<County: Hertfordshire>
<Code: L6561a>
<MS reference: Oxford, Bodleian Library, Laud Misc. 174, Hand A>
<Text: Seven Penitential Psalms>


<Tranche 1>

<fol. 4v>Here frenchip fond J neuer feynt .
Hem wil J preie as þei ben able .
Þt þei wil moue my complaynt .
To god þt Js soo merciable .
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But in þe flod of wateris feele .
To hym schul þei not nei3 nere .
Hem nediþ not þt ben in weele .
Þe water þt vs . wasschiþ here .
But we fro hym alday steele .
And greuyn god þt haþ no pere .
We monn not fro him oure lyuuus hele .
But if we wepe watir clere .
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þu art my refute in my woo .
þt haþ enuyronde me abou3t .
My ioye delyuere me fro þoo .
þt me biclippen wiþ-inne & ou3t .
Þe feendes fleen to & froo .
To dampne me þus is al my dou3t .
But lord whan J schal hennys goo .
þu kepe me fro þt reuly rou3t .
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<fol. 5r><lat></lat>
Vndurstondyng J schal þe seende .
And J schal teche þe þer-wiþ al .
And in þe weye þt þu schalt wende .
On Þe myn J3en festyn J schal .
J am þi god haue me in mynde .
J maad þe fre þer þou were þral .
þt no dedly synne þe schynde .
Late wit & wisdoom be þi wal .
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Ne fare 3e not as mule & hors .
To wiche non vndurstondyng is .
For such is folk þat doþ no fors .
To lyue in lust and don amys .
þenk þi coruptile cors
Jt nys but wormys meyte J-wis .
þerfor in myrþe haue þu remors .
And euere among þenk on þis .
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Jn bernacle and bridel þu constreyn .
þe chekis of hem þt seruyn þe nou3t .
but certis lord but þu refreyn .
we moten forfete in word and þou3t .
<fol. 5v>þis world is nou3t but synne & peyn .
And wrechidnesse þt synne haþ wrou3t
Of my mischef J me complayne
To þee ihesu þt me hast bou3t .
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Many is þe sori betyng .
þat to synful scal be-tide .
But he þt is in god tristyng .
Schal mercy clippe on euery syde .
whan wrechis <smudge> hondis schullyn wryng .
þt weren so ful of pompe & pride .
þan schal þe sauyd song syng .
For blisse þt he schal in a-byde .
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Jn 3our lord god beþ myrie & glad .
3ee þat of ri3tful hert be .
For ˆ [he] þt was on rood bisprad .
Now sittiþ in his faderis see .
Jn li3te of hym schul we be clad .
As aungelis þt ben brit of ble .
Now iesu graunte vs to be ladde .
þat we monn alle þat si3t see .
<fol. 6r><lat></lat>
<lat></lat>
Lord blame not me whan þu art wroþ .
Vpbreyde me not in þyn hastinesse .
Þou J haue lyued as þe was loþ .
And ben vnkynde a3en kyndnesse .
For wantonn word & ydel ooþ .
And many werkis of wildenesse .
J drede þei dom a3en me goþ .
but grace goo wt ri3tfulnesse .
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For þyn arewys ben in me pi3t .
þu hast sette fast on me þin hond .
And J as a+man wiþ-ou3ten mi3t .
Am woxen weyke as þe wond .
But loˆ[r]d mayntene þu þi ri3t .
Supporte þi man þt can not stonde .
And sende connfort to þi kny3t .
þt fer is flemyd out of londe .
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For in my fleisch þer is non hele .
Jn presence of þi worþi face
My boonys wantyn pes & wele .
For lyues þat þus me deface .
<fol. 6v>My wild wil . my wittis freele .
Encombren me whaan J+trespace
þerfor whan deeþ schal+wiþ me dele .
J se non help but only grace .
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<ill><1 word></ill> now aboue my<ill><rest of word + 1 word></ill> begrowyn .
þe werkis of my wikkidnesse .
Vp on me my synne is þrowyn .
And as charge of heuynesse .
J may me nowhere bestowen .
To hide me fro þi hastynesse .
But lord take hede J am þin owyn .
Late merci reule þi ri3twisnesse .
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<lat></lat>
My wondis ben al rootyn & rank .
Bifor þe face of my folye .
For siþþin J first in synne sank .
To late J gan for mercy crye .
But crist þt quekenyd him þt stank .
þe broþer of martha & of marie
So brynge me fro þt brery bank .
To be in blisse aboue þe skye
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<fol. 7r><lat></lat>
J wax a <ill><rest of line></ill> .
J bowede & carful 3ede al day
For mirþe may <ill><ca 3 words></ill> mynde .
Whan j þenke on my long way
J wot wel J mot hennys wende
But wydir & whan can J not say
þerfor J bowe & my bak bende .
þt god me kepe for he best may .
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For disceites haþ fulfillid my <ill><1 char></ill>yn<ill><1 char></ill>s
And in my fleisch is non helpe
þerfor of grace late growe greynes
þt J may <exp>fle al</exp> fle al fleischly filþe .
Late ˆ [neuer] fend wt al his traynes .
Stirt vp-on me wt no stelþe
To festene on me his firy chaynes .
For weldyng of þis worldis welþe .
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J was afli3t & ful meke maad
J rorid for weylyng of myn hert .
Oure formest frendis a forward breke
Þerfor we ben al woo bigirt .
<fol. 7v>And þer-to myn synnys eke .
What wondur þou3 my soule smert .
þerfor lord god þi mercy J seke .
for j may not þin honde astirt
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Lord al+my deseir is þe beforn .
Mi weilyng is not fro þe hid .
For ˆ [if] my soule schulde be lorn .
þan were j wers þan beest or brid .
þer for ihesu of jewis born .
God & man on erþe kid .
Lat neuer þt tresour to be torn .
þt þu were for so be wo betid .
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Myn hert in me disturblid is
My vertu haþ fo-saken me .
Li3t of my þ3en in me non is .
Me saueriþ synne J can not fle .
J erre al day & do amys .
J stomble as þei þt blynd be .
And synne J woot is cause of þis .
Mercy lord for þi perte .
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<fol. 8r><lat></lat>
My nei3boris þt my frendis were .
Nei3ed and a3en me stode .
Jn welþ man may wisdom lere .
Jf he wil reule his wille & mod .
For þei+floken euery-where .
As foules flien aftir here fod
But a+man deed & brout on bere .
Ful fele ben feynt & fewe ben good .
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þei stodyn afer þt were me ny3e .
þei strengþid hem þt my soule sou3t .
þe world is fals þe fend is sli3e .
þe fleich dide so þt me for-þou3t .
And þerfor to my god j fli3e .
wt louely herte & hym be sou3t .
To 3iue connfort fro heuene an hi3e .
To defende þt he haþ wrou3t .
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And þt þo þou3t to do me schape .
Spekyn wordis þt weryn weyn .
Al þe day boþe late & raþe .
þei þou3ten on gile & vp-on trayn .
<fol. 8v>But whan þei fedyn mou3t & maþe
And brymbles growyn up on her brayn .
þan wil þe soþe hym-self onswaþe .
þt þei han many a soule slayn .
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But j as deef no þing herde .
And as doumbe man þt haþ no mouþ .
Soo sparid j & speche vp sperde .
But mede it is to seye a soþ
But he þt jewis so foul wt ferde .
And seiþ hou euery gile goþ .
Ful sore wil smyte wt his 3erd .
But men amende hem þt iuyl doþ .
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j am maad as a+man þt mi3t not here .
Ne haþ in mouþ no repreuyng .
whan j se synful men make chere .
J wend forþ sore si3yng .
But lord þt bou3tist us so dere .
Lete hem fro blisse no balis bryng .
But sende hem mi3t to amende hem here .
And graunt hem grace of vprisyng .
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<fol. 9r><lat></lat>
Lord for J haue trist in þe .
Mercy my god J schal þe here .
At reuerence <exp>rei</exp> of þt lady fre .
þt 3at þe souke & ˆ <mrg>had .</mrg> no pere .
To þt lady be-take J me .
þt wonyþ aboue þe clowdis clere
wil sche is soo ny3 þi kne .
j hope to spede of my preyere .
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So J <exp>am</exp> haue seid lord merciabl
Late not on me my foes be glad .
And whil j stire my foot vnstable .
þei vp-on me gret wordes mad .
but lord þt art so connfortable .
þu make here flowris to falle & fade .
& ˆ <mrg>þe .</mrg> to plese þou make me able .
For in syne wil J no lenger wade .
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For J am redy to be bete
Mi sorwe is euere in my si3t .
To don his wille J good lete .
A3ens my lor will j not fi3t .
<fol. 9v>Now lord þt woldist þi blod blede .
On olyue monnt whan it was ni3t .
So sende me grace . for to wepe .
Such watir as may myn hert li3t .
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For J my wikednesse wole telle ou3t .
And on my synnes þenke j schal .
How perlous it is to be proud .
And lecherie may lese al .
Enuye . wraþþe & hert stou3t .
Schal stonde a+man but litil stal .
whan he is cloþen in a+clou3t
To wone wt-inne a+wormys wal .
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Myn enemyes boþe quyk & bold .
Aren strengþed aboue me mi3tily .
Þei beþ encresid many fold .
þt han me haten wrongfully .
wole J now folowe vn-to his fold .
And do his biddyng buxumly .
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<fol. 10r><lat></lat>
þoo þt for good dede wil chide & fli3te .
Bacbitedyn me to vnwittyly .
For j sou3t goodnes þou3 j dide lite .
To queme þe lord god almi3ty .
For he doþ alle werkis write .
To shewe þt al þe world schal see .
& how scharply he schal hem smyte .
þt woldyn ˆ <mrg>not</mrg> here her synnys fle .
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My lord my god forsake me nou3t .
And departe me neuere fro .
Holde þin hous þt þu hast wrou3t .
Fo-sake not lord my sowle so
Jt is þi bour þu hast it bou3t .
Elynge it is whan þu art go .
þerfor ihesu lat neuere no þou3t .
Ne worde ne dede part vs a+two .
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<lat></lat>
To myn helpyng take þu hed .
My lord my god of al myn helpe .
Be not to fer whan J haue ned .
And wisse þu me in woo & welþe .

<Tranche 2>

<fol. 14v>Bi tribulaconn þt þan schal ryse .
þe chirche schal be maad ful cler .
But sore monn þin enemyes gryse .
þt puttyn hem-silf in gret dannger
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Lord þu herkyn to my preyer .
And vnto þe lat come my cry .
vouchesaf to herkene & here .
My mone J make to mekely .
To cry on þe wiþ careful chere .
þer nediþ non so mykel as J .
þerfor my steuyn strengþe & stere .
þt J ne speke vnskilfully
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Turne not away fro me þe face .
Bowe donn þin here whan me is wo .
Late growe in me uertues of grace .
þt quenchiþ synne & peyn also .
Jn weye of charite þou me chase .
þe feiþ lat me not falle fro .
And teche me þt J ne trespase .
For hope of mercy neuere þe mo .
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<fol. 15r><lat></lat>
Jn waht day þt J euyr þe calle .
Blisful lord þou listene me .
For ri3tful ben þi werkis alle .
But mercy is þi propirte .
þerfor if J by freelnesse falle .
Jn synnys fro wich þt schulde fle .
Ne put me no3t out of þin halle .
But teche me to turne a3en to þe .
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For my dayes is lik þe smoke .
þt knewe j not now haue j leryd .
My bonys ben drye & al þoru soke .
Lijk a+þing þt is forfryid .
wel mi3t crist þis word aspoke .
þt on þe cros was don & dryed
For whan his blessid brest was broke .
For drou3t & þirst lowde he cryed .
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Smytyn j was lijk gres & haþ .
Myn hert welewid & wax deed .
For J for-þ3at bi what way .
þt J schulde hete myn owne bred .
<fol. 15v>To payne me was al her <ill><1 word></ill><smudge> .
þei þristyn þornys into myn heed .
Dispitously speddyn þei .
wiþ blod to make my body reed .
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Fro þe voys of my weylyng .
Vnto my fleisch my bon can schrynk .
J sau3 my cosyn Jon mornyng .
And my ˆ [m]odir in swounyng synk .
þo þt were þere me scorgyng .
Galle & eysel þe 3aue me drynk .
J wepte as child of 3eris 3yng .
On þis mischef whan J gan þenk
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J was mad lijk þe pellycan .
Jn wildernesse þt hym-self sleþ .
So redyly to rode J ran
For mannys sowle to suffere deþ .
And as þe ni3t crowe in her+hous can .
Be ni3t see to holde an heeþ .
So saueryd J to saue man .
Ful blissid was þt ilke breþ .
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<fol. 16r><lat></lat>
J wook & was mad lijk a+sparwe .
þt in þe roof of solitarie .
On rood tre my nest was narwe .
þennys mi3t J no bryiddis carye .
As erþe is hurlid vndur harwe .
So was þe fleisch þt sprong of marie .
Jn world is non soo scharp an arwe .
As weryn þe peynes þt me gan tarie .
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Al day þei dryuen me to scorn .
Men þt myn enemyes weren .
And þei þt preysedyn me foryn .
Aftir-ward a3eyn me sweryn
þan was J tuggyd & to-torn .
Feet hond i3en mouþ & eryn .
Til euery lyme had lif forlorn .
þe turmentoures vp on me teryn .
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for askis as it were bred J 3eet .
wt wepyng j mengid my dring among .
For loue of man me þou3t it sweet .
To suffer sorwe & stormys strong .
<fol. 16v>And siþ adam þe lawe for-lete .
þoru here þt of his oo rib sprong .
was neuere man to mercy mete .
Til j hadde sufferid wo & wrong .
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Aforn þe face of þi greuannce .
þu drow me donn wt vpliftyng .
Fadir j was to þi plesannce .
Lift vp as god in god duellyng .
For [to] stynte al sturbelannce .
Of man þt synnyd & not ceesyng .
þou dryue [me] donn to chese þt channce .
As man for man his deþ takyng .
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My dayes passid as schadow of li3t .
J welwid as doþ ˆ <mrg>þe</mrg> grene gras .
J went as man wt-outyn mi3t .
wer euery trad was blody tras .
whan J þus delfully was J-di3t .
þt neuere dide no trespas .
Centurio seid we don vnri3t .
For trewly goddis sone þis was .
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<fol. 17r><lat></lat>
But certis lord þu duelli3st euere .
þi mynde abydiþ in euery kynde .
For þe godhed anyed was neuere .
þer was no schour þt my3t it shynde .
þ[i]<exp>ei</exp> manhed mi3t þir men disseuere .
þer of þe<add>i</add> madyn a reuful ende .
þer-for ich man is þe leuere .
þat þis matir weel haþ in mynde .
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þu schalt vp rise on syon rewe .
For time is come of here mersy
Syon is holy chirche trewe .
Of men þt lyuen cristenly
A stedefast seed on it þu sewe .
And tau3tist her ful tendirly .
How þt she schulde synne eschewe .
And loue þe most entirly .
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For stonys of syon þi seruannt likid .
And on her gronnde shal haue pite .
Crist cornerston . xij . stonys pikid .
His . xij . apostelis for to be . .
<fol. 17v>On hem xij . is a+donngeonn dikid .
þoru feiþ þt we in syon see .
þt who so be wiþ synnne entrikid .
May sauely to þt strengþe fle .
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And alle men schullen þi name drede .
Alle erþely kynkis dou3tyn þi blisse .
þu reuist princes of here pryde .
þt wikkidly her wittis wille .
Ri3t as þe list men maist þu lede .
Saue & sle & langur lisse .
So woo is hym þt doþ a+dede .
wher-for he mot þi merci mysse .
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For god haþ biggid vpon syon .
Jn blisse he schal be seen & knowyn .
whan holi chirche schal be mad on .
Jn heuen as we tristen & knowyn .
þan schul alle oure gostly foon .
Jnto þe fire be þristen & þrowyn .
& we schullen into gladnesse gon .
þt now on gronnde in grace growyn .
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<fol. 18r><lat></lat>
þe orisonn of þe meke he si3e .
And not dispiseþ her+preyere .
But hem þt ben of hert hi3e .
Heriþ he not in no manere .
At hym þt al vices flei3 .
Crist ihesu lord ech man may lere .
For he to non astat vp stye .
But euere lowe in word & chere .
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Jn anoþer kynrede lat þis be wryten .
þan schal preyse god þt peple vnbore .
For þei monn þeise wordis wyten .
þan schulle þei þankyn god þerfore .
þt was for hem so falsly flyten .
wt peynful turmentis al tor-tore .
For mannys sake soo sore smytyn
was neuere non siþ ne bifore .
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For he sau3 from his holy hei3t
To erþe oure lor[d] seiþ ou3t of heuen .
He sau3 man walke vndur þe wei3t .
Of alle þe dedly synnes seuen .