<County: Yorkshire North Riding>
<Code: L0197>
<MS reference: Oxford, Corpus Christi College 155>
<Text: Lay Folk's Catechism>


<Tranche 1>

<fol. 239r>Als yt a grete clerke schewes in his boke
of all creatures yt god made in heuen & erth
Jn water~ or in ayer or in oght elles
<?> souerayne cause and the will why he made þaym
was his awen gode will & his goodnes
Thurgh whilke goodnes als he is all gode
he walde yt some creatures of all yt he made
ware comuners of the blysse yt euermore lastes
And for na creature myghte come to yt blysse
wt-owten knawynge of god als ye clerk techys
he made skill-wyse creatures aungell & man
Of wit and of wisdome to knawe god almy3ty
And thurgh yt knawynge luf hym & drede hym
and so come to yt blysse yt thay ware made to
This manere of knawynge hadde oure forme faders
jn ye figur of jnnocence yt thay ware made jnne
whilke we soulde have hadde yf þay hadde noght synned
Noghte so mykell als haly saulles hadde now in heuene
Bot mykell more thanne any man has now in erthe
For oure forme faders synned sayes the prophet
And we bere the wickednes of yaire mysdede
For the knawynge yt thay hadde of god almyghty
yay hadde it of goddes gifte at yere beginnynge
wt-owten trauayle or traye or passynge of tyme
& all þe knawynge yt we haue in this werlde of hym
<fol. 239v>Es of herynge and lerynge & techynge of other
Als of the lawe & the lare yt langes to haly kirke
The whilke all creatures yt loues god almyghty
awe to knawe & to cone <sic> to yt blysse yt neueremore blynnes
And for þy yt mykell folke now in this werlde
Es noghte wise and noghte leryd to knawe god <ill><1 word></ill>
Ne loues hym ne serues hym als thay soulde do
Als thaire dedes ofte-sythes openly schewes
Jn grete perill to thayme to lyfe and to saule
And peraunter the defaute falles in thayme
Als prelates persones vicars and prestes
þay er halden be dette for+to lere thayme
Oure fader the erchebischop yt god almyghty save
als saynte paule sayes of ihesu criste
will yt all men be savne & knawe god almyghty
And namely these vnderloutes yt till hym langes
has tretyd & ordeinyd for þe commun profet
Thurgh the gode counsell of his clergy
yt ilkone yt vnder hym has kepynge of saules
Openly on ynglische opon sondayes
Preche thayme & teche thayme yt thay hafe cure of
þe lawe to lere to knawe god almyghty
yt principally may be schewed in this sex thinges
In the fourten poyntes yt falles to þe trouthe
In þe ten commaundementis yt god has gifen vs
<fol. 240r>Jn þe seuene sacramentis yt er in holy kyrke
Jn vij dedes of mercy vntill oure even cristen
Jn sevene vertues yt ilke man sall vse
& in sevene deedly synnes yt ilk man sall refuse
and he commaundis all those yt has keping or cure vndur hym
Amonges thaire perischyns & thaire suggettes
yt thay lere and here thise sex thynges
And ofte-sythes rehers thayme till yt thay con yame
And sithen teche thayme yere childer if thai any hafe
What tyme so thay er of elde for+to lere thayme
and at persones & vicares and all perische prestys
Enquere diligently of thaire sugettes
jn the lenten when thay come to schrifte
whether thay knawe & cone thise ilke sex thinges
And if it be founden yt thay cone thayme noght
yt thay monyse thayme apon his bihalfe <writing in margin>
and of payne of penaunce for+to conne thayme
Oure fader the Erchebischop of his godnes
has ordanyd and biden yt thay be schewed
openly in englische amonges the folke
Wherfore anence the three firste of this sex thinges
yt is to knawe the articles yt falles to þe trouthe
Als clerkes teches & schewes in thaire bokes
yt falles to the faith fourtene poyntes
of the whilke seuene falles to cristes manhed
<fol. 240v>The firste poynte yt we sall trowe of the godhed
Js trowe stedfastly in a trewe god
& at noon other is for+to trowe
Jn yt other is yt the hygh fader of hevene
Js stedfaste & sothfast god almyghty
The thirde is yt ihesu criste goddes sone of heuen
Js sothfaste god euene till his fader
The ferth poynte is yt the haly gaste
yt samely commes of bothe the fader & the sone
Js sothfastly god and even till thayme bothe
and the whether noght two goddes ye fader ye <ill>son?</ill>
Ne thre goddes the fader and the sone & the holy <ill>gost?</ill>
bot thre sere persones & noght bot o god
The fift poynte is yt the trinite þe fader & þe son <ill><rest of line></ill>
thre persones and oo god is maker of heuen & erthe & <ill><rest of line></ill>
þe vj poynte is yt holy kirke oure moder
Js haly & all on thurgh-oute þe warlde
yt is communynge of felaghrede of all cristen folke
yt communes to-gedir in þe sacramentis
and in other haly thinges yt falles to haly kyrke
Jn forgifnes of synnes & hele of thaire saulles
for wt-owten haly kyrke is no saule hele
þe sevent article yt vs awe to trowe
Js vprisynge in flesche & lif wt-owten ende
for when deed has sunderd oure bodyes & saulles
<fol. 241r>For a clayne tyme als all oure kynde askes
vnto when yt god sall deme the qwik & þe dede
then oure saulles sall turne agayne till our bodyes
& we yose ilke & noon other than we er now
Sothfastly sall ryse vp in body & in saule
yt neueremore sall sunder fro yt tyme forthe
bot samen if we wele do whils we er here
wende with god to yt lyfe yt euermore lastes
& als if we yvel do till endles payne
there er the vij poyntes of cristes manhede
yt er nedfull to trowe to all yt er cristenyd
The firste is yt ihesu criste goddes sone of heuen
Was sothfastly consauyd of the mayden mary
and toke flesche and blode & become man
thrugh myghte & strengthe of the haly gaste
With-owten any merrynge of his moderhede
With-owten any miamynge<?> of hir maydenhede
yt other poynte is yt we sall trowe
yt he god and man bothe in persone
Was sothfastly borne of yt blissed mayden
God geten of his fader before any tyme
and man borne of his moder & broghte forthe in tyme
The thridde poynte is yt we sall trowe
yt he tholyd bodily for synfull mans kynde
how he was trayed thurgh his disciple & tane wt
jwes
<fol. 241v>And beten with scourges yt no skynne helde
Nayled on the rode tre & coroned wt thornes
And many other paynes tholed & dred at þe last
The ferthe article es yt when he was deede
And his body tane doune & wounden & dolvene
3ytte whils the body laye in his grave
þe saull with godhede wente vnto helle
And hered it & toke owte þose yt was his
Als Adam & Eve and other forme faders
Whilke he in his forloke walde ware save
þe fyft poynte is yt on the thirde daye
After yt he dyed ras fra deede to lyve
Sothfaste god and man in body & in saule
for als he dyed in sieknes of our manhede
Als he rase in strengthe of his godhede
& so distroyed oure dede thurgh his diynge
& whikenyd vs to þe life thurgh his risynge
þe vj poynte is yt we sall trowe
yt the fourtid day after yt he rase
thurgh þe strengthe of hym selfe he styghe intill heuen
Where oure kynde is now in his blissed persone
noght oonly evene & mete till his aungels
bot hygh coronyd kynge abouen all aungels
yt before tyme was les than kynde of aungels
þe vij poynte is yt righte als he dyed
<fol. 242r>And afterward rase and stigh intill heuene
Righte so sall he come apon the laste daye
bothe for+to deme qwyk and deed
Whare all the folke yt euere was or is or sall be
Sall sothfastly be schewed and sene before hym
and ilke man answere of his awen dedes
and be dampned or saved after yt he serves
for als at rightwisnes <exp>now</exp> is menged wt mercy
So sall <exp>no</exp> it noght then be menged with mercy
The secunde thynge of the sex to knaw god almy3ty
Es þe ten commaundementis yt he has gifen vs
Of the whilke ten the thre yt er firste
Awe vs haly to halde anentes god almyghty
And the vij yt er after anence oure even-cristene
The firste commaundemente charges vs & teches
yt we loue ne loute no fals goddes
and in this commaundement es forboden vs
Alkyns mysbyleues & all mawmetries
all fals enchauntementis & all sorceries
all fals coniurisons & all wicche-craftis
yt man of mysbyleue traistes apon
or hopes any helpe in . wt-owten god almyghty
The ij commaundemente byddes vs noght take
Jn ydellschyp ne in vayne þe name of oure god
So yt we trowe noghte of his name bot at is stedfaste


<Tranche 2>

<fol. 245v><line 12>The ferthe thynge of þe sex to knaw
to knawe god almyghty .
And yt vs byhoues fully in yt we may
es seuen dedes of mercy vntill oure euen-cristen
yt god sall reherse vs opon ye daye of dome
and wytte how we haue done yame her~ in þis life
Als seynt Mathewe mas mynde in gospel . xxo vo cao .
of þe whilke the firste is . fede yame yt er hungry
yt other for+to gif thame drynke yt ere thirsty
ye thirde for+to clethe yame yt er clothles
the ferthe is for+to herber yame yt er housles
ye fifte for+to visit thame yt lyes in sieknes
ye vj for+to helpe yame yt in prisone er
ye seuente to bery dede yt has myster
<fol. 246r>thire er seuen bodily dedes of mercy
yt ilke man awe to do yt is myghty
<lat></lat>
yer er of mercy also seuen gastly dedes
yt vs awe to do . til yame yt has nede till vs
Ane is to counsaile & to blysse yame yt er wille
Anoþer is to wtdrawe yame yt will wirke ille
ye thirde is to solace yame yt er sorowfull
ye ferthe is for+to praye for thayme yt er synfull
ye fift to be tholmode when men mysdose vs
ye vj gladly to forgif when men has grevid vs
ye vij when men askes vs for+to here yame <lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
yis till oure neghburs er full nedfull
and to yame yt dose yame wonder medfull
for he sall fynde mercy yt mercyfull is
and man wtowten mercy of mercy sall mysse
The fift thynge of ye sex to knawe god allmy3ty
Er seven vertues yt haly writte teches
of whilke seven thre firste yt er heede schewes
Teches vs how to have vntill god allmy3ty
and ye fourte teches vs so for+to lyve
both anence oure-seluene & oure euenen-cristen
yt it be bothe likand to god and to man
<fol. 246v>The firste vertue is trouthe wharethurgh we trowe
Oonly in a god yt made all thynges
Wt other articles touched before
& thise er nedfull till all yt cristenly lyues
For trouthe is beginnynge of all gode werkes
Ne no werke wtowten trouthe may plese god almy3ty
þe tother gude thewe or vertue is hope
yt is a siker bidynge of gastly godes
Thurgh goddis gudnes and oure gode dedes
for+to come to that blysse yt neuere ne blynnes
Noght only in þe traste of goddes gudnes
ne all oonly in triste of oure gude dedes
bot only traiste of thame when yay er bothe same
for nouther sall wee fall so fer in wanhope
yt we ne sall traste to haue blysse if wele do
Ne we ne sall come so fer intill ouer hope
yt wee sall traiste so mykell of goddes gudnes
yt we sall hope to haue yt blysse wtouten gude dedes
ye thirde vertue or thewe is charite
ye whilke is a dere loue vs till haue
vnto god almyghty & oure euen-cristen
vntill god almyghty all for hym seluene
And till oure euen-cristen for god allmyghty
For the tone may noght be loued wtowten ye toyer
for als saynte Johnn in his gospell
yt commaundemente he says we haue of god almy3ty
<fol. 247r>yt who so euer loues godde loue his euen-cristen
For he yt loues noght his broder whame he may se
how soulde he god whame he sese noghte
ye ferthe vertue or thewe is rightwisnes
yt is to 3elde all men yt thay awe yame
for+to do till ilke man yt vs awe to do
for+to worschyp thame yt er worthy
for+to helpe the pure yt er nedy
for+to do gyle ne fraude ne wrange to no man
bot for+to do yt skyll es vnto ilke man
ye fift vertue or thewe is sleghte or slenes
yt wysses to be ware with wothes of y<?>s werlde
for it kennes vs for+to knawe ye gude fro þe yvele
And also to sunder þe ye tone fro the tother
& for+to leue yt at is yuele & take to þe gode
and of two gude thynges to ches þe better
ye vj vertue is strengthe or stallworthnes
noght oonly of body bot of herte & of wille
Euenly to suffer the wele and þe wo
welthe or wandreth wheder so be-tyde
and yt oure herte be noght to hygh for no welfare
Ne noght ouer-mykell vnder for no yuel fare
bot stedfastly for+to stande agaynes our faes
Whether thay be bodily or gastly faes
So yt no foly foundynge make vs to falle
or be fals in oure faith agayns god almy3ty
<fol. 247v>The seuente vertue and ye laste is methe or methfulnes
yt kepes vs fro outrage & haldes vs in euene
lettes foule likynges & lustenes of þe flesche
and 3hemes vs fra 3ernynges of worthily godes
and kepes vs in clennes of body & of saule
for methe es mesure & mete of all yt we do
Jf we lif skilfully as the lawe teches
The sext thinge & the laste of those i first touched
er ye seuene hede synnes or deedly synnes
yt ilke man awe for+to knawe to fle & forhowe
for man may no3t flee yame bot if he ken thame
Pryde Envye & wrethe & gloteny
Couatise & slouthe & licchery
yerfore er thay calde the vij heued synnes
for yt all other commes of thayme
and forthy er thay called deedly synnes
for thay gastly sla ilke man saulles
yt es hanked in all or in any of yame
wharfore þe wise man biddes in his buke
Als fro þe face of þe nedder fonde to fle synne
For als þe venom of þe nedder slaes mannes body
So þe venome of synne slaes mans saule
ye firste yan of ye seuene synnes is pryde
yt es a+likande highnes in a mannes herte
of offyce or of highe state or other noblaye
yt he other hase of kynde or of grace
<fol. 248r>or yt he hopes yt he has more than any other
& of this syne commes many sere spyces
boste & auauntynge & vnbuxomnes
Dispyte & ypocrisy & vnschamefulnes
& other yt er ofte sene ymange proude men
ye secunde dedly synne is envye
yt is a sorowe & a sytte of the wele-fare
& ioye of the yuele fare of oure euene-cristen
of whilke synne many spyces sprynges & spredes
one is hatreden to speke or here oghte be spoken
yt may soune vnto gude of yt we hate
Another is fals jugynge & demynge of yere dedes
and ofte tyme vntill yuele yt þay do for gode
þe thirde is bakbitynge to saye bihynde yame
yt we will not avow ne saye before yame
ware noght oonly he yt spekes the yuele
bot thay yt heres it be spoken es for+to blame
for ware yere no herar yere ware no backebiter
ye thirde deedly synne or heued synne is wrathe
yt es wicked stirrynge or bolnynge of herte
Whar thurgh a+mans will is for+to take wreke
Or wickidly to venge hym opon his euen-cristen
and of this synne commes strivynge & slitynge
With many fals othe & many fole wordes
Sclaunder for+to fordo a+mans gude fame .
<fol. 248v>Feghtynge & felony & oft mans slaghter
and many yan er now nede to be neuenye
þe ferthe deedly synne is gloteny
yt is an vnskilfull likynge or luste
Jn taste or in takynge of mete or of drynke
And in this trispas men opon sex wise
One is ouer-erly or ouerlate or ouere oft-sythes
for+to ete or for+to drynke bot it nede gerte
Another is for+to lif oure dilicatly
ye thridde for+to ete or drynke ouere mykell
ye ferthe ouere hastely to ete or to drynke
ye fifte es to cumpas apon what wise
Wee may gete delicyous metes & drynkes
for+to fill the likynge & lustes of the flesche
Other than we may gudly lede oure life wt
<lat></lat>
þe fift deedly synne es covatise
yt is a wrangwys wilnynge or 3ernyng to haue
Any kyns gode yt vs awe noghte
And is principally done apon two wise
One is wrangwisly to gete any thynge
yt ony likynge or oure luff lightes apon
als be sacrilage or be symony
Stulthe falshede or oker or other gilry
Whilke thes warldly men er wonte for+to vse
<fol. 249r>yt caste yere conandnes so on couatyse
yt thay ne rek whether it be be righte or be wrange
bot yay may gete yt yere herte 3hernes
Another is wrangwisly to halde yt is geten
yt is when we will noghte do to god almyghty
Ne till haly kyrke ne till oure euene-cristen
yt vs awe to do be dette & be lawe
bot only haldes yt we haue for ese of oure seluene
Ware noght only he yt wrangwisly getes
bot he yt wrangusly haldes falles in the synne
ye sexte deedly synne is slouthe or slaghnes
yt is a hertly anger or a+noye till vs
Of any gastly gude yt we sall do
and of this synne commes sex spyces
Ane is latsumnes or lyte to drawe apon lengthe
Anykyns gude dede yt we sall do
yt maye turne vs to holpe or hele of oure saulles
Another is a dulnes or heuynes of herte
yt lettes vs for+to luf oure lorde god almyghty
or likynge to haue in his seruise
þe thirde is a dulschip yt oueremykell is haunted
yt makes men bothe to do any gude dede
And lightly dose vs to leue when oghte is bigunne
and yer er we er kyndely borne for+to swynke
als the fewle is kyndely borne for+to flye