The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. ?: Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, MS L1.4.14 (C2)
author: William Langland
source date: xv1
edition published: 200?
language: lat; fre; ger
availability: Commercially available: copyright 200?, by SEENET

I N a Somer sesoun ; whanne softe was þe Sunne[^1]
I schope me in schroudes ; as I a scheep were
In habyt as an heremyte ; vn-holy of werkis
wente wyde in þis world ; wondris to here
And on a may mornynge[^2] ; on Maluerne hilles
Me be-ffelle a fferly ; of ffayre me be-thouȝt[^a1]
I was wery ffor-wandrid ; and me [wente] me[^a2] to reste
Vndir a brode bank ; be a bornes syde
And as I lay and lened ; and lokede in þe waters
I slumbrede in a slepinge ; it sweyued so merie
Than gan I to meten ; a merveilous sweuene
þat I was in wyldernesse ; wiste I neuer where
as I be-helde in-to þe est ; on hie to þe Sunne
A Tower on a tofte
I Sauȝt[^a3] a toure on a tofte ; reallecle[^a4] y-makyd
A Dongion in a Dale
A depe dale beneþe ; a dongioun Ther-Inne
with depe dichis & derke ; and dredffull of Syȝth
A ffaire ffelde bitwynne
A ffaire ffeld ffull of ffolk ; ffonde I þer bitwynne
Of alle manere of men ; þe mene and þe riche
worchinge & wandringe ; as þe world askith
Summe putte hem to þe plow ; pleyed ffull seeld
In settynge and Sowynge ; swonkyn ffull hard
And wo n nien[^a5] þat wastouris ; in gloteney distroyen
And Summe putten hem to pride ; apparayleden hem þer -after
In Contenaunce of cloþing ; Comen disgysyd
In pre i re and in pennaunce ; putten hem many
Al ffor loue of oure lord ; lyuende[^a6] ffull streite
In hope ffor to haue ; heuene-riche blisse
as ancres & hermytis ; þat holden hem in her Sellis
And Coueyten not in cuntre ; to Carien[^3] abouȝte
For no likerouse lyfflode ; her lykyng[^a7] to plese
And Summe schosyn schaffare ; þei schosyn[^a8] þe better
as it semeþ to oure Syȝt ; that swyche þryuen
And summe myrthis to make ; as mynstrallis kunnen
[^4]And getten gold with her gle ; not Synnelez I leue
as Iapers & Iangeleris ; Iudas Childrin[^5]
That ffeynen hem ffantasies ; & ffoles hem makyn
And han her witte at her wille ; to werche if þei shulden
Q ui non laborat non manducet
That poul prechiþ of hem ; I nyle not preue it here
Qui turpiloquium loquitur ; is lucifers knaue[^a9]
bidders and beggers ; ffaste abouȝte ȝedyn
with her bely & her baggis; of bred ffull I-crammyd
Faydend[^a10] ffor her ffode ; ffauȝten at nale
In glotonye god it woot ; gonne þei to beed
And risyn with rebauȝdie ; þe robers knaues
Sleep and sory slauȝthe ; Suen hem euere
Pylgrymes
Pylgrymes & palmers ; pleyȝteden hem to-gydirs
To seke Seint Iames ; and Seintis in rome
þey wenten fforth in her wey ; with many wyse talis[^6]
And haddyn leue ffor to ley ; all her lyue after
I seye summe þat sayden ; þei haden Souȝt Seyntis
To yche a tale þat þei tolden ; her tunge was temperid to lie
Heremytes
More þan sey soth ; it semed be here speche
hermytes on an heep ; with hoked staues
Wenten to Walsingham ; & her wenchis after
Grette lobys & long ; þat loþe were to swynke
Clothed hem in Copis ; to be knowin ffrom oþer
and schopen hem hermytez ; here ese to haue
Freers
I ffonde þer ffreris ; alle ffoure[^a11] ordris
[^7] prechid þe pepill ; ffor profitte of hem -seluen
Glosed þe gospell ; as hem good lykid
For Coueitise of Copis ; constreued it as þei woldyn
Many of þese maister ffreris ; mowe cloþin hem at likyng
For her mony & marchandisis ; marchin[^a12] to-gedris
For siþe Carite[^a13] haþ be Chapman ; & chef to schryue lordis
Many fferlies han I -ffallen[^a14] ; in a ffewe ȝeris
but holy Chirche and þei ; holde better to-gedris
The most myschef on erthe ; is montynge vp wel ffast[^8]
pardonere
There preched a pardoner ; as he a prest were
brouȝte fforth a bulle ; with busshopis Seelis
And said þat him-self myȝth ; assoylyn hem all
Of ffalsed of ffastinge ; and of vowes y-broken
lewde men leued him well ; and lykyd his wordis
Comyn vp knelynge ; to kyssyn his bullez
he touuchid[^a15] hem with his breuet ; and blered her eien
And rauȝte with his ragman ; ryngis and brochis
þus þey ȝyuen here gold ; glotones to kepe
And louen swiche losellis ; þat lecchorie haunten
were þe bischoppe y-blessid ; & worthe boþe his eeris
his Seel shuld not be sent ; to disceyue þe peple
And it is not be[^a16][^9] þe bischope ; þat þe boy prechiþ
For the parishe preste & þe pardoner ; parten þe siluer
þat þe pore paraile[^a17] of þe parishe ; shulde haue if þei ne were
Curatis
Parsonnez and parishe prestis ; pleyned hem to þe bischope
Curati non residentes
þat her parishez were pore ; Sithe þe pestelens tyme
To haue a lycens & leue ; at london to dwelle
And syng þer ffor Symonye ; ffor Siluer is swete
Bischopis and bacheleris ; boþe maistres & doctouris
þat han Cure vndir Crist ; and Crownes[^a18] in tokene
And signe þat þei shulden ; schryven her parisheneris
Prechen and pray ffor hem ; and þe pore ffede
liggen at london ; in lenten and ellis
Summe seruen þe kyng ; and his siluer tellen
In cheker and in Chauncerie ; Calengen[^a19] his dettis
Of wardis of wardemotis ; of weyues of stryues str[e]yues[^a20]
And summe seruen as seriauntis ; lordis and ladies
And in stede of stiwardis ; Sytten and demen
her messe & her matynys ; and many of her ouris
ar don vndeuouteliche[^10] ; dred is at þe last
leste Crist in consistorie ; Curse ffull many
I parceyued of þe power ; þat petir had to kepe
To bynde & to vnbynde ; as þe book telleþ
how he it self[^11] with loue ; as oure lord hyȝte
Among ffoure vertuez ; þe beste of alle wertues
þat Cardenalis ben cleped ; and closyng ȝatis
Ther Crist is in kyngdom ; to close and to schitte
And to openet[^a21] to hem ; and heuene blisse schewe
Cardinales
And of þe Cardenals at court ; þat Cauȝten of þat name
And power presumed in hem ; a pope to make
To haue þat power þat petir had ; Impugne it I nyle
For in loue and letterure ; þe eleccioun bilongiþ
For-þi I can & I can not ; of Court speke more
þann Cam þer a kyng ; knyȝhod him ladde
Myȝth of þe Comunes ; made him to regne
And þann Came kynd witte ; and Clerkis he made
For[^a22] Conceile þe kyng ; and þe Comune saue
The kyng & knyȝthod ; and clergie bothe
Casten þat þe Comune ; shulden hem-self ffynden
The Comune contreued ; of kynde witte Crafftis
And ffor proffitte of alle þe pepill ; plowmen ordeyned
To tillie and trauaile ; as trewe lyffe asketh
The kyng and þe Comune ; and kynde witte þe thred
schope lawe[^a23] leute iche man ; to knowe his owen
Thann loked vp a lunatik ; a lene þing with -all
And knelinge to þe kyng ; clerigialy[^a24] he sayd
Criste kepe þe Sir kyng ; and þi kyng-riche
And lene þe to lede þi lond ; so leute þe louye
And ffor þi riteffull rewling ; be rewardid in heuene
And sithen in þe eyr on hiȝe ; an aungell on[^a25] heuene
loued to speke in latyn ; ffor lewde men ne Couuden
Iangle ne Iugge ; þat Iustice hem shulde
but sufre and seruen ; ffor-þi said þe angell
Cum[^a26] rex cum[^a27] princeps ; neutrum fortasse deinceps
O qui iura regis ; Christi specialia regis
Hoc quod agas mesius[^a28] ; iustus es . esto pius
Nudum ius a te ; vestiri vult pietate
Qualia vis metere ; talia grana Sere
Si ius nudatur ; nudo de iure metatur
Si Seritur pietas ; de pietate metas
þan greued him a goliardeis ; a glotoun of wordis
And to the aungell on hiȝ ; answeride after
Cum rex a regere ; dicatur nomen habere
Nomen habet Sine re ; nisi studet iura tenere
Thann gan alle þe Comunes ; Crie in vers of latyn
To þe kyngis Counceill ; construe who-so wolde
Precepta regis ; sunt nobis vincula legis
with þat ran þer a rouute[^12] ; of ratones at ones
and smale myce with hem ; mo þan a þouusand
And Comen to a counceyll ; ffor her Comune proffitt
For a catt of a court ; Cam whan him liked
And ouere-leepe hem lyȝtely ; and lauȝte hem at his wille
And pleyed with hem perelousliche ; & possed hem abouȝte
For douȝte of diuerese dedis ; we durre not well loke
And if we grucchen of his gamez[^a29] ; he wulle greue vs alle
Cracche us and clawe us ; and in his clochis holde
That us lotheþ þe lyffe ; or he lete us passe
Myȝtten we with ony witte ; his wille with -stonde
we myȝthen be lordis alofte ; and[^13] leuen at oure ese
A raton of renoun ; moste renable of tunge
Seyd ffor a souereyne help ; to him-seluen
I haue Seyn segges quod he ; in þe Cete of london
beren byes ffull briȝth ; abouȝten her neckis
And Summe colers of Crafti werkis[^a30] ; vncoupled þei wenden
Boþe in wa reyn and in waste ; where hem leffee[^a31][^14] likith
And oþer -while þai arn ellis-where ; as I here telle
where þer a belle on her breste[^a32] ; be Ihesu as me þinkith
Men myȝte witten where þei wenten ; and away renne
And rith so quod þe raton ; reson me sheweth
To bye a belle of brasse ; or of briȝth siluer
And knytte on a koler ; ffor oure Comune proffit
And hange it on þe Cattis hals ; þan here we mowne
where he ritte or resteth ; or renneth to pley
And if him liste ffor to laike ; þan loke we mowne
And peren in his presens ; þe while hym pleye likith
And if him wratheþ be war ; & his wey esshewe[^a33]
Al þis rouute[^15] of ratonis ; to þis reson assentid
And þoo þe belle was y-bouȝte ; and on þe bie hangid
þer ne was raton in alle þe rouȝte ; ffor alle þe rewme of ffraunce
That duste haue bounde þe belle ; abouȝte þe Cattis necke
Ne hangid[^a34] it abouȝte þe cattis hals ; alle Englond to wynne
And helden hem vnhardy ; and her Conceill ffeble
And letten her laboure lost ; and her long stodie
A mouse þat moche good couthe ; as me þouȝte
Stroke fforth sterly[^a35][^16] ; and stode bi-fforn hem alle
And to þe ratonys ; rehersid þese wordis
Thouȝ we kylled[^a36] þe cat ; ȝet shuld þer come anoþer
To cache us and alle oure kynde ; þouȝ we cropen vndir benchis
For-þi I conceill alle þe Comune ; to late þe cat worthe
And be we neuer so bolde ; þe belle him to shewe
For I herde my sir seyne ; is vij seuene ȝere passid
Ther þe cat is a keton ; þe court is ffull elenge aylynge
That wittenessiþ holy writte ; who-so wolle it rede
ve ve
Ve terre ; vbi puer est rex & cetera
For may no renke þer rest haue ; ffor ratonis be nyȝth
The while he catcheth konnyngez ; he coueytiþ not oure Careyne
but ffedeth him with venyson ; deffame we him neuer
[^17] For better is a litill losse ; þan a long Sorowe
The mase amongis us alle ; þouȝ we mysse a schrewe
For many mannys malte ; we myse wolde distroie
And also þe rouute of ratonys ; rende mennys cloþis
Nere þat cat of þe court ; þat can ȝou ouere-lepe
For hadde ȝe rattis ȝoure wille ; ȝe couȝde not rewle ȝoure -seluen
I sey ffor me quod þe mous ; I se so mekill after
Schalle neuer þe cat ne keton ; by my conceyll be greued
Ne carpinge[^18] of þis Coler ; þat Costed me neuer
And þouȝ it had Coste me Catell ; bi-knowe it I nolde
But suffre as him-self wold ; to do as him likith
Couplid & vncouplid ; to cacche what þei mowen
For-þi iche a wyse man ; I warne witte well owne[^a37]
what þese metellis be-ment[^a38] ; ȝe men þat ben merie
Deuyne ȝe ffor I ne dar ; by dere god in heuene
Ȝett ho
Ȝett houede þer an hundrid ; in hooves of silke
Sergeauntes at Law .
Serjauntes[^19] it semed ; þat seruedyn at þe barre
pleded ffor penyez & poundes þe lawe
And not ffor þe loue ; of oure lord on-lose here lippis onys
þou myȝtest better mete þe my ste ; on maluerne hillez
þan gette a mumme of her mouþ ; but mony be schewed
barouns and burgeys ; and bonde-men also
I seie in þis asemble ; as ȝe shulle here after
baxters and brewers[^a39] ; and bocheris many
wullen websters ; and weuers of lynnen
Taylouris and tynkers ; and tollers in markettis
Masouns and mynours ; and many oþer Craftis
Of alle-kyn leuynge ; laboreris . lopen fforþ after[^a40]
As dikers and deluers ; þat don her dedis ille
And dryuen fforth þe long day ; with dieu vous saue dame Emme
kokis and her knaues ; Cried hote pyes hote
good gees & greysse ; go we dyne go we
Tauerneris vn-tille hem ; tolden þe same
whyȝte wyn of oseye ; & reed wyn of gascoyne
of þe ryne & of þe rochell ; þe roste to deffie
Alle this sawe I slepinge ; and Seuene Sythez more

[^a1: be-thouȝt (C2) | me thoȝt (most mss)]

[^a2: me [wente] me (C2) | wente me (all other mss)]

[^a3: Sauȝt (C2hand1) | seiȝ (Most mss) | see (C2hand2)]

[^a4: reallecle (C2hand1) | trieliche (most mss) | trikanlie (C2hand2)]

[^a5: wo n nien (C2) | wonnen (most mss)]

[^a6: lyuende (C2) | lyueden (most mss)]

[^a7: lykyng (C2) | likame (most mss)]

[^a8: schosyn (C2) | cheueden (most mss)]

[^a9: knaue (C2 Cr2 Cr3 O Y) | hyne (All other mss) | hyne (C2hand2)]

[^a10: Faydend (C2) | Faited<en> (most mss)]

[^a11: ffoure (C2) | þe foure (all other mss)]

[^a12: marchin (C2hand1) | marchen (most mss) | meten (C2hand2)]

[^a13: Carite (C2) | Charite (All other mss) | Charite (C2hand2)]

[^a14: I -ffallen (C2) | fallen (most mss)]

[^a15: touuchid (C2) | bonched (most mss)]

[^a16: be (C2 F H) | by (All other mss) | by (C2hand2)]

[^a17: paraile (C2) | poraille (most mss)]

[^a18: Crownes (C2) | crounyng (most mss)]

[^a19: Calengen (C2) | chalangen (most mss)]

[^a20: stryues str[e]yues (C2) | streyues (Most other mss) | streyues (C2hand2)]

[^a21: openet (C2) | opene it (all other mss)]

[^a22: For (C2) | For to (all other mss)]

[^a23: lawe (C2) | lawe and (most mss)]

[^a24: clerigialy (C2) | clergealy (all other mss)]

[^a25: on (C2) | of (all other mss)]

[^a26: Cum (C2) | Sum (all other mss)]

[^a27: cum (C2) | sum (all other mss)]

[^a28: mesius (C2) | melius (all other mss)]

[^a29: gamez (C2) | gamen (most mss)]

[^a30: werkis (C2) | werk (all other mss)]

[^a31: leffee (C2) | leue (most mss)]

[^a32: breste (C2) | beiȝe (most mss)]

[^a33: esshewe (C2) | shonye (most mss)]

[^a34: hangid (C2) | hangen (most mss)]

[^a35: sterly (C2) | sternely (most mss)]

[^a36: kylled (C2) | had<den> killed (most mss)]

[^a37: owne (C2) | his owene (most mss)]

[^a38: be-ment (C2) | bemeneþ (all other mss)]

[^a39: brewers (C2) | Brewesteres (most mss)]

[^a40: after (C2) | somme (all other mss)]

[^1: C2.P.1: No title appears on this leaf. In the top center margin the notation Fol. 1 appears written loosely and carelessly in a modern hand, and in the top right margin Passus 1, apparently in the same hand, followed by a few illegible strokes in a different one.]

[^2: C2.P.5:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in mornynge.]

[^3: C2.P.29:The MED notes that cairen is partly confused with carien, which seems to be the case in this instance. The scribe uses carieth for caireth at 4.24, but also uses the form kaires at 5.311.]

[^4: C2.P.34: A triangle composed of dots, with a wavy line ascending from the uppermost dot, appears in the left margin. See Introd. I.6.]

[^5: C2.P.35: A lower-case letter <a>, in a modern hand, appears in the extreme bottom right margin of this leaf.]

[^6: C2.P.48:A triangle composed of three dots, with a wavy line ascending from the uppermost dot, appears in the left margin. See Introd. I.6.]

[^7: C2.P.58-59: Lines 58 and 59 are joined by a bracket in the left margin.]

[^8: C2.P.67 The preceding two lines are joined at the left by a bracket.]

[^9: C2.P.80: The correcting scribe in forty instances substitutes <y> for <e> by over-writing and twelve times changes be to by.]

[^10: C2.P.98:An otiose tilde appears above the second <u> in vndeuouteliche.]

[^11: C2.P.102:C2 alone have it self; all other manuscripts have either left it or it lefte.]

[^12: C2.P.146:An otiose tilde appears above the first <u> in rouute]

[^13: C2.P.157: The original scribe does not elsewhere write ond for and.]

[^14: C2.P.163:The form leffee is not attested by the MED, nor does it appear elsewhere in this manuscript. This scribe's usual form is leef.]

[^15: C2.P.175:An otiose tilde appears above the first <u> in rouute]

[^16: C2.P.183:The MED attests no such form, but notes that forms with -o(u) [which also lack <n>] may reflect the influence of OE store. This scribe does not elsewhere use the word, but at 15.249 writes "loketh vp sterne."]

[^17: C2.P.196:A triangle composed of three dots, with a wavy line ascending from the uppermost dot, appears in the left margin. See Introd. I.6.]

[^18: C2.P.204:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in carpinge.]

[^19: C2.P.212:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in Serjauntes.]

W what þis monteyne be-meneth[^20] ; and þe merk dale
And þe ffeld ffull of ffolk ; I shall ȝou ffare shewe
A louely lady of lere ; in lynnen I-cloþid
Come doun ffrom a castell ; & Called me ffaire
And sayd sone slepeste þou ; seest þou þis pepill
How besy þey ben ; abouȝte þe mase
The moste partie of þis pepill ; þat passen on þis erthe
Haue þei wurschippe of[^a41] þis world ; þei wullen no better
Of oþer heuene þan here ; holden þei no tale
I was afferde of hire fface ; þouȝ sche ffaire were
Truthe
And said mercy ma-dame ; what is þis to mene
The toure vp þe toft quod sche ; truþe is þer -inne
And wolde þat ȝe wrouȝten ; as his word techiþ
For he is ffader of ffeith ; fformede ȝou alle
Boþe with ffelle & with fface ; & ȝaf ȝou ffyve wittis
For to wurshepe him þer -with ; þe while ȝe ben here
And þer -ffore he hyȝte þe erthe ; to helpe ȝou ichon
Of wollen of lynnen ; of lyflode at nede
In mesurable maner ; to make ȝou at ese
And Commaunde[^a42][^21] ȝou on his curteyse ; in Comune þre þingis
Arn non nedffull but þoo ; nempne hem I þinke
and rekene hem be roson[^a43] ; reherse ȝe hem after
þat on is clothinge[^a44] ; ffrom colde the to saue
And mete at mele ; ffor mysese of þi-selue
And drynk whan þou dryeste ; & do not out of reson
þat þou worthe þe werse ; whan þou worche shuldest
Loth
For loth in his lijf-daies ; ffor lykyng of drynk[^22]
Dyde by his douȝtres ; þat þe deuell lykyd
delytid him in drynk[^23] ; as þe dyuell wolde
And leccherie hym lauȝte ; & lay be hem bothe
Inebriemus eum vino dormiamus -que cum eo vt seruare possimus de patre nostro Semen
þoruȝ wyn & þoru wommen ; þer was loth acombred
And þer he gatte in glotonie ; gerlys þat were cherlis
For-thy drede delectable drynk ; & þou shalt do þe better
Mesure is medecyne ; þouȝ þou moche ȝerne
It is not alle good ffor þe goost ; þat þe gutte asketh
Ne lijflode to þi lykham ; þat leue is to þi soule
leeue þou not þi lykham ; ffor a lyer him techeth
That is a wrechid world ; wo lde þe betraye
For þe ffende and þi ffleshe ; ffolowen þe to-gedir
This and þat seiþ þi soule ; & seiþ in þin herte
And ffor þou shuldeste be war ; I wisse þe better
Ma-dame mercy quod I ; me lykyth well ȝoure wordis
And þe mony of þis molde ; þat men so ffaste holdyn
Telle me to whom ma-dame ; that tresoure appendeth
Go to þe gospell quod sche ; þat god seyd him-seluen
To þe pepill þat him aposede ; with a peny in þe temple
wheder þey shulden þer -with ; worshepe þe kyng Cesar
And god asked of hem ; of whom spake þe letter
And þe ymage ylyke ; þat þer -inne stondeth
Ceesaris[^24] þei seiden ; we seen him well ichon
Reddite Cesari quod god ; þat C esari be-ffalleth
Et que sunt dei deo ; or ellis ȝe don euell
For ritffull reson ; shulde rewle ȝou alle
And kynde witte be wardeyn ; ȝoure welthe to kepe
And tutour of ȝoure tresore ; & take it ȝou at nede
and hosbondrie & þei ; holdyn to-gedir
Than I ffrayned hir ffaire ; ffor him þat hir made
That dongeon in þe dale ; þat dredffull is of syȝth
what may it be-mene ; ma-dame I ȝou be-seche
The Castell of Care
That is þe Castell of care ; who-so cometh þer -inne
May banne þat he born was ; to body and to soule
Wronnge
Ther-inne woneth a wyȝtt ; þat wrong is I-hite[^a45]
Fader of ffalsed ; and ffoundid it him-selue
Adam and Eue ; he conceylid[^a46] to ille
Counceillid Caym ; to kyllyn his brother
Iudas he Iapid ; with Iuwes siluer
And sithen on an eller ; hangid him after
He is letter of loue ; and lyeth hem alle
þat trosten on his tresore ; bitrayeth hem[^a47] sunneste
þan had I wondir of[^a48] my witte ; what wommen[^a49] it were
þat swiche wyse wordis ; of holy wrytte schewed
And asked hir in þe hie name ; er sche þens ȝede
what sche were witterly ; þat wissed me so ffaire
Sancta Ecclesia
Holy chirche I am quod sche ; þou auȝteste me to knowe
I vndirffonge þe ffriste ; and þe ffeith tauȝte
and þou browȝteste me borewes ; my biddinge to ffulfille
And to loue me truely[^a50] ; þe while þi lijf durith
þan I courbed on my kneys ; & cried hir of grace
And prayed hir pitously ; pray ffor my synnes
And also kenne me kyndely ; on crist to beleue
That I myȝth worche his wille ; þat wrouȝt me to man
Teche me to no tresore ; but telle me þis ilke
how I may saue my soule ; þat seint art I-holden
Veritas
whan alle tresores ben I-tried ; treuthe is þe beste
I do it on deus Caritas ; to deme þe sothe
It is as derworþi a druerie ; as dere god him-self
who-so is trewe of his tunge ; and telleth non oþer
And þe werkis þer -with ; and wilneþ no man ille
he is a god by þe gospell ; on ground & on lofte
And like to oure lord ; by seint lukas wordis
The clerkis þat knowen þis ; shulde kenne it abouȝte
For cristen & vncristen ; cleymen it ichoun
Kyngys and knyȝtis ; shulde kepe it be resoun
Riden and rappen adoun ; in rewmes abouȝte
The profession of a knyghte
And take transgressouris[^25] ; and tien hem ffast
Til truthe had I-termyned ; her trespas to þe ende
And þat is þe profession apertly ; þat appendith to knyȝtis
And not to ffasten a ffriday ; in ffyue score wynter
But holdyn with him and with hir ; þat wolden all truþe
And neuer leue hem ffor loue ; ne ffor lackynge of syluer
For dauid in his daiez ; dubbid knyȝttis
And dede hem swere on her swerde ; to serue truthe euere
And who-so passid þe poynt ; is apostata in þe ordre
But Crist knyȝted[^a51] kyng ; knyȝted ten
Cherubyn and Saraphyn ; Swyche Seuene & anoþer
And ȝaff hem myȝth in[^a52] mageste ; þe meriere hem þouȝt
And ouere his mene meny ; made hem archaungelis
Tauȝte hem bi þe trinite ; truþe to knowe
To be buxum at his biddinge ; he bad hem nouȝt ellis
luciffer with legiounes ; lerned it in heuene
But ffor he brake buxumnesse ; his blis gan he tyne
And ffelle ffro þat ffellawschepe ; in a ffendis likenesse
In-to a depe derk helle ; to dwelle þer ffor euere
And mo þouusandis with him ; þan man couude nounbre
Loopen out with lucyffer ; lotheliche[^a53] fforme
For þey leued vp-on him ; þat lyed in þis manere
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone et similis ero altissimo
And alle þat hoped it myȝth be so ; non heuene myȝth hem holde
But ffellen out in ffendis likenesse ; nyne daiez to-gedere
Tyll god of his goodnesse ; gan stable and stynte
And garte þe heuene stekþe[^a54] ; & stondyn in quiete
whan þese wiked wente out ; wondirwise þei ffellen
Summe in þe erthe summe in þe eire ; & summe in helle depe
And lucyffer lowest ; lythe of hem alle
For pride þat he putted out ; his peyne hath non ende
And alle þat werchen with wrong ; wende þei shulle
After her deþe-day ; and dwelle with þat schrewe
And þoo þat worchen well ; as holy chirche[^a55] telleth
And endyn as I erst said ; &[^a56] truthe þat is beste
Mowyn be siker þat her soule ; shall wende to heuene
Ther truthe is in trinite ; & troneþ hem alle
For-þi I seie as I seyd eere ; bi siȝth of þese textis
Lereþ it þese lewde men ; ffor lettred men it knowyn
þat truthe is tresore ; þe trieste on erthe[^26]
Ȝit haue I no kynde knowynge quod I ; ȝit muste ȝe kenne me better
by what crafte in my cors ; it Comsiþ and where
þou dodid[^a57] daff quod sche ; dulle are þi wittis
To litill latyn þou lerdiste[^a58] ; lewde[^a59] in þi ȝougþe
Heu michi quod sterilem ; duxi vitam Iuuenilem
It is a kynde knowinge quod sche ; þat kenneþ in þin herte
For to loue þi lord ; leuere þan þi-selue
No dedly synne to do ; dey þouȝ þou shuldest
þis I trowe be truthe ; who can teche þe better
Loke þou suffre him to seye ; and sithe lerne it after
For þus wittenessiþ his word ; worche þou þer -after
For truthe tellith to[^a60] loue ; is triacle in heuene
May no synne be on him sen ; þat vsiþ þat spice
And alle his werkis he wrouȝt ; with loue as him liste
And lerne[^a61] it moyses ffor leuest þing ; & most like in heuene
And also þe plente of pees ; most precious of vertus
For heuene myȝth not holde it ; it was so heuy of him-self
Till it had of þe erthe ; eten his ffille
And whan it had of þe ffolde ; ffleishe and blood
was neuer leef vp-on lende ; lyȝter þer -after
And portatyf & persaunt ; as þe poynt of a nedell
That myȝth non armewre it lette ; ne non hie wallis
For-þi his[^a62] loue leder ; of þe lordis ffolk of heuene
And a mene as þe meyre is ; bitwixe þe kyng & þe Comouns
Rith[^a63] is loue a leder ; and þe lawe schapiþ
Vppon man ffor his mysdedis ; þe mercyment he taxiþ
And ffor to knowe it kyndely ; it comsiþ be myȝth
And In þe herte þer is þe heed ; and þe hie welle
For in kynde knowinge in herte ; þer a myȝth bygynneþ
And þat ffalliþ to þe ffader ; þat fformed vs alle
loked on vs with loue ; & lete his sone die
Mekely ffor oure myssedis[^a64] ; to amende us alle
And ȝit wolde he hem no woo ; þat wrouȝten him þat peyne
but mekeliche be mouþ ; mercy he be-souȝte
To haue pete on þat peple ; þat peyned him to deþ
Here myȝtest þou se ensamplis ; in him-seluen on
That he was myȝtffull & meke ; & mercy gan graunte
To hem þat hongyn him on hie ; and his herte þirlid
For-þi I rede ȝou riche ; haue rewthe on þe pore
þouȝ ȝe ben myȝtffull to mote ; beþe meke in ȝoure werkis
For þe same mesiris þat ȝe metyn ; amys oþer ellis
Ȝe shulle be weyen þer -with ; whan ȝe wendyn henns
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis
For þouȝ ȝe be trewe of ȝoure tunge ; and truliche wynnen
And as schast as a child ; þat in chirche wepiþ
but if ȝe loue lelleche ; and lene þe pore
Swiche good as god ȝou sente ; goodliche partiþ
ȝe ne han no more merite ; in messe ne in ouris
þan malkyn of hir maydinhod ; þat no man desirith
For Iames þe gentill ; iugged in his bokis
þat ffeyth with -outyn þe ffeyte ; is rith no-þing worthy
And as deed as durtre ; but if þe dedis ffollwen
Fides sine operibus ; mortua est
For-þi Chastite without Charite ; worþe cheyned in helle
It is as lewed as a lawpe[^a65] ; þat no lyȝt is Inne
Many Chapeleyns arn chast ; & charite is aweye
arn no men auorousere þan þei ; whan þe y ben auaunced
Vnkynde to her kyn ; and to alle Cristen
And schewen[^a66] her Charite ; & chiden after more
Swyche schastite without charite ; worth scheyned in helle
Many curatouris kepen hem ; c lene of her bodies
They ben acombred with Coueitise ; þei con not do it ffrom hem
So harde haþe Auarice ; I-hasped hem to-gedere
And þat is in truthe of þe trinite ; but treccherie of helle
And lernynge[^27] to lewde men ; þe latter ffor to dele
For[^a67] þise wordis ; ben wretten in þe gospell
Date et dabitur vobis ; ffor I dele ȝou alle
And þat is þe lokke of loue ; & latiþ out my grace
To comforte þe Careffull ; acombrid with synne
loue is leche of lyff ; & next oure lord seluen
And also þe grette[^a68] gate ; þat goþe in-to heuene
For-þi I sey as I sayd erste ; bi þe truwe tixtis
whan alle tresoris ben Itried ; truþe is þe beste
Now haue I tolde þe what truþe is ; þat no tresore is better
I may no lenger lengþe[^a69] þe with ; now loke þe oure lord

[^a41: of (C2) | in (all other mss)]

[^a42: Commaunde (C2) | comaunded (all other mss)]

[^a43: roson (C2) | reson (all other mss)]

[^a44: clothinge (C2) | vesture (all other mss)]

[^a45: I-hite (C2) | yhote (most mss)]

[^a46: conceylid (C2) | egged (most mss)]

[^a47: hem (C2) | he <hem;gt; (most mss)]

[^a48: of (C2) | in (all other mss)]

[^a49: wommen (C2) | womman (all other mss)]

[^a50: truely (C2) | lelly (most mss)]

[^a51: knyȝted (C2) | kyngene (most mss)]

[^a52: in (C2) | in his (all other mss)]

[^a53: lotheliche (C2hand1) | in lothelich (All other mss) | lotheliche in or of (C2hand2)]

[^a54: heuene stekþe (C2) | heuene to stekie (most mss)]

[^a55: chirche (C2) | writ (all other mss)]

[^a56: & (C2) | in (all other mss)]

[^a57: dodid (C2) | doted (most mss)]

[^a58: lerdiste (C2) | lernedest (most mss)]

[^a59: lewde (C2) | leode (most mss)]

[^a60: to (C2) | þat (most mss)]

[^a61: lerne (C2) | lered (most mss)]

[^a62: his (C2) | is (all other mss)]

[^a63: Rith (C2) | Right so (all other mss)]

[^a64: myssedis (C2) | mysdedes (all other mss)]

[^a65: lawpe (C2) | lampe (all other mss)]

[^a66: And schewen (C2) | Chewen (most mss)]

[^a67: For (C2) | Forþi (most mss)]

[^a68: grette (C2) | graiþe (most mss)]

[^a69: lengþe (C2) | lenge (most mss)]

[^20: C2.1.1: An otiose bar appears through the ascender of the <h> in be-meneth. For details of this scribe's use of barred <h>, see the Introduction under Hand.]

[^21: C2.1.20:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in Commaunde.]

[^22: C2.1.27:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in drynk.]

[^23: C2.1.29:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in drynk.]

[^24: C2.1.51: The second <e> was added above the line, and the original <e> overwritten as well, apparently because it was not clearly formed.]

[^25: C2.1.96:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in transgressouris.]

[^26: C2.1.135:C2O alone here omit the line numbered 1.135 by Kane and Donaldson.]

[^27: C2.1.200:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in lernynge.]

Ȝ it I Courbede on my knees ; & cried hir of grace
And sayd mercy ma-dame ; ffor marie loue of heuene
That bare þat blessed[^a70] barn ; þat bouȝte vs on þe rode
kenne me by sum craft ; ffor to knowe the ffalse
loke vp-on þi lifte half ; & lo where sche standiþ
Bothe ffals & ffauel ; & her fferes many
I loked on my lifte half ; as þe lady me tauȝte
And was war of a womman ; worþily I-cloþed
purfilid with pelure ; þe ffynest vpon erthe
Crouned with a croune ; þe kyng haþe non better
Fetisslich hir ffyngris wern ; fetrid with gold whire
And þer -on reed rebens[^a71] ; as reed as ony glede
And deamauntes of derrest price ; & double manere sapheris
Orientalis & ewagis ; envenemes to distroie
hir robe was of[^a72] riche ; of reed scharlet engreyned
with rebans of reed gold ; & of riche stones
hir aray me raueschid ; swiche richesse saw I neuer
I had wondir what sche was ; & whos wyf sche were
what is þis womman quod I ; so worþily atired
That is mede þe mayden quod sche ; hath noyed me ffull ofte
And Ilackid my lemman ; þat leute is hoton
And bilowen hir to lordis ; þat lawis har[^a73] to kepe
In þe popis paleys she is ; preuy as my-self
But sothenes wolde not so ; ffor sche is a bastard
For ffals was hir ffader ; þat had a ffekill tunge
And neuer sothe said ; Sithe he Come to erthe
And mede is manered after him ; rith as kynde askeþ
Qualis pater talis filius Bona arbor bonum fructum facit
I auȝte ben hiere þan sche ; I cam of a better
My ffader þe grett god is ; & ground of alle grace
o god with -outyn bigynnynge ; & I his good douȝter
And hath ȝyuen me mercy ; to marie with my-selue
And what man be mercyffull ; & lelly me loueþ
shall be my lord & I his leef ; in þe hie heuene
And what man takiþ mede ; my lyff dar I ley
þat he shall lese ffor his[^a74] loue ; a lappe of Caritas[^a75]
how construeþ dauid þe kyng ; of men þat taken mede
And men of þis mold ; þat menteynyn truthe
And how ȝe shulle saue ȝou-seluen ; þe sauter berith wittenesse
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo & cetera .
And now worþ þis mede I-maried ; al to[^a76] cursid[^a77]
To on ffals fekell tunge ; a ffendis biȝete
Fauell þoru his ffaire speche ; hath þese ffolk enchaunted
And alle is lyers ledynge ; þat she is þus I-weddid
To-morwe shall be made ; þe maydenes bridale
And þer myȝteste þou witte if þou wilte ; whiche þei ben alle
That longen to þat lordschepe ; þe lesse & þe more
knowe hem þer if þou canste ; and kepe well þi tunge
And lacke hem not but late hem worþe ; tille leute be iustice
And haue power to ponyshe hem ; þan put fforth þi reson
Now I be-kenne þe crist quod she ; & his clene moder
And late no concience acomber þe ; ffor coueytise of mede
Thus lafte me þat lady ; liginge aslepe
And how mede was I-maried ; in metels me þouȝt
And al þe riche retenaunce ; þat regneþ with ffalse
weren boden to þe bridale ; on boþe two sidis
Of alle maner of men ; þe mene & þe riche
To marie þis mayden ; was many man asembled
As of knyȝtis & clerkis ; & oþer Comune peple
as sisouris & sumpnours ; schreues & her clerkis
Bedellis & balifs ; and brokouris of schaffare
Forgoers & vitayleris ; & vocatis of þe archis
I can not rekene þe rouȝte ; þat ran abouȝte mede
And Symonye & Syuyle ; & Sisouris of courtis
were most preuy with mede ; of ony men me þouȝte
And ffauell was þe ffriste ; þat ffette hir out of boure
whan Symonye & Seuyle ; saw her boþer wille
They asentid ffor siluer ; to sey as boþe wolden
þan lepe lyer fforth ; and sayde lo here a chartre
þat gyle with his grette oþes ; gaff hem to-gederis
And preyed Cyuyle to se ; & Symonye to rede it
Than Symonye & Ceuyle ; stondyn fforth boþ
And[^28] vnffoldyn þe ffeffement ; þat ffals haþe made
And þus bygonnen[^a78] þese gomes ; to greden ffull hie
Sciant presentes et futuri & cetera .
wyteþ and wyttenessiþ ; þat wonneþ vpon þis erthe
That mede is maried ; more ffor his[^a79] goodis
þan ffor ony vertue of ffayrenesse ; or ffor ony ffre kynde
Falsnesse is ffayn of hir ; ffor he wotte hir riche
And ffauell with his ffekill ffellawe ; feffeþ be þis chartre
To be pryncesse in pride ; & pouerte to dispice
To bacbyte & to boste ; & bere ffals wittenesse
To scorne & to scolde ; & slaundre to make
Vnbuxum and bolde ; to breke þe ten heestis
And þe erldom of envie ; & wrathe to-gedris
with þe Chastilet of Cheest ; & Chateringe[^29] out of reson
The Comitte of Coueytise ; & alle þe Costis abouȝte
That is vsurie & auarice ; alle I hem graunte
In bargeyns & in brocages ; with alle þe boruȝ of þeft
And alle þe lordschepe of leccherie ; in lengþe & in brede
As in werkis and in wordis ; & waytyngis with eien
And in wedis & wysshingis ; & with ydell þouȝtis
Ther as wille wolde ; werkmanshipe ffaylith
Glotonye he gaff hem eke ; & grett oþes to-gydris
And al day to drink[^30] ; at dyuerse tauernys
And þer to Iangle & to Iape ; & iugge here euene-Cristen
And in ffastinge-daiez to ffrete ; er ffull tyme where
And þan to sitte & to soupe ; till slepe hem asayle
And bredyn as boruȝ swyn ; beddyn[^a80] hem esily
Tyll sleuthe & slepe ; slikis his sidis
And þan wanope to awake him so ; with no wille to amende
For he leueth he be loste ; þis is her laste ende
And þei to haue & to holde ; & her eieris after
A dwellinge with þe deuell ; & dampned be ffor euere
with alle þe purtenaunce of purgatorie ; in-to þe pyne of helle
ȝeldinge ffor þis þing ; at on ȝeris ende
her soulis to sathan ; to suffre with him peynes
And with hym to wony / in wo ; while god is in heven
In witnesse of wheche þing ; wronge was þe first[^31]
And pers þe pardoner ; of paulynys doctrine
Bette þe bedell ; of bokyngham-schire
Reynold þe reue ; Ruteland[^a81] sokene
Munde þe myluere ; & many mo oþer
In þe date of þe deuyll ; þis dede we[^a82] asele
By syȝt of Syr Symonye ; and Seuylis leue
Than tened him theologie ; whan he þis tale herd
And sayd to Ceuyle ; now sorowe mote þou haue
Swyche weddinge to worche ; to wrathe with truþe
And er þis weddinge be wrouȝt ; woo þe bityde
For mede is muliere ; of amendis engendrid
And god graunted to gyff ; mede to truþe
And þou hast gyue hir to a gylour ; now god gyue þe sorowe
Thi tixt telliþ þe not so ; truthe wotte þe sothe
For dignus est oper arius[^a83][^32] his hire to haue
And þou hast ffeste hir to ffals ; ffy on þi lawe
For al by lesingis þou leueste ; & leccherous werkis
Symonye & þi-self ; schenden holy chirche
The Notories & ȝe ; Noyen þe peple
ȝe shulle abye it bothe ; be god þat me made[^33]
welle ȝe witten wernardis ; but if ȝoure witte ffayle
þat ffals is ffeitheles ; & ffekill in his werkis
And was a bastard I-born ; of belsabuckis[^a84] kyn
And mede mueliere ; a mayde of goode
And myȝth kysse þe kyng ; ffor Cosyn & sche wold
For-thy worchiþ be wisdam ; & by witti also
And ledeth hir to london ; þer lawe is I-schewed
If ony lawe wolle loke ; þei ligge to-gedris
And þouȝ iustices iuggen hir ; to be ioyned with ffals
Ȝit be war of weddinge ; ffor witty is truthe[^34]
And concience is of his conceyle ; & knowith ȝou ichon
And if he ffynde ȝou in deffaute ; & with þe ffals holde
It shall be-sitte ȝoure soulis ; ffull soure at þe laste
here-to asentiþ Cyuyle ; & Symonie ne wolde
Tille he had siluere ffor his seruyse ; & also þe Notaries
Than ffette ffauell fforth ; fflorens I-now
And bad gyle go gyue ; gold al abouȝte
And namely to þe Notories ; þat hem non ffaile
And ffeffe ffals wittenesse ; with fflorens I-nowe
For þei may mede maistrie ; & maken at my wille
þoo þis gold was gyue ; grett was þe þanking
To ffals & to ffauell ; ffor her ffaire ȝiftis
And Comen to comfforte ; ffrom care þe ffals
And seid certis sire ; cesse shall we neuer
Tylle mede bi[^a85] weddid þi wyff ; þoruȝ wittis of vs alle
For we han mede amaystried ; with oure mery speche
That she graunteth to gon ; with a good wille
To london to loke ; if þat þe lawe wolle
Iugge ȝou Ioyntly ; in Ioy ffor euere
Than was ffalsnesse ffayn ; & ffauell as blithe
And lete Sumpne alle Segges ; in schiris abouȝte
And bade hem alle be bon ; beggers and oþer
To wende with hem to westmynster ; to wittenesse þis dede
And þe n þey cared[^a86] ffor caples ; to carie hem þedir
And ffauell ffette fforth þan ; ffolys y-nowe
And sette mede vpon a schreve ; schod al new
And ffals satte on a sisoure ; þat softeliche trottid
And ffauel on a fflaterere ; ffetissliche atired
þan had notaries non ; anoyed þei wern
For Symonye & Ceuyle ; schulde on her ffeet gange
And þan swore Symonye ; & Ceuyle bothe
That sumpnours[^35] shulden be sadled ; & serue hem ichon
And late appairele þese prouysouris ; in palffreis wyse
Syr Symonye him-seluen ; shal sitte vpon her backis
Denes & sudenes ; drawe ȝou to-gedris
Erchedekenes & officialis ; & alle ȝoure registreris
late sadil hem with siluer ; oure synne to suffre
As avoutrie & devoces ; and derne vsurie
To bere bisshoppis abouȝte ; abrood in vesitinge
Paulynys preues ; ffor pleyntis in þe consistorie
shulle serue my-seluen ; þat Ceuyle is named
And cartesadill oure comissarie ; oure cart shall he lede
And ffecchin vs vetaillis ; at ffornicatores
And make of lyer a long cart ; to lede alle þese oþer
as ffreris & ffaytouris ; þat on her ffeet rennen
And þus ffals & ffauell ; ffareth fforþ to-gedris
And mede in þe myddis ; & alle þese oþer after
I haue no tome to telle ; þe taile þat hem ffolwith
Of many maner men ; þat on þis molde lyueth
And gyle was ffor-goer ; & guyde hem alle
Sothenesse saw hem welle ; & said but a litill
And prikid his palffrey ; & passed hem alle
And come to þe kyngis court ; & concience it tolde
And concience to þe kyng ; carped it after
Now bi crist quod þe kynge ; & I cacche myȝth
Fals or ffauell ; or ony of his fferis
I wolde be wroken of þo wrecchis ; þat worchyn so ille
And do hem hang bi þe hals ; & alle þat hem menteyne
schalle neuer man on molde ; meynprice þe leste
but rith as þe lawe wulle loke ; late ffalle on hem alle
And commaundid[^36] a constable ; þat come at þe ffrist
To atache þo terauntis ; ffor ony-þing I hote
And ffeteriþ ffast ffalsnesse ; ffor ony-kyns ȝiftis
And gyrde of gylis hed ; & late him go no fforþer
And if ȝe lacche lyer ; late him not scape
Or he be put on þe pyllery ; ffor ony preire I hote
And bringiþ mede to me ; Magrye hem alle
Drede at þe dure stode ; & þe dom herde
And how þe kyng Comaunded[^37] ; constablis & serjauntes
Falsenesse and his ffellawshepe ; to ffeteryn & to byndyn
Than drede wente wyȝtliche ; & warned þe ffals
And bad hem ffle ffor ffeere ; & his ffelawis alle
Falsnesse ffor ffere þan ; ffled to þe ffreris
And gyle doþe him to go ; agast ffor to die
And marchauntis mettyn him with ; & madyn him abyde
And settyn him in her schop ; to schewen her ware
And apparailid him as a prentise ; þe peple to serue
lyȝtely lyer ; lepe away þann
lorkynge þoruȝ lanes ; to-lugged of many
he was no-where welcome ; ffor his many talis
Ouere-all I-howted ; & I-hote trusse
Tyll pardonneris hadden pete ; & pullen[^a87] hym in-to house
þey wasshed him & wypid hym ; & woundyn hym in cloutis
And sente him with seelis ; on sundais to chirche
And gaf pardon ffor pens ; poundmele abouȝte
Than lowrid leches ; & lettres þei senten
That he shuld wonne with hem ; watris to loken
Spiceris spokyn with hym ; to aspien here ware
For he koude of her crafte ; & knewe many gomes[^a88]
And mynstrallis & massageris ; mettyn with him ones
And hyldyn him an half ȝere ; & Eleuene dais
Freris with ffaire speche ; ffettyn him þens
And ffor knownis[^a89][^38] of comers ; koped him as a ffrere
And he haþe leue to lepe out ; as ofte as him likiþ
And is wellcome whan he wulle ; & wonneþ with hem ofte
Alle ffleddyn ffor ffere ; & fflowyn in-to hirnes
Saue mede þe maydyn ; no mo durste abyde
And truly to telle ; sche trembled ffor drede
And eke wepe[^a90] & wrong ; whan she was attached

[^a70: blessed (C2) | blisful (most mss)]

[^a71: rebens (C2) | Rubies (all other mss)]

[^a72: of (C2) | ful (all other mss)]

[^a73: har (C2) | han (all other mss)]

[^a74: his (C2) | hire (all other mss)]

[^a75: Caritas (C2) | Caritatis (most mss)]

[^a76: to (C2) | to a (all other mss)]

[^a77: cursid (C2) | mansed (most mss)]

[^a78: bygonnen (C2) | bigynnen (most mss)]

[^a79: his (C2) | hire (all other mss)]

[^a80: beddyn (C2) | and bedde<n> (all other mss)]

[^a81: Ruteland (C2) | of Ruteland (rokeland RF) (all other mss)]

[^a82: we (C2) | I (most mss)]

[^a83: oper arius (C2hand1) | operarius (most mss) | operarius (C2hand2)]

[^a84: belsabuckis (C2) | Belsabubbes (most mss)]

[^a85: bi (C2) | be (all other mss)]

[^a86: þey cared (C2) | cared þei (all other mss)]

[^a87: pullen (C2) | pulled<en> (all other mss)]

[^a88: gomes (C2) | gommes (most other mss)]

[^a89: knownis (C2) | knowynge (all other mss)]

[^a90: wepe (C2) | wepte (all other mss)]

[^28: C2.2.73: The capital <A> in And has an ascender two lines in height decorated with a geometric design.]

[^29: C2.2.86:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in Chateringe.]

[^30: C2.2.95:An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in drink.]

[^31: C2.2.109: The preceding two lines, although they may have been written by Hand 1, exhibit several letter forms which include flourishes seen nowhere else in the manuscript, as well as spellings not used by Hand 1. See the general introduction under Hand.]

[^32: C2.2.124:Hand2 here overwrites the <e> in eperarius, perhaps with the intention of changing it to <o>, and inserts the second <a>.]

[^33: C2.2.129:A double solidus over each of the last two words in this line indicates transposition of original made me.]

[^34: C2.2.139: A lower-case letter <v>, perhaps in the main scribal hand, appears in the top right margin of this leaf.]

[^35: C2.2.171:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in sumpnours.]

[^36: C2.2.200:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in commaundid.]

[^37: C2.2.208:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in Comaunded.]

[^38: C2.2.232: Although the MED attests this form, this scribe does not elsewhere use it. He writes knowinge nine times and knowynge once.]

N ow is mede þe mayde ; & no mo of alle
with bedellis & baylis ; brouȝt be-ffor þe kyng
The kyng called a clerk ; can I not his name
To take mede þe maydyn ; and make hir at ese
I shall asay hir my-self ; & sotheliche apose
what man on þis molde ; þat here where leuest
And if sche werche bi my witte ; and my wille ffollowe
I wolle ffor-gyue hir þis gilte ; so me god helpe
Curteysliche þe clerk þan ; as þe kyng hyȝte
Toke mede be þe medill ; & brouȝte hir in chambre
And þer was myrthe ; & mynstralcie . mede to plese
þei þat wonnen in westmynster ; wurschepen hir alle
Ientiliche with Ioy ; þe iustices Comen
Busked hem to þe boure ; þer þe bred[^a91] dwellid
To komforte hir kyndely ; by clergise leue
And said morne þou not mede ; ne make þou no sorou
For we wisshen[^39] þe kynge ; & þ y wey schapen
To be weddid at þi wille ; & where þe leue likiþ
For al concience caste ; or crafte as I trowe
Mildeliche þann mede ; mercyed hem alle
Of her grette goodnesse ; & gaff he[^a92] ichon
Coupis of clene gold ; & cupus[^a93] of siluer
Ryngis with rubies ; & richesses many
þe leste man of hir meny ; a moton of gold
þan toke þey leue ; þese lordis at mede
with þat Comen clerkis ; to comforte hir þe same
And bodyn[^a94] hir be blyþe ; ffor we ben þin owen
For to wirche þi wille ; þe while þou myȝth leste
hendeliche she þan ; by-hiȝte hem þe same
To loue hem lelli ; and lordis to make
In þe consistorie at court ; do calle ȝoure name
shall no lewdenesse lette ; þe lede þat I loue
That he ne worth ffrist auaunced ; ffor I am biknowyn
Ther kunnynge clekis[^a95] ; shulle kloke bi-hynde
Than Come þer a conffessour ; Copid as a ffrere
To mede þe maydyn ; he medelid þese wordis
And said ffull softeliche ; in schrefte as it where
þouȝ lewde men & lered men ; had leyne be þe boþe
And ffalsenes had I-ffoulid þe ; al þis fifti wynter
I shal asoyle þe my-selue ; ffor a sem of whete
And also be þi bedeman ; & bere well þi massage
Amongis knyȝtis & klerkis ; concience to turne
þan mede ffor hir myssededis ; to þat man knelid
And schroue hir of his schrewnesse[^a96] ; schameles I trowe
Tolde him a tale ; & toke him a nobill
For to be hir bedeman ; & hir brocoure als
þan he asoylid hir sone ; & sithen he said
we haue a wyndow in wirchinge ; wulle sittyn vs ffull hie
woldeste þou glase þat gable ; and graue þer -inne þi name
Sikir shuld þi soule be ; heuene to hauene[^a97][^40]
wiste I þat quod þat womman I wolld not spare
For to be ȝoure ffrende ffrere ; & ffaile ȝow neuer
while ȝe louen lordis ; þat leccherie hauȝten[^a98][^41]
And lacken not ladies ; þat louen well þe same
It is a ffrelete of þe fflesshe ; ȝe ffynde it in bokis
And a cours of kynde ; wher-of we comen alle
who-so may schape[^a99] þe slaundyre ; þe scathe is sone amendid
It is synne of þe Seuene ; is sonneste relessed
haue mercy quod mede ; of men þat it haunten
And I shalle kouere ȝoure kyrke ; & ȝoure kloyster do make
wallis do whiȝten ; wyndowis glasen
Do purtreye & peynten ; & pay ffor þe makinge
That euery man shall sey ; I am sister of ȝoure hous
And god to alle good ffolk ; siche gravinge deffendiþ
To writtyn in wyndowis ; of here wille[^a100][^42] dedis
On auenture pride be peynted þer ; & pompe of þe world
For crist knowith þi concience ; & þi kynde wylle
And þi cost & þi coueytise ; & hoo þe catell auȝte
For-þi I leren[^a101] ȝou lordis ; leueþ swyche werkis
To writyn in wyndowis ; of ȝoure well dedis
Or to greden after goddis men ; whan ȝe delen dolis
On auenture ȝe han ȝoure hire here ; & ȝoure heuene als
Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra
late not þi lifte half ; late ne raþe
witte what þou worchest ; with þi rith side
And þus bitte þe gospell ; good men do here almesse
Meyrs and maystres ; menes[^a102] be bi-twyne
The kynge & þe Comunes ; to kepe well þe lawes
To punnysshen on pyleries ; & pynynge stolis
brousters & bakers[^a103] ; bocheris and cokis
For þese arn men on þis molde ; þat moste harm worchen
To þe pore peple ; þat parcell-mele biggen
For þei punnyshen þe peple preuyliche & ofte
þei richen þoruȝ regraterie ; & rentes hem biggin
with þat þe pore peple ; shuld put in here wombe
For toke þei on truly ; þei tymbred not so hie
Ne bouȝte non burgages ; be ȝe ffull Certeyne
And mede þe maydyn ; þe meire hath be-souȝt
Of alle swyche sellers ; Syluer to take
Or presentes with -out pens ; as pecis of siluer
Ryngis or oþer richesse ; þe regrateris to meynteyn
For my loue quod þat lady ; loue hem ichon
And suffre hem to selle ; Sumdell aȝeyn reson
Saloman the sage ; A cermoun he made
For to amende meyris ; & men þat kepen lawes
And tolde hem þis tyme[^a104] ; þat I telle þenk
Ignis deuorbit tabernaculam eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera & cetera .
That is ffiere shall ffalle & brenne ; al to blo asshes
The housis and þe homes ; of hem þat desiren
Ȝiftis or resseyues[^a105] ; bi cause of her offices
The kyng ffro conceyll cam ; and callid after mede
and after sente[^a106] hir als swyþe ; with sergauntes many
That brouten hir to boure ; with blisse & with Ioy
Curteysliche þe kyng þan ; comsed to telle
To mede þe mayde ; mellyþ þese wordis
Vnwittily womman ; wrouȝt hast þou ofte
And wers wrout þou neuer ; þan þoo þou ffals toke
but I ffor-gyff þe þis gylte ; and graunte þe my grace
henns to þi deþ-day ; do so no more
I haue a knyȝth concience ; cam late ffrom bi-ȝonde
if he willneþ þe to wyff ; wylt þou him haue
Ȝee lord quod þat lady ; lord ffor-bede ellis
but I be hooly at ȝoure heeste ; late hang me sone
And þan was concience callid ; to come & apere
by-ffor þe kyng & his Conceill ; as clerkis & oþer
knelynge concience ; to þe kyng lowted
To witte what his wille wore[^a107] ; & what he do shulde
wylte þou wedde þis womman ; quod þe kyng . if I wolle asente
For she is ffayn of þi ffellawschepe ; ffor to be þi make
Quod concience to þe kynge ; crist it me ffor-bede
Er I wedde swyche a wyff ; woo me be-tyde
For she is ffrele of hir ffeiþ ; ffikell of hir speche
And makiþ men mysdo ; many score tymes
Trust of hir tresore ; betraieþ ffull many
wyues and wedowes ; wantownesse sche techeþ
And lereth hem leccherie ; þat louen hir ȝiftis
Ȝoure ffader ffelde ; þoru false be-heest
And haþe appoysond popis ; & peyrid holy chirche
Is not a better bawde ; bi him þat me made
bytwynne heuene & helle ; in erþe þouȝ men souȝtyn
For she is fekill[^a108] of hir tayl ; tale-wyse of hir tunge
as Comune as a carte-wey ; to iche a knaue þat walkiþ
To monkys to mynstrallis ; to myssels in heggis
Sysouris & Sumpnours ; swiche men hir preiseþ
Shireues of Schyres ; where schent if sche nere
For she doþe men lese here lond ; & here lyff boþe
she letteþ passe presouneris ; & payeþ ffor hem ofte
And gyueþ þe Iayleris gold ; & grotis to-gedris
To vnffetere þe ffals ; ffle where him likith
And takiþ þe true by þe top ; & tieþe him ffaste
And hangyth him ffor haterid ; þat harme dede neuer
To be cursid in consistorie ; sche counttiþ not a rysshe
For she copiþ þe comyssarie ; & coteþ his clerkis
She is asoylid as sone ; as hir-self lykiþ
And may ny as moche do ; in a moneþ ones
as oure secret seel ; in Sixe Score daiez
For she is preuy with þe pope ; prouysours[^43] it knowen
For Sir Symonye & hir-silf ; seleth her bullis
she blessiþ þese bisschopis ; þouȝ þei be lewde
Prouendrith parsounes ; & prestis menteyneþ
To haue lemmanis & lotebies ; alle here lyf-daiez
And bryngen fforþ barnes ; aȝeyn ffor-bodyn lawes
Ther she is well with þe kyng ; woo is þe rewme
For she is ffauerable to þe ffals ; & ffouliþ truþe ofte
bi Ihesu with hir Iuellis ; ȝoure iustices she shendeþ
and lyeþ aȝeyn þe lawe ; & lettiþ him þe gate
þat ffeiþ may not haue his fforþe ; hir ffloreyns go so þi kke
she ledeþ þe lawe as hir liste ; & loue-daiez makiþ
And doþe men lese þoru hir loue ; þat lawe myȝth wynne
The mase ffor a mene man ; þouȝ he mute here euere
lawe is so lordliche ; and loth to make an ende
with -out presentes or pens ; she plesiþ well ffewe
baronys and burgeyses ; she bryngith in-to sorowe
And alle þe Comunes in-to care ; þat coueyten to leuen in truþe
For clergie & couetyse ; she copleþ to-gedris
This is þe lyff of þat lady ; now lord gyue hir sorowe
And alle þat menteyn hir men ; mysshaunce hem by-tyde
For pore men mowen haue no power ; to pleyne hem þouȝ þey smertyn
Swyche a mayster is mede ; amongis men of good
þan morned mede ; and meued hir to þe kynge
To haue space to speke ; spede if she myȝth
The kyng graunted hir grace ; with a good wylle
Excuse þe if þou canst ; I can no more seye
For concience accuseþ þe ; to conge þe ffor euere
Nay lord quod þat lady ; leueþ him þe werse
whan ȝe witten witterly ; where þe wrong lyth
Ther þat myschef is grette ; mede may helpe
And þou knowist concience ; I cam not to schide
Ne depraue þi persoune ; with a proude herte
welle þou woste wernard ; but if þou wilte gabbe
þou hast hangid on myn half ; Eleuene tymes
And also gryped my gold ; geue it where þe likid
And why þou wraþist þe now ; wondir me þinkiþ
Ȝit I may as I myȝthe ; menske þe with ȝiftis
And menteyne þi manhod ; more þan þou knowest
And þou ast[^44] ffamed me ffoule ; by-ffore þe kyng here
For kyllid I neuer no kyng ; ne conceyled þer -after
Ne dede as þou demest ; I do it on þe kynge
In Normaundie was he not ; noyed ffor my sake
And þou þi-self sothely ; schamedist him ofte
Crope in-to a capan[^a109] ; ffor colde of þi naylis
Wenyst[^a110] þat wynter ; wolde haue durid euere
And dredest to be deed ; ffor a dyme cloude
And hyedest þe homward ; ffor hunger of þi wombe
with -oute pite piloure ; pore men þou robbist
And bare here bras at þi bak ; to Caleys to selle
Ther I lefte with my lord ; his lyf ffor to saue
I made his men mery ; & mornynge[^45] letted
And I battered hem on þe bac ; & boldid her hertis
And dede hem hope[^a111] ffor hope ; to haue me at wille
had I be marchall of men ; by marie of heuene
I durst haue leyd my lyff ; & no lesse weed
he shuld haue be lord of þat lond ; a lengþe & on brede
And also kyng of þat kyþþe ; his kyn ffor to helpe
The leest brolle of his blode ; a barons pere
Cowardeliche þou concience ; conceylistdist[^a112] him þan
To leue his lordschepe ; ffor a litil siluer
That is þe richeste rewme ; þat reyn ouere-houeþ
It bicomeþ to a kyng ; þat kepeþ þe rewme
To ȝeue mede to men ; þat myldeliche him seruen
To Alyens And[^46] to alle[^47] men ; to honoure hem with ȝifftis
Mede makyþ him to be loued[^a113] ; & ffor a man holdyn
Emperours & erlis ; & alle manere lordis
For ȝifftis han ȝong men ; to renne & to ride
The pope & alle prelatis ; presentes vndirffongen
And meden men hem -seluen ; to menteyn here lawis
Sergauntes ffor her Seruyse ; we seen welle þe sothe
Taken mede of her maister ; as þey moun acordyn
beggers ffor her biddinge ; biddyn men mede
Mynstrallis ffor her myrthe ; mede þey asken
The kyng haþ mede of his mene ; to make pees in lond
Men þat techen childrin ; crauen of hem mede
prestis þat prechin þe peple ; to good asked[^a114] mede
And masse-pens & her mete ; at þe male tymes
alle-kyns crafti men ; crauen mede ffor her prentises
Marchauntis[^48] & mede ; mote nede go to-gedris
No wiȝtt as I wene ; without mede may leffe
Quod þe kyng to concience ; bi crist as me þinkiþ
Mede is wel worthi ; þe maystrie to haue
Nay quod concience to þe kyng ; & knelyd to þe Erthe
Ther ar ij two maner of medes
þer ar two maner of medes ; my lord with ȝoure leue
þat on god of his grace ; graunteþ in his blisse
To þo þat well werchin ; while þei ben here
þe prophete precheþ þer -of ; & puttiþ it in þe sauter
D omine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo & cetera
lord who shall wonye in þi wonys & with þin holi seyntis
Or resten in þin holy hillis ; þis askiþ dauid
And dauid asoyliþ it him-self ; as þe sauter telliþ
Qui ingreditur sine maculla & operatur iusticiam
þoo þat entrin of o coloure ; & of on wille
And han wrouȝt werkis ; with rith & with reson
And he þat ne vseþ not ; þe lijf of vsurie
And enfformeþ pore men ; & pursueþ truþe
Q ui peccuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram & munera set innocenter & cetera
And alle þat helpen þe innocent ; & halt with þe rithffull
wyth-oute mede dooþ hem good ; & truþe helpeþ
Swyche maner of men my lord ; schull haue þe ffrist mede
Of god at grett nede ; whan þei gon henns
þer is anoþer mede mesureles ; þat maystris desiren
To meynteyn mysdoers ; mede þei taken
And þer -of saiþ þe sauter ; in a salmes ende
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt dextra eorum repleta est muneribus
and he þat gripeþ her gold ; so me god helpe
shall abie it bitterly ; or þe book lieþ
prestis & parsones ; þat plesinge desiren
That takyn mede & mony ; ffor messis þat þei syngyn
Takyn here mede hire ; as[^a115] mathew vs telliþ
Amen Amen receperunt mercedem suam
That laboris[^a116] and lewde ffo lk ; Taken of her maistris
It is no maner mede ; but a mesurable hire
In marchaundise is no mede ; I may it well avowe
It is a permutacioun apertely ; a peny-worþe ffor anoþer
and reddist þou neuer Regum ; þou recreyd mede
why þe venjaunce[^49] ffelle on saul ; & on his childrin
god sente to saul be samuell þe prophete
þat agag of amalek ; & all his peple after
shulden die ffor a dede ; þat don had her eldris
For-þi said samuell to saul ; god him-self hotiþ
þe to be buxum at his bidding ; & his wille to ffullfille
Wynde[^a117] to amelek with þin oste ; & what þou ffyndiste þer sle it
bernes & bestis ; brenne hem to dede
wydowez & wyues ; wommen & childrin
Mebles & vnmebles ; & al þat þou myȝth ffynde
brenne it bere it not away ; be it neuer so riche
For mede ne ffor mony ; loke þou distroye it
spille it & spare it not ; þou shalt spede þe better
and ffor he coueytid here catel ; & þe kyng sparid
For-bare him & his bestis ; boþe as þe bible wittenessiþe
Oþer -wise þan he was ; warned of þe proffeet
god seyde to samuel ; þat saul shulde die
And all his seed ffor þat synne ; schenffulliche ende
Swiche a mysscheff mede made ; saul þe kyng to haue
þat god hated him ffor euere ; & al his eires after
þe culorum of þis caas ; kepe I not to schewe
On auenture it noyede men ; non ende wolde I make
For so is þis world went ; with hem þat han powere
That who-so seiþ sothes ; is sonneste I-blamed
I concience knowe þis ; ffor kynde witte me tauȝte it
That reson shall regne ; & rewmes gouerne
And rith as agag had ; happe shull summe
Samuel shall sle him ; & saul shall be blamed
And dauid shall be deademed ; & daunted[^a118] hem alle
And on Cristen kyng ; kepen hem alle
shall no[^a119] mede be maister ; as she is nowȝ
& loue & lownesse ; and lewte to-gedris
þese shull be maistris on mold ; truþe to saue
And who-so trespassiþ aȝeyn truþe ; or takiþ aȝeyn his wille
lewte shall do him lawe ; & no lijf ellis
shall no seriauntes ffor her seruyse ; where a silken howe
Ne no pelure in his cloke ; ffor pledinge at þe barre
Mede of myssedoers ; makiþ many lordis
and ouer londis lawes ; rulyþ þe rewmes
and kynde loue shall come ȝitt ; & concience to-gedris
And make of lawe a loborere[^a120] ; swiche loue shall arise
And a swiche[^a121] a pees among þe peple ; & a profitte[^a122] truþe
þat Iues shulle wene in her witte ; & wax wondir glad
þat moyses or messye ; by comyn[^a123] in-to þis erthe
and haue wondire in here hertis ; þat men ben so truwe
alle þat beren baslard ; brode swerde or launce
ax oþer hachett or ony wepene ellis
shall be demed to þe deþ ; but if he do it smythe
In-to sekill or to sithe ; to schare or to cultere
Confflabunt gladios suos in vomeres
Iche man to pley with a plow ; pikeis or spade
spynne or spred dung ; or spille him-self with sleuþe
Prestis & parsones ; with placebo to hunte
and dyng vppon dauid ; Iche day till euen
huntynge[^50] or haukynge[^51] ; if ony of hem vse
his boste of his benefice ; worþe by-nome him after
shall neiþer kyng ne knyȝth ; cunstable ne meire
Ouere-lede þe Comune ; ne to þe court sompne
Ne putte hem in panell ; to do hem pliȝte her truþe
But after þe dede is don ; oo dom shall rewarde
Mercy or no mercy ; as truþe wolle acorde
kyngis Couȝt[^a124] & comune court ; consistorie & chapitle
all shall be but on court ; & o baroun be iusti ce
þan wexe[^a125] trwe tunge a tydi man ; þat tened me neuer
bataylis shulle non be ; ne man bere wepen
and what smyte[^a126] þat any smyteþ ; be smyten þer -with to deþe
Non leuabit gens con tra gentem gladium
And er þis ffortune ffalle ; ffynde men shull þe werst
By sixe sunnes & a schippe ; & half a scheffe of arwes
and þe myddill of a mone ; shall make þe Iues to turne
and sarasynys ffor þat syȝt ; shall synge gloria in excelsis
For machometh & mede ; mysse-happe shulle þat tyme
For melius est bonum nomen ; quam diuicie multe
Als so wroth as þe wynd ; wex mede in a whyle
I can no latyn quod sche ; clerkis wotton þe sothe
See what salomon seiþ ; in sapience bokis
þat he þat ȝeueþ ȝiftis ; þe victorie wynneþ
and moche wurschepe had þer -with ; as holy writte telliþ
honorem adquiret ; qui dat munera & cetera
I leue well lady quod concience ; þat þi latyn be trewe
And þou arte like a lady ; þat redde a lesson ones
was omnia probate ; & þat plesid hir herte
For þat lyne was lenger ; at þe lynes[^a127] ende
had she loked þat oþer half ; and þe leef turned
she shulde haue ffounde ffele wordis ; ffolwynge þer -after
Quod bonum est tenete ; truthe þat text made
And so fferde ȝe madame ; ȝe couude no more ffynde
þouȝ ȝe loked on sapience ; syttynge in ȝoure stodie
This tixte þat ȝe han tolde ; were good ffor lordis
and ȝou ffaylid a kunnynge clerk ; þat cowde þe leef haue turned
And if ȝe seke sapience eft ; ffynde shulle ȝe þat ffolwith[^52]
a ffull tenffull text ; to hem þat takyn mede
and þat is animam autem auffert accipiencium & cetera .
and þat is þe tayl of þe texte ; of þat þat ȝe schewed
þat þouȝ we wynne worschipe ; & with mede haue victorie
þe soule þat þe soude takeþ ; by so moche is boundyn

[^a91: bred (C2) | burde (most mss)]

[^a92: he (C2) | hem (most mss)]

[^a93: cupus (C2) | cuppes (most mss)]

[^a94: bodyn (C2) | beden (most mss)]

[^a95: clekis (C2) | clerkis (all other mss)]

[^a96: his schrewnesse (C2) | hire sherewednesse (all other mss)]

[^a97: hauene (C2) | haue (all other mss)]

[^a98: hauȝten (C2) | haunten (all other mss)]

[^a99: schape (C2) | scape (most mss)]

[^a100: wille (C2) | wel (most mss)]

[^a101: leren (C2) | lere (most mss)]

[^a102: menes (C2) | þat mene<s> (all other mss)]

[^a103: brousters & bakers (C2) | Brewesters and Baksters (most mss)]

[^a104: tyme (C2) | teme (all other mss)]

[^a105: resseyues (C2) | ȝeres<yeues><gyues> (most mss)]

[^a106: after sente (C2) | ofsente (most mss)]

[^a107: wore (C2) | were (all other mss)]

[^a108: fekill (OC2) | tikel (most mss)]

[^a109: capan (C2) | Cabane (all other mss)]

[^a110: Wenyst (C2) | Wendest (most mss)]

[^a111: hope (C2) | hoppe (most mss)]

[^a112: conceylistdist (C2) | conseiledest (most mss)]

[^a113: to be loued (C2) | <be> loued (most mss)]

[^a114: asked (C2) | asken (most mss)]

[^a115: hire ; as (C2) | here as (all other mss)]

[^a116: laboris (C2) | laborers (most mss)]

[^a117: Wynde (C2) | Weend (all other mss)]

[^a118: daunted (C2) | daunten (most mss)]

[^a119: no (C2) | na moore (all other mss)]

[^a120: loborere (C2) | laborer (most mss)]

[^a121: a swiche (C2) | swich (all other mss)]

[^a122: a profitte (C2) | parfit (most mss)]

[^a123: by comyn (C2) | be come (most mss)]

[^a124: Couȝt (C2) | court (all other mss)]

[^a125: wexe (C2) | worþ (most mss)]

[^a126: smyte (C2) | smyth (most mss)]

[^a127: lynes (C2) | leues (all other mss)]

[^39: C2.3.17:Although the MED attests this form of wissen, this scribe does not elsewhere use it, and it is perhaps written in error.]

[^40: C2.3.50:This scribe does not elsewhere use the infinitive with terminal <e>, nor is it attested by the MED. He writes haue 265 times and hauen twice.]

[^41: C2.3.53:The form hauȝten is probably written in error, since this scribe does not use the form elsewhere but twice writes haunten. No form without <n> is attested by the MED.]

[^42: C2.3.65: Although the MED attests this form, this scribe does not elsewhere use it to mean "well"; he writes well 216 times, and wel five times.]

[^43: C2.3.147:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in prouysours]

[^44: C2.3.186:Although the MED attests this form of the auxiliary, this scribe does not elsewhere use it; he writes hast thirteen times and haste five times.]

[^45: C2.3.198:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in mornynge.]

[^46: C2.3.211: The <A> in And has a decorated ascender two lines in height.]

[^47: C2.3.211: The <l>s in alle have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^48: C2.3.226:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in Marchauntis.]

[^49: C2.3.264:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in venjaunce.]

[^50: C2.3.318:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in huntynge.]

[^51: C2.3.318:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in haukynge.]

[^52: C2.3.354: An otiose bar appears through the ascender of the <h> in ffolwith. For details of this scribe's use of barred <h>, see the Introduction under Hand.]

C eceþ seiþ þe kynge ; I suffre ȝou no lenger
Ȝe shulle sauȝtle ffor-sothe ; and serue me boþe
kysse hir quod þe kyng ; concience I hote
Nay by criste quod concience ; cungeye me raþer
but reson rede me þer -to ; raþer wolle I die
And I commaunde þe quod þe kyng ; to concience þan
Rape þe to ride ; and reson þou ffette
Commaunde him þat he come ; my conceill to here
For he shall rewle my Rewme ; & rede me þe beste
Of mede & of mo oþer ; & what man shall hir wedde ;
Acounte[^a128] with þe concience ; so me crist helpe
how þou lerneste þe peple ; þe lered & þe lewde
I am ffayn of þat fforward ; said þe ffreike þan
And riȝth[^a129] to reson ; and rowneþ in his eere
and said as þe kyng bad ; & sithen toke his leue
I shall aray me to ride quod reson ; reste þe awhile
and callid catton his knaue ; curteys of speche
and also thome trewe tunge ; telle me no talis
Ne lesingis to lawe at ; ffor I loued hem neuer
And sette my sadell vppon suffre ; tyll I se my tyme
& lete werrok it well ; with witty wordis gerthes
And hang on hym þe heuy bridell ; to holde his heed lowe
And[^a130] wille he[^a131] wehee ; and wynche[^a132] or he come þer
þan concience vppon his capell ; carieth fforþ ffast
and reson with him rith[^53] ; rownynge to-gedris
whiche maistris mede ; makiþ on þis erthe
On waryn wisdam ; & witti his ffere
Folwed hem ffaste ; ffor þey haddyn to don
In þe cheker & in þe chauncerrie ; to be dischargid of þingis
And riden ffaste ffor reson ; shulde rede beste
For to saue hem ffor syluer ; ffrom shame & ffrom harmes
and concience knewe hem well ; þei loued coueytise
and bad reson ride ffast ; & recche of her neiþer
þey ar wyyly in her wordis and with mede þe[^a133] dwellyn
Ther-as wraþe & wraglinge[^a134] is ; þer wynnen þei siluere
and þer is loue & lewte þey wulle not come þer
Contricion et infelicitas in vijs eorum & cetera .
They ne gyuen nouȝt of god ; o gosse wynge
Non est tymor domini ante oculos eorum & cetera .
For god woot þei wolde do more ; ffor a doseyne scheconys
Or as many Caponys ; or ffor a seem of Otis
þan ffor loue of oure lord ; or all his leue seintis
For-þi reson late hem ride ; þo riche be hem-selue
For concience knoweþ hem nouȝt ; ne Crist as I trowe
and þan reson rode ffaste ; þe rith hie gate
as concience him kenned ; tille he come to þe kyng
Curteysliche þe kyng þan ; come aȝeyn reson
and bitwynne him-self & his sone ; sette him on benche
and worden[^a135] well wysily ; a grett while to-gedris
and þan Come pees in-to þe parlement ; & putteþ fforþe a bille
Wronnge
how wrong aȝeins his wille ; had his wyff taken
and how he ravisshed rose ; Reynoldus loue
And margrete of hir maydenhed ; maugry hir chekis
boþe my gees & my grys[^a136] his geddelinges ffecchyn
I dar not ffor ffer of him ; ffyȝte ne chide .
He borewed of me bayard ; he brouȝte him home neuer[^54]
Ne no fferþinge ffor him ; ffor ouȝte þat I couude plede
he menteyneþ his men ; to Murþeren myn hewen
Forstalleþ my ffeires ; and ffytith in my schepinge
and brekeþ vp my berne doris ; & bereth away my whete
and takeþ me but a tayle ; ffor ten quartris of otys
and ȝite he bette me þer -to ; and lay[^a137] be my mayde
I am not hardy ffor him ; vnneþe to loke
þe kyng knewe he said soþe ; ffor concience him tolde
þat wrong was a wyckyd schrewe[^a138] ; & wrouȝte moche sorowe
wrong was afferde þan ; & wisdam he souȝte
To make pees with his pens ; & propherid him many
and said had I loue of my lord kyng ; litill wolde I recche
þouȝ pees & his power ; pleyned him euere
þoo wente wisdom ; and Sire watkyn[^a139] þe witty
For þat wrong hadde I-wrouȝte ; so wickid a dede
and warned wrong þoo ; with swiche[^a140] wyse tale
who-so werchiþ by my wylle ; wrathe makeþ ofte
I seye it by þi-self ; þou shalte it well ffynde
But[^a141] mede it make ; þi myssheff is vppe
For boþe þi lyffe and þi lond ; lyth in his grace
þan wowed wrong ; wysdam ffull ȝerne
To make his pees with pens ; handy-dandi paied
wisdam & witte þan ; wenten to-gedris
and toke mede with hem ; mercy to wynne
Pees putt fforth his heed ; and his panne blody
with -ouȝtyn gylte god it woot ; gate I þis skaþe
Concience & þe Comune ; knowen þe soþe
and wisdam and witte ; weren aboute ffaste
To ouerecome þe kyng ; with catell if þei myȝten
The kyng swore bi crist ; and b y his croune boþe
þat wrong ffor his werkis ; shulde wo þole
and commaunde[^55] a Constable ; to caste him in Irnes
And late him not þis Seuene ȝere ; seen his ffeet ones
God wotte quod wisdam ; þat where not þe beste[^56]
and he amendis mowe make ; late meyneprise him haue
and be boruȝ ffor his bale ; and biggen him bote
and so amende þat is myssedon ; & euere-more þe better
witte acordid þer -with ; and seide þe same
Better is þat botte ; bale doun brynge
Than bale be Ibete ; and bote neuer þe better
And þan gan mede to mengen[^57] hir ; and mercy she besouȝte
and profered pees a present ; al of pure gold
haue þis man of me quod she ; to amende þi scaþe
For I wolle wage ffor wrong ; he woll do so nomore
Petously pees þanne ; preied to þe kyng
To haue mercy on þat man ; þat mysdede him so ofte
For he hath wagid me well ; as wisdam him tauȝte
And I ffor-gyue him þat gilte ; with a good wille
So þat þe kyng assente ; I can seye no better
For mede hath made me amendis ; I may no more aske
Nay quod þe kyng þo ; so me criste helpe
wronge wendiþ not so awey ; erst wulle I witte more
For lope he so lyȝtely ; lauȝwen he wolde
and efte þe balder be ; to bete myn hewen
But reson haue rewthe on him ; he shall reste in my stokkis
and þat as long as he lyueþ ; but lownesse him borwe
Summe men reddyn reson þo ; to haue rewth on þat schrewe
and ffor to conceile þe kynge ; & concience after
þat mede muste be maynpernoure ; reson þei besouȝten
Rede me not quod reson ; no rewthe to haue
Till lordis & ladies ; louen alle truewthe
and haten alle harelotrie ; to here it or to mowþen it
Tille pernelis purfile ; be put in hir hucche
And childrin scherishinge ; be schastisinge with ȝerdis
and harlottis holynesse ; be holde ffor vnhynde[^a142]
Tyll clerkis coueytise be ; to cloþe þe pore & to ffede
And relegeous romers ; recordare in her cloystris
As seint benet hem bade ; bernard and ffraunceys[^58]
And till prechouris prechinge[^59] ; be proued on hem-selue
Tyll þe kyngis conceill ; be þe Comune proffiȝte
Tyll bischoppis bayardis ; be beggers chaumbris
her haukis & her houndis ; helpe to pore religious
pilgrimage
and tille seynt Iames be souȝte ; þer I shall asigne
þat no man go to galis ; but if he go ffor euere
and alle rome-renners ; ffor robbers of biȝonde
bere no syluer ouere see ; þat signe of kyng shewith
Neiþer grauen ne vngrauen ; gold neþer siluer
Vppon fforfeture of þat ffee ; who-so ffynde him at douere
But if he be marchand or his man ; or messager with lettris
prouysoure or preste ; or penaunte ffor his synnes
and ȝit quod reson be þe rode ; I shall no rewthe haue
while mede haþe þe maistrie ; in þis mote-halle
and I may schewe ensaunplis ; as I see oþer -while
I seie it be my-self quod he ; & it so where
That I were kyng with croun ; to kepe a rewme
shuld neuer wrong in þis world ; þat I witte myȝte
ben vnpunyshid[^60] in my powere ; ffor perell of my soule
Ne gete my grace ffor ȝiftis ; so me god saue
Ne ffor no mede haue mercy ; but mekenesse it make
For nullum malum þe man ; mette with impunitum
and bad nullum bonum be irremuneratum
late ȝoure conffessoure Sir kyng ; construe þis englosid[^a143]
and if ȝe werken it in werk ; I wedde boþe myn eris
That lawe shall be a laborere ; and lede affelde dunge
and loue shall lede þi lond ; as þe leef likith
Clerkis þat were confessouris ; cowpled hem to-gedris
alle to construe þis clause ; ffor þe kyngis proffite
and not ffor comforte of þe Comune ; ne ffor þe kyngis soule
For I seȝ mede in þe mote-halle ; on men of lawe wynkyn
and þei lawȝwinge lopen to here ; & many lefte reson[^a144]
Warn wisdam ; wynked vppon mede
And said madame I am ȝoure man ; what so my mouþ Iangleþ
I ffalle in ffloreyns quod ffreke[^a145] ; and ffayle speche ofte[^61]
alle ryȝtffull recorden ; þat reson truþe tolde
and witt acordyd þer -with ; and commaundid his wordis
and þe most peple in þe halle ; and many of þe grette
i-cursid
lete mekenesse a maister ; & mede a mansid schrewe
Loue lete of hir lyȝth ; and lewte ȝit lesse
and seid it so hie ; þat all þe halle it herde
who-so wilneþ hir to wyffe ; ffor welþe of hir goodis
but he be knowen ffor a cokwold ; cutte of my nose
Mede morned þo ; and made heuy chere
For þe moste comune of þat courte ; callid hir an hore
And a sisoure & a sumpnoure ; sued hir ffaste
and a schireues clerk ; beschrewed alle þe rouȝte
For ofte haue I quod he ; holpen ȝou at þe barre
and ȝit ȝeue ȝe me neuer ; þe worthe of a russhe
þe kyng called concience ; and afterward reson
and recordid þat reson ; had riȝtffulliche schewed
and modiliche vppon mede ; with myȝte þe kyng loked
and gan wax wroth with lawe ; ffor mede al-moste had shente it
And sayd þoruȝ ȝoure lawe as I leue ; I lese many chetis
Mede ouere-maistrieþ lawe ; & moche truþe lettiþ
and reson shall rekene with ȝou ; if I regne ony while
and deme ȝou on a day ; as ȝe han diserued
Mede shall not meynprise ȝou ; be þe marie of heuene
I wolle haue lewte in lawe ; & late be ȝoure Ianglynge
and as most wittenesse wolle[^a146] ; wronge shall be demed
Quod concience to þe kyng ; but þe Comune wolle assente
It is ffull hard be myn hed ; her-to . to bringe it
alle ȝoure lege lordis ; to lede þus euene
By him þat rauȝte on þe rode ; quod reson to þe kyng
But if I rewle þus ȝoure Rewme ; rende ouȝt my guttis
If ȝe biddyn buxumnesse ; be of myn assent
and I assent quod þe kyng ; bi seint marie my lady
Be my conceill comen ; of clerkis & of erlis
and redili reson ; þou shalt not ride ffro me
For as long as I leue ; lete þe I nylle
I am aredy quod reson ; to reste with ȝou euere
So concience be of ȝoure conceill ; I kepe no better
And I graunte quod þe kyng ; godis fforbode it ffaile
as longe as oure lijf lasteþ ; leue we to-gedris

[^a128: Acounte (C2) | And acounte (all other mss)]

[^a129: riȝth (C2) | ryt riȝt (most mss)]

[^a130: And (C2) | For (most mss)]

[^a131: wille he (C2) | he wol (most mss)]

[^a132: and wynche (C2) | twies (most mss)]

[^a133: þe (C2) | þei (all other mss)]

[^a134: wraglinge (C2) | wranglynge (most mss)]

[^a135: worden (C2) | wordeden (all other mss)]

[^a136: grys (C2hand1 Bx) | gryses (C2hand2 G)]

[^a137: lay (C2) | lyþ (most mss)]

[^a138: schrewe (C2) | luft (most mss)]

[^a139: watkyn (C2) | waryn (all other mss)]

[^a140: swiche (C2) | swich a (all other mss)]

[^a141: But (C2) | But if (all other mss)]

[^a142: vnhynde (C2) | an hyne (most mss)]

[^a143: englosid (C2) | vnglosed (most mss)]

[^a144: many lefte reson (C2) | lefte Reson manye (most mss)]

[^a145: ffreke (C2) | þat freke (most mss)]

[^a146: wolle (C2) | wel (most mss)]

[^53: C2.4.25: An otiose bar appears through the ascender of the <h> in rith. For details of this scribe's use of barred <h>, see the Introduction under Hand.]

[^54: C2.4.56: The <H> in He, the <b> in bayard, and the <b> in brouȝte all have decorated ascenders reaching almost to the top edge of the leaf.]

[^55: C2.4.88:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in commaunde.]

[^56: C2.4.90: The top stroke of the <G> in God has a horizontal decoration eight characters in length. The <h> in where and the <b> in beste have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^57: C2.4.97:An otiose tilde appears above the <e> in mengen.]

[^58: C2.4.124: The <b>s in benet and in bernard have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^59: C2.4.125: An otiose curl appears above the <r> in prechinge.]

[^60: C2.4.97:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in vnpunyshid.]

[^61: C2.4.159: The <k> in ffreke and the <l> in ffayle have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

T he kynge and his knyȝtis ; to þe kyrke wente
to here mateynes of þe day ; and þe masse after
þanne wakide I of my wynkynge ; and woo was I with -all
þat I ne had slepede sadder ; and I-seiȝ more
and er I had ffaren a ffurlonge ; a ffeyntise me hente
þat I ne myȝte fforþer a ffote ; ffor deffauȝte of slepinge
and satte softely adoun ; and said my beleue
and so I bablid of my bedis ; þei brouȝten me aslepe
Why pestelence
and þan sawȝ I moche more ; þan I be-ffore tolde
how[^a147] I sawȝ þe ffeeld ffull of folk ; þat I beffore of seide
and how reson gan arayn him ; al þe rewme to preche
and a crosse be-ffor þe kyng ; comsid þus to teche
he preueþ þat þese pestelences ; was ffor pure synne
and þe souȝþweste wynde ; on saturday at euen
was pertliche ffor pure pride ; and ffor no poynte ellis
Piries & plumtres ; were puffed to þe erthe
In ensaumple ȝe segges ; ȝe shull do þe better
Beches and brode okys ; were blowyn to þe ground
Turned vppeward here taylis ; in tokenynge of drede
þat dedly synne or domes-day ; schall ffor-do hem alle
of þis mater I myȝte mamell ; ffull longe
and I shall seie as I saw ; so me god helpe
A sermon of Reson
how pertliche be-ffor þe peple ; reson gan to preche
he bad wastoure go wirche ; what he beste couude
and wynnen his wastinge ; with summe maner crafte
and preied peronelle hir purfile to lete
and kepe it in hir coffur ; ffor catell at hir nede
Thome stowe he tauȝte ; to take two staves
and ffecche ffelice home ; ffrom þe wyuen pyne
and warned watte ; his wife was to blame
þat hir hed was worþe half a mark ; his hood not worþe a grotte
And bade bette kutte ; a bouȝ oþer tweyne[^62]
and bete beton þerwith ; but if she wulle werche
and þan he charged schapmen ; to schastisen here childrin
late no wynnynge hem fforwenye ; while þei be ȝonge
Ne ffor no pouste of pestelence ; plese hem not ouȝte of reson
My Sir said to me ; and so dede my dame
That þe leuere childe ; þe more lore bihoueþ
and salomon seid þe same ; þat sapience made
Qui parcit virge ; Odit filium
The englissche of þis latyn ; is who-so wolle it knowe
who-so spariþ þe sprynge ; spilliþ his childrin
and sithen he preyed prelatis ; & prestis to-gedris
That ȝe prechyn to þe peple ; preue it on ȝoure -seluen
and doþe it in dede ; it shall drawe ȝou to good
if ȝe leuen as ȝe lerne vs ; we shulle leue ȝou þe better
And sithen he redde religion ; her rewle to holde
leste þe kyng and his conceill ; ȝoure Comunes apeyre
and ben stywardis of ȝoure stedis ; tille ȝe ben rewlid better
and sythen he conceilid þe kyng ; þe Comunes to loue
It is þi tresore if treson ne were ; and triacle at þi nede
And sithen he preyed þe pope ; haue pete on holy chirche
and er he gyue ony grace ; gouerne ffriste him-seluen
and ȝe þat han lawes to kepe ; late truþe be ȝoure coueitise
More þan gold & oþer gyfftis ; if he wolle god plese
For who-so contrarieþ truthe ; he telliþ in þe gospell
That god knoweþ him not ; ne no seint of heuene
Amen dico vobis ; nescio vos ;
And ȝe þat seken seint Iames ; and seintis of rome
Seketh seint truwthe ; ffor he may saue ȝou alle
Qui cum patre et filio ; þat ffaire hem be-ffalle
Amen
That suen my sermon ; and þus said reson
Than ran repentaunce ; rehered[^a148] his tyme
and garte wille to wepe water with his eiȝen
Superbia
Pernelle proude herte ; platte hir to þe erthe
and lay long or she lokede ; and lord mercy cried
and bi-hiȝte on-to him ; þat vs alle made
she shuld vnsuen hir serk ; and sette þer an haire
To affaytin hir ffleisshe[^63] ; þat ffers was to synne
shall neuer hie herte me hente ; but holde me lowe
and suffre to be mysseyd ; and so dede I neuer
But now wulle I meke me ; and mercy biseche
For alle þis I haue hatid ; in myn herte
luxuria
Than lecchoure seid alas ; and on oure lady cried
To make mercy ffor his misdedis ; bitwynne god & his soule
with þat he shulde þe saturday ; seuene ȝere þer -after
Drinke[^64] but with þe doke ; and dyne but ones
Envie
Envie with heuy herte ; askede after schryfte
and careffulliche mea culpa ; he comsede to schewe
he was as pale as a pelet ; in palsie he semed
and cloþid in a cawrimawry ; I couude it not discriue
In kirtell & courtbi ; and a knyf bi his side
Of a ffreris ffrokke ; were þe ffor-sleues
and as a leek had I-ley ; long in þe sonne
So loked he with lere schekis ; lowringe ffowle
his body was to-bolne ffor wrathe ; þat he bote his lippis
And wry ngynge he ȝede with his ffiste ; to wreke him-self he þouȝt
with werkis or with wordis ; whan he saw his tyme
Iche a word þat he warpe ; was of an eddris tunge
Of chidinge of chalanginge ; was his scheff lyfflode
with bacbytinge and bismere ; and beringe of ffals wittenesse
This was alle his Curteysie ; where þat euere he schewid him
I wolde be schreven quod þis schrewe ; and I ffor shame durste
I wolde be glader be god ; þat gibbe had mysschaunce[^65]
þan þouȝ I had þis woke I-wonnen ; a weye of Esex chese
I haue a neybore nyȝe me ; I haue envied[^66] him ofte
and lowen on him to lordis ; to do him lese his siluere
and made his ffrendis be his ffon ; þoruȝ my ffals tunge
His grace and his good happis ; greved me ffull sore
Bitwynne many & many ; I make debate ofte
That boþe lijf and lym ; is lost þoruȝ my speche
and whan I mette him in market ; þat I most hated
I halse him hendeliche ; as I his ffrende where
For he is douȝtiere þan I ; I dar do non oþer
and I hade[^a149] maistrie & myȝth ; god wotte my wille
and whan I come to þe kyrke ; & shulde knele to-ffore þe rode
and preie ffor þe peple ; as þe prest techeþ
For pylgrimes and ffor palmers ; ffor alle þe peple after
And þan I creed[^a150] on my knees ; þat crist ȝeue hem sorowe
That baren awey my bolle ; and my brokyn schete
Away ffro þe auuter ; þan turned[^a151] I my eiȝen
And be-helde how Eleyn ; hath a newe cote
I wisshed þan it were myn ; and alle þe webbe after
and of mennys leesingez I lawȝe ; þat myn herte aketh
And ffor her wynnynge I wepe ; and whayle þe tyme
And deme þat þei don ille ; þer I do well wers .
who-so vndirnemeþ me here-of ; I hate him dedly after
and I wolde þat Iche a wiȝte ; where myn owen knaue
For who-so hath more þan I ; That angreth me sore
and þus I leue loueles ; like a lether dogge
That all my body bolneþ ; ffor bitter of my galle
I myȝte not ete many ȝeris ; as a man auȝte
For envie and euell wille ; is euell to deffie
May no sugre ne switte þing ; aswage my swellinge
Ne non diapenidion ; dryue it ffro myn herte
Ne neiþer schrefte ne schame ; but who-so schrape my mawe
ȝis rede[^a152] I quod repentaunce ; and rede him to þe beste
Sorouȝ of Synnes ; is sauacioun of soulis
I am sory quod þat segge ; I am but selden oþer
and þat makiþ me þus megre ; ffor I ne may me avenge
Amongis burgeicis haue I ben ; dwellinge at london
and garte bacbytinge be a brokoure ; to blame menis ware
whanne he solde and I not ; þan was I redy
To lye and to lowre on my neibore ; and lakked[^a153] his schaffare[^67]
I wolle amende þis if I may ; be myȝth of god almyȝti
Ira
Now awakiþ wrathe ; with two whiȝte eiȝen
ffreris
And snevelinge with þe nose ; and his nek hangynge
I am wrath quod he ; I was sumtyme a ffrere
and couentis gardener ; ffor to gryffyn Impis
On lemytouris & legistreris ; lesingis I Impid
Tille þei bere leues of lowe speche ; lordis to plese
and sithen þei blosmeden abrode ; in boure to here schreftes
☞
And now is ffallyn þer -of a ffructe ; þat ffolk han well leuere
Schewen here schrefftis to hem ; þan schreve hem to her parsons
and now han parsons parceiued ; þat ffreris partin with hem
These possessouris prechin ; and deprauen ffreris
And ffreris ffynden hem in deffaute ; as ffolk berin wittenesse
That whan þei prechin þe peple ; in many places abouȝte
I wrathe walke with hem ; & wisse hem of my bokys
Thus þei speken of spiritualte ; þat eiþer dispiciþ oþer
Till þei ben boþe beggers ; and be my spiritualte leuen
Or ellis alle riche ; and riden abouȝte
I wraþe reste neuer ; þat I ne muste ffolowe
These wiked ffolk ; ffor swiche is my grace
I haue an aunte to nunne & an abbesse boþe
hir were leuere suowne or swelte ; or suffre ony peyne
I haue ben cook in hir kechon ; and þe couente serued
Many monþes with hem ; and with monkis boþe
I was þe preoresse potagere ; and oþer pore ladies
and made hem Ioutes with Iangelinge ; þat dame Ione was a bastard
and dame Clarice a knyȝtis douȝter ; & a cokwolde was hir Syre
and dame pernell a prestis ffile ; prioresse worthe sche neuer
For she had Child in cherre tyme ; alle oure chapitre it wiste
Of wicked wordis I wrathe ; her wortes I made
Tyll þou lyxt & þou lyxt ; loupen out at ones
and eiþer hitte oþer ; vndir þe cheke
had þei had knyues bi crist ; eiþer had kyllyd oþer
Seynt gregori was a good pope ; & had a good ffor-witte
That no prioresse were preste ; ffor that[^68] he ordeyned
Thei hade þan ben infamis ; þei kun so euell holde conceyll
Among monkys I myȝte be ; and many tyme I schone
For þey ben many ffelle ffreekis ; my ffreris[^a154] to aspie
Boþe prioure and subprioure ; & ȝoure[^a155] pater abbas
and if I telle ony talis ; þey takyn hem to-gedris
and do me ffaste ffridais ; to brede & to water
and am chalengid in þe Champitre[^a156] hous ; as I a childe were
and baleysid on þe bare ers ; and no breche bitwynne
I ete þer vnhende ffisshe ; & ffeble ale drink[^69]
and oþerwhile whan wyn Comeþ ; & I drink[^70] it at euen
I haue a fflyx of a ffoule mouþe ; well ffyve daies after
alle þe wikkednesse þat I woot ; by ony of oure bretheren
I make knowe it[^a157] in oure cloyster ; þat alle þe couent wott it
Now repente the quod repentaunce ; and reherce þou neuer
Conceyll þat þou knowiste ; bi contenaunce[^71] ne be syȝt
And drinke[^72] not ouere-delicatly ; ne to depe neiþer
þat þi wille be cause þer -of ; to wrathe myȝte turne
Esto sobrius he said ; & asoylid me after
and bade me wilne to wepe ; my wikkednesse to amende
Auaricia
And þan cam coueitise ; I can him not discriue
So hungryly and holowe ; Syr heruy him lokede
he was bytilbrowed ; and babirlipped also
with two blered eien ; as a blynde hagge
and as a letheren purs lolled his chekis
well synder[^a158] þan his chyn ; þey cheveled ffor elde
and as a bonde-man of his bakon ; his berd was be-drauelid
with an hood on his hed ; a lowsy hatte aboue
And in a tawny taberde ; of twelue wynter of age
All to-torne and baudy ; and ffull of lyse Crepinge
but if þat a lowse couude ; haue lopen þe better
she shuld[^a159] haue walkid þer -on ; so was it þred-bare
I haue ben coueitous quod þis caytif ; I be-knowe it here
For Sumtyme I serued Symme at þe style
and was his printyse pliȝte ; his prophete to wayte
Friste I lerned to lye ; a leef oþer tweyne
wyckidliche to weye ; was my ffriste lesson
To wye & to wynchester ; I wente to þe ffaire
with many maner marchaundes[^a160] ; as my maister me hiȝte
Ne had þe grace of gyle ; goo amonge my schaffare
It had ben vnsolde þis Seuene ȝere ; so me god helpe
Than drowȝ I me among drapers ; my donet to lerne
To drawe þe lesere alonge ; þe lenger it semed
Amonge þe riche rayes ; I rendrid a lesson
To broche hem with a paknedill ; and playted hem to-gedris
and put hem in a presse ; and pynned hem þer -inne
Tille ten ȝerdis or twelue ; had tolde out þrettene
My wyff was a webber[^a161] ; and wullen cloþe made
he[^a162] spake to spynsters ; to spynne it oute
and þe pounde þat she payd by ; weyed a quartron more
þan myn owen owen[^a163] aunser ; who-so weyed truþe
I bouȝte hir barly malte ; sche brewe it to selle
peny ale & puddinge ale ; sche pouride to-gedris
For laboreris & lowe ffolk ; þat lay be hem -seluen
The beste ale lay in my boure ; or in my bed chaunbre
And who-so bummed þer -of ; he bouȝte it þer -after
a galon ffor a grote ; god woote no lesse
and ȝit it come in cuppe-melle ; þis crafte my wyff vside
Rose þe regrater ; was hir rith name
Sche hath holdyn hukrie ; all hir lyue-tyme
and I swere now . so þe ek[^a164] ; þat synne wolle I lette
and neuer wickidliche weie ; ne wikkid schaffare vse
But wenden to walsingham ; and my wyf als
And bidde þe rode of bromholme ; bringe me out of dette
Repentiste þou euere quod repentaunce[^73] ; or restitucion madiste
Ȝis onys I was herbowride quod he ; with an hepe of schapmen
I rosse whan þey were areste ; and riffled her malis
That was no restitucion quod repentaunce ; but a robbers þeffte
þou haddiste ben better worthi ; to be hanged þerffore[^74]
þan ffor all þat þou hast ; here now schewed
I wende reffelinge were restitucion quod he ; I lernede neuer on book
And I can no ffrenshe[^75] in ffeiþ ; but of þe fferþeste ende of northffolk
Vsisideste þou[^a165] euere vsurie quod repentaunce ; in all þi lyf-tyme
Nay sothely he said ; saue in my ȝouthe
I lernede amongis lumbardis ; and Iues a lesson
To wey pens with a peise ; and pare þe heuyeste
And lene it ffor loue of þe crosse ; to legge a wed & lese it
swiche dedis I dede writte ; if he his day broke
I haue mo maners þoruȝ rerages ; þan þoruȝ miseretur et comodat
I haue lent lordis ; and ladies my schaffare
and ben her brokoure after ; and bouȝte it my-self
Eschaunges and cheuysaunces ; with swiche schaffare I dele
and lene ffolk þat lese wolle ; a lippe at euery noble
and with lumbardis lettres ; I ledde gold to rome
and toke it be tayle here ; and tolde þer lesse
lenteste þou euere lordis ; ffor loue of here meyntenaunce
ȝe I haue lente lordis ; þat louede me neuer after
and haue mad many knyȝt ; boþe mercer and draper
þat payd neuer ffor his prentisod ; not a peire gloues
haste þou pite on pore men ; þat mote nedis borwȝe
I haue as moche pite on hem ; as pedler hath on cattis
That wolde kylle hem if he myȝt ; ffor coueytise of her skynnes
arte þou manliche among þi neiboris ; of mete and of drink[^76]
I am holdyn as hende quod he ; as hound is in kechen
amonge my neiȝboris nameliche ; swiche a name I haue
God lene neuer quod repentaunce ; but þou repente þe raþer
The grace on þis ground ; þi good wille to be-sette
Ne þin eiris after þe ; haue Ioy of þat þou wynneste
Ne þin exsecutores bisette þi siluer ; þat þou hem louest[^a166]
and þat was wonnen with wronge ; with wickyde men be disspendid
nota
For where I a ffrere[^a167] of þat hous ; þer good feiþ & charite is
I nolde cope vs with þi tatell[^a168] ; ne oure kirke amende
Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce ; of þin . bi myn soule hele
For þe best book in oure hous ; þouȝ brente gold were þe leues
and I wiste wittirly þou were ; swiche as þou telleste
Or ellis þat I couude knowe it ; by ony-skynnes wise
Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris
Pane tuo pocius . vescere liber eris
Thou arte an on-kynde creature ; I can þe not assoile
Tyll þou make restitucion ; and rekene with hem alle
and sithen þat reson rolle it ; in þe register of heuene
þat þou haste made iche ma n good I may þe not asoile
Non d imittitur . peccatum ; donec restituatur ablatum & cetera
For alle þat han of þi good ; haue god my truþe
Ben holden at þe hie dom ; to helpe þe to restitue
and who-so le veþ not þis be sothe ; loke in þe sauȝter glose
In miserere mei deus ; wher I mene truþe
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti et cetera .
schall neuer werkeman in þis world ; þr iffe with þat þou wynnest
Cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera construe me þat on Englisshe
Than wex þat schrewe in wanhope ; and wolde haue hangid him-self
Ne had repentaunce þe rather ; reconffortide him in þis manere
haue mercy in þi mynde ; and with þi mouþ be-seche it
For goddis mercy is more ; þan alle his oþer werkis
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius
and alle wikkidnesse of þis world ; þat man myȝth do or þenk
Nis no more to þe mercy of god ; þan in þe see a glede
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei ; est quasi Sintilla in medio maris
For-þi haue mercy in þi mynde ; and marchaundise leue it
For þou hast no good ground ; to gette þe with a wastell
But if it where with þi tinge[^a169][^77] ; or ellis with þi two handis
For þe good þat þou haste getten ; by-gan alle with ffalshed
and as longe as þou leueste þer -with ; þou ȝeldiste not but boruȝwest
Restytucion
and if þou woste neuer to whiche ; ne whom to restitue
Bere it to þe bisshope ; and bid him of his grace
by-sette it him-self ; as best is ffor þi soule
For he shall answere ffor þe ; at þe hie dom
For the and many moo ; that man schall ȝeue a rekenynge[^78]
what he lerned ȝou in lentton ; leue ȝe non oþer
And what he lente ȝou of his good ; to witte ȝou ffro synne
For he shulde helpe ȝou ; of oure lordis good
Gula
Now bygynneth gloton ; ffor to go to schrifte
and kaires him to kirkeward ; his coupe to schewe
and beton þe browster ; bade him good morwe
and axede of him with þat ; whedirwarde he wolde
To holi kyrke quod he ; ffor to here masse
And sithen I wolle be schreven ; and synne no more
I haue good ale gossipe quod sche ; glotton wulte þou asay
haste þou auȝte in þin purs ; ony hoot spices
I haue peper & piones quod sche ; & a pound of garlek
and a fferþingworthe of ffenell seed ; ffor ffastinge daiez
Than gooþ glotton in ; and grette oþes after
Cesse þe Souteresse ; satte vn[^a170] þe benche
watte þe warner ; and his wyff after
Thome þe tynker ; and tweyn of his prentise
hyke þe haykeney man ; and hue þe nedeler
Clarice of Cokkislane ; & þe clerk of þe chirche
Dawe þe diker ; and a doseyn oþer
Syr pers of pride ; and pernell of fflaundris
A ribiboure & a ratonere ; and a raker of þe schepe
a roper a ridyngkyng ; and rose þe dischere
Godffrey of garlichiþe ; and gefferon[^a171] þe walsche
& vpholsters[^a172] of cornhill[^79] an heppe ; erly be þe morwe
Gouen[^a173][^80] gloton with good chere ; good ale to ansall
Clement þe coblere ; caste of his cloke
And at þe new ffeire ; he nempnede it to selle
Hikke þe hakeyney man ; hitte his hood after
And bade bette þe boccher ; ben on his side
Ther weren schapmen schosyn ; þis schaffare to preise
who-so had þe hood ; shulde haue amendis of þe cloke
Two risen vp in rape ; and rounded[^a174] to-gedris
And preysed þese penneworþis ; a partie[^a175] be herself[^a176][^81]
Thei couþen not bi her concience ; acordyn in truþe
Tyll Robyn þe roper ; aros be þe souþe
And nempned him ffor a nounper ; þat no debate nere
For to trie þis chaffare ; bitwixen hem þre
Hikke þe hosteler ; had þe cloke
In couenaunte[^82] þat Clemente ; shulde þe cuppe ffille
And haue hikkis hood hosteler ; and holde him serued
And who þat repentiþ raþer ; shulde arise after
And grete well Sir glotton ; with a galon ale
Ther was lauȝwinge and lowȝringe ; and late go þe cuppe
And so satten[^a177] tyll euensongtyme; and sungen oþer -while
Tyll glotton had globbed ; a galon & a gille
His guttus bigunne gotheli to grulle[^a178][^83] ; as two gredi sowes
He pissed a potell ; in a pater noster while
And blewe his round reuet[^a179] ; at his rigge-bonys ende
That alle þat herdyn þat horn ; helde her nose after
And wischede it had be waxed with a wispe of ffirris[^a180]
He myȝte neiþer stepe ne stonde ; er he his staff had
And þan gan he to goo ; like a glewmanis bicche
Sum -tyme aside ; and sum-tyme arere
And[^a181] who-so leythe lynes ; ffor to lacche ffouulis
And whan he drow to þe durre ; þan dymmed his eiȝen
He stumbled on þe þreschold ; and þrew to þe erthe
Clemente þe cobler ; cauȝte him be þe myddill
For to lyfte him alofte ; and leyde him on his knees
And gloton was a grette cherl ; and grymme in lyftinge
And cowed vp a cawdell ; in clementis lappe
Is non so hungry an hound[^a182] ; in hertford-schyre
Durste haue lapped[^a183] of þat leuynges[^84] ; so vnloueliche þei smackyd
with alle þe woo of þis world ; his wyf and his wenche
Barin him home to his bed ; and brouȝten him þer -inne
and after al his acsses ; he had an accidie
þat he sleppte saturday & sunday ; till sonne wente to reste
þan wakyd he of his wynkynge ; & wyped his eiȝen
Frist word þat he warvp[^a184][^85] was ; where is þe bolle
hys witte gan edwitte him þoo ; how wyckidliche he leued[^86]
and repentaunce[^87] rith þoo ; so Rebukede him þat tyme
as þou with wordis & werkis ; hast wrouȝte ille in þi lyff
schreve þe and be aschamed þer -of ; and schewe it with mouþe
I gloton quod þe gome ; gilti me ȝilde
þat I haue tresspassid with my tunge ; I can not telle how ofte
Sworyn godis soule ; & so god me[^88] helpe and holy-dome
Ther no nede ne was ; nyne hundrid tymes
and ouere-sey me at sopere ; and sum-tyme at nones
þat I gloton gyrde vp ; er I had gon a myle
and spilte þat myȝte a be[^a185] spared ; and spendid on sum hungry
Ouere-delicatly on ffastinge-daies ; dronken and eten bothen
And satte sum -tyme so long þer ; þat I slepte and ete at ones
For loue of talis in tauernes ; to drynk þe more I dynede
and hied to þe mete or nonne ; whene ffastinge-daiez werin
This schewinge schrefte ; quod repentaunce . shall be merite to þe
and þan gan glotton grette ; and grett doell made
For his leþer lyff þat he leued had ;
And vowed to ffaste ; ffor hunger or ffor þreste
Shall neuer ffisshe on ffriday ; diffien in my wombe
Tyll abstinaunce my aunte ; haue ȝeuen me leue
and ȝit haue I hated hir ; all my lyff-tyme
accidia
Than cam slouthe all beslabrede ; with two glemy[^a186] eiȝen
I muste sitte said þe segge ; or ellis I shulde nappe
I may not stonde ne stowpe ; ne with -ouȝtyn a stoll knele
where I brouȝte abedde ; but if my tail-ende it made
shulde no ringynge do me rise ; or I were ripe to dyne
he be-gan benedicite with a bolk ; and his breste knokkid
and roxede & roride ; and rutte at þe laste
awake renk quod repentaunce[^89] ; and rape the to schrefte
if I shulde die be þis day ; me liste not to loke
I can not parffiȝtly my pater-noster ; as þe preste siggeþ[^a187]
but I can rimes of robyn hood ; & randolf of chester
and neiþer of oure lord ne of oure lady ; þe leste þat is made
I haue made vowes ffyfty ; and ffor-ȝeten[^a188] on þe morwen[^90]
I parfformed neuer pennaunce ; as þe prest me hiȝte
Ne riȝth sori ffor my synnes ; ȝit was I neuer
And if I bidde ony bedis ; but if it be in wrathe
That I telle it[^a189] with my tunge ; is two myle ffro myn herte
I am occupied iche day ; haly day and oþer
with ydell talis at þe ale ; and oþer -while in chirches
godis peyne and his passion ; ffull seldom þenk I on
I vesite[^a190] neuer ffeble men ; ne ffetrid ffolk in pittis
I haue leuere here an harlotrie ; or somer game of souters
or lesingez to lawehe at ; and be-lye my neȝboris
Than all þat euere mark made ; matwe[^a191] Iohan & lucas
and vigelis and ffastinge-daies ; alle þese late I passe
and ligge abed in lenton ; and my lemman in myn armes
Tyll matynys & messe be don ; and go to þe ffreris
Come I to Ite missa est ; I holde me serued
I am not schreuen sum-tyme ; but sekenesse it make
Not twyes in two ȝere ; and þan vp gesse I schryue me
I haue be prest and parson ; passinge þretti ȝere
ȝit can I neiþer solfe ne synge ; ne seyntis lyues rede
but I can ffynde in a ffelde ; or in a ffurlonge an hare
better þan a[^a192] beatus vir ; or in beati omnes
Construe o clause well ; and lerne[^a193] it to þi parishenes
I can holde loue-daiez ; and holde[^a194] a reues rekenynge[^91]
and in canon ne decretalis ; I can not rede a lyne
If I bigge & boruȝ it ; but if it be taylid
I ffor-ȝete it as sone ; & if men me it axe
Syx sithes or seuene ; I ffor-sake it with othes
and þus tene I trewe men ; ten hundrid tymes
and my seriauntis sum-tyme ; her salarie is be-hynde
Reuþe is to here þe rekenynge ; whan we shulle rede acountis
So with wykkid wille & wrathe ; my werk-men I paye
if ony man do me a beneffette ; or helpe me at nede
I am vnhynde[^a195] aȝens his curteisie ; and can not vndirstonde it
For I haue and haue had ; sum-dell haukis manerez
I am not lered with loue ; but if ouȝt lye vndir þe þumbe
The kyndenesse þat myn euen -Cristen ; kydden me fferne-ȝere
Syxti sithes I slauȝthe ; haue ffor-ȝeten it sithe
In speche and in sparinge ; I spynte[^a196] many tyme
Bothe ffleisshe and ffisshe ; butter mylk and schese
Boþe bred and ale ; and many oþer vetailis
For slewþenesse[^a197] in my seruyse ; till it myȝth serue no man
I ran abouȝte in ȝouþe ; and ȝaf me not to lerne
and euere sythe haue I ben begger ; ffor my ffoule sleuþe
heu michi quod sterilem ; vitam duxi iuuenilem
repentiste þou not quod repentaunce[^92] ; and riȝt with þat he swowned
Tyll vigilate þe veill ; ffette water at his eien
and fflatte it on his fface ; and ffaste on him cried
and sayd whare þe ffor whanope ; wolde þe betraye
I am sori ffor my synnes ; seie to þy-selue
and bete þi-self on þe brest ; and bid him of grace
For is no gylt here so grett ; þat his goodnese is more
þan satte sleuthe vp ; and seyned him swythe
and made avow to-ffor god ; ffor his ffoule sleuþe
shall no sunday be þis seuene ȝere ; but sekenesse it lette
þat I ne shall do me er day ; to þe dere chirche
and here matynis and messe ; as I a monk were
shall non ale after mete ; holde me þennes
Tyll I haue euensong herd ; I be-hote to þe rode
and ȝit wolle I ȝelde aȝeyne ; if[^a198] so moche haue
al þat I wickidly wan ; sythen I witte hadde
and þouȝ my lyflode lake ; leten I nylle
That iche man shall haue his ; er I henns wende
and with þe resedue & þe remenaunte ; be þe rode of chestre
I shall seke truþe erst ; er I se rome
Robert þe rober ; on reddite lokede
and ffor þer was nout where -of ; he wepte swithe
and ȝit þe synffull schrewe ; said to him-selue
Crist þat on þe Caluerie ; vppon þe croise deiedist
Thoo dismas my brother ; by-souȝte ȝou of grace
And haddiste mercy on þat man ; ffor memento sake
So Rewe on this robber ; that reddere he ne[^a199] hathe[^93]
ne neuer wene to wynne ; with crafte þat I owe
But ffor þi mekill mercy ; mytigacioun biseche
Ne dampne me not ; at domusday ; ffor þat I dede ille
what be-ffelle of þis schrewe ; I can not ffaire schewe
well I wotte he wepte ffaste ; water with[^94]boþe his yen
and knowlichid his gilt to crist ; ȝit after -sones[^a200]
That petitencia[^a201] his pijk ; he shulld pulsshe newe
and lepe with him ouer lond ; al his lijf-tyme
For he had loyn[^a202] be latro ; lucifers aunte
and þan had repentaunce[^95] reuþe . and redde hem alle to knele
For I shall beseche ffor ale synffull ; oure saueoure of grace
To amende us of oure myssdedis ; and do mercy to us alle
Now god quod he of þi goodnesse ; that gunne þe worlde make
And of nouȝt madeste ouȝte ; and man moste lyke to þi-selue
And sithen suffreste ffor synne ; a sekenesse to vs alle
And all ffor þe best as I beleue ; whateuere þe book telliþ
O felix culpa o necessarium ade peccatum et cetera .
For þoruȝ þat synne þi sonne ; sent was to þis erthe
and bi-cam man of a mayde ; mankynde to saue
and madiste þi-self with þi sonn ; and vs synneful yliche
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et Similitudinem nostram
Et alibi qui manet in Caritate in deo manet & cetera .
and sithe with þi self sonne ; in oure sute deieste[^a203]
On good ffriday ffor mannys sake ; at ffull tyme of þe day
There þi-self ne þi sonne ; no sorowe in deþe ffelediste
But in oure Secte was þe Sorwe ; and þi sonne it ladde
Captiuam duxit Captiuitatem et cetera .
loste
The sunne ffor sorwe þer -of ; lees his liȝt ffor a tyme
Abouȝte mydday whan moste liȝt is ; and meel-tyme of Seyntis
Feddiste with þi ffresshe blood ; oure fforfadris in derkenesse
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam
And thorw þe liȝte that leepe of the ; luciffer was blente[^96]
and blewe alle thi blessid ; in-to þe blisse of par adice
The þred day after ; ȝildiste in oure Sute
and Synffull marie þe Seiȝ ; er Seint marie þi dame
and to solace synffull ; þou suffridist it so were
Non veni vocare iustos set peccatores ad penytenciam[^97]
and al þat mark haþe I-made ; Matheu Iohan & lucas
Of þi douȝti dedis ; whern don in oure armes
Verbum caro factum est ; et habitauit in nobis
and bi so moche me semeþ ; þe sekerere we mowe
Bidde and bisiche ; if it be þi wille
þat arnt[^a204] oure ffader ; & oure broþer ; bi[^a205] mercyable til vs
And haue reuþe on þese ribauudis ; þat repenten hem here sore
That euere þei wraþeden þe in þis world ; in word þouȝt or dede
Than hente hope an horn ; of deus tu conuersus viuificabis
And blewe it with bieati quorum ; remisse sunt iniquitates
That Alle seyntis in heuene ; Sungen at ones
Homines & Iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus & cetera
¶
A þouusand of men þoo ; þrungen to-gedris
Crieden vpward to crist ; and to his clene moder
To haue grace to go with hem ; truþe to seke
and þer was wyȝt non so wyse ; þe wey þedir couþe
but blustred fforþ as bestis ; ouere bankis and hillis
Tyl late was and longe ; þat þei a lede metten
Apparaylide as a paynym ; in pilgrimes wise
he bare a burdon y-boundyn ; with a blod[^a206] liste
In a swyþe wyndis wyse ; y-wounden abouȝte
A bolle and a bagge ; he bare bi his side
an hundrid of ampullus ; on his hatte sette
Signes of Synay ; and schellis of galis
and many a crouche on his croke[^a207] ; and keyes of rome
and þe vernycle beffore ; ffor men shulden knowe
and se be his signes ; whom he souȝt hadde
These ffolk ffreyned ffriste ; ffrom wennes he come
Fro Synay he seide ; and ffro oure lordis Sepulcre[^98]
In bedelem and in babiloyne ; I haue ben in boþe
In Ermonye in Alisaundre ; in many oþer places
Ȝe mowe se be my signes ; þat sitten on myn hatte
þat I haue walkid ffulle wyde ; in wete & in driȝe
and souȝte good seyntis ; ffor my soulis helþe
knowiste þou auȝte a corseynte ; þat men callyn truþe
Canste þou wissen vs þe weye ; where þat he dwelliþ
Nay so me god helpe ; sayd þe gom þan
I seiȝ neuer palmer with pijk ; ne with scrippe wende
axen after him ; er now in þis place
Petir quod a plowman ; and put fforþe his hed
I knowe him as kyndely ; as clerk doþe his book
Concience and kynde witte ; kenned me to his place
and dede me swere sikirly ; to serue him ffor euere
Boþe to Sowe & to sette ; þe while I swynke myȝte
I haue ben his ffolwer ; al þis fifti wynter
Boþe sowe his seed ; and ffedde his bestis
with -inne & with -ouȝtyn waytyd his prophete
I dyke and I delue ; and do þat truþe hotiþ
Sum-tyme I sowe ; and sum-tyme I þresshe
In taylouris crafte ; & tykers[^a208] crafte ; what truþe deuyse can[^a209]
I weue & I wynde ; and do what truþe hoteþ
For þouȝ I seie it my-self ; I serue him to pay
Ich haue myn hyre well ; and oþer -whilis more
he is þe presteste paiere ; þat pore men knowen
he with -halte non hewe his hire ; þat he ne haþe it at euen
he is as lowe as a lomb ; and loueliche of speche
and if ȝe wilneþ to witte ; where þat he dwelliþ
I shall wisse ȝou witterly ; þe wey to his place
Ȝhe leue pers quod þese pilgrimes ; and prophered him hire
For to wende with hem ; to truþis dwellinge place
Nay bi my soule quod peers ; & gan ffor to swere
I nolde ffonge a fferþing ; ffor Seynt thomas schryne
Truþe wolde loue me þe lesse ; long tyme after
nota how þou shalt go on pilgrimage
And if ȝe wylneþe to wende well ; this is þe wey thedere[^99]
þat I shall seye to ȝou ; and sette ȝou in þe sothe
Ȝe motton goo þoruȝ mekenesse ; boþe men & wyues
ten comamdementes coma[n]dementes

[C2.5.585.m.1: An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in comamdementes .]

Tyll ȝe come to concience ; þat crist witte þe sothe
þat ȝe loue oure lord god ; leueste of alle þingis
and þan ȝoure neȝboris nexte ; in non wise apaire
Oþer -wyse þan þou woldest ; he wrouȝte to þi-selue
And so boweþ fforþe be a brok ; beþe buxum of speche
Tyll þe ffynde a fforþe ; ȝoure ffadris ȝe honoure
honora patrem et matrem et cetera .
wadeþ in water ; and wasshe ȝou well þere
and ȝe shulle lepe þe lyȝtelyer ; al ȝoure lijf-tyme
and so shalt þou swere not ; but if it be ffor nede
and nameliche in ydell ; þe name of god almyȝti
Than shalt þou come be a crofte ; but come not þer -inne
That crofte hatte coueitise ; not menis catell ne her wyues
Ne non of her seruauntis ; þat noyen hem myȝte
loke ȝe breke no bowes þer ; but if it be ȝoure owen
Two stokkis þer stondyn ; and stynte ȝe not þere
þey hatten stele not ne slee not ; strike fforth be-ffore
and leue hem on þi lifte half ; and loke not þer -after
and holde well þin halyday ; hie till euene
Than shalt þou blenche at a berueȝ[^a210] ; bere no ffals wittenesse
he is ffrendid[^a211] with ffloreyns ; and oþer ffoos many
loke þou plukke no plante þer ; ffor perell of þi soulle
Than shulle ȝe se seie soþe ; so it be do don
In no maner ellis not ; ffor no manny[^a212] biddinge
Than shalt þou come to a courte ; as cler as þe sunne
The moot þe[^a213] mercy ; þe maner abouȝte[^100]
alle þe wallis ben of witte ; to holde wille ouȝte
and ky rnelid with Cristendom ; mankynde to Saue
Botraced with beleue so ; or þou best not saued
alle þe housis ben hiled ; halles and Chaumbris
with no leed but with loue ; & lowe speche as breþeren
The brigge is of bidde well ; þe bette may þou spede[^101]
Iche piler is of penaunce[^102] ; of preiere to Seyntis
of almes-dedis arn þe hokis ; þe gatis hongyn on
Grace hatte þe gateward ; a good man ffor-sothe
his man hatte Amende ȝou ; ffor mAny men him knowen
Telliþ him þis tokene ; þat truþe witte þe soþe
I parfformede þe penaunce[^103] ; þe prest me enioynede
and am ffull sori ffor my synnes ; and so I shall euere
whan I þenke þer -on ; þouȝ I were a pope
Biddiþ amende ȝou meke him ; to his maister ones
To wayue vp þe wekette ; þat þe womman schette
þoo adam and eue eten applis vn-rosted
Per euam cuntis clausa est ; & per mariam virginem patefacta est & cetera
For he haþe þe key and þe clykette ; þouȝ þe kynge slepe
and if grace graunte þee ; to goo in þis wyse
þou shall se in þi-self ; truþe sette in þin herte
In a cheyne of Charite ; as þou a childe where
To suffre him and segge nouȝt ; aȝeine þi siris wille
and be warre þan of wraþe ; þat is a wickide schrewe
he haþe Envie till him ; þat in þin herte sittiþ
and powkiþ fforþe pride ; to preisyn þi-seluen
The boldenesse of þi benefetis ; maken þe blynde þan
and worþest þou dryuen out as dew ; and þe dore closid
keyed and cliketid ; to kepe þe with -ouȝten
happely an hundrid wynter ; er þou efte entre
Thus myȝtiste þou lesen his loue ; to lete well be þi-selluen
and neuer happely efte entre ; tyll grace þou haue
and þer ben seuene sistrin ; þat seruen truþe euere
and ben porters of þe posternes ; þat to þe place longen
That on hatte abstynence ; and humylite anoþer[^104]
Charite and Chastite ; ben his scheff maydynys
pacience and pees ; moche peple þei helpen
largenesse þe lady ; she lete out ffull many
she haþe holpen a þouusande ; out of þe deuyllis pynffolde
and who-so is sibbe to þese seuene ; so me god helpe
he is wondirliche welcome ; and ffaire vndirffongen[^105]
and but if ȝe be sibbe ; to Summe of þese seuene
It is ffull hard by myn heed ; quod pers ; ffor ony of ȝou alle
To gete ingoynge at þe gate þer ; but grace be þe more
a cutpurs
Now bi crist quod cutpurs ; I haue no kyn þere
Nen[^a214] I quod an apeward ; be out þat I knowe
Wow to[^a215] god quod a wafferere ; wiste I þis ffor soþe
sschuld I neuer fforþer a ffoote ; ffor no ffreris prechinge
Ȝis quod peers þe plowman ; and poukide all to good
mercy is a maydin þer ; haþe myȝth ouere alle
and sche is sibbe to alle synneffull ; and hir sonne also
and þoruȝ þe help of hem Twoo ; hope þou non oþer
þou myȝtest gette grace þer ; by so þou go bi tyme
a pardoner
By seint poul quod a pardouner ; parauenture I be not knowe þere
I woll fecche my box with my breuettis ; and a bulle with bisschoppis lettres
a comune womman
By crist quod a Comune womman ; þi Companye wolle I ffolwe
Thou shallt saie I am þi sister ; I ne woot were þey be-comen

[^a147: how (C2) | For (most mss)]

[^a148: rehered (C2) | reherced (most mss)]

[^a149: I hade (C2) | hadde I (all other mss)]

[^a150: And þan I creed (C2) | Thanne I crye (all other mss)]

[^a151: turned (C2) | turne (all other mss)]

[^a152: rede (C2) | radde (most mss)]

[^a153: lakked (C2) | lakke (most mss)]

[^a154: ffreris (C2) | feeris (all other mss)]

[^a155: ȝoure (C2) | oure (most mss)]

[^a156: Champitre (C2) | Chapitre (all other mss)]

[^a157: make knowe it (C2) | couþe it (most mss)]

[^a158: synder (C2) | sidder (all other mss)]

[^a159: shuld (C2) | sholde noȝt (most mss)]

[^a160: marchaundes (C2) | marchaundise (most mss)]

[^a161: webber (C2) | webbe (most mss)]

[^a162: he (C2) | she (most mss)]

[^a163: owen owen (C2) | owene (all other mss)]

[^a164: þe ek (C2) | thee ik (most mss)]

[^a165: Vsisideste þou (C2) | Vsidestow (most mss)]

[^a166: louest (C2) | leuest (all other mss)]

[^a167: a ffrere (C2) | ffrere (all other mss)]

[^a168: tatell (C2) | catel (all other mss)]

[^a169: tinge (C2) | tonge (all other mss)]

[^a170: vn (C2) | on (most mss)]

[^a171: gefferon (C2) | Griffyn (most mss)]

[^a172: vpholsters (C2) | vpholderes (most mss)]

[^a173: Gouen (C2) | Geuen (most mss)]

[^a174: rounded (C2) | rouned (most mss)]

[^a175: a partie (C2) | apart (most mss)]

[^a176: herself | hemselue (most mss)]

[^a177: so satten (C2) | seten so (Bx)]

[^a178: gotheli to grulle (C2) | godly (Bx)]

[^a179: reuet (C2) | ruwet (most mss)]

[^a180: ffirris (C2) | firses (most mss)]

[^a181: And (C2) | As (all other mss)]

[^a182: an hound (C2) | hound (all other mss)]

[^a183: haue lapped (C2) | lape (most mss)]

[^a184: warvp (C2) | warp (most mss)]

[^a185: a be (C2) | be (most mss)]

[^a186: glemy (C2) | slymy (most mss)]

[^a187: siggeþ (C2) | syngeþ (most mss)]

[^a188: ffor-ȝeten (C2) | forȝeten hem (most mss)]

[^a189: telle it (C2) | telle (all other mss)]

[^a190: vesite (C2) | visited (all other mss)]

[^a191: matwe (C2) | Mathew (most mss)]

[^a192: a (C2) | in (all other mss)]

[^a193: lerne (C2) | kenne (all other mss)]

[^a194: holde (C2) | here (most mss)]

[^a195: vnhynde (C2) | vnkynde (most mss)]

[^a196: I spynte (C2) | yspilt (most mss)]

[^a197: For slewþenesse (C2) | Forsleuþed (most mss)]

[^a198: if (C2) | if I (all other mss)]

[^a199: he ne (C2) | ne (most mss)]

[^a200: after -sones (C2) | eftsones (most mss)]

[^a201: petitencia (C2) | penitencia (C2hand2 All other mss)]

[^a202: loyn (C2) | leyen (most mss)]

[^a203: deieste (C2) | deidest (all other mss)]

[^a204: arnt (C2) | art (all other mss)]

[^a205: bi (C2hand1) | be (C2hand2)]

[^a206: blod (C2hand1) | brood (all other mss) | brode (C2hand2)]

[^a207: croke (C2) | cloke (all other mss)]

[^a208: tykers (C2) | tynkeris (all other mss)]

[^a209: deuyse can (C2) | kan deuyse (all other mss)]

[^a210: berueȝ (C2) | bergh (most mss)]

[^a211: ffrendid (C2) | fryþed (most mss)]

[^a212: manny (C2) | mannes (all other mss)]

[^a213: þe (C2) | is of (most mss)]

[^a214: Nen (C2) | Nor (most mss)]

[^a215: Wow to (C2) | Wite (most mss)]

[^62: C2.5.32: The <b> in bade and the <k> in kutte have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^63: C2.5.69:The <h> in ffleisshe has an otiose bar.]

[^64: C2.5.77:An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in Drinke.]

[^65: C2.5.94:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in mysschaunce.]

[^66: C2.5.96:C2 alone has the form envied; variants include anoyed, noyȝed, ennuyed, and enuyed]

[^67: C2.5.134: The <l>s in lye, lowre, and lakked have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^68: C2.5.169:The <h> in that has a decorated ascender two lines in height.]

[^69: C2.5.178:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drink.]

[^70: C2.5.179:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drink.]

[^71: C2.5.184:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in contenaunce.]

[^72: C2.5.185:An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in drinke.]

[^73: C2.5.233:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in repentaunce .]

[^74: C2.5.237: The <b> in better and the <h> in hanged have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^75: C2.5.240:The <h> in ffrenshe has an otiose bar.]

[^76: C2.5.261:An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in drink .]

[^77: C2.5.299:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in tinge .]

[^78: C2.5.306: The <t> in that and the <h> in schall have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^79: C2.5.331:C2 alone includes the phrase of cornhill. A similar reference occurs in the C-text at 13.218 in Skeat's edition, which reads Vp-holderes on the hul ; shullen haue hit (i.e. the miser's hoard) to selle. In his note on this line, Skeat glosses vpholderes as dealers in second-hand articles and the hul as Cornhill, where many of their shops were located]

[^80: C2.5.332:Although the MED attests the form gouen , this scribe does not elsewhere use it; his usual form is ȝeuen.]

[^81: C2.5.340: The <l> in herself has a decorated ascender three lines in height.]

[^82: C2.5.346: An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in couenaunte, and a superfluous minim appears after the first <u>.]

[^83: C2.5.353:On godly as an allowable form of this verb, see the note on this line in the editions of MSS L and R.]

[^84: C2.5.369:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in leuynges.]

[^85: C2.5.375:Although the MED does not attest the form warvp, it was perhaps influenced by wurpan, an attested alternative form of the infinitive.]

[^86: C2.5.376: The <H> in Hys, the <h> in how, the <k> in wyckidliche, and the<h> in wyckidliche have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^87: C2.5.377:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in repentaunce.]

[^88: C2.5.382:A double punctus appears above the <e> in me. It may indicate intent to delete, but deletion here would spoil the sense.]

[^89: C2.5.405:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in repentaunce.]

[^90: C2.5.410: The <h> in haue has a decorated ascender three lines in height.]

[^91: C2.5.433:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in rekenynge.]

[^92: C2.5.455: An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in repentaunce.]

[^93: C2.5.481: The <h> in this, the <h> in that, and the <h> in hathe have decorated ascenders two lines in height.]

[^94: C2.5.486:An otiose mark appears before boþe.]

[^95: C2.5.491:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in repentaunce .]

[^96: C2.5.513: The <h> in thorw, the <h> in that, the <h> in the, and the <b> in blente have decorated ascenders two lines in height.]

[^97: C2.5.518:The <c> in peccatores is subpuncted.]

[^98: C2.5.547: The <l> in lordis has a decorated ascender three lines in height.]

[^99: C2.5.582: The <l> in wylneþe, the <h> in this, and the <h> in thedere have decorated ascenders two lines in height.]

[^100: C2.5.610: An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in abouȝte.]

[^101: C2.5.616: The <h> in The and the <b> in bette have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^102: C2.5.617:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce .]

[^103: C2.5.622:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce .]

[^104: C2.5.645:In the left margin of this line appears a device about two vertical lines in length consisting of two dots with a vertical wavy line above them.]

[^105: C2.5.651: The <H> in He has a decorated ascender three lines in height.]

T his were a wicked wey ; but who-so had a guyde
þat wolde ffolwe us Iche a ffoot ; þus þese ffolk hem mened
Quod perkyn þe plouman[^106] ; bi seint petir of rome
I haue an half acrie[^a216] ; to erie ; bi þe hie wey
Had I eried þis half acre ; and sowe it after
I wolde wende with ȝou ; and þe weie teche
This where a long lettinge ; quod a lady in a sleyre
what shulden we wommen ; werche þe whilis
Summe shulle sowe þe sakke quod peers ; ffor scheddinge of þe whete
And ȝe louely ladies ; with ȝoure long ffyngris
That ȝe haue silke and sendell ; to Sewe whan tyme is
Chesiplis ffor Chapeleyns ; Chirchis to honore
wyues and wedowes ; wolle and fflex spynneþ
nota
Makeþ cloþe I conceill ȝou ; and kenne so ȝoure douȝtrez
The nedi and þe nakid ; take hede how þei liggen
and casteþ hem cloþis ; ffor so biddiþ truþe
For I shall lene hem lijflode ; but if þe lond ffaile
Fleisshe and bred boþe ; to riche and to pore[^107]
as longe as I leue ; ffor oure lordis loue of heuene
and alle maner of men ; þat þoruȝ mete and drink[^108] leuen
helpeþ him to werk wiȝtliche ; þat wynneþ ȝoure ffode
By crist quod a knyȝt þoo ; he kenneþ us þe beste
and on þe teem truely ; tauȝte was I neuer
and kenne me quod þe knyȝth ; and wolle[^a217] asaie
By seynt poul perkyn[^a218] ; ȝe propherin ȝou so fairin[^a219]
þat I shall swynke and swete ; and sow ffor vs boþe
þe leuynge of true knyȝtis
And oþer labouris do ffor þi loue ; all my lijf-tyme
In couenaunte[^109] þat þou kepe ; holi kirke and my-selue
Fro wastouris and wicked men ; þat þis world stroyen
and go hunte hardili ; to hares and to ffoxis
To boris and to brokkis ; þat brekyn adoun myn heggis
And goo affayte þi ffauconys ; wilde bestis to kylle
For swiche comen to my crofte ; and croppyn my whete
Curteisliche þe kynȝte þan ; comside his wordis
Be my power peers quod he ; I pliȝte þe my truþe
To ffulfille þis fforward ; þouȝ I ffyȝte shulde
As long as I leue ; I shall þe menteyne
Ȝhe & ȝit a poynt quod peers ; I prey ȝou of more
loke ȝe tene no tenaunte[^110] ; but truþe wulle asente
and þouȝ ȝe mowe amercy hem ; late mercy be taxoure
and mekenesse þi maister ; mawgry medis schekis
and þouȝ pore men propheren ȝou ; presentis and ȝiftis
Nyme it nouȝt in auenture ; ȝe mowe it nouȝt deserue
For þou shalte ȝelde it a-ȝeyne ; at on ȝeris ende
Purgatory
In a ffull perlous place ; purgatorie it hatte
Misbede not þi bonnde-men ; þe better may þou spede
þouȝ he be þin vndirlinge here ; well may happe in heuene
þat he worþiere sitte ; and with more blisse
Amice ascende superius
þan þou but þou do better ; and leue as þou shuldist
For in Charnell and in Chirche ; Cherlis ben euell to knowe
Or a knyȝt ffrom a knaue ; know þis in þin herte
And be true of thy tunge ; and loke þou talis hate[^111]
But if it be of wisdam or witte ; thi werkmen to schastice
Holde with non harlottis ; ne here not here talys
And nameliche at mete ; swich men eschewe
For it ben þe deuyll disouris ; I do þe to vndirstond
I assente be Seyn Iames ; þe kynȝt[^a220] said þanne
For to werche bi þi wordis ; þe while my lijf duriþ
how peers gooþe on pilgrimage
I shall aparaile me quod perkyn ; in pilgrimes wyse
and wende ȝou with[^a221] I wolle ; Tyll we ffynde truþe
and caste on my cloþis ; yclouted and hole
My cokers and my coffus ; ffor cold of my nailis
id est a seed leep"
And hange myn hoper ; at myn hals ; in stede of a scrippe
a busshell of bred-corn ; bringe me þer -inne
For I wolle sowe it myn self ; and sithen woll I wende
To pilgrimage as palmers don ; pardon to haue
And who-so helpeþ me to erie ; or sowe er I wende
shall haue leue be oure lord ; to lacche hire in heruest
And make mery þer -myd ; mawgry who-so grucchiþ
And all-kyn crafti men ; þat kunne leue in trouþe
I shall ffynde hem ffode ; þat ffeiþeffulliche leuen
Saffe Iakke þe Iogeloure ; and Ienett of þe stues
And danyell þe dyse-pleeyere ; and Emot þe bawde
And þe ffrere ffaytoure ; and ffolk of his ordre
And Robyn þe rybaudoure ; ffor his rusti wordis
Truþe tolde me ones ; and bad me telle it after
Deleantur de libro viuencium ; I shuld not dele with hem
For holi Chirche is hoton ; of hem no tyþe to take
Quia cum iustis non scribantur
Thei ben ascaped good auenture ; but god hem amende
peers plowman

[C2.6.82.m.1:A tilde above the <n> in plowman may represent the possessive <s>.]

wyfes name
dame worche whan tyme is ; peers wijf hiȝte
His douȝter hiȝte do riȝt so ; or þi dame shall þe bette
His sonne hyȝte suffre ; þi souereynes haue her wille
Deme hem not ffor if thou do ; þou schalte fful dere abie[^112]
late god worþe with all ; ffor his worde techiþ
For now I am olde & hore ; & haue of myn owen
To penaunce[^113] & pilgrimage ; I wolle passe with þese oþer
For I wolle or I wende ; do writte my biqueste
Testementum petri plowman
In dei nomine amen ; I make it my-selue
he shall haue myn soule ; þat beste haþe deserued it
And ffro þe ffende it deffende ; ffor so I beleue
Tyll I come to his acountis ; as my crede[^114] me telliþ
To haue a reles & remission ; on þat rentall I leue
The kyrke shall haue my Careyn ; and kepe my bonys
For of my corn & catell ; he crauede þe tyþe
I paid it him prestely ; ffor perell of my soule
For-þi is he be-holdyn[^a222] I hope ; to haue me in his messe
and megyn[^a223] in his memorie ; Amonge alle cristen
My wijff schal haue of þat I wan ; with truþe & no more
and dele amonge my douȝtres ; and my dere childrin
For þouȝ I die to-day ; my dettis ar quyte
I bare home þat I borwed ; er I to bedde ȝede
and with þe residue & þe remenaunte ; bi þe rode of lukes
I wolle wurschepe þerwith ; truþe be my lyue
and be his pilgrime at þe plow ; ffor pore mennys[^a224]
My plowffoot schall be my pikestaff ; and picche atwo þe rotus
and helpe my culter to kerue ; & clense þe fforwis
Now is perkyn & his pilgrymes ; to þe plow ffaren
To erie þis half acre ; holpyn him many
Dikers and deluers ; diggeden vp þe balkis
Ther-with was perkyn apaid ; & preised hem ffaste
Oþer werkemen þer weren ; þat wrouȝten ffull ȝerne
Iche man in his maner ; made him-self to done
and summe to plese perkyn ; pikide vp þe wedis
at hie prime peers ; lete þe plow stande
To ouere-seen hem him-self ; & who-so beste wrouȝte
he shulde be hired þer -after ; whan heruest-tyme come
And than setten summe ; & Sungen at the ale[^115]
And holpen erie his half acre ; with hey trolly llolly
Now be þe perel of my soule quod peers ; all in pure tene
but ȝe arise þe raþer ; and rape ȝou to werche
schall no greyn þat groweþ ; glade ȝou at nede
And þouȝ ȝe die ffor doel ; þe deuel haue þat reccheþ
þo werin ffaytouris afferde ; & ffeyned hem blynde
Summe leyden her legges aliry ; as swiche losellis kunne
and mane[^a225] her mone to peers ; and preied him of grace
For we haue no lymmes to laboure with ; lord ygracied be ȝe
and we preied[^a226] ffor ȝou peers ; & ȝoure plow boþe
That god of his grace ; ȝoure greyne multiplie
And ȝelde ȝou of almes ; þat ȝe ȝeuen us here
of ydell beggers
For we mowe not swynke ne swete ; swiche sekenesse us eyliþ
If þis be soþe quod peers ; I schall it sone aspie
ȝe ben wastouris I wotte well ; & truþe woot þe soþe
and I am his olde hyne ; & hiȝte him to warne
whiche þei weren in þis werld ; his werkmen appayred
ȝe wasten þat men wynnen ; with traueile and tene
And truþe shall teche ȝou ; his tem to dryue
or ȝe shulle ete barli brede ; and of þe broke drink[^116]
But if he be blynde or broken-leeggid[^117] ; or bolted with Irnes
he shalte[^a227] ete swete bred ; and drink[^118] with my-self
Till god of his goodnesse ; amendment him sende
and ȝe myȝte trauaile as truþe wolde ; & take mete and hire
To kepe kyne in þe ffeelde ; þe corn ffro þe bestis
Dyken or deluen ; or dyngen vppon scheues
Or helpe make morter ; or bere muke affelde
In leccherie and losengerie ; ȝe leuen & in sleuþe
and all is þoruȝ sufferaunce ; þat veniaunce[^119] ȝou ne take
Of heremytes
Of[^a228] ancres & hermytes ; þat eten not but at ones
And no more er morwe ; myn almesse shulle þe[^a229] haue
And catell to cope hem with ; þat han cloistris and chirchis
And Robert renne abouȝte ; shalle no[^a230] haue of myn[^120]
Ne postelus but if[^a231] þei preche kunne ; and haue power of þe bishope
They shall haue payn & potage ; and make hem at ese
For it is an vnresounable religion ; þat haþe no þing in certeyn
þan gan a wastoure to wraþe him ; and wolde haue I-ffouȝten
And to peers plowman ; profered his gloue
a bretoner a bragger ; abostede peers als
and bade him go pisse him with his plow ; ffor-pyned schrew
wilte þou or nylt þou ; we wolle haue oure wille
Off þi ffloure and of þi fflesshe ; ffecche whan vs likiþ
And make us merie þer -with ; maugry þi chekis
þan peers plowman ; pleynede him to þe knyȝt
To kepe him as couenaunt was ; ffro cursid schrewis
and ffro þese wastours wolf-skynnes ; þat makeþ þe world dere
For þo wasten & wynnen noȝt[^a232] ; þat ilke while
worþe neuer plente amonge þe peple ; þe while my plow liggeþ
Milez
Curteisliche þe knyȝt þanne ; as his kynde wolde
warnede wastoure ; and wissed him þe better
Or þou shallt abigge be þe lawe ; bi þe ordre þat I bere
wastoure
I nas not wonte to werche quod wastoure ; & now I nyl bigynne
and lete lyȝt of þe lawe and lesse of þe knyȝt .
and sette peers at a pese ; and his plow boþe
and manacede peers & his men ; if þei mette eft-sones
Now be þe perell of my soule quod peers ; I shall appeire ȝou alle
And houpyde after hunger ; þat herde him at þe ffrist
Awreke me of þese wastouris quod he ; þat þis world schenden
hunger in haste þoo ; hente wastoure bi þe mawe
and wronge him so bi þe wombe ; þat boþe his yen wattred
He buffe teddin[^a233] þe britoner ; abouȝte þe schekis
þat he lokede lyke a lanterne ; all his lijf after
he bette hem so boþe ; he brast nere her guttus
Ne had peers with a peise loffe ; preid hunger to sesse
þei haden ben doluen boþe ; ne deme þou non oþer
suffre hem leue he sayde ; and late hem ete with hoggys[^121]
Or ellis benes and bren ; & bakon[^a234] to-gedris
Or ellis mylk & meny[^a235] ale ; þus preied peers ffor hem
Faytouris ffor ffer þer -of ; fflowen in-to bernes
and fflappyd on with ffleyles ; fro morwyn tyll euen
That hunger was not so hardy ; on hem ffor to loke
For a potffull of pesen ; þat peers had ymakyd
an heepe of hermytis ; hentyn hem spades
and kyttyn here copis ; and curtbies hem made
how beggers and wastouris ben schasticed
And wenten as werkmen ; with spades & schouelis
and doluyn and dykenden[^a236] ; to dryue away hunger
blynde and bedrede ; where botened a þouusand
That sytten to begge siluer ; sone where þei helid
For þat was bakon ffor bayard ; was bote ffor many hungry
and many begger ffor benes ; buxum was to swynk
and iche a pore man wel payd ; to haue pesyn ffor her hire
And what peers preyed hem to do ; as prest as a sperark[^a237]
And þer -of was peers proude ; and put hem to werk
And ȝaff hem mete as he myȝth afforþe ; and resonable hire
Than had peers pete ; & preied hunger to wende
Home in-to his owen erthe ; and holdyn him þere
For I am well awrokyn now ; of wastouris þoruȝ þi myȝt
And I preye þe or þou passe ; quod peers to hunger
Of beggers of bidders ; what best be to don
For I woot well be þou went ; þei wull do fful ille
For myscheff it makiþ ; þei be so meke now
and for deffauȝte of her ffode ; þese ffolk is at my wille
and ȝit þey arn my blody brereren[^a238] quod peers ; ffor god bouȝte vs alle
Truþe tauȝte me ones ; to loue hem ichon
and to helpe hem of alle þing ; ay as hem nediþ
And now wolde I witte of þe ; what were þe beste
And how I myȝte amaister hem ; and make hem to werche
Bolde beggers
Here now quod hunger ; and holde it ffor a wisdam
Bolde beggers and bigge ; þat mowe her bred be-swynke
with houndis brede and hors bred ; holde vp her hertis[^122]
abate hem with benes ; ffor bolnynge of he[^a239] wombe
and if þei grucche þanne ; bydde hem to swynke
and he shall soupe swetter ; whanne he it haþe deserued
And if þou ffynde ony ffreik ; þat ffortune haþe appeyrid
o r ony manere ffawti man ; ffonde þou swiche to knowe
Comfforte hem with þi catell ; ffor cristis loue of heuene
loue hem and lene hem ; ffor so þe lawe techeþ
Alter alterius onera portate et cetera .
And alle manere of men ; þou myȝtist aspie
That nedi ben and nouȝti ; helpe hem with þi goodes
loue hem and lacke hem not ; late god take þe veniaunce
þouȝ þei don yuell ; late god worthe
Michi vindictam et ego retribuam
And if þou wilte be gracious to go ; do as þe gospell techeþ
And biloue þe amongis lowmen ; so schalte þou lacche grace
Facite vobis Amicos de mammona iniquitatis
I wolde not greue god quod peers ; ffor all þe good on grounde
Miȝte I Synneles do as þou seist ; seid peers þanne
ȝhe I behote þe quod hunger ; or ellis þe bible lieþe
Go to genesis þe geaunt ; þe engendroure of vs all
In sudore and in swynk ; þou shalt þi mete tillie
and laboure ffor þi lijflode ; and so oure lord hiȝte
and sapience seiþ þe same ; I seiȝ it in þe bible
Piger pro frigore ; no ffeeld nolde tilie
And þer -ffore shall he begge & bide[^a240] ; and no man bete his hunger
Mathu with mannys fface ; mouþed þese wordis
þat seruus nequam had a nam ; & ffor he nolde not schaffare
he had maugry of his maister ; ffor euere-more after
and be-nam him his nam ; ffor he ne wolde worche
and ȝaff þat nam to him ; þat ten nammes hadde
and with þat he said ; þat holi chirche it herde
he þat haþe shall haue ; & helpe þer it nedeþ
And he þat nouȝt haþe . shall not haue ; and man[^a241] hym helpe
And that he weneth well to haue I wolle it him beren[^a242][^123]
kynde witt wolde þat iche a wiȝte wrouȝte
Or in dykinge or in deluynge[^124] ; or traueilinge in prayeris
Contemplatijf lijf or actijf ; crist wolde þei wrouten[^125]
The sauȝter seiþ in þe salme ; of beati omnes
The ffreek þat ffediþ him-self ; with his ffeiþffull laboure
labores manuum tuarum et cetera .
he is blessid be þe book ; in bodi and in soule[^126]
Ȝit I praie ȝou quod peers ; pur charite & ȝe kunne
leche-craft
ony leef of leche-crafte ; lere it me my dere
For summe of my seruantes & my-self ; ben seke oþer -whyle
Of alle þe weke worchen not ; so oure wombe akeþ
I woot well quod hunger ; what seeknesse ȝou eiliþ
Ȝe han manged to moche ; & þat makiþ ȝou to grone
And I hote þe quod hunger ; as þou þin hele wilneste
þat þou drinke[^127] no day ; er þou dyne sum-what
Ete not I hote þe ; er hunger þe take[^128]
and sende þe of his sauce ; to sauere with þi lipis
and kepe sum to soper tyme ; and sitte not to longe
and rise vp er appetijt ; haue eten his ffille
late not Sir Surffayt ; Sitten at þi borde
leue him not ffor he is leccherus ; and lekerous of his tunge
And after many maner metis ; his mawe is afygred[^a243]
And if þou diete þe þus ; I dar ley myn eres
þat phesik shall his ffurrid hood ; ffor his ffode selle
and his cloke of calabre ; with alle þe knoppis of golde
And be ffayne[^129] be my ffeiþ ; his phesik to lete
And lere to laboure with lond ; ffor lijfelode is swete
Leches ar murderers
For murþerers ar many leches ; lord hem amende
They don men dye þoruȝ her drynkis ; er his tyme[^a244] wolde[^130]
By Seynt poul quod peers ; þese arn prophetable wordis
wende now hunger whan þou wylte ; þat well be þe euere
For this is a louely lessoun ; lord it the ffor-ȝelde[^131]
Bihote god quod hunger ; henns wulle I not wende
Tyll I haue dyned bi þis day ; and I-drunke[^132] boþe
I haue no peny quod peers ; polettis ffor to bigge
Ne neiþer goos ne gryis ; but two grene chesis
A ffewe cruddis and crem[^a245] ; an hauer cake
and two loues of benes & bran ; y-baken ffor my ffauntis
And ȝit I sey be my soule ; I haue no salt bakon
Ne no cokeneye by crist ; coloppis to make
And I haue percelly & porettis ; & many cole plantis
And eke a cow & a calf ; and a carte mare
To drawe affelde my dunge ; þe while þe wedir is drie
And bi þis lijflode we motten leuen ; till heruest-tyme come
And bi þat I hope to haue ; herueste in my crofte
And þanne may I dyȝte þi dyner ; as me dere likeþ
Al þe pore peple ; þo pesscoddis ffetchyn
benes and bakon apples ; þei brouȝten in her lappis
Chibollis and cheruellis ; & ripe cheries many
To make peers a present ; to plese with his hunger
Al hunger eete in haste ; and askede after more
Thanne pore ffolk ffor ffeere ; ffeddyn hunger ȝerne
with grene porettis & pesyn ; to poysyn hunger þei þouȝten
Bi þat neyȝhede it herueste ; new corn come to chepinge
Thanne was ffolk ffayne[^133] ; and ffedde hem of þe beste
with good ale as glotton tauȝte ; and gerte hunger to slepe
and þo wolde wastoure not werche ; but wandrid abouȝte
Ne no begger ete brede ; þat benes in werren
But of coket or clere - matyn ; or ellis of clene whete
Ne non halpeny ale ; in no wyse drink[^134]
But of þe beste & þe brouneste ; þat in boruȝ is to selle
laboreres þat had no londe ; but leue with her handis
wolden ete no nyȝth-olde wortis ; ne drynke no peny-Ale[^135]
But ffresche fflesshe oþer ffisshe ; ffried oþer bakon
And þat chaude or plus chaud ; ffor chillinge of her mawe
And but he be hie hiride ; ellis wolle he chide
aȝeins catons[^136] conceyll ; comseþ he to Iangle
Paupertatis onus ; pacientur fferre memento
he greueþ him aȝein god ; and grucchiþ aȝeyn reson
and he cursiþ þe kyng ; and alle his conceill after
Swyche lawe[^a246] to loke ; laboreris to greue
And whilis hunger was her maister ; wolde þei not chide
Ne stryue aȝens his statute ; so sterliche[^a247] he lokede
And I warne ȝou we rkemen ; wynneþ while ȝe mowen
For hunger hidirward ; hastiþ him ffaste
he shall awake with water ; wastouris to chastice
Er ffyue ȝere be ffulffild ; swyche ffamyn shall arise
þoruȝ fflodez & ffoule werdis ; ffructus[^a248] schall ffaile
And so sayde Saturne ; and sente ȝou to warne
☞
whanne ȝe seen þe sunne amys ; & two monkes heedis
And a mayde haue þe maistrie ; & multiplie be eyȝte
þanne shall deþe with -drawe ; & derthe be iustice
And dawe þe dyker ; deye ffor hunger
But if god of his goodenesse ; granȝte[^a249] vs a trwe

[^a216: acrie (C2) | acre (all other mss)]

[^a217: wolle (C2) | I wolle (most mss)]

[^a218: perkyn (C2) | quod Perkyn (all other mss)]

[^a219: fairin (C2) | faire (all other mss)]

[^a220: kynȝt (C2) | knyȝt (all other mss)]

[^a221: ȝou with (C2) | wiþ yow (all other mss)]

[^a222: be-holdyn (C2) | holden (most mss)]

[^a223: megyn (C2) | mengen (most mss)]

[^a224: mennys (C2) | mennes sake (all other mss)]

[^a225: mane (C2) | made (most mss)]

[^a226: preied (C2) | preie (most mss)]

[^a227: shalte (C2) | shal (all other mss)]

[^a228: Of (C2) | Ac (most mss)]

[^a229: þe (C2) | þei (most mss)]

[^a230: no (C2) | noȝt (all other mss)]

[^a231: but if (C2) | but (all other mss)]

[^a232: noȝt (C2) | noȝt and (all other mss)]

[^a233: buffe teddin (C2) | buffetted (most mss)]

[^a234: bakon (C2) | ybaken (most mss)]

[^a235: meny (C2) | mene (most mss)]

[^a236: dykenden (C2) | dikeden (most mss)]

[^a237: sperark (C2) | Sperhauk (most mss)]

[^a238: brereren (C2) | breþeren (most mss)]

[^a239: he (C2hand1) | her (C2hand2 All other mss)]

[^a240: bide (C2) | bidde (most mss)]

[^a241: man (C2) | no man (all other mss)]

[^a242: beren (C2) | bireue (most mss)]

[^a243: afygred (C2) | afyngred (most mss)]

[^a244: his tyme (C2) | destynee (all other mss)]

[^a245: crem (C2) | creme and (all other mss)]

[^a246: lawe (C2) | lawes (all other mss)]

[^a247: sterliche (C2) | sterneliche (all other mss)]

[^a248: ffructus (C2) | fruytes (most mss)]

[^a249: granȝte (C2) | graunte (all other mss)]

[^106: C2.6.3: An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in plouman.]

[^107: C2.6.18:The <h> in riche has a decorated ascender three lines in height.]

[^108: C2.6.20:An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in drink.]

[^109: C2.6.28:The first <u> in couenaunte has a superfluous minim.]

[^110: C2.6.39:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in tenaunte.]

[^111: C2.6.53:The <b> in be, the <h> in thy, and the <l> in loke have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^112: C2.6.85:The <h> in hem, the <h> in thou, the <l> in schalte, and the <b> in abie have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^113: C2.6.88:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in penaunce.]

[^114: C2.6.93:An otiose tilde appears above the <r> in crede.]

[^115: C2.6.119: The <h> in than and the <h> in the have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^116: C2.6.139:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drink.]

[^117: C2.6.140: An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in broken.]

[^118: C2.6.141:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drink.]

[^119: C2.6.148:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in veniaunce.]

[^120: C2.6.152:The <b> in Robert, the <b> in abouȝte, and the <h> in haue have decorated ascenders three lines in height. In addition, a horizontal geometric design fifteen characters in length is appended to the ascender of the <f> in of.]

[^121: C2.6.185:The <h> in hem, the <h> in he, the <l> in late, and the <h> in with have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^122: C2.6.219:The <h> in with, the <b> in brede, the <h> in hors, the <h> in holde, and the <h> in her have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^123: C2.6.253:The <h> in that, the <h> in weneth, the <h> in haue, and the <h> in him have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^124: C2.6.255:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in deluynge.]

[^125: C2.6.256:The preceding two lines are linked at the right by a bracket.]

[^126: C2.6.260:C2 alone transposes ll. 259 and 260.]

[^127: C2.6.268:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drinke.]

[^128: C2.6.269:The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^129: C2.6.279:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in ffayne.]

[^130: C2.6.282:The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^131: C2.6.285:The <h> in this, the <l> in louely, the <l> in lord, and the <h> in the have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^132: C2.6.287:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in I-drunke.]

[^133: C2.6.308:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in ffayne.]

[^134: C2.6.313:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drink.]

[^135: C2.6.316:The <l> in Wolden, the <h> in nyȝth, the <k> in drynke, and the <l> in ale have decorated ascenders two lines in height.]

[^136: C2.6.230:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in catons.]

Passus octauus [septimus] de Visione . [This passus heading actually appears in the right margin of the penultimate line of Passus 6. written in hand2, it wrongly identifies the passus which follows, Passus 7.]

T ruþe herd telle her-of ; and to peers sente
to taken his teem ; and tilie þe erthe
And purchase[^a250] him a pardon ; a pena & a culpa
For him & ffor his eyres ; ffor euere-more after
and bade him holde him at home ; and erien his leyes
and alle þat holpen him to erie ; to sette or to sowe
Or ony oþer myster ; þat myȝte peers auayle
pardon with peers plowman ; truþe haþe i-graunted
kyngis and knyȝtis ; þat kepen holy chirche
and ryȝtffully in rewmes ; rulen þe peple
han pardon thoruȝ purgatorie ; to passe ffull lyȝt[^137]
with patriarkis & prophetis ; in paradice to be ffelawe
Bisschoppis y-blesside ; if þei ben as þey shulden
legistres of boþe þe lawez ; þe lewide þer -with to preche
In as moche as þei mown ; amende alle synffull
arne pyres with þe appostelis ; þis pardon peers schewyth
And at þe day of dom ; at þe hie deys to sitte
Marchundis
Marchauntes in þe margyne ; hadden many ȝeris
And non a pena & a culpa ; þe pope nolde hem graunte
For þei holden not her halydaies ; as holi chirche techeþ
And ffor þei sweryn be her soule ; and so god muste hem helpe
aȝeins clene concience ; her catell to selle
and vndir her secrett seel ; truþe sente hem a lettre
That þei shulde bigge boldely ; þat hem likid beste
And sythen selle it aȝeyn ; and saue þe wynnynge
how þou shalt do þin almes
And amende mesondeux þer -myd ; and mysseyse ffolk helpe
And wikked weyes ; wyȝtlyche hem amende
And do bote to brigges ; þat to-broken weren
Marien maydenes ; or maken hem Nunnes
pore peple and presoneris ; ffynde hem her lijflode
And sette scolers to scole ; or to summe oþer craftis
Releue religion ; and rente hem better[^138]
And I shall sende ȝou my-self ; Seynt myhel myn archaungell
Tha t no deuyl shall ȝou dere ; ne fferre ȝou in ȝoure doynge
And wite ȝou ffro wanhope ; if ȝe wulle þus worche
And sende ȝoure soulis in-to sauyte ; to my Seyntis in Ioye
þenne were marchaundis merie ; and weppeten ffor Ioye
And preysed peers þe plowman ; þat purchaced þis bulle
men of Law
Men of lawe leest pardon had ; þat pleseden[^a251] ffor mede
For þe sauȝter saueþ hem not ; swyche as takyn ȝiftis
And namely of Innocentes ; þat non yuel kunnen
Super Innocentem munera non accipies
Pledours shulle pyne hem ; to plete ffor swiche & helpe
Prynces and prelatis ; shulde paye ffor her trauaile
A regibus et princibus[^a252] erit merces eorum[^139]
And many Iustices and Iuroure[^a253] ; wolden ffor Ion do more
þanne pro dei pietate ; leue þou non oþer
And he þat spendiþ his speche ; and spekiþ ffor þe pore
That is Innocente and nedy ; and no man appaireþ
Comfortiþ him in þat caas ; with -ouȝtyn coueytise of ȝiftis
And schewiþ lawe ffor oure lordis loue ; as he it haþe lerned
schal no deuyl at his deþe-day ; deren him a myte
þat he ne worþ saue his[^a254] soule ; þe sauuter bereþ wittenesse
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo
and to bigge water ne wijnd ; ne witt ne fiere ne[^a255] ferþe
These ffoure þe ffader of heuene ; made to his ffolde in comune
These ben truþis tresore[^a256] ; true ffolk to helpe
That neuer shall waxe ne wanye ; with god him-selue
whan þey drawyn vn-to þe deþ[^a257] ; Indulgences wolden haue
his pardon is ffull pitit ; at her partinge hens
þat ony mede of mene men ; ffor his motinge takiþ
ȝe legistres and lawyers ; holdyn þis ffor truþe
That if þat I lye ; matheu is to blame
For he bade me take ȝou þis ; and þis prouerbe me tolde
Quodcum que vultis vt faciant vobis homines facite eis
Alle leuynge[^140] laboreris ; þat leuen with her handis
That trueliche taken ; and trueliche wynnen
And leuen in loue and in lawe ; ffor her lowe hertis
Han þe same obsolucion ; þat sent was to peers
Beggers and Bydders .
Beggers ne bidders ; ne ben not in þe bulle
But if þe suggestion be soþe ; þat schapeþ hem to begge
For he þat beggiþ or bit ; but if he haue nede
he is ffals with þe ffende ; and deffraudiþ þe nedy
And also be-gyliþ[^a258] þe gyuer ; aȝeynys his wille
For if he wiste he were not nedy ; he wolde it gyue anoþer
þat were more nedy þan he ; so þe nedyeste shulde be holpyn
Caton kenneþ me þus ; and þe clerk of stories
Caton of almes dedis
Cui des videto ; is catonnys techinge[^141]
and in þe stories he techiþ ; to be-stowe þis[^a259] almes
Sit Elemosina tua in manu tua donec studeas cui des
And gregori was a good man ; and bad vs ȝeuen alle
That asken ffor his loue ; þat vs alle leneþ
Non eligas cui miserearis ne fforte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere
Quia in-sertum est pro quo deum magis placeas
For ȝe woten neuer who is worþi ; and god wott who haþe nede
In him þat takiþ is þe trecherie ; if ony treson walke
For he þat ȝeueþ ȝeldeþ ; and ȝarkiþ him to reste
And he þat biddiþ borwiþ ; and bringiþ him-self in dette
For beggers borwyn euere-mo ; and her boruȝ is god almyȝty
To ȝelden hem þat ȝeuen hem ; and ȝit vsure more
Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam vt ege veniens cum vsuris exigere & cetera
For-þi bidde not ȝe beggers ; but if ȝe haue nede
ffalse beggers
For so[^a260] may bigge him bred ; þe book beriþ wittenesse
he þat[^a261] haþe bred I-now ; þouȝ he haue not ellis
Satis dyues est qui non ; indiget pane
late vsage be ȝoure solace ; of seyntis lyues redinge
þe book banneþ beggerie ; & blameþ in þis manere
Iunior fui etenim senui & non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius querens panem & cetera .
For ȝe leuen in no loue ; ne no lawe holdyn
Many of ȝou ne weddyn nouȝt ; þe wymmen[^142] ȝe with delyn
but as whilde bestis with we-he ; & worþ vp & worchen
and bringen fforþe barnes ; þat bastardis men callen
Or þe bak or summe ban ; he brekiþ in his ȝouþe
and sithen gon ffaiten with her fauntis ; ffor euere-more after
þer is mo mysshapped peple ; amongis þese beggers
þan of alle manere men ; þat on þis molde walken
and þei þat leuen þus her lyf ; mown loþe þe tyme
That euere he was man wrouȝt ; whanne he shall hens ffare
Right Beggers
and olde men and hore ; þat helples ben of strengþe
and wymmen with child ; þat worche ne mown
Blynde and beddrede ; and broken her membris
That taken þese mysheues ; mekeliche as messellis & oþer[^143]
han a pleyn pardon ; as þe plowman him-seluen
For loue of here lowe hertis ; oure lord haþe hem graunted
Her penaunce[^144] & her purgatorie ; here on þis erthe
peers quod a preste þo ; þi pardon muste I rede
For I wolle construe iche a clause ; and kenne it þe on Englishe
and peers at his preiere ; þe pardon vnffoldyn[^a262]
and I behynde hem boþe ; be-helde all þe bulle
alle in two lynes it lay ; & not a leef more
Trew par is do-well
And was wrettyn ryȝth þus ; in wittenesse of truþe
Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam qui vero mala in ignem eternum
Peter quod þe prest þo ; I can no pardon ffynde
but do well and haue well ; and god shall haue þi soule
and do yuell and haue yuell ; hope þou non oþer[^145]
But after þi deþ-day ; þe deuell shall haue þi soule
and peers ffor pure tene ; pullide it atwynne
and sayd si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis non timebo quoniam tu mecum es
I shall sesse of my sowynge quod peers ; & swynke not so harde
Ne be abouȝte my beli Ioy ; so besili no more
of preieris & penaunce[^146] my plow ; shall be her-after
and wepe whan I shulde slepe ; þouȝ whete bred me ffaile
þe prophete his payn ete ; in penaunce & in sorowe
By þat þe sauter seiþ ; so deden many oþer
That loueþ god lelli ; his lijflode is ffull esy
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte
and but if luke lye ; he lereþ vs be ffoulis
we shulde not be to besy ; abouȝte þe worldis blis
Ne soliciti sitis ; he seiþ in þe gospell
and scheweþ us be ensaunplis ; oure -seluen to wisse
The ffoulis in þe ffeeld ; who ffynte hem mete at wynter
haue þey no gerner to go to ; but god ffynde[^a263] hem alle
what quod þe prest to perkyn ; peter as me þinkeþ
Thou art lettered a litill ; who lernede the on boke[^147]
Abstinence þe abbesse quod peers ; myn abc me tauȝte
and concience come afterwarde ; & kende me moche more
where þou a preste peers quod he ; þou myȝteste preche where þou shuldeste
as dyu ynoure in dyuynite ; with dixit in-sipiens to þi teme
lewde lorell quod peers ; litill lokiste þou on þi bibill
Or on salomones sawes ; selden þou be-holdist
Eice derisores & iurga[^a264] cum eis ne crescant & cetera
The preste & perkyn ; apposede eiþer oþer
And I þoruȝ her wordis ; awoke and wayted abouȝte
and seie þe sunne in þe souþe ; satte þat tyme
metteles & monyles ; on maluerne hillis
mvsinge on þese metellis ; and my wey I ȝede
Many tyme þese Metellis ; han made me studie
of þat I seie slepinge ; if it so be myȝte
and also ffor peers þe plowman ; ffull pensif in herte
and whiche a pardon peers hadde ; all þe peple to comforte
And how the prest impugnede it ; with two propre wordis
And I haue no sauoure ; in sompnewarie . ffor I see it ofte ffaile
Cato & canonystres ; conceilyn vs to leue
To sette sadenesse in sompnewarie ; ffor Sompnia ne cures
and ffor þe book of þe bible ; beritth wittenesse
how danyell dyuyned ; þe dremes of a kynge
That was Nabugodonosor ; nemed of clerkis
Danyel seyd sir kyng ; þi dremys be-tokyn
þat vnkouþe knyȝtis shull come ; þi kyngdam to cleue
Amongis lower lordis ; þi lond shall be departid
And as danyell dyuyned ; in dede it ffelle after
The kynge lees his lordshipe[^a265] ; and lower men it had
and Ioseph mette merveilousliche ; how þe mone & Sunne
And þe eleuene sterris ; haylesed hem alle
þanne Iocob iugged ; iosphs[^a266] sweuene
Bew fitz quod his ffader ; ffor de-ffaute[^148] we shulen
I my-self and my sones ; seche þe ffor nede
It be-ffelle as his ffader saide ; in pharaones[^a267] tyme[^149]
þat Ioseph was iustice ; egypt to loken
it be-ffelle as his ffader tolde ; his ffrendis þer him souȝte[^150]
and alle þis makiþ me ; on þese metellis to þenke
and how þe prest preiede[^a268] ; no pardon to do-well
and demed þat do-well ; indulcences[^a269] passed
By- ennalis & tryennalis ; and bisshoppis lettres
and how do-well at þe day of dom[^a270] ; digneliche vndirffonged
and passiþ alle þe pardon ; of Seint petrus chirche
For-þi I rede ȝou renkis ; þat riche ben on þis erthe
vppon tr uste of ȝoure tresore ; triennalis to haue
Be ȝe neuer þe balder ; to breke þe ten hestis
and nameliche ȝe maistris ; meyris & iugges[^151]
That han þe welþe of þis world ; and wise men ben holden
To purchace ȝou pardon ; at þe papis bullis
at þe dredffull dom ; whanne deed shall arise
And come al be-ffor criste ; acountes to ȝelde
how þou leddiste þi lyff here ; and his lawes kepteste
and how þou dedist day be day ; þe dom woll reherce
of pardon
A poke ffull of pardon þer ; ne prouyncialis lettris
þouȝ ȝe be ffounde in þe ffraternite ; of alle þe ffoure ordris
and haue indulgences double-ffolde ; but if do-well ȝou helpe
I sette ȝoure patentes & ȝoure pardon ; at a pies hele
For-þi I conceille alle cristen ; to crie god mercy
and marie his moder ; be oure mene bitwynne
þat god ȝeue vs grace here ; er we gon hens
Swiche werkis to werche ; while we ben here
þat after oure deþ-day ; do-well reherce
At þe day of dom ; we deden as he hyȝte

[^a250: purchase (C2) | purchaced (all other mss)]

[^a251: pleseden (C2) | pleteden (most mss)]

[^a252: princibus (C2hand1) | principibus (All other mss C2hand2)]

[^a253: many Iustices and Iuroure (C2) | many a Iustice and Iurour (most mss)]

[^a254: his (C2) | and his (all other mss)]

[^a255: ne (C2) | þe (all other mss)]

[^a256: tresore (C2) | tresores (all other mss)]

[^a257: deþ (C2) | deþ and (all other mss)]

[^a258: also be-gyliþ (C2) | also he bigilyþ (most mss)]

[^a259: þis (C2) | þyn (most mss)]

[^a260: so (C2) | whoso (most mss)]

[^a261: þat (C2) | haþ ynouȝ þat (all other mss)]

[^a262: vnffoldyn (C2) | vnfoldeþ (most mss)]

[^a263: ffynde (C2) | fynt (most mss)]

[^a264: iurga (C2) | iurgia (all other mss)]

[^a265: lordshipe (C2) | lordschipe (all other mss)]

[^a266: iosphs (C2) | Iosephes (all other mss)]

[^a267: pharaones (C2) | Pharaoes (all other mss)]

[^a268: preiede (C2) | preued (all other mss) | praysed (C2hand2)]

[^a269: indulcences (C2) | indulgences (all other mss)]

[^a270: dom (C2) | dome is (all other mss)]

[^137: C2.7.11: The <h> in Han, the <h> in thorn, and the <l> in lyȝt have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^138: C2.7.32: the preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^139: C2.7.45: The initial <A> and the <b> in principibus have decorated ascenders two and three lines in height respectively.]

[^140: C2.7.66:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in leuynge.]

[^141: C2.7.78: The <h> in techinge has a decorated ascender three lines in height.]

[^142: C2.7.100An optiose tilde appears above the <y> in wymmen.]

[^143: C2.7.112: The <h> in mysheues has a decorated ascender three lines in height.]

[^144: C2.7.115:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce.]

[^145: C2.7.125: The preceding two lines are joined by a bracket at the left.]

[^146: C2.7.131:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce.]

[^147: C2.7.144: The <h> in Thou, the <l> in litill, the <h> in who, and the <h> in the have decorated ascenders two lines in height.]

[^148: C2.7.176: An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in de -ffaute.]

[^149: C2.7.178: The <I> in It is decorated and contains a flourish. The <b> in be-ffelle and the <h> in his have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^150: C2.7.180:The first minim of the <u> in souȝte has faded or been erased.]

[^151: C2.7.190: The preceding four lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

Explicit visio Willelmi de petro plowman . Et sequitur vita de dowell Dobett et Do-beste secundum Wytt & reson

Passus octauus

T hus arobid[^a271] in russete ; I romede abouȝte
al a somer seson ; ffor to seke do-well
And ffrayned ffull ofte ; of ffolk þat I mette
If ony wiȝte wiste were ; do-well was at Inne
And what man he myȝt be ; of many men I axed[^152]
was neuer whiȝt as I wente ; þat me wisse kouþe
Tille it be-ffelle on a ffryday ; two ffreris I mette
Maistris of þe menours ; men of grett witte
I haylesed hem hyndeliche ; as I had lerned
and preied hem pur charite ; er þei passed fforþer
If þey knewen ony cuntre ; or costis as þei wenten
where þat do-well dwelliþ ; doþe me to witte
For þei beþ men of þis molde ; þat moste wyde walkyn
And knowen cunttres and courtis ; & many kyns places
boþe princes paleycis[^153] ; & pore mennys cotis
and do-well & do-yuell ; where þei dwellyn boþe
Amongis vs quod þe menours[^154] ; þat man is dwellinge
and euere haþe as I hope ; & euere shall here-after
Contra
Contra quod I as a clerk ; & comside to dispute
and said hem soþely ; Sepcies in die cadit iustus
Septies in die cadit iustus
Seuene sithes seiþ þe book ; synneþ þe riȝtfull
And who-so synneþ he said ; doþe yuell as me þinkeþ
Ergo he is not alwey ; amongis ȝou ffreris
he is oþer -while ellis-where ; to wisse þe peple
I shall seye þe my sone ; sayd þe ffrere þanne
how Seuene sythes þe sadman sad man ; on a day synneþ
similitudo
by[^a272] ensample quod þe ffrere ; I shall þe ffaire schewe
latte bringe a man in a boot ; amydis þe brode water
þe wynd and þe water ; & þe boot wagginge
makiþ a man many tyme ; to ffalle & to stumble
For stonde he neuer so styffe ; he stumbleþ if he moueþ
and ȝit is he saff and sound ; and so him be-houeþ
For if he ne arise þe raþer ; and rauȝte to þe sterne
þe wynde wolde with þe water ; þe boot ouere-þrowe
And þanne were his lyfe loste ; þoruȝ lacchesse of him-selue
And thus it ffalliþ ; quod þe ffrere ; by ffolk here on erthe[^155]
þe water is likened to þe world ; þat wanyeþ and waxeþ
þe goodis of þis grounde ar lijk ; to þe grette wawes
þat as wyndes and wedders ; walken abouȝte
þe boot is likened to oure body ; þat brotell is of kynde
þat þoruȝ þe ffende and þe ffleisshe ; and þe ffrell world
Synneþ þe sadman ; a day Seuene siþes
and dedly synne doþe he not ; ffor do-well him kepeþ
and þat is charite þe champioun ; cheff helpe aȝens synne
For he strenþen[^a273] man to stonde ; and steriþ mannys soule
and þouȝ þey body bowe ; as boot doþe in þe water
ay is þi soule saff ; but if þi-self wolle
Do[^a274] dedly synne ; and drenche þi soule
god wolle suffre well þi slouþe ; if þi-self likeþ
For he ȝaf þee to ȝeresȝyue ; to ȝeme well þi-self
and þat is witte and ffre wille ; to euery wiȝtt a porcion
To ffleynge ffoulis to ffisshis ; & also to bestis
And man haþe moste þer -of ; and moste is to blame
But if he werche well þer -with ; as do-well him techeþ
I haue no kynde knowinge quod I ; to conseyue alle ȝoure wordis
and if I may l yue and loke ; I shall go lerne better
I be-kenne þee crist ; þat on þe croise deied
and I sayd þe same ; saue ȝou ffro myschaunce
and ȝeue ȝou grace ; on þis grounde[^156] . good men to worþe
and þus I wente wyde-where ; walkinge myn oone
By a wylde wildirnesse ; and be a wodis side
Blise of þe bridis ; brouȝte me aslepe
And vndir a lynde vppon a launde ; lened I a stounde
To lyþe þe layes ; þoo louely ffoulis maden
Mirþe of her mouþes ; made me þer to slepe
The meruouslousest meteles ; mette I me þanne
That euere dremed wyȝt ; in world as I wene[^157]
A moche man as me þouȝt ; and like to my-seluen
Come and callid me ; bi my kynde name
what arte þou quod I þoo ; þat þou my name knowest
That þou woste welle quod he ; & no man better
woot I what þou art ; þouȝt seide he þanne
Thoughte
I haue sued þe þis Seuene ȝere ; seiȝ þou me no raþer
arte þou þouȝt quod I þoo ; þou koudist me wisse
where þat do-well dwelliþ ; & do me þat to knowe
Do-Well
Do-Well and do-bette & do-best ; þredde quod he
Arn þre ffaire vertues ; and ben not ffeer to ffynde
who-so is trewe of his tunge ; and of his two handis
And þoruȝ his laboure or his londes ; his lijflode wynneþ
And is tristi of taylinge ; takiþ but his owen
And is not drunklew ne dedeynous ; do-well him ffollwiþ
Do . bett
Do-bette doþ riȝt þus ; & he doþ moche more
He is as lowe as a lombe ; & loueliche of speche
And helpeþ alle men ; after þat hem nediþ
The baggis & þe bigirdeles ; he haþe to-broke hem alle
That þe erle auerous ; helde & his eyris
And þus with mammonaes moneye ; he haþ mad him ffrendis
And is runne to Religion ; and haþe rendrid þe bible
and prechide to þe peple ; Seint poulis wordis
Libenter suffertis insipientes cum sitis ipsi sapientes
And suffren þe vnwise ; with ȝou ffor to l yue
And with glad wille don hem good ; ffor so god ȝou hotiþ
Do . beste .
Do-beste is aboue hem boþe ; & beriþ a bisshoppis croos
is hoked on þat oon ende ; to hale men ffro helle
A pike is on þe potente ; to pilte adoune þe wikked
þat waytyn ony wikkidnesse ; do-well to tene
And do-well & do-bette ; Amongis hem ordeyned
To croune oon to be kyng ; to rewlen hem boþe
And þat[^a275] if do-well or do-bette ; doþe aȝens do-beste
þanne shall þe kyng Come ; & casten hem in Irnes
And but if do-best bidde ffor hem ; þei be þer ffor euere
þus do-well & do-bette ; and do-beste þe þredde
Crowned oon to be kynge ; to kepen hem alle
And to reule þi rewme ; bi her þre wittis
And non oþer -wise ; but as þei þre assented
I þankid þouȝt þo ; þat he me þus tauȝte
And ȝit sauerith me not þi seggenge ; I coueyte to lerne
how do-well do-bette & do-beste ; don Amongis þe peple
But witt kun wisse þee quod þouȝte ; where þoo þre dwellyn
Ellis woot I non þat can ; þat now is alyue
þouȝt and I þus ; þre daies ȝeden
Disputinge vppon do-well ; day after oþer
Wytt
And er we were ware ; with witte gonne I mete
he was longe and lene ; liche[^a276] non oþer
was no pride on his apparaile ; ne pouerte neiþer
Sad of his semblaunt ; & of softe chere
I durste meue no matere ; to make him to Iangle
But as I bad þouȝte þoo ; be mene bitwynne
and put fforþe sum purpos ; to prouen his wittis
what was do-well ffro do-bette ; & do-best ffrom hem boþe
þanne þouȝte in þat tyme ; Sayde þese wordis
where do-well do-bette & do-best ; ben in londe
Here is wille wolld witte ; if witte kouþe teche hym
And wheþer he be man or womman ; þis man wolde aspie
And worche as þei þre wolden ; þis is his entent

[^a271: arobid (C2) | yrobed (most mss)]

[^a272: by (C2) | By a (all other mss)]

[^a273: strenþen (C2) | strengþeþ (most mss)]

[^a274: Do (C2) | Do a (most mss)]

[^a275: And þat (C2) | That (most mss)]

[^a276: liche (C2) | lik to (all other mss)]

[^152: C2.8.5: The <h> in what and the <b> in be have decorated ascenders two lines in height.]

[^153: C2.8.15:The supralinear <a> seems to have been added because the letter on the line was spoiled by an inkblot.]

[^154: C2.8.17: An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in menours.]

[^155: C2.8.36: The <h> in thus and the <b> in by have decorated ascenders three lines in height.]

[^156: C2.8.59:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in grounde.]

[^157: C2.8.67: The <h> in that and the <l> in world have decorated ascenders two lines in height.]

Passus nonus

S yre do-well dwelliþ with[^a277] witte ; not a day hens
In a castell þat kynde made ; of ffoure kyns þingis
Of erthe & eyre it is made ; medelid to-gederis
with wynde and with water ; witteli enioy ned
kynde haþe closid þer -Inne ; craftili with -alle
A lemman þat he loueþ ; like to him-selue
Anima sche hatte ; & envie hir hatiþ
A proude prikere of ffraunce ; princeps huius mundi
And wolde wynne hir away ; with wylis & he myȝth
And kynde knoweþ þis well ; and kepiþ hir þe better[^158]
And haþe don hir with Sir do-well ; duke of þis marches
Do-bette is hir damysel ; Sir do-wellis douȝter
To serue þis lady lelli ; boþe late & raþe
Do-best is aboue boþe ; a bisschoppis pere
þat he biddiþ mote be don ; he rewliþ hem alle
Anima þat lady ; is ledde bi his lernynge[^159]
And þe cunstable of þat Castell ; þat kepeþ alle þe wecche
Inwytte See-Well Saye-Well Here-Well Werke-Well Goo-Well
Is a wise knyȝte with -all ; sir Inwitte he hatte[^160]
And haþe ffyue ffayre sones ; bi his ffrist wijf
Sire se-well & seie-well ; & here-well þe ende
Sire werche-well-with -þin-hand ; a wyȝte man of strenþe
And sir godffrey go-well ; grette lordis ffor soþe
What is kynde .
þese ffyue ben sett ; to saue þis lady anima
Tyll kynde Come or sende ; to sauen hir ffor euere
what þing is kynde quod I ; canste þou me telle
natura naturans
kynde quod witte is a creature[^a278] ; of alkyns þingis
Fadere & fformere of alle ; þat euere was makyd
And þat is þe grette god ; þat gynnynge had neuer
lord of lijf & of lyȝt ; of lisse and of peyne
Aungellis[^161] and al þing ; arn at his wille
And man is him moste lijke ; of mark & of schafte[^a279]
For þoruȝ þe word þat he spake ; wexen fforþ bestis
Dixit & facta sunt &cetera
and made man likkeste ; to him-seluen one
And eue of his ribbe-bon ; with -ouȝten ony mene
For he was singulere him-selue ; and seid ffaciamus
As who seiþ more mut þer -to ; þan my word oone
My myȝt muste helpe now ; with my speche
Similitudo
Riȝte as a lord shuld make lettres ; & him lackyd parchemyn
þouȝ he kouþe writte neuer so well ; if he had no penne
þe lettres ffor all þe lordschepe ; I leue w e re neuer I-maked
And so it semeþ bi hym ; as þe book telliþ
Ther he seiþ ; dixit et facta sunt[^162]
he muste werche with his word ; and his witte schewe
And in þis manere was man made ; þoruȝ myȝte of god almyȝty
with his word ; & werkmanschepe ; & with lijf to laste
And þus god ȝaff him a goste ; of þe godhede of heuene
And of his grette grace ; graunted him blisse
And þat is lijf þat ay shall laste ; to alle lynagis after
And þat is þe Castell þat kynde made ; caro it hatte
And þat is as moche to mene ; as man with a soule
And þat he wroute with werk ; & with word boþe
þoruȝ myȝt of his[^a280] mageste ; man was y-maked
In-witt & all wittis ; closed ben þer -Inne
anima
For loue of þe lady anima ; þat lijf is ynempned
Ouere-alle in mannys body ; he walkiþ & wandriþ
And in þe herte is hir home ; & hir moste reste
And inwitte is in þe heed ; & to þe herte he lokeþ
what anima is leffe & looþ ; he latte hir at his wille
For after þe grace of god ; þe grettesste is in-witte
Moche woo worþe þat man ; þat mysseruliþ his inwitt
And þat ben glotouns glubbers ; her god is her wombe
Quorum deus venter est
For þei seruen sathan ; her soulis shall he haue
That lyuen synneffull lijf here ; here soule is lyke þe deuellis
and alle þat l yuen good lijf ; ar like to god al-myȝti
Qui manet in caritate in deo manet & cetera
Alas þat drynk[^163] shall ffor-do ; þat god dere bouȝte
and dooþ god fforsaken hem ; þat he scoppe[^a281]to his likenesse
Amen dico vobis nescio vos / & alibi & dimisi eos secundu m desideria eorum & cetera
Foolys þat ffauten In-witt ; I ffynde þat holy chirche
shulde ffynde hem þat hem ffauteþ ; & ffadirles childrin
and wedowes þat han not were -with ; to wynne hem here ffode
Madde men & maydenes ; þat helples weren
alle þese lakken in-witte ; & lore bihoueþ
Of þis matere I myȝt ; make a longe tale
And ffynde ffele wittenesse ; amongis þe ffoure doctouris
And þat I lye not of þat I lere þee ; luke bereth wittenesse
Godffader & godmoder ; that seen her godchildrin[^164]
at myssese & myschef ; & mown hem amende
shull haue penaunce in purgatorie ; but if þei hem helpe
For more bilongeþ to þe litill barn ; er he þe lawe knowe
Thanne nempnynge[^165] of a name ; & he neuer þe wyser
. nota.
shulde no cristen creature ; crie at þe ȝate
Ne ffayle payn ne potage ; & prelatis deden as þei shulden[^166]
A Iu wolde not seen a Iu ; go Iangelinge ffor deffauȝte
For alle þe mebles ; on þis molde . & he amende it myȝt
Alas þat a cristen creature ; schall be so vnkynde to anoþer
Siþen Iues þat we Iuggen ; Iudas ffellawes
Eyþer of hem helpeþ oþer ; of þat þat him nediþ
why nyle we cristen ; of cristis good be as kynde
As Iues þat ben oure lorismen ; schame to vs alle
þe Comune ffor her vnkyndenesse ; I drede me shall abie
bisschoppis shulle be blamed ; ffor beggerez sake
he is wers þan Iudas ; þat ȝeueþ Iapers Siluere
And biddiþ þe begger goo ; ffor his brokyn cloþis
Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda ; qui patrimonium Christi minus distribuit
Et alibi perniciosus dispensator ; qui res pauperum invtiliter consumit
he dooþ not well þat dooþ þus ; ne drediþ not god al-myȝty
Ne loueþ not salomonys sawes ; þat sapience tauȝte
Inicium sapiencie tymor domini
Drede god ffor loue & þou doste well ; but not ffor veniaunce & þou dost beet
Thou dost beste if þou with -drawe ; by day & be nyȝt
To spylle ony speche ; or ony space of tyme
Qui offendit in vno ; est[^a282] omnibus reus
Lesynge of tyme
lesynge of tyme ; truþe woot þe soþe
Is moste hatid vppon erthe ; of hem þat ben in heuene
Spyllynge of speche .
And siþe to spille speche ; þat spire is of grace
And godis gleman ; & a game of heuene
wolde neuer þe ffeiþeffull ffader ; his ffeþele were vntempred
Ne his gleman a gedelynge ; a goere to tauernes
To alle trwe tydymen ; þat trauaile desiren
Oure lord loueþ & lent ; louuȝde eiþer stille
Grace to goo to hem ; & agoon her lijfflode[^167]
Trewe weddyd leuynge ffolk ; in þis world is do-well
Inquirentes . autem . dominum non minuentur omni bono
For þei musten werche & wynne ; & þe world susteyne
For of her kynde þey comen ; þat conffessouris ben nemepned
kyngis and knyȝtes ; kayseris and cheerlis
Maydenys & martiris ; out of oo man comen
The wijf was made þe weye ; ffor to helpe werche
And þus was wedloke y-wroute ; with a mene persone
Frist bi þe ffadris wille ; and þe ffrendis Conceyll
And siþe bi þe assent of hem-selue ; as þei two myȝte acorde
And þus was wadelok[^a283] y-wrouȝt ; & god him-selue it made
Þe[^a284] erþe in[^a285] heuene is ; him-selue was þe wittenesse
and ffals ffolk ffeyþeles ; þeues and lyeris
wastouris and wrecchis ; out of wedlok I trowe
Conceyued in euell tyme ; as Caym was of eue
Of swiche synneffull schrewes ; þe sauȝter makiþ mynde
Concepit in dolore et peperit iniquitatem & cetera
And alle þat come of þat Caym ; come to yuell ende
God[^a286] sente to Sem ; and said bi an aungell
þin issu in þin issu ; I wolle þat þei be Ioyned
And not þi kynde with Caymys ; y-couupled ne spouȝsed
ȝit summe aȝeins þe sonde ; of oure saueoure of heuene
kaymes kynde and his kynde ; ycoupled[^168] to-gedris
Tylle god wraþen[^a287] with her werkis ; & swiche a word said
That I makede man ; now me it aþenkiþ
Penitet me fecisse hominem
And come to noe anon ; & bade him not lette
Swyþe go schape a schipe ; of schidis & of bordis
Thi-selue and þi þre sones ; & siþen ȝoure wyues
Buske ȝou to þat boot ; and byde ȝe þer -Inne
Tyll ffourty daiez be ffullfillid ; þat fflode haue y-wasshyn
al euen[^a288] away þe cursid blood ; þat Caym haþe ymakid
Beestis þat now ben ; shulle banne þe tyme
þat euere þat cursid Caym ; come on þis erthe
Alle shulle die ffor his dedis ; b y dallis & be hillis
And ffouulis[^a289] þat ffleyn ; fforþ with oþer bestis[^169]
Excepte oneliche of iche ; a kynde & a couple
þat in þi schyngled schipe ; shull ben y-saued
ffilius portauit iniquitatem patris
here bouȝte þe barn ; þe bellesiris geltis
And all ffor here fforffadris ; þey fferden þe wers
The gospell is here-aȝeyn ; in o degre I ffynde
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris et pater non portabit & cetera
And I ffynde if þe ffader ; be ffals & a schrewe
þat summedell þe sonne ; shall haue þe Sires tacches
Impe on an ellerne ; & if þin appill be swete
Moche merueile me þinkiþ ; & more of a schrewe
That bryngyþ fforþe ony barn ; but if he be þe same
And haue a sauoure after þe sire ; Seldom seste þou oþer
Numquam colligimus de spinis vuas nec de tribulis ficus
And þus þoruȝ cursid Caym ; cam care vpon erthe
And all ffor þey wrouten wedlok ; aȝeins goddis wille
nota . of wedlok
For-þi haue þei maugre ; þat so marien her childrin
For summe as I se now ; soþe ffor to telle
For coueitise of catell ; vnkyndeliche ben weddyd
And careffull concepcion ; comeþ of swiche mariagis
As be-ffelle of þe ffolk ; þat I be-ffore of tolde
For good shulde wedde good ; þouȝ þey no good hadde
I am via & veritas ; I may auaunce alle
It is an vncomeli couple[^170] ; bi crist as me þinkiþ
To ȝeue a ȝong wenche ; to an olde ffeble
Or weddyd[^a290] ony wedow ; ffor welþe of hir goodis
That neuere shall barn bere ; but if it be in armes
Many a peire siþe þe pestelence ; han plyȝte hem to-gedris
The ffructe þat þey brngen[^a291] fforþe ; ar ffoule wordis
In ielousye ioyles ; & Ianglynge on bedde
haue þey no childrin but chest ; & choppinge hem bitwynne
Dunmowe bacoun
And þouȝ þei do hem to donmowe ; but if þe deuyl helpe
To ffolwyn after þe fflicche ; ffecche þei it neuere
And but þey boþe be fforsworin ; þat bacon þey tynen
For-þi I conceyll alle cristen ; coueyte not be weddyn[^a292]
For coueytyse of catell ; ne of kynred riche[^171]
And maydenes and maydenes ; macche ȝou to-gedris
wedowes and wedowers ; wircheþ þe same
For no londis but ffor loue ; loke ȝe be weddid
And þenne gette ȝe þe grace of god ; & good ynow to leue with
And euery manere seculer ; þat may not conteyne
wisely go wedde ; and war him ffro synne
For leccherie in lokynge ; is lyme-ȝerd of helle
whilis þou art ȝong ; and þi wepen kene
werke þee with wyuuynge ; if þou wilte ben excusid
Cum sis vir ffortis ne des tua robora scortis
Scribitur in portis ; meretrix est ianua mortis
whanne ȝe han wyved be war ; and wirchiþ in tyme
Not as adam & eue whanne Caym was engendrid
For in vntyme truly ; bitwynne man and womman
Ne shulde no bourde on bedde be ; but if þei boþe were clene
Boþe of lijf & of soule ; and in parffiȝtte charite
þat ilke derne dede do ; no man ne shulde
And if þey leddyn þus here lijf ; it likiþ god almyȝty
For he made wedlok ffrist ; and him-selue it saide
Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter ffornicacionem
And þei þat oþer -gates ben getten ; ffor geddellinges ben holden
As ffals ffolk ffondelinges ; ffaytours and lyeris
vngracious to gette good ; or loue of þe peple
wandrin and wasten ; what þey cacche mown
aȝeins do-well þei don yuell ; and þe deuyll seruyn
And after her deþ-day ; shull dwelle with þe same
But god gyue hem grace here ; hem -selue to amende
Do-Well Do . bette Do-beste
Do-well my ffrende . is to do ; as þe lawe techeþ
To loue þi ffrende & þi ffoo ; leue me þat is do-bette
To ȝyuen & to ȝymen ; boþe ȝong and olde
To helen and to helpen ; is do-best of alle
And do-well is to drede god ; and do-bette is to suffre
And so comeþ do-best of boþe ; & bryngyþ adoun þe mody
And that is wikkid wille ; þat many werk schendiþ[^172]
And dryueþ awey do-well ; þoruȝ dedly synne

[^a277: with (C2) | quod (all other mss)]

[^a278: creature (C2hand1) | creatour (Most other mss) | creatoure (C2hand2)]

[^a279: schafte (C2) | shafte (Most other mss) | schape (C2hand2)]

[^a280: his (C2) | þe (all other mss)]

[^a281: scoppe (C2hand1) | shoop (most mss) | shope (C2hand2)]

[^a282: est (C2) | in (most mss)]

[^a283: wadelok (C2) | wedlok (all other mss)]

[^a284: Þe (C2) | In (all other mss)]

[^a285: in (C2) | þe (most mss)]

[^a286: God (C2) | For God (most mss)]

[^a287: wraþen (C2) | wraþed (all other mss)]

[^a288: al euen (C2) | Clene (most mss)]

[^a289: ffouulis (C2) | þe foweles (all other mss)]

[^a290: weddyd (C2) | wedden (most mss)]

[^a291: brngen (C2) | brynge (all other mss)]

[^a292: weddyn (C2) | wedded (all other mss)]

[^158: C2.9.10: The <k> in knoweþ has a decorated ascender three lines in length.]

[^159: C2.9.16:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in lernynge.]

[^160: C2.9.18: The word Inwytte appears to be the heading, under which the five words following are listed as divisions. Those five are linked by a bracket at the right.]

[^161: C2.9.30:Hand 2 has overwritten the first <l> in Aungellis, and may have added the second.]

[^162: C2.9.43: The <h> in Ther has a decorated ascender three lines in height.]

[^163: C2.9.68:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in drynk.]

[^164: C2.9.79: The <h> in that has a decorated ascender three lines in height.]

[^165: C2.9.83:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in nempnynge.]

[^166: C2.9.85: The preceding two lines are linked by a bracket at the right.]

[^167: C2.9.114: The <G> in Grace is decorated with a horizontal vinet fifteen characters in length, and the <h> in hem, and the <l> in lyȝt with an elaborate spray four lines in height which extends to the end of the line.]

[^168: C2.9.137:A superfluous minim appears with the <u> in ycoupled.]

[^169: C2.9.150: The <A> in And is decorated with an elaborate curling vinet two lines in height.]

[^170: C2.9.173:A superfluous minim appears with the <u> in couple.]

[^171: C2.9.185: The double <f> in For is decorated with a spray four lines in height.]

[^172: C2.9.219: The ascenders of the <h> in that and the <k> in werk are decorated with an elaborate geometric design five lines in height, each trailing downward to the right and ending in a scroll.]

Passus decimus

T hanne had witte a wyff ; & was[^a293] hoton dame stodie
þat lene was of leree[^a294] ; and of liche boþe
The wyfe of Wytty
she was wondirliche wroþe ; þat witt me þus tauȝte
And all staringe dame studie ; sterliche[^a295] said
well art þou wijs quod sche to witt ; ony wisdams to telle
To fflateris[^a296] or to ffolis ; þat ffrentik ben of wittis
And blamed him & banned him ; & bad him be stille
with swiche wise wordis ; to wisse ony sottis
And sayde noli mittere man ; margerie perles
Amongis hoggis þat han ; hawis at wille
They don but drauelen þeron ; draf were hem leuere
Thanne alle þe precious perre ; þat in paradice waxith
I seie it be swiche quod sche ; þat schewen be her werkis
þat hem were leuere lond ; & lorschipe[^a297] on erthe
Or Richesse or rentis ; and rest at her wille
þan alle þe soþe sawes ; þat salomon said euere
wisdom and witt now ; is not worþe a kerse
But if it be cartid[^a298] with coueytise ; as cloþers kyembyn wolle
Who is nowadaies called to counsaille
who-so can contreyue deceytis ; & conspire wrongis
And lede fforþ a loueday ; to lette with truþe
he þat swiche craftis can ; to counceyl is clepid
They leden lordis with lesingis ; & bilieþ truþe
Iob þe gentell in his gestis ; gretteli wittenessiþ
þat wikked men wielden ; þe welþe of þis worlde
And þat þei ben lordis of iche londe ; þat out of lawe l yuen
quare impij viuunt bene est hominibus qui preuaricantur & inique agunt
The sauȝter seiþ þe same ; bi swiche þat don ille
Ecce ipsi peccatores & habundantes in seculo obtinuerunt diuicias
lo seiþ þe holi letture ; whiche lordis ben þese schrewis
þilk þat god most good ȝeueþ ; leeste good þei delen
And most vnkynde to þe Comune ; þat moste catell welden
Que perfecisti destruxerunt ; Iustus autem & cetera .
harlottis ffor her harlottrie ; mown haue of her goodes
And Iapers and I ogelouris ; & Iangeleris of gestis
nota . how good carpinge is not loued
And he þat haþe holi writt ; ay in his mouþe[^173]
And can telle of tobie ; & of þe twelue appostelis
Or prechen of pennaunce ; þat pilate wrouȝt
To Ihesu þe ientell ; þat Iewes to-drowen
Litil is he loued ; þat swiche a lessoun schewiþ
Or dauntid or drawyn fforþ ; I do it on god him-selue
Of mynystrallis
Butt þoo þat ffeynen hem ffolis ; & with ffaytinge l yuen
Aȝeyn þe lawe of oure lord ; & lyen on hem -selue
Spitten & spewen ; and spekyn ffoule wordis
Drynken & drauelyn ; & don men ffor to gape
Liken men and lyen on hem ; þat lenen hem no giftis
They kunne no more mynstralcie ; ne musik men to glade
þanne munde þe myluere ; of multa[^174] fecit deus
Ne were here vile harlottrie ; haue god my truþe
shuld neuer kyng ne knyȝt ; ne schanon[^175] of seint poulis
ȝeue hem to here ȝeresȝeue ; þe value of a grote
And myrþe & mynstralcye ; amongis men of[^a299] nouþe
Leccherie & losengerie ; and losellis talis
Glotonye and gret oþus ; þese myrþis þei louen
And if þey carpyn of crist ; þese clerkis & þese lewde
At mete in myrþis ; whanne mynstrallis ben stille
þanne telle þei of þe trinyte ; a tale oþer tweyn
And bryngen a ballen[^a300] reson ; and taken bernard to wittenesse
And putten fforþe a presumpcioun ; to preue þe soþe
Thus þey dreuelen at her dees ; þe deyte to knowe
And gnawen god with þe goorge ; whanne her guttus ben ffull
And þe careffull may crie ; and carpyn at þe ȝate
Boþe an-hungrid & a-þreste ; & ffor chele quake
Is non to nymen hem neer ; his noye to amende
But howen on him as an hound ; and hoton him go þens
Riche men hathe Litle mercy
Litill loueþ he þat lord ; þat lente him all þat blisse
That þus partyn with þe pore ; a parcell whanne hem nedeþ
Ne were mercy in mene men ; more þan in riche
Mendynauntes meteles ; myȝten go to bedde
God is moche in þe goorde[^a301] ; of the grette maystris[^176]
And Amongis mene men ; his mercy and his werkis
and so seiþ þe sauter ; I haue seyn it ofte
Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata inuenimus eam in campis silue
Clerkis and oþer -kyns men ; carpen of god ffaste
And han him moche in þe mouþ ; & mene men in herte
Freris and ffaytours ; han ffoundyn swiche questiouns
To plese with prouude men ; siþe þe pestelence tyme
And prechen at seint poulis ; ffor pure envie of clerkis
þat ffolk ben not ffermed in þe ffeiþ ; ne ffre of her goodis
Ne sory ffor her synnes ; so is pride waxen
In religioun & in al þe rewme ; amongis riche and pore
þat praieris han no power ; þe pestelence to lette
And ȝit þe wrecchis of þis world ; is non war be oþer
Ne ffor drede of þe deþ ; withdrawen not her pride
Ne ben plenti -ouse to þe pore ; as pure charite wolde
But in gaynesse & glotonye ; ffor-glutten her good hem-selue
And breken not to þe begger ; as þe book techeþ
ffrange esurienti panem tuum
And þe more he wynneþ & welt weldeth ; welþis & richessis
And lordiþ in londis ; þe lesse good he deliþ[^177]
Tobie telliþ ȝou not so ; take heede ȝe riche
how þe book of þe bible ; of him berith[^178] wittenesse
Si tibi copia sit ; habundanter tribue ; si autem exiguum ; impertire stude libenter
who-so haþe moche spende moche ; so meneþ tobie
And who-so litill weldiþ ; rule him þer -after
For we han no letter of oure lijf ; how long it shall dure
Swyche lessouns lordis ; shulden loue to here
And how he myȝte moste ; meyne manliche ffynde
ffeffydeler
And not to ffare as a ffeþeler or a ffrere ; ffor to seke ffestis
homeliche at oþer mennys housis ; & haten her owen
wo-begoun
Elenge[^a302] is þe halle ; iche day in þe weke
þer þe lord & þe lady ; liken not to sitte
Now haþ iche riche a rule ; to ete bi him-selue
In a preuy parloure ; ffor pore menys sake
Or in a chaunbre with a chymeney ; & leue þe cheef halle
That was ffor melis ; men to eten Inne
And to spare to spille ; þat spende shall anoþer
I haue herde hie men ; etynge at þe table[^179]
Carpyn as þey clerkis weren ; of crist & of his myȝtis
and leyden ffautes on þe ffader ; þat fformede vs alle
and carpyn aȝeyn clerkis ; crabbid wordis
why wolde oure saueoure suffre ; swyche a worme in his blisse
þat bygylide þe womman ; And þe man after
þoruȝ whiche whilez[^a303] & wordis þei wenten to helle
And alle her seed ffor her synne ; þe same deþe suffred
Here liþe ȝoure lore ; þat þese lordis gynne dispute
Of þat ȝe klerkis vs kennen ; of crist be þe gospell
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & cetera
why shulde we þat now ben ; ffor þe werkis of adam
Be Botton and renten ; reson wolde it neuer
vnusquisque portabit onus suum & cetera
Swyche motyues þei meuen ; þese maistris in her glorie
And maken men in mysbyl eue ; þat musen moche on her wordis
ymagynatyf her-afterward ; schall answere to ȝoure purpose
Austyn to swyche Argueris ; telliþ his tyme[^a304]
Non plus sapere quam oportet et cetera .
wilneþ neuer witte ; why þat god wolde
Suffre sathan ; his seed to bigyle
and bileueþ lelly ; in lore of holi chirche
and preye him of pardon ; & penaunce[^180] in þi lyff
And ffor his moche mercy ; to amende ȝou here
For alle þat wilnen to witte ; þe weyes of god almyȝti
I wolde his eiȝe where in his ers ; and his ffynger after[^181]
þat euere wilneþ to witte ; whi þat god wolde
Suffre sathan ; his seed to bigyle
Or Iudas to þe Iues ; Ihesus betraie
All was as þou woldest lord ; wurscheped be þou
And all worþe as þou wilte ; what so we disputen
And þo þat vsyn þese hauylounes ; to blynde mennys wittis
what is do-well ffro do-bette ; now deef mote he worþe
Sythe he wylneþ to witte ; whiche þey ben boþe
But if he lyue in þe lijf ; þat longeþ to do-well
For I dar be his bolde boruȝ ; þat do bette wolle he neuer
þouȝ do-best drawe on him ; day after oþer
and whan þat witte was y-war ; what dame studie tolde
he bycome so confuse ; he couþe not loke
And as dombe as deþ[^a305]; and drow him arere[^a306]
and ffor no carpinge I couude after ; ne knelinge to þe ground
I myȝte gete no greyne ; of his grette wittis
But al lauȝhynge he louȝted ; & loked vppon studie
In signe þat I shulde ; bi-seche hir of grace
And whanne I was war of his wille ; to his wijf gan I louȝte
And sayd mercy madame ; ȝoure man schall I worþe
as longe as I lyue ; boþe late and raþe
For to wirche ȝoure wille ; þe while my lijf dureþ
with þat ȝe kenne me kyndely ; to knowe what is do-well
For þi mekenesse man quod sche ; & ffor þi mylde speche
Clergie
I shall kenne þe to my Cosyn ; þat clergie is hotton
Scripture

[C2.10.158.m.1: The preceding two marginal additions are linked at the right by a bracket.]

he haþe weddid a wijf ; with -Inne þis sex moneþes
Is sibbe to þe seuene artis ; scripture is hir name
þey two as I hope ; after my techinge[^a307]
shull wisse þe to do-well ; I dar it vndertake
þanne was I also ffayn ; as ffoul of ffaire morwe
And glader þanne þe gleman ; þat gold haþe to ȝifte
nota to lerne holi wriȝte
And axed hir þe heie weye ; where þat clergie dwelled
And telle me summe tokene quod I ; ffor tyme is þat I wende
axe þe hie wey quod studie ; henns to suffre
Suffre is þe highe waye to Clergie
boþe well and woo ; if þat þou wilte lerne
And ride fforþe b y richesse ; but reste not þer -inne
For if þou coupliste þe þer -with ; to clergie comeste þou neuer[^182]
and also þe l ykorouse launde ; þat leccherie hatte
leue it on þi liftehalf lifte half ; a large myle & more
Tylle þou come to a courte ; kepe well þi tunge
Fro lesingez and leþer speche and l ykorous drinkis[^183]
þanne shalte þu se sobreete ; and symplicite of speche
þat iche wiȝtt be in wille ; his witte þe to schewe
and þus schalte þou come to clergie ; þat can many þingis
Seie him þis signe ; I sette him to scole
and þat I grette well his wijf ; ffor I wrotte hir many bokis
and sette hir to sapience ; and to þe sauȝter glose
logyk I lerned hir ; and many oþer lawes
and alle þe mesours[^a308] of musyk ; I made hir to knowe
plato þe poete ; I put him ffrist to boke
aristotle and oþer mo ; to argue I tauȝte
Gramer ffor gerles ; I garte ffrist wriȝte
and bette hem with a baleys ; but if þei wuld lerne
Of al-kyns craftis ; I contr yued tooles
Of carpentrie of keruers ; & compassid masouns
I kenned hem leuell & lyne ; þouȝ I loke dymme
Theologie haþe tened me ; ten score tymez
þe more I muse þer -Inne ; þe mystier it semeþ
and þe depere I d yuyne ; þe derker me it þinkiþ
It is no science ffor-soþe ; ffor to sutille Inne
And ffull leþy þinge it were ; if þat loue nere
And ffor it lett best be loue ; I loue it þe better
For þer þat loue is ledere ; ne lakkeþ no grace
Loke þou loue lelly ; if þe likiþ do-well
And do-bett and do-beste ; ben of loues kyn
In oþer science it seiþ ; I seiȝ it in caton
Qui simulat verbis ; nec corde est fidus amicus
Tu quoque fac simile ; cum ars d eluditur arte
who-so gloseþ as gilours don ; do hem þe same
And[^a309] shalte þou ffalse ffolke ; & ffeiþles bigyle
þis is catons[^184] kennynge ; to clerkis þat he lereþ
and theologie techeþ not so ; who-so takiþ ȝem
and kenneþ vs þe contrarie ; aȝeins catons[^185] wordis
For he biddiþ vs ; be as breþeren ; and bidde ffor oure enemyes
And loue hem þat lyen on vs ; and lene hem whanne hem nediþ
and do good aȝeins yuell ; god him-selue it hotiþ
Dum tempus habemus operemur bonum ad omnes maxime autem . ad domesticos fidei
poule preched þe peple ; þat parffiȝtenesse loued
To do good ffor goddis loue ; and gyue men þat asken
and nameliche to swiche ; þat suen oure bileue
and all þat lakkiþ us & lieþ vs ; god techeþ vs to loue
And not to greue hem þat greuen vs ; god þat ffor-bediþ
Michi vindictam et ego retribuam
For-þi loke þou loue ; as long as þou dureste
For is no concience vndir sone ; so souereyn ffor þe soule
And astronomye is an hard þing ; & euell ffor to knowe
Geometrie & geomesie[^a310] ; is synfull of speche
who-so þinkiþ wirche with þo two ; þryueþ ffull late
For sorcerie is þe souereyn book ; þat to þe science longeþ
Ȝit arn þer ffybicchis in fforceris ; of ffele mennys makynge
Ars Alcumistica
Experimentis of alkenemye ; þe peple to disceyue
if þou þenke to do well ; dele þer -with neuer
alle þese science I my-self ; sutiled & ordeyned
And ffoundede hem fformeste ; ffolk to disceyue
Telle clergie þese tokenes ; and Scripture after
I counceyll þe kyndely ; to knowe what is do-well
I said graunt mercy madame ; and mekely hir grette
and wente wyȝtliche away ; with -out more lettinge
And tille I come to clergie ; I couȝde neuer stynte
And grette þe good man well ; as studie me tauȝte
And afterwardis þe wijf ; and wurscheped hem boþe
And tolde hem þe tokenes ; þat me tauȝte weren
was neuer gom vppon þis ground ; siþe god made þis world
Fairer vndir-fongen ; ne ffrendeleker at ese
þanne my-self soþely ; sone so he wyste
þat I was of wittis hous ; & with his wijf dame studie
I said to him soþely ; þat sente was I þedere
Do-well & do-bette ; & do-beste to lerne
Do-Well
It is a commune lijf quod clergie ; on holi cherche to bileue
with alle þe articules of þe ffeiþ ; þat ffallen to be knowen
and þat is to bileue lelli ; boþe lered & lewde
On þe grette god ; þat gynnynge had neuere
And on þe sotheffaste sone ; þat sauede mankynde
Fro þe dedly deþe ; and þe deuyll[^a311] power
þoruȝ þe helpe of þe holi gost ; þe whiche gost is of boþe
þre persones ; & not in plurel nounber
For al is but o god ; & iche is god him-selue
Deus pater deus filius deus spiritus sanctus
God þe ffader god þe sone ; god holi gost of bothe
Maker of mankynde ; & of bestis boþe
Austyn þe olde ; her-of made bokis
And him-selue ordeyned ; to sad vs in bileue
who was his autoure ; all þe ffoure euangelistis
and crist cleped him-selue so ; þe euangelist bereþ wittenesse
Ego in patre & pater in me est ; & qui videt me ; videt & patrem meum
alle þe clerkis vndir crist ; ne couude þis asoile
But þus it longiþ to bileue ; to men þat wollen do well
For had neuer ffreik ffyne witte ; þe ffeiþ to dispute
For man had no merite ; myȝte it ben yproued
Fides non habet meritum ; vbi humana racio prebet experimentum
Do . bette
[^186]þanne is do-bette to suffre ; ffor þi soulis sake
al þat þe book bidiþ[^a312] power ; bi holi chirche techynge
and þat is man by þi myȝt ; ffor mercys sake
loke þou wirche it in werk ; þat þi word schewiþ
Swyche as þou semeste in syȝt ; be in asay ffoundyn
Appare quod es vel esto quod appares
and late no body be ; by þi beringe bigylid
But swiche in þi soule ; as þou semest with -out
Do-beste
[^187]þanne is do-beste to be bolde ; to blame þe gylty
Syþen þou seest þi-self ; as in soule clene
And blame þou neuer body ; & þou be blame-worþi
De[^a313] culpare velis culpabilis esse cauebis
Dogma tuum sordet cum te tua culpa remordet[^188]
God in þe gospell ; grymly reproueþ
alle þat lacken ony lijf ; & lakkes han hem-self
Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui trabem & cetera.
why meuest þou þi mode ffor a mote ; in þi broþers eye
Siþen a bem in þin owen ; blindeþ þi-selue
Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo & cetera
whiche lettiþ þe to loke ; lesse oþer more
I rede iche a blynde bosard ; do bett to him-selue
De officio sacerdotum
For abbottis and priours ; and alle manere of prelatis
as parsones & parishe prestis ; þat preche shulden & teche
alle manere of men ; to amende bi her myȝt
This tixt was tolde ȝou ; to be war er ȝe tauȝten
þat ȝe were swiche as ȝe saiden ; to salue with oþer
For godis word wolde not be loste ; ffor þat worchiþ euere
If it availe not þe comune ; it myȝt availe ȝour -seluen
And it semeþ now soþely ; to þe worldis syȝt
þat goddis word werchiþ not ; on lered ne on lewde
But in swiche manere as mark ; meneþ in þe gospell
Dum cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam cadunt
lewde men mown liken ȝou ; þat þe bem lithe in ȝoure eyen
and þe ffestu is ffallen ; ffor ȝoure deffauȝte
In al manere men ; þoruȝ mansed prestes
þe bible bereþ wittenesse ; þat all þe ffolk of israel
Bitter bouȝte þe gyltis ; of two badde prestis
Offynny and ffynees ; ffor her coueitise
archa dei mys-happed ; & eli brake his nekke
For-þi corectouris claweþ her-on ; & corectiþ ffrist ȝoure -seluen
And þanne mowe ȝe saffely seie ; as dauiþ made þe sauȝter
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis arguam te & statuam con tra faciem tuam
þanne shalle borelle clerkis be abasshed ; to blame ȝou or to greue
and carpe not as þey don now ; & calle ȝou dombe houndis
Canes non valentes latrare
and drede to wraþe ȝou in ony word ; ȝoure werkmanschipe to lette
and be prestiere at ȝoure preiere ; þanne ffor a pound of noblis
And al ffor ȝoure holynesse ; haue ȝe þis in herte
In scole þer is a scoren ; but if a clerk wolle lerne
And grett loue and likynge ; ffor iche of hem loueþ oþer
The Abusions of þe Religious
And now is Religion a ridere ; a romere be stretes
A leder of louedaies ; a loond biggere
A priker on a palffrey ; ffro maner to manere
An heep of houndis at his ers ; as he a lord were
And but if his knave knele ; þat shall him þe cuppe bringe
he loureþ on him & axeþ ; who tauȝte him curteysie
litill haddyn lordis to do ; to ȝeue lond ffro here eyris[^189]
To relegiouse þat han no reuþe ; þouȝ it reyne on her auters
In many places þer þei persounes ben ; be hem-selue at ese
Of pore han þei no pete ; & þat is here charite
and þey leten hem as lordis ; her londe lyþe so brode
A prophecy . agaynste þe Relygyouse
[^190] And þer shall come a kyng ; & confesse ȝou religiouse
and bette ȝou as þe bible telliþ ; ffor brekynge of ȝoure rule
And amende monyalis ; monkis and schannonys
And putt hem to her penaunce[^191] ; ad pristinum statum ire
And barouns & erlis bete hem ; þoruȝ beatus uir techinge
þat her barnes cleymen ; and blamen ȝou ffoule
hij in curribus & hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt
And þanne ffreris in her ffreitoure ; schull ffynde a keye
Of constantynys tresore ; in whiche is þe catell
þat gregories god-childrin ; han euell dispendid
☞
And þanne shall þe abbotte of abyngdon ; & al his issu ffor euere
haue a knok of a kyng ; & in-curable þe wounde
þat þis worþe soþe seke ȝe ; þat ofte ouere-seen þe bible
Q uomodo cessauit exactor quieuit tribictum contriuit dominus baculum impiorum
Et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga infanibili[^a314]
And er þat kyng come ; Caym shall awake
And do-well shall dyng him adoun ; & distrueye his myȝt
þanne is do-well & do-bette quod I ; dominus and knyȝthode
I nyll not scorne quod scripture ; but if schreueneris lie
kynghood & knyȝthood ; bi nouȝt I can awayte
Helpeþ not to heueneward ; on heris ende
Ne richesse riȝt nouȝt ; ne rialte of lordis
poule preueþ impossible ; riche men to haue heuene
Salomon seiþ also ; þat siluer is werste to loue
Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam
And Caton kenneþ vs to coueyte ; not but as it nediþ
Dilige denarium set parce dilige fformam
And patriarkes and prophetis ; and poetis boþe
wreten to wissen vs ; to wilne no richesse
and preiseden pouerte with pacience ; þe apostelis beret h wittenesse
þat þey han eritage in heuene ; & bi true riȝt
þer riche men no riȝte mown cleyme ; but of ruþe & grace
Contra quod I be crist ; þat can I repreue
and preue it bi peter ; and bi poule boþe
þat ben baptizid ben sauyd ; be þei riche or pore
That is in extremis quod scripture ; amongis sarazens & Iues
They mown be saued so ; and þat is oure beleue
þat arn vncristen in þat caas ; may cristen an heþen[^192]
and ffor his lelle bileue ; whanne he þe liif tyneþ
haue the eritage of heuene ; as ony man cristen
And cristen men with -outyn more ; mown not come to heuene
For þat crist ffor cristen men deyed ; and conffermed þe lawe
þat who-so wolde and wilneþ ; with Crist to arise
Si cum Christo surrexistis & cetera .
he shulld loue & lene & þe lawe ffullfille
þat is loue þi lord god ; leuest aboue al þinge
and after alle cristen creaturis ; in comune iche man oþer
and þus bilongiþ to loue ; þat leueþ to be saued
and but we do þus in dede ; er þe day of dome
It shall be- sittyn vs ffull soure ; þe syluere þat we kepen
And oure bakkis[^a315] þat moþ-eten[^a316] ben ; and sene beggers go nakid
Or delite us in wyn & wildffoule ; & wotten ony in deffaute
For euery cristen creature ; shulld be kynde til oþer
and sithen heþen to helpe ; in hope of amendement
God hotiþ boþe hie & lowe ; þat no man hurte oþer
And seiþ sleye[^a317] ; not þat sembleable is ; to myn owenlikenesse
But if I sende þe summe token ; and seiþ non necabis
I sley not but suffre ; and al ffor þe beste
For I shall punysshe hem in purgatorie ; or in þe pitte of helle
Iche a[^a318] man ffor his myssdedis ; but mercy it lette
þis is a long lesson quod I ; & litill am I þe wyser
where do-well is or do-bette ; derkeliche ȝe shewyn
Many talis ȝe tellyn ; þat theologie lerneþ
predestynacioun
And þat I man made was ; & my name y-entrid
prescience
In þe legende of seyntis ; longe er I were
Or ellis wrettyn ffor wickidnesse ; as holi writte wittenessiþ
Nemo ascendit in celum ; nisi qui descendit de celo
I leue well be oure lord quod I ; & on no letture better
For salaman þe sage ; þat sapience tauȝte
god ȝaff him grace of witt ; & all his goodis after
he demede[^a319] & wisely ; as holy writte telliþ
aristotle and he ; who wissed men better
Maystris þat of goddis mercy ; techen men & prechen
Salamon and Aristotle . be damned .
of her wordis þey wissin us ; ffor whiseste as in her tyme
and alle holy chirche ; holt hem boþe y-dampned
and if I shulde werche b y her werkis ; to wynne me heuene
þat ffor her werkis and witt ; now wonneþ in peyne
þan wrouȝte I vnwisely ; what-so-euere ȝe prechen
and fole[^a320] witti in ffeiþ ; litill fferli I haue
þouȝ her gost be vngracious ; god ffor to plese
For many men on þis molde ; more setten her hertez
In good þanne in god ; ffor-þi hem grace ffailiþ
and þe moste myssecheff is ; whanne þey shull liif lete
as salomon dede and swiche oþer ; þat shewyd grette wittis
and her werkys as holy writt ; seiþ was euere þe contrarie
For-þi wise witted men ; & well lettrid clerkis
as þey seyn hem-self ; seldon don þer -after[^193]
super cathedram Moysy[^a321]
and I wene it worþe of many ; as was in noies tyme
þo he schope þat schipe ; of schidis and bordis
was neuer wriyt sauede þat wrouȝte þer -on ; ne oþer werkman ellis
But byrdis & bestis ; & þe blesside noie
and his wyff with his sones ; & also her wyues
God lene it ffare not so be ffolk ; þat þe ffeiþ techen
Of holi chirche þat herberwe is ; and goddis hous to saue
and shilde us ffrom shame þer -inne ; as noies schipe dede bestis
And men þat maden it ; amydde þe fflode adreynten
The culorum of þis cause ; curatouris is to mene
þat ben carpenteris of holye chyrche ; to make ffor cristis owen bestis
Homines et iumenta saluabis domine & cetera .
on good ffryday I ffynde ; a ffelon was saued
þat had l yued al his lyff ; with lesingis & with þefte
and ffor he be-knewe on þe crosse ; & to crist schrowe him
he was sonnere saued ; þanne seint Iohan baptiste
and er adam &[^a322] ysaie ; or ony of þe prophetis
þat had y-leyn with lucyffer ; many long ȝeris
a robber was I-raumsomed[^194] ; raþer þan þei alle
with -out ony penaunce[^195] of purgatorie ; to perpetuall blisse
and marie magdalene what womman d ydde wers
Or who wers þan dauiþ ; þat vries deþ conspired
Or poule þe apostele ; þat no p yte hadde
moche cristen kynde to kille to deþ
and now ben þese as souereynes ; & seyntis in heuene
þo þat wroutyn wikedest ; in world þo þei weren
and þoo þat wisili werchedid[^a323] ; & writyn many bokis
of witt and of wisdomys ; with dampned soulis wonnen
þat salomon seiþ I trowe be soþe ; and certeyn of us alle
Siue iusti atque sapientes et opera eorum in manu dei sunt
þat ar witti and welleuynge ; & her werkis ben hid
In þe hondis of all-myȝti god ; & he woot þe soþe
where ffor loue a man worþ alowid ; þer in[^a324] his lele werkis
Or ellis ffor his yuell will ; & envie of herte
and be alowed as he leued þere ; as liþer men knowyn good
and where-by wetten men whiche is whyte ; if al þing blac were
And wo were a good man ; but if þer where summe schrewe
For-þi lyue we fforþ with lyþer men ; I leue ffewe goode
For quant oportet comeþ in place ; il nad que pati
And he þat may all amende ; haue mercy of vs alle
For soþeste word þat euere god seyde ; was þo he said Nemo bonus
Clergie of cristis mouþ ; commendid was litill
For he seid to seint petir ; & to swiche as he loued
Dum steteritis ante reges & presides & cetera .
þouȝ ȝe come bi-ffor kyngis ; and clerkis of þe lawe
beþe not abasshed ffor I shall ; be in ȝoure mouþes
and ȝeue ȝou witte & will ; & kunnynge to conclude
hem all . þat aȝens ȝou ; of cristendom disputen
Dauiþ makiþ mencioun ; he spake amongis kyngis
and myȝt no kynge ouere-come him ; as be cunnynge of speche
But witt ne wisdom ; wan neuere þe maystrie
whanne man was at myscheff ; with -oute þe more grace
Augustinus
þe douȝtiest doctoure ; & dyuynoure of þe trinite
was austyn þe olde ; and heiest of þe ffoure
saide þus in a sermon ; I seiȝ it wretten ones
Ecce ipsi ydeote rapiunt celum ; vbi sapientes in inferno mergimur
and is to mene on englisshe ; to more and to lesse
arn non oþer raþer rauysshed ; ffro þe riȝt bileue
þanne arn þese kunnynge clerkis ; þat kunne many bokis
Ne non sonere saued ; ne saddere of bileue
þan plowmen & pastouris ; & oþer comune laboreris
Souters & scheepherdis ; and swiche lewde Iottis
percyn with a pater noster ; þe paleys of heuene
and passyn purgatorie ; penaunceles ; at here hens partynge
In-to þe blesse of paradice ; ffor her pure bileue
þat imparfiȝtly here ; knewen & eke leueden
Ȝe men knowen clerkis ; þat han cursid þe tyme
þat euere þey couden on þe book ; more þanne credo in deum
and principali her pater noster ; many a parsone haþe wisshed
Exemplum bonum
I se ensamplis many my-selue ; & so mown oþer
þat seruauntis þat seruen lordis ; selde ffalle in eragis[^a325]
But þo þat kepen þe lordis catell ; clerkis & reues
Riȝt so lewde men ; and of litill knowinge
Selde ffalle þey so ffoule ; & so fferre in synne
as clerkis of holi kyrke ; þat kepen cristis tresore
þe whiche is mannys soule to saue ; as god seiþ in þe gospell
Ite vos in vineam meam

[^a293: & was (C2) | was (most mss)]

[^a294: leree (C2) | lere (most mss)]

[^a295: sterliche (C2) | sterneliche (most mss)]

[^a296: fflateris (C2hand1) | flatereris (All other mss C2hand2)]

[^a297: lorschipe (C2) | lordshipe (most mss)]

[^a298: cartid (C2) | carded (most mss)]

[^a299: of (C2) | is (most mss)]

[^a300: ballen (C2) | balled (most mss)]

[^a301: goorde (C2) | gorge (most mss)]

[^a302: Elenge (C2hand1) | Elenge (most mss) | eylenge (C2hand2)]

[^a303: whilez (C2hand1) | wiles (most mss) | wyles (C2hand2)]

[^a304: tyme (C2) | teme (most mss)]

[^a305: deþ (C2hand1) | deeþ (most mss) | a dore nayle (C2hand2)]

[^a306: arere (C2hand1) | arere (most mss) | asyde (C2hand2)]

[^a307: techinge (C2hand1) | techyng (most mss) | bysekynge (C2hand2)]

[^a308: mesours (C2) | Musons (most mss)]

[^a309: And (C2) | And so (all other mss)]

[^a310: geomesie (C2hand1) | Geomesie (most mss) | geomancie (C2hand2)]

[^a311: deuyll (C2hand1) | deueles (most mss) | deuylls (C2hand2)]

[^a312: bidiþ (C2hand1) | bit (most mss) | biddiþ (C2hand2)]

[^a313: De (C2hand1) | Si (most mss) | Si (C2hand2)]

[^a314: infanibili (C2) | insanibili (all other mss)]

[^a315: bakkis (C2hand1) | bakkes (most mss) | ba ggis (C2hand2)]

[^a316: moþ-eten (C2hand1) | moþeeten (most mss) | molteeten (C2hand2)]

[^a317: sleye (C2hand1) | slee (most mss) | sle þe (C2hand2)]

[^a318: Iche a (C2) | Ech (most mss)]

[^a319: demede (C2) | demed wel (all other mss)]

[^a320: fole (C2) | fele (most mss)]

[^a321: Moysy (C2) | Moysi & cetera (all other mss)]

[^a322: & (C2) | or (all other mss)]

[^a323: werchedid (C2) | wordeden (most mss)]

[^a324: in (C2) | and (all other mss)]

[^a325: eragis (C2) | arerage (most beta mss)]

[^173: C2.10.35: The ascender of the <h> in he is decorated with an elaborate geometric design five lines in height which trails downward to the right and ends in a vinet.]

[^174: C2.10.47:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in multa .]

[^175: C2.10.49:hand 2 has partially erased the <s> in schanon and overwritten the <ch>.]

[^176: C2.10.69: The <G> in God is decorated with a horizontal design nine characters in length.]

[^177: C2.10.89:The preceding two lines are linked by brackets at left and right.]

[^178: C2.10.91: An otiose bar appears through the ascender of the <h> in berith. For details of this scribe's use of barred <h>, see the Introduction under Hand.]

[^179: C2.10.107: The ascender of the <h> in herde is decorated with a geometric design four lines in height terminating in a horizontal vinet.]

[^180: C2.10.129:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce.]

[^181: C2.10.132:The preceding two lines are linked at the right by a bracket.]

[^182: C2.10.169: The preceding two lines are linked at the right by a bracket.]

[^183: C2.10.173:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drinkis.]

[^184: C2.10.203:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in catons.]

[^185: C2.10.205:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in catons.]

[^186: C2.10.263: A cross composed of four dots appears in the margin to the left of this line.]

[^187: C2.10.271: A cross composed of four dots appears in the margin to the left of this line.]

[^188: C2.10.275: The preceding two lines are linked at the right by a bracket.]

[^189: C2.10.319: The preceding three lines are linked by a bracket at the left.]

[^190: C2.10.324: A design composed of three dots, with a vertical line radiating from the uppermost dot, appears in the margin to the left of this line.]

[^191: C2.10.327:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce.]

[^192: C2.10.361: The underlining ends in a device consisting of a triangle composed of dots, with a wavy line ascending from the uppermost dot. See Introd. I.6.]

[^193: C2.10.410: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^194: C2.10.430:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in -raumsomed.]

[^195: C2.10.431:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce.]

Passus xj(us) undecimus [The passus heading actually appears in the right margin opposite the second line of text.]

T hanne scripture scornede me ; and a skille tolde
and lakked me in latyn ; & liȝt be me sette
and saide multi multa sciunt ; et seipsos nesciunt
þo wepte I ffor woo ; & wraþe of hir speche
and in a wyndinge wraþe ; wex I aslepe
a merueylouse sweuene ; mette I me þanne
þat I was rauysshid riȝt þere ; & ffortune me ffette
and in-to þe lond of longinge ; alone sche me brouȝte
In a myroure þat hyȝte mydillerd ; sche made[^a326] be-holde
Siþen sche seide vn-to me ; here myȝt þou se wondris
and knowe þat þou coueytiste ; & come þer -to parauntere
þanne had ffortune ffolwinge hir ; two ffaire damysellis
Omne quod est in mundo aut est concupiscentia carnis . Con - cupiscentia oculorum aut superbia vite
Concupiscencia carnis ; men callid þe elder mayde
And coueytise of eyn ; callid was þat oþer
pride of parffiȝt l yuynge[^196] ; pursued hem boþe
and bad me ffor ony contenaunce ; acounte clergie liȝt
Concupiscencia carnis ; culled[^a327] me abouȝte þe necke
and sayd[^197] þou art ȝong & ȝeep ; & hast ȝeris ynow
For to l yue longe ; and ladies to loue
and in þis myroure þou myȝtist see ; myrþis ffull many
þat lede þe wolle to likynge ; all þi lijf-tyme
þe secound said þe same ; I shall sue þi will
Till þou be a lord & haue lond ; lete þe I nylle
þat I ne shall ffolowe þi ffellawschepe ; if ffortune it like
he shall ffynde me his ffrende ; quod ffortune þer -after
þe ffrek þat ffolwid my wille ; ffailid neuere blisse
id est age
þanne was þer on hiȝte elde ; þat heuy was of chere
Man quod he if I mete with þe ; be marie of heuene
þou shalte ffynde ffortune þe ffaile ; at þi moste nede
and concupiscencia carnis ; clene þe fforsake
Bitterliche schalt þou banne þanne ; boþe daiez & nyȝtis
Coueitise of þe[^a328] at euere þou it knewe ;
and pride of parffiȝte lyuynge ; to moche perell þe bringe
ȝe recche þe neuer quod recchelesnesse ; stode fforþe in raggyde cloþis
Followe fforþe þat ffortune wole ; þou hast well ffare to elde
a man may stoupe tyme ynow ; whane he shall tyne þe croune
homo proponit quod a poete ; & plato he hiȝte
and deus disponit quod he ; latte god do his wille
if truþe woll wittenesse it be well do ; ffortune to ffolowe
Concupiscencia carnis ; ne coueytise of eyn
Ne schall non[^a329] greue þe grettli ; ne bigyle þe but if þou wilte
Ȝe ffare well pheppe quod ffauntelte ; & fforþ gan me drawe
Till conpiscencia[^a330] carnis ; acordid all my werkis
Allas þ o quod elde ; and holynesse boþe
þat witt shall turne to wrechednesse ; ffor wylle to haue his likynge
Coueytise of eyn ; conffortid me sone after
and ffolwyd me ffourti wynter ; or fifti or more
þat of do-well ne do-bett ; no deynte me þouȝte
I had no likynge ne luste ; of hem ouȝt to knowe
Coueytise of eyn ; cam ofter in my mynde
þanne do-well or do-bette ; amongis my dedis alle
Coueytise of eyn ; conffortide me ofte
and saide haue no concience ; how þou come to good
ffreris
Go conffesse þe to sum ffrere ; & schewe him þi synnes
For whylis ffortune is þi ffrende ; ffreris woll þe loue
and ffecche þe to her ffraternte[^a331] ; & ffor þe beseche
To her prioure prouynciall ; a pardon ffor to haue
and prey ffor þe poll be pol ; if þou be pecuniosus ;
Set pena peccuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis
By wissinge of þis wenche I wrouȝte ; her wordis wer so swete
Tyll I fforȝate ȝowþe ; & ȝerne in-to elde
and þanne was ffortune my ffo ; ffor al hir ffayre biheste
and pouerte pursued me ; & put me lowe
ffrere
and þo ffonde I þe ffrere afferde ; and fflyttinge boþe
aȝens oure ffrist fforwarde ; ffor I saide I nolde
B e beried at her hous ; but at my parishe[^198] chirche
For I herde ones ; how concience it tolde
Agaynste buryenge emongeste ffreres .
þat þer a man were cristened ; be kynde he shuld be beried
Or where he were parishen ; riȝth þer he shuld be grauen
and ffor I said þus to ffreris ; a ffolle þei me helden
and loued me þe lesse ; ffor my lele speche
and ȝit I cried on my conffessoure ; þat helde him-selue so kunnynge
Be my ffeiþ ffrere quod I ; ȝe ffaren like þese wowers
Þat weddyn no wedewis ; but ffor to welde her goodis[^199]
Ryȝt so be þe rode ; rouȝten ȝe neuere
where my body were I-beried ; bi so ȝe had þe siluere
I haue moche merueile of ȝou ; and so haþe many oþer
why ȝoure couent coueytiþ ; to conffesse & to berie
raþer þanne to baptise barnes ; þat ben cathecumynys
Baptisinge & biringe[^200] ; boþe ben ffull nedffull
and moche more merytorie ; me þinkyþ is to baptise
For a baptisid man may ; as maystris tellyn
þoruȝ contriccion come ; to þe hye heuene
sola contricio delet pecatum
and a beren[^a332][^201] with -ouȝten baptem ; may not be saued
Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua[^a333]
loke ȝe lettred men ; whedir I lie or not
and lewte loked on me ; & I louride after
where-ffor louriste þou quod lewte ; and loked on me hard
If I durste quod I amongis men ; þese metelis awoue
Ȝe be peter & bi poul quod he ; & toke boþe to wittenesse
Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo set puplice argue illos
þei[^a334] alegge also quod I ; and be þe gospell preue
Nolite iudicare quemquam
and where-of serueþ lawe quod lewte ; if no lyf vndirtoke
Falsenesse ne ffaytrie ; ffor sum -what þe apostele said
Non oderis ffratrem and in þe sauter also ; seiþ dauiþ þe prophete
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis & cetera
It is leffull ffor lewde men ; to seie þe soþe
If hem likiþ or liste ; iche a lawe it graunteþ
Exsept persouns & prestis ; & prelatis of holi chirche
It ffalliþ not ffor þat ffolk ; no talis to telle
þouȝ þe tale were trewe ; and it touuchid synne
þing þat alle þe world woot ; werffore[^a335] shuldeste þou spare
and reden[^a336] in rethorik ; to arate dedly synne
and be neuere-more þe ffriste ; þe deffauȝte to blame
þouȝ þou se yuell . seie it not ffrist ; be sory it nere amendid
and þinge þat is preuy ; puplice þou it neuer
Neiþer ffor loue laude it not ; ne lacke it not ffor non[^a337] envie[^a338]
lauda vitupera parcius
he seiþ soþe quod scripture þoo ; & skipped on hie & preched
and þe matere þat he meued ; if lewde men it knewe
þe lesse as I leue ; louen it þey wolden
þis was her teme ; & her tixt I toke ffull good heede
multi to a mangerie ; and to þe mete were sompned
and whanne þe peple was plenere comen ; þe porter vnpynned þe gate
and plukkid in pauci priuyliche ; and lete þe remenaunte go rome
alle ffor tene of her tyxt ; trembled myn herte
and in a weer gan I waxe ; & with my-self dispite[^a339]
wheþer I were chosyn or not ; on holi chirche I þouȝt
þat vndirffenge me at þe ffounte ; ffor one of godis chosyn
For crist cleped vs alle ; Come if we wolden
sarazens & stismatikes[^a340] ; and so he dede þe Iues
O vos omnes scicientes venite & cetera
And bad hem souke ffor synne ; saueli at his breste
And drink[^202] bote ffor bale ; broke it so[^a341] myȝte
þanne mown all cristen comen quod I ; & cleyme þer entre
By þe blode þat he bouȝte us with ; and þoruȝ baptisme after
qui crediderit & baptizat us fuerit
For þouȝ a cristen man coueyted ; his cristendom to renye[^203]
Riȝtffuliche to renye ; no reson it wolde
For may no cherl chartre make ; ne his catell selle
with -outyn leue of his lord ; no lawe wolle it graunte
and he may renne in arerage ; & rome so ffrom home
and as a reneyed Caytif ; rechelesly aboute
And reson shall rekene with him ; and caste him in arerage
and put him after in prison ; in purgatorie to brenne
purgatorie
For his arerage rewarde him þer ; to þe day of dom
But if contricioun wolle come ; & crie bi his lyue
Mercy ffor his mysdedis ; with mouþ or with herte
þat is soþe quod scripture ; may no synne lette
Mercy al to amende ; and mekenesse hir ffelawe
For þei ben as oure bokis tellyn ; aboue godis werkis
Misericordia super omnia opera eius
ȝe bawe ffor bokis quod one was brokyn out of helle
Tr aianus
hiȝte tr aianus had ben a trewe knyȝt ; toke wittenesse at þe pope
how he was deed & damnped ; to dwellyn in peyne
For an vncristen creature ; clerkis witten þe soþe
þat all þe clergie vndir crist ; myȝte me cracche ffro helle
But oneliche loue & lewte ; and my laweffull domes
Gregori wiste þis well ; & wilneþ to my soule
salvacioun ffor soþenesse ; þat he seyȝ in my werkis
and after þat he wepte ; & wilned me were graunted
nota þe ground of trentalis
Grace with -out ony bede biddinge ; his bone was vndir-ffongen
And I saued as ȝe mown se ; with -out syngynge of messis
By loue and be lernynge[^204] ; & of[^a342] my l yuynge[^205] in truþe
Brouȝte me ffro bitter peyne ; þer no biddinge myȝte
lo ȝe lordis what lewte dede ; bi an emperoure of rome
þat was an vncristen creature ; as clerkis ffyndyn in bokis
Not þoruȝ preiere of a pope ; but ffor his pure truþe
was þat sarazyn saued ; as seint gregori bereþ wittenesse
well auȝten ȝe lordis þat lawis kepen ; þis lesson haue in mynde
Law . and knoleage without Loue . availeth no thinge
And on tr aianus truþe to þenke ; & do truþe to þe peple
lawe with -ouȝtyn loue quod tr aianus ; ley þer a bene
Exemplum bonum
Or ony science vndir sonne ; þe Seuene artis and all
But þei be lerned ffor oure lord ys loue ; lost is all þe tyme[^206]
For no cause to cacche siluere ; þerbi ; ne to be callid a mayster
But all ffor þe[^a343] loue of oure lord ; & þe bette to loue þe peple
For Seynt Iohan saide it ; & soþe arn his wordis
Qui non diligit manet in morte
who-so loueþ not leue me ; he l yueþ in deþ deynge
and þat alle manere men ; enemyes and ffrendis
loue here eiþer oþer ; & lene hem as hem -seluen
who-so leneþ not[^a344] loueþ not ; god wott þe soþe
and commaundede[^207] iche creature ; to confforme hym to loue
and souereynli pore peple ; & her enemyes after
For hem þat haten vs ; is oure merite to loue
and pore peple to plese ; her preyris mown us helpe
For oure Ioy & oure hele ; Ihesu crist of heuene
In a pore mannys aparaile ; pursueþ us euere
and lokeþ on vs in here likenesse ; and þat with loueli chere
To knowe us b y oure kynde herte ; & castinge of oure eye
wheþer we louen þe lordis heere ; be-ffor oure lord of bl ysse
and exciteþ vs b y þe euangelie ; þat whanne we maken ffestis
we shulde not calle oure kyn þer -to ; ne no kyn riche
Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicos
and Callyþ þe careffull þer -to ; þe croked & þe pore
For ȝoure ffrendis wolle ffede ȝou ; & ffonde ȝou to quyte
Ȝoure ffestinge and ȝoure ffaire ȝiftis ; iche ffrende quyteþ so oþer
and ffor þe pore I shall pay ; & pure well quyte here trauaile
þat ȝeueþ hem mete or mony ; & loueþ hem ffor my sake
For þe beste ben summe riche ; & summe beggers & pore
For alle ar we cristis creaturis ; & of his coferis riche
and breþeren as of blood ; as beggers and erlis
For on caluerie of cristis blood ; cristendom gan springe
and blody breþeren we be-come ; þer of o body wonne
as quasi modo geniti ; & gentell men ichone
Ne begger ne boye amonge us ; but if it synne made
Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati
In þe olde lawe ; as holi lettre telliþ
Mennys sonnes ; men callid us ichon
Of adamys issu & eue ; ay till god-man deied
and after his resureccioun ; redemptor was his name
and we his breþeren þoruȝ him bouȝte ; boþe riche & pore
and ffor-þi[^a345] / l oue we ; as leue breþeren shuld[^a346] . & iche man lauȝhe on oþer
For if þat iche man may fforbere ; amende þer it nedeþ
and euery man helpe oþer ffor hens shull we alle
Alter alterius onera porter[^a347] & cetera
and be we not vnkynde of oure catell ; ne of oure kunnynge neiþer
For not no man how it is ; to be ynome ffro boþe
For-þi / lakke no lyff oþer ; þouȝ he more latyn knowe
Ne vndirnyme not ffoule ; ffor is non with -outyn deffauȝte
For what-euere clerkis carpyn ; of cristendom or ellis
Crist[^a348] a comune womman saide ; in comune at a ffeste
þat ffides sua shulde sauen hir ; & saluen hir of synnes
þanne is bileue a lele helpe ; aboue logyk or lawe
Logick and Law
Of logyk ne of lawe ; in legenda sanctorum
Is lytill alowaunce[^208] made ; but if bileue hem helpe
For it is ouerlonge er logyk ; ony lessoun assoyle
And lawe is loþe to loue ; but if he lacche syluere
But logyk and lawe ; þat louen not to lye
I counceyll alle cristen men ; cleue not þer -on to sore
For summe wordis I ffynde wretten ; þat were of ffeiþes techinge
þat saued synffull man[^a349] ; as seint Iohan beriþ wittenesse
Eadem mensura qua mensi ffueritis ; remecietur vobis
For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue ; as oure lord tauȝte
and as seint gregory said ; ffor mennys soule helþe
Melius est scrutari stelera[^a350] nostra quam naturas rerum
why I meue þis mater ; is moste ffor þe pore
For in his likenesse oure lord ; ofte haþe ben y-knowe
wittenesse in þe paske weke ; whanne he ȝede to Emaus
Cleophas knewe him not ; þat he crist were
For his pore apparayle ; and pilgrimes wedis
Tyll he blesside & brak þe bred þat þey eten
So be his werkis þey wisten ; þat he was Ihesus
and be cloþing þey knewe him not ; ne be carpinge of tunge
and alle was in ensammple ; to vs synffull here
þat we shulden be lowe ; and loueliche of speche
and apparale us not prouudly ; ffor pilgrimes ar we all
and in þe apparaile of a pore man ; & pilgrimes likenesse
Many tyme god haþe be mett ; amonge nedy peple
þat neuere segge him seiȝ ; in secte of þe riche
Seint Iohan and oþer seintis ; were seyn in pore cloþinge
And as pore pilgrimes ; preyed mennys goodis
Ihesu crist on a Iues douȝter alyȝt ; gentill womman þouȝ sche were
was a pure pore mayde ; and to a pore man weddid
Martha on marie magdalene ; an huge pleynt sche made
and to oure saueoure self ; seide þese wordis
Domine non Est tibi cure quod . soror mea reliquit me solam & cetera
and hasteli god answeryd ; & eyþeris wille ffollwid
Boþe in marthas & in maries ; as matheu bereþ wittenesse
and pouerte god putte beffore ; & preisid it þe better
maria optimam partem elegit que non auferetur ab ea
and alle þe wyse þat euere weren ; bi ought I can aspie
preysen pouerte ffor best lijf ; if pacience it ffollowe
and boþe better and blessidere ; bi many ffollde þanne richesse
and þouȝ it be soure to suffre ; þer comeþ swete after
Similitudo
as a[^a351] walnote withoutyn ; is a bitter barke
pouertie
and after þat bitter bark ; be þe schelle aweye
is a kyrnell of comfforte ; kynde to restore
so is after pouerte . or pacience ; pacientliche ytake
For it makeþ man haue mynde in god ; & a grett wille
To wepe & to well bidde ; were -of wexiþ mercy
and well sekerere he slepiþ ; þe man þat is pore
and lesse he drediþ deþ ; and in derk to be robbid
þan he þat is ryȝt riche ; reson bereth wittenesse
Pauper ego ludo ; dum tu diues meditaris
and þouȝ saloman said ; as ffolk seen in þe bible
Diuicias nec pauper tate & cetera .
perfeccioun of pouertie
wyser þan saloman was ; beriþ wittenesse & tauȝte
þat parffyȝt pouerte was ; no posession to haue
and lijf most likynge to god ; as luke bereþ wittenesse
Si vis perfectus esse vade et vende & cetera
and is to mene to men ; þat on þis molde l yuen
War munkes & Channonys
who-so wolle be pure parffiȝt ; mote possesion fforsake
Or selle it as seiþ þe book ; and þe siluer dele
To beggers þat gon & beggen ; and biddin good ffor godis loue
For ffailede neuer man mete ; þat myȝtfull god serued
Non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius querens panem .
as dauiþ in[^a352] þe sauter ; to swiche þat ben in wille
To serue god goodliche ; ne greueþ him no penaunce[^209]
Nichil inpossibile volenti
Ne lakkiþ neuer lijflode ; lynnen ne wollen
In-quirentes autem dominum non mi nuentur omni bono
If prestis were parffiȝt ; þei wollde no siluer take
Agaynste takynge of monay for Masses
For masses ne ffor matynys ; not her mete of vsureris
Ne neiþer kyrtill ne kote ; þouȝ þei ffor colde shuld deye
and þey her deuer ded as dauid ; seiþ in þe sauȝter
Iudica me deus & deserne[^a353] causam & cetera spera in deo & cetera .
spekeþ of prestis ; þat han no spendinge syluere
þat if þei trauaile truliche ; & triste in god almyȝti
hem shulde lakke no lijflode ; neiþer wollen ne lynnen
and þe title þei take ordre by ; telliþ ȝe ben auaunced
þanne nediþ not ȝou take syluer ; ffor massis þat ȝe syngen
For he þat toke ȝou ȝoure title ; shulde take ȝou ȝoure wages
Of þe bisshope þat blessiþ ȝou ; if þat ȝe ben worþi
For made neuer kynge no knyȝt ; but he had catell to spende
As be-ffelle ffor a knyȝt ; or ffound him ffor his strenkþe
It is a careffull knyȝt ; & of caytijf kyngis makynge
þat haþe no lond ne l ynage riche ; ne good loos of his handis
þe same I seie ffor-soþe ; bi alle swiche prestis
þat han neiþer kunnynge ne kyn ; but a croun one
And a title a tale of nouȝt ; to his lijflode at myscheff
he haþe more bileue as I leue ; to lacche þoruȝ his croune
Cure . þan ffor kunnynge or knowinge ; ffor clene of beringe
I haue wo ndir and why ; & wherffore þe bisshope
Makeþ swiche prestis ; þat lewde men be-traien
A chartre is chalengable ; biffore a Cheef Iustice
If ffals latyn be in þat letter ; þe lawe it impugneþ
Or peyntid par -interlynarie ; parcellis ouere-skippid
þe gome þat gloseþ so Charters ; ffor a goky is holdyn
so it is a goky be god ; þat in his gospell ffailiþ
Or in messe or matyns ; makiþ ony deffauȝte
Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus
And also in þe sauȝter seiþ ; dauiþ to ouerskippers
Psallite deo nostro psallite ; quoniam rex terre deus israel psallite sapienter
þe bisshop shall be blamed ; be-ffore god as I leue
þat swiche goddis knyȝtis ; þat kunne not sapienter
Synge ne psalme rede ; ne Segge a messe of þe day
and neuer neiþer is blameles ; þe bischope ne þe chapeleyn
For euere eiþer is enditid ; & þat of ignorancia
Non excusat episcopos ; nec ydiotes prestis
þis lokynge of lewde prestis ; haþe don me lepe ffro pouerte
whiche I preise þer pacience is ; more parffiȝt þan richesse
and moche more in metinge þus ; with me gan on dispute
and slepinge I seiȝ al þis ; & siþen cam kynde
and nem pnede me be name ; and bade me nymme heed
and þoruȝ þe wondris of þis world ; witt ffor to take
And on a mounteyn þat mydelerd hiȝte ; as me þo þouȝt
I was ffett fforþe ; be ensaunplis to knowe
þoruȝ iche a creature & kynde ; my creatoure to loue
I seyȝ þe sunne & þe sehe ; & þe sonde after
and where þat briddis and bestis ; bi her make ȝeden
wylde wormes in wodes ; & wondirffull ffoulis
with fflekked ffeþeres ; and of ffele[^210] colouris
Man had his make ; I myȝte boþe by-holde
pouerte & plente ; boþe pees & werre
Blisse & bale ; boþe I seiȝ at ones
and men token mede ; & mercy reffusid
Reson I seiȝ soþely ; suen alle bestis
In etynge & drinkinge ; & in engendringe of kynde
and after cours of concepcioun ; non toke kepe to[^a354] oþer
and whanne þey haddyn reden a[^a355] rotey-tyme ; anon -riȝt þer -after
Males drowen hem to males ; on morwnynge[^211] bi hem -selue
In euenynge[^a356][^212] also ; þe males ffro þe ffemelis
þer was kow ne kowkynde ; þat conseyued hade
þat wolde belue after boles bulles ; ne bore after sowe
Boþe hors and houndis ; and all oþer bestis
medeleden not with her makes ; þat with ffole weren
Briddis I be-helde ; þat in buskis made nestis
had neuere wye witte ; to werche þe leste
I had wondir at whom ; and where þe pie lerned
To legge þe stykkis[^213] ; in which he leiþ & bredyþ
þer nys wyȝt as I wene ; shulde werche hir neste to paye
if ony mason made a molde þer -to ; moche wondir it were
and ȝit me merueilid more ; how many oþer briddis
hidden and hileden ; her eyren ffull derne
In mareys & moris ; ffor men shulde hem not ffynde
and hiddyn her eggis ; whanne þei þer -ffro wenten
For ffere of oþer ffoulis ; & ffor wylde bestis
and summe troden here makis ; & on tres bridden[^a357]
And brouȝten fforþe here bridis so ; al aboue þe ground
and summe briddis at þe bille ; þoruȝ bredinge conceyued
And summe kakeleden I toke keep ; how pekoccis breddyn
Moche merueilid me ; what mayster þey haddyn
And who tauȝte hem on trees ; to tymbre so hie
þer neiþer barn ne beste ; may her briddis reche
and siþen I lokede on þe see ; & so on þe sterris
Many selkouþis I seiȝ ; be not to seie nouþe
I seiȝ fflouris in þe ffriþe ; & her ffaire colouris
and how amonge þe grene gresse ; grew so many hewes
and summe soure & summe swete ; selcouþe me þouȝte
Of her kynde & her coloure ; to carpe it were to longe
and þat moste meved me ; and my mode Chaungid
Reason Rewleth all beastes save man and his make .
þat reson rewardyde ; and rewlide alle bestis
saue man and his make ; many tyme and ofte
No reson hem ffolwyd ; & þanne I rebukede
Reson and riȝt to him-selue saide
I haue wonndre of þe quod I ; þat witti art holdyn
why þou ne sueste man & his make ; þat no mysfayte him ffolowe
and reson aratede me ; and said recche þe neuere
why I suffre or not suffre ; þi-selue hast not to done
Amende þou if þou myȝte ; ffor my tyme is to abide
Sufferaunce is souereyne vertu ; & of swift veniaunce[^214]
who suffrede more þan god quod he ; no gome as I leue
He myȝte amende in a menute while ; al þat mystondiþ
and he suffred ffor summe mannys good ; & so is oure better
þe wise and þe witti ; wrotte þus in þe bible
De re que te non molestat noli certare
For be a man ffaire or ffoule ; it ffalleþ not to lakke
þe schappe ne[^a358] schafte ; þat god schope him-selue
For all þat he dede was well do ; as holi writte wittenessiþ
Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat et erant valde bona
and bad euery creature ; in his kynde encrece
all to myrþe with man ; þat most wo þoliþ
In ffondinge of þe ffleisshe ; & of þe ffende boþe
For man was made of swiche a mater ; he may not well asterte
That ne sum tyme him betid ; to ffolowe his kynde
Caton acordiþ her-with ; nemo sine crimine viuit
þo cauȝte I coloure anon ; & comsede to be aschamed
and I awakid þer -with ; woo was me þanne
þat I in metels ne myȝte ; more haue I-knowen
þanne said I to my-self ; and chidde þat tyme
Now I wott what do-well ; is quod I . be dere god as me þinkiþ
and as I caste vp myn eyn ; one loked on me & axed
Of me what þing it were ; I-wisse sire I saide .
Do-Well
Go[^a359] se moche and suffre more ; certis quod I is do-well
haddist þou suffred he said ; slepinge þo þou were
þou shuldest haue yknowe ; þat clergie can . and conceyued more þoruȝ reson
For reson wolde haue rehersid þe ; riȝt as clergie said
and ffor þin entermetinge here ; art þou fforsaken
Philosophus esses si tacuisses
Adam whilis he spake nouȝt ; had paradice at his wille
and whanne he mamelede abouȝte mete ; & entermete him to knowe
þe wisdam of þe witte of god ; he was put ffro bl ysse
and riȝth so fferde reson b y þe ; þou with rude speche
lakkedest & losedest þing ; þat longed not to don
þo had he no likynge ; ffor to lerne þe more
Pride now & presumpsioun ; paraunter wolle þe apele
þat clergie þi companye ; ne kepeþ not to sue
Schal neuere schalenginge ne chidinge ; chastice a man so son e
As schame & schenden him ; & schape him to amende
For late a drunken daff ; in a diche ffalle
latte him ligge loke not on him ; tille him list to rise
For þouȝ reson rebukede him þanne ; it were but pure synne
and whanne nede nymeþ him vp ; ffor douȝte leste he sterue
and schame schrapeþ his cloþis ; & his schyns wassheþ
þanne woteþ þe drunken daff ; whereffore he is to blame
ȝe seggen soþe quod I . iche haue yseyn it ofte
þer smyte no þing so smerte ; ne smelliþ so soure
as schame þer he schewiþ him ; ffor euery man him schonyeþ
why ȝe wissen me þus quod I was ; ffor I rebuked reson
Certis quod he þat is soþe ; and schope him ffor to walke
And I aros vp riȝt with þat ; & ffolwide him after
And preyd him of his curteysie ; to telle me his name

[^a326: made (C2) | made me to (most mss)]

[^a327: culled (C2) | colled (all other mss)]

[^a328: þe (C2hand1) | eiȝe (most mss) | the eighe (C2hand2)]

[^a329: non (C2) | not (most mss)]

[^a330: conpiscencia (C2) | concupiscencia (all other mss)]

[^a331: ffraternte (C2) | fraternitee (all other mss)]

[^a332: beren (C2hand1) | barne (C2hand2) | barn (all other mss)]

[^a333: fuerit ex aqua (C2) | fuerit (Bx)]

[^a334: þei (C2) | They wole (most mss)]

[^a335: werffore (C2) | wherfore (all other mss)]

[^a336: reden (C2) | reden it (all other mss)]

[^a337: not ffor non (C2) | ne (most mss)]

[^a338: om. (C2hand1) | Parum (most mss) | Parce (C2hand2)]

[^a339: dispite (C2) | dispute (most mss)]

[^a340: stismatikes (C2) | scismatikes (all other mss)]

[^a341: so (C2) | whoso (all other mss)]

[^a342: & of (C2) | of (most mss)]

[^a343: ffor þe (C2) | for (all other mss)]

[^a344: not (C2) | noȝt; he (all other mss)]

[^a345: and ffor-þi (C2) | Forþi (most mss)]

[^a346: shuld (C2) | shal (most mss)]

[^a347: porter (C2) | portate (all other mss)]

[^a348: Crist (C2) | Crist to (all other mss)]

[^a349: man (C2) | men (all other mss)]

[^a350: stelera (C2) | scelera (all other mss)]

[^a351: a (C2) | on a (most mss)]

[^a352: in (C2) | seiþ in (all other mss)]

[^a353: deserne (C2) | discerne (most mss)]

[^a354: to (C2) | of (most mss)]

[^a355: a (C2) | in (all other mss)]

[^a356: euenynge (C2) | euenynges (all other mss)]

[^a357: bridden (C2) | bredden (most mss)]

[^a358: ne (C2) | ne þe (all other mss)]

[^a359: Go (C2) | To (all other mss)]

[^196: C2.11.15:An otiose tilde appears above the second <y> in l yuynge.]

[^197: C2.11.18:Either the <d> in sayd is spoiled by an inkblot, or hand 2 has linedThrough it.]

[^198: C2.11.66:An otiose tilde appears above the <e> in parishe.]

[^199: C2.11.74: The two preceding lines are linked at the right by a bracket.]

[^200: C2.11.80:A superfluous minim appears within the collocation <in> in the word biringe.]

[^201: C2.11.85:Because the words a and beren are run together, Hand 2 has placed a virgule between them.]

[^202: C2.11.126:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drink.]

[^203: C2.11.130: The two preceding lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^204: C2.11.156:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in lernynge.]

[^205: C2.11.156:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in l yuynge.]

[^206: C2.11.166: The two preceding lines are linked at the right by a bracket.]

[^207: C2.11.175:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in commaundede.]

[^208: C2.11.218:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in alowaunce.]

[^209: C2.11.281:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce.]

[^210: C2.11.335:A virgule appears between the words of and ffele.]

[^211: C2.11.344:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in morwnynge.]

[^212: C2.11.345:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in euenynge.]

[^213: C2.11.384:The second <k> in stykkis has been altered so that it is no longer clearly legible.]

[^214: C2.11.384:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in veniaunce.]

Passus duodecimus

I am ymagynatif quod he ; ydel was I neuer
þouȝ I sitte b y my-selue ; in sekenesse & in helþe
I haue ffollwid þe in ffeiþ ; þis ffyue ; & ffourti wynter
and many tymes haue meued þe ; to þenke on þin ende
and how ffele fferneȝeris ar ffaren ; & so ffewe to come
and of þi wilde wantownesse ; þo þou ȝong were
To amende it in þi mydill age ; lest myȝte þe ffaile
In þin olde elde ; þat yuell can suffre
pouerte or penaunce[^215] ; or preyeris bidde
Si non in prima vigilia nec in secunda
amende þe while þou myȝte ; þou hast ben warned ofte
with pouste of pestelences ; with pouerte & with angres
and with þese bitter baleises ; god betiþ his dere childrin
Quem diligo castigo
and dauiþ in þe sauter seiþ ; of swiche þat louen Ihesus
Virga tua & baculus tuuus ipsa me consolata sunt
all-þouȝ þou strike me with þi staf ; with stik k oþer ȝerde
It is but myrþe as ffor me ; to amende my soule
and þou medelest þe with maystries ; & myȝtist go saye þi sauȝter
and bidde ffor hem þat ȝeuen þe bred ; ffor þer ben bokis
To telle me what do-well is ; do-bett & do-best boþe
and prechouris to preue what it is ; of many a peyre ffreris
I seiȝ well he said me soþe ; & sum -what me to excuse
saide caton comforted his sone ; þat clerk þouȝ he were
To solacen him sumtyme ; as I do whane I make
Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis
And of holi men I herde quod I ; how þei oþer -while
pleyeden þe parfiter ; to be in many places
and if þer were ony wiȝt ; þat wolde me telle
what were do-well & do-bett ; & do-best at þe laste
wolde I neuer do werk ; but wende to holy chirche
And þer bidde my bedis ; but whane I ete or slepe
poule in his pistyll . quod he ; preueþ what is do-well
Fides spes . caritas et maior horum & cetera .
Feiþe hope and charite ; and alle ben good
And saued[^a360] men sundri tymes ; & non so sone as charite
For he doþe well withouȝtyn douȝte ; þat doþe as lewte techiþ
þat is if þou be man maried ; þi make þou loue
and leue fforþe as lawe woll ; while ȝe leuen here
pilgrimage
[^216] Riȝt so if þou be religious ; renne þou neuere fferþer
To rome ne to rochemadoure ; but as þi rule techeþ
and holde þe vndir obedience ; þat hie wey is to heuene
and if þou be maydyn to marien ; and myȝte well conteyne
seke þou neuere seint fferþer ; ffor no soule helþe
For what made luciffere ; to lese his hie heuene
Or salomon his sapience ; or sampson his strenþe
Iob þe Iue his ioie ; dere it he abouȝte
Aristotle & oþer mo ; ypocras & virgile
Alexandre þat all wan ; elengeli endid
Catell and kynde witte ; was combraunce to hem all .
Felice hir ffairenesse ; ffelle hir all to slandre
Rosamonde
and rosamound riȝt so ; ruffulli bisette
þe bewte of hir body ; in badennesse sche dispendiþ it[^a361]
Of many swiche I myȝte rede ; of men & womman
Þat wise wordis kun seie ; & wirche þe contrarie
sunt homines nequam de virtute bene loquentes
and riche renkes riȝt so ; gaderen & sparen
and þo men þat þey most haten ; mynystrin it at þe laste
and ffor þey suffred &[^a362] seen ; so many nedy ffo lkis
and louen hem not as god bidiþ ; lesen here soulis[^217]
and richesse riȝt so ; but if þe rote be trewe
Date & dabitur vobiz
and grace is a grasse þer -of ; þe greuaunce to abate
Grace
And grace ne groweþ not ; but amonge þe lowe
pacience
Pacience & pouerte ; þe place is þer it growiþ
Pouertie
and in lele l yuynge men . & in lijf holi
And þoruȝ þe gifte of þe holi goste ; as þe gospell telliþ
Spiritus vbi vult spirat
Clergie kynde Wytt .
Clergie & kynde witt ; comeþ of siȝt & techinge
as þe boke bereþ wittenesse ; to barnes þat kun rede
Quod scimus loquimur quod vidimus testamur
Of quod scimus comeþ clergie ; & kunnynge[^218] of heuene
Of quod vidimus comeþ kynde witt ; of siȝt of diuerse peple
and grace is a gifte of god ; and of grett loue springiþ
knoweþ[^a363] neuere klerk how it comeþ fforþe ; þe kynde witt þe weyez
Nescit aliquis vnde venit aut quo vadit & cetera .
and ȝit is clergie to commende ; & kynde witte boþe
and namely clergie ffor cristis loue ; þat of clerigie[^a364] is rote
For moyses wittenessiþ þat god wrotte ; ffor to wisse þe peple
In þe olde lawe as þe letter telliþ ; þat was þe lawe of Iues
þat what womman were in auouuȝtrie taken ; riche oþer pore
with stones men shulld hir strike ; and stonye hir to deþe
a womman as we ffyndyn ; was gilti of þat dede
and crist of his curteisie ; þoruȝ clergie hir saued
For þoruȝ carectis þat crist wrouȝt ; þe Iues knewen hem-selue
Giltiere as affore god ; and in gretter synne
þanne þe womman þat þer was ; & wente away ffor schame
þe clergie þat þer was ; comfortede þe womman
holi kyrke knoweþ þis ; þat cristis writtinge saued
so clergie is comforte ; to creaturis þat repenten
and to manseed men ; mysshef at er[^219] ende
For godis body myȝt not be ; of bred without clergie
Chrieste his body in Sacramento
þe whiche body is boþe ; bote to þe riȝtffull
and deþ & dampnacioun ; to hem þat dien yuell[^220]
as cristis carectes comfortedid[^a365] ; & boþe coupled &[^a366] schewid
þe womman þat þe Iues brouȝten ; þat Ihesus þouȝt to saue
Nolite iudicare et non iudicabimini
Riȝt so goddis body breþeren ; but if it be wurþeli taken
Dampneþ us at þe day of dom ; as þe carettis dede þe Iues
For-þe[^a367] I conceill þe ffor cristis sake ; clergie to loue
For kynde witte is of his kyn ; & nyȝ cosyns boþe
To oure lord leue me ; ffor-þi loue hem I rede
For boþe ben as myrrours ; to amende oure deffautis
and leders ffor lewde men ; & ffor lettrid boþe
For-þi lakke þou neuere logik ; lawe ne his customes
Ne contirplede clerkis ; I counceile þe ffor euere
For as a man may not se ; þat mysseþ his eyn
No more can a clerk but if he cacche it ; ffrist þoruȝ bokis
al-þouȝ men maden bokis ; god was þe maister
and seint spirit his saumplarie ; & saide what man shulde writte
Similitudo
and riȝt as siȝt serueþ a man ; to se þe hie strete
Riȝt so lediþ lettrature ; lewde men to resoun[^221]
and as a blind[^222] man in bataile ; bereþ wepene to ffyȝte
and haþ non happe with his ax ; his enemyes to hitte
No more can a blynde[^a368] witted man ; but if clerkis him teche
Come ffor all his kynde witt ; to cristendom & be saued[^223]
whiche is þe cofre of cristis tresore ; & clerkis kepen þe keyes
To vnlokyn it at her likinge ; & to þe lewde peple
ȝeue mercy ffor her myssdedis ; if men it woll aske
Buxumliche & benyngliche ; & biddyn it of grace
Clergie
Archa dei ; in þe olde lawe ; leuytes it kepten
had neuere lewde man leue ; to ley honde on þe cheste
But he were preste ; or prestis sone ; patriark or prophete
For clergie is keper ; vndir crist of heuene
Was þer neuere no kynge[^a369] ; but[^a370] clergie him made
how kynde wytt is engendred
and kynde witte comeþ ; of all-kyns siȝtis
Of briddis of bestis of taastis ; of truþe & of disceytis
lyuyers to-fforn vs ; vseden to marke
þe selcouþe þat þei seyn ; her sones ffor to teche
and helde it an hie science ; her wittis to knowe
and þoruȝ here science soþeli ; was neuere soule saued
Ne brouȝt bi her bokis ; to blesse ne to Ioie
For alle her kynde knowinge ; come but of deuerse siȝtis
Patriarikis & prophetis ; repreued her science
and seiden her wordis ; ne her wisdomys nas but a ffolie
Sapiencia huius mundi stultitia apud domini
As to þe clergie of crist ; counted but a trifule[^224]
For þe hie holi gost ; heuene shall to-cleue
and loue shall lepe out after ; in-to his lowe erthe
and clennesse shall cacche it ; & clerkis shull ffynde[^a371]
Pastores loquebantur ad in-vicem
He spekiþ þer of riche men nouȝt ; ne of riȝt witti
Ne of lordis þat weren lewde men ; but of þe heyest letterd out
I-bant magy ab oriente
[^225] If ony ffrere were ffoundyn þer ; I ȝeue þe ffyue schillingis
Ne in no beggers cote ; was þat barn born
but in a burgeis place ; of bedelem þe beste
set non erat locus in diuersorio & pauper non habet diuersorium
To pastouris and to poietis ; apperede þe aungell
and bad hem go to bedelem ; godis birþe to honoure
and songen a songe of solace ; gloria in excelsis deo
clerkis knew it well ; & comen with her presentes
and dedyn here homage honorabli ; to him þat was almyȝti
and godis sonne þat sittiþ in heuene ; and shall saue us all
why I haue told þe al þis ; I toke ffull good hede
how þou contrariest clerigie[^a372] ; with crabide wordis
how þat lewde men liȝtliere ; þan lettrid were saued[^226]
þan clerkis or kynde witti[^a373] men ; of cristen peple[^227]
and þou seidest soþe of summe ; & se ȝit in what manere
Similitudo
Take two strong men ; and in tamise hem caste
And boþe naked as a nedill ; ar non sekerere þan oþer
That on haþe kunnynge ; & kan swymme & dyue
þat oþer is lewde of þat laboure ; lerned neuere to swymme
whiche trowist þou of þe two ; in tamise is in moste drede
he þat neuere ne dyued ; ne nouȝt can of swymmynge
or þe swymmer þat is saaf ; be so him-self like[^228]
Ther his ffellaw fflette fforþe ; as þe fflode likeþ
and is in drede to drinche ; þat neuere dede swymme
þat swymme can not I saide ; It semeþ to my wittis
Riȝt so quod þe renke ; reson it schewiþ
þat he þat knoweþ clergie ; can sonnere arise
Out of synne and be safe ; þouȝ he synne ofte
If him likiþ and liste ; þanne ony lewde leli
For if þe clerk be kunnynge ; he knowiþ what is synne
Contricioun Withoute Confession
and how contriscion with -oute confession ; comfortiþ þe soule
and þou sest in þi sauȝter ; in salmes on or tweyn
how contricioun is commendid ; ffor it cachiþ away synne
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta & cetera
and þis comforteþ iche a clerk ; and keuereþ him ffro wanhope
In whiche fflode þe ffende ; ffondeþ a man hardest
þere þe lewde liþe stille ; and lokeþ after lenten
and haþe no contricioun er he come to schrefte ; & þanne can he litill telle
and as his lores-man lereþ him ; beleueþ & trowiþ
And þat is after parson or parisshepreste ; & parauuenture he
Vnkunnynge to lere lewde men ; as luke bereþ wittenesse
Dum cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam & cetera .
woo was him markid þat ; wade mote with þe lewde
Clergie and Letterature . hathe saved many a man from hanging
well may þe baren blisse ; þat him to boke sette
þat leuynge after letterature ; saued him lijf & soule
Dominus pars hereditatis mee & cetera ; is a merie versett
þat haþe taken ffro tyburne ; twenti score[^a374] þeues
þer lewde þeues ben lolled vp ; loke how þei ben saued
þe þeef þat had grace of god ; on good ffriday as ȝe speken
was ffor he ȝalte him creaunt ; to crist ; on crosse & knewe him gilti
and grace axed of god ; and he is euere redy
þat buxumli biddiþ it ; and ben in wille to amende hem
Difference of blysse & Ioye in heven
and þouȝ þat þeef had heuene ; he had non hie blisse
As seint Iohan and oþer seyntis ; þat deserued had better[^229]
Similitudo
Riȝt as summe men ȝeuen me mete ; & setten me amyd þe fflore
I haue mete more þanne I-nowe ; & not so moche wurschepe
As þoo þat sitten at þe table ; or with souereyns of þe halle
But sitte as beggers bordles ; bi my-self on þe ground
so it ffareþ be þat ffelon ; þat on good ffryday was saued
he sitteþ neiþer be seint Iohan ; Symond ne Iude
Ne with maydenys ne martires ; conffessouris ne w ydowes
But b y him-self as a soleyn ; & serued on þe erþe
For he þat is onys a þeef ; is euere-more in daunger
And as lawe likiþ ; to l yue or to die
De peccato propiciato noli est sine metu
and ffor to serue a seynt ; & swiche a þeef to-gedris
It were neiþer resoun ne riȝt ; to rewarde hem boþe in liche[^a375]
and riȝt as troaianus þe true knyȝt tilte not depe in helle
þat oure lord ne had him liȝtlyche ouȝt ; so leue I . þe þeef be in heuene
For he is in þe loweste heuene ; if oure bileue be true
and well loseliche he lolliþ þer ; b y þe lawe of holi chirche
Quia redditur vnicui que iuxta opera sua
And why þat oo þeef on þe crosse ; creaunt him ȝelte
Raþer þanne þat oþer þeef ; þouȝ þou wolde apose
alle þe clerkis vndir crist ; ne couþe þe skylle asoile
Quare placuit ; quia volunt
and so I seie b y þe ; þat sekest after þe weyes
and aresondest a resoun[^a376] ; a rebuke[^a377] as it were
and of þe fflouris in þe ffriȝþe ; and of her ffaire heuwes
where-of þey cacchen her colouris ; so cler & so briȝt
and willes of briddis & beestis ; & of her bredinge knowe
why summe[^230] ben alowe ; & summe aloft ; þi likinge it were
and of þe stones & of þe sterres ; þou studiest as I leue
how euery best or bride ; haþe so breme wittis
Clergie ne kynde witte ; ne knewe neuere þe cause
and kynde knowiþ þe cause him-self ; & no creature ellis
he is þe pies patron ; and putteþ in hir ere
þat þer þe þornȝ[^a378][^231] is þikkest ; to bilden & brede
and kynde kenneþ þe potok[^a379][^232] ; to kauken in swiche a kynde
and kenned adam to knowe ; his preuy menbris
and tauȝte him & eue ; to hillen hem with leues
lewide men many tymes ; maistris apposen
why adam hillid not ffrist his mouþ ; þat ete þe appill[^233]
Raþer þanne his likham alow ; lewde axen þus clerkis
kynde knowiþ why he dede so ; & no clerk ellis
and of briddis & of bestis ; men be olde tyme
Tokenes of Riche men
Ennsaunplis token & termes ; as tellen þe poyetis
And þat þe ffayrest ffoule ; ffoulest engendriþ
And febleste ffoule of ffliȝt is ; þat ffleyeþ or swymmeþ
And þat is þe potok[^a380] & pohenne ; prouude riche men þey be-tokene
For þe pocok & men pursuen him ; may not fflie hie
For þe traylinge of his tayl ; ouere-takyn is he sone
and his ffleisshe[^234] is ffoule ffleissh ; & his ffeet boþe
And vnloueliche on ledne ; & layþ fforto here
Riȝt so þe riche ; if he his richesse kepe
and deliþ it not till his deþ-day ; þe tayl of alle sorwe
Riȝt as þe pennes of þe potok[^a381] ; peyneþ him in his ffliȝt
so is possession peyne ; of pens & of noblis[^235]
To alle hem þat it holdyn ; till here tayl be pluked
and þouȝ þe riche repente him þanne ; & be-rewe þe tyme
þat euere he gaderid so grette ; & gaf þer -of so litill
þouȝ he crie to crist þanne ; with kene wille I leue
his lede[^a382] in oure lordis ere ; is yliche a pies
and whanne his Careyn schall come ; in caue to be beried
I leue it fflawme ffull ffoule ; þe ffolde al abouȝte
and alle þe erþe lere[^a383] there it liþe ; enuenemeþ þoruȝ his attire
Be þe poo ffeet is vndirstandin ; as I lernede in auynet[^a384][^236]
Exsecutores ffals ffrendis ; þat ffulfillen not his wille
þat was wrettyn and þei wittenesse ; to werche as it wolde
þus þe poete proueþ þe pocok ; ffor his ffeþeris is reuerencid
Riȝt so is þe riche ; be reson of his goodis
þe lark þat is a lesse ffoule ; is more loueliche of leddene
and wel way[^a385] of weenge ; swyftere þanne þe pocok
and of ffleisshe be ffele[^a386] ffolde ; ffattere & swetter
To lowe leuynge[^237] men ; þe lark is resembled
aristotle þe grett clerk ; swiche talis telliþ
Thus he likeneþ in his logyk ; þe leste ffoule oute
and wher he be saf or not ; þe soþe wott þe clergie
Sortes Salomon
sortes[^a387] ne saloman ; no scripture can telle
and god is so good I hope ; þat siþe he gaf hem wittis
To wissen vs wey[^a388] þer-with ; þat wissen vs to be saued
and þe better ffor her bokis ; to biddin we ben holdyn
þat god of his grace ; gyue her soulis reste
For lettrid men were lewde ȝit ; ner lore of her bokis
alle þese clerkis quod I þo ; þat on crist leuen
Seggen in her sermouns ; þat no sarasens ne Iues
Ne no creature of cristis likenesse ; withouȝtyn cristendom worþe to be saued
Contra quod ymagynatif þo ; and Comsid ffor to loure
and saide saluabitur vix iustus ; in die iudicij
Ergo saluabitur quod he ; & said no more latyn
Traianus[^238] was a trewe knyȝt ; & toke neuere cristendom
and he seiþ[^a389] as seiþ þe boke ; & his soule in heuene
Baptismus Triplex
For þer is ffullinge in ffounte ; & ffullinge in blood scheddinge
and þoruȝ ffier is ffullinge ; þat is fferme bileue
aduenit[^239] ignus diuinus non conburens set illuminans .
and trewþe þat trespassid neuere ; ne trauessid[^a390] aȝens his lawe
But lyueþ as his lawe techeþ ; & leueþ þer be no better
And if þer were he wolde amende[^a391] ; in swiche wille deieþ
Ne wolde neuere trewe god ; but trewþe were alowide
And where it worþe or not ; þe bileue is grette of trueþe
And an hope hangynge þer -inne ; to haue mede ffor his truþe
Quia deus dicitur quasi dans vitam Eternam suis hoc est fidelibus ; Et alibi / Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis & cetera
þe glose graunteþ vppon þat vers ; a grette mede to truþe
And witte & wisdam quod þat wie ; was summe tyme tresore
To kepe with a comune ; no catell was holdyn better
And moche myrthe & manhood ; & riȝt wiþ þat he wanyschede

[^a360: saued (C2) | sauen (most mss)]

[^a361: dispendiþ it (C2) | despended (most mss)]

[^a362: suffred & (C2) | suffren and (most mss)]

[^a363: knoweþ (C2) | Knew (most mss)]

[^a364: clerigie (C2) | clergie (most mss)]

[^a365: comfortedid (C2) | confortede (most mss)]

[^a366: coupled & (C2) | coupable (most mss)]

[^a367: For-þe (C2) | Forþi (most mss)]

[^a368: blynde (C2) | kynde (most mss)]

[^a369: no kynge (C2) | no (most mss)]

[^a370: but (C2) | knyȝt but (all other mss)]

[^a371: ffynde (C2) | it ffynde (all other mss)]

[^a372: clerigie (C2) | clergie (all other mss)]

[^a373: witti (C2) | witted (all other mss)]

[^a374: score (C2) | stronge (most mss)]

[^a375: in liche (C2) | yliche (all other mss)]

[^a376: a resoun (C2) | Reson (all other mss)]

[^a377: rebuke (C2) | rebukynge (all other mss)]

[^a378: þornȝ (C2) | þorn (most mss)]

[^a379: potok (C2) | pecok (all other mss)]

[^a380: potok (C2) | pecok (all other mss)]

[^a381: potok (C2) | pecok (all other mss)]

[^a382: lede (C2) | ledene be (most mss)]

[^a383: lere (C2hand1) | þer (all other mss)]

[^a384: auynet (C2hand1) | Auynet (all mss) | night (C2hand2)]

[^a385: way (C2) | awey (all other mss)]

[^a386: ffele (C2hand1) | fele (all mss) | ffyve (C2hand2)]

[^a387: sortes (C2hand1) | Sortes (all mss) | Socrates (C2hand2)]

[^a388: wey (C2) | weyes (most mss)]

[^a389: seiþ (C2) | saaf (most mss)]

[^a390: trauessid (C2) | trauersed (most mss)]

[^a391: amende (C2) | amende and (all other mss)]

[^215: C2.12.9:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in penaunce.]

[^216: C2.12.40: A triangle composed of dots, with a wavy line ascending from the uppermost dot, appears in the left margin. See Introd. I.6.]

[^217: C2.12.60: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^218: C2.12.72:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in kunnynge.]

[^219: C2.12.91:It seems likely that C2 alone has this form; Kane and Donaldson record it only for C, probably in error for C2. The form is attested as a variant of hire by the MED, but this scribe does not elsewhere use it; since he uses the form her 306 times, it is most probable that the <h> is here omitted in error.]

[^220: C2.12.94:The preceding three lines are linked at the right by a bracket.]

[^221: C2.12.112: The preceding two lines are linked by a bracket at the left, outside which the <S> of Hand 2 appears.]

[^222: C2.12.113: An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in blind.]

[^223: C2.12.116: The preceding two lines are linked by a bracket at the left.]

[^224: C2.12.137:C2 alone transposes lines 136 and 137.]

[^225: C2.12.145: A cross composed of dots appears in the left margin, with a flourish ascending from the uppermost dot.]

[^226: C2.12.157: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket, which originally included only ll. 155 and 156 but has been extended to include l. 157.]

[^227: C2.12.158: The preceding three lines are linked at the right by a bracket.]

[^228: C2.12.166: A penciled swirl, perhaps the number <4>, appears in the extreme right bottom margin.]

[^229: C2.12.198: The preceding two lines are linked at the right by a bracket.]

[^230: C2.12.226:The collocation <um> in the word summe lacks a minim.]

[^231: C2.12.232:It is impossible to be certain whether this word reads þoruȝ or þornz.]

[^232: C2.12.233: The scribe must have found this form in his exemplar. It results from the common confusion of c and t, but its repetition at C2.12.244 and C2.12.251 suggests that confusion was not owed to the immediate scribe.]

[^233: C2.12.237: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^234: C2.12.247:Illegible marks appear below <leiss> in the word ffleisshe .]

[^235: C2.12.252: The preceding two lines are linked at the right by a bracket.]

[^236: C2.12.261:A virgule appears after the <a> in the word auynet.]

[^237: C2.12.269:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in leuynge.]

[^238: C2.12.285:A portion of the <r>, as well as the original <o> in Troianus has been erased, probably by hand 2, which substituted <a> above the line.]

[^239: C2.12.289:An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in the word aduenit .]

Passus terciodecimus

A nd I wakede þerwith ; witteles nyre -hande
and as a ffreke þat ffre were ; fforþe gan I walke
in manere of a mendynaunte ; many ȝere after
and of þis metinge many tyme ; moche had I þouȝte[^a392][^240]
Friste how ffortune me ffailide ; at my moste nede
And how þat elde manacede me ; we myȝte neuere mete
ffreris
and how þat ffreris ffolloweden ; ffolk þat weren riche
and ffolke þat weren pore ; at litill price þei setten
and no cors in her kyrk-ȝerd ; ne in here kyrk was beried
But quyk he be-queþe hem ought ; or shuld helpe quyte here dettis
Curatis vnlerned
And how coueytise ouerecome ; clerkis and prestis
And how þat lewde men ben ledde ; but oure lord hem helpe
þoruȝ vnkynnynge[^241] curatouris ; to in-curable peynes
and how þat ymagynatyf ; in dremees me tolde
Of kynde & of kunnynge[^242] ; & how curteise he is to bestis
and how louynge he is to bestis ; on lond & on water
leneþ he no lijf ; lasse ne more
þe creatouris[^a393] þat crepen ; of kynde ben engendrid
and how ymagynatif saide ; vix saluabitur Iustus
and whanne he had saide so ; how sodeyneliche he passide
I lay doun long in þis þouȝt ; and at þe last I slepte
Conscience
and as crist wolde þer come conscience ; to comforte me þat tyme
Clergie
and bad come to his courte ; with clergie shulde I dyne
And ffor conscience of clergie spake ; I Come well þe raþer
and þer I seiȝ a mayster ; what man he was I nyste
þat lowe lowted ; and loueliche to scripture
Conscience knewe him well ; and welcomede him ffayre
þey wassheden and wypeden ; & wente to dyner
pacience
and pacience in þe paleys ; stede[^a394] in pilgrimes cloþis
and preyed mete por[^a395] charite ; ffor a pore hermyte
Concience callide him Inne ; and curteysliche saide
welcome wie go & wasshe ; þou shalt sitte sone
þis maister was made sitte ; & ffor þe moste worþi
þanne clergie and conscience ; & pacience cam after
Pacience and I ; weren put to be macchis
and sitte be oure -selue ; at a side borde
Scripture
Conscience callide after mete ; & þanne cam scripture
and serued hem þus sone ; of sondri metis many
Of austyn of ambrose ; of alle þe ffoure euangelistis
at þe tabil
Edentes et bibentes que apud eos sunt
and þis mayster ne his man ; no manere fflessh eten
and þei eten mete of more coste ; mortrewes & potages
Of þat men myswonnen ; þei maden hem well at ese
and her sauce was euere soure ; & vnsauery y-groundyn
In a mortir post mortem ; of many bitter peynes
But if þei synge ffor þe soulis ; & wepte[^a396] salte teris
Vos qui peccata hountun[^a397][^243] comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effuderitis
ea que in delicijs comeditis in tormentis euometis
Conscience curteisliche þo ; comaunded[^a398][^244] scripture
By-ffore pacience bred to bringe ; & me þat was his make
he sette a soure loof to-ffore vs ; & saide agite penitenciam
and syþen he droewe us drynk[^245] ; diu perseuerans
as longe quod he as I l yue ; and likam may dure
here is propre seruyse quod pacience ; þer ffareþ no prince better
and þanne he brouȝte fforþe oþer mete ; of miserre[^a399] mei deus
and of beat[^a400] quorum ; of beatus vir makynge
Et quorum tecta sunt ; peccata in a dische
Of derne schrifte dixi ; and confitebor tibi
Brynge pacience sum petaunce ; quod conscience
and þanne come to pacience ; a petaunce brouȝt
Of pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno
and conscience comfortide us ; & carpid us merie wordis
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies
pacience was proud ; of þat propre seruyse
and made him myrþe with his mete : & I mornyd euere
For þis doctoure on þe hie deis ; drank wyn so ffaste
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum
He ete many sundri metis ; mortrewis & puddinges
wombe clouutes & wilde brawin ; & eggis ffried with grece
þanne saide I to my-self ; so pacience it herde
ffreris
It is not ffoure daies þat þis ffreik ; be-ffor þe deen of poulis
Prechede of penaunces ; þat poule þe apostle suffred
In ffame & frigore ; & fflappis of schorgis
Ter cesus sum & a iudeis quinquies quatragenas
And o word þei ouere-hippen ; at iche tyme þat þei prechen
þat poule in his pistle ; to þe peple tolde
Periculum est in ffalsis fratribus nota
holi writt bidiþ men be war ; I wole not write it here
On Englisshe an auntere it shulde ; be rehercid to ofte
and greue þer -with þat good ben ; & gramariens shull rede
Vnusquis que a fratre se Custodiat[^246] quia vt dicitur periculum est in ffalsis fratribus
nota ☞
and I wiste neuer ffreik ; þat as a ffrere ȝede . be-ffor men on Englisshe
Take it ffor her tyme ; & telle it with -oute glosinge
þei prechen þat pennaunce[^247] is ; profitable to þe soule
&[^248] What mescheff or malese ; crist ffor man þolede
and þis goddis gloton ; quod I ; with his grette chekis
haþe no pete on vs pore men ; he parfornmeþ yuell
þat he precheþ he preueþ not ; to pacience I tolde
and wisshede wittirly ; with wille ffulle egre
þat disshes and doubleris ; be-ffor þis ilke doctoure
were molton leed in his mawe ; & mahon amyddis
I shall Iangle to þis Iurdon ; with his Iutte wombe
To telle men what penaunce[^249] is ; of whiche he preched raþer
Pacience parceyued what I þouȝt ; & wynkid on me to be stille
And saide . þou shalt se þus sone ; whanne he may no more
he shall haue a penaunce[^250] in his paunche ; & puffe at iche a word
and þanne shalle hise guttis groþele ; & he shall galpen after
Doctouris of ffreris
For now he haþe drunken so depe ; he wolle dyuyne sone
and preue it be her pocalipis ; & passion of seint auereys
þat neiþer bakon ne brawn ; blankmanger ne mortrewes
Is neiþer ffisshe ne ffleishe ; but ffode ffor a penaunte
and þanne shall he testifie . of a trinite ; & take his ffelawes to wittenesse
what he ffonde in a ffrayll ; after ffreris leuynge[^251]
and but if þe ffrst[^a401] leef be lesinge ; leue me neuer after[^252]
and þanne is tyme to talke ; & appose þis doctoure
Of do-well . & do-bette . & if do-best ; be ony pennaunte[^a402]
and I satte stille as pacience saide ; & þus sone þis doctoure
as rody as a rose ; rubbede his chekis
Cowede and carpede ; & concience him herde
And tolde him of a trinite ; & towarde us he lokede
what is do-well ; sir doctour quod I ; is do-well ony penaunte[^a403]
Do-well quod þis doctour ; and toke þe cupe & drank[^253]
Do non yuel to þin euen-cristen ; not be þi powere
By þis sir doctour quod I þanne ; be ȝe not in do-well
For ȝe harmed us two ; in þat ȝe ete þe puddinge
Mortrewis & oþer mete ; & we no mussell hadden
and if ȝe ffaren so in ȝoure ffermorie ; fferli me þinkiþ
But cheste þer charite shulde be ; and sh yldrin dursten pleyn
I wolde permitte my penaunte[^254] with ȝoure ; ffor I am in poynt to do well
þanne concience curteisliche ; a contenaunce[^255] made
and preynte vppon pacience ; to preye me be stille
and saide him-selue sire doctour ; & it be ȝoure wille
what is do-well & do-bette ; ȝe dyuynouris knowen
Do-Well
Do-well quod þis doctour ; do as clerkis techen
Do-Bett
and do-bett is he þat techeþ ; & trauailiþ to teche oþer
and do-beste doþe him-self so ; as he seiþ & precheþ
Do-Beste
Qui ffecerit et docuerit magnus vocabitur in regus[^a404] celorum
Now þou clergie ; quod concience . carpeste what is do-well
I haue seuene sonnes he said ; seruen at a castell
þer þe lord of lyf wonneþ ; to lerne what is do-well
Tyll I se þo seuene ; & my-self acordyn
I am vnhardy quod he ; to ony wyȝte to preue it
For on peers þe plowman ; haþe impugned vs alle
and sette alle science at a soppe ; saue loue one
and no tixte ne takiþ ; to meynteyne his cause
But dilige deum ; & domine quis habitabit & cetera
And seiþ do-well . & do-bette ; ar two inffinitis
whiche in-ffenites with a ffeiþ ; ffyndyn out do-best
whiche shall saue manys soule ; þus seiþ peers plowman
I can not here-on quod concience ; & I knowe peers
he wolle not aȝeine holi writte speke ; I dare vnder -take
þanne passe we ouere tyll peers Come ; & preue þis in dede
pacience haþe ben in many placis ; & parauuenture knoweþ
That no clerk knoweþ ; as crist bereþ wittenesse
Pacientes vincunt
At ȝoure preire quod paciens þo ; so no man displese him
Disce quod he & doce ; & dilige inimicos
Disce and do well ; doce and do bette
a lemman þat I loued ; loue was hir name
with wordis and werkis quod sche ; & wille of þin herte
þou loue lelli þi soule ; all þi lijf-tyme
and so þou lerne þe to loue ; ffor þe lordis loue of heuene
þin enemye in all wyse ; euene-fforþe with þi-selue
Caste colis on his heed ; & all kynde speche
Boþe with werk & word ; ffonde his loue to wynne
And leye on him þus with loue ; till he lawȝhe on þee
and but he bowe ffor þis betinge ; blynde mote he worþe
And ffor to ffare þus with þi ffrynde ; ffolie it were
For he þat loueþ þe lelli ; litill of þin coueytiþ
kynde loue coueitiþ not ; no catell but speche
with half a laumpe lyne ; in latyn ex vi transgressionis
I bere þer -Inne a bewte ; ffaste y-bounde do-well
In a signe of þe saterday ; þat sett ffrist þe kalendir
In alle þe witte of þe weddenysday ; of þe nexte weke after
þe mydill of þe mone ; is þe myȝt of boþe
And here-with am I welcome ; þer I haue it with me
Vndo it latte þis doctour deme ; if do-well be þer -inne
For be him þat me made ; myȝte neuere pouerte
Missese ne myschell[^a405] ; ne man with his tunge
Colde ne care ; ne companye of þeues
Ne neiþer hete ne hail ; ne non helle pouke
Ne neiþer ffiere ne fflode ; ne ffere of þin enemyes
Tene þe ony tyme ; & þou take it with þe
Caritas nichil timet
It is but a dido quod þis doctour ; a disouris tale
all þe witt of þis world ; and with mennys strengþe
Can not conformen[^a406] a pees ; bitwynne þe pope & his enemyes
Ne bytwynne two cristen kyngis ; kan no wyȝt pees make
Proffitable to eiþer peple ; & put þe table ffro him
And toke clergie & conscience ; to conceill as it were
þat pacience þo muste passe ; ffor pilgrimes kun well lie
and concience carped loude[^256] ; and curteysliche said
Frendes ffareþ well ; & ffaire spake to clergie
For I wolle go with þis gom ; if god wolle gyue me grace
and be pilgrime with pacience ; till I haue proued more
what quod clergie to concience ; &[^a407] ȝe coueytous nouþe
after ȝerisȝeues and ȝiftis ; or ȝernen to rede redels
I shall bring ȝou a bible ; a book of þe olde lawe
and lere ȝou if ȝou like ; þe best poynt to knowe
þat pacience þe pilgrime ; parffiȝtly knewe neuere
Nay by crist quod concience ; to clergie god þe ffor-ȝelde
For all þat pacience me profreþ ; proud am I ffull litill
and þe wille of þe wie ; and ȝe wull of ffolk here
haþe moued my mod ; to morne ffor my synnes
Goode Will
þe good wille of þe[^a408] wiȝt was ; neuer bouȝt to þe ffull
For þer is no tresore þer -to ; to a trewe wille
had not magdaleyn more ; ffor a box of salue
þanne zacheus ffor he saide dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus
and þe pore wedowe ; ffor a peire of myȝtis
þanne alle þo þat offreden ; in-to gazophilacium
þus curteisliche concience ; congeyed þe ffrere
and siþen softeliche he said ; in clergies ere
Me were leuere be oure lord ; and I leue shulde
haue pacience parffiȝtli ; þan half þi bak of bokis
Clergie to concience ; no congie wolde take
But said ffull soburliche ; þou shalt se þe tyme
Concience . Clergy . and Pacience . be able to make pees betwixte all kyngis
whanne þou art wery ffor-walked ; wilne me to conceill
þat is soþe quod concience ; so me god helpe
if pacience be oure partinge ffelawe ; & preuy with us boþe
þer is no wo in þis world ; þat we ne shulde amende
and conformen kyng[^a409] to pees ; & all-kyns londis
Sarasens & surri ; so[^a410] fforþ all þe Iues
Turne in-to þe true ffeiþ ; and in-till on bileue
þat is soþe quod clergie ; I se what þou menest
I shall dwelle as I do ; my deuyr to schewe
and Confermen ffauntkyns ; and oþer ffolk ylered
Tyll pacience haue serued þe ; & parffiȝt þe made[^a411]
Concience þo with pacience passid ; pilgrimes as it were
þanne had pacience as pilgrimes han ; in his poke vetailis
Sobrete & symple speche ; & soþeffaste bileue
To comfforte him in[^a412] concience ; if þei comen in place
þer vnkyndenesse & coueytise is ; hungry contres boþe
and as þey wenten be þe wey ; of do-well þe[^a413] carpenden
þey metten with a mynstrall ; as me þo þouȝt
pacience aposede him þo ; & preyed he shuld him telle
To concience what craft he couude ; and to what contre he wolde
Activa vita
I am a mynstrall quod þat man ; my name is actiua vita
and alle ydell I hate ; ffor actijf is my name
a waferere wolle ȝe witte ; & serue many lordis
and ffewe robis I ffonge ; or ffurred gounes
kouþe I lye to do men lawȝe ; þanne lacchen I shuld[^a414]
Oþer metell[^a415] or mony ; amongis lordis mynstrallis
and ffor I can neiþer taboure ne trompe ; ne telle no gestis
Farten ne ffeþelen ; at ffestis ne harpin
Iape ne Iogele ; ne Ientiliche pipe
Ne neiþer saile ne sauȝte ; ne synge with þe gyterne
I haue no good gyftis ; of þese grette lordis
For no bred þat I bringe[^257] fforþ ; saue a beneson on þe sonday
whane þe preste preyeþ þe peple ; her pater noster to bidde
For peers þe plowman ; & þat him profiȝt wayteþ
and þat I am actiif ; þat ydilnesse hateþ
For alle trewe trauelouris ; & tillers of erthe
Fro myhelmesse to myhelmesse ; I ffynde hem waffris
Beggers and bidders ; of my bred crauen
Faytouris and ffreris ; & ffolk with brode crounes
pope
I ffynde payn ffor þe pope & prouendre ffor his palfrey
and I had neuere of him ; haue god my trewþe
Neiþer prouendre ne parsonage ȝit ; of þe popis ȝifte
Saue a pardon with[^a416] peise of leed ; & two pollis amydis
had iche a clerk þat couþe wriȝte ; I wolde caste him a bille
þat he sente me vndir his seel ; a salue ffor þe pestelence
and þat[^a417] blessinge and his bullis ; myȝte bochis distroie
In nomine meo demonia eicient & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt
and þanne wolde I be prest ; to þe peple . past ffor to make
and buxum and besi ; abouȝte bred and drink[^258]
For him & all his ; ffonde I þat his pardon
Miȝte lechen a man ; as I bileue shulde
For sithe he haþe þe powere ; þat peter him-selue hadde
he haþe þe potte with þe salue ; soþeli as me þinkeþ
Argentum & aurum non est michi quod autem habeo hoc tibi do ; Surge et ambula[^259]
And if myȝt of myracle him ffaile ; it is ffor men ben not worþi
To haue þe grace of god ; & no gilte of þe pope
For may no blessinge don vs bote ; but if we wollen amende
Ne mannys masse make pees ; amongis cristen peple
Till pride be puriliche ffor-do ; & þat þoruȝ peyne deffauȝte
For er I haue breed of mele ; erste mote I swete
And er þe comune haue corn y-now ; many colde mornynge[^260]
So er my waffres be wrouȝt ; moche woo I þole
þole
al london I leue ; likeþ well my wafres
and louryn when þey lakkyn it ; is not long passid
nota
þer was a careffull Comune ; whanne no carte come to toune
with bred ffro stratfford ; þo gonnen beggers wepe
and werkmen were agast a litill ; þis wolle be þouȝt longe
In þe date of oure dryȝte ; in a drie[^261] aprill
1350 Anno regni regis Edwardi tercij 24 . / . 25o
A þouusand and thre hundrid ; twyes twenti & ten
My wafres weren gesen ; whanne chichestre was meire
I toke good kepe bi crist ; and concience boþe
of aukyn þe actijf man ; & how he was cloþid
He hade a coke[^a418] of cristendom ; as holi chirche bileueþ
And it was molede in many places ; with many sondry plottis
Of pride here a plotte & þer a plott ; of vnbuxum speche
Of scornynge & of scoffinge ; & of vn-skylfull beringe
As in aparayle & in porte ; proud amongis þe peple
Oþer -wise þanne he haþe with herte ; or ye schewinge
him wyllynge þat al men wenden ; he were þat he is not
For-why he bostiþ & braggeþ ; with many bolde oþes
And inobedient to be vndirnome ; of ony lyf leuynge
And so synguler bi him-self ; ne non so poppe-holi
Religion of Heremytes
In habite as an hermyte ; an ordre by him-selue
Religion saunz rule ; and resounable obedience
lakkinge lettride men ; & lewde men boþe
In likenynge of lele lijf ; and a liere in soule
with in-witte & wiþ out-witte ; ymagynen & studien
as best ffor his body be ; to haue a badde name
and entermete him ouere all ; þer he haþe not to don
wylnynge þat men wende ; his witte were þe best
and if he gyue out to pore gomes ; telleþ what he deleþ
Pore of possesion in purs ; and in coffres boþe
and as a leon on to loke ; and lordliche of speche
Baldeste of beggers ; a boster þat nouȝt haþe
In toune and in tauernes ; talis to telle
and segge þinge þat he neuere seiȝ ; & ffor soþe sweren it
Of dedis þat he neuere dede ; demen & bosten
and of werkis þat he well dede ; wittenesse & sege
loo if þou leue me not ; or þat I lie wene
Axeþ at him or at him ; & he ȝou can telle
what I suffred & seiȝ ; & summe tymes hadde
and what I kouþe & knewe ; and what kyn I come of
all he wolde þat men wisten ; of werkis & of wordis
whiche myȝt plese þe peple ; & preysen hem-seluen
Si hominibus placerem christi seruus non essem & alibi nemo potest duobus dominis seruire & cetera .
By crist quod concience þoo ; þi beste cote haukyn
haþe many molis & spottis ; it must ben y-wasshid
ȝee who-so toke heed ; quod haukyn . bi-hynde & be-ffore
what on bakke & on body ; & be þe twey sidis
Men shulden ffynde many ffrounces ; & many ffoule plottis
and he turned him as tite ; & þenne toke I hede
It was ffouler be ffele ffolde ; þanne it ffrist semede
It was be-droppid with wraþe ; & wikkide wille
with envie & yuell wikked speche ; entycinge to ffiȝt
liynge & lawȝhinge ; and leef tunge to chide
all þat he wiste wikked ; be ony wiȝt tellyn it
and blame men bihynde her bak ; and bidde hem myschaunce
and þat he wiste bi wille ; telle it to watte
And þat watte wiste ; wille wiste it after
And made of ffrendis ffoos ; þoruȝ a ffals tunge
Or with myȝte of mouþe ; or þoruȝ mannys strenþe
Auenge me ffele tymes ; ouþer ffrete my-selue
with -Inne as a schepsters schere ; I schrewed men & cursid
Cuius malediccione os plenum est & amaritudine sub linguam eius & cetera ; & alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & cetera[^262]
þer is no lyf þat I loue ; lastinge ony while
For talis þat I telle ; no man tristeþ to me
and whane I may not haue þe maistrie ; with malancolie I take
þat I cacche þe crappe[^a419] ; þe cardiacle summe tyme
Or an ague in swiche an angre ; and summe tyme a ffeuere
That takiþ me al a twelue-moneþ ; till þat I dispice
leche-crafte of oure lorde ; & leue on a wycche
and seggiþ þat no clerk ne can ; ne crist as I leue
Bilefe in Wytches
To þe Souȝter of Souþwerk ; & of sordiche dame Emme
and seggiþ þat no goodis[^a420] word ; gaff me neuer bote
But þoruȝ a charme had I Chaunce ; & my chef hele
Besyloker
I wayted besiloker ; & þanne was it suylid
with likinge of leccherie ; and be lokynge of his ye
For yche a maydyn þat he mette ; he made hir a signe
Semynge to synnewarde ; and summe tyme he gan taste
Abouȝte þe mouþe or beneþe ; bigynneþ to grope
Till eiþer wille waxet[^a421] kene ; and to þe werk ȝeden
as well in ffastinge-daies ; as ffridaies & fforboden nyȝtis
and as well in lente ; as outȝ of lente . al tymes Iliche
Swyche werkis with hem ; were neuere ouȝt of seson .
Tille þey myȝten no more ; & þanne hade meri talis
And how þat leccherous leuen[^a422] ; lawȝen and Iapen
And of her herlotrie & horedom ; in here elde tellen
þanne pacience parceiued ; of poyntis of his cote
was colmy þoruȝ coueitise ; & vnkynde desiringe
More to good þanne to god ; þe gom his loue caste
and ymaginede how ; he it myȝt haue
with ffalse mesure & met ; & with ffalse wittenesse
Lonede[^a423] it ffor loue of þe wed ; & loþe to do trueþe
and I awaytide ; þoruȝ wiche weye to bigyle
And mengid his marchaundise ; & made a good mustre
þe wers with -Inne was ; grett witt I lete it
And my neiȝbore had ony hyne ; or ony beste ellis
More prophetable þanne myn ; many sleiȝtis I made
how I myȝte haue it ; al my witt I caste
and but I had be oþer wey ; at þe laste I stale it
Or preuyliche his purs scoke ; vnpikide his lokkis
Or be nyȝt or be day ; abouȝte was I[^a424]
þoruȝ gyle to gaderen ; þe good þat I haue
If I ȝede to þe plow ; I pynched so narwe
þat a ffote lond or a fforuȝ ; fecchyn I wolde
Of my next neibore ; nymen of his erthe
And if I repe ouere-reche ; & ȝaue hem reed þat rope
And seise to me with my sykill ; þat I sewe neuere
And who-so borwiþ of me ; abouȝt þe tyme
with presentis preuyliche ; or payd summe certeyn
So wolde he or he nolde ; wynnen I wolde
And boþe to kyþe & to kyn ; vnkynde of þat I hadde
And who-so chepede of my[^a425] chaffare ; chiden I wolde
But he propherid me to paye ; a peny or tweyne
More þanne it was worþ ; & ȝit wolde I swere
þat it coste me moche more ; & swore many oþes
In halidaies in holi chirche ; whanne I here messe
hadde I neuere wille wotte god ; wittirli to be seche
Mercy ffor my mysdedis ; þat I ne mornyd more
For losse of good leue me ; þanne ffor my ffoule[^a426] gyltis
As if I had dedli synne don ; I drede not þat so sore ;
as whanne I lenede . leuede it loste ; or longe or it were paid
So if I kidde ony kendenesse ; myn euen -cristen to helpe
vppon cruell coueytyse ; myn herte gan hang .
And I sente ouere see ; my seruantis to bruggis
Or in-to pruselond my prentice ; my proffiȝt to wa ytyn
To marchaunten with mony ; & make her eschaunges
Miȝte neuere me comfforte ; in þe mene tyme
Neiþer messe ne matyns ; ne no manere siȝtis
Ne neuer penaunce[^263] parfformed ; ne pater noster said
þat my mynde ne was more ; on my good in douȝte
þanne in þe grace of god ; & his grette helpis
vbi thesaurus tuus ibi & cor tuum
The braunches þat bringeth a man to slouthe
whiche ben þe branchis ; þat bringen a man to sluþe
Is whanne a man mornyþ not ffor his dedis ; ne makiþ no sorowe
and penaunce þat þe prest enjoyneþ parfformeþ yuell
Doþe non almes-dede ; drediþ him of no synne
lyueþ aȝeyn þe bileue ; & no lawe holdiþ
Iche day is an haliday ; and an hieȝ fferie
and if he out wolle here ; it is an harlottis tunge
and whanne men carpen of crist ; or clennesse of soule
he waxiþ wroþe and woll not here ; but wordis of myrþe
Penaunce and pore men ; and passion of seyntis
he hatiþ to here þer -of ; and alle þat it telliþ
These ben þe braunchis ; be war ; þat bringen a man to wanope
Ȝe lordis and ladies ; and legatis of holy chirche
þat ffynden[^a427] ffoles sage ; fflateriris & lieris
and han likynge to lyþen hem ; to do ȝou to lawghe
ve uobis qui ridetis & cetera
and ȝeuen hem mete and mede ; and pore men reffusen
In ȝoure deþ deynge ; I drede me full sore ;
fflaterers ffooles lyers
Lest þe þre manere men ; to moche sorwe ȝou bringe
Consencientes & agentes ; pari pena punientur
Patriarkes & prophetis ; & prechouris of godis wordis
Sauen þoru her sarmon ; mannys soule ffrom helle
Riȝt so fflateriris and foolis ; and þe ffendis disciplis
To entise men þoruȝ her talis ; to synne & harlotrie
as clerkis þat knowyn holi write ; shulden kenne lordis
what dauiþ seiþ of swiche men ; as the sauter telliþ[^264]
Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit sup erbiam & qui loquitur iniqua
shulde non harlot haue audience ; in halle ne in chambris
lo lordis & prelatis
þer wyse men weren ; wittenesse godis wordis
Ne non mysproude man ; amongis lordis be alowed
And fflaterris and ffolis ; þoruȝ her ffoule wordis
leden þo þat louen hem ; to luciffers ffestis[^a428]
with turpiloquio a lay[^265] of sorouȝ ; and luciffers ffeþele
þus haukyn þe actijf man ; had ysueuled soyled his cote
Tyll concience acoupede him þer -of ; in a curteys manere
why he ne hadde wasshen it ; or wipid with a brusshe

[^a392: had I þouȝte (C2) | þouȝt I hadde (most mss)]

[^a393: creatouris (C2) | creatures (all other mss)]

[^a394: stede (C2) | stood (all other mss)]

[^a395: por (C2) | for (most mss)]

[^a396: wepte (C2) | wepe (most mss)]

[^a397: hountun (C2) | ho[minum] (all other mss)]

[^a398: comaunded (C2hand1) | commaunded (most mss) | comaunded (C2hand2)]

[^a399: miserre (C2) | miserere (most mss)]

[^a400: beat (C2) | beati (all other mss)]

[^a401: ffrst (C2) | first (all other mss)]

[^a402: pennaunte (C2) | penaunce (all other mss)]

[^a403: penaunte (C2) | penaunce (all other mss)]

[^a404: regus (C2) | regno (all other mss)]

[^a405: myschell (C2) | meschief (all other mss)]

[^a406: conformen (C2hand1) | conformen (most mss) | confyrmen (C2hand2)]

[^a407: & (C2) | ar (all other mss)]

[^a408: þe (C2) | a (most mss)]

[^a409: kyng (C2) | kynges (all other mss)]

[^a410: so (C2) | and so (all other mss)]

[^a411: made (C2) | maked (all other mss)]

[^a412: in (C2) | and (all other mss)]

[^a413: þe (C2) | þei (most mss)]

[^a414: shuld (C2hand1) | ne shuld (C2hand2)]

[^a415: metell (C2) | mantel (all other mss)]

[^a416: with (C2) | wiþ a (all other mss)]

[^a417: þat (C2) | þat his (all other mss)]

[^a418: coke (C2) | cote (most mss)]

[^a419: crappe (C2) | crampe (all other mss)]

[^a420: goodis (C2) | goddes (most mss)]

[^a421: waxet (C2) | wexeþ (most mss)]

[^a422: leuen (C2) | louyen (most mss)]

[^a423: Lonede (C2) | Lened (most mss)]

[^a424: om. (C2hand1) | euere (most mss) | ever (C2hand2)]

[^a425: of my (C2) | my (all other mss)]

[^a426: ffoule (C2) | likam<es> (all other mss)]

[^a427: ffynden (C2) | fedeþ (most mss)]

[^a428: ffestis (C2) | feste (all other mss)]

[^240: C2.13.4: A double solidus above þouȝte and had indicates transposition of original had I þouȝte.]

[^241: C2.13.13:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in vnkynnynge.]

[^242: C2.13.15:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in kunnynge.]

[^243: C2.13.47:Kane and Donaldson describe this word as untranscribable. It appears (quite clearly) as hou˜tu˜. All other manuscripts have hominum .]

[^244: C2.13.49:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in comaunded.]

[^245: C2.13.52:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drynk.]

[^246: C2.13.81: A double solidus above Custodiat and se indicates transposition of original Custodiat se.]

[^247: C2.13.84:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in pennaunce.]

[^248: C2.13.85:Although it is in Hand 1, the ampersand appears to the left of the usual margin, and may have been added later.]

[^249: C2.13.93:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce.]

[^250: C2.13.96:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce.]

[^251: C2.13.103:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in leuynge.]

[^252: C2.13.104: The preceding six lines are linked at the left by a vertical line.]

[^253: C2.13.112:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in drank.]

[^254: C2.13.119:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in penaunte.]

[^255: C2.13.120:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in contenaunce.]

[^256: C2.13.182: An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in loude.]

[^257: C2.13.238:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in bringe.]

[^258: C2.13.255:An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in drink.]

[^259: C2.13.260: This line begins in the right margin following line 259 and wraps around to occupy the next full line space.]

[^260: C2.13.267:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in mornynge.]

[^261: C2.13.274:Although the indefinite article is written together with the word drie, as is the scribe's custom, a virgule appears between the two words.]

[^262: C2.13.330: This line begins in the right margin following line 329 and wraps around to occupy the next full line space.]

[^263: C2.13.396:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in penaunce.]

[^264: C2.13.425: The ascender of the <h> in the is deocrated with a geometric design five lines in length. In addition, the <s> in sauter is elongated horizontally ten characters in length.]

[^265: C2.13.432:Hand 1 has written the indefinite article together with the word lay as is his custom, and Hand 2 has added a virgule between the two words.]

Passus quartodecimus

I haue but an hool hool[^a429] hater quod haukyn ; I am þe lesse to blame
þouȝ it be suyled soyled & ffoule ; I slepe þer -inne on nyȝtis
And also I haue a wyff ; huen and childrin
vxorem duxi & ideo non possum venire
þat wolden be- molen it many tyme ; mawgri my clekis[^a430]
It haþe be laued in lenten ; and out of lenten boþe
with þe sope of sekenesse ; þat sekeþ wondir dede[^a431]
and with þe losse of catell ; loþe ffor to agylte
God or ony good man ; bi out þat I wiste
and was schreven of þe preste ; þat gaffe me ffor my synnes
To penaunce pacience ; and pore men to ffede
al ffor coueitise of my cristendom ; in clennesse to kepe[^a432]
and kouþe I neuere be crist ; kepe it clene an oure
þat I ne suylede soyled it with siȝt ; or summe yuell[^a433] speche
Or þoruȝ werk or word ; or wille of myn herte
But I ne ffloboure it ffoule ; ffro morwyn till euen
and I shall kenne þe quod conscience ; of contricion to make
Cordis contricio & cetera.
þat shall clawe þi cote ; of all-kyns synnes .
Do-well shall wasshen it ; and wringin it þoruȝ a wise conffessour
Oris conffessio & cetera
Do-bette shall beten it & boukyn it ; as briȝt as ony scharlet
And engreyn it with good wille ; and godis grace to amende þe
and siþen sende þe satisfaccion ; ffor to sewe after
Satisfaccio & cetera
Do-best shall neuere myst be-molen it ; ne moþþe after bite it
Ne ffende ne ffals man ; deffouȝlen it in þi lyue
schall non heraud ne harpoure ; haue a ffairere garnement
Thanne haukyn þe actijf man ; and þou do be my techinge
Ne no mynystrall be more worþe ; amongis pore and riche
þanne haukyns wyff ; þe wafferere ; with his actiua vita
And I shall purueie þe past quod pacience ; þouȝ no plow erie
and ffloure to ffede ffolk with ; as best be ffor þi soule
þouȝ neuere greyn growed ; ne grape vp-on vyne
alle þat leuen and loken ; lijflode wolde I ffynde
and þat I-now shal non ffaile ; o[^a434] þing þat hem nedeþ
we shulden not be to besi ; abouȝten oure lijflode
Ne solliciti sitis & cetera volucres celi deus pascit & cetera Pacientes vincunt & cetera
þanne lowȝ haukyn a litill ; and liȝtli gan swere
who-so loueþ ȝou be oure lord ; I leue not he be blessid
No quod pacience paciently ; and out of his poke hent
vetailis of grett vertues ; ffor alle manere bestis
and said lo here liiflode ynow ; if oure bileue be trewe
For lent neuere was lyff ; but liiflode were schapen
wher-of or where-ffore ; and where-bi to leue
Frist þe wylde worme ; vndir whete erthe
Fisshe to lyue in þe fflode ; and in þe ffiere þe criket
The Curlew
þe curlu be kynde of þe eyre ; most clenneste ffleishe of briddis
and bestis be gresse & greyne ; and be grene rotus
In menynge þat all men ; myȝten do þe same
leue þoruȝ lele bileue ; and loue as god wittenessiþ
Q uodcum que pecieritis a patre in nomine meo et cetera . non[^a435] in solo pane viuit homo set in omni verbo qui procedit de ore dei
but I loked what liiflode it was ; þat pacience so presid[^266]
and þanne was it a pece of þe pater noster ; fiat voluntas tua
haue haukyn quod pacience ; and ete þis whane þe hungriþ
Or whanne þou clomseste ffor cold ; or chillist ffor drie
shulde neuere gomes þe greue ; ne grett lordis wraþe
prison ne peyne ; ffor pacience[^a436] vincunt
be so þat þou be sobre ; of siȝt and of tunge
In etinge and in handelinge ; and all þi ffyue wittis
þarst þou neuere care ffor corn ; ne lynnen cloþe ne wollen
Ne ffor drink[^267] ne deþ drede ; but deye as god likiþ
Or þoruȝ hungre or þoruȝ hete ; at his wille be it
For if þou leuest after his lore ; þe scorter lyf þe better
Si quis amat christum mundum non diligit istum
For þoruȝ his breþ bestis wexen ; and abrode ȝeden
Dixit & facta sunt
Ergo þoruȝ his breþe ; mown men & bestis leue
as holi writte wittenessiþ ; whan men songon in[^a437] her gracis
Aperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal benediccione
ffilij Israel . in deserto
It is ffounden þat ffourti wynter ; ffolk leueden with -out tyllynge
and out of þe fflynte spronge þe ffloode ; þat ffolk and bestis dronken
and in elies tyme ; heuene was y-closede
þat no reyn ne roon ; þus reden men in bokis
þat many wyntris men leueden ; and no mete ne tilieden
Seuene slepten as seiþ þe boke ; Seuene hundrid wynter
and leueden withoutyn loflode[^a438] ; and at þe last þey woken
and if men leueden as mesure wold ; shulde neuer be deffaute
amongis cristen creaturis ; if cristis wordis be trewe
and vnkyndenesse Caristia makeþ ; amongis criisten peple
and ouere plente maakyþ pride ; amonge pore and ri che
and mesure is so moche worþe ; it may not be to dere
Somdom & gomor
For þe Mysscheff & myssc haunce ; amonge men of sodom
wexe þoruȝ plente of payn ; and of pure sluþe
Ociositas & habundancia panis ; peccatum turpissimum incrituit[^a439][^268]
For þey mesurid not hem-self ; of þat þei eten & drunkyn[^269]
Dedyn deedli synne ; þat þe dyuel liked
So veniaunce[^270] ffelle vpon hem ; ffor her vile synnes
þei sunken in-to helle ; þe citees ichon
For-þi mesure wy[^a440] vs well ; and make oure ffeiþ oure scheltrom
Contricionis christus
and þoruȝ ffeiþ comeþ contricion ; concience wot it well
whiche dryueþ away dedly synne ; and doþe it to be venyall
and þouȝ a man myȝte not speke ; contricion myȝte him saue
and bringe his soule to blisse ; so þat ffeiþ here wittenesse
þat whiles he leuede he beleuede ; þe lore of holi chirche
Ergo contricion ffeiþ and concience ; is kyndeli do-well
and Surgien ffor dedli synnes ; whan schrefte of mouþe ffailide
confessio oris
And schrifte of mouþe more worthy is ; if man be ilich contrite
For schrefte of mouþe sleþe synne ; be it neuere so dedly
per conffessionem to a prest ; peccata occiduntur
þer contricion dooþ . but dryueþ it doun ; in-to a venyall synne
and dauiþ seiþ in þe sauȝter ; & quorum tecta sunt peccata
Satisfaccionis christus
and satisfaccion sekeþ out þe rote[^a441] ; boþe sleeþ & voidiþ
and as it neuere hadde be to nouȝt ; bryngeþ dedly synne
þat it is neuere efte sene ne sore ; but semeþ a wounde heled
where woneþ charite ; quod haukyn ; I wiste neuere in my lyff
Man þat with him spake ; as wyde as I haue passid
þer parffiȝt trueþe and pore herte is ; & þanne pacience of tunge
þer is charite þe cheff chamberere ; ffor god him-selue
Of the Riche and þe poore man . whether is more plesinge to our Saviour
wheþer pacience pouerte quod haukyn ; be more plesaunte to oure saueoure[^a442]
þanne richesse riȝtffulli wonnen ; and resonabliche spendid
Ȝe quis est ille quod pacience ; quik laudabimus eum
þouȝ men reddyn of richesse ; riȝt to þe worldis ende
I wiste neuere renke þat riche was ; þat whanne he rekene shulde
whanne he drowȝ to his deþ-day ; þat he ne drede him sore
and þat at þe rekenynge[^271] in arerage ffell ; raþer þanne out of dette
þer þe pore dar plede ; and preue be pure reson
To haue aloauȝce[^a443] of his lord ; be þe lawe he it cleymeþ
Ioye þat neuer Ioy hadde ; of riȝtffull Iuge he axeþ
and seiþ lo briddis and bestis ; þat no blisse ne kouþe
and wilde wormes in wodis ; þoruȝ wyntres þou hem greuest
and makist hem wel-ny meke ; & mylde ffor deffaute
and after þou sendest hem somer ; þat is her souereyne Ioie
and blesse to alle þat ben ; boþe wilde and tame
þanne may beggers & breddis[^a444] ; after bote waytyn
þat alle her lijf han lyued ; in langour and in deffauȝte
But god sente hem summe tyme ; summe manere Ioie
Oþer here or ellis-where ; kynde ; wolde it neuere
For to ouere-moche woo ; was he wrouȝt . þat neuer was ioie schaped
aungellis þat in helle now ben ; haden ioie summe tyme
And dyues in deyntes lyuede ; and in douce vie
Riȝt so reson scheweþ ; þat þo men þat weren riche
and her makes also ; leued here lyff in myrþe
and god is of a wondir wille ; bi þat kynde witt schewiþ
[^272] To ȝeue many men his mercymonye ; er he it haue deserued
Riȝt so ffareþ god be summe riche ; ruþe me it þinkiþ
For þei han her hyre here ; and heuene as it were
and eke grett likynge to lyue ; with -out labour of body
And whane he deyeþ be disalowed ; as dauid seiþ in þe sauter
Dormierunt & nichil in-uenerunt
And in anoþer stede also velut sompnium surgencium domine in ciuitate tua ad nichil nichil in[^a445] redigez
Allas þat richesse shall reue ; & robbe manys soule
From þe loue of oure lord ; at his laste ende
hyndes
huen þat han here hyre affore ; arn euere-more redy[^a446]
and seldom dieþ he out of dette ; þat dyneþ er he deserue it
And till he haue don hir[^a447] deuyr ; and his daies Iorne
For whanne a werkeman haþe wrouȝt ; þenne mown men se þe soþe
what he were worþi ffor his werk ; & what he haþe deserued
and not to ffonge be-ffore ; ffor drede of disalowinge
so I say be ȝou riche ; it semeþ not þat ȝe shull
haue heuene in ȝoure here byinge[^a448] ; & heuene hereafter
nota ☞
Riȝt as a seruant takiþ his salerie ; be-ffore . & siþe wolde cleyme more
as he þat non hadde ; and haþe hyre at þe laste
It may not be ȝe riche men ; or mathew on god lieþ
De delicijs ad delicias difficile est transire
and if ȝe riche men haue ruþe ; and rewarde well þe pore
and leuen as lawe techeþ ; don lewte to hem all
Crist of his curteise shall ; comfforte ȝou at þe laste
and rewarde alle double richesse ; þat rewffull hertis haddyn[^a449]
Similitudo
And as an hyne hade ; his hire er he bigunne
and whane he haþe don hi s deuer well ; men don him oþer bounte
Ȝeuen him a cote abouen his couenaunt[^273] ; riȝt so crist ȝeueþ heuene
boþe to riche & to not riche ; þat rueffulliche lyuen
And all þat don her deuer well ; haue double hyre ffor here trauaile
her fforȝeuenesse of her synnes ; and heuene blisse after
Riche Men seldom saved
and it nys but seldom seen ; as bi holi seintis lyues
þat god rewardid double reste ; to ony riche gome[^a450]
For moche myrthe is amonge riche ; as in mete and cloþinge
and moche myrþe in may is ; amonge wilde bestis
and so fforþe while somer lastiþ ; her solace duriþ
and beggers abouȝte mydsomer ; bredles þei soupen
and ȝit is wynter ffor hem wers ; ffor weete-schode þei gangin
Aþreste sore & affyngrid ; and ffouliche rebuked
and arated of riche ; þat ruþe is to here
Now lord sende hem somer ; and summe[^a451] Ioie
heuene after her hens goynge ; þat here han swiche deffaute
For alle myȝtist þou haue made ; non menere þan oþer
and ylike witti and wise ; if þi wille hade likid
and haue ruþe of þese riche men ; þat rewardyn not þi presouneris
of þe good þat þou hem gyueste ; vnkynde ben many
and god of þi goodenesse ; gyue us grace to amende
For may no derþe hem dere ; drie[^a452] ne weete
Ne neiþer hete ne hayle ; haue þey here hele
Of þat þei welnen and wolden ; wanteþ hem not here
and pore peple þi presouneris ; lord in þi pete[^a453] of myscheff
Comforte þo creaturis ; þat moche care suffrin
þoruȝ derþe and drouþe ; alle here daies here
woo in wynter tymes ; ffor wantinge of cloþis
and in somer -tyme seldom ; soupen to þe ffull
Comfforte þi careffull ; crist in þi riche
For how þou comfortist alle creaturis ; clerkis beren wittenesse
Conuertemini ad me & salui eritis
þus in genere of gentrice ; Ihesu crist saide
To robbers and to reuers ; to riche and to pore
þou tauȝtiste hem in þe trinite ; to take baptisme
and be clene þoruȝ þat cristynynge ; of alle-kyns synnes
and us ffelle þoruȝ ffo ly ; to ffalle in synne after
Confession & knowlechinge ; and crauynge[^274] þi mercy
shulde amende us as many siþes ; as man wolde desire
And if þe pope wolld plede here -aȝeyn ; and punyshe vs in concience
he shulde take þe aquytaunce[^275] as quik ; & to þe quede schewe it
pateat & cetera per passionem domini & cetera
and putten of þe pouke ; and preuen vs vnder borwe
And þe parchemynt of þis patent ; of pouerte be muste
And of pure pacience ; and parffiȝt bileue
Of pompe and of pride ; þe parchemyn decorreþ
paupertas Spiritus
and principali of alle peple ; but þei be pore of herte
Ellis is all on ydell ; all þat euere we written
Pater noster and penaunce ; & pilgrimage to rome
But oure spences & spen dynge ; springe of a trew wille
Ellis is all oure laboure lost ; lo how men writtyn[^a454]
In ffenestris at þe ffreris ; if ffalse be þe ffoundement
For-þi cristen shulde in Comune riche ; non coueyte ffor hym -selue
For seuene synnes þer ben ; assaylyn þe euere
þe ffende ffollowiþ hem alle ; and ffondiþ hem to helpe
and with richesse þat ribaudie ; raþeste men bigyliþ
For þer þat richesse regneþ ; reuerence ffolowiþ
and þat is plesaunt to pride ; in pore and in riche
And þe riche is reuerencid ; be reson of his richesse
Þer þe pore is put him[^a455] by-hynde ; & paraunter can more
Of witt & of wisdam ; þat ffer away is better
þanne richesse or riallte ; & raþer herd in heuene
For þe riche haþe moche to rekene ; & riȝt softe walkyþ
þe wey[^a456] to heuene-ward ; often richesse letteþ
Ita possibile diuiti et cetera .
þer þe pore preseþ bifforn þe riche ; with a pak at his rigge
Opera enim illorum sequuntur[^a457][^276] illos & cetera
Batauntliche as beggers don ; and boldeliche he craueþ
For his pouerte and pacience ; a per ppetuall blisse
Beati pauperes quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum
and pride in richesse regneþ ; raþer þanne in pouerte
arst in þe maister þanne in þe man ; sum mansion he haþe
And in pouerte þer pacience is ; pride haþe no myȝte
Ne non of þe seuene synnes ; sitte ne mown þer long
pouertie with pacience
Ne haue powere in pouerte ; if pacience it ffollowe
For þe pore is ay preste ; to plese þe riche
and buxum at his biddinge ; ffor his brokyn loues
And buxumnesse and bost ; are euere-more at werre
And ayþer hatheþ[^a458] oþer ; in all manere werkis
If wraþe wrastill with þe pore ; he haþe þe wers ende
For if þey boþe pleyne ; þe pore is but ffeble
And if he chide or chatre ; him cheueþ þe wers
and if coueytyse cacche þe pore ; þey mown not come to-gedris
and be þe nekke namely ; here non may hente oþer
For men knowyn þat coueytise ; is of a kene wille
and haþe honndis and armes ; of a longe lengþe
And pouerte is but petitt þinge[^277] ; appereþ not to his nauell
and loueliche layk was neuere ; bitwynne þe long & þe scorte
and þouȝ auarice wolde angre þe pore ; he haþe but litil myȝt
For pouerte haþe but pokis ; to puttyn in his goodis
þer auerice haþe almaries ; & yren-bounden coffres
and whedir be liȝter to breke ; lesse boste it makyþ
A beggers bagge ; þanne an yren-boundyn coffre
leccherie loueþ him not ; ffor he ȝeueþ but litil siluer
Ne doþe him not dyne delicatli ; ne drinke[^278] wyn ofte
A strawe ffor þe stewes ; it stode not I trowe
hadde þei no þinge but pore men ; her housis stoden vnhillid
And þouȝ sleuþe sue pouerte ; & serue not god to paye
Myssheff is his maister ; and makeþ him to þenke
þat god is his gretteste helpe ; & no man ellis
and his seruante he[^a459] seiþ ; and of his sute boþe
and wheder he be or be not ; he bereþ þe signe of pouerte
And in þat secte oure saueour ; saued all man -kynde
For-þi all pouerte þat pacient is ; may cleymen & asken
After here endinge here ; heuene-riche blisse
Mechell hardier may he axen ; þat here myȝte haue his wille
In lond and in lordshepe ; and lackinge[^a460] of body
and ffor godis loue leueþ all ; and leueþ as a begger
and as a mayde ffor manys loue ; hir modir fforsakiþ
and ffader and all hir ffrendis ; and ffollowiþ hir make
Moche is swiche a mayde to loue ; of him þat swiche on takiþ
More þanne a mayde is[^a461] ; þat is maried þoruȝ brocage
and bi asent of sundri parties ; & siluere to bote
More ffor coueytyse of good ; þanne kynde loue of boþe
So it ffareþ bi iche a person ; þat possession ffor-sakeþ
and puttiþ him to be paciente ; & pouerte weddiþ
þe whiche is sibbe to god him-self ; and so to his seintis
haue god my trouþe quod haukyn ; ȝe preisyn ffaste pouerte
what is pouerte with pacience ; propirli to mene
Paupertas quod pacience est Odibile bonum remocio curarum pessessio[^a462] sine calumpnia . donum dei . sanitatis . mater. absque solitudine semita sapiencie temperatrix . negocium sine dampno . in -certa ffortuna . absque sollicitudine felicitas[^279]
I can not construe þis quod haukyn ; ȝe muste seie it on englisshe
In englisshe quod pacience ; it is well hard . well to expoune
and summe-dell I shall seie it ; be so ȝe vndirstonde
pouerte is þe ffriste poynte ; þat pride moste hateþ
þanne is it good be good skylle ; all þat agasteþ pride
Riȝt as contricion is comfortable þinge ; concience it woot well
and a sorow of him-self ; & solace to þe soule
So pouerte propreliche ; penaunce and Ioye
Is to þe body ; pure perpetuall helþe
Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum
and contricion comfforte ; & cura animarum þe secounde
Silde sitte pouerte ; þe soþe to declare
Or as iustice to iugge men ; enioyned is no pore
Ne to be meire aboue men ; ne menystre vndir kyng
Seldom is ony pore put ; to punnysshe ony peple
Remocio curarum
Ergo pouerte and pore men ; parfformen þe comaundementis[^280]
Nolite iudicare quemquam . þe þrede
Seldom is ony pore riche ; but of riȝtfull eritage
wynneþ not with wyȝttis ffalse ; ne vnsellide vnseyled mesuris
Ne borwiþ of his neiboris ; but þat he may well paye
Possessio sine ca lumpnia
þe fferþe is a ffortune ; þat fflorissheþ þe soule
with sobrite ffrom alle synnes ; & also ȝite more
It affaytiþ þe ffleshe ; ffrom ffolies ffull many
A collaterall . connfort ; cristis owyn ȝiftis[^a463]
Donum dei
The ffifte is moder of helþe ; a ffrende in all ffondingis
and ffor þe lewde euere a leche ; a lemman of all clennese
Sanitatis mater
The þe[^a464] sixte is a paþþe of pees ; ȝe þoruȝ þe pace of aulton
Pouerte myȝte passe ; without perell of robbinge
For-þi þer þat pouerte passiþ ; pees ffollwiþ after
And euere þe lesse he bereþ ; þe harder[^a465] he is of herte
For-þi seiþ seneca ; paupertas est absque solitudine semita
And an hardy man of herte ; amonge an heep of þeues
Cantabit pauper coram latrone viator
The seuenete is welle of wissdom ; and ffewe wordis schewiþ
For lordis alowen him litill ; or listenen to his resoun
He temperiþ þe tunge to trueþewarde ; and no tresore coueitiþ
Sapiencie temperatrix
þe eyte[^a466] is a lele labour ; and loþe to take more ;
þanne he may well deserue ; in somer or in wynter
And if he schaffare . he chargiþ no losse ; mowe he charite wynne
Negocium sine dampno
þe nynte is swite ffor þe soule ; no sugre swetter
For pacience is payne ; ffor pouerte him-selue
and sobrite swyte drink[^281] ; and good leche in sekenesse
þus lerede me a lettred man ; ffor oure lordis loue
Seynt Augustyn[^a467] a blessid lijf ; with -out besinesse
[^282]For body and soule Absque solicitudine ffelicitas
Now god þat al good gyueþ ; graunte his soule reste
þat þus ffrist wrotte to wissen men ; what pouerte was to mene
Allas quod haukyn þe actijf man þoo ; þat after my cristendom
I ne had be deed and doluen ; ffor do-wellis sake
So harde it is quod haukyn ; to leue & to do synne
Synne sueþ us euere ; quod he ; & sori gan waxe
and wepte water with his eyn ; and waylid þe tyme
That euere he deed dede ; þat dere god displesiden[^a468]
Swowened and sobbyd ; and sekede ffull ofte
That euere he hadde londe or larde ; lesse oþer more
Or maistrie ouere ony man ; mo þan of him-selue
I were not worthi quod haukyn ; to were ony cloþis
Ne neiþer schirte ne schoune ; saue ffor shame one
To coueren my Careyn quod he ; and criede ffast mercy
And wepte and weylide ; and þer -wiþ I awakyd

[^a429: hool (C2hand1) | olde (C2hand2)]

[^a430: clekis (C2) | chekis (all other mss)]

[^a431: dede (C2) | depe (all other mss)]

[^a432: kepe (C2) | kepe it (all other mss)]

[^a433: yuell (C2) | ydel (all other mss)]

[^a434: o (C2) | of (most mss)]

[^a435: non (C2) | Et alibi Non (all other mss)]

[^a436: pacience (C2) | pacientes (all other mss)]

[^a437: songon in (C2) | seye (most mss)]

[^a438: loflode (C2) | liflode (all other mss)]

[^a439: incrituit (C2) | nutriuit (most mss)]

[^a440: wy (C2) | we (most mss)]

[^a441: rote (C2) | rote and (all other mss)]

[^a442: saueoure (C2) | driȜte (most other mss)]

[^a443: aloauȝce (C2) | allowaunce (most mss)]

[^a444: breddis (C2) | beestis (most mss)]

[^a445: nichil in (C2) | nichilum (all other mss)]

[^a446: redy (C2) | nedy (most mss)]

[^a447: hir (C2) | his (all other mss)]

[^a448: here byinge (C2) | heer beyng (Bx)]

[^a449: haddyn (C2) | habbeþ (most mss)]

[^a450: gome (C2) | wye (most mss)]

[^a451: summe (C2) | som maner (most mss)]

[^a452: drie (C2) | droghte (all other mss)]

[^a453: pete (C2) | put (most mss)]

[^a454: writtyn (C2) | writeþ (all other mss)]

[^a455: put him (C2) | put (all other mss)]

[^a456: wey (C2) | heiȝe wey (most mss)]

[^a457: sequuntur (C2) | sequntur (all other mss)]

[^a458: hatheþ (C2) | hateþ (all other mss)]

[^a459: he (C2) | as he (all other mss)]

[^a460: lackinge (C2) | likynge (all other mss)]

[^a461: a mayde is (C2) | a maiden is (most mss)]

[^a462: pessessio (C2) | possessio (all other mss)]

[^a463: ȝiftis (C2) | ȝifte (most mss)]

[^a464: The þe (C2) | The (all other mss)]

[^a465: harder (C2hand1) | hardier (most mss) | hardyer (C2hand2)]

[^a466: eyte (C2) | eighteþe (most mss)]

[^a467: Augustyn (C2) | Austyn (most mss)]

[^a468: displesiden (C2) | displesed (most mss)]

[^266: C2.14.53:An otiose curl appears above the <p> in presid.]

[^267: C2.14.62:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drink.]

[^268: C2.14.85:The last word of this line is clearly legible but unintelligible.]

[^269: C2.14.86:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in drunkyn .]

[^270: C2.14.88:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in veniaunce.]

[^271: C2.14.116:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in rekenynge.]

[^272: C2.14.135: A triangle composed of dots, with a wavy line ascending from the uppermost dot, appears in the left margin. See Introd.I.6.]

[^273: C2.14.162:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in couenaunt, and a superfluous minim appears after the first <u>.]

[^274: C2.14.198:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in crauynge.]

[^275: C2.14.201:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in aquytaunce.]

[^276: C2.14.227:C2 here has the correct reading against all other manuscripts.]

[^277: C2.14.247:An otiose tilde appears above the <g> in þinge.]

[^278: C2.14.255:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drinke.]

[^279: C2.14.280: This line begins in the right margin of l. 279, wraps around to occupy the next two full line spaces, and ends in the right margin of l. 281.]

[^280: C2.14.297:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in comaundementis .]

[^281: C2.14.327:An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in drink.]

[^282: C2.14.331:A circle--perhaps the letter <o>--appears in the left margin opposite this line. The hand cannot be determined.]

Passus quinto decim us

A nd after my wakynge ; it was wondir longe
Er I kouude kyndeli knowe ; wat[^a469] was do-well
And so my witte wexe & wanyede ; till I a ffool were
And sum lakked my lijf ; a lowed it ffewe
And leten ffor a lorell ; and loþe to reuerencen
lordis and ladies ; or ony lijf ellis
as persounes in pilure ; and with pendauntes of siluere
To sergeauntes ne to swiche ; said not ones
God loke ȝou lordis ; ne loutede ffaire
Anima
þat ffolk helden me a ffooll ; and In þat ffolie I reued[^a470]
Till reson hadde ruþe ; on me ; & rokkede me aslepe
Tyll I seyȝ as it sorcery were ; and sotill þing with -all
Oon with -outyn tunge and teeþ ; tolde me whedir I shulde
and where -of I cam ; and what kynde ; I coniurede him at þe laste
If he were cristis creature ; ffor cristis loue me to telle
I am cristis creature quod he ; & cristen in many a place
In cristis courte I-knowe well ; & of his kyn a partie
Is neiþer peter þe portere ; ne poule with his ffauchon
þat wolle deffende me þe dore ; dynge I neuer so late
at mydnyȝth at mydday ; my voice so is knowyn
þat iche a creature of his courte ; welcomeþ me ffaire
what ar ȝe callide in þat courte quod I ; amongis cristis peple
Anima Animus Mens Memoria Racio Sensus Conscientia
þe whilis I quyk was in þe cors quod he ; callid am I anima
and whanne I wylne or wolde Animus iche hatte
And ffor þat I can and knowe ; callid am I mens
And whane I make mone to god ; memoria is my name
and whanne I deme domes ; & do as trewþe techeþ
þanne is racio my riȝt name ; & reson on englisshe
And whanne I ffele þat ffolk telliþ ; my ffrist name is sensus
And þat is witt and wisdam ; þe welle of alle craftis
And whane chalange or chalange not ; clepe or reffuse
þanne am I concience callid ; godis clerk and his notorie
and whanne I loue lelli ; oure lord and all oþer
þanne is lele loue my name ; & in laytn amor
and whane I ffle ffro þe ffleisshe ; & fforsake þe careyne
þanne am I spirit specheles ; spiritus þanne iche hatte
Austyn & ysidorus ; eiþer of hem boþe
Nempenede me þus to name ; now þou myȝtist chese
how þou coueitiste to calle me ; now knowest[^a471] alle my names
Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur dum viuificat corpus ; anima est dum vult animus est / dum scit ; mens est / dum recolit . memoria est dum iudicat racio est dum sentit . sensus est / dum amat / amor est / dum negat vt consentit ; consciencia est / dum spirat spiritus est/[^283]
ȝe ben as a bischop quod I ; al bourdynge þat tyme
For bisshopis I-blesside ; beren many names
presull & pontiffex and metropolitanus
and oþer names an heep ; episcopus & pastor
þat is soþe saide he ; now I se þi wille
þou woldeste knowe and kunne ; þe cause of alle here names
and of myn if þou myȝtiste ; me þinkiþ be þi speche
ȝe sir I said be so ; no man were agreued
alle þe science vndir sunne ; and all þe sutill craftis
I wolde knowe and kunne ; kyndely in myn herte
þanne art þou vnparffiȝt quod he ; and on of pridis knyȝtis
For swiche a lust and likinge ; luciffer ffell ffrom heuene
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo
It were aȝeins kynde quod he[^a472] ; al-kyns resoun
þat ony creature shulde kunne al ; excepte crist one
Aȝens swiche saloman spekiþ ; & dispisiþ her wittis
and seiþ sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum ; set qui scrutator est magestatis opprimitur a gloria[^284]
To englisshe men þis is to mene ; þat mown speke & here
þat[^a473] man þat moche hony etiþ ; his mawe it engleymeþ
and þe more þat a man ; of good mater hereþ
but he do þer -after ; it doþe him double scaþe
Beatus est seiþ seynt bernarde ; qui scripturas legit
Et verba vertit in opera ; ffuliche to his power
Coueitise to kunne ; & to knowe science
Pullede ouȝt of paradice ; adam and eue
Sciencie appetitus hominem immortalitatis gloria spoliauit
and riȝt as hony is euell to deffie[^a474] ; engleymeþ þe mawe
Ryȝt so þat þoruȝ resoun ; wolde þe rote knowe
Of god and his myȝtis ; his grace it letteþ
For in þe likinge lyþe a pride ; & a likinge[^a475] coueytise
aȝeins cristis conceill ; & all clerkis techinge
þat is non plus sapere quam oportet sapere
☞
Freris and ffele oþer maistris ; þat to lewde men prechen
Meuen maters immesurablez ; to tellyn of þe trinite
And ofte tymes þe lewde peple ; of her bileue douȝten
Better to bileue were many ; doctouris swyche techynge
And telle men of þe ten commaundementis ; & touche þe seuene synnys
And of þe braunchis þat borjounen of hem ; and bringen men to helle
And how þat ffolk in ffolies ; myspendyn here ffyue wyttis
pride of ffreris
as well ffreris as oþer ffolk ; ffoliche þei spendyn
In howsinge in hateringe ; & hie clergie schewinge
More ffor pompe þan ffor pure charite ; þe peple wotte þe soþe
þat I ne lye not loo ; ffor lordys ȝe plesyn
and reuerencen þe Riche ; þe raþer ffor her goodis
Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia & cetera . & alibi vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium
ffreris
Go to þe glose of þe vers ; ȝe grette clerkis
If I lye on ȝou to my lewde witt ; ledyth me to brennynge
For as it semeþ ȝe ffor-saken ; no mannys almes
Of vsureris of horis ; & of auarouse Chapmen
And louten to þese lordis ; þat mown lene ȝou noblis
Aȝeyn ȝoure reule & religion ; I take recorde of Ihesus
þat saide to his deciplis ; ne sitis personarum acceptores
Of þis matere I myȝte ; make a longe bible
Curatours
And of curatouris of cristen peple ; as clerkis beren wittenesse
I shall telle it ffor truþis sake ; take hede who-so likeþ
As holynesse & honeste ; out of holi chirche sprediþ
þoruȝ lele leuynge[^285] men ; þat godis lawe techen
Riȝt so out of holi chirche ; all yuellis spredyn
þer imparffiȝte presthode is ; precheris & techers
and se it be ensaunple ; in somer -tyme on tres
Similitudo
þer summe bowes ben leued ; & summe beren non
þer is a myscheff in þe moore ; of swiche manere bowis
Ryȝt so parsons & prestis ; and prechouris of holi chirche
þat arn rote of þe riȝt ffeiþ ; to reule þe peple
and þer þe rote is roten ; reson wotte þe soþe
shall neuere ffloure ne ffruȝte ; ne ffaire leef be grene
Lechery of clothinge in preestys
For-þi wolde ȝe lettrid men leue ; þe leccherie of cloþing
And be kynde as ffell ffor clerkis ; & curteis of cristis goodis
Trewe of ȝoure tunge ; and of ȝoure tayl boþe
And hate to here harlotrie ; & not to vndirffonge
Tyþes of vntrwe þing ; ytilid or schaffared
loþe were lewde men ; but þey ȝoure lore ffolleweden
and amende hem þat myssedon ; more ffor ȝoure ensaunplis
ypocrysy is lykoned to a dongehill
þanne ffor to preche or preuen it not ; ypocrise it semeþ
For ypocrise in latyn ; is lykened to a donghill
þat were be-snewid with snow ; & snakis with -Inne
Or to a wall þat were wiȝte-lymed ; with -ouȝt & ffoule with -Inne
Ryȝt so many prestis ; precherous and prelatis
Arn enblaunched with bell paroeles ; & with cloþis also
and ȝoure werkis & wordis þer -vndir ; ar fful vnloueliche
Iohan Crisostomus ; of klerkis spekiþ & prestis
sicut de templo omne bonum egreditur ; sic de templo omni malum procedit / / Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit ;[^286] tota floreret ecclesia Si autem corruptum fuerit ; omnium fides marcida est // Si sacerdocium fuerit in pecatis ; totus populis conuertitur ad pecandum / Sicut cum videris arborem . marcidam & pallidam ; intelligis quod vicium habet in radice / Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum[^287]
If lewde men wisten ; what þis latyn meneþ
and who was myn autoure ; moche wondir me þinkiþ
But if many a prest here ; ffor her basalardis & her brochis
shulden go synge seruyseles ; with sir phelip þe sparwe[^288]
Syr Iohan and Syr gefferey ; han gyrdlis of syluer
prestis nota
a baslard and a ballok-knyf ; and barres ouere-gylte
and a portos þat shulde be his plow ; placebo to segge
Hadde he neuer seruyse to saue siluer þerto ; ffor spending at ale
Alas ȝe lewde men ; moche lesen ȝe on prestis
And þing þat wikkidliche is wonnen ; & with ffalse sleyȝtis
wolde neuer of witty god þe witt ; but wicked men it had
þe whiche ar prestis imparffiȝte ; & prechouris after syluere
Sectouris & Suddenes ; somonours & her lemmans
þis þat with gyle was geten ; vngraciousli is spendyd
So harlottis & horis ; arn holpen þoruȝ swiche goodes
And godis ffolk ffor deffaute þer -of ; fforffaren & spillen
Curatouris of holi chirche ; as clerkis þat ben auarouse
lyȝtliche þat þei leuen ; lossellis it hauen
Or dyen intestat ; and þanne þe bisschop entriþ
and makiþ myrthe þer -with ; & his men boþe
and seyn he was a nygard ; þat no good myȝte spare
To ffrende ne to ffrende[^a476] ; þe[^a477] haue his soule
For a wrechid hous he helde ; al his lyf-tyme
And þat he spared & bisperde ; spende we in myrþe
be þey lered be þey lewde ; þat loþe is to spende
þus gon her goodis ; be þe gost ffaren
And ffor good men god wott ; grett doel men makyn
And bymeneþ good mete ; ȝeueris & in mynde hauen
In preyeris and in penaunce ; & in parffiȝte charite
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli non intrabitis & cetera
what is charite quod I þo ; a childishe þing he saide
with -outyn ffaunte or ffolie ; a ffre leberall will
where shulde men ffynde swyche a ffrende ; with so ffre an herte
Longe Will
I haue lyued In lond quod I ; my name is longe wille
and ffo nde I neuere ffull cha rte charite ; beffore ne be-hynde
Men ben mercyable to mendynauntis ; & to þe pore
and wolle lene þer þei leuen ; lelli to be payd
and charite þat poule precheþ best ; & most plesiþ oure saueour
As non inflatur . non est ambiciosa . non querit que sua sunt
I seiȝ neuer swyche a man ; so me god helpe
þat he ne wolde aske after his ; & oþer -while coueyte
þing þat nedeþ him not ; & nyme it if he myȝte
Clerkis tellyn me ; þat crist is in al his[^a478] places
And I seiȝ him soþeli ; but as my-self in a myroure
Ita in enigmate tunc ffacie ad faciem
& so I trowe truly ; be þat men tellyn of charite
It is not champiouns fiȝt ; ne chaffare as I trowe
Charite quod he ne chaffareþ not ; ne chalengeþ ne craueþ
as proude of a peny ; as of a pound of gold
And is as glad of a gowne ; of a grey russet
As of a tunycle of tarse ; or of tried scarlet
he is glad with alle glade ; & good to all wikkid
And leneþ & loueþ alle ; þat oure lord made
Cursiþ he no creature ; ne can bere no wraþe
Ne no likynge haþe to lye ; ne lawȝhe men to scorn
Al þat men seyn . he late it soþe ; & in solace takiþ
And alle manere mescheues ; in myldenesse he suffreþ
Coueytiþ he non erþeli good ; but heuene-riche blisse
haþe he ony rentis or richesse ; or ony riche ffrendis
Of rentis ne of richesse ; reckeþ he neuere
For a ffrende þat ffyndiþ him ; ffaylid him neuer at nede
Fiat voluntas tua ; ffyndiþ him euere-more
And if he soupe[^289] he etiþ but a soppe ; of spera in deo
he can portreye þe[^a479] pater noster ; & peynte it with aues
And oþer[^a480] he is wone ; to wende on pilgrimage
þer pore men & prisouners ben ; her pardon to haue
þouȝ he bere hem no bred ; he bereþ hem swettere
loueþ hem as oure lord biddiþ ; & lokeþ how þei ffaren
And whane he is wery of þat werk ; þanne wolle he sum tyme
labouren in lauendrie ; þe lenþe of a myle
And ȝerne in-to ȝouþe ; and ȝepli speke
pride with al þe apurtenaunce ; & pakken hem to-gedris
And bowken hem at his brest ; & beten hem clene
And leggen on longe ; with laboraui in gemitu meo
And with warme water at his eyn ; wasshen hem after
And þanne he syngeþ whane he doþe so ; & sum tyme seiþ wepynge
cor contritum & humiliatum non despicies
By crist I wolde þat I knewe hym ; no creature leuere
with -ouȝtyn helpe of peers plowman quod he ; his persone seest þou neuere
wher clerkis knowyn him quod I ; þat kepen holi chirche
Clerkis han no knowinge quod he ; but be werkis & wordis
And peers þe plowman ; parceyued more depper
Cogitaciones eorum Et vidit deus
where is þe wille & wherffore ; þat many a wyȝte suffreþ
For þer arn ffull proude[^a481] men ; paciente of tunge
And buxum as of beringe ; to burgeys & to lordis
And to pore peple ; han peper in þe nose
And as a l yon he lokeþ ; þer men lackyn his werkis
For þer arn beggers and bidders ; bedemen as þei were
loken as lambron ; & semen lijf-holy
And it is more to haue her mete ; in swyche esy manere
þanne ffor penaunce or parffiȝtenesse ; þe pouerte þat swiche taken
þerffore be coloure ne be clergie ; knowe shalte þou him neuere
Neiþer þoruȝ wordis ne werkis ; but þoruȝ wille one
And þat knoweþ no clerk ; ne creature in erþe
[^290] But peers þe plowman ; petrus id est Christus
For he is not in losellis ; ne in land-lepers hermytis
Ankres
Ne in ankres þer a box hangeþ ; alle swiche þei ffaytyn
Fy on ffaytouris ; and in ffautores suos
cheritie
For charite is goddis Champion ; & as a good childe hende
and þe meriest of mouþe ; at mete where he sitteþ
þe loue þat lyþe in his herte ; makyþ him liȝt of speche
and is companyable & comffortatyff ; as crist bydiþ[^a482] hym -self
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes
For I haue seen him in sylk ; and sum tyme in russete
boþe in greye and in griys ; & in gylt harneys
And as gladeliche he it gaaf ; to gomes þat it nedede
Edmund & Edwarde ; eyþer were kyngis
and seyntes I-sette ; till charite hem ffolwyd
I haue seen charite also ; Syngen and reden
Ryden & rennen ; in raggyd wedis
and biddynge as beggers ; bihelde I him neuere
and in riche robes ; raþest he walkyþ
y-callid y-crymaylid ; & his croune schauen
and clenliche y-cloþid ; in cipres & in tartaryen
and in a ffreris ffroke ; he was ffounden ones
and it is ffer ago ; in seynt ffraunceys tyme
and in þat secte syþe ; to selden haþe be knowen
Ryche men he recomaundiþ[^291] ; & of her robes takiþ
þat with -ouȝtyn wylis ; leden her lyues
Beatus est diues qui & cetera
In kyngys court he comeþ often ; þer þe conceill is trwe
and if coueytise be of þe conceill ; he woll not come þer -inne
In courte amonge Iapers ; he comeþ not but selde
For braulynge and bacbytynge ; & beringe of ffals wittenesse
In þe consistorie beffor þe comyssarie ; he comeþ not fful ofte
For her lawe duriþ ouer -long ; but if þey lacchyn siluere
and matrimoyne ffor money ; maken & vn-maken
and þat concience and crist ; haþe y-knyte ffaste
þey vndon it vnworþily ; þo doctouris of lawe
and I ne lake no lyff ; but lord amende us alle
and geue us grace good god ; charite to ffolowe
For who-so myȝte mete with hym ; swyche maneres him eyliþ
Neiþer he banneþ ne blameþ ; bosteþ ne preysiþ
Craueþ ne coueitiþ ; ne crieþ after more
lakkeþ ne loseþ ; ne lokeþ vp sterne
In pace in idipsum dormiam & cetera.
Love in goddys passion
þe moste lyflode he lyueþ by ; is loue in godis passion
Neiþer he biddiþ ne beggeþ ; ne borwiþ to ȝelde
Mysdoþe he no man ; ne with his mouþe greueþ
amongis cristen men ; þis myldenesse shulde laste
In all manere angres ; haue þis at herte
þat þouȝ þey suffreden al þis ; god suffred ffor vs more
In ensaumple we shuld do so ; & take no veniaunce[^292]
Of oure ffoos þat don us ffalsnesse ; þat is ffadris wille
For well may euery man witte ; if god had wolde hym -selue
shulde neuere iudas ne Iew ; haue Ihesu don on rode
Ne haue martirid petir ne poule ; ne in prison holden
and he suffred in ensaunple ; & þat[^a483] we shulden suffre also
and saide to swiche þat suffre wolden ; þat pacientes vincunt
verbi gratia quod he ; and verri ensaunplis many
In legenda sanctorum ; þe lyff of holy seyntis
what penaunce and pouerte ; & passion þei suffredyn
In hungre & in hete ; & alle manere angres
Antony[^293] & egidie ; & oþer holi ffadris
wonden in wildirnesse ; amonge wilde bestis
Monkis & mendynauntis ; men bi hem -seluen
In spekis & spelonkis ; seldon speken to-gedris
and neiþer antony ne egydie ; ne hermyte þat tyme
Of lyones ne of lepardis ; no lyflode ne token
But of ffoulis þat fflien ; þus ffyndyn men in bokis
Except þat egidie ; after an hynde criede
and þoruȝ þe mylk of þat mylde beste ; þe man was susteyned
and day be day had he hir not ; hungre[^a484] ffor to slake
But seldon and sundri tymes ; as seiþ þe book and techiþ
Antony adaies ; abouȝte þe none[^294] tyme
hadde bred[^a485] þat brouȝte him brede ; þat he bi leued
and þouȝ þe gom had a gest ; god ffonde hem boþe
poule primus heremyta ; had parroked him-selue
þat no man myȝt him se ; ffor mosse & ffor leues
Foulis him ffeddyn ; ffele wyntris with -alle
Tylle he ffoundyd ffreris ; of austyn[^a486] ordre
Anoþer poule after his prechinge ; panyeris he made
and wan with his handis ; þat his wombe neded
peter ffischede ffor his ffode ; and his ffelawe andrew
Summe þey solden & summe þei soþen ; & so þey leueden boþe
And also marie magdaleyn ; bi moores leued & dewes
and most þoruȝ deuocion ; and mynde of god al-myȝti
I shulde not þis seuene daies ; seggen hem alle
þat leued þus ffor oure lordis loue ; many longe ȝeris
and þer ne was lyoun ne leparde ; þat on laundes wenten
Neiþer bere ne boor ; ne oþer best wilde
þat ne ffelle to her ffeet ; & ffauned with þe tailis
And if þey co wde haue I-carpid ; bi crist as I trowe
þey wolde haue yffed þo[^a487] ffolk ; be-ffore wylde ffoulis
and god sente hem ffode be ffoulis ; & be no ffers bestis
In mevinge[^a488] þat meke þinge ; mylde þing shulde ffede
as who seiþ religiouse ; riȝtffull men shulde ffynde
and laweffull men to lyf-holy men ; lyuelode bringe
and þanne wolde lordis and ladies ; be loþe to a-gulte
and to take of her tanauntis ; more þan trewþe wolde
Founden þei þat ffreris wolden ; ffor-saken her almesse
and biddyn hem bere it ; þer it was I-borwid
Dyetinge of religious
For we ben godis ffoulis ; and abide away
Tyll briddis bringe us mete ; þat we shulden leue by
For haue ȝe potage & payn ; & peny-ale to drinke[^295]
and a messe þer -wiþ ; of ony manere kynde
ȝe han ryȝt ynow ȝe religious ; & so ȝoure rule me tolde
Numquam dicit iob rugiet onager cum herbam habuerit / aut mugiet bos ; cum ante plenum presepe steterit / / Brutorum animalium natura te condempnat ; cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat . ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua[^296]
☞
If lewde men knewe þis latyn ; þey wolden loke whom þei gyuen
and avise hem beffore ; ffyue daies or sixe
Of ȝiftis in-to religious
Er þey mortyseden to monkis ; or chanouns her rentis
Alas lordis and ladies ; lewde conceill han ȝe
To ȝeue ffrom ȝoure eyris ; þat ȝoure elders ȝou lesten[^a489]
nota
and ȝeuen to bide ffor ȝou ; to swiche þat ben riche
and ben ffoundyn & ffeffed eke ; to bidde ffor oþer
who parfformeþ þe prophecie ; of peple þat now leueþ
Dispersit dedit pauperibus
If ony peple parfforme þis tixt ; it arn þe pore ffreris
For þat þey beggen abouȝte ; in beldinge þey spendyn
and on hem-self sum ; and swyche as ben her laboreris
and of hem þat han þey taken ; & ȝeuen hem þat ne han
and clerkis & knytis ; & comuneris þat ben riche
Similitudo
Feel of ȝou ffaren ; as if I a fforest hadde
þat were ffull of ffaire tres ; & I ffo unded & caste
how I myȝte mo þer -Inne ; amonges hem sette
Ryȝt so ȝe riche ; ȝe robben þat ben riche
and helpen hem þat helpen ȝou ; & ȝeuen þer no nede is
as who-so ffylled a tunne ; of a ffresshe ryuere
and wente fforþe with þat water ; to wooke with þe tamyse
Qui d est dare impijs
Ryȝt so ȝe riche ; ȝe robben and ffeden
hem þat han as ȝe han ; hem ȝe maken at ese
of munkes
and religious þat riche ben ; shulden raþer ffeste beggers
þan burgeys þat riche ben ; as þe book telliþ
Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum ; non pauperibus dare / / Item peccatoribus dare ; est demonibus immolare / Item monache si indiges & accipis pocius das quam accipis / / si autem non eges & accipis ; rapis / / porro non indiget monachus . si habeat quod nature sufficit[^297]
For-þi I conceill alle cristen ; to confforme hem to charite
For charite with -outen chalenginge ; vnchargiþ þe soule
and many a preson[^a490] ffro purgatorie ; þoruȝ his preiris deliuereþ
and þer is a deffauȝte in þe ffolk ; þat þe ffeiþ kepen
wherffore ffolk ben þe ffebeler ; & not fferme of bileue
And in luschburues is a liþer alay ; & ȝit lokeþ he like a sterlinge
þe merk of þat mony is good ; & þe metall is ffebell
and so it ffareþ be summe ffolk ; now þey han a ffaire speche
Croune & cristendom ; þe kyngis merk of heuene
and þe metall þat is mannys soule ; with synne is ffull alayed
Boþe lettrid & lewde ben ; now alayed with synne
þat no lyff loueþ oþer ; ne oure lord as I leue
For þoruȝ werre & wicked werkis ; & wedris vnresounable
wedir-wyse schipmen ; and clerkis also
han no beleue to þe clyfte[^a491] ; ne to þe lore of philosophres
astromyns alday ; in her arte ffaylen
þat wylom warned beffore ; what shulld ffall after
Schipmen & herdis . þat with schip & scheep wenten
wisten be þe welken ; what shulde be-tyde
as of wedris & wyndis ; þey warned men often
Tyliers þat tiliden þe erþe ; tolden her maistris
By þe seed þat þei sewen ; what þey selle myȝten
and what to leue & what to lyue by ; þe lond was so trewe
Now ffaylyn þe ffolk of fflode ; & of[^a492] lond boþe ;
Schepherdis & schipmen ; and so don þese tilieris
Neyþer þei kunne ne knowe ; oo cours be-ffor anoþer
Astromyens also ; arn at her wittis ende
of þat was calculed of þe elementis ; þe contrarie þei ffyndyn
Gramer þe grounde of all ; bigiliþ now childrin
For is non of þese new clerkis ; who-so nymeþ hede
þat can versiffie ffaire ; ne fformeliche enditen
Is not on amongis an hundrid ; þat an auctoure can construe
Ne rede a letter in any langage ; but latyn & englishe
Go now to ony degre ; & but if gyle be maister
and fflaterere his ffelaw ; vndir him to fformen
Moche wondir me þinkiþ ; amongis us alle
Doctours of decres ; & of diui nnite maistris
þat shulden kunne & knowe ; al-kyns clergie
and answere to argumentis ; & also to a quodlibet
I dar not segge it ffor shame ; if swiche werin aposide
þey shulden ffayle of her philosophie[^a493] ; in her phesik boþe
wher-ffor I am afferde ; of ffolk of holi chirche
lest þei ouere-hippe as oþer don ; in offices & in houris
and if þei ouerehippen as I hope not ; oure bileue sufficiþ
as clerkis in corpus christi ffeste ; Syngen and reden
þat sola ffides sufficit ; to saue with lewde peple
and so mown sarasens be saued ; scribes & Iues
allas þanne . but oure lores-men ; leuen as þei leren us
and ffor her lyuynge[^298] þat lewde men ; be þe loþer god to gulten[^a494]
For sarasens han sumwhat ; semynge[^299] to oure beleue
For þey be-louen[^a495] & bileuen ; in oo persone almyȝty
And we lered & lewde ; in oo god bileuen
And on makomede ; a man of mysbileue
Brouȝte sarasens of surre ; & se in what manere
makomede with his dowue
þis makomede was cristen ; & ffor he muste not be a pope
In-to surre he souȝte ; & þoruȝ his sotille wittis
Dauntede a dowue dove ; & day & nyȝt hir ffedde
The corn þat she croppyde ; he caste it in his ere
and if he amonge þe peple prechede ; or in place come
þanne wolde þe coluer come ; in-to þe clerkis ere
Menynge as after mete ; þus machomede hir enchauntede
and dede ffolk þanne ffalle on knees ; ffor he swore in his prechinge
þat þe culuer þat come so ; come ffro god in[^a496] heuene
as messager to makomede ; men ffor to teche
and þus þoruȝ wylis of his witt ; & a whyte dowue
Makomede in myfblieue[^a497] ; men & wommen brouȝte
þat lered & lewde ; ȝit leuen on his lawes
And siþen oure saueour suffrede ; þe sarasenes so bigylide
þoruȝ a cristen clerk ; acursid in his soule
nota
and ffor dreþe[^a498] of þe deþe ; I dar not telle truþe
Covetyse of clerkis
How englisshe clerkis a culuer ffeden ; þat coueityse hatte
and ben manered after makomede ; þat no man vsiþ truþe
ancres and hermytes ; & monkis & ffreris
peren to apostelus ; þoruȝ her parfiȝt leuynge[^300]
wolde neuer þe ffeiþeffull ffader ; þat his mynystris shulden
Of terauntis þat tenen trewe men ; take ony almesse
But do as domynyk dede ; antony & ffraunceys
Benet & bernarde ; þe whiche hem ffrist tauȝte
To lyue bi litill in lowe housis ; be lelle mennys almesse
Grace shulde growe & be grene ; þoruȝ here good leuynge[^301][^302]
and ffolkis shulde ffynde ; þat ben in dyuerse sekenesse
þe better ffor her biddinges ; in body & in soule
here preyeris & her penaunces[^303] ; to pees shulde bringe
alle þat ben at debate ; & bedemen were trewe
Petite & accipietis & cetera
salt saueþ catell ; seggen þese wyues
vos estis sal terre & cetera
þe bedis[^a499] of holy chirche ; & þei holy weren
Crist calliþ hem salt ; ffor cristen soulis
Et si sal euanuerit ; in quo salietur
and ffresche fflesche oþer ffische ; whanne it salt ffailiþ
Is vnsauery ffor soþe ; soþe soden or ybake
So is mannys soule soþely ; þat seeþ no good ensaunpill
Of hem of holi chirche ; þat þe hye weye shulde teche
And bi guyde & go be-ffore ; as a good baneoure
And hardie hem þat ben be-hynde ; & ȝeue hem good euydence
Eleuene holi men ; all þe world turnede
In-to lele bileue ; þe lyȝtlyere me þinkiþ
shulden al manere men ; we han so many maistris
Prestis & prechouris ; & a pope aboue
þat godis salt shulde be ; to saue mannys soule
all was heþenesse sum tyme ; Englond & Walis
Tyll gregori gerte clerkis ; to go & to preche
austyn at Cauntirbiry ; Cristenede þe kynge
and þoruȝ myracles as men mown reden ; all þat marche he turned
To crist & to cristendom ; & crosse to honoure
and ffulled ffolk ffaste ; and þe ffeiþe tauȝte
More þoruȝ miracles ; þanne þoruȝ moche prechinge
as well þoruȝ his werkis ; as with his holi wordis
and saide hem ; whatt ffullynge & ffeiþ was to mene
Cloþe þat comeþ ffro þe weuynge ; is not comly to were
Tille it be ffullid vndir ffote ; or in ffullynge stokkis
wasshen well with water ; & with tacellis cracched
ytoukid & yteyntid ; and vndir tailours hand
and so it ffareþ be a baron[^a500] ; þat born is of wombe
Tyll it be cristenede in cristes name ; & conffermede of þe bischoppe
It is heþene as to heuenewarde ; and helples to þe soule
heþen is to mene after heþ ; and vntilid erthe
as in wylde wildirnesse ; waxyn wylde bestis
Rude and vnresounable ; rennynge with -out crepres
Ȝe menen well how mathew said ; how a man made a feste
he ffedde hem with no venyson ; ne ffesauntis y-bake
but with ffoulis þat ffrom him nolde ; but ffollewid his whystelyng
Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt & cetera
with calues fflesshe ffedde[^a501] ; þe ffolk þat he loued
þe calue betokeneþ clennesse ; in hem þat kepen lawis
For as þe cow þoruȝ kynde mylk ; þe calue nurschiþ to an oxe
So loue and lewte ; lele men susteyneþ
and maydenes and mylde men ; mercy desirin
Ryȝt so þe cow calf ; coueytiþ swete mylk
So don riȝtffull men ; mercy and trewþe
and who ben þat excusen hem ; þat arn parsonys & prestis
þat hedis of holy chirche ben ; þat han here wille here
with -out trauayle þe tiþe dell ; þat trewe men be- swykyn
þei wull be wroþe ffor I write þus ; & wittenesse I take
Boþe mathew & mark ; & memento domine dauid
what pope or prelat now ; parfformeþ þat crist hiȝte
Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate
allas þat[^a502] so long . on makomede shulden bileue
so many prelatis to preche ; as þe pope makeþ
Of nazareþ of Nynyue ; of neptalym & damask
þat þey ne wente as crist wisseþ ; syþe þey wull haue name
To be pastouris & preche ; þe passion of Ihesus
and as him-self said ; so to lyue & deye
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & cetera
and said it in salvacion ; of sarasens & oþer
For cristen and vncristen ; crist said to prechouris
Ite vos in veneam meam & cetera
and siþe þat þese sarasens ; scribes and Iues
han lippe[^a503] of oure bileue ; þe lyȝtliere me þinkiþ
þey shulden turne who-so trauaile wolde ; to teche hem of þe trinite
querite & inuenietis & cetera
It is ruþe to rede how ; riȝtwise men leueden
how þey deffouled[^304] here ffleisshe ; ffor-soken her owen wille
Fer fro kyþ & fro kynne ; yuell ycloþed ȝeden
badely y-beddid ; no book but concience
Ne no richesse but þe rode ; to rejoycen hem Inne
absit michi gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri & cetera
and þo was plente & pees ; amongis pore & riche
and now is reuþe to rede ; how þe reed noble
Is reuerencid er þe rode ; receyued ffor þe worþiere
þanne cristis crosse þat ouer -cam ; deþe and dedli synne
and now is werre & woo ; & who-so why askeþ
For coueityse after crosse ; þe croune stant in gold
boþe riche and religious ; þat rode þey honoren
þat in grotus is grauen ; and in golden noblis
For coueitise of þat crosse ; men of holi chirche
Templarij prophetia de possessionibus Clericorum

[C2.15.514.m.1: The word Templarij appears at left center of the other two lines, which are linked at the left by a bracket.]

shull turne as tem pleris diden ; þe tyme approcheþ ffaste
wyte ȝe not wise men ; how þo men honoureden[^305]
More tresore þanne truþe ; I dar not telle þe soþe
Roson[^a504] and riȝtffull dom ; þo religious demeden
Riȝt so ȝe clerkis ffor ȝoure ; coueitise er longe
shull þei deme dos ecclesie ; & ȝoure pride depose
Deposuit potentes de sede & cetera
If knyȝhode[^a505] & kynde witt ; & comune concience
☞
To-gedris loue leli ; leueþ it well ȝe bisshopis
Þe lordschipe of londis ; ffor euere ȝe shull lese
and leue as leuetici ; as oure lord ȝou techeþ
per primicias & decimas & cetera
whanne Constantyn of curteysie ; holi chirche dowede
with londis & leedis ; lordschipis and rentis
an aungell men herdyn ; on hie at rome crie
hodie venenum est effusum in ecclesia dei
Dos ecclesie þis day ; haþe dronkyn venem
and þo þat han petrus power ; arn apoysond alle
A medecyne muste þer -to ; þat may amende prelatis
þat shulden prey ffor þe pees ; possession hem letteþ
Takeþ her londis ȝe lordis ; and late hem leue be dymes
If possession be poyson ; and imparffiȝte hem make
Good were to dischargyn hem ; ffor holi chirches sake
And purgen hem of poyson ; or more perell ffalle
If presthode were parffiȝt ; þe peple shulde amende
þat contrarien cristis lawe ; and cristendom dispisen
For alle paynemys preyen ; and parffiȝtly bileuen
In þe holi grett god ; and his grace þe[^a506] axen
and maken her mone to makomede ; her massage to schewe
þus in ffeiþ leuen þat ffolk ; & in a ffals mene
and þat is ruþe ffor ryȝtffull men ; þat in þe rewme wonnen
and in perell to þe pope ; and prelatis þat he makiþ
and beryn bisschoppis names ; of bedelem & of babiloyne
þat hippen abouȝte Englond ; to halewyn mennys auters
and cropen[^a507] amongis curatouris ; conffession aȝeins þe lawe
Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienum
Many man ffor cristis loue ; was martirid in romayne
Er þan ony cristendom was knowen þere ; or ony crosse honoured
Euery bisshoppe þat beriþ crosse ; bi þat he is holdyn
þoruȝ his prouynce to passe ; and to his peple schewe him
Telle hem and teche hem ; of þe trinite to bileue
and ffede hem with gostly ffode ; & gyue þer it nedeþ
In domo mea non est panis nec vestimentum & ideo nolite constituere me in regem
Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum vt sit cibus in domo & cetera[^306]
Osias seiþ ffor swiche ; þat seek ben and ffeble
and we cristen creaturis ; þat on þe crosse bileuen
ar fferme as in þe ffeiþ ; godis fforbode ellis
and han clerkus to kepe us þer -inne ; & þam þat shull come after
and Iues leuen in lele lawe ; oure lord wrote him-self
In ston ffor it stedeffaste is ; and stonde shall euere
Dilige deum & proximum tuum ; is parffiȝt Iues lawe
and toke it moyses to teche ; men till messie come
and þat lawe þey leuen ȝitt ; & leten it þe beste
and ȝit knowen þei crist ; þat cristendom tauȝte
For a parffiȝt proffiȝt ; þat moche peple sauede
Of selcouþe sores ; þei seiȝen it ofte
Boþe of miracles & merueylis ; & how he men ffestid
with two ffisshis and ffyue loues ; ffyue þouusande peple
and be þat mangerie men myȝte se ; þat messie he semede
and whanne he lifte vp lazar ; þat leyd was in graue
and vnder ston deed & stanke ; with stiffe voice he callid
lazare veni fforas
dede him rise and rome ; riȝt be-ffore þe Iues
and þey seyden and sworen ; with sorcerie he wrouȝte
and studied to stroye him ; & struydend[^a508] hem -self
and þoruȝ his pacience ; her power ; to pure nouȝt he brouȝte
pacientes vincunt
Danyell of her vndoynge ; deuyned and saide
Cum sanctus sanctorum
and ȝit wenen þo wrecchis ; þat he were pseudo[^307] propheta
veniat . cessabit vnccio vestra
and þat is lore be lesingis ; and lakken it alle
and hopen þat he be to comen ; þat shall hem releue
Moyses est or messie ; her maistris ȝit deuyneþ
and sarasens & pharisees ; scribes & grekis
arn ffolk of oo ffeiþ ; þe ffader god þey honouren
and siþen þat þe sarasens ; & also þe Iues
kun þe ffrist clause of oure bileue Credo in deum patrem & cetera
Prelates of cristen prouynces ; shulden preue if þei myȝten
lere hem litlum & litlum ; & in Ihesum christum filium eius & cetera
Tille þei couþen speke & spelle ; & in spiritum sanctum
and rede it & recorde it ; with remissionem peccatorum / Carnis resurreccionem & vitam eternam amen

[^a469: wat (C2) | what (all other mss)]

[^a470: reued (C2) | raued (all other mss)]

[^a471: knowest (C2) | þow knowest (most mss)]

[^a472: he (C2) | he and (most mss)]

[^a473: þat (C2) | The (all other mss)]

[^a474: deffie (C2) | defie and (all other mss)]

[^a475: likinge (C2) | licames (all other mss)]

[^a476: ffrende (C2) | fremmed (most mss)]

[^a477: þe (C2) | þe fend (all other mss)]

[^a478: al his (C2) | alle (all other mss)]

[^a479: þe (C2) | wel þe (all other mss)]

[^a480: oþer (C2) | ouþerwhile (most mss)]

[^a481: proude (C2) | proude herted (most mss)]

[^a482: bydiþ (C2) | bit (all other mss)]

[^a483: & þat (C2) | þat (all other mss)]

[^a484: hungre (C2) | his hungre (all other mss)]

[^a485: bred (C2) | a brid (all other mss)]

[^a486: austyn (C2) | Austynes (most mss)]

[^a487: þo (C2) | þat (all other mss)]

[^a488: mevinge (C2) | menynge (all other mss)]

[^a489: lesten (C2) | leften (most mss)]

[^a490: preson (C2hand1) | prison (most mss) | prison er (C2hand2)]

[^a491: clyfte (C2) | lifte (most mss)]

[^a492: of (C2) | of þe (all other mss)]

[^a493: philosophie (C2) | philosophie and (all other mss)]

[^a494: gulten (C2) | agulten (most mss)]

[^a495: be-louen (C2) | loue (most mss)]

[^a496: in (C2) | of (all other mss)]

[^a497: myfblieue (C2) | mysbileue (all other mss)]

[^a498: dreþe (C2) | drede (all other mss)]

[^a499: bedis (C2) | heuedes (most mss)]

[^a500: baron (C2) | barn (all other mss)]

[^a501: ffedde (C2) | he fedde (all other mss)]

[^a502: þat (C2) | þat men (all other mss)]

[^a503: lippe (C2) | a lippe (all other mss)]

[^a504: Roson (C2) | Reson (all other mss)]

[^a505: knyȝhode (C2) | knyȝthode (most mss)]

[^a506: þe (C2) | þei (all other mss)]

[^a507: cropen (C2) | crepe (most mss)]

[^a508: struydend (C2) | struyden (most mss)]

[^283: C2.15.39: This line begins in the right margin of l.39 and wraps around to occupy the next two line spaces.]

[^284: C2.15.57: This line begins in the right margin of l. 56 and wraps around to occupy the next full line space. C2 alone divides the line after mel .]

[^285: C2.15.97:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in leuynge.]

[^286: C2.15.122:The deleted words are marked through both in red and in black.]

[^287: C2.15.122:This line begins in the right margin of l. 121 and wraps around to occupy the next five line spaces.]

[^288: C2.15.126:MSS O and C2 alone include this line, substituting it for some variant of [And beere] bedes in hir hand and a book vndir hir arme. See Skeat's note at B.XV.118 (Vol. II, 218), which glosses this line and the preceding one unless many priests here, instead of (having) their baselards and their brooches, should go and sing, where there is no service, along with Sir Philip the sparrow. Skeat explains that Philip was a name commonly given to pet sparrows, perhaps because its sound resembles the bird's song.]

[^289: C2.15.185:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in soupe.]

[^290: C2.15.218:A triangle composed of dots, with a wavy line ascending from the uppermost dot, appears in the left margin. See Introd. I.6.]

[^291: C2.15.241:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in recomaundiþ.]

[^292: C2.15.266:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in veniaunce.]

[^293: C2.15.277:One minim is lacking in the second <n> of the word Antony]

[^294: C2.15.288:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in none.]

[^295: C2.15.318:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in drinke.]

[^296: C2.15.320: This line begins in the right margin of l. 320 and wraps around to occupy the next three line spaces.]

[^297: C2.15.347: This line begins in the right margin of l. 346 and wraps around to occupy the next three line spaces.]

[^298: C2.15.396:An otiose tilde appears above the second <y> in lyuynge.]

[^299: C2.15.397:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in semynge.]

[^300: C2.15.420:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in leuynge.]

[^301: C2.15.426:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in leuynge.]

[^302: C2.15.426: The top stroke of the <G> in grace is decorated and extended horizontally the length of eight characters.]

[^303: C2.15.429:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunces.]

[^304: C2.15.500:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in deffouled.]

[^305: C2.15.515:the <u> in the word honoureden lacks a minim.]

[^306: C2.15.557:C2 alone transposes ll. 557 and 558.]

[^307: C2.15.584:An otiose bar appears on the descender of the <p> in pseudo]

Passus xvjus sextus decimus

N ow ffaire ffalle ȝou quod I þoo ; ffor ȝoure ffaire schewinge
For hakyns loue þe actiff man ; euere I shall ȝou loue
and ȝit I am[^a509] a weer ; what charite is to mene
It is a ffull tried tre quod he ; trewliche to telle
Mercy is þe more þer -of ; þe myddill stokke is ruþe
þe leues ben lele wordis ; þe lawe of holi chirche
þe blosmes ben buxum speche ; & benynge lokinge
pacience haþe þe pure tre ; and pure symple of herte
and so þoruȝ god & good men ; greweþ þe ffructe charite
I wolde trauaile quod I ; þis tre to se . twenti hundrid myle
and to haue my ffille of þat ffructe ; fforsake al oþer saule
lord quod I if ony wyȝt witte ; whidir out it groweþ
It groweþ in a gardeyne quod he ; þat god made him-selue
amyddis mannys body ; þe more is of þat stokke
herte hatte þe herber ; þat it in growiþ
and liberum arbitrium ; haþe þe lond to fferme
Vndir peers þe plowman ; to piken it and weden it
Peers þe plowman quod I þo ; & al ffor pure Ioie
þat I herde nempne his name ; anon I swowned after
and lay longe in a loue-drem ; & at þe last me þouȝte
þat peers þe plowman ; al þe place me schewid
and bade me toten on þe tre ; on toppe & on rote
with þre pilis was it vndir-piȝt ; I parceyuede it sone
peers quod I I pray þe ; whi stondiþ þese pilis here
For wydis[^a510] wilte þou witte ; quod he . to witten it ffrom ffalling
Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur quia domi nus supponit manum suam
and in blowinge tyme abite þe fflouris ; but if þese piles helpe
þe werld is a wykkid wynde ; to hem þat wilneþ truþe
Coueytyse comeþ of þat wynde ; & crepeþ amonge þe leues
and ffor-ffreteþ nyȝ þe ffruyt ; þoruȝ many ffaire siȝtis
þanne with þe ffrist pile I pulle him doun ; þat is potencia dei patris
þe fflesshe is a ffelle wynde ; & in þe[^a511] fflouringe tyme
þoruȝ likynge of lustus ; so lowde he gynneþ to blowe
þat it norshiþ nyce siȝtis ; & sum tyme wordis .
and wikkid werkis þer -of ; worme[^a512] of synne
and fforbiteþ þe blosmes ; riȝt to þe bare leues
þanne sette I to þe secunde pile ; sapiencia dei patris
þat is þe passion & þe power ; of oure prynce Ihesus
þoruȝ preieris & penaunce ; & godis passion in mynde[^308]
I saue it till I se it ripe ; and sumdill yffruytid
and þane ffondiþ þe ffende ; my ffruyte to distroie
with all þe wylis þat he can ; and wagged þe rote
and casteþ vp to þe croppe ; vnkynde neiboris
Bacbiters breke- cheste ; brawlers and chiders
and leiþ a ledder þer -to ; of lesingis ; arn þe ronges
and ffeccheþ away my fflouris sum tyme ; affore boþe myn eyn
and liberum arbitrium ; lettiþ him sum tyme
þat is letenaunte to loken it well ; bi leue of my-selue
videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum numquam remittetur & cetera hoc est id qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat[^309]
and whanne þe ffende and þe fflesshe ; fforþe with þe world
Manacen be-hynde me ; my ffruyte ffor to ffecche
þanne liberum arbitrium ; lacchiþ þe ffrist plante
and pulliþ[^a513] adoun þe pouke ; puriliche þoruȝ grace
and helpe of þe holy goste ; and þus haue I þe maistrie
Now ffaire ffalle ȝou peers quod I ; so ffaire ȝe discryuen
þe power of þese postis ; and her propre myȝte
and I haue þouȝtes a þreue ; of þese þre piles
In what wode þei waxen ; & where þat þei growded[^a514]
For all yliche ben þei longe ; non lasse þan oþer
and to my mynde as me þinkiþ ; on oo more þei growen
and of oo grettenesse & grene ; of oo greyne þei semen
þat is soþe quod peers ; so it myȝte ffalle[^a515]
I shall telle þe as tite ; what þis tre hatte
þe grounde þer it groweþ ; goodenesse it hiȝte
and I haue tolde þe what hiȝte þe tre ; þe trinite it meneþ
and egriliche he lokede on me ; and þer -ffore I spared
To axen him ony more þer -of ; and bade him ffull ffaire
To discriue þe ffruyte ; þat so ffaire hangeþ
here now beneþe quod he þo ; if I nede hade
Matrimoyne I may nyme ; a moist ffruyte withall
þat contynence is ner þe crope ; as a calaway bastard
þanne bereþ þe crop kynde ffruyte ; & clenneste of all
Maydenhed aungels peeris ; and rapest wolde be ripe
and swete with -outen swellinge ; soure worþ it neuere
I preyed peers to pulle doun ; an appell and he wolde
and suffre me to asay ; what sauour it hadde
and peers cast to þe crop ; & þanne comsede[^a516] to crie
and wagged wedowehod ; and it wepte after
and whanne it meuen[^a517] matrimo yne ; it made a ffoule noyce
þat I had ruþe whanne peers roggede ; it gradde so ruffulliche
For euere as þey dropped adoun ; þe deuell[^310] was redy
and gadrid hem all to-gedris ; boþe grette and smale
adam and eue ; and ysaac þe prophete
Sampson and samuel ; and seint Iohan þe baptist
bar hem fforþe boldeli ; no body hem letted
and made of holi his hoord ; in lymbo inferni
þer is derkenesse and drede ; & þe deuell maister
and peers ffor pure tene ; þat oo pile he lauȝte
and hitte after him ; happe how he myȝte
Filius be þe ffader wille ; and ffrenesse of spritus sancti
To go robbe þat raggeman ; and reue þe ffruyte ffrom him
and þanne spake spiritus sanctus ; in gabrielis mouþe
To a maydyn þat hiȝte marie ; a meke þing with -all
þat on Ihesus a iustises sone ; muste Iouke in hir chaunbre
Till plenitudo temporis ; ffulli come were
þat peers ffruyt fflouride & ffelle to be ripe
Annis quingentes decies rursum quis ducentes
Vnus defueruat cum deus ortus erat
and þan shall Ihesus iuste þer -ffor ; bi iugement of armes
whedir shulde ffonge þe ffruyte ; þe ffende or him-selue
þe mayden myldeliche þo ; þe masager graunted
and said hendeliche to him ; lo me his hand maydyn
For to werchyn his wille ; withouȝtyn ony synne
Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi & cetera
and in þat wombe of þat wenche ; was he ffourti wokis
Till he wex a ffaunt ; þoruȝ his ffleisshe . & of ffytinge couþe
To haue ffouuten with þe ffende ; er ffull tyme come
and peers þe plowman ; parceyuede plener tyme
and lered him lechecrafft ; his lyff ffor to saue
þat þouȝ he were woundid ; with his enemye ; to warische him-selue
and dede him asaie his surgerie ; on hem þat seek weren
Tyll he was parffiȝte practisoure ; if ony perell ffell
And souȝte out þe seke ; and synffull . boþe blynde & crokede
and comune wommen conuertide ; and to god[^a518] turnede[^311]
Non est sanus[^a519] opus medico set infirmis & cetera
boþe messellis and mute ; & in þe menyson blody
ofte he helede swiche ; he helde it ffor no maistrie
saue þo he lechede lazar ; þat had loyn[^a520] in graue
Quatriduanis[^a521] quelt ; quyk dede him walke ;
and as he made þe maistrie ; mestus cepit esse
and wepte water with his yen ; þer seyen it many
Summe þat þe siȝte seyne ; saydyn þat tyme
þat he was leche of lyff ; and lord of hie heuene
Iues Iangelyd þer -aȝeins ; & iuggede lawes
and saide he wrouȝte with his[^a522] whichecrafte ; & with þe deuell myȝte
Demonium habes & cetera
þanne ar ȝe clerkis quod iche ; and ȝoure childrin boþe
and sathan ȝoure saueoure ; ȝoure -self now wittenessyn
For I haue saued ȝoure -self saiþe crist ; and ȝoure sones after
ȝoure bodies ȝoure bestis ; and blynde men holpen
and ffedde ȝou with ffisches ; & with ffyue loues
and lafte baskettis ffull of brede[^a523] ; and caste adoun her stallis[^312]
þat in chirche chaffaredyn ; or chaungid ony mony
and seid in syȝt of hem all ; so þat all herden
I shall ouere-turne þis temple ; and adoun þrowe
and in þre daies after ; ediffien it newe
and maken it as moche oþer more ; in all manere poyntis
as euere it was & as whyde ; wherffore I hote ȝou
of preyeris and parffiȝtenesse ; þis place þat ȝe calle
Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur
Enuye and yuell wille ; was in þe Iues
þey casteden and contreueden ; to kylle him whane þey myȝten
Iche day after oþer ; tyme þey awaytide
Tyll it be-ffell on a ffriday ; a litil be-ffore paske
þe þursday be-ffore ; þer he made his mawnde
Sittynge at þe soper ; he saide þese wordis
I am sold þoruȝ on of ȝou ; he shall þe tyme rue
þat euere he his saueour solde ; ffor siluer or ellis
Iudas Iangeled þer -aȝeins ; and Ihesus him tolde
It was him-selue soþely ; and said tu dicis
þanne wente fforþe þat wicked man ; and with þe Iues mette
and tolde hem a tokene ; how to knowe with Ihesus
[^313] and whiche tokene to þis day ; is to moche vsid
þat is kyssynge and ffaire contenance[^314] ; & vnkynde wille
and so was with Iu das ; þo he Ihesus betraied
Aue rabi quod þat ribaude ; and riȝt to him he ȝede
and kiste him to be cauȝt þer -bi ; and kylled of þe Iues
þanne Ihesus to Iudas ; and to þe Iues saide
Falsenesse I ffynde ; in þi ffaire speche
and gyle in þi glad chere ; and galle in þi lawȝhinge
þou shalt be a meroure ; to many men to disceyue
and þe wers & þe wykednesse ; shall worþe on þi -selue
Necesse est vt veniant scandala ve homini illi per quem
þouȝ I be treson be takon ; at ȝoure owyn wille
suffriþ myn apostelis in pais ; and in pees gange
On a þorusday in þe þesternesse ; þus was he takyn
þoruȝ Iudas and Iues ; Ihesus was his name
þat on þe ffryday ffolwinge ; ffor mankyndes sake
Iustede in Ierusalem ; a Ioy to vs alle
on crosse vppon caluerie ; crist toke þe bataile
aȝens þe deþ and þe deuell ; distroied here boþer myȝtis
Diede & deþ ffordide ; and day of nyȝt made
and I awakid þer -with ; and wyped myn eyn
and after peers plowman ; priede & stared
Estward and westwarde ; I waytide after ffaste
and ȝede fforþe as an idiot in cuntre to aspie
and þanne mette I with a man ; on mydlente sonday
As hoor as an hawe-þorn ; and habram he hiȝte
I ffreyned him ffriste ; ffrom whens he come
and of whens he were ; & whedir he þouȝte
I am ffeiþ quod þis ffreik ; it falliþ not to lie
and of abrahamis hous ; an heroude of armes
I seke after a segge ; þat I seiȝ ones
A ffull bolde bacheler ; I knowe him be his blasen
what bereþ þat barn quod I þo ; so blisse ȝe[^a524] be-tyde
þre leodes on oo lyȝth ; non lenger þan oþer
of oo mechell & oo mageste ; in mesure and in lengþe
þat on doþe all doþe ; and iche doþe be his one
þe ffrist haþe myȝte and mageste ; maker of all þing
pater is his name ; a persone bi him-selue
þe secounde is of þat sire ; soþeffaste[^a525] ffilius
wardeyn of all þat witt haþe ; was euere with -outyn gynnyge
þe þred hatte þe holi gost ; a persone by him-selue
þe lyȝt of al þat lyue haþe a londe & on water
Comffortour of creatouris ; of him comeþ al blise
so þre belongeþ ffor oo lord ; þat lordschipe cleymeþ
Myȝt and mene ; to knowe his owen myȝte
of him and of his seruaunt ; and what þei suffred[^a526] boþe
so god þat bigynnynge had neuere ; but þo him good þouȝt
sente fforþe his sone ; as ffor seruant þat tyme
To ocupien him here ; till issu were sprongyn
þat is childrin of charite ; and holi chirche þe moder
patriarkis and prophetis ; and apostilis were þe childrin
and crist and cristendom ; & cristen holi chirche
I[^a527] menynge þat man muste ; on oo god be-leue
and þer him likede and lo uede ; in þre persones him schewide
wedelook and wedowhod ; and virgynite ynempned
and[^a528] tokenynge of þe trinite ; was takyn out of a man
adam oure alþer ffader ; eue was of him-selue
and þe issu þat he hade ; it was of hem boþe
and eiþer is oþer Ioye ; in þre sundri persones
and in heuene and in erþe ; on synguler name
and þus is mankynde or man hede ; of matrimoyne sprongyn
Miȝte is matrimoyn ; þat multiplieþ þe erþe
and bitoneþ[^a529] truely ; telle it if I durste
he þat ffrist fformed all ; þe ffader of heuene
The sone is if I durste seiȝ ; resemblant to þe wedowe
Deus meus deus meus vt quid dereliquisti me & cetera .
þat is creatoure wex creatoure[^a530] ; to knowe wat was boþe
as wedow with -outyn wedlok ; was neuer ȝit I-seiȝ
No more god[^a531] be man ; but If he moder hadde
so wedo we with -outyn wedlok ; may not well stonde
Ne matrimoyne with with -out[^a532] muliere ; is not moche to preise
maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in israel
þus in þre persones ; is parffiȝtliche manhod
þat is man and his make ; & muliere childrin
and is not but gendre of generacion ; be-ffore Ihesu crist in heuene
So is þe ffader fforþe with þe sone ; and ffre wille of boþe
spiritus procedens & patre & filius
whiche is þe goste of all ; & all is but oo god
þus in somer I him seiȝe ; as I satte in my porche
I aros and[^a533] reuerencede him ; & riȝt ffayre him grette
þre men to my syȝte ; I made well at ese
wesshe her ffeet and wipede hem ; & afterwardis þei eten
Calues fflesshe and cake-bred ; & knowen[^a534] what I þouȝt
Full trewe tokenes bitwynne us ben ; to telle whane me likyþ
Frist he ffounded[^315] ; me if I loued better
him or ysaac myn eiere ; þe whiche he hiȝte me kylle
he wiste my wille be him ; he wolle me it alowe
I am ffull seker in soule þer -of ; & my sone boþe
I circumciside my sone ; siþ ffor his sake
My-self and my meyne ; & al þat male weren
bleden blode ffor þat lordis sake ; and hopen to blisse þe tyme
Myn affiaunce & my ffeiþ ; is fferme in þis bileue
For him-self be-hiȝte to me ; and to my issu boþe
lond and lordschipe ; and lyff with -outyn ende
To me and to myn issu ; more[^a535] he me graunted
mercy ffor oure myssdedis ; as many tyme as we axe
Quam olim abrahe promisisti & semini eius
and siþe he sente me to sey ; I shulde do sacrifice
and do him werschepe with bred ; & with wyn boþe
And callid me fforþe of his ffeiþ ; his ffolke ffor to saue
and deffended hem ffro þe ffende ; ffolk þat on[^a536] me leueden
þus haue I ben his heroude ; here & in helle
and comfforted many careffull ; þat after his comynge[^316] waytyn
and þus I seke him he said ; ffor I herde sayn late .
of a barm[^a537] þat baptisid him ; Iohn baptiste was his name
þat to patriarkis & prophetis ; & oþer peple in derkenesse
saide þat he seiȝ him ; þat shulld saue vs all
Ecce agnus dei & cetera
I had wondir of his wordis ; & of his wyde cloþis
For in his bosum he bare a þing ; þat he blessid euere
and I loked on his lappe ; a lazare lay þer -inne
amongis patriarkis and prophetis ; pleynge to-gedris
what waytist þou quod he þo ; & what woldest þou haue
I wolde witte quod I þo ; what is þis in ȝoure lappe
loo quod he and lete me se ; lord mercy I saide
þis is a presente of moche price ; what prynce shall it haue
It is a preciouse presente quod he ; and þe pouke it haþe atached
and me þer -myd quod þat man ; may no wede us quyte
Ne no barn be oure boruȝ ; ne bringe us ffrom his daunger
out of þe poukis pynffolde ; ne no menprice us ffecche
Tyll he come þat I carpe of ; crist is his name
þat shall deliuere us out ; of þe deuellis powere
and better wedde ffor us legge ; þanne we ben all worþi
þat is lyff ffor lyff ; or ligge þus euere
lollynge in my lappe ; till swiche a lord us ffecche
allas I saide þat synne ; so longe shall lette
þe myȝte of godis mercy ; þat myȝte us all amende
I wepte ffor his wordis ; with þat sawȝ I anoþer
Rapeliche renne fforþe ; þe riȝt weye he wente
I ffreynede him ffrist ; ffrom whens he come
and what he hiȝte ; and whedir he wolde . and whiȝtliche he tolde

[^a509: am (C2) | am in (all other mss)]

[^a510: wydis (C2) | wyndis (most mss)]

[^a511: in þe (C2) | in (all other mss)]

[^a512: worme (C2) | wormes (all other mss)]

[^a513: pulliþ (C2) | palleþ (most mss)]

[^a514: growded (C2) | growed (most mss)]

[^a515: ffalle (C2) | bifalle (most mss)]

[^a516: comsede (C2) | comsed it (all other mss)]

[^a517: meuen (C2) | meued (all other mss)]

[^a518: god (C2) | goode (most mss)]

[^a519: sanus (C2) | sanis (most mss)]

[^a520: loyn (C2) | yleye (most mss)]

[^a521: Quatriduanis (C2) | Quatriduanus (most mss)]

[^a522: with his (C2) | þoruȝ (most mss)]

[^a523: brede (C2) | broke mete (most mss)]

[^a524: ȝe (C2) | þee (all other mss)]

[^a525: soþeffaste (C2) | Sothfastnesse (most mss)]

[^a526: suffred (C2) | suffre (most mss)]

[^a527: I (C2) | In (all other mss)]

[^a528: and (C2) | In (all other mss)]

[^a529: bitoneþ (C2) | bitokneþ (all other mss)]

[^a530: creatoure (C2) | creature (all other mss)]

[^a531: god (C2) | myȝte god (all other mss)]

[^a532: with with -out (C2) | withouten (all other mss)]

[^a533: and (C2) | vp and (all other mss)]

[^a534: knowen (C2) | knewe (most mss)]

[^a535: more (C2) | moore yet (most mss)]

[^a536: on (C2hand1) | to (C2hand2)]

[^a537: barm (C2) | barn (all other mss)]

[^308: C2.16.39:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in mynde.]

[^309: C2.16.49: This line begins in the right margin of line 48, then wraps around to occupy the next full line space.]

[^310: C2.16.81:A virgule, partially erased, appears after the word deuell.]

[^311: C2.16.114:C2 alone lacks what in other B manuscripts constitutes the a-verse of a line between ll.110 and 111: And saluede sike and synfulle.]

[^312: C2.16.132: C2 alone conflates Kane and Donaldson's ll. 126 and 128b, and omits their l. 127 as well as 128a.]

[^313: C2.16.153: A triangle composed of dots appears in the left margin, with a wavy line ascending from the uppermost dot. See Introd. I.6.]

[^314: C2.16.154:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in contenance.]

[^315: C2.16.237: The <u> in ffounded has been altered and is unclear.]

[^316: C2.16.154:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in comynge.]

Passus xvijus septimus decimus

I am spes quod he a spie ; & spere after a knyȝth
þat toke me a maundement ; vppon þe mount of synay
To rule al rewmes wiþ ; I bere it wrettyn here
It is aselled I said ; may men se þe lettris
Nay he said . I seke him ; þat haþe þe sell to kepe
and þat is crosse and cristendom ; & crist þer -on to hange
and whane it is asellede so ; I wotte well þe soþe
þat lucyffers lordshipe ; laste shall no lenger
late se þi lettris quod I ; we myȝte þe lawe knowe
þanne pluked he ffurþe a patente ; a pece of an hard roche
where-one where wrettyn two wordis ; on þis wise glosid
Dilige deum & pro ximum et cetera
þis was þe tixt truli ; I toke ffull good ȝeme
þe glose was gloriousli wrettyn ; with a gilte penne
/ In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & prophete & cetera
Ben here alle þi lordis lawis quod I ; ȝe leue me wel he said
whoso werchiþ after þis writt ; I woll vndirtake
shall neuere dyuell him dere ; ne dette in soule greue
For þouȝ I saie it my-self ; I haue saued with þis charme
of men & of wommen ; many score þouusandis
he seiþ soþ seiþ þe heroud ; I haue ffounden it ofte
lo here in my lappe ; þat leuede on þat charme
Iosue & iudith ; and Iudas machabeus
ȝe and sixti þouusande bi-side fforþe ; þat ben not sen here
ȝoure wordis ben wondirfful quod I ; whiche of ȝou is trewest
and lellest to leue on ; ffor lyff & ffor soule
Abraham seiþ þat he seiȝ ; holly þe trinite
þre persones in parcellis ; departable ffrom oþer
and all þre but oo god ; þus abraham me tauȝte
and haþe saued þat bileue so ; & sori ffor her synne
I can not segge þe summe ; & summe arn in my lappe
what nediþ þe þan ; a newe lawe to bigynne
siþe þe ffrist sufficit[^a538] ; to sauacion & to blisse
and now bigynneþ spes & spekiþ ; þat haþe aspied þe lawe
and telliþ not of þe trinite ; þat toke him his lettris
To bileue and loue ; in oo lord almyȝty
And siþ riȝt as my-self ; so loue alle peple
þe gom þat goþe with a staffe ; he semeþ in gret he le
þanne he þat goþe with two staues ; to siȝt of vs all
and riȝt so be þe rode ; reson me schewiþ
It is liȝter to lewde men ; a lesson to knowe
þanne ffor to techen hem two ; & to harde to lere þe leste
It is ffull harde ffor ony man ; on habraham bileue
and wellaway wers ȝit ; ffor to loue a schrewe
It is liȝtter to leue ; in þre loueli persones
þan ffor to loue & lene ; as well lorellis as lelles
Go þi gate quod I spes ; so me god helpe
þo þat leren þi lawe ; litill while vsen it
and as we wentyn þus in þe weye ; wordinge to-gedris
þane seie we a samarithan ; sittinge on a mule
Ridinge ffull rapeli ; þe riȝt weye he[^a539] ȝede[^a540]
Comynge[^317] ffrom a cuntre ; þat men callin Ierico
To a iustus in Ierusalem ; he chasede away ffaste
Boþe þe heraud & hope ; & he mette at ones
where a man was woundyd ; and[^a541] with þeues
he myȝte neiþer stepe ne stonde ; ne stere ffeet ne handis
Ne halpe him-self soþeli ; ffor semyuyf he semede
and as naked as a nedell ; & non hellp aboute him
Feiþ had ffrist siȝt of him ; and he ffleiȝ on side
and nolde not nyȝ him ; by nyne landis lengþe
hope cam hippinge after ; & had so ybostid
how he with moyses maundement ; had many men I-holpyn
and whanne he had siȝt of þat seege ; aside he gan him drawe
Dredeffulli be þis day ; as doke doþe ffrom þe ffauuken
and so sone so þe samaritan ; had siȝt of þis liode
he liȝt adoun of liard ; and ladde him in his hand
and to þe weye he wente ; his woundis to beholde
And parceyued be his pouce ; he was in perell to die
and but if had[^a542] recouere þe raþer ; þat rise shuld he neuer
with wyn[^a543] with oile ; his woundis he wasshed
Enbaumed him and bond his hed ; & in his lappe him leyde
and ladde him so fforþe on lyarde ; to lex christi a graunge
well sex myle or Seuene ; bi-side þe new market
herborwide him at an hostrie ; & to þe hosteler callid
and said haue kepe þis man ; till I come ffro þe Iustus
and lo hire siluer he saide ; ffor salue to his woundis
and he toke him two pens ; to lyflode as it were
and saide wat he spendiþ more ; I make þe good here -after
For I may not quod þat liode ; & harde he be-strode
and rapede him to Ierusalem -ward ; þe riȝt wey to ride
Feiþe ffolowede after ffaste ; and ffonded to mete with him
and spes sparliche[^a544] him spedde ; spede if he myȝte
To ouer -take him & talke til him ; er þei to toune come
and whanne I sawȝ þis I soiournede not ; but schope me to renne
and suede þat samaritan ; þat was so ffull of pete
and graunted him to be his grom ; graunt mercy he said
and þi ffrende and þi ffellew ; þou ffyndist me at nede
and I þankide him þo ; & siþ I him tolte
How þat ffeiþe ffleiȝ away ; and spes his ffelaw boþe
For siȝt of þe sorwffull man ; þat robbed was with þeues .
Haue hem excused quod he ; her helpe may litill auaile
may no medecyne on molde ; þe man to hele bringe[^318]
Neiþer ffeiþe ne ffyne hope ; so ffestride ben his woundis
with -ouȝtyn þe bloode of a barn ; born of a maydyn[^319]
and he be baþed in þat blood ; baptisid as it were
and þanne plaistred with penaunce ; & passion of þat babi
[^320]he shulde stonde and steppe ; and stalworþe worþe he neuere
Till he haue eten al þe barn ; & his blood drunkyn[^321]
For wente neuere wye In þis world ; þoruȝ þat wildirnesse
þat he ne was robbed or riffled ; rode he þer or ȝede
saue ffeiþ & his ffelaw ; spes & my-selue
and þi-self now & swiche ; þat suen oure werkis
For out-lawes in þe wode ; and vndir bank lotien
and mowen iche man se ; & good merke take
who is be-hynde & who beffore ; & who ben on hors
For he halte him hardiere on hors ; þan he þat is on ffote
For he seiþ me þat am samaritan ; suen ffeiþ & his ffelawe
On my caple þat hate[^a545] caro ; of mankynde I toke it
he was vnhardi þat harlot ; and hydde him in inferno
and er þis day þre daies ; I dar vnder -take
þat he worþe ffeterid þat ffelon ; ffaste with cheynes
and neuere efte greue gome ; þat goþe þis ilke gate
and þanne shall ffeiþ be fforster heer ; & in þis ffriþe walke
and kenne comune men ; þat knowen not þe cuntre
whiche is þe weie þat iche wente ; & wherfforþe to ierusalem
and hope þe hosteleris man shall be ; þer þe man liþe to helinge
and al þat ffeble & ffeynte ben ; þat ffeiþ may not teche
hope schall lede hem forþe with loue ; as his lettre telliþ
and hostel hem & hele ; þoruȝ holi chirche bileue
Tyll I haue salue ffor al seke ; & þane shall I retorne
And come aȝeyne be þis cuntre ; & comfforte all seke
þat craueþ[^a546] or coueitiþ it ; and crieþ þer -after
For þe barn was born in bedelem ; of a clene maydyn
þat shall with[^a547] blode saue ; alle þat leuen in truþe[^a548]
and ffollewen þe techinge ; of hope þat is his ffellaw
A swete sire I said þo ; where schall I beleue
as ffeiþ & his ffelaw ; enfformen me boþe
and[^a549] þre persones departable ; þat perpetuel weren euere
and alle þre but oo god ; þus abraham me tauȝte
and hope afterwarde ; he bade me to loue[^322]
loue hem like my-selue ; & oure lord aboue alle
After abraham quod he ; þat heraud of armes
sette ffaste þi ffeiþe ; and fferme bileue
and as hope hiȝte þe ; I hote þat þou loue
þin euen -cristen euere-more ; euen -fforþe with þi-selue
and if concience carpe þer -aȝeyne ; or kynde witte eiþer
Or heretikis with argumentis ; þin hand þou him shewe
For god is after an hande ; I here now & knowe it
þe ffader was ffriste a ffiste ; with oo ffynger ffoldynge
Till him loued & liste ; to vnlose his ffynger
and prophere it fforþe as with a pawme ; to what place it shulde
þe pawme is puriliche þe hand ; and propheriþ fforþe þe ffyngris
To mynystre and to make ; þat myȝt of hand knoweþ
And bitokeneþ truly ; telle who-so likeþ
þe holi gost of heuene ; is[^a550] as þe pawme
þe ffyngris þat ffre ben ; to ffolde & to serue
Betokeneþ soþeli þe sone ; þat sent was to erthe
þat touuchid & tastede ; at þe techinge of þe pawme[^323]
Seynt marie a mayde ; & mankynde lauȝte
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto
þe ffader is þane as a ffyste ; with ffynger to touche
Qui a omnia traham ad me ipsum & cetera
All þat þe pawme parceyueþ ; prophetable to ffele
þus arn þey all but on ; as it an hand were
and þre sundry siȝtis ; in on schewinge[^324]
þe pawme ffor he puttiþ fforþ ffyngris ; & þe ffiste boþe
Riȝt so redili ; reson it shwewiþ
how he þat is holi gost ; Sere & sonne preueþ
and as þe hand halt harde ; & all þing ffaste
þoruȝ ffoure ffyngris & a þombe ; fforþ with þe pawme
Riȝt so þe ffader and þe sonne ; & seint spirit þe þrede
halte all þe wide worlde ; with -Inne hem þre
Boþe welkene & þe wynde ; water & erþe
heuene & helle ; & all þat þer -inne is
þus it is[^a551] . it nedeþ no man ; to trowe non oþer
þat þre þingis bi-longen ; in oure lord of heuene
And arn sereples by hem-self ; asundre were þey neuere
No more þan myn hand may moue ; with -outyn my ffyngris
and as my ffiste is fful hande ; yffolden to-gedris
So is þe ffader a fful god ; fformour & schappere
Tu fabricator omnium & cetera
al þe myȝt myd him is ; in makynge of all þingis
þe ffyngris fformen a ffull hand ; to portreie or to peynte
Keruynge and compassinge ; as crafte of þe ffyngris
Ryȝt so is þe sonne ; þe science of þe ffader
and fful god as is þe ffader ; no ffeblere ne no better
þe plawme[^a552] is puriliche þe hande and haþe power be him-selue
oþer -wyse þanne þe wreþin ffiste ; or werkmanschipe of ffyngris
For þe pawme haþe power ; to put out all þe Ioyntis
and to vnffoldyn þe ffoldyn ffiste ; at þe ffyngris wille
so is þe holi gost god ; neiþer gretter ne lesse
þanne is þe sire & þe sone ; & in þe same myȝte
And all ar þey but oo god ; as myn hand & my ffyngris
vnffolden or ffolden ; my ffyst & my pawme
al is but on hand ; euene in þe myddis
For þe ffyngris þat ffolde shulden ; & þe ffyst make
For peyne of þe pawme ; power hem ffayliþ
To cluche &[^a553] to clawe ; to clippe or to holde
where þe mydill of myn hande ; y-maymed or perished
I shulde receyue riȝt nouȝt ; of þat I reche myȝte
and þouȝ my þombe & my ffyngris ; boþe weren to-schullen
and þe myddil of myn hand ; with -oute male-ese
In many kyns maners ; I myȝte my-self helpe
boþe moue & amende ; þouȝ all my ffyngris oken
be þis skylle me þinkiþ ; I se an euydence
þat who-so synneþ in seint spirit ; asoilid worþe he neuere
Neiþer here ne ellis-where ; as I here telle
Qui peccat / in spiritum sanctum & cetera
For he prikiþ god in þe pawme ; þat peccat / in spiritu sancto
For god þe ffader is as a ffist ; þe sone is as þe ffynger
Þe holy gost . of heuene is ; as it were pawme[^a554][^325]
So who synneth in seint sperite it semeþ þat he greveth
God þat he grypeth with and wolde his grace quenche
The Trinytie is lykoned to a torche or a tapor
And to a torche or a tapir þe trinite is lykened
As wex and a weike were twynned to-gedris[^326]
And þan a ffire fflaumynge fforth out of bothe
And as wex and weike and hote ffire to-gedris
Fostre fforth a fflambe and a ffaire light
So doth þe S yre and þe sone and also spiritus sanctus
Fostren fforth amongis ffolk loue and loiale bileue
Alkynne[^a555] Cristen clensith of synnes
And as þou seest sum tyme sodeynliche a torche
The blace þer -of blowe[^a556] out . ȝet brennyth þe weike
with -out leye or lyght þat þe smacche swellith
So is þe holy[^a557] god and grace with -out mercy
To alle vnkynde creaturis þat coueite to distroie
leele loue oþer lyf þat oure lord ȝaf
and as a glowynge glede ne gladeth nouȝt þese werkmen
That werchin and wakyn in wyntris nyghtis
as doth a kyse[^a558] or a kandell þat kauȝth hath ffire & blaseth
No more doth Sire ne sone ne seint sperit to-gedris
Grante no grace ne fforȝeuenesse of synnes
T yll þe holy gost gynne to glowe & to blase
So doþ[^a559] þe holy gost glowith but as a glede
Tille þat lele loue lygge on him and blowe
And þan fflammeth he as ffire on pater & on filius
And melteth her myȝht to mercy as men may se in wynter
Isekellis in euesyngis þoru hete of þe sonne
Melltith in a m ynute while to myste and to water
So grace of þe holy gost ; þe grette myȝth of þe trinite
Melltith to mercy to merciable and to non oþer
And as wex with -out more on a warme glede
wolle brennyn and blasyn be þey to-gedris
And solacyn hem þat mow se þat sytten in dirkenesse
So wulle þe[^a560] ffor-ȝeue ffolk of mylde hertis
That rewffullich repentyn and restitucion make
In as moche as þey mown amendyn and payn
and if it suffice not ffor a seth[^a561] þat in swich will deien
Mercy ffor his mekenesse wull make good þe remenant
and as þe weike and ffire wolle make a warme fflambe
For to myrthe men with þat in merke sytten
So wull Crist of his Curteyse and men cry him mercy
bothe ffor-ȝeue and fforȝeue[^a562] and ȝit bidde ffor us
To þe ffader of heuene ffor-ȝeuenesse to haue
but hewe ffire at a fflynte ffoure hundride wynter
but þou haue tow to take it with tonder or broches
all þi laboure is lost and all þi long trauaile
For may no ffire fflambe make ffaile it his kynde
So is þe holy gost god and grace with -outen mercy
To all vnkynde creaturis Crist him-self wittenessiþ
Amen dico vobis nescio vos & cetera .
be vnkynde to þin euen -cristen and all þou[^a563] canst biddyn
delen or do pennaunce day and nyght euere
and purschace all þe pardon of pampilon & rome
and indulgencis ynowȝ and be in-gratus to þi kynde[^327]
The holy gost hereth þe nouȝt ne helpe may þe be reson
For vnkyndenesse quenchith him þat he can nouȝt shyne
ne brenne ne blace clere ffor blowinge of vnkyndenesse
poule þe apostele proueth where I lye
Si linguis hominum loquare & cetera.
For-thi be war ȝe wyse men þat with þe world delyn
That riche ben and reson knowen rewlith well ȝoure -self
beth nouȝth vnkynde I conceill ȝou to ȝoure euen -Cristen
For many of ȝou riche men by my soule men tellyn
ȝe brenne but ȝe blase nouȝt þat is a blynde bekne
Non omnis qui dicit domine domine & cetera.
dyues died dampned ffor his vnkyndenesse
of his mete and of his mony to men þat it neded
Iche a riche I rede reward at him take
and ȝeueth ȝoure good to þat god þat grace of arisith
For þey þat beth vnkynde to his hope I non oþer
but þey shull dwelle þer diues Is daiez with -outyn ende
Thus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie þat quenchiþ a s it were
The grace of þe holy gost godis owen kynde
For þat kynd doth vnkynde ffordoth as þese cursid theues
Vnkynde Cristen men ffor coueitise of Enuye
sleth a man ffor his moebles with mouþe or with handis
For þat þe holy gost hath to kepe þe harlottis distroien
þe wyche is lyf and loue þe leþe[^a564] of mannys body
For euery manere good man may be likned to a torche
Or ellis to a taper to reuerence þe trinite
and who-so mothereth a good man me thynkyth be myn Inwitte
he ffor-doth þe leuest lyght þat oure lord loueth
but ȝet in many mo manerez men offende þe holy gost
but þis is þe werste wyse þat ony wyghte myghte
Synnen aȝeyn seint sperit assenten to distroie
For Coueytise of ony-þing þat Crist dere bouȝte
That wickydliche and wullfulliche wolde mercy anientice
Innocence is next god and nyght and day it crieth
Veniaunce veniaunce[^328] ffor-ȝeue be it neuere
þat shent us and schede oure blode fforschapte us as it were
Vindica sanguinem Iustorum & cetera
Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce verri charite asketh
and sith holy chirche and Charite chargyn þis so sore
leue I neuere þat oure lord wull loue þat Charite lacketh
ne haue pete ffor ony preiere þer þat he pleyneth
I sopose I had synned so and shuld nouȝth die
and now am sory þat I so þe[^329] seint sperit agulte
Conffesse me and crie his mercy[^a565] god þat all made
and myldeliche his grace[^a566] axe myȝty[^a567] I nouȝt be saued
ȝis said þe samaritan so well þou myȝte repente
That rithwynesse[^a568] þoru repentaunce to rewthe myȝth turne
but ȝet[^a569] it is but seldom seie þer sothenesse bereth wittenesse
Ony creature þat is coupable affore a kyngis Iustice
be ranceomed ffor his repentaunce þer all reson him dampneth
For þer þat partie pursueth þe peple is so huge
þat þe kyng may do no mercy till boþe men acorde[^330]
and eiþer haue equite as holy writte tellyth
Numquam dimittitur peccatum & cetera .
Thus it ffareth by swiche ffolk þat ffalsly al here lyuez
I wull[^a570] leuen and lete nouȝt till lyff hem fforsake
Good hope þat helpe shulde to wanhope turneth
Nouȝt of þe nounpower of god þat he ne is myȝtffull
To amende all þat amys is and his mercy gretter
Thanne[^a571] oure wikkid werkis as holy wrtte[^a572] tellith
misericordia eius super omnia opera Eius
But er his rithffullnesse to reuthe turne sum restitucion behoueth[^331]
his sorwe is satisffacion ffor him þat may not paie
Thre þingis þer beth þat doon a man be strengthe[^332]
Flen his owen hous as holy writt scheweth
þat on is a wikkid wyff þat woll not be schastisid
here ffiere ffleth ffro hir ffor ffere of hir tonge
and if his hous be vnhillid and reyne on his bedde
he seketh all abouȝte till he liggith[^a573] drie
and whan smoke or smoldere smytte in his sith
It doth him worsse þan his wyff or wete to slepe
For smoke and smolder smyteth in his eyen
Till he be blere-eyed or blynde and hos in þe þrote
Than Cougheth he[^a574] and cursith þat crist ȝeue him sorow
þat shulde bringe in better wode or blowe it till it brenne
These þre þat I telle of be þus to vndirstond
þe wyff is oure wykked fflesshe þat wolle not be schastisid
For kynde cleueth on him euere to contrarie þe soule
and þough it ffalle it ffynt skyllis þat ffreelte is made
and þat is lyghtliche ffor-ȝeuen and ffor-ȝeten bothe
To man þat mercy asketh and to amende thanketh[^a575]
The reyne þat reyneth þer we rest shuld
ben sekenesse and sorowes þat we suffren ofte
as poule þe apostle to þe peple tauȝte
virtus in infirmitate perficitur & cetera .
and þouȝ þat men make moche doell in her angre
and impaciente in her penaunce[^333] pure reson knowith
þat þey haue cause to contrarie by kynde of here sekenesse
and lyghtliche oure lord at here lyues ende
hath mercy on swiche men þat so euell may suffre
[^334]But þe smoke and þe smolder þat smytte in oure eyne
ys coueytise and vnkyndenesse þat quenchiþ godis mercy
For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie of all-kynnes reson
For þer nys sike ne sory ne non so moche wrecche
That he ne may loue and him like and lene of his herte
good will and good word both wisshen and willen
alle manere men mercy and ffor-ȝeuenesse
and loue hem like him-self and his lyff amende
I may no lenger lette quod he and hard priked
I
and wente away as þe wynde and þer -with I awakid

[^a538: sufficit (C2) | suffiseþ (most mss)]

[^a539: he (C2) | we (most mss)]

[^a540: ȝede (C2) | yeden (all other mss)]

[^a541: and (C2) | taken (most mss)]

[^a542: had (C2) | he had (all other mss)]

[^a543: wyn (C2hand1) | wyn and (all other mss) | wyn & (C2hand2)]

[^a544: sparliche (C2) | spakliche (most mss)]

[^a545: hate (C2) | highte (most mss)]

[^a546: craueþ (C2) | craueþ it (all other mss)]

[^a547: with (C2) | with his (all other mss)]

[^a548: truþe (C2) | Feiþ (all other mss)]

[^a549: and (C2) | In (most mss)]

[^a550: is (C2) | he is (all other mss)]

[^a551: it is (C2) | is (most mss)]

[^a552: plawme (C2) | pawme (all other mss)]

[^a553: & (C2) | or (all other mss)]

[^a554: pawme (C2) | þe pawme (most mss)]

[^a555: Alkynne (C2) | That alle kynne (most mss)]

[^a556: blowe (C2) | yblowe (most mss)]

[^a557: holy (C2) | holy goost (all other mss)]

[^a558: kyse (C2) | kex (most mss)]

[^a559: doþ (C2) | þat (all other mss)]

[^a560: þe (C2) | þe fader (all other mss)]

[^a561: seth (C2hand1) | assetȝ (most mss) | faithe (C2hand2)]

[^a562: fforȝeue (C2) | foryete (most mss)]

[^a563: þou (C2) | þat þow (most mss)]

[^a564: leþe (C2) | leye (most mss)]

[^a565: mercy (C2) | grace (all other mss)]

[^a566: grace (C2) | mercy (all other mss)]

[^a567: myȝty (C2) | myghte (most mss)]

[^a568: rithwynesse (C2) | rightwisnesse (all other mss)]

[^a569: but ȝet (C2) | Ac (most mss)]

[^a570: I wull (C2) | Yuele (all other mss)]

[^a571: Thanne (C2) | Than alle (all other mss)]

[^a572: wrtte (C2) | writ (all other mss)]

[^a573: liggith (C2) | slepe (most mss)]

[^a574: Cougheth he (C2) | Cogheþ (most mss)]

[^a575: thanketh (C2) | þenkeþ (most mss)]

[^317: C2.17.52:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in comynge.]

[^318: C2.17.92:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in bringe.]

[^319: C2.17.94: The preceding two lines are linked by a bracket in the left margin; outside the bracket is a triangle composed of dots, with a wavy line ascending from the uppermost dot. See Introd. I.6.]

[^320: C2.17.97: A crosshatch mark appears in the left margin.]

[^321: C2.17.98:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in drunkyn.]

[^322: C2.17.130:C2 alone lacks the line numbered by Kane and Donaldson l. 132.]

[^323: C2.17.148:The <a> above the line was added apparently because the letter on the line is spoiled by an inkblot.]

[^324: C2.17.155: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^325: C2.17.201: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^326: C2.17.205: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^327: C2.17.255: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^328: C2.17.290:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in each instance of venaiunce.]

[^329: C2.17.298:An excrescent mark appears above the thorn in þe.]

[^330: C2.17.307: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^331: C2.17.317: An otiose bar appears through the ascender of the <h> in behoueth. For details of this scribe's use of barred <h>, see the Introduction under Hand.]

[^332: C2.17.319: A triangle composed of dots. with a wavy line ascending from the uppermost dot, appears in the left margin. See Introd. I.6.]

[^333: C2.17.342:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce.]

[^334: C2.17.346: A crosshatch mark appears in the left margin.]

passus xviij duodevicesimus

W olleward and wette-schod wente I fforth after
and as a reccheles renke þat of no wo reccheth
and ȝede fforth like a lorell all my lif-tyme
Tille I wex wery of þe world and wilned efte to slepe
and lened me to a lenten and long tyme I slepte
and of cristis passion and penaunce þe peple þat of taughte
reste me þer and rutte ffaste till ramys palmarum
of gerlees and of gloria laus grettely me dremed
and how Ozanna by orgonye olde ffolk songen
on semblable to þe samaritan and sum -dell to petrus[^a576] plowman
barfott and on an asse bak boteles gan prike
without spores oþer spere ineliche[^a577][^335] he loked
as is þe kynde of a knyȝth þat cometh to be doubed
To geten him gilte sporis and gallochis y- couped
Than was ffeith in a ffennestre and cried a fili dauid
as doth an heraud of armes whan aunterous comyn to Iustis
Olde Iewes of Ierusalem ffor yoie þei songen
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini & cetera
Than I ffreyned at ffeith what all þat ffare be-ment
and who sholde Iuste in Ierusalem Ihesus he saide
and ffecche þat þe ffende cleymeth petrus[^a578] ffrute þe plowman
is petris[^a579] in þis place quod I . and he preynte on me
This Ihesu of his gentris woll Iuste in pieris armes
In his helme and in his haubergon humana natura
That crist be not y-knowe here ffor consummatum est
In pieris palcot[^a580] þe plowman þis priker shall ride
For no dynte shall him dere as in deitate patris
he shall Iuste with Ihesu quod I . Iuwes or scribes
Nay quod he þe ffoule ffende and ffals dom & deth
deth seith he shall ffor-do and doun brynge
al þat leueth or loketh in lond or in water
lyf seith þat he lieth and leythe his lif to wedde
þat ffor all þat deth can do with -inne þre daiez
To walke and ffecche ffro þe ffende pieris ffructe þe plowman
and to[^a581] legge it þer him liketh and luciffer bynde
and ffor to bete and adoun brynge bale and deth ffor euere
O mors ero mors tua & cetera
Than cam pilatus with peple sedens pro tribunali
To se how douthliche deth shuld do & deme hir brethers rith
The Iewes and þe Iustice aȝeins Ihesus þey were
and all þe court on him cried crucifige scharpe
Tho put him fforth a pilour biffore pilat and saide
This Ihesus of oure Iewes temple Iaped and dispisid
To ffor-don it on a day and in thre daiez after
Edifie it efte newe here he stant þat said it
and ȝet maken it as moche in all manere poyntis
both as long and as large by lofte and by grounde
Crucifige quod a cacchepoll I warante him wicche[^a582]
Tolle tolle quod anoþer and toke of kene thornys
and bigane[^336] of kene thorne a gerlande to make
and sett it sore on his heed and said in Enuye
Aue rabi quod þat rebauude and þrewe redis at him
nailid him with þre nailis naked on þe rode
and poison on a pole þey puttyn vp to his lippis
and bede him drynk[^337] his deth euell his daiez where don
and if þat þou subtille be helpe now þi-seluen
if þou be crist and kyngis sone come doun of þe rode
þan shull we leue þat liff þe loueth & woll not lete þe deie
Consummatum est quod crist & bigan[^a583] ffor to swoune
petousliche and pale as a presoner þat deieth
þe lord of lyff and of lyght þo leide his eien to-gedris
The day ffor drede with -drowe and derk bicam þe sonne
þe wall waggid and cleff and al þe world quaued
dede men ffor þat dyn come out of depe graues
and tolde whi þat tempest so longe tyme durid
For a bitter bataile þe dede body saide
lyff and deth in þis derkenesse hir on ffor-doth hir oþer
shall no wyghte witte witterly who shall haue þe maistrie
Er sonday abouȝte sonne risinge and sank with þat to erthe
Summe said þat he was goddis sonne þat so ffaire deied
vere filius dei erat iste & cetera
and sum said he was a wiche good is þat we asaye
wheder he be deed or nouȝt deed / doun er he be takyn
Two þeffes also tholed deth þat tyme
vppon a croisse biside crist so was þe comune lawe
A cacchepoll cam fforth and crakid boþe here leegis
and her armes after of eiþer of þe þeeffes
but was no boy so bolde godis body to touuche
For he was knyth and kyngis sone kynde ffor-ȝaf þat tyme
That non harlot where so hardy to lay hand vppon him
but þer Cam fforth a k nyght with a kene spere y-grounde
hyghte longeus as þe letter tellith & long had lore his syȝte
by-ffore pilate and oþer peple in þe place he houed
magry his many tethe he was made þat tyme
to take þe spere in his honde and Iuste with Ihesus
For alle þey were vnhardy þat houed on hors & stode
To touuchin him or tastin him or takyn him doun of rode
but þis blynde bacheler þan bare him þoru þe herte
þe blode spronge doun be þe spere & vnspeared his eyen
þan ffelle þe knyght vppon his kneys & cried him mercy
aȝeyne my will it was lord to wounde ȝow so sore
he seighed and saide sore it me athenketh
For þe dede þat I haue don I do me in ȝoure grace
haue on me reuthe rythffull Ihesu & right with þat he wepte
þan gan ffeith ffelly þe ffals Iewis dispise
Called hem caytiues acursid ffor euere
For þis ffoule velony vengeaunce to ȝou ffalle
to do þe blynde bete hym ybounde it was a bois conceill
Cursid caytyff knyȝghthode was it neuere
to myssedo a deed body by day or be nyȝth
þe gre ȝett hath he gettyn ffor all his grett wound
For ȝoure Champion Chiualer chief knyght of ȝou all
yelte him recreaunt rennynge right at Ihesus wille
For be þis derkenesse y-do his deth worth avengid
& þe[^a584] lurdeyns han y-lost ffor lyff shall haue þe maistrie
& ȝoure ffraunchise þat ffre was ffallyn is in-to[^a585] þraldom
& þe[^a586] cherlis & ȝoure childrin cheue shull ȝe neuere
ne haue lordschepe in honde ne no lond til ye
but all bareyne be and vserie vsyn
whiche is lyf þat oure lord in alle lawes acursith
now ȝoure good daiez ar don as danyell prophecied
whan crist come here kyngdom & croune shulld cesse
Cum veni at sanctus sanctorum cessabit vnxio vestra
what ffor fferre of þis fferly & of þe ffalse Iewes
I drowe me in þat derkenesse to descendit ad inferna
And þer I sawe sothely secundum scripturas
out of þe west cost a wenche as me thought
Cam walkynge in þe way to helleward sche loked
Misericordia
mercy highte þat maide a meke þinge with -all
a f full benigne burde & buxum of speche
Hir suster as it semed cam sothely walkynge
Euen out of þe est and west-ward sche loked
Veritas
A ffull comly creature trewthe she highte
For þe vertue þat hir ffolwid afferde was she neuere
whanne these maydenes mette mercy and trewþe
eiþer axed oþer of þis grette wonder
of þe dyn & þe derknesse and how þe day rowed
and wyche a lyght and a leeme lay be-ffor helle
I haue fferli of þis ffare in ffeithe saide trewþe
and am wyndinge to witte what þis wondir meneth
haue no merueile quod mercy myrthe it betokeneth
a maide þat hatte marie and moder without ffelinge
of ony-kynnes creature conseiued þoru speche
And grace of þe holy gost wex grett with childe
Wit-oute wemme of man in-to þis world she brouȝt him
and þat my tale be trewe I take god to wittenesse
sith þis barn was born ben xxx thritty wynter passid
wyche deyed & deth tholed this day abouȝte mydday
and þat is cause of þis clipse þat closeth now þe sonne
In menynge þat man shall ffro merkenesse be drawe
þe while this lyȝth & þis leeme shall lucyffere ablende
For patriarkis and prophetis han prechen[^a587] here-of often
þat man shall man saue þoru a maydens helpe
and þat was tynt þoru tre ; tree shall it wynne
and þat deth doun brouth / deth shall releue
That þou tellyst quod trewþe it is but a tale of waltrot
For Adam and eue and Abraham with oþer
Ptriarkys P[a]triarkys[^a588] and prophetis þat in peyne liggen
leue þou neuere þat þou[^a589] lyght alofte shall bringe
ne haue hem out of helle / holde þi tonge mercy
It is but a treffle þat þou telliste I treuþe wotte þe sothe
For þat is onys in helle out cometh he neuere
Iob þe prophete patriarke reproueth þi sawes
Quia in in-fferno nulla est redempcio
Than mercy ffull myldely mowthed þese wordis
Thoru experience quod sche I hope þey shull be saued
For venym ffor-doth venym & þat I preue be reson
For of all venemes ffowlest is þe scorpion
may no medecyne helpe þe place þer he styngyth
till he be deed and do þer -to þe euell he distroieth
þe ffrist venemeth[^a590] þorugh venem of him-self
so shall þis deth ffor-do I dar my lyff legge
all þat deth dede ffrist þorugh þe deuyllis entisinge
and rith as thorugh gyle man was bigylid
so shal grace þat all bigan[^a591] make a good ende
Ars ut artem ffalleret
Now suffre we saide trewthe / I se as me thenketh
Out of þe nyppe of þe North . nouȝt ffull ffer hens
Iusticia
Ryghtwysenesse come rennynge . reste we þe while
For he wotte more þan we . he was or we boþe
That is sothe said mercy . and I se here by southe[^338]
Pax
where pees cometh pleynge . in pacience clothid
loue hath coueytid hir long . leue I non oþer
but he sent hir sum lettre . what þis lyght bement[^a592]
þat houer-houeth helle þus . she us shall telle
whan pees in pacience clothed . approched nyȝ hem tweyne
Ryghwyssenese Righ[t]wisnesse[^a593] hym[^a594] reuerencyd . ffor hir riche cloþinge
and preied pees to telle hir . to what place she wolde
and in hir gay garnementis . whom sche grette þouȝte
My will is to wynde[^a595] quod sche . & wellcome hem alle
That ma ny a day myght I not se . ffor merkenesse of synne
adam and Eue and oþer mo in helle
Moyses and many mo . mercy shull haue
I shall daunce þer -to ; do þou so syster
Ad vesperum demorabitur ffletus et ad matutinum leticia
loue þat is my lemman . swiche lettres me sente
þat mercy my sister & I . mankynde shulde saue
and þat god hath fforȝeuen . & granted me pees & mercy
To be mannys maynpernour . ffor euere-more after
lo here þe patent quod pees . in pace in idipsum
And þat þis dede shall dure . dormiam et requiescam
what rauestow quod rightwisenesse . or þou art riȝth dronke[^339]
leuest þou yonde liȝt . vnlowke myght helle
and saue manys soule . suster wene it neuere
At[^a596] bygynnynge god ȝaff þe dome him-self
þat adam and Eue . and all þat hem sued
shuld die doun-right . and dwelle in peyne after
ȝif þat þey touuchid a tree . and þe ffructe eten
adam afterwarde . aȝeins his deffense
Freted of þat ffrute . and fforsok as it where
The loue of oure lord . and his lore boþe
and ffollowed þat þe ffende taughte . & his ffellawis wyll
aȝeins reson and rightewynesse[^a597] . recorde þus with treuthe
þat her peyne be perpetuell . and no preiere hem helpe
For-þi late hem chewe as þey chose . and chyde we not suster
For it is boteles bale . þe bite þat þey eten
and I shall preue quod pees . her peyne mote haue an ende
and wo in-to well mowe wedde[^a598] . at þe laste
For had þey wuste of no wo . well had þey nouȝt knowen
For no wyght wott what well ys / þat neuere wo suffred
Ne what is hoot hunger . þat had neuere deffauȝte
ȝif no nythe ne were . no man as I leue
sholde witte witterly . what day is to mene
shulde neuer rith riche man . þat leueth in rest ese[^a599]
witte what wo is . ne were þe deth of kynde
So god þat began all . of his good wille
by-cam man of a mayde . mankynde to saue
and suffred to be sold . to se þe sorowe of dyeynge
the whiche vnknyttith all care . & bigynnynge[^a600] is of reste
For till modicum mete with us . I may it well avowe
wotte no wyght as I wene . what is ynowȝ to mene
For-thy god of his godnesse . þe ffrist gome adam
sette him in solace . and in souereyne murthe
and sithe[^a601] suffrid him synne . sorowe to ffele
and witte what well was . kyndeliche knowe it
and after god graunted h ym-self . & toke adamys kynde
To witte what he hath suffrid . in þre sondry places
bothe in heuene and in erthe . and now to helle he thenkyth
To witte what all woo is . þat wotte of all ioye
so it shall ffare be þis ffolk . þat her[^a602] ffoly & her synne
shall lere hem what langour ys . and lisse with -outyn ende
woote no wight what werre ys . þer þat pees regneth
Ne what is witterly well ; till wellawey him teche
Than was þer a wyght ; with two brode eyne
book hiȝte þat beawpere . a bolde man of speche
by my ffethe[^a603] quod þis book . I wolle bere wittenesse
þat þo þis barn was born . þer blased a sterre
þat alle þe wise of þis world . in oo witt acordyn
þat swyche a barn was born . in bedlem Cete
and þat[^a604] mannys soule shuld saue / and synne distroie
and alle þe Elementis quod þe book / here-of bere[^a605] wittenesse
þat he was god þat all wrouȝth / þe walkyn ffrist schewyn
Tho þat weren in heuene / token stella comata
and tentedyn hire as a torche / to reuerence his burthe
The lyght ffollowid þe lord / in-to þe lowe erthe
That þe water wittenessith / þat he was god . ffor he wente on it
peet e r þe apostle parceyued his gate
and as he wente on þe water / well knewe him[^a606] & said
Iube me venire ad te super aquas /
lo[^a607] how þe sonne gan louke / hir lygh[^a608] in hir-self
whan sche seie him suffre / þat sonne & see made
The erthe ffor heuynesse / þat he wolde suffre
quakyd as quyk þinge / & al be- squate[^a609] þe roche
lo helle myght not holde / but opened þer god þolid
and lete out Simondis sones to seen him hange on rode
and now shall luciffer leue it / þouȝ him loth thynke
For gigas þe geaunt / with a gynne engyned
To breke and to bete adoun / þat ben aȝeins Ihesus
and I book wolle be brente / but Ihesus rise to leue
In alle myghtis of man / and his moder gladen
and comfort all his kyn / and out of care brynge
and all þe Iewen Ioye / vnloken and vnbyndyn
and but þey reuerence his rode / and his resurrexion
and leuen on a newe lawe / be lost lyf and soule
al þis I book wittenesse / and ȝet moche more
Suffre we said trewþe / I here and se boþe
how a sperit spekyth to helle / & bitt vnspere þe yatis
Attollite portas et cetera
A voise loude in þat lyght / to lucyffer crieth
prynces of þis place / vnbyndeth[^a610] and vnlokketh
For here cometh with croune / þat kyng is of glorie
Than siked sathan / and said to hem alle
swyche a lyȝt aȝeins oure leue / lazar it ffette
Care and comberaunce / is Come to us alle
if þis kynge Come in / mankynde wolle he ffecche
and lede it þer him likyth / and lyghliche us bynden
patriarkis and prophetis / har[^a611] parled here-of longe
That swiche a lord and lyȝth / shulde lede hem all hens
lysteneth quod lucyffere / ffor I þis lord knowe
bothe þis lord and þis lyȝth / is longe ago I knewe him
May no deth him dere ; ne no deuyllis quentise
and where he wolle is his wey / but whare him of þe perellis
if he reueth me my rith / he robbith me be maistrie
by rith and reson / þo renkis þat ben here
body and soule be myne / boþ good and ille
if adam ete þe appull / all shull die
And dwelle with us deuyllis / þis þretinge he made
and he þat sothenesse ys / said þis wordis
and sithen is seised / "vij" seuen hundrid wynter
I leue þat þat lawe nyl nouȝt / leten him þe leste
That is sothe said sathan / but I me sore drede
id est adam
For þou gete him with gyle / and his gardeyne breke
and in semblant of a serpent / sat on þe appilltre
and eggedest him to ete / Eue by hir-self
and toldist hir a tale / of treson were þe wordis
and so þou haddist hem out / and hidir at þe last
It is not trewly[^a612] getten / þer gile is þe rote
For god wolle not be bigilid / quod gobelyn ne be-Iapyd
we haue no trewe title to hem / ffor þoru treson were þei dampned
Certis I drede me quod þis deuyll / lest treuþe woll hem ffecche
Out of oure poweste / and leden hem hens
Thys xxxti thritty wynter as I wene / hath he gon and preched
I haue asailid him with synne / and sum tyme asked
where he were god or godis sone / he ȝaf me scorte answere
and þus hath he trollid fforth / this two & wynter
and whan I seigh it was so / slepinge I wente
To warne pilatus wyff / what doynge[^a613] man was Ihesus
For Iewes hateden him / and han don him to deth
I wolde haue lenged his lif / ffor I leued if he deied
þat his soule wolde suffre / no synne in his sight
For þe[^340] body while it on bones ȝede / abouȝte was euere
To saue men ffrom synne / ȝef hem-self wolde
and now I se where a soule Cometh / hidirwarde sailinge
with glorie and with grett lyghe[^a614] / god it is I wotte well
I rede we ffle quod he / ffast all hens
For us where better nouȝt be / þan byden his sight
For þi lesingis luciffer / lost is all oure pray
Frist þoru þe we ffellyn / ffro heuene so high
For we leued þi lesyngis / lore we haue adam
and all oure lordschip I leue / a lond and on water
Nunc princeps huius mundi eicieture fforas
Efte þe lygh[^a615] bad vnlouke / and lucyffer answerid
what lord art þou quod luciffere quis est iste
Rex glorie þe lygh[^a616] sonne[^a617] saide
and lord of myȝht & of mayn / and all maner vertues
dominus vertutum[^a618]
dukis of þis dyme place / anon vndo þese yatis
þat Crist may Come in / þe kyngis sone of heuene
and with þat breth helle brak / with belliall barres
For ony wey[^a619] or warde / wyde opene þe yatis
patriarkis and prophetis populus in tenebris
Songen seint Iohans songe Ecce agnus dei
luciffer lokene ne myght / so lyght him ablente
and þo þat oure lord loued / in-to his lyght he lauȝte
and said to satan / lo here my soule to amende
For all synffull soulis / to saue þo þat beth worthi
myne þei be & of me / I may þe better hem cleyme
al-þouȝ reson record / and riȝth of my-self
þat if þei ete þe appull / all shuld deie
I be-hiȝte hem nouȝt here / helle ffor euere
For þe dede þat þey dede / þi desceite it made
with gile þou hem gette / aȝein all reson
For in my palayce paradice / in likenesse of an eddere
Falsely þou fettist þer / þinge þat I loued
Thus ylike a lusard / with a lady visage
Theffliche þou me robbedest / þe olde lawe graunteth
That gylours bigilid[^a620] / and þat is good reson
Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo
Ergo soule shal soule quite / and synne to synne wende
and all þat man hath myssedo / I man wolle amende
Membre ffor membre / be þe olde lawe was amendis
and lyf ffor lyf also / and be þat lawe I cleyme it
Adam and alle his issue / at my wille here-after
and þat deth in hem ffor-dede / my deth shall releue
and boþe quike and quite / þat queynt was þoru synne
and þat grace gile distroie / good ffeith it asketh
So leue I nouȝt luciffer / aȝeine þe lawe I fecche hem
but be reson and ryth / rampson my liegges
Non veni soluere legem set adimplere
þou ffettist myn in my place / aȝeins all reson
Falseliche and ffouliche[^a621] / good ffeith it me taughte
To recouere hem þoru rampson / and be no reson ellis
so þat þoru gyle þou gette / þoru grace it is wonne
þou luciffer in likenesse / of a lether edder
Gettisdest[^a622] bi gile / þo þat god loued
and in likenesse of a liode / þat lord am of heuene
Graciously þi gile haue quit / go gyle aȝeins gile
and as adam and all / þoru a tre deied
adam and al þoru a tre / shul turne aȝeine to lyue
and gile is be-gilid / and in his gile ffallen
Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit
Now bigynneth þi gyle / aȝein þe to turne
and my grace to growe / ay gretter and wydere
þe bitternesse þou browe / browke it þi-self
þat art doctour of deth / drynke[^341] þat þou madist
For I þat am lord of lyf / loue is my drynk
and ffor þat drynk[^342] to-day / I deied vppon erthe
I ffaunte[^a623] so me þrestith ȝett / ffor mannys soulis sake
may no drynke[^343] me moiste / ne my þreste slake
Till þe vyntage ffalle / in þe vale of Iosaphath
Iudicium generale
That I drynk[^344] rith ripe muste / resureccio mortuorum
and þan shall I come as a kyng / crouned with angellus
and haue out of helle / all manys soulis
Fendis and ffendekynnes / be-ffor me shull stande
and be at my biddinge / wher-so-euere me likith
and to be merciable to man / þan my kynde it asketh
For we be bretheren of blood / but nouȝt in baptisme all
but all þat ben myne hole bretheren / in blode and in baptisme
Caue
shull nouȝt be dampned to þe deth / þat is with -outyn ende[^345]
Tibi soli peccam & cetera
It is not vsid in erthe / to hangyn a ffelon
ofter þan onys / þouȝ he were a traitour
and if þe kyng of þat kyngdom / come in þat tyme
þer þe ffelon þole shuld deth / or oþer Iuwise
lawe wolde he ȝaf him lyf / ȝif he loked vppon him
and I þat am kyng of kyngis / shall come swiche a tyme
wher dome to þe deth / dampneth all wicked
and if lawe wull I loke on hem / it lithe in my grace
whedir þey deye or deye nouȝt / ffor þat þei dedyn ille
be it-ony þing þe boldenesse / of her synnes
I do mercy þoruȝ rithwysnesse / & all my wordis ben trewe
and þouȝ holy writte wolle ; þat I be wroke of hem þat dedyn ille
Nullum malum impunitum & cetera
þei shull be clensid clereliche / and wasshen of here synnes
The prison of purgatory
In my prison purgatorie / till parce it hote
and my mercy shall be schewid / to many of my bretheren
For bloode may suffre blode / boþe hunger and colde
but blode may not se blode blede / but him rewe
Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui & cetera .
but my rithwysnesse and riȝth / shall rewlen all helle
and mercy all mankynde / be-ffor me in heuene
For I were an vnkynde kyng / but I my kynde holpe
and nameliche at swiche a nede / þer nedes help bihoueth
Non intres in iudicum cum seruo tuo
Thus be lawe quod oure lord / lede I woll ffrom hens
þo þat me loued / and leeued in my Comynge[^346]
For[^a624] þi lesyngis lucyffer / þat þou leighe to Eue
þou shalt abie it bitter / and bonde him with cheynes
Astrott and all þe rouȝte / hidden hem in hirnes
þey durst not loke on oure lord / þe boldest of hem all
but lete him lede fforth / what him likyd . and lete what him liste
many hundride of angellus / harped and songen
Culpat Caro purgat caro . regnat deus dei caro
Than piped pees / of poisie a note
Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus
post inimicicias clarior est et Amor
after scharpe schouris quod pees / most schene is þe sone
is no whedir warmer / þan after watrye cloudis[^347]
Ne no loue leuer / ne leuer ffrendis
Than after werre and wo ; whan loue and pees be maistris
was neuer werre in þis world / ne wykkednesse so kene
þat ne loue and him lyst / to laughynge ne brouȝte
and pees þoru pacience / all perellis stopped
Trewez quod treuþe / þou tellist us soth be Ihesus
Cleppe we in comenant[^a625] / and iche of us kysse oþer
and lete no peple quod pees / parceyue þat we chide
For inpossible is no þinge / to him þat is all-myȝthy
þou seist sothe quod rithwynesse[^a626] / and reuerenly hyr kyste
pees and pees here / per secula seculorum
Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi Iusticia & pax osculate sunt & cetera
Treuþe tromped þo / & songe te deum laudamus & cetera
and þan lutid loue / in a lowde note
Ecce quam bonum et quam Iocundum & cetera
Till þe day dawned / þese damysellis daunced
That men rungen to þe resurexion / & riȝth with þat I waked
and callid kytte my wyff / and kalotte my doughtere
arisith and reuerencyth / godis resurexion
and crepeth to þe crosse on kneis / & kissith it ffor a Iewell
For godis blessid body it bare / ffor oure bote
and it affereth þe ffende / ffor swiche is þe myȝth
may no gresly gost / glyde þer it schadwith

[^a576: petrus (C2) | Piers (all other mss)]

[^a577: ineliche (C2) | spakliche (most mss)]

[^a578: petrus (C2) | Piers (all other mss)]

[^a579: petris (C2) | Piers (all other mss)]

[^a580: palcot (C2) | paltok (all other mss)]

[^a581: and to (C2) | And (most mss)]

[^a582: wicche (C2) | a wicche (all other mss)]

[^a583: bigan (C2) | comsed (most mss)]

[^a584: þe (C2) | ye (most mss)]

[^a585: in-to (C2) | in (most mss)]

[^a586: þe (C2) | ye (all other mss)]

[^a587: prechen (C2) | preched (all other mss)]

[^a588: Ptriarkys P[a]triarkys (C2) | Patriarkes (all other mss)]

[^a589: þou (C2) | yon (most mss)]

[^a590: venemeth (C2) | venymouste (Bx)]

[^a591: all bigan (C2) | bigan (most mss)]

[^a592: bement (C2) | bymeneþ (most mss)]

[^a593: Ryghwyssenese Righ[t]wisnesse (C2) | Rightwisnesse (most mss)]

[^a594: hym (C2) | hire (most mss)]

[^a595: wynde (C2) | wende (most mss)]

[^a596: At (C2) | At þe (most mss)]

[^a597: rightewynesse (C2) | rightwisnesse (most mss)]

[^a598: wedde (C2) | wende (most mss)]

[^a599: ese (C2) | and ese (most mss)]

[^a600: bigynnynge (C2) | comsynge (all other mss)]

[^a601: sithe (C2) | sithe he (all other mss)]

[^a602: þat her (C2) | hir (all other mss)]

[^a603: my ffethe (C2) | goddes body (all other mss)]

[^a604: and þat (C2) | That (all other mss)]

[^a605: bere (C2) | beren (most mss)]

[^a606: knewe him (C2) | hym knew (most mss)]

[^a607: lo (C2) | And lo (all other mss)]

[^a608: lygh (C2) | light (all other mss)]

[^a609: be- squate (C2) | biquasshed (most beta mss)]

[^a610: vnbyndeth (C2) | vnpynneþ (most mss)]

[^a611: har (C2) | han (most mss)]

[^a612: trewly (C2) | graiþly (all other mss)]

[^a613: doynge (C2) | done (most mss)]

[^a614: lyghe (C2) | light (all other mss)]

[^a615: lygh (C2) | light (all other mss)]

[^a616: lygh (C2) | light (all other mss)]

[^a617: sonne (C2) | sone (all other mss)]

[^a618: vertutum (C2) | virtutum (most mss)]

[^a619: wey (C2) | wye (most mss)]

[^a620: bigilid (C2) | be bigilid (most mss)]

[^a621: ffouliche (C2) | felonliche (most mss)]

[^a622: Gettisdest (C2) | Gettidest (most mss)]

[^a623: ffaunte (C2) | fauȝt (all other mss)]

[^a624: For (C2) | And for (all other mss)]

[^a625: comenant (C2) | couenant (all other mss)]

[^a626: rithwynesse (C2) | rightwisnesse (all other mss)]

[^335: C2.18.12:C2 alone has ineliche (transcribed meliche by Kane and Donaldson); most B manuscripts have spakliche. Although the MED does not attest the form, perhaps the scribe understood it to mean inwardly, in the sense of meditative.]

[^336: C2.18.50:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in bigane.]

[^337: C2.18.55:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in drynk.]

[^338: C2.18.171:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in southe.]

[^339: C2.18.192:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in dronke.]

[^340: C2.18.311:A virgule appears between the words For and þe, apparently to separate them.]

[^341: C2.18.375:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in drynke.]

[^342: C2.18.377:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in drynk.]

[^343: C2.18.379:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in drynke.]

[^344: C2.18.381:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in drynk.]

[^345: C2.18.389: The preceding two lines are linked at both right and left by brackets.]

[^346: C2.18.375:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in Comynge.]

[^347: C2.18.428:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in cloudis.]

passus xix undevicesimus

T hus I awakid and wrotte / what I had dremyd
and diȝte me derely / and dede me to chirche
To here holy þe masse / þo men ȝede to offringe
þat peris þe plowman / was peyntid all blody
and come in with crosse[^a627] / be-ffore comune[^a628] peple
and rith like in all lymes / to oure lord Ihesu
Than callid I conscience / to kenne me þe sothe
is þis Ihesus þe Iuster quod I . þat Iewes dede to deth
or is it piers þe plowman / ho peynted him so rede
quod conscience and knelid þo / þese arn piers armes
his colours and his cote armure / but he þat comeþ so blody
is crist with his crosse / conquerour of cristene
why calle ȝe him crist quod I / sith Iewes calle him Ihesus
patriarkis and prophetis ; prophicied biffore
þat all-kynne creaturis / sholde knelyn and bowyn
Anon as men nemepned / þe name of god Ihesu
Ergo is no name / to þe name of Ihesus
ne non so nedeffull to nempne / be nyȝth ne be day
For all derk dyuyllis / arn adred to here it
and synffull ar solaced / and saued be þat name
and ȝe callyn him crist / ffor what cause telliþ me
is crist more of myȝth / and more worthi name
þan Ihesu or Ihesus / þat all oure Ioie come of
þou knowest well quod conscience / and þou konne reson
That knyght kyng conquerour / may be oo persone
To be callid a knyȝth is ffaire / ffor men shull knele to him
To be callid a kynge is ffairere / ffor he may knyttis kny[ȝ]ttis[^a629] make
and to be conquerour callid / þat cometh of speciall grace
and of hardenesse[^a630] of herte / and of hendenesse
To make lordis of laddis / of londe þat he wynneth
and ffre men ffoule þrallis / þat ffolwyn not his lawis
The Iewes þat were gentell men / Ihesus þey dispisid
boþe his lore and his lawe / now ar þei lowe cherlis
as wyde as þe world is / woneth þer non
but vndir tribit[^a631] and taillage / as tikes and cherlis
and þo þat bicome cristene / bi conceill of þe baptisme
arn ffrankleyns ffre men / þoru ffullynge þat þey toke
and gentell men with Ihesu / for Ihesu was ffullid
& vppon Caluarie on croisse / crouned kyng of Iewis
It becometh to a kynge / to kepe & to deffende
and conquerour of conquest / his lawes and his large
and so dede Ihesus þe Iuwes he Iustified / and tauȝt hem
þe lawe of lyff / þat laste shall euere
and ffende it ffrom ffoule euellis / ffeuerez and ffluxus
and ffro ffendis þat in hem were / and ffalse bileue
þo was[^a632] Ihesus of Iewes / callid gentell prophete
and kyng of her kyngdom / and croune bare of thornes
and þo conquered he on crosse / as conquerour noble
myȝte no deth him ffor-do / ne adoun brynge
þat he ne aros and regned / and rauisshed helle
And þo was he conquerour callid / quike[^a633] and of deed
For he ȝaf adam and Eue / and oþer mo blisse
þat long had leyne be-ffor / as lucyffers Cherlis
and sith he ȝaf largely / all his trewe[^a634] liegis
placis in par adice / at here partinge hens
he may well be callid a conqueroure / and þat is crist to mene
but þe cause þat he cometh þus / with crosse of passion
Is to wissen us þer -with / þat whan þat we be tempted
þer -with to ffyȝte[^a635] ffenden us / ffro ffallynge in-to synne
and se be his sorowe / þat ho loueth Ioie
to penaunce[^348] and to pouerte / he muste pu tte him-self
and moche wo in þis world / willen and suffren /
but to carpe more of crist / and how he come to þat name
Feithely ffor to speke / his ffrist name was Ihesus
Tho he was born in bedlem / as þe book tellyth
and come to take mankynde / kyngis & angellus
Reuerencyd him ffaire / with richesse of erthe
angellus out of heuene / cam knelynge and songe
Gloria in excelsis deo & cetera
kyngis comyn after / knelid and offrid
Mirre and moche gold / with -out mercy askynge
Or ony-kynnes catell / but knolechinge him ffor[^a636] souereyne
boþe of sonde sonne and see / and sithen þey wente
In-to here kyngeliche[^a637] / by conceille of angellus
and þer was þat word ffulffilled / þe whiche þou of speke
Omnia celestia terrestria fflectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu
For all þe angellus of heuene / at his burthe knelid
and all þe witte of þe world / was in þo þre kyngis
Reson and rithwysenesse / and reuthe þey offrede
where-ffore and why / wyse men þat tyme
maistres and lettred men / magi hem callid
þat oo kyng cam with reson / couered vndir sence
The secunde kynge eke / sotheliche offride
Rythwysnesse vndir rede gold / resons ffelawe
gold is likenede to leaute / þat laste shall euere
And reson to riche gold / to rith and to trewe
The þrede kynge þo cam / knelynge to Ihesu
and presentid him with pete / apperinge be mirre
For mirre is mercy to mene / and mylde speche of tonge
þre yliche honeste þingis / were offrid þus at onys
þoru þre kyn kyngis / knelinge to Ihesu
but ffor all þese precious presentis / oure lord prince Ihesus
was neiþer kynge ne conquerour / till he gan to wexe
in þe manere of a man / and þat be moche sleiȝhte
as it becometh a conquerour / to konne many sleightis
and many wylis & witte / þat woll be a leder
and so dede Ihesus in his daiez / who-so had tyme to telle it
some-tyme he suffred / and some-tyme he hidd him
and some-tyme he ffast ffauȝte[^a638] / and ffleigh oþer -while
and some-tyme he ȝaff good / and graunted hele boþe
lyf and lyme / as him lyste he wrouȝte
as kynde is of a conquerour / and so be-gan[^a639] Ihesu
Tille he had all hem / þat he ffor blede[^a640]
In his Innocence þis Ihesus / at Iewene ffeste
water in-to wyne he turned / as holy writte tellith
and þer bygan god / of his grace to do well
For wyne is lykenede to lawe / and lyff of holynesse
and lawe lackid þo / ffor men loued not her enemyes[^349]
So at þe ffeste ffrist / as I beffore tolde
bygan god of his grace / and goodenesse to do well
and þo was he clepid and callid / nouȝt holy crist but Ihesus
A ffaunt ffyn ffull of witt / ffilius marie
For be-ffor his moder marie / made he þat wondir
þat she ffrist and fformeste / fferme shulde bileue
þat he þoru grace was gette / and no gome ellis
He wrouȝte þat be no witt / but þoru word on
after þe kynde þat he cam of / þer bigan he to do well
and whan he was wexen more / in his moders abscence
he made lame to lepe / and ȝaff lyȝth to blynde
and ffedde with two ffisshis / and with ffyue loffes
Sore affyngrid ffolk / mo þan ffyue thousande
þus he comfforted carefull / and cauȝte a gretter name
þe wyche was do-bett / where þat he wente
For deef þoru his doyngis to here / & dombe speke he made
and all he heled and halpe / þat him of grace asked
and þo was he callid in contre / of þe comune peple
For þe dedis þat he dede / Ihesu ffili dauid
For dauid was douȝtiest / of dedis in his tyme
breddis[^a641] þan[^a642] songe / saul interffecit mille & dauid decem millia
For-þi þe contre þer Ihesu come / callid him fili dauid
and nempned him of nazareth and no man so worthi
To be kaiser or kynge / of þe kyngdom of Iuda
ne ouere Iewes Iustice / as Ihesus was hem thouȝghte
where-of Caiphas had Enuye / and oþer of þe Iewes
and ffor to don him to deth / day and nyȝth þey castid[^a643]
kyllid him on crosse-wyse / at caluerie on a ffriday
and sithe buried his body / and beden þat men sholde
kepen it ffro nyth-comers / with k nyȝtis y-armed
For no ffrendis shulde him ffecche / ffor prophetus hem tolde
þat þat bl esside body / of buriels shulde rise
and gon in-to Gallilee / and gladyn his apostlis
and his moder marie / þus men be-ffore demed
þe knȝtes[^a644] þat kepten him / biknewe it hem-self
þat angellus and archangelus / er þe day sp ronge
Come knelinge to þe corps / and songen Christus resurgens
verry man be-ffor hem all / and fforth with hem he ȝede
þe Iewes preied hem pees / and besouȝte þe knyghtes
Telle þe comune þat þer cam / a company of his apostlis
had[^a645] biwicched hem or[^a646] þey woke / and awey stole it
but marie magdalene / mette him be þe wey
Goynge towarde Gallilee / in manhede & godhide[^a647]
and aleue and lokynge / and she alowde cried
In iche a company þer she cam Christus resurgens
þus cam it out / þat crist ouere-cam recouered and leued
Sic oportet Christum pati et in-trare & cetera
For þat þat women wetten / may not well be counceyll
peter parceiued all þis / and pursued after
bothe Iames and Iohan Ihesu ffor to seke
Thaddie and ten mo with thomas of ynde
and as all þese wyse weies weren to-gedris
In an hous all be-settebe-sette[^a648] and her dore spered[^a649]
Crist cam in all cloþid[^a650] / bothe dore and yatus
To peter and his apostelis / and said pax vobis
and toke thomas be þe honde / and taughte him to groppe
and ffele with his ffyngris / his fflesshly herte
Thomas touuchid it / and with his tonge saide
deus meus et dominus meus
Thow art my lord / I beleue god lord Ihesu
þou deydest and deth tholedist / and deme shalt us alle
and now art leuynge and lokynge / and lest shalt euere
Crist carpid þanne / and curteisliche said
Thomas ffor þou trowist þis and trewliche bileuest it
blessid mote þou be / and be shalt ffor euere
and blesside mote þei be / in body and in soule
That neuere shull se me in syghte / as þou dost now
and trewlich[^a651] bileue al þis / I loue hem and blesse hem
Beati qui non viderunt et crediderunt & cetera
and whan þis dede whas don / do-best he tauȝte
and ȝaff piers powere ; and pardon he graunted
To all manere men / mercy and fforȝeuenesse
his myȝth mowe[^a652] man asoile / all[^a653] manere synnes
In couenaunt þei come / and knoweliche to paie
To piers pardon þe plowman / Redde quod debes
Thus hath piers powere / bi his pardon paied
To bynde and to vnbynde / boþe here and ellis-where
and assoyle men of all synnes / saue of dette on
Anon after on hie vp to þe heuene
he wente and woneth þer / and woll come at þe last
and rewarde him rith well / þat reddit quod debet
and paieth parffittly / as pure trouth wolde
and what persone paieth it nouȝt / punnysshen he thenkyght
and demyn hem a domys-day / boþe quike and deed
þe good to þe godhede / and to þe grett Ioye
and wikkid to wonnen[^a654] in wo with -outyn ende
Thus conscience of crist / and of þe crosse carped
and conceillid me to knele þer / and þan cam me thought
On spiritus paraclitus to piers / and to his ffellawis
In likenesse of a lightnynge[^350] / he lighte on hem all
and made hem konne and knowe / alkyn langagis
I wondrid what þat was / and waggid conscience
and was afferde of þat liȝth / ffor in ffires likenesse
Spiritus paraclitus ouere-sprad hem all
quod concience and knelid / þis is cristis massanger
and cometh ffro þe grette god / and grace is his name
knele now quod conscience / and ȝif þou canst synge
welcome him & worschepe him / with veni creatur[^a655] spiritus
Than songe I þat songe / and so dede many hundrid
and cried with conscience / helpe us god of grace
and þo bigan grace to go / with piers plowman
and conseilled him and conscience / þe comune to sompne
For I wolde[^a656] dele to-day / and deuide grace
To all-kynne creaturis / þat han her ffyue wittis
Tresore to lyue by / to her lyuez ende
and wepene to ffighte with / whan antecrist yow asaylith
and ȝaf iche man a grace / to go with him-self
þat ydilnesse encombre him nouȝt / Enuye ne pride
diuisiones graciarum sunt & cetera
Some he ȝaff witt / with wordis to schewe
witte to wynne her lifflode with / as þe world asketh
as prechouris and prestis / and prentice of lawe
They trewly[^a657] to leue / by laboure of her tonge
and by witt to wissen oþer / as grace hem wolde teche
and somme he kenned crafftis / and konnynge of sighte
with sellynge and beynge / her bileue to wynne
And some he lered laboure / a lele lif and trewe
and somme he tauȝte to tilie / to diche and to hegge /
To wynne with her lif-lode / bi lore of his techinge
and some to deuine and deuide / nounbris to kenne
and some to compas crafteli / and colours to make
and some to se & some to seie / what shulde be-ffalle
boþe of weell and of woo / telle it or it ffelle
as astronomyes þoru astronomye / and phelisophres wyse
and some to ride & some to recouere / þat vnriȝthffulli was wonne
he wissed hem wynne it aȝeine / þoru rithwyssnese[^a658] of handis
and ffecchin it ffro ffalse men / with ffoluyles lawes
and some he lered to leue / in longynge to ben hens
In pouerte and in penaunce[^351] / to preie ffor all Cristene
and all he lered to be trewe[^a659] / and ich a crafte loue oþer
and fforbade hem all debate / þat non were amonge hem
þouȝ some be clenner þan some / ȝe se well quod grace
þat he þat vsith þe ffaireste crafte / to þe ffoulest I kowde haue put hym
loke þat non lakke oþer / but loueth all as bretherin
and þo[^a660] þat moste maistris konne / be myldeste of beringe
and crouneth Conscience kynge / & makith crafte ȝoure stiward
and after craftis conceill / cloþe ȝou and ffede
For I make piers þe plowman / my procuratour & my reue
and register to resseiue / Redde quod debes
my purveour and my plowman / pers shall be on erthe
and ffor to tilie truþe / a teme shall he haue
peris plowȝ
Grace ȝaf piers a teme / ffoure grete oxen
þat on was luke a large best / and a loue[^a661] cherid
and mark and matthew / þe þrede myȝthy bestis boþe
and Ioyned to hem on Iohan / þe moste gentill of alle
The pris neet of piers plow / passinge all oþer
and grace ȝaf piers / of his goodenesse ffoure stottis
all þat his oxen eried / þey to harewe after
On highte austyn and ambrose anoþer
Gregori þe greett clerk / and Ierom þe goode
þese ffoure þe ffeith to teche / ffolwyn piers teme
And harewen in an handewhile / al holy scripture
with two harewis þat þey hadde / an olde and a newe
vetus testamentum et nouum
and grace ȝaf greynes / þe cardinallis vertues
and sewe hem in mannys soule / and sithen tolde her names
spiritus prudencie þe ffrist seed highte
Prudencia
and who-so ete þat / ymagyne he shulde
Er he dede ony dede / devise well þe ende
and lerneth[^a662] men a ladil bigge / with a longe stele
That cast ffor to kepe a crokke / to saue þe ffatte aboue
[^352]þe secunde heed[^a663] highte spiritus temperancie
Temperancia
he þat ete of þat seed / it had[^a664] swiche a kynde
shulde neuer mete ne moche drynnnk / make him to swelle
Ne shuld no scorner ne skolde / out of skylle him brynge
wast word of ydilnesse / ne wikkid speche move
shulde no curious cloþe / comen on his rigge
Ne no mete in his mouþe / þat maister Iohan spiced
Fortitudo
The þred seed þat piers sew / was spiritus ffortitudinis
and ho-so ete of þat seed / hardi was euere
To suffre all þat god sent / sekenesse and angris
myghte no lesingis ne liere / ne losse of worldly catell
makyn him ffor ony murnynge / þat he nas mery in soule
and bolde and abidynge / bismers to suffre
and pleyeth al with pacience / and parce in domine
and coueren him vnder conceill / of caton þe wise
Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique
Iusticia
The fferth seed þat piers sew / was spiritus Iusticie
and he þat ete of þat seed / sholde be euere trewe
with god and nouȝt agast / but of gyle on
For gyle goth so preuyly / þat good ffeith oþer -while
may not be aspied / ffor spiritus Iusticie
spiritus Iusticie sparith nouȝt to spille
hem þat ben giltie / and ffor to corecte
The kyng if he ffalle in gilte / or in ony tresspas
For counteth he no kyngis wrath / whan he in court sittith
To demen as a domes-man / adred was he neuere
Neiþer of duk ne of deth / þat he ne dede lawe
For present or ffor preire / or ony princes lettrez
he dede equite to all / euen -fforth his power
These ffoure seedis piers sewe / and sith he dede hem harewe
with olde lawe and newe lawe / þat loue myȝte wexe
amonge þe ffoure vertues / and vicis distroie
For comuneliche in contris / Cammokis and wedis
Foulith þe ffrute in þe ffellde / þer þei growe to-gedris
and so don vices / vertues worthy
quod piers harwen all / þat konne kyndeli witt / be conceill of þese doctours
and tillieþ after þis[^a665] techinge / þe Cardinal vertues
aȝeins þi greynes quod grace to piers / bigynneth ffor to ripe
Ordeyne þe an hous / to hereborwe in þi corn
by god grace quod piers / ȝe mote ȝeue tymber
and ordeyne þat hous / er ȝe hens wende
and grace ȝaf him þe crosse / with þe croune of thornes
þat crist vppon Caluarie / ffor mankynde on pyned
and of his baptesme and blode / þat he blede on rode
he made a manere mortir / and mercy it highte
and þer -with grace bigan to make / a good ffoundement
and watled it and wallid it / with his peynes & his passion
and of[^a666] holy writte / he made a roof after
Vnitie holy Churche
and callid þat hous vnite / holy chirche in Englysshe
and whan þis dede was don / grace anon deuysed
a carte high[^a667] Cristendom / to carie piers scheues
and ȝaf him caples to his carte / contricion & conffession
and made presthode hayward / þe while him-self wente
as wide as þe worlde is / with piers to tilie treuþe
now is piers to þe plowgh / and pride it aspied
and gaderid him a grett hoste / to greuen him he thenketh
blowe hem doun and breke hem / and bitte atwo þe mores
and sent fforth surquidous / his sergaunt of armes
and his spie spille loue / on speke yuell by-hinde
These two come to conscience / and to cristene peple
and tolde hem tidingis / þat tene[^a668] þei shulde þe seedis
þat piers þer had sowyn / þe Cardinall vertues
and piers berne worthe brokyn / and þey þat ben in vnite
shull come out and conscience / and ȝoure two caples
Confession and contriccion / and ȝoure cart þe bileue
shall be colourid so queintely / and couered vnder oure sophistrie
That conscience shall not knowe by contricion
ne be conffession / ho is cristene or hethen
ne no manere marchaunte / þat with mony deleth
where he wynne with riȝth / with wronge or with vsurie
with swiche colours / and quentise cometh pride armed
with þe lord þat leueth / after þe lust of his body
To wasten on wellfare / and wikkid kepinge
al þe world in a while / þoru oure witt quod pride
quod Conscience to all cristene þo / my conceill is to wende
hastilich in-to vnite / and holde us well þer
and preie we þat a pees where / in piers berne þe plowman
For witterly I wott well / we be not of strenthe
[^353]To gon agayne pride / but grace where with us
þan come kynde witte / conscience to teche
and cried and comaundid[^354] / all cristen peple
For to deluen and diche depe / abouȝte vnite /
That holy chirche stonde[^a669] in vnite / as it a pile were
Conscience comaundid[^355] þo / all cristene to delue
and make a moche mott / þat myȝth be a strenthe
To helpe holy chirche / and hem þat it kepyn
þat alkynne cristen creaturis[^a670] / saue comune wommen
Repenteden and reffuseden synne / saue þei on
and ffalse men fflatterrs / vsurerers and theues
lyers and questmongers / þat were ffor-swore ofte
wyttingly and wulfully / with þe ffalse helden
and ffor siluer were ffor-swore / sothely þei wiste it
Ther nas no cristen creature / þat kynde witte hadde
saue þo[^a671] schrewis one / swiche as I spake of
þat he ne halpe a quantite / holynesse to wexe
Some þoru bedis biddinge / and some þoru pilgrimage
and oþer preuy penaunce / and somme þoru penaunce[^356] delinge
and þan walkyd[^a672] water / ffor wikkede werkis /
Egriliche rennynge / out of menys of menys[^a673] eien
Clennesse of þe Comune / and clerkis clene leuynge
made vnite holi chirche / in holynesse to stonde
I care nouȝt quod conscience / though pride come nouthe
The lord of lust shall be letted / al þis lente I hope
Cometh quod conscience / ȝe cristen and dyneth
þat han labourid trewly[^a674] / all þis lente tyme
here is bredde I-blessid / and godis body þer -vnder
Grace þoru godis word / ȝaff piers power
myȝtis to makyn it / and men to ete it after
In helpe of her hele / ones in a monthe
Or as ofte as þei had nede / þo þat had ypayed
To piers pardon þe plouman / Redde quod debes
how quod al þe comune / þou counseilis[^a675] us to yelde
all þat we owen ony wyght / er we go to houusell
That is my conseill quod conscience / and Cardinall vertues
That iche man ffor-ȝeue oþer / and þat woll þe pater noster
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra & cetera
and so to ben asoilid / and sithen to ben housled
ȝe how quod a brewer / I woll[^a676] be reulid
by Ihesu ffor all ȝoure Ianglynge / with spiritus Iusticie
Ne after conscience be crist / while I can selle
boþe dreggis and draff / and drawe it at an hole
Thikke ale and thynne ale / ffor þat is my kynde
and nouȝt hakke after holynesse / holde þi tonge conscience
Of spiritus Iusticie þou spekist moche an ydell
Caytif quod conscience / cursid wrecche
vnblessid art þou brewer / but if þe god helpe
and but þou leue be lore / of spiritus Iusticie
The scheff seed þat piers sewe / saued wors-þou neuere
and[^a677] Conscience be[^a678] comune ffode / and Cardinall vertues
leue it well þey be lost / boþe lyff and soule
Than is many a man y-lost / quod a lewde vicorie
I am a curatour of holy chirche / and come neuere in my tyme
Man to me þat Couude telle / of Cardinall vertues
Or þat countted conscience / at a kokkis ffether or an hennes
I knewe neuere Cardinall / þat he ne come ffro þe pope
Cardinales
and we clerkis whan þey come / ffor her comunes payden[^a679][^357]
For her pellure and her palffreis met / & pilours þat hem ffolwyn
The comine clamat Cotidie eche a man to oþer
☞
The contre is þe cursider / þat cardinalis come in
and þer þei ligge and lengen / moste leccherie þer regneth
For-thi quod þis vicorie / be verri god I wolde
That no cardinall come / amonge þe comine peple
but in her holynesse / helden hem stille
at aviion[^a680] amonge þe Iewis Cum sancto sanctus eris
Or in rome as her rewle wull / þe relekis to kepe
and þou Conscience in kyngis court / & shuldest neuere come þens
and grace þat þou gredist so of / gwyoure of all clerkis
and piers with his new plowȝ / and eke with his olde
Emperoure of all þe world / that all men were cristen
Inparfit is þat pope That all þe peple shulde helpe
and sendith hem / þat sleth swiche / as he shulde saue[^358]
and well worth piers plowman / þat pursueth god in doynge
qui pluit super Iustos et in-iustos at ones
and sente is[^a681] sonne to saue / a cursid manys tilthe
as bright as to þe best man / and to þe best womman
Rith so piers þe plowman / peyneth him to tillie
as well ffor a wastoure / and wenchis of þe stewes
as ffor him-self and his seruauntis / saue he is ffrist serued
and traueiliþ and tillieth / ffor a traitour al-so sore
as ffor a trewe tidy man / alle tymes yliche
and wurscheped be he þat all wrouȝte / boþe good & ylle
and suffreth þat synffull be / till some-tyme þat þey repente
Contra papam
and god amende þe pope / þat pileth holy chirche
and claymeth be-ffore þe kynge / to be keper ouere cristen[^359]
and Counttith nouȝt / þouȝ Cristen be kylled or robbid
and ffynte ffolk to ffyghte / and cristen blode to spille
aȝeins þe olde lawe & newe lawe / as luke þer -of wittenessith
Non occides & cetera . michi vindictam & cetera
It semeth be so / him-self had his will
That he ne recchith rith nouȝt / of all þe remenaunt[^360]
and crist of his curteisie / þe Cardinalis saue
and turne her wytt to wisdom / and to well of soule
For þe Comune quod þis curatour / counten ffull litill
The conceill of consience / or cardinall vertues
but if þei seiȝ as be sighte / some-what to wynnynge[^361]
of gyle ne of gabbinge / ȝeue þei no tale
For spiritus prudencie amonge þe peple is gyle
and alle þe ffaire vertues / as vices þey semed
Eche man subtiliche[^a682] / a sleght / synne ffor to hide
and coloure[^a683] it with konnynge[^362] / and a clene leuynge[^363]
Than lowȝ þer a lord / and be þis lygh[^a684] said
I holde it rith and reson / of my reve to take
al þat myn endentour[^a685] / or ellis my stiward
Conseille me be her acounpte / and be my clerkis writtinge
with spiritus intellectus to seke þe reves rollis
and with spiritus ffortitudinis ffecche it I wolle
and þan come þer a kyng / and be his croune said
I am kynge with Croune / þe comune to rewle
and holi chirche and clergie / ffro cursid men to deffende
and ȝif me lakke to leue by / þe lawe wull þat I[^a686] take it
þer I may hastlokest it haue / ffor I am heed of lawe
For ȝe ben but membris / and I aboue all
and sith I am ȝoure alder[^a687] hed / I am ȝoure alder[^a688] hele
and holy chirche cheff helpe / and cheffteyne of þe comine
and what I take of ȝou two / I take it at þe techinge
Of spiritus Iusticie ffor I Iuge ȝou all
So I may boldly be housled / ffor I borowed it[^a689] neuere
ne craue of my comune / but as my kynde asketh
In condiccion quod conscience / þat þou konne deffende
and rewle þi reawme in reson / rith well and in trewthe
Take þou may in reson / as þi lawe asketh
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum set non ad deprehendamdendum[^364]
The viker had ffer home / and ffaire toke his leue
And I awakide þerwith ; and wrotte as me mette

[^a627: crosse (C2) | a cros (all other mss)]

[^a628: comune (C2) | þe comune (all other mss)]

[^a629: knyttis kny[ȝ]ttis (C2) | knyȝttis (all other mss)]

[^a630: hardenesse (C2) | hardynesse (all other mss)]

[^a631: tribit (C2) | tribut (all other mss)]

[^a632: was (C2) | was he (all other mss)]

[^a633: quike (C2) | of quyke (all other mss)]

[^a634: trewe (C2) | lele (most mss)]

[^a635: ffyȝte (C2) | fiȝte and (most mss)]

[^a636: him ffor (C2) | hym (most mss)]

[^a637: kyngeliche (C2) | kyngene kiþ (Bx)]

[^a638: ffast ffauȝte (C2) | fauȝt faste (all other mss)]

[^a639: be-gan (C2) | comsede (all other mss)]

[^a640: blede (C2) | bledde (all other mss)]

[^a641: breddis (C2) | The burdes (most mss)]

[^a642: þan (C2) | þo (most mss)]

[^a643: castid (C2) | casten (most mss)]

[^a644: knȝtes (C2) | knyȝtes (most mss)]

[^a645: had (C2) | And (all other mss)]

[^a646: or (C2) | as (most mss)]

[^a647: manhede & godhide (C2) | godhede and manhede (all other mss)]

[^a648: be-sette (C2) | bishet (most mss)]

[^a649: spered (C2) | ybarred (Bx)]

[^a650: cloþid (C2) | closid (all other mss)]

[^a651: trewlich (C2) | lelliche (all other mss)]

[^a652: myȝth mowe (C2) | Myght (most mss)]

[^a653: all (C2) | of alle (most mss)]

[^a654: wonnen (C2) | wonye (all other mss)]

[^a655: creatur (C2) | creator (most mss)]

[^a656: wolde (C2) | wole (all other mss)]

[^a657: trewly (C2) | lelly (all other mss)]

[^a658: rithwyssnese (C2) | wightnesse (most mss)]

[^a659: trewe (C2) | lele (most mss)]

[^a660: þo (C2) | who (most mss)]

[^a661: loue (C2) | lowe (all other mss)]

[^a662: lerneth (C2) | lerned (most mss)]

[^a663: heed (C2) | seed (all other mss)]

[^a664: it had (C2) | hadde (most mss)]

[^a665: þis (C2) | hir (most mss)]

[^a666: of (C2) | of al (all other mss)]

[^a667: high (C2) | highte (most mss)]

[^a668: tene (C2) | tyne (most mss)]

[^a669: stonde (C2) | stode (all other mss)]

[^a670: cristen creaturis (C2) | cristene (all other mss)]

[^a671: saue þo (C2) | Saue (all other mss)]

[^a672: walkyd (C2) | wellede (most mss)]

[^a673: of menys of menys (C2) | of mennes (all other mss)]

[^a674: trewly (C2) | lelly (all other mss)]

[^a675: counseilis (C2) | conseillest (most mss)]

[^a676: woll (C2) | wol noȝt (all other mss)]

[^a677: and (C2) | But (most mss)]

[^a678: be (C2) | þe (most mss)]

[^a679: payden (C2) | paieþ (most mss)]

[^a680: aviion (C2hand1) | avinion (C2hand2)]

[^a681: is (C2) | þe (most mss)]

[^a682: subtiliche (C2) | subtileþ (most mss)]

[^a683: coloure (C2) | coloureþ (most mss)]

[^a684: lygh (C2) | light (all other mss)]

[^a685: endentour (C2) | Auditour (most mss)]

[^a686: þat I (C2) | I (all other mss)]

[^a687: alder (C2) | aller (most mss)]

[^a688: alder (C2) | aller (most mss)]

[^a689: borowed it (C2) | borwe (most mss)]

[^348: C2.19.61:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in penaunce.]

[^349: C2.19.108:C2 alone lacks the two lines which follow l. C2.19.108, numbered by Kane and Donaldson ll. 113 and 114.]

[^350: C2.19.198:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in lightnynge.]

[^351: C2.19.237:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in penaunce.]

[^352: C2.19.270: A crosshatch mark appears in the left margin.]

[^353: C2.19.348: A crosshatch symbol appears in the margin to the left of this line; this is the point at which the Oriel manuscript resumes, and perhaps that is the reason for the mark. However, the close relationship between O and C2, lost after the break in O in the seventeenth passus, does not resume after this point.]

[^354: C2.19.350:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in comaundid.]

[^355: C2.19.353:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in comaundid.]

[^356: C2.19.366:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in both instances of penaunce.]

[^357: C2.19.405:A long dash appears in the left margin.]

[^358: C2.19.420: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^359: C2.19.433:The preceding two lines are joined by a bracket at the left.]

[^360: C2.19.439:An otiose tilde appears above the <u> in remenaunt.]

[^361: C2.19.444:An otiose tilde appears above the second <y> in wynnynge.]

[^362: C2.19.449:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in konnynge.]

[^363: C2.19.449:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in leuynge.]

[^364: C2.19.471:It is unclear whether the intended alteration is to depredendum or deprehendendum .]

passus xxus vicemus & primus

T hane as I wente be þe weye / whan I was þus awakid
heuy chered I ȝede / and elenge in herte
I ne wiste were to ete / ne in what place
and it nyed nere þe non / and with nede I mette
That affrountid me well ffoule / and ffaytour me callid
kans þou not excuse þe / as dede þe kyng and oþer
That þou toke to þi bileue / to clothis & to sustenaunce
and be techinge and tellinge ; of spiritus temperance[^a690][^365]
and þou nome no more / þan nede þe tauȝth
Nede hathe no Lawe
and nede hath no lawe / ne neuere shall ffalle in dette
For þre þingis he takiþ / his lyff ffor to saue
That is mete whan men him warneth / & he no mony weldeth
Ne wyght non wolle be his borowe / ne wedde hath non to legge
and he be cauȝte in þat cas / and come þer -to be sleighte
he synneth nouȝt sotheliche / þat so wynneth his ffode
and þouȝe he come so to a cloþe / and can no better cheuisaunce
Nede anon -rith / nymeth him vnder maynprise
and if him list to lape / þe lawe of kynde wolde
That he dronke at iche a diche / er he ffor þrest deied
So nede at grete nede / may nemen as ffor his owen
with -outyn conceill of conscience / or cardinall vertues
so þat he sewe and saue / spiritus temperanncie[^a691][^366]
For is no vertue be ffer to spiritus temperancie
Neiþer spiritus Iusticie ne spiritus ffortitudinis
For spiritus ffortitudinis fforffeteth ffull ofte
he shall do more þan mesure / many tyme and ofte
and bette men ouere- bittre / and some of hem to litill
and greue men gretter / þan good ffeyth wolde
and spiritus Iusticie shall Iuge / woll he or nylle he
after þe kyngis conceill / and þe comune like
and spiritus prudencie / in many a pointe shall ffaile
of þat he weneth wolde ffalle / ȝif his witt ne were
wenynge is no wisdom / ne wise ymaginacion
homo proponit & deus disponit and gouerneth all good vertuez
but[^a692] nede is next him / ffor anon he meketh
And as lowe as a lombe / ffor lakke of þat him nedeth
wyse men fforsoken welthe / ffor þei wolde be nedi
and woned in wildernesse / and wolde not be riche
and god alle his grett Ioies / gostely he left
and cam and toke mankynde / and be-cam nedy
so nedy he was as saith þe book / in many sondri placis
That he said in his sorowe / on þe selue rode
bothe ffox and ffoule may ffle / to hoole and crepe
and þe ffisshe hath ffynne / to fflete with to reste
Where[^a693] nede hath ynome me / þat I mote nede abide
and suffre sorowe[^a694] full sowre / þat shull to Ioie turne
For-thi be not abasshid / to bide and to be nedy
Sith he þat wrouȝte all þe world / was wullfulli nedy
Ne neuere non so nedy / ne pouerere deied
whan nede had vndir-nome me þus / anon I ffell aslepe
and mette ffull merueilousliche / þat in manys fforme
Antechristus
Antecrist come þan / and all þe croppe of trewthe
Turned it vp-so-doun / and ouer - tilte þe rote
and ffals spronge and spredde / and spedde mennys nedis
In iche a contre þer he cam / he kytte away treuþe
and dede[^a695] gyle growe þer / as he a god where
Freris ffollowed þat ffende / ffor he ȝaf hem Copis
and religious reuerencid him / and rongen her bellis
and alle þe couent fforth cam / to welcome þat tiraunt
and alle his as well as him / saue onliche ffoolis
which ffooles were well leuer / to die þan to leue
lenger þan lenten / to be so rebuked /
and a ffals ffrende antecrist / ouere all ffolk regned
and þo þat[^a696] were mylde men / & holy / þat no myssheff d reden
deffied alle ffalsnesse / and ffolk þat it vsid
and what kyng þat hem comfortid / knowinge hem ony while
They curside and her conceill / were it clerk or lewed
antecrist had þus sone / hundriste[^a697] at his banere
and pride it bare / boldely abouȝte
with a lorde þat leueth / after likynge of his body
That cam aȝein conscience / þat keper was and guyour
Ouere kynde cristene / and cardinall vertues
I conceill quod conscience / þo / cometh with me ȝe ffoles
In-to vnite holy chirche / and holde we us þer
and crie we to kynde / þat he come and deffende us
Foles ffro þe ffendis lymes / ffor piers loue þe plowman
and crie we to all þe comune / þat þei come to vnite
and þer abide and bekere / aȝeins belliales childrin
kynde conscience þo herde / and come out of þe planetis
and sente fforth his fforreiours / ffeuerez and ffluxes
Cowghes and cardiacles / cramppis and totheaches
Rewmes and redgoundes / and runyous scabbis
biles and bocchis / and brennynge anguyshis[^a698]
Frensies and ffoule euellis / fforragers of kynde
had y-prikid and proued[^a699] / polles of þe peple
þat largely a legion / loren her lyffis sone
þer was herrow and helpe / here cometh kynde
with deth þat is dredffull to vn-don us all
þe lord þat leued after lust / þo alowde cried
after comfort a knyȝth to come / and bere his banere
alarme alarme quod þat lord / iche lif kepe his owen
and þan mette þese men / er myntrallis[^a700] myȝte pipe
and er heroudis of armes / had discriued lordis
kynde cam after / with many kene sores
as pokkis and pestilence / and moche peple schente
So kynde þoru corrumpcioun[^a701] / kyllid full many
deth cam after dryuynge[^a702][^367] / and all dust[^a703] passhed
kyngis and knyȝthis / kaisers and popis
lered ne lewde / he lette no man stonde
þat he ne hitte euen / þat stered neuere after
many a louely lady / and lemmanys[^368] of knyȝthis
swowned and sweltid / ffor sorowe of detthis dyntis
Conscience of his curteisie / to kynde besouȝte[^a704]
To cesse and suffre / and se where þei wolde
leue pride preuyli / and be parffitte cristen
And kynde cessid þo / to se þe peple amende
Fortune gan fflatern þan / to[^a705] ffewe þat were aleue
and bihighte hem long lyf / and leccherie he sente
amongis all manere men / weddid and vnweddid
and gaderid a grett host / al ageyn conscience
þis leccherie leide on / with a laughinge chere
and with preuy speche / and peynted wordis
and armed hem in ydelnesse / and in hie berynge
he bare a bowe in his honde / and many blody arwys
Feþerid with ffaire speche / and many a ffals trouþe
with his vntidy tales / he tened ffull ofte
Conscience and his companye / of holy chirche þe techers
þan come coueityse / and cast how he myȝthe
Ouer -come conscience / and cardinall grace[^a706] /
and armed him in avarice / and hungrylich he leued
his wepene was all whilis / to wynnen and to hiden
with glosyngis and gabbyngis / he gilid þe peple
Symonye him sente / to assaile conscience
and prechid to þe peple / and prelatus þei hem madyn
To holdyn with antecrist / her temperalitees to saue
and come to þe kyngys conceill / as a kene baren
and knelide to conscience / in courte affore hem all
and dede[^a707] good ffeith ffle / and ffals to abyde
and boldeliche bare adoun / with many briȝth noble
moche of þe witt and wisdom / of westmynstre halle
he Iugged till a Iustice / and Iustid in his ere
and ouere-tilte al his trewþe / with take þis vp amendement
and to þe arches in haste / he ȝede anon after
and turned Ciuile to Symonie / and sith he toke þe officiall
For a mentell[^369] of menyuer / he made trewe[^a708] matrimoyne
departed or deth cam / and devorsse schapte
Alas quod Conscience and cried þo / wolde crist of his grace
That coueytise where cristene / þat is so kene a ffyghtere
and bolde and bidinge[^370] / while his bagge lastith
and þan lough lyf / and lete dagge his cloþis
and armed him in hast / in harlottis wordis
and helde holynesse a Iape / and hendenesse a wastour
and lete leaute a cherle / and lyere a ffre man /
Conscience and conceill / he comptid it ffolie
Thus reuellid[^a709] lyff long[^a710] / ffor a litill ffortune
and prikid fforth with pride / preisith he no vertue
he careth nouȝt how kynde slowe / and shall come at þe last
and kylle alle erthely creaturis / saue conscience on
lyf lepe aside / and laughte him lemman[^a711]
hele and I quod he / and heighnesse of herte
shall do þe nouȝt drede / neiþer deth ne elde
and to ffor-ȝete sorowe / and ȝeue nouȝt of synne
This likid lyff / and his lemman ffortune
and getten in hir glorie / a gedelinge at þe last
on þat moche wo wrouȝte / slewthe was his name
Sleuthe wex wonder yerne / and sone was of age
and weddid on wanhope / a wenche of þe stiwes
hir sir was a sisoure / þat neuere swore trewþe
On thom two tounge / ateint at ich a queste
This sleuþe wex ware of werre / and a slynge made
and þrew drede of dispeiere a doseyne myle abouȝte
For care conscience þo / cried vppon elde
and bad him ffonde to ffyȝthe and affor[^a712] wanhope
and elde hente good hope and hastyly he schiffte him
and wayued away / wanhope / and with lyf he ffyghted
lyf[^a713] ffleþe ffor ffer / to phesyk after helpe
and besouȝte him of socoure / and of his salue hadde
and ȝaff him gold good wone þat gladdyd his herte
and þey ȝeuen him aȝein / a glasen howue
lyf leeued þat lechecraff / lette shulde elde
and dryuen away deth / with dias and draggis
and elde auntred him on lyff / and at þe laste he hitte
a phesicien with a ffurred hode / þat he felle in þe palsie
and þer deyed þat doctour / er þre daiez after
now I se said lyf / þat Surgiens ne phesik /
may not a myte availe / to medle aȝeins elde
and I[^a714] hope of his hele / good herte he hente
and rode so to reuell / to a riche place and a murie merie[^371]
That was þe companye of court men / cleped sum-tyme
and elde anon after me / and ouere myn hede ȝede
and made me balled beffore / and bare on þe croune
So harde he ȝede ouere myn heed / it woll be sen euere
Syr euell ytauȝte elde quod I /[^372] vnhende go with þe
Sith whane was þi wey / ouere mennys heedis
haddisthou ben hende quod I /[^373] þou woldest haue asked leue
ȝe leue lordeyne quod he / and leide on me with age
and hitte me vnder þe eere / vnneþe may I here
he buffettid me abouȝte þe mouthe / and bette me on þe teethe
and gyed me in gowtis / I may not go at large
and of þe wo þat I was in / my wyff had reuthe
and wisshen[^a715] ffull witterly / þat I where in heuene[^374]
For þe lyme þat she loued me ffore / and leef was to ffele
On nyȝtis nameli / whan we naked were /
I ne myȝth in no manere / makyn it at hir will
So elde and she sothely / haddyn it ffor-betten
and as I satte in þis sorowe / I seie how kynde passid
and deth drow nyȝ me / ffor dred gan I quake
and cried to kynde / out of care me brynge
lo olde elde þe hore / hathe me be- seie
awreke me if ȝoure will be / ffor I wolde ben hens
ȝif þou wolte ben y-wroke / wende in-to vnite
and holde þe þer euere / till I sende ffor þe
and loke þou konne sum crafte / or þou come hens[^a716]
Conseile me kynde quod I . what craft is best to lerne
lerne to loue quod kynde / and leue of / all oþer
how shall I come to Catell so / to cloþe me and to ffede
and þou loue trewly[^a717] quod he / lakke shall þe neuere
mete ne worldly wede / while þi lyff lasteth
and þer be conceill of kynde / I began[^a718] to rome
Thoru contriccion and conffession till I come to vnite
and þer was conscience constable / Cristen to saue
and biseged sothely / with seuene grett Ieauntes
That with antecrist helden / harde aȝeins conscience
Sleuthe with his slynge / an harde sauȝte made /
Proude prestis come with him / mo þan a thousand
In paltokes and pikid schoes / and gipseris long knyues
Comen aȝein conscience / with coueityse þey hilden
by marie quod a mansyd prest / of þe marche of Irlonde
I counte no more conscience / be so I cacche siluer
Than I do to drynk[^375] / a drauȝte of good ale
and so saide sexty / of þe same contre
and schottyn aȝein with schotte / many a scheff of othes
and brode hokyd Arwes / godis hert and his naylis
and haddyn al-most vnite / and holynesse adoun
Conscience cried helpe clergie / or ellis I ffalle
þoru inparfit prestis / and prelatus of holy chirche
Freris herdyn him crie / and comen him to helpe
and ffor þey coude[^376] not well her crafte / conscience fforsoke hem
Nede nyighed þo nere / and conscience he tolde
ffreres be fflaterers
That þey come ffor coueytise / to haue cure of soulis
and ffor þei ar pouere parauenture / ffor patrimoyne hem ffaileth
þey woll fflatere to ffare well / ffolk þat ben riche
and sayn þey chosen schele / and caitiff pouerte
late hem schewe as þey chosen / and charge hem with no cure
For lowder[^a719] he lyeth / þat liflode mote begge
Than he þat laboureth ffor lyflode / and leneth it beggers
and sithen ffreris fforsoke / þe ffelicite of erthe
late hem be as beggers / or leue be angellus ffode
Conscience of þis conseill / þo be-gan[^a720] to laughe
and curteisliche comffortid hem / and callid in all ffreris
and said siris sotheliche / wellcome be ȝe all
To vnite and holy chirche / but oo þinge I ȝou preye
holdeth ȝou in vnite / and haueth non enuye
To lered ne to lewed / but leueth after ȝoure reule
and I wolle be ȝoure borwe / ȝe shull haue brede and cloþis
and oþer nessesaries ynowe / ȝou shall no þinge ffaile
with þat ȝe leue logike / and lerneth ffor to loue
For loue þei lefte lordschipe / boþe lowde and stille[^a721]
Frere ffraunceys and domynyk / ffor loue to ben holy
and if ȝe coueityn cure / kynde witt woll ȝou teche
þat in mesure god made / all manere þingis
and sett it in a serteyn / and at a seker nounbre
and nempned names newe / & nounbred þe prestes sterrez[^a722]
qui numerat multitudinem stellarum et omnibus eis nomina & cetera
kyngis and knyȝtis þat kepen and deffendyn
han officers vndir hem / and ich of hen[^a723] serteyne
and if þey wagen men to werre / þey writte hem in nounbre
woll no tresoure wages hem paie[^a724] / taille[^a725] þey neuere so sore
but he kunne rekene ariȝt / her names in his rollis[^377]
alle oþer in bataille / ben yholde bribours
pilours and pikharneys / in eche a place acursid
monkes and moniales / and all men of relegion
here ordre and here rewle wolle / to han a seyteyn[^a726] nounbre
of lewed and of lered / þe lawe wull and axeth
A serteyne ffor a serteyne / saue onliche of ffreris
For-thi quod conscience by crist / kynde witt me tellith[^378]
It is wikkid to wage ȝou / ȝe wexin out of nounbre
heuene hath euene nounbre / and helle is outyn[^a727] nounbre
For-thi I wolde witterly / þat ȝe were in þe registre
and ȝoure nounbre vndir nottories signe / and neiþer mo ne lesse
Enuye herde þis / and heet freris go to scole
and lerne logik and lawe / and eke contemplacion
and preche men of plato / and preue it be Seneca
That all þingis vndir heuene / outten to be in comune
and ȝet he lyeth as I leue / þat to þe lewed so precheth
For god made to men a lawe / and moyses it taughte
Non concupisces rem proximi tui
and euyll is þis I holde / in parisshes in Engelond
For parsones and parisshe prestis / þat shulld þe peple schryue
ben curatours callid / to knowe and to hele
alle þat ben her parisshenes / penaunce to enioyne
and shulde be ashamed in her schriff[^a728] / but shame maketh hem wende
And fflen to þe ffreris / as ffals ffolk to westmynystre
That borwen and bere þeder / and þanne bidden ffrendis
ȝerne
ȝerne of fforȝeuenesse / or lenger ȝeres loone
but while he is in westmynstre / he woll be biffore
and makyn him murie / with oþer mennys goodis
and so it ffareth with moche ffolk / þat to þe ffreris schryuen
as Sisours and executores / þey wolle ȝeue þe ffreris
a parcell to preie ffor hem / and make hem-self mery
with þe resedue and þe remenaunt / þat oþer men biswonke
and suffre þe deed in dette / to þe day of dome
Enuye hereffore / hated conscience
and ffreris to phelosophie / he ffonde hem to scole[^379]
The while coueitise and vnkyndenesse / conscience assailid
In vnite holy chirche / conscience hylde him
and made pees porter / to vnpynne þe yatis
of alle tale-tellers / and titereris in ydell
ypocrisie and he / an harde assauȝte þei made
ypocrise at þe yate / harde gan ffighte
and woundid well wikkydly / many wyse techers
That with conscience acordid / and cardinall vertues
Conscience callid a leche / þat well kouude schr yue
To salue þo þat seke ben / þoru synne ywoundid
schrifte schope scharpe salue / and made men to do[^a729] penaunce[^380]
For here myssedis[^a730] / þat þei wrouȝte haddyn
and þat piers were paide / redde quod debes
Som liked nouȝt þis leche / and lettrez þei senten
Ȝif ony Surgien were þe Segge / þat soft koude[^381] plaister
Syr leef to leue in lecherie / lay þer and groned
For ffastynge of a ffriday / he fferde as he wolde deie
Ther is a surgien in þis sege / þat softe can handle
ffrere fflaterer
and more of phesik / be-ffore[^a731] / and ffairere he plaist reth
On ffrere fflaterere / is phesiscien and Surgien
quod contricion to conffession / do him come to vnite
For here is many man hurte / þoru ypocrisie
we han no nede quod conscience / I wotte no better leche
Than parson or pariche preste / penytauncer or bisschoppe
Saue piers þe plowman / þat hath power ouere hem all
and indulgence may do / but if dette lette it
I may well suffre said conscience / sith ȝe desiren
That ffrere fflaterere be ffett / and phesik ȝou seke
þe ffrere here-of herde / and hied him ffaste
To a lord ffor a letter / leue to haue cure
and as a curatour he were / he cam with his lettrez
boldely to þe bisschoppe / and his breff hadd
In contres þer he come in / conffessions to here
and come þer conscience was / and knokkid at þe yate
pees oppened[^a732] it / was portir of vnite
and in hast askede / what his will were
In ffeith quod þis ffrere / ffor proffitt and ffor helthe
Carpe I wolde with contriscion / and þer -ffor I cam hedir
he is seke saide pees / and so ar many oþer
ypocrise hath hurte him / ffull harde is if he keuere
I am a Surgien saide þe Segge / and salues can make
Conscience knoweth me well / and what I can do bothe
I preie þe quod pees þo / er þou passe fforther
what hattest þou I prey þe / hele nouȝt þi name
Certis he said ffellawe / sir penetrans domos
ȝe go þi gate quod pees / bi god ffor all þi phesik
but þou konne sum craft / þou comest not here-inne
I knewe swiche on onys / nouȝt eight wynter passid
Come in þus ycoped at a court þer I dede dwelle[^a733]
and was my ladies leche / and my lordis boþe
and at þe laste þis lemytour / þo my lord was out
he salued so oure womman / till some were with childe
hiende speche heet pees / opene þe yatis
late in þe ffrere and his ffellawe / and make hem ffaire chere
he may se and here / so it may be-ffall
T hat lyf þoru his lore / shall leue coueitise
and be adrad of detth / and withdrawe him ffro pride
and acorde with conscience / and kysse eiþer oþer
Thus þoru hiende speche / entrid þe ffrere
and cam in to conscience / and curteislich him grette
þou art welcome quod conscience / kanst þou hele þe seke
Here is contriccion quod conscience / my Cosyn ywounded
Comfforte him quod conscience / and take kepe to his sores
The plaistris of þe parson / and po wrdris biten so sore
he lat hem ligge ouere-longe / and lothe is to chaunge hem
Fro lenten to lenten / he late his plaistris bite
That is ouere longe quod þis lymetour / I leue I shall amende it
an goth and gropeþ contriccion / and ȝaff him a plaister
Of[^a734] preuy paiement / and I shall preye ffor ȝou[^382]
and ffor all þat ȝe ben holde to / all my lyf-tyme
and make ȝou my lady / in messe and in matynys
as ffreris of oure ffraternite / ffor a litill syluer
Thus he goth and gaderith / and glosith þer he shryueth
Tyll contricion / had clene ffor-getten to crie / and to wepe
and wake ffor his wikkid werkis / as he was wonte to don
For comffort of his conffessour / contricion he lefte
That is þe souereynest salue / ffor all-kynne synnes
Sl ewthe seithe[^a735] þat / and so dede pride
and cam with a kene will / conscience to asaile
Conscience[^383] criede efte / and bad clergie helpe
and also contriction[^a736] / ffor to kepe þe yate
he lythe and dremeth saide pees / and so do many oþer
The ffrere with his phesik / þese ffolk hath enchaunted
and plaistred it[^a737] so esily / þey drede no synne[^384]
by crist quod conscience þo / I woll by-come a pilgrime
and walkyn as wyde / as all þe world lasteth
To seke piers þe plowman / þat pride may distroye
and þat ffreris had a ffyndynge / þat ffor nede fflateren
and contrepleden me conscience / now kynde me avenge[^385]
and sende me happe and hele / till I haue piers þe plowman
and sithe he grede after grace / till I gan awake

[^a690: temperance (C2) | temperancie (most mss)]

[^a691: temperanncie (C2) | temperancie (all other mss)]

[^a692: but (C2) | Ac (most mss)]

[^a693: Where (C2) | Ther (all other mss)]

[^a694: sorowe (C2) | sorwes (all other mss)]

[^a695: dede (C2) | gerte (most mss)]

[^a696: þo þat (C2) | þat (all other mss)]

[^a697: hundriste (C2) | hundredes (all other mss)]

[^a698: anguyshis (C2) | Agues (most mss)]

[^a699: proued (C2) | prayed (most mss)]

[^a700: myntrallis (C2) | mynstrallis (all other mss)]

[^a701: corrumpcioun (C2) | corrupcions (all other mss)]

[^a702: after dryuynge (C2) | dryuynge after (most mss)]

[^a703: dust (C2) | to duste (all other mss)]

[^a704: besouȝte (C2) | he bisouȝte (all other mss)]

[^a705: to (C2) | þo (all other mss)]

[^a706: grace (C2) | vertues (all other mss)]

[^a707: dede (C2) | garte (most mss)]

[^a708: trewe (C2) | lele (most mss)]

[^a709: reuellid (C2) | relyede (most mss)]

[^a710: lyff long (C2) | lif (all other mss)]

[^a711: lemman (C2) | a lemman (all other mss)]

[^a712: affor (C2) | afere (all other mss)]

[^a713: lyf (C2) | And lif (all other mss)]

[^a714: I (C2) | in (all other mss)]

[^a715: wisshen (C2) | wisshed (most mss)]

[^a716: hens (C2) | þennes (most mss)]

[^a717: trewly (C2) | lelly (all other mss)]

[^a718: began (C2) | comsed (all other mss)]

[^a719: lowder (C2) | lomere (most mss)]

[^a720: be-gan (C2) | comsede (all other mss)]

[^a721: lowde and stille (C2) | lond and scole (all other mss)]

[^a722: prestes sterrez (C2) | sterres (most mss)]

[^a723: hen (C2) | hem (most mss)]

[^a724: wages hem paie (C2) | hem paie (most mss)]

[^a725: taille (C2) | trauaille (all other mss)]

[^a726: seyteyn (C2) | certein (all other mss)]

[^a727: outyn (C2) | wiþ-oute (most mss)]

[^a728: schriff (C2) | schrift (all other mss)]

[^a729: to do (C2) | do (all other mss)]

[^a730: myssedis (C2) | mysdedes (all other mss)]

[^a731: be-ffore (C2) | bi fer (most mss)]

[^a732: oppened (C2) | vnpynned (most mss)]

[^a733: dede dwelle (C2) | dwelde (most mss)]

[^a734: Of (C2) | of a (all other mss)]

[^a735: seithe (C2) | seigh (most mss)]

[^a736: contriction (C2) | contricion (all other mss)]

[^a737: it (C2) | hem (all other mss)]

[^365: C2.20.8:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in temperance .]

[^366: C2.20.22:An otiose tilde appears above the <p> in temperanncie.]

[^367: C2.20.97:An otiose tilde appears above the second <y> in dryuynge.]

[^368: C2.20.101:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in lemmanys.]

[^369: C2.20.135:A virgule appears between a and mentell, which are written together in the usual manner of this scribe.]

[^370: C2.20.139:An otiose tilde appears above the <n> in bidinge.]

[^371: C2.20.178:A virgule appears between a and murie, which are written together in the usual manner of this scribe.]

[^372: C2.20.183:The virgule is written over a raised point.]

[^373: C2.20.185:The virgule is written over a raised point.]

[^374: C2.20.191: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^375: C2.20.220:An otiose tilde appears above the <y> in drynk.]

[^376: C2.20.228:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in coude.]

[^377: C2.20.259:C2 alone includes this line.]

[^378: C2.20.266: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^379: C2.20.294: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^380: C2.20.305:An otiose tilde appears above the <a> in penaunce.]

[^381: C2.20.309:An otiose tilde appears above the <o> in koude.]

[^382: C2.20.363: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^383: C2.20.374:The second <n> in Conscience lacks a minim.]

[^384: C2.20.378: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

[^385: C2.20.384: The preceding two lines are linked at the left by a bracket.]

Explicit hic / Dial ogus Petri Plowman