. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Of alle manner of minstrales,And jestours, that tellen talesBoth of weeping and of game.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Of alle manner of minstrales,And jestours, that tellen talesBoth of weeping and of game.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Of alle manner of minstrales,
And jestours, that tellen tales
Both of weeping and of game.
House of fame, liv. III.
Activa vitadans Langland montre qu'elle n'est pas un ménestrel en déclarant qu'elle ne sait pas jouer du tambourin ni réciter de belles gestes héroïques:
Ich can nat tabre ne trompe · ne telle faire gestes.
The Vision of William, etc., texte C,passusXVI, vers 206.
Dans le manuel de conversation appeléLa manière de langage, composé au quatorzième siècle par un Anglais (publié par M. Paul Meyer,Revue critique, t. X, p. 373), on voit que le voyageur de distinction écoutait à l'auberge des musiciens et mêlait au besoin sa voix à leur musique: «Doncques viennent avant ou présence du signeur les corneours et clariouers ov leur fretielles et clarions, et se comencent à corner et clariouer très [fort], et puis le signeur ou ses escuiers se croulent, banlent, dancent, houvent et chantent de biaux karoles sanz cesser jusques à mynuyt.»
(20)RÉCEPTION DES MÉNESTRELS DANS LES CHATEAUX(p.118).—Horn et ses compagnons, dans le roman deKing Hornse déguisent en ménestrels et se présentent à la porte du château de Rymenhild:
Hi ȝeden bi the grauelToward the castel,Hi gunne murie singeAnd makede here gleowinge.Rymenhild hit gan ihereAnd axede what hi were:Hi sede, hi weren harpurs,And sume were gigours.He dude Horn inn lateRiȝt at halle gate,He sette him on a bencheHis harpe for to clenche.
Hi ȝeden bi the grauelToward the castel,Hi gunne murie singeAnd makede here gleowinge.Rymenhild hit gan ihereAnd axede what hi were:Hi sede, hi weren harpurs,And sume were gigours.He dude Horn inn lateRiȝt at halle gate,He sette him on a bencheHis harpe for to clenche.
Hi ȝeden bi the grauel
Toward the castel,
Hi gunne murie singe
And makede here gleowinge.
Rymenhild hit gan ihere
And axede what hi were:
Hi sede, hi weren harpurs,
And sume were gigours.
He dude Horn inn late
Riȝt at halle gate,
He sette him on a benche
His harpe for to clenche.
King Horn, éd. J. Rawson Lumby, Early english text society, Londres, 1866, 8o, vers 1465.
(21)LES ROMANS EN ANGLETERRE: LES ORIGINES FABULEUSES DE LA NATION(p.118).—Les premiers romans récités en Angleterre le furent nécessairement en français; puis on se mit à les traduire. L'ensemble des romans anglais est traduit ou imité du français. Les modèles français avaient grande réputation: le traducteur du roman de Guillaume de Palerne, malgré sa liberté d'allures, affirme qu'il suit exactement le texte français et s'en fait une gloire.
In this wise hat William al his werke ended,As fully as the frensche fully wold aske,And as his witte him wold serve though it were febul.
In this wise hat William al his werke ended,As fully as the frensche fully wold aske,And as his witte him wold serve though it were febul.
In this wise hat William al his werke ended,
As fully as the frensche fully wold aske,
And as his witte him wold serve though it were febul.
(The romance of William of Palerne.... translated....about A. D. 1350, éd. Skeat, 1867, 8o, v. 5521.)
Ce même traducteur ajoute qu'il a fait son travail à la demande de Humphrey de Bohun, comte de Hereford. Le comte lui commanda ce poème en vue des personnes ignorant le français et qui, comme onvoit, comptaient alors (1350) parmi celles que la littérature peut intéresser:
He let make this mater in this maner specheFor han that knowe no frensche ne neuer vnderston.
(Ibid., vers 5532.)
Layamon, au commencement du treizième siècle, inséra pour l'édification de ses compatriotes, dans son grand poème anglais deBrut, les légendes qui faisaient descendre d'Énée la race des souverains bretons. Ces origines fabuleuses n'avaient été exposées jusque-là qu'en latin et en français. LeBrutde Layamon est en grande partie emprunté à Wace, mais le poète indigène ajouta beaucoup à son modèle (Layamon's Brut, éd. Madden, 1847, 3 vol. 8o). Quantité de romans anglais postérieurs se réfèrent à ces origines qui ne sont plus discutées. Ainsi l'auteur deSir Gawaynedébute en rappelant qu'après le siège de Troie, Romulus fonda Rome, «Ticius» peupla le pays Toscan, «Langaberde» la Lombardie, et Brutus s'établit dans la Grande-Bretagne (Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, éd. Morris, 1864, 8o). Il assure à la fin son lecteur que tous ses récits sont tirés des «Brutus bokees», ce qui était une garantie suffisante d'authenticité. On sait que les chroniqueurs ne furent pas moins crédules sur ce point que les faiseurs de romans; les protestations de Giraud le Cambrien et de Guillaume de Newbury (dans leproœmiumde son histoire) furent écartées, et Robert de Gloucester, Pierre de Langtoft, Ranulph Higden(«a Bruto eam acquirente dicta est Britannia,»Polychronicon, éd. Babington, t. II, p. 4), l'auteur anonyme de l'Eulogium historiarumet foule d'autres chroniqueurs autorisés accueillirent dans leurs écrits ces vaines légendes.
(22)LES ROMANS DU QUATORZIÈME SIÈCLE RIDICULISÉS PARCHAUCER(p.122).—On trouvera des spécimens de ces romans dans le recueil:The Thornton romances, éd. Halliwell, Camden society, 4o, 1844. Les romans publiés dans ce volume sont:Perceval,Isumbras,EglamouretDegrevant. Le plus long n'a pas 3000 vers;Isumbrasn'en a pas 1000. Le manuscrit, qui est à la cathédrale de Lincoln, contient beaucoup d'autres romans, notamment uneVie d'Alexandre, uneMort d'Arthur, unOctavien, unDioclétien, sans parler d'une foule de prières en vers, de recettes pour guérir les maux de dents, de prédictions sur le temps, etc.
Après une prière, ces romans débutent ainsi:
I wille yow telle of a knyghte,That bothe was stalworthe and wyghte,And worthily undir wede;His name was hattene syr Ysambrace.
I wille yow telle of a knyghte,That bothe was stalworthe and wyghte,And worthily undir wede;His name was hattene syr Ysambrace.
I wille yow telle of a knyghte,
That bothe was stalworthe and wyghte,
And worthily undir wede;
His name was hattene syr Ysambrace.
(Isumbras.)
Y shalle telle yow of a knyghtThat was bothe hardy and wyghtAnd stronge in eche a stowre.
Y shalle telle yow of a knyghtThat was bothe hardy and wyghtAnd stronge in eche a stowre.
Y shalle telle yow of a knyght
That was bothe hardy and wyght
And stronge in eche a stowre.
(Sir Eglamour.)
And y schalle karppe off a knyghtThat was both hardy and wyghtSire Degrevaunt that hend hyght,That dowghty was of dede.
And y schalle karppe off a knyghtThat was both hardy and wyghtSire Degrevaunt that hend hyght,That dowghty was of dede.
And y schalle karppe off a knyght
That was both hardy and wyght
Sire Degrevaunt that hend hyght,
That dowghty was of dede.
(Degrevant.)
Chaucer psalmodie sur le même ton, dans sa parodie des romans de cette sorte:
....I wol telle verraymentOf myrthe and of solas.Al of a knyght was fair and gentIn batail and in tornament,His name was Sir Thopas.
....I wol telle verraymentOf myrthe and of solas.Al of a knyght was fair and gentIn batail and in tornament,His name was Sir Thopas.
....I wol telle verrayment
Of myrthe and of solas.
Al of a knyght was fair and gent
In batail and in tornament,
His name was Sir Thopas.
(The tale of Sir Thopas.)
Et l'hôte l'interrompt d'un ton bourru:
«No mor of this, for Goddes dignité!»Quod owr Hoste, «for thou makest meSo wery of thy verry lewednesse,That, al-so wisly God my soule blesse,Myn eeres aken for thy drasty speche.»
«No mor of this, for Goddes dignité!»Quod owr Hoste, «for thou makest meSo wery of thy verry lewednesse,That, al-so wisly God my soule blesse,Myn eeres aken for thy drasty speche.»
«No mor of this, for Goddes dignité!»
Quod owr Hoste, «for thou makest me
So wery of thy verry lewednesse,
That, al-so wisly God my soule blesse,
Myn eeres aken for thy drasty speche.»
(Discours de l'hôte, après le contede sire Thopas,Prologe to Melibeus.)
(23)CHANSONS POPULAIRES ANGLAISES DU MOYEN AGE(p.131).—Recueils à consulter:
Ancient songs and ballads from the reign of Henry II to the Revolution, collected by John Ritson (édition revue par Hazlitt), Londres, 1877, 12o.
Political songs of England, edited by Thomas Wright, Londres, 1839, 4o.
Songs and carols now first printed from a ms. of the XVth century, edited by Thomas Wright, Percy society, Londres, 1847, 8o.
Political poems and songs, from Edward III toRichard III, edited by Thomas Wright (Collection du Maître des rôles), Londres, 1859, 2 vol. 8o.
Political, religious and love poems, edited by F. J. Furnivall, Londres, Early english text society, 1866, 8o.
On trouvera dans ces recueils beaucoup de chansons satiriques sur les vices du temps, sur les exagérations de la mode, le mauvais gouvernement du roi, sur les lollards, sur les frères; des plaisanteries sur les femmes, avec quelques chants plus relevés excitant le roi à défendre l'honneur national et à faire la guerre: ex. dans le livre de M. Furnivall, p. 4. Noter dans le même ouvrage le chant sur la mort du duc de Suffolk:
Here folowythe a Dyrge made by the comons of Kent in the tyme of ther rysynge, when Jake Cade was theyr cappitayn:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Who shall execute yefest of solempnite?Bysshoppis and lords, as gret reson is.Monkes, chanons, and prestis, withall yeclergy,Prayeth for hym that he may com to blys,And that nevar such anothar come aftar this!His intersectures, blessid mot they be,And graunt them to reygne with aungellis!For Jake Napys sowle, placebo and dirige.«Placebo,» begyneth the bishop of Hereforthe;«Dilexi,» quod yebisshop of Chester....
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Who shall execute yefest of solempnite?Bysshoppis and lords, as gret reson is.Monkes, chanons, and prestis, withall yeclergy,Prayeth for hym that he may com to blys,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Who shall execute yefest of solempnite?
Bysshoppis and lords, as gret reson is.
Monkes, chanons, and prestis, withall yeclergy,
Prayeth for hym that he may com to blys,
And that nevar such anothar come aftar this!His intersectures, blessid mot they be,And graunt them to reygne with aungellis!For Jake Napys sowle, placebo and dirige.
And that nevar such anothar come aftar this!
His intersectures, blessid mot they be,
And graunt them to reygne with aungellis!
For Jake Napys sowle, placebo and dirige.
«Placebo,» begyneth the bishop of Hereforthe;«Dilexi,» quod yebisshop of Chester....
«Placebo,» begyneth the bishop of Hereforthe;
«Dilexi,» quod yebisshop of Chester....
(24)LES MÉNESTRELS ET LES ROMANS A LARENAISSANCE(p.138).—Jugement de Philippe Stubbes sur lesménestrels: «Suche drunken sockets and bawdye parasits as range the cuntreyes, ryming and singing of vncleane, corrupt and filthie songs in tauernes, alehouses, innes and other publique assemblies....
«Euery toune, citey and countrey is full of these minstrelles to pype vp a dance to the deuill; but of dyuines, so few there be as they maye hardly be seene.
«But some of them will reply, and say, what, sir! we haue lycences from iustices of peace to pype and vse our minstralsie to our best commoditie. Cursed be those licences which lycense any man to get his lyuing with the destruction of many thousands!
«But haue you a lycence from the arch-iustice of peace, Christe Iesus? If you haue not.... then may you as rogues, extrauagantes, and straglers from the heauenly country, be arrested of the high iustice of peace, Christ Iesus, and be punished with eternall death, notwithstanding your pretensed licences of earthly men.»Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of abuses, éd. F. J. Furnivall, Londres, 1877-78, 8o, pp. 171, 172.
L'opinion de Stubbes est partagée au seizième siècle par tous les écrivains qui se piquent de religion ou d'austérité de mœurs. Les vieux romans sont condamnés en même temps que les ménestrels; on voit dans ces poèmes des œuvres de papistes, et c'est tout dire. Tyndal, dans sonObedience of a christian man, reproche aux poètes catholiques de laisser leurs ouailles lire ces romans de préférence à la Bible:
«They permitte and soffre you te reade Robyn Hode and Bevise of Hampton, Hercules, Hector and Troylus with a thousande histories and fables of love, wantones and of rybaudry.»
Ascham écrit dans sonScholemaster(1570):
«In our forefathers tyme, whan papistrie as a standyng poole, couered and ouerflowed all England, fewe bookes were read in our tong, sauyng certaine bookes of cheualrie, as they sayd, for pastime and pleasure, which as some say, were made in monasteries, by idle monkes or wanton chanons: as one for example,Morte Arthure: the whole pleasure of whiche booke standeth in two speciall poyntes, in open mans slaughter and bold bawdrye: in which booke those be counted the noblest knightes, that do kill most men without any quarell, and commit fowlest aduoulteres by sutlest shiftes.»
(25)LES FRÈRES MENDIANTS JUGÉS PAR LES POÈTES, PARWYCLIF, PAR LES CONCILES, PARSIRTHOMASMORE, ETC.(p.183).—Portrait du frère par Chaucer:
Ful wel biloved and familiar was heWith frankeleyns overal his cuntreAnd eeke with worthi wommen of the toun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ful sweetly herde he confessiounAnd plesaunt was his absolucioun;He was an esy man to yeve penanceTher as he wiste to han good pitance:For unto a povre ordre for to geveIs signe that a man is wel i-schreve.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .He knew wel the tavernes in every tounAnd every ostiller or gay tapstere.
Ful wel biloved and familiar was heWith frankeleyns overal his cuntreAnd eeke with worthi wommen of the toun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ful sweetly herde he confessiounAnd plesaunt was his absolucioun;He was an esy man to yeve penanceTher as he wiste to han good pitance:For unto a povre ordre for to geveIs signe that a man is wel i-schreve.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .He knew wel the tavernes in every tounAnd every ostiller or gay tapstere.
Ful wel biloved and familiar was he
With frankeleyns overal his cuntre
And eeke with worthi wommen of the toun.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ful sweetly herde he confessioun
And plesaunt was his absolucioun;
He was an esy man to yeve penance
Ther as he wiste to han good pitance:
For unto a povre ordre for to geve
Is signe that a man is wel i-schreve.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
He knew wel the tavernes in every toun
And every ostiller or gay tapstere.
Prologue of the Canterbury tales, éd. Morris, t. II, p. 8.
Portrait par le moine Thomas Walsingham:
«Qui [ordines] suæ professionis immemores, obliti sunt etiam ad quid ipsorum ordines instituti sunt; quia pauperes et omnino expeditos a rerum temporalium possessionibus, eorum legislatores, viri sanctissimi, eos esse ideo voluerunt, ut pro dicenda veritate non haberent quod amittere formidarent. Sed jam possessionatis invidentes, procerum crimina approbantes, commune vulgus in errore foventes, et utrorumque peccata commendantes, pro possessionibus acquirendis, qui possessionibus renunciaverant, pro pecuniis congregandis, qui in paupertate perseverare juraverant, dicunt bonum malum et malum bonum, seducentes principes adulationibus, plebem mendaciis et utrosque secum in devium pertrahentes.» Walsingham ajoute qu'un proverbe familier de son temps était celui-ci: «Hic est frater, ergo mendax.»Historia anglicana, 1867-9, 3 vol. 8o, t. II, pp. 10-13.
Chanson populaire du XIVesiècle sur les frères:
Preste ne monke ne yit chanounNe no man of religiounGyfen hem so to devociounAs done thes holy frers.For summe gyven ham chyvalry,Somme to riote and ribaudery;Bot ffrers gyven ham to grete studyAnd to grete prayers.
Preste ne monke ne yit chanounNe no man of religiounGyfen hem so to devociounAs done thes holy frers.For summe gyven ham chyvalry,Somme to riote and ribaudery;Bot ffrers gyven ham to grete studyAnd to grete prayers.
Preste ne monke ne yit chanoun
Ne no man of religioun
Gyfen hem so to devocioun
As done thes holy frers.
For summe gyven ham chyvalry,
Somme to riote and ribaudery;
Bot ffrers gyven ham to grete study
And to grete prayers.
Après ces strophes ironiques vient un réquisitoire formel trop détaillé pour être cité (Political poems and songs, éd Wright, t. I, p. 263).
Emploi de l'habit des frères par des laïques au moment de l'agonie:
Isti fratres prædicant per villas et forumQuod si mortem gustet quis in habitu minorumNon intrabit postea locum tormentorum,Sed statim perducitur ad regna cœlorum.
Isti fratres prædicant per villas et forumQuod si mortem gustet quis in habitu minorumNon intrabit postea locum tormentorum,Sed statim perducitur ad regna cœlorum.
Isti fratres prædicant per villas et forum
Quod si mortem gustet quis in habitu minorum
Non intrabit postea locum tormentorum,
Sed statim perducitur ad regna cœlorum.
Si c'est un pauvre qui demande la sépulture dans leurs églises privilégiées:
Gardianus absens est, statim respondetur,Et sic satis breviter pauper excludetur.
(Satire du quatorzième siècle, publiée par Th. Wright:Political poems and songs, t. I, pp. 256-7.)
Wyclif dit de même: «Thei techen lordis and namely ladies that if they dyen in Fraunceys habite, thei schulle nevere cum in helle for vertu therof.»Select english works, éd. T. Arnold, Oxford, 1869, 3 vol. 8o, t. III, p. 382.
Objets divers vendus ou donnés en cadeaux par les frères dans leurs tournées:
Thai wandren here and thereAnd dele with dyvers marcerye,Right as thai pedlers were.Thai dele with purses, pynnes and knyvesWith gyrdles, gloves, for wenches and wyves.
Thai wandren here and thereAnd dele with dyvers marcerye,Right as thai pedlers were.Thai dele with purses, pynnes and knyvesWith gyrdles, gloves, for wenches and wyves.
Thai wandren here and there
And dele with dyvers marcerye,
Right as thai pedlers were.
Thai dele with purses, pynnes and knyves
With gyrdles, gloves, for wenches and wyves.
Political poems and songs, éd. Wright, t. I, p. 263.
De même dans Chaucer:
His typet was ay farsud ful of knyfesAnd pynnes, for to yive faire wyfes.
Et mieux encore dans un des traités publiés par M. F. D. Matthew,The english works of Wyclif hitherto unprinted, Londres, Early english text society, 1880, 8o; (la plupart des pièces composant ce recueil sont seulement attribuées à Wyclif):
«Thei becomen pedderis, berynge knyues, pursis, pynnys and girdlis and spices and sylk and precious pellure and forrouris for wymmen, and therto smale gentil hondis, to get love of hem.»
Les frères se glissent dans la familiarité des grands; ils aiment, selon Wyclif, «to speke bifore lordis and sitte at tho mete with hom... also to be confessoures of lordis and ladyes.» (Select english works of John Wyclif, éd. T. Arnold, t. III, p. 396.) Langland, dans saVision de Piers Plowman, leur fait les mêmes reproches. On lit encore dans un autre traité: «Thei geten hem worldly offis in lordis courtis, and also to ben conseilours and reuleris of werris summe to ben chamberleyns to lordes and ladies.» F. D. Matthew:The english works of Wyclif, hitherto unprinted.
Gower fait aussi aux frères ces mêmes reproches:
Nec rex nec princeps nec magnas talis in orbe estQui sua secreta non fateatur eis:Et sic mendici dominos superant, et ab orbeUsurpant tacite quod negat ordo palam.
Nec rex nec princeps nec magnas talis in orbe estQui sua secreta non fateatur eis:Et sic mendici dominos superant, et ab orbeUsurpant tacite quod negat ordo palam.
Nec rex nec princeps nec magnas talis in orbe est
Qui sua secreta non fateatur eis:
Et sic mendici dominos superant, et ab orbe
Usurpant tacite quod negat ordo palam.
Poema quod dicitur Vox Clamantis, éd. Coxe,Roxburghe club, 1850, 4o, p. 228.
Les frères, d'après le concile de Saltzbourg (1386), empiètent sur le rôle des curés; le concile condamne leurs sermons:
«Quia religiosos, præcipue fratres mendicantes, decet puritatem omnimodam in suis actibus observare: quoniam tamen... tamquam pseudo-prophetæ fabulosis prædicationibus audientium animos plerumque seducunt; et quamquam invitis ipsarum ecclesiarum rectoribus, ipsi fratres, nisi per eosdem rectores vocati sed invitati ad hoc fuerint, de jure non audeant nec debeant prædicare: volumus tamen quod dicti rectores ipsos invitent vel admittant, nisi de proponendo verbum Dei a suis superioribus licentiam habeant, et de illa sæpe dictis rectoribus faciant plenam fidem.» (Labbe,Sacrosancta concilia, éd, de Florence, t. XXVI, col. 730.)
La querelle du frère et du fou sur l'extinction du paupérisme, d'après Sir Thomas More:
«At ne sic quidem, inquit [frater], extricaberis a mendicis nisi nobis quoque prospexeris fratribus. Atqui, inquit parasitus, hoc jam curatum est. Nam cardinalis egregie prospexit vobis, cum statueret de coercendis atque opere exercendis erronibus. Nam vos estis errones maximi. Hoc quoque dictum, quum conjectis in cardinalem oculis eum viderent non abnuere, cœperunt omnes non illibenter arridere, excepto fratre.»
Thomæ Mori....Vtopiæ libri II....Basileæ, 1563, liv. I, p. 31.
(26)LES PARDONNEURS(p.191).—Le pardonneur de Chaucer:
. . . . . . .a gentil pardoner,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .That streyt was comen from the court of Rome;. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .His walet lay byforn him in his lappe,Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lordyngs, quod he, in chirches whan I preche,I peyne me to have an hauteyne speche,And ryng it out as lowd as doth a belle,For I can al by rote whiche that I telle.My teeme is alway oon, and ever wasRadix omnium malorum est cupiditas.First I pronounce whennes that I comeAnd thanne my bulles schewe I alle and some;Oure liege lordes seal upon my patentThat schewe I first my body to warent,That no man be so hardy, prest ne clerk,Me to destourbe of cristes holy werk.And after that than tel I forth my tales.Bulles of popes and of cardynales,Of patriarkes, and of bisshops, I schewe,And of latyn speke I wordes feweTo savore with my predicacioun,And for to stere men to devocioun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I stonde lik a clerk in my pulpit,And whan the lewed poeple is doun i-set,I preche so as ye have herd before,And telle hem an hondred japes more.Than peyne I me to strecche forth my necke,As doth a dowfe syttyng on a berne;Myn hondes and my tonge goon so yerneThat it is joye to se my businesse.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I preche no thyng but for coveityse.Therfor my teem is yit, and ever was,Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes;I wil not do no labour with myn hondes.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I wol noon of thapostles counterfete;I wol have money, wolle, chese, and whete.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Now good men, God foryeve yow your trespasAnd ware yow fro the synne of avarice.Myn holy pardoun may yon alle wariceSo that ye offren noblis or starlinges,Or elles silver spones, broches or rynges,Bowith your hedes under this holy bulle.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I yow assoile by myn heyh power,If ye woln offre, as clene and eek as cler.As ye were born.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I rede that oure hoste schal bygynne,For he is most envoliped in synne.Com forth, sire ost, and offer first anoon,And thou schalt kisse the reliquis everichoon,Ye for a grote, unbocle anone thi purse.
. . . . . . .a gentil pardoner,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .That streyt was comen from the court of Rome;. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .His walet lay byforn him in his lappe,Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lordyngs, quod he, in chirches whan I preche,I peyne me to have an hauteyne speche,And ryng it out as lowd as doth a belle,For I can al by rote whiche that I telle.My teeme is alway oon, and ever wasRadix omnium malorum est cupiditas.First I pronounce whennes that I comeAnd thanne my bulles schewe I alle and some;Oure liege lordes seal upon my patentThat schewe I first my body to warent,That no man be so hardy, prest ne clerk,Me to destourbe of cristes holy werk.And after that than tel I forth my tales.Bulles of popes and of cardynales,Of patriarkes, and of bisshops, I schewe,And of latyn speke I wordes feweTo savore with my predicacioun,And for to stere men to devocioun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I stonde lik a clerk in my pulpit,And whan the lewed poeple is doun i-set,I preche so as ye have herd before,And telle hem an hondred japes more.Than peyne I me to strecche forth my necke,As doth a dowfe syttyng on a berne;Myn hondes and my tonge goon so yerneThat it is joye to se my businesse.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I preche no thyng but for coveityse.Therfor my teem is yit, and ever was,Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes;I wil not do no labour with myn hondes.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I wol noon of thapostles counterfete;I wol have money, wolle, chese, and whete.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Now good men, God foryeve yow your trespasAnd ware yow fro the synne of avarice.Myn holy pardoun may yon alle wariceSo that ye offren noblis or starlinges,Or elles silver spones, broches or rynges,Bowith your hedes under this holy bulle.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I yow assoile by myn heyh power,If ye woln offre, as clene and eek as cler.As ye were born.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I rede that oure hoste schal bygynne,For he is most envoliped in synne.Com forth, sire ost, and offer first anoon,And thou schalt kisse the reliquis everichoon,Ye for a grote, unbocle anone thi purse.
. . . . . . .a gentil pardoner,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
That streyt was comen from the court of Rome;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
His walet lay byforn him in his lappe,
Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lordyngs, quod he, in chirches whan I preche,
I peyne me to have an hauteyne speche,
And ryng it out as lowd as doth a belle,
For I can al by rote whiche that I telle.
My teeme is alway oon, and ever was
Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas.
First I pronounce whennes that I come
And thanne my bulles schewe I alle and some;
Oure liege lordes seal upon my patent
That schewe I first my body to warent,
That no man be so hardy, prest ne clerk,
Me to destourbe of cristes holy werk.
And after that than tel I forth my tales.
Bulles of popes and of cardynales,
Of patriarkes, and of bisshops, I schewe,
And of latyn speke I wordes fewe
To savore with my predicacioun,
And for to stere men to devocioun.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I stonde lik a clerk in my pulpit,
And whan the lewed poeple is doun i-set,
I preche so as ye have herd before,
And telle hem an hondred japes more.
Than peyne I me to strecche forth my necke,
As doth a dowfe syttyng on a berne;
Myn hondes and my tonge goon so yerne
That it is joye to se my businesse.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I preche no thyng but for coveityse.
Therfor my teem is yit, and ever was,
Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes;
I wil not do no labour with myn hondes.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I wol noon of thapostles counterfete;
I wol have money, wolle, chese, and whete.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now good men, God foryeve yow your trespas
And ware yow fro the synne of avarice.
Myn holy pardoun may yon alle warice
So that ye offren noblis or starlinges,
Or elles silver spones, broches or rynges,
Bowith your hedes under this holy bulle.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I yow assoile by myn heyh power,
If ye woln offre, as clene and eek as cler.
As ye were born.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I rede that oure hoste schal bygynne,
For he is most envoliped in synne.
Com forth, sire ost, and offer first anoon,
And thou schalt kisse the reliquis everichoon,
Ye for a grote, unbocle anone thi purse.
The poetical works of Chaucer, éd. R. Morris, prologue desCanterbury tales(t. II), et prologue du pardonneur (t. III).
Le pardonneur de Boccace ressemble beaucoup a celui de Chaucer; son Frate Cipolla était aussi fortéloquent: «Era questo frate Cipolla di persona piccolo, di pelo rosso, e lieto nel viso, e il miglior brigante del mondo: e oltre a questo, niuna scienza avendo, si ottimo parlatore e pronto era, che chi conosciuto non l'avesse, non solamente un gran rettorico l'avrebbe stimato, ma avrebbe detto esser Tullio medesimo, o forse Quintiliano; e quasi di tutti quegli della contrada era compare o amico o benivogliente.» (Décaméron, journée VI, nouvelle X.)
Les pardonneurs jugés par le pape:
«Ad audientiam nostram, non sine magna mentis displicentia fide dignorum quam plurium relatio perduxit quod quidam religiosi diversorum etiam mendicantium ordinum et nonnulli clerici sæculares etiam in dignitatibus constituti, asserentes se a nobis aut a diversis legatis seu nuntiis sedis apostolicæ missos, et ad plura peragenda negotia diversas facilitates habere per partes in quibus es pro nobis et Ecclesia Romana thesaurarius deputatus, discurrunt, et veras vel prætensas quas se habere dicunt, facultates fideli et simplici populo nunciant et irreverenter veris hujusmodi facultatibus abutentes, suas fimbrias, ut vel sic turpem et infamem quæstum faciant, impudenter dilatant, et non veras et prætensas facultates hujusmodi mendaciter simulant, cum etiam pro qualibet parva pecuniarum summula, non pœnitentes, sed mala conscientia satagentes iniquitati suæ, quoddam mentitæ absolutionis velamen prætendere, ab atrocibus delictis, nulla vera contritione, nullaque debita præcedenti forma (ut verbis illorumutamur) absolvant; male ablata, certa et incerta, nulla satisfactione prævia (quod omnibus sæculis absurdissimum est) remittant; castitatis, abstinentiæ, peregrinationis ultramarinæ seu beatorum Petri et Pauli de urbe aut Jacobi de Compostella apostolorum et alia quævis vota, levi compensatione commutent; de hæresi vel schismate nominatim aut incidenter condemnatos, absque eo, quod in debita forma abjurent et quantum possunt debite satisfaciant non tantum absolvant, sed in integrum restituant; cum illegitime genitis, ut ad ordines et beneficia promoveri possint, et intra gradus probibitos copulatis aut copulandis dispensent, et eis qui ad partes infidelium absque sedis prædictæ licentia transfretarunt, vel merces prohibitas detulerunt, et etiam qui Romanæ aut aliarum ecclesiarum possessiones, jura, et bona occuparunt, excommunicationis et alias sententias et pœnas et quævis interdicta relaxent, et indulgentiam quam felicis recordationis Urbanus Papa VI prædecessor noster, christifidelibus certas basilicas et ecclesias dictæ urbis instanti anno visitantibus concessit, et quæ in subsidium Teræ Sanctæ accedentibus conceduntur, quibusvis elargiri pro nihilo ducant, et quæstum, quem exinde percipiunt, nomine cameræ apostolicæ se percipere asserant, et nullam de illo nihilominus rationem velle reddere videantur: Horret et merito indignatur animus talia reminisci....
«Attendentes igitur quod nostra interest super tot tantisque malis de opportunis remediis salubriterprovidere, fraternitati tuæ de qua in iis et aliis specialem in domino fiduciam obtinemus, per apostolica scripta committimus et mandamus quatenus religiosis et clericis sæcularibus hujusmodi, ac earum familiaribus, complicibus et collegiis, et aliis, vocatis qui fuerint evocandi, summarie, simpliciter et de plano ac sine strepitu et figura judicii, etiam ex officio super præmissis, auctoritate nostra, inquiras diligentius veritatem, et eos ad reddendum tibi computum de receptis et reliqua consignandum, remota appellatione, compellas, et quos per inquisitionem hujusmodi excessisse, vel non verum aut non sufficiens seu ad id non habuisse mandatum inveneris, capias et tandius sub fida custodia teneas carceribus mancipatos, donec id nobis intimaveris.» (Lettre adressée, en 1390, par Boniface IX à divers évêques,Annales ecclesiastici, t. VII, p. 525 de la suite de Raynaldus.)
(27)INSTALLATION DE STATUES POUR ATTIRER LES PÈLERINS(p.212).—Récit de Thomas de Burton, abbé de Meaux près Beverley:
«Dictus autem Hugo abbas XVuscrucifixum novum in choro conversorum fecit fabricari. Cujus quidem operarius nullam ejus formosam et notabilem proprietatem sculpebat nisi in feria sexta, in qua pane et aqua tantum jejunavit. Et hominem nudum coram se stantem prospexit, secundum cujus formosam imaginem crucifixum ipsum aptius decoraret. Per quem etiam crucifixum Omnipotens manifesta miracula fecerat incessanter. Unde tunc etiamputabatur quod si mulieres ad dictum crucifixum accessum haberent augmentaretur communis devotio, et in quam plurimum commodum nostri monasterii, redundaret. Super quos abbas Cistercii a nobis requisitus, suam licentiam nobis impertivit ut homines et mulieres honestæ accedere possint ad dictum crucifixum, dum tamen mulieres per claustrum et dormitorium seu alia officina intrare non permittantur.... Cujus quidem licentiæ prætextu, malo nostro, feminæ sæpius aggrediuntur dictum crucifixum, præcipue cum in eis frigescat devotio, dum illuc, ut ecclesiam tantum introspiciant accesserint, et sumptus nostros augeant in hospitatione earundem.»
Chronica monasterii de Melsa, éd. A. Bond, 1868, t. III, p. 35.
La lettre de William Grenefeld, archevêque d'York, relativement à l'installation d'une statue de la Vierge, débute ainsi: «Sane nuper ad aures nostras pervenit quod ad quandam imaginem beatæ Virginis in ecclesia parochiali de Foston noviter collocatam magnus simplicium est concursus, acsi in eadem plus quam in aliis similibus imaginibus aliquid numinis appareret....» Année 1313; Wilkins,Concilia, t. II, p. 423.
(28)LES PÈLERINAGES; ATTITUDE DES WYCLIFITES ET DES PROTESTANTS(p.215).—Abjuration du lollard William Dynet, 1erdécembre 1395:
«.... Fro this day forthwarde, I shall worshipe ymages, with praying and offering vn-to hem in theworschepe of the seintes that they be made after; and also I shal neuermore despyse pylgremage....»
Academydu 17 novembre 1883; le texte de ce serment sera inséré dans la collection d'Early english documentsque prépare en ce moment M. Furnivall.
Opinion de Latimer sur les pèlerinages:
«What thinke ye of these images that are had more then their felowes in reputation? that are gone vnto with such labour and werines of the body, frequented with such our cost, sought out and visited with such confidence? what say ye by these images, that are so famous, so noble, so noted, beyng of them so many and so diuers in England. Do you thinke that this preferryng of picture to picture, image to image is the right vse and not rather the abuse of images?»A sermon... made.. to the conuocation of the clergy(28 Henry VIII).—Frutefvll sermons preached by the right reuerend father and constant martyr of Iesus Christ, M. Hugh Latymer, Londres, 1571, 4o.
(29)NOTES DE VOYAGE DE PÈLERINS ANGLAIS DES QUATORZIÈME ET QUINZIÈME SIÈCLES(p.226).—Voyage à Saint-Jacques (quinzième siècle):
Men may leue alle gamys,That saylen to seynt Jamys!Ffor many a man hit gramys,When they begyn to sayle.Ffor when they haue take the seeAt Sandwich or at WynchylseeAt Bristow or where that hit bee,Theyr hertes begyn to fayle.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . «Som are lyke to cowgh and groneOr hit be full mydnygtht,Hale the bowelyne! now were the shete!Cooke, make redy anoon our mete,Our pylgryms haue no lust to ete.». . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Then comethe oone and seyth, «Be mery;Ye shall haue a storme or a pery.». . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thys mene whyle the pylgryms lyAnd haue theyr bowlys fast theym byAnd cry after hote maluesy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Som layde theyr bookys on theyr kne,And rad so long that they myght nat se;«Allas! myne hede wolle cleue on thre!»Thus seyth another certayne.
Men may leue alle gamys,That saylen to seynt Jamys!Ffor many a man hit gramys,When they begyn to sayle.Ffor when they haue take the seeAt Sandwich or at WynchylseeAt Bristow or where that hit bee,Theyr hertes begyn to fayle.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . «Som are lyke to cowgh and groneOr hit be full mydnygtht,Hale the bowelyne! now were the shete!Cooke, make redy anoon our mete,Our pylgryms haue no lust to ete.». . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Then comethe oone and seyth, «Be mery;Ye shall haue a storme or a pery.». . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thys mene whyle the pylgryms lyAnd haue theyr bowlys fast theym byAnd cry after hote maluesy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Som layde theyr bookys on theyr kne,And rad so long that they myght nat se;«Allas! myne hede wolle cleue on thre!»Thus seyth another certayne.
Men may leue alle gamys,
That saylen to seynt Jamys!
Ffor many a man hit gramys,
When they begyn to sayle.
Ffor when they haue take the see
At Sandwich or at Wynchylsee
At Bristow or where that hit bee,
Theyr hertes begyn to fayle.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . «Som are lyke to cowgh and grone
Or hit be full mydnygtht,
Hale the bowelyne! now were the shete!
Cooke, make redy anoon our mete,
Our pylgryms haue no lust to ete.»
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Then comethe oone and seyth, «Be mery;
Ye shall haue a storme or a pery.»
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thys mene whyle the pylgryms ly
And haue theyr bowlys fast theym by
And cry after hote maluesy.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Som layde theyr bookys on theyr kne,
And rad so long that they myght nat se;
«Allas! myne hede wolle cleue on thre!»
Thus seyth another certayne.
Poème du temps d'Henri VI publié par M. Furnivall,The stacions of Rome and the pilgrim's sea voyage, Early english text society, Londres, 1867.
Voyage à Rome (quatorzième siècle); la fondation de Rome:
The Duchesse of troye that sum tyme was.To Rome com with gret pres.Of hire com Romilous and Romilon.Of whom Rome furst bi-gon.Hethene hit was and cristened noutȝt.Til petur and poul hit hedde I-bouȝt.With gold ne seluer ne with no goode.Bot with heore flesch and with heore blode.
The Duchesse of troye that sum tyme was.To Rome com with gret pres.Of hire com Romilous and Romilon.Of whom Rome furst bi-gon.Hethene hit was and cristened noutȝt.Til petur and poul hit hedde I-bouȝt.With gold ne seluer ne with no goode.Bot with heore flesch and with heore blode.
The Duchesse of troye that sum tyme was.
To Rome com with gret pres.
Of hire com Romilous and Romilon.
Of whom Rome furst bi-gon.
Hethene hit was and cristened noutȝt.
Til petur and poul hit hedde I-bouȝt.
With gold ne seluer ne with no goode.
Bot with heore flesch and with heore blode.
Les catacombes:
But thou most take candel liht.Elles thou gost merk as niht.For vnder the eorthe most thou wende.Thow maiȝt not seo bi-fore ne bi-hynde.For thider fledde mony men.For drede of deth to sauen hem.And suffrede peynes harde and sore.In heuene to dwelle for euer more.
But thou most take candel liht.Elles thou gost merk as niht.For vnder the eorthe most thou wende.Thow maiȝt not seo bi-fore ne bi-hynde.For thider fledde mony men.For drede of deth to sauen hem.And suffrede peynes harde and sore.In heuene to dwelle for euer more.
But thou most take candel liht.
Elles thou gost merk as niht.
For vnder the eorthe most thou wende.
Thow maiȝt not seo bi-fore ne bi-hynde.
For thider fledde mony men.
For drede of deth to sauen hem.
And suffrede peynes harde and sore.
In heuene to dwelle for euer more.
Le portrait de la Vierge:
Seint Luik while he liued in londe.Wolde haue peynted hit with his honde.And whon he hedde ordeyned so.Alle colours that schulde ther to.He fond an ymage al a-pert.Non such ther was middelert.Mad with angel hond and not with his.As men in Rome witnesseth this.
Seint Luik while he liued in londe.Wolde haue peynted hit with his honde.And whon he hedde ordeyned so.Alle colours that schulde ther to.He fond an ymage al a-pert.Non such ther was middelert.Mad with angel hond and not with his.As men in Rome witnesseth this.
Seint Luik while he liued in londe.
Wolde haue peynted hit with his honde.
And whon he hedde ordeyned so.
Alle colours that schulde ther to.
He fond an ymage al a-pert.
Non such ther was middelert.
Mad with angel hond and not with his.
As men in Rome witnesseth this.
Le Panthéon:
A-grippa dude hit make.For Sibyl and Neptanes sake.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .He zaf hit name panteon.
A-grippa dude hit make.For Sibyl and Neptanes sake.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .He zaf hit name panteon.
A-grippa dude hit make.
For Sibyl and Neptanes sake.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
He zaf hit name panteon.
L'idole du Panthéon:
Hit loked forth as a cat;He called hit Neptan.
Hit loked forth as a cat;He called hit Neptan.
Hit loked forth as a cat;
He called hit Neptan.
The stacions of Rome, in verse, from the Vernon ms., ab. 1370, éd. F. J. Furnivall; Early english text society, 1867, 8o. On trouvera un texte du même ouvrage, avec beaucoup de variantes, dans lesPolitical, religious and love poems, publiés par M. Furnivall (1866, 8o, p. 113). Voir au commencement de cette dernière publication les notes de M. W. M. Rossetti sur lesStacions. Il compare les renseignements fournis par l'auteur du poème à ceux que donne l'Italien Francino dans le livre composé par celui-ci en 1600 sur le même sujet. M. Rossetti indique aussi ce qu'on montre encore aujourd'hui à Rome des reliques vantées dans lesStacions.
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