(Trinity College Cambridge MS 1144 fol. 58v)
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Freers, freers, wo ye be, ministri malorum! For many a mannes soule brynge ye ad penas inffernorum Whan seyntes ffelle ffryst ffrom heven, quo prius habitabant In erthe leyfft tho synnus seven et ffratres communicabant Folness was the ffryst ffloure quem ffratres pertulerunt For folnes and fals derei multi perierunt Freers, ye can weyl lye, ad ffalandum gentem And weyl can blere a mannus ye pecunias habentem. Yf thei may no more geytte, fruges petunt isti For folnes walde thei not lette, qui non sunt de grege Cristi Lat a ffreer off sum ordur, tecum pernoctare Odur thi wyff or thi doughtor hic vult violare; Or thi sun he weyl prefur, sicut ffurtam ffortis God gyffe syche a ffreer peyn in inferni portis! Thei weyl assayle boyth Jacke and Gylle, licet sint predones, 1 And parte off pennans take hem tylle, qui sunt latrones Ther may no lorde of this cuntré sic edifficare As may thes ffreers, were thei be, qui vadunt mendicare Mony-makers I trow thei be, regis proditores Therffore yll mowyth thei thee, ffalsi deceptores Fader ffyrst in Trinité, ffilius atque fflamen Omnes dicant Amen. |
woe be to you; (see note) ministers of evil to the pains of hell first; (see note) who originally dwelt [there] (see note) and consigned them to the friars Foulness; first blossom; (see note) which the friars perfected; (see note) violence many perish lie to deceive people fool; eye to get money get they seek the first-fruits; (see note) would; cease who are not of Christ's flock of some order spend the night with you Either; (see note) he will want to violate son; will abduct like a strong thief give; pain at the gates of hell will accost; (see note) who are thieves country build in this way wherever who go about begging Counterfeiters traitors to the king For this may they ill prosper false deceivers Son and Holy Ghost Let all say Amen |