OF SELBORNE. 330 



carries with it somewhat of the air of a prophecy ; but also as 

 it seems to have been a striking picture of monastic insolence 

 and dissipation ; and a specimen of one of the keenest pieces 

 of satire now perhaps subsisting in any language, ancient or 

 modern. 



" Now is religion a rider, a romer by streate ; 

 " A leader of love-days, and a loud begger ; 

 " A pricker on a palfrey from maner to manor, 

 (( A heape of hounds at his arse, as he a lord were. 

 " And but if his knave kneel, that shall his cope bring, 

 " He loureth at him, and asketh him who taught him curtesic. 

 " Little had lords to done, to give lands from her heirs, 

 " To religious that have no ruth if it rain on her altars. 

 " In many places ther they persons be, by himself at ease : 

 " Of the poor they have no pity, and that is her charitie ; 

 " And they letten hem as lords, her lands lie so broad. 

 " And there slial come a king? and confess you religious ; 

 " And beate you, as the bible tclleth, for breaking your rule, 

 " And amend monials, and monks, and chanons, 

 " And put hem to her penaunce ad pristinum statum ire" 



LETTER XVIII. 



WILLIAM of Waynflete became bishop of Winchester in the 

 year 1447, and seems to have pursued the generous plan of 

 Wykeliam in endeavouring to reform the priory of Selborne. 



T F. 1. a. "This prediction, although a probable conclusion concerning 

 " a king who after a time would suppress the religious houses, is remark- 

 " able. I imagined it might have been foisted into the copies in the reign 

 " of king Henry VIII. but it is to be found in MSS. of this poem, older 

 " than the year 1400." fol. 1. a, b. 



" Again, where he, Piers Plowman, alludes to the Knights Templars, 

 " lately suppressed, he says, 



" Menofholiekirk 



" Shall turn as Templars did; the tijme approacheth nere" 



" This, I suppose, was a favourite doctrine in WicUiffe's discourses." 

 Warton's Hist, of Enyli&h Poetry, Vol. I. p. 282. 



