with-owtten gude dedys. Þe thirde
356vertue or thewe es 'charyte,' þe whylke es a dere lufe þat vs
357awe vn-till Godd Almyghtty als for Hym selfe, and till oure
358euencristen for God Almyghttyn; For þe tane may noghte
359be lufede with-owtten þe toþer, als Sayn Iohn þe gospellere
360sayse in his pystill. 'Þat commandement,' he saise, 'hafe we
361of Godd þat wha-sa-euer lufes Gode, lufes his euencristyn.
362For he þat lufes noghte his broþer wham he may see, how sulde
363he lufe God wham he sese noghte?' Þe ferthe vertue or
364thewe es 'ryghtwysenes,' þat es, to ȝelde to all men þat we awe
365þam, For to do to ilke a man þat vs awe to doo, for to wirchipe
366tham þat ere worthy, For to helpe þe pure þat er nedy, to do
367no gyle ne wrange vn-to na man, Bor for to do þat skill es
368vntill ilke mane. Þe fyfte vertue or thewe es 'sleghte or
369sleghenes,' þat wysses vs to be-warre with wathes of þe werlde;
370For it kennes vs to knawe þe gud and þe ill, and alswa to
371sundire þe tane fra þe toþer, and for to leue þat es euyll, and
372take to þe gude, and of twa gud thynges for to chese þe better.
373Þe Sexte vertue es 'strenghe or stalworthnes,' noghte anely
374of body, bot of herte and will, euynly to suffire þe wele and þe
375waa, welthe or wandreth, whethire so betyde, and þat oure herte
376be noghte to hye for na wele-fare, ne ouermekill vndire for nane
377euyll fare, Bot styffely for to stande agaynes oure faas, whethir
378þay be bodyly or þay be gastely, swa þat na fulle fandynge
379make vs to falle ne be false in oure faythe agaynes God Almyghtty.
380Þe Seuend vertue and þe laste es, 'methe or methefulnes,'
381þat kepes vs fra owterage and haldes vs in euenhede,
382lettes fulle lykynge and luste of þe flesche, and ȝemes vs fra
383ȝernynges of werldly gudes, and kepes in clennes of body and
384of saule. For methe es mesure and mett of all þat we do, if
385we lyffe skillwysly als þe lawe teches.
386

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387

THE SEXTE THYNG AND ÞE LASTE.

388
389    Þe sexte thynge, and þe laste of þase I firste towchede es,
390þe Seuen heuede or dedly synnes þat ilke a man and
391woman awe for to knawe to flee and forhewe, For
392folkes may noghte flee þam bot þay knawe thaym.
393Pride an Enuye, Wreth and Glotonye, Couetyse
394and Slouthe, and Lecherye. And for-þi er þay callede
395Seuen heuede Synnes, for þat all oþer commes of thaym; and
396for-þi er þay callede dedely synnes, for þay gastely slaa ilke
397manes & womanes saule þat es haunkede in alle or in any of
398thaym. Whare-fore þe wyese man byddes in his buke 'als fra
399þe face of þe neddyre, fande to flee syn.' For als þe venym of
400þe neddire slaas manes body, Swa þe venym of syn slaas manes
401saule. The firste of þise Seuen synnes es callede 'Pryde,' þat
402es, a lykande heghenees of a manes herte, Of offyce or of heghe
403state, or oþer noblaye þat he ouþer haues of kynde or of grace,
404or he hopes þat he haues mare þan anothire. And of þis wikkede
405synn commes some sere spyces: Boste and auauntynge and
406vn-bouxsomnes, despite, and ypocrisy and vnhamlynes, and oþer
407þat ofte ere sene amanges prowde men. The secunde dedely
408synn es hatten 'Enuy,' þat es, a sorowe and a syte of þe
409wele-fare, and a ioy of þe euyll fare, of oure euencristen: Of
410whilke synn, many spyces sprenges and spredes. Ane es,
411hateredyn to speke or here oghte be spoken, þat may sown
412vn-to gude to þaym þat þay hate. Ane-oþer, false juggynge or
413dome of þaire dedis, and ay turne vn-to euyll þat es done to
414gude. Þe thirde es 'bakbyttynge,' to saye be-hynde þam, þat
415we will noghte avowe ne saye be-fore þam; whare noghte
416anely he þat spekes þe euyll, bot he þat heres it be spoken, es
417for to blame; For, ware þare na herere, þare ware na bakbyttere.
418Þe thirde dedly synn or heuede syn es 'wrethe,' þat es, a
419wykkede stirrynge or bollenynge of herte, whare-fore a man
420wilnes for to wreke hym, or wykkydly to venge hym, appon his
421euyncristyn. And of þis wykkede syn commes stryvynge and

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422flytynge, with many false athes and many foule wordes, Sclaundere,
423for to for-do a man's gude fame, Feghtynge and Felony, and
424ofte manes-slaughtere, and many ma þat nowe es na nede for
425to be neuenede. Þe fferthe dedly synn men calles 'glotonye,'
426þat es, ane vnskilwyse lykynge of lufe in taste or in takynge
427of mete or of drynke. And þise trespas men duse apponne sere
428wyse: - Ane es, ouþer ouer arely or ouer late, or ouer oftesythe,
429for to ete or drynke bot if nede gere it. Ane oþer es, for to lyffe
430ouer delycately. Þe thirde es, for to ete or drynke ouer mekyll.
431Þe ferthe es, ouer hastely to ete or to drynke. Þe fifte es, to
432compas & caste appon whate wyese we may gette dylicious metis
433or drynkes to fulfill þe lykynges and þe lustes of þe flesch oþer
434þan we may gudly lede oure lyffe with, Secundum versum,
435Prepropere, laute, nimis ardenter, studiose .
436Þe fyfte dedly syn es callede 'Couetyse,' þat es, a wrangwyse
437wilnynge or ȝernynge to haue any maner of gude vs awe noghte.
438And þis es donne pryncypally appon twyn wyese. Ane es,
439wrangwysely to get any thynge þat oure likynge or oure lufe
440lyghtes apon, als be Sacrelege or by symony, falsehede or okyr,
441or oþer gelery, whilke þise worldely men er wounte for to vse
442þat castes þaire conaundenes swa vn-to couetyse þat þay ne
443rekke wheþer it be with ryghte or with wrange, bot þat þay
444may gette þat at þaire herte ȝernes. Anoþer es, wrangwisely
445to halde þat at es getyn, þat es, when we will noghte do to
446Godd Almyghten ne till Haly Kyrke, ne till oure euencristyn,
447þat vs awe for to do by dett and by lawe, bot anely
448haldes þat we hafe for ese of oure selfen, whare noghte anely
449he þat wrangwysly getes, bot he þat wrangwysely haldes, falles
450in þe synn. Þe sexte dedly synn es 'slewthe or slawenes,'
451þat es, a hertly angere or anoye till vs of any gastely gud þat
452we sall do. And of þis wikkede synn comes sere spyces: -
453Ane es, latesommes or lyte to drawe apon lenghte or to lache

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454any gude dedis þat we sall do þat may turne vs till helpe or
455hele of oure saules. Anoþer es, a 'dullnes or heuenes of herte'
456þat lettes vs for to lufe oure Lorde God Almyghten, or any
457lykynge to hafe in His seruyse. Þe thirde es, 'ydillchipe,' þat
458ouer mekyll es hauntede, þat makes lathe to begynn any gude
459dedis, and lyghtly dose vs to leue when oghte es begun, and
460þare whare we ere kyndely borne for to swynke, als þe feule es
461kyndely brede for to flie, It haldes vs euermare in ese agayne
462oure kynde, For Idillnes es Enemy to cristen man saule,
463stepmodire and stamerynge agaynes gude thewes, and witter-wyssynge
464and waye till alkyn vices. Þe Seuend dedely syn
465es hatten 'lychery,' þat es, a foule lykynge or luste of þe
466flesche. And of þis foule syn comes many sere spyces: - Ane
467es 'Fornycacyone,' a fleschely synn be-twyxe ane anlypy man
468and ane anlypy woman: and for-thi þat it es agaynes þe
469lawe, & þe leue and þe lare þat Haly Kirke haldes, it is dedly
470syn to þaym þat it duse. Anoþer es 'Avowtry,' and þat es
471spousebreke, wheþer it be bodyly or it be gastely, þat greuosere
472and gretter es þan þe toþer. Þe thirde es 'Incest,' þat es, when
473a man synnes fleschely with any of his sybb frendes, or any
474oþer þat es of his affynyte gastely or bodyly, wheþer so it be.
475Oþer spyces many sprynges of þis syn þat ouer mekill es
476knawen and kende in þis werlde with þaym þat ledes þaire
477lyfe als þaire flesche ȝernes.
478    Þise are þe sex thynges þat I hafe spoken off, þat þe
479lawe of Haly Kirke lyes maste in; The whilke we er
480halden to knawe and to cun, if we sall knawe God
481Almyghty, and come till His blysse. And for to gyffe
482ȝow better wyll for to cun thaym, Oure ffadir þe beschope
483grauntes of his grace Fourty dayes of pardoun till all
484þat cunnes thaym, and ratyfyes alswa þat oþer men gyffes,
485Swa mekill coueites he þe hele of ȝour saules. For ȝife ȝe
486conandely knawe þise Sex thynges, thurgh thaym sall ȝe cun
487knawe Godd Almyghty, whaym, als Sayne Iohn sayse in his
488gospelle, cunnandely for to knawe swylke als He es, It es endles
489lyfe and lastande blysse. To þe whilke blysse He brynge vs,

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490oure Lorde Gode Almyghty! Amen! Amen! Amen! Per
491Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, qui cum Deo patre et
492Spiritu Sancto viuit et regnat omnipotens deus in secula
493seculorum. Amen! Amen! Amen!