Chapter 14

FromThynne (ed. 1542).I give rejected spellings.

1. Ploweman; plowe. 3. eate ynowe. 4. lyge; chynne. 5. cowe. 6. bone; skynne. 7. shoke;-drowe.8. honge; pynne. 9. toke; tabarde; staffe. 12. pylgremage; platte. 13. bare. 14. forswatte. 15. sene. 17. behelde wele. 18. sawe. 19. knewe; snoute. 23. coulde; loute.

27. plowe. 28. meate. 29. auowe. 30. wyfe; fynde. 31. howe. 32. leude; bene; full (readfully;seel. 24); blynde. 33. fayne. 34. her;supplyto; swet. 35. agayne. 36. eate. 37. The (forThey; 1550, They); sayne. 38. hell. 39. payne. 41. her. 42. sayne. 43. corne. 44. speaketh. 45. preache. 46. nere; thynge. 47. ons (1550, ones); teache. 48. preachynge. 49. Saye; the. 51. praye; noman. 52. Whyle; tellynge.Colophon: fyrst parte.

53. stryfe. 55. bene. 57. great; vngrounde (!). 58. souble (error forsouple). 60. foule. 61. one. 63. freers. 64. great. 65. heuyn. 68. foule mought. 70.Supplyal; prease. 71. caytyffes. 72. one; encrease. 73. I-clepeth (!); londlese. 74. bene. 75. peace. 76. foule. 78. knowe. 79. trauayle. 80. ferre. 82. wodde. 83. sawe.

85. one. 86. grymme. 89. measure. 90. counsayle. 91. sharpe. 92. foule. 93. preache. 94. mekenesse. 95. teache. 96. blesse. 97. beareth wytnesse. 98. lambe; lykeneth. 99. tokenynge. 103. lowlyche; lowe. 105. crowne; couetours (readcovertours). 106. pylloure (forpelure). 107. great treasours. 108. foule. 109. Preests shulde. 111. bateyle shulde. 112. her owne. 113. syttynges; hye. 114. souerayntie; house. 115. worshippe. 116. Who so (omitso); foule shall.

117. suche. 118. erthlye. 119. suche shall. 120. y-buylden her boure. 122. them to hem;supplybe. 123. holde; one. 124. suche one shall (om.one). 125. peeres. 127. poore freers. 128. Nowe. 129. her. 130. noman; permagall. 131. Whyle; her. 132. suche; mote. 134. glytterande; great araye. 136. commen; maye; gaye. 137. daye. 138. great. 139. baye. 140. suche; mote. 141. punyshed (!);seel. 143. 142. sustayne. 144. her. 147. leude. 148. Suche; foule them befall (seell. 156, 164).

149. meates. 150. songe; syttynge longe. 151. her. 152. meate; gonge. 153. meate; harpe; songe. 154. eche; mote. 155. amonge. 156. Suche; foule. 157. one. 159. staffe; pyrrey;readperrey. 160. made; lead. 161. golde; redde. 162. glytterande; golde (repeated froml. 161;readgown). 164. foule. 167. her. 168. hel. 169. her. 170. her gaye. 172. great. 179. poore. 180. Suche; foule.

182, 3. her. 184. kynge. 185. glyttryng (1550, glytteryng). 187. golde. 188. foule. 189. clepen (!); bene. 194. Antichriste; her. 196. foule. 198. done (but1550, dome;readdemed). 200. whiche. 201, 202. her. 204. suche; foule. 205. Her. 207. mote. 208. forbede (= forbēd). 209. suche. 211. mote; her.

215, 216. greater. 224. thynke. 225. Suche; stynke. 227. bowynge. 228. must nede euyll;I omitnede. 231. suche; sect sewys. 233. her. 234. Her. 235. Chrystes (!);readChrist his. 236. suche; foule. 238. her; lyfe. 240.Supplyther; great stryfe. 241. a knyfe (om.a). 243. suche. 244. suche; foule.

246.Supplyhe surely. 247. peace. 248. bade. 251. trusteth (!). 252.Supplysuch; foule. 256. roode. 257. commen. 258. Echeon. 259. poore. 260. befall;readfall. 261.Supplynever. 263.Supplyyet. 266. her. 267. her. 268. foule; falle. 272. her. 276. suche; foule.

282. shyppes (!); 1550, shepes. 283. ofte. 284. suche; foule. 287. poore. 289.Supplyhim. 292. sayne. 295.Supplythere; nowe; them. 296. hoode. 297. blode. 298. buckette; (wall = well). 299. wode. 300. suche. 301. her. 302.Omitto? 304. sonne; worthe. 306. her crokettes; christall. 307. downe. 308. foule.

310. her. 315. Redde; vsyn. 316. falsshed foule. 317. Their (readHir); her. 318. clemeth;seel. 525. 320.Supplyby; raunsome. 324, 332, 340. foule. 324. to fall (omitto). 325. her. 328. her seales; dare. 329. great. 332. suche;supplyfalse. 334. her. 336. sayne; poore. 337. eche preeste. 338. encrease. 339. heerdes; the. 340. suche.

341. falsely. 344. towne (twice). 345. raunsome. 346. christall. 348. suche. 348, 356, 364. foule. 349. gyltie. 350.Supplyyet; maye. 352. maye. 353. gone. 355. poore; theyr (readhir). 356. suche. 357. suche. 358. suche crafte. 359. forbade. 360. Suche. 361. is (readben). 363. dispyce. 364. suche. 365. sayne. 366. heuyn; holde. 367. toke. 368. solde. 369. Suche; bolde. 370. wytte. 371. colde. 372. suche.

374. leaue. 375. suche (twice). 378. Theyr (forHir). 380. false Lucifere. 381. Lucifarre. 383. faythe; farre. 386. hounde; hungre. 387. vngratious. 388. suche. 388, 396, 404. foule. 389. heyre. 390. thynke; case. 391. dispeyre. 393. lorde. 394. anone pray. 395. purchase. 396. suche. 397. can (readconne). 398. spedde. 399. wylde. 400. redde. 401. leude boster (om.leude). 402. byshoppe; is (readas); horse. 403. be stedde. 404.Supplythe; last.

405. byshoppes. 407. Suche; ranke. 408. heale none. 409. done. 410. one fors (!);misprint. 411. thanke suche. 412. suche. 412, 420, 436. foule. 413. canne;readconne; her. 414. made. 415. canne. 416. Suche; nowe. 418. her. 419. Suche. 420. suche. 422. Traueyle hungre; colde. 424. olde. 425. folde. 426. theyr (forhir); shepe. 428. suche. 429. her. 430. pouerte. 432. drynke; pyement;supplyand; aparte. 433. a ferde. 434. as dyd (om.dyd). 435. dryuen her shepe; deserte. 436. suche.

437. xij. 438. Nowe; there; one. 440. echone. 443. stone. 447. nowe. 449. her. 450. leuyn. 451. But (readBen). 452. suche. 453. plowe. 454. hate (!). 455. to hym (om.to); ynowe. 456. hatte. 457. poore; latte. 459. Suche; gnatte. 460. suche. 461. showe. 462. to kysse (om.to); fete. 463. ynowe. 464. sette;readseet (= sat). 465. Suche one; hym selfe foryete. 466.Forcallreadtall (?);cf. l.74. 467. wete. 468. suche; foule.

469. her. 470. golde. 472. catche sholde. 473. Her seruauntes; them (readhem); vnholde. 474. theyr (forhir). 475. holde. 476. suche. 478. fynde. 479. nowe. 480. saye behynde. 481. Howe; pynde. 482. kende;seel. 530. 483. putte; mynde. 484. amende. 485. nowe. 486. Howe. 487. howe. 488. worde; telleth (seel. 487). 490. offrende. 492. amende.

493. saye. 495. Suche hathe nowe. 497. varry. 498. wende. 500. pytie; amende. 501. lyfe. 503. sufferaunce; stryfe. 505. wysedome. 506. tende. 507. measure. 508. maye amende. 509. lyfe. 514. comprehende. 515. maynteyne. 516. amende. 517. delyghtes. 518. stronge. 519. vsen. 520. Agaynste pytie punishementes. 522. Her; worse dispende. 524. amende.

525. holy. 528. worse; wytlesse. 529. fyshe; fleshe. 530. ykende. 531. poore. 532. amende. 533. Dyuers (readDives); suche; her dome. 534. sayne. 535. shulde done. 536. suche. 537. suche. 538. offende. 539. nowe. 540. amende. 542. nowe; yknowe. 544. trowe. 545. Eche; owe (!). 546. sende. 547. worde; folke; showe. 548. amende. 549. poore. 551. Nowe dare; poore. 552. her foe. 553. Amonge; mote. 554. suche suspende. 555. hente. 556. amende.

557. worlde. 558. loly; badde. 559. her. 560. forthe ladde. 561. dradde. 562.Supplyservaunts; shende. 563. Eche; gladde. 564, 572, 580, 588. amende. 567. One; one. 569.Supplythat; one. 570. defende. 571. badde. 572. suche. 573. badde; shepe. 574. forbade. 575. Swerde; shepe. 576. shepe. 578. her shepe; swerde; contende. 579. her shepe; great. 582.Supplythat; chefe pastoure. 583. swerde. 584. bochoure. 586. Shulde; shepe; backe bende. 587. shoure.

590. forsoke. 591.Supplyto (as inl. 592). 592. hoke. 593. shepe; dothe; coke. 594.Supplythey; vntrende. 595.-boke.596. them amende. 600. badde; behynde. 601. Suche. 602. offende. 604. suche; amende. 606.Readcontrar. 608. mysse. 610. Peter (readhim); reprehende. 611. But nat (om.But); heuyn blysse. 612. amende. 613. case. 616. bare. 618. stale;supplygan; myspende. 620.Supplynow; amende.

622. hys false (om.false). 626. frende = fremd. 628. amende. 629. efte sone. 631. fordone. 632. sayne. 633. And ayenst (omitAnd); commaundementes (readmaundements); crye. 634. brende. 635. suche. 636. amende. 637. Englande. 638. kynge. 639. suche. 640.Supplythey (orhem); lyste. 641. her. 642. prysone; sende. 644. amende. 648. bayghted. 649. worse. 650. prysone;supplybe; pende. 652. maye mende.

654. assente. 655. eche. 657. Her seales. 658. extende. 660. mischefe;supplymay; amende. 662. worthe tenne pounde. 664. thyrde parte; rounde. 665. raunsounde. 666. saye suche parte; apende. 667. gothe; grounde. 668. amende. 669. fornycatioun. 670. shyllynges; paye. 671. absolution. 672. forthe; maye. 674. soule; brende. 676. suche; amende. 678. londe. 680. her honde. 681. theyr (forhir); bonde. 682. Worse beate;supplymore; brende. 683. vnderstande. 684. amende.

685.Readreligiouns. 686. moche laye. 690. attende. 691. hyghe. 692. amende. 694. aboute. 695.Supplythe. 697. doute. 698. them defende. 699. nowe; folke; stoute. 700. kynge; nowe; amende. 701. forbode. 702. shulde. 704. shulde; lordshyppe. 705. bolde. 706. suche lordeshyppes; them (forhem). 707. her shepe; her folde.

709. countrefete. 710. her fruite. 711. Her; foryete. 712. dispyte. 713. poore. 715. her shepe. 720-1. great. 722. thre;supplyhan. 723. playeng. 724. kynge. 725. lette. 729. soule; fore. 731. her. 732. Her profytes. 734. poore. 736. lorde. 737. catche. 738. lorde. 739. poore. 740. syke (forseke);see l.1313.

743. also (readals). 746. poore; spende. 748. sende. 749. her; suche. 750. treasour. 751. her paryshe. 752.-floure.753. Her lyfe shulde. 755. her lele. 756. Suche. 759. her;supplyhir. 760. great. 761. thynke. 763. dredefull. 764. Suche wretches. 765. her. 767. poore; hungre. 769. rente. 770. recke. 772. one.

773. horedome. 777. suche tabyde. 778. Howe; yelde. 779. hye; mowe. 780. Suche; wytte; nelde. 782. foryet. 785. mowe gete. 787. sette. 788. Suche treasour. 789. mote; saye. 790. holdynge. 791. iaye. 792. selfe nothynge. 793. erle; kynge. 795. tythynge; offrynge. 798.Supplyels. 804. false.

808. her lorde. 811. falsely; worde. 812. her. 814. the;supplyme. 815. suche;supplyfolk. 818. suche falsely fayne. 819. dredeful. 820. payne. 821. selfe; done. 825.Supplythe. 826. her false. 828. suche. 830.Readvikere. 831. trowe; false. 834. Eche; lye. 835.ReadWho speke ayeinës; her.

837. howe. 838. Onely; Christe. 840. or (readon). 841. trowe. 843.Supplysame. 845. howe; amonge. 846. waye. 848. betraye. 849. maye. 851. saye. 852. blende. 853. on (readupon); her. 854. poorely; porte. 855. sacramentes; done. 856. catchynge; her comforte. 857. eche. 858. done; wronge; her dysporte. 859. afraye. 860. lorde. 862. aye. 863. sweare. 865. Suche bearen; heauen. 866. assoyle. 868. true (bettertrewë).

869. wrestlynge. 871. Markette beaters; medlynge. 874. debate. 875. sacramentes; sayle (!). 876. Howe; suche; gate. 879. speake. 880. sompnynge. 881. saye;supplywith; lye. 882. her eye. 887. twyse; daye he (om.he). 889. mote. 890. horne. 891. wytche. 892. Suchen. 893. mote; some; stone. 895.Supplyto; lyuen. 896. saye. 897. Aboute suche; great. 898. suche; stande. 900. maye.

901. That it leude people se mowe. 902. Mary thou (om.thou). 903. Aboute; nowe. 909. poore. 910.Supplyin; owne. 911. her. 914. mowe; colde. 915. poore; sprete; Christe. 916. olde. 917. sweardes. 918. Baudryke (readBaudriks). 919. Suche; her. 920. suche; bene. 921. her. 922. Whome (twice). 923. bene. 925. gay. 926. mote. 929. her. 930. her shone. 932. none.

933. Nowe. 934. That men (om.That). 935. done. 937. Suche. 938. Lyke. arayde. 939. The proude (om.The); pendauntes; her. 940. Falsely; betrayde. 941. Shryfte-. 943. sacramentes. 945. her byshoppe. 948. thus (readthis); sayne. 949. her. 952. Suche; eche. 953. profyte. 955. dare; sayne. 956. suche. 957. byshoppes. 958. mote. 959. her. 960. Suche prelates. 961. suche. 962. suche. 963. Howe. 964. greatly.

965. sayne. 966. them (forhem). 967. goddes goodesse (!). 968. maynteyne. 969. Her; shulde. 970. Her lyuynge leude. 971. saye; maye. 972. muste. 973. lye. 975. anone. 978. meane. 981. longe; mette. 983. Amonge; folke; sette. 984. halfe. 985. byshoppe. 987. absolution maye; them (forhem). 988. soule; fore. 993. her. 994. suche. 995. came. 996. great.

997. monke lorde. 998. kynge. 999. proude. 1000. meate; drynke;supplyin. 1001. wearen; rynge. 1003. meate; drynke. 1004. on a (om.a). 1007. saye. 1008. deynties; her; foode. 1010. religion. 1012. lordshyppe; towne. 1013. Nowe. 1014. fyne clothe. 1016. meane. 1017. catchynge. 1018. great lykynge. 1019. lyuynge. 1020. Accordynge; Benette; lyuynge. 1021. her; ouerse. 1022. Her poore tenaunce. 1023. hyre (1550, hyer). 1025. farre. 1027. poore. 1028. cheryshe.

1029. commenly. 1030. poore. 1031. perfection. 1032. Her fathers ryden; her. 1034. olde. 1035. Her fathers. 1036. colde. 1037. And all (om.And). 1038. Benette. 1039. ease. 1040. besette. 1042. plowe. 1043. Threshynge; dykynge; towne; towne. 1044. halfe ynowe. 1046. ease. 1050. badde;supplyful; cherelyche. 1051. churlyche. 1052. earth. 1053. Benette. 1055. mette. 1057.Supplynow. 1060. treasoure.

1062. suche. 1064. foule. 1065. tolde. 1066. makynge. 1067. coulde. 1068. wolde. 1069. goodnesse. 1070. speake; thynke. 1071. her (twice). 1074. came; kynde. 1075. trowe. 1076. lost; mynde. 1077-80. shulde. 1078. gouernayle. 1080. auayle. 1081. Eche; trauayle. 1083. assayle. 1085. poore. 1086. nothynge; hadde. 1087. shulde. 1088. nolde; dradde. 1089. wolde; sadde. 1090. lust (readlist). 1091. such (readshuld). 1092. shepe; wust (readwist).

1093. prelates wolde. 1095. shulde stande; colde. 1096. Her seruauntes. 1098. worshyppe. 1100. Suche. 1102. Shulde; thynge. 1104. her kynge. 1105. clothynge. 1107. offrynge. 1108. lordshypppe (!) none. 1109. crye. 1111. hye. 1114. father. 1115. to be (om.to). 1116.Readwikke? 1118. Goostly; earthly. 1119. shulde; hane. 1121. blode. 1122. Badde. 1124. myschefe.

1125-30. Her. 1125. clothynge. 1126. treasoure; lyfe. 1128. lordshyppe. 1131. Poore; spirite. 1133. the. 1135. haste; lyue (readleve). 1136. eche. 1139. glosynge. 1141. wolde; eche; there shulde. 1142. enuye. 1146. lyfe. 1148. the; stryfe. 1149.Supplyye. 1151. neyther (readnot). 1154. warme;supplybe.

1157. sacramentes. 1158. speake; slye. 1159. tythynges offringes with(omitoffringes); ententes. 1160. lye. 1161. done; ease. 1162. there; none. 1163. sayne; pease. 1167. wolde. 1168. Leaue; chattrynge. 1173. fore. 1174. done. 1175. done. 1176. shalte; man. 1177.Supplynay. 1179. sacramente. 1180. speake. 1181-3. her. 1182. shulde; poore; spirite. 1184. false habyte. 1186. hye.

1190. connynge. 1191. her. 1193. sacramentes. 1195. speake; dele. 1196. nothynge. 1197. vsen; mysse. 1199. trowe. 1200. reason. 1202. commaundementes. 1204. sacramentes. 1205. trowe. 1206. wronge. 1207. dare. 1208. songe. 1209. holsome lyfe. 1210. done; dewe. 1212. Weddynge. 1213. solde. 1216. maye. 1217. lye. 1218. saye; thorowe. 1219. fleshe; blode; mystrye.

1221. Howe. 1222. subgette. 1227. Ayenst. 1230. shulde. 1232. pouerte. 1235. dystrye. 1238. leaue; preache. 1239. speake agaynst. 1240. falsely teache. 1245. sayde. 1248. falshede.

1253. badde. 1254. seruauntes. 1255. amende. 1259. nothynge; estate. 1260. dysease. 1261. leaue. 1262. porte. 1263. cursynge shulde. 1264. brynge. 1266. nothynge; done. 1268. howe soone. 1269. wode. 1271. swore; bloode. 1274. reasons; the. 1275. fleshe. 1276. shalte. 1277. flewe; waye. 1278. wepe. 1279. saye. 1280. shepe. 1281. herde. 1282. worde. 1283. wrytte.

1286. trauayle; any man wolde (om.man). 1287. solde. 1288.Supplygreet. 1293. lykened. 1297. done; ayenst gode. 1298. fone. 1299. howe her lyuynge stode. 1301.Supplyme. 1303.SupplyPellican (wrongly prefixed tol. 1305);supplyof kind. 1304.Supplylyk. 1305. foule;supplyevill. 1306. flewe (readflowe;seel. 1311). 1309. byrde;supplythat; ayre. 1311. into (readin); dyspayre.

1317. parte. 1319. earth a downe. 1320. none. 1321. foule; ferre. 1322. And wyth (om.And). 1323. proude; earth. 1325. (Pellicanis written above this line); flewe; twayne. 1326. droupynge. 1327. came agayne. 1328. earth. 1338. great; sene there. 1336. Igurde. 1338. Whyte; her. 1339. lye. 1340. for gerde her. 1342.Supplythe. 1343. stoute. 1344. fayne. 1345. rayne. 1345. flye; vayne.

1349. slewe; downe. 1350. There. 1352. downe. 1353. bete; slewe. 1358. wrytynge. 1361. mayde. 1362. And the lambe (om.And);supplyfor sinners. 1364. erthely harme. 1366-7. wrytynge. 1369. freshe. 1370. maynteyne. 1371. often (readoft). 1375. hye; lowe. 1378. Eche; sende. 1379. wrytynge.

III. JACK UPLAND.

I, Jack Uplande, make my mone to very god and to alltrue belevinge in Christ, that Antichrist and his disciples, bycolour of holines, walken and deceiven Christes church by manyfals figures, wherethrough, by Antichrist and his, many vertues5been transposed to vices.But the fellest folk that ever Antichrist found been lastbrought into the church, and in a wonder wyse; for they been ofdivers sectes of Antichrist, sowen of divers countrees andkinredes. And all men knowen wel, that they ben not obedient10to bishoppes, ne lege men to kinges; neither they tillen nesowen, weden, ne repen woode, corn, ne gras, neither nothingthat man shuld helpe but only hem-selves, hir lyves to sustein.And these men han all maner power of god, as they sayen,in heaven and in earth, to sell heaven and hell to whom that15hem lyketh; and these wrecches wete never where to beenhemselves.And therfore, frere, if thine order and rules ben grounded ongoddes law, tell thou me, Jack Upland, that I aske of thee; andif thou be or thinkest to be on Christes syde, kepe thy pacience.20Saynt Paul techeth, that al our dedes shuld be don in charitè,and els it is nought worth, but displesing to god and harm tooure owne soules. And for because freres chalengen to begretest clerkes of the church, and next folowinge Christ inlivinge, men shulde, for charitè, axe hem some questions, and25pray hem to grounde their answers in reson and in holy writ; forels their answere wolde nought be worth, be it florished never sofaire; and, as me think, men might skilfully axe thus of a frere.1. Frere, how many orders be in erthe, and which is theperfitest order? Of what order art thou? Who made thyn30order? What is thy rule? Is there ony perfiter rule than Christhimselfe made? If Christes rule be moost perfit, why rulestthou thee not therafter? Without more, why shall a frere bemore punished if he breke the rule that his patron made, than ifhe breke the hestes that god himself made?352. Approveth Christ ony more religions than oon, that sayntJames speketh of? If he approveth no more, why hast thou lefthis rule, and taken another? Why is a frere apostata, that levethhis order and taketh another secte; sith there is but oon religionof Christ?403. Why be ye wedded faster to your habits than a man is to hiswyfe? For a man may leve his wyf for a yere or two, as manymen do; and if †ye leve your habit a quarter of a yere, ye shuldbe holden apostatas.4. Maketh youre habit you men of religion, or no? If it45do, than, ever as it wereth, your religion wereth; and, after thatthe habit is better, is you[r] religion better. And whan ye liggenit besyde you, than lig ye youre religion besyde you, and benapostatas. Why by ye you so precious clothes, sith no manseketh such but for vaine glorie, as saynt Gregory saith?505. What betokeneth youre grete hood, your scaplerye, youreknotted girdel, and youre wyde cope?6. Why use ye al oon colour, more then other Christen mendo? What betokeneth that ye been clothed all in one manerclothinge?557. If ye saye it betokeneth love and charitè, certes, than ye beofte ypocrites, whan ony of you hateth other, and in that, that yewollen be said holy by youre clothinge.8. Why may not a frere were clothing of an-other secte offreres, sith holines stondeth not in the clothes?609. Why holde ye silence in one howse more than in another;sith men ought over-al to speke the good and leve the evell?10. Why ete you flesh in one house more than in another,if youre rule and youre order be perfit, and the patron thatmade it?6511. Why gette ye your dispensacions, to have it more esy?Certes, either it semeth that ye be unperfit; or he, that made itso hard that ye may not holde it. And siker, if ye holde not therule of youre patrons, ye be not than hir freres; and so ye lyeupon youre-selves!7012. Why make ye you as dede men whan ye be professed;and yet ye be not dede, but more quicke beggars than ye werebefore? And it semeth evell a deed man to go aboute andbegge.13. Why will ye not suffer youre novices here your councels in75youre chapter-house, er that they been professed; if youre councelsbeen trew, and after god[d]es lawe?14. Why make ye you so costly houses to dwell in; sith Christdid not so, and dede men shuld have but graves, as falleth todede men? And yet ye have more gorgeous buildinges than80many lordes of Englonde. For ye maye wenden through therealme, and ech night, wel nigh, ligge in youre owne courtes;and so mow but right few lordes do.15. Why hyre ye to ferme youre limitors, gevinge therforeeche yeer a certain rente; and will not suffer oon in an-others85limitacion, right as ye were your-selves lordes of contreys?16. Why be ye not under youre bisshops visitacions, and liegemen to oure kinge?17. Why axe ye no letters of bretherhedes of other mensprayers, as ye desyre that other men shulde aske letters of you?9018. If youre letters be good, why graunte ye them not generallyto al maner men, for the more charitè?19. Mow ye make ony man more perfit brother for yourprayers, than god hath by oure beleve, by our baptyme and hisowne graunte? If ye mowe, certes, than ye be above god.9520. Why make ye men beleve that your golden trentall songeof you, to take therfore ten shillinges, or at the leest fyveshillinges, will bringe soules out of helle, or out of purgatorye?If this be sooth, certes, ye might bring all soules out of payne.And that wolle ye nought; and than ye be out of charitè.10021. Why make ye men beleve, that he that is buried in yourehabit shall never come in hell; and ye wite not of youre-selfe,whether ye shall to hell, or no? And if this were sooth, yeshulde selle youre high houses, to make many habites, for to savemany mens soules.10522. Why stele ye mens children for to make hem of youresecte; sith that theft is agaynst goddes heste; and sithe youresecte is not perfit? Ye know not whether the rule that ye bindehim to, be best for him or worst!23. Why undernime ye not your brethren, for their trespas110after the lawe of the gospell; sith that underneminge is the bestthat may be? But ye put them in prison ofte, whan they do aftergoddes lawe; and, by saynt Austines rule, if ony did amisse andwolde not amende him, ye should put him from you.24. Why covete ye shrifte, and burying of other mens parishens,115and non other sacrament that falleth to Christen folke?25. Why busie ye not to here shrifte of poore folke, as wellas of riche lordes and ladyes; sith they mowe have more plenteeof shrifte-fathers than poore folk may?26. Why saye ye not the gospel in houses of bedred men; as120ye do in riche mens, that mowe go to churche and here thegospell?27. Why covette †ye not to burye poore folk among you; siththat they ben moost holy, as ye sayn that ye ben for yourepovertee?12528. Why will ye not be at hir diriges, as ye been at riche mens;sith god prayseth hem more than he doth riche men?29. What is thy prayer worth; sith thou wilt take therefore?For of all chapmen ye nede to be moost wyse; for drede ofsymonye.13030. What cause hast thou that thou wilt not preche thegospell, as god sayeth that thou shuldest; sith it is the bestlore, and also oure beleve?31. Why be ye evell apayed that secular prestes shulde prechethe gospel; sith god him-selfe hath boden hem?13532. Why hate ye the gospell to be preched; sith ye be somoche holde thereto? For ye winne more by yere withIn principio, than with all the rules that ever youre patrons made.And, in this, minstrels been better than ye. For they contraryennot to the mirthes that they maken; but ye contraryen the gospell140bothe in worde and dede.33. Frere, whan thou receivest a peny for to say a masse,whether sellest thou goddes body for that peny, or thy prayer,or els thy travail? If thou sayest thou wolt not travaile for tosaye the masse but for the peny, †than certes, if this be soth, than145thou lovest to littel mede for thy soule. And if thou sellestgoddes body, other thy prayer, than it is very symony; and artbecome a chapman worse than Judas, that solde it for thirtypens.34. Why wrytest thou hir names in thy tables, that yeveth thee150moneye; sith god knoweth all thing? For it semeth, by thywryting, that god wolde not rewarde him but thou wryte him inthy tables; god wolde els forgetten it.35. Why berest thou god in honde, and sclaundrest him that hebegged for his mete; sith he was lord over all? For than hadde155he ben unwyse to have begged, and no nede therto.36. Frere, after what law rulest thou thee? Wher findest thouin goddes law that thou shuldest thus begge?37. What maner men nedeth for to begge?Of whom oweth suche men to begge?160Why beggest thou so for thy brethren?If thou sayest, for they have nede; than thou doest it for themore perfeccion, or els for the leest, or els for the mene. If it bethe moost perfeccion of all, than shulde al thy brethren do so;and than no man neded to begge but for him-selfe, for so shuld no165man begge but him neded. And if it be the leest perfeccion, whylovest thou than other men more than thy-selfe? For so thou artnot well in charitè; sith thou shuldest seke the more perfeccionafter thy power, livinge thy-selfe moost after god; and thus, levingthat imperfeccion, thou shuldest not so begge for hem. And if170it is a good mene thus to begge as thou doest, than shuld no mando so but they ben in this good mene; and yet such a mene,graunted to you, may never be grounded in goddes lawe; forthan both lered and lewed that ben in mene degrè of this worldeshuld go aboute and begge as ye do. And if all suche shuld do175so, certes, wel nigh al the world shuld go aboute and begge asye do: and so shulde there be ten beggers agaynst oon yever.38. Why procurest thou men to yeve thee hir almes, and sayestit is so meedful; and thou wilt not thy-selfe winne thee thatmede?18039. Why wilt thou not begge for poore bedred men, that benpoorer than ony of youre secte, that liggen, and mow not goaboute to helpe themselves; sith we be all brethren in god, andthat bretherhed passeth ony other that ye or ony man coudemake? And where moost nede were, there were moost perfeccion;185either els ye holde hem not youre pure brethren, or worse. Butthan ye be imperfite in your begginge.40. Why make ye you so many maisters among you; sith itis agaynst the techinge of Christ and his apostels?41. Whos ben all your riche courtes that ye han, and all your190riche jewels; sith ye sayen that ye han nought, in proper ne incomune? If ye sayn they ben the popes, why †geder ye then, ofpoore men and of lordes, so much out of the kinges honde to makeyour pope riche? And sith ye sayen that it is greet perfeccion tohave nought, in proper ne in comune, why be ye so fast aboute to195make the pope (that is your †fader) riche, and putte on himimperfeccion? Sithen ye sayn that your goodes ben all his, and heshulde by reson be the moost perfit man, it semeth openlich thatye ben cursed children, so to sclaunder your †fader, and makehim imperfit. And if ye sayn that tho goodes be yours, then do200ye ayenst youre rule; and if it be not ayenst your rule, than mightye have both plough and cart, and labour as other good men don,and not so begge to by losengery, and ydell, as ye don. And if yesay that it is more perfeccion to begge than to travaill or worchwith youre hand, why preche ye not openly, and teche all men to205do so, sith it is the best and moost perfit lyf to helpe of hersoules, as ye make children to begge that might have been richeheyres?42. Why make ye not your festes to poore men, and yevethhem yeftes, as ye don to the riche; sith poore men han more210nede than the riche?43. What betokeneth that ye go tweyne and tweyne †togeder?If ye be out of charitè, ye accorden not in soule.44. Why begge ye, and take salaries therto, more than otherprestes; sith he that moost taketh, most charge he hath?21545. Why holde ye not saynt Fraunces rule and his testament;sith Fraunces saith, that god shewed him this living and thisrule? And certes, if it were goddes will, the pope might notfordo it; or els Fraunces was a lyar, that sayde on this wyse.And but this testament that he made accorde with goddes will,220els erred he as a lyar that were out of charitè; and as the lawsayeth, he is accursed that letteth the rightfull last will of a deedman lacke. And this testament is the last will of Fraunces thatis a deed man; it seemeth therefore that all his freres bencursed.22546. Why wil ye not touche no coined money with the crosse,ne with the kinges heed, as ye don other jewels both of golde andsilver? Certes, if ye despyse the crosse or the kinges heed, thanye be worthy to be despysed of god and the kinge. And sith yewill receyve money in your hertes and not with youre handes, it230seemeth that ye holde more holinesse in your hondes than in yourhertes; and than be ye false to god.47. Why have ye exempt you fro our kinges lawes and visitingeof our bishoppes more than other Christen men that liven in thisrealme, if ye be not gilty of traitory to our realme, or trespassers235to oure bishoppes? But ye will have the kinges lawes for trespasdon to you; and ye wil have power of other bishops more thanother prestes; and also have leave to prison youre brethren aslordes in youre courtes, more than other folkes han that ben thekinges lege men.24048. Why shal some secte of you freres paye eche yere a certaineto hir generall provinciall or minister, or els to hir soverains,but-if he stele a certain number of children, as some men sayn? Andcertes, if this be soth, than be ye constrayned, upon certainepayne, to do thefte, agaynst goddes commaundement,245non furtum facies.49. Why be ye so hardy, to graunte, by letters of fraternitè, tomen and women, that they shall have part and merit of all yourgood dedes; and ye witen never whether god be apayed withyoure dedes because of youre sinne? Also ye witen never whether250that man or woman be in state to be saved or damned; than shallhe have no merit in heven for his owne dedes, ne for none othermans. And all were it so, that he shuld have part of youre gooddedes; yet shulde he have no more than god would geve him,after that he were worthy; and so much shall eche man have of255goddes yefte, withoute youre limitacion. But if ye will saye thatye ben goddes felowes, and that he may not do without youreassent, than be ye blasphemers to god.50. What betokeneth that ye have ordeined, that when suchoon as ye have mad youre brother or sister, and hath a letter of260your sele, that letter †mot be brought in youre holy chapter andthere be red; or els ye will not praye for him? But and ye willennot praye specially for all other that weren not mad youre brethrenor sistren, than were ye not in right charitè; for that ought to becommune, and namely in goostly thinges.26551. Frere, what charitè is this—to overcharge the people bymighty begginge, under colour of prechinge or praying or massessinging? Sith holy writ biddeth not thus, but even the contrary;for al such goostly dedes shulde be don freely, as god yeveth hemfreely.27052. Frere, what charitè is this—to begyle children or theycommen to discrecion, and binde hem to youre orders, that beennot grounded in goddes lawe, against hir frendes wil? Sithen bythis foly ben many apostatas, both in will and dede, and manyben apostatas in hir will during all hir lyfe, that wolde gladly be275discharged if they wist how; and so, many ben apostatas thatshulden in other states have ben trewe men.53. Frere, what charitè is this—to make so mony freres inevery countrey, to the charge of the people? Sith persounesand vicares alone, ye, secular prestes alone, ye, monkes and280chanons alone, with bishops above hem, were y-nough to thechurch, to do prestes office. And to adde mo than y-nough isa foul errour, and greet charge to the people; and this is openlyagainst goddes will, that ordeined all thinges to be don in weight,nomber, and mesure. And Christ himself was apayed with twelve285apostles and a few disciples, to preche and do prestes office to allthe hole world; than was it better don than it is now at this tymeby a thousand deel. And right so as foure fingers with a thumbein a mannes hande, helpeth a man to worche, and double nomberof fingers in one hond shuld lette him more; and the more290nomber that there were, passing the mesure of goddes ordinaunce,the more were a man letted to worke: right so, as it semeth, it isof these newe orders that ben added to the church, without groundeof holy writ and goddes ordinaunce.54. Frere, what charitè is this—to lye to the people, and saye295that ye folowe Christ in povertè more than other men don?And yet, in curious and costly howsinge, and fyne and preciousclothing, and delicious and lykinge fedinge, and in tresoure andjewels and riche ornamentes, freres passen lordes and other richeworldly men; and soonest they shuld bringe hir cause aboute,300be it never so costly, though goddes lawe be put abacke.55. Frere, what charitè is this—to †gader up the bokes of holywrit and putte hem in tresory, and so emprisoune hem fromsecular prestes and curates; and by this cautel lette hem topreche the gospell freely to the people without worldly mede; and305also to defame good prestes of heresy, and lyen on hem openly,for to lette hem to shew goddes lawe, by the holy gospell, to theChristen people?56. Frere, what charitè is this—to fayn so much holines inyour bodily clothing, that ye clepe your habit, that many blinde310foles desyren to dye therin more than in an-other? And also,that a frere that leveth his habit (late founden of men), may notbe assoiled till he take it again, but is an apostata, as ye sayn,and cursed of god and man both? The frere beleveth treuth andpacience, chastitè, mekenesse, and sobrietè; yet for the more315part of his lyfe he may soone be assoiled of his prior; and if hebringe hoom to his house much good by yere, be it never sofalsly begged and pilled of the poore and nedy people in courtesaboute, he shal be hold[en] a noble frere! O lord, whether thisbe charitè!32057. Frere, what charitè is this—to prese upon a riche man,and to entyce him to be buried among you from his parish-church,and to suche riche men geve letters of fraternitè confirmedby youre generall sele, and therby to bere him in honde that heshall have part of all your masses, matins, prechinges, fastinges,325wakinges, and all other good dedes don by your brethren of youreorder (both whyles he liveth and after that he is deed), and yetye witen never whether youre dedes be acceptable to god, newhether that man that hath that letter be able by good living toreceive ony part of youre dedes? And yet a poore man, that ye330wite wel or supposen in certain to have no good of, ye ne geveno such letters, though he be a better man to god than suchea riche man; nevertheles, this poore man doth not recche therof.For, as men supposen, suche letters and many other that freresbehesten to men, be full of false deceites of freres, out of reson335and god[d]es lawe and Christen mens faith.58. Frere, what charitè is this—to be confessoures of lordesand ladyes, and to other mighty men, and not amend hem in hirliving; but rather, as it semeth, to be the bolder to pille hir pooretenauntes and to live in lechery, and there to dwelle in your office340of confessour, for winning of worldly goodes, and to be holden greteby colour of suche goostly offices? This seemeth rather prydeof freres than charitè of god.59. Frere, what charitè is this—to sayn that who-so livethafter youre order, liveth most parfitly, and next foloweth the345state of aposteles in povertè and penaunce; and yet the wysestand gretest clerkes of you wende, or sende, or procure to thecourt of Rome to be mad cardinales or bishoppes or the popeschapelayns, and to be assoiled of the vowe of povertè andobedience to your ministers; in the which, as ye sayn, standeth350moost perfeccion and merite of youre orders? And thus ye farenas Pharisees, that sayen oon, and do another to the contrarye.60. Why name ye more the patron of youre order in youreConfiteor, whan ye beginne masse, than other saintes, as apostels,or marters, that holy churche holde[th] more glorious than hem,355and clepe hem youre patrons and youre avowries?61. Frere, whet[h]er was saint Fraunces, in making of his rule thathe sette thyne order in, a fole and lyar, or els wyse and trew? Ifye sayn that he was not a fole but wyse; ne a lyar, but trew; whyshewe ye the contrary by youre doing, whan by youre suggestion to360the pope ye said that Fraunces rule was mad so hard that ye mightnot live to holde it without declaracion and dispensacion of thepope? And so, by youre dede, ye lete your patron a fole, that madea rule so hard that no man may wel kepe [it]; and eke youredede proveth him a lyar, where he sayeth in his rule, that he took365and lerned it of the holy gooste. For how might ye, for shame,praye the pope to undo that the holy goost biddeth, as whan yeprayed him to dispense with the hardnesse of your order?62. Frere, which of the foure orders of freres is best, to a manthat knoweth not which is the beste, but wolde fain enter into the370beste and none other? If thou sayest that thyn is the best, thansayest thou that noon of the other is as good as thyn; and in thiseche frere in the three other orders wolle say that thou lyest; forin the selve maner eche other frere woll say that his order isbeste. And thus to eche of the foure orders ben the other three375contrary in this poynte; in the which if ony say sooth, that is oonaloon; for there may but oon be the beste of foure. So folowethit, that if ech of these orders answered to this question as thoudoest, three were false and but oon trew; and yet no man shuldewite who that were. And thus it semeth, that the moost part of380freres ben or shulde be lyars in this poynt, and they shuldeanswere therto. If †ye say that an-other ordre of the freres isbetter than thyn or as good; why toke ye not rather therto as tothe better, whan thou mightest have chosen at the beginning?And eke, why shuldest thou be an apostata, to leve thyn order385and take thee to that that is better? And so, why goest thou notfrom thyn order into that?63. Frere, is there ony perfiter rule of religion than Christ,goddes sone, gave in his gospell to his brethren, or than thatreligion that saynt James in his epistle maketh mencion of? If390†ye saye 'yes,' than puttest thou on Christ, that is wysdom ofgod the †fader, uncunning, unpower, or evil will. For eytherthan he coude not make his rule so good as an-other did his,(and so he hadde be uncunning, that he might not make his ruleso good as another man might, and so were he unmighty and not395god); or he wolde not make his rule so perfit as an-other did his(and so had he ben evill-willed, namely to himselfe!) For if hemight, and coude, and wold[e] have mad a rule perfit withoutdefaute, and did not, he was not goddes sone almighty. For ifony other rule be perfiter than Christes, than must Christes rule400lacke of that perfeccion by as much as the other were moreperfiter; and so were defaute, and Christ had failed in makingeof his rule. But to putte ony defaute or failinge in god, isblasphemy. If thou saye that Christes rule and that religionthat saynt James maketh mencion of, is the perfitest; why holdest405thou not than thilke rule without more? And why clepest thouthee rather of saynt Frances or saynt Dominiks rule or religion ororder, than of Christes rule or Christes order?64. Frere, canst thou assigne ony defaute in Christes rule ofthe gospell, with the whiche he taught al men sikerly to be saved,410if they kepte it to hir endinge? If thou saye it was to hard,than sayest thou that Christ lyed; for he saide of his rule: 'Myyoke is softe, and my burthen light.' If thou saye Christes rulewas to light, that may be assigned for no defaute, for the bettermay it be kept. If thou sayst that there is no defaute in Christes415rule of the gospell, sith Christ him-selfe saith it is light and esy:what nede was it to patrons of freres to adde more therto, and soto make an harder religion, to save freres, than was the religionthat Christes apostels and his disciples helden and weren savedby; but-if they wolden that her freres saten above the apostels420in heven, for the harder religion that they kepen here? And sowolde they sitten in heven above Christ himselfe for the moo andstrait observaunces; than so shulde they be better than Christhimselfe, with misc[h]aunce!Go now forth, and frayne youre clerkes,425And grounde you in goddes lawe, and geve Jack answere.And whan ye han assoiled me that I have said, sadly in treuth,I shall soill thee of thyn order, and save thee to heven!If freres cunne not or mow not excuse hem of these questionsasked of hem, it semeth that they be horrible gilty against god430and hir even-Christen; for which gyltes and defautes it wereworthy that the order that they calle hir order were for-don. Andit is wonder that men susteyne hem or suffer hem live in suchemaner. For holy writ biddeth that thou do well to the meke,and geve not to the wicked, but forbid to geve hem breed, lest435they be mad thereby mightier through you. Finis.¶ Prynted for Jhon Gough.Cum Priuilegio Regali.

I, Jack Uplande, make my mone to very god and to all

true belevinge in Christ, that Antichrist and his disciples, by

colour of holines, walken and deceiven Christes church by many

fals figures, wherethrough, by Antichrist and his, many vertues

been transposed to vices.

But the fellest folk that ever Antichrist found been lastbrought into the church, and in a wonder wyse; for they been ofdivers sectes of Antichrist, sowen of divers countrees andkinredes. And all men knowen wel, that they ben not obedient10to bishoppes, ne lege men to kinges; neither they tillen nesowen, weden, ne repen woode, corn, ne gras, neither nothingthat man shuld helpe but only hem-selves, hir lyves to sustein.And these men han all maner power of god, as they sayen,in heaven and in earth, to sell heaven and hell to whom that15hem lyketh; and these wrecches wete never where to beenhemselves.

But the fellest folk that ever Antichrist found been last

brought into the church, and in a wonder wyse; for they been of

divers sectes of Antichrist, sowen of divers countrees and

kinredes. And all men knowen wel, that they ben not obedient

to bishoppes, ne lege men to kinges; neither they tillen ne

sowen, weden, ne repen woode, corn, ne gras, neither nothing

that man shuld helpe but only hem-selves, hir lyves to sustein.

And these men han all maner power of god, as they sayen,

in heaven and in earth, to sell heaven and hell to whom that

hem lyketh; and these wrecches wete never where to been

hemselves.

And therfore, frere, if thine order and rules ben grounded ongoddes law, tell thou me, Jack Upland, that I aske of thee; andif thou be or thinkest to be on Christes syde, kepe thy pacience.

And therfore, frere, if thine order and rules ben grounded on

goddes law, tell thou me, Jack Upland, that I aske of thee; and

if thou be or thinkest to be on Christes syde, kepe thy pacience.

20Saynt Paul techeth, that al our dedes shuld be don in charitè,and els it is nought worth, but displesing to god and harm tooure owne soules. And for because freres chalengen to begretest clerkes of the church, and next folowinge Christ inlivinge, men shulde, for charitè, axe hem some questions, and25pray hem to grounde their answers in reson and in holy writ; forels their answere wolde nought be worth, be it florished never sofaire; and, as me think, men might skilfully axe thus of a frere.

Saynt Paul techeth, that al our dedes shuld be don in charitè,

and els it is nought worth, but displesing to god and harm to

oure owne soules. And for because freres chalengen to be

gretest clerkes of the church, and next folowinge Christ in

livinge, men shulde, for charitè, axe hem some questions, and

pray hem to grounde their answers in reson and in holy writ; for

els their answere wolde nought be worth, be it florished never so

faire; and, as me think, men might skilfully axe thus of a frere.

1. Frere, how many orders be in erthe, and which is theperfitest order? Of what order art thou? Who made thyn30order? What is thy rule? Is there ony perfiter rule than Christhimselfe made? If Christes rule be moost perfit, why rulestthou thee not therafter? Without more, why shall a frere bemore punished if he breke the rule that his patron made, than ifhe breke the hestes that god himself made?

1. Frere, how many orders be in erthe, and which is the

perfitest order? Of what order art thou? Who made thyn

order? What is thy rule? Is there ony perfiter rule than Christ

himselfe made? If Christes rule be moost perfit, why rulest

thou thee not therafter? Without more, why shall a frere be

more punished if he breke the rule that his patron made, than if

he breke the hestes that god himself made?

352. Approveth Christ ony more religions than oon, that sayntJames speketh of? If he approveth no more, why hast thou lefthis rule, and taken another? Why is a frere apostata, that levethhis order and taketh another secte; sith there is but oon religionof Christ?

2. Approveth Christ ony more religions than oon, that saynt

James speketh of? If he approveth no more, why hast thou left

his rule, and taken another? Why is a frere apostata, that leveth

his order and taketh another secte; sith there is but oon religion

of Christ?

403. Why be ye wedded faster to your habits than a man is to hiswyfe? For a man may leve his wyf for a yere or two, as manymen do; and if †ye leve your habit a quarter of a yere, ye shuldbe holden apostatas.

3. Why be ye wedded faster to your habits than a man is to his

wyfe? For a man may leve his wyf for a yere or two, as many

men do; and if †ye leve your habit a quarter of a yere, ye shuld

be holden apostatas.

4. Maketh youre habit you men of religion, or no? If it45do, than, ever as it wereth, your religion wereth; and, after thatthe habit is better, is you[r] religion better. And whan ye liggenit besyde you, than lig ye youre religion besyde you, and benapostatas. Why by ye you so precious clothes, sith no manseketh such but for vaine glorie, as saynt Gregory saith?

4. Maketh youre habit you men of religion, or no? If it

do, than, ever as it wereth, your religion wereth; and, after that

the habit is better, is you[r] religion better. And whan ye liggen

it besyde you, than lig ye youre religion besyde you, and ben

apostatas. Why by ye you so precious clothes, sith no man

seketh such but for vaine glorie, as saynt Gregory saith?

505. What betokeneth youre grete hood, your scaplerye, youreknotted girdel, and youre wyde cope?

5. What betokeneth youre grete hood, your scaplerye, youre

knotted girdel, and youre wyde cope?

6. Why use ye al oon colour, more then other Christen mendo? What betokeneth that ye been clothed all in one manerclothinge?

6. Why use ye al oon colour, more then other Christen men

do? What betokeneth that ye been clothed all in one maner

clothinge?

557. If ye saye it betokeneth love and charitè, certes, than ye beofte ypocrites, whan ony of you hateth other, and in that, that yewollen be said holy by youre clothinge.

7. If ye saye it betokeneth love and charitè, certes, than ye be

ofte ypocrites, whan ony of you hateth other, and in that, that ye

wollen be said holy by youre clothinge.

8. Why may not a frere were clothing of an-other secte offreres, sith holines stondeth not in the clothes?

8. Why may not a frere were clothing of an-other secte of

freres, sith holines stondeth not in the clothes?

609. Why holde ye silence in one howse more than in another;sith men ought over-al to speke the good and leve the evell?

9. Why holde ye silence in one howse more than in another;

sith men ought over-al to speke the good and leve the evell?

10. Why ete you flesh in one house more than in another,if youre rule and youre order be perfit, and the patron thatmade it?

10. Why ete you flesh in one house more than in another,

if youre rule and youre order be perfit, and the patron that

made it?

6511. Why gette ye your dispensacions, to have it more esy?Certes, either it semeth that ye be unperfit; or he, that made itso hard that ye may not holde it. And siker, if ye holde not therule of youre patrons, ye be not than hir freres; and so ye lyeupon youre-selves!

11. Why gette ye your dispensacions, to have it more esy?

Certes, either it semeth that ye be unperfit; or he, that made it

so hard that ye may not holde it. And siker, if ye holde not the

rule of youre patrons, ye be not than hir freres; and so ye lye

upon youre-selves!

7012. Why make ye you as dede men whan ye be professed;and yet ye be not dede, but more quicke beggars than ye werebefore? And it semeth evell a deed man to go aboute andbegge.

12. Why make ye you as dede men whan ye be professed;

and yet ye be not dede, but more quicke beggars than ye were

before? And it semeth evell a deed man to go aboute and

begge.

13. Why will ye not suffer youre novices here your councels in75youre chapter-house, er that they been professed; if youre councelsbeen trew, and after god[d]es lawe?

13. Why will ye not suffer youre novices here your councels in

youre chapter-house, er that they been professed; if youre councels

been trew, and after god[d]es lawe?

14. Why make ye you so costly houses to dwell in; sith Christdid not so, and dede men shuld have but graves, as falleth todede men? And yet ye have more gorgeous buildinges than80many lordes of Englonde. For ye maye wenden through therealme, and ech night, wel nigh, ligge in youre owne courtes;and so mow but right few lordes do.

14. Why make ye you so costly houses to dwell in; sith Christ

did not so, and dede men shuld have but graves, as falleth to

dede men? And yet ye have more gorgeous buildinges than

many lordes of Englonde. For ye maye wenden through the

realme, and ech night, wel nigh, ligge in youre owne courtes;

and so mow but right few lordes do.

15. Why hyre ye to ferme youre limitors, gevinge therforeeche yeer a certain rente; and will not suffer oon in an-others85limitacion, right as ye were your-selves lordes of contreys?

15. Why hyre ye to ferme youre limitors, gevinge therfore

eche yeer a certain rente; and will not suffer oon in an-others

limitacion, right as ye were your-selves lordes of contreys?

16. Why be ye not under youre bisshops visitacions, and liegemen to oure kinge?

16. Why be ye not under youre bisshops visitacions, and liege

men to oure kinge?

17. Why axe ye no letters of bretherhedes of other mensprayers, as ye desyre that other men shulde aske letters of you?

17. Why axe ye no letters of bretherhedes of other mens

prayers, as ye desyre that other men shulde aske letters of you?

9018. If youre letters be good, why graunte ye them not generallyto al maner men, for the more charitè?

18. If youre letters be good, why graunte ye them not generally

to al maner men, for the more charitè?

19. Mow ye make ony man more perfit brother for yourprayers, than god hath by oure beleve, by our baptyme and hisowne graunte? If ye mowe, certes, than ye be above god.

19. Mow ye make ony man more perfit brother for your

prayers, than god hath by oure beleve, by our baptyme and his

owne graunte? If ye mowe, certes, than ye be above god.

9520. Why make ye men beleve that your golden trentall songeof you, to take therfore ten shillinges, or at the leest fyveshillinges, will bringe soules out of helle, or out of purgatorye?If this be sooth, certes, ye might bring all soules out of payne.And that wolle ye nought; and than ye be out of charitè.

20. Why make ye men beleve that your golden trentall songe

of you, to take therfore ten shillinges, or at the leest fyve

shillinges, will bringe soules out of helle, or out of purgatorye?

If this be sooth, certes, ye might bring all soules out of payne.

And that wolle ye nought; and than ye be out of charitè.

10021. Why make ye men beleve, that he that is buried in yourehabit shall never come in hell; and ye wite not of youre-selfe,whether ye shall to hell, or no? And if this were sooth, yeshulde selle youre high houses, to make many habites, for to savemany mens soules.

100

21. Why make ye men beleve, that he that is buried in youre

habit shall never come in hell; and ye wite not of youre-selfe,

whether ye shall to hell, or no? And if this were sooth, ye

shulde selle youre high houses, to make many habites, for to save

many mens soules.

10522. Why stele ye mens children for to make hem of youresecte; sith that theft is agaynst goddes heste; and sithe youresecte is not perfit? Ye know not whether the rule that ye bindehim to, be best for him or worst!

105

22. Why stele ye mens children for to make hem of youre

secte; sith that theft is agaynst goddes heste; and sithe youre

secte is not perfit? Ye know not whether the rule that ye binde

him to, be best for him or worst!

23. Why undernime ye not your brethren, for their trespas110after the lawe of the gospell; sith that underneminge is the bestthat may be? But ye put them in prison ofte, whan they do aftergoddes lawe; and, by saynt Austines rule, if ony did amisse andwolde not amende him, ye should put him from you.

23. Why undernime ye not your brethren, for their trespas

110

after the lawe of the gospell; sith that underneminge is the best

that may be? But ye put them in prison ofte, whan they do after

goddes lawe; and, by saynt Austines rule, if ony did amisse and

wolde not amende him, ye should put him from you.

24. Why covete ye shrifte, and burying of other mens parishens,115and non other sacrament that falleth to Christen folke?

24. Why covete ye shrifte, and burying of other mens parishens,

115

and non other sacrament that falleth to Christen folke?

25. Why busie ye not to here shrifte of poore folke, as wellas of riche lordes and ladyes; sith they mowe have more plenteeof shrifte-fathers than poore folk may?

25. Why busie ye not to here shrifte of poore folke, as well

as of riche lordes and ladyes; sith they mowe have more plentee

of shrifte-fathers than poore folk may?

26. Why saye ye not the gospel in houses of bedred men; as120ye do in riche mens, that mowe go to churche and here thegospell?

26. Why saye ye not the gospel in houses of bedred men; as

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ye do in riche mens, that mowe go to churche and here the

gospell?

27. Why covette †ye not to burye poore folk among you; siththat they ben moost holy, as ye sayn that ye ben for yourepovertee?

27. Why covette †ye not to burye poore folk among you; sith

that they ben moost holy, as ye sayn that ye ben for youre

povertee?

12528. Why will ye not be at hir diriges, as ye been at riche mens;sith god prayseth hem more than he doth riche men?

125

28. Why will ye not be at hir diriges, as ye been at riche mens;

sith god prayseth hem more than he doth riche men?

29. What is thy prayer worth; sith thou wilt take therefore?For of all chapmen ye nede to be moost wyse; for drede ofsymonye.

29. What is thy prayer worth; sith thou wilt take therefore?

For of all chapmen ye nede to be moost wyse; for drede of

symonye.

13030. What cause hast thou that thou wilt not preche thegospell, as god sayeth that thou shuldest; sith it is the bestlore, and also oure beleve?

130

30. What cause hast thou that thou wilt not preche the

gospell, as god sayeth that thou shuldest; sith it is the best

lore, and also oure beleve?

31. Why be ye evell apayed that secular prestes shulde prechethe gospel; sith god him-selfe hath boden hem?

31. Why be ye evell apayed that secular prestes shulde preche

the gospel; sith god him-selfe hath boden hem?

13532. Why hate ye the gospell to be preched; sith ye be somoche holde thereto? For ye winne more by yere withIn principio, than with all the rules that ever youre patrons made.And, in this, minstrels been better than ye. For they contraryennot to the mirthes that they maken; but ye contraryen the gospell140bothe in worde and dede.

135

32. Why hate ye the gospell to be preched; sith ye be so

moche holde thereto? For ye winne more by yere with

In principio, than with all the rules that ever youre patrons made.

And, in this, minstrels been better than ye. For they contraryen

not to the mirthes that they maken; but ye contraryen the gospell

140

bothe in worde and dede.

33. Frere, whan thou receivest a peny for to say a masse,whether sellest thou goddes body for that peny, or thy prayer,or els thy travail? If thou sayest thou wolt not travaile for tosaye the masse but for the peny, †than certes, if this be soth, than145thou lovest to littel mede for thy soule. And if thou sellestgoddes body, other thy prayer, than it is very symony; and artbecome a chapman worse than Judas, that solde it for thirtypens.

33. Frere, whan thou receivest a peny for to say a masse,

whether sellest thou goddes body for that peny, or thy prayer,

or els thy travail? If thou sayest thou wolt not travaile for to

saye the masse but for the peny, †than certes, if this be soth, than

145

thou lovest to littel mede for thy soule. And if thou sellest

goddes body, other thy prayer, than it is very symony; and art

become a chapman worse than Judas, that solde it for thirty

pens.

34. Why wrytest thou hir names in thy tables, that yeveth thee150moneye; sith god knoweth all thing? For it semeth, by thywryting, that god wolde not rewarde him but thou wryte him inthy tables; god wolde els forgetten it.

34. Why wrytest thou hir names in thy tables, that yeveth thee

150

moneye; sith god knoweth all thing? For it semeth, by thy

wryting, that god wolde not rewarde him but thou wryte him in

thy tables; god wolde els forgetten it.

35. Why berest thou god in honde, and sclaundrest him that hebegged for his mete; sith he was lord over all? For than hadde155he ben unwyse to have begged, and no nede therto.

35. Why berest thou god in honde, and sclaundrest him that he

begged for his mete; sith he was lord over all? For than hadde

155

he ben unwyse to have begged, and no nede therto.

36. Frere, after what law rulest thou thee? Wher findest thouin goddes law that thou shuldest thus begge?

36. Frere, after what law rulest thou thee? Wher findest thou

in goddes law that thou shuldest thus begge?

37. What maner men nedeth for to begge?

Of whom oweth suche men to begge?

160Why beggest thou so for thy brethren?

160

Why beggest thou so for thy brethren?

If thou sayest, for they have nede; than thou doest it for themore perfeccion, or els for the leest, or els for the mene. If it bethe moost perfeccion of all, than shulde al thy brethren do so;and than no man neded to begge but for him-selfe, for so shuld no165man begge but him neded. And if it be the leest perfeccion, whylovest thou than other men more than thy-selfe? For so thou artnot well in charitè; sith thou shuldest seke the more perfeccionafter thy power, livinge thy-selfe moost after god; and thus, levingthat imperfeccion, thou shuldest not so begge for hem. And if170it is a good mene thus to begge as thou doest, than shuld no mando so but they ben in this good mene; and yet such a mene,graunted to you, may never be grounded in goddes lawe; forthan both lered and lewed that ben in mene degrè of this worldeshuld go aboute and begge as ye do. And if all suche shuld do175so, certes, wel nigh al the world shuld go aboute and begge asye do: and so shulde there be ten beggers agaynst oon yever.

If thou sayest, for they have nede; than thou doest it for the

more perfeccion, or els for the leest, or els for the mene. If it be

the moost perfeccion of all, than shulde al thy brethren do so;

and than no man neded to begge but for him-selfe, for so shuld no

165

man begge but him neded. And if it be the leest perfeccion, why

lovest thou than other men more than thy-selfe? For so thou art

not well in charitè; sith thou shuldest seke the more perfeccion

after thy power, livinge thy-selfe moost after god; and thus, leving

that imperfeccion, thou shuldest not so begge for hem. And if

170

it is a good mene thus to begge as thou doest, than shuld no man

do so but they ben in this good mene; and yet such a mene,

graunted to you, may never be grounded in goddes lawe; for

than both lered and lewed that ben in mene degrè of this worlde

shuld go aboute and begge as ye do. And if all suche shuld do

175

so, certes, wel nigh al the world shuld go aboute and begge as

ye do: and so shulde there be ten beggers agaynst oon yever.

38. Why procurest thou men to yeve thee hir almes, and sayestit is so meedful; and thou wilt not thy-selfe winne thee thatmede?

38. Why procurest thou men to yeve thee hir almes, and sayest

it is so meedful; and thou wilt not thy-selfe winne thee that

mede?

18039. Why wilt thou not begge for poore bedred men, that benpoorer than ony of youre secte, that liggen, and mow not goaboute to helpe themselves; sith we be all brethren in god, andthat bretherhed passeth ony other that ye or ony man coudemake? And where moost nede were, there were moost perfeccion;185either els ye holde hem not youre pure brethren, or worse. Butthan ye be imperfite in your begginge.

180

39. Why wilt thou not begge for poore bedred men, that ben

poorer than ony of youre secte, that liggen, and mow not go

aboute to helpe themselves; sith we be all brethren in god, and

that bretherhed passeth ony other that ye or ony man coude

make? And where moost nede were, there were moost perfeccion;

185

either els ye holde hem not youre pure brethren, or worse. But

than ye be imperfite in your begginge.

40. Why make ye you so many maisters among you; sith itis agaynst the techinge of Christ and his apostels?

40. Why make ye you so many maisters among you; sith it

is agaynst the techinge of Christ and his apostels?

41. Whos ben all your riche courtes that ye han, and all your190riche jewels; sith ye sayen that ye han nought, in proper ne incomune? If ye sayn they ben the popes, why †geder ye then, ofpoore men and of lordes, so much out of the kinges honde to makeyour pope riche? And sith ye sayen that it is greet perfeccion tohave nought, in proper ne in comune, why be ye so fast aboute to195make the pope (that is your †fader) riche, and putte on himimperfeccion? Sithen ye sayn that your goodes ben all his, and heshulde by reson be the moost perfit man, it semeth openlich thatye ben cursed children, so to sclaunder your †fader, and makehim imperfit. And if ye sayn that tho goodes be yours, then do200ye ayenst youre rule; and if it be not ayenst your rule, than mightye have both plough and cart, and labour as other good men don,and not so begge to by losengery, and ydell, as ye don. And if yesay that it is more perfeccion to begge than to travaill or worchwith youre hand, why preche ye not openly, and teche all men to205do so, sith it is the best and moost perfit lyf to helpe of hersoules, as ye make children to begge that might have been richeheyres?

41. Whos ben all your riche courtes that ye han, and all your

190

riche jewels; sith ye sayen that ye han nought, in proper ne in

comune? If ye sayn they ben the popes, why †geder ye then, of

poore men and of lordes, so much out of the kinges honde to make

your pope riche? And sith ye sayen that it is greet perfeccion to

have nought, in proper ne in comune, why be ye so fast aboute to

195

make the pope (that is your †fader) riche, and putte on him

imperfeccion? Sithen ye sayn that your goodes ben all his, and he

shulde by reson be the moost perfit man, it semeth openlich that

ye ben cursed children, so to sclaunder your †fader, and make

him imperfit. And if ye sayn that tho goodes be yours, then do

200

ye ayenst youre rule; and if it be not ayenst your rule, than might

ye have both plough and cart, and labour as other good men don,

and not so begge to by losengery, and ydell, as ye don. And if ye

say that it is more perfeccion to begge than to travaill or worch

with youre hand, why preche ye not openly, and teche all men to

205

do so, sith it is the best and moost perfit lyf to helpe of her

soules, as ye make children to begge that might have been riche

heyres?

42. Why make ye not your festes to poore men, and yevethhem yeftes, as ye don to the riche; sith poore men han more210nede than the riche?

42. Why make ye not your festes to poore men, and yeveth

hem yeftes, as ye don to the riche; sith poore men han more

210

nede than the riche?

43. What betokeneth that ye go tweyne and tweyne †togeder?If ye be out of charitè, ye accorden not in soule.

43. What betokeneth that ye go tweyne and tweyne †togeder?

If ye be out of charitè, ye accorden not in soule.

44. Why begge ye, and take salaries therto, more than otherprestes; sith he that moost taketh, most charge he hath?

44. Why begge ye, and take salaries therto, more than other

prestes; sith he that moost taketh, most charge he hath?

21545. Why holde ye not saynt Fraunces rule and his testament;sith Fraunces saith, that god shewed him this living and thisrule? And certes, if it were goddes will, the pope might notfordo it; or els Fraunces was a lyar, that sayde on this wyse.And but this testament that he made accorde with goddes will,220els erred he as a lyar that were out of charitè; and as the lawsayeth, he is accursed that letteth the rightfull last will of a deedman lacke. And this testament is the last will of Fraunces thatis a deed man; it seemeth therefore that all his freres bencursed.

215

45. Why holde ye not saynt Fraunces rule and his testament;

sith Fraunces saith, that god shewed him this living and this

rule? And certes, if it were goddes will, the pope might not

fordo it; or els Fraunces was a lyar, that sayde on this wyse.

And but this testament that he made accorde with goddes will,

220

els erred he as a lyar that were out of charitè; and as the law

sayeth, he is accursed that letteth the rightfull last will of a deed

man lacke. And this testament is the last will of Fraunces that

is a deed man; it seemeth therefore that all his freres ben

cursed.

22546. Why wil ye not touche no coined money with the crosse,ne with the kinges heed, as ye don other jewels both of golde andsilver? Certes, if ye despyse the crosse or the kinges heed, thanye be worthy to be despysed of god and the kinge. And sith yewill receyve money in your hertes and not with youre handes, it230seemeth that ye holde more holinesse in your hondes than in yourhertes; and than be ye false to god.

225

46. Why wil ye not touche no coined money with the crosse,

ne with the kinges heed, as ye don other jewels both of golde and

silver? Certes, if ye despyse the crosse or the kinges heed, than

ye be worthy to be despysed of god and the kinge. And sith ye

will receyve money in your hertes and not with youre handes, it

230

seemeth that ye holde more holinesse in your hondes than in your

hertes; and than be ye false to god.

47. Why have ye exempt you fro our kinges lawes and visitingeof our bishoppes more than other Christen men that liven in thisrealme, if ye be not gilty of traitory to our realme, or trespassers235to oure bishoppes? But ye will have the kinges lawes for trespasdon to you; and ye wil have power of other bishops more thanother prestes; and also have leave to prison youre brethren aslordes in youre courtes, more than other folkes han that ben thekinges lege men.

47. Why have ye exempt you fro our kinges lawes and visitinge

of our bishoppes more than other Christen men that liven in this

realme, if ye be not gilty of traitory to our realme, or trespassers

235

to oure bishoppes? But ye will have the kinges lawes for trespas

don to you; and ye wil have power of other bishops more than

other prestes; and also have leave to prison youre brethren as

lordes in youre courtes, more than other folkes han that ben the

kinges lege men.

24048. Why shal some secte of you freres paye eche yere a certaineto hir generall provinciall or minister, or els to hir soverains,but-if he stele a certain number of children, as some men sayn? Andcertes, if this be soth, than be ye constrayned, upon certainepayne, to do thefte, agaynst goddes commaundement,245non furtum facies.

240

48. Why shal some secte of you freres paye eche yere a certaine

to hir generall provinciall or minister, or els to hir soverains,

but-if he stele a certain number of children, as some men sayn? And

certes, if this be soth, than be ye constrayned, upon certaine

payne, to do thefte, agaynst goddes commaundement,

245

non furtum facies.

49. Why be ye so hardy, to graunte, by letters of fraternitè, tomen and women, that they shall have part and merit of all yourgood dedes; and ye witen never whether god be apayed withyoure dedes because of youre sinne? Also ye witen never whether250that man or woman be in state to be saved or damned; than shallhe have no merit in heven for his owne dedes, ne for none othermans. And all were it so, that he shuld have part of youre gooddedes; yet shulde he have no more than god would geve him,after that he were worthy; and so much shall eche man have of255goddes yefte, withoute youre limitacion. But if ye will saye thatye ben goddes felowes, and that he may not do without youreassent, than be ye blasphemers to god.

49. Why be ye so hardy, to graunte, by letters of fraternitè, to

men and women, that they shall have part and merit of all your

good dedes; and ye witen never whether god be apayed with

youre dedes because of youre sinne? Also ye witen never whether

250

that man or woman be in state to be saved or damned; than shall

he have no merit in heven for his owne dedes, ne for none other

mans. And all were it so, that he shuld have part of youre good

dedes; yet shulde he have no more than god would geve him,

after that he were worthy; and so much shall eche man have of

255

goddes yefte, withoute youre limitacion. But if ye will saye that

ye ben goddes felowes, and that he may not do without youre

assent, than be ye blasphemers to god.

50. What betokeneth that ye have ordeined, that when suchoon as ye have mad youre brother or sister, and hath a letter of260your sele, that letter †mot be brought in youre holy chapter andthere be red; or els ye will not praye for him? But and ye willennot praye specially for all other that weren not mad youre brethrenor sistren, than were ye not in right charitè; for that ought to becommune, and namely in goostly thinges.

50. What betokeneth that ye have ordeined, that when such

oon as ye have mad youre brother or sister, and hath a letter of

260

your sele, that letter †mot be brought in youre holy chapter and

there be red; or els ye will not praye for him? But and ye willen

not praye specially for all other that weren not mad youre brethren

or sistren, than were ye not in right charitè; for that ought to be

commune, and namely in goostly thinges.

26551. Frere, what charitè is this—to overcharge the people bymighty begginge, under colour of prechinge or praying or massessinging? Sith holy writ biddeth not thus, but even the contrary;for al such goostly dedes shulde be don freely, as god yeveth hemfreely.

265

51. Frere, what charitè is this—to overcharge the people by

mighty begginge, under colour of prechinge or praying or masses

singing? Sith holy writ biddeth not thus, but even the contrary;

for al such goostly dedes shulde be don freely, as god yeveth hem

freely.

27052. Frere, what charitè is this—to begyle children or theycommen to discrecion, and binde hem to youre orders, that beennot grounded in goddes lawe, against hir frendes wil? Sithen bythis foly ben many apostatas, both in will and dede, and manyben apostatas in hir will during all hir lyfe, that wolde gladly be275discharged if they wist how; and so, many ben apostatas thatshulden in other states have ben trewe men.

270

52. Frere, what charitè is this—to begyle children or they

commen to discrecion, and binde hem to youre orders, that been

not grounded in goddes lawe, against hir frendes wil? Sithen by

this foly ben many apostatas, both in will and dede, and many

ben apostatas in hir will during all hir lyfe, that wolde gladly be

275

discharged if they wist how; and so, many ben apostatas that

shulden in other states have ben trewe men.

53. Frere, what charitè is this—to make so mony freres inevery countrey, to the charge of the people? Sith persounesand vicares alone, ye, secular prestes alone, ye, monkes and280chanons alone, with bishops above hem, were y-nough to thechurch, to do prestes office. And to adde mo than y-nough isa foul errour, and greet charge to the people; and this is openlyagainst goddes will, that ordeined all thinges to be don in weight,nomber, and mesure. And Christ himself was apayed with twelve285apostles and a few disciples, to preche and do prestes office to allthe hole world; than was it better don than it is now at this tymeby a thousand deel. And right so as foure fingers with a thumbein a mannes hande, helpeth a man to worche, and double nomberof fingers in one hond shuld lette him more; and the more290nomber that there were, passing the mesure of goddes ordinaunce,the more were a man letted to worke: right so, as it semeth, it isof these newe orders that ben added to the church, without groundeof holy writ and goddes ordinaunce.

53. Frere, what charitè is this—to make so mony freres in

every countrey, to the charge of the people? Sith persounes

and vicares alone, ye, secular prestes alone, ye, monkes and

280

chanons alone, with bishops above hem, were y-nough to the

church, to do prestes office. And to adde mo than y-nough is

a foul errour, and greet charge to the people; and this is openly

against goddes will, that ordeined all thinges to be don in weight,

nomber, and mesure. And Christ himself was apayed with twelve

285

apostles and a few disciples, to preche and do prestes office to all

the hole world; than was it better don than it is now at this tyme

by a thousand deel. And right so as foure fingers with a thumbe

in a mannes hande, helpeth a man to worche, and double nomber

of fingers in one hond shuld lette him more; and the more

290

nomber that there were, passing the mesure of goddes ordinaunce,

the more were a man letted to worke: right so, as it semeth, it is

of these newe orders that ben added to the church, without grounde

of holy writ and goddes ordinaunce.

54. Frere, what charitè is this—to lye to the people, and saye295that ye folowe Christ in povertè more than other men don?And yet, in curious and costly howsinge, and fyne and preciousclothing, and delicious and lykinge fedinge, and in tresoure andjewels and riche ornamentes, freres passen lordes and other richeworldly men; and soonest they shuld bringe hir cause aboute,300be it never so costly, though goddes lawe be put abacke.

54. Frere, what charitè is this—to lye to the people, and saye

295

that ye folowe Christ in povertè more than other men don?

And yet, in curious and costly howsinge, and fyne and precious

clothing, and delicious and lykinge fedinge, and in tresoure and

jewels and riche ornamentes, freres passen lordes and other riche

worldly men; and soonest they shuld bringe hir cause aboute,

300

be it never so costly, though goddes lawe be put abacke.

55. Frere, what charitè is this—to †gader up the bokes of holywrit and putte hem in tresory, and so emprisoune hem fromsecular prestes and curates; and by this cautel lette hem topreche the gospell freely to the people without worldly mede; and305also to defame good prestes of heresy, and lyen on hem openly,for to lette hem to shew goddes lawe, by the holy gospell, to theChristen people?

55. Frere, what charitè is this—to †gader up the bokes of holy

writ and putte hem in tresory, and so emprisoune hem from

secular prestes and curates; and by this cautel lette hem to

preche the gospell freely to the people without worldly mede; and

305

also to defame good prestes of heresy, and lyen on hem openly,

for to lette hem to shew goddes lawe, by the holy gospell, to the

Christen people?

56. Frere, what charitè is this—to fayn so much holines inyour bodily clothing, that ye clepe your habit, that many blinde310foles desyren to dye therin more than in an-other? And also,that a frere that leveth his habit (late founden of men), may notbe assoiled till he take it again, but is an apostata, as ye sayn,and cursed of god and man both? The frere beleveth treuth andpacience, chastitè, mekenesse, and sobrietè; yet for the more315part of his lyfe he may soone be assoiled of his prior; and if hebringe hoom to his house much good by yere, be it never sofalsly begged and pilled of the poore and nedy people in courtesaboute, he shal be hold[en] a noble frere! O lord, whether thisbe charitè!

56. Frere, what charitè is this—to fayn so much holines in

your bodily clothing, that ye clepe your habit, that many blinde

310

foles desyren to dye therin more than in an-other? And also,

that a frere that leveth his habit (late founden of men), may not

be assoiled till he take it again, but is an apostata, as ye sayn,

and cursed of god and man both? The frere beleveth treuth and

pacience, chastitè, mekenesse, and sobrietè; yet for the more

315

part of his lyfe he may soone be assoiled of his prior; and if he

bringe hoom to his house much good by yere, be it never so

falsly begged and pilled of the poore and nedy people in courtes

aboute, he shal be hold[en] a noble frere! O lord, whether this

be charitè!

32057. Frere, what charitè is this—to prese upon a riche man,and to entyce him to be buried among you from his parish-church,and to suche riche men geve letters of fraternitè confirmedby youre generall sele, and therby to bere him in honde that heshall have part of all your masses, matins, prechinges, fastinges,325wakinges, and all other good dedes don by your brethren of youreorder (both whyles he liveth and after that he is deed), and yetye witen never whether youre dedes be acceptable to god, newhether that man that hath that letter be able by good living toreceive ony part of youre dedes? And yet a poore man, that ye330wite wel or supposen in certain to have no good of, ye ne geveno such letters, though he be a better man to god than suchea riche man; nevertheles, this poore man doth not recche therof.For, as men supposen, suche letters and many other that freresbehesten to men, be full of false deceites of freres, out of reson335and god[d]es lawe and Christen mens faith.

320

57. Frere, what charitè is this—to prese upon a riche man,

and to entyce him to be buried among you from his parish-church,

and to suche riche men geve letters of fraternitè confirmed

by youre generall sele, and therby to bere him in honde that he

shall have part of all your masses, matins, prechinges, fastinges,

325

wakinges, and all other good dedes don by your brethren of youre

order (both whyles he liveth and after that he is deed), and yet

ye witen never whether youre dedes be acceptable to god, ne

whether that man that hath that letter be able by good living to

receive ony part of youre dedes? And yet a poore man, that ye

330

wite wel or supposen in certain to have no good of, ye ne geve

no such letters, though he be a better man to god than suche

a riche man; nevertheles, this poore man doth not recche therof.

For, as men supposen, suche letters and many other that freres

behesten to men, be full of false deceites of freres, out of reson

335

and god[d]es lawe and Christen mens faith.

58. Frere, what charitè is this—to be confessoures of lordesand ladyes, and to other mighty men, and not amend hem in hirliving; but rather, as it semeth, to be the bolder to pille hir pooretenauntes and to live in lechery, and there to dwelle in your office340of confessour, for winning of worldly goodes, and to be holden greteby colour of suche goostly offices? This seemeth rather prydeof freres than charitè of god.

58. Frere, what charitè is this—to be confessoures of lordes

and ladyes, and to other mighty men, and not amend hem in hir

living; but rather, as it semeth, to be the bolder to pille hir poore

tenauntes and to live in lechery, and there to dwelle in your office

340

of confessour, for winning of worldly goodes, and to be holden grete

by colour of suche goostly offices? This seemeth rather pryde

of freres than charitè of god.

59. Frere, what charitè is this—to sayn that who-so livethafter youre order, liveth most parfitly, and next foloweth the345state of aposteles in povertè and penaunce; and yet the wysestand gretest clerkes of you wende, or sende, or procure to thecourt of Rome to be mad cardinales or bishoppes or the popeschapelayns, and to be assoiled of the vowe of povertè andobedience to your ministers; in the which, as ye sayn, standeth350moost perfeccion and merite of youre orders? And thus ye farenas Pharisees, that sayen oon, and do another to the contrarye.

59. Frere, what charitè is this—to sayn that who-so liveth

after youre order, liveth most parfitly, and next foloweth the

345

state of aposteles in povertè and penaunce; and yet the wysest

and gretest clerkes of you wende, or sende, or procure to the

court of Rome to be mad cardinales or bishoppes or the popes

chapelayns, and to be assoiled of the vowe of povertè and

obedience to your ministers; in the which, as ye sayn, standeth

350

moost perfeccion and merite of youre orders? And thus ye faren

as Pharisees, that sayen oon, and do another to the contrarye.

60. Why name ye more the patron of youre order in youreConfiteor, whan ye beginne masse, than other saintes, as apostels,or marters, that holy churche holde[th] more glorious than hem,355and clepe hem youre patrons and youre avowries?

60. Why name ye more the patron of youre order in youre

Confiteor, whan ye beginne masse, than other saintes, as apostels,

or marters, that holy churche holde[th] more glorious than hem,

355

and clepe hem youre patrons and youre avowries?

61. Frere, whet[h]er was saint Fraunces, in making of his rule thathe sette thyne order in, a fole and lyar, or els wyse and trew? Ifye sayn that he was not a fole but wyse; ne a lyar, but trew; whyshewe ye the contrary by youre doing, whan by youre suggestion to360the pope ye said that Fraunces rule was mad so hard that ye mightnot live to holde it without declaracion and dispensacion of thepope? And so, by youre dede, ye lete your patron a fole, that madea rule so hard that no man may wel kepe [it]; and eke youredede proveth him a lyar, where he sayeth in his rule, that he took365and lerned it of the holy gooste. For how might ye, for shame,praye the pope to undo that the holy goost biddeth, as whan yeprayed him to dispense with the hardnesse of your order?

61. Frere, whet[h]er was saint Fraunces, in making of his rule that

he sette thyne order in, a fole and lyar, or els wyse and trew? If

ye sayn that he was not a fole but wyse; ne a lyar, but trew; why

shewe ye the contrary by youre doing, whan by youre suggestion to

360

the pope ye said that Fraunces rule was mad so hard that ye might

not live to holde it without declaracion and dispensacion of the

pope? And so, by youre dede, ye lete your patron a fole, that made

a rule so hard that no man may wel kepe [it]; and eke youre

dede proveth him a lyar, where he sayeth in his rule, that he took

365

and lerned it of the holy gooste. For how might ye, for shame,

praye the pope to undo that the holy goost biddeth, as whan ye

prayed him to dispense with the hardnesse of your order?

62. Frere, which of the foure orders of freres is best, to a manthat knoweth not which is the beste, but wolde fain enter into the370beste and none other? If thou sayest that thyn is the best, thansayest thou that noon of the other is as good as thyn; and in thiseche frere in the three other orders wolle say that thou lyest; forin the selve maner eche other frere woll say that his order isbeste. And thus to eche of the foure orders ben the other three375contrary in this poynte; in the which if ony say sooth, that is oonaloon; for there may but oon be the beste of foure. So folowethit, that if ech of these orders answered to this question as thoudoest, three were false and but oon trew; and yet no man shuldewite who that were. And thus it semeth, that the moost part of380freres ben or shulde be lyars in this poynt, and they shuldeanswere therto. If †ye say that an-other ordre of the freres isbetter than thyn or as good; why toke ye not rather therto as tothe better, whan thou mightest have chosen at the beginning?And eke, why shuldest thou be an apostata, to leve thyn order385and take thee to that that is better? And so, why goest thou notfrom thyn order into that?

62. Frere, which of the foure orders of freres is best, to a man

that knoweth not which is the beste, but wolde fain enter into the

370

beste and none other? If thou sayest that thyn is the best, than

sayest thou that noon of the other is as good as thyn; and in this

eche frere in the three other orders wolle say that thou lyest; for

in the selve maner eche other frere woll say that his order is

beste. And thus to eche of the foure orders ben the other three

375

contrary in this poynte; in the which if ony say sooth, that is oon

aloon; for there may but oon be the beste of foure. So foloweth

it, that if ech of these orders answered to this question as thou

doest, three were false and but oon trew; and yet no man shulde

wite who that were. And thus it semeth, that the moost part of

380

freres ben or shulde be lyars in this poynt, and they shulde

answere therto. If †ye say that an-other ordre of the freres is

better than thyn or as good; why toke ye not rather therto as to

the better, whan thou mightest have chosen at the beginning?

And eke, why shuldest thou be an apostata, to leve thyn order

385

and take thee to that that is better? And so, why goest thou not

from thyn order into that?

63. Frere, is there ony perfiter rule of religion than Christ,goddes sone, gave in his gospell to his brethren, or than thatreligion that saynt James in his epistle maketh mencion of? If390†ye saye 'yes,' than puttest thou on Christ, that is wysdom ofgod the †fader, uncunning, unpower, or evil will. For eytherthan he coude not make his rule so good as an-other did his,(and so he hadde be uncunning, that he might not make his ruleso good as another man might, and so were he unmighty and not395god); or he wolde not make his rule so perfit as an-other did his(and so had he ben evill-willed, namely to himselfe!) For if hemight, and coude, and wold[e] have mad a rule perfit withoutdefaute, and did not, he was not goddes sone almighty. For ifony other rule be perfiter than Christes, than must Christes rule400lacke of that perfeccion by as much as the other were moreperfiter; and so were defaute, and Christ had failed in makingeof his rule. But to putte ony defaute or failinge in god, isblasphemy. If thou saye that Christes rule and that religionthat saynt James maketh mencion of, is the perfitest; why holdest405thou not than thilke rule without more? And why clepest thouthee rather of saynt Frances or saynt Dominiks rule or religion ororder, than of Christes rule or Christes order?

63. Frere, is there ony perfiter rule of religion than Christ,

goddes sone, gave in his gospell to his brethren, or than that

religion that saynt James in his epistle maketh mencion of? If

390

†ye saye 'yes,' than puttest thou on Christ, that is wysdom of

god the †fader, uncunning, unpower, or evil will. For eyther

than he coude not make his rule so good as an-other did his,

(and so he hadde be uncunning, that he might not make his rule

so good as another man might, and so were he unmighty and not

395

god); or he wolde not make his rule so perfit as an-other did his

(and so had he ben evill-willed, namely to himselfe!) For if he

might, and coude, and wold[e] have mad a rule perfit without

defaute, and did not, he was not goddes sone almighty. For if

ony other rule be perfiter than Christes, than must Christes rule

400

lacke of that perfeccion by as much as the other were more

perfiter; and so were defaute, and Christ had failed in makinge

of his rule. But to putte ony defaute or failinge in god, is

blasphemy. If thou saye that Christes rule and that religion

that saynt James maketh mencion of, is the perfitest; why holdest

405

thou not than thilke rule without more? And why clepest thou

thee rather of saynt Frances or saynt Dominiks rule or religion or

order, than of Christes rule or Christes order?

64. Frere, canst thou assigne ony defaute in Christes rule ofthe gospell, with the whiche he taught al men sikerly to be saved,410if they kepte it to hir endinge? If thou saye it was to hard,than sayest thou that Christ lyed; for he saide of his rule: 'Myyoke is softe, and my burthen light.' If thou saye Christes rulewas to light, that may be assigned for no defaute, for the bettermay it be kept. If thou sayst that there is no defaute in Christes415rule of the gospell, sith Christ him-selfe saith it is light and esy:what nede was it to patrons of freres to adde more therto, and soto make an harder religion, to save freres, than was the religionthat Christes apostels and his disciples helden and weren savedby; but-if they wolden that her freres saten above the apostels420in heven, for the harder religion that they kepen here? And sowolde they sitten in heven above Christ himselfe for the moo andstrait observaunces; than so shulde they be better than Christhimselfe, with misc[h]aunce!

64. Frere, canst thou assigne ony defaute in Christes rule of

the gospell, with the whiche he taught al men sikerly to be saved,

410

if they kepte it to hir endinge? If thou saye it was to hard,

than sayest thou that Christ lyed; for he saide of his rule: 'My

yoke is softe, and my burthen light.' If thou saye Christes rule

was to light, that may be assigned for no defaute, for the better

may it be kept. If thou sayst that there is no defaute in Christes

415

rule of the gospell, sith Christ him-selfe saith it is light and esy:

what nede was it to patrons of freres to adde more therto, and so

to make an harder religion, to save freres, than was the religion

that Christes apostels and his disciples helden and weren saved

by; but-if they wolden that her freres saten above the apostels

420

in heven, for the harder religion that they kepen here? And so

wolde they sitten in heven above Christ himselfe for the moo and

strait observaunces; than so shulde they be better than Christ

himselfe, with misc[h]aunce!

Go now forth, and frayne youre clerkes,425And grounde you in goddes lawe, and geve Jack answere.And whan ye han assoiled me that I have said, sadly in treuth,I shall soill thee of thyn order, and save thee to heven!

Go now forth, and frayne youre clerkes,

425

And grounde you in goddes lawe, and geve Jack answere.

And whan ye han assoiled me that I have said, sadly in treuth,

I shall soill thee of thyn order, and save thee to heven!

If freres cunne not or mow not excuse hem of these questionsasked of hem, it semeth that they be horrible gilty against god430and hir even-Christen; for which gyltes and defautes it wereworthy that the order that they calle hir order were for-don. Andit is wonder that men susteyne hem or suffer hem live in suchemaner. For holy writ biddeth that thou do well to the meke,and geve not to the wicked, but forbid to geve hem breed, lest435they be mad thereby mightier through you. Finis.

If freres cunne not or mow not excuse hem of these questions

asked of hem, it semeth that they be horrible gilty against god

430

and hir even-Christen; for which gyltes and defautes it were

worthy that the order that they calle hir order were for-don. And

it is wonder that men susteyne hem or suffer hem live in suche

maner. For holy writ biddeth that thou do well to the meke,

and geve not to the wicked, but forbid to geve hem breed, lest

435

they be mad thereby mightier through you. Finis.

¶ Prynted for Jhon Gough.Cum Priuilegio Regali.

¶ Prynted for Jhon Gough.

Cum Priuilegio Regali.

FromC. (= printed copy in Caius Coll. library, Cambridge);I give here rejected spellings; readings markedSp.are fromSpeght.

3. walkyn. deceauen. 5, 6, 7. bene (forbeen;very often). 6. folke. founde. 9. kynreddes. 11. grasse, nether nething (sic). 12. onely. her lyfes. 13. had; Sp. han. 15. hym (forhem). wreches. 16.-selfes.18. the. 20. teacheth. don. 21. not; Sp. nought. dyspleasynge. harme. 22. because (Sp. that). 23. greatest.

25. reason. write. 26. not; Sp. nought. 28. earthe. 29. thyne. 31. perfyte. 32. the. 33. break. 34. breake. 35. one. 36. speaketh. mor; Sp. more. lef; Sp. left. 37. leaueth. 38. one. 39. Christe. 40. abytes; Sp. habits. 41. leaue. wyfe. yeare. 42. you;readye. leaue. abyte; Sp. habit. yeare. 44. abyte; Sp. habit. 45. weareth (twice). 46. the abbyte; Sp. your habit. 48. apostatase; Sp. apostataes. by; Sp. buy. 50. greate hoode. 51. coape. 52. one coloure. 53. bene. 57. sayde. clotynge (!). 58. maye. weare clothynge.

60. Sp.om.inbeforeanother. 61. speake. leaue. 62. eate. 65. easy. 66. ether; Sp. either. vnperfyte. 67. harde. seker; Sp. siker. 68. her. 69. selfes. 70. ye you; Sp.om.ye (!). 70, 71. deade (twice). beggers; Sp. beggars. ye; Sp. you. 72. deade. 74. heare. 75. eare; Sp. ere. Sp. haue ben (C.om.haue). 78. Sp. falleth it to. 78, 79. deade (twice). 79. gorgeous buyldinges; Sp. courts. 80. maye; Sp. now (error formow). 81. welnygh; Sp. will (!). 83. here; Sp. heire (readhyre). geuynge. 84. yeare. certayne. one. 91. Sp. of men. 92. perfyte. Sp. brether (!). 93. baptyme; Sp. baptisme.

96. Sp.om.the. least. 97. oute. 98, 102. south; Sp. sooth. 101. abyte; Sp. habit. 103. abytes. 105. steale. 107. wether; Sp. whether. 109. vndermyne (forvndernyme); Sp. vnderneme. 111. maye. presonne; Sp. prison. 112. Sp. Augustines. dyd; Sp. doe. 114. buryenge. 115. none. 116. heare; Sp. heare to. 117. plentie. 118. folke maye. 120. heare. 122.Bothyou. folke amonge. 123. sayne. 124. pouertye. 125. her. bene. 126. Sp. other (forriche). 128. Sp.om.of. 130. wylte. preache.

133. payed; Sp. apaid. preache. 134. gosgel (!). Sp. bodden. hym; Sp. hem. 135. preached. 136. yeare. 139. myrtes; Sp. mirths. 142. Sp. thy; C.om.(beforeprayer). 144. Sp. that certes (error forthan certes); C. & certes. 149. her. the. 150. thynge. 151. Sp. writest; Sp.om.him. 152. Sp. forgotten (!). 153. bearest. 154. meate. 156. the. 159. C. Of; Sp. For. 162. perfection (butperfeccionin l.163). least. meane (often). 165. least. 166. arte.

167. charytye. sithe. 168. leauynge. 169. Sp. them (forhem). 170. doeste. 173. learned and lewd; Sp. lerid and leaud. 174. Sp.om.suche. 176. one. 177. the here. 178. C. medefull; Sp. needful. the. 182. themselfes. 183. coulde. 185. hym; Sp. them (readhem). C. or; Sp. but. 187. amonge. 188. teachynge. 189. Whose. rych. 190. yewels; Sp. iewels. improper ne; Sp. ne in proper ne in. 191. cumune; Sp. common. sayne. gether; Sp. gather. 192. Sp.om.of. 193. great. 194. in proper ne comune; Sp. in proper be (!) in common. 195. father rych. put. 197. reason. perfite. 198. father. 199. imperfyte. sayne. Sp. the (fortho).

201. carte. done. 202. lesyngery; Sp. losengery. done. 204. preach. teach. 205. perfyte lyfe. 206. be; Sp. bin. 208. feastes. 209. done. rych. 211. together. 212. charitie. 214. Sp.om. 2ndhe. 220. C. as; Sp. is (!) charytie. 221. Sp. accursed; C. cursede. C.om.last. dead. 222. Sp.om.lacke. least; Sp. last. 223. dead. C.om.therefore. 226. hedde. done. 227. heade. 229. receaue. 229, 231. hartes (twice). 231. Sp.om.ye. 232. exempte. 234. gyltye. traytery. trespasers. 235. Sp. your (foroure). Sp. the trespasse (fortrespas). 236. done.

240. eche yeare; Sp. ech a yere. 241. her (twice). 242. steale. certayne. sayne. 247. merite. 248. whyther; Sp. whether. payde; Sp. apayed. 249. weten; Sp. witten. 251. meryte. heauen. 252. man (formans, shaving dropped out); Sp. mans. 253. ye (forhe); Sp. he. 256. folowes; Sp. fellowes. maye. 258. tokeneth; Sp. betokeneth. 259. one. made. 260. seale. mought (readmot). 261. redde; Sp. rad. Sp. And but. 262. Sp.om. 1stnot. specyally; Sp. especially. made. 264. commne (!). goostely; Sp. ghostly. 266. myghtie. coloure. preachynge. prayeng. 267. write. 268. done frely. 269. frely. 271. him; Sp. hem.

272. her. 273-275. apostatase; Sp. apostataes. 278. personnes. 280. him; Sp. them. 282. foule. greate. 283. done. 284. measure. payd; Sp. apaied. 285. preache. 286. Sp. whole. Sp.om. 2ndit. 287. deal; Sp. dele. 289. let. Sp. and so the (om.so). 290. measure. 293. wryte. 295. pouertye. done. 297. treasoure. 298. rych. 299. wordly; Sp. worldly. bring her. 300. costely. abake; Sp. abacke. 301. gather (readgader). 302. wryte. put. emprysonne. 303. let. him; Sp. hem. 304. preache. frely. wordely; Sp. worldly.

306. let. 308. fayn. 309. bodely. 309, 311. abyte; Sp. habit. 311. leaueth. 311, 315. maye. 312. Sp.om.an. sayne. 315. parte. 316. home. by yeare; Sp. by the yeare. 317. courtes &; Sp. countries (perhaps better). 318. C. Sp. hold (forholden). 320.Bothprease. 323. seale. beare. 324. parte. preachynges. 325. done. 326. dead. 329. receaue. 330. certaine. 331. no; Sp. to (!). 332. rych. reche; Sp. retch. 334. behesten; Sp. behoten. reason; Sp. all reason. 337. laydes (forladyes). her. 338. pyl her. 339. dwel. 340. greate.

341. coloure. 344. mooste perfytely. 345. wyseste. 346. greatest clarkes. 347. made. 348. chappelaynes. povertye. 351. one. 354. hol (forholy); Sp. holy. holde; Sp. hold (readholdeth). them. 357. set. 358. sayne. 359. shew. 360. C. that Fraunces rule was made so harde; Sp. that your rule that Francis made was so hard. C. might; Sp. mow. 363. harde. maye.Supplyit. 364. toke. 365. learned. 366. Sp.om.to. C. byddeth; Sp. bit. Sp. when; C.om.369. fayne. 370. thyne. 371. none. thyne. 372, 374. thre. 373. C. selfe; Sp. self same. 375. one.

376. alone. one. 378. thre. one. 381.Bothyou;readye. 382. thine. 384. apostate; Sp. apostata. leaue. 385. the. 388. sonne. 390.Bothyou;readye. wysdome. 391. father vncunyng. Sp.om.eyther. 392, 397. coulde (twice). 393. Sp. had he. 395. perfyte. 397. made. perfyte. 398. defate; Sp. default. sonne. 401. weren. 402. put. 404. C. that saynt; Sp. which saint. the perfytest; Sp. perfectest. 405. Sp.om.than. 406. the (readthee). 408. Sp. any default or (!) assigne. 409. sekerly; Sp. sikerly. 410. her. harde.

415. easye. 416. mor; Sp. more. 418. that; Sp. of (!). 420, 421. heauen (twice). 421. Christe. 424. frayen(forfrayne); Sp. fraine. 425. C. ye in; Sp. ye you in (readyou in). 426. sayde.Read—And whan ye han soiled that I saide, sadly in treuthe. 427. soyll the. thyne. order; Sp. orders. the; Sp. thee. heauen. 428. C. cunne; Sp. kun. 430. her. 431. her. fordone. 432. hem lyue; Sp. hir live. 433. wryte. 434. bread leste. 435. made. Sp.om.Finis.

IV. JOHN GOWER

UNTO THE WORTHY AND NOBLE KINGE HENRY THE FOURTH.

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