The Pardoner's Prologue & Tale
Folio 156v
17 of 19 folios
Thanne had thise wrecches two or hir endyng
565
Thus endid ben thise homicides two
And eke the fals empoisener also
¶ O cursed synne of al cursudnesse
O traitour homicide . o wikkednesse
O glotonye luxurie and hazardie
570
Thow blasphemour of crist with vileynye
And othes grete of vsage and of pide
Allas mankynde how may it bityde
That thou thi creatour which that the wroghte
And with his percious hert blood he boght
575
Thow art so fals and so vnkynde allas
¶ Now good men god foryeue yow your trespas
And ware yow fro the Synne of Auarice
Myn holy pardon may yow al warice
So that ye offre nobles or sterlynges
580
Or elles siluer broche spones rynges
Bowyth your heed vnder this holy bulle
Com vp ye wyues offreth if ye wolle
Your name is entred here in my rolle anon
In to the blisse of heuen shol ye gon
585
I yow assoile bi myn hie powere
Ye that wol offre as clene and ek as clere
As ye born were and lo syres thus I preche
And Ihū crist that is our soules leche
So graunte yow his pardon to receyue
590
For that is best I wol yow nat deceyue
But syres o word forgate I in my tale
I haue relikes and pardon in my male
As faire as any man in yngelond
Which were me yeue bi holy popes hond
595
If any of yow wol of deuocioun
Offren and haue myn absolucioun
Comth forth anon and kneleth here adoun
And mekely receyueth my pardoun
Otherellis taketh pardoun as ye wende
600
Al new and fressh at euery tounes ende
So that ye offren alwey new and new