 | The Plowmans Tale |  |
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THE PLOWMANS TALE.
Here beginneth the Plowmans Prologue.
The Plowman plucked up his plow,
Whan midsommer mone was comen in,
And sayd, ‘his beestes shuld ete y-now,
And lig in the grasse, up to the chin;
They ben feble, both oxe and cow,
Of hem nis left but boon and skin.’
He shook of share, and cultre of-drow,
And hong his harneys on a pin.
Whan midsommer mone was comen in,
And sayd, ‘his beestes shuld ete y-now,
And lig in the grasse, up to the chin;
They ben feble, both oxe and cow,
Of hem nis left but boon and skin.’
He shook of share, and cultre of-drow,
And hong his harneys on a pin.
He took his tabard and his staf eke,
And on his heed he set his hat;
And sayde, he wolde saynt Thomas seke,
On pilgrimage he goth forth plat.
In scrippe he bar both breed and lekes,
He was forswonke and all forswat;
Men might have seen through both his chekes,
And every wang-toth and where it sat.
And on his heed he set his hat;
And sayde, he wolde saynt Thomas seke,
On pilgrimage he goth forth plat.
In scrippe he bar both breed and lekes,
He was forswonke and all forswat;
Men might have seen through both his chekes,
And every wang-toth and where it sat.
Our hoste beheld wel all about,
And saw this man was sunne y-brent;
He knew well by his senged snout,
And by his clothes that were to-rent,
He was a man wont to walke about,
He nas nat alway in cloystre y-pent;
He coud not religiousliche lout,
And therfore was he fully shent.
And saw this man was sunne y-brent;
He knew well by his senged snout,
And by his clothes that were to-rent,
He was a man wont to walke about,
He nas nat alway in cloystre y-pent;
He coud not religiousliche lout,
And therfore was he fully shent.
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Our host him axed, ‘what man art thou?’
‘Sir,’ quod he, ‘I am an hyne;
For I am wont to go to the plow,
And erne my mete yer that I dyne.
To swete and swinke I make avow,
My wyf and children therwith to fynd,
And servë god, and I wist how;
But we lewd men ben full[y] blynd.
‘Sir,’ quod he, ‘I am an hyne;
For I am wont to go to the plow,
And erne my mete yer that I dyne.
To swete and swinke I make avow,
My wyf and children therwith to fynd,
And servë god, and I wist how;
But we lewd men ben full[y] blynd.
For clerkes saye, we shullen be fayn
For hir lyvelod [to] swete and swinke,
And they right nought us give agayn,
Neyther to ete ne yet to drinke.
They mowe by lawë, as they sayn,
Us curse and dampne to hell[e] brinke;
Thus they putten us to payn,
With candles queynt and belles clinke.
For hir lyvelod [to] swete and swinke,
And they right nought us give agayn,
Neyther to ete ne yet to drinke.
They mowe by lawë, as they sayn,
Us curse and dampne to hell[e] brinke;
Thus they putten us to payn,
With candles queynt and belles clinke.
They make us thralles at hir lust,
And sayn, we mowe nat els be saved;
They have the corn and we the dust,
Who speketh ther-agayn, they say he raved.’
And sayn, we mowe nat els be saved;
They have the corn and we the dust,
Who speketh ther-agayn, they say he raved.’
‘What, man,’ quod our host, ‘canst thou preche?
Come neer, and tell us some holy thing.’
‘Sir,’ quod he, ‘I herde ones teche
A prest in pulpit a good preching.’
‘Say on,’ quod our host, ‘I thee beseche.’
‘Sir, I am redy at your bidding.
I pray you that no man me reproche
Whyl that I am my tale telling.
Come neer, and tell us some holy thing.’
‘Sir,’ quod he, ‘I herde ones teche
A prest in pulpit a good preching.’
‘Say on,’ quod our host, ‘I thee beseche.’
‘Sir, I am redy at your bidding.
I pray you that no man me reproche
Whyl that I am my tale telling.
Thus endeth the prologue, and here foloweth the first part of the tale.
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I. PART I.
A sternë stryf is stered newe
In many stedes in a stounde,
Of sondry sedes that ben sewe;
It semeth that som ben unsounde.
For some be gretë growen on grounde,
Some ben souple, simple and small;
Whether of hem is falser founde,
The falser, foul mote him befall!
In many stedes in a stounde,
Of sondry sedes that ben sewe;
It semeth that som ben unsounde.
For some be gretë growen on grounde,
Some ben souple, simple and small;
Whether of hem is falser founde,
The falser, foul mote him befall!
That oon syde is, that I of tell,
Popes, cardinals, and prelates,
Parsons, monkes, and freres fell,
Priours, abbottes of grete estates;
Of heven and hell they kepe the yates,
And Peters successours they ben all;
This is demed by oldë dates;
But falshed, foul mote it befall!
Popes, cardinals, and prelates,
Parsons, monkes, and freres fell,
Priours, abbottes of grete estates;
Of heven and hell they kepe the yates,
And Peters successours they ben all;
This is demed by oldë dates;
But falshed, foul mote it befall!
The other syde ben poore and pale,
And people put [al] out of prees;
And semë caytifs sore a-cale,
And ever in oon without encrees,
I-cleped lollers and londlees;
Who toteth on hem, they been untall.
They ben arayed all for the pees;
But falshed, foul mote it befall!
And people put [al] out of prees;
And semë caytifs sore a-cale,
And ever in oon without encrees,
I-cleped lollers and londlees;
Who toteth on hem, they been untall.
They ben arayed all for the pees;
But falshed, foul mote it befall!
Many a countrey have I sought,
To know the falser of these two;
But ever my travail was for nought,
All so fer as I have go.
But as I wandred in a wro,
In a wode besyde a wall,
Two foules saw I sitte tho;
The falser, foul mote him befall!
To know the falser of these two;
But ever my travail was for nought,
All so fer as I have go.
But as I wandred in a wro,
In a wode besyde a wall,
Two foules saw I sitte tho;
The falser, foul mote him befall!
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That oon did plede on the Popes syde,
A Griffon of a grim stature.
A Pellicane withouten pryde
To these lollers layde his lure;
He mused his matter in mesure,
To counsayl Christ ever gan he call.
The Griffon shewed as sharp as fyre,
But falshed, foul mote it befall!
A Griffon of a grim stature.
A Pellicane withouten pryde
To these lollers layde his lure;
He mused his matter in mesure,
To counsayl Christ ever gan he call.
The Griffon shewed as sharp as fyre,
But falshed, foul mote it befall!
The Pellican began to preche
Both of mercy and of mekeness;
And sayd, that “Christ so gan us teche,
And meke and merciable gan bless.
The Evangely bereth witness
A lamb, he lykneth Christ over-all,
In tokening that he mekest was,
Sith pryde was out of heven fall.
Both of mercy and of mekeness;
And sayd, that “Christ so gan us teche,
And meke and merciable gan bless.
The Evangely bereth witness
A lamb, he lykneth Christ over-all,
In tokening that he mekest was,
Sith pryde was out of heven fall.
And so shulde every Christned be;
Preestes, Peters successours,
Beth lowlich and of low degree,
And usen none erthly honours,
Neyther crown, ne curious cove[r]tours,
Ne pelure, ne other proudë pall;
Ne nought to cofren up greet tresours;
For falshed, foul mote it befall!
Preestes, Peters successours,
Beth lowlich and of low degree,
And usen none erthly honours,
Neyther crown, ne curious cove[r]tours,
Ne pelure, ne other proudë pall;
Ne nought to cofren up greet tresours;
For falshed, foul mote it befall!
Preest[e]s shuld for no cattel plede,
But chasten hem in charitè;
Ne to no batail shuld men lede
For inhaunsing of hir own degree;
Nat wilnë sittings in hy see,
Ne soverayntè in hous ne hall;
All worldly worship defye and flee;
For who willeth highnes, foul shal fall!
But chasten hem in charitè;
Ne to no batail shuld men lede
For inhaunsing of hir own degree;
Nat wilnë sittings in hy see,
Ne soverayntè in hous ne hall;
All worldly worship defye and flee;
For who willeth highnes, foul shal fall!
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Alas! who may such sayntes call
That wilneth welde erthly honour?
As lowe as Lucifer such shal fall,
In baleful blacknesse y-builde hir bour;
That eggeth the people to errour,
And maketh hem to hem [be] thrall;
To Christ I hold suche oon traytour,
As lowe as Lucifer such shal fall.
That wilneth welde erthly honour?
As lowe as Lucifer such shal fall,
In baleful blacknesse y-builde hir bour;
That eggeth the people to errour,
And maketh hem to hem [be] thrall;
To Christ I hold suche oon traytour,
As lowe as Lucifer such shal fall.
That willeth to be kinges peres,
And hygher than the emperour;
Some that were but pore freres
Now wollen waxe a warryour.
God is nat hir governour,
That holdeth no man his peragall;
Whyl covetyse is hir counsaylour,
All such falshed mot nedë fall.
And hygher than the emperour;
Some that were but pore freres
Now wollen waxe a warryour.
God is nat hir governour,
That holdeth no man his peragall;
Whyl covetyse is hir counsaylour,
All such falshed mot nedë fall.
That hye on horse willeth ryde
In glitterand golde of grete aray,
I-paynted and portred all in pryde;
No commun knight may go so gay.
Chaunge of clothing every day,
With golden girdles grete and small;
As boystous as is bere at bay;
All such falshed mot nedë fall.
In glitterand golde of grete aray,
I-paynted and portred all in pryde;
No commun knight may go so gay.
Chaunge of clothing every day,
With golden girdles grete and small;
As boystous as is bere at bay;
All such falshed mot nedë fall.
With prydë punysheth the pore,
And somë they sustayn with sale;
Of holy churche maketh an hore,
And filleth hir wombe with wyne and ale;
With money filleth many a male,
And chaffren churches when they fall,
And telleth the people a lewed tale;
Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!
And somë they sustayn with sale;
Of holy churche maketh an hore,
And filleth hir wombe with wyne and ale;
With money filleth many a male,
And chaffren churches when they fall,
And telleth the people a lewed tale;
Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!
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With chaunge of many maner metes,
With song and solace sitting long,
And filleth hir wombë, and fast fretes,
And from the metë to the gong;
And after mete with harp and song,
And ech man mot hem lordes call;
And hotë spyces ever among;
Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!
With song and solace sitting long,
And filleth hir wombë, and fast fretes,
And from the metë to the gong;
And after mete with harp and song,
And ech man mot hem lordes call;
And hotë spyces ever among;
Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!
And myters mo than oon or two,
I-perled as the quenes heed;
A staf of golde, and perrey, lo!
As hevy as it were mad of leed;
With cloth of gold both newe and reed,
With glitterand gown as grene as gall,
By dome will dampnë men to deed;
All suche faytours, foul hem fall!
I-perled as the quenes heed;
A staf of golde, and perrey, lo!
As hevy as it were mad of leed;
With cloth of gold both newe and reed,
With glitterand gown as grene as gall,
By dome will dampnë men to deed;
All suche faytours, foul hem fall!
And Christes people proudly curse
With brode bokes, and braying bell;
To putte pennyes in hir purse
They woll sell both heven and hell;
And in hir sentence, and thou wilt dwell,
They willen gesse in hir gay hall;
And though the soth thou of hem tell,
In greet cursinge shalt thou fall.
With brode bokes, and braying bell;
To putte pennyes in hir purse
They woll sell both heven and hell;
And in hir sentence, and thou wilt dwell,
They willen gesse in hir gay hall;
And though the soth thou of hem tell,
In greet cursinge shalt thou fall.
That is blessed, that they blesse,
And cursed, that they cursë woll;
And thus the people they oppresse,
And have their lordshippes at full;
And many be marchauntes of woll,
And to purse penyes woll come thrall;
The porë people they all to-pull,
Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!
And cursed, that they cursë woll;
And thus the people they oppresse,
And have their lordshippes at full;
And many be marchauntes of woll,
And to purse penyes woll come thrall;
The porë people they all to-pull,
Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!
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Lordes motë to hem loute,
Obeysaunt to hir brode blessing;
They ryden with hir royall route
On a courser, as it were a king;
With saddle of golde glitt[e]ring
With curious harneys quayntly crallit,
Styroppes gaye of gold-mastling;
All suche falshed, foul befall it!
Obeysaunt to hir brode blessing;
They ryden with hir royall route
On a courser, as it were a king;
With saddle of golde glitt[e]ring
With curious harneys quayntly crallit,
Styroppes gaye of gold-mastling;
All suche falshed, foul befall it!
Christes ministers cleped they been,
And rulen all in robberye;
But Antichrist they serven clene,
Attyred all in tyrannye;
Witnesse of Johns prophecye,
That Antichrist is hir admirall,
Tiffelers attyred in trecherye;
All suche faytours, foul hem fall!
And rulen all in robberye;
But Antichrist they serven clene,
Attyred all in tyrannye;
Witnesse of Johns prophecye,
That Antichrist is hir admirall,
Tiffelers attyred in trecherye;
All suche faytours, foul hem fall!
Who sayth, that some of hem may sinne,
He shal be demed to be deed;
Some of hem woll gladly winne
All ayenst that which god forbed;
“All-holyest” they clepen hir heed,
That of hir rulë is regall;
Alas! that ever they eten breed;
For all such falshed woll foul fall.
He shal be demed to be deed;
Some of hem woll gladly winne
All ayenst that which god forbed;
“All-holyest” they clepen hir heed,
That of hir rulë is regall;
Alas! that ever they eten breed;
For all such falshed woll foul fall.
Hir heed loveth all honour,
And to be worshipped in worde and dede;
Kinges mot to hem knele and coure;
To the apostles, that Christ forbede;
To popes hestes such taketh more hede
Than to kepe Christes commaundëment;
Of gold and silver mot ben hir wede,
They holdeth him hole omnipotent.
And to be worshipped in worde and dede;
Kinges mot to hem knele and coure;
To the apostles, that Christ forbede;
To popes hestes such taketh more hede
Than to kepe Christes commaundëment;
Of gold and silver mot ben hir wede,
They holdeth him hole omnipotent.
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He ordayneth by his ordinaunce
To parish-preestes a powére;
To another a greter avaunce,
A greter poynt to his mystere;
But for he is hyghest in erth here,
To him reserveth he many a poynt;
But to Christ, that hath no pere,
Reserveth he neither opin ne joynt.
To parish-preestes a powére;
To another a greter avaunce,
A greter poynt to his mystere;
But for he is hyghest in erth here,
To him reserveth he many a poynt;
But to Christ, that hath no pere,
Reserveth he neither opin ne joynt.
So semeth he above[n] all,
And Christ aboven him nothing;
Whan he sitteth in his stall,
Dampneth and saveth as him think.
Such pryde tofore god doth stink;
An angell bad John to him nat knele,
But only to god do his bowing;
Such willers of worship must evil fele.
And Christ aboven him nothing;
Whan he sitteth in his stall,
Dampneth and saveth as him think.
Such pryde tofore god doth stink;
An angell bad John to him nat knele,
But only to god do his bowing;
Such willers of worship must evil fele.
They ne clepen Christ but sanctus deus,
And clepen her heed Sanctissimus;
They that such a sect[ë] sewis,
I trowe, they taken hem amisse.
In erth[ë] here they have hir blisse,
Hir hye master is Belial;
Christ his people from hem wisse!
For all such falsë will foul fall!
And clepen her heed Sanctissimus;
They that such a sect[ë] sewis,
I trowe, they taken hem amisse.
In erth[ë] here they have hir blisse,
Hir hye master is Belial;
Christ his people from hem wisse!
For all such falsë will foul fall!
They mowë both[ë] binde and lose,
And all is for hir holy lyf;
To save or dampne they mowë chose,
Betwene hem now [ther] is gret stryf.
Many a man is killed with knyf,
To wete which of hem have lordship shall;
For such, Christ suffred woundes fyve;
For all such falshed will foul fall.
And all is for hir holy lyf;
To save or dampne they mowë chose,
Betwene hem now [ther] is gret stryf.
Many a man is killed with knyf,
To wete which of hem have lordship shall;
For such, Christ suffred woundes fyve;
For all such falshed will foul fall.
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Christ sayd: Qui gladio percutit
With swerdë shall [he surely] dye;
He bad his preestes pees and grith,
And bad hem not drede for to dye;
And bad them be both simple and slye,
And carkë not for no cattall,
And truste on god that sitteth on hye;
For all [such] falsë shull foul fall.
With swerdë shall [he surely] dye;
He bad his preestes pees and grith,
And bad hem not drede for to dye;
And bad them be both simple and slye,
And carkë not for no cattall,
And truste on god that sitteth on hye;
For all [such] falsë shull foul fall.
These wollen makë men to swere
Ayenst Christes commaundëment;
And Christes membres all to-tere
On rode as he wer newe y-rent.
Suche lawes they make by commun assent,
Ech on it choweth as a ball;
Thus the pore be fully shent,
But ever falshed foule it fall!
Ayenst Christes commaundëment;
And Christes membres all to-tere
On rode as he wer newe y-rent.
Suche lawes they make by commun assent,
Ech on it choweth as a ball;
Thus the pore be fully shent,
But ever falshed foule it fall!
They usen [never] no symonye,
But sellen churches and prioryes;
Ne [yet] they usen no envye,
But cursen all hem contraryes;
And hyreth men by dayes and yeres
With strength to holde hem in hir stall;
And culleth all hir adversaryes;
Therefor, falshed! foul thou fall!
But sellen churches and prioryes;
Ne [yet] they usen no envye,
But cursen all hem contraryes;
And hyreth men by dayes and yeres
With strength to holde hem in hir stall;
And culleth all hir adversaryes;
Therefor, falshed! foul thou fall!
With purse they purchase personage,
With purse they paynen hem to plede;
And men of warrë they woll wage,
To bringe hir enemyes to the dede.
And lordes lyves they woll lede,
And moche take, and give but small;
But he it so get, from it shall shede,
And make such falsë right foul fal!
With purse they paynen hem to plede;
And men of warrë they woll wage,
To bringe hir enemyes to the dede.
And lordes lyves they woll lede,
And moche take, and give but small;
But he it so get, from it shall shede,
And make such falsë right foul fal!
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They halowe nothing but for hyre,
Churchë, font, ne vestëment;
And make[n] orders in every shyre,
But preestes paye for the parchement;
Of ryatours they taken rent,
Therwith they smere the shepes skall;
For many churches ben oft suspent;
All such falshed, yet foul it fall!
Churchë, font, ne vestëment;
And make[n] orders in every shyre,
But preestes paye for the parchement;
Of ryatours they taken rent,
Therwith they smere the shepes skall;
For many churches ben oft suspent;
All such falshed, yet foul it fall!
Some liveth nat in lecherye,
But haunten wenches, widdowes, and wyves,
And punisheth the pore for putrye;
Them-selfe it useth all their lyves.
And but a man to them [him] shryves,
To heven comë never he shall;
He shal be cursed as be captyves,
To hell they sayn that he shall fall.
But haunten wenches, widdowes, and wyves,
And punisheth the pore for putrye;
Them-selfe it useth all their lyves.
And but a man to them [him] shryves,
To heven comë never he shall;
He shal be cursed as be captyves,
To hell they sayn that he shall fall.
There was more mercy in Maximien,
And in Nero, that never was good,
Than [there] is now in some of hem
Whan he hath on his furred hood.
They folowe Christ that shedde his blood
To heven, as bucket in-to the wall;
Suche wreches ben worse than wood;
And all such faytours, foule hem fall!
And in Nero, that never was good,
Than [there] is now in some of hem
Whan he hath on his furred hood.
They folowe Christ that shedde his blood
To heven, as bucket in-to the wall;
Suche wreches ben worse than wood;
And all such faytours, foule hem fall!
They give hir almesse to the riche,
To maynteynours, and to men of lawe;
For to lordes they woll be liche,
An harlottes sone nat worth an hawe!
Sothfastnessë suche han slawe,
They kembe hir crokets with cristall;
And drede of god they have down drawe;
All suche faytours, foul hem fall!
To maynteynours, and to men of lawe;
For to lordes they woll be liche,
An harlottes sone nat worth an hawe!
Sothfastnessë suche han slawe,
They kembe hir crokets with cristall;
And drede of god they have down drawe;
All suche faytours, foul hem fall!
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They maken parsons for the penny,
And canons of hir cardinals;
Unnethes amongest hem all any
That he ne hath glosed the gospell fals!
For Christ made never no cathedrals,
Ne with him was no cardinall
Wyth a reed hatte as usen mynstrals;
But falshed, foul mote it befall!
And canons of hir cardinals;
Unnethes amongest hem all any
That he ne hath glosed the gospell fals!
For Christ made never no cathedrals,
Ne with him was no cardinall
Wyth a reed hatte as usen mynstrals;
But falshed, foul mote it befall!
Hir tything, and hir offring both,
They cle[y]meth it by possessio[u]n;
Thérof nill they none forgo,
But robben men as [by] raunsoun.
The tything of Turpe lucrum
With these maisters is meynall;
Tything of bribry and larson
Will makë falshed full foul fall!
They cle[y]meth it by possessio[u]n;
Thérof nill they none forgo,
But robben men as [by] raunsoun.
The tything of Turpe lucrum
With these maisters is meynall;
Tything of bribry and larson
Will makë falshed full foul fall!
They taken to fermë hir sompnours
To harme the people what they may;
To pardoners and false faytours
Sell hir seles, I dar well say;
And all to holden greet array,
To multiply hem more metall,
They drede full litell domes day
Whan all such [falsë] shall foul fall.
To harme the people what they may;
To pardoners and false faytours
Sell hir seles, I dar well say;
And all to holden greet array,
To multiply hem more metall,
They drede full litell domes day
Whan all such [falsë] shall foul fall.
Suche harlottes shull men disclaunder
For they shullen make hir gree,
And ben as proude as Alexaunder,
And sayn to the pore, “wo be ye!”
By yere ech preest shall paye his fee
To encrese his lemmans call;
Suche herdes shull well yvell thee,
And all such falsë shull foul fall!
For they shullen make hir gree,
And ben as proude as Alexaunder,
And sayn to the pore, “wo be ye!”
By yere ech preest shall paye his fee
To encrese his lemmans call;
Suche herdes shull well yvell thee,
And all such falsë shull foul fall!
158
And if a man be falsly famed,
And woldë make purgacioun,
Than woll the officers be agramed,
And assigne him fro town to town;
So nede he must[e] paye raunsoun
Though he be clene as is cristall,
And than have an absolutioun;
But all such falsë shull foul fall!
And woldë make purgacioun,
Than woll the officers be agramed,
And assigne him fro town to town;
So nede he must[e] paye raunsoun
Though he be clene as is cristall,
And than have an absolutioun;
But all such falsë shull foul fall!
Though he be gilty of the dede,
And that he [yet] may money pay,
All the whyle his purse woll blede
He may use it fro day to day!
These bishoppes officers goon full gay,
And this game they usen over-all;
The pore to pill is all hir pray;
All such falsë shull foul fall!
And that he [yet] may money pay,
All the whyle his purse woll blede
He may use it fro day to day!
These bishoppes officers goon full gay,
And this game they usen over-all;
The pore to pill is all hir pray;
All such falsë shull foul fall!
Alas! god ordayned never such lawe,
Ne no such craft of covetyse;
He forbad it, by his sawe,
Such governours mowen of god agryse;
For all his rules ben rightwyse.
These newe poyntes ben pure papall,
And goddes lawë they dispyse;
And all such faytours shul foul fall!
Ne no such craft of covetyse;
He forbad it, by his sawe,
Such governours mowen of god agryse;
For all his rules ben rightwyse.
These newe poyntes ben pure papall,
And goddes lawë they dispyse;
And all such faytours shul foul fall!
They sayn that Peter had the key
Of hevin and hell, to have and hold;
I trowe Peter took no money
For no sinnes that he sold!
Such successours ben to bold,
In winning all their wit they wrall;
Hir conscience is waxen cold;
And all such faytours, foule hem fall!
Of hevin and hell, to have and hold;
I trowe Peter took no money
For no sinnes that he sold!
Such successours ben to bold,
In winning all their wit they wrall;
Hir conscience is waxen cold;
And all such faytours, foule hem fall!
159
Peter was never so great a fole
To leve his key with such a lorell,
Or to take such cursed such a tole
He was advysed nothing well.
I trowe, they have the key of hell;
Hir maister is of that place marshall;
For there they dressen hem to dwell,
And with fals Lucifer there to fall.
To leve his key with such a lorell,
Or to take such cursed such a tole
He was advysed nothing well.
I trowe, they have the key of hell;
Hir maister is of that place marshall;
For there they dressen hem to dwell,
And with fals Lucifer there to fall.
They ben as proude as Lucifer,
As angry, and as envious;
From good fayth they ben full fer,
In covetyse they ben curious;
To catche catell as covytous
As hound, that for hunger woll yall;
Ungoodly, and ungracious;
And nedely, such falshed shal foul fall!
As angry, and as envious;
From good fayth they ben full fer,
In covetyse they ben curious;
To catche catell as covytous
As hound, that for hunger woll yall;
Ungoodly, and ungracious;
And nedely, such falshed shal foul fall!
The pope, and he were Peters heyr,
Me think, he erreth in this cas,
Whan choyse of bishoppes is in dispeyr,
To chosen hem in dyvers place;
A lord shall write to him for grace,
For his clerke pray anon he shall;
So shall he spede[n] his purchas;
And all such falsë, foule hem fall!
Me think, he erreth in this cas,
Whan choyse of bishoppes is in dispeyr,
To chosen hem in dyvers place;
A lord shall write to him for grace,
For his clerke pray anon he shall;
So shall he spede[n] his purchas;
And all such falsë, foule hem fall!
Though he conne no more good,
A lordes prayer shal be sped;
Though he be wild of will or wood,
Nat understanding what men han red,
A boster, and (that god forbede!)
As good a bishop as my hors Ball,
Suche a pope is foule be-sted,
And at [the] lastë woll foul fall!
A lordes prayer shal be sped;
Though he be wild of will or wood,
Nat understanding what men han red,
A boster, and (that god forbede!)
As good a bishop as my hors Ball,
Suche a pope is foule be-sted,
And at [the] lastë woll foul fall!
160
He maketh bishops for erthly thank,
And nothing for Christes sake;
Such that ben ful fatte and rank,
To soulë hele non hede they take.
Al is well don what ever they make,
For they shal answere at ones for all;
For worldes thank, such worch and wake,
And all such falsë shall foul fall!
And nothing for Christes sake;
Such that ben ful fatte and rank,
To soulë hele non hede they take.
Al is well don what ever they make,
For they shal answere at ones for all;
For worldes thank, such worch and wake,
And all such falsë shall foul fall!
Suche that connë nat hir Crede
With prayer shull be mad prelates;
Nother conne the gospell rede,
Such shull now welde hye estates.
The hye goodes frendship hem makes,
They toteth on hir somme totall;
Such bere the keyes of hell-yates,
And all such falsë shall foul fall.
With prayer shull be mad prelates;
Nother conne the gospell rede,
Such shull now welde hye estates.
The hye goodes frendship hem makes,
They toteth on hir somme totall;
Such bere the keyes of hell-yates,
And all such falsë shall foul fall.
They forsake, for Christes love,
Traveyl, hunger, thurst, and cold;
For they ben ordred ever all above
Out of youthe til they ben old.
By the dore they go nat in-to the fold,
To helpe hir sheep they nought travall;
Hyred men all suche I holde,
And all such falsë, foule hem fall!
Traveyl, hunger, thurst, and cold;
For they ben ordred ever all above
Out of youthe til they ben old.
By the dore they go nat in-to the fold,
To helpe hir sheep they nought travall;
Hyred men all suche I holde,
And all such falsë, foule hem fall!
For Christ hir king they woll forsake,
And knowe him nought for his povert;
For Christes lovë they woll wake,
And drink pyment [and] ale apart.
Of god they seme nothing a-ferd;
As lusty liveth, as Lamuall,
And dryve hir sheep into desert;
All such faytours shull foul fall!
And knowe him nought for his povert;
For Christes lovë they woll wake,
And drink pyment [and] ale apart.
Of god they seme nothing a-ferd;
As lusty liveth, as Lamuall,
And dryve hir sheep into desert;
All such faytours shull foul fall!
161
Christ hath twelve apostels here;
Now say they, ther may be but oon,
That may nat erre in no manere;
Who leveth nat this, ben lost echoon!
Peter erred, so dide nat John;
Why is he cleped the principall?
Christ cleped him Peter, but himself the stoon;
All falsë faytours, foule hem fall!
Now say they, ther may be but oon,
That may nat erre in no manere;
Who leveth nat this, ben lost echoon!
Peter erred, so dide nat John;
Why is he cleped the principall?
Christ cleped him Peter, but himself the stoon;
All falsë faytours, foule hem fall!
Why cursen they the croysery,
Christes Christen crëatures?
For bytwene hem is now envy
To be enhaunsed in honours.
And Christen livers, with hir labours,
For they leve on no man mortall,
Ben do to dethe with dishonours;
And all such falsë, foule hem fall!
Christes Christen crëatures?
For bytwene hem is now envy
To be enhaunsed in honours.
And Christen livers, with hir labours,
For they leve on no man mortall,
Ben do to dethe with dishonours;
And all such falsë, foule hem fall!
What knoweth a tillour at the plow
The popes name, and what he hat?
His crede suffyseth him y-now,
And knoweth a cardinall by his hat.
Rough is the pore, unrightly lat,
That knoweth Christ his god royall;
Such maters be nat worth a gnat;
But such false faytours, foule hem fall!
The popes name, and what he hat?
His crede suffyseth him y-now,
And knoweth a cardinall by his hat.
Rough is the pore, unrightly lat,
That knoweth Christ his god royall;
Such maters be nat worth a gnat;
But such false faytours, foule hem fall!
A king shall knele and kisse his sho;
Christ suffred a sinfull kisse his feet.
Me thinketh, he holdeth him hye y-now,
So Lucifer did, that hye seet.
Such oon, me thinketh, him-self foryet,
Either to the trouth he was nat call;
Christ, that suffred woundes wet,
Shall makë such falshed foul fall!
Christ suffred a sinfull kisse his feet.
Me thinketh, he holdeth him hye y-now,
So Lucifer did, that hye seet.
Such oon, me thinketh, him-self foryet,
Either to the trouth he was nat call;
Christ, that suffred woundes wet,
Shall makë such falshed foul fall!
162
They layeth out hir largë nettes
For to take silver and gold,
Fillen coffers, and sackes fettes,
There-as they soules cacche shold.
Hir servaunts be to hem unhold,
But they can doublin hir rentall
To bigge hem castels, and bigge hem hold;
And all such falsë, foule hem fall!
For to take silver and gold,
Fillen coffers, and sackes fettes,
There-as they soules cacche shold.
Hir servaunts be to hem unhold,
But they can doublin hir rentall
To bigge hem castels, and bigge hem hold;
And all such falsë, foule hem fall!
Here endeth the first part of this tale, and herafter foloweth the seconde part.
II. PART II.
To accorde with this wordë “fal”
No more English can I find;
Shewe another now I shall,
For I have moche to say behind,
How preestes han the people pynd,
As curteys Christ hath me [y-]kend,
And put this matter in my mind
To make this maner men amend.
No more English can I find;
Shewe another now I shall,
For I have moche to say behind,
How preestes han the people pynd,
As curteys Christ hath me [y-]kend,
And put this matter in my mind
To make this maner men amend.
Shortly to shende hem, and shewe now
How wrongfully they worche and walke;
O hye god, nothing they tell, ne how,
But in goddes word, tell many a balke.
In hernes holde hem and in halke,
And prechin of tythes and offrend,
And untruely of the gospell talke;
For his mercy, god it amend!
How wrongfully they worche and walke;
O hye god, nothing they tell, ne how,
But in goddes word, tell many a balke.
In hernes holde hem and in halke,
And prechin of tythes and offrend,
And untruely of the gospell talke;
For his mercy, god it amend!
163
What is Antichrist to say
But evin Christes adversáry?
Such hath now ben many a day
To Christes bidding full contráry,
That from the trouthë clenë vary;
Out of the wayë they ben wend;
And Christes people untruely cary;
God, for his pitè, it amend!
But evin Christes adversáry?
Such hath now ben many a day
To Christes bidding full contráry,
That from the trouthë clenë vary;
Out of the wayë they ben wend;
And Christes people untruely cary;
God, for his pitè, it amend!
That liven contráry to Christes lyf,
In hye pride agaynst mekenesse;
Agaynst suffraunce they usen stryf,
And angre ayenst sobrenesse;
Agaynst wisdom, wilfulnesse;
To Christes tales litell tend;
Agaynst mesúre, outragiousnesse;
But whan god woll, it may amend!
In hye pride agaynst mekenesse;
Agaynst suffraunce they usen stryf,
And angre ayenst sobrenesse;
Agaynst wisdom, wilfulnesse;
To Christes tales litell tend;
Agaynst mesúre, outragiousnesse;
But whan god woll, it may amend!
Lordly lyf ayenst lowlinesse,
And demin all without mercy;
And covetyse ayenst largesse,
Agaynst trewth[e], trechery;
And agaynst almesse, envy;
Agaynst Christ they comprehend.
For chastitè, they maynteyn lechery;
God, for his gracë, this amend!
And demin all without mercy;
And covetyse ayenst largesse,
Agaynst trewth[e], trechery;
And agaynst almesse, envy;
Agaynst Christ they comprehend.
For chastitè, they maynteyn lechery;
God, for his gracë, this amend!
Ayenst penaunce they use delytes,
Ayenst suffraunce, strong defence;
Ayenst god they use yvel rightes,
Agaynst pitè, punishëments;
Open yvell ayenst continence;
Hir wicked winning wors dispend;
Sobrenesse they sette in-to dispence;
But god, for his goodnesse, it amend!
Ayenst suffraunce, strong defence;
Ayenst god they use yvel rightes,
Agaynst pitè, punishëments;
Open yvell ayenst continence;
Hir wicked winning wors dispend;
Sobrenesse they sette in-to dispence;
But god, for his goodnesse, it amend!
164
Why cleymen they hoolly his powére,
And wranglen ayenst all his hestes?
His living folowen they nothing here,
But liven wors than witles beestes.
Of fish and flesh they loven feestes,
As lordes, they ben brode y-kend;
Of goddes pore they haten gestes;
God, for his mercy, this amend!
And wranglen ayenst all his hestes?
His living folowen they nothing here,
But liven wors than witles beestes.
Of fish and flesh they loven feestes,
As lordes, they ben brode y-kend;
Of goddes pore they haten gestes;
God, for his mercy, this amend!
With Dives such shall have hir doom
That sayn that they be Christes frendes,
And do nothing as they shuld doon;
All such ben falser than ben fendes.
On the people they ley such bendes,
As god is in erthe, they han offend;
Sucour for suchë Christ now sende us,
And, for his mercy, this amend!
That sayn that they be Christes frendes,
And do nothing as they shuld doon;
All such ben falser than ben fendes.
On the people they ley such bendes,
As god is in erthe, they han offend;
Sucour for suchë Christ now sende us,
And, for his mercy, this amend!
A token of Antichrist they be,
His careckes ben now wyde y-know;
Receyved to preche shall no man be
Without[ë] token of him, I trow.
Ech Christen preest to prechen ow,
From god abovë they ben send.
Goddes word to all folk for to show,
Sinfull man for to amend.
His careckes ben now wyde y-know;
Receyved to preche shall no man be
Without[ë] token of him, I trow.
Ech Christen preest to prechen ow,
From god abovë they ben send.
Goddes word to all folk for to show,
Sinfull man for to amend.
Christ sente the pore for to preche;
The royall riche he did nat so;
Now dar no pore the people teche,
For Antichrist is over-all hir fo.
Among the people he mot go;
He hath bidden, all such suspend;
Some hath he hent, and thinketh yet mo;
But all this god may well amend
The royall riche he did nat so;
Now dar no pore the people teche,
For Antichrist is over-all hir fo.
Among the people he mot go;
He hath bidden, all such suspend;
Some hath he hent, and thinketh yet mo;
But all this god may well amend
165
All tho that han the world forsake,
And liven lo[w]ly, as god bad,
In-to hir prison shullen be take,
Betin and bounden, and forth lad.
Herof I rede no man be drad;
Christ sayd, his [servaunts] shulde be shend;
Ech man ought herof be glad;
For god ful well it woll amend.
And liven lo[w]ly, as god bad,
In-to hir prison shullen be take,
Betin and bounden, and forth lad.
Herof I rede no man be drad;
Christ sayd, his [servaunts] shulde be shend;
Ech man ought herof be glad;
For god ful well it woll amend.
They take on hem royáll powére,
And saye, they havë swerdes two,
Oon curse to hell, oon slee men here;
For at his taking Christ had no mo,
Yet Peter had [that] oon of tho.
But Christ to Peter smyte gan defend,
And in-to the sheth bad putte it tho;
And all such mischeves god amend!
And saye, they havë swerdes two,
Oon curse to hell, oon slee men here;
For at his taking Christ had no mo,
Yet Peter had [that] oon of tho.
But Christ to Peter smyte gan defend,
And in-to the sheth bad putte it tho;
And all such mischeves god amend!
Christ bad Peter kepe his sheep,
And with his swerde forbad him smyte;
Swerd is no tole with sheep to kepe
But to shep[h]erdes that sheep woll byte.
Me thinketh, suche shep[h]erdes ben to wyte
Ayen hir sheep with swerd that contend;
They dryve hir sheep with greet dispyte;
But al this god may well amend.
And with his swerde forbad him smyte;
Swerd is no tole with sheep to kepe
But to shep[h]erdes that sheep woll byte.
Me thinketh, suche shep[h]erdes ben to wyte
Ayen hir sheep with swerd that contend;
They dryve hir sheep with greet dispyte;
But al this god may well amend.
So successours to Peter be they nought
Whom [that] Christ madë cheef pastour;
A swerd no shep[h]erde usen ought
But he wold slee as a bochour.
For who-so were Peters successour
Shuld bere his sheep till his bak bend,
And shadowe hem from every shour;
And all this god may wel amend.
Whom [that] Christ madë cheef pastour;
A swerd no shep[h]erde usen ought
But he wold slee as a bochour.
For who-so were Peters successour
Shuld bere his sheep till his bak bend,
And shadowe hem from every shour;
And all this god may wel amend.
166
Successours to Peter ben these
In that that Peter Christ forsook,
That had lever the love of god [to] lese
Than a shep[h]erde had to lese his hook.
He culleth the sheep as doth the cook;
Of hem [they] taken the woll untrend,
And falsely glose the gospell-book;
God, for his mercy, hem amend!
In that that Peter Christ forsook,
That had lever the love of god [to] lese
Than a shep[h]erde had to lese his hook.
He culleth the sheep as doth the cook;
Of hem [they] taken the woll untrend,
And falsely glose the gospell-book;
God, for his mercy, hem amend!
After Christ had take Peter the kay,
Christ sayd, he mustë dye for man;
That Peter to Christ gan withsay;
Christ bad him, ‘go behind, Sathan!’
Such counsaylours many of these men han
For worldes wele, god to offend;
Peters successours they ben for-than,
But all such god may well amend.
Christ sayd, he mustë dye for man;
That Peter to Christ gan withsay;
Christ bad him, ‘go behind, Sathan!’
Such counsaylours many of these men han
For worldes wele, god to offend;
Peters successours they ben for-than,
But all such god may well amend.
For Sathan is to say no more
But he that contrary to Christ is;
In this they lernë Peters lore,
They sewen him whan he did mis;
They folowe Peter forsothe in this,
In al that Christ wolde him reprende,
Nat in that that longeth to hevin blis;
God for his mercy hem amend!
But he that contrary to Christ is;
In this they lernë Peters lore,
They sewen him whan he did mis;
They folowe Peter forsothe in this,
In al that Christ wolde him reprende,
Nat in that that longeth to hevin blis;
God for his mercy hem amend!
Some of the apostels they sewen in cas,
Of ought that I can understonde,
Him that betrayed Christ, Judas,
That bar the purse in every londe;
And al that he might sette on honde,
He hidde and stal, and [gan] mispend;
His rule these traytours han in honde;
Almighty god [now] hem amend!
Of ought that I can understonde,
Him that betrayed Christ, Judas,
That bar the purse in every londe;
And al that he might sette on honde,
He hidde and stal, and [gan] mispend;
His rule these traytours han in honde;
Almighty god [now] hem amend!
167
And at last his lord gan tray
Cursedly, through his covetyse;
So wolde these trayen him for money,
And they wisten in what wyse!
They be seker of the selfe ensyse;
From all sothnesse they ben frend;
And covetyse chaungen with queyntyse;
Almighty god all suche amend!
Cursedly, through his covetyse;
So wolde these trayen him for money,
And they wisten in what wyse!
They be seker of the selfe ensyse;
From all sothnesse they ben frend;
And covetyse chaungen with queyntyse;
Almighty god all suche amend!
Were Christ on erthë here eft-soon,
These wolde dampnë him to dye;
All his hestes they han fordon,
And sayn, his sawes ben heresy;
Ayenst his maundëments they cry,
And dampne all his to be [y-]brend;
For it lyketh nat hem, such losengery;
God almighty hem amend!
These wolde dampnë him to dye;
All his hestes they han fordon,
And sayn, his sawes ben heresy;
Ayenst his maundëments they cry,
And dampne all his to be [y-]brend;
For it lyketh nat hem, such losengery;
God almighty hem amend!
These han more might in England here
Than hath the king and all his lawe,
They han purchased hem such powére
To taken hem whom [they] list nat knawe;
And say, that heresy is hir sawe,
And so to prison woll hem send;
It was nat so by elder dawe,
God, for his mercy, it amend!
Than hath the king and all his lawe,
They han purchased hem such powére
To taken hem whom [they] list nat knawe;
And say, that heresy is hir sawe,
And so to prison woll hem send;
It was nat so by elder dawe,
God, for his mercy, it amend!
The kinges lawe wol no man deme
Angerliche, withouten answere;
But, if any man these misqueme,
He shal be baited as a bere;
And yet wel wors they woll him tere,
And in prisón woll hem [be] pend
In gyves, and in other gere;
Whan god woll, it may [a]mend.
Angerliche, withouten answere;
But, if any man these misqueme,
He shal be baited as a bere;
And yet wel wors they woll him tere,
And in prisón woll hem [be] pend
In gyves, and in other gere;
Whan god woll, it may [a]mend.
168
The king taxeth nat his men
But by assent of the comminaltè;
But these, ech yere, woll raunsom hem
Maysterfully, more than doth he;
Hir seles, by yerë, better be
Than is the kinges in extend;
Hir officers han gretter fee;
But this mischeef [may] god amend!
But by assent of the comminaltè;
But these, ech yere, woll raunsom hem
Maysterfully, more than doth he;
Hir seles, by yerë, better be
Than is the kinges in extend;
Hir officers han gretter fee;
But this mischeef [may] god amend!
For who-so woll prove a testament
Thát is natt all worth ten pound,
He shall paye for the parchëment
The third part of the money all round.
Thus the people is raunsound,
They say, such part to hem shulde apend;
There as they grypen, it goth to ground;
God, for his mercy, it amend!
Thát is natt all worth ten pound,
He shall paye for the parchëment
The third part of the money all round.
Thus the people is raunsound,
They say, such part to hem shulde apend;
There as they grypen, it goth to ground;
God, for his mercy, it amend!
A simple fornicacioun,
Twenty shillings he shall pay;
And than have an absolucioun,
And al the yere usen it forth he may!
Thus they letten hem go a-stray,
They recke nat though the soul be brend;
These kepin yvell Peters key,
And all such shep[h]erdes god amend!
Twenty shillings he shall pay;
And than have an absolucioun,
And al the yere usen it forth he may!
Thus they letten hem go a-stray,
They recke nat though the soul be brend;
These kepin yvell Peters key,
And all such shep[h]erdes god amend!
Wonder is, that the parliament
And all the lordes of this lond
Here-to taken so litell entent
To helpe the people out of hir hond;
For they ben harder in hir bond,
Wors bete[n] and [more] bitter brend
Than to the king is understond;
God him helpe this to amend!
And all the lordes of this lond
Here-to taken so litell entent
To helpe the people out of hir hond;
For they ben harder in hir bond,
Wors bete[n] and [more] bitter brend
Than to the king is understond;
God him helpe this to amend!
169
What bisshoppes, what religio[u]ns
Han in this lande as moch lay-fee,
Lordshippes, and possessio[u]ns
More than the lordes, it semeth me!
That maketh hem lese charitè,
They mowë nat to god attend;
In erthe they have so high degree,
God, for his mercy, it amend!
Han in this lande as moch lay-fee,
Lordshippes, and possessio[u]ns
More than the lordes, it semeth me!
That maketh hem lese charitè,
They mowë nat to god attend;
In erthe they have so high degree,
God, for his mercy, it amend!
The emperour yaf the pope somtyme
So hyghe lordship him about,
That, at [the] laste, the sely kyme,
The proudë popë putte him out!
So of this realme is in dout,
But lordes be ware and hem defend;
For now these folk be wonder stout,
The king and lordes now this amend!
So hyghe lordship him about,
That, at [the] laste, the sely kyme,
The proudë popë putte him out!
So of this realme is in dout,
But lordes be ware and hem defend;
For now these folk be wonder stout,
The king and lordes now this amend!
Thus endeth the seconde part of this tale, and herafter foloweth the thirde.
III. PART III.
Moyses lawe forbood it tho,
That preestes shuld no lordshippes welde,
Christes gospel biddeth also
Thát they shuld no lordship helde;
Ne Christes apostels were never so bold
No such lordshippes to hem enbrace;
But smeren hir sheep and kepe hir fold;
God amende hem for his grace!
That preestes shuld no lordshippes welde,
Christes gospel biddeth also
Thát they shuld no lordship helde;
Ne Christes apostels were never so bold
No such lordshippes to hem enbrace;
But smeren hir sheep and kepe hir fold;
God amende hem for his grace!
170
For they ne ben but countrefet,
Men may knowe hem by hir fruit;
Hir gretnesse maketh hem god foryet,
And take his mekenesse in dispyt.
And they were pore and had but lyte,
They nolde nat demen after the face,
But norishe hir sheep, and hem nat byte;
God amende hem for his grace!”
Grifon.Men may knowe hem by hir fruit;
Hir gretnesse maketh hem god foryet,
And take his mekenesse in dispyt.
And they were pore and had but lyte,
They nolde nat demen after the face,
But norishe hir sheep, and hem nat byte;
God amende hem for his grace!”
“What canst thou preche ayenst chanons
Thát men clepen seculere?”
Pelican.
“They ben curates of many towns,
On erthë they have greet powére.
They han greet prebendes and dere,
Some two or three, and some [han] mo,
A personage to ben a playing-fere,
And yet they serve the king also;
And let to fermë all that fare
To whom that woll most give therfore;
Some woll spende, and some woll spare,
And some woll laye it up in store.
A cure of soule[s] they care nat for,
Só they mowë money take;
Whether hir soules be wonne or lore,
Hir profits they woll nat forsake.
To whom that woll most give therfore;
Some woll spende, and some woll spare,
And some woll laye it up in store.
A cure of soule[s] they care nat for,
Só they mowë money take;
Whether hir soules be wonne or lore,
Hir profits they woll nat forsake.
They have a gedering procuratour
That can the pore people enplede,
And robben hem as a ravinour,
And to his lord the money lede;
And cacche of quicke and eke of dede,
And richen him and his lord eke,
And to robbe the pore can give good rede
Of olde and yonge, of hole and seke.
That can the pore people enplede,
And robben hem as a ravinour,
And to his lord the money lede;
And cacche of quicke and eke of dede,
And richen him and his lord eke,
And to robbe the pore can give good rede
Of olde and yonge, of hole and seke.
171
Therwith they purchase hem lay-fee
In londë, there hem lyketh best,
And builde als brode as a citè
Both in the est, and eke in the west.
To purchase thus they ben ful prest,
But on the pore they woll nought spend,
Ne no good give to goddes gest,
Ne sende him some that all hath send.
In londë, there hem lyketh best,
And builde als brode as a citè
Both in the est, and eke in the west.
To purchase thus they ben ful prest,
But on the pore they woll nought spend,
Ne no good give to goddes gest,
Ne sende him some that all hath send.
By hir service such woll live,
And trusse that other in-to tresour;
Though all hir parish dye unshrive,
They woll nat give a rosë-flour.
Hir lyf shuld be as a mirrour
Bothe to lered and to leude also,
And teche the people hir leel labour;
Such mister men ben all misgo.
And trusse that other in-to tresour;
Though all hir parish dye unshrive,
They woll nat give a rosë-flour.
Hir lyf shuld be as a mirrour
Bothe to lered and to leude also,
And teche the people hir leel labour;
Such mister men ben all misgo.
Some of hem ben hardë nigges,
And some of hem ben proude and gay;
Some spende hir good upon [hir] gigges,
And finden hem of greet aray.
Alas! what think these men to say
That thus dispenden goddis good?
At the dredfull domes day
Such wrecches shul be worse than wood.
And some of hem ben proude and gay;
Some spende hir good upon [hir] gigges,
And finden hem of greet aray.
Alas! what think these men to say
That thus dispenden goddis good?
At the dredfull domes day
Such wrecches shul be worse than wood.
Some hir churc[h]es never ne sye,
Ne never o peny thider ne sende;
Though the pore parishens for hunger dye,
O peny on hem wil they nat spende.
Have they receivinge of the rent,
They reck never of the remënant;
Alas! the devill hath clene hem blent!
Suche oon is Sathanas sojournant.
Ne never o peny thider ne sende;
Though the pore parishens for hunger dye,
O peny on hem wil they nat spende.
Have they receivinge of the rent,
They reck never of the remënant;
Alas! the devill hath clene hem blent!
Suche oon is Sathanas sojournant.
172
And usen horedom and harlotry,
Covetysë, pompe, and pride,
Slouthë, wrathe, and eke envy,
And sewen sinne by every syde.
Alas! where thinkë such t'abyde?
How woll they accomptes yeld?
From hy god they mow hem nat hyde,
Such willers wit is nat worth a neld.
Covetysë, pompe, and pride,
Slouthë, wrathe, and eke envy,
And sewen sinne by every syde.
Alas! where thinkë such t'abyde?
How woll they accomptes yeld?
From hy god they mow hem nat hyde,
Such willers wit is nat worth a neld.
They ben so roted in richesse,
That Christes povert is foryete,
Served with so many messe,
Hem thinketh that manna is no mete.
All is good that they mow get,
They wenë to live evermore;
But, whan god at dome is set,
Such tresour is a feble store.
That Christes povert is foryete,
Served with so many messe,
Hem thinketh that manna is no mete.
All is good that they mow get,
They wenë to live evermore;
But, whan god at dome is set,
Such tresour is a feble store.
Unneth mot they matins say,
For counting and for court-holding;
And yet he jangleth as a jay,
And understont him-self nothing.
He woll serve bothe erl and king
For his fynding and his fee,
And hyde his tything and his offring;
This is a feble charitè.
For counting and for court-holding;
And yet he jangleth as a jay,
And understont him-self nothing.
He woll serve bothe erl and king
For his fynding and his fee,
And hyde his tything and his offring;
This is a feble charitè.
Other they ben proude, or coveytous,
Or they ben harde, or [els] hungry,
Or they ben liberall or lecherous,
Or els medlers with marchandry;
Or maynteyners of men with maistry,
Or stewardes, countours, or pledours,
And serve god in hypocrisy;
Such preestes ben Christes fals traytours!
Or they ben harde, or [els] hungry,
Or they ben liberall or lecherous,
Or els medlers with marchandry;
Or maynteyners of men with maistry,
Or stewardes, countours, or pledours,
And serve god in hypocrisy;
Such preestes ben Christes fals traytours!
173
They ben false, they ben vengeable,
And begylen men in Christes name;
They ben unstedfast and unstable;
To tray hir lord, hem thinketh no shame.
To servë god they ben full lame,
Goddes theves, and falsly stele;
And falsly goddes word defame;
In winning is hir worldes wele.
And begylen men in Christes name;
They ben unstedfast and unstable;
To tray hir lord, hem thinketh no shame.
To servë god they ben full lame,
Goddes theves, and falsly stele;
And falsly goddes word defame;
In winning is hir worldes wele.
Antichrist these serven all;
I pray thee, who may say [me] nay?
With Antichrist such [folk] shull fall,
They folowen him in dede and fay;
They servin him in riche array,
To servë Christ such falsly fayn;
Why, at the dredful domes day,
Shull they not folowe him to payn?
I pray thee, who may say [me] nay?
With Antichrist such [folk] shull fall,
They folowen him in dede and fay;
They servin him in riche array,
To servë Christ such falsly fayn;
Why, at the dredful domes day,
Shull they not folowe him to payn?
That knowen hem-self, that they don ill
Ayenst Christes commaundëment,
And amende hem never ne will,
But serve Sathan by one assent.
Who sayth [the] sothe, he shal be shent,
Or speketh ayenst hir fals living;
Who-so well liveth shal be brent,
For such ben gretter than the king!
Ayenst Christes commaundëment,
And amende hem never ne will,
But serve Sathan by one assent.
Who sayth [the] sothe, he shal be shent,
Or speketh ayenst hir fals living;
Who-so well liveth shal be brent,
For such ben gretter than the king!
Pope, bishoppes, and cardinals,
Chanons, persons, and vicaire,
In goddes service, I trow, ben fals,
That sacramentës sellen here.
And ben as proude as Lucifere;
Ech man loke whether that I ly!
Who-so speketh ayenst hir powére,
It shall be holden heresy.
Chanons, persons, and vicaire,
In goddes service, I trow, ben fals,
That sacramentës sellen here.
And ben as proude as Lucifere;
Ech man loke whether that I ly!
Who-so speketh ayenst hir powére,
It shall be holden heresy.
174
Loke how many orders take
Only of Christ, for his servyce,
That the worldes goodes forsake?
Who-so taketh orders on other wyse,
I trow, that they shall sore agryse!
For all the glose that they conne,
All sewen not this [same] assyse;
In yvell tyme they thus bigonne.
Only of Christ, for his servyce,
That the worldes goodes forsake?
Who-so taketh orders on other wyse,
I trow, that they shall sore agryse!
For all the glose that they conne,
All sewen not this [same] assyse;
In yvell tyme they thus bigonne.
Loke how many among hem all
Holden not this hyë way!
With Antichrist they shullen fall,
For they wolden god betray.
God amende hem, that best may!
For many men they maken shende;
They weten well, the sothe I say,
Bút the divell hath foule hem blend.
Holden not this hyë way!
With Antichrist they shullen fall,
For they wolden god betray.
God amende hem, that best may!
For many men they maken shende;
They weten well, the sothe I say,
Bút the divell hath foule hem blend.
Some [up]on hir churches dwell,
Apparailled porely, proude of port;
The seven sacraments they don sell,
In cattel-cacching is hir comfort.
Of ech mattér they wollen mell,
And don hem wrong is hir disport;
To afray the people they ben fell,
And holde hem lower then doth the lord.
Apparailled porely, proude of port;
The seven sacraments they don sell,
In cattel-cacching is hir comfort.
Of ech mattér they wollen mell,
And don hem wrong is hir disport;
To afray the people they ben fell,
And holde hem lower then doth the lord.
For the tythinge of a ducke,
Or of an apple, or an ay,
They make men swere upon a boke;
Thus they foulen Christes fay.
Such beren yvell heven-kay,
They mowen assoyl, they mowë shryve;
With mennes wyves strongly play,
With trewë tillers sturte and stryve
Or of an apple, or an ay,
They make men swere upon a boke;
Thus they foulen Christes fay.
Such beren yvell heven-kay,
They mowen assoyl, they mowë shryve;
With mennes wyves strongly play,
With trewë tillers sturte and stryve
175
At the wrestling, and at the wake;
And chefe chauntours at the nale;
Market-beters, and medling make,
Hoppen and houten with heve and hale.
At fayrë freshe, and at wynë stale,
Dyne and drinke, and make debat;
The seven sacraments set at sale;
How kepe such the kayes of heven-gat?
And chefe chauntours at the nale;
Market-beters, and medling make,
Hoppen and houten with heve and hale.
At fayrë freshe, and at wynë stale,
Dyne and drinke, and make debat;
The seven sacraments set at sale;
How kepe such the kayes of heven-gat?
Mennes wyves they wollen holde;
And though that they ben right sory,
To speke they shull not be so bolde
For sompning to the consistory;
And make hem say [with] mouth “I ly,”
Though they it sawë with hir y;
His lemman holden openly,
No man so hardy to axë why!
And though that they ben right sory,
To speke they shull not be so bolde
For sompning to the consistory;
And make hem say [with] mouth “I ly,”
Though they it sawë with hir y;
His lemman holden openly,
No man so hardy to axë why!
He wol have tythinge and offringe,
Maugrè who-so-ever it gruche;
And twyës on the day woll singe;
Goddes prestes nere none suche!
He mot on hunting with dogge and bic[c]he,
And blowen his horn, and cryën “hey!”
And sorcery usen as a wicche;
Such kepen yvell Peters key.
Maugrè who-so-ever it gruche;
And twyës on the day woll singe;
Goddes prestes nere none suche!
He mot on hunting with dogge and bic[c]he,
And blowen his horn, and cryën “hey!”
And sorcery usen as a wicche;
Such kepen yvell Peters key.
Yet they mot have som stocke or stoon
Gayly paynted, and proudly dight,
To maken men [to] leven upon,
And say, that it is full of might;
About such, men sette up greet light,
Other such stockes shull stand therby
As darkë as it were midnight,
For it may makë no ma[i]stry.
Gayly paynted, and proudly dight,
To maken men [to] leven upon,
And say, that it is full of might;
About such, men sette up greet light,
Other such stockes shull stand therby
As darkë as it were midnight,
For it may makë no ma[i]stry.
176
That lewed people see it mow,
Thou, Mary, worchest wonder thinges;
About that, that men offren to now,
Hongen broches, ouches, and ringes;
The preest purchaseth the offringes,
But he nill offre to none image;
Wo is the soule that he for singes,
That precheth for suche a pilgrimage!
Thou, Mary, worchest wonder thinges;
About that, that men offren to now,
Hongen broches, ouches, and ringes;
The preest purchaseth the offringes,
But he nill offre to none image;
Wo is the soule that he for singes,
That precheth for suche a pilgrimage!
To men and women that ben pore,
That ben [in] Christes own lykenesse,
Men shullen offre at hir dore
That suffren honger and distresse;
And to suche imáges offre lesse,
That mow not felë thurst ne cold;
The pore in spirit gan Christ blesse,
Therfore offreth to feble and old.
That ben [in] Christes own lykenesse,
Men shullen offre at hir dore
That suffren honger and distresse;
And to suche imáges offre lesse,
That mow not felë thurst ne cold;
The pore in spirit gan Christ blesse,
Therfore offreth to feble and old.
Buckelers brode, and swerdes longe,
Baudriks, with baselardes kene,
Such toles about hir necke they honge;
With Antichrist such preestes been;
Upon hir dedes it is well sene
Whom they serven, whom they hono[u]ren;
Antichristes they ben clene,
And goddes goodes fa[l]sly deuouren.
Baudriks, with baselardes kene,
Such toles about hir necke they honge;
With Antichrist such preestes been;
Upon hir dedes it is well sene
Whom they serven, whom they hono[u]ren;
Antichristes they ben clene,
And goddes goodes fa[l]sly deuouren.
Of scarlet and grene gay[ë] gownes,
That mot be shapë for the newe,
To clippen and kissen counten in townes
The damoseles that to the daunce sewe;
Cutted clothes to sewe hir hewe,
With longë pykes on hir shoon;
Our goddes gospell is not trewe,
Eyther they serven the divell or noon!
That mot be shapë for the newe,
To clippen and kissen counten in townes
The damoseles that to the daunce sewe;
Cutted clothes to sewe hir hewe,
With longë pykes on hir shoon;
Our goddes gospell is not trewe,
Eyther they serven the divell or noon!
177
Now ben prestes pokes so wyde,
Men must enlarge the vestëment;
The holy gospell they don hyde,
For they contrarien in rayment.
Such preestes of Lucifer ben sent,
Lyk conquerours they ben arayd,
Proude pendaunts at hir ars y-pent,
Falsly the truthe they han betrayd.
Men must enlarge the vestëment;
The holy gospell they don hyde,
For they contrarien in rayment.
Such preestes of Lucifer ben sent,
Lyk conquerours they ben arayd,
Proude pendaunts at hir ars y-pent,
Falsly the truthe they han betrayd.
Shryft-silver suchë wollen aske is,
And woll men crepë to the crouche;
None of the sacraments, save askes,
Without[ë] mede shall no man touche.
On hir bishop their warant vouche,
That is lawe of the decrè;
With mede and money thus they mouche,
And this, they sayn, is charitè!
And woll men crepë to the crouche;
None of the sacraments, save askes,
Without[ë] mede shall no man touche.
On hir bishop their warant vouche,
That is lawe of the decrè;
With mede and money thus they mouche,
And this, they sayn, is charitè!
In the middes of hir masse
They nill have no man but for hyre,
And, full shortly, let forth passe;
Such shull men finde[n] in ech shyre
That personages for profite desyre,
To live in lykinge and in lustes;
I dar not sayn, sans ose ieo dyre,
That such ben Antichristes preestes.
They nill have no man but for hyre,
And, full shortly, let forth passe;
Such shull men finde[n] in ech shyre
That personages for profite desyre,
To live in lykinge and in lustes;
I dar not sayn, sans ose ieo dyre,
That such ben Antichristes preestes.
Or they yef the bishops why,
Or they mot ben in his servyce,
And holden forth hir harlotry;
Such prelats ben of feble empryse.
Of goddes grame such men agryse,
For such mattérs that taken mede;
How they excuse hem, and in what wyse,
Me thinketh, they ought greetly drede.
Or they mot ben in his servyce,
And holden forth hir harlotry;
Such prelats ben of feble empryse.
Of goddes grame such men agryse,
For such mattérs that taken mede;
How they excuse hem, and in what wyse,
Me thinketh, they ought greetly drede.
178
They sayn, that it to no man longeth
To reprove hem, though they erre;
But falsely goddes good they fongeth,
And therwith maynteyn wo and werre.
Hir dedes shuld be as bright as sterre,
Hir living, lewed mannes light;
They say, the popë may not erre,
Nede must that passë mannes might.
To reprove hem, though they erre;
But falsely goddes good they fongeth,
And therwith maynteyn wo and werre.
Hir dedes shuld be as bright as sterre,
Hir living, lewed mannes light;
They say, the popë may not erre,
Nede must that passë mannes might.
Though a prest ly with his lemman al night,
And tellen his felowe, and he him,
He goth to massë anon-right,
And sayeth, he singeth out of sinne!
His bryde abydeth him at his inne,
And dighteth his dyner the mene whyle;
He singeth his masse for he wolde winne,
And so he weneth god begyle!
And tellen his felowe, and he him,
He goth to massë anon-right,
And sayeth, he singeth out of sinne!
His bryde abydeth him at his inne,
And dighteth his dyner the mene whyle;
He singeth his masse for he wolde winne,
And so he weneth god begyle!
Hem thinketh long till they be met;
And that they usen forth all the yere;
Among the folk when he is set,
He holdeth no man half his pere;
Of the bishop he hath powére
To soyle men, or els they ben lore;
His absolucion may make hem skere;
And wo is the soul that he singeth for!”
And that they usen forth all the yere;
Among the folk when he is set,
He holdeth no man half his pere;
Of the bishop he hath powére
To soyle men, or els they ben lore;
His absolucion may make hem skere;
And wo is the soul that he singeth for!”
The Griffon began for to threte,
And sayd, “of monkes canst thou ought?”
The Pellican sayd, “they ben full grete,
And in this world moch wo hath wrought.
Saynt Benet, that hir order brought,
Ne made hem never on such manere;
I trowe, it cam never in his thought
That they shulde use so greet powér[e];
And sayd, “of monkes canst thou ought?”
The Pellican sayd, “they ben full grete,
And in this world moch wo hath wrought.
Saynt Benet, that hir order brought,
Ne made hem never on such manere;
I trowe, it cam never in his thought
That they shulde use so greet powér[e];
179
That a man shulde a monk lord cal,
Ne serve on kneës, as a king.
He is as proud as prince in pall
In mete, and drink, and [in] all thing;
Some weren myter and ring,
With double worsted well y-dight,
With royall mete and riche drink,
And rydeth on courser as a knight.
Ne serve on kneës, as a king.
He is as proud as prince in pall
In mete, and drink, and [in] all thing;
Some weren myter and ring,
With double worsted well y-dight,
With royall mete and riche drink,
And rydeth on courser as a knight.
With hauke[s] and with houndes eke,
With broches or ouches on his hode,
Some say no masse in all a weke,
Of deyntees is hir moste fode.
With lordshippes and with bondmen
This is a royall religioun;
Saynt Benet made never none of hem
To have lordship of man ne town.
With broches or ouches on his hode,
Some say no masse in all a weke,
Of deyntees is hir moste fode.
With lordshippes and with bondmen
This is a royall religioun;
Saynt Benet made never none of hem
To have lordship of man ne town.
Now they ben queynte and curious,
With fyn cloth cladde, and served clene,
Proude, angry, and envyous,
Malyce is mochë that they mene.
In cacching crafty and covetous,
Lordly liven in greet lyking;
This living is not religious
According to Benet in his living.
With fyn cloth cladde, and served clene,
Proude, angry, and envyous,
Malyce is mochë that they mene.
In cacching crafty and covetous,
Lordly liven in greet lyking;
This living is not religious
According to Benet in his living.
They ben clerkes, hir courtes they oversee,
Hir pore tenaunts fully they flyte;
The hyer that a man amerced be,
The gladlyer they woll it wryte.
This is fer from Christes povertè,
For all with covetyse they endyte;
On the pore they have no pitè,
Ne never hem cherish, but ever hem byte.
Hir pore tenaunts fully they flyte;
The hyer that a man amerced be,
The gladlyer they woll it wryte.
This is fer from Christes povertè,
For all with covetyse they endyte;
On the pore they have no pitè,
Ne never hem cherish, but ever hem byte.
180
And comunly suche ben comen
Of pore people, and of hem begete,
That this perfeccion han y-nomen;
Hir faders ryde not but on hir fete,
And travaylen sore for that they ete,
In povert liveth, yonge and old;
Hir faders suffreth drought and wete,
Many hongry meles, thurst, and cold.
Of pore people, and of hem begete,
That this perfeccion han y-nomen;
Hir faders ryde not but on hir fete,
And travaylen sore for that they ete,
In povert liveth, yonge and old;
Hir faders suffreth drought and wete,
Many hongry meles, thurst, and cold.
All this the monkes han forsake
For Christes love and saynt Benet;
To pryde and esë have hem take;
This religio[u]n is yvell beset.
Had they ben out of religioun,
They must have honged at the plow,
Threshing and dyking fro town to town
With sory mete, and not half y-now.
For Christes love and saynt Benet;
To pryde and esë have hem take;
This religio[u]n is yvell beset.
Had they ben out of religioun,
They must have honged at the plow,
Threshing and dyking fro town to town
With sory mete, and not half y-now.
Therfore they han this all forsake,
And taken to riches, pryde, and ese;
Full fewe for god woll monkes hem make,
Litell is suche order for to prayse!
Saynt Benet ordayned it not so,
But bad hem be [not] cherelich;
In churlich maner live and go,
Boystous in erth, and not lordlych.
And taken to riches, pryde, and ese;
Full fewe for god woll monkes hem make,
Litell is suche order for to prayse!
Saynt Benet ordayned it not so,
But bad hem be [not] cherelich;
In churlich maner live and go,
Boystous in erth, and not lordlych.
They disclaunder saynt Benet,
Therfore they have his holy curse;
Saynt Benet with hem never met
But-if they thought to robbe his purse!
I can no more herof [now] tell,
But they ben lykë tho before,
And clenë serve the divell of hell,
And ben his tresour and his store.
Therfore they have his holy curse;
Saynt Benet with hem never met
But-if they thought to robbe his purse!
I can no more herof [now] tell,
But they ben lykë tho before,
And clenë serve the divell of hell,
And ben his tresour and his store.
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And all suche other counterfaytours,
Chanons, canons, and such disgysed,
Ben goddes enemies and traytours,
His true religion han foul dispysed.
Of freres I have told before
In a making of a ‘Crede,’
And yet I could tell worse and more,
But men wold werien it to rede!
Chanons, canons, and such disgysed,
Ben goddes enemies and traytours,
His true religion han foul dispysed.
Of freres I have told before
In a making of a ‘Crede,’
And yet I could tell worse and more,
But men wold werien it to rede!
As goddes goodnes no man tell might,
Wryte ne speke, ne think in thought,
So, hir falshed and hir unright
May no man tell, that ever god wrought.”
The Gryffon sayd, “thou canst no good,
Thou cam never of no gentill kind;
Other, I trow, thou waxest wood,
Or els thou hast [y-]lost thy mynd.
Wryte ne speke, ne think in thought,
So, hir falshed and hir unright
May no man tell, that ever god wrought.”
The Gryffon sayd, “thou canst no good,
Thou cam never of no gentill kind;
Other, I trow, thou waxest wood,
Or els thou hast [y-]lost thy mynd.
Shuld holy churchë have no heed?
Who shuld be her governayl?
Who shuld her rule, who shuld her reed,
Who shuld her forthren, who shuld avayl?
Ech man shall live by his travayl;
Who best doth, shall have moste mede;
With strength if men the churche assayl,
With strength men must defende her nede.
Who shuld be her governayl?
Who shuld her rule, who shuld her reed,
Who shuld her forthren, who shuld avayl?
Ech man shall live by his travayl;
Who best doth, shall have moste mede;
With strength if men the churche assayl,
With strength men must defende her nede.
And the pope were purely pore,
Nedy, and nothing ne had,
He shuld be driven from dore to dore;
The wicked of him nold not be drad.
Of such an heed men wold be sad,
And sinfully liven as hem list;
With strength, amendes shuld be made,
With wepen, wolves from sheep be wist.
Nedy, and nothing ne had,
He shuld be driven from dore to dore;
The wicked of him nold not be drad.
Of such an heed men wold be sad,
And sinfully liven as hem list;
With strength, amendes shuld be made,
With wepen, wolves from sheep be wist.
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If the pope and prelats wold
So begge and bidde, bowe, and borowe,
Holy churche shuld stand full cold,
Hir servaunts sitte and soupë sorowe!
And they were noughty, foule, and horowe,
To worship god men woldë wlate;
Bothe on even and on morowe
Such harlotry men woldë hate.
So begge and bidde, bowe, and borowe,
Holy churche shuld stand full cold,
Hir servaunts sitte and soupë sorowe!
And they were noughty, foule, and horowe,
To worship god men woldë wlate;
Bothe on even and on morowe
Such harlotry men woldë hate.
Therfore men of holy churche
Shuld ben honest in all thing,
Worshipfully goddes workes werche,
So semeth it, to serve Christ hir king
In honest and in clene clothing;
With vessels of golde and clothes riche,
To god honestly to make offring;
To his lordship non is liche.”
Shuld ben honest in all thing,
Worshipfully goddes workes werche,
So semeth it, to serve Christ hir king
In honest and in clene clothing;
With vessels of golde and clothes riche,
To god honestly to make offring;
To his lordship non is liche.”
The Pellican caste an houge cry,
And sayd, “alas! why sayest thou so?
Christ is our heed that sitteth on hy,
Heddes ne ought we have no mo.
We ben his membres both also,
And fader he taught us to cal him als;
Maysters be called defended he tho;
All other maysters ben wicked and fals,
And sayd, “alas! why sayest thou so?
Christ is our heed that sitteth on hy,
Heddes ne ought we have no mo.
We ben his membres both also,
And fader he taught us to cal him als;
Maysters be called defended he tho;
All other maysters ben wicked and fals,
That taketh maystry in his name,
Gostly, and for erthly good;
Kinges and lordes shuld lordship han,
And rule the people with myldë mode.
Christ, for us that shedde his blood,
Bad his preestes no maystership have,
Ne carkë nat for cloth ne fode;
From every mischef he will hem save.
Gostly, and for erthly good;
Kinges and lordes shuld lordship han,
And rule the people with myldë mode.
Christ, for us that shedde his blood,
Bad his preestes no maystership have,
Ne carkë nat for cloth ne fode;
From every mischef he will hem save.
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Hir riche clothing shal be rightwysnesse,
Hir tresour, trewë lyf shal be;
Charitè shal be hir richesse,
Hir lordship shal be unitè;
Hope in god, hir honestè;
Hir vessell, clenë conscience;
Pore in spirit, and humilitè,
Shal be holy churches defence.”
Hir tresour, trewë lyf shal be;
Charitè shal be hir richesse,
Hir lordship shal be unitè;
Hope in god, hir honestè;
Hir vessell, clenë conscience;
Pore in spirit, and humilitè,
Shal be holy churches defence.”
“What,” sayd the Griffon, “may thee greve
That other folkes faren wele?
What hast thou to donë with hir leve?
Thy falsheed ech man may fele.
For thou canst no catell gete,
But livest in londe, as a lorell,
With glosing gettest thou thy mete;
So fareth the devell that wonneth in hell.
That other folkes faren wele?
What hast thou to donë with hir leve?
Thy falsheed ech man may fele.
For thou canst no catell gete,
But livest in londe, as a lorell,
With glosing gettest thou thy mete;
So fareth the devell that wonneth in hell.
He wold that ech man ther shuld dwell,
For he liveth in clene envy;
So with the tales that thou doest tell
Thou woldest other people distry,
With your glose, and your heresy,
For ye can live no better lyf,
But clenë in hypocrisy,
And bringest thee in wo and stryf.
For he liveth in clene envy;
So with the tales that thou doest tell
Thou woldest other people distry,
With your glose, and your heresy,
For ye can live no better lyf,
But clenë in hypocrisy,
And bringest thee in wo and stryf.
And therwith have [ye] not to done,
For ye ne have[n] here no cure;
Ye serve the divell, not god ne man,
And he shall payë you your hyre.
For ye woll farë well at feestes,
And warm [be] clothed for the colde,
Therfore ye glose goddes hestes,
And begyle the people, yonge and olde.
For ye ne have[n] here no cure;
Ye serve the divell, not god ne man,
And he shall payë you your hyre.
For ye woll farë well at feestes,
And warm [be] clothed for the colde,
Therfore ye glose goddes hestes,
And begyle the people, yonge and olde.
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And all the seven sacraments
Ye speke ayenst, as ye were sly,
Ayenst tythings with your entents,
And on our lordes body falsly ly.
All this ye don to live in ese,
As who sayeth, ther ben non suche;
And sayn, the pope is not worth a pese,
To make the people ayen him gruche.
Ye speke ayenst, as ye were sly,
Ayenst tythings with your entents,
And on our lordes body falsly ly.
All this ye don to live in ese,
As who sayeth, ther ben non suche;
And sayn, the pope is not worth a pese,
To make the people ayen him gruche.
And this commeth in by fendes,
To bringe the Christen in distaunce;
For they wold that no man were frendes;
Leve thy chattring, with mischaunce!
If thou live well, what wilt thou more?
Let other men live as hem list;
Spende in good, or kepe in store;
Other mennes conscience never thou nist.
To bringe the Christen in distaunce;
For they wold that no man were frendes;
Leve thy chattring, with mischaunce!
If thou live well, what wilt thou more?
Let other men live as hem list;
Spende in good, or kepe in store;
Other mennes conscience never thou nist.
Ye han no cure to answere for;
What meddell ye, that han not to don?
Let men live as they han don yore,
For thou shalt answere for no mon.”
The Pellican sayd, “Sir, nay, [nay],
I dispysed not the pope,
Ne no sacrament, soth to say;
But speke in charitè and good hope.
What meddell ye, that han not to don?
Let men live as they han don yore,
For thou shalt answere for no mon.”
The Pellican sayd, “Sir, nay, [nay],
I dispysed not the pope,
Ne no sacrament, soth to say;
But speke in charitè and good hope.
But I dispyse hir hyë pryde,
Hir richesse, that shuld be pore in spryt;
Hir wickednesse is knowe so wyde,
They servë god in fals habyt;
And turnen mekenesse into pryde,
And lowlinesse into hy degrè,
And goddes wordes turne and hyde;
And that am I moved by charitè
Hir richesse, that shuld be pore in spryt;
Hir wickednesse is knowe so wyde,
They servë god in fals habyt;
And turnen mekenesse into pryde,
And lowlinesse into hy degrè,
And goddes wordes turne and hyde;
And that am I moved by charitè
185
To lettë men to livë so
With all my conning and al my might,
And to warne men of hir wo
And to tell hem trouth and right.
The sacraments be soulë-hele
If they ben used in good use;
Ayenst that speke I never a del,
For then were I nothing wyse.
With all my conning and al my might,
And to warne men of hir wo
And to tell hem trouth and right.
The sacraments be soulë-hele
If they ben used in good use;
Ayenst that speke I never a del,
For then were I nothing wyse.
But they that use hem in mis manére,
Or sette hem up to any sale,
I trow, they shall abye hem dere;
This is my reson, this is my tale.
Who-so taketh hem unrightfulliche
Ayenst the ten commaundëments,
Or by glosë wrechedliche
Selleth any of the sacraments,
Or sette hem up to any sale,
I trow, they shall abye hem dere;
This is my reson, this is my tale.
Who-so taketh hem unrightfulliche
Ayenst the ten commaundëments,
Or by glosë wrechedliche
Selleth any of the sacraments,
I trow, they do the devell homage
In that they weten they do wrong;
And therto, I dar well wage,
They serven Satan for al her song.
To tythen and offren is hoolsom lyf,
So it be don in dew manére;
A man to houselin and to shryve,
Wedding, and all the other in-fere,
In that they weten they do wrong;
And therto, I dar well wage,
They serven Satan for al her song.
To tythen and offren is hoolsom lyf,
So it be don in dew manére;
A man to houselin and to shryve,
Wedding, and all the other in-fere,
So it be nother sold ne bought,
Ne take ne give for covetyse;
And it be so taken, it is nought;
Who selleth hem so, may sore agryse.
On our Lordes body I do not ly,
I say soth, thorow trewë rede,
His flesh and blood, through his mystry,
Is there, in the forme of brede.
Ne take ne give for covetyse;
And it be so taken, it is nought;
Who selleth hem so, may sore agryse.
On our Lordes body I do not ly,
I say soth, thorow trewë rede,
His flesh and blood, through his mystry,
Is there, in the forme of brede.
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How it is there, it nedeth not stryve,
Whether it be subget or accident,
But as Christ was, when he was on-lyve,
So is he there, verament.
If pope or cardinall live good lyve,
As Christ commaunded in his gospell,
Ayenës that woll I not stryve;
But, me thinketh, they live not well.
Whether it be subget or accident,
But as Christ was, when he was on-lyve,
So is he there, verament.
If pope or cardinall live good lyve,
As Christ commaunded in his gospell,
Ayenës that woll I not stryve;
But, me thinketh, they live not well.
For if the pope lived as god bede,
Pryde and hyghnesse he shuld dispyse,
Richesse, covetyse, and crowne on hede;
Mekenesse and povert he shulde use.”
The Gryffon sayd, he shulde abye—
“Thou shal[t] be brent in balefull fyre;
And all thy secte I shall distrye,
Ye shal be hanged by the swyre!
Pryde and hyghnesse he shuld dispyse,
Richesse, covetyse, and crowne on hede;
Mekenesse and povert he shulde use.”
The Gryffon sayd, he shulde abye—
“Thou shal[t] be brent in balefull fyre;
And all thy secte I shall distrye,
Ye shal be hanged by the swyre!
Ye shullen be hanged and to-drawe
Who giveth you levë for to preche,
Or speke agaynës goddes lawe,
And the people thus falsly teche?
Thou shalt be cursed with boke and bell,
And dissevered from holy churche,
And clene y-dampned into hell,
Otherwyse but ye woll worche!”
Who giveth you levë for to preche,
Or speke agaynës goddes lawe,
And the people thus falsly teche?
Thou shalt be cursed with boke and bell,
And dissevered from holy churche,
And clene y-dampned into hell,
Otherwyse but ye woll worche!”
The Pellican sayd, “that I ne drede;
Your cursinge is of litell value;
Of god I hope to have my mede,
For it is falshed that ye shewe.
For ye ben out of charitè
And wilneth vengeaunce, as did Nero;
To suffren I woll redy be;
I drede not that thou canst do.
Your cursinge is of litell value;
Of god I hope to have my mede,
For it is falshed that ye shewe.
For ye ben out of charitè
And wilneth vengeaunce, as did Nero;
To suffren I woll redy be;
I drede not that thou canst do.
187
Christ bad ones suffre for his love,
And so he taught all his servaunts;
And but thou amend for his sake above,
I drede not all thy mayntenaunce.
For if I drede the worldes hate,
Me thinketh, I were litell to prayse;
I drede nothing your hye estat,
Ne I drede not your disese.
And so he taught all his servaunts;
And but thou amend for his sake above,
I drede not all thy mayntenaunce.
For if I drede the worldes hate,
Me thinketh, I were litell to prayse;
I drede nothing your hye estat,
Ne I drede not your disese.
Wolde ye turne and leve your pryde,
Your hyë port, and your richesse,
Your cursing shuld not go so wyde;
God bring you into rightwysnesse!
For I drede not your tyranny,
For nothing that ye can doon;
To suffre I am all redy,
Siker, I recke never how soon!”
Your hyë port, and your richesse,
Your cursing shuld not go so wyde;
God bring you into rightwysnesse!
For I drede not your tyranny,
For nothing that ye can doon;
To suffre I am all redy,
Siker, I recke never how soon!”
The Griffon grinned as he were wood,
And loked lovely as an owle!
And swor, by cockes hertë blood,
He wolde him terë, every doule!
“Holy churche thou disclaundrest foule!
For thy resons I woll thee all to-race;
And make thy flesh to rote and moule;
Losell, thou shalt have hardë grace!”
And loked lovely as an owle!
And swor, by cockes hertë blood,
He wolde him terë, every doule!
“Holy churche thou disclaundrest foule!
For thy resons I woll thee all to-race;
And make thy flesh to rote and moule;
Losell, thou shalt have hardë grace!”
The Griffon flew forth on his way;
The Pellican did sitte and weep;
And to him-selfë he gan say,
“God wolde that any of Christes sheep
Had herd, and y-takë kepe
Eche a word that here sayd was,
And wolde it wryte and well it kepe!
God wolde it were all, for his grace!”
The Pellican did sitte and weep;
And to him-selfë he gan say,
“God wolde that any of Christes sheep
Had herd, and y-takë kepe
Eche a word that here sayd was,
And wolde it wryte and well it kepe!
God wolde it were all, for his grace!”
188
I answerde, and sayd I wolde,
If for my travayl any wold pay.
Pelican.
He sayd, “yes; these that god han sold;
For they han [greet] store of money!”
Plowman.
I sayd, “tell me, and thou may,
Why tellest thou mennës trespace?”
Pelican.
He said, “to amende hem, in good fay,
If god woll give me any grace.
For Christ him-selfe is lykned to me,
That for his people dyed on rode;
As fare I, right so fareth he,
He fedeth his birdes with his blode.
But these don yvell ayenës good,
And ben his foon under frendes face;
I tolde hem how hir living stood;
God amende hem, for his grace!”
Plowman.That for his people dyed on rode;
As fare I, right so fareth he,
He fedeth his birdes with his blode.
But these don yvell ayenës good,
And ben his foon under frendes face;
I tolde hem how hir living stood;
God amende hem, for his grace!”
“What ayleth the Griffon, tell [me] why,
That he holdeth on that other syde?”
Pellican.
“For they two ben [of kind], lykly,
And with [lyk] kindes robben wyde.
The foul betokeneth [evill] pryde,
As Lucifer, that hygh flowe was;
And sith he did him in evell hyde,
For he agilted goddes grace.
As bird [that] flyeth up in the ayr,
And liveth by birdes that ben meke,
So these be flowe up in dispayr,
And shenden sely soules eke.
The soules that ben in sinnes seke,
He culleth hem; knele therfore, alas!
For brybry goddes forbode breke,
God amende it, for his grace!
And liveth by birdes that ben meke,
So these be flowe up in dispayr,
And shenden sely soules eke.
The soules that ben in sinnes seke,
He culleth hem; knele therfore, alas!
For brybry goddes forbode breke,
God amende it, for his grace!
189
The hinder part is a lyoun,
A robber and a ravinere,
That robbeth the people in erth a-down,
And in erth holdeth non his pere;
So fareth this foul, both fer and nere;
With temporel strength they people chase,
As a lyon proud in erthë here;
God amende hem for hys grace!”
A robber and a ravinere,
That robbeth the people in erth a-down,
And in erth holdeth non his pere;
So fareth this foul, both fer and nere;
With temporel strength they people chase,
As a lyon proud in erthë here;
God amende hem for hys grace!”
He flew forth with his winges twayn,
All drouping, dased, and dull.
But soone the Griffon cam agayn,
Of his foules the erth was full;
The Pellican he had cast to pull.
So greet a nombre never seen ther was;
What maner of foules, tellen I woll,
If god woll give me of his grace.
All drouping, dased, and dull.
But soone the Griffon cam agayn,
Of his foules the erth was full;
The Pellican he had cast to pull.
So greet a nombre never seen ther was;
What maner of foules, tellen I woll,
If god woll give me of his grace.
With the Griffon comen foules fele,
Ravins, rokes, crowes, and pye,
Gray foules, agadred wele,
Y-gurd, above they woldë hye.
Gledes and bosardes weren hem by;
Whyt molles and puttockes token hir place;
And lapwinges, that wel conneth ly,
This felowship han for-gerd hir grace.
Ravins, rokes, crowes, and pye,
Gray foules, agadred wele,
Y-gurd, above they woldë hye.
Gledes and bosardes weren hem by;
Whyt molles and puttockes token hir place;
And lapwinges, that wel conneth ly,
This felowship han for-gerd hir grace.
Longe the Pellican was out,
But at [the] laste he cometh agayn;
And brought with him the Phenix stout.
The Griffon wolde have flowe full fayn;
His foules, that flewen as thycke as rayn,
The Phenix tho began hem chace;
To fly from him it was in vayn,
For he did vengeaunce and no grace.
But at [the] laste he cometh agayn;
And brought with him the Phenix stout.
The Griffon wolde have flowe full fayn;
His foules, that flewen as thycke as rayn,
The Phenix tho began hem chace;
To fly from him it was in vayn,
For he did vengeaunce and no grace.
190
He slew hem down without mercy,
Ther astartë neyther free ne thrall;
On him they cast a rufull cry
When the Griffon down was fall.
He beet hem not, but slew hem all;
Whither he hem drove, no man may trace;
Under the erthe, me thought, they yall;
Alas! they had a feble grace!
Ther astartë neyther free ne thrall;
On him they cast a rufull cry
When the Griffon down was fall.
He beet hem not, but slew hem all;
Whither he hem drove, no man may trace;
Under the erthe, me thought, they yall;
Alas! they had a feble grace!
The Pellican then axed right,
“For my wryting if I have blame,
Who woll for me fight of flight?
Who shall sheldë me from shame?
He that had a mayd to dame,
The lamb that slayn [for sinners] was,
Shall sheldë me from gostly blame;
For erthly harm is goddes grace.
“For my wryting if I have blame,
Who woll for me fight of flight?
Who shall sheldë me from shame?
He that had a mayd to dame,
The lamb that slayn [for sinners] was,
Shall sheldë me from gostly blame;
For erthly harm is goddes grace.
Therfore I praye every man,
Of my wryting have me excused.”
This wryting wryteth the Pellican,
That thus these people hath dispysed;
For I am, fresh, fully advysed,
I nill not maynteyn his manace.
For the devell is oft disguysed,
To bringe a man to yvell grace.
Of my wryting have me excused.”
This wryting wryteth the Pellican,
That thus these people hath dispysed;
For I am, fresh, fully advysed,
I nill not maynteyn his manace.
For the devell is oft disguysed,
To bringe a man to yvell grace.
Wyteth the Pellican, and not me,
For herof I nil not avowe,
In hy ne in low, ne in no degrè,
But as a fable take it ye mowe.
To holy churche I will me bowe;
Ech man to amende him, Christ send space!
And for my wryting me alowe
He that is almighty, for his grace.’
For herof I nil not avowe,
In hy ne in low, ne in no degrè,
But as a fable take it ye mowe.
To holy churche I will me bowe;
Ech man to amende him, Christ send space!
And for my wryting me alowe
He that is almighty, for his grace.’
Finis.
| The Plowmans Tale | |