Chapter XLIV: Part III (1)

Moyses lawe forbood it tho,
That preestes shuld no lordshippes welde,
Christes gospel biddeth also
Thát they shuld no lordship helde;
Ne Christes apostels were never so bold 705
No such lordshippes to +hem enbrace;
But smeren hir sheep and kepe hir fold;
God amende hem for his grace!

For they ne ben but countrefet,
Men may knowe hem by hir fruit; 710
Hir gretnesse maketh hem god foryet,
And take his mekenesse in dispyt.
And they were pore and had but lyte,
They nolde nat demen after the face,
But norishe hir sheep, and hem nat byte; 715
God amende hem for his grace!"

GRIFON. "What canst thou preche ayenst chanons
Thát men clepen seculere?"
PELICAN. "They ben curates of many towns,
On erthë they have greet powére. 720
They han greet prebendes and dere,
Some two or three, and some [han] mo,
A personage to ben a playing-fere,
And yet they serve the king also;

And let to fermë all that fare 725
To whom that woll most give therfore;
Some woll spende, and some woll spare,
And some woll laye it up in store.
A cure of soule[s] they care nat for,
Só they mowë money take; 730
Whether hir soules be wonne or lore,
Hir profits they woll nat forsake.

They have a gedering procuratour
That can the pore people enplede,
And robben hem as a ravinour, 735
And to his lord the money lede;
And cacche of quicke and eke of dede,
And richen him and his lord eke,
And to robbe the pore can give good rede
Of olde and yonge, of hole and seke. 740

Therwith they purchase hem lay-fee
In londë, there hem lyketh best,
And builde +als brode as a citè
Both in the est, and eke in the west.
To purchase thus they ben ful prest, 745
But on the pore they woll nought spend,
Ne no good give to goddes gest,
Ne sende him some that all hath send.

By hir service such woll live,
And trusse that other in-to tresour; 750
Though all hir parish dye unshrive,
They woll nat give a rosë-flour.
Hir lyf shuld be as a mirrour
Bothe to lered and to leude also,
And teche the people hir leel labour; 755
Such mister men ben all misgo.

Some of hem ben hardë nigges,
And some of hem ben proude and gay;
Some spende hir good upon [hir] gigges,
And finden hem of greet aray. 760
Alas! what think these men to say
That thus dispenden goddis good?
At the dredfull domes day
Such wrecches shul be worse than wood.

Some hir churc[h]es never ne sye, 765
Ne never o peny thider ne sende;
Though the pore parishens for hunger dye,
O peny on hem wil they nat spende.
Have they receivinge of the rent,
They reck never of the remënant; 770
Alas! the devill hath clene hem blent!
Suche oon is Sathanas sojournant.

And usen horedom and harlotry,
Covetysë, pompe, and pride,
Slouthë, wrathe, and eke envy, 775
And sewen sinne by every syde.
Alas! where thinkë such t'abyde?
How woll they accomptes yeld?
From hy god they mow hem nat hyde,
Such willers wit is nat worth a neld. 780

They ben so roted in richesse,
That Christes povert is foryete,
Served with so many messe,
Hem thinketh that manna is no mete.
All is good that they mow get, 785
They wenë to live evermore;
But, whan god at dome is set,
Such tresour is a feble store.

Unneth mot they matins say,
For counting and for court-holding; 790
And yet he jangleth as a jay,
And understont him-self nothing.
He woll serve bothe erl and king
For his fynding and his fee,
And hyde his tything and his offring; 795
This is a feble charitè.

Other they ben proude, or coveytous,
Or they ben harde, or [els] hungry,
Or they ben liberall or lecherous,
Or els medlers with marchandry; 800
Or maynteyners of men with maistry,
Or stewardes, countours, or pledours,
And serve god in hypocrisy;
Such preestes ben Christes fals traytours!

They ben false, they ben vengeable, 805
And begylen men in Christes name;
They ben unstedfast and unstable;
To tray hir lord, hem thinketh no shame.
To servë god they ben full lame,
Goddes theves, and falsly stele; 810
And falsly goddes word defame;
In winning is hir worldes wele.

Antichrist these serven all;
I pray thee, who may say [me] nay?
With Antichrist such [folk] shull fall, 815
They folowen him in dede and fay;
They servin him in riche array,
To servë Christ such falsly fayn;
Why, at the dredful domes day,
Shull they not folowe him to payn? 820

That knowen hem-self, that they don ill
Ayenst Christes commaundëment,
And amende hem never ne will,
But serve Sathan by one assent.
Who sayth [the] sothe, he shal be shent, 825
Or speketh ayenst hir fals living;
Who-so well liveth shal be brent,
For such ben gretter than the king!

Pope, bishoppes, and cardinals,
Chanons, persons, and vicaire, 830
In goddes service, I trow, ben fals,
That sacramentës sellen here.
And ben as proude as Lucifere;
Ech man loke whether that I ly!
Who-so speketh ayenst hir powére, 835
It shall be holden heresy.

Loke how many orders take
Only of Christ, for his servyce,
That the worldes goodes forsake?
Who-so taketh orders +on other wyse, 840
I trow, that they shall sore agryse!
For all the glose that they conne,
All sewen not this [same] assyse;
In yvell tyme they thus bigonne.

Loke how many among hem all 845
Holden not this hyë way!
With Antichrist they shullen fall,
For they wolden god betray.
God amende hem, that best may!
For many men they maken shende; 850
They weten well, the sothe I say,
Bút the divell hath foule hem blend.

Some [up]on hir churches dwell,
Apparailled porely, proude of port;
The seven sacraments they don sell, 855
In cattel-cacching is hir comfort.
Of ech mattér they wollen mell,
And don hem wrong is hir disport;
To afray the people they ben fell,
And holde hem lower then doth the lord. 860

For the tythinge of a ducke,
Or of an apple, or an ay,
They make men swere upon a boke;
Thus they foulen Christes fay.
Such beren yvell heven-kay, 865
They mowen assoyl, they mowë shryve;
With mennes wyves strongly play,
With trewë tillers sturte and stryve

At the wrestling, and at the wake;
And chefe chauntours at the nale; 870
Market-beters, and medling make,
Hoppen and houten with heve and hale.
At fayrë freshe, and at wynë stale,
Dyne and drinke, and make debat;
The seven sacraments set at sale; 875
How kepe such the kayes of heven-gat?

Mennes wyves they wollen holde;
And though that they ben right sory,
To speke they shull not be so bolde
For sompning to the consistory; 880
And make hem say [with] mouth "I ly,"
Though they it sawë with hir y;
His lemman holden openly,
No man so hardy to axë why!

He wol have tythinge and offringe, 885
Maugrè who-so-ever it gruche;
And twyës on the day woll singe;
Goddes prestes nere none suche!
He mot on hunting with dogge and bic[c]he,
And blowen his horn, and cryën "hey!" 890
And sorcery usen as a wicche;
Such kepen yvell Peters key.

Yet they mot have som stocke or stoon
Gayly paynted, and proudly dight,
To maken men [to] +leven upon, 895
And say, that it is full of might;
About such, men sette up greet light,
Other such stockes shull stand therby
As darkë as it were midnight,
For it may make no ma[i]stry. 900

That lewed people see it mow,
Thou, Mary, worchest wonder thinges;
About that, that men offren to now,
Hongen broches, ouches, and ringes;
The preest purchaseth the offringes, 905
But he nill offre to none image;
Wo is the soule that he for singes,
That precheth for suche a pilgrimage!

To men and women that ben pore,
That ben [in] Christes own lykenesse, 910
Men shullen offre at hir dore
That suffren honger and distresse;
And to suche imáges offre lesse,
That mow not felë thurst ne cold;
The pore in spirit gan Christ blesse, 915
Therfore offreth to feble and old.

Buckelers brode, and swerdes longe,
+Baudriks, with baselardes kene,
Such toles about hir necke they honge;
With Antichrist such preestes been; 920
Upon hir dedes it is well sene
Whom they serven, whom they hono[u]ren;
Antichristes they ben clene,
And goddes goodes fa[l]sly deuouren.

Of scarlet and grene gay[ë] gownes, 925
That mot be shapë for the newe,
To clippen and kissen counten in townes
The damoseles that to the daunce sewe;
Cutted clothes to sewe hir hewe,
With longë pykes on hir shoon; 930
Our goddes gospell is not trewe,
Eyther they serven the divell or noon!

Now ben prestes pokes so wyde,
Men must enlarge the vestëment;
The holy gospell they don hyde, 935
For they contrarien in rayment.
Such preestes of Lucifer ben sent,
Lyk conquerours they ben arayd,
Proude pendaunts at hir ars y-pent,
Falsly the truthe they han betrayd. 940

Shryft-silver suchë wollen aske is,
And woll men crepë to the crouche;
None of the sacraments, save askes,
Without[ë] mede shall no man touche.
On hir bishop their warant vouche, 945
That is lawe of the decrè;
With mede and money thus they mouche,
And +this, they sayn, is charitè!

In the middes of hir masse
They nill have no man but for hyre, 950
And, full shortly, let forth passe;
Such shull men finde[n] in ech shyre
That personages for profite desyre,
To live in lykinge and in lustes;
I dar not sayn, _sans ose ieo dyre_, 955
That such ben Antichristes preestes.

Or they yef the bishops why,
Or they mot ben in his servyce,
And holden forth hir harlotry;
Such prelats ben of feble empryse. 960
Of goddes grame such men agryse,
For such mattérs that taken mede;
How they excuse hem, and in what wyse,
Me thinketh, they ought greetly drede.

They sayn, that it to no man longeth 965
To reprove +hem, though they erre;
But falsely goddes good they fongeth,
And therwith maynteyn wo and werre.
Hir dedes shuld be as bright as sterre,
Hir living, lewed mannes light; 970
They say, the popë may not erre,
Nede must that passë mannes might.

Though a prest ly with his lemman al night,
And tellen his felowe, and he him,
He goth to massë anon-right, 975
And sayeth, he singeth out of sinne!
His bryde abydeth him at his inne,
And dighteth his dyner the mene whyle;
He singeth his masse for he wolde winne,
And so he weneth god begyle! 980

Hem thinketh long till they be met;
And that they usen forth all the yere;
Among the folk when he is set,
He holdeth no man half his pere;
Of the bishop he hath powére 985
To soyle men, or els they ben lore;
His absolucion may make +hem skere;
And wo is the soul that he singeth for!"

The Griffon began for to threte,
And sayd, "of monkes canst thou ought?" 990
The Pellican sayd, "they ben full grete,
And in this world moch wo hath wrought.
Saynt Benet, that hir order brought,
Ne made hem never on such manere;
I trowe, it cam never in his thought 995
That they shulde use so greet powér[e];

That a man shulde a monk lord cal,
Ne serve on kneës, as a king.
He is as proud as prince in pall
In mete, and drink, and [in] all thing; 1000
Some weren myter and ring,
With double worsted well y-dight,
With royall mete and riche drink,
And rydeth on courser as a knight.

With hauke[s] and with houndes eke, 1005
With broches or ouches on his hode,
Some say no masse in all a weke,
Of deyntees is hir moste fode.
With lordshippes and with bondmen
This is a royall religioun; 1010
Saynt Benet made never none of hem
To have lordship of man ne town.

Now they ben queynte and curious,
With fyn cloth cladde, and served clene,
Proude, angry, and envyous, 1015
Malyce is mochë that they mene.
In cacching crafty and covetous,
Lordly liven in greet lyking;
This living is not religious
According to Benet in his living. 1020

They ben clerkes, hir courtes they oversee,
Hir pore tenaunts fully they flyte;
The hyer that a man amerced be,
The gladlyer they woll it wryte.
This is fer from Christes povertè, 1025
For all with covetyse they endyte;
On the pore they have no pitè,
Ne never hem cherish, but ever hem byte.

And comunly suche ben comen
Of pore people, and of hem begete, 1030
That this perfeccion han y-nomen;
Hir +faders ryde not but on hir fete,
And travaylen sore for that they ete,
In povert liveth, yonge and old;
Hir +faders suffreth drought and wete, 1035
Many hongry meles, thurst, and cold.

All this the monkes han forsake
For Christes love and saynt Benet;
To pryde and esë have hem take;
This religio[u]n is yvell beset. 1040
Had they ben out of religioun,
They must have honged at the plow,
Threshing and dyking fro town to town
With sory mete, and not half y-now.

Therfore they han this all forsake, 1045
And taken to riches, pryde, and ese;
Full fewe for god woll monkes hem make,
Litell is suche order for to prayse!
Saynt Benet ordayned it not so,
But bad hem be [ful] cherelich; 1050
In churlich maner live and go,
Boystous in erth, and not lordlych.

They disclaunder saynt Benet,
Therfore they have his holy curse;
Saynt Benet with hem never met 1055
But-if they thought to robbe his purse!
I can no more herof [now] tell,
But they ben lykë tho before,
And clenë serve the divell of hell,
And ben his tresour and his store. 1060

And all suche other counterfaytours,
Chanons, canons, and such disgysed,
Ben goddes enemies and traytours,
His true religion han foul dispysed.
Of freres I have told before 1065
In a making of a 'Crede,'
And yet I coud tell worse and more,
But men wold werien it to rede!

As goddes goodnes no man tell might,
Wryte ne speke, ne think in thought, 1070
So, hir falshed and hir unright
May no man tell, that ever god wrought."
The Gryffon sayd, "thou canst no good,
Thou cam never of no gentill kind;
Other, I trow, thou waxest wood, 1075
Or els thou hast [y-]lost thy mynd.

Shuld holy churchë have no heed?
Who shuld be her governayl?
Who shuld her rule, who shuld her reed,
Who shuld her forthren, who shuld avayl? 1080
Ech man shall live by his travayl;
Who best doth, shall have moste mede;
With strength if men the churche assayl,
With strength men must defende her nede.

And the pope were purely pore, 1085
Nedy, and nothing ne had,
He shuld be driven from dore to dore;
The wicked of him nold not be drad.
Of such an heed men wold be sad,
And sinfully liven as hem +list; 1090
With strength, amendes +shuld be made,
With wepen, wolves from sheep be +wist.

If the pope and prelats wold
So begge and bidde, bowe, and borowe,
Holy churche shuld stand full cold, 1095
Hir servaunts sitte and soupë sorowe!
And they were noughty, foule, and horowe,
To worship god men woldë wlate;
Bothe on even and on morowe
Such harlotry men woldë hate. 1100

Therfore men of holy churche
Shuld ben honest in all thing,
Worshipfully goddes workes werche,
So semeth it, to serve Christ hir king
In honest and in clene clothing; 1105
With vessels of golde and clothes riche,
To god honestly to make offring;
To his lordship non is liche."

The Pellican caste an houge cry,
And sayd, "alas! why sayest thou so? 1110
Christ is our heed that sitteth on hy,
Heddes ne ought we have no mo.
We ben his membres both also,
And +fader he taught us to cal him als;
Maysters be called defended he tho; 1115
All other maysters ben wicked and fals,

That taketh maystry in his name,
Gostly, and for erthly good;
Kinges and lordes shuld lordship han,
And rule the people with myldë mode. 1120
Christ, for us that shedde his blood,
Bad his preestes no maystership have,
Ne carkë nat for cloth ne fode;
From every mischef he will hem save.

Hir riche clothing shal be rightwysnesse, 1125
Hir tresour, trewë lyf shal be;
Charitè shal be hir richesse,
Hir lordship shal be unitè;
Hope in god, hir honestè;
Hir vessell, clenë conscience; 1130
Pore in spirit, and humilitè,
Shal be holy churches defence."

"What," sayd the Griffon, "may thee greve
That other folkes faren wele?
What hast thou to donë with hir +leve? 1135
Thy falsheed ech man may fele.
For thou canst no catell gete,
But livest in londe, as a lorell,
With glosing gettest thou thy mete;
So fareth the devell that wonneth in hell. 1140

He wold that ech man ther shuld dwell,
For he liveth in clene envy;
So with the tales that thou doest tell
Thou woldest other people distry,
With your glose, and your heresy, 1145
For ye can live no better lyf,
But clenë in hypocrisy,
And bringest thee in wo and stryf.

And therwith have [ye] not to done,
For ye ne have[n] here no cure; 1150
Ye serve the divell, +not god ne man,
And he shall payë you your hyre.
For ye woll farë well at feestes,
And warm [be] clothed for the colde,
Therfore ye glose goddes hestes, 1155
And begyle the people, yonge and olde.

And all the seven sacraments
Ye speke ayenst, as ye were sly,
Ayenst tythings with your entents,
And on our lordes body falsly ly. 1160
All this ye don to live in ese,
As who sayeth, ther ben non suche;
And sayn, the pope is not worth a pese,
To make the people ayen him gruche.

And this commeth in by fendes, 1165
To bringe the Christen in distaunce;
For they wold that no man were frendes;
Leve thy chattring, with mischaunce!
If thou live well, what wilt thou more?
Let other men live as hem list; 1170
Spende in good, or kepe in store;
Other mennes conscience never thou nist.

Ye han no cure to answere for;
What meddell ye, that han not to don?
Let men live as they han don yore, 1175
For thou shalt answere for no +mon."
The Pellican sayd, "Sir, nay, [nay],
I dispysed not the pope,
Ne no sacrament, soth to say;
But speke in charitè and good hope. 1180

But I dispyse hir hyë pryde,
Hir richesse, that shuld be pore in spryt;
Hir wickednesse is knowe so wyde,
They servë god in fals habyt;
And turnen mekenesse into pryde, 1185
And lowlinesse into hy degrè,
And goddes wordes turne and hyde;
And that am I moved by charitè

To lettë men to livë so
With all my conning and al my might, 1190
And to warne men of hir wo
And to tell hem trouth and right.
The sacraments be soulë-hele
If they ben used in good use;
Ayenst that speke I never a del, 1195
For then were I nothing wyse.

But they that use hem in mis manére,
Or sette hem up to any sale,
I trow, they shall abye hem dere;
This is my reson, this is my tale. 1200
Who-so taketh hem unrightfulliche
Ayenst the ten commaundëments,
Or by glosë wrechedliche
Selleth any of the sacraments,

I trow, they do the devell homage 1205
In that they weten they do wrong;
And therto, I dar well wage,
They serven Satan for al her song.
To tythen and offren is hoolsom lyf,
So it be don in dew manére; 1210
A man to houselin and to shryve,
Wedding, and all the other in-fere,

So it be nother sold ne bought,
Ne take ne give for covetyse;
And it be so taken, it is nought; 1215
Who selleth hem so, may sore agryse.
On our Lordes body I do not ly,
I say soth, thorow trewë rede,
His flesh and blood, through his mystry,
Is there, in the forme of brede. 1220

How it is there, it nedeth not stryve,
Whether it be subget or accident,
But as Christ was, when he was on-lyve,
So is he there, verament.
If pope or cardinall live good lyve, 1225
As Christ commaunded in his gospell,
+Ayenës that woll I not stryve;
But, me thinketh, they live not well.

For if the pope lived as god bede,
Pryde and hyghnesse he shuld dispyse, 1230
Richesse, covetyse, and crowne on hede,
Mekenesse and povert he shulde use."
The Gryffon sayd, he shulde abye--
"Thou shal[t] be brent in balefull fyre;
And all thy secte I shall distrye, 1235
Ye shal be hanged by the swyre!

Ye shullen be hanged and to-drawe.
Who giveth you levë for to preche,
Or speke +agaynës goddes lawe,
And the people thus falsly teche? 1240
Thou shalt be cursed with boke and bell,
And dissevered from holy churche,
And clene y-dampned into hell,
Otherwyse but ye woll worche!"

The Pellican sayd, "that I ne drede; 1245
Your cursinge is of litell value;
Of god I hope to have my mede,
For it is falshed that ye shewe.
For ye ben out of charitè
And wilneth vengeaunce, as did Nero; 1250
To suffren I woll redy be;
I drede not that thou canst do.

Christ bad ones suffre for his love,
And so he taught all his servaunts;
And but thou amend for his sake above, 1255
I drede not all thy mayntenaunce.
For if I drede the worldes hate,
Me thinketh, I were litell to prayse;
I drede nothing your hye estat,
Ne I drede not your disese. 1260

Wolde ye turne and leve your pryde,
Your hyë port, and your richesse,
Your cursing shuld not go so wyde;
God bring you into rightwysnesse!
For I drede not your tyranny, 1265
For nothing that ye can doon;
To suffre I am all redy,
Siker, I recke never how soon!"

The Griffon grinned as he were wood,
And loked lovely as an owle! 1270
And swor, by cockes hertë blood,
He wolde him terë, every doule!
"Holy churche thou disclaundrest foule!
For thy resons I woll thee all to-race;
And make thy flesh to rote and moule; 1275
Losell, thou shalt have hardë grace!"

The Griffon flew forth on his way;
The Pellican did sitte and weep;
And to him-selfë he gan say,
"God wolde that any of Christes sheep 1280
Had herd, and y-takë kepe
Eche a word that here sayd was,
And wolde it wryte and well it kepe!
God wolde it were all, for his grace!"

PLOWMAN. I answerde, and sayd I wolde, 1285
If for my travayl any wold pay.
PELICAN. He sayd, "yes; these that god han sold;
For they han [greet] store of money!"
PLOWMAN. I sayd, "tell me, and thou may,
Why tellest thou mennës trespace?" 1290
PELICAN. He said, "to amende hem, in good fay,
If god woll give me any grace.

For Christ him-selfe is lykned to me,
That for his people dyed on rode;
As fare I, right so fareth he, 1295
He fedeth his birdes with his blode.
But these don yvell +ayenës good,
And ben his foon under frendes face;
I tolde hem how hir living stood;
God amende hem, for his grace!" 1300

PLOWMAN. "What ayleth the Griffon, tell [me] why,
That he holdeth on that other syde?"
PELLICAN. "For they two ben [of kind], lykly,
And with [lyk] kindes robben wyde.
The foul betokeneth [evill] pryde, 1305
As Lucifer, that hygh +flowe was;
And sith he did him in evell hyde,
For he agilted goddes grace.

As bird [that] flyeth up in the ayr,
And liveth by birdes that ben meke, 1310
So these be flowe up in dispayr,
And shenden sely soules eke.
The soules that ben in sinnes seke,
He culleth hem; knele therfore, alas!
For brybry goddes forbode breke, 1315
God amende it, for his grace!

The hinder part is a lyoun,
A robber and a ravinere,
That robbeth the people in erth a-down,
And in erth holdeth non his pere; 1320
So fareth this foul, both fer and nere;
With temporel strength they people chase,
As a lyon proud in erthë here;
God amende hem for hys grace!"

He flew forth with his winges twayn, 1325
All drouping, dased, and dull.
But soone the Griffon cam agayn,
Of his foules the erth was full;
The Pellican he had cast to pull.
So greet a nombre never seen ther was; 1330
What maner of foules, tellen I woll,
If god woll give me of his grace.

With the Griffon comen foules fele,
Ravins, rokes, crowes, and pye,
Gray foules, agadred wele, 1335
Y-gurd, above they woldë hye.
Gledes and bosardes weren hem by;
Whyt molles and puttockes token hir place;
And lapwinges, that wel conneth ly,
This felowship han for-gerd hir grace. 1340

Longe the Pellican was out,
But at [the] laste he cometh agayn;
And brought with him the Phenix stout.
The Griffon wolde have flowe full fayn;
His foules, that flewen as thycke as rayn, 1345
The Phenix tho began hem chace;
To fly from him it was in vayn,
For he did vengeaunce and no grace.

He slew hem down without mercy,
Ther astartë neyther free ne thrall; 1350
On him they cast a rufull cry
When the Griffon down was fall.
He beet hem not, but slew hem all;
Whither he hem drove, no man may trace;
Under the erthe, me thought, they yall; 1355
Alas! they had a feble grace!

The Pellican then axed right,
"For my wryting if I have blame,
Who woll for me fight of flight?
Who shall sheldë me from shame? 1360
He that had a mayd to dame,
The lamb that slayn [for sinners] was,
Shall sheldë me from gostly blame;
For erthly harm is goddes grace.

Therfore I praye every man, 1365
Of my wryting have me excused."
This wryting wryteth the Pellican,
That thus these people hath dispysed;
For I am, fresh, fully advysed,
I nill not maynteyn his manace. 1370
For the devell is +oft disguysed,
To bringe a man to yvell grace.

Wyteth the Pellican, and not me,
For herof I nil not avowe,
In hy ne in low, ne in no degrè, 1375
But as a fable take it ye mowe.
To holy churche I will me bowe;
Ech man to amende him, Christ send space!
And for my wryting me alowe
He that is almighty, for his grace.' 1380

FINIS.

_From_ Thynne (ed. 1542). _I give rejected spellings._

1. Ploweman; plowe. 3. eate ynowe. 4. lyge; chynne. 5. cowe. 6. bone; skynne. 7. shoke; -drowe. 8. honge; pynne. 9. toke; tabarde; staffe. 12. pylgremage; platte. 13. bare. 14. forswatte. 15. sene. 17. behelde wele. 18. sawe. 19. knewe; snoute. 23. coulde; loute.

27. plowe. 28. meate. 29. auowe. 30. wyfe; fynde. 31. howe. 32. leude; bene; full (_read_ fully; _see_ l. 24); blynde. 33. fayne. 34. her; _supply_ to; swet. 35. agayne. 36. eate. 37. The (_for_ They; 1550, They); sayne. 38. hell. 39. payne. 41. her. 42. sayne. 43. corne. 44. speaketh. 45. preache. 46. nere; thynge. 47. ons (1550, ones); teache. 48. preachynge. 49. Saye; the. 51. praye; noman. 52. Whyle; tellynge. COLOPHON: fyrst parte.

53. stryfe. 55. bene. 57. great; vngrounde (!). 58. souble (_error for_ souple). 60. foule. 61. one. 63. freers. 64. great. 65. heuyn. 68. foule mought. 70. _Supply_ al; prease. 71. caytyffes. 72. one; encrease. 73. I-clepeth (!); londlese. 74. bene. 75. peace. 76. foule. 78. knowe. 79. trauayle. 80. ferre. 82. wodde. 83. sawe.

85. one. 86. grymme. 89. measure. 90. counsayle. 91. sharpe. 92. foule. 93. preache. 94. mekenesse. 95. teache. 96. blesse. 97. beareth wytnesse. 98. lambe; lykeneth. 99. tokenynge. 103. lowlyche; lowe. 105. crowne; couetours (_read_ covertours). 106. pylloure (_for_ pelure). 107. great treasours. 108. foule. 109. Preests shulde. 111. bateyle shulde. 112. her owne. 113. syttynges; hye. 114. souerayntie; house. 115. worshippe. 116. Who so (_omit_ so); foule shall.

117. suche. 118. erthlye. 119. suche shall. 120. y-buylden her boure. 122. them to hem; _supply_ be. 123. holde; one. 124. suche one shall (_om._ one). 125. peeres. 127. poore freers. 128. Nowe. 129. her. 130. noman; permagall. 131. Whyle; her. 132. suche; mote. 134. glytterande; great araye. 136. co_m_men; maye; gaye. 137. daye. 138. great. 139. baye. 140. suche; mote. 141. punyshed (!); _see_ l. 143. 142. sustayne. 144. her. 147. leude. 148. Suche; foule them befall (_see_ ll. 156, 164).

149. meates. 150. songe; syttynge longe. 151. her. 152. meate; gonge. 153. meate; harpe; songe. 154. eche; mote. 155. amonge. 156. Suche; foule. 157. one. 159. staffe; pyrrey; _read_ perrey. 160. made; lead. 161. golde; redde. 162. glytterande; golde (_repeated from_ l. 161; _read_ gown). 164. foule. 167. her. 168. hel. 169. her. 170. her gaye. 172. great. 179. poore. 180. Suche; foule.

182, 3. her. 184. kynge. 185. glyttryng (1550, glytteryng). 187. golde. 188. foule. 189. clepen (!); bene. 194. Antichriste; her. 196. foule. 198. done (_but_ 1550, dome; _read_ demed). 200. whiche. 201, 202. her. 204. suche; foule. 205. Her. 207. mote. 208. forbede (= forb[=e]d). 209. suche. 211. mote; her.

215, 216. greater. 224. thynke. 225. Suche; stynke. 227. bowynge. 228. must nede euyll; _I omit_ nede. 231. suche; sect sewys. 233. her. 234. Her. 235. Chrystes (!); _read_ Christ his. 236. suche; foule. 238. her; lyfe. 240. _Supply_ ther; great stryfe. 241. a knyfe (_om._ a). 243. suche. 244. suche; foule.

246. _Supply_ he surely. 247. peace. 248. bade. 251. trusteth (!). 252. _Supply_ such; foule. 256. roode. 257. co_m_men. 258. Echeon. 259. poore. 260. befall; _read_ fall. 261. _Supply_ never. 263. _Supply_ yet. 266. her. 267. her. 268. foule; falle. 272. her. 276. suche; foule.

282. shyppes (!); 1550, shepes. 283. ofte. 284. suche; foule. 287. poore. 289. _Supply_ him. 292. sayne. 295. _Supply_ there; nowe; them. 296. hoode. 297. blode. 298. buckette; (wall = well). 299. wode. 300. suche. 301. her. 302. _Omit_ to? 304. sonne; worthe. 306. her crokettes; christall. 307. downe. 308. foule.

310. her. 315. Redde; vsyn. 316. falsshed foule. 317. Their (_read_ Hir); her. 318. clemeth; _see_ l. 525. 320. _Supply_ by; raunsome. 324, 332, 340. foule. 324. to fall (_omit_ to). 325. her. 328. her seales; dare. 329. great. 332. suche; _supply_ false. 334. her. 336. sayne; poore. 337. eche preeste. 338. encrease. 339. heerdes; the. 340. suche.

341. falsely. 344. towne (_twice_). 345. raunsome. 346. christall. 348. suche. 348, 356, 364. foule. 349. gyltie. 350. _Supply_ yet; maye. 352. maye. 353. gone. 355. poore; theyr (_read_ hir). 356. suche. 357. suche. 358. suche crafte. 359. forbade. 360. Suche. 361. is (_read_ ben). 363. dispyce. 364. suche. 365. sayne. 366. heuyn; holde. 367. toke. 368. solde. 369. Suche; bolde. 370. wytte. 371. colde. 372. suche.

374. leaue. 375. suche (_twice_). 378. Theyr (_for_ Hir). 380. false Lucifere. 381. Lucifarre. 383. faythe; farre. 386. hou_n_de; hungre. 387. vngratious. 388. suche. 388, 396, 404. foule. 389. heyre. 390. thynke; case. 391. dispeyre. 393. lorde. 394. anone pray. 395. purchase. 396. suche. 397. can (_read_ conne). 398. spedde. 399. wylde. 400. redde. 401. leude boster (_om._ leude). 402. byshoppe; is (_read_ as); horse. 403. be stedde. 404. _Supply_ the; last.

405. byshoppes. 407. Suche; ranke. 408. heale none. 409. done. 410. one fors (!); _misprint_. 411. thanke suche. 412. suche. 412, 420, 436. foule. 413. canne; _read_ conne; her. 414. made. 415. canne. 416. Suche; nowe. 418. her. 419. Suche. 420. suche. 422. Traueyle hungre; colde. 424. olde. 425. folde. 426. theyr (_for_ hir); shepe. 428. suche. 429. her. 430. pouerte. 432. drynke; pyement; _supply_ and; aparte. 433. a ferde. 434. as dyd (_om._ dyd). 435. dryuen her shepe; deserte. 436. suche.

437. xij. 438. Nowe; there; one. 440. echone. 443. stone. 447. nowe. 449. her. 450. leuyn. 451. But (_read_ Ben). 452. suche. 453. plowe. 454. hate (!). 455. to hym (_om._ to); ynowe. 456. hatte. 457. poore; latte. 459. Suche; gnatte. 460. suche. 461. showe. 462. to kysse (_om._ to); fete. 463. ynowe. 464. sette; _read_ seet (= sat). 465. Suche one; hym selfe foryete. 466. _For_ call _read_ tall (?); _cf. l._ 74. 467. wete. 468. suche; foule.

469. her. 470. golde. 472. catche sholde. 473. Her seruauntes; them (_read_ hem); vnholde. 474. theyr (_for_ hir). 475. holde. 476. suche. 478. fynde. 479. nowe. 480. saye behynde. 481. Howe; pynde. 482. kende; _see_ l. 530. 483. putte; mynde. 484. amende. 485. nowe. 486. Howe. 487. howe. 488. worde; telleth (_see_ l. 487). 490. offrende. 492. amende.

493. saye. 495. Suche hathe nowe. 497. varry. 498. wende. 500. pytie; amende. 501. lyfe. 503. sufferaunce; stryfe. 505. wysedome. 506. tende. 507. measure. 508. maye amende. 509. lyfe. 514. comprehende. 515. maynteyne. 516. amende. 517. delyghtes. 518. stronge. 519. vsen. 520. Agaynste pytie punishementes. 522. Her; worse dispende. 524. amende.

525. holy. 528. worse; wytlesse. 529. fyshe; fleshe. 530. ykende. 531. poore. 532. amende. 533. Dyuers (_read_ Dives); suche; her dome. 534. sayne. 535. shulde done. 536. suche. 537. suche. 538. offende. 539. nowe. 540. amende. 542. nowe; yknowe. 544. trowe. 545. Eche; owe (!). 546. sende. 547. worde; folke; showe. 548. amende. 549. poore. 551. Nowe dare; poore. 552. her foe. 553. Amonge; mote. 554. suche suspende. 555. hente. 556. amende.

557. worlde. 558. loly; badde. 559. her. 560. forthe ladde. 561. dradde. 562. _Supply_ servaunts; shende. 563. Eche; gladde. 564, 572, 580, 588. amende. 567. One; one. 569. _Supply_ that; one. 570. defende. 571. badde. 572. suche. 573. badde; shepe. 574. forbade. 575. Swerde; shepe. 576. shepe. 578. her shepe; swerde; contende. 579. her shepe; great. 582. _Supply_ that; chefe pastoure. 583. swerde. 584. bochoure. 586. Shulde; shepe; backe bende. 587. shoure.

590. forsoke. 591. _Supply_ to (_as in_ l. 592). 592. hoke. 593. shepe; dothe; coke. 594. _Supply_ they; vntrende. 595. -boke. 596. them amende. 600. badde; behynde. 601. Suche. 602. offende. 604. suche; amende. 606. _Read_ contrar. 608. mysse. 610. Peter (_read_ him); reprehende. 611. But nat (_om._ But); heuyn blysse. 612. amende. 613. case. 616. bare. 618. stale; _supply_ gan; myspende. 620. _Supply_ now; amende.

622. hys false (_om._ false). 626. frende = fremd. 628. amende. 629. efte sone. 631. fordone. 632. sayne. 633. And ayenst (_omit_ And); commaundementes (_read_ maundements); crye. 634. brende. 635. suche. 636. amende. 637. Englande. 638. kynge. 639. suche. 640. _Supply_ they (_or_ hem); lyste. 641. her. 642. prysone; sende. 644. amende. 648. bayghted. 649. worse. 650. prysone; _supply_ be; pende. 652. maye mende.

654. assente. 655. eche. 657. Her seales. 658. extende. 660. mischefe; _supply_ may; amende. 662. worthe tenne pounde. 664. thyrde parte; rounde. 665. raunsounde. 666. saye suche parte; apende. 667. gothe; grounde. 668. amende. 669. fornycatioun. 670. shyllynges; paye. 671. absolution. 672. forthe; maye. 674. soule; brende. 676. suche; amende. 678. londe. 680. her honde. 681. theyr (_for_ hir); bonde. 682. Worse beate; _supply_ more; brende. 683. vnderstande. 684. amende.

685. _Read_ religiouns. 686. moche laye. 690. attende. 691. hyghe. 692. amende. 694. aboute. 695. _Supply_ the. 697. doute. 698. them defende. 699. nowe; folke; stoute. 700. kynge; nowe; amende. 701. forbode. 702. shulde. 704. shulde; lordshyppe. 705. bolde. 706. suche lordeshyppes; them (_for_ hem). 707. her shepe; her folde.

709. countrefete. 710. her fruite. 711. Her; foryete. 712. dispyte. 713. poore. 715. her shepe. 720-1. great. 722. thre; _supply_ han. 723. playeng. 724. kynge. 725. lette. 729. soule; fore. 731. her. 732. Her profytes. 734. poore. 736. lorde. 737. catche. 738. lorde. 739. poore. 740. syke (_for_ seke); _see l._ 1313.

743. also (_read_ als). 746. poore; spende. 748. sende. 749. her; suche. 750. treasour. 751. her paryshe. 752. -floure. 753. Her lyfe shulde. 755. her lele. 756. Suche. 759. her; _supply_ hir. 760. great. 761. thynke. 763. dredefull. 764. Suche wretches. 765. her. 767. poore; hungre. 769. rente. 770. recke. 772. one.

773. horedome. 777. suche tabyde. 778. Howe; yelde. 779. hye; mowe. 780. Suche; wytte; nelde. 782. foryet. 785. mowe gete. 787. sette. 788. Suche treasour. 789. mote; saye. 790. holdynge. 791. iaye. 792. selfe nothynge. 793. erle; kynge. 795. tythynge; offrynge. 798. _Supply_ els. 804. false.

808. her lorde. 811. falsely; worde. 812. her. 814. the; _supply_ me. 815. suche; _supply_ folk. 818. suche falsely fayne. 819. dredeful. 820. payne. 821. selfe; done. 825. _Supply_ the. 826. her false. 828. suche. 830. _Read_ vikere. 831. trowe; false. 834. Eche; lye. 835. _Read_ Who speke ayeinës; her.

837. howe. 838. Onely; Christe. 840. or (_read_ on). 841. trowe. 843. _Supply_ same. 845. howe; amonge. 846. waye. 848. betraye. 849. maye. 851. saye. 852. blende. 853. on (_read_ upon); her. 854. poorely; porte. 855. sacramentes; done. 856. catchynge; her comforte. 857. eche. 858. done; wronge; her dysporte. 859. afraye. 860. lorde. 862. aye. 863. sweare. 865. Suche bearen; heauen. 866. assoyle. 868. true (_better_ trewë).

869. wrestlynge. 871. Markette beaters; medlynge. 874. debate. 875. sacramentes; sayle (!). 876. Howe; suche; gate. 879. speake. 880. sompnynge. 881. saye; _supply_ with; lye. 882. her eye. 887. twyse; daye he (_om._ he). 889. mote. 890. horne. 891. wytche. 892. Suchen. 893. mote; some; stone. 895. _Supply_ to; lyuen. 896. saye. 897. Aboute suche; great. 898. suche; stande. 900. maye.

901. That it leude people se mowe. 902. Mary thou (_om._ thou). 903. Aboute; nowe. 909. poore. 910. _Supply_ in; owne. 911. her. 914. mowe; colde. 915. poore; sprete; Christe. 916. olde. 917. sweardes. 918. Baudryke (_read_ Baudriks). 919. Suche; her. 920. suche; bene. 921. her. 922. Whome (_twice_). 923. bene. 925. gay. 926. mote. 929. her. 930. her shone. 932. none.

933. Nowe. 934. That men (_om._ That). 935. done. 937. Suche. 938. Lyke. arayde. 939. The proude (_om._ The); pendauntes; her. 940. Falsely; betrayde. 941. Shryfte-. 943. sacramentes. 945. her byshoppe. 948. thus (_read_ this); sayne. 949. her. 952. Suche; eche. 953. profyte. 955. dare; sayne. 956. suche. 957. byshoppes. 958. mote. 959. her. 960. Suche prelates. 961. suche. 962. suche. 963. Howe. 964. greatly.

965. sayne. 966. them (_for_ hem). 967. goddes goodesse (!). 968. maynteyne. 969. Her; shulde. 970. Her lyuynge leude. 971. saye; maye. 972. muste. 973. lye. 975. anone. 978. meane. 981. longe; mette. 983. Amonge; folke; sette. 984. halfe. 985. byshoppe. 987. absolution maye; them (_for_ hem). 988. soule; fore. 993. her. 994. suche. 995. came. 996. great.

997. monke lorde. 998. kynge. 999. proude. 1000. meate; drynke; _supply_ in. 1001. wearen; rynge. 1003. meate; drynke. 1004. on a (_om._ a). 1007. saye. 1008. deynties; her; foode. 1010. religion. 1012. lordshyppe; towne. 1013. Nowe. 1014. fyne clothe. 1016. meane. 1017. catchynge. 1018. great lykynge. 1019. lyuynge. 1020. Accordynge; Benette; lyuynge. 1021. her; ouerse. 1022. Her poore tenaunce. 1023. hyre (1550, hyer). 1025. farre. 1027. poore. 1028. cheryshe.

1029. co_m_menly. 1030. poore. 1031. perfection. 1032. Her fathers ryden; her. 1034. olde. 1035. Her fathers. 1036. colde. 1037. And all (_om._ And). 1038. Benette. 1039. ease. 1040. besette. 1042. plowe. 1043. Threshynge; dykynge; towne; towne. 1044. halfe ynowe. 1046. ease. 1050. badde; _supply_ ful; cherelyche. 1051. churlyche. 1052. earth. 1053. Benette. 1055. mette. 1057. _Supply_ now. 1060. treasoure.

1062. suche. 1064. foule. 1065. tolde. 1066. makynge. 1067. coulde. 1068. wolde. 1069. goodnesse. 1070. speake; thynke. 1071. her (_twice_). 1074. came; kynde. 1075. trowe. 1076. lost; mynde. 1077-80. shulde. 1078. gouernayle. 1080. auayle. 1081. Eche; trauayle. 1083. assayle. 1085. poore. 1086. nothynge; hadde. 1087. shulde. 1088. nolde; dradde. 1089. wolde; sadde. 1090. lust (_read_ list). 1091. such (_read_ shuld). 1092. shepe; wust (_read_ wist).

1093. prelates wolde. 1095. shulde stande; colde. 1096. Her seruauntes. 1098. worshyppe. 1100. Suche. 1102. Shulde; thynge. 1104. her kynge. 1105. clothynge. 1107. offrynge. 1108. lordshypppe (!) none. 1109. crye. 1111. hye. 1114. father. 1115. to be (_om._ to). 1116. _Read_ wikke? 1118. Goostly; earthly. 1119. shulde; hane. 1121. blode. 1122. Badde. 1124. myschefe.

1125-30. Her. 1125. clothynge. 1126. treasoure; lyfe. 1128. lordshyppe. 1131. Poore; spirite. 1133. the. 1135. haste; lyue (_read_ leve). 1136. eche. 1139. glosynge. 1141. wolde; eche; there shulde. 1142. enuye. 1146. lyfe. 1148. the; stryfe. 1149. _Supply_ ye. 1151. neyther (_read_ not). 1154. warme; _supply_ be.

1157. sacramentes. 1158. speake; slye. 1159. tythynges offringes w_i_t_h_ (_omit_ offringes); ente_n_tes. 1160. lye. 1161. done; ease. 1162. there; none. 1163. sayne; pease. 1167. wolde. 1168. Leaue; chattrynge. 1173. fore. 1174. done. 1175. done. 1176. shalte; man. 1177. _Supply_ nay. 1179. sacramente. 1180. speake. 1181-3. her. 1182. shulde; poore; spirite. 1184. false habyte. 1186. hye.

1190. connynge. 1191. her. 1193. sacramentes. 1195. speake; dele. 1196. nothynge. 1197. vsen; mysse. 1199. trowe. 1200. reason. 1202. co_m_maundementes. 1204. sacramentes. 1205. trowe. 1206. wronge. 1207. dare. 1208. songe. 1209. holsome lyfe. 1210. done; dewe. 1212. Weddynge. 1213. solde. 1216. maye. 1217. lye. 1218. saye; thorowe. 1219. fleshe; blode; mystrye.

1221. Howe. 1222. subgette. 1227. Ayenst. 1230. shulde. 1232. pouerte. 1235. dystrye. 1238. leaue; preache. 1239. speake agaynst. 1240. falsely teache. 1245. sayde. 1248. falshede.

1253. badde. 1254. seruauntes. 1255. amende. 1259. nothynge; estate. 1260. dysease. 1261. leaue. 1262. porte. 1263. cursynge shulde. 1264. brynge. 1266. nothynge; done. 1268. howe soone. 1269. wode. 1271. swore; bloode. 1274. reasons; the. 1275. fleshe. 1276. shalte. 1277. flewe; waye. 1278. wepe. 1279. saye. 1280. shepe. 1281. herde. 1282. worde. 1283. wrytte.

1286. trauayle; any man wolde (_om._ man). 1287. solde. 1288. _Supply_ greet. 1293. lykened. 1297. done; ayenst gode. 1298. fone. 1299. howe her lyuynge stode. 1301. _Supply_ me. 1303. _Supply_ Pellican (_wrongly prefixed to_ l. 1305); _supply_ of kind. 1304. _Supply_ lyk. 1305. foule; _supply_ evill. 1306. flewe (_read_ flowe; _see_ l. 1311). 1309. byrde; _supply_ that; ayre. 1311. into (_read_ in); dyspayre.

1317. parte. 1319. earth a downe. 1320. none. 1321. foule; ferre. 1322. And wyth (_om._ And). 1323. proude; earth. 1325. (Pellican _is written above this line_); flewe; twayne. 1326. droupynge. 1327. came agayne. 1328. earth. 1338. great; sene there. 1336. Igurde. 1338. Whyte; her. 1339. lye. 1340. for gerde her. 1342. _Supply_ the. 1343. stoute. 1344. fayne. 1345. rayne. 1345. flye; vayne.

1349. slewe; downe. 1350. There. 1352. downe. 1353. bete; slewe. 1358. wrytynge. 1361. mayde. 1362. And the lambe (_om._ And); _supply_ for sinners. 1364. erthely harme. 1366-7. wrytynge. 1369. freshe. 1370. maynteyne. 1371. often (_read_ oft). 1375. hye; lowe. 1378. Eche; sende. 1379. wrytynge.

* * * * *

III. JACK UPLAND.

I, Jack Uplande, make my mone to very god and to all
true belevinge in Christ, that Antichrist and his disciples, by
colour of holines, walken and deceiven Christes church by many
fals figures, wherethrough, by Antichrist and his, many vertues
been transposed to vices. 5

But the fellest folk that ever Antichrist found been last
brought into the church, and in a wonder wyse; for they been of
divers sectes of Antichrist, sowen of divers countrees and
kinredes. And all men knowen wel, that they ben not obedient
to bishoppes, ne lege men to kinges; neither they tillen ne 10
sowen, weden, ne repen woode, corn, ne gras, neither nothing
that man shuld helpe but only hem-selves, hir lyves to sustein.
And these men han all maner power of god, as they sayen,
in heaven and in earth, to sell heaven and hell to whom that
hem lyketh; and these wrecches wete never where to been 15
hemselves.

And therfore, frere, if thine order and rules ben grounded on
goddes law, tell thou me, Jack Upland, that I aske of thee; and
if thou be or thinkest to be on Christes syde, kepe thy pacience.

Saynt Paul techeth, that al our dedes shuld be don in charitè, 20
and els it is nought worth, but displesing to god and harm to
oure owne soules. And for because freres chalengen to be
gretest clerkes of the church, and next folowinge Christ in
livinge, men shulde, for charitè, axe hem some questions, and
pray hem to grounde their answers in reson and in holy writ; for 25
els their answere wolde nought be worth, be it florished never so
faire; and, as me think, men might skilfully axe thus of a frere.

1. Frere, how many orders be in erthe, and which is the
perfitest order? Of what order art thou? Who made thyn
order? What is thy rule? Is there ony perfiter rule than Christ 30
himselfe made? If Christes rule be moost perfit, why rulest
thou thee not therafter? Without more, why shall a frere be
more punished if he breke the rule that his patron made, than if
he breke the hestes that god himself made?

2. Approveth Christ ony more religions than oon, that saynt 35
James speketh of? If he approveth no more, why hast thou left
his rule, and taken another? Why is a frere apostata, that leveth
his order and taketh another secte; sith there is but oon religion
of Christ?

3. Why be ye wedded faster to your habits than a man is to his 40
wyfe? For a man may leve his wyf for a yere or two, as many
men do; and if +ye leve your habit a quarter of a yere, ye shuld
be holden apostatas.

4. Maketh youre habit you men of religion, or no? If it
do, than, ever as it wereth, your religion wereth; and, after that 45
the habit is better, is you[r] religion better. And whan ye liggen
it besyde you, than lig ye youre religion besyde you, and ben
apostatas. Why by ye you so precious clothes, sith no man
seketh such but for vaine glorie, as saynt Gregory saith?

5. What betokeneth youre grete hood, your scaplerye, youre 50
knotted girdel, and youre wyde cope?

6. Why use ye al oon colour, more then other Christen men
do? What betokeneth that ye been clothed all in one maner
clothinge?

7. If ye saye it betokeneth love and charitè, certes, than ye be 55
ofte ypocrites, whan ony of you hateth other, and in that, that ye
wollen be said holy by youre clothinge.

8. Why may not a frere were clothing of an-other secte of
freres, sith holines stondeth not in the clothes?

9. Why holde ye silence in one howse more than in another; 60
sith men ought over-al to speke the good and leve the evell?

10. Why ete you flesh in one house more than in another,
if youre rule and youre order be perfit, and the patron that
made it?

11. Why gette ye your dispensacions, to have it more esy? 65
Certes, either it semeth that ye be unperfit; or he, that made it
so hard that ye may not holde it. And siker, if ye holde not the
rule of youre patrons, ye be not than hir freres; and so ye lye
upon youre-selves!

12. Why make ye you as dede men whan ye be professed; 70
and yet ye be not dede, but more quicke beggars than ye were
before? And it semeth evell a deed man to go aboute and
begge.

13. Why will ye not suffer youre novices here your councels in
youre chapter-house, er that they been professed; if youre councels 75
been trew, and after god[d]es lawe?

14. Why make ye you so costly houses to dwell in; sith Christ
did not so, and dede men shuld have but graves, as falleth to
dede men? And yet ye have more gorgeous buildinges than
many lordes of Englonde. For ye maye wenden through the 80
realme, and ech night, wel nigh, ligge in youre owne courtes;
and so mow but right few lordes do.

15. Why hyre ye to ferme youre limitors, gevinge therfore
eche yeer a certain rente; and will not suffer oon in an-others
limitacion, right as ye were your-selves lordes of contreys? 85

16. Why be ye not under youre bisshops visitacions, and liege
men to oure kinge?

17. Why axe ye no letters of bretherhedes of other mens
prayers, as ye desyre that other men shulde aske letters of you?

18. If youre letters be good, why graunte ye them not generally 90
to al maner men, for the more charitè?

19. Mow ye make ony man more perfit brother for your
prayers, than god hath by oure beleve, by our baptyme and his
owne graunte? If ye mowe, certes, than ye be above god.

20. Why make ye men beleve that your golden trentall songe 95
of you, to take therfore ten shillinges, or at the leest fyve
shillinges, will bringe soules out of helle, or out of purgatorye?
If this be sooth, certes, ye might bring all soules out of payne.
And that wolle ye nought; and than ye be out of charitè.

21. Why make ye men beleve, that he that is buried in youre 100
habit shall never come in hell; and ye wite not of youre-selfe,
whether ye shall to hell, or no? And if this were sooth, ye
shulde selle youre high houses, to make many habites, for to save
many mens soules.

22. Why stele ye mens children for to make hem of youre 105
secte; sith that theft is agaynst goddes heste; and sithe youre
secte is not perfit? Ye know not whether the rule that ye binde
him to, be best for him or worst!

23. Why undernime ye not your brethren, for their trespas
after the lawe of the gospell; sith that underneminge is the best 110
that may be? But ye put them in prison ofte, whan they do after
goddes lawe; and, by saynt Austines rule, if ony did amisse and
wolde not amende him, ye should put him from you.

24. Why covete ye shrifte, and burying of other mens parishens,
and non other sacrament that falleth to Christen folke? 115

25. Why busie ye not to here shrifte of poore folke, as well
as of riche lordes and ladyes; sith they mowe have more plentee
of shrifte-fathers than poore folk may?

26. Why saye ye not the gospel in houses of bedred men; as
ye do in riche mens, that mowe go to churche and here the 120
gospell?

27. Why covette +ye not to burye poore folk among you; sith
that they ben moost holy, as ye sayn that ye ben for youre
povertee?

28. Why will ye not be at hir diriges, as ye been at riche mens; 125
sith god prayseth hem more than he doth riche men?

29. What is thy prayer worth; sith thou wilt take therefore?
For of all chapmen ye nede to be moost wyse; for drede of
symonye.

30. What cause hast thou that thou wilt not preche the 130
gospell, as god sayeth that thou shuldest; sith it is the best
lore, and also oure beleve?

31. Why be ye evell apayed that secular prestes shulde preche
the gospel; sith god him-selfe hath boden hem?

32. Why hate ye the gospell to be preched; sith ye be so 135
moche holde thereto? For ye winne more by yere with
_In principio_, than with all the rules that ever youre patrons made.
And, in this, minstrels been better than ye. For they contraryen
not to the mirthes that they maken; but ye contraryen the gospell
bothe in worde and dede. 140

33. Frere, whan thou receivest a peny for to say a masse,
whether sellest thou goddes body for that peny, or thy prayer,
or els thy travail? If thou sayest thou wolt not travaile for to
saye the masse but for the peny, +than certes, if this be soth, than
thou lovest to littel mede for thy soule. And if thou sellest 145
goddes body, other thy prayer, than it is very symony; and art
become a chapman worse than Judas, that solde it for thirty
pens.

34. Why wrytest thou hir names in thy tables, that yeveth thee
moneye; sith god knoweth all thing? For it semeth, by thy 150
wryting, that god wolde not rewarde him but thou wryte him in
thy tables; god wolde els forgetten it.

35. Why berest thou god in honde, and sclaundrest him that he
begged for his mete; sith he was lord over all? For than hadde
he ben unwyse to have begged, and no nede therto. 155

36. Frere, after what law rulest thou thee? Wher findest thou
in goddes law that thou shuldest thus begge?

37. What maner men nedeth for to begge?

Of whom oweth suche men to begge?

Why beggest thou so for thy brethren? 160

If thou sayest, for they have nede; than thou doest it for the
more perfeccion, or els for the leest, or els for the mene. If it be
the moost perfeccion of all, than shulde al thy brethren do so;
and than no man neded to begge but for him-selfe, for so shuld no
man begge but him neded. And if it be the leest perfeccion, why 165
lovest thou than other men more than thy-selfe? For so thou art
not well in charitè; sith thou shuldest seke the more perfeccion
after thy power, livinge thy-selfe moost after god; and thus, leving
that imperfeccion, thou shuldest not so begge for hem. And if
it is a good mene thus to begge as thou doest, than shuld no man 170
do so but they ben in this good mene; and yet such a mene,
graunted to you, may never be grounded in goddes lawe; for
than both lered and lewed that ben in mene degrè of this worlde
shuld go aboute and begge as ye do. And if all suche shuld do
so, certes, wel nigh al the world shuld go aboute and begge as 175
ye do: and so shulde there be ten beggers agaynst oon yever.