Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/513

 I The Hundred Years War 477 And all this maketh me think upon my dream. And how the priest found no pardon like Do-well and thought that Do-well surpassed indulgences, saying mass two or three years for departed souls, and bishops' letters ; and how Do- well shall be worthier received at the day of doom, and shall surpass all the pardons of St. Peter's church. Now the pope hath power to grant people the power to pass into heaven without any penance. This is our belief, as learned men teach us. Quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum in cells, etc. 1 And so I truly believe (Lord for- bid otherwise !) that pardon and penance and prayers indeed cause souls to be saved which have sinned deadly seven times. But to trust these three-year masses methinketh truly is not so safe for the soul, certes, as is Do-well. Therefore, I counsel you, ye men who are rich on this earth and have three-year masses in trust of your treasure, be ye never the bolder to break the ten commandments ; and espe- cially, ye masters, mayors, judges, who are held for wise men and have the wealth of this world and can purchase pardon and the pope's bulls. At the dreadful doom when the dead shall rise and all come before Christ to render account, how thou didst lead thy life here and didst keep his laws, and how thou didst do day by day, the doom will declare. A bagful of pardons there, or provincial letters, or though ye be found in the fraternity of all the four monastic orders, and have doublefold indulgences, except Do-well help you, I set your letters and pardons at the worth of a pea shell ! V. CHARLES THE BOLD OF BURGUNDY AND THE Swiss What ease or what pleasure did Charles, duke of Bur- 203. Charles gundy, enjoy more than our master, King Louis? In his the Bold and youth, indeed, he had less trouble, for he did not begin to (p rom the enter upon any action till nearly the two-and- thirtieth year Memoires of of his age ; so that before that time he lived in great ease Commines -) 1 " Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven," etc.