A bedward Prayer. God of mercy, 0 TA praier to be saide when thou Mercifull god! take us into Thy Into thy tuicoin, heare this our requeste, this nighte quiet reste. 990 oh lorde, do vs take! our myndes yet maie wake. this daye we haue wroughte in worde, dede, and thoughte! 998 hense forth to flie sinne, we maie nowe beginne! this night from all euell, of our enemie, the diuell, sekyng his praie, whom we maie betraie. 1008 Assiste vs, oh lorde, to conquer him with thy holy sprite, 1012 Assist us the dutie of eche degred. (so) 1018 and ascribe all honour to Thee. [sign. D. ii. b.] Each one's Duty. Whate-ever thow sey, abyse thee welle! [MS. O. 9. 38. Trinity College, Cambridge.] Almy3ty godde, conserue vs fram care! A man that schold speke, had nede to be ware, 4 ffor lytyl thyng he may be schente; Tonggys beth y-turne to lyther entente; 8 Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle! A-vyse the, man, yn whate place and whare Sum man may ley ther-to hys ere; 12 Thow wenyst he be thy frend; he ys thy foo certeyne; Peraventor aftyr A 3ere or tweyne Thow trowyst as tru as eny stele, Thys woord yn wreth thow schalt hyre A-gayne! 16 Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle! Meny man spekyth yn hastenys: hyt hyndryth hym and eke hys frende; hym were welle beter his tonge to sese 20 Than they both ther-for be schende. Suche wordys beth not to be had yn meynde, hyt maky3t comforte with care to kele: Man, yn the begynnyng thenk on pe eynde ! 24 Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle! |