author: William Langland
edition published: 200?
language: lat; fre; ger
availability: Commercially available: copyright 200?, by SEENET

I N[^1] asomer a somer seson · whan softe was the sonne
I schope me in schroudes · as I aschepe a schepe were
In habit as an heremyt · vnholy of werkes
Went wide in this world · wondres to here
And on a may mornyng · on Maluerne hylles
Me bifel a ferli · of faire[^a1] me thoughte ·
I was weri for-wandred · and went me to reste
vnder a brade bank · bi a bornes syde
And as I lay an lened · an[^2] loked in[^a2] the wateres
I slombred in[^a3] a sleping · it sweyued[^a4][^3] so meri
¶ Than gan I to meten · a meruellous sweyuene
That I was in a wildernesse · wist I neuere whare
And[^a5] I bihelde in-to þe est · an heighe to þe sonne
I seigh a tour on a toft · rieliche[^a6][^4] ymaked
A depe dale binethe · a dongeon ther-Inne ·
With depe dickis[^a7] an derke · and dredful of sight
A fair felde ful of folk · fand I there bitwene
Of alle manere of men · the mene and the riche
Wirkyng and wandryng · as the world asketh
Som put him[^5] to the plowth · plaiden ful selden[^6]
In settyng an in[^a8] sowyng swynken[^a9] ful harde
An wonnen that wastours · with glotonye distroys
¶ An som putten hem to pride · apparailed hem ther-after
In countenance of clothing · comen disgised
¶ In praiers an in penaunce · putten hem manye
Al[^7] for loue of oure lord · lyueden ful strayitte
In hope for to haue · heuenriche blisse
As ankirs and hermytes · that holden hem in hir selles
And coueyten nouȝt in contre · to walken[^a10] aboute
For no likerous liflade · hir likam to plese
¶ An som chesen chaffare · thay cheuen the better
As it semys to oure sight · that swilke men thryueth
An som Murthes to make · as Mynstralles knaueth[^a11]
An geten gold with hir glee · synneles I leue
As Iapers and Iangelers · Iudas children
Feyn[^a12] hem fantasies · and foles thaym maketh
An han hir wit at wille · to wircke if thay schulde
That paule prechys of hem · I nyl nouȝt pruue it here
¶ Qui turpiloquium loquitur et cetera :[^8]
¶ Bidders and beggers · faste aboute yede
With hir bely an hir bagges · of bred ful ycramned[^a13]
Fatteden Fa[i]teden[^a14] for hir fode · foughten atte ale
In glotonye god it wot · gayt[^a15] they to bedde
And risen with ribaldri · þo Roberdes knaues
Slepe an sory sleuthe sheweth[^a16] thaym euere
¶ Pilgrymes and palmers · gedir[^a17] hem togider
To seek seint Iames and seintes in Rome
Thay went forth inhir in hir way · with many wise tales
And hadden leue to lee · al hir lif after
I seigh som that saiden · thai had ysouȝt seyntes
Tho[^9] hilk a tale þat thay tolde · thayr tonge was tempred to lee
Mare than to say soth · It semed by thair speche
¶ Heremytes on an hepe · with hokid staues
Went[^a18] to walsyngham and thair wenches affter
Grete lobies an longe · that lathe were to swynke
Clathed thaym in capes · to ben knowen fram other
And schopen hem heremytes · hir ese to haue
¶ I fande ther freres · alle þe foure ordres
Preched the pepile · for profit of hem-seluen
Glosed the gospel · as thaym gode liked
For couetise of capes · construde it as they wolde
Many of thyse maistres[^a19] frers · mowe clothen hem at likyng
For hir moneie an manchandises ma[r]chandises[^a20] · Marchen togiders
For sythin[^a21] charite hath ben chapman · an chife to schriue lordes[^10]
Many farlles[^a22] han fallen · In a few yeres
B ut holi chirche an hij[^11] · holde bettre togidires
Þe maste meschief on molde · is mounctyng wel faste
¶ Ther prechid a pardoner · as he a prest ware
Brouȝt forth a bulle · with bisschopes seles
An saiede that hym-self · Myȝte a-soyle thaym alle
Of falshede of fastynge · and of vowes ybroken
¶ Lewed men leued him wel · and liked hise wordes
Come[^a23] vp knelyng · to kissen hise bulles
He bonched hem with his breuet · an blered hir eyen
And rauhte with his ragman · Rynges and broches
Thus thay geuen hir gold · glotones to kepe
And lenys swilke losels · that liccherie haunctys
Were the bisschop yblissed · and worth bothe hise eres
His seel schulde nouth be sent · to deceyue the peple
And[^a24] it is nauth by the bisschop · that the both preches
For the parisshe prest and the pardoner · parten þe siluer
That the poraille[^a25] of the parisshe · schulde haue if þey nere
¶ Persones an parisse prestes · pleyned hem to þe bischope
That hir parisse[^a26] ware pore · sith[^a27] pestilence tyme
Tho[^12] haue a license an a leue[^a28] · atte London to dwelle
And syngen ther for symonye · for siluir is swete
¶ Bisschopes and bachelers bothe maisters and docturs
That han cure vnder crist · and crowng crown[yn]g[^a29] in tokene
And signe þat þei schulde schryuen · hir parochiens
Prechen and prey for hem · and the pore fede
Liggand[^a30] in[^a31] london In lenten and elles.
Som seruen the king and his siluer telles
In Cheker and in chauncerie · chalenge hise dettes
Of wardes and wardemotes[^13] weyues and streyues
¶ And som seruen as seruantz · Lordes an ladies
And in stede of stiwardes · sitten and demen.
Thayr messe and hir matyns · an many of hir houres
Aren done vndewoutliche · drede is at the laste
Lest crist in consistorie · a-curse ful manye
I persayued of the power · that petir had to kepe
To bynde and to[^a32] vnbynde · as the book telles
How he it left with loue · as oure lord hight[^14]
That Cardinales ben called · and closyng yates
ther crist is in kyngdom · to close and to schutte
And to open it to hem · and heuene blisse schewe
And[^a33] of þe cardinals atte Court · þat cauȝt of þat name
And power presumed in hem · a pope to make
To haue that power þat petir hadde · Inpugnen I nylle
For in loue and lectrure · the eleccion bilonges
For-thy I kan and kan nauth · of Court speke more
¶ Thane come ther a kyng knyghthode hym ladde
M yght of the comunes made hym to regne
And than come kynde wit · and clerkes he made
For to counsel the kyng . and the comune saue
¶ The kyng and knygthode · and clergie bothe
Casten that the comune · schulde hem-self fynde
¶ The comune controued · of kynde wit craftes
And for profit of alle the pepile · plowman[^a34] ordeyned
To tilie and[^a35] trauaille · as trew lif askys
The kyng an the comune · kynde[^a36] wit the thridde
Schope lawe an leaute · hilk man to knowe his owne
¶ Thanne loked vp a lunatik a lene thyng with-alle
And knelyng to the kyng . clergealy he sayde
Crist kepe the sire kyng . and thy kyngriche
And leue þe lede thy londe · so leute the louye
And for thy rightful rewlyng · be rewarded in heuene
¶ And sithen in the aer an heigh · an angel of heuene
Lowed to speke in latyn · for lewed men ne koude
Iangle ne Iugge · that Iustifie hem schulde
But suffren an seruen · for-þy seide þe angel
versus.
Sum rex sum princeps neutrum fortasse deinceps
O quiiura qui iura regis christi specialia Regis
Hoc quod agas melius · iustus es esto pius
Nudum ius a te vestiri vult pietate
Qualia vis metere talia grana sere
Siius Si ius nudatur nudo de iure metatur
Si seritur pietas de pietate metas
¶ Than greued hym a goliardeys · a gloton of wordes
And to þe angel an heigh · answered after
versus
Cum[^a37] rex a regere dicatur nomen habere
Nomen habet sine re nisi studet iura tenere
¶ And thane[^a38] gan alle the comune · crye in vers of latyn
Tho[^15] þe kynges counsel · construe wo-so wolde
Precepta Regis sunt nobis vincula legis.
¶ With that rane there a route · of ratones atones at ones
An smale mys with hem · Mo than a thousand
And come to a conseil · for hir comune profit
For a cat of a Court · cam wan hym liked.
An ouer-lepe hem lightliche · an lauȝte hem at his wille
And playde with hem perilousliche · and possed hem aboute
For doute of diuerse dredes · we dare nouthe[^a39] loke
An if we gruche of hise gamen · He wile greue vs alle
Cracche vs or clow vs · an in his cluches holde
That vs lothes the lif · or he lete vs passe
Myght we with any wit · his wit[^a40] with-stonde
We myghte be lordes a-loft · and leuen[^16] at oure ese.
¶ A Raton of renoun · Most renable of tonge
Saide for a souereyne · helpe to hym-selue
I haue seyn segthis seg[g]es[^a41] quod he · In the Cite of londoun
Weren[^a42] belies ful bright · aboute hir nekkes
And som colers of crafti werk · vncoupled thay wenden.
Bothe in wareyne and in waste · ware hem leue liketh
And other-while thay aren elles-where · as I here telle
Were ther a belle on hir bighes[^a43] · by Iesu as me thynke[^a44]
Men myghte wite where thay went · and awey renne
& righte so quod that raton · reson me schewes
Tho[^17] bigge a belle of bras · or of brighte siluer
And knytten on a coler · for oure comune profit.
And hangen it vp-on the cattes hals · than here we mowen
Wher he ryt or rest · or renneth to playe
And if hym list for to laike · þanne loke we mowen.
And peer in his presence · ther while hym playe likeþ.
And if hym wrattheth be ywar[^a45] · and his way schonye
¶ Alle this route of ratons · to this reson thay[^a46] assented.
And[^a47] tho[^18] the belle was yboughte · and on þe beiȝe hanged
ther ne was raton in al the route · for al the reem of Fraunce
that dorste haue ybonden[^a48] the belle · aboute þe cattes nekke
Ne hangen it aboute þe cattes hals · al Englond to wynne
And helden hem vnhardy · an hir consel fieble.
And leten hir labour lost · and al hir longe studye
¶ A Mous that muche good · couthe as me thoghte
Stroke forth sternely · and stood biforn hem alle
And to þe route of ratons · reherced this wordes
Though we kulled the catte · yet schulde ther come another
To cracchy vs an al oure kynde · thowe we crepe vnder benches
For-thi I conselle al the comune · to late þe catte worthe
And be we neuere so bolde · the belle hym to schewe[^19]
For I herde my sire say · his[^20] seuene ȝher I-passed
ther the catte is a kyton · the Court is ful elynge
That witnesse[^a49] holy writ · who-so wile it rede
Ve terre vbi puer Rex est & cetera
¶ For may no renke ther reste haue · for ratons by nyghte
the wile he catches conynges · he couettes nought oure caroyne
But fedes hym al with veneson · defame we hym neuere
For better is a litil losse · than a longe sorwe
For many mannes malt we mys · wolde destroye
And also the route of ratones at ones · rende mennes clothes
Ner th th[e][^a50] catte of that court · that kan yow ouer-lepe
For hadde ye rattes yowre wille · ye kouþe nouȝt reule youre-selue
I say for me quod þe mous · I se so mykel after
Shal neuere þe catte ne þe kytton · by my conseil be greued
Ne carpyng of this coler · þat cost me neuere
And thouge it had cost me catel · be-knowe it I nolde
But suffren as hym-self wolde · to do as hym likeþ
Coupled and vncoupled · to catche wat þey mowe
For-thi ilke a wise wighte I warne · wite wel his owne
¶ What this metels bymeneth · þe ye men þat beþ merie
Deuyne ye for I ne dare · by dere gode in heuene
¶ Yet houed ther an hondred in howues of silke
Sergans as it[^a51] semed · þat seruede atte barre
Pleteden for penyes · and poundes þe lawe
And nought for loue of oure lord · vnlouse hir lippes ones
Thow myghte[^a52] bettere · Mete the myste on Maluerne hylles
Than gete a Momme of hir mouthe · but moneye were[^a53] schewed
¶ Barons an burgeis and bondemen als
I seigh in this assemble · as ye schal here after
Baxsters an brewesters · an bochers manye
Wolnewebsters Wolne websters · an weuers of lynen
Taillours an tynkers · an tollers in Markettes
Masons and Mynours · and Many other craftes
Of alkyn libyng labores labor[er]es[^a54] · lopen forth some
As dikers and deluers · that does hir dedes ille
And dryue[^a55] forth the longe day with deu vous saue dame Emme[^21]
Cokes and hir knaues · crieden hote pies hote
Goode gris an gees[^a56] · gowe go we dyne gowe go we
¶ Thauerners vntil hem · tolde the same
White wyne of Oseie · an rede wyn of Gascoigne
Of þe Ryne an of the Pochel [R]ochel[^a57] · the rost to diffye
Al this sawe I slepyng · and seuene sithes more

[^a1: faire (C C2) | fairy (All other mss)]

[^a2: in (C L M Y O C2) | on (All other mss)]

[^a3: in (C L M Y O C2) | into (All other mss)]

[^a4: sweyued (C L M Y O C2) | ???? (Bx)]

[^a5: And (C M W H) | om. (Bx)]

[^a6: rieliche (C M) | trielich (Bx)]

[^a7: dickis (C H) | dyches (All other mss)]

[^a8: an in (C Bx Hm G) | and (All other mss)]

[^a9: swynken (C) | swonken (All other mss)]

[^a10: walken (C) | kairen (Bx M G O)]

[^a11: knaueth (C) | conneth (Bx M Cr Hm O)]

[^a12: Feyn (C H) | Feynen (L W G)]

[^a13: ycramned (C) | ycrammed (Most other mss)]

[^a14: Fatteden Fa[i]teden (C) | Fayteden (Bx M W)]

[^a15: gayt (C) | gon (Bx)]

[^a16: sheweth (C Cr1 Cr2 G) | seweth (Bx)]

[^a17: gedir (C) | pli?ted (Bx M)]

[^a18: Went (C H) | Wenten (All other mss)]

[^a19: maistres (C Bx Y G) | maistre (Most other mss)]

[^a20: manchandises ma[r]chandises (C) | marchandise (Bx et al.)]

[^a21: sythin (C) | sith (All other mss)]

[^a22: farlles (C) | ferlis (All other mss)]

[^a23: Come (C) | Comen (Most other mss)]

[^a24: And (C Cr C2) | Ac (Bx M W Hm Y O)]

[^a25: poraille (C Bx W) | pouere poraille (Other mss)]

[^a26: parisse (C H) | parisshes (Bx M)]

[^a27: sith (C) | sith þe (All other mss)]

[^a28: a leue (C Bx) | a leue (All other mss)]

[^a29: crowng crown[yn]g (C) | crounyng (Bx B)]

[^a30: Liggand (C) | Liggen (Bx M Cr et)]

[^a31: in (C Bx M O Y) | at (Most other mss)]

[^a32: and to (C Bx M Y O) | and (All other mss)]

[^a33: And (C Cr C2 F) | Ac (All other beta mss)]

[^a34: plowman (C Y) | plowmen (All other mss)]

[^a35: and (C L Y O C2) | and to (Most other mss)]

[^a36: kynde (C) | and kynde (All other mss)]

[^a37: Cum (C Y O C2) | Dum (All other mss)]

[^a38: And thane (C Bx) | Thanne (All other mss)]

[^a39: nouthe (C) | nouȝte wel (All other mss)]

[^a40: wit (C) | wille (Most other mss)]

[^a41: segthis seg[g]es (C) | segges (All other mss)]

[^a42: Weren (C) | Beren (All other mss)]

[^a43: bighes (C Y O) | beiȝ (Most other mss)]

[^a44: thynke (C) | thynketh (All other mss)]

[^a45: ywar (C Bx R Y) | war (All other mss)]

[^a46: reson thay (C Bx Cr W Y) | reson (All other mss)]

[^a47: And (C Cr C2) | Ac (Bx R et)]

[^a48: ybonden (C Bx Y) | bounden (Most other mss)]

[^a49: witnesse (C) | witnisseth (Bx)]

[^a50: th th[e] (C Bx R O C2) | þe (All other mss)]

[^a51: as it (C) | it (All other mss)]

[^a52: myghte (C) | myȝtest (All other mss)]

[^a53: were (C L M) | be (Most other mss)]

[^a54: labores labor[er]es (C) | laboreres (All other mss)]

[^a55: dryue (C G C H F) | dryuen (All other mss)]

[^a56: gris an gees (C Bx M C Y R) | gees and grys (All other mss)]

[^a57: Pochel [R]ochel (C) | Rochel (All other mss)]

[^1: C.P.1: A blue capital with red flourishes and leaves decorated with red pen strokes begins the prologue. Decorative flourishing extends across the top and bottom of the page in red ink and down the left margin, where it alternates between red and blue ink after each new paraph.]

[^2: C.P.9: An, "and." This spelling reflects the northern dialect, and it is in free variation with <and>.]

[^3: C.P.10n: sweyued: This is probably the beta reading, supported by LCO, and probably original M, where swei....(three or four letters erased) has been altered to sweyed, in line with beta2 and GF. See MED sweiven, "whirl, sweep", a rare verb cited elsewhere only from Patience and Cleanness. But the noun sweuene in the next line might have given rise to the reading. The variant sweyed is MED sweien v. (1), "sound", or the commoner v.(2), "move along (of water)." There is the same variation in Ax.]

[^4: C.P.14: [t]rielich: So LWG and original M. A scribes also have trouble with the adverb (from adj. trie), and Cx rewrites.]

[^5: C.P.20: him, "them." This is a Northern spelling, not distinguishing plural and singular forms. See Duggan and Turville-Petre, eds. The Wars of Alexander, pp. xxxix-xl.]

[^6: C.P.20: C and F alone have this spelling. All other B witnesses have selde. The difference is not substantive.]

[^7: C.P.26: The initial A is malformed.]

[^8: This is the first example of a punctuation mark consisting of three dots, the highest of which has a tick like the uppermost dot on a punctus elevatus. Hereafter these marks are represented as a simple colon]

[^9: C.P.51: Tho, "to."]

[^10: C.P.64: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "lordes" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.P.65.]

[^11: C.P.66: hij, "they," reflecting the northern scribe's adherence to his more southerly exemplar when alliteration requires the <h-> form.]

[^12: C.P.51: Tho, "to."]

[^13: C.P.94: Kane-Donaldson, p.232, mistakenly record this as wardenmotes.]

[^14: C.P.102: C omits the following line: Amonges foure vertues · þe best of alle vertues]

[^15: C.P.143: Tho, "to."]

[^16: C.P.156: leuen, "live." C C2 and H spell with <e>. See {xref} Ling intrro****{xref}]

[^17: C.P.167: Tho, "to."]

[^18: C.P.175: tho, "then."]

[^19: C.P.187: C omits the following line: Þe mase amonge vs alle · þouȝ we mysse a schrewe.]

[^20: C.P.188: his, "is."]

[^21: C.P.223: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "Emme" in a red box to the right of C.P.224.]

¶ Passus primus de visione :

U hat[^22] this mountaigne bymenes · & the merke dale
And þe felde ful of folk · I schal yow faire schewe
A louely lady of lyre · in lynnen yclothed
Come doun from a castel · and called me faire
An saide sone slepestow · sestow this peeple
How besy thay ben a-bouten[^a58] the mase
nota
The moste partie of þis pepile · þat passes on this erthe
Haue thay worchip in this world · thay wilnen no bettre
Of othyr heuene than here · holde thay no tale
¶ I was a-fered of hir face · theiȝ scho faire were
And saide mercy madame · what is this to mene
The thour v p þe toft quod she · treuthe is ther-Inne
And wolde that ye wrowȝte · as his word thecheth
For he is fader of fayth · formed yow alle
Bothe with felle an wth w[i]th face · an gaf yow fyue wyttes
For to worschip hym ther-with · the while þat ye ben here
And ther-fore he highte þe erþe · to help yow vchoon
Of wollen of lynnen · o[^23] lifode atte nede
In mesurable manere · to make yow atte ese
¶ An comanded of his curteisie · In comune thre thynges
Aren noon nedful but thyo · And nempne hem I thynke
And rekene hem by reson · Reherce thow hem after
that oon is vesture · from chelde the to saue
And meet atte the Mele · for mysese of þy-selue
And drynk whan thow driest · and do nought out of reson[^24]
that thow worþ þe worse · wan thow worche sholdest
¶ For Loth in his lif-dayes · for likyng of drynke
Dide by hise dougtres · that þe deuel wolde[^25]
And leccherie hym lauȝte · an lay by hem boþe
And al he witte it þe wyn · that wikked dede.
¶ Inebriemus eum vino dormiamusque cum eo ut seruare possimus de patre nostro semen[^26]
¶ Thorugh wyn and thoruȝ wymmen · ther was loth acombred
And ther gatte in glotonye · barnes that were karles
For-thy drede delitable drynke · and thou schalt do þe better
Mesur is medicyne · thouȝ thow mikile ȝerne
It is nowht al good to þe goost · that guttis askys
Ne liflode to thy likam · for a lyer hym techys
That is the wrecched world · wolde þe bitraye
For þe fende an thy flesche · folowes the togidire
This and þat sees þy soule · and setth it in thy herte
An for thou schuldest ben ware · I wisse the beste
¶ Madame mercy quod I · Me likes wel youre wordes
And the moneie of this molde · that men so faste holdes
Thel me to whom madame · that tresour appendes
¶ Go to þe gospel quod she · that god saide hym-seluen
When þe pepyl hym apposed · with a peny in þe temple
Whether thay schuld þer-with · worschip þe kyng Cesare
And god asked of hem · of wham spak the lettre
And þe ymage ylike · that þer-Inne stondes
Cesar thay sayde · we see hym wel Ilkone
¶ Reddite cesari quod god · that cesar bifalles
¶ Et que sunt dei deo : or elles ye do ille
For rightful reson · schulde rewle yow alle
And kynde with be wardeyn · youre wele to kype
And tutour of ȝoure tresour · and take it yow at nede
For housbondrie an hij · holden to-gideres
Than I frayned hir fayre · for hym that hir made
That dongeoun in þe dale · that dredful is of sighte
What may it be to mene · madame I yow be biseche
That is the castel of care who-so cometh ther-Inne.
May banne that he borne was · to body or to soule
Ther-Inne wonnyes a wight · that wronge is yhote
Fader of falsed · and founded it hym-seluen
Adam and eue · he egged to ille
Counseilled Caym to kyllen his brother
Iudas he Iaped · with Iuwen siluir
And sithen on Eller · hanged hym after
He is letter of loue · and lieth hem alle
That trusten on his tresoure · by-trayes he sonnest
¶ Than had I wonder in my wit · what womman it were
That swilke wise wordes · of holy writ me scheued
And asked hir in þe heigh name · ers scho þennes yede
What she were witterly · þat wissed me so faire
¶ Holycherche I am quod schoe · thowe oughtest me to knowe
I vnderfonge the firste · and the fayth taughte
And brougtest me borwes · Mi biddyng to fulfille
And to loue lelly · the whille thy life dureth
¶ Thanne I coureed on my knees · and criede hir of grace
And prayed hir pitously · praye for my synnes
And also kenne me kyndely · on criste to bileue
That I myghte worchen his wille · that wrouȝte me to man
Theche me to no tresour · but telle me this ilke
How I may saue my saule · þat seynt art yholden
¶ Whan alle tresoures aren tried · treuthe is the beste
I do it on deus caritas to deme the sothe
It is as derworth a drewerie · as dere god hym-seluen
¶ Who-so is trewe of his tonge · and telleth non other
And dothy þe werkes therwith · an willeneth no man ille
He is a god by the gospel · a-grounde and a-loft
And ylike to oure lord · by seynt lukes wordes
The clerkes that knoweth this · schulde kenne it aboute
For cristen an vncristen · clameth it echone
¶ Kynges an knygtes · schulde kepe it by reson
Riden and rapendoun rapen doun · in reaumes aboute
And taken transgressores and thyen hem faste
Thil treuthe had ytermined · hir trespas to the ende
And that is the professioun aperly aper[t]ly · þat appendyth for knyghtes
And nought to fasten a friday in fyue score wynter
But holden with hym and with hir · that wolden al treuthe
And neuer leue hem for loue · ne for lacchyng of siluir
¶ For dauid in hise dayes · dubbed knyghtes
And dide hem swere on hir swerd · to serue trouthe euere
And who-so passed that poynt · was apostata in þe order
¶ But crist kyngen kyng · knyghted ten
Cherubyn and seraphyn · swiche seuen and another
And gaf hem myghte in his magiste · the muryer hem thought
And ouer his mene meynnge · made hem archangels
Thauȝte hem by the · Trinite treught to knowe
Tho[^27] be bouxom at his biddyng · he bad hem nought elles
¶ Lucifer with legiones · lerned it in heuen[^28]
But for he brake buxomnese · his blisse gan he tyne
And fel fro that felawschip · in a fendes liknes
In-to a depe derk helle · to dwelle ther for euere
And mo thousandes with hym · than man kouthe novmber
Loupen out with lucifer · in lotheliche forme[^29]
Ponam pedem in aquilone et similis ero altissimo.
¶ An alle that hoped it myghte be so · no heuen myghte hem holde[^30]
But fellen out in fendes liknesse · nyne dayes togidres
Til god of his goodnese · gane stable and stynte
And garte the heuene to steke · and stonden in quiete
¶ Whan thise wikked went out · wonderwise thay fellen
Som in þe eire some in þe erthe · and som in helle depe
And lucifer lawest · lyes of hem alle
For pride that he put out · his payn hath non ende
And alle worcheth with wrong · wenden hij shulle
After hir deth-day · and dwelle with that schrewe
And tho[^31] that worches wel · as holy writ telleth
And enden as I er saide · In trouthe þat is þe beste
Mowe be siker that hir soule · schal wende to heuene
Ther treuhte is in Trinite and troneth hem alle
For-thy I sey as I saide ere · by sighte of þis texte
Wan alle tresoures aren ytried · treuthe is the beste
Lereth it this lewed men · for lettred men ne knowen
That treuthe is tresoure · the triest on erthe
yhet haue I no kynde knowyng quod I · yhet mote ye kene me bettre[^32]
By what craft in my corps · it comseth and where
¶ Thow doted daffe quod she · dulle aren þy wittes
Tho[^33] lityl latyn thou lernedest · lede in thy thougthe
heu e
¶ Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam Iuuenilem :
¶ It is a kynde knowyng quod he[^34] þat kenneth in thyne herte
For to loue thy lorde · leuere than thy-seluen
No dedly syne to do · dey þouȝ þou sholdest
This I trowe by treuthe · who kan teche þe better
¶ Loke thow suffyre hym to saye · and sithen here it after
For thus witnesseþ his word · worche yow þer-after
For treuthe telleþ þat loue · is triacle of heuene
May no synne be on hym sene · that vses þat spyce
And alle this werkes he wrought · with loue as hym liste
And lered it moyses for þe leuest þing · an most like to heuene self[^35]
And also plentee of pees · Most preciouse of vertues
¶ For heuen myȝte nouȝt holden it · it was so heuy of hym-self[^36]
Thil it had of the erthe · heten his fille
And whan it had of þis folde · flessh and blood taken
Was neuer leef vp-on lynde · liȝter ther-after
And portatif and persaunt · as the poynt of a nedele
That myght non armurer it lete · ne non heigh. walles
¶ For-thy is loue leder · of þe lordes folk of heuene
And a mene as þe Mair is · bitwene þe kyng ande þe comune
Right so is loue a leder · and þe lawe schapeth
Vp-on a man for his mysdedes · þe mercyment he taxeth
And for to knowe it kyndely · it comseth by nyght [m]yght
And in þe/herte þe herte þer is þe heuede · an þe heiȝ welle
¶ For in kynde knowyng in herte · þer a miȝte bygynneth
And that falles to þe fader · þat formed vs alle
Loked on vs with loue · and lete his sone deye
Mekel for oure mysdedes · to amende vs alle
And yhet wolde he hem no wo · þat wrought hym þat peyne
But Mikely M[e]kely with mouþe · Mercy he bisoughte
Tho[^37] haue pitee of þat pepyle · that peyned hym to dethe
¶ Here myghtestow see ensaumpyle · In hym-selue oone
That he was myghtful and meke · and mercy gan grawnte
Tho[^38] hem þat hongen hym an heigh · and his herte thirlede
¶ For-thy I rede yow riche · haue reuthe of the pore
Thought ye be myghtful to mote · beth meke in youre werkes[^39]
¶ For þe same mesures þat ye mete · amys outher elles
ye schullen be weyen ther-with · whan ye wende hennes
¶ Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis :
¶ For though ye be trewe of youre tonge · & treweliche wynne
And as chaste as a childe · that in kerke wepes
But if ye louen lelliche · and lene the pore
Swilk good as god ȝow sent · goodliche parteth
Ye ne haue no merite · in masse ne in houres
Than Malkyng of hir maydenhode · þat no man desires
¶ For Iames þe gentil · Iuggede in hise bookes
That feiþ with-oute þe facte · is ryght no-thyng worthy
And as dede a dore-tre · but if thy dedes folwe
¶ Fides sine operibus mortua est & cetera
¶ For-thy chastite with-oute charite · worth cheyned in helle
nota
It is as lewed as a lampe · that no light is Inne
¶ Many chapeleyns aren chaste · and charite is awey
Aren no man auerouser than hij · whan þey ben auaunced
vnkynde to hir kynne · and to alle cristene
Chewen hir charite · and chiden after more
Swilk chastite with-oute charite · worth cheyned in helle
¶ Many curatours kepen hem · clene of hir bodyes
Thay ben acombred with coueitise · þey kanne nouȝt do it fram hem[^40]
So hard hath auarice · yhasped hem togiders
And that is no treuthe of þe Trinite . bot tricherie of helle
And lernyng to lewed men · the latter for to dele
¶ For-thy thise wordes · ben writen In the gospel
¶ Date & dabitur vobis · for I dele yow alle
And that is the lokke of loue · and leteth oute my grace
Tho[^41] confort the carful · a-combyred with synne
¶ Loue is leche of lif · and nexit oure lord selue
And also the graythe gate · that goth in-to heuene
For-thi I say as I sayde er · by þe textis
Whan alle tresores ben ytried · treuthe is the beste
Now haue I tolde the what treuhte is · þat no tresore is bettere
I may no lenger lenge the with · now loke the oure lorde

[^a58: a-bouten (C Bx M R) | aboute (All other mss)]

[^22: C.1.1: A three-line ornamental capital begins the first passus. It is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes extending to the page's bottom on the left.]

[^23: C.1.18: o, "of."]

[^24: C.1.25: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "son" in a red box to the right of C.1.26.]

[^25: KD.1.29 is omitted.]

[^26: C.1.31: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nostro semen" in a red box to the right of C.1.32.]

[^27: 1.109: Tho, "to."]

[^28: KD.1.112 is omitted]

[^29: KD.1.118 is omitted]

[^30: C.1.117: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "holde" in a red box to the right of C.1.118.]

[^31: C.1.127: tho, "those."]

[^32: C.1.135: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "me bettre" in a red box to the right of C.1.136.]

[^33: C.1.138: Tho, "too."]

[^34: C.1.140: he, "she."]

[^35: C.1.149: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "self" in a red box to the right of C.1.150.]

[^36: C.1.151: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "self" in a red box to the right of C.1.152.]

[^37: C.1.169: Tho, "to."]

[^38: C.1.172: Tho, "to."]

[^39: C.1.174: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "werkes" in a red box to the right of C.1.175.]

[^40: C.1.196: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "hem" in a red box to the right of C.1.197.]

[^41: C.1.203: Tho, "to."]

¶ Passus secundus de visione vt supra :

Y et[^42] I courred on my knees · and cried hir of grace
And sayde mercy madame · for marie loue of heuene
that bar þat blisful barne · that bought vs on þe rode
Kenne me by some craft · to knowe the fals
Loke vp-on thy left half · and lo where he standeth
Bothe fals and fauel and hir feres manye
¶ I loked on my left half · as the lady me thaughte
And whas war of a womman · worthely I-clothed
Purfiled with pelure · the fynest vp-on erthe
Ycrouned with a croune · the kyng haes non bettere
Fetisliche hir fyngers were fettred · with gol wire
And ther-on rede rubies · as rede as any glede
And diamauntes of derrest pris · and doubyle manere saphyrs
Orientales and ewages · enwenymes to destroye
¶ Hir Robe was ful riche · of rede skarlet engreynde
With ribanes of red golde · and of riche stones
Hir arraye me rauisshed · sylke rychesse sawe I neuere
I had wonder what scho was · and whos wif sche were
¶ What is this womman quod I · so worthily atired
¶ That is mede þe maide quod she · hathes noyed me ful ofte
And I lakked my lemman · that leaut is hoten.
And by-lowen hir to lordes · that lawes hathes to kepe
In þe popes paleys · scho is pryue as my-selfe
Bot sothnesse wolde nought so · for scho is a bastarde
¶ For fals was hir fader · that hath a fikel tonge
And neuere soth saide · sithen he com to erþe
And mede is manered after hym · ryght as kynde askes
¶ Qualis pater talis filius · bona arbor bonum fructum facit :
¶ I aughte ben herre þan she · I cam of better
My fader the grete god is · and grounde of alle grace
O god with-outen gynnyng · and I good doughter
And hath geue me mercie · to marye with my-self
And what man be merciful · and lelly me loue
Schal be my lord and I is lief · in þe heigh heuene
¶ And what man taketh mede · Myn hed dar I legge
That he schal lese for hir loue · a lappe of caritatis
How construeth dauid þe kyng · of men þat takes mede
And men of this molde · that maynte neth treuthe
And how ye sal saue yowre self þe sauter beres witnesse
¶ Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo & cetera
¶ And now worth þis Mede · ymaried al to a maysed schrewe
Tho[^43] on fals fikil tonge · and fendes biȝete
Fauel thourth hir faire speche · hayth this folke enchaunted
And al is lyers ledyng · that she is þus ywedded
¶ Tho-morwen worth ymade · the maydesnesse bridale
¶ And ther myght thou wite if thou wolt · which þei ben alle[^44]
That longeth to þat lordchip · þe lasse an þe more
Know hem þer if thou kanste · an kep thy tonge
An lakke hem nought · but lat hem worth til leaut be Iustice[^45]
And haue power to punysse hem · þat put forth þy reson
¶ Now I be-kenne þe crist quod she · an his clene moder
And lat no conscience acombre þe · for couetise of Mede
¶ Thus left me þat lady · lyggyng a-slepe
And how mede was ymaryed · In metels me thoughte
That al þe riche retenauntz · þat regneth with þe fals
Were boden to þe bridale · on bothe two sides
Of alle manere of men · the men and þe riche
Tho[^46] marrie this maiden · was many man assembled
As of knygtes an of clerkes · and other comune pepyle
As sisours and sompnours . schirreues and hir clerkes
Bedelles and bayllifs and brocours of chaffare
Forgoers and vitaillers · and vokates of þe arches
I kan nought rekene þe route · that ran aboute Mede
¶ And simonye and Ciuile · and sisours of courtes
Were most priue with Mede of any men me thoughte
And fauel was the first · that fette hir out of[^47] boure
And as a brocour broughte hir · to be with fals enioyned
Whan simonye and ciuile seiȝ hir beire wille
thay assentid for siluir · to s ay as bothe wolde
than lepe lyer forth · and saide lo hire a chartire
That gile with his grete othes · gaf hem togidire
And praide ciuile to se · and simonye to rede it
Thanne simonye an ciuile . stonden forth bothe
And vnfoldes the feoffament · that fals hath ymakede
And thus bigynnes thise gromes · to greden ful heiȝ
¶ Sciant presentes & futuri & cetera :
¶ Witeth an witnesse · þat wonyeth vp-on this erthe
That mede is maried · more for hir goodes
Than for any vertus of farnesse · or any fre kyne
Falsnesse is fayn of hir · for he woot hir riche
And Fauel with is fikel speche · feffyth be this chartire
Tho[^48] be princes in pride · and pouerte to despise
Tho[^49] bakbite and to bosten · and beren fals witnese
Tho[^50] scorne and to scolde · and sclaundre to make
Vnbuxom and bolde · to breke the ten hestes
¶ And the erldome of en vye[^51] · and wrathe togidires
With þe chastelet of cleste c[h]este · an chateryng out of resoun
the Countee of coueitise · and alle þe costes aboute
that is vsure and auarice · alle I hem graunte
In bargaynes and in brokages · with alle þe borghe of theft
¶ And alle the lordschip of liccherie · In lenthe and in brede
As in werkes and in wordes · and wattynges with eyes
And in wedes an in wissbynges · and with ydel thoughtes
ther as wille ne wolde · werkmanschip failleth
¶ Glotonye he gaf hem ek · and grete othes togiders
And alday to drynk · at diuers tauernes
And þer to Iangle and to Iape · and Iugge hir euene-cristene
And in fastyngdayes to frete · er ful tyme were
An than to sitten and soupen · til slepe hem assaille
And breden as burgh swyn · and bedden hem esily
Thil sleuthe and slepe · sliken hise sides
And thanne wanhope to a-wake hym so with no wille it amende[^52]
For he leueth be lost · this is hir laste ende
And thay to haue and to holde · and hire heyres after
A dwellyng with þe deuel · and dampned be for euere
With al the purtenance of purgatorie · In-to þe pyne of helle
yeldyng[^53] for this thyng · at one yeres ende
Hire soules to sathan · to suffre with hym paynes
And with hym to wonye in wo · while god is in heuene
¶ In witnesse of whilch thyng · wrong þe firste
And Pieres þe pardoner of paulynes doctrine
Bette þe beddell of Bokyngham shire
Reynald þe Reue of Rutlande sokne
Maude þe Meller and Many mo other
nota
In þe date of þe deuel · this dede is yseled
By sight of sire simonye and ciuiles leue
¶ thanne torned hym theologie · whan he this tale harde
And saide to Cyuile now sorwe mote thou haue
Swilke wendynges to worche · to wratthe with trouthe
And er this weddyng be wrouhte · wo þe bitide
¶ For Mede is Moilere of amendes engendreth[^54]
And god graunted · to gif Mede to treuthe
And thow hast gyuen hir to a giloure · now god gif þe sorwe
thy text telles þe nought · so treuthe wote þe sothe
For dignus est est est operarius> . his hir to haue
And thow haste feste hir to fals · fy on thy lawe
For al by lesynges thou leuest · and lecherouse werkes
Simonye and thi-self · scheden holy-chirche
the notaries and ye · noythis þe pepyle
Ye schal a-biggen it bothe · by god that me made
Wel ye witen wirnardes · but if yowre wit faille
That fals is faytles and fikel in his werkes
And was a bastarde yborne · of belsabubbes kyne
And Mede is moilere · a maiden of goode
And myghte kisse þe kyng · for Cosyn and she wolde
¶ For-thy worches by wisdom · and by wit also
And ledeth hir to londoun · ther lawe is ychewed
If any lawe wol loke · th ay ligge togideres
And þouȝ Iustices iugge · hir to be ioigned with fals
Yet beth ware of weddyng · for witty is treuthe
And conscience is of his conseil · and knoweth yow echone
And if he fynde yow in defaute · and with the fals holde
It schal bisitte youre soules · ful soure at laste
¶ Her-to assentes Ciuile and simonye newolde ne wolde
Thil he had siluir for his seruise · and also þe notaries
¶ Thanne fette Fauel forth · floreyns ynowe
And bad gile to gyue · gold al aboute
And nameliche to þe notaries · þat hem noon ne faille
And feffe fals witnesse · with floreyns ynowe
For thei may Mede a maistrye · and maken at my wille
¶ þo þis gold was gyue · grete was the thonkynge
Tho[^55] fals& fals & to Fauel for hir faire gyftes[^56]
And comen to conforte · fram care þe fals
And saiden certes sire · cesse schal we neuere
Til Mede be þi wedded wif · thoruȝ wittes of vs alle
For we haue Mede amaystred · with oure mery speche
that sho graunteþ to gon · with a good wille
To london to loke · if þat þe lawe wolde
Iugge yow Ioyntly · In Ioie for euere
¶ Thanne was falsnesse fayne an fauel as blithe
And leten sompne alle segges · in schires aboute
And bad hem alle be bown · beggers and othere
To wende with hem to Westmynstre . to witnesse þis dede
¶ And than cared thay for capyls · to carien hem thyder
And Fauel Fete forth · than foolis ynowe
And sette Mede vp-on a shireue schodde al newe
And fals sat on a Sisour that softliche trotted
And fauel on a Flaterer fetislich atired
¶ Tho[^57] had notaries non · anoyed they were
For Simonye and Ciuile scholde on hir fete gange
¶ And thanne swore simonye and ciuile bothe
That sompnours schold be sadled · and serue hem echone
And lat apperaille this prouisours · in palfreys wise
Sir simonye hym-seluen · schal sitte vp-on hire bakkes
¶ Dens and subdeanes draw yow togidres
Ercedekens and officials and youre Registrers
Lat sadel hem with siluir · oure synne to suffre
As auoutrie and deuorses · and derne vsurie
To bere bisschopes a-boute · abrode in visitynge
¶ Paulynes priues · for pleyntes in consistorie
Schul serue my-self · þat Ciuil is nempned
And cartesadel the comissarie · oure carte shal he lede
And fecchen vs vitailes · at fornicatores
And make of lyer a longe carte to lede alle thise other
As frers and faitours · þat on hir fete rennen
An thus fals and fauel fareth forth to-gidires
An mede in þe myddes and alle þise other after
¶ I haue no tome to telle · þe taylle þat hem folweth
Of many manere man · þat on þis molde libbeth
An gyle was forgoer · and gyed hem alle
¶ Sothnesse seiȝ hym wel · and saide but a litel
And priked his palfrey and passed hem alle
An com to þe kynges courte · and conscience it tolde
And conscience to þe kyng · carped it after
¶ Now by crist quod þe kyng an I catche myghte
Fals or fauel · or any of hise feres
I wolde be wroke of þe wrecches · þat wyrketh so ille
And don hem hange by þe hals · and alle þat hem maynteneþ
Schal neuer man of molde · Maynprise the leste
But right as þe lawe wol loke · lat falle on hem alle
¶ And comanded a conestable · that come at firste
To attache tho tirauntes · for any-thyng I hote
And fettereyth faste falsnesse · for any kynnes gyftes
And gyrdeth of giles hed · and lat hym go no ferthere
And if thou lacche lyer · lat hym nought aschapen
Er he be put on pilorie · for any praier I hote
And brynght Mede to me maugre hem alle[^58]
¶ Drede at þe dore stode · and þe dome herde
And how þe kyng com anded · constables and sergeantz
Falsnesse and his felawschip · to fettren and to bynden
thanne drede went wigtliche · and warned the fals
And bad hym flee for fere · and his felawes alle
¶ Falnesse Fal[s]nesse for fere · thanne fleis to þe freres
An gile doth hym to go · a-gaste for to dye
And marchantes mette with hym · and made hym abide
And bishetten hym in hir schope · to schewen hir ware
And apperailed hym as a prentice · the pepyle to serue
¶ Lyghtliche lyer lepe a-wey thanne
Lorkyng[^59] thorugh lanes · to-lugged of manye
He was naught where welcome · for hise many tales
Ouer-al yhowted · and I hote trusse
Til pardoners haued pite · and pulled hym in-to house.
They wesschen hym and wiped hym · and woundein[^60] in cloutes
And sente hym with seles · on sondayes to kyrkees
And gaf pardon for pens · poundemele aboute
¶ Thanne loured leches and lettres thay sente
That he schuld wonye wyth hem watres to loke
Spicers spake with hym · to spy e n hir ware
For he kouthe of hir craft · and knewe manye gommes
¶ And mynstralles and messengers · mette with hym ones
And helden hym an half yer · and elleuene dayes
¶ Freres with hir fair speche · fetten hym theynnes
And for knowyng of comers · koped hym as a frere
And he has leue to lepe out · as oft as hym liketh
And is welcome whan he wille · and wonyth with hem oft
¶ Alle fledden for fere · and flowen in-to hyrnes
Saue mede the maide · nama durst abide
And trewely to telle · scho trembled for drede
And ek wepte and wrong · whan sho whas attached

[^42: C.2.1: Initial three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes.]

[^43: C.2.42: Tho, "to."]

[^44: C.2.46: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "alle" in a red box to the right of C.2.47.]

[^45: C.2.49: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "Iustice" in a red box to the right of C.2.50.]

[^46: C.2.58: Tho, "to."]

[^47: C.2.66: An otiose curl appears on the this <o>.]

[^48: C.2.82: Tho, "to."]

[^49: C.2.83: Tho, "to."]

[^50: C.2.84: Tho, "to."]

[^51: C.2.86: The change from <u> to <v> is not characteristic of the original scribe who never elsewhere wrote with a <v> against some 17 instances with <u>.]

[^52: C.2.102: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "amende" in a red box to the right of C.2.103.]

[^53: Loop on <g>.]

[^54: Barred h]

[^55: C.2.152: Tho, "to."]

[^56: C.2.152: The change reflects the scribe's Northern dialect.]

[^57: C.2.167: Tho, "then."]

[^58: KD.2.204-05 omitted.]

[^59: Loop on <g>.]

[^60: See transcription.]

¶ Passus tercius de visione :

N Ow[^61] is Mede the maide · and nama of hem alle
With bedelles and with baillifs · brought bifore þe kynge
Nota
the kyng called a clerc · kan I nauȝt his name
To take mede þe maide · and make hir at ese
I schal assaie hir my-self · and sotheliche appose
What man of molde · that hir were leuest
And if sho worche by my wit · and my wille folwe
I wole for-gyue hir this gilte · so me god help
¶ Curteisliche the clerc · as þe kyng[^62] hight
Toke mede by þe Midel · and brought hir in-to chambre
And thare was mirthe and mynstralcye · Mede to plese
¶ Thay that wonyeth in westmynstre worschiped hir alle
Gentiliche with Ioie · þe Iustices so me
Busked hem to þe boure · ther þe birde dwelled
To conforte hir kyndly · by clergies leue
And saiden mourne nouhte Mede · ne make thow no sorwe
For we wisse the kyng and thy way schape
To be wedded at þy wille · and wher þe leue liketh
For al conscience caste or craft as I trowe
¶ Mildeliche Mede thanne · Mercied hem alle
Of thayr grete goodnesse · and gaf hem echone
Coupes of clene gold · and coppis of siluer
Rynges with rubies · and riches manye
The leste man of hir meynge · a moton of golde
Thanne lauȝte þey leue · þise lordes at mede
¶ With þat comen clerkes to conforte hir the same
And biden hir be blithe · for we beth thyn owene
For to wirche thy wille · the while thow myght laste
¶ Hendeliche sho thanne · bih yghte hem the same
To loue hem Lealy · and lordes to make
And in the consistorie atte Courte · do calle youre names
Schal no lewednesse · lette þe leode þat I louye
That he ne worth first auanced · for I am biknowen
ther konnyng clerkes · schul clokke bihynde
come
¶ Thane come ther a confessour caped as a frere[^63]
To mede the maide · he melled this wordes
And saide ful softly · In schrifte as it were
Thewe[^64] lewed men and lered men · had layn by the bothe
And falsnesse haued yfolwed þe · al this fifty wynter
I shal assoile þe my-self · for a seme of whete
And also be thy bedman · and ber wel thy message
Amonges knyghtes and clerkes · conscience to torne
¶ Thanne Mede For hir mysdedes · to þat man kneled
And schroue hir of hir schrewednesse · schameles I trowe
Tholde hym a tale · and toke hym a nobyle
For to ben hir bedeman · and hir brocour als
¶ Thanne he assoilled hir sone · and sithen he saide
We haue a wyndow a-worchyng · wole sitten vs ful heigh[^65]
Woldestow glase þat gable · and graue þer -Inne thy name
Siker scholde thy soule be · heuen to haue
Nota bene
¶ Wist I that quod þat womman I wolde nought spare
For to be youre frende frere · and faille yow neuere
While ye loue lordes · that leccherie hauntes
And lakkes nouȝt ladis t[^66]hat loues wel the same
It is a frelete of flessche · ye fynde it in bokes
And a cours of kynde wher of we comen alle
Who may scape þe sclaundre · the scathe is sone amended
It is synne of seuene · sonnest for-gyuene
¶ Haue mercy quod Mede of men þat it hauntes
And I schal kouere youre kike ki[r]ke · youre cloistre do maken
Wowes do whiten · and wyndowes glasien
do paynten and purtraie · and paie for þe makynge
That euery segge schal seye · I am suster of youre hous
¶ And god to alle good folk · swich grauyng defendes
To writen in wyndowes · of hir weldedes wel dedes
And auenture pride be peynted ther · and pompe of þe worlde
For crist knoweþ thy conscience · and þy kynde wille
And thy coste and thy coueitise · and who the catell[^67] auȝte
For-thy I lere yow lordes · leue ht[^a59] swiche werkes
To writen in wyndowes · of yowre weldedes
Or to greden after goddes men · whan ye delen doles
On auenture ye han youre hire here · and youre heuene als
¶ Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra
Late nouȝt thy left half · late ne raþe
Wite what thow worchest · with thy right side
For thus bit þe gospel · good men do · hir almesse
¶ M aires and maceres · that menes ben bitwene
The kyng and þe comune · to kepe the lawes
To punisshen on pilories · and pynyng stoles
Brewesters and baxters bowchers and cookes
For thyse aren men of this molde þat most harm worches
To the pore pepyle · that parcel-mele buggen
¶ For thay poison the pepyle · priueliche and oft
Þey richen thurgh regraterie · and rentes hem buggen
With þat þe pore pepyle · shulde put in hir wombe
For tooke thay on trewely · thay tymbred nouȝt so heiȝ
Ne bouȝte non burgages · be ye ful certeyne
¶ And Med the Maide · the Mair hath bisoughte
Of alle swiche sellers · siluer to take
Or presentz with-oute pens · as peces of siluir
Rynges or other richesse · þo regraters to mayntene
¶ For my loue quod þat lady · loue hem vchone
And suffre hem to selle somdel ayeins resoun
¶ Salamon the sage · a sermon he made
For to amende Maires · and men þat kepen lawes
And tolde hem þis teme · þat I telle thenke
Nota bene
¶ Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera &cetera[^68]
Among þise lettered leodes · þis latyn is to mene
That fir schal falle and brenne al to blo askes
Þe houses and þe homes · of hem þat desireth
Gyftes or yeresyiftes · bi cause of hir offices
¶ The kyng[^69] fro counseil cam · and called after mede
And of-sente hir as swithe · with sergeantes manye
That broughten hir to bour with blis and wiþ Ioye
¶ Curteisliche þe kyng þan comsed to telle
Tho mede þe maide · melleþ þise wordes
Vnwittily womman · wroughte hastow oft
And worse wrougtestow neuere · þan þo þow fals took
But I forgyue þo þat gilte · and graunte þe my grace
Hennes to thy deth-day · do so namore
Nota
¶ I haue a knyȝt conscience cam late fra biyonde
If he wilneth þe to wif · wiltow hym haue
Þhe [Y]he lord quod þat lady · lor forbede elles
But I be holy at youre heste · lat honge me sone
¶ And thanne was conscience called · to com and apiere
Bifore þe kyng and his counseil · as clerkes and othere
Knelyng[^70] conscience to þe kyng lowted
Tho wite what his wille were · and what he do schulde
¶ Wiltow wedde þis womman quod þe kyng if I wole assente
For scho is fayne of þy felawschip · for to be þy make
¶ Quod conscience to þe kyng crist it me forbede
Er I wedde swiche a wif · wo me bitide
For sche is frele of hir fayth · fikel of hir speche
And makeþ men mysdo · many score tyme
Trust of hir tresore · tr ayeth ful manye
Wyuees and widewes · wantonnesse she teches
And lereth hem lecherie · þat loueþ hire gyftes
yowre fader she felled thurgh fals biheste
And haþ apoisunde popes peired holicherche
Is nauȝt a bet tre baude · by hym þat me made
Bitwen heuen and helle · in erthe þouȝ men souȝte
For she is tikel of hir tail · talwis of hir tonge
As comune as a cartwey · to eche a knaue þat walketh
Tho monkes to mynstralles · to messels in hegges
Sisours and sompnours swiche men hir preiseþ
Shireues of schires · were schent if she nere
For she doth men lese · hir lond and hir lif boþe
Sche lates passe prisoners · and paieth for hem ofte
And gyues þe gailers gold · and grotes togidires
Tho vnfettre þe fals · flee where hem liket
And takeþ þe trewe by þe toppe · and tyeth hym faste
And hanges hym for hatered þat harme dide neuere
¶ To be cursed in consistorie she counteþ nouȝt a resshe
For sche coped þe Comissarie and cetes hise clerkes
Sche is assoilled as sone · as hir-self likeþ
And may nee as muche do · in a monthe one
As your secret seel · in sixe score daies
For sche is priue with þe pope prouisours it knoweth
For sire Simonye and hir-self · seleþ hir bulles
Scho blisses þise bisschopes · thyo[^71] þey be lewed
Prouendres persons and prestes mainteneþ
To haue lemannes and lotebies al hir lyues dayes
And bryngen forth barnes · ayein forbode lawes
Ther sche is wel with þe kyng wo is þe reame
For sche is fauorable to þe fals · and folweþ trouhte oft
By Iesu wiþ hir Iewels · youre Iustices she shendeþ
And lith ayein þe lawe and letteþ hym þe gate
Þat fayth may nouȝt haue his forth · hir floreyns go so þikke
Scho ledes þe lawe as hir list · and loue-daies makes
And does men lese thurugh hir loue · þat lawe myght wynne
the mase for a mene man · þouȝ he mote hir euere
Lawe is so lordlich and loþ to make ende
With-oute presentz or pens · sche pleiseþ wel fewe
¶ Barons and burgeis she brynges in sorwe
And al þe comune in care · þat couetten lyue in trouthe
For clergie and couetise · sche coupleþ togideres
Thys is the lif of þat lady · now lorde gyue hir sorwe
And alle þat menteneth hir men meschaunce hem bitide
For pore men mowe haue no power · to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerte[^72]
Nota
Swilke a maister is Mede among men of goode
Thayne morned Mede and meNed hir to þe kyng
Tho haue space to speke spede if she myȝte
¶ þe kyng graunted hir grace · with a good wille
Excuse þe if thow canst · I can namore seggen
For conscience acuseþ þe · to congey þe for euere
¶ Nay lord quod þat lady · leues hym þe worse
Whan ye witen witerly · wher þe wronge liggeþ
Þer þat meschief is grete · Mede may helpe
And þow knowest conscience · I cam nouȝt to chide
Ne depraue þy persone with a proude herte
Wel þow wost wyrnard · but if þou wilt gabbe
Thow hast hanged on my half[^73] · elleuen tymes
And also griped my gold · gyue it wher þe liked
And why thow wratthest þe now · wonder me thynket
yet I may as I myȝte · menske þe with yiftes
And mayntene þy manhode · more þan þow knowest[^74]
¶ And þou hast famed me foule · bifore þe kyng here
For kylled I neuere no kyng · ne conseild þer-after
Ne dede as þow demest I do on þe kynge
¶ In normandye was he nouȝt · noyede for my sake
And þow þy-self sothly · schamedest hym ofte
Crope in-to a caban for colde of þy nailles
Wendest þat wyntre wolde haue lasted euere
And draddest to be dede · for a dym cloude
And hidest homward · for hongre of þy wombe
¶ With-oute pite pilour · pore men þow robbedest
And bare hir bras at þy bakke · to caleys to selle
Þer I laft with my lord his lif for to saue
I mad hise men mery · and mournyng lette
I batered hem on þe bake · and bolded hir hertes
And did hem hoppe for hope · to haue me at wille
Had I ben marchal of hise men · by marie of heuene
I dorste haue laide my lif · and no lasse wedde
He scholde haue be lord of þat lond · a lenthe and a brede
And also kyng of þat kitthe · his kynne for to helpe
Þe leste brolle of his kynne · a barones piere
¶ Cowardliche þow conscience conseilled hym þennes
To leuen his lordschip · for a litel siluer
That is þe richest reame · þat reyne ouer houeþ
It becommeth to a kyng þat kepeþ þe reame
To geue mede to men · þat mekeliche hym serueth
To aliens and to alle men · to honoure hem with gyftes
Mede makeþ hym be-loued · and for a man holden
Emperours and erlis and alle maner lordes
For yiftes han yong men · to rennen and to ride
The pope and alle prelates · presentz vnderfongen
And medeþ men hem-seluen · to meyntene hir lawes
Seruantz for hir seruice · we se wel þe sothe
Taken mede of hir maistres as þey mowe acorde
Beggers for hir biddyng · bidden men mede
Mynstralles for hir murthe · mede þey aske
Þe kyng haþ mede of hise men · to make pees in londe
Men þat techeþ children · craue of hem mede
nota
Prestes þat preches þe pepyle to goode · asken mede
And masse pens and hire mete · at þe mele-tymes
Alkynnes crafty men crauen Mede · for hir prentys
Marchantz and Mede moot nede go togidres
No wight as I wene with-oute Mede may libbe
NOta
¶ Quod þe kyng to conscience by crist as me thynkeþ
Mede is wele worthy · the maistrie to haue
¶ Nay quod conscience to þe kyng · and kneled to þe erthe
Ther aren two maner of medes · my lorde with youre leue
Þat oon god of his grace · graunteþ in his blisse
To þo þat wol worchen · while þey ben here
The prophete preches þer-of · and put it in þe psaltre
¶ Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo :
Lord who schal whonye in þy wones · and with þyn holy seintes
Or resten in þyne holy hilles · þis askeþ dauid
And dauid assoilleþ it hym-self as the sauter telleth
Qui in gredietur ingredietur sine maculo & operatur Iusticia :
¶ þo þat entren of on colour · and of one wille
And han wrouȝte werkes with right and with resoun
And he þat ne vseþ nauȝt · þe lif of vsurie
And enformeþ pore men · and purseueth treuthe
¶ Qui peccuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram & munera super Innocentum
And al þat helpeþ þe Innocent · and hold with þe rigtful
With-oute mede doþ hem goode · and þe treuþe helpeþ
Swich manere men my lord · schal haue þis first mede
Of god at a grete nede · whan þey gon hennes
¶ Ther is and other[^75] Mede mesurelees þat maistres desireþ
To meyntene mysdoers · Mede þey take
And þer-of sayes þe sauter in a salmes ende
In quorum manibus iniquitates dextra eorum repleta est muneribus
And he þat gripeth hir gold · so me god helpe
Schal abye it bittre · or þe book lees
¶ Prestes and persons þat plesyng desireth
Þat takes Mede and moneie · for messe þat þey syngeþ
Takes hir mede here · as mathew vs techeþ
Amen amen recipiebant mercedem suam :
¶ That laborers and lowfolk low folk · takeþ of hir maistres
It is no manere mede · but a resonabile hire
In marchandise is no mede I may it wel a-wowe
It is a permutacion apertly · a peny-worth for anoþer
Nota
¶ And reddestow neuere Regum þow recraied mede
Why þe vengeaunce fel on saul and on his children
God sent to saul by samuel þe prophete
Þat agag of amalek and alle hise pepyle after
Shulde deye for a dede · þat don had hir eldres
¶ For-þy saide samuel to saul god hym-self hoteþ
Þe be buxome at is biddyng · His wil to ful-fille
Wende to Amalec with þyn ost and what þou fyndest þer sle it
Bernes and bestes · brynne hem to dede
Widewes and wyues · wommen and children
Mobles and vnmobles · and al þat þow myȝte fynde
Brenne it bere it nouȝt awey · be it neuere so riche
For mede nor for moneie · loke þow destruye it
Spille it and spare it nouȝt · thow schalt spede þe bettre
¶ And for he coueited hir catel · and þe kyng spared
Forbare hym and his bestes · bothe as þe bibile witnesseþ
Oþer-wise þan he was warned of þe prophete
God saide to samuel þat saul scholde deye
And al his sede for þat synne s henfuliche ende
nota
Swiche a myschefe Mede made · Saul þe kyng to haue
Þat god hated hym for euere · and alle hise heires after
The culorum of þis cas · kepe I nouȝt to schewe
An auenture it noyed men · none ende wol I make
For so is þis worlde went · with hem þat han power
Þat who-so sayeth hem sothes is sonnest I-blamed
¶ I conscience knowe þis · for kynde wit me it tauȝte
That reson schal renge re[gn]e · an reames gouerne
And riȝt as agag hadde · happe schulle somme
Samuel schal sleen hym · and saul schal be blamed
And dauid schal be diademede · and daunten hem alle
And oon cristene kyng kepen hem alle
¶ Schal namore Mede be Maistre as scho is nouþe
And loue and lewednese and leaute togideres
Þise schul be Maistres of molde trouthe to saue
And who-so trespasseþ ayein treuþe · or takeþ ayein his wille
Leaute schal don hym lawe · and no lief elles
Schal no sergeant for hir seruice · were a silk howue
Ne no pelure in his cloke · for pledyng atte barre
Mede of mysdoers · makeþ many lordes
And ouer lordes lawes · reules þe reames
Nota
¶ And kynde loue shal come yet · and conscience togidires
And make of lawe a laborer · swich loue schal arise
And swich a pees among þe pepyle · and a parfit treuþe
Þat Iues schal wene in hir wit · and waxen wonder glade
Þat Moises or Messie be come into þis erthe
And haue wonder in hir hertes · þat men beþ so trewe
Alle þat bereþ baselard · brode-swerd or launce
Axe ouþer hachet · or any wepene elles
Schal ben demed to þe deth · but if he do it smythe
In-to sykel or to siþe · to share or to culter
Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres & cetera
Eche man to playe with a plowe pikeys or spade
Spynne or sprede donge · or spille hym-self with sleuþe
Nota
¶ Prestes and persons · with placebo to hunte
And dyngen vp-on dauid ech a day til eue
Hunttyng or haukyng · if any of hem vse
His boste of his benefice · worþ bynome hym after
Schal neiþer kyng ne knyȝt · Conestable ne Meire
Ouerlede þe comune · ne to þe Court sompne
Ne put hem in panel · to don hem pliȝte hir trouþe
But after þe dede þat is don · oon dome schale reward
Mercy or no mercy · as trouþe wol acorde
¶ Kynges Court and comune Court Consistorie and chapitle
Al shal be but o on Court and on be Iustice
Thanne worth trewe tonge a tidy man þat tened me neuere[^76]
Batailles schal non be · ne no man bere wepene
And what smyth þat any smyteth · be smyte þerwith to deþe
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium & cetera :
¶ And er þis fortune falle · fynde men schal þe worste
Bi sex sonnes and a shippe · and half a schef of arwes
And þe mydel of a mone schal make þe Iewes to torne
And saracenes for þat siȝte shul synge Gloria in excelsis & cetera
And Makometh an Mede myshappe schal þat tyme
For melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe[^77]
¶ Also wroth as þe wynde · wex Mede in a while
I kane no latyn quod she clerkes wote þe soþe
Se what salamon seiþ in sapience bokes
Þat hij þat yeueþ giftes · þe victorie wynneþ
And muche worschip hadde þerwith · as holy writ telleþ
Honorem adquiret qui dat munera & cetera
¶ I leue wel lady quod conscience þat þy latyn be trewe
Nota
An thow art like a lady · þat radde a lesson ones
Was omnia probate and þat plesed hir herte
For that lyne was no langer · atte leues ende
Had she loked þat other half and þe leef torned
Sche schulde haue founden · fele wordes folwyng þer-after
Quod bonum est tenete · Treuthe that texte made
¶ And so ferde ye madame ye koude namore fynde
Þo ye loked on sapience sittyng in youre studie
this texte þat ye han tolde · were good for lordes
And yow failled a konnynge clerc · þat kouþe þe leef haue torned[^78]
And if ye seke sapience eft fynde schal ye þat folweth
A ful teneful tixte to hem þat takeþ Mede
And þat is · animam autem aufert accipientium & cetera :
And þat is þe taille of þe tixte · of þat ye schewede
Þat þeiȝ we wynne worschip · and with mede haue victorie
Þe soule þat þe soude takeþ · bi so muche is bounde

[^a59: leue ht (C) | leueþ (Most other mss)]

[^61: C.3.1: The three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes]

[^62: Looped <g>.]

[^63: C.3.35: The scribe has written both a supralinear come and again in the right margin.]

[^64: C.3.38: thewe, "though."]

[^65: Barred <h>.]

[^66: Otiose curl on <t>.]

[^67: Barred]

[^68: C.3.97: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nera &cetera" in a red box to the right of C.3.98.]

[^69: Loop on <g>.]

[^70: Loop on <g>.]

[^71: ="though" DECIDE WHAT TO DO]

[^72: C.3.169: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "þei smerte" in a red box to the right of C.3.170.]

[^73: Note on meaning seems necessary.]

[^74: Accent mark above <t>?]

[^75: C.3.250: And is a northern spelling for the indefinite article. Compare an, and" in this manuscript.]

[^76: C.3.328: The scribe continues this line on the next, completing neuere in a red box to the right of C.3.329.]

[^77: The word "multe" is formed strangely, especially the <u>.]

[^78: C.3.354: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "torned" in a red box to the right of C.3.355.]

¶ Passus quartus de visione :

C Esses[^79] sayis þe kyng I suffyre yow no lenger
ye schal saughtyne for-sothe · an serue me bothe
kysse hir quod þe kyng conscience I hote
Nay by criste quod conscience congeye me rather
But reson red me þer-to · rather wil I deye
¶ And I comaunde þe quod þe kyng · to conscience þanne
Rape þe to ride and reson þow fecche
Comaunde hym þat he come · my counsel to here
For he schal reule my reaume · and rede me the beste
And acounte with þe conscience so me crist helpe
How þow lernest þe pepyle · þe lered and þe lewede
¶ I am fayne of þat forward · saide þe freke thanne
And rit right to reson · and rowneþ in his ere
And saide as þe kyng badde · and siþen took his leue
¶ I schal araie me to ride quod reson reste þe a while
And called caton his knaue curteise of speche
And also Thomme trewe tong tel me no tales
Ne lesyng to laughe of · for I loued hem neuere
And sette my sadel vppon suffre · til I se my tyme
nota
And lete warrok it wele · with witty wordes gerthes
And hange on hym þe heuy bridel · to holde his hede lowe
For he wil make wehe · twyees er he be therde the[r]e
¶ Thanne conscience vp-on his caple · kaireþ forþ faste
And reson with hym rydes rownyng to-giders
Which maistries Mede · makeþ on þis erþe
¶ On waryn wisdom and witty his fere
nota
Folwed hem faste · for hij hadde to doone
In þe cheker and in þe chauncerie · to be discharged of thynges
And riden faste for reson · schulde rede hem þe beste
For to saue hem for siluer fro schame and fram harmes
¶ And conscience knewe hem wel · þei loued couettise[^80]
ther aren wyles in hir wordes and with Mede þey dwelleth
Þer-as wrath and wranglyng is · þer wynne þey siluer
And þer is loue and leaute · þei wol nouȝt come þer
Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eorum & cetera
¶ thay ne gyueth nouȝt of god · one gose wenge
Non est timor domini ante oculos eorum :
¶ For wote god þey wolde · do more for a dozeyn chickenes
Or as many capons · or for a seme of otes
than for loue of oure lorde · or alle his leue seyntes
For-þy reson lete hem ride · þo riche by hem-seluen
For conscience knoweþ hem nouȝt · ne crist as I trowe
And þan reson rade faste · þe righte heiȝe gate
As conscience hym kenned · til þey come to þe kyng
¶ Curteisliche þe kyng · þanne · come ayein resoun
And bitwen hym-self and his sone sette hym on benche
And wordeden wel wisely · at grete while togideres
¶ And thane com pees in to parlement · and put forþ a bille
How wrong ayeins his wille · hadde his wif taken
And how he rauisshed Rose Reynoldes loue
And Margarete of hir maidenhode maugre hir chekes
Boþe my gees and my gris hise gadelynges fecches
I dar nouȝt for fere of hym fighte no chide
He borwed of me bayard he brouȝte hym hom neuere[^81]
He meynteneth his men · to morther myn hewen
Forstalles my Fairs · and fiȝtes in my chepyng[^82]
And takes me a taille for a ten quarters of otes
And yet he bet me þer-to · and lith by my maide
I nam nouȝt hardy for hym · vnees[^83] to loke
¶ þe kyng knewe he saide soth · for conscience hym tolde
that wrong was a wikked lyft · and wrouȝt moche sorwe
¶ Wronge was a-fered þanne · and wisdome he souȝte
To make pees with his pens · and profered hym manye
And sayde had I loue of my lord þe kyng · litel wolde I recche
Þeiȝe pees and his power pleyned hym euere
¶ þo whan wisdome and sire waryn þe witty
For þat wronge had ywrouȝte · so wikked a dede
And warned wrong þo · with swiche a wise tale
Who-so worches my wille · wratthe maketh ofte
I sey it b y my-self · þow shalt it wel fynde
But if mede it make · þy myschief is vp
For boþe þy life and þy londe · liþ in his grace
¶ thanne wowed wrong · wisdome ful yerne
To make is pees with is pens · handy dandy paied
Wisdom and witty þan wenten togidyres
And took Mede with hem · mercy to wynne
¶ Pees put forþ his hede · and his panne blody
With-outen gilte god it wote · gat I þis skaþe
Conscience and þe comune knowen þe sothe
And wisdome and wit were aboute faste
To ouercome þe kyng wiþ catel if þey myȝte
the kyng swore by crist · and by his crowne boþe
Þat wronge for hise werkes scholde wo þolye
And comaunded a conestable · to cast hym in Irens
And leet hym nouȝt þis seuene yer seen hise feet ones
¶ God wot quod wisdome þat were nouȝt þe beste
And he amendes mowe make · lat mainprise hym haue
And be borgh for his bale · and biggen hem bote
And so amenden þat is mysdo · and euere more þe better
¶ Wit a-corded þer-with · and saide þe same
Better is þat bote · bale adoun brynge
than bale be ybette · and bote neuere þe better
¶ And thanne gan Mede to mengen hir · and mercy bisouȝt
And profred pees a present al of pure golde
Haue þis man of me quod she to amende þy skaþe
For I wole wage for wronge · he wol do so namare
Nota
¶ Pitouly Pitou[s]ly pees þanne · prayed to þe kyng
To haue mercy on þat man · þat mysdid hym so ofte
For he has waged me wel · as wisdome hym tauȝte
And I forgyue hym þat gilt · with a god wille
So þat þe kyng assent · I kan say no better
For Mede has made me amendes · I may namare axe
¶ Nay quod þe kyng þo · so me crist help
Wronge wendes nouȝt so away · erst wille I more
For loupe he so liȝtly · laughen he wolde
And eft þe balder be · to bete myn hewen
But reson haue routhe on hym · he schal reste in my stokkes
And þat as longe as he l[^84]eues · bot lawnesse hym borwe
¶ Somme men redde reson þo · to haue reuthe on þat schrewe
And for to conseille þe kyng · and conscience after
Þat mede most be mainpernour · reson þey bisouȝte
¶ Rede me nouȝt quod reson no reuthe to haue
Nota
Til lordes and ladies louyen al trouthe
And haten al harlotrie · to heren it or to mouthen it
Til peronelle purfile · be put in hir hucche
And children cherisyng · be chastyng with yerdes
And harlotes holynesse be holden for an hyne
Til clerken couettise be · to cloþe þe pore and to fede
And religious romares recordare in hir? cloistres
As seynt Benet hem badde · Bernard and Fraunceys
Til prechours prechyng be preued on hem-seluen
Til þe kynges conseil be þe comune profit
Til bischopes bayardes ben beggers chambres
Hir haukes an hir houndes · help þe pore religious
¶ And til saynt Iames be souȝt · ther I schal assigne
That no man go to Calis but if he go for euere
And alle rome renners for robbers of biȝonde
Bere no siluer ouer see · þat signe of kyng schewes
Netther Ne[i]ther graue ne vngraue · gold neiþer siluer
vp-on forfeture of þat fee · who-so fynt hym at Douere
But if he be m archaunt or his man · or messagere with lettres
Prouisour or preste · or penaunt for his synnes
¶ And yet quod reson by þe rode · I schal no reuthe haue
Whil Mede haes þe maistrie in þis moot halle
And I may schewe ensamples · I se other while
I say it by my-self quod he · and it so were
Þat I were kyng with crowne · to kepe a reame
Schulde neuer wrong in þis worlde · þat I wite myȝte
Ben vnpunyss hed in my power · for peril of my saule
Ne gete my grace for giftes · so me god saue
Ne for no med haue mercy · but mekenesse it make
For nullum malum the man · mette with Inpunitum
And badde nullum bonum be Irremuneratum :
¶ Lat youre confessoure sir kyng construe þis vnglosed
And if ye wyrken it in werke · I wedde myn eres
that lawe shal ben a laboror · and lede a felde donge
And loue shal lede thy lond · as þe lief likes
Nota
¶ Clerkes þat were confessours coupled hem togiders
Alle to construe þis clause · and for þe kynges profit
And nought for confort of þe comune · ne for þe kynges soule
¶ For I seiȝ Mede in þe moot halle · on men of lawe wynke
And thay laughyng lepe to hir · and laft reson manye
¶ waryn wisdome wynked vp-on Mede
And saide madame I[^a60] yowre mane · what-so my mouþe iangleth
I falle in floreyns quod þat freke · and faille speche oft
¶ Alle rigtful recorded · þat reson trouþe tolde
And wit a-corded þer-with · and comended hise wordes
And þe moste pepile in þe halle · and many of þe grete
And leten meknesse a maistre · and mede a mased schrewe
¶ Loue lete of hir liȝte · and leaute yet lasse
And saide it so heiȝ · þat alle þe halle it herde
Who-so wilneþ hir to wif · for welþe of hir goodes
But he be knowe for a cokwolde · kut of my nose
¶ Mede mourned þo · and made heuy chere
For þe most comune of þat Court called hir an hore
And a sisour and a sompnour suyd hir faste
And a schireues clerc bischrewed al þe route
For oft haue I quod he · holp yow at þe barre
And yet gaue ye me neuere · þe worþ of a resshe
¶ The kyng called conscience and afterward resone
And recorded þat reson hadde reufulliche shewed
And modiliche vp-on Mede wiþ miȝte þe kyng loked
And gand wax wroth with lawe · for Mede almost had schent
And saide thorugh youre lawe as I leue I lese many chetes
Mede oure Maistrieth lawe · And muche treuthe lettees
An reson shal rekken wiþ yow if I rengne any while
And deme yow by þis day · as ye han deserued
Med shal nouȝt mainprise yow · by þe marie of heuene
I wol haue leaut in lawe · and late be al youre iangelyng
And as most folk witnesse wel · wronge shal be demed
¶ Quod conscience to þe kyng but comune wol assent
It is ful hard by my hed · her-to to brynge it
Alle youre lige leodes · to lede þus euene
By hym þat rauȝte on þe rode · quod reson to þe kyng
But if I reule þus youre reame · Rende out my guttes
If ye bidden buxomnesse · be of myn assente
¶ And I assent saye þe kyng by seinte marie my lady[^85]
And redily reson · þow shalt n at ride fro me
For as longe as I lyue · lete þe I nelle
¶ I am al redy quod reson to reste wiþ yow euere
So conscience be of oure conseil · I kepe no bettre
And I graunte quod þe kyng goddesforbode goddes forbode it faille
X
Als longe as oure lif lasteþ · lyue we togidires

[^a60: I (C) | I am (All other mss)]

[^79: C.4.1: A three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes.]

[^80: KD.4.33 omitted.]

[^81: KD.4.54 is omitted.]

[^82: KD.4.57 is omitted.]

[^83: C.4.59: vnees, "hardly, with difficulty." For the form, see the note to C.20.187.]

[^84: Barred.]

[^85: KD.4.189 is omitted.]

¶ Passus quintus De visione:

T he[^86] kyng an hise knyȝtes · to þe kyrke wente
Tho here matynes of þe day · and þe masse after
Thanne waked I of my wynkyng · and wo wiþ-al[^87]
Þat I ne hadde sleped sadder · and I-seiȝen more
And er I hadde faren a forlong · feyntise me hente
that I ne miȝte ferþer a foot · for defaute of slepynge
And sat softly adoun · and saide my bileue
And so I babeled on my bedes · þey brouȝte me a-slepe
¶ And þanne saue I mykile more · þanne I bifore tolde
For I sey þe felde ful of folk · þat I bifore of saide
And how reson gan arraien hym · al þe reame to preche
And with a cros bifore þe kyng comsed thus to techen
¶ He preued þat þise pestilence · was for pure synne
· Nota ·
And þe Southwest wynde · on Satirday at eue
Was partiliche for pure pride · and for no poynt elles
Pyries and plumtrees · were puffed to þe erthe
In ensample ye segges · ye sholden do þe better
Bechys and brode okes · were blowen to þe grounde
Torned vpward hir tailles in toknyng of drede
that dedly synne er domesday · shal fordone hem alle
Of þis matere I myȝte · mamelye ful longe
And I shal say as I saw · so me god helpe
How pertly a-for þe pepyle · reson gand gan to preche
¶ He bad wastour go worche · what he best kouþe
And wynnen his wastyng · wiþ som manere craft
And praide peronele · hir purfile to lete
And kepe it in coffre · for catel at hir nede
· Nota bene ·
¶ Tomme stowue he tauȝte · to take twa staues
And fecche Felice hom · fro þe wyuen pyne
He warned whtte[^88] his wif was to blame
Þat hir hed was worþ half a mark · his hed nouȝt worþ a grote
And bad bette kut a bowghe or twayne
And bete beton þer-wiþ · but she wolde worche
And þanne he charged chapmen · to chasten hir children
Late no wynnynge hem forweny · whil þey be yonge
Ne for no pouste of pestilence plese hem nouȝt out of reson
¶ My sire saide so to me · and so dide my dame
that þe leuere childe · þe more lore bihoues
And salamon saide þe same · þat sapience made
Qui parcit virge odit filium :
the englissh of þis latyn is · who-so wol it knowe[^89]
Who-so spares þe sprynge · spilles hise children
· Nota · bene ·
¶ And sithen he prayed prelates · and prestes togidres
Þat ye prechen to þe pepyle preue it on youre-seluen
And do it in dede · it shal drawe yow to goode
If ye leuen as ye leren vs · we shal leue yow þe better
¶ And siþen he radde religioun · hir reule to holde
List þe kyng and his conseil · youre comunes appaire
And ben stiwardes of youre stedes · til ye be reulid better
¶ And siþen he conseilled þe kyng þe comune to louye
It is þy tresore if treson ne were · and triacle at þy nede
¶ And siþen he prayed þe pope · haue pite of holichirche
And er he gyue any grace · gouerne firste hym-seluen
¶ And ye þat han lawes to kepe · lat treuþe be youre coueitise
More þan gold or oþer gyftes · if ye wole god plese
For who-so contrarieth trouþe · he telles in the gospel
That god knowes hym nouȝt · ne no seint of heuen
amen amen dico vobis nescio vos [^90]
¶ And ye þat sekes seynt · Iames and seyntes of Rome
Sekees saynt trouthe · for he may saue yow alle
Qui cum patre & filio  þat faire hem bifalle
that suwes my sermon · and thus saide resone
¶ Thane ran repentaunce · and reherced his tyme
And gerte wille to wepe · water with hise eyen
¶ Peronelle proude herte · platte hir to þe erþe
Superbia
And lay longe er she loked · and lord mercy cryed
And bisouȝte to hym · that vs alle made
Scho scholde vnsewen hir serk · and sette þer an heyre
To affaten hir flesshe · þat feerse was to synne
Shal neuere heiȝe herte me hente · but holde me lowe
And suffre to be mysseid · and so dide I neuere
But now wol I meke me · and mercy biseche
For al this I haue · hated in myn herte
Luxuria
¶ Thanne lecchour saide allas · an on oure lady he cried
To make mercy for hise mysdedes · bitwene god and his soule
With þat he sholde þe satirday · seuen yere after
drynk but with þe doke · and dyne bot ones
Inuidia
¶ Enuye with heuy herte · asked after shrifte
And carfulliche mea culpa he comsed to schewe
He was as pale as a pelet · in the palacye he semed
And clothed in a Caury maury · I kouþe it nauȝt discryue
In kirtel and courteby · and a knyf by his side
Of a freres frokke · were the forsleues
And as a leke hedde · yleyen longe in þe sonne
So loked he with lene chekes · louryng foule
· Nota ·
¶ His body was to-bollen · for wrathe þat he bote hise lippes
And wryngyng he yede with þe fiste · to wreke hym-self he thouȝte[^91]
With werkes or wiþ wordes · whan he seighe his tyme
Ech a word þat he warpe · was of an addres tonge
Of chidyng and of chalangyng was his chief liflode
With bakbityng and bismer · and beryng of fals witnesse
Þis was al his curteisie · where þat he shewed hym
I wolde ben I-shryue quod þis shrewe · And I for sham durst
I wolde be gladder by god · þat gibbe had meschaunce
· Nota ·
thanne þouȝ I hadde þis woke ywonne[^92] a wey of Essex chese
¶ I haue a neiȝ-bore neiȝ me · I haue enuyed hem ofte[^93]
And lowen on hym to lordes · to don hym lese his siluere
And made hise frendes ben his foon thoruȝ my fals tonge
His grace and his good happes greues me ful sore
Bitwene many and many · I make debate ofte
that bothe lif and lyme is loste · thorugh my speche
¶ And whan I mete hym in market · þat I moste hate
I hailse hym hendeliche · as I is frende were
For he is douȝtyer þan I · ydar y dar do non other
And hadde I maistre and miȝte · good woot my wille
¶ And whan I come to þe kirke · and shulde knele to þe rode
And pray for þe pepyl · as þe prest teches
For pilgrymes and for palmers · for al þe pepile after
than I crye on my knees · þat crist gyf hem sorwe
that bare awey my bolle and my broke shete
Away fro þe auter þanne torne I myn eighen
And biholde how Elyne · has a new cote
I wisshe þanne it were myn · and alle webbe after
¶ And of mennes lesyng I laughe · þat w erkes myn herte
And for hir wynnyng I wepe · and waille þe tyme
And deme þat hij done ille · ther I do wel worse
Who-so vndernymes me her-of · I hate hym dedly after
I wolde þat Ilk a wight · were my knaue
For who-so has more þan I · þat angrees me sore
And þus I loue loueles · like a lyther dogge
Þat al my body bolnes · for bitter of my galle
¶ I myghte nouȝt ete many yeres · as a man ouȝte
For enuye and yuel wille · is yuel to diffye
May no sugure ne swete thyng[^94] · asswage my swellyng
Ne no diapendioun · dryue it fro myn herte
Ne nouþer schrifte ne schame · but who-so schrape my mawe
¶ þis[^a61] redily quod repentaunce has radde hym to þe beste
Sorwe of synnes · is saluacion of soules
¶ I am sory quod þat segge · I am but selde oþer
And þat makes me thus megre .[^95] for I ne may me venge
Amonges burgeis haue I be · dwellyng at londoun
And grete bakbitynge be a brocour to blame mennes ware
Whan he so lde an I nouȝt · þanne was I redy
To lee and to loure on my neghbour · and lakke his chaffare
I wolde amend þis if I may · by my of god almyghty
Ira
¶ Now awakes wrathe with two white eyen
And sneuelyng with his nose and his nekke hyngyng
· nota ·
I am wrathe quod he I was some tyme a frere
And þe couentes gardyner · for to graffen Impes
On lymitours and listers · lesynges I Imped
Til þey bere leues of low speche · lordes to plese
And siþen þey blesmed abrode · in boure to hire schriftes
And now is fallen þer-of a fruyt · þat folk han leuere
Schewen hir schriftes to hem · þan shryuen to hir persons
¶ And now han parsones parceyued · þat freres parte with hem
thise possessioners preche · and dempne freres
And freres fynden hem in defaute · as folk berth witnesse
Þat whan þey preche þe pepyle · in many place aboute
I wratthe walkes walke[^a62] with hem · and wisse hem of my bokes
Thus thay speke of spiritualte · þat aiþer dispises other
Til þey be boþe beggers · and by my spiritualte libben
Or elles alle riche · and riden a-boute
I wratthe rest neuere · þat I ne most folowe
This wikked folk · for swich is my grace
¶ I haue an Aunte to Nonne and an Abbasse bothe
Hir were leuere swowen or swelte · þan suffre any peyne
I haue be cook in hir kichyne · and þe couent serued
Many monthes wiþ hem · and wiþ monkes bothe
I was þe prioresse potager · and oþer pouere ladyes
I made hir wortes with Iangelyng · þat dame Iohan was a bastard
An dame Clarice a knyȝtes douȝter · and a cokwold was hir sire
And dame Peronelle a prestes file · prioresse worþ she neuere
For she hadde childe in chirityme · al oure chapiter it wiste
¶ Of wikked wordes I wrathe hir wortes made
Til þow lixte and thow lixte · lopen oute atones at ones[^96]
And aither hit other · vnder þe cheke
Ha[^a63][^97] thay hadde knyues by crist · eiþer had kulled oþer
¶ Saynt Gregori was a good pope · and had a good forwit
Þat no prioresse were preste · for þat he ordeigned
Thay hadde þanne be infamis þe firste day · þei kan ille holde conseil
¶ Among Monkes I miȝte be · and many tyme I shonye
For þey bemany be many felle frekes · my freres to aspye
Bothe Priour and suppriour and oure pater Abbas
And if I telle any tales · þey take hem togiders
And do me faste fridaies · to brede and to water
And am chalenged in þe chapiter hous as I a childe were
And baileised on þe bare ers · and no breche bitwene
For-thy haue I no likyng · with þo leodes to wonye
¶ I ete þer vnthende fisshe · and fiebyle ale drynke
And oþer-while whan wyne come · and I drynke it at euene
I haue a fluxe of a ful mouþe · wel fyue daies after
Al þe wikkednesse þat I wote by any of oure brether
I kouþe it in oure cloistere · þat al þe Couent woot it
¶ Now repent þe quod repentance and reherce þow neuere
Conseil þat þou knoweste · by contenance ne by righte
And drynke nouȝt ouer delicatly · ne to depe nowþer
Þat þi wille be-cause þer-of · to wrathe miȝte torne
Esto sobrius he saide · and assoilled me after
And bad me wilne to wepe · my wikkednesse to amende
Auaritia

[The word is divided over two lines. Discuss in the introduction.]

¶ And þanne cam Couettise kan I nouȝt hym discryue
So hungerly and holowe · sire henry hym loked
He was bitelbrowed · and baburlipped boþe
With two blered eighen · as a blynde hagge
And as a letheren purs · lolled hise chekes
Wel sidder þan his chynne · þei chiueled for elde
And as a bonde-man of his bacon · his berd was bidraueled
With an hood on his hed · a lousy hat abouen
And in a tawny taberd · of twelf wynter age
Al to-torne an baudy · and ful of lis crepyng
But if þat a louse couþe · haue lopen þe better
Scho shuld nouȝt haue walked there so was it thredebare
¶ I haue ben couettise quod þis caytif · I biknowe it here
For some tyme I serued synne atte stile
And was his prentice I-pliȝt · his prophete to wayte
First I lerned to lye · a leef outher tweyne
Wikkedliche to weye · was my first lessoun
To wye and to wynchestre · I wente to þe faire
With many manere marchandises · as my maister me hiȝte
Ne had þe grace of gile · go among my chaffare
It had ben vnsolde þis seuene yer · so me god helpe
¶ Than drowe I me among drapers my donet to lerne
To drawe þe liser a-long · þe lenger it semed
Among þe riche rayes · I rendered a lesson
To broche hem with a paknedel · and plyghted hem togiders
And putte hem in a presse · and pynned · hem þer-Inne
Til ten yerdes or twelue · had tolled out thrittene
¶ My wif was a webbe · and wollen clothe made
Sho spak to spynnesters · to spynnen it oute
And þe pounde she paied biweyed a quaterone more
than my owne aunser · who-so weyed trouþe
I bouȝt hir barly malt · scho brewe it to selle
Peny-ale and puddyng ale · she poured togiders
For laborers and lowe folk · þat lay by hem-selue
the beste ale lay in my bour · or in bedde chambre
And who-so bommed þer-of · he bouȝt it þer-after
A galoun for a groot · god woot no lesse
And yet come in copmele þis craft my wif vsed
Rose þe regrater · was hir riȝt name
She has holden hokkerie · al hir lif-tyme
¶ And I swere now so thehi[^a64][^98] · þat synne wole I lete
And neuere wikkedlich wey · ne wikked chaffare vse
But wenden to walsyngham and my wif als
And bid þe rode of Bromholm brynge me out dette
¶ Repentestow euere quod repentaunce or restitucioun madest
yis ons I was herberd quod he · with an hep of chapmen
I ros whan þei were arest · and riflede hir males
¶ þat was no restitucioun quod repentaunce but a robbers thefte
Þow haddest be better worthy · be hanged þerfore
thanne for al þat thow haste · here now yshewed
¶ I wende riflyng were restitucioun quod he · I lerned neuere on book
And I kan no frensche in faythe · bot of ferrest ende of Northfolk
¶ Vsedestow euere vsurie quod repentaunce in al þy lif-tyme
¶ Nay sothely he saide · saue in my youthe
I lerned among lumbardes and Iewes a lesson
To wey pens wiþ a pays · and pare þe heuyeste
And lene it for loue of þe crosse · to legge a wedde and lese it
Swich dedes I d ide write · if he his day breke
I haue mo maners þurȝ rerages · þan þurȝ Miseretur & comodat
¶ I haue lente lordes · and ladyes my chaffare
An ben hir brocour after · and bouȝt it my-selue
Eschaunges and chiuysances · with swich chaffare I dele
And lene folk þat lese wol a lippe · at euery noble
And with lumbardes lettres · I ladde gold to Rome
And took it by taille here · and tolde hem þer lasse
¶ Lendestow euere lordes · for loue of hir maintenaunce
¶ ye I haue lente lordes · loued me neuere after
And haue maad many knyȝt · boþe mercer and draper
Þat paied neuere for hir prentishode · nat a paire of gloues
¶ hastow pitee on p ouere men · that moot nedes borwe
· Nota ·
¶ I haue as mikile pitee of hem · as pedlere has of cattes
Þat wolde kylle hem if he miȝte · for to haue hir schynnes
¶ Artow manliche amang þy neiȝboures · of met and of drynke
¶ I am holden as heende quod he · as hounde is in kitchynne
Among my neiȝboures nameliche · swich a name I haue
¶ Now god lene quod repentaunce bot thow repente þe rather
The grace on this g rounde thy goode wel to bisette[^99]
Ne þyn heires after þe · haue Ioie of þat þow wynnest
Ne thyn executours bisette þe siluer · þat þou hem leueste
And þat was wonne with wronge · with wikked men be[^100] dispended
· Nota ·
For were I frere of þat hous · þer good faith an charite is
I nolde cope vs with thy catel · ne oure kirke amende
Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce · of thyn by my saule
For þe best book in oure hous · þeiȝ brent gold were þe leues
And I wiste witerly thow were swich as þow tellest
Or elles þat I kouþe knowe it · by any kynnes wise
· Ver us ·

[Does this require a sic/cor tag for "versus"?]

Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris.
¶ Pane tuo pocius vescere liber eris.
¶ Thow art an vnkynde creature · I can nouȝt þe assoille
Til þow make restitucion · and rekne wiþ hem alle
And sithen þat reson rolle þe · in þe Registre of heuene
Þat þow hast made ech man goode · I may þe nouȝt assoile
Non dimittitur peccatum donec restituatur oblatum & cetera 
· nota ·
For al þat haue of þy goode · haue god my trouþe
Ben holden at þe hiȝe dome · to helpe þe to restitue
And who-so leues this be nouȝt soþ · loke in þe sauter glose
In miserere mei deus . wheir I mene trouþe
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti & cetera.
¶ Shal neuere werkman in þis world · thryue with þat þou wynneste
Cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera
Thanne wex þat schrewe in wanhope · and wolde han hanged him -self[^101]
Ne hadde repentaunce þe rather · reconforted in þis manere
Haue mercy in þy mynde · and wiþ þy mouthe biseche it
For goddes mercy is mare · than alle his other werkes
And al þe wikkednesse in world · þat man miȝt do or thynke
Nis namore to þe mercy of god · than in þe see a glede
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei est quasi sintilla[^102] in medio maris
¶ For-thy haue mercy in þy mynde · and marchandise leue it
For thow hast no good ground · toget to get þe with a wastell[^103]
B ot if it were with þy tonge · or elles with þy twa handes
For þe good þat þou hast geten · bigan al with falsede
And as long as þou lyuest þerwith · þou yeldest nouȝt bot borwest
And if þou wost neuere to wich · ne whom to restitue
Bere it to þe bisschop · and bid hym of his grace
Bisete it hym-self · as best is for þy soule
For he shal answere for þe · at þe heiȝ dome
For þe and many mo · that man shal gyue a reknynge
What he lerned yow in lenten · leue yow noon oþer
And what he lente yow of · his goode · to wite yow fro synne
For he sholde helpe yow · of oure lordes goode
¶ Now bigynnes · gloton for to go to shrift
· Gula ·
And caires hym to kirkeward · his coupe to schewe
¶ An Beton þe brewester · bad hym goode morwe
And axed of hym with þat · whiderward he wolde
¶ To holy chirche quod he · to here masse
And siþen I wole be schryuen and synne namore
¶ I haue good ale gossib quod she · glotoun wiltow assaye
Hastow ouȝt in þy purs · any hote spices
¶ I haue peper and pionus quod he · and a pounde of garlek
A ferthyngworþ of fenel s eed for fastyng-dayes
¶ thanne goth gloton Inne · and gret othes after
Cesse þe souteresse . satte on þe benche
Watte þe warner and is wif bothe
Symme þe tynker and tweyne of hise prentices
Hik þe hakenay man and hugh þe nedeler
Clarice of Cokkeslane and clerc of þe chirche
Dawe þe diker and a dozein oþer
Sire piers of pride and peronelle of flaundres
A Ribibour a Ratoner a Raker of chepe
A roper a Rydyngkyng and rose þe dissheres
Godfray of garlekhiþe and griffyn þe walsshe
And vpholders an hepe · erly by þe morwe
Gyuen gloton with good chere · good al[^a65][^104] to hanselle
¶ Clement þe Cobler caste of his clooke
And at þe newe faire he nempned it to selle
Hikke þe hakenayman hitte his hoode after
And bad bette þe bocher ben on his syde
There were chapmen chosen · this chaffare to praise
Who-so haue þe hoode · shul haue amendes of thorn;e cloke
¶ Two risen vp in rape and rowned togideres
And praised þise peny-worthes · a-parte by hem-selue[^105]
thay kouþe nat by hir conscience · acorden in trouthe
Til Robyn þe Roper aroos by þe souþe
And nempned hym for a nounpier · þat no debate nere
For to trie þis chaffare bitwixen hem thre
¶ Hikke þe hostiler hadde þe clook
In couenaunt þat Clement sholde þe cuppe fille
And haue hikkes hode hostiler · and holden hym serued
And who þat repentes rather · shul a-rise after
An grete wele glotoun wiþ a galon ale
Ther was laughynge and lourynge · and lat go þe cuppe[^106]
And so setyn þey til euenesonge · and songen vmwhile
Til gloton hadde globed · a galon and a gille
Hise guttes bigonne to gothely · as two gredy sowes
He pissed a potel in a pater noster while
And blew his rounde rewett · at his rigges boun ende
Þat al þat herde þat horn · held hir nose after
And wisshedyn it had be waxed · with a wispe of firses
He miȝte neiþer steppe no stonde · er he his staf hadde
And þanne gan he go · lik a glew-mannesb yche glew-mannes byche
Som-tyme a-side · and som-tyme arere
As who-so layeþ lynes for to lacches fowles
¶ And whan he drouȝ to þe dore · þan dymmed his eighen
He stombled on þe threswold · and throwe to þe erthe
Clement þe cobeler cauȝte hym by þe myddel
For to lifte a-loft and leide hym on hise knees
And gloton was a grete cherle · and a grymme in þe liftynge
And coughed vp a caudale in Clementes lappe
Is no on so hongry hounde in hertford schire
durst lappe of þat leuynges so vnlouely þey smaughte
¶ Wiþ al þe wo of this world · his wif and his wenche
Bar hym hom to his bed · and brouȝt hym þer-Inne
And after al þis excesse · he had an Accidie
Þat he slepe Satirday and sonneday til sonne took reste
Þanne waked he of his wynkyng · and wiped hise eighen
First word þat he warpe · was wheir is þe bolle
His wit gan edwite hym þo · how wikkedliche he lyued
And repentance riȝt so rebuked hym þat tyme
As þou with wordis and werkes · hast wrouȝt ille in þy lyue
Schriue þe and be schamed þer-of · and shew it with mouthe
I gloton quod þe goome gilty me yelde
Þat I haue trespassed with my tonge · I kan nat telle how ofte
Sworen god soule and and so god me helpe an holy-dome
Þere no nede ne was nyne hundred tymes
¶ And ouerseye me atte soper · and som-tyme at nones
That I gloton girt vp er I hadde goon a myle
And spilt þat miȝt be spared · and spendid on som hungerye
Ouer -delicatly on fastyngdaies · dronken and eten bothe
And satte som-tyme so longe þer · þat I sleped and ete atones at ones[^107][^108]
For loue of tales in tauernes · to drynke þe more I dyned
And hied to þe mete er non · whan fastyng daies were
¶ This shewyng schrifte quod repentaunce shal be mercy to the[^109]
And gan gloton grete · and gret dole to make
For his lither lif · þat he lyued hadde
And auowed to fast · for hungre or for thruste
Shal neuere fisshe on Friday · diffien in my wombe
Til abstinence myn Aunte · haue gyue me leue
And yet haue I hated hir · al my lif-tyme
· Accidia ·
¶ Thane cam sleuthe al bislabired · with two slymy eighen
I most sit saide þe segge · or elles · or elles sholde I nappe
I may nat stonde ne stoupe · ne with-oute a stole knele
Were I brouȝt a-bedde · but if my taillende it made
Sholde no ryngyng do me rise · er I were ripe to dyne
He bigan benedicite with a bolk · and is[^110] brest knokked
And roxed and rored · and ritte atte laste
¶ A-wake renke quod repentance and rape þe to shrifte
¶ If I shold dye be thys day · me list nouȝt to loke
I kan nouȝt perfitly my pater noster as þe preste syngeþ
But I kan rymes of robyn hoode · an randolf erle of cestre
And nouþer of oure lorde ne ourd our lady · þe lest þat is made
¶ I haue made vowes fifty · and foryete hem al at morwe
I perfourned neuere penaunce · as þe prest me highte
Ne riȝt sory for my synne · yet was I neuere
And if I bedde any bedes · bot if it be in wratthe
Þat I telle with my tonge is two myle fro myn herte
I am occupied ech day · haliday an[^111] oþer
With ydel tales at þe ale · and oþer-while in cherches
Goddes peyne and his passioun ful selde thynke I on
I visited neuere fieble men · ne fettred folk in pittes
I haue leuere here an harlotrie or somer game of souters
or lesynges to laughe at · and bilye my neȝebores
than al þat euer marke made · matheu Iohan and lucas
And vigiles and fastyngdayes · al þise lat I passe
And ligge abedde in lenten · and my lemman in my armes
Til matyns an masse be do · þan go to þe freres
Come I to Ite missa est · I holde me serued
I nam nat shryuen som-tyme · but siknes it make
Nouȝt twies in two yer · and þanne vp gesse I schryue
¶ I haue ben preste and persone · passyng thritty yere
Yet kan I neiþer solfe ne synge · ne seyntes lyues rede
But I kan fynde in a fel or in a furlonge an hare
· nota
Beter þan in Beatus vir or in beati omnes
Construe on clause wel an kenne it to my parisshennes
I kan holde louedayes · an here a reues reknyng[^112]
If I bygge an borw it but if it be tailled
I forgete it as yerne · and if men me it axe
Sixe sithes or seuene · I for-sake it with othes
And thus tene I trew men · ten hundreth tymes
¶ And my seruantz som-tyme · hir salarie is bihynde
Reuthe is to here þe reknyng · whan we schul rede acountes
So with wikked wille and wrathe · my werke-men I paye
If any man do me a bien fait · or helpe me at nede
I am vnkynde to his curteise · and kan nouȝt vnderstonde it
For I haue and haue had somdele haukes maners
I am nouȝt leired with loue · but auȝt be vnder þe þombe
¶ þe kyndenesse þat my euene cristen · kydde me fernyere
Sixti siþesI siþes I sleuþe · haue foryet it sithe
In speche and in sparyng of speches · I-spilt many tymes
Boþe flesshe and fisshe · butter mylk an chesse
Boþe brede an ale and many other vitailles
Forsleuyed in my seruice · til it miȝt serue no man ·
I ran aboute in youþe · an gaf me nouȝt to lerne
And euere siþe haue be begger for my foule sleuþe
Heu michi quia sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem
¶ Repentestow nauȝt quod repentaunce & riȝt with þat he swowned
Til vigilate þe veille · fette water at his eighen
And flatte it on his face · and faste on hym cried
And sayde war þe fro wanhope · wolde þe bitraye
I am sory for my synnes · say to thy-selue
And bette þy-self on þi breste an bid hym of grace
For is no gilt here so grete · þat is[^113] goodnesse is more
¶ Thanne satte sleuþe vp and sayned hym swithe
And made awowe to-for god · for his foule sleuþe
Shal no sonday be þis seuene yer · but siknesse it lette
Þat I ne schal do me er day · to þe dere chirche
And here matyns and messe · as I a monke were
Shal noon ale after mete · holde me þennes
Til I haue euensonge herde · I behote to þe rode
And yet wol I yelde ayein · if I so muche haue
Alle þat I wikkidly wanne · syth I wit hadde
¶ And þouȝ my liflod lakke · leten I nelle
Þat eche man ne shal haue his · er I hennes wende
And with residue and þe remainant · by rode of chestre
I shal seke treuthe erst · er I se Rome
¶ Roberd þe robber on reddite looked
And for þer was nouȝt wher-of · he weped swithe sore
And yet þe synful shrewe · saide to hym-selue
Criste þat on Caluary vp-on þe croice deidest
Þo dismas my broþer bisouȝte yow of grace
And haddest merci of þat man for memento sake
So rew on this robber · þat reddere ne haue ·
Ne neuere wen to wynne · with craft þat I owe
But þy mykel mercy · mytigacioun I biseche
Ne dampne me nouȝt at domesday for þat I dide so ille
¶ What bifel of þis felon I kan nouȝt faire schewe
Wel I woot he wepte faste water · wiþ boþ hise eighen
And knowlichid his gilt to crist · yet eft sones
That penitencia his pik · he sholde polissh newe
And lep wiþ hym ouer londe · al his tyme
For he hadde leyn by latro lucifers aunte
¶ And þanne had repentaunce reuthe · and red hem alle to knele
For I shal biseche for al synful · oure saueour of grace
To amende vs of oure mysdedes · and do mercy to vs alle
Now god quod he of þy goodnesse · þat gonne þe worlde make
And of naught madest aught · and man most like to þy-selue[^114]
And siþen suffrest for to synne · a sekenesse to vs alle
And al for þe best as I bileue · what euere þe book telle
¶ O felix culpa o necessarium peccatum ade & cetera
¶ For thorugh þat synne þy sone · sente was to þs þ[i]s erþe
And bicam man of a maide · mankynde to saue
And madest þy-self wiþ þy sone · and vs synful yliche[^115]
But in oure secte was þe sorwe · and þy son it ladde
Captiuam duxi captiuitatem & cetera
¶ Þe sonne for sorwe þer-of · lese sight for a tyme
Aboute mydday whan most light is · and mele-tyme of sayntes[^116]
Feddest with þy fresshe blode · oure forefaders in derkenesse
Populus qui ambulat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam
And thorwh þe light þat lepe out of þe · lucifer was blent
And blew al þy blissed · in-to þy blisse of paradis
the thyrde day after þow yedest in oure suyte
And synful marie þow seiȝ · er seinte Marie þy dame
Al to solace synful · þow suffredest it so were
Non veni vocare Iustos set peccatores ad penitenciam
¶ And al þat Marke hath ymade Mathew Iohan ad a[n]d lucas
Of thyn douȝty dedes were doon in oure armes
verbum caro factum est & habitauit in nobis
And by so muche me semes · þe sikerer we mowe
Bidde an biseche it · if it be þy wille
Þat art our fader and our broþer · be merciable til vs
And haue rewth on þise ribaudes · þat repenten hem here sore
Þat euere þei wrathe þe in þis worlde · in word þouȝt or dede
¶ Than hent hope an horn · of deus tu conuersus viuificabis
And blew it wiþ beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates
Til alle seyntes in heuene sogen so[n]gen atones at ones
Homines & Iumenta saluabis quem admodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus & cetera[^117]
¶ A thousand of men þo thrungen to-giders
Cried vpward to crist · and to his clene moder
To haue grace to go wiþ hem · treuþe to seke[^118]
But blustrenden for as bestes · ouer bankes and hilles
Til late was and longe til þey a leode mette
Apparailled as a paynym in pilgrymes wise
He bar a burdon ybounde with a brode liste
In a swithe wyndes wise · ywounden aboute
A bolle and a bagge he bar by his side
An hundreth of ampulles · on his hatte seten
Signes of synay · and shelles of galice
And many crouche on his cloke · and keyes of Rome
An þe vernycle bifore · for men shuld knowe
And se by hise signes · whom he souȝt hadde
¶ thys folk freyned hym firste · fro whennes he come
Fro Synay he saide · an fro oure lordes sepulcre
In bedlem and in babilon I haue ben in bothe
In Ermonye in Alisaundre in many oþer places
Ye may se by my signes · þat sitte on myn hatte
that I haue walked ful wide in wete an in drye
And soughte goode seyntes · for my soules helthe
· nota ·
¶ kno westow ought a corseynt · þat men calle treuthe
koudestow wissen vs þe wey · wher þat he dwelles
¶ Nay so me god helpe saide þe gome þanne
I seiȝ neuere palmere with pike ne with scrippe
Axen after hym er now · in þis place
¶ Peter quod a plowman an putte forth his hede
I knowe hym as kyndely · as clerc doþ his booke
Conscience and kynde wit · kennede me to his place
And dide me swere sikerly · to serue hym for euere
Boþe to sowe and to sette · þe while I swynke myȝte
I haue ben his folower · al this fifty wynter
Boþe sowen his sede · and fedde hise bestes.
Wiþ-Inne and with-outen · waited his profit
I dike and delue · I do þat treuthe hotes
Some-tyme I sowe · an some-tyme I thresshe
In taillours craft and tynkers craft · what treuþe kan deuise
¶ I weue and I wynde · and I do what treuþe hotes
For þouȝ I sey it my-self · I serue hym to paie
Ich haue myn hire wel · and oþer-whiles more
He is þe prestest paier · þat poure men knoweþ
He with-halt no hew his hyir · þat he ne has it at eue
He as lowe as a lombe · and loueliche of speche
And if ye wilnes to wite · where þat he dwelles
I shal wisse yow witerly þe way to his place
¶ Ye leue piers quod þis pilgrymes · and profered hym hire
For to wende with hem · to treuthe dwellyng place
¶ Nay by my soule quod piers and gan for to swere
I nolde fange a ferþyng · for saynt Thomas shryne
Treuthe wolde loue me þe lesse · longe tyme after
And if ye wilneþ to weende wel · þis is þe way þider
Þat I shal say to yow · and sette yow in þe soþe
¶ Ye moot go þurgh mekenesse · boþe men and wyues
Til ye come to conscience · þat criste wite þe soþe
Þat ye louen oure lord · god leuest of alle thinges
And þan youre neiȝbores next · in noon wise appeire
Oþer-wise þan þou woldest · he wrouȝte to þy-selue
¶ And so bowe forþ by a brook · bees buxom of speche
Til ye fynden a forde · youre fadres honoureth
Honora patrem & matrem & cetera.
¶ Wades in þat water ; and wasshe yow wel there
And ye shal lepe lighter alle youre lif-tyme
And so shaltowe se · swere nouȝt but if it be for nede
And namliche an ydel · the name of god almighti
¶ thane shaltow come by a crofte · but com nat þer-Inne
Þat crofte hatte coueite nouȝt · men catel ne hir wyues
Ne non of hir seruantz · þat noyen hem mi ght
Loke ye breke no bowes þer · but if it be youre owne
¶ Two stokkes þer stonde · and stynt þe nouȝt þer
They hatte stele nouȝt ne slee nouȝt · strik forþ bifore
And leue hem on þy left half · and loke nouȝt þer-after
And holde wel þyn haliday · h eighe til euene
than shaltow blenche at a bergh · bere no fals witnes
He is frithed inne with floreyns · and oþer fees manye
loke þow plukke no plaunte þer · for peril of þy soule
¶ Thane shul ye see say soth · so it be to doone
In no manere elles nouȝt · for no mannes biddyng
¶ Thane shaltow come to a court as clere as þe sonne
the moote is of mercy · the manere aboute
Alle þe walles ben of wit · to holden wille oute
And kirneled wiþ cristendome · mankynde to saue
· Nota
Bitrased with bileue so · or þou best nouȝt saued
And alle þe houses be hiled · halles and chambere
Wit no leode but with loue · and lowe speche as brethren
¶ The brygge is of bid wel · þe better may þou spede
Ilke piler is of penuance pen[a]unce · of pr ayer to sayntes
Of alm esdede[^119] are þe hokes · þe ·gates hangen on
Grace hatte þe gateward · a good man for sothe
His man hatte amende yow · for many men hym knowes
Telles hym this taken · þat treuthe wite þe sothe
I perfourned þe penance · þe preste me enioyned
And am ful sory for my synnes · and so I shal euere
Whan I thynke þer-on · thouþ I were a pape
¶ Biddes amende yow mek hym til is maister ones
Tho wayue vp þe wiket · þat þe womman shette
Þo adam and eue eten appels vnrostes
Per euam cunctis clausa est & per mariam virginem patifacta est & cetera[^120]
For scho has þe key an þe cliket · þouȝ þe kyng slepe
And if grace graunte the · to go in this wise
thow shalt se in þy-selue · treuthe sitte in þyn herte
In a cheyne of charite · as þow a childe were
To suffre hym and saye nouȝt ayein thy eires wille
¶ And be war þan of wratthe þat is a wikked shrewe
He has enuye til hym · that in þyn herte sittes
And pukkes for pride · to preise þy-seluen
the boldnesse of thy bienfaittes · make þe blyne þanne
And þan worstow dryues out as a dew · and þe dore closed
Keyed and cliketed to kepe þe wiþ-outen
Haply an hundreth wynter · er þow eft entre
thus miȝt þow lesen his loue · to l ate wel by þy-selue
And neuere hapiliche eft entre · but grace þou haue
¶ And þer be seuene systers · þat seruen treuthe euere
And be portes of þe posternes · that to place longes
Þat oon hat abstinence · and humilite an-oþer
Charite and chastite · ben hise chief maidenes
pacience and pees muche pepyle · þey helpe
Largenesse þe lady sho late in ful many
Sho has holpe a thousand out of þe deueles pounfolde
And who-so is sibbe to þise seuene · so me god helpe
He is wonderliche welcome · and faire vnderfongen
And bot if ye be sibbe · to somme of þis seuene
It is ful hard by myn hed quod piers · for any of yowe alle[^121]
To geten Ingange at þe gate þer · but grace be þe m are
¶ Now by criste quod a kutpurs I haue no kynne þer
Nor I quod an apward · by aught þat I knowe
¶ Wite god quod a wayfrester · wist I þis for soþe
shul I neuere ferþer a foot for no freres prechynge
¶ Yis quod Piers þe plowman and pute the alle to gode
Mercy is as maiden þer · has miȝt ouer alle
And she is sibbe to alle synful · and hire sone also
And þurȝ þe help of hem two hope þou non oþer
Thow miȝt gete grace þer-by · so þou go by-tyme
¶ By saynt paul quod a pardoner per -auenture I be nouȝt knowe þer[^122]
I wol focche my box with my breuetz · & a bulle with bisshope lettres
¶ By crist quod a commune womman þy compaignye wol I folwe
thow shal say I am þy syster · I ne woot where þey bicome

[^a61: þis (OCr2Cr3CB) | ȝis (All other mss)]

[^a62: walkes walke (C) | walke (All other mss)]

[^a63: Ha (C) | Hadde (Most other mss)]

[^a64: thehi (C) | thee ik (Most other mss)]

[^a65: al (C) | ale (Most other mss) | alle (Bm)]

[^86: C.5.1: A three-line capital drawn in blue ink with red flourishes.]

[^87: C.5.3: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "al" in a red box to the right of C.5.4.]

[^88: C.5.30: The spelling wlitte is also possible.]

[^89: CHECK L.ȝ]

[^90: The punctus elevatus has three dots: note in the introduction.]

[^91: C.5.87: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "thouȝte" in a red box to the right of C.5.88.]

[^92: C.5.95: The words ywonne and a are separated by a virgule that may indicate caesura as well as a space between the words.]

[^93: KD.5.94-95 omitted.]

[^94: Looped <g>.]

[^95: Punctuation unclear.]

[^96: Remove orig/reg tags on "atones at ones" in FWLMOR etc.]

[^97: Need sic/cor tag?]

[^98: C.5.230: See KD on the variants of this reading.]

[^99: Check in left margin - significant?]

[^100: Odd shaping of letters in "be."]

[^101: C.5.290: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "self" in a red box to the right of C.5.291.]

[^102: Scribal hyphen between n and t.]

[^103: Barred.]

[^104: Note strange spelling? But also see Bm's "alle."]

[^105: KD.5.327 is omitted.]

[^106: KD.5.337 is omitted.]

[^107: C.5.388: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nes" in a red box to the right of C.5.389.]

[^108: Scribal hyphen between o and n.]

[^109: C.5.391: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "the" in a red box to the right of C.5.392.]

[^110: C.5.403: Note the h-less spelling for his.]

[^111: C.5.415: an, "and."]

[^112: KD.5.421 is omitted.]

[^113: C.5.460: Note again the h-less spelling for his]

[^114: C.5.494: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "selue" in a red box to the right of C.5.495.]

[^115: KD.5.487-89 are omitted.]

[^116: C.5.504: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tes" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.5.505.]

[^117: C.5.524: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tuam deus & cetera" in a red box to the right of C.5.525.]

[^118: KD.5.513 is omitted.]

[^119: C.5.611: CY alone have the singular form dede.]

[^120: C.5.621: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "& cetera" in a red box to the right of C.5.622.]

[^121: C.5.646: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "alle" in a red box to the right of C.5.647.]

[^122: C.5.657: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "know þer" in a red box to the right of C.5.658.]

¶ Passus sextus de visione & cetera 

T his[^123] were a wikked way bot who-so hadde a gyde
Þat wolde folwe vs eche a foot · thus þis folk hem mened[^124][^125]
I haue an half acre to erye · by þe heigh way
Had I eried þis half acre · and sowen it after
I wyl wende with yow · and þe wey teche
This were a long[^126] lettyng · quod a lady in a slaire[^127]
some shul sowe þe sakke quod piers for shedyn g of whete
And ye louely ladies with youre longe fyngers
That ye haue silk an sandel · to sewe whan tyme is
Chesibiles for chapeleyns · cherches to honoure
¶ Wyues and widewes · wole and flexe spynnes
Make clathe I consaille yow · and kennes youre douȝtres
Þe nedy and þe naked · t akes hede how þey ligge
And castes hem cloþes for so comaunde treuþe
For I shal lene hem liflode · but if þe lande faille
Flesshe and brede bathe · to riche and to pouere
As longe as I lyue · for þe lordes loue of heuene
And alle manere of men · þat thorwet[^a66] meet & drynk lyues
Helpes hym to wyrche wiȝthly · þat wynnes youre foode
¶ By crist quod a knyght þo · he kennes vs þe beste
And on þe teme treuly · caught was I neuere
And ken me quod þe knyȝt · and I wole assaie
By saynt poul quod perkyn ye profre yow so faire
Þat I shal swynke an swete · and saw for vs baþe
And oþer labours do for þy loue · al my lif-tyme
In couenaunt þat þow kepe · holy kirke and þy-selue
Fro wastours and wikked men · þat þis world struthes
And go hunte hardiliche · to hares and to foxes
To bores an to brokkes · þat breke a-down my hegges
And go a-faite þy faucons · wilde foules to kille
For swilce comes to my croft · and croppes my whete
¶ Curteisliche þe knyȝt þanne · comsed þise wordes
By my power Piers quod he · I pliȝte þe my trouthe
To fulfille þis forwarde · þough I fighte shulde
As lange as I lyue · I shal þe mayntene
¶ Ye and yet point quod Piers I pray yow of more
loke ye tene no tenaunt · bot trouthe wole assente
And þough ye mowe a-mercie · lat mercy be taxour
And mekenesse þe maister · maugre medes chekes
And þouȝ pouere men profre yow · presentes and gyftes
Nymme it nat an auenture · ye mowe it nouȝt deserue
For þow shalt yelde it ayein · at one yeres ende
In a ful perilouse place · purgatorie it hatte
¶ Misbede nat þy bondemen · þe better m[^128]ay þou spede
Thouȝ he be þy vnderlyng here · wel may happe in heuen
Þat he worthier sit · and with more blisse
Amice ascende superius
Þan þow bot þou do bette · And lyue as þow shulde
For in charnel and in cherche · churles ben yuele to knowe
Or a knyȝt fram a knaue · knowe þis in þyn herte
And be trew of þyn tonge · and loke þow tales hatye
But if it be wisdome or wit · þy werkmen to chastie
Holde wiþ none harlotes · ne here nouȝt hir tales
And namelich at þe mete · swich men eschue
For it ben þe de uels disours · I do þe to vnderstone
¶ I assent by seint Iame · þe knyȝt sayde þanne
For to worche by thy wordes · þe while my lif dureth
I shal apperaille me quod perkyn in pilgrymes wise
¶ And wend with yow I wol til we fynde treuþe
And caste on my clathes · I-clouted and hole
My cokers and my cuffes · for calde of my nailes
And hange myn hoper at myn hals · in stode of a scrippe
A busshel of bred corn · brynge me þer-Inne
For I wyl saw it my-self · and siþen wyl I wende
To pilgrymage as palmers don · pardon for to haue
And who-so helpes me to erie · or sowe er I wende
Shal haue leue by oure lord · to lacche her in herueste
And make myry þer-with maugre who-so grucches
And alkyn crafty men · þat konne lyue in trouthe
I shal fynde hem food · þat faiþfulliche lyuees
¶ Saue Iakke þe Iogelour · and Ionette of þe stewes
And danyel þe d ees player and Enote þe baude
And frere þe faitour and folk of his ordere
And Robyn þe rebaudour · for his rusty wordes
Treuþe tolde me ones · and bad me telle it after
Deleantur de libro viuencium.
For holy chirche is hote · of hem no tithe to take
Quia cum iustis non scribantur
They be escaped good auenture · god hem amende
¶ Dame werche whan tyme is Piers wif hiȝte
His douȝter hiȝt do riȝt so · or þy dam shal þe bete
his sone hiȝt suffre þy suffereignes · to haue hir wille
dem hem nouȝt for if þou do · þow shalt is i[t] dere a-bygge[^129]
For now I am olde and hoor · and haue of myn owene
To penaunce and pilgrymage · I wol passe with þis other
Forþy I wol er I wende · do write my biqueste
¶ In dei nomine amen I make it my-selue
He shal haue my soule · þat best haþ I-serued it
And fro þe fende it defende · for so I bileue
Til I come to hise acountes as my credo me telles
To haue a relese and a remissioun · on þat rental I bileue
¶ The kirke shal haue my cariogne · and kepe my bones
For of my corn and catel · he craued þe tithe
I payed it hym prestly · for peril of my saule
For-þy is he holden I hope · to haue me in his masse
And mengen in his memorie · among al cristene
My wif shal haue of þat I wanne · with trouthe and namore
And dele among my douȝters · and my dere childerne
For þouȝ I dye to-day · my dettes er quitte
I bar hom þat I borwed er I to bedde yede
¶ And with þe residue of þe remenant by þe rode of lukes
I wol worshippe þer-wiþ · treuthe by my lyue
And ben his pilgryme at plow · for pouer men sake
My plow-foot shal be my pikstaf · and picche a-two þe rotes
And helpe my cultour to kerue · an clense þe forwes
¶ Now is perkyn and hise pilgrymes · to þe plow faren
To erie þis half acre helpen hym manye
Dikers and deluers · digges vp þe balkes
Ther-wiþ was perkyn appaied · and praised hem faste
Other werkmen þer were · þat wrouȝt ful faste
Elke man in his manere · made hym-self to doone
And somme to plese Perkyn · piked vp þe wedes
¶ At heighe prime piers lete þe plow stonde
To ouersen hem hymself · and who-so best wroughte
He sholde be hired þer-after · whan heruest-tyme come
¶ And þanne seten som · and sogen so[n]gen atte nale
An holpen herie his half acre · with how trolly lolly
¶ Now by the peril of my saule quod piers al in pure tene
But ye arise þe rather · and rape yow to worche
Schal no gre yn þat groweþ · glade yow at neede
And þouȝ ye dye for dole · þe deuel haue þat recches
¶ Two were Faituours aferd · and feynd hem blynde
Somme layde hir legges a-lyr ye · as swiche losels knoues
And made hire moone to piers · and prayed hym of grace
For we haue no lymes to labour with · lord ygraced be ye
And praye for yow piers · and for youre plow baþe
Þat god of his grace · youre grayn multiplie
And yeld yow of youre almese · þat ye gyue vs here
For we may nouȝt swynk ne swete · swilke seknesse vs
¶ If þis be sooth quod piers I shal it soone aspie
Ye be wastours I wate wel · and treuþe woot þe sothe
And I am his olde hyne · and hiȝte hym to warne ·
Which þey were in þis world · hise werkmen appeired
¶ Ye wasten þat men wynnen · with trauaille and tene
And treuþe shal teche yow his teme to driue
Or ye shal ete barly bred · and of þe brook drynke
But if he be blynde or broke legged · or bolted wiþ Irenes
He shal ete whete bred · and drynke with my-selue
Til god of his goodnesse · amendement hym sende ·
And ye myȝt trauaille as treuthe wolde · and take mete & hir
¶ To kepe kyene in þe felde · þe corn fro þe bestes
dyken or deluen · or dyngen vp-on sheues
Or help make morter · or bere mukke a-felde
In leccherie and losengerie · ye lyuen and in sleuþe
And al is thurgh suffrance · þat vengeaunce yow ne takes
¶ As ancres and heremytes þat ete nat but at nones
And namore er morwe · myn almyesse shal thay haue
And catel to cope hem wiþ · þat han cloisters and cherches
¶ And Roberd renne aboute · shal nouȝt haue of myn
Ne postles but þey preche konne · and haue power of þe bissope
Þey shul haue payn and potage · and make hem at ese
For it is an vnresonable religioun · þat has no-thyng incertayn in certayn
¶ thane gan a wastour wratthe hym · and wolde han fought
And to piers þe plowman · he profred his gloue
A Britoner a bragger a[^130] bosted piers als
And bad hym go pisse with his plow · forpyned shrewe
Wiltow or neltow we · wol haue oure wille
Of þy flour and of þy flesshe · facche whan vs likes
And make vs mery þer-with · maugre þy chekes
¶ Thanne Piers þe plowman pleyned hym to þe knyȝt
To kepe hym as couenaunt was · fro cursed shrewes
And fro þise wastours wolf skynnes · þat make þe world dere
For þo wasten and wynne nouȝt · and þat ilke while
Worþ neuere plente among[^131] þe peple þer · while my plow legges[^132]
¶ Curteisly þe knyȝt þanne his kynde walde
Warned wastour and wissed hym better
Or thow shalt abygge by þe lawe · by þe ordire þat I bere
¶ I was not wonte to worche quod wastour · and now I nyl bigyne
And lete light of þe lawe · and lasse of þe knyȝt
¶ An sette Piers at a pese · and his plowht baþe
And manaced piers and his men · if þey mette eft-sone
¶ Now by þe peril of my saule quod Piers I shal appeire yow alle[^133]
And houped after hunger · þat herd hym atte firste
A-wreke me of þise wastours quod he · þat þis world shendes
¶ Hunger In haste þo hente wastour by þe mawe
And wronge hym so by þe wombe · þat baþe hise eighen wattred
He buffeted þe britoner a-boute þe chekes
Þat he loked like a lanterne · al his lif after
He bette hem so boþe he brast nere hir guttes
Ne had Piers wiþ a pese lafe · prayed hunger to cesse
Þey had be doluen baþe na deme þou non other
¶ Suffre hem lyue he sayde · and lat hem ete wiþ hogges
Or elles benes an bran ybaken togidires
Or elles mylk and meynye ale · þus prayed pers for hem
¶ Faitours for fere þer-of flowen in-to bernes
And flapped on wiþ flailes · fra morwe til eue ne
Þat hunger was nouȝt so hardy on hem for to look
For a potful of pese · þat piers had ymaked
¶ And hepe of heremytes henten hem spades
And kutten hir capes and curtbyes hem made
And wenten as werkmen · with spades and schouelles
And doluen and dikeden to dryue awey hunger
Blynde and bedreden · were botoned a thousande
And seten to begge siluer · sone were þey heled
For þat was bake for bayard · was bote for many hungry
And many begger for bens · buxom was to swynke
And elke a pouere mane wel payed · to haue pesen for his hire[^134]
And what Piers pr aide hem to do as prest as a sperhauk
And þer-of was Piers proude · and putte hem to werke
And gaf hem mete as he miȝte a-forþe · and mesurable hire
¶ thanne had Piers pitte · and praied hunger to wenden
Hame in-to his owne erþe · and holden hym þer
For I am wel a-wroke now · of wastours þu rȝ þy miȝt
And I praye þe or thow passe quod pers to hunger
Of beggers and bidders · what best be to doone
For I wot wel be thow went · þey wol worche ful ille
For meschief it makes · þey be so meke nowe
And for defaute of h yr foode · þise folk is at my wille
Thay er my blody brether quod piers · for god buouȝt vs alle
Treuþe tauȝte me ones to loue hem echone
And to helpe hem of al þyng · ay as hem nedes
And now wolde I wite of þe what were þe beste
And how I miȝt maister hem · and make hem to worche
· Nota ·
¶ Here now quod hungre and holde it for a wisdom
Bolde beggers and bigge · þat mowe hir bred biswynke
Wiþ houndes bredde and horsbrede · hold vp hir hertes
Abate hem wiþ benes · for bolnyng of hir wombe
And if þey grucche þanne · bidde hem go swynke
And he shal soupe swetter · whan he it haþ deserued
And if þow fynde any freek · þat fortune has appaired[^135]
Loue hym and lene hym · for so þe lawe teches
Alter alterius onera portate.
¶ And al manere of men · þow miȝt aspye
Þat nedy ben and noughty help hem wiþ þy goodes[^136]
Loue hem and lakke hem nouȝt · lat god take þe vengeaunce
Theigh þey don yuel · lat god worthe
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam
¶ And if þou wilt be gracious to god · do as þe gospel teches
And biloue þeamonges þe amonges[^137] low men · so shaltow lacche grace
Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis
¶ I walde nouȝt greue god quod peres · for al þe good on grounde
Miȝte I synles do as þow saiste · saide pers þanne
¶ Ye I bihote þe quod hunger · or elles þe bibile lies
Go to Genesis þe geaint þe engendrour of vs alle
In sudore an swynke þow shalt þy mete tilye
And labour for þy liflod · and so oure lorde hiȝte
And sapience seiþ þe same · I se it in þe bibile
Piger per frigore no felde nolde tilie
And þerfore shal he begge and bidde · and no man bete his hungre[^138]
¶ Mathew wiþ mannes face · mouthe þise wordes
· Nota ·
That seruus nequam had a Mnam and for he nolde nat chaffare[^139]
He had maugre of his maister · eueremore after
And bynam hym his Mnam for he wolde werche
And gaf þat Mnam to hym þat ten Mnammes hadde
And with þat he saide þat holichirch it herde
He þat has shal haue · and helpe þer it nedes
And he hath nouȝt shal nouȝt haue · and no man hym help
And þat he wenes wel to haue · I wole it hym bireue
¶ Kynde wit wolde · þat elke[^140] a wight wroughte
Or in dikyng or deluyng or trauaillyng in prayers
Contemplatif lif · or actif crist wolde þey wroughte
the sauter saies in the salme of Beati omnes
Þe freke þat fedes hym-self · wiþ faytful labour
he is blissed by þe booke in body an in soule
Labores manuum tuarum & cetera
¶ Yet I praye yow quod pers per charite and ye konne
Any leef of lechecrafte · lere it me my dere.
For somme of my seruantz · and my-self bothe
Of al a wike werche nat · so oure wombe akeþ
I woot wel quod hunger · what sekenesse yow aylees
Ye haue manged to muche · and þat makes yow to grone
¶ And I hotte þe quod hunger · as þou þyn hele wilnest
Þat þow drynke no day · er þow dyne somwhat
Ete nouȝt I hotte þe · er hunger þe take
And sende þe of his sauce · to sauour with þy lippes
And kepe som for soper tyme · and sitte nat to longe
And rise vp er appetit · haue eten his fille
Lat nouȝt sir surfaite · sitten at þy borde
Leue hym nat for he is likerous · and lecherous of his tonge
And after many maners metes · his mawe is a-fyngerd
¶ And if þou dyete thus · I dar legge myn eres
Þat fisik shal his furred hoodes · for his foode selle
And his cloke of calabre · with alle þe knoppes of golde
And be fayn by my faiþ · his phisik to leete
And lere to labour with lande · for liflode is swete
¶ For mortherers er many leches · lord hem amende
Þey do men dye thorugh hir drynkes er destyne wolde
¶ By saynt poule quod perkyn þise aren profitable wordes
Wende now hunger whan þou wolt þat wel be þou euere
For þis is a louely lessoun · lord þe foryelde
¶ Bihote god quod hunger hennes wol I nat wende
Til I haue dyned by þis day · and I-dronke bothe
¶ I haue no peny quod piers · polettes for to bigge[^141]
A fewe cruddes and creme · and an hauer cake
And twa laues of benes and branne · I take for my fauntes
And yet I say by my soule I haue no salte bacoun ·
Ne no cokeney by crist · colops for to make
And I haue percelle and porettz · and many cale plantes
And ek a kow and a calf · and a carte mare
To drawe a-felde my donge · þe while weder is drye
And by þis liflod we moot lyue · to heruest tyme
And by þat I hope · to haue heruest in my crofte
And þan may I dight þe dyner · as me dere likes
Alle þe pouere pypile þo · pesecoddes fetten[^142]
Benes chibolles and cherueles · and many oþer herbes
To make Piers a present · to plese with his hunger
¶ An hunger ete in haste · and asked after more
thanne pouere folk for fere · fedde hunger yerne
With grene porrettes and pesen · hunger þey thoughte
By þat neighed heruest · corn cam to chepyng
thanne was folk fayn and fedde hem of þe beste[^143]
And þo wolde nouȝt werche · but wandred aboute
Ne no begger ete brede · þat benes Inne were
But of coket or clene whete · and drynk of þe beste ale[^144]
But fresshe flessh oþer fisshe · fried oþer bake
And þat chaude or plus chaude · for chillyng[^145] of hir mawe
And but he be heighliche hired elles wol he chide[^146]
Ayeins caton conseil · comseth he to Iangle
Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento
¶ He greues hym ayeins god · and grucches ayeins resoun
And he corses þe kyng and al his conseil after
Swilk lawes to look · laborers to greue
And whiles hunger was hir maister · wolde þey nat chide
Ne stryue ayeins his statute · so strernliche sternliche he loked
¶ And I warne yow werkmen · wynnes while ye mowe
For hunger hiderward · hastes hym faste
He shal a-wake wiþ water · wastours to chastie
Er fyue be fulfilled · famyn shal arise
thourgh flodes and foule wedres · fruytes shal faille
And sa saide Saturne · and sente yow to warne
Whanne ye se þe sonne amys · and two monkes hedes
And a maide haue þe maistrie · and multiplie by eighte
Þanne shal deth wiþdrawe and derthe be Iustice
And dawe þe diker deye for hunger
But if god of his goodnesse graunte vs a trewe

[^a66: thorwet (C) | þoruȝ (Most other mss)]

[^123: C.6.1: The three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes.]

[^124: C.6.2: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing mened in a red box to the right of C.6.3.]

[^125: KD.6.3 is omitted.]

[^126: Loop on <g>.]

[^127: KD.6.8 is omitted.]

[^128: Unusual formation.]

[^129: KD.6.82 is omitted.]

[^130: C.6.155: a, "he."]

[^131: Looped.]

[^132: C.6.164: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "legges" in a red box to the right of C.6.165.]

[^133: C.6.172: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "yow alle" in a red box to the right of C.6.173.]

[^134: C.6.197: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "hire" in a red box to the right of C.6.198.]

[^135: KD.6.219-20 are omitted.]

[^136: KD.6.224 is omitted.]

[^137: unusual e.]

[^138: C.6.239: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "hungre" in a red box to the right of C.6.240.]

[^139: C.6.241: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "fare" in a red box to the right of C.6.242.]

[^140: C.6.249: The first e of elke is ill-formed.]

[^141: KD.6.281 omitted]

[^142: KD.6.293 is omitted.]

[^143: KD.6.301 is omitted.]

[^144: KD.6.305-09 are omitted.]

[^145: Looped.]

[^146: KD.6.313 is omitted.]

¶ Passus septimus de visione vt supra :

S Reuthe [T]Reuthe[^147] herde telle here-of · and to piers he sente
To taken his teme · and tilien þe erthe
And purchaced hym a pardon · a pena & a culpa .
For hym and for his heires · for euere-more after
And bad hym holde hym at hom · and erien his leyes
And al þat halpe hym to erie · to sete or sawe
Or any oþer meister · þat miȝt piers auaille
Pardon with pers plowman treuþe has ygraunted
¶ kynges and knyȝtes · þat kepen holy chirche ·
And riȝtfulliche in reames · reulen þe pepyle ·
Han pardon thurgh purgatorie · to passen ful lighte
With Patriarkes and prophetes · in paradis to be felawe
¶ Bisshopes I-blessed if þey ben · as þey shulden
Legistres of boþe þe lawes · þe lewede þerwith to preche
And in as muche as þey mowe amende alle synful
Aren peres wiþ þe apostles · þis pardoun piers shewes
And at þe day of dome · at þe highe dey s to sitte
¶ Marchantz in þe margyne had many yeres
And non a pena & a culpa þe pape nolde hem graunte
For thay held nouȝt hir halidayes · as holy chirche teches
And for þey swere by hir saule · and so god moste hem helpe
Ayeins clen conscience · hir catel to selle
And vndir his secrete seel · treuthe sente hem a lettre ·
Þat þey shulde bugge · boldely þat hem beste liked
And siþen selle it ayein · and saue þe wynnyng
And amende mesondeux þer-with · and myseise folk helpe[^148]
And do bote do br ygges þat to-broken were
Marien maidens · or make hem nonnes
Pouer pepile and prisones · fynden hem hir liflode
And sette scolers to scole · or to some oþer craftes
Releue religion · and renten hem bette
And I shal sende yow my-self · saynt Michel myn Archangel
Þat no deuel shal yow dere · ne fere yow in youre doyng
And witen yow fro wanhope · if ye wol þus werche
And sente youre soules in sauete to my seyntes in Ioie
¶ Thanne were marchantz mury · many wepten for Ioie
And praised Piers þe plowman · þat purchaced þis bulle
¶ Men of lawe leest pardon hadde · þat pleteden for mede
For þe sauter saues hem nouȝt swich as takes gyftes
And nameliche of Innocens · þat non yuel konnes
Super Innocentem munera non accipies ·
¶ Pledours sholde pyne hem to plede · for swiche and helpe
Prynces and prelates · shul paie for hir trauaille
A Regibus & principibus erit merces eorum.
¶ And many Iustices and Iurour · wolde for Iohan do more
Þan per dei pietate · leue thow non other
¶ And he þat spendes his speche · and spekes for þe pouere
Þat is Innocent and nedy · and noman no man appayers
Confortes hym in þat cas · with-outen coueitise of gyftes
And schewes lawe for oure lordes loue · as he it has lerned
Shal no deuel at his dede-day deren hym a myte
Þat he ne worth sauf and his soule · þe sauter bereth witnesse[^149][^150]
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo.
¶ And to bugge water ne wynde · ne wit ne fir þe ferre
This foure þe fader of heuene made to his fold in commune
Þis ben trewest tresores · trewe folke to helpe
Þat neuere schal wex ne wany with-outen god hymself
Whan þer drawe vn-to þe day and indulgences wolde haue[^151]
His pardon is ful petit · at hir partyng hennes
Þat any mede of mene men for his motyng takes
the legisters and lawiers · holdes þis for trouthe
That if þat I lye · mathew is to blame
For he bad me make yow þis · and þis prouerbe me tolde
Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines · facite eis
¶ Alle libbynge laborers · þat lyuen with hir hondes
That trewlich taken · and trewlich wynnen
And lyuen in loue and in lawe · for hir lawe hertes
Has þe same absolucion · þat sent was to piers ·
¶ Beggers ne bidders ne beth nouȝt in þe bulle
But if þe suggestioun be soþ · þat shapes hem to begge
For he þat begges or bid · but if he haue nede
He is fals with þe fende · and defraudes þe nedy
And also he bigiles þe gifer · ayeins his wille
For if he wist he were nouȝt nedy · he wolde it gif another
That were more nedy þan he · so þe nediest sholde be holpe
Catoun kennes men thus · and þe clerc of stories ·
Cui des videto is catouns techyng
And in þe stories he teches · to bistow thyn almesse
Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des
¶ And gregori was a good man · and bad vs gyuen alle
Þat askes for his loue þat vs alle lenes
Non eligas cui miseriaris ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur
Accipere quia incertum est pro quo deum magis placeas
For ye woot neuere who is worthy · and god woot wha has nede[^152]
In hym þat takes is þe trecherie · if treson walke
For he þat gyues yeldes · and yarkes hym to reste
And he þat bides borwes · and brynges hym-self in dette
For beggers borwen euere-more · and hir borugh is god almyghty[^153][^154]
To yelden hem þat gyuen hem · and yet vsure moore
¶ Quare non dedisti peccuniam meam ad mensam vt ego
veniens cum vsuris exigissem & cetera
· Nota ·
¶ For-thy biddes nouȝt ye beggers · but if ye haue nede
For who-so may by hym breed · þe book beres witnesse
He has ynough þat has bred ynough if he haue nouȝt elles
Satis diues est qui non indiget pane
Lat vsage be youre solace · of sayntes lyues redyng
Þe book bannes beggerie · and blames in þis manere
Iunior fui etenim senui & non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen[^155] eius querens panem
For ye lyue nouȝt in no loue · ne no law holden
Many of yow ne wedde nouȝt · þe womman ye with delen
Bot as wilde bestes with wehe · worth vp and worchen
And brynges forth barnes · þat bastardes men calles
Or þe bak or some boon he breke in his youthe
And syth goon faiten with youre fauntes · for euere more after[^156]
ther is mo myshap pepyle · among þise beggers
Than of al manere men · þat on þis molde walkes
And thay þat lyue þus hir ly f mow loþ þe tyme
Þan euere he was man wrought · whan he shal hennes
¶ And olde men and hoor · þat helples ben of strengthe
And wemmen with child þat worche ne mow
Blynd and bedred · and broken hir membres
Þat taken þise myschifs mekliche · as mesels and oþer
han as pleyn pardon as þe plowman hym-seluen
For loue of hir lowe hertes oure lord has hem graunted
Hir penaunce an hir purgatorie · here on þis erthe
¶ Piers quod a prest þo · þy pardon most I rede
For I wol construe ech clause and kenne it þe on englissh[^157]
¶ And piers at his prayer · þe pardon vnfoldeth
And I bihynd hem boþe · biholde al þe bille
Al in two lynes it lay · and nouȝt a leef more
And was writen riȝt thus · in witnesse of trouthe
Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam
Qui vero mala in ignem eternum.
¶ Petir quod þe prest þo I kan no pardon fynde
But do wel and haue wel · and god shal haue þy soule
And do yuel and haue yuel · hope þou non other
But after þy dede-day · þe deuel shal haue þy soule
And piers for pure tene · pulled it a-twayne
And saide · si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis
Non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es
· nota ·
¶ I shal cessen of my sowyng quod piers and swynke nat so harde
Ne be aboute my bely Ioie so bisily namore
Of praiers and penaunce · my plow shal ben here-after
An wepen whan I shuld slepe · þough whete bred me faille
¶ The prophete is payne ete in penaunce an in sorwe
By þat þe sauter sayes · so did many other
Þat loues god leally · his liflode is ful esy
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte
And but if luk lye he lereth vs by fowles
We shul nauȝt be to besy · a-boute þe worldes blisse
Ne soliciti sitis he says in the gospel
¶ And shewes vs by ensamples vs-selue to wisse
The fowles in þe feld · who fyndes hem met at wynter[^158]
Haue þey no gerner to go to · bot god fyndes hem alle
¶ What quod prest þe to perkyn · peter as me þynke
Thow art lettred a litel who lerned þe on book
¶ Abstinence þe abbesse quod piers · myn a b c · me tauȝte
And conscience come afterward · and kenned me muche more
¶ Were þou a prest Piers quod he · thow miȝt preche where þow sholdest[^159][^160]
As diuinour in diuinite · with dixit insipiens to þi teme
¶ Lew Lew[ed][^a67] lorell quod Piers litel lokestow on þe bibyle
On salamon sawes · selden thow beholdest
Ecce derisores & Iurgia cum eis ne crescant &cetera.
¶ The preest and Perkyn opposed either other
And I thurgh hir wordes · a-wook · and waited aboute
And seigh þe sonne in þe south satte þat tyme
Nota
Meteles and Moneiles · on maluerne hylles
¶ Musyng on þise metels and my way I yede
Many tyme þise metels · has maked me to studye
Of þat I seigh slepyng · if it so be miȝte
And al-so for P iers þe plowman ful penlif pen[s]if in herte
And wich a perdoun piers hadde al þe pepyle to conforte
And how þe preest inpugned it · with twa propyre wordes
And I haue no sauour in songwarie · for I se it oft faille
Caton and canonistires counseillen vs to leue
To set sadnesse in songewarie · for Sompnia ne cures
And for þe book of þe bibile bereth witnesse
How danyel deuynde þe dremes of a kyng
that was nabigodonosor nempned of clerkes
Danyel saide sir kyng þy dremees bitoknes
Þat vnkouth knyȝtes shuld come · þy kyngdome to clayme
Amonges lower lordes · þy la nde shal be departide
And as danyel deuynde in dede · it felle after
The kyng lese his lordschip · and lawer men it hadde
¶ And Ioseph mete merueillously how þe moon an þe sonne
· Nota ·
And þe elleuene steres hailesed hem alle
Þan Iacob Iugged Ioseps sweuene
Beau fitz quod his fadir · for defaute we shullen
I my-self and my sones · seche þe for nede
It bifel as his fader saide in phara os tyme
that Ioseph was Iustices · Egipte to loken
It bifel as his fader tolde · his frendes þer hym souȝt
And al þis makes me · on þis metels to þynke
¶ And how þe preest proued · no pardon to do-wel
And demed þat dowel · Indulgence passed
Byennales and triennals and bissopes lettres
And how do-wel at þe day of dome · is dignelich vnderfongen
And passes al þe pardon of seint peter cherche.
Now has þe pope power · pardon to graunte þe pypile
nota ·
With-outen pennaunce · to passen in-to heuene
This is oure bileue · as lettred men vs teches
Quodcumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum & in celis &cetera
And so I leue lely · lordes forbode elles
That pardon and penaunce · and prayers don þe same
Saules þat haue synned · seuene sythes dedly
And to truste to þise triennals· trewely me thynke
Is nouȝt so siker for þe saules · certes as is dowel
¶ For-thy I rede yow renkes · þat riche ben on þis erthe
Vp- on tryste of youre tresore triennals to haue
Be ye neuere þe bolder · to breke þe ten hestes
And namliche ye maysters .[^161] Maires and Iugges
that haue þe welþe of þis worlde · and wise men be holden
To purchace yow pardon · and þe papes bulles
At þe dredful dome · whan dede shal arise
And comen al bifore crist · acowntes to yelde
How þou laddest þy lif here · and his lawes keptest
And how þou didest day by day · þe dome wol reherce
A pook-ful of pardon þer ne prouincials lettres
þeigh ye be founde in þe fraternite · of alle þe foure orders
And haue indulgence doubile-folde · bot if do wel yow help
I sete yowre patentz and youre pardon · at one pese hule
¶ For-thy I counseille alle cristen to crye god mercye
An marie his moder · be oure mene bitwene
that god gyue vs grace here · er we gon hennes
Swich werkes to werche · whil we ben here
that after oure dede-day dowel reherce
At þe day of dome · we dide as he highte

[^a67: Lew Lew[ed] (C) | Lewed (All other mss)]

[^147: C.7.1: The three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes.]

[^148: KD.7.27 is omitted.]

[^149: C.7.52: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nesse" in a red box preceded by a blue paraph to the right of C.7.53.]

[^150: Scribal hyphen between t and n.]

[^151: C.7.58: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "haue" in a red box preceded by a blue paraph to the right of C.7.59.]

[^152: C.7.84: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nede" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.7.85.]

[^153: C.7.88: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "myghty" in a red box to the right of C.7.89.]

[^154: Scribal hyphen between l and m.]

[^155: Scribal hyphen between e and m.]

[^156: C.7.105: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "after" in a black box to the right of C.7.106.]

[^157: Barred.]

[^158: KD.7.134 is omitted.]

[^159: C.7.150: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "dest" in a red box to the right of C.7.151.]

[^160: Scribal hyphen between l and d.]

[^161: This punctus has a virgule through it.]

¶ Passus octauus de visione vt supra

T hus[^162] yrobed in russet · I romed aboute
Al a somer seson for to seke do-wel ·
And asked ful oft of folk þat I mette
If any wiȝt wist wher · dowel was at Inne
And what man he miȝte be of many man I[^163] axed
Was neuere wiȝt as I wente · þat me wisse kouthe
Wher þis lede lenged lasse ne more
· Nota ·
Til it bifel on a friday · two freres I mette
Maisters of þe menours men of gret wit
I hailsed hem hendlich · as I hadde lerned
And praied hem for charite er þey passed ferther
If thay k newe an y countre · or costes as þey wente
W here þat dowel dwelles · does me to witen
¶ For þey beth men of þis molde · þat most wilde[^a68] walken
And knowen contrees and courtes · and many kennes places
Boþe prynces paleys · and pouere mennes cootes
And do-wel and do-yuel · wher þey dwelle boþe
¶ Amonges vs quod þe Menours þat man is dwellyng
And euer hase as I hope · and euere shal here-after
¶ Contra quod I as a clerc · and by-gane to disputen
And saide hem sothely · Sepcies in die cadit iustus
Seuensithes Seuen sithes saiþ þe book · Synnes þe riȝtful
And who-so synnes he saide · does yuel as me thynke
And do-yuel and do-wel · mowe nouȝt dwelle togiders
· nota ·
¶ Ergo he is nouȝt alwey amonges yow freres
He oþer-while elles-wher · to wisse þe pepyle
¶ I shal say þe my sone · saide þe frere thanne
How seuene siþes þe sadman · on a day synnes
Bi a forbisen quod þe frere · I shal ye faire schew
Lat bryng a man in a boote · amydes þe brood water
Þe wynde and þe water · and þe boote waggynge
Makes þe man many a tyme · to falle an to stonde
For stande he neuere sa stif · he stombles if he moeue
And yet is he sauf and sounde · and so hym bihoues
For if he ne arise þe raþer · and raughte to þe stere
The wynde wolde with þe water · þe bote ouer-throwe
And thane were his lif lost · thurgh lacchesse of hym-self
And þus it falles quod þat frere · by folke here on erthe
The water is likned to þe world · þat wanes and waxes
The goodes of þis grounde · aren like to þe grete wawes
Þat as wyndes as wedres · wawes aboute
the bote is likned to oure bodyes · þat brotel is of kynde
Þat thourth þe fende and þe flessh[^164] · and þe freel worlde
Synnes þe sadman a day seuen sithes
¶ And dedly synne does he nouȝt · for dowel hym kepes
And þat is charite þe champioun · chife helpe ayeins synne
For he strengheth man to stonde · an steres mannes saule
And þouȝ þy body bowe · as bote dos in water
Ay is þy soule saef · but if þy-selue wol[^165]
do a dedly synne and drenche þy saule
God wol suffre wel þy slouþe · if þy-selue likes
For he gaf þe to yeresgyfte · to yeme wel þy-selue
And þat is wit and free wille · to euery wiȝt a porcioun.
To fleyng foules to fisshes · and also to bestes
And man has most þer-of · and moost is to blame
But if he wyrche wel þerwiþ · as do-wel hym teches
¶ I haue no kynde knowyng quod I · to conceyue alle youre wordes
And if I may l oue and loke I shal go lerne bettere
I bikenne þe crist · þat on þe cros dyed
And I saide þe same · saue yow fra myschaunce
And gyfue yow grace on þis grounde · good men to worthe
· Nota ·
¶ And thus I wente wide-where · walkyng myn o on
By a wilde wildernesse · and by a wodes syde
Blisse of þe briddes · brouȝte me a slepe
And vnder a lynde vp-on a launde · lened I a stounde
To lythe þe layes · the louely fowles made
Myrthe of hir mouthes made me þer to slepe
The merueillousest metels · mette me þanne
Þat euere dremed wight · In worlde as I wene
¶ A mykil man as me thoughte · and like to my-selue
Come and called me · by my kynde name
¶ What artow quod I þo · þat þow my name knawest
Þat þow woost wel quod he · and no wight better
· thouȝt ·
¶ Woot I what þow art · thouȝt saide he þanne
I haue sued þe þis seuene yer · sawe þow me no rather
Artow thought quod I þo · thow kannes me wisse
Where þat dowel dwelles · and do me that to knawe
¶ Dowel and dobet and dobest the thridde quo d he
Aren thre faire vertues · and be nouȝt fer to fynde
Who-so is trewe of his tonge · and of hise twa handes[^166]
And þurȝ is[^167] labour or his londes · his liflode wynnes[^168]
And is nouȝt dronklewe · ne deygnous dowel hym folwes
Do-bet does right thus · and he dos muche more
He is as law as a lomb · and louelich of speche
And helpes alle men · after þat hem nedes
The bagges and þe bigirdils he has to brook hem alle
that þe Erle auarous helde · and hise heires
And þus with Mamondes moneie · he has made hym frendes[^169][^170]
And is ronne to religion · and has renderd þe bibile
And preched to þe pepile · saynt paules wordes
Libenter suffertis insipientes cum sitis ipsi sapientes
And to þe vnwise ye do goode · for so god yow beddis
dobest
¶ Dobest is a-boue bathe · and beres a bisshopes crosse
Is hoked on þat oon ende · to halye men fro helle
A pike is on þe potente to pute adoun þe wikked
Þat wayten any wikkednesse · do-wel to tene
And dowel and dobet · amonges hem ordeygned
To crowne oon to be kyng to reulen hem bathe
Þat if dowel or dobet · dide ayein dobest[^171]
thanne shal þe kyng come · and casten hem in Iernes[^172]
And but if do-best did for hym · thay to be þer for euere
¶ Thus dowel and dobet and best þe thridde
Crowned oon to be kyng to kepen hem alle
And to reule þe reame · by hir thre wittes
And non oþer-wise · but as thay thre assentes
¶ I thanked þouȝt þo · þat he me thus tauȝte
· Nota ·
And yet sauoures me nouȝt thy sayeng · I couette to lerne
How do-wel · do-bet · and do-best · don among þe pepyle
Bot wit konne wisse þe þouȝt · wher þo thre dwelles
Elles woot I non þat konne · þat now is a-lyue
¶ Thought an I thus thre dayes yeden
Disputyng vp-on do-wel · day after other
¶ And er we were ywar · with wit gonne we mete
He was longe and lene liche to non other
Was no pride on his apparaille · ne pouerte neiþer
Sadde of his semblant · and of softe chere
I dorste meue no mater · to make hym to Iangle
But as I bad thouȝt þo · be mene bitwene
And putte forth somme purpos · to prouen hise wittes
What was do-wel fra do-bette and do-best fram hem boþe
· Nota ·
¶ thanne thouth in that tyme · sayde þis wordes
Wher do-wel do-bett · and dobest was in londe
Here is wille wolde wite · if wit kouthe teche hym
And whether he be man or no man · þis man wolde aspye
And werchen as þey thre wolde · this is his entente

[^a68: wilde (COYB) | wide (All other mss)]

[^162: C.8.1: The three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes.]

[^163: Ink blot.]

[^164: Barred h.]

[^165: KD.8.49 is omitted.]

[^166: KD.8.81 is omitted.]

[^167: C.8.81: Note the h-less spelling for his.]

[^168: KD.8.83 is omitted.]

[^169: C.8.88: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "des" in a red box to the right of C.8.89.]

[^170: Scribal hyphen between n and d.]

[^171: KD.8.103 is omitted.]

[^172: KD.8.105 is omitted.]

¶ Passus Nonus de visione vt supra :

S Ire[^173] dowel dwelles quod wit · nouȝt a day hennes
In a castel þat kynde made · of foure kynnes þynges
Of erthe and eire is it made · medled togidires
With wynde and with water · witerly enioygned
Kynde hath closed þer-Inne · craftily with-alle
A lemman þat he loues · like to hym-selue ·
Anima scho hatte · and enuye hir hates
A proude priker of fraunce · princeps huius mundi
And walde wynne hir away · with wiles and he miȝte
¶ And kynde knowes this wyel · and kepes hir þe better
As does hir with sire do-wel · Is duc of þise marches
¶ Dobet is hir damisele · sir dowel douȝter
To serue þis lady lealy · boþ late and rathe
¶ Dobest is a-boue bothe · a bisshope piere
Þat he bidis moot be do · he reule hem alle
Anima þat lady · is lad by by by his lerynge
¶ An þe conestable of þat castel · þat kepes al þe wache
Is a wise knyȝt wit-al · sir Inwit he hatte
And has fyue faire sones · by his firste wife
Sire se wel · and say wel · and here wel þe hende
And worche wel with þyn honde · a wiȝt man of strenghte
And sir godfray go wel · grete lordes for-sothe
this fyue be sette to saue this lady · Anima
Til kynde come or sende · to sauen hir for euere
What þyng is kynde quod I · kanstow me telle[^174]
¶ kynde quod wit is a creature · of alkynge thynges
Fader and fourmour of al þat euere was maked
And þat is þe grete god · þat gynnyng hadde neuere
Lord of lif and of light · of lisse and of peyne
Angels and al þyng aren at his wille
And man is hym most like · of marke and of schape
For thourȝ þe word þat he spak · woxen forþ bestes[^175]
Dixit & facta sunt & cetera
And made man likest · to hym-self oon
And Eue of his ribbe-boon · with-outen an y mene
For he was singuler hym-self · and saide faciamus
As who say more moot her-to · thanne my worde oon
My miȝt moot helpe now · with my speche
Ryght as lord schuld make lettres · and hym lakked perchemyn
though he kouþe write neuere so wel · if he had a penne
Þe lettre for al þe lordchip · I leue were neuere ymaked
¶ And so it semes by hym as þe book telles
Ther it sayes · Dixit & facta sunt
He most werche with his worde · and his wit schewe
And in þis manere was man made · thurȝ miȝt of god almyghty
With his word and werkmanschip · and with lif to laste
And thus god gaf hym a goost · of þe godhed of heuene
And of his grete grace · graunted hym blisse
And þat is lif that ay schal laste · to alle lynages after
And þat is þe castill[^176] þat kynde made · Caro it hatte
And is as muche to mene · as man with a soule
And þat he wrouȝte wiþ werk · and wiþ word boþe
Thurȝ miȝt of þe maieste · man was ymaked
Inwit and alle wittes · closed be þer-Inne
For loue of þe lady Anima þat lif is ynempned[^177]
And in þe herte is his hom · and his most reste
And inwit is in þe hed · and to þe herte he lokes
What Anima is lief or loþe · he let hir at his wille
For after þe grace of god · þe gretest is Inwit
Mikyl wo worþe þat man · þat mysreules his Inwit
And þat be glotons globbers · hir god is hir wombe
Quorum deus venter est
¶ For thay seruen · Sathan hir saules schal he haue
that lyues synful lif here · hir soules is like þe deuel
And al þat lyuen good lif · aren like to god almyȝty
Qui manet in caritate in deo manet & cetera.
Allas þat drynke shal fordo · þat god dere abouȝte
And dothes god forsaken hem þat he schope to his liknesse
Amen dico vobis nescio vos et alibi & dimisi eos secundum desideria &cetera
¶ Fooles that fawtes Inwit · I fynde þat halicherche
Schuld fynden hem þat hem fautes · and faderlese children[^178]
Madde men and maydens · þat helpelese were
Al þis lakken Inwit · and lore bihoues
¶ Of þis mater I miȝt make a lange tale
And fynd feel witnesse · among þe foure doctours
And þat I lye nouȝt of þat I lere þe · luc beres witnesse
¶ Godfader and godmoder · þat seen hir godchildren
At myseise and myschief · an mowe hem amende
Shul haue penaunce in purgatorie but if þey hem helpe
For more bilonges to þe litel barn · er he þe lawe knowe
Þan nempnyng of a name · and neuere þe wiser
¶ Shuld no cristene creature · crien at þe yate
Ne faille payn ne potage · and prel ates did as þey shuld
A Iewe walde nouȝt seen a Iewe go Iangelyng for defaute
For al þe moebules on þis molde · and he amende it myghte
Allas þat a cristene creature · shal be vnkynde to an other
Siþen Iewes þat we Iugge Iudas felawes
Eiþer of hem helpes oþer of þat that hym nedes
Why nyl we cristene · of cristes good be as kynde
As Iewes þat be oure / loresmen · schame to vs alle
Þe comune for hir wikkednesse · I drede me shal abye
Bisschopes shal be blamed · for beggers sake
He is wars þan Iudas · þat gyues Iapers siluir
And biddes þe begger go for his broke clothes
¶ Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda qui patrimonium christi minus distri - buit  Et alibi perniciosus dispensator est qui res pauperum inutiliter consumit
¶ he dos nought wel þat dos thus · ne dra d nouȝt god almiȝti
Ne loues nouȝt · salamons sawes · þat sapience tauȝte
Initium sapiencie timor domini
¶ Dred god for loue &[^179] þou doste wel · but nouȝt for vengeaunce and þou dost bet[^180]
thow dost best if þow withdrawe by day and by nyght[^181]
To spille any speche · or any space of tyme
Qui offendit in vno est in omnibus reus
¶ Lesyng of tyme treuthe woot þe sothe
Is most[^182] I-hated vp erþe of hem þat ben in heuene
And sithe to spille speche · þat spire is of grace
And goddes gleman a gedelyng · a goer to tauernes[^183]
To alle trewe tidymen tidy men · þat trauaille desiren.
Oure lord loues hem and lent · londe other stille
Grace to go to hem · and agon hire liflode
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono
¶ Trew wedded libbyng folk · in this world is dowel
For thay mote werche and wyue · and þe world susteyne
For of hir kynde þey come · þat confessours be nempned
kynges and knyȝtes kaisers and cherles
Maidenes and martirs out of a man come
Þe wif was made þe wey · for to helpe werche
And thus was wedlok I-wrouȝt · with a mene persone
First by þe faders wille · and þe frendes conseil
And sithen by assent of hem-self[^184] · as þey twa miȝte acorde
And thus was wedlok ywrouȝt · and god hym-self it made
In erþe þe heuene is · hym-self beres witnesse
¶ And fals folk feithles · theues and liers
Wastours and wrecches · oute of wedlok[^185] I trowe
Conceyued be in Iuel tyme · as Caym was on Eue[^186]
Of swich synful shrewes · þe sauter makes mynde
Concepit in dolore & peperit iniquitatem &cetera.
And alle þat com of þat Caym · come to yuel ende
For god sent to semand sem and · saide by þe angel
thyn issue in þyn issue · I wol þat þey be wedded
And nouȝt þy kynde with Caymes · ycoupled ne spoused
¶ Yet somme ayein þe sonde of oure lorde of heuen
Caymes kynde and his kynde · coupled togidires
Til god saide for wrathe · þat I maked man me a-thynkes
Penitet me fecisse hominem
¶ And somme to Noe anon and bad hym nou ȝt lette
Swith go shape a shippe · of shides and bordes
thy-self and þy thre sones · and siþen youre wyues
Buske yow to þat bote · and bides ye þer-Inne
Til fourty dayes be fulfilled · þat flode haue ywasshen
Clene away þe cursed blood · þat caym has ymaked
Bestes þat now ben shul banne þe tyme
Þat euere þat cursed Caym come in þis erþe
Alle shul dye for hise dedes by dales and by hylles
And þe foules þat fleen · forth with other bestes
Except oonliche · of ech kynde a coupule
Þat in thy shyngled schippe · shul ben ysaued
¶ Here abouȝte þe barne · þe belsire giltes
Alid alle for hir forfaders · þey ferden þe werse
the gospel is here ayein · in o degre I fynde
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & pater non & cetera
¶ And I fynde if þe fader · be fals and a shrewe
Þat som-dele þe sone shal haue þe sire tacches
¶ Impe in an Ellerne and[^187] if thyn appul be swete
Muche merueille me thynk · and more of a shrewe
that brynges forth any barne · but if he be þe same
And haue a sauour after þe sire · selde sestow other
Nunquam colligimus de spinis vuas nec de tribulis ficus
And thus þurȝ cursed Caym cam care vp-on erþe
And al for þey wrouȝte wedlok · ayeins goddes wille
For-thy haue thay maugre · þat so marien hir childerne
For somme as I se now · sothe for to telle
For coueitise of catel · vnkyndliche be wedded
And careful concepcioun · comes of swich mariages
As byfel of þe folk þat I before of tolde
For good sholde wedde good · þough hij no good hadde
For I am via & veritas sayes crist · I may auaunce alle
It is an vnkouþe couple by crist · as me thynke
To gyfue a yonge wenche to an olde fiebyle
Or wedden any widowe · for welþe of hir goodes
that neuere schal barne bere · but if it be in armes
Many a payer syne þo pestilence · han pliȝte hem togiders
the fruyt þat thay brynge forth aren foule wordes
In Ialousie Ioieles · and Ianglyng abedde
Haue thay no children but chydes · and choppyng hem bitwene
¶ And þouȝ þey do hem to dunmowe bot if þe deuel helpe
To folowe after þe flycche · fecche þey it neuere
And but þey baþe be forsworne · þat bacon þey tyne
¶ For-thy I conseille al cristene · coueite nouȝt be wedded
For coueitise of catel · ne of kynrede riche
And maidens and maidens · macche yow togiders
Widewes and widowers · werchys þe same
For no landes bot for loue loke ye be wedded
And þanne gete ye þe grace of god · and goode ynough to lyue with[^188]
¶ And euery manere seculer · þat may nouȝt continue
Wisely go wedde and war hym fra synne
For liccherie in lokyng is lym-yerd of helle
Whiles þow art yonge and þy wepne kene
Wreke þe with wyuyng · if þow wolt ben excused
Cum sis vir fortis · ne des tua robora scortis ·
Scribitur in portis meretrix est Ianua mortis
¶ Whan ye haue wyued bees war and worches in tyme
Nouȝt as Adam and Eue whan Caym was engendirde
For vnite trewly · bitwene man and womman
Ne shulde no bourde on bedde be · but if þey were clene
Boþe of l yf and of soule · and in perfit charite
that ilke derne dede · do no man ne scholde
But if þey leden þus hir lif · it likes god amyȝty
For he made wedlok fi rst · and hym-self it saide ·
Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem
And thay þat other-gates be geten · for gedelynges ben holden
As fals folk fondelynges · faitours and lyeres
vngracious to gete good · or loue of þe pepyle
Wandren and waste · what þe cacche mowe
Ayeins do-wel thay do yuel · and þe deuel serue
And after hir dede-day · soule dwelles with þe same
But god gyf hym grace here · hem-seluen to amende
dowel my frend is don · as þe lawe techees
To loue þy frend and þy foo · leue me þat is do-bet
To gynnen and to yemen boþe yonge and olde
To helen and to helpen · is do-best of alle
¶ And dowel[^189] is to drede god · and do-bet is to suffre
And so comes do-best of bothe · and brynges adown þ þ[e] mody
And þat is wikked wille · þat many werke shendeth
And dryue a-way dowel with dedliche syne

[^173: C.9.1: This three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes.]

[^174: Paraph tick in left margin - note break in alterating pattern]

[^175: KD.9.33 is omitted.]

[^176: Barred "ll."]

[^177: KD.9.56 is omitted.]

[^178: KD.9.71 is omitted.]

[^179: tilde over ampersand.]

[^180: C.9.99: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "and þou dost bet" in a red box to the right of C.9.100.]

[^181: Possible erasure.]

[^182: flourish.]

[^183: KD.9.105-106 are omitted.]

[^184: Flourish.]

[^185: Flourish.]

[^186: KD.9.124 is omitted.]

[^187: See decorative flourish ?? duck illustration?]

[^188: C.9.183: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "with" in a red box to the right of C.9.184.]

[^189: Check for virgule.]

¶ Passus decimus vt supra 

<T hanne[^190] had wit a wif was hote dame studie
That lene was of lire · and of liche boþe
Sho was wonderlich wrathe · þat wit me þus tauȝte
And al staryng dame studie stierneliche saide
Wel artow wise quod she to wit · any wisdomes to telle
To flatterers or to fooles · þat frentik ben of wittes
And blamed hym and banned hym and bad hym be stille
With swilce wise wordes · to wisse any sottes
And saide noli mittere margerie eerles
Amonges hogges þat haue · hawes at wille
thay don but dryuel þer-on · draf were hem leuere
than al prescious perre · þat in paradis vexes
I say it by swich quod sho · þat shewes by hire werkes
That hem were leuere londe · and lordiship on erthe
Or richesse or rentes · and rest ar a[t] hir wille
than alle sothe sawes · þat salamon saide euere
¶ Wisdom and wit now · is nowt worthe a kerse
But if it be carded with coueitise · as clothers kemben wolle
Who-so kan troue[^a69] desaytise[^191] · and conspire wronges
And lede forth a loueday · to lete wit trouthe
He þat swich craftes kan to conseil is cleped
thay lede lordynges with lesynges · and bileis trouthe
¶ Iob þe gentil in his gestes · gretely witmesseþ wit[n]esseþ
Þat wikked men welden · þe welþe of þis world
And þat þey beth lordes of ech londe · þat out of libbeþ
Quare impij viuunt bene est hominibus qui preuaricantur & Inique agunt[^192]
the sauter sayes þe same by swich þat don ille
Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo optinuerunt diuicias
¶ Loo saith holy lettrure whiche lordes beth þis shrewes
Thilk þat god most greueth · lest good · thay deleth
And most vnkynde to þe comune · þat most catel weldeth
Que perfecisti destruxerunt iustus autem & cetera
¶ harlotes for hir harlotrie may haue of hir goodes
And Iapers and Iogelers · and Ianglers of gestes
And he þat has haly writ · ay in his mouthe
And kane telle of Thobie · and of þe twelue apostels
Or prechen of penaunce · þat pilat wrouȝte
To Ihesu þe gentil · þat Iewes to-drowe[^193]
Litil is he loued · þat swich a lessoun sheweth
Or daunted or drawe forth · I do it on god hym-selue
¶ But þo þat feynen[^194] hem fooles · and with faityng lyues
Ayein þe law of oure oure [lord] · and lyen on hym-selue
Spitten and spewen · and speke foule wordes
Drynken and dryuelen · and do men for to gape
Lykene men and lyen on hem · þat leneþ hem no gestes
Thay konne namor mynstralcie · ne musik men to glade
Thanne Munde þe melner of multa fecit deus
Ne were hir vile harlotrie[^195] · haue god my trouthe
Shul neuer kyng ne knyȝt · ne chanoun of seint poules
Gyue hem to hir yeresgyfte · þe gyft of a groot
¶ And murthe and mynstralcie · amonges men is q outhe
Leccherie and losengerie · and losels tales
Glotonye and grete othes · þis murthe þey louyeth
¶ And if þey harpen of crist thisse clerkes and þis[^196] lewed
At met in murthes whan mynstralles ben stille
thanne telle thay of þe trinite a tale other twayne
And bryngen forth a balled resoun · and take Bernard to witnesse[^197]
And putten forth a presumpcioun · to proue þe sothe
Thus thay dryuele at hir deys · the deite to knowe
And gnawen god with þe goerge · whan hir guttis is fulle
¶ And þe carful May crie · and carpen at þe yate
Boþe a-fyngerd and a-thr yst[^198] · and for chelde quake
Is noon to nymen hym ner his noye to amende
B ot heonn on hym as an hounde · and hoten hym go thennes[^199][^200]
Litil loues he þat lord · þat lente hym alle þat blisse
that thus partes with þe pouere · a parcelle whan hym nedes
· Nota ·
Ne were mercye in mene men · more þan in riche
Mendinantz meteles · miȝte go to bedde
God is muche in þe goerge · of þis grete maisters
And amonges mene men · his mercye and his werkes
And so sayes þe sauter I haue seen it ofte
Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata & inuenimus eam in campis silue[^201][^202]
¶ Clerkes and other kynnes men carpen of god faste
And haue hym muche in þe mouthe · and mene men in herte[^203]
¶ Freres and faitours han founde swich questiouns
· Nota ·
To plese with proude men · siþen pestilence tyme
And prechen at seynt poules for pure enuye of clerkes
that folk is nouȝt fermed in þe fayit · ne fre of hir goodes
Ne sory for hir synnes · sa is pride vaxen
In religioun and in þe reame · amonges riche and pouere
that prayers haue no power · þe pestilence to lette[^204]
And yet þe wrycches of þis world · is non ywar by other
Ne for drede of þe deth · with-drawe nouȝt hir pride
Ne bees plenteuouse to þe pouere · as pure charite walde
But in gaynesse and gloton ye · forglutten hir good hem -selue
And breken nouȝt to þe begger · as þe book teches
Frange esurienti panem tuum & cetera
¶ And þe more he wynneþ and welt · welthes and riches
And lordes in londes · þe lasse good he deleth
Thobie telles yow nowth sa · take he þe riche
How þe book of þe bibile of hem bereth witnesse
Si tibi copia sit · habundanter tribue · si autem exiguum impertiri stude libenter
¶ Who-so has muche spene · muche so meneth Thobie
And who-so litel weldeth reule hym ther-after
For we haue no lettre of oure lif · how longe it shal dure
Swich lessons lordes shuld · loue to here
And how he miȝte mooste · meyn manliche fynde
¶ And nouȝt to fare as a fedhler · or a frere for to seek festes
Homliche at other mennes houses and hatien hir owne
Elenge is þe halle · ech day in þe weke
Ther þe lord and[^205] þe lady · likes nouȝt to sitte
Now has elk riche a reule · to eten by hem-selue
In a pryue parloure for pouere mennes sake
Or in a chamber with a chymeneye · and leue þe chief halle
Þat was made for meels · men to eten Inne
And al to spare and to spille · þat spende shal another
¶ I haue herd heigh men · etyng at the table
Carpen as thay clerkes were · of criste and of his myghtes
And layden fautes on þe fader · þat formed vs alle
And carpen ayein clerkes · crabbed wordes
Why wolde oure saueour suffre · swich a worme in his blisse
that bigiled þe womman and the man after
Thurgh which wiles and wordes · thay wenten to helle
And al hir seed for hir synne · þe same deeth suffred
Here l yeþ youre lore · þise lordes gynnes dispute
Of þat þe clerkes vs kennen of crist by þe gospel
¶ Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & cetera
Why sholde we þat now ben · for þe werkes of Adam
Roten and rend reson walde it neuere
vnusquisque portabit onus suum & cetera.
¶ Swich motyues þey moeue · þise maisters in hir glorie
And make men in mysbileue · þat muse muche on hir wordes[^206][^207]
ymaginatif here-after · shal answere to youre purpose
Austyn to swich arguers · telles this teme
Non plus sapere quam oportet & cetera.
Wilnes neuere to wite · why þat god wolde
Suffre sathan his seed to bigile
And bileues lealy · in þe lore of holy cherche
And praye hem of pardon · and penaunce in þy lyue
And for his muche mercy · to amende yow here
For al þat wilnes to wite · why þat god wolde[^208]
Suffre Sathan his seed to bigile
Or Iudas to þe Iewes · Ihesum bitraye
Al was as þou woldest lord worshiped be þou
And worþ as þou wolt · what-so we dispute
And þo þat vse þise hauylounes · to blynde mennes wittes
What is do-wel fro dobet · now deef moot he worthe
Sith he wilnes to wite · wich þey ben boþe
But if he lyue in the lyue · þat longeth to do-wel
For I dar ben his[^209] bolde borgh · þat do bet wol he neuere
They do-best draw on hym day after other
¶ And whan þat wit was I-war what dame studye tolde
He be-come so confuse · he kouþe nouȝt looke
And as doumbe as deth · and drowe arere
¶ And for no carpyng I kouthe after · ne knelyng to þe grounde[^210]
I miȝte gette no[^211] greyn of hise grete wittes
But al laughyng he louted · and loked vp-on studie
In signe þat I shulde · biseche hir of grace
And whan I was war of his wille · to his · to his to his wif gan I loute[^212]
And saide mercy ma-dame · youre man shal I be
As longe as I lyue bothe late and rathe
For to worch youre wille · the w hille my lif lastes
With þat ye kenne me kyndely · to knowe what is dowel
¶ For þy mekenesse man quod she · and for þy mylde speche
I shal kenne þe to my cosyn · þat clergie is hoten
He has wedded a wif with-Inne þise sex monethes
Is sibbe to þe seuene artes · scripture is hir name
thay two as I hope · after my techyng
Shal wissen þe to dowel · I dar it vndirtake
Thanne was I also fayn · as fowle of faire morwe
And gladder thanne þe gleman · þat gold has to gyfte
And axed hir þe heiȝ way wher þat clergie dwelte
And telle me som token quod I · for tyme is þat I wende
¶ Axe þe heigh way quod studye · hennes to suffre
Beþ wel an wo · if þat þou wylt lerne
And ride forth by richesse · and reste nouȝt þer-Inne
For if þou couplest þe þer-with · to clergie comestow neuere
And also þe likerous launde · þat leccherie hattes
Leue it on þy left half · a large myle and more
Til yow come to a court · kepe wel þy tonge
For lesynges and lither speche · and likerouse drynkes
¶ Thanne shaltow se sobere · and symplete of speche
Þat ech wiȝt be in wille · his wit þe to shewe
And thus shaltow come to clergie · þat kan many thynges
Say hym this taken · I sette hym to scole
And þat I grete wel his wif · for I wroot hir many bokes
And sette hir to sapience · and to þe Sauter glose
Logik I lerned hir · and many other lawes
And al þe musons in musik · ymade y made hir to knowe
¶ Plato þe poet I putte hym first to book
Aristotle and other ma · to argue I taughte
Gramer fo fo[r] cildire I garte firste write
And bete hem with a wande · but if þey walde lerne
Of alkynes craftes · I controued tooles
Of capentrie ca[r]pentrie of keruers · and compassed masons
And lerned hem leuel and lyne · thouȝ I loke dymme
¶ Theologie has tene tene[d][^a70] me · ten score tymes
The more I muse þer-Inne · þe mistier it semeth
And þe depper I deuyne · þe derker me it thynkes
It no sentens for-sothe · for to subtile Inne
A ful lyght thyng it were · if þat loue nere
And for it let best by loue · I loue it beter
For þer þat loue is leder · ne lakkes no grace
loke þou loue lely · if þe likes do wel
For do-bet and do-best · ben of loues kynne
In other science it seiþ · I seigh it in caton.
Qui simulat verbis nec corde est fidus amicus
Tu quoque fac simile sic ars deluditur arte
Who-so gloses as gilours done · do hem þe same
And so shaltow fals folk · and feith-les bigile
This catons kennyng to clerkes þat he lereth
And theologie teches nouȝt so · who-so takes yeme
And kenneth vs þe contrarie · ayeins Catons wordes
For he bid vs be as brethren · and bid for oure enemys
And louen hem þat lyen on vs · and lene hem whan hem nedes
And also do good ayeins yuel · god hym-self it biddes
dum tempus habemus operemur bonum ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fidei[^213]
¶ Poule preched þe pepile þat perfitnesse loued
To d o goode for goddesloue goddes loue · and gifen men þat asked
And nameliche to swich þat sweth oure bileue
And al þat lakkes vs and lies vs · god teches vs to loue
And nouȝt to greue hem þat greue vs · god þat forbedes
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam & cetera.
¶ For-þy loke þou loue · as longe as þow durest
For is no conscience vndir sonne · so souereigne for þe soule
¶ And astronomye is and harde thyng · and yuel for to
G
Geometrie and[^214] Geomesie is gynful of speche[^215]
Who-so thynkes werche with þo two · thryues ful late
For sorcerie is þe souereigne book · þat to þe science langes
¶ yet ar þer fibiche in forcers · of fel men makynge
¶ Experimentz of alkenamye · the pepile to deceyue[^216]
If þow thynk to do wel · del þer-with neuere
Alle þise sciens · I my-self · sotiled and ordeigned
And founded hem formest · folk to deceyue
¶ Telle clergie þis tokens · and scripture after
I conseille þe kyndely · to knowe what is do-wel
¶ I saied graunt mercy madame and mekelich hir grete
And went wightly a-way · with-oute more lettyng
And til I come to clergie · I kouþe neuere stynte
And grette þe goodman wel · as studye me taughte
And afterwardes þe wif · and worschiped hem bathe
And tolde hem þe toknes · þat me taughte were
Was neuere mane vp-on þis grounde · syn god made þe worlde[^217]
Fairer vnder-fongen · ne frendloker at esse
Þanne my-self sothly · soone so he wiste
Þat I was of wittes hous · and wiþ his dame studie[^218]
I saide to hym sothly · þat sent was I thider
do-wel and do-bet · and do-best to lerne
¶ It is a comune lif quod clergie · on haly chirche to bileue
With alle þe articles of þe faith · þat falleth to be knowe
And þat his to bileue lely · bothe lered and lewed
On þe grete god · þat gynnyng had neuere
And{CHECK MS} on þe sothfast sone · that saued man-kynde
Fro the dedly deth · and the deuels power
Thurȝ þe help of þe haly gast · þe which goost is of bothe
Thre persones · and nought in plurel noumbre.
For al is bot oon god · and elkon is god hym-selue
Deus pater deus filius deus spiritus sanctus
God þe fader god þe sone · god holy gast of bathe
Makers of mankynde · and of bestes bothe
¶ Austyn the olde · here-of made bookes
And hym-self ordeigned it · to sadde vs in bileue
vij

[Check Benson and Blanchfield.]

Who was his auctour · alle þe foure euaungelistes
And crist cleped hym-self so þe euaungelist bereth witnesse
Ego in patre & pater in me est · & qui videt me videt & patrem meum[^219]
· Nota ·
¶ Alle þe clerkes vndir criste · ne kouþe þis assoille
But þus bilongeth to bileue · to men þat wol dowel
For had neuere freek fyn wit · the faith to despute
Ne man had no merite · myȝte it ben yproued
Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio prebet experimentum
¶ than is do-bet to suffre · for þy soule sake
Al that þe book bides · by haly cherche techyng
And that is man by þi miȝt · for mercies sake
Look þou werche it in werke · þat thy werke shewes
Swich as þou semest in sight · be in assay yfounde
Appare quod es vel esto quod appares
And lat nobody be · by þy lernynge bigiled
But swich in þy soule · as thou semest with-oute
¶ thanne is do-best to be bolde · to blame þe gilty
Sithen thow seste thy-self · as in soule clene
And blame þou neuere body · and thow be blame-worthy
Si culpare velis culpabilis esse cauebis
Dogma tuum sordet cum te tua culpa remordet
¶ God in þe gospel grymly reproueth
Alle þat lakkeþ any lif · and lakkes han hem-selue
Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui trabem in &cetera
Why mouestow thy moode · for a moote in thy brothers eye
Sithen a beme in þyn owne · a-blyndeth þy-selue
Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo & cetera
Which lettes þe to look lasse oþer more
¶ I rede eche a blynde bosard · do boote to hym-selue
For abbotes and priours · and al manere of prelates
And persons and parisshe prestes · þat preche shulde and teche
Al manere of men · to amenden be hir miȝte
This text was tolde yow · to be ware er ye taughte
Þat ye were swich as ye saide · to salue with other
For goddes word wolde nouȝt be loste · for þat werches euere
If it auailled nouȝt þe comune · it miȝte auaille yow
¶ And it semes now sothly · to þe worldes sight
Þat goddes word worches nouȝt · ond lerd ne lewed
But in swich manere · as marc menes in þe gospel
Dum cecus ducit cecum · ambo in foueam cadunt
¶ lewed men may liken yow · þat þe beme lith in youre eighen[^220]
And þe festu is fallen · for yowre defaute
In alle manere men · thurȝ mased preestes
Þe bibile bers witnesse · þat al þe folke of Israel
Bittere bouȝte þe giltes · of two badde prestes
· Nota ·
Offyn and fynees for hir couetise ·
Archa dei myshapped and Ely brak his nekke
For-thi correctours clawes her-on · and corectes first youre-seluen[^221]
And thanne mowe ye safly saye · as duid d[a]uid made þe sauter
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam[^222]
Than shal borel clerkes be abasshed · to blame yow or to greue
And carpen nouȝt as thay do now · and calle yow doumbe houndes
Canes non valentes latrare
And dred to wrathe yow in any word · youre werkmanship to lette
And be prestier at youre preier · than a pounde of nobles
And al for youre holynesse · haue ye this in herte[^223]
¶ In scole ther is a scorne · but if a clerke wol lerne
And grete loue and likyng · for ech of hem loues other
Nota ·
¶ And now is religioun a rider a Romer by stretes
A leder of louedayes · and a londe bygger
A priker on a palfrey · fro maner to manoir
And heep of houndes at his ers · as he a lorde were
And bot if his knaue knele · þat shal hym coppe brynge
He loures on hym and axet who tauȝt hym curteisie
Litel hadde lordes to doon · to gyue londe fr am hir eires
To religious þat haue no ryghte · thouȝ it rayne on hir autires
¶ In many place ther thay persons beth · be hem-self at ese
Of þe pouere haue þei no pitee · and þat is his charite
And þey leten hem as lordes · hir lande liþ sa braede
¶ And thar shal come a kyng and confesse yow religiouses
And bete yow as bibile telles · for brekyng of youre reule
And amende monial Monkes and chanouns
And putte hem to hir penaunce · ad pristinum statum ire
And barons and erles beten hem · þurȝ Beatus vir techyng
Þat hire barnes claymen and blame yow foule
Hijs in curribus & hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt & cetera .
¶ And thanne freeres in hir fraitour · shul fynden a keye
Of constantyns tresore · in wiche is þe catel
Þat Gregories god-children · haue yuel despended
Thabbott of Abingdon

[written on two lines with break after "of."]

nota ·
¶ And þan shal þe Abbot of Abyngton and al hise issu for euere
Haue a knokke of a kyng and in-curable þe wounde
Þat þis worþ soth · seke ye þat ofte ouersee þe bibile
Quomodo cessauit exactor quieuit tributum contriuit dominus baculum impiorum & virgam dominancium credencium plaga insabili insa[na]bili
An er þat kyng come · Caym shal awake
And dowel shal dygen hym a-doun · and destruye his miȝt
thanne is dowel and do bet quod I dominus and knyȝthode
I nel nouȝt scorne quod scripture but if scryueyns lye
kynghode a[^224] knyȝthode · by nouȝt I kan awayte
Helpes nouȝt to heuenwarde · one heres ende
Ne riches riȝt nouȝt · ne reaute of lordes
Poule proues it impossibile · riche men haue heuene
Salamon sayes also · þat siluer is worst to louye
Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam.
And caton kennes vs to coueiten nouȝt · but as it nedes
Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam
And patriarkes and prophetes and poetes boþe
Writen to wissen vs to wille no richesse
And praised pouerte with pacience · þe apostles beres witnesse
· nota ·
that thay haue heritage in heuene · and by true riȝte
Þer riche men no riȝt clayme · bot of reuthe and grace
¶ Contra quod I by crist · þat kan I reherce
And proue it by peter · and by poule both[^225]
Þat is in extremis quod scripture among sarasyns an Iewes
Þay mow be saued so · and þat is oure bileue
Þat an vncristene in þis cas · may cristen an haythen
And for is lele bileue · whahan he þe lif tynes
Haue þe heritage of heuene · as any man cristene
And cristen men with-outen more · may nouȝt com to heuene
For þat criste for cristen men dede · and confermed þe lawe
Þat who-so wolde and wilnes · with criste to arise
Si cum Christo resurexistis & cetera
He sholde louye and lene[^226] · and þe lawe fulfille
Þat is loue þy lord god · leuest of alle thynges.
And after alle cristyne creatures in comune ech man other
And þus bilonges to loue · þat leues to be saued
And but we do þus indede · or þe day of dome
It shal bisitten vs ful soure · þe siluer þat we kepen
And oure bakkes cloþes þat mothe-eten ben · and seen beggers ga naked
Or delite vs in wyn and wilfoule · and wote any in defaute
nota ·
For euery cristen creature · schulde be kynde til other[^227]
God bedes boþe heiȝ and lowe · þat no man hurte other
And saide sle nouȝt þat is sembland · to my owen liknesse
But if I sende þe somme tokene · and sayde non mecaberis
I slee nouȝt but suffre · and alle for þe beste[^228]
For I shal punisshe hem in purgatorie · but mercy it lette
¶ This is a longe lesson quod I · and litel am I þe wiser
Wher do-wel is or do-bet · derklich ye shewen
Many tales ye tellen · þat theologie lerneth
And þat I man made was · and my name yentred
In þe legende of lif · longe er I were
Or elles vnwriten for wikkednesse · as holy witnesse
Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit & cetera .
I leue it wel by oure lord quod I · and on no lettrure better
For salamon the sage þat sapience taughte
God gaf hym grace of wit · and al hise goodes after[^229]
He demed wel and wisly · as haly writ telles
Aristotle and he who wissed men better
Maistires þat of goddes mercy · techen men and prechen
Of hir wordes þey thay wissen vs · for visest as in hir tyme
And as holy cherche · hold hem boþe ydampned
Nota ·
¶ And if I sholde werke by his wekes · to wynne me heuene
that for hir werkes and wit · now wones in pyne
Than wrouȝte I vnwisly · what-so-euere þe preche
And of fele witty in faiþ litil ferly I haue
Þough hir goost be vngracious god for to plese
For many men on þis molde · more sette hir hertes
In good þan in god · forthy hem grace failleth
And þe most meschif · whan þey schul lif lete
As salamon dide and swich oþer · þat shewed grete wittes
And hir wordes as holy writ seiþ · was euere þe contrarie
For-þy wise witted men · and wel ylettred clerkes
As þey sayen hem-self senden don þer-after
Super cathedra moisy & cetera.
· Nota ·
¶ And I wene it worth of many · as was in Noes tyme
tho he shope þat shippe · of shides and bordes
Was neuere wriȝt saued þat wrouȝt þer-on · ne other werkman elles[^230]
But briddes and bestes · and þe blissed Noe
And his wif with his sones and also hir wyues[^231]
¶ God lene[^232] it far nouȝt so · by folk · þat þe faith techen
Of holy kyrce þat herberwe is · and goddes hous to saue
And shilde vs fro shame þer-Inne · as Noe ship dide bestes
And men þat maiden it · amidde þe flode adrugend[^a71][^233]
The culorum of þis clause · curatours is to mene
That be carpenters holy cherche · to make for cristes owen bestes
Homines & Iumenta saluabis domine &cetera[^234]
¶ On good friday I fynde · a felon was I-saued
that had lyued al his lif · wiþ lesynges and with thefte
And for he biknowe on þe crosse · and to criste schroue hym
He was sonner saued þan · Seint Iohan þe baptiste
And er Adam or I-sey · or any of þe prophetes
Þat had yleyen with lucifer · many lange yeres
A Robber was raunceoned · rather than thay alle
Withouten any penaunce of purgatorie to perpetuel blisse
¶ And marie magdaleyne what womman dide worse
Or who wors than dauyd that vries deth conspired
Or poule the apostle · þat no pitte hadde
Muche cristen kynde to kulle to deeth
And now be þise as souereignes · and seintes in heuene
tho þat wrouȝt wikkedest in world · þe þ[o] þey were
And þo þat wisely wordeden · and writen many bookes
Of wit and of wisdom · with dampned soules wonnes
That Salamon saiþ I trowe be soth · and certein of vs alle
Siue Iusti atque sapientes & opera eorum in manu dei sunt &cetera
¶ Th ay er willy and wel libbyng · and hir werkes ben yhudde
In þe hondes of almiȝty · god and he woot þe sothe
Wharfore loue a man worþ alowed þer and hise lele werkes
Or elles for his euyl wille · and enuye of herte
And be allowed as he lyued · so lither men knowes good
And wher-by wite men which is whit · if al þyng blake were
And who were a good man · but if þer were som shrewe
hij
For-thy lyue we forth with lither men · thay ben few goode
For qant oportet cometh in place il nad que pati
And he þat may · alle amende · haue mercy of vs alle
· Nota ·
For sothest word þat euere god saide · þo he saide Nemo bonus[^235]
Clergie þo of cristes mouthe · comended was litel
For he saide to saynt peter · and to swich as he loued
dum steterites ante Reges & presides &cetera .
Though ye come bifore kynges · and clerkes of þe lawe
Bees nouȝt abassed · for I shal be in youre mouthes
And gyfue yow wit and wille · and konnyng to conclude
hem alle þat ayeins yow of cristendom disputen
¶ Dauid makes mencion he spake amonges kynges
And miȝte no kyng ouer -come hym and be konyng of speche[^236]
But wit ne wisdom · ne wan neuere þe maistre
Whan man was at meschief · with-oute þe more grace
The douȝtiest doctour and diuinour of þe trinite
Was austyn þe olde · and heieste of þe foure
Saide þus in a sermon · I seigh it writen ones
Eecce Ecce ipsi ydiote rapiunt celum vbi nos sapientes in in-ferno
¶ And is to mene on Englissh{Barred} · to more and to losse
Aren non oþer raþer rauysshed · fro þe riȝt bileue
Thanne ar þis konnyng clerkes · þat konne many bookes
Ne non soner saued · ne sadder of bileue
thanne plowmen and pastours · and other comune laborers
Souters and shipherdes · and swich lewed Iottes
Percen with a pater noster þe paleys of heuene
And passen purgatorie penaunles at hir hennes partynge
In-to the blisse of paradis for hir pure bileue
That in-parfitly here knewe · and ek lyued
¶ ye men knowe clerkes · þat han cursed þe tyme
· nota ·
Þat euere þey kouþe on þe book · more than · Credo in deum &cetera
And principaly hir pater noster many persone has wisshed
¶ I see ensamples my-self · and so may many other
that seruantz þat seruen lordes · selde falle in arrerage
But þo þat kepes þe lordes catel · clerkes and reues
Riȝt so lewed men · and of litel knowyng
Selde falle thay so foule · and so fer in synne
As clerkes of haly kirke · þat kepen cristes tresoure
the which is mannes saule to saue · as god saies in þe gospel.[^237]
Ite vos in vineam meam &cetera ·

[^a69: troue (C) | contreue (Most mss)]

[^a70: tene tene[d] (C) | tened (Most other mss)]

[^a71: adrugend (C) | adreynten (Most other B mss)]

[^190: C.10.1: The three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes.]

[^191: C.10.19: kan troue desaytise: "know how to devise schemes."]

[^192: C.10.26: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "Inique agunt" in a red box to the right of C.10.27.]

[^193: C.10.38: KD.10.36 is omitted.]

[^194: CHECK Images to correct damage tag if necessary. ???]

[^195: Squiggle over "o."]

[^196: Check plurals in "thisse" and "þis."]

[^197: C.10.57: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nesse" in a red box below this line.]

[^198: Further research, possibly on-site, is needed to determine direction of change.]

[^199: C.10.64: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nes" in a red box to the right of C.10.65.]

[^200: Scribal hyphen between the two n's.]

[^201: C.10.72: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "silue" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.10.73.]

[^202: Scribal hyphen after "campis."]

[^203: C.10.74: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "in herte" in a red box to the right of C.10.75.]

[^204: C.10.81: KD.10.79-80 are omitted.]

[^205: Check manuscript.]

[^206: C.10.122: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "des" in a red box to the right of C.10.123.]

[^207: Scribal hyphen between r and d.]

[^208: C.10.131: KD.10.128-129a are omitted.]

[^209: Overwrite?]

[^210: C.10.145: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "grounde" in a red box to the right of C.10.146.]

[^211: Check ms for erasure?]

[^212: C.10.149: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "loute" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.10.150.]

[^213: C.10.207: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "cos fidei" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.10.208.]

[^214: C.10.217: What we have called an erasure might with equal probability have been called smudging.]

[^215: Check whether the smudge is an erasure and the marginal G is intended as a correction.]

[^216: C.10.221: KD.10.218 is omitted.]

[^217: C.10.233: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "worlde" in a red box to the right of C.10.234.]

[^218: C.10.236: KD.10.234-235 are omitted.]

[^219: C.10.255: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing meum in a red box to the right of C.10.256.]

[^220: C.10.293: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "eighen" in a red box to the right of C.10.294.]

[^221: C.10.300: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "seluen" in a red box to the right of C.10.301.]

[^222: C.10.302: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tuam" in a red box to the right of C.10.303.]

[^223: C.10.308: KD.10.296-308 are omitted.]

[^224: C.10.340: a for and.]

[^225: C.10.354: KD.10.351 is omitted.]

[^226: C.10.364: This word could be read either as lene or leue.]

[^227: C.10.372: KD.10.369 is omitted in manuscripts C and B.]

[^228: C.10.376: KD.10.374 is omitted.]

[^229: C.10.387: KD.10.386 is omitted.]

[^230: C.10.408: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "man elles" in a red box to the right of C.10.409.]

[^231: C.10.410: KD.10.410 is omitted.]

[^232: Need lexical note that this could be lene or leue?]

[^233: C.10.414: Adrugend: It is difficult to determine what the scribe intended. One might suspect derivation from OE adrugan, but the sense "become dry" is hardly appropriate.]

[^234: C.10.417: KD.10.417-419 are omitted.]

[^235: C.10.466: KD.10.448 is omitted. ***]

[^236: C.10.455: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "speche" in a red box to the right of C.10.456.]

[^237: C.10.481: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "gospel." in a red box to the right of C.10.482.]

¶ Passus vndecimus & [Possible damage.] supra

T Hanne[^238] · scripture s erued[^239] me · and a skille told
And lakked me in latyn · and light by me sette
And seide · Multi multa sciunt & seipsos nesciunt
tho wepte I for wo · and wrat he of hir speche
And in a wyndynge wratthe wex I a-sleep
A merueillous sweuene mette me þanne
that I was rauisshed riȝt þer · and fortune me fette
And to þe lond of longyng · allone she me brouȝte
And in a Mirour þat hiȝte mydlerd · sho made me biholde
Sithen she saide to me · here miȝtow se wondres
And knowe þat þow coueitest · and com þer-to paraunter
¶ Than had fortune folwyng hir · two faire damesels
Concupiscencia carnis men called þe elder maide
And couetise of eighes · called was þat other
Pride of parfit lyuyng pursued hem both
And bad me for my contenaunce · acounte clergie lighte
Concupiscencia carnis · colled me aboute þe nekke
And saide þou art yowng and yepe · and hast yeres Inow
For to lyue longe · and ladyes to louye
And in þis Mirour þow miȝte se mirthes ful manye
Þat lede þe wyl to lykyng al þy lyf-tyme
¶ the seconde saide þ þ[e] same · I shal swe s[e]we þy wille
Til þow be a lord and haue londe · lete þe I nylle
Þat I ne shal folowe þy felawship · if fortune it like
He shal fynd me his frende quod fortune þer-after
Þe freek þat folweþ my wille · failled neuere blisse
¶ Than was ther oon that highte · Elde þat heuy was
Man quod he if I mete wiþ þe · by marie of heuene
thow shalt fynde fortune þe faille · at þy moste nede
And concupiscencia carnis clene þe forsake
Bitterlich shaltow banne þann · bothe þe dayes and nyghtes[^240]
Coueitise of eigh · þat euere þou it knewe
And pride of parfit libbyng · to muche peril þe brouȝt
¶ ye recche þe neuere quod recchelesnesse · stoed forþ in ragged cloþes[^241][^242]
Folowe forþ þat fortune wole · þow hast wel fare to elde
A man may stoupe tyme ynough · whan he shal tyne þe crowne
Homo proponit quod a poete and plato he hiȝte
And deus disponit quod he · lat god don his wille
If treuth wol witnesse it be wel do · fortune to folowe
Concupiscencia carnis ne coueitise of eighes
Ne shal nat greue þe gretly · ne bigile þe but þou wolt
¶ ye fare wel phippe quod faunteltee · and forþ gan me drawe[^243]
Til concupiscencia carnis acorded al my werkes
¶ Allas eyghe quod Elde and holynesse bothe
That wit shal torne to wrecchednesse · for wille to haue his likyng[^244]
Coueitise of eighes · conforted me sone after.
And folow me fourty wynter · or fifty and more
Þat of dowel ne do-bet · no deynte me thynke
I had no lykyng ne no luste · of hem ouȝt to knowe
Coueitise of eighes · cam ofter in mynde
And do-wel or do-bet · among my dedes alle[^245]
And saide haue no conscience how þou come to good
Go confesse þe to some frere · and shewe hym þy synnes[^246][^247]
For whiles fortune his þy frende · freres wol þe louye
And fecche þe to hir fraternite · and for þe biseke
To hir priour prouincial · a pardon for to haue
And pray for þe pol by pol · if þw þ[o]w be pecuniosus
¶ Set pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis
By wissyng of þis wenche I wrouȝte · hir wordes were so swete[^248]
Til I forgate youthe · and yarne in-to elde
And than was fortune my fo · for al hir faire biheste
And pouerte pursued me · and putte me lowe
And þo fonde I þe frere · aferd and flettyng bathe
Ayeins oure first forward · for I saide I nolde
Be buried at hir hous · but at my parissh[^249] chirche
For I herde ons how conscience it tolde
that þer a man were cristynde · by kynde he schulde be buried
Or wher he were parisshen · riȝt þer he sholde be grauen
· nota ·
¶ And for I saide thus to freres · a fool they me helden
And loued me the lasse · for my leale speche
And yet I cried on my confessour · that held hym-self so konyng
By my faith frere quod I · ye faren like this wowers
That wedde no widowes · but for to welde hir goodes
Right so by the rode · roughte þe neuere
Where my body were buried · by so ye hadde the siluer
I haue muche merueill of yow · and so hath many other
Why youre couent coueiteth · to confesse and to burie
Rather than to baptize barnes · that beth catekonnelyns
Baptisyng and buriyng hath be ful nedful
And muche more meritorie · me thyngket is to baptize
For a baptized man · may as[^250] maistires telles
Thurgh contricioun come to the highe heuene
Sola contrico delet peccatum
¶ And a barne with-outen bapteme · may nought be saued
Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua &cetera .
Lok ye lettred men · wheher I lye or nouȝt
And leaute lok on me . and I loured after
Wherfore lourestow quod leaute · and loked on me harde
If I dorst quod I amonges men · this metels auowe
Bi petir and by paule quod he · and took bothe to witnese
Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo set publice argue illos
They wol allegge also quod I · and by þe gospel prouen
¶ Nolite iudicare quemquam
¶ And where-of serueth law quod leaute · if no lif vndirtoook it
Falsnesse and faytrie · for somwhat the gospel saide ·
Non oderis fratrem and in the sauter · saith · Dauid the prophete
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis &cetera
It is licitum for lewed men · to segge the sothe
If hem liketh and lest · ech lawe it graunteth
Excepte persones and prestes · and prelates of haly cherche
It falleth nought for that folk · no tales to telle
Though the tale were trewe · and it touched synne
Thyng that al þe worlde woot · wherfore schuldestow spare
And reden it in rethorik to arate dedly synne
And be neuere the first · the defaute to blame
Though thow see yuel say it nought · first be sory it nere amended
And thyng thas is priue · publice thow it neuer
Nether for loue laude it nouȝt  ne lakke it for enuye
¶ Parum lauda vitupera parcius
He sayes sothe quod scripture · and skipte an heigh and preched
And the matere that he moued · if lewed men it knewe
The lasse as I leue · louyen it thay wolde[^251]
This was hir teme and hir tixt · I tok ful god hede
Multi to a mangerie · and to the mete were sompned
And whan the pepile was plener comen · the vnpynned the gate
And plukked in pauci priueliche · and lete the remenaunt go roome
Al for tene of hir texte · trembled myn herte
And in were gan I wax · and with my-self dispute
Whetther I were chosen or nowth · on holy chirche I thoughte
That vnderfange me at the fount · for oon of goddes chosen
For crist cleped vs alle · come if we walde
Sarazenes and scismatikes · and sa he dide the Iewes
O vos omnes scicientes · venite & cetera
And bad hem souk for synne · saufly at is breste
And drynk boote for bale · broke it who-so myghte
¶ Than may al cristen come quod I · and claym ther entree
By the blood that he boughte vs with · and thurgh baptisme after[^252]
Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit & cetera
For though a cristen man coueited · his cristedom to forsake
Rightfulliche to reuþe · no reson it wolde
For may no cherche chartre make · ne his catel selle
With-outen leue of his lord · no lawe wol it graunte
And he may renne in arrerage · and rowme so fro home
And as a renyed caytif · recchesly aboute
And reson shal reken with hym · and caste hym in arrarege
And puten after in prison[^253] · in purgatorie to brenne
For his arrerage rewarde hym ther · to the day of dome
But if contricioun wol come · and crye by h ys lyue
Mercy for hise mysdedes · with mouthe or with herte
¶ That is sothe quod scripture may no synne lette
Mercy alle to amende · and meknesse hir folowe
For thay bee as houre bookes telles · a-boue goddes werkes
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius
· nota ·
¶ Ye bawe for bookes quod oon · was broken out of helle
Hight Troianus had ben a trewe knyght · took witnesse at þe pope[^254]
How he was ded and dampned · to dwellen in peyne
For an vncristen creature · clerkes witen the sothe
That al clergie vndir crist · myghte cracche fro helle
But onliche loue and leaute and my lawful domes
¶ Gregory wist this wel · and wilneth to my saule
Saluacion for sothnesse · that he seigh my werkes
And after that he wepte · and wilned me graunted were
Grace with-outen any bede biddyng · his boone was vndirf ange
And I saued as ye may se · with-outen syngen of masses
By loue and by lernyng · of my lyuyng in trouthe
Broughte me fra bytter peyne · there no biddyng myghte
· Nota ·
¶ Lo ye lordes what leaut dide · by an Emperour of Rome
That was an vncristen creature · as clerkes fynde in bokes
Nought thorugh prayer of a pape · but for his pure treuthe
Was that sarasen saued as saynt Gregorie bereth witnesse
¶ Wel aughte þe lordes that lawes kepe thys lesson haue in mynde[^255]
And on Troianus trouthe to thenk · and do treuthe to the pypile[^256]
Nota
Law with-outen loue quod Troianus lay ther a beene
Or any science vndir sonne ; the seuene artz and alle
But thay be lerned for oure lordes loue ; lost is al the tyme
For no cause to cacche siluer ther-by · ne to be called a maister
But al for loue of oure lorde · and the better to loue the pepile
For saynt Iohan sayde it ; and soth aren his wordes
Qui non diligit manet in morte
¶ Who-so loueth nouȝt leue me · he leueth in deth deynge
And that alle manere men enemys and frendes
Louen hir aither other · and lene hym as hir-seluen.
Who-so leneth nouȝt he loues nouȝt · god woot the sothe
And comande Ilk creature · to confourme hym to louye
And souereigneliche pore pepile · and hir enemys after
For hem that haten vs · is oure merite to loue
And pouere pepile to plese hir prayers may vs helpe
For oure Ioie and oure hele Ihesu crist of heuene
In a pouere mannes apperaille · pursueth vs euere
And lokes on vs in hir liknesse · and þat with louely chere
To knowe vs by oure kynde herte ; and castyng of oure eighe
Wheither we loue the lordes here · bifore oure lorde of blisse
And excited vs by the euaungelie · that whan we maken festes
We shal nat cale oure kyne þer-to · ne noon kynnes riche
Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicos
¶ And calles the carful ther-to · the croked and the pore
For oure frendes wol fenden yow · and fonde yow to quyte
youre festynge and youre faire giftes · Ilke frende quiteth so other[^257]
That gyues hym met or monei · and loues hem for my sake[^258]
For the beste ben som riche · and som beggers and pore
For alle are we cristes creatures · and of coffres riche
And brethren as of blood ; as wel beggers as erles
For on caluarie of cristes blood · cristendom gan sprynge
And blody brethren we bicom ther · of a body ywonne
As quasi modo geniti and gentil men ech oon
No begger ne boye amang vs · but if it synne made
Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati
¶ In the alde lawe · as holy letter telles
Mennes sonnes men called vs echone
Of Adames issue and Eue ay til god mand man deyed
And after his resurreccion Redemptor was his name
And we his bretheren thurgh hym bought · bath riche and pouere
For-thy loue we as leue bretheren shal · and Ilk man laughe vp onother[^259]
And if that Ilk man may for-bere · amende ther it nedes
And euery man help other · for hennes shal we alle
Alter alterius onera portate & cetera .
And be we nouȝt vnkynde of oure catel · ne of oure konnyng nouther
For not no man[^260] how it is · to be by nome fra bathe
For-thy lak no lif other · though he more latyn knowe
Ne vndirnym nouȝt foule · is non with-outen faute
For what-euere clerkes carpe · of cristendome or elles
Crist to a commune womman · Saide in comune at the feste
That fides sua shuld sauen hir · and saluen of hir synnes
¶ Thanne is bileue a lele helpe · a-boue logik or lawe
Of logik ne of lawe · in legenda sanctorum
Is litel alowance made · but if bileue hem helpe
For it is ouerlonge · or logik any lesson assoille
And lawe is loth to loue · but if he take siluer
Bath logik and lawe · that loues nought to lye
I conseille alle cristen men · cleue nought ther-on to sore
For some wordes I fynde writen · were of feithes techyng
That saued synful men · as saynt Iohan bereth witnesse
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis
¶ For-thy lerne we the lawe of loue · as oure lorde taughte
And as saynt Gregorie s aide for mannes saule helthe
Melius est scrutari scelera nostra quam naturas rerum
¶ Why I moeue this matere · is moost the pouere
Nota
For in his liknesse oure lorde · oft has ben knawen
Witnesse in the Passe weke · whan he yede to Emaus
Clephas knewe hym nought · that he criste were
For his pouere apparalle · and pilgrymes wedes
Til he blissed and brake · the brede that thay eten
So by hise werkes thay wisten · that he was Ihesu
And by clothyng thay knewe hym nouȝt · ne by carpyng of tonge[^261]
¶ And al was in ensampile · to vs synful here
That we shulde be lawe · and louelich of speche
· Nota ·
And apparaille vs nouȝt to proudly · for pilgrymes er we alle
And in apparaille of a pouere man · and pilgrymes liknesse
Many tyme god has · ben mette · among nedy pepile
There neuere segge mane hym sawe · in secte of the riche
Saynt Iohan and other sayntes · ware seyn pouere clothyng
And as poure pilgrymes prayden mennes goddes
· nota. ·
Ihesu criste on a Iewes dowghter aligt · gentil womman though she were[^262]
Was a pure pouere maide · and to a pouere man wedded
Martha on marie magdaleyne · and huge playnte sho made[^263]
And to oure sauour self · sayde this wordes.
Domine non est tibi cura quod soror mea reliquit me solam &cetera
And hastiliche god answerd · and aytheres wil folowed
Both in marthas and in Maries as mathew beres witnesse[^264]
And pouerte god pute be-fore and praysed[^265] it þe better
Maria optimam partem elegit que non auferetur ab ea
¶ And alle wise that eure were · by aught I kan aspie
Praisen pouerte for beste lif · if pacience it folowe
And bathe better and blisseder · by many folde than ricchesse[^266]
And though it be soure to soffre · ther comes swete after
As on a walnot with-outen · is a bittre barke
And after that bitter barke · be the shelle aweye
Is a kernel of confort · kynde to restore
So after pouerte or penaunce · pacientlich ytake
For it maketh man to haue mynde in god and a grete wille[^267]
To wepe and to wele bidde wher-of wexeth mercye
Of wich crist is a kernell[^268] · to conforte the soule
And wel sikerer he slepes · the man that is pouere
And lasse he dredes deth · and in derke to be robbed
Than he that is right riche · reson beres witnesse
Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris
Al-though salamon saide · as folk sees in þe bibile
Diuicias nec paupertates & cetera.
Wiser than salamon was · bereth witnesse and taughte
That parfit pouerte · was · was no posessioun to haue
And lif most likyng to god ; and luk beres witnesse
Si vis perfectus esse vade & vende & cetera
¶ And is to many to men · that on this molde lyuen
Who-so wol be pouere parfit · moot possession forsake
Or selle it as sayes the book · and the siluer dele
To beggers that gaen and begge · and bidde good for goddesloue goddes loue[^269][^270]
For failled neuere man mete · that mygtful god serued
As dauid saies in the sauter · to swich that ben in wille
To seruen god goodlich · ne greues hym no penaunce
Nichil inpossibile volenti
Ne lakketh neuere lynnen ne wollen
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono
· Nota ·
If preestes were parfit · thay walde no siluer take
For masses ne for matyns · nouȝt hir meet of vsurers
Ne nouther kirtil ne cote · theygh thay for calde sholde deye[^271]
And thay hir deuoir dide as dauid says in þe sauter
Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam &cetera · spera in deo &cetera
Spekes of prestes that haue no spendyng siluer
That if thay trauaille trewly and trist in god almyghty
thaym shal lakke no liflode · nouther wollen ne lynnen
And the title thay take ordersby orders by · til ye ben auaunced
Than nedes naught yow take siluer for masses þat ye synge
For he that took yow youre titile · Shal take yow youre wages[^272]
Of the bisshop that blisses yow · if þat ye ben worthy.
For made neuer kyng no knyght · but he had catel to spende
As bifel for a knyght · or fande hym for his strenthe
It is a carful knyght · and of caytif kynges makynges
That has no land ne lynage riche · negood ne good loos of hise handes[^273]
The same I say for sothe · by alle swiche preestes
That haue nouther konnyng ne kynne · bot a crown oon
And a titile a taile of nouȝt · to his liflod at meschief
He has more bileue as I leue · to cacche thurgh his crownn
Cure than for konnyng or knowyng · for clene of berynge
I haue wonder and why · and wherfore the bisshop
Makes swich prestes · that lewed men bitrayen
¶ A charter is chalengeable · bi-for a chife Iustice
If false latyn be in that letter · the lawe it impugnes
Or peynted parentrelynarie · parcells ouer-kipped ouer-[s]kipped
The gome that gloses so charters · for a gooky is holden
So is it a goky by god · that in his gospel failleth
Or in masse or matynes · makes any defaute
Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus & cetera.
And also in the sauter sayes dauid to ouerkippers
Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam rex terre deus Israhael psallite sapienter
¶ The bisshop shal be blamed bifor god a I leue
That crowned swich goddes knyȝtes · þat konnes nouȝt sapienter
Synge ne psalmes rede · ne saye a masse of the daye
And neuere nouther is blameles · the bisshop ne chapeleyn
For here either is endited and that of Ignorancia
Non excusat Episcopos nec ydiotes prestes
¶ This lokyng on lewed prestes · has done me lepe fra pouertee
Which I praise there pacience · is more parfit than richesse
¶ And muche more in metyng thus with me gan oon dispute
And slepyng I seigh alle this · and sithen cam kynde
And called me by name · and bad me nymen hede
And thurgh the wondires of this worlde · wit for to take
And on a mountaigne that myddelerd · highte as me than thoughte[^274]
I was fet forth · by ensampel to knowe
Thorugh Ilk a creature and kynde · my creatour to louye.
I seigh the sonne and the see · and the sande after
And where that briddes and bestes · by hir make thay yeden
Wilde wormes in wodes · and wonderful foules
With flekked fetheres · and of fele coloures
Man and his make · I · myghte both biholde
Pouertee and plentee · bathe pees and werre
Blisse and bale · bathe I seigh atones at ones
And how men token mede · and mercy refused
Reson I seigh sothely · suwen alle bestes
In etynge in drynkynge · and in engendrynge of kynde
And after cours of concepcioun · noon took kepe of other
And whan thay had r yde in Roteye-tyme anon right ther-after
Males drowen hem to males · a morwenges by hem-selue
And in euenynges also · the males fro femeles
Ther was cowe ne cowkynde · that conceyued hadde
That walde belwe after b olles · ne boor after sow
Bathe hors and houndes · and alle other bestes
Medled nouȝt with hir makes · that with fole were
¶ Briddes I bihelde · that in buskes made nestes
Had neuere wye wit · to worche the leste
I had wonder at whom · and where the pye lerned
To laye the stikkes · in wich he layes and bredes
Ther nys wright as I wene · sholde worche hir neste to paye
If any mason made a molde ther-to · muche wonder it were
¶ And yet me merueilled more · how many other briddes
H ydden and heleden · hir egghes ful derne
In marreys and mores · for men shuld hem nouȝt fynde
And hydden hire egges · whan thay there fro wente
For fere of other foules · and for wilde bestes
¶ And some traden hir makes · and on trees bredden
And brouȝte forth hir briddes so · alle aboue the grounde[^275]
And some kackeled I took kepe · how pacokkes bredden
Muche merueilled me what maister thay hadde
And who taughte hem on trees · to tymbre sa heighe
Ther nouther barne ne beste may hir briddes reche
And sithen I loked on the see · and so on the sterres
Many selcouthes I seigh · be nought to say nowe
I seigh floures in the frith · and hir faire coloures
And how among the grene gras · grewe so many hewes
And som sour and som swete · selcouthe me thoughte
Of hir kynde and hir colour · to carpe it ware to lange
· Nota ·
¶ And that moost moeued me · and my mode chaunged
That reson rewarded · and reuled al bestes[^276]
Ne reson hem folwed · and than I rebuked
Reson and right · til hym-seluen saide
I haue wondire of the quod I · that witty art holden
Why thow ne suwest man and his make þat na mysfaut hem folwe[^277]
And reson arated me · and saied recche the neuere
Why I suffyre or nouȝt suffire · thy-self hast nouȝt to donne
Amende þow if þou myȝt · for my tyme is nouȝt to abide
Suffraunce is souereigne vertue · and a swifte vengeaunce
id est gome
Who suffres more than god quod he · na man as I leue
id est mynute
He myȝte amende in a litel while[^278] al that mystandes
And he suffres for some mannes goode · and so is oure better[^279]
The wise and witty · wroot thus in the bible
· Nota ·
de re que te non molestat noli certare
¶ For be a man fair or foule · it falles nouȝt for to lakke
The schap ne the schaft · that god shope hym-selue
For alle that he dide was wel ydoo · as haly writ witnesse
Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat & erant valde bona
And bad euery creature · in his kynde encresce
Al to murthe with man · that maest wa tholde
In foundynge of the flesshe · and of the fende bothe
For man was made of swich a matere · he may nouȝt wel asterte[^280]
That ne som-tyme · hym bitid to folwe his kynde
Caton acordes ther-with · Nemo sine crimine viuit
¶ Tho caughte I colour anoon · and comsed to be aschamde
And a-waked ther-with · wo was me thanne
That I in metels ne myght · more haue I-knawen
Thanne saide I to my-self · and chidde that tyme
Now I woot what do wel is quod I · by god as me thyngkes
And as I caste vp myne eyen · oon loked on me and axed
Of me what thyng it were · I-wis sir I saide
To se muche and suffre more certes quod I is dowel
¶ haddestow suffred he saide · slepyng tho thow were
Thow shuldest haue yknowe þat clergie kan and conceyued more thurȝ resone[^281]
For reson walde haue reherced the right as clergie saide
And for thyn entermetyng here · artow forsake
Philosophus esses si tacuisses
¶ Adam whiles he spak nouȝt · had parad ys at wille
And whan he mameled aboute meet · and entermet hym to knowe
The wisdome of the wit of god · he pute fra blisse
And right sa ferde reson by the · thow with thy rude speche
Lakkedest and losest thyng that longed nought to be doute
Tho had he no likyng · for to lere the more
¶ Pride now and presumpcioun · par -auenture wyl the appele
That clergie thy compaignye · ne kepes nought to suwe
Shal neuere chalangynge ne chidynge · chastie a man so soone
As shal schame and schenden hym · and shape hym to amende
For lat a dronken daffe in a dike falle
lat hym ligge look nouȝt on hym · til hym liste to risse
For though reson rebuked hym thanne · it were but pure synne
And whan nede takes hym vp · for doute lest he sterue
And shame shcrapet hise clathes · and hise schynnes wasshede
Than woot the droken daffe · · where-fore he is to blame
¶ ye saye sothe quod I · Ich haue yseyn it ofte
Ther smytes no thyng so smerte · ne smelles sa soure
As shame ther he shewes hym · for euery man hym shonyes
Why ye wisse me thus quod I · was for I rebuked reson.
Certes quod he that is sothe · and shope hym for to walken
And I aros vp right with that · and folwed hym after
And praide hym of his curteise · to telle me his name

[^238: C.11.1: Three-line ornamental capital in blue ink with red flourishes.]

[^239: Check for an illegible word written above this one? "qustus"?]

[^240: C.11.31 The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nyghtes" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.11.32.]

[^241: C.11.34: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "ged cloþes" in a red box to the right of C.11.35.]

[^242: Scribal hyphen between the two g's.]

[^243: C.11.42: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "drawe" in a red box to the right of C.11.43.]

[^244: C.11.45: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "his likyng" in a red box to the right of C.11.46.]

[^245: KD.11.52 is omitted.]

[^246: C.11.53: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nes" in a red box to the right of C.11.54.]

[^247: Scribal hyphen between two n's.]

[^248: C.11.59: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "so swete" in a red box to the right of C.11.60.]

[^249: Barred.]

[^250: Possible conversion.]

[^251: KD.11.110 is omitted.]

[^252: C.11.127: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "after" in a red box to the right of C.11.128.]

[^253: Otiose curl on p.]

[^254: C.11.145: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "pope" in a red box to the right of C.11.146.]

[^255: C.11.161: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "mynde" in a red box to the right of C.11.162.]

[^256: KD.11.160-170 are omitted.]

[^257: KD.11.195 is omitted.]

[^258: KD.11.197 is omitted.]

[^259: C.11.203: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "onother" in a red box to the right of C.11.204.]

[^260: Small curl-like hyphen connects the o and m.]

[^261: C.11.234: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tonge" in a red box to the right of C.11.235.]

[^262: C.11.243: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "though she were" in a red box to above C.11.243.]

[^263: C.11.245: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "made" in a red box to the right of C.11.246.]

[^264: C.11.249: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nesse" in a red box to the right of C.11.250.]

[^265: C.11.250: There is an otiose expansion mark on the p.]

[^266: C.11.254: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "chesse" in a red box to the right of C.11.253.]

[^267: C.11.260: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "wille" in a red box to the right of C.11.261.]

[^268: Barred.]

[^269: C.11.276: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "desloue" in a red box to the right of C.11.275.]

[^270: Scribal hyphen between d's.]

[^271: C.11.285: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "deye" in a red box to the right of C.11.286.]

[^272: C.11.293: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "ges" in a red box to the right of C.11.294.]

[^273: C.11.298: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "handes" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.11.299.]

[^274: C.11.327: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "thoughte" in a red box to the right of C.11.328.]

[^275: KD.11.358 is omitted.]

[^276: KD.22.371 is omitted.]

[^277: C.11.376: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "folwe" in a red box to the right of C.11.377.]

[^278: C.11.382: The intention seems to be to amend the reading litel while to mynute while, which is the reading in almost all the other mss.]

[^279: KD.11.383-393 are omitted.]

[^280: C.11.393: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "asterte" in a red box to the right of C.11.394.]

[^281: C.11.405: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "thurȝ resone" in a red box to the right of C.11.406.]

¶ Passus Duodecimus 

I[^282] Am ymaginatif quod he · ydel was I neuere
Though I sitte by my-self in siknesse and in helthe
I haue folewed the in faith · this fyue and fourty wynter
And many tymes haued moued the to thenk on thyn ende
And how fel fernyers · an a[r] faren · and so fewe to comen
And of thy wilde wantonnesse · tho thow yonge were
To amende it in thy mydel age · lest myght the faille
In thyn olde elde · that so yuel kan suffre
Pouerte or penaunce  or prayers bidde
Si non in prima vigilia nec in secunda & cetera.
¶ Amende the while thow myghte · thow haste be warned ofte
With poustees and pestilence · with pouert and with angres
And wit this bittire baleises · god betes hise dere childerne
Quem diligo castigo.
And dauid in the sauter saith · of swich that loue Ihesus
Virga tua & baculus tuus ipse me consolata sunt &cetera
¶ Al-though thow strike me with thy staf · with stikke other yerde
It is bot murthe as for me · to amende my soule
And thow medlest the with maistries · and miȝtest go sey thy sauter
And bidde for hem that geues tho bred · for ther ar bookes ynowe
To telle men what do wel · do-bet and do-best bothe
And prechours to proue what it is · of many paire freres
¶ I seigh wel he sayde me soth · and somwhat me to excuse
Saide caton to conforte his sone · that clerc though he were
To solacen hym som-tyme · as I do whan I make
Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis & cetera.
And of haly men I hard quod I · how thay other-while
Plaiden the parfiter to ben · in many places
And if ther were any wight · that walde me telle
What were do-wel and do-bet · and do-best at the laste
Walde I neuere wyrke · bot wende to haly chirche
And ther bid my bedes · but whan I ete or slepe
Poule in his pistile quod he · proues what is dowel
Fides spes caritas & maior horum & cetera.
¶ Faith hope and charite · and alle ben goode
And sauen men sondry tymes · and noon so soon as charite
For he does wel with-outen doute · that doth as leaute teches
That is if he be man maried · thy make thow louye
And lyue forth as lawe wol · while ye lyuen here
¶ Right so if thow be religious · renne thow neuer ferther
To rome ne to Rochemadour · bot as thy reule teches
And halde the vndir obedience that heigh way is to heuene
And if þou be maiden to marie · and might wel continue
Seke thow neuere saynt · ferther for thy saule helthe
For what mad lucifer · to lese the heigh heuene
Or salamon his sapience · or sampson his strengthe[^283]
nota bene ·
Aristotle and other mo · ypocras and virgile
Alexander that al wltnne[^a72] · elengelich endid
¶ Catel and kynde wit was · combraunce to hem alle
Felice hir fairnesse · fel hir al to sclaundire
And rosomond right · so reufully bisette
The bewte of hir body · In badnesse she dispendide
Of many swiche I miȝte rede · of men and of wommen
That wise wordes can say · and werche the contrarie
Sunt homines nequam de virtute bene loquentes
¶ And riche renkes right so · gadderand and sparyng
And to men that thay moost haten · ministren it at the leste
And for thay suffren and see · so many nedy folkes
And louen hem nou ght as god bit · lesen hir soules
¶ Date & dabitur vobis & cetera[^284]
And riche right so · bot if the rote be trewe
And grace is a gras ther-of · the greuance to abate
And grace ne groweth nought · bot am anges lawe
Pacience and pouertee the place is · ther it growees
And in lele lyuyng men · and in lif-holye
And thorugh the gyfte of the holy gost · as the gospel telles[^285]
¶ Spiritus vbi vult spirat &cetera.
Clergie and kynde wit · comes of sighte and techyng
And the book beres witnesse · to barnes that konne rede
Quod scimus loquimur quod vidimus testamur
· nota ·
Of quod scimus cometh clergie · and konnyng of heuen
And quod vidimus comes kynde wit of sight of diuerse pepile[^286][^287]
And grace is a gyfte of god · and of gret loue sprynges
know neuere clerc how it comes forth · ne kynde wit þe waies
¶ Nescit aliquis vnde venit aut quo vadit
¶ And yet is clergie to comende · and kynde wit bothe
And namly clergie for cristes loue · that of clergie is rote
· nota ·
For Moises witnesse þat god wroot · for to wisse the pepile
In þe olde lawe as þe letter telles · that was the lawe of Iewes
That what womman were in auoutrie · taken riche other pouere
With staues men schulde hir strike · and stonye hir to dethe
A womman as we fynden was gilty of that dede
And crist of his curteisie · thorugh clergie hir saued
For thorugh carrectis þat crist wrouȝte · the Iewes knewe hem-selue[^288]
Giltyer as a-fore god · and gretter in synne
Than the womman that ther was · and wente away for shame
The clergie that ther was · conforted the womman
Haly kirke knoweth this · that cristes writyng saued
So clergie is conforth to creatures · that repenten
And to mased men · myschef at hir ende
¶ For goddes body miȝte nouȝt be · of breed with -outen clergie
The which body is · bathe boote to the rightful
And deth and dampnacioun · to hem that dyen yuel
As cri stes carrectes conforted · and bothe coupile shewed
The womman that the Iewes brouȝte that Ihesu thouȝt to saue[^289]
¶ Nolite iudicare & non iudicabimini & cetera
¶ Right so goddes body brethren · but it be worthily taken
dampneth vs at þe day of dome · as the carrectes dide þe Iewes
For-thy I conseille the for cristes sake clergie to louye
For kynde wit is of his kynne · and neigh cosyns bothe
To oure lord leue me · for-thy loue hym I rede
For bothe ben as myrours · to amende oure defautes
And leders for lewed men · and for lettred bothe
¶ For-thy lakke thow neuere logik lawe ne hise customes
· nota ·
Ne conterplede clerkes · I conseil the for euere
For as a man may nought see · that mysses hise eighen
Na more kan no clerc · bot he kaughte it first thurgh bookes
Al-thoug men made bokes · god was the maistre
And saynt spirit his samplarie · and saide what men shulde write
And right as sight serues a man · to se the heigh strete
Righte sa ledeth clergie · lewed men to reson
As as As a blynde man in bataille · bere s wepen to fighte
And has na hape with axe · his enmy to hitte
Namore kan a kynde witted man · but clergie hym teche
Come for al his kynde wit · to cristendome and be saued
Wich is the cofire of cristes tresore · and clerkes kepe the keyes
To vnloken it at hir likyng · and to the lewed pipile
Gyfe mercy for hir mysdes · if men it wol aske
Buxomlich and beniglich · and biden it of grace
Arc ha dei in the olde lawe · leuites it kepten
Had neuer lewed m an leue · to lygge hande on the kyste
Bot he were prest or prestes sone · patriarke or prophete[^290]
¶ For clergie is keper · vndir criste of heuene
Was there neuere no knyȝt · bot clergie hym made
A kynde wit comes · of alkynnes sightes
Of briddes and of bestes · of treuthe and of deceytes
¶ lyuyers to-forn vs · vseden to marke
The selcouthe that thay seighen · hir soons for to teche
And helde it and heigh science · hir wittes to knowe
And thorugh hir science sothly · was neuer saule saued
Ne brought by hir bookes · to blisse ne to Ioie
For al hir kynde knowyng · come but of diuerse sightes
Patriarkes and prophetes reproued hir sightes
And sayden hir wordes ne hir wisdomes · nas but a folye
As to the clergie of crist · counted but a trufele
¶ Sapiencia huius mundi stulticia est apud deum
For the heigh holy goost  heuen shal to-cleue
And loue schal lepe out after · in-to this lawe erthe
And clennes shal catchen it · and clerkes schal it fynde
¶ Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem &cetera
¶ he spekes ther of riche men nouȝt · ne of right witty
Ne of lordes that were lewedemen lewede men · bot of þe heighest lettirde oute[^291]
Ibant magi ab oriente & cetera.
¶ If any frere were founde ther · I gyfe þe fyue shillynges
Ne in noon beggers cote was that barne borne
But in a burgeis place · of Bethelem the beste
Set non erat in diuersorio & pauper non habit diuersorium
¶ To pastours and to poyetes · apiered the aungel
And bad hem go to bethelem · goddes burthe to honour
And sange a songe of salace · Gloria in excelsis deo[^292]
Clerkes knew it wel · and comen with hir presentes
And dyde hir homage honurably · to hym that was alm yghti
And goddes sone that sittes in heuene and shal saue vs alle[^293]
¶ Why I haue tolde þe al this · I took ful good hede
How thow contrariest clergie · with crabbed wordes
How that lewedmen lewed men lightloker : than lettred were saued
Than clerkes or kynde wittedmen witted men of cristen pepile
¶ And thow saidest soth of some · and se yit in what manere
Tak two two two strange men · and in Themise caste hem
And both naked as a nedile · er noon sikerer than other
That oon has konnyng · and kan swymmen an dyuen
That other is lewed of that labour · lernede neuer to swymme
Which trewestow of hem two · in themise is moost[^294] drede
He that neuere ne dyued[^295] · ne nouȝt kan of swymmyng
Or the swymer that is sauf · by so hym-self like
Ther his felaw flette forth · as the flood likes
And is in dred to drench that neuere did swymme
That swymme kan nouȝt I saide · it semes to wittes
¶ Ryght so quod that renk · reson it shewes
That he that knowes clergie · kan sonner arise
Out of synne and be saf · though he synne ofte
If hym likes and list · than any lewed lely
For if the clerc be konnyng · he knowe what is synne
And how contricioun with-oute confession · confortes the saule
And thow seest in thy sauter · in psalmes oon or twayne
How contricioun is comended · for it cacches away synne
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta &cetera.
¶ And this conforteth ech a clerc · and keuereth hym fra wanhope[^296][^297]
In which flood the fende · fondes a man hardest
Ther the lewed lith stille · and loketh after leaut
And has no contricioun er her he come to schrifte & þan kan
And as is loresman leres hym · bileueth and troweth
And that is after parson or parisshe prest and parauenture
vnkonnyng to lere lewed men as luc beres witnesse
Dum cecus ducit cecum & cetera
¶ Wo was hym marked that wade moet with þe lewed
Wel may the barne blisse · that hym to book sette
That lyuyng after lettrure · saued hym lyf and soule
Dominis pars hereditatis mee & cetera is a myrie versete
That has taken fra tiburne twenti strange theues
Ther lewed theues ben lolled vp · loke how tha[^298] be saued
The thief þat had grace of god on good fraday fr[i]day as thow spake
Was for he yelde hym creaunt to crist on the cros · and know hym gilty[^299]
And grace axed of god · and he is euere redy
That buxomly bid it · and be in wille to amende hem
And though that heuen · he had no heigh blisse
As saynt Iohan and other seyntes · that deserued had better
Ryght as som men gyf me meet · and sette me amiddes þe flore[^300]
I haue meet more than ynough · and nouȝt so muche worship
As tho that sitten at the table · or with souereignes of the halle
But sit as beggers bordles · by my-self on the grounde
So it fares by that feloun · that on good friday was saued
He sit neither by saynt Iohan / Simond ne Iude
Ne with maidens ne martirs · confessours ne widewes
By hym-self as a solayn · and serued on the erthe
For he that is ones a thif · is euere more in daunger
And as law likes · to lyue or to dye.
de peccato proiciato noli esse sine metu
And to seruen a seynt · and swich a thef togiders
It war nouther reson ne right · rewarde hem bothe yliche
And right as Troianus the trewe knyȝt tild nouȝt depe in helle
That oure lord ne had hym lightlich oute · so leue I þe thef be in heuen
For he is in the lowest heuene · if oure bileue be trewe
And wel lowselich he lolles ther · by the law of haly chirche
Quia reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua.
¶ And why that oon thef on the cros · creaunt hym gylty
· nota ·
Rather than that other thef · though thow walde appose
Alle the clerkes vndir crist · ne kouthe the skile assoille
Quare placuit quia voluit
¶ And so I say by the · that sikest after the whaies
And resonedest reson · a rebukyng as it were
And of þe floures in the frithe · and of faire hewes
Wherof thay caughte hir colours · so clere and so bright
And willest of briddes and beestes · and of hir bredyng knowe
Whi som so lowe and some aloft · thy likyng it were
And of the stones and of the sterres · þou studiest as I leue
Howeuer best or bridd · has sa breme wittes
¶ Clergie ne kynde wit · ne knewe neuere the cause
And kynde knoweth the cause and no creature elles
he his[^301] þe pyes patrone · and puttes in hir ere
That the thorn is thikkest · to byggen and to brede
And kynde kenneth the pakok · to kauken in swich a kynde
And kenned adam to knowe · his priue membres.
And tauȝte hym and Eue to helyen hem with leues
¶ Lewede men many tymes · maisters apposen
Why Adam hilled nouȝt first · his mouthe that ete the appel
Rather than his likham a-low · lew lew[ed] axen thus clerkes
Kynd knowes why he dide so · and no clerk elles
And of briddes and of bestes · men by olde tyme
Ensampiles token · and termes · as telles thise poetes
And that the fairest foule · foulest engenders
And fieblest foule of flight is · that flieth or swymmes
· Nota ·
And that is the pacok and þe pohenne · riche men thay bitoknee
For the pacok and[^302] men pursue hym · may nouȝt flee heighe
For the traillyng of his tail · ouer-taken is he sone
And his flesshe is foule flessch · and is feet bothe
And vnloueliche of cryeng · and loth for the here
¶ Right sa the riche · if he is richesse kepe
And deles it nouȝt til his deth-day · the tail of al sorwe
Right so the pennes of þe pacok · peyned hym in his flighte
So is possessioun peyne · of pens or of nobles
To alle hem that it holdeth · til hir tail be plukked
And though the riche repent thanne · and birewe the tyme
That euere he gadered so grete · and gaf ther-of so litel
Though he crye to crist þanne · with clen wille I leue
His leden is in oure lordes ere · lyke a pyes
And whan is caroyne schal come · in graue to be buried
I leue it flambe ful foule · the folde al a-boute
Alle the other ther it lieth · enuenymes thurgh his atter
Nota ·
¶ By the poo feet is vndirstonde · as I lerned in auynette
Executours false frendes · to worche as it wolde
Thus the poet proues þat the pecok · for hise fetheres is reuerenced
Right so is the riche · by reson of hise goodes.
The larke that is a lesse foule · is more louelich of leden
And wel a-way of wynge swifter · than the pecok
And of flessh by fele folde · fatter and swetter
To lawe libbynge men · the larke is resembled
¶ Aristole the grete clerc swich tales telles
nota ·
Thus he liknes in his logik the lest foule oute
And where he be saue or nouȝt · the sothe woot no clergie
N e of sortes ne salamon na scripture kan telle
And good is so good · I hope þat sith he gaue hem wittes
To wissen vs wayes ther-with · that wissen vs to be saued
And þe better for hir bookes · to bidden we be holden
That god for his grace · gyue hir soules reste
For lettred men wer lewed yit · nere lore of hir bokes
Al this clerkes quod I tho · that on crist leuen
Sayand in hir sermons · that no sarazyns ne Iewes
Ne no creature of cristes liknesse · with-outen cristendom worþ saued
¶ Contra quod ymagynatif tho · and bygane for to loure
And saide · saluabitur vix iustus in die Iudicij.
Ergo saluabitur quod he · and saide na more latyn
Troianus was a trewe knyght · and took neuer cristendom
And he is sauf as saies the book · and his saule in heuene
For ther is fullyng of founte · and fullyng in blood shedyng
And thurgh fire is fullyng · and that is ferme bileue
Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens set illuminans & cetera .
¶ And treuthe that trespassed neuere · ne trauersed ayeins his lawe
Bot lyues as his lawe teches · and leues ther be no better
And if ther were he walde amende · and in swich wille deyes
Ne wolde neuer trewe god · but treuthe were alowed
And were it worth or nouȝt · the bileue is gret of treuthe
And an hope hangyng ther-Inne · to haue mede for his treuthe
Quia deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis hoc est fidelibus
Et alibi si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis & cetera.
¶ The glose grauntes vp-on that vers · a greet mede to treuthe
And wit and wisdom quod that wye · was som tym tresore
To kepe with a comune · no catel was holden better
And muche myrthe and manhed · and riȝt with þat he vanysshed

[^a72: wltnne (C) | wan (All other mss)]

[^282: C.12.1: A three-line capital in blue ink with red flourishes.]

[^283: KD.12.42 is omitted.]

[^284: KD.12.55-57α are omitted.]

[^285: C.12.66: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "telles" in a red box to the right of C.12.67.]

[^286: C.12.72: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "pile" in a red box to the right of C.12.73.]

[^287: Scribal hyphen between e and p.]

[^288: C.12.84: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "selue" in a red box to the right of C.12.85.]

[^289: C.12.95: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "saue" in a red box to the right of C.12.96.]

[^290: KD.12.116-125α are omitted.]

[^291: C.12.142 The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "oute" in a red box to the right of C.12.143.]

[^292: KD.12.151-152 are omitted.]

[^293: C.12.153: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "alle" in a red box to the right of C.12.154.]

[^294: C.12.163: There is a small space between m and oost.]

[^295: C.12.164: There is an otiose expansion mark above the e.]

[^296: C.12.178: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "hope" in a red box to the right of C.12.179.]

[^297: Scribal hyphen between n and h.]

[^298: IS THA = They POSSIBLE HERE***???]

[^299: C.12.193: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "gilty" in a red box to the right of C.12.194.]

[^300: C.12.198: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "flore" in a red box to the right of C.12.196.]

[^301: C.12.230: Note the unusual spelling of is.]

[^302: C.12.244: Note the spelling for an ("if").]

¶ Passus terciodecimus ·

A Nd[^303] I awaked ther-with · witles nerehande
And as freke that fre were · forth gan I walke
In maner of a mendynant · many yere after
And of this metyng many tyme · muche thought I hadde
First how fortune me failled · at my moost nede
And how that elde manaced me · we miȝte neuere mete
¶ And how that freres folweden · folk that was riche
And folk that was pouer · at litel prise thay sette
And no cors in hir kirke yerd · ne in kirke was byr yed
B ot quik biquethe hem ouȝt · or sholde helpe quite hir dettes
And how couetise ouer-come · clerkes and prestes
And how that lewed men be ladde · but oure lorde hem helpe
Thorugh vnkonnyng curatours · to incurable peyne
¶ And how that ymaginatif · in d remes me tolde
Of kynd and of konnyng · and how curteise he is to bestees
And how louyng he his[^304] to bestes on londe and on water
Leneth he no lif · lasse ne more.
¶ The creatures that crepen of kynde ben engendred
And how ymaginatif saide vix iustus saluabitur
And whan he hadde saide so · how sodeynliche he passed
¶ I lay longe in this thought · and at the laste I slepte
And as criste wolde ther come · conscience to conforte me þat tyme
And bad me come to his courte · with clergie shul I dyne
And for conscience of clergie spake · I com wel the rather
And ther I seigh a maister · what man he was I neste.
That lowe louted · and louelich to scripture.
¶ Conscien Conscien[ce] knew hym wel · and welcomed hym faire
Thay wesshenden and wipeden · and went to dyner
¶ And paciens in the paleys · stode in pilgrymes clothes
And prayde meet for charite · for a pouere hermyte
¶ Consciens called hym Inne · and curteislich saide
Welcome wy go and wasshe · thow shalt sitte sone
¶ This maister was made sitte · and for the moost worthy
Than clergie and consciencie · and paciens cam after
¶ Pacience and I were putte · to be macches
And sitten by oure-selue · at a side borde
¶ Conscience called after meet · and than cam scripture
And serued hem thus sone · of sondry metes manye
Of Austyn of Ambrose of alle the foure Euaungelistes
Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt.
¶ And this maister ne his man · no maner flessh eten
And thay et meet of more cost · mortreux and potages
Of that men myswonne · thay made hem at ese
· Nota ·
And hir sauce was euere sour · and vnsauourly ygrounde
In a morter post mortem · of many bitter peyne
But if thay synge for the saules · and wepe salt teres
vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimis & orationes effuderitis ea que in delicijs comeditis in tormentis euometis
¶ Conscience curteisly tho · comaunded scripture
By-for pacience breed to brynge · and me that was his make
He sete a sour lafe to-for vs · and saide agite penitenciam
And sithen he drow vs drynk · dya perseuerans[^305]
Als lange quod I as I leue · and likham may dure
Here propire seruice quod pacience · ther fares na prince better
And than he bro ute[^306] forthe other meet · of miserere mei deus
And of Beati quorum of Beatus vir makyng
Et quorum tecta sunt peccata ·[^307] in a disshe
Of derne schrift · dixi and confitebor tibi
And brynge pacience som · priuelich quod conscience
And thanne come to pacience · a pitaunce ybroughte
Of pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno
And consciens conforted vs · and carped vs mery tales
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies
¶ Pacience was proude of that proper seruice ·
And made hym murthe with his meet · and I mournede euere
For this doctour on the heigh deys · drank wyn so faste
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum.
¶ He ete many son drie metes · mortreux and puddynges
Wombe cloutes and wilde brawne · and egges fried with grece
Than saide I to my-self · so pacience it herde
It nouȝt foure dayes · þat this freek bi-fore the dene of poules
Preched of penaunce that poule the apostle suffred
In fame and frigore and flappes of scourges
Ter cesus sum & a Iudeis quinquies quadragenas &cetera ·
· Nota ·
¶ And a word thay ouerhippen · at ech tyme that they prechen
That poule in hist his[^a73] pistile · to al þe pepile tolde
Periculum est in falsis fratribus
¶ Haly writ bides men be war · I wol nouȝt writte it here
On englissh{barred} an auenture it schod scho[l]d · be reherced to ofte
And greue ther-with that good ben · an gramariens shulde rede
vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus
¶ And I wist neuere freek that as a frere yede bifore men on Englissh{barred}
Tak it for hir teme · and telle it with-outen glosynge
Thay prechen that penaunce is · profitabile to the soule
And what myschief or mal-esse · crist for man tholde
¶ And this goddes gloton quod I with his grete chekes
hath no pitte on vs pouere men · he parfourneth yuele
That he preches he prouetes nouȝt · to paciens I tolde
And wissed witterly · with wille ful egre
That dissches and doublers · bifor this ilke doctour
Were molten leded leed[^a74] in his mawe · and Mahoun amyddes
I shal Iangle to this Iurdan · with his Iuste wombe
To telle me wat penaunce is · of wich he preched rather
¶ Pacience perceyued what I thought · and wynked on me to be stille
And saide thow salt see thus sone · whan he may namare
He shal haue penaunce in his paunche · and puf at ech worde
—
And than shal his guttes gothele · and he shal galpen after
For now he hase dronke so depe · he wile deuyne sonne
Nota
And proue it by-for hir pocalipps · and passioun of saynt Auereys
That nouther bacon ne brawn · blank-mangere ne mortreux
Is neither fisse ne flessh · but foode for a penaunce
And shal he testifie of a trinite  and take hise felawes to witnesse
What he fande in a frayel · after freres lynyge
And but if the first lif be lesyng · leue me neuere after
And thanne is tyme to take · and apposse this doctour
Of dowel and of do-bet · and if do-best be any penaunce
¶ And I sette stille an pacience saide · and thus soene this doctour
As rody as a rose · rubbed hise chykes ·
Coughed and carped · and conscience hym herde
And tolde hym of a trinite and toward vs al he loked
What his dowel sire doctour quod I is do-wel any penaunce
dowel quod this doctour and took the coppe and dranke
do no yuel to thyn euen-cristen · nouȝ by thy power
¶ By this day sir doctour quod I be ye nouȝt in do-wel
For ye han harmed vs two · In þat ye eten the puddyng
Mortreux and other meet · and we na morsel hadd
And if ye fare so in youre fermerie · ferly me thynketh
But chest be ther charite shol be · and childerne dorst pleyne
I walde permute my pennaunce with youre[^308] · for I am in poynt to do-wel[^309]
¶ Than conscience curteisliche · a contenaunce made
And preynte vp-on pacience · to preye me be stille
And saide hymself sir doctour · and it be youre wille
What is dowel and do-bet · ye diuynours knoweth
¶ Do-wel quod this doctour do as clerkes teches
And do-bet is he that techeth · and trauailles to teche other
· Nota ·
And do-best doo hym-self so · as he saies and preches
Qui facit & docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum
¶ Now thow clergie quod conscience · capest ca[r]pest what is dowel
I haue seuene sonnes he saide · seruen at a castel
Ther the lord of lif woneth · to lerne hem what is dowel
Til I se tho seuene · and my-self acorden
I am vnhardy quod he to any wight to proue it
For oon piers the plowman  hat impugned vs alle
And sette alle sciences at a soppe · saue loue oon
And no tixte ne takees · to mayntene his cause
But dilige deum and domine quid habitabit &cetera ·
And seigh that dowel and do-bet · aren twa infinites
Wich infinites with a faith · fynden out do-beste
Wich shal saue mannes soule · thus saith piers plowman
¶ I kan nought here-on quod conscience · and I knowe piers
He wol nouȝt ayein haly writ · speken I vndertake
Thane passe we ouer til piers come · and proue this in dide
Pacience hase ben in many places · and parauenture knowes
That no clerc ne kan · as crist beres witnesse.
Pacientes vincunt & cetera
At youre prayer quod pacience tho · so no man displesse hym
disce quod he doce and dilige inimicos
disce · and do-wel · doce and do-bet
dilige an do-best · thus taughte me ones
A lemman that I loued · loue was hir name
With wordes and werkes quod she · and wille of thyn herte
Thow loue lely thy soule · al thy lif-tyme
And so thow lere þe to louye · for þe lordes loue of heuene
Thyn enemy in al wise · euene-forth with thy-selue
Cast coles on his hed · and al kynde speche
Bothe with werke and word · fonde his loue to wynne
And lye on hym thus with loue · til he laughe on the
And bot he bowe for this betyng · blynde mote he worthe
¶ And for to fare thus with thy frend · folye it were
For he that loueth the lely · litel of thyn coueites
Kynde loue coueites n ouȝt · no catel but speche
· nota ·
With half a laumpe lyne in latyn · Ex vi transicionis
¶ I bere there-Inne a beaut · fast ybounde doweel
In a signe of the saterday · that sette firste the kalender
And al the wit of wednesday · of the next wike after
The mydel of the Moone · is the nyght[^a75] of bothe
And here-with am I welcome · ther I haue it with me
¶ vn-do it lat þis doctour dem · if do wel be ther-Inne
For by hym þat me made · myghte neuere pouerte
Miseise ne myschief · ne man with his tonge
Colde ne care · ne compaignye of theues
Ne nouther hete ne haile · ne noon helle pouke
Ne neither fire ne flood · ne fere ofe thyn enemy
Tene the any tyme · and thow take it with the
Caritas nichil timet[^310]
¶ It is bot as dido quod this doctour · a disours tale
Alle þe wit of this world · and wight mennes strenghe
kan nouȝt confourmen a pees · bitwene the pope and his enemye
Ne bitwene twa cristen kynges · kan na wight pees make
Profitable to either pepil · and putte the table fra hym
And took clergie and conscience · to consail as it were
That pacien tho moost passe · for pilgrymes kanne well
¶ And conscience carped loude · and curteisliche said
Frendes fareth wel · and faire spake to clergie
For I wil go with this gome · if god wol gyue the grace
And be pilgryme with pacience · til I haue proued mare
¶ What quod clergie to conscience · er ye coueitouse nouthe
After yeresyeues an gyftes · or yernen ye to rede rideles
I shal bryng yow a bibile · a book of the olde lawe
And lere yow if yow like · the best point to knowe
That pacience the pilgryme · parfitly knew neuere
¶ Nay by crist quod conscience · god the foryelde
For al that pacience me proferes · proude am I but litile
And the wille of that wye · and ye wille folk here
Has moued my moed · to mourne for my synnes
The good wille of a wight · was neuere bouȝt to the ful
For ther is no tresor ther-to · to a trew wille
¶ Had nouȝt magdaleyne more · for a box of salue
Nota ·
Than zacheus for he saide · dimidium bonorum meorum da pauperibus
And the pouere widowe · for a peire of mytes
Than al tho that offreden · in-to Gazaphilacium
¶ Thus curteisly conscience congeyed first þe frere
And sithen sothliche he saide · in clergies ere
Me were leuere by oure lord · and I lyue sholde
Haue pacience parfitly · than half this pakke of bookes
¶ Clergie to conscience · no congie wolde take
But saide ful soberly · thow shalt se the tyme ·
Whan thow art wery forwalked · wilne me to conseile
That is soth quod conscience · so me god helpe
If pacience be oure partyng felawe · and priue with vs bothe
Ther is no wo in this worlde · þat we ne sholde amende
And confermen kynges to pees · and alkynnes londes
Sarrasens and surry and so forþ al the Iewes
Torne in-to the trewe faith · and in til oon bileue
¶ That is soth quod clergie · I se what thow menest
I shal dwelle as I do · my deuoir to shewen
And confermen fauntekynnes · and other folk ylered
Til pacience haue preued the · and parfit the maked
¶ Conscience tho with pacience · passed pilgrymes as it were
Than had pacience as pilgrymes han · in his poke vitailles
Sobrete and symple speche · and sothfast bileue
To conforth hym and conscience · if thay come in place
Ther vnkyndenesse and coueitise · is hungry contrees bothe
And as thay went by the way · of dowel thay carped
Thay mette with a mynstral · as me tho thoughte
Paciens apposed hym first · and praide he sholde hem telle
To conscience what craft he kouthe · and to what contre he wolde
I am a mynstral quod that man · my name is · actiua vita
Al ydel I hatye · for of actif is my name
A wafrer wol ye wite · and serue many lordes
I fewe robes I fonge  or furrud gownes
Couthe I lee to do men laughe · thane lacche I sholde
Outher mantel or monei · amanges lordes mynstralles
And for I kan nouther taborne ne trompe · ne telle noon gestes[^311][^312]
Farten ne fethelen · at festes ne harpen ·
Ne neither sailly ne sautre · ne synge · with the giterne[^313]
I haue n a goode giftes · of this grete lordes
For na brede that I bryng forth · saue a benysoun on the sonday
Whan the preest prec hes the pepile · hir pater noster to bidde
For pier the plowman · and that hym profet wayten
And that I am actif · that ydelnesse hatye ·
Fol al trewe trauaillours · and tillers of erthe
Fro Mighelmesse to Mighelmes · I fynde hem with wafres
¶ Beggers and bidders · of my breed crauen
Faitours and freres · and folk with brode crowens
I fynde payn for the pope · and prouendire for his palfray
And I had neuere of hym · haue god my trouthe
Nouther prouendre ne personage · yet of the popes gyfte
Saue a pardoun with a payes of leed · and two polles amydde
Had ech a clerk that couthe write · I walde caste hym a bille
That he sent me vnder his seel · a salue for the pestelence
And that his blissyng & hise bulles · botches myght destroye -
In nomine meo demonia eicient & super egros manus imponent & ¶ bene habebunt & cetera
And thanne wolde I be prest to þe pepile paste · for to make
And buxom and bisy · aboute breed and drynke
For hym and for alle hisse · fonde I that his pardoun
Might lechen a man · as I beleue it sholde
For sith he has the power · þat petir hym-self hadde
he hase the pot with þe salue · sothly as me thynketh{barred}
Argentum & aurum non est michi · quod autem habeo tibi do In nomine domini surge & ambula.[^314]
¶ And if myght of miracle hym faille · it is for men be nat worthy
To haue the grace of god · and no gilt of the pope
For may no blissyng dos vs bote · but if we wil amende
Ne mannes masse make pees · amonges cristen pepile
Til pride be purliche for-doo · and that thurgh payn defaute
For er I haue breed of meel · erst moot I swete.
And er the comune haue corn ynough · many calde mornyng
So er my wafres ben wrought · muche wa I tholye
Al londoun I leue · likes wel my wafres[^315]
Ther was a carful comune · whan no cart come to touwnn
With bred fra stratford · tho gonnen begers wepe
And werkmen were agast a litil · this wol be thought lange
In the date of oure drighte · in a dry aprill{barred}
|
A thousand and thre hondreth · twies twenty an d[^316] ten
Mi wafres wer gesen whan Chichestre was Mair
¶ I took good kepe by crist · and conscience bothe
Of haukyn the actif man · and how he was clothed
He had a Cite of cristendome · as haly chirche bileues =
And it was moled in many places · with many sondrye plottes
Of pride hire a plot and þer a plot · of vnbuxom speche
Of scorn y ng and of scoffyng · and of vnskilful beryng
As in apperaille and in port · proude amonges the pepile -
Other-wise than he has with herte or eye shewyng
hym willyng that alle men wende · he were þat he is nouȝt
For why he bosted and bragged · with many bolde othes
And inobedient to be vndirnome · of any lif lyuyng
And so singuler by hym-self · ne noon so poppe holy
yhabited as an heremyte · and ordire by hym-self
Religion sanz reule · and resonable obedience
Lakkyng lettred men · and lewed men bothe
In likyng of lele lif · and a lyere in soule
With Inwit and with-oute wit · ymagynen and studye
As best for his bodi be · to haue a bad name
And entermeten hym ouer al · ther he has nouȝ to doone
Willyng that men wende · his wit war the beste[^317]
And if he gyfues ouȝt the pouere gomes · til[^a76] what he delet[^318]
Pouere of possessioun in purs · and in coffres bothe
And as an lyon on to look · and lordlich of speche
Boldest of beggers a boster that nouȝt hath
In town and in tauernes · tales to telle
And saies thyng that he neuere er sawe · & for sothe sweren it[^319]
Of dedes that he neuere dide · demen and bosten
And of werkes that he wel dide · witnes and seggen
Lo if thow leue me nought · or that I lye wenen
Axeth at hym or at hym · and he yow kan telle
Whan I suffred and seigh · and som tym hadde ·
And what I kouthe and knowe · and what kynne I come of
Al he wolde that men wist of werkes and of wordes
Wiche miȝte plesse the pypil · and preisen hem-seluen
Si hominibus placerem christi seruus non essem ·
Et alibi . Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire &cetera
¶ Bi crist quod consciens tho · thy best cote haukynn
Has many moles and spottes · it moest ben ywasshen
¶ Ye who-so took hede quod haukyn[^320] bihynd and bifore
What on bak what on bodye · and by the two sides
Men shulde fynd many frounces · and many foule plottes
¶ And he torned hym as tit · and thanne took I hede
It was fouler by fele fold · than it first semed
It was bidropped with wrathe · and wikked wille
With enuy and yuel speche · entisyng to fighte
Lyinge and laughyng · and leue tonge to chide
Al the[^a77] that he wist wikked · by any wight tellen it
And blame men bihynde hir bak · and bid hem myschaunce
And that he wist by wille · tellen it watte
And that watte wist · wille wist it after
And made of frendes foos · thorught a fals tonge
Or with myght of mouthe · or thorugh mannes strenghe
Auenge me fele tymes · other frete my-selue
With-Inne as a shepster shere · ysherewed men and cursed
Cuius maledictione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius & cetera
Et alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus[^321]
¶ Ther is no lif that I loue · lastyng any while
For tals that I telle no man · trusteth to me
And whan I may nouȝt haue the maistrie · with malencolye I take
That I cacche the crompe · the cardiacle som-tyme
Or an ague in swich an angre · and som-tyme a feuere
That taketh me al a twelue monthe · til þat I dispise
lechecraft of oure lord · and leue on a wiche
And segge that no clerc ne kan · ne crist as I leue
To the souter of southwerk · or of shordich{barred} dame Emme
And saye that no goddes word  gaf me neuere boot
But thorugh a charme hadde I chaunce · and my chief hele
¶ I waited bisiloker · and that it soilled
With li kyng of liccherie · and by lokyng of his eighe
For ech a mayde þat he met · he made hir a signe
Semyng to synward · and som-tyme he gan taste
Aboute the mouthe or byneth · bigynnes to grope
Til either wille wexeth keen · and to þe werke yeden
As wel in fastyngdaies as fridayes · and forboden nyghtes
And as wel in lenten as oute of lenten · alle tymes yliche
Swich werkes with hym were · neuere oute of sesoun
Til thay miȝte namore · and than · had merye tales
And how þat leccherous louyen · laughen and Iapeng
And of hir harlotrie and hordom · in hir eld tellen
¶ Than pacience parceyued · of poyntes of his cote
Was colomy thurgh couettise · and vnkynde desiryng
More to good than to god · the gome his loue caste
And ymagyned how he · it myȝte haue
With false mesures and met · and with false witnesse
Leued for loue of the wed · and lathe to do treuthe
And a-waited thurgh which way to bigile
And menged hise marchaundise · and made a good moustre
The warst with-Inne was · a gret wit I lete it
And my neghbour had any hyne · or any best elles
More pro fitable than myn · many sleigtes I made
How I myght haue it al my wit I caste
And bot I had by other way · at þe lest I stale it
Or priuelich his purs shook · vnpiked hise lokkes
Or by nyght or by day · aboute was ich euere
Thurgh gile to gaderen · the good þat ich haue
¶ If I yede to the plough · I picched sa narowe
That a foot lande or a forowe · fecchen I walde
Of my next neghbore · nymen of his erthe
And if I rope ouer-reche · or gaf hem red that ropen
And seise to me with my sikel · that I ne sewe neuere
¶ And who-so borweth of me · abouȝt the tyme
With present priueliche or payed som certein
So wolde he or he nolde · wynne I wolde
And bothe to kytthe and to kynne · vnkynde of þat ich hadde
And who-sa cheped my chaffare chiden I walde
But he profred me to paye · a peny or tweyne
More than it was worth · and yet walde I swere
That it coste me muche more · swore many othes
In halidayes and holy cherche · whan I herde masse
Had I neuere wille woot god witterly to biseche
Mercy for my mysdedes · that I ne morned more
For losse of good leue me · than for my likhames gilte
And if I had dedly synne doun · I drede nouȝt þat so sore
As whan I lened leued it lost · or lang er it were paied
So if I kid any kyndenesse · myn euen-cristen to helpe
vp-on a cruel coueitise myn herte gan hange
And if I sent oure see · my seruantz to brugges
Or in-to sprucelande my prentice my profit to waiten
To marchaunden with moneie · and make hir eschaunges
Mighte neuere me confort · in the mene tyme
Nouther masse ne matyns · ne no maner sightes
Ne neuere penaunce parfourned · ne pater noster saide
Tha[^322] my mynd ne was more · on my good in a doute
Than in the grace of god · and hise grete helpes
Vbi thesaurus tuus ibi & cor tuum.[^323]
· nota ·
¶ Wich ben the braunches · that brynges a man to sleuthe
His womman mourneth nouȝt for hise mysdedes · ne makes no sorwe
And penaunce that the preste enyoigne yd · parfourned yuel
doos noon almesdede · drede hym of na synne
Lyues ayein the bileue · and na lawe haldes
Ilce day or Ilc haliday with hym · or an heigh ferie
And if he auȝt wil here · it is an harlotes tonge
Whan men carpen of criste · or clennesse of saule
He waxes wrath and wil nought here · but wordes of myrthe
Pennance and pouere men · and the possessioun of sayntes
He hates to here ther-of · and al that it telles
Thise be the braunches be ware · that brynges a man to wanhope
¶ ye lordes and ladys · and legates of haly kirce
Tha[^324] fedes foles sages · flaterers and leers
And hase likyng to listem liste[n] hem · to do yow to laughe
Ve vobis qui ridetis &cetera
And g yues hym meet and mede · and pouere men refuse
In youre deth deynge · I dreed me ful soore
Leste þe thre manere men to muche to mykil sorwe yow brynge
Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur
Patriarkes and prophetes · and prechours of goddes wordes
Sauen thurgh hir sermoun · manne saule fram helle
Right sa flaterers and fooles · and the fendis discipils
To eten[^a78] men thurgh hir tales · to synne and harlotrie
And clerkes that knowen haly writ · sholde kenne lordes
What dauid sayes of swilc men · as the sauter telles
· nota · bene ·
Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniqua[^325]
¶ sholde nan harlotes haue audience · in halle ne in chambires
Ther wise men were · witnesse goddes wordes
Ne no mysproude man · amang lordes ben allowed
¶ And flaterers and foles · thurgh hir foule wordes
Leden tho þat louen hem · to luciferes feste
With turpiloquio alay a lay of sorwe · and lucifere fithel
Thus haukyn the actif man · had ysoilled his cote
Til conscience acouped hym ther-of · In a curteys manere
Why he ne had wasshen it · or wipid it with a brusshe

[^a73: hist his (C) | his (All other mss)]

[^a74: leded leed (C) | leed (All other mss)]

[^a75: nyght (WHmCB) | myght (All other mss)]

[^a76: til (C) | telle (Most other mss)]

[^a77: Al the (C) | Al (Most other mss)]

[^a78: eten (C) | entice (Most other mss)]

[^303: C.13.1: This three-line capital in blue ink also has red flourishes.]

[^304: C.13.16: Note spelling of is.]

[^305: C.13.51: The expansion mark for per is not properly realized.]

[^306: Check ms for direction of change.]

[^307: C.13.56: There is a red slash through the raised point.]

[^308: C.13.118: youre = "yours".]

[^309: C.13.118: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "wel" in a red box to the right of C.13.119.]

[^310: C.13.174 KD.13.164-171α are omitted.]

[^311: C.13.233: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tes" in a red box to the right of C.13.234.]

[^312: Scribal hyphen between s and t.]

[^313: C.13.235: KD.13.233 is omitted.]

[^314: C.13.259: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "& ambula" in a red box to the right of C.13.258.]

[^315: C.13.268: KD.13.264 is omitted.]

[^316: C.13.273: Note the overwriting of an n in and and its replacement with an expansion.]

[^317: C.13.294: KD.13.292-298 are omitted.]

[^318: C.13.295: Note the spelling -t for usual -th.]

[^319: C.13.300: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "it" in a red box to the right of C.13.301.]

[^320: C.13.313: There is an otiose expanion mark on the n.]

[^321: C.13.330: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "gladius acutus" in a red box to the right of C.13.331.]

[^322: C.13.397: Tha, "that."]

[^323: C.13.399: KD.13.399-408 are omitted.]

[^324: C.12.413: Tha, "that."]

[^325: C.13.426: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "iniqua" in a red box to the right of C.13.427.]

¶ Passus quartodecimus de visione vt supra 

I haue bot oon hool hatre quod haukyn · I am the lasse to blame
Though it be suyled and foule · I slepe ther-Inne on nyghtes
And also I haue a wif · hewen and childiren
vxorem duxi & ideo non possum venire ·
That walden bifoule it many tyme · maugre my chekes
It has ben laued in lenten · and out of lente bothe
With the sop of siknesse · that sekest wonder depe
And with the losse of catel · bathe for to a-gylte
God or any good man  by aught that I wiste
And was shryuen of þe preest · that gaf me for my synnes
To penaunce · paciens and pouere men to feede
Al for cuueitise of my cristendome  in clennes to kepe it
¶ And kouthe I neuere by crist · kepen it clene an houre
That I ne fouled it with sight  or som ydel speche
Or thurgh werk or word · or wille of myn herte
But I ne floboure it foule · fra morwe til eue
And shal kenne þe quod conscience · of contricioun to make
That shal thy cote · of alle kynnes filthe
Cordis contricio & cetera ·
Do wel wasshen it and wryngen it  thurgh a wyes confessour
Oris confessio & cetera ·
Do bet shal beten it and bouke it  as bright as any scarlet
And engrayuen with good wille  and goddes grace to amende the
And sithen send the satisfaccioun · for to sowen it after
Satisfactio & cetera
-
Do best shal neuere myst bynolnen[^a79] it · ne mought after biten it
Ne fende ne falss man · defoulen it in thy lyue ·
Shal no heravde ne harpour · haue a fairer garnement
Than haukyn the actif man  and thow do my techyng
Ne no mynstral be more worthe · amanges pore and riche
Than haukyns wif the wafrer with his actiua vita
¶ And I shal purueye the paste · quod paciens ; thouȝ no ploughe erye
And flour to fede folk with  as best be for thy saule
Though neuere greyn growed · ne grape vp-on vyne
Al that lyues and lokes · liflode wol I fynde
And that I nought shal non faille · of thyng þat hem nedes
We shold nouȝt be to bisie · a-boute oure liflode
Ne soliciti sitis & cetera volucres celi deus pascit & cetera Pacientes vincunt & cetera[^326]
¶ Than laughed · haukyn a litel · and lightly gan swere
Who-so leueth yow by our lord I leue nouȝt he be blissed
¶ No quod pacience paciently ˜ and out of his pok hente
vitailles of gret virtues · for al manere bestes
And saide lo here liflod ynough · if oure bileue be trewe
For lent neuere was lif · but liflod were schapen
Wher-of · or wherfore · or wherby to libbe
¶ First the wilde worm · vndir wete erthe
Fisshe to lyue in þe flood · and in the fir þe crikat
The curlowe by kynde of þe eire · moost clennest flessh of briddes[^327][^328]
And bestes by gras and greyn · and by grene rotes
In menyng that alle men · myȝt se same ·
Lyue thurgh lele bileue · and loue as god witnesseth
Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo & cetera et alibi non in solo pane[^329] viuit homo set in omni verbo quod procedit & cetera
¶ Bot I loked what liflode it was · that paciens sa praised
And than was it a pece of the pater noster · fiat voluntas tua
¶ haue haukyn quod pacience  and ete this whan the hungres[^330]
Or whan thow clomsest for colde · or clyngest for drye
Shul neuere gyues the greue · ne gret lordes wrathe
Prison ne peyne for pacientes vincunt
By so þat þou be sobire · of sight and of tonge
In etyng and in handelyng ˜ and al thy fyue wittes
Thardestow neuere care for corun · ne lennen cloth ne wollen
Ne for drynk ne deth dred · but deye as god likes
Or thurȝ hunger or þurȝ hete · at his wille be it
For if thow lyuest after his lore · þe shorter lif þe better
Si quis amat christum mundum non diligit istum
nota ·
For thurȝ his breth bestes · wexen and abrood yeden
dixi & facta sunt & cetera ·
Ergo thurȝ his brethe · mowen men and bestes lyuen
As holy vrit witnesse ˜ whan men sayes hir graces
apperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal benediccione
· nota bene ·
¶ It is founden þat fourty wynter · folk lyued withoute tilynge
And out of the flynt spronge the flood · þat folk & bestes dronke
And in helyes tyme ˜ heuen was yclosed
That no rayn ne raynde · thus rede men in bokes
That many wyntires men lyueden · and no mete ne tylied
Nota ·
Seuene slepe as sayes the book · Seuene hundre wynter
And lyueden with-outen liflode · and þe laste þey woken
And if men lyued as mesure wolde · schulde neuere be defaute
Amanges cristen creatures · if cristes wordes be trew ˜
And vnkyndenesse caristia makes amange cristen pepile
And ouer plente makes · amange pouere and riche
And mesure is so muche worth · it may nouȝt be to dere
nota
For the myschief and the myschaunce ; amonges men of sodome
Wex thurȝ plente of payn · and of pure sleuthe
Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit
For thay mesured nouȝt hem-self · of þat thay ete & dranke
didden dedly synne · that þe deuel liked
So vengeaunce felle vp-on hem · for hir ville synnes
thay sonken in-to helle ˜ the Cittes Ilcone
¶ For-thy mesure we vs wel ˜ and make oure faith our shyltroun[^331]
And thorugh faith cometh contricioun · conscience woot wel
Which dryues aw ay dedly synne · and does it to be venial[^332]
And brynge his saule to blisse · so that faith bere witnesse
That whiles he lyued he bileued · the lore or holy chirche
Ergo contricioun · faith · and conscience ; is kyndely do wel
And surgiens for dedly synnes ˜ whan schrift of mouthe failles[^333]
¶ And schrift of mouthe more worthy ˜ if man yliche contrite
For schrift of mouthe slees synnes · be it neuere so dedly
Per confessione to a preest · peccata occiduntur
Ther contricioun does but dryues it · in-to a venial synne
And dauid sayes in the sauter · et quorum tecta sunt peccata
¶ And satisfaccioun sekest out þe rote · and bathe sleeth and woides
And as it neuere had I-be to nouȝt · brynges dedly synne
That it is neuere eft seen sore · but semees a wounde heled
¶ Whare wonnes charite quod haukyn · I wist neuere in my lyue[^334]
Man that with hym spak · as wide as I haue passed
Ther parfit treuthe and pouere herte is · and pacience of tonge
Ther is charite the chife chamber · for god hym-selue
¶ Wheither pacience pouerte quod haukyn · be more pleasaunt to oure sight[^335]
Than richesse riȝtfulliche wonne and resonablich spende
ye quis est ille quod pacience ˜ quik laudabimus eum
Thouȝt men rede of richesse · riȝt to the worldes ende
· Nota ·
I wist neuere renk that riche was ˜ þat whan he rekene scholde
Whan he droue to his deth day ˜ þat he ne dred hym sore
And that at þe reknyng in arrerage · fel rather than oute of dette[^336]
¶ Ther the pouere dar plede · and preue by pure resoun
To haue alowaunce of his lorde · by the lawe he it cleymes
Ioie that neuere Ioie hadde ˜ of riȝtful Iugge he axeth
And sayes lo briddes and bestes · that no blisse ne couthe
And wilde wormes in wodes · thurȝ wynters þou hem greuest
And makest hem wel neiȝ meke · and mylde for defaute
And after þou sendest hym somer · that is hir souerayne Ioie
And blisse to alle that ben · bothe wilde and tame˜
¶ Than may beggers and bestes · after bothe wayten ·
That al hir lif han lyued · in langour and in defaute
But god sent hym som-tyme · som manere Ioie
Other hyere or elles-where ˜ kynde wolde it neuere
For to wo other wel was he wrouȝte · þat neuere was Ioie schapied
¶ Aungels that in helle now ben ˜ hadden Ioie som-tyme
And diues in deytees dey[n]tees[^a80][^337] lyued ˜ and in douce vie ·
Right so reson sheweth · þat þo men þat were riche
And hir makes also · lyued hir lif in myrthe
¶ And god is of a woundire wille · by þat kynde wit schewees
Nota ·
To gyue many men his mercymonie · er he it haue deserued
Riȝt so fares god by som riche ˜ reuthe me it thynkes
For thay haue hir hire here · and heuen as it were
And is gret likyng to lyue  · with-oute labour of body
And whan he deyes be disalowed · as dauid sayes in the sauter
dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt .
And in an other stede also ˜ velut sompnium surgencium domine in
Ciuitate tua & ad nichilum rediges
¶ Allas that richesse schal reue · and robbe mannes saule
Fram the loue of oure lord ˜ at his laste ende
¶ Hewen þat han hir hire · after aren euermore nedy
+
And selden dyeth he oute of dette · þat dyneth er he deserue it
And til he haue don his deuoir · and his iourne˜
For whan a werkman hath wrouȝte ˜ þan may men se þe sothe
What he were worthy for his werk · and what he has deserued
And nouȝt to fange bifore · for drede of disalowynge
¶ So I saye by yow riche ˜ it semes nouȝt þat ye shull
haue heuene in youre hee beryng ˜ and heuen here-after
Riȝt as a seruant takes his hire ˜ bifore and after walde clayme more[^338]
As he þat non hadde · and has hire atte laste
It may nouȝt be ye riche men ˜ or mathew on yow lyes
De delicijs ad delicias difficile est transire
¶ And if ye riche haue reuthe ˜ and reward wel the pouere
And lyuen as þe lawe teches ˜ don leaute to hem alle
Criste of his curteisye · schal confort yow atte laste
And reward alle doubile richesse · þat reufulle hertes hases
And as an hyne þat had his hire · er he bigonne
And whan he has don his deuoir wel · men does hym oþer bounte[^339][^340]
Gyfe hym a Cite aboue his couenant · riȝt sa crist gyues heuen
Bot to riche and to nouȝt riche · þat reutfullich lyues
And alle þat does hir connande wel · han double hire for hir trauaille[^341]
Forgyuenesse of hire synnes · and heuen blisse after
And it nys but selde so seyn · as by haly sayntes bookes
That god rewarded doubile reste to any riche wye
For muche myrthe is amange riche ˜ as in met and clothyng
And mykyl myrthe in may ˜ is amang wilde bestes
And sa forth while somer lastes · hir solace dures
And beggers aboute myssomer · bredles thay soupe
And yet is wynter for hem wors · for weet shoed they gange
Afirst sore and affyngerd · and fouliche rebuked
And arated of riche men · that reuth is to here
Now lord sende hem somer · and som manere Ioie
Heuene after hir hennes goyng ˜ that here han swich defaute[^342][^343]
For alle myghtestow haue made · non mener than other
And ylich witty and wise · if thy wille had liked
And haue reuthe of thise riche men · þat reward nouȝt thy prisoners
Of the goode þat thow hem gyuest · Ingrati ben many
And god of thy goodnesse ˜ gif hem grace to amende
For may no derthe ben hem dere · drouȝte ne wete ·
Ne neither hete nor haille ˜ haue thay hir hele
Of þat thay wilne and wolde ˜ wantes hem nouȝt here
¶ And pouer pepyle thy prisoners · lord in the pyte of myschief
Conforte tho creatures ˜ that muche care suffren
Thorugh derthe and droughte · alle hir dayes here
Wo in wynter tymes for wantyng of clathes
And in somer tyme · selden soupen to the fulle
Conforte thy careful · crist in thy riche
For how thow confortest alle creatures · clerkes beres witnesse
· Nota ·
Conuertimini ad me & salui eritis
¶ Thus in genere of gentrise · Ihesu crist saide
To robbers and to reuers · to rich and to pouer[^344]
Thow taughtest hem in þe Trinite to take baptyme
And be clene thurgh þat cristennyng · of al kynnes synnes
And vs fel thorugh folie · to falle in som after
Confessioun and knowlechyng ˜ and crauyng þy mercye
Shuld amende vs as many sithes · as man walde desire
And if the pope walde plede here ayein · & punishe vs in conscience
He sholde take the aquitaunce as quik · & to þe queed shewe it[^345]
Pateat & cetera per passionem domini & cetera .
And putten of the pouke · and preuen vs vnder borowe
And the parchemyn of this patente · of pouerte be mooste
And of pouere pacience ˜ and parfite bileue
Of pompe and of pride · the parchemyn decorreth
And principalich of alle pepile ˜ but thay be pouere of herte
Elles is al on ydel · al þat euere we written
Pater noster · and penaunce · and pylgrymage to Rome
Bot oure spence and spendyng · sprynge of a trewe wylle
Elles is al our labour loost ˜ lo how men writees
In fenestres at the freres · if fals be the foundement
For-thy cristen shuld be in comune riche non coueite for hymselue[^346]
¶ For seuene synnes ther be · assaillen vs euere
The fende folowes hem alle ˜ and fondes hem to helpe
And with richesse þat ribalde · rathest men bigiles
For ther þat richesse regnes · reuerence folwes
And that is plesant to pride · in pouerte and in riche
And the riche is yreuerenced ; by reson of his richesse
That þe pouere is put bihynde · and parauenture kan more
Of wit and of wisdome · that fere away is better
Than richesse or reaute ˜ and rather herde in heuene
For the riche has muche to rekne · and ryght softe walkes
The heigh way to heuenward · ofte richesse lettes
¶ Ita possibile diuiti & cetera ·
Ther the pouer preses bifore the riche · with a pak at his rygge[^347]
Opera enim illorum sequntur illos
Batanlich as beggers doon · and boldelich he craues
For his pouerte and pacience · a perpetuel blisse
Beati pauperes quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum
And pride in richesse regnes · rather than in pouerte
Arst in the maistre than in the man · som mansioun he has
And in pouerte ther pacience is · pride has na myghte
Ne noon of the seuene synnes · sitten ne mow ther longe
Ne haue power in pouerte · if pacience it folowe
For the pouer is ay prest · to plese the riche
And buxom at his biddyng · for his broke loues
And buxomnesse and boost · arn euere at werre
And ayther hates other · in al manere werkes
¶ If wrath wrystel with the pouere · he has the wors ende
For if thay bath pleyne · the pouere is bot fibile
And if he chide or chater · hym cheues the warse[^348]
¶ And if coueitise cacche the pouere · thay may nouȝt com togiders[^349][^350]
And by the nekke namly hir noon may hent other
For men knowen wel þat coueitise is of a kene wille
And hase handes and armes · of a lang lengthe
And pouerte nys but a petit thyng · apeers nouȝt to his nauele
And louely laike was neuer bitwene þe lange and the short
¶ And þough auarice walde þe pouere · he has bot litil miȝte
For pouerte has bot pokes · to puten Inne hise soddes
Ther auarice hath almarys · and Iren bounde coffres
And whether be lighter to breke · lasse boost it makes
A begger bagge than an Iren bounden coffires
¶ leccherie loues hym nouȝt · for he gyues bot litel siluer
Ne doos hym nouȝt dyne delicatly · ne drynk wyn ofte
A strawe for the stewes · it stood nouȝt I trowe
Had thay no thyng but of pouere men · hire houses stood vntiled
¶ And though sleuthe swe pouert · and serue nouȝt to paye
Myschief is his maistre · and makes hym to thynke
id est gome
That god is his grettest helpe · and no man elles
And is seruaunt as he sayes · and of his suyte bothe
And wheither he be or nouȝt · he beres the signe of pouerte
And in that secte oure saueour · saued al man-kynde
For-thy al pouerte þat paciens is · may claymen and asken
After hir endyng here · heuene-riche blisse
Mykyle hardyer may he axen · that here miȝt haue his wille
In londe and in lordschip · and likyng ob o[f] body
And for goddes loue leueth al · and lyues as a begger
And as a mayde for mannes loue · hir moder forsakes
hir fader and al hir frendes · and folowes hir make
Muche is swich a maide to loue of hym · þat swich oon takes
More than a maiden is · that maried thurȝ brocage
And by assent of sondry parties · and siluer to bote
More for coueitise of good · than kynde loue of bothe
So it fares by ech a persoun · tha[^351] possession forsakes
And puttes hym to be pacient · and pouertee weddes
The which is sibbe to god hym-self · and so to hise sayntes
¶ haue god my trouthe quod haukyn · ye praise faste pouerte
What is pouerte with paciens · quod he propirly to mene
Paupertas quod paciens · est odibile bonum Remocio curarum possessio[^352] sine calumpnia domum dei · sanitas ˜ mater absque solicitudine[^353] semita sapiencie temperatrix · negocium sine dampno · Incer - ta[^354] fortuna absque solicitudine felicitas ·
¶ I kan nouȝt construe þis quod haukyn ye moost sayn on Englissh
¶ In englissh{Barred} quod paciens it is wel hard · wel to expounen
And somdel I shal saye it · by so ye vndirstonde
¶ Pouerte is the first poynt · þat pride moost hates
Than is good by good skille · al þat agastes pride
Riȝt as contricioun is confortabile thyng · conscience woot wel
And a sorwe of hym-self · and solace to þe saule
So pouerte propirliche penaunce and Ioie
Is to þe body · pure spritual helthe
Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum
And contricon confort · and cura animarum the secounde
Selde sitte pouerte the sothe to declare
Or as Iustice to Iugge men · enioyned is no pouere
Ne to be a mair abouen men · ne mynister vndir kynges
Selde is any pouere putte · to punisshen any pepile
Remocio curarum
Ergo pouerte and pouere men · parfournes the comaundement
Nolite iudicare quemquam · the thridde
¶ Selde is any pouere riche · bot of rightful heretage
Wynnes he nouȝt with weightes fals ne vnseled mesures
Ne borwes of hise neigboures · but þat he may wel paye
Possessio sine calumpnia
¶ The ferde is a fortune · þat florisshes the saule
With sobrete fram al synne · and also yet more
It affaiteth the flessh · fram folies ful manye
A collateral confort · cristes owne gyfte
Donum dei
The fifte is moder of helthe · a frend in al fondynges
And for the lawde euere a lech · a lemman of al clennesse ·
Sanitas mater
The sexte is a pathe of pees ye thurȝ þe pas of Aultoue
Pouerte miȝte passe · with-oute peril of robbyng
For ther þat pouerte passes · pees folowes after
And euere þe lasse þat he beres · the harder he is of herte
For-thy sayes senica paupertas est absque solicitudine semita
And an hardy man of herte · amang an heepe of theues
Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viator
¶ The seuenthe is wille of wisdome · and fewe wordes schewes
For lordes allowes hym litel · or listnes to his resoun
He temperees þe tonge to treuthward · and no tresoure coueites
Sapiencie temperatrix
¶ The eighte is a lele labour ˜ and lathe to take ? more
Than he may wel deserue ˜ in somer or in wynter
And if he chaffare he charges no losse · mow he charite wynne
Negocium sine dampno
¶ The nynthe is swete to the saule · no sugre swetter
For paciens is payn for pouerte hym-selue
And sobrete swete drynk · and good leche in siknese
Thus lered me a lettred man · for oure lordes loue
Saynt Austyn blissed lif · with-outen bissynesse
For body and saule · absque solicitudine felicitas
Now god þat al good gyues · graunte his saule reste
That thus first wroot to wissen men · what pouerte was to mene
¶ Allas quod haukyn the actif man tho · that after my cristendome[^355]
I ne had ben dede · and deluen for dowel sake
So hard it is quod haukyn to lyue · and to do synne
Synne sweth vs euere quod he · an sary gan wexe
And wepte water with his eighen · and wailed þe thyme
That euere he dide dede · þat dere god displesed
Swonde and sobbed · and siked ful ofte
That euere he had lande or lordschip · lasse other more
Or maistre ouer any man · mo than of hym-selue
I were nouȝt worthy quod haukyn to werie any clathes
Ne nouther scherte ne schone · saue for shame oon
To couere my cariogne quod he · and cried fast mercye
And wepte and wayled · and ther-with I waked

[^a79: bynolnen (C B) | bymolen (Most B witnesses)]

[^a80: deytees dey[n]tees (C) | deyntees (Most other mss)]

[^326: C.14.38: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "vinciunt & cetera " in a red box to the right of C.14.37.]

[^327: C.14.48: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "des" in a red box to the right of C.14.49.]

[^328: Scribal hyphen between two d's.]

[^329: Scribal hyphen between a and n.]

[^330: 14.55: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "res" in a red box to teh right of C.14.56.]

[^331: C.14.90: The scribe continues this line above, writing "shyltroun" in a red box to the right of 14.89.]

[^332: C.14.92: KD.14.85 is omitted.]

[^333: C.14.96: The scribe continues this line below, writing "failles" in a red box to the right, on a line of its own.]

[^334: C.14.105: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "lyue" in a red box to the right of 14.106.]

[^335: C.14.109: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "sight" in a red box to the right of 14.110.]

[^336: C.14.115: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "dette" in a red box to the right of 14.116.]

[^337: C.14.130: The spelling deutis in Cr1 perhaps suggests some relationship between C and Cr1's exemplar?]

[^338: C.14.152: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "clayme more" in a red box to the right of 14.153.]

[^339: C.14.161: The scribe continues this line above, writing "te" in a black box to the right of 14.160.]

[^340: Scribal hyphen between un and t.]

[^341: C.14.164: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "trauaille" in a red box to the right of 14.165.]

[^342: C.14.176: The scribe continues this line above, writing "faute" to the right of 17.175.]

[^343: Scribal hyphen between e and f.]

[^344: C.14.194: KD.14.183 is omitted.]

[^345: C.14.201: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "it" in a red box to the right of 14.202.]

[^346: C.14.213: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "selue" in a red box with a red paraph sign to the right of 14.214.]

[^347: C.14.226: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "rygge" in a red box to the right of 14.227.]

[^348: C.14.242: KD.14.228-238 are omitted.]

[^349: C.14.243: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "giders" to the right of 14.244.]

[^350: Scribal hyphen between o and g.]

[^351: C.14.275: tha, "that." Cf.]

[^352: Scribal hyphen between s's.]

[^353: Scribal hyphen between in and n.]

[^354: Scribal hyphen between r and t.]

[^355: C.14.334: The scribe continues this line below, writing "dome" in a red box to the right on a line by itself.]

¶ Passus xvus · Explicit de do wel . & Incipit primis de do bet

AN after my wakyng it was lange
Er I koude kyndely knawe · what was dowel
And sa my wit wexed and wanyed · til I a fool were
And som lakked my lif · allowed it fewe
And leten for a lorell · and loth to reuerence
Lordes or ladies · or any lif elles
As persons in pelleur · and with pendantz of siluer
To sergeantz ne to swich · saide nouȝt ones
God loke yow lordes · ne louted faire
That folke helde a fole · and in þat folie I raued
Til reson had reuth on me ˜ and rokked me a-slepe
Til I seigh as it sorcerie were · a sotil thyng with-al
Oon with-outen tonge and teeth · tolde me whider I scholde
And where -of I cam and what kynde · I coniured hym atte laste
If he were cristes creature ˜ for cristes loue me to telle
¶ I am criste creature quod he · and cristne in many a place
In crist court I-knowe wel · and of kynne a partie
Is nouther petir the porter ne poule · with his faucheon
That wol defende me the dore · dynge I neuere so late
At mydnyȝt at mydday · my voice sa is yknawen
That Ilke a creature of his court · welcomes me faire[^356]
¶ What er ye called in þat court quod I · amonges cristes pepile
The whiles I quik was in þe body quod he · called am I anima
And whand whan I wilne and wolde · animus ich hatte
And for that I kan and knowe · called am I Mens
And whan I make moon to god · Memoria is my name
And whan I deme domes · and do as treuthe teches
Thanne is racio my riȝt name · Reson on Englissh{Barred}
And whan I fele þat folk telles · my nam is sensus
And þat is wit and wisdome · the wel of alle craftes
And whan I chalange or chalange nouȝ · chepe or refuse
Than am I called · goddes clerk and his notarie
And whan I loue lely our lord · and alle other
Than is lele loue my name · in latyn amor
And whan I flye fra the flessh{Barred} · and forsake the caroigne
Than am I spirit specheles · spiritus than ich hatte
Austyn and Isodorus either of hem bothe
Nempned me thus to name · now thow myȝte chese
How thow coueitest to calle me · now knawestow al my names
¶ Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur · dum viuificat[^357] corpus anima est · dum vult animus est · dum scit mens est · dum recolit memoria est · dum Iudicat racio est · dum sentit[^358] sensus est · dum amat amor est · dum negat vel consentit conscientia[^359] est · dum spirat spiritus est
¶ ye ben a bisschop quod I al burdyng þat tyme
For bisshopes yblissed beren many names
Presul and pontifex and Metropolitanus
An[^360] other names an hepe · Episcopus and pastor
That is soth sayed he · now I se thy wille
Thow woldest knowe and konne · the cause of al hir names
And of myn if thow myghtest · me thynkes by thy speche
¶ ye sir I saide by so no man were greued
Nota ·
Al the sciens vndir sonne · and alle the sotil craftes
I wolde I knowe and kouthe · kyndely in myn herte
¶ Than artow vnparfit quod he · and on of pride knyghtes
For swich a lust and likyng · lucifer fel fram heuene
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo
¶ It were ayeins kynd quod he · and alkynnes reson ·
That any creature schulde konne al · except crist oon ·
Ayeins swich Salamon spekes · & dispisses hir wittes
And sith · Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum ˜
Nota ·
Sic qui scrutator est magestatis opprimitur a gloria
¶ To englissh{Barred} men this is to men · that mowen speke and here
The man þat muche hony eteis · his maw it englames
And the more þat a man ˜ of good matere heres
But he do þer-after it does hym double scathe
Beatus est saies saynt bernard qui scriptura legit
Et verba vertit in opera · fullich to his power[^361]
Sciencie appetitus hominem in-mortalitatis gloriam spoliauit
¶ And riȝt as hony is yuel to defien · and englaymes the mawe
Ryght so that thurȝ reson · wolde the rote knowe
Of god and hise myghtes ˜ his grace it lettes
For in the likyng lyges a pride and in a likames coueitise
Ayeins cristes counseil · and alle clerkes techyng
That is Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere
¶ Freres and fele other maistires · þat to þe lewed men prechen
Mouen maters in mesurables · to tellen of the trinite
That ofte tymes the lewed pepile · of hir bileue douten
Better to leue wer many doctours swich techyng
Nota
To telle men of ten comandementes · and touche þe seuene synnes[^362][^363]
And how þat folk in folies · myspenden hir fyue wittes
As wel frers as other folk · folilich spenen
In housyng in hateryng · and heigh clergie shewyng
More for pompe than for pure charite · the pepile woot þe sothe
That I lye nouȝt lo · for lordes ye plesen
And reuerrencen the riche · the rather for hir siluer
Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia & cetera . et alibi vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium 
¶ Go to the glose of the vers · ye grete clerkes
If I lye on yow to my lewed wit ˜ ledes me to brynnyng
For as it semes · ye forsake na mannes almness
Of vsurers of hores · of auerouse chapmen
And louten to thise lordes · that mowe lene yow nobles
Ayein youre reule and religioun · I take recorde of Ihesus
That saide to his disciples ˜ ne sitis personarum acceptores
¶ Of this matere I miȝt make make a longe bibile
And of curatours of cristen pepile ˜ as clerkes berres witnesse
I shal tellen it for truthes sake · tak he who-so lokes
nota ·
¶ As holynesse and honeste · out of holy cherche spredes
Thurȝ lele libbyng men · that goddes lawe techen
Riȝt so out of haly cherche · al yueles spredes
Ther inparfit presthod is · prechours and techers
And se it by ensample ˜ in somer tyme on trowes
Ther some bowes be leued · and som beres noon
Ther is a myschief in þe more · of swich manere bowes
Riȝt so persones and prestoes prestes[^a81] · and prechours of haly cherche
that aren rote of the riȝt faith · to reule þe peple
And ther þe rote is roten ˜ reson woot þe sothe
Schal neuere flour ne fruyt · ne faire leef be grene
For-thy wolde ye lettred leue · the leccherie of clothyng
And be kynde as bifel for clerkes · and curtesie of cristoes goodes
Trewe of youre tonge · and of youre tail bothe
And hauen to here harlotrie · and nouȝt to vndirfonge
Tethes of vntrewe thyng · ytilied or chaffard
Lathe were lewed men · bot thaye youre lore folowed
And amenden hem þat mysdoon · more for youre ensamples
Than for to prechen and proue it nouȝt · ypocrisie it semes
· Nota ·
For ypocrisie in latyn · likned is to a donghill
That war bisnewed with snaw · and snakes with -Inne[^364]
Right sa many prestees · prechours and prelates
faier wordes.
Er enblaunchid wit bele paroles · and with clothes also
And youre werkes and wordes · þat vnder aren ful vnloueliche
Iohannes crisostomus of clerkes · spekes and prestes
Sicut de templo omne bonum egreditur sic de templo omne malum procedit ¶ Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit tota floret ecclesia · Si autem coruptum fuerit omni fides marcida est ¶ si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum sicut si videris arborem marcidam & palidam intelligis quod vicium habet in radice · ¶ Ita cum videris populum in disciplinatum & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdotium eius non est sanum
¶ If lewed men wiste · what this latyn mene s
And who was myn auctor · muche wonder me thyngkes
But if many a preest bere for hir · baselardes and hir broches
A peir bedes in hir hande · and a book vnder hir arm
Sir Iohan and sir Geffray · hase a girdel of siluer
A baselard and a ballok knyf · with botons ouergilte
And a porthous þat shulde be his plow · placebo to saye
Hade he neuere seruice to saue siluer þer-to · sayes it with ydel wille
Allas ye lewed men · muche lese ye on prestees
And thyng that wikkedliche is wonne · and with false sleightes
Walde neuere of witty god ye wit · but wikked men it hadde
The which aren prestes inparfit · and prechours after siluer
Sectours and suddenes sumnours and hir lemmannes
This þat with gile was geten · vngraciouslich is spended
So harlotes and hores aren holpen · with swiche goodes
And godes folk for defaute ther-of · for-faren and spillen
¶ Curatours of haly chirche · as clerkes þat ben auarous
lightliche þat thay leuen · losels it hase
Or dyes intestat · and þan þe bischope entres
And makes myrthe þer-with · and hise men bothe
nyȝt

[C.15.140: The scribe appears to have offered marginal nyȝt to hypercorrect the alliteration.]

And saye he was a nygard · þat no good myȝt aspare
To frend ne to fremde · þe fende haue his saule
For a wrecched hous · he held al his lif tyme
And þat he spared and bispared · spende in murth
By lered by lewed · þat lothe is to spende
Thus goon hir goodes by þe gost faren
And for good men god woot grete doel men maken .
And bymeneþ goode mete gyuers · and mynde haues
In prayers and in penaunce · and in parfit charite
¶ What is charite quod I þo a childissh thyng he saiede
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli non in-trabitis in regnum celorum
With-outen faunteltee or folie · a fre liberal wille
Wher schold men swich a frend · with sa fre an herte
I haue in lond quod I · my name is lange wille
And fand I neuer ful charite · bifore ne byhynde
Men beth merciable to mendynantz and to pouere
And wol lene ther thay loue lely to be payede
And charite þat poule prayses best · and moost pleses our saueour[^365]
Non in-flatur non est ambiciosa non querit que sua sunt
¶ I seigh neuere swich a man ˜ so me god helpe
That he ne wolde aske aftir his ˜ and other while coueite
Thyng þat nedeth hym nouȝt · and take it if thay miȝte
Clerkes kenne me that crist · is in alle places
And I seigh hym neuer sothly · but as my-self in a Mirour
Ita in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem ·
And so I trowe trewely by þat men tellen of charite
Itt is nouȝt champions fiȝt ne chaffar as I trowe
¶ Charite quod he ne chaffers nouȝt · ne chalanges ne craues[^366][^367]
As proude as a peny ˜ as of a pounde of golde
And is as glad of a gowne · of a gray russet
As of a tunicle of Carse · or of tried scarlet
he is glad with alle glad · and good til alle wikked
And lenes and loues alle · þat oure lorde made
Cursees he no creature · ne · ne ne he kan bere no wratthe
Ne no likyng has to lye · ne laughe men to scorne
Al þat men sayn he let it soth · and in solace takes
And alle manere myschiefs · in Mildenesse he suffres
Coueites he non erthly goode · but heuene-riche blisse
¶ Has he any rentes or richesse · or any riche frendes
Of rentes ne of riches · recches he neuere
For a frend þat fyndes hym · failles hym neuere at nede
Fiat voluntas tua · fyndes hym euere more
And if he soupe he ete bot a soppe of spera in deo
He kan purtrey wel the pater noster · and peynte it with
And other while he is wonte · to wend pilgrymages
Ther pouer men and prisoners · lygges hir pardon to haue
Thouȝ he bere hym na breed · he beres hem swetter liflod
Loues hem as oure lord biddes · and lokes how thay fare
¶ And whan he is wery of þat werk · than wol he som tyme
Labouren in lauendrie wel · the lengthe of a mile
And yerne in-to youthe · yepeliche speke
Pride with al the appurtenantz · and pakken hem togiders
And bouken hem at his brest · and beten hem clene
And lyggen on longe with laboraui in gemitu meo
And with warm water at hise eighen · wasshen hem after
And than he synges whan he doos so · and som tyme sayes wepyng[^368]
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies
By crist I wolde þat I knewe hym · no creature leuere
Piers ·
With-outen help of piers plowman quod he · his persone sestow neuere[^369]
¶ Where clergie knew hym quod I · þat kepen holy chirche
¶ Clerkes haue no knowyng quod he · bot by werkes & wordes[^370][^371]
An piers þe plowman parceyued more depper
Wher is þe welle and wher-fore · þat many wight suffres
Et vidis deus cogitaciones eorum
· nota ·
¶ For ther er ful proude herted men · pacient of tonge
And buxom as of beryng · to burgeys and to lordes
And to pouere pepile · han pepir in þe nose
And as alion a lion he lokes · þer men lakkes hise werkes
¶ For þer er beggers and bidders ˜ bedmen as it were
Loken as lambern · and semen lif holy
And it is more to haue hir meet · in swich esy manere
Than for penaunce or parfitnesse · þe pouerte þat swich takeþ
Ther-fore by colour ne by clergie knowe shaltow hem neuere
Neiþer thurȝ wordes ne werkes · but þurȝ wille oon
And þat knowes no clerc ˜ in creature in erthe
piers ·
But piers þe plowman · petrus id est cristus
¶ For he is nouȝt in lollers · ne in lande lepers heremytes
Ne at ancres þer a boxe hanges · alle swich þey faiten
Fy on faitours · and on fautores suos
For charite is godes champion · and as a good childe hende
And þe meriest of mouthe · at met where he sittes
the loue þat liþ in his herte · makes hym liȝt of speche
And is companable and confortif · as crist bit hym-selue
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &cetera ·
¶ For I haue seyn hym in silk · and som tyme in russet
Bothe in grey and in gris · and in gilte hernes
And as gladlich he it gaue · to gomes þat it nede s
Edmond and · Edward ayther were kynges
And sayntes yset · til charite hem folowed
I haue seyn charite also · syngen and redand
Riden and rynnen · in ragged wedes
And biddyng as beggers · biholde hym neuere
And in riche robes · rathest he walkes
ycalled and crymailed · and his corowne shaue
And clenliche yclothed in cipyrs · and in tarterine
And in a freres frokke he was yfounde oones
And it is fer ago in saynt Fraunceys tyme
And in þat secte siþ · to selde has he ben knowen
¶ Riche men he recomaundeth · and of hir robes takes
That with-outen wiles · ledes hir lyues
Beatus est diues qui & cetera ·
¶ In kynges court he comes ofte · ther the counseil is trewe
And if coueitise be of þe counseil · he wol come ther-Inne
In Court amanges Iapers · he comes nouȝt be selde
For braulyng and bakbityng · and berynge of fals witnesse
¶ In the consistorie bifore the comissarie · he comes nouȝt ful ofte
· nota ·
For hir law dures ouer longe · but if thay lacchen siluer
And matrimoigne for moneie · maken and vnmaken
And þat conscience and crist · hase knyt faste
Þat vndone it vnworthily · the doctours of lawe[^372]
And gyue vs grace good · charite to folowe
For who-so myȝte mete with hym · swich maneres hym
Nouther he bannes ne blamed · bostes ne praises
Craues ne coueites · ne cries after more
Lakkes ne losees · ne lokes vp stierne
In pace in ipsum dormiam & cetera ·
¶ þe moost liflode he lyuees · by · is loue in goddes passioun
Neither he biddes ne he begges · ne borwes to yelde
Misdoþ he no man · ne with his mouthe greues
¶ Amonges cristen men · this myldenesse schuld laste
In al manere angres · haue this at herte
That thouȝ þei suffred al this · god suffred for vs more
In ensample we schul doo so · and take no vengeaunce
Of oure foos þat doos vs falsnesse · þat is our fadires wille
· nota ·
For wel may euery man wite · if god had walde hym -selue
Shul neuer Iudas ne Iewe [^373] haue Ihesu doon on rode
Ne han martired petir ne poule · ne in prison holden
And he suffred in ensample · that we suffre also
And sayed to swich þat suffre wolde · þat pacientes vincunt
verbi gracia quod he and verray ensamples many
In legenda sanctorum the lif of holy sayntes
What penaunce and pouerte · and passioun thay suffred
In hunger and in hete · in alle maneres angres
Antonye and Egidie and other holy farders
Wonden in wildernesse · amonge wilde bestes˜
Monkes and mendinantz · men by hem-selue
In spekes and spekelonkes · selden speken togidires
And nouther Antonye ne Egidie ne heremyte þat tyme
Of lyons ne of leopardes · no lislode li[f]lode ne toke
But of foloughes þat fleigh · thus fyndes men in bookes
· Nota ·
Except þat · Egide after anhynde an hynde cried
And thurȝ the milk of þat mylde best · þe man was sustened
And day by day had he hir nouȝt · his hunger for to slake
But selde and sondry tymes · as sayes þe book and teches
¶ Antonye a dayes aboute noon tyme
Had a brid þat brouȝt hym bred · þat he by lyued
And thou gh þe gome had a gest god fonde hem bathe
Poule primus heremita and parroke hym-selue
That no man myght hym se for mosse ·[^374] and for leues
Foules hym Fedde fele wynters with alle
Til he founded freres of austynes order
¶ Poule after his prechyng · panyers he made
And wan with handes þat his wombe neded
¶ Peter fisshed for his fode · and his felawe andrew
Some thay shalde · and som thei sethed · and so þei leued bothe[^375]
And also Marie Magdaleyne by mores · lyued and dewes
And moost thurȝ deuocioun · and mynde of god almyghty
I shol nouȝt thise seuene dayes tellen hem alle
That lyueden thus for oure lordes loue · many longe yeres
And ther ne was lyon ne lyberde · þat on laundes wenten
Nouther bere ne boor · ne oþer best wilde
That ne fel to hir feet · and fauned with the tailes
And if thay couthe han ycarped · by crist as I trowe
Thay wolde han yfed þat folk · bifore wilde fowles[^376]
And god sent hem foode by fowle · and by no fierse bestes
· Nota ·
In menyng þat meke þyng · mylde þyng schul fede
As who sayes Religious · riȝtful men schol fynde
And lawful men to lifholy men · liflode brynge
And þan walde lordes · and ladies · be loth to agilte
And to take of hir tenantz · more than truthe wolde
Founde þey þat freres wolde · forsake hir almesse
And bidden hem bere it ther it was yborwed
Nota ·
For we be goddes fowles · and abiden alwey
Til briddes brynge vs meet · þat we schulde lyue by
For hadde ye potage and payn ynouȝ · and peny ale to drynke.
And a messe ther-with · of any maner kynde
ye had right ynough ye religious · and so youre reule me tolde[^377]
Nuncquam dicit Iob rugit onager cum herbam habuerit aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit brutorum animalium[^378] natura te condempnat · quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat · ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua
¶ If lewed men knewe this latyn · thay wolde lok whom the gyfue[^379]
And auise hem bifore · a fyue dayes or sexe
Ar thay amortiseden to monkes · or chanoignes hir rentes
Allas lordes and ladies lewd counseil haue ye
To yeue from youre heires · þat ailes hadde
And yeueth to bid for yow · to swich þat ben rich
And ben founded and feffed ek to bidde for other
Who perfourneth the prophecie of the peple · þat now libbeth
Dispersit dedit pauperibus ·
If any pepil perfourne this text · it er þe pouere freres
For þat they beggen aboute · in byldyng they spend it
And on hem-self some · and swich as ben hir laborers
And of þat habbeth thay taken · and gyfes hem þat na hase
¶ And clerkes and knyghtes · and communers that ben riche
Fele of yow fareth as if I a forest hadde
That were ful of faire trees and I foonddand caste
how I myght mo ther-Inne · amonges hem sette
Right so ye riche · ye robet þat ben riche
And helpes hem þat helpes yow · and yeueþ þer no nede is
As who-so filled a tonne · of a fressh ryuere .
And went forth with þat water · to woke with Themise
Riȝt so ye riche · ye robeth and fedeth
hem þat han as ye han · hem ye make at ese
¶ And religious þat riche ben · shuld rather feste beggers
Than burgeis þat riche ben · as the book teches
Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare · Item pec - catoribus[^380] dare est demonibus immolare · Item monache si indiges[^381] & accipis potius das quam accipis · Si autem non eges & accipis rapis · Porro non indiget monachus si habeat quod nature sufficit ·
¶ For-thy I counseil al cristen · to confourme hem to charite
For charite with-outen chalangyng · vncharges þe soule
And many a prisson fram purgatorie · thorugh his prayere deliueres[^382]
And þer is a defaute in þe folk · þat þe faiþ kepes
Wher-fore folk is the fibler · and nouȝt ferme of bileue
And in lussheburwes is a lither alay ; and yet lokes he like a sterlyng
The merke of þat moneie is good · and þe metal is fieble
And so it fares by som folk · now thay han a faire spech
Crowne and cristendome · the kynges merke of heuene
And þat metal þat is man soule · with synne is foule allaied[^383]
That no life loues other · ne oure lorde as it semes
For thorugh werre and wikked werkes · and wederes vnresonable[^384]
Whedir-wise shipmen · and witty clerkes also
Han no bileue to þe lifte · ne to þe lore of philophers[^a82]
Astronomyens alday in hir art faillen
That whilom warned by-fore · what shuld falle after
Chapmen and shiperdes · þat with ship and shipmen wenten
Wisten by the wolken · what schuld bitide
As of weders and wyndes · they warned men ofte
Tilyers þat tilied the erthe tolden hir maistres
By þe seed þat thay sewe · what thay sell myght
And what to lene and what to lyue by · the land was so trewe
Now failles the folk of the flood · and of þe lond bothe
Schipherdes and schipmen · and so doo this tiliers
Neither thay k anne ne knawes · oon cours bifore an other
¶ astronomyens also · aren at hir wittes ende
Of þat was calculed of þe elementz · the contrarie þay fynde
¶ Grammer the grounde of al bigles now childern
For in non of þis now clerkes who-so takes hede
That kan versifie faire · ne formelich enditen
Ne nouȝt oon amanges an hundreth · that an auctour kan construe
Ne red a lettre in any langage · but latyn and Englissh
Go now to any degree · and but if gile me maistre
And flaterer his felawe · vnder hym to fourmen
Muche wonder me thynke · amonges vs alle
doctours of decrees ˜ and of diuinite Maistres
That sholde konne and know · alle kynnes clergie
And answere to argumentz ˜ and also to a quodlibet
I dar nouȝt say it for schame · if swich weren apposed
They shold faille of hir philophie[^a83][^385] · and in phisik bothe
Where-for I am aferd · of folk of haly chirche
Lest thay ouerhyppen as other doon ˜ in offices and in houres
And if thay ouerhyppe as I hoppe nouȝt ˜ oure bileue suffise
As clerkes in corpus christi feste · syngynge and redynge
That sola fides sufficit · to saue with lewed pepile
¶ And so may sarazenes be saued scribes and Iuwes
Allas than but oure loresmen · leuen as thay leren vs
And for hir lyuyng þat lewed men · beth the lother god agylte
For sarasyns han somwhat · semyng to oure bileue
For thay loue and bileue in o person almygty.
And we lered and lewed in oon godd bileues[^386]
An oon makometh a man in mysbileue
Broute sarasenes of surry · and se in what manere
nota ·
This makomet was cristend · and for he moost nouȝt be a pope[^387]
In-to surry he soughte · and thurȝ hise subtile wittes
Daunted a dowue · and day and nyȝt hir fedde
The corn þat she cropped · he caste it in his ere
And if he among the pepil preched · or in place come
Than wolde coluer come · to þe clerkes ere
Menyng as after meet · thus Makomet hir enchaunted
And dide folk þan falle on knees · for he swore in his prechyng
That the coluer þat come so · come fro god of heuene
As messager to makometh · men for to teche
And thus thurȝ willes of his wit ; and a white dowue
Makomet in mysbileue · men and wommen brouȝte
That lered and lewed yet · leuen on hise lawes
¶ And sithen oure saueour suffred · the saracenes so bigiled
Thorugh a cristen clerk · a-coursed in his saule
And for drede of the deth · I dar nouȝt telle treuthe
How englisse clerks a coluer feden ˜ that couetisse hatte ·
And ben manered after Makomete · þat no man vsed treuþe
¶ ankyrs and hermites and monkes and freres
Peren to apostles · thurȝ hir parfit lyuynge
Wolde neuere the faith-ful fader · that hise mynistres sholde
Of tirauntz þat tenees trewe men · taken any almusse
But doon as Antonye dide · dominik and fraunceys
Benet and bernard · the wich hem first taughte
To lyue by litle and in lowe houses · by lele mennes almesse
Grace shold growe and be grene · thurȝ hir good lyuyng
And folke sholde fynde · þat ben in diuerse siknesse
The better for hir biddynges ˜ in bodi and in soule
Hir prayers and hir penaunces to pees shulde brynge
Alle þat be at debate ˜ and bedemen were trewe
Petite & accipietis & cetera
Salt saues catell · saynge this wyues
vos estis sal terre & cetera
The heuedes of holy chirche ˜ and thay holy were
Crist calles hem salt · for cristynes saules
Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur
¶ And fresshe flessh other fisshe · whan it salt failles
It is vnsauory forsothe · ysoothe or ybake
So is mannes soule sothly · þat sayes no good ensample
Of hem of haly chirche þat the heigh way sholde teche
baneour
And be gide and go b ifore ˜ as a good banner
And hardye hem þat bihynde ben · and gyf hem good euidence
Elleuene holy men al the worlde torned
In-to lele bileue · the lyght-loker me thynke
Scholde al manere men · we haue so many maisters
Prestes and prechours · and a pope abouen
That goddes salt shulde be · to saue mannes saule
· Nota ·
¶ Al was hethenesse som tyme · Engeland and wales
Til gregorie gerte clerkes · to goo and to preche
Austyn at canterbery · crystned the kyng
And thurȝ miracles as men mowe rede · al that marche he torned[^388][^389]
To crist and to cristendome · and cros to honoure
And fulled folk faste · and the faith taughte
More thurȝ miracles þan thurȝ muche prechyng ·
As wel thurȝ hisse werkes · as with hise holy wordes
And saide hem · what fullyng · and faith was to mene
¶ Cloth þat comes fro þ þ[e][^390] weuyng · is nought comly to were
Til it be foulled vndir foot · or in fullyng stokkes
Wasshen wel with water · and with taselles cracched
y-walked and yten ted · and vndir taillours hande
And sa it fares by a barne ˜ that born is of wombe
Til it be cristned in cristes name · and confermed of the bisschop
It is hethen as to heuenward · and helples to þe soule
¶ Hethen is to meene after heth · and vntilied erthe
As in wilde wildernesse · wexes wilde bestes
Rude and vnresonabile rennyng with -out croperes
¶ ye take wel how mathew sayith · how a man made a feste
He fedde h em with no venyson ˜ ne fessauntz ybake
But with fouls þat from h em nolde · but folowen his whistlynge
Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt & cetera ·
And with calues flessh he fedde þe folk þat he loued
The calf bitoknes clennesse in hem þat kepys lawes
¶ For as the cow thurȝ kynde mylk · the calf norisshe til an oxe
So loue and leau te lele men sustened
And maidynes and mylde men · mercye desiren
Right as the cow calf · coueites swete mylk
So doon riȝtful men · mercy and treuthe[^391]
¶ And who ben þat excusen hem · þat aren persouns and prestes
That hedes of holy chirche ben · þat han hir wille hire
With-outen trauaille the tithe del · þat trewe men biswynken
nota ·
Thay wyl be wrath for I write þus · and witnesse I take
Bothe mathew and mark · and memento domine dauid[^392]
What pope or prelet now · perfournes that crist highte
Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate &cetera ·
¶ Alas that men so longe on Makometh schuld bileue
So many prelates to preche · as the pope makes
Of nazareth of Nynyue or Neptalyn · and damaske
That thay ne went as crist wissed · siþ þey wol haue name[^393]
To be pastours and preche · the passioun of Ihesus
And as hym-self saide · so to lyue and dye
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & cetera
And saide it in saluacion of sarazenes and other
For cristen and vncristen · crist saide to prechours
Ite vos in vineam meam & cetera .
¶ And syth that thise sarazenes · scribes and Iewes
hand a lippe of oure bileue · the lightlyer me thynke
Thay schold torne who-so trauaille wold · to teche hem of the trinite[^394]
Querite & Inuenietis & cetera
¶ It is reuthe to red how rightwismen rightwis men lyueden
How thay defouled hir flessh · forsook hir owen wille
Fer fro kith and fro kyn · yuel yclothed yeden
Badly ybedded no book but conscience
Ne no richesse but the rode to reioise hem Inne
Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri & cetera
¶ And þo was plente and pees · a-monge pouer and riche
· nota ·
And now is reuth to red · how the reed noble
Is reuerenced er þe rode · receyued for the worthier
Than cristes cros þat ouer-cam · deth an dedly syne
¶ And now is werre and wo · and who-so why axeth
For coueitise after cros · the crowne standes in golde
Bothe riche and religious · that rode thay honoure
That in grotes is ygraue · and gold nobiles
For couetisse of þat cros · men of holy kirke
Schul torne as templers dide · þe tyme approches fast
Wite ye nouȝt wismen wis men · how tho men honoured
More tresore thane treuthe · I dare nouȝt telle þe sothe
Reson and riȝtful doom · tho religiouse demed
Riȝt so ye clerkes for youre couetise er longe
Shal thay demen dos ecclesie and youre pride depose
deposuit potentes de sede & cetera
¶ If knyȝthod and kynde wit ˜ and comune conscience
Togideres loue lely · · leue it wel ye bisshopes
The lordshipes of londes · for euere ye shul lese
And leuen as Leuatic[^a84] as oure lorde yow teches
Per primicias & diuicias & cetera
Whan constantyn of curtesie · holy cherche dowed
With londes and ledes · lordchipes and rentes ·
An aungel men herden · an heiȝ at Rome crye
Nota
dos ecclesie this day · has ydronke venyme
And tho þat han petres power · aren aposoned al
¶ A medicyne mot ther-to · that may a-mende prelates
That schul pray for þe pees · possessioun hem lettes
Take hir londes ye lordes · and leteth hym lyue by dismes
If possessioun be poyson · and inparfit hem make
Good were to dischargen hem · for holy chirche sake
And purgen hem of poyson · er more peril falle
¶ If prested preste[s][^a85] were parfit the pepil schul amende
That contrarien cristes lawe · and cristendom dispise
For alle paynymes preieþ · and profitly bileues
In the holy gret god · and his grace thay asken
And make hir Mone to makomet · hir message to shewe
Thus in a faith leue þat folk ˜ and in a fals mene
And þat is routhe for riȝtful men ˜ þat in the reem wonyen
And in a peril to þe pope · and prelates þat he makes
That bere bisshopes names · of a bethlem and of babilon[^395]
That hippe a-boute in Engelond · to halwen mennes avters[^396]
And crepe amonges curatours · confessen ayeins þe lawe
Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam & cetera .
· Nota ·
Many man for cristes loue · was martired in Romaigne
Er ar any[^a86] cristendome was know ther · or any cros honourd
¶ Euery bisshop þat beres cros ; by that he is holden
Thurgh his prouynce to passe · and to his pepil schew hym
Thellen hem and thechen hem · On þe Trinite to bileue
And feden hem with gostly foode · and gyue þer it nedes
In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum & ideo nolite constituere me in Regem[^397][^398]
Orias[^a87] seith for swich · that sike ben and fiebile
Inferte omnes decimas in oreum meum vt cibus in domo & cetera
¶ And we cristyne creatures ˜ þat on þe cros bileuen
Aren ferme as in the faith · goddes forbode elles
And han clerkes to kepepen[^a88] vs ther-Inne & hem þat shal come after[^399]
· nota ·
¶ And Iewes lyuen in lele lawe · oure lord wrote hym-selue
In stoon for it stedfast is · and stonde schuld euere
Diligite deum & proximum is parfit Iuwen lawe
And he took it moises to teche men til messie come
And on þat lawe þey leuen yet · and leten it þe beste
And yet knaw thay crist · that cristendom taughte
For a parfit prophete that muche pepil saued
Of selcouthe sors · tha[^400] seyn it ofte
Both of miruaille and miracles · and howe he men fested
With two fisshes and fyue leues · fyue thousand pepile
And by þat mangerie men myghte wel se · þat messie he semed[^401]
And whan he lifte vp lazar · that laid was in graue
And vndir stoon dede and stanke · with stif vois he called
Lazare veni foras .
Dide hym rise and Rome[^402] riȝt bifore the Iewes
And thay sayden and sworen · with sorcerie he wroughte
And stoded to stroien and stroiden hem-selue
And thorugh his pacience hir power · to pure nouȝt he broughte[^403]
¶ Pacientes vincunt & cetera ·
Danyel of hir vndoyng deuynd and saied
Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit vnctio vestra
And yet wenen the wrecches · þat he were pseudo propheta[^404]
And hopen þat he be to come · þat shal hem releue
Moises eft or messie · hire maistres yet deu ynes
And sarazens · and pharasees scribes and grekes
Aren folk of on feiþ the fader god they honouren
And sithen þat þe sarazens · and also þe Iewes
konne þe first clause of oure bileue · Credo in deum patrem
Prelates of cristyne prouinces ˜ sholde preue if thay miȝte
Lere hem litlum and litlum · & in Ihesum christum filium eius & cetera
Til thay couthe speke and spelle · et in spiritum sanctum & cetera
And reden it and recorden it ˜ with remissionem peccatorum
Carnis resurrecconem et vitam eternam amen

[^a81: prestoes prestes (C) | preestes (All other mss)]

[^a82: philophers (C) | Philosofres (Most other mss)]

[^a83: philophie (C) | Philosophie (All other mss)]

[^a84: Leuatic (C) | Leuitici (Most other mss)]

[^a85: prested preste[s] (C) | preesthode (All other mss)]

[^a86: Er ar any (YCL) | Er (F) | Ar (R) | Er any (WCrGM) | Er þat eny (B) | Er þan any (OC2)]

[^a87: Orias (C) | Oȝias (Most other mss)]

[^a88: kepepen (C) | kepen (Most other mss) | kepe (HmCrGOC2F)]

[^356: C.15.21: There is an otiose curl on the r.]

[^357: Scribal hyphen between i and u.]

[^358: Scribal hyphen after t.]

[^359: Scribal hyphen between n and s.]

[^360: C.15.44: an, "and."]

[^361: C.15.64: KD.15.62-63 are omitted.]

[^362: C.15.76: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nes" in a red box to the right of 15.77.]

[^363: C.15.76: KD.15.75 is omitted. In the spelling of L, it reads: And of þe braunches þat burgeouneth of hem · and bryngeth men to helle.]

[^364: C.15.114: KD.15.113 is omitted.]

[^365: C.15.157: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "saueour" in a red box to the right of 15.158.]

[^366: C.15.168: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "ues" in a red box with a red hyphen to the right of 15.168.]

[^367: Scribal hyphen between a and u.]

[^368: C.15.195: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "wepyng" in a red box with a red paraph to the right of 15.196.]

[^369: C.15.198: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "neuere" in a red box to the right of 15.199.]

[^370: C.15.200: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "des" in a red box to the right of 15.201.]

[^371: Scribal hyphen between r and d.]

[^372: C.15.249: KD.15.244-249 are omitted.]

[^373: C.15.265: Note the use of the three-point punctus elevatus to mark the caesura.]

[^374: Mismarked caesura]

[^375: C.15.294: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "bothe" in a red box to the right of 15.295.]

[^376: C.15.303: KD.15.303-304 are omitted.]

[^377: C.15.316: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tolde" in a red box to the right of 15.317.]

[^378: Scribal hyphen between i and m.]

[^379: C.15.318: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "the gyfue" to the right of 15.319.]

[^380: Scribal hyphen between pec and c.]

[^381: Scribal hyphen between n and d.]

[^382: C.15.346: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "deliueres" in a red box to the right of 15.347.]

[^383: C.15.353: KD.15.354 is omitted.]

[^384: C.15.355: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nable" in a red box to the right of 15.356.]

[^385: Note spelling of "philophers" at 15.357.]

[^386: C.15.394: KD.15.396 is omitted.]

[^387: C.15.397: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "pope" in a red box to the right of 15.398.]

[^388: C.15.447: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "ned" in a red box to the right of 15.448.]

[^389: Scribal hyphen between r and n.]

[^390: FFIND OTHER INSANCES OF THIS ERROR IN C. ***???]

[^391: C.15.473: KD.15.472-485 are omitted.]

[^392: C.15.478: KD.15.490α is omitted.]

[^393: C.15.484: the scribe continues this line on the next, writing "name" in a red box to the right of 15.485.]

[^394: C.15.493: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "the trinite" in a red box to the right of 15.494.]

[^395: C.15.541: KD.15.511-528 are omitted.]

[^396: C.15.542: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "ters" in a red box to the right of 15.543.]

[^397: C.15.551: The scribe continues this line on the next two, writing "tuere me in Re" to the right of 15.552 and "gem" to the right of 15.553, all enclosed in a red box.]

[^398: Scribal hyphen between i and t, and between e and g.]

[^399: C.15.556: The scribe continued this line above, writing "after" in a red box to the right of 15.555.]

[^400: Confirm whether "tha" is an accepted spelling of "they" for this scribe (throughout ms).***???]

[^401: C.15.567: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "med" in a red box to the right of 15.568.]

[^402: C.15.571: Note taht the scribe took the verb "rome" to be the city.]

[^403: C.15.575: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "broughte" in a red box to the right of 15.575.]

[^404: C.15.578: KD.15.602 is omitted.]

¶ Passus sextodecimus & cetera

NOW faire falle yow quod I tho · for youre faire shewyng
For haukyns loue the actif man · euere I schal yow louye
And yet I am in a were · wha charite is to mene
¶ It is a ful trie tree quod he trewli to telle
Merci is the more ther-of · the mydel stokke is rycthe r[u]the[^a89]
The leues ben lele wordes the lawe of holy chirche
The blosmes ben buxom speche · and benigne lokyng
Paciens hatte the pure tree ˜ and pouere simple of herte
And so thorugh god and good men groweth the fruyte charite
¶ I walde trauaille quod I this tree to se twenty hudreth hu[n]dreth[^a90] myle
· Nota ·
And to haue my fille of þat fruyt · forsake al other saulee
Lord quod I if any wight · wite whider out it growes
¶ It groweth in a gardyn quod he · þat god made hym-selue
Amyddes mannes bodye · the more is of that stokke
herte hatte þe herber ˜ þa it Inne growes
And liberum arbitrium · hase the londe to ferme
vndir piers the plowman · to piken it and weden it
¶ Piers þe plowman quod I tho · and al for pure Ioie
That I herde nempne his nam · anon I swowned after
And lay longe in a loue derne[^a91] · and at þe laste me thought
That pieres the plowman · al the place me shewed
And bad me to toten on þe tree ˜ on toppe and on rote
With thre piles was it vndir-piȝt · I parceyued it sone
¶ Piers quod I I pray the why stonde this pikes here
For windes wiltow wite quod he · to witen it fram fallyng
Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur quia dominus supponit manum suam
And in blowyng tyme abite þe flours · bot if thise floures helpe
The worlde is a wykked wynde · to hym þat willen treuthe
Coueitis comes of þat wynde ˜ and crepes among the leues
And so frete neiȝ þe fruyt · thurȝ many faire sightes
That with þe first pile I pulle hym down þat is potencia dei patris
¶ The flessh is a felle wynde · and and and[^a92] in flouryng tyme
Thurȝ libyng and lustes ˜ so loude he gynnes blowe
That it norisshes nyce sightes ˜ and som tyme wordes
And wikked werkes þer-of · wormes of synne
And forbetes þe blossoms · riȝt to þe bare leues
Than sete I to þe secounde pile sapiencia dei patris
That is the passioun · and the power of oure prince Ihesus
Thurȝ prayers and penaunces · and goddes passioun in mynde
I saue it til I se it ripen · and som-del yfruyted
¶ And than fondes the fynde · my fruyt to destroye
With alle the wiles þat he kan · and wagged þe rote
And castes vp to þe crope · vnkynde neighbores
Bakbiters breke chestes · brawlers and chiders
And layes a ledder ther-to · of lesynges ar þe ronges
And fecche a-way my flours · som-tyme by-fore bothe myn eighen
And liberum arbitrium lacches hym som tyme
That is lieutenant to loken it wel · bileue of my selue
videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum numquam remittetur & cetera hoc est idem qui peccat perliberum per liberum arbitrium non repugnat
¶ And whan the fende and the flessh · forthwith þe worlde
Manasse behynde me · my fruyt for to fecche
Than liberum arbitrium · takes þe first plante
And palleþ a-doun the pouk · purelich thurȝ grace
And helpe of þe holy gost ˜ and thus haue I þe maistrie
Now faire falle yow Piers quod I so faire ye discryue
The power of thise postles · and hir propire myghte
And I haue thoughtes a threve · of this thre piles
That oon Ihesus a Iustice sone ˜ moost Iouke in hir Chambre
Til plenitudo temporis fully comen were
That piers fruyt fruyt floured · and fel to be ripe
And þan schul Ihesus iuste ther-fore ˜ by Iuggement of armes
Whether shuld fonde þe fruyt · the fynde or hym-selue
¶ The maide myldelich tho the messager graunted
And saide hendeliche to hym · lo me his hande-maiden
For to wirke is wille · with -outen anny synne
Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi & cetera
¶ And in the wombe of that wench · was he fourty wookes
Til he wex a faunt thurgh hir flessh · and of fightyng kouthe
To haue foughte withe the fend · er ful tyme come
And piers the plowman · parceyued plener tyme
And lered hym alechecraft a lechecraft · his lif for to saue
That though he were wounded · with enemy to warisshe hymselue
And dide hym assay his surgerie · on hem þat seke were
Til he was parfit practisour · if any peril felle
And sought out of the sike and synful bothe
And salued sike and synful · both blynde and croked
And comune wommen conuerted · and to good torned
Non est sanis opus medicus set in & cetera
¶ Bothe mesels and dome · and in the menysoun blody
Of he heled swilke · he nowth helde for no maistrie
Saue than he leched lazar · þat had ylay in graue
Quatriduanus · quelt · quik dide hym walke
And as he made the maistrie · mestus cepit esse
And wepte water with hise eighen ˜ ther seen it many
And som þat the sighte seyen · sayed þat tyme
That he was leche of lif · and lord of heigh heuene
Iewes iangled ther ayeins · and Iugged lawes
And sayed he wrouȝt with wichecraft · & with þe deueles myghte
Demonium habes & cetera
Than ar ye cherles quod ich · and youre children bothe
And sathan youre saueour · youre-self now ye witnessen
¶ For I haue saued youre-self sayes crist · and youre sones after
youre bodies youre bestes · and blynde men holpen
And fedde yow with fisshes · and fyne loues
And lefte baskettz ful of broken brede · bere away who-so wolde
And myssaied the Iewes manliche · and manaced hem to bete
And knokked on hem · with a corde · and caste adoun hir stalles
And in chirche chaffareden · or changeden any moneye
And saied it in sight of hem alle · so that alle herden
I shal ouer-torne þis temple · and a-doun thrawe[^405]
And make it as muche other more in alle manere poyntes
As euere it was and as wide · wherfore I hote yowe
Of prayers and of parfitnesse · the place þat ye callen
Domus mea domus orationis vocabitur & cetera.
¶ Enuye and yuel · wille was In the Iewes
Thay casten and contreueden · to kylle him whan thay myght
Ech day after other · thair tyme thay wacced
Til bifel on a friday · a litil bifore the paske
The thoresday bifore · ther he made his maunde
Sittyng at þe soper · he sayde this wordes
nota
I am salde thorugh oon of yow · he shal the tyme rewe
That euere he his saueour salde · for siluer or elles
¶ Iudas Iangled ther agayens ˜ and Ihesus hym tolde
It was hym-self sothily · and saide · tu dicis
Than went forth that wikked man ˜ and with Iewes mete
And tolde hym a taken how to with Ihesus
And which tokne to this day to muche is I-vsed
That is kissyng and faire countenaunce · and vnkynde wille
And was with Iudas · tho he Ihesus bitraied
Aue rabi quod þat ribalde · and riȝt to hym he yede
And kist hym to be caught ther-by · and kulled of the Iewes
¶ Thanne Ihesus to Iudas and to þe Iewes saide
Falsenesse I fynde in thy faire speche
And gile in thy gladde chere ˜ and galle is in thy laughynge
Thow schalt be Mirour to many men to deceyue
And the wors and thy wikkednesse · shal worth vp-on thy-selue
Necesse est vt veniat scandala ve homini illi per quem & cetera
Though I by treson be taken · at youre owne wille
Suffyres myn apostyles in pees · and in pees gange
On a thoresday in Mirkenesse · thus was he taken
Thurgh Iudas and Iewes · Ihesus was his name
That on the friday folowyng · for mankynde sake
Iusted in Ierusalem · a Ioie to vs alle
On a cros vp-on caluarie · crist took the bataille
Ayeins deth and the deuel · distroied hir bother myghtes
deied and deth fordide · and day of nyght made
¶ And I awaked þer-with · and wiped myn eighen
And after piers plowman pried and stared
Estward and westward · and waited after faste
And yede forth as an ydiot · in contree to aspie
After piers the plowman · many a place I soughte
And than mette I with a man · a mydlenten sonday
As hore as any hawe-thorne · and abraham he highte
I frain hym first · fram whennes he come
And of whennes he were · and whider þat he thoughte
¶ I am faith quod þis freek · it falles nouȝt to lye
And of abrahame hous · and herald of armes
I seek after a man that I seigh ones
A ful bolde bacheler I knawe hym by his blasen
What beres þat barne quod I tho tho · so blisse the bitide
¶ Thre leodes on oo lithe noon lenger than other
Of oon mychel and oon myȝt · and mageste in mesure and lenghte
That oon doos al doos · and ech doos by his oone
¶ The first has myȝt and mageste · maker of alle thyngis
Pater is his name · a persone by hym-selue
The seconde is of þat sire · sted-fastenesse filius
Wardeyn of þat wit hath · was euer with -oute gynnyng
¶ The thridde has the haly goost · a persone by hym-selue
The light of hal þat lif has · a lande and on watre
Confortour of creatures · of hym comes alle blisse
So ther bilongeth for a lord · þat lordchip laymes
Miȝt and mene · to knowe his owne miȝte
Of hym and of his seruant · and what þey suffyre bothe
So go þat gynnyng had neuer · but þo hym goode thouȝte
Sent forth his sone ˜ as for seruant þat tyme
To occupien hym here · til issue were spronge
That is children of charite · and haly chirche þe moder
Patriarkes and prophetes · and apostles were the children
And crist and cristendome · and cristne holy chirche
In menyng þat man · moost on o god bileue
And ther hym liked and loued · in three persones hym schewed
And that it may be so and soth manhode it schewes
Wedlok and widwehode · with virginite ynempned
In toknyng of þe trinite was taken oute of a man
Adam oure aller fader · Eue was of hym-selue
And the issue þat he hadde · it was of hem bothe
And either is otheres Ioie in thre sondry persones
And in heuene and here · on singulere name
And thus is mankynde or manhode · of matrimoigne[^406]
¶ Might is matrimoigne · þat multiplies the erthe
And bitoknes trewli · telle it if I dorste
He þat first fourmed al · the fader of heuene
¶ The sone is if I dorste saye ˜ resemblaunt to widowe
Deus meus deus meus vt quid dereliquisti me
That is creatour wex creature · to knawe what was bothe
Nota
As widowe with-oute wedloke · was neuere yet I seye
Na more miȝte gode be mane · but if he moder hadde
So widdowe with wedloke · may nouȝt wel stande
Ne matrimoigne with-oute moilliere · is nouȝt muche to preise
Maledictus homo qui non reliquet semen in Israel
¶ Thus in thre persones · is parfitlich manhode
That is a man and his make · and moilliere children
And is nat but genderd of a generacion · bifore Ihesu crist in heuene
So is the fader forth with þe sone · and free wille of bothe
Spiritus procedens a patre & filio
Which is the holy goost of alle · and alle is bot oo god
Thus in a somer I hym seigh as I satte in my porche
I raas vp and reuerenced hym ˜ and right faire hym grette
Thre men to my sight · I made wel at ese
Wesshe hir feet and wiped hem · and afterward thay eten
Calues flessh and cake bredde · and knew what I thouȝt
Ful trewe toknes bitwene vs · is to telle whan me likes
First he fonded me · if I loued better
Hym or Isaac myn heir · the which he hiȝt me kylle
He wist my wille by hym · he wol me it alowe
I am ful siker in soule ther-of · and my sone bothe
I circumcised my sone · sythen for his sake
My-selfe and my meyne ; and alle þat male were
Bledden blode for þat lordes loue · and hope to blisse þe tyme
Myn affiaunce and my faith · is ferme in his bileue
For hym-self bihiȝte to me · and to myn issue bothe
Lond and lordschip · and lif with -outen ende
To me and to myn issue · more yet he me graunted
More for oure mysdedes · as many tyme as we axen
Quam olim abrahe promisisti & semini eius
¶ And sith he sent me to saye I shold do sacrifice
And doon hym worship with breed · and with wyn bothe
And called me stot of his faith ˜ his folke for to saue
And defende hym fra þe fende folk þat on me leueden
Thus haue I ben his heraude here and in helle
And conforted many careful · þat after his comyng waiten
And thus I seke hym he saide · for I herde sayn late
Of a barne þat baptized hym Iohan Baptist was his name
That to patriarkes and prophetes and other pepile in derknes
Saide that he seiȝ hir · þat shul saue vs alle
Ecce agnus dei & cetera
I hadde wondir of hise wordes · and of his wid clothes
For in his bosome he bare a thyng · that he blissed euere
And I loked on his lappe · a lazare ay ther-Inne[^407]
¶ What awaitestow quod he · and what waldestow haue
¶ I walde wit quod I tho ˜ what is in youre lappe
¶ Lo quod he and lete me se · lorde mercye I saiede
This is a present of muche pris · what prince shal it haue
¶ It is a preciouse present quod he · and the pouke it has atached
And me ther-with quod that man · May no wedde us quyte
Ne no barne ben our bourgh · ne brynge vs fram his daunger
Out of the poukes ponfold · ne no maunprise may vs fecche
Til he com þat I carpe of · crist is his name
That shal deliuere vs somday · out of the deueles power
And better wedde for vs legge · than we ben alle worthy
That is lif for lif · or lygge thus euere
Lollyng in my lappe · til swich a lord vs fecche
¶ Allas I saied þat synne so longe shal lette
The miȝt of goddes mercy þat miȝt vs alle amende
I wepte for his wordes · with þat saugh I another
Rapelich renne forth · the riȝt way he wente
I affrayned hym first · fram whennes he come
And what he hiȝte and whider he walde · and wightliche he tolde

[^a89: rycthe r[u]the (C) | ruþe (Most other mss)]

[^a90: hudreth hu[n]dreth (C) | hundred (All other mss)]

[^a91: derne (C) | dreem (All other mss)]

[^a92: and and and (C) | and (Most other mss)]

[^405: C.16.100: KD.16.132 is omitted.]

[^406: C.16.179: KD.16.210 is omitted.]

[^407: C.16.229: KD.16.256 is omitted.]

¶ Passus septimus decimus :

I am spes quod he a spye · and spir after a knyght
That took me a maundement vp-on the mount of synay
To reule al reemes with · I bere þe writ here
Is it asseled I saide · may men se the lettres
¶ Nay he saied I seke hym · þat has þeal to kepe
And that is cros and cristendome · and crist þeron to hange
And whan it is asseled so · I woot wel the sothe
That luciferes lordship · last shal no langer[^408]
¶ Lat se thy lettres quod I we miȝte the lawe knawe
Than plukked he forth a patente · a piece of an hard roche
Where-on were writen two wordes · on this wise yglosed
Dilige deum & proximum tuum & c
¶ This was the text trewely · I took ful goode yeme
The glose was gloriously writen · with a gilte penne
In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & prophete
¶ Ben here al thy lordes lawes quod I · ye leue me wille he saiede
Who-so wirches after þis write · I wyl vndirtaken
Shal neuer deuel hym dere · ne dette in saule greue
For thorugh I sey it my-selue · I haue saued with þis charme
Of men and wommen · may score thousandes
¶ He sayes soth sayed þe heraud · I haue founded it ofte
Lo here in my lappe · that leued on þat charme
Iosue and Iudith · and Iudas Machabeus
ye and sexti þousand biside forth ˜ þat be nouȝt seyn here
youre wordes be wondirful quod I · whiche of yow is trewest
And lelest to leue on · for life and for soule
Abraham sayes that he seighe holy the trinite
Thre persones in parcelle · departable fro other
And alle thre bot o god · thus abraham me taughte
And hath saued þat I bileued so · and sori for hir synne
He kan nouȝt saye þe somme ˜ and som aren in his lappe
What nedes it thanne · a newe lawe to bigynne
Sith the first suffise to saluacion and to blisse
¶ And now bicometh spes and spekes þat hase aspied the lawe
And telles nowght of þe Trinite · that took hym hise lettres
To bileue and louye in o lord almyghty
And sithen right as my-self · so louye alle pepile
¶ The mane that gaes with a staf · he semes in getter hel
Than he that gos with two staues · to sight of vs alle
And right so by the rode · reson me shewes
It is lighter to lewed men · a lesson to knowe
Than for to techen hem two · and to hard to lere the leste
It is ful hard for any man ˜ on abraham bileue
And waylawey wors yit ˜ for to loue a shrewe
It is lighter to leue ˜ in thre louely persones
Than for to loue and leue as wel lorelles as leles
¶ Ga thy gate quod I spes so me god helpe
Tha that[^409] lernes thy lawe · wil litil while vsen it
And as we went thus in the waye · wordyng togidires
Than seigh we a samaritane sittyng on a Mule
Ridyng ful rapely · the riȝt way we yeden
Com fram a contre that men called Ierico
To a Iustes in Iherusalem ˜ he chaced a-way faste
Bothe heraud and hope · and he met atones at ones
Where a man was wounded · and with theues take
He myghte neither steppe ne stonde · ne stire foot ne handes
Ne helpe hym-self sotly · for semiuyf he semed
And as naked as a nedle · and non helpe aboute hym
¶ Faith had first sight of hym · and he fled on side
And walde nouȝt neighe hym · by nyne landes lengthe
Hope cam hippyng after · that had so ybosted
How he with moises mandement · had many men I-holpe
And whan he had sighte of that grome · asyde he gan hym drawe
dredfuly by this day · as doke doos fram the faukon
And so sone so the samaritane · had sight of this lede
He lighte adoun of liard · and hym in his hande
And to the wye he wente · hise woundes to biholde
And parceyued by his pouse · he was in peril to dye
And but if he had socur the rather · þat rise shulde he neuere[^410]
With wyne and with oyle ˜ hise woundes he wasshed
Enbaumed hym and bonde his hed · and in his lappe he layde
And lad hym so forth on liard · to lex christi a graunge
Wel sex myle or seuene ˜ biside the new market
Herberwed hym at on ostrie · and to the ostiler called
And saide haue · kepe this man ˜ til I come fro the Iustes
And lo here siluer he saide · for salue to hise woundes
And he took hym two pens ˜ to liflode as it were
And saide what he spendes more · I make the good here after
For I may nouȝ lette quod that leode · and lyard he bistroode
And raped hym to Ierusalem warde · the right wey to ryde
¶ Faith folwed after faste · and fonded to mete hym
And spes spaklich hym spedde ˜ spede if he myghte
To ouer -take hym and talke til hym · er thay to towne come
¶ And whan I seigh this · I soiournd nouȝt ˜ bot shope me renne
And suwed that samaritan that was so ful of piete
And graunted hym to be his grome · graunt mercy he saide
And thy frend and thy felawe he saide · þou fyndest me at nede
¶ And I thanked hym tho · and sith I hym tolde
How that faith fleed away · and spes his felawe bothe
For sight of the sorwful man · þat robbed was with theues
haue hem excused quod he · hir helpe may litel auaille
May no medicyne on molde · the man to hele brynge
Neither faith ne fyne hope · so festred ben his woundes
With-outen þe blood of a barne ˜ born of a Maide
And he be bathed in the blood · baptized as it were
And þan plastred with penaunce · and passioun of þat baby
He scholde stonde and steppe · and stalworþ worth he neuer
Til he haue eten al þe barne · and his blood ydronken
For wente neuere wye in this world · þurȝ þat wildernesse
Thad he was ne was robbed or riflid · rade he ther or yede
saue faith and his felawe · spes and my-selue
And thy-self now · and swich as swen oure werkes
¶ For outlawes in the wode · and vndir bank lowted
And mowe eche man see · and good marke take
Who is bihynde and who bifore · and who ben on hors
For he haldes hym hardier on hors · than he that is at foote
For he seigh me that am Samaritan sewen faith and his felawe
On my capile that hatte Caro of mankynde I took it
He was vnhardy that harlot · and hid hym in inferno
And er thise dayes thre dayes · I dar vndir-take
That he worth fettred that felon · faste with cheynes
And neuer eft greue grome · þat goth this ilke gate[^411]
¶ And than schal faith be forster here · and in this fryth
And kenne comune men þat knowen nouȝt the contree
Wiche is the wey that ich wente ˜ and wherforth to Ierusalem
And hope the hostilers man shal be ther the man lith to helynge
And al that fieble and feynte be · that faith may nouȝt teche
hope shal lede hym forth with loue · as his lettre hem telles
And herber hem and hel hem · thorugh holy chirche bileue
Til I haue salue for alle sike · and than shal I retorne
And come ayein by this contre · and conforte alle sike
That craues it or coueites it · and cries ther-after
For the barne was in Bethelem of a clen Maide
That schal with his blood saue · al that lyuen in faith
And foloweth the techyng of hope that is felawe
¶ A swete sire I saied tho · were shal I beleue
As faith and his felawe enformen bothe me
In thre persones departable · that perpetuel were euere
And al this bot o god · thus abraham me taughte
And hope afterward · he bad me to loue
O god with al my goode · and alle gomes after
Louye hem lik my-self · and oure lord abouen alle
¶ After abraham quod he ˜ that heraud of armes
Sette fast thy faith · and ferme bileue
And as hope highte the I hote þat thow louye
Thyn euene cristyne euermore · euene forth with thy selue
And if conscience carpe ther ayein · or kynde wit either
Or heretikes with argumentz · thyn honde thow hym shewe
For god is after an hande · yhere now and knowe it
¶ The fader was first a fist · with a fynger foldyng
Til hym loued and liste · to vnlosen his fynger
And profre it forth as with a paume · to what place it sholde
The paume is purly the honde · and profer forth the fyngers
To ministre and to make · þat myght of hand knowes
And bitoknes trewli · telle who-so it liked
The holy gost of heuen · he is as the paume[^412]
Saynte Marie a Maide and mankynde laughte
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto natus & c
The fader is þanne a a fyst ˜ with fynger to touche
Qui omnia traham ad meipsum me ipsum & c
Alle that the paume parceyues ˜ profitable to fele
Thus aren thay alle but oon · as it an hand were
And thre sondry sightes · in oon shewynge
The paume for he puttes forth fyngres · and the fist bothe
Right so ridily reson it shewes
How he þat is holy gost · sire and sone preueth
And as the hande haldes harde ˜ and al thyng faste
Thorugh foure fyngres and a thombe · forth with þe palme
Right so the fader and the sone ˜ and saynt spirit the thride
Haldes al the wide worlde · with-Inn hem thre
Both welken and the wynde · water and erthe
Heuene and helle · and al that ther-Inne is
Thus it nedes no man trow non other
That thre thynges bilonges · in oure lord of heuene
And aren sereples by hem-self · a sondry were thay neuere
Na more than myn hande may moue withoute my fyngers
¶ And as my neef if fulhande · yfold to-giders
So is the fader a ful god · fourmeour and schipper
Tu fabricator omni & c
Al the myghte with hym is · in makyng of alle thynges
¶ The fyngres formen a ful hande · to purtrey or to paynten
Keruing and compassyng · as crist of the fyngres
Right so is the sone the science of the fader
And ful god as is the fader · no fiebler ne no better
¶ The pavme is purlich the hande · has power by hym -selue
Other-wise thanne he writhes þe fyst · or werkmanship of fyngres
For the pavme hase power · to put out al the ioyntes
And to vnfold the folden Neue · as the fyngers wille
To is the holy goost god · nouther gretter ne lasse
Than is the sire and the sone · and in the same myghte
And alle aren thay but o god · as is myn hande and fynggers
vnfolden or folden · my fyst and my pavme
Al is bot on hande · euene in the myddes[^413]
For the fyngers that folde shulde · ande the Neeue make
For peyne of the loofe · power hem failles
To clenche or to clawe · or clippe or to holde
¶ Were the mydel of myn hande · ymayheymed or yperissed
I scholde receyue right nouȝt · and of þat I reche myghte
As though my thombe and my fyngers bothe were to-schirnerd
And the mydel of myn honde · with-oute male-ese
In many kynnes maners I myghte my-selue helpe
Bothe moeue and amende · though alle my fyngers oke
By this skyl my-thynketh · I se auidence
That who-so synnes in saynt spirit ˜ assoilled worth he neuere
Neither here ne elleswhere · as I herde telle
Qui peccat in spiritu sancto & c
For he prikes god is as a fyst · the sone is as the fynger
The holy gost of heuene is as it were the pavme
So who-so synnes in the seynt spirit · it semeth þat he greues
God þat he gripes with · and wolde his grace quenche
¶ And to a torche or to a tapere the Trinite is ylikned
As wax and a weke · were twyned to-gidires
And thanne a fire flaumyng · forthe oute of bothe
And as wax and weke · and hote fir togiders
Fostren forth a flaumbe · and a fair lowe[^414]
So doos the sire and the sone ˜ and also spiritus sanctus
Brynges forth amonges folk · loue and bileue
That alkynne cristen · clensees of synnes
And as thow seest some tyme · sodeynliche a torche
The blase ther-of yblow out · yet bernnes the weke
With-oute lowe or lighte · þat þe macche brennes
So is the holy goost god · and grace with-owten mercye
To alle vnkynde creatures · that coueite to destruye
Lele loue other lif · that oure lord shapte
¶ And as a glowyng glede · ne gladeth nauȝt thise werkmen
That werchen and waken · in wynters nyghtes
As doos a kex or a candel · þat caught has fire and blaseth
namore doth sire ne sone · ne saynt spirit togiders
Graunte no grace ne forgyfnees of synnes
Til the holy gost gynne to glowe and to blase
So that the holy goost glowes bot as a glede
Til that lele loue ligge on hym and blowe
And than flaumes he as fir on fader and on filius
And meltees hir myghte o mercye · as men may se in wynter
Iseyokels in euesynges · thurȝ het of sonne
Melteth in a minute while ˜ to myst and to water
So grace of the holy goost · the grete myghte of the trinite
Meltes to mercye to merciable and to non other
¶ And as wax with-outen more · on a warme glede
Wol brennen and blasen · be thay to-geddires
And solacen hem þat mow se þat sitten in dirknes
So wol the fader foryeue folk of mylde hertes
That reufullich repenten · and restitucon make
In as muche as thay mowen amenden and payen
And if it suffizes nout for asseith · that in swich wille deyeth
Merci for his meknesse · wol make good the remenaunt
And as the weke and fire · wol make a warme flaumde
For to myrthe men with · that in merke sitten
So wol crist of his curteisie · and men crie hem mercye
Bothe for-gyue and foryete · and yet bidde for vs
To the fader of heuen foryeuenesse to haue
¶ And hewe fire at a flynt · forure hundreth wynter
But thow haue towe to take it with tondure or broches
Al thy labour is lost · and al thy longe trauaille
For may no fir flaumbe make ˜ faille it is kynde
So is the holy goost god · and grace with-outen mercye
To alle vnkynde creatures · criste hym-self witnesseth
Amen dico vobis nescio vos~
¶ Be vnkynde to thyn euene cristen · and al þat þou kanst bidden
Delen or do penaunce · day & night euere
And purchace al the pardon · of Pampilon and Rome
And indulgences ynowe · and be ingratis to þy kynde
The holy gost heres þe nouȝt · ne helpe may the by reson
For vnkyndenes quenches hym · þat he kan nouȝt shyne
Ne brenne ne blase clere · for blowyng of vnkyndenesse
Poule the apostel proueth where I lye
Si linguis hominum loquare & c
¶ For-thy ware ye wise men that with the worlde deleth
That riche ben and reson knoweth · reule wel youre saule
Beth naught vnkynde I counseil yow to youre euene cristne
For many of yow riche men · by my soule men telles
ye brenne but ye blasen nouȝt · þat is an vnkynde beken
Non omnis qui dicit domine domine & c[^415]
Diues deyed dampned · for his vnkyndenesse
Of his mete and his monei · to men þat it nedes
Ech a riche I rede reward at hym take
And geueth youre good to þat god · þat grace of ariseth
For thay þat ben vnkynde to hise · hope I non other
But thay schul dwel ther diues is · dayes with-outen ende
Thus is vnkyndenesse the contrarie · that quencheth as it were
The grace of the holy gost · goddis owne kynde
For þat kynde doos vnkynde for-doth ˜ as thise cursed theues
vnkynde cristyne men · for coueitise and enuye
Sleth a man for hise moebles · with mouthe or with hondes
For þat þe haly gaest hase to kepe · tho harlotes destroieth
The whiche is þe lif and loue · the leye of mannes body
For euery maner good man · may be likned to a torche
Or elles to a taper · to reuerence the Trinite
Nota
And who-so morthreth a good man · ne thynket by myn Inwit
He fordoos the leuest light · that oure lord louees
And yet in many mo maners ; men offende the holy goost
And this is the worst wisse that anny wight myghte
Synnen ayein seint spirit · assenten to destruye
For coueitise of any thyng · that criste dere boughte[^416]
That wikkedlich · and wilfulliche wolde mercy aniente
¶ Innocens is nex god · and nyght and day it cryeth.
vengeance vengeaunce ˜ forgyuen be it neuere
That schent vs and shad oure blood · forshapte vs as it were
vindicta sanguinem iustorum & c
¶ Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce verray charite askes
And sit holy chirche and charite · charges this so sore
Leue I neuere that oure lord · wol loue that charite hattes
Ne haue pite for any prayer · ther that he pleynes
¶ I pose I had synned so · and shulde nouȝt deye
And now am sory that I so · the seint spirit agylte
Confesse me and crye his grace god that al made
And myldlich his mercy axe · myȝt I nought be saued
nota
¶ Thus saied the samaritan so wel thow myghte repente
That rightwisnesse thorugh repentaunce ; to reuthe myghte torne
And it is bot seldom seyen · the sothnesse bereth witnesse
Any creature that is coupabile · a-fore a kynges Iustices
Be raunceoned for his repentaunce · ther al reson hym dampnees
For ther þat partie pursuees · the pepile his so huge
That the kynge may do no mercye · til bothe men acorde
And neither haue equite · as holy writ telles
¶*** Nuncquam dimittitur peccatum & c
¶*** Thus it farees by swich folk · that falsly al hir lyues
yuel lyuen and leten nought · til lif hem forsake[^417]
Gode hope sholde · to wanhopope turneth
Nouȝt of the non power of god · that he ne is myghtful
To amende al that amys is · and his mercy gretter
Than alle oure wikked werkes · as holy writ telles
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius ~
¶*** And er his rightfulnesse to reuthe torne · som restitucoun biho
His sorwe is satisfaccion for hym ˜ that may nought paie
T
¶*** Thre thynges that ben that doon a man by strengthe
For to fleen his owen hous · as holy writ sheweth
That oon is a wikked wif · that wol nouȝt be chastied
hir feer flieth fro hir · for fere of hir tonge
And if hous be vnhilled · and rayne in hise bedde
He seketh al aboute · til he ligge drye
And whan smoke or smolder smyt in his sighte
It doth hym wors than his wif · or wete to slepe
For smoke and smolder · smytes his eighen
Til he be blereighed or blynde · and hoos in the throte
Coughees and curseth · that crist yeue hym sorwe
That schul brynge Inne better wode · or blow it til it brende
¶*** This thre that I telle of · be thus vndirstonde
The wiffe is oure wikked flessh · þat wol nouȝ be chastied
For kynde cleueth on hym euere to contrarie þe soule
And though it falle it fynt skylles · that frelite is maad
And that is lightly foryeuen ˜ and foryeten bothe
To man that mercy asketh · and amende thynketh
¶*** The rayne that rayneth · there we reste sholde
Ben siknesse and sorwes · that we suffren ofte
As poule the apostel to the pepile taughte
Virtus In infirmitate & c
And though that men make muche dole in angre
And in-pacient in hir penaunce · pure resone knoweth
That thay han cause to contrarie · by kynde of hir sikenesse
And lightlich oure lord · at hir lyues ende
Haue mercy on swich men · that yuel may suffree
¶ And the smoke and the smolder · that smyt in oure eighen
Is coueitise and vnkyndenesse · that quenches goddes mercy
For vnkyndenesse is the contrarie ˜ of alkynns resoun
For ther nys sik ne sory · ne non so muche werche
That he ne may louye and hym like · and leue of his herte
Good wille and good word · bothe wisshen and willen
Alle manere men mercy ˜ and forgyfnesse
And louye hem liche hym-self · and his lif amende
I may no langer lette quod he · and harde priked
And wente away as wynde · and ther-with I awaked

[^408: C.17.8: KD.17.9 is omitted.]

[^409: C.17.49: Tha that, "Those who." The northern scribe also writes tha for the relative pronoun "that."]

[^410: C.17.69: KD.17.71 is omitted.]

[^411: C.17.112: KD.17.114α is omitted.]

[^412: C.17.146: KD.17.148-150 are omitted.]

[^413: C.17.183: KD.17.188 is omitted.]

[^414: C.17.205: KD.17.211 is omitted.]

[^415: C.17.263: KD.17.267 is omitted.]

[^416: C.17.284: KD.17.289 is omitted.]

[^417: C.17.308: KD.17.313-314 are omitted.]

¶ Passus decimus octauus :

UOlleward and wete schoed · went I forth after
And as a reccheles renke þ(a)t of no recches
And yede forth like a lorel · al my lif tyme
Til I wex wery of the worlde · and wilnes eft to slepe.
And lened me to a lenten · and lang tyme I slepte
And of cristes passiou(n) and penaunce · þe peple þ(a)t of taughte
Reste me ther and rutte faste ˜ til ramis palmar(um)
Of gerles and of gloria laus gretely me dremed
And how ozanna by organye olde folkes so(n)gen
¶ Oon semblable to the samaritan · and somdel to piers plowma(n)
Barfoot and oon an asse bake · boteles gan prike
With-outen spores other spere · spaklich he loked
As is the kynde of a knyght · that comes to dubbed
To getten hym gilte spores · and galoches ycouped
Than was faith in a fenestre · and crie a fili dauid
As doos an heraud of armes · whan aunterous comes to Iustes
Olde Iewes of Ier(usa)l(e)m · for Ioie thay songen~
Benedictus qui venit in no(m)i(n)e d(omi)ni & c(etera)
¶ That I frayned at faith · what al that fare bymente
And who shulde Iuste In Ierusalem · Ih(es)us he saide
And fecche that the fende claymeth · Piers fruyt the plowma(n)
¶ Is piers in this place quod · and he preynt on me
This Ih(es)us of his gentries · wol Iuste in piers armes
In his helme and hise haubergeon · humana natura
That crist be nouȝt yknowe here · for consumatus est
In piers paltok the plowman · this priker shal ride
For no dynte shal hym dere · as in deitate p(at)ris
¶ Who schal Iuste with Ih(es)us quod I · Iewes or scribes
¶ Nay quod he the foule fend ˜ and fals dom and deth
Deth sayes he shal for do · and a-doun brynge
Al that lyues or lokes in londe or in watre
Lif saith that lieth · and layes his lif to wedde
That for al that deth kan doo with-Inne thre dayes
To walke and fecche fro þe fend Piers fruyt þe plowman
And legge it ther hym liketh · and lucifer bynde
And for to bete and a-doun bryng · bale det for euere
O mors ero mors tua & c(etera)
¶ Than com pilatus with pepil Sedens p(ro) tribunali
To se how dowtilich deth schol do · and deme hir brotheres right
The Iewes and the Iustices · ayeins Ih(es)u thay were
And al the court on hym cried ˜ Crucifige sharpe
Tho putte hym forth a pilo(ur) · bifore pilat and saide
This Ih(es)us of oure Iewes peple Iaped and dispised
To fordon it on a day · and in thre dayes after
Edifie it eft newe · here he standes that saide it
And yet maken it as muche in al manere poyntes
Bothe as longe and as large · by loft and by grounde
Crucifige quod a cacchepol · I warant hym a wecche
Tolle tolle quod another · and took of kenne thornes
And bi-gan of kene thorn a garland to make
And set it sore on is hed · and saide in Enuye
Aue rabi quod that ribaud ˜ and threw rides at hym
Nayled hym with thre nayiles · naked on the rode
And poiso(n) on a pole ˜ they putte vp to hisse lippes
And bede hym drynke his deth yuel · hise dayes were doon
And if thow suttel be · helpe now thy-seluen.
If þ(o)u be crist and kynges sone · com doun of the rode
Than shul we leue that lif the loueth · and wol nouȝt lete the deye
Consumatu(m) est quod crist · and comsed for to swowen
Pitousliche and pale · as a prison that deyeth
The lorde of lif an of light tho leyde hise eighen togideres
The day for dred · with-drouȝ · and derk becam the sonne
The wal wagged and clef · and al the word quaued
Dede men for þ(a)t dyne · com out of depe graues
And tolde why þ(a)t tempeste · so longe tyme dured
For a bitter bataille · the dede body saide
Lif and deth in this derknesse · hir oon fordoth hir other
Schal no wight wit wit(er)ly · who shal haue the maistrie
Er sonday aboute sonne risyng · and sank w(i)t(h) þ(a)t til erthe
Som saide that he was goddes sone · that so faire deyed
vere filius dei erat iste & c(etera)
¶ And some saide he was a wicche ˜ good is þ(a)t we assaye
Were he be dede or nought ded · doun er he be taken
¶ Two theues also tholed deth þ(a)t tyme
vp-on a cros biside crist · so was the co(mun)e lawe
A cacchepolle cam forth · and craked bothe hir legges
And hir armes after · of either of the theues
And was no boy so bolde · goddes body to touche
For he was knyght and kynges sone ˜ kynde foryaf þ(a)t tyme
That non harlot were so hardi to lay hand vp-on hym
¶ And ther cam forth a knyght with a kene spere ygrounde
Highte longeus as the l(ett)re telleth and longe had lore his sighte
Bifore pilat and other peple · in the place he houed
Maugre hise many tethe · he was made þ(a)t tyme
To take the spere in his hande and Iusten with Ih(es)us
For al thay were vnhardy · þ(a)t houed on hors & stoode
To touchen hem or tasten hym · or take(n) hy(m) doun on rode
Bot this bly(n)de bachiler · þane bare hy(m) thurȝ the herte
The blode spronge doun by þe sper · and vnspered hise eighe(n)
Than fel the knyȝt vp-on knes · and cried hym mercye
Ayein my wille it was lord to wounde yow so sore
How he seighed and saide sore it me a-thenketh
For þe dede þ(a)t I haue don I do me in youre grace
Haue on me reuthe rigful Ih(es)u · and right w(i)t(h) þ(a)t he wepte
¶ Than gan faith felli the fals Iewes despise
Called hem caytyues acorsed for euere
For this foule vilanie · vengeaunce to yow alle
To do the blynde bete hym ybounde it was a boys co(n)nseil
Cursed caytif knyghthode was it neuere
To misdo a dede body · by day or by nyght
The grythe ye hase he geten · for al his grete wounde
For youre champeou(n) chiveler chief knyght of yow alle
yelde hym recreaunt rennyng · right at Ih(es)us wille
For be derkenesse ydo · his deth worth a-venged
And lordeyns · han ylost ˜ for lif shal haue the maistre
And yore fraunchise that free was · fallen is in thraldom
And ye clerkes and youre children · chieue shul ye neu(er)e
Ne haue lordschip in honde · ne no londe tilye
But al bareyne be · and vsurie vsen
Which is lif þ(a)t oure lord · in alle lawes a-corseth
Now youre good dayes aren don · as daniel p(ro)phecied
Whan crist cam hir kyngdome · and crowne shuld iesse
Cum veniat s(an)c(t)us s(an)c(t)or(um) cessabit vnxio v(est)ra~
¶ What for fere of this ferly · And of the false Iewes
I drew me in þat derknesse · to descendit ad in-ferna
And ther I saugh sothely · s(e)c(un)d(u)m sc(ri)pturas
Out of the west coste · a wenche as me thoughte
Com walkyng in the way · to helleward scho loked
Mercy highte that maide ˜ a meke thyng with alle
A ful benigne birde · and buxom of speche
¶ Hir syster as it semed · com softily walkyng
Euene out of the Est and westward she loked
A ful many creatur treuthe she highte
For þe virtue that hir folwed · a-ferde was sche neuer
¶ Whan thise maidens mette mercy and trouthe
Either asked other · of þis gret wondire
Of the dyn and the derkenesse · and how þe day rowed
And wich a light and a leme · lay bifore helle
Ich haue ferly of this fare · in faith saide treuthe
And am wendyng to wite what this wondire meneth
¶ haue no m(er)ueill quod m(er)cy ˜ murthe it bitokne
A Maiden þ(a)t hatte marie · and moder w(i)t(h)-outen felyng
Of any kynnes creature · conceyued thurgh spech
And g(ra)ce of the holy gost wex grete with childe
With-outein · wem in-to this world ˜ she brouȝt hym
And that my tale be trew I take god to witnesse
Sit this barn was born · ben thretty wynter passed
Wich deyed and tholed this day aboute mydday
And that is cause of this clipse · þat closes now the sonne
In menyng that man shal · fro merkenesse be drawe
The while this light and this lem shal lucifer ablonde
For patriarkes and p(ro)phetes · hand p(re)ched her-of often
That man shal man saue · thurgh a maidens helpe
And that was tynt thurȝ tree · tree schal it wynne
And that dethe dooun broughte · deth schal releue
¶ That thow tellest quod · it is but a tale of tale of
For adam and Eue · and abrah(a)m with other
Pat(ri)arkes and p(ro)phetes · that in payne liggen
Leue thow neuer that yon light ˜ a-loft schal brynge
Ne haue hem oute of helle ˜ holde thy tonge mercye
It is bot a tryfule that thow tellest · I trought woot þe soth
For þ(a)t is ones in helle · out comes it neuere
Iob the p(ro)phete patriarke · reproues thi sawes
Quia in inferno nulla est redempc(i)o
¶ Than mercy ful myldly ˜ mouthed thise wordes
Thurgh exp(er)ience quod she · I hope thay shul be saued
For venym fordoos venym ˜ and that I proue by resou(n)[^418]
For of all venym foulest is the Scorpiou(n)
May no medicyne helpe the place · ther he styngeth
Til he be ded and do ther-to · þe yuel he destroyeth
The first venymouste · thurgh venym of hym-selue
So shal this deth fordo · I dar my lif legge
Al þ(a)t deth dide first · thorugh the deueles entisyng
And right as thurgh gile man was bigiled
So shal g(ra)ce that bigan · make a good sighte
ars vt artem falleret
¶ Now suffere we saide treuthe · I se as me thynketh.
Out of the nyppe of þe North · nouȝt ful fer he(n)nes
Rightwisnesse cam rennyng reste we the wille
For he woot more than we · he was or we bothe
¶ That is soth saiede mercy · and I se here bisouthe bi southe
Were pees cometh pleyng · in pacience yclothed
Loue hase coueited hir longe · leue I non other
But he sent hir som l(ett)re · what this light by-meneth
That ouer houeth helle thus · she vs schal telle
¶ Whan pees in pacience yclothed · approched neiȝ hem twayne
Rightwisnesse hem reu(er)enced · for hir riche clothynge
And prayed pees to telle hir to what place she wolde
And in hir gay garnementz ˜ whom she grete thoughte
¶ Mi wille his to wende quo she · and welcom hem alle
That many day miȝt I nouȝte se · for merknesse of synne
Adam an Eue · and other mo in helle
Moises and many mo mercy schul haue
I shal daunce þer-to · do thow so suster
For Ih(es)us Iusted wel · Ioie bigynnes dawe
ad vesp(er)um demorabitur fletus & ad matutinu(m) liticia
Loue þat is my lemman · swiche l(ett)res me sente
That mercy my syster and I · mankynde schude saue
And that god hase forgyuen · and gunted me pees and mercye
To be mannes meynp(er)o(ur) · for euer more after
Lo here the patent q(uod) pees · in pace in idip(su)m
And that this dede shal dure Dormiam & requiescam
¶ What rauestow quod rightwisnesse · or thow art right dronke
Leuestow that yond light · vnloke mighte helle
And saue mannes soule · syster wene it neuere
Atte bigynnyng god yaf · the dome hym-selue
That adam and Eue · and alle that hem sulked
Shul deye doun-right · and dwelle in peyne after
If þ(a)t þey touched a tre · and þe fruyt eten
Adam afterward ayeins his defense
Freet of þ(a)t fruyt · and forsoke as it were
The loue or oure lord · and his lore bothe
And folowed þ(a)t the fende tauȝt · and hise felawes wille
Ayeins reson and rightwisnesse · record þus w(i)t(h) treuthe
That hir peyne be p(er)petuel · and no prayer hem helpe
For-thy lat hem chewe as þei chose · and chide we nouȝt syster
For it is boteles bale · the bite þ(a)t they eten
¶ And I schal proue q(uod) pees ˜ hir peyne mote haue an ende
And wo in-to wel · mowe wende at þe laste
For had thay wist of no wo · wel had þey nouȝt knowen
For no wight woot what wel is · þ(a)t neuere wo suffred
Ne what is hote hunger þ(a)t had neuere defaute
If no nyght ne were no man is as I leue
Shulde wite witterly what day is to mene
Shuld neuer riȝt riche man · that lyueth in reste and ese
Wite what wo is ne wel · ne were þe deth of kynde
So god that bigan al · of his good wille
Bicam man of a mayde(n) mankynde to saue
And suffred to be sold · to se the sorwe of deyinge
The which vnknyttes al care · and comsyng is of reste
For til modicu(m) met with vs · I may it wel auowe
Woot no wight as I wene · what is ynough to mene
For-thi god of his goodnesse · the first gome Adam
Sette hym in solace · and in sou(er)eigne myrthe
And syne he suffred hym synne · sorwe to fele
To wite what wel was ˜ kyndelich to knowen
And after god graunted hym-self · and toke adamse kynde
To wite what he hase suffred · in the sondry places
Bothe in heuene and in erthe · and now til helle he thynketh
To wite what al wo is · that woot of al Ioie
So it shal fare by this folk ˜ hir folie and hir synne
Shal lere hem what lango(ur) is · and lisse with-outen ende
Woot no wight what werre is · þer þ(a)t pees regnees
Ne what is wit(er)ly wele · til weylawey hym teche
¶ Than was ther a wight ˜ with twa brad eighen
Book highte that beaupere · a bold man of speche
By goddes body quod this book · I wol bere witnesse
That tho this barne was ybore · ther blased a sterre
That alle the wise of this world · in oo wit acorden
That swich a barne was born · in bedlem Citee
That mannes saule schuld saue · and synne distruye[^419]
That he was god that al wrouȝte · the welkne firste schewed
Tho þat weren in heuene · token stella comata
And tenteden hir as a torche · to reu(er)encen his byrthe
The light folowed þe lord · in-to þe low erthe
¶ That water witnesse þ(a)t he was god · for he wente on it
Peter þe apostle p(ar)ceyued his gate
And he wente on the wate · wel hym knewe and saide
Iube me venire ad te sup(er) aquas
¶ And lo how the sonne gan louke hir light in hir-selue
Whan she seigh hym suffre · that sonne and se made
¶ The erthe for buxomnesse · þ(a)t he wolde suffre
Quaked as quik thyng · and al biquasshed þe roche
Lo helle myghte nought holde but opned þo god tholed
And leet out simondes sones to seen hym hange on rode
And now schal lucifer leue it · þouȝ hym loth thynke
For gigas the giaunt · with a gynne engyned
To breke and to bete adoun · þat ben ayeins Ih(es)us[^420]
And I book wol be brente · but Ih(es)us rise to lyue
In alle myghtes of man ˜ and his moder gladye
And conforth al hys kynne · and oute of care bynge
And al þe Iewen Ioie vnioignen and vnlouken
¶ And bot thay reu(er)ence his rode · and his resurreccion
And leuen on a newe lawe · be lost lif and soule
Al this I book witnesse · and yet muche more
¶ Suffire we saide trouthe · I here and see bothe
How a spirit spekees to helle ˜ and biddes vnsper(e) the yates
Attolite portas & c(etera)
A voice loude in that light · to lucifer cried
Princes of this place vnpynneth and vnlouken
For hire comes with crowne · that kyng is of glorie
¶ Than siked sathan and saide to hem alle
Swich a lighte ayeins oure leue lazar it fette
Care and combraunce · is come to vs alle
If this kynge come Inne · mankynde wol he fecche
And lede it ther hym liket · and lightilich me bynde
Patriarkes and p(ro)phetes han p(ar)led here of lange
That swich a lorde and a light · shol ledde hem alle hennes
¶ Listnes q(uod) lucifer · for I this lord knowe
Bothe this lord and this light · is longe ago I knewe hym
May no deth hym dere · ne no deueles queyntise
And where he wol is his way · and ware hym of the p(er)iles
If he reuees my right · he robbees me by maistrie
For by ryght and reson the renkes þ(a)t ben here
Body and soule ben myn ˜ bothe good and ille[^421]
¶ If adam ete the appul · al scholde deye
And dwelle with vs deuels · this thretyng he made
And he þ(a)t sothnesse is · saied thise wordes
And sitthen he seised{CHECK MS} · seuen hundereth wynter
I leeue that lawe nyl nouȝt · lete hym the leste
No(ta)
¶ That is soth saide sathan ˜ but I me sore drede
For thow gate hym with gile · and his gardyng brake
And in liknees of a Nedder · sat on þe appultre
And eggest hem to ete eue ˜ by hir-selue
And toldest hir a tale · of treson were þe wordes
And so þ(o)u haddest hem out and hider atte laste
no(ta)
It is nouȝt graithly geten ; ther gile is the rote
For god wol nouȝt be bigiled ˜ quod Gobelyn ne biIaped
Whe haue no trewe title to hem ˜ for þurȝ treson were þey da(m)pned
Certes I drede me quod þe deuel · lest treuthe wyl hem fecche
Oute of oure poustee · and leden hem hennes
¶ Thise thritty wynter al I wene · hase he gane & p(re)ched
I haue assoilled hym with synne · and som tyme I asked
Where he were god or goodes sone · he gaf me schort answer
And thus hase he trolled forth · thise twa and thritty wynter
And whan I seigh it was so ˜ slepyng I wente
To wrne pilates wif · what doon man was Ih(es)us
For Iewes hated hym ˜ and han doon hym to deth
I wolde haue lenged his lif · for I leued if he deyed
That his soule walde suffre no synne in his sighte
For the body while it on bones yede · a-boute was euere
To saue men fro synne ˜ if hem-self wolde~
And nowe I se where a soule comees · hiderward seillyng
With Ioie and with grete light · god it is I woot wel
I rede we fle quod he · faste alle hennes
For vs were bettre nouȝt be · than biden his sighte
For thy lesynges lucifer · lost is alle our praye
Fyrst thorugh the we fellen fra heuene so heigh
For we leued thy lesynges ˜ yloste we haue adam
And alle oure lordschp · I leue ˜ a lond and a water
Nu(n)c princeps hui(us) mu(n)di eicietur foras
¶ Efte þe lighte bad vnlouke · and lucifer answerd
What lord artow quod lucifer · quis est iste
Rex glorie · the lighte soon saide
And lord of myght and of mayn · and alle man(er)e v(er)tues; d(omi)n(u)s v(er)tutum
dukes of thys dym place ˜ anoon vndo thise yates
That crist may come Inne · the kynges sone of heuene
And with that breth helle brake · with belial barres
For any wy or warde · wide open the yates
Patriarkes and p(ro)phetes populus in tenebris
Songen saynt Ioh(a)nes song Ecce agnus dei
Lucifer loke ne myȝte · so light hym a blyndyde
And tho that oure lord loued · in-to his lighte he tooke
And saied to sathan · lo here my soule to amendes
For alle synful soules to saue þo þat ben worthy
Myn thay be and of me · I may the bett(er) hem clayme
Alle þouȝ reson record ; and riȝt of my-selfe
That if thay ete þe appul · alle sholde deye
I bihighte hem nouȝt here · helle for euere
For the dyede þ(a)t thay dide · thy deceite it made
With gile thou hem gate · ayein al reson
For in my palace p(ar)adis ˜ in p(er)sone of an adder
Falslich þ(o)u fettest þer · thyng þ(a)t I loued
¶ Thus ylike a lusarde with a lady visage
Theflich thow me robbedest · þe olde lawe g(ra)untteth
That gilours be bigiled ˜ and þ(a)t is good reson
Dentem p(ro) dente & oculum p(ro) oculo
¶ Ergo soule schal saule quite · and synne wende
And al that man hase mysdon ˜ I man wyl amende
no(ta)
Membre for Membere by þe olde lawe · was amendes
And lif for lif also · and by that lawe I clame it
Adam and al his issue ; at my wille here-after
And þ(a)t deth in hem fordide · my deth shal releue
And bothe quykee and quyte ; that queynche was thorugh synne
And that g(ra)ce gile distroyed ˜ good faith it askes
So leue I nouȝt lucifer ˜ ayein the lawe I fecche thaym
Bot by right and reson · raunsou(n) here my lieges
Non veni soluere legem set adimpler(e)
¶ Thow foched myn in my place ayeins al resou(n)
Falslich and felou(n)lich ˜ good faith me it taughte
To recou(er)e thaym thurgh raunson · and by no reson elles
So þ(a)t thurgh gile thow gate · thurgh g(ra)ce is it wo(n)ne
Thow lucifer in liknesse · of a lyther adder
Gatest by gile tho ˜ that god louede
¶ And in liknesse of leod that lord am of heuene
Graciuslich thy gile haue quyt · go gile ayin gile
And as Adam and alle other · thurgh a tree deyden
Adam and alle thurgh a tre · schal torne ayein to lyue
And gile is bigilde and in his gile fallen
Et cecidit in foueam qua(m) fecit
Now bigynnes thy gile ayein the torne
And my grace to growe · ay gretter and widder
The bitternesse þ(a)t thow browe · brouke it thy-seluen
That art doctur of deth · drynke þ(a)t thow madest
¶ For I that am lord of lif · loue is my drynke
And for that drynke to-day ˜ I deyed vp-on erthe
I faughte so me thryste yet ˜ for mannes soule sake
May no drynke me moiste · ne my thryst slake
Til the vendage falle ˜ in þe vale of Iosaphat
That I drynke right ripe muste resureccio mortuor(um)
And thanne shal I come as a kyng crowned with aungelles
And haue out of helle ˜ alle manere saules
¶ Fendes and fyndekynes · bifore me shul stande
And be at my biddyng wher-so-euer me likees
And to be merciable to man · thanne my kynde it askese
For we ben brethren of blode · bot nouȝt in baptym alle
And alle þ(a)t ben myn hole brethren in blode and in baptisme
Schal nouȝ be dampned to þe deth · þ(a)t is with-outen ende
Tibi soli peccaui & c(etera)
¶ It is nouȝt vsed in erth to hangen a felon
Ofter than ones ˜ though he were a traitur
And if the kyng of that kyndome · come in that tyme
Ther the felon thole scholde · deth or other-wise
Lawe wolde he geue hym lyue · if he loked on hym
And I that am kyng of kynges · schal come swich a tyme
Wher doom to the deth · dampnes al wikked
And if lawe wol I loke on hem ˜ it lyth in my g(ra)ce
Wheither thay deye or deye nouȝt · for þ(a)t thay diden ille[^422]
Nullum malum impunitum & c(etera)
Thay shul be clensed clerelich · and wasshen of hire synnes
In my prisou(n) purgatorie · til parce it hote
And my mercy schal be shewed ˜ to many of my brethren
For blood may suffre blood · both hungre and a calde
And blood may nouȝt se blood · blede bot it rewe
Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui
¶ And my rightwisnesse · and right · schal reule all helle
And mercy al mankynde · biforme bi forme in heuene
For I ware an vnkynde kyng · bot I my kynde helpe
And mandlich at silke a nede ˜ ther nedes helpe bhouees
Non intres in iudiciu(m) cum seruo tuo
¶ Thus by lawe quod oure lord · lede I wol fro hennes
Tho that me loued · and leuyd in my comynge
And for thy lesyng lucifer · that þow leighe til Eue
Thow shalt abye it bitter · and bonde hym with cheynes
Astoroth · and al the route ˜ hidden thaym in hyrnes
Thay dorst nouȝt look on oure lord the boldest of he(m) alle
But lete hym lede forth with hym · who hym liked & lefte what hy(m) liste
Many hundreth of aungels ˜ harpeden and songen
Culpat caro purgat caro regnat deus dei caro
v(er)sus
Than pipide pees of poesie a noote
Clarior est solito post maxi(m)a nebula phebus
Post inimicicia clarior est & amor
¶ After sharpe shoures quod pees ˜ moost schyne is the sonne
Is no weder warmer than aft(er) watrie cloudes
Ne no loueleuer loue leuer · ne leuer frendes
Than after werre and wo · whan loue & pees ben mais
Was neuer werre in this world · ne wikkenesse so kene
That loue and hym liste ˜ to laughynge ne broughte
And pees thurgh pacience al p(er)iles stopped
¶ Trewes quod treuth · thow telles vs soth by Ih(es)us
Clippe we in couenaunt ˜ and ech of vs · kisse other
And lete no pepile quod pees p(ar)ceyue þ(a)t we chide
For inpossible is no thyng · to hym þat is almyȝty
¶ Thow saist soth quod rightwisnesse · and reu(er)entlich hir kiste
Pees and pees here p(er) secula seculor(um)
Misericordia & v(er)itas obuiauerunt sibi Iusticia & pax osculate su(n)t & c(etera)
Treuthe tromped þo ˜ & songe te deum laudamus & c(etera)
¶ And thanne luted loue in a lowe note
Ecce q(ua)m bonu(m) & q(ua)m iocundum & c(etera)
Til the day dawed ˜ thise damiselles daunced
That men range to the resureccion · and right w(i)t(h) þ(a)t I waked
And called kytte my wif ˜ and calote my doughter
Arises and reu(er)ens ˜ goddes resurecciou(n)
And crepeth to the crosse on knees ˜ and kisses it for a Iewel
For goddes blissed body ˜ it bare for oure bote
And it aferees the fende ˜ for swich is the myghte
May no grisely goost ˜ glide ther it schadwes

[^418: C.18.157: KD.18.153 is omitted.]

[^419: C.18.241: KD.18.237 is omitted.]

[^420: C.18.258: KD.18.254 is omitted.]

[^421: C.18.285: KD.18.279 is omitted.]

[^422: C.18.398: KD.18.388-390 are omitted.]

¶ Passus decimus nonus :

Thus I awaked and wroot · what I hadde Idremed
And dighte me derelich · and dide me to chirche
To here · holy the masse · þo men yede to offryng[^423]
That piers the plowman was paynted al blody
And come Inne with a cros · bifore the comune pepile
And right like in alle lymes to oure lorde Ihesu~
Thanne called I conscience ; to kenne me the sothe
Is this Ihesus the Iuster quod I · that Iewes dide to deth
Or it is piers the plowman · who peynted hym so rede
¶ Quod conscience and kneled þo · thise aren piers armes
Hise colours and his cote armure · and he þat comes so blodye
Is criste with his crosse · conquerour of cristene
¶ Why calle ye hym crist quod I · sith Iewes called hym Ihesus
patriarkes and prophetes · proficied bifore
That alkyn creatures sholde knelen and bowen
Anoon as men nepned ˜ the name of god Ihesu
Ergo is noo name to þe name Ihesus
Ne non so nedful to nempne ˜ by nyght ne by day
For alle derke deuels ˜ aren adrad to her it ~
And synful aren solaced · and saued by that name
And thay callen hym crist ; for what cause telles me
Is crist more of myghte · and more worthi name
Than Ihesu or Ihesus ˜ that al oure Ioie come of
¶ Thow knowest wel quod conscience · & þou konne resoun
Nota
That knyght kyng conquerour · may be o persone
To be called a knyght is faire ; for men shal knele to hym
To be called a kyng is fairer · for he may knyghtes make
And to be conquerour called ˜ that comes of special grace
And of hardiness of herte · and of hendenesse bothe
To make lordes of laddes · of londe þat he wynnes
And free men foule thralles · þat folowen nouȝt hise lawes
¶ The Iewes that were gentil men · Ihesu thay despised
Both hise lore and his lawe · now er thay lowe cherles
As wide as the world is · wonyeth ther noon
Bot vndir tribut and talliage as tikes and cherles
And tho that bicome cristyne · by conseil of the baptisme
Aren fraunkeleyns free men · thurgh fullyng þat thay toke
And gentil men with Ihesu · for Ihesus was yfulled
And vp-on caluarie on cros ˜ ycrowned kyng of Iewes
¶ It bicomes to a kyng to kepe and to defende
And a conquerour of conquest · his lawes and his large
And so dide Ihesus the Iewes ˜ he Iustified and taughte hem
The lawe of lif ˜ that last schal euere
And fend ied fram foule yueles · fyueres and fluxes
And fro fendes þat in hem were · and fals bileue
Tho was he Ihesus of Iewes called gentil prophete
And kyng of hir kyngdome · and crowne bare of thornes
And tho conquered he on crosse ˜ as conquerour nobile
Might no deth hym for-do ˜ ne a-doun brynge
That he aros and regned · and rauisshed helle
And tho was he conquerour calle · of quyk and of dede
For he gaf Adam and Eue ˜ and other mo blisse
That lenge had leyne bifore ˜ as lucifers cherles[^424]
And sith he gaf largely ˜ alle his lele lieges
Places in paradise ˜ at hir partyng hennes
He may wel be called conquerour · and þat is crist to mene
And the cause þat comes thus · with cros of passioun
Is to wissen vs ther-with · þat whan þat we be tempted
Ther-with to fyghte and fende vs ˜ fra fallyng in-to
And se by his sorwe · that who loues Ioie
To penaunce and to pouerte · he most putte hym-selue
And muche wo in this world · willen and suffren
¶ As to carpe more of crist · and how he come to that
Faithly for to speke · his first nam was Ihesus
tho he was born in bedlem ˜ as the book telles
And come to take mankynde · kynges and aungels
Reuerenced hym faire · with richesse of erthe
Aungels out of heuene ˜ come knelyng and songe
¶ Gloria in excelsis deo & cetera
Kynges cam after kneled and offred
Mirre and mylkyle gold · with-outen mercy askyng
Or any kynnes catel bot knowlichyng hym souereigne
Bothe of sonde and of sonne and se · and sithen thay wente
In-to hir kyngenelich by counseil of a aungeles
And ther was that word fulfilled · the which thow of speke
Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu
nota
For alle the aungels of heuene · at his byrthe kneled
And al the wit of þe world · was in tho thre kynges
Reson and rightfulnesse · and reuthe thay offired
Wher-fore and why · wise men that tyme
Maistres and lettred men · Magi hem called
¶ That o kyng cam with reson · couered vndir sense
The secunde kyng ek sothly offred
Rightwisnesse vndir red gold ˜ resones felawe
Gold is likned to leaute ˜ that laste shal euere
And reson to riche gold · to right and to treuthe
¶ The thridde kyng cam knelyng to Ihesu
And presente hym with pite ˜ apieryng to Mirre
For mire is mercye to mene ˜ and mylde speche of tonge
Thre yliche honeste thynges ˜ knelyng to Ihesu
¶ And for alle thise preciouse presentz ˜ oure lord prince Ihesus
Was nouther kyng ne conquerour · til he gan to wexe
In the maner of a man · and that by muche sleighte
As it bicomees a conquerour · to kinne many sleightes
And many wiles and wit ˜ that wil ben a leder
And sa did Ihesu in hise dayes · who-so hadde tym to telle it
Som tym he suffred ˜ and som tyme he hidde hym
And som tyme he fauȝte faste · and fledd other while
And som tyme he gaf god and graunted hele bothe
Lif and lyme as hym liste · he wroughte
As kynde is of a conquerour · so comsed Ihesu
Til he badde al hem · þat he fore blede
¶ In his Innocence þis Ihesus · at Iewne feste
Water in-to wyne torned · as holy write telles
And ther bygan god of his grace dowel
For wyne is likned to lawe · and lif of holynesse
And lawe lakked þo · for men loued nouȝt hir enemys
And crist counselde vs and comaunde bothe
Bathe to lered and to lewed to louee oure enymys
So at þe feste firste as I bifore tolde
Bi-gan god of his grace · and goodnesse to do wel
And þo was he cleped and called nouȝt holy chirche bot Ihesu
A faunt fyn ful of wit Filius marie
For bifore his moder marie · made he þat wondire
That sche first and formest ˜ ferme scholde bileue
That he thorugh grace was gete · and ne gome elles
He wrouȝt þat by no wit · but thorugh word oon
After thy kynde þat he come of · ther bygan he do wel
And whan he was waxen more in his modor absence
He made lame to lepe · and gaf light to blynde
And fedde with twa fisshes · and with fyue loues
Sore ahungerd folk ma than a thousand
Thus he conforted carful · and caught a gretter name
The wich was do bet · where þat he wente
For deef thurgh hise doynges to here · and dombe speke made
And alle he heled and halpe · that hym of grace asked
And tho was he called in contree of þe commune pepile
For the dedes þat he dide · Ihesu fili dauid
For dauid was doughtiest · of dedes in his tyme
The byrdes that songe · Sal interfecit mille & dauid decem milia
For-thy þe contre þer Ihesu come ˜ called hym fili dauid
And nempned hym of nazareth · and no man so worthy
To be caiser or kyng · of þe kyngdom of Iude
Ne ouer Iewes Iustices · as Ihesus was hem thoughte
¶ Wher-of Caiphas had enuye · and other of þe Iewes
And for to doon hym to deth · day and nyght þei casten
kylled hym on crosse wise ˜ at Caluarie on friday
And sithen byried his body · and beden þat men sholde
kepen it fro nyght comers · with knyghtes yarmed
For no frendes sholde hym fecche · for prophetes hem tolde
That þat blisful body of byryeles sholde rise
And goon in-to galilee · and gladen hise apostels
And his moder Marie · thus men bifore demed
¶ The knyghtes þat kepten hym · biknewe it hym-selue
That angels and archangels · er the day sprange
Com knelyng to þe corees ; and sangen christus resurgens
verray man bifore hem alle · and forth with hem he ȝede
¶ The Iewes preyed hem pees · and bisoughte þe knyghtes
Telle the comune that þer cam ˜ a compaygnye of his apostles
And biwicched hem as thay woke · and away stalen it
¶ And marie madgaleyne mette hym by the way
Goyng toward Galile in godhed and manhede
And lymes and lokyng and so a-loude criede
In elke a compaignye ther she com · and so a-loude criede
In ech a compaignye ther she com · christus resurgens
Thus com it out þat crist ouercam · recouered and lyuede
Sic oportet christum & in-trare & cetera
For that þat wommen witethes may nouȝt wel be counseil
¶ Petur parceyues al this and pursued after
Bothe Iames and Iohan Ihesu for to seeke
Tadde and ten mo · with thomas of Inde
And as alle thise wise wyes · weren to-gidideres
In an hous alle biset · and hir dore ysperrede
Crist cam Inne alle closed · bathe dore and ȝates
To petir · and to hise apostels · and saide pax vobis
And took Thomas by the hande · and taughte hym to grappe
And fele withe his fyngers · his flesshlich herte
Thomas touched it · and with his tonge saide
Deus meus & dominus meus .
Thow art my lord I bileue · god lord Ihesu
Thow deydest and deth tholedest · and deme schalt vs alle
And now art lyuyng and lokyng · and last schalt euere
¶ Crist carped thanne · and curteliche saide
Thomas for thow trowest this · and trewelich bileuest it
Blissed mote thow be ˜ and be schalt for euere
And blissed mote thay alle be · in body and in soule
That neuere shul se me in sight · as thow doost nowe
And lelich bileue al this · I loue hem and blisse hem
Beati qui non viderunt & crediderunt & cetera
¶ And whan this ded was doon · do best he taughte
And gaf Piers power and pardon he graunted
To alle manere of men mercie and forgyuenesse
Hym myghte men to assoille of alle maner synnes
In couenaunt that thay come · and knowliche to paye
To piers pardon the plowman · Redde quod debes
¶ Thus hase piers power · be hise pardon paied
To bynde and vnbynde · bothe here and elles where
And soilled men of synnes · saue of dette oone
Anon after an heigh · vp to the heuene
He wente and wonyes ther · and wil com at laste
And rewarde hym right wel · that reddit quod debet
Payeth parfitly ˜ as pure treuthe walde
And what persone paies it nouȝt · punisshem he thyngkes
And demen hym a domesday both quike and dede
The good to þe godhede ˜ and to grette Ioye
And wikked to wonye in wo · with-outen ende
¶ Thus conscience of crist · and of the crosse carped
And counseiled me to knele ther to ˜ and thanne com me thouȝte
Oon spiritus paraclitus to piers and to hise felawes
In liknesse of a lightnynge · he light on hem alle
And madde hem konne and knowe · alkynne langages
¶ I wondred what that was · and wagged conscience
And was a-fered of þat light · for in fires liknesse
Spiritus paraclitus ouer-sprade hem alle
¶ Quod consciencie and kneled this is cristes messager
And comes fro þe grete god · and grace is his name
knele now quod conscience · And if thow kanst synge
Welcom hym and worship hym · with veni creator spiritus
¶ Thane songe I that songe ˜ and so dide many hundreth
And criden with conscience helpe vs god of grace
And than bigan grace to go with Piers plowman
And conseilled hym and conscience ˜ the comune to sompne
For I wile dele to-day ˜ and diuide grace~
To alkynne creatures that haue hir fyue wittes alle{***CHECK MS}
Tresore to lyue by · to hir lyues ende
And wepen to fiȝte with · whan any cristyne yow assaillees[^425]
And gaf ech man a grace · to go with hym-selue
That ydelnesse encombyre hym nouȝt enuye ne pride
Diuisiones graciarum sunt & cetera
¶ Som he gaf wit with wordes to shewe
Wit to wynne hir liflode with · as the worlde askes
As prechours and prestes · and prentices of lawe
They lely to leue by labour of tonge
And by wit to wissen other ˜ as grace hem wolde teche
And som he kenned craftes · and konnyng of sighte
With sellynge and byggynge · hir bilyue to wynne
And some he lered to labour a lele lif and trewe
And some he taughte to tilye · to diche and to hegge
To wynne with hir liflod · by lore of his techynge
And som to diuine and diuide · membres to kenne
And som to compas craftly · and colours to make
And som to se and som to saye · what sholde bifalle
Bothe of wel and of wo · telle it er it felle
As astronomyens thurȝ astronomye · and philosophres wise
And som to ride and som to recouere · þat vnrightfully was wonne
He wissed hem wynne it ayein · thurȝ witnesse of handes
And fecchen it fro fals men · with foluiles lawes
And som he lered to lyue · in longynge to ben hennes
In pouerte and in penaunce · to praye fol cristyne
And alle he lered to be lelle · and ech a craft loue other
And forbadde hem alle debat ˜ þat non were among hem
Thouȝ som be clenner þan som · ye se wel quod grace
That he þat vseth þe fairest craft to þe foulest I kouthe haue putte hym
Loke that non lakke other · bot loue alle as brethren
¶ And who þat moost maistries konne · be myldest of beryng
And crowned conscience kyng · and maked craft youre stiward[^426]
For I make piers the plowman · my procuratour and my reue
And registerer to receyue Redde quod debes
Mi plowght and my plowman · Piers shal be on erthe
And for to tilie trouþe · a teme schal he haue
Grace gaf Piers a teme ˜ foure grette oxen.
That oon was luk a large beste · and a lowe chered
And Marke and Mathew the thridde · myȝty bestes bothe
And Ioyned to hem oon Iohan the most gentille of alle
The pris neet of piers plough ˜ passyng alle other
¶ And grace gaf Piers of his goodenesse · foure grete stottes
Alle þat his oxen eried · thay to harowe after
Oon hight Austyn and Ambrose an other
Gregory the grete clerc · and Ierome þe goode
Thise foure þe faith to teche · folowes Piers t eme
And harowed in a handwihile al holy scripture
With two harwes þat thay hadde · and olde and a newe
¶ vetus testamentum & nouum
¶ And grace gaf greynes · the cardinales vertues
And swee it in mannes soule · and sithen tolde hir names
Spiritus prudencie the first sede highte
And who-so ete þat · ymagyne he scholde
Er he dide any dede · deuise wel the ende
And lerned men a ladel bygge · with a long stelle
That caste for to kepe a crokke · to saue the fatte abouen
¶ The seconde sede highte Spiritus temperancie
He that ete of þat sede · hadde swich a kynde
Schulde neuere mete ne muchel drynke · make hym to swelle
Ne schulde no scorner ne scolde · out of skile hym brynge[^427]
Wast word of ydelnesse · ne no wikked speche moeue
Schulde no curious cloth · comen on his rygge
Ne no mete in his mouthe · þat maister Iohan spiced
¶ The thridde seed þat piers sewe · was spiritus fortitudinis
And who-so ete of þat seed · hardy was euere
To suffre al þat god sente · siknesse and angres
Might no lesynges no ber · ne losse of wordly catel
Maken hym for any mornynge · þat he nas myrie in saule
And bolde and abidyng · bismeres to suffyre
And pleyeth alle with pacience · and parce michi domine
And coueren hym vndir counseil of caton the wisse
Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique
¶ The fierthe seed that piers sewe · was spiritus Iusticie
And he þat ete of þat seed · sholde be euere trewe
With god and nouȝt agast · bot of gile oon
For gyle goos so pryuely þat good faith other while
May nouȝ ben aspied for spiritus Iusticie
Spiritus Iusticie ˜ sparees nouȝt to spille
Hem þat ben gilti and for to correct
The kyng if he falle in gilt or in trespas
For counteth he no kynges wratthe · whan he in court sittes
To demen as a domes man · adrad was he neuere
Neither of duc ne of deth · þat he ne dide lawe
For present or for prayer · or any princes lettres
He dide equite to alle · euene forth his power
¶ This foure seedes piers sewe · and sith he dide hem harwe
With olde lawe and new lawe · þat loue myȝt waxe
Among the foure vertues · and vices distroie
For comuneliche in contrees · cam-mokes and wedes
Fouleth þe fruyt in þe felde · ther thay growe togiders
And so doon vices · vertues worthy
¶ Quod piers harweth al þat konne kyndly wit · by conseil of þis doctours
And telles after his techyng · the cardinal vertues
¶ Ayeins thy greynes quod grace · to Piers by-gynnes for to ripe
Ordeyne ye an hous · to herberwe Inne þy corne
¶ Bi god grace quod piers · ye most geue tymbir
And ordeyne þat hous · er ye hennes wende
¶ And grace gaf hym the crosse · with þe crowne of thornes
That crist vp-on caluarie · for man-kynde on pyned
And of his baptisme and blood · þat he bledde on rode
He made a manere morter · and mercy it highte
And ther-wit grace bigan · to make a good fundement
And watled it and walled it · with hise paynes and his passion
And of al holy writ · he made a rof after
And called þat hous vnite · holy chirche on Englissh
¶ And whan this dide was doon · grace diuised
A carte highte cristendom · to carie piers sheues
And gaf hym caples to his carte · contricoun and confessioun
And made presthod hayward · the while hym-selue wente
As wide as the worlde is · with piers to tilye treuthe[^428]
¶ Now is piers to the plough · and pride it aspied
And gadered hym a gret oost ˜ to greuen he thyngkes[^429]
Blew hem doun · and breke hem · and bite atwo the mores
And sent forth surquidous his sergeaunt of armes
And his spye spille loue · oon spek yuel bihynde
This two come to conscience · and to cristen pypile
And tolde hym tiynges · þat tyne þey shulde the seedes
That piers ther had ysowen ˜ the cardinal vertues
And piers berne with brake · and thay þat ben in vnite
Schul come oute and conscience · and youre two capiles
Confession and contricion and youre carte the bileue
Shal be colourd so queyntly and couered vndir oure sophistrie
That conscience shal nouȝt knowe by contricion
Ne by confession · who is cristne or hethen
Ne no manere Marchaunt · þat with monoie deleth
Where he wynne with right with wronge or with vsure
¶ With swiche colours and queyntise comes pride armed
With the lord þat lyues after · the luste of his bodye
To wasten on welfare · and on wikked kepyng
Al the world in a while thurȝ oure wit quod pride
¶ Quod conscience to alle cristen tho · my conseil is to wende
Hastilich in-to vnite · and holde we vs there
And praye we that pees were · in piers berne þe plowman
For witterly I woot wel · we ben nouȝt of strengthe
To goon a-gayn pride · bot grace were with vs
Than come kynde wit · conscience to teche
And cried and comaunded · alle cristen pepile
For to deluen and diche · depe aboute vnite
That holy chirche stode in vnite · as it a pile were
¶ Conscience comaunded tho · al cristen to delue
And make a muche moote · that myȝte ben a strengthe
To helpe holy chirche ˜ and he þat it kepes
¶ Thanne alkynne cristne · saue comune wommen
Repenteden and refuseden synne · saue thay oon
And fals men flaterers · vsurers and theues
Lyers and questmangers ˜ þat were forswore ofte
Wittyng and wilfully · with þe fals helden
And for siluer were forswore · sothly thay wist it
¶ Ther nas no cristyne creature · þat kynde wit had
Saue schrewes oon · swich as I spake of
That he ne halpe a quantite holynesse to wexe
Som thurgh bedes byddynge · and som thurgh pilgrimage
And other preue penaunce · and som thurgh penys delyng
¶ And than welled water · with wikked werkes
Egrelich ernyng · out of mennes eighen~
Clennesse of the comune · and clerkes clene lyuynge
Made vnite holy chirche · in holynesse to stoonde
I care nouȝt quod conscience · though pride come nouthe
The lord of lust shal be letted · al this lente I hoppe
Comes quod conscience · ye cristene and dyneth
That han laboured lely · al this lente tyme
hiree is breed yblessed · and goddes body ther vndir
Grace thorugh goddes word · gaf piers power
Mighte to maken it · and men to ete it after
In helpe of hir hele · ones in a monethe
Or as ofte as thay had nede ˜ þo þat had ypaied
To piers pardon the plowman · Redde quod debes
¶ How quod al the comune · thow conseillest vs to yelde
Al þat we owen any wight · er we go to housel
¶ That is my counseil ˜ and cardinale vertues
That Ilce man forgyue other · and þat wol the pater noster
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra & cetera
And so to ben assoilled · and sithen to ben houselde
¶ ye how quod a bruere · I wol nouȝt be reuled
By Ihesu for youre Ianglyng · with spiritus Iusticie
Ne after conscience by crist · whille I kan selle
Both dregges and draf · and draw it at hole
Thilke ale and thynne ale · for þat is my kynde
And nouȝt hakke after holynesse · holde thy tonge conscience
Of spiritus Iusticie · thow spekest an ydel
¶ Caytif quod conscience cursed wrecche
vnblessed artow brewer · bot if þe god helpe
But thow lyue by lore ˜ of spiritus Iusticie
The chife seed þat piers sewe ˜ ysaued worstow neuere
But conscience the comune fede · and cardinale vertues
leue it wel thay be lost ˜ both lif and soule
¶ Than is many a man lost · quod a lewed viccorie
I am a curatour of holy kirke · and cam neuere in my tyme
Man to me þat me kouþe telle · of cardinale vertues
Or þat counted conscience · at a cokkes fether or an hennes
I knewe neuere cardinale · þat he ne cam fro þe pope
And we clerkes whan thay come · for hir comunes payed
For hir peleure and hir palfreys mete · and pilours þat hem folowed
The comune clamat cotidie eche a man to other
The contree is the curseder · that cardinals come Inne
And ther thay ligge and lenge · most leccerie ther regnes
¶ For-thy quod the viccorie · by verray god I wolde
That no cardinale come a-monge the comune pepile
Bot in hire holynesse · helden hem st ille
At avion among the Iewes cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera
Or in Rome as hir reule wol the relikes to kepe
And þou conscience in kynges court · and scholdest neuere com thennes
And grace that thow gredest so of guyour of alle clerkes
And piers with is newe plough · and als with his olde
Emperour of al þe world · that alle men were cristyne
¶ Inparfit is þe pope · þat al þe pepile scholde helpe
And sendeth hem that sleeth swich · as he schulde saue
And wel worth piers the plowman · þat pursuyeth god in doynge
Qui pluit super Iustos & in-iustos atones at ones
And sent the sonne to saue · acorsed mannes tilthe
As bright as to þe best man · and to þe best womman
Right so piers þe plowman · peynes hym to tilie
As wel for a wastour · and wenches of the stewes
As for hym-seluen and his seruantz · saue he first seruede[^430]
And trauailles and tulies · for a traitour also sore
As for a trewe lyuengman · alle tymes ylike
And worsheped be he þat wrouȝt al · bothe goode and wikked
And suffres þat synful be · til som tyme þat thay repente
And god amende þe pope þat pilies haly chirche
And cleymes bifore þe kyng · to be keper our cristene
And countes nouȝt thouȝ cristyne · be kylled and robbed
And fyndes folk to fight · and cristyne blood to spille
Ayein þe olde lawe & new lawe · as luk þer-of witnesse
Non occides michi vindictam & cetera
¶ It semes by so · hym seluen had his wille
That he ne recches right nouȝt · of al þe remenaunt
And crist of his curteisie the cardinales saue
And torne hir wit to wisdome · and to wel of soule
For the comen quod þis curatour · counten ful litel
The counseil of conscience · or cardinal vertues
But if thay seigh as by sight · som what to wynnynge
Of gile ne of gabbyng · gif thay neuer tale
For spiritus prudencie · amonge the pepile is gile
And ale the faire vertues · as vices thay semed
Iche mane suttelde a sleight · synne for to hud
And colourd it with a konnyng · and clene lyuyng
¶ Than lough ther a lord · and by light saide
I holde it right and reson · of my reue to take
Al þat myn auditour or elles my stiward
Counseilleth me by hir acounte ˜ and my clerkes writyng
With spiritus intellectus · to seke the reues rolles
And with spiritus fortitudinis fecche it I wole
¶ And than cam ther a kyng and by is crowne saide
I am kynge with crowne · the comune to reule
And holy chirche and clergie · fro cursed men to defende
And if me lakkes to lyue by · the lawe wol I take it
Ther I may hastlyest it haue · for I am hede of lawe
For ye ben bot membres · and I aboue alle
And sith I am youre aller hed · I am youre aller hele
And holy chirche chife helpe · and chiftayn of þe comune
And what I take of yow two · I take it at the techynge
Of spiritus Iusticie for I Iugge yow alle
So I may boldely be houseled for I borow neuere
Ne craue of my comen · but as my kynde askes
In condicion quod conscience · þat thow konne defende
And reule thy reeme and reson · riȝt wel and in treuþe
Take þow may in reson · as thy lawe askes
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum · set non ad deprecandum
¶ The viker had fer hom · and faire tok is leue
And I awakned ther-with · and wroot as me mette

[^423: C.19.3: KD.19.5 is omitted.]

[^424: C.19.53: KD.19.56-59 are omitted.]

[^425: C.19.216: KD.19.219-225 are omitted.]

[^426: C.19.246: KD.19.257 is omitted.]

[^427: C.19.274: KD.19.285 is omitted.]

[^428: C.19.324: KD.19.334 is omitted.]

[^429: C.19.326: KD.19.337 is omitted.]

[^430: C.19.428: KD.19.437 is omitted.]

¶ Passus xxus et primus de do best :

Thanne has I went by þe way · whan I was þus[^431] awaked
heuy chere I yede · and helenge in herte
I ne wiste where to ete ne at what place
And it neighed nere þe none · and with nede I mette
Tha[^432] afrounted me wel foule · and faitour me called
kanstow nouȝt excuse ye as dide þe kyng and other
That þou took to thy bileue · to cloþes and to sustenaunce
And by techyng and tellyng of spiritus temperancie
And thow take namore · than nede the taughte
And nede ne has no lawe · ne neuere shal falle in dette
For thre thynges he takes · his lif for to saue
That is mete whan men hym warnes · and he no moneie weldes
Ne wiȝt non wald be his Borwe · ne wede has non to legge
And he cauȝt in þat caas · and com þer-to by sleighte
He synnes nouȝt sothlich · þat so wynnes his fode
And thouȝ he com so to a cloth ˜ and kanne ne better che
Nede anon riȝt takes hym ˜ vndir mainprise
And if hym liste to lape · the lawe of kynde wolde
That he dronke at eche diche · er he for thirst deyed
So nede at grete nede · may nymen as for his owen
With-outen conseil of conscience or cardinal vertues
So that he sewe and saue · Spiritus temperancie
¶ For is no vertue by fer · to spiritus temperancie
Neither spiritus Iusticie ne spiritus fortitudinis
For spiritus fortitudinis forfetes ful ofte[^433]
And bette men ouer bitter · and som of hem to litile
And greue men gretter than good faith wolde
¶ And spiritus Iusticie shal Iugge wol wyl he nel he
After þe kynges counseil · and the comune like
And spiritus prudencie in many poynt shal faille
Of that he weneth wolde falle · if his wit ne were
Wenyng is no wisdome · ne wise ymagynacioun
Homo proponit & deus disponit and gouerneth alle goode vertues
Ac nede is next hym · for anon he meketh
And as lowe as a lombe · for lakkyng of that hym nedees[^434]
Wise men forsook wel · for they wolde be nedy
Wise men forsook wel · for thay wolde be nedy
And woneden in wildernesse and wolde nouȝt be riche
¶ And god alle his grete Ioie · gostly he lefte
And cam and took mankynde · and bicam nedy
So nedy he was as seith the book · in many sondrie places
That he saide in his sorowe · on the selue rode
Both fox and foughel ˜ may flee to hole and crepe
And the fisshe hath fynne it fleet with to reste
Ther nede hase ynome me · that I mote nede abide
And suffire sorwes ful soure · þat schul to Ioie torne
For-thy be nouȝt abasshed to bidde and to be nedy
Sith he þat wrouȝt al the world · was wilfullich nedy
Ne neuere non so nedy ne pouerer deyede
¶ Whan nede had vndirnome me thus · anon I fel aslepe
And mette ful merueilouslich · tat in mannes forme
Antecrist cam thanne · and al croppe of trouthe
Torned vp so down · and ouer tilte þe rote
And fals sprynge and sprede · and spedde mennes nedes
In ech a Court ther he cam · he kutt away treuthe
And gert gile grow ther · as he a god were
Freres folowed that feend · for he gaf hem copes
And religiouse reuerenced hym · and ragen hir belles
And al þe couent forth cam · to welcom that tiraunt
And al hise as wel as hym · saue onliche fooles
Wiche foles were wel leuere · to dye than to lyuye
lenger sith lenten was so rebuked
And a fals feend antecrist ouer al folk regned
And þat were mylde men and holy · þat no mischef dredden
diffied al falnesse · and folk þat it vsed
And what kyng þat hym conforted · knowyng hem any while
Thay cursed and hir counseil · were it clerke or lewed
¶ Antecrist had thus sone hundrethes at his baner
And pride it bare boldly aboute
With a lord that lyueth · after likyng of body
That cam ayein conscience · þat leper was and gwiour
Ouere kynde cristyne · and cardinal vertues
¶ I counseil quod conscience tho · comes with me ye foles
In-to vnite holy chirche · and holde we vs there
And crie we to kynde · that he come and defende vs
Foles fro thise feend lymes · for piers loue the plowman
And crie we to alle the comen · þat thay come to vnite
And ther abide and biker ayein beliales children
¶ kynde conscience þo herde · and cam out of the planetes
And sent forth hise for forreiours · feueres and fluxes
Coughes and cardiacles · crampes and toth aches
Rewmes and radegoundes · and ronyouse scalles
Biles and bocches · and brennyng angwes
Frenesies and foule yueles · forragers of kynde
had ypriked and preyed · polles of the pepile
That largely a legioun · loren hir lif soone
¶ Ther was harrow and helpe · here comes kynde
With deth þat is dredful · to vndon vs alle
¶ The lord þat lyued after lust · tho alowde criede
After confort a knyght · to come and bere his banere
Alarme alarm quod þat lord · ech lif kepe his owne
And than mette thise men ˜ er mynstralles myghte pipe
And er heraudes of armes · had descryued lordes[^435]
¶ kynde com after with many kene sores
As pokkes and pestilences · and muche pepile schente
So kynde thorugh corupciouns ˜ killed ful many
deþ cam dryuynge after and al to dust passhed
kynges and knghtes kaisers and popes
Lered ne lewed · he leet no man stonde
That he hitte euene · þat stirred neuer after
Many a louely lady · and lemmannes of knyghtes
Swowned and swelted · for sorwe of dethe dyntes
¶ Conscience of his curtesie · to kynde he bisoughte
To se and to suffre · and see where thay wolde
Leue pride priuely · and be parfit cristene
And kynde cessed tho · to se the pepile amende
¶ Fortune gan flateren thanne · þo fewe þat were alyue
And by-hight hem lange lif · and lechherie he sent
Amonges alle manere men · wedded and vnwedded
And gadderde a grette hoost · al a-gayn conscience
¶ This leccherie leide on · with a laughyng chere
And with priue speche · and peynted wordes
And armed hym in Idelnesse ˜ and in heigh berynge
He bare a bow in bis hande · and many blody arwes
Were fethered with faire bihest ˜ and many a fals treuthe
With hise vntidy tales · he tened ful ofte
Conscience and hise compaynye · of holy chirche the techers
¶ Thanne cam couetise · and ceste how he myghte
Ouercom conscience · and cardinal vertues
And armed hym in auarice · and vngreliche lyued
his wepned was al wiles · to wynnen and to hiden
With glosynges and gabbynges · he giled the pepile
Symonye hym sente to assaille conscience
And preched to the pepile · and prelates hem maden
To holden with antecrist · hire temperaltees to saue
And come to the kynges counseil · as a kene baroun
And kneled to conscience in Court bifore hem alle
And garte good faith flee · and fals to a-bide
And boldlich bar adoun · with many briȝt noble
Muche of the wit and wisdome of westmynster halle
H Iugged til a Iustice · and iusted in his Ere
And ouertilt alle his treuthe · with take þis vp amendement
And to þe arches in haste · he yede anon after
And torned Ciuile in-to symonye · and syth he took þe official
For a mantel of Menyuere · he mad a lele Matrimonye
departen or deþ cam · and diuorce shapte
¶ Allas quod conscience and cried þo · walde crist of his grace
That coueitise were cristen · þat is so kene a fighter
And bolde and bydyng · while hise bake lasteth
¶ And thanne lough lif · and late dagge his clothes
And armed hym in haste in harlotes wordes
And helde holynesse a Iape · and hendenesse a wastour
And lete leaute a cherle · and lyer a freman
Conscience and consel · he counted it folye
Thus relied life · for a litel fortune
And priked forth with pride · prayses he no vertue
He careth nought howe kynde slawe · & shal come at laste
And kylle alle erthely creatures · saue conscience oon
¶ Lif lep a-side · and laughte hym a lemman
Hele and I quod he · and heighnesse of herte
Shal do þe nouȝt · drede neither deth ne elde
And to forget sorwe · and gyf nouȝt of synne
¶ This liked lif · and his lemman fortune
And geten in hir glorie · a gadelyng at the laste
Oon þat muche wo wroughte · slewthe was his name
¶ Sleuthe wex wonder yerne · and sone was of age
And wedded oon wanhope · a wenche of the stewes
Hir sire was a sisour · þat neuer swore treuthe
Oon thome two tonge · atteint at eche a queste
This sleuth wex war of werre · and a slynge made
And threwe dred of despair · a dozeyn Mile aboute
For care conscience tho · cried vp-on Elde
And bad hym fonde to fighte · and afere whanhope
¶ And Elde hente good hope · and hastilich he shifte hym
And wayued away wanhope ˜ and with lif he fighted
And lif flee for fere · to phisik after helpe
And bisouȝte hym of socour · and of his salue hadde
And gaf hym gold good woon ˜ þat gladed his herte
And thay gyue hym ayein a glasen howue
¶ lif leued þat lechecraft · lette shulde elde
And dryue away deth · with dias and dragges
And elde auntred hym on lif · and at the laste he hitte
A phisicien with a furred hode · þat he felle in the palsie
And ther deyed þat doctour · er thre dayes after
¶ Now I se saide lif · þat surgiens ne phisik
May nouȝte a myte auaille to medele ayein Elde
And in hope of his hele · good herte he hente
And rode so to reuel · a riche place and a myrie
¶ The companye of court men · cleped it som tyme
And Elde anoon after me · and ouer mynd hed yede
And made me balled bifore · and bare on þe crowne
So hard he yed ouer myn hede · it wol be seen euere
¶ Sire yuel ytauȝt Elde quod I vnhende go with the
Sith whanne whas the waye ouer mennes hedes
Haddestow ben hende quod I thow waldest haue asked leue
¶ ye leef lordyng quod he · and laide on me with age
And hitte me vndir the ere · vnnees[^436] may I here
He buffeted me a-boute þe mouthe · and bette me on the teth
And gyued me in goutes · I may nouȝt go at large
And of the wo that I was Inne · my wif had reuthe
And wisshed ful witterly þat I were in heuene
For the lyme þat she loued me fore · and leef was to fele
On nyghtes namely · whan we naked were
I ne myghte in no manere · maken it at hir wille
So elde and so sothly · hadden it forbeten
¶ And as I sat in this sorwe I seigh how kynd passed
And deth droughe neigh me · for drede gan I quake
And cried to kynde · out of care me brynge
Lo Elde the hore hase me biseye
A-wreke me if youre will be · for I wolde ben hennes
¶ If thow wolt be ywrokene · vende in-to vnitee
And holde þe ther euer · til I sende for the
And loke thow konne som craft · or thow com thennes
¶ Counsel me kynde quod I · what craft is best to lerne
¶ Lerne to loue quod kynde · and lief of al other
¶ How shal I come to catel so · to clothe me and to feede
¶ And thow loue lely quod he · lakke shal the neuere
Mete ne wordly wede · while thy lif lastes
¶ And ther-by counseil of kynde · I comsed to Rome
Thurgh contricion and confessioun · til I cam to vnite
And ther was conscience constable · cristyne to saue
And biseged sothly with seuen grete geauntes
That with antecrist helden hard ayein conscience
¶ Sleuthe with hise slenge and hard assawt made
Proude prestes come with hym · mo than a thousande
In paltokes and piked shoes · and pissers longe knyues
Comen ayeins conscience · with coueitise thay helden
¶ By marie quod a mased preest · of þe marche of Irlande
I counte namore conscience · by so I cacche siluer
Nota
Than I do to drynke a drauȝt of good ale
And so saiden sexti · of þe same contree
And shoten ayein hym with shott · with many schef of othes
And brode hoked arwes goddes herte and his nayles
And hadden almost vnite · and holynesse adoun
¶ Conscience cried helpe clergie · or elles I falle
Thurgh Inparfite prestes · and prelates of holy chirche
Freres herden hym crie · and comen hym to helpe
And for þei koude nouȝt wel hir craft · conscience forsoke hem
¶ Nede neighed to nere · and conscience he tolde
That thay come for coueitise to haue cure of saules
And for thay aren pouere per -auenture for patrimoigne hem failles
Thay wol flatre to fare wel · folk þat ben riche
And seyn they chosen chele · and cheitif pouerte
Lat hem chewe as thay chosen · and charge hem with no cure
For lomer he lyeth · þat liflod mote begge
Than he tha[^437] laboures for liflode · and leuees it beggers
And sithen freres forsoke þe felicite of erthe
Lat hem be as beggers · or lyue by angelise fode
¶ Conscience of this conseil · tho comsed for to laughe
And curteislich conforted hem · and called Inne alle freres
And sayde sires sothly · welcom be ye alle
To vnite and to holy chirche · and oon thyng I yow praie
Holdes yow in vnite · and haues non enuye
To lered ne to lewed · but lyues after youre reule
And I wol be youre borwe · ye schal haue brede & clathes
And other necessaries I-now · yow shal no thyng faille
With þat ye leue logik · and lernees for to louye
For loue last ther lordschip · boþe londe and scole
Freres fraunceys and dominik for loue to ben holy
¶ And if ye coueites cure kynde wol yow teche
That in mesure god made · al maner thynghes
And sette it at a certein · and at siker nombire
And nempned names newe · and nombred the prestes
CHECK THE MS. INTENDED pOINTING HAND???***
Qui numerat multitudines stellarum & omnibus eis nomina & cetera
¶ kynges and knyghtes · þat kepen and defenden
Han officers vndir hem · and ech of hem certeyn
And if thay wage men to werre · þay write hem in nombire
Wol no tresore hem paye · trayuaille thay neuere[^438]
Alle other in baitalle · ben yholde briburs
Pilours and pikherneyis · in ech place a-corsed
¶ Monkes and moniales · and al men of Religion
Hire ordire and hir reule · wole to han a certein nombire
Of lewed and of lered · the lawe wole and axeth
A certein for a certein · saue onliche of Frers
For-thy quod conscience by crist · kynde wit me telles
It is wikked to wage yow · ye wexes oute of nombire
Heuene hase euene nombre · and helle is with-oute nombire
For-thy I wolde witterly · þat ye were in the Registre
And youre nombire vndir noetaries[^439] signes · and neither mo ne lasse
¶ Enuye hard this · and heet freres to go to scole
And lerne logik and lawe · and ek contemplacioun
And prech men of plato and preue it by seneca
That thynges vndir heuene · aughten to ben in comune
¶ And yet he lyeth as I leue · þat to the lewed so prechees
X
For god made to men a lawe · and moises it taioghte ta[u]ghte[^a93][^440]
Non concupisses rem proximi tui & cetera
¶ And yuel is this yholde in parisshes of Engelond
For parsouns and pararisshe parisshe[^a94] prestes · þat shuld the pepil schriue
Ben curatours called · to knowe and to hele
Alle þat ben hir parisshens · penaunce and enioigne
And shuld be ashamed in hir shrifte · and schame makes
To fleen to þe freres · as fals folk · to westmynster hem wende
That borwes and beres þeder · and þanne biddes frendes
yerne of forgyuenesse · or lenger yeres loone
¶ And while he is in westmynster · he wol be bifore
And maken hym myry · with other mennes goodes
And so it farees with muche folke · þat to þe freres shryues
As sisours and executours · thay wol geue þe frers
A parcell to praye for hem · and make hem-selue myrie
With þe residue and þe remenaunt · þat other men biswonke
And suffre þe dede in dette ˜ to the day of dome
¶ Enuye here-fore hated conscience
And freres to philosophires · he fand hem to scole
The while couetisse and vnkyndenesse conscience assailled
In vnite holy chirche · conscience helde hym
And made pees porter · to pynne þe yates
Of alle tale tellers · and tutelers in ydel
¶ ypocrisie and he an hard assaute thay made
ypocrisie at the yate · hard gan fighte
And wounded wel wikkedly · many wise techer
That wit conscience acorded and cardinal vertues
¶ Conscience called a leche · þat wel kouthe shryue
To salue þo þat sike ben · thurgh synne ywounded
Shrifte shope sharpe salue · And mad men do penaunce
For hir myssdedes · þat they wroughte hadden
And þat piers þe were payed · Redde quod debes
¶ Som liked nout this leche · and lettres they senten
If any surgien were þe segge · þat softer kouthe plaster
Sire leef to lyue in leccherie · lay ther and groned
For fastyng of a friday · he ferde as he wolde deye
¶ Ther is a surgien in this sege · þat softe kan handile
And more of phisik by fer · and fairer he plastreth
Oon frere flaterer is phisicien and surgien
¶ Quod contricion to conscience · do hym com to vnite
For hire is many a man · hurte thurgh ypocrisie
We han no nede quod conscience · I woot no better leche
Than parson or parissh preste · penitauncer or bisshope
Saue piers the plowman · þat hase power ouer hem alle
And Indulgence may do · bot if dette lette it
¶ I may wel suffre saide conscience sith ye desiren
That frere flaterer be fette · and phisik yow sike
¶ The frere here-of herde · and hyed faste
To a lord for a letter · leue to haue curen
And as a Curatour he were · and cam with lis letters
Boldely to þe bissohop · and hise brief hadde
In contrees ther he cam Inne · confessiouns to here
And cam ther conscience was and knokked at the yate
¶ Pees vnpynned it was porter of vnitee
And in haste asked · what his wille were
In faith quod this frere · for profit and for helthe
Carpe I wolde with contricion · and ther-fore cam I hider
¶ He is sike saide pees · and so er many other
ypocrisie hase hurte hem · ful hard is if þey keuere
¶ I am a surgien saide þe segge · and salues kan make
Conscience knawes me wel · and what I kan do bothe
¶ I praye þe quod pees þo · er þou passe ferther
What hattestowe I pray ye · hele nouȝt thy name
¶ Certes saide he felawe · Sire penetrans domos
¶ ye go thy gate quod piers · by god for al thy phisik
Bot thow konne som craft · thow comest nouȝt ther-Inne
I knew swich oon ones · nouȝt eighte wynter passed
Come Inne thus Icoped · at a Court ther I dwelte
And was my ladyes leche · and my lordes bothe.
And at the last this limitour · tho my lord was oute
He salued so oure wommen · til some were with childe
¶ Hende speche heet pees ˜ open the yates
Lat Inne the frere and his felawe · and make hem faire chere
He may see and here · so it may bifalle
That lif thurgh his lore · schal leue coueitise
And be adrad of deth · and with-drawe hym fram pride
And acorde with conscience · and kisse hir either other
Thus thurgh hende speche · entred þe frere
And cam in-to conscience ˜ and curteisliclich curteislich[^a95] hym grete
¶ Thow art welcome quod conscience kanstow hele the sike
Here is contricion quod conscience · my cosyn ywounded
¶ Confort hym quod conscience and take kepe to hise sores
The plastres of þe parsone · and pouders bitten to sore
He leet hym ligge ouerlonge · and loth is to chaunge hem
Fro lenten to lenten · he lat hise plastres bite
¶ This is ouer -longe quod this limitour I leue I shal amende it
And goos and gropes contricion · an gaf hym a plastre
Of a priue paiement · and I shal pray for yow
And for alle þat ye be holde to · al my lif tyme
And make yow my lady in masse and in matynes
As freres of oure fraternite · for a litel siluer
¶ Thus he goos and gadderes · and gloses ther he shryues
Til contricion had clene forgeten · to crie and to wepe
And awake for his wikked werkes · as he was wont to done
For comfort of his confessour · contricion he lafte
That is þe souereignest salue · for alkynne synnes
¶ Sleuthe see þat and so dide pride
And cam with a kene wille conscience to assaille
¶ Conscience cried efte · and badde clergie helpe
And also contricion · for to kepe the yate
¶ he lith and dremees saide pees · and so do many other
The frere with his phisik · this folk has enchaunted
And plastred hem so esily · the drede no synne
¶ Bi crist quod conscience tho I wil bicome a pilgryme
And walken as wide · as al the world lasteth
To seek piers þe plowman · þat pride may distroye
And þat freres had a fyndyng · þat for nede flateren
And conterpledes me conscience · now kynde me a-venge
¶ And sende me happe and hele · til I haue piers the plowman
And sith he gradde after grace · til I gane awake

[^a93: taioghte ta[u]ghte (C) | taughte (All other mss)]

[^a94: pararisshe parisshe (C) | parish (All other mss)]

[^a95: curteisliclich curteislich (C) | curteisly (All other mss)]

[^431: This tag may well be wrong. I guessed at what Eric's homerolled tag meant and may have guessed wrong. REMOVE THIS NOTE.]

[^432: C.20.5: Tha, "who."]

[^433: C.20.25: KD.20.26 is omitted.]

[^434: C.20.35: KD.20.37 is omitted.]

[^435: C.20.93: KD.20.95-96 are omitted.]

[^436: C.20.187: vnnees, "hardly, with difficulty." MED notes this form is"chiefly Northern." See C.4.59.]

[^437: C.20.236: tha, "who, that."]

[^438: C.20.258: KD.20.261 is omitted.]

[^439: 20.269: The spelling nortaries is possibly intended?]

[^440: C.20.275: An <X> in the right margin identifies the need for correction.]

¶ Explicit hic dialagus Petri plowman :