(5)
¶ Flaundres was þe richest land, and meriest to mynne;
Now is it wrappid in wo, and moche welþe raft.
For defaute of Iustice, and singulere to wynne,
Þey were rebell, to ryse craft aȝen craft.
Line 60
Here lord had part of þe foly þey were wounden ynne;
For-thy he les his lordshipe, and here fraunchise raft.
Here enemys lawhen hem to skorne, and seyn, 'for synne,
Of here banere of grace, god broken haþ þe shaft.'
Line 64
When prelat is forbode to preche, [folio 116a]
No trewe man trouþe dar teche,
Encresyng of temperalte
Suspende spiritualte:
Line 68
What land is gouerned in þat degre,
May wayte after wreche.
(6)
¶ I holde hym a fool, þouȝ he be wys,
Þat spekeþ among men of name
Line 72
Þat at his wysdom set no prys,
But skorne hym, and don blame;
And he þat telleþ where peryle lys,
And gete no þonk, but harm and shame;
Line 76
And he þat pleyneþ, y holde hym nys,
Þat get no mendys, but dowble grame.
By þese poyntes fflaundres was lest;
Now is it out of rule and of rest.
Line 80
Drede is here chef gayte.
So eche man on hem bayte,
Þat ȝet þey honge in awayte
Of a newe conquest.
Line 84
(7)
¶ He þat myȝt thryue, and nel not thee,
Ne his owen harmes knawe,
Apert ne in preuytee
Serue god for loue ne awe,
Line 88
Ne gouerne wel his owen degre,
Ne rule hymself in ryȝtwys lawe:
Whan wyse men fro hym fle,
Þen god his grace wole fro hem drawe.
Line 92
