56. Frere, what charitè is this--to fayn so much holines in your bodily clothing, that ye clepe your habit, that many blinde foles desyren to dye therin more than in an-other? And also, 310 that a frere that leveth his habit (late founden of men), may not be assoiled till he take it again, but is an apostata, as ye sayn, and cursed of god and man both? The frere beleveth treuth and pacience, chastitè, mekenesse, and sobrietè; yet for the more part of his lyfe he may soone be assoiled of his prior; and if he 315 bringe hoom to his house much good by yere, be it never so falsly begged and pilled of the poore and nedy people in courtes aboute, he shal be hold[en] a noble frere! O lord, whether this be charitè! 57. Frere, what charitè is this--to prese upon a riche man, 320 and to entyce him to be buried among you from his parish-church, and to suche riche men geve letters of fraternitè confirmed by youre generall sele, and therby to bere him in honde that he shall have part of all your masses, matins, prechinges, fastinges, wakinges, and all other good dedes don by your brethren of youre 325 order (both whyles he liveth and after that he is deed), and yet ye witen never whether youre dedes be acceptable to god, ne whether that man that hath that letter be able by good living to receive ony part of youre dedes? And yet a poore man, that ye wite wel or supposen in certain to have no good of, ye ne geve 330 no such letters, though he be a better man to god than suche a riche man; nevertheles, this poore man doth not recche therof. For, as men supposen, suche letters and many other that freres behesten to men, be full of false deceites of freres, out of reson and god[d]es lawe and Christen mens faith. 335 58. Frere, what charitè is this--to be confessoures of lordes and ladyes, and to other mighty men, and not amend hem in hir living; but rather, as it semeth, to be the bolder to pille hir poore tenauntes and to live in lechery, and there to dwelle in your office of confessour, for winning of worldly goodes, and to be holden grete 340 by colour of suche goostly offices? This seemeth rather pryde of freres than charitè of god. 59. Frere, what charitè is this--to sayn that who-so liveth after youre order, liveth most parfitly, and next foloweth the state of aposteles in povertè and penaunce; and yet the wysest 345 and gretest clerkes of you wende, or sende, or procure to the court of Rome to be mad cardinales or bishoppes or the popes chapelayns, and to be assoiled of the vowe of povertè and obedience to your ministers; in the which, as ye sayn, standeth moost perfeccion and merite of youre orders? And thus ye faren 350 as Pharisees, that sayen oon, and do another to the contrarye.