Prik of Conscience: Part Six: The Pains of Hell

by: James H. Morey (Editor)

from: Prik of Conscience  2012

[fol. 94v] [6423] 5 10 fol. 95r 15 20 25 [6450] 30 [6456] 35 40 fol. 95v 45 [6471] 50 55 60 65 70 [6500] fol. 96r 75 80 [6508] 85 90 95 100 105 fol. 96v 110 [6541] 115 120 [6551] 125 130 135 fol. 97r 140 145 150 155 160 [6589] 165 fol. 97v 170 [6600] 175 180 185 190 195 200 fol. 98r [6631] 205 210 [6645] 215 220 225 230 fol. 98v 235 240 245 [6681] 250 [6687] 255 260 fol. 99r 266 [6701] 270 275 280 285 [6727] 290 295 fol. 99v 300 [6742] 305 310 [6750] 315 320 325 fol. 100r 331 [6768] 335 [6776] 340 345 [6796] 350 355 360 fol. 100v 365 370 375 [6826] [6829] 380 385 390 fol. 101r 395 400 405 410 [6870] 415 420 [6883] 425 fol. 101v 430 435 440 445 450 455 [6916] fol. 102r 460 465 [6927] 470 475 480 [6944] 485 [6952] fol. 102v 491 495 [6965] 500 505 [6979] 510 515 520 fol. 103r 525 [7003] 530 [7009] 535 540 [7020] 545 550 [7030] fol. 103v 555 [7039] 560 565 [7049] 570 575 580 585 fol. 104r 590 [7077] 595 [7083] 600 605 610 [7097] 615 [7101] fol. 104v 620 625 630 [7119] 635 640 [7129] 645 fol. 105r 651 655 660 665 [7155] 670 675 680 [7168] fol. 105v 685 [7173] 690 695 700 705 710 [7200] fol. 106r 715 720 [7211] 725 [7217] 730 735 740 745 fol. 106v 750 755 760 [7250] 765 770 [7260] 775 fol. 107r 780 785 790 795 800 805 [7296] fol. 107v 811 815 [7306] 820 825 830 835 840 fol. 108r 845 850 [7340] 855 860 [7350] 865 870 fol. 108v 875 880 885 890 895 900 [7392] 905 fol. 109r 910 [7401] 915 920 925 930 935 fol. 109v 940 945 950 [7441] [7444] 955 960 965 fol. 110r 971 975 980 985 [7478] 990 995 [7489] 1000 fol. 110v 1005 1010 [7501] 1015 1020 1025 1030 fol. 111r     1035 1040 [7520] 1045 [7523] 1050 1055

The syxte part of this boke to telle That speketh of the peynes of helle Helle is in speche of mony a mon Bot of the peynes few tel con, For whoso here myght wite wele What peynes synful there shul fele In greet drede shul they be brought Ay when they on the peynes thought, Bot for mony knowen not ryght The peynes that are in helle dyght Withouten ende for synful mon I shal shewe som as I con A partye of tho peynes seere As ye afturwarde moun heere. I wole yowe shew fyrst wher is hel As I have harde greet clerkus telle, And aftur wole I shewe yowe more And speke of peynes that ben thore. Where helle is Somme clerkes seyn as bokes witnes That helle amyddes the erthe es. Alle erthe may wele lyckened be To a rounde apple uppon a tre That even amyddes hath a colke And so hitte may to an egges yolke, For as a dalke is amydwarde The egges yolke when hit is harde, So is helle putte as clerkes tellus Amyd the erthe and no where ellus And as the yolke amyd the eg lyse And white aboute the same wyse, So is erthe withouten doute Amyddes hevenes that goth aboute Thus moun men se by an eg dyght Howe heven and erthe and hel is ryght. Ful merke and hidous hel is kyd For in the erthe hit is al hyd Thidur the synful shul be dryven Als sone as the doom is gyven. With alle the develes there to dwelle That nowe in ayer are and in helle There shul thay thenne be togidur Wo shul hem be that shul com thidur, For there is myche sorow and bale And bittur peynes withouten tale That alle the clerkes that had wit That ever weren or that lyven yit Couthe not telle with al here lore How myche sorow and peyn is thore. ¶And yif by kynde myght be soo That an hundreth thousand men or moo Weren and hadden tonges of steel That wysely couthe speke and weel And every tong of every monne Bygonne had when the worlde bygon To speke of helle and shulden ay And nevere cees to domes day, Yitte myght they not the sorow tel That the synful shul have in hel. No monnes wit may ymagyn The sorow ordeyned there for syn, Bot men moun fynde who wol loke Somme of the peynes writen in boke, Bot what mon lyvyng is so witty That couthe hem tel alle propurly. Bot hit were he that had ben thore And seyn the peynes las and more Bot he that cometh thereinne certeyn May nought turne lyghtly ageyn There he mot dwel and never oute com, For thus seyth the booke of wisdom, Non est agnitus qui reuersus est ab inferis.1 This is to say, "men knowen noon Comen fro helle that thidur was goon." Alle that ben there shul dwel ay Thay moun nevere be brought away Bot hitte by myracle were oonly Doon by grace of God almyghty By whiche som that in hel ha ben And orrible peynes there ha sene Han be brought fro that stede of stryfe And turned ageyn fro deth to lyfe, ¶As Lazar, Marye brothur Maudeleyn, That say and harde mony an peyn, For alsone as he was dede His soule paste unto that stede; Foure dayghus as God vouched save So long his body lay in grave And atte laste God reysed hym ryght Fro dethe to lyve by hys myght, Bot that he say he nought forgete Sone aftur thenne as he doun sete At mete with Criste in Martha house Thenne tolde he of the peynes hydouse, Bot durste he not for Criste alle telle The peynes that he say in helle. He lyved aftur fyftene yeere Bot lowghe he never ny maad glad chere For drede that he deth shuld dryghe And for tho peynes that he say with yghe, For dethes bitturnes may noon wyte Bot he only that feled hath hyte Tho peynes of helle noon wol wene Bot he that hem hath felte or sene. ¶As two of Symeones sones ryght The whiche Caryous and Leuthi hyght When thay were dede and hethen went They seyen in helle mony a turment, And when Criste dyghed on the rode They rysen fro deth and aboute yode And tolden how Criste byfore he ros Hadde taken fro helle that ere were los. Myche more then couthen thay telle Of peynes that thay sayen in helle Bot they had no leve as I wene To telle al that thay there had sene. Therfore they lyveden here in penaunce And never maad blythe countenaunce. Of hem is writen in a pystel thus That Pilate sende to Tyberius That emperoure of Room tho was To certyfye hem of alle this cas. And othur mony that als were dede His soule paste unto that stede And seyn there mony an hidous peyn And turned han by myracle ageyn. ¶Bot among alle that there be seen I fynde writen of peynes fyfteen That synful shul be pyned with ay In body and soule aftur domesday. Tho are general moste peynes in helle Now whiche they ben I wol yow tel. ¶The fyrste is fiur ful hote to reken That no manere watur may sleken. ¶The secounde is coolde as seyn som The whiche noon hete may overcom. ¶The thrid peyn is fylthe and stynk That is strenger then herte may think. ¶The ferthe is hongur sharp and strong, ¶The fyveth is brennyng hete among. ¶The syxte peyne is greet merkenes That may be groped so thicke hit es. ¶The seventhe is horrible syght Of develes that are grysly dyght. ¶The eyghtethe peyne is vermyn grete The synful for to gnaw and frete. ¶The nynthe is betyng of develes hand With yren malles hote glowand. ¶The tenthe is gnawyng withinne Of conscience bytyng and vermynne. ¶The elleventh peyne be teres wepyng Synful to gnaw in doune fallyng. ¶The twelfeth peyne is shame of syn That they shul have withouten blyn. ¶The thrittenthe bondes of yren brennande Shul bynde synful booth foot and hande. ¶The fourtenthe peyn dispeyre is tolde That in herte shal synful holde. ¶The laste peyne and moste to drede Defaute of syght is of the godhede. Alle these aren general peynes in hel And mo othur then tong may tel No herte may thinke ny eer here The special peynes that ben there sere That men aftur they aren worthye Shul thole in soule and in bodye. Of alle thes peynes con I not say For hem specyfye mon ne may Bot speke we yitte forthermoore Of general peynes that ben thore With autorytees hem to bynde As men in bokes writen may fynde. Of the peynes of helle The fyrste is fyre as I eer sayde That with no wete may doun be layde Wherin synful shul bren in hete As God seyth by Davyd the prophete: Ignis succensus in furore meo et ardebit usque ad inferni nouissima, id est in eternum.2 "Fyur in my wratthe is tente," seith he, "And into helle ende shal brennyng be That is ever as God voucheth save For helle shal never eende have." And that fyur there so hote brenneth That though al the watur that stondeth and renneth Myght renne into that fyre so grete, Yitte shulde hitte nought abate that hete No more thenn a wateres drope shire Yif Rome brente myght slekke that fyre. For fuyr of helle that is endelesse Is hatter then fuyr that here esse. Ryght as the fyur that brenneth here Is hattere and of more powere Thenne a fyur upon a wowe That is peynted hyghe or lowe With reed coloure to mennes syght That nouther gyveth hete ny lyght Ny no manere helpeth ny dereth, As thes versus wittnes beereth: Quam focus est mundi picto feruencior igne, tam focus inferni superat feruencia mundi. "As worldes fyur here hatter es Then a fyur peynted more or les So passeth the fyur of helle by hete These worldes fuyres smale and grete." ¶And for the synful brenned here In fuyr of foly desyres seere Ryght is that they brenne thoore In that hoot fyre forever moore. The secounde peyne is greet colde That synful felen as I eer tolde That colde shal be so strong and kene That though the moste roche that is sene Or the grettest mounteyne in any lande Were alle on fyur at ones brennande And even amyddes that coolde wore Frese hitte shulde as hitte wax thore. ¶For they amonge othur vices Brenden in colde here of malices And ever weren oute of charytee Ryght is therfore that thay bee In that colde evermore lastande There to frese both foot and hande. The fendes shul take hem fro the fyre And caste hem with ful greet yre Into that coolde to eche her peyne And ofte into that hete ageyne; Thus shul they caste hem to and fro And evermore they shul do so. Of this the holy monne Job wittenes That seyth as here writen nowe es: Ab aquis nivium transibunt ad calorem nimium.3 "Fro wateres of snowe they shul wende To overmyche hete that hath noon ende." And Seynt Austyn on this maneere Seyth in a boke as writen is heere, Dicuntur namque candere exterius calore ut ferrum in fornace, et interius vt glacies in yeme. "The wicked withouten shul be glowyng Thorow hete as yren in fyre brennyng Withinne thorow colde sharpe and kene As ys that ís in wateres sene." Thus shul they be in colde and hete Wheche turment is strong and grete. The thrid peyne as clerkes telle Is stynke and fylthe that is in helle Of wheche Jerom the holy monne Seyth as I yowe shewen conne, Ibi est ignis inextinguibilis et fetor intollerabilis. "The fyur there is of suche pousté That hitte may never slekened be And suche stynk is in that hole That erthely mon myght not hit thole." No monne in erthe myght ymagyn So myche fylthe as is therein There shal be more fylthe and stynk Then any tonge may tell or hert think. That ilke stynke with filthe and fen Shal be strong peyn to synful men And yitte the fyre that then bren shal Shal gyve a strong stynke withalle. Therein shal be brymstone and pycke And othur thing that shal be wicke, For they here delyted hem namely In fulthe and stynke of lecchery Ryght wole that thay be ever among In fulthe and stynke of helle strong. The ferthe peyne is sothe to say Strong hungur that shal laste ay That the synful shal so chace That ther flesshe they shul of race, And for hongur hit gredely ete There shul they have non othur mete. They shul for hungre fare as wode, Bot thenne the deth shal be her fode As speketh the prophete in a steede And seyth thei shul be fed with dede: Mors depascet eos.4 This is on Ynglysshe thus to rede "Deolfully shal deth there hem fede." As he that here hath hungur grete Longeth by kynde most aftur mete So shul the synful that be thore Aftur her deth then long wel more That thay moste hated and dreded here Bot they shul hit have on no manere. Of this Seynt Joon beruth wittenes In the Apocalippes where thus writen es: Desiderabunt mori et mors fugiet ab eis.5 "They shul desire to dye" seyth hee "And the dethe shul fro hem flee." ¶And for they wolde geve no mete To pore that here had hongur grete Ny of hem hadde no mercye Bot used outerage and glotenye, Therfore is ryght that they ha peyne Of hungur in helle ay ther ageyne. The fyfthe peyne hem shal byfal Ful greet thriste they shul have al. In helle that thriste shal be so greet That here hertes shal clive for heet; Bot flamme of fyur shal be her drink With brymstone that soule shal stynk With reek of fyur and wyndes blaste And with stormes that evere shul laste. Tho alle togedre then shul meete, As seyth Davyd the good prophete: Ignis sulphur spiritus procellarum pars calicis eorum.6 He seyth as we mon writen fynde, "Fyre, brymstone, and stormes of wynd Shal ben a partye of here drynk" That meyved shal be with smok and stynk, Yit shul they drynk ageyn her wille An othur manere drynke ful ille That shal be byttur and venemus As the prophete telleth tyl us: Fel draconum vinum eorum et ve- nenum aspidum insanabile.7 "Galle of dragoun her wyne shal be And venym of snakus," thus seyth he. Thay shul hitte lyke nothing wele So vyolent hitte is ful forto fele; This is ful harde thing for to fele, This is ful harde thing for to here, Yitte shul they have on othur manere So brennyng thriste shul they thole That her hertes shul bren as cole; No lycour shul they fynde to fele That her hertes ny thriste may cele. They shul for thrist the hedes souke Of neddres that shul upon hem rouke As doth a childe in the moderes lappe When hitte souketh the modere pappe. This worde I fynde in holy writte, As Job seyth and wel wittenesseth hitte: Capita aspidum suggent.8 "They shul souke for thriste," seyth he, "Neddres hedus that on hem be." ¶And for they wolde nevere blethelye To pore gyve drynke that were thristy, Therfore hit is ryght that they fele Brennyng hete that nevere shal kele This shul they have that come thidre And sharp hungre bothe togidre; Of this Seynt Jerom beruth witnes And thus seyth as here writen es: In inferno erit fames et sitis infinita. In helle shal be where evere is wo Hungur endeles and thriste also. The syxte peyne is gret merkenes Whiche ever in helle is endeles; Hit is so thicke mon moun hit grope Fro whiche synful may make no lope; No herte may thinke ny tong tel The greet derkenes that is in helle Of whiche Job telleth us ful wele And seyth synful shul grope and fele: Palpabunt tenebras in meri- die sicut in media nocte.9 "As derke is there at hye mydday As at mydnyght and shal ben ay." There never is day bot evere nyght, There brenneth a fyre bot geveth no lyght; Bot synful men sul evermore see Alle the develes that there shul bee And every peyne and uche torment By sparcles that aboute shul sprent Bot that syght shal to hem thaare No coumforte be bot sorow and care. To eche her peyne they shul ha syght Withouten any coumforte of lyght, And for helle is ay lyghtlees Hit is called the londe of merkenes And hit is depe derke and hydous, Wherfore Job pryed to God thus: Non reuertar ad terram tenebrosam.10 "Loorde I turne nought a way To the merke londe," where wo is ay, Here wonyng is hydous and ille As Job seyth als thus there tylle: Vbi nullus ordo set sempiternus horror inhabitat.11 "Where noon ordre is," seyth hee, "Bot oglynes and ever shal bee." ¶And for the synful in her lyf here Leved ay merkenes of synnes sere And never woolde turne while they myght Fro that merkenes to Goddes lyght, Hitt is ryght as they dwelle thore In that merkenes for evermore So never more lyght shul thay see: A strong peyne then shal this bee. The seventhe peyn of thes fyftene Is syght of fendes that shul be sene Among the synful soules in helle In whos company thay shul dwelle, That syght shal be so hydouse to se That alle the men of Crystyanté Ne couden in witte ymaginne ryght Ny descreve so hydous a syght ¶As thay in helle shul se evermore Of grysly develes that shul be thore, For thenne shul be mo develes in hel Thenne any tonge may reken or telle And uche oon shal more grysly seme Then any moon of erthe may deme, For there nys certus mon so boolde In alle this worlde yong nor oolde Yif he myght ryght conceyve in mynde How grisly a devel is in his kynde That wolde for alle this myddelerde Se on so shulde he ben afeerde. Howe fare thay thenne that shul hem se And ever in compeny with hem be? The synful shul ay on hem loke Thus fynde we writen in oure boke: In inferno videbunt eos facie ad faciem. "In helle shul they se face to face" Develes that they loved and folowed her trace, While that they were in erthe lyvand And with that syght I undurstande Ful deolful crying shul they here, As Austyn seyth on this maneere: Demones igne sintillant videbunt et miserabilem clamorem affluenci- um et lamentancium audient. "There shul they see develes with yghe By sparcles that of fyre shul flye And therewith heren in uche partye The wrecched synful wepe and crye." The sorow and deol that they shul make Shal never there cees ny slake. ¶And for they hateden here to see And to here thing that good shulde be, Therfore hitte is resoun and ryght That thay se ever that ogly syght And als to heren develes dyn To eche her pyne for her syn. ¶The eyghte peyne the boke seyth us Is orrible vermyn and venymus Whiche shul on the synful rouke Ever on hem to gnawe and souke, As grisly dragouns and neddres kene And toodes so foule we nevere noon sene And othur vermyn with venym And wilde bestes grisly and grym That uche with othur shul hem byte On lymes where they had most delyte Her synful werkes here to wyrch Ageyn Goddes lawe and holy chirch. For they dyd here ageyn Godes law Wod vermyn shul hem there gnaw For her synne that hem thought swete Ryght as God seyth by the prophete Dentes bestiarum immittam super eos, cum furore trahencium super terram, atque serpencium.12 "I shal in synful sende," seyth he, "The teeth of bestes that fel shul be On hem with wodenes evere drawyng And eke of neddres faste gnawyng." Thus shul hem gnawe wode bestes ay And never departe fro hem away This peyne shal be ful harde to dryghe, For that vermyn shal nevere dyghe Bot ay lyven and with hem dwelle, As seyth oure Lorde in the gospelle: Vermis eorum non morietur, et ignis eorum non extinguetur.13 "Here vermyn shal not dyghe," seyth he, Nor here fyur shal slaked be." Herto acordeth Seynt Austynne And speketh thus of that vermynne, Vermes infernales sunt immortales Qui ut pisces in aqua vivunt in flamma. "The vermyn of helle ever lyven so That never shul dyghe the synful fro They shul lyve in the flamme of fyre As fysshes doon here in watur shire," And in hem fasten here clokes depe And they shul ever crye and wepe. They shul with vermyn covered be So that no lyme shal hem be fre And on hem shul thay be gnowand Whethur so they sitte or stande The vermyn shal be here clothyng And vermyn shal be here beddyng, For I fynde writen there I have red Howe Ysaye descreveth that bed: Subter te sternetur tinea, et ope- rimentum tuum erunt vermes.14 "Of wormes," he seyth, "thi bed shal be That shul be strawed undur thee And thi coverte alle bydeen Shal be vermyn felle and kene." Suche beddes ben ordeyned in hel For tho synful that there shul dwel. Thus shul thay be pyned for syn Ever with fyur and foule vermyn, For thus we fynden in holy writte In a booke that is cleped Judytte: Dabit Deus ignem et vermes in carnes eorum, vt urantur et senciant usque in sempiternum.15 "In synful flesshe Criste shal gyve Fyur and vermyn that ever shal lyve So that thay shul brenne evermore And fele bytyng of vermyn soore." This peyne is more to feel and se Thenne alle worldly peynes moun be, Thus shal vermyn be to hem peyne Bot men moun sey thus there ageyne As men in bokes writenne moun se That aftur the greet doom shalle be Ne quicke creature shal lyve thonne Bot only aungels devel and monne. How shuld in hel or owhere ellus Lyve any vermyn as men tellus Or any beeste that mon myght dere? To this men moune thus onswere On this matere whoso that conne And say vermyn that shal be thone As I trow nought elles hytte es Bot develes in vermyn lyckenes, The whiche shul gnaw hem withoute In vermynne lyckenes alle aboute And here concyence eke as vermyn Shal hem gnaw ever withinne The whiche gnawyng shal be harde As I shal shew yow afturwarde. This vermyn withouten is more grisly Thenne othur vermyn and more myghty. ¶And for the synful were here namely Ful of hate ever and envye Hit is bothe ryght and Godes lawe That helle vermyn ever hem gnawe. ¶The nynthe peyne to undurstande Is betyng of fendes with malles glowand; The develes there shul the synful beete With brennyng homeres huge and greete As smyth smyteth the yren faaste So that hitte breketh at the laste. Ryght so the develes shul ever dyng Upon the synful withouten stintyng, And with malles hem gyve suche dyntes That to poudre hitte myght smyte flyntes, For harder dyntes gaf nevere engyne As beruth wittenes thus Seynt Austyne: Sicut machina bellica percutit muros opidi ita demones immo asperius et crudelius corpora malorum et ani- mas flagellabunt post iudicium. "As men moune se an engyne caste And smyte doune castel walles faste With a stoon bothe huge and hevye, So schul develes do more felly The bodyes and soules that shul dwel Aftur the laste doom in helle." For they shul have power and leve The synful menne to bete and greve. As the doctour Austyne telleth to us In his boke where he seyth thus, Parata iudicia blasphematoribus percucientibus malleis stultorum corpora.16 He seyth "the doom shal be redye To sclaundereres of God almyghtye To tho that shul be ay smytande The synful bodyes with malles in hande." And for they wolde not here taake Holy discipline for Goddes saake, Therfore they shul hem smyt sore With hevy homeres forever more. ¶The tenthe peyne is gnawyng within Of conscience that nevere shal blynne For withinne shal concience hem frete As shal withoute the vermyn grete, Thay shul be gnawen withouten doute Bothe withinne and withoute. Thay shul evermore crie and say, "Allas allas and weylaway Whii woolde we by no wey trow What peyne and sorow here is now." They shul pleyne on her wickednes And thus say as here writen es: Quid nobis profuit superbia, quid diuiciarum iactancia? omnia transierunt velud umbra et tanquam nuncius percur- rens et tanquam nauis procedens in fluctuamtem aquam et tanquam auis transuolans in aere cuius itineris non est inuenire vestigium.17 "What helpe is pryde," shul thay say, "What bostyng ryches or ryche aray Alle that grete pompe we se wel now Is passed away as ane shadow And as a messanger byfore rennyng And as shippe in watur flowyng And as a foule flyghyng in eyre by wynd Of whose way men moon no trace fynd." Thus shal alle here pompe away pas As be a thyng that nevere was. Then shal hem thinke when al is away Alle here lyf here bot an oure of a day Though they have nevere so long lyved here; Then moun they say on this manere, ¶"Now were we borne in worlde to be Now in alle oure delytes lyved we Now dyghed we and paste away Now be we in helle and shul for ay." Then shul they fele how evel thay lyved When concyence worme hath hem greved That withinne hem shal gnaw and byte For thay hadde here on vanyté delyte And for that conscience stird hem nought ¶To forsake folyes that thay had wrought Bot folowed ever here flesshely wil; Therfore hit is good resoun and skille That the worme of conscience withinne Ever in helle hem gnawe for synne. ¶The elleventhe peyne is teres wepyng Of synful that withouten styntyng Shul wepe ever as seyth the booke, What for sorow and what for smoke What for coolde and what for heete That thay shul suffre they shul ay grete And tho teres from hem shul renne Evermore and never shal blynne. So mych watur as shal fal thonne Fro oo monnes yghen ma gesse no mon, For thay shul ever be wepyng And her teres ben ay flowyng And from here yghen to ren so faste And here wepyng so long shal last That in the worlde here as I ween May not so myche watur be seen As from here yghen shal falle thore, For they shul wepen evermore. Wherfore Seynt Austyn seyth ryght thus Whos wordes ben autentyke to us: In inferno plures effunduntur la- crime quam sunt in mari gutte. "In helle," he seyth, "oute helden shal be Moo teres then be droppes in the se." Thes teres that fro her yghen shal ren Shul hem bothe skalde and bren; They shul be hattere then ever was Molten leede or wellede bras As I have harde greet clerkes tel That have descreved the peynes of hel. ¶And for thay had here ay lykyng In here synne and no forthinkyng Ny sorow therfore bot thought hem swete, Therfore shul thay evermore wepe And with her teres be skalded sore To echen her peyn as I sayde ore. ¶The twelfthe peyn is greet shenshipe That synful shul have in hel dype Of uche synne that evere they dydde For there shul thay be knowen and kydde Alle synnes of thought, woord, and werk, As seyth Austynne the greet clerke: Omnia in omnibus patebunt et se abscondere non ualebunt et cetera. "Alle here synnes shul shewed be That thay may nouther hem hyde ny fle." They shul have shame for her syn thore And her shenshippe shal be welle more Than ever had any monne in thought For any evel that ever he wrought; That shame with hem shal laste ay And never to passe fro hem away, Thonne may thay saye that there dwelles As the prophete in the sautere telles: Tota die verecundia mea contra me est et con- fusio faciei mee cooperuit me.18 "That is my schamefulnes," seyth he, "Is alle day and tyme ageynes me And the schenschip of my face Shal cover me in uche a place." They shul so shame ay for her syn That hem shulde think as they shul bryn For that schame that shal be thore Shal nevere cees bot laste evermore. Wherfore though no peyne were in helle Bot this shame that I of telle, Hit schulde be to hem more peyne Then any mon here con ordeyne. ¶And for that thay here in her lyve For shame durste hem nevere shryve And withouten schame to syn were bolde Ryght is that they have as I toolde Schame in helle for alle her synne Of whiche they wolde never blynne. ¶The thrittenthe peyne as clerkes wote Is boondes of yren brennyng hote With whiche the synful shul be bounde As in som boketes writen is founde Tho fyurly bondes shul nevere slake For they wolde nevere her syn forsake. They shul with tho bondes brennande In helle be bounden foot and hande And streytely streyned uche a lyme By fendes that been grisly and grym; Her wonyng shal be in helle endles Among stynke, fylthe, and grete merkenes Where ever is nyght and never day As mon moune heren thes clerkes say. Then shul thay fele when thay there come Godes vengeaunce by ryghtwyse dome For her syn that Hym myspayeth Ryght as Criste in the Gospelle sayeth: Ligatis manibus et pedibus, mittite in tenebras exteriores.19 "Lete bynde hem hand and feet faste And into the utturmast derkenes caste" That in the deppust putte of helle The more sorow is then tong may telle. There shul here hedes be turned dounward And her feet uppeward bounden hard And here lymes alle shul be streynyng With brennyng bondes reed glowyng; They shul be pyned on this manere With othur peynes mony and seere As telleth a greet clerke more openly In a boke that he maad by study Of dyverse questyounes of dyvinité The whiche is calde flos sciencie That is on Ynglysshe "floure of konyng" Whereinne is mony a pryve thing. In that boke ful ryght he telles How they shul hong that there dwelles: Capita eorum ad invicem deorsum versa pedes sursum erecti et penis undique distenti. "In grounde," he seyth, "of helle dongeoun The hedes of synful shul be turned doun And here feet fast uppeward knyt And to strong peyne so be flytte." And for that they were ever redy To synne with lymes dyverse of the body Therfore shul thay be bounden theere By dyverse lymes as I sayd eere With brynnyng bondes hot glowyng That evermore shul ben lastyng. ¶For they nolde here knowe God lyvyng Ny kepe the lawe of Goddes byddyng Bot turne hem ever fro God warde And setten here hertes on this worlde harde And turne here mys here lyvyng Unto vanytee and flesshely lykyng. Therfore hit is ryght and resoune That they be turned so uppe so doune And stryned in helle and bounden faste With bondes of fyur that ever shal laste. ¶The fourtenthe peyne dispeyr I tel In whiche the synful shul ever dwel Withouten hope of mercye thonne, For thus Salamon seyth the wyse mon: Omnes qui ingrediuntur ad eam non reuertentur nec apprehendent semitas vite.20 He seyth, "alle tho that to helle wendes And in dyspeyre shul be with feendes Shul never aftur turne ageyne Ny take the weyes of lyf certeyne." When the dampned by jugement And body and soule to hel is sent, They shul never aftur withouten doute Have hope ny thynk to come oute Bot dwelle there ay withouten hope For thus the holy monne seyth Jope: Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio. "In helle," seyth he, "is no raunsone" Thorow frendes helpe of devocyone For almesdede preyere ny mes May helpe ny her peynes make les; A stronge peyne shal this be in hel Ever thus in dispeyre to dwel That passeth al peynes of this lyf here Withouten hope of recovere. For here hath no monne peyne so strong That he ne hath hope som tyme among Outher of helpe that mon may caste Or that hitte shal ende at the laste His herte shuld elles with sorow and care To sone fayle yif hoope ne ware, For in uche sorow hope coumforteth best Yif hope nere men seyn herte wolde brest. In helle noon hope may fal in thought Neyther here hertes breste may nought For thay ben ordeyned to lyve ay thore And to be peyned for evermore. Bot the lyf of hem in that stede Is bitterer and worse then is dede, For better were to be fully slayne Then lyve evermore in strong payne, But synful in peyne shul ay ther be And hem shal not dethe sle bot ay fle As the boke openlye sheweth to us Where we may fynde writen thus: Mors fugiet ab eis. "The deth that here is stronge and harde Shal there ay flee from hym warde." The peyne of deth thay shul ay drye Bot yitte they shulde nevere more dyghe. Thay shul ay lyve in sorow and stryfe Whiche lyf shal be more deth then lyfe; Her lyf amydward deth shal stande For thay shul lyven ay dyghande And evermore dyghe lyvyng with alle As men that we see in swounyng falle. ¶And for thay here myche loved synne And thorow foule hope ay lyved therinne And to leve here synne had never wille, Therfore hit is good ryght and skille That thay be ever for thatte folye In helle withouten hope of mercye. Now have I shewed as I con tel The fourtene general peynes of hel Bot yit the fyfteneth peyne general Among alle othur is moste principal That is wantyng of the syght namely Of oure Lorde ever God almyghty For the whiche syght that thay ha tynt They shul have sorow that never shal stynt The whiche sorow that therefore shal falle Shal to hem be moste peyne of alle. For as the syght of God in heven Is moste joye of alle othur to neven Ryght so that wantyng of that syght Is moste peyn in helle dyght. Alle peynes in helle hem greve ne myght Yif they shulde go so clere and bryght. ¶Yitte shul there be peynes mony mo As bokes seyn with sorowe and wo More thenne alle men oolde and yong Myght thinken in herte or tell with tong That synful soules that shul wende To helle shul have withouten ende Whiche peynes and sorowe shul never cese, For there shal never be reste nor pees Bot travayle and tene with sorow and caar Ful wo is hym that shul be thare. ¶They shul thinke on nothing ellus Bot on here peyne as clerkes tellus And on here synne that thay have wrought So peynes and sorowe shul turne her thought For there shal be then harde and sene Alle maner sorow, crie, and tene. There shal be lacke of alle kyns thing In whiche myght be joye or lykyng And wante of al that good myght be And of alle his badde greet plenté. In helle shalle be then deolful dyn Among hem that synful be therin For thay shal ever thus crye and say, "Allas allas an weylaway, That ever were we of woman bore For we be nowe fro God ever lore." Then shul they wepe and with teeth gnayst For helpe ny mercy thar hem non trayst.21 ¶The fendes aboute hem then in helle On hem ever shul rore and yelle; So hydouse noyse they shul ther make That alle the worlde hit myght to shak And alle the men lyvyng that hard hit Go wode for drede and lese her witt. Amonges hem shul fendes ay stryke The synful therwith shul cryghe and skrike; There shal be more noyse and dyn Thenne alle men couthe ymagyn. There shal be roryng and russhyng Raumpyng of fendes dyngyng and dusshing And wepyng of synful as I sayde ore So hidous that noyse shal be thore Of fendus of folke that shul come thidre As heven and erthe smyten togydre. An hydous thing hit is to telle Of noyse that thenne shal be in helle; The develes that shul be ful of yre Shul stoppe the synful ay in the fyre That thay shul glow as don fyre brondes And when they moun welde her hondes For sorow they shul hem harde wryng And weylaway thay shullen ay syng. In helle thenne shal be so greet throng That noon shal renne fro othur ny gong On nouther syde hyndeward ny forwarde. They shul be pressed togydre so harde As thay were stopped alle in an oven Ful of fyur bynethen and aboven. Bot never the les helle is so depe So wyde and large that hit myght kepe Alle the creatures lasse and more Of alle this worlde yif myster wore. The synful shul uche othur dysese And noon of hem shal othur plese Bot ever fyght togedre and stryve As they were wode men in this lyve And uche oon othur scrat in the faace And her owen flessche rende and raace. Uche oon shal wylne hymself to slo Yif he myght hym shalle be woo Bot therto shul thay have no myght For deth shal never on hem lyght. Ful fayn wolde they al dede be Bot deth shal ever fro hem flee. Aftur deth shul thay desyre uch oon As in the Apocalippes seyth Seyn Joon: Desiderabunt mori et mors fugiet ab eis.22 "They shul desyre to dyghe," sayth he, "And deth shal evere fro hem fle." Amonge hem shal be ever debate, Uche oon of hem shalle othur hate. Thay shul be ful of hatereden than, Uche oon shal othur warye and ban And say, "cursed caytyfe wo be thee And waryed mot thou ever be And waryed be thay ever in care That thee gaat and that thee bare, And the tyme that thou were bore also Thi pyne to me is sorow and wo. Hit pyneth me and greveth me sore As myche as myne owen or more My peyne hit maketh more grevous," Uche one to othur shal then say thus. Thus uche monnes peyne shal othur dere For noon of hem shal othur forbere, Sone ny doughter syster ny brothere Fadur ny modur ny yitte non othere Uche oon shal other haat ful dedly And uche oon grucche on othur and crye, Uche oon shal gnaw his tong in sondre And uche of hem on othur shal wondre. Thus in helle thay shul faren ay And therwith sclaundre God and say, ¶"Whi maad God us to his lyckenes And letteth us dwel now there we es. Hitte semeth that God maad us in veyn Sithe we be put to endeles peyn Or he made us not bot to dwelle In erthe to be fyur brondes in helle." Thay shul ban the tyme that thay were wrought And say, "allas that we were maad ought." Thus shul thay sclaunder God among So harde here peynes shul be and strong; Uche oon on othur shal grenne and stare As doon wode men that been forfare. An hidous thing to seen hitte were Whoso couthe telle the peynes there Als propurly as thay shul there bee. Bot that couthe not alle Crystyanté Ny alle the clerkes that there had witte Sythen the worlde bygon nor yitte Couthe not telle by clergye ne arte The peynes of helle the thousand parte; The noumbre of peynes that greven there Passen alle wittes that ever yit were Or yitte lyven in any degree And that moun men by skil wel see. ¶For uch synne that thay have wrought Though hitte were a lytul venyal thought They shul have certeyn peyn therfoore Aftur the synne is lasse or moore. Who couthe telle though he were wyse Alle manere synnes and alle folyse Bothe bodyly, dedly, and eke venyal And leve noon untoolde greet ny smal Wheche men have here fallen inne Fro tyme that thay bygonne the syn Both in worde thought and dede As who say no mon couthe hem rede. For uche thing doon here certeyne In helle is ordeyned specyal peyne To synful men that shul dwel there; Thenne byhoveth hem as I sayde ere For uche a synne that thay dyd here Have certeyne peyne and cyngulere, And for uche thing and uche folye By pyned in helle specyallye And ofte here peynes shul there bygyn Er thay dyd here her dedly syn. So mony peynes to hem shul fal That no witte may comperhende hem al For no synne that ever thay dyd Dedly no venyal shal noon by hid Bot be seyen openly and noon leyned And dyverse peynes for hem ordeyned. Who myght then alle peynes telle That synful men shul have in helle, For yif a mon passe hethen awaye In dedly synne at his laste daye For uche synne that ever dyd he He shal dyversely punysshed be And often newed shal be his peyn As he to his synne new turned ageyn The leste peyne there is more to se Then alle the peynes in erthe moun be. ¶For alle the peynes of this worlde here That ever were seyen fer or nere To the leeste peyne there may be toolde A bath of watur nouther hoot ny coolde. Alle the woo of the worlde uch a deel Were bot a solace and joye to feel As to regarde of the leest peyne That is in helle this is certeyne. Uche synful shal ha syght thore Of alle the peynes lasse and more That alle the synful men shul dryghe. Then shul uche oon se with her yghe Men and women mony a thousand In dyverse peynes aboute hem stand And that syght that uche oon shal se To uche of hem greet peyne shal be. Alle peynes that shul falle to mon Shul sorow be to alle that seen hem thon. Thus shul they dryghe more peyn in hel Then herte may thinke or tong may tel, For peynes that thay shul have of syght And what for peynes they have of myght For alle tho peynes that there be knowen Shul greve mon as myche as his owen. Suche peyne to here as men moun rede Aught wel to make uche mon to drede. I trowe ther be no monne lyvande So harde harted and wolde undurstande And leve what peynes in helle be wrought Bot he shuld have grete drede in thought That shuld hym make to flee foly Wherfore he is suche peyne worthy. ¶Thenketh therfore ay yong and oolde On thes peynes that I have toolde, Howe hydouse thay been for to discrive And clense yow here in youre lyve Of alle kyn fulthe syn and folye And make yow ever to God redye That yee be not worthye to wende To hydouse peyne withouten ende. For he that couthe ought undurstande What peynes in helle be ay lastande Hym were lever suffre harder peyne Then any mon couthe hym ordeyne Or he wolde assente to any folye Wherfore he were suche peyn worthie. ¶Bot alle that wolen here syn forsake While that thay lyven er deth hem take And of alle tho have forthynkyng Dedus doon ageynes Goddes byddyng And to God turne hem fro here syn And aske mercye and triste therein And be lovyng and to God buxome, In pyne of helle shul tho never come Bot to the blis of heven weende And dwelle there withouten eende. ¶Here have I spoken of peynes of hel As ye have openly herde me tel And the syxte of this boke made ende, Nowe to the seventhe wole I wende That is the last partye of alle And speketh as I shew yow shalle Specyally of the joyes of heven That are more then mon may neven: Fyrste wole I shewe where heven es As clerkes seyn and beren witnes Afturwarde wole I shew yow more And telle yow of joyes that ben thore.

know Always prepared various may core may [be likened] to hole demonstrated correctly placed (justified) dark; known Thither (see note) number (tally) nature (see note) Where have place (see note) who saw and heard many a pain vouchsafed what supper; (see note) laughed; (t-note) endure eye ween (see note) (see note) hence saw cross walked [those] who before were lost (see note) (see note) authenticate [to] him And many another place saw (see note) tormented slake murkiness arranged in grisly ways fret malls without stopping Lack ear hear various according [to how] suffer prove; water kindled vouchsafes (t-note) bright slake wall harms (t-note) [not traced] of various foolish desires the biggest rock And if that cold were right in the middle increase (see note) As ice is seen in water; (t-note) (see note) power slaked survive same, dung pitch unpleasant sooth; (t-note) afflict pull off food mad place [the] dead nature what food always befall break because of heat (t-note) (see note) Such; experience (be made to undergo) burn as coal taste cool thirst; suck adders; sit paps Adders' heads happily (blithely) cool (t-note) [not traced] darkness touch leap fly To increase their since perpetual dwelling Loved always [the] gloom of various sins turn away An overwhelming torment man (natural) appearance (t-note) (see note) example (t-note) (t-note) [not traced] eye lamentation hear increase their punishment venomous [creatures] crouch suck adders work Because Mad cruel endure die (see note) (t-note) (t-note) bright claws [from] them (i.e., the vermin) gnawing strewn indeed cruel and fierce punished living (see note) harm believe by fiends; hammers hammers weapon [not traced] cruelly leave devour (fret) believe complain on [account of] their may (t-note) hour (t-note) stopping cry stop From one man's eyes may (t-note) [not traced] poured sea lead or molten brass contrition increase; before harm deep revealed [not traced] (t-note) (t-note) i.e., David; (see note) confusion burn confess cease know (see note) (t-note) limb; (t-note) Their dwelling murkiness (darkness) mispleases (see note) punished various flower of knowing mysterious (see note) securely; fastened torture; moved (t-note) would not themselves turn here amiss their living restrained; (t-note) return Job (see note) ransom (t-note) (t-note) devise If there were no hope men say [that their] death Death shall fly from them (Apocalypse 9:6) away suffer in the middle of dying leave have lost stint (t-note) name (see note) prepared If they should go [to heaven] more wend torment [So] full of woe else heard and seen; (t-note) [of] sorrow, cries, and distress doleful din (see note) lost gnash (t-note) mad; lose perpetually shriek Romping; beating; clashing rage stuff may move their nor go As [if]; stuffed need be dis-ease (make uncomfortable); (t-note) mad tear (t-note) die hatreds revile and curse accursed begot; bore (in the womb) born; (see note) harm forbear [Neither] son nor (see note) where we are curse grimace mad; ruined (see note) Since learning nor scholarship; (see note) with reason; (t-note) (see note) According [to whether] behooves singular (see note) (t-note) concealed hence seen each part endure eye that see them then suffer tell believe He would rather Before before death takes them And of all those [deeds] have contrition done against God's bidding obedient pain name (t-note) that are there

Go To Part Seven The Joys of Heaven

Footnotes

PART SIX: FOOTNOTES

1 No man hath been known to have returned from hell. Wisdom 2:1 (not exact)

2 Lines 174–75: A fire is kindled in my wrath, and shall burn even to the lowest hell: and shall devour the earth with her increase, and shall burn the foundations of the mountains. Deuteronomy 32:22 (the first five books of the Bible were, by reputation, written by Moses, whereas David is associated only with Psalms)

3 Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat. Job 24:19

4 Death shall feed upon them. Psalm 48:15

5 They shall desire to die, and death shall fly from them. Apocalypse 9:6

6 Lines 305–06: Fire and brimstone and storms of winds shall be the portion of their cup. Psalm 10:7

7 Lines 315–16: Their wine is the gall of dragons, and the venom of asps, which is incurable. Deuteronomy 32:33

8 He shall suck the heads of asps. Job 20:16 (not exact)

9 Lines 356-57: They shall meet with darkness in the day, and grope at noonday as in the night. Job 5:14 (not exact)

10 Before I go, and return no more, to a land that is dark and covered with the mist of death. Job 10:21 (not exact)

11 Where [the shadow of death, and] no order, but everlasting horror dwelleth. Job 10:22 (not exact)

12 Lines 452–53: I will send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the fury of creatures that trail upon the ground, and of serpents. Deuteronomy 32:24

13 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished. Mark 9:43, 45, 47

14 Lines 485–86: Under thee shall the moth be strewed, and worms shall be thy covering. Isaias 14:11

15 Lines 497–98: For he will give fire, and worms into their flesh, that they may burn, and may feel for ever. Judith 16:21

16 Lines 557–58: Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for the bodies of fools. Proverbs 19:29. Not traced in Augustine.

17 Lines 579–83: What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us? All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post that runneth on, And as a ship that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found, nor the path of its keel in the waters: Or as when a bird flieth through the air. Wisdom 5:8–11 (not exact)

18 Lines 666–67: All the day long my shame is before me: and the confusion of my face hath covered me. Psalm 43:16

19 Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness. Matthew 22:13 (not exact)

20 Lines 749–50: None that go in unto her shall return again, neither shall they take hold of the paths of life. Proverbs 2:19

21 That is, “For [they] need not trust (expect) in any help or mercy [from God]”

22 They shall desire to die, and death shall fly from them. Apocalypse 9:6

PART SIX: EXPLANATORY NOTES

Abbreviations: CT: Chaucer, Canterbury Tales; MED: Middle English Dictionary; OED: Oxford English Dictionary; PL: Patrologia Latina, ed. Migne.

37–38 Lines 37 and 38 are reversed in the manuscript, but this order conforms more closely to the tradition that the worst devils are in hell but that the neutral, or less bad, angels fell only as far as the earth’s atmosphere and became fairies. See below, 7.110–14.

49 The “tonges of steel” motif can be found in Irish and Old English sources, as well as elsewhere in Middle English. See Wright, Irish Tradition, pp. 150–51.

80 John 11. Lazarus, brother of Mary of Bethany, though this Mary was often confused with Mary Magdalen.

90ff. John 12 gives no account of what Lazarus said at the supper.

102 As should be read in parallel with line 80.

103 Caryous and Leuthi. Names (also spelled “Carius” and “Lucius”) given in the Gospel of Nicodemus to two witnesses to Christ’s Harrowing of Hell (see Matthew 27:52), when on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Christ descended to hell and rescued those righteous souls who lived before the Crucifixion. For Middle English versions of this widespread story see Morey, Book and Verse, pp. 216–26.

113 See 2 Corinthians 12:1–3, where Paul alludes to a heavenly journey about which he cannot speak.

116–17 This letter from Pontius Pilate to Tiberius is often appended to the Gospel of Nicodemus.

125 peynes fyfteen. Cotton Galba E.ix names fourteen, leaving out the last one: the inability to see God.

168 bynde. See MED binden, v.14: “Of reasoning: to conclude or prove (sth.); support (by argument or authority).”

233–34 Honorius Augustodunensis, Elucidarium (PL 172:1160B), and elsewhere. Not traced in Augustine.

245–46 Honorius Augustodunensis, Speculum Ecclesiae (PL 172:1039C). Not traced in Jerome.

321–22 Either line 321 or 322 was probably intended to be canceled, but neither is marked, resulting in a tercet.

414 Not traced, but see below, 7.1076. Cotton Galba E.ix includes the second line: “quorum opera in terris dilexerunt” (ed. Morris, line 6872).

469–70 Honorius Augustodunensis, Elucidarium (PL 172:1160A). Not exact. Also in Wernerus S. Blasii, Libri Deflorationum (PL 157:922C).

510–13 See the opening categories in Entre.36 ff. The poet responds to the objection that vermin could not exist after Doomsday by explaining that such vermin must be devils in disguise.

665 prophete. Although David is not commonly thought of as one of the prophets, as the psalmist and stock of the root of Jesse from whom Christ descends, he is a predecessor of the Word along with the prophets in medieval pictorial imagination. See N-Town’s “Root of Jesse” (Play 7), which places David, among the prophets, as the first of twelve good kings who share the word with the prophets of introducing Christ through the Mary plays. For scriptural authority, see Luke 24:44, Acts 2:29–30, and 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 23:1–2.

689 “Boketes” refers presumably to a booklet, a small book, though this spelling is not recorded in the MED.

709–10 N.b., the image of the inverted man above, 1.289–94.

723–24 Honorius Augustodunensis, Elucidarium (PL 172:1160C), but here the poet cites the Libri deflorationum by Wernerus St. Blasii (PL 157:923A).

761 See explanatory note to 4.104.

819–22 syght . . . dyght . . . myght . . . bryght. Note the quadruple rhyme.

846–48 See Job 14:1.

910 See Jeremiah 20:14

919 Compare Matthew 10:35, Luke 12:53.

941–49 Note the inexpressibility topos, and also the instance of rhetorical occupatio (claiming not to describe something but describing it nonetheless).

944 clergye ne arte. Learning and knowledge such as that represented by the seven liberal arts. See 7.263–64 note.

950–61 Line 961 is to be read in parallel with line 954: “As one could [also] say, no man could recount them.” Line 960 is a phrase that became part of the General Confession in the Order for Holy Communion in the Book of Common Prayer (ed. Booty, p. 259).

971 Being punished for a sin before actually committing it (proleptic punishment) is a novel concept, but Dante describes a similar practice in Tolomea for Friar Alberigo and Branca d’Oria (Inferno 33.118–57) when, by an early admissions policy, souls are punished in hell whose bodies still walk the earth. Cotton Galba E.ix is more conventional: “And als oft-sythe als thai here newed thair syn / Als oft-syth thair payn salle new thare bigyn” (ed. Morris, lines 7460–61; compare 6.984–85 below).

PART SIX: TEXTUAL NOTES

Abbreviations: see Explanatory Notes

95 glad. The manuscript reads clad.

180 brenneth. A stray mark appears over the “e.”

195 versus. The manuscript reads verus.

238 ís. The long mark over the “i” in “is” appears in the manuscript. Compare how Icelanders write the name of their country: “Ísland.”

265 Only the initial letter of the running title at the top of the folio (“T”) is legible.

312 othur. The manuscript reads othu.

341 shul. The manuscript reads sul.

413 boke. The manuscript reads bo followed by an incomplete stroke and an erasure.

421 videbunt. The manuscript reads videhurit.

422 miserabilem. The manuscript reads marabilem, with the first “a” deleted by a subpunctus and an “i” inserted by a caret.

470 vivunt. An otiose stroke appears above the “i.”

473 flamme. The manuscript reads flamne.

593 nevere. The manuscript reads neue.

606–07 stird. The manuscript reads stred. The pilcrow heading the next line divides the couplet.

627 May. The manuscript reads Yay.

660 Than. The manuscript reads That.

662–63 These lines are reversed in the manuscript, but the letters “a” and “b” in the margin note the proper order.

690 fyurly. An otiose mark appears above the “r.”

694 streytely. The “r” is inserted above the line by a caret.

733 With brynnyng. A one-inch tear (sewn up) in the manuscript separates these words. Also affects line 765.

743 stryned. The manuscript reads styned.

765 peynes make. A one-inch tear (sewn up) in the manuscript separates these words. Also affects line 733.

769 recovere. The manuscript reads recevere.

817 God. The “g” is written over a “b.”

837 A superfluous abbreviation for “and” appears before the “and.”

853 ther. The manuscript reads per. Cotton Galba E.ix (ed. Morris, line 7342) reads þan.

885–86 A hole in the manuscript causes these lines to be indented.

895 “Be” is canceled before “dede.”

949 A sewn-up tear in the manuscript causes this line to be indented.

974 ever. The manuscript reads eue.

1054 wole. The manuscript reads wele.