Passus primus de visione
What this montaigne bymeneth · and þe merke dale
And þe felde ful of folke · I shal ȝow faire schewe
mater ecclesiaG.1.3: Hand 1, fol. 3v, left margin. A loueli ladi of lere · in lynnen yclothed
+L.1.4: Corrector, fol. 3v, right margin. Come down fram a castel · and called me faire
And seide sone slepestow · sestow þis poeple
How bisi þei ben · abouten þe mase
· nota · C.1.7: Hand 1, fol. 1v, right margin. Þe moste partie of þis poeple · þat passeth on þis erthe
nota off them þat will non |
other heven but thisM.1.8: Hand 3, fol. 4r, right margin. Haue þei worschip in þis worlde · þei wilne no better
Of other heuene þan here · holde þei no tale
¶ I was aferd of her face · þeiȝ she faire were
TrutheC2.1.11: Hand 2, fol. 4r, right margin. And seide mercy Madame · what is þis to mene
The tourCr1.1.12: Fol. 4v, left margin.The tourCr2.1.12: Fol. A.4v, left margin.The tourCr3.1.12: Fol. 4v, left margin. Þe toure vp þe toft quod she · treuthe is þere-Inne
And wolde þat ȝe wrouȝte · as his worde techeth
For he is fader of feith · fourmed ȝow alle
Bothe with fel and with face · and ȝaf ȝow fyue wittis
Forto worschip hym þer-with · þe while þat ȝe ben here
And þerfore he hyȝte þe erthe · to help ȝow vchone
Of wollen of lynnen · of lyflode at nede
In mesurable manere · to make ȝow at ese
nota iij thingis in ComonM.1.20: Hand 3, fol. 4r, right margin. ¶ And comaunded of his curteisye in comune þree þinges
Arne none nedful but þo · and nempne hem I thinke
the iij þinges requisiteL.1.22: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 4r, right margin.+ ȝeM.1.22: Hand 1, fol. 4r, right margin. And rekne hem bi resoun · reherce þow hem after
That one is vesture · from chele þe to saue
And mete atte mele · for myseise of þi-selue
And drynke whan þow dryest · ac do nouȝt out of resoun
That þow worth þe werse · whan þow worche shuldest
lottG.1.27: Hand 1, fol. 4r, left margin.LothC2.1.27: Hand 2, right margin.Loth , Cr1.1.27: Fol. 5r, right margin.LothCr2.1.27: Fol. B.1r, right margin.LothCr3.1.27: Fol. 5r, right margin. ¶ For loth in his lifdayes · for likyng of drynke
Dede bi his douȝtres · þat þe deuel lyked
Delited hym in drynke · as þe deuel wolde
And lecherye hym lauȝt · and lay bi hem boþe
And al he witt it wyn · þat wikked dede
Genes .xix.Cr2.1.31α: Fol. B.1r, right marginGen .xix.Cr3.1.31α: Fol. 5r, right margin. Inebriamus eum vino · dormiamus-que cum eo
Vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen ·
wyne and wemenL.1.32: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 4r, right margin. Thorw wyn and þorw · women · þere was loth acombred
+Y.1.33: Corrector, fol. 4v, left margin. And þere gat in glotonye · gerlis þat were cherlis
For-þi drede delitable drynke · and þow shalt do þe bettere
mesure ys medicyneL.1.35: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 4r, right margin. Mesure is medcyne · þouȝ þow moche ȝerne
a feyrseW.1.36: Hand 2 (later), fol. 5v, right margin. It is nauȝt al gode to þe goste · þat þe gutte axeþ
Ne liflode to þi likam · for a lyer him techeth
That is þe wrecched worlde · wolde þe bitraye
+M.1.40: Hand X, fol. 4v, left margin. For þe fende and þi flesch · folweth þe to-gidere
This and þat seest þi soule · and seith it in þin herte
And for þow sholdest ben ywar · I wisse þe þe beste
¶ Madame mercy quod I · me liketh wel ȝowre wordes
Ac þe moneye of þis molde · þat men so faste holdeth
Telle me to whom Madame · þat tresore appendeth
¶ Go to þe gospel quod she · þat god seide hym-seluen
pepleO.1.47: Hand 3, fol. 4v, right margin. A punctus above "temple" and another above the marginal word indicate that it is a (unique and nonsensical) substitution. Tho þe poeple hym apposed · wiþ a peny in þe temple
Whether þei shulde þer-with · worschip þe kyng Sesar
And god axed of hem · of whome spake þe lettre
And þe ymage ilyke þat þere-inne stondeth
Cesaris þei seide we sen hym wel vchone
Luke .xx.Cr2.1.52: Fol. B.1r, right marginLuke .xx.Cr3.1.52: Fol. 5r, right margin. ¶ Reddite cesari quod god · þat cesari bifalleth
Et que sunt dei deo · or elles ȝe done ille
For riȝtful reson · shulde rewle ȝow alle
And kynde witte be wardeyne · ȝowre welthe to kepe
And tutour of ȝoure tresore · and take it ȝow at nede
For housbonderye & hij · holden togideres
Þanne I frained hir faire · for hym þat hir made
+G.1.59: Hand 1(?), fol. 4r, left margin.The dun|
geon . Cr1.1.59: Fol. 5v, left margin.The dun=|
geon .Cr2.1.59: Fol. B.1v, left margin.DungionCr3.1.59: Fol. 5v, left margin. That dongeoun in þe dale þat dredful is of siȝte
What may it be to mene · ma-dame I ȝow biseche
the meninge of the |
DongeonL.1.61: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 4v, left margin.The Castell of CareC2.1.61: Hand 2, fol. 5r, right margin. ¶ Þat is þe castel of care · who-so cometh þerinne
May banne þat he borne was · to body or to soule
WronngeC2.1.63: Hand 2, fol. 5r, right margin. Þerinne wonieth a wiȝte · þat wronge is yhote
Fader of falshed · and founded it hym-selue
d d d eR.1.65: Hand X, fol. 79v, right margin. Adam and Eue · he egged to ille
CayneCr3.1.66: Fol. 5v, left margin. Conseilled caym · to kullen his brother
temptedL.1.67: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 4v, right margin, gloss on "jape."IudasCr1.1.67: Fol. 5v, left margin.IudasCr2.1.67: Fol. B.1v, left margin.IudasCr3.1.67: Fol. 5v, left margin. Iudas he iaped · with iuwen siluer
And sithen on an eller honged hym after
He is letter of loue · and lyeth hem alle
That trusten on his tresor · bitrayeth he sonnest
¶ Thanne had I wonder in my witt · what womman it were
Þat such wise wordes · of holywrit shewed
And asked hir on þe hieȝe name · ar heo þennes ȝeode
What she were witterli · þat wissed me so faire
ecclesiaG.1.75: Hand 1, fol. 4v, left margin.holi chirche
I vnderfonge þe firste · and þe feyth tauȝte
And brouȝtest me borwes · my biddyng to fulfille
...?...M.1.78: Hand 2, fol. 5r, right margin. Most likely indicated the alteration "leally." And to loue me lelly · þe while þi lyf dureth
...?...M.1.79: Hand 2, fol. 5r, right margin. Most likely indicated the alteration "&." ¶ Thanne I courbed on my knees · and cryed hir of grace
And preyed hir pitousely · prey for my synnes
+L.1.81: Corrector, fol. 4v, left margin....?...M.1.81: Hand 2, fol. 5r, right margin. Most likely indicated the alteration "kenne me."+M.1.81: Hand X, fol. 5r, right margin. Large drypoint. And also ken[n]e me kyndeli · on criste to bileue
That I miȝte worchen his wille · þat wrouȝte me to man
Teche me to no tresore · but telle me þis ilke
How I may saue my soule · þat seynt art yholden
nota truth is the bestM.1.85: Hand 3, fol. 5r, right margin.a feyrseW.1.85: Hand 2 (later), fol. 6v, right margin.VeritasC2.1.85: Hand 2, fol. 5v, right margin. ¶ Whan alle tresores aren tried quod she · trewthe is þe best
Truth is |
the best |
treasure .Cr2.1.86: Fol. B.1v, left marginTruth is |
the beste |
treasure .Cr3.1.86: Fol. 5v, left margin. I do it on deus caritas · to deme þe soþe
It is as derworth a drewery · as dere god hym-seluen
notaW.1.88: Hand X, fol. 6v, right margin.[th..ty]G.1.88: Hand X, fol. 4v, left margin. The word "trew" is underlined in the text, so the annotation may apply to that word. ¶ Who-so is trewe of his tonge · & telleth none other
notaW.1.89: Hand X, fol. 6v, right margin. And doth þe werkis þer-with · and wilneth no man ille
He is a god bi þe gospel · agrounde and aloft
And ylike to owre lorde · bi seynte lukes wordes
Þe clerkes þat knoweþ þis · shulde kenne it aboute
For cristene and vncristne · clameþ it vchone
¶ Kynges & kniȝtes · shulde kepe it bi resoun
notaM.1.95: Hand 3, fol. 5r, left margin. Riden and rappe down · in reumes aboute
Knyȝthode
of a knyghteC2.1.96: Hand 2, fol. 5v, right margin. And taken tran[s]gressores · and tyen hem faste
notaW.1.97: Hand X, fol. 6v, right margin. Til treuthe had ytermyned · her trespas to þe ende
Knyghtes office.Cr2.1.100: Fol. B.2r, right marginKnygtes |
office .Cr3.1.100: Fol. 6r, right margin. And þat is þe professioun appertly · þat appendeth for knyȝtes
nota Fasting on FrydayM.1.101: Hand 3, fol. 5r, right margin. And nouȝt to fasten a fryday · in fyue score wynter
But holden wiþ him & with hir · þat wolden al treuthe
And neuer leue hem for loue · ne for lacchyng of syluer
Dauid |
made kni=|
ghtesCr1.1.98: Fol. 6r, right margin.Dauid |
made kni=|
ghtesCr2.1.98: Fol. B.2r, right marginDauidCr3.1.98: Fol. 6r, right margin. ¶ For dauid in his dayes · dubbed kniȝtes
And did hem swere on here swerde · to serue trewthe euere
apostataL.1.104: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 5r, right margin. And who-so passed þat poynte · was apostata in þe ordre
notaM.1.105: Hand X, fol. 5v, left margin.¶M.1.105: Hand X, fol. 5v, left margin. ¶ But criste kingene kynge · kniȝted ten
Cherubyn and seraphin · suche seuene and an othre
And ȝaf hem myȝte in his maieste · þe murger hem þouȝte
And ouer his mene meyne · made hem archangeles
Tauȝte hem bi þe Trinitee · treuthe to knowe
obedientL.1.110: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 5r, right margin, gloss on "buxome." To be buxome at his biddyng · he bad hem nouȝte elles
the Fall off |
lucefferM.1.111: Hand 3, fol. 5v, left margin.luciferG.1.111: Hand 1, fol. 5r, left margin. ¶ Lucifer wiþ legiounes · lerned it in heuene
Lucifer |
was caste |
out of hea|
uen bicause |
of hys |
pride . Cr1.1.113: Fol. 6r, right margin.Lucifer |
was caste |
out of hea|
uen bicause |
of hys |
pryde .Cr2.1.113: Fol. B.2r, right margin But for he brake buxumnesse · his blisse gan he tyne
And fel fro þat felawship · in a fendes liknes
In-to a depe derke helle · to dwelle þere for eure
And mo þowsandes wiþ him · þan man couthe noumbre
Lopen out wiþ Lucifer · in lothelich forme
For þei leueden vpon hym · þat lyed in þis manere
Esa .xiiii.Cr2.1.119: Fol. B.2r, right margin.Esai .xiiiiCr3.1.119: Fol. 6r, right margin. Ponam pedem in aquilone · et similis ero altissimo ·
¶ And alle þat hoped it miȝte be so · none heuene miȝte hem holde
But fellen out in fendes liknesse · nyne dayes togideres
Til god of his goodnesse · gan stable and stynte
And garte þe heuene to stekye · and stonden in quiete
- C.1.124: Hand X, fol. 2r, right margin. ¶ Whan thise wikked went out · wonderwise þei fellen
Somme in eyre somme in erthe · & somme in helle depe
Ac lucifer lowest lith of hem alle ·
For pryde þat he pult out · his peyne hath none ende
And alle þat worche with wronge · wenden hij shulle
After her deth-day · and dwelle wiþ þat shrewe
Ac þo þat worche wel · as holiwritt telleth
+L.1.131: Corrector, fol. 5v, right margin. And enden as I ere seide · in treuthe þat is þe best
Mowe be siker þat her soule · shal wende to heuene
Þer treuthe is in Trinitee · and troneth hem alle
notaM.1.134: Hand 3, fol. 5v, left margin. For-þi I sey as I seide ere · bi siȝte of þise textis
notaW.1.135: Hand X, fol. 7r, right margin. Whan alle tresores arne ytried · treuthe is þe beste
notaY.1.136: Hand X, fol. 6r, left margin. Same as that at KD.20.257.Truth is |
the grea=|
test trea=|
sure .Cr2.1.136: Fol. B.2v, left marginTruth is |
the grea=|
test trea|
sure ,Cr3.1.136: Fol. 6v, left margin. Lereth it þis lewde men · for lettred men it knowen
Truth is |
the grea=|
test trea=|
sure . Cr1.1.137: Fol. 7r, left margin. Þat treuthe is tresore · þe triest on erþe
¶ Ȝet haue I no kynde knowing quod I · ȝet mote ȝe kenne me better
By what craft in my corps · it comseth and where
¶ Þow doted daffe quod she · dulle arne þi wittes
To litel latyn þow lernedest · lede in þi ȝouthe
heu |
eC.1.141α: Hand 1, fol. 2v, left margin. Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem
diliges dominum |
super omniaL.1.142: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 5v, left margin. ¶ It is a kynde knowyng quod he
For to louye þi lorde · leuer þan þi-selue
nota dye rather then do dedly synM.1.144: Hand 3, fol. 6r, right margin. No dedly synne to do · dey þouȝ þow sholdest
nota?S.1.145: Hand X (not contemporary), fol. 4v, left margin. This I trowe be treuthe · who can teche þe better
¶ Loke þow suffre hym to sey · and sithen lere it after
For thus witnesseth his worde · worcheth þow þere-after
notaW.1.148: Hand X, fol. 7v, right margin.nota?S.1.148: Hand X (not contemporary), fol. 4v, left margin. For trewthe telleþ þat loue · is triacle of heuene
notaW.1.149: Hand X, fol. 7v, right margin. May no synne be on him sene · þat vseth þat spise
And alle his werkes he wrouȝte · with loue as him liste
moisesG.1.151: Hand 1, fol. 5v, left margin. And lered it Moises for þe leuest þing and moste like to heuene
| C.1.152: Hand X, fol. 2v, left margin. And also þe plente of pees · moste precious of vertues
¶ For heuene myȝte nouȝte holden it · it was so heuy of hym-self
Tyl it hadde of þe erthe · yeten his fylle
¶ And whan it haued of þis folde flessh & blode taken
Was neuere leef vpon lynde · liȝter þer-after
And portatyf and persant · as þe poynt of a nedle
That myȝte non armure it lette · ne none heiȝ walles
¶ For-þi is loue leder of þe lordes folke of heuene
notaW.1.160: Hand X, fol. 7v, right margin. And a mene as þe Maire is · bitwene þe kyng and þe comune
Riȝt so is loue a ledere · and þe lawe shapeth
Vpon man for his mysdedes · þe merciment he taxeth
And for to knowe it kyndely · it comseth bi myght
heuedM.1.164: Hand 2, fol. 6r, right margin. - C.1.164: Hand X, fol. 2v, left margin. And in þe herte þere is þe heuede · and þe heiȝ welle
notaM.1.165: Hand X, fol. 6r, left margin.notaW.1.165: Hand X, fol. 7v, right margin. ¶ For in kynde knowynge in herte · þere a myȝte bigynneth
And þat falleth to þe fader · þat formed vs alle
Loked on vs with loue · and lete his sone deye
Mekely for owre mysdedes · to amende vs alle
And ȝet wolde he hem no woo · þat wrouȝte hym þat peyne
But mekelich with mouthe · mercy he bisouȝte
christ iesusL.1.171: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 6r, right margin. To haue pite of þat poeple · þat peyned hym to deth
¶ Here myȝtow see ensamples · in hym-selue one
That he was miȝtful & meke · and mercy gan graunte
To hem þat hongen him an heiȝ · and his herte þirled
notaW.1.175: Hand X, fol. 8r, right margin. ¶ For-thi I rede ȝow riche · haueth reuthe of þe pouere
Thouȝ ȝe be myȝtful to mote · beth meke in ȝowre werkes
in qua mensura metioritisL.1.177: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 6r, right margin.¶L.1.177: Hand X, fol. 6r, right margin. ¶ For þe same mesures þat ȝe mete · amys other elles
- C.1.178: Hand X, fol. 2v, left margin. Ȝe shullen ben weyen þer-wyth · whan ȝe wende hennes
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis · remecietur vobis ·
notaM.1.179: Hand 3, fol. 6v, left margin. ¶ For þouȝ ȝe be trewe of ȝowre tonge · and trewliche wynne
+L.1.180: Corrector, fol. 6r, left margin.Mar .iiii.Cr2.1.180: Fol. B.3r, right marginMar .iiii.Cr3.1.180: Fol. 7r, right margin. And as chaste as a childe · þat in cherche wepeth
But if ȝe louen lelliche · and lene þe poure
Such goed as god ȝow sent godelich parteth
Ȝe ne haue na more meryte · in masse ne in houres
notabileM.1.184: Hand X, fol. 6v, left margin.off |
Malkyns mayden|
hedM.1.184: Hand 3, fol. 6v, left margin. Þan Malkyn of hire maydenhode · þat no man desireth
IacobusL.1.185: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 6r, right margin. ¶ For Iames þe gentil · iugged in his bokes
notaW.1.186: Hand X, fol. 8r, right margin. - C.1.186: Hand X, fol. 2v, left margin. That faith with-oute þe faite · is riȝte no-þinge worthi
fidesG.1.187: Hand 1, fol. 6r, left margin. And as ded as a dore-tre · but ȝif þe dedes folwe
Iaco .ii.Cr2.1.187α: Fol. B.3v, left marginIacob .ii.Cr3.1.187α: Fol. 7v, left margin. Fides sine operibus mortua est &c
nihill prodest castitas |
sine charitate.L.1.188: Hand X1 (16th C), fol.6r, right margin.notaW.1.188: Hand X, fol. 8r, right margin.castitasG.1.188: Hand 1, fol. 6r, left margin. ¶ For-thi chastite with-oute charite · worth cheyned in helle
notaW.1.189: Hand X, fol. 8r, right margin. · nota · C.1.189: Hand1, fol. 2v, left margin.caritasG.1.189: Hand 1, fol. 6r, left margin. It is as lewed as a laumpe · þat no liȝte is Inne
Nota de Chast chapeleynsM.1.190: Hand 3, fol. 6v, left margin. ¶ Many chapeleynes arne chaste · ac charite is awey
Aren no men auarousere þan hij · whan þei ben auaunced
Vnkynde to her kyn · and to alle cristene
Chewen here charite · and chiden after more
Such chastite wiþ-outen charite · worth cheyned in helle
xM.1.195: Hand X, fol. 6v, left margin. ¶ Many curatoures kepen hem · clene of here bodies
Thei ben acombred wiþ coueitise · þei konne nouȝt don it fram hem
auariciaG.1.197: Hand 1, fol. 6r, left margin. So harde hath auarice · yhasped hem togideres
And þat is no treuthe of þe trinite · but treccherye of helle
And lernyng to lewde men · þe latter for to dele
¶ For-þi þis wordes ben · wryten in þe gospel
Luke .vi.Cr2.1.201: Fol. B.3v, left marginLuke viCr3.1.201: Fol. 7v, left margin. Date & dabitur vobis · for I dele ȝow alle
And þat is þe lokke of loue · and lateth oute my grace
To conforte þe careful · acombred wiþ synne
¶ Loue is leche of lyf · and nexte owre lorde selue
And also þe graith gate · þat goth in-to heuene
For-þi I sey as I seide · ere by þe textis
notaW.1.207: Hand X, fol. 8v, right margin. Whan alle tresores ben ytryed · treuthe is þe beste
Now haue I tolde þe what treuthe is · þat no tresore is bettere
I may no lenger lenge þe with · now loke þe owre lorde