Medieval Lollard/Wycliffite Poem About Selling the Word of God—The Layman’s Complaint

This late medieval poem—written by a follower of John Wycliffe—addresses the sin of simony, buying and selling spiritual things, including the teaching and preaching of the word of God.

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Lyrics:
Þou þat sellest þe worde of God,
Be þou berfot, be þou schod,
Cum nomore here.
Inprincipio erat verbum
Is þe worde of God, all and sum,
Þat þou sellest, lewed frere.

Hit is cursed symonie
Eþer to selle or to bye
Ony gostly þinge;
Þerfore, frere, go as þou come,
And hold þe in þi hows at home
Til we þe almis brynge.

Goddis lawe ȝe reuerson,
And mennes howsis ȝe persen,
As Poul beriþ wittnes.
As mydday deuelis goynge abowte
For money lowle ȝe lowte,
Flatteringe boþe more and lesse.

Sources:
Poem: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1508141
Middle English Phonology: http://middleenglish.inkylabs.com/?pe...
Story of Wycliffe’s visit: https://ccel.org/ccel/f/foxe/martyrs/...
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

0:00 Introduction
0:34 Stanza 1
1:05 Stanza 2
1:32 Interlude
2:02 Stanza 3
2:32 Doreancon!