For if we mighte our
feith by reson preeue,
we sholde no meryt of our feith haue.
But now a dayes a Baillif or a Reeue
Or man of craft wole
in it dote or raue.
Some wommen eke, thogh
hir wit be thynne,
Wele argumentes make
in holy writ !
Lewde calates ! sittith down and spynne
And kakele of sumwhat
elles, for your wit
Is al to feeble to
despute of it!
To Clerkes grete apparteneth that aart
The knowleche of that,
god hath fro yow shit;
Stynte and leue of,
for right sclendre is your paart.
Oure fadres olde &
modres lyued wel,
And taughte hir
children as hem self taught were
Of holy chirche &
axid nat adel
'Why stant this word
heere?' and 'why this word there?'
'Why spake god thus
and seith thus elles where?'
'Why did he this wyse
and mighte han do thus?'
Our fadres medled no
thyng of swich gere;
that oghte been a good mirour to us.
--Thomas
Hoccleve, c. 1410