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[Of the Fifth Sacrament—Holy Orders.]
Now of þe fyfþë sacrament,
Þe order of þe bysshopes presentement.
þys falleþ to þese lordynges,
As popës, emperoures, and kynges,
And to alle þat clerkys auaunce
To holy cherches portynaunce;
Swyche men, þat are of grete nobley,
Yn þys sacrament þan synne þey,
Þat þey graunte, for mede þat þey take,
Vnwurþyly, a bysshope to make,
Of whom þat ys þe famë ryfe
Þat he ys, of febyl lyfe,
Or oþer to auaunce, hyt ys folye,
wyþoutyn resonable clergye.
Þe order of þe bysshopes presentement.
þys falleþ to þese lordynges,
As popës, emperoures, and kynges,
And to alle þat clerkys auaunce
To holy cherches portynaunce;
Swyche men, þat are of grete nobley,
Yn þys sacrament þan synne þey,
Þat þey graunte, for mede þat þey take,
Vnwurþyly, a bysshope to make,
Of whom þat ys þe famë ryfe
Þat he ys, of febyl lyfe,
Or oþer to auaunce, hyt ys folye,
wyþoutyn resonable clergye.
Clerk behoueþ hym for to be,
Þat shulde receyue swyche dygnyte
For to gouerne holy cherche;
with clergy, behoueþ hym algate werche.
But now ys fulfylled þe prophecye
Þat, sorë wepyng, seyþ Isaye,
“Ryȝt swych shal be þe prest
As þe lewed man lyue, þou sest.”
Þat shulde receyue swyche dygnyte
For to gouerne holy cherche;
with clergy, behoueþ hym algate werche.
But now ys fulfylled þe prophecye
Þat, sorë wepyng, seyþ Isaye,
“Ryȝt swych shal be þe prest
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lytyl kan lasse þe lewed man
þan some of þesë prestës kan.
who ȝyuen hem more to worldly þyng
þan prestës do, for alle here prechyng?
þan some of þesë prestës kan.
who ȝyuen hem more to worldly þyng
þan prestës do, for alle here prechyng?
ȝyf he be clerk, and euyl dous,
Of hym ys nat to make no rous.
what vayleþ to vndyrstonde þe lettyr,
And hys lyfe be neuer þe bettyr?
Alle þat clergye, y telle it but lore,
when he lyueþ neuer þe bettyr þer-fore.
Of hym ys nat to make no rous.
what vayleþ to vndyrstonde þe lettyr,
And hys lyfe be neuer þe bettyr?
Alle þat clergye, y telle it but lore,
when he lyueþ neuer þe bettyr þer-fore.
But how seyþ Salamon yn hys spellyng,
“wo þe land, þere chylde ys kyng!”
And wo þe folk, þat kan nat lyue
whan holy cherchë ys mys-ȝyue!
And to þe husbonde, wo ys hys lyfe,
þat haþ yn hys hous a fole to wyfe!
“wo þe land, þere chylde ys kyng!”
And wo þe folk, þat kan nat lyue
whan holy cherchë ys mys-ȝyue!
And to þe husbonde, wo ys hys lyfe,
þat haþ yn hys hous a fole to wyfe!
ȝe lordes, do ȝe Goddes ordynaunce,
And godë men ȝe shul auaunce;
To gode men ȝyueþ ȝoure benefyces
Þat kun hem kepe fro wykked vyces;
Þan make ȝe gode presentëment
To order of þys sacrament.
And godë men ȝe shul auaunce;
To gode men ȝyueþ ȝoure benefyces
Þat kun hem kepe fro wykked vyces;
Þan make ȝe gode presentëment
To order of þys sacrament.
Also, haþ he wykkedly doun
Þat letteþ gode mannes eleccyoun;
‘Eleccyoun’ ys, ‘weyl chesyng
A gode man to kepe holy þyng.’
Þese hyghë men do grete trespas,
Þat chese nat ryȝt, alas! alas!
Þát were wurþy, hem þey spare,
And þe vnwurþy auaunced are;
And, þat ys nat lytyl synne
To hem þat hyt ȝyuen, and eke so wynne;
Hyt may be tolde for symonye,
For ȝyfte to auaunce þe vnwurþy.
Þat letteþ gode mannes eleccyoun;
‘Eleccyoun’ ys, ‘weyl chesyng
A gode man to kepe holy þyng.’
Þese hyghë men do grete trespas,
Þat chese nat ryȝt, alas! alas!
Þát were wurþy, hem þey spare,
And þe vnwurþy auaunced are;
And, þat ys nat lytyl synne
To hem þat hyt ȝyuen, and eke so wynne;
Hyt may be tolde for symonye,
For ȝyfte to auaunce þe vnwurþy.
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By a tale, y may ȝow shewe
þat hyt ys synne to chese a shrewe;
And ȝyt ys he yn wers entent,
þat letteþ gode mannes auauncëment.
þat hyt ys synne to chese a shrewe;
And ȝyt ys he yn wers entent,
þat letteþ gode mannes auauncëment.
Seynt Gregory telleþ þarfore a tale
þat telþ many one, what grete and smale,
he telleþ mo hymself a-lone,
þan alle þe doctours do echone.
þat telþ many one, what grete and smale,
he telleþ mo hymself a-lone,
þan alle þe doctours do echone.
[The Tale of Paschasius's Punishment for not agreeing to the Election of the best Man for Pope.]
Yn þe cherche of Rome, he telleþ þus,
A dekene was þat hyghte Pascasyus,
A man of almës þan was he,
Þat ofte of þe porë had pyte;
Þat yche tyme was elleccyone
To chese here pope, as er was wone.
A dekene was þat hyghte Pascasyus,
A man of almës þan was he,
Þat ofte of þe porë had pyte;
Þat yche tyme was elleccyone
To chese here pope, as er was wone.
Twey men were yn choys to take,
Oþer Laurence, oþer Symake;
hys felaus alle, Symakus chese,
So þat Laurence hys voys lese;
Pascasyus graunted neuer þartyl,
But chese Laurence at hys owne wyl;
He repented hym neuer noȝt,
But yn Laurencë stode hys þoȝt.
Oþer Laurence, oþer Symake;
hys felaus alle, Symakus chese,
So þat Laurence hys voys lese;
Pascasyus graunted neuer þartyl,
But chese Laurence at hys owne wyl;
He repented hym neuer noȝt,
But yn Laurencë stode hys þoȝt.
Yn þys popes tyme, syre Symakus,
Deyde þe dekene Pascasyus:
Þys dekene was an holy man,
As yn þe cuntre þe famë ran,
And dyd þys myrácle, as ȝe mowe here:
A wode man touched on hys bere,
And a party of hys cloþyng,
And a-none he hadde botenyng.
Deyde þe dekene Pascasyus:
Þys dekene was an holy man,
As yn þe cuntre þe famë ran,
And dyd þys myrácle, as ȝe mowe here:
A wode man touched on hys bere,
And a party of hys cloþyng,
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longë, aftyr þat þys was,
Fyl of þys dekene a merueylous kas;
For þere besydë, yn a paþ
was a wasshyng, at an hote baþ;
‘Termes’ men calle þat watyr wasshele,
For many one had þerat here hele.
Fyl of þys dekene a merueylous kas;
For þere besydë, yn a paþ
was a wasshyng, at an hote baþ;
‘Termes’ men calle þat watyr wasshele,
For many one had þerat here hele.
Þus þe holy bysshope seynt Germyne
Com þedyr to be wasshe þer-ynne;
Þere fonde he þys dekene Pascas,
And at þe watyr seruyng was:
Þys bysshope merueyled yn hys þoȝt,
wheþer hyt were Pascas or noȝt;
At þe laste, seynt Germyne seyde
“Art þou nat Pascas þat deyde,
Þat we helde a man holy?”
“Ȝys,” seyd Pascas, “hyt am y;
And at þys water, serue y þus,
For y graunted neuer to Symakus,
But to Laurence, with alle my myȝt,
Þat was nat so gode yn Goddys syȝt;
y ne repented yn alle my hope,
For y wulde haue hadde hym pope.
But wuldest þou prey for me, Germyne,
y shulde come sone oute of þys pyne;
And þat mayst þou wete yn þys manere,
Ȝyf þou fynde me no more here.”
Com þedyr to be wasshe þer-ynne;
Þere fonde he þys dekene Pascas,
And at þe watyr seruyng was:
Þys bysshope merueyled yn hys þoȝt,
wheþer hyt were Pascas or noȝt;
At þe laste, seynt Germyne seyde
“Art þou nat Pascas þat deyde,
Þat we helde a man holy?”
“Ȝys,” seyd Pascas, “hyt am y;
And at þys water, serue y þus,
For y graunted neuer to Symakus,
But to Laurence, with alle my myȝt,
Þat was nat so gode yn Goddys syȝt;
y ne repented yn alle my hope,
For y wulde haue hadde hym pope.
But wuldest þou prey for me, Germyne,
y shulde come sone oute of þys pyne;
And þat mayst þou wete yn þys manere,
Ȝyf þou fynde me no more here.”
Þe bysshope Germyne, home he ȝede,
And preyd to God for hys mysdede.
Þe nextë tyme þat he come þore,
Of Pascas, sagh he no more.
And preyd to God for hys mysdede.
Þe nextë tyme þat he come þore,
Of Pascas, sagh he no more.
Lokë, lordes, how ȝe mysdo,
Þat eleccyoun dystroubleþ so;
For a ȝyfte, or a presént,
Ȝe suffre holy cherche to be shent;
Ȝourë synnë shal be greuous,
whan þys dekene Pascasyus,
For so lytyl, to purgatorye ȝede,
For whom was shewed myrácle yn dede.
Þat eleccyoun dystroubleþ so;
For a ȝyfte, or a presént,
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Ȝourë synnë shal be greuous,
whan þys dekene Pascasyus,
For so lytyl, to purgatorye ȝede,
For whom was shewed myrácle yn dede.
Aȝens God, he ys nat quyte,
Þat suffreþ for hys owne profyte,
Holy cherche, wrongly be ȝyue
To þo men þat wykkedly lyue;
Þey shul be a-couped of tresoun,
As traytours yn eleccyoun;
Many shul go a deuyl wey,
Or be encumbred or þey dey.
Þat suffreþ for hys owne profyte,
Holy cherche, wrongly be ȝyue
To þo men þat wykkedly lyue;
Þey shul be a-couped of tresoun,
As traytours yn eleccyoun;
Many shul go a deuyl wey,
Or be encumbred or þey dey.
Ȝyt shal y telle, among þese talys,
A tale þat now late fyl yn Wales:
yn þe tyme of seynt Dauy
Fyl þys þyng, a grete ferly.
A tale þat now late fyl yn Wales:
yn þe tyme of seynt Dauy
Fyl þys þyng, a grete ferly.
[A Tale of Warning against buying Bishoprics, and worshipping Bad Bishops' Bodies.]
As þe munkës shulde do werche
werk þat fyl vn-to here cherche,
As þey dalue dowun yn þe clay,
Þey fonde a bysshope alle hole lay,
with flesshe and blode, and hole sendal,
And, wyþ ouþer vestement alle,
As fresshë as he were depeynt.
þey wende he had be a corseynt;
þey toke hym vp, euerychone,
And, leyd hym vppon a stone,
And wurscheped hyt moche with-alle,
For þey wende myrácles shulde falle.
At hygh feste tymës of þe ȝere
Þey ensensed þe body as þe hygh autere.
werk þat fyl vn-to here cherche,
As þey dalue dowun yn þe clay,
Þey fonde a bysshope alle hole lay,
with flesshe and blode, and hole sendal,
And, wyþ ouþer vestement alle,
As fresshë as he were depeynt.
þey wende he had be a corseynt;
þey toke hym vp, euerychone,
And, leyd hym vppon a stone,
And wurscheped hyt moche with-alle,
For þey wende myrácles shulde falle.
At hygh feste tymës of þe ȝere
Þey ensensed þe body as þe hygh autere.
A nyȝt, whan þe sekesteyn yn bede was leyd,
Hym þoȝt one come, and to hym seyd,
“Ensense þe body no more so,
Ne do no wurschep þar-vnto.”
Hym þoȝt one come, and to hym seyd,
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Ne do no wurschep þar-vnto.”
Þe sekesteyn, for alle þat defense,
Ȝyt he ȝaue þe body ensense.
Anouþer nyȝt, fór þat same,
Efte þe sekesteyn he gan blame,
and seyd, “holde hyt no more yn prys,
þat yche body, þat þere lys.”
þe munkë seyd, “telle me why
þat he to wurschep ne ys wurþy.”
“loke to morne, and þou mayst wyte
what lyþ yn hys mytyr wryte.”
Ȝyt he ȝaue þe body ensense.
Anouþer nyȝt, fór þat same,
Efte þe sekesteyn he gan blame,
and seyd, “holde hyt no more yn prys,
þat yche body, þat þere lys.”
þe munkë seyd, “telle me why
þat he to wurschep ne ys wurþy.”
“loke to morne, and þou mayst wyte
what lyþ yn hys mytyr wryte.”
Þe munkë ros vp on þe morne,
And, fonde yn hys mytyr horne
Þesë verse wryte on a scrowe,
For þat he shulde þe bettyr trowe:
Þese are þo ychë twey verse,
Þat to holynes are reuers,
Quem lapis ille tegit, sandalia viliter emit;
Estuat in baratro, pessimus ille latro.
“he þat þys stone hyleþ one lyche,
wykkedly boȝt hys bysshopryche.
yn helle he welleþ pynë grefe,
For alþerwerst þan was he þefe.”
And, fonde yn hys mytyr horne
Þesë verse wryte on a scrowe,
For þat he shulde þe bettyr trowe:
Þese are þo ychë twey verse,
Þat to holynes are reuers,
Quem lapis ille tegit, sandalia viliter emit;
Estuat in baratro, pessimus ille latro.
“he þat þys stone hyleþ one lyche,
wykkedly boȝt hys bysshopryche.
yn helle he welleþ pynë grefe,
For alþerwerst þan was he þefe.”
Alþerwerst þen shal hem be,
Þat for mede come to dygnyte.
hyt ys nat to speke, ne to preche,
Þe clergye werche moche aftyr wreche.
Þat for mede come to dygnyte.
hyt ys nat to speke, ne to preche,
Þe clergye werche moche aftyr wreche.
Ne þou shalt no dedë werche,
Noþer to iangle, yn holy cherche;
Namely yn tyme of holy feste,
Þán shuldë men iangle leste.
Þat tyme make many one, gaderyng
yn holy cherche of ydul þyng;
And of alle shalt þou ȝelde acounte,
To whos godenesse hyt shuld amounte.
y haue touched of þys outrage
whan y spake of sacrylage.
Noþer to iangle, yn holy cherche;
Namely yn tyme of holy feste,
Þán shuldë men iangle leste.
Þat tyme make many one, gaderyng
yn holy cherche of ydul þyng;
And of alle shalt þou ȝelde acounte,
To whos godenesse hyt shuld amounte.
y haue touched of þys outrage
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Ne þou oghtes nat to be enchesun
To sturble mannys deuocyoun.
Ȝyf þou ne wylte Goddes seruyse here,
lette none ouþer of here preyere;
Fole ys, þat foly þat wyl nat drede,
And more þat letteþ alle oþer gode dede.
Ryȝt so seyþ Salamon þe wyse,
Vs alle of foly to chastyse.
To sturble mannys deuocyoun.
Ȝyf þou ne wylte Goddes seruyse here,
lette none ouþer of here preyere;
Fole ys, þat foly þat wyl nat drede,
And more þat letteþ alle oþer gode dede.
Ryȝt so seyþ Salamon þe wyse,
Vs alle of foly to chastyse.
Clerk to bete, or handes on ley
yn vyolence, hyt ys grete eye;
Hyt longeþ to þys sacrament
Þurgh bysshopës commaundëment;
yn sacrylagë þer y spake,
y touched of þat ychë lak;
And yn þe ten commaundëmens,
y wene y touched of þys defens;
Þarforë, now hyt ys beste,
Of þys sacrament to reste.
yn vyolence, hyt ys grete eye;
Hyt longeþ to þys sacrament
Þurgh bysshopës commaundëment;
yn sacrylagë þer y spake,
y touched of þat ychë lak;
And yn þe ten commaundëmens,
y wene y touched of þys defens;
Þarforë, now hyt ys beste,
Of þys sacrament to reste.
God grauntë þesë lordynges,
weyl to do yn allë þynges,
And late hem neuer here soulës lese
For no wrongës þat þey chese!
weyl to do yn allë þynges,
And late hem neuer here soulës lese
For no wrongës þat þey chese!
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