Select English works of John Wyclif. Vol. 3. Miscellaneous works / edited from original mss. by Thomas Arnold.

PART II. CONTROVERSIAL WORKS.

XVI. [SIMONISTS AND APOSTATES.]

[Of this tract, in English, there is only one known MS., that at New College, Oxford, (Q in the present edition). But there is a Latin version of it among the Wyclif MSS. at Vienna,—a fact which forms the principal ground for ascribing it to our author. Its position in the New College MS., between the 'Letter to Urban,' and the 'Letter on the Love of God,'—pieces of undoubted authenticity,—is also pretty good proof that the com∣piler of that MS. considered it to be from the hand of Wyclif. There is no sure indication of date; but from the absence of allusion to certain favourite topics of the reformer's last years, such as the doctrine of the Eucharist and the papal schism, I am inclined to infer that it is a comparatively early production. This tract is No. 56 in Shirley's Catalogue.]

ÞER ben two maner of heretikis of whiche Englond schuld be purgid, and symonieris ben þe first. And alle siche ben symonieris þat occupien bi symonye þe patrimonye of Crist,—be þei popis, be þei bischopis, curatis, or provendereris. And lite prestis or none ben clene of þis symonye. For to spek generali of þis synne of symonye, it is unleful chaffaringe wiþ spiritual goodis; and so boþe partis ben bleckid wiþ þis synne. ȝif freris sellen her prechyng, her preying, and her schryvyng, þe symonye is þe worse in siche ypocritis. If þes possessioners bien hem þus rentis, and propringe of chirchis, wiþ oþere privy∣legies, þei ben opyn heretekis to harm of þe Chirche. And þus ȝif seculer prestis, oþer more or lesse, bien her dignytees, to be greet in þe worlde, and leven þe servise of God and profit to his Chirche, þei ben opyn heretikis, and oþere þat mayntenen hem.

Þe seconde heretikis in þe Chirche ben apostataas [corrected; apostaas, Q.] , and ben

alle siche þat gon abac in Cristis ordre, for þei trowen not fully þat Crist was most pore man [This looks as if Wyclif, supposing him to be the author, had adopted the notion of the spiritual Francis∣cans, so much debated in the four∣teenth century, concerning the abso∣lute poverty of Christ. See Mil∣man's Latin Christianity, vol. vii. ch. 6.] . And mony degrees of þe Chirche ben bleckid wiþ þis heresie; as alle men þat coveiten more siche statis for worschip of þe world, or richesse þerof, þan for worschip of Crist and profit of his Chirche, and for medeful lif to sue Crist in povert. Alle siche rotid in þis ben apostataas; and ȝif þei mayntenen þis errour aȝens Goddis lawe, þei ben perelous heretikis to harm of Cristis Chirche. And siche wolen depart men fro God and hevenlie ȝiftis, and dis∣troye rewmes by synne and discenciouns. And herfore alle Cristen men schulden fle þis perel. And þus haþ God meved men now to spek of heretikis more þan þei diden bifore, to discryve hem bi Goddis lawe. For certis holy Chirche schal never be wiþoute debate, þe while siche heretikis ben so þick sowun. And siche men ben heretikis þat ben aȝenns Goddis lawe, or in word or in lif, alle ȝif þei holden wiþ mannus lawe; and jugement of prelatis makiþ not siche heretikis, but þe fend and synful lif, þat partis hem from Goddis lawe. And þevis in þe Chirche, moost heretikis of alle, wolen clepe trewe men heretikis, and unable her witnesse; as a þef in a derknesse biddiþ a trewe man stonde, for he wold þat no man spak aȝenns him. And heere we schulden leeve mannus lawe and jugement of þe world, and holde hool Goddis lawe, and mak it oure juge. And men weren traytours to God ȝif þei hidden þis sentence; siþ opyn werkis of heretikis crien hem to þe Chirche. And armis of men þat tellen þis schulden be on two maners; þei schulden knowe Goddis lawe, and so bi werkis knowe heretikis, and arme hemsilf wiþ patiense, and above wiþ charite, and putte hem to perel of deþ for distroying of þis synne. 'Fac quod in te est, et sic perficis illud; propheta dicente, Zelus domus tue comedit me.'

XVII. [CHURCH TEMPORALITIES.]

[This tract, which ha snever before been printed, is entered in Bale's list (the identity being proved by the recurrence of—substantially—the same initial words), under two different titles, 'Cogendos sacerdotes ad honesta∣tem,' and 'De Civili Dominio.' Lewis, in his list of Wyclif's works, enters the same tract three times over; see Nos. 57, 115, and 145. For the reasons assigned in the note on p. 218, I think it probable that it was composed about the year 1378. There are two known MSS.,—one at C. C. C. Cambridge, the other at Dublin; the present text is founded on the former.]

FFOR ÞRE SKILLIS LORDIS SCHULDEN CONSTREYNE CRERLIS TO LYVE IN MEKENESSE, WILFUL POVERT, AND DISCRETE PENAUNCE AND GOSTLY TRAVEILE.

OPYN techynge and Goddis lawe, old and newe, opyn en∣saumple [Priests and monks should of themselves lead a holy and self-deny∣ing life in Christian poverty,] of Cristis lif and his glorious apostlis, and love of God, drede of peynes and Goddis curs, and hope of grete reward in þe blisse of hevene schulde stire alle prestis and religious to lyve in gret mekenesse and wilful povert of þe gospel and discrete penaunce, and traveile to stoppe pride, coveitise, and fleischly lustis, and ydilnesse of worldly men, and renne faste to hevene bi riȝt weie of Goddis comaundementis, and to forsake trist in welþe of þis fals world, and alle manere falsenesse þerof; for þe ende of þis false worldly lif is bitter deþ and stronge peynes of helle in body and soule wiþouten ende.

Þre þingis schulden meve lordis to compelle clerkis to þis holy lif of Crist and his apostlis. Þe firste is drede of Goddis [to which, if necessary, secular lords ought, for three reasons, to compel them.] curs and peynes, in þis world, in purgatorie, and helle; and desirynge of Goddis blissynge, and pees, and prosperite of

rewmes. Þe secunde is wynnynge of holy lif, boþe of clerkis, lordis, and comyns. Þe þridde is strengþinge of rewmes, and distroiynge of synnes in eche staat, and þe Chirche. First, kyngis and lordis schulden wite þat þei ben mynystris and [First reason: because power to punish the evil and reward the good is committed to them by God.] vikeris of God, to venge synne and ponysche mysdoeris, and preise goode doeris, as Petir and Poul techen. And herefore techiþ Seynt Ysidre in þe lawe of þe Chirche [There is a passage to this effect in the Decretum of Gratian (Pars II, Causa 23), quoted from S. Austin: but I cannot discover any dictum of Isidore on the subject.] , þat þis is office of kyngis and lordis, bi drede and bodely rigor [to] [supplied.] constreyne men to holde Goddis lawe, whanne þei wolen not bi prechynge of prestis; and God schal axe rekenynge of worldly lordis, where holy Chirche encrese bi here governaile. Þanne, siþ prestis leven mekenesse, and taken worldly pride and bost, and forsaken wilful povert of þe gospel, and taken worldly lordischipis bi ypocrisie of veyn preieris, wiþ brennynge coveitise, wrongis, extorsions, and sillynge of sacramentis, and leven discret penaunce and gostly traveile, and lyven in glotonye, wastynge pore mennys goodis, and in ydelnesse and vanyte of þis world, lordis ben in dette to amende þes synnes. For ellis þei loven not God, for þei don not execucion of Goddis hestis, and venge not wrong dispit of God; but þei venge wrongis don to hemself, and loken þat here owene comaundementis ben kept up grete peyne. Also Poul seiþ, þat [Rom. i. 32.] not only men doynge synne ben worþi of deþ, but also þei þat consenten to hem. Þan, siþ lordis may amende þes grete synnes of pride, coveitise, and extorsions, and symonye of clerkis, þei ben dampnable wiþ þe synneris but ȝif þei don; and þan þei ben cursed of God for brekynge of his hestis, and for þei loven not Jesus Crist. And grete vengaunce comeþ for meyntenynge of synne, and brekynge of Goddis hestis, as Goddis lawe schewiþ in many placis. And siþ adversities and werris comen for synnys regnynge þat ben not amendid, lordis schulden have neiþer prosperite ne pees til þes synnes ben amendid. For no man wiþstondynge þus Goddis lawe, schal have pees. For lordis han here lordischipis bi God to distroie

synne, and meyntene riȝtwisnesse and holy lif; þanne, ȝif þei paien not to God þis rente, wite þei wel God mot ponysche hem, as he techiþ in his lawe. And certis, ȝif lordis don wel þis office, þei schullen sikerly come to þe blisse of hevene.

CAP. II.

Þe secunde profit is wynnynge of holy lif on eche side. For [Second reason: because the result would be increased holiness of life on both sides.] nowe prelatis and grete religious possessioners ben so occupied aboute worldly lordischipis and plea and bysinesse in herte, þat þei may not be in devocion of preiynge, and þouȝt of hevenely þingis, and of here owene synnys and oþere mennys, and studie and prechynge of þe gospel, and visitynge and con∣fortynge of pore men in here diocisis and lordischipis. And þo goodis þat ben overe here owene sustenaunce and neces∣saries, þat schulde be departid among pore men most nedi, ben now wastid in festis of lordis and riche men, in festis and robis and ȝiftis of men of lawe, in alle contrees where here lordischipis ben, and in riche clerkis of þe Chauncerie, of þe Comyn Benche and Kyngis Benche, and in þe Checher [The three courts,—of the Com∣mon Bench (or Common Pleas), of the Exchequer, and of the King's Bench,—were, as is well known, finally established as separate tri∣bunals on the ruins of the Aula Regia by Edward I, who abolished the office of Chief Justiciary, and transferred much of his jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery, the au∣thority of which thenceforth rapidly increased.] , and of justicis and schereves and stiwardis and bailifis, þat litil or nouȝt comeþ to hem, or here chirchis and coventis, but name of þe world, and þouȝt and bisynesse and care and sorowe. And for drede of losse of þes temporaltees, þei doren not reprove [Mischiefs caused by wealth and pomp accruing to the Church.] synne of lordis and myȝtty men, ne frely dampne coveitise in worldly men, ne in meyntenynge of fals plee; for þei ben opynly smytted in alle þes synnys, and many moo. And þus is trewe techynge of Goddis lawe, and ensaumple of holy lif, wiþ∣drawen fro lordis and comyns for þes worldly lordischipis of clerkis, and symonye, pride, extorsions, and alle manere synne and meyntenynge of synne is brouȝt in.

And ȝit þei have parische chirchis aproprid to worldly riche [Evils of the system of impropriating parochial tithes to bishops and abbots.] bischopis and abbotis þat [corrected; þan, X.] han many þousand mark more þan

ynowe. And þis appropringe is geten bi fals suggestion maad to Anticrist, be lesyngis maade to lordis, and coveitise and symonye, and wastynge of pore mennis goodis. And ȝit þei don not þe office of curatis, neiþer in techynge, ne prechynge, ne ȝevynge of sacramentis, ne resceyvynge of pore men in þe parische; but setten þere an ydiot for viker or parische prest, þat kan not and may not do þe office of a good curat, and ȝit þe pore parische fyndiþ hym. And no tonge may telle in þis world what synne and wrong comeþ herby. For, as Robert Grosted seiþ, whanne apropriacion of parische chirchis is made to siche religious, of alle evelis þat comeþ bi weiward curatis is maad a perpetuacion. And þus þei han worldly lordischipis, and reulen not þe peple ne meyntene þe lond as lordis. And whanne care of soulis and dymes and offryngys [text of X corrupt.] , and governe not þe peple in techynge and prechynge and sacramentis, as curatis, and han richessis and tresour more þan eny worldly man, and traveilen not þerfore as marchauntis and laboreris. And, as Bernard seiþ [The reference is perhaps to a passage in a sermon by St. Bernard on the conversion of St. Paul (Opera, 1, 956, ed. Paris, 1690), where he says, speaking of bad priests, 'Nunc autem dati sunt sacri gradus in oc∣casionem turpis lucri, et quaestum aestimant pietatem.'] , þei taken þe wynnynge and giftis of eche degre in þe Chirche, and traveilen not þerfore. And þerfore þei shulden be where is noon ordre, but everelastynge errour and peyne. Þis covetise, symonye, and moo synnys, schulden goo awey fro clerkis ȝif þei hadden no seculer lordischipis; and holy lif and povert schulde turne to hem, and newe techynge and good ensaumple to alle manere men.

CAP. III.

Þe þridde profit is stablynge of rewmes and distriynge of [Third reason: because the wealth and temporal power thus taken from the Church, would, if distributed among laymen, greatly strengthen the kingdom.] synnys. For parische chirchis approprid þus schulden frely be ȝoven to clerkis able of kunnynge and lif, and trewe techynge in word and dede. And þanne schulde þe clergie be strengere, and peple of betre lif. And seculer lordischipis, þat clerkis han ful falsly aȝenst Goddis lawe, and spende hem so wickedly, schulden be ȝoven wisly bi þe kyng and witti lordis to pore

gentilmen, þat wolden justli governe þe peple, and meyntene þe lond aȝenst enemyes; and þan myȝte oure lond be strengere by many þousand men of armes þan it is now, wiþouten ony newe cost of lordis, or taliage of þe pore comyns, [and] [supplied.] be dis∣chargid of gret hevy rente, and wickid customes brouȝt up bi coveitouse clerkis, and of many talliagis and extorsions, bi whiche þei ben now cruely pillid and robbid. And þus bi restorynge of lordischipis to seculer men, as þei duwe bi holi writt, and bi bryngynge of clerkis to mekenesse and wilful povert and bisy gostly traveile, as lyveden Crist and his apostlis, schulden synne be distried in ech degree of þe Chirche, and holy lif brouȝt in, and seculer lordis moche strengþid, and þe pore comyns relevyd, and good governaile, boþe gostly and worldly, come aȝen, and riȝtwisnesse and treuþe, and reste and pees and charite. And hereto schulde ech Cristene man helpe, bi al his wille, herte, kunnynge, and powere.

And ȝif worldly clerkis of þe Chaunserie or Chekir seyn þat [Ban and ex∣communication should be defied.] þe kyng and lordis may not þus amende þe clergie, and turnen here temporaltees into seculer mennis hondis, for drede of curs, seie þat þei blaberen moche of Anticristis curs and his clerkis, and magnyfien þat for here owene pride and coveitise, but þei speken not of curs of God, þat oure lordis rennen inne, for þei meyntenen not Cristis ordynaunce in þe clergie. And to Luciferis clerkis, þat it is al on to blabere þat oure lordis may not take aȝen þe temporaltees fro Anticristis clerkis, and to blabere þat oure lordis may not holde and meyntene Goddis hestis and Cristis owene ordynaunce. Be þes worldly clerkis war, þat þei conseilen not oure lordis to renne inne to Goddis curse, to meyntene heiȝe prelatis and religious, aȝenst staat of apostlis and here owene profession, for gold, robis, and fees, þat þei taken of Anticristis clerkis. But wite lordis wel, þouȝ alle clerkis in erþe cursen hem, for as moche as þei traveilen wiþ clene conscience to brynge clerkis to þis holy lif, ensaumplid and comaundid of Crist, and to restore seculer lordischipis to seculer men as þei schulden bi Goddis lawe,—þat God and alle angelis and seyntis blisse hem for þis riȝtwisnesse; and þanne

mannis curs harmeþ noþing, ne enterditynge, ne ony sensuris þat Sathanas may feyne [This bold declaration seems to refer to the attempt of Gregory XI in 1377 to procure a formal con∣demnation in England of nineteen conclusions attributed to Wyclif, several among which (particularly the sixth, seventh, seventeenth, and eighteenth), embody opinions simi∣lar to those propounded in the pre∣sent tract. See Lewis' 'Life of Wyclif,' p. 46. For instance, the ninth conclusion ran thus: 'Si Deus est, domini temporales possunt legi∣time ac meritorie auferre bona for∣tune ab ecclesia delinquente.' And with regard to the efficacy of church 'curses,' or excommunications, the ninth conclusion maintained,—'Non est possibile hominem excommuni∣cari ad sui dampnum, nisi excom∣municetur primo et principaliter a se ipso.' The four following con∣clusions are all in the same strain.] .

Almyȝty God, stire oure clerkis, oure lordis, and oure comyns, [Invocation.] to meyntene þe riȝtful ordynaunce þat Jesus Crist maade for clerkis, and to drede curs of God, and not curs of Anticrist, and to desire spedly þe honour of God and blisse of hevene, more þan here owene honour and worldly joie.

XVIII. DE PRECATIONIBUS SACRIS.

[This tract, never before printed, is found in Bale's list under the title 'De precationibus sacris.' It is contained in the Corpus volume, and in two MSS. at Dublin. I do not see that any reasonable doubt can be enter∣tained of its authenticity. There is no means of fixing the date of com∣position exactly; but the absence, in a tract of this length, of all reference to either of those topics which were of gravest interest to Wyclif in his last years, the papal schism and the doctrine of the Eucharist, inclines me to place it in or before 1379. The text is based on C. C. C. C. 296.]

HOW PREIERE OF GOOD MEN HELPIþ MOCHE, AND PREIERE OF SYNFUL MEN DISPLESIþ GOD, AND HARMEþ HEMSILF AND OþERE MEN.

OURE Lord Jesus Crist techiþ us to preie evermore, for alle [The efficacy of prayer,] nedful þingis boþe to body and soule. For in þe gospel of Seynt Luk, Crist seiþ þat it is nede to preie evermore, and Seynt Poul biddiþ Cristene men preie wiþoute cessynge, or lettynge. And þis is understonden of preiere of charite, and not of preiere of mannis voys, as Seynt Austyn declariþ wel [See the very beautiful passage here referred to in St. Augustine's Enarratio in Ps. xxxvii. § 14.] ; for ellis myȝtte no man fulfille þis heste, to preie evermore. For as longe as a man lyveþ just lif, kepynge Goddis hestis and charite, so longe he preieþ wel whatevere he do ['He prayeth well loveth well Both man and bird and beast.' Coleridge's Ancient Mariner.] ; and whoevere lyveþ beste, he preieþ best. Also Seynt Jame seiþ, [James v. 16.] þat þe besy and lastynge preiere of a riȝtful man is moche worþi. And þer while Moyses was in þe Mount, and held up his hondis, and preiden for his folk, his folk hadden victorie of here enemys; and whanne he cessed to preie þus, his peple was

overcomen, as þe secunde book of Holy Writt techiþ. ȝif prestis dwelliþ in þe hill of hey gostly lif, and aspien disceitis of þe fende, and schewen hem to þe peple bi trewe prechynge, and holden up here hondis, þat is, opyn goode werkis, and lasten in hem, and preien bi brennynge desir to performe riȝt∣wisnesse of Goddis lawe and ordynaunce, Cristene peple schal have victorie of þe fende of helle and cursed synne, and þan schal reste and pees and charite dwelle amonge hem. And ȝif prestis cessen of þis holy lif and good ensaumple, and þis desir of riȝtwisnesse, Cristene peple schal moche be overcome bi synne, and have pestilence and werris and woo ynouȝ, and, but ȝif God helpe, þe more endeles woo in helle. Also kyng Ezechie bi holy preiere and wepynge and sorowe gat remission of his synnys, and fiftene ȝeer of his lif; and þe sonne wente abac, or turnede [corrected; turnende, X. kunnynge ȝeve ȝe.] aȝen, ten lynes in þe orologie, as Ysaies book [Is. xxxviii. 8.] witnessiþ. Also þe sonne and þe mone stonden stille al day, to ȝeve liȝt to pursue Goddis enemyes, willynge to quenche Goddis name, his lawe, and his peple, bi þe holy preiere of þe noble duk Josue.

Þerfore seiþ Crist to his disciplis,—Ȝif ȝe axen my Fadir ony [if made in the name of Christ and for spi∣ritual good.] þing in my name he schal ȝeve it to ȝow. But we axen in þe name of Jesus whanne we axen þing nedeful or profitable for savynge of mennis soulis, so þat we axen þis devoutly, of gret desir, and wittily, or mekely and lastyngly, bi saad feiþ, riȝtful hope, and lastynge charite. And whatevere we axen þus, we schullen have of þe Fadir of hevene. Also Crist seiþ þus in þe gospel, Ȝif ȝe, evele men, kunnynge ȝeve [corrected; X has, ȝeve evele men] goode þingis to ȝoure children, whiche goode þingis ben ȝoven to ȝow, how moche more schal ȝoure fadir of hevene ȝeve a good spirit to men þat axen him. Þanne, siþ kynde techiþ synful men to ȝeve goodis to here children, how moche more wole Godde, auctor of good∣nesse and charite, ȝeve to his children þat he loveþ so moche gostly goodis profitable to þe soule. Þerfore axe of God hevenely goodis, as grace, wille, witt, and myȝt, to serve God to his pleasaunce,—and not worldly catel, but in as moche as it is nedeful to susteyne þis lif in truþe and service of þi God.

Þerfore Crist techiþ us þat whatevere we preien and axen we schulde bileve and truste wiþouten ony doute to have it, and it schal be don us. And ȝif twei or þre of ȝou consenten togedre of ony þing on erþe þat þei schulden axe, it schal be don to hem.

Þerfore Crist tauȝte and comaundid us to preie þe Pater [All right prayer is en∣sampled in the Pater Noster.] Noster, þat is best and liȝttest and most siker preiere of alle. For þat conteyneþ al nedful þing, and profitable for body and soule, and noon error ne singulariete aȝenst Goddis wille; and Jesus Crist made it, and comaundid it in schorte wordis, for men schulden not ben hevy ne werie to seie it, ne combrid to lerne it. And herfore Seynt blameþ men þat leven þis Pater-Noster, tauȝt and comaunded of God, and chesen sin∣guler preieris maade of synful men. And herbi it is opyn, þat holy men, dwellynge in charite to God and alle men lyvynge in erþe, boþe frendis and enemys, Cristene and heþene, profiten moche by devout preieres, but most bi holy lif, and brennynge desir of riȝtwisnesse.

CAP. II.

See now how wickid mennis preiere displesiþ God, and [The prayers of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord.] harmeþ hemself and þe peple. God himself seiþ to evele men þat preien to hym in nede on þis manere: 'I have clepid and [Prov. i. 24.] ȝe han forsaken, and han dispisid alle my blamyngis, and I schal lieþe in ȝoure perischynge, and schal scorne ȝou whanne þat þing þat ȝe han dred schal come to ȝow. Þanne þei schullen clepe, and I schal not here; þei schullen rise here∣lyche, and þei schullen not fynde me; for þei hatiden disciplyne,' þat is, lernynge and chastisynge, 'and þus res∣ceyveden not þe drede of þe Lord. And þei assentiden not to my conseile, and depraveden and mysdemeden al my cor∣reccioun,' þat is, reprovynge warnynge and chastisynge of synne. And bi þe prophete Ysaie God seiþ þus to wickide [Is. i. 10.] men: 'ȝe princes of Sodom, here þe Lordis word; þe peple of Gomor, perseyveþ wiþ heris þe lawe of oure Lord God. oure encence is abhomynacioun to me; I schal not suffre ȝoure neomye [A mistake of the scribe for 'neomenye,' which is found in the second Wycliffite version at this place.] ,' þat is a principal feste, 'and Sabaoth and

oþere festis; ȝoure compaynes ben yvele; my soule haþ hatid ȝoure festis of calendis and solempnyties; þei ben made to me hevy and noiful. And whanne [ȝ [not in X.] ] schulden holde forþ ȝoure hondis, I schal turne myn eiȝen awey fro ȝou; and whanne ȝe schullen make many preieris, I schal not here, for ȝoure hondis ben ful of blood,' þat is, of wrong sleynge of men, or foule synnes. Also God seiþ þat þe preiere of þat man þat turneþ awey his ere, þat he here not þe lawe, is abhominable or cursed. Also God seiþ bi þe prophete Malache: 'And now [Mal. ii. 1.] to ȝou, prestis, is þis comaundement, ȝif ȝe wolen here. And ȝif ȝe wolen not putte on ȝoure herte to ȝeve ȝou glorie to my name, siþ [a mistake for seiþ.] þe Lord of compaynyes, or hostis, I schal sende into ȝou nedynesse and schal curse to ȝoure blyssyngis; and I schal curse to hem, for ȝe han not seet þis comaundement on oure [should be ȝoure.] herte. Loo, I schal caste to ȝow þe armie, and sprede abrood upon ȝoure face þe þost, or dirt, of ȝoure solempnyte.' Also bi þe same prophete seiþ God to prestis and mynistris of þe temple; 'Woo is among ȝow, þat schal sitte, and encence myn [Mal. i. 10.] auter wilfully and frely, wiþouten mede?' as who seiþ, noon. 'Þe Lord of companyes seiþ, þer is no wille to me among ȝow, and I schal resceyve no ȝiftis of sacrifice of ȝoure hond.' And God seiþ bi þe same prophete to prestis, 'ȝe han coverid þe [Mal. ii. 13.] auter of þe Lord wiþ teris and wepynge and mornynge,' þat is of widewis and pore men þat [ȝe] oppressen, and disceyven, 'so þat I schal no more biholden to þe sacrifice, and I schal not resceyve only pleasaunt þing of ȝoure hond.' Þerfore seiþ Davyd; 'Ȝif I have biholden wickidnesse in myn herte, þe Lord [Ps. ixvi. 18.] schal not here bi grace;' þat is, ȝif I wilfully and gladly do wickidnesse. And God seis to þe synful man, 'Whi tellist [Ps. l. 16.] þou my riþtwisnesse, and takist my testament bi þi mouþ?' And þe Holy Gost seiþ of Judas Scariot, 'His preiere be maad [Ps. cix. 6.] into synne.' And oure Lord Jesus seiþ, 'Þis peple worschipiþ [Matt. xv. 9.] me wiþ lippis, but here herte is fere fro me. But þei techen loris and maundementis of men, worschipen me wiþouten cause,' þat is, siche men as techen and chargen mennis lawis and tradicions and comaundementis, more þan holy writt and

Goddis hestis, veynly and falsly worschipen God. Also Jesus seiþ to wickid men; 'What seie ȝe to me, Lord, Lord, and don not þe þingis þat I comaundede?' For Jesus seiþ, 'Woo to ȝow, Scribis and Phariseis, ypocritis, þat eten widewis houses, preiynge longe preieris; þerfore ȝe schulle take grettere juge∣ment.' And in þe gospel of Seynt Jon is writen þus: 'And ȝe witen þat God heriþ not synful men, but ȝif ony man wor∣schipiþ God and doiþ his wille, God heriþ hym.' And whanne a prest seiþ his masse out of good lif and charite, and makiþ þe sacrament, he etiþ and drynkiþ his owen dampnacion, not demynge wisly þe body of oure Lord, as Seynt Poul techiþ in holy writt. Þerfore Crisostom seiþ on þe gospel of Mathew [S. Joh. Chrysost. in cap. Matt. vii. Homilia xviii.] ; As a þing may be wiþoute odour or savour, but odor may not be wiþouten sum þing, so a good dede wiþouten preiere is sumwhat, but preire wiþouten goode dede is nouȝt. And Seynt Austyn seiþ on þe Sauter; Ȝif þou passe mesure in mete and drynk, and lyve in glotonye and dronkenesse, whatevere heriyingis [supplied conjecturally; bereiþgis, X.] þi tonge speke, þi lif blasphemeþ God [S. Aug. Enarr. in Ps. cxlvi: 'Si modum naturae debitum immo∣deratione voracitatis excedas, et vinolentia te ingurgites, quantas libet laudes Dei lingua tua sonet, vita blasphemat.'] . Þerfore Seynt Poul seiþ, Many men knowlichen þat þei knowen God, [Tit. i. 16.] but þorowȝ here dedis þei denyen God. And Seynt Gregory writtiþ þus in many bokis, A man seet in grevous synnys, þer∣while he is overchargid wiþ his owen, he doþ not awey oþer mennis synnes. For it is knowen to alle men, þat whanne he þat dispiseþ is sent forþe to preie, þe herte of him þat is worþi is stired to more wraþþe and vengaunce. Soþly it is writun, Þe sacrafies of wickide men ben abhominable to þe Lord; þe vowis of sacrifices of just men ben pleasaunt. For in þe dom of God Almyȝtty, it is not souȝt what is ȝoven, but of whom. Þerfore it is written in holy writt; Þe Lord biheld to Abel and to his ȝiftis. Whanne Moyses schulde seie þat þe Lord tok reward to ȝiftis, bisily he sette bifore þat God biheld Abel; of whiche þing it is schewed opynly þat þe offerere pleside not of ȝiftis, but ȝiftis pleseden of þe offerere or ȝevere. Forsoþe þe heiste

God approveþ not þe ȝiftis of wickid men, ne biholdiþ in here offryngis, ne schal have mercy of synnys in þe multitude of here sacrifices. Also þe Lord is fer fro wickide men, and he schal graciously here þe preieris of juste men. Al þis seiþ Seynt Gregory in þe popis lawe.

CAP. III.

Now see how streit is mannys lawe aȝenst synful mennys [Such prayers are also con∣demned by the canon law, which forbids to hear the masses of priests living unchastely.] preiere. Þe pope comaundiþ in his lawe, þat no man here þe masse of þat prest, whanne he whot wiþouten doute þat he haþ a concubyne or lemman; and þis lawe is confermyd of þe holy Seyne under gret curs. Over þis seiþ þe Pope Alisaundre [Probably Pope Alexander II, (1061-1073), who wrote a letter to this effect to the Dalmatian church.] ; We comaunden and bidden þat no man heire þat prestis masse, whom he whot wiþouten ony doute to have a lemman, or a womman prively weddid. Wherof also þe holy Seyne con∣fermede þis lawe, and seiþ [By the 'holy Seyne' seems to be meant Gregory the Great, though I have not discovered the passage cited in his works. If he be meant, the words 'or Pope Nychol' must be taken for an interpolation of the writer, for the first pope of the name of Nicholas flourished not earlier than the ninth century.] , Whatevere man of prestis, of dekene, or sub-dekene [corrected; so-dekene, X.] , holde and wedde opynly a concubyne, or forsakiþ not ȝif he have weddid here, aftir þe statut of Seynt Lionir þe pope, or Pope Nychol, of chastite of clerkis, we comaunden on Goddis halve, and bi auctorite of Petir and Poul, and algatis aȝen-seyn, þat he synge no masse, and rede ne gospel ne pistel at masse, and þat he dwelle not in þe quere at dyvyn service, wiþ hem þat ben obeischaunt to þat constitucion of chastite; and þat he resceyve not part of þe chirche. Also Pope Gregory seiþ þus: Ȝif þer ben ony prestis, dekenys, or subdekenys, þat lyve in synne of fornycacioun, on Goddis halve, and bi auctorite of Seynt Petre, we forbeden hem þe entre of þe Chirche til þei don penaunce and ben amendid. But ȝif ony of hem have levere to dwelle in here synne, none of ȝow presume or be hardy to here here office or service, for here blessynge turneþ into cursynge, and here preiere turneþ into synne; as oure Lord witnessiþ bi þe prophete

Malachie. I schal, seiþ God, curse to ȝoure blissingis. Soþly þei þat wolen not obeie to þis most holsum precept rennen into synne of ydolatrie, þat is, honourynge of false goddis, witnessynge þe holy prophete Samuel and Seynt Gregory. It is synne of whicchis, of men out of Cristene byleve to not be obedient; and to wille not to assente and acorde is synne of ydolatrie [This is a translation of an entire canon of Gregory VII; see Decretum, Pars I, dist. 81, can. 15.] .

Also it is written þere þus; Ȝif ony bishop, or prest, or dekene, fro hennys forþ take any womman, or forsake here not ȝif he have taken ony, falle he fro his owen degre til he come to satisfaccion, and dwelle he not in quere of men þat syngyn Goddis servyce, and take he not ony part of þingis of þe Chirche. Also ȝif ony bischop consente, bi preiere or pris, to fornycacion of prestis or dekenys in his parische, or þat he impugneþ not bi autorite sich synne don, be he suspendid of his office, þat is disposid as þe lawe seiþ. Also Austyn seiþ, þat soþly no man doþ more harm in þe Chirche þan he þat doþ weiwardly, and haþ name of ordre of holynesse or presthed. For no man presumeþ to reprove hym whanne he mysdoþ, and þe synne is drawen gretly into ensaumple, whanne a synful man is worschipid for reverence of ordre. And so þat bischop þat amendiþ not synne of siche men, is more worþi to be clepid an [and in the MS.] unchast hound þan a bischop.

Nowe siþ lecherie makiþ prestis unable to entre into holy [But there are other sins be∣sides incon∣tinence which mar the prayers of priests, such as pride, covetousness, gluttony;] Chirche, and seie masse, and have part of tiþes and offringis, and þat men schullen not here her servyce, whanne here synne is opyn, moche more schulde þes peynes renne for grettere synnys, as pride, envye, coveitise and glotonye, usure, þefte of Goddis word, and symonye, þat passiþ alle oþere synnes. For þe grevousere synne is worþi more peyne. For pride makiþ men forsake God, kyng of mekenesse, and take Lucifer to here fals kyng, as God seiþ in Holy Writt; and envye and wraþþe makiþ men forsake God of charite of mercy and pacience, and bicome children of Bellial, as Goddis lawe, reson, and seyntis

techen. Coveitise and usure maken men forsake God of treuþe and riȝtwisnesse, and worschipen false goddis, as Seynt Poul seiþ. Glotonye and dronkenesse makiþ men to wor∣schipen false goddis, and forsake Almyȝtty God in Trinyte, þat is God of mesure and reson. For Poul seiþ, þat glotonys maken here stynkynge bely her God. And ȝifte of Goddis word, and evyl ensaumple to Cristene men, is worse þan bodily synne of Sodom, as Goddis lawe and Grosted witnessen; as Goddis word and mannis soule ben betre þan seed of mannis body. And þus þefte and gostly lecherie of Sodom don curatis and prestis, whanne þei techen not trewely bi word and goode ensaumple holy writt, as þe wise clerk Grosted shewiþ. Man∣sleynge is not only bi dede of hondis, but also bi consent and counseil and auctorite. And siþ prestis þus consenten to false werris, and many þousand deþis, þei ben cursed manquelleris and irreguler, bi Goddis lawe and mannis, and reson þerto.

Symonye is so gret heresie þat alle synnes ben countid for [and simony, which is almost universal.] nouȝt in comparison þerof, as þe lawe seiþ; insomoche þat ech synful prest may seie masse, and make þe sacrament, þouȝ he do it to his dampnynge; outaken [should be out-taken.] a prest comynge to þis ordre bi symonye. Þanne siþ no man comeþ to þis ordre or benefice wiþouten symonye, almost man may drede of irre∣gularite, and privyng of beneficis, and lesynge of salaries, and of degradynge; and þat here preiere is cursed, and þei in weie of dampnacion, fro þis cursed symonye. For whoevere comeþ to presthod or benefice bi ȝifte of money-worþ, bi preiere or servyce, comeþ in by symonye, as Seynt Gregoir and þe lawe techiþ. And whoevere comeþ to þis ordre or benefice, mot bi mekenesse seke Goddis worschipe, and helpe of Cristene soulis, and for devocioun to lyve in holynesse and ȝeve good ensample. But to lyve in pride and lustis of fleisch, as ydelnesse, glotonye, dronkenesse, and lecherie, comen not in bi Crist, but bi þe fend; and [he is [his in X.] ] Goddis traitour and heretik til he amende þis entente, and do wel þis gostly office, as Crist tauȝte. And ful fewe ben clene to preie for þe peple, for gretnesse of here

owene synnes in here entre, and evyl contenaunce, and meyn∣tenaunce, and excusynge of here synne, and oþere mennis synne, for money and worldly rank, aȝenst God in his riȝtful dom, and for hard endurynge in here synnes.

CAP. IV.

But aȝenst þes lawes, boþe Goddis and mannis, and resoun, [According to modern so∣phistry, the prayers of wicked priests are heard, not for their own sakes, but in virtue of the merits of holy Church.] and seyntis, þe fend techiþ his disciplis a newe glose, to seie þat þouȝ men ben not worþi to be herd in preiynge for here owene good lif, ȝit here preiere is herd in merit of holy Chirche, for þei ben procuratours of þe Chirche. Certis þis is a foul soffyme, a foul and a sotil disceit of Anticristis clerkis, to coloure here synne þerbi. For þis glose is foul, but contrarie to Goddis wordis; and none of þese grete holy doctours knewen þis feyned sotilte of wordis til þe fend was unbounden. Whi schulde God here graciously sich a cursed mannis preiere, for he dispisiþ God in his holy servyce, and falsly disceyveþ Cristene men, and evyl takiþ þe honour of presthed, aȝenste Goddis heste? For God comaundiþ bi Seynt Poul þat no man take to hym honor but he þat is clepid of God, as Aaron. And þe peple gessiþ to fynde a trewe servaunt of God, and clene of lif, and devout, to helpe hem aȝenst here synnis and com∣braunce of þe fend; and ȝif he be not sich, he disceyveþ foule Cristene peple. For God biddiþ þat his prestis ben holy, for he is holy; and þat no prest havynge notable filþe of his body [corrected; of his and bodily, X.] schal mynystre in þe peple, þat is, þat no preste havynge filþe of orible synne in his soule presume to do þe holy office; for ȝif he do it in þis cursed lif he getiþ himself dampnacion, as Seynt Poul seiþ.

Þes Anticristis sophistris schulden knowe wel, þat a cursed [But this doc∣trine, though true of sacra∣ments, is not true of prayer.] man doþ fully þe sacramentis, þouȝ it be to his dampnynge, for þei ben not autouris of þes sacramentis, but God kepiþ þat dygnyte to hymself; but of preieris is al þe contrarie, as þes autorites of holy writt and seyntis bifore seide schewen. For ȝif cursed mennis preiere were þus herd of God, whi telliþ not

God þis poynt in his lawe? but þe contrarie he telliþ opynly. Whi schulde þan popis ponische men, and suspende hem fro masse whanne þei ben opyn lechoris? whi schulde God seie þat sich a synful mannis preiere is abhominable, and þat God curseþ to here blissyngis? Þes weiward ypocritis glosen þus expresly aȝenst Goddis word, ffor þei dreden laste þe peple knewe here cursed lif, and þat curseþ here preieris, and þerfore sette not bi hem, and þanne here worschipe and wynnynge cessiþ, and þe peple wole bisien hem to lyve wel, and do almes to pore nedi men, as Crist techiþ, and not fynde siche ypocritis þat þus blasphemen God.

Wonder it is whi men preisen so moche þis newe preiynge, [The modern practice of intoning or chanting the prayers con∣demned.] bi gret criynge and hey song, and leven stille manere of preynge, as Crist and his apostils diden. It semeþ þat we seken oure owene likynge and pride in þis song more þan þe devocion and understondynge of þat þat we syngen, and þis is grete synne. For Austyn seiþ in his confessions, As oft as þe song delitiþ me more þan þat is songen, so oft I knowleche þat I trespasse grevously [S. Aug. Conf. Lib. x. cap. 33: 'Cum mihi accidit ut me amplius cantus quam res quae canitur moveat, poenaliter me peccare confiteor, et tunc mallem non audire cantantem'.] . Þerfore seiþ Poul, I have levere [1 Cor. xiv. 19.] fyve wordis in my witt þan ten þousand in tonge. Poulis witt is in devocion and trewe undirstondynge; þe tonge is þat a man undirstondiþ not, and haþ no devocioun. O Pater Noster seynge wiþ devocion and goode understondynge, is beter þan many þousand wiþouten devocion and undirstondynge. And þis newe preiynge occupieþ men so moche þat þei han no space to studie holy writt and teche it. But Austyn axeþ, Who may [The scribe at first wrote schal; then added may in the margin, for∣getting to draw his pen through the schal.] excuse him fro prechynge and sekynge and savynge of soulis, for love of contemplacion? siþ Jesus Crist cam fro hevene into þis wrecched world to seke soulis and save hem, bi opyn ensaumple of holy lif and trewe prechynge. And Gregory seiþ in his Pastoralis, þei þat han [corrected; hat, X.] plente of virtues and kunnynge of Goddis lawe, and gone into desert for reste of contemplacion, ben gilty of as many soulis, as þei myȝten

profiten to in kunnynge to men dwellynge in þe world. Where þis newe song schal excuse us fro lernynge and prechynge of þe gospel þat Crist tauȝte and bad? Þerefore, ȝe prestis, lyveþ wel, preieþ devoutly, and techiþ þe gospel trewely and freely, as Crist and his apostils diden.

Amen.

XIX. LINCOLNIENSIS.

[This curious tract was overlooked by Dr. Shirley; nor is it mentioned by Bale or Leland; nor do Lewis or Dr. Vaughan appear to have seen it. The only existing copy, so far as appears, is found in the MS., Bodl. 647, between the Vita Sacerdotum (Shirley, No. 53) and Of the Eucharist (Shirley, No. 54). From this MS. of course the text is transcribed. The occasion of writing seems to have been the imprisonment of some of the poor priests, which may not improbably have taken place under the letters patent of Richard II, granted to the Archbishop after the Council of London in July, 1382. (See Lewis' Life of Wycliffe, App. No. 22.) The date of the tract therefore I should be inclined to fix somewhere about the end of 1382. Its position in the MS., between two tracts, the authenticity of one of which is beyond dispute, while the other has at least the authority of Bale, not to speak of internal evidence, in its favour, tends to make it probable that Wyclif was the author; at the same time, it cannot be denied that it con∣tains nothing which might not equally well have been written by one of his followers, as Herford, or Repyndon, or Aston.]

Lincolniensis generaliter describit sic claustralem egressum de claustro et sic fratrem; talis, inquit, est cadaver mortuum de sepulcro egressum, pannis funebribus involutum, a diabolo inter homines agitatum.

ÞERE is, he seis, a deed caryone cropun of his sepulcre, [Irritation of the friars at being reproved for their misdeeds.] wrapped wiþ clothes of deul, and dryven wiþ þo devel for to drecche men. Do we gode whil þat we have tyme, for Judas slepes not nyght ne day, bot studyes by alle his cautels hou þat he may slee Crist in his lymes. Bot his malice and his faders is knowen by his werkes; alþof Crist lete hom noye his ser∣vauntis. Bot sith bothe mede and synne stondes in wille, men may witte by his werkes whos clerke he is. Sith Crist and

Anticrist contrarien togedir, and freris pursuen moste men þat tellen hem hor sothes, þei schewen hom Anticrist clerkes, con∣trarie to Crist. For Crist was more innocent þen any freris ben, and suffred more reproves of his gode dedes, and ȝitte he suf∣fred most mekely, and cast hym not to vengeaunce. If þo freris do þo reverse, þei are Anticrist clerkes; and for drede þat hor ypocrisye schulde be knowen to þe puple,—and ypocrisie is noght but if hit be hid,—þei are wode when þei are reproved oght of hor vices; as a horce unrubbed, þat haves a sore back, wynses when he is oght touched or rubbed on his rugge. And so shulde men rubbe oute þe defautes of freris, and thriste oute þo quyter of hor olde synnes, for þus dide Crist wiþ þo Pharisees.

And one þing I telle hom, þat hor neue ordir dos hom to [They have got the poor priests imprisoned because their pure lives and sounder faith about the Eucharist put them to shame.] soule heele more harme þen gode. For al þo holynesse þat þei do to þe Chirche her moder myght þei do wiþoute suche wed∣dynge to hor sygnes; ffor so did Crist and his apostels, lyv∣ynge wiþ þo puple. And þerfore fle ypocrisye, and be scolere of treuthe; and ouþer seme þat þou art, or be þat þou semes. Owþer Gods lawe is fals, or þe reume of Englonde schal scharply be punyschid for prisonynge of pore prestis. And when þo grounde is sought oute, þo cause of hor punyschynge stondes in two poyntes; ouþer þat Anticrist schulde schame of hor lif, and hor wordes contraryen to hym, or for þei grauntid opunly þo feythe of þo gospel, as þei grucched in jugement [Namely, in the judgment passed by the Council of London in 1382 against Wyclif; which related chiefly to his opinions on the Eucharist.] , þat þo bred of þo auter is verrey Gods body, as þo gospel seis and comyne feithe holdes. And sothly a Sarasene or a hethen prelate wolden not þus punysche Cristis prests for grauntyng of þo gospel. And one þing I sey boldely, certen of þo gospel; þat alle þo freris of þis lond, or oþer blasphemes, connot dis∣prove þis faythe þat we telle.

And þof alle Cristen men schulden be on Cristis side, and [Knights and other powerful laymen ought to see that they are released.] reverse Anticrist wiþ alle his disciplis, nereþoles knyghtes schulde more scharply stonde in þis cause, ffor by titel of þis servise þei holden of Crist, and kepen þo ordire of knyght, in more perfeccioun þen þo ordire of freris or of munkes. Þerfore

þo gospel approves hit by Seynt Jon Baptist. And suche a covent of freris, or of munkes ouþer, was never in Cristendome as Mauris [St. Maur, or Maurus, according to the account given of him by Gregory the Great in his Dialogues, was the son of a nobleman, by whom he was brought, when only twelve years old, to Subiaco, and placed under the care of St. Benedict. Though the founder of a flourishing branch of the Benedictine order, he never was more than a deacon. Does the writer mean to say that St. Maur preserved, after he joined St. Benedict, his secular rank and status as a nobleman? or merely that he and his fellows as they were the first monks in the West, so had never been equalled since? There is another reference to St. Maurus in the tract De Schismate.] and his felowes; and hit is likely þat al þis private religioun makes not suche a legioun of seyntis in heven. On þis schulde knyghtes þenke, and do servise to Crist, for þere are none feller fendes þen are wickkid prestis, as schewes Cay∣phas and Scaryot, and mony soche oþer. Alle Cristen men schulden þenke on þis faythe of þe gospel, hou Crist schal cum at þe day of dome, and reprove dampned men for hor un∣kyndenesse, and when he was in prison þei visited hym not. Gedir we oure wittes, and knowe we wisely þat hit is more [to] [supplied conjecturally.] assent to unskilful prisonynge, þen for to absent us fro visitynge of prisouns. And one þing is knowun in Cristen mennis byleve, þat whoso wiþdrawes his helpe fro cause of Crist, he consentis to þo synne þat he schulde destrye. And so everiche Englische mon þat helpes not soche persouns is reproved of Crist as a fals servaunt. Somme schulden helpe by preyer, and somme by gode speche, somme by worldly pouste, and somme by gode lyve. And trowe not þat wikkednesse of freris or igno∣raunce of prestis excuses not seculer lordes to autorise hor dedes. As knyghtes and alle Cristen men schal be dampned of God bot if þei do servise þat þei owe to hym, so prestes are dampnable, þat God schewes periles by whom he wil punysche þo puple, for hydynge of hom, as þo prophete seis. And þis [Jonah i. 2.] worlde neded prophetis to speke and drede no mon.

Amen.

XX. VITA SACERDOTUM.

[Bale names this tract under the title 'De Vita Sacerdotum;' but in the only MS. known to exist it is headed 'Vita Sacerdotum.' The MS. in question is Bodl. 647. The manner in which the Council of London is referred to at the opening of the tract seems to show that it was written within a few months after that event; that is, in 1382, or early in 1383. Although Wyclif was at this time disabled by paralysis from active par∣ticipation in the movement which the Council was designed to repress, there is no reason why we should not believe him to have sent, as in this tract, from his retirement at Lutterworth, words of encouragement and counsel to the partisans of reform. The aim of the treatise is to advocate the gradual resumption of all lands and temporal dignities held by the clergy, and their restoration to the state of poverty taught and practised by Christ and his apostles. It is in fact a re-assertion, more or less, of six out of the fourteen conclusions condemned as erroneous by the Council of London.]

CAP. I.

Þo peril of freris is þo laste of eght, þat falles to men in þis [2 Cor. xi. 26.] waye, as Seynt Poule telles; and Austyne nootis þis is þo [The friars, at the late Council of London, defended the temporal en∣dowment of the Church;] moste. And, for dede doynge shewes more þo sothe, telle we how freris [A sort of pious pun is here essayed, founded on the identity of meaning existing between the word 'freris,' etymologically taken, and the 'false brethren,' named by St. Paul as the last of the eight 'perils' through which he had past.] desseyved late oure rewme at Londen, in þo counseile; þei wolde disseyve oure bischopis, and so lordis and comynes þat dwellen in þis rewme. Þei seide as byleve þat þis is an heresye to sey, þat men of þo Chirche have temporal pos∣sessiouns

is ageyns holy writte, whosoever affermes hit. Sup∣pose we þese sophistris desseyven not þo puple by hor fals wordes, bot speke we to þo purpose. Wil we woot þat prestis in þo olde lawe had housyng and dwellynge and mony oþer godes, bothe mebles and unmebles, as Gods lawe lymytes; as freris have nowe places and rentes and myche worldly gode geten of þo puple. Bot if þese freris schulden speke to þo purpose and plesynge of bischops, þei schulden meene þus;—þat þis dowyng of þo Chirche in temporale lordschippe stondis in Gods lawe and meryt of þo Chirche; for if hit quenchid or forbid meryt, hit were a grett harme, and reversid Gods lawe, in which is al treuþe.

Nowe se we first wittenesse of þo olde lawe, when prestis [but the witness of Scripture is against it.] schulde sonneste þus have worldes godes. Þo first boke of holy writte spekes even þus:—God seide to Aaron and prestes of his sorte, In þo londe þat ȝe dwelle inne schal ȝe noȝt have, ne ȝe schal have no part of hor heritage, for God is part and heritage of alle his prestes. Bot Levy childer gaf I alle þo tythes þat comen of Israel to her owne possessioun, for hor bisye servise þat þei served me in þo tabernacle, as I ordeyned hom. Lord! if prestis by a worde of God taken gredily hor tythes, why schulde þei not, by anoþer worde of God, kepe hom fro þo lordschippe?

Also, in þo fyfft boke þat is of Gods lawe, biddes God þus to [Deut. xviii. 1.] his owne prestes,—Nowþer prestes, ne dekens, ne none of hor [God also com∣manded man to work even in Paradise; but the friars disobey this command.] kyn, schal haf part ne heritage wiþ oþer folke of Israel, for sacrifices and offrynges I gif hom to eete, and none oþer þing schal þese prestes take of possessiouns of hor breþren, as I my∣self bidde; ffor I myself haf gyven me to be hor heritage. O if God so scharply biddes þese negatifes, and Crist hymself kept hom straytely in his persoun, who are more heretikes þen þese þat done hit ageynes hym?

Also þo prophete Ezechiel biddes þus in Gods persoun,— [Ezek. xliv. 28.] Þere schal be none heritage gyven unto prestes, for I am hor heritage, better þen al erthe; and no possessioun ȝe schal ȝif him, ffor I am possessioun to alle my prestis. Ffor sacrifices for synnes, and vowes þat men byheten, and þo first of bestis, wiþ offrynges of oyle, schal falle to prestis, as God hymself

biddes. O Lord! if prestis of þo Testament were so straytely bounden by þo biddynge of God to holde hom to hor scharpe part, when richesse was þus leveful, how myche more schulde we kepe þis nowe, when Crist, God and mon, lyved so porely! Here may we se how þese fals freris loken ofer Gods lawe, as scribes and Pharisees.

Also God in state of innocence putte [mon] [supplied conjecturally.] in Paradise for to werke þerinne, and also for to kepe hit; hou schulde he make prestis lordes nowe, ageyns his owne ordynaunce? Bot servise þat God had or hafs lymitid to prestes wil fynde hom at þo fulle, þof þei ben no lordes. Bot hit semes to mony men þat freris passen þis state, and þat þo fadir of leesynges haves putte hom in rewmes to be ydel, and to begge, and to waste rewmes. O Lord! siþ God putte mon to wirke in state of innocense, why schulde he not so nowe? Wil I wot þat þo Psalme seis of fendis childer, In mennis travel ben þei not, and [Ps. lxxiii. 5. 6.] herfore are þei proude. Also in iche lawe is ydelnesse forfendid, and no state of monnis lif, ungroundid in resoun, schulde be taken of ony mon, for drede of þo fende, bot if hit be fully groundid in servise of God. But sith bisynes of beggynge may not be groundid in þo lawe of God, how schulde hit þen grounde freris? And so fyve barly lofes of scharpe barly bred schulde teche þese freris what þei schulden trowe, and not dampne as heretikes men for Gods lawe.

CAP. II.

For Crist made two festis, and fed þo comyn puple; and at þo [Christ ordered his disciples to renounce all property,] seconde feste were þo seven lofes; þerfore by seven wittenesses of þo newe lawe techen we þat prestes schulde not þus spoyle þo puple. Ffirst Crist seis by Seynt Luke, þat everiche preste þat renounses not alle þinge of whiche he haves possessioun, may not be his disciple, ne so nyghe sue hym. And how God undirstondes þis renunsynge, teches he by lif of Crist and of his apostlis. Lord! siþ Crist seis þat men of þo worlde may not be his disciplis, wheþer þis be nowe fals? Also, Crist teches

þat no disciple schulde be above his mayster, bot hit suffices to þo disciple to be suche as his mayster. Bot Crist, mayster of alle, was so pore a mon þat he had not by monhede, ne titel of mon, so myche of worldes richesse to hil his hed inne. Lord! wheþer clerkes suen Crist in his large lordschipps!

Also, when þo apostils stroffe whiche schulde seme more, [and distinctly separated his kingdom from the kingdoms of the world.] Crist of his grett wisedome declarid þis doute, and seide þere ben two lordschippes, worldly and gostily. Þe first falles to kynges and lordes of þis worlde, and no wey to prestis, þat are on Cristis syde; bot he is more amonge hom, þat more mekely serves. Lord! wheþer þo emperoure by his grett wisedome haves reversed þo ordynaunce of Crist, whiche þat Crist hymself made! Also þo gospel of Seynt Poule apostil, þat was ravisched to þo þridde heven, and sawe Gods privetees, gifs beste prestes for a reule for to lif þus. Have we, he seis, norischment to body, and hillynge to þo same, holde we us þerof payed. Lord! wheþer prestes of þis world passen þis reule! Also, Seynt Petre, prince of apostlis, biddes þat we be not lordes amonge [1 Pet. v. 3.] clerkes, ne myche more þat we lif as lordes of þis worlde; bot we schal be fourme of mekenesse to oure flock. Also, Seynt Poule seis, þat Crist was for oure leef boþe pore and nedy mon, [2 Cor. viii. 9.] to make us gostily riche. Bot everiche mon þat schal be saved most sue Crist in maners. Lord! how kepe þese freris þis, þat studyen to be riche? Siþ evereiche seculer lord schulde be pore in soule, who ȝifs þese prestes leve to be þus riche in wille? Also, alle þo apostils seide togedir, þat hit was not leveful to hem to leve Gods wordes, and serve pore men at þe meete by way of bodily almes; myche more hit were unleveful to prestes to wlappe hem bisily in nedes of þis worlde. Bot so done þese hye prestes, and oþer þat have þis state. Lord! what nede were þese freris to dampne men as heretikes, þat seyn þat Gods lawe forbedes prestis þus to be lordes? Somme men seyn þat pouder of temporale godes makes þese freris to owverloke þo lawe of hor God, as dogge lokes ofer towarde Lincolne, and litel sees þeroff [A Lincolnshire proverb, I suppose.] .

CAP. III.

Þis schulde be myn obedyence; counseile þese bischopes þat [The bishops should be warned not to hearken to the emissaries of Antichrist.] þei trowed not to þes fals Anticrist clerkes [This may perhaps refer, amongst other attacks and replies, to the public 'determination' made at Ox∣ford by Friar Wodeford, as he him∣self informs us (Brown's Fasciculus, p. 218), against Wyclif's treatise De Religione. This Wodeford was afterwards commissioned by Arch∣bishop Arundel to prepare a con∣futation of eighteen condemned pro∣positions of Wyclif's; this work he executed in the compass of a rather bulky treatise, which he dedicated to the Archibishop.] , for þei desseyve homself, and oþer þat delen wiþ hom. Bot as hor ordir hafs no grounde to be of Cristis Chirche, so hor wordes haf no grounde stable in treuthe. Þat may men see by heresye of freris þat þei sowen in þo Chirche, of þo sacred ooste.

Bot here þei reply lewedly ageyns men of treuthe, and seyn, [Reply to the objection that, but for endow∣ment, departed souls would often be de∣prived of ghostly help.] by þis resoun devocioun of lordes schulde be quenchid, and hor elders wante gostily helpe. Bot þese freris schulden knowe, þat hit is non almes to reverse Cristis ordynaunce, and to harme his Chirche; bot by þis foule dowynge are algatis harmed clerkes and lordes and comynes wiþal. Clerkes ben apostatas, and breken Cristis ordir; lordis be poorid or made pore, and nedid mony gatis to werre, and to begge, and spoyle hor owne pore tenauntes; and so comynes be charged more þen þei schulde. And so synful erroure of devocioun of lordes schulde be quenchid, and þo lawe of Crist schulde be reysid. And if anyþing schulde helpe lordes elders, þat schulde be quenchynge of erroures þat hor eldres founde; as no mon of witte wil sey þat contynuaunce of a synful dede is medeful to deede men; as no mon wil sey, þat hit were medeful to breke Cristis ordynaunce, and putte þerfore an yvel; as no mon wil sey þat ignoraunce of lordes, þat wenen þat þei done wil, schulde in þis excuse hom; siþ Poule by more coloure schulde be excused, and neverþeles hymself seis þat he synned gretly ageyns Crist and his Chirche, and was a foule blasfeme. We schal trowe in þis to þo ordynaunce of Crist; for he was al myghty, al witty, and wilful; and so þes founed lordes are like to a leche þat gyves a mon in fevers wyne, ageyns his heele. And so reysinge up of ordynaunce of Crist schulde profite generaly to queke and to dede.

And þus byhoves iche mon sey þat he holdes wiþ Crist, as freris wil confesse þat hit were non almes to dowe hom as monkes, and charge hom wiþ mukke. Lord! hou were hit almes to destrye Cristis ordynaunce, better þen reule of freris, in his speciale prestis? And so þese blynde bosardes spekin ageynes homself, and ageyns bischopes and seculer lordes, and ageyns comyns, and al holy Chirche. Who schulde þonke þese fendes for suche procurynge? And if þou sey þat þo fende lufs lastynge in synne, and boostynge of erroures þat elders have done, þis schulde move þe for to reverse þo fende, and trowe not unto freris, bot stonde on Cristis ordynaunce.

CAP. IV.

Bot ȝitte Belial brolles blabur for his syde, and seyn þat mony [Reply to the objection that saints have sanctioned the use of endow∣ments.] seyntis have suffred and approved suche dowynge of þe Chirche and worschipful dedes; hou comes þo witte in þat disproves hom? Here we answere to þo freris, certeyne of oure faythe, þat no custome in þo Chirche, confermed of popes, ne done bi hor seyntis, is for to preyse, bot in als myche as Jesus Crist confermes hit. Bot siþ Crist spake nevere ageyns hymself, and he ordeyned and bad his prestes to lif þus, al speche of men þat seyn þe contrarye is schewid opun folye by autorite of hym. And so þese seyntis þat þei alleggen synned ful feele siþe; and no mon schulde in þis sue hom in lyvynge, bot onely in als myche as þei sued Crist. Bot teche men þat þese seyntis in þis sued [not] [supplied conjecturally.] Crist, bot rather diden ageyns Crist, and synned grevousely; but þou may suppose forgyve∣nesse of þis synne by hor gret contricioun, if þat þe like.

Bot ȝitte þese fals freris replyen for hor partye, and seyn þat [A new objec∣tion; that alms left to the Church are put to better use than if the same property had remained in the hands of its owners.] clerkes done almes better þen hor patrouns wolde evere have done, or couthe, or myght; and wiþ al þis þei may lif pore lyve as beggers. Who wolde not preyse hom for hor gret charite, þat þei discharge þus lordes, and take on hom suche bisynes? And suche solempne servise as comes of suche dowynge may do myche gode, bot harme may hit none do. Bot ypocrites speken here as God were on slepe; þei þenken not on þo lawes

þat God hymself gaf. Ffirst þei take fals, and þerof þei grounde hom [The meaning is,—they interpret Scripture falsely, in that they ground their own practices concerning the receiving of alms on the command∣ment of Christ.] , ffor almes askes ordir þat Jesus Crist ordeyned. He [Answered.] ordeyned not to do suche almes, but to do gostily almes, and take suche of þo puple. Bot as freris wolde tourne lordschippe fro seculer lordes, so þei wolde tourne sustynaunce fro curatis þat Crist ordeyned. Ffor as hom fayles groundynge of hor fals sectis, so wolde þei reverse þo ordynaunce of Crist. Þo apostlis þat weren tauȝt by Crist, seide hit was not gode to leve hor prechynge and hor first lyve, for servise to lordes; and myche more schulden prestes sey so of seculer lordschippe.

As to þo secounde worde, þat prestes may þus lyve, þis worde is fer fro þis þat prestis lyven as þei schulde. Ffor what mon þat haves þus godes and lordschippe of þis worlde, þat he ne haves his hert tourned to pride, and sumdele fro God and occupynge of his soule; and schal lette him fro prestes werkes? He is a gret fole þat þus temptis God, and puttis hym to suche perel ageyns Cristis biddynge. And so God dispreyses hom for þis gret folye, as he dispreyses freris, al þof þei helpen þo worlde for to brynge forth childer on oþer mennis wyfes, to make hor owne childer aftirwarde soche freris. And so þese freris knytten hor tale wiþ an opun falsehed, þat suche worldly glory may do no harme in prestes. Lord! if seculer lordes wolden þenke hou God haves putte hem to grete worschipp of þis worlde, in state of his Chirche, to stande for his ordynaunce ageyne Anticrist clerkes, and aske of þese freris grounde of hor ordires,—siþ þei sey þei connot se þat ne prestes schulde be lordes, and myche more þat ne þei schulden feght and haf sum∣tyme wyfes, for so hadden prestis in þo Olde Testament! On þis wyse þese newe ordiris marren þo puple, as if þei wolde tourne upsodoune al Cristis ordynaunce. Bot certis þei ben bot bastarde braunches, cropun in by þo fende; and rekelesse∣hed of lordes and folye of clerkes schulden be cause, if þese freris springen on heght.

CAP. V.

Lord! siþ hit is Gods lawe þat prestes schulde lif þus, and [Lords and great men should not shrink from the duty of reforming the Church.] þei schulde be meenes bitwix God and þo puple, what wondir is hit of werres and wikkednes of þo worlde? Ffor alle men þat schulde stonde for Gods lawe, and lyven as tyrauntis for to mayntene hit, synnen ugly in þis ageyns hor God. Ow! siþ in monnis cause men travel so bisilye, and þo cause of God schulden Cristen men luf more, what blyndenesse lettes men to helpe Gods cause? Ffor blynde devocioun schulde noþing lette, as hit is seid bifore; siþ Crist teches us treuþe; ne olde∣nesse, ne drede of movynge of rewmes, schulde lette þes lordes to stonde in cause, siþ þei dar go in werres þat ben more perilouse, and Gods helpe wil ferre, and hor mede is lesse. And so þo fende and his childer haf cowarded lordes. Bot sith men schulde counseil to pees, as Crist did, hit semes þat by his weye men schulde stable pees. And herfore spekes a clerke þus in þis matir; þat kynges and lordes myght esily do þis wiþ∣outen gret coste or travel of hor body, þat þei conferme not þese erroures þat hor elders did; and sone þo ordynaunce of Crist schulde tourne ageyne.

Ow! whate confessoures have lordes þat tellen hom not þis [The reforming party should preach three points:] perel; bot seyn hom þat devocioun and right of þo lawe schulde nede hom to conferme olde done errours! Hit is no drede, whoevere teches þis lore of þo fend, he is an opun heretike and Anticrist clerke. O sith oure bileve teches us, kynge of Eng∣londe haves ofte in his honde, and oute of þe deede honde, þo lordschippe of Anticrist, what moves hym so folily to ȝif hit ageyne? Freris and prestis schulden preche þre poyntes. Ffirst, þat þes prestes schulde not be soche lordes; nowþer [1. the sinfulness of the assump∣tion by the clergy of temporal power,] bischopes, ne religiouse, ne none oþer prestes; and owþer Gods lawe is fals, or þis is Gods wille. Aftirwarde, þei schulde teche þat whosoevere approves þis, confermes hit, or streynes hit, he synnes ageyns God; for he mayntenes erroures ageyns Gods ordynaunce. And so at þo laste schulde men sey opunly, hou lordes schulde gete by processe of tyme hor owne lordschippe oute of þo fendes hondes. And right as fendes gate hit by sotil ypocrisye, not sodeynly bot by processe of tyme, so schulde

men sowcandely wynne hit ageyne. And þen were þo puple on [2. the error of those who support them in so doing,] Gods halve discharged of noumbre and maners of prestis and freris. Ffor a fewe prestes þat helde Gods lawe wolden more profite to rewmes þen nowe done many. And þus myght lordes be lordes in quyete, and þo puple taught clene Gods lawe, and not be þus taxed for defaute of godes, þat are nowe occupyed by þese newe ordires. In þis myght men se trewe clerkes to God, and profitable to rewmes by iche part of hom. Þen schulden [3. the duty and expediency of a general but gradual re∣sumption by the laity of lands held in mortmain.] Caymes castels of þo newe ordires be voydid fro fendes, as Crist taught in dede; and þen schulde temporal godes multiplye in rewmes as þei first did, to worschippe of God.

Amen.

XXI. DE PONTIFICUM ROMANORUM SCHISMATE.

[Bale enumerates among the writings of the reformer De Papa Romano, inc. 'pro eo quod haec insolita dissensio,' and also De Pontificum Roma∣norum schismate, inc. 'ob inauditas lites inter hos duos.' These appear to be two different names for the following treatise. The De Dissensione Paparum of the Vienna catalogues seems to be a different treatise, being very much shorter than this; (see Shirley's Catalogue, pages 25 and 60.) The date of composition may be fixed in the last months of 1382, when the southern and eastern counties were resounding with the din of preparation for the richly indulgenced expedition to Flanders, under the leadership of Bishop Spencer; (see note at p. 246.) The only MS. known to exist is that in Trinity College, Dublin, C. III. 12—AA in this edition—from which a careful transcript has been made for the Delegates by Mr. T. French.]

FOR þis unkouþe discencioun þat is bitwixe þes popes semeþ [On the causes which have led to the present schism in the papacy.] to signyfie þe perillous tyme þat Poul seiþ schulde come in þes laste dayes, herfore schulde true men declare þis to þe peple; ffor knowynge of perels makiþ men warlyer to flee hem. And firste it semeþ, þat discencioun of þis popehede is for covetise of worschipe and wynnynge of þis world, þat bi cautele of þe fende is knytted to þis office. Ffor ȝif þe pope hold clenly þat þat Crist ȝaf to Petir, he schulde have goodis of vertues, and traveylle wiþ povert, and noon of þis worldlyche glorie, siþe þat Crist forbeed it. But who wolde þanne stryve þus ffor þe popis office? And so it were a medicyne, þat men þat han power drow awey þes bronndes þat norischeþ þis fire. And so em∣perour and kyngis, þat synneden in þis dowynge, schulde restore to seculer men þat þei bi foly alyende; ne þe graunt

was nouȝt leeful on neiþer on nor þe oþer partye, siþþe hem wanted leeve of God þe cheif Lord, and bi title of þis office þei holden. And ȝif þis matier of stryfe were þus take fro clerkis, boþe among hem and seculeris schulde be pees and charite. And it semeþ þat þat man, be he pope or oþere, þat wolde noȝt assente to þis chaunge, hatiþ Goddis lawe; ffor alle worldly goodis ben nouȝt so goode as charite. And God himsilf for∣bediþ such lordschipe in clerkis; and so, ȝif men wolde bygynne to distroye þis foul strijfe, þei schulde mayntene Goddis ordey∣naunce; and þanne were it doun. And so, what clerk or seculer wolde noȝt fayn do þus, he is nouȝt in Goddis half, but servaunt to þe devyl. And so of þis it semeþ, þat what per∣soone or comunte traveylle to restore þe pope to þis worldly dignite, traveylliþ aȝens Crist in cause of þe fende. Ffor Crist in his owne lawe forbediþ his prestis suche lordschipe, and fleede it in his owne persoone, and þis kepte his apostolis. And of þis it semeþ þat Crist grauntide never assoylynge of synne and peyne for to do þis dede, siþþe it were aȝens his lawe, his wille, and his ordeynaunce; but mede þat God grauntiþ to men þat travailen þerinne, graunteþ he to suche men þat maynteyneþ his ordynaunce. But bileve teche us, þat what þing is grauntide her is a false feynynge, but [meaning, except.] Crist graunte it. And herfore it semeþ þat men ben noȝt holden to trowe þat it is trewe, whatever þe pope grauntiþ, ffor in þis he may erre, and varie fro Cristis jugement. But Crist grauntiþ never, ne ordeyneþe no þing, but ȝif it soune in resoun, in pees, and in charite.

And her þenkiþ many men, þat in caas of þis discencioun [True men may easily see that, as the whole system of the temporal wealth and power of the Church, so the pretensions of the popes to grant indul∣gences to those who fight their battles are radically untenable.] may men se whiche ben servantis to God, and whiche loven þe fendis cause and bisily serven to him. Ffor alle þes þat traveyllen to lette Cristis ordeynaunce in staat of his firste prestis, reversen his lawe, and in þat þei haten God and serven þe fend. And herby may trewe men se; ȝif frerys or ony oþer men lyen in þis to þe peple, and spoylen hem of here goodis in colour of her lesyngis, þei ben traytouris to God, and tray∣tours to þe Chirche þat þei dwellen inne, and ben holden to restoren þing þat þei have spoylid. And herfore schulden trewe

men trowe lasse þis court, or þes freris, and axe goode ground of newe þingis þat þei telle men. And hereinne semiþ þe peple, al ȝif we seen it noȝt, þat men fallen inne to helle, and drawen oþer wiþ hem; and þis is mor perel þanne ony bodily deeþ. And of þis may trewe men se, þat riȝt as þe fend bi o castynge in of a venemed boon, þat is, dowinge of clerkis aȝenes Cristis ordynaunce, haþ venymed Cristene men, boþe seculeris and clerkis, and meveþ men of armes to batayls and stryves, so by on openynge of tresour of his lesyngis, þat he may asoylle men boþe of peyne and synne ȝif þei wele holde on his side aȝenes Cristis ordynaunce, he haþ hight his clerkis alle rewmes of þe world. Ffor by spiritual power, þat men may noȝt se, ne grounde it in bileeve, ne prove it bi resoun, þe fend may lyȝteste bigyle þe peple, and make hem trowe falce bi his sotel lesyngis; as he may meve his vikir to seie, þat he haþ power to assoyle men fully þat helpen in his cause, and to curse all hem þat aȝen-stondiþ it; and þus may he lyȝtly gete lordschipe of alle þe world. But as þe fend byhiȝte to Crist falsly al rewmes, so myȝte falsehede walken in purchas of þis lordschipe. But by þis blynde falsehede schal Cristis cause slepe. And so it semeþ to many men þat Sathanas hadde envye to þe ordynaunce of Crist, þat his clerkis schulde be pore men. Ffor bi vertu of þis povert, Petir and oþere apostilis conquered of the fendis hond many of his servauntis, and herfore he meved hem for to trowe þe Chirche. And ofte he tauȝte his clerkis to feynen hem a power þat þei may assoylle men, howevere þei haue synned, and ȝeve hem hevenly ȝiftis, howevere God ordeyneþ of hem. And þe fend haþ many clerkis to meve þe peple to trow þis; and so he wole cursen alle men þat meven to Cristis ordynaunce. And ȝif ony kyng lette his peple or his tresour to goo out of his rewme in Antecristis cause, he wele curse boþe þat kyng in his rewme, and aftir, whanne his children ben myȝty and willful, take to him þis rewme for his former cursynge.

CAP. II.

Siþ þe fend is kyng of children of pruyde, he coveytiþ in bateylle to have þe victorye, and herfore he temptiþ hardest

þes men in our of her deeþ, in hope to overcome hem at þe [the evil one is manifest.] laste ende. And herfore, siþ he knowiþ bi wordis of holy wryt þat þe day of doom is nere þis tyme, al ȝif he know noȝt evenly how longe haþ God ordeynede byfore þis day schal come, her∣fore more bisylyche he temptiþ Cristis Chirche. And as Seynt Poul seiþ, þe tyme is more perillous, and herfore schulde ech [1 Cor. vii. 29.] man make him silf stronge, and kepe þat þe fend cast him noȝt doun; for him þat he overecomeþ, and holdiþ him byneþen, he haþ a grete hope to vencusche hym for evere, and so aftir his deeþ evere to dwell wiþ him. And herfore, siþe man is procuratour to þe fend ffor to tempte his broþer, as we may se by Eve, þerfore he castiþ to have many sectis þat bisyen hem faste aboute newe þingis, boþe in newe lawis and sensible sygnes, ffor bi boþe þes schal Cristis ordre be best [shent [supplied conjecturally.] ]; siþ mannes ocupacioun aboute ony þing mot nedilyche be best for contrarie werk. And herfore clepiþ Crist men of newe sectis kynrede of hordom, þat sechiþ suche signes. And as Crist seiþ, wiþ Poule his apostle, þe synne of ypocrisie schulde regne wiþ suche men, siþ þei feyne holynesse by sensible sygnes, and coveytse wiþ oþere synnes beþ huge in her soulis. And þis mevede þe fende, aftir þe dowynge of þe Chirche, to use þe monk Sergyus [The story is well known of the Nestorian monk of Bassorah, called Bahira by the orientals, and Sergius by the western writers, who is said to have predicted the great career of Mahomet to his guardian Abu Taleb, and to have instructed him in ecclesiastical affairs and the tenets of Christianity. See p. 99 of this volume for another mention of Sergius.] , and turne men of þe Chirche to all þe secte of Saresenes, þat is now ful large. And so it semeþ to sum men, þat monkis or false cardinals may bygile þe litil flook now lefte of Cristen men, ffor so þei dide whanne Cristen∣dome was more and more of myȝte. And Antecristis sect is more bi many ordris, so þat, aftir Cristis speche, Goddis chosen schal be disceyved her ȝif it may be, in reversynge of false Cristis. And so, as many men þenken, þe best remedy in þis wer to lyve holy lijf, and trowe holly þe gospel, for boþe in noumbre and speche schal Antecristis clerkis passe trewe men

in God, ffor þei beþ þicker i-sowe. But grope we wel her ground, wheþer it be Goddis, or ellis provid bi resoun, and lefe we alle oþer.

And now in oure dayes, out of þe nest of Antecrist is come [On the late bull of Urban, granting indul∣gences for the crusade against the anti-pope.] an hard maundement, and seiþ to men in sentence, þat hoso confermeþ [corrected; confermermeþ, AA.] Antecristis ordeynaunce in dowynge of þe Chirche, and lettiþ Cristis ordynaunce, he is fully soylled, and wendiþ striȝt to hevene wiþouten ony peyne her or in purgatorie. And ho-evere lettiþ þis decre, and holdiþ on Cristis side, he is deplyche cursid and pursued wiþ Antecristis clerkis. Ffor þei seie, hoso lettiþ decre of þe pope to pursue his adversarie, he is þus cursid [This seems clearly to refer to the bull of privileges granted by Urban VI, in the year 1382, to the Bishop of Norwich, one of which runs as follows: 'Item, habet po∣testatem excommunicandi, suspen∣dendi, interdicendi, quascunque per∣sonas rebelles, seu impedientes ipsum exercere potestatem sibi commissam, cujuscunque status, gradus, praeemi∣nentiae, ordinis, loci, conditionis, extiterint, etiamsi regali, aut regi∣nali, vel imperiali, seu quavis alia ecclesiastica vel mundana, praeful∣geant dignitate.' Walsingham (Rolls edition), II. 77.] ; and hoso pursueþ him and dowiþ þe toþer pope, aȝens þe ordeynaunce of Crist, he is þus blessid. And siþþe Crist was maad man I herde nevere more blasfemye. Leve, wer he noȝt traytour to God and to man, þat in absense of God reversid his ordynaunce, þat God him silf haþ maad for savynge and tenþernesse, ffor love of his spouse, and gabbed her on God, þat God haþ ȝeve him leve to graunte her in erþe boþe pardoun and blysse to breke Goddis firste ordynaunce, and conferme þe ordynaunce þat þe fend tauȝte þe emperrour? And he were traytour to rewmes ȝif he spoylede here peple and tresore of þes rewmes bi suche feynede lesyngis; for temporal goodis and spirytual rebbed he fro þes rewmes. Certis, siþ þe world was maad þe fend feyned nevere more lesyngis to spoyle rewmes of tresore and peple þat makiþ hem stronge, þanne to seie þat ho-so lettiþ to take folke or tresore at wil of þe pope, to distrye his mennye, he is cursid of God and schulde be deed by man; and aftir sendiþ freris and oþer falce clerkis, to make þe peple to trowe, and meveþ hem to þis sentence. O ȝif Ante∣crist and his clerkis in her grene growyng overleyn þus rewmes,

and bigyliþ trewe men, what weleþ þei do whanne þei beþ fully stablid? And þis is þe falseste conquest þat evere þe devyl haþ cast, ffor þus myȝte he liȝtly ȝeve rewmes to his servauntis, and make hem of nowun power to aȝenstonde his cautels. And þus is heresye of þe fend pupplischid in londis, þat he haþ maystrye overe Crist, and his servants overe trewe men. And more falsenesse of þe fend here we never feyned. Stonde we stablyche in feiþ þat Cristis lawe techeþ, ffor it was nevere more nede for cautels of þe fend. He feyneþ false dremes [See Vol. II, p. 166, where this matter of the dexterous use of dreams by the friars, in furtherance of the ends of the papal court, is mentioned more in detail.] of power of Cristis vikir, þat Crist myȝte nevere graunte to such a false cause. And truste we in þe helpe of Crist in þis poynt; ffor he haþ bigunne to helpe us graciously, in þat þat he haþ clofe þe heved of Antecrist, and maad þe ton part fiȝte aȝen þe toþer. Ffor it is no drede þat synne of þe popes þat haþ be longe con∣tynued, haþ brouȝt to þis dyuisioun. And so, ȝif boþe þes hevedis lastiþ, or þe ton bi him silf, þanne schal þe laste errour be worse þan þe firste. And so emperrour and kyngis schulde helpe in þis cause, to maynteyne Goddis lawe, and conquere her heritage, and distroye þis foul synne, savynge þe persones. And þanne were pees founde, and symonye distroyed; for while þis rote lastiþ, duriþ bataylle and symonye. And ȝif þes lordis loveþ God, þei loveþ Goddis lawe; and helpe him in þis cause, ffor to hem it longiþ; and more glorious conquest dude nevere Cristene kyng.

CAP. III.

But feynynge of ypocritis wole stonde faste aȝen, and crieþ [The slanders of the papal agents re∣pelled.] to alle men þat aȝenstondiþ þis, [ȝe [supplied conjecturally.] ] beþ heritikis and wickid men, and fewe aȝenst oþere. But counfort it is þat þes þre resouns meveþ noȝt. Þe firste meveþ noȝt, siþ Crist him silf was clepid blasfeme, þat is heretik most of alle oþer; and in a fend, Belzabub, þei seide he dide his dedis, ffor servyce þat he dude to þis prince of fendis. So whanne many wickid men defameþ

a good man, and haveþ noon evydence of his schrewid dedis, hit is a greet evydence þat, for he schameþ her synnes, þat þei accuse him falsely, al ȝif he be clene. And bi þis same answere we may avoyde þe seconde word; siþþe þe Jewis seide þat Crist was noȝt on Goddis halfe, ffor he dide myracles and helpid men on holy day; and þerfore þei seide þat none men þat koude good trowid to þis wickid man, but cursid and founed peple. Ffor, as þei seide, no Pharis ne prince of þe prestis trowid to þis false man, but þei þat knewe noȝt þe lawe. And so han þei seid of Cristis trewe servantis. And to þis þridde evydence,—it is knowen þing, þat whanne þe world is peyred, and Antecrist haþ maystrie, þere beþ many fendis sones [corrected; synnes, AA.] aȝens any trewe man; as in tyme of Hely was he nyȝe left aloone, aȝens sevene hundrid prestis þat serveden to Baal.

But take we more evydence of schrewidnesse of þe toþer [The proceed∣ings of both popes cen∣sured, as irra∣tional, uncha∣ritable, and unchristian.] side. Ffor þei grounde noȝt her speche in resoun ne in Goddis lawe, and feynen þat Jesselyn [This is Zenzelinus (or Gen∣zelinus) de Cassanis, a doctor of laws, and, according to Pancirolo (De Claris Leg. Interpp.), a French∣man, author of the received com∣mentary on the 'Extravagantes' of Pope John XXII.] seiþ so, and neiþer Jerom ne Austyn. And certis Jesselyn knewe litil of remyssioun of synne, or ellis of spiritual suffragies, þat God him ony grauntiþ. How schulde men trowe Jesselyn in glosynge of þe popis lawe, siþþe þe toon pope falliþ þe toþurs bullis? Also men schulde have suspect boþe þe popes dedis, siþ þei beþ noȝt grounded in þ lawe of God; but, as þei knewe no sovereyne, as Lucyfer here mayster, þei sechen veniaunce to him silf, and lesiþ pacience and charite. And certis it is no love of God to maynteyne such prelatis, ffor wantynge of her charite seiþ þat þei beþ fendis, siþþe for lasse avarice Crist clepid Judas a fend; and it seemeþ no wisdom to be ladde bi many Scarioþs. And take heed to þe mynystris of þes prelatis; þei ȝeve leve to prestis, to monkis, and to freris, to traveylle in her cause, al ȝif þei slee men, and suche þat have be comynly most viscious men of oþere. Lord! siþþe in þe oolde lawe, whanne it was lefe to fiȝte, Goddis folke was vencuschid for synn of oon [Josh. vii. 12.]

man, how schulde þei noȝt be vencuschid in þe newe lawe, for more synne of many men? Certis þere is no cause but ȝif God have forsake hem, and letiþ hem serve deplyer her damp∣nynge in helle; as beestis þat beþ dispeired, men bisyeþ noȝt to reule hem. A! siþþe kyng Daviþ, þat was so just a man, was lettid to make a temple, but Salamon þat lovede pees was ordeyned of God to make þe temple of stoon, myche more schulde popis, and prestis her servauntis, schede noȝt Cristen mennes blood in her owne cause. And certis, siþþe þei han forsake pacience and charite, it semeþ þat God forsakiþ hem as for his owne children, ffor whos werkis men worchen, his children þei beþ.

And take noon heed to þe persones þat telleþ þes wordis, but take heed to þe sentence and cause þat þei spekeþ inne; and lok wel in holy wryt wheþer it seie noȝt so. Lord! where it be Goddis wille to lette to preche þe gospel, and ȝev leve and counseil to prestis to slee men? Hit semeþ þat suche dedis schewiþ whos beþ þes prelatis; ffor every man her meree [The text at this place appears to be corrupt.] , and specially prelatis, schewen bi her werkis whos children þei beþ. Ffor þes þat traveyllen wel for pees beþ children on Goddis half, and þei þat traveille by werris to have richesse and worldly glorie beþ children of þe fend and enemyes to Crist. And herfore is Crist clepid peysible kyng, and þe fend kyng of alle þe children of pride. A! ȝif a man myȝte chese to holde Cristis biddinge, and forsake welþe of þe world and al world∣lyche glorie, ffor to make pees bytwixe him and oþere men,—ȝif he lefte þis Cristis biddynge, and takiþ lore of þe fend, who wolde noȝt seye þat ne he wer þe fendis child? But þes popis myȝte leve hiȝenesse of þe world, and þis worldly richesse, as God him silf haþ beden hem, and þanne þis strif schulde cesse bitwixe hem and oþere men. And ȝif þe fend lette hem by love of worldlyche þingis, ho drediþ þat ne þanne þei beþ þe fendis owne children? But lordis schulde compelle hem to leve þis fendis lesynge, ffor God biddiþ his servauntis compelle men to entre his weye. And ȝif þu seie þat no man schulde speke aȝens þe pope, comun dedis techiþ us þat he may liȝtly synne; and for he is capteyn over alle his children, þerfore his

synne is more, and more harmynge to þe Chirche. And her∣fore seyntis bifore, wittynge þat he is noȝt God, ne confermyd in vertues, as aungels beþ in hevene, weren ful bisy bi Goddis lore to reprove þe pope. As Poul repreved Petir for a liȝt trespasse, Bernard repreved Eugenye for he was to worldly, and left þe office of apostil, and took office of Antecrist [St. Bernard (Ep. CCLXVIII) reproved Pope Eugenius III, his former friend and follower, for having promoted an unworthy per∣son to some ecclesiastical dignity. The language, however, is carefully restrained, nor can I find in any of St. Bernard's letters to this pope what would justify the strong asser∣tion in the text.] Why schulde noȝt men now reprove popes, ȝif þei don now wersse? siþ alle men schal sue Crist, and stonde for þe truþe; but Crist reprevyd Petir, and repreveþ ech yvel pope. And at þe leste Cristis children schulle flee an yvel pope, and sue him noȝt but in as myche as he sewiþ Crist, ne trowe him noȝt but in as myche as he spekiþ Cristis lawe; and ȝif he do con∣trarie, flee we hym as Antecrist. Ffor no resoun ne no lawe nediþ us to sue þe fend, ne forsake oure God, ne þe lawe þat he haþ ȝeven us. Wel we wytten by Goddis lawe, þat þe heyȝeste in þis Chirche schulde nexte sue Crist, and moost flee þe world; ffor so techiþ Crist, þat þe moost in his Chirche schulde be mooste meke, most pore, and moost servysable.

CAP. IV.

But here Antecristis clerkis wole preve bi manye weyes, þat [The promises of Christ to Peter, though applicable also to his suc∣cessors, are of no avail to those who live not the life of Peter.] þe pope, þat is vikir of Crist and of Petir, haþ power in þis Chirche to do what he wole, siþþe Crist biheiȝte to Petir þat what he byndiþ in erþe schal be bounde in hevene, and so what he unbyndiþ. Ho may denye þis bileve but ȝif he be an heretik? But here schulde þe fendis children lerne here logyk and her phylosophie, þat þei ben noȝt heretikis in falce undir∣stondinge of þe lawe of Crist. Soþ it is þat Crist hiȝte to Petir þis power, and to oþire apostlis, by suche manere of wordis, and to alle here successouris in persone of hem. But suppose þat a prest forsake þe liif of Petir, and bidynge of his maystir our Lord Jesus Crist, and goo annoþir weye as þe world axiþ, what is Cristis word sibbe to suche, a prest of

Antecrist? Certis eche bettre prest, in whiche beþ þes con∣diciouns, myȝte bi more colour seye he is Petris successour; ffor as Crist chargiþ more mennes dedis þanne her wordis, so he chargiþ more vertues þanne worldlyche fame. Ne noon eleccoun of man is worþi bifore God, but whanne it accordiþ to chesynge of Crist. And herfore þe apostlis, whanne þei were ful of God, chesen Mathy by sort, and noȝt bi falce car∣dynarls. And as sort may faille ȝif Crist reule it noȝt, so may chesynge of false men, aftir þat þe Chirche is dowid, and as myche more perilouslyche, as man þat is perverted is a quik fend, worse þanne oþere sortis. And so men schulde putte in þe ordeynaunce of God suche eleccioun of prestis, and wedde hem noȝt wiþ þis staat, and trowe more to her werkis þan to chesynge of men; ffor þus Crist biddiþ men trowe to his werkis, and þus took Clement þe office of Petir, and as soone forsook it, whanne he myȝte more profyte in an noþere office [This seems to be the author's mode of reconciling the opinion of St. Jerome, confirmed by the Epistle of Clement himself (supposing it to be genuine) to the Church of Jeru∣salem, that Clement immediately succeeded St. Peter as Bishop of Rome, with the statement of Ire∣naeus that Linus and Anacletus both held the see before him.] . And so schulde Cristis prestis do, or ellis þei leven Goddis reule, þat biddiþ of two þingis þat men schulde chese þe better, and more for Cristis Chirche; for ellis þei lyven aȝens God, þat ordeyned men þe bettir, and biddiþ men to chese it. And ȝif mennes lawis reversiþ þis lawe of God, woo be to þes lawis, and to men þat usen hem. Ffor þus seiþ þe profete in text of oure bileve. And so, ȝif mennes lawe or custom of þe Chirche lettiþ resoun and lawe of God, woo be to it. And more harm in þis mater þat falliþ to prestis is, þat þei makiþ hem a lawe aftir lawis of þe world, and þat þei kepe more bisyli þan lawe of þe gospel. And ȝir her dowyng or her staat nediþ hem to do þus, woo be to þis dowyng and such staat of þe world, siþþe it nediþ to forsake God and his lawe.

Here may we se þat prelatis, feynynge for staates wheþir þei [To be a true successor of the apostles one must imi∣tate their life.] beþ Petris successouris or suers of Crist, han more þing for to preven þan þei cunne come aweye wiþ. Ffirste, þei schulde teche þat þei suen wel þes heedis; and ȝif þei teche þis wel, þei schulde noȝt stryve for dygnitees, ne telle so mychel by hem

as bi werkis of þe gospel; ffor ȝif þei do, þei schewe in dede þat þei sue noȝt þes heedis; and so of privylege þat Crist haþ grauntid unto Petir beþ þei noȝt worþi to have part by such a falce title. But suppose þat þei wer vikers of Petir, ȝit þer is anoþer þing þat þei schulde fulfille, þat in byndynge and losynge þei beþ conformed to Crist, ffor ellis þei makiþ a false knotte, and falselyche semeþ to loose. And herfore is nede to hem to have þe keye of science, þat þei kunne bynde and lose aftir þe Chirche above; ffor ellis þei gabbe on hem silf, and doiþ noȝt as þei seyen. Her mayst þou se, how popes and oþere prelatis mut argue in þis wise; what evere Petir byndiþ or losiþ, or ellis his verrey viker, is þus bounde or losid of God in þe Chirche of hevene; but þis pope or þis prelat is verrey Petris viker, and byndiþ or losiþ by þe keye of Goddis kun∣nynge; þerfore it is bounde in hevene or losed, as he seiþ. And ȝif þou seie þat by þis lawe none schulde trowe Cristis viker, but ȝif he schulde trowe him in byndinge and losynge, and so we schulde trowe what evere þe pope seiþ, ffor al þe boot of Petir flocced in uncerteyn,—here we schal wite how trewþe and hope and charite beþ divers, and how þere beþ diverse þingis to trowe and to hope and leve; and so we schulde sorwe for synne, and hope to be assoyllid of God and of his vikir, ȝif it be as we hope. And ȝif we faille in þis sorwe, or bigge noȝt oure synne of God, we bygile oure silf in speche of byndynge or losynge. And so þi confessour can [Conditions of valid abso∣lution.] nouȝt wyte wheþer þou be bound or soyled, but bi supposynge þat he haþ of þi trewe speche, ffor þere is no more heresie þan man to bileve þat he is assoyled ȝif he ȝeve hym moneye, or ȝif he leye his hond on þin heed, and seie þat he assoylliþ þee. Ffor þou moste by sorowe of herte make aseeþ to God, and ellis God assoyliþ þee noȝt, and þanne assoyliþ noȝt þi viker.

How evere þe pope speke, þis is þe lawe of God, and alle [Consequences which flow from this doctrine.] þingis þat wole sue herof schulde Cristen men graunte. And by þis schulde prelatis ceese to boste of her power, ffor soþe it is þat assoyllynge is propred unto God, and his viker in erþe telliþ his lord wille; and ȝif hym fayle kunnynge, he lyeþ on his lord. And so many men mysosiþ her power, þat is þe secunde keye in assoylynge of prestis. And here may we se,

þat it is noȝt bileue, þat ȝif a man semeþ to be assoyled of þe pope, þanne he is assoylled so ffor þe popes affermynge, ffor þe pope may erre ofte in presumpcioun of his keyes. And God forbeede þat it wer bileve to trowe of eche man, þat þis man is assoylled or cursid as þe pope seiþ; ffor þanne bileve, þat schulde be oon, were falce and diverse in many men; for þe confessed and þe confessour were cause of oure bileve. But God forbede þat hit were so, for þanne feiþ were uncerteyn. A man may make his owne hope, and confessour helpe to, but hope and bileve beþ ful divers.

CAP. V.

Here grucchiþ Antecrist, and seiþ þat by þis skyle þe pope [Answer to an objection made by the de∣fenders of the ordinary view of absolution.] hadde no power to certifie men confessid of him, þat þei beþ assoylled of Crist, for he kan nouȝt teche þis, and so schulde perriche Petris keyes, groundid in Cristis graunte. And her∣fore men seyen comunly, þat whom so ony prest assoyliþ, he is assoyled of God by vertu of þe keyes. Ne men schulle suffre no more penaunce þan þe prest enjoyneþ hem, ffor God haþ ȝeve þe prest power to deme aftir his owne wille, ffor ellis it were a needeles þing to schryve men þus to prestis. As anentis þis, me þinkiþ þat men schulde trowe þat þei beþ nouȝt assoyllid ne bounde of her synne, but in as myche as God him silf doiþ it. For siþ God is lord of alle, agens whom is synne i-do, ȝif ony man synneþ aȝens ony creature, þis lord mut ffirst for∣ȝeve his wreþe; and hit wer as unsemelyche man to forȝeve þe wreþe of God, as ȝif þe werst boy in þis rewme forȝaf þe kyngis wreþe, and specially siþ God is more overe þe pope and eche prelat her, þanne þe kynge of Ingelond is more þanne a boy; and God is neiȝe to ech soule more þanne ony man may be. And graunte in presence of þis lord, wiþouten his autorite, [of [supplied conjecturally.] ] trespace don unto him, were a foul presumpcioun. And so prestis be but servauntis to telle þe wille of God, þat God forȝeveþ þe synne, ȝif þat men beþ worþi. And þis knowynge schulde prestis have, and knowe Goddis mercy, þat ȝif men make aseeþ to God, God wole þanne assoyle hem. And errour

in þis bileve disceyveþ many men. And herby may we se,—as power ȝeve to servauntis, is noȝt wittily ȝeve, but ȝif þei kunne here office, so God geveþ noȝt to men power for to assoyle, but ȝif he ȝeve hem kunnynge þat falliþ to her office. And so it may be ofte tymes, þat prelates feyneþ hem power, al ȝif þei have no such power, ffor þei beþ unable. And siþ God mute graunte þis power as propre to him silf, and he may noȝt erre in knowynge of unable prestis, herfore men may be disceyved in hope of suche power; and herfore men schulde telle þe peple of þis power of God, and teche men to affye in þis, and noȝt in mennes power.

But wel I woot þat þis bileve wynneþ noȝt us þe peny, ne [The true doctrine is not a lucrative one, but must not therefore be abandoned.] makiþ us noȝt to be worschipid, ne þe peple soget to us; but pupplischinge of Goddis lawe schulde noȝt be lefte herfore. Bi þis may men se answere to þis resoun,—þat no pope here in erþe, but ȝif he have revelacioun, can telle men þat þei beþ as∣soylled of synne þat þei beþ schryven of, siþe he can noȝt telle þat men haveþ contricioun. And as þe popis lawe seiþ, in grauntynge of his pryvylegie he grauntiþ noȝt suche indulgence but to contrit and confessid. Ȝe, ȝif þe pope seie contrarie, or freris, or seyntis in hevene, men schulde noȝt trowe to hem in þis, siþe þei seie byside þe feiþ. And siþ no confessour in erþe kan wyte where men be contrit, but suppose bi her owne wordis þat þei seye soþe in þis, hit is open þat þes confessours wyttiþ ne bileveþ þat her confessid beþ contrit, but liȝtly sup∣pose þat þei seie soþe of hem silf, and bi þis þei suppose þat God him silf assoyliþ hem, and þanne beþ þei wel assoyled. And þei beþ Goddis bedels to telle truly his sentence, and oþir wise may þei noȝt assoyle men of here synne. And siþ þe pope seiþ þat he assoyleþ ech confessid and contrit, in þat þat he seiþ þat men beþ confessid and contrit, hit semeþ þat þe pope pre∣sumeþ to seie þat þes men haveþ contrycioun. And certis þes popis or cardinals can noȝt wyte of hem silf, wheþer þei have contrycioun, but by a liȝt hope, siþe þei knowe noȝt diference bytwixe attricioun and sufficiant contricioun [The reader of Pascal and of Boileau will here be reminded of the famous controversy concerning attrition and contrition which shook the Church of France in the seven∣teenth century, the Jesuits contend∣ing that attrition, that is, sorrow for sin out of a motive of fear, to∣gether with the sacrament of pe∣nance, was sufficient to cleanse men's souls and make them fit for heaven, while the other side urged that contrition, or sorrow for sin out of a motive of the love of God, was indispensable. He will remember that terrible sarcasm of Boileau, who makes the Almighty invite the de∣fender of the sufficiency of attrition into Paradise, with the words—

'Entrez au ciel; venez, comblé de mes louanges, Du besoin d'aimer Dieu désabuser les anges.'

] , þat God acceptiþ

for synne. And so it semeþ þat þes wordis smachen presump∣cioun, and beþ noȝt groundid in þe lawe of God. And so sum men þenkiþ, þat al þis sacrament is noȝt fully groundid in al holy wryt but in general wordis, and special beþ unknowen; and herfore men schulde noȝt graunte special þat þei knowe noȝt. And her may men se þat Petris keyes schulde noȝt perriche, but be furbusched and clensid of þe rust of heresie, and blasphemye of confessouris schulde be leyd adoun, and þis were profyt to our Chirche and hatynge of blasfeme con∣fessours. For in her absoluciouns fayliþ comunly Petris keyes, and þei feyne ofte to assoylle, and þei assoyle noȝt.

And herfore many prestis þat drediþ hem ffor to lye seieþ [corrected; siþþe, AA.] [The practice of conscien∣tious con∣fessors.] noȝt, I assoylle þee, but, God of hevene assoille þee; and ȝif þei seie þat þei assoyle, þei speke by reputacioun, and nouȝt bi wytynge ne bi trowynge, ffor God chargiþ hem noȝt herto. And so þis confessioun þat is maad to man, haþ ofte tyme be varied in varyinge of þe Chirche. For first men confessid to God and to þe comun peple, and þis confessioun was used in tyme of apostlis. Siþ men were confessid more specially to prestis, and maad hem juges and counseilers of here synful lijf. But at þe þridde tyme, siþ þe fend was losed, ordeyned pope Innocent a lawe of confessioun [The law enforcing private con∣fession, which was established at the fourth Council of the Lateran in 1213.] , þat ech man of discrecioun schulde ones in þe ȝeere pryvyly be confessid of his propre prest, and addede myche to þis lawe þat he kowde noȝt grounde. And al ȝif þis popis ordeynaunce do myche good to many men, neþeles many men þenken þat it harmeþ þe Chirche. Hit doiþ many men good, for schame and drede of here schrifte drawiþ hem fro many synnes, and makiþ hem drede so aftir. And so [corrected; in AA.] þis

sacrament is nedful to synful men, but not so nedful as is con∣fessioun maad to God, for þat is evere nedeful ȝif God schal assoylle men. Þe harme þat comeþ of þis schrifte is ful gret in þe Chirche; ffor many prestis, boþe more and lasse, blasfemeþ in here power, and failliþ in þe keye of kunnynge in þis feyned absolucioun, and falliþ in heresie, prestis and her sogettis, but ȝif prestis purge þe keye of here kunnynge, and stondiþ in boundis of bileve. But þis [is] [supplied conjecturally.] open heresie þat men taken of þis sacrament, þat men þat beþ confessid schal suffre evene þat peyne þat her prest enjoyneþ hem, howevere þei haveþ synned. Þe prest haþ no wite to taxe evene þe peyne aftir þe synne þat þe men haþ do aȝens God, for no man in erþe, ne aungel in hevene, but ȝif God telle him specially, can taxe such a pen∣aunce. And herfore bookis seyen þat penaunce is arbitrarie, now more and now lasse, after þat prestis lykyn. So ofte tyme sum prestis for þe lasse synne enjoyneþ more penaunce, and sum for þe more synne lasse penaunce; but how evere þei en∣joyneþ, God þe hiȝe juge, agenst whom men synneþ, taxeþ evene þe penaunce, þat prestis knowiþ nouȝt, as þei knowiþ noȝt grevousnes of synne. But it semeþ generally, þat men þat schal be saved haveþ penaunce ordeyned of God, in þis liif and in purgatorie, þat þe prest haþ no wytt ne power to enjoyne men. And so men þat schal be dampned beþ noȝt fullyche assoylled of synnes þat þei han be schryfen of, ffor þei schal come aȝen. And þei faille in alle her dedis þat þei do to God, and so þei haveþ noȝt contritcioun as men ordeyned to blisse, ffor þes men bi her grace semeþ noȝt þus dedelyche. But what pope or confessour wot ho haþ suche synnes? And herfore [þei] [Id.] blasfemen, assoillynge of peyne and gilt; and so many men schryveþ hem ofte in veyn to her confessours; and cause of þis vanytee beþ prestis or confessid. But schryve þee to God and laste in contrycioun, and God may noȝt faille ne he wole assoylle þee.

CAP. VI.

Off þis may men se how perlously men spekiþ, and wiþoute [Futility of the plenary in∣dulgences granted by the rival popes to those who fight in their cause.] fundement, þat grauntiþ pleyn absolucioun of synne and of

peyne to alle men, confessid and verreylyche contrit of synne þat þei haveþ don, whiche travaylliþ faste in cause þat þei coveyteþ, be hit nevere so seculere and fer fro Goddis wille. Ffor þere is no cause more seculere in þis world, þan is to dowe þe Chirche and maynteyne þe dowynge; and herfore þe popes grauntiþ þis pleyn absolucioun. But þei schulde þenke how in þis graunt þei schulde charge þes þre þingis,—matere, and forme, and ende of her graunt. Her matere schulde be truþe and fullynge of Goddis lawe, her forme schulde be trewe wordis groundid in Goddis lawe, and her ende schulde be profyt of her modir holy Chirche, for to come to hevene bi menes þat Crist haþ ordeyned. Lord! siþ Crist is trewþe, as he himsilf seiþ, as [Such grants are defective, 1. in matter.] truþe in þis world or bigynnynge þereof, and he himsilf techeþ, boþe in liif and word, þat [corrected; and, AA.] his prestis schulde be pore and have non suche lordschip, as it is schewed bi twelf lawis of God, Lord! wher he þat is God, þat may noȝt be chaunged, haþ hereinne chaungid his purpos, and loveþ more prestis lord∣schipen þanne he loveþ onyþing þat he himsilf comaundid? Ffor wel I woot þat þis assoillynge is falce and ful of venym, but ȝif Crist himsilf be autour þerof. And wel I woot, siþ God appreved never bifore so large absoluciouns for nouȝt þat he comaundid, ȝif he approve þis assoyllinge, þe þing for whiche he assoylliþ plesiþ more to him þanne ony oþir comaundement. And trowe þis ho evere wole, ffor I may not trowe it; siþ Crist boþe in dede and word contraried þus þis dowynge, and wel I woot þat he is God, þat may noȝt reverse himsilf. And ȝif he hadde purposid so myche to dowe his prestis, boþe þere were resoun þereto, and he wolde have told it. Resoun may þere non be, but ȝif a blaspheme seie, þat now in ende of þe world, whanne avarice is more, and Cristis Chirche haþ more nede of prestis þat fleeþ more coveytise, Crist haþ ordeyned þe contrarie to his Chirch in his prestis. But it wer oone to seye þus and to seie þat Crist hymsilf is turned into Antecrist; but wher were more blasfemye?

But leve take heed to Cristis wordis, how he telliþ of þis [2. in form,] mater. In þe oolde lawe he biddiþ þat prestis schulde have

no part of heritage of þe peple, for God schulde be here part; þat is to seie, þat offryngis and dymes þat beþ Goddis rentis schulde be ȝeve unto prestis for servyse þat þei serveþ God. Lord! ho wot noȝt þat ne suche wordis, wiþ so scharpe nega∣tyves, byndiþ evere and for evere, as we wytiþ in þe maunde∣mentis? And in þe Newe Testament Crist seiþ, þat suche prestis may noȝt be his disciplis; and þanne þei beþ fendis clerkis. And siþ God by suche lawis ordeyned fruyt of þe erþe to men, for to serve him by forme of his ordynaunces, what wondir is ȝif God wiþdrawe his hond fro erþelyche fruytis? And þis semeþ a greet cause of barynnesse of erþe, ffor soþ it is þat no venjaunce sendiþ God to men, but ȝif þat venjaunce be ordeyned to synne þat is cause þereof. And her may we se how we faile in forme of þe wordis of Goddis lawe, as we faille in mater. And herfore in oure dayes seiþ Antecristis clerkis, þat among alle lawes þat evere God suffride, beþ boþe his testamentis falseste of alle oþere; and herfore men schulde glose hem aftir her owne wille, and þe wordis of þes glosatouris passiþ Goddis lawe.

As anentis þe þridde poynt, þat is, ende of Cristis clerkis, [3. in regard to their end and purpose.] bileve techeþ us þat Crist wolde drawe his children to hevene∣ward, by holy lyvynge of his prestis aftir þe staat of innocence; so þat men þat beþ sett in worldlyche liif and werkis, schulde be ravychid herfro by word and liif of Cristis prestis. Lord! where þes þre þingis stere [corrected; strere, AA.] prestis for to fiȝte, or to be seculer lordis, or to implye hem wiþ worldly nedis? Wel I woot, by þe cours of þe Oolde Testament, whanne prestis wer rewleris of þe peple and leders of batayls, þanne þei were werst ladde, and slowen oure Lord Jesus Crist. So many men þenkiþ, ȝif prestis leveþ Cristis ordynaunce, and lyveþ as seculer lordis, and fiȝte as tyrauntis of þe world, þei schal slee Crist in his membris and make an ende of þis liif, ffor þis passiþ wickidnesse of prestis of þe oolde lawe. Ffor þanne þei myȝte have wyfes, and fiȝte undir kyngis, but now oure mayster Crist forbed þis to his prestis. And so þes prestis of Antecrist, þat feyneþ þat Crist assoylliþ men, more þanne evere he dide bifore for servyce þat þei servede

him, ffor mayntenynge of þes prestis dedis, and seiþ þat it is Cristis bateylle and noȝt mennes cause, puttiþ heresie on Crist; and so þis is an opyn blasfemye, þat men schulde horrour for to here.

But her þes false freris florischen þis falsehede, and seyen þat [The argument of the friars from Luke xxii. 36 considered.] Crist baad his apostlis celle here cootis and bie hem swerdis, and so it is leeful, in defense of Cristis riȝt, to Cristene men for to fiȝte, boþe prestis and oþir men. But her schulde þes freris teche to whom Crist spak þes wordis, and wheþer he spak of cote and swerd bodily or goostly. Hit semeþ, siþ none of Cristis apostlis dide þus of bodily swerdis, but Crist forbede þat þei schulde fiȝte, or have swerdis mo þan two, þat he mened noȝt of bodily swerd, but of swerd of þe spirit [corrected; sprit, AA.] , þat is Goddis word; and þis accordiþ wiþ Cristis dedis, and lore þat he tauȝte bifore. And as Crist fauȝte wiþ suche swerd, so schulde alle his prestis, and plese men wiþ meke speche, ȝe, ȝif þei leese her cotis and al her temporal goodis, and specially her lordschipe. A! siþ freris, as þei seyen, sueþ most þe lore of Crist, whi wole þei noȝt bigge bodily swerdis, and fiȝte þus in Cristis cause [corrected; caust, AA.] ? But certis her wordis and her dedis techeþ þat þe fend is her fadir; ffor Crist wolde by pees and pacience þat his cause wer endid, and herfore he repreved Petir for smytynge wiþ a swerd. Here may we se how þis cause is fully forged wiþ falsehede. And so þis mede þat is feyned is founde of þe fend her fadir, and is noȝt groundid on charite ne profyt of Cristis Chirche. And so freris schewiþ hem prooctours of þe fendis cause, and traytours to God and his Chirche bi her bisynesse in þis cause.

CAP. VII.

But ȝit Antecrist gruccheþ, and seiþ þat þis is blasfemye, for [The theory of papal in∣dulgences.] it reveþ fro prelatis power þat Crist ȝaf hem, and bi þis heresie oure Chirche schulde perische for defauȝte of helpe. Ffor no prelat may assoylle, ne graunte hevenely suffragies; but doc∣touris seien þat þe pope haþ power grauntid of God of alle meritis in hevene, more þanne nede was; and so, by þe pas∣sioun of Crist and oþere seyntis meritis, may þe pope dele to

men as myche as he wole. Ho schulde be brent of þe pope but suche heretikis? Her me þenkiþ þat Antecrist presumeþ above Crist and al þe holy Trynite, as Seynt Poul seiþ. Ffor [2 Thess. ii. 4.] he seiþ noȝt oonly of truþe þat it is heresye, as bischopis putte on Crist þe Friday þat he diede on, but he seiþ þat he forȝeveþ þe offence of God, God unconseilid bifor, to whom evere he wole. And certis þus may no man do of an erþely lord, for eche man haþ so gret maystrie overe his owne wille, þat no man may constrayne him to ȝeve if but hym like; and myche more þe wile of God, þat evere more mote be, may not be grauntid but ȝif God graunte it firste. As, ȝif þe pope graunte þe good wille [Answered.] of Crist, þat is good wil bifore þe pope graunte it, and ȝif good will by Crist haþ graunted it. And so neþere God ne man may graunte anoþers good wil, but ȝif þe Lord of þis good will graunte it himsilf. And certis no synne is forȝeve but bi good will of God; and so prestis may telle þe peple, as servauntis or bedels, þat men han þe good wille of God ȝif þei don on þis wise. And þis office haþ God ȝeve prestis ffor þei schulde be more wise, and noȝt to boste ne to lye on þe will of God; but riȝt as prestis of þe oolde lawe hadde power and kunnynge to telle ho wer leprous and ho were clene of lepre, bi sygnes þat God tauȝte hem, so in þe newe lawe haþ God tauȝte his prestis by what spiritual sygnes þei schulde knowe goostly lepre, and bi what sygne þei schulde seie þis lepre is forȝeve, ȝif þe man confessid to prestis seie soþ of himsilf. And þis is Jeroms sentence upon Cristis word seid to Petir [St. Jerome on St. Matthew, ch. xvi. 19: 'Istum locum Episcopi et Presbyteri non intelligentes, ali∣quid sibi de Pharisaeorum assumunt supercilio; ut vel damnent inno∣centes, vel solvere se noxios arbi∣trentur; quum apud Deum non sententia sacerdotum, sed reorum vita quaeratur.' He then refers to the lepers under the old law, and the declaratory office of the priest respecting them; and adds, 'Quo∣modo ergo ibi leprosum sacerdos mundum vel immundum facit, sic et hic alligat vel solvit Episcopus vel Presbyterus, non eos qui insontes sunt vel noxii, sed pro officio suo, cum peccatorum audierit varietatem. scit qui ligandus sit, quive solven∣dus.'] ; and certis þis holy doctour koude more of holy wryt þanne alle þes popis, or freris, or ony Antecristis clerkis. And so þes prestis have power, but noȝt evene wiþ God, ne þei graunte noȝt forȝevenesse of Goddis offence but as trewe mennis [should be menes?] bytwixe God and þe peple.

And certis þe boost of Antecrist schulde be ceessid herby, þat he wot noȝt of himsilf, ne of his broþer þat lyveþ bi him, wheþer God haþ ordeyned him to helle or ellis unto blisse, for þe manere of þis laste ende þat he schal make to God. And certis, ȝif he schal be dampned, þe pope assoilliþ him noȝt of alle deedely synnes þat he haþ don aȝenst God, ffor one stykiþ wiþ him þat no man may assoylle, siþ Crist seiþ þat unkyndnesse do aȝens þe Holy Goost, schal neiþer be forȝeve her ne in þe toþer world. On þis bileve schulde men þenke, whanne þei blowe her boost þat þei assoille men of alle synnes þat þei have do. And ȝif þis feiþ were toold to popis and to cardynals, and prelatis undir hem, by þe grace of God her bargeyn of assoyll∣inge, and eke of cursynge, schulde bygile fewer folk, þat schulde hoolly trist in Crist.

And herby may men se, þat in þe resoun þat is mad is false∣nesse [Answer to the objection that the Wycliffite doctrine takes away their power from priests.] take of trewe men, þat þei bynemiþ prestis her power. But evene þe power þat Crist ȝaf to prestis, þat is toold to hem; and how þei schulde noȝt to myche gabbe on Goddis power, and take upon hem falslyche more power þan God haþ graunted hem. And þus may men se þat holy Chirche schulde stonde stable ȝif men affiede hem in Crist, and stode mekely in her degree, and noȝt coveyted more power þan Cristis lawe lymyteþ hem. Ffor noþing displesiþ God more þanne suche blasfeme coveytise. Ffor among alle propretees þat falliþ to oure God, þis is oon principal, þat he forȝeveþ offence in him, siþ every erþelyche lord haþ suche a pryvilege. And þus assoylliþ God bifore, and his viker aftir, ȝif he acorde to Goddis will and telle truly Goddis sentence. And ȝif he coveyte for to graunte prin∣cipally þe will of God, he coveyteþ to be God, and is werse þanne Lucifer; siþ þe manhede of Crist coveyted neuere suche hiȝenesse, but mekid him evere to his God, and herfore is he hiȝed þus. Ne absolucioun maad to men is noȝt betered by suche pride, siþ evene as God wole assoylle men, and no more bi þis presumpcioun, be þei clensid of her synne; and proude prestis beþ myche þe worse. And so schal we graunte, þat ȝif men makiþ aseeþ to God, by contritcioun of here herte, her synne is forȝeve hem, ȝif þei speke wiþ non oþere prest. For Cristis lawe is fre and schort. Trowe we, whanne Crist

forȝaf synne oþer to men or wommen, as Petir or Poul, or Mawdeleyn or Baptist, or oþere seyntis, þat he sente hem to oþere prestis to be assoyllid, as we usen now? And we schulde trowe, þat ȝif Cristis lawe axed evere suche absolucioun, Crist wolde noȝt forȝete it, but fulfilide it, as he dide Moises lawe; and herfore badde he leprous men go and schewe hem to prestis. And so is nedful in þe Chirche to have prestis of Goddis lawe, to telle þe peple by what signe þei schulde hope her synne is forȝeve hem, and what privylege þei schulde have of God, for servyse þat þei servede him. But hope schulde stonde in such þingis, and noȝt bileve, þat schal be comun.

And so þis founed fantasye of spiritual tresour in hevene, þat [On the power claimed for the pope of dis∣pensing the treasure of the accumulated merits of the saints.] eche pope is maad dispensour of þis tresour at his owne will, þis is a liȝt word, dremed wiþouten ground. Ffor þanne ech pope schulde be lord of þis hevenly tresour, and so he schulde be lord of Crist and oþere seyntis in hevene, ȝe, ȝif he were a fend, as was Judas Schariot. Lord! whi schulde God of hevene make þis fend suche a lord? siþ it is propre unto God to dele suche meritis, and alle meritis þat beþ in hevene beþ fully rewarded, so þat none is ydil, but nedlyche mut be do. And so is [dele is.] applicacoun or delynge of merit, presumed of þes popis, is proprid unto God, and so þis founed blasfemye [is] [supplied conjecturally.] blabred wiþ∣outen grounde, [to] [supplied conjecturally.] suppose þat eche pope be God, more mayster in his liif þanne he is in his deeþ, whanne oþir men beþ bettre. A! siþ þes merites be wiþouten ende, so þat, ȝif [corrected; ȝif þat, AA.] ech man were maad bi him a seynt, þe meritis þat leveþ schulde suffice for alle seyntis, what charite is in þe pope ȝif he dele hem noȝt largely, and make boþe him and his passynge seyntis in hevene? Certis ȝif ony of þes men be dampned in his tyme, hit semeþ him failiþ charite, and þanne he is a fend. Ȝif he hadde a lumpe of feiþ, and witt of Goddis lawe, he schulde schune suche feynyngis as open heresye. Witte and charite lastiþ in hevene wiþ oþir glorious ȝiftis, but meritis beþ passid [should be passynge?] in her kynde, but fruyt of hem lefeþ. And so it were lasse heresye to seie, þe pope is lord of blisse and witt and of charite, and þus þis may he dis∣pense, and take þerof to him at his owne will, and aȝenst selle

to oþere men, for noþing may lette him. And so it semeþ þat þis tresore is better wiþouten mesur þanne alle þe worldly lord∣schipe þat þe pope haþ of þe emperrour. Ffor ȝif he solde bere [this is the reading of AA; query bi þe?] peneworþ of þis goostly tresour, hit wolde come to more moneye þanne al þe world is worþe. Lord! how riche is þis man for havynge of þis tresour! And ȝif þou seie he may noȝt selle ne parte but as God lymyteþ, for ellis myȝte he putte in blisse enemye to his God, certis þanne is þis tresour veynlyche in þis office, siþ, magry his, God mote dele as resoun and good liif axiþ. So ȝif þe pope be deed, or falle in synne, he haþ noþing hereof. Lord! how helpeþ he his God to parte þis goostly dole?

Cap. VIII.

Off þis may men se, how falsely freris feyneþ ȝifte of þis [Absurdities that seem to flow from this doctrine.] tresore to ech pope of Rome. Ffor certis God may noȝt be acceptour of persoones, but evere þe betre man rewardiþ he more. Ffor þe pope is noȝt betre for he forsakiþ Goddis hestis; how schulde he be tresorer to God wiþouten resoun? Also, siþe in þe Chirche above is no meryt in his kynde, siþe seyntis beþ passid þe state of merrit and come to staat of blisse, þe tresour þat þe pope dispensiþ be lisse in his kynde, and he is yvel tresourer, but ȝif he take him sum þerof, and yvel myn∣ystreiþ to his God, siþ God takiþ fro him all, ȝee, every part of þis blisse þat he myȝte kepe in his soule [The meaning of the latter part of this sentence is to me inscrutable.] Also, siþe þe pope myȝte take þis blisse into his soule, and be most blisful fadir, as he assenteþ þat he be clepid, no pope schal be dampned, siþe blisse may nevere be lost; and so he is confermed in þis liif more þan Petir or Poul, ffor certis þei hadde her a staat þat stood noȝt wiþ her blisse. Lord! wheþer blisse be suche a þing þat may be take fro seyntes in heuene, and putt in soulis of erþely men, as þe pope lykiþ? Þis is þe lewedeste heresie þat evere was founde of freris.

But, for þe secunde heresie, of byinge of swerdis, semeþ to [The question as to Christ's command to buy swords further dis∣cussed.] have more colour by wordis of þe gospel, þerof it were good for to speke more. And siþ Jerom witnessiþ, he is an open

heretik þat expouneþ Goddis lawe to oþere witt þan God meneþ, freris schulde avise hem wel byfore þei seid þat Crist baad to his apostlis to bie hem swerdis, ȝee, ȝif þei selle here cotis þerfore. For it is certeyn, ȝif Crist baad it, he dide it for greet resoun, and for cause þat þes apostlis schulde use þes swerdis aftirward; for it were no wisdom to bie þus þingis þat men schulde noȝt use, but be combred þerwiþ; and it is noȝt semely to feyne þis use of swerdis but for to fiȝte wiþ hem, as Petir dide aftir. And so it semeþ þat Crist baad his apostlis þus to fiȝte; for kervynge of mete, or scredynge of trees, schulde not be þe ende þat þei schulde now bigge hem swerdis. But ȝif Crist wolde þat þei schulde fiȝte wiþ swerdis, þat þei schulde þus bigge, hit were wondir whi he blamed Petir, ffor he fauȝt wiþ Malcus. For it is noȝt likly þat Crist blamed him for cowardise, ffor siþ Crist helid Malcus ere, he wolde not þat he hadde hurte him werse, ne his will ne his biddinge chaunged noȝt so soone to þe con∣trarie. Also doinge of Crist is beste and liȝtteste þat men can divyse; but Crist myȝte liȝtly have vencushid his enemyes by word or bi aungels, alȝif he hadde noȝt woundid hem; ffor Crist hadde many lygiouns of aungels at his biddinge, and whanne Crist seide þis schort word, his enemyes wenten aback and fell to þe erþe. Lord! what nedide þe apostlis to þus have bore swerdis? Also, whanne Crist comaundiþ ouȝt, he wole þat it be don; and men þat reversen it synnen in þe levynge. But þe apostlis synnede noȝt in levynge of yren swerdis; þanne Crist spak noȝt in veyn to bidde hem bie such swerdis. Ne þe pris was noȝt covenable, apostel to ȝeve his kirtil ffor suche a bodilyche wepene to bete wiþ þe erþe; ffor, as Seynt Poul seiþ, suche fiȝtynge is in veyn. Also, Crist was noȝt in lore [1 Cor. ix. 26.] contrarie to himsilf; but he tauȝte his apostlis to vencushe bi pacience, and in suche pacience þei schulde have peysible her liif; and ȝif a man wolde smyte on þe ton cheke, þei schulde ȝeve him þe toþere; and ho bynymeþ hem her cootis, þei schulde ȝeve hem here mantil. Lord! wheþer þei schulde fiȝte for bynemynge of suche swerdis! Þis falce lore lernede nevere þes martirs as Antecrist haþ now brouȝt in; siþe glorious knyȝtis, as Seynt Maurus [See note on page 232.] and his felawis, wolde noȝt fiȝte for

her liif, but mekely suffrid deeþ. Lord! where þis heresye schulde meve knyȝtis for to fiȝte for lordschipe of Antecrist, þat Crist himsilf haþ forbeden? Also, þes apostlis hadde noȝt synned ȝif þei hadden bouȝte suche iren swerdis, ȝif Crist hadde bede hem bie suche, for þei hadde do his biddynge. But he seide, two is inow, þat he wist wel þat þei hadde. But it is open þat þei hadde synned to bigge more wepene þan inow. But siþe þei hadde suche swerdis inowe, byfore þat Crist hadde seid þes wordis, hit semeþ þat þei hadde noȝt medfully do, bigginge suche swerdis mo þan inowe. And þus blasfemye of þes freris meneþ þat Crist was a fool, and scornefullyche wiþouten cause he spaak þes wordis to mennes lore. But certis of [dele of.] Crist may noȝt be fool, ne speke wordis wiþouten greet witt, siþe he may noȝt be fool suffering freris be in his Chirche, alþouȝ þei meve bischopis to fiȝte and þerto spoyle þe pore peple wiþ beggynge of blasfeme lesynge, openly prechide aȝenst þe gospel.

And so it semeþ þat þes wordis of Crist meneþ two juridic∣ciouns, [The true and spiritual inter∣pretation of the command.] as spiritual and seculer; siþ Crist wolde noȝt þat seculer fel to his apostlis, siþe þei clene use prechinge; but, as Seynt Poul techiþ, þat Crist mened swerd of þe tunge, þat is, spiritual [Eph. vi. 17.] swerdis and lyflyche word of oure God. A! quyk is Cristis word, as Seynt Poul seiþ, and scharper þan ony two-eged [Heb. iv. 12.] swerd. Siþe it piccheþ to þe soule, þis swerd of Goddis word is nedeful apostlis for to have, whanne þei beþ pursued to þe deeþ, as Crist ensaumplid in his wordis. But siþe Crist myȝte noȝt fiȝte wiþ swerd of yren, and he tauȝte noȝt lore to his apostlis þat he tauȝte noȝt do in dede, siþ he bigan to do and teche, it is open þat he baad noȝt bie swerd of yren for to fiȝte, ne to booste here enemyes, boþe for þe tyme was derk, and Crist lyvede noȝt by biggynge þat myȝte be cause of fiȝtynge to make pees amonge men, but mekenes and pacience was mene to Crist to make pees. And two swerdis beþ inowe, to fiȝte herwiþ fendis children,—one to teche hem scharplyche and boldlyche þe word of God, annoþir to telle hem mekelyche þe mede þat sueþ of Goddis lawe. Þe bookeler to þis goostly fiȝt is a man to holde his pees in tyme; and þus fauȝt Crist wiþ boþe his hondis whanne he was pursued to þe deeþ; and þis

lore is comyn to alle þat ben Cristis disciplis, and profytable and sotil whanne we beþ pursued of men.

And God ȝefe we cowde use þis lore whanne we speke wiþ [It is to be wished that the land may be utterly de∣livered of friars.] wraþful men! þanne schulde Goddis lawe walke, and irous men be vencushed. But God ȝeve þat þes bolde freris use noȝt swerdis to fiȝte wiþ men, whanne þei telle hem Goddis lawe, and freris defautis aȝens it; ffor þe compenye of freris myȝte þanne conquer many londis, and seie þat þei have riȝt of God to alle þe goodis þat beþ þerinne, but God ȝefe þat þei dide no worse, in false consence and falce counseil. Oþir freris dremeþ lasse yvel, þat þes two swerdis were two fleisch knyves, wiþ whiche þei slowe þe Paskcal lombe, and aftir Petir fauȝt wiþ þe ton. But trowe noȝt þis feynynge of freris, siþe it wanteþ groundinge; ne it is not liklyche þat Crist, þat dide alle his dedis bi resoun, schulde carie a swerd in a scaberge for to slee a sely lombe. And here many men supposen, as reule þat failliþ noȝt, þat word groundide first in freris is an open lesynge. But ho is more perilous folke to rewmes þat þei dwelliþ inne, þan beþ suche ypocritis? þat seien þat þei beþ mediatours by∣twixe God and man, and telle alle men Goddis wille, and gabben on þe wille of God, and make men to serve þe fend. Þei spoyle noȝt oonly of rewmes tresour and mennes bodies, but þei sendiþ soulis to helle, and doiþ hemsilf aftir.

XXII. THE GRETE SENTENCE OF CURS EXPOUNED.

[The following pamphlet, of which a complete analysis is given by Dr. Vaughan in his Tracts and Treatises of Wycliffe, and of which Lewis also, in his Life of the reformer, made considerable use, is known to exist in one MS. only, the Corpus volume at Cambridge, so often referred to. The text of this volume is not in a good state, having been evidently writ∣ten by a careless scribe; of this the frequent conjectural emendations at foot of the page will supply evidence. The text as here given to the reader is founded on a transcript made at Cambridge, which my friend Mr. W. A. Wright has been good enough to examine with the MS. before sending it to me. This transcript I have again compared with a transcript made for Lewis about a century and a half ago, and now among the Rawlinsonian MSS. in the Bodleian Library.

With regard to authenticity, it seems to me impossible to come to any certain conclusion. The treatise does not occur in Bale's Catalogue, nor is it ascribed to Wyclif by any early writer; in fact, there is no external evi∣dence whatever in support of its having been written by Wyclif beyond the circumstance of its being found in the Corpus volume. The internal evidence, so far as date goes, is satisfactory enough. The Council of London is referred to in ch. xix, as having recently taken place, and in ch. xxv Bishop Spencer's war in Flanders seems to be spoken of as actually going on; this would fix the date of composition to 1383, about a year before Wyclif's death. With regard to the style, opinions may differ; but it does not seem to me to be precisely that of Wyclif, but more appropriate to some fiery follower of his, who had reached a point of intense exaspera∣tion not exhibited in the undoubted works of Wyclif.

The author's choice of subject, and the title of the work, have great light thrown upon them by a document printed by Mr. Maskell (Monum. Ritual. Eccl. Angl., vol. ii. p. 286) from an early printed copy of the Sarum Manual in the Bodleian Library. The heading of this document is—'Isti sunt generales articuli majoris excommunicationis in lingua materna, et dicantur

hoc modo.' I shall extract from what follows such portions as directly illustrate our text:—

'Godemen and wymmen, it is ordeyned by the counseil of all holi Chirche: First of our holy fader the pope of Rome, and his cardinalis, and all his coun∣seil, sithen of alle archebisshopes and all the clergie, that every man of holy Chirche that hath soule for to kepe, sholde shewe among them foure sithe bi yere, the articles that ben writen in the general sentence, that is for to seyn, the pointes that longen to the great curs; that on is the fyrst Sonday of Advent, that other is the first Sonday of Lenten, and the nexte Sonday after Witsonday, and the first Sonday after the Assumpcyon of our Lady.'

The document proceeds to explain for the information of the laity the terrible effects, here and hereafter, of church cursing, especially of the 'great curse,' which is now in question. The next clause which our pam∣phlet refers to runs as follows:—

'So that first and formest, we denounce acurse, all tho that holy Chirche folsli depriven of any right or profyt, either by law writen, or elles by good custom which hath ben holden and used of old tyme: and in this poynt falleth iii manner of folk: first all tho that steleth holy Chirche goodes in what place so they ben don for to kepe: or elles that stele unhalowed thynges out of holy place, or thinges that ben halowed out of place unhalowed, and all tho that wytyngly breke and destroye any poynt of fredom that longeth to holy Chirche: and this is nought all onely understand of the fredomes that longen generaly to all holy Chirche, but also of other special fredomes, which that some chirche hath more one than another.'—Capp. ii, xxiv, 'Grete sentence, &c.'

Two clauses follow (relating to church courts and assault on persons belonging to the clerical order), which are not specially referred to; then comes:—

'Also we denounce all tho acursed, that maliciousli stele or destroye the goodes, that longeth to manere, or to graunges of any men or women of reli∣gion, or of archebisshop, of bisshop, other of any other place of mennes of holy Chirche, wythout special leve of them that have the goodes to kepe.'—Cap. xix.

Several clauses follow, designed for the protection of the persons and property of the clergy, which the pamphleteer does not notice; then comes:—

'Also all tho ben acursed by al holy Chirche that breke or destorb the unite and the pes: first of our lorde the kyng, and sythen of his kynne, by power, or by counseil, by word or by werk: or elles by any way to herte or to compace hys deth, or any point of traytourie of hym or of his lond: and all tho that falsly withholde his heretayge or any other ryght, that hym ought lawfully to have: and all tho ben acursed, that geve mede, or elles take any manere geftes for to lette pes, and for to procure strif in any degre, other more or lasse, among Cristene folk.'—Cap. x.

'Also they ben acursed in hevun and in erthe, that falsli forswere them upon the holydam: and knowe wel that it is fals whenne they begynne to swere, in questes, or in acises, or in any other fals cause: and all tho that hyre suche men, or make them to be hyred, or mayntene them, or teche them, eyther by word or werk, for to lette trewe matrymonye, or lawful herytage, or testament, or ought elles that is trewly ordeyned: and also all tho advokatis of lawe of holy

Chirche, that in plee of matrimonye, or any other trewe cause make wytingly, and with any semed false exceptions for to destroye, or lette, or tarie a trewe cause, that it may nought spedly be discussed, and ended after the cours of lawe.'—Cap. xii.

'Also all tho ben acursed, that for hate or for mede, or any other encheson, sclaundre falsli, or defame any man or woman, so that they be brought fro good fame unto wykked, wherefor that thei have nede to porge them bi the lawe and ben therfore gretly greved, and anoyed in body and in soule.'—Cap. ix.

Of the numerous clauses relating to the important subject of tithe, the following is the only one which the pamphleteer directly notices:—

'And that Crystene men and women be hard bounden on peyne of dedly synne nought alle onely be the ordenaunce of man, but first and formest be the ordenaunce and the commaundament of all myghty God them selfe, but in the olde lawe and also in the newe, for to paye trewly to God and holy Chirche, the tenthe part of all maner of thinges that them have by yere; also wel the tenthe part of all maner encrese, that they winne trewly by the grace of God, both with here travaille and also with here craftes; also the tenthe part of al maner of fysshes and foules and bestes bothe wild and tame, and of al manere frutes that growe out of the erthe, wytnessed wel Seynt Austyn in hys decret, as it is wryten in the lawe of holy Chirche. And what veniaunce that our Lorde God taket upon thys world, by encheson of them that with nought paye ther tythes, and also for them that falsly tythe, and in what manere that our Lorde God hath graunted iiii thinges to all them that trewly tithe, telleth openly Seynt Jerome, in the same cause and question I seide ere, and also Seynt Austin in the same chapit. Also men of holy Chirche have leve by Goddis lawe, for to acurse al tho by name that wyl nought paye ther tythes, as it is writen in many places in the lawe of holy Chirche.'—Cap. xvii.

• ...Sanctuary.

  'And also ye shal knowe wel that all tho ben acursed, that in vyolence drawe out any man or woman, that fleth for help and socure unto holy Chirche: or elles out of any other place that is halowed, but in certein poyntes that the lawe geveth leve. Or lette them to have sustenaunce ther while thei ben there, and all tho that geve therto help or counseil.'—Cap. xxiii.

• ...Wills.

  'Also all tho ben acursed that lette or procure to lette the testament, and the laste wil of folk whan they deye, of thynges that ben ther owne, and that they maye skilfully bequethe bothe by lawe of holy Chirche and by custome: whether it be testament of wyves, or of widedowes, or of any other wymmen: but al onely of theym that ben bounden, wher that it is ordeyned so by olde custome of the contre, and of them that ben bounden men to religion, the whiche shulde by lawe of holy Chyrch have notyng of ther owne, and also that be sworne and charged with executoriis, and fulfille nought the dedes wil as ther charge axeth.'—Cap. xiv.

• ...Taxation of the clergy.

  'Also all tho seculer men whych that be reweleres and leaders of cytees, and of townes, yf they make any unlefful taxes, or talages, or any exaccyones on prestes and clerkes, and men of holy Chirche, and constreyne them by there lewed power, or elles by any way for to do, or destroye, the jurisdiccion of prelates of holy Chirche, but yf thei leve such doynge for evere, whych tyme that they be amonested lawfully therto, elles they ben acursed in thys gret curs,

• ...

  and may nought be assoyled or thei have mad ful amendes, both to them that they have so greved, and also to holy Chirche.'—Cap. ii.

• ...Magna Carta.

  'Also tho that breke any point of the kinges great chartre or chartre of the forest, in wiche chartre is writen the fredoms of this lond, that divers kynges have graunted to everi man: in the grete chartre ben xxxv pointes and the chartre of the forest comprehendith xv pointes; and all archebishops and bishops that longen to Engelond have acurset all tho that breke wytingli any of all these pointes, the wych sentence of cursynge hath ben often confermed by the court of Rome.'—Cap. xxiv.

• ...Forgery, &c.

  'And all tho ben acursed, that false the popes letters or is seel, or any other letters or seel that ben autentik, and all tho that them purchase, and all tho that use wytingly suche false purchased letters.'—Cap. xvi.

• ...

  'And also all tho ben acursed that stele, or destroye, or falsli with holde chartre, or testamentes, or any other maner letters, that longen til other men; wher for thei lese their heritage, or any right that thei shulde have by lawe. And all tho that use false weghtes, or false yerdes, or any other false measures for to deceive the people with, and all tho that false the kinges moneye, or clippeth or maketh lasse bi cause of their profit.'—Capp. xiii, xxi.

• ...Heresy and Simony.

  'And all heretikes ben acursed, and all tho that mayntene heresie: and all tho that use symonye: and all usurers: and all tho that make, whanne usure ys taken, that yt be nought restored agen, and all tho that live on such craft: and all tho that be cursed bi name: and all tho that wilfully slee them selve.'—Capp. i, iv.

• ...Theft.

  'Also we denounce acursed all open theves and robberes, and all that them receyve wytyngly, or gyve them help or counseil.'—Cap. xx.

• ...Parricide.

  'And them that in violence drawe blod on her fader or moder, and this is understonde bothe of bodili fader and moder, and goostly.'—Cap. xxii.

But the version of the Great Curse from which these extracts are taken is confessedly an incomplete one; for at the end of the next clause occur the words—'and many other poyntes also longe unto this greate sentence.' This explains the fact that the offences anathematized in the last five chapters of the pamphlet are nowhere particularly described in the docu∣ment now under consideration. Careful search would probably lead to the discovery of a fuller version than that here cited from.]

HERE BIGYNNEÞ ÞE GRETE SENTENCE OF CURS EXPOUNED.

CAP. I.

FIRST [corrected; frist in MS.] , alle heretikis aȝenst þe feiþ of holy writt ben cursed [Those of the clergy who in∣dulge in world∣ly pomp are either in error or in heresy.] solempnely foure tymes in þe ȝer, and also meyntenouris and consentoris to heresie or heretikis in here errour. Siþ þen heresie is errour meyntened aȝenst holy writt, as Seynt Austyn and oþere clerkis seyn, who evere meynteneþ ony errour aȝenst Goddis lawe is an heretik, be he prest, be he lord, be he pore, be he riche, or of what evere degre. Þanne ȝif oure clerkis þat lyven worldly, in pride, pompe and covetise, and ydelnesse fro gostly traveile, understonden þat þis is Goddis wille and his lawe, þei ben in open errour aȝenst holy writt; and ȝif þei witen þat þis lif is aȝenst Goddis techynge and his ensaumple, and ȝit holden it forþ for lust and ese of body, and meyntene it in word or dede, þei ben expresse heretikis and cursed Anticristis, whom no man schulde resceyve in to his hous, ne grete hem in þe weie.

Also, who evere understondiþ holy writt oþer wise þan þe [Again the per∣version by the higher clergy of the scrip∣tural meaning of mission is heretical.] Holy Gost axiþ is an heretik, as Seynt Jerom [S. Hieron. in Epist. ad Gal. cap. v: 'Quicunque igitur aliter Scripturam intelligit, quam sensus Spiritus Sancti flagitat quo con∣scripta est, licet de Ecclesiâ non recesserit, tamen haereticus appel∣lari potest.'] and oþere seyntis witnessen. But oure worldly prelatis understonden wrongfully holy writt in mater of prechynge of Cristis gospel; þerfore þei ben cursed heretikis. For whanne Seynt Poul axiþ, hou men schulden preche but ȝif þei ben sent, þei understonden, but ȝif men ben sent of þe pope, or oþere worldly prelatis, where Seynt Poul understondiþ sendynge of God; so þat ȝif worldly prelatis wolen þat [þei [supplied conjecturally.] ] prechen not þe gospel wiþ∣outen here licence, þei schullen not speke þe treuþe of þe gospel to save Cristene soulis, þouȝ God stire hem nevere so moche þerto, bi wynnyng of hevenely blisse ȝif þei don it wel, and bi everelastynge peyne ȝif þei don it not treuely and wilfully and

frely, as Crist bad his disciplis. For if here understondynge sueþ þis open errour, þat an angel of God schal not do Goddis massagis to save Cristene soulis, for a worldly prest, Anticrist and cursed heretik, and in cas a dampnyd fend, as Judas was, lettiþ Goddis biddyng mercy and charite, þerfor þei þat under∣stonden þus þis sendyng ben in open heresie. For þe Holy Gost understondiþ not þus þis part of holy writt as þes worldly prelatis don, but evene þe contrarie. For certis a prest may be sent of þis worldly prelatis wiþ here lettris and selis, and ȝit be an heretik, bi symonye, bi lesyngis put on God to meyntene his ypocrisie, and robbyng of þe comyns, bi flateryng and beg∣gynge and oþere disceitis, and not sent of God but bi þe fend, whois werkis he prechiþ and doþ, and þerfore cursed of God and alle his trewe servauntis. Þerfore sendyng of þes worldly prelatis is not ynowȝ, wiþouten sendynge of God, as Seynt Poul meneþ. And God axiþ trewe [corrected; trewþe, X.] lif aftir his lawe, and trewe prechynge of þe gospel, wiþ clene entent, not for worldly name, ne coveitise of worldly muk, ne bacbytynge of pore prestis and hyndryng of Cristis ordynaunce, and meyntenyng of worldly lif of clerkis, as false prophetis prechen now, but trewly to dis∣pise synne and teche vertues, for honour of God and helpynge of Cristene soulis to heveneward.

Also, oure worldly clerkis lyven not only aȝenst holy writt [A third symp∣tom, and also evidence, of their evil life, is their per∣secution of the poor priests.] in word and dede, but also meyntenen þer worldly lif bi ypo∣crisie, bi fals excusacions and false expounyng of holy writt, and hard persecucion of pore prestis þat prechen Cristis meke∣nisse, his wilful povert, and gostly bysynesse, and witnyssen þat prelatis schulden sue Crist in þes þre specialy. For þes pore prestis ben sclaundrid for heretikis, cursed and prisoned wiþouten answere, for as moche as þei stonden for Cristis lif and techynge, and meyntenaunce of þe kingis regale and power of seculer lordis, and savyng of Cristene mennus soulis, aȝenst Anticristis tirauntrie, and ypocrisie of his weiward disciplis, þat envenymyn and distroien holy Chirche. And of þe discrivyng of heresie may men se, how eche man þat meynteneþ [God]dis comandemetis is a cursed heretyk, for in þat he meynteneþ

errour aȝenst holy writt. And blynd entent, or blynd devo∣cion, excusiþ not þes worldly clerkis, wiþ here fautouris, no more þan Petir was excused fro Sathanas, and Poul of blas∣phemye notwiþstondynge here blynd entent, aȝenst Goddis wille, for goodnesse and riȝtwisnesse, as hem þouȝte. Moche more worldly clerkis and here fautours schullen not be excused aȝenst þe opyn meke and pore and traveilouse lif of Crist and his apostlis, for no sotel ypocrisie of Anticrist, and blynde devocion of glotenouse manquelleris, for pride and covetise.

CAP. II.

Alle þo ben cursed solempnely, þat spoilen and taken awey [The rulers of the Church are justly liable to anathema,—] ony riȝt of holy Chirche, or defrauden [corrected; defaudren, X. conjecturally.] holy Chirche of ony dewte [corrected; dwte, X.] . Here Cristene men, tauȝt inn Goddis lawe, clepen holy Chirche þe congregacion of juste men for whom Jesus Crist schedde his blood, not for stones and tymber and erþely muk, þat Anticristis clerkis magnyfien more þan Goddis riȝt∣wisnesse and Cristen soulis. Þan þo prelatis and curatis þat wiþdrawen þe riȝtful prechynge of Cristis gospel fro Cristene men, þat ben holy Chirche, ben acursed of God and alle his seyntis: for þis trewe techyng is most dewe to holy Chirche, and is most chargid of God, and most profitiþ to Cristene men, ȝif it be wel don. Þerfore, as moche as Goddis word and blisse of hevene and Cristene soulis ben betre þan erþely goodis, so moche ben þes worldly prelatis, [þat [supplied] ] wiþdrawyn þis grete dette of holy techynge, worse þeves and curseden sacrelegires þan bodily þeves þat breken chirchis and stelen chalicis, veste∣mentis, or nevere so moche gold out of hem. First, þei ben [1. because they will not preach the gospel themselves;] grevously acursed of God for þis roberie of Cristene men, whanne þei wiþdrawen Cristes gospel fro þe eris of Cristene peple. Þe secunde tyme þei ben more grevously acursed, [2. because they prevent true ministers from preaching it;] whanne þei letten and forbarren oþere prestis to teche trewely and frely Cristis gospel, whanne þei hemself kunnen not or wolen not for here bodily ese, or may not for worldly occu∣pation. As whoso were, up peyne of hangyng and drawyng, to fede many lege men of oure kynge, and toke þerfore wagis

ynowe, and wastide hem, and suffride þe kyngis lege men die for hunger, or ȝelde þe castel and hemself to þe kyngis enemys,—he were a cruel traitour and sleere of all þes men; and ȝit more traitour, ȝif he lettide oþere knyȝttis [corrected; kynȝttis in MS.] of oure kyng to vitele þes men asegid, and rescowe hem of here enemyes. So it is of þis worldly prelatis and curatis, þat taken cure of soulis and tiþes and offryngis to teche hem Goddis lawe, and purge hem of synnes þoruȝ preier and prechyng and good ensaumple, last þe devel þat evere ensegiȝ mannus soule cumbre hem in synne and bringe hem to helle. Þe þridde tyme þes [3. because they authorize false teachers to preach cor∣ruptions of it.] weiward prelatis ben most grevously cursed of God; for whanne þei kunnen not preche þe gospel, or may not, or wolen not, or letten oþere pore prestis to helpe Cristene soulis bi techyng of Goddis word, þei graunten leve to false prechouris þat sowen lesyngis, and bi flateryng and oþere veyn preieris norischen men in synne, and robben þe peple bi fals beggynge þat þei putten on Crist, seiyng þat he beggede as þei don. For þus þei wiþdrawen trewe prechynge of þe gospel fro Cristene men, and neden hem to ete and drynke venym of Anticristis lesingis and flateryng, and to be robbid of here catel bi ypocrisie of stronge beggeris. As knyȝt, chargid of þe kyng to kepe his castel and his men, and hereto hadde wagis ynowe, and wolde not do þis office, but lette oþere þat wolden save þes men for pite, but over þis he nedide hym [should be bem.] to be governed bi here enemys, and þei schulden have here goodis for to slee þes men in þe castel, in þis poynt were [corrected; be were in MS.] most opyn traitour to his kyng, so it falliþ bi oure weiward prelatis, þat prechen not Cristis gospel, but letten oþere pore prestis to teche trewely and frely Goddis word, and senden freris þat colouren here open synne, and prechen fablis and lesyngis, and robben þe pore peple bi stronge beggynge and nedles.

Also oure worldly prestis lesse and more drawen fro holy [Our worldly prelates also sin by with∣holding the example of per∣sonal holiness,] Chirche, þat is, þe congregacion of just men, þe grete dewete of good ensaumple of here owene lif, þat schulde be a bok and mirrour of here sugetis, to kepe Goddis hestis, and seyntis and reson witnessen. Þerfore Crist dide first in dede þat þing he

tauȝte aftir bi word, and whanne Crist hadde waschyn his dis∣ciplis feet for mekenesse, he seide þus, I ȝeve to ȝou ensaumple, þat ȝe do as I have don. But now instide of ensaumple of mekenesse and charite and holy devocion in Goddis servyce, þei ȝyven ensaumple of pride, wraþþe, vengeaunce, coveitise, ydelnesse, glotonye, leccherie, and oþere vices, to wiþdrawe fro holynesse and devocion. And siþ techyng in dede, doying and meyntenyng of open errour in lif, is as evyl techyng or worse þan techynge bi nakid word, certis þei ben opeyn heretikis, strongely meyntenynge here errour aȝenst Goddis lawe, as he is worse þat betiþ me wrongfully, þan he þat manassiþ me or dispisiþ me only in word.

Also oure worldly prelatis and prestis robben holy Chirche [and the edify∣ing spectacle of voluntary poverty.] of þe tresour of wilful povert and mekenesse, and maken Cristene men blynd wiþ pouder of worldly goodis, bi pride and coveitise, and robben seculer lordis of here heritage and temperal power, þat God ȝaf hem to meyntene his lawe and his ordynaunce in clerkis. And þis is don bi blynd devocion of seculeris, þat knowen not Goddis lawe, and by ypocrisie of worldly clerkis and sillyng of here preiere. And where Crist maad his spouse, and namely of clergie, fair bi briȝt cloþes of wilful povert, schynyng to God betre þan doþ ony gold to men, þes werldly clerkis han alle to-bleckid Cristis spouse wiþ drit of erþely [corrected; hereþely, X.] goodis, coveitise and pride and worldly bysynesse, and robbed here pore of here cloþis and goldyng of wilful povert, mekenesse and gostly bisynesses of studyyng and techyng of holy writt, and preiynge, and oþere werkis of penaunce. And whanne þe kyng and seculer lordis perseyven wel þat clerkis wasten here auncetris almes in pompe and pride, glotonye and oþere vanytees, and þei wolden take aȝenst þe superfluyte of temperal goodis, and helpe þe lond and hemself and here tenauntes,—þes worldly clerkis crien faste þat þei ben cursed for entermetynge of holy Chirche goodis. As ȝif seculer lordis and þe comyns weren no part of holy Chirche, but only proude prestis, ful of coveitise symonye and extor∣sions and alle oþere synnys. And þus Anticristis clerkis feren

þe kyng lordis and comyns, þat þei dar not mende þe open þefte of cursed clerkis, myspendynge þe almes of lordis and temperaltees in symonye glotonye and wrong purchas of seculer lordischipes, aȝenus Goddis lawe, notwiþstondynge þat þe kyng is Goddis viker, to venge synne and wrongis don in þis rewme generaly of mysdoeris. But summe of Anticristis [All approaches to which they clamorously resist.] clerkis seyn apertly, þat þe lond shal be enterdited, and alle men þerinne cursed, raþere þan þei wolen be brouȝt to þe meke staat þat Crist putte hem inne. And raþer þei wolen rere baner aȝenst þe kyng and his lordis and comyns, þan temperal lordischipis schulden turne to þe kyng and lordis, and þei on spiritualte, as God ordeyned. And schortly to seie, raþere þan þe king and his lordis and comyns schulden meyntene Cristis ordynaunce in his clergie, and distroie opyn symonye heresie and extorsions and robberie þat Anticristis clerkis done in oure lond, þes worldly prestis wolen curse and enterdite men and rewmes, and reren open warre aȝenus oure kyng lordis and comyns in oure owene lond. And loke eche wise man where þis be traiterie and open heresie, and tirantrie of Antecrist and his cursed prelatis and veyn religious.

CAP. III.

Ȝit worldly clerkis and veyn religious wiþdrawen þe riȝttis of [Gross and hab∣itual misappro∣priation by the worldly clergy of ecclesiastical and charitable revenues.] holy Chirche many maneris. For where þei han many rentis and lordischipis for to fynde certeyn noumbre of prestis and bedrede men in hospitalite, þei han unneþe half, or þe þridde part, þe noumbre of prestis, and lyven lustful lif in costi metis and wyn; and in glotonye, drounkenesse, lecherie, and grete festis wasten þer goodis, where þei schulden lyve in abstynence and penaunce, and devoute preieris for here goode doeris and comynte of Cristene men. And where þei schulden fynde many pore men in mete and drynk and herbore, and sumtyme cloþis, þei wasten pore mennus liflode in grete festis of riche men, and robis and fees of men of lawe, and herboryng of riche lordis, not for charite, but in hope of more wynnynge of worldly goodis at þe laste in here deþ, and graunte of aproprynge of parische chirchis, and amortisyng of temperal lordischipe more þan

nediþ. And alle þis is sotel marchaundise wiþ pore mennus liflode and holy Chirche goodis; and where in many abbeies schulden be, and sumtyme weren, grete houses to herbore pore men þerinne, now þei ben fallen doun, or maad swyn-kotis, stablis, or bark-houses. And þus, as Judas staal þe money ȝoven to Crist and his disciplis to lyve þerby, so þes worldly clerkis and religiouse taken huge noumbre of temperal goodis undir colour of almesdede and hospitalite, and stelen þes goodis of pore men, and wasten hem nedles in gret array of þe world, in gaie houses, and festis of lordis and riche men, and oþere vanytees.

Also many bischopis and religiouse and seculer lordis wiþ∣drawen [General abuse of their patron∣age, by episcopal, monastic, and lay patrons,] riȝtful reulyng of Cristene soulis, bi makyng and pre∣senting of unable curatis. For where þei myȝtten lyȝtly fynde many, able boþe of kunnyng and good lyvynge to teche Cristene men Goddis lawe, þei presenten and maken, for love of here kyn or servyce or worldly love, and sumtyme bi money takynge prively, many unable curatis, þat kunnen not þe ten comaunde∣mentis, ne rede her sauter. And ȝit þei holden hem in here worldly office, and taken to hem moche of þe chirche goodis; and suffren hem not to goo to þe scole and lerne þe gospel, to governe here parischenis, but halden hem in balies office, or stiwardis, or kechene clerkis, and suffren wolves of helle to strangule here parischenis soulis, bi dyverse synnes and harde customes, of veyn sweryng, lecherie, and alle oþere vices. Also ȝif eche man þat wiþdrawiþ ony riȝt of holy Chirche is þus acursed, þanne eche man þat wiþdrawiþ fro [dele fro.] ony good þouȝt or dede or counfort fro his breþeren, is acursed. For eche goode þouȝt, speche, and dede, and counfort of careful men, is dwe to God and holy Chirche, for þe prophete seiþ, I schal blisse God [Ps. xxxiv. 1.] in eche tyme; his heryng schal everemore be in my mouþ. But what holy man in þis lif scapiþ uncursed? siþ no man lyveþ but ȝif he faile sumtyme in þouȝt, word, and dede, or in coun∣fort of men in disese. Þerfore it semeþ, þat covetise of worldly goodis haþ mad worldly cursed clerkis to heie aȝenst Goddis dom. Certis sum men understonden, þat þe cruel manquellere [and most of all, by the Pope.]

of Rome, not Petris successour but Cristis enemye, and þe emperours maistir, and poison under colour of holynesse, makiþ most unable curatis, and so wiþdrawiþ most þe riȝttis of holy Chirche. For he avaunsiþ many lewid men, sumtyme techereris and disciplis of his owene lawe, not of þe gospel, sumtyme þenne clerkis, þat kunnen not good in regard of curatis, and takiþ of men moche gold for leed and þe friste fruytis, and forbarren clerkis of Goddis lawe, kunnynge and wel-lyvynge men, lest þei aspie his heresie and ypocrisie, and warnen Cristene men þerof. And þe weyward clerkis of Sathanas maken þis cruel manquellere, prisoner and brenner of Cristis servauntis, to be well ground and roote of alle þe mysgovernynge of þe Chirche. And ȝit þei maken blynde men bileve, þat he is hed of holy Chirche, and þe most holy fader, þat may not synne; and he distroieþ þe feiþ of holy Chirche, mekenesse, pacience, and charite, and desire of hevenely blisse. Þerfore, as þe trewe clerk Robert Grosted wroot to hym, he is cause well and grounde of distruction of Cristene feiþ and good religion, bi makynge of evyl schepherdis, and privylegies, suffryng of synne, siþ he may best distroie it, and most is holden þerto.

CAP. IV.

Also, alle symonyentis þat bien or sillen spiritual þingis for [Simony is also accursed; of which there are three kinds: 1. that relating to ordinations;] temperal þingis unlefful, ben cursed solempneli, boþe bi Goddis lawe and mannis. But þre degres ben in symonyentis: summe ben symonyentis in ordre, summe symonyentis in beneficis, and summe symonyentis in sacramentis. Of symonyentis in holy ordre ben þre degres. Summe come to ordre of presthod, dekenhede, or oþere ordris hiere or lowere, by ȝevynge of money; and þes ben no prestis ne dekenes, but han only þe name, and ben ordrid to þis ende for to be heretikis, whos blissing turneþ into cursyng, and her preier into synne, as Seynt Gregory techeþ and þe lawe canoun [S. Greg. Epist. ad Syagrium (Benedictine ed., vol. ii. p. 1006); and Decretum Gratiani, Pars. I, Causa I, Quaest. I.] . Þerfore seiþ þe Chirche lawe in decretalis, þat every synful prest may seie a masse, out taken a symonyent, whom eche synful man may lefully acuse,

ȝe, an hore may acuse him, þat he be remevyd from þe ordre þat he mystakiþ. For, as Seynt Ambrose seiþ, in þis caas curs is to þe ȝevere and to þe takere [The reference is perhaps to St. Ambrose, Exp. in Luc., Lib. IV. § 53.] ; for þat þat sich on ȝeveþ is is gold or money, and þat þing þat he resceyveþ is lepre of synne, and curs to þe takere and to þe ȝevere. Summe by symonye comen to siche ordris for preiere of lordis, or oþere worldly frendis, not bi clene entent and worþinesse of kunnynge and lyvynge, but only bi favour of men, and þes in þe cursed heresie of symonye. And boþe þe ȝevere and recesceyvere of ordris in þis caas schulden be degradid, for þei make marchaundise bi ȝiftis of þe Holy Gost, and maken þe Holy Gost servaunt of synful men, and, in caas, of fendis, as moche as is in hem. Þerfore þei ben worse heretikis þan oþere þat maden þe Holy Gost lesse þan þe Fadir and þe Sone, as the lawe of canoun witnesiþ. Þe þridde tyme, summe comen to ordris bi symonye, bi servyce to lordis or prelatis or oþer officeris, servynge long tyme to men for þis ende, þat þei may be ordrid, or bihetyng to serve after þat þei ben ordred longe tyme, where þei ben not worþþi to þes holy ordris bi kunnyng and goode lif. And þes fallen in þe same dampnacion wiþ þe firste, for it is al on to ȝyve money and to serve þus for holy ordris, bifore or after. Þe fourþe tyme summe comen to holy ordris, not for devocion and love of God, but for to lyve in worldly lordischip, and have welfare of mete and drynk, and gay cloþis, and ese, and re∣joischen hem þerinne, and bisien hem not aboute Goddis lawe ne holy lif, but in lecherie and vanyte and ydelnesse and worldly myrþe. And in þe riȝtful dom of God þei ben symonyentis, as was Symon Magus. For þei sillen to fendis of helle here soule, here body, and tyme, and catel, for to have and use unworþily þe holy ordre of presthod. And þerfore Seynt Jon Crisostom seiþ, þat þo prestis þat don not justly here office after Goddis lawe semen ordeyned of men and not of God, and anenctis God þei ben non prestis. And þis undirstonding he hadde of þe canoun of Cristis apostlis; for, as þis Seynt Jon seiþ, treuþe in lif, þat a man drede God, makiþ a man a lewed man; and, as who seiþ, no clerk, but treuþe in lif and prudence, þat is, know∣yng

of creaturis boþe erþely and gostly, and usyng of every in his degre, and wise techynge of Goddis lawe after þe nede of þe peple, makiþ a man to be a prest. Þerfore seiþ Seynt Aus∣tyn, þat he þat disireþ þe stat of bischop for to have worschipe and reverence of men and worldly goodis, oweþ to understonde þat he is no bischop; and þe same sentence seiþ Seynt Gregory in his Pastoralis. And þe same reson semeþ of prestis; and þerfore Seynt Austyn biddiþ, þat sich a sovereyn þat spekeþ not good cleenely for hymself, but worldly worschipe and temperal wynnyng, þat he schal not rikene him among Goddis servauntis. For certis, as Crisostom, and Origene, and lawe canoun wit∣nessen, siche a weiward prest makiþ Goddis hous a den of þeves.

CAP. V.

On þre maneres ben men symonyentis in beneficis, bi ȝifte [2. that relating to benefices; as when men get preferment by means of money,] of money to þe patroun for presentacioun, or to prelat for collacion, or ȝevyng institucion, or induction, or bi brocage maade to mene persones for to have ony beneficis of þe chirche. And þis is cursed heresie, for it presumeþ to sille þe Holy Gost, as þe lawe witnessiþ; siþ it presumeþ to sille þe ȝiftis of þe Holy Gost, þat schulden be ȝoven frely to alle men, as Crist biddiþ. On þe secunde manere don many men symonye, whanne þei [or of service,] serve lordis or prelatis undwe servyces longe tyme, for to have a benefice in þe ende of here servyce. And herefore þei biheten to serve lordis and prelatis in worldly office on here owene cost, and dwellen in here courtis absent fro here chirchis; and þis is cursed marchaundise wiþ temperal servyce and benefices of þe Chirche. And oure Lord Jesus drof alle siche out of þe temple, in token þat þei ben not approved of him in þe Chirche, but schullen be dreven to helle bi jugement of God, ȝif þei lasten in þis synne to here deþ. And þerfore seiþ Seynt Gregory and þe lawe, þat þei þat don siche symonye schullen be dampnyd in everelestynge fier of helle, but ȝif þei resygnen here benefices, and in tyme of deþ ben founden in scharpe penaunce.

On þe þridde manere don men symonye bi tunge, þat neiþer [or by per∣suasion and influence.] ȝeven gold ne servyce to lordis, ne prelatis, ne mene persones, but bi flateryng and preier of myȝty men comen to benefices,

more þan bi holynesse of lif and ablete to þer office. For þes comen not to þes benefices bi Crist, þat is dore of holy Chirche, but bi þe fend, to whom þei maken sacrifice for love of worldly heienesse and erþely muk, þat þei seken more þan Goddis honour, or profit of Cristene soulis. Þerfore þe Chirchis lawe witnessiþ, þat ȝif a man come to benefice bi symonye, ȝe, don bi his frend, hym unwyttynge, he mot resigne it, and ellis he may not be savyd. For, as Crist seiþ, he is a nyȝt þef and a day þef; and a þef may do no verrey penaunce, but ȝif he restore þat þing þat he haþ takyn awey, as Seynt Austyn seiþ; namely, ȝif he be of power þerto. And þis symonyent is of power to resigne; and þerfore he mote nedis resigne his benefice wilfully and frely, wiþouten desiryng to have it aȝen, as Seynt Richard of Armawȝ techiþ. For bi rigour of þe lawe he schulde be degradid, for þe blasphemye þat he dide to God in sillyng þe Holy Gost, as moche as was in hym. And certis, howevere we speken of dispensacion of þe Bischop of Rome, þis symonyent mot do verey pennaunce, and gete a newe riȝt or title, bi grace of God and ablete of kunnyng and wil to his office, wiþ open just lif and verrey techyng of his parischenis, and ellis he holdiþ his benefice to his dampnacion; and namely ȝif he waste pore mennes liflode, in pride and riche array, in glotonye and drounkennesse, and grete festis of riche men, as officeris of þe bischop, and getteris of countre. And þes þre menes of symonye ben wel groundid in holy writt and reson, and Seynt Gregory and Seynt Bede declaren hem wel, wiþ þe comyn lawe of þe Chirche. But what man comeþ now to ony fat benefice or prelacie wiþouten ȝifte of money or servyce, or flateryng and preier boþe of himself and oþere grete men of þe world? For now many lordis axen moche for presentacion, and longe worldly servyce of þes clerkis, bifore here benefices and aftir; and of privy ȝiftis and preieris is noon ende in mannus witt. Who getiþ ony fat benefice of þe Bischop of Rome wiþouten siche flateryng and preier, and gold for his dede lede [By the 'dede lede' is meant of course the lead of the seal attached to a papal bull.] , and þe first fruytis, and omage, and swerynge, oþer þan Crist and his apostlis diden? And certis his takyng of þe first fruytis is no

lesse heresie þan takyng of lordis for ȝifte or presentynge of here benefices, but þat he doþ more general heresie, and more traitourly to God; for he schulde be his chif viker in holy lif, and trewe techyng, and riȝtful governaunce of Cristis Chirche, and now is most open his traitour under colour of holynesse, and sutely wastiþ rewmes, drawing from hem moche gold and goode curatis, where lordis maken lesse evyl curatis, and spenden þe gold þat þei taken among men in þe same rewme. And certis, what clerk, lord, or comyner aȝenstondiþ not þis cursed heresie bi his power, wiþouten doubte he schal be pertener wiþ [corrected; wþ, first, X.] þe first [corrected; wþ, first, X.] fynderis of þis errour, as Seynt Gregory techiþ and þe lawe canoun.

CAP. VI

Ȝit on þes þre maners don many men symonye in sacramentis, [3. Simony re∣lating to sacraments;] as ordris, masse synging, confession, and alle þe sevene sacra∣mentis of holy Chirche. First in ordris; who evere ȝeveþ holy ordris for money to himself or his servauntis, or for preier of men, or þank of hem, þouȝ he take no money, he doþ symonye, and silleþ þe Holy Gost as moche as is in him, as witnessiþ Seynt Gregory, Seynt Bede, and oþere seyntis, wiþ lawe canoun. But Lord! who comeþ to ony holi ordris wiþouten extorsion of money for barbour fees, and grete raunsons for letteris? And siþ þis money is taken bi maistri for ordris þat men taken, for [for instance, by the extor∣tion of fees at ordination;] ellis þei schullen not be ordrid, or ellis ponyschid to þe double or treble, and here weddis taken, who may excuse oure bis∣chopis from extorsion of symonye? And feyned excusacion, þat þei taken þis not for ordris ȝevyng but for cost of wrytyng and oþere officeris bisinesse, accuseþ hem more þan excuseþ. For þei taken for wryttyng and selyng of a litel scrowe, wiþ sixe or sevene lynes, twelve pens or two schillyngis; and certis þis is foul extorsion. For hem nedeþ no lettre wiþ here seel bi Goddis lawe; but witnessynge of here felowis and oþere trewe men is ynowȝ, hou þei weren ordrid at siche a tyme. And hem nediþ not many tymes to be schavyn, and ȝif it were nede, þei myȝtten be schavyn at a comyn barbour, and clippen [corrected; clipynge, X.] alle a ȝeer

for þe money þat here barbour takiþ at onys [If these petty extortions at the time of ordination were really of common occurrence when our author wrote, it was not for want of en∣deavours to put them down on behalf of the rulers of the church. A con∣stitution of Archbishop Stratford, dated in 1342, expressly decrees that no more than sixpence shall be de∣manded for the letters of orders (the 'litel scrowe' that the writer speaks of), and that nothing else shall be paid on any other account, either to marshals, porters, door-keepers, or barbers. The business of the epi∣scopal barber was to shave the head of the candidate for ordination, so that the corona, or round bald space on the top of the head, might be trim and seemly. A constitution of Archbishop Boniface (temp. Henry III) orders all the clergy to observe this as well as other proprieties of clerical costume. Lyndwood tells us that the circular form of the corona was regarded as the emblem of the absence of dirt and unclean∣ness; 'quia ubi angulus ibi sordes.' See Lyndwood's Provinciale, art. De Censibus, and Gibson's Codex Jur. Eccl. Angl. Tit. vi. Cap. x.] . And certis þei han worldly goodis at þe fulle to fynde here officeris in her servyce, and to helpe pore men at nede, þouȝ þei robben hem not aȝenus here wille, and maken hem to bie here ordris aȝenus þe gospel and comyn lawe expresly. Certis it semeþ, þat alle doyng in þis mater is cursed corserie of symonye, ȝevynge þe sygne of holy ordris for temperal drit. And so fast þei cleven þeronne, þat unneþes is ony lewid wrecche putt abak, ȝif he wole ȝeve moche dritt; þat bi here prestis and heie corserie God and holy Chirche ben foule blasphemed, and presthod and good lif moche distroied, and Cristene men foule sclaundrid, and synne and trecherie encressid. And þis cursed fruyt schewiþ, for what ende þei ȝeven sygnes or holy ordris.

Hou confession and absolucion is don for covetise and pride [by abusing, for unworthy ends, the power of the priest over his penitent in the sacrament of penance;] men may liȝtly see. For in confession we seken more after tiþes and oure temperal wynnyng þan after kepyng of Goddis hestis, or contricion for synne, or paying of dettis to pore men, owe þei nevere so moche and ben in power to paye; and we enjoynen penaunce as us likeþ, and namely to seie massis, and offre to þe heie auter, and certeyn ymages for oure wynnyng. But we speken [corrected; spekyng, X.] over litel for to visete, and offre to pore men, and maken broken briges and causeis where men and bestis and catel perischen ofte. And ȝif men foolily avowen to go to Rome, or Jerusalem, Caunterbury, or oþere pilgrimagis, þat we chargen more þan þe grete avowe maad of oure Cristendom, to

kepe Goddis hestis, and forsake þe fend and alle his werkis. For þouȝ men breken þe hieste comaundementis of God, þe lewideste parische prest schal assoile anoon, but of þe founed vowis maad of oure owene heed, many time aȝenus Goddis wille, noman schal assoile but grete worldly bischopis, or þe most worldly prest of Rome, þe emperoures maister and Goddis felawe, or God of þe erþe. And þei wolen not dispense wiþ þes vowis, but ȝif þei han þe cost þat men schulden make, inward and outward [For a similar denunciation of this practice see vol. ii. p. 381.] . Lord! why kunnen not men of reson see, þat þis is [corrected; his, X.] open covetise, and coloured under holynesse, and cursed symonye, and blaspheme heresie? It passeþ mannus witt to telle what pride and coveitise of prestis is norischid herby, and what synne, boþe lecherie, and extorsion, and heresie, and blasphemye, is brouȝt up herby. But neþeles confession maad to trewe prestis, and witty in Goddis lawe, doþ moche good to synful men, so þat contricion for synnes before don come þerwiþ, and good lif and keping Goddis hestis, and werkis of mercy don to pore men, sue after.

Hou þe sacrament of matrimonye is bouȝt and sold men may [by the ex∣tortion of exorbitant marriage fees;] openly se. For no man schal be weddid but ȝif he paie sixe pens on þe bok [

This surely was not a very heavy tax upon matrimony. Taking into account the altered value of money, the fee of sixpence, near the end of the fourteenth century, may be con∣sidered equivalent to fifteen times that sum at the present day, or seven and sixpence. Now seven shillings and sixpence, I am told, is the or∣dinary fee given by a labourer here in Oxfordshire to the clergyman that marries him; and probably the rate is much the same in other counties. The Registrar, of course, will not marry him under half a guinea.

Neither Lyndwood nor Gibson supplies us with any information on the subject of this note.

] , and a ryng for his wif, and sumtyme a peny for þe clerk, and covenaunt makyng what he schal paie for a morewe masse, and ellis he schal not be weddid þouȝ he lyve in nevere so gret lecherie. And hereto þei techen men þat þei schullen not seie þe wordis of sacrament bifore þe banes be cried in þe chirche; and sumtyme it was don for good entent; but now it is turned into coveitise and raveyn and symonye. But þe lewideste heresie þat evere Sathanas foond is putt forþ for excusyng of þis olde roton synne. For prestis han many ȝeer seld þus þis sacrament, þerfore it is now lawe and privylegie

of þe Chirche. But certis þis is not ho[ly] Chirche, þat wole noþing but treuþe and equyte, but it is Anticristis clerkis and synagoge of Sathanas.

And in many places þe same errour regneþ of þe sacrament [and by similar abuses con∣nected with christening, extreme unction, and the burial of the dead.] of cristendom and of þe laste anoyntyng, and sumtyme in biry∣ing, for many coveitouse prestis axen gredely money for þes doyngis, or ellis þei schullen not be cristened, ne oyntid, ne biried wiþouten mortuarie [Mortuaries were 'a kind of ecclesiastical heriots, being a cus∣tomary gift claimed by and due to the minister in very many parishes on the death of his parishioners. They seem to have been originally, like lay heriots, only a voluntary gift.' So far Blackstone (quoted in Todd's Johnson's Dictionary), bring∣ing out clearly the actual legal com∣pulsion to the payment of mor∣tuaries;—while, with professional euphemism Dr. Cowell in the In∣terpreter prefers to insist on the theo∣retical spontaneity of the offering. A Mortuary, says he, 'is a gift left by a man at his death to his parish church, for the recompense of his personal tythes and offerings not duly paid in his life-time.' The pay∣ment of Mortuaries was enjoined by statute (13 Edw. I), and also by several archiepiscopal constitutions.] . And for al þis is neiþer Goddis lawe ne reson alleggid, but old totyng of wrongful takynge of poore mennus goodis, aȝenst here wille and Goddis comaunde∣ment expresly. And of confirmacion of children, and crown∣ing of benetis [crowning of benetis.] By this ap∣pears to be meant the ceremony of making the corona (see note on p. 283) on the head of a benet or ex∣orcist, which corona, together with the tonsure, or cutting off of the hair below, so as to leave the ears ex∣posed, constituted the tonsura cleri∣calis, and was if not an order itself, at least a predisposition and pre∣paration to orders. See Lyndwood, art. De Vita et Hon. Cler. The ex∣orcist was called a benet, because of his frequent use of aqua benedicta, 'eau bénite,' in the performance of his functions. (See Prompt. Parvu∣lorum (Camd. Soc.), and Mr. Way's useful note.) But why benets are singled out by our author rather than the two inferior orders of Os∣tiarius and Lector, I have not been able to discover.] , renneþ þe same extorsion in summe placis. But whi þat pore prestis and lewid men, in tyme of nede, may [If priests, and even laymen in case of need, may baptise, why may they not confirm?] lawefully baptise children, and not conferme hem, is gret won∣der among men of reson; siþ Crist comaundid his disciplis to baptise alle men, and chargide hem not to conferme men, as bischopis usen. For bi baptym schal a child come to hevene wiþouten siche confermyng, but not bi sich confermyng wiþ∣outen baptym. And ȝif a prest sacriþ Goddis body, and makiþ breed and wyn turne into Cristis flesch and his blood, bi vertu of his ordre and Goddis wordis, whi may he not blisse a ȝong child wiþ a rag and oyle? It semeþ þat bischopis holden þis

more worþi and nedful þan Cristis body and þe sacrament of baptym; þerfore to magnyfie here staat in pride and chargyng of Cristene men, þei reserven þis newe confermyng to hemself, and putten þe more travaile, and more worþi and nedful sacra∣mentis, on pore prestis. And in þis þei schewen her vanyte and worldly dignyte.

CAP. VII.

But now is nede to telle, hou prestis crien her masse for [Simony in various forms as connected with the saying of mass.] money, and sillen þe sacrament, þat is Cristis flesch and his blood. Alle þo þat ben maade prestis, more to lyve in wor∣schipe of þe world, at gentlemennys staat, and for worldly myrþe and bodily welfare and ese, þan to lyve in devocion and profite to Cristene soulis, to sue Crist in mekenesse and gostly traveile, in preiere and studyynge and techyng of Cristis gospel, and to be ensaumple and myrrour of pacience, chastite, and oþere vertues, ben smyttid wiþ symonye, and on sum maner sellen þis worþi sacrament, whanne þei seyn masse for money, or name of holynesse, or bodily nede, more þan for devocion of Crist, of helping of soulis in purgatorie, and of gostly love to make men vertuouse in lif, and namely in unyte in charite. For but ȝif men wolen here prestis for tene mark [See vol. i. p. 291, note a.] , sixe, or sevene, þei wil not dwelle wiþ hem in honeste place to cumpayne, and seie here masse, but goo where þei may most gete for here song, þouȝ þei schullen worse serve God þere þan at þe first place, where men wolden ȝyven hem resonable liflode, ȝe, moche more þan Crist or ony of his apostlis toke for himself. And to þis ende many drawen hem to grete citees, where is occasion of moche synne, not for to distroie it, but raþere encresse it be taverne goyng, pleiyng at þe tablis, chees, and oþere vanytees. And fewe drawen hem to scole, to lerne holy writt, and edifie hemself and oþere Cristene peple. But who may seie þat þes prestis sellen not foule her masse? siþ þei seken more grete salaries and lykyng of þe world þan to seie here masse in clennesse of lif, and brennyng devocion to Crist for his passion, in whos mynde þis holy sacrament was ordeyned

of Crist himself. Þus fariþ þe most del of bischopis and grete prelattis, þat seyn here masse, more for presence of lordis and grete placis, for to be holden holy and have offryngis and ȝiftis, þan for devocion or compunccion of here synnes and her breþeren synne, and to make pees and charite. And þus it fareþ of persones, munkis, and freris, þat don here servyce and massis more for name of holynesse and wynnyng of worldly muk, þan for clene love of God, and gostly helpe of Cristene soulis.

And eche prest deme wisly himself, whi he seiþ his masse, [The author proves from the Fathers how great holiness is required in a priest;] and in what life; for ȝif þei ben not in clene lif, charite, and devocion, but in pride, coveitise, lecherie, envye, glotonye, or oþere grete synnes, þei dispisen God ful gretly, and as moche as is in hem þei slen him, and don hym more dispite and vileyne þan diden Judas Scarioth and Jewis, þat naieled him on þe croos, and leiden him in a cold stone. For Seynt Poul seiþ, Who þat resceyveþ þis sacrament unworþily, etiþ and drynkyþ his dampnacion. And Seynt Joon Crisostom [corrected; Cristostom, X.] seiþ, We slen Crist in us, whanne we lesen feiþ and charite of Crist. And Seynt Bede seiþ, We sellen Crist whanne we forsaken treuþe, and taken falsnesse and meyntene it. And Seynt Austyn seiþ, Þat Cristene men trespassen, and don more dispit to God, whanne þei dispisen him bi pride, coveitise, and fals swerynge, þan þe Jewis þat naileden him on þe croos; and namely þes heretikis, bi siche symonye as is bifore seid, for all symonyentis ben worþi to be forsaken of alle trewe men. And but ȝif þei amenden hem after good monestyng, þei schullen be chastised and brouȝte doun bi straunge poweris, þat ben seculer lordis; for in comparison of þe heresie of symonye, alle synnes ben counted for nouȝt, as þe lawe seiþ expresly.

A! Lord, hou moche is oure kyng and oure rewme holpen [and contrasts with this pic∣ture the pre∣valent vice and hypocrisy of the persecuting clergy of his own day.] bi massis and preieris of symonyentis and heretikis, ful of pride coveitise and envye? þat haten so moche pore prestis, techynge Cristis lif and þe gospel, to meyntene holy life of Cristene peple and þe kynges regalie, þat þei cursen hem and prisonen hem wiþouten answere, whanne þei ben redi reulid in

alle goodnesse and treuþe after holy writt; namely siþþen oure prelatis lyven in open extorsion and Luciferis pride, and sillen men leve to lye in synne of lecherie and avoutrie for annuel rente, and þerto lyven in pompe of worldly array and glotonye and drounkenesse, and wasten pore mennus lifelode in grete festis and fate hors, and eten and drynken pore mennus lif, and bilden grete paleis in Cristene mennys blood, and ben cloþid and slepen þer inne. Where þei plesen God in offrynge þis sacrament of unyte and pees, þe while here hondis ben ful of þe hote blood of Cristis children and eires of hevene? Whanne þei taken bi raveyne and extorsion pore mennus goodis, and wasten hem in festis and oþere vanytees, þan þei eten and drynken pore mennus blood and her lif; for þei spendiden here blood for getyng of þes goodis þat þes worldly prestis wasten þus, and bi þes goodis þei schulden sustyne here lif. And þis sentence is wisely taken of Goddis word bi þe prophetis, as Robert Grosted and oþere doctouris declaren pleynly, and certis þes weiward heretikis stiren God raþere to vengaunce þan mercy, as Seynt Gregory proveþ; and here blissyng turneþ in to cursyng, and here preier in to synne. And Seint Poul seiþ, þat þei defoulen Goddis Sone as moche as is in hem, and þerfore, as to hem self, þei offeren defouled bred, as Seynt Gregory and Seynt Jerom witnessen, wiþ þe comyn lawe of holy Chirche. Certis Jewis suffriden Crist to be leid in a clene stoon after his deeþ; but þes viciouse prestis, ful of pride coveitise and heresie, putten his bodi in here soule, þat is foulere a þousand fold þan ony stynkynge privey in erþe. And siþþen here foule soule is in þe develis possession, þei bitaken Cristis body into þe fendis power as moche as in hem is. But neþeles, as seiyng of þe masse in unclene lif, and wiþouten devocion, and unworþi resceyvyng of þis blessed sacrament, ful moche and neer hondis, most displesiþ God, so seiyng of masse wiþ clennesse of holy lif and brennyng devo∣cion, ful moche and neer hondis, most plesiþ God Almyȝtty, and profitiþ to Cristene soulis in purgatorie, and to men lyvynge in erþe, to wiþstonde temptacions of synne, and encresen pees and charite. Þerfore þenk ȝe, clene prestis, hou moche ȝe be holden to God, þat ȝaf ȝou power to sacre his owene preciouse

body and blood of breed and wyn, whiche power he grauntid nevere to his owene modir ne aungel of hevene. Þerfore wiþ alle ȝoure desir and reverence and devocion do [corrected; to, X.] youre office and sacramentis.

CAP. VIII.

Of þis may men see hou perilous it is to coveite prelacie or [Those who seek high posts and dignities in the Church are not fit to have them] gret benefice in þe Chirche, siþ no man almost comeþ to hem wiþouten pride, veyn glorie, and symonye. Þerfore seide Seynt Gregory and þe comyn lawe of þe Chirche, þat honour or prelacie schulde not be ȝoven to hem þat seken and coveiten it, but to siche men as fleen honouris and dignyte; and þe same seiþ Seynt Austyn and Crisostom, wiþ oþere doctoures. For Crist techiþ us bi Seynt Poul, þat no man schal take honour to hym, but he þat is clepid of God, as Aaron was. Þerfore Moyses and þe holy prophete Jeremye, halewid in his moder wombe, excusiden hem mekely whanne God badde hem take þe ledyng and governyng of þe peple; and þe holy prophete Ysaye durst not take þis offis at Goddis profer, til he was clensed fro synne bi angelis mynystracion, and enflawmed wiþ Goddis science and charite. Þerfore Seynt Gregory and Seynt Austyn fledden at al here power to be bischopis, but souȝtten to lyve in devocion and studie of holy writt and in lowe degre, and coveitiden not þe heyenesse of þe statis, but wiþ sorowe and grete drede of God, and for grete nede of Cristene soulis, token þis staat, not of honour, but of traveile and bysynesse, as Austyn and Jerom witnessen. Lord! what stireþ us foolis, ful of ignoraunce and moche synne, þat kunnen not governe o soule wel, to seke so bisily grete statis where we schullen governe many þousand, and for þe leste of hem alle answere at domes day to þe blood of Jesus Crist,—gilti of schedyng þerof ȝif ony perische bi oure defaute. Where strong scham∣pions and pileris of holy Chirche dredden so sore to governe a fewe soulis, whi roten festues seken so moche charge? Certis it is ful soþ þat Seynt Jon wiþ þe gilden mouþ seiþ, wiþ [proved from the Fathers and from the canon law.] lawe canoun, þat what clerk sekiþ or desireþ prelacie or primacie

in erþe, schal fynde confusion in hevene. And who wolde desire sich dignyte of þe Chirche, in whiche he muste forsake his owene profit, and be servaunt of alle men, and bounden in tyme to take wilful deþ for oþer mennys helpe, and answere for so many soulis to Crist, rytful domesman? Certis, seiþ þis seynt [St. John Chrys. Comm. in Acta Apost. Hom. III. § 4.] , no man but he þat drediþ not Goddis harde dom. Þerfore seiþ Seynt Austyn and þe comyn lawe, þat no þing in þis world is more traveilous, more harde, and more perilous þan þe office of bischop, prest or dekene, to do it wel as oure emperoure Crist comaundiþ; and ȝif it be evyl don, no þing is more wrecchid ne more dampnable in Goddis dom. But what was þe good reulynge of þis staat he lernede nevere fro child∣hod ne ful age of man. And þerefore Seynt Austyn crieþ in þe story of his lif, þat he felide nevere God so moche wroþ aȝenus hym, as whanne, in peyne of his synnes, he suffride him take þe grete charge of bischopis staat. Þerfore he fleiȝ algatis citees where bischopis weren olde, lest þe peple wolde have hym bischop. Þerefore me þenkeþ treuly, þat who evere comeþ wel to ony benefice in þe Chirche, he sekiþ not dignyte ne honour of men undir him, but traveile and servyce, and dispit of worldly hienesse, as diden Crist and his disciplis, and oþere holy doctouris and bischopis, as Seynt Martyn, Seynt Colas, and siche oþere. And loke þat no worldly clerk excuse hym [Several words are lost here, through their having been inadvertently cut off when the MS. was bound. The sense seems to require the insertion of some such words as 'for þat love of soulis.'] . . . . . makeþ him take his office; for Seynt Gregory seiþ in þe lawe, whanne a man comeþ to siche a staat as bringiþ wiþ hym worschipe and ese, ȝif he come þerto of his owene desire, he fordoiþ to himself þe vertue of obedience. And þerfore Moyses forsoke þe ledynge of þe peple as fer as durst for wraþþe of God. And wanne bodely traveile and disese is putt bi sovereyn on þe suget, but ȝif he take it þanne of his owene desire, it is not plesaunt to God. Þerfore Seynt Poul forsok riches and honour of þe world as dritt, and wilfully putte him to traveil and peyne and martirdom. And in tokene of þis

obedience Crist fledde awey whanne þe peple wold have maad him kyng, as þe gospel of Jon witnesseþ; but he offred hym self wilfully to Jerusalem, to suffre peyne, woundis, and dis∣pitous deþ for oþere mennus nede and profit.

And certis oure worldly clerkis myȝtten longe ynowȝ be [Application of the principle to present cir∣cumstances.] wiþouten hem, bifore þat trewe prelatis wolden prese on hem; and ȝif þei weren opyn trewe men in Goddis cause, þei schulden sunere [corrected; sumere, X.] gete pursuyng cursing and prisonyng, or brennyng, of worldly coveitouse prelatis, þan fatte benefices or grete dig∣nytees. Þerfore Seynt Gregory techiþ in his Pastoralis [There is nothing about the poverty of bishops in the passage from St. Gregory's Pastorale here cited. He was considering the text, 'If any man desireth the office of a bishop he desireth a good work,' and observes,—'Quamvis notandum, quod illo in tempore hoc dicitur, quo quisquis plebibus praeerat, primus ad martyrii tor∣menta ducebatur. Tunc ergo lauda∣bile fuit episcopatum quaerere, quando per hunc quemque dubium non erat ad supplicia graviora per∣venire.' (Past. Pars I. cap. 8.)] , þat whanne bischoprichees weren pore, and bischopis weren þe first in martirdom for Cristene feiþ, þanne it was worþi grete preysynge to coveite a bischopriche. But now, siþ bischop∣riches ben riche, and many worldly bysinesses knyȝtt þerto, it is not do but dredeful to have bischopriches. Þerfore Seynt Bernard wrot to Egenye [read Eugenye.] þe pope, þat he drede no vermyn so moche to come to þe pope as foul lust to be lord; and ȝit comynly in þat tyme popis weren poysond, for coveitise of þe staat þat oþere men hadden þerto. And to refreyne synful ydiotis fro siche statis and beneficis, seiþ lawe canoun, he þat passiþ oþer in honour or dygnite of þe Chirche, he is most foul of alle but ȝif he passe oþere men in kunnynge and holynesse. Of þes few wordis may worldly foolis see here pereles and sclaundris, and do no symonye for holy ordris ne benefices ne sacramentis, bi feyned colour of dispensyng and privylegie, and customes of Anticristis weiward collegie and synagoge of Sathanas.

CAP. IX.

Also alle þo þat putten sclaundre or evyl fame on ony men, [Worldly priests are guilty of the accursed sin of slander, when they maintain that Christ and his apostles lived like them∣selves,] for whiche hem nediþ to be purged, whanne þei don þis mali∣ciously, ben solempnely acursed by Goddis lawe and mannys. Here worldly prestis, þat ben bounden to sue Crist and his apostlis in lyvyng prechyng and abstynence, as Seynt Jerom and here owene lawe witnessen, owen to drede ful sore of þis riȝtful curs. For siþþen in wordis and dedis, and resceyving of here gostly office, þei seyn and crien þei suen Crist and his postlis, þei seyn in dede þat Crist and his postlis lyveden þus worldly, and diden not here office, as þei faren now. And certis, ȝif Crist schal be holden verrey prophete and techere and verrey God, he mut purge hym of þis sclaundre; for ellis his lif lawe and techyng is fals, and alle his disciplis gone in þe same sclaundre. And þis wickid fame is put on Crist and his apostlis bi malece, and for coveitise of worldly goodis; for þei desserveden not to have þis foule name of worldly lif and necligence and sleyng of Cristene soulis. Þan it is putt on him for malice, and coveitise of worldly clerkis, and for to colour here owene raveyne, bi whiche þei stelen fro lordis and comyns here temperal lordischip and goodis. Certis in þe olde lawe a blaspheme þat despisid God, puttyng fals errour on him, [Lev. xxiv. 16.] schuld be stoned to deþ of alle þe peple; and in þe lawe of grace alle men schulden caste stones of charitable correpcion or reproving. And ȝif it be resonable þat a man schal be hangid for stelyng of fourtene pens, moche more schulden [corrected; sculden, X.] þes blasphemeris of God, þat stelen so many lordischipis and temperal goodis from comynte of seculeris, and wasten hem in synne. It is grete synne to gabbe on a pore man; it is more to gabbe on an holy man, and defame hym; but most synne it is to gabbe on Crist, hedde of alle seyntis and lorde of alle lordis. Also it is grete synne to lie and disceyve men bi lesyng of here temperal goodis; more to disceyve in spiritual goodis, as vertues and good lif; but most to disceyve men in feiþ and myrrour of Cristis lif, þat is grond of alle rightful lif after.

For no seyntis lif is worþ, but in as moche as it is acordyng wiþ Cristis lif; þerfore it is worse a þousand fold to robbe Cristene men of þis tresour, þan of alle erþely goodis þat evere weren or schullen be.

Also worldly proude clerkis, ful of coveitise and ypocrisie, [and that 'poor priests' teach, not the gospel, but heresy,] sclaundre pore prestis as heretikis, for þei techen holy writt, and namely þe gospel and þe pore lif of Crist and his apostlis, aȝenis here worldly lif, to distroie synne and norische holy lyvyng in prestis lordis and comyneris; and seyn and meyn∣tenen faste, in word and dede, þat heresie is ful feiþ of þe gospel, and saad treuþe of holy writt is heresie, for it is aȝenst here proude worldly lif. And herefore þei fallen into Goddis curs and alle his seyntis, þat for þis sclaunder lordis and comy∣neris doren not here þe gospel and Goddis hestis prechid of pore prestis in Goddis name, but ben constreyned to here fablis and lesyngis prechid, and flateryng, in stede of Goddis word. And of þe noumbre of Goddis curses set in his lawe upon siche ypocritis is not esy to wise men to sette a terme, for witty men may not fully comprehende alle þes curses in þis lif.

Also þei sclaundren foule oure modir holy Chirche, þat is [and that holy Church ap∣proves of idolatrous and superstitious devotions more than of the pure service of God and our neighbour.] Cristis spouse, wiþ here coveitise and customes and privelegies. For whanne þei bryngen up newe sleiȝtis of covetise and job∣bynge of lewede mennys goodis, þei seyen þat alle þis is for honour and devocion of God and holy Chirche; and ȝif ony man wiþstonde hem in þis, þei feynen him acursed, and enemye of God and holy Chirche. As, ȝif a pore man have longe founden moche wex, brennynge bi fore a rotyn stok, ȝif a trewe man teche þis pore man to paie his dettis, fynde his wif and children breed and cloþ, and ȝif he may strecche ferþere, to do his almes to pore bedrede men, old and feble, crokid and blynd, as God biddiþ, þei boþe ben holden cursed and enemyes of holy Chirche, for as moche as þei don Cristis biddyng, and more mercy to here pore neiȝeboris, and leven unskilful devo∣cion and blynde mawmete and foul ypocrisie of prestis. But certis God blissiþ alle siche merciful men, and graunteþ hem þe blisse of hevene. And þes coveitouse prestis, ful of maw∣metrie, crien faste Sathanas curs and tirauntrie aȝenst Cristis

breþeren, eyris of hevene. Moreover þei crien faste, ȝif coveitouse prestis han be in possession of oþere mennus goodis fourty ȝeer or þritti, wrongfully, aȝenst Goddis bidding, þei may not be taken from hem on no maner; for þe vertu of pre∣scripcion, bi long custom of synne, haþþe made hem lordis, and holy Chirche approveþ þis, and curseþ alle men contrarie herto, in wille word or dede.

Also þei chalengen fraunchise and privylegie in many grete [On the abuses of the right of sanctuary claimed for particular Churches.] chirchis, þat wickid men, opyn þeves, mansleeris, þat han borwed here neiȝeboris goodis and ben in power to paie and make restitucion, þere schullen dwelle in seyntewarie, and no man empeche hem bi processe of lawe, ne ooþ sworn on Goddis body and used. And þei meyntenen stifly þat þe kyng mote conferme þis privylegie and neste of þeves and robberie of þis rewme, aȝenst Goddis hestes, riȝtwisnesse, and his opyn ooþ, bi whiche he is sworn to do justice and equite to alle his lege men. And for þis privylegie, þat is opyn heresie, þes proude worldly clerkis wolen coste and fiȝtte to meyntene it forþ, for wynnyng of worldly dritt; but for to meyntene privy∣legie of Cristis gospel, or Cristis mekenesse and povert, wolen þei not coste a ferþing, but spende many þousand pound to make it heresie, and curse [The MS. has a word here which is undecipherable.] prisone and brenne alle men þat techen trewely þe gospel, and þe pore lif of Crist and his postlis. Certis it were grete synne to sclaundre þe Quene of Englond, or Empresse, wiþ synne of avowtrie, where siche were ful trewe and clene and chast to here laweful husbonde; it is a þousand fold more synne to sclaundre holy Chirche, Cristis spouse, whiche Chirche, as Seynt Poul seiþ, is a pilere and foundement of trewþe, wiþ here cursed opocrisie and robbyng of Cristen mennis goodis bi long custom of wrong and synne. Certis alle Cristene men schulden crie out on þes cursed heretikis, þat sclaundren Crist and holy Chirche his trewe spouse. For in þis þei maken holy Chirche a bande of here synne, and res∣ceitour of here raveyn, and sclaundren holy Chirche wiþ þe cursede dedis of Anticristis chirche and synagoge of Sathanas. And þus þei seyn good evyl and evyl good, for to have Goddis curs.

CAP. X.

Also alle men þat distourblen [corrected; distribulen, X.] þe pees of holy Chirche [By their up∣holding of human laws and traditions, worldly priests disturb the peace of Church and State,] and þe kyng ben cursed solempnely bi Goddis lawe and mannys. Certis pees of Cristis Chirche stondeþ in verrey sadnesse of feiþ, hope, charite, mekenesse, and pacience, and holdyng of Cristis ordeynaunce, and verrey pes of þe kyng and his rewme, and verrey subjeccion, and riȝtful domes, and just ponyschyng of mysdoeris, and relevyng of pore men, faderles children and moderles, and pore widewis. And who evere doþ most aȝenst þe poyntis, disturbliþ most þis verrey pees, and no man ellis. First, alle worldly clerkis þat wolen not holde hem payed wiþ holy writt and þe ordynaunce of Crist, to lyve in mekenesse, wilful povert, and besy traveil in gostily werkes, as Crist and his postlis diden, disturblen verrey pees of holy Chirche and Cristendom. Lord! how grete hyndryng of [cor.; oft, X.] Cristen feiþ is it, þat so many clerkis leven holy writt, and namely Cristis gospel, and studyen heþene mennys lawis and worldly coveitouse prestis tradicions, maad of here owene willardis dom for here pride and coveitise, and charge hem more þan Goddis hestis! Siþþen Goddis lawe is liȝt, swete, and esy, and best wole brynge men to hevene, and at þe fulle occupie alle prestis wittis in þe world til þe day of dom. And oþere tra∣dicions of synful men ben ful of errour, and maken many snaris, or gnaris, to lette men in þe weie to hevene, þat bifore was siker and pleyn, wiþoute ony lettid.

Lord! what charite is it for hem þat schulden be most gostly [and in par∣ticular by stir∣ring up war, as these two popes at Rome and Avignon are doing.] prestis to make werre in alle Cristendom for here worldly cause and stynkynge lordischipe, aȝenst Cristis biddyng and lif, and graunte ful absolucion and relessyng of alle peynes in purga∣tory, for to slee eche Cristene man oþer, as [cor.; and, X.] don þes proude prestis of Rome and Avynoun, wiþ here worldly clerkis on boþe sidis. Certis þei disturblen verry pees of al holy Chirche and alle Cristendom þerto. Lord! what mirrour of mekenesse is þis, þat bischopis and prestis, monkis chanons and freris, þat schulden be meke and pacient and lambren among wolvys bi

techyng of Crist, ben more proudly arraied in armer and oþere costis of werris, and more cruel in here owene cause þan ony oþere lord or tiraunt, ȝe, heþene emperours! For þei wolen wiþouten pite and answere curse, prisone, slee, and brenne trewe prestis, þat techen pleynly Cristis lawe and his lif aȝenst here pride coveitise and ypocrisie. Lord! what ensaumple of pacience ȝeven þes worldly prestis and religiouse, þat schulden ȝeve alle here goodis and here bodely lif to kepe oþere men in pees and in charite, as Crist and his lawe techen, and now pursuen men so cruely for a litel trespas or noȝt, bi londis lawe, bi Cristen court, clepid in name, but in dede Sathanas [Courts Chris∣tian, so called.] trone, and bi open tirauntrie,—þat a man myȝtte soonere gete grace and riȝtwisnesse at þe kyng or emperour þan [corrected; þat, X.] at hem, for Goddis drede is not in hem, ne love of God and desire of hevene, but þe world and joie þerof and pride of Lucifer and cruelte of Sathanas. And seke wisely in alle here dedis, and þou schalt fynde þat þei seken worldly heynesse, and prosperite of worldly muk, and ese of body, and wombe joie, and noris∣chyng of synne for annuel rente, and pilyng of here sugetis boþe lerid and lewid, and casten to distroie holy writt, and myrrour of Cristis lif and his postlis, and alle men þat techen it.

And þus þei clepen reste and encresyng of þis cursed worldly [Persecuting spirit of world∣ly priests.] lif, þe pees of holy Chirche. But certis Crist cam [cor.; cham, X.] in to þis world to distroie þis fals pees, as he seiþ hym self, and to make pees bitwixe God and Cristene men bi feiþ and holy lif, and forsakyng of worldy muk and joie, and bi suffryng of peynes in body for trewe techynge, and holdyng of mekenesse and charite. But whoevere wol be about to meyntene þis [pees [supplied conjecturally.] ] of God, and distroie fals pees of þe fend, of þe worldly and fleschly temptacions, he schal be cursed pursued and slayn wiþouten pite or open answere. And þus þei cursen Crist and alle his trewe servauntis, in þis world and in hevene, for þei alle wole distroie þis reste in synne þat þei clepen pees of holy Chirche. And þus þei colouren alle here cursed synnys under name of Cristis spouse, and falsly sclaundren hir and oure Savyour Crist.

CAP. XI.

Ȝit worldly clerkis and feyned religious breken and disturblen [The worldly priests under∣mine the peace of the realm by asserting inde∣pendence on the part of churchmen of all secular jurisdiction,] moche þe kyngis pees and his rewmes. For hir prelaties of þis world, wiþ prestis lesse and more, crien faste, and writen in here lawis, þat þe kyng haþ no jurisdiccioun ne power of here persones, ne goddis of holy Chirche. And ȝit Crist and his postlis weren most obediaunt to kyngis and lordis, and tauȝten alle men to be suget to hem and serve hem, trewely and wil∣fully, in bodily werkis and tribut, and drede hem and worschipe hem bifore alle oþere men. First þe wise kyng Salamon put [1 Kings ii. 26.] doun an heie bischop þat was fals to hym and his rewme, and exilide him, and ordeyned a good prest for him, as þe þridde bok of Kyngis telliþ. And Jesus Crist paiede tribut to emperour, and comaundid men to paie him tribute. And Seynt Petir comaundiþ in Goddis name Cristene men to be suget to every creature of man, eþer to kyng, as more hie þan oþere, oþer to deukis, as sent of him to þe vengaunce of mysdoeris, and preisyng of goode men. Also Seynt Poul comaundiþ bi auctorite of God, þat every soule be suget to hieris poweris, for þer is no power but of God; princes ben not to þe drede of good werk, but of evyl werk. Wilt þou not drede þe potes∣tate? do [corrected; to, X.] good and þou schalt have preisyng þerof, for he is Goddis mynystre to þe into good. Soþly, ȝif þou hast doun evyle, drede þou, for he beriþ not þe swerd wiþoute cause, for he is Goddis mynystre, vengere into wraþþe to hym þat doþ evyl. Þerfore þorouȝ nede be ȝe suget, not only for wraþþe but for conscience. Paie to alle men dettis, boþe tribuyt and custom, (for þingis borun aboute in þe lond,) and drede and honour and love. And oure Savyour Jesus Crist suffrid mekely peynful deþ of Pilat, not excusynge him for his jurisdiccion bi his clergie [He did not claim 'benefit of clergy,' the right to be tried by an ecclesiastical rather than by a secu∣lar court.] . And Seynt Poul proferide hym redy to suffre deþ bi dom of þe emperours justice, ȝif he were worþi to deþ, as Dedis of Apostlis techen. And Poul appelide to þe

heþene emperour fro þe prestis of Jewis, for to be under his jurisdiccion and to save his lif. Lord! whoo haþ maad oure worldly clerkis exempt from kyngis jurisdiccion and chas∣tisynge, siþþen God ȝeviþ kyngis þis office on alle mysdoeris? Certis no man but Anticrist, Cristis enemye; siþen clerkis, and namely hie prestis, schulden be most meke and obedient to lordis of þis world, as weren Crist and his apostlis, and teche oþere men boþe in word and dede to be myrrour of alle men, to ȝif þis mekenesse and obedience to þe kyng and his riȝtful lawis. How stronge þeves and traitours ben þei now to kyngis and lordis, in denying þis obedience, and in ȝevyng ensaumple to alle men in þe lond for to be rebel aȝenis þe kyng and lordis! For in þis þei techen lewid men and comyns of þe lond, boþe in wordis and lawis and opyn dede, to be fals and rebel aȝenis þe kyng and oþere lordis. And þis semeþ wel bi here newe lawe of decretalis, where þe proude clerkis have ordeyned þis,—þat oure clergie schal paie no subsidie ne taxe, ne helping of oure kyng and oure rewme, wiþouten leve and assent of þe worldly prest of Rome; and ȝit many tymes þis proude worldly prest is enemye of oure lond, and prively meynteneþ oure enemyes, and [read to.] weren aȝenst us wiþ oure owene gold. And þus þei maken þis alien proudest prest of alle oþere, to be cheef lord of alle goodis þat clerkis han in þe rewme, and þat is of þe most pert þerof. Where ben more traitours boþe to God and holy Chirche, and namely to here lege lord and his rewme; to make an alien worldly prest, enemye to us, cheef lord of þe most pert of oure rewme?

And comynly alle þe newe lawis þat clerkis han maad ben [their one ob∣ject being to pull down the power of kings and nobles and exalt their own.] sutilly conjectid by ypocrisie, to brynge doun power and regalie of lordis and kyngis þat God ordeynede, and to make hem self lordis, and alle at here dom. Certis it semeþ þat þes worldly prestis distroien more kyngis regalie and lordis power, þat God him self haþ ordeyned for governaunce of Cristene men, þan God distroieþ þe fendis power. For God setteþ him a terme what he schal do and no more, but he suffriþ his power to laste, to profite of goode men, and just ponyschyng of mys∣doeris;

but þes worldly clerkis wolen nevere cesse ȝif þei may, til þei han fully distroyed kyngis and lordis, and here regalie and power.

Also þes newe religious, and namely freris, distroien and [The peace of realm is also disturbed through the practices of the friars, who by giving illusory or corrupt penances in the confessional, foster sin.] disturblen þe pees and reste of þe kyng and his rewme; for þorouȝ privei confession þei norischen moche synne, namely lecherie, avoutrie, and synne aȝennis kynde, extorsions and robberie and usure, for to have pert þerof, and tellen not þe treuþe in confession, for drede of lesyng boþe frendischipe and wynning, and meyntening of here feyned ordre. And bi þis is strif and debate among curatis and here children in God [corrected; good, X.] ; and in many tymes open fiȝtting for mortuaries and prechyng; and þei doren not seie þe treuþe aȝenst þe worldly prestis of Rome, þouȝ he robbe nevere so foul houre lond bi symonye and false∣hed of perdon and privylegies, whanne þei knowen wel þe treuþe, for drede þat he wold take awey þes þre poyntis, þat is, prechyng, schryvyng, and biryng. And for esy penaunce of money þat þei enyoynen men, for trentalis [A trental was 'an office for the dead that continued thirty days, or consisting of thirty masses; from the Italian trenta, that is, triginta.' Cowell's Interpreter, sub voce.] and masse pens, and makyng of gaie wyndowis and grete housis, þat þe world may see and preise, þe moste viciouse men, as avoutreris, extorsioneris, usureris, and open þeves, gon to þes ypocritis, and forsaken here owene curatis þat wolden sumwhat telle hem þe perilis. And herefore of fals purchas, of wickid extorsion and robberie, comeþ nevere restitucion for siche privey schriftis and penaunce of masse pens; and where þei regnen most in hous∣hold, prechyng and stryvyng, þere regneþ most synne. And siþen discencions wiþinforþ, and open werris wiþoutenforþ, comen most for synne and norischyng of synful men in here myslyvyng, þes weiward and coveitous confessouris disturblen most þe pees of þe kyng and his rewme, siþþen þei norischen moste synne bi fals prechyng of lesyngis, fablis, and veyn cronyclis,—bi sikernesse of letteris of fraternyte and synguler preieris, and disceyven men of þe treuþe of Goddis word, and

perverte almesdede fro pore bedrede and feble men to hemself, bi colour of ypocrisie. And for þis ende þe holy prophete Helye seide, þat kyng Acab disturblede þe lond of Israel. And [1 Kings xviii. 18.] comynly þe peple of God hadde evere pees and vittorie but for here owene synne, as þe processes of Goddis law schewiþ. And certis ȝif men taken regard [corrected; reward, X.] to þe ground of holy writt, boþe þe Olde Testament and Newe, and to lyvyng of Crist and his postlis, and to þe lif and governaunce of oure worldly clerkis, þei may openly se þat oure worldly blynde clerkis ben most traitours of Crist and his lawe, and most traitours to þe kyng and his rewme, and moste distroien pees of holy Chirche and Cristene londis.

CAP. XII.

Also alle þo þat forsweren hem are justly cursed of God and [Bishops are often perjured,—as in the case of those who have sworn to go and preach to the heathen, and then stay in England in the capacity of suffragan bishops,] man. First, bischopis maad of þe court of Rome, who [corrected; and, X.] sweren to go and converte heþene men in placis of here bischoprichis, don not in dede þis office, but dwellen in Engelond, and bicomen riche bischopis suffragans, and pillen and robben oure peple for halowyng of chirches, chircheȝerdis, auteris, and ornamentis of þe chirche. And þus þei ben þries forsworen; first, for þei levyn to converte heþen men to bileve, of which þei taken cure wilfully; þe secunde, for þei don not treuely here office to profit of her maistris to whom þei ben sworon. For þei sillen here sacramentis, and þingis þat perteynen to sacramentis, þat þei schulden do frely as Crist comaundiþ, and distroie synne bi here power, þat þei norischen now for money and favour of worldly men. Þe þridde tyme, þei don not treuþe and profit to þe kyng and his lege men, as boþe þei and here maistris ben sworen, but falsly robben his lege men of here goodis for ȝevyng of spiritual þingis, and kepen moche of þis muk to hemself, and wasten it in gay mytris and ryngis and oþere worldly vanytees; and bi þis doyng þei ben grete traitours to God, to here kyng, and to here maistris. Þerfore, as capital traitours and chef heretikis, þei schulden be hurlid out of oure rewme, but ȝif þei wolen treuely make satisfaccion, and do trewely here office.

Also alle bischopis and possessioneris, sworen to be trewe and [and of those who, to be true to the pope, are false to their king.] holy to þe kingis conseil and profit, se men opynly forsworen. For þei drawen alle þe wynnyng þat þei may fro þe kyng to hemself, and þe proude prest of Rome, makyng him chef lord of moche part of þe rewme and of þe kyngis power, makyng þe conseil of þe kyng knowen to him, as þei ben sworen to þe pope. And of þis office serven freris, confessouris of grete lordis and ladies, and þis norischiþ hate and envye and debates and werris myche in Cristene peple.

Also oure bischopis ben sworen to meyntene þe honour and dignyte of Petre and Poul, but þei moste distroien it of alle men in erþe at here power. For here honour and dignyte was to kepe Cristis conseilis of gostly wilful povert, mekenesse, pacience, and charite, and to be servauntis of alle men to save here soulis; and þei, under colour of hem, desiren to be gretteste lordis of þe world bi ypocrisie, to get moche drit of þe world by pleting cursing and fiȝttyng, to sclaundre of God and alle his servauntis.

Also men of lawe and jurours han non conscience to for∣swere [Perjury is also rife among the laity, high and low.] hem for twel pens and her dyner, and make many false eires; and many lordis, þat schulden be pileris of riȝtwisnesse and meyntene pore men in riȝt, wolen hire questis, and con∣streyne hem bi manas to forswere hem, for enemyte þat þei han to a man, or for coveitise of wynnynge. Viteleris, mar∣chauntis, and chapmen, forsweren hem alle day for muk of þe world, þat unneþis may ony trewe word be among hem. Þe same weie, officeris of lordis, [who] [supplied conjecturally.] sweren to do riȝt to alle men, and trewely lok þe lordis profit, gederen to hemself, robben þe tenauntis, and maken þe lordis pore. How men breken þe solempne oþ and profession maad in here cristen∣dom, to forsake þe devel and alle his werkis, and kepe Goddis hestis, it is liȝt to se and hard to amende. Of oure religious possessioneris and oþere, how þei kepen here profession of povert, chastite, and obedience, is no word to speke nowe, for alle ben fosworen or ellis.... [a word dropped out here.] . Þei maken not profession to here patrouns reule, as Benet, Austyn, Domynyk, and Fraunseis,

for noon of hem alle kepiþ it, but stryveþ aȝenst Goddis reule and here owene, and aȝenst alle men þat traveilen to brynge hem to Cristis reule.

CAP. XIII.

Alle þo þat maken false eiris ben cursed grevously of God [A curse is also incurred by those who make false heirs; in∣stances of this sin.] and man. First, prelatis and lordis þat maken evyl curatis, as eiris of Cristis office, to kepe Cristene soules bouȝt wiþ Cristis precious blood, rennen sore in þis curs. Also clerkis, þat pur∣chasen hem lordischipis, and putten out lordis sones and cosyns and nyȝ blood, rennen in þe same curs; for þei holden hem out bi ple, bi cavyllacions and false questis, hirid for money and frendischip, and dryven to forswere hem for drede of here lordischip and tirauntrie. For þei holden it wel spendid and geten, al þat þei may purchase wiþ riȝt or wrong of seculer mennis goodis, and holde it or [omit or.] bi many ȝeris, for þanne vertu of prescripcion, þat is, havyng of oþere mennis goodis bi long tyme, makeþ hem lordis of whatevere þing þei wrongfully sette hond onne. But certis Crist [corrected; Cristis, X.] , lord of treuþe and riȝtwisnesse, is not ground ne autour of þis wynnynge, but Sathanas fadir of lesyngis, to whom þei maken sacrifice and omage for þis falsly geten lordischip.

Also þes feyned religious, and oþere worldly clerkis, amortisen [The clergy, always grasp∣ing at lands and lordships, will not cease till they get all the kingdom into their hands.] many grete lordischipis bi fals title and gret ypocrisie. For þei feynen to lordis þat Crist is maad eir of alle here goodis, and he forbediþ clerkis to have siche lordischipis, and in his owne per∣sone wolde noon have, ne his apostlis, but fledden it as venym, as al his lawe and here lif schewen. And bi þis amortysyng þei wolen nevere cesse, til alle þe seculer lordischip of oure lond be in here hondis, clene awey fro seculer lordis. For þei seyn þat þei may lawfully have al þat men wolen ȝeve hem, and alle þat þei may purchase by sotel menys, bi preising of here preieris and oþere gostly helpe, and stelyng of chartris, and distreynyng of ȝonge eiris; and no man may take ouȝt from hem, ne þei ȝeve ne selle ony lordischip out of here hondis. And þus litel and litel þei may gete al þe rewme into here owene hondis. Trewely

Crist haþ alle þes lordischipis wel, whanne seculer men han hem and spenden hem wel, moche betere þan whanne Luciferis heretikis wasten hem in glotonye, lecherie, and worldly vanyte. And þei drawen þes lordischipis fro þe comynte of Cristene men, þat is holy Chirche, and murþeren hem in a litel covent of Sathanas synagoge, þat ben moche worse þan heþene mys∣creauntis. And so bi name of holy Chirche þei distroien holy Chirche, and magnifien Anticristis chirche; as who wolde under þe baner of þe kyng of Engelond disseyve bi treson his lege men, and brynge hem into his enemys power.

Also þes mendynauntis, Menours, falsly and sutely maken [The Francis∣cans, to whom the Pope is uni∣versal heir, are signally liable to this curse,] wrongful eiris; for þei maken þe worldly bischop of Rome, þat schulde be most perfit in gostly povert and mekenesse, and most forsake þe world, after Crist and Petir and Poul, to be chef lord [corrected; lordis, X.] of alle here goodis [The bull vesting all the pro∣perty, houses, church furniture, &c., of the Franciscan Order in the Holy See, reserving to them the usufruct only. was promulgated by Innocent IV (1243-1264), a wise and resolute pope. But the more rigid and ascetic members of the Order—the Spiritualists—deemed this arrange∣ment an unworthy compromise, and succeeded in obtaining from Nic∣holas IV (1288-1292), himself a Franciscan, a bull sanctioning the opinion that Christ practised an absolute poverty. A reaction ensued; and after John XXII (1315-1334) had annulled the bull of Nicholas IV by one which was published among his own Extravagantes, and so came to be regarded as incorporated in the canon law, the pious half-mea∣sure of Innocent IV seems to have been at length generally acquiesced in by the Order. See Milman's Latin Christianity, vols. vi. and vii.] , prevey and apert. For þei may no lordischipe have of hem, for here heie perfit povert, and of þis false makyng of lord and eier þei han bullis as privylegies. Wi ben not þes cursed traitours?

Also religious and grete colegies and cathedral chirchis maken [as are also coileges and cathedral churches.] many false eieris; for þei maken hemself, þat ben riche, un∣kunnyng, and unable, to be successouris of Crist and his postlis, and cure of mennus soulis, and to be eyris perpetual of tiþes and offryngis, þat schulden be pore mennus liflode. And alle þis is doun bi fals suggestion, symonye, and peiryng of gov∣ernaunce of holy Chirche, for þei ben riche at þe fulle, and [do] [supplied conjecturally.] not þe office of a curat neiþer in techynge ne relevyng of parischenys and helpynge þe Chirche as þei schulden, but alle

goþ to noȝt and to Anticristis covent. And certis it is not in mannys witt to telle alle þe harme þat comeþ hereof, boþe bodely and gostly. And of hem þat geten false eiris of mennus wifes, bi privy schryvyng and oþere homly daliaunce, avyse eche man who ben siche.

CAP. XIV.

Alle þo þat letten þe juste wille of a dede man ben cursed [Worldly priests break the testament of Christ, because he bequeathed poverty and persecution to his disciples, but they choose instead riches and honour.] solempnely of God and man. Þe trewe testament of Jesus Crist was maad on Schire Þorisday at nyȝt, in whiche he biquaþ to his disciplis and here successouris pees in hem, and tribulacion and persecucion for his lawe in þis world. But worldly clerkis breken foule þis worþi testament of Crist, for þei seken pees and prosperite of þis world, and pees wiþ þe fend and here flesch, and wolen suffre no traveile for kepynge and techynge of Goddis law, but raþere pursuen pore men þat wolden teche it, and so maken werre aȝenst Crist and his peple for havyng of worldly muk, þat Crist forbediþ to alle his clerkis. In þe lif of Crist and his gospel, þat is his testament, wiþ lif and techyng of his postlis, oure clerkis schullen not fynde but povert, meke∣nesse, gostly traveile, and dispisyng of worldly men for reprov∣yng of here synnes, and grete reward in hevene for here goode lif and trewe techyng, and wilful sofforyng of deþ. Þerfore Jesus Crist was pore in his lif, þat he hadde no house of his owene bi worldly title to reste his heed þerinne, as he hymself seiþ in þe gospel. And Seynt Petir was so pore þat he hadde neiþer silver ne gold to ȝeve a pore crokid man, as Petir wit∣nesseþ in þe bok of Apostlis Dedis. Seynt Poul was so pore of worldly goodis þat he traveilede wiþ his hondis for his lislode and his felowis, and suffride moche persecucion, and wakyng of gret þouȝt for alle chirches in Cristendom, as he hymself witnessiþ in many placis of holy writt. And Seynt Bernard writiþ to þe pope, þat in þis worldly aray, and plente of londis and gold and silver, he is successour of Constantyn þe emperour, and not of Jesus Crist and his disciplis. And Jesus conferm∣yng þis testament seide to his apostlis after his risyng fro deþ to life, My Fadir sente me and I sende ȝow,—þat is, to traveile, persecucion, and povert and hunger and martirdom in þis world,

and not to worldly [Some such word as pompe or richesse has been omitted through error of the scribe.] as clerkis usen now. Bi þis it semeþ, þat alle þes worldly clerkis havyng seculer lordischipe, wiþ aray of worldly vanyte, ben hugely cursed of God and man, for þei doun aȝenst þe riȝtful testament of Crist and his postlis.

Also þei taken mynystracion of dede mennus goodis aȝenst [Also they ad∣minister to the property of poor men cor∣ruptly, and exact large sums for probate.] here juste wille, under colour of holynesse, and turnen þe goodis to here kychenys and oþere nedelis offices, and þat is worse, to here glotonye and drounkenesse, and festyng of riche men, and suffren dede mennis wifes and children and oþere pore men fare ful harde and in gret myschief. Also þei taken dede mennis goodis for provynge of testamentis, aȝenst here juste wille, and aȝenst þe statute of oure kyng, and sumtyme in fraude of þis statute, where þei schulden take but eiȝte pens at þe moste. Þei feynen hem pore to acounte for alle þe goodis, and þan for aquitaunce taken moche gold of þe dede mennis goodis; for ellis þei wolen make executours to coste moche bi somonyng fro place to place, þouȝ þei ben redy to counte for alle þe testa∣ment. And ȝit bi Goddis lawe and mannys þei schulden not entermete hem þus of testamentis ne worldly occupacion. Þer∣fore, aȝenst holy writt, þe popis lawe, and kyngis statute and good conscience, þei robben comyns of oure lond of many þousand pound; and al þis is doun bi ypocrisie of Anticrist under colour of holynesse. And bi so moche þei ben worse þan outlawis and comyn þevys, for þei doun þis robberie apertly, and justifien it bi colour of holynesse, þat no man may aȝen∣stonde hem wiþouten open werre. And þei meyntenen þis cursed þefte boþe bi seculer power and spiritual swerd and colour of holynesse, bi feyned privylegies of holy Chirche, moche more þan doun oþere comyn þeves and outlawis, and þerfore þei ben cursed heretikis, worþi to have more peyne þan oþere strong outlawis.

Also þes worldly clerkis and religious, dowid wiþ temperal [Also they waste and misappropriate endowments designed by their founders to answer pious and charitable ends.] rentis and londis, breken fould þe riȝtful wille of here dede founderis; for þei wasten moche here goodis in pride and grete festis and newe bildyngis, where here founderis wille was to

fynde many meke prestis, and devout in Goddis servyce, and hospitalite of pore nedy men of þe countre. And alle þis good∣nesse is wiþdrawen boþe of meke prestis and devout bedemen, and herboryng and fedyng of nedy men; and proude worldly clerkis, þat han no savour in Goddis servyce, brouȝt up, and ȝit fewe in noumbre, þere þe founder ordeynede manye; and þei ben myrrour of pride, coveitise, slowþe, glotonye, and drounke∣nesse, and namely of lecherie and meyntenyng of synne, where here foundere wolde have hem mirrour of mekenesse, devocion, and abstynence, and stoppyng of synne. And þus þei ben endurid in here errour worse þan Sodom and Gomor, and dis∣pisen God in here lif, and disceyven here founderis as [For as perhaps we should read and, but the MS. is obscure at this point.] Cristene peple bi here veyn criyng, whoos preier God curseþ, as he witnessiþ bi þe prophete Malachie.

CAP. XV.

Alle þo þat falsen þe kyngis chartre and assenten þerto ben [Worldly priests fall under a double curse, for they falsify both the char∣ters of the king, and the charter of the King of kings, i.e. the gospel.] cursed solempnely of God and man, puppliched foure tymes in þe ȝeer. Siþ þe kyng seiþ in his chartre, þat he ȝeveþ þis maner or lond into siche an hous of prestis or religious, into pure and perpetual almes, þei falsen þis chartre whanne þei clepen hem∣self lordis of þis worldly goodis, and denyen þat þei ben almes∣men or bedemen, namely ȝif þei denyen in dede goode con∣dicions for whiche þe kyng ȝaf ȝes goodes. Moche more þei ben cursed þat falsen þe chartre of alle kyngis, þat is, holy writt, in whiche God chargiþ alle his prestis to lyve in honest povert, and forsake seculer lordischip, and bisie hem in spiritual office, as Crist and his apostlis diden.

Also þei falsen þe kyngis chartre bi grete treson, whanne þei maken þe proude bischop of Rome, þat is cheef manquellere in erþe and meyntenour þerof, to be chief worldly lord of alle goodis þat clerkis han in oure rewme, and þat is almest alle þe rewme or þe more pert of it. For he schulde be most meke and pore prest, and most bisy in Goddis travaile to save mennus soulis, as weren Crist and his postlis, siþ he clepiþ him∣self

chief viker of Crist. And hereby þes worldly clerkis ben traitours to God and here lege lord þe kyng, whos lawe and regalie þei distroien bi here power, and false traitouris to þe pope, whom þei norischen in Anticristis werkis, for to have here worldly staat in richessis and lustis meyntened bi hym.

Also whanne þei geten leve to amortise ony lond or rente, þei [Instances of their defraud∣ing the king.] certifien to þe kyng þat þis schal be to encrese of holy Chirche and stablyng of his rewme, and up þis condicion þei geten it, where it is to distruccion of Cristis Chirche, and peinynge of alle þe rewme, and norischyng of debate bitwixe clerkis and lordis and here tenauntis. And ȝit whanne þei geten leve to amortise twenti markis worþ lond bi a writt, ad quod dampnum, þei amortisen moche more þan þe kynge grauntid hem leve þerto. And whanne many londis schulde falle into þe kyngis [hondis] [The word was evidently omitted by accident.] , bi eschet or oþere juste menes, þes worldly clerkis and veyn religious meden gretly þe kyngis officeris and men of lawe, to forbarre þe kyngis riȝt, and maken hemself lordis wrongfully. And þus bi þe kyngis goodis þei maken his officeris and lege men to forswere hem, and defraude here lege lord. But, Lord! where ben falsere and cursedere traitouris in erþe? Also many worldly peyntid clerkis geten þe kyngis seel, hym out-wittynge, and senden to Rome for benefices moche gold; and whanne þe kyng sendiþ his privey seel for to avaunce goode clerkis, and able boþe of good lif and gret kunnyng to reule, þei bryngen forþ hereby many worldly wrecchis, unable to reule o soule for defaute of kunnyng and good lyvyng, and þus usen þe kyngis seel aȝenst Goddis honour and þe kyngis, and profit of Cristene peple, where þe kyng undirstondiþ to do wel bi here suggestion. And þerfore þe kyng haþ many cursed peynted clerkis aboute hym, ȝif he take hede to here lif, kunn∣yng, and reulyng of þe Chirche. Also men of lawe þat faveren lewide clerkis in þis wrong for wynnyng and worldly frendi∣schipe, rennen in þis same curs; and so don confessours and conseilours þat tellen not þis disseit boþe to kyng and oþere men, and namely prechouris, þat schulden warne men of þis peril.

CAP. XVI.

Alle þo þat falsen þe popis bulle or bischopis letteris ben [The canon law lays a heavier curse on those who disobey a papal bull than on those who oppose the gospel.] cursed grevously in alle chirches foure tymes in þe ȝeer. Lord! whi was not Cristis gospel putt in þis reverence among oure worldly clerkis? Here it semeþ þei magnyfien þe popis bulle more þan þe gospel; and in token on þis þei ponyschen more þo men þat trespassen aȝenst þe popis bulle þan þo þat tres∣passen aȝenst Cristis gospel. And hereby men of þis world dreden more þe popis leed, and his comaundement, þanne þe gospel of Crist and Goddis hestis; and þus wrecchis of þis world ben brouȝt out of bileve, hope, and charite, and rotid in heresie and blasphemye, ȝe, worse þane ben heþene houndes.

Also þenne clerkis þat kunnen not rede and undirstonde a [Undue influ∣ence and im∣portance obtained by these bulls,] vers of þe Sauter, ne telle Goddis comaundementis, bryngen forþ a bulle of leed witnessynge þat þei ben able to governe many soulis, aȝenst Goddis dom and opyn experience of treuþe; and to pursue þis false bulle þei costen and traveilen and fiȝtten many tymes; and for geten [read getynge.] of þis false bulle þei ȝyven myche gold out of oure rewme to alyens and enemys, and many per∣sones ben dede herefore in oure enemys hondis, to coumfort of hem and oure confusion.

Also þe proude prest of Rome settiþ ymagis of Petre and Poul and his leed, and makiþ Cristene men to bileve þat alle þat his bullis speken of is don bi here auctorite and Cristis; and so, in as moche as he may, he makiþ þis bulle þat is fals to be Petris and Poulis and Cristis, and in þat makeþ hem false. And by þis blasphemye he robbiþ Cristendom of bileve and good lif and worldly goodis, and makiþ hem to serve Anticrist and synne, whanne þei weren to serve God and charite. And of þis falsyng is noon ende in mannis witt, for it encreseþ evere more, in newe fyndyngys of blasphemye, and robbynge of Cristendom boþe of gostly goodis and worldly, and namely whanne þei bryngen þe seel or baner of Crist on þe croos, þat [which are now involving Christendom in the horrors of war.] is tokene of pees, mercy, and charite, for to slee alle Cristene men for love of tweie false prestis þat ben opyn Anticristis, for

to meyntene here worldly staat, to oppresse Cristendom worse þan Jewis weren, aȝenst holy writt and lif of Crist and his postlis. And almest alle men in þis world assenten and meyntenen þis false sleyng of Anticrist and his felowis; and ȝif ony pore men telle þe treuþe of holy writt aȝenst þe tirauntrie of Anticrist and his officeris, nouȝt ellis but curse hem, prisone, brenne, and slee, wiþ∣outen answere. Nowe it semeþ þat Jones prophecie and Apo∣calips is fulfilled, þat no man schal be hardy to bye and sille wiþouten token of þe cursed beste, for no man schal now do ouȝt in þe chirche wiþouten false bullis of Anticrist, not takyng reward to worchyng of Crist and Holy Gost in mennus soulis, but alle to his dede bullis, bouȝt and seld for gold as men byen or sillen oxen or bestis.

CAP. XVII.

Ȝit, alle þo þat mystiþen ony goodis ben curely cursed foure [Against the practice of anathematiz∣ing those who defraud the church respect∣ing tithes.] tymes in þe ȝeer. Here men wondren moche whi worldly pre∣latis and feyned clerkis cursen not for defaute of werchis of mercy doun to pore nedy men, as Crist techiþ; siþen þe gospel telliþ þat at domesday Jesus Crist schal reckene generally wiþ men for werkis of mercy; and ȝif þei han not don hem þere as Crist biddiþ, þei schullen be dampnyd wiþouten ende. But of tiþes schal Crist speke þanne no word, but ȝif men graunten þat tiþes ben werkis of mercy and almes, as is fedyng and cloþing of pore men. Certis it semeþ alle þis cursyng is for here owene coveitise [corrected; coveitouse, X.] , not for synne of þe peple and trespas aȝenst God, for þanne þei schulden more curse þere where more synne and more dispit aȝenst God and his lawe; but þis is not don, as alle witti men may opynly see; þerfore þei cursen wrongfully, and so cursen hemself, and envenymen þe peple þat þei diden wiþ.

Þe secunde tyme men wondren more whi worldly prestis cursen so faste þe pore peple for þei paien not here tiþes at here likyng, þe while þei ben a þousandfold more cursed of God, for þei don not here gostly office in trewe prechyng, and holy ensaumple of lyvyng, and mynystryng of sacramentis. And ȝit God chargiþ a þousandfolde more þes dettis of gostly dedis,

þan alle þe muk of þis world. And as men of lawe techen, he þat is riȝtfully cursed may not lawefully curse anoþer man, siþen he is dede gostly, and out of holy Chirche.

Þe þridde tyme men wondren most whi coveitouse prestis and worldly clerkis cursen so faste and cruelly in here owene cause and wynnyng, siþen þei schulden schewe mekenesse and pa∣cience in here owene cause and wrong, as diden Crist and his apostlis. And siþ Crist, verrest bischop of alle, cursede not for his tiþes, ne whanne men ȝaven him neiþer mete ne drynk ne herbore; and he blamyde his cosyns and apostlis for þei wolden have do vengaunce on þis peple; but Crist seide þat mannis Sone cam not to lose mennus lyves and soulis, but to save hem, as þe gospel of Luk witnesseþ, whi cursen oure weiward curettis so many mennus soulis to helle, and bodies to prison, and loos of catel, and sumtyme to deþ, for a litel muk, whanne þei ben cursed of God for symonye don in here entre, and levyng of prechyng and ensaumple of holy lif, and þerfore þe tiþes ben not dewe to hem, but only peyne and helle? Many tymes þei ben cruel turmentours, þat slen a soule bouȝt wiþ Cristis pre∣cious blood, þat is betre þan alle richessis of þis world, for sixe pens or foure. Salamon provyde bi witt ȝoven of God, þat whanne tweyne horis stryvede whos was þe child þat lyvede, þe child was hern þat wolde have it on lyve, and not hern þat wolde have it deed. Moche more þes ben not gostly fadris of Cristene soulis, þat wolen dampne hem to helle bi here cursyng for a litel rotyn dritt. But þei ben werse þan ony turmentours of heþene houndes; for þei turmentiden þe body, and not þe soule everemore; but þes Sathanas children casten bi alle here power to slee þe soule in everelastynge peyne. Certis þes weiward curatis of Sathanas semen in þis poynt worse þan fendis of helle, þat turmenten no soule in helle but only for evere∣lastynge synne; and þes Sathanas clerkis cursen soulis to helle for a litel temperal dette, þat þei wolen paye as soone as þei may, and many tymes whanne it is not dette, but bi long errour and þefte and custom brouȝt up, aȝenst Goddis comaundement and good reson and charite.

CAP. XVIII.

And ȝit þei cursen pore men for tiþes, whanne þei may not [Against rigour in demanding tithes and laxity in ac∣cepting offerings.] paie for povert, and whanne curatis schulden ȝyve hem of here owene goodis; and ȝif beggyng weren lifful, þei schulden begge at riche men for to releve here pore breþeren, and algatis be trewe procuratours for pore men at grete lordis and riche men, as Seynt Poul, bi comyn assent of apostlis, was for pore men in here nede. Also schulden not resseyve offryngis and ȝiftis of men þat weren at debate and discord, as Goddis lawe and mannis witnessen, wiþ declaryng of Seynt Jon Crisostom upon þe gospel of Matheu,—ne of usure and wrongful geten goodis, lest þei weren pertener of þe synne, but stire hem to make hem restitucion, and leve here synne, and schewe in dede þat þei seken more profit and savynge [corrected; savyd, X.] of Cristene soulis þanne here owene wynnynge or worschipe, as God doþ bi his Godhed, and Jesus Crist bi his manhed, and alle his disciplis after him.

At þe laste men wonderen hugely whi curatis ben so chariouse [Christ neither paid nor re∣ceived tithes; yet he paid tribute to Caesar.] to þe peple in takynge tiþes, siþþen Crist and his apostlis token no tiþes as men doun nowe, and neiþer spaken of hem, to [be [supplied conjecturally.] ] paied þus, neiþer in gospel ne in pistel, in þe perfit lawe of fredom and grace, but Crist lyvede on almes of Marie Maude∣len and oþere holy men and wymmen, as þe gospel telliþ, and apostlis lyveden sumtyme bi labour of here hondis, and sumtyme taken pore liflode and cloþ, ȝovyn of fre wille and devocion of þe peple, wiþouten axing or constreynyng. And to þis ende Crist seiþ to his postlis, þat þei schulden ete and drynke siche as men setten bifore hem, and take neiþer gold ne silver for here prechyng and ȝevyng of sacramentis. And Poul, ȝevyng a general reule for prestis, seiþ þus, We havyng fode and cloþis to hile us, wiþ þes þinges be we apayed. And Jesus Crist and Poul proveden, þat prestis prechynge trewely þe gospel schulden lyve bi or of þe gospel, and no more of þe tiþes. Certis, as tiþes were dewe prestis and dekenes in þe olde lawe, so þanne was bodily circumcision nedeful to alle men, but not nowe in þe lawe of grace. And ȝit Crist was circumcidid,

but we reden not where he took tyþes as we don, and we reden not in alle þe gospel where he paiede tiþes to hie prestis or bad ony man do so, but boþe he paiede tribut to þe emperour for hym and his, and comaundide oþere men to do so.

Lord! whi schullen oure worldly clerkis charge more Cristene [Tithes are not due under the gospel, and should not be recoverable by legal process.] peple wiþ tiþes, offringis, and customes, þan diden Crist and his apostlis, and more þan men weren chargid in þe olde lawe? For þanne alle prestis and dekenes and officeris of þe temple weren susteyned bi tiþes and offryngis, and hadden noon oþere lordischip; but now o worldly prest, þat is more unable þanne oþere, bi vertu of Anticristis bullis haþ alle þe tiþes and offrynges to himself, and oþere prestis more kunnynge in Goddis lawe and of clenner lif, han no þing but temperal almes. And in o countre is o maner of þing, and in anoþer faste bi is contrarie maner; and ȝif tiþes weren dewe bi Goddis comaundement, þanne every where in Cristendom schulde be o maner of tiþyng. And ȝit men axyn now more tiþes, of many þinges þat God spac not in þe olde lawe. Wolde God þat alle wise men and trewe men wolden enquere where it were betre for to fynde goode prestis bi fre almes of þe peple, and in a resonable and pore liflode, to teche þe gospel in word and dede, as diden Crist and his postlis, þan to paie þus tiþes to o worldly prest necligent and unkunnynge, as men ben now constreyned bi censures and bullis and newe ordynaunce of prestis. Ȝif þis meke lif com aȝen, symonye, coveitise, necligence and strif and plee and worldlynesse [of [supplied.] ] prestis schullen down, and trewe techyng of Goddis word, and ensaumple of holy lif, and pees and charite, schullen regne in Cristendom. Ȝif þis be betre þan þis newe ordynaunce of proude and coveitouse prestis, as men moten nedis graunte, for lyvng and ensaumple of Crist and his apostlis, who maade Anticrist and worldly prestis so hardy to charge Cristene men wiþ þis newe ordynaunce þat [is [supplied.] ] more costy and profitable? Siþen Crist and alle his disciplis hadden nevere ony power but to encresyng of holy Chirche, and edifi∣ynge of Cristene soulis to heveneward, who ȝaf Anticrist and his worldly prestis þis power to hyndre and peire þo goode

reulyng of holy Chirche bi so gret charge and cost? Ȝif þis first ordynaunce of Crist and his postlis come aȝen into Cris∣tendom, þan schal Cristene peple be fre to take her tiþes and offryngis fro weiward prest, and not meyntene hem in here synne, as þei ben now constreyned bi Anticristis power and censures, and frely and wilfully ȝyve a resonable liflode to goode prestis: and þis were moche betere and esiere, boþe for prestis and comyns, boþe for þis world and þe toþer.

CAP. XIX.

Also þei cursen alle men þat beren out ony goodis of maneres [Against the practice—in∣volving dis∣loyalty—of cursing all those who deprive the Church of any property.] or graunges of men of þe Chirche, aȝenst þe wille of here keperis. Here men wondren moche whi þei cursen not alle hem þat beren out ony þing of lordis placis and pore mennus houses, siþþen þei ben many times more cursed of God þan þe firste. It semeþ þei reken nevere of here neiȝberis harm so þat here lust be performed. But men wondren more whi þei cursen þe kyng and his trewe officeris, þat for felonye or dette or eschet taken his owene goodis, aȝenst þe wille of a false prest traitour, out of þes graunges, and taken noon hede wheþere þei don þis bi processe of lawe or ellis bi extorsion and tirauntrie. And it semeþ þat þei understonden þis, how evere it be taken, wrong∣fully or justly, bi here newe dampnacion þat þei maden at London in þe erþe schakyng, where þei saiden þat it is errour [The canon of the Council of London on this point.] to seie þat seculer lordis may at here dom take temperal goodis fro þe Chirche, þat trespassiþ bi long custom [This, according to Walsingham (vol. ii. p. 59, Rolls edition), was the sixth of the conclusions con∣demned as erroneous at the Council of London in 1382.] . Ȝif þis be errour, as þei seyn falsly, þanne þe kyng and seculer lordis may take no ferþing ne ferþing-worþ fro a worldly clerk, þouȝ he owe hym or his lege men nevere so moche good, and may wel paye it and wole not. And þus þe kyng schal be cursed, ȝif he do riȝtwisnesse in his rewme on his lege men, and brynge a Sathanas out of his olde synne and þefte, whiche þing þe kyng is bounden for to do bi Goddis owene word. And siþ þe persones schullen have more privylegie þanne worldly muk annexid to hem, siþen þei ben betre in kynde and gronde of

privylegie of þes goodis, moche more þe kyng haþ no power of þe bodies of clerkis. And þis menen þei in here opyn lawe, bi whiche þei maken clerkis exempt fro seculer domesmen, til þei ben degraded bi dom of bischopis. Of þis wrongful sen∣tence ȝoven of bischopis in þe erþe to don, wiþ good reson suen þes poyntis, þat þouȝ a collegie of clerkis, or covent, or religious, ben open þeves, and robben and sleen þe kyngis lege men, ȝit þe kyng may take no ferþing-worþ good fro hem, for alle worldly goodis ben temperal þingis, and, as þei seyn, noon seculer lordis may lawefully take temperal þingis fro þe Chirche þat trespassiþ bi long custom.

Also, þouȝ comynte of clerkis and religious sende gold and [Absurd conse∣quences which, would flow from its adoption.] goodis of þe rewme to aliens and enemyes wiþoutenforþ, and resseten many þousand enemyes in here paleices and grete houses, stronge as castellis, to robbe slee and brenne alle men in oure lond, ȝit no man may take ony goodis fro hem bi þe same reson.

Also, þouȝ an hous of monkes freris or clerkis ymagynen to poysone þe kyng, queene, and alle þe lordis of oure rewme, as þei han bifore þis tyme boþe popis emperours and kyngis, ȝit þe kyng wiþ alle his lordis mayn not ponysche hem in o ferþing-worþ of good. Also, þouȝ a frere monk or prest, bi comyn assent of þe covent, defoule quen bifore þe kyngis eyen, and moche more in privey chaumberis, ȝit þe kyng may not ponysche þe leste of hem in o ferþing-worþ of good.

Also, þouȝ þe clergie bi comyn assent caste þe kyngis deþ, quenys, and of alle þe gentel blood of þe rewme, and conspiren to be kyngis in hemself, and make oon of hem kyng of alle þe world, ȝit þe kyng wiþ alle his lordis may not ponysche hym in o ferþing-worþ of good. And siþen þe bodies of clerkis ben betere þan goodis of þis world, siþ þe kyng haþ no power on here goodis þat ben lesse, he haþ no power of here bodies þat ben betre in kynde, and cause of privylegies of here goodis. And þus þe kyng is constreyned bi Anticristis lawis to suffre and meyntene opyn þeves and mansleeris, and traitours of God and alle men, in here opyn cursed synne. And þouȝ clerkis myȝtten lawefully have seculer lordischipis, ȝit þei han justly forfetid hem alle, siþþen bi comyn assent þei han conspired þus

aȝenst Goddis mageste, ye kyngis regalie, wel groundid in holy writt, and aȝenst here owene solempne oþ. But þes blynde moldewerpis, evere wrotyng in þe erþe aboute erþely muk, schullen wite bi holy writt and Cristene bileve, þat þouȝ þe kyng, Goddis viker, take temperal goodis fro worldly cursed prestis and Anticristis religious, ful of pride coveitise symonye heresie and blasphemye, and meyntening of oþere mennus synnys, ȝit þe kyng takiþ not þes goodis evyle from holy Chirche, but justly takiþ þes goodis of holy Chirche, evyl occupied bi Sathanas clerkis, and restoreþ hem to holy Chirche. For þanne bi Goddis auctorite he takiþ þes goodis from Anticristis chirche, þat is traitour and enemye of God, of þe kyng his viker, and alle men, in Goddis half, and restaureþ hem to holy Chirche, whanne he depertiþ hem wisly to just men, to helpe of pore men, and encresyng of vertuouse lif boþe of prestis lordis and comuneris.

And in þis poynt þes worldly clerkis and feyned religious [Pride and ex∣clusiveness of the worldly clergy.] fallen into Luciferis pride, and into heresie aȝenst þe crede of Cristene men. For þei holden hemself men of holy Chirche and noon oþere, where þe crede seiþ þer is on general holy Chirche of alle men and wymmen þat schullen be savyd, and of goode [corrected; goodis, X.] angelis, and Jesus Crist is hed of þis holy Chirche. And as Judas was a þef and no membre of Crist, ne pert of holy Chirche, þouȝ he mynistride [corrected; mysurde, X.] þe ordre of bischopod, but was a devel of helle, as Crist seiþ in þe gospel, so, ȝif þes worldly clerkis schullen be dampned for here cursed synnes, as coveitise ypocrisie symonye and dispeir, as Judas was, þei ben fendis of helle and no Cristene men, ne membris of Crist, ne pert of holy Chirche. And þus þe beste of hem alle woot not where he be a man of holy Chirche bi Goddis apprevyng, or ellis a fende of helle now dampnyd in Goddis knowyng. Þerfore þei schulden meke hem self boþe to God and man, and leve þis fendis pride and Anticristis tirauntrie, and open tresoun and blasfemye aȝenst God and his viker þe kyng.

CAP. XX.

Alle þeves and alle þat reseten [corrected; receseten, X.] hem wyttyngly, and alle con∣sentours [The curse pro∣nounced on thieves and receivers falls on the clergy themselves.] to hem in synne, ben cursed of God, and foure tymes in þe ȝeer of men, in alle parische chirches. First, alle clerkis of our lond semen cursed in þis poynt, for in eche parische chirche a comyn þef and mansleere schal be resseyved fourty daies at þe leste, and no lawe passe on hym to make restitucion, þouȝ he be of power, and to ponysche him justly for chastisyng of oþere mysdoeris; but after fourty daies he schal forswere þe kyngis lond, and þanne many tymes he robbeþ more and sleþ mo men, in trist of siche refute. And þis makiþ many stronge þeves and cursed manquelleris in oure lond; and to meyntene þis resset and norischyng of þeves, oure worldly clerkis wolen coste and traveile and lyve and die; and þerfore þei ben stronge schameles heretikis, to meyntene þis opyn errour aȝenst Goddis lawe.

Also grete houses of religion, as Westmynstre, Beverle [

Dugdale's Monasticon contains ample information about these pri∣vileges of sanctuary attached to cer∣tain churches. To Westminster Abbey the right was conceded, ac∣cording to Stow, the historian of London, by an express charter of Edward the Confessor; but Wid∣more doubts the authenticity of this charter, and considers that the pri∣vilege probably followed soon upon, and as a consequence of, the canoni∣zation of King Edward. High and low sought and benefited by the privilege; amongst others, Eliza∣beth, queen of Edward IV, first in 1470, and again in 1483, and the poet Skelton, who died in sanctuary in 1529.

The story of the sanctuary at St. John's collegiate church of Beverley is like a golden thread of romance running down through the dim records of six hundred years. The common belief about this famous foundation (originally the work of St. John of Beverley early in the eighth century, but afterwards de∣stroyed by the Danes),—a belief attested by a charter of Henry V, was, that when King Athelstan, re∣turning victorious from Scotland in the year 925, redeemed by a lavish grant of lands and liberties his knife, which on the march out he had left upon the high altar, he did so in these words, 'As fre make I the, as hert may think or eigh may see.' Or, as it is in a metrical ver∣sion, also given by Dugdale, of the same transaction, which is probably as old as the middle of the thir∣teenth century,—

'Swa mikel fredom give I ye, Swa hert may think or eghe see.'

This church of Beverley, however, was not exempted from the ordinary jurisdiction of the Archbishop of York; rather it was he who exer∣cised, or superintended the exercise of, the great franchises which it pos∣sessed. The privileged circuit, within which fugitives from secular justice were protected, was called the Leuga, and is described in the Domesday survey. A stone chair, called the Frid-stol, or stool of peace, stood on the right of the high altar; to this chair those who sought sanctuary repaired, and in it they were seated during the cere∣mony of admission. The form of oath, administered by the arch∣bishop's bailiff to the suppliant, is preserved in one of the Harleian MSS. No. 4292, being a register of persons who sought sanctuary for various crimes in the reigns of Edward IV, Henry VII, and Henry VIII. It ran as follows:—

'Sir, tak hede on your oth. Ye shal be trew and feythful to my lord Archbishop of York, lord off this towne, to the provest of the same, to the chanons of this chirch, and all othir ministers thereof.

'Also ye shal bere gude hert to the baillie and xii governors of this town, to all burgesses and comyners of the same.

'Also ye shall bere no poynted wapen, dagger, knyfe, ne none other wapen ayenst the kyngs pece.

'Also ye shal be redy at all your power, if there be any debate or strif or oder sothan case of fyre within the town to help to surcess it.

'Also ye shal be redy at the obite of Kyng Adelstan, at the Dirige and the Messe, at such time as it is done, at the warnyng of the bel∣man of the town, and do your dewte in ryngyng, and for to offer at the messe on the morne, so help you God and thies holy evan∣gelists.'

And then gar hym kisse the book.

] , and [The prvilege of sanctuary]

oþere, chalengen, usen, and meyntenen þis privylegie, þat what∣evere [annexed to cer∣tain churches is greatly abused.] þef or felon come to þis holy hous of religion, he schal dwelle þere alle his lif, and no man enpeche hym, þouȝ he owe pore men moche good and have ynouȝ to paye it. And þouȝ he robbe and slee every nyȝt many men out of þe fraunchise, and every [corrected; evere, X.] day come aȝen, he schal be meyntened þerto bi vertu of þis opyn heresie. And þes feyned clerkis crien faste, þat þe kyng and alle þe lordis ben bounden bi vertu of here oþ, in whiche þei sweren to meyntene holy Chirche and riȝttis þerof, for to meyntene þis open þefte aȝenst Goddis heste and here owene oþ, in whiche þei sweren to doo riȝtwisnesse to eche man and meyntene eche man þerinne. And þus þei maken holy Chirche and her lege lord þe kyng patrons of here þefte, under colour of holynesse and devocion. But certis þes placis ben synagogis of Satanas, dennes of þeves, and worse þan Sodom and Gomor, as þo þat resceyven not Cristis word in þe gospel; and þes ben cursed ypocritis, and weiward traitours to God and here lege lord þe kyng and alle Cristendom, and þei ben confermed in þis heresie, þat þei wolen lyve and die þerfore.

Also alle curatis and prestis þat comen not to þes statis bi þe [The rulers both of Church and]

dore, þat is, Crist, þat is to seie, bi mekenesse to seke Goddis [State are cor∣rupt from the highest to the lowest.] worschip and savyng of mennus soulis, but for pride coveitise and bodily welfare, ben nyȝt þeves and day þeves, as Crist seiþ in þe gospel, and Seynt Austyn expouneþ it so. And siþen alle ressettours and meynteneris of siche wityngly ben cursed, and þe pope ressetiþ hem and meynteniþ hem, and bischopis also, and þe kyng and parischens, alle þes semen cursed þeves, siþen þei may not be excused bi ignoraunce of Goddis lawe and here open dedis to knowe and wite hou þei ben þevys. And parischens ben so constreyned bi Anticristis lawis to meyntene hem in here þefte; for þouȝ þei knowen þat here curat is a cursed þef, wiþdrawynge trewe prechynge and ensaumple of good lif, and dide grete symonye in comyng to his benefice, ȝit þei schullen not be suffrid to wiþdrawe here tyþes here, as long as a grete prelat of Anticrist wole suffre him in his synne, for money or necligence or favour. But of alle þevys, þe pope makyng siche curatis bi his bullis for gold, and lordis and oþere prelatis presentynge siche unable clerkis for here worldly ser∣vyce and money, ben in þe grete hienesse of robberis, and meyntenours of opyn þeves. And þei may not be excused bi ignoraunce, for Seynt Poul seiþ, he þat haþ not cure of his owene, and most of his homely meynne, he haþ forsaken þe feiþ and is werse þan an unfeiþful man þat nevere toke Cristendom. For þei may openly see þat þe dedis of þes curatis ben opynly contrarie to Cristis lif and his lawe, and to many siche; as þei maken curatis of many þousand soulis þei wolden not bitake kepyng of a fewe hoggis, and holde hem from her office of kepyng of hoggis, as þei doun [That is, as the curates withhold themselves.] from keping of soulis; þerfore þei setten more pride bi a fewe hoggis þan bi many þousand soulis bouȝte wiþ Cristis preciouse blood.

Also alle tyrauntis and extorsioneris and conselours and con∣sentours [Various ways in which men may fall under the curse pro∣nounced against thievery.] þerto, fallen in þis grete curs, for alle þat þei han þus is þefte, bi Goddis jugement and reson; and alle curatis and prelatis þat taken tyþes and offryngis, and doun not here spi∣ritual office, of God ordeyned [corrected; ordeyneþ, X.] in his lawe, ben cursed þevys;

for þis hire is not ordeyned to hem but for doyng of þis spi∣ritual office. And þerfore Seynt Poul biddiþ, þat he þat werchiþ not, ete not. Also alle þat mysusen here goodis in wast, pride, glotonye, or oþere synnes, or þat wiþholden werkis of mercy fro nedi men in tyme of grete nede, rennen in grete curs, for þei han and holden þes goodis aȝenst Goddis comaundement, to harm of hem and oþere men, as Ambrose and Austyn witnessen in many placis. Alle þo þat mysusen þe myȝttis of here soule or body, and drawen hem fro Goddis servyce and holynesse into þe fendis service and synne, fallen in þis same curs; for þei stelen Goddis goodis from his servyce and worschipe, as moche as in hem [is [supplied conjecturally.] ], and bi hem maken sacrifice to þe fend, in whos servyce þei spenden hem.

Ȝit alle þo þat disseyven here neiȝeboris in ony chaffare or servyce, bi false oþis, false cautelis, and false weiȝttis or mesures, ben stronge þevys, for alle þat þei getten þus þei geten falsly, aȝenst Goddis comaundement, bi colour of holynesse and equite; and þerfore þei lasten stille in her synne wiþouten peyne of mannys lawe, comynly more þan don oþere open þevys. Also stronge beggeris, under colour of holynesse, rennen faste in þis curs; for sotely bi many sleiȝtis expresly agenst Goddis comaundement, þei robben þe pore peple fro moche good, and bederede men from here liflode, and bryngen þe peple in heresie many weies. For þei maken þe peple bileve þis, þat it is betre to ȝeve here almes to riche men and stronge þan to pore men and nedy, as Crist comaundiþ. Þerfore of alle þevys þes semen most cursed, for þei robben contynuely, boþe of temperal goodis, of mennus children, and of gostly goodis, and sleen soules and bodies boþe of riche and pore under colour of holynesse. And alle þei þat may distroie þis synne and doun not, assenten þerto, and fallen in þis curs; and þis cursyng and þefte woundeþ almest al Cristendom.

CAP. XXI.

Alle þo þat clippen þe kyngis money, and þat kytten mennus [The pope, as the greatest plunderer, comes under] purses, ben solempnely cursed in parische chirches. Here it

semeþ þat þe proude worldly preste of Rome, and alle his [the curse pro∣nounced against coiners and cut-purses.] fautours, ben most cursed of clipperis and purse-kerveris, for þei drawen oute of oure lond pore mennus liflode, and many þousande mark bi ȝere of þe kyngis money, for sacramentis and spiritual þingis, þat is cursed heresie of symonye, and makiþ al Cristendom assente and meyntene þis heresie. And certis þouȝ oure rewme hadde an huge hill of gold, and nevere oþere man toke þerof, but only þis proude worldly prestis collectour, bi proces of tyme þis hil moste be spendid, for he takiþ evere money oute of oure lond, and sendiþ nouȝt aȝen but Goddis curs for his symonye, and acursed Anticristis clerk to robbe more þe lond, or wrongful privylegie, or ellis leve to do Goddis wille, þat men schullen not do wiþouten his leed and biyng and sillyng. But þouȝ oure kyng take taliage of þe peple as he may lawefully, for nedeful helpe of þe lond, ȝit þe money dwelliþ stille in oure rewme, to profit þerof in manye pertis. Also worldly prelatis and clerkis kerven foule pore mennus [which falls also on the general body of the secular clergy,] purses, whanne þei wasten þe chirche goodis, þat ben mennus sustenaunce, in pride glotonye lecherie and oþere vanytees. For þei ben procuratours or tresureris of pore men in takyng dymes and offryngis, and as wel þei myȝtten take it out of here purses openly and devoure it, as þus to gete it bi extorsion, wrong customs, and Anticristis censuris, more þan þei schulden paye bi Goddis lawe and good conscience. For ȝif þei kittide þus openly here purses, þei schulden reckevere it bi comyn lawe, but of þis sotel kittyng of here purs þei geten no remedie, but evere ben more robbid and more; and þe ende for whiche þei ben þus robbid is many tymes to fynde haukis and houndis, and riche pelure, and proude hors, to hie prestis and curatis, þat schulden be myrrour of mekenesse and chastite and gostly traveyle and hevenly lif.

Also somenors bailies and servauntis, and oþere men of lawe, [as well as on lawyers, bailiffs, &c.] kitten perelously mennus purses, for þei somenen and aresten men wrongfully to gete þe money out of his purse, and sumtyme suffren hem to meyntene hem in wrongis for money, to robbe oþere men bi false mesures and weiȝttis, and in þis þei kitten boþe partis purses. And men of lawe contryven ofte newe sotel poyntis, to delaye just proces of lawe for money, and

hyndryng of riȝtwisnesse in þe peple; and þis is don so sotilly under colour of lawe, þat a pore man is betre to forsake his owene goodis þan to calenge it and plete þerfore. And ȝif his purse were opynly kit, he schulde get sum rekenere þerof, but now bi colour of equite al is stoppid. But of alle purs-kitteris false confessours ben þe werste; for whanne þei schullen make wickid men to restore þing wrongfully geten, and to cesse evere after, bi trewe witnessynge of peyne dewe þerfore, þei assoilen wickid men liȝtfully, for to have pert of here þefte, and hereby þei norischen evyle men in here wrongis and robbyng of þe peple.

CAP. XXII.

Alle þo þat leyn hond on fadir or modir in violence ben [The persecu∣tors of the poor priests fall under the curse pronounced against those who lift their hand against father or mother.] cursed of God and man. Men leyn here hondis, þat is, here werkis, in violence on [corrected; þat in, X.] God and holy Chirche, here gostly fadir and moder, whanne þei sclaundren God and holy Chirche wiþ here worldly weiward lif, and dispisen him bi grete oþis and false and nedeles, and oþere grete synnes. For, as Seynt Austin seiþ on þe Sauter [S. Aug. Enarr. in Psalm lxviii, sermo ii. 'Minus enim peccaverunt Judaei crucifigentes in terrâ ambu∣lantem, quam qui contemnunt in coelo sedentem.'] , þes wickid men dispisen God more þan þe Jewis þat naileden him on þe cross, and in here wille þei cruci∣fien Crist, whanne þei wolen not forsake here synne for his love ne drede. Also þei leyn hond violently on Crist, whanne þei sclaundren and pursuen wrongfully ony membre of Crist, and namely for tellyng of treuþe and reprovyng of synne, as Crist and his postlis tauȝte. Whanne þei crien þat alle men leiynge hond on a clerk bi violence be cursed, whi ben not alle oure worldly prelatis hugely cursed, þat violently and wiþouten answere prisonen prestis, redy to be justified bi holy writt and reson, and to lyve after Cristis lif and his postlis, and helpe oþere prestis þerto? Certis, whanne worldly prelatis and clerkis bi here false gloses and fals lif distroien þe treuþe of Cristis lif and his postlis as moche as þei may, þanne þei sleen Crist and his postlis, as Seynt Jon Crisostom witnesseþ [S. Joan. Chrys. in Matt. v. ho∣milia ix. 'Qui autem veritatem Christi denegat, ipsum denegat Christum,' et seq.] .

Also in þat þat þei faveren false prechouris and wickid men, þei leyn hond in violence on Crist and his prophetis, and fyȝtten cursedly agenus oure moder holy Chirche; for in þat þei meyn∣tenen Goddis enemys, to lese and dampne children of holy Chirche þoruȝ false techyng and evyl ensaumple.

Also alle þat taken and meyntenen false causes ben cursed [The curse pro∣nounced against those who maintain false causes falls upon worldly priests, and also on many landlords and lawyers.] grevously, as þei ben worþi, boþe of God and man. Here worldly clerkis wiþ here fautours rennen fully in þis curse; for þei meyntenen here worldly lif aȝenst þe trewe techyng of Crist and his lawe, and wole not leve her worldlynesse for prechynge ne peyne, in þis world ne in þe toþer. Also lordis holdynge grete lovedaies, and bi here lordischip meyntenenge þe fals pert, for money frendischip or favour, fallen opynly in þis curs, and so don men of lawe, wiþ alle false witnesses þat meyntenen falsenesse aȝenst treuþe, wityngly or unwittyngly. For in alle þis fals meyntenyng þei holden wiþ þe fend aȝenst God, and as moche as is in hem, þei fordoun þe riȝtwisnesse of God, and so God himself, and magnyfien Sathanas more þan God. And bi þis poynt many þat semen ful holy and devout ben gretly acursed; for þouȝ þei ben devout in preieris and siȝtte of men, ȝit here meyne schal holde wrongis at lovedayes [In Titus Andronicus, act i. sc. 2, Saturninus, after announcing his in∣tention to reconcile enemies and pardon offences, says—

'This day shall be a love-day, Tamora.'

The word occurs also in the Vision of Piers Plowman. The passage in the text throws indirect light on this old custom, instituted to prevent litigation; we see knights and yeo∣men kneeling in the castle-chapel, a general gathering in the hall, statements from both sides, arbitra∣tion and reconciliation. But as to the exact form of procedure upon such occasions, I can nowhere meet with information. The Paston Letters may perhaps contain some∣thing which would throw light on the matter; but so far as I could examine a book in many volumes, unfurnished with an index, my search was sterile.] , and bere doun treuþe and pore men in here riȝt, bi colour of lordis knelynge in þe chapel. And þe colour of holynesse blyndiþ moche of þe peple, þat þei perseyven not þe treuþe but beren it doun, and holdiþ wiþ falshed, and seyn þus,—Þes grete lordis and wise men wolde not holde wiþ þis pert but ȝif þei knewen þat it were trewe, siþen þei ben so devout in here preieris, and knowen Goddis lawe and mannis so fully. And bi þis doyng þes hie lordis and men of lawe ben maistris of errour, techyng it in

word and dede, and constreynen pore men to holde forþ, bi manas of bodi and loos of catel and oþere persecuciouns, and þerfore þei ben not only heretikis but princes of heretikis, as þei þat chefly meyntenen oþere men in synne and compelle hem þerto. Clerkis þat don evyl and meyntene it bi sotilte of word ben sly or sotel heretikis, but þes lordis of prestis, þat ben bis∣chopis, and oþere officeris þat meyntenen oþere men in synne, ben sotil maistris of errour and princis of heretikis. And worldly lordis þat don wrong, and constreynen pore men to assente to here wrong, ben rude or boistouse heretikis. And comynly alle mysdoeris fallen in þis curs, for þei meyntenen a fals quarele aȝenst God and his seyntis.

CAP. XXIII.

Alle þat drawen men out of þe chirche or seintuarie, whanne [The abuses of the privilege of sanctuary further con∣sidered.] þei fleen þeder for sukour after here manslauȝter or þefte, ben cursed hugely of oure prelatis, lesse and more. Here men wondren moche whi alle manquelleris schullen have þis fraun∣chise of þe sche, siþ God grauntide it only to hem þat sleen bi ignoraunce, or happily, not wilfully, and bi noon enemyte; and alle siche as sleen a man wilfully bi enemyte, and bi chastyng and aspiynge bifore, schulden be drawen, ȝe, fro þe auter, to be deed bi Goddis comaundement. And Salamon þe wise kyng dide þis in dede; but bi oure privylegie, ȝif a kyng or seculer justice do þis comaundement of God and just ponyschyng of wickednesse and disturbleris of þe pees, he is cruely cursed of oure worldly clerkis,—but blissed of God, whoos byddyng he fulfilliþ. And þus þei cursen hem þat God blisseþ; þerfore þei ben cursed of God, and alle þat consenten to hem in þis poynt. But in alle Goddis lawe redde we nevere, þat þeves schulden have refute in þe chirche. Whi don oure worldly clerkis þis? it semeþ for coveitise, to have part of here pelf. It semeþ þei cursen openly hemself, for þei resceyven þeves wittyngly, and alle siche ben cursed bi here owene sentence. And in þis þei disturblen pees of þe rewme, for just ponyschyng of mysdoeris schulde make goode pees in þe peple, and þei letten þis bi here privylegie; and also þei letten restitucion, þat is due bi Goddis biddyng.

Also þei cursen alle hem þat ben necligent to enprisone [The curse which the worldly clergy pronounce against all who are slack in bringing true preachers to punishment embraces the king himself, and his officers of justice, in its scope.] cursed men; but here þei cursen hem þat God blisseþ many tymes, for oft þei cursen wrongfully trewe men for prechynge of þe gospel, and treuþis suynge þerof, aȝenst open synnes, for þis prechyng is aȝenst here lust, and schewiþ here foule ypocrisie and symonye. And God blisseþ þes trewe prechours and alle þat faveren hem in þis; þanne þes worldly clerkis cursen þe kyng and his justices and officeris, for þei meyntenen þe gospel and trewe prechours þerof, and wolen not prisone hem for wrongful comaundement of Anticrist and his clerkis. But where ben foulere heretikis þan ben þes worldly clerkis? þus cursynge trewe men, and styrynge þe kyng and his lege men to pursue Jesus Crist in his membris, and exile þe gospel out of oure lond. And many tymes þei maken þe kyng and lordis pursue trewe men and þe gospel, whanne þei wenen to pur∣sue heretikis hardid in here errour, and to distroie [hem] [supplied conjecturally.] , and meyntene Goddis worschip; and þus þei maken þe kyng and grete lordis to bicome turmentours of Sathanas, and do more malice and peyne to Goddis servauntes þanne þe devel dar do himself. For þouȝ a just man be cursed wrongfully, þe fend dar not noye in his soule no weie, ne in his body, for drede of God; but whanne þe fend dare not dere a just man, þanne worldly clerkis maken þe kyng and lordis, for blynd pite, to turmente his body as he were a strong þef, and caste him in a depe prisone, to make oþere men aferd to stonde wiþ Goddis part aȝenst here heresie. And þus þei bitraien oure kyng and lordis, and robben hem of riȝt bileve and riȝtful dom and werkis of mercy, and stoppen Goddis word, and letten verrey pees of Cristendom. Lord! where ben more cursed heretikis þan þes weiward traitours? þat þus sleen Crist and his postlis and pro∣phetis, and bitraien þe kyng and lordis to do wrong aȝenst God and his servauntis, and robben Cristendom of feiþ, hope, and charite. Certis I wolde þat lordis wolden wisely prisone hem þat ben cursed of God, for brekyng of his hestis, but ȝif þei wolen leve here false swerynge and nedeles, and fraudes þat þei usen eche to oþere; for þis curs is evere riȝtful, and mannis

curs is þe wrongful. Þanne þe kyng schulde fynde how worldly clerkis, þat lyven in pride, glotonye, and lecherie, and don not here office, ȝevynge ensaumple of holy lif and trewe prechyng of holy writt, ben comen in bi symonye, ben cursed heretikis, and he schulde prisone hem faste, but ȝif þei wolden amende here defautis bi þe lawe of God. And þis prisonyng moten þes clerkis graunte just, but ȝif þei setten [corrected; senten, X. sin out of his soul.'] more prise bi mannis wrongful curs þan bi þe riȝtful curs of God Almyȝtty. And þis were open heresie and blasphemye; and siche blasphemes bi þe olde lawe of God schulden be stoned to deþ bi þe comyn peple; and in þe lawe of grace alle men schulden scharply blame here synne, and but ȝif þei wolde leve it, holde hem as pupplicanis or heþen men, and not comune wiþ hem, as Crist tauȝt and his postlis.

CAP. XXIV.

Alle þat don sacrilegie, þat taken holy þing oute of holy place, [Absurd con∣sequences which flow from the curse pronounced by the worldly clergy against sacrilege.] or unholy out of holy place, or holy þing out of unholy place, ben grevously cursed in þe chirche. Here men wondren of þis sentence, for comynly alle prestis beren holy þing out of þe chirche, as dymes and offryngis, þat þei clepen holy, and spenden hem sumtyme ful evele; and siche ben cursed bi þis sentence. And ȝif þei seyn þat þei have leve þerto, seie þat God ȝeveþ no leve whanne þei don not here office þerfore. And prestis spenden hem evele in worldly vanyte, glotonye, and lecherie, and þanne algatis ben þei riȝtfully cursed of God on double manere; oon, for þei don not here office þat Crist chargiþ so moche,—anoþer, for þei wasten þus pore mennus goddis, aȝenst Goddis lawe and mannis. Þe secunde tyme men wondren of þis sentence; for ȝif alle ben cursed þat take unholy þing out of holy place, þan eche man þat doþ out of [dele of; the meaning is, 'driveth deadly sin out of his soul.'] dedly synne of his soule, halewid in baptym, is cursed; and namely ȝif he do ony venyal synne oute of his soule þat is in charite, for þan he doþ unholy, þat is synne, out of his soule, þat is holy place; and þanne Crist and alle his seyntis mosten be most cursed of alle men, for þei moste did þis unholy þing out of

mennus soulis, and autoriseden it. And ȝif þei seyn þat þei understonden only of worldly goodis, seie þat smoke of erþely muk blyndiþ hem so moche þat þei taken non hede to God and vertues, and where þei blaberen trewe or fals.

Þe þridde tyme men wondren most, siþ charite only schulde make men to curse for synne don aȝenst Goddis hestis. Whi oure clerkis cursen not hem þat taken lordis goodis of here maneres and places, and pore mennus goodis out of here houses and feldis? siþ þis is many tymes more synne, and dis∣turbliþ more pees of þe lond. It semeþ þes clerkis loven not here neiȝeboris as hemself, and þat þei pursuen not þe synne in here curs, but only here owene wynnyng; and herefore þei for∣feten aȝenst alle þe maundementis of God; for þei loven neiþer God ne here neiȝbore as þei schulden, and þanne utterly þei ben cursed of God and alle his seyntis.

Also oure prelatis cursen alle hem þat don aȝenst þe Grete [The study of the king's statutes, especially of Magna Carta, is more useful for the clergy than that of the Roman, or a large portion of the Canon Law.] Chartre [corrected; charite, X.] and þe Chartre of forest. And alle þis is lawe cyvyl [corrected; cruel, X.] , and þe pope forbediþ prestis to here lawe cyvyl, and puttiþ on hem grete peyne ȝif þei don it. And þei may not knowe þes poyntis but ȝif þei heren hem; þan þei ben nedid to falle blyndly in þis sentence. Þerfore it were more profit boþe to body and soule þat oure curatis lerneden and tauȝten many of þe kyngis statutis, þan lawe of þe emperour. For oure peple is bounden to þe kyngis statutis, and not to þe emperours lawe, but in as moche as it is enclosid in Goddis hestis. Þanne moche tresour and moche tyme of many hundrid clerkis, in unyversite and oþere placis, is foule wastid aboute bookis of þe emperours lawe, and studie aboute hem. And ȝif oure clerkis studien þes bokis of þe emperours lawe, for reson þat þei fynden in hem, Lord! where þes blynde foolis schulden not fynde more reson in þat lawe þat God, autor of reson, made himself, for most profit of men, boþe to body and soule? And ȝif men seyn, þat studie aboute þe emperours lawe wiþdrawiþ men from studie and knowyng of holy writt, and for to encresse more þe studie of holy writt þe pope wole þat prestis here not ne studie lawe cyvel, certis þis is ful soþ, and þe popis entent is good in þis.

But þis lettyng of studie and knowyng of holy writt is more don bi þe popis lawe þan bi þe emperours, for it is lengere, and more stondiþ in singuler wille of þe pope and his cardynalis þan in reson, oþerewise þan doiþ þe emperours lawe. And mo clerkis drawen to þe popis lawe, and þerby leven holy writt, for wynnynge of worldly muk and veyn worschip of þis world; and þe pope forþeriþ hem in þes poyntis, and hindriþ men of dyvynyte, and techiþ alle men to don þe same bi his ensaumple. Þerfore þe Cardynal Odo [The constitutions of Cardinal Otho, framed at a 'Concilium Pan-Anglicum' held in London in the year 1236, are printed as an Ap∣pendix to Lyndwood's Provinciale (ed. Oxford, 1769). But I can dis∣cover no passage in them at all resembling that quoted in the text, which indeed would be a strange admission for a cardinal to make; nor can I discover any other work by a Cardinal Otho or Odo, which the writer can be referring to.] seiþ, þat þe popis law and þe emperours ben þe tweyne calvys of gold þat lettiden Goddis peple worschipe him in Jerusalem; so þes twey lawis drawen men fro studie and knowyng of holy writt, and dewe worschipynge of God. For evere as a man owiþ to worschipe God bifore alle þingis, so owiþ eche man, and namely a prest, to studie and knowe holy writt bifore alle oþere lawis. Þerfore prestis biheten to God þat þei schullen evere þenke of Goddis lawe; and Jesus seiþ in þe gospel, ȝif ony man love him, he schal kepe his words; and God comaundid in þe olde lawe þat þe kyng schulde studie in bokis of his lawe, and þat þis bok schulde not passe fro his eien. Þerfore Seynt Gregory witnessiþ, þat evere as a man loveþ a kyng, so he loveþ his lawe. It semeþ þat curatis schulden raþere lerne and teche þe kyngis statutis, and namely þe Grete Chartre, þan þe emperours lawe or myche part of þe popis. For men in oure rewme ben bounden to obeche to þe kyng and his riȝtful lawes, and not so to þe emperours; and þei myȝtten wonder wel be savyd, þouȝ many lawes of þe pope hadden nevere be spoken, in þis world ne þe toþere.

CAP. XXV.

Alle þo þat comunen wiþ cursed men ben cursed bi oure [The curse pronounced on those who hold commu∣nion with per∣sons excom∣municate may be turned against the clergy them∣selves,] prelatis, namely ȝif þei don þis wittyngly. Here it semiþ þat God is cursed bi þis sentence, for no cursed man may be in þis

lif but ȝif God wittyngly comune wiþ hym, and ȝeve him beyng and sustenaunce to his lif, where he be wrongly cursed or riȝtfully. And ȝit he is redy to ȝeve him grace and forȝevenesse of his synnes ȝif he ax it worþily; and God ȝeveþ him grace bifore þat he axe it, ȝe, in herte. And siþ oure goode God may not be cursed, þis sentence semeþ to large. And ȝif men ben wrongfully cursed, þerfore wrongfully pursued,—þei þat comynen wiþ hem, and helpen hem, and don werkis of mercy to hem, ben blissed of God. For Crist seiþ in þe gospel, Blissed be þe mercyful, for þei schullen have mercy. And þouȝ men ben nevere so opynly cursid, ȝit men may lawefully comynen wiþ hem, for to drawe hem into good lif, and not to coumforte hem in here synne; and þus boþe God and goode men may lawe∣fully comynen wiþ cursed men wittyngly, in wrongful curs and riȝtful. But late worldly prestis answere here, where a man þat oweþ dette to a cursed man may wittyngly comune wiþ hym, and paie him his dette; and it semeþ bi þis sentence, cried in þe chirche, þat ȝif he do he is cursed, for wyttyngly he comuneþ wiþ a cursed man. Þanne, bi here owene dom, siþ curatis and prelatis þat breken openly Goddis hestis ben riȝtfully cursed of God, sugetis schulden not comyne wiþ hem, resscevynge here sacramentis, ne tiþe ne offre to hem ony goodis, for þan þei comynen wyttyngly wiþ cursed men, þat þei schulden not do for alle þis worlde, bi here owene sentence.

Also, siþ siche curatis don not here office in good lyvyng and [whose curses, if they are bad men, are not to be feared.] trewe techyng, and comen not into here benefices bi þe dore, þat is, Crist, but symonye, pride, and coveitise, þei ben þevys, as Crist seiþ in þe gospel, and cursed, for þei wiþdrawen riȝttis of holy Chirche. Þanne here sugetis ben ressettours of þevys, and meyntenors of hem in here synne, and so cursed bi here owene sentence, and for consent to synne, as Seynt Poul seiþ. And ȝif lawieris seyn þat þis were soþ ȝif men weren þus cursed bi sentence ȝovyn openly of prelatis, certis myche more þis peyne renneþ whan God curseþ justly for brekyng of his hestis. And þe comynte of prelatis cursen in comyn lawe for symonye and wiþdrawyng of holy Chirche riȝttis, and not o singuler prelat for his owene pride and coveitise; for ellis þes lawieris moten sette more priss bi a wrongful curs of a worldly prest,

sumtyme cursed of God, and in cas a dampned fend, þan bi þe moste riȝtful curs þat God can ȝeve; but þis were al on and to drede a worldly cursed wrecche, and in cas a fend of helle, more þan God Almyȝtty and alle his sugetis, and magnyfie siche a frend more þan grete God of hevene and erþe, and alle crea∣turis. Þerfore þis peyne mot renne for just cursyng of God, and not everemore for cursyng of worldly clerkis, for þei don ofte wrong.

CAP. XXVI.

Alle mensleeris and brenneris of houses and corves ben [The curse against man∣slayers falls upon all soldiers that engage in wrongful wars, and upon all preachers that incite them thereto.] cursed opynly in parische chirches. Here men of armes, þat sleen and brennen in wronge werris, ben openly cursed boþe of God and man; and alle counseilours to wrongful werris ben in þe same peril, wiþ alle prechours þat stiren men and herten hem in þes werris, and alle penytaunceris þat tellen not to hem þe treuþe, but assoilen over liȝtly, for money or worldly favour. And it semeþ þat alle preltis in oure lond þat consenten to þes werris, ȝe, þouȝ þei ben riȝtful, ben irreguler bi here owene lawe. For siþ he is irreguler þat writiþ a lettre of dom wherof o þef is dampned to deþ, or sittiþ in place as associed wiþ þe domesman, moche more þes worldly prelatis þat sitten in Perlement, and conseilen þat oure gentelmen schullen goo out of oure lond to werre wiþ Cristene men, where many þousand ben slayn [The writer evidently refers to the expedition to Flanders in 1383, which, from the language used a few lines below, would seem to be still in progress, or at any rate only just over.] , ben irreguler bi Goddis lawe and mannis. For be many resons þes worldly prelatis don werse in þis cas þan ȝif þei killeden sudenly many men bi here owene hondis. And siþþe pope and oþere clerkis, lesse and more, myȝtten soone fordo þes werris and make pees in Cristendom, and leven þis grete dede of charite for worldly wynnynge or frendischipe or bodily desese, it semeþ þat þei ben irreguler, and cause of alle þis werre. And eche man avyse hymself wel, þat þouȝ men han nevere so grete riȝt bi worldly title, ȝit þe werre is wrongful bifore God, but ȝif it be don principaly for charite, to distroie synne of men, and not for coveitise of here goodis, ne pride, ne enemyte of hem; for no

man schulde do ony of þes þre for ony good in þis world, for þus he leesiþ [corrected; lees, X.] charite.

And siþ Crist in þe gospel grauntiþ a hundridfold and ever∣lastynge [If Christ were obeyed, wars would cease; but the pope sedulously encourages war.] lif in hevene to eche man þat forsakiþ for his love hous or lond, or ony worldly honour, whi wole not þes prechours preche opynly þis gospel, þat men myȝtten leve werris and suffre persecucion paciently, as Crist tauȝte for þe beste? Whi wole not þe proude prest of Rome graunte ful perdon to alle men for to lyve in pees and charite and pacience, as he doþ to alle men for to fiȝtte and slee Cristene men, and to helpe þerto? Certis þis prest wiþ his fals prechours, þat ben princes of man∣quelleris and werris, ben openly contrarie to Crist and his postlis, and so open Anticristis, maistris of Sathanas. Ȝit wei∣ward prelatis and curatis, þat techen not Goddis word to here sugetis, but suffren hem be stranglid wiþ wolvys of helle, ben cursed mansleeris, as Crist, bi schewyng of Seynt Gregory, seiþ in many placis of his lawe; and not only sleeris of bodies in þis world, but comynly of body and soule bi deþ of synne, and everelastynge deþ of boþe in helle wiþouten ende.

Alle worldly and oþere sovereyns þat ȝevyn evyl ensaumple of [The wicked∣ness and evil effects of bad examples set by those in power and authority to their subjects.] open synne to here sugetis and neiȝeboris, distroien and brennen Goddis hous and temple, þat is mannis soule, in as moche as [is] [supplied conjecturally.] in hem. And oure Savyour Crist principaly curseþ siche men in þe gospel; for as moche as mannis soule is betre þan erþely muk, so moche ben þes gostly distroieris or brenneris werse þan brenneris of worldly houses. For sumtyme in sum cas þei may lawefully brenne placis of erþe, but nevere Goddis housis, þat is, mannis soule. And ȝit þe more þat a worldly clerk bi evyl ensaumple sclaundriþ þus Cristene soules, þe more he is preised and benefised among grete men of þis world. And certis alle þis meyne is hugely cursed of God for þis meyn∣tening of synne.

CAP. XXVII.

Alle comyn mysdoeris of Cristene peple ben expresly cursed [The pope falls manifestly under the curse pro∣nounced against com∣mon evil-doers.] of God and man. Here alle men owene to drede sore, and

eche man for himself; for he is a comyn mydoere þat comynly doþ grete evyl, and opynly and longe contynueþ þerinne, and cesseþ not for drede of God ne schame of þe world; and namely, ȝif he meyntene oþere men in evyl. Loke now wher þis bischop of Rome wiþ his court do þus in his wengis, boþe possessioneris and religious and mendynauntis. First, bi his worldly [lif] [supplied conjecturally. conjecturally.] he drawiþ þe comynte of clerkis from holy writt, and so distroieþ moche þe feiþ of holy writt; boþe bi his worldly lif, and false expounyng of Cristis lif, for to coloure his lif and his felowis, þat suen þis world and likyng þerof. And he stireþ men bi grete perdon to breke opynly Goddis hestis, and he envenymeþ comynly alle Cristendom wiþ his symonye, and robbiþ it of goode men and vertues, and lettiþ treue prestis to holpe men to heveneward bi prechyng of þe gospel. And he norischeþ most men in synne bi his exempcions, privylegies, indulgencis, and general perdon; and makiþ men triste more in his doyng þan in God Almyȝtty and his mercy. And certis of his comyn [corrected; comyng, X.] mysdoyng, privey and apert, kan no man fully telle but God himself.

Also tirauntis ben ofte tymes comyn mysdoeris; for seculer [Tyrannical lay∣men fall under this curse, but still more tyrannical bishops and priests,] tirauntis robben þe pore peple, and namely here owene ten∣auntis and sugetis, bi extorsions, bi wrong mercymentis, and newe customes and chargis, þat þei hilden pore men and leven hem half quyk. So God seiþ bi his prophetis. But tirauntis of þe chirche, as hie prestis wiþ here officeris and oþere curatis, ben worse comyn mysdoeris. For þei robben here sugetis bi grete ex∣torsions, bi suspendyng, cursing, and enterdityng; and pursueþ to mannis lawe more cruely þan alle oþere tirauntis. And þei maken sotil delaies whanne men ben presentid to grete chirchis, to make hem longe stonde voide, þat þei may have þe profitis in þe mene while; and þei sillen sacramentis, as ordris, and oþere spiritualte, as halwyng of auteris, of chirchis, and chircheȝerdis; and com∣pellen men to bie alle þis wiþ hok or crok. Ȝit þei taken moche money of open synful men, and norischen hem in open synne for annuel rente, [and] [supplied] so sillen Cristene soulis to Sathanas for

here owene muk. And what trewe prest or pore man spekiþ openly aȝenst þis cursed marchaundise, he shal be sumoned, suspendid [corrected; suspendyng, X.] fro prechyng and treuþe-seyng, or cursed, prisoned, or exilid.

Many men of lawe ben comyn mysdoeris, for comynly þei [as well as dis∣honest lawyers.] meynteynen þe false pert, for money or favour or drede of men, and letten þe treuþe bi alle here witt and power, and bi here suteltes turnen þe cat in þe panne, and tarien pore men in here riȝt, þat it is betre to hem for to leve here owene good, þan to calenge it bi worldly dom. Ȝit þe kyng and oþere lordis, wiþ comyn justicis, semen comyn mysdoeris; for þei suffren wickid tyrauntis oppresse pore men bi extorsions and oþere wrongis, whanne þei may liȝtly amende it, and ben so sore chargid of God to helpe pore men, and be to hem as good fadir and modir, and eie to blynde men, and on hand and foot to þe crokid, as Job was, as holy writt telliþ. And þis necligence and [Job xxix. 15.] consente of grete lordis makiþ hem ful gilty and cursed in þe dom of God. Also alle comyn swereris bi Goddis herte, bonys, nailis, and sidis, and oþere membris [The use by the Host in the Canterbury Tales of the profane oaths 'for Goddis bones,' and 'by Goddis dignitee,' elicits a remonstrance from the Parson;—

'What eileth the man, so sinfully to swere?'

To which the immediate reply of the Host is,—

'I smell a loller in the wind:'

this no doubt being a frequent theme of expostulation and censure with the Lollard pamphleteers and itine∣rating preachers, with whom Eng∣land swarmed in the last twenty years of the century.] , and false and veyn swereris, wiþ lecchours, and alle oþere þat comynly don aȝenst ony of Goddis hestis, for þei ben comyn mysdoeris, rennen fully in þis sentence.

CAP. XXVIII.

Alle false conspiratours ben cursed of God and man. Con∣spiratours [Friars, monks, and worldly priests fall under the curse pro∣nounced against con∣spirators,] ben þo þat by comyn assent don wrong or ony fals∣nesse to here neiȝeboris. Here it semeþ openly þat alle freris, worldly clerkis, and possessioneris, ben openly cursed; for þei conspiren falsly aȝenst þe gospel and Cristis [corrected; Crist, X.] pore prestis; and

þei schullen not preche wiþouten leve of þe bischopis, and þei wolen not suffre hem to preche fully þe treuþe of holy writt, and warne þe peple of Anticristis tirauntrie, and of his clerkis ypocrisie, as God biddiþ hem do. And whanne þei comen to þe purpos of here false ypocrisie, and stoppen trewe men fro prechyng of þe gospel, þei maken moche joie and gladnesse; and here þei schewen opynly þat þei serven to þe fend, fadir of falsnesse, and haten Jesus Crist, lord of treuþe and soþfastnesse.

Also alle newe fraternytes or gildis [For the fullest and most accu∣rate information on the subject of English Guilds, see the work en∣titled 'English Gilds' (Early English Text Society), edited by the late Mr. Toulmin Smith, with the ex∣cellent preliminary essay of Dr. Brentano, of Aschaffenburg.] maad of men semen [as well as fra∣ternities or guilds,] openly to renne in þis curs. For þei conspiren many false errours aȝenst þe comyn fraternyte of Crist, þat alle Cristene [corrected; Criste, X.] men token in here cristendom, and aȝenst comyn charite and comyn profit of Cristene men. And þerto þei conspiren to bere up eche oþer, ȝe, in wrong, and oppresse oþere men in here riȝt bi here witt and power. And alle þe good∣nes þat is in þes gildes eche man owiþ for to do bi comyn fraternyte of Cristendom, bi Goddis comaundement. And þei bryngen in moche pride vanyte and wast, cost, and triste in mennus helpe more þan in Goddis; and þus þei bryngen in moche evyl, and no good, more þan God comaunded frist; but þei letten moche unyte pees and charite of Cristene peple, and meyntenen errour of wrong and gret discencion, and moche symonye, and letten pore mennus almes and liflode þat lyn bed∣rede blynd and feble. Also men of sutel craft, as fre masons and oþere, semen openly cursed bi þis sentence. For þei conspiren togidere þat no man of here craft schal take lesse on a day þat þei setten, þouȝ he schulde bi good conscience take moche lesse, and þat noon of hem schal make sade trewe werk to lette oþere mennus wynnyng of þe craft, and þat non of hem schal do ouȝt but only hewe stone, þouȝ he myȝt profit his maistir twenti pound bi o daies werk bi leggyng on a wal, wiþouten harm or penyng himself. See hou þis wickid peple

conspireþ aȝenst treuþe and charite, and comyn profit of þe lond, and ponyschiþ hem þat helpen frely here neiȝeboris.

Also it semeþ þat marchauntis groceris and vitileris rennen [and merchants, grocers, &c.] in þe same curs fully. For þei conspiren wickidly togidre þat noon of hem schal bie over a certeyn pris, þouȝ þe þing þat þei bien be moche more worþi, and þei knowen wel þis; and þat non of hem schal sille betere chepe ['Chepe' meaning to buy, (kauffen, cheapen, &c.) the customer that bought any article in the market for a low price, got it 'good chepe,' i.e. made a good bargain for it. Similarly, to sell 'betere chepe' is to sell at a better bar∣gain for the buyer, or, as we say, cheaper.] þan anoþer, þouȝ he may wel forþ it so, and it be not so moche worþ as anoþer mannis chaffer; þus he schal be ponysched sore ȝif he do trewe and good conscience. Certis alle þis peple conspiriþ cursedly aȝenst treuþe, charite, and comyn profit. Summe trewe men seyn, þat summe parische prestis conspiren togidere to selle sacramentis for a certeyn pris, and to lette trewe men to preche þe gospel, for drede last þei tellen out here cursed ypocrisie and symonye and heresie. And ȝif it fare þus wiþ hiere penytaunceris, boþe of bischopis and popis,—and sum men supposen þat þei don,—it is moche þe werse on alle ordris, for þanne þei ben cursed of God and man, and maken þe peple cursed þerto.

CAP. XXIX.

Alle þat wiþholden unresonably ony goodis axid þries in þe [Those of the clergy who will not preach the gospel nor lead good lives, fall under the curse pro∣nounced against those that withhold other men's goods un-reasonably,] chirche, fallen into þe grete sentence of curs. Þis sentence of curs semeþ resonable to good understondyng, for Seynt Austyn seiþ, Ȝif þou fynde ouȝt of oþere mennus and quitest it not, þou hast ravyschid þat þing, or stolen, or taken bi raveyne [S. Aug. Sermo clxxviii. § 9. 'Quod invenisti et non reddidisti, rapuisti.'] . Þan siþ Crist himself haþ axid solempnely, bi hie redyng of his gospel and oþere placis of holy writt, generaly in churchis, riȝt feiþ and good lyvyng and due reverence to him, þei þat wiþholden þes goodis ben justly acursed of God himself, þat may not erre. Also, siþ God himself, and bi his prestis boþe haþ axid þus many þousand tymes þat prelatis and curatis, more and lesse, do trewely here gostly office in trewe techyng

of þe gospel and his comaundementis, wiþ open ensaumple of here owene good lif, to be myrrour to here sugetis, þei þat wiþholden þes goodis ben riȝtfully cursed of God and alle his seyntis. And siþ God and trewe prestis han axid þus many tymes, þat curatis schulden lyve in mekenesse symplenesse and sobernesse, and spende al þat leveþ over here resonable sus∣teynaunce in relevyng of pore men, þei þat wiþholden þes goodis of holy Chirche, and spenden hem in pride glotonye lecherie and worldly vanyte, ben openly cursed bi þis sentence, and many oþere ful trewe and resonable.

Also, siþen God and his prestis han openly axid þus oft tyme [as do those who hinder priests from residing in their parishes,] in chirchis, þat prelatis and curatis ben not bisy in lordis courtis, in worldly officis, but be bisi on here gostly office, and resident at hom wiþ here scheep, þei þat wiþholden þes curatis in here worldly servyce, for here gostly office, fallen fully in þis riȝtful curs. But more þis weiward steffadris of mennus soulis, þat for coveitise of moo benefices, and gederyng of erþely dritt, pro∣curen þis, and ȝyven moche money to be þus in worldly office; for þei procuren faste to poisone here lordis, hemself, and þe peple, wiþ Goddis curs and here owene. Oure bischopis þat pressen to be chaunseler [The writer seems to glance principally at William of Wykeham, who was chancellor for several years under Edward III, and again for a short time under Richard II, from 1389 to 1391.] and tresorer and governours of alle worldly officis in þe rewme, to dredeful sore [something seems omitted.] , for þei may not wel togidre do her gostly office and worldly, for Crist and alle his postlis, wiþ alle here witt, kouden not and wolden not enter∣mete wiþ worldly office, but fledden it as venym. And certis oþer þes bischopis ben wittier and myȝttier þan Jesus Crist and his postlis, or ellis þei ben open foolis cursed of God and man. For þei moten nedis be traitours of God and his peple in þe sovereyn medicyn of soulis helþe, þe while þei ben þus bisy aboute worldly occupacion. And alle þis þei don for worldly pride and wynnyng, and for þat þe kyng and lordis schulden have no power to brynge hem to meke and gostly lif of Crist and his postlis.

Also, siþ God and his prechours han ofte axid in chirchis [and rich men, who waste in]

solempnely, þat alle riche men do treuely and wisely [ȝeve [supplied conjecturally.] ] [luxury the superfluity of their goods which ought to be given to the poor.] þe residue of here goodis, over her owene sustenaunce and oþer nedis, in werkis of mercy to pore feble lame and blynde, þei þat wiþholden þes goodis fro þes pore men, and wasten hem in pompe and glotonye and oþere vanytees, rennen in þis sen∣tence. Also, siþ prelatis and curatis han axid so ofte dewe obedience reverence and love, and unyte of her sugetis and parischenes, freris þat wiþholden þes sugetis from here parisch chirches, and her sacramentis þere, for here owene coveitise and pride, fallen fully in þis sentence. For þei wiþdrawen oþere mennus riȝttis to hemself for coveitise, and maken discension, and disturblen pees and charite, and namely whanne þei taken almes of riche men, þat is sustenaunce of pore bedrede men, to hemself bi sutel ypocrisie, as fals beggyng whanne it is no nede, and maken grete festis to riche men, and bilden wast housen [corrected; housyng, X.] , and namely hie kechenes and grete chaumbris for lordis, aȝenst here owene reule and prosession; and to pursue trewe men þat prechen þe gospel aȝenst comyn synnes, and so Crist himself, aȝenst þe lawe of God expressely. Þus many men rennen in þis poynt of curs, and namely oþere, whoso sekiþ wel.

Men wondren moche whi prelatis and curatis cursen so faste, [General won∣der and indig∣nation at the proneness of churchmen to shower curses where their worldly in∣terests are at stake.] siþ Seynt Poul and Seynt Petir comaunden men to blisse and not have will to curse; and Jesus Crist blissed his enemys, and hertely preiede for hem, þe while he was nailed on þe croos of hem. More men wondren whi þei cursen so faste for here owene cause and wordly muk, and not for reprofe don to Crist and his majeste; siþ men schulden be pacient in here owene wrongis and dispitis, as Crist and his disciplis weren, and not suffre o word be don aȝenst Goddis honour and mageste, as bi fals and veyn oþis, and ribaudrie of lecherie, and oþere filþe. Most men wondren whi worldly clerkis cursen so faste for brekyng of here owene statutis, privylegies, and weiward customes, more þan for open brekyng [cor∣rected; breken, X.] of Goddis comaunde∣mentis; siþ no man is cursed of God but only for brekyng of his hestis,—whatevere worldly wrecchis blaberen,—and no man

is blissed of God and schal come to hevene, but only he þat kepiþ Goddis hestis, and namely in hour of his deþ,—have a man nevere so many þousande bullis of indulgence or perdon, and letteris of fraternyte, and þousynde massis of prestis monkis and freris.

Þerfore an holsum counseil is þis, þat prelatis and curatis leve [Conclusion.] þes poyntes of sentence, for many of hem be as false as Sathanas, and teche Goddis hestis and Goddis curs, and peynes of helle dewe to men but ȝif þei amende hem in þis lif, and what blisse men schullen have for kepyng of hem; and þai þei teche trewely Cristis gospel in word and ensaumple of holy lif; and þe mercy of God, and hienesse of his blissyng; and blisse to alle þat enden in riȝt bileve, and hope to God, and ful charite to God and man. God graunte us þis ende:

Amen.

XXIII. [THE CHURCH AND HER MEMBERS.]

[Two good texts of the following treatise are extant—one at the end of the volume Bodl. 788, which contains the Sermons; the other in the volume of Wyclif tracts at Trin. Coll., Dublin, marked C. V. 6. The Bodleian MS., which has been transcribed for the present edition, appears, on a comparison with the text of the Dublin MS., as printed by Dr. Todd in his Three Treatises by John Wyclyffe, to be considerably the more accu∣rate of the two.

The treatise is ascribed to Wyclif in Bale's catalogue under the title 'De Ecclesiae Dominio,' inc. 'Christi ecclesia est ejus sponsa.' It is impossible to say whence he derived this title, which however accu∣rately enough describes the work, or at any rate all the early portion of it. There is no title, but only a descriptive heading, in the Bod∣leian MS. The Dublin MS. gives as the title 'De Ecclesia et Membris ejus.' Perhaps the scribe invented this title, on the hint given him by the descriptive heading in the Bodleian MS.;—perhaps he confounded the present work with the long Latin treatise, De Ecclesia et Membris, writ∣ten by Wyclif, which is frequently referred to by Walden in his Doctrinale, and catalogued by Bale with the incipit 'Suppositis dictis de fide Catho∣licâ.' That Wyclif was the author of the present treatise I see little reason to doubt. The mere fact of its being found in Bodl. 788 is an evidence in its favour, since all the remaining contents of that volume are unquestion∣ably by Wyclif. The style, the mention of 'Caymes castelis' (p. 348, note), the language held respecting the Eucharist in Ch. VI,—all tend to identify Wyclif as the writer.

From the manner in which the expedition to Flanders is spoken of in Ch. V, as an event of the recent past, I should infer that the treatise was written in the early part of the year 1384.]

HERE BIGYNNEÞ A TRETICE ÞAT TELLIÞ KNOWLECHE SUMWHAT OF ÞE CHIRCHE AND HIR MEMBRIS.

CRISTIS Chirche in his Spouse, that haþ þree partis. Þe first [Christ's Church is in three parts: The first con∣sists of angels and saints in heaven; the second of saints in pur∣gatory; the third of men that shall be saved, here on earth.] part is in blis, wiþ Crist heed of þe Chirche, and conteneþ angels and blessid men þat now ben in hevene. Þe secounde part of þis Chirche ben seintis in purgatorie; and þes synnen not of þe newe, but purgen þer olde synnes. And many errours fallen in preiyng for þes seintis; and siþ þei alle been deed in bodi, Cristis wordis may be taken of hem,—sue we Crist, in oure lif, and late þe dede birie the dede. Þe þridde part of the Chirche ben trewe men þat here lyven, þat schulen be aftir saved in hevene, and lyven here Cristen mennis liif. Þe first part is clepid over-comynge; þe myddil is clepid slepyng; þe þridde is clepid fiȝtinge Chirche; and alle þes maken o Chirche. And heed of þis Chirche is Crist, boþe God and man; and þis Chirche is modir to ech man þat shal be saaf, and conteyneþ no membre but oonli men þat shal be saved. For, as Crist vouchiþ-saaf to clepe þis Chirche his spouse, so he clepiþ curside men fendis, as was Scarioth. And fer be it fro Cristene men to graunte þat Crist haþ weddid þe fend; sith Poul seiþ in oure bileve þat Crist comouneþ not wiþ Belial. And here we takun as bileve þat ech member of holi Churche shal be saved wiþ Crist, as ech membre of þe fend is dampned; and so þe while we fiȝten here and witen not where we schal be saaf, we witen not where we ben membris of holi Churche. But as God wole of þre þingis, þat we knowun hem not in certein, so he wole for greet cause þat we witen not where we ben of þe Chirche. But as ech man shal hope þat he schal be saaf in blisse, so he shulde suppose þat he be lyme of holi Chirche; and þus he shulde love holi Chirche, and worschipe it as his modir.

And by þis hope, bineþe bileve, shulden be two synnes fled; [Therefore no man, not the Pope himself, can tell while he lives whe∣ther he be a member of the Church or not,] pride of men and coveitise, bi title þat þei ben men of holi Chirche. For no pope þat now lyveþ woot where he be of þe Chirche, or where he be a lym of the fend, to be dampned wiþ Lucifer. And þus it is a blynd folie þat men shulden fiȝte for þe pope more þan þei fiȝten for bileve; for many siche fiȝten

for þe fend. And take we þis as bileve, or treuþe þat is next bileve, þat no man þat lyveþ here woot wheþer he shal be saved or dampned, al ȝif he hope byneþe bileve þat he shal be saved in heven. Ȝif ony man be tauȝt of God þat he shal be saved in hevene, noon or fewe men ben siche; and asaye hem bi hem silf, for þei schulden have noon [omitted; CC.] evidence to seie þat God haþ told hem þis. Þe first bileve þat we schulden have is, þat Crist is God and man; and how he haþ him bi his Goddhede, and how he lyvede here by his manhede. And þus oure hope and bileve ben temperid in Cristen men.

CAP. II.

But aftir þes two godliche virtues, we taken sumþing as [Sketch of the early history of the Church till Pope Sylves∣ter.] bileve, and sumþing bi comune croniclis; and hopen þat charite moveþ us here. After that Crist hadde dwelt here long ynowȝ wiþ his apostlis, aboute þree and þritti ȝeer, as him likide, aftir∣ward he was kild of þe Jewes, and aftirward þe þridde day oure God aroos from deþ to lyf. And aftir þe fourtiþe day fro þat he was schewid to his disciplis, Jesus stiede in to hevene, and rengnede ever þere wiþ his Fadir. And so þe first part of þe Chirche rengneþ þus in hevene with Crist; þe secounde part slepiþ ȝit, as longe as Crist likiþ; þe þridde part of þe Chirche fiȝtiþ here aftir Crist, and takiþ ensaumple and weie of him to come to hevene as he cam. And ever more þe Hooli Goost governeþ wiþ hem al Cristis Chirche; for as þes þree persones of God ben o God and not manye, so alle dedes and werkes of þe Trinite mai not be departid from oþir. For as al þat þe Fadir wole, þe Sone wole, and þis Goost wole,—so al þat o per∣sone doiþ, þes þree persones done. Aftir þat Crist was stied in to hevene, aboute ten daies, as he hadde ordeynid, he sente doun þe Holi Goost, and movede apostlis to do his dedes; and þei wenten and prechiden faste among Jewis and heþen men. But Jewis aȝenstonden hem faste, and heþene men token him wiþ wille, and resceyveden þe Holy Goost, and bicamen Cristene men. And þus apostlis of Crist filliden bi Goddis grace þis world. But longe aftir, as croniclis seien, þe fend hadde envie herto; and bi Silvestre preest of Rome he brouȝte in a newe

gile, and moved þe emperour of Rome to dowe þis Chirche in þis preest. For, as the fend tauȝte þis kyng, þis dede cam of greet almes; for þei þouȝten not how þe Chirche shulde sue Crist in his lawe. But trewe men supposen here, þat boþe þis emperour and þis preest weren moved of God bi tymes to trowe þat þei synneden in þis dede. But bisie we us not where þei ben seintis, and how þei were þus moved of God; for al þis is byneþe bileve, and men mai trowe it ȝif þei wolen.

Whan þis lif was þus changid, þe name of this preest was [After whom the Papacy was corrupted more and more,] changid; he was not clepid Cristis apostle, ne hiȝ disciple of Crist, but he was clepid the pope, and heed of al hooli Chirche; and aftirward camen oþer names bi feynyng of ypocritis; as sum men seien, þat he is even wiþ the manheed of Crist, and hierste viker of Crist to do in erþe whatever him likiþ; and summe florishen oþir names, and seien þat he is moost blissed fadir. But cause herof ben beneficis þat þis preest ȝyveþ to men; for Symon Magus travailide nevere more in symonie þan þes preestis doon. And so God wolde suffre no lenger þe fend to regne oonli in oo siche preest, but, for synne þat þei hadden do, made devisioun amongis two, so þat men myȝten liȝtlier in Cristis name overcome þes boþe. For as o virtu is strengere if it be gedrid, þan if it be scatrid, so o malis is strenger whanne it is gederid in o persone, and it is of lesse strengþe whanne it is departid in manye; for þanne oon helpiþ aȝen anoþir to con∣founde Anticrist.

And þis moveþ pore preestis to speke now herteli in þis [so that the poor priests now speak out boldly and declare the Pope to be Antichrist.] mater. For whanne þat God wole helpe his Chirche, and men ben slowe and wole not worche, þis slouþe is to be dampned for many causis in idil men. And myche more ben þei damp∣nable, þat letten Goddis lawe to shyne. Þes men taken noo witnes of adversaries to þis pope, and ben Jewis and Sarasynes, Grekis and Yngdis, wiþ many oþir; but þei taken þe lyf of Crist as bileve, and þeron grounden hem; and þus þei seien, ȝif þis pope contrarieþ to Cristis lyf, he is þe moste fendis viker and Anticrist þat is here; and sich Anticrist and noon oþir þenken many þat Goddis lawe spekiþ of. Bileve telliþ how Joon seide, þat now ben many Anticristis; but ȝif oon is moost of

oþir, þat gileþ man bi ypocrisie. For oon mai seie þat he aloone is Cristis viker here in erþe, and he haþ power singuler to taxe gracis as him likiþ, for so dide Petir, aftir Crist, and many oþir after Petir; and þus þer is oon emperour, and oon heed in a comunnete. But here þenken trewe men þat þe fend failliþ here, and goiþ unstable bi two weies, and reversiþ Goddis lawe. First shulde þe fend grounde þat þis pope is Petris viker, and so viker of Crist, in þat þat he sueþ Crist. For bileve techiþ þat þe chesyng maad of man is fals signe, and incompleet for to make Cristis viker; but workis of a mannis lyf shulde make a man sue Crist. And þus Crist biddiþ þe Jewes, þat þei shulden trowe to his werkes; and þus verry Cristis viker shulde be por∣erste man of oþir, and mekerst of oþir men, and moost traveile in Cristis Chirche. But chesyng of cardinalis, and parting of benefices, and takyng of newe names, ben ful fer fro þis staat. Þus lyvede Petir, aftir Crist; and chalengide no siche names, ne to be heed of holi Chirche, but how mekely he myȝte serve it. But ech apostle in his cuntre wrouȝte aftir Cristis lawe, and noon of hem hadde aftir nede to come to Petir to be con∣fermed. But oonhede on heed of holi Chirche is Jesus Crist here wiþ us, þat is ever in þe myddil of þree þat ben gedrid in his name. And þat man is out of resoun, þat trowiþ þat Cle∣ment in Petris tyme was more þan Joon evaungelist, or any apostle that lyvede wiþ him. And ȝif we trowen to croniclis here, hou þat Clement left his office and procuride oþir to helpe him, as Poul helpide Petir, and Petre suffride mekeli þat Poul snybbide him whanne he erride, we mai see opunli how þes popis fallen fro Petir, and myche more þei fallen fro Crist þat myȝte not erre in onyþing. Trowe we þat Crist lefte to preche, and seelde officis of þe Chirche, or wolde juge of unknowun þing to him, or make him more þan he was? Alle þes þingis þat popis doon techen þat þei ben Anticristis; for Crist myȝte not take a name, but ȝif it were mekenes and treuþe.

And ȝif þou seie þat Cristis Chirche mut have an heed here [Christ, not the Pope, is the true and sole head of the Church.] in erþe, soiþ it is, for Crist is heed, þat muste be here wiþ his Chirche unto þe day of dome, and everywhere bi his God∣hede. For siþ vertue of a kyng mut be strecchid by al his rewme, myche more þe vertue of Crist is comuned wiþ al his

children. And ȝif þou seie þat Crist mut nedis have sich a viker here in erþe, denye þou Cristis power, and make þis fend above Crist. For bileve techiþ us, þat noo man mai grounde þis viker oonly on Cristis lawe, but on presumpcioun of man; and sich hyenesse of emperours haþ destried her empire; and, ȝif þat God wole, þes popes shal destrie hemsilf, ȝhe, here,—for no drede þei ben distried in helle bi jugement of Crist. And so whatever reasoun men maken of Crist, of Petir, or oþer good ground, it goiþ opinli aȝen sich a pope for þe grete diversite; and so whanne þes men failen resoun, þei tristen to mannis helpe, and feynen bi ipocrisie how myche good þei don aȝen. But God cursiþ by Jeremye hem that affien þus in man. [Jer. xvii. 5.]

CAP. III.

Here men taken sumwhat soiþ, and doon dremyng to þis [The theory of the high papal party has no foundation in Scripture.] treuþe. Þei seien soþli, þat Cristis Chirche is his hous to kepe his meyne;—and summe in þis hous ben sones, þat shulen ever dwelle in hevene and take her fadris heritage, ȝhe, ȝif þei tres∣passen for a tyme,—and summe ben servauntis in þis hous, al ȝif þei shulen aftir be dampned. And so it is greet diversite to be in þis Chirche; and of þis Chirche þes wordis ben soþli seid, and notabli to mannis kynde. But whanne dremes come aftir, þei maken a fals feyned tale. Þei seien,—whanne Crist wente to hevene, his manhed wente in pilgrymage, and made Petir, wiþ al þes popis, his stewardis to reule his hous, and ȝaf hem ful power herto bifore alle oþir preestis alyve. Here þis dreem takun amys turneþ up so doun þe Chirche. For Petir was a trewe help wiþ Poul and Joon and oþir apostlis; but noon of þes servauntis dremeden þat he was heed of hooli Chirche, or þat he lovede Crist more þan ony of his breþren dide. It is licli to many men þat Petir lovede Crist more in a maner þan ony of þes oþir apostlis, but he was tauȝt to strive not herfore; for oþir apostlis in oþir maner loveden more Crist þan dide Petir,—as Poul traveilide more in þe Chirche,—and Joon lovede Crist more hevenliche. For Joones love was in quiet and clene, as seintes loven in heven. Which of þes is more hiȝ now is but foli us to dreme. Wel we witen þat Crist

wole taken, of what state þat him likiþ, a man, aftir þat he is worþi, to more blis or more joie; but aftir bileve of hooli writt, þat telliþ of Petre and oþir apostlis þat þei ben now blessid in hevene,—for noon fel but Scarioth,—taken we biside bileve of many oþir, þat þei ben seintis, as of Clement and Laurence, and oþir þat þe Legende [The Legenda Aurea of Jacobus de Voragine.] spekiþ of. And of summe we han more evidence, and of sum lasse, bineþe bileve.

And summe þenken a greet evidence, þat if þe pope canonise [Canonization no proof of holiness, nor election to the Popedom of election to bliss.] þis man, þanne he mut nedis be seint in hevene. But trowe þei þis men þat wolen. Wel Y woot þat þese popis may erre and synne, as Petre dide, and ȝit Petre dremede not þus, to shewe þat men ben seintis in hevene. But it mai falle þat manie men þat ben canonisid by þes popis ben depe dampned in helle, for þei disseyven and ben disseyved. Afferme we not as bileve, þat ȝif a man be chosen pope, þan he is chosen to blis, as he is here clepid blessederste fadir. And many trowen bi þer werkes þat þes ben depperst dampned in helle. For þei chargen hemsilf as ypocritis, boþe in office and in name; and so þei sitten in þe firste place here, and at þe laste day of dome þei schulen be in þe laste place, þat is, þe depperste place of helle. Holde we us in bondis of bileve, þat stondiþ in general wordis and in condicionel wordis, and juge we not here folili. But we mai seie bi supposal, þat we gesse þat it is so; and whoever haþ more evidence, his part shulde sunner be sup∣posid. But here ben þree grete heresies þat disseyven many men. First, men supposen þat ech pope is þe moost blessid fadir; but þis speche lastiþ but a while, til þat þe pope mai avaunce men. But heere we seien soþly, þat þes men þat clepen hem blessid, disseiven hem and flateren hem, for þei hopen to have wynnyng of hem. For wheþir is þis pope moost blessid in þis liif or aftir þis lyf? He is not blessid in þis lif, for blis falliþ to þe toþir lyf, and þis lif is ful of sorowe and synne, þat suffriþ not blis wiþ it. And ȝif men speken largeli, many men ben here more blessid þan þe pope; for hyenes of þis state makiþ not bi himsilf man blessid, for ellis ech pope were blissed, al ȝif he were falsly chosen of fendis; and Scarioth shulde be blissed, for he was chosen of Crist himself. And it is no nede

to argue here for to disprove þis foli, for it is more fals in him∣silf þan ouȝt þat men shulen bringe herof.

Þe toþir heresie, þat comeþ of þis, disceyveþ many simple [The notion of papal infalli∣bility is a heresy,] men; þat ȝif þe pope determine ouȝt, þanne it is soiþ and to bileve. But Lord! where ech pope be more and beter wiþ God þan was Petre? But he erride ofte, and synnede myche; ȝhe, aftir he hadde take þe Holi Goost. Lord! wher Crist clepide hym Sathanas, and bad him go aftir him, and ȝit þer was no cause of his errour, wherfore Crist clepide him þus? And so whanne Petre denyede Crist, and swore fals for a wom∣mans vois, he erride in þis foul synne; and þerfore he wepte aftir. Also, aftir takyng of þe Holi Goost, Petre erride, as Poul seiþ, whanne he wolde not dele with Gentiles for tendir∣nesse of þe Jewis. Lord! wher men of worse liif mai sunner erre in þer jugement! And ever þe moo þat ben of siche, ever þe sunner mai þei erre; for Scarioth made oþir apostlis to erre in companye of Crist, and it were to fals a feynyng, to seie þat holi Chirche hangiþ on þes, for þis feyner can not teche þat ony of þes is of þe Chirche. And of þis comen many heresies, [with other opinions con∣nected with it.] as of assoilingis and indulgencis, and cursingis, wiþ feyned par∣dons, þat make many men have conscience and trowe more to þe pope in sich a cause þan þei trowe to þe Gospel. And men moten erre here in bileve, and take ofte fals as bileve. Þis heresie schulden men flee, for fals mainteynyng makiþ heretikes, and to assente wiþ suche falseheed bringiþ in ofte heresies; and Crist wole not assente wiþ þes, for þei mai not be soiþ.

CAP. IV.

Se we ferþer how þis stiward may erre in ordenaunce of the [Monks, canons, and friars have been succes∣sively brought in, only to the burden of the Church.] Chirche; and bigynne we at þe freris, þe which ben brouȝt last in. It is licly þat Cristis preestis, þat stooden til þat monkes comen, turneden to myche fro Cristis lawe, and monkes lyve∣den þan wel beter. But þes monkes stoden awhile, and turne∣den souner to coveitise; and aftir monkes camen þes chanouns; and after chanouns camen freris. And so greet defaute was in prestis bifore, þat þes newe ordris camen in. But as þes newe ordris changen in cloþis, in bokis [So in CC; beckis, A.] , wiþ oþer ritis, so þei varien

in Goddis office fro þat þat Crist bad his preestis do. So, ȝif apostlis weren now alyve, and sawen þus preestis serve in þe Chirche, þei wolden not clepe hem Cristis officeris, but officeris of Anticrist. Suppose we þat þes newe ordris, stondinge alle þes olde ordris, ben chargious to þe Chirche in worldli goodis þat þei dispenden. For noumbre of preestis brouȝt in bi Crist was sufficient for Cristis hous, and for þe same hous ben now moo and worse; and þis hous is lesse by hem. Who mai denye þat ne þis noumbre of þes officeris is now to myche? And so þis stiward haþ chargid þis hous wiþ newe rehetours [Several explanations have been proposed of this word, the general sense of which clearly is 'servants,' 'menials.' But since rehete and re∣hetinge, in the sense of 'refresh,' are of frequent occurrence in Chaucer, the proposal of Dr. Todd to con∣sider rehetours a noun of the agent formed from rehete, and to derive it from the old French word rehaiter, rehetier, seems to me preferable to the ingenious solutions proposed by writers in 'Notes and Queries.' Hait meant enjoyment, haiter to enjoy one∣self; therefore rehetours might mean lazy apolaustic fellows, idlers, super∣numeraries with little or no work to do,—a class which in those days of 'maintenance' infested, as we know, the great country houses and castles of the nobility. See Todd's Three Treatises by Wycliffe. Dublin, 1857.] , to harm of it. And siþ Poul techiþ in bileve, þat þei shulden not be chargious to þe Chirche, and þat þei have no power but to profite, not to harme, it semeþ bi good resoun þat þis stiward passiþ his power, and failiþ in governaunce of þe Chirche, aȝen þe reule þat Crist haþ tauȝt; and so he is not Cristis stiward, but stiward of Anticrist. What man can not se þat a stiward of an erþely lord, [þat] [supplied conjecturally.] whanne many servauntis done amys, holdiþ stille, and bryngiþ in newe þat done werse bi litil tyme, failiþ foule in his office? And so servauntis upon servantis weren charious to þis hous; and ȝif þer firste office was good, and þis is now al oþer, þe changynge of þes newe rehetours shulde do harm to þis hous. And þus it stondiþ in þe Chirche of þes newe servauntis þat ben brouȝt in.

And newe lawes ben maad to hem, and newe customes þat [The clergy are ever absorbing more wealth, and more land.] þei bryngen in, by whiche þei spuylen on newe þe puple, but fruyt of þer profit failiþ. And siþ Petre hadde not þis power, ne Poul, ne ony oþir apostle, þis stiward of Anticrist mut nede come in bi þe fend. O! siþ in þe olde lawe weren preestis and

dekenes myche chargid in berynge of þe tabernacle, in sleying of beestis, and oþir ritis, and ȝit þe kynrede of Levi sufficide to al þes officis, myche more in tyme of grace, whanne Goddis service is liȝter! And so, siþ þe tenþe part of þe fruyt sufficide for al þes clerkes, how shulde not þis suffice now for fewer clerkis and lesse of spensis. We mai not pynche at þis lawe, þat God himsilf ordeynede first, but ȝif we putten blasphemye on God þat he ordeynede folily. And herfore Cristis apostlis, and oþere disciplis longe aftir hem, were not bisie aboute dymes, but helden hem paied on a litil, þat þe puple ȝaf hem redily. And so housing and cloþing þat Poul seiþ shulde be ynowȝ. But now men seien þat preestis ben moost gredy purchasours in erþe, and han to hem þe fourþe part þat shulde be in þer breþeren hondis; and þis þei seien is mortified, and patrimonie of Crist þat was done on þe cros. And to defende þis patri∣monie ben manye newe lawes ordeyned, and cursing for sacri∣legie in whomever þat reveþ þis rente. And, for prestis han ynouȝ of suche goodis mortified, þerfore þis styward chafferiþ wiþ appropryng of chirchis; and so þe puple dwelliþ untauȝt, and unlerned in goostli helpe. Who shulde be blamyd herfore but þis stiward, þat doiþ þis wiþouten leeve of þe lord, but opynli aȝens his biddynge? Ȝif ony man shal be dampned, þis styward shal be depperste dampned; and algatis for he feyneþ power, and newe lawes þat God made never. And ȝit þis blas∣pheme gabbiþ upon God, and seiþ þat al þis is Goddis werk; but in þe Olde Testament shulden siche blasfemes be stoned to deeþ. And þus bringing in of newe ordres, wiþ service þat þe pope confermeþ, techen þat he is traitour to God, and turneþ þe Chirche up so doun.

Lord! where he were not chargid at þe fulle, as apostlis [The more the Pope arrogates to himself, the heavier reckon∣ing he will have to render.] weren? but ȝif he took more charge upon him bi his newe foundun ordenaunce, certis þe apostilis dursten not do þis, and ȝit þei hadden more grace of God, and traveiliden more bisili to growyng and profiting of þe Chirche. And no drede al þat þe pope haþ over, more þan hadden apostilis of Crist, he shal streitly rekene þerfore, siþ Crist is Lord of alle lordis. And so it semeþ þat þe pope is more holden to Crist þan was Petre, bi as myche as he haþ more of staat and worldly goodis. But

sum men seien, þat state in helle, and punisching for þis þefte, moten maken aseeþ herfore, siþ good service failiþ here. And so þe pope semeþ wood, and blyndid by þe fend, whanne he takiþ more charge upon him þan he nediþ for to have, or here or in þe toþer world, for ony state þat God haþ ordeyned. And þus it semeþ þat he dispeireþ of comyng of þe day of dome, as ȝif he caste nevere to rekene wiþ God þat muste be heierste Juge. And so, ȝif men avise hem wel, but ȝif þei han oþir title þan ben bullis of þe pope, or graunt of him, þei shulen be dampned. And þis title of Crist oure God were ynowȝ to Cristene men, as it was in Petris tyme, alȝif þe pope shewide not þus his power bi fals bullis of Petre and Poule, þat semen to be aȝens Cristis lordschip. Þus mai men see, þat þis styward doiþ more þan he haþ leeve to do; and þes newe ordris, groundid on him, and not on grauntyng of Cristis lawe, ben a flok of þe fendis children, but ȝif þei leeven þis mannis title.

CAP. V.

And here men noten many harmes þat freris don in þe [The misdeeds of friars.] Chirche. Þei spuylen þe puple many weies by ipocrisie and oþer leesingis, and bi þis spuylyng þei bilden Caymes Castelis [Caymes Castelis.] Dr. Todd, in a note on this phrase, quotes a pas∣sage in lib. iv. cap. 33 of the Tri∣alogus, in which Wyclif explains that he calls the monasteries of the friars 'Caym's castles,' because the four letters of the word 'Caym' (which Wyclif imagined to be the right way of spelling Cain), designate respec∣tively the Carmelites, the Augusti∣nians, the Jacobites (or Dominicans), and the Minorites (Franciscans).] , to harme of cuntreis. Þei stelen pore mennis children, þat is werse þan stele an oxe; and þei stelen gladlich eires,—Y leeve to speke of stelyng of wymmen,—and þus þei maken londis bareyne for wiþdrawyng of werkmen, not al oonli in defaute of cornes, but in beestis and oþer good. For þei reversen Goddis ordenaunce in þre partis of þe Chirche; þei maken men to trowe fals of hem, and letten almes to be ȝovun bi Goddis lawe; and þus þei letten bi gabbingis office and lif of trewe prestis, for þei letten hem for to preche, and speciali Cristis gospel. Þei moven londis to bateilis, and pesible persones to plete; þei maken many divorsis, and many matrimonies, unleveful, boþe

bi lesingis maad to parties, and bi pryvelegies of þe court. Y leeve to speke of fiȝting þat þei done in o lond and oþir, and of oþir bodili harmes þat tungis suffisen not to telle. For as myche as þei dispenden, as myche and more þei harmen rewmes;—as þei han, in þis laste journe þat Englishemen maden into Flandres [See the prefatory notice] , spuylid oure rewme of men and money more þan þe freris han wiþ hem. And no drede to Englishemen, þat ne þei han pro∣curid þis iourney, boþe in preching, and in gedering, and in traveiling of þer owne persone. And freris þat semen un∣coupable here, moten algatis graunte þer assent; for oo maner of consent is, whanne a man is stille and telliþ not. And ȝif freris forsaken þis now, and seien þat þei assentiden not herto, þei usen þer olde crafte of gabbing, and encresen harm algatis. But as spiritual þing is betere þan bodili þing þat we mai see, so spiritual harm is more þan bodili harm þat þei don. First whan þei maken freris, þat ben worsid bi þis makyng, þei don hem a goostli harm, and al mankynde wherof þei ben. And if þou seist þat noone-freris ben, but ȝif þei ben þe betere to God, for holynesse of þer companye makiþ many goode þat ellis wolde be shrewis, stryve we not wher þis mai falle, but graunte we on þe toþer side, þat many wolden be lesse yvel out of þes ordris þan in hem. And siþ þei witen not who is beterid by entryng into þes ordris, þei doon as a blynd man castiþ his staf, to brynge ony to þer ordre. Crist seiþ þat Pharisees ben to blame for þis dede, and Scarioth was þe worse for beyng in þis holi cumpanye; for ellis he hadde not þus traied Crist, and be mooste unkynde traitour. And siþ coventis of freris ben shrewis, for þe more part or moche, no woundir ȝif þei en∣venyme men þat comen þus unto hem. For þei moven men to olde errours þat þei han holde among hem, as þei tellen to greet avaunt þat þei ben charious to þe puple in þer sinful begging. And ȝit þei blasfemen in Crist, and seien þat he beggide þus, to mainteyne þer owne synne. Suche blasfemyes ben foundum and contynnued in þes sectis, þat unneþes þei ben ever purgid fro service þat þei ben brouȝt in.

As Crist techiþ in his gospel, how þat men shulde snybbe þer [who are afraid to reprove vice,]

breþeren bi þre tymes, and aftirward forsake þer companye as venym, þes sectis han fordone þis gospel; for neiþer þei doren þus snybbe þer breþeren, ne forsake hem at þe fourþe tyme; for ȝif þei done þei shulen be deed or emprisonyd longe tyme, or ellis hastili bekild. And whanne synne rengneþ among grete men, and þei dreden of worldli harm, þei doren not snybbe men of þis synne, lest þer ordre leese worldli helpe. But where is more heresie, þan to love þis ordre more þan God, or to do yvelis for hope of good, þat Poul forfendiþ men to do?

Also þes sectis inpungnen þe gospel, and also þe olde lawe, [and set their own rule above the law of God.] for þei chargen more þer owne statute, alȝif it be aȝens Goddis lawe, þan þei done þe lawe of þe gospel; and þus þei loven more þer ordre þan Crist. As, ȝif it were nevere so myche nede to go out and preche Goddis lawe, to defende our modir holi Chirche, ȝit þer ordre lettiþ þes, but ȝif þei han þer priours leeve, alȝif God bidde to do þis. And comunly þes pryvat prioures letten þer felowes here to go out; and so, be þei never so riche, þei shulen not helpe her fleishli eldris; for alle þer goodis ben þe housis, siþ þei han nouȝt propre but synne. And þis errour reproveþ Crist in Phariseis, þat siȝen þe gnat, and swolowen þe camele, for þei chargen lesse more harm. Also þes Phariseis chargen moche þer fastingis and oþir þingis þat þei han founden, but keping of Goddis mandementis þei charge not half so myche. As, he shulde be holde apostata þat lefte his abite for a day, but for leevyng of dedis of charite shulde he noþing be blamed. And þus þei blasfemen in God, and seien, whoso dieþ in þer abite shal nevere go to helle, for holynes þat is þerinne; and so, aȝens Cristis sentence, þei sewen an old cloute in newe cloiþ. For þer ordre, þei seien, is gedired of þe olde lawe and þe newe; and ȝit þei han founden herto newe þingis þat þei kepen as gospel; and þus þei chargen þer owne fasting, and oþer ritis þat þei kepen, more þan biddingis of Crist, for þei ben no newe mandementis to hem. Sich hid synnes among freris done more harm to Cristene men þan ben þe bodili harmes which þe world chargiþ more. And þus errours in þe world ben liȝtli mayntened bi freris, for wynnyng of worldli good or worldli worschip þat þei coveiten, as lettris of fraternite [Some word appears to have dropped out.] . And

dowyng of oþir preestis, alȝif it be aȝens hemsilf, is stiflli sus∣teyned bi freris. And so men suffisen not to telle unsensible [Yet the Pope sustains them in everything.] errours þat þei susteynen; and ȝit for privilegie of þe pope noon oþer man dar blame hem, for þei ben exempt fro Goddis lawe bi privylegies þat þei han getun. But Petre was not þus exempt fro sharp snybbing of Poul. And heiling, þat Joon forfendide, [2 John 10.] haþ noo vertue among þes freris [The meaning is, that St. John's prohibition to say God speed to those who bring not the true doc∣trine is disregarded among the friars.] ; for þei saluten ofte fendis, more þan þei doon Cristis children.

CAP. VI.

Lord! where þe pope þinke good to conferme siche newe [The friars are divided be∣tween the two Popes.] ordris! Certis synne of siche children turneþ into heed of þer fadir, as Helias sones maden þer fadir to be punishid sharply of God. And generalli, whoso synneþ for avantage of himsilf, his synne makiþ disavauntage of þat þat he weneþ turne to good. As, þes two popis han now no more enemyes, ne more hid, þan ben þes freris; for summe holden wiþ þe o pope and many and grete wiþ þe toþir; and þei enformen þer countreis to holde stifli wiþ þer pope. And no drede, ȝif cuntreis turne fro þe oo pope to þe toþir, þe freris wolden turne also, for þei obeishen to þe puple. And þus love ungroundid in God, but oonli in temporal goodis, mut nedis faile and do harm, for al siche love is sinful.

Siþ þes sectis ben so harmful to oure modir hooli Chirche, and, [All men ought to help to deliver the Church from them.] as bileve techiþ us, þe Chirche may be purgid of þis, it were sumwhat for to speke of þis purging of þe Chirche. For alȝif it shal not fulli be turned in þis lyf, but first in hevene, and [dele and.] ȝit it may be purgid in part, and in þis purginge stondiþ mennis mede. And no man is excusid here of consenting to þis synne, but ȝif he helpe on sum maner; for ech man mai helpe sum∣what. Sum men shulden helpe bi resoun þat is taken of Goddis lawe, and summe by worldli power, as erþely lordis þat God haþ ordeyned, and alle men bi good liif and good preieris to God, for in him liggiþ þe helpe here aȝens þe cautelis of þe fend.

And þus popis, bischopis, and freris, shulden helpe here to purge hemsilf; for bileve techiþ us þat ech man is endettid to God, as ech man is endettid to oþir, to helpe him algatis goostli and bodili. Dette is not to charge, but ȝif it turne to goostli help; and þus spekiþ Crist in þe gospel of dette in þe Pater Noster, and also in o parable, bi which he moveþ men to mercy. And þus seiþ Poul, þat he is dettour to ech man, but [Rom. i. 14.] bi ordre. And þus prelatis shulden helpe þe Chirche, as þe freris shulden helpe hemsilf. But more part of þis world erreþ here, and clepiþ harm helpe; but lawe of Crist shulde reule men here, to wite how men shulden come to blis.

Men speken here of a liȝt helpe to which men ben comunli [One easy way is this; to detect and expose their heretical belief about the sacred host.] holden, þat men shulden on þis maner comune wiþ freris, and ellis not. First, to seie þat þei putten not on freris þat þei ben heretikes, for þanne men wolden not dele wiþ hem, ne nurishe hem in worldli goodis; but men han hem suspect of heresie for many causis. First, for þei varien þus in bileve of þe sacrid oost. And þus þei schulden telle at þe bigynnynge what þing þei trowun þat it is,—wheþir it be Goddis bodi or not. And here þei mai not be excusid; for mynystrel or joȝelour, tumbler and harlot, wole not take of þe puple bifore þat þei han shewid þer craft; and siþ freris crafte stondiþ in þis, to teche þe puple þer bileve, and þe puple trowiþ comunli þat þis oost is Goddis bodi, here freris shulden bigynne, and telle men where þis be soiþ. And ȝif þei seien þat þis oost in no maner is Goddis bodi, flee þes freris as heretikes, for Crist and his Chirche seien þe contrarie. Ȝif þei seien þat it is Goddis bodi, and manye freres seien þe contrarie, þis word techiþ not þat ne þei gabben in comune bileve of þe Chirche; and þerfore men shulden abide witnes of þer comune seel, and bifore dele not wiþ hem, but have hem suspect of heresie. Ȝif þei seien þat þis oost is an accident wiþouten suget, as colour and figure, and þus it is not Goddis bodi, wel we witen þat olde bileve, groundid in þe wordis of Crist, seiþ þat it is Goddis bodi, as þe pope sumtyme seide. And it is not ynowȝ þat freris erren in colour and figure of þer abitis, to prove þat þis sacrid oost is colour and figure of breed. And þis defamynge shulde þe pope seke out wiþ greet traveile; for þes sectis han sclaundrid him, as he and hise hadden errid in bileve.

And it is not ynowȝ to seie þat þer is Goddis bodi, for beter þing þan Cristis bodi is everywhere for þe godhede; and men axen not what is þere, but what is þat þat men worshipen so. And ȝit freris seien, þat þei trowun here as holi Chirche doiþ in þis mater. So seien Jewis and Sarasynes. But, frere, telle me how Y shulde trowe. And ȝif þei seien þis mater is sutil, and men mai not undirstonde it, wel we witen þat God bindiþ not men to bileve ony þing which þei mai not undirstonde,—as we seien of þe Trinite. And ȝif þei seien þat þis sacrament is Goddis bodi, as it is in hevene, þes freris speken as idiotis. For we axen of þis sacrid oost þat men seen bodili brekun and etun comunli, and it is moved as oþer oostis. And þus, whatever a frere seiþ, trewe men shulden leeve hym here as suspect of heresie, bifore he have wel put þis of.

Aftir þis myȝte a man axe, siþ God tolde of newe sectis þat [Another is to show, that not one of the new Orders was founded by Christ.] shulen come into þe Chirche, to charge and harm of þe Chirche, how groundiþ þis frere his ordre, and in what tyme it bigan. And siþ o frere contrarieþ anoþer in þis mater, and nouȝt is proved, men shulden avoide þis frere til he hadde here tauȝt þe treuþe. Þis strif is mater of gabbing and of synnyng among manie; and þus for profit of þe Chirche shulden freris worche to quenche þis strif. Carmes seien þat þei weren bifore þe tyme þat Crist was born [The Carmelites pretended that their Order was founded by the pro∣phet Elijah, when he retired to Mount Carmel to escape the wrath of Ahab. But the wide extension and notoriety of the Order date from the time of St. Simon Stock, an Englishman of the thirteenth cen∣tury, concerning whose marvellous vision consult Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints, May 16. The Augusti∣nian friars, or the Hermits of St. Austin, claim to have been founded and placed under a special rule by the great Bishop of Hippo. The Friars Preachers (Dominicans) and the Friars Minors (Franciscans) were, as all the world knows, founded near the beginning of the thirteenth century by SS. Dominic and Francis.] . Austyns seien þat þei weren many hundrid wynters bifore oþer freris. Prechouris and Menours seyn þe reverse. But noon groundiþ here his word, as noon of þes newe ordris groundiþ þat he cam in bi Crist; and but þis grounding be in dede, dremes and confermyngis ben nouȝt. On þis maner shulden trewe men seke wisely þe soþe, and purge oure modir of apostemes þat ben harmful in þe Chirche. To þis shulde þe pope helpe, for to þis dette weren apostlis bounden,

and not to lordschippes of moneie, but in as myche as it helpide herto. And siþ it lettiþ comunli, popis shulden flee þis, as dide apostlis; for ellis þei seiden wiþ oþer foolis, þat helpe were harm, and good were yvel.

CAP. VII.

Aftir þis shulden men wite of þe popis power in assoilinge, in [Men should reject the extravagant tenets current about papal absolution and indulgences.] graunting of indulgencis and oþer privylegies, wiþ cursing. For riȝt as þe popis clerkis feynen þat þei done miraclis whanne evere þei syngen [That is, sing the mass.] , moo and more woundirful þan ever dide Crist or his apostlis, so in asoiling and cursing þei feynen hem unknowun power; and in fablis of þis power þei blasfemen and harme þe Chirche. And þus comeþ in errour into þe Chirche, as it doiþ of þe sacrid oost; for noon mai comprehende þis power, siþ it is wiþouten noumbre, siþ Crist ȝaf þis to Petre, and oþir popis þat camen aftir.

Here Cristene men bileven þat Petre and Poul and oþir [Peter had no power above other apostles.] apostlis token power of Crist, but not but for to edifie þe Chirche. And þus alle prestis þat ben Cristis knyȝtis han power of him to þis eende. Which of hem haþ moost power, is ful veyne for us to trete; but we supposen of preestis dedis, þat he þat profitiþ more to þe Chirche haþ more power of Crist, and ellis þei ben ydil wiþ þer power. And þus bi power þat Crist ȝaf Petre mai no man prove þat þis preest, þe which is Bishop of Rome, haþ more power þan oþer preestis. For siþ oure bileve seiþ, þat þer is noo power but of God, chesinge of þes cardinalis ȝyveþ not sich power to þe pope. And it sueþ not þat God mut ȝyve, whan þes cardinalis han þus chosen, but apostlis dedis þat popis doone shulden bere witnes of þer power; siþ fleyinge to hevene of assoilid spiritis, and comyng aȝen, bereþ no witnesse. And wordis þat Crist seiþ in þe gos∣pel ben to liȝtli undirstonden. Crist seiþ to his apostlis; Y am wiþ ȝou alle daies unto þe ende of þe world; but what maken þes wordis for þis pope? Þes wordis techen generali, þat Crist shal be wiþ his lymes þat he haþ ordeyned to blis riȝt to þe dai

of dome; but how shulden men wite þat þis pope is ony of hem þat Crist spekiþ to? Certis þis pope woot not himsilf, and haþ litil mater to hope it; for in goode werkis and suynge of Crist shulde þis pope grounde his hope. But ȝit in anoþir word þat Crist seide unto Petir, groundiþ þis pope his power, þat it is so myche over oþir; Crist bihiȝte to Petre, þat whatever he bindiþ in erþe it shal be bounden in hevene, and so of þis assoiling. But þis resoun is ful of folie for many causis, whoso takiþ hede. Soþly Crist seide þus to Petre, and so he seide to oþer apostlis; whi shulde Petre have power bi þis more þan oþir apostlis of Crist? Also men shulden wite here, þat þes wordis þat Crist seide to Petir ben noþing for þis pope but ȝif he sue Crist and Petir in lyf. And suppose þat al þis be soiþ; ȝit eche preest of ony apostle shulde have power to do good to þe Chirche, but not so myche as here is dremed. For ellis Petre synnede many weies; for Petre uside not þis power; who shulde excuse hem of þis synne?

Also men shulden undirstonde what it is to bynde man above [Absurdities which flow from assuming the uncon∣ditional validity of papal bind∣ings and loosings.] erþe. And men moten nedis seie here, þat þanne a preest bindiþ man above erþe, whanne he bindiþ man after God, and not for fleish ne coveitise. And so þis pope shulde teche men þat he bindiþ þus above erþe, and neiþer in þe erþe, ne undir þe erþe, but evene after þe keies above; but þis wole he nevere teche bifore þat Gabriel blowe his horn. And ȝif he teche þat þe Chirche above byndiþ þus, or assoiliþ, at þe instaunce of hym, ȝit he proveþ not his grete power. And þus grounding of Goddis lawe failliþ shamefulli here, þat ȝif Crist seide to Petre, whatever he bonde above þe erþe is bounden in hevene, þanne it sueþ of þis pope, what þing he feyneþ him for to binden, it is so bounden of God. But certis þe lewiderst man in þis world myȝte shame of siche a resoun. Ferþermore, ȝif we ȝyven þis pope siche power as he feyneþ, ȝif men taken hede to hise dedis, he shulde shame of sich power. For lawe of charite wolde teche, þat ȝif he hadde siche power, he shulde assoile alle hise sugetis fro peyne and fro trespas; for þanne he brouȝte alle men to heven, and suffride no man go to helle. And siþ charite stondiþ in ȝiftis of God to þis eende, he were to slowe in Goddis service, and disuside þe ȝiftis of God, but ȝif he dide

here þat he myȝte, and were merciful to men. And ȝif þou seist þat neiþer Crist ne Petir dide þus to alle men, certis þei hadde not sich power as þis pope feyneþ in him; and þus Crist myȝte not assoile men, but after þat he saw his Fadir vouchsafe. Lord! siþ Crist assoilide not þus, ne Petre, ne ony oþer apostle, and þis pope seeþ not in God þat he wole þat it be so, what spirit shulde move þis pope to feyne sich asoilinge boþe fro peyne and fro synne, and aftir chaffare þus þerwiþ? Siþ he toke freely þis power, Crist biddiþ þat he shulde freli ȝyve it; but now he assoiliþ never þus, but for frendship or wynnynge; and he takiþ noon hede to God, wher God wole þat it be so, and where þis man lyve an yvel lyf and be ordeyned to be dampned. And certis noo pope oþer þan Crist can telle how nedeful [Query, medeful.] þis dede is, or how unmedeful is anoþer; how shulde he þanne assoile þus? For he mai not asoile here of a litel bodili peyne, as myȝten Petir and oþer seintis; how shulde he assoile soulis of þe peyne of purgatorie? Prove he his power by þis lesse, and suspende assoiling of moneie. And siþ þes popis ben not assoilid þus of peyne and trespas, for þanne þe popis weren alle seintis, and confermed by þer state, it were to seke oþer signes, bi which þes popis shulden be blessid, for þei failen in charite, bi principlis þat hemsilf seien.

CAP. VIII.

It were for to wite over þis, how popis ȝyven þes beneficis, [Abuses in the exercise of patronage by the Popes.] and confermen and acursen men whanne hem likiþ and mys∣likiþ men. And no drede, siþ þei knowun not whanne God∣hede doiþ þus, þei shulden not difyne here but ȝif God shewide hem þis; for it is peril to gabbe on God, and in matir of mennis helþe. And so it is a greet peril to feyne siche power, but if it be groundid. And siþ þes popis ben not hardy as blynde Bayard, þei moten seie þat þei speken ofte wiþ God, þat techiþ hem þat it mut be þus, and so þes popis mai not erre. But who herde ever more blasphemye? siþ þei cunnen not telle þingis to come, touching þer state and þer desire; for o pope aȝens anoþit telliþ opinli þer errour here.

But, for ȝyvyng of benefices makiþ hem boþe greet and [The rules of the canon law about patron∣age have no divine sanction.] stronge, it were to wite of þis power, and of þe lawes þat þei usen. And siþ Crist uside not this power, but forsoke in juge∣ment lesse yvel [Christ would not exercise secu∣lar authority as the Popes do; but even shunned, when he refused to arbitrate between the two brothers respecting their inheritance (Luke xii. 14), a responsibility which in∣volved 'less evil' than the wide∣reaching jurisdiction now claimed by the Popes.] ; as þis power were in vein ȝif þe Chirche were undowid, it is knowen to trewe men þat þis is not groundid of Crist; but þe pope, as he blasfemeþ, and seiþ þis dowyng is þe patrymonie of Crist, so he feyneþ newe lawes to teche to parte þes benefices. And þis lawe haþ he maad, þat ȝif two men ben of o date, whoever presentiþ first, shal be avaunsid bifore. And so he haþ ordeyned many lawes,—how þat men shulen oones be schryven, and oones þe ȝeer be comuned of her propre preest, whomever he wole ordeyne. Bi þes two unfamous lawes mai men wite whiche ben oþir, for þer is noo lawe but Goddis, or lawe groundid in Goddis lawe. First it semeþ, þat þis partyng of benefices is opyn folie. For whanne þe pope avansiþ a shrewe, he autorisiþ his shrewidnesse, and speciali whanne þer ben betere, þat wolden take siche an office; and þe pope haþ noo witt, ne bidding of God, to take him þis. And þus ofte, for preiynge and moneie, he avaunsiþ lymes of þe fend; for al þes ben his children; and he shal answere for þes soulis þat his children leesen to helle, and for oþir shrewid∣nessis þat þei done. Lord! when þe popis synne were not ynowȝ to him, al ȝif he gete noon on oþer side? as, ȝif he bouȝte not for þe firste fruytis, or oþir frendshipe of þe world, synnes of oþir truauntis þat he avaunsiþ, and envenymiþ myche folk.

Oþir wordis þat here ben spoken excusen him not bifore [Other abuses of patronage.] God, þat þe pope mai do no symonie, for alle beneficis ben hise. For ȝif he were clene for a tyme, alle weren hise bi title of grace; ȝit for þis averouse pride shulde he leese al þes þingis. And no drede þis lawe of þe pope is opinli aȝens treuþe, and so aȝens Jesus Crist, þat is boþe God and man. It falliþ ofte bi þis lawe, þat a tryaunt and a fendis lyme is put bifore a lyme

of Crist. For ofte þes coveitouse triauntis gone bifore goode simple men; þus bi vertue of siche lawis ben ofte þe fendis lemes maad maistris, for to lede symple men, but whidirward but to helle? And þus, bi vertue of mannis lawe, man shul go to be confermed of a fend, þat techiþ men how þei shulen worche aȝens Crist. For many prelatis by coveitise and symonie ben ofte fendis, and þei serven þer maistir, to wiþ∣drawe men fro Cristis lawe. And no woundir ȝif men gone þikke to helle bi þe leding of suche prelatis.

And as anentis þe secounde lawe, of shrifte, þat þe pope haþ [Evils of en∣forced private confession.] made, no drede it doiþ myche harm, al ȝif it do to summe profite; and it fordoiþ Cristis privylege, þat where Cristene men shulden be free, now þei ben nedid to hire a preest, and þus be suget to þe fend. For aftir þat þis prelate ordeyneþ ben sugettis nedid for to do; and þus freres and religious wymmen mai soone assente to leccherie. Lord! in tyme of Jesus Crist, whanne þe Chirche florishide myche, were men not bounden to shryve hem þus, as Crist, Baptist, and apostlis. Lord! where þe pope haþ ordeyned þat Cristis weie sufficiþ not now, so þat mennis doing bi scole of Crist be dampned wiþouten oþir synne, for þat þe pope haþ ordeyned him partener to forȝeve synnes wiþ Crist? And in caas þat men ben martris in Cristis cause, [þei [supplied conjecturally.] ] shulden be dampned, for þei shulden rowne wiþ a preest, and for worse leeve þe betere. Shrifte to God is put bihynde, and shrifte more shameful also; but privy shrifte newe founden is autorisid, as nedeful to soulis heele.

CAP. IX.

It myȝte seme to many men þat myche of þis is hid speche, [We will de∣clare our meaning plainly, which is, that all church endow∣ment should cease, and the Pope and clergy practise the poverty of Christ] and men shulden speke opinli to þe world, as Crist dide, for to telle more clereli what is oure last entent. For ȝif it were a trewe sentence, God myȝte move men hereafter, boþe lordis and clerkis, to drawe to þis sentence. And herfore we wolen seie opinli þe sentence þat we conseyven; and ȝif God wole vouche∣saaf, it mai aftir be declarid more. Oure ground is comune bileve, þat Crist is boþe God and man, and so he is þe beste

man, þe wyserst man, and moost vertuous, þat ever was or ever shal be. And he is heed of þe Chirche; and he ordeynede a lawe to men, and confermede it wiþ his lyf, for to reule holi Chirche, and teche how þat men shulde lyve; and al þis mut passe al oþir, siþ þe auctor is þe beste. And grutche we not þat many men þenken ful hevy wiþ þis sentence, for so þei diden in Cristis tyme, boþe wiþ his lyf and wiþ his lawe. Of þis ground we gessen ferþere, how us þinkiþ þat men shulden do. But we graunten at þe firste, þat if ony man wole shewe us þat we speken aȝens Goddis lawe, or aȝen good resoun, we wolen mekeli leeve of, and holde Goddis part bi oure myȝte. For we ben wiþholden wiþ treuþe, and wiþ Goddis grace shulen ever last þerinne. Us þinkiþ þat þe Chirche shulde here holde þe ordenaunce of Crist; and ever þe streiter þat it helde þat, evere þe betir it were to it. And þus bastard braunchis shulde be kutt fro þis tree; and þus þe pope, wiþ his cardinalis, and alle preestis þat been dowid, shulden leeve þis dowing and worldli glorie þat þei han, and neiþer lyve ne do ouȝt, but ȝif it were groundid in Cristis lawe; for þat lawe is charite, and groundiþ al þing þat is medeful. Ȝif þat God wolde fouche-safe to ȝyve þes preestis of his grace, þat þei wolden mekeli leeve þis, and lyve in Cristis poverte, þe miracle were þe more, and more wolde profite to þe Chirche.

Aftirward men þenken þat al þes newe sectis or ordris, boþe [and that monks and mendicant friars should be suppressed.] possessioners and beggeris, shulden ceese bi Cristis lawe. And ȝif þei wolden leeve þes for charite, and lyve purely aftir Crist, þer merit were þe more, and þei myȝten encreese þe Chirche; and ȝif þei wolden not do þus, þei shulden be honestli con∣streyned. Both worldi goodis and comunyng shulde be wiseli drawun fro hem, and knyȝtis, wiþ lordis of þe world, shulden be confortid bi Cristis lawe to stonde and defende þis sentence, as þei diden aftir Cristis deþ; and trewe prestis shulden telle þe comunes how þei shulde kepe charite, and obeishe upon resoun, as Poul techiþ hem to do. And God myȝte move summe of þes ordres to leeve þer ritis, and take Cristes lawe, for þei hiden now ypocrisie, and ben ydil fro many goode dedes. Lord! what stiward were he þat wolde ordeyne newe rehetors to ete mennes mete and do hem harm, aȝens Cristis ordenaunce?

Þe þridde point, of curatis, us þinkiþ shulde stonde þus. Þei [and parish priests be maintained, not by tithes, but by free∣will offerings.] shulden lyve on þe puple in good mesure as Poul biddiþ; but þe puple shulde not be artid to ȝyve hem dymes ne oþer almes; but þer goode wishes shulden move to ȝyve hem freeli þat were nede, for þus lyvede Crist with his apostlis. What preest shulde not be paied herof? And þus shulde þe Chirche drawe to acord bi Crist, þat lediþ þe daunce of love. Ȝif oþir men wolden be preestis, lyve þei þerafter, and shewe þei bi dede þat Crist haþ made hem preestis, for þis passiþ lettris of bishopis. And þus þe puple myȝte wiþdrawe þer almes fro wickide preestis, and þe pride of preestis shulde be stoppid, bi which þei en∣venymyn þe puple. Ȝif þis be not doone anoon, ȝit it myȝte drawe to þe good; for Cristis lyf was þe beste, þat shulde en∣saumple alle oþir.

Here men arguen many weies aȝens þis sentence þat here is [Objections of the defend∣ers of the papacy re∣butted.] seid, and speciali for þe pope, þat þanne were holi Chirche for∣done, siþ Petre was pope and many oþer seintis, and who shulde contrarie þis? But here han men seid ofte, þat it were good to obeishe to Petre, and [and is used for an, in the sense of 'if.'] þat sich a captein were in þe Chirche; but name of þe pope hidiþ venym. Men seien þat it cam first yn bi folie of þe emperour, þat reiside him an enemy boþe to God and to þe world. And ȝif þou aleggist seintis lyves, noon of hem is to preise but in as myche as it acordiþ to Cristis lyf and his lawe; and siþ Cristis lawe is more opyn, slepe þe fablis, and rengne his lawe. It is no nede here to dreme, how holi eende þes men maden, for men mai trowe it whoso wole, and many ben seintis wiþouten þis trouþe. Al oþer office of þe pope myȝte be done mekely, as myche as it wolde turne to worshipe of Crist and profite of þe Chirche, by a trewe preest, as was bi apostlis, al ȝif þes bullis of leed slep∣ten. It is licly þat Petre suede more Crist in brennyng love þan diden oþer apostlis þat weren wiþ Crist in Petris tyme, and so Petre was more servisable, more meke, and more pore; for fervour of love of Petre made him in þis more love Crist. But aftir þat þe Chirche was dowid, no man hatiþ þis more þan þe pope; and þus he is not Cristis viker but raþir Anticrist him∣silf.

Ȝif he wolde be meke and pore and servisable, as Petre was, and take no more werk upon him þan þat he myȝte wel do in dede, þanne he myȝte be Petris vicker, bi grace of Crist heed of Petre.

As anentis þes newe ordris, þei semen alle Anticristis proc∣tours, to putte awey Cristis ordenaunce, and magnefie þer newe sectis; and þus hem nediþ to have an heed oþir þan Crist to susteyne hem. For Crist tolde not bi siche habitis, ne siche ritis of Phariseis, but bi werkes of charite, bi preching among þe puple.

CAP. X.

Now were it for to speke last of censures, þat þe fend blowiþ, [True men should brave censures, ban∣nings, and other perse∣cutions.] as ben suspendingis, enterditingis, cursingis, reisingis of croiserie. But first Cristene men shulde byleve, þat alle suche feyned censures don noon harm a Cristene man, but ȝif he do harm first to himsilf. Bi hem may his bodi be sleyn, and he be pursued many weies; but Crist seiþ, þat mai not lie,—Blessid be ȝe whanne men cursen ȝou, and whanne men pur∣suen ȝou, and seien al maner of yvel aȝens ȝou, for me and my lawe. As Cristis apostlis weren confortid, holde þou þe in Cristis lawe, and sue þou him in maner of lyf, and drede þou not alle þe censures þat Anticrist can blowe aȝens þee; but as he meneþ to harm þee, he doiþ þee good mangree his. And as þe assoiling serveþ of nouȝt, but as it acordiþ wiþ Cristis keies, so þe cursyng noieþ not, but as Crist above cursiþ. And herfore Crist tolde but litil bi cursingis of þe hie bishopis, but confortide his disciplis of þes cursingis and þes pursuyngis. For þei putti∣den men out of chirche, and pursueden hem in Cristis tyme, but apostlis wolden not leeve to preche for al þis pursuynge. And o confort is here; þat a man mai serve God in clene wille þat he haþ, as longe as he haþ lyf, and ȝif his wille lastiþ, aftir, whanne Anticrist haþ slayn his bodi, in more blisse þan bifore, as oure bileve techiþ us. And þus drede we hem not for cen∣sures þat þei feynen, but drede we ever oure God, lest we syn∣nen aȝens him. And so double drede falliþ in sich cursingis of Anticrist. Oon, lest we ben not worþi to have grace to cleve to God and stonde stif in his mandementis,—and þanne God

cursiþ us; and þus cursing is to drede, for cursing of God for oure synnes. Also men shulden be in charite, and loven þes men þat cursen þus; and so men shulden drede þer curs, lest it harme hemsilf and þe puple. For ȝif þei cursen undiscretly, as þei don ever whanne þei cursen not for love of þe Chirche, or for love of oþer men to whom þei leien þis medecine, þanne þei cursen hemsilf first, al ȝif þei knowun not þis foly. And bi sich blyndenesse in cursing many curseris emblemyshen hemsilf, and þerwiþ þe comune peple. Such cursing is to drede; such drede passiþ mannis lawe, and comeþ to lawe of charite, and axiþ not curseris assoilinge, but Goddis purging, ȝif it wole be.

As anentis suspendinge and enterdityng þat ben feyned, we [Suspension and interdict do no harm but to fools.] trowen þat þei doon myche good, and noon harm but to foolis. For ȝif þei wolden suspende hemsilf fro alle þingis but Goddis lawe, it were a graciouse suspendinge, for hem and for oþer men; for þanne Goddis lawe myȝte freeli renne bi þe lymytis þat Crist haþ ordeyned. And he is a cursid man þat leeveþ to do þat God biddiþ, and for sich feynynge of censuris,—ȝhe, ȝif deþ sue aftir.

As anentis croiserie, summe of Cristis Chirche ben enformed [To fight for the Pope, for the sake of the indulgences that he pro∣mises, is folly.] how þei shulden not trowe to þe pope for ony bullis þat he sendiþ, but ȝif þei ben groundid in Goddis lawe. And þis grounding shulden men take wiþ reverence, and leeve þis leed. For men shulde take as bileve þat þei shulden neiþer trowe to Crist ne Petre [There must surely be an error of the scribe here.] , but in as myche as þei grounden bi Goddis lawe þat men shulden trowe þus. For Crist lettiþ fulli in his lawe, how men shulden trowe to him and hise; and þus no þing untouchid in þis lawe shulde be dun or axid to do. But who shulde axe more þan Crist, or more obeishe to þe pope þan to Crist? And we ben certein þat Crist may not axe oþir obedience; whi shulde þe pope? Men shulden bi hooli lif of Crist trowe þat his lawe is compleet, and axe noon oþir ground of þis lawe, for Crist is þe firste and þe laste. And so, ȝif þe pope assoile men a pena or a culpa, or whatever pardone he grauntiþ for þing þat is not charite, forsake it as þe fendis bid∣ding, þat is contrarie to love of Crist. Wel I woot þe fend

mai feyne more pardone þan God wole graunte to ech man þat wole slee his broþir; but God [corrected; Goddis, A.] forbode þat we trowun þis, as þe pope may graunte to day, and to morowe perseyve his folye, and revoke þe formere errour. But who shulde bileve siche bullis? for wel we witen bi Goddis lawe, þat God ȝyveþ þe pope no power, but for to edifie his Chirche, bi charite þat God haþ toold. Crist was þe beste herd, and so he puttide his lyf for his sheep; and þe pope mai not opinlier telle þat he is Anti∣crist or a fend, þan for to putte many mennis lyves for þis office þat he presumeþ. For Cristis lyf was myche betere þan al þis office or þes popis. How shulde men fiȝte for a persone, þat þei witen not where he be a fend, or tauȝt of God to do þus? Siþ þei ben certein of medeful dedis, certis þat man were a fool þat wolde take þis uncerteine weie, and leeve þe certeyn witt and feyþ for wordis ungroundid in Goddis lawe. And many þenken þat þes prelatis þat ben upon Cristis side shulden have joie of þis sentence; for it is for alle good men. And if ony can disprove it, men wolen revoke it, and treuþe shal shyne, and it shal have moo witnessis, and þis is more to Goddis worship.

But here men dreden blasphemye, and oþir cautelis of þe [The Pope's party is now the stronger, but we must look to the end.] fend; þat men gon not bi resoun ne bi Goddis lawe in þis mater, but putte þe pope here heierste juge, as ȝif he were god in erþe. And he, wiþ his part þat loveþ þe world, quenche men þat speken þis, and axen noon oþer proof þerof. And siþ þe fend haþ þe strenger part here þan þe part of treuþe þat is wiþ Crist, Crist wole suffre, for formere synne, þe fendis side have maistrie ȝit. But in o bileve men resten, þat day shal come of þe laste jugement, whanne þe fendis side shal lurke, and treuþe shal shyne wiþouten lettyng; and þat day abiden men, bi reule of lawe þat Crist haþ ȝovun.

Wel we witen þat þe synne and disturblyng of þe Chirche [Let new sects and new laws be abandoned] stondiþ myche in defaute of love of Crist and his lawe. And þus bringinge in of sectis, and of lawes þat Crist made not, quenchiþ þe love of Crist and of his religioun here. And þus men shulden stonde in þe mesure þat Crist haþ ȝovun of þes

two, boþe of sectis and of lawis; for bringinge in of þes doiþ harm. And so marke þis as greet synne, whanne men passen in oþer of þes, alȝif þe fende coloure it, and medle good wiþ þe yvel; for þus dide Machamete in his lawe, and þe fend doiþ þus comunly; and confermyng of men is nought but ȝif God conferm bifore. And siþ þis point is perelous, men shulden be seker þat God confermeþ. And þus þis reule failiþ now to weie love aftir þat it shulde be, so þat love þat shulde be more were more chargid in mannis soule. And þus, siþ men shulden love more Cristis ordenaunce and his boundis þan ony þat comen after, and Crist haþ ordeyned [corrected; ordeyneþ, A.] at þe fulle, men shulden leeve þes novelries as contrarie to Cristis ordenaunce, and love þe mesure þat Crist haþ ȝovun, for so diden Cristis apostlis.

And wite we wel þat alle þes autours of þes novelries done [as inconsistent with the pure love of God.] harm to hemsilf and to þe Chirche, and to þer neiȝboris. Also whi shulden not love of Crist move men to holde his boundis? And þus it semeþ to many men, þat þes newe ordris and þer fautours failen over myche in charite, for in love of Crist and his Chirche, siþ Cristis religion were algatis beter, perfitere, sekere, and liȝtere. For Crist autour passiþ in þes; and we shulden drede Poulis sentence, þat who þat loveþ not Jesus Crist, he is cursid of God; and þis cursing is moost to drede. And generaly, worst þing is more costly and more hevy; and þus it lettiþ feble weie-goeres, to be taried wiþ sich þing. And errour in weiyng of þis love makiþ many fals weddingis; as men ben weddid wiþ þer habitis, and þer custumes, and þer singular maners, as ȝif þei weren Cristis comaundementis; and ȝit þei ben ful feble in kynde. And men blasfemen in þis point, for þei putten a reule of love to ordeyne an yvel þing to be more loved, aȝen þe ordenaunce of God. And þis is opin blasfemy, siþ God appropriþ unto him to weie þingis, how þei shulden be loved, and to make hem oþer betere or worse. And þus auctours of accidentis hyen hem above Crist, as ȝif þei wolden maken a newe world, and change goodnesse of þingis. But þes goddis varien; as oon loveþ o maner, and anoþir loveþ anoþir, and hatiþ þe maner of his broþir; and þis techiþ wel

ynowȝ þat alle þes ben false goddis. And þus þe crafte of love of þingis is moost nedeful to al oþer; for no man mai come to blis but bi vertue of þis crafte; and no man mai synne but for errour in þis crafte, as blessid men doone Goddis orde∣naunce, and dampned men loven þe contrarie. And alle þes newe ordris ben dividid in þer love, as oon loveþ oon and anoþer anoþer, and so hatiþ his contrarie. But Crist, whanne he lovede hoolliche his Chirche, wolde not make it faire wiþ þese ordris; and eche man is holden to love liche after þat Crist loveþ, and to hate þat he hatiþ, and þanne is his hierste vertue stablid.

XXIV. [FIFTY HERESIES AND ERRORS OF FRIARS.]

[Three MSS. of the present tract are known to exist,—one in the Bod∣leian, another in the Corpus volume at Cambridge, and the third at Trinity College, Dublin. It was printed by Thomas James, Bodley's librarian, in the year 1608, with as much accuracy as could be expected in that age, when scholarly criticism was all reserved for the classics. Dr. Vaughan, who has given the entire tract in his Tracts and Treatises of Wycliffe (Lon∣don 1845), has contented himself with reprinting the text of Dr. James. The text here given is based upon Bodl. 647, with which the Corpus MS. has been collated.

Bale mentions this treatise in his Catalogue of the Reformer's works, under the title 'De Fratrum Nequitiis.' Other external evidence of author∣ship there is none. The date of its composition was probably the last half of the year 1384 (see the note to ch. xxiv). So far it would be quite pos∣sible to assign it to Wyclif; but it is perhaps equally probable that it was written by one of his disciples. The language used in ch. xxii rather points to some ex-friar as the author, such e. g. as Peter Patteshull, who, having been originally an Augustinian friar, abandoned his Order, and joining the Lollards in London, 'learned that he had done well in deserting a private religion, and betaking himself to the public or general life' of Christians (Walsingham, sub anno 1387).

It seems probable that the form of the treatise was suggested by the pro∣ceedings of the Council of London, which extracted from the writings of Wyclif twenty-four conclusions for condemnation, ten as heretical, and fourteen as erroneous. In reply, the writer of our treatise charges the friars, the most active opponents of the Lollard movement, with holding more than twice as many 'heresies and errours' (ch. 1) as Wyclif had been charged with. The unmeaning title 'Objections of Freres,' given to this tract in Dr. Shirley's Catalogue, and also by Lewis, has no other authority than a marginal note, in a hand of the seventeenth century, found in the Corpus MS.]

CAP. I.

FIRST, freris seyn þat hor religioun, founden of synful [The religion of Christ more perfect than the so-called religion of the friars.] men, is more perfite þen þat religion or ordir þo whiche Crist hymself made, þat is bothe God and mon. Ffor þei sey þat iche bischop and prest may lawfully leeve hor first dignyte, and after be a frere; bot when he is oones a frere, he may in no maner leeve þat and lyve as a bischop or a prest, by þe fourme of þo gospel. Bot þis heresie seis þat Crist lacked witte myȝt or charite, to teche apostlis and his disciplis þo beste religion. Bot what mon may suffer þis foule heresie to be putte on Jesus Crist? Cristen men sey þat þo religion and ordir þat Crist made for his disciplis and prestes, is moste per∣fite, moste esy, and moste siker. Moste perfite for þis resoun,—for þo patroune or founder þerof is moste perfite, for he is verrey God and verrey mon, þat of moste witte and moste charite gaf þis religion to his der-worþe frendis. Also þo reule þerof is moste perfite, sith þo gospel in his fredome, wiþouten error of mon, is reule of þis religion. Also knyghtis of þis religion ben moste holy and moste perfite,—ffor Jesus Crist and his apostils ben chef knyghtis þerof; and aftir hom holy martiris and confessors. Hit is moste esy and light, for Crist hymself seys þat his ȝok is soffte, and his charge is light, siþ hit stondes al in luf and fredome of hit, and biddes noþing bot resonable þing, and profitable for þo keper þerof. Hit is moste siker, for hit is confermed of God, and not of synful men; and no mon may distrie hit, or dispense þerageyns; bot if þo pope or any mon shchal be saved, he mot be confermed þerby, and ellis he schal be dampned.

Bot men sey þat oþer newe ordiris and reulis ben noeȝt worth, [The confirma∣tion of which by the Pope avails nothing.] bot if þei ben confermed of þo pope, and oþir synful men; and þen þei ben not worth, bot if þei ben confermed of þo devel, in caas þo pope schal be dampned, for þen he is a devel, as þo gospel seis of Judas. And þus men seyn þat Cristis religioun in his owne clennesse and fredome is more perfite þen any synful monnis religioun, by als myche as Crist is more perfite þen is any synful mon. And if newe religiouns seyn þat þei kepen al þat Cristis religioun biddes, þei sparen þo sothe. For þei lacken þo fredome and mesure of Cristis religioun, and ben

bounden to errours of synful men, and þerby ben letted to pro∣fite to Cristen mennis soulis, and not suffred to teche frely Gods lawe, ne kepe hit in homself. Ffor by þo first and moste com∣aundement of God, þei ben holden to love God of al hor hert, of al hor lif, of al hor mynde, and of alle hor strengthes, and hor neghtbors as homself. Bot who may do more þen þis? þen may no mon kepe more þen Cristis religion biddes. And so, if þis new religion of freris be more perfit þen Cristis re∣ligion, þen if freris kepen wil hor religion, þei ben more perfit þen Cristis apostils; and ellis þei ben apostataas. And if men ben apostataas, þei leeven þo better ordir, and taken anoþer lesse perfite. And þo ordir of Crist in his clennesse and fre∣dome is moste perfite, and so hit semes þat alle þese freris ben apostataas.

CAP. II.

Also freris seyn prively þat hit is apostasie and heresie for a [Friars who leave their convents in order to preach freely, are persecuted.] prest to lyve as Crist ordeyned a prest to lyve, by forme of þo gospel. Ffor if þer be any frere þat is a prest, cunnynge in Gods lawe, and able to travel to sowe Gods wordis amonge þo puple, if he do þis offis frely, goynge fro cuntre to cuntre where he may moste profite, and ceesse not for prioure ne any oþir satrap, and charge not singuler habite, and begge not, bot be payed with comyne mete and drinke, as Crist and his apostils were, þei wil poursue hym as apostata, and drawe hym to prisoun, and sey þat he is cursed for þis dede. Ffor þis fre goynge aboute and fre prechinge is leeveful to suche a frere, sith hit is ensaumplid and comaundid of Crist, and not to be cloosid in a cloyster, as hit were Caymes Castel [See note on p. 348.] . And so freris schulden be nedid to leeve þis lyvynge of cloyster, and feyned obedience by singuler professioun, and to dwelle amonge þo puple, to whom þei may moste profite gostly. For charite nedid Crist and Baptist to cum oute of desert to teche þo gospel to þo puple, til þei were deed; þerfore myche more charite schulde dryve freris to cum out amonge þo puple, and leeve Caymes Castels þat ben so nedeles and chargeouse to þo puple, sith þei

connot occupye homself so wil in suche solitarie lif and con∣templacioun, as couthen Crist and Jon Baptist. And to þis same ende Crist ordeyned alle his apostils and disciplis to lyve an open gode lif, in mekenesse and willeful povert and discrete penaunce, to teche bisily his gospel to þo puple, and not be closid in grete cloystres and coystily, as Caymes Castels. And hit semes an open doynge of Anticrist to suffer not prestis to frely do þis offis of Crist, bot nede hom, upon peyne of prison∣ynge, to be reulid in þis after þo wille of a symple ydiot, and, in caas, a dampned devel of helle. And so þer seemes no meene to holde þese sectis togedir, bot if hit be þis blasphemye, to prisoune a mon for als myche as he dos aftir þo wille of God. And þus þis new professioune is harmeful for mony skilles, for hit is not ensaumplid of Crist, ne any of his apostlis, and he tauȝt us al þat was nedeful and profitable.

Also þis profession serves of noght bot if hit be to make [The obedience to which their rule binds them is pernicious.] foolis do more after þo erroures of synful men, þen after þo maundement of God. Ffor by vertue of Cristis teching, iche mon is holden to do after iche oþer, in als myche as he techis Cristis comaundement or counseil; and more may no mon bynde anoþer. Also Crist gaf his disciples power of iche werk þat turnes to profite of hor soulis, and helpe of oþer men; and þis fredome is letted by þis profession made to synful men, and, in caas, to fendis of helle. Bot here men wil not distrie freris, ne slee hom, ne curse hom, bot distrie hor errours and save þo persones, and brynge hom to þat lyvynge þat Crist ordeyned prestes to lyve inne, for þat is algatis þo best, to þo moste wor∣schip of God, to moste profite of holy Chirche, and to freris also. Bot what mon schulde not helpe herto, upon al his power, witte, and wille?

CAP. III.

Also freris seyn, if a mon be oones professid to hor [The iniquity of compelling a friar to remain in his Order, though his conscience bids him leave it,] religioun, he may nevere leeve hit and be saved, þof he be nevere so unable þerto, for al tyme of his lif. And so þei wil nede hym to lyve in suche a staate everemore, to whiche God makes hym evere unable, and so nede hym to be dampned. Alas! oute on suche heresie, þat monnis

ordynaunce is holden strenger þen is þo ordynaunce of God! Ffor if a mon enter into þo new religioun, ageyns monnis ordynaunce, he may lawefully forsake hit; bot if he enter ageyns Gods ordynaunce, when God makes hym unable þerto, he schal not be suffred by Anticristis power to leeve hit. And if þis resoun were wel declarid, siþ no mon wot whiche mon is able to þis new religion [So in X; W has the words transposed.] by Gods dome, and whiche is not able, no mon schulde be constreyned to holde forth þis new sect. And þus þis new religioun may not laste bot if hit be by þis blasphemye, to constreyne a mon unable by Gods dome to holde þis new sect, and suffer him not to cum to fredome of Cristis ordir.

CAP. IV.

Also freris seyn, if a mon be professid to hor holy ordir, [and of for∣bidding him to preach publicly though God may be strongly moving him to do so.] he schal not preche frely and generaly þo gospel to Cristen men withouten license of his sovereyne for virtue of obe∣dience, be his sovereyne nevere so cursid mon of lif, and unconnynge of Gods lawe, and enemye to Cristen monnis soule, and, in caas, a foule devel of helle,—þof þis mon pro∣fessid have resseyved of God nevere so myche connynge of Gods lawe, and power and wille to wurche after þis connynge. And so þis mon schal nedis be dampned for mysspendynge of Gods tresoure; ffor siþ Gods lawe seis þat he is oute of charite þat helpis not his broþer with bodily almes, if he may, in his nede, myche more is he oute of charite þat helpis not his broþers soule wiþ techinge of Gods lawe, when he sees hym renne to helle, ȝhe, by ignoraunce. And þus to magnyfie and mayntene hor roten sectis, þei neden men by ypocrisie, fals techinge, and stronge peynes to breke Gods heestis and leese charite. Oute on þis fals heresie and tirauntrye of Anticrist, þat men ben nedid strongly to kepe more his lawes, and obeeche more to hom, þen to Cristis comaundements evere rightful!

CAP. V.

Also freris seyn and mayntenen, þat begginge is leveful, þo [Friars live by begging, which is clean against Holy Scripture,] whiche is dampned by God, bothe in þo Olde Testament and in þo New. For in þo fyveȝt boke of holy writt, God seis to his

puple, Algatis a nedy mon and begger schal not be amonge ȝowe [The reference is to Deuteronomy xv. 4, where the Wycliffite versions, following the Vulgate, translate as in the text. The authorized version, following the Hebrew, gives quite another meaning: 'Save when there shall be no poor among you,' or, as it is better given in the marginal reading, 'To the end that there may be no poor among you.'] . Also þo Holy Gost tauȝte Salomon to preye þese two [Prov. xxx. 8.] þinges of God:—God, make vanite and leesinge wordis fer fro me, and gif not to me beggyng, or beggyngnesse [beggynnesse, X.] , and richesse [So in X; W omits and richesse.] , bot gif oneliche þinges þat ben nedeful for my lyvelode in avauntre, lest I, fulfilde, be drawen to renaye, and sey, Who is Lord? as who sey, I knowe no Lord; and lest I be compellid or made of force by nedynesse to steele, and to forswere þo name of my God. Also þo Wise mon seis, Hit is a wicked or [Ecclus. xxix. 31.] weyward lif to seke herberow for hous to hous; and he schal not do tristiliche, þere he schal be hereberowid, and he schal not open his mouthe. Also Crist biddes his apostils and his disciplis, þat þei schul not bere a sachel ne scrippe, bot loke what meyneȝ is hable to here þe gospel, and eete and drinke þerinne, and passe not þennes, and not passe fro hous to hous. Also Seynt Poule laborid or travelid wiþ his hondis, for hym and for men þat weren wiþ hym, and coveytid nouþer golde ne silver ne clothes of men þat he tauȝte, to gif oþer teechers ensaumple to do þo same in tyme of nede. And Seynt Petre fischid after Cristis resurreccioun. Also Seynt Poule biddes þat [2 Thess. iii. 10.] men þat wil lyve in ydelnesse and curiouste, and not travel, schulde not eete.

Also Seynt Clement ordeyned þat Cristen men schulden not [and at variance with the teach∣ing of saints and fathers.] begg opunly. And, for to putt awey þis beggynge, Seynt Aus∣tyne makes twoo bokes, hou munkis owen to travel wiþ her hondis for her lyvelode [S. Aug. De Opere Monachorum.] . And þo same techis Benett to his munkis, and Seynt Bernarde; and so does Fraunceys to freris. And Jerom seis þat munkis schulden travel wiþ hor hondis, not onely for nede, bot raþer to exclude ydelnesse and vanyte. Ffor in state of innocense God ordeyned mon to travel, and aftir∣ward in þo state of synne God gaf þis labour to mon to his

penaunse. Þen sith iche open beggynge is þus scharply dampned in holy writt, hit is a foule erroure to mayntene hit; bot hit is more erroure to sey þat Crist was suche a begger, for þen he moste have ben contrarie to his owne lawe; bot hit is moste erroure to contynue in þis dampned beggynge, and robbe þus, ageyns charite, þo pore puple, and make hom to byleve þat Crist was suche a begger, and þat þis beggynge is wil done.

CAP. VI.

Also freris seyn in dede, þat hit is medeful to leeve þo com∣aundement [Friars thus intercept alms which should go to the really needy and suffering.] of Crist, of gyvynge of almes to pore feble men, to pore croked men, to pore blynde men, and to bedraden [beddere, X.] men, and gif þis almes to ypocritis, þat feynen hom holy and nedy when þei ben strong in body and haven over myche richesse, bothe in grete waste housis, in preciouse clothis, in grete feestis, and mony jewels and tresoure. And þus þei sleen pore men with hor fals beggynge; siþ þei take falsely fro hom hor worldly godis, by whiche þei schulden susteyne hor bodily lif, and de∣ceyven riche men in hor almes, and mayntenen or counforten hom to lyve in falsenesse, ageyns Jesus Crist. For siþ þer weren pore men ynowe to take mennis almes, byfore þat freris comen in, and þo erthe is nowe more bareyn þen hit was, ouþer freris or pore men moten wante of þis almes. Bot freris by sotil ypocrisie geten to homself, and letten þo pore men to have þis almes.

CAP. VII.

Also freris chargen more brekyng of hor owne tradiciouns [The abandon∣ment of the habit is treated as a heinous sin.] þen brekyng of þo comaundementis of God. Ffor a frere schal more be punysched for brekyng of one of hom, þen for brek∣yng of Gods heestis, for brekyng of Gods heestis is not charged of hom. And in þis þei schewen hou þei loven hor owne wor∣schip more þen Gods; and þus þei taken to homself þo worschip þat is appropred to God; and so ben blasphemes and heretikis. And so þei chargen more hor bodily habite þen charite and

oþer vertues. Ffor if a frere leefe his bodily habite, to þo whiche he is not bounden by Gods lawe, he is holden apostata and scharply pursued, sumtyme to prisoun, and sumtyme to þo deth, þof he serve better God wiþoute his habite þen þerinne. Bot þof he trespas ageyns charite by impacience and fals lees∣ingis, or pride or coveitise, hit is litil or noȝt charged, bot raþer preysed, if hit bringe hom worldly [So in X; W has wordly.] mukke.

CAP. VIII.

Also freris feynen hom, as ypocritis, to kepe straytly þo gospel [Pretending to follow Christ strictly, they are the most covetous of men.] and povert of Crist and his apostils; and ȝitt þei moste con∣trarien to Crist and his apostils in ypocrisie, pride, and coveitise. Ffor þei schewen more holynesse in bodily habite and oþer signes þen did Crist and his apostils; and for hor synguler habite or holynesse þei presumen to be even wiþ prelatis and lordis, and more worthy þen oþer clerkis; and in covetise þei con nevere make an ende, bot by beggynge, byqueethyng [queþinge, X.] , by birying, by salaries and trentals, and by schryvyngis, by absolu∣ciouns, and oþer fals meenes, cryen evere after worldly godis, where Crist usid none of alle þese. And þus for þis stynkynge covetise þei worschippen þo fend as hor God.

CAP. IX.

Also freris drawen childre fro Cristis religioun into hor [By false pro∣fessions friars induce parents to give up their children to them.] private ordir by ypocrisie, leesingis, and steelynge. Ffor þei tellen þat hor ordir is more holy þen any oþer, and þat þei schul have hier degree in blis þen oþer men þat ben not þerinne; and seyn þat men of hor ordir schul nevere cum to helle, bot schul deme oþer men wiþ Crist at domesday. And so þei steelen childir fro fadir and modir, sumtyme soche as ben unable to þo ordir, and sumtyme soche as schulden susteyne hor fadir and modir by comaundement of God; and þus þei ben blasphemes, takyng upon hom ful counseil in doutouse þinges, þat ben not expressely comaundid ne forbeden in holy writt, sith siche conseil is approprid to þo Holy Gost. And

þus þei ben herfore cursid of God, as þo Pharisees were cursid of Crist, to whom he seis þus;—Woo be to ȝowe, Scribis and Pharisees, (þat ben, writers of lawe and men of synguler reli∣gioun) þat cumpassen aboute þo water and þo londe to make a mon of ȝoure religioun; and when he is made of ȝoure reli∣gioun, ȝe maken hym double more a childe of helle. And siþ he þat steelis an oxe or a kow is dampnable by Gods lawe, and monnis also, myche more he þat steelis a monnis childe, þat is bettere þen alle erthely godis, and drawes hym to þo lesse perfit ordir. And þof þis synguler ordir were more perfite þen Cristis, ȝitt he wot nevere wheþer hit be to dampnacioun of þo childe, for he wot not to what state God hafs [haþ, X.] ordeyned hym, and so blyndly þei done ageyns Cristis ordynaunse.

CAP. X.

Also freris for pride and covetise drawen fro curatis hor office [They meddle in parish work, and so cause ill-will between priests and their parishion∣ers.] and sacramentis, in whoche lyen wynnynge or wurschip, and so maken dissencioun bitwix curatis and hor gostly childer. Freris drawen to hom confessioun and birying of riche men by mony sotil meenes, and messe pens, and trentals [See p. 299, note.] , bot þei wil not cum to pore mennis dirige ['pore mennis dirige.' In the office for the dead, according to the use of Sarum, at the vigils (which were recited daily unless hindered by the occurrence of the greater fes∣tivals) nine psalms were ordered to be sung, followed, when the body was present, by nine different anti∣phons; but when the body was not present, by one and the same anti∣phon, which was either Placebo, the 9th verse of Ps. 116 (114, Vulg.), or else Dirige, part of he 8th verse of the 5th psalm (Dirige in conspeetu tuo vitam meam). These vigils, celebrated always on the day before the masses for the dead or for the repose of souls, and connected with those masses, must have made the word Dirige, loudly repeated nine times after each psalm at the be∣ginning of the antiphon, so familiar to the ears of our forefathers, that one cannot wonder at the employ∣ment of the word to express funeral obsequies generally. See the Sarum Breviary (Paris, 1554) and Mr. Way's note on Dyryge in the Camden So∣ciety's edition of the Promptorium Parvulorum.] , ne resseyve hom to be biryed amonge hom. And þei cryen faste þat þei haf more power in confes∣sioun þen oþer curatis; for þei may schryve alle þat comen to hom, bot curatis may no ferþer þen her owne parischens. Bot curatis seyn, þat sith þei schul answere byfore God for þo soulis

of hor sogettis, þei wil knowe hor lif; and freris seyn hit is no nede, for þei haf more power þen þo curat; and þus discencioun and hate is made bytwix curatis and hor childer. And pride and covetise of freris is cause of al þis, and mony oþer synnes. And þus, for þei maken discorde amonge Cristen men, þei ben hatid and cursid of God Almyghty.

CAP. XI.

Also freris comen in under þo name of seyntis, and forsaken [They talk of the sanctity of their founders, yet break their precepts.] þo seyntis reule and lyve, and putten hor owne errors to þo seyntis, and sclaundren both hom and God. For if men speken of Fraunceys, he usid and tauȝte myche mekenesse, povert, and penaunce, and Menoures now usen þo contrarei. For þei maken statutis of hor owne wille, and hom þei kepen faste, and maken men to wene þat Fraunceis made hom. Bot Prechours seyn þat Dominyk foundid hom, and þen he kept Austyns reule, sith he was a chanoun bifore; for ellis he was apostata if Austyns reule were gode. Bot Austyn wolde algatis sue þo apostils lyvyng, and Prechoures done even þo contrarie. And frere Austyns founden hom on Austyn þo grete doctor; bot his reule spekes noȝt of freris; and so þei ben groundid on leesingis, for þei have no patroun seynt. And of þo Carmes knowen men nouþer founder ne reule. And so þo freris þat haf founders done ageyns her founders teching and Cristis also; and colouren hor owne wicked lawes under name of þese seyntis; and so ben groundid on leesingis, and sclaundren hor patrouns and Crist also. And oþer freris, þat have no patrouns, lyven aftir hom∣self, and putten hor erroures on seyntis, and so sclandren hom and Crist. And so ypocrisie regnes, and synne is mayntened by coloure of holynesse.

CAP. XII.

Also freris pursuen treue prestis, and letten hom to preche [They thwart and persecute true priests.] þo gospel, notwitstondynge þat Crist enjoyned presthed and preching of þo gospel. And so þei departen þat þing þat God joyned togedir; and so, als myche as in hom is, þei fordone Gods ordynaunce. And so þei harmen Cristen men more cruely þen þo Soudon of Saraȝenes, for þei ben neer and more

malicious. For sith Crist charges alle his prestis to preche treuly þo gospel, and þei pursuen hom for þis dede, ȝhe, to þo fyer, þei wil slee prestis for þei done Gods biddinge. And þer∣fore þei ben mon-sleers and irreguler, and cursid of God, for þei letten his puple to be saved, and so neden hom to be dampned. And sith þo principal poynt and ende of Cristis dyinge and his passioun was to save monnis soule, and þo principal werk of Sathanas is to leese monnis soule, þei ben traitoures to Crist, and aungels of Sathanas transformed into aungel of light, and cruel traytoures of all men.

CAP. XIII.

Also capped freris, þat ben calde [clepid, X.] maystres of dyvynite, have [Luxury and arrogance of the capped friars; covet∣ousness of the Limitors.] hor chaumber and servise as lordis or kynges, and senden oute ydiotis ful of covetise to preche, not þo gospel, bot cronyclis, fablis, and leesingis, to pleese þo puple and to robbe hom. And what cursidenesse is þis to a deed mon, as to þo world and pride and vanyte þerof, to gete hym a cappe of maysterdome, by preyer of lordis, and grete giftis, and makyng of huge feestis of a hundrid and mony hundrid poundes, and þen be ydel fro teching of Gods lawe, bot if hit be seelden [seldom, X.] , byfore lordis and ladyes or grete gederyngis for name of þo worlde, and þen to leeve hor povert and symplenesse þat he is bounden to, and devoure pore mennis almes in waste and feestynge of lordis and grete men, and so ȝif sclaunder to his breþer and oþer men, to lyve in pride and covetise, gloterie and ydelnesse, and leeve þo servise of God as þof þei were exempt from alle godis. And ȝitt forfendynge [perhaps it should be for sendynge.] of þese coveytouse foolis þat ben lymytoures, gos myche symonye, envye, and myche foule marchaundise; and who can beste robbe þo pore puple by fals beggyng and oþer disseytis, shal have þis Judas offis. And so a neste of Anticrist clerkis is mayntened by sotil cautelis of þo fende.

CAP. XIV.

Also freris schewen not to þo puple hor grete synnes stably [The friars flatter the people, and let them live on in their sins.] as God biddes, and namely to myghty men of þo worlde, bot

flatren hom and glosen and norischen hom in synne. And sith hit is þo offis of a prechoure to schewe men her foule synnes, and peynes þerfore, and freris taken þis offis, and done hit not, þei ben cause of dampnacioun of þo puple. For in þis þei ben foule traytours to God, and eke to þo puple, and þei ben nursis of þo fende of helle. For by flatryng and fals byheestis, þei leten men lyve in hor lustis and counforten hom þerinne. And sumtyme þei pursuen oþer trewe prechoures, for þei wil not glose myghty men, and counfort hom in hor synnes, but wil scharply telle hom þo sothe; and þus myghti men hire by grete costis a fals traytour to lede hom to helle. And ensaumple men may take, how freris suffren myghty men fro ȝeere to ȝeere lif in avowtrie, in covetise, in extorsiouns doyng, and mony oþer synnes. And when men ben hardid in soche grete synnes, and wil not amende hom, freris schulden fle hor homely cum∣panye, bot þei do not þus, lest þei leese worldly frenschip, favoure, or wynnyng. And þus for þo money þei sellen mennis soulis to Sathanas.

CAP. XV.

Also freris by lettris of fraternite [For some account of these letters of fraternity, see vol. i. p. 67.] disseyven þo puple in feyth, [They deceive them and cheat them by means of their letters of fraternity.] robben hom of temporal godis, and maken þo puple to trist more in deed parchemyne, seelid wiþ leesinges, and in veyn preyers of ypocrites, þat, in caas, ben dampned devels, þen in þe helpe of God, and in hor owne gode lyvynge. Comynly þese lettris ben poudrid wiþ ypocrisye, covetise, symonye, blas∣phemye, and oþer leesinges. Wiþ ypocrisie,—for þerinne ben tolde wiþouten ende [nede, X.] mony gode dedis, and sumtyme ben fals, and more to schewe hom holy, to gete worldly godis, þen to save mennis soulis. Wiþ covetise,—for þei done þis to wynne þo penye; for a pore mon þat may not gif hom, be he nevere so trew to God, schal not have hom, bot a riche, be he nevere so cursid, schal have soche lettris, and wenes þat he is siker ynowh herby, do he nevere so myche wrong to pore men. Wiþ symo∣nye,—for þei sellen þis spiritual gode for temporal godis, and

þat unskilfuly, for suche chafferynge or grauntinge of lettris was nevere ensamplid of Crist ne his apostils, and ȝitte þei loved best mennis soulis. Wiþ blasphemye,—for þes synful wrecchis taken upon hom þo deelyng of gode dedis; but þis þing is appropred to God; and so þei ben blasphemes. For þei passen bischopis, popis, and eke God hymself; for þei graunten no pardoun, bot if men ben contrit and schryven, and of meryt of Cristis passioun and oþer seyntis; bot freris maken no men∣cyoun, nouþer of contricioun ne schrifft, ne of meryt of Cristis passioun, but onely of hor owne gode dedis. And so Crist grauntis to no synful mon, contynuynge in his synne, suche part; but freris graunten raþer to cursid men, for worschippe or wynnynge, þen to gode pore men. And þus falsely þei passen Crist, ffor Crist wolde not graunte to his cosyns part of his [Matt. xx. 22.] kyngdome, bot if þei wolden suffre passioun as Crist did, bot freris wil make men eeyris in þe blis of heven, siþ þei graunten men part of hor gode dedis after þis lif; and þei may not haf þen part bot if þei schulen be saved. Bot Cristen byleve techis þat alle men in charitee ben parcyneres by graunte of God of alle medeful dedis; why þen graunten freris þis part? Ffor þei wil have proprete of gostly godis where no proprete may be, and leeven proprete of worldly godis where Cristen men may have proprete. And þus þei techen þo puple þat hit is more medeful to gif soche ypocritis bodily almes, þen to gif hit to pore nedy men after þo gospel. And þus þei disseyven þo puple in byleve, and robben hom of temporal godis, and maken to recke lesse of hor owne gode lyvynge, for trist of þese fals lettris.

CAP. XVI.

Also freris perverten þo right feithe of þo sacrament of þo [Their heresy concerning the Eucharist.] auter, and bringen in a newe heresie. Ffor when Crist seis þat þo bred ȝat he brake and blessid is his body, þei sey hit is an accident wiþouten sugett, or noght. And when holi writt seis openly þat þis sacrament is bred þat we breken, and Gods body, þei seyn þat hit is nouþer bred ne Gods body, bot acci∣dent wiþouten sugett, and noght. And þus þei leeven holy writt, and taken new heresie on Crist and his apostils, and on

Austyn, Jerom, Ambrose, Ysider [Isidore.] , and oþer seyntis; and þe Court of Rome, and alle trew Cristen men þat holden þo feith of þo gospel. Ffor Crist seis þat, þis bred is my body; and Seynt Poule seis, Þo bred þat we breken is þo comunycacioun of þo Lordis body; and Seynt Austyn seis, þat þat þing þat we seen is bred. Bot as to faith fully tauȝte þo bred is Cristis body, Ambrose seis þat þing þat is bred schal be Cristis body [S. Ambr. De Sacramentis, lib. iv. cap. 5.] . Jerom seis, þat þat bred þo whiche Crist brac and gaf to his disciplis is þo body of oure Saveour, ffor Crist seis, þis is my body [The passage is in St. Jerome's Epistola ad Hedibiam, ch. ii.: 'Nos autem audiamus panem, quem fregit Dominus, deditque discipulis suis, esse corpus Domini Salvatoris, ipso dicente ad eos, Accipite et comedite, hoc est corpus meum.'] . Berengarie, by approvynge of þo Court of Rome, seis þus;—I knoweleche wiþ herte and wiþ mouthe þat þo bred þat is leyd on þo auter is not onely þo sacrament, bot verrey Cristis body [See the abjuration of Berenga∣rius (made by him at the Council of Rome in 1059) in Labbe's Con∣cilia, tom. ix. p. 1101 (edit. 1671, Paris).] . O Lord! what hardy devel durste teche þese freris to denye þus openly holy writt, and alle þese seyntis, and þo Court of Rome, and alle trew Cristen men, and to fynde þis heresie, þat þis sacrid oost is accident wiþouten sugett, or noght? sith þis is not tauȝte opunly in holy writt, and resoun and witte is ageyns þis. And Austyn, in þre or foure grete bookis, seis ex∣pressely þat noon accident may be wiþouten sugett, and alle wise philosoforis acorden here wiþ Austyn. Lord, what schulde move Crist Almyghty, al-witty, and alle [So in X; om. W.] wel [So in X; W has wil.] willynge, to hide þis byleve of freris by a thousande ȝeer, and nevere to teche his apostils and so many seyntis þo right byleve, but to teche first þese ypocrites, þat comen nevere into þo Chirche til þo foule fende Sathanas was unbounden? Herby schulden alle Cristen men knowe þo freris heresie, and not resseyve hom into hor housis byfore þat þei confessiden under hor general seel þo right bileve of Cristen men, and had forsaken hor olde heresie.

CAP. XVII.

Also freris bylden mony grete chirchis and costily waste [The parochial system im∣paired by the encroachments and covetous∣ness of the friars.] housis, and cloystris as hit were castels, and þat wiþoute nede, where-thorw parische chirchis [As bishops and [monastic] cor∣porations were in mutual hostility, so the parochial clergy found oppo∣nents and dangerous rivals in the richly privileged Mendicant Orders, who were indefatigable in their at∣tempts to appropriate the lucrative functions of the priesthood, and to decoy the people from the parish∣churches into their own.'—The Pope and the Council, p. 167 (English translation, Rivingtons, 1869).] and comyne weyes ben payred, and in mony placis undone. And so þei techen in dede þat men schulden have heritage and dwellynge cyte in erthe, and forgete heven, ageyns Seynt Poule. Ffor by þis new housinge of freris, þof hit rayne on þo auter of þo parische chirche, þo blynde puple is so disseyved þat þei wil raþer gif to waste housis of freris þen to parische chirchis, or to comyn weyes, þof men catel and beestis ben perischid þerinne. Byfore þat freris comen in þer was more puple, and þo erthe more plenty∣uos; and þen were chirchis ynowe. What skil is hit now to make so myche cost in new byldyng, and lete olde parische chirchis falle doune? And if men seyn þat in þese grete chirchis God is feyre served, certis grete housis make not men holy, and onely by holynesse is God wel served. Ffor in heven, þat was so feyre, Lucifer served God untreuly, and so did Adam in Paradise. And Jesus seis þat þo grete temple of Jerusalem, þat was a hous of preyer and sumtyme Gods hous, was made a den of thefis, for covetouse prechoures dwelliden þerinne. Bot Job served God ful wel on þo dunghil, and so did Adam oute of Paradise, and Crist beste, when he preyed in hilles and desertis, and Baptist eke. And þerfore Crist and his apostlis maden no grete chirchis ne cloystris, bot wenten fro cuntrey to cuntrey, preching þo gospel, and teching men to do hor almes to pore men, and not to waste housis. Ffor Crist tauȝte men to preye in spirit and treuthe, þat is, in gode wille and devo∣cioun and holy lyvynge. And to destrie þis ypocrisie, he ordeyned þo temple of Jerusalem schulde be destried, for synne done þerinne.

CAP. XVIII.

Freris also destrien obedience of Gods lawe, and magnifyen [Their doctrine of implicit obedience to a superior is dishonouring to Christ.] singuler obedience made to synful men, and, in caas, to devels; whiche obedience Crist ensaumplid nevere, nouþer in hymself ne in his apostils. Ffor by teching of Seynt Poule iche mon [Eph. v. 21.] owis to be sugett to oþer in þo drede of Crist, þat is, in als myche as he techis hym Gods wille; and no mon schulde obeeche more to any mon. And evere þo more þat a mon were, þo more schulde he þus meke hym self, as Crist did to alle his apostils. Bot freris tellen noȝt by þis obedience, bot if þei maken singuler professioun to sinful foolis, þat mony tymes techen and comaunden hom ageyns Gods wille; and seyn, þat in suche þinges as ben not expressely comaundid ne forfendid in Gods lawe, þei schulden algatis do after hor sovereyns, ȝhe, þof hit be unwittingly ageyns Gods wille. And sith hit is approprid to þo Holy Gost to gif ful counseil in soche poyntes, þei maken hor synful prioures even wiþ þo Holy Gost; and where þei schulden be governed in soche douty poyntes by þo Holy Gost, þei leeven his counsel and reulyng mony tymes, and taken hom to þo reulynge of a synful fool, and, in caas, a dampned fende in helle. And þus þei leeven obedience þat Crist tauȝte and ensaumplid, as unperfite and not sufficient, and prysen more feyned obedyence to synful foolis, þat þei taken of hor owne presumpcioun, as if soche foolis hade founden perfiter obedience þen evere did Crist, God and mon.

CAP. XIX.

Also freris forsaken perfeccioun of hor ordir for worschip of [Friars who leave their Order to ac∣cept Church dignities are still more pernicious.] þo world and covetise, and ben not suffrid to take þo fredome of þo gospel, for to preche Gods worde to þo puple. Ffor freris ben made bischopis,—ȝhe, mony tymes bi symonye, and sworne strongly to go and preche and convert hethen men; and leeven þis gostly offis, and ben suffragans in Englond, and robben men by extorciouns, as in punysching of synnne for money, and suffren men to lye in synne fro ȝeer to ȝeer for an annuel rente. And so in halowynge of chirchis and chirche-ȝerdis and

auters, and comynly alle oþer sacramentis, for money. And þus þese freris, bischopis, lyven comynly evere after in symonye pride and robberye, and þus þei ben exempt by Cayaphas bischopriche fro alle gode observaunsis of Gods lawe, and of hor owne ordir, and be fre to lyve in synne, and to robbe oure lond, and envemyn [envenyme, X.] hit by mony cursinges. And so þei beren oute first þo golde of oure lond to aliens, and sumtyme to oure enemyes, to gete of Anticrist þis fals exempcioun, and evere after lyven in robbynge of pore men, and mayntenen myche synne, cursinge, and symonye, þat is passing heresie. And oþer bischopis of hom þat have diocisis in þis lond, forsaken povert and penaunse and obedience, for þei loken to be maysters of all freris of þat ordir in þis lond, and to lyve in pride, lustis of hor flesche, ydelnesse, and spoyling of þo puple more suttily þen oþer. And þus a frere schalle dwelle in courtis of lordis and ladies, to be hor confessours, and not displeese hom for noþing, þof þei lyven in nevere so cursid synnes, for to lyve in his lustis, and to gete falsely muk to Anticristis covent, and lette pore men of hor almes. And herto he schal have leeve and comaundement upon vertue of obedience; bot he schal no leeve have to go generaly aboute in þo worlde, and preche treuly þo gospel wiþouten beggyng, and lyve an open pore and just lif, as Crist and his apostils diden, ffor þis were destrying of hor feyned ordir. And þerfore þei loven more pride, covetise, and lustis of hor owne flesche, þen þo worschip of God and heele of monnis soule. And þus þei maken sacrifice to Lucifer, to mammon, and to hor owne stenkynge bely.

CAP. XX.

Also freris prysen more hor rooten habite þen þo worschipful [They inculcate a superstitious reverence for their habit, and trust in its virtue at the hour of death.] body of oure Jesus Crist. Ffor þei techen lordis, and namely ladies, þat if þei dyen in Fraunceys habite þei schul nevere cum in helle for vertu þerof; and certis þis is an open heresie, damp∣nynge alle þat tristen þus into hor lyves ende. Bot a mon may have þo sacrament of þo auter, þat is verrey Gods body, in his

mouthe, and streyght fle to helle wiþouten ende, and þo more be dampned for þo yvel takynge of þis sacrament. Soche heretikis ben unable to be amonge Cristen men.

CAP. XXI.

Also freris beggen wiþouten nede for hor owne riche secte, [Friars beg without need, and thus inter∣cept alms from those in real distress.] and not for pore bedraden men þat may not go, and have no mon to sende for hor lyvelode, bot raþer drawen riche mennis almes fro soche pore men. And herfore charite is outelawed amonge hom, and so is God; and leesinges, covetise, and fendis, ben enhabited amonge hom. For þei disseyven men in hor almes, to make costily housis, not to herberow pore men, bot lordis and myghty men; and techen men to suffer Gods temple, þat ben pore men, to perische for defaute. And þus þei ben traytoures to God, and his riche puple, whom þei dis∣seyven in hor almes, and monquelleres of pore men, whose lyvelode þei awey taken fro hom by fals leesinges, and herfore þei ben irreguler bifore God, and despisen hym, and harmen þo puple when þei seyn masse or mateynes in þis cursid lif, as holy writte techis, and Austyn and Gregor declaren fully.

CAP. XXII.

Freris also kepen not correpcioun of þo gospel ageyns hor [Their cruel practice of imprisoning members of their own Order.] breþer þat trespassen, bot cruely done hom to peyneful prisoun. Bot þis is not þo meke suynge of Jesus Crist, for he and his apostils prisoneden not synful men in þis lif, bot scharply reproved hor synne, and at þo laste, when þei wolden not amende hom, tauȝten gode men to comyne not wiþ hom. Bot þese freris schewen here tirauntrie at þo fulle, whoso knewe wil hor peynes and tourmentis. And hit semes no wisedome ne profite to gif freris power to prisoune men. Ffor when þo kyng by his officeris prisounes a mon, þat is comynly done for gret and open trespas, and þat is gode warnyng to oþer mys∣doers, and sum profit comes to þo kynges ministers. Bot when freris prisounen her breþer, þo peyne is not knowen to men, þof þo synne were nevere so open and sclaunderouse, and

þat dos harme to þer lege men, and profite of kynges ministris is awey. And when þo potestatis of freris ben proude, covet∣ouse, and synful, and haten þo treuthe, þei wil soone prisoun trew men þat reproven hor synnes, and spare oþer schrewes, þat þei may flater hom and mayntene hom in hor synne, and so, byside þo kynges leeve, tormenten trew men, for þei wolden do Gods heestis. And sith þo kyngis graunte is occasion [This the king ought not to suffer.] herto, þo kyng is holden to revoke and lette freris prisonyng, leste he be gilty of þo synne þat comes þerby, sith he may destrie hit and dos not. And þus deede beggers, freris, lippen up to kynges power, and mony tymes more þen þo kyng dar do, and maken þo kyng þo fendis tormentour to prisoune trewe men, for þei seyn þo sothe. And so þo kyng stoppis Gods lawe to be knowen in his lond, and norischis yvel men, and prisounes gode. Ffor þis deede and mony moo schulde þo kyng revoke þis prisonyng, and make clerkes by-reulid [to be reulid, X.] aftir þo gospel, by symplenesse and holy lyvynge.

CAP. XXIII.

Also freris maken oure lond lawelesse, for þei leeden clerkes, [Their inordi∣nate power,—social, political, and ecclesias∣tical.] and namely reulen prelatis and lordis and laydies, and comynes also; and þei ben not reulid by Gods lawe, ne lawes of þo Chirche, ne lawes of þo kyng. Ffor þei glosen Gods lawe as hom likes, and ben exempt fro bischopis and oþer ordinaries, and leeden þo bischop of Rome as hom likes. And men seyn þei ben not lege men to þo kynge ne sugett to his lawes; ffor þof þei steelen mennis childer, hit is seyd þer gos no lawe upon hom. And þat semes evil, for þei robben þo kynges lege men by fals beggynge of sixty thousande mark by ȝeere, as men douten resonably, and ȝitte þei ben not punisched herfore. And þus lawelesse freris, by hor fals reulynge, maken our lond laweles, ffor þei letten clerkes, lordis, and comyns to knowe þo treuthe of holy writt, and maken hom to pursue trew men to þo deth, for þei techen þo comaundementis of God, and crien to þo puple þo foule synnes of fals freris. And þus falsenesse

is mayntened, and fals men ben raysid to grete astatis, and treuthe is putt on bac, and trew men ben pursued, ȝhe, to prisonyng, to losse of alle hor godis, and to scharpe jugement, for als myche as þei wolden destrie synne þat was openly and cursidly done, and in poynt for to fordo oure lond. And of þis reuling ben freris moste gilty, for þei leeden prelatis, lordis and ladies, justisis and oþer men by confessioun, and tellen hom not spedily hor synnes; ffor if þei tolden hom hor synnes, and þei wolde not amende hom, þo freris þat ben hor confes∣soures schulden leeve hom up, as Crist and Poul techen. Bot þei done not þus, for þen þei schulden leese wynnyng and favor of þo worlde. And þus, for love of money and wilfare of hor body, þei leeden oure lond oute of þo lawe of God and al rightwisenes.

CAP. XXIV.

Also freris ben irreguler procuratours of þo fende, to make [The friars eagerly pro∣moted the late disastrous crusade to Flanders.] and mayntene werris on Cristen men, and enemyes of pees and charite. For freris counseilen and opunly prechen, þat men schulen fle to heven wiþouten peyne if þei wolden goo and slee in hor owne persone, or mayntene and fynde one at hor coste, to slee Cristen men. And þo ende was to make Cristis viker moste riche to þo worlde, þo whiche viker schulde be moste pore, suynge in þis moste hyely Crist and his apostlis. Bot Crist dyed to make pees and charite; and if men myghten þus frely graunte pardoun, þei schulden, ȝhe, to lese hor owne lif, graunte pardoun to make pees. Ȝitte þei prechen no pardoun ne mede to make pees and charite, and ȝitte þei ben bounden of God to make men siker to have þo blis of heven, if þei wil treuly procure for pees and charite. Bot of þo pardoun þat men usen to day fro þo Court of Rome, þei have no sikernesse by holy writte ne resoun, ne ensaumple of Crist or [so X; W has of.] his apostils. And so of oþer werris and debatis, þat freris myghten lette if þei wolden. And siþ þei done not, bot raþer counseilen þerto, and counforten men þerinne, and tellen not þo periles of hom, þei ben cause and procuratoures of alle werris, and specialy of

þis werre in Flaundris. For þei prechiden þat, and haden hit forth, aȝeyns þo kyng, þo duke [That is, the Duke of Lancaster, for he was in power in 1383, the year of the expedition to Flanders. The form of expression also seems to show that this was written before 1386, in which year, owing to the departure of John of Gaunt for Por∣tugal, his brother, the Duke of Gloucester, obtained a commanding influence at court. At the same time the enterprise of Bishop Spen∣cer is not spoken of as a very recent event; so that, if this tract be really by Wyclif, we must assign it, I think, to the last six months of his life.] , and oþir lordis and clerkis, and scharply pursueden prestis þat stoden by charite and profite of þo rewme. And so þei weren þen above þo kyng, lordis, and trew prestis, and robbiden þo kyngis lege men by fals leesinges of many thousande poundis, þat þof þo kyng schulde now be taken, and oure lond conqueerid or destried, þo kyng myght not reyse so myche to helpe hymself and his lond. And certis here was tresoun to God and þo kyng, and false disseyte of alle men, bothe of catel and of soule, and lettinge and destrieyng of pees and of charite.

CAP. XXV.

Freris also ben Scarioths childre, bitrayinge trew men of þo [The same sub∣ject continued.] gospel, and so Crist, for money. And for money þei senden soulis to Sathanas, by ensaumple of hor yvel lyvynge, by counseil to werris, and norischinge and counfortinge men in synne, for lustis of hor flesche. Ffor, in pleesinge of bischopis and oþer men, þei prechen ageyns povert of Crist, and seyn þat prechours of þo gospel and Cristis lif ben heretikes, worthy to be brende. And so, for giftis of bischopis and oþer men, and worldly favor, þei sellen treuthe of þo gospel, and so Crist, as Judas did. Ffor Seynt Bede and Seynt Ambrose seyn, sith Crist is treuthe, he þat for money seis falsenesse, and leeves þo sothe, dos suche synne as Judas did. And so þei counseilen to werris, for þei wynnen myche þerby; and for defaute of charite þei senden soulis to helle, when men by hor counseile taken fals werris and enden in hom, wenynge þat þei done wil, and þerfore dyen wiþouten sorwe of hom. And for to hert men in þis cursid werringe, þei gone with hom into werre, and ben hor confes∣soures,

and sumtyme sleen men in hor owne persone. And þus þei ben Anticristis martiris, and fleen to helle, to drawe oþer men þider after hom.

CAP. XXVI.

Also freris destryen þis worlde moste of alle cursid men, ffor [As spiritual guides, they encourage the rich in pride and worldli∣ness.] þei bacbyten gode clerkis, and seyn þat þei distourblen þo worlde, and flateren yvel clerkes in hor synne. And so þei preysen lordis þat ben tyrauntis, extorsioneris, and yvel lyvers, and ladies also. And þei dispisen lordis and ladies þat bygyn∣nen to leeve pride and vanyte of þo world, and seyn hit was not myrie, sithen lordis and ladies taken rewarde to þo gospel, and lafften hor aunsetris maners þat weren wurschipful to þo worlde. And so, of riche men and oþer, þei preysen hom þat bringen hom myche money, wiþ wronge and mony disseytis, and seyn þat þei ben holy; bot oþer men þat gyven not freris much more þan ynowhe, þei lakken at þo fulle, þof þei done hor almes myche better to hor pore neghtboris. And sith God seis þat yvel techers ben cause of destruccioun of þo puple, and Grosted declarid hit wil, and freris ben principal yvel techers, þei ben principal cause of destryinge of þis worlde. Ffor þei ben confessoures, prechoures, and reulers comynly of alle men, and þei techen hom not hor foule synnes, and periles of hom, bot suffren hom in hor synnes, for wynnynge of stinkynge muck and lustis of hor owne bely, þat is foule wormes meete and a sack of dritt.

CAP. XXVII.

Also freris ben moste rebel ageyns þo techinge of Cristis [Their impa∣tience of reproof;] gospel and moste out of patiense and pite, ffor þei ben moste unpacient ageyns reprovynge of synne and destryinge of his litel synne, þen þei wil suffer meke and soffte reprovynge of hor grete heresies. Ffor þei ben wode þat mennes almes schulde be rightly departid amonge pore men, nedy, feble, crokid, and blinde,—ffor þen þei seyn þei ben undone. Bot þei ben of veyne religioun, as Seynt Jame seis, Ffor þis is a clene religioun, wiþouten spott anentis God þo Fadir, to visite fadirles and

modirles childre, and widows in hor tribulacioun, and to kepe a mon unfoulid fro þis worlde, þat is, fro pride, covetise, and vanytees. Bot freris done al þo contrarie, for þei visiten riche men, and by ypocrisie geten falsely hor almes, and wiþdrawen hit fro pore men. Bot þei visiten riche widows for hor mucke, and maken hom to be biried at þo freris; bot pore men comen not in þere. And willeful povert þei forsaken, and ben moste covetouse of alle men, and boosten more of hor holynesse, and ben moste dislavy [dilavy, X.] of hor veyn speche and worldly. And, as [their treason∣able language.] trewe men tellen, freris seyn apertely, if þo kynge and lordis and oþer men stonden þus ageyns hor fals beggyng, and wil not suffer freris to robbe hor tenauntis, bot gif hor almes to hor pore neghtboris, freris wil go out of þo lond and cum ageyne wiþ bright hedis [That is, with helmets on their heads.] . And loke wheþer þis be tresoun or noon.

CAP. XXVIII.

Also freris techen and mayntenen þat holy writt is fals, and so [The friars virtually deny the truth of holy Scripture.] þei putten falsenes upon oure Lord Jesus Crist, and on þo Holy Gost, and on al þo blessid Trinyte. Ffor sith God Almyghty tauȝte, confermes, and mayntenour holy writte, if þis wryting be fals, þen God is fals, and mayntenour of error and falsenesse; bot certis þen he is no God. Ȝitte knewen we nevere þat any sect wold sey þat lawes of hor God were fals, and þerwiþ byleve on þo same God, bot þis despit done þese blasphemes to þo holy Trinyte. Alas! who may suffer þis blasphemye? þat Crist in whom is al tresoure of witte, wisedome, and treuthe, couthe not or wolde not sey trew wordis and sentence, bot synful folis haf trew maner of speking, contrarie to þo speche of oure Lord Jesus Crist. Ffor if þis be sothe, synful folis, ȝhe, in caas, devels of helle, ben wiser and trewere þen is Jesus Crist. And when þis cursid grounde is sought, hit stondes in þis error; ffor I am mayster of vanyte, and of heresie mysundirstonde þo wordis of God, þerfore þei ben fals. Bot þese heretikis schulden knowe þat hit sues of hor cursid grounde þat God is þo falsest þing

in erthe or heven or in helle. Why? for men falsely under∣stonden moste falsenesse of hym; and þus myght iche Pay∣nyme or Saraȝen make oure God fals as hym likes. Bot why seyn þei þat holy writt is fals? for þei ben wonte so myche to leesinges and falsenesse, þat þei taken falsenesse for treuthe. As men seyn, a mon may so long be norischid litel and litel by venym, þat he wenes þat hit be holsum meete and gode. Also holy writt dampnes hor foule ypocrisie, beggyng, covetise, and oþer synnes; and þerfore þei seyn þat hit is fals, to coloure by hor falsenesse. Also holy writt preysis myche Cristis religioun, and tellis how newe sectis, ful of ypocrisie and covetise, schulden cum and disseyve Cristen men, and biddes hom knowe hom by hor covetise and ypocrisie. And herfore þei seyn, as Sathanas clerkis, þat holy writt is fals.

CAP. XXIX.

Freris also ben stronglier weddid wiþ hor roten habite, ageyns [Their inordi∣nate and superstitious regard for the habit of their Order.] þo fredome of þo gospel, þen þo housbande is wiþ his wif by ordynaunce of God. Ffor þo housbande may lawefully be absente fro his wif by a moneth, an half ȝeer, and sumtyme seven ȝeer, and, by comyn asent of hom bothe, by al hor lyve. Bot if a frere be oute of his roten habite, ȝhe, an hour, he is apostata, þof he love more God and serve hym better, and pro∣fite more to Cristen men. And þus þei putten more holynesse in hor roten habite þen evere did Crist or his apostils in hor cloþis, ffor Crist was thries on a day oute of his clothis, and ȝitt he was not apostata. Bot þei chargen so myche þis roten habite, for herby þo puple wenes þat þei ben holy, and gyven hom more dritt þen is nedeful or profitable. And herfore iche partye drawes oþer to helle,—þo freris, for hor fals takyng of almes when no nede is, ne þei have leeve of Gods lawe þerto,—þo blynde puple, for þei drawen hor almes fro hor pore and nedy neghtboris, where þei schulden do hit by þo heest of God, and mayntenen freris in hor fals beggyng, ypocrisie, and oþer synnes mony.

CAP. XXX.

Also freris techen þat hit is not leeveful to a prest or anoþer [Friars inculcate an extravagant and servile reverence for papal dispensa∣tions and the mandates of superiors.] mon to kepe þo gospel in his boundis and clennesse, wiþouten error of synful men, bot if he have leeve þerto of Anticrist. And þus þei seyn hit is not leveful to a Cristen mon to do Gods comaundement, bot if a fend gif hym leeve þerto, as if þo leeve and comaundement of God be not ynowh herto. For þei seyn þat a prest þat has bounden hymself to errours of synful men by new professioun, may not go to þo fredome of þo gospel, and lif þerafter as Crist tauȝte prestis, bot if þei have dispensacioun of þo pope. And I suppose þat he be Judas, and schal be dampned; þen he is a devel, as Crist seis; and þen hit is pleyne, sith þis prest may not kepe þo gospel in his fredome wiþouten his leeve, and he is in þis caas a devel, þen a prest may not kepe þo comaundementis of God wiþouten leeve of a fend. Bot for to gete þis leeve is oure golde gyven to aliens, and sum∣tyme oure enemyes; and ȝitte þo prest schal be bounden comynly to þo roten habite, and be exempt fro godenesse, and boldid in synne.

CAP. XXXI.

Also freris ben ressett, and a swolowhe of symonye, of [Their usury, simony, cove∣tousness, and extortion.] usure, of extorsiouns, of raveyns, and of thefftis, and a nest or hoorde of mammons tresoures. Ffor þof men lyven in sy∣monye, þei wil not counseil hom and charge hom in schriffte to resigne hor benefice, bot counforten hom to holde hit stille, and bringe hom myche dritt þerof, and þei wil undertake for hor synne. And so of usureris, þei chargen hom not spedely to make restitucioun, bot raþer colouren þis synne, to be partyner of þis wynnyng. And so of oþer robberie, þei resseyven hit prively, and so mayntenen and colouren thefes in theffte, where oþer lege men schulden be punisched þerfore. And so þei ben more coveytous þen þo wicked Jewes þat bouȝten Crist, for þei wolden not take þo money of Judas, and do hit to hor money ne tresoure, for hit was þo price of Cristis blode, for Crist was solde and trayed to deth for þat money; bot freris wil resseyve money, geten by as grete synnes or more, to make grete housis

and grete festis to lordis, and not bye a felde to birie inne pil∣grimes, as þo Jewis diden, bot raþer leyen hit up in hor tresoure, to mayntene wronges ageyns hor curatis and oþer pore men, by fals plee at Rome, and marchaundise in Englond.

CAP. XXXII.

Freris also cryen loude þat pore prestis ben heretikes, for þei [Friars tax poor priests with heresy, be∣cause they would take wealth and lordship from the Church, and support the king's regale.] techen by Gods lawe hou clerkis schulden kepe willeful povert of Cristis gospel, and þo kyng and lordis owen to compelle hom þerto. And þus þei dampnen holy writt, and þo kyngis regalrie [regalie, X.] . Ffor sith pore prestis have tauȝte, bothe in Englische and in Latyn, hou mony open lawes, bothe in þo Olde Testament and in þo Newe, forfenden alle prestis and dekenes to have seculer lordschip, and þes lawes ben confermed by Cristis lif and his apostils, and freris seyn þat þis is heresie, þei dampnen openly holy writt. And sith þo kynges regalrie askes by olde statue þat þo kyng may in mony, in caas [in many caases, X.] , take temporalties fro clerkis, and freris seyn þat þis takyng is error ageyns Gods lawe, þei dampnen þis rightful regalye. And so þei dampnen þo rightful regalie of oure kynge, and also oure kyng and lordis, as here∣tikis, if þei mayntenen þis rightful lawe to stable pees of oure rewme. And sith by Gods lawe þo offis of þo kyng and lordis is to preyse, rewarde, and mayntene gode and rightful men, and to chastise scharply wicked men, and constreyne clerkis to holde þo state þat Crist putt hom inne, and algatis willeful povert, ffreris sey, if þo kyng and lordis done hor offis of Gods lawe, þat þei ben foule heretikes. Bot why schulde þo kyng mayn∣tene in his lond soche traytoures bothe to God and hym, and cruel enemyes of alle Cristen men?

CAP. XXXIII.

Also freris ben theves, bothe nyght thefis and day thefis, [Friars enter the Church like thieves, and not by the door.] entryng into þo Chirche not by þo dore, þat is Crist; ffor wiþ∣outen autorite of God þei maken new religiouns of errours of synful men. And ȝitt þei maken worse reulis evere þo lenger þat þei lasten, and þei seken not mekely þo worschip of God,

and profite of Cristen mennis soulis, and þis þing þei mosten do, if þei comen in by Crist. Bot þei chesen and fynden a new ordir, lesse perfite and profitable þen is þat þat Crist made hym∣self, and so þei maken dyvisioun in presthed, ageyns þo com∣aundement of God. And sith þei ben not groundid on Crist and his lawe, þei moten nedis be drawen up, and þo ordynance of Crist mot stonde in his clennesse and perfeccioun.

CAP. XXXIV.

Also freris by ypocrisie bynden hom to impossible þing þat [They bind their novices to impossible things.] þei may not do; for þei bynden hom ouver þo comaundementis of God, as þei seyn homself; bot þei may do no more þan þo comaundement of God. For God biddes in his moste com∣aundement, þat þou schalt luf þo Lord þi God of al þi lif, of al þi mynde, and of alle þi strengthis and myghtis. Bot who may do more þen þis? No mon; þen þei bynden hom to more þen þei may do. And sith hit is not counsel of Crist to make synguler professioun to a synful ydiot, and, in caas, a devel, and þei bynden hom to siche oon, þat þei done over þo counseil of Crist. Bot al þat is over þo counsel of Crist is algatis yvel, siþ Crist counseils to iche gode þing. And þus many blynde foolis bynden hom to þo hye counseils of Crist, þat connot kepe þo leest comaundement. Bot se ypocrisie of hom! sith iche counseile of Crist is comaundement for sumtyme and summe circumstaunsis, hou bynden þei hom to more þen to comaunde∣mentis? Not by þo counseils, for þei ben comaundementis. Bot þei feynen þis to drawe ȝonge childre into hor roten habite, and oþer foolis, þat knowen not þe perfeccioun of Cristis ordir.

CAP. XXXV.

Freris also ben worse heretikis þen weren Jewis, þat wolden [The burden∣someness of their innumer∣able rules and ceremonies.] kepe cerymonyes of þo olde lawe wiþ fredome of Cristis gospel. Ffor þo Jewis kepten resonable lawes, made of God, and mede∣ful for tyme þat God ordeyned hom; bot freris kepen now lawes feyned of erroures of men, moo þen God ordeyned in þo olde lawe, and more uncerteyne. For to day þis lawe is holden amonge hom, and to morowen destried, bot þus uncerteyne was not Gods lawe. And þese lawes of freris ben more ageyns þo

gospel; for þo lawes of þo Olde Testament were figure of Cristis comynge and passioun, and ledden men to þo gospel; bot new lawes of freris ben not suche figure, and letten men to holde fredome of þo gospel. O Lord! sith gode lawes, ordeyned of God, mosten nede ceese for fredome of þo gospel, myche more moten yvel lawes, ordeyned of errour of synful men and worldly, ceesse, and lette not men to kepe þo gospel in his fredome.

CAP. XXXVI.

Also freris ben adversaries of Crist and disciplis of Sathanas, [In persecuting poor priests, they return evil for good.] not ȝeldinge gode for yvel, as Gods lawe techis, ne gode for gode, as kynde and monnis lawe techen; bot ȝelding yvel for gode, as þo fendis lawe techis. For þei casten and ymagynen þo deth of trew men þat desiren and travelen to delyver hom fro þo fendis mouth and everlastinge deeth, and to bringe hom to þat staate in whiche Crist ordeyned prestis to lyve inne. And þei proferen freris þis condicioun, if þei wil teche by holy writt or resoun, þat freris ordir and lyvynge is beste for prestis, þei wil gladly be professid to þo freris ordir; and if prestis may teche, bothe by holy writt and resoun, þat hor ordir is better þen freris, sith Crist hymself made hor ordir, and not freris, þei preyen freris for luf of God to take þat ordir, and to leeve hor singuler ordir, in als myche as hit drawes hom fro þo fredome of þo gospel. And þus þei pursuen prestis, for þei reproven hor synnes as God biddes, bothe to brenne hom, and þo gospels of Crist written in Englische, to moost lernyng of oure nacioun. And þus, for þo grete almes þat men gyven to freris, þei letten men to con Gods lawe, and so letten hom to be saved, ffor þei may not be saved wiþouten connyng and kepynge of Gods lawe. And so freris neden oure lond to be dampned wiþ fendis in helle.

CAP. XXXVII.

Freris also ben worse enemyes and sleers of monnis soule [They give easy absolution, and so encourage sin.] þen is þo cruel fende of helle by hymself. Ffor þei, under þo habite of holynesse, leden men and norischen hom in synne, and ben special helpers of þo fende to strangle mennis soulis.

For þei han [So X; om. W.] name of holynesse and of grete clerkis in repu∣tacioun of þo puple, þat þo puple tristis not to few trew men, prechinge ageyns hor covetise, ypocrisie, and fals desseyt. And þo freris, for luf of a litel stinkynge mucke, and wilfare of hor foule bely, sparen to reprove þo cursid synne of þo puple. Ffor comynly if þer be any cursid jurour, extorsioner, or avoutrer, he wil not be schryven at his owne curat, bot go to a flatryng frere, þat wil asoyle hym falsely for a litel money by ȝeere, þof he be not in wille to make restitucioun and leeve his cursid synne. And þus, if þo foule fende myght be schewed in his schappe to þo puple, as men seyn he was in tyme of Seynt Bartholomew [The wonderful tale may be read at large in the Legenda Aurea of Jacobus de Voragine, how Polimius, an Indian king, had a huge idol which was tenanted by a devil, and how St. Bartholomew undertook, if the king would receive baptism, to pro∣duce his god before him bound with chains. The demon, like the racoon in the American story, owned him∣self beaten at once, came out of the idol in the presence of all the peo∣ple, and after obediently breaking it in pieces, was allowed by the apostle to retire into the jungle.] , þo puple wolde be ferde to dwelle in his servise, þat is synne. Bot þo cursidnesse of synne is hid, and þo puple is made siker by fals pardouns and lettris of fraternite, þof þei alle breken þo heestis of God and kepen not charite. And certayne þen is þo devel siker of bothe partyes.

CAP. XXXVIII.

Also freris leden and norischen oure prelatis, oure lordis and [Their blas∣phemous set∣ting up of Church curses above the curse of God.] comyns, in grete blasphemye ageyns God. For þei techen al þis puple to recke lesse of þo moste rightful curse of God, þen by þo wrong curse of mon synful, þof he be a dampned devel. Ffor þei callen þo curse of God þo lasse curse, and þo curse of synful mon þo more curse. Ffor þof a mon be nevere so cursid of God, for pride, envye, covetise, or avoutrie, or any oþer, þis is not chargid ne pursued, nouþer of prelat ne lord ne comyns. Bot if a mon wiþstonde onys þo cytacioun of a synful prelat, ȝhe, after þo comaundement of God, þen he schal be cursid and prisouned after fourty dayes; and alle men schulen gow upon

hym, þof þo mon be pursued for treuthe of þo gospel, and be blessid of God. And þus synful mennis dome, and, in caas, of þo fendis, is more dred and magnifyed þen is þo rightful dome of God Almyghty.

CAP. XXXIX.

Freris also destrien þis article of Cristen mennis faith, I byleve [Their heresy in affirming that the wicked are members of the Church of Christ.] o comyn, or general, holy Chirche. Ffor þei techen þat þoo men þat schul be dampned ben membris of holy Chirche. And þus þei wedden Crist and þo devel togedir, ffor Crist is gostly weddid wiþ iche membre of holy Chirche, and summe of þese, as þei seyn, schul be dampned; and þen, as Crist seis, þei ben fendis; þerfore by hom Crist and þo devel ben weddid togedir. Bot God seis by Poule, þat þer is no comynynge ne consent to [2 Cor. vi. 15.] Crist and to Belial. And þen may þer no weddinge be bitwixe hom. Bot þis general holy Chirche is þo congregacioun of Crist, þat is hed, and alle gode aungels in heven, and alle men and wymmen, in erthe or in purgatorie, þat schulen be saved, and no moo. For Crist seis, þat noone of his membris schal perische, for no mon schal take hom out of his hondis. And Jon Evaungelist seis of fals techers, þat þei wenten out of us, bot [1 John ii. 19.] þei were not of us. And þerfore Crisostom seis, þat þoo þat kepen not Gods lawe, bot dyen out of charite, weren nevere Cristis body, þo whiche schal not regne wiþ hym. And sith iche part of Cristis gostly body, of whiche Austyn spekes as holy writt dos, schal regne wiþ hym in blis, þen no mon þat schal be dampned is part of Cristis gostly body, and so part of membre [part ne membre, X.] of holy Chirche. Bot freris seyden þus, for men schulden gyf hom myche money to preye for alle, bothe gode and yvel, and also to plese bischops and possessioneres.

CAP. XL.

Also freris seken bisily hor owne worldly worschip, and putten [General world∣liness and pride of the friars.] þo worschip of God byhynde, ageyns þo techinge of Jesus Crist and Seynt Poule. Ȝhe, þat is worse, þei taken upon homself

glorie þat is approprid to God, and so maken hom even wiþ God. For þei seken faste, by grete giftis and veyne costis, to be calde maysters of dyvynite, and speke bifore lordis, and sitte at þo mete wiþ hom, and not to teche treuly þo gospel to alle maner of men, by meke lif and frely, as Crist biddes. Also to be confessoures of lordis and ladyes, and algatis to be myche tolde by, and fare wil, and not seke pore men, þof þei have more nede. And so of oþer bisynesse of freris, whoso takes gode siȝt to hom. Ffor if a frere do wil litel, þat schal be preysid algatis, bot þof anoþer mon do myche better, þat schal be lacked or despised. Also þei schulen swere by hym þat þei callen patroun of hor ordir, and leeve God bihynde, and ȝitt þei done so for worschip of hor owne patroun and hor owne sect. And noþoles God techis to swere by hym in nede, and not by his creaturis. Bot for hor proude sweringe and ydel, þei dis∣pisen God and hor patroun also.

CAP. XLI.

Freris ȝitte hyen, ȝitt [om. X.] falsely, homself above Crist. Ffor [They exalt themselves even above Christ Himself,] where Crist biddis þat men trowe not to hym, bot if he do þo werkis of þo Fadir of heven, freris chalengen þat men triste and obeeche to hom, as nedeful to soulis heele, when þei done not þo werkis of God. Ffor ellis þei may not aske þat men do after hom, when þei witten not wheþer þo þinge þat þei comaunden is ageyns Gods dome or þerwiþ. And þus no mon schulde do after hom, bot when þei techen certeynli þo heestis of God, or his counseils, leste men, doynge after hor techynge, in þis do ageyns þo wille of God. Bot farewil þen þis new feyned obediense, wiþ þis new professioun.

CAP. XLII.

Also freris falsely enhansen homself abofe Crist and his [and will not be content to abide by His rule and com∣mandment.] apostils, for þei wil not be payed wiþ Cristis reule in þo gospel, to teche trewly þo gospel, and have mete and drinke frely of a gode mon and devout to God, ne be apayed wiþ fode and hyllynge, as Crist and his apostils weren. Bot þei robben

curatis of hor offis and gostly worschip, and letten hom to knowe Gods lawe, by holdynge bokis fro hom, and wiþdrawinge of hor vauntages, by whoche þei schulden have bokes and lerne. And also þei robben lordis of hor rentis; and somme by more ypocrisie taken fre annuel rentis of lordis cooferis; and þei robben þo comyns of hor lyvelode by ypocrisie, and fals beg∣gyng, dampned by Gods lawe. And þus at þo bygynnynge þei feynen hom moste pore of alle clerkis, bot at þo last þei passen alle oþer in grete housis, and costily libraries, in grete feestis, and mony oþer prides and covetisis. And evere þei passen foule Crist and his apostils; ffor where Crist had not to reste inne his heved, freris, feyned beggers, have lordly plasis [pacis, X; probably by mistake for palacis.] , þat almoste þorw Englond þei may iche nyght lye on hor owne.

CAP. XLIII.

Freris also of grete cautel bynden [So in X; byndynge, W.] novycis to unknowen [They deceive their novices,] þing, for þei wil not suffre hom knowe hor privetees of hor reule and hor lif, til þat þei ben professid; and þen þei schulen not be suffred to leeve hor reule, þof þei witten wel þat þei may not kepe hit. And þis is openly ageyns Cristis techinge in Jones gospel. Ffor Crist seis þat he spake opunly to þo world, and in hyddenesse noþing; and freris done here fully þo con∣trarie. For firste þei schewen grete devocioun and swettenes of holy lif to ȝonge childre, til þei ben professid, and þen maystren hom by tyrauntrie to do mony þinges ageyns hor conscience, and so neden hom to go to helle or to prisoune, and sumtyme to cruel deth.

CAP. XLIV.

Also freris ben wasteris of tresour of oure lond by mony [and impoverish the land, by referring the decision of everything to Rome.] blynde and unskilful maners. Ffor firste þei bynden [So in X; blynden, Bodl.] hom blyndely fro fredome of þe gospel, and þen spenden myche golde to gete hom dispensacioun, and mony tymes bringen

veyne pardouns, quienals ['Quienal' seems to be a cor∣ruption of quinquennale, by which was meant, an arrangement for say∣ing mass for a departed soul during the period of five years. Triennale (English, trinal or trienal) and annu∣ale, are similar arrangements for three years or one year. See Du∣cange, Triennale.] , and oþer veyne privilegies. And in al þis þo gold of oure lond gos oute, and symonye, and curse, and boldenesse in synne comes ageyne. And God wot wher privitees of oure lond ben þus schewed to oure enimyes. And God wot wher matrimonye be þus departid for money by soche freris, makynge fals suggestioun, and fals poursuyte after. Also hit semes þat in þis þei magnifien a synful caytif, and, in caas, a dampned fende, more þen God Almyghty. For þei dar not by fre graunt of God do a gode þing to pleese hym þerwiþ, bot if þei haf leeve of suche a synful caytif. And if þei have leeve of suche an unwitty caytif, þei dar do, ageyns Gods plessinge, an unresonable þing, and synful, and sclaunderouse to alle Cristen men.

CAP. XLV.

Freris also by Lucifers pride hyen homself, and holden hom [In their Satanic pride they deem them∣selves holier than other men.] holier þen alle oþer oute of hor sect, for as myche as þei bynden hom to new tradiciouns of synful men, þo whiche ben ful of error, over þo moste sufficient reule of Jesus Crist, þat leffte no profitable ne nedeful þing out of his reule. Ffor þof a prest or bischop do nevere so treuly þo offis þat God bad prestis do, ȝitte þei seyn he is more holy if he cum to hor newe feyned religioun and obediense. Bot siþ boostinge and rejoysching of synne is one of þo grattest synnes of alle, and þese freris boosten so myche of hor synful errour, hou þei have founden a better religioun þen Crist made for his apostils and prestis, hit semes þei ben moste synful and cursidly proude over alle oþer wicked men. Ffor hit semes þat þei maken homself wiser þen Crist, more witty and more ful of charite, siþ þei techen better wey to heven þen did Crist, as þei feynen.

CAP. XLVI.

Also freris setten more by stinkyng dritt of worldly godis þen [Yet they set greater store on riches than on virtues.] þei done by virtues and godis of blis. Ffor if a Caymes Castel

of freris haf myche dritt of worldly godis, þof þo freris þerinne ben ful of pride, covetise, symonye, and fals robberie, by fals beggyng and flatering, ȝitte þei seyn þat riche hous is better þen a pore hous of freris, þof þei lyven in mekenesse, povert, and penaunce, and myche holynesse. And þei travelen more for to gete dritt of þis world þen to gete þo blis of heven; and þei comenden more a frere þat con sotely and thicke gete þis worldly dritt, þen anoþer þat con do and teche myche virtuous lif. And þus þese freris maken sacrifice to fals gods, for hor covetise, and forsaken God Almyghty; siþ þei loven more worldly mucke þen virtues and þo love of Jesus Crist.

CAP. XLVII.

Freris also schewen and wittenessen in homself Anticristis [They feign to die to the world, but rise again both to cloak and to practise sin.] miraclis, right as Laȝar, and oþer reysid by Crist, shewiden and wittenessiden Cristis miraclis. Ffor as Laȝar and oþer weren verely deede, and verely reysid by Crist to lyve of kynde and grace, so þese freris feynen hom deede to pride of þo world and oþer synnes, bot þei ben reysid by Anticristis doyng to pride of staatis, covetise, and sotil mayntenynge or colouringe of synne. Ffor þof men ben cursid avoutreris, extorsioneris, and wrongeful mayntyneris of falsenesse and debatis, ȝitte freris wil coloure þese synnes, and undertake for þese synful men, if þei wil gif hom myche dritt and mayntene hor veyne sect, and comende hit more þen Cristis owne religioun. And þei ben quicke to stryve, pleete, and feght bodily for worschipis and staatis of þis world, and so þei ben deede to mekenesse, charite, and gode religioun, and ben reysid to cursid lif of synne; and þis is Anticristis myracle.

CAP. XLVIII.

Also freris ben foule envenymed wiþ gostly synne of Sodome, [They are guilty, in a spiritual sense, of the sin of Sodom.] and so ben more cursid þen þo bodily Sodomytis, þat weren sodeynli deede by harde vengeaunce of God. For þei done gostily lecchorie by Gods worde, when þei prechen more hor owne fyndyngis, for worldly mucke, þen Cristis gospel for savynge of mennis soulis. And when þei leeven to preche þo seed of Gods word and leesen hit, by whiche men schulden by gostly gendrure

be made Gods sones, þei done more synne þen þof þei losten monnis seed, by whiche þo body of mon schulde be gendrid. Ffor þo mysusing of þo better virtue is more synne. Bot þo seed of Gods word is better þen þo seed of mon; þerfore hit is worse to mysspende þat þen to myswaste monnys seed. And Robert Grosted declaris þis resoun wil ageyns yvel curatis.

CAP. XLIX.

Freris also ben moste privy and sotil procuratoures of sy∣monye [They are notoriously the agents of papal im∣positions and extortions.] and foule wynnynge, and biggynge of beneficis, of indulgensis and trinels [tryenalis, X. See note on quienal, p. 398.] , pardouns, and veyne privilegies. Ffor men seyn þei wil gete a grete þing of þo pope, or of cardinalis, in Englond better cheep þen oþer procuratoures, and þei ben more wily, and more plesauntly con flater þo pope in his court, and most prively make lordis to mayntene þo pope and his in robbinge oure lond of tresoure by his pardouns, privilegies, and þo firste fruytis of beneficis in oure lond, and dymes and sub∣sidiis [subsidies, X.] , to werre on Cristen men for stinkynge worldly lordschip, þat God haves forbeden to hym and alle prestis. And in fals confession þei stiren lordis myche herto, and neden to distrie þo lond, when þei mayntenen þo pope in þis fals robbynge.

CAP. L.

Ȝitte freris ben moste perilouse enemyes to holy Chirche and [Lastly, friars are generally pernicious to the Church, and burden∣some to the State.] al oure lond, for þei letten curatis of hor offis, and spenden comynly and nedeles sixty thousande mark by ȝeere, þat þei robben falsely of þo pore puple. Ffor if curatis diden hor offis in gode lyve and trewe prechinge, as þei ben holden upon peyne of dampnynge in helle, þer were clerkis ynowhe, of bischops, parsouns, and oþer prestis, and, in caas, over mony to þo puple. And ȝitte not two hundrid ȝeere agone þer was no frere; and þen was oure lond more plentyuous of catel and men, and þei were þen strengere of complexioun to labour þen now, and þen were clerkis ynowȝe. And now ben mony thousande of freris in Englond, and þo olde curatis stonden stille un∣amendid.

And amonge alle synne is more encreesid, and þo puple chargid by sixty thousande mark by ȝeere, and þerfore hit mot nedis fayle. And so freris suffren curatis to lyve in synne, so þat þei may robbe þo puple and lyve in hor lustis. Ffor if curatis done wil hor offis, freris weren superflu, and owre lond schulde be dischargid of mony thousande marke. And þen þo puple schulde better paye hor rentis to lordis, and dymes and offringis to curatis; and myche flatering and norisching of synne schulde be destried, and gode lif and pees and charite schulden regne amonge Cristen men. And so, when al þo grounde is sought, freris seyn þus in dede, Lete olde curatis waxe roten in synne, and lete hom not do hor offis by Gods lawe, and we wil lyve in lustis so longe, and waste veyneliche and nedeles sixty thousande marke by ȝeere of þo pore comyns of þo lond; and so at þo laste make discencioun bytwene hom and hor childre, for dymes and offringes þat we wil gete prively to us by ypocrisie, and make discencioun bitwene lordis and hor comyns. Ffor we wil mayntene lordis to lyve in hor lustis, extorciouns, and oþer synnes, and þo comyns in covetise, lecchorie, and oþer disseytis, wiþ fals sweringe in mony giles; and also þo curatis in hor dampnacioun, for leevynge of hor gostly offis; and so be procuratoures of þo fende for to drawe alle men to helle. Þus þei done in dede, houever þei feynen in ypocrisie of pleesing of wordis. Off þese fiffty heresies and errours, and mony moo, if men wil seke hom wil out, þei may knowe þat freris ben cause, bygynnyng, welle, and mayntenyng, of perturbacioun in Cristendom, and of alle yvels of þis world. And þese errours schulen nevere be amendid, til freris be brouȝt to fredome of þo gospel, and clene religioun of Jesus Crist.

God for his endeles mercy and charite make verrey pees, [Conclusion.] unite, and charite, amonge Cristen men, and bringe alle prestis to Cristis clene religioun, wiþouten errour of wronge by lawes.

Amen.

XXV. DE BLASPHEMIA, CONTRA FRATRES.

[The only MS. of the following tract known to exist is contained in Bodl. 647 (W). In the Catalogue of Bale it bears the title ('De Blas∣phemia, contra Fratres'), here prefixed to it. Wyclif's Latin treatise, 'De Blasphemia,' also mentioned by Bale, but without first words, and frequently quoted by Walden in the Doctrinale, is an entirely different work. I can discover in this tract no reliable indication of the date at which it was composed. Although Bale is our only authority for ascribing the authorship to Wyclif, I am disposed, from the evidence of style, language, and turn of thought, to consider it authentic.]

[PARS I.] [Some unlucky binder has cut away the greater part of the heading in the MS; it seems to have been 'Pars Prima Blasphemiae.']

HIT is seide þat thre þinges stourblen þis reume, and specialy [The prevalence of Blasphemy, especially among friars, with whom it takes three forms:] heresie, þat hafs thre parties; bot of blasphemye, þat is þo worste, is bot litel spoken. And, for wickidnesse of þis vice, þo bischopis of þo temple putten blasphemye upon Crist, to do [Ps. lxiv. 3.] him to deþ. For, as þo Psalme seis, and þo gospel beris witte∣nesse, Þei scharpid hor toungis and cried togedir, What kepe ȝe wittenesse? ȝe have herde his blasphemye. Blasphemye is in a maner sclaundring of God. And so in þre maners may mon blaspheme in God. Ffirst, when worþynesse approprid to God is unworþily putt to a pore creature. Þo secounde, when unperfeccioun is putt upon God. Þo þridde, when divynyte is denyed for God, þat mot acorde to hym for his grett

lordship. And if blasphemye be scaterid amonge mony men, nereþoles þis heresie is comynly wiþ freris. And wiþ thre blas∣pemyes þei blynden þo puple. Þo first is hor heresie of þo sacrament of þo auter. Þo secounde is blasphemye of beg∣gyng of Crist. Þo þridde is hor blasphemye of graunt of gostily helpe to hem þat wil bye or pourchasse to be Anticristis broþer.

As to þo first, we seyn, siker of oure feyth, þat þo whyte [I. Blasphemous doctrine re∣specting the Eucharist.] þing and rounde þat þo prest sacris, like to þo unsacrid oostis, and is broken and eeten, is verrely Gods body in þo fourme of bred. Ffor Crist toke bred in his hondes, blessid hit, brake hit, and bad alle his disciplis eete þerof. Ffor as he hymself seide, Þis is my body; and everiche Cristen mon is fully certeyn þat alle blasphemyes in þo world may not fals Crist. Bot here þo fals blasphemes gropen after weyes, and seyn þat bi þis þei schewe Gods body and not þat bred. Bot witte þei wil by Cristen mennis bileve, þat þes wordis of Crist ben not so naked of witte, to telle his apostils þat his body is his body, for þat knew þei first. Also, þof al Cristis shewyng were straunge to þo bred, hou shulde þese blasphemes, by virtu of þese wordes, proffe þat bred tournes to noȝt, and accident leeves wiþouten any sogett, or þat Gods body is newly þere? Also, as everiche Cristen mon moste graunt, Crist schewid wyn in þo chalis, þat he cald his blode. Lord, why shulde he not shewe by þo same skil bred, þat he toke in his honde and comaundid to eete hit? For everiche Cristen mon may wel witte, þat Crist seide not þat þo metal was his blode; ne Crist undirstode not þat accidentis were his blode, ne he schewid not his blode wiþinne his body, bothe for his wordis were þen wiþouten witte, and also þen his wordis were fals, for þo tyme þat he spake hom. Of þis may we se þat Crist was a gabber, or þis was soþ þat he seide, þis bred is my body.

And herfore Seynt Jerome, þat couthe more of holy writte [Their expla∣nation of the words of insti∣tution novel and untenable.] þen alle þo men now on lyve, for he was lenger tauȝt, wrytes þus [S. Hieron. ad Hedibiam, § 2.] . Here we, he seis; þat bred þat Crist brake, and gaf his disciplis to eete, is his owne body, ffor he hymself seis þat þis

is my body. And to dampne wordis or sentence of þis holy mon were a foolis tourne, to scorne of þo dampner; as we shulden scorne þes heretikes, þat leven Cristis wordis, and feynen wordis or sentence wiþouten auctorite. As somme seyn, þat is þo sentence of þo gospel, not þat þis bred is Cristis body, bot þat þis bred schal be Cristis body. Somme ben not payed of þis, but þat of þis bred shal be Cristis body. Þo þridde seis, þat Cristis body is not new made, ne getis not new mater þat was in þo bred; so þat not of þis bred is makid Gods body, but þat þes accidentis bitoken Gods body. Mony soche sentencis ben feyned of freris, by whom Anticristis clerkis reversen Cristis sentence. By þis mot we graunte þat þis bred þat Crist brak is verrely his body, or elles sey þat þis holy gospel is fals, or ellis uncraftily cloute to wordes of Crist. And sith everiche mon þat wiþouten auctorite of Crist puttes witte to Cristis wordes þat God askes not, is an heretike, hit is open þat soche feyners ben alle blasphemes.

Bot ageynis þis grutches Anticrist, þat þis sacrament schulde [The substance of the bread remains after consecration, contrary to what they maintain.] togedir be bred and Gods body. Bot, as he feynes, when þat Gods body bygynnes to be þere, þen bred turnes to noȝt, and accident leeves. Þes foolis shulden undirstonde þat Baptist, when he was naked, holly ceesid not to be Jon, ne non oþer þing. And so þes blasphemes passen Juwes in fooly, for Juwes knowen þat hit is bred when þei kyndely eten hit; and so þese freris and Pharisees ben madder þen Juwes and falser þen Paynims, siþ þei trowen nowþer þat hit is Gods body, ne bred, ne creature þat ever God made. Bot feythe of þo gospel techis us to trowe þat þis is verey bred after þo sacringe, for Crist hymself seis, þis bred is my body; bot what foole con not se þat ne þen hit is bred? Also þo gospel techis Cristen men to preye aftir þis iche day bred, or owne substaunce. And Austyn techis þat by þis bred Crist undirstode þis sacrament. Also þo apostlis knewen Crist by brekyng of þis bred; and þis bred was þo sacrament, as Austyn seis, wiþ þo popis lawe. And Seynt Poule, þat owver oþer knew of Gods priveytes, calles þis sacrament, bred þat we breke.

Owe, wheþer we shal se Anticrist so myghty þat he shal [They dare not publicly place their doctrine by the side of ours,] dampne Cristen men for þei graunte þo gospel! Wil I wot

þat we may amonge Saraȝens trowe and teche þis gospel wiþ∣outen any punyschyng; bot alle Cristen men shulden have freris suspecte, þat þei dar not putt out her feiþe to þo puple, and putt hit by oure feythe, and stonde þerby. And certis one of þese þree þinges semes to meete hom,—þat ouþer þei con not, or dar not, or þei travel by envye. God helpe us few Cristen men þat stonden in þis feythe, ffor leesynges and flater∣ynges of freris spreden ful wyde. And, as Crist schewid bred bifore þo sacringe, and bad hem all eete þerof, so he schewid aftir.

And as Anticrist marres men in hor wittis, so he destries [for it is con∣tradicted by the plainest evidence of sense,] virtues þat shulden cum of hom. Ffor amonge alle bodily wittis, moste certeyne of alle are gropynge and tastynge, as philoso∣phers seyn. Bot gropynge þei marren by hor foly sentence; ffor no bodily þing we knowen more certeynly þen hardenesse and sofftenesse of þis holy bred. For when hit is new baken, hit brekes in a maner, and varies in sounde fro olde baken bred; bot olde bred, in moyste tyme, brekes not þus. Bot, as philosoferes seyn, hardenesse and sofftenesse, freelnesse and towghnesse, with soche qualytees, may nowþer qualite ne quan∣tite sogetten. Ow, wheþer God, þat is treuþe, ordeyned Cristen men for to be marred in hor wittes in þo sacrament of trewht, more þen Juwes or Paynims erren in hor feythe! And so þo sacrament of þo chalis may opinly shewe, ffirst, swettenesse of wyne, and aftir sournesse, as prestis knowen wil. Lord, wheþer swettenesse and sournesse ben sogettid in figure! And here mennis innwittis mot algatis erre in knowynge and jugynge of difference of substaunce; as, if mony oostis, sacrid and un∣sacrid, were mengid togedir, a blaspheme þat knewe not þo medelynge of hom, kouthe not knowe accident fro bred, ne telle what is þis more þen a beeste. And if tonnes of wyne were sacrid byȝonde þo see, nowþer vyntyners of Englonde couthe taaste þis likoure, ne prestis myȝt synge wiþ soche accidentis. And so þes fals men mot algatis dowte wheþer alle soche men faylen in hor jugementis.

And after soche errours in kyndely wittes þei make men to [The friars quarrel with the new trans∣lation of the Bible.] erre in science and vertues, as þei mot curse gramaryens þat Englishen þo gospel, þat þo apostlis knewen Crist in brekyng

of bred, for þei myght make hor scolers to trowe þat þo sacra∣ment of þo auter were bodily bred; as þo gramarien were to blame þat taught þus hir childer, þat þo hounde schynes aboven þo sonne [The friars impute to gram∣marians, who undertake the trans∣lation of the Bible, the desire, by the way in which they render this passage, to bring down the sacra∣ment of the altar to the level of common bread,—which would be like saying that the dog-star shone more brightly than the sun. Such appears to me to be the meaning of this difficult passage.] . For if gramariens shulden construe þis þus,—þo apostils knew Crist in brekynge of accydent wiþouten suggett, þen nowþer þei ne þo puple wiste what þei mente; as þis were erroure in gramer to teche, for, þis bred is nedeful to mon, þat þing is nedeful to mon. And here Anticristis clerkes maken homself perplex; hit nedes not to suen. Owe! þis blasphemye pervertis boþe logik and science of kynde. Bot moste harm in þis mater stondes in þis; þat þei perverte þo feythe of þo gospel. For þo gospel seis, þat Crist toke bred in his hondes, blessid hit, and brake hit, and gaf his disciplis, and bad hom ich one, Eete ȝe of þis; for, as he seide, þis is my body. By þo first þis, þei sey þat bred is shewid, and by þo seconde þis is al anoþer þing. And so þei blaspheme in Crist and mystaken his worde. For as [dele as.] everiche gode mon by resoun con se, þat as þo wisdome of Crist shulde first schewe bred, so schulde he aftir shewe þo same bred; ffor elles þis were a causel wiþouten any witte, Eetis alle of þis, for þis is my body.

And herfore lordis and comyns and alle trew men schulden [The laity ought to suppress their errone∣ous teaching on the Eucha∣rist, and spi∣ritually stone them as blas∣phemers.] juge þo blasphemes in hor wronge partye. Ffor so myche may prelatis erre, þat hit is worthy þo puple to juge hom, as þo bischopis of þo temple were nedid to forsake to juge Crist, þat is trewth of þo gospel. And right as a blaspheme in þo olde lawe shulde be stoned of al þo puple, so alle Cristen men shulden gostily stone blasphemes. Bot who is a Cristen mon, bot he þat trowes þat bred is Cristis body, as þo gospel seies? And so by erroures þat growen of þes blasphemes is holy Chirche lettid to profit in virtues. Ffor if mon trowid holly in þo lawe of þo gospel, and durst not cloute þerto nor drawe þerfro, þen shulden þei be mekely Cristis disciplis and fle soche blasphemes,

as vertues techen; for boþe vertues and vyces ben knyttid togedir, and þen shulde Cristis lawe be worshippid as hit is worthy, for hit suffices by hitself to reule Cristis Chirche, wiþouten þo popis lawe or any suche oþer. And as men thar not renne to Rome, ne to any one, to fecche by leeve of Crist or ellis to be made Cristis membre, so men thar not go þider for to cum to heven. Ffor, as everiche mon had a lyne streght unto heven, so haves he Crist above hym, þat wiþouten oþer prelatis sufficis to gif grace and al þat men neden. Mony þinges ben hidde here þat Cristen men may fynde, and witte wel þat of vanyte sues more vanyte.

Bot ȝitte ageyns þis sentence meefes Anticrist, and, as an [The friars rest their doctrine on the Pope, whom they declare to be infallible.] heretik departid fro treuth, he wandris unwarly unto wronge wayes. Þo first is in derkenesse of resouns of scole. Þis wil we passe owver, certeyn of oure feythe þat þei shal nevere hirte oure sentence of þo gospel, bifore þei con Porfyry, wiþ Aristotils textis. Þo secounde wey þat þei walken is trist of new witte∣nesse. Þo first wittenesse and þo moste is þo pope and his cardynals, whom þei have hyed so myche, and evened him with Crist, þat as þei sey he myght not synne in leedyng of his Chirche, so he myght not erre in articles of þo trouth. Bot blessid be God, þat schewes us in dede þat one þat men callen pope may erre in þes bothe. And one þing I sey, certen of resoun, þat no mon in þis worlde may lightlyer or grevouslyer synne, for his fote is festid at pride by hynesse of state, and þo fende temptis hym more, for hope of more harmynge bycause of his synne. And one þing is certen, þat he is not confermed, in þat þat he hyes him and varyes fro Crist. And evere þo moo of soche men ben gedird togedir, þo strenger þei ben to Anti∣crist, and þo ferrer fro Crist; as aght hundrid prestis on Baal syde were not so stronge in God as Hely hym one. And here may we se hou falsely þo fend bigiles þo Chirche wiþ his fals principle, þat if þo more part of soche men assenten to a sen∣tence, þat al holy Chirche shulde trowe hit as gospel. And so, þof þo pope and alle his cardynals determen as gospel, þat þo sacrament of þo auter is accident wiþouten sugette, neverþoles, for þei con not grounde hem on Gods lawe ne resoun, holy Chirche shulde not trowe hom, bot have hom suspect.

Lord, wheþer feythe of þo gospel gyven to Cristen men, þo [This attempt to change the ancient faith must be re∣sisted.] whoche lastid þo thousande ȝere þat Sathanas was bounden, wolde not suffice nowe when Sathanas is lowsid! Ffaythe of þo gospel seis þat heven and erþe shal passe, and chaunge fro state to state, bot þo wordes of Crist schul not þus passe. Ow! what wodenesse þen were hit, any Cristen mon to leve þo wordis of Crist, þo gospel, and trowe to fals wordis! Bot worschippid be þo lore of sothfastnesse þat mevyd þis courte to confesse þis faythe, as schewes pope Nychol [The reference is, I think, to the recantation of Berengarius, incorpo∣rated in the Acts of the council held at Rome in the year 1059 under Nicholas II, in which the former declares that he accepts the faith concerning the Eucharist prescribed to him by 'Nicholas and this holy Synod.' Concilia, ed. reg. vol. xxv. p. 591.] . And ȝitte afftir, when þis courte was fer fro þo trewthe, hit determyned not þis feyned sentence þat men holden nowe, al þof wode glosatoures had wrytten in þis mater more than þei knew of, or elles couthen grounde. And ȝitte alle þes freris þat procur for Anticrist, mot cloute to leesynge to textis and glosis. And so þo fende haves counseilde wiþ Anticrist his viker, and heght hym Gog and Magog to bigyle þo puple; and comettis þis fantasye,—þat if þei maken men to denye hor wittes and Cristis wordis boþe, þat þis sacrament is not verely bred, but þing þat þei knowen not, he schuld make hom lightly to denye afftir þat þis were Gods body, or what he wolde. And so myȝt he lightliere make hom lye by wyfes, and disuse temporal godes, or do what þei wolde, and sey þo puple shulde not trowe soche þinges, bot trowe þo sawes þat Anticrist lyes, for wittes of þo puple erren ful ofte. For we may als opunly knowe þat þis is bred, as we may knowe þo synnes of Anticrist. Bot one þing lettis, þat þen þei myȝt not wynne þo money of hor soggettis, þat þei nowe spoyle; and so, by hydynge of synne þat þei nowe selle, þei shulde not feble þes rewmes þat þei nowe bygile. Ne alle Anti∣cristis clerkis con not telle þo cause, why accydentis schulden leve wiþouten sogett, bot if hit were to sygnifie one of þese þinges,—ouþer þat soche men ben partid fro Crist, or elles þat blessynge of prelatis are verely cursynge, or elles to make þo puple to trowe þat þei passe God. Ffor houevere þei blaber here wiþ hor lippes, hor soule may not understonde what are

þese accydentis; ne God may not undirstonde an accydent wiþoute a sugett. Bot anentis þo first of þese, Austyn seis þat as mon may not be wiþouten his God, so an accydent may not be wiþouten his sugett [This dictum is taken from a treatise on the Ten Categories, falsely ascribed to St. Augustine. See his Works, vol. i. App. p. 34 (Benedict. ed. 1679).] . And if we glose Austyn, þat þis may not be by kynde, by þo same skil shulde we putt on Austyn þat he shulde denye al holy faythe, for none of þes articles may be wiþouten myracle. And so þo first and þo laste ben falsely feyned, for al þof þei be partid fro God, neþoles God fyndes hom, and puttes hom to payne.

God wolde þat Anticristis clerkes, þat perverten oure byleve, [What St. Am∣brose really held on the subject;] and chargen more wordes of Ambrose þen wordes of þo gospel, wolden ȝif us leve to treuly glose Ambrose. When he seis þat aftir þo sacringe þo sacrament shulde not be holden bred, þis seynt undirstondes, as he ofte telles, þat it schulde not be trowid afftir principaly bred [See vol. i. p. 379, note.] . Ffor þis Ambrose seis þat þat þing þat was bred is nowe Gods body; and wil may we witte þat Am∣brose seis not þat bred gos to noght, as Anticrist seis. As anentis þis cursid blessynge falsely feyned, hit is knowen þat Crist curside þo fige tre more mekely þen þese men feynen þat þei blesse þis bred. Ffor ȝitte aftir Cristis cursynge was þo tre dryed, and substaunce lefft, as þo gospel seis. Bot, as þes seyn, aftir hor blessyng leves nowþer mater, ne forme, ne part of þis bred. Ffor, as þei seyn in sentense, þei blesse þis bred to noght in forme of noght. Bot schilde us fro soche blessynges of blaspheme prestis! And siþ noght þat was bifore in bred tournes into Gods body, or any oþer creature, as þei mot nedely sey, how falsely þen feyned þei þat þo bred of þo auter tournes into better! For by þo same skil hit tournes into Cristis soule, and into his Godhead. Sothe hit is þat þis bred tournes into Cristis body. Ffor, as Seint Ambrose seis, hit shal be Cristis body. And so þo substaunce of bred, offerd in [both sub∣stances remain after consecra∣tion.] þo auter, shal be turned into substaunce of Cristis owne body, and nowþer schal be broght to noght, for þei ben not contrarye. Lett we þese blasphemes take hede, how Crist, bifore þo sacrynge, bad alle eete of þis bred; bot everiche blaspheme schulde

schame þat Crist shulde bidde hom do þing contrarye to his purpose, þat were not for to do. And herefore wiþouten dowte Crist wolde þat þis bred were lastynge til it were his body, and aftir were eeten, ffor elles mot þei putt tregettrye and falsenes in Crist. And sith bodily eetyng was bidden of Crist, and þis bodily eetyng myȝt not be, bot if hit were bred, þen þis bred lastis aftir þo sacrynge. And þus Seynt Poule and oþer apos∣tils usiden suche eetynge; ffor gostily eetynge of Cristis owne body was not tauȝt by schewyng of bred, bot by brekyng of bred, as Seynt Poule seis. And oþer wittenes in þis mater is multitude of doctoures. Bot siþ Seynt Austyn forbedes þat ony man trowe hym, bot if he grounde hym in resoun, or elles in Gods lawe, myche more of alle þese doctors, siþen þo fende was loused, no mon schulde trowe hom, bot þei grounde hom þus. And myche more of oure popis wiþ alle hor cardinals. And so, þof we had an hundred of popis, and alle þo freris in þis worlde were tourned unto cardinals, ȝitte schulde we more trowe þo lawe of þo gospel þen we schulde trowe al þis mul∣titude.

II PARS BLASPHEMIAE.

Þo secounde blaspheme grounden þes freris, for þei feynen [II. Blasphem∣ous doctrine concerning begging. The writer distin∣guishes between lawful and unlawful begging.] falsely beggynge in Crist; and hereby þei peyren þo Chirche, and spoylen þo pore puple. Þei supposen sothely þat Crist was pore, for Seynt Poule seis þat Crist was made boþe pore and nedy, for þo luf of mon. And þis we graunten hom, and more þerto, þat Crist was a beggar, as þo Salme seis. Bot, for [Ps. ixix. 29.] to knowe fraudes and falsenesse of freris, moste we knowe what is beggyng, and maner of beggynge. No creature beggis bot mon-kynde one; ne nevere shulde have begged bot for his owne synne. And so begges a mon, þat askes purely, for Gods luf, helpe of any þing to releve him of his wreechidnes. And by dyversite of þingis þat we beggen of, and by maner of beggyng, may we knowe kyndes of beggynge. Everiche mon is nedid to begge of his God, for we asken of hym oure iche dayes bred, and in þat we begge of hym, as Austyn beres wittenes [S. Aug. Serm. No. LVIII. (ed. Paris, 1685).] . Bot speke we of beggyng of mon and beggyng of

temporal godes; and so somme beggen of men in worde, and somme beggen in dede. And of þoo þat beggen [in] worde, somme seyn treuly and expressely hor owne myscheffe, for to be releved as þei shulde be, and such beggynge is algatis of synne of þo puple. And somme cryen by worde aftir temporal godes in yvel maner, aftir more þen þei schulde have; and suche willeful beggynge lackes groundynge of resoun. Ffor of Crist I rede not þat evere he beggid in worde, ne he myȝt not begge more þen hym nedid. Sothely in þo olde lawe was beggynge forbeden [The reference is to Deut. xv. 4; see p. 371, note ^a.] , for hit gos oute of kynde more þen is nede; siþ bestis by kynde taken hor fode, ich one by hymself, als myche as hym nedes. And if him wante strenght, by tendernesse of ȝouthede, kynde hafs taught þo first beste to norische his owne issue. In elde þei bisye hom noȝt, siþ hor soule lastis not aftir. And so iche mon schulde, by þo wey of kynde, take þat hym nedes of temporal godes; and if hym wantid witte in kyndely power, he schulde be releved by men þat God sendes more. And so, sith beggynge is unkyndely to bestis, myche more to mon þat God lufs more, ffor God haves gyven a mon bothe powere and witte, for to begge not, bot if he be nedid by un∣kyndenesse of mon. And herfore men wischen þat yvel mot he spede þat begges on þis wyse, bot if he have nede; for slouthe of coveytouse men, þat shulden gif bifore, and helpe þo pore men, is cause of þis beggynge, or elles slouthe in covetyse of þese stronge beggers. And þus forbedes Gods lawe þat any mon be begger. And as God haves gyven men tole, to begge þus in nede, so haves he gyven men power to helpe homself as bestis; and he þat mysuses þis powere reversis Gods ordy∣naunse. And herfore techis Austyn munkes to travel; and so algatis hit is synne a mon to begge þus; for if he willefuly begge, and haves no nede, he is a schrewid begger, reproved of God. If he be nedid to begge for synne of his neghtbore, defaute is in his neghtbore, al þof he be clene; and so suche beggynge moste smake synne, ouþer in hym þat begges, or in hym þat first schulde helpe hym. Here may we se þat Crist begged not þus, siþ he had no nede, but evere was occupied in oþer better

werkes; and of Crist lerned Seynt Poule to travel wiþ his hondis, and flewȝh suche beggynge, in hym and his folowers.

Bot, for Seynt Petre expownes þo prophete, þat Judas pur∣sued [In what sense Christ begged.] Crist, mon nedy and begger, hit were for to witte hou [Acts i. 16.] Crist was a begger. Ffor hit semes þat Crist beggid, not onely in his membres, bot in his owne persone, as he was pore and nedy; and so þo moste honeste beggyng ordeyned of God, and likeste to þo state of innocense, acordid to Crist; and þat he seide in dede defaute that he was inne, and asked not in worde helpe for his myschef, not by almes of mon ne pleynynge to hom. And þis seyinge in dede, wiþouten Cristis bisynes, was þo beggynge þat þo Psalme puttes to Crist. Bot as in byinge of a hors, mon byes hym not to bye þo heer of þis hors, ne none oþer lymme, so Crist bisyed hym not for þis bodily almes, bot for to worschip his Fadir, and profite to þo puple. And ne were Gods lawe, þis speche were ful straunge, ffor men speken comynly of beggynge by mowthe, not by mevynge of voyce, bot by expresse wordes; and þus menen men þat seyn þat Crist begged not.

And siþ freris beggen on þis wyse by autorite of Crist, hit [The begging of the friars is of a totally differ∣ent kind.] semes þat þei conseyven þat Crist begge þus. Bot Seynt Richart of Armawhe proves on feir maner, þat were an heresye to putt upon Crist suche maner of beggynge, and mayntene hit stifly. For feyth nedes us to trowe, þat al þat Crist did, he did hit on þo beste maner wiþouten defaute; bot what nede of pro∣fite shulde mefe þis Lord, for to begge þus wiþouten any cause? Nede drof him not þerto, siþ Crist hungred nevere bot when he chees to hungre so, and ȝif ensaumple of penaunce. Bot Lord! what profit were hit Crist to begge þus, siþ he myght mefe men to gif hym when hym nedid, wiþouten any bisynes of askyng of hom? And sith þis were algatis þo better to Crist and to þo puple, what shulde mefe þo blasphemes to lye þus on Crist? Also, siþ Crist did ever more þo beste, what shulde mefe hym to ocupye his mouthe wiþ suche beggynge? Certis, siþ Crist ches to be unchargeaunte to þo puple, ne gif non occasioun of ava∣rise to oþer, þei shulden fle þis doynge, and occupye hom bet∣ter,—specially siþ he forfended to begge in his lawe. Also, siþ freris seyn þat beggynge groundes hom, and puttes hom in hyer

degre of al þis Chirche, why wolde not Crist byfore þo comynge of freris teche þis beggynge, to profite of his spouse? Hit semes þat he shulde not bid, to lousyng of þo fende. Bot, as Seynt Hildegar seis in hir prophesye, þis beggynge abode þis peri∣louse tyme, when fals ypocritis disseyven þo puple [St. Hildegardis was abbess of the convent of St. Robert on the Nahe near Bingen. She lived to the age of 82, dying in the year 1180. The passage here alluded to is probably contained in the Eleventh Vision of the third book of Scivias, the name which she gave to the book of her Visions; for this par∣ticular vision deals with the state of things existing in the Church in her own time, and to exist after her death. But the work not being in∣dexed, I have been unable to light on the passage. See the Liber 3 virorum et 3 virginum, Paris, 1513.] . Also, siþ þo gospel is ful of dedes of Crist, and sufficyent in treuthe to governe Cristis Churche, if þis beggynge of freris were taken of Cristis lif, sumwhere in þo gospel shulde hit be groundid. Bot þo gospel leves hit, þat holdes al treuthe. And so þo blas∣pheme freris, to grounde hor ordir, putten Crist out of state of innocense, and putten folie in his werkes, siþ he wrot unwarly. Mony fayre resoun makis þis holy bishop to convicte in þis fals∣nesse of freris.

Bot siþ freris were heretikes and blasphemes in Crist, bot if [The friars say that Christ begged water of the Sama∣ritan woman; it would be well if they begged nothing else.] þei groundid þis beggynge in lawe of þo gospel, þei bisien hom ful faste to seke hom a grounde. Þo first and þo myghtiest resoun of freris to prove beggyng in Crist, stondes in þis; Crist askid þo womman watir to drinke, and ȝitte he was an alien, for he was a Samaritan; myche more wolde he be homely to his owne kyn. Bot here þo blynde blasphemes mosten lerne hor logik. Ffor lewid men wot wel, þat hit sues not, þof þo Lord aske of his owne þinge þat hym nedes, þen he moste begge þat þing of his servaunt. And so, if Crist bad þo wom∣mon gif hym a drinke, neverþoles he beggid not þis drinke of þo wommon. And wolde God þat soche freris beggid noȝt bot water, or elles oþer elementis, þate by kynde shulden be comyne! And, for freris may not feyne oþer drinke bot water of þo welle þat Crist shulde aske, þei feyne falsely þat Crist asked watir to drinke. Bot hit is not semely þat he wolde þen drinke watir, siþ he sende his disciplis to towne to bye meete, and a fastynge mon lufs litel suche drinke. Also þo

gospel telles not þat Crist askid water, ne þat he dranke water when þat hit was drawen. And so it semes þat feynyng of freris expownes þis gospel as heretikes done. Bot hit is more semely, siþ þo welle was depe, and Crist loved þo womman in shewynge of myraclis, þat he shulde make þis water by myracle springe up, and sithen drinke þerof if he had nede. And herfore olde sentence is acordyng wiþ þo gospel, þat Crist spake here of spiritual eetynge and drinkynge; for when his disciplis bad him eete, he seyde he had mete to eete þat þei knewen not. And so when þis wommon by devocioun of feyth ȝaf Crist hir hert, þen he dranke wiþ hir. Lord, wheþer God begge of mon when he askes his wille, or Crist beggid of þis wommon when he mevid hir hert, and gaf hir water of lif, and filled hir for evere!

Bot ȝitte þo freris fablen of beggynge of Crist, and seyn he [They also say that He begged of Zaccheus; but He rather commanded him.] beggid of ȝachee boþe meete and house. Bot here þo ydiotes faylen in discrevynge of beggynge. Ffor if a bayle aske rent to þo lord, he begges not þis rent of þo lordis tenaunte. Ne if a mon aske his dette of anoþer, he begges not þis of hym, for dyversite of titel. Miche more Crist, þat was boþe God and mon, and had by state of innocense lord [an error probably for lordship.] of al þis worlde, þof he asked of his owne, as a lord shulde, þinges of his ser∣vauntis þat he had myster of and nede, he beggid not, bot nedid his servauntis thorw mercy. And lefe loke þo wordes þat Crist seyde to Zachee, wheþer þei sowned beggynge or lordship in Crist. Zachee, hyinge cum doune of þo tre, for I mot þis day dwelle in þin house. A riche mon wolde þenke spyte of a begger, þat bad him hastily cum doune fro a sight þat hym liked, and seide þat he moste herberow þis begger; ffor suche a mon wolde sey sone to suche a begger,—Begger, ȝitte myghtes þou aske wheþer þat I wolde. Bot þo gospel techis þat Crist did mercy unto þis riche mon, and begged not of hym.

Ȝitte þo foles blabur to prove þat Crist beggid, siþ he sende [Replies to other similar arguments of the friars.] his disciplis to Jerusalem, to fett him an asse and hir foole for to ryde on. Bot þis blyndenesse of þo blasphemes gos þo same waye, ffor þei blabur heresye þat God asked not. And

siþ þere is no beggynge of soche comyne bestis, þo freris shulden schame to forge suche beggynge; specialy siþ þo Lord bad his disciplis, þat if ony mon seide owght unto hom, þei [corrected; þe, W.] schulden sey þat þo Lord had myster of hom. Þei schulden lerne, þat name of Lord, taken by hymself, sygnifies God, Lord of all lordes. And, for hit were to streyte to lordship of Crist to be a special lord of Jude or Jerusalem, þerfore he bad þat þei schulde calle him Lorde. Bot ȝitte þo freris casten out oþer blynde resouns, þat Crist beggid a house, to eete inne his maundye, ffor, as þo gospel seis, he had none of his owne, and so he toke almes bothe of men and of wymmen; why schulde we not sey þat ne Crist was a begger? Bot here we seyn to freris, as þo Psalme seis, þat Crist was to geder bothe riche and pore, and herfore he ordeyned þo apostils to sey þat he was Lord of alle lordes; and ȝitte had he myster. And so Crist was moste pore mon þat evere was oute, and þerto most riche mon, and also moste curteyse. And so in al his povert he beggid not by voyce, bot meved folk to gif him, for more mede of hom. And so, þof Crist toke bodily almes, nevereþoles he gaf better ageyne gostily almes, and beggid nevere on þis maner þat þo freris feynen. And so he bad, as verrey Lord, to go to þo cyte, and sey to sum myghty mon by þis token, þat, Þo mayster seis, I make Paske wiþ ȝe. And at þis lordely worde of þis maister, þis burgeys of þo cyte schewed hom a grett house strewid. Lord, wheþer þis menes beggynge of Crist! Bot þes blynde blasphemes con not depart beggynge fro povert, for boþe acorden sumwhat.

Bot se we wheþer þes newe sectis seyn soþ upon Crist, þat [They profess to imitate Christ in life, but falsely.] þei suen hym in lif bifore alle oþer men; bot hit semes nay. Ffirst, when þei sey þat þei ben pore as Crist, þo fend hafs clothid hom in a cope to bringe in more deceyte. Certis þei have feele rentis, bot Crist had nevere one. Crist was her∣berowid in symple houses of oþer comyne men; þese freris have in propur [As their own.] houses of coste. Crist þat was al wyse had bot twelve disciplis; þese founed freris rekken nevere how

mony þei have. And, for Crist chees his disciplis, and gedrid hom of mony, þo freris steelen lesse childer wiþoute discre∣cioun; herfore þei have Scarioths moo þen apostils. Bot loke how þese freris kepen þo lawe of þo gospel. Crist wolde þat nowþer he ne his were chargeaunt to þo puple; þese freris loken how myche þei may gete of godes of þo comynes, to carye to hor castel. Ffor by þis entent þei make hom a cyte, as Caym, to carye to. Bot ouþer Seynt Poule seide fals of [Gen. iv. 17.] propurtees of charite, þat hit sekes not his owne gode, but godes of comynes, or elles þese freris reversen þo rewles of charite.

I rede not þat Crist wiþ alle his apostlis toke more of þo [Christ gave to the people more than He received from them; the friars take all, and give nothing.] comynnes þen he gaf ageyne. Ffor in his two feestis þat he maked by myracle, he fed þo puple in als myche as he and his apostils token of þo puple; and spiritual giftes þat Crist ȝaf þo puple was wiþouten mesure better þen hor ȝiftes. If freris, in more spense of housyng and mete, in clothyng, in juwels, chargen more þo puple þen Crist wiþ his apostils, how suen þei Crist in þis maner of lyvynge? And so hit were al one to grounde soche ordiris of beggers, and grounde Anticristis clerkis and blasphemes of Crist. Ow! siþ Seynt Richarde, bishop of Armawh, proves ageyne freris by mony feyre resouns þat þei faylen opunly fro Cristis religion; and harmen þo Chirche and þo comynes bothe; how ben oure bishops and freris now knyttid togedir, bot as Herowde and Pilate were made fals frendes? And þis knotte lastid not, for hit was yvel groundid in hate of Crist, and of his lawe; so hit semes here. And harmyng of þo puple may we sone se; siþ heven lokes lesse to fruyt of þo erthe, monnes strength is lesse, here lyve is shortere, þo tyme is lesse sesounable, and charite withdrawen. What shulde mefe Anticrist to double þo rentis of þo pore puple in suche yvel tyme? Ffor byfore þat freris comen by cautel of þo fende, þo puple gaf no more rente for so myche to hor lordes. And al þinge acountid, þei gyven nowe to þo ordiris wel nyhe als myche as þei did to hor lordes. And so frutis of worldes godes faylen in þo grounde. And siþ yvel partynge of soche godes is cause of discencioun, þo fende hafs caste þis snare for to bryge men, ffor charite is exiled, and envye is kyndelid. And þis semes þo caste of þo fende of helle, þat he

schal destrye lordes and hor tenauntes, and leve none in þo world bot Anticrist clerkes. And so, in þis þat freris ben chargeaunt to þo puple, þei suen hor mayster Anticrist, and not Jesus Crist.

Þo secounde waye þat þei go fro Crist and his lawe is wed∣dyng [Nor do they imitate Christ in their inordi∣nate attach∣ment to their several Orders.] of hor newe ordiris, and dyversen fro Cristis lawe. Men may opunly se hou freris tellen more by hor newe ordir and hor ordynaunse, þen þei do by Cristis lawe, or profit of his Chirche. Ffor þis þei suen scharplyer, and punyschen herfore; and þis privey horedame makes myche harme. As Crist biddes, undertake thryes oure broþer, and at þo fourt tyme forsake hom as hethen men. Bot þese private ordiris bidden al þo con∣trarye; for he þat sues þis gospel is holdun sclaunderer of his breþeren, destroyer of hor house, and of hor newe religioun. Ffor oft sithe he shulde telle apertely þo fautes of his brether, and oft fle hom as cursed men þat his reule ageyne-seis. Ffor oft his gode brethere ben putt into prisoun, and moste schrewis of oþer have leve to go aboute, and use frely hor malice as procuratoures of þo fende. And sith hit is al one to luf a lord and his lawe, ofte tyme þei luf more hor ordir þen Crist. And in mony caas fredom of þo gospel moste be forsaken for hor newe tradiciouns.

Bot ȝitte þo blasphemes blaburen ageyne þis sentense, þat [When they ground their right to alms on the spiritual services they render, they prove too much.] bothe resoun and holy writte acorden togeder, þat whoso edifyes þo puple shal lif on þo puple; bot siþ freris in lif and worde edifyen moste þo puple, hit semes þei schulde first take almes of þo puple. Bot wayte we whydir þo blasphemes drawen. Þis resoun meenes þat no maner of comynes schulde gif tem∣poral godes to lordis or persouns, bifore þo freris were served of þat at þei craven. Bot hit were al one to holde upon þis sentense, and destrye þo ordiris þat Crist made, and mayntene his enemyes. And þus bigan Anticrist to reverse Crist, not mending defautes þat were in Cristis ordir, bot makyng newe ordiris and sectis, as he wolde passe Crist. Bot feyth and kynde techis us, þat ordir of Crist is better, and þat he ordeyned his Chirche as beste wolde be, nouþer to myche ne to litel, bot in gode mesure. Bot þo bastarde braunchis of þo newe ordiris spronge in wiþoute auctorite of God. Ow! what wise mon

wolde make a hye house, and putte tymbre bynethe, and stoories aboven? or elles above more hevye þinge þen þo foundement wolde bere? Þo foundement of þo Chirche ben comyners and laboreres; bot if moo ordiris and sectis ben clotirde on hom þen schulde by resoun hele hom wiþ charite, defaute is in ordy∣naunce of maker of þo Chirche. And so soth hit is, if freris travel more to profite of þo Chirche þen oþer men done, þei schulden upon resoun be susteyned of þat Chirche, if þei come to þis werke by autorite of God. Bot Seynt Poule techis þat soche schulde not be heyve to þo puple þat þei techen, bot lyve on litel, as foules. Bot þese raveyners robben þo puple, and done not hor devere. And so resoun wolde aske þat noumbre of prestis schulden stonde in mesure, and travel in hor offis; and if þei were ydel, or elles to monye, withdrawe of hor sus∣tynaunce, and spende on oþer maner þo tresor of God, and not norische his enemyes. Bot howevere þese blasphemes bosten þat þei travel more to profite of þo Chirche þen done oþer prestis, one þinge men knowen, þat sith þei comen in hafs þo Chirche payred in everiche membre.

How blessidful were þo Chirche to renne aftir Crist, if it were [Had Christians only been con∣tent with the law and teach∣ing of Christ, no prelates, monks, canons, nor friars would have been needed;] onely payed of þo ordynaunce of hym, and broght up no newe lawes, ne no newe sectis, bot amendid mysdoeris by Cristis owne lawe, and bringe hom ageyne to þo lyve þat Crist hymself ordeyned! And þen þo dowynge of þo emperoure had nouþer comen in, ne his prelatis had not blasphemed þus ageynes Gods lawe, ne þese private religiouse schulde nouþer on þis wyse have stourblid Cristis Chirche, ne pervertid his ordir. Ffor chaunouns, munkes, and freris schulden noȝt þen have stonden in sted, bot few pore prestis schulde have sufficid to þo Chirche by pure Cristis lawe. Bot here cryes Anticrist þat by þis blaspheme holy Chirche schulde perishe, and Crist be un∣worshipped; ȝe, and seintes in heven, patrouns of þo ordiris, schulden be sclaundrid of hor moste gloriouse werkes. Bot wolde God þat Anticrist wolde gedir his wittes, and witte þat hit were better to hye Cristis ordenaunce, þen ordynaunce of Benett or Domynik or Fraunces. Ffor we owe to trowe þat Crist myght not fayle, nouþer in ordenaunce ne lawe sufficient for his Chirche; and whosoevere reverses þis sentense blasphemes

in Crist. Here may we se þat þei take fals, for þus þo Chirche schulde be saved and Crist more worshippid, þo fendes host owvercomen, and Cristendome confortid. Ffor multitude of cowardes harmes Cristis batel, ffor þei knowen nowþer his armes, ne his feghtyng. As aneyntis þo patrouns schulde we wil trowe, [not that the founders of Orders were not holy men;] þat þei did not poynt devyse as oure Jesus did; and herfore erroure in secte of hom brynges men to more. Ne bere not to hevye þat þo seyntis errid. Ffor Seynt Jon seis þat if we seyn we synnen not, we deceyve oureself, and passen oute of treuthe. And so, siþ þoo seyntis diden not þo beste in foundyng of þoo ordiris, bot synned venyaly, hit were a gret folye to sue hom in þis erroure, and leve þo ordynaunce of Crist þat may not be amendid. And herfore Poul durste not, ne none oþer apostil, founde newe sectis bysyde þo ordir of Crist. Bot þre þinges of þis sentence may we suppose, þat þei keppid þo ordiris better þen þei nowe ben, so þat þes newe ordiris ben ofte newe made. Also þo seyntis wolde not þat hor sect were weddid wiþ hor tradiciouns, and laft Cristis lawe. And þo þridde we supposen, þat þo seyntis sorowed in tyme of hor deth, ffor alle soche erroures. And so, for oþer godes þat þei did ofte, suppose we þat þei ben nowe in heven, and so we dampnen not þo seyntis, but putt Crist byfore.

Lord, siþ Poule presumed not to founde [corrected; founded, W.] soche sectis, why [but they erred in founding new sects, and their followers now, departing from their rules, get deeper into error.] schulde foles and ydiotes take þis upon hom? Specialy siþ folye were to one unwyse to take a flok of Gods folke, þat lastid bot for his lif; myche more an ydiot schulde not gif a reule to alle his sect, lastynge for evere, whiche reule were not expressid in Gods lawe. And so þes sectis sclaunderen hor owne patrouns, amendynge hor defautes, and passynge fro hor ordiris. And so al þof þese newe ordiris profiten to Cristis Chirche, neverþoles not so myche as fendes in helle. Ffor þei made meryte of Crist, and mony oþer merytis, byfore þat freris comen. And so, if þei wil be purgid, turne þei to Cristis ordire, and þen thar hom not aske confermynge of þo pope.

III PARS.—OF LETTRIS OF FFRATERNITE.

Nowe of þo thridde blaspheme is for to speke, for freris [III. Blasphe∣mous pretence of sharing the merits of their Order with other men by letters of fraternity.] founden hor ordires fully in leesynges. Þei feynen first, þat Crist beggid as þei, and herby þei lyve by leesynge upon lees∣ynge; and for to spoyle more þo puple, þei feynen hom a powere to graunt men gostily helpe more þen þei have of Gods lawe, or elles may þei helpe homself. Þei graunten letters of bretherhed under hor comyne seele, þat hor breþer schal have part of alle hor gode dedes, bothe in lif and in deth, and rekkenen mony werkes. Bot first may men se, hou þis maner of doynge savers heresye in proude ypocrites. For þes gostily suffrages þei sellen in a maner, siþ þei graunten not comynly, bot þere þei hope wynnynge. And more booste of þo fende herde we nevere, sith quantite of merytes is hydde fro seyntis, and chaffers wiþ soche þinges, unknowen to þo partyes, were presomptuose foly upon bothe sides. Also, sith þei supposen þat hor naked graunte is als myche worthe as graunte wiþ hor lettres, þen hor lettres serven of noght bot for to jape þo pepul. And in þis þei suen not Crist, as þei falsely feynen, for he grauntid nevere soche lettres of þing þat he gaf; and þus þei passen þo apostels, bot in ypocrisye. Also þis charite of freris schulde strecche to alle gode men; and siþ hit is als myche worthe by graunte as by letter, þen introduccioun of soche lettres serven of noght bot if it be to bleere mennis eyne wiþ threde, and wiþ gaye wrytynge. Also, siþ Cristen men wot wil þat no man aftir his deth shal have part of meryt but if he go to heven, and, as freris seyn, þei may graunt iche Cristen mon part of hor meryt aftir his deth, þen may þei graunt iche Cristen mon for to be saved; and so hom fayles charite, if any of hom∣self or elles any Cristen mon be dampned in helle. Also, men of þo gospel schulden do prively hor almes, so þat hor lift honde wiste not what hor right honde did. Bot þese freris seyn þat þis is a passynge gostily almes; þen þei schulde do hit prively, and not conferme hit opunly by hor charteres. And mony þenken þat þes two þinges mefen hom; ffirst to feyne hor holynesse, makynge trompe bifore hom, as ypocrites done, and spoylen

pore mennes godes by maner of rentis, and to be confedrid with hom as wiþ hor owne breþeren. Also hit were inogh to freris to have breþerhed of þo puple, þat ben comynly better þen þo freris, þof þei come not unkyndely to spoyle hor breþren; ffor þei haf no skil to selle þo letters þat ne by þo same skil þei shulde begge soche lettres of oþer men, whom þei schulde suppose to be better þen þei. And if þei did þus, þei did as þei wolden þat men did to hom; and þis is þo lawe of gospel and kynde. Also, þese freris wot not wheþer þei shal be saved, or wheþer þei ben now viserde devels, as Schariot was; and if þei ben suche, þei graunten not part of hor merytes to men þat shal not be saved. And herfore hit is a fendis presumpcioun to selle þus hor merytes þat þei knowen noȝt, ffor þo gospel biddes, þat as þei take frely, so schulde þei frely gif to oþer. Ffor hit were no kyndenesse þus to venyme hor gift, as þo Pharisee venymde his dedes, for a privey boste þat he made to God. Also þei wot not wheþer hor breþren þat þei chaffere with shal evere be saved. Bot no mon schulde deceyve his broþer in bodily chaffer; myche more þes freris shulde not deceyve þo puple of þing þat þei knowen not.

And, certis, þer is no witte in þo wordes þat trewauntis [It is folly, and not charity, to presume that such merits exist.] casten oute in þis mater, þat evere þo better part schulde be supposed; and þus men schulde suppose þes freris to be saved, and by merytes of hom þo puple to be also. Bot certis þere is no werse worde to grounde þes freris. For bi þis resoun iche mon shulde suppose þat he shulde cum to heven withouten helpe of freris. Also Hildegar seis, þat þes cursed sectis schal be destryed and dampned in helle, for hor ypocrisie and deceyte of þo puple. Þen þis schulde be supposid, sith hit semes soth, for þat God demes is evere þo better. And so schulde men sup∣pose þat soche ypocrites ben deppere in helle þen any oþer men. And if men schulde holde hor pees in þing þat [þei] [supplied conjecturally.] knowen not, why boosten þese freris so boldely of privetees of God? Also þes founed freris taken on hom a þing þat is pro∣pred to God, as partyng of blis, þat aungels in heven presumed nevere; and so þes synful wrecches byheten here in erthe, þat

hengis onely in wille and jugement of God, as þof þei wolde bowe hym, as maysters of his conseile. And if þei feynen þat þei graunten al þis upon condicioun, þen þei siker not hor bre∣þeren of partynge of hor merytes, more þen þei myȝt siker Sathanas of þo blis of heven. Ffor wil we wot, if God wil, þus shal hit be, þof alle þes freris were dampned in helle.

Also no mon shulde ȝif occasioun to his broþer for to be [Immoral con∣sequence of the practice.] deceyved in salvacioun [corrected: savacioun, W.] of his soule. Bot mony, for sikernesse of meryte of þese freris, ben to negligent in hor owne werkes, and dreden not to do injurye to hor breþer. Ffor siþ þei may be asoyled lightly of freris, and after have ful part with hom in þo blis of heven, who wolde drede to do his wille for a litel money? And þis is þo welle wherwiþ þo fende blyndes þo puple, and gendres wronges in þis worlde, and moves hem to feght. And so þis folye of freris unables homself, and eke þo puple þat chaffaren wiþ hom. And þus þei make hom pertyners of hor peyne in helle, ffor more folye in chaffere suffred God nevere. To bye a catte in þo sakke is bot litel charge: to bye chirchis by symonye semes sumwhat siker: bot for to bye þus heven and broþerhed of Crist, hit semes chaffere of Lucifer, and withouten grounde.

Owe! wolde God þat þese freris, þat ben so bolde to graunte [Pretended miracles al∣leged by the friars.] by letter and comyne seele þinges þat þei knowen not, dursten graunte hor byleve, what is þo sacred oost. Bot þese apostatas stirten abak where þei shulden go forth. And so wolde God þat þo crabbis made by myracle, if þei myght, alle hor leesyngis withouten any sugett, for þen shulden þei not noye us as þei nowe do. Ffor comynly þese blasphemes, when hom wantes answers, and wil blynde þo puple, þei feynen on God miracles þat he nevere did. For if men aske hor groundynge, þei stonde stille as foles, or tellen straunge tales noȝt to þo purpose; as wycches feyned of dede men þat þei myght not quicken, [þat þei] [supplied.] were translate to felowschippe and dwellynge wiþ gods. Bot þo craffte of hor leesynge moste þei nede haunte, for elles þei myght not be mayntened wiþin holy Chirche. But wolde God þat þei lyed not þus upon Crist, and feyned hym to do

myracles of hor accidentis þat he nevere did, ne profiten to men, ne no mon may se hom, ne where þei ben groundid.

Bot ageyne þis arguen þese Anticrist clerkes, and feynen þat [Their argu∣ments replied to.] þei have verey lordship of hor medeful dedes, as fer forthe as ony mon haves lordship of temporale godes. Bot by suche lordshippe hit is leveful to graunte men temporal godes at þo wille of þo Lord; þen by þo same skil hit is leveful to freris to graunte men hor merytes, or partis of hom. And þus þese apes arguen by wey of likenes, and done more harme to men þen þof þei cutted hor throtes. Ffor herby þei myght bye mennis synnes, and laye hor soules in wedde, þat oþer mennis soules shulde be saved, ȝe, þof God wil þo reverse. Bot for to falle to þo answere. Byleve techis us þat no mon may levefully chaunge any godes, bot if he have leve of þo cheff lorde. Nevereþoles summe godes ben more nyghe God, as vertues, þat may not be gyven of none bot of God, ne nouþer mon ne fende may dysuse vertues. Bot ȝitte go we nerre to þese ypocrites, and telle hom þat merytes and delynge of merytis ben dyverse in hor kynde, as þei con knowe hit. Ffor as gyvynge of vertues and gyvynge of grace ben appropred to God, so delynge of merytes; for in þo same mesure þat God approves merytes, deles he þo merytes to whom þat hym likes. Bot merytes of men ben dedis or lyves, þat God of his grace acceptis to mede. Bot ȝitte þes blasphemes blabur hereageyne; and seyntes in heven gyven foure maner of mede, and so erthely men schulden dele hor merytes. Bot certis þes apis travelen in veyne as þei did ever, for seyntis in heven gyven hor blis, as none of us in erthe hafs powere to gyve. And ȝitte suche gyvynge and delynge dy∣versen; for seyntes gyfen accydentaly blisse, when þei be objectis to glade oþer seyntes; bot God hymself deles, as he acceptis seyntes. Ne God bisyes hym not makynge soche doole, ffor lette a mon able hymself, and þo dole is done. Bot Lucifer wolde be like to God. Þese blasphemes wol refe God his owne stede, and dele merytes of men after hor wille.

Ȝitte forþermore, þese ydiotes scharpen hor tounges, and seyn [They are more reckless in their grants than the Popes themselves.] þat popis graunten pardouns, and merytes of seyntis þat nowe ben in heven; and sith freris have fully and frely powere of popis, why may þei not dele hor propir desertis? Bot loke

now þat þese ypocritis wolden here passe popis. For popis graunten no pardoun to men bot if þei be byfore verrely con∣tritte [See vol. i. p. 136, note b.] , bot þese freris in hor lettres speken of no contricioun. And right as þei passen Crist in multitude of coventes, so þei passen þo popis in grauntyng of suffrages. Bot I counseile þat iche mon trayste fully in God and in his owne gode dedis, by whoche he shal be saved, and tryste not to myche to popis ne freris, for hor graunte avayles of noght, bot in als myche as hit is confermed to þo Chirche aboven.

And hereonne wolde I þat men þoght, þat taken as bileve þat [Against exag∣gerated lan∣guage about the immunity of Popes and Cardinals from error.] þo pope wiþ his cardynals may not erre, in þinges þat towches þo byleve of Cristis comyne Chirche. Comyne byleve seis, þat nouþer men in erthe, ne seyntis in heven, may do owght ap∣proved of God, bot if God hymself do hyt bifore. Bot who wot þat by ordynaunce of God þus myche penaunce is done for his synne? or þat þus myche pardoun is ordeyned of God? or þat þus longe tyme shal cum bifore þo day of dome? And þus hit is of a hundred dedis of popis, þat boþe hor cardynals and hor chirche approven. And siþ in mony soche caas þei con∣traryen Gods wille, hit semes of hor dedis, and of right byleve, þat þei reversen oft tyme þat Cristen men shulden trowe; ffor ofte tyme þei feynen hom to do by hor powere, and nouþer þei wot wheþer hit be so, or Cristen men shulden trowe hit. And wil I wot þat Cristis worde, seyde unto Petir, Whatevere þou byndes upon erthe schal be bownden in heven, and whatevere þou lesis upon erthe shal be lesid in heven, was seyde to Petir, and successouris of him þat verrely suen Crist and Petir in maners, ne erres noȝt in byndynge ne lesynge of men fro þo right jugynge of þo Chirche aboven. Lord, wheþer þis be by∣leve, þat þis pope dos go amonge alle þo articles of þo trowthe þat evere Crist taught? Þis is none of hom, ne ordeyned to be trowed. For þen were þo pope conformed, and nedely most þei be blessid, bothe in erthe and in heven, be he nevere so schrewid. And so hor bulles ben not gospel, bot ofte tyme fals, þat fayles nevere of Cristen byleve. And herfore triste we to þo rightwysenes of oure owne werkes, and laste we in þo faythe of þo lawe of Crist, for al suche fals feynynge moste

nedely perische. Bot as þo witte of þis word,—Þis is my body,—is mony weyes chaungid as Anticrist wil, so þo witte of þes wordes seide unto Petir. So þat lawe of þo emperoure, and chesyng of heretikes, neden Crist to gif suche powere to his traytoure. Bot as hungre of one and dronkenesse of an∣oþer techis þat Poule undirstode bodily fode, so worldly lif of emperoure prelatis techen þat þei ben not þo same þat Crist spake to.

Bot if þese freris with hor preyers deceyven þo Chirche, and [His mass is the best who leads the best life.] maken þo puple to trowe þat one masse of hor is better to God þen oþer of comyne prestis,—(and herof serven hor sygnes, and hor feyned varyaunce [The variations in the singing of the mass, which the different religious orders were, and still are, authorized to use.] , to schewe hor ypocrisye to þo lewid folke; and herby men seyn þat one frere takes mony grete salaryes of dyverse men togider for one tyme, bot hom unwittynge, ffor hor speciale preyeris þat þei slepen inne ben, as þei sey, better þen oþer comyne preyers; bot herfore thorw defaute of right byleve þo fende deceyves þo Chirche by soche fals procuratours)—We shulde understonde, þat whoso lifs bet∣ter, he preyes more profitably to iche Cristen mon. And þus Seynt Poule biddes men preye wiþouten lettynge. And so þat prest þat lyves better synges better masse; for masse and þo ooste ben dyverse þinges, siþ ellis freris myght not feyne of hor massis þat þei ben better þen masse of a fende. Scarioth was a fende, as Crist hymself seis, and, as freris seyn, soche prestis syngen right. And herbi may we se what preste singes beste; for Crist songe beste of alle by generale preyer; and certis þo beste helpe þat men myght gete by preyere were to dresse Cristis Chirche aftir his owne ordenance. And þus specialte of preyere blyndes mony men. Ffor generale preyere is better þan speciale, siþ it comes of more large charite, and is abowte better and more comyne profite.

And herfore Crist taught us moste generaly to praye. Bot [General prayer is better than special.] profitable applyinge is appropred to God, as he moste part merytes aftir þat men ben worthy. And so hit falles oft tymes, þat a fer straunge mon had more mede of foundynge of abbeyes and chauntryes þen he þat haves founded hom, for he is more

worthy. And þis fayth shulde move men to sue Crist, and coveyte noght private suffrages, but more procure treuly aftir comyne profite. And so specialte in preyere is noþing worþ, bot in als myche as hit scharpes to preye for generale þinges; as, when a man preyes for a certeyne persone, his entent shulde be more principaly for þo comyne Chirche. As, when men preyen for one persone, for he is profitable helpe to holy Chirche, men preyen more principaly for þat holy Chirche. And þus ypocrisye of freris unables hom to God, sith þei schulde prively lyve hor holy lif, and bothe by worde and sygnes schewe hor lownes, and þen were þo servyse of masse and oþer doynge more profitable to men þen hit nowe is. Bot þo sacrament þat is sacrid in þo masse is nouþer better for one prest ne for oþer. For in his kynde hit is bred, noght mendid bi þo prest, and in þat þat hit is Gods body, hit is ilike gode, whosoevere sacres hit.

And here knowe we mony þinges, byneþe oure byleve, þat we [On the right posture of mind in which to receive cer∣tain state∣ments.] shulde graunte hom, ne denye hom, ne dowte hom; bot sup∣pose hom, gesse hom, or hope hom. As if a mon asked me wheþer þis bred were Gods body, I wolde nouþer byleve þat, ne dowte hit, ne denye hit, bot suppose þat hit were so, bot if I had contrarye evydence,—as, if I had evydence þat þo prest were not sacred of God, or þat God wolde not wirke wiþ hym for his yvel lyvynge. And so evere worshippe Gods body in heven, and þo sacrament of þo auter upon a stille condicioun. And so what þing þat a mon myght more medefuly do, and have more medefully mynde on þo body of Crist, schulde he do, and in caas leve heryng of masse. Bot for þo more part, heryng of masses scharpes men, and moves men to haf medeful mynde of Crist. And so if þo pope asked me wheþer I were ordeyned to be saved, or predestynate, I wolde sey þat I hoped so, but I wolde not swere hit, ne ferme hit wiþouten condicioun, þof he grettly punyscht me; ne denye hit, ne doute hit, wolde I no wey.

And so, if prelates opposed me, what were þo sacrament of [On the right way of answer∣ing inquisito∣rial questions.] þo auter in his kynde,—I wolde sey þat hit were bred, þo same þat was byfore; ffor þus teches þo gospel þat we shulden bileve. And if þou aske forþer, wheþer hit be substaunse of material bred, nouþer wolde I graunte hit, ne doute hit, ne denye hit, byfore audytorie þat I trowed schulde be harmed þerby, bot

sith [perhaps we should read sey.] þat I supposid or reputid þat hit is so. And þes prelatis þat wolde wrynge oute anoþer absolute answere, faylen bothe in logik and divinyte, and schewen hom unable to examyne of heresye. Ffor it falles to soche men to teche þo bileve by suf∣ficyent foundynge, and eschewe erroures. As, for no mon con grounde accydent wiþouten sugette, no mon schulde aferme þat þis were þo sacrament. And, for fewe prelates knowen accydentis and sugettis, men schulden bywar to bringe þis in Cristen mennis byleve. Bot accydente wiþouten sugette now∣þer knowes mon ne God, as Austin teches and resoun proves. Bot þo fende haves blyndid þus Anticrist in þis matir, þat he contraryes to hymself, and knowes not hys erroure; as he seis þat þis sacrament is an accydente withouten sugette, or elles þat in þis sacrament is suche an accydente. And ȝitte he con∣traryes hymself, þat quantite and qualite sugetten oþer accy∣dentis, and everiche part þereof. Also iche part of þis accy∣dente hafs Crist and Cristis body, and so none of þese accydentis is wiþouten sugette.

And so, if þese thre poyntes of blaspheme and thre kyndes [Recapitula∣tion. How the first species of blasphemy should be met.] of heresye were fully declared, nouþer prelates ne freris þat nowe bisye hom þus schulde clerely excuse hom, þat ne þei ben suche. Ffor þei undirstonde omys þis pointe of þo gospel,—When þou art cald to heven reste in þo laste place, and kepe þe in mekenesse wiþouten ypocrisye. And so hit is likely þat alle þo bishopes of Rome þis thre hundred ȝere and more were fully heretikes, ffor þei undirstonden not þis þat Poule teches, When we have fode and hyllynge, be we payed of þis. Þere ben mony heresyes of folis in þis mater, and fole wordis shulden be lafte, and not to longe tretid. Make we an ende of þis mater, and speke we of oþer þinges. Ffor somme folis þer be þat will be payrid in yvel, and noþing amendid, by devoute wordes. Bot geder we þes þre partyes of þis synne of blas∣pheme, and make we þese fautours of þis grett synne, and make hom as blasphemes in Crist and his seyntes. And as anentis þo first, þat is, þo sacred ooste, no mon schulde here hom, ne grete hom, ne suffer hom þat denye þo gospel, in þis or in oþer

matir. And, for freris and oþer religious ben suspect in þis heresye, men schulden not comyne wiþ hom bifore þei schewid þo fayth by sufficyent wittenes, and with a wyse asker. Ow! sith everiche parishe chirche hafs mony sacred oostis as medi∣cyne to þo soule for seke parischens, he were a schrewid leche þat wolde not telle his sugettis of what kinde were þo medycyne þat he gyves hom. And so, if we loved oure feyth and Cristis lawe, as we shulden luf if we wil be saved, we schulde not slepe þus in þis cause, bot warly wake. Bot negligence of Gods cause shewes þat we hate God. And cautels of blasphemes þat perverten oure fayth schulden be schaken awey by scharp dy∣vynes. For þes folis leeven þo letter of þo gospel, and seyn þat we schulde not aske what þing þat is, bot trowe þat þere is verey Gods body. Bot þo gospel telles not what þing is þere, but seis þat þis brede is Cristis owne body. For wil we witten þat in iche knotte of a stree is better þing þen Gods body, for þo holy Trinyte. And siþ we worschippen not soche sensible strees, and worschippen þis sacrament, resoun schulde dryve us þat hit is better þing þen oþer comyne bodyes. Bot wil I wot þat freris seyn þat hit is werse þen venyme. Alle men schulden thriste oute þis roten of oure faythe.

As to þo secounde blaspheme, of beggyng of þes freris, [The second blasphemy.] everiche Cristen mon þat lufs Jesus Crist schulde crye out on hom þat seyn Crist begged þus, siþ þat hit is blasphemye ageyns oure God. Alle we sey þat we luf Crist moste of alle þinge, bot negligense in oure dedes wittenes þo contrarye. And I am certayne, at þo day of dome schal þo sothe be proved. Who wolde not sey þat he were fals to his erthly lord, þat herde him be sclaundred and opunly despised, and ȝitte wolde nowþer reverse hit, ne have sorowe in his hert? Ow! how shal men be saved, þat loven better erthely þing þen þei luf oure God and oure Lord Jesus Crist?

And to þo þridde blaspheme, of lettres of freris, he loves [The third blas∣phemy: letters of fraternity should be done away with, and the laity cease to support the friars.] nowþer God ne his even Cristen þat ageynestondes not þis heresye. For þei blaspheme in God, and desseyven þo puple, and harmen homself where þei myght ellis be gode. Bot sith we schulde sue Crist in maner of oure lyvynge, and Crist spake scharply ageyns þes Pharisees, we mot nedely scharp oure

tounges ageyns þese freris; ffor þo erroures þat þei have ben so longe rootid inne wil not elles be avoydid, ne oþer men excusid. But siþ Crist keppid charite to þese Pharisees, he were not a trewe mon, ne suer of Crist, þat wolde not speke þus ageyns erroures of freris. Ow! if knyghtes and comynes, and alle Cristen men, wakid to þis resoun and did hit in dede, siþ no mon schulde susteyne blasphemes of Crist, and siþ þis secte of beggers blasphemes in God, alle men schulden lette hom of hor cursed werkes. And more esy lettynge con I not se bot þat iche Cristen mon gif hom no bodily gode, bifore þei schewid wrytten þat Crist begged so; for ellis þei are suspect of opun blasphemye. And siþ no mon schulde gif þo freris gode, bifore þis cause were descided bytwene wyse men, God schulde or∣deyne his servauntis to stonde for þo treuthe. And, for ech Cristen mon schulde destrie blasphemes, þei schulde seke þis oute þat regnes in freris. Þei sey þat God haves byheght hom þat þei schal do myracles wiþoute any nowmbre in sacring of þo ooste. Bot certis þese myracles may þei not teche, as þei may not profit to þo Chirche of Crist. As anentis hor chaffere by lettres of fraternyte, schulden myghty men aske hom groundynge of hor sentense; and so of hor ordiris, þat þei þus preyse, and seyn þat þei passe þo ordir þat Crist gaf. And so þei preyse hor patrounes, and putten Crist byhynde. Lord, who herde evere a more blaspheme, þen þat ydiotes seyn hor patrounes schulden passe Crist! Wil I wot þat Seynt Poule, for reverense of Crist, durst not grounde soche ordiris as þo folis did. Ne grucche we not þat þes patrounes ben cald þus ydiotes. For holy wrytte calles disciplis of Crist ydiotes [In Acts iv. 13, the Vulgate has idiotae, and the Wycliffite versions ydiotis.] ; and byleve teches us þat þei ben nowe seyntes. Bot of holynesse of þese patrounes may trowe who so wil, for byleve nedes not to trowe þat þei ben seyntis; bot I suppose þat þei did mony foly werkes by blynde∣nesse of yprocrisye, and after were purgid, and so þei ben now in heven, as God vouchessafe. And so iche Cristen mon, if he wil be saved, most hold stiffly wiþ þo lawe of Criste.

XXVI. DE APOSTASIA CLERI.

[This tract is printed from a transcript made for the Delegates by Mr. French from the only known MS. in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, (C. V. 6; CC in this edition). It has been already printed, in black letter, by Dr. Todd, in his Wycliffe's Three Treatises (Dublin, 1851). It seems to me impossible to decide whether it is really by Wyclif or not. Bale certainly mentions a 'De Apostasia' in his Catalogue, but gives no first words; and it is more likely that he was referring to the Latin treatise of that name, which forms part of the Summa Theologiae (Shirley's Catalogue, p. 8) than to the present tract. The style has a general resemblance to that of Wyclif, and a remarkable expression at p. 440, about a 'lump of talow strangling the houndis,' recalls a similar expression in the Sermons (vol. i. p. 247). On the other hand, the phrase 'in mong', for 'among', is never used elsewhere by Wyclif to my knowledge; and the frequent use of the first person plural looks like some inferior member of a party rather than its leader. No indication whatever helps us to settle the date; all that can be said is, that as the subject of the Eucharist is not referred to, there is, so far, some ground for supposing that it was written before 1381, the year in which Wyclif began publicly to impugn the received doctrine.]

CAP. I.

SIþ ilche Cristen man is holdon to serve Crist, and who ever [On the apo∣stasy of the clergy, both regular and secular.] fayliþ in þis is apostata, it is likliche to many men þat þe mor part of men, bi her viciose lijf, ben combred in þis heresye. But al ȝif knyȝts and alle men shulden be religiose, neverþelees spek we of apostasye of prests.

Þre maner of prestis fallen in þis synne. Þe firste is peple of privat religioun, þe secunde is þe multitude of emperours pre∣latis, þe þridde is prestis wiþoute þise two firste. We shal sup∣pose

of our bileve, þat ilche man þat is ordeyned of God to be dampned is apostata to jugement of God, as þe riȝt resoun shewiþ of þe apostasie. And ȝif apostasie is stondyng bihynde, hou myche stondiþ bihynde ilche siche þat shal be dampned? mor þan Goddis derlyng þat shal afterward be saved wisliche, al ȝif he semeþ grevousliche unkynde for þe tyme. Fferþermor we shal suppose þat bodyliche abyte, or wantyng þerof, makiþ not men religiose neyþer apostataes, al ȝif þey semen siche bi jugement of men; for oonliche charite þat sewiþ it makiþ men religiose, or of Cristis ordre. But it is knowen bi lawe of our God, þat alle þes bodiliche signes ben straunge fro charite; for charite stondiþ in soule, and not in siche signes. But Lord! wheþer weddyng wiþ siche signes helpiþ to holde religioun of Crist, and love hym of hert? siþ it is certeyn þat Cristis reli∣gioun stondiþ in love of God of al our herte. And it semeþ þat siche signes drawen fro love of Crist þo þat setten so meche trist in hem, and bynden hem to kepe perpetuelly. For þey needen a man to take heede to sensible þing, but heede to sensible þing wiþdrawiþ fro God. Also oblishyng of men un∣freeþ hem to God; but it is greet oblishyng to be bonde to per∣petual kepyng of siche maner signes, siþ it falliþ ofte þat Goddis lawe askiþ to do dedis þat Crist biddiþ, and leve siche signes; and so byndyng to siche signes lettiþ fredom of Crist. Also, siþ Crist is al witty, as our feiþ techiþ us, and he ȝaf us not siche signes, but raþer reproveþ hem, it semeþ þat þis ordre askiþ not siche signes. And herfor it semeþ þat Crist seiþ, þat kynrede of hoordom sekiþ siche signes; and þis is a cause whi signes of þe old lawe shulden ceese, bi fredom of þe comyng of Crist. Of þis it semeþ þat signes to wiche men ben oblishid ben not groundid in þe lawe of grace, but raþer techen us to leve signes. And cerimonyes of þe olde lawe, betere þan þes, ben tauht to be left bi lore of Poul.

And herfore it semeþ þat privat religiose ben hyndred bi her [Monasticism condemned in general, though in particular cases it may be of service.] ordris to kepe Cristis lawe; alȝif it falleþ þat somme men ben beterid bi bynding to þise chargis, þat ellis wolden be wylde. But al ȝif it falleþ profyte to summe men to be bounde to a stake, or chargid wiþ stones, neverþelees religion þat wisdom haþ ȝyven us byndiþ us not to kepe siche rewlis, for, as to þe

mor part, it falliþ þat resoun of Goddis law shulde occupie men betere. And so, ȝif observaunce in lyves of fadris profytede to many men þat brouȝte hem to hevene, neverþelees it wer a pur open folye to make herof a rewle for al and for ever. For God haþ ordeyned somþing to profyt for oon man, and þat same þing to noye for anoþer; and ofte to þe same man somþing wer good for a tyme, and somtyme to hymsilf wold þat þing noye. And þerfor he haþ ȝiven witt and resoun wiþ his lawe to man, to chese what wer good for hym; ne it may not be þat ȝif man fayle not to God, þat þe spirit of God fayle hym, to shewe hym what he shulde do, betere þan þese [corrected; þis, CC.] ordris can. And so men þat oblishen hem to kepe siche ordris, or ellis to founde hem evere to laste, semen to reverse God in his ordinaunce, and turne upsodoun wisdom of kynde. And herby Aristotle [Aristot. De partibus Animal., lib. iv. cap. 10. (Dr. Todd's note).] soyliþ an argument, bi whiche it myȝte seme to folis þat kynde failiþ to man, siþ it ordeyneþ armur and defence to bestis, and to man it ordeyneþ noon siche þing. Þis philosophie assoyliþ þis folye bi þis, þat kynde haþ ordeyned to man boþe wit and hondis, bi þe whiche he may take when he wole, and leve when he wole, armur and oþer help þat is meche betere. O, wheþer Crist knewe not clerliche þe profyt þat comeþ of privat religions, siþ he left hem! It semeþ þat al siche religion smacchiþ blasfeme in shadewe of pride, for it reversiþ in a maner þe ordynaunce of Crist. And ȝif þei seyen þat many seynts han ben in þis ordre, certis many moo han ben in Cristis ordre. And it is hyd to us whyche of hem ben seynts; and siþ it is hyd to þe pope, and to al his covent, confirmacioun of hym makiþ litel feyþ; but it myȝte make feyþ to hem þat knewen his revelacion; for þe popis autorite makiþ not seynts in hevene. And so martirdom, wiþ hooli lyf after Cristis lawe, makiþ mor evydence þat þis is a seynt. But siþ we shal suppose þat many holi confessors han ben in þise ordris, þat nowe ben in hevene, two þingis ben to seye of lijf of siche men. Ffirst, þat þei lyveden diverseliche fro þise newe sects, and loveden God and his lawe, and leften siche signes. And so þise new sects shulden kepe mor Cristis reli∣gion

ȝif þei leften her rytis, as her fadris diden. But ferþermor we shall suppose of þise hooli confessors þat þei weren contrit and purgid of her synnes; and bi þis, and not bi rytis, þei ben now seynts. As blasfemye of Poul, þat he pursewede Crist, makiþ hym not seynt, but good þat he dide after. But to trowe siche canonyȝaciouns is lesse þan bileeve.

DE DOTACIONE ECCLESIE.

CAP. II.

As to þe possessiouns and dowyng of clerkis, bileeve shulde [On the evil of Church endow∣ments.] teche us þat it doiþ hem harm to kepe Cristis religioun, and harm to lewid men; for Crist seiþ þat noo man may be his discipul but ȝif he renunce alle siche þingis. And hou he shulde renunce, Cristis lijf techiþ, and lif of hise apostlis þat com in after hym; and ensaumple of siche deds exponeþ best Cristis lawe. And þus bi process of tyme is þe Chirche peyred, bi turnyng fro Cristis lawe, and bi love of þe worlde. And her∣for seiþ Poul, þat coveytise is roote of all yvelis þat comen to Goddis Chirche. And comynge inne of freris þat shulden quenche þis synne makiþ it mor fervent, as watir fier of smyþis. And siþ þei ben apostataes þat gon abac in Cristis ordre, few or none of siche prestis ben clene of þis heresye. For þei forsaken Crist in kepyng of his lawe, and Crist seiþ þat man mot kepe it ȝif he love hym. But siþ love of worldliche þingis drawiþ fro love of Crist, hou myche is love of prests drawe now fro God! Wantyng of workis of þe gospel, and werkis of þe world, dampneþ our prestis in defaute of þis love. And ȝit þei poudren blasphemye in among þis apostasye, for þei seyen þat þei haven mor power of Crist þan ever he wolde ȝive to Petre or Poul. For in spiritual power þei ben even wiþ him, and in worldliche power þey passen hem; siþ Petre seiþ he havede neþer silver ne gold, and Poul laborede wiþ hise hondis; and so her power, gederid togeder, in so myche passiþ power of Petre.

And ȝif ony man seyþ þat our prestis haven not so myche [Prelacy did not exist in primitive times. and might well be spared now.] spiritual power as Petre, þey wolen curse hym and dampne

hym, and use siche power þat neyþer Crist ne Petre semeþ to have had; siche fals power feyneþ Antecrist; and þat may be clepid Luciferis power. But siþ ilche power is of God, as Poul seyþ, and þise men reversen God, as her lijf shewiþ, summe men may trowe þat hem failiþ power, and þat þei feynen falsliche þat þei ben vikeris of Crist; for likliche hem wantiþ to be þe leeste membre þat Crist haþ ordeyned to be of his Chirche. And not∣wiþstondynge þis, Crists Chirche shulde live, ȝif alle siche prelats wanteden þerinne; for whoever trowiþ in Crist, and lastiþ to his lyves ende in þis feiþ, he shal be saved wiþouten siche prelatis; siþ in tyme of apostlis, and when þe Chirche þryvede, siche pre∣latis wanteden, as Goddis lawe techiþ. For þe apostlis weren felowis, and ilche oon suffisede to converte þe peple in þe name of Crist, wiþout autorite borewid of oþer. But God forbede þat lordschip ȝyven of þe emperor shulde chaunge or destrie þis lawe of Crist; for Cristis lawe, al ȝif it be contrarie to þis dow∣yng, is mor myȝty and groundid in resoun. And so in þis poynt ben heretiks many in þe world. For Petre was cheveteyn of oþer apostlis for his mekenesse and service þat he dide to oþer, and not for his lordship ne his sterne power.

CAP. III.

But her grucchiþ þe world, and grenneþ on trewe men, and [Against those who talk about the necessity of order and gradations, we plead simply the authority of Christ.] seiþ þat þei ben heretiks, and casten destrie al holy Chirche and feyþ þerinne. Also þei seyen þat seculer lordshipis asken degrees; for ȝif alle weren oon, þer weren noon ordre, but ilche man myȝte ylyche comaunde to oþer, and so seculer lordship wer fully destryed. Also þei seyen, ȝif þer wer noon ordre of popis and bishopis, þer shulde be noon ordris of abbots and priors; and so al religioun shulde be distryed; and so shulde perish makyng of prests and doyng of sacraments, as holy Chirche usiþ. To assoyle þise dowtis, men moten arme hem and pacientliche dispose hem to deye for Crist, and fals not þe gospel for favor of men, but seye fulliche þe soþe, for Crist is ever present. And so it semeþ to trewe men, þat ordris of religioun þat Crist groundid not shulden be fordone, for Crist is al witty and al sufficient in hise werkis.

As to þe first grucchyng, shal Antecrist grenne at þe day of dom, and bete togedre wiþ hise teeþ, for his sharp reprovyng of sentence of þe gospel. For þenne wo shal be to alle siche, þat clepen good yvel and yvel good. And Zebedeus sones travel∣eden in þis foly, as we alle done; and askeden bi her modir heyȝnes of þe world, þat þe oon myȝte sitte on þe oon side of Crist, and þe oþer on þe oþer syde, in his kyngdom. But Crist, willyng al good, ordeynede hem to suffre anoyes in þis world, and bi þis to come to heyȝnesse in hevene. And þus þise folis seyn, þat men þat ben aboute to brynge Cristis Chirche to þe state þat Crist ordeynede, ben aboute to distrye holy Chirche. And it semeþ þat ȝif Crist com in his owne persone, and tauȝte and comaundede þis stat to be holden, he shulde be holden a fool and fals heretik; and ȝif he travelede herto he shulde be persewid; for so doyþ Antecrist aȝen hise membris, þat over softliche seyen his sentence. And siþ al bileeve is in þe gospel, and we travelen and worchen þat þis gospel wer knowe and kept, it is openne þat we wolden destrie but heresies, for we wolden destrie errours contrarie to þe gospel.

As to þe secound, we seyn þat seculer lordis shulden holde [Christ magni∣fied the autho∣rity of the secular arm.] wiþ þis sentence of þe gospel, and mayntene it wiþ myȝt. For in mong alle þe men þat evere weren her in erþe, noon heyede mor þen Crist seculer lordis; for he chees to be bore when þis lordship florishede moost in þe empyr of Rome. Crist ȝaf tribute to þe emperor; Crist wolde not so myche lessen seculer lordship, þat he wolde have a litel hous to hyde his heved inne; Crist comoundede to ȝyve þe emperor þat was hise; and to destrie lordship of prestis of þe temple, for seculer lordship shulde be holde bi hymself. And Crist norishede þe tenaunts of seculer lordis; he helede hem and fedde hem, and pilede hem not; so þat he ȝaf hem mor bi myracle of his godhede, þen he took of þe world wiþ alle hise apostlis. And for þise sixe kyndenessis, bysyde goostliche suffragies, þise seculer lordis han be to unkynde to Crist. And soone in his absence, when he was set in hevene, þe emperor reverside [corrected; reverse, CC.] him, and fordide his

ordynaunce, and makede hise bishopis haywardis ['Hayward' is explained by Phillips (New World of English Words, 1662) to mean, 'a keeper of the common herd of the town, who is to look that they neither break, nor crop hedges; from the French words Hay [haie], a hedge, and Garde, custody.'] of þe world, and took fro hem þe kepyng of Crists sheep. And so þe last offiss þat Crist ȝaf to Peter, and bad hym þries up his love per∣forme þis offiss, took þe emperor fro hym þat seyþ he is Petris viker, and makede hym perpetuel hayward of his drit. But, for it is to hard to kyke aȝen þe spore, wite ȝee, seculer lordis, þat þis harmeþ ȝou. For it takiþ awey help of soul fro ȝou and fro ȝour peple, and to-teriþ ȝour lordship þat ȝee tellen myche by, and evere shal mor and more, til þise unkyndenessis ben somdel amendid. And wite ȝee wel þat ȝour folye, bi whiche ȝee wenen to plese God, shal not excuse ȝou to God at þe day of dom, for Crist and hise lawe shal witnesse aȝen ȝou. And siþ Poul was not excusid bi þe olde lawe of persewyng of Crist in hise ȝonge membris, meche mor þe emperor, þat bi mannes lawe persewede þe soule of Crist in his tendre membris, shal not be excusid, siþ he drawiþ hem to helle.

But ferþer we shulde knowe, þat seculer lordship þat clerkis [In the true Church the order consists in all serving and loving one another.] hanne nou smacchiþ imperfeccioun on many maner, and comeþ not to þe perfectioun of þe ordre of Crist; as seculer lorshipis asken worldliche degrees, and so heyȝnesse in worldliche goodis, but Cristis lordship askiþ goostliche degrees, and heyȝnesse in vertues, þat God oonliche ȝiveþ. And herfor, when stryf of þis was in mong þe apostlis, Crist determynede þe cause bi word and bi dede. Crist puttede a ȝong man in myddil of hem, þat was meke in many vertues, and seyde,—Whoevere mekiþ hym as þis ȝong man, he shal be holden mor to þe jugement of God. But þis world haþ put awey þe sentence of Crist; for alle prestis and seculers seken her owen goods, and þat is aȝeyn þe charite of Poul. And, for þe world knowiþ not heyȝnesse in vertues, God hymsilf shulde clepe hise servaunts as he wolde, and leve þe worldis maner of sensible þingis. And so þe rewele of religioun of Crist biddiþ, þat ilche man obeshe to oþer, not for þe world, ne for worldliche maundements, but in as myche as biddiþ Goddis wille. And ȝif a best bad a man do siche, he

shulde obeshe to beest in þe name of God. And herfor Goddis lawe techiþ hise men, þat God obeshede to mannes voys, and Crist obeshede and servede to Scarioth [It must have been such expres∣sions as these which originated the charge against Wyclif, contained in the sixth of the twenty-four articles condemned at the Council of Lon∣don, that he maintained 'Quod Deus debeat obedire Diabolo.'] .

And herby we may see an onswer to þe þridde resoun. [If this order were followed, prelates, monks, and friars would be suppressed;] Sequestre we al mannes lawe, supposynge Crists ordynaunce; al þe drede of florishyng of men of þe world; and þanne it sewiþ þat we shal graunte, þat alle degrees of emperor clerkis, alle þise religions of monkis, chanouns, and freris, shal slepe as þei diden in tyme of þe apostlis. For alle þise semen to smacche worldliche heyȝnesse, and men ben clepid to degre þat God clepede not, and þis is errour and synne on ilche syde. But neverþelees þe ordre of Crist shulde be þenne mor perfiȝt þan it is noon, by meddlyng of mannes ordynaunce; and prests shulden have betere ordre in ministryng of sacraments, for Crist wolde leve in goode prests power þat holy Chirche neediþ.

And, as þe pope feyneþ, he byndiþ to-day and lousiþ to∣morewe; [and the grace and power of the gospel would have free course.] and so in byndyng and lowsyng ben many fals gabbyngis. And þenne wyndis of treuþis shulden blowe awey þe heresyes, and cler þe eyr of holi Chirche, þat is now ful troble. Þenne shulde lyf of grace come doun fro God, and lyȝte ilche man aftir þat he wer worþi. And þenne shulde þis blasfemye be blowen awey, þat grace and power of God mot nede first come to þe prelat, and þenne be departid of hym, how evere he wolde sille it in mong hise suggets, þat nouȝt may be wiþoute hym. And certis it wer lesse error to seye, þat þe bemes of þe sonne crooken, þat shyneþ freliche in bodyes after þat þei ben disposid, þen to putte þis error on þe Sonne of riȝt∣wisnes. For Crist is in ilche mannes soule þat loveþ hym owterliche, and neediþ not þe help of þis cursid prelat; for Crist may not of his ryȝtwisnes þus accepte persones. And þenne shulde grace come to men, as hevene scateriþ reyn; but now castiþ Antecrist to hepe hise disciplis, so þat ilche may strengþe oþer in her malice; as ȝif hevene of oon cloude sende gushyng of watir, and overflowede som erþe, and som wer left drye. Þus

Crist sente hise apostlis, when þei weren rype, to diverse londis, to sowe wateris of wisdom, and closede hem not in cloysteris as Antecrist doiþ. So ȝif we taken heede to apostasye þat goiþ evene aȝen þe ordre of Crist, þer ben fewe bisshopis, posses∣sioners, or frers, þat þei ne ben apostataes, al ȝif þei holden her sygnes. For take we heede to þe lyf þat men first ledden, and to þe lyf þat men leden now; and we shal fynde þat alle þise ben gon abac. And siþ þei ben as myche now holdon to serve God, and sommwhat mor for takyng of temporal goodis, it semeþ þat þei ben bounde to mor þen þei may. And siche apostataes marren muche [corrected; meche, CC.] of Cristis ordre. And þus, ȝif alle bisshopis possessioners and freris weren wislyche examyned wheþer þey weren heretiks,—ȝif þey seyden nay, wiþoute revela∣cioun fewe men or none weren holde to trowe hem; for it semeþ open bi her wikkid deds, þat þei ben apostataes fro Cristis religion. But siche heretikis wolen bleþeliche dampne oþere men of heresyes, for here witt is blyndid.

CAP. IV.

Bi þis may we see how þikke groweyn eretikis in þe rewme of [Owing to the wealth which encumbers her, heresy and apostasy are almost univer∣sal in the Church.] Englond, and in oþer londis, þat men clepen Cristen men. For ȝif alle symonyents weren markid out of Cristendom, and alle apostataes, wiþ alle blasfemes, þe multitude of heretikis wer mor þan þise oþer. For þer ben fewe prelats now in þe Chirche, ne fewe oþer men, þat þei ne ben heretiks; siþ assent to heresie makiþ an heretik. And þerfor we supposen þat God movede men to speke now of heretikis, to make hem mor knowen; for noon man doiþ mor harm in batel of Crist. For þei stonden bihynde, and fyȝten not wiþ þe fend, ne wiþ þe world, ne wiþ her flesh, as Poul seyþ; and þis is cause whi þe world peyreþ, and charite of many cooldiþ. Þe ground of þis malice stondiþ in prestis, þat ben þus cooldid wiþ temporal goods. For þey shulden be capteynes in batele of Crist, but now þei ben cheve∣teyns on Antecrists syde, and letten bi ypocrisye oþer to fyȝte. And ȝif fewe trewe men wolden worche or speke aȝen þis traterie þat is in Goddis enmyes, þey quenchen hem as heretiks, bi

cautel of þe fend; as bishopis diden wiþ Crist in tyme of his passioun. And in mong alle þe malices of þe fendis werkis, þer semeþ noon mor to harme Cristis peple. As, ȝif a greet lord shulde be susteyned wiþ herbis þat groweden in a orchard, and weren nyȝ rype, þat man þat come into þis orchard, and kyttede þise herbis, and destriede þe rotis, dide to myche harm to peyr∣yng of þis lord; and specialliche ȝif þer hele sustynaunce stood in þise herbes. Goode Cristen men þat holden Cristis lawe ben siche herbis to folc þat þei dwellen wiþ; herfor Antecrist lettiþ siche seed be sowen or growe in mong Cristen men. And to performe þis malice, Antecrist haþ cast to be knyttid wiþ kyngis and use her power; and þus venemeþ hymsilf þe lordis and þe peple. But he groundiþ not in Cristis lawe þe deds þat he doiþ, but oþer in mennes lawe, or glosyng of freris. And ȝit blynd∣nesse of þe peple norishiþ her enmyes; for love of God is quenched bi blyndyng of þe world, and þise fewe Cristen men þat haveden som lyȝt of God, ben drawen abac bi þise apo∣states. And certen þei ben cowards and of to lytel feyþ, for ȝif þei loveden Crist mor þen her owen lijf, as þe gospel techiþ hem, þei shulden putte her lijf for þe lawe of Crist; and þanne wolde Crist helpe his Chirche, and putte siche knyȝts to worship in hevene, and glorifie her body deed for Cristis love. But defaute of bileve lettiþ þis profyt, and specialliche of freris, for þei procuren bisiliche part for Antecrist, and sowen þikke lesyngs wiþ her ypocrisie, and maken Cristis lawe fade bi her fals signes. On þis wyse þe fend haþ ben many day abowte to vencushe Cristen men bi Antecristis clerkis; and þus he haþ drawe many to his lordship, and specialliche bi heretikis, þat parten men fro Crist; and þis shal never ceess bifor Cristis lawe be worshipid, and Antecristis lawe despisid as heresie.

Lord! siþ Crists lawe sufficiþ of itself, hou lytil shulden men [The rules of monks and friars are part of the law of Antichrist, and will not serve them at the last day.] recche of Antecristis lawe, but despise persones and brollis þat holden þerwiþ! Ȝif þow wolt wite which is Antecristis lawe, loke you what lettiþ Cristis lawe to be holde in worship, and to be performed bisiliche in dede. And so alle þe lawis of þis newe religiose þat ben not well groundid in þe lawe of Crist, semen Antecrists lawis, and lettynng of Cristis lawe. And þis newe ordynauncis, ungroundid in þe gospel, helpen þe fend,

and letten þe lawe of Crist. And so siche prelats shulden be Cristis houndis, and berke bi hise lawe, and not bi lawe of wolves. Lord! what lettiþ þise houndis to berke, and lede Cristis sheep aftir his lawe? Certis it semeþ þat dowyng of þe Chirche, and too myche worshypyng of Antecristis lawe; for a lumpe of talowe strangliþ þe houndis [This strange expression occurs also in the Sermons. See vol. i. p. 247.] , and lettiþ hem boþe to berke and to byte; and occupying of men in Antecristis lawes, þat speken oonliche of worldliche goods, drawiþ fro Goddis lawe, and makiþ to love þe world. But siþ bileeve techiþ us, þat at þe day of dom þe book shal be opened, and ilche of us shal wite wheþer we han loved Crist mor þen ony oþer þing, and þerfore be jugid to hevene or to helle, hou shal we þenne onswer to askynge of our juge? Wel Y woot þat Crist haþ ordeynyd men to live in his lawe, and þen be knowen bifor many juges, wheþer þei haven faverede mor Cristis lawe or þe worldis. Worldliche excusacioun shal not þenne assoyve, ne onswer by procuratorye, ne suttilte of werkis; but ȝif we ben coupable we shal þenne be domb, ne alle þes newe habitis shal not þenne profyte; but ȝif we have þenne bryde cloþis, we shal for evere be dampned. Þise cloþis ben of charite þat evere more shal last: and her is an ende.

XXVII. [SEVEN HERESIES.]

[The text of the following tract is based on a MS. in the Bodleian Library,—Douce 274. There is another copy of it at the British Museum (Harl. 2385), and a third at Dublin, (Trin. Coll. Dub. C. V. 6). Though not mentioned by Bale, its authenticity can hardly be doubted, both on account of the direct evidence supplied by the Harleian MS. (see notes at the beginning and end of the tract), and because the style, and the refer∣ence to previous labours in the same field (p. 443) both point to Wyclif as the author. There is no direct evidence of date; but as, in the passage just quoted, frequent previous statements of his doctrine on the Eucharist are spoken of by the author, it is probable that the tract was composed quite at the close of Wyclif's life, in 1383 or 1384, because, as has been said so often, he did not begin to teach that doctrine publicly till 1381.]

SEPTEM HERESES CONTRA SEPTEM PETICIONES [The Harleian MS. commences thus:—'Here ben sevene heresies aftir continued of false prestis aȝen þe Pater Noster. ¶ Wyclif.'] .

FOR fals men multiplien mony bokes of þe Chirche, nowe [Seven heresies against the Lord's Prayer.] reendynge byleve, and nowe clowtyng heresies, þerfore men schulden be ware of þese two perilles, þat fals men pynchyn in þe Pater noster. Þai say furst, þat speciale prayere aplied by [1. False men say that special prayers are more potent than general.] hor prelatis is better þen generale. As, one Famulorum saide of a frere is better þen a Pater noster, wiþ oþer þinges even; ffor þo Pater noster is moste generale, and þe Famulorum moste special, of alle þe prayers þat God heris. But we schul beleve þat no prayer is worþe, but in als muche as God hym selfe heris hit, and applies þis prayere to profite of þe man. Lord! wheþer God hym selfe wolde gladlier here þe preyere þat a false man hade contreved to hym, þen þe generale preyere þat he hym

selfe made? Wele I wote þat þis preyere is ful of witte and charite, and conceves alle þe gode þat a man schuld aske of God. Hit is one to say þus, and to heghen Anticriste over oure Lorde Jesus Criste, þat is oure alle fader. Þe generalte of þis preyere lettes not oure Lord God to here syngulere personys, aftur þei ben worþi.

SECUNDA HERESIS.

Þe secunde heresie of þe secunde askyng sais, þat þese [2. The second heresy, against the second petition, makes bad prelates members of the Church or Kingdom of God.] prelatis are hedes of Gods rewme, for þei ben hedus of holy Chirche by vertue of prelacie. Ande þese freres bene men of holy Chirche, þat wole here be gladliere hedes of holy Chirche þen oþer comyne men. Lord! siþen God and iche membre of his Chirche bene weddid togedre, as oure bileve sais, wheþer ony of þese prestus schul be dampned in helle? Wele I wote þat none schal be dampned but devellis; ande if ony of þese devellis were capteyne of his Chirche, þen God and þe devell were weddid togedre. But as oure bileve sais þat þer is no comynynge wiþ Crist and Belial, þen þai ben not weddid. Herfore schal we trowe, as holy men tauȝt of two thowsande ȝere byfore þat Sathanas was bounden, þat holy Chirche is of þoo þat God has ordeyned to dwelle wiþ hym in blisse, of what state so þai be, prestes or seculeres, lordis or comyners, ladies or pore wymmen, þat endles loven God. And so some partie of þe Chirche regnes above in heven, and summe slepis in pur∣gatorie, and summe feyȝttes here in erthe. But at þe day of dome schulle alle be gedrid togedir, and regne in heven wiþ hor spouse, oure Lord Jesus Crist. So if þat prelatis or freris or seculers sewe not Criste in manere of hor lyvynge, þai were never Cristis spouse, ne membris of his Chirche.

TERTIA HERESIS.

Þe thrid heresie of þe thridde askyng sais, þat þai knowe þe [3. The third heresy pre∣tends to know the will of God, that He will certainly save those whom they pray for.] wille of oure Lord God to bringe a soule to heven by manere of hor preyyng. But certis we schul trowe, þat God may not be moved but as he has ordeyned bifore þe worlde was made;

and aftur a man deserves while he lyves here schal he be rewardid aftur his lyife, ouþer in blisse oþer in peyne, notwith∣stondynge oure preyere. But wel I wote þat God may helpe soulis in purgatorie, and make hom schortliere to dwelle þer∣inne, after þat þei have made hom worthi for þe tyme þat þei have lyved here. But we schal understonde þat God acceptis þe lyfe þat men lyven here wele, ande approves hit for soulis, and þeraftur hit is medefulle for soules þat bene in purgatorye. Ande if we knowe not þe privete of God, ȝit neverþoles we wote þat hit is fully riȝtwysenes, þat prayer of a man þat God hath ordeyned to blisse is more worthye þen a thowsande of hom þat schal be dampned. Ffor þe furst is Gods childe, and ordeyned to have his blis, þe secund is the fendus childe. And pray he never so muche, he getes not þe blisse of heven, for he makes hym not worthi. Ande þis faithe shulde move men not to selle hor prayers, but iche man life bisili, iche aftur þe lawe of God; ffor aftur þat a man deserves in his owne per∣soyne schal he be rewardid, in heven or in helle. But gode lyve of a man may helpe hym þat lyves wiþ hym, to amende his owne lyfe, and so come to blisse. And so private almes done syngulerlyche, þat Crist hymself tauȝt not, dos littel gode or none to donor of siche almes for to come to heven.

QUARTA HERESIS.

Þe ferthe heresie of þe ferthe askynge says, þat þe sacrid [4. The fourth heresy main∣tains that the sacred host is not bread in any sense.] ooste is no maner of brede, but ouþer nouȝt, or accident wiþ∣outen ony sogett, and so worse þen stones or ony oþer body. And when ony suche men asken þe sacrid ooste, þai ȝyven hom worse þen stones, as þai falsly feynen. Ffor þis were aȝeynes holy writte, as Crist hymself sais. Lordus and prelatus con not distroye þis heresie, ouþer for hor negligence, or for þo wiles of Anticrist. Lord! if þese grete lordus wold ȝif þese prestis no gode, ne freris, bifore þai schewid her bileve in þis poynt, and groundid hit in Gods law! and so þai myȝt come to bileve, and knowe þese fals heretikis. We have offt tymes saide [See prefatory notice.] þat þis sacrid ooste is verrey Goddis body and verrey breede, for so sais holy writte, and seyntus of Crist thowsandis.

QUINTA HERESIS.

Þe fyfft heresie, contened of þe fyfft askynge, says, þat prestis [5. The fifth heresy claims for the Pope and his clergy powers of ab∣solution which belong to God alone.] have powere to assoyle men of synne, whom ever þe pope lymytes, at hys owne wille. Ande absolucions and indulgencis bothe fallen in mannes chaffare by byynge and sellynge; and so men may lightly for money be assoyled bothe of peyne and of synne, be þai never so synneful. But oure bileve techis us, þat no synne is forȝyven but if God hymself forgif furste of alle. Ande if his trewe vicare acorde to Gods wille, he may assoyle of synne as vicary of his God. But if he discorde from juggement of his God, he assoyles not, boste he never so muche. Ande herfore hit is nedeful þat a preste have two keyes, of powere and of cunnyng, to acorde to Gods wille. Ffor if he want þis connyng he nouþer byndes ne assoyles; ne hit is not byleve þat ne he may erre in þis. Ande amonge alle heresies or blasphemyes in oure Chirche, þis is one þe moste þat men bene deceyved inne. And if a man speke herof by þo law of God, he schal be prisoned, or done to deth as an heretike.

SEXTA HERESIS.

Þe sexte heresie, contened of þe sexte askyng, sais, þat men [6. The sixth heresy claims for friars an extraordinary exemption from tempta∣tion.] of private religioun bene more thikk saved þen men þat kepe trewly comyne Cristus religione; ffor, as þai say, þai have helpe of hor owne breþer, specially in houre of hor deth, of body and of soule, and so bene not lad in to fendus temptacioun. But oure bileve techis us þat comyn Cristus religioun passes al religioun of þese newe ordris. Lorde! whedur we schuld trowe þat Benet and Dominik, or Ffraunces, schuld passe þe wise∣dome of Criste? Or whedur hit be wisedome to obeysche to siche prelatis, and leefe þe wille of Crist, þat is God and þine abbot. Wele I wote þat þe Chirche was rewlud by Cristis ordynaunce, bifore þese ordris coomen inne, better þen hit was sithen. Ande so, sithen þese religiouse dyen in þis false triste, and have lyved in ypocrisie for þe more parte of hore lyve, hit

semes þat suche gone prively til helle, and so be led in to fendus temptacioun, for þai ben hardid in errour of hor private ordris. And herfore clepid Crist Nichodeme fro þe ordre of Phariseus, savyng hym and destroyyng of hit. Wiþouten doute þo ordynaunce þat Crist hym selfe ordeyned, if hit were holden clene, hit were þe beste of oþer; ffor þerby in ilke degre myȝt iche man be saved. Ffor þen wolde charite growe more, and envie be more distroyed. Thre membris of þe chirche, as prestis, knyȝttus, and laboreris, wolden be sufficient wiþouten more diversite. God kepe his Chirche.

Amen.

SEPTIMA HERESIS.

Þe sevent heresie and þo last, þat is contened of þe sevent [7. The seventh heresy main∣tains that friars and their friends are pro∣tected from evil.] askyng, sais, þat if we wirke by counsel of þese newe ordris þat leven þe ordynaunce of Criste, we schal nedely be saved. And herby bene men lad in to fendus temptacioun, and wrappid wiþ synne ageyne þe Holy Goste; and þis is þe werste synne þat ever may falle to ony man. Wele I wote þat freris wold not here þis publischt in þe pepul, for fallyng of hor ordre. But sithen it is not groundid in bileve, he is not on Gods halve þat lettis hit for freris. Ande we schulde trow þat foundyng of abbays and frerus and [something appears to be omitted.] lettys mon þat ne þai mowe falle in þe last synne. And herfore alle maner of men schuld know Cristis ordynaunce, and travaile þerfore þat hit were clenly kept; for hit is moste light, most profitable, and moste medeful. O Lord! if al þe peple in Yngelonde traveyled in alle cuntreyes, and falsed þe kyngis wille, movyng to discordis aȝeynes þe pes of þe rewme, who wolde not say þat suche a peple were peril∣ouse in Yngelonde? mykel more if newe religious be skaterud in Cristendame, and gabben on þe wille of Criste þat is oure kynge, and moven not to pes and acorde as Crist and his apostilles did. What wonder is hit, þow batellis and oþer perellus come, þat Crist has bifore saide? God kep his Chirche fro fals ypocrites and ungroundid newe statis, not

foundid in Crystes lawe. Wele I wote þat many [corrected; the MS. has may.] say þat monye of hom are seyntus; but nowþer is þis bileve, ne groundid in resone [The words 'groundid in resone' are immediately followed in the Harleian MS. by 'ut patet per Wyclif,' written in the same hand.] . Omnis plantacio quam non plantavit pater meus, eradicabitur, dicit Dominus in evangelio Johannis.

Explicit tractatus qui vocatur speculum vite Christiane [The purport of this explicit has been fully discussed in the Intro∣duction to this volume.] .

XXVIII. OCTO IN QUIBUS SEDUCUNTUR SIMPLICES CHRISTIANI.

[The text of this short piece is founded on a transcript from the Corpus MS. 296. There are two other copies known, both of which are at Trinity College, Dublin; of these one is imperfect at the end. Bale includes this tract in his list of Wyclif's works, though giving it the erroneous title, whence derived it is impossible to say, of 'De Episcoporum Erroribus.' There is no means of fixing its date with accuracy. It is vigorously written, and I am disposed to regard Wyclif as the author.]

ÞERE ben eiȝte þingis bi whiche simple Cristene men ben [Eight sources of deception for simple Christians.] disceyved, þat ben þes eiȝte; holy Chirche, lawe, religion, obedience, cursynge, þe goodis or riȝt of holy Chirche, maunde∣ment and conseil, dedly synne and venyal.

Ffirst, whanne men speken of holy Chirche, þei undirstonden [1. By the Church, people understand the clergy only.] anoon prelatis and prestis, monkis and chanouns and freris, and alle men þat han crownes [That is, all men that have the tonsure.] , þouȝ þei lyven nevere so cur∣sedly aȝenst Goddis lawe,—and clepen not ne holden seculeris men of holy Chirche, þouȝ þei lyven nevere so trewely after Goddis lawe, and enden in perfect charite. But neþeles alle þat schullen be savyd in blisse of hevene ben membris of holy Chirche, and ne moo. And Crist seiþ, and Austyn, and Cry∣sostom, and many moo seyntis, for non of alle þes schal perische wiþouten ende, as Crist himself seiþ. And so comynly

þo þat ben clepid men of holy Chirche ben enemyes þerof, and synagoge of Sathanas, and þo þat ben membris of holy Chirche, as ben good Cristene men þat kepen Goddis hestis, ben not holde men of holy Chirche, but aliens þerfro. And þus we demen foliliche more bi signes þat [corrected from pan in the MS.] men han maade, who ben men of holy Chirche, þan bi goode lif and endeles lastynge in charite, bi whiche God biddiþ us deme wisly and riȝtfully.

Also, whanne men speken of lawe, anoon men taken it of [2. By law, people under∣stand human laws, not the law of God.] mannis lawe, and not of Goddis lawe, as ȝif mannis lawe were more worþi and more principal þan Goddis lawe. And þis fordoþ muche þe reverence and studiynge of Goddis lawe. For herefore, and for worldly wynnynge and worschipe, men lerne mennis lawis, as þe popis and emperouris and kyngis, and studyen not Goddis lawis, þat techen virtues, and to suffren myschiefis and dispitis, and to wynne þe blisse of hevene. And herfore God and his lawe and virtuous lif ben unknowen and dispisid, and synne and cursednesse norisched and meyntened, and many men rennen to helle, and fewe gon to hevene.

Also, whanne men speke of religion, anoon þei undirstonden [3. By religion, they under∣stand the rules of monastic orders, not the pure religion of Christ.] religion maad of synful men wiþ many errouris, and not of þat holy religion þat Criste, God and man, made hymself for his apostils and prestis; alle and ȝif [Meaning 'as if.'] religion founde of synful men, wiþ pride and ypocrisie, were betre þan þe clene religion in his clene fredom þat Crist made. And þus þei þat holden Cristis clene religion, as prestis, wiþouten cloutynge to of er∣rouris of foolis and synful men, ben holden seculer men, or seculer prestis, þouȝ þei kepen nevere so wel þe gospel, and techeþ it frely and trewly, as Crist and his apostils diden. But ȝif þei han a newe habite, founden of mannis folye, and have maad singuler profession to synful men, and, in cas, to fendis, þei ben holden men of religion, þouȝ þei ben nevere so proude, coveitous, envyous, lecherous, or oþere synnes. And þus, for pride and ypocrisie, þes newe religions fordon þe reverence and þe name of Cristis clene religion, and maken þat it is holden for noon, as ȝif foolis or synful men wolden fordon Goddis

makynge. And so þei seyn prively, þat synful men ben more myȝtty, more witty, and fullere of charite, þan ne was Jesus Crist, to teche a perfitere weie to hevene þan evere Crist dide himself. For siþ Crist was endeles myȝtty, endeles witty, and endeles ful of charite to save mennis soulis, what schulde lete him to teche þe best religion of prestis, siþ in hem hangiþ moche þe good lif and techynge of þe peple? Wheþer Crist bi a þou∣sand ȝer and more tauȝte nevere to his apostils and oþere prestis þe beste religion, to serve him inne and to plese him, but to kepe þis til now, wiþinne þese two hundrid ȝere [The Franciscan Order was first founded by St Francis of Assisi in 1209; the date of the institution of the Dominicans or Friars Preachers is a little later, 1217.] , whanne Sathanas was unbounden, as Seynt Jon seiþ in þe Apocalips, and ȝit telde nevere in þe law of grace who schulde bigynne þes newe perfit religion, ne whanne it schulde come. Of þis may men see, þat oþer Crist was unmyȝtty, unwytty, or not ful of charite to ȝeve þe best religion to apostlis and oþere prestis; or ellis þes newe religious ben foolis, takynge þe worse religion maade bi errors of synful men, and levynge þe beste religion and most perfit and most liȝt and most siker, made of Jesus Crist.

Also whanne men speken of obedience, anoon it is take for [4. By obedi∣ence, they un∣derstand mere monastic obedience.] obedience maad to man ful of synne and unkunnynge, and not for obedience to do Goddis hestis; as ȝif obedience don to þe conseil or biddynge of a synful creature, were more worþi þan obedience don to comaundement or conseil of God. And þus new ypocritis seyn þat it is more medful, aftir unkunnynge pro∣fession, to do after þe biddynge of synful man, or errors of a fool, and, in cas, of a devel of helle, þan to do after þe hestis or conseilis of God. And þus þes new ypocritis wiþ here newe obedience distroien obedience of Goddis lawe, and comyn lawe of men, and chargen only here owen obedience founden of hemself. For bi Goddis lawe eche man owiþ obeische to oþer, in as moche as he techeþ him Goddis wille and good lif; and specialy to bischopis, þat han cure of alle men in here diocese bi charite and comyn lawe. But þe new religious dispisen þis, and seyn, Þou art not myn ordynarie; and geten hem exempcion fro bischopis and oþere men, þat schulden distroie here synnes

and norische virtues. And þus þei ben exempt bi gold fro God, trewþe, and charite, and only bounden to here synful potestatis, and, in cas, to fendis; and herefore þei holden hem most perfit, for þei forsaken alle good perfeccion.

Also, whanne men speken of curs, anoon it is taken for [5. By cursing, men under∣stand mere church ban∣nings and anathemas, not the curse of God.] mannis curs, and not for Goddis curs, as ȝif [corrected; the MS. has and ȝif as.] mannis curs were more principal and more worþi þan Goddis curs. And here∣fore foolis clepen Goddis curs þe lesse curs, and mannis curs þe more curs [See the introductory notice to 'The Grete Sentence of Curs,' page 267 of this volume.] , as ȝif synful man were more þan God Al∣myȝtty. And herbi folis dreden more mannis curs, þat is un∣riȝtful, and, in cas, of devyl in helle, þan þe moste riȝtful curs of God Almyȝtty, for trespassynge aȝenst his comaundementis. And herefore folis ben so blente, þat for drede of mannis curs þei leven Goddis hestis, and done þe contrarie of hem, and so rennen into Goddis curs. And þei dreden more a synful man, and, in cas, quyk devel, þanne Almyȝtty God in Trinyte. For þei leveþ þe hestis of God undon, for drede of mannis curs, and don a wrong heste of man, and, in cas, of a devel, to plese him; and þus þei fallen fro bileve and hope and charite. For Crist techeþ in þe gospel, whanne men ben cursid wrongfully for the treuþe of God, þan God himself blessiþ, and þan mannis curs, þat is onriȝtful, doþ moche good to him þat suffreþ it mekely and paciently. And þei loven not God of alle here herte, þat wolen not suffre for his treuþe and his love a veyn blast of a fool, and, in cas, of a devyl, þe whiche harmeþ hem not, but doþ hem moche good, ȝif þei lasten stably in trewþe of mekenesse pacience and charite.

Also, whanne men speken of goodis of holy Chirche, or riȝt þerof, [6. By the riches and rights of the Church, men under∣stand temporal riches and rights only.] þerof, anoon it is taken for worldly goodis, and not for goodis of virtue, or for worldly riȝt to plede and curse, and stryve for tiþes and chirchis, and oþere prophetis of worldly muk, and not for riȝt to lyve vertuous lif in good pacience and pees and charite, and to suffre gladly wrongis peynis and disceitis, for to kepe virtuous lif, þat is betre þan al þis world; as ȝif stynkynge

muk, or drit, or worldly goodis, were betre þan pacience charite and oþere virtues. And so ypocritis clepen þe worldly lord∣ischipis þat prelatis han, aȝenst Goddis lawe, boþe old and newe, and aȝenst Cristis lif and his apostilis, þe patrymonye of Jesus Crist don on þe cros, for to fere seculer lordis to taken aȝen here owen goodis, and governe hem riȝtfully, and to brynge clerkis to Cristis owene ordynaunce. And ȝit þat bryngynge aȝen is nedeful boþe to lordis and clerkis, for ellis þei ben boþe out of charite, ȝif þei may redresse þis wrong don to Crist and his ordynaunce, and don up here kunnynge and myȝt. And þus riȝt of worldly goodis is magnyfyed overmoche and falsly, and riȝt of virtues and grace and virtuous lif is not set bi, as ȝif þe Chirche were wrecchidly groundid in worldly muk, and not in vertues and goode lif. But certis holy Chirche is seet in virtues and good lif; but certis Anticristis chirche is set in pride coveitise and oþere synnes, and most settiþ bi worldly muk and pride, aȝenst Crist and his apostilis.

Also whanne men speken, aȝenst prelatis and religiouns, of [7. Mischievous distinctions between the precepts and the counsels of the Gospel.] Cristis povert, mekenesse, and oþere virtues, þei seyn þat þo ben conseilis of Crist, and not comaundementis. And þerfore þe bischop of Rome, þat is most contrarie to Cristis techynge and lif, may dispense as he wole; þat þouȝ men bynden hemself nevere so stronge to þis povert and perfeccion, and ȝit may vel [vel must be for wel. 'And in addition carry out their vow well in practice.'] don it in dede, þei ben not holden to fulfille it, whanne Crist ȝeveþ hem þerto myȝt, witt, wille, and grace,—for Anticrist haþ feyned to dispense, aȝenest Goddis wille, and aȝenst here owen avowe and profession. And in þis þei seyn þat it is betre to lyve in siche worldly astaat, þan in clene povert of Crist and his apostilis; for þis dispensynge mot be fro þe lasse perfeccion to þe more perfit lif, for ellis þei weren peired aȝenst God, and þerto hade nevere creature undere God power ne leve. And over þis newe religions seyn, þat þei ben more perfit þan oþer prestis, þat kepen presthod wiþ fredom of þe gospel, as Crist ordeynede it, for þei kepen boþe Goddis hestis and conseilis. But certis, howevere þei bynden hem to þe conseilis, þei kepen

evele þe comaundementis, and, in cas, kunnen hem not. And it is grete folye to bynden hem to þe more, whanne þei kunnen not and kepen not þe lasse.

But it semeþ þat it is ypocrisie þat þei seyn, for every con∣seil [In truth, what is of counsel to some, is of precept to others.] of Crist is to sum man and sum tyme a precept. As, whanne God ȝeveþ a man knowinge þat þis conseil is Goddis wille, and myȝt and wille and wisdom to governe him þerinne, þan þis, þat is conseil to summe oþere, is a precept to þis man; for ellis he loveþ not God of al his herte, al his lif, or wille, of alle his mynde and alle his myȝttis. But many han þe name of religious, for worldly pride and sikernesse of welfare to þe body, and not for devocion of holy lif and peyneful. And summe ben disceyved in ȝongþe bi ȝeftis and false bihestis, and grucchen evere aftirward; and þes kepen neiþer preceptis ne conseilis; but ȝif þat symonye be wel souȝt, þei ben heretikis in þe bigynnynge, in þe myddil, and þe ende of here lif. Ffor whoevere entreþ into religion more for worldly pride or covei∣tise, or lustful lif of his body, þan for holynesse of lif, to sue Crist and his apostilis in penaunce and wilful povert, he doþ symonye, and þan he is an heretik.

Also whanne men speken aȝenst synne, anoon þei seyn, þouȝ [8. Dangerous and unautho∣rized practice of distinguish∣ing between mortal and venial sins.] þis be synne, ȝit it is venyal, and not dedly, and venyals ben waschen awey wiþ preieris of a Pater-noster, wiþ hali watir, wiþ pardon, wiþ bischopis blissynge, and many oþere liȝtte weies, as men feynen. But trewe men seyn, þat þei knowen not in þis lif wiþ revelacion whiche is venyal and whiche is dedly, and þes termes, venyal and dedly, ben founden up of newe men, wiþouten auctorite of holy writt, and þerfore þei ben suspect. For certis it stondiþ not algatis after mannis dom in þis matere. For many tymes a man demeþ þat þis synne is venyal, and God demeþ þat for þis synne þis man schal be dampnyd, and also aȝenward. And so manye opynyons ben founden of newe men, whiche synne is dedly and whiche venyal, þat unneþe ony man undirstondiþ anoþer of hymself. But it cordiþ most to holy writt resoun and proprete of word, þat þis synne is dedly for whiche a man schal be dampned in helle, and alle oþere ben venyals; and þanne it is reservyd to God, to wete wiche is dedly and which is venyal. But allagatis a man most first be

purged of dedly bifore þat ony venyal ben forȝoven; and siþ no man wot where hymself be out of dedly synne, it is a pre∣sumpcion to seie þat his synne is but venyal. And as to par∣dons, and haly watir, and blyssyngs of bischopis, it is a feyned þing, for pride of statis and covetise of worldly muk, and to blynde þe peple, and to make hem over litel to drede synne. Þerfore do eche man his bisynesse, to flee alle manere of synne, and to have grete sorowe and lastynge for his synnys, and mynde on Cristis riȝtwisnesse and wisdom, to ponysche and knowe þe foulnesse of synne, and on Cristis passioun, deþ, and mercy, to forȝeve synnes for verrey repentaunce. And putte ech man his fulle trust in Goddis mercy, and in his owen goode lif; and not in false pardons, ne vanytees, þat men graunten aftir mennys deþ, for love of money. For sich japis availen not, but disceyven men þat trusten in hem for evere. As a man is in charite, kepynge þe hestis of God, so Crist ȝeveþ hym part of alle goode dedis as he is worþi, and neiþer more ne lesse schal he have, for no creature undere God.

XXIX. [ON THE TWENTY-FIVE ARTICLES.]

[Dr, Shirley could not have observed, when he included this Lollard rejoinder to charges brought against the sect in his catalogue of Wyclif's works, that the same heads of charge, in a Latin version, are given in Knyghton under the year 1388, and that their vindication could not there∣fore have proceeded from Wyclif, who died at the end of 1384. After describing the opening of parliament in the February of 1388, the arrest of the judges which immediately followed, and the impeachment of Vere, Archbishop Neville, and the rest of the king's friends, Knyghton goes on to say that 'his diebus' the Wycliffites, 'qui et Lollardi dicti sunt,' con∣tinued to pour forth their errors with infinite clamour, heat, and pertinacity. Of these errors, he says, some are here inserted, while others which have been noted already are here repeated. Then follows a list of twenty-five points, which substantially agrees, point for point, with the list in the present treatise, the order only being slightly different. He then states that the Lords and Commons petitioned the king to take measures for the extirpation of these errors, and that the king did so, but ineffectually, 'because the hour of correction was not yet come.'

The treatise had been transcribed for press before I had found out all this; otherwise I should hardly have included a piece clearly not written by Wyclif in the contents of this volume. Yet the historical interest of the piece is sufficient to make me not regret its appearance, to say nothing of its own merits as a vigorous piece of writing, which are certainly con∣siderable.

The date of composition, if we take Knyghton's account of the circum∣stances under which the articles were 'put upon' the Wycliffites to be correct, must have been either in 1388 or 1389, for the articles were not framed till 1388, and Pope Urban, who is mentioned as the reigning pope in the first article, died in 1389.

The work named in Bale's Catalogue under the title 'Super Impositis Articulis' may have been, as Dr. Shirley conjectured, this very treatise. But this remains quite doubtful; for to 'imponere,' or 'put upon' a party

or an individual the maintenance of certain errors was the phrase in common use (see Fasc. Ziz.); and it was a process continually going on until the Lollard movement was suppressed; so that the 'articuli' of Bale might have been something quite different.

The text is founded on the only known MS., Douce 273, in the Bodleian Library.]

ÞESE BENE þO POYNTUS þAT WORLDELY PRELATIS AT þO SUG∣GESTIONE OF FRERUS PUTTEN ON PORE CRISTEN MEN, AND WHAT þAI GRAUNTEN ANDE WHAT þAI DENYEN.

1. Þo firste, þat þis pope Urban þe sixte bereþ not þe strenght [Twenty-five articles, con∣taining the chief Lollard opinions, as imputed to the sect by the bishops.] of Seint Petur in erþe, but þai affermen hym to be son of Anti∣criste, and þat no verrey pope was fro þo tyme of Silvester pope.

2. Also byshopus ande freris putten on pore men þat þei seyne, þat þo pope may not graunte ony indulgencis, ne ony oþer bischopis, ande þat alle men tristynge in sooche indulgencis ben cursid.

3. Also prelatis ande freris putten on pore men þat þei seyne, þat þo pope may not make canons, þat is, reulis, or decretalis, or constituciouns; ande if he make ony, no man is holden for to kepe hem.

4. Also bischopis ande freris putten on pore men þat þei seyne, þat of onely contricione of hert al synne is done awey, wiþouten schrifft of mouþe; ne þat schrifft of mouþe is nedeful, ȝe, where plenty or leyser of a preste may be hadde.

5. Also bischopis ande freris putten to pore men þat þei seyne, þat ymages of Cristis crosse, of þo crucifixe, of þo blessid Vergyne Mary, ande of oþer seintis, in no manere bene worþi to [be [supplied conjecturally.] ] worschipid, but þat alle men worschypynge in ony manere þoo ymages, or ony peyntyngus, synnen and done ydolatrie; and þat God dose not ony myracul by hem; and þat alle men goynge pilgrimage to hem, or manere worschip∣pynge, or putting lighttis or ony devociones bifore þoo ymagis, ben cursid.

6. Þo sexte tyme, prelatis ande freris beren upon pore men þat þei seyne, þat alle prestus ande dekenes ben holden for to preche þo gospel openly by reson of ordur taken, þof þei have not pepul ne cure of soulis.

7. Þo sevent tyme, prelatis and frerus beren upon symple men þat þei seyne, þat nouþer cursynge of pope ne of byschop byndus.

8. Also prelatis and frerus beren upon symple men þat þei seyne, þat hit is not to beseche to seyntis for to pray for lyvynge men, ne þo Letany is not to be seid. Soþely þei affermen þat God may do alle þingis wiþoute hem, ne hit is not bileve þat þai bene seyntus whom we clepen seintus; but þai prechen mony of hem for to be in helle, whos halidayes þo Chirche halowes here in erþe [A leaf is wanting in the MS. here, containing the points or heads from the ninth to the twentieth. The reader, however, can easily supply them for himself from the commencements of the several chapters in which the points are discussed. The words ne men . . . in þis part form the conclusion of the twentieth point.] . . . . . . . . ne men owen not for to byleve ne stonde to þo canonysynge of þo seyntes made by þe courte of Rome in þis part.

21. Also byschopis and freris putten to pore men þat þei seyne, þat þo holy Trinity in no manere schulde be worschip∣pid, fygurid, fourmed, ne peyntid, in þat fourme by whiche comynly hit is peyntid, by al þo Chirche of God.

22. Also prelatis and freris putten to pore men þat þei seyne, þat hit is not leeffull to a preste for to sette to hire his bysynes or werkes.

23. Also byschopis curatis and frerus putten on pore men þat þei seyne, þat no persone, ne vicare, ne prelate, is excusid fro personele residence, to be made in þer benefices, in dwellynge in servyces of bischopis, or of archebyschopis, or of þo pope.

24. Also prelatis ande prowde curatis and freris putten to pore men þat þai seyne, þat persones and vicars, not seyynge masse, ne mynystrynge sacramentis of holy Chirche, bene worþi for to be removed and oþer for to be ordeyned in hor stede; for þai bene unworþi, and wasters of þo Chirchis godis.

25. Also byschopis and freris putten to pore men þat þei seyne, þat men of þo Chirche schulden not ride on so stronge horses, ne use so mony jewellis, ne precious cloþes, ne delicate metus, but renounce alle þinges and ȝyve hem to pore men, goynge on feete, and takynge stafes in hondes, receyvynge þo state of pore men, in ȝyvynge ensaumple of holynes by þeire conversacione.

To þese poyntes pore men onswere by autorite of holy writte and of seyntus, and by open dedis of men þat may not be denyed; makynge þis protestacione, þat if þei erren in ony poynt of þeire onswerynge, þei submytten hem to be correctid openly to þo kynge and his chivalrye and þo clergye and comyns, ȝe, by deþe, if hit be justly demed lawefulle.

POINT I.

Furste, þat þis pope Urban þo sixte beres not strenght of [1. That Pope Urban is the son of Anti∣christ, and no true Pope.] Seint Petur in erþe, but þai affermen hym to be þo son of Anti∣criste, ande þat no verrey pope was siþ þo tyme of Silvester pope.

Here Cristen men seyne pleynly, þat whatever pope or oþer preste, in maner of lyvynge or techynge or lawis-makynge, con∣trarius Crist, is verrey Anticrist, adversary of Jesus Crist and of his apostlis, ande of alle Cristen pepul. Sees inwardely, alle ȝe Cristen pepul, þo meke life of Jesus Crist, pore and symple to þo worlde, and ful of brennynge charite, and puttyng hym selfe to penaunce and travayle in prechynge and prayinge, and willeful schedynge of his precious blode, for to make pes and charite and for to save mennes soules. Ande sees ȝe þo open lyif of popes, how proude þai bene, þat Cristen kyngus schal kysse þer fete, and wiþ þer fote þai schal kroune þo emperoure, þer lorde and founder, ande þat emperours, barfot, leden openly, as men sayne, þer bridelis [Such a scene took place at Venice, on the reconciliation be∣tween the Emperor Frederic Bar∣barossa and Pope Alexander III.] , and þat all men þat schal wiþ hem speke schul kisse þer fete, and calle hem moste holy faderis, and moste blessid and moste mercyful and gracius. And loke wheþer þis be contrarie to Cristis mekenes, þat

weysche his disciplis feete, and coome not for to be served but to serve oþer men, and to gif hys lyife for redempcioun of mony. And he coome not to seche his owne glorie by manhed, but in alle þingus to do þo wille of his Fadir of heven.

Þo secunde tyme, See, ȝe Cristen peple, þo willeful poverte of Jesus Crist, how he hade nouȝt by worldly lordschipe one howse where he myȝt reste his heved, but lyved by temporale almes of Mary Mawdeleyne ande oþer holy wymmen, as þo gospel sais. Ande see ȝe wisely, wheþer oure popis, makyng stronge palayces wiþ pore mennus lyvelodis, wiþ al þer glorie of richesses and jewelis, acorden wiþ þis porenes of Criste.

Þo thrid tyme, See, ȝee Cristen pepul, þo charitabul lyif of Crist, ande loke wheþer oure popis contrarien hym. Where he was moste bisye in spirituale occupacione, þese popis bene most bisy in delynge of beneficis to hem þat moste muck brynggen or worldly favour. Where Criste willefully gafe tribute to þo emperoure, þese popis robben Cristis rewmes by þo furste frutes of mony þowsande poundis, by manyschynge of suspendyng and enterdytynge of londis. Where Criste mekely travelid wiþ grete penaunce upon his fete for to preche þo gospel, þese popes, more þen emperoures, resten in palaycis chargid wiþ pretious, in þer feete and in al þer stynkynge carione, ande prechen not þo gospel to Cristen men, but crien ever aftur worldly glorye and riches, and make newe lawes for to magnyfie þer worldly state, þat Crist and his apostlis durste never do. Where Crist gafe his precious blode and lyif for to make pes and charite, þese popis maken ande mayntenys werre þoroweout Cristendame, for to hold þer worldly state, moste contrarie ageyne Crist and his apostlis, ande herto spenden þo almes of kyngis, and oppressen Cristen rewmes by newe subsidies. And, þat is werst, þai senden indulgencis, foundid as þai faynen on Cristis charite and his dethe, to sle alle men contrarie to þeire lustis [In writing thus the writer might have had in his mind, either the expedition of Bishop Spencer to Flanders in 1383, or the crusade against the king of Castile, indul∣genced and preached in England by Urban's order in 1386, in favour of John of Gaunt, who had views on the crown of Castile. See the curious fragment of a sermon in Fasciculi Zizaniorum (Rolls publi∣cations), p. 506.] . Certis þis semes contra∣rious

to Crist and his lovers. Seynt Robert Grosthede sais þat þis court is cause, welle, and begynnynge of destruccione of Cristendame, and loser of al þo worlde. Ande trewly, if þai be þus contrary to Crist in lyvynge and techyng, as þer open dedis and þo world crien, þai ben cursid heretikis, manquellars bodily and gostly, Anticristis, and Sathanas transfigurid into aungelis [of [supplied conjecturally.] ] liȝt. Ande, as þis worþi clerk Grosthede proves, ande [dele ande.] certis no man is verrey pope but in als myche as he sewis Crist; and in so myche Cristen men wole do aftur hym, ande no more, for alle bulles and censuris, for no creature of God.

POINT II.

Also bischopis and freris putten on pore men þat þai sayne, [2. That the Pope may not grant indul∣gences, and that those who trust in them are cursed.] þat þo pope may not graunt ony indulgencis, ne ony oþer bis∣chopis, ande þat alle men tristyng in suche indulgencis ben cursid.

Cristen men seyne þat þese indulgencis, by maner as þai bene tied in writyng, done mykel harme to Cristen soulis and sownen erroure ageynes þo gospel. Ffor Crist ne his apostlis never usid suche, ande ȝit þai tauȝten al þat was nedeful for salvacioun of mennes soulis. Also þese indulgencis maken men for to bileve not to þeir crede, ffor if þai bileveden þo comunyng of seintus, þat is, þat iche man in charite has part of Cristis passione and of alle þo meritis of ilk seint, as þo crede techis, þai wolden not coste so muche aboute dede lede, and suffer þer pore neyghbouris in so open mescheif, and renne to Rome wiþ pore mennus lyvelode. Also þo pepul bileveþ more to suche dede bullis þen to Cristis gospel, for þai bileven to have more þonke of God for spendyng of þer money at þo ordy∣naunce of þo pope, þen to spende hit on pore men as Crist biddis in þo gospel.

Ȝit þese indulgencis bene fals, for so mony þowsand of ȝeris as þai speken of schul never be bifore þo day of dome, and after þai serven of nouȝt. Also a synneful man in þese indul∣gencis presumes more ȝen Crist and his apostlis wrouȝten in erthe, and maken hem heyȝer þen God. Ffor God gyves none

indulgencis from everlastyng peyne, no but til hym þat fynaly endis in charite; and þis synful man, graunter of þis pardoun, grauntis to mony oþer by his owen techynge. By þes bullis riche men drede nout to synne, ande miche wynnynge and worldly glory is goten to worldly prelatis by hem. Ande þese pardouns bene not grauntid generally for fulfillyng of Goddis hestis and werkis of mercy to moste nedy men, as Crist biddis, but for syngulere cause and syngulere place, as if Anticrist wolde be chefe lorde and parter of Cristis passioun, and martir∣dame of seintis, and over holy werkes. Þerfore iche man do verey penaunce for his synnes, kepe Goddis hestis, ande do werkis of charite; ande ȝe schul have parte of alle Gods dedis in al holy Chirche, als myche as Gods mercye and riȝtwisenes wille, þof alle popis ande her bullis were fynally laide to slepe. Ande more þen a man disserves by gode lyif ending in charite schal he never have, for alle þo bullis in erthe.

POINT III.

Also prelatis and freris putten on pore men þat þai sayne, [3. That the Pope may not make canons nor decretals; and if he does, no one is bound to keep them.] þat þo pope may not make canouns, þat is, rewlis, or decretalis, or constituciouns; ande if he make ony, no man is holden for to kepe hem.

Here Cristen men seyne, þat no pope may make lawfully ony lawe contrary to þo gospel, ne superflue, ne by his lawes with∣drawe men fro studiyng ne kepynge holy writte, ne sette more bisynes ne prys by suche newe lawis þen by þo gospel of Jhesu Criste. If he do ageynes þese, he is cursid of God ande of alle his seintis. Ande no man schulde receyve suche lawes, nouþer for lyve ne dethe. Ande sithen þe popis lawis semen ful but contrary to hem self, and olde lawes made of holy men con∣trary to newe decretalis, made of synful men for worldly powere and godis, in suppressing of kynges state and destroyynge of obediens of prestis to lordis, þat God commaundid ful myche, Cristen lordis schulden þerfore avyse of þese lawes, þat venyme coome not in under coloure of holynes, lest þo ordynaunce of Crist in holy lyvynge, trewe techynge, and gostly occupacioun, be destroyed or hyndrid, ande Anticristis ordynaunce, and

worldly pompe, and worldly occupacioun of his proude prestis, and robbyng of comyns by fals statutis and customys, be mag∣nified into destruccione of Cristis religione. And siþen mennes wittis bene febler þen elder seintis wittis, and oure lyve myche schorter, and holy writte so depe of understondyng, and ever nedeful and profitable, whi þen schul Cristen men be chargid wiþ so mony statutis of worldly prestis, þat þai may nout knowe holy writte for studying of hem? Ande if þai fayle in one poynt of þese newe statutis made of covetouse men, þai schal be more punischid þerfore þen for brekynge of alle Goddis hestis. Siþen mony of þese newe lawis of worldly prestis bene contrary to Gods wille, and lewid men witten not whiche þai bene, ande also þai done away þo fredame of Cristis gospel, ande oppressen Cristen men wrongefully, hit nedis þat Cristen men entermete hem not of hem, for dred of gostly veneme, til þai bene fully declarid, but holde hem to þo gospel and Goddus commaund∣mentis, to werkis of mercy, and iche man do treuth and charite iche one til oþer.

POINT IV.

Also bischopis ande freris putten upon pore Cristen men þat [4. That true contrition does away sin, and oral confession is unnecessary.] þai seyne, þat of onely contricione of hert al synne is done away, wiþouten schrift of mouth, ne þat schrift of mouth is nedeful, ȝhe, where plenty or leyser of a preste may be hade.

Here Cristen men seyne boldily, þat verrey contricion of hert, þat is never wiþouten speciale grace of God and charite, does away alle synnes bifore done of þat man þat is verrey contrite, þof alle prestus nowe in erthe were unborne. Ande wiþouten verrey contricione is no remissione of synne, what ever men blabiren. Moreover confessione made by mouthe to a wise preste of lyvynge, þat boþe can, and for grete charite techis þo treuthe of Gods dome, dos muche gode, and to suche hit spedis þat men schewe hor lyif. Ande certis confessione made to a vicious preste, unknowynge holy writte, hauntyng his office fro worldly wynnyng more þen for charite to save mennys soules, þo suyng of his counsel dos miche harme, and ledis mony soulis to helle. Ande sithen comynly alle grete prelatis been ful of symony and covetise, wrong wastyng of pore mennes lyvelode,

ande cursid man-quellers for defaute of trewe prechyng, sechyng þeir worldly glory more þen salvacion of Cristen soulis, þat is ful perilouse to constrayne lewde men to sewe þer counseile, and leefe cunnyng prestis and clene of lyif, doyng þer office aftur þo heste of Crist als fer as mannes dome stretchis; sithen he þat slees hymselfe has no charite of oþer.

Ande þis poynt comys ofte by þer newe decretalis, aȝeyne þo olde decre made of Seint Austenn, and grounde of holy writte and resoun. Certis, as holy prestis of lyvynge, and cunnynge of holy writte, han keyes of heven, and bene vicars of Jesus Crist, so viciouse prestis, unkonnynge of holy writte, ful of pride and covetise, han keyes of helle and bene vicaris of Sathanas, deceife mannes soules by feyned jurisdiccione of Anticrist. Ande sithen þese new lawus of confessioun done away þo liberte of Cristis gospel and resoun, and bene horde of synne, and mayntenyng of alle pride and cursidnes boþe of clerkis ande lewid men, hit is nede þat men do verrey penaunce for her synnes, and triste to Cristis presthode þat never may faile, and seke trewe prestis ande witty of Gods wille, and do aftur hem in als muche as þai teche Goddis dome, and no ferþer for no creature.

POINT V.

Also bischopis ande freris putten to pore Cristen men þat þai [5. That the worship of images is un∣lawful and accursed.] seyne, þat ymagis of Cristis crosse, of þo crucifixe, of þo blessid Vergyne Mary, and of oþer seintus, in no maner bene worþi to be worschipid, but þat alle men worschipynge in ony manere þoo ymagis or any payntyngus, synnen ande done ydolatry, and þat God dose not ony myracle by hem, and þat alle men doynge pilgrimage to hem, or ony manere hem worschipynge, or put∣tyng lighttis or ony devocions bifore þoo ymagis, bene cursid.

Here Cristen men seyne, þof ymagis myȝtten be sufferid for lewid men, in defaute of prechyng þat prestis schulden do, noþoles ymagis þat representen pompe and glorie of þo worlde,—as if Criste hade bene crucified wiþ golden cloþis ande golden schone, and as hys pore apostilis hade lyved in worldely glory, and oþer seintes also, and herinne haden plesid God,—bene false ymagys and bokis of heresye worþi to be destroyed,

nomely when þo lewid pepul honouris hem for God and seyntis, and done more honour to hem þen to God and Cristis body. And as þo nobul kyng Ezechye distroyed þo neddur of bras when þo peple did ydolatrie þerby, noutwiþstondynge þat þat same ser∣pent was made by Moyses at Gods biddyng, myche more þese false ymagis made of synnefull men, siþen nouþer God, ne Crist by his monhede, gafe never commaundement to make þese, ne counseile, ne his apostilis in al holy writte. Þerfore Cristen men schulden worschip þo holy Trinite and seintis, ande not þese ymagis, as Seint Gregorie techis in his registre [Gregory the Great (Epistles, IX. 105, and XI. 13) forbids that images should be adored, but re∣proves those who broke them, ap∣prehending such adoration. He speaks of them as the books of the unlearned.]

A! grete blyndenes is in þo pepul, þat þai costen so myche aboute a roten stock, ande offeren faste þerat, and suffren a pore man, verrey ymage of þo holy Trinite mad of God hymselfe, for to lye in muche mescheif, and seken not hym to helpe hym by þer powere; siþen God commaundus þis upon peyne of dampnacione, and of þat oþer offrynge he never bad ne coun∣seylid in holy writte. Hit semes þat þis offrynge to ymagis is a sotile caste of Anticriste and his clerkis, for to drawe almes fro pore men, and cumber worldly prestis with muck, þat þai nouþer know God ne hemselfe, but maken sacrifise to Sathanas by glotony, lecherye, pride, slouthe, envie, and many oþer synnes. For þai ben verreyly wode, if ony trewe man teche þo hestis of God and werkis of mercy to ony nedy man, for defaut of whiche werkis men schul be dampned wiþouten ende. Certis, þese ymagis of hemselfe may do nouþer gode ne yvel to mennis soulis, but þai myȝtten warme a mannes body in colde, if þai were sette upon a fire, ande þo silver ande jewelis upon hem wolden profite to pore men, and þo waxe for to liȝt pore men and creaturis at þer werke. If men wille have ymagis of tre or stone or oþer wyse payntid, be þai suche þat techen þo povert ande peynus of seintis, and forsakynge of worldly vanite after Cristis lyve and his seintis, and þen let þo waste coste of ymagis be delud ferth fully to pore men, ande not to stockis ne to stonys, þat never have honger colde ne þrist, ne to riche

bischopis munkis and riche prestis, þat have myche waste tresoure, and wasten pore mennes lyvelode to þer dampnacione, if þai ben nout founden doyng verrey penaunce þerfore. And þen many ymagis made of hem schal sone cees, and ymages of þo holy Trinite be worschipid and holpen.

POINT VI.

Also prelatis and freris beren upon pore men þat þai seyne, [6. That all priests and deacons are bound to preach the gospel, whether they have cure of souls or not.] þat alle prestis ande dekenys bene holden for to preche þo gospel openly, by resoun of order taken, þof þai have not pepul ne cure of soulus.

Here Cristen men seyne stedefastly, þat iche preste ande deken is holden by þo ordynaunce of Jesus Criste for to preche þo gospel to Cristen peple, boþe by ensaumple of holy lyfe, and faithful ande sadde techynge, ande willefully suffer tribulacion þerfore, if hit come not for worldely savour and wynnyng of muck, but princepally for þonke of God and love of savyng of Cristen soulis, þof al he do no symony for a benefice upon synneful mennes departyng. Ande if a symonyent bischop ȝyve hym not lettre of newe licence, for þo autorite of God ande charge taken of hym, by his grace dispendyng in charite, his cunnyng is ynoghȝe for to do his office, þof a worldely preste cry oute aȝeynes holy writte ande charite, blasphemyng þat a trewe preste schal not do mercy ne charite to his broþer wiþ∣outen his lettre and leeve, as if he were Goddis mayster, and þat men schulden more obeysche to hym and his cursid blas∣phemy, þen to God Almyȝtty and his riȝtful commaundement of charite. In þo olde law dekenys crieden þo commaunde∣mentus of God, ande in þo newe lawe þai prechid þo gospel, as Seint Steven and oþer. Also in þo olde lawe boþe Cristen kyngus and hethen, as Josias, Nabugodonosor, ande oþer, prech∣iden God ande his myraclis; myche more prestis, aungelis of God by þer office, as God seis by þo prophete Malachie, schulde [Mal. ii. 7.] preche þo gospel. Ande Crist bad his disciplis preche þo gos∣pel to iche creature; ande by þo same gospel þat prestis have autorite for to make þo sacrament of þo auter, þat is verrey Cristis body, by þo same gospelle han prestis autorite for to preche. And als generaly as þai have þat one, als generally þai

have þat oþer. Also þo two ande seventy disciplis hadden powere for to preche, and þerto Criste sende hem, in whom alle prestis bene understonden, as holy doctouris ande comyne lawe witnessen. Also Seint Gregore techis in his Pastorallis [S. Greg. Reg. Pastoralis, Pars I, cap. 4. 'Praeconis quippe officium suscipit, quisquis ad sacerdotium accedit: ut ante adventum judicis qui terribiliter sequitur, ipse scilicet clamando gradiatur.'] , and in þo comune lawe, þat who ever comes to prestehode takis þo voyce of a crier for to crye bifore þo dome, and ellis he stiris þo wrathe of God aȝeynus hymselfe. Seynt Jerome sais on þo Sauter, þat every preste verrey owes to have schewing of Gods worde, þat he teche alle men. Also Seinte Austyne upon þo gospel of Jon seis, þat everiche Cristen man schal drawe fro synne whom ever he may, by worde, by monestynge, by chas∣tysynge, if þo charite of God be in hym. Ande to þis acorden Crisostome ande mony oþer. Lo! worldly prestis for þeire pride ande covetise willen nout suffer Gods aungelis to do his mes∣sage, leste þeire heresie, symony, and cursidnes were knowen, but raþer willen make alle men dampned in þat þat in hem is, for mayntenyng of þer heresie.

POINT VII.

Also prelatis ande freris beren upon symple men þat þai [7. That neither papal nor epi∣scopal anathe∣mas are bind∣ing.] sayne, þat nouþer cursynge of pope ne of bischop byndes.

Here Cristen men witnessen hardily þat no wrongeful curse of ony prelate in erthe byndis aneyntys God. But when þai cursen wrongefully, stondynge pacience and charite in hym þat is cursid of hem, he is blessed of Almyȝtty God in Trinite and alle his seintis. And no creature of God may harme þis mannes soule þus stondynge, ne pyne his body no but to his sovereyn glory, ande blis wiþouten ende. Over þis we seyne, þat no man schuld bere fals wittenessynge ageynus his broþer, seyynge hym cursid whom God and alle his aungellis blessen, by evydence of man, for kepyng of his lawe, þof a synneful a [dele a.] prelate openly reverse Gods dome by his lettre cursynge hym. Ffor no faith∣ful

Cristen man may wiþdrawe charitable commynyng and helpe in Gods cause for blaspheme lettres of covetouse prelatis, when he knowis no notable defaute in his broþer, but perceyves pleyne treuth and gode resoun, þat his broþer spekis and mayntenys. Þerfore no trewe Cristen man schortly wil renne into Goddis curse for a blaste of Sathanas, ne for worldly þanke and flat∣eryng of Anticristis clerkis.

POINT VIII.

Also prelatis and freris beren upon pore symple men þat þei [8. That to pray to the Saints is superfluous, and that many so-called saints are now in hell.] seyne, þat hit is not to beseche to seintis for to pray for lyvynge men, ne þo Letany is to be seide. Sothely þai affermen þat God may do alle þingis wiþouten hem, ne þat hit is bileve þat þai bene seintis whom we clepen seintis, but þai prechen mony of hem for to be in helle whos halidais þo Chirche hallowis [This opinion, that many who are called saints are in hell, the hold∣ing of which by the sect the writer of the tract does not dispute, indicates a later stage of development, and is enough of itself to show that Wyclif was not the author. Wyclif's opin∣ion, repeated in various places of his works, was, that many who are called saints had done wrong, e. g. the founders of the Mendicant orders, but that, as they had probably re∣pented before their death, they might charitably be supposed to have got to heaven.] .

Here Cristen men seyne þat þo maner of prayynge þat Crist tauȝt, for to pray to God for hys worschipe to be encresid and for commyne profite of holy Chirche, is bettur þen ony oþer manere founden of synneful men for syngulere affeccione. No∣þoles men may wele pray to oþer seintis, þat þai be meenys bytwixe Crist ande hem, in als muche as hit stiris hem to love more God, and no forþer, so þat þai know wele þat no seint in heven may graunte ony þinge, ne spedis, ne but as God grauntis hit furst. Ande nouþer God ne alle his seintus willen heren men for no rabul of wordis, ne curiouse florischynge in ryme, ne but aftur þer holy desire and charite ande gode lyve, for þer aftur God lokys. Ande sithen God is moste myȝtty for to helpe us, moste witty in knowyng what is spedeful to us, and lovyng for to ȝyve us þat us moste nedis and helpis, and no seint may do ony þinge wiþouten his leeve, and he a þousande folde more redy to here and helpe þen ony creature, hit were no grete

perile if we directen oure prayers to God onely, as Crist and his modur diden, and his apostilis, and tauȝten us to do so; ffor onely God may do alle þinge withouten hem, and þai mot nedis pray for us, so þat we serve God trewly, for alle hyngus in hym. And no doute Cristen men myȝtten be saved by þat feith þat Criste tauȝt in kepyng of his hestis, þof þai be not chargid iche þere wiþ newe articlis of bileve and newe servyce, for þo olde þat God ordeyned is ynoghȝe. Ande a thowsand þowsandis bene moo seintis in heven þen we kanonysen in þo kalendar; and siþen popis and prelatis, as þer dedis openly schewen, ben un∣connyng in holy writte and holy lyife, proudely lyvynge, fulle of fleschly affeccions and covetise, by fals wittenessis þai moone sone be deceyved in canonysynge of sum riche man. Ffor comynly, if ony trewe man wille impugne or contrary þeire worldly life, ande telle out þeire cursidnes to þo pepul as God biddis, þai wil not canonyse hym þow he dye in þis poynt, ande be never so fervent in charite, as hit felle of Robert Grosthede [Foxe, in his Acts and Monu∣ments, quotes largely from Ranulf Higden, Matthew Paris, and the author of the Flores Historiarum, on the subject of the denial of cano∣mzation by the court of Rome to Robert Grosthede, and the marvel∣lous apparition of the holy bishop to Innocent IV, who, being fright∣ened out of his wits, desisted from the design which he had formed of having Robert's bones exhumed. What such stories really show is the strength of the nascent principle of nationality, which made English monks of the thirteenth and four∣teenth centuries uphold and honour their brave countryman, who had stood up manfully against the innu∣merable encroachments, knaveries, and exactions of the Roman Curia.] . How gloriouse a cause he had, ande pleyne treuthe, and comyne profite of holy Chirche, and what gloriouse bokis he wrote, more þen any oþer grete seintis of þis londe, to comyne profite of al Cristendame!

Certis, þis court wil enforce hit to dampne by cursynge or [No trust can be reposed in the power that now canonizes.] prively murthur trewe men þat tellen þo treuthe of prestehode, groundynge hem upon Criste ande his lawis, schewynge þo state of kyngis ande lordis, how falsely hit is borne doune by ypocrisy and blaspheme power of Anticristis clerkis. Þerfore Cristen men wilen bileve to Criste ande to his lawe and holde hem seintis þat ben expressid in holy writte, ande alle oþer sup∣pose bynethe [bileve] [supplied conjecturally.] , as þai han evydence. Ffor þese worldly

clerkis may crie þat a grete seint is dampned, for he contraries þer lustis, ande þat a cursid fende þat died in open heresie is a grete seint in heven, for he was frend to hem or enrichid hem. When prestis ande clerkis weren bisye in studyynge of holy writte, and forsoken worldly pompe and vanite, and lyveden in mekenes, sympulnes, charite, and gostily travaile aftur Cristus techynge, hit was grete evydence þat God schewid to hem who was saved. But nowe, hem turned alle to þo worlde and pride and covetise, men dreden lest God suffer þo fende to disseyve hem in mony dedis þat þai done; as cronyclis schewen þat þat one pope canonyses, anoþer dampnes, and aȝeynward; ande holy writte wittenessis þat Anticrist schal deceife by false myraclis hem þat hadde no charite ande trewthe. Þerfore hit is no poynt of bileve þat, if þai done or seyne ony þinge, þat God approves hit.

POINT IX.

Also prelatis ande freris putten to Cristen men þat þai seyne, [9. That tithes should not be paid to bad priests, nor money given for churching, or masses for the dead.] hit ys not to gife dymes to a persoun beyng in dedely synne, ne offryngus, ne devociouns of money owen to be made in puryfy∣ingis of wymmen, ne in halowynge, ne in syngynge of massis for dede men.

Þis poynt, as mony oþer ande almoste alle þer poyntus, bene medelid wiþ lesyngus. Wherfore Cristen men seyne pleynly, þat if hit be knowen þat persouns comen to þer benefices by symony, or lyven in notary fornicacione, or done not þer offices by ensaumpul of holy lyife in trewe prechynge, but couchen in lordis courtis wrappid wiþ seculere offices, ande contynuen openly in þese cursidnessis, men schulden not receyve hem for persouns, ne gif to hem tythis, leste þai bene acursid for consent ande mayntenynge of oþer open synne. For if þai bene symonyens þai bene heretikis, cursid of God and alle his seintus, as Gods lawe ande mannes lawe wittenessen in many placis. For if þai be open lechouris, þo lawe forbedis hem to say a masse, and þo pepul is forbiden in þo same lawe þat þai here not þer masse, ande þat suche prestis take no part of þo chirche godis, as þer owne lawe wittenessis [See ante, p. 224.] , wiþ gode

resoun and grounde of holy writte. And if þai lyven proudely, wiþdrawyng techyng of Gods worde, wrappyng hem in secu∣lere offices, þai bene cursud and manslears ande thefis ande ravynouris, as Goddus lawe ande mannes ande resoun witte∣nessen; as Seynt Austyne, Gregore, and mony moo proven. Ffor if he is cursud þat wiþholdis ony dewte of holy Chirche þat God commaundis, muche more þai bene cursid þat wiþ∣drawen ensaumple of holy lyife ande trewe techyng, siþen þis is moste dewte, ande moste medeful and nedeful, and beste meene to helpe holy Chirche. Mony bokis boþe of Gregore and Austen seyne playnely, þat þe schepard slees Cristen soulis, when he is stille and cries not ageyne her synnes. Ande Ysaie [Is. lvi. 10.] sais, þat suche bene doumbe houndus þat may not berken. And Seint Austeyne in þo comyne lawe sais, þat suche a bischop is raþer an unschamefast dogge þen a bischop. Cristen men schulden have fredome in al þer doynge nowe to offer or leve, wheþer þeire conscience reulid by Goddis lawe ande resoun thynkis beste; and þai schulden not be constrayned for a blynde devocioun or worldly schame, for to bringe money to hem þat þai knowen for to have no nede, ande for to waste pore mennys lyvelode in tavernys and rybawdery, and suffer þer neyghburis in myche meschefe, and þai hemself endette hem for siche offrynge.

POINT X.

And prelatis and freris putten to symple men þat þai seyne, [10. That the whole hier∣archy of the Church is accursed,] þat þo pope, cardynalis, archebischops, bischopis, archedekenys, denys, and alle grete personys of þo Chirche, bene cursid.

Here Cristen men committen þis to Goddis dome and to þer owne conscience, and to wise demyng of þo pepul, wheþer þai bene cursid for þer symonye, pride, covetise, ravayne of pore mennys godis, levyng of prechynge, and for lecherye, glotony, and cursid lesyngus, and manquellyng, boþe of mannus bodies and soulis. Þo grete clerk Grosthede proves by holy writte and grete resone, in a sermone þat he prechid in Rome, and gafe hit written to þo pope and mony cardynalis, and in mony moo sermones, þat þo pope wiþ his courte was cause ande grounde of alle yvelis in þo Chirche, not onely for he distroyed nout

open errouris, when he is moste bounden þerto, and best may, but also for he makis unable curatis, þat bene lesars of þo worlde. Also þo pope pursues more cruely Jesus Crist in his membris þen kyng Herode and Jewis, þat diden nayle hym on þo crosse. Also þo pope settis more pris by temporale dritte þan by mannys soulis, ande by seculere frendeschipe and favoure of fleschely love þen by þo blode and deth of Goddis Son, þat was rannisome for mannes soules. And he techis alle seculere lordis, and alle þo world, for to do þo same cursidnes. And curatis þat prechen not þo gospel, wiþ clene lyvyng and for love of mannes soules, bene dede in hemself, slears of mennys soulis, Antecristis heretikis, and Sathanas transfigurid into an aungel of lyȝt, and þat þai bene more abomynable to God and to þo court of heven þen þo cursudde synne of So∣dome, þat for hidouse synne sanke into helle. Þis clerk proved playnly alle þese scharpe poyntis, ande mony moo; ande al þo popis court couth not say nay by holy writte and reson; and if hit be nowe werse þen hit was þen in his tyme, so myche þai bene more cursud. Avyse hem wele how hidousely God by his prophet cursis wayward curatis, and how playnely Seint Jerome, Gregore, and Austyne, and nomely Seint Bernarde and Grost∣hede, crien out on þer open heresies, and deme þai þen hem∣selfe wheþer þai bene cursid or nay. Hit semes playnly þat Judas was not so cursid as þai, for ravayne of pore mennys lifelode done under coloure of holynes passis þo crueltie of alle robbers, as Seint Jerome wittenessis in his epistilis, and Bernard also; and for þai betrayen mony þowsandis of soulis to fendys of helle, for to be devourid of hem in everlastynge dethe, for temporale avaunsyng of sum one man, where Criste Gods Son died moste payneful deth for ich one of hem, as Grosthed wittenessis in þo same sermone. And Judas knowlachid his trespas, and restorid þo money falsly taken; but þese prelatis contynuen in þer heresies and blasphemyes, and restoren not to pore men þer godis taken by extorsioun. And if ony trewe man for Gods sake crie aȝeynes þese heresies, þai pursuen hym to dethe by lesyngis, and murtheren hym wiþouten open onswere, lest þo pepul conceyve þo trouthe of Gods lawe and amende hem. Þis cursidnes did not Judas, ne Nero, ne

Julianus apostata, ne Mathamet, ne Sergius þo munck, his techer.

Wherfore if þai amenden hem not in þis worlde by verrey [inasmuch as they make worse and more wicked bargains than Judas himself.] penaunce ande satisfaccioun, þai schul be depper dampned þen Judas Scarioth, as hit semes by mony resouns. Wherfore now Judas may wele fourme a pleynt of disherytyng of his riȝt and possessione aȝeynes worldly prelatis. Ffor a þowsand ȝere ande more Judas was in possessione of þis name, Judas werst marchaunt [For instance, in the first of St. Bernard's Sermons In Coena Domini he says, 'O Juda infelix, o discipule pessime, mercator nequam! Tibi coena parabatur, et a te dator coenae tradebatur.'] ; but as þai done more traytory, and undur coloure of more frendschip, after moo beneficis receyved of God, so þai bene werse marchaundis. Þerfore, lest þai feyȝten in helle wiþ Judas and alle develis, ande þai wiþ hem aȝeynewarde, hit semes by sum skille þat þese symonyens bene warse þen Lucifer if þai amenden hem not, for þai bene warnyd by his peyne, þat he was not bifore. Also þai synnen of malice wittyngly, as he did, ande bene in state of medeful penaunce if þai wil accept hit, þat he was not, ne never schal be. Also þai bene lower of kynde þen he, and in myssese þat he was, and þai wil be aboven God, where he desirid to be even to God. Also Criste is mannes broþer, and suffrid bitter deth for man, þat he dide never for Lucifer. Also for littel penaunce ande schort tyme, if men willen, he wole forgyve alle þer synnes ande bringe hem to þo blis of heven, and þerto grauntis us longe tyme, þat he dide never to hym. Also he made us to his owne ymage and lickenys, þat we never rede of aungel. Also þese symonyens drawen moo soulis to synne and to helle by þer cursud lyfe, ande felle censuris, and sotile tirauntry, þen alle þo develis of helle schuld do wiþouten hem. Mony of þese resouns makis Seint Austyne, for to prove þo gretnes of mannes synnes. Pre∣latis, here deme ȝee and wrastulis ȝee who schal be mayster, for trewly ȝee have mony resouns to agregge ȝoure synne, whiche has not Lucifer ȝoure page, in tourementynge of Cristus children.

POINT XI.

Also prelatis and freris putten to symple men þat þai sayne, [11. That no man can be saved who does not renounce all property. A false charge; what the sect really does say.] þat no man schal entur into þo kyngdame of heven but if he forsake all þinges, in gyvynge hem to pore men onely, sewynge Jesus Crist in þo manere of hem.

Here is open lesyng made for hate, for to make alle men feyȝt ageynes þo treuthe of Jesus Crist. But not forþi Cristen men seyne boldly, þat no man schal entre into þo blis of heven but if he love God and his lawe more þen al erthly gode and his owne lyife, ande make restituccione of wronge-goten godis upon his powere, and lyve in trewe meknes and charite, and helpe his pore neygheburis at nede as he may resonably, and dye in þis charite, þat he wolde raþer be hongud quarterid and brent, ande a þowsande tyme lesen his lyif, if he myȝt, raþer þen one breke ony commaundement of God, or ellis he loves not God over alle þinge. Seculere men may have worldly godis ynowe wiþouten noumber to us [according to us, in our opinion.] , so þat þai gete hem trewly, and spende hem to Gods honoure and furtherynge of treuthe and helpe of þer Cristen breþur, and þat þai suffre not Anti∣cristus clerkis to distroyen seculere lordschipis, and rob þer tenauntis by feyned jurisdiccion of Anticrist. But prestis moten lyf in symplenes, and forsake þo worlde, and trewly teche Cristes gospel, ande knowleche hem servauntis of alle men, and lyve in grete travaile, penaunce, and holy devocione, and do satis∣faccione for þer owne synnes and þo peple boþe, if þai schal come to heven. But þai wolde algatis be lordis of þis worlde, aȝeyne Criste and his lawe, and drawe alle men for to holde aȝeynes Gods treuthe, lest þai be brouȝt to þo meke and pore and charitable lyvyng of Crist and his apostilis. But no drede Anticrist and his proude clerkis schal downe wiþ þer pride, and þo treuthe of þo gospel be knowen ande kept and worschippyd, mawgre alle þo develis of helle, and alle þer false mynystris; ffor Anticrist in his moste pride schal sodeynly be brouȝt to grounde.

POINT XII.

Also prelatis at þo suggestion of freris beren upon pore men [12. That for a man to offer money for a mass brings a curse both on the giver and on the receiver.] þat þai seyne, þat a man or wouman offrynge to a preste a peny, axynge þo masse for to be songen for hym, boþe þai and þo preste so receyvyng þo peny bene acursid.

Here is playne lesynge by malice put on pore men. But Cristen men seyne, þat a man offrynge at þo masse schal not purpose for to bye hit, ne desire more part þeroff to hymselfe þen to anoþer pore man, more worþi aneyntis God, for he were out of charite and a symonyen and an heretik. If þo preste be a devoute man and clene of lyfe, ȝyve hym frely what hym nedis upon þi state, and if þou se þat hym nedis not, or be a cursid schrewe, dele þi peny to a pore man þat has nede, and oc∣cupie þe in forþinkynge of þi wickyd lyif, havynge mynde of þo stronge peynus of helle, wiþ þo gretenes of Goddis mercy and þo hyȝe blis of heven. And turne þe clenly to Goddis heestis, werkus of mercy wiþ poyntis of charite; and all gode prestis in erthe, and alle gode men and wymmen, and aungelis and seintus of heven, prayen for þe evermore.

POINT XIII.

Also prelatis and freris beren upon pore men þat þai sayne, [13. That the property of the clergy ought to be in com∣mon. As to property, the sect really holds with St. Bernard.] þat alle þinges amonge clerkis schulden be comyne.

Here Cristen men sayne, þat alle þingis þat clerkis have bene pore mennes godis, and þo clerkis ben not lordis of hem but procuraturis, as Gods lawe and mannus law wittenessen. Ande clerkis schulden holde hem apayde wiþ fode ande helyng, as Seint Poul sais. Seint Bernarde sais [S. Bern. Epist. II. (Opera, Paris 586). 'Denique quicquid praeter ecessarium victum ac simplicem vestitum de altario retines, tuum non est, rapina est, sacrilegium est.'] , What ever þou haldes o þe of þo auter, over a streyte lyvelode ande symple cloþing, hit is not þine but is oþer mennes, hit is thefte, hit is sacrilege. Ande efte Bernarde sais, Seye, ȝee bischoppis, what dos golde n ȝoure bridel? hit dryves not away cold; ȝoure bestis gone honourid wiþ gemmys, precius stonys, and jewelis, ande oure idis bene nakid, seyne pore men. Þai bene oure godis þat ȝee

wasten, and we þo heritage of Crist, bouȝt wiþ his blode, and we hongryn ande þrusten ande ben nakyd. Hit is cruely drawen away from us þat ȝe wasten in ȝoure pride. Two yvelis comen þeroff. We sufferen myche meschefe, ande in ȝoure wast ȝe sleen us, and ȝe, doyng vanite, peryschen þerfore, as Seynt Jerome sais; ffor to receyve þinge for to ȝyve to pore men, and ony þinge wiþdrawe þeroff, passis þo cruelte of alle robbers. See ȝee þerfore, prelatis and abbotis, þat han mony godis of ȝoure founders for to spend in hospitalite of pore men, and wastynge hem in pompe and glotonye and feestus of riche men, how strongely ȝe bene acursud of God and of alle his seintus, and traytouris to ȝoure founderus, and robbers and monquellers of Cristen men. How hidousely schal pore men crye aȝeynnys ȝow at domesday for ȝoure cursid synnes! Þerfore make ȝe nowe alle ȝoure godis comyne to pore men in nede, and lyve in penaunce, prayer, ande holy teching in dede and worde, leste Crist dampne ȝowe for traytouris and monquellers and scheders of his blode for ȝoure unpityuousnes.

POINT XIV.

Also byschopis and freris beren symple men on hande þat þai [14. That the clergy ought not to have temporal pos∣sessions.] sayne, þat hit is aȝeynes holy writte þat clerkis have temporale possessiones.

Here Cristen men tellen only holy writte, and autorites of grete seintus, wiþ sum maner of reson. In þo iiij boke of holy [Num. xviii. 20.] writte God seis þus to Aaron and oþer prestis; In þo londe of hem, þat is, in þo childer of Israel, ȝe schal welde no þing, ne ȝe schul have part amonge hem; I þi part ande þine heritage in þo myddel of þo sonnys of Israel. Soþely to þo sonnys of Levy I gafe alle þo tithys of þo sonnys of Israel into possessione, for þo servyce by which þai serven to me into þo tabernacle of þo bond of pes. Ande aftur hit sewys, Þai schal welden, or have in possessione, none oþer þinge, but be apaide wiþ offrynge of tithes, which I have departid into þo uses of hem, and neces∣saries. In þo fifte boke of holy writt God seis þus; Prestis [Deut. xviii. 1.] and dekenys, and alle þat bene of þo same lynage, not haf parte and heritage wiþ þoo oþer men of Israel, þat is, wiþ princis and comyns, for þai schal eete sacrifices of þo Lord ande offryngus

of hym, and þai schal take none oþer þinge of possessione of þer breþeryn; for sothe þo Lord hymselfe is þo heritage of hem, as he spake to hem. By þo prophet Ezechiel God seis þus,—Soþely [Ez. lxiv. 28.] heritage schal none be to hem, I þo heritage of hem; and ȝe schal not ȝyve to hem possessione in Israel, I forsothe þo possessione of hem. By Israel is undurstonden alle Goddis peple; for, as Seint Poule sais, þese þingus bene writen for us. [Rom. xv. 4.] Ande as clerkis taken tithes amonge Cristen men by virtue of þis lawe, myche more þai schulden abstene hem fro oþer posses∣siouns of þer breþerin, for þo generale forbedyng of God Al∣myȝtty; sithen Crist, God ande man, and alle his apostilys kept hem fro seculere lordschip, as þo gospel sais. Crist, God and man, seys in þo gospel, þat þo servaunt is not more þen þo lord, ne þo disciple aboven þo maystur. But Jesus Crist hade not by worldly lordschipe whereupon he schuld bowe his heved; þen Cristen prestis, disciples of Crist and servauntus of hym, schulden not be so grete worldly lordis aboven þer mayster. Ande God, Lord of alle creaturis, Jesus Crist, seis to his dis∣ciplis, Þerfore so eche of ȝow þat schal not renounce alle þingus þat he has in possessioun may not be my disciple. And how þis renounsynge schal be done, þo pore lyfe of Crist and of his apostilis schewis pleynly. Lord! sithen Petur and his felawis myȝtten not be apostilis of Criste til þai haden forsaken nettis and botys, ȝhe, and þer kyndely fader, how may oure hyȝe prestis take þo state of apostilis, and be grettur worldly lordis þen erlis ande dukis, kyngus unklis ande kyngus sonys, in þo riches [So BB; read richeste.] londe of Yngelonde.

Seint Poule, ravyschid to þo thrid heven, ȝyves a generale [The lowliness of Christ and the apostles contrasted with modern practice.] rewle to prestus, saying þus aȝeynus covetise of þo worlde, We, havynge fode and wiþ what þingus we be hiled, be we apayde. Lorde! sithen Crist and alle his apostilis, so wele doyng þer offices, haden nevermore ne never ordeynden no but a pore lyfelode to hem þat preche þo gospel, who maken oure prestus worldly lordis and chefe governouris of alle worldly officis ande nedis in þo rewme? and þai þerþorowe doumbe fro prechyng and spirituale occupaciouns. No wonder þerfore if þo rewme be yvul governyd, siþen þo chefe governouris ben symonyens,

heretikis, cursid of God and of alle holy Chirch wiþouten cesyng. Seint Petur seis to alle prestis, Fede ȝe þo folke of God þat is amonge ȝowe, not by constreynynge but willefully, for cause of love of soule-wynnyng, not as beyng lordis in clergy, but be ȝe made fourme or ensaumple of inwitte or wille þat is meke ande symple, as Crist was, siþen Seint Petur, more þen alle þo popis aftur hym in Rome. And God in Seint Petur forbed prestis for to be lordys in þo clergye. Whi bene þese hye apostotaas clepid generally, My lorde of Caunturbury, of Yorke, and oþer? Lorde! sithen men bene acursid doynge aȝeynys þo popis lawe, as his symonyens blaberen, how cursid ben þese Luciferys chil∣dren, so openly doynge aȝeyn just lawe of Crist chef pope, and of Seint Petur, and of Cristen bileve! Ȝit, when stryfe was [Luke xxii. 24.] made amonge Cristis disciplys who of hem schuld be sene for to be more, Jesus saide to hem, Kyngis of folkes lordschipen, or bene lordis of hem, and þai þat have powere on hem bene clepid wel-doyng, or ȝyvyng benefitis. For sothe ȝe not so, but he þat is more in ȝowe be he made as ȝonger, and he ȝat is biforegoar be he as a servaunt. And by Mathewe Crist seis [Matt. xx. 25.] þus, ȝe witten for princis of folkis lordschippen, or ben lordis of hem, ande þai þat bene more haunten powere into hem. Hit schal not be so amonge ȝowe; but who ever schal willen for to be made þo more amonge ȝowe, be he ȝoure mynyster, and who ever schal willen to bene furste amonge ȝowe be he ȝoure ser∣vaunte; as þo Son of man come nout to be served but for to serve, and ȝyve his lyfe redempcioun for mony [These translations do not very closely resemble either Wycliffite version, but are nearer to the older than to the later one.] .

Allas! how durne worldly prestis take so grete lordschipe [The clergy have nothing to do with secular em∣ployment.] upon hem, siþen Crist so playnly forbedus hit, ande tellis by his owne ensaumpul þo servyse and mekenys of hem? How stronge heretikis bene þai, þat maken lordis for to swere to mayntene hem in her open erroure, aȝeyne þo gospel and lyvyng of Crist. Ȝit Seint Jerome writis expressely, ande hit is sette in decrese [The 88th Distinction of the first Part of the Decretum of Gratian is very full and explicit on this subject.] , þat clerkis schulden be taken fro worldely officis. And in tokyn of doynge away alle temporaltees, clerkis bene schaven þo hede, and schul have no þinge but dymus and of∣fryngus,

as dekenys in þo olde lawe. Seint Bernarde in a sermone of apostilis seis, þat a preste havynge temporale pos∣sessione schal nout have Goddis part. And þo grete clerk Origene and Seint Jon Chrysostom holden þo same way. Seint Bede says in a pistil to Enberthe archebyschop of Ȝorke, þat þo ȝyfftus of kyngus, ȝyfing temporaltees to prestis, were moste foltische [What Bede seems to deprecate, in the Epistle to Egbert Archbishop of York (Gallandii Bibliotheca, vol. xiii. p. 261) here referred to, is rather the foundation of sham monas∣teries, built by laymen, and occupied in part by them and in part by bad monks who had been expelled from real monasteries, endowed also by the ruling powers with lands, and priviletes which exempted them from taking any part in the burden of national defence, than the grant of temporalities to the clergy in the ordinary sense of the words. The whole Epistle is very remarkable and interesting, and throws a strong light on the condition of society in Northumbria in the year 735.] . An aungel cried in þo ayer when þo chirche of Rome was dowyd with halfe þo empiry, þat þis day venym is sched into þo Chirche of God, treuly seynge þo pride symony ande tirauntry in þo Chirche sprungen fro þat tyme, and leevynge of spirituale occupacione. Cursid venym has strangelid almoste all Cristen pepul. Certis as seculere schullen not, whilis þai bene lordis, take presthode ande riȝttis annexid þerto, myche more prestis, ande nomely in state of pore apostilis, as bischopis faynen hem to be, schullen not take seculere lordschip and powere annexid to þo state by Gods ordynaunce; siþen Crist commaundus in þo gospel, Ȝelde ȝe to þo emperoure þoo þingus þat bene of þo emperoure, and to God þoo þingus þat ben of God. Ande no man depart þat þinge þat joyned no worldly preste. . . . . . . excuse [So the passage stands in BB. It may be restored thus: Ande no man depart þat þinge þat [God haþ] joyned. [Ande] no worldly preste, &c.] his heresie of possessions havynge by þis, þat Jesus Crist was a kynge, as þo prophet and þo gospel wittenessen; for Crist was kynge of alle creaturys by his god∣hede, and by his manhed gostly kynge for to governe soulis ande virtues, ande never worldely kynge. For þo gospel sais, Of his kyngedame schal be none ende; ande in þo gospel of Jon he seis, My kyngedame is not of þis worlde. Ne no worldly preste excuse his heresie of possessions-havynge by his ypocrisie, þat þai bene not lordis of þer godis, but onely procu∣ratouris; þat þey spenden treuly upon pore men, as resoun

ande nede axen. Let al þo worlde deme wisely by þer open dedis, ande tirauntry on retenauntis, ande sittynge in parlement above grete lordis, seyynge þat no parlyment may be holden wiþouten hem, wheþer þis be feyned ypocrisie or treuth. Lorde! siþen Jesus Criste al witty, þat couthe best depart temporale godis to pore men, wolde not take þo kyngedame, as þo gospel sais, þow þo pepule wolde for love have ravyschid hym þerto, (and ȝit he was verreyly son of kyng David, and myȝt not erre in ony doyng), how þen durne þese erthly moldy-warpis take so grete burthen of worldly dritte upon hem? siþen þer wittes ben þinne, þer strynthe littel, þer tyme schort, to study ande teche holy writte, to lyve in prayer and devocione, and visite seke men in soule. Lorde! wheþer þai cun better þen Criste, and bene more myȝtty for to do temporale and spirituale office togedir, þat one of þes is an open fole and a cursid! Loke ȝe lordis who hit is, siþen ȝe schullen recken of þo governaile of þo Chirche.

Ȝit, siþen Cristis apostilis, freschly fulfillid wiþ wisedame, [The laity ought to strip the clergy of their wealth and temporal power.] strenght, and charite of þo Holy Gost, wolden nout be occupide aboute money redy at þer fete, for to dele hit to pore men þere redy, but ȝave hem to prechynge of Gods worde and prayere, as holy writte wittenessis, what blyndenes of covetise stiris þese ydiotis, unmyȝtty and fer lowere in charite, to marre hem wiþ so myche drit, more þen alle Cristis apostilis dursten? Wheþer of þese two bene folis and wode, byhold wisely, ȝe lordis, for ȝe beren þo swerde princepaly for to distroye errouris in þo Chirche. Certus, Crist, God Almyȝtty, durste never take worldly office ande suche dome upon hym, as þo gospel sais, for þen he had robbid þo emperoure of his lordeschipe, aȝeyne his owne techynge. What spirite dryves þes Anticristis to seculere office, ande to wlappe hem in seculere nedis, ande leve þer spirit∣uale office undone? Certis hit semes, Sathanas, for pride and covetise, and mayntenynge of þer cursid heresies, blyndis hem in payne of þer synne, til God take vengeaunce at onys upon hem and alle þer fautouris. Ware, ȝee lordus, lest God take vengeaunce on ȝow and ȝoure pepul, for suffrynge and maynten∣ynge of þese heresies; siþen God has ȝyven ȝowe þo swerde for to mayntene his lawe, and bitaken his Chirche to ȝoure powere, and grete kyndenes schewid to ȝowe in groundyng, worschip∣pyng,

and conferming ȝoure state, and made alle men, prestis ande oþer, sogett þerto. He schal aske strayte reckenyng of ȝowe, how ȝe have governyd his Chirche. Þerfore, as ȝe wil be saved bifore God, distroyes Anticristis tirauntry in his ypocritis, and mayntene ȝoure state in þat fourme þat God made hit, ande bringis prestus to þo meke ordynaunce of Jesus Criste, and helpe ȝoure selfe and ȝoure pore tenauntis wiþ þo waste godis to whichee heretikis, havyng þo nome of prelatis and prestis, makyn sacrifise to Belial, by pride, covetise, glotony, leccherie, symonye, and alle cursidnessis. Ande if ȝee wil nout do þis riȝtwisenes purely for þo love of Crist, þat has done to ȝow so mony benefetys, ȝoure londe and ȝoure pepul schal be conquerid of enmyes, ande ȝee ȝoure self dampned wiþouten ende. And ȝif ȝe wille for pure love do þis riȝtwysenes, ȝe schal gete pleyne remyssion of alle ȝoure synnus, so þat ȝe kepe ȝow clene aftur. And for þis mercy doynge schall come to ȝow propperte of lorde∣schip, and pes and riches in erthe, and at þo furrest in heven, wiþouten ende. Ande if ȝe dyen in þis poynte, stondyng clene entente to Goddus honoure and comyne amendyng of Cristen∣dame, wiþ paciens and charite bitaking all to governaunce, and ȝe doyng ȝoure bisynes upon ȝoure connynge ande powere, trewe God wil accept ȝowe for his trew martiris and breþerin of Cristis passione, and crowne ȝow in heven wiþouten ende.

POINT XV.

Also prelatis prestis and freris putten upon pore men þat þai [15. That church music, as now prac∣tised, is not acceptable to God.] sayne, þat Goddis office or servyse ben not to be songun wiþ note, and þat God delytes not in suche manere songe.

Here Cristen men sayne pleynly, þat Criste and his apostilis prayden devoutly wiþouten siche songe, and þai never tauȝtten in worde ne dede, ne openly counseiled in holy writte to þis songe, ande myche more þai never chargid man herwiþ in al holy writte. Þerfore prestis schulden bisye hem to cunne ande teche holy writte in worde and dede, and be in devoute prayere in spirit and treuthe, as Crist and his apostilis diden, and not fulfille þo eeris of hem and of þo pepul wiþ cryynge of þinge þat nouþer þai ne þo pepul understoden, as ȝyf jayes and pyes chatiriden; and ȝit þai understonden iche one oþer in þeire

kynde. Lorde! wheþer þis songe dispose men for to under∣stonde þo sentence of holy writte, and for to mourne for þer synnus, or ellis to pride, vanite, daunsyng and lecchery, wiþ vayne spendynge of tyme. Seint Austyne sais in a boke of hys Confessione [See above, p. 228, note.] , Als ofte as þo songe delitus me more þen þo þinge þat is songun, I knowlache me for to have synned hor∣ribly. Loke ȝe lordus, þat schulden lif justely ande devoutely, sechynge grace of God to reule ȝowe and ȝoure pepul aftur þis lawe, wheþer þes proude, ful of covetise and envie, ben in þis case or nay. Loke wheþer þai lyven in glotonye, drunkennes, and leccherie, for jolite of þer chauntynge; ande þen what ever heriyng of God þo tunge sounys, þo life blasphemys God [See above, p. 223, note b.] , as Seint Austyne sais on þo Sauter. Seint Poule biddus us synge and say psalmus in oure hert to þo Lord. Seint Jerome in a Pistile to Ephesyanys, as þo lawe wittenessis [Decretum, Pars I, Dist. 92, Can. I. 'Audiant haec adolescentuli; audi∣ant ii, quibus psallendi in ecclesia officium est; Deo, non voce, sed corde cantandum; nec in tragoe∣dorum modum guttur et fauces dulci medicamine liniendae sunt, ut in ecclesia theatrales moduli audiantur et cantica.'] , seys þis, Here þis þinge, ȝonge waxen men, here þai to hor office of seying psalmus to God, if bytaken in þo Chirche, þat hit is to be songen, not in voyce, but in hert; neþer þrotis ne chekys bene to be anoyntid wiþ medicyne, in manere of foule songis, þat swete notis of spectaclis or taverne songis be herde in þo Chirche. Þerfore, as Seint Gregore techis in þo lawe, dekenys and mynystris of þo auter schullen not chaunt ne syng but rede þo gospel; and if ony man do þeraȝeyns, Gregori cursus hym. Hit semes þo dekenys and prestus han als much nede in oþer chirchis for to do kepe clene lyife, and do þo office ordeyned of God and of þo apostilis, as in Rome; þen þo same state and peyne schuld be in oþer chirchis as þere, siþen þis statute has grounde in holy writte and resoun; and als myche or more þis songe lettis dekenys ande mynystris of þo auter, in oþer placis as in Rome, fro clennes of lyife and prechyng, and almes dedis þat God biddis.

Ȝit Seint Jon Crisostome on Mathew [See S. Chrys. Hom. XX. in Matthaeum.] , where Criste biddus [Ancient autho∣rities quoted against it.]

þat we shul not speke much in prayer as heþen men done,— [Matt. vi. 7.] soþely þai wenen þat þai bene herde in þer muche speche,—þere sais Seint Jon, þat thre grete harmys comyn of prayer wiþ crye, ffurste þat men þus cryinge byleven not þat God is present in iche place, and siche crie lettis oþer men fro prayer, and þo crier schewis to oþer men sumtyme þat nedis not ne spedis. Lord! wheþer þis sotile and swete knackyng to þo eeris makis us to praye wiþ sorowes þat mowne not be tolde oute? On þis maner þo Holy Goste askis for us, as holy writte techis, þat is, [Rom. viii. 26.] as Seint Austyne and oþer seintus declaren, þo Holy Goste makis us to pray wiþ suche mournyng, ande þo prayer þat he makis in us ys arettid to hym, siþen he is princepale doar þeroff, and we dulle instrumentis of hym. Lorde! wheþer þis chauntyng of Kyries, Sanctus, and Agnus, wiþ Gloria in excelsis and Patrem [The Kyrie Eleison and Gloria early in the mass, the Sanctus just before the canon, and the Agnus Dei before communion. But what is the Patrem? Probably the prayer beginning 'Qui pridie quam patere∣tur,' for in it the word 'Patrem' occurs.] maken þat men heren nout þo wordis but onely a sowne! makus men to have savoure in þese dytees, þat schuld stire hom to moste compunccione for synnes, and to most de∣vocione for hyȝenes of þo Trinite, þat is touchid in Sanctus, and bitter passione ande stronge benefices of Criste, touchid in Pa∣trem, wiþ huge unkyndenes and horribul traytory of synnes, touchyd thryes in Agnus Dei. As heþen men skorned þo sab∣batis of Jerusalem in þer conquestis, for synnes of prestis and lordis and comyns, as Jeromy weyleþ, myche more oure [Lam. ii. 6.] enmyes, fendus of helle, seynge oure halidayes wiþ þis nyse knackyng, þat fillus þo eeris ande spoylus þo soulus fro virtues, wiþ over muche costlewe pride, glotony, ande leccherye, wiþ false oþis, scorne us.

Ande al þo court of heven has abhomynacion of oure lewed [Against the multiplication of hallowings and cere∣monies.] halowynge; ffor we halowen to oure wombe ydelnes and Sathanas, and done werste werkis of synne in dispysynge of Almyȝtty God and alle his lovers. Lorde! siþen we be so feble of witte, febul of bodily myȝte, and of ful schort tyme, ande holy writt so harde, and plentynouse of swete sentences to whichee God byndus us sore, what resoun is hit to bynde us to

newe songe and newe serymonyes of dyverse uses al day, þat we never mowe do boþe togedur? Ande siþen synne is so playne, and more encresid herby, and we bounden upon payne of dampnacioun for to preche and crye holy writte aȝeynes þo fendis ooste, when a drunken preste, in luste ande welthe of þis lyife, has syngulere affeccion to a man or a cause for temporale dritte, all prestis in þat diocise schul be gnarid wiþ a newe ȝock or cerymony ever more; and none ende is made of suche serymonyes, þat tarien mennys conscience, and letten hem fro better occupacione.

Ȝit, þow Salisburye use may sumtyme occupie wele summe [Against the rule compelling priests to use the Sarum ritual, and to say their office.] slowe wrecchis, hit is no reson to bynde alle prestis þerto, or to suche anoþer, when God sturis hym to studye and teche holy writte, þat is muche better, or for to mourne for þer synne, ande hertly occupie hem wiþ þo Pater Noster. For God seis not þat he is blessid þat syngus or knackus swete notis, ne þat kepis þo ordynale of þis cerymonye or þis, but he is blessid þat nyȝt and day þinkis in þo lawe of God, þat is, for to understonde hit and lif þeraftur, and teche hit trewly, and willefully suffer tribulacione for þo gospel in savynge of mennus soulis, as Criste and his apostilis diden. Lorde! wheþir a congregacione of drunken prestis, in lustis of þo worlde and of þer balyes, con ȝyve a better reule of occupacione to prestis þen Criste and his apostilis diden? or ellis wille þai charge hem wiþ so myche chauntynge ande so mony cerymonyes, þat prestis mowe not fulfille þo charge and office of Crist, þat is beste, moste esye, ande moste siker for prestis and alle lewed peple? Þerfore synge we in hert by holy desire, seyyng psalmus by clene werkis and heryyngus and ympnus to God for his large ȝiftus of mercy, wiþ brennynge charite in studyynge understondynge and techynge holy writte, ande receyve we resonable customs made of men in als miche as þai helpen us to þis grete gode, and encresen [corrected; encresynge, BB.] oure love to God and oure breþerin. And ȝif þai letten us fro better doynge, and encresynge of Gods worschipe, and helpe of Cristen soulys, for þat tyme suspende alle suche cerymonyes, leste þai take þo grace of God in vayne, leefynge þo better ande chesynge þo worse.

POINT XVI.

Also bischoppis and freris putten to pore men þat þai sayne, [16. That it is unlawful to swear at all. Charge untrue; we only blame profane and unnecessary swearing.] hit ys not leefful for to swere in ony manere.

Trewly here is þo sothe sparid, as in mony wrytyngus and prechyngus hit is openly knowen. But here Cristen men sayne, þat hit is not leeful to swere by creaturis, ne by Goddus bonys, sydus, naylus, ne armus, or by ony [corrected; be ony by, BB.] membre of Cristis body, as þo moste dele of men usen, ffor þis is aȝeynus holy writte, holy doctouris, and comyn lawe, and grete peyne sette þeruppon. Hit is nout leeful for to swere nedeles for a veyne thing, as mony men usen, ne for yvelle wille to harme oþer men, for þis is aȝeyne þo maundement of God fully, ne to forswere hem for hate ne love ne drede ne wynnynge, ne for lyve ne deth, as mony men chargyn ful littel; for þis false swerynge schulden kyngus punysch by þer office, ande suffer not suche false men in þer londis, as Seint Austyne sais. Ȝit, no man schulde swere, nouþer for life ne dethe, no but wiþ þese þre condiciones, þat is, in treuthe, in dome, and in rightwisenes, as God sais by þo pro∣phet [Jer. iv. 2.] Jeremye. If hit be nedeful for to swere for a spedful treuthe, men mowe wele swere as God did in þo olde lawe, Crist in his gospel, Seint Poule in his pistile, þo aungel in þo Apochalipse, wiþ declarynge of Seint Austen, Crisostom, Jerom, and mony moo.

POINT XVII.

Also prelatis ande frerus putten to pore men þat þai schulde [17. That the consecrated bread is not Christ's body. Charge untrue; we say it is, but that it does not cease to be bread.] say, þat þat ilke þinge þat was brede bifore þo consecracione in þo sacrament of þo auter, after þo consecracione or halowing is not Cristus body, but a signe of þat þinge, and not þo ilke þinge.

Certus here is openly schewed þo malice of freris, wrongfully accusynge pore men. Noþoles þese wordis of freris ben nout craftily sette; ande ȝit þis sentence is þo olde heresie of freris ande munkys, and men of þo newe lawe, aȝeyne þo gospel ande olde seintis and þo olde lawe. For freris and munkis, and þer

folowars of scole, seyne þat þat ilke þinge þat was brede bifore þo consecracione, is turned into nouȝt, þat þai clepen adnichilat [annihilatum.] , or brouȝt to nouȝt; ande þo sacrament þat men sene wiþ bodily een, is not Cristis body, but accident wiþouten sogett, or nouȝt as þai han playnly said in Oxenforde scole, and in many placis of þo londe boþe seide ande writen. But Cristen men seyne pleynly, as Crist techis, Seint Poule, Seint Austyne, Seint Jerom, and alle Cristen pepul bileven, þat þo sacrament of þo auter is verrey Cristis body in forme of brede, ande þai wole no ferþer þen holy writte ande olde seintus teche, for no newe knackynge of sotile cavellaciones, or multitude of synneful wrecchis. Crist toke brede in his hondus, blessid, brake hit, and ȝave hit to hys disciplis, seyynge, Þis is my body; þus Cristen men bileven fully. Ande Seynte Poule seis in holy writte, þat þis sacrament is bred þat we breken, ande efte, Prove a man hymselfe ande so ete he of þat brede. Ffoure tymes Seint Poule clepis hit brede in holy writte. And þo holy Trinite, autorisynge Seint Poule to write Cristen mennys bileve, clepis þo sacrament þo same word, brede. Lorde! wheþer Cristen men schulden be tourmentid by Anti∣cristis clerkis, þat þai schullen not graunte þo wordis of God and Cristen bileve! siþen Seynt Austyne seis, as þo comyne lawe wittenessis [Decretum, Pars III, Dist. 2, cap. 58. 'Quod videtur, panis est, et calix, quod etiam oculi renuntiant. Quod autem fides postulat instru∣enda, panis est corpus Christi, calix sanguis.' Our author's translation of these words is not, it must be confessed, very exact. Nor are they taken from St. Augustine, but from Bede; the first portion of this chap∣ter only being derived from the former, namely, from his second sermon, De verbis Apostoli.] , þat þat þinge þat is sene is bred, þat, sothely, þat þo feithe askis; þenne brede is Goddus body. Seint Jerome sais in his pistiles, þat þo ilke brede þat Criste blessid, brake, and ȝafe to his disciplis for to ete, is þo body of oure Savyoure. Þo comyne lawe of decrees wittenessis, when prelatis weren sumwhat gostly, þat þo bred and wyne þat bene put in þo auter, aftur þo consecracione [ben] [supplied conjecturally.] not onely þo sacrament, but þo verrey body and blode of oure Lord Jesus Criste. Ande siþen holy writte spekis not of accident wiþouten sogett, ne resone schewis, ne philosophurs tellen hit, ne revelacion of

God proves hit, ne olde seyntis þat beste couthen holy writte ande were saddest in feythe affermed hit not, but fully þo con∣trary; ande siþen Seint Austyne, namely wysest of alle doctouris holden siþen þo apostilis weren, þat [dele þat.] seis in mony bokis þat none accident may be wiþouten sogett [See p. 409, note a.] , wheþer schullen [men] [supplied conjecturally.] be constrayned by Anticristis powere to forsake holy writte and resone and beste seyntis, for an unknowen þinge þat plesus to a multitude of worldly moldywarpis, ful of pride, covetise, sy∣monye, heresie, and blaspheme? Criste for his precius blode move worldly lordis to love his lawe; mayntenynge hit, þat Cristen men may frely telle holy writte, and comyne lawe and bileve of Cristen peple; ffor, þorow Goddis grace, nouþer for lyfe ne dethe þai wille no ferþer, but crien oute on þo open synnus ande heresies of Anticriste and his fautouris.

POINT XVIII.

Also bischopis prestis and frerus putten to pore men þat þai [18. That a priest in deadly sin can make no sacrament; how far the charge is true.] seyn, þat a preste beyng in dedely synne nouþer makis þo sacra∣ment of þo auter, ne cristynes, ne ȝyves ony sacrament.

Sikerly here is feyned þinge putte on pore men, wiþouten evydence of þer seyynge. But Cristen men sayne, þat a preste beynge in dedely synne may make and ȝyve sacramentis to salvation of hem þat worþily receyven hem, and consenten not to þo prestus synne; as, if his synne be privey, and als sone as þai knowen hit, þai done þer bisynes for to amende hym by mekenys and charite. And if he wille not amende hym, hym owe to be eschewid as a hethen man, as þo gospel techis. But þo preste in þis case mynystris to his owne dampnacion, as Seint Poule sais, þat is, if he amende hym not in þis lyve. And he displesis God ful muche and deceyvus þo pepul of gostly helpe and teris God to vengeaunce þen to mercy, as holy writt, Seint Gregore, and oþer doctouris tellen. If þo preste unworþily sey masse, and receyve þo sacrament un∣worthily, he receyvus dampnacion to hym, and is gilty of þo body and þo blode of þo Lorde, as holy writte sais; þat is, as

holy doctours sayne, he is gilty as he þat betrayed Crist, and as he þat naylud hym on þo crosse. Ande if his synne be open, þo pepul owes nout to receyve sacramentus of hym, leste consent to his synne make hem parteners in peyne, nomely of open fornicacione, open covetyse and raveyne of pore mennus lyvelode, þat is mawmetry, as Seint Poule tellis, and of symonye, þat is cursid heresie, þat makis þo doar and alle þo maynteners þeroff cursud of God and of al holy Chirche. Ffor Seint Jon Evangelist sais in his Epistile, If ony man come to ȝow and bringe not þis doctrine of þo gospell, nyl ȝee receyve hym in to ȝoure howsis, ne say ȝee to hym, Hayle. Sothly he þat schal say to hym, Hayle, comyns wiþ his yvel werkis. Lorde! how unkynde is þat childe þat wittyngely is present where open despite and deth of his fadur is done, and con∣sentus þerto! Þus done yvel Cristen men, þat receyven sacra∣mentis of prestus knowen in open grete synnes biforesaide; for þerinne, als muche as in hem is, þai crucifien Jesus Criste and approven his deth. Þerfore Cristen men schulden bisye hem for to here reverently and devoutely Goddis worde, and receyve sacramentis at prestis of clene life, and amende vicious prestes by gode counselyng and ensaumple of gode lyife, and els eschewe þer companye as cursid men. Ffor Seint Poule sais, wiþ leccherous covetous men, or drunkenlewe by custome, Cristen men schulden not take mete.

POINT XIX.

Also byschopis ande frerus putten to pore men þat þai sayne, [19. That prayer in a church is no better than prayer any∣where else.] þat men owen not raþer for to pray in chirche þen in oþer placis.

Here Cristen men sayne, þat in iche place where a man is he owes for to pray God in spirite and treuthe, þat is, wiþ wille and devocioun and clennes of lyvynge. Crist says; Tyme [John iv. 23.] comys when nouþer in þis hille ne in Jerusalem men schullen worschipen, but hit byhoves for to worschipe God in spirite and treuthe; þat is, þat þo hert by clen desire, and al þo man, be kepynge of Gods heste, worschipe God trewly; ellis wil Criste say to hem, What say ȝee to me, Lord, Lord, and do not þo þinge þat I say; ande efte, Þis pepul honouris me wiþ þer lippis, soþely þer hert is fer fro me. Forsoþe þai worschipe

me wiþouten cause, techynge þo doctrynys ande þo maunde∣mentis of men. Seint Poule sais, I wole þat men prayen in [1 Tim. ii. 8.] iche place, liftynge clene hondis, þat is, gode werkys, wiþouten wrath ande strife. Also David seis, My soule, blesse þou to [Ps. ciii. 22.] þo lorde in iche place of his lordschip. Men of God dreden to pray in mony grete chirchis, leste þai ben cursid and ab∣hominabul. Þo comyne lawe sais, A chirche þat is halowid by covenaunt-making is raþer cursid þen halowed. Crist sayde of þo temple of Jerusalem, Myn hows schal be clepud a hows of prayere, soþely ȝe have made it a den of thefis. If als open symony, extorsioun, fals oþis, and false causis, bene mayntenyd in grete chirchys nowe as was þen in Jerusalem, þen as unclene and unholy bene þai as Jerusalem, þat was destroyed by heþen men. Moreover þo place halowis not a man, but a man halowis þo place, as þo storye of Machabeis and comyne lawe seyne. Ande cursid pepul defoules þo londe in whiche hit dwellis, as God wittenessis ofte by his prophetis, how þo londe of byheste was polutid for ydolatrie and oþer synnes of Jewis. And þo erthe was cursid in Adams werke, as God seis in þo furste boke of holy writte. Þen hit semys þat grete churchis where symonye is done, false oþis, fals covetise, takynge wrongly oþer godis by extorsioun of feyned correctione, sell∣ynge of sacramentus, and nomely of Cristus body, when men seyne more þo masse for money and worldly favoure þen for devocione,—alle suche chirchis bene gretely polutid and cursud of God, nomely for sellynge of leccherie, and fals swering upon bokus. Siþen þo churchis ben dennus of thefis and habita∣tionis of fendis, hit is gode þat Cristen men bere no false witte∣nessynge, saying in dede þat suche chirchys ben holier þen oþer placis where is lesse synne, ande þat [þai] [supplied.] mowne in pes serve God in hem þerfore, sithen Criste sais in þo gospel, Þo rewme of God is wiþinne ȝowe, ande Seint Poule seis, þat Cristen men ben þo temple of þo Holy Goste, consent ȝee not þerfore to þo symony of byschopis, ne covetise of oþer prestis, for þo feyned blessynge of heretikis to whos blessyng God cursus, as þo pro∣phete wittenessis; as Seint Jerome sais, wiþ þo comyn lawe, whatever þai blessen God cursis.

Efte men mowe say þer Pater noster medefully under þo cope of heven, as Crist dide in þo hille in nyȝttus, ande þo apostilus in prisone and oþer placis, þof þai do symonye for halowynge chirchis and þer ȝerdis and auteris. Ffor now comynly none is halowyd wiþouten symonye of fals suffrygans, forsworn mony wayes. Be ȝe not made thrallys to heretikis and fendus, by ypocrisie of þes nedeles halowyngus, þat comynly is verrey cursynge, but pray ȝe whereever ande when God ȝyves ȝow moste devocioun ande fervour of charite. Crist seis, When þou schalt pray, entre into þi couche, and þi dore schytte, pray þi Fadur in hydde place. Seint Austyne sais, What þou to bysechynge God sechest an holy place and convenable? clense þou þine inwarde þingis, þat is, þi soule and conscience, and alle yvel covetise put away fro þennes; mak redy to þe a privey place in pes of þine hert, willynge to pray; pray þou in þi selfe, and do so, broþer, þat þou be þo temple of God.

Soþely here God heris graciusly where he dwellis. Þus Cristen men willen devoutely comyn to þo chirche, where prestis bene gode and clene, and Gods word wele tauȝt, ande sacra∣mentis frely mynistrid, not solde for money; and where symony regnus openly, wiþ fals oþus, ravayn, pride, and mayntenynge of leccherye and oþer synnus for money, þai will flee þennus, leste þai consent to open mawmetry and oþer cursidnes. Ffor þo hoore-hows is not so cursid as mony suche templis bene; ffor more cursid synne regnus in hem, and lesse schameles, undur coloure of holynes ande riȝtwysenes, þen at þo hoore-hows þat alle men knowen is nouȝt; þow popis and bischopis halowen horedame by receyvyng of money, and bene partyners þeroff, wers þen þai þat done it in dede. For þo suffrynge of lecchery is expressely aȝeynus Goddis commaundement, ande receyvyng of þis money is mayntenynge þeroff, for whiche þo bischope, by Goddis lawe and comyne lawe of þo Chirche, schulden be degradid, for hit is open mayntenynge of open erroure aȝeyne Cristen menus bileve. And so no doute oure byschopis, mayn∣tenynge hit openly and stedfastly, ben cursid heretikis and treryn [This is all that I can make out of the strangely abbreviated word in the MS.] God to vengeaunce.

POINT XX.

Also byschopis prestus and freris putten to pore men þat þai [20. That the festivals of saints ought not to be kept holy. We make a distinction, in favour of the earlier, and against the later saints.] sayne, þat þo festys of Steven, Laurence, Nicholas, Kateryne, Margarete, and of oþer seintis, ben not to be worschipid ne bene to be halowid, for þat men wote not, as þai sayne, wheþer þai bene dampned or saved; ne men owen not to byleve ne stonde to þo canonysyng of þoo seyntus made by þo courte of Rome in þis part.

Here is open malice and untreuthe putte on Cristen men. Ffor of Seint Steven men bene certeyne by holy writte þat he is a gloriouse martire, ande trewly prechid, boþe of þo Olde Testament ande þo Newe, when he was onely deken, which men sayne nowe is aȝeyne þo lawe and dewe obedience, and in þis þai distroyen his martirdame, or ellys þai sayne nowe open falshede, þat dekenys owen not to preche. Of Seint Laurence, Seint Nicholas, Seint Kateryne, and Seynt Margarete, virgynes, Cristen men dowten noþinge þat þai bene glorious seyntis, but supposen hit sothe, and not as article of þo bileve þat iche man mot bileve upon payne of dampnacioun. But of oþer þat lyveden late, and bene clepid seyntis, and seen grete heresies of open tirauntry of worldely prelatis, ande tolden nout þo treuthe and suffiriden þerfore persecucion, as did Grosthede þat was pursued of þo pope, and mony trewe Menourys, as men sayne, but raþer faveriden hem [in] [supplied conjecturally.] þese open errouris, men witten never wheþer þai died fynaly wiþouten satisfaccioun for þer synnus, ande endid in charite. Ande if þai haden bene open trewe men, as Grosthede was, in withstondynge þo pope, þai schulden have bene hatid als myche as he and oþer trewe men weren. Certis, þof lewid men ande symple resten in þo crede, ande knowen nouþer one ne oþer wheþer þese late men ben seintus, hit is none heresie, so þat þai kepe Goddis hestis.

Of þes grete halidayes men wondryn, ffurst what þo holy [Trinity Sunday and other great days dis∣paraged in the ritual.] Trinite has trespassid aȝeyne þes worldly prelatis, þat his

Sonenday may nouȝt be dowble feste [According to their dignity, and the degree in which they are per∣mitted to displace variable feasts, the festivals of saints, in the modern Roman ritual, are rated as, greater∣double, double of first class, double of second class, and semi-double.] , als wele as þo festes of mony oþer þat littel profiten to holy Chirche, and han dowble festis one or two; ande whi Seint Poule, þo solempne clerk and apostle of alle þo apostilis, þat travelid more þen alle oþer, has no dowble feste ne haliday by hymselfe in þo provynce of Caunterbury, nouþer Conversion ne Passione. And ȝit he dide more honoure and profite of holy Chirche þan mony þowsandis, whos dayes men halowen more þen þo Sonenday. What have alle þo apostilis of Criste agiltid in þo syȝte of symonyen clerkis, þat one symple seint, þat longe lyved in luste of þe worlde, littul or nouȝt tauȝte and wrote to edificacioun of Cristen soulis, has more worschipe and solempnite þen alle Cristis apostilis and disciplis [The description must be in∣tended for St. Thomas of Canter∣bury, who was for many years the king's chancellor, and led a worldly life before he was made archbishop.] ? What have alle þo foure doctouris of holy Chirche trespassid, þat þei alle haven not one haliday amonge lewid men, as wele as mony confessourus of synglere bis∣choperiches? Hit semys þat syngulere affeccione, and ac∣ceptynge of persons aȝeynes Goddus lawe, ande lesse worschip of great seyntis, wyrcchys myche þat is done in þis halowynge. What has Seint Jon Baptiste trespast, þat his day of martir∣dame is not halowid dowble feste, as wele as martirdame and translacioun of Seint Thomas? Wheþer Baptiste hade werse, and was lesse holy þen Thomas?

Mony Cristen men wonderyn whi prelatis chargen more [Hallowing is good, if it be of the right per∣sons and things.] bodily werk done on a lyȝt haliday, þen cursid pride, open blaspheme of God by fals swerynge, done on a Sonenday, wiþ glotony, leccherie, drunkennes, open marchaundyse, fals cove∣tise, chydynge and feyȝttynge, ande wronge schedynge of man∣nys blode, wiþ usure and false extorsiouns. Men proposen not þo lewed pepul schulde be chargid wiþ moo halidayes, ne wiþ alle þese, but for to schewe þat muche of þis halowynge gose aftur luste and accepting of persones, and nouþer aftur resoun ne charite. For if þo pepul, laboreris, halowiden wele þo Sonendayes, and kepte hem upon þer myȝt fro open synnes,

doynge treuth and charite, hit were ynowȝe þof þai hadden no moo gnaris.

POINT XXI.

Also bischopis and freris putten to pore men þat þai sayne, [21. That it is wrong to paint or carve repre∣sentations of the Trinity.] þat þo holy Trinite in no manere schulde be worschipid, fygurid, fourmed, ne payntid, in þat fourme by whiche comynly it is peyntid by alle þo Chirche of God.

Here Cristen men supposen þat þese prelatis menyn of þis þinge, where a þinge is payntud as if þo Fadir of heven were an olde hore man, þo secunde persoun a man crucified, þo þrid persone a white culvyr. Of þis paynting men supposen, þat hit bringus symple men of cunnynge into grete erroure, ffor by þis þo Fadir moote be eldur þen þo Son if þis payntynge be trewe, and þai paynten þo Trinite, þat is spirite and no creature. Þai make þo godhede of þo Trinite a man, and þat þo secunde persone by his godhede is man, and whenever þo Trinite was, þo secunde persone was man. God kepe men fro þis foule heresie! By þis payntynge þo Holy Goste is not like to God þo Fadur, ne to God þo Son, whiche erroure be fer fro Cristen mennys soulys. Ne men supposen þat alle Cristen chirchis have þis payntynge, as þese prelatis and freris seyne. Ffor in heven, þat is chefe Chirche, is not þis payntynge; and, in case, mony Cristen chirchis wolen nout receyve hit; þerfore hit is none heresie, þow þis ymages be lefte, siþen God expressely commaundis in holy writte, Þou schalt nout make to þe a graven ymage, þat is of þo godhede, ne eche lickenes in heven aboven and þat is in erthe bynethe, ne of þoo þingis þat bene in watur under erthe, ne þou schalt worschip hem in erthe. Þis com∣maundement is ever in stryngthe, ande if prestis sufferyn and counforten þo peple for to worschip fals ymagis for wynnynge of offerynge, þai bene cursud heretikis. And if þai enfourmen not þo peple, þat þai offer not to þer pore neygheburis made to þo ymage and liknes of þo holy Trinite, but by blynde devocion drawen þer lyvelode away for þer wynnynge, þai ben cursud monquellers, and worschipen false goddis. If þai techen in worde or dede, þat hit is better and more plesus to God for to offer to dede stockys or stonys þen to pore men, þat God com∣maundis

up payne of dampnacione, þai techen open heresie. If þai sayne in worde, þat hit is beste a man to do after his owne devocioun, þai sayne aȝeyne Crist and faylen foule in charite; for þai schulden preche openly þat it is beste þat iche man con∣fourme his wille to Gods heste and counsaile, raþer þen after blynde devocioun, þat God never bad ne counseylid þerto. Þerfore Cristen men schulden honoure þo Trinite in verrey bileve wiþouten erroure, ande holy lyvynge wiþouten ypocrisie, and brennyng charite to frende ande enmye wiþouten cessyng, ever encresynge þerinne, ande worschippynge ande helpynge pore men made to Goddis ymage ande lickenys, wiþouten meynten∣ynge of nedeles beggars, þat stelen þo lyvelode of verrey nedy men and bedraden. And þis is ynowȝe to come to heven, wiþouten novelrie of covetous prestis and crafty payntouris, þat crien more on grete Dyan þen on Gods hestis. [Acts xix. 28.]

POINT XXII.

Also prelatis and freris putten to pore men þat þai sayne, þat [22. That a priest may not set his office to hire.] hit is not leefful to a preste for to sette to hire his bysynes of werkis.

Here is þo sothe sparid, for soþely a preste may lawefully hire his wrytynge, his travaile, of techynge, byndynge of bokis, and mony oþer honeste traveylis, as Seint Poule, worþi many þowsandus prestis, gat his lyvelode wiþ a ful symple crafte, as holy writte wittenessis. But to þo poynt. Men seyne playnly, þat a preste may leeffully take a resonable lyvelode of gode man, or mony wiþ one wille, so þat he do trewly his office ordeyned of God. And if worldly covenant-makyng make þat he wille not do his office wiþouten worldely sikernes and worldly plee, cha∣rite and resoun of almes acorden not þerto. Ffor þis is fulle symonye, more chargyng muk þen spirituale office of presthod. Lete prestis lif wele, þat þai be lyȝt of worldly men by holy en∣saumple, and sithen þai bene Goddus aungelis, do þei þeire message, techynge þo gospel, and be þai devoute in prayeris, desirynge and sekynge grace þat þei mowne be þo folowers of Crist, and God will not faile hem in nede. If þai done not wele her offices þat God ordeyned, but lyven viciousely, þai ben

Jewis and manquellers, and not prestus of God, þow þai bene demed of þo worlde boþe wise and holy; as Seint Jon Crisos∣tome wittenessys by techynge taken of Cristis apostilis.

POINT XXIII.

Also bischopis curatis and freris putten on pore men þat þai [23. That the non-residence of bishops and priests is inexcusable.] sayne, þat no persone ne vicare ne prelate is excusud fro per∣sonele residense to be made in þer beneficys, in dwellynge in servycis of byschopis, or of archebyschopis, or of þo pope.

Here Cristen men sayne, þat none suche curate schulde be absent fro his gostly childryn for worldly pompe, wombe joy, and worldely bysynes in þo bischopis courtis. Ffor hit is more synne to a byschope to robbe pore paryschens of þer gostly leche, and oþer spirituale helpe þat þo curate is bounden to, þan to a worldly lord. And þere comynly is more ravayne ande glotonye hauntid þen in lordis courtis; more symonye on one day þen in some lordis courte al his lyve. Ande cursidnes wiþ∣outen noumber in oure knowynge is done þere under colour of holynes, þat is nout so colourid in many lordys courtis. Hit were lesse harme þat mony of suche curatis weren heerdis or laboreris, for þer symonye and oþer cursudnessis, þen þat þai barkyden in bischopus howsis for to encres more synne, so þat gode prestis diden wele curatis offices to þer paryschys.

Certis in þo popis courte regnys þo same cause and more, [Yet the Court of Rome sanc∣tions and per∣petuates the practice.] ledynge of gold out of oure rewme, wiþ mayntenynge of false plees and debatis among Cristen men. Ande if ony of þese curatus were trewe aungelis of God, techynge and witteness∣ynge openly to povert of Crist, aȝeyne worldlynes and extor∣siones ande werrys of proude prestis, þai myȝtten sone be tongide out of court. But fro þo moste to þo leste alle studyen aboute covetyse, ande iche preste mayntenys oþer þerinne, til scharpe vengeaunce come upon hem alle. What pope or bischop prayes ony trewe preste for to dwell in his court, for prechyng of þo gospelle and werkis of penaunce or gostly occupacioun, but raþer for hunndaunce [So I read the word in the MS.; there seems to be an error of the scribe, for which I cannot suggest a correction.] and prosperite of worldly wynnyng.

And ever more þo pepul is robbid of gostly fode, and helpe of almes, and ensaumple of holy lyife, ande gostly counfort of þer curate. Þerfore it is fer gretter synne for þo pope to mayn∣tene þis robrye þen in a lowere man, al be hit þat it is dedely synne who ever do hit.

POINT XXIV.

Also prelatis and proude curatis and freris putten to pore [24. That parish priests who do not perform their duty ought to be removed.] men þat þai seyne, þat parsouns ande vicaris, not seying masse, ne mynystrynge sacramentus of holy Chirche, bene worþi for to be removed, and oþer for to be ordeynde in her stede, ffor þai bene unworþi and wasters of þo Chirche godis.

Here Cristen men sayne, when þo curatis bene not excusud by sekenys, but lyven in jolite of þo worlde, ande nouþer prechen þo gospel, ne devoutely prayen wiþ clere conscience, ne bisyen hem not to lerne þo gospel to lif þeraftur, worldely occupacione schal not excuse hem fro thefte ande raveyne ande sleynge of mennys soulis bifore Criste, juste domes man, if þai amenden hem not by tyme, siþen holy writte [seys] [supplied conjecturally.] þat he þat travailys not schal nout ete. Þes þat done not curatis office schulde not have frutis þat longen to þo office, nomely when þai bene stronge of body, and lyvyn in ydulnes of worldely vanite. Ande þowe suche unable curatis, contynuyng in þer defautis openly, were putte oute, and holy prestis ordeynde in þer stede, ȝyvynge ensaumple of holy lyfe, trewly prechynge þo gospel, and mekely visitynge þo pore paryschens, and helpynge þam at þer myȝt, hit were no grete heresie aȝeyne holy writte; but it is cursid heresie for to mayntene hem in cursid lyfe, for to robbe þo peple of gostly fode and office of curate, and ȝit to waste ȝer godis in lecherye, glotonye, and fals pride, ande vanite of þo worlde.

POINT XXV.

Also bischopis and freris putten to pore men þat þai sayne, [25. That churchmen should re∣nounce wealth and luxury, and preach Christ in poverty.] þat men of þo Chirche schulden not ride on so stronge horsys, ne use so mony jewelis, ne precius cloþis, or delicate metys,

but renounce alle þingus and ȝyve hem to pore men, goynge on fete, and takynge stavys in hondis, receyvyng þo state of pore men, in ȝyvyng ensaumple of holynes by þer conversacion.

Here Cristen men thynken no grete heresie, þowe worldly prelatis, in amendement of symonye, ydolatrie, and sleynge of mennys bodies and soulis, renounce alle vanitees and waste godis, and selle þer fatte horsis and alle þer waste jewelis and waste clothis, delynge hem to pore men, and stoppe a taxe of sex or seven fro þo pore comyns, and go mekely on þer fete, and preche trewly þo gospel, as Criste ande his apostilis diden. Ande þis myȝt wele be done, þof þai laften grete pikid stavys, wiþ daggers in þo ende, for we redyn not þat Criste and his apostilis usiden suche stavys, ne weppyns of debate. Ande þow þey crieden oute on pride and glotony, ydelnes and lech∣erye, and extorsions þat þai have done and mayntenyd in oþer men, and do grete penaunce and travaile al þer lyfe, and ȝyven ensaumple of grete mekenys, paciens, povert, and charite, as Jesus Crist did and hys apostilis, hit were no grete heresie. Ande if one trewe byschope or moo, if God wole, writen þer open heresies, of symonye, of hyndryng of þo kyngus regal ande seculere lordschip, ande all grete synnus by whiche þai blyndiden þo pepul, as holy writte dos of errour of Seint Petur and of alle þo apostylys, and of þo open heresie of Seint Poule, wiþ David, Maudeleyne, and mony moo, hit were no grete heresie, for to brenne pore prestis þerfore. If pore men erriden in ony of þes sentences, or ony oþer, þai wolden ful fayne be amendid of trew clerkis, wele lyvyng and wele lernyng in holy writte. For oþer worldely clerkus, blyndid wiþ covetise pride and envie, and wlappid in seculere office, as þai leden hem selfe to helle, so þai wolen make lesyngus to oþer men, flaterynge hem to regne in þer lustus, and seyne þat gode is yvel and yvel is god. Ffor þo wyse man sais, Into an yvel-willed soule wysedame schale not [Wisd. i. 4.] enter, ne dwelle in a body soget to synne.

Þerfore Cristen men willen knowlache holy writte and þo [Christian men will take Scripture for their sole rule.] lyvynge of Criste for þer rewle, and wolen do aftur ony man in als myche as þai knowen sickerly þat he acordus þerwithe, and no ferþer, for lyfe ne dethe, wiþ grace and helpe of þo holy Trinite.

God for his grate mercy distroye errouris and heresies of Anticristis chyrche, and make knowen þo treuþis of holy Chirche, and encrese riȝtwysenys, pes, and charite, and lyȝte þo hertes of lordus, to know and distroye þo heresies of þo Chirche, þat pride of prestis lese not þis worlde.

Amen.

Explicit.