tHe laberoê° y t 〈◊〉 â—eâ—ieyloê° workes Of sapienor syn fâ—â—â—e â—â—gned nature My purpoâ— is to 〈◊〉 as writen clerkes And specyally her moost â—â—â—able oure In my fyrst book I wyl preche deputr It is so plesaunt vnto eche persone That it a book shÌ„al occupye alone Sone after this I shÌ„al wysedom deseryue Her blessyd howshÌ„old and her wonnyng place And than retourne vnto her actes blyue As shÌ„e them wrought by tyme precesse space Al this mater shÌ„e taught me of her grace I spak with her as ye may here and rede For in my dreme I mette her in a mede O clyo lady moost facundyous O Rauysshyng delyte of Eloquence O gylted goddes gay and gloryous Enspyred with the percyng Influence Of delycate heuenly complacence Within my mouth late dystylle of thy showres And forge my tonge to glad myn audytours Myn ignoraunce whome clowded hath eclippes With thy pure bemes illumynyne al aboute Thy blessyd breth lete refleyr in my lyppes And with the dewe of heuen thou them degoute So that my mouthe maye blowe encense oute The redolent dulcour Aromatyke Of thy depured lusty Rethoryck I knowe my self moost naked in al artes My comune vulgare the moost interupte And I conuersaunte borne in the partes Where my natyf langage is moost corrupt And with most sondry tonges myxt rupte O lady myn wherefor I the byseche My muse amende dresse forge mynysse eche For to al makers here I me excuse That I ne can a lycatily endyte Rude is the speche of force whiche I must vse Suche infortune my natyf byrth may wyte But O ye lordes whiche haue your delyte In termes gay and ben moost eloquent This book to yow no plesaunce may present But netheles as tasted bytternesse Al swete thyng maketh be more precious So shal my hook extende the godelynesse Of other auctours whiche ben gloryous And make theyr wrytyng delycyous I symple shal extâ—lle theyr soueraynte And my rudenes shÌ„al shÌ„ewe theyr subtylyts Go wer chaucers erthely goddes two Of thyrst of eloquent delycacye With al youre successours fewe or moo Fragraunt in speche experte in poetrye You ne yet theym in no poynt I enuye Exyled as fer I am from youre glorye As nyght from day or deth from vycherye I you honoure blysse loue and gloryfye And to whos presence my book shÌ„al atteyne His hastyf dome I pray hym modefye And not detcaye ne haue it in dysdayne For I purpoos no makyng for to dystayne Meke herte good tonge and spyryte pacyent Who hath these thre my book I hym present And as hym lyst lete hym detray or adde For syth I am constreyned for to wryte By my souerayne and haue a mater glad And can not please paynte enâ—urne ne endyte Late ignoraunce chyldhode haue the wyte I aske no more but god of his mercy Thy look conferme from sklaunder and enuy Explicit Prohemium All besy swymmyng in the stormy flode Of fruteles worldly medytacyon To purpoos late nothyng semed so good As to telle youthe hath â—mynacyon And for to put in sequestracyon Eche other thyng that hym shold cause vnrest And thus to bed I went with thought my gest The Chesplayer or he a man haue drawen Hath only thought to make good purueaunce For kyng or quene aulfyn knyght or pawne Echone of these he hath in his remembraunce So eche estate and worldly gouernaunce In one eschekker in my mynd I sawe But I ne wyst what drauÈt was best to drawe Fyrst my desyre was to haue drawen my kyng At hertes lust in sure prosperyte But in the chesse I had espyed a thyng The kyng to purpoos may not passe his see To make hym way or some pawne drawen bee Than bothe to guyde the kyng pawnes eke And al other my wyttes were to seke I thought how by moral phylosophye The Chesse was founde and set in dyuersite Of dranghÌ„t for a myrrour of polocye The whiche vertu departed is in thre Fyrst must man conne hym self reule in degre Efte his houshÌ„old and than in vnyuerse Cyte and Reygne these ben the thre dyuerse Arestotyl in hÌ„is poletyke book The fyrst of these seyth hyghÌ„t Monestyca The second parte who hath lust to loke Of Polycy hyght Yconomica The thyrd partye is cleped poletyca But of al these syn I had neuer scole To playe at Chesse I me thought but a foole For in this bord eschekker of my mynd As I fyrst put a man or to drawe a draughÌ„t Fyrst come y e world with dame fortune vnkynd And sayd eschek and so strongly they faught Ayenst me that al my men were caughÌ„t With theyr eschekkes so muche they eche ascate That or I wyst sodenly I was mate Than come reason and thou to me she sayde With moble fortune· and fase worldlynesse O foole of fooles hâ—st thou thy wyl assayde With â—â—y man to countre them eschesse Thou mayse not fynd a poynt of sykeâ—â—sse For in theyr draught al 〈…〉 God forth quod she a foole I the conclude Than 〈◊〉 I woo and prayd a syne 〈◊〉 me were vnto dâ—me supâ— That the myght lerne me som disâ—ne For 〈◊〉 land we my 〈…〉 〈◊〉 ignoraunce myn insufficenâ—â— For from of help for which I gonâ—â— Wepe Whyses at the lâ—sâ— I 〈…〉 Thus bronyt on slep my spiryt forth qan passe And 〈◊〉 I was me thought in a place desert In wyldernes but I nyse when 〈◊〉 In moche â—â—â—stâ—nce in 〈◊〉 in moche 〈◊〉 With wylde 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 Now woode now 〈◊〉 now byâ—â—e now 〈◊〉 Now wynde now rayne I knewe no were The wylde wolues after me sewen 〈◊〉 I wold flee theym but wile sâ—â— I ne myghÌ„t And of a way I was waue of the lose Thorny and seueyor encome 〈◊〉 to the syght Thyder I went I was ware of a syght But forth I thorugh with thornes of to rent And thanked god of lyght whiche 〈◊〉 had sent Oute from a mede moost heuenly vnto loke Aboute whÌ„iche can a lusty ryuer swete A lady cam two with her shÌ„e toke I can to her and so wely gan her grete The watres name asked I shÌ„e sayde quyete And sone shÌ„e sayd my name is sapyence Intellygence this hÌ„yght and this scyence Vnto al vertues we ben ladyes thre Bothe in offyce and degree dyfferent It is my parte to knowe dyuynyte My suster here hath knowlege dylygent Of creatures in heuen and erthe content And dame scyence of thynges temporal Hath knoulege pure thus maist y u know vo al Of vs al thre I am the moost souerayne And yf the lyst me deseryue and dyffyne I am the trewe propre knowlege certayne Of erthely thyng and eke of thyng dyuyne Ay fresshe grene lusty is herte myne Though I seme yong ful old my yeres bene For sapyence in old folk is ay sene The desert place of fere thurgh which thou come Is dredeful worldly occupacyon Sone leue that place duelle with me at home Thou shalt haue wytt lust delectacyon
Onyx eke whiche as a myrrour His owne ymage a man may see fynd Optallyus of many strong colour That is to theues good patron and socour The Oryte eke that saueth from beestes wyld And suffreth not women to be with child The Paryus and eke the prassyus Grene of colour and good for feble syghÌ„t The pyrryte stone anone whiche brenneth vs Within our hond yf we hym presse dryght The stone ponyte whiche hath a wondre myght Good for women and of hym self alone He bryngeth forth ryght swyth another stone The stone Quyrryne that doth the sleper say What so he dremeth eke the quanydras good That can encrese brestes with mylk al way The good Ruby that stauncheth alwey bloode The Rebe eke whiche of beestes woode The strong bytyng heleth for euermore And noble medycyne is for woundes sore The good Saphyre most noble and moost digne Of al stones and moost preseruatyf Comforte of pees and to sore eyen benyngne Of hete vnkyndely and moost repressyf It maketh glad It is comfortatyf It stauncheth blode and swete and chastyte He loueth best and doth the venym flee The grene Smaragde that is ryÈt medicynable Ayenst tempest sykenes and fantasye The Sardonyx that is ryght commendable Frend to mekenes and hadeth lecherye The Sardyns that maketh men hardy The sonnes gemmes ful of bemes bryght The serenyte that in loue hath his myght Topacius goode for men lunatyke And stauncheth Ire and swageth heuynesse It holsome is eke to men frenetyke The good turkoys that engendreth gladnesse Good for the syght the Èemeth that sykenesse He leth dyuers the zyngynt whiche of kynd Refreyneth blode and holdeth man in his mynd Al other stones whiche ben precyous There myght men see ful of al pure delyte But I of force must be compendyous Therfor of them I wyl no ferther wryte Of theyr vertues I touche here but a lyte Theyr propertees who lust to haue told I counceyl them go loke in bookes old As in a book cleped the lapydarye In Isodre or dyascorydese By phylosophres as by platearye Or Barthylme we loke who may the please Natures and kynd there mayst thou see at ease Suche thynges as longeth not to comyn materâ— Another feld I haue in hast to ere And yf thou seme· that here be stones straunge And thou in Englysshe can them better name Doo as thou lyfe theyr names for to chaunge So my langage and my book thou not blame For I suppose ther be fewe wordes lame For by the latyn for the more suerte I name theym al and for the more comunte Explicit descripcio lapidum in littore Riui consistencium Incipit descripcio Riui Than al my lust was goodely to byhold That good water that noble clement That Ryuer swede in his kynd moyst cold That is the holsome perfecte nutryment To euery thyng that is in erthe content To corne herbe· tree plant eche thyng lyuyng It geueth his drynk clenseth al foule thyng The erthe he maketh to be plentyuous He tempreth welle also the heuen a sonne And with his subtyle vapour curyous He greueth the ayer incorperacyon And densyth hym is of hyghe renoun In to the hyghe to sâ—yâ— is his solace For to chalenge heuen for wonnyng place From whens be fallith distillyng shÌ„oures swete Replenysshyng percyng and commyttyf Vnto the erthe but to the heuens hete His moyst vapor is moost temporatyf His droppes swete eke hen moost nutrytyf And cause of lyf to eche thyng anymate Withouten hym al thyng were vycyate For thorugh the erth he goth with his moisture And perceth hym thurgh his effusyon The partes of the erthe eke thorugh his cure Ben stabled sad and take vnyon Elles for grete hete and hyghe entencyon Of souerayne drought ryght by necessyte Vnto powder they shÌ„old dyssolued be He is to fysshe holsome and profytable As ayr to beest and cause of al theyr blysse His propertees that ben moost commendable Dame scyence there declareth wel ywys And as a glas so speculer he is Of thyng obiect the shÌ„ap to represent Of hym hath nede al thyng in hym content He wyl ay meue withouten rest or constaunce Whyles that hÌ„is party superfycyal Be adequate by ryght and lyke dystaunce Oute from the erthe lyke from the myd of al And of the sonnes lyght celestyal In to the heuen he maketh reflectyon The natures four he passeth in renoun Of water thus to speke in gene ra Ther may none fynd a goodely properte But in hym self this Ryuer hath them al In paradys he had hÌ„is soueraynte Bothe oute and in to renne with lyberte From sulphur veynes and from metal vre He can absteyne and be ay swete and pure Basilius in his exameron Deseryueth water and his properte Who so hath lust he may loke them vpon But I my self wol flee prolyxyte And of my Ryuer speke as lyketh me What shÌ„old I say hym to here and behold Al erthly Ioye passeth a thousand fold His heuenly sownes his grones delycate His swete murmour his subtyl cours stylle His fresshe colour whiche no storme may abate His sapour swete hauyng refleyr at wylle Myght say ascaunce on this wyse be I wyl For to excyte oute from the heuens place Nature to come to see of my solace O phÌ„yson Tygrys Gyon Eufrates O doryx eke the flood of paradys O Iordan Cobar and thou Edapces Danybyus and pharphar at deuyse Abana eke as wryten clerkes wyse Whiche of damask with his moyst passage The gardyns grene fulfylleth with herbage O Tybre Rodan Yber leyre and sayne Geron and Ryne with many watry drope And O ye solempne floodys and souerayne Of Asia Affryke and Europe Among yow al I snote a goodely sope Lyke to this Ryuer in comparyson The Occyon doth hym subiectyon O ye floodes and ye other al That haue your cours out thoruÌ„È y e erthes space Were not lyke in no poyntes specyal To this Ryuer in bounce nor in grace And who so lust floodes to knowe and trace In Barthylmewe in his fyften book Among his prouynce may ye goo and loke Holy scripture the maketh mencyon In Genesis and other places moo Of flodys fele and theyr condycyon And Phylosophers tellen them also As I rede but al this lete I goo Of this Ryuer and his encenement gay I mene of fysshe now somwhat wol I say Explicit descripcio Riuium Incipit descripcio Piscium This lusty fysshe within this Ryuer swete There swymmyng whiche we fynnes clepe They put in vse to bere swymme and flete Now at the ground and now aboue they lepe Now dysceuerd and now vpon an hepe Nou here nou there now endeloÌ„g nou outhwert The syghte of them myÈt he le eche wounded hert Somme had lust to sewe the sonnes lyght Somme to the pryuate vmbre gan to attend And gadred in theyr to dyes to the syght Shote oute of lengthe theyr courage to extend Theyr parfyte blysse nature myght not amend Of net ne hooke of deceyte were
Grace helpe lyf hebe eterne saluacyon Now wyl I rest that trauayled haue al daye For my labour is brought al vnto playe Glad was I tho and on kne felle a doune Held vp myn handes sayd I wold ful fayn Her seruaunt be with alle subiectyon But lady myn maysires hole souerayne Quod I. telle me your labour your payne That ye so long haue had I wyl sayd shÌ„e Yeue audyeuce the gladder shalt thou be A doughtful prynce most myghty most digne Moost excellent and moost vyctoryous Hauyng a sonne four doughters benyngne And a seruaunt whiche with affectuous Loue desyre he cherysshed in his how 's A commaundement yafe his seruaunt in certayn The whiche he brake· deth shÌ„ old he his payn Foure tormentours the kyng cleped to hym Bad one hÌ„ym to put in pryson soure And other shÌ„old quyck flee hym lyth lym The third kil hÌ„ym the fourth shÌ„old him deuoure The four doughters herd telle of this rumoure Who 's names ben Mercy trouthe ryghÌ„t pease But mercy thoughÌ„t hyr faders yre to cease She loked doune in to the pryson depe Her loued seruaunt sawe shÌ„e syttyng there For whome hyr hert gan bothe blede wepe Dystyllyng teres dysteyned al here chere She gan vnlace her tressyd sonnysshe here Nakyd her brest and for compassyon Byfore here fader on knees fel a doun O mercyful and o most mercyable Kyng of kynges and fader of pyte Who 's myghty mercy is inmensurable O prynce eterne O benyngne lord quod shÌ„e To whome mercy is yeuen of properte Of thy seruaunt that lyeth in pryson bound Haue thow mercy or deth myn herte wyl wouÌ„d I am souerayne aboue thy werkes al I am the pure auauÌ„t of thy godhede I am thy child thy geÌ„me celestyal The mynyster of al thy godlyhede The substaunce that al mankynde doth fede I am the tresour of thy deyte O prynce of pees my bone now grauÌ„t thou me See how I sytte dysseueld on 〈◊〉 My crystal eyen see how theyr teres rayne My rosy lyppes see how they perced be The hemed chere eke of my clekes tweyne See how the tery Ryuer doth dysteyne My swaÌ„nysshe throte with syghes in distraynte My breste forbete see fader al is faynte And yf thowe wolt graunt me you prysonere And gyfe me leue to lose hym oute of payne Al this dystresse al this myn heuy chere To gladnes thou myght restore agayne Thy hÌ„ighÌ„ vengeauÌ„ce why shold y u not restrayne And shÌ„e we mercy syn he is penytent With that cam trouth asked what it ment To trouthe than spack hyr fader reuerent And sayd a seruaunt whÌ„iche I loued best On payne of deth I yaue a commandement Whiche for to kepe in hym was al my trest But he it bracke as a proude traytour kest Me to supplaunt and I made my behest For his trespaas he shÌ„old dye at the lest My doughter mercy prayth with voys pyteous I wold foryeue and on hym haue pyte For syth my mercy is moost copyous I must it shÌ„ewe thus argueth shÌ„e to me Nay nay quod trouth fader it may not be Thow must of force obserue thyne owne statute And thy promesse fulfylle for euery fute Thynk that I am thy doughter veryte That of al trouthe doothe execucyon Withouten whome thyne eterne deyte Were vnyat with imperfectyon Thy wyl is lawe thy promesse is reason And syth thy wyl and thy promesse also Was he shÌ„old dye thow mayst not goo ther fro For thy godlyhede put oute al varyaunce Stable thy sentence and thy Iust iugement Lete execute in dede the same penaunce That was forbrokyn of thy commaundement Than sayd mercy vnworthy is that assent For sauns doute euery resonable creature Withoute mercy may not lyue no endure Knowe ye not wele that I am sempyterne Quod mercy tho how may ye me refrayne I am lady aboue the heuen superne Though ye in erthe be pryncesse souerayne My myghty grace is neuer voyde ne vayne Ergo I must releue seruaunt penytent Saue fro the deth assoylle this argument Ryght sensyble preygnaunt for youre path He that strong argument quod veryte But do dyspute mercy is not myn arte Nother in herne ne in hole trouth logeth to me And permanent I am as wele as ye And syn of force my fader must be trewe From his byhest how may ye hym â—â—newe And yf ye thynk he broke not his byhest For to permute with mercy shâ— vengeaunce For one is god than wold ye at the lest In his godhede include bothe ignoraunce And hastynesse and exyle 〈◊〉 And prescyence and aske eke myght I sone Why hyght he that that better 〈◊〉 vndone Than sayd mercy wherto was mercy wrought But yf mercy had execucyon Wherto on me was al my fâ—derâ— thought And al his ioye in my creacyon Was I not made for resâ—yon Of heuenly blysse for necessyre That bothe angel and man must haue of me And yf so were that I were adnychylaâ—â— The heuenly court may not restorely be My faders Royalme were vayne and vacuate A power howshÌ„old it were withouten me Why shÌ„old I not than haue a soueraynte And complement of my petycyon Than answerd trouth for ye aske no reason Though ye al day argue for youre purpoos Trouthe shÌ„al delyuer at her owne volunte My lyberte in no poynt wyl I loos I am my faders chÌ„yld as we le as ye And ryghtwysenes I wote wil holde with me And with y t word trouthe for hÌ„ir suster went Dame ryghtwysenes whiche was anon present On godely wyse but ferful to behold Come ryghtwysenes al bemed ful of lyÈt For shÌ„e ne spared for hote ne for cold For hyghe for lowe for to fulfylle al ryght My sustres stryue qd shÌ„e with voyce on hyght I wyl dyscusse and theyr contencyon As ryght asketh brynge to conclusycn To his seruaunt I thynk what trust grace My fader had and eke â—haryte And in erthe for hym he made a place Of lust delyte and of al lyberte Eche erthely thyng eke vnto hÌ„is soueraynte He had enclyne and be obedyent WhÌ„yles he truly fulfylleth his commandement What thyng in erthe he couthe or myght deuyse For hertes rest and lyues sustenaunce On hym gan laugh in al godely wyse And at hÌ„is lust made hÌ„ym obeysaunce Exyled from hÌ„ym was vnhappy chaunce Aduersyte myght neuer his steppes sewe To his mayster whyles he was seruaunt trewe And yf so were he brake his commandement My fader made a constytucyon That prysoned al quyck flene and rent Dede deuoured shÌ„old be punycyon For hÌ„is trespaas and his transgressyon That both pure loue and fere this iust precept Shold hÌ„ym excyte that it were trewely kept Not withstandyng the promesse statute The trust the loue the bounte and kyndenesse Yone freel seruaunt subiecte to seruytute Saue to conspyre with al vngentylnesse And of y e iust maÌ„dement made ful iust inÌ„sgresse Wherfor of ryght me thynketh he must be
Ful of al lust comfort vertu and grace Depeynted fresshe with colour precyous And in a parlour ful solacyous Thappostles al were set with pure delyte And of oure trouthe the artycles they wryte They had byleue in god fadel of myght Maker of heuen and erthe and al that is Of vysyble and inuysyble wyght And in his sonne crist ful of blysse Before the world whiche was alwey ywys I gete not made and consubstauncyal To his fader of whome fourmed is al He cam from heuen and in the mayd Marye By inspyracyon of the holy goost Mankynd he took borne he was for to dye To wyn mans soule out from the fendes hoost And vnder Pylate set with Iewes boost Bounden bete crowned and crucyfyed With watry woundes Innocent he dyed For he was grauen man out from helle he broÈt And rose the thyrd day vnto lyue ageyne Styed to heuen his faders Trone he sought From whens as kyng he shÌ„al come yet certeyn Bothe quyk and dede to deme to lyf or peyn The goode to blysse the euyl to punysshement Heuene erthe helle shÌ„al quake in that iugemeÌ„t And in the holy ghoost byleue they had In holy chirche baptysme communyon Of sayntes eke to hold ferme and sad Of al trespaas to haue remyssyon And for to trowe the resurectyon Of peple dede and in lyf lastyng Vnto the whiche almyghty god vs bryng These artycles with other poyntes al That longeth to the holy Trynyte Dame feyth her self gan telle in specyal With al the secretes of the deyte Whiche in Englysshe not reherced be Suche thyng as shÌ„old be pryuate occult I rede we leue and take quicumque vult There was to feyth doyng al reuerence The holy synner Mary Magdalene Whiche by dame fayth hath geten indulgence Of al her synne and was assoylled clene Good martha eke by her grace gan optene And brought to lyue her broder lasedarus Soo was the sone also of Regulus There was the doughter eke of Canane Whiche by her was brought fro the fendes bond Al other eke that of ony infyrmyte Thorugh feyth was cured with her see I stond Blynde dome and deef leprous fote hond Whome feith hath heled and brought vnto grace With al honour obeyed her in that place There was also the hooly confessours That preched feyth whyle they were on lyue Doctours martyrs and gloryous auctours Wrytyng of feyth and her meryte blyue And on this wyse they gan hyr descryue And sayd that feyth is ground of al godenes Withouten whome lyf hath no sykernes Vnto al good shÌ„e geueth strengthe comfort And who troweth not he falleth impotent The shÌ„eld of feyth who lust to comport Al thyng ouercometh as vnto reuerence His thre enemyes with theyr yrous pretence Ayenst hym shÌ„al neuermore preuayle Aske byleue thyn askyng shÌ„al not fayle She is â—y for as the clerke sayth There is but one god lord perpetual Pryncypally of whome preched is fayth Eke hole shÌ„e is of her artycles al Trewe withoute errour outher grete or smal Lyuely and quyck to do euery quyk dede For elles shÌ„e were but as a body dede There was the lady clennesse wel arrayed Deuocyon and dame vyrgynyte Dame contynence and chastyte the mayd Dame Loulynesse and dame stabylyte Enlumyned fresshe echone in theyr degre These seruen fayth and as they couthe deuyse With blysse they song sayd vpon this wyse If better is to trowe in god aboue Than in mankynd or in many other thyng Who troweth in hym for he can kepe and loue Theyr lust fulfylle grauÌ„t them theyr askyng And in his gospel eke a worthy kyng He sayd hym self in me who lust byleue Though he be dede ywys yet shÌ„al he leue O cursed folk with youre Idolatrye WhÌ„iche in fals goddes setten youre delyte Blynd dome and deth is al youre mametrye Of stok stone men may suche karue thwyte Leue theym for fals with sour and despyte In our one god cast anker and byleue Though ye were dede he can make yow leue He is al lyf whan youre goddes be dede They haue a tyme and he is sempyterne They are but erthe and brought lowe as lede He regneth god aboue the heuen superne Blyssed be he for he no grace wyl werne To them that wyl in hym beset theyr byleue And though they dye ywys yet shÌ„al they lyue Explicit Tractatus de Fide et Cantus famule sue These thynges folowyng is euery Crysten man and woman holde and bounde to lerne and to conne to theyr power in waye of theyr saluacyon The Pater noster The Aue maria And the Crede The ten commandentis Haue one god in worshÌ„yp In this is forboden al maner mawmetrye Wytchecraft Enchauntement Redynge of dremes And al mysbyleue Take not his name invayn In this is forboden al heresyes Al mysmenyng VnworshÌ„yp of god Forsweryng Takyng his name in vayne And suche other Halowe thyne holy day To this belongeth Heryng of thy seruyse Kepynge the oute of dedely synne Vysytyng of thy powre neyghbours Accordyng them that ben at debate And suche other Worspyp thy fader and moder God thy fader Holy chÌ„irche thy moder The ghoostly faders Thy flesshely fader moder Al men of age worshÌ„yp And prelates of holy chirche Slee no man With hond smytyng With mouthe bacbytyng Herte cursynge Ne wyllyng euyl Ne vengeaunce Do no lecherye Here is forboden Alle spousebreche Alle flesshely dedes And al mysshedynge of mannes seed Doo no thefte Here is forboden stelyng Wronge purchacyng DyshÌ„erytyng of heyres Trecherye Vsurye Wronge amersementis False mesure weyghtes And suche other Bere no false wytnes Here is forboden False lyeng Bacbytyng Accusyng Appayryng of good lots And suche other Desyre not thy neyghbours wyf In this is not onely Forboden the dede But also the desyre And wyl of herte Desyre not thy neyghbours thyngê How 's Londe Beest Seruaunt Ne nothyng that is his The seuen dedely synnes Pryde Herof comyth boostyng of proude beryng Dysplesyng Scornyng Hyghe herte Gay array Pryde of Rychesse Faytenes Cunnyng Strengthe Vertue Goodnes Pryde of kynne Vnbuxomnes Vayne glorye Dispyte of thyne neyghbour Ypocrysye suche other Enuye Glad of thy neyghbours euyl fare Heuy of hÌ„is welfare Backbytyng Sownyng of dyscord Scornyng And suche other wrath Fyghtyng Chydynge Hurtyng Betynge Waryeng Cursyng Grutchyng Desiring of vengeaunce Cruelnes Manslaughter And suche other Couetise Falsehode in wynnyng In beyeng In sellyng In metyng In weyeng Gyle Trecherye Sacrrilege Simonye Vsurye Thefte Receyuyng of stolen goodes Extorcion Wrong withholding Withdrawing of seruauntes hire Withholding of tithes and dutees of hooly Chirehe Glotonye Etyng or drynkyng ouer moche To erly To late Oute of mesure Brekyng of fast Vsyng of delycate metes and drynkes Or in vsyng them to strengthe thy body to synne And suche other Slouthe Therof cometh ydlenes Delite in sleepe Neclygence of thy bileue Vnlusty to goddes seruyse Foryetefulnes of shÌ„ryfte Myspendyng of tyme Dyspayer Wanhope and suche other Lecherye In thoughte Wylle Werke Syght Felyng Dede doyng With sengle With comune Wydowes Maydens Wyues Gossybbes Goddoughters Relygyous Or ony other oute of wedlok Synne ayenst kynde or suche other The fyue wyttes Syght Heryng Smellyng Tastyng Feelyng The seuen dedes of mercy bodyly Fede the hungry Yene drynke to the thursty Clothe the naked Herbero we the howseles Vysyte the syke Delyuer the prysoners And burye the poure that ben dede at her deth Tho seuen dedes of mercy ghoostely Teche them that can not Yeue good counseyl to hym that asketh it Chastyse thy subgette that offendith Comforte the sory Foryeue hym that trespâ—ceth to the Haue routhe on the synnar And praye for thyne enemye The seuen pryncypal vertues Fayth This is ground and begynnyng of oure saluacyon And it stondeth in thre thynges In the vnyte of the godhede in thre persones In the manhode of Cryst And in the sacramentes of the chirche Hope This is a trust by the mercy of god to be saued And it standeth in the grace of god and good werkes Charyte This is the ende perfectyon of al the commandementes of god And it standeth in the loue of god aboue al thyng And thy neyghbour as the self Ryghtwysenes This is a payeng of dente of eche thyng that it duly longeth to As to god praysyng and thankyng To thy neyghbour loue and charyte And to thy self besynes to fulfylle goddes wylle Wysedom That is a vertu to departe good fro euyl And it stondeth in chesyng of good and in refusyng of euyl Strengthe Thys maketh a man myghty hardy to doo grete thynges for the loue of god And it stondeth in suffryng pacyently aduersyte And mekely takyng prosperyte Mesure ThÌ„is is a mene bytwene to moche and to lytel And it stondeth in takyng suffycyently that nedeth And in refusyng vtterly that is to moche or to lytel By these thynges shal eche man and woman knowe god These that folowen brynge a man to heuen Good perseueraunce Pacyence in aduersyte Obedyence of the commauÌ„dementes of god RyghÌ„twysenes in dedes Penaunce in the lyf Contrycyon of synne Knowlege of thy self And charyte These bryngen one in to helle Desperacyon Wodenes in aduersyte Vnryghtwysenes of dedes Loue of synne Malyce Obstynacyon in synnes Despyte of the commauÌ„dementes of god Hate of good thynges And ignoraunce The fyue wyttes ghoostely Mynde of the kindenes of god and of thy last ende Vnderstondyng of his benefettys and of his bore Wylle to worshÌ„yppe hym in thought worde and dede Withoute ony werynes Reson to rewle with thy wittes both inward outward Withoute ony blyndenesse Ymagynacyon of vertuous lyuyng nedeful werkes and dredeful dedes of ioye and of peyne