Rede me and be not wroth  
For I say no thing but troth.   

I will ascend making my state so high/  
That my pompous honour shall never die.  
 
O caitiff when thou thinkest least of all/  
〈◊〉 confusion thou shalt have a fall.    

The description of the arms.  

Of the proud Cardinal this is the shield  
Borne up between two angels off Satan.  
The six bloody axes in a bare field  
showeth the cruelty of the red man/  
which hath devoured the beautiful swan.  
Mortal enemy unto the white Lion/  
Carter of Yorcke/ the vile butcher's son.   

The six bulls heads in a field black  
Betokeneth his stordy furiousness  
Wherefore the godly light to put aback  
He bringeth in his devilish darkness.  
The bandog in the mids doth express  
The mastif Cur bred in Ypswitch town  
Gnawing with his teth a kings crown.   

The cloubbe signifieth plain his tyranny  
Covered over with a Cardinal's hat  
Wherein shallbe fulfilled the prophecy  
Arise up jacke and put on thy salatt/  
For the time is come of bag and walatt  
The temporal chivalry thus thrown down  
Wherefore priest take heed and beware thy croune.    

To his singular good frendt and brother in Christ Master. D. G. N O. desireth grace and peace from God the father/ thorough thelorde jesus Christ.  
BY your last letter/ dear brother in Christ/ I perceved/ that your desire was/ to have the little work which ye sent/ we'll examened/ and diligently put into print. Which thing (the bond of charity/ 
joh. xv  where with not alonely you and I/ but we with the whole number of Christis chosen flock/ remaynge among our nation of english men/ be knet together/ purly for the truths sake pondered) I could do no less but fulfil and accomplish. For as much as it is a thing so necessary. Where of no doubt/ shall spring great fruit unto the famished/ and light unto them which of long season have been sore blindfolded. 
Ma. xxv  Though the rammish residue of goats/ so far enured with man's blind reason (which repute great felicity to make men believe/ good to be the natural cause of evil/ darkness to proceed out of light/ and lying to be ground in troth/ 
Mat. xxiv.  and to make of the word of life the glave of death/ contrary to all truth) that scripture calleth them false teachers/ and bringers in prevely of damnable sects/ 
ij. pe. j ij  even denying the lord that bought them/ and bring on their own heads swift damnation/ for their leading of many into their damnable ways. 
ap. xviij Ma. seven  Of whose bodies and souls thus once blinded and led out of the narrow way of life/ into the broad way of perdition/ thorough covetousness they make their merchandise. 
ij. Pet. ij  Whereby the way of truth (that is to say the glorious gospel of Christ) is evil spocken of. In so much that they after this manner sealed with the mark of the great beast of the earth/ whose consciences. 
apo xuj j ●i.iiij  S. paul describeth to be singed with the hot iron of blasphemy/ only give heed to the sprites of error/ and devilish doctrine of them which speak false through hrpocrisy/ 
iiij.  forbidding to marry/ and commanding to abstain from meats and such other) cannot but bark there art/ forbidden it/ and with all violence persecute the readers thereof. Yet. 
ij. Pet. j  I nevertheless with you/ doing after the apostles erudition/ as long as I follow no decevable fables/ 
ij. Pe. jij  will not be negligent to put my brethren in remembrance (though they partly know them their selves/ and are stablished in the present truth) of those things whereby they may the more evidently note the deceitfulness of mortal man/ and the better come unto the knowledge of the immortal god. saying the time at hand wherein god of his infinite mercy/ 
Luc. j Rom. j Ac. xiij Ebre. iij mar. iij xuj lu. iiij. ix j Io. v Lu. viij. Ma. seven  hath ordained before to make them thorough Christ our lord part takers also of his glorious will and porpos. even as in the gospel our saveoure before to all his had promesed. I therefore considering the world thus to be wrapped in misery and blindness (and now in these latter days become an hole or den of false foxy hypocrites/ and a mansion for all ravening wolves disguised in lambs skins/ which hate all love/ and with out dread of god wander but for their pray) have judged it a thing most convenient/ to set this small treatise as a glass or mirror most clear before all men's eyes. In the preface where of manifestly they shall perceive/ how gretr danger now a days it is/ the truth other to describe with pen/ or with tongue to declare. 
Luc. uj  In the lamentation following/ made by a belly beast/ engendered among the gresy/ 
Ro. xuj  or anointed heap/ otherwise called the papistical sect (whom Christ calleth a crooked/ 
Ma. xuj xvij Luce. ix  untawarde/ and cruel generation of venomous vipers) they may surly grope and feel/ where of our spiritual lords/ master's/ and rulars (falsely so named) have proceeded/ and are come. with what presomtion they disdain the ancient and true noble blood. and what pre-eminence and dignity they have obtained through their false and crafty bringing up of the blasphemous mass/ 
ma. twenty-three  which principlally is their hold/ stead/ and defence. furthermore in the dialogue ensuing or brief interlude/ is mas describe with his abominable ministers. as Pope's/ cardinals/ bishops/ abbots/ montes/ friars/ and like other. wherein also is declared what trees they are with their fruit. 
ma. seven. epis. Iu.  and what they shall remain their mass once disannulled/ and put down. Which all well considered/ I hope that the reder what ever he be/ will not take this work as a thing convicious/ or a principle of hatred and debate. 
Rom. ij  nor yet despise the riches of the goodness/ and of the patience/ of the long soferance of god. but will remember that his kindness only leadeth him to repentance. 
1. Cor. ij  and meekly with the spirit of quietness/ fyest judge it/ and then consider himself. and faultless he shall find it a great occasion/ to love/ and also to thank god his father most merciful/ which of his tender mercy hath not delivered him up unto a lewd mind/ 
Rom. j joa. viij Rom. ij  with these vessels of wrath/ and children of the devil/ to do those things which are not comely/ full of all unrighteousness/ fornication/ wickedness/ covetousness/ maliciousness. c. and sofered him not to become like unto them/ a hater of god/ and of his godly word. against whose ungodliness/ and unrighteousness/ the wrath of the heavenly god appeareth. because they with hold the true rightonsnes of god/ 
Rom. j  which cometh throw the light of the gospel of Christ/ in the unrighteousness of man's laws and traditions. Ye/ and as saith. S. paul/ though they know the righteousness of god/ how they which such things commit are worthy of death/ yet not only do the same/ but also have pleasure in the doers of them. Wherefore they are before god with out excuse. seeing that knowing god/ they glorify him not as god. nor yet are thankful. but were full of vanities in their imaginations. counting themselves wise where as indeed they are fools. For with their foolish and blind heart/ they turn the glory of the immortal god/ unto the similitude of the image of mortal man. He shall likewise clearly perceve/ that we of duty cold do no less/ but for the preservation and tutell of the innocent and simple/ to declare the pestilent doblenes/ and decevable seduction of the wicked. according to the doctrine showed unto us every where by Christ our master. 
joan. vj. x.  which came co save/ and not to destroy. For one rotten apple/ little and little putrefieth an whole heap. 
mat. xiij Luc. xij j Cor. v  a little sour leaven the whole lump of dough. one rankling member/ the whole body. Shortly to conclude. Here in I am well persuaded/ let the ungodly roar and bark never so loud/ that the fire which Christ came to kindle on earth/ cannott butt burn. 
Luc. xij  that is to say/ his godly word forevermore increase and continued. 
ij. re. xxij Psa. xvij ciiij cxviij  Wherefore dear brother/ if any more such small sticks come unto your hands/ which ye shall judge apt unto the augmentation of this fire/ send them unto me (if in england they may not be published) and by god is grace with all my power and possibility/ I shall so endever myself to kindle them/ that as many as are of the seed of abraham shall see their light/ 
joa. viij Mat. v  and thereby glorify their father celestial/ which keep you and yours continually strengthing you with his spirit of comfort to his glory for ever Amen.   
¶ The Author of the work. 
Go forth little treatise no thing afraid.  
To the Cardinal of Yorcke dedicate  
And though he threaten the be not dismayed  
To publish his abominable estate  
For though his power he doth elevate  
Yet the season is now verily come  
Vt inveniatur iniquitas eius ad odium.  The treatise. 
O my author how shall I be so bold  
Afore the Cardinal to show my face  
seeing all the clergy with him doth hold/  
Also in faveour of the kings grace  
With furious sentence they will me chase  
Forbidding any person to redeem  
Wherefore my dear author it camnott be.  The Author. 
Thou knowest very well what his life is  
Unto all people greatly detestable/  
He causeth many one to do amiss  
Thorough his example abominable.  
Wherefore it is nothing reprobable  
To declare his mischief and whoredom  
Vt inveniatur iniquitas cius ad odium.  The treatise. 
Though his life of all people is hated  
Yet in the mass they put much confidence  
Which through out all the world is dilated  
As a work of singular magnificence/  
priests also they have in reverence  
With all other persons of the spretualte  
Wherefore my dear author it cannot be.  The Author. 
O dear treatise thou mayst not consider  
Their blind affection in ignorance  
Whereby all the world both far and near  
Hath been cumbered with long continuance  
Itt is God's will his truth to advance  
And to put antichrist out of his kingdom  
Vt inveniatur iniquitas eius ad odium  The treatise. 
Well yet there is great occasion of grudge  
Be cause I appear to be convicious.  
Withouten fail the clergy will me judge  
To proceed of a spirit presumptuous/  
For to use such words contumelious  
It becometh not christian charity  
Wherefore my dear author it cannot be.  The Author. 
O my treatous it is God's judgement  
So to recompense their mad blasphemy  
saying they burned his holy testament  
Thorough the proud cardinals tyranny  
Against whose hard obstinacy to cry  
The stones in the street cannot be dom  
Vt inveniatur iniquitas eius ad odium.  The treatise. 
If I presume to make relation  
Of secret matters that be uncertain  
They will count it for diffamation  
Or things contryved of a froward brain  
To describe their faults it is but vain  
Except I were in some authority  
Wherefore my dear author it cannot be.  The Author. 
As touching that thou need not to be deject  
The truth shallbe thy conservation  
Whiles thou presume no faults to detect  
But where thou hast had certification  
By their knowledge and information  
Which have forsaken the whore of rome  
Vt inveniatur iniquitas eius ad odium.  The treatise. 
Alas yet in their outrageous furor  
They shall course and bane with cruel sentence  
All those which have to me any favour  
Ether to my saying give credence  
In hell and heaven they have pre-eminence  
To do as they lift with free liberty  
Wherefore my dear author it cannot be.  The Author. 

O treatise let antichrist cry and roar  
Manassynge with fulminations  
His cruelty shallbe feared no more  
Men knowing his abominations  
Fie upon his forged execrations.  
saying his tyranny is overcome  
Vt inveniatur iniquitas eius ad odium.   

Fie on his devilish interdictions  
With his keys lock chains and fetters  
Fie upon all his jurisdictions  
And upon those which to him are debtors  
Fie upon his bulls breves and letters  
Wherein he is named servus servorum  
Vt inveniatur iniquitas eius ad odium.   

Fie on his golden three folded crown  
Which he useth to wear upon his head  
Fie upon his majesty and renown  
claiming on earth to be in Christ stead  
Fie on his carks both quick and dead  
Exhoc nunc et usque in seculum  
Vt inveniatur iniquitas eius ad odium.   

Blissed they be which are cursed of the pope  
And coursed are they whom he doth bliss  
A coursed are all they that have any hope  
Ether in his person or else in his.  
For of almighty god a coursed he is  
Per omnia secula seculorum  
Vt inveniatur iniquitas cius ad odium.    

¶ Hear followeth the lamentation.  
Alas alas for woe and bitter pain  
Oppressed with grief and sorrowful care  
How shall we from hevy weeping refrain  
considering the case that we in are.  
We have now lost the price of our welfare  
saying that gone is the mass  
Now deceased alas alas.  
woe worth the time that ever we were born  
To see the chance of this dolorours' day  
For now are we mocked and laughed to scorn  
Hour honour brought to extreme decay  
We may well sing alas and well away  
saying that gone is the mass  
Now deceased alas alas.  
Approach proud patriarch with your pope  
bishops arsbysshops and Cardinals gay  
With all other prelate which had your hope  
To be maintained by the mass all way  
Who shall find our belly and rich array  
saying that gone is the mass  
Now deceased alas alas.  
Draw near ye priest in your long gown  
With all the friars of the beggarly ordres  
Come hither monk: with broad shaven crown  
And all such as be shorn above the ears/  
Help me to lament with dolorous tears  
saying that gone is the mass  
Now deceased alas alas.  
The doleful destruction of noble troy  
Was never to man half so lamentable  
Nor yet the subversion of Rome our joy  
Under whom we were counted honourable.  
O fortune fortune: thou art unfavorable  
saying that gone is the mass  
Now deceased alas alas.  
Departed is now the mass and clean gone  
The chief upholder of our liberty  
Whereby our whores and harlot every eachone  
Were maintained in rich felicity.  
Full sore we shall repent this day to see  
saying that gone is the mass  
Now deceased alas alas.  
Our bawd and brothels have lost there fiding  
Our bastards compelled to go astray/  
Our wynninge mill hath lost her gryndinge  
Which we supposed never to decay.  
Alas therefore what shall we do or say  
saying that gone is the mass  
Now deceased alas alas.  
Our gay velvet gown furred with sables  
Which were wont to keep us from cold  
The paulfreys and hackeneis in our stables  
Now to make chevesaunce must besolde  
A due forked mitres and crosses of gold  
saying that gone is the mass  
Now deceased alas alas.  
Weshall now abate our wealthy tables  
With delicate deyntyes so delicious  
Our merry jests vnd pleasant fables  
Are now turned to matters dolorous  
We must lay down our estate so pompous  
saying that gone is the mass  
Now deceased alas alas.  
Our fingers shining with precious stones  
Set in golden rings of rich valour  
Our effeminate flesh and tender bones  
shallbe constrained to fall unto labour  
For why decayed is all our honour  
saying that gone is the mass.  
Now deceased alas alas.  
Where as we used upon mules to ride  
Now must we needs prick a fore alone  
Our wantan dalliance and boasting pride  
With woeful misery is over gone.  
Our glystringe gold is turned to a stone  
saying that gone is the mass.  
Now deceased alas alas.  
We had our servants in most courtly wise  
In great multitude following our tail  
With guarded lyverey after the new guise  
Whom we freely supported to jest and rail  
How be it now each from other shall fail  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
Our power kindred we little understood/  
And of what vilnes our pomp did arise.  
We desdayned the estates of noble blood/  
Nothing afraid our betters to despise.  
Wherefore against us they will now surmise  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
We were called lords and doctors reverente/  
Royally reigning in the spretualte.  
In every place where we were present/  
They veiled their bonnet and bowed a knee.  
But it beginneth now otherwise to be.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
We devowred the sustenance of the poor/  
Wasting the goods of people temporal.  
Wherewith we nourished many a whore/  
To satisfy our pleasure bestial.  
And yet we were counted spiritual.  
Under faveoure of the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
Our great lordspippes and dominations/  
With our rich evils and somptous plate.  
Our places and large habitations/  
Adorned with hanging and beds of state  
From our hands shall now be separate.  
saying that gone is the mass  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
A due/ our aid and supportation/  
Whereby fortune so merely did smile.  
Farwele comfort and consolation/  
Thus suddenly changed with in a while.  
Our vain confidence did us fore beguile.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
By the mass we were exalted so high/  
That scantly any man we would once know.  
We thought for to ascend unto the sky/  
Having our seat above the rain bow  
But we are come down again full low.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
The mass made us lord and king over all/  
far and near every where having power.  
With honourable titles they did us call/  
Greding to offend us at any hour.  
Then were we as fresh as the garden flower.  
Under favour of the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
Among all the people we went afore/  
By pretence of our feigned holiness.  
They reputed us for half gods and more/  
Thorough the masses beneficialnes.  
Which is now turned to our hevines..  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
The mass was only our singular suffrage/  
To delivre the people from their sin.  
There was no priest in town nor village/  
But by the mass his living did win.  
Whose superfluite shallbe full thin.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
O faithful mass/ so constant and true.  
In heaven and earth continually.  
We now thy children shall morn and rue/  
The chance of thy decay so suddenly.  
Constrained we are all to weep and cry.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
By the mass we had high authority/  
In heaven and earth taking our pleasure.  
Kings and princes for all their dignity/  
To displease us feared out of measure.  
Alas we have now lost our chief treasure.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
The mass made us so strong and stordy/  
That against hell gates we did prevail.  
Delyveringe souls out of purgatory/  
And sending them to heaven with out fail  
Who is he then that would not bewail.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
Of all manner things the commodity/  
By the massis help only did depend.  
From sickness and pestilent mortalite/  
The succour of the mass did us defend.  
All prosperity that our lord did send.  
Was for favour of the mass  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
The mass far exceedeth man's reason/  
Oft times of foul wether making fair.  
It causeth fruit for to ripe in season/  
putting away infections of the air.  
great estates friendship stably to repair.  
Have confirmation by the mass  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
The mass in due time procureth rain/  
Whereby flowers and erbes freshly do spring.  
And mass maketh it forto cease again/  
When it so aboundeth to their hindering.  
All manner matrimony and marrying.  
Is solemnized by the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
To sondears and men going a war far/  
The mass is ever a sure protection.  
It preserveth people from woeful care/  
Sryving away all affliction.  
Alas who can show by description.  
All the proffett of the mass/  
Now deceased alas alas.  
O woeful chance: most infortunate/  
So suddenly making comutation.  
Never sense the world was first create/  
Was therea thing of such reputation.  
For in every land and nation.  
All goodness came by the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
Whatt availeth now to have a shaven head/  
Or to be appareled with a long gown.  
Our anointed hands do us little stead/  
Where as the mass is thus plucked dowue  
Unto our dishonowre all doth rebowne.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
The goods of the church are take away/  
given to power folks soffring indigence.  
The devyne service utterly doth decay/  
With hallowed oil/ salt/ and frankincense.  
To holy water they have no reverence.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
All people because the mass is departed/  
Seeketh now/ Ceremonies to confound.  
The altars of the lord are subverted/  
With images which cost many a pound.  
The temples also are thrown to the ground  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
Wherefore now of my lamentation  
To make an end with out delay.  
Far we'll O holy consecration/  
With blessed sanctus and agnus dei.  
No longer now with you we can pray.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now deceased/ alas alas.  
A due/ gentle dominus vobiscum/  
With comfortable/ ite missa est.  
Requiem eternam/ is now undone/  
By whom we had many a fest.  
Requiescat in pace and good rest.  
saying that gone is the mass/  
Now decaused/ alas alas.   

¶ Here followeth a brief Dialogue between two priests servant/ named Warkyn. and jeffraye.  
Watkyn 
IEffraye/ hardest thou our master/  
Thus with lamentable manner/  
Most piteously complain:  jeffraye 
¶ Herd it catha? ye be throode/  
I pray god turn it unto good/  
That it be not to our pain.  
But is it of a very surety/  
As it is spoken in the country/  
That the holy mass is dead.  Watt. 
¶ Seed? ye jeffraye by my hand/  
And that thou might well understand/  
Had thou any wit in thy head.  
For the sorrowful constraint/  
Of our masters complaint/  
Alonely for his deceace was.  
Wherefore let us our counsel take/  
What shift for us is best to make/  
saying that deceased is the mass.  jef. 
¶ Marry watkyne thou sayest very troth/  
We shall have but a cold broth/  
I fear me shortly after this.  
But I pray the tell me now plain/  
Was he by any mischance slain/  
Or was it for age that he dead is.  Wat. 
¶ Nay/ it was not surly for age/  
For he was of lusty courage/  
Though he had very many years.  
Also he had continued still/  
If priests might have had their will/  
With the help of monks and friars.  
Butt he was assaulted so sore/  
That he could resist no more/  
And was fain to give over.  
Then came his adversaries with might/  
And slew him out of hand quite/  
As though he had been a false rover.  jef. 
¶ With what weepen did they him kill/  
Whether with polaxe or with bill?  
A good fellowship lightly tell.  Wat. 
¶ Nay: with a sharp two edged sword/  
Which as they say was God's word/  
Drawn out of the holy gospel.  jef. 
¶ And is God's word of such might/  
That it slew the mass down right/  
Of so ancient continuance?  
My thinketh it should not be true/  
saying that priests would him rescue/  
With worldly riches and substance.  
Montes/ cannons/ all shaven crowns/  
Would have brought their villag and towns/  
With their whole religious rabble.  
Which under antichristis reign/  
Are of sects variable and vain/  
Forto be reckcned in numerable.  
Our master also I dare say/  
With many other priests gay/  
Whom I know very well.  
Would have spent all their good.  
Ye verily their own heart blood/  
To help mass against the gospel.  Wat. 
¶ Tosshe man they did all their best/  
Not sparing to open their chest/  
giving out bribes liberally.  
Whereby they had great confidence/  
For to have done moche assistance/  
In aid of the mass certainly.  
But it provayled them nothing/  
For God's word hath such working/  
That none may resist contrary.  jef. 
¶ Well/ yet take it for no scorn/  
I tell the where as I was borne/  
They resist the gospel openly.  
And the principal doars be such/  
As now a days govern the church/  
No small fools I promise the.  
And namely one that is the chief/  
Which is not fed/ so oft with roast beef/  
As with raw motten so god help me.  
Whose mule if it should be sold/  
So gaily trapped with velvet and gold/  
And given to us for our schare.  
I durst ensure the one thing/  
As for a competent living/  
This seven year we should not care.  Wat. 
¶ If he be such what is his name/  
Or of what regard is his fame?  
I beseech the shortly express.  jef. 
¶ Marry/ some men call him Carnal/  
And some say he is the devil and all/  
patriarch of all wickedness.  Wat. 
¶ Well/ to be brief withouten gloze/  
And not to swerve from our purpose/  
Take good heed what I shall say.  
The time will come or it belong/  
When thou shalt see their stately throng/  
With miserable ruin decay.  
Note weal the ensample of Rome/  
To what misery it is come/  
Which was their head principal.  
Goddis word the ground of virtue/  
They went about for to subdue/  
Werby they have gotten a fall.  jef. 
¶ Believe me/ thou speakest reason/  
I trow we shall see a season/  
To the confusion of them all.  
But now to our matter again/  
I would hear mervelously fain/  
In what place the mass deceased.  Wat. 
¶ In Strasbrugh/ that noble town/  
A city of most famous renown/  
Where the gospel is freely preached.  jef. 
¶ And what dost thou their names call/  
Which were counted in especial/  
The adversaries of the mass?  Wat. 
¶ Truly there where clerks many one/  
And greatly learned every eachone/  
Whose names my memory do pass.  
How be it/ Hedius/ Bu●er. and Capito/  
Celarius/ Symphorian/ and mother more/  
In deed were reputed the chief.  
Whose living is so inculpable/  
That their enemies with out fable/  
In them could find no reproof.  jef. 
¶ What did then the temporalty/  
Would they all there unto agree/  
Withouten any dissension?  Watt. 
¶ As for the commons universally/  
And a great part of the senatory/  
Were of the same intention.  
Though a few were on the mother side/  
But they were lightly satisfied/  
When they could not God's word denay  jef. 
¶ I perceive then manifestly/  
The bishop with his whole clergy/  
Were absent and a way.  Wat. 
¶ They were not absent I the ensure/  
For with the mass they did endure/  
whiles to speak they had any breath.  
In so much that for all this/  
The bishop ceaseth not with his/  
To revenge the masses death.  
He spareth not to course and ban/  
Doing all that ever he can/  
To revoke mass unto life again.  
He spendeth many a gulden/  
To hang/ murder/ and bren/  
The masses adversaries certain.  jef. 
¶ And getteth he any good thereby?  Wat. 
¶ But little yet I the certify/  
And I trow less he shall have.  
Now for all his high magnificence/  
They count him saving reverence/  
Not moche better than a knave.  jef. 
¶ Peace whoreson/ beware of that/  
I tell the his skin is consecrat/  
Anointed with holy ointment.  Wat. 
¶ Ye/ so many a knaves skin/  
Is gresyd with out and with in/  
And yet they are not excellent  jef. 
¶ cocks bones/ this is rank heresy/  
If it were knwone: by and by/  
Thou shouldest a faggot bear.  
To speak so of such a prelate/  
Whiles they are all of the same rate/  
For the more part every where.  
But to the purpose that we began/  
What did monks and fryeres than/  
When mass went thus to wrack?  Wat. 
¶ So uttered was their abusion/  
That with great confusione/  
They were fain to stand aback.  jef. 
¶ Och: I know a friar in a place/  
Whom they call father Mathias/  
If he had been at this brayed.  
He would have made soche a noise/  
With his horrible shrill voice/  
Able to have made them afraid.  Wat. 
¶ Tosshe/ there were friars two or three/  
In faith as grett paunched as he/  
With bellies more than a barrel.  
Which for all their learned strength/  
Were so confounded there at length/  
That they gave over their quarrel.  jef. 
¶ What made John Faber and Emser/  
With their aiders Eckyus and Morner/  
Did they unto mass no succour?  Wat. 
¶ Yes truly/ with words of great boast/  
They spared not to send their host/  
Threatening with fearful terror.  
How be it they had such impediment/  
That they could not be there present/  
As thou shalt the case understand.  
Emser sometime a regular canon/  
To defend the massis cannon/  
Long before had taken in hand.  
Which craftily to uphold with lies/  
So grevously troubled his eyes/  
And also encumbered his brain.  
That there was no remedy/  
But he was fain certainly/  
At home/ a fool to remain.  
Flattering Faber/ full of disdain/  
Was new admitted to be chaplain/  
Unto duke Ferdinand by oath.  
Wherefore he had enough of business/  
To dissuade the duke's nobleness/  
From favouring the godly troth.  
As for Morner/ the blind lawear/  
And Ectius/ the froward sophistrar/  
They have afore casting wisdom.  
That in such honourable audience/  
Where as wise clarctes are in presence/  
They will not very gladly come.  jef. 
¶ Meddled not Erasmus/ in this matter  
Which so craftily can flatter/  
With cloaked dissimulation?  Wat. 
¶ He was busy to make will free/  
A thing not possible to be/  
After wise clarckis estimation.  
Wherefore he intermitted little/  
As concerning the massis title/  
With any manner assertion.  
He feareth greatly some men say/  
If mass should utterly decay/  
Least he should lose his pension.  
notwithstanding he hath in his head/  
Soche an opinion of the god of bred/  
That he would liefer die a martyr.  
Then ever he would be of this consent/  
That christ is not there corporally present/  
In bred wine and water.  
Also he hath given such a landation/  
Unto the idols of abomination/  
In his glozing pistles before tyme.  
That if he fhulde otherwise reclaim/  
Men would impute unto his blame  
Of unstable inconstancy the crime.  jef. 
¶ How did they then with lovayne/  
And with the university of Colayne/  
Made they right nought for massis part?  Wat. 
¶ Yes surly with terrible vociferation/  
They made wonderful exclamation/  
The word of god to pervert.  
They sent thither Thomas and Scote/  
With other questionistes god wot.  
Full of craking words inopinable.  
But when it came to the effect/  
They were so abashed and deject/  
That once to hiss they were nottable.  jef. 
¶ It was a thing plainly acorst/  
That mass went thus by the worst/  
Having so many on his wing.  Wat. 
¶ Goddis word is so efficacious/  
And of strength so mervelous/  
That against it is no resisting.  jef. 
¶ Nevertheless among this array/  
Was not there one called Coclaye/  
A little pratye foolysshe poade?  
But all though his stature be small.  
Yet men say he lacketh no gall/  
More venomous than any toad.  
No/ for he had another occupation/  Wat. 
¶ Writing to the english nation/  
Inuencyones of flattery.  jef. 
¶ To England? in good time/  
I trow the vichyn will climb/  
To some promotion hastily.  Wat. 
¶ Or else truly it shall cost him a fall/  
For he is in favour with them all/  
Which have the gospel in hate.  
Continually he doth write/  
Ever labouring day and night/  
To uphold Antichrist's estate.  
Of papists he is the defender/  
And of Luther the condemner/  
The gospel utterly despising.  
To forge lies he hath no shame/  
So that they somewhat frame/  
With the process of his writing.  
He wrote of late to Herman Ryncke/  
Wasting in vain paper and ink/  
Pomeranes epistle to corrupt.  
Which by christian men required/  
According as he was desired/  
Did his part them to instruct.  
No thing there in was reprobable/  
But all togedder true and veritable/  
With out heresy or any fault.  
How be it this wretch unshamefast/  
Thorough malicie was not aghast/  
The truth with lies to assault.  jef. 
¶ If he be as thou sayest he is/  
I warrant he shall not miss/  
Of a benefice and that shortly.  
For I ensure the our Cardinal/  
With other bishops in general/  
Love such a fellow entirely  
But let this now pass and go to/  
What is best for our profit to do/  
saying mass hath made his end?  Wat. 
¶ Surely as far as I can guess/  
We are like to be masterless/  
Yerre it be long so god me mend.  
For as soon as the mass is buried/  
Our master shallbe beggared/  
Of all his rich possession  jef. 
¶ Then mate I put the out of doubt/  
It is good that we look about/  
Least we self a new lesson.  
How be it/ how long will it be/  
Or ever that we shall see/  
Of this dead mass the burial?  
As touching that in very deed/  Wat. 
¶ They are not yet fully agreed/  
But I suppose shortly they shall/  
Some would have him carried to Rome/  
For be cause of all christendom/  
It is the principal Ce.  
And some would have him to France/  
Because of the noble maintenance/  
That he had of Paris universite.  
Some also persuade in good earnest/  
That in England it were best/  
His dead cors richly to begrave  jef. 
¶ Now after my foolish conjecture/  
They could not for his sepulture/  
devise/ a better place to have.  
Also there is saint Thomas schryne/  
Of precious stones and gold fine/  
Wherein the mass they may lay.  
Whereof the riches incomprehensible/  
As it is spoken by persons credible/  
Might an emperors ransom pay.  
Morover there is the Cardinal/  
Of whose pomp to make rehearceall/  
It passeth my capacity.  
With stately bissoppes a great sort/  
Which keep a mervelous port/  
Concerning worldly royalty.  
priests also that are secular/  
With monks and canons regular.  
Abownde so in possession.  
That both in welfare and weed/  
With out doubt they far exceed/  
The nobles of the region.  Wat. 
¶ If it be thus as thou dost declare/  
It is best that mass be buried there/  
With due honourable reverence.  jef. 
¶ Ye but they have a froward wit/  
And percase they will not admit/  
But utterly make resistance?  Wat. 
¶ Hold thy peace and be content/  
The gospel by a commandment/  
To do it will straightly them compel.  jef. 
¶ They set not by the gospel a fly/  
Didst thou not hear what villainy/  
Thy did unto the gospel?  Wat. 
¶ Why/ did they against him conspire?  jef. 
¶ By my troth they set him a fire/  
Openly in London cite.  Wat. 
¶ Who caused it so to be done?  jef. 
¶ In sooth the bishop of London/  
With the Cardinal authority.  
Which at Paulis cross earnestly/  
Denounced it to be heresy/  
That the gospel should come to light.  
Calling them heretics excecrable/  
Which caused the gospel venerable/  
To come unto lay men's sight.  
He declared there in his furiousness/  
That he found errors more and les/  
Above three thousand in the translation.  
How be it when all came to pass/  
I dare say unable he was/  
Of one error to make probation.  
Alas he said/ master's and friends/  
Consider well now in your minds/  
These heretic diligently.  
They say that comen women/  
Shall assoon come unto heaven/  
As those that live perfectly.  Wat. 
¶ And was that their very saying?  jef. 
¶ After this wise with out feigning/  
In a certain prologue they write.  
That a who are or an open sinner/  
By means of Christ our redeemer/  
Whom god to repent doth incite.  
Shall sooner come to salvation/  
By merit of Christis passion/  
Then an ouwtarde holy liver.  Wat. 
¶ They did there none other thing show/  
Then is rehearsed in matthew/  
In the one and twenty chapter.  jef. 
¶ For all that/ he said in his sermone/  
Rather than the gospel should be comone/  
bringing people into error  
He would gladly soffre martyrdom/  
To uphold the devyls' freedom/  
Of whom he is a confessor.  Watt. 
¶ Why/ makest thou him a saint?  jef. 
¶ Even such a one as painters do paint/  
On walls and boards artificially.  
Which with miters/ crosses/ and copes/  
Apere like gay bishops and pope's/  
In strawnge fashion outwardly.  
But they are idols in effect/  
Mamett of antichristis sect/  
To blind folk deceatfully.  Wat. 
¶ I perceive well now that/ honores/  
As it is spoken/ mutant mores/  
With such men most commonly.  
But thinkest thou in thy mind/  
That he could in his heart find/  
In such a case death to souffer/  jef. 
¶ Nay/ it was a word of office/  
I warrant he is not so foolish/  
To put his body so in danger.  
Nevertheless with tongue and porsse/  
All though he should far the worse/  
Gladly he will do his devoir.  
To pluck the word of god down  
And to exalt the three fold crown  
Of antichrist his beaver.  
Also there is a charge under pain/  
That no man any thing retain/  
Of the gospel newly translate.  
For if they presume the contrary/  
They lose their goods with out mercy/  
And their bodies to be incarcerate.  
Morover that no clerk be so bold/  
Prevy or pearte/ with him to hold/  
preaching aught in his favour.  
But contrary their brains to set/  
Both in scoles and in the pulpett/  
Him and all his to dishonour.  
Wherefore it booteth the gospel nothing  
As concerning the massis burying/  
To send any precept thither.  
For they had liefer by this day/  
Go unto the devil straight way/  
Then to obey him in any manner.  Wat. 
¶ This passeth of all that ever I heard/  
I wonder they were not a feared/  
Of so notable blasphemy.  
Nott with standing their interruption/  
Shall turn to their destruction/  
At long running finally.  
For though they caused to be brent/  
The outward shadow or garment/  
Of God's word so high of price.  
Yet the ground of his majesty/  
Printed in christian hearts sceretly/  
They are not able to prejudice.  
Therefore whither they will or nill/  
If it be the holy gospels will/  
Mass in England to bury.  
Let them crack until they burst/  
Doing their best and their worst/  
Itt availeth not a cherry.  
They are worldly and carnal/  
And the gospel is spiritual/  
Assisted with angel's presence.  jef. 
¶ If it come unto that reckoning/  
They will more angels with them bring/  
Then shallbe in the gospels assistance.  Wat. 
¶ Have they of angels any garnison?  jef. 
¶ Ye god knoweth many a legion/  
at all times them to succour.  Wat. 
¶ How do they these angels get?  jef. 
¶ By my faith of power men's swett/  
Which for them sore do labour.  Wat. 
¶ Aha/ I wot well what thou mean/  
such angels are not worth a bean/  
If it come to the point once.  
But now would I hear the express/  
The manner of their holiness/  
briefly declared at once.  jef. 
¶ Marry that is done forth with all/  
For they have no holiness attall/  
As far as I saw yet ever.  
How be it shortly to discousse/  
Their proud estate so glorious/  
I shall here myself endever.  
first as I said there is a Cardinal/  
Which is the Ruler principal/  
Through the realm in every part.  Wat. 
¶ Have they not in England a King?  jeff. 
¶ Alas mane/ speak not of that thing/  
For it goeth to my very heart.  
And I shall show the a cause why/  
There is no Prince under the sky/  
That to compare with him is able.  
A goodly person he is of stature/  
Endued with all gifts of nature/  
And of gentleness incomparable.  
In sundry sciences he is seen/  
Having a lady to his Qwene/  
Example of womanly behaveoure.  
notwithstanding for all this/  
By the Cardinal ruled he is/  
To the distayninge of his honour.  Wat. 
¶ Soeth he follow the Cardinals' intent?  jef. 
¶ Ye/ and that the commons repent/  
With many a weeping tear.  Wat. 
¶ The Cardinal vexeth them than?  jef. 
¶ Alas since England first began/  
Was never such a tyrant there.  
By his pride and false treachery/  
Whoardom and bawdy lechery/  
He hath been so intolerable.  
That power commons with their wives/  
In manner are weary of their lives/  
To see the land so miserable.  
Through all the land he caused perjury/  
And afterward took away their money/  
proceeding most tyrannously.  
The power people needy and bare/  
His cruel heart would not spare/  
Leaving them in great misery.  
insomuch that for lack of food/  
Creatures bought with Christis blood  
Were fain to die in petous cas  
Also a right noble Prince of fame/  
Henry the duck of buckyngame/  
He caused to die alas alas.  
The goods that he thus gaddered/  
Wretchedly he hath scattered/  
In causes nothing expedient.  
To make windows/ walls/ and doors/  
And to maintain bawds and whores/  
A great part thereof is spent.  Wat. 
¶ Let all this pass I pray the heartily/  
And show me somewhat seriously/  
Of his spiritual magnificence.  jef. 
¶ first he hath a title of. S. Cecile/  
And is a Legate of latere/  
A dignity of high premynence.  
He hath bisshopryckes two or three/  
With the pope's full authority/  
In cases of dispensation.  Wat. 
¶ He may then with the mass dispense/  
If he be faulen in the sentence/  
Of the great excommunication?  jef. 
¶ That he may in all manner cases/  
how be it he giveth nothing grates  
But selleth all for ready money.  
Except courses and blessings  
With sight of his golden rings  
All this he giveth freely.  Wat. 
¶ Hath he so large faculty/  
Of the pope's benignity/  
As it is spoken abroad?  jef. 
¶ He standeth in the pope's room/  
Having of his bulls a great some/  
I trow an whole cart load.  
Wherewith men's porses to descharge/  
He extendeth his power more large/  
Then the power of almygthy god.  
For whether it be good or ill/  
His pervers mind he will fulfil/  
Supplanting the truth by falsehood.  
To get him a singular name/  
The land he bringeth out of frame/  
Against all God's forbade.  
He turneth all thing topsy tervy/  
Nott sparing for any simony/  
To sell spiritual gifts.  
In grants of consanguinity/  
To marry with in near degree/  
He getteth away men's thryftes.  
Of secular folk he can make regular/  
And again of regular secular/  
Making as he list black of white.  
Open whoredom and advoutry/  
He alloweth to be matrimony/  
Though it be never so unright.  
Lawful wedlock to divorce/  
He giveth very little force/  
Knowing no cause wherefore.  
He playeth the devil and his dame/  
All people reporting the same/  
course the time that ever he was boar.  Wat. 
¶ It cannot sink in my mind/  
That the Cardinal is so blind/  
To make any such divorcement.  jef. 
¶ Though it be not in thy belief/  
I tell the to put it in proof/  
He doth all that he can invent.  Wat. 
¶ Bitwixte whom dost thou ween?  jef. 
¶ Bitwxite the King and the Queen/  
Which have been long of one assent.  Wat. 
¶ Some cause then he hath espied/  
Which asunder them to divide/  
Is necessary and urgent.  jef. 
¶ Nothing but the butcher doth feign/  
That the good lady is barren/  
Like to be past child bearing.  Wat. 
¶ Haddit the king never child by her?  jef. 
¶ No man saw ever goodlier/  
Then those which she forth did bring.  Wat. 
¶ Is there any of them a live?  jef. 
¶ Ye a Princes/ whom to descryve/  
It were herd fo an orator.  
She is but a child of age/  
And yet is she both wise and sage/  
Of very beautiful faveoure.  
Perfectly she doth represent/  
The singular graces excellent/  
Both of father and mother.  
How be it all this not regarding/  
They carter of ork is meddeling/  
Forto divorce them a sunder.  Watt. 
¶ Are not the nobles here with offended?  Wat. 
¶ Yes/ but it can not be amended/  
As long as he is the ruler.  Wat. 
I think the Queen is not faulty/  
But hath done enough of her party/  
If it had pleased God's beneficence.  jef. 
¶ None is faulty but the butcher/  
Whom almighty god doth suffer/  
To scourge the people's offence.  
Unto god he is so odious/  
That nothing can be prosperous/  
Where as he hath governance.  
Sens that he came first forward/  
All things have gone backward/  
With moche mischief and mischance.  
No yearly purpose he doth intend/  
That ever cometh to a good end/  
But damage and tribulation.  Wat. 
¶ In these parties it is verified/  
That he hath a college edified/  
Of mervelous foundation.  jef. 
¶ Of privy houses of bawdry/  
He hath made a stews openly/  
Endued with large exhibition.  Wat. 
¶ Lycknest thou to whoarmongers/  
A colage of clerks and scolears/  
Ensuing learned erudition.  jef. 
¶ Thou mayst perceive/ by reason/  
That virtue shallbe very geason/  
Among a sort of idle losels.  
Which have riches infinite/  
In wealth and worldly delight/  
given to pleasure and nothing eyes.  Wat. 
¶ They read there both greek and Hebrew/  jef. 
¶ I will not say but it is true/  
That there be men of great science.  
How be it where pride is the beginning.  
The devil is commonly the ending/  
As we see by experience.  
And if thou consider well/  
Even as the tower of Babel/  
Began of a presomption.  
So this college I dare undertake/  
Which the Cardinal doth make/  
Shall confunde the region.  
What is it to see dogs and cats/  
Gargoyle heads and Cardinal hats/  
Painted on walls with moche cost.  
Which ought of duty to be spent/  
upon power people indigent/  
For lack of food utterly lost.  Wat. 
¶ Hath he for such folk no providence?  jef. 
¶ No/ saving only to rid them hence/  
A proper way he ymageneth.  Wat. 
¶ After what manner porviaunce?  jef. 
¶ Truly lest they should be cumbrance/  
A warfare he them sendeth.  Wat. 
¶ Many of them than are slain?  jef. 
¶ They never come home half again/  
I may tell the in good plight.  
For some be taken prisoners/  
And some are dead of the fevers/  
Many of them losing their sight.  
Of twenty thousand fighting men/  
Scant returneth home again ten/  
In good state and perfect liking.  
For the more part made beggars/  
And so become robbers and stelers/  
Whereby they have a shroade ending.  Wat. 
¶ He fareth not the better for war/  jef. 
¶ Yes marry/ it doth him prefer/  
To more gains than I can rehearse.  
For first or the war do begin/  
They labour his favour to win/  
giving gifts many and divers.  
And if it cannot be so pacified/  
They bribe him on the other side/  
At the least for to be favoured.  
And finally war for to cease/  
With rewards they must him grease/  
Or else peace cannot be performed.  Wat. 
¶ sooth he practise such conveyaunce?  jef. 
¶ Ye/ and for that cause in France/  
This war time he was beloved.  Wat. 
¶ Thou makest him then a traitor?  jef. 
¶ I reckon him a false fayterer/  
If the very truth were proved.  Wat. 
¶ Well let this pas/ how doth he/  
In geving grants of liberty/  
And cases that be dispensable?  jef. 
¶ He followeth the comen practise/  
Of merchants in their merchandise/  
To get worldly goods movable.  
Saving they take grett labours/  
And he doth all by his factoures/  
Resting in quiet felicity.  
He hath false farises and scribes/  
Gaping for nothing but for bribes/  
Full of frauds and perversite.  Wat. 
¶ They are named yet otherwise/  jef. 
¶ Troth/ but they follow their guise/  
In wicked operations.  Wat. 
¶ I put a case now they be lewd/  
As I think they are all be shrewd/  
In their administrations/  
Shall they to hell for the Cardinal/  
Or else thinkest thou that he shall/  
Go thither in his own person?  jef. 
¶ Though he have here such prerogative/  
In all points that be dispensative/  
To perform it by commission.  
Yet in this point sickerly/  
He must perform it personally/  
Without any exemption.  Wat. 
¶ If he be as thou hast here said/  
I ween the devils will be afraid/  
To have him as a companion.  
For what with his execrations/  
And with his terrible fulminations/  
He would handle them so.  
That for very dread and fear/  
All the devils that be there/  
willbe glad to let him go.  jef. 
¶ As for that thou mayst be assured/  
The devils with coursses are enured/  
As authors there of with out fail.  Wat. 
¶ What if he will the devil's bliss?  jef. 
¶ They regard it no more be gisse/  
Then wagging of his mules tail.  Wat. 
¶ Soothe he use then on mules to ride?  jef. 
¶ Ye and that with so shameful pride/  
That to tell it is not possible.  
More like a god celestial/  
Then any creature mortal/  
With worldly pomp incredible.  
Before him rideth two priests strong/  
And they bear two crosses right long/  
Gaping in every man's face.  
After them follow two lay men secular/  
And each of them holding a pillar/  
In their hands/ stead of a mace.  
Then followeth my lord on his mule/  
Trapped with gold under her cule/  
In every point most curiously.  
On each side a pole-axe is borne/  
Which in none other use are worn.  
Pretending some hid mystery.  
Then hath he servant five or six score/  
Some behind and some before/  
A marvelous great company.  
Of which/ are lords and gentlemen/  
With many grooms and yeomen/  
And also knaves among.  
Thus daily he proceedeth forth/  
And men must take it at worth/  
Whether he do right or wrong.  
A great carl he is and a fat/  
Wearing on his head a red hat/  
Procured with angel's subsidy.  
And as they say in time of rain/  
Four of his gentlemen are fain/  
To hold over it a canopy.  
Beside this to tell the more news/  
He hath a pair of costly shows/  
Which seldom touch any ground.  
They are so goodly and curious/  
All of gold and stones precious.  
costing many a thousand pound.  Wat. 
¶ And who did for thes shows pay?  jef. 
¶ Truly many a rich abbey/  
To be easied of his visitation.  Wat. 
¶ Doth he in his own person visit?  jef. 
¶ No/ another for him doth it/  
That can skill of the occupation.  
A fellow nether wise nor sad/  
But he was never yet full mad/  
Though he be frantic and more.  
Doctor Alyn he is named/  
One that to lie is not ashamed/  
If he spy advantage therefore.  Wat. 
¶ Are such with him in any price?  jef. 
¶ Ye/ for they do all his advice/  
Whether it be wrong or right.  Wat. 
¶ Hath the Cardinal any gay mansion?  jef. 
¶ Grett palaces with out compareson/  
Most glorious of outward sight.  
And with in decked point device/  
More like unto a paradise/  
Then an earthly habitation.  Wat. 
¶ He cometh then of some noble stock?  jef. 
¶ His father could snatch a bullock/  
A butcher by his occupation.  Wat. 
¶ How came he unto this glory?  jef. 
¶ Plainly by the devil's policy/  
As it is every where said.  Wat. 
¶ Are the states here with all content.  jef. 
¶ If they speak aught they are shent/  
Wherefore I tell the they are afraid.  Wat. 
¶ Whatt abstinence useth he to take?  jef. 
¶ In Lent all fish he doth forsake/  
Fed with partridges and plovers.  Wat. 
¶ He leadeth then a Lutherans life?  jef. 
¶ O nay/ for he hath no wife/  
But whoares that be his lovers.  Wat. 
¶ If he use whoares to occupy/  
It is great marvel certainly/  
That he escapeth the french pocks.  jef. 
¶ He had the pocks with out fail/  
Wherefore people on him did rail/  
With many obprobrious mocks.  Wat. 
¶ He was then abhorred of his prince:  jef. 
¶ By my troth man/ not an inch/  
Still in favour continually.  Wat. 
¶ By the devil than he worketh?  jef. 
¶ Truly so every man judgeth.  
But alas what remedy?  Wat. 
¶ Hath he children by his whoares also?  jef. 
¶ Ye and that full proudly they go/  
namely one whom I do know.  
Which hath of the church's goods clearly/  
More than two thousand pound yearly/  
And yet is not content I trow.  
His name is master Winter/  
For whom my lord his father/  
Hath gotten of the french kings grace.  
That when the bishop of Rone/  
Out of this life is dead and gone/  
He shall succeed him in his place.  Wat. 
¶ And is his father as ready/  
To promoute the noble progeny/  
As he is towards his bastards?  jef. 
¶ He favoureth little noble lineage/  
Taking a way their heritage/  
Rather then to set them forwards.  
He breaketh men's testaments/  
And contrary to their intentes/  
At his own mind and pleasure.  
He willbe needs their exsecutours'/  
saying with the devil all his ours/  
richly to increase his treasure.  
Many a good lady's jointer/  
He engroseth up into his coffer/  
Of the which some here to name.  
I reckon the Countess of Sarby/  
With the Countess of Salisbury/  
Also the Duchess of Buckyngame.  Wat. 
¶ Is the devil such an whoreson?  jef. 
¶ Och/ there is nether duke ne baron/  
Be they never of so great power.  
But they are constrained to croutche/  
Before this butcherly sloutche/  
As it were unto an emperor.  Wat. 
¶ Now surly then after my mind/  
They cannot such another find/  
The dead massis office to solemnize.  jef. 
¶ If it be his pleasure he may/  
how be it he useth little to pray/  
For it is late or he do arise.  
Also as far as I can muse/  
To do this office he will refuse/  
Dreading his pomp thereby to lose.  Wat. 
¶ As for that/ it shall nothing skill/  
Plainly if it be the gospels will/  
Do it he must and cannot choose.  jef. 
¶ Yet it willbe a perilous business/  
For bishops and priests doubtless/  
To aid him will not be slack.  
Though they love him as the devil/  
Yet to do the gospel some evil/  
No diligence in them shall lack.  Wat. 
¶ Have the bishops so great riches?  jef. 
¶ It is not possible to express/  
The treasure of the spretualte.  Wat. 
¶ What/ are the bishops divines?  jef. 
¶ Ye they can weal skill of wines/  
Better then of devinite.  
Lawears they are of experience/  
And in cases against conscience/  
They are parfet by practise.  
To forge excommunications/  
For tithes and decimations/  
Is their continual exercise.  
As for preaching they take no care/  
They would see a course at an hare/  
Rather then to make a sermon.  
To follow the chase of wild dear/  
Passing the time with jolly cheer/  
Among them all is common.  
To play at the cards and dice/  
Some of them are nothing nice/  
Both at hazard and momchaunce.  
They drink in gay golden bowls/  
The blood of power simple souls/  
perishing for lack of sustenance.  
Their hongery cures they never teach/  
Nor will soffre none other to preach/  
But such as can lie and flatter.  
Bidding the beads after this rate/  
Ye shall pray for the good estate/  
Of my lord my master.  
And so reading a rag man's roll/  
He exhorteth to pray for the soul/  
Of this person and of that.  
Which gave book/ bell/ or challes/  
To the furtherance of God's serves/  
Babbling he wotteth near what.  
Soche preachers be commended/  
And the other are reprehended/  
Which preach the gospel purly.  
So they sit upon cousshens soft/  
Their royalty exalted aloft/  
They regard not God's word surly.  
They are so given to avarice/  
That they ponder no prejudice/  
Happening to the comen weal.  
They nourish servants in idleness/  
Which when they are masterless/  
Are constrained to beg or steal.  
To tell all the abomination/  
Of their wretched conversation/  
It were both long and tedious.  Wat. 
¶ If the bishops do so abownde/  
how are secular priests found/  
With persons which be religious?  jef. 
¶ thinkest that with them it is scant/  
Nay nay man/ I the warrant/  
They feel no indigent rearage.  
For they have goods innumerable/  
And far moche better at their table/  
Then lords of worthy parage.  
Fortune with priests runneth on wheels/  
So that some have after their heel's/  
A score of yeomen tall and stout.  
Whom forto maintain idly/  
They have benefices very many/  
In the country there about.  
Whereby they are so proud and vain/  
That the noble men they disdain/  
With scornful indignation.  
Though peradventure their father's/  
Were other souter's or cobblers/  
Of no manner reputation.  
As for religious folk to be brief/  
In all England they have the chief/  
And most pleasant commodities.  
The goodly soils/ the goodly lands/  
Wrongfully they hold in their hands/  
Endued with many knights fees.  
By colour of their false prayers/  
Defrauded are the right heirs/  
From their true inheritance.  
They are the cause of misery/  
Of whoredom/ theft/ and beggary/  
To the comen wells hindrance.  
No fruitful work they use/  
All honest labour they refuse/  
given wholly to sluggesshnes.  
They are nether ghostly nor divine/  
But like to brut beasts and swine/  
Waltering in sinful wretchedness.  
I speak this of the possessioners/  
All though the mendicant orders/  
Are nothing less abominable.  
Whose living is with out laud/  
nourished in rapine and fraud/  
Grounded on losing detestable.  
They are the devils messengers/  
And of antichrist the members/  
Example of all perversite.  
They are idols of flattery/  
And apostles of hypocrisy/  
replenished with enormity.  
Lo/ here I have thus reported/  
How their life is partly ordered/  
And under what condition.  Wat. 
¶ That thou hast I make god a vow/  
insomuch that I marvayle how/  
Thou knowest their disposition.  
But I pray thee/ dost thou judge/  
That they will murmur and grudge/  
At the dead massis burying?  jef. 
¶ Ye sir I wis man I am sure/  
They will labour with busy cure/  
His sepulture forbidding.  
For why their superfluite/  
By the massis liberality/  
Only hath supportation.  Wat. 
¶ What supposest thou of men temporal?  jef. 
¶ I think they would hold here with all/  
If they had due information.  
Nevertheless at the beginning/  
deed mass among them to bring/  
There willbe some difficult.  
Be cause of long continuance/  
They have had trust and affiance/  
Thorough the mass saved to be.  
For these priests and friars persuade/  
That by the mass they shall evade/  
Eternal pain and punnysshment.  
Whose suffrage doth them great stead/  
Profitable both to quick and dead/  
After their mind and judgement.  Wat. 
¶ Ye to priests and friars miserable/  
Doubtless the mass is profitable/  
And is the mill of their welfare.  
But to the people without feigning/  
It is plain a fraudful deceiving/  
To make their porsse empty and bare.  
¶ Now truly I trow as thou dost say/  jef. 
Even there goeth the hare quite away/  
And all their babelling is but lies.  
All though there be other obstacles/  
Be cause of the great miracles/  
Daily practised before our eyes.  Wat. 
¶ Thou never sawest miracle wrought?  jef. 
¶ I/ no be him that me bought/  
But as the priests make rehearceall.  Wat. 
¶ Canst thou rehears me now one?  jef. 
¶ No I cannot/ but our sir John  
Can/ in his Enghlisshe festival.  Wat. 
¶ give they to such fables credence?  jef. 
¶ They have them in more reverence/  
Then the gospel a thousand fold.  
Also there is nether whoare nor thief/  
Nor any of so wicked mischief/  
But by the mass is made bold.  
For if they hear once a priests mass/  
They trust surly that day to pass/  
Without all apparel or daungeoure.  
Crafty sorcerers and false dice players/  
Pickeporses and prevy conveyors/  
By the mass hope to have succour.  
merchants passing voyages on far/  
And soudiars going forth to war/  
By the mass are oft preserved.  
Mass bringeth sinners to grace/  
And fiends away it doth chase/  
Above all things preferred.  
Mass solemniseth marriage/  
And keepeth people from damage/  
Causing also weather to be fair.  
Mass maketh tame things of wild/  
And helpeth women to be with child/  
Thorough assistance of the sayer.  
Mass availeth against sickness/  
A proved remedy for all distress/  
And for things that be gone.  
Thus to conclude with brevite/  
Of the whole church's felicity/  
The mass is maintainer alone.  Wat. 
¶ The nobles that be wise and sage/  
I suppose with such blind dotage/  
They cannot so foolishly beguile.  jef. 
¶ Troth it is/ some of them begin/  
To have little confidence there in/  
And less will with in a while.  
Which of the bishops is perceived/  
Wherefore they have now restrained/  
Under the pain of courssing.  
That no lay man do read or look/  
In any fruitful english book/  
Wholly scripture concerning.  
Their frantic folly is so pevisshe/  
That they contemn in english/  
To have the new Testament.  
But as for tales of Robin hood/  
With other jests nether honest nor good/  
They have none impediment.  
Their mad unsavery teachings/  
And their fantastical preachings/  
Among simple folk to promote.  
For no cost they spare nor stint/  
Openly to put them in print/  
Treading scripture under their foot.  
Also their decrees and decretal/  
With foolish dreams papistical/  
They compel people to read.  
How be it the confutation/  
Of their abomination/  
They will not softre to proceed.  Wat. 
¶ Keep thou silence and be whist/  
Though with great cracks they resist/  
For a little season present.  
Yet I warrant within shortt space/  
Mass will have there his beryinge place/  
According as it is convenient.  jef. 
¶ So much the worse for our thrift/  
For then there is none other shift/  
A new master we must us get.  Wat. 
¶ All though mass be dead and rotten/  
A master may lightly be gotten/  
If we our mind to labour set.  jef. 
¶ Ye but priests service is gay/  
For we may with them all way/  
In idleness have great respite.  Wat. 
¶ That for a christian man is not best/  
Born unto labour and not unto rest/  
As the foul is unto flight.  
But now all this matter to spare/  
Let us our master's dinner prepare/  
For it is high time verily.  jef. 
¶ A fellowship let us go a pace/  
For he will beshrew our face/  
If he find not all thing ready.  Wat. 
¶ Hawe/ I pray the yet abide/  
Set thy business a while a side/  
And let us have first a song.  jef. 
¶ What wouldest thou that I should sing?  Wat. 
¶ Surly some proper conveyed thing  
Not over tedious nor long.  jef. 
¶ I trow thou art a singing man?  
The devil of the whit that I can/  
But I love specially such gear.  jef. 
¶ Will thou have it merry or sad?  Wat. 
¶ I foarce not be it good or bad/  
So that I may some what hear/  jef. 
¶ If thou will thy mind satisfy/  
Get the into some monastery/  
And be a 'mong them in the choir.  Wat. 
¶ Do they use soche jolly singing?  jef. 
¶ It is the craft of their living/  
Whereby they make lusty cheer.  Wat. 
¶ But I understand not what they say/  jef. 
¶ By my sooth no more do they/  
I may show the in counsel.  Wat. 
¶ Shall I axe the now a question?  jef. 
¶ Ye hardly a God's benison/  
And I will not spare the to tell.  Wat. 
¶ Beware thou never in religion?  jef. 
¶ Yes so gdd help me and halydom/  
A dozen years continually.  Wat. 
¶ Then thou knowest much unhappiness?  jef. 
¶ A great deal more than goodness/  
I promise the faithfully.  Wat. 
¶ Well let us differ this till son/  
When our master's dinner is done/  
We will a gain come hither.  jef. 
¶ I am content even so to do/  Wat. 
¶ first sing a balett/ go to/  
And then will we to dinner.  jef. 
¶ Alas I am marvelously dry/  Wat. 
¶ Thou shalt drink man by an by/  
What needeth the so to linger?  jef. 

¶ Have at it in the best manner.   

¶ In the joyful month of jolly june/  
Walking all alone my care to solas.  
I heard a voice with a dolorous tune/  
Full piteously crying/ alas alas.  
The world is worse than evyr it was.  
Never so deep in miserable decay/  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

first to begin at the spretualte/  
Whose living should be example of grace.  
Endued with parfett works of charity/  
Seeking God's honour in every case.  
The world with his vanites they embrace.  
Renyinge god all though they say nay/  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

Of this world they have the chief dominion  
With stately pre-eminence temporal.  
They preasume to be had in opinion/  
Of the people/ as lords imperial.  
Worsshipfull seniors we must them call/  
requiring that we should to them obey/  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

The riches and goods of the comen we all/  
Hath set them in their honour full high.  
They are occasion that thieves do steal/  
And cause of all mischief and misery.  
The worldly treasure they consume idly.  
Nothing regarding but pastance and play  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

The labour of the power people they devower  
And of nobles they waste the patrimony.  
They teach and exhort men god to honour  
With their temporal substance and money.  
They claim tithes to support their folly.  
Inventing many a false offering day/  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

They ought of duty to preach the gospel/  
The words of life/ so dulcet and sweet.  
How be it there against chiefly they rebel/  
Christis doctrine trodden under their feet.  
They bear us in hand that it is not mete.  
The gospel to be known of people lay/  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

They should be meek/ and they are full of pride  
Void of true patience replete with ire.  
Envy they hold/ charity set a side/  
Retaining for chastity carnal desire.  
sloth and glotteny in their hole empire.  
Hath made temperance and labour to stray  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

emperors and king they trap in their lure/  
Deceiving them obey false adulation.  
So that of promocious they be sure/  
Full little they ponder their damnation.  
They give them no true information/  
And that evidently parceave they may/  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

The works of mercy upon them are spent.  
Pour people defrauding with injury.  
They drink the blood of souls innocent/  
Simple folk beguiling outrageously.  
Their foul filthy carks to magnify.  
They wrap in robes and costly array/  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

Goddis commandment they transgress openly  
To his godly love no respect having.  
They take his name in vain with blasfemy/  
Holy days after their own mind feigning  
To honour their parent they are disdaining  
More covetous than kites waiting apraye.  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

Lecherous lust lewdly they embrace/  
Forbidding wedlock against God's will.  
Their subject they oppress in wretched case/  
Prone unto murder christian men to spill.  
Sacrilege and simony is their corn mill.  
Using false witness the truth to delay/  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

The sacrament of christis ordinance.  
Institute our feeble faith to sustain.  
They have perverted unto our hindrance.  
Enforcing us to trust in trifles vain.  
Wother new sacrament falsely they feign.  
Obscuringe god word as much as they may  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

Christis freedom they have brought in bondage  
Of heavenly rights making merchandise.  
In ghostly works they covett advantage/  
To fede their insatiate covetise.  
Of the damnable mass they make a sacrifice  
compelling men dearly for it to pay/  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

Of hell and heaven they make chevesance/  
Feigning as they list a purgatory.  
Hypocrisy is leader of their dance/  
With wrong extortion and usury.  
Of Christis word they make heresy/  
Kedy and prompt christian men to betray/  
But it cannot thus endure all way.   

Wherefore briefly to fynnysshe my hand/  
O heavenly father/ upon the I call.  
Have pity on man/ whom thou hast made/  
To serve the in freedom spiritual.  
Rid us from antichristis bonds so thrall.  
Wherewith we are fast bound night and day  
That thy name be not blasphemed all way.   

Lo now I have done my best/  
To satisfy the request/  
According as thou desired'st.   Wat. 
¶ I will hold the then no longer/  
But look that thou remember/  
To fulfil that thou promisedst.   

¶ Here followeth the second part.  jef. 
O Lord god what good days/  
these monks have in abbeys/  
And do nether swett nor swink.  
They live in wealthiness and ease/  
Having what soever they please/  
With delicate meat and drink.  
Where with they farce their bellies so full/  
That to all goodness they are dull/  
Making merry with gill and joan.  
They sit sleeping in a corner/  
Or mombling their pater noster/  
Their mind nothing there upon.  
Be they never so strong or stark/  
They will exercise no manner work/  
Nor labour boddily.  Wat. 
¶ Art thou here jeffray mate?  jef. 
¶ Ye/ why comest thou so late?  
I am fain for the to tarry.  Wat. 
¶ I was troubled with the estates/  
I beshrew all their foolish pates/  
For coming here this day.  jef. 
¶ So mote I the I thought the same/  
how be it the steward was to blame/  
That he did no better porvaye.  Wat. 
¶ By thy faith/ had thou better far/  
In the cloister where as thou were/  
Under the rule of the manastery?  jef. 
¶ Far cotha? they eat their bellies full/  
Every man as much as he will/  
And none saith black is his eye?  Wat. 
¶ What do they for it/ any thing?  jef. 
¶ Truly nothing but read and sing/  
Passing the time with sport and play.  Wat. 
¶ That is a life in deed for the nonce/  
Thou ware a fool by these ten bones/  
When thou camest fro them away?  jef. 
¶ O I think myself much fortunate/  
That fro their life I am separate/  
saying it is so abominable.  Wat. 
¶ What abomination is there in?  jef. 
Alas mate all together is sin/  
And wretchedness most miserable.  Wat. 
¶ What a man of religion/  
Is reputed a dead person/  
To worldly conversation?  jef. 
¶ It is of a truth they are dead/  
For they are in no use nor stead/  
To christian men's consolation.  
And as a dead stinking carkace/  
Vnproffitably cloyeth a space/  
If it be kept above ground.  
So in their life superstitious/  
Of wicked crimes enormous/  
No manner proffitablenes is found/  Wat. 
¶ Yet their order is very straight?  jef. 
¶ Ye but they use such a conceit/  
That they make it easy enough.  
More easy by the twenty part/  
Then to labour in some arte/  
Or to go with the cart or plough.  Wat. 
¶ They have man the world forsaken/  
And a spiritual life taken/  
consisting in ghostly business.  jef. 
¶ What call ye the world I pray?  Wat. 
¶ Wealthy riches and pleasures gay/  
And occasions of sinfulness.  jef. 
¶ Then are they in the world still/  
For they have all that they will/  
With riches and possessions.  
And as touching the realm of vice/  
Pride/ wrath/ envy/ and avarice/  
With other sinful transgressions.  
In this world that we do name/  
There is none so far out of frame/  
And live in such outrageousness.  Wat. 
¶ Yet jeffrye thou errest so god me save/  
For the friars no possessions have/  
Butler live only by pure alms.  jef. 
¶ Friars? now they are worst of all/  
Ruffian wretches and rascal/  
Lodesmen of all knavisshnes.  
Though they be no possessioners/  
Yet are they intolerable beggars/  
living on rapyn and disobeyed.  
Worshipful matrons to beguile/  
Honourable virgins to defile/  
Continually they do wait.  
Of honesty they have no regard-  
To displease god they are not afeard/  
For the valour of a pin/  
Of whoredom they are the very bawds/  
Fraudulent inventors of frauds/  
Provocation unto sin.  
They are slander of vertousnes/  
Occasion unto viciousness  
Chickens of the devil's brood.  
To the truth they are adversaries/  
Diligent imageners of lies/  
Depravers of those that be good.  
They are antichristis godsones/  
Promowters' of his pardons/  
And proctors of simony.  
They are broker's heaven to sell/  
Fre copy holder's of hell/  
And fe farmers of purgatory.  
Of sathan they are the soldiers/  
And antichristis own mariners/  
His ship forwards to convey.  
And to conclude seriously/  
They are the hell hounds verily/  
enemies against God's word alway.  Wat. 
¶ Now thou art greatly oversene/  
For in places there as I have been/  
They do good I the certify.  
For if it were not for the friars/  
There would not be in seven years/  
A sermon in the power country.  
And as for their living truly/  
They beg people's alms purly/  
Taking such things as they give.  
They have no waist superfluite/  
But even their bare necessity/  
Scant enough whereby to leve.  jef. 
¶ I mean not that they are all bad/  
For I would the devil them had/  
Then with a fair deliverance.  
But of the greater part I thought/  
Which I say are worse than nought/  
Replete with mischevous vengeance.  
Their preaching is not scripture/  
But fables of their conjecture/  
And men's imaginations.  
They bring in old wives tales/  
Both of England/ France/ and Wales/  
Which they call holy narrations.  
And to them scripture they apply/  
Perverting it most shamefully/  
After their own opinions.  
Wherewith the people being fed/  
In to manifold errors are led/  
And wretched superstitions.  
Of Christ our merciful saveoure/  
They make a judge full of terror/  
Only threatening our dmnation.  
Whose faveoure as they falsely feign/  
We cannot be able to obtain/  
With out saints mediation.  
They say that holy men's suffrages/  
Pardons masses/ and pilgrimages/  
For sins make satisfaction.  
They bid us in our works to trust/  
Whereby they say that we must/  
Deserve our salvation.  
faith little or nothing they repute/  
Whereof we being destitute/  
Are brought into desperation.  
And as for their life doubtless/  
It is the well of ongraciousnes/  
Of iniquity the mirror.  
The alms that power folk should have/  
Wretchedly a way they do crave/  
Tolyve idly without labour.  
Dissaytes continually they do muse/  
And crafty falsehood daily they use/  
With simple folk greatly dissembling.  
They fear little whom they offend/  
Acustumed to rap and rend?  
All that cometh in their fingering.  
Their miserable disposition/  
Causeth strife and sedition/  
In all places where as they dwell.  
There is none unhappiness done/  
In any christian regione/  
But a friar is of the counsel.  
Though they say that their order/  
Is to have no thing in proper/  
But to use all things in common.  
Yet there is no commenalte/  
Which hath so great parcialite/  
As their miserable religione.  
For where as the heads principal/  
Whom master doctors they call/  
Live in wealthy abundance.  
The other are power and needy/  
Leading their lives in penury/  
Scant having their sustenance.  
Of their brother's vexation/  
They have no compassion/  
Despising those that be in sickness.  
Against all order of charity/  
They disdain forto have pete/  
upon them that are in destres.  
To show all their unhappiness/  
So abominable and shameless/  
It were over tedious and long.  Wat. 
¶ Thou hast said enough all ready/  
They cannot be moche worse lightly/  
If the devil be not them among.  jef. 
¶ As for that thou needest not fear/  
The devil with them is familiar/  
All way both at bed and at board.  Wat. 
¶ The observauntes are not so disposed?  jef. 
¶ Wilt thou have their life disclosed/  
briefly rehearsed at a word?  Wat. 
¶ Now mate I pray the heartily.  jef. 
¶ So god help me of all hypocrisy/  
They are the very foundation.  Wat. 
¶ Peace man/ what speakest thou?  
I perceive well thou errest now/  
With words of diffamation.  jef. 
¶ Why thinkest thou that I do err?  Wat. 
¶ Because the world doth them prefer/  
For their wholly conversation.  jef. 
¶ Ye so were the scribes and pharisays/  
Through their false hypocrisy ways/  
Among the jews in reputation.  
Nevertheless in inward manners/  
They were worse than open sinners/  
Whom our lord also did course.  Wat. 
¶ Makest of them such compareson?  jef. 
¶ Ye saving after my opinion/  
The observant are far worse.  Wat. 
¶ It is not possible to be so/  
For they show there as they go/  
Of simpleness great appearance.  jef. 
¶ Ye so doth the fox other while/  
All though he can many a wile/  
Pretend a simple countenance.  Wat. 
¶ Thou dost wrongfully surmise.  jef. 
¶ Nay I tell the it is their guise/  
To have two faces in a hood.  Wat. 
¶ What dost thou mean thereby?  jef. 
¶ That they are dissemblers universally/  
And few or none of them be good.  Wat. 
¶ They use no whoredom/ nor robbery/  
Nor take men's goods wrongfully/  
As far as I can hear or see?  jef. 
¶ Open advoutrers they are none/  
Yet are they not virgens every eachone/  
All though they profess chastity.  
They have pollutions detestable/  
And in ward brenning intolerable/  
Of the fleshly concupiscence.  
Ye and other whiles advoutry/  
With other means of lechery/  
Cloaked under a feigned pretence.  
Which to overcome certainly/  
They use not the right remedy/  
Of our lord is institution.  
giving heed to sprites of errors/  
And doctrine of devilish doctors/  
Which do make prohibition.  
And as touching theft to be plain/  
They are the greatest thieves that reign/  
In all the world now a days  
For all other thieves commonly/  
Of them which have abundantly/  
And of rich folk take their prays.  
But the observaunt no people do spare  
Making their quest every where/  
With most importunate craving.  
To beg of the power and needy/  
They are as dogs most greedy/  
And wolves incessantly raging.  Wat. 
¶ Yet they never handle money?  jef. 
¶ No for that is a subtle policy/  
To uphold their mad disgysing.  
For when antichrist satans son/  
To stablish his realm had begoune/  
Temporal honour despising.  
To have all in his donimion/  
He made made many a religion/  
With outward holiness appearing.  
Which into sects innumerable/  
Were divided with out fable/  
The world in care forto bring.  
By their coloured devotion/  
To the people they gave a motion/  
Their favour craftily purchasing.  
And so by their contriving cast/  
The got clean a way at the last/  
Their chief possessions temporally.  
Whereby lay people oppressed sore/  
Scant could they give any more/  
Concerning lands and patrimony.  
Then came the four orders of friars/  
Which are the substantial pillars/  
Of antichristis maintenance.  
So holy themselves they did make/  
That all possessions they did forsake/  
Wilful poverty to enhance.  
To live by alms they did pretend/  
And received all that god did send/  
Sheawing tokens of perfection.  
Wherefore the people did them honour/  
With greater love and faveoure/  
Then those that had possession.  
Except livelod and lands only/  
They received all that came freely/  
Whether it were money or ware.  
How be it they did multiply/  
In all provinces so innumerably/  
Through the world in every quartear.  
That the people waxed weary/  
saying they could not keep a penny/  
But the friars would beg it away.  
At the last came the observaunt/  
Of antichrist the trusty servant  
To bring the world in more decay.  
And lest they should seem chargeable/  
They found a new way deceavable/  
To beguiled both young and old.  
They were of such supersticione/  
That in proper or in common/  
They would nothing keep nor hold.  
Of their needs having the use/  
To handle money they did refuse/  
Feigning austerite of penance.  
Whereby with desirous affect/  
The people had a great respect/  
Unto their painted observance.  
In so much that though their lands/  
Was given clean out of their hands/  
By means of the possessioners.  
And also most greveously oppressed/  
With the daily craving and quest/  
Of the unsatiate friar beggars.  
Yet the observaunt seemed so perfect/  
That to help them they judged it/  
With out charge a thing charitable.  
Wherefore all the other sects/  
In manner reputed abjects/  
The observaunt were honourable.  
upon whom the works of mercy/  
Were bestowed continually/  
With superfluous abundance.  
And so under a lewd colour/  
In idleness they did devour/  
The power peoplis sustenance.  
They have increased so their number/  
That all the world they do encumber/  
With intolerable oppression.  
They are more noyous agret deal/  
In hindrance of the comen wealle/  
Above any other faction.  
For where as the people afore/  
Were half beggared and more/  
By the other orders afore said.  
They rob the world utterly/  
Causing it with extreme beggary/  
In great ruin to be dekayde.  Wat. 
¶ Thou speakest against conscience/  
For we perceive by experience/  
What a godly life they lead.  
They fly diligently all excess/  
Living in poverty and scasnes/  
With small drink and brown bread.  jef. 
¶ thinkest thou they live in penury?  Wat. 
¶ Or else they are hypocrites verily/  
Of shameful dissimulation.  jef. 
¶ Say that hardly once again/  
For they lead a life to be plain/  
Full of worldly delectation/  
first they have beef and mutton/  
Of the chief that may be gotten/  
With bred and drink of the best.  
And that morover so largely/  
That to farce and stuff their belly/  
They take more than they can deiest.  
They have sauces with every dish/  
Whither that it be flesh or fish/  
Or else they will not be content.  
To eat bred that is brown or stolen/  
Ether to drink thin bier or ale/  
They count it not convenient.  
And many times they have dainties/  
Sent from divers lords and ladies/  
Their wholly suffrages to procure.  Wat. 
¶ Yet they nether bake nor brew.  jef. 
¶ No for all labour they eschew/  
I the faithfully ensure.  Wat. 
¶ How have they their meat roast or bake?  jef. 
¶ Wother men for them the pain take/  
Whom spiritual fathers they call.  Wat. 
¶ And have they no spiritual mothers?  jef. 
¶ Yes with many sisters and brothers/  
And also daughters spiritual.  Wat. 
¶ How come they to kindred so nigh/  jef. 
¶ Because they can flatter and lie/  
Making believe the cow is wood.  Wat. 
¶ They cannot lie though they would/  
For they will nether silver nor gold/  
Nor covet any man's good.  jef. 
¶ Trowest thou they covyt nothing/  
Where as they come a begging/  
To the house of a power man?  
Which hath both wife and children/  
And is not able to find them/  
Soing the best that ever he can.  
Yet he must unto the friars give/  
All though he should his household grieve/  
Having nought themselves to eat.  Wat. 
¶ O they have then the greater meed.  jef. 
¶ Ye god give them evil to speed/  
That do power creatures so entreat.  
For they should their living get/  
With boddely labour and swett/  
Whereby they might help other.  Wat. 
¶ So they do help them spretually.  jef. 
¶ Soche spretualnes I defy/  
When power people die for hunger.  Wat. 
¶ Men say they are good to the power/  
And give every day at their doer/  
Grett alms and refreshing.  jef. 
¶ They give alms/ but how?  
When they have eaten enough/  
Their greedy paunches replenishing.  
Then gadder they up their levett/  
Not the best morsels but gobbett/  
Which unto power people they deal.  Wat. 
¶ Then are they like with out doubt/  
Unto certain thieves devout/  
Which though they use to steal.  
Yet they are liberal and free/  
If any power creature they see/  
To give him part of their stolen gear,  jef. 
¶ Now truly their disposition/  
Is not unlike of condition/  
Saving in this point they differ.  
That where as thieves liberally/  
give their goods gotten wrongfully/  
To the power with true affection.  
They give no thing in very troth/  
But scraps which they would be loath/  
To use again in their refection.  Wat. 
¶ Power folk yet commend them greatly.  jef. 
¶ But if they knew as much as I/  
They would rather on them complain.  Wat. 
¶ How do they power people offend?  jef. 
¶ By cause in idleness they spend/  
Which unto them should pertain.  Wat. 
¶ They are not idle I dare say/  
Whyl they read/ sing/ and pray  
Continually every hour.  jef. 
¶ I call it idleness unproffetable/  
Which in no case is comfortable/  
To the necessity of our neighbour.  Wat. 
¶ Well yet the apostle doth write/  
A just man's prayer doth profit/  
And is very efficacious.  jef. 
¶ Are they just in thy reputation?  Wat. 
¶ After their own affirmation/  
Truly they are just and righteous.  jef. 
¶ Then it is an evident token/  
That they are of whom it is spoken/  
We vobis qui iustificatis vos ipsos.  Wat. 
¶ What dost thou by these words note?  jef. 
¶ That under neath a friars cote/  
Moche hypocrisy they gloze.  Wat. 
¶ Reputest thou it hypocrisy/  
That they use to go so holily/  
In cut shoes with out any hose?  jef. 
¶ Be it hypocrisy or no/  
To mangill their good shoes so/  
Me thinketh it but foolishness.  Wat. 
¶ They cut but the upper leather/  jef. 
¶ No for it is much easier/  
Then to cut the soles doubtless.  Wat. 
¶ They do it for penance sake/  jef. 
¶ For all that great shift they make/  
To avoid all corporal sofferaunce.  Wat. 
¶ They show signs of penance outwardly.  jef. 
¶ Ye but they find soche a remedy/  
That they feel little grevaunce.  
For in covent where as they are/  
Thick mantles of friese they wear/  
With socks to keep their feet warm  
Then have they fire at their pleasure/  
And to sit thereby at their leaysure/  
No man saying them any harm.  
And when they walk their stations/  
They seek gentlemen's habitations/  
Where as they far deliciously.  
For be there never so great press/  
They are set up at the hy dease/  
Taken like lords honourably.  
They have also to wash their feet/  
Water made hot with erbes sweet/  
And a good fire in their chamber.  
Then have they bred/ ale/ and wine/  
With a rich bed of down fine/  
Decked after the best manner.  
And peradventure the good father/  
Hath in his sleve a bladder/  
Full of ginger/ nutmegs or grains.  
Which to make the drink mighty/  
He putteth therein a quantity/  
To comfort and warm his veins.  Wat. 
¶ They find not this wheresoever they come?  jef. 
¶ Sir I wis it is their custom/  
In gentlemen's places commonly.  Wat. 
¶ Yet when they go on far journeys/  
They cannot espy out all ways/  
gentlemen's houses so readily.  jef. 
¶ Marry before their departing/  
They have by mouth or writing/  
The names of places where they dwell.  Wat. 
¶ Some time they fail yet I judge?  jef. 
¶ Then do they mormor and grudge/  
Like youge devils of hell.  Wat. 
¶ They want such things in their cloister?  jef. 
¶ concerning the fare of their froyter/  
I did tell the afore partly.  
But then they have guessed chambers/  
Which are ordained for strangers/  
And for fathers to make merry.  
There have they ale/ wine/ and byre/  
And in winter time a good fire/  
With gay conceits many other.  Wat. 
¶ What is their communication?  jef. 
¶ By my sooth murmuration/  
One backbiting another.  Wat. 
¶ They have nothing to murmur fore.  jef. 
¶ I tell the they murmur more/  
Then any persons that I know.  
Full of envious suspicion/  
Overwhelmed with ambition/  
Though their vocation be low.  
With all diligence they labour/  
To obtain noble men's favour/  
And to be ladies' confessors.  
In such matters daily they boast/  
Who with great estates may do most/  
Reckoning them self wise seniors.  Wat. 
¶ Do they desire to be conversant/  
In courts of virtue so scant/  
Entangled with all ungraciousness?  jef. 
¶ They are content to be partners/  
With all ungracious livers/  
If so be they give them alms.  Wat. 
¶ I put case they give nothing?  jef. 
¶ Then whether he be lord or king/  
They will his manners deprave.  
How be it though they be advoutrers/  
Extorsioners/ or whoremongers/  
If to be their friends they witsave.  
Then with great commendation/  
In their flattering predication/  
They will their acts magnify.  
Wherefore whoares/ thieves/ and bawds/  
And all such as live by frawdes/  
To their order have a fantasy.  Wat. 
¶ How do they which are true preachers?  jef. 
¶ They are charged in their chapters/  
Under their prelatis straight precept.  
That against their good founders/  
Benefacters/ and friendly doers/  
No enormities they detect.  Wat. 
¶ If they set men thus to school/  
I trow they make many a fool/  
Of ladies and gentle women.  jef. 
¶ Shall I show the how they do?  Wat. 
¶ Now for our lords sake go to/  
To tell the cast of this wholly men.  jef. 
¶ first it is their custom ever/  
To go/ two and two together/  
Except a great impediment.  
And so to my lady's chamber/  
Foremost pricketh in the elder/  
Which of them is most ancient.  
As soon as my lady he doth see/  
With a countenance of gravite/  
He saluteth her nobleness.  
My lady then of his coming/  
Affectously rejoicing/  
Welcometh him with gladness.  
The father then with his glozing style/  
After that he hath preached a while/  
With babbling adulation.  
My lady with many a good morrow/  
beginneth her tale to follow/  
Speaking after this fashion.  
O father ye do great penance/  
To win eternal inheritance/  
Throw prayer/ fast/ and watching.  
Ye use forto swear no oaths/  
lying evermore in your clothes/  
Nether sheets nor shurtes wearing.  
Ambition ye set a side/  
Flying worldly pomp and pride/  
Which with us is daily in ure.  
Happy are ye and fortunate/  
To live inso parfet a state/  
Where to be saved ye are sure.  
If it were not for your wholines/  
This world full of viciousness/  
Had been destroyed long or this.  
How be it/ ye do pacify/  
The rigour of god almighty/  
Toward us that live a mis.  
The father then with words of comfort/  
beginneth my lady to exhort/  
saying thus/ o good madame.  
Your ladyship needeth not to care/  
For we pray daily for your welfare/  
Or else we were greatly to blame.  
Wholly. S. Frances do you meed/  
Many a power friar ye do feed/  
Of your bounteous charity.  
Wherefore ye were made sister/  
In the last general chapter/  
Of our whole confraternite.  
By means whereof ye are partaker/  
Of our watching/ fast/ and prayer/  
Remembering you in our memento.  
There is no day that cometh to pass/  
But ye have part of many a mass/  
Preserving you from careful wo.  
Wholly. S. Frances also him self/  
Which is above the apostles twelve/  
next unto Christ in authority.  
Shallbe your perpetual defence/  
Against sickness and pestilence/  
Souckering you in adversity.  
And for a sure approbation/  
He bringeth forth a narration/  
De libro conformitatum.  
how. S. Frances their advoury/  
Once in the year entereth purgatory/  
When that his fest day doth come.  
And from thence he taketh out/  
Those which to him were devout/  
Or to his order charitable.  
Thus my lady not very wise/  
Is brought in to fool's paradise/  
Thorough their words disceavable.  Wat. 
¶ Hath Christ among them no place?  jef. 
¶ Christ catha? in no manner case/  
He is rather to their damage.  
Be cause thorough his passion/  
For us he made satisfaction/  
Without any man's suffrage.  
Whose doctrine if they did observe/  
Plainly for hunger they should starve/  
Except they would to labour fall.  Wat. 
¶ How conclude they then at the end?  jef. 
¶ My lady must to their covent send/  
Her blessing with a trental.  Wat. 
¶ What is the trental/ in paper?  jef. 
¶ Or else in good gold or silver/  
To make them a recreation.  Wat. 
¶ They will not for all England/  
Handill money with their bare hand/  
As I have had information.  jef. 
¶ Yet in golden cups to drink/  
And to touch women I think/  
No great apparel they do advert.  
And though some of them never dare/  
touch any coin with hands bare/  
Yet they touch it with their hertt.  
They have also withouten losing/  
Money in other men's keeping/  
Ready at their commandment.  
Which by the writing of a bill/  
In what soever uses they will/  
Daily is bestowed and spent.  
In any covent where they be/  
Very few of them thou shalt see/  
But have a friend temporally.  
To whom for every tryfill vain/  
That cometh once into their brain/  
If by writing they signify.  
Though it cost a noble or twain/  
By and by they shall it attain/  
Not foarsing what is laid out.  
Which truly if they should purchase/  
With labour and swett of their face/  
They would wotherwyse look about.  Wat. 
¶ If it be as thou dost express/  
Plainly their rule they do transgress/  
Retaining in comen or in proper.  jef. 
¶ They have the pope's declaration/.  
Making thereof a mitigation/  
In most favourable manner.  
Under whose devilish protection/  
They have put them in subjection/  
As children of iniquity.  
Wherefore he taketh to his person/  
The name of their dominion/  
To use it gevynge liberty.  
They have scant as much as a lousse/  
Nether clothes/ church/ nor house/  
But the pope there of is awner.  Wat. 
¶ Why ascribe they it to the pope?  jef. 
¶ By cause with such craft they hope/  
To beguiled people secular.  
For where as they live wealthily/  
And have all thing abundantly/  
According to their appetite.  
Yet under such false pretence/  
They fain to soffre indigence/  
contemning all worldly delight.  
The pope also for this intent/  
Because to his errors they consent/  
Allowing his abominations.  
Granteth to their avauntages/  
Many bulls and previleges/  
With wretched confirmations.  
Whose favour to recompense/  
Against all good conscience/  
They preach as much as they may.  
That the people with reverence/  
Continue still in obedience/  
Of the pope's rule night and day.  
Though his works be contrary/  
They say that he is God's vicary/  
And of Christ the leftenaunte/▪  
Making of a fiend/ and angel/  
Christ/ of antichrist rebel/  
A saint/ of the devils servant.  Wat. 
¶ I supposed with out dissembling/  
That they used in their preaching/  
All ways to sheawe the verity.  
saying among the states royal/  
They were reputed substantial/  
With out any partiality.  
They used to go in power wede/  
Exhorting both in word and deed/  
Unto the joy celestial.  
As though they had no earthly love/  
But only to the life above/  
Despising the joys of this life mortal.  jef. 
¶ The wholynes that they did sheawe/  
Principally did over throw/  
The faith of all christendom.  
For they were confederate/  
With antichrist so inveterate/  
Called the Pope of Rome.  
Whose laws to set in renown/  
Christis doctrine they plucked down/  
Perverting all wholly scripture.  
And yet so perfett they did apere/  
That great men's confessions to here/  
In every place they had the cure.  
They pretended such parfetnes/  
That simple people more and les/  
Unto their words gave credence.  
Whatsoever fables they did tell/  
They were taken as the gospel/  
Approved with comen sentence.  
Wherefore by their seduction/  
They have been the destruction/  
Of all true christian liberty.  
They make cruelness of mercy/  
Perfection of hypocrisy/  
And of freedom captivity.  
Of counterfeited simlation/  
They imagine mortification/  
Turning faith to infidelity.  
idleness they name contemplation/  
Feigning zeal of murmuration/  
enemies to charitable amity.  Wat. 
¶ I marvayle moche and wonder/  
That they should have any anger/  
Or any envious debate.  
saying from worldly royalty/  
And promotions of dignity/  
They are willingly private.  jef. 
¶ Though they have no worldly honours/  
Yet nether kings ne emperors/  
Nor other states of the temperalte.  
Have such strife in their provision/  
As observauntes in their religion/  
With deadly hatred and enmity.  
To be made confessors/ and preachers/  
Wardens/ discretes/ and ministers/  
And other offices of prelacy.  
With grievous malice and rancour/  
One against another doth mumur/  
Full of craft and inconstancy.  
They have nether dread nor shame/  
Their faultless brethren to defame/  
Having none occasion why.  
Young men against their superiors/  
And prelate's against their inferiors/  
One at another hath envy.  
In chapters and visitations/  
They use wrong accusations/  
With many slanderous injuries  
They execute sharp corrections/  
To punish the transgressions/  
Of their fantastycke ceremonies.  
God and his laws they omit/  
Aplyinge their malicious wit/  
To keep man's inventions.  
They are patrons of idolatry/  
Promouters unto heresy/  
And bringers up of dissensions.  Wat. 
¶ Now by the faith of my body/  
The obsevaunt are not so holy/  
As they do outwardly seem.  jef. 
¶ If thou knew manifestly/  
What a life they occupy/  
Thou wouldest marvayle I dame.  Wat. 
¶ I have heard enough and to much/  
If their conversation be such/  
It is pite that they are souffered.  
But now touching the manners/  
Of these religious possessioners/  
I would hear somewhat more uttered.  jef. 
¶ I told the in the beginning/  
How their wicked living/  
Is greatly abominable.  
Mark their life intentifely/  
And thou shalt not therein espy/  
Eny thing that is commendable.  Wat. 
¶ What sayest thou then of their vows?  
Whereby themselves they spouse/  
To god/ by a certain promise.  jef. 
¶ Surly in it Christ they forsake/  
And themselves wholly they betake/  
To live in the devils serves.  Wat. 
¶ Why/ they profess chastity/  
Obedience/ and wilful poverty/  
Which allmygthy god doth approbate.  jef. 
¶ Ye for all that I promise thee/  
They keep none of all the three/  
With mundane affections intricate.  Wat. 
¶ All worldliness they do renounce.  jef. 
¶ Though with words they so pronounce/  
Their hearts do not consent.  Wat. 
¶ They observe tuly obedience.  jef. 
¶ Ye but saving reverence/  
Nothing after Christis intent.  
For after God's intendment/  
They should obey their parent.  
Honouring them as is their duty.  
Nor with standing they are so mad/  
Their fathers and mothers are glad/  
To honour them reverently.  
And where as holy scripture would/  
That unto all powers we should/  
Obey as to God's ordinance.  
They are under no power at all/  
Nether spiritual nor temporal/  
To the comen weallis furtherance.  Wat. 
¶ They obey unto their prelate/  
At all seasons yearly and late/  
His precept accomplishing.  jef. 
¶ I will not deny they do obey/  
Unto the ruler of their abbey/  
A carl of their own choosing.  
Yet is it in superstitiousness/  
Withouten any profitableness/  
Of their neighbours comfort.  
They serve themselves and no more/  
Caring little how the world go/  
So that they have pleasure and sport.  
And contrary the seculars/  
Are under temporal rulers/  
With their children and wives.  
At all seasons priest and ready/  
Tu put themselves in jeopardy/  
adventuring both goods and lives.  
To serve the king in war and peace/  
They put themselves alway in press/  
The defence of the realm assisting.  
Where as the religious sects/  
Unto no laws are subjects/  
Obeying nether god nor king.  
If the king will their service use/  
Forth with they lay for an excuse/  
That they must do God's business.  
And if in it they be found negligent/  
They say the king is impediment/  
Because they must do him serves.  
And if the king shall them compel/  
Then obstymatly they do rebel/  
Fleinge to the pope's maintenance.  
Of whom they obtain exemptions/  
From all the jurisdictions/  
Of temporal governannce.  Wat. 
¶ Of the pope with out great expense/  
They can obtain no such defence/  
As men say which do it know.  jef. 
¶ Yet are they so far out of tune/  
That they do their goods so consume/  
Rather then in good uses to bestow.  Wat. 
¶ I perceive by this with out fail/  
Their obedience doth not provayle/  
But what sayest thou to their poverty?  jef. 
¶ What need I thereof to speak/  
Considering they do it break/  
Endued with rich felicity.  Wat. 
¶ Do they such lyvelod possess?  jef. 
¶ They have in manner the riches/  
Of every land and nation.  
namely in England region/  
They exceed in possession/  
And lordly domination.  
The black order hath more alone/  
Then all the nobles every eachone/  
As touching their patrimony.  
Thou wouldest surly marvel/  
To see their fare and apparel/  
In all points superfluusly.  
There be monks of such statlynes/  
That scant will suffer at their mass/  
A lord of blood with them to sit.  
Whose proud service to behold/  
In plate of silver and gold/  
It passeth a man's wit.  
Knights and squires honourable/  
Are fain to serve at their table/  
As unto Suits excellent.  
Sivers of them have the degree/  
Of worthy Earls in dignity/  
And are lords of the parliament.  Wat. 
¶ They descend of famous progeny?  jef. 
¶ Ye beggars sons most commonly/  
Their father's scant worth a groat.  
Coming first to the abbey gate/  
A begging with a scalled pate/  
having nether good shirt nor coat.  
Which as soon as he is ones clad/  
For a gentleman he is had/  
Though he be but a stark gnaw.  Wat. 
¶ Soche poverty is plenty/  
For by it avoiding scacite/  
All wealthiness they have.  jef. 
¶ It is truly their fishing net/  
Power men's goods away to get/  
To satify their gluttenny.  
It is the gulf of devoration/  
And fountain of desolation/  
To all people generally.  
Whereof in wholly scripture/  
Is written a notable figure/  
showed in the book of Daniel/  
how the priests of Babilone/  
With falsehood according in one/  
Had an idol called Bell.  
Outwardly made all of brass/  
And inwardly of earth it was/  
Having a receit so devised.  
That the idol seemed to devowere  
An. C. sheep with wine and flower/  
Daily unto it sacryfised.  
Which the priests with their whores/  
Thorough crafty contrived doors/  
Entreinge in the night secretly.  
And there making recreation/  
They consumed the oblation/  
Oppressing the people grevously.  
Which seemed so strange a thing/  
That both the people and the king/  
Reputed it a great miracle.  
Until Daniel at the last/  
Perceavynge their disceavable cast/  
Against it made an obstacle.  
He uttered to their confusion/  
The execrable illusion/  
Wherewith the folk they sore noyed.  
Causing by his policy/  
That this idol utterly/  
Was broken and destroyed.  Wat. 
¶ Whereto dost thou this compare?  jef. 
¶ Of religious persons to declare/  
The intolerable enormity.  
For as the priests with their idol/  
The power people did pill and poll/  
By their dissaytfull sutrelte.  
So the children of perdition/  
Named men of religion/  
With their wilful poverty.  
The wide world forto beggar/  
day and night they indever/  
blinding the people's simplicity.  Wat. 
¶ I marvayle men make no restraint/  
Their dissaytfulnes to attaint/  
whiles it is open and apart.  jef. 
¶ Daniel is not yet come/  
Which shall obtain the room/  
Their fraudful ways to subvert▪  Wat. 
¶ When shallbe then his coming?  jef. 
¶ I ensure the or long running/  
For he beginneth to draw near.  Wat. 
¶ Well then/ this matter to remit/  
I would very fain a little fit/  
Of their chastity to hear.  jef. 
¶ To tell the of their chastity/  
It lieth not in my capacity/  
The shamfullnes thereof to comprise.  Wat. 
¶ Men say they live blissedly/  
With out act of matrimony/  
Ensuing virtuous exercise.  jef. 
¶ Their cloisters are the devils mwes  
far worse than any stwes/  
Or comen places of whoredom.  
They are the dens of baudines/  
And furnaces of all letcherousnes/  
Like unto Gomer and Sodom.  
Young lads and babes innocent/  
They bring in by their intysment/  
To their lewd congregation.  
Whom they reccave to profession/  
Before that they have discretion/  
To their eternal damnation.  
For when they feel by experience/  
The burning of the concupiscence/  
pricking their hearts with love.  
considering also their bondage/  
How they can use no marriage/  
As a christian man doth behoove.  
Then to quench their apetytes/  
They are fain to be sodomites/  
Abusing themselves unnaturally.  
And so from hope of salvation/  
They fall into desperation/  
Ordering their lives most shamefully.  Wat. 
¶ I will not say the contrary/  
But among a great company/  
One or two such thou mayst find.  jef 
¶ Make the company great or small/  
Among a thousand find thou shall/  
Scant one chaste of body and mind  Wat. 
¶ They say yet with bold audacity/  
That it resteth in man's faculty/  
If he will/ to live chastened.  jef. 
¶ Then make they Christ a liar/  
Calling it a gift singular/  
Not given to every body.  
Paul also in his epistle/  
Unto Timothe his disciple/  
writing by spirit of prophecy.  
Names it a devilish doctrine.  
Which against scripture divine/  
Forbiddeth folk to marry.  
Morover the stories not feigning/  
The lives of old father's containing/  
give reccorde to the same.  
Which endued with godly science/  
exercising continual abstinence.  
The lusts of the flesh to tame.  
Yet few or none had the grace/  
With all their labour to purchase/  
The singular gift of chastity.  
How should they then live chaste/  
That of gostlynes have no taste/  
given holy to carnalite.  
Which as wolves and belly beasts.  
Eating and drinking in their feasts/  
The blood of the power commenalte/  
They hate such as are studious/  
Abhorring those that are virtuous/  
As a toad/ or poisoned serpent.  
With out knowledge as asses brute/  
Of all good manners destitute/  
Braynles and incipient.  Wat. 
¶ I see then he were a very child/  
Which would any more abbeys build/  
If the goods should be so ill spent.  jef 
¶ It were fare better I suppose/  
To pluck down a great sort of those/  
Which are all ready of costly bilding/  Wat. 
¶ Our lord forbidden/ that were pete/  
For they keep hospitalite/  
way faring people harboring.  
Husband men and labourers/  
With all comen artificers/  
They cause to have great earning.  
Their towns and villages/  
With out exactions or pillages/  
Under them have much winning.  
They keep also many servants/  
Retaining farmers and tenants/  
Which by them have their living.  jef. 
¶ Hospital abbeys thou findest but few/  
All though some of them for asheawe/  
To blyndfelde the people's sight.  
Paraventure will not denay/  
If a gentle man come that way/  
To give him lodging for a night.  
But if power men thither resort/  
They shall have full little comfort/  
Nether meat/ drink/ ne lodging.  
Saving other whiles perhaps/  
They get a few broken scrap  
Of these cormorant levynge.  Wat. 
¶ Well yet their fare considering/  
It is I wis no small thing/  
That they leave daily at their board.  jef. 
¶ Ye but thorough false lorchers/  
And unthrifty abbey lobbers/  
To power folk little they a ford.  
For the best meat away they carve/  
Which for their harlot must serve/  
With other friends of their kin.  
Then proll the serving officers/  
With the yeomen that be waiters/  
So that their levett are but thin.  
And where as thou makest relation/  
That men of sundry occupation/  
By them are set unto labour.  
It is about such foolishness/  
Concerning no proffytablenes/  
Unto their neighbours succour.  
In building of chambers curious/  
Church's/ and houses/ superfluous/  
To no purpose expedient.  
So that they may satisfy/  
Their inordinate fantasy/  
They care for no detriment.  
Set dice and card players a side/  
And thorough out the world so wide/  
They waste their good most in vain.  
Their pride maketh many a beggar/  
Few or none faring the better/  
Except an idle javel or twain.  
Their towns sometime of renown/  
Lewdly they cause to fall down/  
The honour of the land to mar.  
They sue their subiett at the law/  
Whom they make not worth a straw/  
Raining them guiltless at the bar.  
And that I me now report/  
To their lordships a great sort/  
With whom they had controversys.  
namely/ Saint Edmondis berry/  
With divers other a great many/  
Under the hold of monasteries.  
Furthermore there as I did won/  
All husband men they have undone/  
Destroying the land miserably.  Wat. 
¶ To prove that it were very hard.  jef. 
¶ Take heed how farmers go backward/  
And thou shalt see it with thine eye.  
For the lands wealth principally/  
standeth in exercise of husbandry/  
By increase of cattles and tilling.  
Which as long as it doth prosper/  
The realm goeth backward never/  
In stable felicity persevering.  
The abbeys then full of covetise/  
Whom possessions could not suffice/  
Ever more and more encroaching.  
After they had spoiled gentle men/  
They undermined husband men/  
In this manner them robbing.  
Where a farm for xx.lj. was set/  
Under xxx they would not it let/  
Raising it up on so high a some.  
That many a good husholder/  
Constrained to give his farm over/  
To extreme beggary did come.  Wat. 
¶ I have heard say of mine elders/  
That in England many farmers/  
Rept gay households in times passed.  jef. 
¶ Ye that they did with liberality/  
Sheawing to power people charity/  
But now all together is dashed.  
Of rich farm places and halls/  
Thou seist nothing but bare walls/  
The roses fallen to the ground/  
To turn fair houses into pasture/  
They do their diligent cure/  
The comen well to confownde.  Wat. 
¶ How have the abbeys their payment?  jef. 
¶ A new way they do invent/  
letting a dozen farms under one.  
Which one or two rich franckling/  
occupying a dozen men's living/  
Take all in their own hands alone.  Wat. 
¶ The other in paying their rend/  
Be lycklyhod were negligent/  
And would not do their duty.  jef. 
¶ They paid their duty and more/  
But their farms are heythed so sore/  
That they are brought unto beggary.  Wat. 
¶ Have the franckling thereby no gain?  jef. 
¶ Yes/ but first they have moche pain/  
Yer they can get it substantially.  
paying more for the entering in/  
Then they shallbe able to win/  
A good while after certainly.  
For to get the abbott consent/  
Under the seal of the covent/  
It is a thing very costly.  
Where of the charges to recover/  
Lest they should themselves enpover/  
And be brought into decay.  
Power cilly shepperd they get/  
Whom into their farms they set/  
living on milk/ whyg/ and whey.  Wat. 
¶ Merciful lord/ who heard ever tell/  
Religious folk to be so cruel/  
Supplanting the temporalty.  jef. 
¶ Thou knowest not watkyn fellow/  
How they have brought to sorrow/  
In likewise the spretualte.  Wat. 
¶ By what manner cavillation?  jef. 
¶ Surly through improperation/  
Of innumerable benefices.  Wat. 
¶ Do they benefices improperate?  jef. 
¶ Ye and that many a curate.  
Daily course their cruel bellies.  Wat. 
¶ They eat nether church ne steeple.  jef. 
No but they rob the power people/  
Devowring their substance.  Wat. 
¶ If they do spretually sow/  
They may well temporally mow/  
After the apostles ordinance.  jef. 
¶ Toshe they have it better cheap/  
For they temporal goods reap/  
And sow nothing spretually.  
Their parisshons they shear and clip/  
But they never open their lip/  
To give them any food ghostly.  Wat. 
¶ Happily they do it in prevete.  jef. 
¶ So god help me it may well be/  
Under some secret clausure.  
For it is surly so invisible/  
That I trow it is not possible/  
To be seen of any creature.  Wat. 
¶ What require they of benefices?  jef. 
¶ No thing but to have the sleces/  
And avauntages carnally.  Wat. 
¶ I perceive not well thy meaning.  jef. 
¶ They are readier to take up tithing/  
Then to preach to them frutfully.  Wat. 
¶ Is there any great differing/  
between theft and tithe gathering/  
After the practise that we see?  jef. 
¶ Very little/ all things reckoned/  
Saving that thieves are corrected/  
And rythe gatherers go scott fire.  Wat. 
¶ Have they no circumspection/  
With diligent affection/  
For their paresshes to provide?  jef. 
¶ They set in foolish dotards/  
More meet forto be bearwardes/  
Then christian men's souls to guide.  
And even as they do by farmage/  
Bring the land into a rearage/  
contemning the state temporal.  
In like manner by their rapine/  
They have brought into ruin/  
The order ecclesiastical.  Wat. 
¶ It appeareth they are past grace.  jef. 
¶ They are the devils furnace/  
Oven infernal unsatiable.  Wat. 
¶ If these monks are so noyous/  
Both fraudulent and covetous/  
To what uses are they profitable?  jef. 
¶ Now by the death that I shall die/  
Of all people underneath the sky/  
The world may them best spare.  
Nether to the godly deite/  
Nor yet to man's utility/  
In any case profitable they are.  
And not only unnecessary/  
But moroever clean contrary/  
Defrauding that to them is due.  
For though their life so vicious/  
To God's laws is injurious/  
Confownding the way of virtue.  
Yet are they more presompteous/  
saying their works meritorious/  
Help sinners to be God's heirs.  
Whereby Christis blood they despise/  
As though it could not suffice/  
With out their damnable prayers.  
And where as they should be priest/  
At all seasons doing their best/  
The comen well to maintain.  
Their bellies are so full of grease/  
That nether in war nor peace/  
They can do any help certain.  
Yet their finding they expend/  
Which should the land defend/  
Devowring many a knights fe.  
They are nether ghostly/ ner worldly/  
Rather devilish then godly/  
With out any good property.  Wat. 
¶ If they be soche idle raveners/  
They are like to the great coursers/  
Which noble men in stables keep.  
For they are cheresed all way/  
With fresh litter and good hay.  
Doing right nought but eat and sleep.  jef. 
¶ There is in them grett diversite/  
For if it come to extremity/  
They save their masters from yvill.  
Where as these miserable bribers/  
Bring their founders and helpers/  
The straight way to the devil.  Wat. 
¶ Are they like to wolves ravenous?  jef. 
¶ A great deal more outrageous/  
far exceeding their rapacite.  
For though they be cruel of kind/  
Yet they leave their skins be hind/  
As a mends for their cruelty  
But this mischevous mounckry/  
Though they rob every country/  
whiles they be here a live.  
Yet can they not be so pleased/  
But after that they be deceased/  
Least any by them should thrive.  
They carry into their sepulture/  
Their daily clothing and vesture/  
Buried in their churlysshe habit.  Wat. 
¶ Have they on their botes also?  jef. 
¶ Ye by my troth even ready to go/  
To the devil withouten respite.  Wat. 
¶ There is some mystery pondered/  
That they use so to be buried/  
In their habit and clothing.  jef. 
¶ No doubt it is a mystery/  
By coniectours manifestly/  
Their wretched life betokening.  
For as in this life they denayed/  
Their christian neighbours to aid/  
living here uncheritably.  
So by their death and latter end/  
In their burial they pretend/  
Not to be of Christis company.  Wat. 
¶ To whom then do they pertain?  jef. 
To the devil their sovereign/  
Which hath them all in his bond.  Wat. 
¶ Beware thou be not to bold/  
For thy life were bought and sold/  
If thou spoke this in England.  jef. 
¶ They may well both ban and course/  
But they cannot do moche worse/  
Then they did to Hun the merchant.  Wat. 
¶ Did they any grevaunce to him?  jef. 
¶ Out of this life they did him tryme/  
Because he was God's servant.  Wat. 
¶ He did some fault greatly notory?  jef. 
¶ No thing but for a mortuary/  
The priests against him did arise.  
No manner fault in him was found/  
Yet was he hanged/ brent/ and drowned.  
His goods take up for a prise.  
As an heretic they him took/  
Because he had many a book/  
In english/ of holy scripture.  
Also he worshipped no images/  
And would not go on pilgrimages/  
Using none oaths to perjure.  Wat. 
¶ Are the prelar so mad frantycke/  
To judge such a man an heritycke/  
Showing tokens of fydelite?  jef. 
¶ They regard their worldly proffett/  
winning thereby many a forfett/  
Which moreth them to crudelite.  
Mens goods wrongfully to cease/  
They make herityk whom they please/  
By false relation of Someners.  Wat. 
¶ Have they none other intellection?  jef. 
¶ Yes also by their confession/  
Which they tell in priests ears.  Wat. 
¶ Dare they confessions to bewray?  jef. 
¶ Confessions catha? ye by my say/  
They keep no secretness at all.  
Though noble men have doctors/  
To be their private confessors/  
Yet they have one that is general▪  Wat. 
¶ Beside those which are particular?  jef. 
¶ Ye/ and that hath brought some to care/  
Of whom I could make rehearceall.  Wat. 
¶ His name would I very fain here.  jef. 
¶ It is the english Lucifer/  
Wotherwyse called the Cardinal.  
In all the land there is no wight/  
Nether lord baron/ nor knight/  
To whom he hath any hatred.  
But either by sour speech or sweet/  
Of their confessors he will weet/  
How they have themselves behaved.  
What they say/ it is accepted/  
In no point to be objected/  
Though they be as false as judas.  Wat. 
¶ What authority do they allege?  jef. 
¶ It is their churches previlege/  
Falsely to fain that never was.  Wat. 
¶ such confessors are unjust.  jef. 
¶ Yet needs do it they must/  
If they will to honour ascend.  Wat. 
¶ promotions are of the kings gift?  jef. 
¶ For all that he maketh such shift/  
That in his pleasure they depend.  
Though they have the kings patent/  
Except they have also his assent/  
It turneth to none advantage.  
His power he doth so extend/  
That the kings letters to rend/  
He will not forbear in his rage.  Wat. 
¶ This is a great presumption/  
For a villain butchers son/  
His authority so to advance.  
But it is more to be marveyled/  
That noble men willbe confessed/  
To these kaytives of miscreaunce.  jef. 
¶ O/ the great whore of Babylon/  
With her deadly cup of poison/  
Hath brought them to drunkenship.  
That painted boards and ded stock/  
Carved idols in stones and block/  
Above almighty god they worship.  Wat. 
¶ Hath england such stations/  
Of devout peregrinations/  
As are in France and Italy?  jef. 
¶ Seek out lands every eachone/  
And thou shalt find none so prone/  
As England/ to this idolatry.  
Of wholly roods/ there is such a sight/  
That between this and midnight/  
I could not make explication.  
Then have they ladies as many/  
Some of grace and some of mercy/  
With divers of lamentation.  
Morover painted stock and stones/  
With shrines/ full of rotten bones/  
To the which they make oblation.  Wat. 
¶ What are they after thy supposing?  jef. 
¶ Strong thieves withouten glozing/  
And authors of prevarication.  Wat. 
¶ Take heed thou do not blaspheme.  jef. 
¶ After their works I them esteem/  
Both to man and god our creature.  
Where as is no god but one.  
We ought to worship him alone/  
And no false gods to adore.  
Which of his honour is defrauded/  
By these idols faulcely lauded/  
With sacrifice and adoration.  
Man in like manner they rob/  
Causing power folk to sigh and sob/  
Taking away their sustentation.  Wat. 
¶ The goods that to them are offered/  
Are they not to power people proffered/  
Their necessities to relief?  jef. 
¶ It is wasted in ryetous revel/  
Among many an idle javell/  
To nourish murder and mischief.  Wat. 
¶ I hear say that besides London/  
There is our lady of Wilsdon/  
Which doth great miracles daily.  jef. 
¶ As for whoredom/ and letcherousnes/  
She is the chief lady masters/  
comen paramour of bawdry.  
Many men as it is known/  
Keep more children than their own/  
By her miracles promotion.  
wives to deceive their husbands/  
Make to her many errands/  
Under colour of devotion.  Wat. 
¶ Dost thou our lady so backbite?  jef. 
¶ No but I have the stocks in despite/  
Whereby they dishonour her.  
In scripture it is written/  
And of our lord forbidden/  
To be a false idolater.  Wat. 
¶ whils thou dost so far proceed/  
How is it then in thy crede/  
Of Saint Thomas of Cantourbury?  jef. 
¶ I believe/ and also I trust/  
If that he were in this life just/  
And of our lords vocation.  
That his soul hath fruition/  
Perpetually with our intermission/  
Of eternal consolation.  Wat. 
¶ Ye but I mean of his body/  
Shrined in the monastery/  
With gold and stones precious.  
Also the great miracles wrought/  
And how of people he is sought/  
With offerings and gifts somptious.  jef. 
¶ As for that if we give credence/  
To our saveoure Christis sentence/  
The Evangelists bearing record.  
Many shall do things strange/  
Whereby they will boldly chalange  
To work in the name of our lord.  
And yet Christ in them hath no part/  
But work them by the devils arte/  
Usurping an angel's likeness.  
Which doth himself so transpose/  
Fraudulently to beguile those/  
That contemn God's righteousness.  Wat. 
¶ Nevertheless as clarks define/  
Working of miracles is a sign/  
That unto god they are acceptable.  jef. 
¶ Shall we to men credence give/  
Or ought we the gospel to believe/  
Whose verity is impermutable?  
I dare say/ and abide thereby/  
That saint Thomas of Caunterbury/  
With mother saint canonized.  
If their painted efficacity/  
Is but as it seemeth to be.  
Of god they are despised.  
For though they heal lame and blind/  
With men (as they say) out of mind/  
helping diseases corporal▪  
Yet destroy they out of hand/  
For every one of them a thousand/  
Concerning their souls spiritual.  
And where as Christ doth require/  
That of of god we should desire/  
All our necessity and need.  
To them we make petition/  
Against God's prohibition/  
To wicked doctors giving heed.  Wat. 
¶ Well yet I ensure the jeffraye/  
The gospel for them they lay/  
Grownding on it their argument.  jef. 
¶ Nay watkyn that is a stark lie.  Wat. 
¶ How shall we then the troth try/  
By some probation evident?  jef. 
¶ Marry take God's wholly writing/  
Nether adding nor diminishing/  
But even plainly after the letter.  Wat. 
¶ They say scripture is so diffuse/  
That lay people on it to muse/  
Should be never the better.  
It is no medlyuge for fools/  
But for such as have been at scoles/  
As doctors that be graduate.  jef. 
¶ Weenest thou that Peter the fisher/  
Understood not scripture clearlyer/  
Then the pharisaies obstinate?  
Who did so wilfully resist/  
Against the receiving of Christ/  
As they which were learned?  Wat. 
¶ No wonder/ for they knew him not.  jef. 
¶ No more do our doctors god wots/  
In any point to be discerned.  Wat. 
¶ Of Christ yet they make mention.  jef. 
¶ Ye for be cause their pension/  
With benefices may be endued.  
But in their life and behaveoure/  
They despise Christ our saveoure/  
Labouring his word to exclude.  Wat. 
¶ Canst thou prove this in deed?  jef. 
¶ Whosoever will the gospel read/  
To prove it shall need no testes.  Wat. 
¶ Peradventure they would have it hid/  
Wherefore to read it they forbidden/  
Lest men should know their wickedness.  jef. 
¶ Had thou studied an whole year/  
Thou couldst not have gone no near/  
To hit their crafty suttelnes.  
For if the gospel were soffered/  
Of lay people freely to be red/  
In their own moders language.  
They should see at their fingers ends/  
The abominations of these fiends/  
With the abusion of pilgrimage.  
Also to perceive every whit/  
What it is Saint for to visit/  
With nobles/ brooches/ and rings.  Wat. 
¶ Soft thou this custom reprehend?  jef. 
¶ I think no good man will commend/  
Soche superstitious offerings.  
Whereof three point I will move/  
By the which I shall plainly prove/  
That it is a thing ungodly.  
first a power man of far dwelling/  
For his wife and children labouring/  
To keep and find them honestly.  
Paraventure for some sickness/  
Or for a vow of foolishness/  
To accomplish Satan's institute.  
Taketh on him a far voyage/  
To some saints shrine or image/  
Leaving his household destitute.  
Which often times do mis cary.  
The mean while that he doth tarry/  
Bestowing his labour in vain.  
And so God's commandment neglect/  
For small trifles of none effect/  
They put themselves unto pain.  
Secondarily/ what pevisshnes/  
Is it to honour with riches/  
Of dead saint the bodies?  
saying that whiles they here lived/  
From riches they were deprived/  
As we read in their stories/  
Thirdly/ it is no Christian touch/  
To see many a golden ouche/  
With rings and stones preciously.  
To make dead saints forto shine/  
Where power folk for hunger pine/  
Dying with out help petiously.  
And if with all possibility/  
Our christian neighbours poverty/  
Duly to aid we are bound.  
Why do saints it then transgress/  
In whom charitable perfetnes/  
In especial should redownde?  
saint John to Christ so amiable/  
Saith/ except we be charitable/  
Loving each other fraternally.  
It boreth not Christ to profess/  
For why/ we wander in darkness/  
With our light erroneously.  
For how can be have charity/  
That seith his neighbours necessity/  
And refuseth him to succour?  Wat. 
¶ I marvayle not by him that me made/  
If they be with gold and stones so lad/  
Though they cannot their neighbours se.  
But now to speak earnestly/  
Have their souls celestially/  
In such offerings any delight?  jef. 
¶ It is to them great displeasure/  
Abhorring it out of measure/  
As a thing done in their despite.  Wat. 
¶ What were best then to be done?  jef. 
¶ To break them in pieces anon/  
Among power folk to be distributed.  Wat. 
¶ Haw/ to do that deed who durst/  
saying that he should be a coursed/  
And as an heretic reputed.  jef. 
¶ Let them with furiousness swell/  
Coursing with book/ bell/ and candle/  
whiles they have breath for to speak.  
Yet had we the Kings licence/  
We would withouten diffydence/  
Their golden shrines in pieces break.  Wat. 
¶ What should we do with their riches?  jef. 
¶ give it to power men in alms/  
To whom of duty it doth fonge.  Wat. 
¶ The saints then would be angry/  
If that we should be so hardy/  
Vnlaufully to do them wrong.  
For some men have it assayed/  
Whom saints have shreawedly arrayed/  
In revenging their injury.  
So that by an whole nights space/  
They were fain to keep one place/  
The doors standing open apertly.  jef. 
¶ And what was their final chance/  Wat. 
¶ By my sooth/ in an hanging dance/  
Their neck in a cord to preve.  jef. 
¶ Use the saints any men to kill?  Wat. 
¶ No but they make them stand still/  
Until they be taken of the Schereve.  
Then are thy like and semblable/  
Unto our bishops venerable/  
Which say/ we will not murder.  
But they put men in such savegarde/  
That with in a while afterward/  
They be sure to go no further.  jef. 
¶ Are not soche saint reprehensible?  Wat. 
¶ Ye for they should be invincible/  
Of charitable dilection.  
For if they will any man noye/  
Ether any body to destroy/  
They are not of Christis election.  
Which after Luk evangelion/  
Said to thapostles james and John/  
Nescitis cuius spiritus estis.  
The son of man hither came/  
Not forto destroy any man/  
But to save that perished is.  
Wherefore let them do wonders/  
By the devils their founders/  
To lead men in blind cecite.  
Yet nevertheless thou and I/  
Would put ourselves in jeopardy/  
Against all their malignity.  
To rake away their ouches/  
Golden ring and brooches/  
giving it unto the poor.  Wat. 
¶ Thou excepst, S. Churbert of Duram/  
With our lady of Walsyngam/  
Also our lady of the Moor.  jef. 
¶ God being our direction/  
We would make none exception/  
Against the devil's enchantment.  
To do their best/ let them not spare/  
For we would make them full bare/  
Of their precious ornament.  Wat. 
¶ Our honest then destayned/  
surely we should be proclaimed/  
For outrageous heretic.  jef. 
¶ Why more we then the Cardinal?  Wat. 
¶ He attempteth nothing at all/  
Soche matters in his bisshopryck.  jef. 
¶ I am sure thou hast heard spoken/  
What monasteries he hath broken/  
With out their founders consent.  
He subverteth churches/ and chapels/  
Taking a way bok and bells  
With chalesces/ and vestment.  
He plucketh down the costly leads/  
That it may rain on saint heads/  
Not sparing god nor our lady.  
Where as they red service divyne/  
There is grounting of pigs and swine/  
With lowing of oxen and kine.  
The altars of their celebrations/  
Are made perches for hens and capons/  
De foiling them with their dirt.  
And though it be never so profane/  
He is counted a good christian/  
No man doing him any hurtt.  Wat. 
¶ A conscience if it be sooth/  
That the Cardinal so doth/  
I wonder that he is not apeached.  jef. 
¶ O/ church men are wily foxes/  
More crafty than iuggelers' boxes/  
To play legerdemain du main teached.  
It is not for nought they fain/  
That the two swords to them pertain/  
Both spiritual/ and temporal.  
Wherewith they play on both hands/  
Most tyrannously in their bonds/  
Holding the world universal.  
Against god they are so stobbourne/  
That scripture they toss and turn/  
After their own imagination.  
If they say the moan is belewe/  
We must believe that it is true/  
admitting their interpretation.  Wat. 
¶ Art thou not afraid to presume/  
Against the cardinals fume/  
saying they willbe all on his side?  jef. 
¶ No I do rather greatly rejoice/  
That of a little worms voice/  
Goddis judgement may be verified.  
Against such a wicked brothel/  
Which saith/ under his girthell/  
He holdeth Kings and Princes.  
To whom for a salutation/  
I will rehearse a brief oration/  
dedicate unto his statlynes  Wat. 
¶ Now gentle mate I the pray.  jef. 

¶ Have at it then with out delay/  
contemning his maliciousness.   

O miserable monster/ most malicious/  
Father of perversite/ patron of hell.  
O terrible Tyrant/ to god and man odious/  
Advocate of antichrist/ to Christ rebel.  
To the I speak/ o caitiff Cardinal so cruel.  
causeless charging by thy coursed commandment  
To bren God's word the wholly testament.   

god word/ ground of all virtue and grace  
The fructeous food/ of our faithful trust.  
Thou hast condemned in most careful case/  
Throw furions' folly/ falce and unjust.  
O fierce Pharaoh/ follower of fleshly lust.  
What moved thy mind by malice to consent/  
To bren God's word/ the wholly testament.   

The tenor of thy tyranny passeth my brain  
In every point evidently to endyght.  
Nero nor herod/ were never so noyus certain  
All though of God's' law they had little light  
Shame it is to speak how against right.  
Thy hatfull heart hath caused to be brent/  
Goddis true word/ the wholly testament.   

O perverse pressed patriarch of pride/  
murderer with out mercy most execrable.  
O beastly brothel/ of bawdry the bride/  
Darling of the devil/ greatly detestable.  
Alas/ what wretch would be so vengeable?  
At any time to attempt such impediment/  
To brene God's' word the wholly testament.   

God of his goodness/ grudged not to die/  
Man to deliver from deadly damnation.  
Whose will is that we should know perfectly  
What he here hath done for our salvation.  
O cruel kayface/ full of crafty conspiration.  
How dared thou give then false judgement  
To bren God's' word/ the wholly testament.   

Thy leawednes of living is loath to hear/  
Christis gospel to come unto clear light.  
How be it surly it is so spread far and near  
That forto let it thou haste little might.  
God hath opened our dark dimed sight.  
Truly to perceive thy tyrannous intent/  
To brene God's' word the wholly testament.  
Against thine ambition all people do cry/  
Pompously spending the sustenance of the poor  
Thy halt honour highly to magnify/  
Maketh/ thieves/ traitors/ and many a whore  
Woe worth the wretch of wickedness the door  
Forger of our daily damage and detriment  
To bren God's word the wholly testament.   

O painted pastor/ of Satan the Prophet/  
Kaging courre/ wrapped in a wolves skin  
O butcherly bishop/ to be a ruler unmeet/  
Maker of misery/ occasion of sin.  
God grant the grace now to begin.  
Sf thy damnable deeds to be penitent/  
brenning God's word/ the wholly testament   Wat. 
¶ No more for our lords passion/  
Thou railest now of a fashion/  
With rebuk most despitous/  
No man shall these words advert/  
But will judge them of an heart/  
To proceed/ most contumelious.  jef. 
¶ Though popish curs here at do bark/  
Yet thou mayst therein well mark/  
The will of god accomplished.  
The Cardinal thus to reward/  
Which with out any godly regard/  
Desdayneth the troth to be published.  
Therefore as he did the truth condemn/  
So god will him and all his contemn/  
With the sword of punnysshment.  Wat. 
¶ They had first some provocation?  jef. 
¶ None other than the translation/  
Of the english new testament.  
Wherein the authors with meekness/  
Utterly avoiding conviciousnes/  
Demeaned them so discretely.  
That with all their invention/  
They could find no reprehension/  
Resisting God's word wilfully.  Wat. 
¶ How had the gospel first entrance/  
Into England so far of distance/  
Where to read him/ no man may?  jef. 
¶ good christian men with pure affect/  
Of god singularly thereto elect/  
With cost did him thither convey.  
Which/ even as Christ was betrayed/  
So with him the clergy played/  
Thorough traitorous prodition.  Wat. 
¶ Who played the part of judas▪  jef. 
¶ The wholly bishop of saint Ass/  
A post of Satan's jurisdiction.  
Whom they call Doctor standisshe/  
Won that is nether flesh nor fish/  
At all times a comen liar.  
He is a babbling Questionist/  
And a mervelous great sophist/  
Some time a lousy grey friar.  
Of stommake he is fierce and bold/  
In brawling words a very scold/  
Mengling vennem with sugar.  
He despiseth the truth of god/  
Taking part rather with falcehod/  
Forto obtain worldly lucre.  
In card playing he is a good greek/  
And can skill of post and glyeke/  
Also a pair of dice to troll▪  
For whoredom and fornications/  
He maketh many visitations/  
His Dioces to pill and poll.  
Though he be a stout divyne/  
Yet a priest to keep a concubine/  
He there admitteth wittingly.  
So they pay their yearly tribute  
Unto his devilish substitut/  
Official/ or commissary.  
To rehearse all his living/  
God give it evil cheving/  
Or else some amendment shortly.  Wat. 
¶ How did he the gospel betray?  jef. 
¶ As soon as ever he heard say/  
That the gospel came to England.  
Immediately he did him trap/  
And to the man in the red cap/  
He brought him with strong hand.  
Before whose proud consistory/  
bringing in false testimony/  
The gospel he did there accuse.  Wat. 
¶ He did more persons represent/  
Then judas the traitor malivolent/  
Which betrayed Christ to the jues.  jef. 
¶ Thou mayst see of them in one man/  
Herod/ Pilate/ Cayphas/ and Anne/  
With their propertis several  
And in another manifestly/  
judas full of conspiracy/  
With the sects pharisaical.  
They are a great deal more mutable/  
Then Proteus of form so variable/  
Which could himself so disgyse.  
They can represent apes/ and bears/  
lions/ and asses with long ears/  
Even as they list to divyse.  
But now of standisshe accusation/  
briefly to make declaration/  
Thus to the Cardinal he spoke.  
Pleaseth your honourable grace/  
Here is chanced a piteous case/  
And to the church a great lack.  
The gospel in our english tongue/  
Of lay men to be red and song/  
Is now hither come to remain.  
Which many heretic shall make/  
Except your grace some way take/  
By your authority him to restrain.  
For truly it is no handling/  
For lay people's understanding/  
With the gospel to be busy.  
Which many won interprising/  
Into heresy it did bring/  
Disdaining the church unreverently.  Wat. 
¶ Tosshe/ these saying are sophistical/  
I would hear the sense mystical/  
Of these words right interpreted.  jef. 
¶ In faith with out simulation/  
This is the right signification/  
Of his meaning to be expressed.  
O Cardinal so glorious/  
Thou art captain over us/  
Antichristis chief member.  
Of all our detestations/  
And sinful prevarications/  
Thou alone/ art the defender.  
Wherefore help now or else never/  
For we are undone for ever/  
If the gospel abroad be spread.  
For then with in a while after/  
Every plough man and carter/  
Shall see what a life we have led.  
How we have this five hundred years/  
Roffled them among the bryres/  
Of desperate infidelity.  
And how we have the world brought/  
Unto beggary worse than nought/  
Through our chargeable vanity.  
Which known/ we shallbe abhorred/  
Reddi to be knocked in the forehead/  
Our wealth taken away clean.  
Therefore Tyrant play now thy part/  
saying with the devil thou art/  
Gretter than any man hath been.  
Put the gospel a way quite/  
That he come not to lay men's sight/  
Forto know God's commandment.  
And then we that are the remmenaunt/  
Shall diligently be attendant/  
To blind them with our comment.  
If they have once inhibition/  
In no manner of condition/  
To read God's word and his laws.  
For us doctors of theology/  
It shallbe but a small mastery/  
To make them fools and daws.  
Look what thou dost by tyranny/  
We will allow it by sophistry/  
Against these worldly villains.  Wat. 
¶ Now truly this is the meaning/  
How soever be the speaking/  
Of these spiritual lordaynes.  Wat. 
¶ But what said the Cardinal here at?  jef. 
¶ He spoke the words of Pilate/  
saying/ I find no fault therein.  
How be it/ the bishops assembled/  
Among them he examened/  
What was best to determine?  
Then answered bishop Cayphas/ Hoc est. London. Epūs.  
That a grett part better it was/  
The gospel to be condemned.  
Lest their vices manifold/  
Should be known of young and old/  
Their estate to be contemned.  
The Cardinal then incontinent/  
Against the gospel gave judgement/  
saying/ to bren he deserved.  
Whereto all the bishop cried/  
Answering/ it cannot be denied/  
He is worthy so to be served.  Wat. 
¶ If they play thus their vages/  
They shall not escape the plagues/  
Which to them of Rome happened.  
At whose scourge so marvelous/  
They would if they were gracious/  
Gladly to be admonished.  
To whom God's word in purity/  
Was first showed with humility/  
According to the veritable sense.  
How be it they would not it receive/  
But frawardly with sword and gleave/  
They expulsed it from thence.  
Unto tyranny they did lean/  
Wherefore god using another mean/  
To bring them unto repentance.  
He steered up some men's sprite/  
Which their faults did indite/  
Of their mischief making utterance.  
Yet would not they amend/  
But more wilfully did defend.  
Their evil life against God's word.  
Therefore as mislyvers obstinate/  
They were destroyed now of late/  
With pestilence and dent of sword.  jef. 
¶ Thou hast rehearsed three point/  
Which will make all priests joint/  
For fear to tremble and shake.  
saying that the first is passed/  
And the second cometh in fast/  
Their hypocrisi to awake.  
And if they will not be refrained/  
The sword of vengeance unfeigned/  
On their frawardnes will light.  Wat. 
¶ Well/ let us by no persuasion/  
give no such occasion/  
Causing christian men to fight.  jef. 
¶ No man will have that suspicion/  
But take it for an admonition/  
Their unhappy life to repent.  
Forlye show as they shall find/  
If god inspire not their mind/  
To labour for amendment.  
Which by scripture to verify/  
Let them read the prophet jeremy/  
In the chapter/ four and twente.  
How be it I will me hens high/  
Where as the Cardinal's fury/  
With his treasure shall not get me.  Wat. 
¶ Is this proud Cardinal richer/  
Then Christ or good saint Peter/  
In whose room he doth succeed?  jef. 
¶ The bosses of his mulis bridles/  
Might buy Christ and his disciples/  
As far as I could ever read.  Wat. 
¶ Whether canst thou then fly away?  jef. 
¶ To Constantinoble in Turkeye/  
Among heathen my life to lead.  Wat. 
¶ If thou wilt then live christianly/  
Thou must use thyself prevely/  
Or else surely thou art but dead.  jef. 
¶ I shall have there as grett liberty/  
As in other placis of christente/  
The truth of Christ to profess.  
For he that will the truth declare/  
I dare say moche better he wear/  
To be with them in hethennesse.  Wat. 
¶ Though thou go never so far hence/  
Yet with most terrible sentence/  
To course the they will not miss.  jef. 
¶ I ponder very little their courses/  
For to god I say with humbleness/  
They shall coarse/ and thou shalt bliss.  Wat. 
¶ In their courses/ is their no apparel?  jef. 
¶ No for they do it in the quarrel/  
Of their god which is their belly.  Wat. 
¶ What mischevous god is that?  jef. 
¶ Won that hath eaten up the fat/  
Of england wealth so merry.  Wat. 
¶ I will get me then into Wales/  
To dwell among hills and dales/  
With folk that be simple and rude.  jef. 
¶ Come not there I counsel the.  
For the priests/ their simplicity/  
Thorough craftiness do so delude.  
That whosoever is so hardy/  
To speak against priests knavery/  
For an heretic they him take.  
Of whose miserable calamity/  
Under the spiritual captivity/  
I will here after a process make.  Wat. 
¶ Then will I go into the realm/  
Of the plenteous land of beam/  
In the Cite of prague to dwell.  jef. 
¶ Of two thing I will the warn/  
Which thou must parfetly learn/  
If thou wilt follow my counsel.  
first beware in especial/  
Of the outward man exterial/  
Though he show a fair appearance.  
Many shall come in a lambis skin/  
Which are ravishing wolves with in/  
enemies to Christis ordinance.  
The second is/ if any reply/  
bringing in reasons obstinately/  
Against that which seemeth to be true.  
Take no graduate for an author/  
But remit good master doctor/  
To the old testament or new.  
And if he will bear the in hand/  
That thou canst not it understand/  
Be cause of the difficult.  
Axe him how thou art able/  
To understand a feigned fable.  
Of more crafty subtlety?  Wat. 
¶ I see thou knowest their secretness/  jef. 
¶ Ye I could in their very likeness/  
Declare them if I had respite.  Wat. 
¶ Well I will depart/ adieu/  jef. 
¶ Now I beseech our lord jesus/  
To be thy guide day and night.    

¶ In description of the Arms/ for wherefore read whereby.   

Christ God's' son/ borne of a maiden 〈◊〉/  
Forto save mankind/ from heaven descended.  
Pope Clement. the son of an whore/  
To destroy man/ from hell hath ascended.  
 
In whom is evidently comprehended.  
The perfett meekness of our saveoure Christ/  
And tyranny of the murderer Antichrist.