++“Now good soñ, thy self w{i}t{h} other þ{a}t shall{e} þe succede, which{e} þus boke of nurtur{e} shall{e} note / lerne, & ou{er} rede, pray for the sowle of Iohñ Russell{e}, þat god do hym mede, Som tyme s{er}uaunde w{i}t{h} duke vmfrey, duc[A] of Glowcet{ur} in dede. [Text note: The _duc_ has a red stroke through it, probably to cut it out.] [Sidenote: also for the Duke, my wife, father, and mother, that we may all go to bliss when we die.”] For þat prynce pereles prayeth{e} / & for suche other mo, þe sowle of my wife / my fadur and modir also, 1232 vn-to Mary modyr and mayd / she fende us from owr{e} foe, and bryng{e} vs all{e} to blis wheñ we shall{e} hens goo. +AMEN+.” [Sidenote: Little book, commend me to all learners, and to the experienced, whom I pray to correct its faults.] Go forth{e} lytell{e} boke, and lowly þow me co{m}mende vnto all{e} yong{e} gentilmeñ / þ{a}t lust to lerne or entende, 1236 and specially to þem þat han exsperience, p{ra}yng{e} þe[m] to amend{e} and correcte þat is amysse, þer{e} as y fawte or offende. [Sidenote: Any such, put to my copying, which I have done as I best could.] ¶ And if so þat any be founde / as þrouȝ myñ necligence, Cast þe cawse oñ my copy / rude / & bar{e} of eloquence, 1240 which{e} to drawe out [I] haue do my besy diligence, redily to reforme hit / by resoñ and bettur sentence. [Sidenote: The transcriber is not to blame; he copied what was before him, and neither of us wrote it,] ¶ As for ryme or resoñ, þe for{e}wryter was not to blame, For as he founde hit aforne hym̅, so wrote he þe same, 1244 and þaugh{e} he or y in our{e} mater{e} digres or degrade, blame neithur of vs / For we neuyr{e} hit made; [Sidenote: I only corrected the rhyme. God! grant us grace to rule in Heaven with Thine elect!] ¶ Symple as y had insight / somwhat þe ryme y correcte; blame y cowde no mañ / y haue no p{er}sone suspecte. 1248 Now, good god, graunt vs grace / our{e} sowles neu{er} to Infecte! þañ may we regne in þi regiou{n} / et{er}nally w{i}t{h} thyne electe. [Some word or words in large black letter have been cut off at the bottom of the page.] [Footnote 1: do, get on.] [Footnote 2: ? þat = nought can.] [Footnote 3: The Lawnd in woodes. _Saltus nemorum._ Baret, 1580. _Saltus_, a launde. Glossary in _Rel. Ant._, v. 1, p. 7, col. 1. _Saltus_, a forest-pasture, woodland-pasture, woodland; a forest.] [Footnote 4: at will. A.S. _wilsum_, free willed.] [Footnote 5: A.S. _hirne_, corner. Dan. _hiörne_.] [Footnote 6: Halke or hyrne. _Angulus_, _latibulum_; A.S. hylca, _sinus_ Promptorium Parvulorum and note.] [Footnote 7: AS. _fregnan_, to ask; Goth., _fraihnan_; Germ., _fragen._]