Passus xvus / quintus decimus · finis de
do-weel ·
Incipit hic de
do-bet ·
Ac aftyr my wakynge · it was wonder longe
er y kowde kyndly knowe · what was dowel ·
and so my wytte wex and wanyed · tyl y a fool were
and summe lacked my lyf{e} · allowyd yt fewe
and leten for alorel / a lorel · and looþ to reuerencyn ·
lordys and ladyes · or eny lyf{e} elles
as persouns yn pellure wyth pendawntes of seluer
to sergeaunt ne to none such · seyde y nougth ones
god loke ȝow lordes · ne lowtyd fayre
tyl resoun hadde rewþe on me · and rokkyd me aslepe
tyl y s{..}aw as yt sorcerye were · a sotyl þyng wyþ-alle
oon wyþ-outyn tonge or teeþ · tolde me whider y schulde
and wherof y cam & of what kynde · y conyouryd · hym atte þe laste
if he were crystes creature · leue me to telle
¶ I am crystes creature quod he · and crystene yn many a place
yn crystes court y-knowe wel · and of his kyn aparty / a party ·
{..}þer is neyþer peter ne porter · ne poule wyþ his fauchoun ·
þat wol deffende me þe doore · dynge y neuere so late
at mydnygth at mydday · my voys is so y-knowe
þat eche a creature of his court · welcomeþ me fayre
¶ what ar ȝe callyd yn þat court quod y · among crystes peple
¶ Ther whiles y quyk was yn þe cors quod he · callyd y am anima
and whan y wylle and wolde · animus y hatte
and for þat y can and knowe · callyd am y mens
and whan y make mone to god · memoria is my name
and whan y deme domes · and do as trewþ techeþ
than is racio my rygth name · resoun on englysch
and whan y fele þat folk{e} tellyn · my ferst name is sensus
and that is wytt and wysdom · þe welle of alle craftys
and whan y chalenge or chalenge nougth · chepe or refuse
than am y conscyence y-callyd{.} goddys clerk and his notarye
and whan y loue lely · our lord and alle oþere
thanne is lele loue myn name · and yn latyn amor
and whan y fle fro þe flesch · and forsake þe careyne
thanne am y spuryt specheles · spiritus than y hatte
austyn and ys{.}idorus · eyþer of hem boþe
nempnyd me thus to name · now thu mygth chese
how þu coueytest to calle me · now thu knowyst alle myn namys
Anima pro diuersis accionibus · diuersa nomina sortitur · dum viuificat corpus anima est ·
dum vult animus est · dum scit mens est · dum recolit memoria est · dum iudicat
racio est · dum sentit sensus est · dum amat amor est · dum negat vel
consentit consciencia est · dum spirat spiritus est · & cetera
¶ ȝee ben as a busschop quod y · all bourdynge that tyme ·
for busschops y-blessyd · they bereþ many names ·
presul and pontifex · and metropolitanus
and oþer names an hepe · episcopus and pastor
¶ That is sooþ seyde he · now y see thy wylle
thu woldest knowe and kunne · þe cause of alle {.....}here names
and of myn ȝif thu myghtest · me þynkeþ by þy speche
¶ Ȝhe syre y seyde by so · noman were greuyd
and alle þe scyences vndur sonne · & alle þe sotyl craftis
y wolde y knew and cowde · kyndely yn myn herte
thanne art thu ynparfit quod he · and on of prides knyhtes
for suche a lust{e} and lykynge · lucyfer fel from heuene ·
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo · & cetera
¶ yt were aȝenst kynde quod he · of al kyn resoun ·
þat any creature schulde kunne al · excepte cryst one
aȝenst suche salamon spekeþ · and despyseþ her wyttys
and seiþ · sicut qui mel comedit multum · non est ei bonum
sic qui scrutator est magestatis · opprimitur a gloria · & cetera ·
¶ To englysch men this is to mene · þat men spekyn and here
the man þat muche hony eteþ · his mawe it engleymeth
and þe more þat aman / a man · of good mater hereþ ·
but he do þerafter · he dooþ hym double skathe ·
Beatus est seyþ seynt bernard · qui scripturas legit
Et vertit verba in opera · fullyche to his power
¶ Coueytyse to kunne · and to knowe scyence
putte out of paradyse · Adam and eue ·
Sciencie appetitus · hominem in mortalitatis gloria spoliauit · & cetera
¶ and rygth as hony is euel to deffye · & engleymeþ þe mawe
rygth so þat þurgh resoun · wolde þe rote knowe
of god and of his grete myghtes · his grace it letteth
for yn þe lykynge lyeþ a pryde and lykames coueytise
aȝenst crystes counseyl · and alle clerkes techynge
that is non plus sapere · quam oportet sapere
¶ Frerys and fele othre maystrys þat to þe lewyd men prechen
ȝe meuyn materes ynmesurables · to tellyn of þe trynyte
þat ofte tymes þe lewyd peple · of here byleue doutyn
bettre b{.}eleue wereT manye · doctours such techyng
and tellen men of þe ten commaundementes · and touchyn þe · vij · / seuene synnes ·
and of þe braunches that buriowneþ of hem · & brynge men to helle
and how þat folke yn folyes · myspendyn her wyttes
as wel freres as oþere folke · folylyche spendyn
yn housynge and yn haterynge · & ynto hiȝe clergye schewynge
more for pompe þan for pure charyte · þe peple wot þe sope
that y lyȝe nougth loo · for lordys ȝe plesyn
and reuerencyn the ryche · þe raþer for her syluer
Confundantur omnis qui adorant sculptilia · Et alibi vt quid
diligitis vanitatem · & queritus mendacium · & cetera
¶ Goo to the glose of þese vers · ȝe gret clerkes
if y lyȝe on ȝow to my lewyd wytt · ledeþ me to brennyng
for as it semeþ ȝe forsakeþ · no mannys almasse ·
of vsureres of hores · of auerous chapmen
and lowtyn to þese lordes · þat moun lene ȝow nobles
aȝen ȝour reule and relygioun · y take record at ihesus
that seyde to his dysciples · ne sitis personarum acceptores
¶ Of þys matere y mygth · make a longe byble
ac of curatours of crysten peple · as clerkes bereþ wytnes
y schal telle it for trewþys sake · take hede who-so lykeþ
as holynesse and honeste · out of holy cherche spredeþ ·
thurghP lele lyuynge men · þat goddes lawe techen
rygth so out of holycherche · alle eueles spredeth ·
ther ynparfit preesthod is · prechours and techers ·
y see it by ensaumple · yn somer tyme on trowes
ther summe bowes beþ leuyd · and summe bereþ none
ther is a myscheef yn þe more · of suche maner bowes
rygth so parsouns and preestys · and prechours of holycherche ·
that arn rote of þe rygth feiþ · to rewle þe peple
ac þere þe rote is rotyn · resoun wot the sothe
schall neuer flour ne fruyte · ne fayr lef{.} be grene
¶ forþy wolde ȝe lettryd leue · þe lecchery of clothynge ·
and be kynde as byfell for clerkes · and curteys of crystes godes
trewe of ȝour tonge · and of ȝowre tayle boþe
and haten to here harlotrye · and nougth vndurfonge
tyþes of vntrew þyng · y-tylyed or y-chaffaryd
¶ Loiþ were lewyd men · but they ȝ{....}owre lore folwyde
and amendy{.}d hem þat mysdon · more for ȝowr ensaumples
þan forto prechen and preuyn yt nougth · ypocresye yt semeþ
for ypocresye yn latyn · is lyknyd to a dungehull
þat were bysnewyd wyth snowe · and snakes wyþ-ynneT
rygth so many preestys · prechours and prelatys
ȝe arn enblaunchid wyþ bele paroles · and wyþ cloþes also
ac ȝowr werkes and ȝour woordes þer-vndur · arn ful vnlouely ·
iohannes crisostomus · of clerkes spekeþ and preestys
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur sic de templo omne malum
procedit · Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit tota floret ecclesia · si autem
corruptum fuerit omnium fides marcida est · Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis
totus populus conuertitur ad p{.....}eccandum · Sicut cum videris arborem
pallidam & marcidam intelligis quod vicium habet in radice · ita
cum videris populum indisciplinatum & irreligiosum sine dubio
sacerdocium eius non est sanum · & cetera ·
¶ Ȝif lewyd men wysten · what þis latyn meneth ·
and who was myn autor · moche wonder me þynkeþ ·
but ȝif many a preest bere · for her baselardes and her brochis
a peyre of bedys yn her hond · and abook / a book vnder her arm
syre iohan and sere gyffray · haþ a gurdel of seluer
a baselard or a ballok-knyf · wyþ botouns ouergulte
ac a porthors þat schulde ben his plough · placebo to sigge
hadde he neuer seruyce to saue syluer þerto · seyþ yt wyþ ydel wylle
¶ Alas ȝe lewde men · full muche lese ȝe on preestys
ac þynge þat wykkydly is wonne · and wyþ false sleyȝtes
wolde neuere þe wylle of wytty god · but wykkyd men it hadde
þe which ar preestys ynparfyt · and prechours after syluer
excecutours and souþdenes · somnours and her lemmanys
this þat wyþ gile was getyn · vngracyously is spendyd
so harlottes and hores · arn holpen wyþ suche goodes
and goddys folk for deffaute herof · forfaren and spyllyn
curatoures and holycherche · as clerkes þat ben auerous
lyghtly þat þey leuyn · losellis it habbeth
or dyen yntestat · and thanne the busschop entreþ
and makeþ merþe þerwyþ · and his meyne boþe ·
and seyn he was anyggard{e} / a nyggard{e} · þat no good mygth spare
to frende ne to fremde · þe fende haue his soule
for a wrecchid housholde he helde · all his lyf-tyme
and þat he spared and bysperyd · spende we yt yn merþe
¶ Be it lered be it lewyd · þat loiþ is to spende
þus gon her goodes away · be þe gost faren ·
ac for goode men god wot · gret doel men makyn
and bymeneþ goode meteȝyuers · and yn mynde haueþ
yn prayers and yn penaunces · and ynparfit charyte
¶ What is charyte quod y tho · a childysch þyng he seyde
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli · non intrabitis in regnum celorum · & cetera
¶ Wyþ-outyn fauntelte or folye a free lyberall wylle
¶ y haue lyued yn londe quod he · myn name ys longe wylle
and fond y neuere full charyte · byfore ne byhynde
men beþ mercyable · to mendynauntys and to poore
and wollyn lene ther þey leue · lely to be payd{e}
ac charyte þat poule preyseþ best · & most plesaunt is to our sauyour
ys non inflatur non {ambiciosa}est ambiciosa · non querit que sua sunt ·
¶ I say neuere such aman / a man · so me god helpe
þat {...?...}he ne wolde aske after his · and oþerwhile coueyte
thyng þat nedyd hym nougth · and nyme ȝif he myghte ·
¶ Clerkes kennyn me þat cryst · is yn alle places
ac y say hym neuere soþly · but as my-sylf yn a myrrour
In enigmate · tunc facie ad faciem · & cetera
and so y trowe trewly · by þat men telleþ of charyte ·
¶ Charite quod he ne chaffareþ nougth ne chalengeþ ne craueþ
as proud of a peny · as of a pound of golde
and is also glad of a gowne · of a graye russat
as of a tonycle of tars · or of trye scarlett
he is glad wyþ alle glade · and good tyl alle wykkyd
and leneþ and loueþ alle · þat our lord made ·
curseþ he no creature ne can bere no wratthe
ne no lykynge haþ to lyȝe · ne laugh men to scorne
all þat men seyn he let it sooþ · and yn solace takeþ
and alle manere myschiefs · yn myldenes he suffreþ ·
coueyteþ he non erþly good · but heuenryche blysse
¶ Haþ he eny rentys or rycchesse · or eny ryche frendys
¶ of rentes ne of rycchesse · reccheþ he neuere ·
for a frend{e} þat fyndeþ hym · faylyd hym neuere at nede
Fiat voluntas tua · fyndeþ hym euermore ·
and ȝif he soupeþ · he eteþ but a sop · of Spera in deo ·
he can portraye wel þe pater noster · and peynt it wyþ Auees
and oþurwhile is his wone · to wendyn on pylgrymage
ther poore men and persons lyggeþ · her pardoun to haue
thowh he bere hem no breed · he bereþ hem bettre lyflode
loueþ hem as our lord byddeþ · and lokeþ how þey fare
¶ And whan he is wery of þat werk · þan wol he sumtyme
labouryn yn lauandrye · well þe lengþe of a myle
and ȝerne ynto ȝowþe · and ȝeplyche speke
pryde wyþ all þe apportenaunce · and packen hem to-gydres
and boukyn hem atte his brest · and beten hem clene ·
and leggyn on longe wyþ laboraui in gemitu meo ·
and wyþ warm water atte his eiȝen · waschyn hem aftyr
and þanne he syngeþ whan he dooþ soo · & sumtyme seith wepynge
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies · & cetera ·
¶ By cryst y wolde þat y knew hym quod y · no creature leuere
wyþ-outyn help of peers ploughman quod he · his parsoun seest þu neuere
¶ whe{r}þer clerkes knowyn hym quod y · þat kepyn holy cherche
¶ clerkes han no knowyng quod he · but by werkes and by woordys
ac peers þe ploughman parceyueþ more deppere
what is þe wylle and wherfore · þat many wygth suffreþ ·
Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum · & cetera
¶ For þer are ful proud-herted men · pacient of tonge
and bux{u}omest of berynge · to burieisLX and to lordes
and to pore peple · han pepir yn her nose ·
and as alyoun / a lyoun {...}they lokeþ · there men lacken {...}her werkes
¶ And þer ar beggers and bydders · bedemen as yt were
þat lokyn as lambren · and semyn lyfholy ·
ac it is more to haue her mete · yn such an esy manere ·
than for penaunce · and parfitnesse · þe pouerte þat such takeþ
¶ Therfore by clergye ne by colour · know schalt þu hym neuere
neyþer þurgh woordes ne werkes · but þurgh wylle oneT
but peris þe ploughman · petrus id est christus ·
for he nys nougth yn lollers · ne yn land-lepynge heremytes
ne at ancres þere a boxP hangeþ · alle suche þey fayten ·
fy on faytours · and infautores / in fautores suos ·
for charyte is goddys champioun · and as good childe hende
and þe meryest of mowþ · atte mete wherso he sytteþ ·
the loue þat lyeþ yn his herte · makeþ hym lygth of speche ·
and is compaygnable and confortatyf · as cryst byt hym-sylue ·
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes · & cetera
¶ For y haue seyn hym yn selk{e} and sumtyme yn russat
boþe yn gray and yn grys · and yn gult harneys
and als gladlych he it gaf{e} to gomes þat yt nedyde
¶ edmund and edward · boþe were kynges
and seyntes y-set · {...}for charyte {...}hem folw{....}ede ·
¶ y haue seyn charite also · syngyn and redyn ·
rydyn and rennyn · yn raggyd wedys ·
ac byddynge as beggers · behelde y hym neuere
ac yn ryche robys · rathest he walkeþ ·
y-callyd and y-crymylyd · and his crowne y-schaue
and yn a frerys frocke · he was foundyn onys
ac it is fern a-goo · yn seynt Fraunceys tyme
yn þat secte seþþe · to selde haþ he be knowyn ·
ryche men he recomendeþ · and of her robes takeþ
that wiþ-outyn wyles · ledeth her lyues
Beatus est diues qui · & cetera ·
¶ In kynges court he comeþ ofte þere þe conseyl is trewe
ac ȝif coueytyse be of þe counseyl he woll nougth come þerynne
yn court amonges iapers · he comeþ nougth but selde
for braulynge and bacbytynge · and berynge of fals wytnes
¶ In þe constorye byfore the commissarye · he comeþ nougth full ofte
for her lawe dureþ ouer longe · but ȝyf þey lacchen syluer
and matrymoyne for moneye makyn and vnmakyn ·
and þat conscyence and cryst · haþ y-knytt faste
þey vndon it vnworþyly · þe doctors of lawe ·
¶ Ac y ne lacke no lyf{e} · but lord amende vs alle ·
and gyue vs grace goode god · charite to folwe
for who-so mygth mete wyþ hym · such maneres hym eyles
neyþer he blameþ ne banneþ · bosteþ ne preyseþ
lackeþ ne loseþ · ne lokeþ vp sterne
craueþ ne coueyteþ · ne cryeþ after more
In pace inidipsum / in idipsum · dormiam & requiescam & cetera ·
¶ The moste lyflode þat he lyueþ by · is loue yn goddys passioun
neyþer he byddeþ ne he beggeþ · ne borweþ to ȝelde
mysdoiþ he noman · ne wyþ his mowþ greueþ ·
¶ Amonges crystyn men · þis myldenesse schulde laste
yn alle manere angres · haue þis atte herte ·
that thowȝ þey suffryd all this · god suffryd for vs more
yn ensaumple we schuld do so · and take no vengeaunce
of our foes þat don vs falsnesse · þat is our fadres wylle
for wel may euery man w{.}ete · ȝif god had wold{e} hym-sylue
schulde neuere iudas ne iewe · haue ihesu don on rode
ne han martyred peter and poule · ne yn prysoun holdyn ·
ac he suffryd yn ensample · þat we schuld suffre also
and seyde to suche þat suffre wolde · þat pacientes vincunt
verbi gracia · quod he · and verrey ensamples manye
In legenda sanctorum · the lyf of holy seyntes
¶ what penaunce and pouerte · and passioun þey suffryd
yn hungour / ur yn hete · yn alle manere angrys
antoni and Egidi · and other holy fadrys
wonedyn yn wyldernesse · amonge wylde bestys
monkes and mendynauntes · men by hem-sylue
yn spekes and yn spelonkes · seldom speke togydres
¶ Ac noyþer antony ne egidi · ne hermyte þat tyme
of lyouns ne of lupardys · no lyflode ne tooke
but of fowles þat fleeþ · thus fynde men yn bokys
except that egidi · after an hynde cryed ·
and þurgh þe mylde beste · the man was susteyned
and day by day hadde he her nougth · his hungour forto slake
but seldom and sundry tymes · as seiþ þe book and {.}techeþ
¶ Antony a dayes · abowt the noon-tyme
hadde a brydde þat brougth hym breed · þat he by lyuyde
and þowȝ the gome had a gest · god fond hem bothe
poul primus heremita · hadde parrokkyd hym-sylue
that noman mygth hym se · for mosse and for leuys
fowlys hym fedde · fele wyntrys wyþ-alle
tyl he foundyd frerys · of austynes ordre
¶ Poul after his prechynge · panyers he made
and wan wyþ his handys · that his wombe neded
¶ Peter fischid for his food · and his felaw Andrew
somme þey sothyn & summe soldyn · and so they lyued boþe
and also marye magdalene · by mores lyuyd and dewys
ac most þurgh deuocioun · and mynde of god almyghty ·
¶ I schuld nougth þis seuene dayes · syggen hem alle ·
that lyuedyn þus for our lordys loue · many longe ȝerys
ac ther ne was lyoun no lupard · þat on laundys wentyn ·
neyther bere ne bore · ne other best wylde ·
that ne fel to her feet · and fawnyd wyþ her tayles
and ȝif þey cow{..}de haue carpede by cryst as y trowe
they woldyn haue fed that folk · byfore wyld fowles
¶ ac god sent hem food by fowles · and by none fiers bestys
yn menyng þat meke thynge · mylde thynge schuld serue
as who seiþ relygiouns · ryghtfull men schuld fynde
and lawful men to lyf-holy men · lyflode brynge
and þanne wolde lordes and ladyes · be loiþ to agylte
and to take of her tenawntes · more þan trewþ wolde
¶ founde they that frerys · wolde forsake almasses
and byddyn hem bere it · þere it was y-borwyd ·
for we ben goddes fowlys · and abydyn alwey ·
tyl bryddys bryngyn vs · that we schulde lyue by
¶ for had ȝe potage and payn ynow · and peny-ale to drynke
and a messe þerwyþ · of oo maner kynde ·
ȝe haddyn rygth ynowȝ ȝe relygiouns · and so ȝowr rewyl me tolde
Numquam dicit iob rugit onager · cum herbam habuerit · aut mugiet bos cum
ante plenum presepe steterit · brutorum animalium natura te condempnat · quia
cum eis papulum comune sufficiat · ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua · & cetera
¶ ȝif lewed men knew this latyn · they wolde loke whom they ȝyue
and auyse hem byfore · a fyue dayes or syxe
er þey enmorteysid to monkes · or chanones her rentys
¶ alas lordes and ladyes · lewyd counseyl haue ȝee ·
to ȝyue fro ȝowr heyres · þat ȝowr aiels ȝow lafte
and ȝyueþ to bydde for ȝow · to such þat ar ryche
and beþ foundyd and feffyd eke · to bydde for othere
¶ who parformeþ þis prophecye · of the peple þat now lybbeþ
dispersit dedit pauperibus · & cetera
¶ ȝif eny peple parforme þat text · it are þese pouere frerys
for þat þey beggyn aboute · yn buyldyng þey it spende
and on hem-selfe sum · and such as ben her laborers
and of hem þat habbeþ they takyn · and ȝyue hem þat habbeþ
¶ Ac clerkes and knyhtys · and comoners þat ben ryche
fele of ȝow fareþ · as ȝif y a forest hadde
that were ful of fayr trees · and y fonded and caste
how y mygth mo þerynne · amonges hem sette
¶ rygth so ȝe ryche · that robbeþ that ben ryche
and helpeþ hem þat helpeþ ȝow · and ȝyueþ þere no nede is
as who-so fylde a tonne · of a fresch reuere
and went foorþ wyþ þat water · to wokyn wyþ t{....}emse ·
rygth so ȝe ryche · that robbyn and fedyn
hem that han as ȝe han · hem ȝe makyn at ese
¶ Ac relygyous þat ryche ben · schuld raþer feste beggers
than burieysLX þat ben ryche as the book techeþ
Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare
Item peccatoribus dare est demonib{.}us immolare ·
Item monach{.}e si indiges & accipis pocius das quam accipis
Si autem non eges · & accipis rapis ·
Porro non indiget monachus si habeat quod nature sufficit · cetera
¶ Forþy y counseyl alle crystene · to conforme vs to charyte
for charyte wyþ-out chalengynge · vnchargeþ þe soule
and many a prisoun fro purgatory · þurgh his prayers he delyuereth ·
¶ ac þere is a deffaute yn þe folke · that the feyþ kepeþ ·
wherfore folk is þe febler · and nougth ferme of byleue
as yn luschboroughs is a lyþer alay · & ȝit lokeþ he lyke asterlyng / a sterlyng
þe mark{e} of þat moneye is good · ac þe metal ys feble
crowne and crystendom · þe kynges mark{e} of heuene ·
ac þe metal þat is mannys soule · wyþ synne is fowl alayed ·
boþe lettryd and lewyd · beþ allayed now wyþ synneC
that no lyf loueþ oþer · ne our lord as yt semeth ·
for þurgh werre and wycked workes · and wedres vnresonable
wederwyse schipmen and wytty clerkes also
han no byleue to the lyfte · ne to þe lore of philosophers
¶ Astronomyens alday · yn her art faylen
þat whilom warnyd byfore · what schuld falle after
schipmen and scheepherdys · þat wyþ schip and scheep wente
wystyn by þe walkyne · what schulde betyde
as of wedres and wyndes · þey warnyd men ofte ·
¶ Tylyers þat tylyed þe erþe · toldyn her maystryes
by þe seed that they sewe · what þey sylle mygthe
and what to leue and what to lyue by · þe lond was so trewe
¶ Now fayleþ þe folk of þe flood · and of þe lond boþe
scheepherdys and schipmen · and so don þese tylyers
neyþer þey konneþ ne knoweþ · on cours byfore an noþer
¶ Astronomyens also · arn atte her wyttys ende
of þat was calculed of þe elyment · þe contrarye þey fynde
gramer that is ground of al · bygyleþ now chyldren
for is noon of þys newe clerkes · who-so nymeþ hedeT
ne rede a lettre yn any langage · but yn latyn or yn englysch ·
go now to eny degre · and but ȝif gyle be mayster
and flaterer his felaw · vndur hym to formyn ·
moche wonder me thynkeþ · amonges vs alle
¶ Doctours of decres · and of dyuynyte maystres
that schulden fynde & knowe all kyn clergye
and answere to argumentes · and also to a quodlibet
y dar nougth sygge it for schame · if such were apposed
they schuldyn fayle of her philosophie · and yn fysyke boþe
¶ wherfore y am a-ferd · of folk of holycherche
lest they ouerhippyn as other don · yn offyces and yn hourys
ȝif þey ouerhippyn as y hope nougth · our byleue suffiseth ·
as clerkes in corpus christi feste syngyn and redyn ·
that sola fides sufficit · to saue wyth lewyd peple
and so may sarazynes be sauyd · scrybes and iewys
¶ alas þanne but our lordys men · lyuen as þey leren vs
and for her lyuynge þat lewyd men · be þe loþer god a-gulte
for sarasenes han sumwhat · semyng to our byleue
for þey loue and byleue · yn o persone almyhty
and we lered and lewyd · yn o god byleueþ
¶ And on macameth · aman / a man yn mysbyleue
brought sarrasenys of surre · and see yn what manere
¶ this macameth was a crystene · and for he most nat be pope ·
ynto surre he sought · and þurgh his sotyl wyttys
he dauntyd ado{...}uue / a do{...}uue and day and nygth her fedde
the corn þat sche croppyd · he kest it yn his ere
and ȝif he amonge þe peple prechid · or yn places come
thanne wolde þe culuer · come to þe clerkes ere
menyng as after mete · thus macameth here enchauntyd
and dude folk þan falle on knees · for he swore yn his prechyng
þat þe culuer þat cam so · cam fram god of heuene
as messager to macameth · men forto teche ·
¶ And thus þurgh wyles of his wytt · and a whyte dowue
macameth yn mysbyleue · men and wymmen brougthe ·
þat lewyd þere and l{......}ered ȝit · leuyn on his lawys
¶ And seþþe our sauyour suffred · þe sarasenys so bygyled
þurgh a crysten clerk · a-cursyd yn his sowleC
and for drede of þe deþ y dar nougth telle trewþe
how englysch clerkes a culuer feden þat coueytyse hatteþ
and ben maneryd aftyr macameth · þat noman vseþ trewþeC
¶ ancres and heremytes · and monkes and frerys
peren to apostles · þurgh her parfyt lyuynge
wolde neuere þe feiþful fadre · þat his mynystres schulde
of tyrauntys þat tenyn trew men · takyn eny alm{.}es
but don as antony dude · dominic and Fraunceys
benet and bernard · þe whiche hem furst taugthe
to lyue by lytyll · and yn low{.}e howses · by lele mennys almasse
{...?...}thanne grace schuld growe and be grene · þurgh her good lyuynge
the bettre for her byddynges · yn body and yn soule
her prayers and her penaunces · to pees schulde brynge
alle þat ben at þe bate and bedemen were trewe
Petite & accipietis · & cetera ·
¶ Salt saueþ þe catel · {...?...}siggen thes wyues ·
Vos estis sal terre · & cetera ·
¶ The heuedys of holy cherche · and they holy were
cryst calleþ hem salt · for crystene sowlys
Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur · & cetera
¶ Ac freisch flesch oþer fysch · whan yt salt fayleþ
¶ so is mannys soule soþly · þat seeþ no gode ensaumple
of hem of holycherche · þat þe hie wey schulde teche
and be gyde and go byfore as a good baneour
and hardye hem þat byhynde ben · and ȝyue hem good euydence
¶ enleuene holy men · all þe worlde turnede
ynto lele byleue · the lyȝtloker me þynkeþ
schulde alle manere of men · we han to many maystrys
preestys and prechours · and a pope aboue
that goddys salt schuld be · to saue mannys soule ·
¶ All was heþenes sumtyme · engelonde and wal{...}ys
tyl gregory gart clerkys · to go hyder and preche
austyn at caunterbury · crystnyd þe kynge
and þurgh myracles þat men may rede · al þat march he turnyde
to cryste and to crystendom · and cros to honoure
and fullyd folk faste · and þe feyþ taugthe
more þurgh myracles · þan þurgh moche prechyng
as wel þurgh his werkes · as þurgh his holy wordys
and seyde hem what þe fullyng was · & feyþ was to mene
¶ Cloiþ þat comeþ fro þe weuynge · is nougth comely to were
tyl it be fullyd vndur fote · or yn fullynge stockes ·
waschen wel wyþ water · and wyþ taseles cracched
y-towked and y-teyntyd · and vnder taylours handes
¶ and so it fareþ by a barn · þat born is of a wombe
tyl he be crystned yn crystes name. and confermyd of busschop
yt is heþen as to heuenward and helples to þe soule
¶ Heþene is to mene after heþ · and vntylyed erþe
as yn wylde wyldernes · waxen wyld bestes
rude and vnresonable · rennyng wyþ-out cropers
¶ ȝe menyn wel how matheu seyþ · how aman / a man made a feste
he fedde hem wyþ no venysoun · ne fesauntes y-bake
but wyþ foules þat fram hym nolde · but folwyd hym whistlynge
Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt · & cetera
And wyþ calues flesch he fedde · the folk þat he louyde
¶ þe calf bytokeneþ clennesse · yn hem that kepeþ lawes
for as þe cow þurgh kynde mylk · þe calf noryscheþ tyl an noxe
so loue and lewte · lele men susteyneth ·
and maydenys and mylde men · mercy desyryn ·
¶ rygth as þe cow calfe · coueyteþ swet mylke
so don ryghfull men · mercy and trewthe
¶ ac who-so beþ þat excuseþ hem · þat arn parsouns and preestys
þat heuedys of holycherche ben · þat han her wylle here
wyþ-outyn trauayle þe tyþe deel · þat trew men byswynkyn
þey woln be wroþ for y wryte þus · ac to wytnes y take
boþe matheu and mark · and memento domine dauid ·
what pope or prelat now parformeþ þat cryst higth ·
Ite in vnuuersum / vn[i]uersum mundum · & predicate · & cetera
¶ Alas þat men so longe · yn macameth schuld byleue
so many prelates to preche · as the pope makeþ
of nazareth of nynyue · of neptalym and damaske
þat þey ne wente as cryst wysseþ · syþþyn þey woln haue name ·
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit · & cetera ·
¶ And seyde it of saluacioun · of sarazenes and oþere ·
for crystene and vncrysten · cryst seyde to prechours
Ite vos in vineam meam & cetera
¶ And seþþe þat þese sarrazenes · scrybes and iewes
han alippe / a lippe of our byleue · þe lyȝtloker me þynkeþ
þey schuld turne who-so traueyled · to teche hem of þe trynyte
Querite & inuenietis · & cetera
¶ It is rewþ to rede · how ryȝtwyse men lyuede ·
how þei deffowlyd her fleysch · forsokyn her owen wylle
fer fro kyþ and fer fro kyn · euel ycloþyd ȝedyn
badly ybeddyd · no book but conscyence
ne no rycchesse but þe rode · to re{y}ioyse hem ynne
Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri · & cetera
¶ And þo was plente and pes · among po{..}re and ryche
{...?...?...}Ac now is reuthe to rede how þe rede noble ·
{i}Is reuerenced ar þe rode · receyuyd for þe worthiere T
than crystes cros þat ouercam · deþ and dedly synne
¶ And now is werre and woo · and who-so why aske
for coueytise after cros · þe corowne stant yn golde
boþe ryche and relygyous · þat rode they honoure
that yn grotes is grauyn · and yn gold nobles
for coueytise of þat cros · men of holycherche
schul turne as templeres dude · þe tyme approcheþ faste
¶ Wete ȝe nougth ȝe wyse men · how þoo men honoured
more tresour than trewþe · y dar nougth telle þe soþe
¶ Resoun and ryhtful doom · þe relygyous demyd
rygth so ȝe clerkes · for ȝour coueytise or longe
schal þey demen dos ecclesie · and ȝour pride depose
Deposuit potentes de sede · & cetera ·
¶ ȝif knyȝthod and kynde wytt · and comoun conscyence
togedres loue lely · leeueþ it well ȝe busschopes
þe lordschipe of londes · for euere schull ȝe lese ·
and lyuen as leuitici · as our lord ȝow techeþ ·
Per p{...?...}rimicias decimas & cetera ·
¶ whan constantyn of curtesye · holycherche do{.}wede
wyþ londes and ledes · lordschipes and rentys
an aungel men herden · an hiȝe at rome cryȝe
dos ecclesie this day · haþ dronkyn venym ·
a medecyn moot þerto · þat may amende prelates
thanne schuldyn they praye for þe pes · possessiouns hem letteþ
takeþ her landes ȝe lordes · and leteþ hem lyue by dymes
good were dyschargen hem · for holycherches sake
and purgyn hem of poysoun · or more peryl falle
{¶} ȝif preesthod were parfit · the peple schulde amende
þat contraryen crystes lawe · and crystendom dyspise ·
for alle paynymes prayeþ · and parfitly byleeueþ ·
yn þe holy grete god · and his grace þey axen ·
and makyn her mone to macameth · her message to schewe
and þat is rewþe for rygthfull men · þat yn þe rewm wonyn ·
and a peryll to þe pope · and prelatys þat he makeþ
þat beryn busschops names · of bethlem and of babyloigne
that hippyn aboute yn yngelonde · to halwyn auters
and crepyn amonges curatours · confessen aȝen þe lawe
Nolite mittere falsem in messem alienam · & cetera
¶ Many man for crystes loue · was martyred yn romayne
er þan crystyndom was knowe þere · or eny cros honouryd
¶ Euery busschop þat bereþ cros · by þat he is holdyn ·
þurgh his prouynce to passe · and to his peple schewyn hym ·
tellen hem and techen hem · on þe trynyte to byleeue
and feden hem wyþ gostly food · and gyuen þere it nedeþ
In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum & ideo
nolite constituere me regem · & cetera
Ozias seiþ for suche · that syke ben and feble ·
Inferte omnes decimas in h{....}orreum meum vt cibus in domo mea & cetera
¶ Ac we crystyn creatures · that on þe cros byleuyn
arn ferme as yn þe feyþ · god forbede ellys
and han clerkes to kepe vs þerynne · and hem þat schull come after
¶ And iewes lyuen yn lele lawe · our lord wrot it hym-sylue ·
yn ston for it stedefaste was · and stonde schulde euere ·
Dilige deum & proximum · is parfit iewyn lawe
and took it moyses to teche men · tyl messye come
and on þat lawe þey l{y}euen ȝit · and letyn it þe beste
and ȝit knew þey cryst · þat crystendom taugthe
for a parfit prophete · þat muche peple sauyd ·
of selcowþe sores · they seyen it ofte
bothe of myracles and meruayles · and how {..}he men festyde
wyþ two fysches and fyue loues · fyue þousand peple
and by þat mangery men mygth well se · þat messye he semed
and whan he lyft vp lazar · þat leyd was yn graue
and vnder ston deed and stank{e} · wyþ styf voys hym callyd
Lazare veni foras · & cetera ·
Dude hym ryse and rome · rygth byfore þe iewys
¶ Ac they seydyn and sworen · wyþ sorcery he wrougth
and studyeden to destruye hym · and struyeden hem-sylue ·
and þurgh his pacyence her power · to pure nougth he brougth
Pacientes vincunt · & cetera ·
¶ Danyel of her vndoynge dyuyned and seyde
Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit vnccio vestra · & cetera
¶ And ȝet wenyn tho wrecchis þat he were pseudo propheta
and þat his lore be lesynges · and lacken yt alle
and hopyn þat he be to comen · that schall hem releue
moyses eft or messye · here maystres ȝet dyuyneþ
¶ Ac pharyses and sarasyns · scrybes and iewes
arn folk of oo feyþ · the fader god they honouryn
and syþþen þat the sarasens · and also þe iewes
kunnen þe ferst clause of our byleeue · credo in deum patrem omnipotentem · & cetera
prelates of crystes prouynces schulde preue ȝif þey mygth ·
leren hem lytsom and lytsom · & in ihesum christum filium
tyl þey cowd speke and spelle · & in spiritum sanctum ·
and reden yt and recordyn yt · wyþ remissionem peccatorum ·
Carnis resurexionem & vitam eternam amen · & cetera
wonesC
☜