passus xv / quintodecimus{.}
Ac aftur my wakynge . it was won{n}dur longe
Er I koude kyndly . knowe what isT dowel .
And so my wit wexe and wa{y}n{n}yed . til I a fool{e} were
And somme lakked my lif . allowed it butT fewe .
Lordes or ladyes . or any lif elles
As persouns in pellure . with pendauntz of siluer .
To sergauntz ne to suche . saide IT nouȝt ones .
God loke {ȝ}yow lordus . ne louted faire
That folk helden me a fool . and in þat folye I rauede
Til reson hadde ruthe on me . and rokked me a-slepe
Til I seigh{e} as it sorcerie were . a sotil þing with-alle
Oon with-outen tonge or teeth . tolde me whider I sholde
And whereof I cam and of what kynde . I coniured hym atte laste
{Ȝif}If he were crist{.}es creature . for crist{.}es loue me to tellen
I am cristes creature . quod he . and cristen in many a place
In crist{.}es Court{e} I knowe wel . and of his kyn a partie .
Is neither Pet{re}er {..} — þe porter . ne Poule with his fauchoun .
That wol deffende me þe dore . dynge I neuere so late
At mydnyȝt at mydday . my vois so is y-knowe
That {.}ech{e} a creature of his court{e} . welcometh me faire
What ar {ȝ}ye called in þat Court{e} quod I . among{e} cristes p{.}eple
The w{....}hiles I quyke þe corps . quod he . called am I Anima .
And whan I wilne and wolde . Animus ich hatte
And for þat I kan and knowe . called am I . mens
And whan I make mone to god . memoria is my name
And whan I deme domes . and do as truthe techeth .
Than is Racio . my riȝt name . resoun on ynglissh .
And whan I feele þat folk{e} telleth . my furste name is Sensus .
And þat is wit and wisdome . þe welle of alle craftus .
And whan I chalange . or chalange nouȝt . chepe or refuse
Than am I Co{n}nscience y-called . godes clerk and his Notarie
And whan I loue lelly . oure lord and alle oþer
Thanne is lele loue my name . and in latyn Amor .
And whan I fl{..}ee from þe flessh . and forsake þe caroigne
Thanne am I spirit specheles . spiritus þanne ich hatte
Austyn and {.}ysodorus . either of hem bothe .
Nempned me þus to name . now þow myȝt chese
How þou coueitest to calle me . now þow knowest alle my names
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 .
{Ȝ}Ye ben as a bisshop quod I . al bourdynge þat tyme
For bisshopus yblessud . bereth many names .
Presul . and Pontifex . and Metropolitanus .
And othere names an heep Episcopus and pastor .
That is soth saide he . now I se þi wille
Thow woldest knowe and kunne . þe cause of alle hire names
And of myn {ȝ}if þow miȝtest . me thynketh by þi speche .
{Ȝ}Ye sire I saide by so no man . were agreued{e}
Alle þe sciences vndur sonne . and alle þe sotil craftes .
I wolde I knewe and couthe . kyndly in myn herte .
Thanne art þow inparfit quod he . and oon of prides knyȝtes
For suche a lust{e} and likynge . lucifer fell{e} from heuene .
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo .
It were aȝeins kynde quod he . and alle kynnes resoun .
That eny creature shulde konne al . except Crist one .
Aȝeins suche sal{.}omon speketh and despiseth hire wittus .
And saith Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum .
Sic qui scrutator est magestatis opprimitur a gloria .
To ynglissh men þis is to mene . þat mowen speke and here .
The man þat muche hony eteth . his mawe it engleymeth
And þe more þat a man . of good matire hereth
But he do theraftur it doth him double scathe
Beatus est seith Bernard . qui scripturas legit
Et verba vertit in opera . fulliche to his power{e}
Coueitise to k{u}onne . and to knowe science
Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriam spoliauit
And riȝt as hony is {.}yuel to deffie . and englemeth þe mawe
Riȝt so þat þoruȝ reson . wolde þe rote knowe
Of god and of hise grete miȝtes . his graces it letteth
For in þe likynge lith a pride . and a licames coueitise
A{ȝ}yeins Cristes conseille . and alle clerkes techinge
That is Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere .
Freres and fele othere maistres . þat to þe lewed men prechen
{Ȝ}Ye mouen matires in-mesurables . to tellen of þe Trinite
That ofte tymes þe lewed poeple . of hire bileue douten
And tellen men of þe ten comandementz . and techenT þe seuen synnes
And of þe braunches þat burioneth of hem . and bringeth men to helle
And how þat folk in hireT folies . myspenden here fyue wittes
As wel Freres as othere {....}folk . folilich þei spenden .
In housynge in hateringe . and in-to heiȝe clergie shewynge
More for pompe þan for pure charite . þe poeple woot þe sothe .
That I lye not loo . for lordus {ȝ}ye plesen .
And reuerencen þe Riche . the rather for hire siluer .
Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia . Et alibi
Vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium .
Go to þe glose of þe vers . {ȝ}ye grete clerkes
{Ȝ.}If I lie on {ȝ}yow to my lewde wit . ledeth me to b{...}rennyng{e}
For as it semeth {ȝ}ye forsaketh . no mann{.}es almesse
Of vsurers of hores . of auerous chapmen .
And louten to þese lordes . þat mowen lene {ȝ}yow nobles
A{ȝ}yein {ȝ}youre Rule and religioun . I take record at{te} Ihesus
That saide to {.}his discipules . ne sitis personarum acceptores
Of þis matere I miȝte make a long{e} bible
Ac of curatours of cristen p{.}eple . as clerkes bereth {...}wytnesse
I shal tellen it for truthes sake . take hede who-so like{..e}th
Thoruȝ lele libbynge men . þat godes lawe techen
Right so out of holy churche . alle {.}yueles spredeth
There inparfit presthod is . prechours & techers
And se it b{.}y ensample . in somer tyme on trowes
There somme bowes {.}beth leued . and somme bereth none
There is a meschief in þe more . of suche manere bowes
Riȝt so persones and prestes . and menT of holychurche
That arn rote of þe riȝt feith . to rule þe p{.}eple
Ac þere þe rote is roten . reson wot þe sothe
Shal neuere flour ne fruyt . ne faire leef be grene
For-þi wolde {ȝe}ye lettrud leue . the leccherie of clothinge
And be kynde as bifel for clerkes . and curteis{.e}e of cristus goodus .
Truwe of {ȝ}yowre tonge . and of {ȝ}youre tail{le} bothe
And haten to here harlotrie . and nouȝt to vndurfonge
Tithes of vntrewe thing{e} . ytilied or chaffared .
Lothe were lewed men . but þei {ȝ}yowre loore folwede
And amenden hem þat mysdoun . moore for {ȝ}youre ensamples
Than{ne} — for to prechen and pre{...}uen it nouȝt . {..}ypocrisie it semeth .
For ypocrisie in latyn . is likned to a donghull .
That were bisnewed with snow{.} . and snakes withinne
Ri{...}ght so many preestus . prechours and prelatus
Ac {ȝ}youre werkes and {ȝ}yowre wordes . þerevndur arn ful vnloueliche
Iohannes Crisostomus of clerkus speketh and preestus .
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur . sic de templo omne
malum procedit . Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit tota floret ecclesia
Si autem coruptum fuerit {} omnium fides marcida est . Si sacerdocium
fuerit in peccatis totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum . Sicut
cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam . intelligi{.}s quod vici-
um habet in radice . Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum
& irreligiosum / sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum .
{Ȝi}If lewed men wiste . what þat þis latyn meneth .
And {..}who was myn auctour . muche wondur me þinketh
But {ȝ}if many preest beere . for hire baselardus and hire brooches
A peire of bedes in hire hand . and a book inT hire arme
Sir Iohan and sire Geffray . hath a gerdel of siluer .
A baselard or a ballo{..}k knyf with botones ouergilte
Ac a porth{..}ors þat {shuld} —— sholde be his plow . placebo to segge
Hadde he neuere seruice to saue siluer þer-to . seith it with idel wille
Allas {ȝ}ye lewede men muche lese {ȝ}ye on preestus
Ac þing þat is wikkedlicheT y-wonnen . and with false sleightes
Wolde neuere wit of witty god . but wikked men it hadden .
The w{..}hiche arn prestus inparfite . and prechours aftur siluer .
This þat with gile was geten . vngraciousliche is spended
So harlotes and hoores . arn holpen with suche goodus
And godes folk for defaute therof . forfaren and spillen .
Curatours of holikyrke . as clerkes þat ben auerouse
Ligthliche þat þei leuen . loseles it habbeth
Or de{iȝ}yeth intestate . and þanne þe bisshop entreth
And maketh murthe þerewith . and hise men bothe
And seggen he was a Nygard . þat no go{de}od myȝte spare .
To freend ne to fremmed . the fiend{e} haue his soule
For a wrecched hous he held . al his lif-tyme
And þat he spared and speredeT . spene we in murthe
Thus goon hire goodus . be þe goost faren .
Ac for goode men god woot . grete doel men maken .
And bymeneþ goode mete {ȝ}yeuers . and in mynde haueth .
In preiers and in penaunces . and in parfite charite
What is charitee quod I thoo . a childissh þinge h{.}e saide
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli . non intrabitis in regnum celorum .
With-outen fauntelte or folye . a fre liberal wille
Where shulde men fynde such{e} a freend . with so fre an herte .
I haue liued in londe quod I . my name is longe wille
And fonde I neuere ful charite . bifore ne by-h{.}ynde
Men ben merciable . to mendinauntz and to pore
And wolen lenen þere þei leue . lelly to be paied{e} .
Ac charite þat Poule preiseth best . and moost plesaunt to oure Saueour
I seigh neuere such{e} a man . so me god helpe .
That he ne wolde aske aftur his . and otherwhile coueite
Thing þat neded hym nouȝt . and nyme it {ȝ}if he myghte
Clerkes kennen me . þat Crist is . in alle places
Ac I seigh him neuere soþely . but as my-sel{.}f in a {.....}Mirour
HicT in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem .
And so I trowe truly by þat men telleth of charite
It is nouȝt champions fiȝt{e} . ne chaffare as I trowe
Charite quod he ne chaffareth nouȝt . ne chalangeth ne craueth
As proude of a peny . as of a pound{e} of golde
And is as glad of a gowne . of a gray russet
As of a tunicle of Tarse . or of trye scarlet{e}
He is glad with alle glade . and good{e} til al wikked .
And leneth and loueth . al þat oure lord made
Curseth he no creature . ne he kan bere no wrathe
Ne no likynge hath to lye . ne laughe men to scorne
Al þat men saien he leet it soth . and in solace taketh
And alle manere myschi{...}efs . in myldenesse he suffreth
Hath he any rentes or richessesT . or any riche freendes .
For a frend{e} þat fyndeth hym . failled hym neuere at nede
Fiat voluntas tua . fynt hym euere-moore .
And {ȝ}if he soupe eteth . but a sop . of Spera in deo .
He kan purtreie wel þe Pater-noster . and peinte {...?...}it with aues
And otherwhile is his wone . to wenden in pilgrimage
There pouere men and prisones liggeth . hire pardon to haue .
Though he bere hem no bred . he bereth swetter liflide / lifl[o]de .
Loueth hem as oure lord biddeth . and loketh how þei fare .
And whan he is wery of þat werk . þan wol he somme-tyme
Labouren in lauendrie . wel þe lengthe of a myle .
And {ȝ}yerne in-to {ȝ}youthe and {ȝ}yepliche speke .
Pride with alle þappurtenaunces . and pakken hem to-gedre
And bouken hem at his brest . and beten hem clene
And leggen on longe . with laboraui in gemitu meo
And with warme watur at his eighen . whasshen hem aftur
And þanne he syngeth whanne he doth so . and som{me}-tyme saith wepynge
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despici{..}asT
By Crist I wolde þat I knew hym quod I . no creature leuere
Wher clerkes knowen hym quod {h}I . þat kepen holy kyrke
Clerkes haue no knowynge quod he . but by werkes and by wordes
Ac Piers þe plowman parceyueth moore depper
Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum
For þere arn ful proude-herted men . pacient of tonge
And buxome as of berynge . to burgeys and to lordes
And to pouere poeple han peper in þe nose
And as a lyon he loketh . þere men lakken his werkes
For þere arn beggers and bidders . bedmen as it were
Loken as lambren . and semen lif-holy
Ac it is more to haue hire mete . with such an esy manere
Than{ne} — for penaunce and parfitenesse . þe pouerte þat suche taketh
Therfore by colour ne by clergie . know shalt þow hym neuere
Neither þoruȝ wordus ne werkes . but þoruȝ wille oone
And þat knoweth no clerk . ne creature in erthe
But piers þe plowman . Petrus id est Cristus
For he ne is not in lollers . ne in londlepers hermytes
Ne at ancres þere a box hangeth . alle suche þei faiten
Fy on faitours and in fautores suos .
For charite is godes champioun . and as a good child hende
And þe merieste of mouthe . at mete where he sitteth
Þe loue þat lith in his herte . maketh hym light of speche
And is companable and confortatif . as crist bit hym-seluen .
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes . & cetera
For I haue sein hym in silk . and some-tyme in russet
Bothe in grey and in grys . and in gilt herneys .
And as gladliche he it gaf . to gomes þat it neded .
I haue seiȝen charite also . syngen and reden. /
TRiden and rennen in ragged wedes
Ac in riche Robes . rathest he walketh
Y-called and y-crymylled . and his croune shaue
And inC a Freres frokke . he was founden oones
Ac it is ferre a-goo . in seint Fraunceys tyme
In þat secte sithe to selde . hath he ben knowe
Riche men he recomendeth . and of hire robes taketh
That with-outen wyles . ledeth hire lyues
Beatus est diues qui & cetera
In kynges court{e} he cometh ofte . þere þe counseill{e} is trewe
Ac {ȝ}if coueitise be of þe conseill . he wil not come þere-inne .
In court{e} amonges Iapers . cometh heT but selden .
For braulynge and bakbytynge and beryng of fals wittnesse
In þe Consistorie bifore þe Commissarie . he cometh not ful ofte
For hire lawe dureth ouer{e}-longe . but {ȝ}if þei lacchen siluer .
And matrimoigne for moneye . þeiT maken and vnmaken .
And þat conscience and crist . hath y-kny{...}t — faste
Thei vndoon it vnworth{.}ily þo doctours of lawe .
Ac I lakkeT no lif . but lord amende vs alle
And gif vs grace goode god . charite to folwe .
For whoso miȝte mete with hym . swyche maners hym eileth
Neither he blameþ . ne heT banneþ . boosteth ne preiseth
Lakketh n{o}e loseth . ne loketh vp sterne
Craueth ne coueiteth . ne crieth aftur moore
In pace in idipsum dormiam & cetera
The mooste liflode he lyueth by . is loue in godes passion .
Neither he biddeth ne beggeth . ne borweth to {ȝ}yelde
Misdoth he no man . ne with his mouth{e} greueth .
Amonges cristen men þis myldenesse shulde laste
In alle manere angres . haue þis at herte
That þouȝgh þei suffre al þis . god suffrethT for vs more
In ensample we shulde do so . and take no vengeaunce .
Of oure foes þat doth vs falsenesse . þat is oure fadres wille .
For wel may euery man wite {ȝ}if god hadde wolde hym-seluen
Shulde neuere Iudas ne iewe . haue Ihesu doon on rode
Ac he suffrede in ensample þat we shulde suffre also .
And saide to suche þat suffre wolden . þat Pacientes vincunt .
Verbi gracia quod he . and {..}verrey ensamples manye
In legenda sanctorum . the lif of holy seintes .
What penaunce and pouerte . and passion þei suffrede
In hunger in hete in alle manere angres .
Antonye and Egidie . and other holy fadres .
Woneden in wildernesse amonges wilde beestes
Mon{ȝkes}kes and mendinauntz men by hem-seluen .
In spekes and spelonkes . selden speken to-g{.}ydre .
Ac neither Antonye ne Egidie . ne heremite that tyme .
Of lyons ne of lypardes . no liflode ne toke
But of fowles þat fleeth . þus fyndeth men in bokes .
And þoruȝ þe mylk{e} of þat mylde beest{e} . the man was susteigned .
And day by day hadde he hire nouȝt . his hunger for to slake
But selden and sundr{.}y tymes . as saith{e} the book and techeth .
Antony a dayes . aboute nonesT tyme
Hadde a brid{de} that brouȝte hym bred . that he by lyuede .
And þouȝ þe gome hadde a gest{e} . god fonde hem bothe
Poule primis / prim[u]s heremita . hadde parrokede hym-seluen .
That no man miȝte hym se . for mosse and {......}for leues
Fowles hym fedde fele wyntres / with-alle .
Til he founded Freres . of Austyns ordre .
Poule after his prechinge . panyers he made .
And w{..}an with his hon{...}des . þat his wombe neded . /
Pet{re}er fisshed for his fode . and his felawe Andrew .
Som{e} þei solde . and som{me} thei sothe . and so þei liued bothe
Ac moost þoruȝ deuocioun . and mynde of god almiȝty .
I shulde{n} not þise seuene dayes . seggen hem alle
That lyueden þus for oure lordes loue . many longe {ȝ}yeres
Ac þere ne was lyo{.}n ne lypard{e} . þat on laundes wenten .
Neither beere ne boor . ne other beest{e} wilde
That ne felle to hire feet . and fawned with þe tailles
And {ȝ}if þei couthe han y-carped . by crist as I trowe
They wolde haue y-fed þat folk{e} . byfore wylde fowles .
Ac god sente hem fode by fowles . and by no fierse beestes .C
In menynge þat meke þing{e} . mylde þing{e} shulde fede .
As whosoT seith Religious . riȝtful men sholde fynde
And laweful men to lif-holy men . liflode bringe .
And þanne wolde lordes and ladyes . be loth to agylte
And to take of hire tenauntz . more þan{ne} truthe wolde
Founde þei þat Freres . wolden forsake hire almes .
And bidden hem bere it . þere it was y-borwed{e}
For we ben godes Fowles . and abiden alwey
Til briddes bringe vs . þat we shulde lyue by .
For hadde {ȝ}ye potage and payn y-nough . and penyale to drynke
And a me{sse}s þere-myde . of on manere kynde
{Ȝ}Ye hadden riȝt y-nough {ȝ}ye religious . and so {ȝ}youre reule 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 pabulum comune sufficiat . ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua .
{Ȝif}If lewed men knewe þis latyn . þei wolde loke whom þei {ȝ}yeue
And auyse hem byfore . a fyue dayes or sexe
Er þei amortisede to m{u}onkes . or Chanouns hire rentes .
Allas lordes and ladys . lewede conseill{e} haue {ȝ}ye .
To {ȝ}yeue from {ȝ}youre heires . þat {ȝ}youre aieles {ȝ}yow lefte .
And {ȝ}yeueth to bidde for {ȝ}yow . to suche as ben riche .
And ben founded and feffed eke . to bidde for othere
Who parfourneth þis prophecie . of þe p{.}eple þat now libbeth .
Dispersit dedit pauperibus & cetera .
{Ȝ.}If any poeple parfourne þat texte . it aren þise pouere freres .
For þat þei beggen aboute . in buyldynge þei spene
And on hem-selue som{me} . and suche as ben hire laborers .
And of hem þat habbeth þei taken . and {ȝ}yeueth hem þat ne habbeth .
Ac clerkes and knyȝtes . and Comuners þat ben riche .
That were ful of faire trees . and I fonded and caste
How I miȝte mo þere-inne . amonges hem sette .
And helpeth hem þat helpeth {ȝ}yow . and {ȝ}yeueth þere no need is .
As whoso fillede a tonne . of a fressh ryuer
And wente forth with þat water to woke with Themese
Hem þat han as {ȝ}ye han . hem {ȝ}ye make at ese
Ac Religious þat riche ben . sholde rather feeste beggers
Than burgeys þat riche ben . as þe book techeth
Quia sacrilegium est . res pauperum non pauperibus dare .C
Item peccatoribus dare est demonibus immolare
Item monache si indiges & accipis . pocius das quam accipis
Si autem non eges & accipis rapis .
Porro non indiget monachus si habeat quod nature sufficit .
For-þi I counseille alle cristene . to confourmen hem to charite
For charite withouten chalangynge vnchargeth þe soule .
Ac þere is a defaute in þe folk . þat þe feith kepeth .
Wherfore folk is þe febler . and nouȝt ferme of bileue
As in lussheburwes is a lether alay . and {ȝ}yet loketh he lik a sterling{e}
Þe merk{e} of þat monee is good . ac þe metal is feble .
And so it fareth by somme folke now{e} . þei han a faire speche
Croune and cristendome . þe kynges merke of heuene .
Ac þe metal þat is mann{.}es soule with synne is foule alayed{e}
Bothe lettred and lewede beth now alayed with synne .
That no lif loueth other . ne oure lord as it semeth .
For þoruȝ werre and wykked werkes and wederes vnresonable
Weder-wise shippmen . and witty clerkes also .
That whilom warned bifore . what{.} shulde falle after .
Shippmen and sheperdes . þat with shipp . and sheep wenten .
Wisten by the walkene . what sholde bytyde .
As of wederes and wyndes . þei warned men ofte .
Tiliers þat tileden þe erthe . tolden hire maistres .
By þe seed{e} þat þei s{...}ewe what þei selle mighte
And what to leue . and to l{e}iueby / l{e}iue by . þe lond was so trewe .
Now failleth þe folk of þe flood . and of þe lond{e} bothe
Sheperdes and shippmen . and so do þise tiliers
Neither þei k{u}onneth ne knoweth . oon cours byfore another .
CAstronomiens also aren at hire wittus ende .
Of þat was calkulede of þe element . þe contrarie þei fynde
Gramer þe ground{e} of al . bigileth now children .
For is noon of þise newe clerkes . whoso nymeth hede
That kan versifien faire . ne fourmeliche enditen .
Ne nouȝt oon among{e} an hundered . þat an Auctour kan construe
Ne rede a lettre in any langage . but in latyn or in englissh .
Go now to any degre . and but {ȝ}if gile be maist{re}er
And flaterer his felawe . vnder hym to fourmen .
Muche wonder me thynketh . amonges vs alle .
Doctours of decres . and of diuynite maistres
That shulden k{u}onne . and knowe . alle kynnes clergye
And answere to argumentz . and also to a Quodlibet
I dar nouȝt seggen it for shame . {ȝ}if swiche weren apposed .
ThatT shulde faille in hire philosophie . and in hire Phisik{e} bothe
Wherfore I am aferd{e} . of folk of holy kyrke
Lest þei ouerehuppen as other doon in office and in houres .
Ac {ȝ}if þei ouer{e}huppe as I hope nouȝt . oure bileue suffiseth .
As Clerkes in Corpus Cristi feeste . syngen and reden .
That sola fides sufficit . to saue with lewede poeple
And so may Sarasines ben saued . scribes and Iewes .
Allas þanne but oure loresmen . lyuen as þei leren vs
And for hire lyuynge þat lewede men . ben þe lother god agulten .
For Sarasines han sumwhat . semynge to oure bileue
For þei loue and bileue . in oon persone almiȝty
And we lered and lewede . in oon god bileueth
And on Makometh . a man . in mysbileue
Brouȝte Sarasines of Surr{.}ie and se in what manere
This Makometh was a Cristen . and for he moste not be pope
In-to surrye he souȝte . and þorugh his sotile wittes
Dawunted a dow{e}ue . and day and niȝt{e} hire fedd{e} .
The corn þat she kroppud . he kast it in his ere
And if he among{e} þe p{.}eple preched . or in places come
Þanne wolde þe coluere . come to þe clerkes ere
Menynge as after mete . thus makometh hire enchauntede
And dede folk{e} þanne falle on knees . for he swoor in his prechynge
That þe coluere þat com so . c{..}oom from god of heuene
As messager to Makometh . men for to techen .
And þus þoruȝ {..}wyles of his wit . and a whit dowue
Makometh in mysbileue . men and wymmen brouȝte
And sith oure saueour suffred . þoT sarasines so bigiled
Thoruȝ a cristene clerk . {...}acursed in his soule
And for drede of þe deth{e} . I dar nouȝt telle þe truthe
How englissh clerkes a coluere feden . þat coueitise hatte
And ben manered after Makometh . þat no man vseth truthe .
Ankres and hermytes . monkes and Freres .
Peren to apostoles . þoruȝ hire parfit lyuynge
Wolde neuere þe faitheful fader . þat hise Mynystres shulden
Of tirauntes þat teneth trwe men . taken any almesse
But doon as Antony dide . Domynyk and Fraunceys
Benet and Bernard . þe w{...}hiche hem furst{e} tauȝte
To lyue bi litel and in lowe houses . by lele menn{u}es almesse
Grace shulde growe and be grene . þoruȝ hire goode lyuynge
And folkes shulde fynde . þat ben in diuerse sekenesse
The bettre for hire biddynges . in body and in soule .
Hire praiers andT penaunces . to pees shulde bringe .
Alle þat ben at debate . and bedemen were truwe
Petite & accipietis & cetera .
Salt{e} saueth catel seggen þise wyues .
Vos estis sal terre & cetera
The heuedes of holychurche . and þei holy were
Crist calleth hem salt{e} . for cristene soules .
Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur
Ac Fressh flessh or fisshe . whan it salt failleth
It is vnsauori for sothe . y-so{...}de or y-baake
So is mann{.}es soule sothly . þat seeth noo{n} good ensample
Of hem of holychurche . þat þe heiȝe wey{e} sh{u}olde teche
And be gyde . and go bifore . as a good baneour
And hardien hem þat byhinde ben . and {ȝ}yeuen hem gode euidence
Elleuene holy men . alle þe world turned
In-to lele bileue . the liȝtloker me thinketh
Shulde alle manere of men . we han so many maistres
Preestus and prechours . and a pope a-boue
That goddus salt shulde be . to saue mann{.}es soule .
Til Gregorie gerte clerkes . to go h{......}ere and preche .
Austyn at Canturbury . cristened þe kyng{e}
And þoruȝ miracles as menT rede . al þat marche he turnede
To crist and to cristendome . and cros to honoure .
And fulled folk faste . and þe feith{e} tauȝte
More þoruȝ miracles . þan{ne} — þoruȝ muche prechinge .
As wel þoruȝ hise werkes . as þoruȝ his holy wordus
And seiden hem what fullynge . and feith{e} was to mene
Cloth þat cometh from þe weuynge . is nouȝt comely to were
Til it is fulled vnder foot . or in fullynge stokkes
Wasshen wel with watresT . and with taseles cracched{e}
Y-touked and y-teynted . and vndur taillours hande
And so it fareth by a barn . þat born is of a wombe
Til it be cristened in cristes name . and confermed of þe bisshop
It is hethen as to heueneward . and helpeles to þe soule
Hethene it is to mene after heth . and vntiled erthe
As in wilde wildernesse . wexeth wilde beestes
Rude and vnresonable . rennynge withoute cropers
{H}Ye mynnen wel how Mathew{e} saith . a man made a feeste
He fedde hem with no venysoun . ne fesauntz y-bake .
But with fowles þat from hym nolde . but folwed his whistylinge
Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt & cetera
And with calues flessh he fedde .T folk{e} þat he loued
The calf bitokeneth clennesse . in hem þat kepeth lawes
For as þe kow þoruȝ kynde mylk{e} . þe calf norissheth til an oxe
So loue and leaute lele men susteigneth
And maydens an mylde men . mercy desiren .
Right as þe cow calf coueiteth swete mylk{e}
So doon riȝtful men . mercy and trewthe
Ac who be thoT þat excusen hem . þat arn persones and preestus
That hedes of holy churche ben . that han hire wille here
With-outen trauaille . þe tithe deel . þat trwe men biswynken
Thei wole be wroth for I write thus . ac to w{it}ytnesse i take
Bothe Mathew and Mark . and Memento domine dauid .
What pope or prelate now . parfourneth þat Crist highte
Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate & cetera .
Alas þat men so longe on . Mak{o}emeth . shulde bileue
So many prelates to preche . as þe pope maketh
Of Nazareth . of Nynyue / of Neptalim and Damaske
That þei ne wente as crist wisseth . sith þei wil haue name
To be pastours and preche . þe passion of Ihesus
And as hym-seluen saide / so to lyue and deye
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & cetera .
And saide it in sauacion . of Sarasynes and other
For cristene and vn-cristen . crist saide to prechours
Ite vos in vineam meam & cetera
And sith þat þise Saras{y}enes . scribes and Iuwes
Han a lippe of oure {...} — bileue . the liȝtloker me thinketh
Querite & inuenietis & cetera
It is ruthe to rede . how riȝtwise men lyuede
How þei defouled hire {f}flessh . forsoke hire owne wille
Badly y-bedded . no book but conscience
Ne no richesse . but þe Rode . to reioise hem Inne
Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri & cetera
And þo was plente and pees . amonges pouere and riche
And now is routhe to rede how þe rede noble
Is reuerenced er þe Rode . resceyued for þe worthier
Than cristes cros that ouercam . deth and dedly synne
And now is werre and wo . and whoso wh{.....}y — axeth
For couetise after cros . the crowne stant in golde
Bothe riche and Religious . that rode þei honoure
That in grotes is y-grauen . and in golde nobles
For coueitise of þat cros . men of holy kyrke
Shul tourne as Templers deden . the tyme approcheth faste
Wyte {ȝ}ye nouȝt wyse men how þo men honourede
Reson and riȝtful doom{e} . tho Religious demed
Rightso / Right so {ȝ}ye clerkes for {ȝ}youre coueitise . {...}er longe
Shal thei demen doos ecclesie . and {ȝ}youre pride depose
Deposuit potentes de sede . & cetera
To-geders loue lelly . leueth it wel {ȝ}ye bisshopes .
The lordshipe of londes . for euere shul {ȝ}ye lese .
And lyuen as Leuitici . as oure lord {ȝ}yow techeth
Per primicias & decimas & cetera .
Whanne Costantyn of curteisie . holykyrke dowed
With londes and ledes . lordshippes and rentes
An angel men herden . an he{iȝ}ygh at Rome crye
Dos ecclesie þis day . hath y-dronken venyme
And þo þat han petres power . arn enpoisened alle
A medecyne mot þer{e}-to . that may amende prelates
That shulden praien for þe pees . possession hem letteth
Taketh hire landes {ȝ}ye lordes . and leteth hem lyue by dymes
{Ȝef}If possession be poisoun . and imparfite hem make
Good were to deschargen hem . for holy churches sake
And purgen hem of poysoun . er moore perill{e} falle .
{Ȝef}If presthode were parfit . the peple shulde amende
That contrarien cristes lawe . and cristendome despise
For alle paynymes praieth . and parfitliche bileueth
In þe holy grete god . and his grace þei axen .
And make hire moone to Makometh . hire message to shewe
Thus in a feith{e} leue þat folk . and in a false mene .
And þat is routhe for riȝtful men . þat in þe Reume wonyen .
And a pereril / peril to þe pope . and prelates þat he maketh
That bere bisshopus names . of Bedleem and Babiloyne
That huppe aboute in Englonde . to halwe mennus autiers .
And crepe amonges Curatours . confessen a-geyn the lawe
Nolite mittere falsem in messem alienam . & cetera
Many man for cristus loue . was martired in Romaigne
Er any cristendome was knowe there . or any crosse honoured
Euery bisshop þat bereth Cros . by þat he is holden .
Thoruȝ his prouince to passe . and to his p{o}eple to shewe hym .
Tellen hem and techen hem . on þe Trinite to bileue .
And feden hem with goostly foode . and gyue þere it nedeth .
In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum
Et ideo nolite constituere me Regem .
Ozias saith for swiche . þat seke ben and fieble
Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum vt cibus in domo mea . & ceteraT
Ac we cristene creatures . þat on þe crosse bileuen
And han clerkus to kepen vs þere-inne . and hem þat shul come after vs .
And Iewes lyuen in lele lawe . oure lord wroot it hym-seluen
In stoon for it st{u}ydfast{e} was . and stonde shulde euere .
Dilige deum & proximumP . is parfit Iuwen lawe
And tooke it Moises to teche men . til Messye come
And on þat lawe þei leuen {ȝ}yit and leten it þe beste
For a parfit{e} prophete . þat muche p{.}eple saued
Of selcouthe sores . þei seien it ofte
Bothe of miracles and meruailles . and how he men fested
With two fisshes and fyue loues . fyue thousand peple .
And by þat mangerye men miȝte wel se . þat messye he semede
And whan he lifte vp lazar{e} . þat layd{e} was in graue
And vnder stoon ded and stank . with styf voys hym callede
Lazare veni foras
Did{e} hym rise and rome . riȝt byfore þe Iuwes
Ac þei saiden and sworen . with sorcerye he wrouȝte
And studyeden to {......}struyen hym . and stroyden hem-seluen
And þoruȝ his pacience . hire power . to pure nouȝt he brouȝte .
Pacientes vincunt .
Danyel of hire doynge . dyuyned and saide .
Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat . cessabit vnxio vestra
And {ȝ}yet wenen þo wrecches . þat he were pseudo propheta .
And þat his loore be lesynges . and lakken it alle
And hopen þat he be to come . þat shal hem relieue
Moyses efte or Messye . hire maistres {ȝ}yet dyuyneth
Ac pharesees and Sarasenes . Scribes and Grekes
Aren folk of oon feith . þe fader god þei honouren .
And sithen þat þe Sarasenes . and also þe Iewes
Konne þe furste clause of oure bileue . Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem
Prelates of cristen prouinces . sholde preue {ȝ}if þei miȝte
Til þei kouthe speke and spelle . et in spiritum sanctum .
And reden it and recorden it . wiþ remissionem peccatorum .
Carnis resureccionem & vitam eternam . ameN
¶
# de prelatis & Curatis
Curattis
NBC
# prestis Baselardis
quomodo laudatur caritas
questio de Caritate
nota de mendicantibus
audi frater
#
contra legum doctores
# quanta erat humilitas Cristi
contra rapacitatem dominorum super tenentibus
# Frater
contra mort Main
Optime dicit & verum
nota beneC
contra Gyle & Flatere
# Responsum ad quodlibet
# festum Corporis Cristi
Nota
Machamit
xC
# disceptionem Machamitis
Nota bene
Fullyng
deficitT
quere veritatem
{nota bene ...?...} Malicia procedens ex cupiditate absque caritateC
Nota bene
¶
{passus xvus de dowell & incipit dobet}C
# discripcionem anime
cor
passus xvus
# non plus sapere quam oportet
.nota de fratribus.
Curatis loquitur
passus xvus
contra Curatos Auaros
.quid est caritas
longe will
passus xvus
Caritas omnia libenter suffert
For wel may euery man
ix
cor
passus xvus
de paupertate & paciencia
quid coqueris
cor
passus xvus
/nota/
# quia super omnia Caritas
lussheborewes
# Facultas Astrologorum
Fallacia signorum preteritorum & FuturorumC
# New Gramer
ij
passus xvus
# Englissh Clerkis Fede Couetise
# ¶ quod de rebus male adquisitis non debet dari elemosina
Notate qui Curam habetis
passus xvus
# the Red noble
contra possessiones ecclesie
passus xvus
# quod {prelat in} de necligencia prelatorum in articulis Fidei
passus xvjus & primus de dobetC
cor