The Injustice That Comes From Sin

Oððe hwa is swa heardheort þæt ne mæg wepan swylces ungelimpes? Ac swylce þing gewurðaþ for folces synna þæt hi nellað lufian God 7 rihtwisnesse. Swa swa hit wæs þa on ðam dagum. þæt litel rihtwisnesse wæs on þisum lande mid ænige menn. buton mid munecan ane þær þær hi wæll ferdon. Se cyng 7 þa heafod men lufedon swiðe 7 oferswiðe gitsunge. on golde. 7 on seolfre. 7 ne rohtan hu synlice hit wære begytan buton hit come to heom. Se cyng sealde his land swa deore to male. swa heo deorost mihte. Ðonne com sum oðer 7 bead mare þonne þe oðer ær sealde. 7 se cyng hit lett þam menn þe him mare bead. Ðonne com se þridde. 7 bead geat mare. 7 se cyng hit let þam men to handa þe him eallra meast bead. 7 ne rohte na hu swiðe synlice þa gerefan hit begeatan of earme mannon. ne hu manige unlaga hi dydon. Ac swa man swyðor spæc embe rihte lage. swa mann dyde mare unlaga. Hy arerdon unrihte tollas. 7 manige oðre unriht hi dydan.

Or who is so hard-hearted that he cannot weep for such misfortunes? But such things come to pass for the sins of the people, that they do not wish to love God and righteousness. As it was in those days, little righteousness was in this land with any men, except with monks alone where they thrived. The king and the chief men loved much and exceedingly greediness in gold and in silver, and did not care how sinful it was to acquire unless it came to them. The king sold his land as dear as he could, as dearly as it might be. Then came another and offered more than the other had previously offered, and the king granted it to those men who offered him most. Then came the third one, offering even more; and the king assigned it to those men who offered him all the most. And he did not regard how grievously sinfully those reeves acquired from poor men, nor how many wrongs they committed. But as a man spoke more about rightful laws, so man committed greater wrongs. They erected unjust tolls and many other injustices they did.