Manuscripts and Special Collections
WLC/LM/9, ff. 254r-v: John Gaytridge, ‘The Lay Folks’ Catechism’ (composed mid-14th century, English)
Transcript
Þe
sixte techinge and þe laste of þoo þat I first touched
Beþ seuen heued synnes men kalleþ dedly synnes
Þat ilch oweþ to knowen to fleu and to forsaken
For man may not fleu hem but ȝef he knowe hem
Þryde and enuye wrathe and glotonye slouthe and lecherye
Beþ seuen heued synnes men kalleþ dedly synnes
Þat ilch oweþ to knowen to fleu and to forsaken
For man may not fleu hem but ȝef he knowe hem
Þryde and enuye wrathe and glotonye slouthe and lecherye
Translation
The sixth teaching, and the last of those that I first mentioned, are the seven cardinal sins that men call Deadly Sins. Every man ought to know about these to avoid them and abstain from them, because if he does not know about them, he cannot avoid them.
Pride, envy, wrath, gluttony, sloth and lechery1
1. Avarice or covetousness is missing from this list
