If any person would on them complain; There might astert them no pecunial pain. 2154 For smallë tithës, and small offering, He made the people piteously to sing; For ere the bishop caught them with his crook, They weren in the archëdeacon’s book; Then had he, through his jurisdictión, Power to do on them correctión.

He had a Sompnour ready to his hand, A slier boy was none in Engleland; For subtlely he had his espiaille, 2155 That taught him well where it might aught avail. He couldë spare of lechours one or two, To teachë him to four and twenty mo’. For⁠—though this Sompnour wood 2156 be as a hare⁠— To tell his harlotry I will not spare, For we be out of their correctión, They have of us no jurisdictión, Ne never shall have, term of all their lives.