The English works of Wyclif hitherto unprinted.Edited by F. D. Matthew.

III. THE RULE AND TESTAMENT OF ST. FRANCIS.

THIS tract is distinguished among the many directed against the friars by its method of attack. The first and longer part consists merely in a translation of the rule by which the Franciscans admitted themselves bound, and the comment confines itself to pointing out how completely that rule was disregarded or evaded. The peculiar interest of the tract lies in its bringing before us how nearly in its idea the Franciscan order approached the body of poor priests, whom Wyclif sent out to preach. When the writer complains that at Rome "false menours" persecute those who would keep Francis' rule to the letter, we have an expression of the sympathy which we might have divined between the Lollards and the Spiritual Franciscans. (Cf. the Tract on the Leaven of Pharisees.) But before we have read to the end we find the author true to the "freedom of the gospel," which Wyclif consistently preached, declaring that no other order than Christ's is needed, since those who can carry out the highest and best life have that duty laid upon them by Christ's order to serve God with all their heart and all their strength. We may compare with this the saying (S. E. W. III. 452), "Every conseil of Crist is to sum man and sum tyme a precept."

I think that the author is Wyclif. The tract, Fifty Heresies of Friars, printed by Mr. Arnold (No. 24), seems like an amplification of this; and it is probably of later date, as the doctrine of transubstantiation is attacked there, but not mentioned here.

Copied from the Corpus MS. X, and collated with the Dublin MS. AA, and with the Oxford MS. W. All through W. has þo for þe; hor for her; hom for hem; and has the third person singular in s.

SUMMARY.

The greater part of this tract is simply a translation from the Latin of the law laid down for the Franciscans by their founder. To this is added a short comment, pointing out— 1st. That the testament is binding upon Franciscans; 2nd. That the Franciscans keep neither rule nor testament, failing in obedience, in poverty, and in charity.

After this general statement of their faults comes an account of various ways in which they evade the letter of the rule. The tract ends with a declaration that no rule is of use except so far as it agrees with that laid down by Christ.

Þis his þe reule of seynt fraunseis.

Capitulum primum.

Þe reule and þe lyuynge of frere menours is þis: to kepe þe holy gospel of oure lord ihū crist, lyuynge in obedience, wiþ-outen propre, & in chastitie. Frere fraunseis bihetiþ [behetis W.] obedience and reuerence to þe lord þe pope honorie, & to his successouris, þe whiche entren bi general & holy eleccion, & to þe chirche of rome, & be oþere freris holden to obesche [obesþe X.] to frere fraunseis & to his successouris.

Of hem þat wolen take þis lif, hou þei schullen be resceyued.

Capitulum 2^m. [In W. this is reckoned as part of Chapter I.]

Ȝif ony wille take þis lif, & comen to oure breþeren, sende hem to þe mynystris prouyncials, to whom only, & not to oþere, be grauntid [page 30] leue to resceyue freris. þerfore late þe mynystris diligently examyne hem of [for X.] þe comun feiþ and þe sacramentis of holy chirche, þat ȝif þei beleuen alle þes þingis, and wilen feþfully knowleche hem, & stedefastly kepe hem to þe ende of þe world, & ȝif þei han noon wyues, or ȝif þei han wyues & here wyues ben entrid in-to religion, or ellis þat here wyues han ȝouen here housbondis lyue [leeve W.] bi auctorite of þe bischop of þe diocise & now maad a vow of chastite or contynce, and here wyues ben of sich age þat noon euyl suspecion may be reysed of hem, late þe prouyn|cials seie to hem wordes of þe holi gospel þat þei goo & sille alle here goodis & ȝeue hem to pore men, & ȝif þei may not do þis here goode wille is ynow to hem; & be þe freris & here mynystris war þat þei be not bisi of here temporal goodis, þat þei don freli of here þingis what euere þe lord inspiriþ [enpropriþ X.; inspiraverit Lat.] to hem. ¶ Neþeles ȝif conseil be nedful her-to, haue þe mynystris leue to sende hem to summe men þat dreden god, bi whos conseil here goodis schullen be ȝouen to pore men. aftirward graunte þe mynystris to hem cloþis of probacion, þat is to [omitted X.] seie tweie [two W.] cotis or kirtlis wiþ-outen hood and a girdil & a brech & a chaperon to þe girdel, but ȝif oþer þing after god be seyn to ye mynystris. ¶ But whanne þe ȝeer of probacion is endid be þei resceyued to obedience, bihetynge to kepe þis lif & reule; & in no manere schal it

be leffel to hem to goo out of þis ordre vp [upon W.] þe comaundement of þe lord þe pope, for aftir þe holy gospel no man sendynge his hond to þe plowȝ and lokenge a-ȝen is able to þe kyngdom of god. & haue þei þat han bihiȝt obedience cotis or kirtlis [coote or kirtel W.] wiþ an hood and an oþer wiþouten [wiþ an out X. and AA.] hood; þei þat wilen haue schon & be nedid þer-to may bere hem. ¶ And be alle freris cloþid wiþ foule cloþis, & þei may pese hem aȝen or cloute hem of sacchis & oþere pecis wiþ þe blissyng of god. And I moneste & stire þes freris þat þei dispise not and deme not þo men whom þei seen cloþid wiþ softe cloþis & colourid, & vse delicat metis & drynkis, but more eche of hem deme & dispise him self.

Of goddis seruyce & fastyngys, & hou freris schullen go bi þe world.

⁴Capitulum 3^m.4 [4_4 cap^m. ij^m. W.; omitted X.]

Do clerkis deuyn officis [office W.] after þe ordre of þo [omitted X. and AA.] holy chirche of rome, out taken þe sautir, of wheche þei may have breuyaries, þat is smale sauteris or abreggid; but late lewid freris seie four & twenti pater nostris for matynes, for laudis fyue, for prime, tierce, vndren, noon, for eche of hem seuene pater nostris, & for euensong twelue, & for compleyn seuene. ¶ And preie þei for dede men. and faste þei [page 31] fro þe feste of all hawen [halowe W.] til þe natyuyte of crist, & þo [omitted X. and AA.] holy lenten þat bygynneþ fro þe twelþe day of cristemasse to þe fulle fourti daies, þe whiche lenten oure lord halwid wiþ þis holy fast, be þei blissed of þe lord þat [& X.] fasten wilfully þis lenten; & be þei not constreyned þat wilen not, but faste þei anoþer lenten til þe resurreccioun of þe lord. but in oþere tymes ben þei not holden to faste but on þe friday; but in tyme of opyn nede ben þe freris not bounden to bodily fast. but I conseile, amoneste, and stire my freris in oure lord ihū crist þat [þan X.] whanne þei gon bi þe world þat þei chide not and stryue not bi wordis, & þat þei iuge not oþere men, but þat þei ben mylde, peisble and manerly, homly & meke, spekynge of al þingis as it is semely. & þat þei schullen not ride but ȝif þei ben nedid for opyn nede or siknesse. ¶ In|to what euere hous þei schullen entre seie þei first, pees be to þis hous, & aftir þe holy gospel be it lefful to hem to ete of alle metis þat ben sett to hem, as I haue seid.

Þat Freris resceyuen no money.

Capitulum 4^m. [cap^m. iij^m. W.]

I comaunde stedefastly to alle freris þat in no manere þei resceyue no money or pens; neiþer bi hem self ne mene [none X.] persone putt bitwixe. neþeles for þe nede of sike men & to cloþe oþere freris bi gostly frendis only, þe mynystrys & custodis schullen bere bisy cure, vpe placis & tymes & colde regiouns or contres; as þei schulle see þat it is spedy to here nedy. þat þis þing be euermore saaf, þat as it is seid þei resceyue no pens ne money.

Of þe manere of trauayle of freris.

Capitulum 5^m. [4^m. W.]

Oure freris to whom god haþ ȝouen grace to traueile, labore þei treuly & deuoutly so þat ydelnesse enemy of soule be excludid or putt awey. And þei quenche not þe spirit of holy deuocion and preire to whiche oþer spiritual [So in all MSS. The Latin has 'temporalia.'] þingis schullen serue. But of þe hire of labour receyue þei neces|saries for hem self & here breþeren wiþ-outen pens or mony, and þat mekely, as it is semynge to seruauntis of god foloweris of þe moste holy pouert.

Þat freris apropren no þing to hem self, & hou þei schullen axe almes, & of sike freris.

Capitulum 6^m. [v^m. W.]

Freris schulle no þing apropre to hem self neiþer hous ne place ne ony oþer þing, but as pilgrimes & gestis or come|lyngyns in þis world, in pouert & mekenesse seruynge to þe lord, goo þei tristiliche for almes, and hem nediþ not to be a-schamyd, for oure ⁶lord made hymsilf pore in þis werld⁶ [6_6 omitted X.] for vs. þis is þe heynesse of þe moste heyȝ pouert, þat makiþ ȝou my breþeren heiris & kyngis of þe kyngdom of heuenys; þis haþ maad ȝou [page 32] pore in þingis & enhaunsed ȝou in vertues. be þis ȝoure porcion, or deel, þat bryngiþ perfitely to þe lond of lyuynge men. to þe whiche pouert þe most loued breþeren, hooliche cleuynge for þe reuerence of oure lord ihū crist, wile ȝe nooþing haue lastinge þe world vnder heuene. And where euere freris ben & fynden hem to-gidre schewe þei hem homly bitwixe hem self, & sikyrly schewe eche to oþer his nede. for ȝif a modir norscheþ & loueþ here fleschly child, wiþ hou mychel more diligence schal on loue

& norische his gostly broþer, & ȝif ony of hem falle in-to sike|nesse oþere freris schullen serue hym as þei wolden be seruyd

Of penaunce to be putt to freris for synnes.

Capitulum 7^m. [vj^m. W.]

Ȝif ony of freris bi tisynge of þe enemye happen to synne deedly þe synnes of whiche it is ordeyned among freris þat þei rennen to here mynystris prouyncial, þe same freris ben holden to renne to hem also sone as þei may wiþ-outen dwellyng. & þo mynystris ȝif þei ben prestis schullen wiþ mercy enyonye hen penaunce, & ȝif þei ben noone prestis make þei to be enyoyned to hem bi oþer freris of þe ordre, as it semeþ to spede most aftir god. & þei schullen be war þat þei be not wraþid and disturblid for þe synne of ony, for wraþe & disturblynge letten charite in hem & oþere.

Of þe chesyng of þe general mynystere & [omitted X.] of þe prouyncial chapitris of þe ordre.

Capitulum 8^m. [vij^m. W.]

Be alle freris holden to haue euermore on of þe freris of þis religion a general mynystre & seruaunt of al þe breþerhed, & be þei holden to obliche stedefastly to him. & whanne he dieþ þe chesynge of his successour be maad ⁴of mynistris prouincial & custodis in þe chapitre of witsontide, in whiche chapitre be þe ⁴ [4_4 omitted X.] mynystris prouyncial holden euermore to come to-gidre, where euer it haþ [hit has W.] ben ordeyned of þe general mynystre; & onys in þre ȝeer, or at anoþere terme lasse or more as it is ordeyned of þe forseid mynystre. & ȝif it seme ony tyme to þe generalte of mynystris prouyncial & custodis þat þe forseide mynyster is not sufficient to þe seruyce & comune profite of freris, ⁶be þe forseide freris ⁶ [6_6 omitted X.] holden, to whom þe chesynge is ȝouen, to chese hem anoþer in þe name of god to here kepere. Aftir þe chapitre of witsonday þe mynystris & custodis may eche bi hem self, ȝif þei wilen & it seme to hem spedeful, in þe same ȝeer in here custodries onys clepe [calle W.] to-gidre here breþeren to chapitre.

Of prechours to þe puple.

Capitulum 9^m. [viij^m. W.]

Preche not freris in þe bischopriche of ony bischop whanne þe bischop aȝen seiþ hym, & noon of freris be hardy in ony manere to preche to þe peple but ȝif he be examyned & aprouyd of þe mynystre of þis fraternyte, & þat þe office

of prechynge be graunted to hym of þe [page 33] mynystre. ¶ Also I moonest & stire þe same freris þat in prechynge þat þei maken here spechis be examyned as chast & to profit & to edificacion of þe peple. Schewynge to hem vices & vertues, peyne & glorie, wiþ schortnesse of sermon. for þe lord haþ [haad X.] maad abreggid word vpon þe erþe.

Of þe monestynge & of correccioun.

Capitulum 10^m. [ix^m. W.]

Freris þat ben mynystris & seruantis of oþere freris schullen visite and moneste here breþeren mekely & charitably, & þei schullen correcte, not commandynge to hem ony þing þat be aȝenst here soule and oure [hor W.] reule. And freris þat ben soget owen to þenke þat for god þei han forsaken here owen willes; werfore I comaunde stedfastly to hem þat þei obeche to here [þo W.] mynystris in alle þingis þat þei han behiȝt to oure lord to kepe, & noon contrarie þingis to here soule & to oure reule. & where euere ben ony freris þat wisten or knewen þat þei may not kepe gostly þe reule þei may & owen to renne to here mynystris, & þe mynystris owe to resceyue hem benygnely & bi charite, and haue þei so muche famularite, or homlynesse, aboute hem þat þei may seie [see X.; ut dicere possint Lat.] to hem & do as lordis to here seruauntis. for whi so it schal be, þat mynystris be seruauntis of alle freris. I amoneste & stire in oure lord ihū crist þat freris ben war & flee fro alle pride, fro veyn glorie, enuye and coueitise, & cure & bisynesse of þis world, fro detraccion & grucchynge. & recke not þat [omitted X.] þei ben vnkunnynge to lerne letteris, but vndirstonde þei þat aboue alle thingis þei owen to desire to haue þe spirit of þe lord & his holy werchynge, and euere preie to god wiþ clene herte, & haue mekenesse & pacience in pursuyt & in infirmyte, and to loue hem þat pursuen vs & reprouen & dispisen vs. for oure lord seiþ: loue ȝe ȝoure enemyes, & preien for hem þat pursuen ȝou, and for men þat falsly chalengen ȝow. blissed be þei þat suffren persecucion for riȝtwisnesse, for here is þe kyngdom of heuenys; & who euere lastiþ in-to þe ende he schal be saaf.

Þat freris entre not in-to abbeies of nunnes.

Capitulum 11^m. [x^m. W.]

I comaunde stably to freris þat þei haue not suspect com|panyes or conseilis of wymmen, & þat þei entren not þe abbeies of nunnes, out take þo to whom fro þe see of apostaile is

licence grauntid; and be þei not maad godfadris of men, last bi þis occasion among freris & of freris be gendrid sclaundre.

Of þe manere of goynge among sarasyns & oþere men out of bileue.

Capitulum 12^m. [xj^m. W.]

Who euere of freris bi inspiracioun of god wilen goon among sarasyns & oþere vnbelefful, axe þei leue þerof of here mynystris prouyncyal, and ȝeue þes mynystris to noon leue to go but to hem whom þei seen ablee to be sent to þis þing. I enyoyne to mynystris bi obedience þat þei axe of þe lord þe pope on of þe cardynales of þe [page 34] chirche of rome, þat be gouernour, meyntenour, and correctour of þis fraternyte, þat we be euere suget to þe feet of þe same holy chirche, and stable in general feiþ of cristene men, & þat we kepe pouert & mekenesse & þe holy gospel of oure lord ihū crist, þe whiche we han stedefastly bi-hiȝt or awowid bi profession.

Here endiþ þe reule of seynt fraunseis, & here bigynneþ þe testament of seynt fraunceis.

Capitulum 13^m. [Testamentum francisci W.]

In þe name of þe fadir & sone & þe holy gost. Amen. Houre lord haþ ȝouen to me fraunseis to bigynne to do penaunce; & whanne I was in ouere myche synnes it semyd to me bittrere to see leprous men, and þe same lord brouȝte me among hem and I dede mercy wiþ hem. & wanne I departed fro hem þat þing þat was semynge bitter to me was turned to me in-to swetnesse of soule & bodi. & aftirward I stood a litel and wente out of þe world, & oure lord ȝaf me sich feiþ in chirchis þat I schulde preie þus sympli & seie: we worschipen þe, lord ihū crist, at alle þe chirchis þe wiche ben in al þe world, and we blissen to þe for by þyn holy crois þu hast aȝen bouȝt þe world.

¶ Aftirward þe lord ȝaf to me & ȝeueþ so myche feiþ þat I wille renne to þe prestis þat lyuen aftir þe forme of þe chirche of rome for þe ordeynynge of hem, al-þouȝ þei diden to me persecucion. & þouȝ I hadde as myche wisdom as hadde salamon & I founde litel pore prestis of þis world þat dwellen in parichis I wille not preche aȝenst here wille. and I [omitted X. and AA.] wille honoure alle prestis as my lordis, & I wile not biholde in hem ony synne, fore in hem I

take bi discrecion goddis sone & þei ben my lordis. & here-fore I do þat I see noo bodily þing in this world of hym, þe heiȝest goddis sone, but his holieste bodi & blood þat þei resceyuen & þei only mynystren to oþere. & I wile abouen alle þingis honoure þes holieste preuytes or mysteries, & putte þes holieste names in most precious places, & where euere I fynde his wordis writen in vnlefful placis I wile gedre & preie þat þei ben gedrid & kepte [be putt W.] in an honeste place. & we schal worschipen in herte & word alle clerkis of dyuynyte þat mynystren to vs most holy wordis as hem þat mynystren to vs þe holy gost & lif. And after þat þe lord hadde ȝouen to me of freris no man schewid to me what I schulde do, but he þat is hiȝest schewid to me þat I schulde lyue after þe forme of þe gospel: & I in fewe wordis & sympliche maade to write it, & þe lord pope confermyd it to me. And summe comen [omitted X. and AA.] to taken þis lif, And þei ȝauen to pore men alle þinges þat þei myȝtten. And þei weren [page 35] apeied wiþ o cote or kirtil with-ynne forþe & with-oute forþ & wolde not haue more. clerkis schulden seie here officis aftir clerkis, but lewed freris schulde seie þe pater noster. and we dwelten to-gidre in chirchis, & weren idiotis, & vnderloute to ale men. & I traueiled wiþ myn hondis & wile traueile, & I [omitted X. and AA.] wile þat alle oþere freris traueile in labour þe whiche pertyneþ to honeste, & þei þat kunnen not, lerne þei; not for coueitise to take hire, but for ensample to putte awey idelnesse; & whanne men ȝeuen vs nouȝt renne we to þe borde of þe lord, axynge almes fro dore to dore.

¶ God schewid to me þis salutacion þat I schulde seie, þe lord ȝeue pees to þe, þerfor be freris war þat þei resceyue not in no [any W.] manere, neiþer chirchis, ne placis to dwellen onne, ne ony oþer þingis þat ben bilded for hem, but as it semeþ holy pouert, þe whiche we han bi-fore seid in þe reule, euer|more dwellynge þere as gestis & comelyngis & pilgrymys. I comaunde sadly to alle freris be obedience þat where so euere þei ben be þei not chargid [hardy X.] to axe ony lettre in þe court of rome, neiþer be hem self ne by mene persone put bitwyxe, wiþ þe blissynge of god. And I wile þat freris obeche to þe general mynystre of þis fraternyte whom it plesed to me to ȝeue þerto, and I wile þat I be so taken in his hondis þat I may not goo or do aȝenst his obedience & his wille, for he is my lord. & þouȝ I be simpul [sinful AA.; Latin simplex.] & sik neþeles I wile euere haue a clerk þat schal do me dyuyne office after þe reule. And þo þat ben founden þat don not þe office after þe reule & wilen varie on oþer manere & be not

of ryȝt cristen feiþ, be alle freris holden bi obedience where euere þei ben þat, where euere þei schulle fynde ony of þoo, þei schullen presenten hym to þe nexte custode of þat place where euere þei fynden sychon. and be þat custode holde sadly bi obedience to kepe hym strongly as a man in bondis day & nyȝt, so þat he may not be delyuerid of his hond til he represente hym ¹in his owen persone in þe hondis of his mynystre, and be þe mynystre holden sadly bi obedience to holde hym bi freris þat kepe men nyȝt & day as in bondis til þat he represente hym to þe ¹ [1_1 omitted W.] cardynal hostiense, þat is lord, gouernour, meyntenour & corectour of alle þe fraternyte.

And seie not, freris, þat þis is anoþer reule: for it is a remembraunce, amonestynge, a reprouynge, and my testament þe whiche I frere fraunseis, litel, make to my blissed breþeren, þat for þis [omitted X. and AA.] we kepe bettere þe reule þe whiche we han bihiȝt to þe lord. & þe general mynystre & alle oþere mynystris & custodes ben holden bi obedience to [page 36] adde no þing to þes wordis ne drawe þer fro & rede þei þes wordis.

And I comaunde bi obedience to alle my breþeren, boþe clerkis & lewid, þat þei putte not glosis vnto þe reule, ne seynge wiþ þes wordis: "so þei wilen be vndirstonden," but as þe lord ȝaf to me sympliche and pureliche to seie & to write þe reule; and vndirstonde ȝe þes wordis so symplely and clenly with-oute glose & kepe ȝee hem in to þe ende wiþ holy werchynge. and who euere kepiþ þis be he fulfillid in heuene with þe blissynge of þe heiȝest fadir, and be he fulfillid in erþe with þe blissynge of his louyd sone, wiþ þe holiest gost confortour, & wiþ alle vertues of heuenes and wiþ alle seyntis; and I frere fraunseis, ȝoure litel and ȝoure seruant, conferme to ȝou how euere myche I may wiþ-in & wiþ-outen þis moste holy blissyng. Amen. [Finis testamenti W.]

Here endiþ þe testament of seynt fraunseis.

[Comment.]

But here þe menours seyn þat þe pope dischargiþ hem of þis testament & seiþ þat þei ben not holden þer-to, for a man haþ not lordschipe ne iurisdiccion vpon his pere, & siþ þe pope was more þan fraunseis he myȝtte not bynde þe pope þat he ne myȝte dispense & reproue what he wolde. ¶ But to þis trewe men seyn þus, þat freris ben bounden to þis testament for many skillis: first fraunseis seiþ þat god schewid hym

þis lyuyng and not man; þanne oþer þis testament is of goddis wille or fraunseis is fals þat seiþ so. ȝif it be goddis wille þe pope may not do aȝenst it, ȝif fraunseis be false in þis seiynge his doynge cam of þe fend [deuel W.] of helle þat is fadir of lesyngis. ¶ Also fraunseis seiþ þat þis testament is noon oþer reule but þe firste, and þanne as þei taken þe firste reule so moste þei take þe testament, siþþen þei ben al oon. ¶ Also it semiþ þat fraunseis in his laste daies schulde beste knowe þe treuþe & most be in charite to his breþeren, & þan he made þis testament; & herefore it semeþ þat he was a liere & out of charite but ȝif þis testament were acordynge wiþ goddis dom; but what pope or deuyl [ordeyned W.] schulde þanne distroie it? ¶ Also men seyn þat he is cursed þat lettiþ þe riȝtful wille of a dede man. But þis testament is riȝtful wille of dede fraunseis; þanne it semiþ þat þat pope þat lettiþ it & þe freris also ben acursed of god, of fraunseis, and of alle hawen.

¶ As to þe substance of the reule þei forsaken obedience of god and obeschen to a synful idiot biddynge þe contrarie of goddis wille, þe whiche synful ydiot is in cas a dampnyd deuyl, & so for plesynge of þe world or lustis of here flech þei leuen þe comaundementis of god & don vnriȝtful comaundement of þe fend, & magnyfien more obedience to synful men, & in caas to fendis, þan obedience [page 37] to crist þat is eueremore medeful; & so þei seyen þat a good þing doon after þe comaundement of god is not of so gret meriȝt as a þing don after þe comaundement of a synful ydiot, & in cas a dep deuyl in helle. but þis newe profession was not vsed of crist & his apostelis but in þe time þat sathanas was vnbounden, as þe apcalips telliþ; and so it semiþ þat þes newe ordris distroien obedience of cristis lawe (bi whiche eche man is holden obeche to oþer in þe drede of crist, þat is in as myche as ony techiþ a noþer to don þe wille of god) & magnyfie obedience to synful men, ȝee aȝenst þe preceptis of god. and so as myche as is in hem þei maken a synful idiot & in cas a dampnyd deuyl in helle more than almyȝti

god in trinyte, for þei don more aftir his false comaundement þan aftir comaundement of almyȝty god.

¶ To þe secunde part of þe reule wiþ-outen proprete of worldly goodis; siþ propre þing stondiþ most in wille & þei traueilen more for propre worschipe or wynnynge þan for comune profit of cristen men, it semeþ þei don alle aȝenst þis reule; for þei han grete housis proprid to hem self, many costly bokis, & myche hid tresour biried in here houses fro þe comunte of cristen men lyuynge in þe world bi gret labor, as god enyoyned adam; & þis tresour is kept proprely to idel men or fendis, siþþen it is geten by false lesyngis, false beggynge, & fals meyntenynge of foule synnes. ¶ Also o strong beggere or flaterere haþ a chaumber for a lord, erl or duk wiþ many preciouse iuellis, & anoþer frere haþ nakid sidis & many other myscheues þouȝ he be worþ siche a þousand bifore god. ¶ As to chastite deme men of here bodily chastite, but of gostly chastite it semeþ þat þei ben alle avoutreris, for þei halde religioun þat is maad of synful men bettre þan religion maad of crist hym self, & þei chargen more tradicions or customes maad of here owen errouris þan þe iust lawis & heste maad of almyȝtty god, & þus is gostely matrimonye bitwixe crist & cristen mennus soulis broken, siþ it stondiþ in riȝtfulnesse & mercy & feiþ.

¶ But see now hou freris don openly aȝenst þis reule & testament. also in takynge money many weies; for þei leden wiþ hem a scarioth stolen fro is eldris by þefte to robbe pore men bi beggynge dampnyd of goddis lawe. & seen more ypocrisie of hem: þei wolen telle gold and money & touche it wiþ a sticke or wiþ gloues & a grete cuppe of gold or pece of siluer worþ many markis to drynke noble wyn of, but þei wilen not touche an halpeny or ferþing wiþ þe coyn & armes of þe cros & of the kyng, & þis semeþ for dispit of þe cros or of þe kyng, for a weeg of siluer [gold W.] or a [page 38] cuppe of gold þei wolen handil faste, and þe money þat þei robben of pore men bi fals beggynge þei wolen leyn it

vndir here beddis hed at nyȝt. & so of cloþing þei don aȝenst þis reule in many maneres; for men seen þat þe kyng or þe emperour myȝtte wiþ worschipe were a garnement of a frere for goodnesse of þe cloþ, & namely of suche freris as schulden most kepe pouert of crist & his apostelis, as ben clepid maistris of diuynyte, but verreily maistris of errour boþe in techynge & in ensaumple, & summe oone haþ wast cloþis & costi, and a noþer symple frere þat nys not so gret flaterere nakid or to rent. ¶ As to propre þingis freris seyn þat þe pope is lord worldly of housis, bokis, iewelis and al þat þei han, but her semeþ myche venym: first þe euyl children putten in-to here fadir þe pope þe venym of worldly lordschipe siþ þei may not haue it for distroynge of here perfeccioun, & yit þei seyn þat þe pope mot be most holy & perfyt & nexte sue crist in alle manere vertues, & þus þei putten a veyn þorn in his feet. As to here kyng þei ben vnkynde & vntrewe, for wiþ-outen his leeve [love X.] or is conseil þei alien in-to straunge [stronge X. and AA.] rewmes, & in caas to oure enemyes, al þat þei may gete bi robberie of pore men [omitted X. and AA.] & flaterynge & oþere false menes in þe lond þat þei dwelliþ inne; & so, ȝif þe pope ben enemye to oure lond & sende enemyes to oure lond, he haþ many stronge houses as caastelis; & ȝif þei ben his riȝtfully oure kyng may not warne ne lette his hoste to reste in þo places, & þanne is oure lond in gret peril. ¶ As anemtis prechynge, men knowen wel þat freris wile flatere & spare to reproue scharply synnes of grete men for drede of los of worldly goodis or frendischipe or fauour; & so for loue of here stynkynge bely þei laten þe fend strangle many [mennus W.] soulis, and ȝit dispisen and letten oþere men to preche the treuþe of goddis lawe, laste here synne were knowen & here pride & worldly wynnynge leid a doun. ¶ And ȝit þei tellen not schortly ne plenerly [pleynely W.] þe gospel, & vices & vertues, & peynes and ioie, but maken longe talis of fablis, or cronyclis, or comenden here owen nouelries. ¶ As anemtis

traueile of freris it is knowen hou þei gon ydel fro contre to contre, & fro toun to toun, & fro hous to hous, beggynge nedles of pore men, techynge oþere to ben idel, & stelen mennus children to þis ydelnesse, where þei ben tauȝt to lyue in swet of here body bi comaundement of god and bi here owen reule & by ensaumple of petir and poule; whanne petir fischid aftir cristis resurreccion, & poul traueilid [page 39] wiþ his hondis after cristis ascencion; and seynt austyn techiþ munkis to labore wiþ here hondis, & so doþ seynt benet & seynt bernard. ¶ Also bisiden rome frere menours bi false name pursuen trewe pore freris to deþ, for as myche as þei wolden kepe fraunseis reule to þe lettere in pouert & meke|nesse & in grete penaunce, & þer-fore, þouȝ þei haue name of franseis freris, þei ben enemys of crist & fraunseis & cruel man-sleeris. ¶ Also, ȝif fraunseis take only þe gospel and no þing addiþ [asdiþ X.] of his owne þer-to, it schulde not be clepid [calde W.] fraunseis reule but reule of crist or of þe gospel; & ȝif he putte to þe gospel of his owne fyndynge, whi schulde he make þer-of a newe ordre, siþ þe ordre þat crist made him self is most perfit & most liȝt & most siker to geten heuene by, & what goode dede ony man may doo he is holden to don it bi þis most comaundement of god: "þou schalt loue þi lord þi god of ale þin herte, of al þi lif, of al þi þouȝtis, & of al þi stengþes or myȝtis." what nede is it þanne to make anoþer religion, siþ þat þat crist made is I-nowȝ at þe fulle; & so siþ noone apostle of crist ne angel of heuene haþ ony power but ȝif it be to edificacion & profit of holy chirche, þe pope haþ no [omitted X. and AA.] power to dispense aȝenst fraunseis testament & his reule, siþ þei ben al on, but ȝif it be to profit of holy chirche þat men kepen neiþer his reule ne his testament. Of þis reule & errour myȝte men speke ful myche. But god for his mercy brynge clerkis to cristis clene [trewe X. and AA.] religion, siþ it is þe beste on alle weies & most profitable to alle parties. Amen.