¶ A merry play between the pardoner and the frere/ the curate and neighbour Pratte. ¶ The frere. DEus hic/ the holy trinity Preserve all/ that now here be Dear brethren/ if ye will consider The cause why/ I am come hither Ye would be glad/ to know my intent For I come not hither/ for money nor for rent I come not hither/ for meat nor for meal But I come hither/ for your souls heal I come not hither/ to poll nor to shave I come not hither to beg nor to crave I come not hither/ to gloze nor to flatter I come not hither to babble nor to clatter I come not hither/ to fable nor to lie But I come hither/ your souls to edify For we freres/ are bound the people to teach The gospel of Chryst/ openly to preach As did the apostles/ by Chryst their master sent To turn the people/ and make them to repent But sith the apostles/ fro heaven would not come We freres now/ must occupy their room We freres are bound/ to search men's conscience We may not care for groats/ nor for pens We freres have professed/ wilful poverty No penny in our purse/ have may we Knife nor staff/ may we none carry Except we should/ from the gospel vary For worldly adversity/ may we be in no sorrow We may not care to day/ for our meat to morrow Bare foot and bare legged/ must we go also We may not care/ for frost nor snow We may have/ no manner care ne think Nother for our meat/ nor for our drink But let our thoughts/ fro luche things be as free As be the birds/ that in the air flee For why our lord/ clyped sweet jesus In the gospel/ speaketh to us thus Through all the world/ go ye saith he And to every creature/ speak ye of me And show of my doctrine/ and cunning And that they may/ be glad of your coming If that you enter/ in any house any where Look that ye salute them/ and bid my peas be there And if that house/ be worthy and elect Thilk peace there/ than shall take effect And if that house/ be cursed or pervert Thilk peace than shall to yourself revert And furthermore/ if any such there be Which do deny/ for to receive ye And do despise/ your doctrine and your lore At such a house/ tarry ye no more And from your shoes/ scrape away the dust To their reproof/ and I both true and just Shall vengeance take/ of their sinful deed ¶ Wherefore my friends/ to this text take ye heed Beware how ye/ despise the poor freres Which are in this world/ Christ's ministers But do them with an hearty cheer receive lest they happen/ your houses for to leave And than god will take vengeance in his ire Wherefore I now/ that am a poor frere Did inquire/ were any people were Which were disposed/ the word of god to here And as I came hither/ one did me tell That in this town/ right good folk did dwell Which to here the word of god would be glad And as soon as I/ thereof knowledge had I hither hied me as fast as I might intended by the grace of god almight And by your patience/ and supportation Here to make/ a simple collation Wherefore I require all ye in this press For to abide/ and give due audience ¶ But first of all Now here I shall To god my prayer make To give ye grace All in this place His doctrine for to take. ¶ And than kneeleth down the frere saying his prayers/ and in the mean while entereth the pardoner with all his relics/ to declare what each of them been/ and the hole power and virtue thereof. ¶ The pardoner. ¶ God and saint Leonarde send ye all his grace As many as been assembled in this place ¶ Good devout people/ that here do assemble I pray good/ that ye may all well resemble The image/ after which you are wrought And that ye save/ that Chryst in you bought ¶ devout christian people/ ye shall all wit That I am comen hither/ ye to vysytte Wherefore let us pray/ thus or I begin Our saviour preserve ye/ all from sin And enable ye to receive/ this blessed pardon Which is the greatest/ under the son Granted by the pope/ in his bulls under lead Which pardon ye shall find/ when ye are deed That offereth/ either groats or else pens To these holy relics/ which or I go hens I shall here show/ in open audience Exorting ye all/ to do to them reverence ¶ But first ye shall know well/ that I come fro Rome Lo here my bulls/ all and some Our liege lord seal/ here on my patent I bear with me/ my body to warrant That no man be so bold/ be he priest or clerk Me to disturb/ of Christ'S holy work Nor have no disdain/ nor yet scorn Of these holy relics/ which saints have worn ¶ first here I show ye/ of a holy jews' sheep A bone/ I pray you take good keep To my words/ and mark them well If any of your beasts belies do swell dip this bone in the water/ that he doth take Into his body/ and the swelling shall slake And if any worm/ have your beasts stung Take of this water/ and wash his tongue And it will be hole anon/ and furthermore Of pocks and scabs/ and every sore He shall be quite hole/ that drinketh of the well That this bone is dipped in/ it is truth that I tell And if any man that any best oweth Ones in the week/ or that the cock croweth Fasting will drink/ of this well a draught As that holy jew hath us taught His beasts and his store/ shall multeply And masters all/ it helpeth well Though a man be foul/ in jealous rage Let a man with this water/ make his pottage And nevermore shall he/ his wife mystryst Though he in sooth the fault by her wist Or had she be take with freres two or three ¶ Here is a mytten eke/ as ye may see He that his hand will put in this myttayn He shall have/ increase of his grain That he hath sown/ be it wet or ●●ys So that he offer pens/ or else groats And another holy relic/ eke here see ye may The blessed acorn/ of sweet saint sunday And who so ever is blessed/ with this right hand Can not speed amiss/ by se nor by land And if he offereth/ eke with good devotion He shall not fail/ to come to high promotion ¶ And another holy relic here may ye see The great too/ of the holy trinity And who so ever once doth it in his mouth take Be shall never be diseased/ with the tooth ache Canker nor pockies shall there none breed This that I show ye/ is matter in deed ¶ And here is of our lady/ a relic full good Her bongrace/ which she wore with her french hood When she went out/ always for son borning Women with child/ which be in mourning By virtue thereof/ shallbe soon eased And of their travail/ full soon also released And if this bongrace/ they do devoutly kiss And offer thereto/ as their devotion is ¶ Here is another relic/ eke a precious one Hf all helowes/ the blessed jaw bone Which relic/ without any fail Against poison/ chiefly doth prevail For whom so ever it toucheth/ without doubt All manner venom/ from him shall issue out So that it shall hurt/ no manner wyghte Lo of this relic/ the great power and might Which preservyth from poison every man Lo of saint Myghell/ eke the brain pan Which for the head ache/ is a preservative To every man or best/ that beareth life And further it shall stand him in better stead For his heed shall never ache when that he is deed Nor he shall feel/ no manner grief nor pain Though with a sword/ one cleave it than a twain But be as one that lay in a deed sleep Wherefore to these relics/ now come crouch and creep But look that ye offering to them make Or else can ye no manner profit take But one thing ye women all I warrant you If any wight/ be in this place now That hath done sin/ so horrible that she Dare not for shame/ thereof sheyven be Or any woman/ be she young or old That hath made her husband cockolde Such folk shall have/ no power nor no grace To offer to my relics/ in this place And who so fyndyth/ herself out of such blame Come hither to me on Christ's holy name ¶ And because ye Shall unto me Gave credence at the full Mine authority Now shall ye see Lo here the pope's bull ¶ Now shall the frere begin his sermon/ and even at the same time the pardoner beginneth also to show and speak of his bulls/ and authorities come from Rome. ¶ The frere. ¶ Date et dabitur vobis ¶ Good devout people/ this place of scripture pardo. ¶ Worshipful masters/ ye shall understand frere. Is to you/ that have no literature pardo. ¶ That pope Leo the ten hath granted with his hand frere. Is to say/ in our english tongue par. ¶ And by his bulls/ confirmed under lead frere. As depart your goods/ the poor folk among pardo. ¶ To all manner people/ both quick and deed frere. And god shall than/ give unto you again pardo. ¶ Ten thousand years/ & as many sents of pardon frere. This in the gospel/ so is written plain pardo. ¶ When they are deed/ their souls for to guardon frere. Therefore give your alms/ in the largest wise pardo. ¶ That will with their penny/ or alms deed frere. Keep not your goods/ fie fie on covetise pardo. ¶ Put to their hands/ to the good speed frere. That sin with god is most abominable pardo. ¶ Of the holy chapel of sweet saint Leonarde frere. And is eke the sin/ that is most damnable pardo. ¶ Which late by fire/ was destroyed and marred frere. In scripture eke/ but I say sirs how pardo. ¶ Ay by the mass/ one can not here frere. What a babbling maketh yonder fellow pardo. ¶ For the babbling/ of yonder foolish frere frere. In scripture eke/ is there many a place pardo. ¶ And also masters/ as I was about to tell frere. Which showeth that many a man so farforth lacketh grace pardo. ¶ Pope july the vi hath granted fair & well frere. That when to them/ god hath abundance sent pardo. ¶ And doth xii thousand years of pardon to them send frere. They would distribute none to the indygent pardo. ¶ That aught/ to this holy chapel lend frere. Whereat god having/ great indignation pardo. ¶ Pope Bonyface/ the ix also frere. punished these men/ after a divers fashion pardo. ¶ Pope july/ pope Innocent/ with divers pope's more frere. As the gospel/ full nobly doth declare pardo. ¶ Hath granted/ to the sustaining of the same frere. How dives Epulus/ reigning in welfare pardo. ¶ v. thousand years of pardon/ to every of you by name frere. And on his board/ dishes delicate pardo. ¶ And clean remission/ also of their sin frere. Poor Lazarus/ came begging at his gate pardo. ¶ As often times/ as you put in frere. desiring some food/ his hunger to relieve pardo. ¶ Any money/ into the pardoners coffer frere. But the rycheman/ nothing would him give pardo. ¶ Or any money up unto it offer frere. Not so much as a few crommies of bread pardo. ¶ Or he that offeryth/ penny or groat frere. Wherefore poor lazarus/ of famine strayth was deed pardo. ¶ Or he that giveth/ the pardoner a new cote frere. And angels his soul/ to heaven did carry par. ¶ Or take of me/ either image or letter frere. But now the rich man/ of the contrary pardo. ¶ Whereby this poor chapel may/ fair the better frere. When he was deed/ went to misery and pain pardo. ¶ And god wot/ it is a full gracious deed frere. Where for evermore/ he shall remain pardo. ¶ For which god/ shall quite you well your meed frere. In brenning fire/ which shall never cease pardo. ¶ Now help our poor chapel/ if it be your will frere. But I say thou pardoner/ I bid the hold thy peace pardo. ¶ And I say thou frere/ hold thy tongue still frere. What standest thou there/ all the day smattering pardo. ¶ Marry what standyst thou there/ all day clatterring frere. ¶ Marry fellow I come hither/ to preach the word of god Which of no man/ may be forbade But hard with silence/ and good intent For why/ it teacheth them evident The very way/ and path that shall them lead Even to heaven gates/ as straight as any thread And he that letteth the word/ of god of audience Standeth accursed/ in the great sentence And so art thou/ for enterrupting me pardo ¶ Nay thou art a cursed/ knave/ and that shalt thou see And all such that to me/ make interruption The pope sends them/ excommunication By his bulls/ here ready to be red By bishops/ and his cardinals confirmed And eke if thou/ disturb me any thing Thou art also/ a traitor to the king For here hath he granted me/ under his broad seal That no man/ if he love his hele Should me disturb/ or let in any wise And if thou dost/ the kings commandment despise I shall make the be set/ fast by the feet And where thou saydyst/ that thou art more meet Among the people/ here for to preach Because thou dost them/ the very way teach How to come/ to heaven above Therein thou liest/ and that shall I prove And by good reason/ I shall make the bow And know that I/ am meeter than art thou ¶ For thou/ when thou hast taught them once the way Thou errest not/ whether they come there ye or nay But when that thou/ hast done all together And taught them the way/ for to come thither Yet all that thou canst imagine Is but to use virtue/ and to abstain fro sin And if they fall one's/ than thou canst no more Thou canst not give them/ a salve for their sore But these my letters/ be clean purgation All though never so many sins/ they have done But when thou hast taught them the way and all Yet or they come there/ they may have many a fall In the way/ or that they come thither For why the way/ to heaven is very slydder But I will teach them after another race For I shall bring them to heaven gate And be their guides/ and conduct all things And lead them thither/ by the purse strings So that they shall not fall/ though that they would frere. ¶ Hold thy peace knave/ thou art very bold Thou pratest in faith/ even like a pardoner pardo. ¶ Why despisest thou/ the pope's minister masters/ here I curse him openly And therewith warn/ all this hole company By the pope's/ great authority That ye leave him/ and hearken unto me For till he be assoiled/ his words take none effect For out of holy church/ he is now clean reject frere. ¶ My masters/ he doth but gest and rave It forceth not/ for the words of a knave But to the word of god do reverence And hear me forth/ with dew audience frere. ¶ Masters I swewed you/ ere while of alms deed pardo. ¶ masters this pardon/ which I showed you before frere. And how ye should give poor folk at their need pardo. Is the greatest that ever was/ sith god was boar frere. And if of your parts/ that thing once were done frere. For why without confession or contrition pardo. Doubt not but god should give you retribution frere. ¶ By this shall ye have/ clean remission pardo. But now further/ it aught to be declared frere. ¶ And forgiven of the sins seven Who be thes poor folk that should have your reward pardo. ¶ Come to this pardon/ if ye will come to heaven frere. Who be those poor folk/ of whom I speak & name pardo. ¶ Come to this pardon if ye will be in bliss frere. Certes we poor freres/ are the same pardo. ¶ This is the pardon/ which ye can not miss 〈◊〉. We freres daily take pain I say pardo. ¶ This is the pardon which shall men's souls win frere. We friars daily/ do both fast and pray pardo. ¶ This is the pardon/ the ridder of your sin frere. We freres travail/ and labour every hour pardo. ¶ This is the pardon/ that purchaseth all grace frere. We freres take pain/ for the love of our saviour pardo. This is a pardon for all manner of trespass frere. We freres also go on limitation pardo. ¶ This is the pardon/ of which all mercy doth spring frere. For to preach/ to every christian nation pardo. ¶ This is the pardon that to heaven shall ye bring frere. But I say thou pardoner/ thou wilt keep silence (soon) pardo. ¶ Ye it is like to be when I have done frere. Marry therefore the more knave art thou I say That parturbest/ the word of god I say 〈◊〉 neither thyself/ wilt here God's doctrine 〈◊〉 suffer other/ their earys to incline therefore our saviour in his holy scripture cleaveth the thy judgement/ thou cursed creature Speaking to thee/ after this manner Maledictus qui audit verbum dei negligenter Woe be that man saith our lord/ that giveth no audience Or heareth the word/ of god with negligens pardo. ¶ Now thou haste spoken all sir daw I care not for thee/ a old straw I had liefer thou were hanged/ up with a rope Than I that am comen from the pope And thereby gods minister/ while thou standest & prate Should be fain to knock without the gate Therefore preach hardly/ thy belly full But I nevertheless/ will declare the pope's bull frere. ¶ Now my friends/ I have afore showed ye pardo. ¶ Now my masters/ as I have afore declared frere. That good it is to give your charity pardo. ¶ That pardoners from you may not be spared frere. And further I have/ at length to you told pardo. ¶ Now here after/ shall follow and ensue frere. Who be these people/ that ye receive should pardo. ¶ That followeth of pardons/ the great virtue frere. That is to say/ us freres poor pardo. ¶ We pardoners for your souls be as necessary frere. That for our living must beg fro door to door pardo. As is the meat/ for our bodies hungry frere. For of our own proper/ we have no proper thing pardo. For pardons is the thing that bringeth men to heaven frere. But that we get/ of devout people's getting pardo. ¶ Pardons delivereth them fro the sins seven frere. And in our place/ be friars three score and three pardo. ¶ Pardons for every crime/ may dyspens frere. Which only live/ on men's charity pardo. Pardon purchasyth grace for all offence frere. For we friars/ wilful charity profess pardo. ¶ Ye though ye had slain/ both father and mother frere. We may have no money/ neither more nor less pardo. ¶ And this pardon/ is chief above all other frere. For worldly treasure we may nought care pardo. ¶ For who to it offeryth/ groat or penny frere. Our souls must be rich/ and our bodies bare pardo. ¶ Though sins/ he had done never so many frere. And one thing I had almost left behind pardo. ¶ And though that he had all his kindred slain frere. Which before/ came not to my mind pardo. ¶ This pardon shall rid them fro ever lasting pain frere. And doubtless it is none other thing pardo. ¶ There is no sin/ so abominable frere. But when ye will give/ your alms & offering pardo. ¶ Which to remit/ this pardon is not able frere. Look that ye/ distribute it wisely pardo. ¶ As well declareth/ the sentence of this letter frere. Not to every man/ that for it will cry pardo. ¶ Ye can not therefore/ bestow your money better frere. For if ye give/ your alms in that wise pardo. ¶ Let us not here/ stand idle all the day frere. It shall not both to them and us suffice pardo. ¶ give us some money/ or that we go our way frere. But I say/ thou lewd fellow thou Hadst none other time to show thy bulls but now Canst not tarry and abide till soon And read them than when preaching is done pardo. ¶ I will read them now/ what sayest thou thereto Hast thou any thing therewith to do thinkest that I will stand/ & tarry for thy leisure Am I bound to do so much for thy pleasure frere. For my pleasure? nay I would thou knewest it well It becometh the knave/ never a dell To prate thus boldly in my presence And let the word/ of god of audience pardo. ¶ Let the word of god qd a? nay let a whoreson drivel Prate here all day/ with a foul evil And all thy sermon/ goth on covetise And biddest men beware of avarice And yet in thy sermon/ dost thou none other thing But for alms stand all the day begging frere. Leave thy realing I would the advise pardo. ¶ Nay leave thou thy babbling/ if thou be wise frere. I would thou knewest it knave/ I will not leave a (whit) pardo. ¶ No more will I/ I do the well to wit frere. It is not thou/ shall make me hold my peace pardo. Than speak on hardly if thou thinkest it for thy 〈◊〉 frere. For I will speak/ whither thou wilt or no pardo. ¶ In faith I care not/ for I will speak also frere. Wherefore hardly/ let us both go to pardo. See which shall be better hard of us two frere. What should ye give aught to prating pardoners pardo. ¶ What should ye spend on these flattering liars frere. What should ye give aught to these bold beggar's pardo. ¶ As be these babbling monks/ and these freres frere. Let them hardly labour for their living pardo. ¶ Which do nought daily/ but babble and lie frere. It much hurteth them/ good men's giving pardo. ¶ And tell you fables dear enough a fly frere. For that maketh them idle/ and slothful to work pardo. ¶ As doth this babbling frere/ here to day frere. That for none other thing they will cark pardo. ¶ frere. Hardly they would go both to blow & carry pardo. ¶ On us pardoners hardly do your cost frere. And if of necessity once they felt the smart pardo. ¶ For why/ your money never can be lost frere. But we freres be not in like estate pardo. ¶ For why/ there is in our fraternity frere. For our hands with such things we may not macu (late) pardo. ¶ For all brethren & sisterens that thereof be frere. We freres be not in like condition pardo. ¶ Devoutly song every year frere. we may have no prebends ne exhibition pardo. ¶ As he shall know well that cometh there frere. Of all temporal service are we forbade pardo. ¶ At every of the five solemn feasts frere. And only bound to the service of god pardo. ¶ A mass & dirige to pray for the good rest frere. And therewith to pray for every christian nation pardo. ¶ Of the souls of the brethren & sisterens all frere. That god witsafe to save them fro damnation pardo. ¶ Of our fraternity in general frere. But some of you so hard be of heart pardo. ¶ with a hearse there standing/ well arrayed & dight frere. Ye can not weep though ye full sore smart pardo. And torches & tapers about it brenning bright frere. wherefore some man must ye hire needs pardo. ¶ And with the bells eke solemnly ringing frere. which must entreat god for your misdeeds pardo. ¶ And priests & clerks devoutly singing frere. Ye can hire no better in mine opinion pardo. ¶ And furthermore/ every night in the year frere. Than us gods servants/ men of religion pardo. ¶ Twelve poor people are received there frere. And specially god heareth us poor freres pardo. ¶ And there have both harborough and food frere. And is attentive unto our desires. pardo. ¶ That for them is convenient and good frere. For the more of religion/ the more herd of our lord pardo. ¶ And furthermore/ if there be any other frere. And that is/ so should/ good reason doth accord pardo. ¶ That of our fraternity be sister or brother frere. Therefore doubt not masters/ I am even he pardo. ¶ 〈…〉 after hap to fall in decay frere. To whom ye should part with your charity pardo. ¶ And if he than chance to come that way frere. we freres be they that should your alms take pardo. ¶ Nigh unto our foresaid holy place frere. which for your soul's health do both watch & wake pardo. ¶ Ye shall there tarry for amon thes space frere. we freres pray/ god wot when ye do sleep pardo. ¶ And be there found of the places cost frere. we for your sins do both sob and weep pardo. ¶ wherefore now in the name of the holy ghost frere. To pray to god for mercy and for grace pardo. ¶ I advise you all that now here be frere. And thus do we daily with all our hole place pardo. ¶ For to be of our fraternity frere. wherefore distribute of your temporal wealth pardo. ¶ Fie on covetise/ stick not for a penny frere. By which ye may preserve your soul's health pardo. ¶ For which ye may have benefits so many frere. I say wilt thou not yet stint thy clap Pull me down the pardoner with an evil hap pardo. ¶ Master frere/ I hold it best To keep your tongue while ye be in rest frere. I say one pull the knave of his stolen pardo. ¶ Nay one pull the frere down like a fool frere. Leave thy railing and babbeling of freres Or by jies Is lug the by the sweet ears pardo. ¶ By god I would thou durst presume to it frere: By god a little thing might make me to do it pardo. ¶ And I shrew thy heart and thou spare frere. By god I will not miss the moche thou slouche And if thou play me such another touch Is knock the on the costard/ I would thou it knew pardo. ¶ Marry that would I see quod blind hue frere. Well I will begin/ and than let me see whether thou darest again interrupt me And what thou would once to it say pardo. ¶ Begin & prove whether I will ye or nay frere. And to go forth where as I left right now pardo. ¶ Because some percase will think amiss of me frere· Our lord in the gospel showeth the way how pardo. ¶ Ye shall now here/ the pope's authority frere. ¶ By gogs soul knave/ I suffer the no longer pardo. I say some good body/ lend me his hengar And I shall him teach by god almight How he shall another time learn for to fight I shall make that bald crown of his to look red I shall leave him but one ere/ on his heed frere. But I shall leave the never an ere or I go pardo. ¶ The whoreson frere/ wilt thou so ¶ Than the fight. frere. ¶ Lose thy hands/ away from mine ears pardo. Than take thou thy hands away from my heres Nay abide thou whoreson I am not down yet I trust first to lie the at my feet frere. Ye whoreson/ wilt thou scrat and bite pardo. Ye marry will I/ as long as thou dost smite ¶ The curate. parson. ¶ Hold your hands/ a vengeance on ye both two That ever ye came hither/ to make this a do To pollute my church/ a mischief on you light I swear to you by god all might Ye shall both repent/ every vain of your heart As sore as ye did/ ever thing or ye depart frere. ¶ Master parson/ I marvel ye will give licence To this false knave/ in this audience To publish his ragman rolls with lies I desired him iwis/ more than ones or twice To hold his peas/ till that I had done But he would hear no more than the man in the moan pardo. ¶ Why should I suffer thee/ more than thou me Master parson gave me licence before the And I would thou knewest it/ I have relics here Other manner stuff/ than thou dost bear I will edify more/ with the sight of it Than will all the prating of holy writ For that except that the preacher/ himself live well His predication will help never a dell And I know well/ that thy living is nought Thou art an apostata/ if it were well sought An homicide thou art I know well enough For myself knew where thou slough A wench with thy dagger in a couch And yet as thou sayst in thy sermon that no man shall touch parson. No more of this wrangling in my chiyrch I shrew your hearts both/ for this lurch Is there any blood shed here between these knaves Thanked be god/ they had no staffs Nor egoteles/ for than it had been wrong Well ye shall sing another song neighbour prat/ come hither I you pray prat. ¶ Why/ what is this nice fray parson. ¶ I can not tell you/ one knave dysdaynes another Wherefore take ye the tone/ and I shall take the other We shall bestow them/ there as is most convenient For such a couple/ I trow they shall repent That ever they met in this church here neighbour ye be constable/ stand ye near Take ye that lay knave/ and let me alone With this gentleman/ by god and by saint Iohn I shall borrow upon prestholde somewhat For I may say to the neighbour prat It is a good deed to punish such to the ensample Of such other/ how that they shall mell In like fashion as these catyfes do prat. ¶ In good faith master parson/ if ye do so Ye do but well/ to teach them to beware pardo. ¶ Master prat I pray ye me to spare For I am sorry/ for that that is done Wherefore I pray ye forgive me soon For that I have offended within your liberty And by my truth sir/ ye may trust me I will never come hither more while I live and god before prat. ¶ Nay I am ones charged with the Wherefore by saint Iohn thou shalt not escape me Till thou hast scoured a pare of stokies parson. ¶ Tut he weeneth all is but mocks Lay hand on him/ and come ye on sir frere Ye shall of me hardly have your hire Ye had none such this vii year I swear by god/ and by our lady dear pardo. ¶ Nay master parson/ for God's passion Entreat not me after that fashion For if ye do it will not be for your honesty parson. Honesty or not/ but thou shall see What I shall do by and by Make no strogling/ come forth soberly For it shall not avail the I say frere. ¶ Marry that shall we try/ even straight way I defy the churl priest/ & there be no more than thou I will not go with thee/ I make god a vow We shall see first which is the stronger God hath sent me bones I do the not fere parson. ¶ Ye by thy faith/ wilt thou be there neighbour prat bring forth that knave And thou sir frere if thou wilt algates rave frere. ¶ Nay churl I the defy I shall trouble the first Thou shalt go to prison by and by Let me see now do thy worst Prat with the pardoner/ & the parson with the frere parson. ¶ Help help neighbour prat neighbour prat In the worship of god/ help me somewhat prat. ¶ Nay deal as thou canst with that elf For why I have enough to do myself Alas for pain I am almost deed The reed blood so runneth down about my heed Nay and thou canst I pray the help me parson. Nay by the mass fellow it will not be I have more tow on my distaff/ than I can well spin The cursed frere doth the upper hand win frere. Will ye leave than/ and let us in peace depart ꝑs. & pr ¶ Ye by our lady/ even with all our heart fre pard. ¶ Than adieu to the devil till we come again parson. pr ¶ And a mischief go with you both twain. Imprinted by William Rastell the .v. day of Apryll/ the year of our lord. M. CCCCC. xxxIII. ¶ Cum privilegio.