"Freres and fele othere maistres, 9742 That to lewed men prechen, Ye moeven materes unmesurable {299} To tellen of the Trinité, That ofte tymes the lewed peple Of hir bileve doute. Bettre it were to manye doctours To leven swich techyng, And tellen men of the ten comaundmentz, 9750 And touchen the sevene synnes, And of the braunches that burjoneth of hem, And bryngen men to helle, And how that folk in folies Misspenden hir fyve wittes, As wel freres as oother folk Foliliche spenden In housynge, in haterynge, And in to heigh clergie shewynge, Moore for pompe than for pure charité, 9760 The peple woot the sothe, That I lye noght, loo! For lordes ye plesen, And reverencen the riche The rather for hir silver _Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia. Et alibi: Ut quid diligitis vanitatem, et quæritis mendacium._ "Gooth to the glose of thise vers, 9770 Ye grete clerkes; If I lye on yow to my lewed wit, Ledeth me to brennyng. For as it semeth, ye forsaketh No mannes almesse Of usurers, of hoores, {300} Of avarouse chapmen; And louten to thise lordes That mowen lene yow nobles, Ayein youre rule and religion, 9780 I take record at Jhesus, That seide to hise disciples, _Ne sitis personarum acceptores_. Of this matere I myghte Make a long bible! Ac of curatours of cristen peple, As clerkes bereth witnesse, I shal tellen it, for truthes sake, Take hede who so liketh. "As holynesse and honesté 9790 Out of holy chirche spredeth Thorugh lele libbynge men That Goddes lawe techen; Right so out of holi chirche Alle yveles spryngeth, There inparfit preesthode is, Prechours and techeris. I se it by ensaunple In somer tyme on trowes: Ther some bowes ben leved, 9800 And some bereth none, Ther is a meschief in the morre Of swiche manere bowes.