So maist thou chaunce mock out a benefice,
Unlesse thou canst one coniure by device, 510
Or cast a figure for a bishoprick: 
And if one could, it were but a schoole trick. 
These be the wayes by which without reward
Livings in court he gotten, though full hard;
For nothing there is done without a fee:  515
The courtier needes must recompenced bee
With a benevolence, or have in gage
     [Gage, pledge.]
The primitias of your parsonage: 
     [Primitias, first-fruits.]
Scarse can a bishoprick forpas them by,
But that it must be gelt in privitie. 520
Doo not thou therefore seeke a living there,
But of more private persons seeke elswhere,
Whereas thou maist compound a better penie,
Ne let thy learning question’d be of anie. 
For some good gentleman, that hath the right 525
Unto his church for to present a wight,
Will cope with thee in reasonable wise,
     [Cope, bargain.]
That if the living yerely doo arise
To fortie pound, that then his yongest sonne
Shall twentie have, and twentie thou hast wonne:  530
Thou hast it wonne, for it is of franke gift
And he will care for all the rest to shift;
Both that the bishop may admit of thee,
And that therein thou maist maintained bee. 
This is the way for one that is unlern’d 535
Living to get, and not to be discern’d. 
But they that are great clerkes have nearer wayes
For learning sake to living them to raise: 
Yet manie eke of them (God wote) are driven
T’accept a benefice in peeces riven.—­ 540
How saist thou, friend, have I not well discourst
Upon this common-place, though plaine, not wourst? 
Better a short tale than a bad long shriving: 
Needes anie more to learne to get a living?”
“Now sure, and by my hallidome,” quoth he 545
“Yea great master are in your degree: 
Great thankes I yeeld you for your discipline,
And doo not doubt but duly to encline
My wits theretoo, as ye shall shortly heare.” 
The priest him wisht good speed and well to fare:  550
So parted they, as eithers way them led. 
But th’Ape and Foxe ere long so well them sped,
Through the priests holesome counsell lately tought,
And throgh their owne faire handling wisely wroght,
That they a benefice twixt them obtained, 555
And craftie Reynold was a priest ordained,
And th’Ape his parish clarke procur’d to bee: 
Then made they revell route and goodly glee. 
But, ere long time had passed, they so ill
Did order their affaires, that th’evill will 560
Of all their parishners they had constraind;
Who to the ordinarie of them complain’d,