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

' ! ; !;4/. PERES THE PLOUGHMANS CREDE.;Blowen bretfull of bre)> • &as a bagge hongedOn boj^en his chekes, & his chyn • wi)) a chol loUede,As greet as a gos eye • growen all of grece; 225pat all wagged his fleche • as a quyk myre.•His cope ]>at biclypped him wel clene was it folden.Of double worstede y-dy5t doun to ' j>e hele ;His kyrtel of clene whijt • clenlyche y-sewed•Hyt was good y-now of ground greyn for to beren. 230•I haylsede )^at herdeman & hendliche y saide,*Gode syre, for godes loue • canstoume grai)? tellenTo any wor|?ely wiJ5t • ]>at wissen me cou))eWhou y schulde conne my crede • crist for to folowe,ptit leuede lelliche him-self • &lyuede jj^rafter, 235pat feynede non falshede but • fully crist suwede ?•For sich a certeyn man syker wold y trosten,pat he wolde telle me pe trewj>e • and turne to none oj^er.And an Austyn jns ender dale • egged me faste;pat he wold techen me wel * he ply^t me his treu|)e, 240And seyde me, " serteyne sy)?en Crist died•Oure ordir was cuelles & erst y-founde."•*Fyrst, felawe !' qua)) he • ' fy on his pilcheHe is but abortijf eked • wi|> cloutes !•He holde)> his ordynaunce ^^^|)e hores and jjeues, 245And purchase}) hem pryuileges • wi}) penyes so roundeIt is a pur pardoners craft proue & asaye••For haue })ei ]>[ money a mone}) })(?rafter,Certes, ye']'^ })0u come a^en he nyl * ]>e nou^t knowen.But, felawc, o//r foimdement was • first of }>e o})ere, 2;o& we ben founded fuliiche wi}>-outen fayntise•& we ben clerkes y-cnowen cunnynge • in scole,Proued in ])rocession • by processe of lawe.Of oure ordre yer be}) • bichopes wel manye,Seyntes on sundry stedes•\>ai suffreden harde255