is by experience
knowen welle ynoughe, as they be manere of a prive cohercion to lyve in
more rest withe theire lyvelode, be dryve too forto gyve out to rulers,
gouvernours, and maistris of the marchis and contrees that they dwellin
upon or have her lyvelode, gret fees and wages and rewardis nedelese. And
the peple that were welle set[170] and often tymes they ben visited withe
straungiers of gret astatis, as welle spirituelle as temporelle, and
namelie withe tho that have the lawes to mynistre and to kepe, and withe
other nedeles peple that waste and surcharge theym, for they were founded
to that entent but to kepe theire nombre of fundacion, praieng for theire
foundoures, and [kepe hospitalitee for to[171]] feede the pore and the
nedie in case of necessite. A mercifulle Jhesu! many auctours rehersithe in
her cronicles that Pompeus, whiche that was so chevalrous a paynym knighte
amongis the Romains, the cause of his wofulle dethe and mortalle ende was
alonlie that he on a tyme disdeyned to reverence and worship holy places,
as chirches and seyntuaries, stabled his hors in Salamon is Temple, the
whiche the saide Salamon had edified to be the most sovereyn chirche or
temple of the erthe to serve and praise God. And in example of late daies
yn king Johan of Fraunce tyme suche chieveteins as was in his armee before
he was take at the bataile of Peitiers, as it is saide, avaunted hym silfe
to stabille her hors in the cathedralle chirche of Salisbury. And after he
was take and had sighte of the saide chirche [they[171]] had gret
repentaunce of. And therfor, fulle noble king and ye puissaunt lordis of
renomme, let a covenable and a necessarye medecyn be counceiled and yoven
to us for provision and reformacion of this infirmite, and that it may be
purveied for by so dew meenes that it may be to God is pleasaunce. And that
we may withedraw and leve oure wrecchid governaunce that temporelle men
wolde so inordinatlie rule and oppresse the Chirche. So that now this begon
mischiefe and stroke of pestilence in youre {76} predecessour daies be not
set as a jugement in oure arbitracion as to be decreed, juged, or
determyned for oure wele and availe, but as a chastising of oure mysdoeng,
so to be take for oure savacion. What saiethe saint Jeroyme amongis his
dolorous lamentacions upon the prophesie of Jooelle? If we have not,
(seithe he,) know God in welthe and prosperite, then, at the leest, let us
know hym in oure adversite, in suche w