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166

Peter, our holy Father is,

The Pope, and secular clerks, ywis,

Defenders of the law of Christ.

And John, the Friars, and those enticed

Within their toils, who boldly say,

The ‘Eternal Gospel’ is the way

By which men may ascend to heaven,

And by the Holy Ghost ’tis given.

The power of John these recreants teach

To be the gospel that they preach

To call back sinners gone astray

From out the path of God’s highway.

And many a wicked devilry

Straightly commanded may one see

Within this book of froth and foam,

Against the holy law of Rome;

For Antichrist doth dwell within

The covers of this book of sin.

Men are exhorted there to slay

All those who Peter’s rule obey;

But howsoever they assail

His law, hell gates shall not prevail

Against it, but it still shall stand,

A beacon unto every land,

And those who hold it fast shall be

God’s people everlastingly;

While their law, miscalled John’s, shall fall

Deserted and accurst of all.

But of this matter will I stay

My words—too much there is to say.

But if that book had taken root,

Most marvellously well ’twould suit