What saw they,
that made this constitution? What priests saw they? What manner of
masses saw they, trow ye? But at the last, what became of so good a
constitution? God have mercy upon us! If there be nothing to be amended
abroad, concerning the whole, let every one of us make one better: if
there be neither abroad nor at home any thing to be amended and
redressed, my lords, be ye of good cheer, be merry; and at the least,
because we have nothing else to do, let us reason the matter how we may
be richer. Let us fall to some pleasant communication; after let us go
home, even as good as we came hither, that is, right-begotten children of
the world, and utterly worldlings. And while we live here, let us all
make bone cheer. For after this life there is small pleasure, little
mirth for us to hope for; if now there be nothing to be changed in our
fashions. Let us say, not as St. Peter did, "Our end approacheth nigh,"
this is an heavy hearing; but let us say as the evil servant said, "It
will be long ere my master come." This is pleasant. Let us beat our
fellows: let us eat and drink with drunkards. Surely, as oft as we do
not take away the abuse of things, so oft we beat our fellows. As oft as
we give not the people their true food, so oft we beat our fellows.
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