"Þis word is mekil agen þese clerkis Þ't schuld kenne lewid folk good werkis, And gader hem to goddis hord Wiþ rightful lyf and goddis word. Hem auhte þinke if þei wer wise How þei schul stonde at goddis assise, And gelden acountes of all hir wit How þei in þ'e world han spent it. Lord what schul þese persouns say Whan þei schul come on domys day To gelde of al hir lyf acounte And what hir rentis may amounte, Þat þei of lewid men take her Hir soulis hele hem to ler, And diden not so but lyued in lust Of flesch, þ't makiþ þ'e soule rust. For riche persouns louen mor now Flesch-liking mor þan þ'e soule prow [_i.e._ profit]; þei wene to sewe cristis trace [_i.e._ follow His track] Wiþ hunting and w't þ'e deer chace; Þei fedin hir flesch wiþ good mete Þ't lewid folk hem tilen and gete; Þei lyuen on lewid folkis traueyle And nouht to hem þei auayle. For ther þei schuld w't sarmoun tille Þe lewid folkis herte and wille To right longing of heuene-riche bewhile, Wiþ wikkid example þei hem begile: For wikkid example þei hem geue In wikkednes alway for to leue. For þer þei schuld hem meknes schewe Þei schewe hem pride and vnthewe, And ther þei schulde teche hem dele And parte w't god of hir catele, Ther teche þei hem wiþ couetise To spar hir good in euyl wise. For we seen so these persouns spar Þ't þei suffre pore men mysfar; We see hem fayr grehoundis fede And suffren þ'e pore to deyen for nede, And euyl example þus þei gyue To hir pareschyns euyle to lyue. For me þinkeþ it is no ferly [_i.e._ wonder] Þouh lewid folk lyue in foly, Whan þei seen prestis and persouns Mistake agen god as felouns. Goddis felouns I hem calle Þ't makiþ man in synne falle, Wiþ example of euyl lyf Þ't is now in þis world ful ryf. Þerfor I rede persouns and prestis Þ't þei ber god on hir brestis, And þenk how al hir mete and drink Comiþ of her pareschyns swink, And teche þei hem how þat þei Schul toward heuene take þ'e wei, And after holde hem wel þerinne And kepe hem fro dedli synne. For wel is hem þ't wiþ preching Mai tele [_i.e._ allure] soulis to heuene king." 2. Nor was the author of these sermons less severe in rebuking the faults of the layman. The following is a specimen of his plain-spoken fervour:--