A TASTE OF SIMON FISH. part II [He was a well educated man and in his writing it is clear how the language was mutating. All the old influences are there but if you read it out loud you can gain the cadences of his voice. This wasnt formal, scultured English, but the sincere voice of a middle class man.] ************************************************************************************* [Beggars] most lamentably compleyneth theyre wofull mystery unto youre highnes youre poore daily bedemen the wretched hidous monstres (on whome scarcely for horror any yie [eye] dare loke the foule unhappy sort of lepres [lepers] and other sore people, ned, impotent, blinde, lame and sike, that live only by almesse, howe theyre nombre is daily so sore encresed that all the almesse of all the welldisposed people of youre realme is not halfe enough for to susteine them, but for that very constreint they die of hunger. [He then tells us of a problem that has arisen, of strong, puisant and counterfeit, holy and idle beggars and vagabonds. These are]......... (not the herdes, but the rauinous wolves in herdes clothing devouring the flock) the Bisshoppes, Abbottes, Priours, Deacons, Archdeacons, Suffraganes, Prestes, Monkes, Chanons, Freres, Pardoners and Somners. And who is abill to nombre this idell rauinous sort whiche (setting all laboure a side) have begged so importunately that they have gotten** ynto their hondes [hands] more than a therd part of all youre Realme. The goodliest lordshippes, maners, londes and territories, are theyrs. Besides this they have the tenth part of all the corne, medowe, pasture, grasse, wolle [wool], coltes, calves, lambes, pigges, gese and chikens. Over and bisides the tenth part of every servauntes wages the tenth part of the wolle, milke, hony, waxe, chese and butter. ** Note the gotten, still in normal use where British settled. ************************************************************************************* After this Simon Fish tells us of the costs of christening, weddings and funerals, even confessions and suggest these fat leeches should be tied to a cart and whipped through the streets. Do you wish me to continue?
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 11:58:18 +0000
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