and begynneth the tale;;. [Harl. MS 1758, on leaf 102, back]
WHilom ther/ was dwellyng/ in my contre .
An Erchedekene a man of hye degre .
That boldely dide execucioun .
In ponyschyng of ffornycacioun .
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Of wicchecrafte & eek/ of baudrie .
Of diffamacioun & avoutrie .
Of chirche reeues & of testamentis .
Of contractis & of lak/ of sacramentis .
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Of vsure & Symonye also .
But certis lecchours dide he most wo .
Thei schulden syngen if thei were hent .
And smale tithers weren foule schent .
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Yf ony persone wolde vp-on hem pleyne .
Ther/ myght a-sterte hym no pecunyall peyne .
ffor smale tithes & eek/ smale offerynge .
he made the peple spitously to synge .
Line 1316
ffor or the Bischop caughte hem with his hooke .
Thei weren in the Erchedekenes booke .
And then had he thorow his Iurdiccion . [Harl. 1758 folio 103a]
Power/ to doon on hem correccion .
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he had a Sompnour redy to his honde .
A slier/ boie was non in Engelonde .] [[Harl. extract ends]]
ffor subtily he hadde hise expyayle [MS Gg. 4. 27] [folio 229a]
That tauȝte hym where hym myȝte a-vayle
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He coude spare of lechourys on or two
To techyn hym to foure & twenty mo
ffor þow þis somenour wood were as an hare
To telle his harloterye I wele not spare
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