Epigraph

Thou that sellest the word of God, Be thou barefoot, be thou shod, Come no more here. In principio erat verbum Is the word of God, all and some, That thou sellest, lewd frere.

It is cursed simony Either to sell or to buy Any ghostly thing; Therefore, frere, go as thou come, And hold thee in thy house at home Till we thee alms bring.

God’s law ye reverse, And men’s houses ye pierce, As Paul beareth witness. As midday devils going about, For money lowly ye lout, Flattering both more and less.

—Anonymous, fifteenth century