this churchë now That hath done sin horríble, so that he Dare not for shame of it y-shriven be; Or any woman, be she young or old, That hath y-made her husband cokëwold, Such folk shall have no power nor no grace To offer to my relics in this place. And whoso findeth him out of such blame, He will come up and offer in God’s name; And I assoil him by the authority Which that by bull y-granted was to me.”
By this gaud have I wonnë year by year A hundred marks, since I was pardonére. I standë like a clerk in my pulpit, And when the lewëd people down is set, I preachë so as ye have heard before, And tellë them a hundred japës more. Then pain I me to stretchë forth my neck, And east and west upon the people I beck, As doth a dovë, sitting on a bern; My handës and my tonguë go so yern, That it is joy to see my business. Of avarice and of such cursedness Is all my preaching, for to make them free To give their pence, and namely unto me. For mine intent is not but for to win, And nothing for correctión of sin. I reckë never, when that they be buried, Though that their soulës go a blackburied. For certes many a predicatión Cometh oft-time of evil intentión; Some for pleasánce of folk, and flattery, To be advanced by hypocrisy; And some for vainglory, and some for hate. For, when I dare not otherwise debate, Then will I sting him with my tonguë smart In preaching, so that he shall not astart To be defamed falsely, if that he Hath trespass’d to my brethren or to me. For, though I tellë not his proper name, Men shall well knowë that it is the same By signës, and by other circumstánces. Thus quite I folk that do us displeasánces: Thus spit I out my venom, under hue Of holiness, to seem holy and true. But, shortly mine intent I will devise, I preach of nothing but of covetise. Therefore my theme is yet, and ever was— Radix malorum est cupiditas . Thus can I preach against the samë vice Which that I use, and that is avarice. But though myself be guilty in that sin, Yet can I maken other folk to twin From avarice, and sorë them repent. But that is not my principal intent; I preachë nothing but for covetise. Of this mattére it ought enough suffice.