Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/234

 It is thi fawte and thou be lore, Haske thou mercy and thou xalt have.

Uppon thi neybore be not vengabyl, Ageyn the lawe if he offende; Lyke as he is, thou art unstabyl, Thyn owyn frelté evyr thou attende. Evermore thi neybore helpe to amende, Evyn as thou woldyst he xulde the; Ageyn hym wrathe if thou accende, The same in happ wylle falle on the.

Eche man to othyr be mercyable, And mercy he xal have at nede; What man of mercy is not tretable, Whan he askythe mercy he xal not spede. Mercy to graunt I com indede; Whoso aske mercy he xal have grace; Lett no man dowte for his mysdede, But evyr aske mercy, whyl he hath space.

Scriba. Alas! Alas! oure lawe is lorn! A! fals ypocryte, Jhesu be name, That of a sheppherdis dowtir was born, Wyl breke oure lawe and make it lame. He wyl us werke ryght mekyl shame, His fals purpos if he upholde; Alle oure lawys he dothe defame, That stynkynge beggere is woundyr bolde.

Phariseus. Sere scrybe, in feyth that ypocryte Wyl turne this londe al to his lore; Therfore I councelle hym to indyte, And chastyse hym ryght wel therfore.