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[The Tale of the Knight and Monk who lovd new Fashions.]
Þer was a knyȝt þat loued nouelrye,
As many one haunte now þat folye;
he dede to make, yn þe somers tyde,
A kote perced queyntly with pryde;
And God was nat þer-of payd,
For yn hys pryde he was betrayd.
As many one haunte now þat folye;
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A kote perced queyntly with pryde;
And God was nat þer-of payd,
For yn hys pryde he was betrayd.
Þys knyȝt ȝede, vpp-on a day,
Aboute roberye, to gete hys pray;
Homward as he hys pray ledde
with hys enmys he was bestedde;
with fors þey gun with hym fyght,
And slogh þere þys ychë knyȝt.
Þe knyȝtys frendys herdë seye
how he was slayn by þe weye;
Ful feyre þan gun þey for hym werche,
Þey byryed þe body feyre at þe cherche;
hys frendys departed hys katel
Among þe pore men, and þat was wel.
whan þey come at þe kote gysyng,
To dele hyt among hys ouþer þyng,
Before þe pore men hyt was broght;
Þe pore men seyd þey wulde hyt noȝt.
A clerk stodë þo þere be syde,
And, prayd for þe kote of pryde.
To werne hyt hym, þey þoght loþe;
Þey toke and ȝaue þys clerk þe cloþe.
Þys clerk was glad whan he hyt hadde;
Þys kote asswyþe on hym he cladde.
Aboute roberye, to gete hys pray;
Homward as he hys pray ledde
with hys enmys he was bestedde;
with fors þey gun with hym fyght,
And slogh þere þys ychë knyȝt.
Þe knyȝtys frendys herdë seye
how he was slayn by þe weye;
Ful feyre þan gun þey for hym werche,
Þey byryed þe body feyre at þe cherche;
hys frendys departed hys katel
Among þe pore men, and þat was wel.
whan þey come at þe kote gysyng,
To dele hyt among hys ouþer þyng,
Before þe pore men hyt was broght;
Þe pore men seyd þey wulde hyt noȝt.
A clerk stodë þo þere be syde,
And, prayd for þe kote of pryde.
To werne hyt hym, þey þoght loþe;
Þey toke and ȝaue þys clerk þe cloþe.
Þys clerk was glad whan he hyt hadde;
Þys kote asswyþe on hym he cladde.
Se now here a grete myschaunce
Come ryȝt as for veniaunce:
Ryȝt as he was yn þe kote al dyght,
A fyre brennyng on hym gan lyght,
And brend hys body dounne to þe grounde
whylys oght of hym myȝt be founde.
Come ryȝt as for veniaunce:
Ryȝt as he was yn þe kote al dyght,
A fyre brennyng on hym gan lyght,
And brend hys body dounne to þe grounde
whylys oght of hym myȝt be founde.
Þer shewed God weyl by þat kas
Þat þe kote a-cursed was,
And tokened wel sorowe and wrake,
Þat nonë pore man wulde hyt take
For prydë of þe newë gyse
Aȝens crystyn mennys wyse;
But þe clerk was wode al gate
To were a cloþe aȝens hys state.
here mow ȝe se þat god ys wroth
with hem þat dysgyse here cloþe.
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And tokened wel sorowe and wrake,
Þat nonë pore man wulde hyt take
For prydë of þe newë gyse
Aȝens crystyn mennys wyse;
But þe clerk was wode al gate
To were a cloþe aȝens hys state.
here mow ȝe se þat god ys wroth
with hem þat dysgyse here cloþe.
And a clerk ys moche for to blame
Þat bryngyþ hym self yn foule fame,
Clerk ordeyned yn dignyte
Þat haunteþ swyche Iolyte;
Noþeles, of þe newë gyse
Þe deuyl haþ made hymself chefe iustyse;
And ȝyf he yn folye begynne to stoute,
Þan bereþ he þe deuylys baner aboute;
Mochë folk ys þerwyþ blent;
God do þerof amendment.
Þat bryngyþ hym self yn foule fame,
Clerk ordeyned yn dignyte
Þat haunteþ swyche Iolyte;
Noþeles, of þe newë gyse
Þe deuyl haþ made hymself chefe iustyse;
And ȝyf he yn folye begynne to stoute,
Þan bereþ he þe deuylys baner aboute;
Mochë folk ys þerwyþ blent;
God do þerof amendment.
Ȝyf þou hauë grete desyre
To be clepyd lorde or syre,
For to glosë þe, and slyppe,
And to haue þe wurdys of wurschyp;
Or ȝe wymmen also, comunly,
wulde be kallede ‘madame’ or ‘lady;’
Al þys comþ of gretë pryde;
yn þy shryfte þou noght hyt hyde.
he ys ryȝt lorde, þe kyng of heuene;
wrong hyt ys þat men any oþer neuene.
To be clepyd lorde or syre,
For to glosë þe, and slyppe,
And to haue þe wurdys of wurschyp;
Or ȝe wymmen also, comunly,
wulde be kallede ‘madame’ or ‘lady;’
Al þys comþ of gretë pryde;
yn þy shryfte þou noght hyt hyde.
he ys ryȝt lorde, þe kyng of heuene;
wrong hyt ys þat men any oþer neuene.
Ȝyf þou delyte þe yn grete meyne,
For men shulde hauë drede of þe,
And for þy meynë wuldyst preysed be,
ȝyf harme to oþer þan do þat meyne,
Þou for þy meynë shalt dampned be
Ȝyf þou to euyl vowe þy meynë.
For men shulde hauë drede of þe,
And for þy meynë wuldyst preysed be,
ȝyf harme to oþer þan do þat meyne,
Þou for þy meynë shalt dampned be
Ȝyf þou to euyl vowe þy meynë.
Ȝyf þou delyte þe yn grete hallys,
Yn a foule prydë þan þou fallys;
For y se many þat nowe þey bygge,
And now sonë, dede þey lygge.
y sey for þo þat haue grete pryde
yn hygh hallys and yn wyde.
Ȝyf þou delyte þe yn ryche beddyng,
yn hors, yn harneys, or yn feyre rydyng,
Alle ys pryde and vanyte;
Of al shalt þou a-couped be.
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For y se many þat nowe þey bygge,
And now sonë, dede þey lygge.
y sey for þo þat haue grete pryde
yn hygh hallys and yn wyde.
Ȝyf þou delyte þe yn ryche beddyng,
yn hors, yn harneys, or yn feyre rydyng,
Alle ys pryde and vanyte;
Of al shalt þou a-couped be.
Y seyd langere, yn gode cunnaunt,
Euery man may haue to hys auenaunt,
Cytes, tounnes, castellys, and hallys,
hors, armour, and þat þar to fallys;
But, yn al þat mochë þrong,
Do holy cherche, ne pore man, wrong.
Euery man may haue to hys auenaunt,
Cytes, tounnes, castellys, and hallys,
hors, armour, and þat þar to fallys;
But, yn al þat mochë þrong,
Do holy cherche, ne pore man, wrong.
what sey ȝe men of ladyys pryde
Þat gonë traylyng ouer syde:
Ȝyf a lady were ryghtly shreue,
Better hyt were yn almës ȝeue;
To soulë helpe hyt myȝt do bote,
Þat trayleþ lowe vndyr þe fote.
wymples, kerchyues, saffrund betyde;
Ȝelugh vnder ȝelugh þey hyde;
Þan wete men neuer, wheþer ys wheþer,
þe ȝelugh wymple or þe leþer.
Þat gonë traylyng ouer syde:
Ȝyf a lady were ryghtly shreue,
Better hyt were yn almës ȝeue;
To soulë helpe hyt myȝt do bote,
Þat trayleþ lowe vndyr þe fote.
wymples, kerchyues, saffrund betyde;
Ȝelugh vnder ȝelugh þey hyde;
Þan wete men neuer, wheþer ys wheþer,
þe ȝelugh wymple or þe leþer.
wymmen þat go fro strete to strete,
One or ouþer for to mete,
Of prydë comþ swychë desyre,
For þey haue on hem feyre atyre:
But she wul to þe prest þat telle,
She may þerforë go to helle;
For yn as moche þat she douþ men synne,
yn so moche shal she haue plyght ynne.
One or ouþer for to mete,
Of prydë comþ swychë desyre,
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But she wul to þe prest þat telle,
She may þerforë go to helle;
For yn as moche þat she douþ men synne,
yn so moche shal she haue plyght ynne.
And, wymmen, y seye of þo
Þat borwe cloþes yn carol to go;
Þat porë prydë, god hyt loþes,
Þat make hem proude of ouþer mennys cloþys.
Þat borwe cloþes yn carol to go;
Þat porë prydë, god hyt loþes,
Þat make hem proude of ouþer mennys cloþys.
Ȝyf þou hast spokë wurdys of pryde,
And lettyst ouþer men any tyde
Of here bedys and of here fastyng,
Or of any ouþer holy þyng,
Or of any ouþer godë dede,
to telle hyt þe prest, behoueþ þe nede.
And lettyst ouþer men any tyde
Of here bedys and of here fastyng,
Or of any ouþer holy þyng,
Or of any ouþer godë dede,
to telle hyt þe prest, behoueþ þe nede.
Ȝyf þou euer lettë began
Þat was wurshep to god or man,
As yn cherche to synge or rede,
Or of sum oþer holy dede;
Or also for boste or for pryde,
with prest or with clerk to chyde,
Þurgh þat pryde þou fallyst yn synne,
And cursednes þerwith to wynne.
Þat was wurshep to god or man,
As yn cherche to synge or rede,
Or of sum oþer holy dede;
Or also for boste or for pryde,
with prest or with clerk to chyde,
Þurgh þat pryde þou fallyst yn synne,
And cursednes þerwith to wynne.
Also þat clerk ys moche to blame
Þat letteþ to shaue hys krowne for shame;
Y rede þat he yn tyme hyt shaue,
For he wote neuer what nede he shal þerto haue.
Þat letteþ to shaue hys krowne for shame;
Y rede þat he yn tyme hyt shaue,
For he wote neuer what nede he shal þerto haue.
Ȝyf þou yn ernest, or yn game,
yn scornë blessedyst Goddys name;
Or ȝyf þou were so wundyrly proude
Þat þou mysseydyst God al aloude,
For any chaunce þat may betyde
Skorne nat God, ne wyþ hym chyde:
Morë pryde, no morë synne,
Þan skornë god, mayst þou falle ynne.
yn scornë blessedyst Goddys name;
Or ȝyf þou were so wundyrly proude
Þat þou mysseydyst God al aloude,
For any chaunce þat may betyde
Skorne nat God, ne wyþ hym chyde:
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Þan skornë god, mayst þou falle ynne.
Ȝyf þou grucchedest, and seydyst noght,
But to God haddyst euyl þoght,
wete þou wel, hyt ys grete pryde,
Grucchyng with God, or for to chyde.
But to God haddyst euyl þoght,
wete þou wel, hyt ys grete pryde,
Grucchyng with God, or for to chyde.
Ȝyf a man haue mysdo or seyde,
And men hym blame for þat mysbreyde,
Ȝyf he susteynë hys mysdede,
And hys mysawe wyl nat drede,
Þat cumþ of mysprout herte and hy
Þat wyl nat knowe hys owne foly.
Of al folyys þat beryn name,
Þys foly ys moste for to blame;
who-so-euer to þys ys custummable,
hys amendment may neuer be stable.
And men hym blame for þat mysbreyde,
Ȝyf he susteynë hys mysdede,
And hys mysawe wyl nat drede,
Þat cumþ of mysprout herte and hy
Þat wyl nat knowe hys owne foly.
Of al folyys þat beryn name,
Þys foly ys moste for to blame;
who-so-euer to þys ys custummable,
hys amendment may neuer be stable.
what sey men of þese loseniours
Þat haue here wurdys feyre as flours?
Now ys þe flourë whyte and rede,
And now hyt ys boþe drye and dede.
Þe losenioure spekþ now þy pay,
And behynde þy bak hyt ys away.
þere one haþ smylyng semelaunt
And behetyþ þe to holde cunnaunt,
kepe þe þan fro losengrye,
For feyre spekyng man kan weyl lye.
who-so-euer ys custummable to banne
For prydë, sum tymë or whanne,
Þe apostyl seyþ þat he may noght
Vn-to þe blysse of heuene be broght.
Þat haue here wurdys feyre as flours?
Now ys þe flourë whyte and rede,
And now hyt ys boþe drye and dede.
Þe losenioure spekþ now þy pay,
And behynde þy bak hyt ys away.
þere one haþ smylyng semelaunt
And behetyþ þe to holde cunnaunt,
kepe þe þan fro losengrye,
For feyre spekyng man kan weyl lye.
who-so-euer ys custummable to banne
For prydë, sum tymë or whanne,
Þe apostyl seyþ þat he may noght
Vn-to þe blysse of heuene be broght.
A-noþer spyce hyt ys of pryde,
who so haunteþ for to chyde.
For holy cherche forbedeþ þe
To chyde wyþ any of þy meynë.
Teche hym ferst, yn feyre manere;
And ȝyf he wyl nat with feyre lere,
Þan mayst þou speke stoutly to hym,
with-outë wraþþe, wurdys ful grym,
Þat he be chasted at þy fre wylle,
But þat þou bere yn herte none ylle.
Chydyng cumþ of hertë hy,
And gretë pryde, and vylany.
who so haunteþ for to chyde.
For holy cherche forbedeþ þe
To chyde wyþ any of þy meynë.
Teche hym ferst, yn feyre manere;
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Þan mayst þou speke stoutly to hym,
with-outë wraþþe, wurdys ful grym,
Þat he be chasted at þy fre wylle,
But þat þou bere yn herte none ylle.
Chydyng cumþ of hertë hy,
And gretë pryde, and vylany.
A-nouþer spyce þer ys þat moche deres,
Þat ys, þese cursed bakbyteres.
Of al men, þey do most euyl,
here lorefadyr ys þe deuyl.
Þe fende vs bewreyeþ of oure synne
whan he haþ made vs fal þer-ynne.
So are þese bakbyters wunne,
Þey seye þe werst þat þey kunne;
Euer behynde a mannys bak,
with euyl þey fynde hym to lak.
Swyche men god almyȝty hatys
And with here foulë synne hym wlatys.
Seynt Austyn spekyþ of swyche þynges
yn a bokë of lesyngys.
No custummable bakbytyng
God forȝeueþ, ne no lesyng,
Þat þou þarfore shalt algate drye
Sum manere peyne for euery lye;
As þe lesyng ys lesse or more,
Shalt þou suffre peyne þar-fore.
And þat may weyl preuyd be
with a tale of an autoryte,
Þat mochë peynë shal he bere
wyþ-outë ende, þe bakbytere;
And y shal tellë ȝou a lyte
Of one þat coude hys felaus byte.
Þat ys, þese cursed bakbyteres.
Of al men, þey do most euyl,
here lorefadyr ys þe deuyl.
Þe fende vs bewreyeþ of oure synne
whan he haþ made vs fal þer-ynne.
So are þese bakbyters wunne,
Þey seye þe werst þat þey kunne;
Euer behynde a mannys bak,
with euyl þey fynde hym to lak.
Swyche men god almyȝty hatys
And with here foulë synne hym wlatys.
Seynt Austyn spekyþ of swyche þynges
yn a bokë of lesyngys.
No custummable bakbytyng
God forȝeueþ, ne no lesyng,
Þat þou þarfore shalt algate drye
Sum manere peyne for euery lye;
As þe lesyng ys lesse or more,
Shalt þou suffre peyne þar-fore.
And þat may weyl preuyd be
with a tale of an autoryte,
Þat mochë peynë shal he bere
wyþ-outë ende, þe bakbytere;
And y shal tellë ȝou a lyte
Of one þat coude hys felaus byte.
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