The Friar's Tale
Folio 102v
9 of 9 folios
Whilom þere was dwelinge ī myne contre
An Arche deken aman of hihe degre
That boldely dide execucion
In poneschinge of fornicacione
5
Of whiche craft & eke of baudrye
Of diffamacion & avowtrie
Of cherche reues & of testamentes
Of contractes & of lac of sacramentes
Of vsury & of Simony also
10
Bot certes lychoures dede he grettest woo
Thei scholden singe if þei wer hente
And smale tiþers weren fowle schente
If any person wolde vpon hem pleine
There myht astert him no pecuniale peyne
15
For smale tiþes & eke smale offringe
He maade þe peple spitusly to singe
For or þe bischop cauht x hem wiþ his hoke
Thei were in þe Arche xx decanes boke
And þan hadde he þorw xx þoruhe his Iurdiccōne
20
Power to done on hem correccione
He had a somnoure redy to his hand
A slyhere boye was none in yngelande
For Sotely he had his especiaile
That tauht him where he myht availe
25
He couþe spare of lychours one or tuo
To techen him to foure & twenty mo
For þouhe þis somnor woode were as an hare
To tel his harlotry .I. wil nouȝt spare
For we bne oute of her correccione
30
Thei haue of vs no Iurdiccione
Ne neuer scholle terme of al her lyues
Peter so bne þe wymmen of þe styues
Qd þis Somnor yput houte of al oure cure