¶ Here bygynneth the Somnours tale. [folio 79b]
LOrdynges / ther is in Yorkshire / as I gesse
A Merssh contree / called Holdernesse
In which / ther wente a lymytour aboute
To preche / and eek to begge / it is no doubte
Line 1712
And so bifel / that on a day this frere
Hadde preched at a chirche / in his manere
And specially / abouen euery thyng
Excyted he the peple / in his prechyng
Line 1716
To trentals / and to yeue for goddes sake
Wher-with men myghte / holy houses make
Ther as dyuyne seruice / is honoured
Nat ther / as it is wasted and deuoured
Line 1720
Ne ther / it nedeth nat to be yeue
As to possessioners / that mowen lyue
Thanked be god / in wele and habundance
Trentals seyde he / deliuereth from penaunce
Line 1724
Hir freendes soules / as wel olde as yonge
Ye / whan that they / been hastily ysonge
Nat for to holde a preest Ioly and gay
He syngeth nat but o masse in a day
Line 1728
Deliuereth out quod he / anon the soules
fful hard it is / with flessh-hook/ or with oules
To been y-clawed / or to brenne / or bake
Now spede yow hastily / for cristes sake
Line 1732
And whan this frere / hadde seyd al his entente
With qui cum patre / forth his wey he wente
Whan folk in chirche / hadde yeue hym / what hem leste
He wente his wey / no lenger wolde he reste
Line 1736
