<County: Hertfordshire>
<Code: L6610>
<MS reference: Oxford, Bodleian Library, Bodley 596>
<Text: Religious miscellany>



<Tranche 1>

<fol. 6r>he bygate xxx sones and xxxij doghtres the which
multiplied the erthe with ther dwellyng . Than
ne seide Adam to his sone Seeth here sonne
what J shal seye to the . After that J and thi
moder were drywen owt of paradys Michael
the Archaungel goddes messanger come to me &
J sawe ordres of Aungeles as thikke as Mots in the . son
being in a feire cercle and thanne J was ra
uysshed in to rightwisse paradys and ther : J sawe
oure lord and his semblant was so ful of bright
bemes þt it was vnsighty . that is to seyn so
bright that J myght noght endure to loke ther
on And A gret multitude of aungeles were al
aboute the bemes of the brightnesse of his
semblaunt and eke another wonderful compa
nye of Aungeles beyng on the right syde & on
his lefte syde And my lord seide to me . Wyte
wele that thow schalt dye for thow forgete
my comaundement and herdest the worde of
thy wyf the which J 3af to the to be thyn
vndirlyng~ and subiecte . to haue hir al at thyn
owen wille and thow were obeissaunt and
obeydist hir and noght me . And whenne . J .
herde thus goddes wordes J fel doun to the er
the . and sayde and prayed to god thus Lord
moost myghtful and moost merciable god bo
the blessid and meke nefor yet not thy worschip
ful name . of thy dignyte but conuerte my sou
le for J dye and my spirit passeth oute of my
mouthe ne cast noght me awey fro thy face
the which thow hast made of the slyme of the
<fol. 6v>erthe neyther put noght behynde hym that thow
hast norshed with thi grace Biholde how thi
wordes brenne me And oure lord god seide for
sothe for thi hert is made Lofyng science and go
denesse . for that thow schalt not be doon awey
fro thy connyng that thow ne schal mynystre ˆ [to] me
with outen ende . And whenne J herde thise wor
des of god J cast my self doun to the erthe and
worshipped god seyeng thow art euerlastyng god
and heyghest and euery creature shal gyfe wir
shep to the and praysyng thow art aboue alle
lightes shynyng~ thow art verey light of lyfe þu
art swich that no tonge may comprehende the
in Witte O thilke grete vertu of god lyfynge
alle creatures to the gyfe honour and spirituel pray
sing~ / / Whanne thow had made mankynde thorgh
grete vertu And A-none as J had prayed this
michael the archaungel of god toke me by the
hande and cast me in to the mydel of paradys
in the visitacons and the sightes of god . And
michael helde a+3erde in his hande wt the which
he touched the watres þt wente in the circuyte
of paradys and with the which towchyng of
the forsaide 3erde they congeled to-gydre alle yse
and J wente opon hem and michael wente
with me and ladde me agayne in to the
place of paradys fro the which he rauysshed
me / / Thanne Adam seide here my sonne
Seeth other priuetes and sacramentes were
shewed to me forwhy J vndirstonde and
knew thynges þt ben comyng~ in this~
<fol. 7r>world temporel the which god made for mannes
kynde . that is to seye J had my knowyng and
myn vndirstondyng of thyng~ that is comynge
by the etyng þt J ete of the tree of vndirstondyng
also J vndirstode ther by þt god shal schew hym in
water & shewe hym in brennyng and fyre shal
goo oute of his mouthe of his maiestee and
he shal 3eue vnto alle men his comaundement
and his biddyng and he shal make hym holy in the
house of his maieste . and god shal shewe to hem
a merueylous place of his maieste . and there thei
schul bigge a+house in the erthe to ther god & thei
schul breke his comaundementes and ther holy pla
ce schal be brent and ther londe schal be forsake &
thei shal be twynned for thei wrethed god The
seuen day god schal make hem saaf ageyn fro
ther twynnyng and make hem ooned a3eyne
as thei were And efte thei schul bigge a house
to ther god and thanne schal the last house of god
be bettir saued thanne the first And efte sones shal
shrewdnesse ouercome the ryghtwisnesse and eft schal
god dwelle wt men in erthe to be seyne and thanne
shal ryghtwisnesse bygynne forto shyne and he shal
be worshepid euer in the house of god And the
aduersarye ne shal not noye to men that trowe
in god And god shal reyse vp a sauf peple
to be made with-outen ende Wikked men
schul putte adam oute of his kyngdom and
after-warde who that wille of that kyngdom
loue heuen and erthe nyghtes and dayes and
alle creatures worshepyng to the lord and thei
<fol. 7v>breke not his comaundementes ne thei schul not
chaunge his werkes . And men forgetyn the co
maundementes of god thei schul be chaunged
for that god schal put oute wikked men . and
rightwisse men shul dwelle as rightwisnesse in the
sight og fod And in that tyme men schul be pu
ryfyed of ther synne by water of cristendome
noght willyng to be puryfied by water , wyse
is that man that amendeth his soule for why ther
shal be a gret day of Juggement among synful
men and ther dedys schul be enquered of rightwisse
god ther Jugge And aftir that Adam was ma
de . ixC and xxx 3ere he wiste wele þt his lyfe
dayes schulde soone eende . He seide to Eue gadre
to-gydre alle my childre that J may speke wt hem
and blisse hem or . J dye & ther come to-gidre in
thre parties byfore his prayeng place where Adam
had prayed to oure lord god . And thei come to
gidre alle with one voyce seyyng What is thy ˆ [wyl] fa
der . wherfore hastow gadred vs to-gydre and
why lyestow in thy bedde . Say to vs now : what
is thy wille that we doo Thanne Adam ans
swered & seide my childre me is ful woo and
wt sorowes J am trauayled And his childre seide
to hym Fader what is it to haue euyl and wt
sorowes to be trauailed Thanne seide his sone
Seeth . lord . fader happely thow hast desired for
to eete of the froyte of paradys of the which som
tyme thow eete & therfore thow lyest in sorowe
sey to me if thow wil þt . J goo . & neyghe the ga
tes of paradys . & do dust on myn hede ./ and
<fol. 8r>falle doun to the erthe byfore the gates of paradys .
and crye in gret lamentacon prayeng oure lord .
And happely he wille here me and sende his
Aungel to brynge me of þt fruyte the which thow
desirest . And adam answered and seide . Sone
J ne desire nothyng but J wex ful seek & J ha
ue gret sorwes and desese in my body Seeth an
swered . J . not what sorwe is wiltow not say to
vs what it is why wiltow helestow it fro vs .
¶ And thanne seide Adam hereth alle my childre
why oure lord god made me and 3oure moder &
putte vs in paradys & gaf vs alle the trees beryng
fruyte to eete when we wolde but he seide to vs .
that we schuld not eete of the tree of knowyng
gode and euel that stondeth in the myddel of para
dys thus god putte vs in paradys and gaf me
power in the Est & in the partye þt is a3eyns the
partye of the Northe And to 3oure moder he gaf
the Southe and a partye of the west and he gaf
to vs twoo angeles to kepe vs The tyme come
that thise aungeles wente into the sight of god
hym for to honoure thanne anoon the feende fon
de a place in 3oure moder and he begiled hir and
made hir eete of the tre vuleful and forboden vn
to hir and she eete and profred to me J eete . And
anoon oure lord god was wroth in wodenesse
to vs and he seide to me For sothe for that thow
hast forsaken my comaundementes & my wor
de that . J ordeyned to the thow hast not kepte
See now . J shal caste in thy body ..Lxx. woun
des of diuerse sorwes . fro the hyest place of
<fol. 8v>thy heede of thyne eyghen and of thyne eeren vnto
the netherest place of thy body that is to say fro
the crowne of thy heede to the nayles of thi
tooes and in alle diuerse membres of thi body
be 3e tourmented and he ordeyned in tormentyng
to vs so sorwes to-gydre with brennyng . for
sothe sones al this oure lord hath sent vs & to
alle of-sprynge of vs . This seyeng Adam to his
sones he is taken with grete sorwes and he cryed
with grete voyce and saide what shal J wrec
che do that ˆ [am] putte in thise sorwes And whenne
Eue herde this she began to wepe and seide Lord
god putte his sorwes in me for-why J haue syn
ned . and she seide to Adam . gode sir gif me parte
of 3oure sorwes forwhy my defautes haue broght
3ow to thise sorwes And Adam seide to Eue

<Tranche 2>

<fol. 21v>Here bygynnith the tretys of <lat>Parce
michi domine</lat>

By a forest syde walking as J went .
Disport to take In o mornyng .
A place J fond schaded with bowes ybent
Jset aboute wt flowrs so swete smellyng .
J . leyde me down vpon that grene
And kast myn ey3en me aboute
J fond there breddes wt fedres schene
Many on sitting vpon a rowte
O+brid þer by sat on a brere
Hir fedres were pulled sche myght not fle .
She sat and song wt mornyng chere
<lat>Parce michi domine</lat> .
¶ Spare me lord kyng of pytee
Thus sang þis bryd in pover array
My myrthe is goo & my Jolyte
J may not flee as othir may
My fedres schene ben pulled me fro
My 3owthe my strengthe & My bewte
Wher thorgh J take þis song me too
<lat>Parce michi domine</lat> .
¶ When J herd þis mornyng song
J drew þs brid nere and nere
And askesd who had don þs wrong~
And brought her~ in so drowpyng chere
And who had pulled her~ fedres away
That schuld her~ ber~ from tre to tre .
And why sche song in her lay
<lat>Parce michi domine</lat>
¶ The bryd answerd and seid me till
<fol. 22r>Man be Jn pees for cristes sake
3if J schewe the myn hertis will
Peynes sore me wolle awake .
3if thow wilt take my word in mynde
Ther shal no sorow be my letting .
That J nyl holy myn herte vnbynde .
And sothly telle the thyn asking .
Which were myn fedres þt were so clepe .
And who hath pulled hem alle fro me
And why J sitte singging on brere <lat>Parce michi domine</lat>
¶ Fedres fowre J had ywis
The two were set on euery wynge .
Thei bare me breme to my blys .
Where me lust be at my lykyng
The first was 3owthe þe secunde bewte .
Strengthe and ryches þe other two
And now þei ben as thow maist se
Alle foure fedres J-falle me fro
My principal fedr~ 3owthe it was
he bare me ofte to nysete .
Wher fore my song is now allas .
<lat>Parce michi domine</lat> .
¶ Jn 3owthe J wrowth folies fele
my herte was set so hye in pride
to synne J 3af me euery dele
Spared J neither tyme ne tyde
J was redy to make debate
my lyf stood ofte in mochel drede .
And my lyking to walke late
And haue my lust of synful dede
J was now here J was now there
<fol. 22v>vnstable J was Jn al degre
To him J crye þt marie bare . <lat>Parce m~ domine</lat>
¶ For Salamon seith in his poyse
Thre weyes ther beth ful hard to knowe
Oon is a schep þt sailleth in the see
An Egle in hey A Worm in lowe .
And of þe ferthe telle he ne can
Jt is so wondirful in his hering .
The weyes of A 3ong man
Whiche þt ben here at her lyking
And now hath age J-smyte me fro
My pryncypal fedr~ of Jolyte .
For al þt euer J haue misdoo <lat>Parce m~ domine</lat> .
¶ My Secunde fedr~ heith bewte
J held my self so clere of schap .
That al the peple scholde loke on me
And worschip me wt hoode & cap .
my rud was reed my colour clere
me þought neuer non so faire as J
Jn al a contre feer no nere
In fetewrs & schap so comely
My forhed large my browes bent
Myn eyen cleer and corage bolde
My schap ne myght no man ament .
Me thought my self so fayre to be+holde .
And 3et J was begyled in syght
The myrrour lorde deseyued me
Wher-fore J aske lord of þi myght <lat>Parce m~ domine</lat> .
¶ This fedir me bar~ ful ofte to synne
And principally to leccherye .
Clipping and kessing cowth J not blynne .
<fol. 23r>me thought it craft of curteseye
A cusse it is þe deuel-is gynne .
Oft of it ariseth woo & wrake
The deuel wt cusse many doth wynne .
J counseil the thow synne forsake
Sampson lost his strengthe þer fore
Dauid his grace for Bersabee
Til he cried wt wordes sore . <lat>Parce m~ domine</lat> .
¶ Salamon þt worthy king
Ful fayr he was from top to too
Wher-fore in his age 3yng .
he was amabilis domino .
And after he fel fowle & sore
For lust of women þt was him neygh
Thei fonned him in his age hor~
That he forsoke his god on heygh
Nought onlich þise but many moo .
bewte hath be-giled J-wys
J woot wel J am on of thoo
J can þe better telle þis .
Now hath age y-smyte me fro
My secunde Fedr~ þat height bewte
For al þt euer J haue misdoo <lat>Parce m~ domine</lat> .
¶ My thridde fedr~ strengthe height
my name was knowe on euery syde
For J was man of mochel myght
And many on spak of me ful wide
To prike and praunce J was ful preste
My strengthe to kepe Jn euery place
And euer more J had the beest
Such was my grace such was my hap .
<fol. 23v>
My strengthe ful ofte me drowgh amys
And torned me lord clene fro the
Now kyng corowned Jn heuenne blys <lat>Parce m~ domine</lat> .
This fader me bare be-3onde the see
To gete me name Jn vncowth londe
To robbe and slee had J deyntee .
Ne spared J neither fre ne bonde .
Of holy chirche took J . no 3eme .
Bokes to take ne vestement
Ther myght no þing so moche me queme
As robbe or see an abbey brent
Wt strengthe J gat me gret Aray .
Precious clothes gold and fee
J thought ful litel on thilke day . <lat>Parce m~ domine</lat> .
When Nabugodonosor~ fers in fight
Jerusalem had thought to wynne .
And so he dede wt mayn & myght
And brent þe temples þt were þer Jnne .
And al the gold þt he there founde
He toke wt him and hom gan ryde
him thought þer schold no þing wt-stonde .
his herte was set so heigh Jn pryde
Till þe king of myghtes most
Browght him þere þt lowest was
And caught him from [his] real oost
And drof him to a wildirnesse
And there he lyued wt erbe & rote
walkyng euer on foot & on honde
Till god of mercy dede him bote
And his prison out of bonde
Thanne seide þ/s kyng thise wordes J+wis
<fol. 24r>Al thing be lord at thi powste
Mercy J crie J haue do mys <lat>Parce michi domine</lat> .
¶ While J had my strengthe at will
Ful many a man J dede vnrest.
Thei þt wolde not my heste fulfill
My knyf was redy to his brest
And now J sitte her~ blynde and lame
And croked beth my lymes alle .
J was ful wilde J am now tame
This Fedr~ of strengthe is fro me falle
And now hath age y-smyte me fro
My thridde fedre of Jolyte
For al þat euer J haue misdo <lat>Parce michi domine</lat> .
¶ My ferthe feder ryches was .
To make it schyne J trauailled sore .
J went Jn many a perilous place .
Wel oft my lyf was neigh for-lore
By dale by downe by woode syde .
J bood many a bitter schowr .
Jn salt see J sailled wel wide .
For to multiplie my tresowr .
Wt fals sleightes J gat my gode
Jn couetise J grownded me .
Tjhesuc for thi precious blood <lat>Parce michi domine</lat> .
¶ Whan J was siker of gold enow
J gan to ride a-boute wel fast
J purchaced moche & god wot how
J wende þis lyf wolde euer haue last
J let me bilde castell and towres
wt-out J-warded wt stronge dyches .
wt -Jnne J bildet halles and bowres .
<fol. 24v>Ther was no towr my castel liche . Jn this was yset al my
lyking And turned me lord holich from the . To the J crye
now heuen king <lat>Parce michi domine</lat> . Whan J was most
in al my flours and had aboute me wif and childre J lost
my catel and my tours Thanne wex my herte in party mylde .
Catell fel fro me sodeynly Ryght as it come it went a-way
men seith good gete vntrewly the thridde heir~ broke it ne may .
J was ful wilde J am now tame . fortune hath pulled ryches
me fro . 3owre wreche lord j can not blame . <lat>Parce m~ domine</lat> .
¶ Job was richer þanne euer was J . of gold siluer & other good
it fel hym fro and þt schapply As dede þe water owt of
the flood hym was not left so mochel a clothe his
naked body for to hille hym lakkyd crostes of a loffe
When him lest ete Jn tyme of mele And 3et he held
vp thanne his honde And seide heigh god in mageste J
thank the of thy swete sonde <lat>Parce michi domine</lat> Now
<lat>parce michi domine</lat> . My Joye my merthe is al a goon
3owthe strengthe and my bewte My fetheres faire
be falle me froo Wher to is a man more liche þanne
to a flowr þt springes Jn may ; Alle that lyueth bothe
powr~ and ryche ; shal deye vnknowyng of her day .
¶ J sette me down vpon my knee .
And thanked this bryd of her~ gode lore
Jt thought me wele this word Marce
Was bale and bote of gostly sore
¶ Now <lat>parce</lat> lord and spare thow me
This is a worde þt sone gat grace .
And Marce geteth god is pyte
And scheweth to vs his blessed face Amen