_Me._ In soche a way I had leuer haue an almes
howse of olde folkes, then a company of stronge theues.
_Ogy._ Gratian rode vpon my lefte hande nerer the almes
howse, he caste holy water vpon hym, he toke it in
worthe so so, || when the shoo was proferred hym, he
asked what he ment by it, saythe he, it is saynt Thomas
shoo. There at he turned and was very angry, & turned
toward me: what (saythe he) meane these bestes, that
wold haue vs kysse ye shoes of euery good man? Why doo
they not lyke wyse gyue vs to kysse the spottel, &
other fylthe & dyrt of the body? I was sory for the old
ma, & gaue hym a pece of money to coforthe hym with
all. _Me._ In myn opynyo Gratian was not all together
angry with owt a good cause. If shoes and slyppers were
kept for a toke of sobre lyuynge, I wold not be moch
dyscontent ther with, but me thynks it is a shame full
fashyon for shoes, slyppers, and breches to be offered
to kysse to any man. If some wold do it by there owne
fre wyll, of a certene affectyo of holynes, I thynke
they were whorthy of pardon. _Ogy._ It were || better
not to thes thynges, if I may say as I thynke, yet owt
of thes thynges that cannat forthwith be amended, it is
my maner if ther be any goodnes thereyn, to take it
out, and apply it to the best. In ye meanseson that
contemplacyo and light delited my mynde, that a good ma
is lykened to a shepe, an euyll man to a benemouse
best.
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