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Of thes Frer Mynours me thenkes moch wonder,
That waxen are thus hauteyn, that som tyme weren under. 1
Among men of Holy Chirch thai maken mochel blonder;
Nou He that sytes us above, make ham sone to sonder.
With an O and an I, thai praysen not Seynt Poule,
Thai lyen on Seyn Fraunceys, by my fader soule. 2
First thai gabben on God, that all men may se,
When thai hangen him on hegh on a grene tre
With leves and with blossemes that bright are of ble,
That was never Goddes Son, by my leuté.
With on O and an I, men wenen that thai wede,
To carpe so of clergy, thai can not thair Crede. 3
Thai have done him on a croys fer up in the skye,
And festned on him wyenges, as he shuld flie.
This fals feyned byleve shal thai soure bye, 4
On that lovelych Lord so forto lye.
With an O and an I, one sayd ful still,
Armachan distroy ham, if it is Goddes will.
Ther comes one out of the skye in a grey goun,
As it were an hog-hyerd hyand to toun.
Thai have mo goddes then we, I say by Mahoun,
All men under ham, that ever beres croun.
With an O and an I, why shuld thai not be shent?
Ther wantes noght bot a fyre, that thai nere all brent! 5
Went I forther on my way in that same tyde,
Ther I sawe a frere blede in myddes of his syde,
Bothe in hondes and in fete had he woundes wyde,
To serve to that same frer, the pope mot abyde.
With an O and an I, I wonder of thes dedes,
To se a pope holde a dische whyl the frer bledes.
A cart was made al of fyre, as it shuld be;
A grey frer I sawe ther-inne, that best lyked me.
Wele I wote thai shal be brent, by my leauté.
God graunt me that grace that I may it se.
With an O and an I, brent be thai all,
And all that helpes therto, faire mot byfall! 6
Thai preche all of povert, bot that love thai noght,
For gode mete to thair mouthe the toun is thurgh soght. 7
Wyde are thair wonnynges and wonderfully wroght; 8
Murdre and horedome ful dere has it boght. 9
With an O and an I, ffor sixe pens er thai fayle,
Sle thi fadere, and jape thi modre, and thai wyl the assoile! 10
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Minorites; (see note)
(see note)
cause great confusion
sits; them soon to disperse
(see note)
(see note)
sneer at; see
high; green tree; (see note)
hue
faith
suppose; rage
(see note)
placed; cross
wings as though; (see note)
lovely
(see note)
Richard Fitzralph; (see note)
habit; (see note)
swineherd hastening
Mohammed
them; wears a crown
ruined
time
(see note)
feet
(see note)
(see note)
pleased me
know; burned; faith
burned
preach; poverty
(see note)
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