And after my wakynge ; it was wondir longe

Er I kouude kyndeli knowe ; wat was do-well

And so my witte wexe & wanyede ; till I a ffool were

And sum lakked my lijf ; a{..}lowed it ffewe

And leten ffor a lorell ; and loþe to reuerencen

lordis and ladies ; or ony lijf ellis

as persounes in pilure ; and with pendauntes of siluere

To sergeauntes ne to swiche ; said not ones

God loke ȝou lordis ; ne loutede ffaire

þat ffolk helden me a ffooll ; and In þat ffolie I reued

Till reson hadde ruþe ; on me ; & rokkede me aslepe

Tyll I seyȝ as it sorcery were ; and sotill þing with-all

Oon with-outyn tunge and teeþ ; tolde me whedir I shulde

and where-of I cam ; and what kynde ; I coniurede him at þe laste

If he were cristis creature ; ffor cristis loue me to telle

I am cristis creature quod he ; & cristen in many a place

In cristis courte I-knowe well ; & of his kyn a partie

Is neiþer peter þe portere ; ne poule with his ffauchon

þat wolle deffende me þe dore ; dynge I neuer so late

at mydnyȝth at mydday ; my voice so is knowyn

þat iche a creature of his courte ; welcomeþ me ffaire

what ar ȝe callide in þat courte quod I ; amongis cristis peple

þe whilis I quyk was in þe cors quod he ; callid am I anima

and whanne I wylne or wolde Animus iche hatte

And ffor þat I can and knowe ; callid am I mens

And whane I make mone to god ; memoria is my name

and whanne I deme domes ; & do as trewþe techeþ

þanne is racio my riȝt name ; & reson on englisshe

And whanne I ffele þat ffolk telliþ ; my ffrist name is sensus

And þat is witt and wisdam ; þe welle of alle craftis

And whane chalange or chalange not ; clepe or reffuse

þanne am I concience callid ; godis clerk and his notorie

and whanne I loue lelli ; oure lord and all oþer

þanne is lele loue my name ; & in laytn amor

and whane I ffle ffro þe ffleisshe ; & fforsake þe careyne

þanne am I spirit specheles ; spiritus þanne iche hatte

Austyn & ysidorus ; eiþer of hem boþe

Nempenede me þus to name ; now þou myȝtist chese

how þou coueitiste to calle me ; now knowest alle my names

Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa

ȝe ben as a bischop quod I ; al bourdynge þat tyme

For bisshopis I-blesside ; beren many names

presull & pontiffex and metropolitanus

and oþer names an heep ; episcopus & pastor

þat is soþe saide he ; now I se þi wille

þou woldeste knowe and kunne ; þe cause of alle here names

and of myn if þou myȝtiste ; me þinkiþ be þi speche

ȝe sir I said be so ; no man were agreued

alle þe science vndir sunne ; and all þe sutill craftis

I wolde knowe and kunne ; kyndely in myn herte

þanne art þou vnparffiȝt quod he ; and on of pridis knyȝtis

For swiche a lust and likinge ; luciffer ffell ffrom heuene

Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo

It were aȝeins kynde quod he ; al-kyns resoun

þat ony creature shulde kunne al ; excepte crist one

Aȝens swiche saloman spekiþ ; & dispisiþ her wittis

and seiþ sicut qui mel

To englisshe men þis is to mene ; þat mown speke & here

þat man þat moche hony etiþ ; his mawe it engleymeþ

and þe more þat a man ; of good mater hereþ

but he do þer-after ; it doþe him double scaþe

Beatus est seiþ seynt bernarde ; qui scripturas legit

Et verba vertit in opera ; ffuliche to his power

Coueitise to kunne ; & to knowe science

Pullede ouȝt of paradice ; adam and eue

Sciencie appetitus hominem immortalitatis gloria{m} spoliauit

and riȝt as hony is euell to deffie ; engleymeþ þe mawe

Ryȝt so þat þoruȝ resoun ; wolde þe rote knowe

Of god and his myȝtis ; his grace it letteþ

For in þe likinge lyþe a pride ; & a likinge coueytise

aȝeins cristis conceill ; & all clerkis techinge

þat is non plus sapere quam oportet sapere

Freris and ffele oþer maistris ; þat to lewde men prechen

Meuen maters immesurablez ; to tellyn of þe trinite

And ofte tymes þe lewde peple ; of her bileue {douȝten} douȝten

Better to bileue were many ; doctouris swyche techynge

And telle men of þe ten commaundementis ; & touche þe seuene synnys

And of þe braunchis þat borjounen of hem ; and bringen men to helle

And how þat ffolk in ffolies ; myspendyn here ffyue wyttis

as well ffreris as oþer ffolk ; ffoliche þei spendyn

In howsinge in hateringe ; & hie clergie schewinge

More ffor pompe þan ffor pure charite ; þe peple wotte þe soþe

þat I ne lye not loo ; ffor lordys ȝe plesyn

and reuerencen þe Riche ; þe raþer ffor her goodis

Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia & cetera . & alibi vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium

Go to þe glose of þe vers ; ȝe grette clerkis

If I lye on ȝou to my lewde witt ; ledyth me to brennynge

For as it semeþ ȝe ffor-saken ; no mannys almes

Of vsureris of horis ; & of auarouse Chapmen

And louten to þese lordis ; þat mown lene ȝou noblis

Aȝeyn ȝoure reule & religion ; I take recorde of Ihesus

þat saide to his deciplis ; ne sitis personarum acceptores

Of þis matere I myȝte ; make a longe bible

And of curatouris of cristen peple ; as clerkis beren wittenesse

I shall telle it ffor truþis sake ; take hede who-so likeþ

As holynesse & honeste ; out of holi chirche sprediþ

þoruȝ lele leuynge P men ; þat godis lawe techen

Riȝt so out of holi chirche ; all yuellis spredyn

þer imparffiȝte presthode is ; precheris & techers

and se it be ensaunple ; in somer-tyme on tres

þer summe bowes ben leued ; & summe beren non

þer is a myscheff in þe moore ; of swiche manere bowis

Ryȝt so parsons & prestis ; and prechouris of holi chirche

þat arn rote of þe riȝt ffeiþ ; to reule þe peple

and þer þe rote is roten ; reson wotte þe soþe

shall neuere ffloure ne ffruȝte ; ne ffaire leef be grene

For-þi wolde ȝe lettrid men leue ; þe leccherie of cloþing

And be kynde as ffell ffor clerkis ; & curteis of cristis goodis

Trewe of ȝoure tunge ; and of ȝoure tayl boþe

And hate to here harlotrie ; & not to vndirffonge

Tyþes of vntrwe þing ; ytilid or schaffared

loþe were lewde men ; but þey ȝoure lore ffolleweden

and amende hem þat myssedon ; more ffor ȝoure ensaunplis

þanne ffor to preche or preuen it not ; ypocrise it semeþ

For ypocrise in latyn ; is lykened to a donghill

þat were be-snewid with snow ; & snakis with-Inne

Or to a wall þat were wiȝte-lymed ; with-ouȝt & ffoule with-Inne

Ryȝt so many prestis ; precherous and prelatis

Arn enblaunched with bell paroeles ; & with cloþis also

and ȝoure werkis & wordis þer-vndir ; ar fful vnloueliche

Iohan Crisostomus ; of klerkis spekiþ & prestis

sicut de templo omne bonum egreditur ;

If lewde men wisten ; what þis latyn meneþ

and who was myn autoure ; moche wondir me þinkiþ

But if many a prest here ; ffor her basalardis & her brochis

shulden go synge seruyseles ; with sir phelip þe sparweT

Syr Iohan and Syr gefferey ; han gyrdlis of syluer

a baslard and a ballok-knyf ; and barres ouere-gylte

and a portos þat shulde be his plow ; placebo to segge

Hadde he neuer seruyse to saue siluer þerto ; ffor spending at ale

Alas ȝe lewde men ; moche lesen ȝe on prestis

And þing þat wikkidliche is wonnen ; & with ffalse sleyȝtis

wolde neuer of witty god þe witt ; but wicked men it had

þe whiche ar prestis imparffiȝte ; & prechouris after syluere

Sectouris & Suddenes ; somonours & her lemmans

þis þat with gyle was geten ; vngraciousli is spendyd

So harlottis & horis ; arn holpen þoruȝ swiche goodes

And godis ffolk ffor deffaute þer-of ; fforffaren & spillen

Curatouris of holi chirche ; as clerkis þat ben auarouse

lyȝtliche þat þei leuen ; lossellis it hauen

Or dyen intestat ; and þanne þe bisschop entriþ

and makiþ myrthe þer-with ; & his men boþe

and seyn he was a nygard ; þat no good myȝte spare

To ffrende ne to ffrende ; þe haue his soule

For a wrechid hous he helde ; al his lyf-tyme

And þat he spared & bisperde ; spende we in myrþe

be þey lered be þey lewde ; þat loþe is to spende

þus gon her goodis ; be þe gost ffaren

And ffor good men god wott ; grett doel men makyn

And bymeneþ good mete ; ȝeueris & in mynde hauen

In preyeris and in penaunce ; & in parffiȝte charite

Nisi efficiamini sicut

what is charite quod I þo ; a childishe þing he saide

with-outyn ffaunte or ffolie ; a ffre leberall will

where shulde men ffynde swyche a ffrende ; with so ffre an herte

I haue lyued In lond quod I ; my name is longe wille

and ffo{r}nde I neuere ffull cha{r}rte / charite ; beffore ne be-hynde

Men ben mercyable to mendynauntis ; & to þe pore

and wolle lene þer þei leuen ; lelli to be payd

and charite þat poule precheþ best ; & most plesiþ oure saueour

As non inflatur . non est ambiciosa . non querit que sua sunt

I seiȝ neuer swyche a man ; so me god helpe

þat he ne wolde aske after his ; & oþer-while coueyte

þing þat nedeþ him not ; & nyme it if he myȝte

Clerkis tellyn me ; þat crist is in al his places

And I seiȝ him soþeli ; but as my-self in a myroure

Ita in enigmate tunc

& so I trowe truly ; be þat men tellyn of charite

It is not champiouns fiȝt ; ne chaffare as I trowe

Charite quod he ne chaffareþ not ; ne chalengeþ ne craueþ

as proude of a peny ; as of a pound of gold

And is as glad of a gowne ; of a grey russet

As of a tunycle of tarse ; or of tried scarlet

he is glad with alle glade ; & good to all wikkid

And leneþ & loueþ alle ; þat oure lord made

Cursiþ he no creature ; ne can bere no wraþe

Ne no likynge haþe to lye ; ne lawȝhe men to scorn

Al þat men seyn . he late it soþe ; & in solace takiþ

And alle manere mescheues ; in myldenesse he suffreþ

Coueytiþ he non erþeli good ; but heuene-riche blisse

haþe he ony rentis or richesse ; or ony riche ffrendis

Of rentis ne of richesse ; reckeþ he neuere

For a ffrende þat ffyndiþ him ; ffaylid him neuer at nede

Fiat voluntas tua ; ffyndiþ him euere-more

And if he soupe P he etiþ but a soppe ; of spera in deo

he can portreye þe pater noster ; & peynte it with aues

And oþer he is wone ; to wende on pilgrimage

þer pore men & prisouners ben ; her pardon to haue

þouȝ he bere hem no bred ; he bereþ hem swettere

loueþ hem as oure lord biddiþ ; & lokeþ how þei ffaren

And whane he is wery of þat werk ; þanne wolle he sum tyme

labouren in lauendrie ; þe lenþe of a myle

And ȝerne in-to ȝouþe ; and ȝepli speke

pride with al þe apurtenaunce ; & pakken hem to-gedris

And bowken hem at his brest ; & beten hem clene

And leggen on longe ; with laboraui in gemitu meo

And with warme water at his eyn ; wasshen hem after

And þanne he syngeþ whane he doþe so ; & sum tyme seiþ wepynge

cor contritum & humiliatum

By crist I wolde þat I knewe hym ; no creature leuere

with-ouȝtyn helpe of peers plowman quod he ; his persone seest þou neuere

wher clerkis knowyn him quod I ; þat kepen holi chirche

Clerkis han no knowinge quod he ; but be werkis & wordis

And peers þe plowman ; parceyued more depper

Cogitaciones eorum

where is þe wille & wherffore ; þat many a wyȝte suffreþ

For þer arn ffull proude men ; paciente of tunge

And buxum as of beringe ; to burgeys & to lordis

And to pore peple ; han peper in þe nose

And as a l{e}yon he lokeþ ; þer men lackyn his werkis

For þer arn beggers and bidders ; bedemen as þei were

loken as lambron ; & semen lijf-holy

And it is more to haue her mete ; in swyche esy manere

þanne ffor penaunce or parffiȝtenesse ; þe pouerte þat swiche taken

þerffore be coloure ne be clergie ; knowe shalte þou him neuere

Neiþer þoruȝ wordis ne werkis ; but þoruȝ wille one

And þat knoweþ no clerk ; ne creature in erþe

C But peers þe plowman ; petrus id est Christus

For he is not in losellis ; ne in land-lepers hermytis

Ne in ankres þer a box hangeþ ; alle swiche þei ffaytyn

Fy on ffaytouris ; and in ffautores suos

For charite is goddis Champion ; & as a good childe hende

and þe meriest of mouþe ; at mete where he sitteþ

þe loue þat lyþe in his herte ; makyþ him liȝt of speche

and is companyable & comffortatyff ; as crist bydiþ hym-self

Nolite fieri sicut

For I haue seen him in sylk ; and sum tyme in russete

boþe in greye and in griys ; & in gylt harneys

And as gladeliche he it gaaf ; to gomes þat it nedede

Edmund & Edwarde ; eyþer were kyngis

and seyntes I-sette ; till charite hem ffolwyd

I haue seen charite also ; Syngen and reden

Ryden & rennen ; in raggyd wedis

and biddynge as beggers ; bihelde I him neuere

and in riche robes ; raþest he walkyþ

y-callid y-crymaylid ; & his croune schauen

and clenliche y-cloþid ; in cipres & in tartaryen

and in a ffreris ffroke ; he was ffounden ones

and it is ffer ago ; in seynt ffraunceys tyme

and in þat secte syþe ; to selden haþe be knowen

Ryche men he recomaundiþ P ; & of her robes takiþ

þat with-ouȝtyn wylis ; leden her lyues

Beatus est diues qui & cetera

In kyngys court he comeþ often ; þer þe conceill is trwe

and if coueytise be of þe conceill ; he woll not come þer-inne

In courte amonge Iapers ; he comeþ not but selde

For braulynge and bacbytynge ; & beringe of ffals wittenesse

In þe consistorie beffor þe comyssarie ; he comeþ not fful ofte

For her lawe duriþ ouer-long ; but if þey lacchyn siluere

and matrimoyne ffor money ; maken & vn-maken

and þat concience and crist ; haþe y-knyte ffaste

þey vndon it vnworþily ; þo doctouris of lawe

and I ne lake no lyff ; but lord amende us alle

and geue us grace good god ; charite to ffolowe

For who-so myȝte mete with hym ; swyche maneres him eyliþ

Neiþer he banneþ ne blameþ ; bosteþ ne preysiþ

Craueþ ne coueitiþ ; ne crieþ after more

lakkeþ ne loseþ ; ne lokeþ vp sterne

In pace in idipsum dormiam & cetera.

þe moste lyflode he lyueþ by ; is loue in godis passion

Neiþer he biddiþ ne beggeþ ; ne borwiþ to ȝelde

Mysdoþe he no man ; ne with his mouþe greueþ

amongis cristen men ; þis myldenesse shulde laste

In all manere angres ; haue þis at herte

þat þouȝ þey suffreden al þis ; god suffred ffor vs more

In ensaumple we shuld do so ; & take no veniaunce P

Of oure ffoos þat don us ffalsnesse ; þat is ffadris wille

For well may euery man witte ; if god had wolde hym-selue

shulde neuere iudas ne Iew ; haue Ihesu don on rode

Ne haue martirid petir ne poule ; ne in prison holden

and he suffred in ensaunple ; & þat we shulden suffre also

and saide to swiche þat suffre wolden ; þat pacientes vincunt

verbi gratia quod he ; and verri ensaunplis many

In legenda sanctorum ; þe lyff of holy seyntis

what penaunce and pouerte ; & passion þei suffredyn

In hungre & in hete ; & alle manere angres

AntonyP & egidie ; & oþer holi ffadris

wonden in wildirnesse ; amonge wilde bestis

Monkis & mendynauntis ; men bi hem-seluen

In spekis & spelonkis ; seldon speken to-gedris

and neiþer antony ne egydie ; ne hermyte þat tyme

Of lyones ne of lepardis ; no lyflode ne token

But of ffoulis þat fflien ; þus ffyndyn men in bokis

Except þat egidie ; after an hynde criede

and þoruȝ þe mylk of þat mylde beste ; þe man was susteyned

and day be day had he hir not ; hungre ffor to slake

But seldon and sundri tymes ; as seiþ þe book and techiþ

Antony adaies ; abouȝte þe none P tyme

hadde bred þat brouȝte him brede ; þat he bi leued

and þouȝ þe gom had a gest ; god ffonde hem boþe

poule primus heremyta ; had parroked him-selue

þat no man myȝt him se ; ffor mosse & ffor leues

Foulis him ffeddyn ; ffele wyntris with-alle

Tylle he ffoundyd ffreris ; of austyn ordre

Anoþer poule after his prechinge ; panyeris he made

and wan with his handis ; þat his wombe neded

peter ffischede ffor his ffode ; and his ffelawe andrew

Summe þey solden & summe þei soþen ; & so þey leueden boþe

And also marie magdaleyn ; bi moores leued & dewes

and most þoruȝ deuocion ; and mynde of god al-myȝti

I shulde not þis seuene daies ; seggen hem alle

þat leued þus ffor oure lordis loue ; many longe ȝeris

and þer ne was lyoun ne leparde ; þat on laundes wenten

Neiþer bere ne boor ; ne oþer best wilde

þat ne ffelle to her ffeet ; & ffauned with þe tailis

And if þey co{..}wde haue I-carpid ; bi crist as I trowe

þey wolde haue yffed þo ffolk ; be-ffore wylde ffoulis

and god sente hem ffode be ffoulis ; & be no ffers bestis

In mevinge þat meke þinge ; mylde þing shulde ffede

as who seiþ religiouse ; riȝtffull men shulde ffynde

and laweffull men to lyf-holy men ; lyuelode bringe

and þanne wolde lordis and ladies ; be loþe to a-gulte

and to take of her tanauntis ; more þan trewþe wolde

Founden þei þat ffreris wolden ; ffor-saken her almesse

and biddyn hem bere it ; þer it was I-borwid

For we ben godis ffoulis ; and abide away

Tyll briddis bringe us mete ; þat we shulden leue by

For haue ȝe potage & payn ; & peny-ale to drinke P

and a messe þer-wiþ ; of ony manere kynde

ȝe han ryȝt ynow ȝe religious ; & so ȝoure rule me tolde

Numquam dicit iob

If lewde men knewe þis latyn ; þey wolden loke whom þei gyuen

and avise hem beffore ; ffyue daies or sixe

Er þey mortyseden to monkis ; or chanouns her rentis

Alas lordis and ladies ; lewde conceill han ȝe

To ȝeue ffrom ȝoure eyris ; þat ȝoure elders ȝou lesten

and ȝeuen to bide ffor ȝou ; to swiche þat ben riche

and ben {..}ffoundyn & ffeffed eke ; to bidde ffor oþer

who parfformeþ þe prophecie ; of peple þat now leueþ

Dispersit dedit pauperibus

If ony peple parfforme þis tixt ; it arn þe pore ffreris

For þat þey beggen abouȝte ; in beldinge þey spendyn

and on hem-self sum ; and swyche as ben her laboreris

and of hem þat han þey taken ; & ȝeuen hem þat ne han

and clerkis & knytis ; & comuneris þat ben riche

Feel of ȝou ffaren ; as if I a fforest hadde

þat were ffull of ffaire tres ; & I ffo{.}unded & caste

how I myȝte mo þer-Inne ; amonges hem sette

Ryȝt so ȝe riche ; ȝe robben þat ben riche

and helpen hem þat helpen ȝou ; & ȝeuen þer no nede is

as who-so ffylled a tunne ; of a ffresshe ryuere

and wente fforþe with þat water ; to wooke with þe tamyse

Ryȝt so ȝe riche ; ȝe robben and ffeden

hem þat han as ȝe han ; hem ȝe maken at ese

and religious þat riche ben ; shulden raþer ffeste beggers

þan burgeys þat riche ben ; as þe book telliþ

Quia sacrilegium est res

For-þi I conceill alle cristen ; to confforme hem to charite

For charite with-outen chalenginge ; vnchargiþ þe soule

and many a preson ffro purgatorie ; þoruȝ his preiris deliuereþ

and þer is a deffauȝte in þe ffolk ; þat þe ffeiþ kepen

wherffore ffolk ben þe ffebeler ; & not fferme of bileue

And in luschburues is a liþer alay ; & ȝit lokeþ he like a sterlinge

þe merk of þat mony is good ; & þe metall is ffebell

and so it ffareþ be summe ffolk ; now þey han a ffaire speche

Croune & cristendom ; þe kyngis merk of heuene

and þe metall þat is mannys soule ; with synne is ffull alayed

Boþe lettrid & lewde ben ; now alayed with synne

þat no lyff loueþ oþer ; ne oure lord as I leue

For þoruȝ werre & wicked werkis ; & wedris vnresounable

wedir-wyse schipmen ; and clerkis also

han no beleue to þe clyfte ; ne to þe lore of philosophres

astromyns alday ; in her arte ffaylen

þat wylom warned beffore ; what shulld ffall after

Schipmen & herdis . þat with schip & scheep wenten

wisten be þe welken ; what shulde be-tyde

as of wedris & wyndis ; þey warned men often

Tyliers þat tiliden þe erþe ; tolden her maistris

By þe seed þat þei sewen ; what þey selle myȝten

and what to leue & what to lyue by ; þe lond was so trewe

Now ffaylyn þe ffolk of fflode ; & of lond boþe ;

Schepherdis & schipmen ; and so don þese tilieris

Neyþer þei kunne ne knowe ; oo cours be-ffor anoþer

Astromyens also ; arn at her wittis ende

of þat was calculed of þe elementis ; þe contrarie þei ffyndyn

Gramer þe grounde of all ; bigiliþ now childrin

For is non of þese new clerkis ; who-so nymeþ hede

þat can versiffie ffaire ; ne fformeliche enditen

Is not on amongis an hundrid ; þat an auctoure can construe

Ne rede a letter in any langage ; but latyn & englishe

Go now to ony degre ; & but if gyle be maister

and fflaterere his ffelaw ; vndir him to fformen

Moche wondir me þinkiþ ; amongis us alle

Doctours of decres ; & of diui{ti}nnite maistris

þat shulden kunne & knowe ; al-kyns clergie

and answere to argumentis ; & also to a quodlibet

I dar not segge it ffor shame ; if swiche werin aposide

þey shulden ffayle of her philosophie ; in her phesik boþe

wher-ffor I am afferde ; of ffolk of holi chirche

lest þei ouere-hippe as oþer don ; in offices & in houris

and if þei ouerehippen as I hope not ; oure bileue sufficiþ

as clerkis in corpus christi ffeste ; Syngen and reden

þat sola ffides sufficit ; to saue with lewde peple

and so mown sarasens be saued ; scribes & Iues

allas þanne . but oure lores-men ; leuen as þei leren us

and ffor her lyuynge P þat lewde men ; be þe loþer god to gulten

For sarasens han sumwhat ; semynge P to oure beleue

For þey be-louen & bileuen ; in oo persone almyȝty

And we lered & lewde ; in oo god bileuen

And on makomede ; a man of mysbileue

Brouȝte sarasens of surre ; & se in what manere

þis makomede was cristen ; & ffor he muste not be a pope

In-to surre he souȝte ; & þoruȝ his sotille wittis

Dauntede a dowue dove ; & day & nyȝt hir ffedde

The corn þat she croppyde ; he caste it in his ere

and if he amonge þe peple prechede ; or in place come

þanne wolde þe coluer come ; in-to þe clerkis ere

Menynge as after mete ; þus machomede hir enchauntede

and dede ffolk þanne ffalle on knees ; ffor he swore in his prechinge

þat þe culuer þat come so ; come ffro god in heuene

as messager to makomede ; men ffor to teche

and þus þoruȝ wylis of his witt ; & a whyte dowue

Makomede in myfblieue ; men & wommen brouȝte

þat lered & lewde ; ȝit leuen on his lawes

And siþen oure saueour suffrede ; þe sarasenes so bigylide

þoruȝ a cristen clerk ; acursid in his soule

and ffor dreþe of þe deþe ; I dar not telle truþe

How englisshe clerkis a culuer ffeden ; þat coueityse hatte

and ben manered after makomede ; þat no man vsiþ truþe

ancres and hermytes ; & monkis & ffreris

peren to apostelus ; þoruȝ her parfiȝt leuynge P

wolde neuer þe ffeiþeffull ffader ; þat his mynystris shulden

Of terauntis þat tenen trewe men ; take ony almesse

But do as domynyk dede ; antony & ffraunceys

Benet & bernarde ; þe whiche hem ffrist tauȝte

To lyue bi litill in lowe housis ; be lelle mennys almesse

Grace shulde growe & be grene ; þoruȝ here good leuynge PC

and ffolkis shulde ffynde ; þat ben in dyuerse sekenesse

þe better ffor her biddinges ; in body & in soule

here preyeris & her penaunces P ; to pees shulde bringe

alle þat ben at debate ; & bedemen were trewe

Petite & accipietis & cetera

salt saueþ catell ; seggen þese wyues

vos estis sal terre & cetera

þe bedis of holy chirche ; & þei holy weren

Crist calliþ hem salt ; ffor cristen soulis

Et si sal euanuerit ; in quo salietur

and ffresche fflesche oþer ffische ; whanne it salt ffailiþ

Is vnsauery ffor soþe ; soþe soden or ybake

So is mannys soule soþely ; þat seeþ no good ensaunpill

Of hem of holi chirche ; þat þe hye weye shulde teche

And bi guyde & go be-ffore ; as a good baneoure

And hardie hem þat ben be-hynde ; & ȝeue hem good euydence

Eleuene holi men ; all þe world turnede

In-to lele bileue ; þe lyȝtlyere me þinkiþ

shulden al manere men ; we han so many maistris

Prestis & prechouris ; & a pope aboue

þat godis salt shulde be ; to saue mannys soule

all was heþenesse sum tyme ; Englond & Walis

Tyll gregori gerte clerkis ; to go & to preche

austyn at Cauntirbiry ; Cristenede þe kynge

and þoruȝ myracles as men mown reden ; all þat marche he turned

To crist & to cristendom ; & crosse to honoure

and ffulled ffolk ffaste ; and þe ffeiþe tauȝte

More þoruȝ miracles ; þanne þoruȝ moche prechinge

as well þoruȝ his werkis ; as with his holi wordis

and saide hem ; whatt ffullynge & ffeiþ was to mene

Cloþe þat comeþ ffro þe weuynge ; is not comly to were

Tille it be ffullid vndir ffote ; or in ffullynge stokkis

wasshen well with water ; & with tacellis cracched

ytoukid & yteyntid ; and vndir tailours hand

and so it ffareþ be a baron ; þat born is of wombe

Tyll it be cristenede in cristes name ; & conffermede of þe bischoppe

It is heþene as to heuenewarde ; and helples to þe soule

heþen is to mene after heþ ; and vntilid erthe

as in wylde wildirnesse ; waxyn wylde bestis

Rude and vnresounable ; rennynge with-out crepres

Ȝe menen well how mathew said ; how a man made a feste

he ffedde hem with no venyson ; ne ffesauntis y-bake

but with ffoulis þat ffrom him nolde ; but ffollewid his whystelyng

Ecce altilia

with calues fflesshe ffedde ; þe ffolk þat he loued

þe calue betokeneþ clennesse ; in hem þat kepen lawis

For as þe cow þoruȝ kynde mylk ; þe calue nurschiþ to an oxe

So loue and lewte ; lele men susteyneþ

and maydenes and mylde men ; mercy desirin

Ryȝt so þe cow calf ; coueytiþ swete mylk

So don riȝtffull men ; mercy and trewþe

and who ben þat excusen hem ; þat arn parsonys & prestis

þat hedis of holy chirche ben ; þat han here wille here

with-out trauayle þe tiþe dell ; þat trewe men be-swykyn

þei wull be wroþe ffor I write þus ; & wittenesse I take

Boþe mathew & mark ; & memento domine dauid

what pope or prelat now ; parfformeþ þat crist hiȝte

Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate

allas þat so long . on makomede shulden bileue

so many prelatis to preche ; as þe pope makeþ

Of nazareþ of Nynyue ; of neptalym & damask

þat þey ne wente as crist wisseþ ; syþe þey wull haue name

To be pastouris & preche ; þe passion of Ihesus

and as him-self said ; so to lyue & deye

Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & cetera

and said it in salvacion ; of sarasens & oþer

For cristen and vncristen ; crist said to prechouris

Ite vos in veneam meam & cetera

and siþe þat þese sarasens ; scribes and Iues

han lippe of oure bileue ; þe lyȝtliere me þinkiþ

þey shulden turne who-so trauaile wolde ; to teche hem of þe trinite

querite & inuenietis & cetera

It is ruþe to rede how ; riȝtwise men leueden

how þey deffouled P here ffleisshe ; ffor-soken her owen wille

Fer fro kyþ & fro kynne ; yuell ycloþed ȝeden

badely y-beddid ; no book but concience

Ne no richesse but þe rode ; to rejoycen hem Inne

absit michi gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri & cetera

and þo was plente & pees ; amongis pore & riche

and now is reuþe to rede ; how þe reed noble

Is reuerencid er þe rode ; receyued ffor þe worþiere

þanne cristis crosse þat ouer-cam ; deþe and dedli synne

and now is werre & woo ; & who-so why askeþ

For coueityse after crosse ; þe croune stant in gold

boþe riche and religious ; þat rode þey honoren

þat in grotus is grauen ; and in golden noblis

For coueitise of þat crosse ; men of holi chirche

shull turne as tem{.}pleris diden ; þe tyme approcheþ ffaste

wyte ȝe not wise men ; how þo men honouredenP

More tresore þanne truþe ; I dar not telle þe soþe

Roson and riȝtffull dom ; þo religious demeden

Riȝt so ȝe clerkis ffor ȝoure ; coueitise er longe

shull þei deme dos ecclesie ; & ȝoure pride depose

Deposuit potentes de sede & cetera

If knyȝhode & kynde witt ; & comune concience

To-gedris loue leli ; leueþ it well ȝe bisshopis

Þe lordschipe of londis ; ffor euere ȝe shull lese

and leue as leuetici ; as oure lord ȝou techeþ

per primicias & decimas & cetera

whanne Constantyn of curteysie ; holi chirche dowede

with londis & leedis ; lordschipis and rentis

an aungell men herdyn ; on hie at rome crie

hodie venenum est effusum in ecclesia dei

Dos ecclesie þis day ; haþe dronkyn venem

and þo þat han petrus power ; arn apoysond alle

A medecyne muste þer-to ; þat may amende prelatis

þat shulden prey ffor þe pees ; possession hem letteþ

Takeþ her londis ȝe lordis ; and late hem leue be dymes

If possession be poyson ; and imparffiȝte hem make

Good were to dischargyn hem ; ffor holi chirches sake

And purgen hem of poyson ; or more perell ffalle

If presthode were parffiȝt ; þe peple shulde amende

þat contrarien cristis lawe ; and cristendom dispisen

For alle paynemys preyen ; and parffiȝtly bileuen

In þe holi grett god ; and his grace þe axen

and maken her mone to makomede ; her massage to schewe

þus in ffeiþ leuen þat ffolk ; & in a ffals mene

and þat is ruþe ffor ryȝtffull men ; þat in þe rewme wonnen

and in perell to þe pope ; and prelatis þat he makiþ

and beryn bisschoppis names ; of bedelem & of babiloyne

þat hippen abouȝte Englond ; to halewyn mennys auters

and cropen amongis curatouris ; conffession aȝeins þe lawe

Nolite mittere falcem

Many man ffor cristis loue ; was martirid in romayne

Er þan ony cristendom was knowen þere ; or ony crosse honoured

Euery bisshoppe þat beriþ crosse ; bi þat he is holdyn

þoruȝ his prouynce to passe ; and to his peple schewe him

Telle hem and teche hem ; of þe trinite to bileue

and ffede hem with gostly ffode ; & gyue þer it nedeþ

In domo mea non est panis nec vestimentum & ideo nolite constituere me in regem

Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum vt sit cibus in domo & ceteraT

Osias seiþ ffor swiche ; þat seek ben and ffeble

and we cristen creaturis ; þat on þe crosse bileuen

ar fferme as in þe ffeiþ ; godis fforbode ellis

and han clerkus to kepe us þer-inne ; & þam þat shull come after

and Iues leuen in lele lawe ; oure lord wrote him-self

In ston ffor it stedeffaste is ; and stonde shall euere

Dilige deum & proximum tuum ; is parffiȝt Iues lawe

and toke it moyses to teche ; men till messie come

and þat lawe þey leuen ȝitt ; & leten it þe beste

and ȝit knowen þei crist ; þat cristendom tauȝte

For a parffiȝt proffiȝt ; þat moche peple sauede

Of selcouþe sores ; þei seiȝen it ofte

Boþe of miracles & merueylis ; & how he men ffestid

with two ffisshis and ffyue loues ; ffyue þouusande peple

and be þat mangerie men myȝte se ; þat messie he semede

and whanne he lifte vp lazar ; þat leyd was in graue

and vnder ston deed & stanke ; with stiffe voice he callid

lazare veni fforas

dede him rise and rome ; riȝt be-ffore þe Iues

and þey seyden and sworen ; with sorcerie he wrouȝte

and studied to stroye him ; & struydend hem-self

and þoruȝ his pacience ; her power ; to pure nouȝt he brouȝte

pacientes vincunt

Danyell of her vndoynge ; deuyned and saide

Cum sanctus sanctorum

and ȝit wenen þo wrecchis ; þat he were pseudo C propheta

veniat . cessabit vnccio vestra

and þat is lore be lesingis ; and lakken it alle

and hopen þat he be to comen ; þat shall hem releue

Moyses est or messie ; her maistris ȝit deuyneþ

and sarasens & pharisees ; scribes & grekis

arn ffolk of oo ffeiþ ; þe ffader god þey honouren

and siþen þat þe sarasens ; & also þe Iues

kun þe ffrist clause of oure bileue Credo in deum patrem & cetera

Prelates of cristen prouynces ; shulden preue if þei myȝten

lere hem litlum & litlum ; & in Ihesum christum filium eius & cetera

Tille þei couþen speke & spelle ; & in spiritum sanctum

and rede it & recorde it ; with remissionem peccatorum / Carnis resurreccionem & vitam eternam amen