<County: Cheshire>
<Code: L0186>
<MS reference: London, BL Sloane 2275>
<Text: Prick of Conscience>


<Tranche 1>

<fol. 150ra><line 39>YE mi3t of ye fadre
almi3ti . ye witt of
son alwitti . And ye
godenesse of ye holi
gost God & lorde of
mi3tes most . Be wt
vs & help & spede Now
& euer in al oure nede . And
speciali at yis begynnyng
<fol. 150rb>and bryng al to gode endyng
Before er any thing wos
wroght. And er begynnyng
wos of oght . And be-fore alle
tymes as we shal trowe
Ye same god euer wos yt is
nowe . Yat wonet euer in
his godhede Jn thre persones
& on onhede . For ye fadur
wold euer wt ye son And ye
holi gost in onehede wone
lorde in oon substans ful be
nigne Wt-outen any be
gynnynge . Begynnyng
of him mi3t noon be . He is
ane god in Trinite . He is
ane wise & ful of witt . And
as mi3ti is he 3itt . Mi3t
& witt of him wos tane For
neuer god wos but he al
lone . ye same god wos
begynnyng . And first ma
ker of alle thyng . wt-outen
begynnyng we him calle
Endelesse lorde yt euer be shalle .
Ende of alle wt-outen ende
Yus is in holi bokes contende
For as he is god in trinite
So he is & euer shal be
And as he first began all<?>
thing So shal he at ye last
make endyng . Of alle
thing bothe heuen & hell
Of mon & fende & of aun
gelle . And god yt made
mon shal be thenne As
he is now bothe god &
mon . Alle thing his mi3t
made he . For wt-outen
him may nothyng be .
Alle thyng yt he began
& wro3t Wos before ye
begynnyng no3t . Alle
thyng he ordeynt . aftur
his wille Jn hit kynde
for certeyn skille . Yerefo
re creatures yt been
doume Ny con no witt
yai be bi<ill><rest of word></ill> To luf
him as boke witnesse.
<fol. 150va>on yaire maner as yaire kynde
is . For alle thyng yt god has
wro3t . Lufes yaire kynde &
passes hit no3t . Lufes yaire
maker & him wirshipe Ande in
yt yaire kynde yai kepe .
Sithen creatures yt skil has
noon Him luf in kynde yat
yai haue tane . Yen aght
mon yt has skil & mynde
His maker to wirship in his
kynde . Ande no3t to be wor
ce in condiconn Yen ye creatu
res wt-oute resoun . Mon
kynde shulde folo goddes will~
And his comaundements to ful
fille . For of alle yat god ma
de more or lesse Mon most
principal creature is . As 3e
shal heer aftur sone Alle
yt god made wos for mon
done . God to monkynde
hade gret luf When he or
deynt for monnes behoue
Heuen & erthe & ye worlde
brode . And alle other thyng
& mon last made . To his lik
nesse in semeli stature . Ande
made him most wirschipful
creature . For to knawe bo
the gode & ille Ande yer-to gaf
him witt & skille . For-to thole
& for to holde Gode or ille
quether he wolde . Ande al
so he ordeynt mon to dwel
le And lif in erthe in fleshe
& felle . To knawe his wer
kes & him wirshipe And his
comaundements for to kepe .
And if he be to god buxome
To endelesse blis he schal come
Ande if he frawarde be to wyn
de To paynes of helle yat
has noon ende . He yt his
wille to gode wil sett Gret
mede yerfore he mai gett
Ande he yt [to] synne setts
his wille Grete paynes
he shal thole be skille . For
whi a mon may be+halden
<fol. 150vb>wode . yt choses juel & leues
gode . Sithen god made mon
of most dignite Of alle cre
atures & most fre And
made him aftur his avne
liknes Of faire stature
as before said is . And most
has gyuen him & 3et most
giues Of any thing yt
on erthe lyues . And has
heght him 3et yerto Ye blis of
heuen if he wele do . and
3et quen he had done o
mys . And for synne wos
priuet o blis . God toke mon
kynde for his sake . And for
his luf ye dethe wolde take .
And with his blode boght
him a3ayne To his blis fro
endelesse payne . Yis gret
luf god to mon kyd And
moni godenesse 3et to him
did . For-whi alle men le
ret & lewet Shuld thenk
on luf yt he hom shewet
And alle his benefetes
haue in mynde yt he yus
did to al mon-kynde And
luf & thonk him as he con
Or elles he is an vnkynde
mon . And serue him bothe
day & night . And yen he
dose as is his ri3t . And
his wittes spende in his ser
uice Elles he is as fole
vnwice . But if he kna
we kyndeli quat god is
And mon himself yt is
lesse . And how quik mon
is in saule & bodi How wi
ce god is & how mi3ti .
how mon god greues yt
doce no3t wele And quat
he is worthi yerfore to fele
How merciful god is . in
graciousenesse And how
ful he is of alle godenes
How ri3twise he is & how
sothefast And euer has
been & aie shal last .
<fol. 151ra>and iche+day doce to monkyn
de Yus shal mon knawe
& haue in mynde . For ye
ri3t wai yt lice to blis
And yt ledes a mon yider
it is . Ye way of mekenes
principali Of drede & luf
of god almi3ti . Yat is ye
wai of wisdome . To ye
quiche no+mon mai come
With-oute knawyng of
god here Of his wisdo
me & werkes sere .
But er he to yt knawyng
wynne him behoues kna
we him-self wt-ynne . El
les has he no knawyng
to come To ye forsaide
waie of wisdome . But
sum men ha witt to vndur
stonde And 3et yai be ful
vnconande . And of thyng
has no knawyng . Yat
mi3t stir hom to gode ly
uyng . Siche men ha ne
de to lerne iche+dai . Of men
yt con more yen yai .
To knowe yt mi3t hom <o unclear>
stir & lede To mekenesse
luf & drede . Ye quiche
is wai as er saide is
To yt joie yt is endelesse
Jn gret perel of saule is
yt mon Yt has witt &
mynde & no gode con .
Ny wil not lere forto
knowe . Ye werkes of god
& of his lawe . Ni quat him
self is yt is lest But li
ues as an+unwice best
yt nauther has skil witt
ny mynde . Yt lyues agayn
his aune kynde For mon
excuses not his vnkun
nyng . Yat his witt vses
not in lernyng Nomeli
of yt him ogh to knawe
yt mi3t him meke & make
him lowe . So he yt con+not
shuld haue wille To lere
<fol. 151rb>& knawe both gode & ille
For an vnkunnyng mon
thurgh lernyng . Mai be
bro3t to vndurstondyng.
Of mony thynges to kna
we & se yt hauen been &
3et shal+be . Yt to mekenes
mi3t stir his wille To
luf & drede & fle alle ille .
Mony haue likyng trufuls
to lere and vanyteis wil
gladli heer . And bisi been in
wille & thoght To lere yt
ye saule helpes no3t
But yt nedeful were to
knawe . To listen & lere yai
be ful slawe . For yi yai ne
drede no3t ny se ye periles
yt yai shuld knawe & fle .
And quiche wai yai shuld
chose & take . And quiche
yai shuld leue & forsake .
But no wondre is if yai
go . mys For in derkenesse
hor goyng is . Withoute
li3t of vndurstonding Of
yat hom failes of ri3t
knawyng . Yerfore cristen
mon & womon . yt haue
witt & mynde & skil con
Yt knawe no3t ye ri3t
wai to chese Ni ye peril
yt wice men flese . Shuld
be buxom & aie bisi . To
heer & lere of hom nome
li . yt . vndurstonden & kna
wen be skil quiche is go
de wai & quiche is ille .
He yt ys ri3t wai of ly
uyng wil loke Begyn
ne yus as sais ye boke
To knawe first quat him
self is So mai he sonest
com to mekenes . Yt is
grounde of alle vertuse &
best . On quiche alle other
be sett fast . For he yat
knawes wele & con se
Quat he is was & 3et
shal+be . A wiser mon he
mi3t be tolde . Quether
<fol. 151va>he be 3ong mon or olde
Yen he yat con alle other
thyng and of him-self has
no knawyng . For he mai
no3t ri3t knawe ny fele
But he first knawe him-self
wele. yerfore a mon shal
first lere To knawe him-self
propurli here.

<Tranche 2>

<fol. 161ra>in his hert has no3t he is as ded in
saule wt-inne Euer quil he is in
dedeli sinne But neuer-ye-lece if
he so be Jn sinne & out of charite
3et mai he help ye saule yus Jf
he to pore men gif almes yt yai
for saules praie spaciali Yt be pai
net in purgatori 3et mai help and
trauaile Of sinful men ye saules
availe Jf it thurgh bidding done
be Of a frinde yt is in charite Or
of ye deede+self yt has most ne
de Of help of praier & almes-de
de Yt help availes ye saule so
ne For him yt biddis hit be done
yt charite in his hert has knit
and no3t for his sake yt did hit
For god wil no3t do for his sake
Yt charite wil no3t in hert take
Yis case falles J vndurstond
Be-twene a lord & his seruaund
where ye lord is gode & ri3twi
se And ye seruant jvel & loves folise
Jf ye seruaunt do ani think Yt is
gode at his lordes bidding Jt
mai availe to gode vse jf he be j
vel yt it dose And be reson~ of go
denes Of him of whom ye bidding
is For if it be anendes ye doer
dedde a-nendes ye bidder it stondes
in stedde But if yai bothe in chari
te wore Hit helpet ye deede mi
kil more Also a priste if he be
sinful An no3t in charite at ye
ful . he is goddes ministre and ho
li chirches Yt ye sacrement of ye
auter wirches . Ye whice is neuer
ye-lesse of mi3t Jf al ye prist liue
no3t o ri3t . For if a prist yt sais
a+messe Be neuer so ful of wiked
nes ye sacrement yt is so holi
Mai not apairet be thurgh his
foli . Yen mai yt messe saules
<fol. 161rb>fro paine bringe al if a sinful prist
hit singe . For in goddes nome he be
ginnes ye messe . Vndur whom in
ordour he is But special praiers wit
gode entent Saide be-side ye sacre
ment Of a gode prist be wel bettre
Yen of an jvel & to god squettre
But ye offring of goddes bodi
helpes ye saules principali . yerfore it
semes yt messe singing Mai most
ye saules of paine bring yt pas
sen hethin in charite And in purga
tori shal clenset be But to hem
yt be sauet for ai No gode dehede
availe mai Nauth almes dehede
praier in messe For yai been as
ye boke witnesse Al departet
fro ye bodi of Crist And yaire
saules for euer be perist . Of yis
mai no mon certain be For hit
is goddes priuete But we shal
trowe & suspose aie Yt alle be save
& in gode waie Yt we see gode wer
kes worche And ha ye sacrementis
of holi chirche And we shal praie
lovde & stille For alle cristen saules
as charite wille Now wil j she
we more her-to what pardon~
mai ye saule do Yt men purches
in ri3t manere Jn clene live whi
le yai lif here Pardon~ of popes
& bishopes Yt yai grant here as
men hopes Availes yaire saules
in purgatori Yt ha purchest hit wor
theli Jf yai had contricion~ and
were shriuen before yt pardon~
yen mai pardoun aftr~ yaire
dedde Jn purgatori hem stond in
stedde For pardon here yt is
certain Mai hem releshe of dett
of paine As fer as hit mai
reche Ynawe here clerkes
preche Pardon~ properli no3t elles is
<fol. 161va>But of duwe paine forgifnes par
don~ mai noon haue but he wirche
For it is tresour of holi chirche Of
yt ye pape ye keis beres where-wt
he opunse and also speres . Yt falles
hym of office to hold For he is goddes
wiker told . ye keis be no3t elles to
se But plein power of dignite
Be ye quiche he mai be skille lauce
& binde alle at his wille . For ye
same powere him falles to haue
yt Crist to petre on erthe gaue
For Crist gaue to petre plein power~
And said to him on yis manere
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat> . Al yt yu bindes in erthe
sais he Jt shal in heuen bovnden
be And al yt yu lauces in erthe
ri3t shal be laucet in heuen bri3t
Yis power to alle popes gaf he
yt aftre petre on erthe shal be
As shewes an exposition Of ye
gospel in a lesson Yen semed it
be this skil here Yt ye pope has
large powere To asoile a mon
and him forgeue Al dett of paine
yt him mai greue So yt ye pope
do an fulfille Al ye lawe yt ye
gospel wille . yt mon 3ilde a
gaine if he be mi3ti al yt he toke
wrongwiseli . But quen ye po
pe yt grace wil do He bindes him
and holi chirche yerto For him to
quom yt grace a-vailes To ful
fille al yt him failes But bishopes
been of lasse state And haue lasse
power as clerkes wote But if
it be no3t so sufficient~ as ye po
pes 3et mai yai grant Be yair~
power pardon~ a parti To yair~
vndursovtes alloneli Of yis
spekes jnnocent and austine jn
bokes yere it is writen . And
Raimound spes of ye same
<fol. 161vb>in a boke yt beres his nome and
Thomas alquine spekes also of yis
matier & other moo jn a boke yt
made he Yt is callet veritas theolog<ill><binding></ill>
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
IN yis part of x thinges j<ill><binding></ill>
yt tovches to ye dai of drede <ill><binding></ill>
Of ye quiche summe before shal <ill><binding></ill>
And at yt dai as men shal <ill><binding></ill>
Ye first is wondurful tokenes <ill><binding></ill>
sere Before yt dai shal be shewet <ill><binding></ill>
ye secound of fire yt shal brenne
ye world & alle yt be yerenne ye
thridd of rising general Of alle
men bothe greete & smal Ye fu<ill><binding></ill>
the of Cristes coming dovne
To ye dome in his persone Ye fift
is of ye certain stedde where he
shal deme bothe quikke & dedde ye
sext is of ye fovrme of mon
jn quiche Crist shal shewe him yen
Ye sevent of accusatours moni
Yt ye sinful shal accuse opunli
Ye eght of acountes & rekeni<ill><binding></ill>
Yt yai shal 3ilde of yaire living<ill><binding></ill>
Ye nethe is of yt yai haue w<ill><binding></ill>
Ye quiche summe shal be demet & sum
me no3t Ye tent is of ye do<ill><binding></ill>
final Yt Crist shal gif & make <ill><binding></ill>
of alle Of yese shal summe falle as<ill><binding></ill>
j sai Bothe before and aftir yt da<ill><binding></ill>
Before yt dai tokenes shal come
Of ye quiche mon mai finde here
summe . As of anticristes coming<ill><binding></ill>
& his pauste and other before <ill><binding></ill>
dai shal+be Now who+so wil a-vise
him wele Mai iche dai here se an<ill><binding></ill>
fele Tokenes yt he mai vndur
stond Ye dai of dome is fast
comand For wondurs yt shal<ill><binding></ill>
falle j trowe A3aines domes
<fol. 162ra>dai be seen nowe For-yi we shuld
redi vs here As yt dai were coming
nere . Cristes disciples couet kna
wing Of tokenes a3aines his last
coming And speke to Crist on yis
manere Jn ye gospel as 3e shal he
re <lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat> Sai vs qd yai of yi coming
Sum token & of ye worldes ending
Crist ansquaret yaim yen an
said loke 3ow deceiue no mon
For moni shal come in mi nome
yt shal sai yus Crist j am . An mo
ni mon yai shal begile But yai
shal regne but a quile kindome a
3ain kindome in ye same wise Men
again men thurgh strenghe shal ri
se . Pestilens & angirs shal be And
erthe dining<?> in moni cuntre and
alle yese shal be beginning hard
Of sorow yt shal come aftirward
wikodnes shal wax moni-fold an
charite of moni shal wax colde Sum
me of yese tokenes ha been An sum
me of hem shal 3et be seen . Now
furst of anticrist wil j sai yt shal
come before domes-dai aftir ye
destruing shal he be Of ye empire of
rome yt 3et is fre Summe time al
le londes a-boute were to rome
as vndursoute and at certain gaf
hit truage as costum was & vsa
ge yt costum behouet alle londes do
But sain paule sais yus yerto
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat> he sais but if dissen
tioun come yt is but if londes
hold a3aines Rome So yt hit be
put to destruccion Be hom yt first
were in subieccion Anticrist er yt
<fol. 162rb>shal no3t come yt shal come er ye
dai of dome Fro yt time shal no
lond ni cuntre Jn subieccion~ to
rome be . Ni fro yen shal no mon
be buxum Ni obedient to ye chir
che of rome Men see yt empire yt
was so mi3ti Js now destruet a
gret parti But at ye last as J said
ore Hit shal+be ddestruet mikle more .
But ye dignite yt to hit shal falle
Shal no3t yt time perish alle . Jt
shal stond wt-out dovte