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Robbins Library Digital Projects > TEAMS Middle English Texts > Codex Ashmole 61: A Compilation of Popular Middle English Verse > Item 13, A Morning Prayer

Item 13, A Morning Prayer

Item 13, A MORNING PRAYER: EXPLANATORY NOTES

Title No title or incipit. Very little space divides this text from the previous text.

25 gode angell. The notion of guardian angels goes back to early Christian belief, supported by various mentions of angels in both the Old and New Testaments. Though never a fixed doctrine, scholastics such as Thomas Aquinas supported the theory of guardian angels appointed to each soul; see the entry for “Guar­dian Angels” in The Catholic Encyclopedia, 7.336.

28a AMEN QUOD RATE. After a very small space, Rate here recopies the first eight lines of The Ten Commandments (with slight variants — see Textual Notes for item 6). This is followed immediately by A Prayer to Mary (item 15).

Item 13, A MORNING PRAYER: TEXTUAL NOTES

1 MS: Initial J is decorated with pen work and six lines tall.

 





5





10





15





20



fol. 22v   


25




 		 Jhesu Lord, blyssed thou be.
For all this nyght thou hast me kepe
From the fend and his posté,
Whether I wake or that I slepe.

In grete deses, in dedly synne,
Many one this nyght fallyn has,
That I myselve schuld have fallyn in,
Hadyst thou not kepyd me with thi grace.

Lord, gyffe me grace to thi worschype,
This dey to spend in thi plesanse;
And kepe me fro wyked felyschipe,
And from the fendys comberance.

Jhesu, my tunge thou reule allso,
That I not speke bot it be nede,
Hertly to pray for frend and fo,
And herme no man in word ne dede.

Cryste, gyffe me grace of mete and drynke
This dey to take mesurably,
In dedly synne that I not synke
Thorow outrage of foule glotony.

Jhesu my lord, Jhesu my love,
And all that I ame bond unto,
Thi blyssing send fro hevyn above,
And gyffe them grace wele to do.

My gode angell that arte to me send
From God to be my governour,
From all evyll sprytys thou me defend,
And in my desesys to be my socoure.
AMEN QUOD RATE
 		 (see note); (t-note)
protected
fiend; power


discomfort
Many a person




favor
company
devil’s influence

tongue; rule
unless necessary




moderately








(see note)


troubles; aid
(see note)
 
Go To Item 14, The Ten Commandments (False Start), textual note