and so my wytt vexe & vanyed tyll I a foole were

and some lacked my l{ou}yve & alowed ytt fewe

and leten for a lorell {to serue lordes & ladyes} & lothe to reuerensen

lordes or ladyes or any lyffe elles

as psouns / p[er]souns In pelo{u}vr wythe pendantz off syl{u}ver

to sergeantes ne to s{u}oyche seyde noght oon{es}ce

god looke you lordes & lo{u}vted fayre

that folke helde me a foole & In that folye I ra{u}ved

tyll reason had re{u}vthe on me and rocked me a-slepe

tyll I seygheP as ytt sorcerye were a subtyle thyng wyth-all

oon wythoute tong & teethe tolde me whydre I sholde

& wheroff I came & what kynd I con{iu}Ivred hym at þe last

yff he were crystes creature for crystes lo{u}ve me to tell

I am crystes creature quod he & crysten In many places

In crystes co{u}vrte I-knowe well & off hys kynne aparte / a parteLX

ys nether petur þe porter ne poule wyth hys fawchoune

that wole defend me þe doore dyng I neuer so late

att mydnyght att mydday my voyce ys well I-knowe

that eche creature off hys co{u}vrte welcomethe me fayre

what are ye called In þat co{u}vrte quod I amogest / amo[n]gest crystes poeple

wyle I quycke was In þe corps quod he called am I anima

and when I wylne & wold animus I hatte

for I can & knowe called am I mens

& when I make moone to god memoria ys my name

& when I deme domes & doo as trewthe teychethe

then ys ratio my ryght name and reason In englysshe

& when I feele þat folke tellethe me my name ys :sensus:

& þat ys wytt & wyssdome þe well off all craftes

and when I chalenge or chaleng noght cheape or ref{u}vse

then am I conscyence called goddes clerke & hys notarye

and when I lo{u}ve leally our lord & all other

then ys leall lo{u}ve my name and In latyn amor

& when I flee fro þe Flesshe and forsake þe caroygne

then am I spyryte specheles /spiritus/ þen I hatte

augustyne & Isodorus & eyther off theym bothe

neue{n}ved / neue[n]ed me þus to name now thowe may chosse

how þou co{u}vetyst to call me nowe knowesthowe my names

anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur /: dum

ye been asT a bysshoppe quod I all bo{u}vrdyng that tyme

for bysshops y-blessedd beyre many names

presul and pontifex and metropolitanus

and other names an heape as episcopus and pastor

that ys sothe seyde he nowe I see þi wyll

thow woldest knowe & konne {theyre names} þe ca{u}vse off all þeir names

& off myne yff þou myghtest me thynke by thye speeche

ye syr he sayde so þat no man were gre{u}ved

all þe scyences vndre sonne & all þe subtyle craftes

I wold knowe & konne perfytelyche In my herte

then arte thow vnperfytt quod he & on off prydes knyghtes

for s{u}oche a l{u}vst & lykyng {bucy}P lycyfer fell from hey{u}ven

ponam pedem meum in aquilone et similis ero altissimo :

ytt were ageynst kynd quod he & alkynnes reason

that any creature sh{u}olde konne all except cryste a-lone

ageynst s{u}oche salamon speykethe & dyspysethe theyre wyttes

and seyethe / sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum :

to englysshe men thys ys to meane þat may speake & here

the man þat moche hony eytethe hys mawe ytt englaymethe

and þe more þat a man off good matter heyrethe

but he do therafter ytt dothe hym do{u}vble skathe

beatus vir sayethe se{n}ynteP bernarde qui scripturas legit

et verba vertit in opera fullyche to hys power

co{u}vetyse to konne & to knowe scyence

put oute off paradyse adam & e{u}ve

scientie appetitus hominem immortalitatis gloriam spoliauit

but ryght as hony {e} ys y{u}vell to defye & engleymethe þe mawe

ryght so þat thrughe reason wolde þe roote knowe

off god & off hys myghtes hys grace ytt lettethe

for yn þe lykyng lyethe a pryde & In a lykehames co{u}vetyse

ageynst crystes co{u}vnseyle & all clerkes teychyng

that ys non plus sapire / sap[e]re quam oportet sapere :

freres & other masters that to þe lewed men preychen

mo{u}ven matters vnmeysurables to tellen off þe trynyte

that offte tymes þe lewde poeple off þeir byle{u}ve dowten

bettre to ley{u}ve were many docto{u}vrs s{u}oyche teychyng

& tell men þe tenne commandementz & to{u}vche þe sey{u}ven synnesT

& how þat folk In folyes myspenden theyr fy{u}ve wyttes C

as well freres as other folke folysshlyche spenden

In howsyng yn hatteryng yn hygh claregye shewyng

more for pompeP the{r}n for pure charyte þe poeple woote þe sothe

that I lye noght loo / for lordesP ye pleysen

and re{u}verensen þe ryche the rather for theyr syl{u}ver

confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia & cetera

et alibi: vt quid diligis / dilig[it]is vanitatem & queritis mendatiumC

go ye to the glose off the werse ye greate clerkes

&C yff I lye on you to my lewde wytt leydethe me to brynnyng

for as ytt semethe ye forsake no mannes almes

off vserers off hoores off a{u}varouse chapmen

& lo{u}vten to thes lordes þat may le{n}ve you nobles

ageyne your r{u}vle & relygyon I take recorde off Iesus

that seyde to hys descyples ne sitis personarum acceptores:

off thys mattyer I myght make a long byble

but off curato{u}vrs off crystyen poeple as clerkes beyren wytnes

I shall tell ytt for trewthe sake take hede wo-so lokethe

as holynes and honeste owte off holy churche spreydethe

thrugh leall ly{u}vyng men / that goddes lawe teychen

ryght so owte off holy churc{e}he all e{u}vellT spreydethe

there ymperfytt preesthoode ys preycho{u}vrs & teycho{u}vrs

and se ytt by ensample In somer tyme on trees

there some bowes beene ley{u}ved and some beyre non

there ys a myscheffe In the more off s{u}oyche maner bowes

ryght so persones & prestes and preycho{u}vrs off holycherche / holy cherche

that are rootes off the faythe to {reule} re{u}vle þe poeple

but there þe roote ys roten reason woote þe sothe

shall neuer flower ne fr{u}vyte ne fayre leyffe be grene

for-thy wold ye lettered ley{u}ve / þe leccherye off clothyng

and be kynd as fell for clarkes & co{u}vrteyse of crystes gooddes

trewe off your tonges & off your tales bothe

& hate to here harlottrye & not to vndrefong

{the} tythes off trewe thyng tylyed & chaffered

loothe were lewde men but they your r{u}vle folowed

and amende þem þat myssdoone more thrugh your ensamples

then for to preyche & pro{u}ve ytt noght ypocrasy ytt semethe

for ypocrysy yn latyn / ys lykened to a d{u}vnghyll

that were bysnowed wyth snowe & snakes wythynne T

ryght so many preestes preychers & preelates

ere enbla{u}vnchede wyth ( beale paroles)P & wyth clothes also

but your werkes & wordes thervndre be vnlycheT

Iohannes crisostomus off clerkes speykethe & preestes

sicut de templo omne bonum egreditur / sic de templo omne malum procedit

yff lewde men wyst what þis laten meanethe

and wo was myne a{u}vtore moche wondre me thyn{g}kethe

but yff manye a preeste beyre for hys baselard & hys brooches

a payre beydes In hys hand & a boke vndre hys arme

syr Ihon & syr geffrey ha{u}ve a gyrdell off syl{u}ver

a baselarde & a ballock knyffe wyth botons ouer-gylte

but a port{u}vos sholde be hys plowe placebo to sygge

had he neuer ser{u}vyce to sa{u}ve syl{u}ver þerto / seyethe ytt wyth ydle wyll

alas ye lewde men moche leese they on preestes

but þing þat wyckedlyche ys wonne & wyth fal{s}ce sleyghtes

wold neuer off wytty god þe wyt / but wyked men ytt hadde

wyche are preestes ymperfytt and preycho{u}vrs after syl{u}ver

secto{u}vrs & so{u}vth{}deanes somono{u}vrs & theyre lemmanes

thys that wyth gyle was gotten vngracyo{u}vslye ys spended

so harlotes and hoores ere helpen wyth s{u}oyche gooddes

& goddes folke for defa{u}vte theroff forfaren and spyllen

c{u}vrato{u}vrs off holychurche / holy churche as clerkes þat beene a{u}varous

lyghtlyche þat they ley{u}ven loselles ytt ha{u}vethe

or dyethe Intestate & þen the bysshoppe enterethe

and makethe myrthe therwythe & hys men bothe

and say he was a nygarde that no goode myght spare

to frend ne to frembde the fende haue hys so{u}vle

for a wrecched hoo{u}vse he helde all hys lyffe tyme

and þat he spared & byspared spend we yn myrthe

by lered & by lewde þat lothe are to spende

thysLX goon theyre gooddes / by {e} the goost faren

but for goode men god woote greate doole {..y}menP maken

& by-meannen good meyte-gy{u}vers & In mynd ha{u}ven

ye prears & pennance and yn perfytt charyte

whatt ys charyte quod I tho / a chyldysshe thyng he sayde

nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli non intrabitis in regn{o}vm celorum

wythoute fa{u}vntelte or folye a fre lyberall wyll

where sholde men s{u}oche a frende wyth so fre an harte

I haue ly{u}ved In londe quod I my name ys long wyll

and fo{u}vnde I neuer full charyte byfore ne beynde

men beene mercyable to mendynantz & to pouerre / poure botheP

& wyll leane there þei le{u}ve leally to be payde

but charyte þat paule preysethe best & most pleasethe our sa{u}vyour

nonT inflatur non est ambiciosa non querit que sua sunt

I seygh neuer s{u}oche a man so me god helpe

that he ne wolde aske after hys & other-whyle co{u}veyte

thyng þat nedythe hym noght & nyme yt yff he myght

clerkes kenne me that cryste ys In all places

but I segheP hym neuer sothely but as my-selfe yn a myrro{u}vr

Ita in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem:

& so I trowe trewly by þat men tell off charyte

ytt ys noT champyons fyght / ne chaffayre as I trowe

charyte quod he ne chafferethe noght ne chalegethe / chale[n]gethe ne cra{u}vethe

as pro{u}vde off a peny as off a po{u}vnd off golde

& ys as glade off a gowne off a grey r{u}vssett

as off a t{u}vnycle off tarce or off tryed skarlett

he ys gladde to all gladde & goode to all wycked

& le{n}vythe & lo{u}vethe all þat our lorde made

c{u}vrsethe he no creature ne he can beyre no wrathe

ne no lykyng hathe to lye ne la{u}vghe men to scorne

& all þat men seyne he letethe sothe & yn solace takethe

& all maner myscheffes In myldenes he sufferethe

co{u}vetethe he non yerlyT goode but hey{u}ven-ryche blysse

hathe he any rentes or ryches or any frendes

off rentes ne off ryches recchethe he ne{u}ver

for a frende þat fyndethe hym fayled hym neuer at nede

fiat voluntas tua : fynt hym e{u}ver-more

& yff he so{u}vpe he eytethe but a soppe off spera in deo

he can pourtrye well þe pater-noster & paynte yt wyth a{u}vees

& other-wyle he wont to wend pylg{y}rymages

there pore men & prysoners lyggen ther perdone to haue

thogh he beyre theyme noP bred he beyrethe swetter ly{u}veloode

lo{u}vethe as our lorde byddythe & lokethe how they fare

& when he ys wery off that worke þen wole he some-tyme

laboren yn la{u}vendrye well þe lenght off a myle

and yerne In-to tro{u}vght & ȝepelyche speke

pryde wyth all þer app{u}vrtenancys & packen þem to-gydders

& bo{u}vken theym att hys brest & bowken theym cleyne

& lyggen on long wyth laboraui in gemitu meo :

& wyth warme water att hys eyen wasshen theym after

& þen he syngethe when he doethe so & some-tyme sayethe wepyng

cor contritum et humiliatum deus non dispicies :

but cryst I wolde I knewe hym no creature le{u}vere

wyth-oute helpe off pyers plowman quod he hys person seeste þou neuer

where clerkes knowe hym quod I þat kepen holy cherche

clerkes haue no knowyng quod he but by workes & wordes

but pyers þe plowman percey{u}vethe more depper

where ys þe wyll & wherfore þat many aT wyght sufferythe

et vidit deus cogitationes eorum ://

for þer are full pro{u}vde herted men pacyent off tong

and buxome as off beyryng to burgesys & to lordes

& to po{u}vre poeple haue peppur In þe nose

and as a lyon he lokethe ther men lakken hys workes

for þer are bugeysys / bu[r]geysysLG & bydders beydemen as ytt were

loken as lambren & semyn lyffe-holy

but ytt ys more to haue þer meyte In s{u}oyche maner

then for pennance or perfyttnes the po{u}verte þat s{u}oche takethe

therfore by colo{u}vr ne by clargy knowe shalt þou hym neuer

nether thrugh wordes ne workes but thrugh wyll alone

& þat knoethe no clerke ne creature yn yerthe

but pyers þe plowman : :petrus id est cristus :

for he ys noght yn lollers ne yn lewde lepers hermytes

ne at ankers there a box hangethe all s{u}oyche þei fayten

Fye vp-on Fayto{u}vrs and on fautores suos

for charyte to goddes champyon & as a goode chylde hende

& þe meryest off mo{u}vthe att meyte wher he syttethe

the lo{u}ve þat l{e}yethe yn hys herte makethe hym {hym} lyght of speche

& ys compaygnable & confortyve as cryst bytt hym-sel{u}ve

nolite fieri sicut ipocrite tristes ://

for I haue seene hym in sylke & some-tyme InP r{u}vssett

bothe yn grey & yn grys and yn gylte harnes

and as gladlyche he ytt gaffe to goomes þat ytt neded

edm{u}vnd & edward ether were kynges

and seyntes y-sett tyll charyte theym folowed

I haue seene charyte also syngen & reden

bydden & rennen yn ragged weedes

for byddyng as beggers doone byheld I hym neuer

but In ryche roobes rathest he walkethe

y-called & crymaylled & hys crowne sha{u}ve

& clenlyche y-clothed In cypres & In tartaryne

and In a freres frocke he was fo{u}vnde oon{es}ce

but ytt ys fare a-goo In seynte franceyes tyme

and In þat secte {sylde} sythe to selde hathe he be knowen

ryche men he recommendythe & theyre robes takethe

that wythowten wyles leyden theyre ly{u}ves

beatus est diues qui et cetera//

yn þe kynges co{u}vrte he comethe oft þer þe counseyll ys trewe

but yff co{u}vetyse be off co{u}vnseyle {we}he wyll not comme þerynne

In co{u}vrt among Iapers he comethe butT selde

For bra{u}vlyng & backbytyng & beyryng off fal{s}ce wyttnes

In consystorye before þe commyssorye he comethe not full ofte

for þer lawe d{u}vrethe ouer long but yff þei lacche syl{u}ver

& matrymoygne for {off} money maken & vnmaken

and þat coscyence / co[n]scyence & cryste hathe knytt faste

they vndone yt vnworthylye þes docto{u}vrs off lawe

but I ne lack no lyffe but lord amend vs all

& gyve {y}vs grace good god charyte to folowe

for wo myght mete wyth hym s{u}oche maners hym aylethe

nether he bannethe ne blamethe ne bostethe ne preysethe

Tcra{u}vethe ne co{u}vetythe ne cryethe after more

lackethe ne losethe ne lookethe vp sterne

In pace inidipsum / in idipsum dormiam et requiescam ://

þe most l{o}y{u}veloode he ly{u}vethe by ys lo{u}ve yn goddes passyon

nether he byddethe ne beggethe ne borowethe to yelde

myssdoethe he no man ne wyth hys mo{u}vthe gre{u}vethe

amongest crystyen men thys myl{e}dnes sh{u}olde laste

In all maner angres haue þis In herte

that thogh þei suffered all thys godP {f}sufferedP for vs more

In ensample we sh{u}olde do soo and take no wengeance

off our foos þat doone vs falssnes that {.}ys our fadres wyll

for well may euery man wytte yff god wolde hym-sel{u}ve

shulde neuer Iudas ne Iewe haue Iesu doone on roode

ne haue martered petur ne poule InT pryson holden

but he suffered yn ensample þat we suffre also

and seyde to s{u}oyche þat suffer wolde þat pacientes vincunt :

verbi gracia quod he & verrey ensamples manye

In ligenda sanctorm / sanctor[u]m the lyffe off holy seyntes

what pennance & po{u}verte & passyon theLX suffered

yn hongre & yn heate yn all maner angres

antony & egydy & other holy fadres

woneden In wyldernes amongest wylde beastes

monkes & mondynantz / m[e]ndynantz men by theym-sel{u}ve

In spekes & speklo{n}vkes / spelo[n]kesT seelde speke to-gyddres

but neuer antonye ne egydy ne herymytes þat tyme

off lyons ne leopardes no ly{u}veloode ne tooke

but off fo{u}vles þat flyghen þus fynd men In bookes

except þat egyde after an hynde cryed

and thrughe þe mylke off þat mylde beaste þe man was susteyned

and day by day had he hyr noght hys hongre for to slake

but selde & sondrye tymes as sayethe þe boke & teychethe

antonye a dayes abo{u}vte noone tyme

had a bryd þat broght hym breyd þat he by ly{u}ved

& thoghe þe goome had a gest : god fond theym bothe

poul primus heremita had parrokked hym-sel{u}ve

that no man myght hym see for mosse & for ley{u}ves

Fo{u}vhles hym fedde fellLX wynters wythe all

tyll he fownded freres off a{u}vg{u}vstynes ordre

poule after hys preychyng panȝers he made

and wanne wyth hy{n}s P handys þat hys wombe nedethe

petur fysshed for hys foode & hys felowe andrewe

some þei solde & some they soothe / & so they ly{u}ved bothe

& also marye magdalyne by moores ly{u}ved & dewes

but most thrughe de{u}votyon and mynd off god almyghtye

I shold not thys sey{u}ven dayes seggen theym all

that ly{u}vyden thysLX for oure lordys lo{u}ve many long yeres

but there ne was lyon ne leoparde that on landesLX wenten

nether ne borre ne other beaste wylde

that ne fell to theyre feete and fa{u}vned wyth þer tayles

and yff þei co{u}vlde haue carped by cryste as I trowe

they wold haue feedde þat folke byfore wylde fowles

but god send þem foode by foughles & by no wylde beastes

In meanyng þat meke thyng / mylde thyng sholde feede

as wo seyethe relygyo{u}vse ryghtfull men sholde fynde

and lawfull men to lyffholy men ly{u}veloode bryng

& þen wolde lordes & ladyes be lothe to agylte

& to take off theyre tenantes more then trowgh wolde

Fond þei þat freres wold forsake theyre almes

& bydden them beyre ytt þer ytt was y-borowed

for we be goddes fowheles & abyden al{l}way

tyll bryddes bryng vs meate þat we sh{u}olde ly{u}ve by

For had ye potage & payne & penny ale y-noghe

and a meyse þer-mydde off any maner kynd

ye had ryght ynowghe ye rylyg{o}yo{u}vse so your re{u}vle me tolde

numquam dicit Iob rugit onager cum herbam habuerit : aut :

C yff lewde men knewe thys laten: þei wolde loocke to gy{u}ve

and auyse þem a-fore fy{u}ve dayes {off} or syxe

er they amortysed to monkes & chanons þer rentes

alas lordes & ladyes lewde co{u}vnceyle haue ye

to gy{u}ve fro your heyres þat your ayeles had

and gy{u}vethe to bydde for you to s{u}oche þat beene ryche

and beene fo{u}vnded & feasted eke to bydde for other

who perfo{u}vrnethe þis profecye off þe poeple þat nowe ly{u}vethe

dispersit dedit pauperibus://

yff any poeple perfome / perfo[r]me þis texte ytt are þe pore freres

For þat þei beggen aboute In beeldyng they spendeT

on theyre-sel{u}ve some & on s{u}oche as beene þeir laboro{u}vrs

& off þat haue þei taken and gyve theym þat ne ha{u}vethe

but clerkes & knyghtes & com{u}vners þat beene ryche

feele howLX you faren / & yff I a forest hadde

that were full off fayre trees & y fo{u}vnded & caste P

how I myght moo therynne amonges þem sett

ryght so ryche ye robbe þem þat be ryche

& helpen þem þat helpen you & gy{u}vethe there no nede ys

as wo-so fyllede a tonne off a fresshe ry{u}ver

& went forthe wyth þat water / to awoke wyth te{ns}msse

ryght so ye ryche robbetheT & fedethe

them þat haue as ye haue ye make att ease

butt relygyo{u}vse þat ryche beene sh{u}olde rather feaste beggers

then burgesys þat ryche beene as þe booke teychethe

quia sacralegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare:

forthye I co{u}vnseyle all crystyen to confo{u}vrme them to charyte

For charyte wythoute chalyngyng vnchargethe þe so{u}vle

& many a prysoner fro p{u}vrgatorye thrugh hys preyers delyuerythe

but þer ys a defa{u}vte yn þe folke þat the lawe kepe

wherfore folke ys the febylyer & not fyrme off byle{u}ve

and In l{u}vsburwes a lyther a-lay / a yete lokethe he lyke a sterlyng

the merke off þat money ys good / but þe meytell ys feble

& so ytt farethe by some folke nowe þei haue a fayre speche

crowne & crystendome the kynges merke off hey{u}ven

but þe mettell þat ys mannes so{u}vle wyth synne ys fowle alayedT

that no lyfe ne lo{u}vethe other ne our lorde as ytt semethe

for thrugh warre & wycked workes & wedders vnreasonable

wyther wysse shyppmen & wytty clerkes also

haue no byle{u}ve to þe {.} lyst / ne to þe loore off phylossophers

astronomyens all day In theyre artes fayllen

that wyllhome warned byfore what sh{u}olde fall after

shypmen & sheppardes that wyth shypp & shepe wenten

wysten by þe welkne what sholde betyde

as off wedders wyndes they warned men ofte

tylyers þat tylyed þe yerthe toolden theyre masters

by þe seede þat þei sheweLX / what they sell myght

& what to ley{u}ve & what to ly{u}ve by þe lande was so trewe

now faylethe þe folke off the floode & off the land bothe

shepperdes & shypmen & so do thes tylyers

nether konne ne knowenP oon co{u}vrse a-fore a-nother

astromonyens also are att theyr wyttes ende

off þat was calclede off þe elymentes þe contrary þei fynde

gramere þe grounde off all bygylethe now chyldren

For ys non off þes newe clerkes who-so nymmethe hede

that canne versyfye fayre or fo{u}vrmelyche endyte

ne not on amonge an h{u}vndrethe an a{u}vtour can constrewe

ne rede a l{.}etter In any langage but latyn & eng{h}lysshe

go now to any degre but yff gyle be mastre

& flatterer hys felowe vndre hym to fo{u}vrme

moche wondre me thynkethe among vs all

docto{u}vrs off decrees / & off dyuynyte masters

that sholde konne & knowe alkynnes clargye

and answere to arg{u}vmentes and also to a quodlibet

I dare not segge ytt for shame yf s{u}oche were apposed

they sholde fayle yn þeir phylosophy & yn þeir physyck bothe

wherfore I am a-ferde off folke off holy churche

lest þei ouerhyppen as other done yn offyce & yn ho{u}vrs

but yff þei ouerhyppe as I hope noght our byle{u}ve suffysethe

as clerkes yn corpus cristi feaste syngen & reden

that sola fides sufficit to sa{u}ve s{u}oche lewde poeple

and so may sarazenes be sa{u}ved scrybes & Iewes

alas þen but our loorsmen ly{u}ven as þei teyche vs

þat for þeir ly{u}vyng lewdmen / lewd men be lother god to agylte

For sarazenes haue somewhat semyng to our byle{u}ve

For þei lo{u}ve & byle{u}ve In on person almyghty

and we lered & lewde In on god byle{u}ve

and on (macomethe)P a man yn myssbyle{u}ve

broght sarazenes off surre and see In whatt maner

th{e}ys macomethe was crystyen & for he myght not be p{.}apeP

In-to surre he soght & thrugh hys subtyle wyttes

he davn{.}ted a dove and day & nyght hyr fedde

the corne þat she cropped / he cast ytt yn h{e}ys eyre

and yff he among þe poeple preyched / or yn place came

then wolde þe c{u}vl{u}ver come In-to the clerkes eyre

menyng as after meyte (þus macomethe) hyr enchanted

and dyd folkeT fall on knees / for he sware In hys preychyng

that þe c{u}vl{u}ver þat came so came from god off hey{u}ven

as mesenger to macomethe men for to teyche

& þus thrugh wyles off hys wytt and a whyte dowe

macchomett yn myssbyle{u}ve men & wemen broght

þat lered & lewde yett leeuen on hys lawes

& sythe our sa{u}vyour suffered þe sarazenes so begyled

thrugh a c{u}vrsed clerke ac{u}vrsed In hys soule

& for drede off dethe I dare nott tell þe trewthe

how englysshe clerkes a col{u}ver feden þat co{u}veto{u}vse hatte

& bynne manered after macomethe þat no man vsethe trewthe

ancres & heremytes moonkes & freres

peren to appostels thrugh þeir perfytt ly{u}vyng

wold neuer þe feythfull father þat hys mynysters sholde

off tyrantes þat teene trew men taken any almesse

but doone as antony dyd domynycke & fraunceys

benett & bernard wyche theym furst taght

to ly{u}ve by ly{.}ttulleP & yn lowe howses / by leelle menes almesse

grace shold growe & be greene thrugh þeir good ly{u}vyng

& folkes sholde fynde þat been In greate sycknes

the better for theyr byddyng In bodyes & yn so{u}vles

theyr preyers & theyre pennances to pea{s}ce sholde brynge

all þat bynne att debate and redemen been trewe

petite et accipietis & cetera//

salt sa{u}vethe catell seggen thes wy{u}ves

vos est{e}is sal terre et cetera

the beydes off holy churche and þei holye were

cryste callethe þem salt for crysten soules

et si sal euanerit in quo salietur :

but fresshe fless{e}he other fysshe when ytt salt faylethe

ytt ys vnsauery for-sothe y-soothe or bake

so ys mannes soule sothely þat seethe no good ensample

off theym off holycherche þat þe hyghe way sholde teyche

and be gyde & go before as a goode baner

& hardye þem þat be beynde / & gy{u}ve þem goode e{u}vydence

elleuene holye men all þe worlde t{u}vrned

In-to leele byle{u}ve þe lyghtlyer me thynkethe

shold all maner men / we haue so many masters

prestes & preycho{u}vrs & a pope above

that goddes salte sholdbe / shold be / to sa{u}ve mannes soule

all was hethenes some-tyme england & wales

tyll gregory made clerkes to go & to preyche

aug{u}vstyne att cant{u}vrbury crystyned þe kyng

& thrugh myracles as men mowe rede all þat marche to{u}vrned

to cryste & to crystendome þe cros to honore

and fulled folke fast    and þe faythe taghte

more thrugh myracles þen thrugh moche preychyng

as well thrughe hys werkes as wyth hys woly wordes

& seyde þem what fullyng & faythe was to meane

clothe þat commethe fro wetyng ys not comelye to weyreC

tyll ytt be fulled vndre foote or yn fullyng stockes

whassen well wyth water & wyth taseles cracched

y-to{u}vked & y-teynted & vndre teylyo{u}vrs hande

& soo ytt farethe by a barne þat borne ys off wombe

tyll yt be crystyned In crystes name & consermed / con[f]ermed of bysshope

ytt ys heythen as to hey{u}venwarde & helples to þe soule

heythen ys to meane after hethe & vntyled yerthe

as In wylde wyldernes wexen wylde beastes

r{y}vde & vnreysonable rennyng wyth-owte crepres

ye nymmethe well what mathew sayethe how a man made a feaste

he fedde þem wyth no weneson ne pheysandes y-bake

but wyth fouheles þat from hym nolde but folowed hys wystylyng

ecce altilia mea et omnia parata sunt et cetera :

& wythe cal{u}ves flesshe he fedde þe folke þat he lo{u}ved

the calffe betokenethe cleynnes In theym þat kepe þe lawes

for as þe kowe thrughe {..}kynd mylke þe calffe norysshethe to an oxe

so lo{u}ve & lealte lewde men susteyane

and meydens & mylde men marcy desyren

ryght as þe kowe kalffe coueytythe sweete mylke

so doone ryghfull men mercy & trewthe T

but who beene þat exc{u}vsen þem / þat are persones & preestes

that hedes off holye churche beene / þat haue þeir wyll here

wythoute tra{u}vell þe tythe dole / þat trewe men byswynken

they wylbe / wyl be wrothe þat I wroote þisLX / but to wyttnes I take

bothe mathewe & marke & memento domine dauid://

what pope or prelate nowe perfo{u}vrmethe þat cryste hyght

Ite in vniuersum mundum et predicate et cetera ://

alas þat men so longe on machomethe shoolde byle{u}ve

so many preelates to preche as þe pope makethe

off nazarethe off nyny{u}ve off neptalyn off damaske

that þei ne went as cryst wyssethe sythe þei wyll ha{u}ve name

to be pasto{u}vrs & preyche þe passyon off :Iesus :

& as hym-selffe sayde to ly{u}ve & dye

bonus pastor animam suam ponit & cetera //

and seyde ytt yn sal{u}vatyon off sarazenes & Iewes

for crystene & vncrystene cryst sayde to preychers

Ite vos in vineam meam et cetera

& sythe þat þes sarazenes scrybes and Iewes

haue a lyppe off our byle{u}ve / þe lyghtlyer me thynkethe

þei sholde torne wo tra{u}veyle wolde to teyche þem off þe trynyte

querite et inuenietis et cetera //

ytt ys re{u}vthe to rede howe ryght-wysmen / wys men ly{u}vyden

how þei defo{u}vlled þeir flesshe forsooke theyr owen wyll

farre fro kythe & from kynne y{u}vell clothed yeden

badly clade no booke but conscyence

ne no ryches but þe roode to re{i}Ioyce theym ynne

absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri et cetera //

and þo was pleynte & pea{s}ce among po{u}vre & ryche

and now ys re{u}vthe to rede how þe redde noble

ys reuerensed are þe roode receyued for þe worthyer

then crystes cros þat ouercame dethe & deadly synnes

& nowe ys warre & wo & who-so whye askethe

For co{u}vetyse after cros þe crowne stand In golde

bothe ryche & relygyo{u}vse that roode they honoren

that yn þe grote ys I-grauaeP / & yn þe gold nobles

For co{u}vetyse off þat cros men off holye kyrke

shall torne as templers dyd þe tyme approchethe fast

wote ye nat ye wysse men howe þo men honored

more treasure þen trewthe I dare not tell þe sothe

reason & ryghtfull dome þo relygyo{u}vse demed

ryght so ye clerkes for your co{u}vetyse er long

shall þei deemen / dos ecclesie / & your pryde depoosseC

deposuit potentes de sede & cetera //

yff kynghthoode / k[ny]ghthoode & kynd wytt & com{u}vne conscyence

to-geddres lo{u}ve leely le{u}vethe ytt well ye bysshopes

the lordshyppe off lande for e{u}ver ye shall lese

and ly{u}ven as le{u}vytes as our lorde you teychethe

per primitias et {diuitias}decemasT & cetera

when constantyne off co{u}vrtesye holy cherche dowed

wyth landes & leedes lordshyppes & rentes

an angell men herd an hyghe att rome crye

dos ecclesie thys day hathe dronke wenome

and þo þat haue peturs power are empoysoned all

a medycyne m{o}vste þerto þat may amend preelates

that shold pray for þe peas possessyon þem lettethe

take theyre landes ye lordes & lett þem ly{u}ve by þeir dymes

yff possessyon be poysone & ymperfytt þem make

good were to dyschare / dyschar[g]e þem for holy cherches sake

& p{u}vrgen þem off poyson er more peryll fall

yff preesthoode were perfytt þe poeple wold amend

that contraryen crystes lawe & crystendome despyse

for all paynemes preyen & perfyttlye byle{u}ven

In þe holy greate god and hys grace þei asken

& make þeir moone to macomethe þeir message to shewe

thus In a faythe {lyue} lee{u}ve þat folke / & yn a fal{s}ce meane

& þat ys re{u}vthe for ryghtfull men þat yn þe realme won{y}nenP

& yn perell for þe pope & preelates þat he makethe

that beyre bysshoppes names off bethelem & off babylon

that hyppe a-bowte en englande to halowe mennes awtres

& crepe amonge curato{u}vrs confessyon / {g} ageynst þe lawe

nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam ://

many man for crystes lo{u}ve was martered yn romaygne

er any cr{e}ystendome was knowe þ{.}er / or any cros hono{u}vred

euery bysshoppe þat beyrythe cros by that he ys holden

thrugh hys pro{u}vynce to passe & to hys poeple shewe hym

tellen þem & teychen þem on þe trynyte to byle{u}ve

& feden þem wyth gostlye foode & gy{u}ve there ytt nedethe

In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum

et ideo nolite constituere me in regemC

ozias sayethe þat for s{u}oyche as seeke bene & feble

Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum vt cibus in domo & cetera//

but we crysten creatures þat on þe cros byle{u}ven

are fyrme en þe feythe godT forbyde elles

& haue clerkes to kepe vs therynne / & þem þat comethe after

and Iewes l{e}y{u}venT In leele lawe / our lorde wrote hym-sel{u}ve

In stonne for ytt stydfaste ys & stand shall for euer

dilige deum et proximum : ys perfytt Iewes lawe

heP toke ytt moyses to teyche men tyll messye came

& on þat lawe þei lee{u}ven yett & letten ytt þe best

& yett knowe þei cryste þat crystendome taghte

for a perfytt prophete þat moche poeple sa{u}ved

off selco{u}vthe soores þei seyen ytt offte

bothe myracles & merweles & howe he men feasted

wyth two fysshes & fy{u}ve looves fy{u}ve thowsand poeple

& by þat mangerye men myght see þat messye he semed

& when he lyffte vp lazar that leyde was yn gra{u}ve

and vndre stonne deyde & stanke wyth styffe woyce & called

lazare veni foras :

dyde hym ryse & ro{om}vne / rov[m]eP ryght before þe Iewes

but þei seyden & sware wyth sorcyrye he wroght

and st{u}vdyeden hym to stroye and stroiden þemsel{u}ve

and thrugh pacyence þeir powere to p{u}vre noght he broght

pacientes vincunt :

danyell off þeir vndoyng dy{u}vyned & seyde

cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit vnccio vestra :

& yett wenen þo wrecches þat he were pheudo / p[s]eudo-propheta :

and þat ys loore be leysynges & lakken ytt all

& hoope þat he be to come þat shall þem rele{u}ve

mosyes efte or messye theyr masters þei dy{u}vynen

but sarazenes pharaseyes scrybes & greekes

ere folke off on faythe þe fadre god they hono{u}vren

& sythe þat þe sarazenes & also þe Iewes

cane þe furste cla{u}vse off our byle{u}ve credo In deum patrem

prelates and crysten pro{u}vyncez sholde pro{u}ve yff þei myght

lere þem by lytle & lytle et in Iesum cristum filium eius & cetera:

tyll þei co{u}vlde speeke & spell et in spiritum sanctum & cetera

& {d} reden & recorden ytt wyth remissionem peccatorum

carnis resurrexionem et vitam eternam amen