<County: Staffordshire>
<Code: L4245>
<MS reference: Oxford, Bodleian Library, Greaves 57>
<Text: John Mirk's Instructions for Parish Priests>
<Tranche 1>
<fol. 4v>And also þu most as þu Dost preche
The cosenage of Folowyng~ teche
And if þu wolt conne þt well
Take good heede & þs ost Spell
Jn þe medyll þe childe stonte
As he is folowyd yn þe fonte
All they ben cosyns to hym for Ay
That noon of hem wedde he may
The priste þt folowythe
The pristes chyldrynne
The pristes & þe child-is fadur & modur
The godfadur & his wyffe
Know be-fore þe folche
<lat></lat>
The godfadyrs children
þe childys modur & his Fadur
The Same cosenage ynn All thyng~
ys yn þe childys byspyng~
The byschop & þe byschoppys children
Þe byschop & þe childys Fadur
The childe þt is ibysput
Þe byschop & þe childys modur
The godfadur & his wyffe
Þe godfadyrs children
The childys fadur & his godfadur
Þe childys modur & his godfadur
<fol. 5r>These Shall neuer oon wedde oþer
But cosyns beth As Suster & broþer
3et tech hem A-noþer thyng~
That is A poynt of weddyng~
He þt chese hym A Fere
And Sey to hur~ yn~ þs manere
Here y take þe to my weddyt wiffe
And þerto my trowþe y plighte
Withe-owt coupull of fleschely Dede
He most þt woman wedde nede
For thaghe he & She A-noþer take
That worde woll A Dome make
<lat></lat>
Also loke they make no hydde weddyng~
lest All ben cursyd yn~ that Doyng~
prest & clerke & oþer mo
þt Servise þt hyden So
But right þs As Seyþe þe lawys
Aske þe banes iij holy dawys
Then lett hem come & witnes bryng~
To stande by At ther~ weddyng~
So opynly At the church Dore
let eþ hem eyþer wedde othore
<lat>De luxuria</lat>
Off lechery teche hem right this
<fol. 5v>That Dedly Synne forsoþe hit is
What maner Synne wise þt hit be wroghte
Dedely Synne hit is y-broghte
Save yn~ here wedhode
þt is Faire be-fore god
<lat>De luxuria inter Solu@ & Solam</lat>
Thaghe man & woman be Sengyll boþe
As dedely Synne thei schall hit loþe
Also þs mot to hem ben Sayd
Both for knaue child & mayd
<lat></lat>
That when thei passen vij 3er~
Thei Schull no lengur lyge ynn fere
lest the fynde be-twene hem brede
lykyng~ of that fowle Dede
<lat>Contra naturam</lat>
Also wretyn~ well y Fynde
Þt of Synne A-3eynst kynde
Thu Schalt peresch no thing~ teche
Ne of þt Synne no thyng~ preche
But Sey þs by good vyse
That to grete Synne hit yse
For eny mon þe beryþe lyffe
To forsake his wedded wyffe
And Done his kynde by oþer way
<fol. 6r>That is A grete Synne wt-owt nay
But how & where he Doþe þt Synne
Before his gostly fadur he most hit mynne
Also þu most god to pay
Tech þi peresche þs & say
All þt ben of wille & elde
þt can hem-selfe kepe & welde
3e Shull all to church come
And be Shrevyn All & Some
And ben y-hoselyd wt-owt were
On Astyrday All yn~ Fere
Jn þt Day by custome
ye Shall be hoselyd All & some
<lat></lat>
Teche hem then wt good entent
To beleve on the Sacrament
Þt they reseve ynn Forme of brede
ys godys body þt suffrede Deede
A-pon þe holy roode tre
To byge owur Sowlys & make vs fre
Teche hem then neuer þe latur
Þt hit is but wyne & watur
That thei resevyn~ for to Drynke
After the holy hoselyng~
Therfore werne hem þu Shalle
<fol. 6v>That they ne chewe þt oste to smalle
lest to Smalle they Do hit breke
And yn there tethe hit Do steke
Therfore thei shullyn~ wt watur & wyne
Clanse þer mowþe þt no thyng~ be þer-yne
But teche hem All to beleve Sadde
That . þt is yn þe Autere madde
Hit is very goddys blode
Þt he Shede on þe rode
<lat></lat>
3et þu most teche hem mare
þt when they to þe church fare
Byd them leeve here mony wordys
There ydull Spech & nyse bordys
And put A-way ther~ vanyte
And sey ther~ pater noster & ther~ Ave
No man yn church Stonde Shalle
Ne leene to pyler~ ne to walle
But feyr~ on kneys thei Shull hem Sette
knelyng~ Downe All for þe Feete
And pray to god wt hert meke
To 3eve them mercy & grace eke
Suffur hem þen to make no beere
But euer to byn yn ther~ prayere
<lat>De Stando Ad Ewaungelium</lat>
<fol. 7r>And When the gospell me rede Shalle
Teche hem then to stande vp Alle
And blesse hem feire As they canne
when Gloria tibi is beganne
And when þe gospelle is y-done
Tech hem knele A-Downn eft-sone
And when they her~ þe bell ryng~
To þe holy Sacryng~
Tech hem knele boþe yong~ & olde
And there hondes boþe vp holde
And Sey then yn þs manere
Fair~ & softe wt-owt bere
<lat>Oracio Ad eleuaconem</lat>
Jhesu lorde welcome þu be
yn forme of brede As y þe Se
Jhesu for þi holy name
Shelde vs fro Synne & Shame
Shryfte & hosolle graunte vs bo
when we Shull fro hens go
And very contricoun for our Synne
þt we neuer Dy lorde þerynne
And as þu were of A mayd bore
suffur vs neuer to be for-lore
But when we shull fro hens wynde
Graunte vs þi blis þt haþe no ynde Amen
Teche hem this or Some oþer thyng~
<fol. 7v>To say At the Sakeryng~
Tech hem all y þe pray
þt when they walken þ yn þe way
And seen þe priste A-3eynn comyng~
God-is body wt hym bryngyng~
Then wt gret Devocion
Tech hem all to knele A-downn
Fair~ ne fowle spar~ thei noght
To worschip hym þt All haþe wroght
For glad may þt man bene
That onys A Day hym may sene
So moch good Doþe þt sight
As seynt Austyn techeþe right
<lat></lat>
That Day þu seyst godis body
þu schalt haue þs Securly
Mete & Drynke at þi nede
Noon shall þe þt Day be grede
ydull oþs & wordes bo
God for3evyþe þe Also
Soden Deþe that ilke Day
þe Dar~ no Drede yn no way
Also þicke Day y þe plight
Þu shalt not leese þi eye-sight
And vche foote þt þu gost thene
That holy Sight for to sene .
<fol. 8r>They Shall be tolde to stonde yn stede
When thu hast þerof most nede
<lat></lat>
Also yn þe church & church ey
Do right þs as y þe sey
Song~ & cry & suche fare
For to stynt þu shalt not spare
Castyng~ of þe Axtre & þe ston
let ther~ they vse noon
Barre & barys & oþer play
Owt of þe church3orde put A-way
Curte-holdyng~ & such host
Owt of þe church put þu most
<lat></lat>
For crist hym-self techeþe vs
þt holy church is his howse
That is made for noght ellys
But for to pray As þe booke vs tellys
Ther~ þe pepull schall gedur ynne
To pray & wepe for ther~ Synne
<lat></lat>
Tech hem Wele & greythe
how thei shull . pay ther~ teythe
Off All thyng~ þt Dothe hem new
They shull teyþe wele & trew
<fol. 8v>After costome of the contrey
yche oon shall his teiþe pay
Boþe of smale & of grete
Of shepe of swyne or ell nete
Teithe of hyere & of honde
Goþe by custome of þe londe
y hold hit but an ydull thyng~
To speke to moch . of teythyng~
For thagh A priste be A foole
Aske his teythyng~ wele he wole
<lat>De Jncantacone</lat>
Wychcraft and Stelyng~
Forbede þu for eny thyng~
For who so belevyþe yn our fay
Most leeve þt by Any way
hit is A Sleytht of þe Devyll
And makyn A body chech Evyll .
Such beleve he makeþe hem haue
Þt wichcraft shall hem Saue
So wt charmes & wt tele
he is broght Agayn to heele
þs wt þe fynde he is blente
And his beleve mys-shente
<lat></lat>
Vsur~ & okur~ þt boþe ben oon
<fol. 9r>Teche that they Vse noon
That is A Synne Full grevous
Befor~ owur Swete lord jhesus
God takeþe moch on greffe
To syll A mon ynn his myscheffe
Any thyng~ to hy pryce
For well y wot okur~ hit yse
And to lende xij d to haue xiiijne
That is vsur~ so mot y thene
Teche hem Also to lette oone
To sell the derr~ for þe lone
<lat></lat>
Prech Also þu may yn~ londe
By þe wyffe & the husbonde
That neyþer of them no penance take
Ne noon A-vowe of chastite make
Ne no pylgyrmage take to do
But if boþe Assent þerto
These iij poyntes Verement
Neyþer shall do but boþe Assent
Saue þe vowe to jerusalem
That is lawfull to eyther of them
Then shall þe husbonde to stynte stryffe
Teche & tell so hys wyffe
<fol. 9v>That Sheo Avowe no maner thyng~
but hit be to hys wetyng~
And if Sheo do . hit may not stonde
but Sheo haue graunte of hur~ husbonde
And if þe husbonde Assente þerto
Then nedely hit most be do
No mor~ shall he verement
But if his wyffe þerto Assent
The pater noster & þe Crede
prech þi peresche þu most nede
Twyes or thryes yn~ the 3ere
to thy peresche All yn~ fere
Teche hem thys & byd hem say
Wt good entent euery Day
<lat>Pater noster qui es in celis</lat>
Owre Fader~ that art yn~ hevynn
Thy name be halowde wt meke Stevyn~
Thy kyndome be for to come
Jn vs synfull . All & Some
Thy wyll be done yn~ erþe here
As hit is yn~ heuynn clere
owur euery days bredde we pray
þt thu 3eve vs þs Same day
And fori for3eve vs owur trespas
As we don them þt gilt vs has
<fol. 10r>And leede Vs ynto no foundyng~
but Shelde vs fro All euyll thyng~
<lat></lat>
Haile be þu mary full of grace
Owur lorde wt the yn~ vche place
y-blessyd be þu of All women
And the frute of þi wombe Jhesus Amen
<lat></lat>
J beleve wt wit right
on þe fadur~ of heuyn~ god Almyght
That Al+thyng~ made & wroght
hevyn~ & erthe & All of noght
On Jhesu criste y leue Also
his owne Son & no mo
That was conseuyd of þe holy Spyret
And of A mayde ybor~ qwycke
And after vndur pounce pilate
was take for envy & hate
And suffryd payne & passion
And on þe crosse he was idone
dedde & buryede he was Also
And went to hell to Spoile our foe
And rose to lyffe þe thryd+day
And styed to heuyn~ when tyme he say
<fol. 10v>3et Shall he come Wt woundys reede
to Deme the quycke & the deede
Jn þe holy goste i beleue well
Jn holy church & her~ gospell
Jn god-ys body y beleue now
A-mong~ his Seyntes to 3eue me row
And of my Synnys þt y haue don
to haue plener~ remyssion
And when my body fro deþe shall ryse
J beleue to be wt god & hyse
And haue þe ioy þt lasteþe Ay
God graunte hit þt y so may
<lat></lat>
<Tranche 2>
<fol. 22r><lat>Accidia</lat>
Hast thu be Slow & take no hede
to tech þi godchildryn pater noster Ave & Crede
hast þu be Slow for to here
godys seruyce when tyme were
hast þu come to church late
And Spoke of Synne be þe gate
hast þu be slowe yn godes seruyce
Or sturbyt hit yn eny wyse
hast þu let eny mon
þt to church wold gon
hast þu spoke harlatry
wt-yn church or Seyntory
hath thy hert be wroþe & grete
when godes seruyce was seyd A trete
hast þu hyed hit to þe ende
That þu myghtes hameward wende
hast þu wt-owte Devocyon
harde eny predicacyon
hast þu gone ellys-where
When þu myghtes han be there
hast þu be Slow & lothe to faste
When þi hert therto dud caste
hast þu be Slow yn Any degre
to do werkes of charyte
hast þu be Slow & feynt yn hert
to do penance for hit dud smert
Or Any pilgyrmage hast vndo
That þu were ioyned to
hast þu be-gonne eny dede
For godes loue & Sowle mede
prayers penance & fastyng~
Or Any othyr hooly thyng~ .
<fol. 22v>And After Were so Slow & Feynt
þt thy Deuocyon was all queynt
hast þu feynt & slow be
to helpe þi wyffe & thy meyne
Of Suche As they had nede to
Sey if thu haue So do
yf þu be A seruante
hast þu hold thy couenante
hast þu be Sharpe & besy
to serue thy mayster trewly
hast þu trewly by vch wey
Seruyd þi mete & thy pay
hath þi neibowur trust to the
to helpe hym yn Any Degre
hast þu for Slowth & feyntyse
hym begilyd yn eny wyse
hath Slowth so Shend thy thoght
þt yn disspayr~ hit haþe the broght
And neuer myghtes A ende maken
Of no good dede that þu dydyst taken
hast þu for Slowthe be so feynt
þt all þi wyll haþe be y-weynt
And Soght not ellys but lust & ease
And wold so the body please
hast þu Sparyd for heete or cold
to go to church when þu wer~ hold
<lat>De Jnuidia</lat>
Hast þu euer be grochyng~
A-gaynst god for eny thyng~
hast þu yn~ hert glad
when þi neybowur harme haþe had
hast þu had yn hert gryfe
Of his good and his relyfe
<fol. 23r>Hast thu had Envy And erre
to hym that was thy ouer-herre
Or any that was yn eny degre
take forth be-fore the
hast envyed thyn vndurlyng~
For he was good & thryvyng~
Or lest he had passyd the
Jn eny vertu or Any Degre
hast þu for hate or Envy
holpen or counselyd for to ly
Any mon to defame
Or to destry his good name
hast þu bacbyted þi neibowur
For to make hym far~ þe worre
hast þu reised any debate
A-mong~ thy neibowurs for any hate
hast þu Sar Sparyd for envy
to tech A mon his harme to sly
when þu myghtes by þi warnyng~
haue hym~ Saued fro harmyng~
<lat>De ira</lat>
Hast thow for hate or for yre
Any thyng~ set on fyre
hast Any tyme by wraþe so
þt thy wyt haþe ben A-go
hast þu by malice of thy doyng~
wrathed thy neibowur yn Any thyng~
hast þu yn wraþe or yn Stryffe
Greuyd eny cristyn lyffe
hast thu wt wordes bytter & Shrewde
Greuyd eny mon lerned or lewde
hast þu yn wraþe & yn evyll hert // Made Any mon to Smerte //
<fol. 23v>Hast yn Wrath Any man Slayne
Or holpe ther-to by thy mayne
hast þu be wonte to Speke ylle
by any man lewde or stylle
hast þu glad to here bacbyte
by Any mon moch or lyte
hast þu Any tyme malicyusly
Cursed Any thyng~ bytterly
Jn hope to make hit fare the worse
by the malice of thy curse
hast y-cursed or y-blamyd
Or any man to wraþe tamyd
hast þu ben vnpacyent
Jn eny gryffe þt god haþe Sent
Other grucchyd A-gaynst hit
Jn hert yn worde or yn wytt
As yf thy catell fell fro the
Or for Any infirmyte
For los of Frynde or Any thyng~
Now tell & sey Spar~ for no thyng~
<lat>De Auaricia</lat>
Hast thou willyd by covetyse
worldes good ouer syse
And Sparyd ne for god ne mon
to gete þt thu myghtes lay hond on
hath eny mon A-pon A wedde
Borowyd at the At A nede
And afterward when pay he wold
hast þu then his wedde wt-hold
For thagh he failyd at his day
Thu Shuldyst not his wedde wt-say
hast þu lent eny thyng~
to haue þe more wynnyng~
<fol. 24r>Hast thow Doe Symony
Spirituall thyng~ to sell or by
hast þu werkemen oght wt-hold
Any thyng~ that they haue shold
hast þu begilyd wt chaffare
Any mon las or mare
hast þu 3eve A fals dome
For eny mede þt to the come
hast þu falsely be forswore
For Any thyng~ þu couetyst fore
hast þu gete Any thyng~
wt falce cowntenance & glosyng~
hast þu couetyd ouer gate
worldys worschip or eny State
hast thu ben executour
To Any frynde or neibour
And Drawe home his good þe tyll
And not ydone the ded-is wyll
<lat>De Gula</lat>
Hast thu Synned yn gloteny
tell me Son boldely
hast þu ete wt Such meyny
þt thu hast cast hit vp A-gayn
hast þu wt Such voment
Cast vp the Sacrament
hast þu be dronke oft by yse
And Shende þi-selfe by þt vyse
hast þu by malice or oþer degre
Made eny mon dronke to be
For þu woldyst the menewhile
Any thyng~ of hym begile
Or for þu woldist laghter haue // To se hym dronke & to rave //
<fol. 24v>Hast þu fast As thu Shuldest do
daies that þu were ioyned to
Or broke any oþer fastyng~ day
yf þu haue don þu most nede say
hast þu eten or dronke more
Than thy nede Askyd fore
Other to erly or to late
By-cause of swetemete & delicate
yf þu haue done þs by yse
Tell me sone for nede hit yse
hast þu cheryst þi body ofte
Wt swete mekes or cloþs softe
Or wonte to go to Ale
To fille ther~ thy fowle ma[le]we
And Draw thedur oþer wt the
To be the felechip yn þt degre
hast þu Stole mete or drynke
For þu noldyst for hit Swynke
<lat>De luxuria</lat>
Hast thou Synned yn lechery
Tell me sone boldely
And how oft þu dedyst þt dede
Tell me thou most nede
And whedur hit wer~ wiffe or may
Suster or doghtur þt thu belay
And if heo were kynne to the
how ny thu most tell me
And if heo were Ankur~ or nonne
Wedow or wif tell if þu conne
Or Any that vowed chastite
Or comyn woman if sheo be
Or whedur thu dedyst by streynþe so
<fol. 25r>Or by the Assent of yow bo
hast ete or dronke the more treuly
To enforce the to lechery
hast Any thyng~ wroght or do
That Steryd thy Flesch mor~ þerto
Clyppyng~ or kussyng~ Any lythe
þt thy flesch was steryd withe
And moche & 3urne thoght þeron
A-mong~ feleschip & A-lone
And woldest fayne yn þi thoght
þt fowle dede haue wroght
Then thu dedust Synne yn lechery
As god hymselfe Seyt-he verely
Wt-owten gult of fleschely dede
Thy chastite fro the doþe flede
hast þu had lust ynwardly
And thoght moch on lechery
And hast ben fowlyd yn such thought
Tell me Sone spare þu nowght
Slepyng~ or wakyng~ whedur þu were
Tell me sone anon right here
hast þu done surfet of mete or drynke
And after polutyd Slepyng~ thynke
hast þu done þt Synne bale
By any woman þt ley yn~ hale
hast þu wowed Any wight
And tempted hur~ ouer myght
hast þu the made gay therfore
þt Sheo shuld love the þe more
hast þu desired Such to be
That women Shulde love the .
<fol. 25v>Hast thu had likyng~ to here
Songes that of lechery were
hast þu counselyd or do Socowur
by eny wey to A lechowur
Bethyng~ the son yn vch degre
What yn thy thoght befell the
<lat>Quod si femina</lat>
And if heo be A woman
byd hur~ tell if heo canne
Of what degre the man was
That Synned wt hur~ yn þt cas
weddyd or sengull or eny Spowse
Of what Degre of religyˆ [o]use
Or whedur hit were A-gaynst hur~ will
Or was Assented to that yll
Or whedur hit were for covetyse
Of gold of seluer or eny prise
Then the Synne Dowbullyd were
And nedyþe penance moch more
Why & wher~ how & When // And how oft Aske hur~ then //
And All poyntes thu most weton
As be-fore y haue wreton
<lat></lat>