<County: Yorkshire West Riding>
<Code: L0598>
<MS reference: Princeton University Library, Robert H. Taylor Collection>
<Text: Speculum Vitae>
<Tranche 1>
<fol. ara>Of ye warlde . & all ye noblenes
For whenn he sese it all sammen
Hym thynk noght bot a barne gammen
Or als a dreme in a slepe
Yen forsakes he warldes wirschepe
Thurgh hardines of hert stable
He traistes in godde so merciable
Whenn he dar habide so wele
ye angers of ye warlde & fele
And alkyn noye thole & proue
Or take ye dede for goddes lofe
ye seuen brannches now haf J redde
yat in þe meke manes hert er spredde
All yai spryng both more & lesse
Out of ye vertu [of] mekenes
yat ledes a mann by right way
To ye blissedhede yat is to say
Of gastly pouert yat godde pais
And to his mede als godde yus sais
Blissed be ye pore in gaste
For heuen rike yairs is maste
Her may 3e se who so takes hede
whare of it serues ye gift of drede
Jt is ye last yat we craue
Bot it is ye first yat we sulde hafe
yat gift may ye seuent askyng
Of ye pater noster to vs bryng
yat may vs fro all ill defende
ye whilk gift . Jhesi crist vs sende
<lat></lat>
Nowther gift . 3ett may we gete
Als her is in yis boke sett
yat after ye gift of drede sulde be
And is ye gift of pite
ye whilk ye sext askyng may wynn vs
Jn ye pater noster so precious
þis gift of pite is slike a grace
yat to charite it may vs chace
And strenght+our hertis & fest so faste
yat no fayndyng vs may done caste
yis gift of pite is full myghty
Jt puttis a-way ye synn of enuy
<fol. arb>Out of ye hert yer it is Jnn
And settis frenschip in stede of yat synn
Enuy in thre partes may sprede
Jn hert in mouth & in dede
Jn hert it spredes thurgh thynges
yat in ye enuyous mann hert hynges
A+fals demyng ye first thyng es
ye toyer is a wicked gladdenes
ye threde is a fole forthynkyng
yes thre . out of enuy may spryng
A fals demyng may yis be
whenn ye enuyous may here or se
ye gudenes of a-nothir mann
And in hert demes hym falsly yan
A wickede gladdenes yis menn calles
whenn ioy in a mannes hert falles
Of oyer menns noye or greuaunce
Or of any harme yat comes thurgh chaunce
A fole forthynkyng is yis calede
whenn a mann in hert will halde
Outhyr mourenyng . dole or care
For any manes wele fare
Enuy also spredes in mouthe
Thurgh thre thynges yat er couthe
Thurgh myssayng & bitternes
Thurgh bakbityng ye threde es
For at ye dosell menn may knaw
what licour is in ye tunn to draw
missayng of mouth first is yis
when a mann spekes oght of mys
Of any othir mennes gudenes
And paynes hym to mak it lesse
Bitternes is yis bi skill
when a mann heres of oyer menes ill
he sekes & makes it mare
And dose it be knawen wide whare
Backbityng is yis to say
whenn a mann spekes ill ay
And turnes all yat he may here
Of oyer menn . to ye warst manere
Jn dede also spredes enuy
Thurgh thre thynges specially
<fol. ava>Thurgh restrenyng of gude bigynnyng
Thurgh fordoyng of gude wynnyng
Thurgh dressyng of wickede wiles
At yes thre ye fende smyles
Restrenyng may yis be to lak
Whenn he ye enuyous puttis a-bak
A mann yat has gude begynyng
And will do wele in althyng
Both to godde & to ilk mann
Hym lettis ye enuyous als he can
A fordoyng menn may ˆ [yis] tell
when he yat is enuyous & fell
Distroys a-nothyr mann thurgh myght
þat to godde & mann dose right
Dressyng of wiles yat er wik
yat Jnn ye enuyous mannes hert may stik
A-gayne gude men yat is to a-bate
yair gude name & yair state
ye whilk enuyous nyght & day
waytis to fordo in all yat he may .
Menn may liken ye enuyous
vnto a worme yat is venemous
yat clerkes calles on latyn yus
Als ye boke sais basiliscus
ye whilk destroyes als menn has sene
ye gresse yat groues whenn it is grene
And namely a thyng als we se
yat is corne yat has states thre
First ye corne semes als gresse
yat waxes ay+mare & noght lesse
Sithen it spires & florische faire
Thurgh vertu & thurgh kynde of ye aire
yen after becomes ˆ [it] corne ripe
Both forto bery & forto stripe
ye gresse betokyns yat first sulde spring
A mann yat has gude begynnyng
To do wele als his hert is sett
And [yat] will ye enuyous mann lette
Als dose ye worme wt-inn a stonnde
yat lettis ye gresse yat groues on gronde
ye florischyng to se & fele
Betokens a mann yat dose here wele
<fol. avb>A-gayne hymm is ye enuyous bounne
To distroy hym & bryng hym doune
Als ye worme dose thurgh his myght
yat destroyes ye gresse yat floris ri3t
ye ripe corne yat is in sesoune
Betokens yai ˆ [gude] menn of renoune
Agayne [yaim] ye enuyous mann
Sekis all wiles yat he cann
To fordo here yair gude fame
And to bryng yaim to worldes schame
For ye mare yat gude menn dose wele
ye mare soro[u] may ye enuyous fele
ye synn of enuy is so perilous
yat vnnethes nay ye enuyous
Comm to right repentaunce
Jt brynges hym to slike ane encumbraunce
For it is a synnn yat godde hates maste
Jt [is]contrarius vnto ye haly gaste
yat is of all gudenes ye well
For godde sais yus in ye gospell
yat who so synnes & dose ill
Agaynes ye haly+gaste thurgh will
Jn yis warlde getis he no mercy
Ne in ye thothyr of yat foly
For he yat dose slike a vice
He synnes thurgh will & malice
Bot 3e sall sauely vnderstande
And noght be ouer-mekill dredande
yat [it] is none so gret synn done
yat ne godde will forgyf it sone
Jf a mann will hym repente
Jn his life wt gude talent
Bot vnnethes will a mann begynne
To repent hym of slik a synn
Bot ser synnes fynde J speciele
Agayne ye haly gaste to fele
An is presumpcuioun of hert balde
yat is ouerhope in inglische calde
Wanhope is ye secunde synn
wo is hym yat endes yer-Jnn
Ye threde is hardynes of hert
ye ferthe is . dispite of penaunce smert
<fol. bra>ye fift es wereyng of oyer menn
Of ye grace of ye haly+gaste to kenne
ye sext synn yer-aftyr es
wereyng a-gayn sothfastnes
Ouerhope proprely may be yis
When a mann ledes his wittes omys
yat will noght lefe his foly
Bot traistis all in goddes mercy
Her makes he goddes mercy ouer-large
yis ˆ [es] a synn gretly to charge
For all if leuede ay als a swyne
He wenes yat godde will hym noght tyne
yer haldes he godde vnrightwise
And his rightwisnes of litill prise
So goddes mercy ouer-large menn makes
And his rightwisnes ouer scharse takes
And thurgh yat may menn so lang synn
yat mercy of godde sall yai neuer wynn
A-nothir synn is wanhope callede
yat is yis proprely to hald
whenn a mann is so full of foly
yat he traystis no3t in goddes mercy
For gyf hym ye synn yat he has wro3t
he wenes & hopes yat godde may no3t
So makes wanhope goddes mercy lesse
Als ouerhope dose his rightwisnes
Bot is nane yat mercy will hafe
yat he+ne may hafe & he will it crafe
yat is if he will folow yerto
And schrif hym wele & penaunce do
And make a-mendes of all his ill
And turne hym after to goddes will
And elles he is noght worthy
To hafe forgifnes & mercy
For godde sais yus in ye gospell
Als 3e may here yes clerkes tell
Als sall noght he sais ˆ [yat says] yus
lorde . lorde haue mercy on vs
Do ye kyngdome of heuen wende
To life in ioy wt-outen ende
Bot yai anely yat will fulfill
Jn all thyng my fader will
<fol. brb>Hardynes of hert is ye threde
yat is whenn a mann is so stedde
yat he is hardend+in his synn
yat no mann may hym out wynn .
For he will for no thyng hym amende
yat menn may warne hym or defende
whenn a mann thurgh wickede encumbraunche
ye ferthe is dispite of penaunce
Js neuer in will ne in entente
Of his synn hym to repente
ye fift is weryng a-gayne grace
Of ye haly gaste yat we purchace
Als whenn a mann walde fordo & waste
Menn yat er ledde thurgh ye haly+gaste
For ye enuyous walde fayne fordo
yat ye haly gaste puttis yaim to
ye sext synn & ye laste is yis
weryng a-gayne sothfastnes
Principally of ye trouth right
Als whenn a mann wt all his myght
wyttandly haldes yer agayne
yen getes he no mercy sartayne
For who so haldes agayne ye fathe
He dose heresy yat synn is laithe
<Tranche 2>
<fol. era>yat be-houes hym stoppe in ye dett
Or elles wreke of godde he sall gett
For ilk man sulde for goddes sake
To oyer frest & no3t yerfore take
yen will godde for yat dede
Specially graunt hym his mede
ye threde maner of oker kidde
Js yis yat mekill is hidde
Als when a man weldes a thyng
yat his frendes wan [wt] okeryng
And yai be passede out of yis life
Be it fader moder or wife
He sulde no3t halde it in store
Bot he sulde make a-sethe yerfore
yat is to say if he may witt
how his frendes hafe wonnen it
And if he do he is gilty
Als he yat first didde yat foly
ye ferth maner is charchande
yat is yis to vnderstande
Als when a mann his seruant has
yat oker to his vse tase
Jf he yer-of payede hym halde
He may be maister okerer calde
ye fift maner of <gap> oker is yis
yat somme men vses yat lenys of mysse
Als when a man for oker lens
ye siluer yat is oyer mens
yat he in kepyng has to safe
wt yat yus will he ye oker hafe
Or if a mann born in priuete
For oker siluer or oyer mone
To lene to oyer for to hafe
More oker yen he to oyer gafe
He yat is disciple okerer
yat maner sall he by full dere
bot he yer-fore mendes make
Or ye dede hym hethen take
ye sext is yis when a man selles
Corne or beste or oght elles
And frestes it to a terme day
And selles derrer for frest of þe pay
<fol. erb>Jn ye dett if he do wele
He sulde alow it ilk a dele
yat he has more als J vnderstande
yenn he walde firste hafe tane in hande
And bot he do he monne be schent
When he is of yis warlde went
ye seuent maner of oker soght
Js yis yat charges some menn no3t
Als when a man selles a thyng anely
To hym yat nede has it to by
For he sees wele & cann witt
yat he yat byes may no3t tharne it
yenn selles he it double prys
he takes ouer mekill on yat wise
No more he sulde take of hym yan
yen it wer worth to a-noyer mann
For all yat tym yat he takes mare
yen ye worth he sall rew sare
For on yat wise dose he no3t
Als he walde to hym-selfe were wro3t
yer-fore sall he aresonde be
For he dose a-gayne charite
ye aghtende maner is yis to <ill><repetition of the t?></ill> drede
When a man sees a-noyer has nede
To sell corne catell or fee
Be-fore ye tyme yat fell to be
yenn byes ˆ [he] it for a light pris
To his auauntage on yis wis
So yat he make before ye pay
And ye corne habide to a-noyer day
yus gates is ye bargayne wroght
So yat ye byer has ye half for no3t
For ye day may fall so
ye corne is worght slike two
yer-for he sulde whenn he it tase
Pay hym more als corne yenn gase
And if he rewarde hym wt no more
yann tase je oker als J saide are
ye nente maner of oker J fynde
yat makes somme menns conscience blynde
yat is whenn a mann for a-uauntage
Lenes siluer for rent in morgage
<fol. eva>And takes ye profet of ye rent
Ouer ye siluer yat it lent
Of all ye tyme to ye day
yat sett is to take ye pay .
Bot he ye profitt to pris sett
And alow it in ye dett
His saule sall be in grete daungere
Als he yat is ane okerere
ye tent maner of oker may be
Jn yis case yat menn may se
Als when a mann wt-haldes for ay
A wedde yat laide is to a day
For he has no3t ye pay of ye dett
Namely at ye day yat is sett
All if ye conaunt slike ware
3tt if ye wedde wer worth mare
ye dett amounte myght
Hym behouede 3elde agayn thurgh ri3t
Or elles he sall haue a harde fitt
Whenn he sall out of yis warlde flit
Or if a mann wedde yat is laide
Wer ay to ye dett be payede
Jf it be payrede als J trow
Jn ye pay hym behoues alow
And stoppe als mekill & no lesse
Als ye wedde appairede yen es
And bot he do J warne hym wele
He mon yerfore harde payne fele
ye elleuent manere fynde J now
yat is yis J dar a+wo auow
Whenn a mann takes till a marchande
Siluer or golde by yis conande
yat he hafe halfe yat wynnynge es
And his awen ˆ [siluer] neuer-ye-lesse
Jf he take ˆ [halfe] wynnyng fre
wt-outen oker yat may no3t be
For he will haue half wynnyng
And no3t alow if yar be tynyng
Bor if he make slike a connande
yat he to perell of losse will stande
And alow als falles to all costage
yen may he take halfe auauntage
<fol. evb>Leffully . als ye conante es
wt-outen oker & yat skill . es
And ye same maner in catell lyse
þat to halfe is laten on yis wise
When a mann letes catell or fe
To halfe if slik ye connande be
[he] þat half ye auauntage hafe
þat yer-of commes & his awene safe
so yat if yat catell be loste
He will hafe hailly yat it coste
Ne alow will no costage
yenn halde J oker all his vauntage
ye twelft maner of oker is ill
þat is yis yat somme vse will
Als whenn a mann will firste & lenne
Siluer or corne to symple menn
Or othyr thyng yat mote yaim vaile
þen puttes he yaim to trauaile
Jn his werkes yat he walde were wro3t
And elles walde he firste yaim no3t
Or if yai may no3t ye dett pay
Als yai er haldene at a day
þen he ˆ [makes] wt yaim coneande
To wirk his werkes wt fote or hande
For yat dett yat yai hymm awen
yerto he byndes yaim wt ye law
He will for ilk peny of ye dett
Thre peny worth of werk sett
þis is a synfull bargayne
yerfore he monn hafe mekill payne
Now hafe J schewede on sere wise
ye case in whilk oker lise
Þe secund braunche of auarice
Js theft yat is a wickede vice
Bot fife maners of theft J fynde
Jn whilk couatyse mase menn blynde
For if yai yat menn here thefes calles
Couthe se what dome to thefes falles
Thurgh laghe of lande & goddes laghe
To stele oght yai sulde hafe aghe
Ane maner of theft is theft apert
Anoyer priue ye therde couert
<fol. fra>þe ferthe es litill theft to knaw
þe fift is theft of thefes felaw
Apert theft dose he yat mann
þat thurgh sleghet stele apertly cann
And hauntes oft yat foly
To sustayne hym & his yer-by
He were worthy als J vnderstande
Be taken & hangede by laghe of lande
A priue theft dose he yis
þat takes oght yat is no3t his
And haldes it priuely als his awen
And 3hett is he for trew mann knawen
Bot wheder he take more or lesse
A priuy thefe he yat es
Bot all if he be here for trew kidde
Fro godde may no3t yat theft ˆ [be] hidde
And yof he schape here ye laghe of lande
To goddes laghe hym be-houes stande
For whenn his saule is hethen flemede
Thurgh goddes laghe . he sall be demede
And perchaunce to endles payne
Bor he 3elde it here a-gayne
A couert theft dose he in case
yat kepyng of his lordes godes has
Als bayllif seruant or grayfe
þat falles his lordes rentes to resceyfe
And in his count rekens lesse
ye reseytes yen ye spens es
so sleghly he cann his acounntes sett
þat ye lorde rynnes in his dett
And puttes hym selfe to auauntage
þer he sulde be in a rerage
so slely he steles his lordes rent
Me thynk he were worthy be schent
3hett thurgh colour of his office
He haunttes couertly yis vice
Auantage of oyer men to take
wt fals sleghtes yat he cann make
þus cann he couertly stele
And 3ett he semes als he were lele
Bot he wiste w[h]at he were worthy
For slike dedes hym aght be sory
<fol. frb>Also a wife sulde vnderstande
þat takes ye gudes of hir husbande
Agayne his lefe or his will
Scho steles yos gudes & dose full ill
Or he yat is a mann religious
þat tase ye gudes of his hous
wt-outen lefe of his souerayne
He steles yes gudes for sertayne
For wife ne mann of religione
Of ye gudes yat is comone
Has no maner of proprete
þe law will at it so be
þerfore yai may no3t sell ne gife
wt-outen yair souerayne lefe
Also yat wif dose grete foly
þat has a childe in a-uoutry
Jf it be to hir lorde vnknawen
And he wenes ye childe is his awen
ye whilk ˆ [als] heyre beres heritage
Agayne ye law of mariage