good englysshe bookes and gader thervnto as many persones as you can For I tell you there shulde be no tyme lost ne mysspent vpon the holy daye Let this poore lesson now content you for these thre commaundementes of the fyrste table whiche as I sayd done apperteyne and belonge vnto almyghty god hymselfe Another shorte lesson shall we set forth for the commaundementes of the secuÌ„de table The .iiij. precepte And fyrst the due reuereÌ„de honour to be done of the chylder vnto the pareÌ„tes that is to saye vnto theyr fathers and mothers Teche your chylder therfore to axe blessynge euery nyght knelynge before they go to rest vnder this fourme Father I beseche you of blessynge for charite or thus Mother I beseche you of charite gyue me your blessynge ThaÌ„ let the father or mother holde vp bothe the handes ioynynge them bothe togyder loke vp reuerently deuoutly vnto the heuen saye thus Our lorde god blesse you chylde therwith make a crosse with the ryght hande ouer the chylde sayenge In noiÌ„e prÌ„is et filij et spuÌ„s sctiÌ„ AmeÌ„ And yf any chylde be styffe herted stubburne and frowarde wyll not thus axe blessynge yf it be within age let it surely be whysked with a good rodde be compelled thervnto by force And yf the persones be of forther age and past suche correccyon and yet wyl be obstynate let them haue suche sharpe greuous punysshment as conuenyently may be deuysed as to syt at dyner alone by them selfe at a stole in the myddle of the hall with onely browne breed water and euery persone by ordre to rebuke them as they wold rebuke a these or a traytour Deuter. xxj d. For in the olde lawe suche chylder were brought before the hole townshyp that is to saye the people of the cyte or of that towne and there were they stoned vnto dethe And certeynly I wolde not aduyse ne couÌ„seyle any parentes to kepe suche a chylde in theyr hous wtout great afflyccyon punysshment And therfore I thynke it were moche coÌ„uenient for the pareÌ„tes oft tymes to shewe vnto theyr chylder what coÌ„modytees profites what perylles ieopardyes done folowe the honour dyshonour of the pareÌ„tes accordynge vnto holy scrypture Eccliastici iiij A. Some wherof I haue here set forth as is coÌ„teyned in the boke of the wyse maÌ„ called Ecclesiasticus in the thyrde chapytre Those persones sayth he that ben the chylder of Chryst ben also the chylder of this chirche and al suche as though it were by naturall dysposicyon ben gyueÌ„ and applyed of that godly disposicyon vnto obedyence and loue All you therfore that ben louyÌ„ge chylder be euer obedient vnto the iudgment dyscrecion of your pareÌ„tes And so be you obedient in all your werkes that you therby may be the chylder of saluacion that is to say that your obedience be done with the very loue of your hert vnsayned wtout dissimulacyoÌ„ For god hath ordeyned that the father shall haue due honour amonge his chylder the mother in lyke maner with lowly obedyence Those persones that done loue god wyl praye vnto hym for the forgyuenes of theyr syÌ„nes afterward wyll beware conteyne kepe them selfe froÌ„ them And iÌ„ that dayly prayer they shall gracyously be herde And lyke as a persone for the surete of his lyuynge here doth horde vp gather tresour so done they ordeyn for the suerte of theyr saluacyon that duely done honour theyr parentes This worde parentes doth signifye bothe the father and mother Who so euer dothe duely honour his parentes shall haue ioye pleasure and conforte amonge his owne chylder And who so euer is duely obedyent vnto the father dothe therby refresshe and moche coÌ„forte the mother And these ê‘sones that done due honour vnto theyr parentes shall haue longe lyfe and in the day of theyr prayer they shal gracyously be herde of our lorde haue theyr peticyon Those persones that haue a reuerende drede vnto our lorde god haue in lyke maner a reuerende drede vnto theyr parentes done duely honour them and wyll do them suche seruyce and in lyke maner as a bonde seruaunt shulde do vnto his lorde mayster as well in werke as worde with all pacyence and gentylnes Do therfore vnto your parentes honoure reuereÌ„ce that the blessyng of god may therby lyght vpon you and that blessynge shall remayne endure vnto your last ende The blessynge of the parentes dothe fyrme and make stable the possessyons and the kynred of the chylder And coÌ„trary the cursse of the pareÌ„tes doth eradicate and rote walt vtterly destroye bothe Chylde neuer take thou pleasure ne pryde in the rebuke dysprayse of thy pareÌ„tes For that rebuke is not thy glory boost nor prayse but rather thy coÌ„fusyon shame rebuke For the glory and prayse of euery persone standeth in the honour of the parentes And a great shame rebuke is it vnto the chylder whan the parentes ben without honour reuerence Good chylder take good pacyence with the age of your parentes neuer displease ne greue them in al your lyfe Ane they fayle in wytte or vnderstandynge therafter speke or do any thynge contrary vnto your reason or wytte take you pacyence with them let the mater passe And in no wyse do not you despyse them bycause of our owne strength or better abilite For the pite and compassion that you haue vnto your parentes shall neuer be forgoten before god For you shall haue good and profyte of theyr offence and synne And in the iustyce and ryght you do vnto them shal you be edifyed and encreace in vertue And in the tyme of your trybulacyon that good dede shal be remembred For as the yce in the frost dothe melte by the clere sonne beames so shall your synnes by your duety done vnto your parentes be wasted clene losed forgyuen That persone is of euyll name and fame that doth forsake the pareÌ„tes in theyr nede And those chylder beÌ„ accursed of god that done anger vexe and trouble theyr pareÌ„tes Chylde of what state or degre so euer thou be do euer thy duty with myldnes mekenes and lowlynes and than shalte thou be well byloued and praysed aboue other persones And the more hyghe estate thou come vnto the more meke and lowly be thou in all thynges and than shalt thou in the presence of god haue great meryte encrease in grace For god dothe loke vpon them that done rendre and gyue due thankes for the fauour goodnes done vnto them before Ad verbuÌ„ ferme traÌ„slata All this now is the very text lettre of the holy scrypture in the place before rehersed Where you may se and perceyue many great coÌ„modytes and graces that done come vnto them that duely done honour theyr pareÌ„tes And many great ieopardyes and peryls and also the curse of god that doth lyght vpon them that wyll not do theyr duety of
honour and reuerence vnto theyr parentes Let therfore your chylder vse and accustom theÌ„ selfe dayly to axe theyr fathers and mothers blessynges For this dare I say that all though in case the father or mother were an abhomynable syÌ„ner or excoÌ„municate accursed or an heretike and though the chylde were so also ex grego li. dialog iij. ca. vij Yet myght that crosse of the blessynge of that father or mother saue that chylde from sodeyn myschefe that els myght haue come vnto that chylde And that crosse maye also do flee or chace away euyl spyrytes that els shulde haue had power vpon that chylde The blessyng of euery good persone is good and not without great vertue accordyng vnto the power and degree of the persones and therfore teche them also to axe blessynge of euery bysshop abbot euery preest and of theyr godfathers godmothers with other deuoute persones The fyft precepte And let this susfyse for this fourth coÌ„maundement ¶ Yet go forther vnto the fyfth coÌ„mauÌ„dement whiche is to kyll or slee no persone Teche them there that it is not ynough the they put no ê‘sone to deth by stroke of hande or wepen but also that they hurte no ê‘sone in name or fame by detraccyon backbytynge or sclaundrynge or by euyll exemple of lyuynge nor yet that they curse or ban or wysshe euyl vnto any persone or yet hate any persone in hert j. Iohis iij. c. For as scripture sayth who so euer doth here in herte or mynde any hatered malyce euyll wyll or stomacke agaynst any chrystian is an homicide that is a mansleer or a manqueller Many persones wyll say they ben in charite and haue no hatered vnto any persone and yet wyll they not speke one vnto another and as it is a sygne and token that preuy hatered is in the herte and that they do not loue theyr neyghbour as them selfe in the true and vnfayned charyte of our lorde j. IohaÌ„ iiij d. And sure it is that who so euer doth not hooly fully loue his neyghbour whome he may se beholde with his bodyly syght he can neuer loue god whome he can not se nor so beholde This is than the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of god that who so euer dothe loue god must also loue his neyghbour The .vj. precepte ¶ The .vj. coÌ„mauÌ„dement is that no lechery be done whiche is not ment onely for the vnlawfull dede but also for all maner of prouocacyon ther vnto as wanton and lyght behauyours in kyssynge clepynge vnclene touchynge a lyght loke or cast of the syght with a desyre and consent of herte vnto the dede dothe breke this coÌ„mauÌ„dement Moche more thaÌ„ doth rybauldy breke it and suche maner as before is sayd The olde prouerbe sayth Who so wyll none euyll do shulde do nothynge that longeth therto The ghostli enemy doth deceyue many persones by the preteÌ„ce and colour of matrimony in pryuate secrete contractes Contractes For many men whan they can not obteyn theyr vnclene desyre of the woman wyll promyse mariage thervpon make a contracte promyse gyue fayth trouth eche vnto other sayenge Here I take the margery vnto my wyfe therto plyght the my trouth And she agayne vnto hym in lyke maner And after that done they suppose they may lawfully vse theyr vnclene behauyour and somtyme the acte and dede doth folowe vnto the great offence of god theyr owne soules It is a great ieopardy therfore to make any suche contractes specyally amonge them selfe secretely alone without recordes whiche must be two at the leest For many tymes after the vnlawful pleasure is past discorde dothe fall bytwene the partyes eyther bycause that as the coÌ„mune prouerbe saythe hote loue is soone colde or els by the meanes of theyr frendes or by some couetyse to haue a better mariage they or one of them done denye the coÌ„tracte and so vnlawfully doone mary otherwyse lyue in aduoutry all theyr lyfe tyme. And bycause the chirche can not openly knowe that thynge that was spoken and done in priuyte they beÌ„ thought and supposed so to lyue as lawfully in mariage where in dede before god they done lyue as noughty packes in dampnable aduoutri and vnlawfull lechery all theyr chylder bastardes before god all though they seme otherwyse vnto the worlde Warne therfore your folkes there be no suche blyÌ„de bargaynes in your hous or gouernauÌ„ce ¶ The vij coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t is do no thefte The .vij. precepte Herein correcte your yonge persones be tyme. For the chylde that begynneth to pyke at a pyn or a poynt wyll after pyke a peny or a pouÌ„de And so go forth from an apple vnto an oxe from a peer to a purse or an hors and so from the small thynges vnto the great Whan you take any chylde therfore with the maner be it neuer so lytel a thynge paye truly at the first tyme the secuÌ„de tyme prycke the pyÌ„nes or the poyntes vpon the cappe or shulder in open syght and let all the house wonder vpon them crye all here is the these this is the thefe sese the thefe And yf they mende not therby let them be so brought through the open stretes with shame ynough cruel punysshment For better is it that the chylde wepe in youth and suffre shame and rebuke than hereafter the father mother and freÌ„des shulde wepe for sorowe and shame at his hangynge and shamfull dethe And let euery ê‘sone beware of thefte For all other synnes with contricyon confessyon and penauÌ„ce may be forgyuen clerely but thefte and all goodes valawfully goten can neuer be forgyuen vnto the tyme that restitucyon be made that is to saye vnto the tyme those goodes or the valure of them be restored yf the persones in any wyse may be able thervnto Let euery persone than ponder well and wey what vauntage it is to stele or pyke sythe besyde the peyne certeynly to be fuffred in hell or purgatory the same goodes in valure must be restored agayne Small goodes truly goten done growe and encreae vnto the great conforte of the persones And coÌ„trary euyl goten goodes lyghtly come as they saye and lyghtly go all waste vnto nought with the dyscoÌ„forte of the partyes and greate combraunce of conscyence Se than that all goodes be well goten amonge you The .viij precepte The .ix. precepte ¶ Of the .viij. coÌ„maundement you haue before some remembraunce in the lessons of swerynge and lyenge ¶ The .ix. commaundement is that no person shall desyre in mynde nor wysshe that the wedded make of any other persone were lawfully theyr wedded make The .x. precepte ¶ And the .x. coÌ„maundement is in lyke maner of the goodes For so shulde the partyes haue incoÌ„modite losse displeasure or discoÌ„forte The dedes of these two coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes were forboden of god in the .vj. and .vij. commaundementes here now ben the wylles desyres forboden That thynge than that no man maye lawfully wyll
corrected or yet charytably ben monysshed warned of for my defautes I haue rebelled there agaynst not mekely receyued it but rather ben redy to defend or to excuse my self somtyme with a lye or a false othe And for lacke of reuerende drede loue of our lord I haue by presumpcion of pryde taken his holy name in vayne vnlawfully sworne by god by our lady or the holy sayntes by my feyth or trouth with suche other And for very pryde presumpcyon for lacke also of loue drede I haue mysvsed the holy daye in thynges of pleasure or ê“fyte vnto my selfe not in his seruyce vnto his honour I haue also of hygh proude herte or mynde ben disobedient not done due honour reuerence vnto my fathers and mothers spiritual carnall ghostly bodyly nor vnto myn elders betters but haue ben many tymes full obstynate frowarde vnto theÌ„ I crye god mercy Thus by this foule synne of pryde I haue broken foure of the pryÌ„cypal coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes of our lorde and many other wayes haue I also offended therin I beseche his grace of mercy and forgyuenes ¶ Enuye ¶ I haue also offended my lorde god in the syÌ„ne of enuy for I haue not loued my neyghbour as myself nor beÌ„ so charitably so kyÌ„de so louynge fauorable vnto all ê‘sones as I wolde they shulde haue beÌ„ to me but rather I haue by suspicion thought iudged sayd or herde of other ê‘sones otherwyse than I wolde they shulde of me nor ben so glad of theyr welth ne so sory for theyr hurte as I wolde haue ben of myne owne I crye god mercy ¶ Wrathe ¶ In wrath also I haue offended for lacke of due pacyence and for lyght sleyght or small occasyon haue lyghtly and soone ben styred and moued wrothe and angry whan any thynge hathe ben done or sayd contrary vnto my mynde And therwith haue ben redy to reuenge the same with forwarde vengeable countenaunce and behauyour with hygh hasty and vngoodly wordes brawlynge chydyng scoldyng reuylynge rebukynge raylyng vpbraydyng threthyng cursynge bannynge swerynge And yf it came thervnto in stryuynge fyghtynge or at the leest in wyll as god forbede in kyllyng or sleynge Thus by these two great synnes of enuy and wrathe I haue broken the fyfth and the .viij. commaundement of our lorde and by many other meanes offended in them bothe I beseche his grace of mercy and forgyuenes ¶ Couetyse ¶ In couetyse also I haue synned bycause I haue not ben content with the goodes state degre of lyuynge that god hath sent me where it is moche better than I haue deserued or am worthy but I haue coueyted desyred wysshed wylled studyed and laboured to haue more yf any be vnlawfully goteÌ„ or so withholden make playne confessyon therof as the mater requyreth Thus by this syÌ„ne of couetyse haue I broken the seuenth commaundement of our lorde and also the tenth and otherwyse dyuersly offended in couetyse I beseche his grace of mercy and forgyuenes ¶ Glotony ¶ I haue also synned in glotony in takyng meet and dryÌ„ke vndiscretely aboue that nature dyd requyre and haue pyked out and chosen somtyme by sensuall appetyte the delycate swete and pleasaunt meetes drynkes rather for pleasure thaÌ„ for nede takeÌ„ therof suche superfluite at some tymes that I haue ben therby sycke or diseased or at the leest ben the more dull bothe in body soule vnto all maner of vertue good exercyses Loke here whether you haue broken any fastes coÌ„maunded by the lawe or ben dronke or take any notable surfet after meer coÌ„munely I haue ben more redy to passe the tyme in bodyly dysportes and ydlenes than in labours I crye god mercy ¶ Slouth ¶ I haue ben also moche slouthfull and neglygent to serue god bothe vpon the holy day other dayes also I haue ben yrke wery thought the tyme of prayer longe come late thervnto make hast therin oues passed the seruyce of god wtout due reuereÌ„ce more by course custome than by any good remeÌ„brauÌ„ce or deuocyon also I haue not ben diligeÌ„t to apply my selfe vnto suche bodily labours as I haue had in charge somtyme haue not done the labours at all or elles full sleyghtly done them speÌ„t the tyme after myne owne appetyte full vnfruytfully somtyme in wantoÌ„nesse somtyme in very ydlenes I crye god mercy ¶ Lechery ¶ By the meanes of these two foule synnes of glotony and slouth I haue ben the more redy vnto the thyrde syÌ„ne of the flesshe that is to say lechery for I haue not ben so chast in soule body as the state degre maner of my lyuyng doth requyre not so diligeÌ„t redy to put away vnclene thoughtes or mocyons of the body as I shuld be but rather folowed them at somtymes wyl fully suffred them to hange vpon me and take in them delectacyon pleasure for the tyme. And whan I haue beÌ„ in presence of company I haue not alway ordered my selfe in chast maner in my lokes or syghtes countenauÌ„ce and behauyour wordes and dedes but many tymes haue ben fullyght to take or to gyue occasyon I crye god mercy Here must you remembre sute or prouocacyon vnto vnclennesse done or suffred on your behalfe as in wordes wrytynges sygnes tokens messages kyssynge clepynge touchynge or other more fylthy ayd vnlawfull behauyour done in dede or in full coÌ„sente And so shewe euery thyÌ„ge with the due circuÌ„staunces of the tyme place and persones not namynge the persones but shewynge the states or degrees of them as whether they be maryed or vnmaried cÌ„ Thus by this foule synne of lechery haue I broken the .vi. and also the .ix. commaundement of god by many other meanes as well in this synne as in all the other of these .viij. princypall syÌ„nes haue I greuously offended my lorde god broken his commaundementes not fulfylled the werkes of mercy vnto my power and mysvsed my fyue wyttes in herynge seynge smellynge tastynge and touchynge For the whiche and for al other as our lorde knoweth me gylty and I wolde confesse and knowlege yf they came to mynde I beseche his gracyous goodnes of mercy and forgyuenes And you my ghostly father of penaunce and absolucyon Et precor sanctaÌ„ mariam omnes sanctos dei et vos orare pro me Whiche is to meane vnto the vnlerned And I beseche the blessed lady saynt Marye all the holy company of heuen and you also my ghostly father to praye for me And whan you haue taken your penaunce and haue ben assoyled than saye you vnto the preest Syr and it please you this is my penaunce and than reherse the same ones or twyse your selfe that you may the more surely here it in mynde For I assure you it is ieoperdous after lerned men to forgete the penaunce And thus an ende hereof ¶ Yet dyd I promyse in the begynnynge to set forth