fol. 181vHwon Holy Chireche is under vote
Hwile wes Seynte Petericleped Symon.Tho queth ure Louerd him to,“Thu schalt hoten ‘Ston.’Ich wile myne Chirechesette the upon.”
Theo that heo schulde biwitenu beoth hire ivon!line5Of alle hire forme freond,nu naveth heo non —Tharfore is hire wurthsypewel neyh al agon!
Tho her wes Symon,and nu is symonye,That muchel del haveth amerdof there clergie.Bidde we ure Louerd Cristthat hire warantye,line10For his swete moder luveSeynte Marie.
Soththe, wes Seynte Peterpope ine Rome,Ther is that heued — and auhte to beon —of the Cristendome.Clement and Gregorie,that him after come,Hi hedden teone and seoreweofte and ilome,line15For hi heolden Cristes menmyd sib and myd some,And eke Holi Chirechewithuten theowedome.
Tho heo stod ful vasteand seoththe sume stunde.Nu me kasteth hire tomyd markes and myd pundeOf seolvre and of golde,to vellen heo to grunde.line20Nis nu non that wile, for hire,tholie deth ne wunde.
Soththe, Seynt Thomas tholede dethal myd unrihte;The Archebisscop Stephnefor hire gon to fyhte;And Seynt Admund, soththe,ful veyre hire dihte.For holden hire wurschipe,hi duden al heore myhte.
line25Nu is Holy Chirecheuvele under honde.Al hire weorreththat wuneth ine londe —Bispes and clerekes,knyhtes and bonde,fol. 182rKynges and eorlesto hire habbeth onde.And the seolve popethat heo biwyte scholde —line30Habbe he the yeftesof seolver and of golde,Markes and pundes,myd rihte other myd wronge —Heo let heom alle iwurthethat beoth so swythe stronge.
Away, that heo bi ure dayeso is under vote!Bidde we alle Jhesu Cristthat hyre sende boteline35For his swete moder luve,that is so veyr and swote,That we in thisse lyvehit iseon mote. Amen.
fol. 181vWhen Holy Church is under foot
Saint Peter was oncecalled Simon.Our Lord said to him,“You shall be called ‘Rock.’My Church I willestablish upon you.”Those who ought to protect herare now her foes!line5Of all her former friends,she now has none —Therefore her honor iswell nigh all gone!
Simon was once here,and now there’s simony,Which has damaged manyof the clergy.We pray that our Lord Christrescue her,line10For love of his blessed motherSaint Mary.
In truth, Saint Peter waspope in Rome,Where the head is — and ought to be —of Christendom.Clement and Gregory,who came after him,They had trouble and sorrowagain and again,line15Because they kept Christiansin peace and accord,And also Holy Churchout of bondage.
Then she stood firmand afterwards for a time.Now they cast at herwith marks and poundsOf silver and gold,to topple her to the ground.line20There’s none now willing, for her,to suffer death or wound.
In truth, Saint Thomas suffered deathquite unjustly;Archbishop Stephenwent to battle for her;And Saint Edmund, in truth,defended her valiantly.To maintain her honor,they did all they could.
line25Now Holy Church isin evil hands.All war against herwho inhabit the land —Bishops and clerks,knights and bondsmen,fol. 182rKings and earlsfeel hatred toward her.And the very popewho ought to protect her —line30Should he gain giftsof silver and gold,Marks and pounds,by right or by wrong —He lets powerful mendo as they please.
Alas, that in our time sheis thus under foot!Let us all pray to Jesus Christto send her helpline35For love of his sweet mother,who’s so fair and sweet,That we in this lifemay witness it. Amen.