<County: Yorkshire West Riding>
<Code: L0496>
<MS reference: London, BL Harley 4172>
<Text: Articles of faith, Ordo visitandi and marriage service>


<Tranche 1>

<fol. 3r><line 7> <lat></lat> Tho fyrst of goddes com
aundementes is yu shalt haue no god but on .
and hym only yu shalt serue and worshyp . In yis comaun
dement is forbeden al+maner~ of mawmetrye . wiche
craftes . enchauntementes . & al mysbeleue <lat></lat>
<lat></lat> Tho secunde comaunde
ment is yu shalt not take yi goddes name in idelnes . here
is forboden al sweryng but in grete nede . al heresy & al
misnemnig in vnworshyp of god & of his halowes & of all
his creatures . & al ydul sweryng . <lat></lat>
<lat></lat> Tho thryd comaundement is . yu shalt halowe
yo halidaye . be yis comaundement al cristen men & wemmen
ben holden holden to be als besy in goddes seruise on yo halydaye
knelyng deuoutely & prayng to her god yt he safe hem &
kepe hem oute of dedely synne . as yei ben on yo werkdaye
to do her erthely werkes . <lat></lat>
<lat></lat> Tho ferth comaundement is yu shalt worship
yi fadur & yi modur yt ye forthe broghten . not onely wt
kne
lyng & feyre wordes of yi mowthe . but helping & releuinge
hem in any mischefe yt yu wt yi gode & wt yi catell wt yi
comfort & yi counseyle in payne of yi dampnacion in al yat
<fol. 3v>yi power is in qwat degre under heuen so euer yu stondes
inne . and not onely hem but principallyche god yi fadur
yu shalt loue ouer hem . & ouer al other creatur~s . a holy chyrch
yi modur . Also yu shalt worshyp & loue yi gostly fa
durs & al men of worshyp . & namely men of holy
chyrche . and al cristen pepul yof yei yei bene poor~ & at
lower degre yen yu . suppose yt yei bene more holyer &
more priuey wt god yen yu . <lat></lat>
<lat></lat> Tho fyfte comaundement byddes yu shalt not
slee . In yis comaundement is forbeden al maner slaght
in dede or worde or in wille . wt worde spekyng or
hert assentyng or dede doyng in harmyng of monnes
bode . bereueyng of monnes godes . losyng of catel .
howse . or londe . or oght yt hysen is . oyerwyse yen
goddes lawe wyl . <lat></lat>
yu shalt not do no lechery . Jn yis comaundement is for
beden al maner brekyng of wedloke . & alle fleschely
dedes & lustus betwene mon & womon . & al sh<ill>c. 2 chars</ill>ing
of monnus kynde owte of wedloke . <lat></lat>
<lat></lat> . yu shalt not stele . Jn yis comaundement
is for-beden al maner takyng of any monnus godes wt
outen his wille yt hit oght priuyly or opunly wt threte
os wt manasse wt sleghtes or wt coyntes . or ony oyer
cautels & al wronge purchas . & deseryting . & al maner
trechery . & ocur~ . & wronge amercyamentes . <lat></lat>
<lat></lat> . yu shalt bere no
fals wittenes Jn yis comaundement is forbeden al ma
<fol. 4r>ner lesynges . bannynges . & accusyng . & namely apeyring
of mannes gode los . or wymmens qwerthoro yey bene
put to her purgacion~ . or haue any wordely shame
or harme . for al yoo bene <gap> acursed of god hym
selfe . <lat></lat>
<lat></lat> . yu <gap> shalt not couet yi neghbur~ thyng . hit
is forbeden al vnresonabul wylnyng of any man
nes gode . house or lond . or any-thyng yt hysen is . ageyn
gud reson . <lat></lat>
<lat></lat> yu shalt not coueyte yi neghbure wyf
ne his doghtur . ne his seruaunt . ne his bestes . ne nothyng
yat hyssen is wt-inne ne wt-oute . <lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat> Pryde is to myche
loue . a+mon as to hym-self . & to myche henes . qwerthoro
he desspyses oyer yt bene als gode in kynde as he . yerfore
pride is moder & grounde of al oyer synnes . <lat></lat>
Enuye is qhwen a mon has sorowe of oyer mennes weele .
and has ioy of oyer mennes woo . for yerof commes bacby
tyng . sleyng . hurtyng . betyng . chydyng . false domes .
and mone oyer harmes . <lat></lat> . Wrath is wi
llyng of vengaunce & of harme to hym yt he is wrothe wt .
and qwen wrath leues stylle in hert . longe wrath
turnes to hate . & yer-of comes monnes slaught . lesynges .
bakbytyng . fals+folowyng in diuerse courtes . & diuerse
lawes . & yis is lac of grace & sawte of charite . <lat></lat>
Slouthe is a heuenes of gostely werke . qwerthoro a
<fol. 4v>mon has no lykyng in god ne in his serues ne to
shewe his synnes in shryft . and yerof comes we
renesse & gostely delyte in slepe & in ydelnesse and in
wanhope & al letteht of soule hele . <lat></lat>
<lat></lat> Couetyse is loue oute of mesur~ of
wordely godes . as gold & syluer . & house & londe
vnryghtfully takyng of mennes gode purchassyng .
witholdyng vnryghtfullyches & yerof comes fals
hed in wynnyg . & byyng . & selyng . in metyng . in
weyng . & gyle . & trecherye . sacrilege . symony theft
and mone other falsnes . <lat></lat> Glo
tonye is loue oute of mesur~ in lykyng of mete
and drynke . yerinne men synnen ofte . as intakyng to
myche to late to erly . oute of tyme . takyng to myche
in fastyng dayes . in brekyng of fastyng . be sch
ryfte enioyned . or wohe made . or comaunded of ho
ly chyrche . And also in makyng delicyovs metes &
drynkes yo qwech oft times is dedeli synne . qwen
yei maken a mon to heue to serue god . or dullyng his
witte . or bereuen a+mon his hele of bode . or of stoma
ke . or of his hede . or febles his lymmes or styrres his
<gap> body to synne in any degre . <lat></lat> lecherye is
haueyng so mykil lykyng to fulfylle yo lust of his
fleshe . yt his witte is aliened a-way from his god .
and his comaundementes . And for lecherous dede
in yche maner wyse betwene mon & womon oute
of wedlok is dedly synne . holy chyrche comaundes yt
<fol. 5r>no mon suffur his children ne his seruandes ne non oyer
mon ne wommon of seuen 3ere olde or more lye to-gedyr~
in on bedde for perel of synne . of yis synne nedes not
myche to speke for yche mon knowes his owne
dede in qwat he has trespassed . <lat></lat>
Tho seuen werkes of mercy bene of goddes comaundyng
in yo gospel of saynt mathew . of yo qwech
werkes yche cristen creatur~ shal be exammend at yo daye
of dome Tho fyrst is yu shalt fede yo hungr~ . yo
secunde Gyf hem drynke yt ben athryst yo thryd
visitte yo seke yo ferthe herber hem yat haue nede
yo fyfte Clothe yo naked yo sixte Comfort hem
yat bene in prisone yo seuenth bery hem yt ben dede
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat> . feythe . hope . Charite
Sleyth . Ryghtwesnes . Strenth . Soburnesse . Tho
fyrst vertu yt mon schuld haue . is trewe feyth . yat is
ryght beleue . yu shalt beleue al yt holy chry chirche
beleues & theches & noght elles Tho secunde vertue
is hope . yu shalt hope to haue yo blys of heuen in bode
and soule after yo daye of dome wit helpe of yi
ryght beleue . & yi gode lyuyng in erth . & yo sacramentes
of holy chyrche . Tho thryd vertue is Charite . yt yu
shalt loue god . before al thyng . & yin euencristen as
yi-self willyng hem no more harme in body ne in soule
ne in les of hor godes yen yu woldes to yin selfe
<fol. 5v>and 3if yei haue nede . & yu be of power . help hom &
soker hem Tho ferth vertue is sleyth . a mon kepe hym
from harme comyng and yt is nedful for yche cristen
mon & wommon yt wil haue loue of his god and be sau
ed to yo blis of heuen . moste be slee & wyse & hold
strong batayle ageyne thre strong enmyes . yt is
ageyne yo entysyng of yo fend . & yo lykyng of his
fleshe . & yo vayneglory of yis word . as dyden
yo holy confessoures in diuerse penaunce . in wakyng in
fastyng . in holy bedes byddyng . Tho fyfte vertue is .
ryghtwesnes . yis vertue wil yt a mon 3elde to god &
to mon & to hym-self al thyng yt horres is . yt is to vndur
stonde . to god worshyp . to mon helpe at nede in loue .
and to yi-self gode rewle & ryghtwes lyuyng . & yis
vertue is nedful a-gayne yo vyces of couetyse of yo
worde . & so dyden yo hole aposteles . Tho Sixte vertu
is gostly strenghthe yt is to vndurstonde . a mon most be
stronge to suffr~ dyses & mischefe for ryghtwesnes .
yat no mon suffr~ his euencristen to synne dedly .
ne breke goddes lawe wt his power . ne suffer hym
self be ouercommen wt synne d ne do after yo lykyng
of his flesh . ne after yo entysyng of yo fend & yus
dyden yo holy martyres Tho seuenth vertue is sobur
nesse . yt is withstondyng of fleshely lykyngges in me
te & drynke . in slepyng . in wakyng . in loue . in wrath .
in wele . in woo . of non of alle yese take to mych ne
to lytell . & yt helpes souerenly a-geyne yo fende & yo
<fol. 6r>fleshe . & yo world for so dyden yo holy virgynes .

<Tranche 2>

<fol. 53r><line 8> These are ye . x . commanndementes yt yche cris
ten mon or wommon ar~ holden for to knowe
& kepe . Tho fyrst is yu shalt loue yi god with all
yi hert & al yi soule . & al yi thoght & loke yt yu
haue non oyer god ¶ Tho secunde is . yt yu shalt
not take yo nome of thi god in vayne Tho . iij .
is . yt yu shalt halowe yi halydaye Tho . iiij .
is . yt yu shalt worshype yi fadur & yi modur
Tho . v . is . yt yu shalt slee no mon . Tho . vj .
is . yt yu shalt do no lecherye . Tho .vij . is . yt yu
shalt do no thefte . Tho . viij . is . yt yu shalt bere no
fals testimoyne ageyne yi neghbur ¶ Tho . ix .
is . yt yu shalt not couet yi neghbur wyf Tho
. x . is . yt yu shalt not couet no thynge with
wronge of yi neghburs . Tho . iij . furste thechen
ye how yu shalt loue yi god . And tho . vij . other
techen ye how yu shalt bere ˆ [ye] and loue yin euen
crysten . These . x . commaundementes god wrot
with his hondes in two tables of stone . & toke
hom to yo prophete moyses . & bade hym yt he shulde
<fol. 53v>teche hom to yo folke <gap> Tho fyrste teches ye
how yu shalt worshyp yi god with al yi hert
Tho secunde how yu shalt worshyp hym
with yi worde . Tho . iij . how yu shalt wor
shyp hym with yi werkes . Tho fyrst is yus
myche to say . J commande 3ow þt 3e haue
ryght beleue & stydfast . & perfite loue to god
& to non oyer ageynes god . <gap> Agaynes thys
commaundement dos a mon in thre wayes . Tho
se yt leuen in wiche-crafte & charmes & be
suche craft of yo fende seken hele ageyne
sekenes . & holpe & defence of thyng yat yei
wolden haue done . and witten priuetes os of
stollen thyng . or wolde thynges þt are to co
come . Or yt leuen a-gayne tho feythe of holy
kyrke . As yoo yt leuen in yo new mone and
worshypen hit . or in yo sterne . or in yo metynge
of freres or in men of religioun and in mony
other thynges . yen J thenke for+to telle And
seynt Austeyn says yt alle suche haue lorne
cristen byleue . & yt yei are peres of tˆ[h]o paynes
and ben goddes enmyes & yt yei shal be damp
ned to yo payne yat euer shal last . But 3if
yei amend hom here & do penaunce yerfore in
yis lyue . Jn anoyer maner dos a mon ageynes
yis comaundement qhwen he for hope of helpe
of a man leues goddes seruice or goddus byddyng
<fol. 54r>or for hope of wynnyng of hys craft or for wordly
werkus leues goddes seruice & his prayers qhwen
he shuld go to kyrke & to goddes seruice ¶ For
god says in yo gospel on yis maner . J say 3ow
yat 3e be neuer bese a-bowte 3owre mete ne 3owr~
clothe . but sekes fyrste & askes of 3owre lorde
yo kyngdam of heuen & ryghtful+lyfe to led in
yis worlde . yt is to say Joy in heuen & grace in
yis lyfe And he wil puruey ye all yat yu haste
nede of in yis worlde to yo body . And yus folke
þt folow not yis commanndement . yei losen yo blis
of heuen & her bodyly sustynannce . & are pore &
synful wrecches ¶ And Jerome says . Cursede
be yo mon yt for hope of monnes helpe leues yo
seruise of god and dos synne . And yerfore we shal
fyrste be bese to seke goddus grace be prayer of gode
werkes & of goyng to kyrke . And after we may
trayste yt god made & gaf bothe body & soule &
has gyuen hom all yat hom nedes . But yerfore
mon shal not leue yo craft ne his werke be yo
qwyche god has puruayde yat mon shulde trw
ly purchase his lyfe-lode ¶ But fyrste serue god .
and sythen yo body as hit nedes . Jn these thre
maners man trespasses agaynes yis commaun
dement . qhwen he for loue or lust of his fleshe
or of wynnyng of worldly gode or for worship
or for bodyly drede . or for drede of worldly losse
<fol. 54v>or ony oyer thynge wittyngly & wylfully dos synne
ageynes goddes wylle . or yt loues ony thyng in
yis worlde . kyn . or catel . or tresoure more yen
god <gap> for holy wrytte says yt thynge yt a mon
loues best & most is bese aboute & lothest to lose
were . yt mas he his god . And yerfore qhwo so loues
any thynge more yen god . he is not worthy to be
goddes frende . qhwerfore god says yus in yo gos
pel . qhwo so loues fadur or modur . sone . or doghtur
systur or broyer or his owne lyfe . or any oyere erthly
thynge more yen me . he is not worthy to be my
discipul . ne to be loued of me ne come to ioye in
heuen with me <lat></lat>
The secunde commanndement is yis . <lat></lat>
<lat></lat> . yat is to say yu shalt not swere
goddes name in vayne . ne in ydelnes . Agaynes
this dos a man in thre maners . One is qhwen
men leuen hym noghtn<?> withouten otheur . or qhwen yer is
no perel . ne no yuel comes of yt . yt mon wyl+not leue
yt a mon says . ¶ A-noyer maner is qhwen a man tho
ro custome of sweryng or for hastines says fals
& affermes his wordes with sweryng of othes .
or byinge . or sellynge . or in oyer maner fur-swerynge
hym . be god or his sayntes . Tho thryde is qwen
a man wittyngly forsweres hym be sayntes
or be ony seynte . & says a-gayne his consciens .
And also qhwen he sweres . and wotte+not yo sothe
<fol. 55r>but by supposynge . for a man shuld not swere
but yf he wyst sertenly yt hit is sothe yat he
sweres ¶ A mon may wene falsed yer he con
seyues a sothe . as yf J say yo kynge is at lon
don~ & he is not yere . or oyer suche resons . 3f J
swere yat he is yer & he be not yer . J am furswor
ne . and also of oyer thynges. Agaynes this
commaundement don yei yt dismembren Jhesu
cryste & sweres be his lyf & be his soule &
be his blode & be his eghne or be any membur
of his swete body . And by yt ilke reuerce<?>
yei reprouen hym yat he come mon for vs
¶ Agayne yis trespas yei . yt sweren be any
of goddes creaturus . os by petur . or by Poule or oyer
halohes of heuen . for yei swere by god yat
made hom halohes : for qwo so sweres be god
or be his creaturus . he says als muche as yus .
J take god to wittenes yt my worde is sothe .
& 3if he swere fals . als muche as in hym is he
makes god a fals witnes berer And qwo so
sweres nedles he makes god wittenes of lesyng
wordes And for othes ben so perrelus god de
fendes in yo gospel alle othes & says yus
¶ <lat></lat> . yt is to say . J
say 3ow yt 3e swere not . but yt 3owre worde
be 3ee & nay . Neuer-ye-lese for to schewe a sothe
of thyng yat is nedful yat is profett to witte
<fol. 55v>or perell to heyle : may a man yf he be constreynede
to swere lawfully by god . 3ee sothely . but neuer
more fals & with-oute nede ¶ There shal 3e vnder
stonde yt god wyl yt 3e haue sothenes in 3owre
wordes & no falsnes : qhwer-fore al+maner lesynggus
are defended in yis commaundement Now vnder
stonde we wat he dos yt forsweres hym wittyngly
on yo halydome qwene ˆ [he] gos with his fere to swer~
yo othe & lays hys honde vpon yo boke & kysses hit
with hys mowthe & with his thoght of his hert .
yf he say fals wittyngly . he says als muche as
yus ¶ Alle yo gode gates yat J haue gone to kyr
ke pilgrymage oy or oyer gode weyhes . All yo
gode dedes yat J haue done with my hondes . all
yo gode wordes yat J haue spoken with my
mouthe . Alle yo gode thoghtes yat J haue
thoght with my hert . J forsake here & forsake
god & all his halowes . & all my cristendam . and
all yo sacramentes of holy kyrke . And gyf me to
yo fende of helle . ¶ And J make here my homage
before 3ow alle to yo fende of helle . 3if hit be
fals yat J haue seide . Alas . alas . yat euer he
was borne yat dos yus . but yf he amende hym
here in yis worlde with penaunce & scryfte of
mouthe : he gos to yo payne yt euer shal laste
And yerfore for yo loue of god & for drede of yo
payne of helle . holdes sothenes in 3owre wordes