PART II.]
II. THE PLOWMANS TALE.
169
685What bisshoppes, what religio[u]ns
Han in this lande as moch lay-fee,
Lordshippes, and possessio[u]ns
More than the lordes, it semeth me!
That maketh hem lese charitè,
690They mowë nat to god attend;
In erthe they have so high degree,
God, for his mercy, it amend!
Han in this lande as moch lay-fee,
Lordshippes, and possessio[u]ns
More than the lordes, it semeth me!
That maketh hem lese charitè,
690They mowë nat to god attend;
In erthe they have so high degree,
God, for his mercy, it amend!
The emperour yaf the pope somtyme
So hyghe lordship him about,
695That, at [the] laste, the sely kyme,
The proudë popë putte him out!
So of this realme is in dout,
But lordes be ware and †hem defend;
For now these folk be wonder stout,
700The king and lordes now this amend!
So hyghe lordship him about,
695That, at [the] laste, the sely kyme,
The proudë popë putte him out!
So of this realme is in dout,
But lordes be ware and †hem defend;
For now these folk be wonder stout,
700The king and lordes now this amend!
Thus endeth the seconde part of this tale, and herafter
foloweth the thirde.
foloweth the thirde.
PART III.
Moyses lawe forbood it tho,
That preestes shuld no lordshippes welde,
Christes gospel biddeth also
Thát they shuld no lordship helde;
705Ne Christes apostels were never so bold
No such lordshippes to †hem enbrace;
But smeren hir sheep and kepe hir fold;
God amende hem for his grace!
That preestes shuld no lordshippes welde,
Christes gospel biddeth also
Thát they shuld no lordship helde;
705Ne Christes apostels were never so bold
No such lordshippes to †hem enbrace;
But smeren hir sheep and kepe hir fold;
God amende hem for his grace!
685. Read religiouns. 686. moche laye. 690. attende. 691. hyghe. 692. amende. 694. aboute. 695. Supply the. 697. doute. 698. them defende. 699. nowe; folke; stoute. 700. kynge; nowe; amende.
701. forbode. 702. shulde. 704. shulde; lordshyppe. 705. bolde. 706. suche lordeshyppes; them (for hem). 707. her shepe; her folde.
