First published in 1900, this volume was edited from a unique 1440 A.D. manuscript residing in Salisbury Cathedral. As a penitential manual, it joined others of its time such as
Handlyng Synne
and
Parson’s Tale
and is one of the more voluminous treatises. The fundamental allegory of this Middle-English text is of the well of mire representing the sins of humanity and how it may be cleaned to become a fit receptacle of Grace as we may also cleanse ourselves and our consciences. This volume consists of a modest introduction followed by the Middle-English text
Jacob’s Well
along with glosses.