Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

XXI. SERMON ON 'THE PLOUGHERS' 24and nobles, the ploughe standeth, there is no worke done,the people sterue. 125Thei hauke, thei hunt, thei card, they dyce, they pastymeintheyr prelacies with galaunte gentleme;/, with theyr daunsingeminyons, and with theyr freshe co;;zpanions, so thatploughinge is set a-syde. And by the lordinge and loytryng,preachynge & ploughinge is cleane gone. And thus if 130the ploughemen of the countrey were as negligente in theyroffice as prelates be, we shoulde not longe lyue for lackeof sustinaunce. And as it is necessarie for to haue thysploughinge for the sustentacion of the bodye : so muste wehaue also the other for the satisfaction of the soule, or elles 135we canne not lyue longe gostly. For as the bodie wasteth& consumeth awaye for lacke of bodily meate : so doeththe soule pyne a-way for default of gostly meate.But therebe two kyndes of inclosynge, to lette or hinder boeth thesekyndes of plougheinge. The one is an inclosinge to let or 140hinder the bodily ploughynge, and the other to lette or hynderthe holi-day ploughyng, the church ploughinge. The bodylyeplougheyng is taken in and enclosed thorowe singulare commoditie.For what ma/^ wyll lette goe or deminishe hyspriuate cowmoditie for a commune welth .? and who wyll 145susteyne any damage for the respecte of a publique commoditie} The other plough also no man is diligent to setteforward, nor no man wyll herken to it, but to hinder and letit al mennes eares are open, yea, and a greate meany of thiskynde of ploughmen whiche are very busie and woulde seme 150to be verie good worckmen. I feare me some be rathermocke gospellers then faythful ploughmen. I knowe manymy-selfe that professe the gospel, and lyue nothyng thereafter.I knowe them, and haue bene conuersant wyth someof them. I knowe them, and I speake it wyth an heauy herte, 155there is as litle charitye & good liuinge in them as in any, R