Wulfstan: Wulfstan's 'Institutes of Polity' (4 908 words)

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1B13.2.1.1

page 39


2

BE HEOFONLICUM CYNINGE.


3    In nomine domini. An is ece cyning, wealdend and wyrhta
4ealra gesceafta.
5He is on riht cyning and cyninga wuldor and ealra cyninga
6betst, þe æfre gewurde oððe geweorðe.
7Him symble sy lof and wuldor and ece wyrðmynt a to worulde,
8Amen.

page 41


9

BE EORÐLICUM CYNINGE.


10    Cristenum cyninge gebyreð on cristenre þeode, þæt he sy,
11ealswa hit riht is, folces frofer and rihtwis
12hyrde ofer cristene heorde.
13And him gebyreþ, þæt he eallum mægne cristendom rære and
14Godes cyrican æghwær georne fyrðrie and friðie.

page 43


15And eall cristen folc sibbie and sehte mid rihtre lage, swa he
16geornost mæge and ðurh ælc þing rihtwisnesse
17lufie for Gode and for worulde.
18Forðam þurh þæt he sceall sylf fyrmest geþeon and his
19þeodscipe eac swa, þe he riht lufie for Gode
20and for worulde.

page 45


21And him gebyreð, þæt he geornlice fylste þam, ðe riht
22willan, and a hetelice styre þam, ðe þwyres willan.
23He sceal mandæde menn þreagan þearle mid woruldlicre
24steore, and he sceal ryperas and reaferas and
25ðas woruldstruderas hatian and hynan and eallum Godes
26feondum styrnlice wiðstandan.

page 46


27And ægðer he sceal beon mid rihte, ge milde ge reþe, milde
28þam godum and styrne þam yfelum.
29ðæt bið cynincges riht and cynelic gewuna, and þæt sceal
30on þeode swyðost gefremian.
31La, þurh hwæt sceal Godes þeowum and Godes þearfum frið
32and fultum cuman butan þurh Crist and þurh
33cristenne cyning?

page 47


34þurh unwisne cyning folc wyrð geyrmed for oft, næs æne,
35for his misræde.
36þurh cynincges wisdom folc wyrð gesælig and gesundful and
37sigefæst.
38And ðy sceal wis cyning cristendom and cynedom miclian and
39mærsian, and a he sceal hæþendom hindrian
40and hyrwan.

page 48


41He sceal boclarum hlystan swyðe georne and Godes beboda
42geornlice healdan and gelome wið witan wisdom
43smeagan, gif he Gode wile rihtlice hyran.

page 49


44And gif hwa to þam strec sy ahwær on þeode, þæt riht
45nelle healdan swa swa he sceolde, ac Godes lage
46wyrde oððe folclage myrre, þonne cyðe hit man þam
47cyninge, gif man þæt nyde scyle, and he þonne sona
48ræde embe þa bote and gewylde hine geornlice to ðam,
49þe his þearf sy, huru unþances, gif he elles
50ne mæge.

page 50


51And do, swa him þearf is, clænsige his þeode for Gode and
52for worulde, gif he Godes mildse geearnian
53wille.
54And smeage gelome, hwæt him sy to donne and hwæt to forganne
55after Godes rihte.
56And þanan him sceal swyðost æfre arisan word and
57weorðscipe ægðer ge on life ge æfter life, þæt he
58Godes riht lufie and unriht ascunie and godcunde lare georne
59gehyre oft and gelome him sylfum to þearfe.

page 51


60Forþam sona unstrangað, se þe lytel hafað lichamlices
61fostres, and se ðe seldan hafað gastlicne foster,
62sona hit his sawle derað swiðe þearle.
63Ac se byð gesælig, þe godcunde lare oftost gehyreð and
64geornlicast healdeþ.

page 52


65

BE CYNEDOME.


66    Eahta sweras syndon, þe rihtlicne cynedom trumlice upwegað.
67Soðfæstnys, Modþwærnes, Rumheortnes, Rædfæstnes,
68Ueritas, Patientia, Largitas, Persuasibilitas,
69Egesfulnes, Fyrðringnes, Lihtingnes, Rihtwisnes, Correctio
70malorum, Exultatio bonorum, Leuitas tributi,
71Equitas iudicii
.

page 53


72And seofon þing gedafeniað rihtwisum cyninge.
73An ærest, þæt he swyðe micelne Godes ege hæbbe, and
74oðer, þæt he æfre rihtwisnesse lufige.
75And ðridde, þæt he eadmod sy wið gode, and feorðe, þæt
76he stiðmod sy wið yfele.

page 54


77And fifte, þæt he Godes þearfum frefrige and fede.
78And syxte, þæt he Godes cyrcan fyrðrige and friðige.
79And seofoðe, þæt he be freondan and be fremdan fadige
80gelice on rihtlican dome.

page 55


81

BE CYNESTOLE.


82    ælc riht cynestol stent on þrym stapelum, þe fullice ariht
83stent.
84An is Oratores , and oðer is Laboratores , and
85ðridde is Bellatores .
86Oratores sindon gebedmen, þe Gode sculan þeowian and
87dæges and nihtes for ealne þeodscipe þingian georne.

page 56


88Laboratores sindon weorcmen, þe tilian sculon, þæs
89ðe eall þeodscype big sceall libban.
90Bellatores syndon wigmen, þe eard sculon werian wiglice
91mid wæpnum.
92On þyssum ðrym stapelum sceall ælc cynestol standan mid
93rihte on cristenre þeode.

page 57


94And awacie heora ænig, sona se stol scylfð, and fulberste
95heora ænig, þonne hrysð se stol nyðer, and
96þæt wyrð þære þeode eall to unþearfe.
97Ac staþelige man and strangie and trumme hi georne mid
98wislicre Godes lare and mid rihtlicre woruldlage,
99þæt wyrð þam þeodscype to langsuman ræde.

page 58


100And soð is, þæt ic secge, awacie se cristendom, sona
101scylfð se cynedom, and arære man unlaga ahwar
102on lande oððe unsida lufige ahwar to swiðe, þæt cymð
103þære þeode eall to unþearfe.
104Ac do man, swa hit þearf is, alecge man unriht and rære up
105Godes riht, þæt mæg to þearfe for Gode and
106for worulde, Amen.

page 62


107

BE ÐEODWITAN.


108    Cyningan and bisceopan, eorlan and heretogan, gerefan and
109deman, larwitan and lahwitan gedafenað mid
110rihte for Gode and for worulde, þæt hi anræde weorðan
111and Godes riht lufian.
112And bisceopas syndon bydelas and Godes lage lareowas, and hi
113sculan riht bodian and unriht forbeodan,
114and se þe oferhogige, þæt he heom hlyste, hæbbe him
115gemæne þæt wið God sylfne.

page 63


116And gif bisceopas forgymað, þæt hi synna ne styrað ne
117unriht forbeodaþ ne Godes riht ne cyþað, ac clumiað
118mid ceaflum, þær hi sceoldan clypian, wa heom þære
119swigean.
120Be þam spræc se witega and grimlice þus cwæð.
121Hec dicit dominus, Si non adnuntiaueris iniquo iniquitatem
122suam, sanguinem eius de manu tua requiram
.
123Gif þu þam synfullan nelt cwæð ure drihten synna gestyran
124and unriht forbeoden and ðam manfullan mandæda
125cyðan, þu scealt þa sawle bitere forgyldan.

page 64


126ðis mæg to heorthoge æghwylcum bisceope beþence hine
127georne be þam, þe he wylle.
128And se þe nele Godes bodan hyran mid rihte ne godcundre lare
129gyman, swa he sceolde, he sceall hyran
130feondan, gyf he nele freondan.
131Forþam se bið Godes oferhoga, þe Godes bodan oferhogað,
132ealswa Crist sylf on his godspelle swytolice
133sæde, þa þa he þus cwæð.
134Qui uos audit, me audit et qui uos spernit, me spernit , He
135cwæð, se ðe eow hyreð me gehyreð, and
136se þe forhogað eow, me he forhogað.

page 65


137Eala, swær is seo byrðen, þe Godes bydel beran sceall, gif
138he nele georne unriht forbeoden.
139Forðam þeh he sylf tela do and oðer man misdo, þæt him
140sceall gederian, and gif he nele styran.
141And þeh Godes bydel misdo, ne beseo man na þærto, ac gyme
142his lare, gif he tela lære, swa swa Crist
143lærde, þæt man don sceolde, þa þa he on his godspelle
144swutolice þus cwæð.
145Que hi dicunt, facite, que autem faciunt, facere nolite,
146He cwæð, fyliað heora larum and na heora
147synnum.

page 66


148Ne sceal ænig man æfre for bisceopes synnum hine sylfne
149forgyman, ac fylige his lare, gif he wel lære.
150And la, leofan men, doð, swa ic bidde, butan gebelge,
151hlystað, hwæt ic secge.
152Ic wat swyðe georne me sylfne forworhtne wordes and dæde
153ealles to swyðe, ne dear þeah for forswygian
154mid ealle Godes ege fela þara þinga, þe dereð þisse
155þeode.

page 67


156

ITEM DE EPISCOPIS.


157    Bisceopas sculan bocum and gebedum
158fyligean and dæges and nihtes oft and gelome
159clypian to Criste and for eall cristen folc þingian georne.
160And hi sceolan leornian and rihtlice læran and ymb folces
161dæda geornlice smeagan.

page 68


162And hi scylan bodian and bysnian georne godcunde þearfe
163cristenre þeode.
164And ne scylan hyg ænig unriht willes geþafian ac to ælcan
165rihte geornlice fylstan.
166Hy sculan Godes ege habban on gemynde and ne eargian for
167woruldege ealles to swyðe.

page 69


168Ac bodian hy symle Godes riht georne and unriht forbeodan,
169gyme, se þe wille.
170Forðam wace bið se hyrde funden to heorde, þe nele þa
171heorde, þe he healdan sceal, huru mid clypunge
172bewerian, butan he elles mæge, gif þær hwylc þeodsceaþa
173sceaþian onginneþ.

page 70


174Nis nan swa yfel sceaþa, swa is deofol sylf; he bið aa ymbe
175þæt an hu he on manna sawlum mæst gesceaþian
176mæge.
177þonne motan þa hyrdas beon swiþe wacore and geornlice
178clypiende, þe wið þone þeodsceaðan folce scylan
179scyldan.

page 71


180þæt syndon bisceopas and mæssepreostas, þe godcunde heorde
181gewarian and bewerian scylan mid wislican
182laran, þæt se wodfreca werewulf to swiðe ne toslite ne to
183fela ne abite of godcundre heorde.
184And se þe oferhogie, þæt he heom lyste, hæbbe him gemæne
185þæt wið God sylfne.

page 72


186Eala, fela is swaþeah þæra þe hwonlice gymað and lythwon
187reccað embe boca beboda oððe bisceopa lara.
188And eac embæ bletsunga oððe unbletsunga leohtlice lætað
189and na understandaþ swa swa hy sceoldan, hwæt
190Crist on his godspelle swutollice sæde, þa þa he þus
191cwæþ.

page 73


192Qui uos audit, et reliqua, Et item, Quodcumque ligaueritis
193et cetera. Et item, Quorum remiseritis
194peccata, remittuntur eis et cetera. Alibi etiam
195scriptum est, Quodcumque benedixeritis, et cetera.
196Et psalmista terribiliter loquitur dicens, qui noluit
197benedictionem, prolongabitur ab eo
.

page 74


198Swylc is to beþencenne and wið Godes yrre to warnienne
199symle.
200Nu lære we eac georne manna gehwylcne, þæt he Godes larum
201and his lagum fylgie, þonne geearnað he
202him ece myrhðe.

page 75


203

ITEM.


204    Bisceopes dægweorc, ðæt bið mid rihte his gebedu
205ærest and ðonne his bocweorc, ræding oððon
206rihting, lar oððon leornung.
207And his cyrictida on rihtlicne timan a be þam þingum, þe
208þærto gebyrige.
209And þearfena fotþweal and his ælmesgedal and weorcwisung,
210be ðam þe hit neod sy.

page 76


211Eac him gerisað handcræftas gode, and þæt man on his
212hirede cræftas begange, huru þæt ðær ænig to idel
213ne wunige.
214And eac him gerisð wel, þæt he on gemote oft and gelome
215godcunde lare dæle þam folce, þe he þonne mid
216sy.

page 77


217

ITEM.


218    A gerist bisceopum wisdom and wærscype and þæt
219þa habban weorðlice wisan, þa þa heom fylian,
220and þæt hy sundorcræfta sumne eac cunnen .
221Ne geriseð ænig unnytt æfre mid bisceopum, ne doll ne dysig
222ne to oferdruncen ne cildsung on spæce
223ne idel gegaf on ænig wisan ne æt ham ne on siðe ne on
224ænigre stowe.
225Ac wisdom and wærscipe gedafeniað heora hade, and gedrihþa
226gerisaþ þam, ðe heom fyliað.

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227

BE EORLUM.


228    Eorlas and heretogan and ðas worulddeman and eac swa gerefan
229agan nydþearfe, þæt hi riht lufian for
230Gode and for worulde.
231And nahwar þurh undom for feo ne for freondscype forgyman
232heora wisdom, swa þæt hi wendan unriht to
233rihte oðþon undom deman earmum to hynþe.

page 79


234Ac a hy sculan cyrican ofer ealle oðre þing wyrðian and
235werian, and wudewan and steopcild hy sculon
236retan, þearfena helpan and þeowetlingan beorgan, gif hi
237Godes willan rihte willað wyrcan.
238And þeofas and ðeodsceaðan hy scylan hatian and ryperas
239and reaferas hy sculan hynan, butan hy geswican.
240And symle hy sculon unriht swyðe ascunian.

page 80


241Forþam soð is, þæt ic secge, gelyfe, se þe wille.
242Wa þam, þe woh drifð ealles to lange, butan he geswice;
243witodlice he sceall drefan dimne and deopne
244hellewites grund, helpes bedæled.
245Ac to lyt is þara þe þæt understanda, swa swa man sceolde,
246ac God hit gebete.
247Ac do freonda gehwylc, eallswa hit þearf is, warnige hine
248georne and beorge him sylfum, þæt he God
249ne abelge ealles to swyðe, ac cweme his drihtne mid rihtlicre
250dæde.

page 81


251

BE GEREFAN.


252    Riht is, ðæt gerefan geornlice tylian and symle heora
253hlafordan strynan mid rihte.
254Ac nu hit is geworden ealles to swyðe, syððan Eadgar
255geendode, swa swa God wolde, þæt ma is þæra rypera
256þonne rihtwisra, and is earmlic ðing, þæt ða syndon
257ryperas, þe sceoldan beon hyrdas cristenes
258folces.
259Hy rypað þa earman butan ælcere scylde oðre hwile and
260hynað þa heorde, þe hi sceoldan healdan, and
261mid yfelan holan earme men beswicað.

page 82


262And unlaga rærað on æghwylce wisan earmum to hynþe and
263wydewan bestrypað oft and gelome.
264Ac hwilum man ceas wislice þa men on þeode folce to hyrdum,
265þe noldan for woruldsceame ne ne dorstan
266for Godes ege ænig ðing swician ne strynan on unriht, ac
267stryndan mid rihte.
268And syððan hit man sohte be þam ealra geornast, þe
269nearwlicast cuðan swician and befician and mid
270leasbregdum earmum mannum derian and of unbealafullum raþost
271feoh geræcan.
272Syððan man gremede God swyðe þearle oft and gelome.
273And wa þæs gestreones þam þe his mæst hafaþ on unriht
274gestryned, butan he geswice and ðe deoppor gebete
275for Gode and for worulde.

page 85


276

BE SACERDUM.


277    Sacerdas sculan on heora scriftscirum wislice and wærlice
278lædan and læran þa godcundan heorda, þe hi
279healdan sculan.
280ægðer hi sculan, ge wel bodian ge wel bysnian oðrum mannum.

page 87


281And ægðer hi scylon æt Godes dome gescead agyldan, ge
282heora sylfra dæda ge ealles þæs folces, þe hi
283to Godes handa healdan sceolan.
284And gyf hi aht gedon scylon, ne magon hi wandian naþer ne for
285ege ne for lufe æniges mannes, þæt hi
286riht ne bodian and unriht forbeodan.

page 89


287Wace byð se hyrde æt falde nyt, þe nele þa heorde, þe he
288healden sceal, midhreamemid hreame bewerian, butan
289he elles mæge, gif þær hwylc þeodsceaða sceaðian
290onginneð.
291Nys nan swa yfel sceaða, swa is deofol sylf, he bið aa embe
292þæt an, hu he on manna sawlum mæst gesceaþian
293mæge.
294þonne motan þa hyrdas beon swyðe wacore and georne
295clypiende, þe wið þone þeodsceaþan folce gescyldan
296sculan.
297þæt syndon bisceopas and mæssepreostas, þe godcunde heorde
298gewarian and bewerian sculon mid wislicre
299lare.

page 91


300ðy he ne mæg wandian, gyf he him sylfum gebeorgan sceall,
301naþor ne for lufe ne for ege, þæt he mannum
302þæt rihtteste ne secge.
303Ne mæg he wandian naðor ne for heanum ne for ricum, forðam
304ne deþ he naht, eargie he oðþon hine forsceamige,
305riht to spreconne.

page 93


306Earme gefæreð he, gif þurh his hnescnysse seo heord
307forwurð, þe he healdan sceall, and he sylf forð
308mid.
309ðeah ure heorda hwylc an sceap forgyme, we willað, þæt he
310hit forgylde.
311And hwæt gefarað þonne æt Godes egeslican dome þa
312hyrdas, þe ne cunnon gehealdon þa godcundan heorde,
313þe Crist mid his agenum life gebohte, and þe hi healdon
314sceoldan, gif hi cuðan?

page 95


315Ac naþor þurh larleaste hi ne cunnon ne lædan, ne læran,
316ne lacnian hi rihtlice.
317Mid hwam wene we, forgyldað hi hi þonne?
318Wa heom þonne, þæt hi æfre underfengon, þæt hi
319gehealdon ne cuðon.
320La, hu mæg blind man oðerne lædan; Hu mæg unlæred
321dema oðerne læran?

page 97


322Wa þam witodlice, þe godcunde heorde underfehð and naþer
323gehealdan ne can, ne hine sylfne ne þa heorde,
324þe he healdan sceolde, and wyrs þam, þe can and nele.
325Eala, eala, fela is þæra, þe sacerdhades on unriht gyrnað,
326swa hit þincan mæg, swyðost for idelum gylpe
327and for gitsunge woruldgestreona, and ne cunnon na, þæt
328hy cunnon sceoldan.

page 99


329Be þam cwæð se witega and ðus cwæð, Ue sacerdotibus
330qui comedunt peccata populi et reliqua.
Wa þam
331sacerdum, he cwæð, þe fretað and forswelgað folces
332synna.
333þæt syndon þa, ðe nellað oððe ne cunnon oððon ne
334durron folc wið synna gewarnian and synna gestyran,
335ac gyrnað þeah heora sceatta on teoþungum and on eallum
336cyricgerihtum.
337And naðor ne hi mid bysnungum wel ne lædað, ne mid bodungum
338wel ne lærað, ne mid dædbotum wel ne lacniað,
339ne mid gebedrædenne fore ne þingiað.

page 101


340Ac læccað of manna begeatum, loc hwæt hi gefon magan,
341eallswa gyfre hremnas of holde doð, þær þær
342hi to magon.
343Hit is ealles þe wyrse, syððan hy hit ealles habbað,
344þonne ne ateoð hi hit na, swa swa hi sceoldan,
345ac glencgað heora wif mid þam, þe hi weofoda sceoldan.
346And maciað eall heom sylfum to woruldwlence and to idelre
347rence, þæt hi Gode sceoldan don to weorðunge
348on cyriclicum þingum oððon on earmra manna hyððum
349oððon on hernumenra bygenum.

page 103


350Oððon on sumum þingum þe mihte to langsumere ðearfe
351ægðer ge heom sylfum ge eac þam, þe heom on Godes
352est heora þing syllað.
353þonne is mycel þearf, þæt se þe ær ðissum misdyde,
354þæt he heononforð hit georne gebete.

page 104


355Forðam understande, se þe cunne, mycel is and mære, þæt
356sacerd ah to donne folce to þearfe, gif he
357his drihtne gecwemð mid rihte.
358Mycel is seo halsung and mære is seo halgung, þe deofla
359afyrsað and on fleame gebringað, swa oft swa
360man fullað oðþon husel halgað.
361And englas þær hwearfiað and ða dæda beweardiað and
362ðurh Godes mihta þam sacerdum fylstað, swa oft
363swa hi Criste þeniað mid rihte.

page 105


364And swa hi doð symle, swa oft swa hi geornlice inneweardre
365heortan clypiað to Criste and for folces
366neode þingiað georne.
367And þi man sceall for Godes ege mæþe on hade gecnawan mid
368gesceade.

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369La leof, deope us is beboden þæt we geornlice mynegian and
370læran scylan, þæt manna gehwylc to Gode
371buge and fram synnum gecyrre.
372Se cwyde is swyðe egeslic, þe God þurh þone witegan be
373þam cwæð, þe Godes folce riht bodian sculon,
374þæt syndon bisceopas and mæssepreostas.
375He cwæð be þam, Clama, ne cesses, quasi tuba et
376reliqua
, Clypa hlude and ahefe up ðine stemne swa
377hlude swa byme and gecyð minum folce, þæt hit fram synnum
378gecyrre.

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379Gif ðu þonne þæt ne dest, ac forswugast hit and nelt folce
380his þearfe gecyðan, þonne scealt ðu ealra
381þæra sawla on domesdæg gescead agyldan, þe þurh þæt
382losiað, þe hi nabbað þa lare and ða mynegunge,
383þe hi beþorftan.
384þes cwyde mæg beon swyðe gemyndelic eallum þam, þe to
385ðam gesette syn, þæt hi Godes folce riht bodian
386sculan.
387And folc ah eac mycele þearfe, þæt hi wære beon þæs
388cwydes þe þæræfter gecweden is; he cwæð, se witega,
389æfter þam.
390Gif ðu folce riht bodast and ðu hit gebigean ne miht to
391rihte, þonne gebyrhst ðu þeh þinre agenre sawle
392and se þe woh drifð and geswican nele, he sceal habban
393þæs ece wite.

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394þæt is, þæt hi þonne sceolan to helle faran mid sawle
395and mid lichoman and mit deofle wunian on hellewitum.
396Wa þam, þe þær sceall wunian on witum; him wære betere,
397þæt he næfre on weorulde man ne gewurde, þonne
398he gewurde.
399Nis se man on life, þe areccan mæge ealle þa yrmða, þe se
400gebidan sceall, se ðe on þa witu ealles behreoseð,
401and hit is ealles þe wyrse, þe his ænig ende ne
402cymð næfre to worulde.

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403

BE GEHADEDUM MANNUM.

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404    Gehadedum mannum gebyreð ælc clænnes, forðam þe hi sculon
405eallum oðrum mannum ælce unclænnesse forbeodan;
406and ælce clænesse, gif hi riht doð, hi sculon be
407heom sylfum geornost gebysnian.

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408þonne is hit swyþe egeslic, þæt ða þe sceoldan eallum
409cristenum mannum riht bodian and eac wel bysnian,
410þæt hi syn sume gewordene bysen to forwyrde swyðor
411þonne to þearfe.
412þæt syndon þa æwbrecan, þe þurh healicne had ciricæwe
413underfengan and syððan þæt abræcan.

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414Nis nanum weofodþene alyfed, þæt he wifian mote, ac is
415ælcum forboden.
416Nu is þeah þæra ealles to fela, þe þone æwbryce wyrcað
417and geworht habbað.

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418Ac ic bidde for Godes lufan and eac eornostlice beode, þæt
419man þæs geswice.
420Læwedum men is ælc wif forboden, butan his rihtæwe,
421gehadode syndon sume swa þurh deofol beswicene,
422þæt hi wifiað on unriht and forwyrcað hi sylfe þurh
423ðone æwbryce, þe hi on wuniað.

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424Ac ic bidde georne, þæt man þæs morðes heononforð georne
425geswice.
426Cyrice is sacerdes æwe .

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427Constantinus, se mæra casere, gesamnode swyðe mycelne sinoð
428on þære ceastre Nicea for trymmincge rihtes
429geleafan.

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430On ðam sinoðe wæron CCC and XVIII biscopa of
431manegum leodscipum gegaderode, and hi þær geswuteloden
432rihtne geleafan.
433And gesettan þa þæs to swutelunge þone mæssancredan, þe
434man wide singð, and cyricþenunga heo fægere
435gedihtan and mænige oðre þing ægþer ge be Godes þeowum
436ge be Gode sylfum.
437Hy cwædon þær ealle anrædlice, þæt hit riht wære, gif
438weofodþen, þæt is biscop oððe mæssepreost oððe
439diacon, gewifode, þæt he þolode æfre his hades and
440amansumod wurde, butan he geswice and ðe deoppor
441gebete.

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442Feower synoðas wæron gesamnode for rihtan geleafan ymbe þa
443halgan þrynnysse and ymbe Cristes menniscnesse.
444Se forma wæs on Nicea and se oðer wæs syððan on
445Constantinopolim, þær wæron CL biscopa.
446Se ðridda wæs on Effesum, CC biscopa, and se feorða
447wæs on Calcedonea, fela biscopa ætgædere.

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448And ealle hi wæron anræde æt eallum þam ðingum, þe man
449on fruman on Nicea gesette, and ealle hi forbudon
450æfre ælc wiflac weofodþenum.
451ðencan ða nu, þe to þam ðryste syn, þæt hi God
452oferseoð and swa maniges haliges mannes dom, swa on
453þissum sinoðum gesamnode wæron and gehwær syððon,
454hwylces leanes hy hym wenan magon and eac wenan ne
455þurfon.
456Ac gewitod witan, þæt hi yfel lean habban sculon and
457grimlice Godes graman þurh þæt, þe hy swa God
458gremiað, þæt hi eall heora lif libbað on fylðe.

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459Weofodþenas ic bidde, þæt hi beðencan hi sylfe and
460geswican ælcere fylðe.
461And þa, þe ær þyssan þone ungewunan hæfdon, þæt hi
462heora wif glengdan, swa hi weofoda sceoldan, geswican
463þæs ungewunon and glencgan heora cyrican, be þam þe
464hi betst magon, þonne wealdað hy heom sylfum
465ægðer ge godcundes rædes ge woruldcundes weorðscypes.
466Nis preostes cwene ænig oðer þing butan deofles grin, and
467se ðe mid þam gegrinod byð forð oþ his ende,
468he byð þurh deofol fæste gefangen, and he eac syðþon
469mot faran on feonda hand and forfaran mid
470ealle.

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471Ac helpe gehwa georne hys sylfes þa hwile, þe he mage and
472mote, and gebuge ælc man fram unrihte to
473rihte, þonne gebyrhð man wið ece wite.
474And eac se, þe þurhwunað on godum dædum forð oð his
475ende, he þæs habban sceal ece edlean.
476Nu eow is soð asæd, understandaþ eow sylfe be ðam, þe ge
477willan; God eow getrymme to eowre agenre þearfe
478and us ealle gehealde, swa his wylla sy, Amen.

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479

BE ABODDUM.


480    Riht is þæt abbodas and huru abbadissan fæste on mynstrum
481singallice wunian and georne heora heorda
482symle begyman and aa heom wel bysenian and rihtlice bodian.
483And næfre ymbe woruldcara ne idele pryda ne carian to swyþe
484ne ealles to gelome, ac oftost hi abysgian
485mid godcundan neodan.
486Swa gebyreð abbodan and munuchades mannum.

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487

BE MUNECUM.


488    Riht is þæt munecas beon dæges and nihtes inweardre heortan
489a to Gode þencan and geornlice clypian
490and mid eallum eadmedum regollice libban.
491And hy symle asyndrian fram woruldbysegan, swa hi geornost
492magan, and don, swa heom ðearf is, carian
493æfre, hu hi swyðost magan Gode gecweman.

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494And eall þæt gelæstan, þæt þæt hi behetan, þa hi had
495underfengon.
496Fylian heora bocum and gebedum georne, leornian and læran,
497swa hi geornost magon, and æghwylce wlence
498and idele rence and syndrige æhte and unnytte dæde and
499untidspæce forhogian mid ealle.
500Swa gebyreð munecum.

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501Ac hit is yfel soð, swa hit þincan mæg, þæt sume synd to
502wlance and ealles to rance and to widscriþole
503and to unnytte and ealles to idele ælcere goddæde and to
504mandæde on dyrnlican galscype, inne aidlode
505and ute awildode.
506And sume syn apostatan þe sceoldan, gyf hi woldan, wesan
507Godes cempan innan heora mynstran.
508þæt synd þa earman þe hadas awurpan and on
509woruldþingan wuniað mid synnan.

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510Eall hit færeð yfele ealles to wide; swa swyðe hit wyrsað
511wide mid mannum, þæt þæs hades men, þe þurh
512Godes ege hwylum wæron nyttoste and geswincfulleste on
513godcundan þeowdome and on boccræfte, þa syndon
514nu wel forð unnyttaste gewelhwær and ne swincaþ a
515swiðe ymbe ænige þearfe for Gode ne for worulde.
516Ac maciað eall be luste and be eþnesse and lufiað
517oferwiste and idele blisse, woriað and wandriað
518and ealne dæg fleardiað, spelliað and spiliað and nænige
519note dreogað.

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520þæt is laðlic lif, þæt hi swa maciað, eac hit is þe
521wyrse, þe ealdras hit ne betað, ne sylfe swa wel
522farað sumes, swa hi sceoldan.
523Ac we agan neode þæt we hit gebetan, swa we geornost magan,
524and weorðan anmode to gemænelicre þearfe
525for Gode and for worulde.

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526

BE MYNECENAN.


527    Riht is þæt mynecena mynsterlice macian, efne swa we cwædon
528æror be munecan, and ne towettan woruldmannum
529ne ænige sundorcyððe to heom habban ealles to
530swyðe, ac a regolice libban and hi symle asyndrian
531fram woruldbysegan, swa hi geornost magan.

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532

BE PREOSTAN AND BE NUNNAN.


533    Riht is, ðæt preostas and efen wel nunnan regollice libban
534and clænnysse healdan be þam, þe hi willan
535on mynstran gewunian oððon for worulde weorðscypes
536wealdan.

page 130


537

BE LÆWEDUM MANNUM.


538    Riht is, ðæt gehadode men læwede wissian, hu hi heora æwe
539rihtlicost sculon healdan.
540þæt bið rihtlic lif, þæt cniht þurhwunige on his
541cnihthade, oðþæt he on rihtre mædenæwe gewifige, and
542hæbbe þa syððan and nænige oðre, þa hwile þe seo
543libbe.

page 132


544Gif hire þonne forðsið gebyrige, þonne is rihtost, þæt
545he þananforð wydewa þurhwunige.
546ðeah be ðæs apostoles leafe læwede man mot for neode oðre
547siðe wifian.
548Ac þa canones forbeodaþ þa bletsunge þærto, þe to
549frumwifunge gesette syn.
550And eac is geset dædbot swylcum mannum to donne.
551And preoste is forboden, þæt he beon ne mot, on ðam wisan,
552þe he ær wæs, æt þam brydlacum, þær man
553eft wifað, ne þa bletsunge don, þe to frumwifunge gebyrað.

page 134


554Be þam man mæg witan, þæt hit eallunga riht nis, þæt wer
555wifige oðþon wif ceorlige oftor þonne æne.
556And huru hit byð to mænigfeald, gewyrðe hit þriddan siðe,
557and mid ealle misdon, gewyrðe hit oftor.
558And þeah læwedum mannum wif sy alyfed, þeah hi agon
559þearfe, þæt hi understandan, hu hit is alyfed.
560Nagon læwede men freolstidum ne fæstentidum þurh
561hæmedðing wifes gemanan, þe ma þe heahhades men þæt
562ðing agan ænigum timan.

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563

BE WUDEWAN.


564    Riht is, ðæt wydewan Annan bysenan geornlice fylian.
565Seo wæs on temple dæges and nihtes þeowiende georne.

page 137


566Heo fæste swyðe þearle and gebedum fyligde and
567geomeriendum mode clypode to Criste and ælmessan dælde
568oft and gelome.
569And aa Gode gecwemde þæs ðe heo mihte wordes and dæde and
570hæfð nu to edleane heofonlice myrhðe.
571Swa sceall god wydewe hyran hyre drihtne.

page 138


572

BE CYRICAN.


573    Riht is, ðæt cristene men cristendom georne healdan mid
574rihte and Cristes cyrican æghwær geornlice
575weorþian and werian.
576Ealle we habbað ænne heofonlicne fæder and ane gastlice
577modor, seo is ecclesia genamod, þæt is Godes
578cyrce, and þa we sculon æfre lufian and weorðian.

page 140


579And riht is, þæt ælc cyrice sy on Godes griðe and on
580ealles cristenes folces, and þæt cyricgrið stande
581æghwær binnan wagum and gehalgodes cynincges handgrið
582efen unwemme.
583Forðam ælc cyricgrið is Cristes agen grið, and ælc
584cristen man ah mycle þearfe, þæt he on þam griðe
585mycle mæþe wite.

page 142


586Forðam ælces cristenes mannes nydþearf is, þæt he Godes
587cyrican georne lufige and weorðige and hi gelomlice
588and geornlice sece him sylfum to ðearfe.
589And huru gehadode þær sculon oftost ðeowian and ðenian and
590for eall cristen folc ðingian georne.
591þonne agan weofodðenas to smeagenne symble, þæt hi
592huruðinga heora lif fadian, swa swa to cyrcan gebyrige
593mid rihte.

page 144


594Cyrice is mid rihte sacerdes æwe, and se ðe to cyrican
595weorðe gehadod, nage hine ænig man, ðe Godes
596lage recce, þanon to donne, butan he hi mid heafodgylte
597fullice forwyrce.
598And ðonne sceall Cristes scirgerefa þæt witan and ymbe
599þæt dihtan and deman, swa swa bec tæcan.

page 146


600And ne sceolde man æfre cyrican derian ne ænig woh beodan on
601ænige wisan.
602Ac nu syndon þeah cyrcan wide and side wace gegriðode and
603yfele geðeowode and clæne berypte ealdra
604gerihta and innan bestrypte ælcera gerisena.

page 148


605And cyricþenas syndon mæðe and munde gewelhwær
606bedælde.
607And wa þam, þe ðæs wealt, þeh he swa ne wene.
608Forðam ælc ðara byð witodlice Godes sylfes feond, þe byð
609Godes cyricena feond and ðe Godes cyricena
610riht wanað oðþon wyrdeþ, ealswa hit awriten is.
611Inimicus enim Christi efficitur omnis, qui ecclesiasticas
612res usurpare iniuste conatur, et reliqua
.

page 150


613And egeslice spræc sanctus Gregorius be ðam eac, þa ða he
614þus cwæð.
615Si quis ecclesiam Christi denudauerit uel sanctimonia
616uiolauerit, anathema sit. Ad quod respondentes
617omnes dixerunt, amen
. Mycel is neodþearf manna
618gehwilcon, þæt he wið þas ðinc beorge him georne,
619and æghwylc Godes freond warnige hine symble þæt he
620Cristes bryde to swyðe ne misbeode.

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621Ealle we sculon ænne God lufian and weorðian and ænne
622cristendom georne healdan and ælcne hæþendom
623mid ealre mihte awyrpan.
624And utan ænne cynehlaford holdlice healdan, and freonda
625gehwylc oðerne healde mid rihtan getrywðan.

page 154


626

BE EALLUM CRISTENUM MANNUM.


627    Riht is, ðæt ealle cristene men heora cristendom rihtlice
628healdan and ðam life libban, þe heom to gebyrað
629æfter Godes rihte and æfter woruldgerysenum.
630And heora wisan ealle be þam ðingan geornlice fadian, þe
631ða wisian, ðe hy wislice and wærlice wisian
632cunnon.

page 156


633And þæt is þonne ærest ræda fyrmest, þæt manna gehwylc
634ofer ealle oðre þinc ænne God lufige and ænne
635geleafan anrædlice hæbbe on ðæne, þe us ealle ærest
636geworhte and mid deorwyrðum ceape eft us gebohte.

page 158


637And eac we agan þearfe, þæt we geornlice smeagan, hu we
638symble magan Godes agene beboda rihtlicost
639healdan and eall þæt gelæstan, þæt þæt we behetan, þa
640we fulluht underfengon oðþon þa þe æt fulluhte
641ure forespræcon wæron.
642ðæt is ðonne ærest, þæt þæt man behateþ, þonne man
643fulluhtes gyrnð, þæt man a wile deofol ascunian
644and his unlare georne forbugan and ealle his unlaga symble
645awyrpan and ecelice wiðsacan ealles his
646gemanan.

page 160


647And manisiðes sona þærafter mid rihtan geleafan soðlice
648swytelað, þæt man þananforð aa wile on ænne
649God æfre gelyfan and ofer ealle oðre þing hine a lufian
650and æfre his larum geornlice fylgean and his
651agene beboda rihtlice healdan.
652And þonne bið þæt fulluht, swylce hit wedd sy ealra
653þæra worda and ealles ðæs behates, gehealde, se
654ðe wille.

page 162


655And soð is, þæt ic JOST: is secge, englas beweardiað
656þananforð
657æfre manna gehwylcne, hu he gelæste æfter his
658fulluhte, þæt man behet ær, þa man fulluhtes gyrnde.
659Utan þæt geðencan oft and gelome and georne gelæstan,
660þæt þæt we behetan, þa we fulluht underfengan
661ealswa us þearf is.
662And utan word and weorc rihtlice fadian and ure ingeðanc
663clænsian georne and að and wedd werlice healdan.

page 164


664And gelome understandan þone mycclan dom, þe we ealle to
665scylon.
666And beorgan us georne wið þone weallendan bryne hellewites,
667and geearnian us ða mærða and ða myrhða,
668ðe God hæfð gegearwod þam ðe his willan on worulde
669gewyrcað, Amen.