The Plowmans Tale

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The Plouumans tale compylled by syr Geffray Chaucher knyght Title and lines 1-36 supplied from 1548

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¶Here begynneth the Plowmans Prologue.

THe ploweman plucked vp hys plowe.

Whan midsomer mone was comen in

And said his beestes shuld eate ynow

And lige in the grasse vp to the chynne

They ben feble both oxe and cowe

Of hem nys left but bone and skynne

He shoke of shere and coultre of ####ab#### drowe

And honge his harneys on a pynne.

He toke his tabard and his staffe eke

And on his heed he set hys hat

And sayde he wol[d]e saynt Thomas seke wolde] wolbe 1548, wolde 1542

On pylgremage he goth forth platte

In scrippe he bare both breed and lekes

He was forswonke and all forswatte

Men might haue sene through both his chekes

And euery wang-toth and where it sat

¶Our hoste behelde well about

And [s]awe thys man was sunne-ybrent sawe] lawe 1548, sawe 1542

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He knewe well by hys senged snoute

And by hys clothes that were to ####ab#### rent

He was a man wont to walke about

He nas nat alwaye in cloystre ypent

He coulde not religeouslyche loute

And therfore was he fully shent.

¶Our host him axed, what man art thou?

Syr (quod he) I am an hyne

For I am wont to go to the plowe

And erne my meate yer that I dyne

To swete and swinke I make auowe

My wyfe and chyldren therwyth to fynde

And serue god and I wist howe

But we leude men bene full blynde.

¶For clerkes saye we shullen be fayne

For her lyuelod swet and swynke

And they ryght nought vs gyue agayne

Neyther to eate ne yet to drinke

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They mowe by lawe as they sayne1535 begins here

Us curse and dampne to helle-brinke

Thus they putten vs to payne

With candels queynte and belles clynke

¶They make vs thralles at her lust

And sayne we mowe nat els be saued

They haue the corne and we the dust

Who speketh ther-agayn they say he raued

¶What man quod our host canst thou preche

Come nere and tell vs some holy thyng

¶Syr quod he I herde ones teche

A preest in pulpyt a good prechyng good] hood 1548

¶Say on[] quod our host I the beseche Say on] Say on 1535

Syr I am redy at your byddyng

I pray you that no man me reproche

Whyle that I am my tale tellyng.

Thus endeth the prologue and here foloweth the fyrst parte of this present worke.

this present worke] the tale 1548

A Sterne stryfe is stered newe Narratio.

In many stedes in a stounde

Of sondrie s[e]des that be sewe sedes] sydes 1535, sedes 1542, 1548; be] bene 1542, 1548

It semeth that some ben vnsounde

For some be great growen [o]n grounde on grounde] vngrounde 1535, 1542, 1548

Some ben sou[p]le symple and small souple] souble 1535, 1542, 1548

Whether of hem is falser founde

The falser foule mote hym befall

¶That one syde is that I of tell.

Popes cardynals and prelates

Parsons monkes and Freres fell

Priours abbottes of great estates

Of heuyn and helle they kepe the yates

And Peters successours they ben all

This is demed by olde dates

But falshed foule mote it be ####ab#### fall

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¶The other syde ben poore and pale

And people put out of prease

And seme caytyffes sore a ####ab#### cale

And euer in one without encrease

Iclepeth lollers and londlese

Who toteth on hem they ben vntall

They ben arayde all for the peace

But falshed foule mote it befall

¶Many a countrey haue a sought a] I 1542, 1548

To knowe the falser of these two

But euer my traueyle was for nought

All-so ferre as I haue go

But as I wandred in a wro

In a wodde besyde a wall

Two fowles sawe I sytte tho Two] Tho 1548; sytte] sette 1548

The falser foule mote hym befall falser] fals 1548

¶That one dyde plede on the Popes syde

A Gryffon of a grymme stature Gryffon.

A Pellycane withouten pride

To these lollers layde his lure

He mused his mater in measure

To counsayle Christ euer gan he call

The Gryffon shewed as sharpe as fyre

But falshed foule mote it be ####ab#### fall

¶The Pellycan began to preche Pellycan

Bothe of mercy and of mekenesse

And sayd that Christ so gan vs teche

And meke and mercyable gan blesse

The Euangely bereth wytnesse

A lambe he lykeneth Christ ouer-all Ecce agnus dei.

In tokenyng that he mekest was

Sith pride was out of heuyn fall

¶And so shulde euery Christned be Exemplum dedi vobis.

Preestes Peters successours

Beth lowlyche and of lowe degre

And vsen none erthly honours Qui maior est vestrum.

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Neyther crowne ne curious couertours couertours] couetours 1548

Ne pylloure ne other proude pall

Ne nought to cofren vp great treasours Nolite thesaurizare.

For falshed foule mote it befall

¶Preestes shulde for no catell plede

But chasten hem in charite Qui voluerit tecum contendere in iudicio. &c.

Ne to no bateyle shulde men lede

For inhaunsyng of her owne degree

Nat wylne syttynges in hye see

Ne souerayntie in house ne hall Cum vocatus fueris ad nupcias recumbe in nouissimo loco .&c.

All worldly worshyppe defye and flee

For who-so wylleth highnes foule shal fall Qui se exaltat humiliabitur.

¶Alas who may suche sayntes call

That wylneth welde erthly honour Reges gentium dominantur eorum neque dominantes in clerum.

As lowe as Lucifere suche shall fall

In balefull blackenesse buylden her boure buylden] ybuylden 1548

That eggeth the people to errour

And maketh them to hem thrall Nisi habundauerit iustitia vestra plusque scribarum et phariseorum.

To Christ I holde suche one traytour

As lowe as Lucifere suche one shall fall

¶That wylleth to be kynges peeres

And higher than the Emperour Non in equalibus bellicosis.

Some that were but poore Freres

Nowe wollen waxe a warryour

God is nat her gouernour

That holdeth no man hys permagall

Whyle couetyse is her counsaylour

All suche falshed mote nede fall

¶That hye on horse wylleth ryde

In glytterande golde of great aray

Ipaynted and portred all in pride

No commen knyght may go so gaye

Change of clothyng euery day

With golden gyrdels great and small

As boystous as is bere at baye

All suche falshed mote nede fall

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¶With pride ponysshed the poore

And some they sustayne wyth sale

Of holy churche maketh an hore

And fylleth her wombe with wyne and ale

With money fyll[e]th many a male fylleth] fyllcth 1535

And chaffren churches whan they fall

And telleth the people a leude tale

Suche false faytours foule hem fall fall] befall 1548Ue pastoribus Israel qui pascebant semetipsos. Ezech. xxxiiii Ue pastoribus Israel qui pascebant semetipsos. Ezech. xxxiiii

¶With chaunge of many maner metes

With songe and solace syttyng longe

And fylleth her wombe and fast fretes

100

And from the mete to the gonge

And after mete with harpe and songe

And eche man mote hem lordes call

And hote spyces euer amonge

Suche false fayto[u]rs foule hem fall In cithara & lyra et tipanum et tibia et vinum in conuiuiis vestris: et opus domini non respicitis nec opera manuum eius consideratis. Isaie. v.

105

¶And myters mo than one or two

Iperled as the quenes hedde

A staffe of golde and pyrrey lo

As he[u]y as it were made of ledde

Wyth clothe of golde both newe and redde

110

Wyth glytterande [gowne] as grene as gall gowne] golde 1535, 1542, 1548

By dome woll dampne men to dedde

All suche faytours foule hem fall

¶And Christes people proudly curse

With brode bokes and brayeng bell bokes] boke 1548

115

To putte pennys in her purse

They woll sell bothe heuyn and hell

And in her sentence and thou wylt dwell

They wyllen gesse in her gay hall

And though the sothe thou of hem tell

120

In great cursyng shalte thou fall

¶That is blessed that they blesse

And cursed that they curse woll

And thus the people they oppr[e]sse oppresse] opprcsse 1535

And haue their lordshyppes at full

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125

And many be marchantes of wolle

And to purse pennyes woll come thrall

The poore people they all to ####ab#### pull

Suche false faytours foule hem fall foule] full 1548

¶Lordes mote to hem loute

130

Obeysaunt to her brode blessynge

They ryden with her royall route

On a courser as it were a kyng

With saddyll of golde glytteryng

Wyth curyous harneys quayntly crallyt

135

Styroppes gaye of golde-mastlyng

All suche falshed foule befall it befall it] it befall 1548

¶Christes mynysters clepen they bene

And rulen all in robbery

But Antichrist they seruen clene

140

Attyred all in tyranny

Wytnesse of Iohens prophesy

That Antichrist is her admyrall

Tyffelers attyred in trechery

All suche faytours foule hem fall

145

¶Who sayth that some of hem may synne

He shalbe done to be deed

Some of hem woll gladly wynne

All ayenst that whiche god forbede

All holyest they clepen her heed

150

That of her rule is regall

Alas that euer they eten breed

For all suche falshed woll foule fall In vestimentis ouium intrinsecus autem sunt lupi rapaces.

¶Her heed loueth all honour

And to be worshypped in worde and dede

155

Kynges mote to hem knele and coure

To the Apostels that Christ forbede

To Popes hestes suche taketh more hede

Than to kepe Christes commaundement

Of golde and syluer mote ben her wede

160

They holdeth hym hole omnypotent Extollens se super omne quod dicitur deus.

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¶He ordayneth by his ordynaunce

To parysshe preestes a powere

To another a greatter auaunce

A greatter poynt to his mystere

165

But for he is hyghest in erthe here

To hym reserueth he many a poynt

But to Christ that hath no pere

Reserueth he neyther opyn ne ioynt

¶So semeth he abouen all

170

And Christ abouen hym nothyng

Whan he sytteth in his stall

Dampneth and saueth as hym thynke

Suche pride tofore god dothe stynke

An Angell badde Iohnn to hym nat knele

175

But onely to god do his bowyng

Such wyllers of worship must nede yuel fele

¶They ne clepen Christ but Sanctus deus Sanctus deus sanctus fortis.

And clepen her heed Sanctissimus

They that suche a secte sewys

180

I trowe they taken hem amysse

In erthe here they haue her blysse

Her hye mayster is Bellyall

[Chryste his] people from hem wysse Chryste his] Chrystes 1535, 1542, 1548

For all such false wyll foule fall

185

¶They mowe bothe bynde and lose

And all is for her holy lyfe

To saue or dampne they mowe chose

Betwene hem nowe is great stryfe

Many a man is kylled with a knyfe

190

To wete which of hem haue lordship shall

For suche Christ suffred woundes fyue

For all suche falshed woll foule fall Omne regnum in se deuisum desolabitur.

¶Christ sayd Qui gladio percutit

With swerde he shall dye he] 1548 omits

195

He bade his preestes peace and gryth

And bade hem nat drede for to dye Nolite timere eos qui occidunt corpus estote prudentes.

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And bad hem be bothe symple and slye

And carke nat for no catall Sicut serpentes et simplices sicut columbe.

And trusteth on god that sytte[t]h on hye sytteth] sytteh 1535

200

For all false shull foule fall

¶These wollen make men to swere

Ayenst Christes commaundement

And Christes membres all to tere

On Roode as he were newe yrent

205

Suche lawes they maken by commen assent

Echone it choweth as a ball

Thus the poore be fully shent

But euer falshed foule it fall fall] befall 1548Ue qui conducunt leges iniquas vt oprimant pauperes in iudicio. Ue qui conducunt leges iniquas vt oprimant pauperes in iudicio.

¶They vsyn no Simony

210

But sellen churches and priories

Ne they vsen no Enuy

But cursen all hem contraries

And hyereth men by dayes and yeres

With strength to holde hem in her stall

215

And culleth all her aduersaries

Therfore falshed foule thou fall

¶With purse they purchase personage

With purse they paynen hem to plede

And men of warre they woll wage

220

To brynge her enemyes to the dede

And lordes lyues they woll lede

And moche take and gyue but small

But he it so gete from it shall shede

And make suche false right foule fall

225

¶They halowe nothyng but for hyre

Churche font ne vestement

And make orders in euery shyre

But preestes paye for the parchement

Of riatours they taken rent

230

Therwith thy smere the shepes skall shepes skall] shypes sakll 1548

For many churches ben ofte suspent

All suche falshed yet foule it fall

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¶Some lyueth nat in lechery

But haunten wenches wydowes & wyues

235

And punyssheth the poore for putry

Them-selfe it vseth all her lyues

And but a man to them [hym] shriues hym] 1535, 1542, 1548 omit

To heuyn come neuer he shall

He shalbe cursed as be caytyues caytyues] captyues 1542, 1548

240

To hell they sayne that he shall fall

There was more mercy in Maximyen

And in Nero that neuer was good

Than is nowe in some of them

Whan he hath on his furred hoode

245

They folowe Christ that shedde his blode

To heuen as buckette in-to the wall

Suche wreches ben worse than wode

And all suche faytours foule hem fall

¶They gyue her almesse to the ryche

250

To maynteynours and to men of lawe

For to lordes they woll be lyche

An harlottes sonne nat worthe an hawe

Sothfastnesse suche han slawe Corruit in platea veritas. Isaie. lix.

They kembe her crokettes with christall

255

And drede of god they haue downe drawe

All suche faytours foule hem fall

¶They maken parsons for the penny

And canons of her cardynals

Unnethes amongest hem all any

260

That he ne hath glosed the gospell fals

For Christ made neuer no cathedrals

Ne with hym was no cardynall

With a Redde hatte as vsyn mynstrals

But falshed foule mote it befall

265

¶Their tythyng and her offryng both

They clemeth it by possessyon

Therof nyll they non forgo

But robben men as [by] raunsome by] 1535, 1542, 1548 omitCharitas non querit que sua sunt. Charitas non querit que sua sunt.

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The tithyng of Turpe lucrum

270

With these maisters is meynall

Tithyng of bribry and larson

Wyll make falshed full foule to fall full foule to fall] woll foule fal 1548

¶They taken to ferme her sompnours

To harme the people what they may

275

To pardoners and false faytours

Sell her seales I dare well say

And all to holden great array

To multiply hem more metall

They drede full lytell domes-day

280

Whan all suche [false] shall foule fall false] 1535, 1542, 1548 omit

¶Suche harlottes shull men dysclaunder

For they shullen make her gree

And ben as proude as Alexaunder

And sayne to the poore wo be ye

285

By yere eche preeste shall paye his fee

To encrease his lemmans call

Suche heerdes shull well yuell the

And all suche false shull foule fall Ue homini illi per quem scandalum venit.

¶And if a man be falsely famed

290

And wolde make purgacioun

Than woll the offycers be agramed

And assigne hym fro towne to towne

So nede he must paye raunsome

Though he be clene as is christall

295

And than haue an absolutioun

But all suche false shull foule fall

¶Though he be gyltie of the dede

And that he maye money pay

All the whyle his purse woll blede

300

He maye vse it fro day to day

These bysshoppes offycers gone full gay

And this game they vsen ouer-all

The poore to pyll is all their pray

All suche false shull foule fall

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305

¶Alas god ordayned neuer suche lawe

Ne no suche crafte of couetyse

He forbade it by his sawe

Suche gouernours mowen of god agryse

For all his rules is rightwyse

310

These newe poyntes ben pure papall

And goddes lawe they dispyce

And all suche faytours shull foule fall

¶They sayne that Peter had the key

Of heuyn and hell to haue and holde

315

I trowe Peter toke no money

For no synnes that he solde

Suche successours ben to bolde

In wynnyng all their witte they wrall

Her conscience is waxen colde

320

And all suche faytours foule hem fall

¶Peter was neuer so great a fole

To leaue his key with suche a lorell

Or to take suche cursed su[c]he a tole suche] suehe 1535, suche 1548

He was aduysed nothyng well

325

I trowe they haue the key of hell

Their maister is of that place marshall

For there they dressen hem to dwell

And with false Lucifere there to fall

¶They ben as proude as Lucifarre

330

As angry and as enuyous

From good faithe they ben full farre

In couetyse they ben curyous

To catche cattell as couytous

As hounde that for hungre woll yall yall] al 1548

335

Ungoodly and vngratious Ungoodly] Ungodly 1548

And nedely suche falshed shall foule fall

¶The pope and he were Peters heyre

Me-thynke he erreth in this case

Whan choyse of bysshoppes is in dispeyre

340

To chosen hem in dyuers place

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A lorde shall write to hym for grace

For his clerke anone pray he shall

So shall he spede hys purchase

And all suche false foule hem fall

345

¶Though he can no more good

A lordes prayer shalbe spedde

Though he be wylde of wyll or wood

Nat vnderstandyng what men han redde

A leude boster and that god forbede

350

As good a bysshoppe is my horse ball good a] a good 1548

Suche a Pope is foule be ####ab#### stedde

And at last woll foule fall

¶He maketh bysshoppes for erthly thanke

And nothyng for Christes sake

355

Suche that ben full fatte and ranke

To soule-heale none hede they take soule] soyle 1548

All is well-done what-euer they make

For they shall answere at-ones for all at-ones for all] at one fors all 1548

For worldes thanke suche worch and wake

360

And all suche false shall foule fall

¶Suche that canne nat her Crede

With prayer shull be made prelates

Nouther canne the gospell rede

Suche shull nowe welde hye estates

365

The hye goodes frendshyp hem makes goodes] godes 1548

They toteth on her some totall

Suche bere the keyes of hell-yates

And all suche false shall foule fall

¶They forsake for Christes loue

370

Traueyle hungre thurst and colde

For they ben ordred euer all aboue

Out of youthe tyll they ben olde

By the dore they go nat in-to the folde

To helpe their shepe they nought trauall

375

Hyred-men all suche I holde

And all suche false foule hem fall

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For Christ her kyng they woll forsake

And knowe hym nought for his pouerte

For Christes loue they woll wake

380

And drynke pyement [&] ale aparte &] 1535, 1542, 1548 omit

Of god they seme nothyng a ####ab#### ferde

As lusty lyueth as dyde Lamuall

And dryuen her shepe in-to deserte

All suche faytours shull foule fall

385

Chryst had .xii. apostels here had] hath 1548

Nowe saye they there may be but one

That may nat erre in no manere

Who leueth nat this ben lost echone

Peter erred so dyde nat Iohnn

390

Why is he cleped the principall?

Christ cleped hym Peter but hym-selfe the stone

All false faytours foule hem fall

¶Why cursen they the croysery

Christes christen creatures

395

For bytwene hem is nowe enuy

To be enhaunsed in honours

And christen lyuers with her labours

For they leuyn on no man mortall

But do to dethe with dishonours

400

And all suche false foule hem fall

¶What knoweth a tyllour at the plowe

The popes name and what he hate

Hys crede suffyseth to hym ynowe

And knoweth a cardynall by his hatte

405

Rough is the poore vnrightly latte

That knoweth Christ his god royall

Suche maters be nat worth a gnatte

But suche false faytours foule hem fall

¶A kyng shall knele and kysse his showe

410

Christ suffred a synfull to kysse his fete

Me-thynketh he holdeth hym hye ynowe

So Lucifer dyd that hye sette

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Such one me-thynketh hym-selfe foryete

Eyther to the trouth he was nat call

415

Christ that suffred woundes wete

Shall make suche falshed foule fall

¶They layeth out her large nettes

For to take syluer and golde

Fyllen coffers and sackes fettes

420

There-as they soules catche sholde

Her seruauntes be to them vnholde

But they can doublyn their rentall

To bygge hem castels and bygge hem holde

And all suche false foule hem fall

¶Here endeth the fyrst part of this boke and herafter foloweth the seconde parte

boke] tale 1548

425

TO accorde with this worde fall

No more Englysshe can I fynde

Shewe another nowe I shall

For I haue moche to saye behynde

Howe preestes han the people pynde

430

As curteys Christ hath me kende kende] kynde 1548

And putte this matter in my mynde

To make this maner men amende Qui non est mecum contra me est.

¶Shortly to shende hem and shewe nowe

Howe wrongfully they worche and walke Qui non est &c.

435

O hye god nothyng they tell ne howe

But in goddes worde telleth many a balke

In hernes holde hem and in halke

And prechyn of tythes and offrende

And vntruely of the gospell talke

440

For his mercy god it amende

¶What is Antichrist to saye

But euyn Christes aduersary

Suche hath nowe ben many a day

To Christes byddyng full contrary

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445

That from the trouthe clene varry

Out of the waye they ben wende

And Christes people vntruely cary

God for his pytie it amende

¶That lyuen contrary to Christes lyfe

450

In hye pride agaynst mekenesse

Agaynst sufferaunce they vsen stryfe

And angre ayenst sobrenesse

Agaynst wysedome wylfulnesse

To Christes tales lytell tende

455

Agaynst measure outragyousnesse

But whan god woll it maye amende

¶Lordly lyfe ayenst lowlynesse

And demyn all without mercy

And couetyse ayenst largesse

460

Agaynst trewth trechery

And agaynst almesse enuy

Agaynst Christ they comprehende

For chastyte they maynteyne lechery

God for his grace this amende

465

¶Ayenst penaunce they vse delightes

Ayenst suffraunce stronge defence

Ayenst god they vsen yuell rightes

Agaynste pytie punysshementes

Open yuell ayenst contynence

470

Her wicked wynnyng worse dispende

Sobrenesse they sette in-to dispence

But god for his goodnesse it amende

¶Why cleymen they holy his powere

And wranglen ayenst all his hestes

475

His lyuyng folowen they nothyng here

But lyuen worse than wytlesse beestes

Of fysshe and flesshe they louen feestes

As lordes they ben brode ykende

Of goddes poore they haten gestes

480

God for his mercy this amende

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¶With Dyuers suche shall haue her dome

That sayne that they be Christes frendes

And do nothyng as they shulde done

All suche ben falser than ben fendes

485

On the people they ley suche bendes

As god is in erth they han offende

Sucour for suche Christ nowe sende vs

And for his mercy this amende

¶A token of Antichrist they be

490

His careckes ben nowe wyde yknowe

Receyued to preche shall no man be

Without token of hym I trowe

Eche christen preest to prechyn owe

From god aboue they ben sende.

495

Goddes worde to all folke for to showe

Synfull man for to amende

¶Christ sente the poore for to preche

The royall riche he dyd nat so

Nowe dare no poore the people teche

500

For Antichrist is ouer-all her foe

Amonge the people he mote go

He hath bydden all suche suspende

Some hath he hente & thynketh yet mo

But all this god may well amende

505

¶All tho that han the worlde forsake

And lyuen lo[w]ly as god badde lowly] loly 1535, 1542, 1548

In-to her prison shullen be take

Betyn and bounden and forthe ladde

Herof I rede no man be dradde

510

Christ sayd his shulde be shende

Eche man ought herof be gladde

For god full well it woll amende

¶They take on hem royall powere take] toke 1548

And saye they haue swerdes two Ecce gladii duo hic

515

One curse to hell one slee men here

For at his takyng Christ had no mo his] thys 1548

sig: [B3v]

Yet Peter had one of tho

But christ to Peter smyte gan defende

And in-to the sheth badde putte it tho the sheth] sheth 1548; tho] in tho 1548

520

And all suche myscheues god amende

¶Christ badde Peter kepe his shepe

And with his swerde forbade hym smyte Uos qui spirituales estis instincte alios in spiritum lenitatis suscitabo pastorem stultum qua dispersa non coliget.

Swerde is no tole with shepe to kepe

But to sheperdes that shepe woll byte

525

Me-thynketh suche sheperdes ben to wyte

Ayen her shepe with swerde that contende

They driue her shepe with great dispyte

But all this god may well amende Sed oues pingues comedet & habebit gladium in brachio dextro & gladium in oculo sinistro.

¶So successours to Peter be they nought

530

Whom Christ made chefe pastoure

A swerde no sheperde vsen ought

But he wolde slee as a bochoure

For who-so were Peters successour

Shulde bere his shepe tyll his backe bende

535

And shadowe hem from euery shoure

And all this god maye well amende

¶Successours to Peter ben these

In that that Peter Christ forsoke Christ] Christes 1548

That had leuer the loue of god lese

540

Than a sheperde had to lese his hoke

He culleth the shepe as dothe the coke

Of hem taken the woll vntrende

And falsely glose the gospell-boke

God for his mercy them amende Lac comedebatis & lanis cooperebamini & quod pingue erat occidistis.

545

¶After Christ had take Peter the kay

Christ sayd he muste dye for man

That Peter to Christ gan withsay

Christ badde hym go behynde Sathan Tunc dixit Iesus discipulis suis quare oportet eum ire ierosolimam & multa pati.

Suche counsaylours many of these men han

550

For worldes wele god to offende

Peters successours they ben for ####ab#### than

But all suche god may well amende

sig: [B4]

¶For Sathan is to say no more

But he that contrary to Christ is Respondit petrus. Nequaquam erit tibi hoc Iesus dixit petro: Uade post me sathanas.

555

In this they lerne Peters lore

They sewen hym whan he dyd mysse

They folowe Peter forsothe in this

In all that Christ wolde Peter reprehende

But nat in that that longeth to heuyn-blysse

560

God for his mercy hem amende

¶Some of the Apostels they sewen in case

Of ought that I can vnderstonde

Hym that betrayed Christ Iudas

That bare the purse in euery londe

565

And all that he myght sette on honde

He hydde and stale and myspende Fur erat & loculos habebat et ea que mitte[b]antur portabat.

His rule these traytours han in honde

Almighty god hem amende

¶And at last his lorde gan tray last] the last 1548

570

Cursedly through his false couetyse

So wolde these trayen hym for money Ut dolo caperent et occiderent

And they wysten in what wyse

They be seker of the selfe ensyse

From all sothnesse they ben fre[m]de fremde] frende 1535, 1542, 1548

575

And couetyse chaungen with queyntyse

Almighty god all suche amende

¶Were Christ on erthe here eftesone Were] Where 1548

These wolde dampne hym to dye

All his hestes they han fordone

580

And sayne his sawes ben heresy

And ayenst his commaundementes they crye

And dampne all his to be brende brende] made 1548

For it lyketh nat hem suche losengery

God almighty hem amende hem] it 1548

585

¶These han more myght in Englande here

Than hath the kynge and all his lawe

They han purchased hem suche powere

To taken hem whom [they] lyste nat knawe taken] take 1548; they] 1535, 1542, 1548 omit

sig: [B4v]

And say that heresy is her sawe

590

And so to prysone woll hem sende hem] hym 1548

It was nat so by elder dawe

God for his mercy it amende

¶The kynges lawe woll no man deme

Angerlyche withouten answere Lex neminem iudicat Nisi prius audierit ab eo qui dixit.

595

But if any man these mysqueme

He shalbe beted as a bere

And yet wel worse they woll hym tere

And in prysone woll hem pende

In gyues and in other gere

600

Whan god woll it maye [a]mende amende] mende 1535, 1542, 1548

¶The kynge taxeth nat his men

But by assente of the commynalte

But these eche yere woll raunsom hem

Maisterfully more than doth he

605

Her seales by yere better be

Than is the kynges in extende

Her offycers han gretter fee

But this myschefe god amende

¶For who-so woll proue a testament

610

That is nat all worthe tenne pounde

He shall paye for the parchement

The thirde parte of the money all rounde

Thus the people is raunsounde

They say suche parte to hem shulde apende

615

There-as they grypen it gothe to grounde

God for his mercy it amende

¶A symple fornycacioun

Twenty shyllynges he shall paye

And than haue an absolution

620

And all the yere vsen it forthe he may

Thus they letten hem go a ####ab#### stray

They recke nat though the soule be brende

These kepyn yuell Peters key

And all suche sheperdes god amende

sig: C1

625

¶Wonder is that the parlyament

And all the lordes of this londe

Herto taken so lytell entent

To helpe the people out of her honde Cum filii hely poluerunt domini sacrificium. &c.

For they ben harder in their bonde

630

Worse beate and bytter brende bytter] better 1548

Than to the kyng is vnderstande

God hym helpe this to amende

¶What bysshoppes what relygions

Han in this lande as moche laye-fee

635

Lordshippes and possessyons Lordshippes] Lordshyppers 1548

More than the lordes it semeth me Paulus inimicos crucis christi quorum finis interitus qui terrena sapiunt. &c.

That maketh hem lese charyte

They mowe nat to god attende

In erthe they haue so hyghe degree

640

God for his mercy it amende

¶The Emperour yaf the pope somtyme

So highe lordshyppe hym aboute

That at laste the sely kyme

The proude Pope putte hym out

645

So of this realme is in doute

But lordes be ware and them defende

For nowe these folke be wonder stoute

The kynge and lordes nowe this amende. Reges gentium domi[n]antur eorum.

Thus endeth the seconde parte of this boke and herafter foloweth the thirde

boke] tale 1548

MOyses lawe forbode it tho tho] to 1548

650

That preestes shuld no lordshippes welde

Christes gospell byddeth also

That they shulde no lordshippe helde Non habebant hereditatem sacerdotes et leuite inter fratres eorum ego autem pars & hereditas eorum. &c.

Ne Christes Apostels were neuer so bolde

No suche lordshippes to them enbrace

655

But smeren her shepe and kepe her folde

God amende hem for his grace

sig: C1v

For they ne ben but countrefete Nec quisquam eorum qui possidebat aliquid suum esse dicebat.

Men may knowe hem by her fruite Ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos. &c.

Her gretnesse maketh hem god foryete

660

And take his mekenesse in dispyte

And they were poore and had but lyte

They nolde nat demen after the face Homo cum in honore esset non intellegit. &c.

But norisshe her shepe and hem nat byte

God amende hem for his grace

Gryffon.

665

¶What canst thou preche ayenst chanons

That men clepen seculere?

Pelycan

They ben curates of many towns

On erthe they haue great powere

They han great prebendes and dere han] haue 1548

670

Some two or thre and some mo

A personage to ben a playeng-fere

And yet they serue the kynge also

¶And lette to ferme all that fare

To whom that woll most gyue therfore

675

Some woll spende and some woll spare

And some woll laye it vp in store

A cure of soule[s] they care nat fore soules] soule 1535, 1542, 1548

So they mowe money take

Whether her soules be wonne or lore

680

Her profytes they woll nat forsake

¶They haue a gederyng procuratour

That can the poore people enplede

And robben hem as a rauynour

And to his lorde the money lede the] they 1548

685

And catche of quicke and eke of dede

And richen hym and his lorde eke

And to robbe the poore can gyue good rede

Of olde and yonge of hole and syke

¶Therwith they purchase hem lay-fee

690

In londe there hem lyketh best

And buylde also brode as a cyte

Bothe in the Est and eke in the west

sig: C2

To purchase thus they ben full prest

But on the poore they woll nought spende

695

Ne no good gyue to goddes gest

Ne sende hym some that all hath sende

¶By her seruyce suche woll lyue

And trusse that other in-to treasour

Though all her parysshe dye vnshriue

700

They woll nat gyue a rose-floure

Her lyfe shulde be as a myrrour

Bothe to lered and to leude also

And teche the people her lele labour

Suche myster-men ben all mysgo

705

¶Some of hem ben harde nygges

And some of hem ben proude and gay

Some spende her good vpon gygges

And fynden hem of great aray

Alas what thynke these men to say

710

That thus dispenden goddis good dispenden] dispended 1548

At the dredefull domes-daye

Suche wretches shulbe worse than wood

¶Some her churches neuer ne sye

Ne neuer o peny thyder ne sende

715

Though the poore parysshens for hungre dye

O peny on hem wyll they nat spende

Haue they receyuynge of the rente

They recke neuer of the remenant

Alas the deuyll hath clene hem blent

720

Su[c]he one is Sathanas soiournant Suche] Suehe 1535

¶And vsen horedome and harlotry

Couetyse pompe and pride

Slouthe wrathe and eke enuy

And sewen synne by euery syde

725

Alas where thynke suche t'abyde

Howe woll they accomptes yelde

From hye god they mowe hem nat hyde

Suche wyllers witte is nat worth a nelde

sig: [C2v]

¶They ben so roted in richesse

730

That Christes pouert is foryet

Serued with so many messe

Hem thinketh that Manna is no mete

All is good that they mowe gete

They wene to lyue euermore

735

But whan god at dome is sette

Suche treasour is a feble store

¶Unneth mote they matyns saye

For countyng and for court-holdyng

And yet he iangleth as a iaye

740

And vnderstont hym-selfe nothyng

He woll serue bothe erle and kyng

For his fyndyng and his fee

And hyde his tythynge and his offryng

This is a feble charite

745

¶Outher they ben proude or coueytous

Or they ben harde or hungry

Or they ben lyberall or lecherous

Or els medlers with marchandry

Or maynteyners of men with maistry

750

Or stewardes countours or pledours

And serue god in hypocrisy

Suche preestes ben Christes false traytours

¶They ben false they ben vengeable

And be ####ab#### gylen men in Christes name

755

They ben vnstedfast and vnstable

To tray her lorde hem thynketh no shame

To serue god they ben full lame

Goddes theues and falsly stele

And falsely goddes worde defame

760

In wynnyng is her worldes wele

¶Antichrist these seruen all seruen] serue 1548

I pray the who may say nay?

With Antichrist suche shull fall

They folowen hym in dede and fay

sig: C3

765

They seruyn hym in riche array hym] hem 1548

To serue Christ suche falsely fayne

Why at the dredefull domes-day

Shull they nat folowe hym to payne?

¶That knowen hem-selfe that they done yll

770

Ayenst Christes commaundement

And amende hem neuer ne wyll

But serue Sathan by one assent

Who sayth sothe he shalbe shent

Or speketh ayenst her false lyuyng

775

Who-so well lyueth shalbe brent

For suche ben gretter than the kyng

¶Pope bysshoppes and cardy[n]als

Chanons persons and vycayre

In goddes seruyce I trowe ben false

780

That sacramentes sellen here

And ben as proude as Lucifere

Eche man loke whether that I lye

Who-so speketh ayenst her powere

It shall be holden heresy

785

Loke howe manye orders take

Onely of Christ for his seruyce

That the worldes goodes forsake goodes] goddes 1548

Who-so taketh orders o[n] other wyse on] or 1535, 1542, 1548

I trowe that they shall sore agryse

790

For all the glose that they conne

All sewen nat this assyse

In yuell tyme they thus begonne

Loke howe many amonge hem all

Holden nat this hye-way

795

With Antichrist they shullen fall

For they wolden god betray wolden] wollen 1548

God amende hem that best may

For many men they maken shende

They weten well the sothe I say

800

But the dyuell hath foule hem blende

sig: [C3v]

¶Some on her churches dwell

Appayrelled poorely proude of porte

The seuyn sacramentes they done sell

In cattell-catchyng is her comforte

805

Of eche matter they wollen mell

And done hem wronge is her disporte

To affray the people they ben fel

And holde hem lower than dothe the lorde

¶For the tithynge of a duke tithynge] tydynge 1548

810

Or of an apple or an aye

They make men swere vpon a boke

Thus they foulyn Christes fay

Suche beren yuell heuyn-kay

They mowen assoyle they mowe shriue

815

With mennes wyues strongly play

With trewe tyllers sturte and stryue

¶At the wrestlyng and at the wake

And chefe chauntours at the nale

Markette-beters and medlyng make

820

Hoppen and houten with heue and hale

At fayre fresshe and at wyne stale

Dyne and drinke and make debate

The seuyn sacramentes sette at sayle

Howe kepe suche the keyes of heuyn-gate? the] they 1535, the 1548

825

¶Mennes wyues they wollen holde

And though that they ben ryght sory

To speke they shull nat be so bolde

For sompnyng to the consistory

And make hem saye [with] mouthe I lye with] 1535, 1542, 1548 omit

830

Though they it sawe with her eye

His lemman holden openly

No man so hardy to axe why

¶He woll haue tythyng & offrynge

Mauger who-so-euer it gruche

835

And twyse on the day he woll synge

Goddes prestes nere none suche

sig: [C4]

He mote on huntyng with dogge and bytche

And blowen his horne and cryen hey

And sorcery vsen as a wytche

840

Suche kepyn yuell Peters key

¶Yet they mote haue some stocke or stone

Gayly paynted and proudly dight

To maken men leuyn vpon leuyn] lyuen 1542, 1548

And say that it is full of might

845

About suche men sette vp great lyght

Other suche stockes shull stonde therby

As darke as it were midnight

For it may make no maistry

¶That it leude people se mowe

850

Thou Mary thou worchest wonder thinges

About that that men offryn to nowe that men] men 1548

Hongen broches ouches and rynges

The preest purchaseth the offrynges

But he nyll offre to none ymage

855

Wo is the soule that he for synges

That precheth for suche a pylgrimage

¶To men and women that ben poore

That ben Christes owne lykenesse

Men shulden offre at her dore shulden] shullen 1548

860

That suffryn hungre and dystresse

And to suche ymages offre lesse

That mowe nat fele thurst ne colde

The poore in spyrite gan Christ blesse

Therfore offreth to feble and olde

865

¶Buckelers brode and swerdes longe

Baudrike with baselardes kene

Suche toles about her necke they hange

With Antichrist suche preestes bene

Upon her dedes it is well sene

870

Whom they seruen whom they honoren

Antichristes they ben clene

And goddis goodes falsely deuouren

sig: [C4v]

¶Of scarlet and grene gay gownes

That mote be shape for the newe

875

To clyppen and kyssen counten in townes

The damosels that to the dau[n]ce sewe

Cutted clothes to sewe her hewe

With longe pykes on her shone

Our goddes gospell is nat trewe

880

Eyther they seruen the dyuell or none

¶Nowe ben preestes pokes so wyde

That men must enlarge the vestement

The holy gospell they done hyde

For they contraryen in rayment

885

Suche preestes of Lucifere ben sent

Lyke conquerours they ben arayde

The proude pendauntes at her ars ypent

Falsely the truthe they han betrayde

¶Shrifte-syluer suche wollen aske is

890

And woll men crepe to the crouche

None of the sacramentes saue askes

Without mede shall no man touche

On her bysshoppe their warant vouch

That is lawe of the decre

895

With mede and money thus they mouche

And th[i]s they sayne is charyte this] thus 1535, 1542, 1548

¶In the myddes of her masse

The nyll haue no man but for hyre

And full shortely lette forth passe

900

Suche shull men fynde in eche shyre eche] euery 1548

That personages for profyte desyre

To lyue in lykyng and in lustes

I dare nat sayne Sans ose ieo dire

That suche ben Antichristes preestes

905

¶Or they yef the bysshoppes why

Or they mote ben in his seruyce

And holden forthe her harlotry

Suche prelates ben of feble emprise

sig: [C5]

Of goddis grame suche men agryse

910

For suche matters that taken mede

Howe they excuse hem and in what wyse

Me-thynketh they ought greatly drede

¶They sayne that it to no man longeth

To reproue them though they erre

915

But falsely goddis goodes they fongeth goodes] goodesse 1535, 1542, 1548

And therwith maynteyne wo and werre

Her dedes shulde be as bright as sterre

Her lyuyng leude mannes lyght

They say the pope maye nat erre

920

Nede must that passe mannes might

¶Though a prest lye with his lemman all night

And tellen his felowe and he hym

He goth to masse anone-right

And sayth he syngeth out of synne

925

His byrde abideth hym at his inne

And dighteth his dyner the meane-whyle

He syngeth his masse for he wolde wynne

And so he weneth god begyle

¶Hem thynketh long tyll they be mette

930

And that they vsen forthe all the yere

Amonge the folke whan he is sette

He holdeth no man halfe his pere

Of the bysshoppe he hath powere

To soyle men or els they ben lore

935

His absolutyon may make them skere

And wo is the soule that he syngeth fore

Gryffon.

¶The Gryffon began for to threte

And sayd of monkes canst thou ought

Pelycan.

The Pellycane sayd they ben full grete

940

And in this worlde moche wo hath wrought

Saynt Benet that her order brought

Ne made hem neuer on suche manere

I trowe it came neuer in his thought his] this 1535, hys 1548

That they shulde vse so great powere

sig: [C5v]

945

¶That a man shuld a monke lorde call

Ne serue on knees as a kyng

He is as proude as prince in pall

In mete and drynke and all-thyng

Some wearyn myter and rynge

950

With double-worsted well ydight

With royall mete and riche drinke

And rideth on a courser as a knyght

¶With hauke and with houndes eke

With broches or ouches on his hode

955

Some saye no masse in all a weke

Of deynties is her most fode

With lordshippes and with bondmen

This is a royall relygyoun

Saynt Benet made [n]euer none of hem

960

To haue lordshippe of man ne towne

¶Nowe they ben q[u]eynte and curious

With fyne clothe cladde and serued clene

Proude angry and enuyous

Malyce is mouche that they meane

965

In catchyng crafty and couetous

Lordly lyuen in great lykyng

This ly[u]yng is nat relygyous

Accordyng to Benette in his lyuyng

¶They ben clerkes her courtes they ouer ####ab#### se

970

Her poore tenaunce fully they flyte

The hyre that a man amerced be

The gladlyer they woll it write

This is ferre from Christes pouerte

For all with couetyse they endyte

975

On the poore they haue no pyte

Ne neuer hem cherysshe but euer hem byte

¶And commenly suche ben comen

Of poore people and of hem begete

That this perfection han ynomen

980

Her fathers ryden nat but on her fete

sig: [C6]

And trauaylen sore for that they ete

In pouert lyueth yonge and olde lyueth] lydeth 1548

Her fathers suffreth drought and wete

Many hungry meles thurst and colde

985

¶And all this the monkes han forsake

For Christes loue and saynt Benette

To pride and ease haue hem take

This relygion is yuell be ####ab#### sette

Had they ben out of relygioun

990

They must haue honged at the plowe

Thresshyng & dykyng fro towne to towne

With sory mete and nat halfe ynowe

¶Therfore they han this all forsake

And taken to riches pride and ease

995

Full fewe for god woll monkes hem make

Lytell is suche order for to prayse

Saynt Benet ordayned it nat so

But badde hem be cherelyche

In churlyche maner lyue and go

1000

Boystous in erthe and nat lordlych

¶They discla[un]der saynt Benette

Therfore they haue his holy curse

Saynt Benet with hem neuer mette

But if they thought to robbe his purse

1005

I canne no more herof tell

But they ben lyke tho before

And clene serue the dyuell of hell

And ben his treasour and his store

¶And all suche other counterfeytours

1010

Chanons canons and suche disgysed

Ben goddes enemyes and traytours

His trewe relygion han foule dispysed

Of Freres I haue tolde before

In a makynge of a Crede

1015

And yet I coude tell worse and more

But men wolde weryen it to rede

sig: [C6v]

¶As goddes goodnesse no man tell might

Write ne speke ne thynke in thought

So her falshed and her vnright

1020

May no man tell that euer god wrought

The Gryffon sayd thou canst no good Gryffon.

Thou came neuer of no gentyll kynde

Outher I trowe thou wexest wood

Or els thou hast loste thy mynde

1025

¶S[h]ulde holy churche haue no heed? Shulde] Sulde 1535, Shulde 1542, 1548; churche] churches 1535, churche 1542, 1548

Who shulde be her gouernayle

Who shulde her rule who shulde her reed

Who shulde her forthren who shulde auayle

Eche man shall lyue by his trauayle

1030

Who best doth shall haue most mede mede] nede 1548

With strength if men the churche assayle

With strength men must defende her nede

¶And the pope were purely poore

Nedy and nothyng ne hadde

1035

He shulde be driuen from dore to dore

The wicked of hym nolde nat be dradde

Of suche an heed men wolde be sadde

And synfully lyuen as hem lust

With strength amendes s[huld]e be made shulde] suche 1535, 1548, such 1542

1040

With wepen wolues from shepe be wust

¶If the pope and prelates wolde

To begge & bydde bowe and borowe

Holy churche shulde stande full colde

Her seruauntes sytte and soupe sorowe

1045

And they were noughty foule and horowe

To worshyppe god men wolde wlate

Bothe on euyn and on morowe

Suche harlotry men wolde hate

¶Therfore men of holy churche

1050

Shulde ben honest in all-thyng

Worshypfully goddes workes werche

So semeth it to serue Christ her kyng

sig: D1

In honest and in clene clothyng

With vessels of golde and clothes ryche

1055

To god honestly to make offryng

To his lordshyppe none is lyche

Pellycan

¶The Pellycan caste on houge crye

And sayd alas why sayest thou so

Christ is our heed that sytteth on hye

1060

Heddes ne ought we haue no mo

We ben his membres bothe also

And father he taught vs to call hym als

Maisters to be called defended he tho

All other maisters ben wicked and fals

1065

¶That taketh maistry in his name

Goostly and for erthly good

Kynges and lordes shulde lordshyp hane

And rule the people with mylde mode

Christ for vs that shedde his blode

1070

Badde his preestes no maystershyp haue

Ne carke nat for clothe ne fode

From euery myschefe he wyll hem saue

¶Her riche clothyng shalbe ryghtwysenesse

Her treasour trewe lyfe shalbe

1075

Charite shalbe her rychesse

Her lordshippe shalbe vnyte

Hope in god her honeste

Her vessell clene conscience

Poore in spyrite and humylyte

1080

Shalbe holy churches defence

Gryffon.

¶What sayd the Gryffon may the greue

That other folkes faren wele

What haste thou to done with her lyue

Thy falshed eche man may fele

1085

For thou canst no catell gete

But lyuest in londe as a lorell

With glosyng gettest tho[u] thy mete

So fareth the deuyll that wonneth in hell So] He 1548

sig: [D1v]

He wolde that eche man there shulde dwell

1090

For he lyueth in clene enuye

So with the tales that thou dost tell

Thou woldest other people distry

With your glose and your heresy

For ye can lyue no better lyfe

1095

But clene in hypocrisy

And bringest the in wo and stryfe

¶And therwith haue nat to done

For ye ne haue here no cure

Ye serue the dyuell neither god ne man

1100

And he shall paye you your hyre

For ye woll fare well at feestes

And warme [be] clothed for the colde be] 1535, 1542, 1548 omit

Therfore ye glose goddis hestes

And begyle the people yonge and olde

1105

¶And all the seuyn sacramentes

Ye speke ayenst as ye were slye

Ayenst tithinges offrynges with your ententes

And on our lordes body falsely lye

And all this ye done to lyue in ease

1110

As who sayth there ben none suche

And sayne the pope is nat worth a pease

To make the people ayen hym gruche

¶And this commeth in by fendes fendes] frndes 1548

To bryng the christen in distaunce

1115

For they wolde that no man were frendes frendes] feendes 1548

Leaue thy chattryng with myschaunce

If thou lyue well what wylte thou more

Lette other men lyue as hem lyst

Spende in good or kepe in store

1120

Other mennes conscience neuer thou nyst

¶Ye han no cure to answere fore

What meddell ye that han nat to done

Lette men lyue as they han done yore

For thou shalte answere for no man

sig: D2

Pellycan

1125

¶The Pellycan sayd Syr nay

I dispysed nat the pope

Ne no sacramente sothe to say

But speke in charite and good hope

¶But I dispyse her hye pride

1130

Her richesse that shulde be poore in spirite

Her wickednesse is knowe so wyde

They serue god in false habyte

And turnyn mekenesse in-to pride

And lowelynesse in-to hye degre

1135

And goddis wordes turne and hyde wordes] worde 1548

And that am I moued by charite

¶To lette men to lyue so

With all my connyng and all my myght

And to warne men of her wo

1140

And to tell hem trouthe and ryght

The sacramentes be soule-hele

If they ben vsed in good vse

Ayenst that speke I neuer a dele

For than were I nothyng wyse

1145

¶But they that vsen hem in mysse manere hem] hym 1548

Or sette hem vp to any sale

I trowe they shall abye hem dere

This is my reason this is my tale

Who-so taketh hem vnrightfullyche vnrightfullyche] vnrightfulllyche 1535

1150

Ayenst the tenne commaundymentes

Or by glose wreched ####ab#### lyche

Selleth any of the sacramentes

¶I trowe they do the deuyll homage

In that they wetyn they do wronge do] to 1548

1155

And therto I dare well wage

They seruyn Sathan for all her songe

To tithen and offren is holsome lyfe is] in 1548

So it be done in dewe manere

A man to houselyn and to shryue

1160

Weddyng and all the other in fere

sig: [D2v]

¶So it be nother solde ne bought

Ne take ne gyue for couetyse

And it be so taken it is nought

Who selleth hem so maye sore agryse

1165

On our lordes body I do nat lye

I saye sothe thorowe trewe rede

His flesshe and blode through his m[y]stry mystry] mastry 1535, mystrye 1542, mysterye 1548

Is there in the forme of brede

¶Howe it is there it nedeth nat stryue

1170

Whether it be subgette or accydent

But as Christ was whan he was on ####ab#### lyue

So is he there verament

If pope or cardynall lyue good lyue

As Christ commaunded in his gospell

1175

Ayenst that woll I nat stryue

But me-thynketh they lyue nat well

¶For if the pope lyued as god bede pope] pope 1542, people 1548

Pride and hyghnesse he shulde dispyse

Rychesse couetyse and crowne on hede

1180

Mekenesse and pouerte he shulde vse

Gryffon.

The Gryffon sayd he shulde abye

Thou shalbe brent in balefull fyre

[And] all thy secte I shall distrye And all thy] All they 1535, And all thy 1542, 1548

Ye shalbe hanged by the swyre

1185

¶Ye shullen be honged and to ####ab#### drawe

Who gyueth you leaue for to preche

Or speke ayenst goddes lawe

And the people thus falsely teche

Thou shalt be cursed with boke and bell

1190

And disseuered from holy churche

And clene ydampned in-to hell

Otherwyse but ye woll worche

Pellycan

¶The Pellycan sayd that I ne drede

Your cursyng is of lytell value

1195

Of god I hope to haue my mede

For it is fa[l]shede that ye shewe falshede] fashede 1535, falshed 1548

sig: D3

For ye ben out of charite

And wylneth vengeaunce as dyd Nero

To suffryn I woll redy be

1200

I drede nat that thou canst do

¶Christ badde ones suffre for his loue

And so he taught all his seruauntes

And but thou amende for his sake aboue

I drede nat all thy mayntenaunce

1205

For if I drede the worldes hate

Me-thynketh I were lytell to prayse

I drede nothyng your hye estate

Ne I drede nat your diseace

¶Wolde ye turne and leaue your pride

1210

Your hye porte and your richesse

Your cursyng shulde nat go so wyde

God bryng you in-to rightwysenesse

For I drede nat your tyranny

For nothyng that ye canne done

1215

To suffre I am all-redy

Syker I recke neuer howe soone

Gryffon.

¶The Gryffon grynned as he were wode

And loked louely as an owle

And swore by cockes herte-blode

1220

He wolde hym tere euery-doule

Holy churche thou disclaundrest foule

For thy reasons I woll the all to ####ab#### race

And make thy flesshe to rote and moule

Losell thou shalte haue harde grace

1225

¶The Gryffon flewe forthe on his waye

The Pellycane dyd sytte and wepe

And to hym-selfe he gan saye

God wolde that any of Christes shepe

Hadde herde and ytake kepe Hadde] And 1548

1230

Eche a worde that here sayd was

And wolde it write and well it kepe

God wolde it were all for his grace

sig: [D3v]

Plowman

¶I answerde and sayd I wolde

If for my trauayle any man wolde pay

Pelycan.

1235

He sayd yes these that god han solde

For they han store of money

Plowman

I sayd tell me and thou may

Why tellest thou mennes trespace?

Pelyca[n].

He sayd to amende hem in good fay

1240

If god woll gyue me any grace

¶For Christ hym-selfe is lykened to me

That for his people dyed on rode

As fare I right so fareth he

He fedeth his byrdes with his blode

1245

But these done yuell ayenst gode

And ben his fone vnder frendes face

I tolde hem howe her lyuyng stode

God amende hem for his grace

Plowman

What ayleth the Gryffon tell why

1250

That he holdeth on that other syde

Pelycan.

In 1535, 1542 and 1548, this heading is placed after the following two lines

For they two ben lykely

And with kyndes robben wyde

The foule betokeneth pride

As Lucifere that high fl[o]we was flowe] flewe 1535, 1542, flew 1548

1255

And sithe he dyd hym in yuell hyde in] an 1548

For he agylted goddis grace

¶As byrde flyeth vp in the ayre

And lyueth by byrdes that ben meke

So these be flowe vp in-to dispayre

1260

And shenden sely soules eke shenden] shended 1548

The soules that ben in synnes seke

He culleth hem knele therfore alas

For bribry goddis forbode breke

God amende it for his grace

1265

¶The hynder parte is a lyoun

A robber and a rauynere

That robbeth the people in erthe a ####ab#### downe the] they 1535, the 1548

And in erthe holdeth none his pere

sig: [D4]

So fareth this foule bothe ferre and nere

1270

And with temporell strength they people chase

As a lyon proude in erthe here

God amende hem for his grace

¶He flewe forthe with his wynges twayne Pellycan

All droupyng dased and dull

1275

But soone the Gryffon came agayne Gryffon.

Of his foules the erthe was full

The Pellycan he had cast to pull

So great a nombre neuer sene there was

What maner of foules tellen I woll

1280

If god woll gyue me of his grace

¶With the Gryffon comen foules fele

Rauyns rokes crowes and pye

Gray foules agadred wele

Igurde aboue they wolde hye

1285

Gledes and bosardes weren hem by weren] wherin 1548

White molles and puttockes token her place

And lapwynges that well conneth lye conneth] conneth 1542, commeth 1548

This felowshyp han for ####ab#### gerde her grace

¶Long the Pellycane was out

1290

But at last he cometh agayne

And brought with hym the Phenixe stoute

The Gryffon wolde haue flowe full fayne

His foules that flewen as thycke as rayne

The Phenixe tho began hem chace

1295

To flye from hym it was in vayne

For he dyd vengeaunce and no grace

¶He slewe hem downe without mercy

There astarte neyther free ne thrall

On hym they cast a rufull crye

1300

Whan the Gryffon downe was fall

He bete hym nat but slewe hem all

Whither he hem droue no man may trace

Under the erthe me-thought they yall

Alas they had a feble grace

sig: [D4v]

Pellycan

1305

¶The Pelycan than axed [r]yght ryght] tyght 1535

For my wrytyng if I haue blame

Who woll for me fyght of flyght?

Who shall shelde me from shame

He that had a mayde to dame

1310

And the lambe that slayne was

Shall shelde me from gostly blame

For erthely harme is go[d]dis grace goddis] goodis 1535

¶Therfore I pray euery man

Of my writyng haue me excused

1315

This writynge writeth the Pellycan

That thus these people hath dispysed

For I am fresshe fully aduysed

I nyll nat maynteyne his manace

For the deuyll is often disguysed

1320

To brynge a man to yuell grace

¶Wyteth the Pellycane and nat me

For herof I nyll nat auowe

In hye ne in lowe ne in no degre

But as a fable take it ye mowe

1325

To holy churche I wyll me bowe

Eche man to amende him Christ sende space

And for my writynge me alowe

He that is almyghty for his grace

¶Finis

¶Printed at London by Thomas Godfray.

Cum priuilegio.