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1    Here
2he techeþ how þe pater noster schal be understonde.
3    Whan men setten first a child to lerne lettrure,
4men techeþ hym his pater noster. Who-so
5wole lerne þis clergie, hym bihoueþ become
6meke and vmble as a child, for to suche scolers techeþ
7oure goode maister Ihesu Crist þis clergie, þat is þe
8faireste and þe profitableste þat is, who-so wel vnderstondeþ
9it and holt it. For suche weneþ þei kunne
10it and vnderstonde it wel þat witeþ neuere what it is
11but þe schelle wiþ-oute, þat is þe lettre; þat is good,
12but it is litle worþ as aforȝens þe ȝelke þat is wiþ-ynne
13so swete. It is wel schort in wordes and riȝt
14longe in sentence, þat is vnderstondynge; liȝt to seyn,
15sutel to vnderstonde. Þis orisoun passiþ alle oþere
16orisounes in þre þinges: in worþynesse, in schortnesse,
17and in profitabelnesse. Þe worþynesse is þat Goddes
18sone made it to God þe fadre in word. God þe
19Holy Gost is þat a man askeþ; he wolde þat it were
20schort, for no man scholde excusen hym to lerne it,
21and for no man scholde þing heuy to seyn it gladly and
22ofte. And for to schewe þat God þe fadre hereþ vs
23riȝt soone as we biddeþ hym wiþ good herte, for he
24ne rekkeþ nouȝt of longe tarienge ne of wordes y-polesched
25or y-rymed. For, as seynt Gregori seiþ,
26'Verrey doynge is not to speke faire wordes wiþ
27þe mouþ, but to make gret compleynt for synne and

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28þerwiþ sore syȝynges of herte.' Þe worþ and þe
29profiȝt of þis orisoun is so gret þat it comprehendeþ
30in schort wordes al þat a man may desyre in herte
31and bidde þat good is. Þat is to seye þat a man be
32delyuerede of alle wikkednesse & fulfild of al goodnesse.
33Þus bigynneþ þe pater noster: 'Fader
34oure, þat art in heuene.' Now be-holde wel how
35oure goode pledour, aduoket, and oure swete maister
36Ihesu Crist, þat is þe wisdom of God þe fadre and
37wot and knoweþ alle þe lawes and vsages of his court,
38techeþ þe to plede wisly and sutelly, and schortly
39spekeþ. Forsoþe þis first word þat þou seist, ȝif
40it be wel vnderstonde and folewed, schal wynne þe
41al þi querele. For seynt Bernard seiþ þus: 'Þe orisoun
42þat bigynneþ bi þe swete name of þe fadre ȝyueþ
43vs hope to purchase wel al þat we praien.' Þis swete
44word 'fadre,' þat makeþ swete al þe remenaunt,
45scheweþ þe what þou schalt leue and somouneþ þe
46to þat þou schalt do. And þese tweie þinges sauen a
47man: whan he leueþ wel and a-riȝt, and doþ þer-after
48as he scholde. Whan þ^u clepest hym fadre, þou
49be-knowest þat he is lord of þe hous, þat is of heuene
50and of erþe, and chyueteyn and bigynnere and welle,
51wherbi alle creatures and al good comeþ, and þus
52þou bi-knowest his myȝt. After, siþ þat he is
53
54    fadre, he is ordeynour and gouernour and purueyour
55of his meyne, and namely of his children, þat is of
56men þat he hymself haþ made to his owne liknesse,
57and þus þ^u knowest his wisdom. And also, siþ he
58is fadre by kynde and bi riȝtfulnesse, he loueþ al þat
59he haþ made, as seiþ þe boke of Wisdom; and he is
60swete and debonere and loueþ and norescheþ his
61children and seiþ to hem here profiȝt betere þan þei
62kunne hemself deuise; & he beteþ hem and chasteþ
63hem whan þei mysdoþ, for here owne profitt, as a
64good fadre, and gladly receyueþ hem whan þei comeþ
65to hym; and in þis þou knowlechest his goodnesse

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66and his debornesse. Now scheweþ þe þis word
67þat þou seyst, 'fadre,' his myȝt and his wisdom and
68his goodnesse. It reherseþ also on þat oþer side to
69þiself þi nobleie, þi fairenesse, þi richesse. Gretter
70nobleie may non be þan to be so gret an emperoures
71sone as God is. Gretter richesse may no man haue
72þan to be eir of al þat he haþ. Gretter fairenesse
73may non haue þan to be like to hym ariȝt, þe whiche
74fairenesse is so gret þat it passeþ þouȝt of man and of
75aungel. And þus þis word 'fadre' meueþ þe þat
76þou art sone, for þou dost þi trauaile to be like hym,
77as a good sone schal be like to his good fadre, þat is to
78seye þat þou be douȝty and myȝty, strong and stedefast
79to do good, and þat þou be wis and auysee, large and
80curteis, swete and deboner and wiþ-out vileyne, as
81he is, and þ^t þou hate synne and filþe and al schrewdenesse,
82as he doþ, so þat þou go nouȝt out of þi kynde.
83Þan meneweþ þe þis word as ofte as þou seist þi
84pater noster þat ȝif þou be sone ariȝt, þou schalt be
85like to hym kyndely by comaundement and bi riȝtfulnesse,
86and þou schalt do to hym loue, worschipe,
87reuerence, drede, seruise, and buxumnesse. Now
88biþenke þe þan, whan þou seist þi pater noster, þat
89þou be to hym good sone and trewe, ȝif þou wolt
90þat he be to þe good fadre and debonere. Whan
91a newe knyȝt goþ to a bataile or to þe turnement,
92men bidden hym þenke whos sone he is, and riȝt
93so schalt þou þenke. Now sest þou wel how swete
94þis first word is, and how it meueþ þe to be douȝty
95and worþy and wel y-tauȝt, and it techeþ þe what
96þou schalt be. How a man schal vnderstonde 'Fadre
97oure.'
98    Now wole we aske whi þou seist 'fadre oure,' and
99not 'fadre myn'; and whiche felawes þou hast
100whan þ^u seist 'ȝyue vs,' and not 'ȝyue me,' we schulle
101seye þe. No wiȝt schal seye 'fadre myn' but only he

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102þat is sone of kynde, wiþ-out bigynnyng and endyng,
103verrei Goddes sone. But we beþ not his sones
104of kynde, but in as moche as we beþ made to his
105ymage, and so beþ þee sarazenes; ȝe but we beþ his
106sones bi grace and bi adopcioun. Adopcioun is a
107
108    word of lawe ciuile. For as bi þe lawes of emperoures,
109whan a gret lord haþ no child, he may chese a pore
110mannes sone, ȝif he wole, and make of hym his eir bi
111adopcioun, þat is to seye bi auowerie, so þat men
112holdeþ it as for his sone and auowed to bere his
113heritage. Þis grace dide vs God þe fadre, nouȝt
114for oure deseruyng, as seynt Poule seiþ; whan he made
115vs come to cristendom, we were pore & naked and
116sones of wraþþe of helle. Þan whan we seyn 'fadre
117oure' and 'ȝyue vs,' we gaderen yn wiþ vs alle oure
118breþeren bi adopcioun, þat ben children of holy
119chirche bi þe bileue þat þei receyuede at here cristenedome.
120Nowe scheweþ vs þan þis word 'oure' þe
121largenesse and þe curtesye of God oure fadre, þat
122ȝyueþ bleþeloker ynow þan litle, and to manye þan
123to on alone, as seynt Gregory seiþ, þan an orisoun,
124þe more comune þat it is, þe more it is worþ. As þe
125candele is more worþy þat serueþ in an halle ful of
126folke, þan þilke þat serueþ but o man alone. Þis
127word monesteþ vs to ȝilde þanke and grace wiþ al
128oure herte of þe grete grace þat he haþ y-do vs, wher-by
129we beþ his sones and his eires, and riȝt wiþ brennyng
130loue scholde we loue oure eldest broþer, Ihesu Crist,
131þat haþ made vs felawes wiþ hym in þis grace. Þis
132word amonesteþ vs þat we kepen besiliche in oure
133herte þe Holy Gost, þat is oure witnesse of þis adopcioun
134as a wed, as seynt Poule seiþ, wher-bi we beþ
135siker to haue oure fadres heritage, þat is þe ioye of
136paradis. Þis word lerneþ vs and seiþ þat we beþ
137alle breþeren, grete and smale, pore and riche, hiȝe
138and lowe, of on fadre and on modre, þat is to seye of
139God and holy chirche, and þat non schal scorne ne

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140despise oþere, but loue as his broþere, and on schal
141helpe a-noþere, as doþ þe lymes of a mannes owne
142body, and on bidde for a-noþere. As seynt Iame
143seiþ, and it is gretliche oure profytt, for þou leist þi
144biddynge in comune, þou hast part of al þe comunyte
145of holy chirche. And for on pater noster þat þou seist,
146þou wynnest mo þan an hundred þousande. Þis
147word 'oure' techeþ vs to hate þre þinges, namely:
148pride, hate, couetise. Pride dryueþ a man out of
149felawschip, for he wolde be aboue alle oþere. Hate
150putteþ hym out of felawschip, for whan he wreþþeþ
151and werrieþ wiþ on, he werrieþ wiþ alle þe oþere.
152Couetise dryueþ a man out of felawschip, for he
153wole not hymself ne his goodes be in comune a-mong
154oþere. And þerfore suche men habbeþ no part of þe
155holy pater noster. Þis word 'oure' scheweþ vs þat
156God is oures ȝif we wolen, and þe fadre and sone and
157Holy Gost. Þis is his name; kepe we þes comaundementes,
158and so seiþ Iohn in þe gospel. How þis
159'Qui es in celis' is vnderstonde.
160    Whan I seye 'þat art in heuene,' I seye tweie
161þinges, as þus: I seye, 'Þe kyng is at London,'
162
163    here I seye þe kyng is kyng and þat he is at London;
164riȝt so I seye he is, and I seye he is in heuene. Men
165fyndeþ y-writen in þe secounde boke of þe lawe
166þat God aperede to Moises in a mountayne and
167seide to hym, 'Goo in-to Egipte and seye to þe kyng
168Pharao on myn half þat he delyuere my peple, þe
169children of Israhel, out of þe þraldom þat he halt hem
170ynne.' 'Syre,' seide Moises, 'Ȝif men aske how men
171clepeþ ȝow, what schal I seye?' 'I am þat I am,'
172seide God. 'So schalt þou seye to þe children of
173Israhel, "Þat is, sent me to ȝow."' Now seyn goode
174men and holy and goode clerkes, among alle þe heiȝe

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175names of oure lord, þat is þe first and þe proprist,
176and þat most riȝtfullich techeþ vs to knowe what God
177is, for alle þe oþere names, ouþer þei speken of his
178goodnesse, oþer of his wisdom, oþer of his myȝt,
179oþer þat he is suche or suche, þat is he is riȝt good.
180Þis is þe riȝt good. Þis is þe riȝt wis. Þis is
181þe riȝt myȝty. And many oþere wordes as men
182seyn of hym, and ȝit sey þei not þe soþ properliche
183of þe beynge of God. But we þat ben grete and
184boistreous in speche to speke of so hiȝe þing, speke
185we of God as men ben woned to likne and deuyse a
186man þat men kunne not nempne, as men seiþ, 'He
187is a kyng; he is a duke; he is a grete maister, so faire
188and large,' and suche oþer preisynges at þe leste weie
189þat men mowe knowe hym þer-by. And ȝit seye
190þei not his riȝt name; and riȝt so speke we of God,
191and many wordes fynde we þat scheweþ vs wel what
192is of him, but þer nys non þat is so propre as is þis
193word 'þat is,' þat so propreliche and so schortliche and
194so attaynauntliche and sotyliche nempneþ hym to vs,
195in as moche as oure vnderstondyng may a-reche.
196For God is he þat alone is, as seynt Iop seiþ; he is
197alone, to speke riȝtfulliche. For he alon is euere-more,
198wiþ-out begynnyng and wiþ-oute endyng; þat may
199no man seie of non oþer þing. After, he alon is
200veraliche. For he is verray & trewþe. Alle þinges
201y-schape, þat beþ alle creatures, beþ veyn & vanite,
202as Salamon seiþ, and nouȝtes as to regarde to hym,
203and to nouȝt þei schulde bicome but þei were
204susteyned þurgh his vertue. And more-ouer he
205alone is setter and fastholder. For he is euere-more on
206and in o poynt, wiþ-oute any turblyng, wiþ-oute any
207chaungyng, wiþ-oute any meuyng in any manere,
208as seynt Iame seiþ, and alle oþere þinges beþ moueable
209in sum kynde; þan is he cleped propreliche 'þat is.'

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210For he is veraliche wiþ-out vanite, stedefast wiþ-oute
211any flittynge, euere-more wiþ-oute any bigynnyng
212and wiþ-oute ende and wiþ-oute euer schal be, for in
213him passeþ no tyme. Now schalt þou wel vnderstonde
214þat þer nys no þing þat a man may bettere
215kunne þan þat God is, but þer nis no þing so hard
216
217    to kunne þan whi & what þing God is. And þerfore
218we rede þat þou studie not to moche to wite ne
219enquere. For þou myȝt liȝtliche faile and go amys;
220it suffiseþ to þe to seie, 'Faire swete fadre, þat art in
221heuene.' Soþ is þat he is ouer al present, in erþe,
222in þe scee, and in helle, as he is in heuene. But
223men seyn þat he is in heuene. For he is y-seie þere
224most and most y-knowe and most y-loued and most
225y-worschiped. And after he is in heuene gostliche,
226þ^t is in holi hertes þat beþ hiȝe, briȝt, and clene as
227is þe heuene. For in suche hertes he is y-seie & knowe,
228douted and worschiped and loued. Now hast þou
229herde þes foure wordes, 'pater noster, qui es in celis.'
230Þe first techeþ þe to honoure God. Þe secounde
231to loue God. Þe þridde to drede God. For al be he
232oure fadre, ȝit is he riȝtwis and not moueable. Þe
233ferþe techeþ þe to be strong. For siþ he is hiȝe and
234þou lowȝe, but þou be douȝty and stalworþ þou ne
235schalt neuere come þere he woneþ. Þe first word
236scheweþ vs þe lengþe of his endelesnesse. Þe secounde
237þe largenesse of his charite. Þe þridde þe depþe
238of his soþnesse. Þe ferþe þe hiȝenesse of his maieste.
239Who-so myȝt a-reche wel to þes foure þinges wiþ-oute
240faile, he scholde be blessed. How a man
241vnderstant 'sanctificetur nomen tuum.'
242    Now hast þou herde þe prologe of þe holy pater
243noster, þat is an entre of a fiþele. A, God,
244who-so knewe wel al þe song, how he schulde fynde
245swete notes! For it is no doute þat in þe song þat þe
246wisdom of God made, he þat techeþ breddes synge,

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247ne ben fele sotile and swete notes. In body þer is litle
248lettre, and þis song haþ seuene notes, þat ben þe
249seuene biddynges þat purchasen þe seuene ȝiftes of
250þe Holi Gost, þ^t destroien þe seuene heuede wikkednesses
251of herte and setten & noreschen þe seuene
252vertues, bi whiche a man comeþ to þe seuene blessednesses.
253Of þes seuene askynges þe þre first maken
254a man holy as he may be in þis world. Þe foure
255afterward maken a man riȝtful parfiȝtliche. Al þe
256holinesse of a man or of a womman þat is made to þe
257ymage of þe trinite is vpon þre þinges þat ben in þe
258soule: memorie, vnderstondyng, and wille. In
259þat þat a soule be parfiȝtliche y-clensed in wille.
260Parfiȝtliche aliȝt in vnderstondyng. Parfiȝtliche
261confermed in God and wiþ God in memorie. And
262þe more plentyuousliche þe soule vnderfongeþ þes þre
263þinges of God, þe more propreliche sche neiȝheþ to
264his propre fairenesse of kynde, þat is to þe liknesse
265of þe fadre and of þe sone and of þe Holy Gost. Þat
266is whan God þe fadre confermeþ hym his memorie.
267God þe sone confermeþ hym his vnderstondynge.
268God þe Holi Gost clenseþ hym his wille. Þes
269þre þinges we biddeþ in þe þre first askynges of þe
270pater noster; whan we seyn, 'Sanctificetur nomen
271
272    tuum,' we schewen to oure good fadre curteisliche
273oure principal desir þat we scholde euere-more haue.
274Þat is þat his name be blessed and confermed in vs,
275þan whan we seyn 'sanctificetur nomen tuum.' Þat
276is to seye, þat is oure souereyn desire, and þat bidde
277we ouer alle þing, þat þin holy name, þat is þin good
278renomee, þi knowleche, þi fey, be confermed in vs.
279In þis first askyng we bidden þe first and þe principal
280ȝefte of þe Holy Gost, þat is þe ȝefte of wisdom, þat
281bynt and halt to-gidere þe herte in God, and ioyneþ
282so to hym þat it ne may not be vndo ne departed.
283Wisdom is seid of kunnyng, þat is sauer, þat is to
284sauoure wel; for whan a man receyueþ þe ȝefte, he

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285tasteþ & sauoureþ and feleþ þe swetnesse of þe goode
286wyn, and better is in his tast þan in his siȝt. But
287þat þou vnderstonde betere what is to seye 'þi name
288be halewed in vs,' þou schalt vnderstonde þat þilke
289name 'holy' is as moche as cler and wiþ-out erþe
290and y-halewed to þe seruice of God, as y-died in blod
291and as y-confermede. Þus þe spirit of wisdom
292haleweþ þe herte in sixe maneres. First he clenseþ
293and makeþ clene, as þe fier purgeþ and fyneþ þe gold.
294After, he doþ awey þe erþe, þat is of al wordeliche
295loue and of alle fleschely affection, and makeþ al
296bicome fade, al þat a man was woned to loue to-fore,
297as þe water þat is fade to hym þat is woned to drynke
298good wyn. After, he haleweþ hym al to þe seruise
299of God, for he draweþ hym awey from alle besynesse
300and sette hym al to serue God & þenke on hym and
301loue hym and serue hym, riȝt as a chirche is halewed
302to þe seruise of God, where man schal non oþer þing
303do but þe seruice of God. After he deieþ hym in
304blod, for he sette hym in so brennyng a loue and so
305swete deuocioun of Ihesu Crist þ^t whan he þenkeþ
306on hym and on his passion he is so deied and dronke
307of þe precious blod þat Ihesu Crist schedde for hym
308as is a soppe of bred al hot whan a man put it in-to
309wyn. Þis is a newe cristenyng, for cristenynge and
310deiynge is al on. After he confermeþ hym so in
311God þat noþing may parte hym ne vndo hym. Now
312þan seiþ þis word 'þi name be halewed in vs,' þat is
313to seye 'ȝyue vs þe spirit of wisdom,' bi whom we
314mowe be fyned as gold and y-made clene of alle
315foulenesses, þurgh whom we mowe be so dronke of þi
316loue þat alle oþere loues ben bitter to vs, be whom
317we ne ben not onliche y-wasche but y-deied in fyn
318skarlet and y-made newe and cristened wiþ þe blod
319of Ihesu Crist bi deuocioun of brennyng loue, wher-bi

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320oure fadre be so confermed in vs þat he be oure fadre
321and we his sones and his eires, and so confermed
322þat no þing þat may falle mowe vndo þis bonde ne
323þis grace. Gret grace is it of God whan þe wille
324of a man or a womman is so harde and roted fast in
325
326    God þat he ne may not wawe for no temptacion; and
327wel gretter þing is it whan a man is so affermed in
328þe loue and so dronke in þe swetnesse of God þat no
329solas ne counfort sauoureþ a man nouȝt but onliche
330of hym. And þan is þe hert parfiȝtliche confermede
331whan þe memorie is so y-woned to hym þat he ne
332may no þing þenke on but onliche on hym. And
333þat bidde we hym whan we seyn ' sanctificetur nomen
334tuum ; sire, þi name be halewed in vs.' How a man
335schal vnderstonde 'Adueniat regnum tuum.'
336    'Adueniat regnum tuum' is þe secunde askynge
337of þe pater noster, where we bidden þat þe
338kyngdom of God come to vs. Oure lord seiþ in þe
339gospel to his disciples, 'Þe kyngdom of God is now
340wiþ-ynne ȝow.' Now vnderstonde wel how þis
341may be: whan God ȝyueþ a grace þat men clepeþ þe
342spirit of vnderstondynge in-to þe hertes, riȝt as þe
343sunne doþ awey þe derkenesses of þe nyȝt & wasteþ
344þe clowdes and þe morwe dewes, riȝt so wasteþ þe
345spirit al þe derkenisses of þe herte and scheweþ hym
346his synnes and his defautes, so þat he þat wend he
347hadde be alle clene fyndeþ þan so fele defautes and
348filþes & foule dust wiþ-oute noumbre, as þe sunnebem
349scheweþ þe motes and þe dust to hem þat beþ
350in þe hous & biholdeþ it. After he scheweþ also,
351on þat oþer half, not onliche þat þat is wiþ-ynne
352hym, but also þat þat is vnder hym in helle, and þat
353þat is aboue hym in heuene, and þat þat is abowte
354hym. Alle þe faire creatures þat alle þanken God, and
355þilke witnessen how God is good and myȝty, wis,

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356gret, debonere, and swete. And þe briȝter þat a
357creature is, þe more he coueiteþ to see hymself,
358but he seeþ wel þat he is not worþy ne fyn to see hym.
359& þan a good herte wexeþ hot and is wroþ wiþ
360hireself; þan takeþ he a pycoise and a scholue and
361bigynneþ to delue and to myne, and entreþ forþ
362wiþ-ynne þe hert & fyndeþ þere so many synnes and
363wikkednesses and defautes, so moche dust and motes
364and lettynges of herte, of þenkynges and euele wille,
365þat he wraþþeþ hym and sorweþ & takeþ euele talent
366in his euele lyuyng, so þat he bigynneþ þan to clense
367þe herte al an-ernest, and casteþ out alle þes filþes
368þat bynomen God þe syȝt in hym. And þis doþ
369he wiþ þe scholue of verray schrift. But whan he haþ
370longe myned and y-cast out alle þes foulnesses, þan
371fyndeþ he pais and reste, solas and ioye, so moche
372þat hym þenkeþ þat al þe world is but an helle, to
373regarde of þilke briȝtnesse and þilke pais þat he fynt
374in his herte. And þis aske we whan we seyn 'adueniat
375regnum tuum,' þis is to seye, 'faire fadre, ȝif it be
376þi wille, liȝt oure hertes wiþ þe Holy Gost and clense
377hyre and make hire fair'; þat sche be worþi to see
378God, and þat he mowe lust to come and dwelle as
379kyng, as lord, as gouernour, as comaundour, so
380
381    þat al be his and þat he be kyng and þat we mowe
382euere-more see hym. For þat is to haue wiþ-ynne vs
383þe lif wiþ-outen ende and þe kyngdom of God.
384& þerfore seiþ oure lord in þe gospel þat þe kyngdom
385of God is as a tresour y-hid in þe feld, þat is þe herte
386of a man, þat is more þan al þe world. How a man
387schal vnderstonde, 'Fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo et in
388terra.'
389    Þis is þe þridde askynge, wher-ynne we biddeþ
390oure fadre of heuene þat his wille be fulfilled in
391vs as it is in heuene, þat is as yn holy aungeles þat beþ

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392in heuene and þat beþ so aliȝt and confermed in God
393þat þei mowe noþing wilne but þat God wole. Þis
394boone mowe we not haue but we haue þe ȝifte of
395conseil, þat is þe þridde ȝifte of þe Holy Gost, þat
396techeþ his good wille and þat he turne oure wrecched
397wille and conferme it al holliche in-to his good wille,
398so þ^t in vs ne be nouȝt oure owne wittes ne oure owne
399willes, but his onliche, and þat his wille be lady of
400oure hertes al holliche and do in vs al þat he wole,
401riȝt as he doþ and is ydo in þe holy aungeles of heuene,
402þat don euer-more his wille wiþ-oute mystakyng and
403wiþ-out aȝenseyinge. Now hast þou herde þe þre
404first askynges of þe pater noster, þat beþ þe heiȝest
405and þe most worþy. In þe first we asken þe ȝefte
406of wisdom. In þe seconde þe ȝefte of vnderstondyng.
407In þe þridde þe ȝifte of counseil, as we haue y-schewed
408a-boue. Þes þre þinges we biddeþ not
409for to haue hem in þis dedliche lif parfiȝtliche, but
410we schewen to oure fadre oure desires þat ben or
411scholde ben þat þes þre biddynges be do in vs and
412fulfilled in þe lif wiþ-out ende. Þes oþere foure
413þat comen her-after we biddeþ al an-oþer manere
414þing, for we seyn al parfiȝtliche to oure fadre, 'Ȝeue
415vs, forȝeue vs, kepe vs, delyuere vs.' For but
416we haue of hym þes foure biddynges, we beþ dede
417and schent in þis world, for þei beþ nedeful in þis
418dedliche lif. How a man schal vnderstonde 'Panem
419nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie.'
420    Wel techeþ vs oure good maister to speke mekeliche
421and wisliche whan he techeþ vs, 'Fair fader,
422oure euery daies bred ȝyue vs to-day.' What may a
423sone lesse aske of þe fadre þan bred, wiþ-oute more,
424for to dryue forþ þe day? He ne askeþ non outrage,
425noþer wyn ne flesch ne fische, ne more ne biddeþ
426he not for þe ȝer ne for al þe woke, but onliche to
427dryue forþ þe day. Now semeþ þan it is riȝt litle
428þing þat we biddeþ, but, forsoþe, it is not so, for we

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429biddeþ many þinges. Whan men biddeþ an abbot
430þe bred of his abbey, men biddeþ hym part of his
431broþerhede and part and companye and riȝt in alle
432þe goodes of þe hous; riȝt so is here whom þat God
433graunteþ of his bred: he haþ broþerehode and part and
434
435    companye and riȝt in alle þe goodes of heuene, þat is
436þe bred of þe blessed couent, þe bred of heuene, þe
437bred of angeles, þe delitable bred, þe bred of lif wiþ-out
438endynge, for it ȝeueþ good lif and kepeþ a man from
439deþ. As soþnesse seiþ in þe gospel: 'I am þe
440bred of lif þat come doun fro heuene; who-so ete of
441þis bred, he schal lyue euere wiþ-out deþ.' Þis
442bred is mete a-riȝt, for it staungeþ al þe hunger of
443þis world and filleþ a man so þat he haþ y-now; so
444doþ non oþer bred ne oþer mete. Þis is þe bred
445and þe mete þat þou takest at þe sacrament of þe
446auter, þat þou schalt ete hastliche & gloutliche, as
447holy writ techeþ. As doþ þe lechour þe good
448mete, for owþer-while he swoleweþ a good mossel
449wiþ-out chewynge. Þis is to seye þat þou schalt
450take þis mete wiþ grete brennynge of herte and wiþ
451gret desire, and þou schalt, as it were, swolewe it
452wiþ-oute schewynge. Þat is to vnderstande, bileue
453al a-gret þat þat is þe verrey body of Ihesu Crist and
454his soule and þe Godhed al to-gidere, wiþ-out any
455sechyng or þenkyng how þat may be, for God may more
456do þan any man may þenke or vnderstonde. After,
457þou schalt chewe þis mete newe, as þe oxe roungeþ
458þe gras þat he haþ swolewed, þ^t is to seye þat a man
459or a womman schal record swetliche and in smale
460peces be many smale þouȝtes al þe godnesses of oure
461lord and al þat Ihesu Crist suffrid for vs, and þan
462fynt þe herte riȝt sauour in þis mete and renneþ in-to
463a gret loue of God and in-to a gret desire to do
464ynow and suffre for hym al þat he myȝt. And al

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465þat doþ þe vertue of þis bred, for þat is þe bred þat
466conforteþ and strenkþeþ þe herte þat sche be wel
467strong to suffre and do grete þinges for þe loue of
468God. But þis may not be wiþ-out þe ferþe ȝefte
469of þe Holy Gost, þat is cleped þe ȝefte of strenkþe,
470þat armeþ Godes knyȝt and makeþ hym renne to
471martirdom and makeþ hym liȝe in his turmentes.
472Now maist þ^u see how curteisliche, whan we asken
473þis bred, we asken þe ȝifte of stryngþe, for as bodiliche
474bred susteyneþ and strenkþeþ þe body, riȝt so þe
475ȝifte of strenkþe makeþ þe herte hardy to suffre and
476do grete þinges for þe loue of God. Þis bred we
477clepen oure for it was made of oure douȝh. Blessed
478be þilke good womman þat leide forþ þe flour, þat
479was þe virgyne Marie. It is oure; for vs it was
480y-bake and fried - bake in þe wombe of þe maide
481Marie and y-fried in þe panne of þe cros, as it is soþ,
482ȝe soþ, y-fried in his owne blod. For þat diede he
483in þe grete brennyng loue þat he hadde to vs. Þis is
484þe bisquit wher-wiþ he vitaileþ his schip, þat is holi
485chirche, for to passe wiþ þe grete see, out of þis
486perilous world. He is oures, for at his leue-takynge
487at his last testament he lefte vs Ihesu Crist þe al-þer
488largest, as for þe grettest, tresour þat he myȝt lete vs,
489
490    and ȝyue vs hym for þe fairest juel þat he myȝt ȝyue
491vs and þat we scholde kepe for þe loue of hym and
492þat we mowe euery daye haue in remembraunce for
493loue of hym. Soþely he is oures, for þer may no
494whiȝt bynyme hym vs aȝens oure wille. We clepeþ
495hym oure echedaies bred, þat is of euery day, for þat
496is þe eueridayes ȝifte þat God ȝyueþ to his chanounes
497euery day þat don his seruice and syngen his oures,
498þat is to alle goode hertes þat euery day swetliche
499and be verray loue maken memorie and remembraunce
500of his passioun. Þe gret prouendres we schulle
501take whan oure heruest comeþ in heuene, whan we
502seen hym al openliche in his fairenesse as he is.

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503Þerfor he is cleped cotidian, þat is eueriday, for
504eueriday scholde a man and womman take hym in
505þe sacrament of þe auter, as doþ þe preste, or elles
506gostly bi riȝt bileue. Þis bred is riȝt precious, riȝt
507noble, and riȝt wel adiȝt. Þis is rial mete, wher-yn
508ben alle manere delices and alle goode sauours, as
509seiþ þe boke of Wisdom. Þis is no mete to ȝyue
510knaues and pitaile ne to houndes ne to cherles, but to
511noble hertes and gentile and curteis and clene, þat is
512to þe herte þat is gentel bi grace, noble by good lif,
513clene and wel y-wasche bi verray schrifte. Of his
514vertue spekeþ seynt Mathew þe wangelist and clepeþ
515it siker bred substanciale, þat is to saye it ouer-goþ
516alle substaunces and alle creatures from fer in vertue
517and in dignite and in alle manere worþynesses. Þer
518may no man betere discryue it ne more sufficiauntly
519but clepe it siker bred substancial. A man seiþ þat
520mete is substancial whan þer is ynne grete norischynge
521and grete substaunce. And þe more þat men seyn
522þat it is substancial, for in þat is more vertue and good
523and norture þan any man may þenke or seye. Men
524seyn not onliche þat it is substancial, but þat it is
525siker and substancial. Þis is vertuous and substancial
526ouer alle þenkenges and wenynges. Þis
527bred bidde we and asken of oure fadre and bisechen
528hym he ȝeue it to vs þis day, þat is in þis dedliche lif,
529so þat we mowe make a good iorneye and a-bide þe
530gladloker oure mede, þat is þe peny þat he ȝyueþ to
531his werke-men whan þey comen at euen, þat is þe
532ende of here lif. How a man schal vnderstonde
533'Dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus
534debitoribus nostris.'
535    In þis askynge we biddeþ oure fadre of heuene þ^t
536he wole forȝeue vs oure mysdedes, as we forȝeueþ
537hem þat han mysdo to vs, þan seye we þus: 'Faire
538fader, quyte vs oure dettes, as we acquyten oure

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539dettoures.' Oure dettes ben oure synnes þat we
540han lete wexe in oure soules; þat is þe best wed of al
541þe hous, wher-by a synful man or womman, for on
542dedly synne þat so soone is do as to þe likynge and to
543
544    þe dede, is y-bounde in so gret vsure þat haþ non
545ende, þat is þe peyne of helle þat is wiþ-outen ende.
546And after, he schal to God, þat he haþ wraþþed, so
547gret amendes þ^t he haþ no power to paie it, for in al
548þis lif, þeyȝ he myȝt lyue an hundred wynter or more,
549he ne myȝt not do sufficiauntly penaunce for on dedly
550synne, ȝif God wolde vse riȝtful iugement. And
551þerfore vs bihoueþ to renne to þe court of mercy,
552and crie mercye and aske forȝeuenesse, for as bi riȝt
553of þe court of riȝtwisnesse þe synful man or womman
554scholde be dampned to deþ wiþ-out ende. And
555þerfore oure good maister Ihesu Crist techeþ vs þus
556to aske forȝeuenesse and acquitaunce whan we bidden
557oure good fadre, þat is swete and deboner to forȝeue,
558large and curteis for to ȝeue, þat he forȝeue vs oure
559mysdedes. But take good hede how þou biddest
560whan þou seist 'forȝeue vs oure mysdedes, as we
561forȝeuen hem þat han mysdo to vs,' for ȝif we forȝeue
562not to hem þat han mysdo to vs, God ne wole not
563forȝeue vs oure mysdedes, as he seiþ hymself in þe
564gospel: Þat he þat seiþ his pater noster and kepeþ
565in his herte angre and felonie or wraþþe, he bit more
566aȝens hym þan wiþ hym, for he biddeþ to God þat
567he forȝeue hym not, for he seiþ, 'forȝeue me as I
568forȝeue'; and þerfore, as ofte as þou seist þi pater
569noster to-for God þat seeþ wel þin herte, þou schal
570forȝeue þi maletalent and cast out of þin herte alle
571ire and hates and angrees. & elles þi biddyng is
572aȝens þiself more þan for þe. Ȝif it þenke þe euele
573and hard to forȝyue þi maletalent to hym þat hateþ
574þe or þat willeþ þe euele or þat haþ y-do þe harme
575or mysseid þe, þenke þat God forȝeue his deþ to hem

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576þat crucifiden hym, for to ȝeue þe ensaumple to
577forȝeue to hym þat haþ mysdo þe, and more ȝit to
578bidde for hem þat God forȝeue hem, and ȝit more
579to do hem good ȝif þei han myster of þe, for he seiþ
580in þe gospel, it is no grete þing ne gret desert aȝens
581God to do good to hem þat doþ vs good, ne to louen
582hem þat louen vs, for þat don Iewes and sarezenes
583and oþere synful folk. But we þat ben Goddes sones
584bi bileue and bi grace & ben cristene and nempned
585of Ihesu Crist and ben heires of þe heritage wiþ hym
586of paradis, we schul forȝeue eueriche to oþer and
587loue oure enemys, þat is to seye here persones, and
588bidde for hem and do hem good ȝif þei han nede and
589we mowe do it, for so bit þe gospel, and naþeles we
590schul hate onliche þe synnes and loue þe soules, þat
591beþ made to þe ymage of oure lord, and riȝt as þat
592on membre of þe body helpeþ þat oþere - ȝif þat on
593herteþ þat oþere be an happe, þat oþer ne vengeþ
594hym not þerfore. We ben alle on body in Ihesu
595Crist, as þe apostle seiþ, and þerfore we schulde loue
596euery oþere. And who-so doþ oþerwise, he is mansleer
597& dampneþ hymself, as holy writ seiþ. Suche
598
599    kunne not seye here pater noster, for it were better
600þei helde hem stille, for he takeþ his juge aȝens hymself.
601In þis biddynge þat we bisechen to God,
602we biddeþ hym a ȝifte of þe Holy Gost þat is cleped
603þe ȝefte of kunnynge, þat is science, þat makeþ a
604man or a womman to be-þenke hym wel and to be
605kunnyng. Þis spirit scheweþ a man and womman
606what he is and what perel he is ynne, and wheynnes
607he com and whidere he goþ, and what he haþ y-do
608& what he haþ mysdo, and how wel he haþ beleued
609and what he schal; and whan he seeþ he haþ not
610wher-of to make good, and þan makeþ hym þis
611spirit to wepe & seche and crie mercye to God, and
612seie, 'Sire, forȝeue me my dettes, þat is my synnes,
613for I am mochel entedted aȝens þe, and for þe

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614wikkednesse þat I haue do and þe good þat I haue
615leted and forȝete to do þat I myȝt and schulde haue
616do, and for þe good þat þou hast do me and þi grete
617goodnesses þat I haue alwey receyued, whiche I haue
618euele deserued; and þerfore, sire, I ne haue not wherof
619to make paiement; forȝeue me þat I schal.' Whan
620þis spirit haþ so aliȝt hym þat he knowlecheþ his
621defautes, þan makeþ it hym caste out of his herte
622alle wraþþe and angre, and forȝeue al his maletaulent
623ȝif he haue any, and ȝif he haþ non, he is in good wille
624to forȝeue and any man mysdo hym in tyme comynge;
625þan may he wel seye, 'Faire fadre, forȝeue vs oure
626mysdedes, as we doþ to hem þat han mysdo to vs.'
627How a man schal vnderstonde 'Et ne nos inducas
628in temptacionem.'
629    Who-so is y-scalded wiþ hote watre, he dowteþ
630þe more hot watre; and he þat is on tyme falle
631in synne, and his synne be forȝeue hym, he bicomeþ
632þe more humble and meke and þe more dredeful,
633and more he is a-ferd of temptacion. Þerfore he þat
634God haþ forȝeue his synnes, he biddeþ þat he kepe
635þat he falle not aȝeyn, and seiþ þus: 'Et ne nos
636inducas in temptacionem.' Þat is to seye, 'Faire
637swete fadre, lede vs not in-to temptacioun.' Þe
638deuel is þe temptour, for þat is his crafte þat he serueþ
639in þe hous of God for to assaie wiþ þe newe knyȝttes;
640and ȝif þat temptacioun ne were good and profitable,
641þe goode God, þat al makeþ for oure profiȝt, ne wolde
642not suffre þat it schold come. But, as seynt Bernard
643seiþ, whan þis temptour smyȝt vs vp þe rigge wiþ his
644hamer, he forgeþ vs crounes of ioye, as he doþ þat
645smyt and leiþ on þe rigge of a good knyȝt, and forgeþ
646hym loos and pris and his ioye. Þe deuel tempteþ a
647man to drawe hym from þe loue; þerfore seynt Poule
648bit to his disciples þat þei ben founded as a tour and
649y-roted as a tree in charite, so þat no temptacioun
650mowe meue hym ne wagge hym. Þerfore in þis

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651we bidden oure help of God to þis bataile þe ȝifte of
652
653    pite, þat is a grace þat bedeweþ þe herte and makeþ
654hire swete and pitous and makeþ hire wexe al grene
655and bere fruyȝt ynow of goode werkes, wiþ-oute
656and wiþ-ynne, and fastneþ his rotes in þe erþe of
657lyueres, þat is of hem þat bereþ lif, þat is also y-cleped
658þe goode syment þat men makeþ wiþ þe walles sarizyneis,
659þat no man may breke wiþ pike ne wiþ howe.
660Whan we seyn, þan, 'et ne nos inducas in temptacionem,'
661þat is to seye, 'my swete fadre, make oure
662hertes hardy and stedefast þat þei ne meue nouȝt
663for no temptacioun þat may come to hem þurgh
664helpe & grace of þe ȝifte of þe spirit of pitee.' We
665biddeþ not þat we ne beþ not y-tempted, for þat
666were a foles bidding and schamful, riȝt as a goode
667mannes sone þat were newe made knyȝt wolde bidde
668his fadre and seide, 'Fair fadre, I beseche þe þat þou
669kepe me þat I ne go neuere more to turnement ne to
670poyntes of werre.' We scholde welne to be tempted,
671for it is oure profiȝt in many maneres, for we ben þe
672more meke and more dredful and þe more asaied;
673for as Salamon seiþ, 'Who-so haþ not be tempted,
674he may no þing wite ariȝt,' but as men witeþ of þe
675bataile of Troie bi heryng telle, for he may not knowe
676hymself ne his siknesse ne his stryngþe of his enemys
677ne here sleiȝtes, ne how trwe God is at nede to helpe
678his frend, ne from how many pereles he haþ ofte
679y-kept hym; and for alle þis resones he ne schal
680neuere wel kunne loue God ne þanke God of his
681goodes. But we bidden hym þat he kepe oure hertes
682þat þey ne entre not in-to temptacioun, þat is þat þei
683consent not, for as aȝens oureself we ben so pore and
684so feble þat we ne myȝt neuere an houre of a day
685suffre þe assaut of þe deuel wiþ-out help of oure
686lord, & whan he faileþ vs we fallen yn a-swiþe, &
687whan he helpeþ vs we wiþstondeþ and fiȝtteþ &
688ouercomen; and þerfore seye we, 'faire fadre, lede not

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689vs in-to temptacioun.' How a man schal vnderstonde
690'Set libera nos a malo, amen.'
691    Seynt Austeyn seiþ þat alle oþere vices, oþer þei
692maken vs to do euele, oþer þei letten vs to do wel;
693but al þat euere a man haþ ydo and alle þe ȝiftes
694þat a man haþ y-purchased, pride is a-boute and
695hopeþ to destroie and byneme. And þerfore whan
696God haþ ȝeue a man þat he haþ praied hym in þe
697seuene askynges tofore seid, þan is it first tyme to
698praie hym a-nernest þat he delyuere hym of yuele
699and of his anguissches; and þerfore comeþ þis askynge
700as þe rere-warde, þat seiþ þus: 'Set libera nos a malo,
701amen,' þat is to seie, 'faire fadre, delyuere vs of euele,'
702þat is to seye of þe deuel and of his sleiȝtes, 'þat we
703lese not bi pride þe ȝiftes þat þou hast ȝeue vs.' In
704þis askynge we bisechen hym he ȝeue vs þe ȝefte of
705holy drede, bi whom we mowe be delyuered of þe
706schrewe and of alle oþere euel, þat is of alle synnes
707
708    and of periles, in þis world and in þat oþere, amen.
709'And so be it as we haue seid,' þat is þis word
710'amen' to seye. Now hast þou herd þe notes þat
711men were woned to noten vpon þis clene song þat
712God made, þat is þe pater noster; now loke þat þou
713kunne wel synge it in þin herte for grete good þat þou
714myȝt haue þerby.