A PARAPHRASE ON THK etoen penitential psalms, IN ENGLISH VERSE, SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY THOMAS BRAMPTON, S.T.P. IN THE YEAR 1414 ; TOGETHER WITH A LEGENDARY PSALTER OF SAINT BERNARD, IN LATIN AND IN ENGLISH VERSE. WITH NOTES BY WILLIAM HENRY BLACK, ONE OF THE ASSISTANT KEEPERS OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. LONDON : PRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY. MDCCCXLII. COUNCIL OF Cfte perry Society. President. The Rt. Hon. LORD BRAYBROOKE, F.S.A. THOMAS AMYOT, Esq. F.R.S., Teeas. S.A. WILLIAM HENRY BLACK, Esq. J. A. CAHUSAC, Esq. F.S.A. WILLIAM CHAPPELL, Esq. F.S.A., Treasurer. J. PAYNE COLLIER, Esq. F.S.A. T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq. F.S.A. M.R.I.A. PETER CUNNINGHAM, Esq. REY. ALEXANDER DYCE. WILLIAM JERDAN, Esq. F.S.A., M.R.S.L. SIR FREDERICK MADDEN, K.H., F.R.S., F.S.A. T. J. PETTIGREW, Esq. F.R S, F.S.A. E. F. RIMBAULT, Esq. F.S.A. Secretary . WILLIAM J. THOMS, Esq. F.S.A. JAMES W T ALSH, Esq. THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq. M.A., F.S.A. PREFACE. The religious poetry of the Middle Ages consists, for the most part, of dull versification, ennobled with few of the lofty sentiments that pure Chris- tianity inspires, and enlivened with few flights of imagination, except those derived from a wild and dreary superstition. That of our own language is therefore chiefly valuable for its philological data, and as constituting apart of our national literature. But it is hoped that the poem, which these pages first bring to light, will be found to contain both some sentiments of piety, and some touches of poetry, that may render it more acceptable than its contemporaries. The text is taken from one of Sir Hans Sloane’s MSS. in the British Museum, No. 1853, written on vellum, early in the fifteenth century, in a fair church-text, with illuminated capitals; in- titled (in Latin) “ Here begin the Seven Peni- tential Psalms, translated out of Latin into English but not naming the author, either at the head or at the foot of the poem. A later hand VI however, of about the middle of the sixteenth cen- tury, has preserved a memorial, which seems to indicate his name, in the following note inscribed along the top of the first page : “ Frater Thomas Brampton , sacrw Tlieologice Doctor , fr. minorum pauperculus confessor , de Anglicum. Anno Dom. 1414. ad Dei honor em et incrementum devo - cionis Unfortunately this inscription was almost obliterated by some liquid, which slightly damaged the MS. ; and has been retouched by another old hand : but an important blank remains, which perhaps the words Latino transtulit in formerly occupied : for the conclusion seems applicable not to a mere transcriber, but to an author alone, or (as the title expresses it) a translator . The term transtulit , in the title, evidently means the act of making a paraphrase in English, upon the Latin text of the Seven Psalms ; which is given verse by verse, before each stanza. The Editor is strongly inclined to believe that the words proposed to be inserted between “ dd' and “ Anglicum ” are more than a probable con- jecture, and that little doubt can remain that Doctor Thomas Brampton, a Confessor of the Freres Minors, was the author of the paraphrase: but his researches, for many years past, have not been successful enough to obtain any information about him, beyond what this notice affords ; and Vll thus he must be introduced, for the first time, into the list of our English poets and authors. There is great probability that the date, men- tioned in the old note, is correct : for the author's application of that passage in the 101st (or in the English version, the 102nd) Psalm, “ Thou aris- ing, 0 Lord, shalt have mercy on Sion : for the time of pitying her, yea the time, hath come — to holy church , and chivalry , precisely agrees with the disposition of both clergy and laity, and the king too, at the beginning of the Fifth Henry's reign. See stanza lxxxvii., where the following lines seem directly levelled against that brave man and truly Christian martyr, Sir John Oldcas- tle, Lord Cobham, who was at that time committed to the flames as a heretic : “ Late nevere knyghthod , aghen the ryght, Be lost with tresoun and sotylte .” Henry's persecuting resolution, to which he was urged on by the furious clergy, is also painted to the life, when he represents him as presiding in Sion , (the very name by which the monastery, that he founded at Isleworth, was called ;) thus: — “ Syon 4 a merour is, to say, That God hath bygged,* and sett ful hye : There sytt our kyng , be trewe fay,f That shal heretykes alle distrye.”J * Built. f By the true faith. X Destroy. Vlll (Stanza xc.) He adds, that whosoever full heartily prays for the king, thereby “ Mayntenyth oure cherche graciously, And kepith it, as ye may see.” But for these blemishes, one would think from the general piety that pervades the poem, from the hint given to oppressive tyrants in the 93rd stanza, and from the description of imprisoned sufferers, in the 94th, that the author was a Lollard. But, on the contrary, the editor cannot help conjecturing that he was the author of the poem against Lollardie , which is preserved in the Cottonian MS. Vespasianus , B. xvi, and printed in Ritson’s Ancient Songs ; the style and metre being very much like those of this paraphrase. Nor can he but observe, for the same reason, a probability that he was the author also of The Ploughman's Tale, which is inserted among the Canterbury Tales, in some old copies, as a supple- ment to Chaucer's work. The author’s religious notions were what might be expected of that dark age. He represents himself, in an elegant introduction, as restless, rising at midnight from his bed, repeating an antiphona from his breviary, going to his Confessor, and receiving instructions for the relief of his conscience, one of which was, to say over c these seven Psalms which he proceeds to do, verse by IX verse, making the first words of his favourite antiphona the burden of his meditation upon every one. Thus confession, absolution, and discipline, are the foundation ; and purgatory, the doctrines of hereditary depravity, and of the immaculate con- ception of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary alone, and the notion of a guardian angel constantly attending him, make their appearance, though scantily. (Stanzas xlviii.lix.cviii.) It is remark- able that there is not one invocation of a saint or angel, or any mention of the Virgin Mary, but what has now been noticed. Probably the author designed his book for the instruction of his ‘ghostly children,’ being a confessor himself ; and therefore rather intended to represent one of them, and himself, in those respective characters, in the introductory passages. The only other copy of this poem, known to the editor, is a fragment in the Harleian collection, No. 1704, of which volume the second MS. (ff. 13 — 75) is written on paper, in a hand of the end of the fifteenth century, imperfect at both ends. The first five leaves (ff. 13 — 1 7 b) contain 55 stanzas out of the 124 ; viz. from the 62nd to the beginning of the 11 6th, inclusively. All the variations are given in the notes, whereby it appears to be in many places inaccurate and corrupt ; and it is modernized throughout, after the common fashion of such copies. This fragment X is followed, after an interval of some pages, by a copy of bishop Alcock's famous allegorical “ Tre- tis of the Abbey of the Holy Ghost,” (ff. 32 b — 49) ; which circumstance has occasioned a grievous blunder in two eminent literary historians. For YVanley, in his account of this MS.* describes the poem as the fourth article thus, “ 4. A frag- ment of a comment upon the VII. Penitential Psalms, in old English verse then, as the ninth article, he gives the title of the “ Tretis” above mentioned ; adding a note, which merely refers to “ another copie of this tretis,” bearing the authors name, and then briefly notices his history, cha- racter, and death. Hence Warton, having con- founded two articles, which stand at a considerable distance from each other, and have not the least connexion, enumerating Alcock’s works, says : “ A fragment of a comment upon the seven Peni- tential Psalms, in English verse, is supposed to be by Bishop Alcock, MSS. Harl. 1704. 4. fol. 13.”t Bitson improves upon Warton’s supposition, by stating it as a fact, thus: “ Alcock, John, Bishop of Ely, is the author of a comment upon the seven Penitential Psalms, in English verse. (Harl. MSS. 1704, imperfect.) He died in 1500.”J * Harleian Catalogue, ii. 177. f Warton’s History of* English Poetry, ed. 1824, 8vo. iii. 82. t Biographia Poetiea, p. 43. XI Thus, confusion is the parent of mistake, and the grandmother of falsehood. Having thus shown, that this work was not written by Bishop Alcock, but in all probability by the person named in the Sloane MS., (which was unknown to Warton and Ritson); it remains to show that this poem must not be confounded with an earlier one of the same kind, said to have been written by Richard Rolle, the hermit of Hampole, which is preserved in the Bodleian Library among Digby’s MSS., No. 18. The first line, as quoted by Tanner* and Warton, t — To Goddis worschippe that dere us houghte ; and the first line of the paraphrase on the Psalm “ Do- mine, ne in furore tuo,” (xxxvii.) — Lord in thin angre repreve me nought ; — are quite different from the first and 31st stanzas of Thomas Brampton’s production, printed in the following pages. The two Appendices of the present publication, were added by the Editor, on a supposition that the second of them was written by the same author as the Paraphrase : though this is by no means certain; yet it may have been an early me- trical attempt by the same author. The language is less polished, and the orthography is of an older fashion than the larger poem ; and it is perhaps * Bibliotheca Britannica, p. 375. f History of English Poetry, ii. 100. xn remarkable, that, while Brampton’s prospect of death was connected with the idea of being cof- fined or 44 locked in lead” the humbler versifier of the Legendary Psalter (as it may be termed), thinks of his winding sheet , and of being 44 in clottus clunge” (page 54.) The first Appendix is given as the source of the other : they both afford instances of the superstitious value attached to prayers and other religious forms, (however destitute of devotional merit), when foisted upon the vulgar by a legend, ascribing their origin to a saint, or to an angel, or to the very devil himself! Many antient Breviaries or Manuals contain an Abridgment of the Psalter in Latin, ascribed to Saint Jerome; the prolix rubric of which says, 44 Beatus vero Ieronimus hoc modo disposuit brevi- ter hoc Psalterium , ubi Angelus Domini docuit eum , per Spiritum Sanctum ; ” and sets forth its mani- fold advantages. That consists of eight or nine pages of selections from the Psalms : but this of Saint Bernard beats it all to nothing ; for he contrived to learn from the devil, hovj to say over the whole Psalter in eight verses l Surely the author of the second Appendix must have done a most commendable work, when he put this infor- mation, and the texts themselves, into the vulgar tongue, for general use ! The introductory pas- sage or legend in each Appendix, stands in rubric Xlll in the MS. from which it is derived. But the most remarkable rubric of this kind, which the Editor can remember, is that of an “orison” in the Harleian MS. 2367, art. 10,* which was an universal charm : when a mass of our Lady had been said over it, “then bear this orison upon you,” says the rubric, and it was warranted to render the wearer invulnerable, and what not ! The Editor will now merely add, that he has scrupulously followed the Sloane MS. in the text, only substituting ih for the Anglo-Saxon ]?, yet retaining the 3, (a modern representative of the Anglo-Saxon 5,) conformably with the present practice; although he is strongly inclined to think that, in both instances, either the genuine old characters ought to be used, or th and gh substi- tuted for them respectively. He has marked the final 0, where long, with an accent ; where short, with the usual note of a short syllable. The latter practice is invariable in these pages ; and this, with an occasional application of an accent, or of the double points, where the rhythm of the verse is not obvious to the eye, he trusts will not be un- acceptable to the reader. Some of the verses are full of anapaests, which puzzle an inexperienced * See Harleian Catalogue, ii. 670, where the whole rubric is printed. XIV reader of old English poetry, far more than the regular iambic measures of Chaucer, and other writers. Want of time alone has prevented the annexing of a concise glossary, which he originally designed. W. H. BLACK. 3, Magdalen Row , Goodmans Fields , 31s£ May, 1842. CONTENTS. Paraphrase on the Seven Penitential Psalms: — P AG K Introduction, stanzas i.-vi. . . . . .1 Psalm VI. (vi.) Domine, ne in furore, stanzas vn.-xvi. . 3 — XXXI. (xxxii.) Beati quorum remissce , stanzas xyii.- xxx. ...... 7 — XXXVII. (xxxvill.) Domine , ne in furore, stanzas XXXI. -LIII. . . . . .12 — L. (li.) Miserere mei, Deus, stanzas liv.-lxxiii. . 21 — Cl. (cii.) Domine exaudi or ationem, stanzas lxxiv.-cii. 28 — CXXIX. (cxxx.) De profundis clamavi, stanzas ciii.-cx. . . . . .39 — CXLII. (cxliii.) Domine , exaudi or ationem, stanzas cxi.-cxxiv. . . . . .42 Appendix I. Legend of Saint Bernard and the Devil, about eight verses in the Psalter ; together with those verses and prayers in Latin . . .49 Appendix II. The same Legend in English ; with Para- phrase of the eight verses, in metre . .51 Notes ....... 55 Verses on “The VII. Deedly Synnes” . . . 61,62 HIC INCIPIUNT SEPTEM PSALMI PENITEN Cl ALES, DE LATINO TRANSLATI IN ANGLICUM. I. In wynter, whan the wedir was cold, I ros at mydnyjt fro my rest. And prayed to Jesu that he wold, Be myn helpe, for he myjt best. In myn herte anon I kest How I had synned, and what degre : I cryed, knockyng up on my brest, “ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !” ii. Ne reminiscaris , Domine , delicta nostra , vel pa- rentum. nostrorum ; neque vindictam sumas de pec - catis 7iostris . Parce , Domine , parce populo tuo , quem redemisti precioso sanguine tuo ; et ne ineternum irascaris nobis ; et ne des hereditatem tuam in per - dicionem . That is to seye, “ Lord! thynke no more <$ Of my mysdedis that I have wrought, B 2 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 44 I or my faderys here be fore, That me in to this world have brought. 44 Of my mysdedys venge the nought: 44 But graunte me mercy and pyte. “ My woordys, my werkys, and wycked thought, “ 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ hi. 44 Spare thy peple that is outerage, We crye to the ful pytously ; 44 Lese nojt ly3tly thyn herytage, “ That thou hast lovyd so hertily. 44 Have mynde. Lord, how thou woldyst dy, 44 And hange ful hye up on a tre, 44 To save hym that wolde wilfully 44 Sey, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’” IV. With sorwefull herte and repentaunce, Un to my Confessour I 3ede, To schryve me clene and aske penaunce ; Ther to me thou3te I hadde gret nede. Myn herte for sorwe began to blede. And cowthe non other coumfort se, For wyl, and woord, and wicked dede, But 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ v. My Confessour coumfortyd me blyve, And seyde, 44 Thi synnes fo^evyn are, 44 Zyf thou purpose to amende thi lyve, 44 God of his mercy will the spare. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. Q O “ No synful man he wille forfare, “ That sory of his synnes wylle be : “ This woord sehal coumforte all thi kare, “ f Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ VI. “ And ferthermore, for thi trespace, “ That thou hast don to God of hevene, “ Zif God wille sende the lyif and space, — “ Thou shalt seyn thise Psalmes sevene : “ The bettyr with God thou mayst ben evene, “ Or evere thi soule passe fro the. “ Begynne, and seye with mylde stevene, “ ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ ” VII. l^O MINE, ne in furore tuo arguas me : neque in ira tua corripias me, Lordi will thou no3t me schame ne schende, Whan thou schalt be in thi fersnesse, To dredfull dome whan I schal wende ? Helde no^t thi wretthe on my frealnessse, Thi derworthi childeryn whan thou schalt blesse, And bydde hem come to blysse with the : Mi synfull werkys more and lesse, ‘ Ne reminiscaris Domine !’ VIII. Miserere mei , Domine , quoniam infirmus sum: sana me, Domine, quoniam conturbata sunt omnia b 2 ossa mea. 4 TIIE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. Sythen thou woldyst no man were lost, Have mercy on me, for I am seke. Hele me, for my bonys are brost, And rewe on alle that will be meke. Thi pyte, Lord, encrese and eke, To alle that wille repentaunt be, And wille with sorweful herte seke, 'Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ IX. Et anima mea turbata est valde: tu , Domine^ usquequo ? My soule begynneth to tremble and qwake ! How longe schal it with dreed be schent? Late nojt thyn ymage be forsake, Made with so good avysement. Sythe man was made be full assent Of the blyssed Trinite; Thowj he do mys, and after repent, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ x. Convertere , Domine , et eripe animam mectm : salvum me fac propter misericordiam tuam. Turne the, Lord, and tarye now3t. Thin owen lyknes to helpe and save. Delyvere hem alle that thou hast bought, And graunte hem mercy that will it crave. Thynke, thou madyst bothe kyng and knave : Therfore of mercy be so fre, That no man wante, that wille it have. * Ne reminiscaris, Domine I’ THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL TSALMS. 0 XI. Quoniam non est in morte qui memor sit tui : in inferno autem quis confitebitur tibi f Whan man is seek, and nedys inuste dye, (As every man schal do be kynde,) After mercy he kan noyt crye, For sykenes revyth hym his mynde. Therfore, I rede, be 1103! be hynde, Whil mercy is in gret plente : For in helle myjt nevere man fynde € Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XII. Laboravi in gemitu meo : lavabo per singulas nodes lectum meum : lacrimis meis stratum meum rigabo. My travayle is, bothe nyght and day. To wepe and vveyle for my synne: With bittere terys I schal asay To wassche the bed that I lye inne. Whoso evere hevene will Wynne, In endeles blysse evere more to be, This vers he muste ofte begynne, ‘Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XIII. Turbatus est a f urore oculus mens : inveteravi inter omnes inimicos meos . Myn eyin ben wexin al derke for drede; My wickednes is drawyn on elde ; My soule is wrappyd in wofull wede, For synne I have forsake ful selde. 6 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. Lord ! fro sorwe and schame me schelde ! Myn helpe, myn hele, it lythe in the ! Therfore I crye, in town and felde, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XIV. Discedite a me omnes qui operamini iniquitatem : quoniam exaudivit Do minus vocem Jietus mei. Whan thou schalt deme bothe grete and smale, That day we nedys muste abyde. Fro Iosaphath, that gret vale, There is no man that may hym hvde. Thanne sette me, Lord, on thi ry3t syde, And cursede wretchys departe fro me. Wepyng I preye, ajens that tyde, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine I’ xv. Exaudivit Dominus deprecacionem meam : Do - minus oracionem meam suscepit. Whanne gode and ille here mede schal take. As they ben worthi wo or wele, Late me no5t thanne be forsake; Sythe I have lefte my synnes fele. Suffere no feend me thanne apele, Whanne the laste judgement schal be. Late me be syker, whil I have hele, Of ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XVT . Erubescanl et conturbentur vehementer omnes ini - mici mei : convertantur et erubescant valde velociter. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 7 Whanne thei, that ly ven ajens tlii lawe, Schul be schent with open schame. To thy mercy I wille me drawe. And kepe my soule oute of blame. Thi mercy. Lord, I muste ataine, Whan myn enmyes dampnyd schul be : For evere I crye, and seye the same, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XVII. J^EATI quorum remisse sunt iniquitates ; et quorum tecta sunt peccata. They may be syker of hevene blys, That han fo^evenes of here synne. Thi mercy hydeth that is amys, Ofwickede werkys 3yf thei will blynne. Whan body and soule departe atwynne, All worldys frenschippe awey will fie: Thou getyst non helpe, of sybbe nor kynne, But 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XVIII. Beatusvir , cui non imputavit Dominus peccatum ; 7iec est in spiritus ejus dolus . Zyf God, that made all thyng of nou3t, Of no synne may the apeche, In dede doon, or herte thou3t, Ne gyle ne falsnes in my speche ; Thanne, 3‘if it be as clerkys teche, Of endeles blysse 1 dowte no3t me. Zyf I be seek, this is my leche, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ 8 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. XIX. Quoniam tacui , inveteraverunt ossa mea ; dum clamarem tota die . My medefull werkys, that ben ful fewe, Zyf I go telle hem every where ; My synne[s], that I in schryfte schulde schewe, I kepe hem clos for schame or fere ; — - Thanne waxe thei olde, and done me dere ; I rote as dooth a bowe on tre. Therfore, er I be leyd on bere, 6 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ xx. Quoniam die ac node graviter est super me manus tua : conversus sum in erumpna mea y dum configitur spina . The hand of vengeaunce, more and more, Is up on me bothe day and nyjt ; The prycke of conscyence grevyth me sore. As often as I do unryjt : But mercy. Lord ! as thou hast hy^t To alle tho that wyl turne un to the. I kan no socour in thys ply3t. But, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XXI. Delictum meum cognitum tibi feci : et injusticiam meam non abscondi. My trespas and myn unry3twysnesse I knowleche, and my synnes fele. Thow5 I wolde hyde my wickydnesse, My conscyence vville me apele. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 9 I synne al day, for I am frele ; It is mannys infirmyte : Whan no man may his gylte concede, 4 Ne reininiscaris, Dornine !’ XXII. Dixi , Confitebor adversum me injusticiam mectrn Domino : et tu remisisti impietatem peccati mei. Zyf thou, with good avysement, Of thi synnes wilt the schryve, Thi soule in helle schal nevere be sehent, Whil thou wilt here thi penaunce dryve. Amende thi lyif (I rede the blyve) Er evere thi wittes fro the He ; And thynke wel, whil thou art on lyve, On 6 Ne reminiscaris, Dornine !’ XXIII. Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus , in tempore oportuno. Thow3 thou be holy in woord and dede, And besy thi God to plese and pay, To more mercy thou hast gret nede, Zyf thou thi conscyens wylt asay. Sevene sythes up on a day, The ry3twyse fallyth, Cryist seyth to the : But who so cryith, he seyde nevere nay, Of 4 Ne reminiscaris, Dornine !’ XXIV. Verumptamen in diluvio aquarian multarum , ad eum non approximabunt. 10 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. Thou mayst 11051 come to God above, Thrown thi fleschly governaunce : Lust and lykyng 3yf thou love, The ende therof is bitter chaunce. Thou mayst no3t serve bothe, with plesaunce, Cryist and the feend, in no degre. Serve God ; and seye, with repentaunce, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XXV. Tu es refugium meurn a tribulacione que circum- dedit me. Exultacio mea ! erue me a circundantibus me. Thou art myn helpe in al dyssese ! Whan I am wrappyd in wele or wo, I schulde be besy the to plese. But, alias ! I do no3t so. Delyvere me, Lord, fro many a fo, That ny3t and day envyroun me. For helpe I kan no ferthere go, But to 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XXVI. Intellectum tibi dabo , el instruam te in via qua gradieris : Jirmabo super te oculos meos. Graunte me grace wisdam and witt, Thi lawe to understande and lere. That I nevere gylte a3ens itt, Wher evere I go, fer or nere. I pray the. Lord, be thou my fere ; And pitously beholde, and se How I crye, whil I am here, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 11 XXVII. Nolite fieri sicut equus et mulus : quibus non eat intellectus. I am full dull and ry3t unwvse, As beestys that kan no resoun take ; Slowe and slak in thi servyse, And selde suffre for thi sake. To the my moornyng I make, On me have mercy and pyte. There may no thyng my sorwe aslake, But “Ne reminiscaris, Domine !” XXVIII. In chamo et freno maxillas eorum constringe ; qui non approximant ad te. Lord ! drawe hym to the with a brydel, That will no5t come with good wvlle ; And streyne here chekys fro woordys y dell. That kan no3t holdyn here tungys stylle. But, Lord ! late nevere mannes soule spylle, That axyth mercy and grace of the, And mekely puttyth to the this bylle, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XXIX. Multa flagella peocatoris : sperantem autem in Domino misericordia circumdabit . The scourge of God is sharp and kene, Whanne synne among men is ryif ; Often he betyth hem by dene. To drawe hem fro here wycked ly if. 12 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. He sparyth neythir man ne wyif, Ne non astate nor degre : There is no tliyng may stynte this stryif, But ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ xxx. Letamini in Domino , et exultate justi : et glo ria - mini omnes recti corde . In herte thei may be merye and glad, That ry3tfully here ly ’if lede, And kepe the lawe that Cryist bad, In thoujt, in woord, and eke in dede. God wille qwyte hem here mede, In endles biysse when thei schul be . Here nedys may no thyng bettyr spede, Than ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XXXI. jyOMINE , ne in furore tuo arguas me : neque in ira tua corripias me. Lord ! 3if thou be fers and sterne, As ofte tyme as thou schewyst outward, And I trespase a3ens the 3erne, To the I am rebell and fro ward. Ryghtwysnesse to me is hard, But it with mercy mengyd be: To this woord, Lord, have reward, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ xxxi i. Quoniam sagitte tue infixe sunt michi : et confir- masti super me manum tuam. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 13 Thyn arwys ben scharpe and persyn myn herte ; Thi vengeaunce woundyth me ful depe ; Thou makyst my body sore to smerte, For thou woldist my soule kepe. I kan no more but weyle and wepe ; Thin hand is sore set on me : Tn to my grave er evere I crepe, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XXXIII. Non est sanitas in came mea , a facie ire tue : non est pax ossibus meis , a facie peccatorum meorum. In my fleseh I have non hele : Of synne comyth sorwe, and that is sene: My synful body is fals and frele, And dooth my spirite gret angyr and tene. There is no pees hem betwene. But evermore stryif and enmvte. My synfull werkis, alle be dene, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ xxxiv. Quoniam iniquitates mee supergresse sunt caput rneum : et sicut bonus grave , gravate sunt super me. My gylt is growvn over myn heed ; All wyckidnesse in me is founde : My synnes ben hevy as hevy leed, Thei drawe me down on to the grounde. The feende with synne hath me so bounde, Bothe hand and foot, I may nojt fie : No thyng may make me saaf and sounde, But ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine I’ 14 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. XXXV. Putruerunt et corrupte sunt cicatrices wee ; a facie insipiencie mee. My soule is comberyd with sorwe and synne : Lord I have pyte of my grevaunce. My woundes festryn and rotyn with inne, Be cause of unwyse governaunce. Who so wille scape a carefuli chaunce. Whan all oure ly if demyd schall be ; He muste be forn make purveaunce, Of ‘Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ xxxvi. Miser f actus sum , et curvatus sum usque in finem : tota die contristatus ingredieba/r. I am a wreeche and feble of myght, And drawe faste toward myn ende ; I may nojt go ne stonde aryght. Mi bak begynneth for to bende. Sorwe and syknesse wil me schende; A l day I make my mone to the : For now have I non othir freende, But ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XXXVII. Quoniam lumbi mei impleti sunt illusionibus : et non est sanitas in came mea. My spirite and my flesch, in fere, The feend is besy to begyle : As longe as I have lyved here, lie is aboute with many a wyle, THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 15 Bothe body and soule to defyle : I may no3t scape his cruelte. Ther is non helpe, in this whyle, But c Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XXXVIII. Afflictus sum et humiliatus sum nimis : rugiebam a gemitu cordis met. Syknesse makyth me lowe and meke ; I am turmentyd in wo and peyne. Thow5 thou woldyst my sorwe eke, I hadde no mater of the to pleyne. I am worthy (I may no5t feyne) To suffre more, 3yf it lyke the. With contrite herte, I turne ageyne To ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ xxxix. Domine ! ante te omne desiderium meum: et gemitus mens a te non est absconditus. Thou knowyst myn herte and all my wilie : My sorwe I may no3t fro the hyde : Suffre nevere my soule to spylle, Ne no myscheef me betyde. Now fadyth and fallyth all my pryde : For erthe I was, and erthe schal be. Thi mercy only I abyde : ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XL. Cor meum conturbatum est ; dereliquit me virtus mea : et lumen oculorum meorum et ipsum non est mecum . 16 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. Homward I drawe un to my rest; My myght and sy3t avvey is went. Myn herte is in poynt to brest. For dreed of harde jugement. Lord ! late me nevere be schamyd nor schent, Thi ferdefull face whan I schal se ; Nor non that cryeth, with good entent, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine 1 * XLI. Amici mei et proximi mei : adversum me appro- pinquaverunt , et steterunt. Kyn and knowleche, at myn ende, Whan I have nede, begynneth to fayle. He, that was sumtyme my frende, Is m>3t aschamyd me to assayle. That I have getyn with sore travayle. Men ben a boutyn to 3yve fro me. There is no thyng may me avayle, But ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine I’ XLII. Et quijuxta me erant , de longe steterunt: et vim faciebant , qui querebant animam meam . Summe that were sumtyme ful nye, Untrewly now han me forsake : Thei stryve ful faste, whan I schal dye, My wordely godys for to take. Thus falsnesse is the worldys make ; And feythfull freendys fewe there be. Er ryghtwysnesse be fully wake, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 17 XL 1 1 1. Et qui inquirebant mala michi, loculi sunt vani - fates : et dolos tota die meditabantur. Whanne I may no lengere lyve, Myn enemyes spekyn of me full ille : Zyf I my3te an answere gyve, They wolde kepe here tungys sty lie. Thus al day falsnesse hath his wylle. For frenschyp feyned is enemy te : Folys ben favouryd all here fy lie. 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine ! XLI V. Ego autem , tanquam surdus , non audiebam : et sicut mutus non aperiens os swum. Myn erys and my mowth I dytt, As I my3te neyther speke nor here: For now men seyn, it is wytt To thynke my fylle and make good chere. Thus every day we be to lere, * As fortune chaungyth, so muste we:’ In erthe I fynde no feythful fere, But 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine f XL V. Et f actus sum sicut homo non audiens : et non habens in ore suo redargue tones. As I herde nou3t, I holde my pes; In woord I dar no man repreve : Zyf truthe will puttyn hym in pres, He may sone dysplese and greve. c 18 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. Now soothfastnesse hath takyn his leve, And wytt is turned to vanyte ! It is gret nede this woord to meve, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XL VI. Quo?iiam in te, Domine , speravi : tu exaudies me , Domine Deus meus ! Lord ! whan I on to the calle, For3yve me my synnes more and lesse: Thou art governour of alle, Welle and roote of all goodnesse ! Late no5t myn enemyes me oppresse; Myn hope, myn helpe, it is in the. Whan thou schalt all wrong redresse, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine V XLVII . Quia dixi , Nequando supergaudeant mihi inimici mei: et, dum commoventur pedes mei, super me magna locuti sunt . Late no3t myn enemyes makyn here game Of me, whan I am lokyn in leed ; Ne with here tungys blemysch my name, And speke me ille whan I am deed. Er evere my feet and myn heed Be leyde a lyke, (as they muste be,) To have in mynde, it is best reed, * Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XL VIII. Quoniam ego in Jiagella paratus sum: et dolor meus in conspectu meo semper . THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 19 Here no lengere taryen I may ; In erthe 1 schal no lengere dvvelle : Harde peynes I muste asay. In purgatorye, or ellys in helie. The ferdefull feendys, ferse and fell, On me will schewyn here cruelte ; But I kunne summe tydinges telle Of 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XLIX. Quoniam iniquitatem meam annunciabo * et cogi- tabo pro peccato meo . My wyckydnesse I nedys schal schewe, Before my dredefull jugys face; Whethyr my synnes be manye or fewe, I schal have ryght thanne, and no grace. Thanne schal mercy be ful scace, Whan ryghtwysnesse and equite Schal puttyn a wey, out of his place, 4 Ne reminiscaris. Domine !’ L. Inimici autem mei vivunt , et confirmati sunt super me : et multiplicati sunt, qui oderunt me inique . More ovyr, my peynes to encrese, Myn enmyes that be lefte behynde, They multiplye and will no^t cese : Here hatrede and here wratthe I fynde ; In woord and werk, thei ben unkynde, Whan I am deed to pursewe me. They sette ful selde in here mynde, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ c 2 20 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. LI. Qui retribuunt mala pro bonis , detrahebant michi : quoniam sequebar bonitatem. Now I am ful lytel bounde To manye, that were to me beholde ; Whan I am deed, and leyd in grounde, Here love is waxen wonder colde. They bakby'te me manye folde ; Evyll for good thei qwyten me : I am aferd thei be to bolde Of ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LII. Ne derelinquas me , Domine Deus meus ! ne dis- cesseris a me. Now fleschly freendys have I none: Lord ! to the my soule I take. I hope and truste in the alone, That thou wylt me nevere forsake. Thou mayst best my sorwe aslake. Departe nojt, Lord, awey fro me. To thi mercy my mone I make, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LIII. Intende in adjutorium meum : Domine Deus sa- lutis mee ! Thow3 I in flesch be syke and frele, Of my soule, god[e] Lord I take hede. In the only is hope and hele: Thou art myn helpe at every nede. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 21 Thi mercy thou wylt no man forbede, Tyl the body and soule departyd be: Thanne is to late to synge, or rede, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LIV. MISERERE mei , Deus ! secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. IVTercy, Lord, I calle and crye : Thi mercy is redy in every place. Thow3 I have lyved ful synfullye, I putte me fully in thi grace. There is no synne, before thi face. So grete as mercy and pyte. To synfull man thou were nevere scace Of ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LV. Et, secundum multitudinem miseracionum tuarum , dele iniquitatem meam . To me thi mercy multiplye. And lese no3t that thou hast bow3t. Putte awey, Lord I gracyouslye. My wicked werkys that I have wrow3t. TI10W3 I thi mercy deserve now3t, Zyt it is thi propirte, To spare hem that mekely sow3t, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LVI. Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea : et a peccato meo munda me . 22 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. Wassche me, Lord ! ferthermore. Fro synne that grevyth me ful ille ; That there leve no prevy sore, Ne circumstaunce that longyth ther tylle. Make me clene fro woord and wylle, And kepe me, for thyn honeste. Therfore I presente the this bylle, 6 Ne reminiscaris, Domine V L VII. Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosce : et pec - catum meum contra me est semper . I am aknowe my synfull lyif, That I have led fro tendyr age : But 3yf thi mercy to me were ryif, To peyne schulde be my pilgrymage. Myn owen dedys, that ben outrage. Before thi sy3t accusyn me: But to thi mercy I do homage. ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ L VIII. Tibi soli peccavi , et malum coram te feci : utjus- tijiceris in sermonibus tuis , et vincas cum judicaris . I have synned to the alone, And forfetyd ofte before thi sy3t: Zyf I will leve my synnes ilkone, Grace and mercy thou hast behy3t. Schewe, Lord ! how they do unry3t, That seyn thou wylt no3t rewe on me, Whanne I erve, bothe day and ny3t, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 23 LIX. Ecce enim ! in iniquitatibus conceptus sum : et in peccatis concepit me mater mea. Of my modyr I was conceyved In synne, and so was every chylde, (After that Adam was dysceyved,) Sauf Cryist alone and Marie mylde. The feend ther to hath maad ful wylde My flesch, my soule with inne me ; But 3yf I kunne the bettyr bylde, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine V LX. Ecce enim ! veritatem dilexisti : incerta et occulta sapiencie tue manifestasti michi. Zyf I my synne will nojt excuse, But telle it trewly as it is ; I truste thou wilt no3t me refuse, Thow3 I do ofte tyme amys. Thanne thi wysdam will me wis, To knowe so weel thi pryvyte, That I schal no3t fayle of thys, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXI. Asperges me , Domine, ysopo et mundabor : lavabis me , et super nivem dealbabor . Sprenkle me. Lord ! with watyr of terys, That myn herte be pourgyd clene. Wysse me fro my wylde gerys. And wassche my synne awey be dene : THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. As snow, that fallyth in fyldes grene, Is \vhy3t and bry3t, so schal I be ; Thanne schal the werkyng be ful sene Of ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXII. Auditui meo dabis gaudium et leticiam : et ex- ultabunt ossa humiliata . My synne 3yf I no3t defende, But aske mercy' with sorwefull chere. And my ]y if mekely amende, God will my bone gladly here. He will no3t lese that is bou5t dere Wyth by tier deth up on a tre. As longe as we wvll lowely here Seye 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXIII. Averte faciem tuam a- peccatis meis : et omnes iniquitates meas dele. My wicked werkys tliou putte awey, And fro my synnes turne thi face, Sorwe and sy3hyng is my pley, AY her evere I be in ony place. I am no3t worthy to have thi grace, And ry3twysnesse I may no3t fle : But, inyghtfull Lord ! be no3t scace Of 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXIV. Cor mundum area in me , Dens ! et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 25 Myn lierte hath be dyffoyled with synne ; My spirit was to the untrewe. Clense me, Lord ! therfore with inne ; A ryghtful spiryte in me renewe, That I may evere synne esschewe. And 3yf I forfete, of frealte, To thi mercy I will purse we, Wyth 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ lxv. Ne proicias me a facie tua : et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me. Fro thi face caste thou me rjou3t, TI10W3 I be untrewe and unkynde. Zyf I trespace in dede or thou3t, Lete no3t thi mercy be behynde. Of my frealnesse, gode Lord, have mynde. Thyne holy spirite take no3t fro me ; And 3yf thou do, how schal I fynde ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine ?’ LXVI. liedde michi leticiam salutaris tui : et spiritu prin- cipali confirma me. Fadyr, that art of myghtes most ! Graunte me gladnesse of soulys hele. Conferme rne with the holy gost ; And lete me nevere with feendys dele. Forsake me no3t in wo ne in wele ; For evere I have nede to the : And 3yf thou do, I will apele To ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ 26 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. LXVIl. Docebo iniquos vias tuas : et impii ad te conver- tentur. The weyis that ben to God in hye, Fill gladly I schal telle and teche, Wher evere I be in cuinpanye ; Of tho only schal be my speche. To turne synfull men fro vvreche, Ensaumple they may take of me : For I cowde nevere fynde othyr leche, But ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXVIII. Libera me de sanguinibus y Deus , Deus salutis mee! et exultabit lingua mea justiciam tuam. I may no3t overcome the feende ; His malyce I kan no}t fully felle : He steryth my flesch, me to schende ; It waxith sturdy and rebelle. Of helthe and hele thou art the welle I Fro fleschly lust thou delyvere me ; That ry3tfully my tunge may telle, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXIX. Domine, labia mea aperies : et os meum annun - ciabit laudem tuam . My mouth schal preyse the day and ny3t, My lyppes to the schull opyn wyde ; The to serve myn herte is ly3t ; Evere more with the I wyll abyde, THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 27 Zyf I my trespace will nc>3t hyde, But lowely aske mercy of the. I crye to the in ilke a tyde, ‘Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXX. Quoniam , si voluisses sacrijicium , dedissem utique : holocaustis non delectaberis. Of beeste that is unresonable. Thou desyrest no sacryfyse. That mannys lyvyng be covenable, And redy un to thi servyse, — That is all thi coveytise, — That I love God as he doth me. I may no bettyr oflry'ng devyse, Than 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !* LXXI. Sacrijicium Deo, spiritus contribulatus : cor con- tritum et humiliatum, Deus , non despicies. Zyf thou wilt offere, to God of hevene, A spyrit of gret repentaunce; Thow3 thou be gylty of synnes sevene, A sorwefull herte is Goddys plesaunce. Syn thou wylt no3t thi self avaunce, God wyll no3t dispysen the ; Whil thou wylt make good ordynaunce Of 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine T LXXII. Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntatetua, Syon : ut edijicentur muri Ihernsalem. 28 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. My soule, that often hath be distryed, Graunte me thi wyll to bygge ageyn. Thi goodnesse was nevere 3yt denyed : There hath no man matere to pleyn. Thi bounte passyth, as alle men seyn, All that was or evere schal be ; And ellys my speche were all in veyn, Of ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine V LXXIII. Nunc acceptabis sacrificium jus tide, oblaciones et holocausta : tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos. Offryng and schedyng of beestys blood Were made in awterys, in figure Of Cryist, that deyid up on the rood. To raunsoun synfull creature. Whan I do ony forfeture, A contrite heart I offere to the : Accepte this, Lord, for ry3t rekure, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXIV. J JO MINE ! exaudi oracionem mea\m~\ : et clamor rneus ad te veniat . H ERE me, Lord, I calle and crye : Thou art my comfort in wele and wo. Accepte my prayere gracyouslye ; I truste fully thou wylt do so. Zyf thou fayle me I knowe no mo : In dyspeyr thanne levyst thou me. I am but lost, 3yf I forgo ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 29 LXXV. Non avertas faciem tuam a me: in quacumqne die tribulor , inclina ad me aurem tuam . Fro me turne awey thi face, TI10W3 I to the be often unkynde. Ful selde thow3 I deserve thi grace, Whan thou art wroth, of mercy have mynde. Zyf I seke grace, lete mu it fynde ; And goodly thyn erys bowe to me. Fro synne may no thyng me unbynde, But ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXVI . In quacumque die invocavero te : velociter exaudi me . Every day to synne I falle, And selde do ryght and ofte wrong : Zyf I be sory, and to the calle, Lete no3t thi mercy tarye to Ionge. Sprede thi grace on me amonge, Whan I have synned in ony degre. For trust to the, this is my songe, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine 1 ’ LXXVII. Quia defecerunt , sicut fumus , dies mei : et ossa mea , sicut cremium , aruerunt. My dayes begynne to fayle and fade ; Thei wanyssche as smoke, whan it is hye : My bonys were stronge, and myghtyly made ; But now thei clynge, and waxe all drye. 30 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. This is a token e that I schal dye : My day is sett, I schal nojt fle. I take me fully to thi mercy : 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXVIII. Percussus sum ut fenum , et aruit cor meum : quia oblitus sum comedere panem meum. I am smetyn down, and begynne to welwe, As hey3 that lythe a3ens the sunne : I have no myght my mete to swelwe ; For dry myn herte to gydere is runne. My deth with inne me is begunne ; I falle as doth the leef on tre : My soule I hope to blysse be wunne, With 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXIX. A voce gemitus mei : adhesit os meum cami mee „ For sorwe my lyppes cleve to gyder; My mouth [e] hath no myght to speke: I may no3t meve me hyder ne thyder ; Myn herte for wo begynneth to breke. For stark, my lemys I may not streke. Mercyfull Lord ! rewe on me ! And wickyd werkys wharf thou schalt wreke, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXX. Similis f actus sum pelicano solitudinis : f actus sum sicut nicticorax in domicilio . To dreedful deth I am dy3t, As a pelycan in wyldyrnesse ; THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 31 And as a backe, that flyith be ny3t, I am withdrawyn fro all goodnesse. Thou helyst my woundys more and lesse ; With thyn herte blood thou wasschyst me : As oftyn I kan fynde wytnesse, At 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine I’ LXXXI. Vigilavi : et f actus turn sicut passer solitarius in tecto. I dar noyt slepe, but ever more wake, As a sparwe that is alone. The feend is busy my soule to take ; And frendys have I fewe or none. Whan wordely trust awey is gone, All hope and helpe it is in the : To thi mercy' I make my mone; 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXXI i. Tot a die exprobrabant michi inimici mei : et , qui laudabant me , adversum me jurab ant. Myn enmyes often me reprevyn, And bakbyte me with outen enchesoun : Now may no man othir levyn, For wylfulnesse is holde resoun ; All day we se in trust is tresoun. And preysing prevyd sotylte. False othys ben now no3t gesoun : 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXX1TI . Quia cinerem tanquam panem manducabam : et potum meum cum fietu miscebam. 32 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. Asschys I eete in stede of brede, My drynk is watyr that I wepe ; Whan I thynke I schal be deed, Be turnyd to asschys, and lye fill depe. My deth evermore in mynde I kepe ; I wote nojt whanne myn ende schal be : In to my grave er evere I crepe, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXXIV. A facie ire indignationis tue : quia elevans alii - sisti me. Sythen thou woldyst my soule avaunce, And make me eyr of hevene blysse ; I am worthy the more penaunce, As often as I do amysse. Fro thi wratthe who schal me wysse, Whan sorwe and synne schul vengyd be ? All myn hope schal ly in in thysse, 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXXV . Dies mei , sicut umbra , declinaverunt : et ego sicut fenum arui. My dayes as schadewe waxe drye and derke, On me no lyght of grace may schyne ; Deth on me hath set his merke : As gres in medewe I drye and dwyne. My synnes I drede thei schul be myne, And more schal I nojt bere with me ; But 3yf I make the bettre my fyne, Wyth 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 33 LXXXVI. Tu autem , Domine , ineternum per manes : et me - moriale tuum in genera done [ m] et generacione[rn~\. There lastyth no thyng but thou alone ; For here may I no3t longe abyde. Whan my soule in peyne schal grone, What schal avavle me all my pryde? Lrtist and lykyng I sette be syde; And sette evermore my mynde in the. I prey the, that thou wylt no5t hyde ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXXVII. Tu exurge ns, Domine , misereberis Syon : quia tempus miser endi ejus , quia venit tempus. Have mercy of Syon, Davydes towr, That signyfyeth the ordre of knyjt ; They schulde be holy cherchys socour, And mayntene the feyth with al here my3t. Late nevere kny3thod, a3en the ryght, Be lost with tresoun and sotylte. For we preye, bothe day and ny3t, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXXVIII. Quoniam placuerunt servis tuis lapides ejus: et terre ejus miserebuntur. Every kny3t is callyd a ston Of Syon, for holy cherchis defens ; And goddys servauntys, everylkon, Thei schulde plese, with gret reverens. D 34 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. Thanne wratthe schulde slake, and al offens; And mercy on erthe schulde be so fre. That preyerys schulde turne all vyolens To f Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ LXXXIX. Et timebunt gentes nomen tuum , Domine ! et omnes reges terre gloriam tuam. All peple in erthe thi name schal drede,* And kynges to thi blysse schul bende. Of thi grace a kyng hath nede : Mercyfull Lord, be thou his frende ! For thou only mayst save, or schende, Bothe hye and lovve of iche degre. Lete hym nevere forfete, thru3 the fende, Ajens ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ xc. Quia edificavit Dominus Syon : et videbitur in gloria sua. Syon a rnerour is* to say, That God hath bygged and sett ful hye : There sytt oure kyng, be trewe fay, That schal heretykes alle distrye. He mayntenyth oure cherche gracyouslye, And kepyth it, (as 30 may se), That preyith for hym ful hertylye, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ xci. Respexit in oracionem humilium : et non sprevit precem eorum . THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 35 Zyf lordys vvillen to God be meke, And leve cruelte and coveytise, Holy cherche to encrese and eke, And worschyp God in his servyse; Thanne will nojt God prayerys dispyse, For kyng and for the comounte, Whan we syngen, in devoute wyse, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XCII. Scribantur hec in generacione altera : et pop ulus, qui creabitur, laudabit Dominum . Mekenes of kynges in bokys is wretyn, As of David and Ezechye ; For othere aftyr hem schulde wetyn, How thei schulde lyve vertouslye, And thanke here God, that sytt on hye, That formyth and stabelvth kynges see, To kynges that trustyn stedfastlye To f Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XCIII. Quia prospexit de excelso sancto suo : Dominus de celo in terram aspexit. God beholdyth bothe more and lesse, Fro hevene there he sytteth in trone, How terauntys in erthe his peple oppresse, That han non helpe but hym alone. As thei dore, they make here mone. To hym that all oure Juge schal be : For alle here freendys ben i gone, Saaf ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine I’ d 2 36 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS, XCIV. Ut audiret gemitus compeditorum : et solverei filios inter emptorum. God heryth his peple weyle and wepe. That lyeth in feterys bounde sore : In stokkys, and in prysons depe, Thei curse the tyme that thei were bore. Here faderys were slayn hem before; And they be faste, and mowe no3t fle : Helpe ne frenschypp have thei no more, But ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ xcv. Ut annuncientin Syon nomen Domini : et laudem ejus in Iherusalem. Thi name is knowyn of kyng and kny5t, In the mount of Syon, that thou ches. Thou art preysid, bothe day and ny3t, In Ierusalem the cyte of pes. Presthod of preysing schal no3t ces ; For thou hast made thi peple fre. Thy mercy hath made a ful reles, With ‘Ne reminiscaris, Domine V xcvi. In conveniendo populos in unum ; et reges , ut serviant Domino. Preestys, parfy3t in here lyvyng, Schulde teche the peple the ry3t way ; And tellyn kny3tes, comounnerys, and kyng, How thei schulde serve God, to pay ; THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 37 And stere hem, all that evere thei may, To pes, [and] love, and charyte , And for the peple synge, and say, ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XCVII. Respondit ei in via virtutis sue : paucitatem dierum meorum nuncia michi. The weye to vertew I vvolde fayne lere, In bodily lyif whil I have space : For my tyme is ly tel here ; My dayes be waxen wonder seace ; And whider I schal, or to what place. It lythe in Goddys pryvyte. But evere I hope to fynde sum grace, Wyth ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ XCVIII. Ne revoces me in dimidio dierum meorum : in generacione\m~\ et generationem , anni tui. Calle me no3t sodeynly ageyn. Whan half my dayes ben i past; Ne dampne me no3t to endles peyn. But 3yve me lyif that evere schal last. Thi 3erys ben endles, and may no3t wast ; But I am goyng, and hens muste fie ; Myn hope and trust fully I caste. In ‘ Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ xcix. Inicio tu , Domine, ter ram fundcisti : et opera manuum tuarum sunt celi . 38 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. First thou madyst both earth and heven , Down to the lowest element ; The sterrys, and the planetys seven , That mevyn abowtyn the firmament : Thanne madyst thou man, with avysement, In erthe thi servaunt for to be. Lete hym nevere therfore be schent : 4 Ne reminiscaris, Domine !’ c. Ipsi peribunt ; tu autem permanes : et omnes sicut vestimentum veterascent . Whan alle the planetys, that turnyn abowte. At the day of dome schul cese and reste ; Alle erthely thynges schul were owte ; Castellys and towrys schul bende and breste : Thanne thou schalt laste, for thou art beste I Begynnyng thou art, and ende schalt be ! Late me thanne be no straunge geste. To 4 Ne reminiscaris Domine !’ ci. Et sicut oportorium mutabis eos , et mutabuntur : tu autem idem ipse es, et anni tui non deficient . Mann [e^s flesh shall bee [sumus, tuis famulis subveni : quos praetioso sanguine redemisti.” (Hymnus sanctorum Ambrosii et Au- gustini, inc. Te Deurn.) “ Numquid in aeternum iraseeris nobis? aut extendes iram tuam a generatione in generationem ?” (Psalm, lxxxv. 5.) Stanza iv. — “ To schryve me clene and aske penaunce.” — See notes on stanza xxn. Stanza vi. — “ Or evere.” — So in the MS. but in other places er evere (see st. xxn. xxxii. lxxxm.); and the word er fre- quently occurs for before , in this poem. Stanza vm. — In the Latin text, omnia is an addition to the text of the Psalters : yet it occurs also in two MS. copies of the Penitential Psalms, in the editor’s hands. NOTES. 57 Stanza ix. — T he Latin text omits sed before “ tu” which is in all other copies. Stanza x. — “ To the kyng and knave.” — “ Tho, that thou clepest thy thralles , ben Goddes peple : for humble folk ben Cristes frencles ; they ben contubernial with the Lord, thy King. Thinke also, that of swiche seed as cherles springen, of swiche seed springen lordes. The same deth that taketh the cherl, swiche deth taketh the lord” &c. {Chaucer's Persones Tale , p. 352.) Stanza xm. — “ In town and felde.” — MS. “ add” for and. Stanza xiv. — “ Fro Iosaphath, that gret vale.” — Alluding to a vulgar tradition, that the general judgment is to take place in the valley of Jehosaphat, under the wall of Jerusalem. Either the proper name ought to be pronounced in four syllables, or the word “ gret” must be written and read grete , to complete this line. Ibid. — “ And cursede wretchys departe fro me.” — The verb here is not neuter, or in the second person plural, as it is in the English translation of this verse, “ Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity” (Ps. vi. 8.) : but is an active verb, mean- ing Separate those from me; as in the old words of plighting, “ till death us departed altered in the modern print to “ do part.” “ Departe” occurs, as a verb neuter, in st. lii. ; but otherwise in st. lii i. Stanza xvi. — “ Thi mercy, Lord, I muste ataine.”— The rhyme requires atame , which is most probably the true reading, and would mean conciliate , from the Anglo-Saxon atamian. The MS. is ambiguous. Stanza xx. — “The hand of vengeance.” — Apparently a mistake for Thi ; as in the Latin, manus tua. 58 NOTES. Ibid. — “ The prycke of conscyence.” — This idea is un- doubtedly borrowed from the title of the most popular reli- gious poem of the middle ages, Hampole’s Prick (or sting) of Conscience ; which is too well known to need more than a pass- ing mention. Ibid — “ Un to the.” — The measure requires the first of these syllables to be omitted ; as also “ myn,” in the first line of st. XXI. Stanza xxi. — “ My svnnes fele.” — By comparing st. xv. it will be seen that “fele” is not the verb to feel , but an adjec- tive meaning many. Stanza xxii. — “ Of thi synnes wilt the schryve.” — Chaucer quotes this verse of the Psalm thus : “ I say, quoth David, I purposed fermely to shrive me ; and thou, Lord, relesedst my sinne.” ( Persones Tale , p. 302.) Ibid. — “ Whil thou wilt here thi penance dryve.” — That is, exercise repentance. That painful discipline was not meant by the word penance (as in st. iv.), is evident from the whole tenor of the “ Persones Tale,” especially the following passage: — “ Seint Ambrose sayth, That penance is the plaining of man for the gilt that he hath don, and no more to do any thing for which him ought to plaine. And som Doctour sayth : Penance is the waymenting of man that sorweth for his sinne, and peineth himself, for he hath misdon. Penance with certain circumstances, is veray repentance of man, that holdeth himself in sorwe and other peine, for his giltes ; and for he sclial be veray penitent, he shal first bewailen the sinnes that he hath don, and stedfastly purpose in his herte to have shrift of mouth, and to don satisfaction, and never to don thing, for which him ought more to bewayle or complaine, and NOTES. 59 to continue in good werkes ; or elles bis repentance may not availe.” ( Chaucer's Persones Tale , p. 281-2.) Stanza xxm. — “ Seven sythes,” &c. — This saying is not Christ’s, but Solomon’s : 44 Septies enim in die cadet justus , etresurget .” (Prov. xxiv. 16.) Perhaps the poet had in his mind these words of the gospel, “ Et si septies in die pec caver it in te, et septies in die conversus fuerit ad te, dicens 4 Pcenitet me P dimitte illi .” (Luc. xvii. 4.) Stanza xxiv. — 44 Throwgh thi fleschly governaunce.” — It means what is called in Paul’s epistles, 4 walking after the flesh,’ — the cppovriga aapKog , which puzzled so much the com- pilers of the Thirty-nine Articles. Stanza xxvi. — Other Latin copies read, in hac via qua gradieris. Stanzaxxxi. — 44 Have reward.” — In modern English regard. But so Chaucer : 44 Take reward of thin owen value, that thou ne he to foule to thyself.” ( Persones Tale , p. 287.) Stanza xxxix. — 44 Thou knowyst.” — MS. You ; the capital of the Saxon letter p (which occurs throughout the Sloane MS.) being here made exactly like Y. Ibid. — 44 For erthe I was, and erthe schal be.” — Alluding to those solemn words in Genesis iii. 19 : — “ In sudore vultus tui vescerispane tuo. Donee revertaris in terrain de qua sumptus es ! Quia pulvis es; Et in pulverem reverteris !” Stanza xlvi. — 44 Forghyve me my synnes.” — The second word is redundant, and is perhaps a mistake. Stanza xlvii. — “ Lokyn in leed.” — Alluding to the custom of burying in leaden coffins. See App. II. st. iii. 60 NOTES. Stanza lii. — “ That thou wylt me nevere forsake.” — By transposing the fourth and fifth words, the line may be restored to its proper measure ; thus, nevere me forsake . There is no instance of ‘ nevere’ accented otherwise than on the first sylla- ble, throughout this poem. Stanza liit, line 2. — The MS. has god lord : which words do not seem intended to represent the “ Domine Deus” in the text, because the paraphrase of the foregoing verse gives only ‘ Lord’ for that double invocation, which is not used by the author in English. The editor’s addition of a final e, makes the phrase good Lord , of which there is an example in st. lxv. Stanza lxii.— 1 u Auditui” — Here begins the Harleian fragment, in which the various readings of this stanza are: — line 1, My synne yff I wolle not defende ; and line 5, that he boate dere. Stanza lxiii, line 2. — MS. Harl. repeats the pronoun, thus, thou turne ; it omits the third line; reads play for “place” at the end of the fourth; and omits “ thi ” in the fifth. Stanza lxiv, line 1. — Harl. reads ben for “be;” omits “ to” in line 2 ; reads evermore for “ ever” in line 5 ; and omits “ Wyth” in line 8. Stanza lxv. — “Thi mercy.” — Harl. my trespas , whereby the sense is destroyed. Stanza lxvi. — “ Fadyr that art of myghtes most.”—Harl. read as thou , for “ that.” The phrase which follows seems to be equivalent to maximus virtutibus : it occurs in the begin- ning of the Legend of Saint Ede, edited by the editor of this work : — NOTES. 61 “ Almygbty God in Trinite, Fader and Sone and Holy Goste ! Helpe and spede and consell me, As thou art God of myghtus monte." {Chronicon Vilodunense, Lond. 1830, fol.) Stanza lxvii. — “ In hye.’’ — Harl. an hie . Stanza lxviii, line 3. — Harl. reads, me for to shende. Stanza lxix. — Harl. adds both , after “ shall” in the first line ; in the fourth, it reads wolde for “ wyll ; and the fifth line stands thus — Yff I trespas I woll not hide , Stanza lxxi. — “ Gylty of synnes sevene.” — The Harl. MS. inserts the , making the sense clearer, at the expense of the measure. The poet evidently alludes to “ the seven deadly sins,” which are thus recited in the elements of religious instruction of the Catholics, intitled “ Institutio Christiana,” commonly prefixed to their manuals of devotion. “ Septem peccata capitalia, quae communiter mortalia appellantur. Superbia , Avaritia , Luxuria , Invidia , Gula , Ira , et Acedia .” They formed the principal topics of the pulpit before the Re- formation ; and are largely discoursed of in the Persones Tale : to illustrate which, the following short poem is here offered to the reader, from an elegant little Wicliffite MS. of the fourteenth century, in the Harleian collection. (No. 2339, ff. 116 b,— 117 b.) These be the vii. deedly synnes that suen. Pride is heed of alkyns synne, That makith mannys soule fro God to twyn : To wickide highnes he wole ay ; And loveth to myche his owne noblay. Him silf he preisith in his thought. And othere men he settith at nought. NOTES. 62 Envye folowith pride comounly : Wlianne men faren weel, he is sory ; Whanne men faren yvel, he joietli withynne ; He laugheth nevere, but at synne. Wraththe unto these two is knytt: To take venjaunee is al his witt; To sle, to smyte, to procure woo, To warie folk, to sclaundre also. The coveitous man knowith no skille, For al this world mai him not fille : The worldis weelthe he willith ay, With right or wrong, gete whether he may. Glotenye hath greet appetite ; To ete eerli and late is his delite : He loveth no mesure of etinge, And ay he wole be drinkynge. The sixte synne is leccherie : To manye a soule it worchith noie : But men it leve, and hem amende, In fier of helle thei wole be brende. Slownes is a cursid thing : For it is evere weri of weel doyng. Good werk he lothith to bigynne ; And lightli therof he wole blynne. These ben the synnes sevene, That reven men the blis of hevene. Ibid. 1. 5. — Hail. Set he thou wyltnot thi selff enchawnce. The word “Of” is omitted by Harl. in the last line. Stanza lxii. 1.5. — For “as” Harl. reads that; and all for “ ellys” in line 7. Stanza lxxiii. — The reading of “Nunc” for Tune has been occasioned, probably, by the mistake of the rubrisher; who NOTES. G3 painted the blue capital N without looking at a copy. Such mistakes are frequent in embellished MSS., but seldom affect the sense : perhaps the old story of Mumpsimus , for Sump simus , may be accounted for in this way. Stanza lxxiv. — The omission of a letter in the Latin text is supplied by the editor, as also at stanzas lxxxvi. and xcviii. The only variation of the Harleian copy is, the omission of “ my” in the second line. Stanza lxxv. — Harl. reads oft be , for “ be often,” in line 2 ; and on for “ of,” in line 4 ; adds thou before “ bowe,” in line 6; and omits me in line 7. Stanza lxxvi. — Harl. reads in for “ to,” in line 1 ; ofte do wrong, in line 2 ; and in the thus , for 44 in the this,” in line 7 . Stanza lxxvii. — Harl. reads chaunge , for 44 clynge,” in line 4 ; and may , for 44 schal,” in line 6. Stanza lxxviii. — Harl. reads the second line thus, As thay that lie agaynst the sonne ; transposes the words in line 4, thus, For drie to gedur my hert is ronne ; and inserts it be- tween 44 me is,” in line 5. Stanza lxxix. — Mistaking 44 me” for ne , in line 3, Harl. reads nor hedur nor thedur ; it also reads On for 44 And,” in line 7. Stanza lxxx. — The first line seems to require adyght , or ydyght , for the simple participle “ dyght.” The author rarely uses any old prefix ; but igone in st. xciii., and ipast in st. xcviii., are proofs that he was not averse to the use of it, and intended to say idyght , to fill up his measure. NOTES. ()4 Ibid. 1. 7. — For “ oftyn,” Harl. reads oft as; and omits “ At” in line 8. Stanza lxxxi. — “ Sparwe that is alone.” — Sparowe that sitteth alone, Harl. The same MS. omits “ awey” in line 5. Stanza lxxxii. — Harl. in line l, reads me ofie, for “ often me;” omits “ me” in line 2 ; and reads holden resoun in line 7, for “ now noght gesoun.” Stanza lxxxiii. — “ I wote noght whanne myn ende schal be.” — Harl. I wote not whenne my deth shall be. This thought is beautifully expressed in the first stanza of one of Hoccleve’s poems, a Balade translated by command of Master Robert Chichele : — “ As that I walkid in the montlie of May Besyde a grove, in an hevy musynge Flowers diverse I sy right fresh and gay, And briddes herde I eek lusty ly synge ; That to myn herte yaf a confortynge : But evere o thoght me stang unto the herte, That dye I sholde , and hadde no knowynge Whanne, ne whidir , I sholde hennes sterte." Mr. Mason, the editor of some of Hoccleve’s poems, describes this as the seventeenth of those contained in his MS. (Preface, p. 17, 1796, 4to.) But what has become of that MS., or why Hoccleve’s poem De Regimine Principum , and other productions, have not been published, the present editor can give no account whatever. Stanza lxxxiv. — “ Schal lyin in thysse.” — Harl. in the is. Stanza lxxxv. — “ As schadewe waxe.” — Harl. ben sha- dowed and waxen. NOTES. 65 Stanza lxxxvi. — “ Noght hycle.” — Had. me hide. Stanza lxxxvii. — After “ Syon,” Harl. inserts the preposi- tion on; and reads “ the ordre of a knyght ” in line 2. The sentiment of this stanza, and of the next, is more akin to the religion of Mohammed than to Christianity : but such was chivalry, — an attempt to serve God and mammon upon a grand scale. An allusion to it occurs in Chaucer’s Persones Tale , in these words. “ What say we than of hem that pille and don extortions to holy chiche? Certes, the swerd , that men yeven first to a knight, whan he is newe dubbed, sig- nifieth that he shuld defend holy chirche , and not robbe it ne pille it; and who so doth, is traitour to Crist.” ( Canterbury Tales , ii. 352.) Stanza lxxxviii. — “ Schulde be so fre.” — Transposed in Harl. so fre shuld he. Stanza lxxxix. 1. 1. — For “ schal,” Harl. reads shuld; as also for “ scliul ” in line 2. Stanza xc. — “ Syon a merour is.”— The poet strangely resorts to this explanation of the name Sion , after his chi- valric allegory of a tower composed of stones : he might have found something consistent with his former idea, in the same authority from which he gained the notion of a mirror namely, a watch-tower. The following passages are extracted from the “ Interpretations Nominum Hebraicorum,” com- monly subjoined to MS. and early printed Latin Bibles. “ Sion, specula , vel semen ejus. — Sion, mandatum , vel numcn, sive speculum aut speculation (Biblia, Venetiis, 1497, 4to.) In that old glossary, a poet or spiritualizer might meet with almost any explanation that might suit his fancy ; the inter- pretations being often as widely different as the poles are far asunder, F 66 NOTES. Ibid. 1. 2.— Harl. omits “ and sett;” reads setteth for “ svtt,” in line 3; omits “ alle” in lined; and alters the sense, by putting to in the stead of “ for,” in line 7. Stanza xci. — Harl. reads to God will for “ willen to God,” in line 1 ; hirke for “ cherche,” in line 3 ; and For kynges and for comnyte , in line 6. Stanza xcn. 1. 1. — Harl. reads, in bokes ben writen. Stanza xcm. — “ Freendys ben igone.” — Harl. reads frendys array ben, gone. Stanza xciv. — Harl. adds both after “ peple,” in line 1 ; omits “ they,” in line 6; and reads Help nor no frendship , in line 7. Stanza xcv. 1. 2. — Harl. mistakenly reads these chese t for “ thou ches.” Ibid. 1. 4. — “ Jerusalem the cyte of pes.” — The “ Interpre- tationes” (quoted before) explain the name thus: — “ Jeroso- lyma : padjica, vel visio pads. — Jerusalem : padjica , vel pads visio , sive timor perfectus , ant timebit perfected Stanza xcvi, 1. 6. — The editor has added another con- junction, to complete the measure. In the Harleian MS. the final letter of pese might have been pronounced ; but the word is always written without a final e in the Sloane MS. Stanza xcix. — The words printed in italics were rein- grossed, by an old hand, in the place where some liquid had almost discharged the old writing of the Sloane MS. The NOTES. 67 orthography does not seem to have been exactly followed : the words exactly agree with the Harleian copy. Stanza c. — MS. Hail, transposes the words “ ben de” and “ breste,” in line 5, whereby the rhyme is spoiled ; and “ thou art” (arte thou), in line 6. Stanza ci. — In the Latin text, the MS. reads “ oportorium ” for opertorium. Those portions of this stanza which are in italics were reingrossed, as in stanza xcix; and those within brackets are corrections obtained from the Harleian copy, which reads the whole stanza thus : — Mannes flessh shal be dystroyed, As clothes that weren with wedur and wynde ; And after rise and be glorified, In holy scripture as we fynde : But thou art in mutabull, by kynde ! Tlier is no chonging fownden in the ! When thou schalt body and soule unbinde, Ne reminiscaris, Domine ! Stanza cii. — H arl. reads, Thi childer and thi servauntes , in line 1 ; and adds the before “ peynes,” in line 2. Stanza cm. — This stanza has been sadly botched by the second hand, and is corrected by the help of the Harleian copy. The Sloane MS. omits the two last words of the second line ; reads from all woe, in line 4 ; many moe (where the original seems to have been “manyemo”), in line 5; and omits the two last words of line 6. In line 7, Harl. reads, shall goo. Stanza civ. — Him thar , &c. — See note on stanza cxx. Stanza cv. — Harl. transposes “ schulde sone” (sone shulld ), in line 3 ; and reads myght for “ merthe,” in line 4. 68 NOTES. Stanza cvi. — The words in italics were reingrossed by an old hand, where the original writing was obscured. In line 3, Harl. reads, But dense to a preest hym to schryven : omits “ his,” in line 4 ; and reads and for “ ne,” in line 7. Stanza evil. — Harl. reads line 4, thus, Thou wilt not wilfully the greve ; in line 6, art of thi mercy , for “ of mercy art and for “ ghyf,” in line 7, and . Stanza cvm. — Harl. reads line 3 thus, Whether I wake or I slepe ; in line 6, for “ kepyth me,” doth me kepe ; and for “ steryth myn herte,” in line 7, sturreth me. Stanza cix. — In line 1, for “ piteuous,” Harl. reads pre- ciouse ; and wold for “ will,” in line 2. Stanza cx. — Harl. omits “ hast,” in line 3 ; and reads he made for “ make,” in line 6. Stanza cxi, cxn. — In the Latin text of the former stanza, me is omitted in the Sloane MS., but occurs in the Harleian, and in the Psalters : in the latter, Domine is an addition not found in the Psalter, but occurs in some of the Breviaries. Stanza cxm. — Harl. reads thi for “the,” in line 7; and prefixes Of to line 8. Stanza cxv. — In line 2, Harl. reads we for “ I ;” adds for after “ hem,” in line 2; and omits “ my,” in line 5. Stanza cxvi, 1. 1. — The Harleian copy ends with this line — Often tymes my handes I sprede. Stanza cxix. — “ Sythe truthe and mercy were freendys and NOTES. 69 kyst.” — Alluding to Psalm lxxxiv. 11, (or lxxxv. 10, in the English version,) Misericordia et veritas obviaverunt sibi : justitia et pax osculatce sunt. Stanza cxx. — Zyf the gospell , &c. — In this and other places, where the Saxon character g (expressed in this work by 3) occurs at the beginning of a line, it is merely a plain Z in the MS. The reference is to these words : — Petite et dabitur vobis ; (Matt. vii. 7; Luc. xi. 9;) the phrase “Me thar,” * meaning me oportet , 4 I need no more than ask, and have.’ Compare stanza civ. So Chaucer,— “ And therfore this proverb is sayd ful soth, Him thar not winnen wel that evil doth ; A gilour shal him self hegiled he.” ( Canterbury Tales, v. 4317-9; whereupon see Tyr whitt’s note.) NOTES ON APPENDIX. App. i. 1 — This article is taken from a MS. of Prayers in Latin, written about the end of the fourteenth century. The references to the Psalter are added to the several verses, by the editor, according to the numbers of the Latin Psalms, which differ from the English, (as may appear by comparing the two versions,) thus LATIN VULGATE. (1) Psalm xii. 4. (2) „ xxx. 6. (3, 4) xxxviii. 5, 6. (5) „ lxxxv. 16. (6) „ cxv. 7. (7, 8) cxli. 6, 7. ENGLISH. Psalm xiii. 3, 4. „ xxxi. 5. „ xxxix. 3, 4. „ lxxxvi. 17. „ cxvi. 16, 17. „ cxlii. 4, 5. 70 NOTES. App. ii. — I n the Legend, lines 8 and 9, the character 3 is put for ]>, in the MS. Read rathur and these. Stanza ii, 1. 7. — MS. “ the” for thi. Stanza hi. — In clottus clunge. — Wrapped in cloths, that is, in liis winding sheet. Stanza iv. — Of deth sende me sum ccrtayne syn. — A sign or token before death was accounted a most desirable thing in the times of superstition. In the following rubric of a prayer, attributed to the venerable Beda, which occurs in many antient books of devotion, — a vision of the virgin Mary is promised to those who should daily use it. — “ Oracio venerabilis Bede presbiteri, de septem verbis domini nostri Jesu Christi in cruce pendentis ; quam quicunque cotidie devote dixerit flexis genibus, nec diabolus nec malus homo ei nocere poterit, et per triginta dies ante obitum suum, vide- bit beatam virginem Mariam corporaliter, facie ad faciem, sibi in auxilium preparatam. Domine Jesu Christe , qui sep- tem verba” &c. — (Editor’s MS.) Stanza vm. — The text of this verse is out of place: it rightly stands the fifth , in the foregoing appendix. The editor has added a syllable in the fourth line, to complete the metre. Ibid. — “ For thi pite.” — The following is Chaucer’s remark on divine pity : — “ For certes, our Lord Jesu Crist hath spared us so benignely in our folies, that, if lie ne had pitee on mannes soule, a sory songe might we alle singe ! ” — ( Persones Tale , p. 303.) LONDON. RICHARDS, PRINTER, ST. MABTIN’s LANE.