archangels I beseche you praye for me for all people Saynt IohnÌ„ baptyst al holy patriarkes ê“phetes I beseche you pray for me for al chrysteÌ„dom Saynt Peter saynt Paule saynt IohnÌ„ the euaÌ„gelyst and all holy apostles euangelystes I beseche you praye for me for all the worlde and you also all dysciples of our lorde and holy Innocentes Saynt StephaÌ„ and all holy martyrs SayÌ„t Augustyne al holy coÌ„fessours all religious ê“sones heremytes Saynt Katheryne saynt Margarete saynt Barbara al holy virgyns I beseche you praye for me for all persones And fynally all you holy sayntes of heueÌ„ of euery degre and state where you be I beseche you all in generall and eueryche in specyall pray for me all maÌ„kynde Here may you bryÌ„ge in the patrones of your chirches or dioces and suche as you haue as I sayd synguler deuocyon vnto And here an ende as vnto your selfe But yet some of you wyll say Syr this werke is good for religious persones for suche ê‘sones as ben solytary done lye alone by theÌ„ selfe but we done lye .ij. or .iij. somtyme togyder yet in one chaÌ„bre dyuers beddes so many in company yf we shulde vse these thyÌ„ges in pÌ„sence of our felowes some wold laugh vs to scorne and mocke vs. O Iesu bone O good lord Iesu what here I nowe I dare well say there ben but fewe persones in englande but they wolde byde some daunger or rebuke for pleasure of theyr kynge or prynce many for theyr mayster or maystresse or theyr souereyns some for theyr freÌ„des felowes specyally where great gaynes shuld growe therby vnto theÌ„ selfe And for the pleasure of god our father of our swete sauyour Iesu our brother shulde we be abasshed to take dauÌ„ger bere a poore mocke or scorne that neuer shal wouÌ„de our flesshe ne yet tere our skyn for the pleasure of our pereles pryÌ„ce kyÌ„ge of kyÌ„ges lord of al lordes Fye for shame that any christian shulde be so cowardous Ventre vpon it go forthe wtall OmÌ„e principiuÌ„ difficile labor iÌ„broboiÌ„a vincit In .ix. dayes as they saye the dauÌ„ger shal be past fere nothyÌ„ge Euery begyÌ„nynge is harde of great difficulte But importune labour dothe vaynquysshe ouercome all thyÌ„ges I tel you this dayly exercyse by custum vse shal seme very shorte swete ê“fytable pleasauÌ„t Rede it or here it ouer ones or twyse at the leest before they cast it away How be it we thyÌ„ke it not sufficieÌ„t nor ynough for you to lyue well your selfe but that all other christians also lyue the better for you by your example specyally those that you haue in charge gouernauÌ„ce that is to say your childer seruauÌ„tes And me semeth it shuld also be a good pastyme moche merytoryous for you that can rede to gader your neyghbours aboute you on the holy day specyally the yonge sorte rede to them this poore lesson For therin ben suche thyÌ„ges as they ben bounde to knowe or can saye that is the Pater noster the Aue maria the Crede with suche other thynges as done folowe I wolde therfore you shulde begyn with them by tyme in youthe as soone as they can speke For it is an olde sayenge Quod nouatesta capit in veterata sapit The pot or vessell shall euer sauour or smell of the thynge wherwith it is fyrst seasoned And your englyssh ê“uerbe sayth that the yonge cocke croweth as he dothe here lerne of the olde you may in youthe teche them what ye wyll that shall they leÌ„gest kepe remeÌ„bre you shulde therfore aboue all thynges take hede and care in what coÌ„pany your chylder beÌ„ nourysshed brought vp For educacyon doctryne that is to saye bryngynge vp lernynge done make the maners with good vertuous ê‘sones sayth the prophete you shal be good vertuous Psal xvij And with the euyll ê‘sones you shal be also euyll Let your chylder therfore vse kepe good coÌ„pany The pye the say and other byrdes done speke what they moost here by eare The plouer by syght wyll folowe the gesture behauyour of the fowler And the ape by exercyse wyll worke do as she is taught so wyll the dogge by violence contrary to naturall disposicion lerne to daunce The chylder therfore that by reason done fer excede other creatures wyl bere away what they here spokeÌ„ they shulde therfore be vsed vnto suche coÌ„pany where they shulde here none euyl but where they may here godly and chrystyan wordes They wyll also haue in theyr gestures behauyour suche maners as they se behold in other persones And as they beÌ„ taught so wyl they do in many thyÌ„ges they may be coÌ„pelled vnto a contynuall custome whiche doth alter chauÌ„ge naturall disposicion Vnto some craftes or occupacyons a certayn age is required in chylder but vertue vice may be lerned in eueri age Se therfore that in any wyse you let them vse no company but good and vertuous And as soone as they can speke let them fyrst lerne to serue god to saye the Pater noster Aue. and Crede as I sayd before And not onely your chylder but also se you proue that all your seruauntes what age so euer they be of can say the same And therfore I haue aduysed many persones here now to couÌ„seyle that in euery mele dyner or souper one persone shulde with lowde voyce saye thus Fyrst peticyon Pater noster qui es incelis sanctificetur nomen tuuÌ„ Good lorde god our holy father that art in heuen let thy name be sanctifyed that is to meane I beseche the graunte vs grace to blesse to honour to laude and prayse thy holy name secunde Adueniat regnum tuum Good lorde god our father the art in heueÌ„ let thy kyngdom come that is I beseche the lorde that all the people of the worlde may come vnto the grace of baptysme so be the feythfull subiectes of thy realme and kyngdome of christianite thyrde Fiat voluÌ„tas tua sicut in celo et in tra Good lorde god our holy father the art in heueÌ„ let thy wyll be wrought in erth as it is wrought in heuen that is to meane I beseche the lorde that all thy chrystyan people here in erth may performe thy wyll kepe thy coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes after theyr estate condicion as thy holy angels and sayntes done in heuen after theyr state degre Panem nostrum cotidianuÌ„ da nobis hodie fourth Good lordê god our holy father that art in heuen gyue grauÌ„te vnto vs this daye our dayly breed that is to meane I beseche the good lorde graunt vnto vs coÌ„tinually the spiritual fode grace effecte of thy holy sacrameÌ„tes Or thus Graunt vnto vs the coÌ„tinuall grace effecte of thy holy sacrameÌ„tes whiche is the dayly fode
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
due contrycyon for all my synnes And knowlege also of thy lawes wyll pleasure so that by no maner of ignorauÌ„ce or mysvnderstandynge I do at any tyme in werke or dede or in worde or thought any thynge coÌ„trary vnto the same And thyrdly good lorde where thou knowest also that I am ofte tymes obstynate of myÌ„de froward euyll wylly stubburne of stomake vnkynde of hert dull negligent slouthfull in all maner of goodnes I beseche the good lorde god holy ghost that art the spyryte wyll of the father and of the sone with them the same selfe essencyal god vnto whom is appropriate specyally appoynted all bounte all goodnes all grace good wyll that thou woldest vouchesafe to gyue me the grace of good wyll so that I neuer do saye ne thynke that shulde be contrary vnto thy wyll And hauynge vnto the euer a reuereÌ„de drede I may loue the for thy selfe al other in the lorde for the so that accordynge vnto the spirituall strengthe and knowlege that thou hast gyueÌ„ me I may apply my wyll hooly vnto thy wyll so that I haue no wyll propre vnto my selfe but that my wyll be all thy wyl and bothe as moch as may be possible one wyll And so I may here in this lyfe ordre my loue come vnto suche perfeccion of ferueÌ„t charite that by thy grace I may atteyn vnto the fruicyon of euerlastynge charite in thy ioyful presence AmeÌ„ And good lorde god father of heueÌ„ I beseche the take receyue me thus vnto thy grace haue mercy pyte vpon me all thy people And thou lorde god blessed sone of god the father sauyour redemer of the worlde haue pite mercy vpon me vpon all chrysten people And louynge lorde god holy ghost blessed spyrite of god haue mercy pite vpon me all the worlde Holy and blessed Trinite one selfe same esseÌ„cyall god haue pyte mercy vpon me all myne vpon all thy creatures Amen And than ones agayne blesse the with In noiÌ„e prÌ„is as before than go forth vnto your besynesse where ye wyll Let this be for your mornyng exercyse And though you that haue great thynges to do wolde thynke this prayer mornyÌ„ge exercyse ouer loÌ„ge bycause of your besynes I a certeyne you yf it were ones by vse goten redy incorporate prynted in the herte mynde it wolde soone be sayd or thought the ê‘son shulde I byleue haue grace to spede the better in other thynges nothynge for thynke of the spendyng of the tyme but rather accounte it for great gaynes in somoche that we purpose to set forth in the ende a longer exercyse for theÌ„ that haue longer tyme to spende but now we shal go forth herein After the sayd morowe exercise I trust you wyll be well occupyed vpon your appoynted course of occupacyon For that was our couÌ„seyle in the begyÌ„nynge that ye shulde appoynt your selfe by a continuall course vnto some certeyne occupacion that may be ê“fytable and euer to auoyde ydlenes the mother and nurse of all synne euyll And euer be ware of suche occupacions as beÌ„ called coÌ„munly pastymes that is to say all maner of vnlawful games suche dysportes as done drawe people rather to vyce than to vertue whiche more properly may be called lose tymes thaÌ„ pastimes Math. xij c. For syth by the affirmacion of our sauyour we shall make account of euery ydle worde it must nedes folowe that we shall make a more strayte rekenynge of euery ydle or euyl werke Let therfore your sayd appointed occupacyon be alway good vertuous ê“fytable Syth thaÌ„ ye must nedes make a rekenyÌ„g of euery werke worde and thought for none of these caÌ„ be hyd or kepte preuy from your auditour me thynketh it shulde be a great surety for you to make euery daye ones your sayd accounte by your selfe The coÌ„mune ê“uerbe is that ofte rekenynge holdeth longe felawshyp I wolde aduyse you therfore to spende some tyme thervpon at nyght after al your occupacions before your bed ther knele downe there begyn to remembre wheder ye wente what ye dyd immedyatly after your morowe exercyse in what company ye were what was there your behauyour and demeanour in werke worde or thought so go forth vnto eueri place tyme coÌ„pany as brekefast dyner souper or drynkyng where you fynde or ê‘ceyue any thynge that was good vertuous and profytable ascribe apply the vnto our lorde god gyue vnto hym all the glory laude prayse therof for he alone is the gyuer of all goodnes so ouer passe that thynge lyghtly And where ye remembre of any speciall thynge done sayd or thought amysse stycke and byde thervpon bulte it as they say turne it vp so downe try the weyght dauÌ„ger therof with all the maner cyrcuÌ„staunce of the same So may ye knowe the quantyte therof that is to say how great a synne or howly tell it is how be it none offeÌ„ce can be lytell the doth offende god surely euery synne is offence done vnto god all though it seme to be done vnto man j. Ioh. ij d. For as the loue of god dothe begyn at the loue of the neyghbour For he that loueth not his neyghbour whom he may se with his bodyly eye or syght sayth saynt IohnÌ„ how may he loue god whom he can not so se so in lyke maner the offence of the neyghbour is forth with the offence of god Consyder therfore vnto whom the trespace is done so the consyderacyon with the other qualytes quantites of the synne shall brynge you vnto a basshmeÌ„t therof to be sory therfore or at the leest to wyll or wysshe that ye had not so done Than mekely crye god mercy axe hym forgyuenes therof with very purpose myÌ„de to be coÌ„fessed therof at due tyme to take and do penaunce therfore And I dare assure you that this maner of accouÌ„t rekenynge though your synne were neuer so great shall saue you from the ieopardy of dampnacion whiche is no lytel grace goodnes of god ThaÌ„ke hym than lowly therfore so blesse your selfe as you dyd in the mornynge your bedde also go thervnto so coÌ„myt your selfe all hole body soule vnto the ê“teccyon custody kepyng of our lorde who gyue you good nyght good rest Amen ¶ It shal be ryght well also that you call vpon suche holy sayntes as you haue specyall deuocion vnto vnder this forme or some other lyke Blessed lady Mary mother of god alwaye vyrgyn I beseche the pray for me and for all christians Holy angell of god what so euer thou be that art deputed and appoynted vnto my custody I submyttynge me with most lowly obedience beseche the to praye for me for all the worlde Saynt Michael saynt Gabryell saynt Raphael with all holy angels
of our soules and spirituall suerte of our saluacyon Et dimitte nobis debita nostra fyfth sicut et nos dimittimê° debitoribus nostris Good lorde god oure holy father that art in heuen forgyue vs our dettes as we done forgyue our detters that is to meane I beseche the good lorde forgyue pardon me all chrystyans all maner of offences trespaces done agaynst the thy lawes lykewyse as we done forgyue all maner of ê‘sones all maner of greues trespaces done agaynst vs. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem syxth Good lorde god our holy father that art in heuen lede vs not into temptacyon that is to meane I beseche the good lorde suffre me not ne any christyan to be ledde or brought by any tentacyon vnto the full consent of any synne Sed libera nos a malo seuenth But good lordê god our holy father that art in heueÌ„ delyuer me all christians froÌ„ euyl that is to meane I beseche the good lorde that not onely thou kepe me al thy people froÌ„ al syn offeÌ„ce of thy goodnes but also that thou wylt delyuer make vs quyte of all syÌ„nes past coÌ„serue kepe vs coÌ„tinually in the state of grace AmeÌ„ so be it that is to meane good lord we beseche the that all these thynges may come to passe in ful effect according to our peticion desyre This prayer of the Pat nrÌ„ is the moost excellent prayer bycause that our sauyour made it hyÌ„selfe taught it to his disciples The Aue maria is the moost pleasaunt prayer of most honour vnto your blessed lady bycause one parte therof is the salutacyon of the angell Gabryell wherby immedyatly after her coÌ„sent she coÌ„ceyued the sone of god in her wombe Luc. j. And the other parte was spoken vnto her by saynt Elizabeth inspired moued thervnto by the spiryte of god the holy ghost And therfore done we set forth the Aue maria after suche maner as we dyd the Pater nrÌ„ Aue maria grÌ„a plena dnÌ„s tecuÌ„ bnÌ„dicta tu in mulieribê° et bnÌ„dictê° fructê° veÌ„tris tui Iesus AmeÌ„ Hayle Mary full of grace god is with the. Blessed be thou amonge women and blessed be the fruyte of thy wombe Iesus Chryst god maÌ„ AmeÌ„ so mote it be That fyrst worde Aue whiche I do englysshe after the coÌ„mune maner hayle is a worde of salutacion as we saye in coÌ„mune congresses or metynges togyder God spede you god saue you god blesse you Good morowe good euen god spede god be at your game god be at your werke god sende you with suche other after the maner of the countree where it is spoken And the last worde Amen it is a worde of consent or desyre that the mater spoken before shulde come to passe or vnto effecte as coÌ„munely it is sayd be it so be it let it be so I graunte I assent with other lyke This haue we sayde bycause you shulde vnderstande what euery worde meaneth ¶ Now dothe folowe the Crede ¶ The fyrst artycle Saynt Peter CRedo in deuÌ„ partreÌ„ oiÌ„poteÌ„teÌ„ creatoreÌ„ celi terre I byleue vpon god the father almyghty maker of heueÌ„ and of erth This terme in deum is dyuersly englysshed some done saye into god some inwardly in god some perfitly in god But the moost coÌ„mune vse of the countree of the vnlerned people is to saye I byleue vpon god vpon his feyth but all doth meane in effecte that the ê‘son hath ê‘fyte feyth byleue zin god vnto god ¶ The secunde artycle Et in Iesum ChristuÌ„ filium eiê° vnicuÌ„ dnÌ„m nostrum Saynt Andrewe And I also byleue ê‘fytly vpon our lorde Iesu Chryst his onely begoten sone that is to saye the onely begoteÌ„ sone of the sayd father ¶ The thyrde artycle Qui coÌ„ceptê° est de spuÌ„ sancto natê° ex maria virgine Saynt IohnÌ„ And also I byleue perfitly that our sayd lorde Iesu was coÌ„ceyued of the holy ghost and borne of our ladi saynt Mary she remaynynge abydynge euer a vyrgyn ¶ The fourthe artycle Passus sub poncio Pilato crucifixê° mortuê° sepultê° And also I perfitly byleue the our sayd lorde Iesu dyd suffre his passyon was crucyfyed deed buryed vnder the power iudgment of a man called by ê“pre name Poncius by his secunde or surname Pylate Saynt Iames the more ¶ The fyfth artycle Descendit ad inferna tertia die resurrexit a mortuis Saynt Thomas of Ynde And I byleue perfytly also that our sayd lorde Iesu after his sayd passyon deth desceÌ„ded went downe vnto the lowe places of hel brought forth froÌ„ theÌ„s our fyrst father Adam all that were there with hym that vpon the thyrde day after his deth he dyd aryse from deth al the bondes therof vnto lyfe euerlastyng ¶ The syxth artycle AsceÌ„dit ad celos sedet ad dextraÌ„ dei patris oiÌ„poteÌ„tis Saynt Iames the lesse And also I byleue ê‘fytely that our sayd lorde Iesu dyd ascende stye vp vnto the hyghest heueÌ„s there dothe syt vpon the ryght hande of god the father omnipoteÌ„t and almyghty ¶ The seuenth artycle Saynt Philyp Inde venturus est iudicare viuos et mortuos And I also perfytly byleue that he wyll come thens agayne into this worlde to iudge all persones quycke deed ¶ The .viij. artycle Saynt Bartholomewe Credo in spirituÌ„ sanctuÌ„ I byleue perfytly also vpon the holy ghost the spiryte of the father of the sone with them bothe the same selfe god ¶ The .ix. artycle Saynt Mathewe SanctaÌ„ ecclesiam catholicam I also byleue that the chirche of Chryst is was euermore shal be holy feythfull therfore I do gyue feyth credence vnto the same and vnto the terminacions therof ¶ The .x. artycle Saynt Symon SanctoruÌ„ coÌ„munioneÌ„ remissioneÌ„ peccatoruÌ„ I byleue also the coÌ„munion of sayntes that is to say I byleue that all the werkes good dedes of al good holy persones ben and shal be coÌ„mune so that euery feythfull chrystyan hath shall haue parte with other And also I byleue the remyssyon of synnes that is to saye that all maner of synnes may and shal be forgyuen yf forgyuenes be duely desyred and axed ¶ The .xj. artycle SaiÌ„t Iude called also saynt Taddeê° Carnis resurrectioneÌ„ I also byleue the resurreccyon of our flesshe that is to say I byleue that al maner of persones shall aryse at the day of dome in soule body with the same flesshe blode bones that they were borne with dyed with ¶ The .xij. artycle Saynt Mathye Et vitaÌ„ eternaÌ„ Amen And also I byleue euerlastyng lyfe that is to say that after the generall resurreccion all maner of ê‘sones as well good as euyll dampned or saued shall contynue in lyfe euerlastynge eyther in ioye or peyne
openly be sene feled And so in the same maner after he had with great coÌ„tricion open coÌ„fessyon of that swerynge receyued the sacramentes of the chirche he departed this lyfe vnto our lorde Here ben now two notable exeÌ„ples of vsuall swerynge The thyrde shall I shewe you of for sweryng or false sweryÌ„g whiche was shewed vnto me of an honest preest of my familier acqueyntauÌ„ce that was vicar of Haly well where sayÌ„t Wenefredes well is besyde the abbey of Basing werke in flynt shyre in the borders of wales .xiiij. myles from Westchester whiche thyÌ„g he sayd on his coÌ„scyeÌ„ce he dyd se hyÌ„selfe was ther present with great multitude of other people thousandes A certeyn maÌ„ was called to be sworne in a great mater bytwene two ê‘tyes whiche sayd partyes dyd put the mater holy vnto the determinacyon of his othe mette bothe at a certeyn place where was a crucifixe a holy rode that dyd many myracles wher vpon he shulde swere so dyd in the syght herynge of a great multytude of people gadred on bothe partyes And his othe gyuen he layde bothe his handes vpon the fete of the rode and sware false coÌ„trary vnto his coÌ„science and so was dampnably for sworne whiche thynge god wolde haue knowen For whan he wolde haue taken his handes awaye to departe bothe the handes cleued stycked fast vnto the sete of the rode as though they had ben glued or fastened with nayles thervnto And than he wolde with violence haue pulled them of than with sterynge hasty mouynge to fro the steppe whervpon he stode slypped voyded froÌ„ hym And thaÌ„ hanged he styll by his haÌ„des so remayned hangynge styll contynually the space of thre dayes meruaylous moche people came thyder to se and loke vpon hym of the whiche many ben yet lyuynge So at the last after thre dayes whan he had with great contricion openly coÌ„fessed his defaute receyued the sacrameÌ„tes of the chirche whaÌ„ the people supposed thought veryly he shulde there haue expired dyed he was sodeynly losed deliuered lyued many yeres after a good holy lyfe vnto the glory of god great exemple of them that ben swerers li. ijij ca. xviij Saynt Gregory in his dialoges dothe shewe of a chylde that as he had herde of other persones dyd swere great othes had pleasure therin sodenly whan he was swerynge in his fathers lap vpon his knee the deuyll came openly rauysshed by vyolence toke hym from his father caryed hym awaye that he was neuer sene after Here may you perceyue the great peryll ieopardy of swerynge For the loue of our lorde therfore good deuoute christians take good hede therto as well in yourselfe as iÌ„ your folkes And yet shuld you haue no lesse garde or awayte vnto lyenge or makyÌ„ge of lyes or lesynges For the lye or lesynge is very mother vnto bothe the defautes shewed last before that is to say vnto periury or for swerynge vnto false wytnes For eueryche of these doughters is worse than the mother Mendacium For the lyer careth lytell to bere false wytnes and euery lyer is coÌ„munly a swerer for els the lye shulde not be coloured dubbed peynted sufficieÌ„tly to seme treue specyally in a defaute wherof the lyer wolde fayne be excused for drede of punysshmeÌ„t or rebuke or whaÌ„ a mater shuldê by that lye come to passe be brought aboute vnto effecte for profyte auauÌ„tage flatery or pleasure For whan the lyer dothe coueyte most subtylly to deceyue and wolde fayne and gladly be byleued than dothe the lyer moost lyberally lasshe out othes spareth for no cost as they saye but whan suche a ê‘son doth swere moost than wyll a wyse ê‘sone byleue hym leest And by this doth appere that the coÌ„mune besy swerers ben suspecte to be lyers For the lyer is combred so in coÌ„scyence that he supposeth thynketh he can not be byleued without he swere many othes great othes Beware therfore of lyers for coÌ„mune lyers beÌ„ coÌ„munly theues or pykers vnclene lyuers And to saye the trouth the lyer is apte dysposed vnto all maner of vyces bycause that all lyers ben the chylder of the deuyll For the deuyll was the fyrst lyer euer doth coÌ„tynue a lyer Iohan. viij f. And as the gospell sayth he is the father of all lyers Now ponder wey good deuoute christiaÌ„s I praye you yf you were requyred wheder you wolde be coÌ„tent to kepe in your coÌ„pany a thefe or pyker a persone that shulde enforce labour to corrupte your wyues or your doughters or yet suche a persone that were seruaunt or chylde vnto your deedly foo or enemy I thynke you wyll saye nay you wolde kepe none suche Than say I beware of the lyer for all coÌ„mune lyers ben the deuyls chylder done folowe theyr father the deuyll whose properte natural disposicion is to lye I can well graunte that you forgyue and pardon theÌ„ that done stele pyke or do lechery for ones or twyse labour loke for theyr recouery amendment but in no wyse can I graunt that you pardon the lyers but euen forthwith as you wolde cure the sodeyn pestyleÌ„ce so correcte and punysshe the lye Wherfore I haue set out here a prety lesson whiche I pray you teche your chylder euery chylde that cometh into your coÌ„pany you shall I trust do moche good therby yf I lye backbyte or stele yf I curse scorne mocke or swere yf I chyde fyght stryue or threete Than am I worthy to be bete Good mother or maystres myne yf any of these nyne I trespace to your knowynge With a newe rodde and a fyne Erly naked before I dyne Amende me with a scourgynge And than I praye you fulfyll perfourme theyr peticyon request thynke it not cruelly but mercyfully done Prou. xiii d. For the wyse man sayth who spareth the rodde hateth the chylde And in another place Eccli vii c. Yf thou haue chylder sayth he correcte them be tyme holde them vnder whyle they ben yoÌ„ge your dayly practyse doth shewe vnto you that yf you powder your flesshe whyle it is newe and swete it wyl contynue good meet but yf it smell before it be powdred all the salte you haue shall neuer make it seasonable Powder your chylder therfore be tyme and than you loue them shal haue coÌ„forte of them I dyd appoynt the correccyon before vnto the mother or maystres for coÌ„munely they done take the labour of that mynysterye and seruyce Not withstandynge there may be sayd father or mayster and the staffe or fote of the ryme be all one But who so euer do the correccyon whether it be in lasshes or in wordes let it be done with the charite of our lord and with a mylde soft spirite that euer it be done for the reformacion of the persone rather than for