Page 205
[6-text p 372]
¶ Heere bigynneth the ffreres tale .
WHilom ther was dwellynge / in my contree [[Painting of the Friar.]]
An Erchedekene / a man of heigh degree
That boldely / dide execucioun
In punysshynge / of fornicacioun
Line 1304
Of wicchecraft and eek of bawderye [folio 81a]
Of diffamacioun / and Auowtrye
Of chirche Reues / and of testamentz
Of contractes / and eek of lakke of sacramentz
Line 1308
Of vsure / and of Symonye also
But certes / lecchours dide he grettest wo
They sholde syngen / if þat they were hent
And smale tytheres / weren foule yshent
Line 1312
If any persone / wolde vp-on hem pleyne
Ther myghte asterte hym / no pecunyal peyne
ffor smale tithes / and smal offrynge
He made the peple / pitously to synge
Line 1316
ffor er the bisshope / caughte hym with his hook
They were in the Erchedeknes book/
And thanne / hadde he / thurgh his Iurisdiccion
Power / to doon on hem correccion
Line 1320
He hadde a Somonour / redy to his hond
A slyer boye / was noon in Engelond
ffor subtilly / he hadde his espiaille
That taughte hym / wher hym myghte auaille
Line 1324
He koude spare of lecchours / oon or two
To techen hym / to foure and twenty mo
ffor thogh this somonour / wood was as an hare
To telle his harlotrye / I wol nat spare
Line 1328
