 | Jack Upland |  |
“Fferther more whi make ȝe ȝou
“as men dede?
“sith in begginge ȝe ben as quic
“as ben ony other,
“and unsemeli it is
“to see deed men begge.”
Jak, me thinkith thou lernedist nevere
of Poulis pistlis,
whiche in a fewe shorte wordes
answerith to thi sentence,
after thin opynyon,
ȝit is oure soule in the bodi
and grace in the soule.
“Whi,” seist thou, “suffre ȝe not ȝour children
“to come into your conseil,
“if it be good and able,
“and aftir Goddis lawe?”
A, Jak, mafey, me merveilith moche
of thin lewidheed!
Herdist thou nevere how Crist was
transfigurid in the hil,
and ther to his privyté he chees
but three apostlis,
forbedinge hem to telle
that conceil ony ferther,
and so were there nyne
fro that conceil refusid.
Crist also took to him
alle his twelve apostlis,
and tretide of his passioun
in riȝt privy maner,
and the rude peple that folowiden
knewe no thing therof.
Shal we, Jak, therfore seie
his conceil was not able,
suspect and not good
confourmed to Goddis lawe.
Another cause resonable
me thinkith I can telle,
for counceil owith to be kept
and not to be clatrid;
and children ben ay clatringe,
as thou wel knowest.
Another skil may be groundid
of Salomons sawis;
to him he seith that is wiis
it longith to kepe conceil;
and children ful seldum
ben foundun wiis.
Jak, wolt thou telle thi knave
as myche as thi wyf?
Fforthermore thou spekest
of oure costli houses;
thou seist it were more almes
to helpen the nedy,
than to make siche housynge
to men that ben deede,
to whiche longith but graves
and mornynge housis.
Jak, is not a man beter
than a rude best?
Ȝit makist thou to thi sheep a shepen,
and to thi hors a stable;
and many a pore man ther is
that hath noon hillyng,
but oonly heven is his hous,
the bestes stond kevered.
Whi houses thou not pore men
as wele as thi beestis?
Take hede to sumwhat
that is seid biforen,
and thou answere to my question,
answer to thin owne.
Thou carpist also of oure coveitise,
and sparist the sothe;
thou seist we ben more ryal
than ony lordis.
“as men dede?
“sith in begginge ȝe ben as quic
“as ben ony other,
“and unsemeli it is
“to see deed men begge.”
Jak, me thinkith thou lernedist nevere
of Poulis pistlis,
whiche in a fewe shorte wordes
answerith to thi sentence,
Quasi morientes et ecce vivimus; glossa, quasi morientes, i. de vitio in vitium secundum opinionem aliquorum, et ecce vivimus in bonis operibus in rei veritate.
So thouȝ we ben deed to the world,after thin opynyon,
ȝit is oure soule in the bodi
and grace in the soule.
“Whi,” seist thou, “suffre ȝe not ȝour children
75
“if it be good and able,
“and aftir Goddis lawe?”
A, Jak, mafey, me merveilith moche
of thin lewidheed!
Herdist thou nevere how Crist was
transfigurid in the hil,
and ther to his privyté he chees
but three apostlis,
forbedinge hem to telle
that conceil ony ferther,
and so were there nyne
fro that conceil refusid.
Crist also took to him
alle his twelve apostlis,
and tretide of his passioun
in riȝt privy maner,
and the rude peple that folowiden
knewe no thing therof.
Shal we, Jak, therfore seie
his conceil was not able,
suspect and not good
confourmed to Goddis lawe.
Another cause resonable
76
for counceil owith to be kept
and not to be clatrid;
and children ben ay clatringe,
as thou wel knowest.
Another skil may be groundid
of Salomons sawis;
to him he seith that is wiis
it longith to kepe conceil;
and children ful seldum
ben foundun wiis.
Jak, wolt thou telle thi knave
as myche as thi wyf?
Fforthermore thou spekest
of oure costli houses;
thou seist it were more almes
to helpen the nedy,
than to make siche housynge
to men that ben deede,
to whiche longith but graves
and mornynge housis.
Jak, is not a man beter
than a rude best?
Ȝit makist thou to thi sheep a shepen,
77
and many a pore man ther is
that hath noon hillyng,
but oonly heven is his hous,
the bestes stond kevered.
Whi houses thou not pore men
as wele as thi beestis?
Take hede to sumwhat
that is seid biforen,
and thou answere to my question,
answer to thin owne.
Thou carpist also of oure coveitise,
and sparist the sothe;
thou seist we ben more ryal
than ony lordis.
Coventis have wee noon, Jack,
but cloistrers we ben callid,
ffoundid afor with charité,
or that he were flemyd;
but sith entride envie,
and renyd hath oure houses,
that unnethes the hillinge
hangith on the sparres;
and ȝit thou thinkist hem over good,
yvel fare thou therfore!
Jak, where saw thou ever frere houses,
thourȝout the rewme,
liche in ony rialté
to the Toure of Londoun,
to Wyndesore, to Wodestoke,
to Wallingforde, to Shene,
to Herforde, to Eltham,
to Westmynster, to Dover?
How maist thou for rebukyng
lye so lowde,
to saye that oure covetise
passith the lordes?
But so longe, by my leuté,
thou hast lerned to lyen,
that thi tonge is letteroun of lyes,
thou lettest for no shame.
but cloistrers we ben callid,
ffoundid afor with charité,
or that he were flemyd;
but sith entride envie,
and renyd hath oure houses,
that unnethes the hillinge
hangith on the sparres;
and ȝit thou thinkist hem over good,
yvel fare thou therfore!
78
thourȝout the rewme,
liche in ony rialté
to the Toure of Londoun,
to Wyndesore, to Wodestoke,
to Wallingforde, to Shene,
to Herforde, to Eltham,
to Westmynster, to Dover?
How maist thou for rebukyng
lye so lowde,
to saye that oure covetise
passith the lordes?
But so longe, by my leuté,
thou hast lerned to lyen,
that thi tonge is letteroun of lyes,
thou lettest for no shame.
We leten, thou seist, to lymytours
al this rewme to ferme,
as that we were welders
and lordes of alle.
Unsikir thing sothli
it were to sette to ferme,
and fooles were the fermeres
to taken it to tax.
I trowe thou menys the pardonystres
of seint Thomas of Acres,
of Antoun, or of Runcevale,
that rennen so fast aboute;
for of the kynges rewme
have we no more astate,
than thou hast of paradis,
or of the blisse of heven,
for the which y trowe thou maist
of hasilwode singe.
Why, seist thou, paye ȝe to no taliage
to oure cristen kynge,
sith Crist paiede tribut
to the hethene emperour?
Jak, of no dewté ne of no dette
paide Crist noo tribute;
but oonliche of mekenesse
performynge the lawe,
and for to fleen occasioun
of aftirward apechinge,
whan that afore Pilat
he shuld be forjugid.
But aftir the scripture,
preesthode shulde not paien
to tax ne to taliage
with the comun peple.
For whan the folk of Israel
were put undir servage,
Pharao suffride preestes
in her former fredome
to be saved and susteyned
of the comoun store.
But now is the compleynt
of Jeremye trewe,
the prince of provynces
sugette is under tribute.
Not for thanne the comun lawe
may wel suffren,
that preesthode may paye
bi assent of prelatis,
ffreli of her owne wille
no thing constreynede,
and thus prelatis and persouns
aftir her state,
ben stended to paien
what that nede askith;
but neither freres ne annuellers,
save now late.
God woot, it worchipith not
to beggen of beggers.
Off lettris of brotherhood
also, Jak, thou spekist,
and wounders that we wynnen noon
of pore men and of preestis;
and ȝit ȝe desiren that every man
shulde have ȝour;
of pore mennes preieris
to be parteners we wolden,
and of her lettris and of her sele,
if autentike thei weren.
But of ȝour preestis pater-nosters
we desiren noon,
for comunliche her blake bedes
thei delen to freris;
but thei shal cleve unto thi chekes,
and Cristis curse also,
as wysly as we holde us
not more perfit than ony other,
ne non suffragies selle
for a certeyn bi ȝere,
ne maken men more perfit
than her blessid baptisme;
ffor praier may not satyllyn
but oonliche on them alle,
and so that gilden trentels
that thou spekist of,
that now is purchasid of preestis
out of freris hondis,
delyverith noo soule
out of the peyne of helle,
ne purgen may of purgatory,
but as it is deserved.
Ffor charité is the mesure
that demeth that meyné.
Also thou seist, Jak,
that we men enformen
that oure holy abite
shulde helpen men fro helle,
and nameliche tho that be
beried therinne;
and Cristis clothis dide not so,
ne noon of the apostlis.
Jak, that frere was over lewid
that lernede the this lessoun,
or on thi ficul fantasie
thou faynyst this fable.
Ffor Austyns ne prechours
proponen no siche pointis.
Whether the Carmes of her copes
mayntenen siche an errour,
or whether seint Fraunce
hath geten to his habite
that vertu be his grace,
witterly me ne wote.
But wel I wote that Cristis cloith
helide a womman
ffrom the longe fluxe of blood,
as the gospel tellith;
but his predestinacion
may onlich save soulis,
and his prevy presciens
may dampne whom him list.
al this rewme to ferme,
as that we were welders
and lordes of alle.
Unsikir thing sothli
it were to sette to ferme,
and fooles were the fermeres
to taken it to tax.
I trowe thou menys the pardonystres
of seint Thomas of Acres,
of Antoun, or of Runcevale,
79
for of the kynges rewme
have we no more astate,
than thou hast of paradis,
or of the blisse of heven,
for the which y trowe thou maist
of hasilwode singe.
Why, seist thou, paye ȝe to no taliage
to oure cristen kynge,
sith Crist paiede tribut
to the hethene emperour?
Jak, of no dewté ne of no dette
paide Crist noo tribute;
but oonliche of mekenesse
performynge the lawe,
and for to fleen occasioun
of aftirward apechinge,
whan that afore Pilat
he shuld be forjugid.
But aftir the scripture,
preesthode shulde not paien
to tax ne to taliage
with the comun peple.
For whan the folk of Israel
were put undir servage,
Pharao suffride preestes
in her former fredome
to be saved and susteyned
80
But now is the compleynt
of Jeremye trewe,
the prince of provynces
sugette is under tribute.
Not for thanne the comun lawe
may wel suffren,
that preesthode may paye
bi assent of prelatis,
ffreli of her owne wille
no thing constreynede,
and thus prelatis and persouns
aftir her state,
ben stended to paien
what that nede askith;
but neither freres ne annuellers,
save now late.
God woot, it worchipith not
to beggen of beggers.
Off lettris of brotherhood
also, Jak, thou spekist,
and wounders that we wynnen noon
of pore men and of preestis;
and ȝit ȝe desiren that every man
shulde have ȝour;
of pore mennes preieris
to be parteners we wolden,
and of her lettris and of her sele,
if autentike thei weren.
81
we desiren noon,
for comunliche her blake bedes
thei delen to freris;
but thei shal cleve unto thi chekes,
and Cristis curse also,
as wysly as we holde us
not more perfit than ony other,
ne non suffragies selle
for a certeyn bi ȝere,
ne maken men more perfit
than her blessid baptisme;
ffor praier may not satyllyn
but oonliche on them alle,
and so that gilden trentels
that thou spekist of,
that now is purchasid of preestis
out of freris hondis,
delyverith noo soule
out of the peyne of helle,
ne purgen may of purgatory,
but as it is deserved.
Ffor charité is the mesure
that demeth that meyné.
Also thou seist, Jak,
that we men enformen
that oure holy abite
shulde helpen men fro helle,
82
beried therinne;
and Cristis clothis dide not so,
ne noon of the apostlis.
Jak, that frere was over lewid
that lernede the this lessoun,
or on thi ficul fantasie
thou faynyst this fable.
Ffor Austyns ne prechours
proponen no siche pointis.
Whether the Carmes of her copes
mayntenen siche an errour,
or whether seint Fraunce
hath geten to his habite
that vertu be his grace,
witterly me ne wote.
But wel I wote that Cristis cloith
helide a womman
ffrom the longe fluxe of blood,
as the gospel tellith;
but his predestinacion
may onlich save soulis,
and his prevy presciens
may dampne whom him list.
Jak, ferthermore of felony
thou felly us enpechest,
of stelyng of children,
to drawe hem to oure sectis.
To tille folk to God-ward,
I holde it no theft,
but if thou calle Crist a theef,
that dide the same,
sayyng to the riche man,
“Go and selle thi goodis,
“and ȝif hem to the pore,
“ȝif thou wole be perfit;
“and aftirward folowe me,
“and be my disciple.”
And in the same gospel
se what he seith also:
“Whoso forsaketh not
“his fadir and his modir,
“his sone and his douȝtir,
“his sistir and his brother,
“his lond and his tenementes,
“and him selven also,
“he nys not worthi
“to ben my folower.”
And to his twelfe chosen
eftsoones he seide,
“Behold, from the world
“I have chosen ȝou alle,
“that ȝe gon and beren frayte,
“and ȝour fruyte may dwellyn.”
And thus to reven the world,
and spoilen him of his persouns,
it ne is no robery,
but Crist appreved thefte.
Thou seist also ferthermore
that prestis shul not enprisoun,
ffor it nys not foundid
in al Goddis lawe,
but undermyn bi charité,
and so wynnen her brother,
and ȝif he wil not be so wonnen,
have him as hethene;
and thus bi thin opynyon
no man shulde be enprisound.
But, Jakke, in thi frensy,
thou fonnest more and more,
thou wenyst to make to me a diche,
thou fallist thi silf therinne.
Ffor if thou pursue thi purpos,
thou assentist thi silf in tresoun,
menusynge the kyngis majesté,
privyng him of his power.
For if we taken the gospel
aftir the menynge,
nether emperour ne kyng
may honge ne drawe,
heved ne enprisoun,
no haunte no domes,
but al in fair manere
shulen ben undirnomen,
and who wil not amenden him,
ȝeve him the brydil;
and be robberis and revers,
mansleeris and treytours,
and al maner mawfesours
shulden ben unponnishid.
Jak, the pope hath a prisoun,
the bishop of Cantirbury,
and of Londoun also,
and many other bishopis,
by leeve of her kyng;
art thou hardy to seien
it is not Goddis lawe.
But y blame thee not gretli,
thouȝ thou bere hem hevy;
ffor goldsmythis of thi crafte
ofte haveth hem haunted,
and ȝit thei shulen ofter,
bi the helpe of heven.
Also thou seist no sacrament
we covetyn ne desiren,
but shrift and biryyng,
that longeth to the peple.
Alas, Jak, for shame!
whi art thou so fals,
ffor to reverse thi silf
in thin owne sawes?
Thou seidist in thi begynnynge,
whan thou seidist of freres,
thei sellen seven sacramentes
with Symoundis eyris;
and now that we coveite noon
but the sacrament of schrifte.
Ffor beriynge is no sacrament,
but an almes-dede.
Thou jawdewyne, thow jangeler,
how stande this togider,
by verré contradiccion
thou concludist thi silf,
and bryngest thee to the mete
there I wolde have thee.
Who wolde take entent
to suche wreches wordes,
that nevere more ȝeveth tale
to be take with a lesyng?
thou felly us enpechest,
of stelyng of children,
83
To tille folk to God-ward,
I holde it no theft,
but if thou calle Crist a theef,
that dide the same,
sayyng to the riche man,
“Go and selle thi goodis,
“and ȝif hem to the pore,
“ȝif thou wole be perfit;
“and aftirward folowe me,
“and be my disciple.”
And in the same gospel
se what he seith also:
“Whoso forsaketh not
“his fadir and his modir,
“his sone and his douȝtir,
“his sistir and his brother,
“his lond and his tenementes,
“and him selven also,
“he nys not worthi
“to ben my folower.”
And to his twelfe chosen
eftsoones he seide,
“Behold, from the world
“I have chosen ȝou alle,
“that ȝe gon and beren frayte,
“and ȝour fruyte may dwellyn.”
84
and spoilen him of his persouns,
it ne is no robery,
but Crist appreved thefte.
Thou seist also ferthermore
that prestis shul not enprisoun,
ffor it nys not foundid
in al Goddis lawe,
but undermyn bi charité,
and so wynnen her brother,
and ȝif he wil not be so wonnen,
have him as hethene;
85
no man shulde be enprisound.
But, Jakke, in thi frensy,
thou fonnest more and more,
thou wenyst to make to me a diche,
thou fallist thi silf therinne.
Ffor if thou pursue thi purpos,
thou assentist thi silf in tresoun,
menusynge the kyngis majesté,
privyng him of his power.
For if we taken the gospel
aftir the menynge,
nether emperour ne kyng
may honge ne drawe,
heved ne enprisoun,
no haunte no domes,
but al in fair manere
shulen ben undirnomen,
and who wil not amenden him,
ȝeve him the brydil;
and be robberis and revers,
mansleeris and treytours,
and al maner mawfesours
shulden ben unponnishid.
Jak, the pope hath a prisoun,
the bishop of Cantirbury,
and of Londoun also,
and many other bishopis,
by leeve of her kyng;
86
it is not Goddis lawe.
But y blame thee not gretli,
thouȝ thou bere hem hevy;
ffor goldsmythis of thi crafte
ofte haveth hem haunted,
and ȝit thei shulen ofter,
bi the helpe of heven.
Also thou seist no sacrament
we covetyn ne desiren,
but shrift and biryyng,
that longeth to the peple.
Alas, Jak, for shame!
whi art thou so fals,
ffor to reverse thi silf
in thin owne sawes?
Thou seidist in thi begynnynge,
whan thou seidist of freres,
thei sellen seven sacramentes
with Symoundis eyris;
and now that we coveite noon
but the sacrament of schrifte.
Ffor beriynge is no sacrament,
but an almes-dede.
Thou jawdewyne, thow jangeler,
how stande this togider,
by verré contradiccion
thou concludist thi silf,
and bryngest thee to the mete
87
Who wolde take entent
to suche wreches wordes,
that nevere more ȝeveth tale
to be take with a lesyng?
Daw, thi wordes ben many,
and ever medled with venym;
ffor aȝenes gode men
strecche Jus malice,
ne non of thilk Cristis secte
that myn callist,
bot aȝenes heritikes,
bosteres and lieres,
whiche han chosen hem a reule
with blabereres of Baal;
and ȝit shal tyde the tyme
when Josie shal regne,
and make an ende of suche fendes,
and Cristis reule shal renue.
Ȝee, Jamnes and Mambres
japid not so the kyng,
as thou with thi cursid secte
the kyng and the puple.
thes wordes ben said of ȝou,
with other pregnant prophecies
of Peter and of Poule.
and ever medled with venym;
ffor aȝenes gode men
strecche Jus malice,
ne non of thilk Cristis secte
that myn callist,
bot aȝenes heritikes,
bosteres and lieres,
whiche han chosen hem a reule
with blabereres of Baal;
and ȝit shal tyde the tyme
when Josie shal regne,
and make an ende of suche fendes,
and Cristis reule shal renue.
Ȝee, Jamnes and Mambres
japid not so the kyng,
as thou with thi cursid secte
the kyng and the puple.
Attendite a falsis prophetis, qui veniunt ad vos in vestimentis ovium.
I til thee, Daw, without dout,thes wordes ben said of ȝou,
with other pregnant prophecies
of Peter and of Poule.
Daw, thou laborist fast
to lede thi self to helle,
and blyndist many lewde foles
with thi stynking brethe;
ffor bi this apis argument
that thou here now ratelist,
he that drynkith a quart wyne
most nedis drynk a galon.
Bot aȝen house in mesure, Dawe,
grucche I riȝt nouȝt;
and thouȝ thou saye a scorne,
a shepe house I have,
that hath more grounde in Goddis lawe
than alle ȝour Caymes castelles;
I thank God, I beldid it
with trwe bygeten gode.
Bot ȝe ȝoures with beggery,
bargenyng and robberye;
ffor grounde have thai non,
bot if it be here.
to lede thi self to helle,
and blyndist many lewde foles
with thi stynking brethe;
ffor bi this apis argument
that thou here now ratelist,
he that drynkith a quart wyne
most nedis drynk a galon.
Bot aȝen house in mesure, Dawe,
grucche I riȝt nouȝt;
and thouȝ thou saye a scorne,
a shepe house I have,
that hath more grounde in Goddis lawe
than alle ȝour Caymes castelles;
I thank God, I beldid it
with trwe bygeten gode.
Bot ȝe ȝoures with beggery,
bargenyng and robberye;
ffor grounde have thai non,
bot if it be here.
Non habemus hic manentem civitatem. Et idem, Vœ qui ædificatis civitatem in sanguinibus. Et, Vœ qui conjugatis domum ad domum.
Ȝit, Dawe, thowȝ thou accusest
pardoneres that ben fals,
thou lovest lesse a trwe prest
than thou dost hem alle,
ffor thai gon heere ȝou apostatas
in gilyng of the puple.
Bot that ȝe ferme to limitours,
it maye be denyed,
lye thou never so lowde,
and therto sette a sele,
bote thus with many fals meenes
oppresse the cuntrees.
Bot as to payng of tribut,
as Crist hym self did,
thou lyknist ȝou to Pharoes,
and so ȝe ben and werse.
Aȝenes Cristes paying
and alle other mekenes,
thou autorisest ȝour pride,
aȝenes his holi werkes.
pardoneres that ben fals,
thou lovest lesse a trwe prest
than thou dost hem alle,
ffor thai gon heere ȝou apostatas
in gilyng of the puple.
Bot that ȝe ferme to limitours,
it maye be denyed,
lye thou never so lowde,
and therto sette a sele,
bote thus with many fals meenes
oppresse the cuntrees.
Bot as to payng of tribut,
as Crist hym self did,
thou lyknist ȝou to Pharoes,
and so ȝe ben and werse.
Aȝenes Cristes paying
and alle other mekenes,
thou autorisest ȝour pride,
aȝenes his holi werkes.
Qui non est mecum, contra me est; et qui non colligit mecum, dispergit.
Dawe, I seide first to thee
oon of thi groundes was eirsyng,
whare autorisist thou this lewde
answere nowe.
Thi resones ben a staf of rede
that liȝtly persen the honde,
I mervel that thou, a clerk,
blaberist thus blyndely.
Thou takest comynly no grounde
of Crist ne of his lawe,
bot apr the pope
as if he were thi God,
or of other fantasies
that han no grounde hem self;
ffor whi shuld not alle prestes
be meke after Crist,
in payng of tribut
and alle other werkes?
Daw, late thi false glose,
it drivith thee to the devel.
oon of thi groundes was eirsyng,
whare autorisist thou this lewde
answere nowe.
Thi resones ben a staf of rede
that liȝtly persen the honde,
I mervel that thou, a clerk,
blaberist thus blyndely.
Thou takest comynly no grounde
of Crist ne of his lawe,
bot apr the pope
as if he were thi God,
or of other fantasies
that han no grounde hem self;
ffor whi shuld not alle prestes
be meke after Crist,
in payng of tribut
and alle other werkes?
Daw, late thi false glose,
it drivith thee to the devel.
Benedicite et nolite maledicere.
Lo, Dawe, with thi draffe,
thou liest on the gospel;
ffor Crist said it hym self,
“The vertu passid fro me.”
And here thou maist see,
I knowe a b fro a bole fote;
ffor I cacche thee in lesynges
that thou laist on the gospel.
Bot thus to stele a childe
is a gretter theft,
than to stele an axe,
for the theft is more.
Dawe, for thou saist ȝe robbe
him fro the worlde;
ȝe maken hym more worldly
than ever his fadir;
ȝee, thowȝ he were a plowman,
lyvyng trwe lyf, ye robbe hym
fro the trwe reule,
and maken hym apostata,
a begger and a sodomit;
for suche thai ben many.
thou liest on the gospel;
ffor Crist said it hym self,
“The vertu passid fro me.”
And here thou maist see,
I knowe a b fro a bole fote;
ffor I cacche thee in lesynges
that thou laist on the gospel.
Bot thus to stele a childe
is a gretter theft,
than to stele an axe,
for the theft is more.
Dawe, for thou saist ȝe robbe
him fro the worlde;
ȝe maken hym more worldly
than ever his fadir;
ȝee, thowȝ he were a plowman,
lyvyng trwe lyf, ye robbe hym
fro the trwe reule,
and maken hym apostata,
a begger and a sodomit;
for suche thai ben many.
Vœ vobis qui facitis unum proselytum! supple, filium Gehennæ duplo quam vos.
Daw, I do thee wel to wite,
frentike am I not;
bot it semith thi sotil witte
marrith many man.
Bot how stondith this togedir,
ȝe sle men in ȝour prison?
ȝe have ȝour conspiracies,
when ȝe gode likith,
ȝe damme the trwe, ȝe hyen the false,
deme, Dawe, wher this be gode.
And the kyng by his juges trwe
execute his lawe,
as he did now late,
whan he hangid ȝou traytours;
wilt thou, Dawe, allegates
compere ȝou to the kyng,
or to other lordes,
that han her grounde in God?
Lefe, fole, thi losengerie,
and studie Cristis lyf.
frentike am I not;
bot it semith thi sotil witte
marrith many man.
Bot how stondith this togedir,
ȝe sle men in ȝour prison?
ȝe have ȝour conspiracies,
when ȝe gode likith,
ȝe damme the trwe, ȝe hyen the false,
deme, Dawe, wher this be gode.
And the kyng by his juges trwe
execute his lawe,
as he did now late,
whan he hangid ȝou traytours;
wilt thou, Dawe, allegates
compere ȝou to the kyng,
or to other lordes,
that han her grounde in God?
Lefe, fole, thi losengerie,
and studie Cristis lyf.
Quæ conventio Christi ad Belial? Quid communicabit cacabus ad ollam?
| Jack Upland | |