Hic incipiunt constituciones artis gemetriae secundum Eucyldem.

Here begin the constitutions of the art of Geometry according to Euclid.

1. Whose wol bothe wel rede and loke,

1 Whoever will both well read and look

2. He may fynde wryte yn olde boke

2 He may find written in old book

3. Of grete lordys and eke ladyysse,

3 Of great lords and also ladies,

4. That hade mony chyldryn y-fere, y-wisse;

4 That had many children together, y-wisse; (certainly)

5. And hade no rentys to fynde hem wyth,

5 And had no income to keep them with,

6. Nowther yn towne, ny felde, ny fryth:

6 Neither in town nor field nor frith; (enclosed wood)

7. A cownsel togeder they cowthe hem take;

7 A council together they could them take,

8. To ordeyne for these chyldryn sake,

8 To ordain for these children's sake,

9. How they my[g]th best lede here lyfe

9 How they might best lead their life

10. Withoute gret desese, care and stryfe;

10 Without great dis-ease, care, and strife;

11. And most for the multytude that was comynge

11 And most for the multitude that was coming

12. Of here chyldryn after here [g]yndynge.

12 Of their children after their ending

13. (They) sende thenne after grete clerkys,

13 They send them after great clerks,

14. To techyn hem thenne gode werkys;

14 To teach them then good works;

15. And pray we hem, for our Lordys sake,

15 And pray we them, for our Lord's sake.

16. To oure chyldryn sum werke to make,

16 To our children some work to make,

17. That they my[g]th gete here lyvynge therby,

17 That they might get their living thereby,

18. Bothe wel and onestlyche, ful sycurly.

18 Both well and honestly full securely.

19. Yn that tyme, thro[g]gh good gemetry,

19 In that time, through good geometry,

20. Thys onest craft of good masonry

20 This honest craft of good masonry

21. Wes ordeynt and made yn thys manere,

21 Was ordained and made in this manner,

22. Y-cownterfetyd of thys clerkys y-fere;

22 Counterfeited of these clerks together;

23. At these lordys prayers they cownterfetyd gemetry,

23 At these lord's prayers they counterfeited geometry,

24. And [g]af hyt the name of masonry,

24 And gave it the name of masonry,

25. For the moste oneste craft of alle.

25 For the most honest craft of all.

26. These lordys chyldryn therto dede falle,

26 These lords' children thereto did fall,

27. To lurne of hym the craft of gemetry,

27 To learn of him the craft of geometry,

28. The wheche he made ful curysly;

28 The which he made full curiously;

29. Thro[g]gh fadrys prayers and modrys also,

29 Through fathers' prayers and mothers' also,

30. Thys onest craft he putte hem to.

30 This honest craft he put them to.

31. He that lerned best, and were of onesté,

31 He learned best, and was of honesty,

32. And passud hys felows yn curysté;

32 And passed his fellows in curiosity,

33. [G]ef yn that craft he dede hym passe,

33 If in that craft he did him pass,

34. He schulde have more worschepe then the lasse.

34 He should have more worship than the lasse, (less)

35. Thys grete clerkys name was clept Euclyde,

35 This great clerk's name was Euclid,

36. Hys name hyt spradde ful wondur wyde.

36 His name it spread full wonder wide.

37. Get thys grete clerke more ordeynt he

37 Yet this great clerk ordained he

38. To hym that was herre yn thys degré,

38 To him that was higher in this degree,

39. That he schulde teche the synplyst of (wytte)

39 That he should teach the simplest of wit

40. Yn that onest craft to be parfytte;

40 In that honest craft to be parfytte; (perfect)

41. And so uchon schulle techyn othur,

41 And so each one shall teach the other,

42. And love togeder as syster and brothur.

42 And love together as sister and brother.

43. Forthermore [g]et that ordeynt he,

43 Furthermore yet that ordained he,

44. Mayster y-called so schulde he be;

44 Master called so should he be;

45. So that he were most y-worschepede,

45 So that he were most worshipped,

46. Thenne sculde he be so y-clepede:

46 Then should he be so called;

47. But mason schulde never won other calle,

47 But masons should never one another call,

48. Withynne the craft amongus hem alle,

48 Within the craft amongst them all,

49. Ny soget, ny servand, my dere brother,

49 Neither subject nor servant, my dear brother,

50. Tha[g]ht he be not so perfyt as ys another;

50 Though he be not so perfect as is another;

51. Uchon sculle calle other felows by cuthe,

51 Each shall call other fellows by cuthe, (friendship)

52. For cause they come of ladyes burthe.

52 Because they come of ladies' birth.

53. On thys maner, thro[g] good wytte of gemetry,

53 On this manner, through good wit of geometry,

54. Bygan furst the craft of masonry:

54 Began first the craft of masonry;

55. The clerk Euclyde on thys wyse hyt fonde,

55 The clerk Euclid on this wise it found,

56. Thys craft of gemetry yn Egypte londe.

56 This craft of geometry in Egypt land.

57. Yn Egypte he taw[g]hte hyt ful wyde,

57 In Egypt he taught it full wide,

58. Yn dyvers londe on every syde;

58 In divers lands on every side;

59. Mony erys afterwarde, y understonde,

59 Many years afterwards, I understand,

60. [G]er that the craft com ynto thys londe,

60 Ere that the craft came into this land.

61. Thys craft com ynto Englond, as y [g]ow say,

61 This craft came into England, as I you say,

62. Yn tyme of good kynge Adelstonus day;

62 In time of good King Athelstane's day;

63. He made tho bothe halle and eke bowre,

63 He made then both hall and even bower,

64. And hye templus of gret honowre,

64 And high temples of great honour,

65. To sportyn hym yn bothe day and ny[g]th,

65 To disport him in both day and night,

66. An to worschepe hys God with alle hys my[g]th.

66 And to worship his God with all his might.

67. Thys goode lorde loved thys craft ful wel,

67 This good lord loved this craft full well,

68. And purposud to strenthyn hyt every del,

68 And purposed to strengthen it every del, (part)

69. For dyvers defawtys that yn the craft he fonde;

69 For divers faults that in the craft he found;

70. He sende about ynto the londe

70 He sent about into the land

71. After alle the masonus of the crafte,

71 After all the masons of the craft,

72. To come to hym ful evene stra[g]fte,

72 To come to him full even straghfte, (straight)

73. For to amende these defautys alle

73 For to amend these defaults all

74. By good consel, [g]ef hyt myt[g]th falle.

74 By good counsel, if it might fall.

75. A semblé thenne he cowthe let make

75 An assembly then he could let make

76. Of dyvers lordis, yn here state,

76 Of divers lords in their state,

77. Dukys, erlys, and barnes also,

77 Dukes, earls, and barons also,

78. Kyn[g]thys, sqwyers, and mony mo,

78 Knights, squires and many mo, (more)

79. And the grete burges of that syté,

79 And the great burgesses of that city,

80. They were ther alle yn here degré;

80 They were there all in their degree;

81. These were ther uchon algate,

81 There were there each one algate, (always)

82. To ordeyne for these masonus astate.

82 To ordain for these masons' estate,

83. Ther they sow[g]ton by here wytte,

83 There they sought by their wit,

84. How they my[g]thyn governe hytte:

84 How they might govern it;

85. Fyftene artyculus they ther sow[g]ton

85 Fifteen articles they there sought,

86. And fyftene poyntys they wro[g]ton.

86 And fifteen points there they wrought,

 Hic incipit articulus primus.

  Here begins the first article.

87. The furste artycul of thys gemetry:--

87 The first article of this geometry;-

88. The mayster mason moste be ful securly

88 The master mason must be full securely

89. Bothe stedefast, trusty, and trwe,

89 Both steadfast, trusty and true,

90. Hyt schal hum never thenne arewe:

90 It shall him never then rue;

91. And pay thy felows after the coste,

91 And pay thy fellows after the cost,

92. As vytaylys goth thenne, wel thou woste;

92 As victuals goeth then, well thou woste; (knowest)

93. And pay them trwly, apon thy fay,

93 And pay them truly, upon thy fay, (faith)

94. What that they deserven may;

94 What they deserven may; (may deserve)

95. And to her hure take no more,

95 And to their hire take no more,

96. But what they mowe serve fore;

96 But what that they may serve for;

97. And spare, nowther for love ny drede,

97 And spare neither for love nor drede, (dread)

98. Of nowther partys to take no mede;

98 Of neither parties to take no mede; (bribe)

99. Of lord ny felow, whether he be,

99 Of lord nor fellow, whoever he be,

100. Of hem thou take no maner of fe;

100 Of them thou take no manner of fee;

101. And as a jugge stonde upry[g]th,

101 And as a judge stand upright,

102. And thenne thou dost to bothe good ry[g]th;

102 And then thou dost to both good right;

103. And trwly do thys whersever thou gost,

103 And truly do this wheresoever thou gost, (goest)

104. Thy worschep, thy profyt, hyt shcal be most.

104 Thy worship, thy profit, it shall be most.

 Articulus secundus.

  Second article.

105. The secunde artycul of good masonry,

105 The second article of good masonry,

106. As [g]e mowe hyt here hyr specyaly,

106 As you must it here hear specially,

107. That every mayster, that ys a mason,

107 That every master, that is a mason,

108. Most ben at the generale congregacyon,

108 Must be at the general congregation,

109. So that he hyt resonably y-tolde

109 So that he it reasonably be told

110. Where that the semblé schal be holde;

110 Where that the assembly shall be holde; (held)

111. And to that semblé he most nede gon,

111 And to that assembly he must needs gon, (go)

112. But he have a resenabul skwsacyon,

112 Unless he have a reasonable skwasacyon, (excuse)

113. Or but he be unbuxom to that craft,

113 Or unless he be disobedient to that craft

114. Or with falssehed ys over-raft,

114 Or with falsehood is over-raft, (overtaken)

115. Or ellus sekenes hath hym so stronge,

115 Or else sickness hath him so strong,

116. That he may not com hem amonge;

116 That he may not come them among;

117. That ys a skwsacyon, good and abulle,

117 That is an excuse good and able,

118. To that semblé withoute fabulle.

118 To that assembly without fable.

 Articulus tercius.

  Third article.

119. The thrydde artycul for sothe hyt ysse,

119 The third article forsooth it is,

120. That the mayster take to no prentysse,

120 That the master takes to no 'prentice,

121. but he have good seuerans to dwelle

121 Unless he have good assurance to dwell

122. Seven [g]er with hym, as y [g]ow telle,

122 Seven years with him, as I you tell,

123. Hys craft to lurne, that ys profytable;

123 His craft to learn, that is profitable;

124. Withynne lasse he may not be able

124 Within less he may not be able

125. To lordys profyt, ny to his owne,

125 To lords' profit, nor to his own

126. As [g]e mowe knowe by good resowne.

126 As you may know by good reason.

 Articulus quartus.

  Fourth article.

127. The fowrhe artycul thys moste be

127 The fourth article this must be,

128. That the mayster hym wel be-se,

128 That the master him well besee,

129. That he no bondemon prentys make,

129 That he no bondman 'prentice make,

130. Ny for no covetyse do hym take;

130 Nor for no covetousness do him take;

131. For the lord that he ys bonde to,

131 For the lord that he is bound to,

132. May fache the prentes whersever he go.

132 May fetch the 'prentice wheresoever he go.

133. Gef yn the logge he were y-take,

133 If in the lodge he were ty-take, (taken)

134. Muche desese hyt mygth ther make,

134 Much dis-ease it might there make,

135. And suche case hyt mygth befalle,

135 And such case it might befal,

136. That hyt mygth greve summe or alle.

136 That it might grieve some or all.

137. For alle the masonus tht ben there

137 For all the masons that be there

138. Wol stonde togedur hol y-fere

138 Will stand together all y-fere. (together)

139. Gef suche won yn that craft schulde swelle,

139 If such one in that craft should dwell,

140. Of dyvers desesys ge mygth telle:

140 Of divers dis-eases you might tell;

141. For more gese thenne, and of honeste,

141 For more ease then, and of honesty,

142. Take a prentes of herre degre.

142 Take a 'prentice of higher degree.

143. By olde tyme wryten y fynde

143 By old time written I find

144. That the prenes schulde be of gentyl kynde;

144 That the 'prentice should be of gentle kind;

145. And so symtyme grete lordys blod

145 And so sometime, great lords' blood

146. Toke thys gemetry, that ys ful good.

146 Took this geometry that is full good.

 Articulus quintus.

  Fifth article.

147. The fyfthe artycul ys swythe good,

147 The fifth article is very good,

148. So that the prentes be of lawful blod;

148 So that the 'prentice be of lawful blood;

149. The mayster schal not, for no vantage,

149 The master shall not, for no advantage,

150. Make no prentes that ys outrage;

150 Make no 'prentice that is outrage; (deformed)

151. Hyt ys to mene, as [g]e mowe here,

151 It is to mean, as you may hear

152. That he have hys lymes hole alle y-fere;

152 That he have all his limbs whole all y-fere; (together)

153. To the craft hyt were gret schame,

153 To the craft it were great shame,

154. To make an halt mon and a lame,

154 To make a halt man and a lame,

155. For an unperfyt mon of suche blod

155 For an imperfect man of such blood

156. Schulde do the craft but lytul good.

156 Should do the craft but little good.

157. Thus [g]e mowe knowe everychon,

157 Thus you may know every one,

158. The craft wolde have a my[g]hty mon;

158 The craft would have a mighty man;

159. A maymed mon he hath no my[g]ht,

159 A maimed man he hath no might,

160. [G]e mowe hyt knowe long [g]er ny[g]ht.

160 You must it know long ere night.

 Articulus sextus.

  Sixth article.

161. The syxte artycul [g]e mowe not mysse,

161 The sixth article you must not miss

162. That the mayster do the lord no pregedysse,

162 That the master do the lord no prejudice,

163. To take of the lord, for hyse prentyse,

163 To take the lord for his 'prentice,

164. Also muche as hys felows don, yn alle vyse.

164 As much as his fellows do, in all wise.

165. For yn that craft they ben ful perfyt,

165 For in that craft they be full perfect,

166. So ys not he, [g]e mowe sen hyt.

166 So is not he, you must see it.

167. Also hyt were a[g]eynus good reson,

167 Also it were against good reason,

168. To take hys, hure as hys felows don.

168 To take his hire as his fellows don. (do)

169. Thys same artycul, yn thys casse,

169 This same article in this case,

170. Juggythe the prentes to take lasse

170 Judgeth his prentice to take less

171. Thenne hys felows, that ben ful perfyt.

171 Than his fellows, that be full perfect.

172. Yn dyvers maters, conne qwyte hyt,

172 In divers matters, know requite it,

173. The mayster may his prentes so enforme,

173 The master may his 'prentice so inform,

174. That hys hure may crese ful [g]urne,

174 That his hire may increase full soon,

175. And, ger hys terme come to an ende,

175 And ere his term come to an end,

176. Hys hure may ful wel amende.

176 His hire may full well amend.

 Articulus septimus.

  Seventh article.

177. The seventhe artycul that ys now here,

177 The seventh article that is now here,

178. Ful wel wol telle gow, alle y-fere,

178 Full well will tell you all y-fere (together)

179. That no mayster, for favour ny drede,

179 That no master for favour nor dread,

180. Schal no thef nowther clothe ny fede.

180 Shall no thief neither clothe nor feed.

181. Theves he schal herberon never won,

181 Thieves he shall harbour never one,

182. Ny hym that hath y-quellude a mon,

182 Nor him that hath killed a man,

183. Wy thylike that hath a febul name,

183 Nor the same that hath a feeble name,

184. Lest hyt wolde turne the craft to schame.

184 Lest it would turn the craft to shame.

 Articulus octavus.

  Eighth article.

185. The eghte artycul schewt [g]ow so,

185 The eighth article sheweth you so,

186. That the mayster may hyt wel do,

186 That the master may it well do.

187. [G]ef that he have any mon of crafte,

187 If that he have any man of craft,

188. And be not also perfyt as he au[g]te,

188 And he be not so perfect as he ought,

189. He may hym change sone anon,

189 He may him change soon anon,

190. And take for hym a perfytur mon.

190 And take for him a more perfect man.

191. Suche a mon, thro[g]e rechelaschepe,

191 Such a man through rechalaschepe, (recklessness)

192. My[g]th do the craft schert worschepe.

192 Might do the craft scant worship.

 Articulus nonus.

  Ninth article.

193. The nynthe artycul schewet ful welle,

193 The ninth article sheweth full well,

194. That the mayster be both wyse and felle;

194 That the master be both wise and felle; (strong)

195. That no werke he undurtake,

195 That he no work undertake,

196. But he conne bothe hyt ende and make;

196 Unless he can both it end and make;

197. And that hyt be to the lordes profyt also,

197 And that it be to the lords' profit also,

198. And to hys craft, whersever he go;

198 And to his craft, wheresoever he go;

199. And that the grond be wel y-take,

199 And that the ground be well y-take, (taken)

200. That hyt nowther fle ny grake.

200 That it neither flaw nor grake. (crack)

 Articulus decimus.

  Tenth article.

201. The then the artycul ys for to knowe,

201 The tenth article is for to know,

202. Amonge the craft, to hye and lowe,

202 Among the craft, to high and low,

203. There schal no mayster supplante other,

203 There shall no master supplant another,

204. But be togeder as systur and brother,

204 But be together as sister and brother,

205. Yn thys curyus craft, alle and som,

205 In this curious craft, all and some,

206. That longuth to a maystur mason.

206 That belongeth to a master mason.

207. Ny he schal not supplante non other mon,

207 Nor shall he supplant no other man,

208. That hath y-take a werke hym uppon,

208 That hath taken a work him upon,

209. Yn peyne therof that ys so stronge,

209 In pain thereof that is so strong,

210. That peyseth no lasse thenne ten ponge,

210 That weigheth no less than ten pounds.

211. But [g]ef that he be gulty y-fonde,

211 but if that he be guilty found,

212. That toke furst the werke on honde;

212 That took first the work on hand;

213. For no mon yn masonry

213 For no man in masonry

214. Schal no supplante othur securly,

214 Shall not supplant other securely,

215. But [g]ef that hyt be so y-wro[g]th,

215 But if that it be so wrought,

216. That hyt turne the werke to nogth;

216 That in turn the work to nought;

217. Thenne may a mason that werk crave,

217 Then may a mason that work crave,

218. To the lordes profyt hyt for to save;

218 To the lords' profit for it to save

219. Yn suche a case but hyt do falle,

219 In such a case if it do fall,

220. Ther schal no mason medul withalle.

220 There shall no mason meddle withal.

221. Forsothe he that begynnyth the gronde,

221 Forsooth he that beginneth the ground,

222. And he be a mason goode and sonde,

222 If he be a mason good and sound,

223. For hath hyt sycurly yn hys mynde

223 He hath it securely in his mind

224. To brynge the werke to ful good ende.

224 To bring the work to full good end.

 Articulus undecimus.

  Eleventh Article.

225. The eleventhe artycul y telle the,

225 The eleventh article I tell thee,

226. That he ys bothe fayr and fre;

226 That he is both fair and free

227. For he techyt, by hys my[g]th,

227 For he teacheth, by his might,

228. That no mason schulde worche be ny[g]th,

228 That no Mason should work by night

229. But [g]ef hyt be yn practesynge of wytte,

229 But if be in practising of wit,

230. [G]ef that y cowthe amende hytte.

230 If that I could amend it.

 Articulus duodecimus.

  Twelfth article.

231. The twelfthe artycul ys of hye honesté

231 The twelfth article is of high honesty

232. To [g]every mason, whersever he be;

232 To every mason wheresoever he be,

233. He schal not hys felows werk deprave,

233 He shall not his fellows' work deprave,

234. [G]ef that he wol hys honesté save;

234 If that he will his honesty save;

235. With honest wordes he hyt comende,

235 With honest words he it commend,

236. By the wytte that God the dede sende;

236 By the wit God did thee send;

237. Buy hyt amende by al that thou may,

237 But it amend by all that thou may,

238. Bytwynne [g]ow bothe withoute nay.

238 Between you both without nay. (doubt)

 Articulus xiijus.

  Thirteenth article.

239. The threttene artycul, so God me save,

239 The thirteenth article, so God me save,

240. Ys,[g]ef that the mayster a prentes have,

240 Is if that the master a 'prentice have,

241. Enterlyche thenne that he hym teche,

241 Entirely then that he him teach,

242. And meserable poyntes that he hym reche,

242 And measurable points that he him reche, (tell)

243. That he the craft abelyche may conne,

243 That he the craft ably may conne, (know)

244. Whersever he go undur the sonne.

244 Wheresoever he go under the sun.

 Articulus xiiijus.

  Fourteenth article.

245. The fowrtene artycul, by good reson,

245 The fourteenth article by good reason,

246. Scheweth the mayster how he schal don;

246 Sheweth the master how he shall don; (do)

247. He schal no prentes to hym take,

247 He shall no 'prentice to him take,

248. Byt dyvers crys he have to make,

248 Unless diver cares he have to make,

249. That he may, withynne hys terme,

249 That he may within his term,

250. Of hym dyvers poyntes may lurne.

250 Of him divers points may learn.

 Articulus quindecimus.

  Fifteenth article.

251. The fyftene artycul maketh an ende,

251 The fifteenth article maketh an end,

252. For to the mayster he ys a frende;

252 For to the master he is a friend;

253. To lere hym so, that for no mon,

253 To teach him so, that for no man,

254. No fals mantenans he take hym apon,

254 No false maintenance he take him upon,

255. Ny maynteine hys felows yn here synne,

255 Nor maintain his fellows in their sin,

256. For no good that he my[g]th wynne;

256 For no good that he might win;

257. Ny no fals sware sofre hem to make,

257 Nor no false oath suffer him to make,

258. For drede of here sowles sake;

258 For dread of their souls' sake,

259. Lest hyt wolde turne the craft to schame,

259 Lest it would turn the craft to shame,

260. And hymself to mechul blame.

260 And himself to very much blame.

 Plures Constituciones.

  Plural constitutions.

261. At thys semblé were poyntes y-ordeynt mo,

261 At this assembly were points ordained mo, (more)

262. Of grete lordys and maystrys also,

262 Of great lords and masters also.

263. That whose wol conne thys craft and com to astate,

263 That who will know this craft and come to estate,

264. He most love wel God, and holy churche algate,

264 He must love well God and holy church algate, (always)

265. And hys mayster also, that he ys wythe,

265 And his master also that he is with,

266. Whersever he go, yn fylde or frythe;

266 Wheresoever he go in field or frythe, (enclosed wood)

267. And thy felows thou love also,

267 And thy fellows thou love also,

268. For that they craft wol that thou do.

268 For that thy craft will that thou do.

 Secundus punctus.

  Second Point.

269. The secunde poynt, as y [g]ow say,

269 The second point as I you say,

270. That the mason worche apon the werk day,

270 That the mason work upon the work day,

271. Also trwly, as he con or may,

271 As truly as he can or may,

272. To deserve hys huyre for the halyday,

272 To deserve his hire for the holy-day,

273. And trwly to labrun on hys dede,

273 And truly to labour on his deed,

274. Wel deserve to have hys mede.

274 Well deserve to have his mede. (reward)

 Tercius punctus.

  Third point.

275. The thrydde poynt most be severele,

275 The third point must be severele, (severely)

276. With the prentes knowe hyt wele,

276 With the 'prentice know it well,

277. Hys mayster conwsel he kepe and close,

277 His master's counsel he keep and close,

278. And hys felows by hys goode purpose;

278 And his fellows by his good purpose;

279. The prevetyse of the chamber telle he no man,

279 The privities of the chamber tell he no man,

280. Ny yn the logge whatsever they done;

280 Nor in the lodge whatsoever they don; (do)

281. Whatsever thou heryst, or syste hem do,

281 Whatsoever thou hearest or seest them do,

282. Telle hyt no mon, whersever thou go;

282 Tell it no man wheresoever you go;

283. The conwsel of halls, and [g]eke of bowre,

283 The counsel of hall, and even of bower,

284. Kepe hyt wel to gret honowre,

284 Keep it well to great honour,

285. Lest hyt wolde torne thyself to blame,

285 Lest it would turn thyself to blame,

286. And brynge the craft ynto gret schame.

286 And bring the craft into great shame.

 Quartus punctus.

  Fourth point.

287. The fowrthe poynt techyth us alse,

287 The fourth point teacheth us alse, (also)

288. That no mon to hys craft be false;

288 That no man to his craft be false;

289. Errour he schal maynteine none

289 Error he shall maintain none

290. A[g]eynus the craft, but let hyt gone;

290 Against the craft, but let it gone; (go)

291. Ny no pregedysse he schal not do

291 Nor no prejudice he shall not do

292. To hys mayster, ny hys felows also;

292 To his master, nor his fellow also;

293. And that[g]th the prentes be under awe,

293 And though the 'prentice be under awe,

294. [G]et he wolde have the same lawe.

294 Yet he would have the same law.

 Quintus punctus.

  Fifth point.

295. The fyfthe poynte ys, withoute nay,

295 The fifth point is without nay, (doubt)

296. That whenne the mason taketh hys pay

296 That when the mason taketh his pay

297. Of the mayster, y-ordent to hym,

297 Of the master, ordained to him,

298. Ful mekely y-take so most hyt byn;

298 Full meekly taken so must it byn; (be)

299. [G]et most the mayster, by good resone,

299 Yet must the master by good reason,

300. Warne hem lawfully byfore none,

300 Warn him lawfully before noon,

301. [G]ef he nulle okepye hem no more,

301 If he will not occupy him no more,

302. As he hath y-done ther byfore;

302 As he hath done there before;

303. A[g]eynus thys ordyr he may not stryve,

303 Against this order he may not strive,

304. [G]ef he thenke wel for to thryve.

304 If he think well for to thrive.

 Sextus punctus.

  Sixth Point.

305. The syxte poynt ys ful [g]ef to knowe,

305 The sixth point is full given to know,

306. Bothe to hye and eke to lowe,

306 Both to high and even to low

307. For suche case hyt my[g]th befalle,

307 For such case it might befall;

308. Amonge the masonus, summe or alle,

308 Among the masons some or all,

309. Throwghe envye, or dedly hate,

309 Through envy or deadly hate

310. Ofte aryseth ful gret debate.

310 Oft ariseth full great debate.

311. Thenne owyth the mason, [g]ef that he may,

311 Then ought the mason if that he may,

312. Putte hem bothe under a day;

312 Put them both under a day;

313. But loveday [g]et schul they make none;

313 But loveday yet shall they make none,

314. Tyl that the werke day be clene a-gone;

314 Till that the work-day be clean gone

315. Apon the holyday [g]e mowe wel take

315 Upon the holy-day you must well take

316. Leyser y-now[g]gth loveday to make,

316 Leisure enough loveday to make,

317. Lest that hyt wolde the werke day

317 Lest that it would the work-day

318. Latte here werke for suche afray;

318 Hinder their work for such a fray;

319. To suche ende thenne that hem drawe,

319 To such end then that you them draw.

320. That they stonde wel yn Goddes lawe.

320 That they stand well in God's Law

 Septimus punctus.

  Seventh point.

321. The seventhe poynt he may wel mene,

321 The seventh point he may well mean

322. Of wel longe lyf that God us lene,

322 Of well long life that God us lene, (lend)

323. As hyt dyscryeth wel opunly,

323 As it descrieth well openly

324. Thou schal not by thy maysters wyf ly,

324 Thou shalt not by thy master's wife lie,

325. Ny by the felows, yn no maner wyse,

325 Nor by thy fellow's, in no manner wise

326. Lest the craft wolde the despyse;

326 Lest the craft would thee despise;

327. Ny by the felows concubyne,

327 Nor by the fellow's concubine

328. No more thou woldest he dede by thyne.

328 No more thou wouldst he did by thine.

329. The peyne thereof let hyt be ser,

329 The pain thereof, let it be sure

330. That he prentes ful seven [g]er,

330 That he be 'prentice full seven year,

331. [G]ef he forfete yn eny of hem,

331 If he forfeit in any of them

332. So y-chasted thenne most he ben;

332 So chastised then must he ben; (be)

333. Ful mekele care my[g]th ther begynne,

333 Full much care might there begin,

334. For suche a fowle dedely synne.

334 For such a foul deadly sin.

 Octavus punctus.

  Eighth point.

335. The eghte poynt, he may be sure,

335 The eighth point, he may be sure,

336. [G]ef thou hast y-taken any cure,

336 If thou hast taken any cure,

337. Under thy mayster thou be trwe,

337 Under thy master thou be true,

338. For that pynt thou schalt never arewe;

338 For that point thou shalt never rue;

339. A trwe medyater thou most nede be

339 A true mediator thou must needs be

340. To thy mayster, and thy felows fre;

340 To thy master, and thy fellows free;

341. Do trwly al....that thou my[g]th,

341 Do truly all that thou might,

342. To both partyes, and that ys good ry[g]th.

342 To both parties, and that is good right.

 Nonus punctus.

  Ninth point.

343. The nynthe poynt we schul hym calle,

343 The ninth point we shall him call,

344. That he be stwarde of oure halle,

344 That he be steward of our hall,

345. Gef that ge ben yn chambur y-fere,

345 If that you be in chamber y-fere, (together)

346. Uchon serve other, with mylde chere;

346 Each one serve other with mild cheer;

347. Jentul felows, ge moste hyt knowe,

347 Gentle fellows, you must it know,

348. For to be stwardus alle o rowe,

348 For to be stewards all o-rowe, (in turn)

349. Weke after weke withoute dowte,

349 Week after week without doubt,

350. Stwardus to ben so alle abowte,

350 Stewards to be so all in turn about,

351. Lovelyche to serven uchon othur,

351 Amiably to serve each one other,

352. As thawgh they were syster and brother;

352 As though they were sister and brother;

353. Ther schal never won on other costage

353 There shall never one another costage (cost)

354. Fre hymself to no vantage,

354 Free himself to no advantage,

355. But every mon schal be lyche fre

355 But every man shall be equally free

356. Yn that costage, so moste hyt be;

356 In that cost, so must it be;

357. Loke that thou pay wele every mon algate,

357 Look that thou pay well every man algate, (always)

358. That thou hsat y-bow[g]ht any vytayles ate,

358 That thou hast bought any victuals ate, (eaten)

359. That no cravynge be y-mad to the,

359 That no craving be made to thee,

360. Ny to thy felows, yn no degré,

360 Nor to thy fellows in no degree,

361. To mon or to wommon, whether he be,

361 To man or to woman, whoever he be,

362. Pay hem wel and trwly, for that wol we;

362 Pay them well and truly, for that will we;

363. Therof on thy felow trwe record thou take,

363 Thereof on thy fellow true record thou take,

364. For that good pay as thou dost make,

364 For that good pay as thou dost make,

365. Lest hyt wolde thy felowe schame,

365 Lest it would thy fellow shame,

366. Any brynge thyself ynto gret blame.

366 And bring thyself into great blame.

367. [G]et good acowntes he most make

367 Yet good accounts he must make

368. Of suche godes as he hath y-take,

368 Of such goods as he hath y-take (taken)

369. Of thy felows goodes that thou hast spende,

369 Of thy fellows' goods that thou hast spende, (spent)

370. Wher, and how, and to what ende;

370 Where and how and to what end;

371. Suche acowntes thou most come to,

371 Such accounts thou must come to,

372. Whenne thy felows wollen that thou do.

372 When thy fellows wish that thou do.

 Decimus punctus.

  Tenth point.

373. The tenthe poynt presentyeth wel god lyf,

373 The tenth point presenteth well good life,

374. To lyven withoute care and stryf;

374 To live without care and strife;

375. For and the mason lyve amysse,

375 For if the mason live amiss,

376. And yn hys werk be false, y-wysse,

376 And in his work be false y-wisse, (I know)

377. And thorw[g] suche a false skewysasyon

377 And through such a false skewsasyon (excuse)

378. May sclawndren hys felows oute reson,

378 May slander his fellows without reason,

379. Throw[g] false sclawnder of suche fame

379 Through false slander of such fame.

380. May make the craft kachone blame.

380 May make the craft acquire blame.

381. [G]ef he do the craft suche vylany,

381 If he do the craft such villainy,

382. Do hym no favour thenne securly.

382 Do him no favour then securely,

383. Ny maynteine not hym yn wyked lyf,

383 Nor maintain not him in wicked life,

384. Lest hyt wolde turne to care and stryf;

384 Lest it would turn to care and strife;

385. But get hym [g]e schul not delayme,

385 But yet him you shall not delayme, (delay)

386. But that [g]e schullen hym constrayne,

386 Unless that you shall him constrain,

387. For to apere whersevor [g]e wylle,

387 For to appear wheresoever you will,

388. Whar that [g]e wolen, lowde, or stylle;

388 Where that you will, loud, or still;

389. To the nexte semblé [g]e schul hym calle,

389 To the next assembly you shall him call,

390. To apere byfore hys felows alle,

390 To appear before his fellows all,

391. And but [g]ef he wyl byfore hem pere,

391 And unless he will before them appear,

392. The crafte he moste nede forswere;

392 The craft he must need forswear;

393. He schal thenne be chasted after the lawe

393 He shall then be punished after the law

394. That was y-fownded by olde dawe.

394 That was founded by old dawe. (day)

 Punctus undecimus.

< point. Eleventh>

395. The eleventhe poynt ys of good dyscrecyoun,

395 The eleventh point is of good discretion,

396. As [g]e mowe knowe by good resoun;

396 As you must know by good reason;

397. A mason, and he thys craft wel con,

397 A mason, if he this craft well con, (know,

398. That sy[g]th hys felow hewen on a ston,

398 That seeth his fellow hew on a stone,

399. And ys yn poynt to spylle that ston,

399 And is in point to spoil that stone,

400. Amende hyt sone, [g]ef that thou con,

400 Amend it soon if that thou can,

401. And teche hym thenne hyt to amende,

401 And teach him then it to amend,

402. That the l(ordys) werke be not y-schende,

402 That the lords' work be not y-schende, (spoiled)

403. And teche hym esely hyt to amende,

403 And teach him easily it to amend,

404. With fayre wordes, that God the hath lende;

404 With fair words, that God thee hath lende; (lent)

405. For hys sake that sytte above,

405 For his sake that sit above,

406. With swete wordes noresche hym love.

406 With sweet words nourish his love.

 Punctus duodecimus.

  Twelfth point.

407. The twelthe poynt of gret ryolté,

407 The twelfth point is of great royalty,

408. Ther as the semblé y-hole schal be,

408 There as the assembly held shall be,

409. Ther schul be maystrys and felows also,

409 There shall be masters and fellows also,

410. And other grete lordes mony mo;

410 And other great lords many mo; (more)

411. There schal be the scheref of that contré,

411 There shall be the sheriff of that country,

412. And also the meyr of that syté,

412 And also the mayor of that city,

413. Kny[g]tes and sqwyers ther schul be,

413 Knights and squires there shall be,

414. And other aldermen, as [g]e schul se;

414 And also aldermen, as you shall see;

415. Suche ordynance as they maken there,

415 Such ordinance as they make there,

416. They schul maynté hyt hol y-fere

416 They shall maintain it all y-fere (together)

417. A[g]eynus that mon, whatsever he be,

417 Against that man, whatsoever he be,

418. That longuth to the craft bothe fayr and fre.

418 That belongeth to the craft both fair and free.

419. [G]ef he any stryf a[g]eynus hem make,

419 If he any strife against them make,

420. Ynto here warde he schal be take.

420 Into their custody he shall be take. (taken)

 xiijus punctus.

  Thirteenth point.

421. The threnteth poynt ys to us ful luf.

421 The thirteenth point is to us full lief,

422. He schal swere never to be no thef,

422 He shall swear never to be no thief,

423. Ny soker hym yn hys fals craft,

423 Nor succour him in his false craft,

424. For no good that he hath byraft,

424 For no good that he hath byraft; (bereft)

425. And thou mowe hyt knowe or syn,

425 And thou must it know or sin,

426. Nowther for hys good, ny for hys kyn.

426 Neither for his good, nor for his kin.

 xiiijus punctus.

  Fourteenth point.

427. The fowrtethe poynt ys ful good lawe

427 The fourteenth point is full good law

428. To hym that wold ben under awe;

428 To him that would be under awe;

429. A good trwe othe he most ther swere

429 A good true oath he must there swear

430. To hys mayster and hys felows that ben there;

430 To his master and his fellows that be there;

431. He most be stedefast and trwe also

431 He must be steadfast and also true

432. To alle thys ordynance, whersever he go,

432 To all this ordinance, wheresoever he go,

433. And to hys lyge lord the kynge,

433 And to his liege lord the king,

434. To be trwe to hym, over alle thynge.

434 To be true to him over all thing.

435. And alle these poyntes hyr before

435 And all these points here before

436. To hem thou most nede by y-swore,

436 To them thou must need be y-swore, (sworn)

437. And alle schul swere the same ogth

437 And all shall swear the same oath

438. Of the masonus, be they luf, ben they loght,

438 Of the masons, be they lief be they loath.

439. To alle these poyntes hyr byfore,

439 To all these points here before,

440. That hath ben ordeynt by ful good lore.

440 That hath been ordained by full good lore.

441. And they schul enquere every mon

441 And they shall enquire every man

442. On his party, as wyl as he con,

442 Of his party, as well as he can,

443. [G]ef any mon mowe be y-fownde gulty

443 If any man may be found guilty

444. Yn any of these poyntes spesyaly;

444 In any of these points specially;

445. And whad he be, let hym be sow[g]ht,

445 And who he be, let him be sought,

446. And to the sembl&3233; let hym be brow[g]ht.

446 And to the assembly let him be brought.

 Quindecimus punctus.

  Fifteen point.

447. The fiftethe poynt ys of ful good lore,

447 The fifteenth point is of full good lore,

448. For hem that schul ben ther y-swore,

448 For them that shall be there y-swore, (sworn)

449. Suche ordyance at the semblé wes layd

449 Such ordinance at the assembly was laid

450. Of grete lordes and maystres byforesayd;

450 Of great lords and masters before said;

451. For thelke that be unbuxom, y-wysse,

451 For the same that be disobedient, y-wisse, (I know)

452. A[g]eynus the ordynance that ther ysse

452 Against the ordinance that there is,

453. Of these artyculus, that were y-meved there,

453 Of these articles that were moved there,

454. Of grete lordes and masonus al y-fere.

454 Of great lords and masons all y-fere, (together)

455. And [g]ef they ben y-preved opunly

455 And if they be proved openly

456. Byfore that semblé, by an by,

456 Before that assembly, by and by,

457. And for here gultes no mendys wol make,

457 And for their guilt's no amends will make,

458. Thenne most they nede the crafy forsake;

458 Then must they need the craft forsake;

459. And so masonus craft they schul refuse,

459 And no masons craft they shall refuse,

460. And swere hyt never more for to use.

460 And swear it never more to use.

461. But [g]ef that they wol mendys make,

461 But if that they will amends make,

462. A[g]ayn to the craft they schul never take;

462 Again to the craft they shall never take;

463. And [g]ef that they nul not do so,

463 And if that they will not do so,

464. The scheref schal come hem sone to,

464 The sheriff shall come them soon to,

465. And putte here bodyes yn duppe prison,

465 And put their bodies in deep prison,

466. For the trespasse that they hav y-don,

466 For the trespass that they have done,

467. And take here goodes and here cattelle

467 And take their goods and their cattle

468. Ynto the kynges hond, everyt delle,

468 Into the king's hand, every delle, (part)

469. And lete hem dwelle ther full stylle,

469 And let them dwell there full still,

470. Tyl hyt be oure lege kynges wylle.

470 Till it be our liege king's will.

 Alia ordinacio artis gematriae.

  Another ordinance of the art of geometry.

471. They ordent ther a semblé to be y-holde

471 They ordained there an assembly to be y-holde, (hold)

472. Every [g]er, whersever they wolde,

472 Every year, wheresoever they would,

473. To amende the defautes, [g]ef any where fonde

473 To amend the defaults, if any were found

474. Amonge the craft withynne the londe;

474 Among the craft within the land;

475. Uche [g]er or thrydde [g]er hyt schuld be holde,

475 Each year or third year it should be holde, (held)

476. Yn every place whersever they wolde;

476 In every place weresoever they would;

477. Tyme and place most be ordeynt also,

477 Time and place must be ordained also,

478. Yn what place they schul semble to.

478 In what place they should assemble to,

479. Alle the men of craft tehr they most ben,

479 All the men of craft there they must be,

480. And other grete lordes, as [g]e mowe sen,

480 And other great lords, as you must see,

481. To mende the fautes that buth ther y-spoke,

481 To mend the faults that he there spoken,

482. [G]ef that eny of hem ben thenne y-broke.

482 If that any of them be then broken.

483. Ther they schullen ben alle y-swore,

483 There they shall be all y-swore, (sworn)

484. That longuth to thys craftes lore,

484 That belongeth to this craft's lore,

485. To kepe these statutes everychon,

485 To keep their statutes every one

486. That ben y-ordeynt by kynge Aldelston;

486 That were ordained by King Athelstane;

487. These statutes that y have hyr y-fonde

487 These statutes that I have here found

488. Y chulle they ben holde thro[g]h my londe,

488 I ordain they be held through my land,

489. For the worsche of my ry[g]olté,

489 For the worship of my royalty,

490. That y have by my dygnyté.

490 That I have by my dignity.

491. Also at every semblé that [g]e holde,

491 Also at every assembly that you hold,

492. That ge come to [g]owre lyge kyng bolde,

492 That you come to your liege king bold,

493. Bysechynge hym of hys hye grace,

493 Beseeching him of his high grace,

494. To stonde with [g]ow yn every place,

494 To stand with you in every place,

495. To conferme the statutes of kynge Adelston,

495 To confirm the statutes of King Athelstane,

496. That he ordeydnt to thys craft by good reson,

496 That he ordained to this craft by good reason.

 Ars quatuor coronatorum.

  The art of the four crowned ones.

497. Pray we now to God almy[g]ht,

497 Pray we now to God almight, (almighty)

498. And to hys moder Mary bry[g]ht,

498 And to his mother Mary bright,

499. That we mowe keepe these artyculus here,

499 That we may keep these articles here,

500. And these poynts wel al y-fere,

500 And these points well all y-fere, (together)

501. As dede these holy martyres fowre,

501 As did these holy martyrs four,

502. That yn thys craft were of gret honoure;

502 That in this craft were of great honour;

503. They were as gode masonus as on erthe schul go,

503 They were as good masons as on earth shall go,

504. Gravers and ymage-makers they were also.

504 Gravers and image-makers they were also.

505. For they were werkemen of the beste,

505 For they were workmen of the best,

506. The emperour hade to hem gret luste;

506 The emperor had to them great luste; (liking)

507. He wylned of hem a ymage to make,

507 He willed of them an image to make

508. That mow[g]h be worscheped for his sake;

508 That might be worshipped for his sake;

509. Suche mawmetys he hade yn hys dawe,

509 Such monuments he had in his dawe, (day)

510. To turne the pepul from Crystus lawe.

510 To turn the people from Christ's law.

511. But they were stedefast yn Crystes lay,

511 But they were steadfast in Christ's lay, (law)

512. And to here craft, withouten nay;

512 And to their craft without nay; (doubt)

513. They loved wel God and alle hys lore,

513 They loved well God and all his lore,

514. And weren yn hys serves ever more.

514 And were in his service ever more.

515. Trwe men they were yn that dawe,

515 True men they were in that dawe, (day)

516. And lyved wel y Goddus lawe;

516 And lived well in God's law;

517. They tho[g]ght no mawmetys for to make,

517 They thought no monuments for to make,

518. For no good that they my[g]th take,

518 For no good that they might take,

519. To levyn on that mawmetys for here God,

519 To believe on that monument for their God,

520. They nolde do so thaw[g] he were wod;

520 They would not do so, though he were wod; (furious)

521. For they nolde not forsake here trw fay,

521 For they would not forsake their true fay, (faith)

522. An beyleve on hys falsse lay.

522 And believe on his false lay, (law)

523. The emperour let take hem sone anone,

523 The emperor let take them soon anon,

524. And putte hem ynto a dep presone;

524 And put them in a deep prison;

525. The sarre he penest hem yn that plase,

525 The more sorely he punished them in that place,

526. The more yoye wes to hem of Cristus grace.

526 The more joy was to them of Christ's grace,

527. Thenne when he sye no nother won,

527 Then when he saw no other one,

528. To dethe he lette hem thenne gon;

528 To death he let them then gon; (go)

529. Whose wol of here lyf [g]et mor knowe,

529 Whose will of their life yet more know

530. By the bok he may kyt schowe,

530 By the book he might it show

531. In the legent of scanctorum,

531 In the legend of sanctorum (holy ones)

532. The name of quatour coronatorum.

532 The names of the quatuor coronatorum.

533. Here fest wol be, withoute nay,

533 Their feast will be without nay, (doubt)

534. After Alle Halwen the eyght day.

534 After Hallow-e'en the eighth day.

535. [G]e mow here as y do rede,

535 You may hear as I do read,

536. That mony [g]eres after, for gret drede

536 That many years after, for great dread

537. That Noees flod wes alle y-ronne,

537 That Noah's flood was all run,

538. The tower of Babyloyne was begonne,

538 The tower of Babylon was begun,

539. Also playne werke of lyme and ston,

539 As plain work of lime and stone,

540. As any mon schulde loke uppon;

540 As any man should look upon;

541. So long and brod hyt was begonne,

541 So long and broad it was begun,

542. Seven myle the he[g]ghte schadweth the sonne.

542 Seven miles the height shadoweth the sun.

543. King Nabogodonosor let hyt make,

543 King Nebuchadnezzar let it make

544. To gret strenthe for monus sake,

544 To great strength for man's sake,

545. Tha[g]gh suche a flod a[g]ayne schulde come,

545 Though such a flood again should come,

546. Over the werke hyt schulde not nome;

546 Over the work it should not nome; (take)

547. For they hadde so hy pride, with stronge bost,

547 For they had so high pride, with strong boast

548. Alle that werke therfore was y-lost;

548 All that work therefore was lost;

549. An angele smot hem so with dyveres speche,

549 An angel smote them so with divers speech,

550. That never won wyste what other schuld reche.

550 That never one knew what the other should reche. (tell)

551. Mony eres after, the goode clerk Euclyde

551 Many years after, the good clerk Euclid

552. Ta[g]ghte the craft of gemetré wonder wyde,

552 Taught the craft of geometry full wonder wide,

553. So he ded that tyme other also,

553 So he did that other time also,

554. Of dyvers craftes mony mo.

554 Of divers crafts many mo. (more)

555. Thro[g]gh hye grace of Crist yn heven,

555 Through high grace of Christ in heaven,

556. He commensed yn the syens seven;

556 He commenced in the sciences seven;

557. Gramatica ys the furste syens y-wysse,

557 Grammar is the first science I know,

558. Dialetica the secunde, so have y blysse,

558 Dialect the second, so I have I bliss,

559. Rethorica the thrydde, withoute nay,

559 Rhetoric the third without nay, (doubt)

560. Musica ys the fowrth, as y [g]ow say,

560 Music is the fourth, as I you say,

561. Astromia ys the v, by my snowte,

561 Astronomy is the fifth, by my snout,

562. Arsmetica the vi, withoute dowte

562 Arithmetic the sixth, without doubt,

563. Gemetria the seventhe maketh an ende,

563 Geometry the seventh maketh an end,

564. For he ys bothe make and hende,

564 For he is both meek and hende, (courteous)

565. Gramer forsothe ys the rote,

565 Grammar forsooth is the root,

566. Whose wyl lurne on the boke;

566 Whoever will learn on the book;

567. But art passeth yn hys degré,

567 But art passeth in his degree,

568. As the fryte doth the rote of the tre;

568 As the fruit doth the root of the tree;

569. Rethoryk metryth with orne speche amonge,

569 Rhetoric measureth with ornate speech among,

570. And musyke hyt ys a swete song;

570 And music it is a sweet song;

571. Astronomy nombreth, my dere brother,

571 Astronomy numbereth, my dear brother,

572. Arsmetyk scheweth won thyng that ys another,

572 Arithmetic sheweth one thing that is another,

573. Gemetré the seventh syens hyt ysse,

573 Geometry the seventh science it is,

574. That con deperte falshed from trewthe y-wys.

574 That can separate falsehood from truth, y-wis. (I know)

575. These bene the syens seven,

575 These be the sciences seven,

576. Whose useth hem wel, he may han heven.

576 Who useth them well he may have heaven.

577. Now dere chyldren, by [g]owre wytte,

577 Now dear children by your wit

578. Pride and covetyse that [g]e leven, hytte,

578 Pride and covetousness that you leave it,

579. And taketh hede to goode dyscrecyon,

579 And taketh heed to good discretion,

580. And to good norter, whersever [g]e com.

580 And to good nurture, wheresoever you come.

581. Now y pray [g]ow take good hede,

581 Now I pray you take good heed,

582. For thys [g]e most kenne nede,

582 For this you must know nede, (needs)

583. But much more [g]e moste wyten,

583 But much more you must wyten, (know)

584. Thenne [g]e fynden hyr y-wryten.

584 Than you find here written.

585. [G]ef the fayle therto wytte,

585 If thee fail thereto wit,

586. Pray to God to send the hytte;

586 Pray to God to send thee it:

587. For Crist hymself, he techet ous

587 For Christ himself, he teacheth ous (us)

588. That holy churche ys Goddes hous,

588 That holy church is God's house,

589. That ys y-mad for nothynge ellus

589 That is made for nothing ellus (else)

590. but for to pray yn, as the bok tellus;

590 But for to pray in, as the book tellus; (tells us)

591. Ther the pepul schal gedur ynne,

591 There the people shall gather in,

592. To pray and wepe for here synne.

592 To pray and weep for their sin.

593. Loke thou come not to churche late,

593 Look thou come not to church late,

594. For to speke harlotry by the gate;

594 For to speak harlotry by the gate;

595. Thenne to churche when thou dost fare,

595 Then to church when thou dost fare,

596. Have yn thy mynde ever mare

596 Have in thy mind ever mare (more)

597. To worschepe thy lord God bothe day and ny[g]th,

597 To worship thy lord God both day and night,

598. With all thy wyttes, and eke thy my[g]th.

598 With all thy wits and even thy might.

599. To the churche dore when tou dost come,

599 To the church door when thou dost come

600. Of that holy water ther sum thow nome,

600 Of that holy water there some thou nome, (take)

601. For every drope thou felust ther

601 For every drop thou feelest there

602. Qwenchet a venyal synne, be thou ser.

602 Quencheth a venial sin, be thou ser. (sure)

603. But furst thou most do down thy hode,

603 But first thou must do down thy hood,

604. For hyse love that dyed on the rode.

604 For his love that died on the rood.

605. Into the churche when thou dost gon,

605 Into the church when thou dost gon, (go)

606. Pulle uppe thy herte to Crist, anon;

606 Pull up thy heart to Christ, anon;

607. Uppon the rode thou loke uppe then,

607 Upon the rood thou look up then,

608. And knele down fayre on bothe thy knen;

608 And kneel down fair upon thy knen, (knees)

609. Then pray to hym so hyr to worche,

609 Then pray to him so here to worche (work)

610. After the lawe of holy churche,

610 After the law of holy church,

611. For to kepe the comandementes ten,

611 For to keep the commandments ten,

612. That God [g]af to alle men;

612 That God gave to all men;

613. And pray to hym with mylde steven

613 And pray to him with mild steven (voice)

614. To kepe the from the synnes seven,

614 To keep thee from the sins seven,

615. That thou hyr mowe, yn thy lyve,

615 That thou here may, in this life,

616. Kepe the wel from care and stryve,

616 Keep thee well from care and strife;

617. Forthermore he grante the grace,

617 Furthermore he grant thee grace,

618. In heven blysse to hav a place.

618 In heaven's bliss to have a place.

619. In holy churche lef nyse wordes

619 In holy church leave trifling words

620. Of lewed speche, and fowle bordes,

620 Of lewd speech and foul bordes, (jests)

621. And putte away alle vanyté,

621 And put away all vanity,

622. And say thy pater noster and thyn ave;

622 And say thy pater noster and thine ave;

623. Loke also thou make no bere,

623 Look also that thou make no bere, (noise)

624. But ay to be yn thy prayere;

624 But always to be in thy prayer;

625. [G]ef thou wolt not thyselve pray,

625 If thou wilt not thyself pray,

626. Latte non other mon by no way.

626 Hinder no other man by no way.

627. In that place nowther sytte ny stonde,

627 In that place neither sit nor stand,

628. But knele fayre down on the gronde,

628 But kneel fair down on the ground,

629. And, when the Gospel me rede schal,

629 And when the Gospel me read shall,

630. Fayre thou stonde up fro the wal,

630 Fairly thou stand up from the wall,

631. And blesse the fayre, [g]ef that thou conne,

631 And bless the fare if that thou can,

632. When gloria tibi is begonne;

632 When gloria tibi is begun;

633. And when the gospel ys y-done,

633 And when the gospel is done,

634. A[g]ayn thou my[g]th knele adown;

634 Again thou might kneel down,

635. On bothe thy knen down thou falle,

635 On both knees down thou fall,

636. For hyse love that bow[g]ht us alle;

636 For his love that bought us all;

637. And when thou herest the belle rynge

637 And when thou hearest the bell ring

638. To that holy sakerynge,

638 To that holy sakerynge, (sacrament)

639. Knele [g]e most, bothe [g]yn[g]e and olde,

639 Kneel you must both young and old,

640. And bothe [g]or hondes fayr upholde,

640 And both your hands fair uphold,

641. And say thenne yn thys manere,

641 And say then in this manner,

642. Fayr and softe, withoute bere;

642 Fair and soft without noise;

643. "Jhesu Lord, welcom thou be,

643 "Jesu Lord welcome thou be,

644. Yn forme of bred, as y the se.

644 In form of bread as I thee see,

645. Now Jhesu, for thyn holy name,

645 Now Jesu for thine holy name,

646. Schulde me from synne and schame,

646 Shield me from sin and shame;

647. Schryff and hosel thou grant me bo,

647 Shrift and Eucharist thou grant me bo, (both)

648. [G]er that y schal hennus go,

648 Ere that I shall hence go,

649. And vey contrycyon of my synne,

649 And very contrition for my sin,

650. Tath y never, Lord, dye therynne;

650 That I never, Lord, die therein;

651. And, as thou were of a mayde y-bore,

651 And as thou were of maid y-bore (born)

652. Sofre me never to be y-lore;

652 Suffer me never to be y-lore; (lost)

653. But when y schal hennus wende,

653 But when I shall hence wend,

654. Grante me the blysse withoute ende;

654 Grant me the bliss without end;

655. Amen! amen! so mot hyt be!

655 Amen! Amen! so mote it be!

656. Now, swete lady, pray for me."

656 Now sweet lady pray for me."

657. Thus thou my[g]ht say, or sum other thynge,

657 Thus thou might say, or some other thing,

658. When thou knelust at the sakerynge.

658 When thou kneelest at the sakerynge. (sacrament)

659. For covetyse after good, spare thou nought

659 For covetousness after good, spare thou not

660. To worschepe hym that alle hath wrought;

660 To worship him that all hath wrought;

661. For glad may a mon that day ben,

661 For glad may a man that day be,

662. That onus yn the day may hym sen;

662 That once in the day may him see;

663. Hyt ys so muche worthe, withoute nay,

663 It is so much worth, without nay, (doubt)

664. The vertu therof no mon telle may;

664 The virtue thereof no man tell may;

665. But so meche good doth that syht,

665 But so much good doth that sight,

666. As seynt Austyn telluth ful ryht,

666 That Saint Austin telleth full right,

667. That day thou syst Goddus body,

667 That day thou seest God's body,

668. Thou schalt have these, ful securly:-

668 Thou shalt have these full securely:-

669. Mete and drynke at thy nede,

669 Meet and drink at thy need,

670. Non that day schal the gnede;

670 None that day shalt thou gnede; (lack)

671. Ydul othes, an wordes bo,

671 Idle oaths and words bo, (both)

672. God for[g]eveth the also;

672 God forgiveth thee also;

673. Soden deth, that ylke day,

673 Sudden death that same day

674. The dar not drede by no way;

674 Thee dare not dread by no way;

675. Also that day, y the plyht,

675 Also that day, I thee plight,

676. Thou schalt not lese thy eye syht;

676 Thou shalt not lose thy eye sight;

677. And uche fote that thou gost then,

677 And each foot that thou goest then,

678. That holy syht for to sen,

678 That holy sight for to sen, (see)

679. They schul be told to stonde yn stede,

679 They shall be told to stand instead,

680. When thou hast therto gret nede;

680 When thou hast thereto great need;

681. That messongere, the angele Gabryelle,

681 That messenger the angel Gabriel,

682. Wol kepe hem to the ful welle.

682 Will keep them to thee full well.

683. From thys mater now y may passe,

683 From this matter now I may pass,

684. To telle mo medys of the masse:

684 To tell more benefits of the mass:

685. To churche come [g]et, [g]ef thou may,

685 To church come yet, if thou may,

686. And here thy masse uche day;

686 And hear the mass each day;

687. [G]ef thou mowe not come to churche,

687 If thou may not come to church,

688. Wher that ever thou doste worche,

688 Where that ever thou dost worche, (work)

689. When thou herest to masse knylle,

689 When thou hearest the mass knylle, (toll)

690. Pray to God with herte stylle,

690 Pray to God with heart still,

691. To [g]eve the part of that servyse,

691 To give they part of that service,

692. That yn churche ther don yse.

692 That in church there done is.

693. Forthermore [g]et, y wol [g]ow preche

693 Furthermore yet, I will you preach

694. To [g]owre felows, hyt for to teche,

694 To your fellows, it for to teach,

695. When thou comest byfore a lorde,

695 When thou comest before a lord,

696. Yn halle, yn bowre, or at the borde,

696 In hall, in bower, or at the board,

697. Hod or cappe that thou of do,

697 Hood or cap that thou off do,

698. [G]er thou come hym allynge to;

698 Ere thou come him entirely to;

699. Twyes or thryes, without dowte,

699 Twice or thrice, without doubt,

700. To that lord thou moste lowte;

700 To that lord thou must lowte; (bow)

701. With thy ry[g]th kne let hyt be do,

701 With thy right knee let it be do, (done)

702. Thyn owne worschepe tou save so.

702 Thine own worship thou save so.

703. Holde of thy cappe, and hod also,

703 Hold off thy cap and hood also,

704. Tyl thou have leve hyt on to do.

704 Till thou have leave it on to do. (put)

705. Al the whyle thou spekest with hym,

705 All the time thou speakest with him,

706. Fayre and lovelyche bere up thy chyn;

706 Fair and amiably hold up thy chin;

707. So, after the norter of the boke,

707 So after the nurture of the book,

708. Yn hys face lovely thou loke.

708 In his face kindly thou look.

709. Fot and hond, thou kepe ful stylle

709 Foot and hand thou keep full still,

710. From clawynge and trypynge, ys sckylle;

710 For clawing and tripping, is skill;

711. From spyttynge and snyftynge kepe the also,

711 From spitting and sniffling keep thee also,

712. By privy avoydans let hyt go.

712 By private expulsion let it go,

713. And [g]ef that thou be wyse and felle,

713 And if that thou be wise and felle, (discrete)

714. Thou hast gret nede to governe the welle.

714 Thou has great need to govern thee well.

715. Ynto the halle when thou dost wende,

715 Into the hall when thou dost wend,

716. Amonges the genteles, good and hende,

716 Amongst the gentles, good and hende, (courteous)

717. Presume not to hye for nothynge,

717 Presume not too high for nothing,

718. For thyn hye blod, ny thy connynge,

718 For thine high blood, nor thy cunning,

719. Nowther to sytte, ny to lene,

719 Neither to sit nor to lean,

720. That ys norther good and clene.

720 That is nurture good and clean.

721. Let not thy cowntenans therfore abate,

721 Let not thy countenance therefore abate,

722. Forsothe, good norter wol save thy state.

722 Forsooth good nurture will save thy state.

723. Fader and moder, whatsever they be,

723 Father and mother, whatsoever they be,

724. Wel ys the chyld that wel may the,

724 Well is the child that well may thee,

725. Yn halle, yn chamber, wher thou dost gon;

725 In hall, in chamber, where thou dost gon; (go)

726. Gode maneres maken a mon.

726 Good manners make a man.

727. To the nexte degré loke wysly,

727 To the next degree look wisely,

728. To do hem reverans by and by;

728 To do them reverence by and by;

729. Do hem [g]et no reverans al o-rowe,

729 Do them yet no reverence all o-rowe, (in turn)

730. But [g]ef that thou do hem know.

730 Unless that thou do them know.

731. To the mete when thou art y-sette,

731 To the meat when thou art set,

732. Fayre and onestelyche thou ete hytte;

732 Fair and honestly thou eat it;

733. Fyrst loke that thyn honden be clene,

733 First look that thine hands be clean,

734. And that thy knyf be scharpe and kene;

734 And that thy knife be sharp and keen,

735. And kette thy bred al at thy mete,

735 And cut thy bread all at thy meat,

736. Ry[g]th as hyt may be ther y-ete.

736 Right as it may be there y-ete. (eaten)

737. [G]ef thou sytte by a worththyur mon.

737 If thou sit by a worthier man,

738. Then thy selven thou art won,

738 Then thy self thou art one,

739. Sofre hym fyrst to toyche the mete,

739 Suffer him first to touch the meat,

740. [G]er thyself to hyt reche.

740 Ere thyself to it reach.

741. To the fayrest mossel thou my[g]ht not strike,

741 To the fairest morsel thou might not strike,

742. Thaght that thou do hyt wel lyke;

742 Though that thou do it well like;

743. Kepe thyn hondes, fayr and wel,

743 Keep thine hands fair and well,

744. From fowle smogynge of thy towel;

744 From foul smudging of thy towel;

745. Theron thou schalt not thy nese snyte,

745 Thereon thou shalt not thy nose smite. (blow)

746. Ny at the mete thy tothe thou pyke;

746 Nor at the meat thy tooth thou pike; (pick)

747. To depe yn the coppe thou my[g]ght not synke,

747 Too deep in cup thou might not sink,

748. Thagh thou have good wyl to drynke,

748 Though thou have good will to drink,

749. Lest thyn enyn wolde wattryn therby_

749 Lest thine eyes would water thereby-

750. Then were hyt no curtesy

750 Then were it no courtesy.

751. Loke yn thy mowth ther be no mete,

751 Look in thy mouth there be no meat,

752. When thou begynnyst to drynke or speke.

752 When thou beginnest to drink or speak.

753. When thou syst any mon drynkynge,

753 When thou seest any man drinking,

754. That taketh hed to thy carpynge,

754 That taketh heed to thy carpynge, (speech)

755. Sone anonn thou sese thy tale,

755 Soon anon thou cease thy tale,

756. Whether he drynke wyn other ale.

756 Whether he drink wine or ale,

757. Loke also thou scorne no mon,

757 Look also thou scorn no man,

758. Yn what degré thou syst hym gon;

758 In what degree thou seest him gone;

759. Ny thou schalt no mon deprave,

759 Nor thou shalt no man deprave,

760. [G]ef thou wolt thy worschepe save;

760 If thou wilt thy worship save;

761. For suche worde my[g]ht ther outberste,

761 For such word might there outburst.

762. That myg[h]t make the sytte yn evel reste,

762 That might make thee sit in evil rest.

763. Close thy honde yn thy fyste,

763 Close thy hand in thy fist,

764. And kepe the wel from "had-y-wyste."

764 And keep thee well from "had-y-wiste." ("had I known")

765. Yn chamber amonge the ladyes bryght,

765 In chamber, among the ladies bright,

766. Holde thy tonge and spende thy syght;

766 Hold thy tongue and spend thy sight;

767. Law[g]e thou not with no gret cry,

767 Laugh thou not with no great cry,

768. Ny make no ragynge with rybody.

768 Nor make no lewd sport and ribaldry.

769. Play thou not buyt with thy peres,

769 Play thou not but with thy peers,

770. Ny tel thou not al that thou heres;

770 Nor tell thou not all that thou hears;

771. Dyskever thou not thyn owne dede,

771 Discover thou not thine own deed,

772. For no merthe, ny for no mede;

772 For no mirth, nor for no mede: (reward)

773. With fayr speche thou myght have thy wylle,

773 With fair speech thou might have thy will,

774. With hyt thou myght thy selven spylle.

774 With it thou might thy self spylle. (spoil)

775. When thou metyst a worthy mon,

775 When thou meetest a worthy man,

776. Cappe and hod thou holle not on;

776 Cap and hood thou hold not on;

777. Yn churche, yn chepyns, or yn the gate,

777 In church, in market, or in the gate,

778. Do hym revera(n)s after hys state.

778 Do him reverence after his state.

779. [G]ef thou gost with a worthyor mon

779 If thou goest with a worthier man

780. Then thyselven thou art won,

780 Then thyself thou art one,

781. Let thy forther schulder sewe hys backe,

781 Let thy foremost shoulder follow his back,

782. For that ys norter withoute lacke;

782 For that is nurture without lack;

783. When he doth speke, holte the stylle,

783 When he doth speak, hold thee still,

784. When he hath don, sey for thy wylle;

784 When he hath done, say for thy will,

785. Yn thy speche that thou be felle,

785 In thy speech that thou be felle, (discreet)

786. And what thou sayst avyse the welle;

786 And what thou sayest consider thee well;

787. But byref thou not hym hys tale,

787 But deprive thou not him his tale,

788. Nowther at the wyn, ny at the ale.

788 Neither at the wine nor at the ale.

789. Cryst then of hys hye grace,

789 Christ then of his high grace,

790. [G]eve [g]ow bothe wytte and space,

790 Save you both wit and space,

791. Wel thys boke to conne and rede,

791 Well this book to know and read,

792. Heven to have for [g]owre mede.

792 Heaven to have for your mede. (reward)

793. Amen! amen! so mot hyt be!

793 Amen! Amen! so mote it be!

794. Say we so all per charyté.

794 So say we all for charity.