fol. 147v (cont.)fol. 147v
Passus xus / decimus · de visione · & iijus / tertius · de do-weel ·
Thanne hadde wyt{t} a wyf{e} · was hotyn dame studye ·
þat lef{e} was to lereT · And of lyche boþe
sche was wondurly wroth · þat wytt þus me taugthe
and al starynge dame studye · sternly seyde ·
Wel art thu wys quod sche to wytt · eny wysdomes to telle
to flaterers or to folys · þat frentyk ben of wyttes
and blamyd hym · and bannyd hym · and bad hym ben stylle
wyþ suche wyse wordes · to wyssyn eny sottes ·
fol. 148rfol. 148r
and seydyn noli mittere man · margery perles ·
amonge hogges · that han hawes at wylle
þey done but dreuelyn þeron · draf were hem leuere
than al þe precyous perrey · þat yn paradys wexeth
y seye it by suche quod sche · þat scheweþ by her werkys
that h{o}em were leuer · lond and wurschip on erthe
or rycchesse or rentys · or reste at her wylle
þan all þe soþsawes / soþ sawes · þat salamon seyde euere
Wysdom and wyt{t} now · is nougth wurþ a kerse
but ȝif it be cardyd wyþ couetyse · as kembsters kembyn her wolle
who-so can contreue dysceytes · and conspyre wronges ·
and lede foorþ a loueday · to lette wyþ trewthe ·
he þat suche craftes can · to counseyl is clepid
they ledyn lordes wyþ lesynges · and bylyeþ trewþe
Iob þe gentyle · yn his gestys wytnesseth ·
þat wykkyd men {...?...n}weldyn · T þe welþe of þys worlde
and that they be lordys in ylke alonde / a londe · þat out of lawe lybbeth
Quare impij viuunt · bene est omnibus · qui preuaricantur · & {...?...}inique agunt · & cetera
The sauter seyþ þe same · by suche þat don ylle
Ecce impijT peccatores habundantes · in seculo obtinuerunt diuicias ·
Loo seith holy lettrure · whiche woordes be these ·
þulke that god gyueþ most · lest good þey deleth ·
and most vnkynde to þe comoun · þat most catel weldeþ ·
Que perfecisti destruxerunt iustus autem · & cetera ·
Harlotes for her harlotrye · may haue of her go{....}odes
and iapers and iugoloursT · and ianglers of gestys ·
Ac he þat hath holy wrytt · ay yn his mowth ·
and can telle of Thobye · and of þe twelue apostles ·
or prechyn of þe penaunce · þat pylat wrougth
to ihesu þe gentyle · that iewes to-drowe ·
lytil is he louyd · that suche a lessoun scheweth ·
or dauntyd or drawe foorþ · y do it on god hym-sylue ·
But tho that feynyn hem foles · and wyþ faytynge lybbeþ
aȝen the lawe of our lord · and lyen on hem-sylue ·
spyttyn and spewyn · and spekyn fowle woordes ·
drynkyn and dreuelyn · and do men to gape ·
lykne men and lyȝe on hem · that leneþ hem no ȝiftes
they conne nomore mynstracy · ne musyk men to glade ·
than munde the myller · of multa fecit deus
ne were her vyle harlotrye · haue god my trewthe ·
fol. 148vfol. 148v
schulde neuere kyng{e} ne knygth · ne chanoun of seynt poules
ȝyue hem to her ȝeresȝyue · ȝee the ȝifte of a grote
ac merthe and mynstracy · is amonge men nouthe
lecchery and losengerye · and losels tales
glotany and grete othes · þis merthey / merthe þey loueth
Ac ȝif they carpyn of cryst · these clerkes and þyse lewyd
at þe mete yn her merthe · whan mynstrales ben stylle ·
than{.......}ne tellenT they of trynyte · a tale other tweyne ·
and bryngeþ foorth a ballyd resoun · & takyn bernard to wytnesse
and puttyn foorþ a presumpcyoun · to preue the sothe
thus þey dreuelyn at her deys · þe deite to knowe
and gnawyn god wyþ þe gorge · whan þe guttys fyllyn ·
ac þe carful may carpe · and cryȝen at the ȝate
boþe an-hungred and a-þurst{e} and for chele quake
ys noon to nymen hym neer · his noyȝe to amende
but huntyn hym as an hound · and hotyn hym go thennys
lytyl loueþ he þat lorde · þat lent hym all þat blysse ·
that þus parteth wyth þe poore · a parcel whan hym nedeth
Cne were mercy yn mene men · more than yn ryche ·
mendynauntes meteles · myghten go to bedde ·
god is muche yn þe gorge · of þese grete maystres
ac amonges mene men · his mercy and his werkes
and so seith þe sauter · y haue seen it ofte ·
Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata · inuenimus eam in campis silue · & cetera ·
Clerkes and oþerkyn / oþer kyn men · carpyn of god faste
and hauyn moche yn þe mouþ · ac mene men yn herte
frerys and faytours · han foundyn suche questyouns
to plese wyþ proud men · sytthe þe pestylence tyme
and prechyn at seynt poules · for pur enuye of clerkes
that folk{e} is nougth f{..}ermyd yn the feyþ · ne fre of her goodes
ne sory for her synnys · so ys pryde woxen ·
yn relygyoun and yn all þe reme · among{e} ryche and pouere
that prayers han no power · the pestylence to let{..}te
and ȝit þe wrecchis of þys world{e} is noon waar by other
ne for drede of deeþ · wyþdrawyn nougth her pryde
ne beþ plentyfous to þe pouere · as pure charyte wolde
but yn gaynesse and yn glotanye · forgluttyn her good hem-sylue ·
and brekyn nougth to þe beggere · as þe book techeþ
Frange esurienti panem tuum · & cetera
And þe more he wynneth and welt{e} welþes and rycchesse ·
fol. 149rfol. 149r
and lordes yn londes · the lesse good he deleth ·
thobye telleth ȝow nougth so · taketh hede ȝe ryche
how þe book{e} of þe byble · of hym bereþ wytnesse
Si tibi sit copia habundanter tribue ·
Si autem exiguum · illud impertiri stude libenter · & cetera ·
Who-so haue muche spende manlyche so meneth thobye ·
and who-so lytyl weldeth · reule hym þere-aftur
for we haue no lettre of our lyf{e} how longe it schall endure ·
suche lessouns lordes · schuldyn louye to here ·
and how þey mygth most{e} meyne · manly fynde
Nougth to fare as a fytheler · or a frere to seke festes
homlyche at othre mennyshouses / mennys houses · and hatyn her owen ·
elenge is the halle · eche day yn the wyke ·
ther þe lord ne þe lady · lykeþ nougth to sytte ·
now haþ eche ryche arewle / a rewle · to etyn by hem-sylue ·
yn a priue parlour · for poore mennys sake ·
or yn a chambre wyþ a chymneye · & leue þe chefe halle ·
that was maad for melys · men to etyn ynne
and al to spare to spille · that spende schall an nother
I haue herd hiȝe men · atte the table etynge ·
carpyn as they clerkes were · by cryst and of his myghtes
and leyden fawtes vpon þe fader · þat formed vs alle
and carpen aȝen clerkys · crabbyd woordes
why wolde our saueour · suffre suche a worm yn his blysse ·
that bygylyd so the womman · and þe man aftur
thorow whiche wyles and woordes · þey wente to helle ·
and all her seed for her synnys · þe same deeþ suffryd ·
Here lyeþ ȝour lore · lordes gonne despute ·
of þat þe clerkes vs kennyth · by cryst of the gospel
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris · & cetera
Why schulde we þat now ben · for þe werkes of adam ·
{............}be roten and to-rent{e} resoun wolde it neuere
Vnusquis{.}que portabit onus suum · & cetera ·
Suche mootyues they meue · þese maystres yn her glorye
and makyn men yn mysbyleue · þat musyn mochyl on her woordes
ymagynatyf her-aftyrward · schall answere to ȝour purpos
austyn to suche arguers · he telleþ hem þys teme ·
Non plus sapere quam oportet & cetera ·
wylneþ neuere to w{y}eteT · why that god wolde
suffre soT sathan · his seed to be-gyle
fol. 149vfol. 149v
ac byleue lely · yn the lore of holy cherche
and praye hym of pardoun · and penaunce yn thy lyue
and for his mechyl mercy · to amende ȝow here
for alle þat wylneþ to wyte · þe weyes of god almyghty ·
y wolde his eiȝe were yn his ers · & his fyngor aftyr
that euere wylneth to wyte · why þat god wolde
suffre soT sathan · his seed to begyle
or iudas to the iewes · ihesu bytraye
al was {.......}as þu woldest · lorde y-wurschipyd be thu
and wurth as thu wolt · what-so we despute
And þo þat vsyn þese hauylouns · to blende mennys wyttes
what is do-well fro do-bet · {and}T deef mote heT worþe
sytthe he wylneþ to wyte whiche þey ben boþeT
but he lyue yn the lyf · that longeth to do-wel
for y dar ben his bolde bo{...}rwh þat do-bet woll he neuere
for þouȝ dobest drawe on hym · day after oþere
And whan þat wyt{te} was y-waar · what dame studye tolde
he bycam so confused · he cowde nougth loke
and as doumbe as deeþ · and drowh hym arere
and for no carpynge þat y couthe aftyr ne knelynge to the grounde ·
y mygth gete no greyn · of his grete wyttys
but al lauȝhynge he lowted · and lokyd vpon studye
yn sygne þat y schulde · beseche hure of grace
And whan y was war of his wyl · to his wyf gan y loute
and seyde mercy madame · ȝour man schall y wurthe
as longe as y leue bothe late and rathe
forto wurche ȝour wyll · whil my lyf{e} dureth
so þat ȝe kenne me kyndely · to knowe what ys dowel
for þy mekenesse man quod sche · and for þy mylde speche
y schal kenne þe to my cosyn that clergye is y-hotyn
he haþ weddyd a wyf{e} wyth-ynne these sixe monthes
þat is sybbe to þe seuene artz · scripture ys her name
they two as y hope · aftur my techynge
schull wysse þe to dowel · y dar it vndurtake ·
Thanne was he also fayn · as foul of fayr morwe
and gladder þan þe glewman · þat gold{e} haþ to ȝifte
and askyd here þe hiȝe way · where þat glergye / [c]lergye dwelleþ
and telle me by sum tokne quod y for tyme ys þat y wende
Aske þe hiȝe way quod sche · hennys to suffre ·
boþe weel and eke woo · ȝif thu wylte lerne ·
fol. 150rfol. 150r
and ryde foorþ by rycchesse · ac reste þu nougth þerynne
for ȝif þu couplest the þerwyth · to clergye comest þu neuere
And also þe lykerous launde · þat lecchery hatteth ·
leef hym on þy lefthalf{e} / left half a large myle or more ·
tyl þu come to a court · kepe well þy tonge
fro lesynges and lyther speche · and lykerous drynkes
Thanne schalt thu see soberte · and symplesse of speche ·
that eche wygth be yn wylle · his wyt{te} þe to schewe
and þus schalt þu come {tome} to clergye þat can many thynges
seiȝe hym þys sygne · y sette hym to scole ·
and þat y grete well his wyf{e} for y wrote her many bookes
and sette her to sapience · and to þe sauter glosyd ·
logyk y lernyd here · and many othur lawes ·
and alle þe musouns of musyke · y made her to knowe ·
plato the poiete · y putte hym furst to booke ·
arystotle and othre moo · y taugth hem argue ·
gramer for gerles · y gart ferst to wryte ·
and beet hem wyth a balays · but ȝif þey wolde lerne ·
Of allekyn craftes · y contreuyd toolys
of carpuntry of keruers · and compaced masouns ·
and lernyd hem to leuel and lyne þow y looke dymme ·
ac theologie haþ tenyd me · ten score tymes ·
the more y muse þerynne · þe mystyere it semeth ·
and þe depper y dyuyne · þe derker me it þenkeþ
yt is no {con}scyence forsothe · forto sotyle ynne ·
a full{y}eþ{y}y / ful l{y}eþ{y}yP þyng{e} it were · ȝif þat loue nere ·
ac for it leet best by loue · y loue it þe bettre
for þere þat loue is ledere · ne lacked neuere grace ·
looke þu loue lely · ȝif the lyke do wel ·
for dobet and dobest · ben of loues kynne ·
yn othre science it seyth · y say it yn catoun
Qui simulat verbis · nec in corde est fidus amicus
Tu quoque fac simile · sic ars d{.}eluditur arte · & cetera
Who-so gloseþ as gylours don · go me to þe same ·
and so schalt þu fals folk{e} · and feithles bygyle
this is þe catoun kennynge · to folk{e} þat he lereth
Ac theologye techeþ nougth so · who-so taketh ȝeme
he kenneþ vs þe contrarye · aȝenst catouns woordes
for he byt{te} vs be as bretherne · and bydde for our en{n}e{..}mys
and louen hem þat lyen on vs · and lene hem whan hem nedeth ·
fol. 150vfol. 150v
and do good aȝen euel · {....}for god hym-self{e} it hoteth
Dum tempus habemus · operemur bonum ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fidei · & cetera
Poule preched the peple · that {.}parfitnesse louede
to do good for goddys loue · and gyue men that askyn ·
and namly to suche that sewyn oure byleue
and alle þat lacketh vs or lyeth · our lord techeþ vs to louye
and nougth to greuen hem þat greueth vs · god hym-sylf{e} forbad it ·
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam · & cetera ·
for-þy lok{e} thu louye · as longe as thu durest ·
for is no science vndur sonne so souereyn for þe soule ·
ac astronomye is an hard thynge · and euel forto knowe ·
geometrye and geomesye · so gentyl of speche
who-so thenkeþ wurche wyth tho two · þryueth ful late
for sorcery is the souereyn booke · that to tho scyences longeth
Ȝit are ther fybycches yn forcers · of fele mennys makynge
experementes of alkenemye · the peple to desceyue
ȝif thu thenke to do wel · dele þerwyth neuere
alle þese scyences y my-self{e} sotylyd and ordeyned
and foundyd hem formyst · folk{e} to desceyue
telle clergye þese tokenes · and scrypture aftur
to conseyle þe kyndely · to knowe what is do-wel
I seyde gramercy madame · and mekely her grette
and wente wyghtly awey · wyþ-outyn more lettynge ·
and tyl y com{e} to clergye · cowde y neuere stynte
and grette þe goodman · as studye me tolde
and aftyrward þe wyf{e} and wurschiped hem bothe ·
and tolde hym the tokenes · that me taugth were
was neuere gome on þys grounde · syþ god makyd þe worlde
fayrer vndurfongyn ne frendloker at ese ·
than my-sylf{e} sothly · sone so he wyste ·
that y was of wyttes hous · and wyth his wyf dame studye
I seide to hem sothly · that sent was y {......}thider
dowel and dobet · and dobest{e} to lerne
yt is acomoun / a comoun lyf{e} quod clergye · on holy cherche to beleue ·
wyþ alle the articules of þe feyth · þat falleþ to byknowe
and þat is to beleue · lely · both leryd and lewyd ·
on þe grete god · that gynnynge hadde neuere ·
and on þe soþfast sone · þat saued mankynde
fro þe dedly deeþ · and þe fendys powere
thurgh þe helpe of þe holy gost · þe whiche gost{e} {...?...}is of bothe
fol. 151rfol. 151r
thre persones · ac nougth yn plurel noumbre
for alle is but o god · and eche is god hym-sylue
Deus pater deus filius deus spiritus sanctus · & cetera
God the fader god þe sone · god holygoost of bothe
maker of mankynde · and of bestys bothe ·
Austyn the olde · herof maade bookes
and hym-sylf{e} ordeyned · to sadde vs yn byleue
who was his autour · alle þese four euaungelystes
and cryst{e} clepyd hem-self{e} so · þe euaungelistes bereþ wytnes
alle þe clerkes vndur cryst · ne cowdyn þys assoyle ·
but þus it bylongeth to byleue · to lewyd þat wolen dowel ·
for hadde neuere freke fyn wyt{te} · þe feith to despute
ne man hadde no meryte · mygth it ben y-preuyd ·
Fides non habet meritum · vbi humana racio prebet experimentum · & cetera ·
Thanne is dobet to suffre · for the soules helthe ·
and þat þe book byt{te} · by holy cherches techynge ·
and þat is man by thy mygth · for mercyes sake ·
loke thu werche it yn werke · þat þy woord scheweth ·
suche as þu semyst yn sygth · be yn assaye founde ·
Appare quod es vel esto quod appares · & cetera
And lat no-body be · by thy berynge be bygylyd
but be suche yn thy soule · as þu semest wyth-oute ·
than is do-best to be bolde · to blame the gulty ·
syþnes thu semest thy-sylf{e} · as yn soule clene ·
ac blame thu neuere body · and thu be blame-wurthy ·
Si culpare velis · culpabilis esto cauebis ·
Dogma tuum sordet · cum te tua culpa remordet · & cetera
God yn the gospell greuously repreueth
alle þat lacken eny lyf · and lackles han hem-sylue
Qui consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui · trabem in oculo tuo · & cetera ·
Why meuest thu thy mood for a mote · yn thy broþers eiȝe ·
syþen a beem yn thy owen · all blyndeth thy-sylue ·
Eice primo trabem in oculo tuo & cetera ·
whiche letteþ þe to looke · lesse other more ·
I rede eche blynd bosard · do bote on hym-sylue ·
for abbotes and for priores · and for alle manere prelates
and parsouns and paresch preestes · þat preche schulde and teche ·
alle manere of men · to amende · by her myghtes
this tixt was told ȝow · to be war er ȝe taugthe
that ȝe were suche as ȝe seyde · to saue wyth othre ·
fol. 151vfol. 151v
for goddes woord wolde nougth be lost · for þat wercheþ euere
ȝif it a-vayled nougth the comoun · it mygth a-vayle ȝow-sylue ·
Ac it semeþ now soþly · to the worldes sygth
þat goddes woord wurcheth nougth · on lewyd nor yn leryd
but yn suche aman{...}ere / a manere as marke meneth yn the gospel ·
Dum {..}cecus ducit cecum · ambo in foueam cadunt · & cetera ·
Lewyd folk{e} may lykne ȝow thus · þ{a}atP þe beem lyeth yn ȝour eiȝe ·
and þe festu is fallyn · for ȝowr owen deffaute
yn alle manere men · þurgh mansyd preestes
the byble bereþ wytnesse · þat all þe folk{e} of ysrael ·
byttre abouȝtyn the gultes · of two badde preestes
ofn{..}y and phynees · for her couetyse
archa dei myshappyd · and ely brak his nekke ·
forþy ȝe correctours · claweþ her-onne & correcteþ fyrst ȝow-sylue ·
and þanne mowe ȝe sauely seye · as dauid made the sauter ·
Existim{....}asti inique quod ero tui similis · arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam · & cetera
And þanne schull burrel clerkes · ben abaschid to blame ȝow or greue ·
and carpe nougth as þey carpe now · and calle ȝow doumbe houndys
Canes non valentes latrare & cetera ·
And drede to wratthe ȝow yn eny woord · ȝour werkmanschip to lette
and be prestyer at ȝour prayer · than for a pound of noblys ·
and al for ȝour holynesse · haue ȝe þys yn herte ·
In scole þere is scorn · but ȝif a clerk woll lerne
and gret loue and lykynge for eche of hem loueth othre ·
ac now is relygyoun arydere / a rydere · aromere / a romere by stretys
and ledere of louedayes · and a lond-byggere
a prykyere on a palfray · fro maner to maner
an hep of houndys at her ers · as a lord he were
and but ȝif his knaue knele · þat schall his cuppe brynge
he loureþ on hym and lackeþ hym · who taugth hym curtasye ·
lytyl hadde lordes to done · to ȝyue londe fro her heyres
to relygyous that haue no rewthe · þowȝ it reyne on her auters
In many places þere þey parsouns ben · by hem-sylf{e} at ese ·
of þe poore haue þey no pyte · and þat is her charyte ·
and þey letyn hem as lordes · her londes lyn so brode
but þer schal come a kynge and confesse ȝow relygyou{.}s
and bete ȝow as þe byble telleth · for brekynge of ȝour reule ·
and amende monyales · monkes and chanouns ·
and puttyn hem to her penaunce · ad pristinum statum
and barouns wyþ erlys betyn hem · þurgh beatus virres techyng ·
fol. 152rfol. 152r
that her barnys cleymyn · and blamyn ȝow fowle ·
Hij in curribus & hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt · & cetera ·
And þanne frerys yn her freytours · schul fynde a keye ·
of costantynes cofrys · yn whiche is the catel ·
that grygoryes good childryn · han euel despendyd
and þan schall the habbot of habyndoun · & al his yssue for euere
haue a knok{ke} of of / [of] a kyng{e} and {y}incurable ys the wounde
That this wurth · sooth seke ȝe · þat ofte ouerseen · the byble
Quando cessauit exactor quieuit tributum contriuit dominus baculum impiorum
& virgam dominancium · {&} plaga insanabili & cetera ·
Ac er þat kyng{e} come · caym schall awake ·
ac dowel schal dynge hym doun · and destruyen his mygth
Than is do-wel and do-bet quod y · dominus and knygth
y woll nougth scorne quod scrypture · but ȝif scryueynes lye ·
kynghod ne knygthhod · by nougth y can wayte ·
helpeþ nougth to heuenward · on he{...?...}res ende ·
ne rycchesse rygth nougth · ne realte of lordes
poule prechith it {..}impossibleP · ryche men haue heuene ·
Salomoun seith also · that syluer is wurst to louye ·
Nil iniquius quam amare pecuniam · & cetera ·
And catoun kenneþ vs to coueytyn it · nougth but as nede techeþ
Dilige den{o}arium sed parce dilige formam · & cetera
And patryarkes and prophetes · and poetys bothe ·
wrytyn to wyssyn vs · to wylne no rycchesse ·
and preysedyn pouerte wyþ pacyence · þe apostles bere wytnes
that they han erytage yn heuene · and by trewe rygth
ther ryche men no rygth may cleyme · but of reuþe & grace ·
Contra quod y by cryst · that can y preue ·
and preue it by peter · and by poule bothe ·
that is baptysed deth saueth · be he ryche or pouere ·
that is yn extremys quod scrypture · among sarsyns & iewes
they mowe be sauyd so · and that is oure byleue
that an vncrystene yn this caas · may crystyne an{d} hethyne ·
and for his lely byleue · whan he the lyf{e} tyneth ·
haue þe herytage of heuene · as eny man crystene ·
Ac crysten men wyth-oute more · mowyn nougth come to heuene ·
for that cryst for crystyn men · deyde and confermed þe lawe
that who-so wolde and wylneth · wyth cryst to aryse ·
Si cum christo surrexistis · & cetera ·
He schulde louye and lene · and þe lawe fulfulle ·
fol. 152vfol. 152v
that ys {....}loue þi lord god · leuest abouen alle
and aftur alle crystene creatures · yn comoun echeman / eche man othre
and þus bylongeth to louye · that leueth to be sauyd
and but we don þus yn dede · er the day of dome
It schall bysyttyn vs fulsour / ful sour · þe syluer þat we kepyn ·
and our barkes þat motthes etyn · and seen beggers go nakyd ·
or delytyn yn wyn · and wyldefoul · and woot eny yn deffaute
for euery crystene creature · schulde be kynde to othre
and syþþen heþen to helpe · yn hope of amendemente
god hoteþ hyȝe and lowe · þat noman hurte othre
and seith sle nougth þat semblable · is to my owen lyknes
but ȝif y sende þe sum tokne · and seyth non mecaberis
ys sle nougth but suffre · and all for the beste
y schall punysche hem yn purgatorye or {.}in the pyt of helle ·
eche man for his mysdedes · but mercy it lette
This is a long{e} lessoun quod y · and lytyl am þe wysere ·
wher dowel is or dobet · derkly ȝe schewyn ·
many tales ȝe tellyn · þat theologye it lerneth ·
and þat y man maad was · and my name {........}entryd ·
yn þe legende of lyf{e} · long{e} or y were
or ellys vnwrytyn for sum wykkydnesse · as holy wryt wytnesseþ
Nemo ascendit ad celum · nisi qui de celo discendit · & etera ·
I leue it wel quod y be our lord · & on no lettrure bettre
for salamon the sage · that sapyence taugthe
god gaf hym grace of wytte · and alle his goodes aftur
he demyd wel and wysly · as holy wryt telleth
arystotle and he · who wyssyd men bettre
maystres of goddes mercy · techyn men and prechyn
of her woordes þey wyssyn vs · for wysest as {.}in her tyme
and all holycherche holdeth · hem boþe y-dampnyd ·
and ȝif y schulde werke by her werkes · to wynne me heuene ·
that for her werkes and wytt · now cometh yn peyne ·
than wrougth y vnwysly · what-so-euere ȝe preche ·
Ac of fele wytty yn feyth · lytyl ferly y haue ·
thowȝ he / he[r] gost be vngracyous · god forto plese
for many men on þys moolde · more settyn her hertes
yn good þan yn god · forþy hem grace fayleth ·
at her most myscheef · whan þey schul þe lyf lete
as salamon dude and suche oþre · þat schewdyn gret wyttes
ac her werkes as holy wryt {.....}seyth · were euere þe contrarye ·
fol. 153rfol. 153r
forþy wyse wyttyd men · and well y-lettred clerkes
as they seyn hem-syluen · seldom don · þerafter
Super cathedram moysy · & cetera ·
Ac y wene it wurth{e} of manye as was of noes tyme
tho he schoop that schipp · of schydes and boordes
was neuere wrygth saued that wrougth þeron · ne other werkman elles
but bryddes and bestys · and the blessyd noe ·
and his wyf{e} wyth his sonys · and also her wyues
of wyghtes that it wrougthe was noon of hem ysaued ·
God leue it fare nougth so wyth folk{e}P · þat the feith techyn ·
of holy cherche that herb{.}orgh is · and goddys {.}hous to saue
and schildyn vs fro schame þerynne · as noes schypp dede bestys
and men that madyn it · amydde the flood a-dreynten
the culorum of this clause · is curatoures to mene
that ben carpenteres holy cherche to make · for crystes owen bestys
Homines & iumenta saluabis domine · & cetera
On good fryday y fynde · a feloun was ysaued
that hadde lyued all his lyf{e} wyth lesynges and thefte
and for he bykned to the cros · and to cryst schrof hym ·
he was sonner sauyd · than seynt iohan baptyst ·
and er adam or ysaye · or eny of the prophetys
that hadde leyn wyth lucyfer · manye longe ȝeres
a robbere was y-raunsomyd · rathur than they alle ·
wyþ-outyn eny penaunce of purgatory · to perpetual blysse
Than mary magdalene · what womman dede wurse ·
or who wurse than dauid · that vrryes deth conspyryd ·
or poule the apostle · that no pyte hadde ·
moche crystene kynde · to kylle to dethe ·
{...?...?...}and ȝit been as souereyns · wyth seyntes yn heuene
tho þat wroughtyn · wykkydlokest · yn world{e} tho they were
And tho that wysly woordydyn · and wryten many bookes
of wytt and of wysdom{e} · wyþ dampnyd soules wonye
that salamon seith y trowe be sooth · and certayn of vs alle ·
Siue iusti atque sapientes · & opera eorum in manu dei sunt · & cetera
Ther{e} were wytty and wel lybbynge · ac her werkes ben hudde
yn the hondes of almyghty god · and he wote the sothe
wherfore loue aman / a man wurth alowyd þere · and his lele werkes
or elles for his euel wyl · and for enuye of herte
and be alowyd as he lyued so · for by ly{.....}there · men knoweth the goode
And wherby w{.}eteT · men whiche is w{...}hyt · ȝif alle þynge blake were
fol. 153vfol. 153v
and who{.} w{...}ere a good man · but ȝif þer were sum scherewe
forþy lyue we foorþ wyþ oþre men · y leue fewe ben goode
For quant oportet vient en place il nad que pati & cetera
and he þat may alle amende haue mercy on vs alle ·
for sothest woord þat euere god seyde · was þat he seyde nemo bonus
Clergie þo of crystes mouth · comendyd was it lytyl
for he seyde to seynt peter and to suche as he louede
Cum steteris ante reges & presides · & cetera ·
Thow{e} ȝe come · byfore kynges · and clerkes of the lawe
beþ nougth abaschid · for y schall be yn ȝoure mowthes
and ȝyue ȝow wyt{t.} and wyll · and cunnynge to conclude ·
hem alle þat aȝenst ȝow · of crystyndom desputyn
Dauid maketh mencyoun · he spak{e} amonges kynges
and mygth no kyng{e} ouercome hym · as by connynge speche
but wytt and wysdom · wan euereT the maystrye
whan man was at myscheef · wyþ-out þe more grace ·
The douhtiest doctour · ad / a[n]d dyuysour of þe trynyte ·
was austyn þe olde · and heiȝest of þe foure
seyde þus yn a sarmoun · y say it wrytyn ones
Ecce ipsi idioti rapiunt celum vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur · & cetera ·
And is to mene to englisch men · more no lasse ·
arn none rathur y-rauaschid · fro þe rygth byleue ·
than arn þese kunnynge clerkes · that conne so many bookes
ne none sonner saued · ne saddere of byleue ·
than ploughmen and pastoures · & poore comoun laborers
souters and schepheerdes · and suche lewyd {..}iuttes
pa{....}ssen wyth a pater {...?...}noster · þe paleys of heuene ·
and passyn purgatory penaunceles · at her hennys partynge
ynto þe blysse of paradys · for her pure byleue ·
that ynparfytly here · knewyn and eke lyuedyn ·
Ȝhee men knowe clerkes · þat han cursyd þe tyme ·
that euere þey cow{.}deP knoweT · more þan credo in deum
and princypally her pater noster · many a parsoun haþ it wusschid
I see ensamples by my-sylf{e} · and so many another
þat seruauntes þat seruyn lordes · seldom falle yn arerages ·
but þo þat {þat} kepyn my lordes catel · clerkes and reuys
rygth so lewyd men · and of lytyl knowynge
seldom falle þey so foule · and so fer yn synne ·
as clerkes of holy cherche · þat kepyn crystes tresour
the whiche is mannys soule · to saue · as god seith yn þe gospel ·
fol. 154rfol. 154r
Ite vos in vineam meam · & cetera
betoun brygges
Mavde
deþC