Occupation and Idleness 001 OCCUPACION. The my3ty Maker that made al thynge, 002 he medle his mercy euer in oure mende, 003 oure balis he abate and to blys vs brynge, 004 as he was oure founder and we come of his kende. 005 For al the welthe of the world is turned to wranglynge 006 and frendship is ful faynte now for to fynde; 007 a3en equyte and ri3t the peple be ianglynge 008 and ful fewe there be that here-of haue mynde. 009 The cause is this: 010 for now regneth tresoun 011 there that shold be resoun; 012 but 3e be-ware in sesoun 013 Ye laboure al a-mys. 014 For we may se a grete example euery day 015 of hunger and deth before oure ye; 016 fro the prikkyng of pestelence ascape we ne may, 017 fro wyndis and wederis that comyth fro the sky. 018 There-for let ri3t regne and forsake symony, 019 rewle 3ou be resoun, and laboure for 3oure mete, 020 jn trewe occupacioun selle žou and by, 021 deseyue no man with sotelte in colde ne in hete, 022 but sewe resoun and trewthe, 023 lete ese and fauour fro že fle, 024 and take counseyle and equyte; 025 ellis lese 3e heuen so fre, 026 and me semyth žat were rewthe, 027 and eke grete shame. 028 Now if ther be eny here 029 žat my name wolde aspere, 030 y telle 3ou, sovereynes al in-fere, 031 Occupacioun, žat is my name. 032 Y besy ful besely in colde and in hete; 033 wyndis ne wederis we may nat spare; 034 with grete greuaunse y go my leuynge to gete, 035 ofte wery and wetshode y suffre mochel care 036 to sessioun or syses, if that y fare, 037 be-cause y haue a litel gadered to-hepe. 038 Jn suche ple no skyle y kan, thus am y in care; 039 there y stonde and studye as mad as eny shepe 040 for woo. 041 For y had lever ben at plough, 042 to God y make a vow, 043 thresshe in a berne, ripe and mow, 044 and there-fore y hote Occupacion where-so-euer y go 045 on grounde. 046 Here y thynke to abyde 047 to reste me a litel tyde 048 jn pees bothe saf and sounde. 049 JDELNES. A, reste 3ou mery, y make a vow, 050 whi sey 3e nat welcome now? 051 Be God, žer ben many of 3ow 052 žat y knowe wel and fyne. 053 This worthy man, though y it say, 054 he hath know me many a day, 055 for he and y spente, in fay, 056 oure bothis thryst at wyne. 057 A, syr, God 3eue 3ou good morowe! 058 Lo, siris, this good man wyl be my borowe 059 and y had nede. 060 Nay, good sir, laugh me nat to scorne! 061 Y trowe 3e haue 3oure knowlych for-lorne 062 for my symple wede. 063 3e, this wede wil serue me wel and fyne. 064 Ofte thou hast be wette sith žou were myne, 065 bothe at že ale and atte the wyne 066 in the hye strete. 067 While y haue aught y wyl spende; 068 whan y haue non God wyl sende. 069 Thus euery company y wyl amende 070 and gadere felawship to-hepe. 071 For y haue good mete and drynke; 072 whan y am ful y wyl swynke. 073 Now, be me trouthe, as y thynke, 074 y am a sly clerke. 075 Žer-for y tel 3ou expresse, 076 my name is called Ydelnesse. 077 Y kepe nat to arise to matynes ne messe 078 ne to non ožer werke. 079 For to no laboure y kaste me, 080 but euer to slowthe y fast me, 081 and if 3e wyl ataste me 082 3e shul fynde me queynte. 083 Queyntly go y, lo, 084 as prety as a py, lo. 085 What sey 3e žer-to: 086 who koude make me ateynte? 087 Beholde now this gracious face, 088 hou galantly y take my trace. 089 There is now non such in this place, 090 sholde y nat do thus. 091 Lo, how ioly gette y, 092 and non felaship let y: 093 and but few mette y, 094 but they wyth me tr[u]sse 095 and gone. 096 Ey, what is žat 3onder gadelynge 097 that stondith 3ondere al stradelynge? 098 Y wyl wite for al his babelynge 099 what he is anone. 100 Al haile, good man, and wel yfounde! 101 OCCUPACIOUN. A wel come, 3onge man, on this grounde. 102 YDELNESSE. Whi, sire, tel me this stounde: 103 know 3e nat me? 104 OCCUPACIOUN. Of the, sonne, what is thy name? 105 YDELNES. Lo, now ariseth game! 106 Y am like to take blame 107 but y že better ware be. 108 Y must change my name, y-wis, 109 and telle hym Besynesse my name is; 110 3e, for God, thus it is. 111 This is a prety while! 112 And whan y am with hym at fese 113 Y wyl take myn owen ese. 114 To slepe ynough he shal nat chese; 115 y thynke hym to begile. 116 Syr, y wonder 3e haue for3ete me, y-wy(s), 117 and y haue serued 3ou er this, 118 for Besynes my name is. 119 Sir, know 3e žat name? 120 OCCUPACIOUN. Besynesse, 3e, in good fay! 121 He hath serued me many a day. 122 YDELNES. Now, in good fay, leve me 3e may: 123 y am že same. 124 OCCUPACIOUN. Art thou Besynesse? Y trow nay, 125 me semyth be thi symple aray. 126 YDELNES. Syr, sholde y were my best euery day? 127 Y haue ten or twelf 128 of good gownes in my presse, 129 and furres of grete richesse. 130 Of this man y take wytnesse; 131 3e may aske hym 3ourself. 132 OCCUPACIOUN. Than what labour kan 3e best now? 133 YDELNES. Thresshe in 3our berne or go to plow, 134 ripe, mowe, and eke sowe, 135 and ožer husbondrye; 136 go to market, bey and selle, 137 and kepe an household y kan welle; 138 with shepe and swyne y kan melle. 139 Whereto sholde y lye? 140 OCCUPACIOUN. Wilt žou be with me al this 3ere, 141 and žou shalt be my partenere? 142 YDELNES. 3e, be my trowthe, with good chere; 143 but y haue no money in store. 144 OCCUPACIOUN. 3eue me thi trowthe in this stounde 145 and haue here ten pounde; 146 and žou gouerne it wel on žis grounde, 147 and žou haue nede, com fech more. 148 YDELNES. 3is, hardely, syr, haue 3e no dowte! 149 Now haue y nede to loke abowte, 150 bothe with-in and with-owte, 151 žat no thynge be a-mys. 152 Y haue here in this purse 153 ten pounde of golde, it is no worse. 154 To že kokis wil y me trusse 155 anon, so haue y blys. 156 it, good syr, tel me in same, 157 what shal y clepe 3oure name? 158 OCCUPACIOUN. Sir, y sey be Seynt Jame 159 my name is Occupacioun. 160 YDELNES. Occupacion, be my fay, 161 is a good name and a worthy, 162 to be commendid honestly 163 jn felde and eke in toun. 164 But, syr, go 3e home or ouer že se, 165 3our household and 3our meyne, 166 and žan in haste come hider and se; 167 tary nat to longe! 168 OCCUPACIOUN. Fare wel, than, in Goddis name. 169 YDELNES. Now, in feithe, he were to blame 170 žat wold do že eny wronge. 171 Walke on! God lete že neuere the! 172 Žou art ful madde to truste me, 173 for this gold shalt žou neuer se, 174 so God me amende; 175 for in Brodestrete, samfayle, 176 it shall be spent in good vytayle. 177 Of wyne and ale y wyl nat fayle! 178 Žider now am y bent. 179 For and y wolde beset this gold here 180 on sheepe or lambe, žei be dere, 181 and al-so a badde 3eere 182 sone wolde hem stroye. 183 If y besette it in kow or veel 184 parauenture some theef my3t hem steel. 185 Nay, nay, there-with wyl y nat deel; 186 such marchauntise y defye. 187 Yf y wolde belde eny hous then 188 my3t come some fire and it bren; 189 žat makith many a-wey to ren 190 and take že tounnes ende. 191 Nay, nay, y wyl nat so, in fay, 192 but to že tauerne wyl y go my way, 193 and to že cokes, p(a)rmafay, 194 žider wyl y wende! 195 But and Occupacioun come by že way, 196 aske me, syr, y the pray, 197 for we two haue loued many a day 198 thes 3eeris foure or fyve. 199 Tyl this be spente euerydel, 200 fal happe, falle hel, 201 y wyl no lenger with hym mel. 202 Y go hennys wel blyve. 203 OCCUPACIOUN. The roy reuerent žat on že rode was rente, 204 he saue 3ou, my souereynes semly in se, 205 žat was blyndfelled and bofettid and his blood spente 206 fro že thretnynge of thraldom to make vs all fre; 207 and že brennynge blossom žat bri3t is of ble 208 with hire feturis so fortunate voyde vs of oure foon, 209 excellent emperyse of high dygnete, 210 conclude here conclusiones, as 3e wel kan, 211 žurgh 3oure sonnes my3t; 212 for treuly y wyl euery day, 213 whither-so-euer y take my way, 214 in Holy Chirche if that y may 215 of ži sonne haue a si3t. 216 Than to my labour wyl y go, 217 tylle and trauayle in moche wo, 218 my lyflode to gete. 219 We may nat spare wynde ne rayne, 220 but go to plow in crofte and playne 221 and ofte we laboure a3en mayne 222 jn dry and in wete. 223 And, y pray 3ou, telle me and 3e kan, 224 sey eny 3ou Besynes, my man, 225 syn y was laste here? 226 For he is so lange oute 227 with my golde walked aboute; 228 be my trouthe, y am in doute 229 he is in some daungere. 230 Y note what is best; 231 tyl y some tydyngis of hym here, 232 here y thynke to rest. 233 YDELNES. A ha! God spede, y am come! 234 Y haue ri3t wel wette my throte. 235 A-ware! a litel stonde a-rome, 236 for y am verry kuppe-shote. 237 A, my brayne gynneth to rowte 238 and turneth as rounde as eny balle. 239 Be my trouthe, y am in grete doute; 240 me semyth že sky wyl on me falle. 241 Y am ille agast! 242 Y come fro the cokis now, 243 and to God y make a vow, 244 žer haue y wel broke my fast. 245 Y haue ete and drunke of že best 246 til me thou3t že dry wey slither; 247 and my maistris golde, so haue y rest, 248 it is spent all to-gyder 249 on good mete and drynk. 250 For be God and Oure Lady bothe, 251 y bo3t žer-with neyther clowte ne clothe; 252 for be my partenere neuer so wrothe, 253 a whyle wyl y go wynke. 254 OCCUPACIOUN. A-byde, a worde with 3ou! 255 YDELNES. A, welcome, y make a vow! 256 Y haue sou3t 3ou wyde ynow 257 thes two dayes or thre. 258 OCCUPACIOUN. Soughtist žou me? Y pray the, where? 259 YDELNES. Be God, [on] foot, there 3e were. 260 OCCUPACIOUN. Such a messanger euel he fare 261 so to seek me. 262 Me semyth žou comyst late fro že nale. 263 YDELNES. Be God, žat is a trewe tale. 264 Žer haue y wel fare. 265 OCCUPACIOUN. Now be God, y stonde in doute 266 žat žou hast spendid my money oute; 267 žan am y in grete care. 268 YDELNES. Sir, žat money is a-go, 269 they there had be such two. 270 Žer-fore myn herte is sore. 271 OCCUPACIOUN. A, sire, foule mote že befalle 272 žat euer y mette že in this halle! 273 My golde žou hast lore. 274 What, žou seidest Besynes ži name hight? 275 YDELNES. So y dede, be this lyght, 276 and 3it y dede lye. 277 But now y telle že in game, 278 Ydelnes is my name. 279 OCCUPACIOUN. Y swere be Seynt Jame, 280 žou art a wyli pye! 281 Sonne, and žou wylt to me herke 282 y wyl teche že some other werke. 283 YDELNES. What, woldist žou make me a clerke? 284 Žat wyl y nat begynne, 285 for y wyl go pley me 286 and rialy aray me. 287 OCCUPACIOUN. Herk, sonne, žou say me, 288 wylt žou worship, wynne? 289 YDELNES. Worship? Hou sholde y come žer-to? 290 OCCUPACIOUN. With manere and manhod, sonne, lo, 291 and be neuer žyn owen fo. 292 To my wordis žou herk. 293 YDELNES. Who techith žat manere, y pray the? 294 OCCUPACION. Treuly, sonne, as y say the, 295 Doctrine, žat worthi clerk. 296 YDELNES. Doctryne, what man is he? 297 OCUPACION. A maister of dyuynete 298 of že vnyuersyte, 299 to tech že to wex wyse. 300 YDELNES. A, a, wylt žou so? 301 Nay, y wyl nat with že go; 302 y haue aspied že to wyse. 303 OCUPACION. Sonne, leue thi fantasy 304 and turne to grace, y say the. 305 YDELNES. Y nel, y make to God a vow. 306 Y wyl ete as good as thow. 307 Go sette to gras ži hors or ži kow, 308 or ellis, syr, go play the! 309 OCCUPACION. Wh[o] shal fynde že mete and drynke al day? 310 YDELNES. Be my fay, Jonet and Gyll. 311 OCCUPACION. What wilt žou do, kan žou me say, 312 whan Jonet and Gill ys away? 313 YDELNES. Than be it as be may, 314 there-fore care y nell. 315 Y shrew hym žat there-fore cares. 316 Some for labour wexith wode, 317 and they haue nat an hole hode. 318 Y know non žat better fares. Tunc venit doctrina 319 DOCTRINA. What, siris, what pley is this 320 that 3e make in this place? 321 Y am come to mende al mys 322 bi the helpe of Goddis grace. 323 YDELNES. A, that man hath an angry face. 324 OCCUPACION. Pees than, fool, and stonde asyde! 325 YDELNES. Y pray God 3eue the euel grace, 326 begynnyst žou now for to chyde. 327 OCUPACION. Sir, welcome mote 3e be, 328 and of 3oure name y 3ou prayn. 329 DOCTRINE. Doctryne men clepen me; 330 to teche kunnynge y am fayn. 331 OCUPACION. Doctrine, syr, 3e be welcome! 332 Y haue besied me ful sadde 333 for to study and stire wysdom. 334 Now of 3oure company y am ful gladde. 335 DOCTRINE. What is 3oure name, gentil brother? 336 OCCUPACION. Treuly, my name is Occupacion. 337 DOCTRINE. Welcome be 3e aboue all other 338 with 3ou to haue communycacyoun, 339 for al žat to good occupacion long 340 God is plesed nd so am y; 341 but occupacion žat tuchith to wronge 342 doth men no good, but vylany; 343 for and žou wilt že occupy 344 in bodely workis or almasdede, 345 in penaunce or prayeris wilfully, 346 Y, Doctrine, to the wyll take hede; 347 for Doctrine techith openly and clere 348 vertuous lyf amonge vs to sette. 349 YDELNES. Herke, siris, 3e shull here, 350 for now two shrewis ben mette. 351 Be my trouthe, y wil me hide 352 like a mows in 3onder 3erde, 353 for of hym žat gapith wide 354 yn feithe y am euel a-ferde. 355 Y wyl be go. 356 DOCTRINE. Be my feith, žou shalt a-bide, 357 and ere žou passe fro me this tyde 358 Y wil že teche a worde or two. 359 YDELNES. Whom? Me, syr? Y know že nat, 360 ne neuer, y kepe, be heuen kynge. 361 DOCTRINE. Sonne, y wyl teche the somwhat 362 for to gete thy leuynge. 363 OCCUPACION. Sir, in že name of heuen kyng, 364 3eue hym som informacion 365 hou he may gete his leuyng 366 in že way of his saluacion; 367 žat is al my desire. 368 DOCTRINE. Treuly, brother Occupacion, 369 žat wil y do without eny hire, 370 for euery good man is bounde 371 to occupie hym in clennes; 372 for and he in good occupacion be founde 373 že Feend temptith hym moche že les. 374 Euery man hath enmyes thre, 375 že Deuel, že World, and his owen Flessh. 376 Which thei ben y wyl telle the, 377 and hou thon they enbateyl hem fressh. 378 In pride and wreth že Feend temptith man, 379 and in envye žat is so badde. 380 Thes thre synnes in heuen began 381 sone after Lucifer was made. 382 Že World temptith man to slouthe and couetyse, 383 žat Adam and Eve first vp bro3t 384 whan žei wolde be as wyse 385 as was Oure Lorde žat hem wro3t; 386 Že Flessh of glotonye fayled no3t; 387 lechery was in Sodom and Gomor and other mo; 388 for žese wyte wel in oure tho3t 389 ful moche harme there hath be do. 390 For and žou že in temptacion fele, 391 occupie že in clennes, 392 for že Feend on no man may stele, 393 saue in žo žat he fynte in ydelnes; 394 in hem wil he hide. 395 For al the vices žat ther be 396 ydelnes is že worste, y telle the. 397 YDELNES. Out! Whider may y fle? 398 Žis angry man wyl bete me 399 and y lenger abyde. 400 DOCTRINE. Of ydelnes comyth this: 401 thefis and strumpettis, so haue y rest. 402 A3en this defaute, y-wys, 403 occupacion y holde the best. 404 But že moste defaute now-adayes 405 on že peple žat y fynde, 406 men techen hire children wanton playes, 407 and nat as they sholde in kynde. 408 Some shal beshrewe fader and moder 409 and be ful wantoun, as 3e may se. 410 Such poyntis and many other 411 makith many children neuer to the. 412 Sette 3oure children vn-to scole, 413 3e žat ben good men of fame; 414 mayntene hem nat to pley že fole, 415 but lete hem lerne some good, for shame. 416 For he žat hath neither londe ne rente, 417 koyne ne catel hym to fynde, 418 of large spense but he repente 419 sone shal he begge be kynde, 420 that were reprefe. 421 For-whi and ži good be lore 422 and wylt nat laboure for no more, 423 but in ydelnes sett hym sore, 424 žan must he wexe a thefe. 425 Y lye nat expresse. 426 Be ware, draw 3ou to good, 427 and laboure for 3oure lyfis food, 428 and pray to hym žat deyde on rood, 429 and beware of ydelnesse. 430 OCCUPACION. Ydelnes is nat ferre, as thynkith me, 431 and so y tolde one ry3t now. 432 DOCTRINE. Ydelnes, where is he? 433 OCCUPACIOUN. 3onder, syr, as 3e may se, 434 and scorneth both me and 3ow. 435 DOCTRINE. Ydelnes, come nere 436 and lerne of me som curtesie. 437 YDELNES. Y shrew me and y come žer 438 while žou art so angry. 439 DOCTRINE. Žou shalt come hider mawgry thyn hed 440 and lerne some good in thi 3outhe. 441 Žou wylt be like to begge ži brede 442 but žou drawe že fro slouthe. 443 Y sey, boy, a-ryse! 444 YDELNES. Y pray že, syr, go ži way; 445 me lyst nat with že to play. 446 DOCTRINE. Y wyl the teche, in good fay, 447 now for to wexe wyse. 448 Žer-for, boy, y sey stonde stille 449 and some vertu žat žou lere. 450 YDELNES. Go forth and do me non ylle. 451 Y wolde 3e were in že diche both in-fere! 452 DOCTRINE. Y sey, boy, scorne žou me now? 453 OCCUPACION. He dothe as euel as he kan. 454 YDELNES. He lieth, y make God a vow 455 in recorde of this worthy man. 456 Syr, saw me mokke hym to scorne? 457 Nay, he lieth in his face. 458 DOCTRINE. Y trow, boy, thi thryft be lorne. 459 To goodnes žou hast no grace. 460 OCCUPACION. Syr, euer to sleuthe and ydelnes 461 he drawith hym morow and eve, 462 and y bidde hym efte expres 463 al žat foly for to leve. 464 DOCTRINE. Sonne, to what levynge were žou borne? 465 YDELNES. With mylke and floure y be-gan, y wene. 466 DOCTRINE. What! This boy dryveth me to scorne. 467 YDELNES. Nay, God forbede, lete that bene. 468 DOCTRINE. Haue, sette honde on this book, 469 and to ži lore žat žou lowte. 470 YDELNES. A, se, syr, how y look. 471 Nere-hande y kan it thurgh-owte. 472 A, se here sitt a pye. 473 DOCTRINE. But žou že better to ži book lowte, 474 be my fay, žou shalt a-bye. 475 OCCUPACION. In good fey, 3e sey wel: 476 euery man to labour in his kunnynge. 477 This matere y trow wel, y fele: 478 ellis ca we haue but hard levynge. 479 And ydelnes in household wende 480 me semyth it moche the worse. 481 YDELNES. 3e be euer my bak frende; 482 žer-for haue 3e Goddis kurse. 483 DOCTRINE. Sonne, haue this book in ži hande 484 and lerne in že name of God, 485 ellys y do the to vnderstonde 486 žou shalt be chastised with a rod 487 bothe even and morowe. 488 YDELNES. A, syr, he žat že hider bro3t, 489 y pray God 3eue hym sorowe. 490 DOCTRINE. Sey on, crosse Christe me spede, 491 and in ži mynde žat it kepe. 492 YDELNES. Be my trouthe, y stonde in drede 493 hou y shal brynge it to-hepe. 494 First lete me reste a litel while: 495 myn eyen be hevy as eny lede. 496 OCCUPACION. Sir, this boy wyl 3ou begyle; 497 jn že name of God take hede 498 and lerne hym som lore. 499 YDELNES. A, sir, the Deuel be thi spede! 500 Žou art a3en me euer-more. 501 DOCTRINE. Sonne, lerned žou neuer thi beleve, 502 thi Pater noster, Aue, and Crede? 503 YDELNES. Nay, syr, so mote y cheve, 504 ther-to toke y neuer hede. 505 Y not what it is. 506 DOCTRINE. Now, be swete Seynt Jame, 507 thi fader is the more to blame, 508 and thi frendis al in same 509 žat shold haue tau3t že er this. 510 OCCUPACION. Me semyth it were an almasdede 511 to make hym leve žis lewde rote. 512 YDELNES. Y wyl nat do be thi rede. 513 Olde fole, thou begynnest to dote. 514 Thi berde begynnyth to hore; 515 some for wery fallith doun, 516 bothe in cyte, burgh, and toun, 517 and rise parauenture no more. 518 DOCTRINE. Treuly, žer leuyth no man in ground 519 --be he neuer so hye of state-- 520 but he be strongly bound 521 to occupye erly or late: 522 prestis to pray and preche al-so 523 jn penaunse and masse to shewe; 524 dukis, erlis, baronnes, and kny3tis žer-to 525 to mayntene že lond in vertu, 526 and to fi3t žer-fore if nede be 527 and stonde be euery trew cause y-wis, 528 and take no mede of me ne the, 529 but to maynten hem there ri3t is. 530 But now trewthe is dryve a-bakke 531 and symony is set vp as a sire. 532 Žer mede is maister ther is no lakke 533 of frendship nožer in session ne shire. 534 But wolde God resoun regned a3e! 535 Žan wolde 3e gadre al vertues to-hepe. 536 To že wordis žat 3e shew me 537 euery man is bounde to take kepe. 538 Lo, sonne, žou mayst se 539 to occupacion žou art bounde. 540 YDELNES. A, sir, God lete že neuer the! 541 Žou woldist make me were 542 as is eny hounde, 543 and that y hate. 544 For au3t žat žou kan telle me 545 shal noon of 3ow felle me, 546 nother be strengthe compel me, 547 erly ne late. 548 OCCUPACION. Doctrine, syr, y pray 3ou, 549 tel vs some of Goddis werkis, 550 žat že comoun peple may knowe 551 as don žes worthi clerkis. 552 DOCTRINE. Summe Trinitati, y wyl begynne, 553 žat with his my3t wro3t al thyng, 554 nouem ordines with-out synne 555 angelorum to hym obeyng, 556 ad Dei iudicia for to abide 557 misteria complenda ful of ly3t. 558 it fille many one žat tide 559 fro že place žat mankende shal restore ful ry3t. 560 OCCUPACION. What maner men, y wolde wyte, 561 shal restore žat place a3en? 562 DOCTRINE. Hire names ben in legende wryte 563 and are cleped al halowen certeyn. 564 OCCUPACION. Alle Halowes, what be they? 565 Y pray 3ou, declare hem openly. 566 DOCTRINE. Angelis, patriarkis, and prophetis to sey, 567 Martiris and confessoris trewly, 568 virgines and ožer of clene lyf 569 žat deide in pure chastite, 570 žat leved here without stryf 571 in clennes and humylite; 572 viri religiosi, že patriarkis called, 573 atque gloriosi in hire leuynge; 574 žei tolde what wolde be-falle 575 of dyuerse prophetis, and Cristis comynge. 576 John že Baptist seide in his steuen 577 to al žat veram penitenciam wold chesen, 578 penitenciam agite žat 3e nat lesen, 579 quia apropinquabit že kyngdo[m] of heuen. 580 Že postelis were in erthe goynge 581 and Iesu Cristis lawes redde. 582 Estote fortes, seide Iesu oure kyng, 583 loke no tribulacion make 3ou ferde. 584 OCCUPACION. Y pray 3ou, telle me in this place 585 hou apostelis suffred tribulacion. 586 DOCTRINE. Some ferro perempti heded was, 587 some flammis exusti brant in toun, 588 flagellis verberati some forbeten, 589 hij sunt triumphatores, Goddis frendis an heth. 590 Here good dedis shal neuer be for3eten, 591 for hir blissid name in eternum manet. 592 YDELNES. Heere 3e, siris, al žis breth? 593 A dra3t of ale y had leuer. 594 OCCUPACION. This were a worthy company 595 žat že apostel loued day and ny3t. 596 DOCTRINE. Vos estis lux mundi, 597 to al že world žei shal 3eue ly3t. 598 OCCUPACION. Že martiris had a glorious lyf 599 žat for Goddis loue wold dey so. 600 DOCTRINE. A, sir, hij sunt sancti žat neuer dred knyf 601 but pro Dei amore žei suffred wo. 602 O quam gloriosa hire deth is, 603 and hire blod shedynge dede vs moche good. 604 Že blood shedyng wolde brynge vs to blys 605 if žat we ben mylde of mood. 606 Thes blissed confessouris leued clenly 607 and tau3t aboute že worde of Crist. 608 Žer-fore žei sitte in the grete glory 609 where žat al ioy and myrthe is most. 610 Virgines in hire clennes 611 mekely in erthe here leued. 612 Thes be kleped al halowes, y-wys, 613 žat we be-for meved. 614 And al Holi Chirchis pardoun 615 relevith men out of synne; 616 of žes seyntis žat is come, 617 žat is tresore že Holy Chirche with-ynne. 618 At Cristis owen blode y wyl begynne: 619 his postelis, his marteris, and afterwarde 620 his officeris žat ben out of synne 621 ledde hire lyf here ful harde; 622 and že clennes of že maydenes alle 623 make vs good weies in-to heuen. 624 Al Halowen Day hire day men calle, 625 and worship hem with myld steuen. 626 OCCUPACION. A, syr, of men žat leuyth a-day now: 627 shul they in that number be? 628 DOCTRINE. 3e, syr, and wyl 3e se how? 629 Fulgebunt iusti and žus sey we. 630 Ri3twys men may nat fayle, y-wis, 631 to han heuen for hire trauayl. 632 Ri3tfulnes so hie a vertu is 633 žat iusticia manet may nat fayl. 634 OCCUPACION. And how do žey žat haue do synne, 635 and amende hem here ere žey dey? 636 DOCTRINE. Fro heuen blis žei may nat wynne. 637 To aske mercy žei were redy. 638 OCCUPACION. What is mercy? That wold y know; 639 Y prey 3ou, do me to vnderstonde. 640 DOCTRINE. Mercy is že best seed sow, 641 for aboue al workis he shal stonde. 642 For as per lignum moriebatur mors certayn 643 žurgh a tree oure deth first aroos, 644 and per lignum quoque there agayn 645 by a tree oure lyf was chose, 646 and bro3t oure blys fro deth and stryf; 647 for even as Adam by a tre dede falle, 648 to turne oure deth to euerlastyng lyf 649 on a tre God deyde for vs alle. 650 Žer was oleum promissionis shewde 651 žat fro Cristis body ran. 652 Take hede, žou man, and be nat lewde, 653 for al 0ur grace žer first began. 654 Goddis body žer-to was al to-rente 655 and made ful of holis žat euer shal renne 656 to že blode of mercy žat neuer shal stente 657 jn že saluacion of synful men. 658 F[ro] his passion til domys day 659 his body shal neuer leue rennyng, 660 and of his blode of mercy euery man gete may 661 if žei repente hire euel leuyng. 662 Žer shal noon be warned žat blode of blys; 663 euery man žer-of may gete. 664 Žis is že licoure of mercy žat euery day, y-wys, 665 in Holy Chirche žou may it fette. 666 OCCUPACION. Y thanke Iesu my sauyoure 667 with al my herte and my speche, 668 so fre of žat worthy lycoure 669 as wel to pore as to ryche. 670 DOCTRINE. Nay, sir, 3e fayle žer. 671 Žer is no disseuerance but brother and brožer; 672 God bo3t alle like dere 673 and payde as moche for one as for other. 674 Žer is no pore, God seith before, 675 but žo žat be in sinne and out of vertu. 676 Žei žou haue markis in store 677 žer he shal be as ryche as žou. 678 The riches of heuen is non in gold, 679 it is in vertu and clene lyf, 680 as to že be-fore is tolde, 681 žat shold be vsed in man and wyf. 682 At domys day God wote 683 who shal be riche, who shal be pore, 684 for žat day wyl be so hote 685 žat be gold men wyl sette no store. 686 OCCUPACION. Sir, žat is come to my mende: 687 whi clepe 3e žat že grete day? 688 DOCTRINE. For many skile žat y fynde; 689 Y wil declare hem, if y may. 690 Žan shal sitte že grettest iustise [opon] 691 žat euer sate in eny place; 692 al ožer iustisis before hym shal stonde, 693 and al že lordis žat euer was. 694 So many at ones as we žer shal se 695 neuer at ones in oo place come, 696 for all žat were and euer shal be 697 in heuen, erthe, and helle comyth to dome. 698 Žat day wyl be že grettest wepynge 699 žat euer was sey in eny place before. 700 Many thousandis hire hondis shal wrynge 701 and curse že tyme žat žei were bore. 702 Žer-fore že grete day clepe y, 703 for žo žat shal be dampned in žat rowte 704 shul wepe more water with here ye 705 žan is in alle že world rounde aboute. 706 Žei shal neuer after sese wepyng, 707 že water fro hire ey shal renne. 708 Žerfor thynke on žis day of rekenyng, 709 and euer after hate žou synne, 710 and in haste ži lyf amende. 711 OCCUPACION. Wyl y neuer worke begynne 712 but y thynke on že ende. 713 YDELNES. Be my trouthe, no more wil y, 714 for y haue no wil to be a clerke. 715 Of my book y am wery; 716 y was nat wonte to no suche werke. 717 Žis book is nat worth a resshe; 718 ten suche are nat worthe a beene! 719 Be my fay, y wyl hym wesshe 720 and make him feyre and clene. 721 Good, 3eue me a litel water 722 žat y may wesshe my book, 723 for žey my maister chide and chater, 724 and žei3 Ocupacion here-of smatere, 725 y wyl no more here-on look. 726 OCCUPACION. What, sonne, what pley is this? 727 YDELNES. Be God, it is neuer že worse. 728 OCUPACION. Y wyl telle ži maister, y-wis. 729 YDELNES. Žer-fore haue žou Goddis curse. 730 OCUPACION. Doctrine, sir, take hede 731 hou 3our clerk shent his book. 732 YDELNES. A, syr, že Deuel be ži spede. 733 Who badde že hider look? 734 DOCTRINE. A, lewde losell, what iapes ben thes? 735 Žou takest že to fantasies. 736 Fast sit doun, žou shalt nat chese. 737 YDELNES. A, sire, here be many botter-flyes 738 bothe white and broun. 739 For cokkis blood, 740 take me žyn hode, 741 and y wyl smyte hem doun. 742 DOCTRYNE. A, a, žou dost wel and fyne! 743 Y wyl že tame, be Seynte Austyne, 744 be žou neuer so wylde. 745 Ocupacion, ley hond on hym, haue do, 746 and myself wyl helpe žer-to. 747 Come forth, my feire childe! 748 YDELNES. Come no nere, y charge že now, 749 for, and žou do, y make a vow, 750 y wyl stryke že to že hert. 751 Wolde God my dagger were grounde! 752 DOCTRINE. Sette honde on hym anon žis stounde; 753 lete him nat sterte. 754 OCUPACION. Come forthe žou shalt, magre thy teeth! 755 YDELNES. Out vpon že, stronge theef! 756 Wylt žou me spille? 757 DOCTRINE. Haue here one two, and thre! 758 Ydelnes, now thynke on me 759 and holde ži tunge stille. 760 YDELNES. And y lyue y wil be a-wreke. 761 Some of 3our hedis wyl y breke, 762 for 3e haue made me wrothe. 763 DOCTRINE. How seist žou? Žat lete me se. 764 YDELNES. Nay, for God, it is he, 765 in recorde of al žis compane, 766 he dede be-shrewe 3ou bothe. 767 DOCTRINE. Fy on že, harlot, with thi glosynge! 768 Žou shalt haue more, be heuen kynge, 769 to teche že wexe trewe. 770 YDELNES. A, mercy, maister, y cry mercy! 771 For3eue me this and redely 772 our lore wyl y shewe. 773 DOCTRINE. In good feith, žou shalt haue mo, 774 but žou leue ži ydelnes, 775 and but žou study and labour al-so 776 in al že workis of clennes. 777 For God tau3t his disciplis all, 778 to že and to ožer teche wyl y, 779 vigilate ergo, grete and small, 780 nescitis qua hora žat 3e shul dey. 781 We know non houre of oure deyinge. 782 Žere-fore in prayeris euer shul we be; 783 for with oure Pater noster we shold worship heuen kynge 784 and his blissid moder with an Aue. 785 YDELNES. Y sey now mercy, with herte and speche, 786 for-euer to 3ou wyl y obedient be, 787 and y wyl do as 3e me teche 788 in al že workis of honeste. 789 Pater noster y wyl begynne. 790 OCUPACION. Lo, how litel maistry it is 791 to brynge in a childe in 3owthe. 792 Frendis, take hede to this, 793 and euer draw 3ou fro slowthe. 794 And žus had he had no techynge 795 he wold haue cursed his frendis a, 796 and now he may in tyme comynge 797 be a good man, and so he shall. 798 DOCTRYNE. Art žou sory for ži mys, 799 že which to že y wyl reherce? 800 YDELNES. 3e, syr, žat y am, y-wys. 801 žer-of y cry God and 3ou merce. 802 DOCTRINE. Že ten comaundementis žou brake euer-more, 803 ži fyue wyttis žou kepte hem ille. 804 YDELNES. Treuly žat y repente sore. 805 Y wil amende with al my wille. 806 DOCTRINE. Že dedis of mercy dost žou nat fulfylle 807 to poor, seek, presoners al-so. 808 YDELNES. Y wyl amende it with good wylle 809 and y may haue lyf žer-to. 810 DOCTRINE. Now žou forsakest žyn ydelnes, 811 and here-after wilt drede shame, 812 here y caste on že a clothe of clennes, 813 and Clennes shal be ži name. 814 YDELNES. Worthi mayster, y thanke the, 815 and 3ou, Ocupacion, also; 816 of žis man žat is so fre, 817 and to 3ou wil y euer drawe to. 818 OCUPACION. Now am y glad with al my hert 819 žat euer y mette with že in žis place, 820 So feire žou art now conuert, 821 fro foly and fantasy turned to grace 822 with so mylde steuen. 823 YDELNES. Mayster, y pray 3ou for charite, 824 žat 3e wolde telle me 825 what powere hath Oure Lady in heuen. 826 DOCTRINE. Aboue al že wommen žat euer were 827 God chese Mary vnto this, 828 jn hire body hym to bere, 829 et perelegit eam Deus. 830 Sicut lilium amonge thornes growyng 831 sic amica mea inter filias; 832 so is his moder most shynynge, 833 passinge al že wommen žat euer was. 834 Witnes at hire assumpcion, 835 whan že angel seide "Que est ista 836 que descendit fro deserte a-doun 837 tanquam fumi virgula?" 838 Et sicut aurora consurgens, 839 neuer sunne shynynge so bry3t, 840 with all delites of swetnes 841 žer žey saw žat glorious sy3t, 842 but at že ascension of Crist aloon. 843 Whan she to heuen was come 844 God seide to his angel anoon, 845 "Hec est regina virginum, 846 que genuit regem in hire body so clene, 847 cui famulantur angely euery day; 848 žis same body žat 3e here sene, 849 with-in že blissed sides y lay." 850 God seide to hire, "Amica veni, 851 veni de Libano in flessh and fell. 852 Veni coronaberis in heuen most hy 853 as quene of heuen and emperes of hell." 854 And lady of al že world she is, 855 hire power is of grete astate. 856 Who-so honoure hire with aues 857 al his desese she wyl abate, 858 so he be clene and out of synne, 859 or in wille for to amende, 860 in euery worke žat he wyl begynne 861 Oure dere Lady wyl be his frende. 862 And but he stonde in that degre 863 y wolde nat 3eue for his prayeris a pere. 864 CLENNES. Y thanke my Lorde in Trynete 865 žat euer y mette with 3ou here. 866 OCUPACION. Thanke we hym of myghtis moste, 867 Fader and Sonne in Trynete, 868 abatere of the Feendis boste, 869 holy my hert y 3elde to the. 870 CLENNES. He vs brynge to good ende 871 žat deyde for vs on Good Fryday, 872 and Mary his moder be oure frende 873 vn-to thi Sonne as 3e best may. 874 DOCTRINE. He that is registred for the ry3t eyre, 875 žat doutful domys-man žat sittith in trone, 876 kepe 3ou euer oute of all dispeyre 877 and graunte 3ou his blissynge euerychone. 878 Amen