121ra] 5 10 15 20 121rb] 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 121va] 61 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 121vb] 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 122ra] 136 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 122rb] 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 122va]    215 220 225 230 235 240 245

¶ Qui vodra a moi entendre Oyr purra e aprendre L’estoyre de un ordre novel Qe mout est delitous e bel. Je le vous dirroi come l’ay apris Des freres de mon pays. L’ordre est si foundé a droit Qe de tous ordres un point estroit; N’i ad ordre en cest mound Dont si n’i ad ascun point. Le noun de l’ordre vous vueil dyre Qe um ne me pust blamer de lire — Qy oyr velt, si se teyse! — C’est le Ordre de Bel Eyse.    De l’ordre vous dirroi la sonme, Quar en l’ordre est meint prodhonme E meinte bele e bone dame. En cel ordre sunt, sanz blame, Esquiers, vadletz, e serjauntz, Mes a ribaldz e a pesauntz Est l’ordre del tot defendu. Qe ja nul ne soit resçu, Quar il frount a l’ordre hounte. Quant rybaud ou vyleyn mounte En hautesse ou baylie, La ou il puet aver mestrie, N’i ad plus de mesure en eux Qe al le luop qe devoure aigneux. De cele gent lerroi ataunt, E de le ordre dirroi avaunt.    En cel ordre dount je vous dy, Est primes issi estably Que ceux qe a l’ordre serrount. De Sympringham averount Un point qe bien pleysant serra. Come l’abbeie de Sympringham a Freres e sueres ensemble, C’est bon ordre, come me semble. Mes de tant ert changié, pur veyr, Q’a Sympringham doit aver Entre les freres e les sorours (Qe desplest a plusours) Fossés e murs de haute teyse. Mes en cet Ordre de Bel Eyse Ne doit fossé ne mur aver, Ne nul autre destourber Qe les freres, a lur pleysyr, Ne pussent a lor sueres venyr, E qu’il n’eit point de chalaunge. Ja n’i avera ne lyn ne launge Entre eux, e si le peil y a, Ja pur ce ne remeindra. De yleoque, est ensi purveu Qe cil q’a l’ordre serrount rendu De l’abbé deyvent bien estre, E ce comaund nostre mestre: Pur bien manger e a talent Treis foiz le jour e plus sovent. E s’il le fount pur compagnye, Le ordre pur ce ne remeindra mie.    De Beverleye ont un point treit Qe serra tenu bien e dreit: Pur beyvre bien a mangier, E pus aprés desqu’a soper; E aprés, al collacioun, Deit chescun aver un copoun De chandelle long desqu’al coute, E tant come remeindra goute De la chandeille a arder, Deivent les freres a beyvre ser!    Un point unt tret de Hospitlers, Qe sunt molt corteis chevalers E ount robes bien avenauntz Longes desqu’al pié traynantz, Soudlers e chausés bien seantz, E gros palefrois, bien amblantz. Si deyvent, en nostre ordre, aver Les freres e sueres, pur veyr.    De chanoynes ont un point pris Qu’en l’ordre ert bien assis: Quar chanoygnes pur grant peyne Mangent, en la symeygne, Char en le refreitour treis jours. Auxi, deyvent nos sorours E nos freres chescun jour Char mangier en refreitour, Fors le vendredi soulement E le samadi ensement. E si issint avenist Q’al samadi hoste fust E l’em ne ust plenté de pesshon, L’estor qe fust en la mesoun Purreint il par congié prendre. Ja l’ordre ne serra le meindre.    Un point ont tret de moyne neirs, Que volenters beyvent, pur veyrs, E sount cheschun jour yvre, Quar ne sevent autre vivre, Mes il le fount pur compagnie E ne mie pur glotonie. Auxi, est il purveu Que chescun frere soit enbu De jour en jour, tot adés, Devant manger e aprés. E si il avenist ensi Qe a frere venist amy (Dount se deyvent ensorter Pur les freres solacer) Qui savera bien juer le seyr — Ce vous di je, de veir: Yl dormira grant matinee, Desque la male fumee Seit de la teste issue, Pur grant peril de la vewe.    Des chanoynes seculers, Qe dames servent volenters, Ont nos mestres un point treit, E vueillent qe cel point seit Bien tenuz e bien useez, Quar c’est le point — bien sachez — Que pluz ad en l’ordre mester. Pur les sueres solacer, Si est sur eschumygement, Comaundé molt estroitement, Que chescun frere a sa sorour Deit fere le giw d’amour Devant matines adescement, E aprés matines ensement. E s’il le fet, avant son departyr, Troiz foiz a soun pleysyr, Ja le frere blame ne avera, Ne le ordre enpeyré serra.    Gris moignes sunt dure gent, E de lur ordre, nequedent, Vueillent nos mestres, pur grever L’ordre, un des lur poyntz aver, E si n’est geres corteis, Quar a matines vont sanz breys! Auxi deyvent nos freres fere, Pur estre prest a lur affere. E quant il fount nul oreysoun, Si deyvent estre a genulloun, Pur aver greindre devocioun A fere lur execucioun, E ov un seyn sonnent, santz plus: C’est lur ordre e lur us. Mes nos freres, pur doubler, Ov deus seynz deyvent soner. De taunt est nostre ordre dyvers Qe nos sueres deyvent envers Gysyr, e orer countre mount; Par grant devocioun le fount. Issi pernent en pacience Cest point de l’ordre de cilence.    Charthous est bon ordre, sanz faile; N’est nul des autres qe taunt vayle. Pur ce, vueillent ascun point trere De cel ordre a nostre affere. Chescun est en sa celle enclos Pur estre soul en repos. Auxi deyvent nos freres estre: Si doit chescun, a sa fenestre, De l’herber aver pur solas, E la suere entre ces bras, E estre enclos privément Pur survenue de la gent.    Ne devomz pas entreoblier, Si nostre ordre deit durer, Les frere menours, a nul fuer, Qe Dieu servent de bon cuer. Si devomz ascun point aver De lur ordre pur mieux valer. Lur ordre est fondé en poverté, Pur quei yl vont la voie apierté En ciel, tot plenerement. Si vous dirroi bien coment Yl querent poverté totdis: Quaunt il vont par le pays, Al chief baroun ou chivaler, Se lerrount il herberger Ou a chief persone ou prestre, La ou il purrount a eese estre, Mes, par seint Piere de Roume, Ne se herbigerount ov povre honme! Taunt come plus riches serrount, Ostiel plustost demanderount. Ne ne deyvent nos freres fere Ostiel en autre lyu quere Fors la ou il sevent plenté. E la deyvent en charité, Char mangier e ce qu’il ount, Auxi come les menours fount.    Pus qe avomz des menours, Auxi averomz des prechours. Ne vont come les autres nuyz peez; Eynz, vont precher tot chauceez, E s’il avient ascune feez Qu’il seient malades as piés, Yl purrount, s’il ount talent, Chevalcher tot plenerement Tote la jornee entiere. Mes tot en autre manere Deyvent nos freres fere Quant il prechent par la terre, Car il deyvent, tot, adés, Totdis, chevalcher loinz e pres, E quant il fount nul sermoun, Si deyvent estre dedenz mesoun. E tote foiz aprés manger Deyvent il de dreit precher, Quar meint honme est de tiele manere        Qu’il ad le cuer pluz dur qe piere, Mes quant il avera aukes bu Tost avera le ordre entendu, E les cuers serront enmoistez, De plus leger serrount oyez, Qe a l’ordre se rendrount Quant le sermon oy averont.    Ensi est nostre ordre foundé. E si ount nos freres en pensee Qe chescun counté doit aver Un abbé qe eit poer A receyvre sueres e freres E fere e tenyr ordres pleneres. E qe les pointz seient tenuz Qe nos mestres ount purveuz, Un provyncial en la terre Doit aler e enquere Pur saver qy l’ordre tendra. E cely qe le enfreindra Serra privément chastié E de son mesfet reprové. E ceux qe serront trovez Qe l’ordre averount bien usez, Si deyvent, pur lur humilité, Estre mis en digneté, E serrount abbés ou priours A tenyr l’ordre en honeurs. (Issi fount les Augustyns Qe tant sevent de devyns.) Par tot enquergent pleynement Qy tienent l’ordre lealment. E ceux qe l’ordre tendrount Par tot loé serrount!    Atant fine nostre ordre, Q’a touz bonz ordres se acorde, E c’est l’Ordre de Bel Eyse. Qe a plusours tro bien pleyse!

¶ He who wishes to listen to me Will be able to hear and learn The history of a new order That’s most delightful and fair. I’ll tell you about it as I learned it From the brothers of my country. The order is founded so properly That from every order it draws a rule; Nor is there an order in this world From which it doesn’t take some rule. I wish to tell you the name of the order Lest anyone blame me for speaking — Whoever wishes to hear, now be still! — It’s the Order of Fair Ease.    I’ll tell you the substance of the order, For in the order are many good men And many fair and good ladies. In this order are, without reproach, Squires, pages, and men-at-arms, But to scoundrels and peasants The order is strictly forbidden. May none ever be received in it, For they’d bring shame to the order. When a scoundrel or a peasant rises To high rank or authority, To where he can have mastery, There’s no more moderation in them Than in the wolf who devours lambs. Of such people I’ve said enough. And I’ll now speak further of the order.    In this order of which I tell you, It was first established That those who shall be in the order Will have from Sempringham One rule that’s most pleasing. Since Sempringham Abbey allows Brothers and sisters to be together, It’s a good order, it seems to me. But so shall it be changed, in truth, Since at Sempringham there must be Between the brothers and sisters (Which displeases many of them) Ditches and walls standing high. But in this Order of Fair Ease There shall be no ditch or wall, Nor anything else to prevent The brothers, as they like, From coming to the sisters, Nor shall there be any rule against it. Never shall there be linen or wool Between them, and if there’s skin, Never shall one be hindered by that. From there, it’s also provided That those given to the order Shall be well received by the abbot, And this our master commands: To eat well and freely Three times a day and more often. And if they do it for good company, The order shall never be the less for that.    From Beverley they’ve drawn one rule That shall be held strictly and precisely: To drink heartily at dinner, And then afterwards till supper; And afterwards, at the collation, Each shall have a piece Of candle the length of a forearm, And as long as there remains a drop Of the candle to burn, The brothers shall be set to drink!    One rule they’ve drawn from the Hospitallers, Who are most courteous knights And have very comely robes Trailing down to their feet, Stylish shoes and boots, And large palfreys, nicely ambling. In our order, so also shall receive The brothers and sisters, in truth.    From the Canons they’ve taken one rule That shall be well established in the order: For the Canons in strict penance Eat, during the week, Meat in the refectory three days. Likewise, shall our sisters And our brothers every day Eat meat in the refectory, Except only Friday And also Saturday. And if it should happen That there’s a guest on Saturday And sufficient fish is not available, The provisions in the house Shall with permission be used. The order won’t be any the less for it.    One rule they’ve drawn from the Black Monks, Who gladly drink, in truth, And are drunk every day, For they don’t know any other life, But they do it for good company And not at all for gluttony. Likewise, it’s planned That every brother shall be inebriated Day to day, continuously, Before eating and afterwards. And if it should so happen (As will occur For the brothers’ pleasure) That a brother should be visited by a friend Who well knows how to spend the evening — I say this to you, in truth: He [the brother] shall sleep late in the morning, Until the bad stupor Is gone from his head, Endangering his eyesight.    From the secular canons, Who gladly serve ladies, Our masters have drawn one rule, And wish that this rule be Well maintained and well employed, For it’s the rule — know it well — That has most authority in the order. So as to entertain the sisters, Thus is it ordered very strictly, On pain of excommunication, That each brother with his sister Shall play the game of love Before matins continuously, And after matins as well. And if, before leaving, he does it Three times for her pleasure, The brother shall never be reproached, Nor will the order be impaired.    The Gray Monks are strict men, And from their order, nonetheless, Our masters wish, in order to add weight To the order, to take one of their rules, And it’s hardly a courtly one, For at matins they go without breeches! Our brothers shall do likewise, To be ready for their office. And when they say any prayer, Then they must be on their knees, In order to have greater devotion To perform their work, And they ring with one bell, no more: That’s their rule and their custom. But our brothers, to give double measure, With two bells shall ring. Thus is our order so distinctive That our sisters shall on their backs Lie down, and pray facing upwards; Out of great devotion they do it. Thus they take in patience This rule of the silent order.    The Carthusians are a good order, without doubt;      Among the others there’s none so worthy. Because of this, they wish to draw some rule From this order for our office. Each one is shut in his cell So as to be alone at rest. Our brothers shall be likewise: Thus each one shall, at his window, Have some plants for comfort, And his sister in his arms, And be shut up privately Lest people interrupt them.    We must not forget, If our order is to continue, The Friars Minor, at any rate, Who serve God with good will. Thus we shall have some rule From their order so as to be the more worthy. Their order is founded on poverty, By which they take the open path To heaven, full plainly. And I’ll tell you how They seek after poverty every day: When they go through the country, They allow themselves to lodge With a powerful baron or knight, Or with a prominent parson or priest, Where they can be made comfortable, But, by Saint Peter of Rome, They’ll not lodge with a poor man! So long as there are richer men, The more readily will they ask for lodging. Likewise our brothers shall not try To seek out lodging in any place other Than where they know there’s affluence. And there they shall, in charity, Eat meat and whatever they have, Just as the Minors do.    Since we’ve borrowed from the Minors, Likewise we’ll borrow from the Preachers. They don’t go barefoot like the others; Instead, they go properly shod, And if it should happen at any time That they have sore feet, They may, if they desire, Ride freely on horseback All the long day. But in an entirely different way Shall our brothers act When they preach across the land, For they shall, absolutely, all the time, Every day, ride far and near on horseback, And when they deliver any sermon, They shall be in a house. And always after dinner They shall preach of goodness, For many a man is of such character That he’s got a heart harder than stone, But once he’s drunk a little He’ll readily listen to the order, And their hearts will be moist, However inattentively they’ve listened, So that they’ll confess to the order When they’ve heard the sermon.    Thus is our order founded. And so our brothers have in mind That each shire shall have An abbot who holds the power To receive sisters and brothers And make and keep sumptuous orders. And so that the rules may be kept As our masters have planned, An officer throughout the land Must go and inquire To find out who’s adhered to the order. And the one who violates it Shall be chastised privately And chided for his misconduct. And those who shall be found To have well observed the order, Thus shall, for their humility, Be placed in positions of authority, And they shall be abbots and priors To maintain the order in its honors. (Just so behave the Augustinians, Who know so much of divine things.) They [shall] make full inquiry everywhere About who holds faithfully to the order, And those who adhere to the order Shall be praised by everyone!    Now ends our order, Which accords with all good orders, And it is the Order of Fair Ease. May it be very pleasing to many!

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