fol. 155v (cont.)fol. 155v
Passus xijus / duodecimus · de visione · & vus / quintus · de do-weel ·
I am ymagynatyf{e} quod he · ydel was y neuere ·
thow{e} y sytte by my-sylfe · yn syknes and yn helþe
y haue folwed þe yn feith · þys fyue and fourty wynter
and many tymes y haue meuyd þe · to þenke on þyn ende
and how{e} fele fernyers · arn faryn & so fewe to come ·
and of þy wylde wantownes · þo þu ȝonge were ·
to amende þe yn þy myddel age · lest mygth þe faylyd
yn þyn olde age · that euyl canst{e} suffre
pouerte or penaunce · or prayer bydde
Si non in prima vigilia · nec in secunda · & cetera ·
Amende the whil thu mygth · thu hast ben warnyd ofte ·
wyþ poustees and pestylences · wyth pouerte & wyþ angres
and wyþ þese bytter balayses · god betyþ his dere chyldren ·
Quem diligo castigo · & cetera ·
And dauid yn the sauter seyth · of suche that loueþ ihesu
virga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt · & cetera
All þouȝ thu stryke me wyth þy staf · wyth styke or wyþ ȝerde
yt nys but murþe as for me · to amende my soule ·
and thu medlest þe wyþ makynges · & mysteT go seye thy sauter
and bydde for hem þat ȝyue þe breed · for þere ar bokes y-nowe ·
to telle men what dowel is · dobet and dobest bothe
and prechours to preue what it is · of many a peyre frerys ·
I say wel he seyde me sooþ · and sumwhat me to excuse
seyde catoun conforted me hisT sone · þat clerk þow he were
to solacyn hym sumtyme · as y do whan ymake / y make ·
Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis · & cetera
And holy men y herde quod y · how þey oþerwhile
pleyȝedyn þe parfytere · to be yn many places
ac ȝif þere were any wygth · þat wolde me telle ·
what were dowel and dobet · and dobest at the laste
fol. 156rfol. 156r
wolde y neuere do werke · but wende to holycherche
and þere bydde my bedes · but whan y ete or slepe
poule in his pystel quod he · preueth what is do-weel ·
{...?...?...}Nunc autem manent fides · spes · & caritas · Maior autem horum est caritasT ·
Feyth hope and charyte · and alle ben go{...}ode ·
and sauyn men sundry tymes · ac none so sone as charyte ·
for he dooþ well wyþ-oute doute · þat dooþ as lewte techeth
that is ȝif thu be man maryed · thy make þu louye
and lyueþ foorþ as lawe woll whyl ȝe lyuen boþe
Rygth so ȝif þu be relygyous · renne thu neuere ferther
to rome ne to rochemadore · but as thy reule techeth
and holde þe vnder obedyence · þat hyȝe wey is to heuene ·
And ȝif þu be mayden to marye · and mygth wel contynue
seke neuere no seynt ferþer · for no soule helthe
for what made lucyfer · to lese þe hyȝe heuene ·
or salamon his sapyence · or sampson his strengthe ·
iob the iewe his ioye · dere he it bougth ·
arystotle and othre mo · ypocras and virgylye ·
Alisaundre that all wan · elengenlycheelengelyche endyde ·
catel and kynde wytte · was combraunce to hem alle ·
Felyce her fayrnesse · fel her all to sclaundre ·
and rosamounde rygth so · reufullyche to beleue ·
the beaute of her body · yn baddenes sche spendyd ·
of many suche y may rede · of men and of wommen
that wyse woordys wooldyn schewe · & werche þe contrarye
Sunt homines nequam · bene de virtute loquentes · & cetera
And ryche renkes rygth so · gadryn and sparen ·
and tho men that they moste hatyn mynystren {h}it atte laste ·
and for þey suffryn and seen · so many nedy folkes
and louyn hem nougth as our lord byt · lesyn her soulys
Date & dabitur vobis · & cetera ·
And rycchesC rygth so · but ȝif þe rote be trewe
ac grace ys a graas þerof · tho greuaunces to abate ·
ac grace ne groweth nougth · but amonge lowe ·
pacyence and pouerte · the place is þere it groweth ·
and yn lele lyuynge men · and yn lyfe holy
and þorowgh þe gyfte of þe holygost · as þe gospel telleth
Spiritus vbi vult spirat · & cetera
Clergye and kynde · wytt · cometh of sygth and techynge
as þe book bereþ wytnesse · to b{.}arnys that konnyn rede
fol. 156vfol. 156v
Quod scimus loquimur · & quod vidimus testa{......}mur · & cetera
Of quod scimus cometh clergye · & kunnynge of heuene
and of quod vidimus cometh kynde wytt · of sygth of dyuerse peple ·
a{.}c grace is a gyfte of god · and of grete loue spryngeþ
knewe neuere clerke how it cometh forþ · ne kynde wytt þe weyes ·
Nescit aliquis vnde venit · aut quo vadat · & cetera ·
Ac ȝit is clergye to comende · and k{u}{y}ynde wytt bothe ·
and namly clergye for crystes loue · þat of clergye ys rote ·
for moyses wytnesseth that god wrot{e} · forto wysse þe peple ·
yn þe olde lawe as þe lettrure telleþ · þat was þe lawe of iewys ·
þat what womman were yn aduoutrye takyn · were sche ryche or pouere
wyþ stonys men schuldyn her stryke · & stone her to deþe ·
A womman as we fyndyn · was gulty of þat dede ·
ac cryst of his curtesye thorow{e} clergye her sau{.}ede ·
and þurgh carectys that cryst{e} wrot · þe iewys knewe hem-sylue ·
gyltyfereT as tofore god · and gretter yn synne ·
þan þe womman þat there was · & wentyn a-weye for schame ·
the clergye that there was · confortyd þe womman
that fides sua schulde sauyn here · & saluyn her of all synnes ·
than ys byleue a lele helpe · aboue logyke or lawe ·
of logyke or of lawe · in legenda sanctorum ·
ys lytyll alowaunce maad · but ȝif byleue hem helpe ·
for itusT ouerlonge · or logyke any lessoun assoyle ·
and lawe is loth louye but ȝif he lacche syluer
bothe logyke and lawe · that loueth nougth to lyȝe ·
y conseyle alle crystene men · cleue nougth þeron to sore ·
for summe woordes y fynde wrytyn · were of feythes techynge ·
that sauyd synfull men · as seynt iohan bereth wytnesse ·
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis · rem{.}ecietur vobis · & cetera ·
forþy lerne we þe lawe of loue · as our · lord{e} taugth{.}e
and as seynt grygory seyde for mannys soule helþe
Melius est scrutari scelera nostra · quam naturas rerum · & cetera ·
Why y meue þys mater · is most{e} for the pouere ·
for yn her lyknesse our lord · hath ofte be knowe ·
wytnesse yn þe pasque wyke · whan he ȝede to Emaus
cleophas ne knewe hym nougth · that he cryste were
for his pouere apparayle and pylgrymes wedys
tyl he blessyd and brak{e} · the breed that þey etyn ·
so by his werkes þey wystyn · þat he was ihesus
ac by cloþynge þey knewyn hym nougth · ne by carpyng of tongge ·
fol. 157rfol. 157r
And all was yn ensample · to vs synfull here
that we schulde be lowe · and louely of speche
and apparayle vs nougth · ouerproudly · for pylgrymes ar we alle
and yn þe apparayle of a pouere man · and pylgrymes lyknesse ·
many tymes god hath ben met{te} · amonge nedy peple ·
there neuere segge hym seiȝe · yn secte of þe ryche ·
Seynt iohan and oþer seyntes · were seyn yn pouere cloþynge
and as pouere pylgrymes · preysedyn mennys goodys
ihesu cryst on a iewys douhter alygth · gentyl womman þouȝ sche were ·
sche wasT a pure pouere mayde · and to a pouere man weddyd ·
martha on mary magdaleyne · an huge pleynt{e} sche made ·
and to our saueour syluen · seyde these woordys
Domine non est tibi cure quod soror · mea reliqui{.}t me solam ministrare & cetera
And hastylyche god answeryd · and eyþres wyll folwyd ·
bothe marthaes and maryes · as mathew bereþ wytnesse ·
ac pouerte put byfore · and preyseth that the bettre ·
Maria optimam partem elegit · que non auferretur ab ea · & cetera ·
And alle þe wyse þat euere were · by augth þat y can aspye ·
preysen pouerte for best lyf · ȝif pacyence it folwe ·
and boþe bettre and blysseder · by many folde þan rycchesse
and þow it be sour to suffre · þerafter cometh swete ·
as on a walnote wyþ-oute · ys a bytter barke ·
and aftyr þat bytter barke · be þe schelle a-weye ·
ys a kyrnel of conforte · kynde to restore
So ys aftyr pouerte or penaunce · pacyently take ·
for it makeþ aman / a man haue mynde · yn god & a gret wylle
to wepe and to wel bydde · wherof wexeþ mercy ·
of whiche cryst is a kyrnel · to conforte the soule ·
and wel sykerer he slepeth · the man that ys pouere ·
and lasse he dredeth deth · and {y}yn derk to be robbyd ·
than he þat is rygth ryche · resoun bereth wytnesse ·
Pauper ego ludo · dum tu diues meditaris · & cetera ·
all-þouȝ salamon seyde · as folk{e} seeth yn the byble ·
Diuicias nec paupertates · & cetera ·
Wyser than salamon was · bereth wytnesse and taugthe
that parfyt pouerte was · no poscessyoun to haue ·
and lyf{e} most{e} lykynge to god · as luk{e} beryþ wytnesse ·
Si vis perfectus esse · vade & vende & cetera
And is to mene to men · that on this molde lyuyn ·
who-so woll ben pure parfit · moot poscessyoun forsake ·
fol. 157vfol. 157v
or sylle it as seyth þe book · and þe syluer dele
to beggers that gon and begge · & bydde syluer for crystes loue
for faylyd neuere man mete · that mygthfull god serueth ·
as dauid seith yn þe sauter · to whiche þat ben yn wylle
to serue god goodlyche · ne greueþ hym no penaunce
Nichil impossibile volenti · & cetera
Ne taketh neuere lyflode · lynnyn ne wollyn
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono · & cetera
Ȝif preestys were parfyte · they woldyn no syluer take
for masses ner / ne for matynes · ne nougth her mete of vsurers
no neyþer kyrtel ne cote · þow þey for colde schulde deye
and þey her deuer dedyn · as dauid seith yn þe sauter ·
Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam · & cetera ·
Spera in deo speketh of prestes · þat han no spendyng syluer ·
that ȝif þey trauaylen trewly · and trustyn yn god almyghty ·
hem schulde lacke no lyflode · neyther lynnyn ne wollyn ·
and þe tytle þat þeyC takyn ordres by · telleþ ȝe ben auauncyd ·
thanne nedeþ nougth ȝow to take syluer · for masses þat ȝe syngge ·
for he þat took ȝow ȝour tytle · schulde take ȝow ȝour wages
or þe busschop þat blesseþ ȝow · ȝif þat ȝe ben wurþy ·
For made neuere no kyng {no}T knygth · but he hadde catel to spende
as byfell for a knygth · or fond hym for his strenkthe ·
it is a carfull knygth · and of a kayteuyd / kayteu[e] kynges makynge ·
that hath no londe nor lynage · ryche ne good los of his hondys ·
The same y sygge forsothe · by alle suche preestys ·
þat han neyþer kun{n}yngge ne kyn · but a crowne one ·
and a tytle a tale of nougth · to his lyflode at his myscheef ·
he haþ more byleue yleue / y leue · to lacche þurgh his corowne ·
cure þan for connynge · or knowyn for clene of berynge ·
y haue wondur and why · and wherfore þe busschop ·
makeþ suche preestys · that lewyd men betrayen ·
a chartre is chalengeable · byfore a cheef iustyce ·
ȝif fals latyn be yn þat lettre · þe lawe it ynpungneth ·
or peyntyd parauntre · lynarye · or parcell ouerskyppyd ·
the gome that so gloseþT chartres for a goky is holdyn ·
So ys it a goky by god · þat yn his gospel fayleth
or yn masse or yn matynes · makeþ any deffaute ·
Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus · & cetera ·
And also yn þe sauter · seyth dauid to ouerskyppers
Psallite deo nostro psallite · quoniam rex {...?...}omnis terre deus psallite sapienter ·
fol. 158rfol. 158r
The busschop schall be blamyd · byfore god as y leue ·
that crowneþ suche goddys knygthes · þat kunyn nat sapienter
synge ne psalmys rede · ne sygge a masse of þe day ·
ac neuere neyþer is blameles · þe busschop nor þe chapleyn ·
for her eyþer is endytyd · & þat is ignorancia ·
Non excusat episcopos · nec ydiotes preestes · & cetera ·
Thus lokynge on lewyd preestes · han don me lepe fro pouerte ·
þe whiche y preyse þere pacyence is · more parfyt þan rycche{..}sse
Ac muche more yn metynge thus · wyþ me gan on dyspute ·
and slepyng y sauȝ all this · and syþþyn cam k{.}ynde ·
and nempnyd me by myn name · and dude me nemen hede ·
and þurgh the wondres yn þys worlde · wytte forto take ·
and {.......}vp onC a mountaygne · þat myddel-erþe higth · as me þougth ·
y was fet foorth · by ensamples to knowe ·
þurgh echa / ech a creature and kynde · no creature / creat[or]T to louye ·
I seiȝe þe sunne and þe se{e} · and þe sond{e} aftur
and where þat bestys and bryddys · by her make they ȝedyn ·
wylde wormys yn wodys · and wondurfull foules ·
wyth fleckyd fethres · and of fele colourys ·
Man and his make · y mygth bothe byholde ·
pouerte and plente · boþe pes and werre ·
blysse and bale boþe · y sauȝ all at onys ·
and how men tokyn mede · and mercy refusyd ·
Resoun y seyȝe sothly · suen alle bestys ·
yn etynge and drynkynge · and yn engendrynge of kynde ·
and aftur cours of concepcyoun · non took kepe of of / of oþer ·
and whan þey hadde rydyn yn roteye-tyme · anon rygth þerafter ·
males drowyn hem to males · all mornynge by hem-selue ·
and yn euenynges also · the malys ben fro females ·
ther nas cow nor no female yn kynde · þat conceyuyd hadde ·
that wolde belwe after boles · ne bore aftur sowe ·
boþe hors and houndys · and alle othre bestys ·
medlyd nougth wyþ her makys · þat wyþ fole were ·
Bryddys y behelde · þat yn buskes made nestys ·
hadde neuere wye þe wyt{te} to wurche þe leste ·
y hadde wondre at whom · and where þe pye lernyd
to legge þe stykkys yn whiche sche leyeþ · and bredeþ
ther nys wrygth as y wene · schulde werche her nest to paye ·
ȝif any masoun made a molde þerto · muche wondur yt were ·
and ȝit me merueyled more · how many othre bryddys ·
fol. 158vfol. 158v
huddyn and helyeden · here egges full derne
yn mareys and mores · for men schulde hem nougth fynde
and huddyn her egges · whan they þerfro wente
for fere of othur foules · and for wylde bestys
And summe trodyn her makes · and on trees breddyn ·
and brougthen foorþ her bryddes · all aboue þe grounde
and summe bryddes at the byl · þurgh breþyng conceyued
and summe kauked y took kepe · how pecokkes breddyn ·
muche meruayled me · what mayster they hadde
and who taugth hem on trees · to tymbre so hye
that neythur bierne ne beest may her bryddys reche ·
And sytthen y lokyd · vpon the see · and so foorth yn · the sterrys
many selcouthes y saye that beth nougth · to seye nowthe
I saye flourys yn the fryth · and her fayre coloures
and how amonge the grene gras · growyn so manye hewes
and summe soure · and summe swete · selcouthe me thougth
of her kynde and her colour to carpe yt were to longe ·
ac þat moste meuyd me · and my mood chaungyd ·
that resoun rewarded · and rewlyd alle bestys ·
saue man and his make · many tyme and ofte ·
no resoun hem folwyd · and thanne y rebukyd ·
resoun and rygth · to hym-syluen y seyde ·
y haue wondur of the quod y · þat wytty art holdyn ·
why þu ne suest man and his make · þat no mysfayte hem folwe ·
And resoun aratyd me · and seyde recche the neuere ·
why y suffre or nougth suffre · thy-sylfe hath nougth to done ·
amende it {..}þu    ȝif thu mygth · for my tyme is to abyde ·
suffraunce is a souereyn · vertu · and a swyfte vengeaunce
who suffreþ more than god quod he · no gome as y wene ·
he mygth {...?...?...}amende in a mynut-while · al þat mys-standith ·
ac he suffreth for sum mannys good · and so ys our bettre ·
the wyse and the wytty · wrot thus yn the byble
De re que te non molestat · noli certare & cetera
For be aman / a man fayr or foul · it falleþ nougth forto lacke
the schaft ne the schapT · that god schoop hym-sylue ·
for all þat he dude was wel y-do · as holy wrytt wytnesseþ
Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat · & erant valde bona · & cetera  ·
And badde euery creature · yn his k{u}{y}ynde encrese ·
all to murþe wyþ man · þat muste wo tholye ·
yn fondynge of þe flesch · and of þe fende boþe ·
fol. 159rfol. 159r
for man was maad of suche matere · he may nougth wel asterte
that ne sumtyme hym betydeþ · to folwyn his kynde ·
catoun accordeþ þerwyth · nemo sine crimine viuit ·
And tho caugth y colour anon · & comsyd to ben a-schamyd ·
and awakyd þerwyth · woo was me thanne ·
þat y yn metels mygth · more haue yknowyn ·
and þanne seyde y to my-sylfe · and chidde that tyme ·
now y wote what do-wel is quod y · by dere god as me thynketh
and as y keste vp myn eiȝen · on lokyd on me and askyde ·
of me what thyng{e} it were y-wis sere y seyde ·
to see muche and suffre more · certys quod y is dowel ·
Haste thu suffryd he seyde slepynge tho thu were ·
þu schuldyst haue knowyn þat clergye can · & contreuyd more by resoun ·
for resoun wolde haue rehercyd to the · rygth as clergye seyde ·
ac for thyn entermentynge · here art thu forsakyn ·
Philosophus esses si tacuisses · & cetera  ·
Adam whiles he spak nougth · hadde paradys at wylle
ac whan he mameled aboute mete · & entermentyd to knowe ·
the wysdom and the wytt of god · he was put fro blysse
and rygth so ferde resoun by the · thu wyth thy rude speche ·
lackedest and losedest thyng{e} that longyd nougth to be don ·
tho hadde he no lykynge · forto lere the more ·
pryde and presumpcyoun · paraduenture woll the appele ·
that clergye to thy companye · kepeþ nougth to sue ·
this was her teme and her texte · y tooke full good hede ·
multi to amangerye / a mangerye and to the mete were sompnyd
and whan the peple was planereLX comyn · þe porter vnpynnyd þe ȝate ·
and plukkyd yn pauci priueylyche · and lete the remenant go rome
all for tene of her text · tremblyd myn herte ·
and yn a were gan y wexe · and wyth my-self{e} desputyd ·
wheþer y were chosyn or nougth chosyn · on holy cherche y þougth ·
þat vndurfenge me atte the fonte · for on of goddys chosen ·
for cryst clepyd vs alle · come ȝif we wolde ·
sarasenys and scysmatykes · and so he dude the iewys ·
O vos omnes sicientes venite ad aquas · & cetera ·
And bad hem souke for synne · saufly atte his breeste ·
and drynke bote for bale · brouke hit who-so mygthe ·
thanne mowe alle crystene · come and cleyme · þere entreeC ·
by the blood þat he bougth vs wyþ · and þurgh bapteme after
Qui crediderit · & baptizatus fuerit · & cetera ·
fol. 159vfol. 159v
For þow{e} acrystyn / a crystyn man coueytyde · his crystendom to ren{.}eye
rygthfully to reneye · no reson yt wolde
for may no cherl{e} chartre make · ne his catel sylle
wyþ-outyn leue of his lord{e} no lawe woll{e} it graunte
ac he may renne yn arerage · and rome so from home
and as areneyed / a reneyed cayteef · recchelesly rennyn aboute ·
and resoun schall rykne wyth hym · and castyn hym yn arerage
and puttyn hym aftur yn aprisoun / a prisounP · yn purgatory to brenne ·
for his areragys rewardyn hym þere · to the day of dome ·
but ȝif contrycyoun woll come · and crye by his lyue ·
mercy for his mysdedys · wyth mowth and wyth herte ·
That is sooþ quod scripture · may no synne lette ·
mercy alto / al to amende · and mekenesse here folweþP ·
for þey beþ as oure bokes · telleth · aboue goddys werkes
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius · & cetera ·
Ȝee baw{e} for bookys quod on · was brokyn oute of helle ·
higth troianus that hadde ben a trewe knygth · took wytnesse of apope / a pope ·
how he was deed and dampnyd · to dwelle yn pyne ·
for an vncrystene creature · clerkys wytyn the sothe ·
that all the clergye vndur cryst · ne mygth me cracche fro helle ·
but onlyche loue and lewte · and my lawefull domes
Grygory wyste this well · and wylnyd to my soule ·
sauacyoun for soþnes · that he seye yn my werkes ·
and aftur þat he wepte · and wylnyd me were grauntyd
grace wyþ-outyn eny bede-byddynge · his bone was vndyrfongyn ·
and y sauyd as ȝe see · wyth-oute syngynge of masses ·
by loue and by lernynge · of my lyuynge yn trewthe ·
brougth me fro bytter peyne · þere no byddynge mygthe
Loo ȝe lordys þat lewte dude · by an emperour of Rome ·
þat was an vncrystene creature · as clerkys fyndyn yn bookes ·
nougth þurgth prayere of a pope · but for his pure trewthe ·
was þat sarazyn sauyd · as seynt grygory bereth wytnes ·
wel augth ȝe lordys the lawes kepe · & þys lessoun to haue yn mynde ·
and on troianus trouþe to þenke · and do treuþe to þe peple ·
lawe wyþ-oute loue quod troianus · leye þere abene / a bene ·
or eny scyence vndur sonne · þe seuene ars and alle ·
but they ben lernyd for our lordys loue · loste is all þe tyme ·
for no cause to cacche syluer þerby · ne to be callyd amayster / a mayster ·
but all for loue of our lord · and the bet to loue the peple ·
for seynt iohan seyde yt · and sooth arne hys woordes ·
fol. 160rfol. 160r
Qui non diligit  manet in morte ·
Who-so loueþ nougth me · he lyueþ in deeth deynge ·
and þat alle maner men · enemys and frendes ·
louyn her eyþer other · and lene hem as hem-sylue ·
who-so l{o}eneþ nougth · {...?...?...}he loueþ nougth · god wot þe sothe ·
and comaundeþ echa / ech a creature · to conforme hym to louye
and souereynly pore peple · and her enemys after
for hem þat hatyn vs · is our meryt to louye ·
and pore peple to plese · her prayers mowyn vs helpe
and our ioye and our hele · ihesu cryst{e} of heuene ·
yn apore / a pore mannys apparayle pursuyd vs euere ·
and lokeþ on vs yn her lyknes · and þat wyþ louely chere
to knowyn vs by our kynde herte · & castyng of our eiȝyn ·
wher we loue the lordes here · byfore þe lorde of blysse
and exciteþ vs by þe euaungelye · þat whan we mak{..}iþ festys
we schulde nougth clepe our kyn þerto · ne no kynnys ryche ·
Cum facitis conuiuia · nolite inuitare amicos · & cetera ·
Ac calleþ þe carful therto · the crokyd and þe pore ·
for ȝour frendys wolen fede ȝow · and fonde ȝow to quyte ·
ȝour festynge and ȝour fayr ȝifte · eche frende quyteþ so othre ·
Ac for þe pore y schall paye · and pur wel quyte her trauayle ·
þat ȝyueþ hem mete or moneye · and loueþ hem for my sake ·
for þe beste ben summe ryche · and summe beggers and pouere ·
for alle ar we crystes creatures · and of his coffres ryche ·
and breþerne as of oo blood · as wel beggers as erles ·
for on caluarye of crystes blood · crystyndom gan sprynge
and blody bretherne we bycome there · of oo body ywonne
as quasi modo geniti · and gentyl men echone
no begger no boy{e} amonges vs · but ȝif it synne made ·
Qui facit peccatum · seruus est peccati · & cetera
In the olde lawe · as holy lettre telleth ·
mennys sones · men callyd vs echone ·
and adammes yssue and eue · ay tyl god man deyed ·
and aftur his resurrexcioun · redemptor was his name ·
and we his bretherne thorowh hym ybougth · boþe ryche and pouere ·
forthy loue we as leue breþerne schal · and eche man laugh of othre ·
and of þat eche man may forbere · amende there that nedeth
and euery man helpe othre · for henne schull we alle ·
Alter alterius onera portate · & cetera ·
And be we nougth vnkynde of our catel · nor of our connyng neyther
fol. 160vfol. 160v
for wot{e} no man how ny{..}ȝ yt is · to be ynome fro boþe ·
forþy lacke no lyf{e} othre · þouh · he more latyn knowe ·
ne vndurnyme nougth foule · for is noon wyþ-outyn deffaute ·
for what-euere clerkes carpe · of crystendom or elles
cryst to acomoun / a comoun womman seyde · yn comoun atte þe feste ·
T holy cherche knoweth this · þat crystys wrytynge sauyd here ·
so clergye is conforte · to creatures that repentyn hem ·
and to ma{.}nsed men · meschief atte her nede ·
For goddes body mygth nougth ben of breed · wyþ-outyn clergye ·
the whiche · body is boþe b{...}oote to þe rygthfull
and deeþ and dampnacyoun · to hem that deyen euele ·
as crystes caracte conforted · and boþe coupable schewyd
the womman þat þe iewes brougth · þat ihesu þougth to saue
Nolite iudicare & non iudicabimini · & cetera ·
Rygth so goddes body breþerne · but ȝif it be worþyly takyn ·
dampneþ vs atte þe day of dome · as þe caractes dudyn þe iewys ·
Forþy y conseyle the for crystes sake · clergye that thu louye ·
for kynde wytt is of his kyn · and ny{..}ȝ cosynes bothe ·
to our lord leue me · for þy loue hem y rede ·
for bothe ben as myrrours · to amende oure deffautys
and leders for lewyd men · and for lettryd bothe ·
forþy lacke thu neuere logyke · lawe nor his customes
ne counturplede clerkes · y counseyl the for euere ·
for as a man may nougth see · that mysseth his eiȝyn ·
nomore can no clerke · but ȝif he caugth it ferst þurgh bookes
al-þouwh men made bookes · god was the mayster
and seynt spiryt the samplarye · and seyde what men schulde wryte · T
Rygth so ledeth lettrure · lewyd men to resoun ·
and as a blynd man yn batayle · beryþ wepne to fygthe
{...?...?...}And hath non hap wiþ his ax · his enemye {........}to hitte
nomore can a kynde wyttyd man · but ȝif clerkes hym teche · C
come{þ} fo{..}r al{l} his k{u}{y}ynde wyt{..} to crystendom · and {to} besauyd / be sauyd ·
whiche is þe coffre of crystes tresour · and clerkes kepe the keyes
to vnloukyn it atte her lykynge · and to þe lewyd peple ·
ȝyue mercy for here mysdedes · ȝif men yt woll aske ·
buxumlyche and benynglyche · and byddyn it of grace ·
Archa dei yn the olde lawe · leuytes yt keptyn ·
hadde neuere lewyd man leue · to leyn hond on that cheste
but he were preeste or prestys sone · patriark or propheet
fol. 161rfol. 161r
for clergye is kepere · vndur cryst{e} of heuene
was þer neuere no knygth · but clergye hym made ·
ac kynde wytt cometh · of alle kyn syghtes
of bryddes and of bestys · of{.} tastys of trewthe and of deceytes
Lyuer{...}s toforen vs · vsydyn to marke ·
for selcouthes that they seyȝyn · her soules forto teche ·
and heldyn yt an hye scyence · her wyttes to knowe ·
ac þurgh her scyence sothly · was neuere no soule y-sauyd ·
ne brougth by her bookes · to blysse no to ioye
for alle her kynde knowynges come · of dyuerse sygthes
patriarkes and prophetys · repreuyd here scyences ·
and seydyn her woordes nor her wysdomes · nas but folye ·
as to þe clergye of cryst · countyd it but a tryfle ·
Sapiencia huius mundi · stulticia apud deum · & cetera  ·
For the heiȝest holy gost · heuene schall to-cleue ·
and loue schall lepe out after · ynto þys lowe erthe
and clennesse schall cacchyn yt · and clerkes schullyn it fynde ·
Pastores loquebantur adinuicem / ad inuicem · & cetera ·
he spekeþ there of ryche men rygth nougth · ne of rygth wytty ·
ne of lordes that were lewyd men · but of þe heyȝest lettryd oute ·
Ibant magi ab oriente · & cetera
Ȝif eny frere were foundyn þere · y ȝyue the fyue schillynges
nor yn noon beggers cote · was that barn born ·
but yn a burgeys place · of bethleem the beste ·
Sed non erat ei locus in diuersorio · & pauper non habet diuersorium · & cetera
To pastours and to pore men · apperyd the aungel ·
and bad hem gon to bedlem · goddes burthe to honoure ·
and songyn a song{e} of solace · Gloria in excelsis deo ·
Clerkes knewyn it well / and comyn wyþ here presentys
and dudyn her homage honourably · to hym þat was almyghty
Whi y haue tolde all þys · y took ful good hede ·
how thu contraryedest clergye · wyþ crabbed woordes
how that lewde men lygthlokere · þan lettryd were sauyd
than clerkes or kynde wyttyd men · of crystyn pepleP ·
and thu seydest sooþ of summe · ac see yn what manere ·
tak two strong men · and yn tem{...}se caste hem ·
and boþe nakyd as a nedle · her noonLX sykerer þan other
that on haþ kunnynge and can · swymmyn and d{.....}yue
that oþur is lewyd of þat labour · lernyd neuere to swymme ·
whiche trowest thu of tho two yn temyse · ys yn moste drede ·
fol. 161vfol. 161v
he þat neuere dyued · ne nougth can of swymmynge
or the swymmer þat is sauf{e} · by so hym-sylf{e} lyke ·
there {...?...}his felowe fleteþ forþ · as the flood lykeþ ·
and ys yn drede to drenche · þat neuere dede s{......}wymme ·
that swymme can nougth y seyde · yt semeþ to my wyttys ·
Rygth so quod þe renke · resoun it scheweth ·
that he þat knoweþ clergye · can sonner aryse ·
out of synne and be sauf{e} þowh he synne ofte
ȝif hym lykeþ and lust · than any lewyd lely ·
for ȝif þe clerk{e} be connynge · he knoweþ what is synne ·
and how contrycyoun wyþ-out confessyoun · conforteþ þe soule ·
and þu seste yn the sauter · yn psalmys one or tweyne
how contricioun is commendyd · for it caccheþ awey synne ·
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates · & quorum tecta sunt peccata · & cetera ·
And this conforteþ eche aclerk{e} / a clerk{e} and keuereþ hym fro wanhope ·
yn whiche flood þe fend{e} · fondeþ aman / a man hardeste ·
there the lewyd lyeþ stylle · and lokeþ aftur lente ·
and haþ no contrycioun or he come to schryfte · & þan gan he lytel telle
but as his lores-man leryþ hym · byleueth and troweth ·
and þat is after parsoun or parosch preest · and paraduenture ·
vnconnynge to lere lewyd men · and luke berith wytnes ·
Dum cecus ducit cecum · & cetera ·
Woo was hym marked · þat wade moot wyth the lewyd ·
wel may the barn blysse · that hym to book sette ·
þat lyuynge after lettrure · sauyd hym lyf{e} and soule ·
Dominus pars hereditatis mee ys a mery versette ·
that hath take fro tyburne · twenty stronge theuys
there lewyd theuys ben lollyd · vp · look how they ben sauyd
the theef that hadde gret grace of god · on good fryday as þu spekest
was for he ȝelde hym creaunt on þe cros · and knowlechid hym gulty
and grace askyd of god · and he is euere redy ·
that buxumlyche byddeþ it · and ben yn wyll to amende hem ·
ac þouȝ þat þeef · hadde heuene · he hadde non hiȝe blysse ·
a{.}s seynt iohan and othre seyntes · that deseruyd alle bettre ·
rygth as summe men ȝyuen me mete · and settyn me amyd þe floor ·
y haue mete more þan ynow · ac {.}nougth so muche wurschipe ·
as þo þat sytte at syde table · or wyþ þe souereyns of þe halle ·
but sytt{...}e as a begger boordles · by my-sylf on þe grounde ·
so it farith by þat feloun · that on good fryday was sauyd ·
he sytteþ neyþer wyth seynt iohan symonde ne Iude ·
fol. 162rfol. 162r
ne wyth maydenes ne wyth martyres · confessour {..}ne wydewes
but by hym-self{e} as a soleyn · seruyd on erthe ·
for he that is onys a theef · ys euermore yn daungere ·
and as lawe lykeþ · to lyue or to deye ·
De peccato propiciato · noli esse sine metu & cetera ·
and forto seruyn a seynte · and suche a theef togydres
yt were neyther resoun ne rygth · to rewardyn hem bothe y-lyche ·
and rygth as troianus þe trew knygth · dwelte nouȝt depe yn helle
that our lord ne hadde hym lyȝtlyche out · so leue y the thef{e} be yn heuene
for he is yn the lowyste of heuene · ȝif{e} our byleue be trewe ·
and well losellyche he lolleþ þere · by the lawe of holy cherche ·
Qui reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua · & cetera ·
And why þat on theef on the cros · creaunt hym ȝald{e}
rather than that other theef · thow þu woldest appose ·
alle þe clerkes vndur cryst{e} · ne koudyn þys skyll assoyl{·}e ·
Quare placuit quia voluit · & cetera ·
And so y seye by the · that sekest after whies
and aresonedest resoun · arebukynge / a rebukynge as yt were ·
and of the floures yn the fryth · and of her fayre hewes ·
wherof they cacche her colours · so cleer and so brygth
and wylnest of bryddes and of bestys · and of her bredynge knowe ·
whi summe ben alowhe and summe alofte · thy lykynge it were ·
and of þe stonys and of the sterrys · thu studyest as y leue ·
how euere beest or bryd · hath so breme wyttys ·
Clergye ne kynde wyt{te} ne knewe neuere the cause ·
ac kynde knoweth þe cause hym-self{e} no creature elles ·
he is the pyes patroun · and putte it yn her ere
that there {..}þe thorn ys thykkest · to bulde and to brede
and kynde kenneþ þe pekok · to caukyn yn suche akynde / a kynde
and kennyd adam to knowe · his pryue membrys ·
and taugth hym and eue · to helyen hem wyth leuys ·
Lewyd men many tymes · maystres they apposyn ·
whi Adam helyed nougth ferst · his mowþ that ete þe appull
rathur than his lykam alowe · lewyd men askyn thus clerkes ·
kynde knoweth whi he dude so · ac no clerke elles ·
ac of bryddys and of bestys · men by olde tyme ·
ensaunples tookyn and termys · as tellyn the poetys ·
and þat þe fayrest foul · fouleste engendreth
and feblest foul of flygth is · that fleeth or swymmeth
and that the pecok and the pohen · proud ryche men bytokneth ·
fol. 162vfol. 162v
for þe pekok and men pursuen hym · may nougth flee hiȝe
for þe traylynge of his tayl · ouertakyn is he sone
and his flesch is foul flesch · and his feet bothe ·
and vnlouely of ledne · and l{...}ooþ forto here
Rygth so þe ryche · ȝif he his rycchesse kepe ·
and deleth it nougth tyl his deþ-day · the tayl of all sorowe ·
rygth as þe pennys of the pekoc · peynyd hym yn his flyght ·
so is poscessioun peyne of pans · and of nobles ·
to alle men þat it holdeþ · tyl her tayl be plukkyd ·
and þouȝ the ryche repente thanne · and byrewe the tyme
þat euere he gadred so grete · and gaf{e} þerof so lytyl ·
thowh he crye to cryst thanne · wyþ kene wyll y leue
his ledyn be yn our lordys ere · lyk{e} a pyes chatrynge
and whan his careyne schall come · yn caue to be buryed
y leue yt flambe full foule · the folde all aboute
and alle þe oþer þere it lyth · enuenemeþ þurgh his attre
By the po{...}cok is vndurstonde · as y haue lernyd yn auenet
excecutours false frendys · þat fulfulleþ nougth his wylle
that was wrytyn and þey wytnesse · to wurche rygth as it wolde
thus þe poete preueþ that the pecok · for his fethrys is reuerensyd ·
rygth so is þe ryche · by resoun of his godes ·
The larke þat is a lasse foul · is more louelyche of ledne
and well away of wenge · swyfter than the pecok
and of flesch felefolde · fatter and swettere ·
to lowe lybbynge men · the larke is resemblyd ·
Arystotle the grete clerk{e} · suche talys he telleth ·
thus he lykneth yn his logyk{e}C · the le{...}ste foul{e} oute
and wher he be sauf or nougth sauf · þe sothe wote no clergye ·
ne of sortes ne of salamoun · no scrypture can telle
ac god is so good y hope · þat syþþe he gaf{e} hem wyttys
to wyssen vs weyes þerwyþ · that wyssyn vs to besauyd / be sauyd
and þe bettre for her bookes · to byddyn we byn holdyn ·
þat god for his grace · gyue her soules reste ·
for lettryd men were lewyd men ȝit · ne were lore of her bookes
Alle the clerkes quod y thoo · that on cryst{e} leuyn ·
seggyn {......}in her sarmones · that neyþer saresenys ne iewys ·
ne no creature of crystes lyknesse · wyth-out crystendom wurþ sauyd
Contra quod ymagynatyf{e} þoo · and comsyd forto loure
and seyde saluabitur vix iustus · in die iudicij ·
Ergo saluabitur quod he · and seyde nomore latyn ·
fol. 163rfol. 163r
Troianus was a trewe knygth · and took neuere crystendom
and he is sauf{e} so seith the book · and his soule yn heuene
for þere is fullynge of fonte · and fullynge of blood schedynge ·
and þurgh fi{..}er ys fullynge · and that is ferme byleue
Aduenit ignis diuinus · non comburens · sed illuminans · & cetera
Ac trewthe that trespacyd neuere · ne trauersyd aȝenst{e} his lawe
but lyueþ as his lawe techeth · and leueþ þer be no bettere ·
and ȝif þer were he wolde · amende · and yn suche wyll deieþ
ne wolde neuere trewe god · but trewthe were alowyd ·
and wher it be worth or worth nougth · þe byleue is gret of trewþe
and anhope / an hope hangynge þerynne · to haue amede / a mede for his trewþe
For deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis · hoc est fidelibus
et alibi · si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis · & cetera ·
The glose graunteth vpon þat vers · a gret mede to trewthe ·
and wytt and wysdom quod that wye · was sumtyme tresore
to kepe wyþ a comoun · no catel was holde bettre
and muche myrthe and manhede · and rygth wyþ þat he vanschid
s sou..aign