Good men and women, it is ordained by the council of all holy church, first of our holy father the pope of Rome, and his Cardinals, and by all his council: and sithen of all Archbishops and Bishops, and by all the Clergy of holy church, that every man of holy church, that hath cure of mans soul, that is to say, persons, vicars, and parish priests, should show among his parishioners four times of the year, the articles that been written in the general sentence, that is to say, the points that longen to the great curse. The one day is the first sunday of Advent. ⟨p. 244⟩The second day is the first Sunday in clean lenten. The third day is the sunday next after Whitsuntide. And the fourth day is the next sunday after the Assumption of our Lady. And the points must openly be taught and showed to the people, or lewd men, that they may know the great mischief and disease thereof, that no man or woman should be perished for default of learning, nor have matter to excuse hem by.1 Wherefore ye shoullen understand at the beginning, that this word Curse, is thus much to say, as departing fro god and all good works.2 Of two manner of cursing holy church telleth. The one is cleped the less curse.3 The other is cleped the more curse. That we clepen the less curse, is of this strength, that every man and woman that falleth therein: it departeth him fro all the Sacraments that been in holy Church,4 that they may none of hem receive, till they be assoiled, for right as a sword departeth the head or the life from the body: right so as to say ghostly, Curse departeth mans soul fro god,5 & fro all good works. The more curse is much worse, & ⟨image 273⟩is of this strength, for to depart a man fro God, and fro all holy church, and also fro the company of all Christen folk, never to be saved by the passion of Christ nor to be holpen by the Sacraments that been done in holy Church, nor to have part with any Christen man.• Clerks say, that a child before that he is christened: it hath a wicked spirit dwelling within him in his soul: the which wicked spirit is halsed or conjured, or caste out of him through the prayer of the priest before the church door, when it shall be christened.
GOod men and women, it is ordayned by the councell of al holy church, fyrst of oure holy father the pope of Rome, and his Cardinalls, and by all hys councel: and sithen of al Archbyshops and Byshops, and by all the Clergye of holye church, yt euery man of holy churche, yt hath cure of mans soule, that is to say, persons, vicares, and paryshe priests, should shewe among hys parishoners foure tymes of the yeare, the articles that bene written in the generall sentence, that is to saye, the poyntes that longen to the greate curse. The one daye is the fyrst sondaye of Aduente. ⟨p. 244⟩The second day is the fyrst Sonday in cleane lenton. The thirde daye is the sondaye next after Whitsontide. And the fourth day is the next sonday after the Assumption of our Ladye. And the poyntes muste openly bee taught and shewed to the people, or leude men, yt they maye knowe the greate mischiefe and disease thereof, yt no man or womā should be perished for defaulte of learning, ne haue matter to excuse hem by.1 Wherefore ye shoullen vnderstande at the beginning, yt thys worde Curse, is thus much to say, as departing fro god and al good workes.2 Of two manner of cursing holy church telleth. The one is cleped the lesse curse.3 The other is cleped the more curse. That we clepen the lesse curse, is of this strength, yt euery man and woman yt falleth therin: it departeth hym froe al the Sacraments yt beene in holy Churche,4 yt they maye none of hem receaue, tyll they bee assoyled, for ryghte as a swearde departeth ye head or ye lyfe from ye body: right so as to saye ghostlich, Curse departeth mans soule fro god,5 & fro al good workes. The more curse is much worse, & ⟨image 273⟩is of this strength, for to departe a man fro God, and fro all holy church, and also fro ye company of all Christen folke, neuer to be saued by ye passion of Christ ne to bee holpen by the Sacramentes that bene done in holy Churche, ne to haue parte with any Christen man.• Clerkes sayen, that a childe before that he is christened: it hath a wicked spirite dwelling within hym in hys soule: the whiche wicked spirite is halsed or coniured, or caste out of hym thorowe the prayer of the prieste before the churche dore, when it shall be christened.
- 1What this word curs• signifieth.What this word curs• signifyeth.
- 2Two manner of curses.
- 3The lesser curse.
- 4☜
- 5The more curse.
