*

nothing of amendment of life, presumes to place his whole trust in human pardons. Whoever will here be persuaded to consider, what a shipwreck of religion there is among mankind, partly from the vicious conduct of those who vend the Papal Indulgences, partly through the fault of such as accept them far differently than they ought to do, it will be allowed to be worth while to admonish youth on this matter. But this, I am told, is not very agreable to the proctors: my good fellow, if they are honest men, they will rejoice that the simple folk should be admonished; but if gain is more sought by them than godliness, I take my leave of them!"

* See Chaucer's character of the Pardoner, a man of most abandoned morals; and so also a less known poet :

Then preched a Pardoner, as he a prest were,
Broughte forth a bulle with many bishopes seles,
And seide that hymself myghte assoilen hem alle,
Of falshod, of fastynge, of avowes y-broken.
Lewed men loved it wel, and liked hise wordes,
Comen up knelynge to kissen hise bulles.

He bouched him with his brevet and blered hire eighen,
And raughte with his rageman rynges and broches.

Thus thei gyven hire gold, glotons to kepe, &c.

VISION OF PIERS PLOUGHMAN.

PILGRIMAGE FOR RELIGION'S SAKE.

The scene of the Colloquy is ANTWERP, the Speakers MENEDEMUS and OGYGIUS.

Me. How comes this? Is not that my neighbour Ogygius, whom no one has seen for these six months? He was reported to be dead. It is the very man, unless I am completely deceived. I will go and speak to him. How are you, Ogygius?

Me. What country has restored you in safety to us? There was a sad rumour in circulation that you had gone the way of all flesh.

Og. Nay, thank God! I have meanwhile been so well, that I was scarcely ever better.

Me. May you always refute such foolish reports

in the same manner! But what means this? You are covered with scallop shells, (1) stuck all over

B

with leaden and tin figures, (2) adorned with straw necklaces, (3) and a bracelet of serpents' eggs. (4)

Og. I have visited Saint James of Compostella (5); and, on my return, the sea-side Virgin so famous with the English; or rather I have revisited her, for I had seen her three years before. Me. From curiosity, I suppose?

Og. Nay, from motives of religion.

Me. This religion, I suppose, has been taught you by Greek literature? (6)

Og. My wife's mother had bound herself by a vow, that, if her daughter had a son born alive, I should in person salute Saint James, and offer our thanks.

Me. Have you saluted the saint only in the name of yourself and your mother-in-law?

Og. Nay, with the devotions of the whole family.

Me. I fancy not a whit less prosperity would have befallen the family if you had left James unsaluted. But, pray, what did he reply to the thanksgiver?

Og. Nothing; but when I made my offering he appeared to smile, and slightly bend his head, and at the same time he bestowed this scallop shell.

Me. Why should he give that rather than any thing else?

Og. Because the neighbouring sea brings him plenty of them.

Me. Oh benignant saint! so serviceable to the ladies, and so generous to his guests! But is not this a new kind of vow, that a person should do nothing himself, and impose the work upon others? If you were to bind yourself by a vow, that if any thing you were about went on well I should fast twice a week, do you think I should perform your vow for you?

Og. I do not think you would, even if you made the vow in your own person; for it seems a favourite sport with you to mock at the saints. But it was my mother-in-law's doing. The custom must be observed. You know women's fancies; and, moreover, it concerned my own welfare.