The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. ?: The Vision of Pierce Plowman, now
author: William Langland
source date: late 14th or early 15th century
edition published: 200?
language: grk; lat; fre; ger
availability: Commercially available: copyright 2002, by SEENET

IN a somer season when sette was the sunne
I shope me into shroubes as I a shepe were
In habyte as an Hermet vnholie of werkes
Wend wyde in thys world wonders to here ,
And on a Maye mornynge on Maluerne hylles
Me befel a ferly of fayry me thought .
I was wery of wandrynge and wente me to reste
Under a brode banke by a bourne syde
And as I laye and lened and loked on the water
I slombred into a slepyng , it swyȝed so mery .

Than gan I to meten a marueylouse sweuen
That I was in wyldernes I wyste neuer where
As I behelde into theaste an hyghe to the sunne
I sawe a tower on a toft rychelyche ymaked
A depe dale benethe a dungeon therin
Wyth depe dyches & darcke and dreadfull of syght
A fayre felde full of folke , found I there betwene
Of all maner of men the meane and the ryche
Werkynge and wandrynge as the worlde asketh .

Some put hem to the ploughe , pleden full selde
In settynge and sowynge swonken full harde
And wonnen that wasters wyth glotony distroyen
And some put hem to pryde apparelde thereafter
In countinaunce of clothynge commenly disgised
In prayers and penaunce putten hem manye
In hope to haue after heauenryche blysse
And for the loue of our lorde lyueden full harde
As Ankers and Hermets that hold hem in her selles
And coueten nought in contrey to carien aboute
For no lyquerouse liuelode her likam to please .

And some chosen chaffer , they cheueden the better
As it semeth to oure syghte that suche do thriuen
And myrthes to maken as mynstrelles kunneth
And getten golde wyth her glee , synles I leue
Common Iestars
As Iapers and Ianglers Iudas chyldren
Fayneth hem fantasies , and foles hem maketh
And han her wytte at wyll to werke if they shoulde
That Paule preacheth of hem I nel not preue it here
Qui loquitur turpiloquium . & cetera
Bydderis and beggeris faste aboute yede
Wyth hyr bealies & hyr bagges of bread ful crammed
Faytenden for her fode , foughten at the ale
In glotony God wote gone they to bedde
And ryse wyth rybaudy as Rebertes knaues
Slepe and sory slouth seweth hem euer

Pilgrims
Pilgrames & Palmers plyght hem togyther
For to seke Saint Iames and sayntes at Rome
They went forth theyr way , wyth many wyse tales ,
And had leaue to lye all hyr lyfe after
I see some that sayd they had sought sayntes
To ech a tale þat they tolde , her tong was tempred to lye
More then to say sothe , it semed by hyr speache .
Hermets
Hermets on a heape wyth hoked staues
Wenten to Walsingham , & her wenches after .
Greate loubeis and longe þat loth were to swynke
Clothed hem in copes to be knowen from other
And shopen hem Hermets her ease to haue .

Fryars
I found ther the fryers all the four orders
Preached to the people for profite of hem-selues
Glosed the gospell as hem good lyked
For couetous of copes , construe it as they would
Many of these maister friers might cloth hem at liking
For her money & her marchaundise marchen togither ,
For sith charitie was chapman & chefe to shriue lordes
Many ferleis haue fallen in fewe yeres
But holy churche and I hold better togyther
The most mischiefe on molde is mountinge wel fast .

Pardo nars
There preached a Pardoner as he a priest were
Brought forthe a bull with many byshoppes seales
And said that him-selfe myght absoyle hem all
Of falsehode and of fastinge , and of vowes broken
Lewde men leued hym well and lyked hys wordes
Commen vp knelynge to kysse hys bulles
He bouchid bo[n]ched hem with his brenet bre[u]et , and blered her eies
And raught with his ragman both ringes and broches
Thus they giue theyr gold glotons to kepe
And leueth it to suche losells as lecherie haunteth
Were the bysshop blessed , and worth both his eares
Hys seale shoulde not be sent to deceyue the people
And it is nought by the bishop that the boy precheth
For the paryshe priest & the pardoner part the siluer
That the pouerty of the parysh should haue if they ne were
Nonresi dence
Persons & her priestes pleyned hem to þe bishop
That her parishes were poore sithen þe pestilence time
To haue a lycence and leue at London to dwell
To synge there for Simony , for siluer is swete .

Bishops and bachilors , both masters & doctours
That haue cure vnder Christe , and crowning in token
And signe that they should shryue her parishynges
Preache and pray for hem , and the pore fede ,
Lye at London in lenten and elles
Some seruen the kynge , and hys syluer tell
In Cheker and in chauncery , chaleng his dettes .
Of wardes & warmottes of wayues and strayues
And some serue as seruauntes to lordes and to ladyes
And in stede of Stewardes sitte and deme .
Her masses and her mattens , and many of her hours
Are done vndeuoutlye drede is at the laste
Lest Christ in consistory accurse full many .

I perceyued of the powre that Peter had to kepe
To bynden and vnbinden , as the boke telleth
Howe he left it wyth loue , as our lorde hyght
Amonges foure vertues , the best of all vertues ,
That Cardinalles ben called and closing yates .

There Christ is in kingedome to close and to shit ,
And to open it to hem , and heuens blisse shewe
And of Cardinals at court þat caught of that name
And power presumed in hem a Pope to make
To haue that power that Peter had impunge I nel ,
For in loue and letture the eleccion belongeth ,
Forthy I can and can not , of court speke more .

Then came there a kynge , knyghthode hym ledde
Myght of the commons made him to reygne ,
And than came kinde wytte , and clerkes he made
For to counsell the king and the communes saue .

The kynge and knyghthode , and clergy bothe
Casten that the commous commo[n]s shoulde hem-selues fynde ,
The commons contriued of kinde wytte craftes
And for profit of all the people plowe men ordeyned
To tyll and to trauel as true lyfe asketh .
The kynge and the commons , and kind wit the third
Shopen lawe & leauty euery man to know his owne .

Then loked vp a Lunatike , a leane thinge wyth-all
And knelynge to the kynge clergially he sayd
Christ kepe the syr kynge , and thy kingryche
And leue the lede thy londe so leauty the loueth
And for thy rightfull rulynge , be rewarded in heuen ,
And sithen in the ayre on height an aungel of heuen
Lowde to speake in latin , for lewde men ne coulde
Iangle ne iudge that iustifie hem shoulde
But suffren and seruen , forthye sayd the angell
Sum rex sum princeps , neutrum fortasse deinceps
O qui Iura regis , Christi specialia regis ,
Hoc quod agas melius , Iustus es esto pius
Nudum ius a te vestiri vult pietate .
Qualia vis metere , talia grana sere
Si ius nudatur , nudo de iure metatur ,
Si seritur pietas , de pietate metas .

Than greued hym a Goleardeis a gloton of words
And to the angell on hygh answered after
Dum Rex a regere , dicatur nomen habere ,
Nomen habet sine re , nisi studet iura tenere .

Than gan all the commons crye in verse of latine
To the kinges counsel construe who-so woulde
The tale of the rat tons .
Precepta regis , sunt nobis vincula legis .

Wyth that ranne there a route of rattons at once
And small mise wyth hem moo then a thousand
And commen to counsel for the common profit
For a Catte of a contrye came whan hym lyked
And ouerleapt hem lyghtly & caught hem at his wyl
And plaied wyth hem perelously , and possed aboute ,
For doubt of diuers dredes we dare not wel loke
And if we grutche at hys game , he will greuen vs al
Scratchyng vs & clawyng vs , & in hys clawes hold
That we loth the lyfe or he lette vs passe .
Myght we wyth any wytte hys wyll wythstand
We myght be Lordes aloft , and lyue at our ease .

A ratton of renowne most renable of tonge
Sayd for a soueraygne helpe to him-selfe .
I haue sene segges , quod he , in the city of London
Bere bighes ful bryghte aboute theyr neckes
And some colers of craftie werke , vncopled they wente
Both in waren and in waste where hem-self lyked
And other whyle they ar els wher , as I heare tell
Were there a bel on her bight bi Iesu as me thinkith
Men might wyt where they went and a-way runne .

And right-so quod that ratton reason me sheweth
To by a bell of brasse , or of bryght syluer
And knyt it on hys coller for oure comen profyt
Whether he ritte or rest or run to pleye
And if hym list for to lake than loke we myght
And pere in his presens the while hym playe liketh
And if he wrath , be ware and his waye shonne
Al this rowt of Rattons to this reason they assented
And tho the bel was brought , & on the bight hanged
There ne was a ratten in al þe rowte for al þe realme of fraunce
That durst bynd the bel aboute þe cats necke
Ne hang it abowt the catts halse al Englande to win
And helde hem vnhardie and her cowncell feble
And let her labor loste and al their longe studie .

+ Omni um docti ssimorum suffragio , dicuntur , hec de las siuis , fatu is , aut in eptis prin cipibus , non de e tate tenel lis. Qua si dicat , v bi rex pue rilis est .
A mowse that muche goode coude as me thought
Stroke furth sternelye and stode before hem all
And to the rowte of rattons rehersed thes wordes
Though we kyl thys cate , yet shulde ther cum an other
To catch vs & al our kind , though we crep vnder benches
Forthie I councel al þe commens to let þe cat worch
And be we neuer so bolde , the bel hym to shewe
For I harde mi sire say seuen yere passed
Where the cat is a kylling , the courte is full elenge
That wytnesseth holy writinge who-so will it rede
+Ue terre Ubi puer Rex est .
For may no renke there rest haue , for ratons bi night
The whil he catcheth conies , he couiteth not our carion
But fedeth him wyth veneson , defame we hym neuer
For better is a lyttel losse then a longe sorowe
The maze amonge vs al though we misse a shrewe
For manie mens malte we myse wolde destroye
And also the rowte of rattons rente mens clothes
Ner the cat of that courte that can vs ouerleape
For had you rats youre wyl , you could not rule your-selfe
I saie for me , quod þe mouse , I se so mekel after
Shal neither þe Cat ne þe kitling bi mi councel be greuid
Ne carpinge of this coler that costed me neuer
And though it had cost me Catel , beknown it I nold
But suffre as hym-selfe wolde to done as hym liketh
Coupled and vncopled lo catche what they maye .
Forthie eche a wise wight I warn , wit wel his own
What this metteles bymeneth , ye men that be mery
Sergeants of þe lawe .
Deuine ye for I dare not by dere God in heauen .

Yet houed ther an hundred in hownes of silke
Sergeaunts yt besemed that seruen at the barre
Pleten for penies and poundes the lawe
And not for loue of our lord vnclosen their lips once
Thou myghtest better mete þe mist on maluerne hils
Than gette a mumme of her mouth til mony be shewed
Barons and burgeses , and bonde men also
I see in thys assemble as ye shall here after
Bakesters , and Bruesters and bochers many
Wollen websters , and weuers of lynnen
Taylers and tinkers , and tollers in markettes ,
Masons and minors , and many other craftes
Of all kynne lybbynge laborers lopen forth some
As dikers and deluers that done their dedes yll
And dryue forth the long day with dieux[^1] saue dame Eme
Cokes and her knaues criden hote pyes hote
Good geese and gris goo wee dyne goo we
Tauerners vntyll them tolde the same
Wyth wyne of Osey , and redde wyne of Gascoyne
Of the rynne and of the Rochel the roste to defye
Thys sawe I slepynge , and seuen sithes more .

[^1: KD reads dieu. Is a sic/corr needed?]

¶ Passus primus de visione .

What this mountein bemeineth & þe merke dale
And þe feld ful of folke I shal you faire shew
A louely lady of lere in lynen clothed
Came downe from a castel & called me faire
And sayde sonne sleapest thou , seest thou thys people
Howe busy they be all aboute the mase ?

The most part of this puple þat passeth on this earth
Haue they worshyp in this world , they wil no better
Of other heauen then here holde they no tale

I was afrayed of her face , though she fayre were
And sayd mercy madame , what is thys to meane ?

The tour
The toure vpon the toft , quod she , truth is therin
And woulde that ye wrought as hys word teacheth
For he is father of fayth , and former of you all
Both with fel and with face , and gaue you fyue wittes
For to worshyp him therwith , yea whyle ye ben here
And therfore he heyght the erth , to helpe you eche one
Of wollen of lynnen and of lyuelode at nede
In mesurable maner to make you at ease
And commaunded of his curtesy in commen thre thynges .

Arn none nedful but tho ? and named hem I thinke
And rekened hem by rewe , reherse ye hem after .

That one is vesture , from cheyle to saue
And meate at meale for disease of thy-selfe
And drinke whan thou driest , & do nought out of reason
That þou worth the worse , whan thou worke shouldest

Loth ,
For Lothe in his lyue-dayes for lykynge of dryncke
Did wyth hys doughters that the deuil lyked
Delited in drynke as the deuyll woulde
And Lechery him laught , and lay by hem both ,
And all he wytte the wyne that wicked dede
Inebriamus eum vino , dormiamusque cum eo vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen .
Through wyne & women there was Loth accumbred
And there gat in glotony gyrles that were cherels
Forthy drede delectable drinke , & thou shalt do þe better
Measure is medicine , though you michel yerne
It is not all for the goste that the gutte asketh
Leefe not thy lykam for a lyer hym techeth
That is the wretched worlde woulde þe betray
For the fende and the fleshe foloweth the togythers
This & that seeth thy soule , and seeth it in thine herte ,
And for thou shouldest beware , I wyshe the the best
Madame mercy , quod I , me liketh wel your words
And the monye of this mold that men so fast holdeth
Tell me to whom madame that treasure appendeth
Go the gospell , quod she , that god sayd hym-selfe
Tho þe people him apposed with a peny in the temple
Whether thei should therwith worship the king Cesar
And God asketh hem of whom spake the letter
And the image ylike that therein standeth
Cesares they sayde , we sene her well ichone
Reddite Cesari quod god , that Cesari belongeth
Et que sunt dei deo , or els ye done yll
For ryghtfull reason shoulde rule you all
And kynd witt be warden your wealth to kepe
And tutor of your treasure , and take you at nede
For husbandrye and hii holden togither .
Than I frayned hyr fayre for hym that me made
The dun geon .
That dungeon in the dale , that dredfull is of syght
What may it be to meane , madame I you besech .
That is the castell of care , who-so commeth therin
May banne that he borne was , to body or to soule ,
Therin wonneth a wyght , that Wronge is Ihote
Father of Falsehead , and founded it him-selfe
Adam and Eue he egged to yll ,
Councelled Cayne to kyll hys brother
Iudas
Iudas he iaped wyth Iewes siluer
And sithen on an elder hanged hym after
He is letter of loue , and lyeth hem all
That truste in hys treasure betraieth he sonest
That had I wonder in my wyt , what woman it were
That suche wyse wordes of holy wryte shewed
And I asked her on þe height name or she thence yede
What she were wysely , that wyshed me so fayre
Holy church I am , quod she , þou oughtest me to know
I vnderfeng the fyrst , and the fayth taught
Thou broughtest me borowes , my biddings to fulfyll
And to loue me lelly , þe whyle the life dureth
Than I courbid on my knees , and cried her of grace
And prayed hyr pituously pray for my synnes
And also kenne me kyndely , on Christe to beleue
That I myght worke hys wil þat wrought me to man
Teache me to no treasure , but tell me thys ilke
Howe I may saue my soule , that saynt art yholden .

Whan al treasures are tried , quod she , truth is best
I do it on Deus charitas , to deme the sothe
It is as dere-worth a drury , as deare God him-selfe ,
Who-so is true of hys tonge , and telleth no other
And doth the workes , therewith , and wylleth no man yll
He is a god by the gospell a grounde , & a loft
And lyke to our Lord by saint Lukes wordes
The clerkes that knowe thys , should kenne it aboute
For christen , and vnchristen claymeth it echone
Kynges and knyghtes shoulde kepe it by reason
Riden and rapen downe in realmes aboute
And taken transgressours and tye hem faste
Tyll Truth termined her trespace to thende
And þat is the profession apartly þat appendeth to knyghts
And not to fast one Friday , in fyue score wynter
But hold wyth him and with hir , that wolden al truth ,
And neuer leue hem for loue , ne for lackyng of siluer .

Dauid made kni ghtes
For Dauid in hys dayes dubbed knyghtes
And did hem swere on her swerd to serue Truth euer
And who-so passed þat poynt was apostata in þe ordre
But Christe kyng of kyngis made knyghtes ten
Cheruben and Seraphyn suche seuen and other
And gaue hem might in his maiestie , þe merier hem thought
And ouer his mene meiny made hem archangels
Taught by the trinitye Truth to knowe
To be buxome at hys byddinge , he bade hem nought els
Lucifer with legions , lerned it in heauen
Lucifer was caste out of hea uen bicause of hys pride .
But for he brake buxomnes , hys blysse can he tyne
And fel from that felowshyp , in a fendes lykenes
Into a depe darke hell to dwell there for euer
And moo thousandes with hym , than man could numbre ,
Loppen out wyth Lucifer in lothlych forme
For these leuiden apon hym that lyed on thys maner
Ponam pedem in aquilone et similis ero Altissimo .
And al þat hoped it might be so , no heuen might hem hold
But fell out in fendes lykenes nyne dayes togyther
Tyll god of hys goodnes gan stable and stynte
And garde the heuen to stycke and stond in quiet
When these wycked went out , in wonderwise they fell
Some in ayre , some in earth , and some in hell depe .
And Lucifer lowest leth yet of hem all
For pride that he pult out hys payne hath no ende
And al that worke wyth wrong wende they shal
After their death day , and dwell wyth that shrewe
And tho that worke well , as holy wryte telleth
And end as I ere sayd in Truth that is the best
May be siker that theyr soules shal wende to heauen
There Truth is in trinitie and troweth hem all
Forthy I say as I sayd ere , by syght of these textes ,
Whan all treasures are tried truth is the beste
Lerne on thys lewd men , for lettred men it knoweth
Truth is the grea test trea sure .
That Truth is treasure the triest on earth .
I haue no kind knowing quod I , ye mote me ken better
By what craft in mi corps it comseth , & wher
Thou dotest daffe , quod she , dull are thy wyttes
To tel latin thou learnedest , leode in thy youth
Heu mihi , quia sterilem duxi , vitam iuuenilem
It is a kind knowing , quod he[^2] , that kenneth in þe hert
For to loue thy Lorde leuer than thy-selfe.
No deadly synne to do , dye thoughe thou shouldeste ,
Thys I trowe be truth , who can teach the better
Loke thou suffer hym to say , and sith lerne it after
For Truth telleth that loue is triacle for sinne
May no synne be on hym sene , that vseth that spyce
And al hys works he wrought with loue as him list
And lerned it Moses for þe leuiest thing , of all
And also the plant of peace , most precious of vertues
For heuen myght not hold it , it was so heauy of him-selfe
Tyll it had of the erthe yoten it-selue
And whan it had of this folde fleshe and bloud taken
Was neuer leafe apon linde , lyghter there-after
And portatiue and persante as the poynt of an nedle
That might non armoure it let , ne none heigh walles
Forthie is loue leader of the lordis folke of heauen
And a meane as the Maire is betwene þe king & the commons
Right-so is loue a leader , & the lawe shapeth
Upon man for his misdedes , the mercyment he taxeth
And for to knowe it kyndlie , it commeth by mighte
And in the hert there is the hefde , and the hygh wyll
For of kynd knowing in hart there a might begineth
And that falleth to the father that formed vs al
He looked on vs wyth loue , and let his sone die
Mekelie for oure misdedis to amende vs all
And yet wold he hem no woo þat wrought him þat payne
But meklie wyth mouth mercie he besought
To haue pitty on that people that pained him to deth
Here might you see examples in selfe one
That he was mightfull and meke þat mercie can graunt
To hem that hange him on height , & his hart thirled
Forthie I red you Ryche haue ruthe on the pore
Though ye be mightti to mot be meke in youre workes
For the same mesure þat ye mete , amis , other ells
Ye shall be weien there-wyth whan ye wenden hence
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis , remetietur vobis
For though ye be true of your toung & truelich wyn
And as chast as a childe that in churche wepeth
But if ye loue lelie , and lene the pore
Such good as God you sent goodliche parte
You haue no more merit in masse nor in houres
Than Malken of her maydenhede þat no man desireth
For Iames the Ientle Iudged in hys bokes
That faythe with -owte þe feate is right nothing worth
And as deade as dore-tree , but if the dedes followe
Fides sine operibus mortua est & cetera
Forthi chastiti with -ought chariti worthi cheines in hel
It is as lewde as a lampe that no lyght is in
Manie chaplens ar chast and charitie is a-waye
Ar no men auariciouser than they , whan thei be auaunced
Unkynde to theyre kynne and to all christen
Chewen theyre charitie and chiden after more
Such chastitie without charitie worthie chaynes in hel
Manie curators kepe hem clene of here bodies
They be acumbred with coueties they can not do it from them
So harde hath auarice hasped them togythers
And that is no trueth of þe trinitie but trechery of hel
And lernyge lernynge to lewde men the latter for to dele
Forthie these wordis be written in the gospel
Date et dabitur vobis . for I dele you all
That is the locke of loue that letteth owte my grace
To comforten the carefull accombred with synne
Loue is leche of lyfe and next owre lorde selfe
And also the grayth gate that goith into heuen
Forthie I saye as I sayde er by the textes
Whan all tresures be tryed truthe is the best
So haue I told you what truth is þat no tresor is better
I may no longer leng ye with , now loke ye oure lord

[^2: Cr.1.142: he, "she."]

Passus secundus de visione

YEt I corbed on mi knees & cried her of grace
And seid merci madam for maris loue of heuen
That bare þat blisful barne þat bought vs on þe rode
Ken me bi some craft to know þe fals .
Loke apon thy lefte halfe and lo where he stondeth
Both false and fauel and her feris many
I loked on my left halfe as the ladie me taught
And was ware of a woman worthilech clothed
Purfiled wyth plesure the fynest apon erthe
Crowned wyth a crowne the Kynge hath non bittter bitter
Fettisleche her fyngers were fretted with golde wyer
And there on red Rubies as red as any glede
And dyamonds of derest price & double maner saphirs
Orientales and Ewages venemis to destroye
Hyr robe was full riche , of red scarlet engrayned
Wyth Rybandes of red golde and of rych stones
Her arraye me rauished , such Riches sawe I neuer
I had wonder what she was , & whose wyfe she were
What is this woman quod I so worthilie atyred .
That is Mede þe maid quod she hath noied me ful oft
And lacked my lemman that leautie is hote
And bilowe her to lordes that lawes haue to kepe
In the popes palaice , she is preuy as my-selfe
But Sothenes wolde not so , for she is a bastarde
For false was her father that hath a fyckell tounge
And neuer sothe sayd sithen he cam to erth
And Mede is maried after hym right as kind asketh
Qualis pater , talis filius , bona arbor , bonum fructum facit .
I ought be hier than she I cam of a better
My father the gret God is , and ground of al graces
One God withoute bigininge , & I hys good daughter
And hath gyuen me mercie to marrie wyth my-selfe
And what man be mercifull and lelie me loueth
Shalbe my lorde and I his life in the heigh heuen
And what man taketh mede my hede dare I leye
That he shal lease for her loue a lyppe of Charitatis
How construeth Dauid the Kyng of men þat take mede
And men of this molde that mayntaynith truthe
And howe ye should saue youre-selfe þe psalter berith witnes
Domine quis habitabit in Tabernaculo tuo & cetera
And nowe worthe this Mede maried vnto a manzed shrewe
To one Fals fikell tounge a fendes byete
Fauel through his fair spech hath this folk enchauntid
And al his liers ledinge that she is thus wedded
The morowe was made the maydens bridalle
And there might thou wit if þou wilt , which thei ben al
That longen to that lordship , the lesse and the more
Knowe hym there if thou canst , & kepe thou thy toung
And lak hem not , but let hem worke tyl leutie be Iustice
And haue powr to punnysh hem than put forth thi reason
For I bikenne the Christ quod she & his clene mother
And let no conscience acumbre the for couetise of Mede
Thus lefte me that ladie ligging a-slepe
And howe mede was maried in metals me thought
That al the riche reteinaunce þat reineth with the false
Were bounden to the bridale on both twoo sides
Of al maner of men the meane and the riche
To marie the mayde was manie a man assembled
As of knights & of clarkes and other common people
As sisores and somoners , Shreues and ther clerks
Bedelles and bailiffes and brokers of chaffer
Forgoers and vitellers and aduocates of tharches[^3]
I can not reken the route that ranne aboute Mede
And Simonye and Ciuile and Sisours of courtes
Were moste priuie with Mede of any men me thought
And Fauell was the fyrste that fet her out of boure ,
And as a broker brought hir to be with False enioyned

[^3: note orthography???]

Whan Simony and Ciuyll see hir both wyll
They assented for syluer to saye as bothe woulde
Than leepe Lyer forthe and sayde , lo here Charter
That Gyle with hys greate othes gaue hem togyders
And prayed Cyuyll to see , and Simony to reade it
Than Simony and Ciuyl stond forth both togyther
And vnfolde the feoffemente that False hath ymade
And thus beginneth these gomes to greden ful heygh .
Marita gium pra num cum feoffemen to in ma lo feodo et de per uersa te nura .
¶ Sciant presentes et futuri . & cetera .

Wytteth & witnesseth al þat wonneth apon thys earth
That Mede is maryed more for hir goodes
Than for anye vertue or fayrenes , or anye free kynd ,
Falsenes is fayne of hyr , for he wooteth hyr ryche
And Fauell wyth his ficle speach feffeth him by thys charter
To be prynce in pryd , & Pouerty to despise
To backebite and to bosten & to beare false wytnes
To scorne and to scould , and sclaunder to make
Unboxome and bold to breake the ten hestes
And the Erledome of Enuye and Wrathe togythers
Wyth the Chastilet of Cheeste and chateryng out of reason
The contry of couetise & al the costes about
That is vsury and auarise , all hem graunt
In bargaines & in brocages with al þe borough of theft
And all the lordeshyp of Lechery in length & in brede
As in workes & in wordes & in waytinges with eyes
And in wedes & in wishynges , & wyth idle thoughtes
There as wyl woulde & the workmanshippe fayleth .

Glotony he gaue hem eke and great othes togither
And all daye to dryncke at diuerse tabernes
And there to iangle & to iape , & iudge hir euenchristen
And in fastynge-dayes to frete ere full tyme were
And than to sitte and soupe , tyll sleepe hem assayle
And brede furth as boroughe swine , and bedden hem easelye
Tyll Sleuth and slepe slyken hyr sydes
And than Wanhope to awaken hem so wyth no wyl to amend
For they liuen by luste that is hir laste ende
And they to haue and to holde and hyr heyrs after
A dwellynge wyth the deuyll & damped be for euer
Wyth al þe appertinannces of purgatory into þe paine of hell
Yeldynge for thys thynge at one yeres end ,
Their soules to Satan to suffer wyth him paynes
And with hym to wonne with woo , while god is in heuen
In witnes of which thinge , Wronge was the fyrste
And Pierce the pardoner of Paulines doctryne
Bette the bedell of Buckyngham shiere
Raynolde the reue , of Rutlande sokene
Maude the mylner , wyth many mo other
In the date of the Deuyl thys dede I enseale
By syght of syr Simony and Ciuyls leaue .

The trwe preachar
Than tened him Theology when he this tale harde
And sayd to Ciuyl , nowe sorowe myght you haue
Such weddinges to worke to wrath with Truth ,
And er this wedding be wrought , now god giue þe sorowe
For Mede is mulier of amendes engendred
And God graunteth to gyue Mede to Truth
And þou hast geuen hir to a gilor wo the betyde
Thie text telleth the not so , Truth woote þe Sothe
For Dignus est operarius , his hyre to haue
And thou hast fastened hir to False , fye on thy lawe
For al by lesynges thou liuest and lecherous workes
Symony and thy-selfe shenden holy church
The Notaries and ye noye the people
Ye shall abye it both by god that made me
Well ye wytte wernardes , but if your wyt fayle
That False is faythles and fykil in hys werkes
And was a bastard borne of Belsabubs kynne
And Mede is a mulier a mayden of good
And myght kysse the kynge for cosin if she would .
Therefore worke by wysdome , and by my wyt also
And leade hyr to London there it is shewed
If anye lawe wyll loke , they lygge togyther
And thoughe iustice iudge hir to be ioyned to False
Yet beware of weddynge , for wytty is Truth
And Conscience is of his counsel , & knoweth you echone
And if he find you in default , and wyth false hold
It shall biset your soules full sore at the laste
Hereto assent Cyuyle and Simony ne wolde
Tyl he had mony for hys seruice , & also the notaries

Than fet Fauell forth florences inowe
Brybes

[final s isn't legible]

And bade gyle to gyue golde aboute
And namely to the Notaries that hem none fayle
And feffe False wytnes wyth florence inowe
For they may Mede maystrye and make at my wyl .

Tho this gold was geuen great was the thanking
To False and to Fauell for hir fayre gyftes
And come to conforten fro care the False
And sythen certes syr ceasen shall we neuer
Til Mede be wedded wife through þe wits of vs al
For we haue Mede maistred wyth oure merye speach
That she graunteth to go with a good wyll
To London to loke if the lawe woulde
Iudge you ioyntly in ioye for euer
Than was Falsenes fayne , and Fauell as blyth ,
And letten sommon all segges in shires aboute
And bade hem al to be bowne beggers and other
To wend with hem to Westmister to witnes this dede .
And than caried they forth caples to cary hem thither
And Fauell fette forth then foles inowe
And set Mede vpon a Shireue shode all newe
And False sate on a Sisoure that softly trotted
And Fauel on a flatterer feetely attired .

Tho had Notaries none anoied they were
For Simony and Ciuill shoulde on theyr fete gange ,
And than swore Simony and Ciuill bothe
That somners should be sadled , & serue hem echeone
And let apparel these prouisors in palfreis wise
Sir Simony hym-selfe shall sit on their backes

Deanes and Subdeanes drawe you togyther
Archedecons and officials and all your regesters
Let saddle hem wyth syluer our synne to suffer
As aduoutrye and diuorces , and derne vsury
To beare Bishops about abrode in visitynge
Paulines priues , for pleyntes in consistorie
Shal serue my-selfe that Ciuyll is named
And carte saddle the Comisarye , our cart shal he lead
And fetche vs vitayles at Fornicatores
And maketh of Lier a long cart , to lead al these other
As friers and faytours that on their fete runnen
And thus False and Fauell faren forth togyther
And Mede in the myddes and all these men after .

I haue no tyme to tel the taile that here foloweth
And Gyle was forgoer . and guyded hem all
Sothnes seethe hem well , and sayth but lyttle
And pricked his palfrey and passed hem all
And came to the kinges court , & Conscience it told
And Conscience to the kinge carped it after .

Now bi Christ quod þe Kyng and I catch might
Fals or Fauel or anie of there feeris
I wolde be wroken of tho wreches þat worken thys il
And done hem hang bi þe hals & al that hem meinteyneth
Shal neuer man of thys molde maynprise the leest
But ryght as the lawe wol loke , let fal on hem all
And commaunde a Constable that can at the fyrst
To attache tho Tyrauntes for any thing I hote
And fetter fast Falsnes for any kynnes gyftes
And gyrde of Gyles hed and let hym go no ferther
And if ye cache Lyer let hym not escape
Or he be put on the pillerye for any prayers I hote
And bringe Mede to me in mauger them all

Drede at the dore stode , and the dome harde
How the King commaundid Constables & Sargeantes
Falsnes and his feloship to fetter and to binden

Than dread went wyghtlye and warned the Fals
And bad hym fle for fere . And his fellows all

Falsenes for feare than fledde to the Freers
And Gyle doth hym to go agast for to die
And Marchaunts meten with him and made him abide
And shitte hym in her shoppes to shewen here ware
Apparelled hym as a Prentice the people to serue

Lyghtlie Lyer leped awaye than
Lurkynge through Lanes to be lodged of manye
He was no-where welcome for his manie tales
Ouer-all hunted out , and I hote trusse
Tyll Pardoners had pitie and pulled him in to house
They wash him & wipe him & wounden him in clouts
And sent hym wyth seales on sondayes to churches
And gaue hym pardon for pence poundmele abowt
Then loured Leches and Letters they sente
That he shoulde wonne with hem waters to loke
Spicers speken wyth hym to spie theire ware
For he coude of ther crafte , and knewe many gommes
And minstreles and messengers mete with hym once
And helde hym halfe a yere and a leuen dayes
Freers wyth faire speche fet hym thence
And for knowinge of commers coped him as a frere
And he hath leue to leppe owte as ofte as him liketh
And is welcome whan he wyl & wonneth with them ofte
All fledden for feare and floone in-to hernes
Saue mede the maide , no mo durst abyde
And trulie to tell she trembled for drede
And eke wepte and wronge whan she was atached

Passus tertius de visione

NOwe is Mede the maide & no mo of hem all
with Bedels & bailifs brought before þe kyng
The king called a clark can I not his name
To take Mede the mayde & make her atease at ease
I shall assaye hir mi-selfe and southelyche appose
What man of this molde that her were leuest
And if she worke by wyt , and my wyl followe
I wol forgeue her thys gylte so me God helpe
Curteslie the clarke than as the Kynge hyght
Toke mede bie the middle & brought her into chambre
And there was mirth and minstrelsi , Mede to please
They that wounne In westminster worshippid her al
Gentlie with Ioye , The Iustices some
Busked hem to the bower there the bride dwelled
To comforthe her kindlye by clergies leaue
And sayde morne not Mede ne make ye no sorowe
For we will wishe the Kinge and the shape
To be weddyd at thy will , and where the leefe liketh
For al conscience cast and crafte as I trowe .
Mildlie Mede than , mercide them all
Of her grete goodnes and gaue hem echone
Copes of clene golde and Copes of siluer
Rynges wyth Rubies and Ryches manie
The lest man of ther menie , a moton of golde .
Than lafte they leue , these lordis at Mede .
Wyth that comon Clarks to comfort her sone
And bydden her be blyth for we be thine owne
For to worke thy wyll the while we moune laste
Hendiliche she than bihyght them the same
To louen hem lellie and lordis to make
To begge hem benifices , pluralities to haue
And in consistorie at courte do calle her names
Shal no lewdnes lette the clerke that I loue
That he ne worthe fyrst auaunced for I am biknowen
Ther cunning clarkis sholen cloke behynde

Confessors
Than came there a confessor copid as a Frere
To Mede the mayde he mellud thes wordes
And sayde full softlie in shrifte as it were
Though lewd men & lerned men had lien by thee both
And falsenes had I-folowed the all thys forti winter
I shall assoyle the my-selfe for a seme of whete
And also be thy bedman and bere wel thy message
Amoungest knyghtis & Clarkes conscience to turne

Than Mede for her misdedis to that man kneled
And shroue her of her shroudenes shamles I trowe
Tolde hym a tale and toke hym a noble
For to be her bedman and brokar also

Than he assoyled her sone and sithen he sayde
We haue a wyndowe in workinge , wol set vs high
Woldest thou glase þat gable , & graue therein thi name
Seker shuld thy soule be , heuen to haue .

Wyst I that quod the woman , I wold not spare
For to be your frende Freer , and fayle you neuer
Whyle you loue lordes that lecherie haunten
And lake not Ladies that loue wel the same
It is frailenes of the fleshe , ye fynde it in bokes
And a course of kynde , wherof we comen all
Who-so may escape þe slaunder þe scath is sone amended
It is synne of the seuen souest so[n]est relessed .

Haue mercy quod mede of men that it haunten
And I shal couer your kyrke , your cloysture do maken
Walles do whyten and wyndowes glasen
Do peynten and portraye and paye for the makyng
That euery segge shall say I am syster of your house
And God to al good folke such grauinge defend
To wryte in wyndowes of her well deades
On auenture Pryd be painted there , & pomp of þe worlde
For Christ knoweth thi consience & thi kind wil
And thy cost and thy couetis , & who thy cattel ought

Therefore I lerne you lordes , leaue such workes
To writen in wyndowe of your wel dedes
Or to gredden after goddesmen whan thei delen doles
On auenture you haue your hier here , & your heuen also
Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextera .
Lette not thy lefte halfe late ne rathe
Wyt what thou workest with thy right side
For thus beddith þe gospel , good men done her almes .

Maires and Maceris that meanes be betwene
The Kynge and the comon to kepe the lawes
To punnyshen on pyleries and pynning stoles
Brusterrs and bakesters , bochers and cokes
For these ar men on this mold þat most harme worketh
To the pore people that percel-mele byghe
For they poyson the people priuilie and ofte
They richen thrughe Regratrie & rentis hem bighen
With þat the pore people should put in here wombes
For toke they all trulie they tymbred not so high
Ne bought no burgages be they full certen

And Mede þe mayde the Mayre hath besought
Of al suche Sellers siluer to take
Or presentes wythoute pence as peces of syluer
Ryngis or other riches the Regrators to mainteine
For my loue quod that Ladie loue hem echeone
And suffer hem to sell some-deale agaynst reason

Salomon the sage a Sermon he made
For amende Mayres and men that kepe lawes
And tolde hem this teme that I tell thinke
Iob.xv
Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera
Among these lettred leodes this laten is to mene
That fyre shal fal and brenne , al to blo ashes
The houses and homes of hem that desireth
Gyftes or yeres-gyues bicause of her offices

The King from the councel came & called after mede
And sent for her a a[s] swith with sargeantes manie
That brought her to boure with blis and with ioye
Curteslie the Kynge than comsed to tell
To mede the mayde melleth these wordis
Unwittelie woman wrought hast thou ofte
And wurse wroughteste þou neuer than tho þou fals toke
But I forgeue the that gylte & graunt the my grace
Hence to thie deth daye do so no more .
I haue knyght Conscience came late from beyond
If he willeth the to wyfe wilt thou hym haue ?
Yea lorde quod that ladie God forbyd els ,
But I be wholie at your heste let hange me sone .
And than was conscience called to come and appere
Before the Kynge and hys councell as clarks & other
Knelynge Conscience to the kinge louted
To wit what hys wyl were and what he do should .
Wylt þou wed this woman quod þe King if I wil assente
For she is fayne of thy felloship for to be thy make .
Quod conscience to the kyng Christe it me forbydde
Or I wede suche a wife woo me betide
For she is fraile of her fayth fykel of her speche
And maketh misdo many score tymes
Trust of her treasure betrayeth full manie
Wyues and wdydowes wydowes wantones she teacheth
And lerneth hem lecherie that loue hyr gyftes
Your father she felled throughe false byhest
And hath poysoned Popes and peyred holie churche
Is not a better baude by hym that me made
Betwene heauen and hel in erth thoughe men sought
For she is Tikel of her tayle , talewyse of her tonge
As commen as a cartwaye to eche a knaue that walketh
To monkes & to minstrels to mesels in hedges
Sisours and somnours such men her praiseth
Shyreues of shires ware shent if she were not
For she doth men lese her lond and her life bothe .
She letteth passe prisoners , and prayeth for them oft
And geuith the Gailors golde and grotes togethers
To vnfettren the false fle where hym lyketh
And taketh the true by the top and tieth him fast
And hangeth hem for hatred that harme dyd neuer
To be cursed in Consistorie she counteth not a beane
For she copith the Commissarie and coteth hys clarkes
She is a-soyled as sone as her-selfe liketh
And may nighe as moch do in a monthe one
As maye youre secret Seale in syxscore syx score dayes .
For she is priuie wyth the pope prouisors it knoweth
For sir simonie and her-selfe sealeth the bulles .
She blysseth these bushops though they be lewde
Prouendreth persons and preistes meynteineth
To haue lemmans and lottebies al her liue-dayes
And bringeth furth barnes agayne forbode lawes
There she is wel with the Kyng woo is the Realme
For she is fauorable to false and fouleth truth oft
Bi Iesus with her Iwels your Iusticis she shendith
And lieth ageyne the lawe and letteth hym the gate
That fayth mai not be of force her florens fli so thick
She leadeth the law as her list & louedaies maketh
And doth men lese through hyr loue þat law might win
The maze for a meane man though he mote her euer
Lawe is so lordleche , and lothe to make ende
Wythouten presents or pence she pleaseth ful fewe
Barons and Burgesies she bringeth in sorowe
And al the common in care that coueteth liue in truethe
For Clargie and couetis she coupleth togyther
This is the life of that lady now lord giue hir sorow
And al that meyntineth hyr men meschance hem betide
For pore men mai haue no powr to plain hem when they smarte
Suche a master is mede among men of God
Than morned Mede and meued her to the Kinge
To haue spase to speke spede if she myght
The Kynge graunted her grace with a good wyll
Excuse the if thou canst I can no more sayne
For conscience accuseth the to congayne the for euer .
Nay lorde quod that ladie leue hym the wurse
Whan ye witten witterlie where the wronge lieth
There that mischefe is great , mede maye healpe
And thou knowest conscience I came not[^4] to chide
Ne depraue thie person with a proude herte
Wel thou woteste warnarde but if thou wyll gabbe
Thou hast hanged on me halfe a-leuen tymes
And also griped my golde , giue it where the liked
And why thou wrathest the now , wonder me thinkith
Yet I maie as I might menske the wyth gifts
And mainteine thie manhod more than thou knowest
And thou hast famed me foule before the kynge here
For kylled I neuer no kinge ne councelled therafter
Ne did as thou demest I do it on the Kynge
In Normandie was he not noyed for my sake
And thou thy-selfe southlie shamedst him ofte
Crope in-to a Chabane for colde of thie nailes
Wendest that wynter wolde haue lasted euer
And dredest to be deade for a dym cloude
And hydest vpward for hounger of thy wombe
Wyth-oute pittie Pilor pore men thou robbedest
And bare hyr brasse at thy backe to Calleis to selle
There I laste wyth my lorde hys life for to saue
I made his men merie and mourning let
I battred hem on here backe and boldid here hertes
I did hem hoppe for hope to haue me at wyll
Had I bene marshall of his men by Marie of heuen
I durst haue leyde my lyfe and no lasse wede
He should haue be lorde of þat land in lenghth & bredth
And also Kynge of that kyth his kyne for to helpe
The lest broll of hys bloude , a barons Pere
Cowardlie thou conscience counceledst hym thens
To leuen his lordshipe for a little syluer
That is the richest realme that raygneth ouer heigh .

[^4: note vertical line after not???]

It becometh to a kyng that kepeth a realme
To gyue Mede to men that mekely hym serueth
To alientes and to all men to honerne hem with giftes
Mede maketh him beloued , and for a man holden
Emperours and Erles , and all maner Lordes
For gyftes haue yong men to runne and to ryde
The Pope & al the prelates presentes vnderfoggen
And medeth men hem-selues to maintaine her lawes
Sergeauntes for their seruice , we se wel the south
Taken Mede for her maistris as they may accorde .
Beggers for their bydding bydden me mede
Mynstrels for hyr myrth mede they aske
The king hath mede of hys men , to make peace in land ,
Men that teachen children crauen after mede
Priestes that preachen the people to good asken mede
And masse pence and her meate at the meale tymes .
All kynne craftes men crauen mede for her prentises
Marchauntes and mede muste nedes go togyther
No wyght as I wene withouten mede may lyue .
Quod the king to conscience by Christ as me thinketh
Mede is wel worthy the maistry to haue
Nay quod Conscience to þe king , & kneled on the earth
Ther are .ii. maner of Medes my lord with your leaue ,
That one God of hys grace graunteth in hys blysse
To hem that wyll worke whyle they be here
The prophete preacheth therof , & put it in the psalter
Psal.xv.
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo . & cetera .
Lord who shal wonne in thy wonnes , and with thy holy saintes
Or resten in thy holy hils this asketh Dauid
And Dauid assoileth it him-selfe as the psalter telleth
Qui ingreditur sine macula et operatur iustitiam .
They that entren of one coloure and of one wyll
And haue wrought workes , with right & wyth reason
And he that vseth not the lyfe of vsurye
And enfourmeth pore men and preserueth truth .
Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram Et munera super Innocentem non accipit .
And al þat helpe the innocent , & holden with the rightfull ,
Without Mede doth them good , & the truth helpeth
Such maner men my Lord , shal haue this first mede
Of God at her great nede , when they gone hence .
Ther is an other mede mesureles , þat masters desireth
To meynteyne misdoers mede they take .

And thereof sayth the psalter in a psalmes ende
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt Dextera eorum repleta est muneribus .
And he that gripeth her golde so me god helpe
Shall abye it bytter , or the boke lyeth
Priestes and persons that pleasinges desiereth
That taken Mede & money for masses that they synge
Taken her mede here , as Mathew vs teacheth .
Amen amen , recipiebant mercedem suam .[^5]
That labourers and lowe folke taken of her masters
It is no maner mede , but a measurable hyre
In marchaundise , is no mede , I may it well auowe
It is a permutation apertly , a peniworth for an other
And reddest þou neuer Regum thou recraed mede
When the vengeaunce fel on Saule , & on hys chyldren
God sent to Saule by Samuel the prophete
That Agag , and Amelec , and al hys people after
Should dye for a dede that done had her elders
Therfore said Samuel to Saul god him-self hoteth
The be buxome at his biddynge hys wyll to fulfyll ,
Wend to Amalec with thine host , & what þou findeste there slea it
Burnes and Beastes brene hem to death
Wydowes , and wyues , women and children
Mouable , & vnmouable , & al þat thou might fynd
Brenne it , beare not away , be it neuer so ryche
For mede , nor for money , loke thou destroy it
Spyll it , and spare it not , thou shalt the better
And for he coueted her cattell , and the king spared ,
Forbare him & his beastes both , as þe bible witnesses
Otherwyse then he was warned of the prophete
God sayd to Samuel that Saule shoulde dye
And all hys sede for that synne shamefully ende
Suche a mischiefe mede made Saule þe king to haue
That God hated him for euer , & all hys heyres after
The colour of thys case , ne kepe I not to tell
On auenture it noyed men , no ende will I make
For so is thys world wont with hem that haue power
That who-so sayeth sothe , is sonest yblamed
I Conscience knowe this for kind wyt it me taught
That reason shal raigne , and realmes gouerne
And ryght as Agag had , happe shal come
Samuel shal slea hem , and Saule shal be blamed
And Dauid shalbe shal be diademed , & daunten hem all
And one christen kyng kepe hem eche one
Shall no more mede be maistry , as she is nowe
And loue and lownes , and leauty togyther
These shall be maisters on molde truthe to saue
And who-so trespaceth against truth , or taketh again his wil
Leauty shal done him lawe , & no life els
Shal no sergeant for his seruice , weare no silke hode
Ne no Pelure in his cloke , for pledyng at the barre
Mede of misdoers maketh many Lordes ,
And ouer Lordes lawes , ruleth the realmes
And kinde loue shal come yet , and conscience togyther
And make of lawe a labourer , such loue shal arise
And such a peace amonge the people , & a perfit truth
That Iewes shal wene in their wit , & waxe wonders glad
That Moses & Messia be come into this erth
And haue wonder in her hertes that men be so true ,
All that beareth baslarde brodeswerde or launce
Axe , or yet hachet , or any weapon els
Shal be demed to death , but if he do it smythy .
Into sycle or into sythe , to share or to culter .

[^5: KD reads receperunt.]

Esai ii.

[trace of a punctus after Esai???]

Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres .

Euery man to play with a plowe , pykeaxe , or spade ,
Spynne or spread donge , or spil him-selfe with sloughe ,
Priestes or persons with Placebo to hunte
And dynge apon Dauid euery day til euen
Huntynge or haukynge , if any of hem vse
Hys boast of benifice worth by-nome him after
Shal neither kinge ne knyght constable nor mayre
Ouerleade the common , ne to the courte sommone
Ne put hem panel , to done hem plight her truth
But after þe dede is done one dome shal reward
Mercy , or no mercy , as truth wyll accorde .

Kinges court , common court , consistorie , and chapter
All shall be but one courte , and one Baron by iustice
Than wel worth true tong , a tidy man þat tened me neuer
Battels shall none be , ne no man beare weapon
And what smith that any smithed , be smiten therwith to death[^6]
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium . & cetera .

[^6: no parenthesis to left of "death"]

Esa.ii.
And or thys fortune fall , fynde men shall þe werste ,
By six sones and a shippe and halfe a shefe of arowes
And þe mydle of a mone shal make þe Iewes to turne
And Sarasines of that syght shall synge .
Gloria in excelsis deo . & cetera .

For Makometh and Mede mishap shal that time
For Melius est bonum nomen quam diuitie multe
As wrothe as the wynde waxe Mede in a whyle
I can no latin , quod she , clerkes wote the sothe
Se what Salomon sayth , in Sapientie bokes
That they þat gyue gyftes , the victory wynneth
And most worship haue therwith as holy write telleth .
Honorem acquiret , qui dat munera .

I leue wel lady quod conscience that the latin be true
And thou art like a lady that radde a lesson once
Was Omnia probate , and that pleased her well
For that was no longer at the leaues ende
Had she loked that ouer halfe and the lefe turned
She shuld haue sound [f]ound[^a1] fel words folowyng therafter
Quod bonum est tenete . Truth that texte made
And so fared ye Madame , ye could no more finde
Tho ye loked on Sapience sytttynge syttynge in your studye
Thys texte that ye haue tolde were good for lordes ,
And you failed a good clerk þat could þe lefe haue turned
And if ye seke Sapience oft , finde ye shal þat foloweth
A full tenefull text to hem that taketh mede
And that is Animam autem aufert accipientium . & cetera .
And þat is the tale of the text of that that she shewed
That thoughe wee wyn worshyp & with mede haue victory
The soule that the sonde so[u]de[^a2] taketh by , So muche is bounde

[^a1: sound [f]ound (Cr1) | founden (Most other mss)]

[^a2: sonde so[u]de (Cr1) | soude (Most other mss)]

Passus quartus de visione .

CEase saieth the kinge , I suffer you no longer
Ye shal sangtle saughtne[^7] forsoth , & serue me both
Kysse hyr quod the kynge , conscience I hote
Naye by Christ quod Conscience , congay me for euer[^8]
But Reason rede me therto , rather wyl I dye ,
And I commaund you quod the king to Conscience then
Rape the to ride , and Reason to fetche .
Commaunde hym that he come , my councel to hear ,
For he shall rule my realme , and reade me the best
And accounten with the Conscience , so me Christ helpe ,
Howe thou learnest þe people , the learned , & the lewd
I am faine of that forward , said the Fraike than ,
And ryt ryght to Reason , and roundeth in hys eare ,
And sayd as the kyng bade , and syth toke his leaue
I shal aray me to ryde quod Reason , rest the a while
Reason rydeth on sufferance
And called Caton hys knaue , curtesse of speche
And also Thome true tonge , tell me no tales ,
Ne lesyng to laughen of , for I loued hem neuer ,
And set my sadle apon Sufferaunce , til I se my time ,
And let waroken him wel , with wytty words girthes
And hang on him the heauy bridle , to holde his head lowe
For he wil make wehe , twyse er he come ther
Than Conscience apon his caple , carieth forth fast
And Reason wyth him , rit rownynge togythers ,
Whyche maistris Mede maketh on this earth .
One waryn Wysedome , and wytty hys feer ,
Folowed hym faste , for they had to done ,
In the Escheker , & in þe Chaunceri , to be discharged of things
And riden fast , for Reason should rede hem best
For to saue hem for siluer , from shame and harmes
And Conscience knewe hem well , they loued couetyse ,
And bade Reason ride fast , & reck of hem neither ,
Ther be wiles in her words , & with Mede thei dwel
Ther as wrath & wrangling is , there get they syluer ,
And wher is Loue & Leauty , they wil not come there
Contritio et in-felicitas in viis eorum . & cetera .
They ne gyue not of God , one goose wynge .
Non est timor Domini ante oculos eorum . & cetera .
For God wot they wyll do more for a dosen chickens
Or as many Capons , or for a seame of Otes ,
Than for loue of our Lord , or al his leue sayntes .
Therfore reason let hem ryde , the ryche by hem-selfe
For Conscience knoweth hem not , ne Christ as I trowe .

[^7: unique to Cr, acc. to KD]

[^8: Check FW.]

And than Reason rode faste the right hye gate
And Conscience him kenneth , tyl they came to þe king
Curtesly the king than came agaynst Reason ,
And betwene him-selfe and hys sonne , set him on bench
And wordeden wel wisely a greate while togythers .
And than came Peace into parliment , & put forth a byl
Howe Wronge against hys wyll had his wife taken
And howe he rauished Rose , Rainoldes loue
And Margaret of hyr maidenhed , maugre hir chekes
Both my geese and my gris , his gadlinges fetcheth ,
I dare not for feare of him fyght ne chide ,
He borowed my bayard , & brought him neuerhome neuer home
Ne no ferthing therfore , for ought I could pleade
He mainteyneth his men to murther myne ewne
Forstalleth my fayres , fyghteth in my chepynge ,
And breketh vp my barne doore: & steleth awaye my whet
And taketh me bnt b[u]t a taile , for ten quarter otes
Yet he beateth me thereto , and lyeth by my mayde
I am not hardy for hym vnneth to loke .

The king knew he said soth , for Conscience him told ,
That Wrong was a wycked luske , & wrought much sorow
Wrong was afraied then , & wisdome he sought
To make peace with his pence , and proferd him manye
And said , had I loue of the King , litle would I reche
Thoughe Peace and hys power playned hym euer ,
Tho wende wysedome , and sir Waren the wytty
For that Wrong had wrought so wycked a dede
And warned Wronge tho with such a wyse tale
Who-so worketh by wyll , wrath maketh oft
I say it by my-selfe , you shal it well fynde .
But if Mede it make , thye myschyefe is vp .
For bothe thy lyfe and thy lande lyethe in hyr grace ,
Than wowed Wronge Wysedome full yerne
To make hys peace wyth hys pence , handy dandy paid
Wysedome and Wytte[^9] than went bothe togythers
And toke Mede myd hem mercy to wynne .
Peace put forth hys head , and hys pan bloudy
Wythouten gilt God wot , gate I thys scape ,
Conscience and the Commune knowen the sothe
And Wysedome and Wytte weren aboute faste ,
To ouercome the kynge wyth cattell , if they myght .
The king swore by Christ , & by his crowne both
That Wrong for his werkes should woo thorowly
And commaunded a Constable to caste hym in yrons
And let hym not these seuen yeres see hys fete once
God wot quod Wysedome , that were not the beste
And he amendes might make , let mainprice him haue
And be borowe for hys bale , and byggen hym boote
And so emende that is misdo , and euer the better
Wytte accorded therewyth , and sayde the same
Better is that boote , bale adoune brynge ,
Than bale be bett , and boote neuer the better .
Than came Mede to meuen hir , & mercy she besought ,
And proferd Peace a present , all of pure gold
Haue this man of me , quod she , to amend thy scathe
For I wyl wage for Wronge , he wyl do so no more
Pyttuouslie Peace than prayed for the Kynge
To haue merci on that man , that misdid hym so oft
For he hath waged me wel as wisdome hym taught
And I forgeue him that gylte wyth a good wyll
So that the assente , I can saye no bettre
For Mede hath me amends made I mai no more aske
Nay quod the kynge tho so Christ me helpe
Wronge wendeth not so awaye , erst I wil wit more
For lope he so lyghtlie , laughen he woulde
And efte be the bolder to bete myne euen .
But Reason haue ruth on him he shal rest in my stocks
And that as long as heliueth he liueth , but lownes him borow
Some men red Reason tho , haue ruth on that shrew
And to councell the Kynge , and conscince after
That mede might be meinperner Reson they bisought
Rede me noughte quod Reason , no rueth to haue
Tyl lordes and ladies loue al truthe
And haten all harlotrie to heare or to mouth it
Tyll Pernellis Purfill be put in her huche
And childernes cherishing be chastinge wyth yardes
And harlots holines be holden for an hyne
Tyl clerken couetis be to cloth the poore and fede
And religious romers Recordarie in here cloistures
As saynte Bennet hem bad , Barnard and Fraunces
And til prechours prechinge be preuid on hem-selfe
Tyl the Kyngis cowncel be the common profyte
Tyl byshops barns be beggers chambers
Their hauks and their hounds to pore relygious
And tyl saynt Iames be sought there I shall assygne
That no man go to Callice but if he go for euer
And al Rome renners for robbers be-yonde
Bere no siluer ouer sea that signe of kinge sheweth
Neyther grauen nor vngranen vngra[u]en golde neither syluer
Apon forfeture of that fee , who-so fynde it at douer
But if he be marchant or his man or messenger with leters
Prouisor or priest or penant for hys synnes
And yet quod Reason bi þe roode I shall no ruthe haue
While Mede hath the masterie in this mouth mote[^a3] hal
And I maye shewe examples as I se otherwhile
I say it be my-selfe quod he , And it so were
That I were Kyng wyth croune to kepe the realme
Shoulde neuer wrong in this world þat I wit might
Be vnpunished in my poure for peril of my soule
Ne get my grace for gifts so me God saue
Nefor Ne for Mede haue mercie but if mekenes it made
For Nulum malum the man mette wyth Impunitum
And badde that Nulum bonum be Irremuneratum
Let thy confessoure sur king construe this vnglozed
And if ye worken it in warke , I wed myne eares
That lawe shalbe shal be a laborer aud a[n]d leade afelde dounge
And loue shal leade the lande as the leefe lykith .
Clarkes þat were Confessours couplid hem togithers
Al to construe this clause for the kyngys profit
And not for þe comforte of þe pore common , ne kings soule
For I se Mede in the mouth moot[^a4] hal , on men of law winke
And they laughing lope to her and lefte reason manie
Waren Wisdome wynckid apon Mede
And sayd madame I am your man , what so mi mony iangleth
I faile florens quod þat freke & fail speche oft ,
Al rightful recorden that Reason truth tolde
And wyt acorded therwith and commended his wordis
And the moste people in the hal and mani of the grete
And letten mekenes a master & mede a manzed shrew
Loue lett of her light , and leautie yet lasse
And sayd it so highe that al the hal it hall it hard
Who-so wilneth hir to wyfe for welth of her goodes
But he be knowne for a Cokeolde cut of myne nose
Mede mourned sore tho and made heuie chere
For the moste common of that court called hir an hore
And a sisor and a somnoure sued her faste
And a shreues clarke byshroued al the route
For ofte haue I quod he holpon you at the bar
And yet gaue ye me neuer the worth of a ryshe
The Kyng called Conscience and after-ward reason
And recorde that reason had rightfully shewed
And moodelich apon Mede , with might the king loked
And gan wax wroth with law for mede had it nere shent
And said through law as I leeue I lost mani eschets
Mede ouer mastrith law , and mych trueth letteth
And reason shal reken wyth you , if I reigne whyle
And deme thou by thys daye as ye haue deserued
Mede shal not maineprise you by the mary of heuen
I wyl haue Leauty in law & let be al your ianglynge
And as most folke wytneseth wrong shalbe shal be demyde .
Quod conscience to the Kinge but þe common wil assent
It is ful hard be myne hed herto to bringe it
All your lege leodes to leden thus euen
By hym þat raught on the rode quod reason to þe kinge
But if I rule thus youre realme rent owt my guttes
If ye bydden boxomnes be of myne assent .
And I assent sayth the Kyng by saynt mari my ladye
By my councel commune of clarkes and of erles
And reddyly reason thou shalt not ride from me
For as longe as I lyue leaue the I nelle
I am redy quod reason to rest wyth you euer
So conscience be of oure councell I kepe no better
And I graunt quod the Kyng gods forbod it faile
As long as our lyues lasteth lyue we togythers

[^a3: mouth mote (Cr1) | mote (All other mss)]

[^a4: mouth moot (Cr1) | moot (All other mss)]

[^9: Cr1.4.78: The <tt> combination is ill formed in our copy and may have been worse in the copy collated by Kane and Donaldson whose text reads Wytre.]

Passus quintus de visione

THe Kyng and his knights to the kyrke wente
To here mattens of the day and þe masse after
Than waked I of my winking , & wo was withal
That I ne had slept sadder & sighen more
And er I had faren a furlonge Fentise me hente
That I ne might farder a fote for defaute of slepinge
And sat softlie adoune and sayde my beleue
And so I bablid on mi beads , thei brought me aslepe
And than I sawe moch more than I before of tolde
For I se the felde ful of folke , that I before of sayde
And how Reason can araien hym al þe realme to preche
And wyth a Cros afore þe King comsed thus to techen
He preuid that these Pestilences were for pure synne
And the southwestorne winde on Satter-daie at euen
Was partly for pure pryde , and for no poynt els
Piries and plumtryes were puffed to the erth
In ensample the segges ye should done the better
Beches and brode okes , were blowen to the grounde
Turned vpwarde her tayles in tokeninge of drede
That dedlie synne er domes-daye shal fordone hem al
Of thys matter I might mamelie ful longe
And I shall saye as I sawe so me God helpe
How partely afore the people , Reason began to prech
He bad waster go worke , what he best coude
And wynne hys wastyng wyth som manner craft
He prayed Pernel her purple to lete
And kepe it in her cofer for cattel at her nede
Tomme Stowne he taught to taken two staues
And feche Felice home from the wynen wy[u]en pyne
And he warned Wat his wife was to blame
That her hed was worth half a marke & his hod not worth a grot
And he bad Bet kut a bow in twain
And beate Beton therwith , but if she wyll werke
And than he charged chapmen to chasten her chyldren
Let no winning hem forwany , whyle they be yonge
Ne for no ponste po[u]ste of pestilence , please hem not oute of reason
My sier said to me , and so did my dame ,
That the leuer child , the more lore behoueth
And Salomon said the same , that Sapientie made .
Qui parcit virge , odit filium .

The Englyshe of thys latine , who-so wyl knowe
Who-so spareth the sprynge , spilleth the chyldren
And sythen he prayed prelates and priestes togither
That ye preache to the people , preue on your-selfe ,
And do it in dede , it shal drawe you to good ,
If ye lyue as ye learne vs , we shal leue you þe better ,
And sithen he radde religion her rule to holde
Lest the king and hys councel , your commons apere
And be stuardes of your stedes , tyl ye be ruled better .
And sithen he counseled the kinge hys commons to loue
It is thy tresure if treson ne were , & treacle at thy nede
And sithen he praied þe Pope , haue pyty on holy church
And ere he geue any grace , gouerne fyrst him- felfe [s]elfe .
And ye þat haue lawes to kepe , let trueth be your couetise
More then gold or gifts , if ye wil god please
For who-so contrarieth trueth , he telleth in the gospel ,
That god knoweth him not , ne no saynte in heauen .
Amen dico vobis , nescio vos .

And ye that seketh saint Iames , & saintes at Rome
Seke saynt truth , for he may saue you all ,
Qui cum patre et filio , that fayre hem befall ,
That sueth my sermon , and thus sayd Reason .

Repen taunce
Than ranne Repentaunce , and rehersed his teme
And gart Wyl to wepe water with hys eyen ,
Pernell proude herte platte hyr to the earth
And laye longe or she loked , and lorde mercy cryed
And behyghe to hym that vs all made
She shoulde vnsowe hir serke , and set theron heere
Shal neuer hygh hert me hente but hold me lowe
And suffer me to be myssayde , and so dyd I neuer
But now wil I meke me , and mercy beseche
For all thys I haue hated in my hert .

Lechoure
Than Lechoure sayd alas , & on our lady he cryed ,
Wyth þat he should the saturday , for seuen yere after
Drynke but myd the day , and dyne but once
Enuy .
Enuy wyth heuy hert asked after Christe
And carfully Mea culpa , he comsed to shewe
And was as pale as a pellet , in the Palsey he semed
And clothed in Caurymaury , I can it not discriue ,
In kyrtyll and curtepy , and a knyfe by hys syde
Of a Fryers frocke were the foresleaues
And as a leeke that had lyed longe in the sunne ,
So loked he wyth leane chekes lourynge foule
His body was bowne for Wrath , þat he bote his lips
And wringing with the fist to wrek him-self he thought
With workes or with wordes , whan he se his time
Ech word that he warped was of an edders tonge
Of chidyng & of chalenging was his chiefe lyfelode
With backebyting & bisme , & bearing of false witnes
This was al his curtesy wher þat euer he shewed him
I wuld be shryuen quod this shrew , if I for shame durst ,
I wuld be gladder by god , þat Gibbe had mischaunce ,
Than if I had wonne this weke a wey of Essexe chese
I haue a neighbour nye me , I haue noyed him ofte
And lowen on him to lords , to don him lose his siluer
And made his frend be his foe , through my false tong
His grace & his good happes greueth me ful sore ,
Betwene many and many , I make debate oft
That both lyfe and lyme is loste throughe my spech .
And when I mete him in market that I most hate
I halse hym hendlech , as I hys frende were
For he is doughtier then I , I dare do no other
And had I maistry and myght , god wot my wyl .
And whan I come to þe kyrke , & should knele to þe rode
And pray for the people , as the prieste teacheth
For pilgrames & for palmers , & for al þe people after
Than I cry on my knees , þat Christe gyue him sorow
That bare away my bole , & my broke shete .
Away from the aulter than turne I myne eyen
And beholde how Elen hath a newe cote
I wyshe that it were myne , with all the webbe after
And at mens lesinge I laughe , that lyketh mine hert
And for their wynninge I wepe , and wele the tyme ,
And deme that they do yll , thoughe I do well worse
Who-so vndermineth me hereof , I hate him deadlye after
I would that ech a wight were my knaue
For who-so hath more then I , þat angreth me sore
And thus I lyue loueles lyke a Luther dogge
That al my body bolneth for bytter of my gall
I myght not eten many yeres as a man ought
For Enuy and euyll wyll is euil to defie
May no suger nor no swete thing aswag my swelling
Ne no Diapenidion driue it from myne herte
Nether shriftnether shrift nether shame , but shraping of mi maw .

Yes redily quod repentaunce , & red him to þe beste
Sorowe for synnes , saluation is of soules .
I am sorye quod that segge , I am but selde other
And þat maketh me thus megre , for I ne mai me veng
Amonges Burgesis haue I be dwelling at London
And gard backbiting be a broker to blame mens ware
Whan he solde and I not , then was I ready ,
To lie & to lour on mi neighbour , & to lak his chaffer
I wil amend this if I maie , through might of god almighty
Wrath .
Now awaketh Wrath , with two white eyen
And muelynge wyth the nose and his necke hanging
I am Wrath quod he , I was continually a fryer
And the couentes gardiner for to graft Impes
On limitors and listers , lesynges I imped
Tyll they beare leaues of smal speach , lords to please
And sithen they blosomed abrod in bour to hir shrifts
And now is fallen therof a frut , þat folke han[^10] wel leuer
Shew her shrifts to hem , than shryue hem to her persons
And persons haue perceiued that Friers part with hem
These possessours preach , and depraue Fryers
And Friers findeth hem in default , as folk bear witnes
And whan thei prech the people in many places about
I Wrath walke with hem , & wish hem of my bokes
Thus thei speken of mi spiritualtie , & despise ech other
Tyl they be both beggers , & by my spiritualtie libben
Or els all ryche , and ryden aboute ,
I Wrath haue such a fortune , þat I folow stil this folk
I haue an aunte to Nune , and an Abbesse both
Nunnes
Her had leuer swowne or swelt , than suffer any paine ,
I haue bene coke in hir kitchen , and her couent serued ,
Many monthes with hem , and wyth Monkes both
I was the Priores potager , and other pore ladies
And made hem Iowts of ianglyng , þat dame Ione was a bastard
And dame Clarence a knightes daughter , a cok-olde was hyr syre .[^11]
And dame Puel P[ern]el a priest file , priores was she neuer
For she had child in cherytyme , al our chapter it wist
Of wyked wordes ( I wrath ) her wortis made
Tyl thou list and thou liest , lopon oute atonce at once
And eyther hyt other vnder the cheke
Had thei had kniues bi Chryst either had kylled other
Gregorie
Saynt Gregori was a good Pope & had a good for-wyt
That no prioresse were priest , for þat he prouided
Lest happeli thei had had no grace to hold harlatri in
For they are ticle of her tonges & must al secretes tel
Among monks I myght be and mani tyme I shamen
For they ben many fel frekes my ferys to spie
Bothe prior and Subpryor and oure pater abbas
And if I tel any tales they taken hem togethers
And do me fast fridayes to bred and to water
I am chalenged & chyden in chapter house , as I a chyld were
And balased on þe bare arse & no brech betwen
Therfore haue I no lykinge with tho leods to wonne
I ete there vnhende fyshe , and feble ale drynke
Other-while whan wine cometh , I drink wine at euen
I haue a flux of a foule mouthe , wel fiue daies after
Al the wyckednes that I wote by any of mi brether
I kouth it in our cloystur , that al our Couent wot it
Now repent you quod Repentaunce & reherce you neuer
Councel that thou knowest by countenaunce ne by ryght
And drynke not ouer delicatelie ne to depe neyther
That thie wyl because therof to wrath myght turne
Esto sobrius he sayde and assoyled hym after
And bad hym wyl to wepe his wykednes to amende
And than came Couetis can I hym not descriue
So hungrelye and hollowe : So sternly hym loked
He was bittil browed and babburlyppyd also
Wyth two blered eyen as a blinde hagge
And as a lethern purse lolled hys chekes
Wel syder then hys chynne they sheuered for olde
And as a bound man of his bacon his berd was bidrauled
With an hood on his hed , & a lousye hat aboue
And a tauny taberde of twelue wynter age
Al totorne and bawdie and ful of lyce crepinge
But yf that a louse coude haue lopen the better
She had not walkt on þat welth so was it thred-bare .
I haue ben couetous quod thys katife I be-know it here
For somtyme I serued Symme at style
And was hys prentice plight , his profyt to wayt
Fyrst I lerned to lie a leefe , on ther o[u]ther[^a5] twayne
Wyckedlye to weye was mi fyrst lesson
To Wy and to Wynchester I wente to the fayre
With mani maner merchandise as mi master me hight
Ne had the grace of Gyle I-goo amongest my chaffer
It had bene vnsolde thys seuen yere so me god helpe
Than draue I me among drapers , my donet to lerne
To drawe the lyser a longe the lenger it semed
Amonge the riche Rayes I rendred a lesson
To broche them with a packenedle & plitte hem togithers
And put hem in a presse and pynned them therin
Til ten yardes or twelue had tolled owte .xiii. thirtene
My wyfe was a webster and wollen cloth made
She spake to spynsters to spynnen it out
And the pound þat she paied be paised a quartern more
Than myne owne auncer , who-so wayed trueth
I bought her barely malte , she brewed it to sell
Penyale and puddyng ale she poured togethers
For laborars and lowe folke that lay by it selfe .
The best ale lay in my boure or els in my chambre
And whoso bummed therof bought it there-after
A gallon for a grote god wote no lesse
And yet it came in cupemele thys craft she vsed .
Roose the Regrater was her ryght name
She hath holden hukkerth al hire lyfe tyme
And I swere nowe sothelick that sinne wolde I let
And neuer wyckedly wey , ne wicked chaffre vse ,
But wenden to walsingham , and my wyfe Alis
And byd þe Roode of bromholme bring me out of dette
Repentest thou euer ( quod Repentaunce ) Or restitucion madest ?[^12]
Yes once I was herberd quod he , with a hepe of chapmen
I rose whan they were at rest & rifled their males
That was not restitucion quod repentaunce but robers theft
Thou hadest bene better worthy be hanged therfore
Than for al that , that thou hast here shewed .
I toke rifling for restitution quod he , for I neuer red boke
And I can no french in faith , but of þe fer end of Norfolk
Used þou euer vsarie quod repentaunce , in al thy life-time ?
Nay sothly he sayde saue in my youthe
I lerned amonge Lumbards and Iewes a lesson
To wey pence with a payes and pare the heuyest
And leue it for loue of the crosse to ley a wed & lesen it
Suche dedes I dyd wryte , yf he his daye brake
I haue mo maners by reragis , than throughe misereatur miseretur[^a6] & commodat
I haue lent lords & ladies mi chaffer
And bene her broker after and bought it my-selfe
Escheaunges and cheuisauncis with such chaffer I dele
And lende folke that lease wyll , a lyp at euerie noble ,
And wyth lumbards letters I lad golde to Rome
And toke it by tale here and tolde hem there lesse .
Lendest thou euer lordis for loue of her meinteinaunce ?
Yea I haue lent lordes that loued me neuer after
And haue made menie a knight both mercer & draper
That paied not for his prentishode one paire of glouis
Hast thou pitie on pore men þat must nedes borowe ?
I haue as mich pitie on þe pore as pedler hath of cats
That kilth hem if he can hem catch , for couet of her skins
Art þou manlich emong thy neibours of thi mete & drinke ?
I am holden quod he as hinde as is hound in kitchin .
Amongest my neibours namely such a name I haue .
God leue le[n]e þe neuer quod repentaunce , but þou repent þe rather
Grace on thys ground thie good wyll to byset
Ne thyne heyres after þe haue Ioye of þat thou winest
Ne thine executors wel biset þe syluer þat thou them leuest
And þat was wonne with wrong with wicked men be dispendid
For were I frier of þe house ther good feith & chariti is
I nold cope vs wyth thy cattel ne oure brike amende
Ne haue a penye to mi pettaunce so God my soul help
For þe best boke in our house , bryght golde if it were ,
And I wyst wetterlie thou were such as thou tellest .
Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris pane tuo potius vescere liber eris
Thou art an vnkynde creature I can the not assoile
Tyl thou make restitusion and rekenyng with them al
And syth that reason rolle it in the regester of heauen
That þou hast made eche man good , I may þe not assoyle .
Non demititur peccatum nisi [donec][^a7] restituatur ablatum
For al that haue of thy good haue God my trouth
Bene holden at the heygh dome to help the to restitue
Whoso leueth not this be soth loke in þe psalter clause
In miserere mei deus whether I mene truthe
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti & cetera .
Shal neuer workeman in this worlde thriue with that thou winest
Cum sancto sanctus eris Constru me that in englysh ,
Than wax þat shrew in wanhop & wold hang him-selfe
Ne had repentaunce þe rather reconforted him in this maner
Haue merci in thy minde & with thi mouth beseh it
For Gods mercy is more than al hys other workes
And al wikednes in þe world þat man mai work or think
Is no more , to þe mercie of God than in þe sea a glied
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei Est quasi scintilla in medio maris
Therfore haue þou merci in mind & merchandise leue it ,
For thou hast no good ground to get therwith wastell
But if it were wyth thy toung or else with thy two hands
For the good þat thou hast gotten , began all with falshed
And as long as þou liuist therwith þou paist not but borowst
And if þou wyt neuer to which ne to whome to restore
Bere it to the byshop and byd hym of hys grace
Biset it hymselfe as best is for thy soulle .
For he shall answere for the at the heygh dome
For the & for manie moo þat man shall giue a reckening
What he lerned you in lent , leue you none other
And þat he lent you of oure lord god to let you from sinne

[^a5: on ther o[u]ther (Cr1) | ouþer (Most other mss)]

[^a6: misereatur miseretur (Cr1) | miseretur (Most other mss)]

[^a7: nisi [donec] (CrRF) | donec (All other mss)]

[^10: Cr1.5.141:The a is inserted upside down.]

[^11: Cr1.5.158: The b-verse is printed on a separate line.]

[^12: Cr1.5.232: The b-verse is printed on a separate line.]

Gloton
Now begynneth Gloton for to go to shryfte
And carieth him to the kyrkward hys coppe to shew
And Beton the bruster bad hym god morowe
And asked of hym with that , whetherwarde he wolde
To holy churche quod he , for to here masse
And sythen I woulde be shreuen and syn no more .
I haue good ale gossip quod he , Gloton wold þou assay
Hast thou ought in thy purse any hote spices ?
I haue pepper & piones quod he , & a pound of garlyk
And a farthing worth of fennel sede for fasting dayes
Than goeth Gloton in and greate othes after
Sus the souteres sat on the benche
Wat the warner and hys wyfe bothe
Tyme the tynker and tweine of hys prentices
Hycke the hackeney man , and Hughe the medler
Claryse of Cockeslane , and the clerke of the church
Dawe the diker and a dosen other
Saint Pierce of Pridy , and Pernell of Flaunders
A Ribibour , a ratoner , a rakier of chepe ,
A Roper , a reding king , and rose the disheris
Godfray of garlyke-hyue , and Gryffin the walshe
And vpholders an heape early by the morrowe
Geuen Gloton wyth glade chere good ale to hansell ,
Clement the cobler cast of hys cloke
And at the newe fayre , he nempned it to sell
Hycke the hackeney man hytte his hode after ,
And bade Bete the bocher be on hys syde
There were chapmen ichose thys chaffer to prayse
Who-so hath þe hood should haue amendes of þe cloke
Two rysen vp in rape , and rouned togythers
And praysed these penyworthes aparte by the selfe
They could not by their conscience accorden in truthe
Tyll Robyn the roper arose by the south
And named him for an vmper that no debate nere
Hycke the hosteler hadde the cloke
In couenaunt that Clement should the cuppe fyl
And haue Hyckes hodde hostler , & holden him serued
And who-so repented rathest should aryse after
And greten syr gloton with a gallon of ale ,
There were laughyng & lourynge , & let go the cuppe
And sytten so tyl euensonge , and songen somewhyle
Tyll glotton had ygolped a galon and a gyle ,
His guttes began to gothlen as two gredy sowes
He pyssed a pottell in a Pater noster whyle ,
And blew his round rewet at his rugge bones ende
That al that harde that horne , helde his nose after
And wished it had bene wyped with a wyspe of firses
He might neyther stepe nor stand , or he a staffe had
And than gan he to go , lyke a glewe mans bytch
Sometyme a-syde , and sometyme a-rere
As who-so layeth lynes for to latche foules
And whan he drough the dore than dimmed his eyen
He stombled on þe threshold , & threwe to the earth
Clement the cobler caught hym by the myddle
Forto lyft hym a lofte , and laied him vpon his knees
And Gloton was a great churle & a gryme in þe lifting
And kought vp a candle ca[u]dle in Clementes lappe
There is none so hongry hounde in Herforte-shere
Durst lap of tho leuinges , so vnlouely they smaught
With al the wo of thys world , his wife & hys wench
Bare hym home to hys bedde & brought him therin
And after al this excesse he had an accidie
That he slope saturday & sonday , til sunne went to rest
Than waked he of hys wynking , & wyped hys eyes ,
The first word that he warped was , wher is þe bolle
Hys wife gan edwite him tho , how wickedly he liued
And Repentaunce right so rebuked hym that tyme .
As with words & workes thou wroughst yll in thy lyfe
Shriue þe & be ashamed therof , & shew it with thi mouth
I Gloton quod the grome , gyltye me yelde
That I haue trespaced with my tong , I can not tel howe
Sworne gods soule , & so god me helpe & þe holidome
There no nede was nyne hundred tymes
And ouer se me at my soupe , and sometyme at nones
That I Gloton gyrte vp , ere I had gone a mile .
And I-spilt þat might be spared & spent on some hungrye
Ouer delicatly on fasting daies dronken and eaten both
And sat sumtime so long there þat I slept & eate at once
For loue of tales in taberns ta[v]erns[^13] to drink þe more I dined
And hied to þe mete er none whan fasting daies were
This shoing shrift quod repentaunce , shal be merit to þe
And than gan gloton gred and great dole to make
For hys lewde lyfe that he lyued had
And vowed to fast for honger and for thurste
Shal neuer fishe on friday diffien in my wombe
Tyl abstynence myne aunt haue gyuen me leue
And yet haue I hated her al my lyfe-tyme

[^13: is this sic/corr necessary??? see OED entry for tabern]

Than came Sloth al beslabered with two slymy eyne
I must sit sayde the Segge or els I must nedes nap
I maye not stand ne stoupe ne with -out mi stole knele
Were I brought abed but if my talende it made
Sould no ringing do me ryse or I were ripe to dine
He began Benedicite with a belke and hys brest knoked
And raskled and rored and rutte at the last
What wake reuk re[n]k quod repentaunce , & rape þe to shrift
If I should dye by thys daye me lyst not to loke
I can not parfitly mi pater noster as þe preist it singeth
But I can ryms of Robenhode & Rand of Rand[olf] erl of chester
But of our lorde or our lady , I lerne nothyng at all .
I haue made vowes .xl. forty & forgotten them on þe morowe
I performed neuer penaunce as the preist me hyght
Ne right sorie for my sinnis yet was I neuer
And if I byd any bedes but if yt be wrath
That I tel with my tounge is two mile from my herte
I am occupied euery daye holy daye and other
Wyth Idle tales at the ale and otherwhile in church
Gods payne & his passion full selde thynke I theron
I vysited neuer feble men ne fettred folke in puttes
I haue leuer here an harlotry , or a somers game
Or leasynges to laughe at , and bilye my neighbours
Then all þat euer marke made , Mathi , Iohn , & Lucas .
And vigiles and fastynge dayes , al these let I passe
And lye in bedde in lent , & my lemman in myne armes .
Tyl mattens & masse be done , & than go I to þe fryers
Come I to Ite missa est , I holde me serued ,
I am not shryuen sometyme , but if sickenes it make
Not twyse in two yere , and than vp gosse I shriue me
I haue ben prieste and person passynge thyrty winter
Yet can I nether solfe ne singe , ne sayntes lyues read
But I can find in a field , or in a furlong an hare ,
Better than in Beatus vir , or in Beati omnes ,
Construe one clause well , & kenne it to my parishens
I can holde loue-dayes , and here a reues rekenynge ,
And in Cannon or in decretals , I can not read a lyne
If I begge & borowe ought , but if it be tayled
I forget it as yerne , as if men me it aske
Syxe sythes or seuen , I forsake it wyth othes
And thus tene I a true man ten hundred tymes
And my seruauntes somtymes their salary is behind
Ruth is to here þe rekning , whan we shal make acounts
So with wicked wil and with wrath , mi workemen I pay
If any do me a benifite , or helpe me at nede
I am vnkind against his curtesy , & can not vnderstand it
For I haue & haue had somedeale haukes maners
I am not lured with loue , but ought be vnder þe thombe
That kindnes that mine euenchristen kyd me ferther
Syxe sythes I slougth , haue forgotten it syth
In spence , & in sparing of spence , I-spilt many a time
Both fleshe and fyshe , and many other vitailes
Both breade and ale , butter mylke and chese
For-slouthed in my seruice tyll it myght serue no man
I ranne aboute in youth , and gaue me not to lerning
And euer sith haue ben beggery for my foule slouth
Heu mihi quia sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem
Repentest þou quod repentaunce , & ryght with he swowned
Tyll Vigilate the veile set water at hys eyes
And flat it on hys face , and fast on hym cried ,
And sayde ware the , for wanhope wyl the betray
I am sory for my synnes , say to thy-selfe
And beat thy-selfe on þe brest , & byd god of grace ,
For is no gylte here so greate but þat hys goodnes is more

Than sate Sloth vp , & fayned hym Swith
And made a vowe tofore god , for his soule Slothe ,
Shal no Sonday be this seuen yere , but sikenes it let
That I ne shal do me or day , to the dere church
And here mattens and masse , as I a monke were
Shall no ale after mete hold me thence
Tyll I haue euensong harde I behote to the Roode
And yet woll I yelde agayne , if I so muche haue
All that I wyckely wan , sythen I wytte had .
And thoughe my liuelode lake , letten I nell
That eche man ne shall haue his or I hence wend
And wyth the residue and the remnaunt by þe rode of Chester
I shal seke Truth erst , or I see Rome
Robert the robber , on Reddite , loked ,
And for there was not wherof , he wept swyth sore
And yet the synfull shrewe sayde to hym-selfe
Christe that on Caluerie apon the crosse didest
Tho Dismas my brother besought you of grace
And haddest mercy on that man for Memento , sake[^14]
So Rue on thys robber that Reddere , ne hath ,[^15]
Ne neuer wene to wynne wyth craft that I knowe ,
But for thy mykyl mercy mitigation I beseche
Ne dapme dampne me not at domisday for þat I dyd so yll .
What befel on this felowe , I can not fayre shewe
Well I wot he wept fast water wyth hys eyen
And knowleged his gilt , to Christ yet eft-sones
That Penitentia hys Pryck , he shoulde polishe newe
And leap wyth hym ouer lande all hys lyfe- tyme
For he had leyne by Latro Lucifers aunte
And than Repentaunce Ruth , & radde hem al to knele
For I shall besech for al sinful our Sauiour of grace
To amende vs of our misdedes and mercy to vs all ,
Now god quod he , þat of thi goodnes coud þe world make
And of naught madest ought , & man most like thi-selfe
And sythen suffredest for synne , a sekenes to vs all
And al for þe best as I leue what-euer þe boke telleth .
O felix culpa . O necessarium peccatum[^a8] , & cetera .

[^a8: necessarium peccatum (Cr1) | necessarium peccatum Ade (All other mss)]

[^14: the comma after memento appears to be an error]

[^15: the comma after reddere appears to be an error; possibly also the one after hath -- KD does not have a comma at the end of that line]

For that synne thy sonne sent was to the earth
And became man of a mayde , mankynde to saue
And makest thy-selfe with thy sonne , & vs synful ylyche .
Faciamus hominem ad imaginem et similitudinem nostram , Et alibi . Qui manet in charitate in deo manet , et deus in eo .

And sythe with thy selfe sonne in our suite didest di[e]dest ,
On good Fryday for mans sake , at full tyme of þe day
There thy-selfe in thy sonne , no sorow in death feled .
But in our sect was the sorowe , and thy son it ladde .
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem .

The sonne for sorowe therof , lost light for a tyme ,
At middaie whan most light is , & meletime of saintes .
Feddest with thi fresh bloud our forefathers in darknes
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris , vidit lucem magnam .
And by þe lyght þat leaped out of þe , Lucifer was blind
And blewe all thy blessed into þe blysse of Paradyse ,
The thyrde daye after thou yeldest into our sute .
A synful Mary the sawe , er saynt Mary thy dame ,
And al to solace synful , thou suffredest it soner .
Non veni vocare iustos , sed peccatores ad penitenciam .
And al that Marcke made , Mathew Iohn & Lucas
Of thy doubty dedes were done in our Armes .
Verbum caro factum est , et habitauit in nobis .

And by so muche me semeth the siker we may
Bidde and beseche if it be thy wyll ,
That art our father & our brother , be merciful to vs
And haue ruth on these ribauds þat repent hem -selfs sore .
That euer they warped the in this worlde in worde[^16] thought , or dede .[^17]
Than hent Hope an horn of Deus tu conuersus viuificabis nos .
And blew it with Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates .
That all Sayntes in heauen songen at once ,
Homines et Iumenta saluabis quemadmodum mul tiplicasti , misericordiam tuam deus

[^16: add a comma???]

[^17: Cr1.5.519: This line appears as two lines, split in half between "worlde" and "in."]

A thousand of men tho throngen[^18] togither
Criden vpwarde to Christe , & to hys cleane mother
To haue grace to go wyth hem , Truth to seken .

[^18: check MS -- looks like througen -- sic/corr? -- KD doesn't note the reading, but it looks pretty clear to me, FWTW]

And there was none so wyse , the way thyther could
But blusterynge forth as beastes ouer bankes & hils
Tyll late was and longe , that they a lade mette
Appareld as a Paynime in pylgrymes wyse .
He bare a burden bounden with a brode lyste
In a wythe wandes wyse bounden aboute
A bole and a bagge he bare by hys syde ,
An hundred Amples on hys hatte sette
Sygnes of Sinay , and Shelles of Calice
And many a crouch on his cloke and kayes[^19] of Rome
And the vernicle before for men should knowe .
And se by hys signes , whome he sought hadde ,
Thys folke frained him fyrst , from whence he came .
From Sinay he seid , and from our Lords sepulchre .
In Bethlem and in Babilon , I haue bene in both ,
In Ermonie and Alexander , and many other placis .
Ye maye see by my signis , that be set on my hatte
That I haue walked full wyde , in wette aud a[n]d in drye
And sought many good Seints , for my soulis helpe
Knoweste thou not a corssent , that men call truth ?
Coudst þou not wish not wis[sen][^a9] vs þe wai , where þat wight wonnith ?
Naye so me God helpe , seyd that gome than
I saw neuer Palmer wyth poke nor wyth scrippe
Aske after hym ere , tyll nowe in thys place .
Peter , quod a plowe-man , and put forth hys heade
I knowe hym as kyndly , as clerke doeth hys bokes
Conscience and kynd wytte , kennid me to his place ,
And dyd me suren hym sykerly , to serue hym for euer
Both to sowe and to set , the whyle I swinke myght .
I haue ben hys folower , all thys fifty wynter
Boeth sowen his seed and sued hys beastes
Wythin and wythoute , I-wayted his profite .
I dyke and delue and do that truth hoteth
Some tyme I sowe and some tyme I thresh
In Tailars and tinkars craft , what truth can deuise
I wene and I wynde and do what truth hoteth .
For though I sey it my-self , I serue hym to paye .
Iche haue myne hyre well and other-whyles more .
He is prestiste payar that pore men knoweth ,
He ne withhalt none helk his hire , þat he ne hath it at euen
He is as lowe as a lambe , and louely of spech .
And if ye wyll wytte where he wonnith :
I shall wysh you witterly , the hye waye to his place[^20] .
Yea leue Pers quod these pilgrams & proferd him hyre
For to wende with them to Truths dwellyng place
Nay bi my souls helth quod piers & gan for to swere
I nold fong a ferthing for saynt Thomas shrine
Treuth wold loue me þe worse long time therfor after
And if you wil to wend wel this is the way thither

[^a9: not wish not wis[sen] (Cr1) | wissen (Most other mss)]

[^19: check MS -- mark after kayes??]

[^20: See KD. Not sure how to tag this line.]

How piers teachethe the waye to trewth
Ye must go through mekenes both men & wiues
Til you cume in to Conscience that Christ wit the soth
That ye louen oure lorde God leuest of al thyngs
And that youre neybours next in no wyse appeyre
Otherwise than thou woldest he wroght to thy-selfe .
And so boweth furth bi a broke beeth buxome of spech
Tyll you fynden a forde your fathers honoreth
Honora patrem et matrem & cetera .
Wade in that water and wash you wel there
And you shal leape the lyghter al your lyfe after
And so shalt thou see , Swere not but if it be for nede
And namely on Idle the name of God almyghtie
Than shaltþou shalt þou come by a croft but come thou not therin
That croft hight Couet not mens catel ne her wiues
Ne none of hyr saruants that noyen hem might
Loke ye breken no bows [v]ows there but if thei be your own

Two stocks ther stonden , and stynt you not ther
Thei hight Stele not , ne Sle not strike forth bi both
And leue them on the left hande & loke not thereafter
And holde wel thie holyday heigh till euen
Than shalt thou blensh at a berch , bere no false witnes
He is frithed in Florens and other foes manye
Loke thou pluck no plant there for perels of thi soule
Than shal ye see Seysoth so it be to done
In no maner els not , for no mans byddynge

Than shalt thou come to a court as clere as the sun
The mote is of mercie the maner a-bowte
And al the walles bene of wyt to holden wil oute
And kerneled wyth christendome , mankinde to saue
Botrased with beleue so or thou beest not saued
And al the houses bene hyled hales and chambres
With no lead but with loue & louespech as bretherne
The bryge is of bide well the better may thou spede
Euery piller is of pennaunce of praiers of saynts
Of almes deds are þe hokes that the gates hangen on
Grace hygh[^21] the Gate warde a good man forsothe
His man hight Amend you , for many men hym knowith
Telleth hym thys token that truth wyt the soth
I performed the penaunce that the priest me enioyned
And am full sorie for my sinnes & so shal I euer
Whan I thinke theron though I were a pope
Beddeth amende you meken hym , tyl his master once
To wayne way[u]e vp the wyket that the woman shute
Tho Adam and Eue eten apples vnrosted .
Pena Pe[r Euam][^a10] cunctis clausa est , et per virginem Mariam patefacta est
For he hath the keye & the clicket though þe Kyng slepe
And if grace graunt to the to come in thys wyse
Thou shalt see in thie-selfe Truth in thyne herte
In a cheyne of charytie as thou a childe were
To suffer hym and se not agaynst thy Siers wyll
And beware thou of Wrath that is a wyked shrewe
He hath Enuye to hym that in thy hert sitteth
And poketh for pride to praise thy-selfe
The boldnes of the benefites maketh the blynde than
And than wast þou dryuen oute as dewe & the dore closede
Keyed and clyketted to kepe the wyth-oute
Happilye an hundred wynter er thou eft entre
Thus mightest þou lesen his loue , to let wel by thy-selue
And neuer happily efte enter , but grace if thou haue .
And there are seuen systerne that seruen truth euer
And are porters of the posterns , that to þe place bilong
That one of hem hight Abstinence , Humilitie an other
Charitie and chastitie , bene the chiefe maydens there .
Pacience and Peace , do much people helpe
Largenes the Ladye , lettith in full many
She hath holpe an hundred out of the deuils pinfold
And who is sybbe to these seuen , so me God helpe
He is wonderly welcome , and fayre vnderfonge .
And but ye be sybbe to some of these systers seuen
It is ful hard , bi my head , quod Piers , for any of you al
To get ingong at any gate there , but grace be þe more
Now by Christ quod a cutpurs than , I haue no kyn there
Nor I quod an apewarde , by ought þat I can knowe .
Wyt God quod a wafrester , wyst I this forsoth
Shuld I neuer furdir a fote for ani friers preaching .
Yis quod Piers þe plowman , & pokid hem al to good
Mercie is a mayden there , hath myght ouer them all
And she is sybbe to all synfull and her sonne also .
And through the helpe of hem two , hope ye none other
Thou might get grace therby , so thou go bytyme .
Bi saint Paul quod a pardoner , on a-venture I be not knowen there
I wyll go fetch my boxe with my brenets bre[u]ets al .
And also a bull wyth a Byshops letters .
By Christ , quod a common woman , thy company wil I folow
Thou shalt saye I am thy sister , I ne wote whether thei be gon

[^a10: Pena Pe[r Euam] (Cr1) | Per Euam (All other mss)]

[^21: unique, acc. to KD -- sic/corr???]

Passus quintus sextus de visione .

THis were a wickid way , but if we had a gide
That wold wende with vs ech a fote , & þe wei tel
Quod perkin þe plowman , bi saint Peter of rome
I haue an halfe acre to erie by þe hygh waye
Had I eried thys halfe acre , and sowed it after
I woulde wend wyth you , and the way teach .
How Pi ers assign eth women to worke .
Thys were a longe lettyng quod a lady in a Skleyre
What should we women worke in the meane whyle
Some shal sow the sacke quod Pierce for sheding of the wheate
And ye louely ladies with your long fyngers
That ye haue silke and sandel to sow whan tyme is
Chesibles for chaplaynes churches to honour
Wyues and widdowes wolle and flaxe spinneth
Make cloth I counsell you , & ken so your doughters
The nedy and the naked , nimeth hede how they liggen
And cast hem clothes , for so commaundeth Truth
For I shall leue le[n]e hem liuelode , but if the lande fayle
Fleshe and breade both to ryche and to pore
As long as I lyue , for the lordes loue of heauen
And al maner of men þat through meat & drinke libbeth
Helpe him to worke wightly that winneth your fode

By Christ quod a knight tho , he kenneth vs þe best
And on the teme truly taught was I neuer
And ken me quod the knight & by Christ I wyl assaye
By saint Paule quod Perkin ye profer me fayre
That I shall swynke and swete , & sowe for vs bothe
Piers prayeth a knyght to helpe to kepe holy church .
And other labours do for thy loue al my lyfe-tyme
In couenaunt that thou kepe holy kyrke & my-selfe
From wasters & from wycked men þat this world destroyeth
And go hunt hardely to hares and to foxes
To bores & to brocks þat breken adowne my hedges
And go affayte the fawcons wylde foles to kyll
For such cumeth to my croft and croppeth mi whete
Curteslye the knyght than comsed these wordes
By my power Pers quod he , I plight the my trouth
To fulfill thys forwarde though I fyght shoulde
As longe as I lyue I shal the mayntaine
how piers councelleth þe knight wisely .
Yea and yet a poynt quod Pers , I prai you of more
Loke ye teme no tenaunt , but truthe wol assent
And though ye may amarcie him , let merci be taxour
And mekenes thie master , mauger Medes chekes
And though pore men proffre you presents and gyfts
Nym it not on a-venture[^22] ye maye it not deserue
For ye shal yelde it agayne at one yers ende
In a ful parilous place Purgatori it hight

[^22: is this s-h needed? see KD]

And misbed not thy bond-men þat better migh might þou spede
Though he be thi vnderling here , wel it may happen in heauen
That he were worthier set & with more blis
Amice ascende superius
For in þe charnel at churche cherls be ful euel to know
Or a knight from a knaue there , know this in thi hert
And þat thou be true of thy toung , & tales þat thou hate
But if thei be of wisdom or of wit thi workmen to chasten
Holde wyth no harlots ne here not her tales
And namelie at the meate suche men eschw esch[e]w[^23]
For it be the deuills dyssours I do the to vnderstonde
I assent by saint Iame sayde the knyght thanne
For to work bi thy wordes þe while my life endureth
And I shal aparel me quod Parken in pilgrems wise
And wend with you I wyl tyl we finde truthe
And cast on my clothes clouted and hole
My cokers and mi cuffes for colde on my nailes
And hang my hoper at my hals in stede of a scripe
A bushel of brede-corne bring me therein
For I wolde sowe it my-selfe and syth wyl I wende
To pylgramages as palmers done pardon for to haue
And who-so helpeth me to eyrie and sowe or I wend
Shal haue leue bi our lord god to glene here in heruist
And maken hem merri ther , maugre who-so bigrudge it
And al kynne crafti men that can lyue in truthe
I shall fynde hem fode that faythfullie lybbeth
Saue Iake the Iugloure and Ionet of the stewes
And Daniell the dyspleyer and Denot the bawde
And fryer faytor and folke of hys order ,
And Robyn the Rybauder for his rustie wordes
Truth tolde me once and bad me tel it after
Deleantur de libro viuentium . I shoulde not deale with hym
For holy churche is hote , of hem no tithe to take
Quia cum Iustis non scribantur .
They be escaped good auenture , God hem amende ,
Dame werche whan tyme is Piers wyfe hyght[^24]
His daughter hight Do right so , or þe dame shal þe beat
His sonne hight Suffre thy souerains to haue her will
Deme them not for if thou dost thou shalt it dere abye
Let god worke wyth all for so hys worde teacheth
For nowe I am olde & hore and haue of mine owne
To pennaunce & to pilgrimag I wil passe with these other
Therefore I wyl or I wende do write my bequest

[^23: Is the sic/corr necessary here?]

[^24: KD hyphenates the long names of Piers' wife, son, and daughter]

How Pi erce ma keth hys testament .
IN DEI NOMINE amen I make it mi-selfe .
He shal haue mi soule that best hath deseruid it
And from the fende it defende for so I beleue
Tyl I com to my counts as my Credo me telleth
To haue a relesse and a remission , on that rental I leue
The kyrke shal haue my carene , and kepe my bones ,
For of my corne and cattel she craued my tythe
I payde it hym prestlie for peryle of my soule
Therfore is he holden I hope , to mind me in his masse
And mengen in hys memory among all christen
My wife shal haue of þat I wan with Truth & no more ,
And deale among my doughters and my dear children
For though I dye to-day my dettes are quyte
I bare home that I borrowed or I to bedde yede
And with the residue & the remnaunt by þe rode of Lukes
I wyll worshyp therwyth Truthe by my life
And ben his Pilgraime at þe plowe for pore mens sake
Mi plow fote shal be mi pikstaf , & pitch ato[^25] þe rootes
And helpe my culter to kerue and clense þe forowes .
Nowe is Perkin & hys pilgraymes to þe plow faren
To erie this halfe acre helpen him many ,
Dikers and deluers dygged vp the balkes
Therwith was Perkin apaied , & praysed hem fast
Other workemen were there that wrought ful yerne
Euery man in hys maner , made hym-selfe to done
And some to please Perkin pycked vp the wedes .

[^25: sic/corr to "atwo"? See KD]

At high prime Pierce let the plowe stonde
To ouer-se hem him-selfe , and who-so best wroughte
He should be hyred therafter whan heruest time came ,

And than satten some and songe at the nale ,
And holpen erie his halfe acre wyth hey trolly lolly
Now by þe peril of my soule quod Pierce , al in pure tene .[^26]
But ye arise the rather , and rape you to werke
Shal no graine that growen serue you at nede
And though ye dye for dole , þe deuyl haue that retche .

[^26: KD ends this line with a comma]

Tho were faytors aferd , and feyned hem blind ,
Some layde her legges a-lyrye as such losels can
And made her mone to Pierce , and prayed of grace
For we haue no lims to labour with , lord graced be ye ,
And we pray for you Pierce , & for your plowe both ,
That God of hys grace your grayne multiply
And yelde you for your almes that ye gyue vs here
For we can nether swink ne swet , such sicknes vs ailith

If it be soth quod Pierce þat ye sayne , I shal it sone espy
Ye be wasters I wot well , and Truth wot the soth
And I am his olde hyne , and height him to warne
Which they wer in this world , hys workemen apered
Ye wast þat men wynnen with trauayle and with tene
And Truthe shall teach you his teme to dryue
Or ye shall eat barly bread , and of the broke drynke .
But if ye be blind or brokenleggid , or bolted with yrons ,
Ye shall eate wheate breade and drinke with my-selfe ,
Till God of hys goodnes amendment you sende .
And ye might trauel as Truth would , & take meat & hyre
To kepe kine in the field , þe corne from the beasts
Diken or deluen or dingen apon sheues
Or helpe make morter , or beare mucke a-felde .

In Lechery and in lustengerye ye liue , & in slouthe
And all is through sufferaunce , that vengeaunce you ne taketh
And Ankers & hermits þat eate but at nones
And no more or morow my almes shal not they haue
And of cattel to kepe hem with þe haue cloysters & churches
And Robert runabout shall not haue of mine
Ne apostles but thei prech can , & haue bishops power
They shal haue pane & potage , & make hir-self at ease
No reasonable religion hath right nought of certen .
And than gan a wastour to wrath him , & would haue fought
And to Piers þe plouman he proferd his gloue
A Bretoner , a bragger , a[^27] bosted Pierce also
And bade him go pysse with his plowe , forpined shrew
Wylt thou , or nelt thou , we wil haue our wyl
Of thy flour & of thy flesh , fetch whan vs lyketh ,
And maken vs merye there-myd , maugre thy chekes
Pierce pleinith to þe knyght .
Than Pierce þe Plowman playned him to þe knighte
To kepe him as couenaunt from cursed shrewes
And from these wastors wolueskins , þat make þe world dere
For tho wasten & win nought , & that ilke while
Worth neuer plenty among þe puple , þe while mi plow liggeth
Curtesly the knight than , as his kind would
Warned wastour , and wished him better ,
Or þou shalt abie by the lawe , by thorder þat I beare
I was not wont to work quod wastor , & now wil I not begin
And let light of the lawe , & lesse of the knight ,
And set Pierce at a pese , and his plowe bothe
And manaced Pierce and his men , if thei met eft-sone
Now bi þe peril of mi soul quod piers , I shal apeir you al
Pierce preide hon ger to re ueng hym .
And whouped after Hunger , þat heard him at the first
Awreke me of these wastors quod[^28] he , þat this world shendeth
Hunger in hast tho hent , wastour by the maw
And wrong him so bi the wombe , þat his eies watred ,
He buffeted the breton about the chekes ,
That he loked like a lanterne al his life after
He beat hem so both , he brake nere her guttes ,
Ne had Pierce with a pese lof prayed Hunger to cease
They had ben doluen , ne deme thou none other .
Suffer hem liue he said , & let hem eat with hogges ,
Or els beanes and branne , baken togythers
Faitors worke for fear of hon ger .
Or els milke or meane ale thus prayed Pierce for hem .

[^27: Cr1.6.157: a , "he."]

[^28: Cr1.6.176: This word was printed upside down.]

Faytours for feare hereof , flowen into barnes
And flappen on with flailes , from morow til euen
That Hunger was not so hardy , on hem for to loke ,
For a potte-full of pese , that Pierce had ymaked
An heape of Hermittes hent hem spades
And kyt her copes , and courtepies hem made
And wenten as workemen wyth spades & with shouels ,
And doluen and diggen to dryue away hunger ,
Blinde and bedriden were botened a thousande
That sytten to begge syluer , sone were healed
For bread baken for baierds , was bote for mani hongri
And ech pore man wel apaied to haue pesen for his hire
And what Pierce prayed hem to do , as prest as a hauke
And therof was Pierce proude , & put hem to worke .
And gaue hem meat as he might ford , & mesurable hire
Than had Pierce pity , & prayed hunger to wende ,
Home vnto his owne yard , and holden him there
For I am wel awroke of wasters , by thi might nowe
And I pray the yer thou passe quod Pierce to honger
Of beggers and bydders , what best to be done?
For I wot wel be thou went , they wil worch full yll ,
For Mischiefe it maketh , they be so meke now ,
And for defaut of her fode , this folke is at my wyll
They ar mi bloudy brether quod Pierce , for god bought vs all
Truth taught me once to loue hem ech one
And helpen hem of all thyng , aye as hem nedeth
And now would I wyt of the what were the beste
How beg ers mai be made to worke .
And how I might mastren hem , and make hem worke
Aeare [H]eare now quod Hunger , and hold it for wisedome ,
Bolde beggers & bygge , that may her bread swinke ,
With houndes bread , & horsebread , hold vp her herts
Abate hem with beanes , for bowing of hyr wombe
And if her gommes grutche , bind hem to swynke
And he shal soupe sweter , whan he it hath deserued
And if thou find any Freke þat fortune hath apaired
Or any maner false men , found thou suche to knowe
Confort him with thy cattell , for Christes loue of heuen ,
Loue hem , and leue lene[^29] hem , so the law of God teacheth .
Alter alterius onera portate .

[^29: unique, acc. to KD]

And al maner of men that thou might espye ,
That nedy ben and naughty , help hem with thi goodes
Loue and lacke hem nought , lest god take þe vengeaunce
Though they do euil , let God worch ,
Mihi vindictam , et ego distribuam [re]tribuam[^a11] .
If þou wilt be gracious to do good as þe gospel techith
And biloue þe among low men : so shalt thou latch grace
Facite vobis amicos de mammone iniquitatis .
I nolde greue God quod Pierce for al þe good on ground ,
Might I sinles do as þou seist , said Pierce than
Yea I behote the quod Hongry or els the bible lieth
God to Genesis the giant , the engendrour of vs al
In Sudore and swynke , þou shalt thy meat tylye
And labour for our lyuelode , and so our lord hygh
And Sapientie sayth the same , I sawe it in the byll
Piger pre pr[o][^a12] frigore no feylde woulde tylye
And therefore he shal begge & bidde , & no man bate his hungre
Mathew with mans face mouthed these words
That Seruus nequam had a besaunt[^a13] , & for he nolde chaffer
He had maugre of his maister , & euer-more after
And byname him his Mnam for he wold not worke
And gafe that Mnam to him that ten Mnams had
And wyth that he said that holy kirke it had
He that hath shal haue , and helpe there it nedeth
And he þat hath not shal not haue , ne no man him helpe ,
And þat he weneth wel to haue , I wil it him bereue .

[^a11: distribuam [re]tribuam (Cr1) | retribuam (All other mss)]

[^a12: pre pr[o] (Cr1) | pro (Most other mss)]

[^a13: besaunt (Cr1Cr2G) | Mnam (Most other mss)]

Kynd witte would that ech a wight wrought
Or in dikynge or in deluynge , or trauayle in prayers ,
Contemplatiue life , or actiue life , Christe would they wrought
The psalter saith in psalms of Beati omnes
The freke that fedeth him-self with his faithful laboure
Be blessed by the boke in bodye and soule .
Labores manuum tuarum . &cetera .
Yet I pray you quod Pierce praye Charitie & ye canne ,
How Pi ers pray eth hunger to teche him a lich chraft for hym and for hys seruantes
Any leche-crafte lere it me my deare
For some of my seruauntes and my-selfe bothe
Of al a weke worke not , so our wombeaketh wombe aketh ,
I wote well quod Hunger , what sikenes you ayleth
Ye haue manged ouer muche , & þat maketh you grone ,
And I hote the quod Hunger , as thou thy hele wilneste
That thou drinke no day , ere thou dyne somewhat
Eate not I hote the , ere Hunger the take ,
And send the of hys sauce to sauour wyth thy lyppes
And kepe some tyll souper time , and sytte not to long
And ryse vp ere appetite haue eaten his fyll
Lette not syr Surfet syt on thy borde
Leue him not for he is lecherours & licorous of tong
And after mani maner of meat his maw is a-hungred
And if thou diet the thus , I dare laye my eares
That phisike shal his furred hodde , for his foode sell
And hys cloke of Calabrye , with al his knaps of golde ,
And be fayne by my fayth his phisike to lette
And lerne to laboure with hond , for lyuelode is swete ,
For murtherers are many leches lorde hem amende .
They do men dye by their drinkes yer destiny it wolde
By Saint Paule quod Pierce these ar profitable wordes
Wend þou honger when þou wylt , þat wel be thou euer
For this is a louely lesson , Lord it the foryeld ,
Bihote god quod honger , hence ne wil I wende
Til I haue dined by this day , and dronken both .
I haue no peny quod Pierce , polettes for to bie
Ne neither gose ne grys , but two grene cheses
A fewe curdes and creame , and an hauer cake
And two loues of beanes & branne bake for mi folke
And yet I say by my soule , I haue no salt bacon
Ne no cokeney by Christe , coloppes for to make ,
And I haue perceley and porets , & many cole plantes ,
And eke a cowe and a calfe , and a cart mare
To draw a-field my dung þe while þe drawght[^30] lasteth
And bi this liuelod , I must liue til Lammas time
By that I hope to haue heruest in my croft ,
And than I may dyght my dyner , as my dere lyketh ,
And al the pore people tho , Pescoddes fet ,
Beanes and baken apples , they brought in her lappes
Pore folk fede hun ger .
Chyboles and chernell cher[u]ell , and rype cheries many ,
And proferd Pierce thys presente to please with hunger
All honger eate in haste , and asked after more ,
Than pore folke for feare , fedde hunger yerne
With grene poret & pesen , to poison him thei thought
By þat it neghed to haruest , new corne came to cheping
Than was folke fayne , and fedde hungre with the beste
With good ale as Gloton taught , & gart hungre a slepe
And tho would waster no work , but wandren aboute ,
Ne no begger eate breade , that beanes in were
But of Coket and Clermatyne , or els of cleane wheat
Ne no halfepeny ale in no wyse drynke
But of the best & of þe browneste þat in burth is to sell .
Laborers þat haue no land to liue on , but her handes
Deyned not to dyne a-daye nyght-old[^31] wortes ,
May no penyale hem paye , nor no pece of bacon
But if it be freshe flesh , other fyshe fried ether or bake
And þe chaud , or plus chaud , for chilling of her maw
But if he be hyghlye hyered , else wyll he chyde
And þat he was workeman wrought , waile the tyme
Agaynst Catons counsell , comseth he to iangle .
Paupertatis onus patienter ferre memento .
He greueth him against god , & grutcheth against reson
And than curseth he the king , and all hys counsel after ,
Suche lawes to loke , labourers to greue .
While hunger gafe hem hier , not one of hem wold chide ,
Ne striuen agaynst his statute , so sternely he loked
And I warne you worckemen , win while ye may
For Hunger hytherwarde hasteth hym-selfe
He shall awake wyth water , wastours to chast
Ere fyue be fulfylled such famine shal aryse
Through floudes and fowle weder fruite shal faile ,
And so sayd Saturne and sent you to warne ,
And when ye se the sunne amisse , & two monkes heades
And a maid haue the maistrye , & multiply by eight .
Than shall death with -drawe , and derth bye iustice
And Dawe the Diker shall dye for hunger .
But if God of his goodnes graunt vs a treue .

[^30: stray mark after this word]

[^31: see KD -- are the shadow hyphens needed here?]

Passus septimus de visione .

TRuth hearde tell herof , and to Pierce sente ,
To make his teme , and tile the earth
Piercis Pardon .
And purchased a pardone , A pena et culpa
For hym & for his heyres for euermore after
And bade hym holde him at home , and erye his laies
And al that helpe him to erye , to sette , and to sowe
Or any other mistery that might Pierce auaile ,
Pardon with Pierce Plowman Truth hath graunted
Knyghtes and kynges that kepeth holy kyrke ,
And ryghfully ryghtfully in realmes ruleth the people
Haue pardon through purgatorie to passe ful lightly
With patriarks & prophets , in Paradice to be felow
Byshops blesseb blesse[d] , if they bene as they shoulde ,
Legisters of both lawes the lewde therwith to preach ,
And in as much as they may amend all sinful
Are peers with thapostles , such pardon Pierce sheweth
And at the day of dome , at the hygh deyse to sitte
Marchauntes in the mergen had many yeres
And none A pena et culpa , the Pope wyll hem graunt
For thei hold not her holi daies , as holi kirke techeth
And for they swere by her soul , & so god must hem help
Agayne clene conscience , her catell to sell .

And vnder his secrete seale Truth sent hem a letter
That they shoulde bugge boldly that hem best liked
And sythen sell it againe , and saue the wynnynge
And amend Mesondieux her mede , & misease folk helpe
And wycked wayes wyghtly amende ,
And do boote to Brugges that to-broke were .
Marien maydens or maken hem Nunnes .
Pore people and prisons fynden hem her fode
And set scholers to schole , or to some other craftes
Releue religion , and reuten him better ,
And I shal send you Saint Mihel myne archangelle ,
That no deuil shal you dere , ne fere you in your doing
And wytten you from wanhope if ye wyl thus worke ,
And send your soules in safety to my saintes in Ioye ,
Than were marchauntes mery , many wept for Ioye
And praysed Pierce the Plowman þat purchased þe bul
Men of law least pardon had , that pleden for Mede
For the psalter saueth hem not , such as taken giftes ,
And namely of Innocent that no euyl ne canneth
Super innocentem munera non accipies ,
Pleders shoulde peine hem to pleade for such in helth
Princes & prelates should pay for her trauell .
A regibus et principibus erit merces eorum .
Lawyars shuld take no money
And mani a Iustice and Iurour would for Iohn do more
Than Pro dei pietate , leue you no other
And he that spendeth hys speche & speaketh for þe pore
That is innocent & nedy , and no man appeyreth
Conforteth him in that case , without couetise of giftes ,
And spekith law for our lords loue as he hath lernid
Shal no deuyl at his deathes daye deren him a mite
That he ne worth salfe & his soule , þe psalter beareth wytnes
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo ?[^32]

[^32: The printer could not center this line of Latin text because the word wytnes carried down from the preceeding line got in the way. This happens elsewhere in the MS as well.]

And to bugge water ne wind , ne wit , ne fire þe ferth
These four the father of heuen made to this fold in commen
These be Truthes treasures , true folk to help
That neuer shal wexe ne wane without God hym-selfe .
Whan they drawen one to die , & indulgence wold haue
Their pardon is full petit at their partyng hence
That any mede of meane men for their mooting take
Ye Legisters and lawyers hold thys for Truthe ,
That if I lye , Mathewe is to blame ,
For he bade me tel you this , & this prouerbe me told
Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines facite eis .
Al lyuynge laborers that liuiden with her handes
That truly taken , and truly wynnen ,
And liuen in loue and in lawe for their lowe hertes
Of geu yng of Al mes .
Haueth the same absolution that sent was to Pierce
Beggers & bidders ne be not in the bulle ,
But if the suggestion be south , þat shapeth hem to begge .
For he that beggeth one byt , but if he haue nede
He is false wyth the fende , and defraudeth the nedy
And also he begileth the gyuer , agaynst his wyll
For if he were not nedy , he would giue þat to an other
That were more nedy than he , so þe nedest shold be holpen
Caton kenneth me thus , & the clerke of Stories
Cui des videto , is Catons teachinge
And in the stories he teacheth to bestowe your almes
Sit elimosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des ,
And Gregory was a good man , & bade vs geuen all
That asketh for his loue , that vs all leueth le[n]eth
Non eligas cui miserearis ne forte pretereas illum qui mere tur accipere . Quia incertum est pro quo deo magis placeas .
For ye wit not who is worthi & god knowth the nedi
In hym that taketh is þe trechery , if any treson walke
For he that geueth yeldeth and yarketh hym to rest
And he þat biddeth boroweth , & bringeth him-self in det
For beggers borowen euer , & their bowgh is god almighty
To yeld hem þat geueth hem , & yet vsure more
Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam , vt ego meum cum vsuris exigere.m exigerem .
Therfore byd not , o ye begers , but if it be great nede
For he þat must nedis begen bred , þe boke bereth witnes
He hath inough þat hath bred , though he haue nought else .
Satis diues est qui non indiget pane .
Let vsage be your solace of saintes lyues readynge
The boke banneth begery , & blameth hem in this maner
Iunior fui etenim senui et non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius querens panem .

For ye lyue in no loue , ne no lawe holde ,
Many of you ye wed not the women þat ye with deale
But as wild beasts with wehe , worthen vp & worchen
And bringen forth barnes , that bastardes men callen ,
Or the backe or some bone , he breaketh in his youth
And sithe gone fayten with your seruannts for euer after
There is more mishappe puple among these beggers
Than of al maner of men that on thys molde walketh
And they that lyue thus her lyfe , may loth the tyme
That euer they were men wrought , whan he shal hence fare
And olde men & hore that helples be of strength
And women with chylde that worke ne maye
Blynd & bedreden and broke there membres
That taken the myscheues mekely as mesels & other
Haue as pleyne pardon as the plowman hym-selfe
For loue of her low herts oure lord hath them graunted
Their penaunce and their purgatorie here on this erth
Piers quod a priest tho thy pardon must I reade
For I wyl construe ech clause & kenne it þe in inglysh
And Piers at hys prayer that pardon vnfoldeth
And I behinden hem bothe behelde al the bulle
All in two lynes it laye and not a leefe more
And was wrytten ryght thus in wytnes of truthe
Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam
Qui vero mala in ignem eternam etern[u]m .

Peter quod the prieste tho , I can no pardon fynde
But do well and haue wel , & god shal haue thy soule
And do yll and haue yll hope thou none other
But after thy deaths day , þe deuil shal haue thy soule
And Pierce for pure tene , pulled it in twaine .
And sayde Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis
Non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es .
I shal cease of my sowinge quod pierce , & swinke not so hard
Ne about my bealy ioy , so busy be no more
Of praiers & of penaunce , my plowe shalbe hereafter ,
And wepe whan I shold slepe , though whet bread me faile
The prophet his pane eat , in penaunce & sorow
By that the psalter sayth , so dyd other many ,
That loueth god lelly , hys lyuelode is full easye
Fuerunt mihi lachrime mee panes die ac nocte .

And but if Luke lye , he learneth vs by fowles
We should not be busye about the worldes blysse

Ne soliciti sitis he sayeth in the gospell ,
And sheweth vs by examples vs-selfe to wysse
The foules in þe field , who findes hem meat in winter?
Haue they no garner to go to , but god fedes hem all ,
What quod the prieste to Perkin , Peter as me thynketh
Thou art lettered a lyttle , who learned the on boke?
Abstinence þe Abbes quod Pierce mine . a .b . c . me taught
And conscience came afterward , & kenned me much more
Were þou a priest quod he , þou mightst preach wher þou shold ,
As diuinor in diuinitie , with Dixit insipiens to thy teme ,
Lewd lorel quod Pierce , litle lokest thou on þe byble
On Solomons sawes , seldome thou beholdest
Ecce derisores et iurgia cum eis ne crescant .

The prieste and Perkin apposed either other
And I through their words awoke , & waited about
And sawe the sunne in the south syt that tyme ,
Meatles and moueles mo[n]eles on Maluerne hylles
Musyng on thys metales , and my way eche yede .

Many tymes this metels hath made me study ,
Of that I see sleapynge , if that so be myght
And also for Pierce the Plowman full pensife in herte
And which a pardon Pierce had al þe puple to conforte
And how þe priest impungned it , with two propre words
And I haue no sauery in songwary , for I se it oft fayle
Caton and canonistres counsel vs to leaue
To set sadnes in songwarye for Sompnia ne cures .
How Da niel dimid diuined þe dreamis of Nabu godono sor .
And for the boke bible beareth wytnes ,
Howe Daniel dimned diuined the dreames of a kinge
That was Nabugodonosor named of clerkes
Daniel sayde syr kinge , thy dreames betoken ,
That vnkougth knights shal come , thi kingdome to cleime
Amongst lower lords thy land shalbe shal be departed
And as Daniel dimned diuined in dede , it fell after
The kynge lost his lordeshyp and lower men it had
And Ioseph met marueilously how þe mone & þe sunne
Of þe dre mes of Io sephe .
And the .xi. eleven starres halsed hem all ,
Than Iacob iudged Iosephes swyuen ,
Beau fitz quod hys father , for defaute we shall
I my-selfe and my sonnes seche the for nede .
It befell as hys father said in Pharaos tyme
That Ioseph was Iustice Egypte to loken
It befel as his father told , his frends ther him sought
And al this maketh me on this metals to thinke
And how the priest preued no pardon to do-well ,
And demed that do-well indulgences passed ,
Biennales and triennales , and Bishops letters
And how do-wel at þe day of dome , is dignly vnder=foungen
And passeth al þe pardon of saint Peters church
Now hath þe Pope power pardon to graunt the puple
Without any penaunce to passe into heuen , ?
This is our beleue , as lettered men do vs teach ,
Quodcumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum et in celis

And so leue lelly Lordes , forbode els
That pardon and penaunce , and prayers done saue ,
Soules that haue sinned seuen sythes deadly
And to trust to these triennales truly me thynketh ,
Is not so siker for the soules as to do well ,
Therfore I red you reuks re[n]ks þat rich be on thys earth ,
Apon truste of your treasure , triennales to haue ,
Be ye neuer the bolder to breke the ten hestes
And namely ye maisters , mayres , and iudges ,
That haue þe wealth of this world , & for wise men be holden
To purchase you pardons & the Popes buls
At the dreadfull dome , whan the dead shall aryse
And commen all tofore Christe , accountes to yede
How þou leadest thy lyfe here , and his lawes kepest
And how þou didest day by day the dome wil reherse ,
A poke-full of pardon ther , ne prouincial letters
Though ye be founden in þe fraternitie of the .iiii. four orders
I beset your patentes & your pardons , at one pese hele
Therfore I counsell all christen to crye God mercy ,
And make Christ our meane , that hath made emends
That god giue vs grace here , or we go hence
Suche worckes to worcke , while we be here ,
That after our deathes day , do-wel rehearse
At the day of dome , we dyd as he hyght .

Passus octauus de visione . Et hic incipit inquisitio prima de dowell .

THus throbed[^33] in russet , I runned about
All a Somer season for to seke Dowel
And freyned full oft , of folke that I mete
If any wight wist wher dowel was at inne
And what man he might be , of many man I asked ,
Was neuer wyght as I went , that me wyshe could
Where thys ladde lenged , lasse or more ,
Tyll it befel on Fryday , two Fryers I mette ,
Maisters of the Menours , men of greate wytte
I halsed hem hendly , as I had lerned ,
And prayed hem for charitie , or they passed further
If they knew any contrye or cost as they went
Where that dowel dwelleth , do me to wyt ,
For they be men of this mold that most wyde walken .
And knowen contries & courtes , & many kings places
Both princes palaces , and pore mens cotes
And do-wel & do-euil , where they dwel both .
Amongest vs quod the menours , that man is dwellinge
And euer hath as I hope , and euer shall hereafter ,
Contra quod I , as a clarke , and cumsed to disputen
And sayde hym sothlye , Septies in die cadit iustus
Seuen sythes sayeth the boke , synneth the ryghtfull ,
And who-so synneth I say , doth euyl as me thinketh
And do-well and do-euyl , may not dwell togither ,
Ergo he is not alway among you Fryers
He is otherwhyle els-where , to wyshen the people .
I shall say the my sonne , sayde the Frier than ,
Howe seuen sithes the sadde man on a day synneth ,
By a forbisne quod the Fryer , I shal the faire shewe
Let bryng a man in a boote , amyd the broke water
The wynde and the water , and the bote waggyng
Make a man many tyme to fall , and to stande
For stand he neuer so styffe , he stumbleth if he meue
And yet is he safe and sounde , and so hym behoueth ,
For if he ne aryse the rather , and raght to the stere ,
The wind would with the water the boote ouerthrow
And than were his life lost through latches of him-self
And thus it falleth quod þe Frier by folk here on erth
The water is likned to þe world þat waueth & wexeth
The goods of this world ar likened to þe gret waues
That as windes and wethers walken about ,
The boote is likened to our body , þat brotil is of kynd
That through the fleshe and the frayle worlde ,
Synneth the sadde man a day seuen tymes
And deadly synne dothe he not , for dowel him kepeth
And þat is charitie þe champion , chiefe helpe agayne sinne
For he strenthed man to stand , & stirreth mans soule
And thoughe they bowe as boote doth in the water ,
Aye is thy soule safe , but if thou wylt thy-selfe
Do a deadlye sinne , and drenche so thy soule ,
God wyll suffer wel thy slouth , if thy-selfe lyketh
For he gafe the two yeresyeftis to teme wel thy-selfe
And þat is Witte & Frewil to euery wight a portion
To flyinge fowles , to fishes , and to beastes
And man hath moste therof , and most is to blame
But if he worch wel therwith , as do-wel hym teacheth .
I haue no kind knoyng quod I , to conceiue all your wordes
And if I may liue & loke , I shal go learne better
I bikenne the Christ , that on the crosse dyed .
And I said the same saue you from mischaunce
And giue you grace on this ground good men to worth

[^33: unique to Cr, acc. to KD]

And thus I went wide-wher , walking mine one
By a wyde wildernes , and by a brookes syde ,
Blisse of the birdes brought me on slepe ,
And vnder a lynde on a land , lened I a stounde
To lyth the layes , tho louely fowles made ,
Myrthe of her mouthes made me there to slepe
The maruelousest metelles mette me than ,
That euer dremed wyght in worlde as I wene .
A much man as me thought , and like to my-selfe ,
Came and called me by my kinde name ,
What art þou quod I tho , thou þat my name knoweste ?
That thou wottest wel quod he , and no wight better
Wote I what thou art ? Thought sayd he than ,
I haue sued the this seuen yeres , se þou me no rather ?
Art thou Thought quod I tho , thou couldest me wyshe
Wher þat Dowel dwelleth , & do me that to knowe
Dowel , & Dobetter , & Dobest the thirde quod he
Are thre fayre vertues and be not farre to fynde
Who-so is true of hys tonge and of hys two handis
And through his labor & his lond his lyuelod winneth
And is trusty of hys tayland , taketh but hys owne
And is no dronkelewe ne dedigyous dowel him foloweth
Do-bet doth right thus , & he doth much more
He is as lowe as a lambe and louelye of speche
And helpeth al men after that hem nedith ,
The bagges & the bigirdles he hath to-broken hem all
That the Erle Auarous helde and hys heyrs
And thus with mammons money he hath made him frends
And is ronne to religion and hath rendred the bible
And precheth to the people saynt paules wordes
Libenter suffertis Insipientes cum sitis ipsi sapientes
And suffreth the vnwise with you for to lyue
And with glad wil doth hem good for so god you hoteth ,
Dobest is aboue both , and bereth a bishopes crosse
Is hoked on that one ende to halie men from hel
A pyke is on þat potent to pul downe the wicked ,
That wayten any wyckednes Dowell to tene
And Dowel & dobet amoungest hem haue ordained
To coroune one to be Kynge to rule hem boeth
That if dowel and dobetter dyd againe dobest ,
Than shal the Kyng come and cast hem in Irons ,
And but if dobest beede for hem they be there for euer
Thus dowel and dobet and dobest the thirde
Crounned vnto them a Kynge to kepe hem all
And to rule the realme by her thre wyttes
And none otherwyse but as they thre assentyd ,
I thanked Thought tho that he me thus taught
And yet fauoreth [s]auoreth me not thy saying , I coueit to lerne
How dowel dobest & dobetter done among þe people
But witte can wish the quod thought where tho .iii three dwell
Els wot I none that , can se that now is a-lyue ,
Thought and I thus thre dayes we yeden
Disputing vpon dowel daye after other .
And er we wer ware with witte ganne we mete
He was long and leane lyke to none other
Was no pride on hys apparell ne pouertie neither
Sad of his semblaunt and of soft chere
I durst not moue no mater to make hym to Iangle
But as I bade thought tho , be meane betwene
And put forth sum purpose to preue his wittes
What was dowel fro dobet & dobeste from them bothe
Than thought in that tyme sayde these wordes
Whether dowel dobet and dobest bene in lande
Here is wyl wolde witte , if witte coude teche hym
And whether he be man or woman , this man fain wold espy
And worken as they thre wold thus is his entent

Passus nonus de visione. Et primus de dowel

HEre dowel dwellith quod wit not a day hence
In a castel þat kind made of four kins things
Of erth & ayre is it made medlid to-gethers
Wyth wynde and wyth water wytterly enioyned
Kynde hath closed therin craftely with-all
A leman that he louethe lyke to hym-selfe
ANIMA she hyght , and enuie her hateth
A proude pricker of fraunce , Princeps huius mundi ,
And wolde wyn her awaye with wyles and he might
And kynd knoweth thys well and kepith her þe better
And doth her with syr Dowel , is duke of thys marches
Dobet is hir damsel syr dowels daughter
To serue this ladie lelly both late and rathe
Dobest is aboue bothe a Byshops pere
That he byd muste be do he ruleth them all
Anima that lady is led by hys lerneing
And þe constable of þat castell that kepith al þe wache
Is a wyse knyght with -al syr Inwit he hyght
And hath fyue fayre souls by his fyrst wyfe
Syr Seewel and Saywel and hearewell the hende
Syr Workewel with thy hand a wight man of strengthe
And syr Godfray Gowel , gret lords for sothe
These fyue ben set to saue thys ladie Anima
Tyl Kynde cum or sende to saue her for euer
What kins thing is kinde quod I , canst thou me tel ?
Kynd quod witte is a creator of al kinnis thyngs
Father and former of all that euer was made
And that is the grete god that begynning had neuer
Lorde of lyfe and of lyght of blis and of payne
Angels and althing are at his wyl
And man is hym most lyke of marke and of shape
For through þe worde that he spake wexen forth bestes
Dixit et facta sunt .
And made Adam lykest to hym-selfe one
And Eue of hys rybbe bone withouten any meane
For he was synguler hym-selfe and sayde faciamus .
As who saye more must herto than mi worde one
My myght must helpe now with my speche
Euen as a lord shuld make leters , & he lakid parchment
Though he coud write neuer so wel if he had no pen
The lettre for al his lordship I leue wer neuer maked
And so it semith by him as the bible tellyth
There he sayde . Dixit et facta sunt ,
He must worke wyth hys worde and his wit shewe
And in this maner was man made by might of god almighty
Wyth his word & his workmanship and with life to last
And thus god gaue him a goost of þe godhed of heauen
And of hys grete grace graunted hym blysse
And þat is lyfe that aye shal last to al our linage after
And that is the castel þat kynde made Caro it hyght
And is as much to meane as man wyth a soule
And that he wyth worke and with worde both
Through might of the maiestie in Adam was maked
Inwit and al wits closed bene therin
For loue of the ladie Anima that lyfe is named
Ouer al in mans bodie she walketh and wandreth
And in the hert is hir home and hir most rest
And Inwyt is in þe head and to the hert loketh
What Anima is leefe or loth , he ledyth hir at his wil

For after the grace of god the gretest is Inwitte
Much woo worth þat man that misruleth his Inwitte
And that bene glotons glubberys , her god is her wombe
Quorum deus venter est ,

For seruen they Sathan there souls shal he haue
They liue in sinfull life here , their soule is like þe deuill
And al that liuen good life are like to god almyghtie
Qui manet in charitate , in deo manet .
Alas that drynke shal fordo that god dere bought
And doth god forsake hem þat he shope to his likenes ?
Amen dico vobis , nescio vos , et alibi , et dimisi eos se cundum desiderata desideri[]a[^a14] eorum .
Fooles that fauten Inwytte , I finde þat holie churche
Shulde fynde hem that faute and fatherles children
And wydowes þat haue not wherewith to wyn hem her foode
Mad men and maydens that helpeles were
Al these lacke Inwitte , and lore behoueth .
Of thys matter I might make a longe tale
And fynde fel wytnesses among the foure doctors
That I lye not on þat I lerne þe , Luke bereth witnes
God fathers & godmothers þat sene her god childrene
At misease and at myschyfe and might hem amende
Shal haue penaunce in purgatorie but they hem help
For more belongeth to þe litle barne or he þe lawe know
Than nempned of a name and he neuer the wyser
Aagynste priestes
Sholde no chrysten creature crie at the gate
Ne fayle payne ne potage & prelats dyd as they shuld
A Iewe wol not see a Iewe go iangling for defaute
For al þe mouables on this mold , & he amende it might
Alas þat a christen creature shalbe shal be vnkynde to an other
Sythen Iewes that we iudge Iudas felowes
Eche of hem helpeth other of þat that hem nedeth
Why wil we not christen , of Christes good be as kynd
As Iewes that be oure lores-men , shame to vs al .
The Commune for hyr vnkindnes I drede me shal abie
Byshops shalbe shal be blamed for beggers sake
He is worse than Iudas that giueth a Iaper syluer
And byddeth the begger go for hys broken clothes
Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda qui patrimonium Chri sti minus distribuit , et alibi , perniciosus dispensator est qui res pauperum Christi in vtiliter invtiliter consumit .
He doth not wel þat doth so , ne dredeth God of might
He loueth not Salomons sawes that sapience taught
Initium Sapientie timor domini .
That dredeth god he doth wel þat dredeth him for loue
And nought for dred of vengeaunce doth therfore þe beter
He doth best that withdraweth him by daye & by nyght
To spyl any speche or any space of tyme
Qui offendit in vno , in omnibus est reus .
Lesynge of time truth wootes the sothe
Is moste hated apon earth of hem that be in heauen
And sithen to spill speach that enspired is of grace
And gods gleman , and a game of heauen ,
Would neuer þe faithful father his fidle were vntemperd
Ne hys gleman a gedlyng a goer to tauerne .
To all true tidy men , that trauell desyren ,
Our Lord loueth hem , & lente land to other styll ,
Grace to go to hem , and of-gone her lyfelode .
Inquirentes autem dominum , non minuentur omni bono .
True wedding liuinge folke , in this world is dowel ,
For they most worke & wynne , & the world susteine ,
For of his kind they come , that confessour be named
Kynges and knightes , Caysers , and cherles ,
Maydens and martires out of one man come
The wyfe was made the way to helpe to worch
And thus was wedlocke wrought with a meane person
Firste by the fathers wyll , and the frendes counsell ,
And sithen by the assent of hem -self as thei might accord
And thus was wedlocke wrought , & god him-selfe it made
In erth & in heuen , him-selfe was the wytnes ,
And false folke faythles , theues and lyers ,
Wastours and wretches out of wedlocke I trowe ,
Conceiued ben in ill tyme , as Cayne was on Eue ,
Of suche synfull shrewes , the psalter maketh minde ,
Concepit in dolore et peperit iniquitatem .
And al that come of that Cayne , come to euil ende
For god sent to Sem , and sayd by an aungell
Thine issue in thine issue I wyll that they be wedded ,
And not thy kind in Caines kind , coupled nor spoused
Yet Sem agayne the sound of our sauioure of heuen .
Caines kinde and hys kynde coupled togythers
Til god wrothed for her works , & such a word said .
That I made man , nowe it me forthynketh .
Penitet me fecisti fecisse[^a15] hominem .

[^a14: desiderata desideri[]a (Cr1) | desideria (All other mss)]

[^a15: fecisti fecisse (Cr1) | fecisse (All other mss)]

And came to Noe anone , and bade hym not let
Swythe go shape a shyppe , of shydes and of bordes
Thi-selfe and thy sonnes thre , and sithen your wiues
Buske you to that bote , and byde ye therein ,
Tyll forty daies be fulfiled , that floude haue washed
Cleane away þe cursed bloude that Cayne hath made
Beastes that now bene , shall banne the tyme ,
That euer that cursed Cayne come on thys earth
All shall dye for hys dedes by dales and by downes ,
And the fowles that flowe forth , with other beastes
Except onely of euery kynde a couple ,
That in thy shyngled shyppe shall be saued ,
Here abode the barne , the belsyres gyltes ,
And all for hyr fathers fared they worse ,
The gospel is here agayne , in one degre I fynde .
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris ,
Et pater non portabit iniquitatem filii .
And I fynde , if the father be false , and a shrewe ,
That somdeale the sonne shal haue the syres tutches
Impe on an elderne , and if thyne apple be swete ,
Muchel maruaile me thynketh , and more of a shrew
That bringeth fourth any barne , but it be þe same .
And haue a sauour after þe sire , seeld seeste thou other .
Nunquam colligitur de spinis vua , nec de tribulis ficus .
And thus through cursed Caine came care apon earth
Therfore haue þe maugre of her mariages þat mary so her children
For some as I se , now sothe for to tel ,
For couetous of catcel cat[t]el[^a16] , vnkindely be wedded[^34]
As carefull conception commeth of such mariages
As befell of the folke , that I before tolde .
For good shuld wed good though they non good had
I am Via et veritas , sayth , Christ I maie auaunce all
It is an vncomly couple by Christ as me thinketh
To geue a young wenche to an olde feble
Or wedden anye wydowe for welth of here goodes
That shal neuer barne beare , but if it be in armes
Mani apaire sithen þe pestilence hath plyght hem together
The fruite that they bring furth ar fowle wordes
In Ielousie Ioyeles and Ianglen a bed
Haue thei no children but chests & clapping them betwen
And though thei gone to donmow but if þe deuyl help
To followe after the fliche , fetche they it neuer
And but they both be forsworne that bacon they tine
Therfore I councel al christen couet not to be weddid
For couetis of cattel ne of kynred ryche
And maydens and maydens mache you togythers
Wydowes and wydowes worke the same
For no landes but for loue loke ye be wedded
And than get ye þe grace of god & good I-nough to liue wyth
And euerie man seculer that may not contynue
Wyselye goo wed and ware hym from synne
For lecherie in lykynge is lime yarde of hel
Whiles thou arte younge and thy wepon kene
Wreke the with wyueyng yf thou wylt be excused
Dum sis vir fortis , ne des tua robora scortis
Scribitur in portis meretrix est Ianua mortis .
Whan ye haue wyued beware and warke in tyme
Not as Adame & Eue whan Cayne was Ingendred
For in one tyme trulie betwene man and woman
Ne shold no bourd on bed be , but if they bothe were cleane
Both of lyfe & of soule and in perfyt charitie
That ylke derne dede , do no man ne shoulde
And if they lead thus theyr life , it liketh god almighty
For he made wedlocke firste , and hym-selfe .
Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat , propter fornicationem .
And they þat other-gates ben geten , for gedlings ben hold
As false folke , foundlinges , faytours and liers
Ungratious to get good , or loue of the people
Wandren and wasten , what they catche maye ,
Agayne do well they do euyl , & the deuyl serue ,
And after their deathes daye , shal dwel with the same
But god giue hem grace here , hem-selues to amend ,
Dowell my frende , is to done as lawes techen ,
To loue thy frend and thy foe , leue me þat is dobet ,
To gyue vnto menne bothe yonge and olde ,
To healen and to helpen , is do-best of all ,
And dowell is to dreade god , and dobette to suffer
And so cometh dobest of both , & bringeth adown the modie
And þat is wicked will , þat many work shendeth
And dryueth awaye dowell , through deadly sinnes .

[^a16: catcel cat[t]el (Cr1) | catel (All other mss)]

[^34: "catcel" could be "cateel."]

Passus decimus de visione . Et secundus de dowell . [spot after 'dowell' may not actually be a point?]

THan had Wit a wife , was hote dame Study
That leue le[n]e was of lere , and of liche both
She was wonderli wrought , wit me so techid
And al staring dame study , sternely sayd
Wel art þou wyse quod she to wyt any wysdomes to tell
To Flatterers or to foles that frentyke be of wyttes
And blamed him and banned hym , & bade him be styl
Wyth suche wyse wordes to wyshe any sottes ,
And sayd , Noli mittere , man Margarite Pearles
Amonge hogges that haue hawes at wyll ,
They do but driuel theron , draufe were hem leuer ,
Than al precious Pirre , that in paradice wexeth
I say it by such , quod she , þat shew it by her works
That hem were leuer land , and lordshyp on earth ,
Or ryches or rentes , and rest at her wyll ,
Than al the soth sawes , that Salomon sayde euer
Wysedome and wytte nowe is not worth a kerse ,
But if it be garded with couetise , as clothers kemb her woule
Who-so can contryue deceites , & conspyre wrongs
And lead forth a loue-daye , to let wyth truth
He that such craftes can , is oft cleped to counsell ,
They lede Lords wyth lesinges , and belieth Truth ,
Iob the gentle in hys gestes wytnesseth ,
That wicked men they welden , þe welth of this world
And þat they be lordes of ech land , þat out of law lyueth .
Quare impii viuunt , bene est omnibus qui preuaricantur et inique agunt .
The Psalter sayeth the same , by such as done euyl .
Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo obtinuerunt diuitias

Lo sayth holy lecture , whych be these shrewes
Thylke that god geueth moste , leest good they deleth
And most vnkind be to þe commen , þe most cattel weldeth
Que perfecisti destruxerunt , iustus autem[^a17] ,

[^a17: autem (Cr1F) | autem & cetera (Most other mss)]

Harlots for her harlotry , may haue of her goodes
And Iapers and Iuglers , and ianglers of gestes ,
And he that hath holy wryte aye in hys mouth ,
And can tell of Tobie , & of the twelue Apostles
Or preachen of þe penaunce , þat Pilate falsely wrought ,
To Iesu the gentle , that Iewes to-drawe ,[^35]
Lytle is he loued that suche a lesson sheweth
Or daunten or draw forth , I do it on god hym-selfe .
But tho that fayne hem foles , & wyth faytinge liueth
Agayne the lawe of our lorde , and lyen on hem-selfe ,
Spiten and spuen , and speake foule wordes
Drynkinge and driuelyng , and do men for to gape
Lyken men , & lye on hem , þat leneth hem no gyftes
They can no more minstrelsy ne musyke men to glad ,
Than Maude the mulier , of Multa fecit deus
Ne were hir vyle harlotry , haue god my trouth
Shoulde neuer kynge ne knyght , ne canon of Poules
Gyue hem to her yeres gyfte , ne gift of a grote ,
And myrth of minstrelsy amongest men is nought
Lechery , losenchery , and losels tales ,
Glotony and greate othes is mirthe they loueth ,
And if they carpen of Christ , these clerkes & these lewd
At the meat in her myrth , whan minstrelles ben styll
Than telleth they of the trinitie a tale or twayne
And bringeth forth a balde reason , & taken Bernard to witnes
And put forth a presumption to preue þe soth ,
Thus they dreuell at her dayse , the deitie to knowe
And gnawen god with hyr gorge , whan hyr guts fallen
And the carfull may crye , and carpen at the gate
Both a-hungerd and a-furste , and for chels quake
Is none to nymen hym nere , hys noy to amend
But hunten hym as a hounde , & hoten hym go hence ,
Litle loueth he that Lorde , that lent hym all þat blysse ,
That thus parteth , with the pore , a percel whan him nedeth
Ne were mercy in mene men more than in rych
Mendynauntes meatles , myght go to bedde .
God is much in the gorge , of these greate maisters ,
And amonges meane men his mercy & hys worckes
And so sayeth the psalter , I haue sene it oft .
Ecce audiuimus eum e[a]m[^a18] in effrata , in veniemus eum e[a]m[^a19] in campis silue .
Clarkes and other kinnes men carpen of god fast
And haue hym much in þe mouth , & meane men in hert
Fryers and faytors haue founden such questions
To please wyth the proud men sith the pestilence time
And preachen at Saint Paules for pure enuy of clarkes
That folke is not firmed in the faythe , ne freer of her goodes
Ne sory for her synnes , so pride waxen ,
In religion , & in al the realme , amongest rich & pore
That prayers haue no pore the pestilence to lette
And yet þe wretches of this worlde , is none ware by other
Ne for dreade of þe death , withdraw not her prid
Ne ben plentuous to the pore , as pure charitie wold
But in gaines & in glotony , forgloten her goods hem -self
And breketh not to the begger , as the boke teacheth .
Frange esurienti panem tuum . &cetera .
And the more he wynneth , & wexeth welthy in ryches
And lordeth in landes , the lesse good he dealeth
Tobie telleth you not so , take hede ye ryche
Howe the byble boke of hym beareth wytnes
Si tibi sit copia habundanter tribue Si autem exiguum illud Impertiri stude libenter

[^a18: eum e[a]m (CrRF) | eam (All other mss)]

[^a19: eum e[a]m (CrRF) | eam (All other mss)]

[^35: Cr1.10.38: Kane-Donaldson's 10.36 is omitted in all B manuscripts.]

Who-so hath much spend manly , so meaneth Tobie
And who-so lytle weldeth , rule hym thereafter ,
For we haue no letter of our lyfe , how long it shal endure ,
Suche lessons lordes shoulde loue to heare ,
And howe he myght most meyny manly fynde ,
Not to fare as a fideler , or a frier to seke feastes ,
Homely at other mens houses , and haten her owne .
Elenge is the hall euery day in the weke
There the Lorde ne the ladye lyketh not to sytte
Nowe hath eche ryche a rule , to eaten by him-selfe
In a priuie parler for poore mens sake ,
Or in chambre wyth a chymney , and leaue the chiefe hall
That was made for meeles men to eate in ,
And all to spare to spende , that spyll shall an-other
I haue hearde heigh men eatynge at the table
Carpen as they clerkes were , of Christ , & of his might
And leiden fautes apon the father that formed vs al ,
And carpen agaynste clarkes crabbed wordes ,
Why would our sauiour suffer such a worme in hys blysse
That begiled the woman , & the man after ,
Through which wyles and wordes they went to hel
And al her sede for her sinne , þe same death suffred ,
Here lieth your lore , these lords beginneth to dispute
Of that þe clarkes vs kenneth of Christ by the gospell .
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris[^a20] .
Why should we that now be for the workes[^36] of Adam
Roten and to reade , reason woulde it neuer
Unusquisque portabit onus suum[^a21] .
Such motiues they moue these masters in her glory
And make men in misbeleue , þat musen of her wordes
Imaginatyue hereafterwarde shal answere to youre purpose
Austen to such arguers he telleth this tene .
Non plus sapere quam oportet .

[^a20: patris (CrCot) | patris & cetera (All other mss)]

[^a21: onus suum (CrCotRF) | onus suum & cetera (All other mss)]

[^36: "e" not legible in "workes"]

Wylneth neuer to wytte , whye that God woulde
Suffered Sathan hys sede to begyle ,
And beleue lelly in the loore of holye kyrke
And praye hym of pardon , and penaunce in thy lyfe
And for hys muche mercy to amende you here
For who þat wylneth to wyt , þe waies of god almight
I would hys eye were in his ars & his finger after ,
That euer wylneth to wytte , why that god woulde ,
Suffer Sathan hys sede to begyle ,
Or Iudas to the Iewes Iesu betraye ,
Al was as thou wouldest lord , worshyp be thou
And al worth as thou wold , what-so we dispute
And tho þat vseth these hanylones to blinden mens wits
What is dowell fro dobet & defe mote be worthe ,
Sith he wylneth to wit which they be bothe
But if he lyue in the life that longeth to dowell
For I dare be his bold borowe þat dobet wil he neuer
Though dobest draw on hym day after other
And whan þat wytte was ware , what dame studie told
He became so confuse he cunneth not loke
And as dome as death and drow hym arere
And for no carping I colde after ne kneling to therth
I myght get no grayne of hys grete wyttis
But al laughynge he louted and loked apon studye
In sygne that I shulde besechen hyr of grace
And whan I was war of his wil to his wife I loutid
And sayde mercie madame your man shal I worthe
As longe as I lyue both late and rathe
For to worchen your will the whyle my life endureth
With þat that ye kenne me kindly to know what is dowel
For thie mekenes man quod she , & for thi milde spech
I shal ken the to my cosen that clergye is hote
He hath weddyd a wyfe with in these syx monthes
Is syb to the seuen artes Scripture is hyr name
Thew two as I hope after my teachinge
Shal wishen the dowel I dare vnder-take
Than was I as fayne , as foule of fayr morowe
And glader then the gleman that golde hath to gyfte
And asked hyr the high way , wher that clergie dwelt
And tel me some token quod I , for tyme is that I wend
Aske the hygh waye quod she , hence to suffre
Both wel and woo if that thou wylt learne
And ryde forthe by riches , and rest thou not therein
For if þou couplest þe therwith to clergie commest þou neuer
And also the lycores lande that lechery hight
Leue it on thy lefte halfe a large mile and more
Tyl thou cum to a courte , kepe wel thy tounge
From leasings and luthers speach & lycorous drinks
Than shalt thou se Sobreite and simplicitie of spech
That eche wyght be in wyll hys wyt the to shewe
And thus shalt þou come to clargie that can mani things
Say hym thys sygne I set hym to schole
And þat I gret wel his wife for I wrot her mani boks
And set hyr to sapyence & to the psalter glose
Logicke I lerned hyr and manie other lawes
And al the vnisons in musyck I made hyr to know
Plato the poet I put hym fyrst to boke
Aristotle and other mo to argue I taught
Grammer for gyrls I gard fyrst to writte
And bet hem wyth a bales but if they woulde learne
Of al kynnes craftes I contriued tooles
Of carpentre of karuers and compased masons
And lerned them leuel and line , though I loke dimme
And theologie hath tened me tenscore tymes
The more I muse therin the mystier it semeth
And the depper I dyuine the darkar me it thynkyth
A ful lethy thyng it were , if that loue nere
And for it leet best by loue I loue it the better
For there as loue is Leder , ne lacketh neuer grace
Loke thou loue lellie if the leketh Dowell
For Dobet and Dobest bene of loues kynne
In other science it sayth I sawe it in Caton
Qui simulat verbis nec corde est fidus amicus
tu quoque fac simile sic ars deluditer arte
Who-so gloseth as Gylours done go me to the same
And so shalt thou falsce folke and faiethles begyle
Thys is Catons kenninge to clerckes that it lerneth
And Theologye techeth not so who-so taketh them
He kenneth the contrary agayne Catons wordes ,
For he biddeth vs be as brethren , & bid for our enmies
And loue hem þat lye on vs , & lend hem whan they nede ,
And do good agayne euyl , god hym-selfe hoteth
Dum tempus habemus operemur bonum ad omnes Maxime autem ad domesticos fidei ,
Paule preached the people that perfitenes loued
To do good for gods loue , and gyue men that asked
And namely to suche that sueth our beleue ,
And al þat vs lacke or lye , our Lord techeth vs to loue
And not to greue hem þat greue vs god him-self forbad it
Mihi vindictam , et ego retribuam .
Therefor loke thou loue as long as thou durest
For is no science vnder þe sunne so souerain for thi soul
And astronomi is a harde thing and euil for to know
Gemetrie and geomansye so gylful of speache
Who-so thinkith worch with tho two thriueth but late
For Sorcerie is the souerenest boke þat to science longith
Yet ar ther fybiches in forseeris of fel mens makyng
Experimentes of alkinamie the people to deceiue
Yf thou thinke to dowel , dele therwyth neuer
Al these sciences I me selfe my-selfe soteled & ordeined
And founded hem formest , folke to desceyue
Tyl Clargy thys token and scripture after
To councel the kyndlie to knowen what is dowel
I sayde graund mercie madame & mekely her grete
And went wightlie a-waye with -oute more letinge
And til I comme to clergie I coulde neuer stinte
And grete the goodman as study me taught
And afterward the wyfe , and worshypped hem both
And tolde them the tokens that me taught were
Was neuer gom on this ground sith god made þe world
Fayrer vnderfongen ne frendlyer at ease
Than my-selfe sothlye sone so he wyst
That I was of wyttis house and with his wife dame studie
I sayd to hem sothtly sothly that sent was I thyther
Dowel and Dobet and Dobest to lerne
It is commune lyfe quod clergie , on holy church to be-leue
With al tharticles of þe fayth þat faleth to be knowen
And that is to beleue lellie both lerned and lewed
On the grete God that gynnyng had neuer
And on the soothfast sone that sauid mankynde
From the dedly deth and the dyuels power
Through the help of þe holy goost þe which gost is of both
Thre persons and not in plurel nombre
For al is but one god and eche is god hym-selfe
Deus pater , Deus filius , Deus spiritus sanctus
God the father god the sonne god þe holy gost of both
Maker of mankynde and of bestis bothe
Austen the Olde hereof made bokes
And hym-selfe Ordeinyd to saue vs in beleue
Who was his autor ? al the foure Euangelistes
And Christ cleped him-self so , þe Euangelists berythe wytnes
Al þe clarks vnder Christ ne coud this assoile
But this belongith to bilieue to lewed þat wold dowel
For had neuer freke fyue wytte þe faith to dispute
Ne man had no merit , myght it be preued .
Fides non habet meritum , vbi humana ratio prebet experimentum
Than is Dobet to suffer for the souls helth
Al that the boke byt by holye churches teaching
And that is man by thy myght for mercies sake
Loke thou worke it in worke that thy word sheweth
Such as thou semest in syght be in assaye founde
Appare quod es , vel esto quod[^37] appares
And let no-bodie be by thy bearynge begiled
But be suche in thy soule , as thou semest wythout
Than is dobest to be bolde to blame the gylty ,
Sithens thou seest thy-selfe as in soule cleane
And blame thou neuer body , and þou be blame-worthy
Si culpare velis culpabilis esse cauebis ,
Dogma tuum sordet , cum te tua culpa remordet .
God in the gospell greuouslye repreueth ,
All that lacken any lyfe , and lackes haue hem-selfe .
Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui , trabem in oculo tuo & cetera .
Why meuist þou thi mode for a mote in thi brother eies
Sythen a beame in thyne owne blyndeth thy-selfe .
Eiice primo trabem in oculo tuo .
Whych letteth the to loke lesse or more
I rede eche a blynde bosarde do boote to hym-selfe
For abbots and for priers and for al maner prelates
As persons & parysh priestes þat preach should & teach
All maner men to amende by hyr myghte
Thys text was tolde you to be ware ere ye taught
That were such as ye said to salue with other
For gods word wold not be lost , for þat worcheth euer
If it auayled not þe commune it might auaile your-selfe
And it semeth nowe sothly to worldes syght
That gods word worketh not on learned ne on lewd
Agaynste leawde prystes .
But in suche maner as marke meneth in the gospel .
Dum cecus ducit cecum , ambo in foueam cadunt .
Lewde men may lyken you thus þat the beame lieth in your eye
And the festu is fallen for your defaute
In all maner men throughe mauzed ma[n]zed prieste
The bible beareth wytnes that all the folke of Israel
Bytter aboute the gyltes of two bad priestes .
Offyn and fynes for her couetyse
Archa dei[^38] myshapped and Eli brake hys necke
Forthi correctors claw hereon & correct first your-selfe
And than mai ye safely say as Dauid þat made þe psalter
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis , arguam te , et statu am contra faciem tuam .
Than shal burel clerks be bashid you to blame or greue
And carpen not as they carpe now & call you domme houndes
Canes non valentes latrare .
And to lacke you with a word your workmanship to let .
But be prester at your preier than for a pound of noblis
And all for your holines haue you this in hert
In schole there is skorne but if a clarke wyll learne
And great loue & lyking for eche of hem loueth other
Reade thys .
And nowe is religion a rider , a romer by streate
A leder of loue-dayes and a loude begger lo[n]de b[u]gger[e][^a22]
A prycker of a palfrey from Maner to Maner
An heape of houndes at hys arse as he a lord were
And but if hys knaue knele that shal hys cope brynge
He loured on him & asked who taught him curtesie
Litle had lordes to done to giue landes from her heyres
To religious þat haue no ruth if it raine on her auters
In many places there the persons be by hem -self at ease
Of the pore haue they no pytye & that is her charitie
And they letten hem as lordes her landes lye so brode .
And ther shall come a king & confesse you religious
And beat you as þe byble telleth for breking of your rule
And amend monials monkes and chanons
And put hem to her penaunce . Ad pristinum statum ire .
And barons with erles beat hem through Beatus virs teching
That her barons claymen & blame you foule
Hii in curribus , et hii in equis ipsi obligati sunt . &cetera .
And than friers in freytor[^a23] shal fynde a keye
Of Constantynes cofers in whych is the cattel
The Ab bot of Ab yngton
That Gregories godchyldren had it dispended
And than shal þe Abot of Abington & al his issue for euer
Haue a knocke of a kynge and incurable the wounde
That this worth soth seke ye , that oft ouer-see þe bible
Quomodo cessauit exactor quieuit tributum contriuit dominus baculum impiorum et virgam dominantium cedentium plaga in sauabili sa[n]abili[^39]
And ere that kinge come Cayne shal awake
And Dowel shal ding him down , & distroi his might
Than is Dowel & dobet quod I , dominus & knighthood
I wyll not skorne quod scripture but if scriuiners lie
Kynghoode ne knyghthoode by naught I can awaite
Helpeth not to heuenwarde one heres end
Ne ryches ryght naught ne ryaltie of lordes
Paule preuith it impossible rych men to haue heuen
Solomon sayth also that siluer is worst to loue .
Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam
And Caton kenneth vs to coueten it naught but as nede teacheth
Dilige denarium sed parce dilige formam
And patriarkes and prophets and poets bothe
Wryten to wyshe vs to wyl no ryches
And praise pouertie with pacience thapostils bere witnes
That thei haue heritage in heuen , and by true right
Ther rych men no ryght mai claim but of ruth & grace
Contra[^40] quod , I by Christ that can I repreue
And preuen it by Peter and by Paul bothe
That is baptised be safe be he ryche or poore .
That is in Extremis quod Scripture among saracens & Iewes
They muste be sauyd so & þat is our beleue
That an vnchrysten in that case may christen an heathen
And for his lely beleue whan he the lyfe tyneth
Haue the heritage of heauen , as any man christen
And christen men without more , may not come to heuen ,
For þat Christ for christen men died , & confirmed the law ,
That who-so wold and willeth with Christ to arise .
Si cum Christo surrexistis . &cetera .
He shoulde loue and leue le[n]e , and the lawe fulfyll
That is loue thy lord god , leuest aboue al thyng ,
And after all christen creatures , in commen ech man other
And thys longeth to loue , that leueth to be saued ,
And but we do thys in dede , ere the day of dome ,
It shall besitten vs ful sore , the syluer that we kepe
And our backs þat moteaten ben , & se beggers go naked
Or delite in wine , & wildfoule , & wot any in defaute
For euery christen creature , shoulde be kinde to other ,
And sithen heathen to helpe in hope of amendement
God hoteth both hygh & lowe , þat no man hurt other ,
And sayth slea not þat semblable is into my owne likenes
But if I sende the some token , and saye , Non necabis mecaberis . ,
Is slea not but suffer , and all for the beste ,
For I shall punyshe hem in purgatorye , or in þe pyt of hell
Euery man for hys misdedes , but if mercy it let ,
Thys is a longe lesson quod I , and litle I the wyser
Where dowell is or dobet , darkely ye shewen ,
Many tales ye tell , that Theology lerneth ,
And that I man made was , and my name entred
In the legend of lyfe , longe ere I were ,
Or els vnwryten for some wyckednes , as holy wryte manaceth
Nemo ascendit ad celum , nisi qui de celo descendit
I leue it wel quod , I by our lord and no letter better ,
For Solomon the sage , that Sapience taught
God gaue him grace of wyt , and al his goodes after
He demed well and wysely as holy wryte telleth .
Aristotle and he who wished men better ?
Masters that of gods mercy , teachen men & preachen ,
Of her words they wish vs , for wissest as in her time
And all holy kyrke holdeth hem both dampned ,
And if I shold worke bi her works to wyn me heuen
That for hir workes and wyt , wonneth in payne
Than wrought I vnwysely , what-so-euer ye preach
And of fele wytty in fayth , lytle farly I haue ,
Thoughe her gost be vngracious god for to please
For many men on this molde , more setten her hertes
In good than in god , therfore hem grace fayleth
At hyr moste mischiefe , whan they shall lyfe lete ,
As Solomon did & such other , þat shewed greate wyts
They þat made noe a ship were vn saued .
And her works as holy writesaith write saith , were euer þe contra-rye
Therfore wyse witted men , & wel lettred clarkes
As they say hem-selues , selde done therafter .
Supra Super[^a24] cathedram Moysi . & cetera .
And I wene it worthes of manye as was in Noes time
Tho he shoope that shyp of shydes & of bordes
No wight þat wroght theron was salf , ne any workman els
But birdes and beastes , and the blessed Noe ,
And hys wyfe with hys sonnes , & also her wyues ,
Of wights that it wrought , was none of hem saued
God leue it fare not so by folke , that þe fayth teacheth
Of holy kirke þat harborowe is , & gods house to saue
And shilden vs from shame therin , as Noes shyp did beasts
And men þat made it , amyd þe flood he drowned
The Culor[^41] of thys clause , curates is to meane
That ben carpenters holy kyrke to make , for christes own beasts
Homines et ium enta iumenta saluabis domine .
On good Fryday I finde a felon was saued ,
That had liued all hys life , with leasinges & wyth thefte
And for he bekened to þe crosse , & to Christ shroue him
He was soner saued , than saint Iohn the Baptiste
And or Adam or Isai , or any of the prophetis
That had lyen wyth Lucifer , many longe yeres
The thef was sau ed before any of þe prophets
A robber was raunsomed , rather than they all ,
Withouten any penaunce of purgatory , to perpetual blisse
Than Mary Magdelen , what woman did worse
Or who worse than Dauid , þat Urias death conspired
Or Paule the Apostle , that no pity had ,
Muche christen kinde to put [kille][^a25] to death ,
And nowe be these souereines with sayntes in heuen
Tho þat wrought wickedlest , in worlde tho they were ,
And tho that wysely worden , and writen many bokes
Of wit and of wisedome , with dampned soules wonneth
That Solomon saith I trow be soth , & certen of vs al
Siue iusti atque sapientes et opera eorum in manu dei sunt .
There are witty & wel learned , & her workes ben hid
In the handes of almighty god , and he wot þe sothe
Wherfore a man worth alowed ther , & his leli works
Or els for his yll wil , and for enuy of herte ,
And be alowed as he liued , for bi yl men knowe good
For how wist men what is white , if al thing blak were
And who wer a good man , but if ther wer som shrew
Therfore lyue we forth with other men , I leue fewe ben good
For Qant oportet vient enplace en place , il ny ad que pati .
And he that may all amend , haue mercy on vs all
For þe sothist word þat euer god said , was Nemo bonus ,
Cleargy tho of christes mouthe , commended it was litle
For he sayd to saint Peter , and to such as he loued .
Cum [D]um[^a26] steteritis ante reges et presides . & cetera .
Though ye come before kinges , & clarkes of þe lawe
Be not abashed , for I shall be in your mouthes ,
And gyue you wytte and wyll , and conning to conclud
Hem all that agaynst you , of christendome disputen .
Dauid maketh mention , he spake amongest kinges ,
And might no king ouercome him , as bi cunuing cun[n]ing spech ,
But wyt and wysedome wan neuer the mastrye ,
Whan man was at mischiefe , without the more grace ,
The douteist doctour , & diuinour of the Trinitie ,
Was Austen the olde , and heighest of the foure ,
Sayd thus in a sermon , I see it wrytten once .
Ecce ipsi idiote rapiunt celum , vbi nos sapientes in in ferno mergimur .
And is to meane to Englyshe men , more ne lesse ,
Are none rather rauished , from the ryght beleue
Than are these cunnyng clarkes , that can many bokes
Ne none soner saued , ne sadder of beleue ,
Than plowmen & pastorers , & pore commen laborers ,
Sowters and shepeherdes , suche lewde Iuttes
Percen wyth a Pater noster , the paleys of heauen ,
And passen Purgatorie penaunceles , at her hence parting ,
Into the blysse of Paradice , for her pure beleue ,
That vnperfitly here knewe , and eke lyued ,
Yea , men knowe clarkes that cursed the tyme ,
That euer they could or knewe more than , Credo in deum
And principalli her Pater noster , mani a person hath wished
I se examples my-selfe , & so may many an-other
That seruauntes þat seruen lords , seldom fal in arerages
But tho that kepe the lordes catell , clarkes & reues ,
Ryght so lewde men , and of lytle knowynge ,
Selde fall they so foule , and so farre in synne ,
As clarkes of holy church , þat kepe Christes treasure ,
The which is mans soule to saue , as god saith in þe gospel .
Ite vos in vineam meam .

[^a22: loude begger lo[n]de b[u]gger[e] (Cr1) | londe buggere (All other mss)]

[^a23: freytor (Cr1) | hir freytor (All other mss)]

[^a24: Supra Super (Cr) | Super (All other mss)]

[^a25: put [kille] (Cr1) | kille (All other mss)]

[^a26: Cum [D]um (CrWHm) | Dum (All other mss)]

[^37: small mark between this word and the next]

[^38: an unusual instance of Latin text which is NOT in small font]

[^39: not sure this sic/corr is needed, given that the letter in question might well already be an "n"]

[^40: another example of Latin that isn't in smaller font]

[^41: not small font]

Passus vndecimus de visione

THan scripture scornid me & a skile loked
And lacked me in latyn & light be me she sette
And sayd . Multi multa sciunt et seipsos nesciunt
Tho wept I for woo & wrath of hir speche
And in a wyncking wrath wexyd I a-slepe
And maruellous mettels met me than
That I was rauyshed ryght there & fortune me fette
And in to the land of Longing , alone she me brought
In a mirour hight Midleerth she made me to bihold
Sithen she sayd to me here myghtest thou se wondres
And know þat thou couetest & cum therto perauenture
Of dam sels of fortuue fortune
Than had fortune foloing hyr two faire damsels
Concupiscencia carnis men called the elder mayde
And Couetous of eyes called was the other
Pride of perfet lyuinge pursued hem bothe
And bad me for my countenaunce acount Clargie lyght
Concupiscentia carnis colled me about the necke
And sayde thou art young & yemp ye[e]p[^a27] & hast yers inowe
For to lyue long and Ladies to loue
And in thys myrror you myght see myghts ful many
That leaden þe wylie wyse to lyking al thy life tyme
The second said the same I shal sue thy wyll
Tyl thou be a lorde and haue lande let the I nell
That I ne shal follow thi felloweship if fortune it like
He shal fynde me hys frend quod fortune therafter
The freke that followed my wyll fayled neuer blysse
Than was ther one þat hight Eld þat heuy was of chere
Man quod he , if I mete with the by Marie of heuen
Thou shalt fynde Fortune the fayle at thy most nede
And Concupiscentia carnis clene the forsake
Bitterly shalt thou banne hem bothe day and night ,
Couetyse of eye , that euer thou hyr knew
And pryde of perfecte lyuinge , to much perill þe bring
Ye rech þe neuer quod rechles , stand forth in raged clothes ,
Folow forth þat fortune wol , thou hast wel for til Eld
A man may stoupe by time inoughe , whan shal tine the crowne
Homo proponit , quod a Poete , & Plato he hyght ,
And Deus disponit , quod he , let god do hys wyll ,
If truth do wytnes it be wel done , fortune to folow
Concupiscentia carnis , ne Couetise of eyes ,
Ne shal not greue the greatly , ne but þou wilt begile the
Yea fare wel Phip quod Faunteltie , & forth gan me draw ,
Til Concupisentia carnis , accorded all my worckes .
Alas Eighe quod Elde , and holines bothe ,
That wit shal turne to wretchednes , for wyll to haue his liking
Couetise of eyes conforted me anone after ,
And folowed me fourty wynter , and a fiste fifte more ,
That of dowell ne dobet , no deynty me thought .
I had no liking leue me , if ye list of hem ought to know
Couetise of eyes came ofter in mynde ,
Than dowell or dobet , amonge my dedes all ,
Couetyse of eyes conforted me ofte ,
And sayd haue no conscience how thou come to good
Go confesse the to some fryer , & shewe hym thy sinnes ,
For while fortune is thy frend , Friers wil the loue
And fetche the to their fraternitie , and for the beseche
To her Prior prouinciall a pardon to haue ,
And pray for the pole by pole , if thou be pecuniosus ,
Sed pena pecuniaria non sufficit , pro spiritualibus de lictis .
By wishing of this wench I wrought , hir words wer so swete
Til I forgate youth , and yarne into elde ,
And than was fortune my foe , for al hir faire behest
And pouertie pursued me , and put me lowe ,
And tho found I the Fryer aferde , and flytting bothe
Agaynste our fyrste forwarde , for I sayde I nolde ,
Be buried at hyr house , but at my paryshe churche ,
For I heard once how consience it tolde ,
That kind wold men be biried , ther thei were christenid
Or wher þat he were parishen , þat ther he shold be grauen
And for I sayd thus to Fryers , a fole they me helden
And loued me the lesse , for my lely speache ,
And yet I cryed on my confessour , þat helde him-self cun=ning
By mi faith frier quod I , ye faren like these wowers
That wed none widows , but for to weld hir goods
Ryght so by the rode rought you neuer ,
Where my body were buried , by so ye had my siluer
I haue muche maruaile of you , & so hath many other
Why your couent coueteth to confesse and burye
Rather than to baptise barnes that be catekinlinges
Baptysynge and buriynge , bothe be neadfull
And much more meritorie , me thinketh it is to baptise
For a baptised man may , as these masters telleth
Through contrition come to þe high heuen , sola contricione contricio[^a28]
And barne wythout baptisme , may not be saued ,
Nisi quis renatus fuerit , loke ye lettred men , where I lye or do not
And leauti loked on me , & I loured after ,
Wherfore lourest þou quod leauty , & loked on me hard
If I durste quod I , amongeste men , these metels auowe
Yes bi Peter & by Poule quod he , & toke hem both to witnes .
Non oderis fratres in corde tuo secrete[^a29] sed publice argue illos .
They will aledge also quod I , & by the gospel preuen
Nolite iudicare quemquam .
And wherof seruith law quod leuti , if no life vndertoke it
Falsenes ne flatterye , for somewhat thapostle sayd .
Non oderis fratrem , & in the psalter also saith Dauid the prophet .
Existimasti inique , quid erit quod ero[^a30] tui similis ?
It is licitum for lewde men to say the sothe ,
If hem liketh and lest eche a lawe that it graunteth ,
Except persons and priestes , & prelates of holy kyrke
It falleth not for that folke , no tales to tell ,
Thoughe the tale were true , and it touched synne
Thing þat al þe world wot , wherfore shouldest þou spare
And reden it in Rethorike , to arate deadly sinne
And be neuermore first , the defaute to blame ,
Though þou se yll , say it not first , be sory it nere amendid
Nothyng that is pryuye , publishe thou it neuer
Neyther for loue laude it not , ne lacke it for enuye
Parum lauda vitupera percius .
He sayth soth quod scripture tho , & scypte vp & preached
And þe matter þat she meaned , if lewde men it knew ,
The lesse as I leue , louen it they woulde
This was hyr theme , & her text , I toke ful good hede
Multi to a mangery , and to the mete were sumpted
Whan þe people were plener come , þe porter vnpind þe gate
And plucked in Pauci , priuily , & let þe remnaunt go
All for tene of her text trembled my herte ,
And in a were gan I wexe , & with my-selfe to dispute
Whether I wer chose or not , on holi kirke I thoght
That vnderfonged me at þe font for one of gods chosen
For Christe cleped vs all , come if we woulde
Saracyns & Scismatikes , and so he did the Iewes ,
O vos omnes sicientes venite . & . cetera .
And badde hem sonke souke for sinne , safely at hys breast
And drynke bote for bale , brooke it who-so myght
Than may all christen come quod I , & claime her enter ,
By þe bloude þat he bought vs with , & through baptisme after
Qui crediderit , et baptisatus fuerit ,
For though a christen man coueted his christendome to renie
Ryghtfullye to reney , no reason it woulde ,
For may no cherle charter , make ne hys catel sel
Wythouten leue of hys Lorde , no lawe wil it graunt
And he may runne in arerages , and runne so from home
And as a reneyed kaytyfe , recheles runnen aboute
And reason shal reken with hym , & cast him in arerage
And put him after in a prison , in purgatory to brenne
For his arerages rewarden hym there , tyl domes day
But if contrition wyll come and crye by hys lyue
Mercy for hys misdeades , wyth mouth or with hert .
That is sothe sayde scripture , may no synne lette ,
Mercy all amende , and mekenes hyr felowe ,
For thei ben as our bokes telleth , aboue gods werks
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius .
Yea bawe for bookes quod one , was broken out of hell ,
I Troyans a true knight , take witnes at a pope
How I was dead & dampned to dwel in paine
For an vnchristen creature , clerkes wytten þe sothe ,
That al þe clargi vnder Christ , ne might me cratch from hell
But only loue & leauty , & my lawful domes .
Gregory wyst wel thys , and wylned to my soule ,
Saluation for sothnes , that he se in my workes
And after that he wepte , & wylned me were graunted ,
Grace without any bede bydding , his bone was vnderfogen vnderfongen
And I saued as ye se , without synging of masses
By loue and by learnynge , of my lyuyng in truth ,
Brought me from bitter payne , ther no bidding might
Lo ye lords what leuty did by an emperour of rome
That was an vnchristen creature as clarkes finde in bokes
Not through prayer of a pope , but for his pure truth
Was þat sarazin saued , as saint Gregory beareth witnes ,
Wel oughten lords þat laws kepen , þat lesson hold in mynd
And on troianus truth to thinke , & do truth to þe puple
Lawe without loue quod Troianus , ley there a beane ,
Or any science vnder the sonne , the seuen artes and al
But they be lerned for our lords loue , lost is thy time
For no cause to catch syluer by , or be called a master
But all for loue of our lord , & the bet to loue þe puple
For saynt Iohn sayd it , and soth are hys wordes .
Qui non diligit manet in morte .
Who-so-euer loueth me not , he liueth in death diyng .
And that all maner of men , enemies and frendes
Loue eyther other , and leue hem as hem-selfe ,
Who-so leueth not , he loueth not , god wot the sothe ,
And commaundeth ech creature to conforme him to loue ,
And souerainely the pore puple , and her enmies after
For hem that haten vs , is our merite to loue ,
And pore people to please , her prayers may vs helpe
And our ioye , and our healthe , Iesu christe of heauen ,
In a pore mans apparayle , pursued vs after ,
And loked on vs in hyr likenes , & that with louely chere ,
To know vs by our kynde hert , & casting of our eien
Whether we loue þe lords here , before the lord of blisse
And exciteth vs by þe euangely , þat whan we make feasts
We shold not clepen our kinne therto , ne none kynnes ryche
Cum facitis conuiuia , nolite inuitare amicos .
And call the carefull thereto , the croked & the pore ,
For your frendes wil feden you , & found you to quite
Your festing & your fayr gift , ech frend quiteth so other .
And for the pore I shal pay , & wel quite her trauayle
That geue hem meat or monei , and loue hem for mi sake
For the best ben some ryche , & some beggers & pore ,
For we al ar Christes creatures , & of his cofers rich ,
And brether as of one blud as well beggers as erles
For on Calueri of christis blud , christendome gan spryng
And bloudy brethren we becom ther , of one bodi won
As Quasi modo geniti , and gentilmen eche one ,
No begger ne no boy amongs vs , but if sinne it make
Qui facit peccatum , seruus est peccati .
In old lawe , as holy letter telleth ,
Mennes sonnes men called vs eche one ,
Of Adams issue and Eue , aye till God man dyed
And after hys resurrection , Redemptor was his name ,
And we his brethren by him bought , both rich & pore
Forthy loue we as leue brether , & ech man leue other
And of that ech man may forbear , amend ther it nedeth
And euery man helpe other , for hence shal we all ,
Alter alterius onera portate .
And be we not vnkind of our cattel , ne of our kinning
For wot no man how nye it is , to be bynome from both
Therfore lacke no others life , though he more latine know
Ne vndernime not foul , for is none without faut ,
For what euer clarkes carpe , of christendome or els ,
Christ to a commen woman sayd , in commune at þe feste ,
That Fides sua , should saue hir , & saluen her of al sinnes
Than is beleue a lelly helpe , aboue logike or law ,
Of logyke or of lawe , in Legenda sanctorum
Is lyttle alowaunce made , but if bileue hem helpe
For it is ouer long or logyke , any lesson assoyle
And lawe is lothe to loue , but if he lacke syluer
Both logyke and lawe , that loueth not to lye ,
I counsel all christen , cleue not theron to sore
For some words I find write , wer of faiths teching
That saued sinful men , as saynt Iohn bereth witnes
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis
Therfore lerne we þe law of loue , as our lord taught
And as saynt Gregory sayd , for mans soule health
Melius est scrutari scelera nostra , quam naturas rerum .
Why I meane this matter is most for the pore
For in her likenes our Lord oft hath bene knowen
Wytnes in Paske weke , whan he yede to Emaus
Cleophas ne knewe him not , that he Christ were
For hys pore apparell , and pylgrames wedes ,
Tyll he blessed , and brake the breake that they eaten ,
So by these workes they wyste , that he was Iesus ,
And bi clothing thei knew him not , ne by carpinge of tonge
And all was in example , to vs synfull here
That we shoulde be lowe and louely of speach
And apparel vs not proudly , for pilgrimes are we al
And in the apparel of a pore man , & pilgrymes lyknes
Many times god hath ben met among nedy people ,
There neuer segge him see , in sette of the ryche
Saint Iohn & other sayntes were sene in pore clothynge
And as pore pilgrames prayden mens goodes
Iesu Christ on a Iews daughter light , gentle though she were
Was a pore maid , & on a pore man weddid
Martha on Marye Magdalen , an hudge plainet she made
And to our sauiour selfe , sayd these wordes
Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam ministrare ?
And hastely god answered & eythers wyll folowed ,
Bothe Marthaas & Maries as Mat. bereth witnes
And pouerty god put before , & praysed that better .
Maria obtimam o[p]timam partem elegit que non . &cetera .
And all þe wise that euer were , by ought I can espye ,
Praysen pouerty for best lyfe , if patience folowe ,
And both better , & blesseder , by many fold than ryches
And thoughe it be soure to suffer , yet after commeth swete
As on a walnut without is a bitter barke ,
And after that bytter barke , be the shell awaye
Is a kirnell of conforte lyfe to restore ,
So is after pouertie and penaunce , patiently taken
For it maketh a man to haue mind in god , & a gret wil
To wepe and to well byd , wherof wexeth mercy
Of whych Christ is a kernel to confort the soule ,
And well syker he slepeth the man that is pore
And lesse he dreadeth death , and darke to be robbed
Than he that is ryght ryche , reason beareth wytnes
Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris .
Although Solomon saith as folke seeth in the bible .
Diuitias nec paupertates .
Wiser than Solomon was , bereth witnes & taught
That perfecte pouertie was , no possession to haue
And lyfe most likinge to god , as Luke bereth witnes
Si vis perfectus esse , vade et vende . &cetera .
And is to meane men that on this molde lyuen ,
Who-so will be pure perfect , must possessions forsake
Or sell it as sayeth the boke , and the siluer deale
To begers þat gone & beg & bidden good for gods loue
For failed neuer man meat , that mightful god serueth
As Dauid sayeth in the psalter to such þat ben in wyll ,
To serue god goodlyche , ne greth hem no penaunce ,
Nihil impossibile volenti .
Ne lacketh neuer lyuelode , linnen ne wollen .
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono .
If priestes were perfite , they woulde no syluer take ,
For masses ne for matens , ne her meate of vsurers
Ne nether kirtle ne cote , though thei for cold shold die
And thei her deuour dyd as Dauid sayth in the psalter .
Iudica me deus et discerne causam meam .
Spera in deo , speketh of priests þat haue no spending siluer
Than if thei trauel truly , & trusten in god almighti
Hem should lacke no lyuelode , nether wollen nor linnen
And þe title thei toke orders by , telleth thei be auanced
Than nede not you to take siluer , for masses þat ye syng
For he þat toke ye your title , shold pai you your wagis
Or þe bishop that blessed you , if that ye be worthy
For made neuer king a knight , but he had catel to spend
As befell for a knight , or founde him for his strenght
It is a carefull knight , & of a kaytife kynges making
That hath no land ne linage riche ne good loos of hys handes
The same I say forsoth , by al such priestes ,
That haue nether cunning ne kynne , but a crowne one
And a title a tale of nought , to liue by at his mischife
He hath more beleue I leue , to latch through crown
Cure than for kennynge , or knowen for clene beryng
I haue wonder why , and wherfore the byshop
Maketh such priestes that lewde men betrayen .
A charter is chalencheable , before a chiefe iustice
If false laten be in that letter , the lawe is impugne
Or painted pentrelniarie , or percell ouerskipped
The gome þat gloseth so charters , for a goky is holden
So it is a goky by god , that in hys gospel fayleth
Or in masse or mattens , maketh anye defaute .
Qui offendit in vno , in omnibus est reus .
Also in the psalter sayeth Dauid to ouerskyppes ouerskyppe[ri]s[^a31] .
Psallite deo nostro psallite , quoniam rex terre deus Isra ell , psallite sapienter .
The bishop shalbe blamed before god as I leue ,
That crowneth such gods knightes þat can not sapienter
Synge ne psalme read , ne say a masse of the daye ,
And neuer nether is blamles , the bishop or þe chaplen
For here ether is indited , & that is ignorantia
Non excusat episcopos nec idiotes priestes ,
This loking on lewd priests I am leapt from pouerti
Which I praise , her patience is more perfit than riches
And much more in meting thus , with me gan one dispute
And slepyng I se all thys , and sythen came kynd
And named me by my name , and bade me nimen hede
And through the wonders of this world , wyt to take
And on a mountain þat mydle erth hight as me thought
I was fette forth by ensamples to knowe
Through ech a creature & kynde my creatour to loue .
I se the sunne & the sea , and the sonde after
And where that byrdes & beastes by her makes they yeden
Wyld wormes in woodes & wonderful fowles
Wyth fleked fethers , and of fell colours ,
Man and hys make , I myght bothe behold
Pouertye and plentye , bothe peace and warre
Blysse and bale bothe , I se all at once
And howe men toke mede , and mercye refuced ,
Reason I see sothlye , sewen all beastes
In eatyng & drynkyng , & in engendryng of kynde ,
And after course of conception none toke kepe of other
As whan they had ryden in rote tyme , right anone aftir
Males draw hem to males , a-mornings bi hem-selfe
And in eueninges also , the males ben from the females
There ne was cowe ne cowe kinde , þat conceiued had ,
That wold bellow after boles , ne bore after sowe
Both horse and houndes , & all other beastes ,
Medled not wyth her makes , that with fole were ,
Byrdes I behelde , that in bushes made nestes ,
Had neuer wryght wytte to worke the leste ,
I had wonder at whom , and where the pye learned ,
To lygge the styckes in whiche she layeth & breadeth
Nis wright as I wene cold worch hir nestis to paye
If ani mason made a mold therto , much wonder it wer
And yet me marueiled more howe many other birds
Hydden and hylden her egges full derne ,
In maryes and mores , for men should hem not fynd
And hydden her egges , whan they therefro went ,
For feare of other fowles , and for wylde beastes
And some troden her makes , and on trees bredden
And broughten forth hyr byrds so , all aboue þe ground
And some byrds at þe byl , through brething conceiued
And some cauked I toke kepe howe pecocks breaden ,
Muche marueyled me , what master they had
And who taught hem on trees to tymbren so hyghe ,
That neither barne ne beast , maye hyr byrdes rechen
And sithen I loked on the sea , & so forth apon þe starres
Many selkoughes I see , be not to see nowe
I see floures in the frythe , and her fayre colours ,
And how among þe grene gras , growed so many huis
And some soure , & some swete , selkough me thought
Of her kindes & of her colours , to carpen it wer to long
And that most meued me , and my mode chaunged ,
That reason rewarded , and ruled al beastes ,
Saue man and hys make , manye tyme and ofte ,
No reason hem folowed , and than I rebuked
Reason , and right tyll hym-selfe I sayde
I haue wonder of the quod I , that wyttye art holden
Whi þou ne suiste man & his make , þat no misfeat hem folow
And reason arated me , and sayd reche the neuer ,
Why I suffer or not suffer , thy-selfe hast not to do
Amende þou it if thou myght , for my tyme is to abide
Suffraunce is a suffran vertue , and a swifte vengeaunce
Who suffreth more than god quod he , no gome as I leue
He might amend in a minute while , al þat amise standeth
And he suffreth for some mans good , & so is our better
The wyse and the witty wrote thus in the byble .
De re que te non molestat noli certare .
For be a man fayre or foule , it falleth not for to lacke ,
The shampe ne the shape , that god shope hym-selfe ,
For al þat he did was wel do , as holy write witnesseth
Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat et erant valde bona .
And bade euery creature in hys kynde encrease ,
All to myrthe with man that most woth holye
In foundynge of the fleshe , and of the fende bothe
For man was made of suche a matter , he may not well astart
That ne somtime him bited , to folowen his kind
Caton accordeth therwith , Nemo sine crimine viuit .
Tho caught I colour anone , & comsed to be ashamed ,
And awaked therewyth , wo was me than
That I in metelles ne myght more haue knowen
And than sayde I to my-selfe , and chyde that tyme ,
Now do I ken dowel quod I , by dere god as me think
And as I cast vp my eyen , one loked on me & asked
Of me what thynge it were , I wysh syr I sayd
To se much and suffer more , certes quod I is dowell
Haddest thou suffred he said , slepyng tho thou were ,
Then hadst þou kende þat clergi came , & kend more bi reson
For reson wold haue rehearsed þe , right as cleargi said
And for thy intermittinge , here art thou forsake ,
Philosophus esses si tacuisses . &cetera .
Adam whyle he spake not had paradise at wyll
But whan he mamelid about mete & entermittid to know
The wisedome and þe wit of god , he was put from blis
And ryght so fared reson with the , thou with thy rude spech
Lakedst & losedst thyng that longed not to be done ,
Tho had he no lykyng for to learne the more .
Pryd now & presumption peraduenture wol me appele ,
That cleargy thy company , ne kepeth not to shew ,
Shal neuer chalengyng ne chydyng chast a man so sone
As shal shame and shenden hym , & shape hym to amend
For let a dronken daffe in a dyke fall ,
Let hym ligge , loke not on hym , tyl hym lyst to aryse
For though reson rebuked him than , it wer but pure sin
And whan nede nimeth hym vp for doubt lest he sterue
And shame shaketh hys clothes , & hys skyn washeth
Than wot the dronken daffe , wherfore he is to blame .
Ye sayen sothe quod I , iche haue isene it ofte
There smyte nothyng so smarte , ne smelleth so soure ,
As shame ther he shewith him , for ech man him shonith
Why ye wysh me thus quod I , was for I rebuked reason
Certes quod he that is sothe , and shope hym for to waken
And I arose vpright with that , and folowed hym after
And prayed hym of hys curtesye , to tel me hys name .

[^a27: yemp ye[e]p (Cr1) | yeep (Most other mss)]

[^a28: contricione contricio (Cr) | contricio (All other mss)]

[^a29: in corde tuo secrete (Cr) | secrete in corde tuo (All other mss)]

[^a30: quid erit quod ero (Cr1) | quod ero (All other mss)]

[^a31: ouerskyppes ouerskyppe[ri]s (Cr1) | ouerskipperis (All other mss)]

Passus duodecimus de visione .

I Am Imaginatiue quod he , idle was I neuer
Though I sit bi mi-selfe , in sikenes & in helth
I haue folowed þe in fayth , thys .xlv. forty-five[^42]wynter
And ofttimes haue meued þe to think on thin end
And how fele fernies are faren , & so few to comen
And of thy wild wantonnes , though thou yong were
To amenden it in thy myddle age , lest might the fayled
In thyne olde Elde that euil can suffer ,
Pouertye or penaunce or prayer bydde ,
Si non in prima vigilia , nec in secunda .
Amend the while thou may , thou hast ben warned oft
With poustees of pestilences , with pouerty & with angres
And with these bitter baleises , god beateth his dere children
Quem diligo castigo .
And Dauid in þe psalter saith , of such þat loueth Iesus
Virga tua et baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt .
Althoughe thou stryke with thy staffe or with sticke , or with yerde
It is but mirth , as for me to amend my soule ,
And þou medlist with makings & mightist go sai thi psalter
And bidden for hem that giue þat bread , for ther ar bokes inow
To tel me what dowel is , dobet , & dobest both
And prechers to preuen what it is of many apeyre friers
I se wel he sayd me soth , & somwhat me to excuse
Sayd Caton conforted me his sonne , þat clarke though he were
To solace him somtime , as I do whan I make .
Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis .
And of holy men I hard quod I , how they otherwhyle ,
Pleyden , the perfitter to ben in many places ,
And if there were any wyght that would me tel
What were dowel & dobet , & dobest at the last
Would I neuer do werke , but wend to holy church ,
And ther bid my beades , but whan ech eat or slepe
Poule in his pistle quod he , preueth what is dowel
Fides spes charitas et maior horum . & cetera .
Fayeth hope and charitye , and all be good
And sauen men sondry tymes , & none so sone as charitye
For he doth wel withouten dout , þat doth as leuty techeth
That is if thou be man maryed , thy make thou loue
And lyueforth as lawe wyll , whyle you lyuen both
Ryght so if thou be religious , ren thou neuer further
To Rome ne Rochmador , but as thy rule teacheth .
And holde the vnder obedience , þat heigh way is to heuen
And if thou be maiden to mary , & might wel continue ,
Seke neuer no saint further , for thi soules health ,
For what made Lucifer to lese the hyghe heauen ,
Or Solomon hys sapience , or Sampson his strength ,
Iob the Iewe hys ioye , deare he it bought ,
Aristotle and other mo , Hypocrates and Uirgil ,
Alexander that all wan , elenglyche endeth
Catell and kinde wytte , was combrauuce combrau[n]ce to hem all
Felice hyr fayrnes , fell hyr all to slaunder ,
And Rosamonde ryght so , rufully to beleue ,
The beauty of hyr body in badnes she dispended
Of many suche I may reade , of men and women
That wyse wordes wold shewe , & worch the contrary
Sunt homines nequam , bene de virtute loquentes .
And ryche reukes ryght so , gaderen and sparen ,
And tho men þat they moste haten , minister it at þe last
And for they suffren and se so many neady folkes
And loue hem not as our lorde byd , lesen hyr soules ,
Date et dabitur vobis .
And ryches ryght so , but if the rote be true ,
And grace is a grasse thereof , tho greuaunce to abate ,
And grace ne groweth not , but amonges lowe ,
Patience & pouertye , the place is there it groweth
And in lelly liuyng men , and in lyfe holye ,
And through þe gift of þe holy gost , as þe gospel telleth
Spiritus vbi vult spirat .
Cleargy and kind wyt commeth of sight & teachyng
As the boke bereth witnes to barnes that can reade .
Quod scimus loquimur , quod vidimus testamur .
Of quod scimus cometh Cleargy , and cunning of heuen
And of quod vidimus , cometh kind wyt , of sight of dyuerse puple
And grace is a gyfte of god , & great loue springeth
Knew neuer clark how it comth , ne kind wit þe waies
Nescit aliquis vnde venit , aut quo vadit .
And yet is cleargy to commend , and kinde wit bothe
And namly clergy for christis loue , þat of clergi is rote
For Moses witnesseth þat god wrote , þe puple to wish
In thold law as þe leter telleth , þat was þe law of Iues
That what woman were taken in auoutri , rich or pore
With stones men should strike hir , & stone hir to death ,
A woman as we finden was gilty of that death
And Christ of his curtesy through cleargy hir saued ,
And through caracts þat Christe wrought , the Iewes knew hem-self
Giltier as afore god , & greater in sinne ,
Than the woman þat there was , & went away for shame
The cleargy that there was , conforted the woman
Holy kyrk knoweth this , þat christs writing saued hir
So cleargy is confort to creatures that repenten
And to mansede men mischiefe at her ende ,
For bread of gods body myght not be without cleargy
The which bread is both boote to the rightful ,
And death and dampnation to hem that dye euill
And christis caracts confortid , & both culpable shewid
The woman that þe Iews brought , þat Iesus thought to saue .
Nolite iudicare , et non iudicabimini .
Right so gods body brethren , but it be worthely take
Damnith vs at þe dai of dome , as þe caracts did þe Iwis
Therfore I counsel the for christes sake , clergy þat thou loue
For kind wyt is of his kin , & nygh cosins both ,
To our Lord leue me , therfore loue hem I read ,
For both ben as myrrours , to amend our defautes ,
And leaders for lewde men , and for lettred both
Therfore lacke þou neuer logyke , law ne his customes ,
Ne countrepled clarkes I counsel the for euer ,
For as a man may not see , that misseth hys eyen ,
No more can no clarke , but if he caughte it fyrste by boks
Although men made bokes , god was þe master
And saint Spirite the samplare & sayd what men should wryte
Right so leadeth letture , lewde men to reason
And as a blinde man in battel beareth wepen to fight
And hath no happe with hys axe hys enemy to hytte
No more can a kind witted man , but clarkes him teach
Come for al his kinde wyt , to christendome & be saued
Whych is þe coffer of christes treasure , & clarks kepe þe kaies
To vnlock it at her liking , & to þe lewd puple ,
Gyue mercy for her misdedes , if men wyll it aske
Buxomly and benignely , and bydden it of grace .
Archa dei in the olde lawe , Leuites it kepten ,
Had neuer lewde man leue , to liggen hand on þat cheste ,
But he were priest or priestes sonne , patriarke or prophet
For Clargy is keper vnder Christ of heuen ,
Was there neuer knight , but Cleargy hym made
And kynde commeth of al kyndes syght ,
Of byrdes & of beasts , of tastes , of truth & of deceits
Lyuers aforne vs , vseden to make ,
Seldome that they sene her sonnes for to teach ,
And helden it an hyghe Science , her wyttes to know
And through her science sothly , was neuer no soule saued
Ne brought by her bokes to blysse , ne to ioye ,
For al her kind knowings , come but of diuerse sights
Patriarkes and prophetes , repreueden hir science
And sayd her words ne her counsell , was but foly
As to þe Cleargy of Christ , counted it but a trifle .
Sapientia huius mundi , stulticia apud deum .
For the hyghe holy gost , heauen shall to-cleaue ,
And loue shall lepen out after into thys low earth
And cleannes shall catche it , & clarkes shall it fynde
Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem .
He speakith nought ther of rych men , ne of right witty
And of lords þat were lewde men , but of þe hieste lettred oute
Ibant Magi ab oriente .
Yf any fryer were found ther , I giue you fiue shillings
Ne in no beggers cote , was that barne borne
But in burgeis place , in Bethleem the beste .
Sed non erat ei locus in diuersio , et pauper non habet di uersorium .
To pastours and to poets , appeared the angell
And bade hem go to Bethleem gods birth to honour
And songen a song of solace , Gloria in excelsis deo ,
Clarkes knewe it well , & commen with her presentes
And dyd homage honorably , to him þat was almighty
Why I haue told al thys , I toke full good hede ,
Howe thou contriuedest Cleargy with crabbed wordes
How þat lewde men lyghtlucker , than lettred were saued
Than clarkes or kinde witted men of christen puple ,
And tho saydest soth of some , & se in what maner ,
Take two stronge men , in Temes cast hem ,
And both naked as a nedle , ther non sikerer than other
The one hath cunnynge , and can swymme and dyue ,
Thother is lewd of þat laboure , lerned neuer to swym
Which trowest þou of those two , in Temese is most in dred
He þat neuer diued , ne nought can of swymmyng
Or the swymmer that is safe , be so him-self lyke ,
There hys felow flete forth , as the flowd liketh
And is in dread to drench , that neuer dyd swymme ?
That swymme can not I sayd , it semeth to my wyts
Ryght so quod the reuke , Reason sheweth
That he that knoweth cleargy can soner aryse
Out of sinne and he be safe , thoughe he sinne oft ,
If him liketh and lyst , than any lewde lellye
For if the clarke be cunnyng , he knoweth what is sinne
And how contricion without confession , conforteth mi soule
As thou seest in the psalter , in psalmes one or twaine
How contrition is commendid , for it catcheth away sinne
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates et quorum tecta sunt . & cetera .
And this conforteth ech a clark , & couereth him from wanhope
In which floode þe fend fondeth a man hardest ,
There the lewde lieth still , & loketh after lent ,
And repenteth not before shrift , & than can he litle tell ,
And as his lores man lerneth him , beleueth & troweth
And that is after person & parishe priest , & paraduenture
Uncunnyng to lerne lewd men , as Luke bereth witnes
Dum cecus , ducit cecum . &cetera
Wo was him marked , that wade must with the lewde
Well may the barne blysse , that him to boke set
That liuing after letture , saueth him both life & soule
Dominus pars hereditatis mee . is a mery versicle ,
That hath taken from Tiburne .xx. twenty stronge theues .
Ther leud theuis ben lollid vp , loke how thei be sauid
The thef þat had gods grace on goodfridai as þou spake
Was for he knew Christ on þe cros , & knowlegid his sinne
And grace asked of god , & he is euer redy ,
That buxomlyche byddeth it , & ben in wyl to amend hem
And thoughe þat thefe had heuen he had no hye blisse ,
As saynt Iohn & other saintes , þat deserued had better
Right as if a man giue me meat , & set me amid þe flore
I haue meat more then inough , & not so much worship
As thei þat sit at side tables , or with souereignis of þe hal
But sit as a begger bordles , by my-selfe on þe ground
So it fareth bi þat felon , that on good friday was saued
He sytteth neither with saint Iohn , Simon ne Iude ,
Ne with maydens , ne with martyrs , confessours ne widows
But by him-selfe as a soleyn , and serued on earth
For he that is once a thefe , is euermore in daunger
And as lawe lyketh to lyue or dye .
De peccato propitiato noli esse sine metu .
And for to seruen a saynt , and such a thefe togithers ,
It were nether reason ne right , to reward hem both ilike
And as Troianus þe tru knight , dwelt not so dep in hel
But our lord had him lightli out , so leue I þe thif be in heuen
For he is in þe lowist heuen , if our beleue is true ,
And well loselleche he lolleth there by þe lawe of holy church
Qui reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua .
And why þat one thefe on þe crosse , creant gan him yeld
Rather than þe other thefe , though þou woldest oppose
All the clarkes vnder Christ , ne could þe skil assoile .
Quare placuit ? quia voluit .
And so I saye by the that sekest after the weyes
And resonest reason a rebukinge as it were ,
And of flowers in the frithe , and of fayre hewis
Wherof they catche her colours , so cleare & so bright
And willest of birds & beasts , & hir breding to know
Why some be a lowe & some a loft , thy likin it were
And of þe stones & of the sterres , þou studiest as I leue
Howe euery beaste and byrde , hath sobrenne wittes ,
Cleargy ne kinde wytte , ne knewe neuer the cause
And kind knoweth the cause him-selfe , no creature els
He is the Pies patron , and put it in hir eare
That there the thornes is thickest , to builde & brede
And kind kenneth the Pecoke , to canken in such a kinde
And kenned Adam to knowe his priuy membres
And taught him and Eue , to hyll hem with leaues
Lewed men many times masters they apposen ,
Why Adam ne hilled not first his mouth þat eat þe apple
Rather than his likam alowe , lewde after thus clarkes
Kynd knoweth why he did so , & no clarkes els
And of byrdes and of beastes , men by olde time
Ensamples token and termes , as tellen the poets
And that the fayrest foule , foulest engendreth ,
And feblest fowle of flight is , þat flyeth or swymmeth ,
And þe Pecock & the pehen , proud rich men they betoken
For the Pecock & men pursue him , he may not fly hygh
For the traylyng of hys tayle , ouertake is he sone ,
And hys fleshe is fowle fleshe , and his fete both
And vnlouely of leden , and layeth for to heare ,
Ryght so the ryche , if he hys ryches kepe ,
And deleth it not til his deths day , þe taile of al sorow
Right as þe pens in þe pecock paineth him in his flight
So is possession payne of pence , and of nobles
To all hem that it holdeth , tyl her taile be plucked
And though the rych repent than , and byrue þe tyme
That euer he gathered so great , & gaue therof so lytle
Thoughe he cry to Christ than , with keene wyll I leue ,
His leden be in our lords eare , lyke a pies chattering
And whan his carion shal come , in caue to be buried
I leue it flowme full fowle , the folde all about
And al þe other there it lyeth , enuenimed through hys
By þe posete is vnderstande , as I haue lerned in Auinet
Executors , false frendes , that fulfyll not hys wyll
That was written & thei witnes , to werk al þat it wold
And thus þe poet preueth þat the pecock for his fethers is reuerenced
Ryght so the rych by reson of hys goods
The larke þat is a lesse fowle , is more louely of ledene
And wyll away of winge swyfter than the pecocke ,
And of fleshe by fell folde , fatter and sweter
To lowe lyuynge men is resembled the larke
Arystotle the great clarke , suche tales he tayleth
Thus he likeneth in hys logyke , the lest fowle out ,
And whether he be safe or not , the soth wot no clergie
Ne of Sortes ne of Solomon , no scripture can tel
And god is so good I hope , þat sith he gaue hem wits
To wissen vs waies therwith , that wissen vs to be saued
And the better for her bokes , to bydden we ben holden
That god of hys grace , gyue hyr soules reste
For lettred men were lewde men yet , ne were lore of her bokes
All these clarkes quod I tho , þat on Christ leuen
Seithen in her sermons , þat nether saracines ne Iewes
Ne creture of Christis likenes , worth salf vnchristenid
Contra quod imaginatyue tho , & comsed for to loure
And sayd Saluabitur vix iustus in die iudicii .
Ergo saluabitur , quod he , and sayde no more laten ,
Troianus was a true knighte , & toke neuer christendome
And he is safe saith þe boke , & his soule in heuen
For there is fullyng of fout , & fulling in blud sheding
And through fyre is fullyng , that is , firme beleue
Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens sed illuminans . & cetera .
And truth þat trespaced neuer , ne transuersed against his law
But liuith as þat techith , & leuith ther be no beter
And if ther were he wold amend , and in such wyl dye
Ne would neuer true god , but truthe were alowed
And wher it worth or it worth not , belife of it is gret
And an hope hanging therin , to haue mede for his truth
For Deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis hoc est fidelibus
Et alibi , si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis ,
The glose graunteth apon þat verse , a gret mede to truth
And wyt & wisdome quod þe wight , was somtime treasure
To kepe with a commune , ne cattell was hold better
And much mirthe & manhode , & right with that he vanished

[^42: KD has "five and fourty"]

Passus .xiii. tredecimus de visione

ANd I awaked therewith witles nerehand
And as a freke þat fre were , forth gan I walke
In maner of a mendinaunt , many a yere after
And of this meting many time , much thoght I had
Fyrst how Fortune me failed at mi most nede
And howe þat Elde manaced me , myght we euer meten
And how the Fryers folowed folke that was ryche
And folke that was pore , at litle price they set
And no cors in hir kyrkeyard , nor kirke was buried
But quik he bequeth hem oght , or quite part of hir dets
And howe that couetise ouercame clarkes & priestes
And how þat lewde men be ladde , but our lord hem help
Through vncunning creatures , to incurable paines
And how that imaginatiue in dreames me tolde
Of kind & of his cunning , & how curtise he is to beasts
And how louing he is to beasts on lande & on water
Leneth he no lyfe lesse ne more .
The creatures that crepen of kinde they be engendred
And sithen how imaginatiue sayde , Uix saluabitur ,
And when he had sayde so how sodenly he passed
I laye longe in thys thoughte , and at the last I slepte
And as Christ wold conscience came to confort me þat time
And bade come in his court , with cleargy shold I dyne
And for conscience of clergy spake , I came wel þe rather
And ther I se a master , what man he was I nist
That lowe he lowted , and louelye to scripture
Conscience knew him well and welcomed hym fayre
They washen and wypen and went to the dyner
And patience in the palaice stode in pilgrimes clothes
And prayed meate for charitie , for a pore hermite ,
Conscience called hym in , and curtesly sayd ,
Welcome wyght , go and washe , þou shalt sit sone
Thys maister was made sit , as for the most worthy
And than Cleargy & Conscience , & Patience came after
Patience and I were put to be matches ,
And sitten by our-selfe at the syde borde ,
Conscience called after meate , and than came scripture
And serued them thus sone , of sondrye meates manye
Of Austen of Ambrose , and of the four Euangelistes
Edentes et bibentes , que apud eos sunt .
And thys maister and hys man no maner fleshe eaten
And they eate meate of more cost , mortreux & potage
Of that men miswonne , they made hem well at ease
And their sause was ouer sour , and vnsauerly ground ,
In a morter Post mortem , of many bytter paynes
But if they singe for the soules & wepe salt teares
Uos qui peccata hominum commeditis , nisi pro eis lachrimas et orationes effunderitis , ea que in delitijs comeditis , in tormentis euometis .
Conscience full curteslye tho commaunded scripture ,
Before patience bread to bring , & me þat was his match
He set a soure lofe before vs and sayd , Agite penitentiam ,
And sythe he brought vs dryncke , diaperseueraunce
As longe quod I as I lyue , and lykam man endure .
Here preti seruice quod Patience , no prince can fare better
Then brought he forth a mes , of meat of Miserere mei[^a32]
And he brought vs of Beati quorum , of Beatus virs makynge
Et quorum tecta sunt peccata . in a dishe ,
Of dernes Shrifte Dixi , and Confitebor tibi ,
Brynge Patience some pitaunce priuily quod conscience ,
And than had Patience a pitaunce . Pro hac orabit ad te . & cetera[^a33] .
And Conscience conforted vs , & carped vs mery tales
Cor contritum et humiliatum deus non despicies
Patience was proude , of that proper seruice ,
And made him merye with hys meat , & I mourned euer
For this doctor on the hye deese dranke wyne so faste .
Ue vobis qui potentes estis , ad bibendum vinum .
He eate many sondry meates mortrix & poddynges
Wombe cloutes & wyld brawne , & egs fried with grese
Then sayd I to my-selfe so , Patience it harde
It is not four dayes that this freke before þe deane of Pouls
Preched of penaunce , þat Poul thapostle suffred
In fame et frigore , and flappes of scourges
Ter Cesus sum et a Iudeis quinquies quadragenas ,
And one word they ouerhypped at ech time that they preach
That Poule in hys pistle to al the puple told
Periculum est in falsis fratribus .
Holy wryte byd men beware , I will not write it here
In englyshe on auenture , it should be rehearsed to oft
And greue therwith good men , & gramarians shold read .
Unusquisque a fratre se custodiat quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus .
And I wyst neuer freke þat as a frier yead before men in english
Take it for her theme , & tel it without glosyngs
They preach that penaunce is profitable to the soule
And what mischefe & male-ease , Christ for man tholed ,
And thys gods gloton quod I , with hys greate cheakes
Hath no pitye on vs pore , he perfourmeth euyl
That he preacheth he preueth not , to Patience I told
And wyshed full wytterly with wyll full egre
That dyshes and doublers before thys ilke doctour
Were molten lead in hys mawe , & Mahound amydst
I shall iangle to thys Iurdan , with hys iuste wombe
To tel me what penaunce is , of which he preched rathe
Patience perceiued what I thought , & winked on me
And said þ þ[ou] shalt se thus soone , whan he may no more
He shal haue a penaunce in his paunch , & puf at ech word
And than shal his guttes gottilen , & he shal gulpen after
For now he hath dronke so depe , he woll diuine sone
And preuen it by her pocalyps , & passion of saint Auareis
That nether bacon ne browne , blacke manger bla[n]cke-manger[^a34] ne mortreux
Is neyther fyshe ne flesh , but fode for a penaunt
And than shall he testifie of trinitie , & take his felow to witnes
What he found in a fraile , after a fryers liuing
And but he fyrst lyue by leasinges , leue me neuer after
And than is tyme to take , and to oppose thys doctour
Of dowel & of dobet , & if dobest be any penaunce ·
And I sate styl as Patience sayd , & thus sone this doctour
As ruddy as a rose rubbed hys chekes
Coughed and carped , and Conscience hym hearde
And tolde hym of a Trinitie , and toward vs he loked
What is dowel sir doctor quod I , is dowel any penaunce
Dowell quod this doctour , & toke the cup & drancke
Is do no euyll to thyne euen -christen not by thy power
By this daye syr doctour quod I than , ye be not in dowel
For ye haue harmed vs two , in þat ye eaten the pudynge
Mortreux and other meate , and we no morsel had
And if ye fare so in your farmery , ferly me thynketh
But chest be ther chariti shold be , & children durst pleine
I wold permute mi penaunce with you , for I am in point to do wel
Than Conscience curtesli a countenaunce made
And preynt apon Patience to praye me to be styll
And sayde hym-selfe syr doctour , and it be your will
What is dowell and dobet , ye diuinours knowe
Dowell quod thys doctour , is do as clarkes teache
And dobet is he þat teacheth , & traueleth to teach other
And dobeste doth hym-selfe so , as he sayth & precheth ,
Qui facit et docuerit , magnus vocabitur in regno celorum .
Now þou Cleargy & conscience , carpest what is dowell ,
I haue seuen sonnes he sayd seruen in a castell ,
Ther the lord of lyfe wonneth to learne what is dowel
Tyll I see the seuen and my-selfe accorden ,
I am vnhardy quod he , to any wyght to preue it
For one Pierce the Ploughman hath impungned vs al ,
And set al sciences at a Soupe , saue loue onelye[^a35]
And no text ne taketh to mayntayne hys cause
But Dilige deum , And Domine quis habitabit ,
And sayeth that dowell and dobet , are two infinites
Whyche infinites wyth fayeth fynde oute dobest ,
Which shal saue mans soul , thus saith Pierce plowman
I can not here one quod Conscience , & I knowe well Pierce
He wil not gaine saie holi writ , I dare wel vndertake
Than passe we ouer til Pierce come , & preue it in dede ,
Patience hath ben in many places , & peraduenture mouthed
That no clarke ne can , as Christ beareth witnes
Patientes vincunt & . cetera .
And your praier quod Pacience tho , so no man displese him
Disce quod he , Doce , and Dilige inimicos ,
Disce and dowell , Doce , and dobet , Dilege , and do-beste ,
Thus taught me once ,
A lemman that I loued , loue was hyr name ,
With wordes & with workes quod she , & wil of thy hert
Thou loue lelly thy soule , all thy lyfe-tyme ,
And so þou learne the to loue , for the lordes loue of heuen
Thyne enimies in all wyse , euen forth with thy-selfe
Cast coles on hys heade , of all kynde of speache
Both with works & with wordes , found hys loue to wyn ,
And lay on hym thus with loue , tyl he laughe on the
And but he bowe for this beating , blind might he be
And for to fare thus with thy frynde folye it were ,
For he that loueth the lellye , lytle of thyne coueteth
Kynde loue coueteth not no cattell but speache
Wyth halfe a lumpe in latine , Ex vi transitionis ,
I beare therin aboute faste bounde Dowell ,
In a sygne of the saturday , that set fyrst the Kalender .
And al the wyt of the wenisday , of þe next weke after
The middle of the mone , as the myght of bothe
And therwyth I am welcome , there I haue it with me .
Undo it let thys doctour deme if dowell be therin
For by hym that me made , myght neuer pouertye
Myse-ase ne mischiefe ne man wyth hys tonge
Colde ne care ne company of theues ,
Ne nether heate ne hayle , ne none helle Powke ,
Ne neyther fyre ne floude , ne feare of thyne enemye
Tene the any tyme , and thou take it wyth the .
Charitas nihil timet .
It is but a Dido quod thys doctour a disertes dis[ou]rs[^a36] tale ,
All the wyt of thys worlde and wight mens strength
Can not confirme a peace betwene þe pope , & his enmies
Ne betwene .ii. two christen kings , can no wight peace make
Profitable to either people , & put the table from hym ,
And toke cleargy and conscience to counsel as it were
That patience þou muste passe for pilgrimes can well lye
And Conscience carped loude , and curteslye sayd ,
Frendes fare well , and fayre spake to cleargy ,
For I wyl go with this gomme , if god wil giue me grace
And be pilgraime with Patient til I haue preued more ,
What quod cleargy to conscience , are ye couetouse nowe
After yeresegyft or gyftes , or yernen to read ryddels ,
I shall brynge you a byble , a boke of the olde lawe ,
And learne you if you lyke , the least poynt to know
That Patience the pylgryme , perfitlye knewe neuer
Nay by Christ quod Consience to Cleargy , god þe foryelde
For al that Patience me profereth , proude am I lyttle
And the wyll of the wye , and the wyll of folke here
Hath meued my mode to mourne for my synnes
The good wyll of a wyght was neuer bought to the full
For there is no treasure therto , to a true wyll
Had not Magdalen more for aboxe a boxe of salue
Than zecheus for he said , Dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus
And the pore wydowe for a payre of mites
Than all tho that offred into Gazophilacium ,
Thus curtessye curteslye[^a37] conscience conged fyrst the fryer
And sythen softlye he sayd in cleargies eare ,
Me were leuer by our lord , and I lyue shoulde
Haue Patience perfectly , then halfe thy pack of bokes
Cleargy of Consience , no congye would take
But sayd full soberlye , thou shalt se the tyme
Whan thou arte werye for walking , wyl me to counsel
That is sothe sayd Conscience , so me god helpe
If Patience be our parting selow [f]elow , & preuye with vs both
There nys wo in thys world , that we ne should amend
And confirmen kynges to peace , and al kynnes londs
Sarazens and Surre , & so forth al the Iewes
Turne into the true fayth , and into one beleue
That is soth quod Cleargye , I se what thou meanest
I shall dwel as I do , my deuour to shewen
And cofyrmen fauntekyns , and other folke learned
Tyll Patience haue preued the and perfect the maked
Conscience tho with patience , passed pilgrymes as it wer
Than had patience as pilgrimes haue , in his poke vitail
Sobrietie and simple speach , & soth-fast beleue
To confort hym and Conscience , if they come in place
There vnkindnes & couetous is , hongry countres both
And as they went by the way , of dowell they carped
They met wyth a mynstrell , as me tho thought
Patience posed him fyrst , and prayed he should tel
To Conscience what craft he culd , & whither he woulde
I am mynstrell quod that man , my name is Actiua vita ,
All idle iche hate , for all actyue is my name
A wafrer well ye wyt , and serue manye Lordes
And fewe roobes I song , or furred gownes
Can I lye to do men laughe , than lachen I should
Other mantell or money , amonges lords or minstrels
And for I can nether taber ne trumpe , ne tell no gests
Farten ne fyslen at feastes , ne harpen
Iape ne iuggle , ne gentilly pype
Ne nether saylen ne saute , ne syng to the gyterne
I hane ha[u]e no good gyftes of these greate lordes
For no bred þat I bring forth , saue a venison on þe sundai
Whan þe priest praieth the puple , þe Paternoster to saie
For Pierce the plouman , and that hym profit wayten
And that am I actyue that idlenes hate
For al true trauelers , and tyllers of the earth
From Myghelmas to Mighelmas , I find hem with my wafers
Beggers and bydders of my bread crauen
Faytours and friers , & folke with brode crownes
I fynd paine for the pope , & prouender for his palfrey
And I had neuer of hym , haue god my truth
Nether prouender ne parsonage , yet of the popes gift
Saue a pardon with a piece of lede , & two poles amids
Had ich a clarke þat could wryte , I wold cast him a byll
That he sent me vnder his seale , a salue for þe pestilence
And þat his blessing & his buls botches might destroy
In nomiue nomi[n]e meo demonia eiicient , et super egros manus im ponent , et bene habebunt .
And then wold I be priest to þe puple , paast for to make
And buxome and busie about bread and drynke
For hym and for all hys , found I that hys pardon
Myght lechen a man , as I beleue it shoulde
For sith he hath the power , that Peter hym-selfe had
He hath the pot with the salue sothely as me thynketh
Argentum et aurum non est mihi , quod autem habeo tibi do .
In nomine domini surge et ambula .
And if mighte of miracle him faile , it is for men be not worth
To haue grace of god , & no gilt of the Pope
For may no blessing done vs bote , but if we wil amend
Ther may no man make peace among christen people
Til pride be purely fordo , & through paine defaut
For ere I haue breade , a meale of mote I swete
Of þe dere yere .
And er þe common haue corne inough , mani cold morning
So ere my wafers ben wrought much wo I tholye
All London I leue lyketh well my wafers
And loure whan they lacke hem , it is not long passed
Ther was a careful common , when no cart came to towne
With bread from Stratford tho gonnen beggers wepe
And workmen were agast a litle this woll be thought longe
In date of our dryght in a drye Apriell
A thousande and thre hundred twyse twenty & ten
My wafers ther wer geisen whan Chicester was Mair
I toke good kepe bi Christ and Conscience both
Of Hankyn[^43]the actyue man , and how he was clothed
He had a cote of christendome as holye kyrke beleueth
And it was moled in mani places with mani sondry plots
Of prid here a plotte , & ther a plot of vnboxome spech
Of schorning & of schoffinge , & of vnskilful bearinge
As in apparel & in power proud among the puple
Otherwise then he hath with hert or sight shewings
Him willyng þat al men wend he were that is not
For why , he bosteth & braggeth with many bold othes
And is vnobedient to ben vndernome of any lyfe liuing
And none so singuler by hym-selfe , nor so pope-holye
Hated as an hermet , an order by hym-selfe
Religion sans rule , and vnreasonable obedience
Lacked lettred men , and lewde men bothe
In lykinge of lele lyfe , and a lyer in Soule ,
With inwyt and out wyt , imaginen and studie
As beste for hys bodye be , to haue a bad name ,
And entermeten hym ouer all , there he hath not to do
Wylnynge that men wend , hys wytte were the beste
And if he giue ought to pore goms , tel what he delith
Pore of possession in purse and in cofer bothe
And as a Lyon on to loke , and Lordely of speach
Boldest of beggers , a boster that nought hath ,
In towne and in tauernes , tales to tell
And saye thyng þat he neuer se , and forsoth swere it ,
Of dedes that he neuer dyd , demen and bosten ,
And of warkes that he well dyd , wytnes and siggen ,
Looe if ye leue me not , or that I lye wenen
Aske at hym or at hym , and he the can tell
What I suffred and see , and sometymes had
And what I coulde and knew , & what kyn I came of
Al he would þat men wyste , of werkes and of wordes ,
Whyche myght please the puple , & prayse him-selfe .
Si hominibus placerem Christi seruus non essem ,
Et alibi , Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire .
By Christ quod Conscience tho , thy best cote Hankyn
Hath many moles and spottes , it must be washed
Yea , who-so toke hede quod Haukyn[^44] , bihinde & bifore
What on back & what on body halfe , & bi þe two sides
Men shold fynd many fowle sides , & mani fowle plots
And he turned hym as Tit , and than toke I hede
It was fowler by fell folde , than it fyrst semed
It was bydropped wyth wrath , and wycked wyll
Wyth Enuy and euyll speache , entysynge to fyght
Lyinge and laughynge , and lefe tonge to chyde
All that he wyste wycked by anye wyght , tellen it
And blame men behynd her back , & bidden hem mischaunce
And that he wyst by Wyll , tellen it to Watte ,
And that Watte wyst , Wyll wyste it after
And made of frendes fooes through a false tonge
Or with might of mouth , or through mans strength
Auenge me fell tymes , other frete my-selfe
Within as a shepesters shere , I shrewed men & cursed .
Cuius maledictione os plenum est , et amaritudine , sub lin gua eius labor et dolor , et alibi : filii hominum dentes eorum arma et sagitte , et lingua eorum gladius accutns accut[u]s .
There is no lyfe that me loueth lastyng any whyle
For tales that I tel , no man trusteth to me
And whan I may not haue þe maistry , such melancholye I take
That I catch þe crampe , þe cardiacle sometyme
Or an ague in suche an anger , and sometyme a feuer
That taketh me all a tweluemoneth , til that I despise
Lechcrafte of our lorde , and leue of a wytche
And say that no clarke ne can , ne Christ as I leue
To þe sortry of Southwarke , or of short dytch dame Eme
And segge þat no gods word , gaue me neuer bote
But throughe a charme had I chaunce , & many chiefe heale
I wayted wisloker , and than was it soyled
Wyth lykynge of lechery , as by loking of his eyghe
For ech a maid that he met , he made hir to sygne
Semyng to synnewarde , and sometyme he gan taste
About the mouth or beneth , begynneth to croppe
Tyll eythers wyll waxeth kene , & to the werke yeden
As well on fastynges & frydayes , & forboden nightes
And as well in lent as out of lent , all tymes ylyke
Suche werkes wyth hem were neuer out of season
Tyll they myght namour , and than mery tales
And how that lechoure louen , laughen and iapen
And of her harlotry and horedome , in her age tellen
Than patience perceyued of poyntes of thys cote
Was colomy throughe couetouse , & vnkind desiryng
More to good than to god , the gomme his loue caste
And imagined howe he it myght haue
With false measures and mete , and with false wyghtes
Lened for loue of the wedde , & lothe to do trouthe
And awayte bi whych waye he myght begyle
And menged hys marchandise , & made a good maistry
The worst within was a great wyt I leete it
And if my neyghbour had any hynde , or any beast els
More profitable than myne , many sleyghtes I made
Howe I myght haue it , all my wyt I caste
And but if I had by other way , at the lest I stole it
Or priuily his purse shoke , vnpiked hys lockes
Or by nyght or by day , about was iche euer
Throughe gyle to gadren , the good that ich haue
If I yede to the ploughe , I pynched so narrow
That a fote lande or a furowe fetche I woulde
Of my next neyghbour , nymen of hys earth
And if I repe ouerrechen , or gaue hem reade that repen
And sese to me with her sycle , that I sewed neuer
And who-so borowed of me , aboughte the tyme
Wyth presentes priuilye , or payed some certayne
So would he or not woulde he , wynnen I woulde ,
And both to kyth and to kynne , vnkinde of þat iche had
And who-so cheped my chaffer , chyden I would
But he profered to paye a penye or twayne ,
More than it was worth , & yet woulde I swere
That it coste me muche more , swore many othes
In holy dayes at holy churche , when iche hard masse ,
Hadde I neuer wyll wote god wytterly to beseche
Mercye of my misdeades , that I ne mourned more ,
For loste of good , leue me , than for my likam gyltes
As if I had deadlye synne done , I dread not þat so sore ,
And whan I lenned & leued it lost , or long er it wer paied
So if I kydde any kindnes , mine euen -christen to helpe ,
Apon a cruell couetous myne herte gan hange ,
And if I sent ouer sea , my seruauntes to Bryges
Or into Pruceland my prentise , mi profit to waiten
To marchaundein with money , & make her exchaunges
Myght neuer me conforten , in the meane whyle
Nether masse ne mattens , ne none maner sightes
Ne neuer penaunce perfourmed , ne Pater noster saide
That my minde was more on my good in a doubt
Than in the grace of god , and in his greate helpe
Ubi thesaurus tuus ibi ibi [et][^a38] cor tuum ,
Which ben the braunches that brynge a man to slouth
He þat mournith not for his mysse , ne maketh no sorowe
And penaunce that the priest inioyneth perfourmeth ill
Doth no almesdedes , dreade hym of no synne
Lyueth agayne the beleue , and no lawe holdeth
Eche day is holye daye with hym or an hyghe fery
And if he ought wyll heare , it is an harlots tonge
Whan men carpen of Christ , or of clennes of soules
He waxeth wroth & wil not hear , but words of mirth
Penaunce & pore men , & the passion of saintes
He hateth to here therof , and al that he telleth
These ben þe braunches beware , þat bringeth a man to wanhope
The lordes & the ladyes , & legates of holy kyrk
That feden foles sages , flatterers and lyers
And haue liken to lithen hem , to do you to laugh
Ue vobis qui ridetis ,
And giue hem meat and mede , and pore men to refuse
In your death diynge , I feare me full sore
Lest tho thre maner of men to much sorow you bryng ,
Consencientes et agentes pari pena punientur ,
Patriarkes & prophetes , & preachers of gods words
Sauen through her sermons mans soule from hell
Ryght so flatterers and foles , arne þe fendes disciples
To entise men throughe hyr tales , to sinne & harlotry
And clarkes that knowen holy wryte , shold ken lords
What Dauid sayth of suche men , as the psalter telleth .
Non habitabit in medio domus mee , qui facit superbiam , et qui loquitur iniqua ,
Shoulde no harlote haue audience in hall ne in chambre
There wyse men were , wytnessen goddes words
Ne no misproude man , amonge lordes ben alowed
And flatterers and fooles , through her lewde words
Leden tho that loue hem , to Lucifers feaste
With Turpiloquio , a lay of sorow & lucifers fidle
Thus Hankyn the actiue man had soyled hys cote
Til Conscience acouped him therof in a curteis maner
Why he had washed it or wyped it with a brushe .

[^a32: mei (Cr1Cr2Cr3R) | mei deus (All other mss)]

[^a33: ad te . & cetera (Cr1) | ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno (Most other mss)]

[^a34: blacke manger bla[n]cke-manger (Cr1) | blancmanger (Most other mss)]

[^a35: onelye (Cr1Cr2Cr3) | one (Most other mss)]

[^a36: disertes dis[ou]rs (Cr1Cr2Cr3) | disours (Most other mss)]

[^a37: curtessye curteslye (Cr1) | curteisliche (All other mss)]

[^a38: ibi ibi [et] (Cr1) | ibi et (Most other mss)]

[^43: Apparently there are seven instances of this spelling in Cr1, and one of "Haukyn".]

[^44: This is the only place in which the name is spelled with a u instead of an n]

Passus ,xiiii, quattuordecimus de visione ,

[^45] I Haue but one hole hatir quod Hankin , I am þe les to blame
Thow it be soiled & seld clene , I slepe therin on nights
And also I haue an huswife , ewen & children
Uxorem duxi et ideo non possum venire .
That wollen by-molen it , many adayes maugry my chekes
It hath ben laued in lente , & out of lente both
With the soupe of sickenes , that seketh wonder depe ,
And with the losse of cattell , loth for to a gylt
God or any good man , by ought that I wiste
And was shriuen of a priest , that gafe me for my sinnes
To penaunce Patience , and pore men to fede
Al for couetis of my christendome , in clennes to kepe it
And could I neuer by Christ , kepe it cleane an houre
That I ne soyled it with sight , or with some idle speach
Or through work or through word , or wil of my hert
That I ne slober it foule , from morowe tyll euen
And I shall kenne the quod Conscience , of contrition to make
That shal claw thy cote , of al kinds of filth .
Cordis contritio . &cetera .
Dowel shal wash it & wryng it , through a wyse confessoure
Oris confessio ,
Dobet shal beat it & bonke it as bryght as any scarlet
And engrauen it with good wyl , & gods grace to amend þe
And sithen send the to satisfaction , for to sowen it after .
Satisfactio dobeste ,
Shal neuer chest bymolen it , ne mough after byte it
Ne fende ne false man , defoulen it in thy lyfe
Shall no heraude ne harper , haue a fayrer garmente
Than Hankin the actyue man , & thou do by my teaching
Ne no minstrel be more worthe , amonge pore & ryche
Than Hankyns wyfe the waferer , with hys actiua vita
And I shal puruey þe paast & patience , though no plow erye
And floure to fede folke withal , as best be for þe soule
Thoughe neuer grene growed , nor grape apon vyne
All that lyueth and loketh lyuelode woulde I fynde
And that inough shal none faile , of thing þat hem nedeth
We should not be to busy aboute oure lyuelode
Ne soliciti sitis . &cetera , Uolucres celi deus pascit , &cetera , patien tes vincunt ,
Than laughed Hankyn a lytle , and lyghtly gan swere
Who-so leueth you bi our lord , I leue not he be bleste
No quod Conscience Patiently , and out of his poke hent
Uytailes of greate vertues for all maner beastes
And sayd looe here liuelode inoughe , if oure beleue be true
For lent neuer was life , but liuelode were shapen
Wherof or wherfore , or wherby to lyue
Fyrste the wylde worme vnder wete earth
Fyshe to lyue in the floude , and in the fyre the creket
The kurlew by kind of hem are clenest flesh of byrds
And beastes by grasse and by grene , & by grene rotes
In meanynge that all men might the same do ,
Lyue through lele beleue , & loue as god wytnesseth .
Quodcumque petieritis a patre meo in[^a39] nomine meo , & cetera , Et alibi Non solo pane viuit homo , sed in omni verbo quod procedit de ore meo ,
And I loked what liuelod it was , þat patience so praised
Haue Hanken quod Patience , & eate thys whan þe hungreth
Or whan thou clomsest for colde , or clyngest for drye
Shall neuer gyues the greue , ne great lordes wrathe
And it was a piece of þe Pater noster , Fiat voluntas tua
Prison ne payne , for Patientes vincunt ,
By so that thou be sobre of syght and of tonge
In eatyng , & in handelyng , and in all thy fyue wyttes :
Darst thou neuer care for corne , ne lynen cloth ne wollen
Ne for drynke ne death dreade , but dye as god lyketh
Or through honger or through heate , at hys wil be it
For if thou liue after hys lore , the shorter life þe better .
Si quis amat Christum , mundum non diligit istum .
For through his breath beastes waxed & abrode yeden
Dixit et facta sunt .
Ergo throughe hys breath may men and beast liuen
As holy wryte wytnesseth whan men sein her graces
Aperis tu manum tuam et imples omne auimal a[n]imal benedictione .
It is found that forty winter folke liued without tilling
And out of þe flint spronge the floud þat folke and beastes dronke
And in Helies time heauen was closed
That no raine ne ronne , thus reade men in bokes
That many wynter men lyued , & no meate ne tiliden
Seuen slept as sayth the boke , seuen hundred wynter
And lyued without lyuelode and at the last they woken
If men liuid as mesure wold , shud neuer mor be defaut
Amonge christen creatures if christes wordes be true
And vnkindnes Charistiam , maketh amonge christen puple
And ouer plenty maketh pryde amonges pore & rych
Therfor mesure is so mich worth it mai not be to dere
For the mischife & the mischaunce amongs men of Sodom
Wext throughe plenty of payne and of pure Slouth
Ociositas et habundantia panis , peccatum turpissimum nutriuit .
For they measured not hem -selfe of þat they eat & drancke
They dyd deadly synne that the deuyll lyked
So vengeaunce fel apon hem for her vyle synnes
They sonken into hell the cityes eche one
Therfore mesure we vs wel & make faith our feltron
And through fayth cometh contrition Conscience wot wel
Whych dryueth away deadly syn & doth it to veniall
And though a man might not spek contrition might saue
And bring his soul to blisse , be so þe fayth were witnes
That while he liued he beleued in þe lore of holy kyrke
Ergo contrition fayth & conscience , is kindly dowel
And surgeons for dedly sin , whan shrift of mouth faileth
And shrift of mouth more worthi is , if man be lik contrit
For shryft of mouth sleeth sinne , be it neuer so deadly .
Per confessionem to a prieste , peccata occiduntur ,
Ther contrition doth driue downe into veniall synne
As Dauid sayth in the psalter , Et quorum secta [t]ecta[^a40] sunt peccata
And satisfaction seketh oute the rote
And bothe slepe and voydeth
And as it neuer had ben to nought , bringeth dealy dea[d]ly sin
That eft it is not sene ne sore , but semith a wound helid
Where wonith chariti quod Hankin , I wist neuer in mi lyfe
Man that wyth hym spake , as wyde as I haue passed
That perfit trouth & pore herte is , & Patience of tong
There is charitie þe chiefe chamberer for God hym-selfe
Wher patient porti quod Hankin be mor plesant to our dright
Than ryches rightfully wonne , & resonably dispended
Ye quis est ille quod Patience , quyke laudabimus eum
Though men read of ryches , right to the worlds end
I wist neuer reuke re[n]ke þat rych was , þat whan he reken should
When he drough to his dethes day , þat he ne drad him sore
And that at þe rekening in arerage fel , rather then out of dette
There þe pore dare plete & preue by pure reason
To haue alowaunce of his lord , bi þe law he it claimeth
Ioy that neuer ioy had , of ryghtfull iudge he asketh
And seeth so byrdes and beasts þat no blys ne knoweth
And wild worms in woods by winters yow greuith
And maketh hem welnyghe meke , & milde for defaute
And after þou sendest hem somer , that is hir souerayn ioye
And blysse to that bene bothe wylde and tame
Than may beggers as beastes after bote wayten
That all hir lyfe haue lyued , in langour and in defaute
But god sent hem sometime , some maner ioye
Or here or els where , kynde woulde it neuer
For to wrotherhele was he wroght , that neuer was ioy shapen
Angels þat in hel now ben , had ioye sometime
And Diues in dentis lyued , and in Douce vie
Ryght so reason sheweth that the men that were rych
And her makes also , liued her lyues in myrth
And god is of a wonderous wil , by þat kind wit shewith
To giue mani man mercimonie , er he it hath deseruid
Right so fareth god by some rich , ruth me it thinketh
For they haue her hyre here , and heuen as is were
And great lykyng to lyue , without laboure of the bodye
And when he dyeth , he disalowed , as Dauid said in the psalter
Dormierunt et nihil inuenierunt inuenerunt[^a41] .
And in an other stede also , Uelut sompnum surgentium domine
In ciuitate tua et ad nichillum rediges ,
Alas that ryches shal reue , and robbe mans soule
From the loue of oure lord , at his last ende
Hewen that haue her hyre afore , are euermore nedy
And seld dieth he out of det , that dineth or he deserue it
And tyll he haue done hys deuour , & hys dayes iorney
For whan a workman hath wrought , than men say þe soth
What he were worthy for his worke , & what he hath deserued
And not to sing before , for dred of disanulling
So I say by you ryche , it semeth not that ye should
Haue heauen in your here beryng , and heuen hereafter
Right as a seruant taketh his salary before , & sith wold claim more
As he that none had , & hath hire at þe last
It may not be the rych men , or Mathew on god lieth
De delitiis ad delitias difficile est transire
And if the ryche haue ruth , and reward well the pore
And lyue as lawe teacheth , done leauty to hem all
Christ of hys curtesy shal confort you at the last
And reward you al double ryches , þat ruful hert haue
And as an hyne that had hys hyre , ere he begone
Whan he hath done his deuour wel , men do him ouirbount
Giue him a cote aboue hys couenaunt , right so Christe geueth heuen
Both to rych & not rich , þat rufully liueth
And al þat done her deuour wel , haue double hire for hir trauel
Here forgiuenes for her sins , & heuen blis after
And it is but seld sene , as by sayntes bokes
That god rewarded double rest to any rych man
For much myrth is among rych , as in meat & clothes
And much myrth in May is amongest wylde beastes
And so forth the while somer lasteth , her solace dureth
And beggers aboute mydsomer , breadles they soupe
And yet is winterfor winter for hem worse , for wetshode thei gang
A-furst sore , and a-fyngred , and fowle rebuked
And rated of ryche men , that ruth is to heare
Nowe Lorde sende hem somer , and some maner ioye
Heuen after her hence goyng , þat here haue such defaute
For all myghtest þou haue made , none meaner than other
And lyke wytty and wyse , if the well had lyked
And saue ruth of these rich men , þat reward not thy prisoners
Of the good that þou hem giuest , ingrati ben many
And god of thy goodnes giue hem grace to amende
For may no derth ben hem dear , drough ne wete hem greue
Ne neyther heate ne haile , haue they her heale ,
Of that they wyl and would , wanteth hem not here
And pore puple thi prisoners lord in þe put of mischefe
Confort the creatures , that much care suffren
Through death through drough , all her dayes here
Woo in wyntertymes , for wantynge of clothes
And in somer tyme selde soupen to the full
Conforte thy carefull Christe in thy ryches
For how þou confortest all creatures clarkes bereth witnes
Conuertimini ad me , et salui eritis .
Thus In genere , of gentryes Iesu Christ sayde
To robbers and to reuers , to rych and to pore
Thou taughtest hem in thy trinitie to take baptisme
And be cleane through þat christening of all kins sinnes
And if vs fyll through foly to fall in synne after
Confession and knowledginge , and crauing thy mercy
Shal amend vs as many sythes as man would desire
And if the Pope would plede here-agayne and punysh vs in conscience
He should take the acquitaunce as quycke
And to the queed shew it , Pateat &cetera. per passionem domini
And put of so the pouke , and preuen vs vnder borow
And the parchmin of the Patente , of pouerty be most
And of pure patiente and perfect beleue
Of pompe and of pryde , the parcemyn declareth
And principalitie of al people , but they be pore of hert
Els is all idle , and all that euer we wryten
Paternoster and penaunce , and pilgrimages to Rome
But our spenses and spending sprynge of true wyl
Els is all our labour loste , lo howe men wryteth
In fenestres at the Fryers , if false be the fundament
Therfore christen shold be in commen rych , none couetise for him-self
For seuen synnes þat ther be assailen vs euer
The fend foloweth hem al , and foundeth hem to help
And with ryches that rybaude , he rathest men begileth
For there that ryches raygneth , reuerence foloweth
And that is pleasaunt to pryde in pore and in rych
And the rych is reuerenced , by reason of hys ryches
And the pore is put behynd , & peraduenture can more
Of wyt and of wisedome , that farre awaye is better
Than ryches or rialtye , and rather hard in heuen
For þe rych hath much to reken , & right ofte him þat walketh
The hye way to heuenward , ryches hym letteth
Ita possibile diuiti , &cetera
There the pore praiseth before þe rych with a pake at his rygge
Opera enim illorum sequntur illos ,
Batauntly as begers done , & boldly he craueth
For hys pouerty and his patience , a perpetual blysse .
Beati pauperes , quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum
And pryde in riches raygneth , rather than in pouertye
Erst in the master or in þe man , some mantion he haueth
And in pouerty there patience is , pryde hath no might
Ne none of the seuen synnes , syt ne may there longe
Ne haue power in pouertye , if patience it folowe
For the pore is aye preste , to please the ryche
And buxome at hys byddyng , for hys broke loues
And buxomnes and bost are euermore at warre
And either hateth other in all maner workes
If wrath wrestle with the pore , he hath the worse ende
And if they both pleyne , the pore is but feble
And if he chyde or chatter , hym cheueth the worse
And if couetise catch the pore , they mai not come togithers
And by þe nek nameli , ther none mai hent other
For men knowen well that couetouse is of kene wyll
And hath handes and armes of a longe length
Pouerti is but a petit thing , apperith not to his nauel
And louelike was yet neuer bitwene , þe long & þe short
Though auarice wold angry þe pore , he hath but litle might
For poreti hath but pokis , to put in his goods
Their auarice hath almaries , and iron bound cofers
And whether be lyhgter to breake , & lasse bost maketh
A beggers bagge , than an yron bound cofer
Lechery loueth hym not , but he geueth but litle siluer
Ne doth hym not dyne delicatlye , ne drynke wyne ofte
A straw for the Stewes , it stode not I trowe
Had thei nothing but of pore men , her houses stod vntild
And though slouth sue pouerty , & serue not god to pay
Myschiefe is hys master , and maketh hem to thyncke
That god is hys greatest helpe , and no gome els
And he hys seruaunt as he sayth , and of his sute both
And whether he be or be not , he bereth þe sygne of ponerty po[u]erty
And in þat secte our sauioure , saued al mankynd
Therfore all pouertie that patient is , may claime and asken
After her endynge here , enlyche blysse .
Much hardier mai he aske , þat here might haue his wil
In londe and in lordeshyp , and in lykinge of body
And for gods loue leueth all , and liueth as a begger
And as a mayd for mans loue , hir mother forsaketh
Hyr father and all hyr frendes , & foloweth hyr make
Much more is the loue of hym , that such one taketh
Than a mayden is , that is maried through brocage
As by assent of sundry parties , and siluer to bote
More for couetous of good , than kynde loue of bothe
So it fareth by eche parson , that possession forsaketh
And put hym to be patiente , & pouerty weddeth
Such is sybbe to god hym-selfe , and so to hys sayntes
Haue god my trouth quod Hankyn , ye praise fast pouerty
What is pouerty with Paticience quod he properly to mene
Paupertas quod Patience , Est odibile bonum , Remotio curatum cura[r]um[^a42] , possessio sine calumpnia , Donum dei , Sa nitas mater , Absque solicitudine semita. Sapientie tempera trix , negocium sine damno , incerta fortuna , absque solicitudine felicitas ,
I can not construe al this quod Hankyn , ye must ken this in english
In english quod patience , it is wel hard to expound
And somedeale I shal say it , by so thou vnderstande
Pouerty is the fyrst poynt , that pryd most hateth
Than it is good by good skyll , all that agasteth pride
Ryght & contricion is a confortable thing , Conscience wot it wel
And sorowe of hym-selfe , & solace to the soule
So pouerty properly , penaunce and ioye
Is to the bodye pure spirituall leche .
Ergo Paupertas est odibile bonum ,
And contrition conforteth , and Cura animarum ,
Selde syt pouertye , the soth to declare
For as iustice to iudge men , enioyned is no pore
Ne to be mayre aboue men , ne minister vnder kinges
Selde is any pore put to punyshe any people .
Remotio curarum ,
Ergo pouerty & pore men performen the commaundemente
Nolite iudicare quemquam , the thyrde
Selde is any pore men rych , of ryghful heritage
Winneth he not with weight false , ne with vnseled mesures
Ne boroweth of his neighbors , but that he may wel paye
Possessio sine calumpnia ,
The fourth is a fortune that florisheth the soule
With sobrietie from al synne , and also yet more
It afayteth the fleshe from foles full many
A collaterall conforte , Christes owne gyfte .
Donum dei ,
The fift is mother of health , a frende in all fondinges
And for the lande euer a leche , a lemman of al clennes .
Sanitas mater ,
The syxte is a path of peace , ye through þe paas of alton
Pouertye myght passe without peryll of robbing
For there that pouerty passeth , peace foloweth after
And euer the lesse that he bereth , þe harder he is of hert
Therfore saith Seneca , Paupertas est absque sollicitudine
And an hardy man of hert , amonge a heape of theues .
Cantabat Cantab[i]t[^a43] paupertas coram latrone viatore viator[^a44]
The seuenth is wel of wysdome , & few words sheweth
Therfore lords alow him litle , or lysten to his reasone
For he tempereth his tong to truthward , and no treasour coueteth
Sapientie temperatrix ,
Theght is a lely labourer , and lothe to take more
Than he well deserueth in somer or in wynter
And if he chaffreth he chargeth no lose , may he charity winne
Negotium sine damno
The nynth is swete to the soule , no suger is sweter
For Patience is payne , for pouerty hym-selfe
And sobrety swete drynke , and good lech in syckenes ,
Thus lerned me a lettred man , for our lords loue of heuen
Saint Austen a blessed lyfe wythout busines ladde
For body and for soule , Absque solicitudine felicitas
Now god that al good geueth graunt hys soule reste
That this first wrote to wissen men , what pouerty was
Alas quod Hankin þe actiue man tho , þat after my christendome
I ne had be dead and doluell , for dowels sake
So harde it is quod Hankyn to lyue , & to do no synne
Synne sueth vs euer quod he , and sory gan wepe
And wept water with hys eyen , and wayled the time
That euer he dyd dede that dere god displeased
Swowned and sobbed , and syghed full oft
That euer he had lond lordshyp lesse or more
Or maistry ouer any man , mo than of hym-self
I were not worthy wotte god quod Hankyn to were anye clothes
Ne nether shyrt ne show , saue for shame only
To couer my caroen qnod q[u]od he , and crien mercy fast
And wepte and wayled , and therwyth I waked

[^a39: meo in (Cr1) | in (All other mss)]

[^a40: secta [t]ecta (Cr1) | tecta (All other mss)]

[^a41: inuenierunt inuenerunt (Cr1) | inuenerunt (All other mss)]

[^a42: curatum cura[r]um (Cr1) | curarum (All other mss)]

[^a43: Cantabat Cantab[i]t (CrCotR) | Cantabit (All other mss)]

[^a44: viatore viator (WCrM) | viator (Most other mss)]

[^45: The capital is ofset in the margin to the left .]

Passus ,xv, quindecimus finit de dowell , et incipit dobet

ANd after my wakyng , it was wonder long
Ere I could kyndly know what was dowel
And so my wyt wexe & waued , til I a fole wer
And some lacked me self , allowed it few
And letten me for a lorell , and loth to reuerencen
Lordes or Ladyes , or any lyfe els
And persons in pelure , wyth pendantes of siluer
To sargeauntes ne to suche , sayde I not once
God loke you lordes , ne louted fayre
That folke helden me a fole , & in that foly I reygned
Tyll reason had ruthe on me , and rocked me a-slepe
Tyll I se as it sorcery were , a sotle thyng wyth-all
One wythouten tong & teth , told me whither I shold
And wherof he came , and of what kynde , I coniured hym at laste
If he were christes creature , anon me to tellen
I am christes creature quod he , & christen in many a place
In christes courte I-knowe wel , & of hys kyn a party
Is nether Peter the porter , ne Poule with his faucheon
That wyll defende me the dore , dynge I neuer so late
At mydnyght at midday , my voyce is so know ,
That ech a creature of his court , welcommeth me faire
What ar ye called quod I in þat court , among christs puple
The whils I quicken þe course quod he , callid am I Anima
And whan I wyll and wold , Animus iche hate
And for that I can and knowe , called am I Mens
And whan I make mone to god , Memoria is my name
And whan I deme domes , and do as trouth teacheth
Than is Rasio my right name , reason on Englishe
And when I fele þat folke tellith , my first name is sensus ,
And that is wit and wisdome the well of all craftes ,
And when I chalenge or chalenge not , chepe or refuse
Than am I conscience called , gods clerke & his notary
And when I loue lelly our lord and all other
Than is Leliloue my name , and in latin Amor ,
And when I flee from the flesh and forsake the caroin
Than am I spirite specheles , spiritus than iche hate
Austin and Isodorus eyther of them bothe
Named me thus to name , now thou might chese ,
How þou couetist to cal me , now þou knowst al mi names
Anima pro diuersis actionibus , 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 , vel consentit , con sciencia est , dum spirat spiritus est
Ye bene as a bysshop quod I , all bourdinge þe time
For bisshops blessed , they beare many names ,
Presull and Pontifex , and metopolitanus ,
And other names an hepe , Episcopus and Pastor .
That is soth sayd he , now. I se thy will ,
Thou woldest know & ken þe cause of al their names ,
And of mine if thou mightest me thinke by thi speach
Ye sir I sayde , by so no man were greued ,
All the sciences vnder sunne and all the suttel craftes ,
I wold I knew and coud kindly in mine harte ,
Than arte þou imperfit quod he and one of prids knightes
For such a lust and liking lucyfer fell from heauen
Ponam pedem pedem [meum][^a45] pedem in aquilone , et simulis ero altissimo .
It were agaynst kind quod he , and kinnes reason ,
That any creature shuld kenne all , except Christ one ,
Agayne such Salomon speaketh , & dispiseth her wits
And sayth Sicut qui mel comedet multum , non est ei bonum Sic qui scutator est maiestatis opprimitur a gloria ,
To English this is to mene þat mowen speake & heare
The man þat much hony eateth , his maw it englemith
And the more þat a man of good matter heareth ,
But he do therfore it doth him doble scaeth ,
Beatus est sayth saint Barnard qui scripturam legit
Et verba vertit in opera , fully to his power
Couetise to ken and to knowe science
Put out of Paradse Parad[i]se Adam and Eue ,
Sciencie appetitus hominem immortalitatis gloria spoliauit
And right as honi is iuel to defy & englimeth þe maw
Right so he þat through reason , wold þe rote know ,
Of God & of his great mights , his graces it letteth ,
For in the liking lyeth a prid and likames couetyse ,
Against Christs counsel , and al clerkes teaching
That is. Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere
Friers & fel other masters þat to þe lewd men preachen ,
Ye mouen matters inmesurable to tel of the trynyty ,
That oftimes þe lewd people of their beliefe douten ,
Better beleue where many docters such teaching
And tel men of ten commaundements , & touchen þe seuen sinnis
And of þe branches þat budde of them , & bringen men to Hell
And how that folke in folies mispend their fiue wyttes
As well friers as other folke , folilish spenen ,
In housing in hatering & into high clergie shewinge
More for pompe then for pure charitie , þe peple wote þe soth
That I lye not so , for lords they plesen ,
And reuerencen the rather for their siluer .
Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia , Et alibi vt quid di ligitis vanitatem et queritis mendacium ?
Go to the glose of the verse , the greate Clarkes
If I lye on you to my lewed wit , leade me to brenning
For as it semeth ye forsake no mans almes ,
Of vsurers of hoores of auarous chapmen
And louten to these lordes , that maye lene you nobles ,
Agayn your rule and religion I take record at Iesus
That saide to his disciples Ne sitis personarum acceptores
Of thys mater I might make a longe byble
And of curats of christen peple , as clerks bear witnes .
I shal tellen it for truths sake , takehed take hed who-so lykith ,
As holines & honesti out of holychurch spredith ,
Through lelly liuing men , that Gods lawe teachen
Ryght so out of holychurch al euels spredith .
Ther inperfite presthode is prechers and techers .
I se it by ensample in sommertime on trees ,
There some bowes bene leued , and some bere none .
There is a mischefe in þe moore of such maner bowes
Right so of parsons & pristes & prechers of holichurch
That are roote of the right fayth to rule the people
And there the roote is rotten reason wote the soth ,
Shal neuer floure ne frute ne fayre leafe be grene ,
Therfore wold ye lettred men leaue þe licheri of clothing
And be kind as befel for clerkes & curteis of Christs , goods ,
True of your tong and of your tayle both
And hate to her harlotrie , and not to vnderfonge
Tithes but of true thing tilyed or chafferid ,
Both were lewede men , but they your lore folowed .
And amenden hem þat misdone , more for your ensamples
Than to preache and proue it not , hypocrisie it semeth ,
For hipocrisie in laten is lykened to donghyll ,
That were besnewed with snowe and snakes within
Or to a walle were whittimed & were foule within ,
Right so many priestes preachers and prelates ,
Ye were enblanched with Belopolis & with clothes also
And your works & your words therunder are ful vnlouely
Iohannes Chrisostomus , of clerks spekith & prists
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur : sic de templo omne malum procedit . Si sacerdotium incorruptum[^a46] fuerit : tota flo ret Ecclesia . Si autem corruptum fuerit : omnium fides marci da est , si sacerdotium fuerit in peccatis : totus populus conuer tetur[^a47] ad peccandum . Sicut cum videris Arborem palidam et marcidam inteliges intel[l]ig[i]s[^a48] quod vicium habet , in radice : Ita cum dideris [v]ideris[^a49] populum indisciplinatum et irreligiosum , sine dubio sacerdotium eius non est sanum .
If lewde men wist what this latin meaneth ,
And who was mine auctour , much wonder me thin=
but if mani prists bere for hir base lords & their bro=
A payre of bedes in their hands , & a booke vnder their arme ,
Sir Iohn & sir Ieffery hath a girdle of siluer
A baselard or a ballocke knife , with bottons ouergilt
And a portus þat shuld be his plow , Placebo to synge .
Had he neuer seruice to saue siluer therto , seith it with ydle wil
Alas ye lewde men much lese ye on priests
And a thing that wickedly is won , & with false sleights
Wold neuer wit of witty God , but wickid men it had ,
The which are prists imperfit & prechers after siluer
Executores & sodemes , samoners & their lemmans ,
That þat with gyle was gotten vngraciously is spended ,
So harlots and hoores are holpen with such goods
And Gods folks for defaute therof for-faren & spillen ,
Curatours of holy kyrke as clerkes þat bene warous ,
Lightly that they leuen osels [l]osels it habbeth ,
Or dyeth intestat and the bisshop entreth ,
And makith mirth their-midde and his men bothe ,
And siggen he was an nigarde þat no good might spare
To frende ne to fremid the finde haue his soule
For a wretched house he healed , all his life time ,
And þat he spared and disperid , spende we in mirthe .
By learned and by lewde that loth is to spend ,
Thus gone their goods , be the ghoost faren
And for good men Godwot God wot , great dowel men maken ,
And bemeaneth good meatgeuers , & in mind haueth
In prayers and in penance , and in perfit charitie ,
What is charitie quod I tho ? a childish thing he sayd ,
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli nou no[n] intrabitis intrabitis [in][^a50] intrabitis regnum celorum
Without fauteltie or folie , fre liberall will ,
Wher shuld men find such a frind with so fre a herte ,
I haue lyued in longe quod he , my name is long wyll ,
And founde I neuer full charitie before ne behynde
Men be merciable to mendinauntes and to pore
And wollen lene there they leue , lelly to be payed
Chariti þat Poul praisith best , most plesing to our Lord
Is Non inflatur non est ambitiosa , non querit que sua sunt
I se neuer suche a man so god me helpe
That he ne would aske after hys , & otherwhyle couet
Thynge that neded hym not , & nyme it if he myght
Clarkes kenne me that Christe is in all places
And I se him neuer sothly , but as my-selfe in a myrror .
In enigmate , tunc facie ad faciem ,
And so I trowe trulye bi that men tell of charitie
It is not champions fyght , ne chaffer as I trowe
Charitie quod he chaffreth not , ne chalengeth ne craueth
As proude of a peny , as of a pounde of golde
And is as glade of a gowne of graye russet
As of a tunicle of tars , or of tried scarlet ,
He is glade with all glade , and good to all wycked
And leueth and loueth all that our lorde made
Curseth no creature , ne he can beare no wrath
Ne no likinge hath to lye , ne laughe men to scorne
All that men sayne he lete it soth , & in solace taketh
And all maner mischiefe , in mildenes he suffreth .
Coueteth he no earthly good , but heuenlych blysse
Hath he any rentes or riches , ne retcheth he neuer
For a frend þat findeth him , fayleth him neuer at nede
Fiat voluntas tua , fynde hym euermore
And if he souped , eateth but a soupe of Spera in deo ,
He can portrey wel þe Pater noster , & paint it with Pitie .
And otherwhyle he is wonne to wend on pilgrymage
There pore men & prisoners ligged , her pardon to haue
Though he bear hem no bread , he bear sweter liuelod
Louith him as our lord bade , & lokith howe thei fare
And whan he is wery of þat worcke , than wold he somtime
Laboure in lauendrye , well the length of a myle
And yerne into youth , and yepely speake
Pryde with all thappertenaunces , & pake hem togithers
And bonden hem at hys brest , and beate hem cleane
And liggen on long with Laboraui in gemitu meo ,
And with warme water at hys eyen , washen hem after
And than he syngeth whan he doth so , And sometyme sayth wepynge ,
Cor contritum et humiliatum deus non despicies
By Christ I would I knew him quod I , no creature leuer
Wythout the helpe of Pyerce Ploughman quod he Hys person seest thou neuer[^46]
Where clarkes knowe hym quod I , þat kepen holy kyrke ,
Clerks haue no knowing quod he , bi works & bi words
And Pierce the Plowman , parceyueth more depelye
What is the wyll & wherfore , þat many wight suffreth
Et vidit deus cogitationes eorum ,
For there are full proude herted men patient of tong
And boxome as of beringe , to burgeis and to Lords
And to pore people haue pepper in the nose ,
And as a Lyon he loketh , there men lacke his workes
For there are beggers & bydders , bedemen as it were
Loken as lambren , and semen lyue holye
And it is more to haue her meat , with such an easi maner
Than for penaunce or perfitnes , þe penaunce þat such taketh
Therfore by colour ne by cleargy , know shalt þou neuer
Nether through works nor words , but through wil one
And þat knoweth no clarke , ne creatnre creat[u]re on earth ,
But Pierce the Ploughman , Petrus id est Christns Christ[u]s ,
For he is not in lolliers , ne in landelyppers hermettes
Ne in ancres there a boxe hangeth al such they fayten
Fye on faytours , and infautores in fautores suos ,
For charitie is gods champion , & as a good child hend
And the meriest of mouth , at meat wher he setteth
The loue þat lieth in his hert , maketh him light of spech
And is compaignable and confortatyue , as Christ byd him-selfe
Nolite fieri sicut hypocrite tristes .
For I haue sene hym in sylke , and somtyme in russet
Both in graye and in gryse , and in gylt harneys
And as gladly he it gaue to gommes that it neded
Edmunde and Edwarde eyther were kynges
And saintes sette , for charitye hem folowed
I haue sene charitye also syngen and reden
Ryden and runnen in ragged weddes
And bydden as beggers behelde I hym neuer
And in ryche robes rathest he walketh
Called and Crimised and hys crowne shaue
And in a Fryers froke he was found once
And it is ferne ago , in saynt Frances tyme
In that sect syth to selde , hath he be knowe
Riche men he recommendeth & of their robes taketh ,
That withouten wyles ledeth her lyues
Beatus est diues qui . et cetera .
In kings court he cometh oft ther the councel is true
And if couetis be of councell , he wil not come therin ,
In court amonges iapers , he commeth not but selde ,
For brauling & bacbiting and bearinge false wytnes ,
In þe consistori before þe comissari he comith not ful oft
For their law dureth ouerlong , but if they lachen siluer
And matrimony for money maken and vnmaken ,
And that conscience and Christ hath knilte fast ,
They vndone it vnworthely the docters of lawe ,
And I ne lacke no lyue , but lorde amend vs all ,
And geue vs grace good God charitie to followe
For who-so might mete with himsuch him such maners him ayleth
Neither he blameth ne banneth , bosteth ne prayseth
Lacketh he ne loseth , ne loketh vp sterne ,
Craueth ne couetith ne crieth after more ,
In pace in idipsum dormiam et requiescam
The most liuelod he liuith by , is loue in gods passion
Nether he biddeth ne beggeth , ne boroweth to yelde ,
Misdoth he no man ne with his mouth greueth ,
Amongest christen men this mildnes shuld last ,
In all maner angers haue this in herte ,
That though he[^47] sufferid all this , God sufferid for vs more
In example we shuld do so , & taken no vengeaunce ,
Of our foes þat done vs falsenes , þat is our fathers wil
For wel may euery man wit if God had wold him-self
Shuld neuer Iudas ne Ieu haue Iesus done on rode
Ne haue martrid Peter ne Paule , ne in prison holden ,
And he suffred in example that we shulde suffre also ,
And sayd to such þat suffre wold that Patientes vincunt .
Uerbi gracia quod he , and veray examples manye
In legenda sanctorun sanctoru[m] , the life of holy saynctes ,
What penance & pouertie and passion they suffered ,
In hongre in heat in all maner angers .
Anthony and Egidie and other holy fathers
Wending in wyldernes among wylde beastes ,
Monkes and mendynantes men by them-selfe
In spekes & spelunkes selden speaken togethers
And nether Anthoni nor Egidine heremit that time ,
Of lyons ne of leoperds , ne lyuelode to take
But of foules that flyeth this fynden men in bookes :
Except that Egidie after an hinde cryed
And through the milke of that milde beastethe beaste the man was susteyned ,
And day by day had neuer nought his hongre to slake ,
But seld & sundry tymes as saith the boke & techeth .
Anthony a dayes about none time
Had a byrde þat brought him breade that he by lyued ,
And though the gome had a gest , God found hem both
Poule primus hermita had proroked p[ar]roked[^a51] hym-selfe
That no man myght hym se for mosse and for leaues ,
Fowles hym fed felle winters wythall
Till he founded fryres of Austens ordre
Poule after his preaching , panyars he made ,
And wan with his handes that his wombe neded .
Peter fyshed for hys foode and hys fellowe Andrewe
Some they sold & some they soth , & so they liued both
And also Mary maudlen by moores lyued & dewes ,
And most through deuocion & mind of God almighti
I shulde not these seuen dayes seggen them all
That liued thus for our lordes loue many long yeres ,
And ther ne was lyon ne leoperd that on landes went
Neyther bere ne bore ne other beastes wilde
That ne fell to their fete & fawned with their tales ,
And if they coud haue carped , by Christe as I trowe ,
They wold haue fed that folke before wylde fowles ,
And God sent them foode by foules & by no fierse bestes
In mening that meke thing mild thing shulde fede
As who say religious rightfull men shuld finde ,
And lawfull men to lyfholy men lyuelode bryng ,
And than wold lordes and ladies beloth be loth to agilte ,
And to taken of their tenaunts more then truth wolde ,
Found they that friers wolde forsake their almes ,
And bidden them bere it , there it was borowed
For we bene Gods fowles and a-biden alway ,
Tyll byrdes bring vs that we shuld lyue by ,
For had ye potage & pane inough , & peniale to drinke
And a mes there amyde of one maner kynde ,
Ye had right inough ye religious so your rule me told
Nunquam ( dicit Iob ) rugit Onager cum herbam habuerit Aut mugiet bos , cum ante plenum presepe steterit . Brutorum animalium natura te condempnat . quia cum eis pabulum commune sufficit suffici[a]t[^a52] , ex adipe prodiit iniquitas tua .
If lewde men knew this laten they wold lok whom they geue
And aduise them afore a fyue dayes or syxe ,
Er they amortised to monkes or chanons theyr rentes
Alas lordes and ladies lewde councell haue ye
To giue from your heyres that your ayles you lefte ,
And giue it to byd for you to suche as bene ryche
And bene founden and fed eke to byd for other ,
Who performeth this prophecy of þe peple that now liueth
Dispersit dedit pauperibus .
If any penple people performe þat text , it are these pore freres ,
For that they begge about , in building they spend it ,
And on hem-selfe some , and such as ben her laborers
And of hem þat haueth not they take , & geueth hem þat haueth
And clarkes and knightes , & communers that ben rych
Fell of you fareth , as if I a forest had
That were full of fayre trees , and I found a cast
Howe I myght moo therin amonge hem set
Ryght so ye ryche , ye robbe that ben ryche
And helpeth hem that helpeth you , & geueth there no nede is
And who-so fylleth a tunne of a fresh ryuer ,
And went forth with that water , to woke with temese
Ryght so the ryche ye robbe and fedde
Hem that haue as ye haue , hem ye make at ease
And religious þat ryche ben , should rather fest beggers
Than Burgesis þat rich ben , as the boke telleth .
Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare
Item peccatoribus dare est demonibus Immolare ,
Item Monache , si indiges[^a53] et accipis , potius das quam accipis ,
Si autem non indiges et accipis , rapis . Porro non
Indiget Monachus , si habeat quod nature sufficit .
Therfore I counsel al christen to conforme hem to charitye
For charitie without chalengynge , vnchargeth þe soule
And mani prisoner by his praierhe praier he pulith from paine
And there is a defaut in the folke , þat the faith kepeth
Wherfore folke is the febler , and not firme of beleue
As in Lushburgh is aluther alay , yet lokith like sterling
The mark of þat mony is good , & þe metle is feble
So farith it bi some folk now , thei haue a faire spech
Crowne and christendome , the kings marke of heuen
And the metal þat is mans soule , with sinne is foule alaied
Both lettred and lewde , ben alayed now with sinne
That no lyfe loueth other , ne our lord as it semeth
For by war & wicked works & weders vnresonable
Wether wysheppers , and wytty clarkes also
Haue no beleue to þe lift ne to þe lore of Philosophers
Astronomers aldaye in her herte faylen
That whilome warned before , what should fal after
Shipmen & shepheardes , þat wyth shyp & shepe wenten
Wyshen by the welken what shoulde betyde
As of weders and wyndes , they warned men oft
Tyllers that tylled the earth tolde hyr masters
By the seed that they sewe , what they sell myght
And what to leue & what to liue bi , þe land was so true
Now faileth þe folke of þe floode , & of the lande bothe
Shepeheardes and shypmen , and so do these tyllers
Nether they canneth ne knoweth one course before an-other
Astronomers also are at her wyttes ende
Of þat was calculed of thelement , the contrary thei finde
Grammer the ground of all , begileth now the children
For it is non of these new clarks , who-so nimeth hede
Not one among a hundred that an auter can construe
Ne read a letter in ani langage , but in laten or in english
Go now to any degre , and but if gyle be mayster
And flatterers his felowe vnder hym to fourmen
Much wonder me thynketh amonge vs all
Doctours of degrees , and of diuinitie maisters
That should kenne and knowe all kynnes cleargy
And answere to argumentes , and also to a Quod libet
I dare not say it for shame , if such were apposed
They shold fayle of her philosophy , & in phisike both
Therfore I am afrayed of folke of holy kyrke
Lest thei ouerhipen as other done , in officis & in houris
And if thei ouirhip as I hope not , our bileue sufficeth
As clarkes in Corpus Christi feaste , singen and reden
That Sola fides sufficit , to saue with lewde people
And so may Saracines be saued , scribes and Iewes
Alas than but our lores men , lyued as they lerne vs
And for her liuyng þat lewde men be , þe lother god a gylt
For Saracines haue somwhat seming to our beleue
For they loue and beleue , one god almyghtye
And we lerned and lewed , in one god beleue .
And one Mahomet a man , in misbeleue brought
Saracines of Surrey , and se in what maner .
At the first he was christen , & for he might not be pope
Into Surrey he sought , & throughe hys sottle wyts
Daunted a doue , and daye and nyght her fed
The corne that she cropped he cast in hys eare
And if he among the puple preched , or in places come
Than woulde the Culuer come , to the clarkes eare
Mening as after meat , thus Mahomet hir enchaunted
Than did folke fal on knes , for he swore in his preching
That the Culuer that came so , came from god of heuen ,
As messenger to Mahomet , men for to teache
And thus through wyles of his wyt , & a white doue
Mohomet in misbeleue , men and women brought
That liued tho there and liuen yet , leuing on his lawes
And sith our sauiour suffred , þe Saracines so begiled
Through a christen clarke , accursed in hys soule
For dread of death , I dare not tell truth
How englyshe clarkes a Culuer fede , þat couetise hate
And bene maner of Mahomet , þat no man vseth truth
Ancres and hermets , monkes and friers
Peren to Apostles through her perfit liuynge
Wold neuer the faithful father , þat his ministers shold
Of tyrantes that teneth true men , take any almes
But done as Anthony did , Dominike & Frauncis
Benet and Barnarde , the which hem first taught
To lyue by lytle & in low houses , by lely mens alms
Grasse should growe and be grene , through her good liuing
And folkes shold fynd þat ben in diuerse sikenes
The better for her biddynges , in body and in soule
Their prayers & their penaunces , to peace shold bring
All that ben at debate , and bedmen were true .
Petite et accipietis . & cetera .
Salte saue thy cattel sayen the wyues .
Uos estis sal terre .
The henedes he[u]edes of holy churche , and they holy were
Christe calleth hem salt , for christen soules
Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur ?
For freshe fleshe other fyshe , whan it salt fayleth
It is vnsauery forsoth sodde or baked
So is mans soule sothly , that seeth no good exemple
Of hem of holy kyrke , þat the heigh way should teache
And be gyde and go before , as a good rauenour
And harden hem þat behind ben , & giue hem good euidence ,
Alenuen Aleuen holy men , all the worlde turned
Into lelly beleue , the lyghtloker me thynketh
Shoulde all maner men , we haue so many maysters
Priestes and preachers , and a Pope aboue
That gods salte shoulde be , to saue mans soule
All was heathennes sometyme , Englande & wales
Tyll Gregory garde clarkes to go here & preach
Austen at Canturbury christened the kynge
And bi miracles as men mai rede , al þe marsh he turnid
To Christe and to christendome , & crosse to honoure
And fulled folke faste , and the fayth taught
More through myracles , than through much preching
As wel through works , as through his holy words
And said hem what fullinge , and faith was to meane
Cloth that commeth from the weuing is not comely to wear
Til it be fulled vnder fote , or in fullyng stocks
Washen well wyth water , and with tasels cratched
Touked and teynted , and vnder taylours hande
And so it fareth bi a barne , that borne is of a wombe
Til it be christnid in christs name , confirmid of þe bishop
It is heathen as to heauenward , & helples to þe soule
Heathen is to meane , after heth and vntilled earth ,
As in wylde wyldernes , waxeth wylde beastes
Rude and vnreasonable , runnyng wythout cropers
Ye menen wel how Mathew saith , how a man made a feast
He fed hem with no venison , ne Fesauntes baked
But with fowls þat from hym nold , but folowed hys whistelinge
Ecce altilia mea , et omnia parata sunt .
And wyth calues fleshe he fedde þe folke that he loued
The calfe betokeneth clennes in hem that kepeth lawes
For as þe cow through kind milke , þe calfe nourisheth til an Oxe
So loue & leauty lely men susteyneth
And maydens and mylde men mercy desiren
Ryght as the cowe calfe coueteth swete mylke
So done ryghtfull men mercye and truth
And who be þat excuseth hem , that ar persons & priests
That heneds he[u]eds of holy kyrke ben , that haue her wil here
Without trauel þe tyth deale , that true men beswinken
Thei wold wroth for I write this , & to witnes take
Both Mathew & Marke , and Memento domine Dauid
What Pope or prelate nowe perfourmeth þat Christe hight
Ite in vniuersum mundum , et predicate euangelium .
Alas that men so longe , on Makometh should beleue
So many prelates to preache , as the Pope maketh
Of Nazareth of Niniue , of Nepthalim & Damasce ,
That they ne went as Christ wysheth , sithen they wyll haue name
To be pastour and preache the passion of Iesus
And as hym-selfe sayd , so to liue and dye .
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit . & cetera .
And said it in saluation to Saracines and other ,
For christen and vnchristen , Christ sayd to preachers
Ite vos in vineam meam .
And sith that these Saracins scribes and Iewes
Haue a lyppe of our beleue , the lyghtlier me thynketh
They shoulde turne who-so traueled , to teach hem of the trinitye
Querite et inuenietis . & cetera .
It is ruth to rede howe ryghtwyse men lyued
Howe they defowled her fleshe , forsoke hyr own will
Farre fro kyth and from kinnne kinne ill clothed yeden
Badly bedded , no boke but Conscience
Ne no ryches but the rode , to reioyce hem therin
Absit vos gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri . &cetera .
And tho was plenty and peace , among pore & ryche
And now is ruth to rede how the redde noble
How co uetise of þe cleargy wyll de stroy the church .
Is reuerenced or the rode , & receiued for the worthier
Than christes crosse þat ouercame death & deadly sinne
And now is warre and woo , and who-so why asketh
For couetise after crosse , the crowne standes in golde
Both rych and religious , that rode they honour
That in grotes is grauen , and in golde nobles
For couetous of that crosse , men of holy kyrke
Shall turne as templers did , the time approcheth nere
Wyt ye not ye wyse men , how tho men honoured
More treasure than throuth , I dare not tell the sothe
Reason and ryghtfull dome , the religious demed
Ryght so you clarkes for your couetise er longe
Shal they deme Dos ecclesie , and your prid depose .
Deposuit potentes de sede , &cetera .
If knyghode and kynde wyt , & commune by conscience
To-gyther loue lelly , leueth it well ye byshoppes
The lordshyps of landes , for euer shall ye lese
And lyue as Leuitici , as our Lorde you teacheth .
Per primitias et decimas . &cetera .
Whan Constantyne of curtesy , holy kyrke dowed
Wyth landes and leades , lordshyps and rentes
An angell men harden on hyghe at Rome crye
Dos ecclesie , thys daye hath dranke venyme
And they that haue Peters power , are poysoned all
A medicine muste therto , that may amend prelates
That Should praye for peace , possession hem letteth
Take her landes ye lordes , & let hem lyue by demes
If possession be poyson , and imperfit hem make
Good were it to discharge , hem for holy kyrkes sake
And purge hem of poyson , ere more peryll fal .
If priesthode were perfect , the people should amend
That contrarien Christes law , & christendome despise
For all Paynymes prayeth , and perfectly beleueth
In the holy great god , and his grace they asken
And make her mone to Mahomet , her message to shewe
Thus in fayth liue that folke , & in a false meane
And þat is ruth of ryghtfull men , þat in realme wonneth
And a peril of the Pope , and prelates that he maketh
That bear bishops names , of Bethlem , & of Babilon
That hip about in Englande , to hallow mens auters
And crepen among curatours , confessen agayne the law
Nolite mittere falcem , in messem alienam .
Mani a man for christes loue , was martyred in Rome
Er any christendome was knowne ther , or any crosse honored
Eueri bishop þat bereth cros , bi þat he is holden
Through his prouince to passe , & to his puple to shew
Tellen hem and teachen hem on the trinitie to bileue
And feden hem with gostly fode , & gyue ther it nedeth
In domo mea non est panis , neque vestimentum . Et ideo nolite , constituere me regem .
Ozias sayth for such that sycke be and feble .
Inferte omnes decimas in horreum meum , vt sit cibus in domo mea .
And we christian creatures that on the crosse beleuen
Are fyrme as in the fayth , gods forbod else
And haue clarkes to kepe vs therin , & hem þat come after
And Iewes liuen in lelli loue , our lord wrote it him-self
In stone for it stedefast was and stand shal euer

[^a45: pedem pedem [meum] (Cr) | pedem meum (All other mss)]

[^a46: incorruptum (Cr) | integrum (All other mss)]

[^a47: conuer tetur (Cr) | conuertitur (Most other mss)]

[^a48: inteliges intel[l]ig[i]s (Cr) | intelligis (Most other mss)]

[^a49: dideris [v]ideris (Cr1) | videris (All other mss)]

[^a50: intrabitis intrabitis [in] (Cr) | intrabitis in (All other mss)]

[^a51: proroked p[ar]roked (Cr) | parroked (Most other mss)]

[^a52: sufficit suffici[a]t (Cr) | sufficiat (All other mss)]

[^a53: indiges (Cr) | eges (All other mss)]

[^46: KD notes only MS R as having this mid-line break following he]

[^47: Cr1.15.263: Cr's reading is unique , reflecting Crowley's failure to recognize the he form as "they."]

Dilige deum et proximum , is perfect Iewes lawe
And toke it to Moyses to teach men , til Messias come
And on that lawe they leue yet , and leten it the best
And yet knewe they Christ , that christendome taught
For a perfit prophet , that much people saued
Of selkoughe sores , they sawe it oft
Both of myracles & meruailes , & howe he men feasted
With two syshes fyshes & fyue loues , fyue thousand puple
And by þat mangery men might se , þat Messias he semed
And whan he lift vp Lazar , that layed was in graue
And vnder stone and stanke with styfe voyce him called .
Lazare veni foras .
Dyd him rise and Roome ryght before the Iewes
And they said and swore with Sorcery he wrought
And studed to destroy hym , and stroyed hem-selues
And throughe his patience her power to naughte he brought
Uincunt patientes[^a54] .
Daniell of her doynge diuined and sayde .
Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit vnctio vestra .
And wenen tho wretches þat he were pseudopropheta
And that hys lore be lesynges and lacken it all
And hopen that be to come , that shall hem releue
Moyses eft or Messie , her masters yet diuineth
And Phariseis and Sarasins , scribes and Grekes ,
Are folke of one fayth , the father god they honouren
And sithen that the Sarasins and also the Iewes
Konne the fyrst clause of our beleue , Credo in deum
Prelats of christen prouinces shold preue if thei might
To learne hem lytle & lytle , Et in Iesum christum filium ,
Tyl they could speake and spel , Et in spiritum sanctum .
And reade it and record it with remissionem peccatorum .
Carnis resurrectionem , et vitam eternam. Amen .

[^a54: Uincunt patientes (Cr) | Pacientes vincunt (All other mss)]

Passus xvi sedecimus et primus de dobet .

NOw fair fal you quod I tho , for your fair shewyng
For Hankens loue þe actiue man euer I shal you loue
And yet I am in a were þat chariti is to meane
It is a full tried tree , quod he truly to tell
Mercy is þe moore therof , the middle stocke is ruth
The leaues ben lelly words , the law of holy kyrke
The blossomes ben buxome speach , & benygn loking
Patience hight the pure tre , & pure simple of herte
And so through god & good men , growth þe frut chariti
I wold trauel quod I , thys tre to se , twenty .C. hundred myle
And for to haue mi fil of þat frut , forsake al other salue
Lord quod I if any wight wyt , whither out it groweth
It groweth in a garden quod he , that god made him-self
Amiddes mans bodi , the moore is of that stock
Hert hight the herbor , that it in groweth
And Liberum arbitrium , hath the lande to farme
Under Pierce the ploughman , to pyke it & to wede it
Pierce the Plowman quod I tho , & al for pure ioye
That I hard nempe his name , anone I swoned after
And lay longe in a lone lo[u]e[^a55] dreame , & at laste me thought
That Pierce the Plowman , all the place me shewed
And bade me to totre on þe tree , one crop & one rote
With .iii. three piles was it vnderpight , I perceiuid it sone
Pierce quod I , I praye the , why stond these pyles here ?
For windes wylt þou wyt quod he , to wyten it from fallinge .
Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur , quia dominus supponit manum suam .
In blowing time byte þe flours , but if thes piles help
The world is a wicked wind , to hem that wyl trouth
Couetise comith of þat wind , & crepith among the leaues
And forfretith nigh þe fruit , through mani faire sights
Than with þe first pile , I pale him down , þat is Potentia Dei Patris
The flesh is a fel wynde , & in flouryng tyme
Through liking and lustes , so loud gynneth to blow
That it nourisheth nye sightes , & sometime words
And wycked workes thereof , wormes of synne
And forbyteth the blosomes , euen to the bare leaues
Than set I to the seconde pyle , Sapientia dei Patris
That is the passion and the power of our prince Iesu
Through prayers & throughe penaunce , & gods passion in mynde
I saue it til I se it ripen , & some-dele fruted
And than fondeth the fend , my frute to destroye
Wyth all the wyles that he can , & waggeth the rote
And casteth vp the crompe vnkynde neyghbours
Backbyters breake the chest , brawlers & chiders
And leyeth a ladder therto , of lesynges are þe roundes
And fetcheth a-way mi flours , somtime afore both mine eies
And Liberum arbitrium , letteth hym sometyme ,
That is leuetenaunt to loken it well , bileue of mi-selfe
Uideatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum numquam remittetur Hoc est idem qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repurgatur repu[gnat][^a56]
And whan the find & the flesh forth with the worlde
Manacen behinde me my frute for to fetche ,
Than liberum arbitrium latcheth the first polante ,
And palleth a doune the pouke purely through grace
And helpe of the holyghost , & thus haue I þe mastrie .
Now fayre fall you piers quod I , so fayre ye driscriuen ,
The power of these postes and their propre mighte ,
And I haue thought a threwe of these thre pyles
In what wood thei wopen , & where that they growed
For all ar they a-lyke long , no lesse than other
And to mi mind as me thinketh on a more they growed
And of greatnes and grene of greyne thei semen
That is soth quod pyers so it may befall
I shall tell the as tite what this tree hyght ,
The ground there it groweth , goodnes it hight
And I haue told þe what hight þe tre , þe trinitie it meaneth
And egerly he loked on me , & therfore I spared
To aske him any more therfore & bad him full fayre ,
To descryue the frute that so fayre hangeth ,
Here now beneth quod he tho , if I nede had
Matrimony I may name , a moist frute with-all ,
Than continence is nere the crop as cayleway bastard
Than beareth the crop kinde frute and clenest of all ,
Maidenhod angelles pere , and rathest wilbe ripe
And swete without swelling , soure worth it neuer ,
I prayed pyers to pull downe an appull and he wold
And suffre me to assaye what sauour it had
And piers cast to the crop and than comsed it to crye ,
And waged widowhead , and it wept after ,
And whan it meued matrimony it made a full noyse ,
I had ruth whan Piers ragged , it grad so ruthfully
For euer as they dropped downe , þe deuel was ready
And gathered them altogether both great & smalle ,
Adam and Abraham and Esay the prophete
Sampson Samuell and saynct Iohn the Baptist
Bare hem forth boldly , no body him let
And made of holy men his horde , In limbo inferni .
There is darckenes and drede and the deuell mayster
And pyers of pure tene of that apple he caught
He hit oft at him , hit if it might ,
Filius , by the faders wil and frenes of , Spiritus sancti ,
To go rob that rageman and reue the frute from him ,
And[^a57]speke , Spiritus sanctus , in gabriels mouth ,
To a mayde that hight marie a meke thinge withall
That one Iesus a Iustice sonne must ionken io[u]ke[^a58] in hir wombe
Till Plenitudo temporis , fully commen were
That pyers frute flored and fyll to rype ,
And shuld Iesus iust therfore by iudgment of armes
Whether shuld song the fruet the fend or him-selfe .
The mayd mildly tho the messenger grated ,
And sayd hendly to him , lo me his handmaden ,
For to worke his will without any sinne .
Ecce ancilla domini , fiat mihi . &cetera .
And in the wombe of þat wenche was he forty wekes ,
Till he wexe a fainct through hir flesh & of fyghtinge coud
To haue fought with þe fend er ful time come
And pyers the plowman perceiued plener time ,
And learned him lechecraft his life for to saue ,
That woundid with his enmy , he might warish him-selfe
And did him assay his surgery on them that seke were
Till he was perfit practiser if any perill fell ,
And sought out the seke and sinfull both ,
And salued seke and sinful both blind and croked ,
And common women conuerted and to good turned .
Non est sanis opus medico sed . &cetera .
Both messels and mute and in the menison bloudye
Oft he heled such , he ne held it for no masterie ,
Saue tho he heled Lazar that had ley in graue ,
Quatridianus Quatrid[u]anus[^a59] , Quelt quicke . did him wake .
And as he made the mastiriee Mestus cepit esse
And wept water with his eien there seighen it manie
Some that he sight , sighen ayde that tyme ,
That he was leche of lyfe , and lorde of heigh heauen ,
Iewes iangle there agayne , and iudged lawes
And sayd he wrought through wychcraft , & with the deuils might
Demonium habes .
Than are ye cherls quod I , and your children both
And Satan your sauiour , your-selfe now ye wytnes
For I haue saued your-selfe saith Christ , & your sons after
Your bodyes your beastes , & blynd men holpen
And fedde you with two fishes , & wyth fyue loues
And left baskets ful of broken meat , bear awai þat wold
And missayd the Iewes manly , & manaced hem to bete
And knocked on hem with a corde , & cast down her stals
That in church chafferden , or chaungeden any money
And sayd it in sight of hem all , so that al hearden
I shal ouerturne thys temple , and adowne throwe
And in three dayes after edifie it newe
And make it as muche or more , in al maner poyntes
As euer it was and as wyde , & therfore I hote you
Of prayers and of perfitnes , thys place that ye cal
Domus mea domus orationis vocabitur .
Enuye and euyl wyll was in the Iewes
They casten & contriueden to kil him whan they might
Eche day after other , her tyme they awayted
Tyll it befell on a fryday , a little before paske
The thursday before there he made hys maundy .
Sitting at the supper he sayd these wordes
I am sold through one of you he shall the time rue ,
That euer he his sauiour sold for siluer or elles
Iudas iangled there agayn , and Iesus him tolde ,
It was him-selfe sothly and sayde Tu dicis ,
Than went furth that wicked man & with þe Iewes met
And told them a token how to know Iesus ,
And which token to this day to much is vsed ,
That is kissing and fayre contenance & vnkind will ,
And so was wyth Iudas tho , that Iesus betrayed ,
Aue rabi quod that ribaud and right to hym he yede ,
And kist him to be caught therby & killed of þe Iewes
Than Iesus to Iudas and to the Iewes sayde
Falsenes I finde in thy fayre speche
And gyle in the glade chere and gal in the laughinge
Thou shalt be mirrour to many men to deceyue ,
And þe work & thy wickednes shal worth vpon thi-self
Necesse est vt veniant scandala , ve homini illi per quem scada lum sca[n]da lum venit ,[^48]
Though I by treason be take at your owne will
Suffre mine apostles in pease and in paise gange ,
On a thursday in the sterns thus was he take
Through Iudas and Iewes Iesus was his name ,
That on the fryday following for mankind sake
In stede in Ierusalem a ioy to vs all
On crosse vpon Caluerie Christ toke the battell
Against death & the deuel destroyed both her mights
Died and death fordid , and day of night made ,
And I awaked therwith & wiped mine eyne
And after pyers the plowman pried and stared ,
Estward and westward , I wated after fast
And yede furth as an Idiote in contry to espye ,
After Pierce the Plowman , many a place I sought
And than met I wyth a man , a midlenten sonday
As hore as a Hathorne , and Abraham he hyght
I frayned him firste from whence he came
And from whence he were , & whether that he thought .
I am faith quod that freke , it falleth not to lie
And of Abrahams house an heraude of armes
I seke after a segge that I se once
A full bolde bachiler , I knewe him by hys blasen
What bereth that burne quod I tho , so blisse the betide
Thre leodes in one lyth , none lenger than other
Of one Michel and might , in mesure and in length
That one doth al doth , and ech doth bi his owne
The first hath might and maiestie , maker of al things
Pater is hys propre name , a person by him-selfe
The seconde of that sire is sothfastenes Filius ,
Warden of that wit hath , was euer without ginning
The thirde hight the holy goste , a person by him-selfe
The light of all that life hath , a lond and a water
Confortour of creatures , of him commeth all blysse
So thre belongeth to a lord that lordeshyp claymeth
Might and a meane to know his might
Of him and of his seruant , & what they suffer both
So god that ginning haddeneuer hadde neuer , but tho him good thought
Sent forth his sonne as for seruaunt þat time
To occupy him here , till issue were spronge
That is children of charity , and holy kirke the mother
Patriarkes and prophetes & apostles were þe children
And Christ and christendome , and christen holy kirke
In mening that man must in one god beleue
And there him liked & loued , in one person him shewed
And that it may be so and soth , manhode it sheweth
Wedlocke and wydowhead , with virginitie nempned
In tokeninge of trinitie , was out of man taken
Adam our olde father , Eue was of him-selfe
And thissue that they had , it was of hem both
And either is others ioye , in thre sondrye persons
And in heauen and in earth , one singuler name
And thus is mankind or manhode , of matrimony sprong
And betokeneth the trinitie , and true beleue
Mighty is matrymonye , and multyplieth the earth
And betokeneth truly , tell if I durste
Hym that firste formed al , the father of heauen
The sonne if I durst saye , resembleth wel the wydow .
Deus meus deus meus , vt quid dereliquisti me .
That is creator was creature , to know what was both
As wydow without wedlocke was neuer yet se
No more might god be man , but if he mother had
So widowe without wedlocke , may not wel stonde
Ne matrimony without mulier is not much to praise
Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in Israel .
Thus in thre persons is perfitly manhode
That is man and his make , and mulier children
And is not but gender of generation , bifore Iesu Christ
So is the father forthwith the sonne , & frewil fre wil of hem both
Spiritus procedens a patre et filio .
Whiche is the holy goste of all , and is but one god
Thus in a somer I him se , as I sate in my perche
I rose vp and reuerenced him , & right faire him grete
Thre men at my sight , I made well at ease
Washe her fete and wiped hem , & after they eaten ,
Calues fleshe & cakebread , & knewe what I thought
Ful true tokens betwene vs ben , to tell whan me liketh
Fyrst he fonded me , whether I loued better
Him or Isaac myne heire , which he high me to kill
He wyst my wyll by hym , he woll me it alowe
I am full syker in soule therof , and my sonne boeth
I circumcised my sonne sithen , for hys sake
My-selfe and my meyny , and all that male were
Bled bloud for þat lordes loue , & hope to blysse þe tyme
Mine affiance and my fayth is firme in thys beleue
For him-selfe behyght to me , & to myne issue both
Londe and lordeshyppe , and life wythout ende
To me and to myne issue , more yet he me graunted
Mercy of our misdedes , as many tymes as we aske .
Quam olim Abrahe promisisti et semini eius .
And syth he sent me to see , I shoulde do sacrifice
And done him worship with bread & with wine both
And called me fote of hys faith , his folke for to saue
And defend him from the fend , folke that on me leueden
Thus haue I ben his Heraude , here and in hell
And conforted many a careful , þat after his comming waiten
And thus I seke him he said , for I heard say late
Of a barn þat baptised him , I. Iohn[^49] Baptist was his name
That to patriarkes & to prophetes , & to other people in darknes
Said that he se here , þat should saue vs al .
Ecce agnus dei . &cetera .
I had wonder of his wordes , and of his wyde clothes
For in his bosome he bare a thing , þat he blessed euer
And I loked in hys lappe , a Lazare lay therin
Among patriarkes and prophetes , pleying togyders
What awaytest thou quod he , & what wouldest þou haue
I would wit quod I tho , what is in your lappe
Lo quod he and let me se , lord mercy I said
This is a present of mich price , what prince shal it haue
It is a precious present quod he , & þe pouk hath it atachid
And me thermid quod þat man , ther may no wed me quite
Ne no barne be our borow , ne bring vs from his danger
Out of þe powkes pinfold , no mainprice may vs fetch
Tyl he come that I carpe of , Christ is hys name
That shal deliuer vs some dai , out of þe deuils powr
And better wede for vs ligge than we be all worthy
That is life for life , or lygge thus euer
Lollinge in my lappe , til such a lorde vs fetche .
Alas I said that sinne so longe shall lette
The myght of gods mercy , that might vs wel amend
I wept for his wordes , with that I saw an other
Rapelych renne forth , the ryght way he went
I frained hym firste , from whence he came
And what he hyghte , & whether he wold , & wighly wigh[t]ly[^a60] he tolde

[^a55: lone lo[u]e (Cr1) | loue (All other mss)]

[^a56: repurgatur repu[gnat] (Cr) | repugnat (Most other mss)]

[^a57: And (Cr) | And þanne (All other mss)]

[^a58: ionken io[u]ke (Cr) | iouke (Most other mss)]

[^a59: Quatridianus Quatrid[u]anus (Cr1) | Quatriduanus (Most other mss)]

[^a60: wighly wigh[t]ly (Cr1) | wightly (Most other mss)]

[^48: KD does not list this variant.]

[^49: Is this an expansion?]

Passus .xvii. septemdecimus de visione .

I Am Spes quod he , and spye after a knyght
That toke me a mandement vpon þe mont Sinai
To rule al realmes with , I bear þe wryte here
It is ensealed I said , many men se the letters
Nay he sayd I seke him , that hath the seale to kepe
And þat is crosse & christendome , & Christ theron to hang
And whan it is ensealed so , I wot wel the soth
Than Lucifers Lordeshyp , shall last no lenger
Let vs se the letters quod I , we myght the lawe knowe
Than pulled he forth a patent , a piece of a hard roche
Wherin were written these words , on this wise iglosed
Dilige deum , et proximum tuum . &cetera .
This was the text truly , I toke full good yeme
The glose was glorious , written with a gylt penne .
In hiis duobus mandatis , tota lex pendet et prophete .
Be here al thy Lords laws , quod I , yea leue me he sayd
And who-so worcheth after this write , I wyl vndertake
Shal neuer deuil you dere , ne death in soule greue
For thoughe I saye it my-selfe , I haue saued with thys charme
Of men & women , many score thousandes
He saith soth said this heraude , I haue it found oft
Lo here in my lappe , that leued on that charme
Iosue and Iudith , and Iudas Machabeus
Yea and .vi. six thousand beside forth , þat ben not sene here
Your words are wonderful quod I tho , whiche of you is truest ?
And lelest to leue on , for life and for soule
Abraham sayth , that he se wholy the trinitie
Thre persons in percels , ech departable from other
And al thre but one god , thus Abraham me taught
And hath saued that beleued so , & sory for her synnes
He can not se the commune , and some are in his lappe
What neded it than , a newe lawe to beginne
Sith the first sufficeth to saluation and blysse
And now commeth Spes , & speaketh þat hath espied the law
And tellith not of þe triniti , þat toke him his letters
To beleue and loue in our Lorde almyghty
And sith right as my-selfe , so loue all the people
The gome þat goth with a staffe , he semeth in great heale
Than he that goth with two staues , to sight of vs al
And ryght so by the rode , reason me sheweth
It is lighter to lewde men , one lesson to knowe
Than for to teach hem two , & to hard to learne the leste
It is full harde for any man on Abraham bileue
And wel away worse yet for to loue a shrewe
It is lighter to leue in thre louely persons
Than for to loue and leue as wel lorelles as lelly
Go thy gate quod I to Spes , for so me god helpe
Tho that learne thy lawe , wel litle while vsen it
And as we wenten in þe way , thus wording togithers
Than se we a Samaritan ryding on a mule
Rydinge well rapely , the right way we yeden
Cumming from a contrye men call Iericho
To a Iustice at Ierusalem he chaseth away fast
Both the heraude and hope , and he met at once
Where a man was wounded , and with theues taken
He might neither steppe ne stand , ne stirre fote ne hand
Ne helpe him-self sothly , for Semiuife he semed
And as naked as a nedle , & no helpe about him
Fayth had first syght of him , and he fle a-syde
And would no nyghen him by nine landes length
Hope came hippinge after , that had so bosted
Howe he with Moses maundement , had many men holpen
And whan he hadde sight of þat segge , aside he gan hym draw
Dredfully by this day , as duck doth from faucon
And so sone this Samaritan had syght of this leode
He lyght downe of liarde , and ladde him in his hand
And to the wye he went , his woundes to beholde
And perceiued by hys pulse , he was in perel to dye
And but he had recouered the rather , þat rise shoulde he neuer
With wine and with oyle his woundes he washed
Enbaumid him & bound his hed , & in his lap him laide
And lad him so forth on lyard to Lex Christi , a graunge
Wel sixe miles or seuen beside the newe market
Herberd him at an hostry , and to the hostler called
And sayd haue kepe thys man , til I come from the iustis
And lo here siluer he sayd , for salue for his woundes
And he toke him two pence for liuelode as it were
And said who-so spend more , I make it good heraftir
For I may not let quod that leode , & liarde he bestrideth
And raped him to Ierusalem the right way to ryde
Fayeth folowed after faste , and fonded to meten hym
And Spes spaklich him sped , spede if he might
To ouertaken him & talke to him , er he to towne come
And whan I se this I soiourned not , but shope me ren
And sewed that samaritane , that was so ful of pytye
And graunted him to be his grome , gramercy he said
And thy frend & thy felow , thou findest me at nede
And I thanked him tho , and syth I him tolde
How that fayth fle away , & Spes & his felow both ,
For sight of þe sorowful man , þat robbed was with theues
Haue hem excused quod he , her helpe may little auayle
May no medicine on molde , the man to heale brynge
Neither faith ne fyne hope , so festred be his woundes
Without the bloude of a barne , borne of a mayden
And he be bathed in that bloude , baptised as it were
Than plastered with penaunce , & passion of that baby
He shold stand & step , & stalworth worth he neuer
Til he haue eaten all the barne , & his bloude dronken
For went neuer wye in this world through þat wildernes
That he ne was robbed or rifled , wode he or yed
Saue fayth and his felowe , Spes , and my-selfe
And thy-selfe nowe , and suche as suen our workes
For outlawes in the woode , and vnder banke loutith
And may ech man see , and good marke take ,
Who is behinde & who before , & who-so ben on horse
For he halt him hardier on horse , than him þat is on fote
For he se me þat am Samaritan , suen faith & his felow
On my caple that hight Caro , of mankind I toke it
He was vnhardy that harlot , & had him in inferno
And er this day thre dayes I dare vndertaken
That he worthe fettred that felon , faste with chaines
And neuer eft greue gome , that goeth this ilke gate
And than shal faith be foster forster[^a61][^50] here , & in this frith walke
And kennen out common men , that knowen not the contry
Which is the wai þat I went , and wherfore to Ierusalem
And Hope þe hostilers man , shal be ther þe man lieth in healing
And al , þat feble & faint be , þat faith mai not tech
Hope shall leade hem for loue , as his lore teacheth
And hostelen hem & heale , through holy kirkes beleue
Tyll I haue salue for al sycke , & than shal I returne
And come agayne by this contrie , & conforten all sycke
That craueth it or coueteth it , and crieth therafter
For þe barne was borne in Bethlem , þat with his blode shal saue
Al þat liuen in faith , & folowe his felowes teching
A swete sir sayd I tho , whether shal I beleue
As Fayth and hys felowe , enfourmed me both
In thre persons depertable , that perpetual wer euer
And all thre but one god , thus Abraham me taught
And hope afterward he bade me to loue
One god with all my good , and al gomes after
Loue hem lyke my-selfe , and our lord aboue al .
After Abraham quod he , that heraude of armes
Set fast thy faythe , and fyrme beleue
And as hope hyghe the , I hote the that thou loue
Thyne euen-chresten euermore , euen -forth with thy-selfe
And if conscience carpe ther-againe , or kind wit other
Or heritikes with argumentes thine hand þou him shewe
For god is after an hand , here nowe and know it
The father was first as a fyst , with one fynger holdyng
Tyll hym loued and lust , to vnlosen hys fynger
And put it forth as with a paum , to what place it shuld
The paume is pureli þe hand , & proferith forth þe fingers
To minister & to make , þat might of hande knoweth
And betokeneth truly , tell who-so lyketh
The holy goste of heauen he is as the pawme
The fyngers that fre be , to folde and to serue
Betokeneth sothly the sonne , þat sent was to the earth
That touched and tasted , at techinge of the pawme
Saynt Mary a maide , and mankinde laught .
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto .
The father is than as a fiste , with finger to tonch to[u]ch[^51]
Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum .
All that pawme perceiueth profitable to fele
Than are they all but one , as it an hande were
And thre sondry syghtes in one shewynge
The pawme , for he putteth forth fyngers & fist both
Ryght so reddily reason it sheweth ,
That he that is holy goste , syre and sonne preueth
And as the hande holdes harde , & all thinges fast
Through four fingers & a thombe , forth with þe pawme
Right so the father & the sonne , & saint Spirite þe thyrd
Wythin hem thre the wyde worlde holden ,
Both the welken and the wynd , water and earth
Heauen and hell , and all that therin is
Thus it is , nedeth no man trow none other
That thre thynges belongeth in our lorde of heauen
And are Serelopes bi hem -self , a-sonder were they neuer
No more than my hand may , moue without my fingers
And as my fiste is full , hand folden togythers
So is the father a full god , former and maker .
Tu fabricator omnium . &cetera
And all that myght myd him , is in making of thinges
The fingers formen a full hand , to purtrey & to paynte
Caruynge and compassinge , is craft of the fingers
Ryght so is the sonne , the science of the father
And full god as is the father , no febler nor no better
The paume þat is pureli þe hand , hath power bi him-self
Otherwise than þe wretchen fist , or workmanship of fingers
For the pawme hath power to put out all þe ioyntes
And to vnfold the folden fiste at the fingers wyll
So is the holy goste god , neither greater ne lesse
Than is the syre and the sonne , & the same myght
And al ar they but one god , as is mi hand & mi fingers
Unfolden and folden , my fist and my pawme
All is but one hande , howe-so-euer I turne it
And who-so is hurte in the hande , euen in the middes
He may receyue ryght nought , reason it sheweth
For the fingers that folde should , and the fist make
For payne of the pawme , power hem fayleth
To cratche or to clawe , to clyppe or to holde
Were the middle of my hand maymed or perished
I should receiue ryght uought [n]ought[^52] , of that I rech myght
And though my thombe be & my fingers boeth were to-shullen
And þe middle of my hand without malese
In many kinnes maners , I might my-selfe helpe
Both moue and amend , though all my fingers oke
By thys skill me thinketh I se an euident
That who-so sinneth in the saint Spirite , assoyled worth he neuer
Nether here ne else-wher , as I here tell .
Qui peccat in spiritum sanctum . &cetera .
For he þat[^a62] pricketh god as in þe pawm , Qui[^a63] peccat in spi spi[ritum sanctum][^a64] .
For god þe father is a fist , the sonne is a fynger
The holy gost of heauen , is as it were the pawme
And whoso sinneth in saint Spirite , it semeth þat he greueth
God that he grypeth with , & would his grace quench
And to a torche or a tapoure , the trinitie is lykened
As waxe and a weeke were twyned togither
And than a fyre flaminge forth out of both
And as waxe and weeke and hote fyre togyther
Fostren forth a flame , and a fayre laye .
So done the sire and the sonne , & also Spiritus sanctus
Fostren forth amonges folke , loue and beleue
And all kinne christen , clenseth of synnes
And as thou seest sometime , sodenly a torche
The blasse therof blowen oute , yet burneth the weke
Without ley or lyght , that the match brenneth
So is the holy goste god , and grace without mercy
To all vnkind creatures that couet to destroy
Lelly loue or lyfe , that oure lorde shapte
And as glowing gledes gladeth not these workemen
That waken and worken in winter nyghtes
As doth a kex or a candle , þat caught hath fire & blaseth
No more doth sire ne sonne , ne saint spirite togythers
Graunte no grace , ne forgeuenes of synnes
Tyll the holy gost gynne to glowe and to blasse
So that the holy gost gloweth but as a glede
Till that lelly loue lygge on hym and blowe ,
And than flameth he as fyre , one father , & one Filius
And melteth her myght into mercye , as men may se in winter
Isicles & eueses , through heate of the sunne
Melten in minute while , to mist and to water
So grace of the holy gost , the great might of the trinitye
Melteth to mercy , to merciable , & to no other
And as waxe without more , and a warme glede
Will brennen and blase all togythers
And solacen hem that may see , that sate in darckenes
So the father for-geueth , folke of milde hertes ,
That rufully repenten and restitution make
In as much as they may amende and paye
And if it suffice not for asseth[^53] , þat in such a wil dyeth
Mercy for his mekenes wold make good þe remnaunt
And as the weeke and fire , wyl make a warme flame
For to myrth men myd , that in the merke sytten
So will Christe of his curtesye , & men cry him mercy
Both forgeue and forget , and yet byd for vs
To the father of heauen forgiuenes to haue ,
And hewe fire at the flynt four hundred wynter
But thou haue towe to take it , with tinder or broches
All thy labour is loste , and thy longe trauayle
For maye no fyre flame make , fayle it his kinde
So is the holy goste god and grace without mercye
To all vnkinde creatures , Christ him-selfe witnesseth .
Amen dico vobis nescio vos .
Be vnkind to thine euenchristen , & al that þou canst bydde
Deale and do penaunce daye and night euer
And purchace al the pardon of Pampilon and Rome
And indulgence inowe , & be ingratus to thy kynd
The holy gost hereth the not , ne help may þe by reason ,
For vnkindnes quencheth him that he can not shine
Ne brenne no blase cleare , for brennyng of vnkindnes
Poule the apostle proueth whether I lye .
Si linguis hominum loquar . &cetera .
For beware ye wyse men that with the world dele .
That rych ben & reason knoweth , rule wel your soules
Be not vnkinde I connsell co[u]nsell you , to your euenchristen
For many of you rych men , by my soule men telleth
Ye brenne but ye blase not , that is a blynd becon .
Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit . &cetera .
Diues died dampned for hys vnkindnes
Of hys meate and of hys money , to men that it neded
Eche a rych I rede , rewarde at hym take
And giue your good to your god , þat grace of riseth
For that be vnkind to his , hope I none other
But they dwell there Diues is , daye without ende
Thus is vnkindnes þe contrary þat quencheth as it were
The grace of the holy gost , gods owne kynde
For þat kind doth , vnkindnes fordoth as done thesen cursed theues
Unkind christen men for couetise & enuye
Sleue a man for his mouables , with mouth or with hands
For þat the holi goste hath to kepe , tho harlots destroyeth
The which is life & loue , þe leye of mans body
For euery maner good man may be likened to a torche
Or els to a tapour to reuerence the trinitie
And who þat murdereth a good man , me thinketh by mi inwit
He fordoth the leuest lighte , þat our lord loueth
And yet in many moe maners , men offend the holy gost
And this is the worst wise that any wyght myght
Sinne against saint Spirite , assenten to destroyen
For couetise any kynnes thyng , þat Christ dere bought
Howe might he aske mercye , or any mercy him helpe
That wicked and wilfully , woulde mercy anyent
Innocence is nexte god , & night and day cryeth
Uengeaunce vengeaunce , forgyue it neuer
That shent vs & shed our bloud , forshapt vs as it wer
Uindica sanguinem iustorum .
Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce very charitie asketh
And sith holy kyrke and charitie , chargeth this so sore
Leue I neuer þat our lorde wil loue , þat charitye lacketh
Ne haue pitie for any prayer , there that he pleynyth
I pose I had sinned so , and shoulde nowe dye
And am sory that I so the saynt spirite agylt
Confesse me and crye his grace , god that all made
And mildly his merci aske , might I not be saued
Yes sayd the Samaritan , so well thou might repent
That rightwisnes by repentance , to ruth might turne
And it is but seldome sene , her sothnes bereth witnes
Any creature that is culpable before a kinges iustice
Be raunsomed before his repentaunce , ther al reason him damneth
For ther þat pity pursueth , the plee is so huge
That the kinge may do no mercy , til both men accord
And eyther haue equitie , as holy write telleth
Nunquam dimittitur peccatum . &cetera .
Thus it fareth by such folke þat falsely al her liues
Euil lyue and lyueth , tyll life hem forsake
Good hope that helpe shoulde , to wanhope turneth
Not of the nounpower of God , that he is mightful
To amende all that amis is , and his mercy greater
Than all our wicked workes as holy wryte telleth .
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius .
And errightousnes er rightousnes to ruth turn , some restitution bihouith
His sorow is satisfaction for him , þat mai not pai
Thre thinges there be , that done a man by strength
For to flye his owne house , as holy write sheweth
That one is a wicked wife , that wyl not be chastised
Her fere flyeth frome hir , for feare of her tonge
And if hys house be vntiled , and raine on his head
He seketh and seketh , tyll he slepe drye
And whan smoke and smolder , smight in his sight
It dothe him worse than his wyfe , or wete to slepe
For smolke and smolder smyteth in hys eyen
Tyll he be bleard or blynde , and hoose in the throte
Cougheth and curseth , that Christe gyue hem sorow
That shold bring in better wood , or blow it til it bren
These thre that I tel of ben thus to vnderstande
The wife is our wicked flesh , that will not be chasted
For kinde cleueth on him euer , to contrary the soule
And though it fall , it fint skiles þat frelety it made
And that is lightly forgyuen , and forgetten both
To man that mercy asketh , and amend thynketh .
The rayne that reighneth there we reste shoulde
Be sykenes and sorowes , that we suffren oft
As Poule the apostle to the people tought
Uirtus in infirmitate perficitur .
And though that men make much dole in her anger
And ben impatient in her penaunce , pure reason knoweth
That they haue cause to contrari , bi kind of her siknes
And lyghtly our Lord at her lyues ende
Hath mercy on such men , that so euil may suffer
And the smolke & the smolder , that smyte in our eien
That is couetise & vnkindnes þat quencheth gods merci
For vnkindnes is the contrary , of al kinnes reason
For there nis sicke ne sorye , ne none so much wretch
That he ne may loue if him like , & leue of his herte
Good wyll and good word , boeth wishen and willen
All maner of mercy and of forgiuenes
And loue him like him-selfe , and his life amende
I may no lenger let quod he , and lyard he pricked
And went away as wynd , & therwith I waked .

[^a61: foster forster (Cr1) | forster (All other mss)]

[^a62: he þat (Cr) | he (All other mss)]

[^a63: Qui (CrM) | þat (All other mss)]

[^a64: spi spi[ritum sanctum] (Cr) | spiritum sanctum (Most other mss)]

[^50: Variant not listed in KD.]

[^51: KD does not note this variant -- perhaps the letter actually is a blurred u after all?]

[^52: Again, KD doesn't cite this variant -- hard to tell with certainty which character it is.]

[^53: uncited by Kane-Donaldson]

Passus .xviii. duodevicesimus de visione .

WOlward & wetshode went I forth after
As a rechles reuke re[n]ke[^a65] , that of no wo retcheth
And yedeforth yede forth like a lorell , al my lyfe-tyme
Til I waxt wery of þe world , & willed efte to slepe
And lened me to a lenten , & longe tyme I slepte
And of christes passion & penaunce , þe people þat of-raught
Rest me ther and rut faste , till Ramis palmarum .
Of gerles and of Gloria laus , greatly me dremed
And howe Osanna , by Organy , olde folke songen
One semblable to þe Samaritane , & somdeale to Pierce þe plowman
Barefote on an asse backe , boteles came prickynge
Without spore or speare , spackly he loked
As is the kind of a knyght , that commeth to be dubbed
To get him gilt spores , and galoches couped
Than was faith in a fenester , and cried , O fili Dauid
As doth an heraude of armes , whan auentrous commeth to iustice
Old Iewes of Ierusalem for ioy they songen
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini .
Than I frained at fayth , what all that fare bymente
Who should iuste in Ierusalem , Iesus he sayde
And fetch þat the fend claimeth , Pierce frute þe plowman
Is Pierce in this place quod I , & he preint on me
Thys Iesus of his gentry will iuste in Pierce armes
In his helme & in his herbergeon , Humana natura
That Christ be not knowne here , for consummatus deus
In Pierce paltock the plowman , thys priker shal ride
For no dynte shal him dere as in Deitate patris
Who shall iuste with Iesus quod I , Iewes or scribes ?
Nay quod he the foule fende , & false dome & death
Death sayth he shall for-do , and adowne brynge
All that lyueth or loketh , in londe or in water
Lyfe sayth that he lieth , and layeth his life to wed
That for all that death can do within thre dayes
To walke & fetch from the fend , Pierce fruit þe plowman
And laye it there him liketh , and Lucifer bind
And for-beat and downe bringe , bale death for euer
O Mors ero mors tua .
Than came Pilate with mich puple , Sedens pro tribunali
To se how doughty deth shold do , & deme her boths right
The Iewes & iustice , againe Iesu they were
And all the court vp and cried Crucifige sharpe
Tho put him forth a pylour before pilate and said
This Iesus apon Iewes temple iaped & despised
To fordo it on one daye , and in thre dayes after
Edifie it eft newe , here he standes that saide it
And yet make it as muche in all maner of poyntes
Both as longe and as large , by loft and by grounde
Crucifige quod a catche-pole , I warrant him a witche
Tolle Tolle quod an other , and toke of kene thornes
And began of kene thornes , a garlonde to make
And set it sore on his heade , and sayde in enuy
Aue Rabbi saide that rybaude , and threw redes at him
Nayled him with thre nayles naked on the rode
And poyson on a pole , they put vp to his lyppes
And bidden him drinke his dethes euil , his daies were done
And if that thou sotle be , helpe nowe thy-selfe
If þou be Christ & kinges sonne , come downe of þe rode
Than shold we leue þat life þe loueth , & wol not let þe dye
Consummatum est , quod Christe , and comseth for to swonne
Pitiously and pale as a prisoner , doth that dieth
The Lord of life & of light tho , laied his eies togither
The day for dread withdrew , & darck became þe sunne
The wall wagged and clefte , & all the world quaued
Dead men for that dine , came out of depe graues
And tolde why that tempest so longe time endured
For a bitter battel the dead body saide
Life & deth in this darknes , here one fordoth þe other
Shal no wight wit witterly , who shal haue maistrye
Er sonday about sunne rising , & sanke with that to thearth
Some said that he was gods sonne , þat so fayre dyed
Uere filius dei erat iste .
And some said he was a witch , good is that we assaien
Whether he be dead or not dead , down er he be taken
Two theues also tholed , death that tyme
Besides Christe apon a crosse , so was the commen lawe
A catchpole came forth , and cragged both the legges
And the armes after , of eyther of tho theues
And was no boye so bolde , godes body to touch
For he was knight & kings sonne , kind forgaue þat time
That no harlot were so hardy , to lay hand apon hym
And ther came forth a knight , with a kene spere ground
Hight Longis as þe letter telith , & long had lost his sight
BeforeP ilate Before Pilate and other people , in the place he houed
Maugre his many teth , he was made that time
To take his spere in his hande , and iusten with Iesus
For al they wer vnhardi , that houed on horse or stode
To touch or to taste him , or taken downe of rode
But thys blinde bachiler bare him throughe the hert
The blud sprang doun bi þe spere , & vnsparrid his eine
Than fell the knight apon knees , & cried him mercy
Agayne my wyll it was lorde , to wound you so sore
He sighed and said sore it me forthinketh
For þe dede that I haue done , I do me in your grace
Haue on me ruth rightfull Iesu , & right with þat he wept
Than gan Fayth felly the false Iewes despise
Called hem caytyfes accursed for euer
For this fowle villany , vengeaunce to you all
To do the blind bete him bound , it was a boyes counsel
Cursed Caytifes knighode was it neuer
To misdo a dead bodye by day nor by nyght
The gre yet hath he gotten , for al hys greate wound
For your champion chiualer chiefe knyght of you all
Yelde hym recreant , runnyng right at Iesus wyll
For by this darckenes do , hys death worth auenged
And ye lurdens haue loste , for life shall haue þe mastry
And your franchis that fre was fallen is in thraldome
And ye Cherles & your chyldren chyuen shal you neuer
Ne haue lordshyp in lande , ne no lande tyll .
But all bareyne be and vsury vsen ,
Which is lyfe that our lord in all lawes accurseth ,
Now your good daies ar done as Daniel prophecied
Whan Christ come of her kingdom þe croun shuld sease
Cum venerit[^a66] sanctus sanctorum , tunc cessabit vnctio vestra .
What for feare of the farly and of the false Iewes ,
I drowe me in that darkenes to Descendit ad inferna ,
And there I saw sothly , Secundum scripturas ,
Out of the west coste a wenche as me thought ,
Came walking in the way to helward she loked
Mercy hyght that mayde , a meke thyng withall ,
A full benigne byrde and buxeome of speche ,
Hyr syster as it semed came worthely walking
Euen oute of thest and westward she loked ,
A full comely creature Truth she hyght ,
For the vertue þat her folowed , afered was she neuer
Whan these maydens met mercy and truth
Eyther asked other of thys great meruell ,
Of the din & of the darkenes , & howe the daye raued
And which a lyght and aleme a leme laye before hell ,
I haue farly of thys fayth sayd trueth ,
And am wending to wit what this wonder meneth ,
Haue no merueyle quod mercy , myrth it betokeneth
A mayd that hyght mary and mother without feling
Of any kynnes creature conceyued through speche
And grace of the holieghost wexe great with chylde ,
Without wembe into this worlde she brought hym
And that my tale be true I take God to wytnes ,
Syth thys barne was borne be .xxx. thirty wynter past
Which died & deth tholed thys day about middaye ,
And that is cause of this clipse þat closed now the sonne
In meaning that man shal from merknes be drawen ,
The which this light & this leem shal Lucifer ablend
For Patriarks & Prophets haue preched here often
That man shall man saue throughe a womans helpe ,
And that was tynt through tree , tree shall it wynne ,
And that dethe downe brought , deth shall relieue ,
That thou tellest quod truth , is but a tale of waltrot
For Adam and Eue , Abraham and other
Patriarkes and prophetes yet in payne liggen ,
Leue thou neuer that you yo[n][^a67] lyght them may aloft bring ,
Ne haue them out of hell , holde thy tonge mercye ,
It is but a tryfle that þou tellest , I truth wote the soth ,
For that is once in hel outcometh he neuer ,
Iob the prophete patriarkes repugneth thy sawes ,
Quia in inferno nulla est redemptio .
Than mercy full mekelye mouthed these wordes ,
Through experience quod he I hope they shalbe saued ,
For venime fordoth venime & that I proue by reason ,
For of all venimes foulest is the scorpion ,
May no medicine helpe the place there he styngeth
Till he be dead and do thereto , the euil he destroyeth
The firste venimuste through venime of him-selfe
So shall thys fordo , I dare my life ligge
All that death did firste , throughe þe deuils entisinge
And right as through gile , man was begiled
So shall grace that began , make a good sleight
Ars vt artem falleret .
Nowe suffer we said truth , I se as me thinketh
Out of the nyppe of the north , not full farre hence
Ryghtwysenes came runnynge , reste we the while
For he wotteth more than we , he was er we both
That is soth said mercy , and I se here by south
Where peace cometh playing in pacience clothed
Loue hath couetid hir long , leue I none other
But he sent her some letter what this light bemeneth ,
What ouerhoueth hell thus , she vs shall tell ,
Whan peace in pacience clothed thus aproched nere them twain
Rightfulnes hir reuerenced for hir rich clothing
And prayed peace to tell her to what place she wold ,
And in hir gay germent whom she grete thought .
My will is to wende quod she and to welcome them all ,
That many a day might not se for merknes of sinne ,
Adam and Eue and other mo in hell ,
Moses and manye mo mercy shall haue ,
And I shall daunce therto , do thou so syster
For Iesus iusteth well , Ioye beginneth dawe ,
Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus ad matutinum leticia .
Loue that is my lemmon such letters me sent ,
That mercye my sister and I mankinde shuld saue
And þat God hath forgeuen & graunted me peace & mercy
To be mans mainpernour for euer-more after ,
Lo here the patent quod peace , In pace in idipsum ,
And that dede shall dure Dormiam er e[t] requiescam .
What rauest þou quod rightwisenes , or þou arte ryght dronk
Leuest thou that yon light vnlocke might hell ,
And saue mans soule , sister wene it neuer ,
At the beginning God gaue the dome him-selfe
That Adam and Eue and all that them sewed ,
Shuld dye downe right and dwell in pyne after ,
If that they touched a tree and the frute eaten ,
Adam afterwarde agaynst hys defence
Freet of that frute , and forsoke as it were ,
The loue of our lord and his lore bothe ,
And folowed þat the fende taught & hys felowes wyll
Against reason & rightwisenes record thus with truth
That their payne be perpetuall , & no prayer them help ,
Therfore let them cheue as they chose , & chide we not sisters
For it is boteles bale they the[^a68] byt þat they eaten .
And I shall proue quod peace their payne must haue end
And we into waele must wende at last
For had thei wist of no wo , weale had thei not know
For no wighte wotes what weale is þat neuer wo suffred
Ne what is whote hungre þat neuer had defaute
If no might nere no man as I leue ,
Shuld wite witerly , what day is to meane ,
Should neuer right richman þat liuech liue[t]h in rest and ease
Wyte what wo is , ne were the deth of kinde ,
So God that began all of his Good will
Became man of a mayde mankinde to saue ,
And suffred to be sold to the sorowe of dyeng
The which vnknitteth all care and comsing is of rest ,
For tyll modicum met mid vs I may it well avowe ,
Wote no wight as I wene what is inough to mene ,
Therfore God of his goodnes þe first gome Adam ,
Set him in solace and in souereyne myrth
And syth he suffred him sinne , sorowe to fele ,
To wit what weale was kyndely to knowe it ,
And after God auentred him-selfe & toke Adams kind
To wytt what he hath suffred in thre sundry places ,
Both in heauen and in earth and to hell he thinketh
To wyt what all wo is that wote of all ioye ,
So it shall fare by this folke their foly & their synne
Shal lerne them what langor is & lyfe without end ,
Wote no wight what warre is there þat peace reineth
Ne what is witerly weale till , welaweye him teache ,
Than was there a wighte with two brodeeyen brode eyen
Boke hyght that beaupier , a bolde man of speach
By gods body , quod thys boke , I wil bear witnes
That tho this barne was borne , there blased a starre
That al the wise men of this world in one wit accorden
That suche a barne was borne , in Bethlems citye
That mans soule shoulde saue , and synne destroy
And al þe elementes saith the boke hereof bereth witnes
That he was god þat al wrought , þe welken first shewed
Tho ther were in heauen tooken , Stella comata
And tindeden hir as a torche , to reuerence his byrth
The light folowed the lorde , into the lowe earth
The water witnessed þat he was god , for he went on it
Peter the apostle perceiued his gate
And as he went on the water , wel him knew & said
Iube me venire ad te super aquas .
And lo how the sunne gan lacke her light in her-selfe
Whan she see him suffer that sunne and sea made
The earth for heuines that he woulde suffer
Quaked as quycke thing , and al to-quassed [bi]quass[h]ed[^a69] the roch
Lo heuen myght not hold , but opened tho God tholed
And let out Simons sonnes to se him hong on roode
And now shal Lucifer leue it , though him loth think
For Gygas the gyant , with a gynne engined
To breake and to beate downe , þat ben agayne Iesus
And I boke wolbe brente , but Iesus rise to lyue
In al myghtes of man , and his mother glade
And conforten all his kynne , & out of care brynge
And all the Iewes ioye , vnioyne and vnloken
And but if they reuerse his rode , and his resurrection
And bileue on a newe lawe , be lost life and soule
Suffer we sayd Truth , I heare and I se both
Howe a spirite speketh to hel , and byd vnspar þe gats
Attollite portas & . cetera .
A voyce loude in that lyght to lucyfer cryeth
Princes in this place vnpinneth and vnlocketh
For here commeth with crowne , that king is of glory
Than sighed Sathan , and sayde to hem all
Such a light againste our leaue , Lazar out fette
Care and combraunce is commen to vs all
If this kinge come in , mankinde wil he fetch
And lead it there him liketh , and lightly me bind
Patriarkes and prophetes haue proled hereof longe
That suche a Lorde and a light , should lead hem al hence
Listneth quod Lucifer , for I thys lorde knowe
Both this Lord & this light , is long ago I knew it
May no death him deare , ne no fendes quentise
And wher he wil is his wai , & warne him of þe perels
If he reue me of my right , he robbeth me by mastrye
For by right and by reason , the reukes re[n]kes[^a70] that ben here
Body and soule be mine , both good and euil
For him-selfe saide , that syre is of heauen
If Adam eate the apple , all shoulde dye
And dwell with vs deuels , this threatenyng he made
And he that sothnes is , said these wordes
And sithen he seased seuen hundred wynter
I leue that lawe nil not , leaue him the least .
That is sothe quod Satan , but I me sore dreade
For thou gate hem with gile , and his garden brake
And in semblaunce of a serpent , sate apon the apple tre
And eggedest hem to eate , Eue by hir name
And toldest hir a tale , of treason were thy words ,
And so thou haddest hem out , and hider at the last
It is not graithly gayten , there gyle is the rote
For God will not be begiled quod Gobelyn , ne be iaped ,
We haue no tru title to them for bi treson wer thei damnid
Certes I me dred quod the deuil , lest truth wil them fetch
These .xxx. thirty wynter as I wene he hath gone preched
I haue assayled him with synne , and somtime asked
Wher he wer god or gods sonne , he gaue me short answer
And thus he hath trolid fnrth f[u]rth[^54] this xxxii. thirty-two[^55] winter
And when I se it was so , leaping I went ,
To warne Pilatus wyfe , what done man was Iesus
For Iewes haten him and haue done him to death ,
I wolde haue lengthed his lyfe for I leued if he dyed
That his soule shuld suffre no synne in his syght ,
For the body while it on bones yede about was euer
To saue man from sinne if him-selfe wolde ,
And now I se wher a soul cometh hitherward sailing
With glory and with great light God it is I wote wel
I red we flee quod he faste all hence ,
For vs were better not be then abyde his syght
For thy lesinges lucifer , lost is al our praye
First through the we fell from heauen so hye ,
For we beleued on thi leasings ilorne we haue Adam
And all oure lordships I leue on land and on water ,
Nunc princeps huius mundi eiicietur foras ,
Eft the light bad vnloke and Lucifer answered
What lord art thou ? quod Lucifer , Quis est iste ?
Rex glorie , The light soone sayd ,
And lord of might and of mayne & al maner vertues ,
Dominus virtutum .
Dukes of this dimme place anon vndo the gates
That Christ may come in , the kings sonne of heauen
And with that breth hell brake with belialles barrs ,
For any wye or ward wide open the gates ,
Patriarkes and prophetes , Popnlus Pop[u]lus in tenebris .[^56]
Singing sainct Iesus songe , Ecce agnus dei ,
Lucifer loke ne might , so light him ablent ,
And tho that our lorde loued into his light laught
And sayd to sathan lo here my soule to amendes
For all sinful soules to saue that bene worthy ,
Myne they be & of me I may the better them clayme
Although reason recorde and right of my-selfe ,
That if they eate the aple all should dye
I behight them not here hell for euer
For the dede þat they did thi disceyte it made ,
With gyle thou them got , agayne all reason
For in my place paradise in person of an eddre ,
Falsely thou fettest there , thing that I loued
Thus lyke a lysard with a ladyes visage
Thefly thou me robbest the old lawe graunteth ,
That gilers be begyled and that is good reason ,
Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo .
Ergo soule shall soule quite and sin to synne wende
And all that man hath misdo I man will amende ,
Membre for membre in tholde lawe was amendes
And lyfe for lyfe also and by that law I clayme it ,
Adam and all his issue at my will hereafter ,
And that death in them fordid , my deth shal releue
And both quicken & quite þat queynt was through sinne ,
And that grace gyle destroyeth , good fayth it asketh ,
So leue I not Lucifer , agayne the lawe I fetche them ,
But by right and by reason , ransome here my liges
Non ueni soluere legem , sed adimplere ,
Thou fettest mine in my place agaynst all reason
Falsely and felously , good fayth me it taught
To recouer them by ransome and by no reason els
So that through gile þou gate , through grace it is won ,
Thou lucyfer in likenes of a luther eddre ,
Gatidst by gyle tho that God loued
And in lykenes of a leode , that lorde am of heauen
Graciously thy gyle haue quite , go gyle agayne gyle ,
And as Adam & all through a tree shulde turne agayne
And gyle is gyled and in hys gyle fallen ,
Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit ,
Now begynneth thy gile agayne the to turne ,
And my grace grow aye greater and wyder
The bytternes that þou hast brewed , brouke it thy-selfe ,
Thou arte doctor of deth , drinke that thou maydest ,
For I that am lord of lyfe , loue is my drynke ,
And for that drinke to day I dye apon earth
If aught so me thrusteth yet for mans soule sake ,
May no drinke me moyst ne my thurst slake ,
Tyll the vendage fall in the vale of Psaphat [Io]saphat[^a71]
That I drinke right rype must Resurrectio mortuorum .
And than shall I come as a king crowned with angels ,
And haue out of hell all mens soules ,
Fendes and fendkins before me shall stande ,
And bene at my bidding , wheresoeuer me liketh ,
And to be mercyable to man than my kind it asketh ,
For we bene brethern of bloud , but not of baptim al ,
And all that bene my hole brethern in bloud & baptim
shall not be dampned to death that is without ende ,
Tibi soli peccaui , et cetera
It it i[s][^57] not vsed in earth to hangen a felon ,
Ofter then once though he were a traytour
And if the kinge of that kingdome come in that tyme ,
There the felon thole shuld death other els
Lawe wold haue geue him lyfe if he loked on him .
And I that am king of kinges shall on such a time
There doome to the deth damneth all wycked
And if lawe will I loke on them , it lieth in my grace ,
Whether they dye or dye not , for that they done ill
Be it any thing about the boldnes of their sinnes ,
I do merci through right-wisnes & al mi words true
And though holy write wil þat I bewroke of them þat did euyll .
Nullum malum impunitum , et cetera .
They shuld be clensed clerely & washen of their sinnes
In my pryson purgatorye tyll Parce it hoote ,
And my mercy shalbe shewed to many of my brethren
For bloud may suffre bloud bothe hungry and a cale ,
And bloud may not se bloud blede , but him rewe .
Audiui arcana verba que non licet homini loqui .
And my right-wisenes & right shall rule all hell ,
And mercy all mankind before me in heuen ,
For I were an vnkinde king , but I my kind helpe ,
And namely at such a nede , ther nedes help behouith
Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo .
Thus by lawe quod this lord , lead I wyl from hence
Tho that me loued and leued in my comming
And for thi lesing lucifer , that þou leigh till Eue ,
Thou shalt a-by it better b[i]tter[^a72] , & bound him with cheynes
Astaroth and all the rout hyd hem in hernes ,
Thei durst not loken on our lord the boldest of hem all ,
But letten him lead furth what him liked & let what him lyste
Many hundred of angels harped and sange .
Culpat caro purgat caro , regna deus dei caro
Than pyped peace of poesie a note .
Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus , post inimicitias
After sharpe shoures quod peace , most sheene is the sonne
Is no wether warmer then after watery cloudes ,
Ne no loue leeuer , ne leuere frendes
Than after warre & wo , whan loue & peace be masters
Was neuer war in this world , ne wickednes so kene
That loue and him luste , to laught ne brought
And Peace through patience all perell stopped ,
Trewse quod Truth , thou tellest vs soth by Iesus
Clyppe we in couenaunte , and eche of vs kisse other
And let no people quod peace , perceiue þat we chyd
For impossible is nothinge to him , that is almighty .
Thou saist soth quod rightousnes , & reuerently him kissed
Peace and peace here , Per omnia[^a73] secula seculorum ,
Misericordia et veritas obuiauerunt sibi .
Iusticia et pax osculate sunt .
Truth trumped tho , and songe , Te deum laudamus
And than luted Loue in a loude note
Ecce quam bonum et quam Iucundum . &cetera .
Tyll the daye dawed these damosels daunced
That men range to þe resurrection , & right with þat I waked
And called Kit my wife , & Collet my daughter
Arise and reuerence gods resurrection
And crepe to þe crosse on knees , & kisse it for a Iewell
For gods blessed body it bare for oure bote
And it afereth the fende , for such is the myght
May no gryslye goste glyde , there it shadoweth .

[^a65: reuke re[n]ke (Cr1) | renk (Most other mss)]

[^a66: venerit (CrM) | veniat (All other mss)]

[^a67: you yo[n] (Cr1) | yon (Most other mss)]

[^a68: they the (Cr1) | þe (All other mss)]

[^a69: to-quassed [bi]quass[h]ed (Cr1) | biquasshed (Most other mss)]

[^a70: reukes re[n]kes (Cr1) | renkes (Most other mss)]

[^a71: Psaphat [Io]saphat (Cr1) | Iosaphat (All other mss)]

[^a72: better b[i]tter (Cr1B) | bittre (Most other mss)]

[^a73: Per omnia (CrG) | per (All other mss)]

[^54: Again, KD doesn't cite a variant in Cr1.]

[^55: KD has "two and thirty"]

[^56: Variant not cited in KD.]

[^57: KD does not cite this variant.]

Passus .xix. undevicesimus de visione .

THus I walked & wrote what I had dremed
And dight me derely , and did me to kirke
To here wholy þe masse , & to be housled after
In mids of the masse , men wente to offrynge
I fell eftsones a-slepe , and sodainly me mette
That Pierce the Plowman was paynted al bloudye
And came in with a crosse before the commune people
And ryght lyke in all lymmes to our lorde Iesus
Than called I conscience , to kenne me the soth
Is this Iesus þe iuster quod I , that Iewes did to death
Or it it [is][^a74] Pierce the Plowman , who painted him so red ?
Quod Conscience & kneled tho , these are Piers armes
His colour & his cote armour , & he þat cometh so blody
Is Christe with his crosse , conquerour of christendome
Why cal ye him Christ quod I , syth Iewes call him Iesus
Patriarkes and prophetes prophecied before
That all kynnes creatures shoulde knele and bowe
Anon as men named this highe name of Iesus
Ergo is no name to the name of Iesus[^58]
Ne none so neadfull to name by nyght nor by daye
For all the darke deuels are a-drade to here it
And synfull are solaced and saued by that name
And ye call hym Christe , for what cause tel me
Is Christe more of myght , and more worthy name
Than Iesu or Iesus , that all our ioye came of
Thou knowest wel quod conscience , & þou can reason
That knyght kynge conquerour may be one person
To be called a knyght is fair , for men shal knele to him
To be called kyng is fairer , for he mai knights make
And to be conquerour called , þat cometh of special grace
And of hardines of hert , and of hendines
To make Lordes or ladyes , of land that he winneth
And fre men foule thrales , that folow not his lawes
The Iewes that were gentilmen , Iesu they despised
Both his lore and his law , now are they low cherles
As wide as the worlde is , wonneth none therin
But vnder tribute and tallage , as tykes and cherles
And tho that became christen , by counsel of the baptime
Are frankelens fremen , through fullynge þat they toke
And gentilmen wyth Iesu , for Iesus was fulled
And apon Caluery on crosse , crowned king of Iewes
It becommeth to a king to kepe and to defende
As conquerour of conqueste , his lawes & his large
And so did Iesus þe Iewes , he iustified & taught hem
The lawe of life that laste shal euer
And defende from foule euiles feuers and fluxes
And from fendes that in them were , & false beleue
Tho was he Iesus of Iewes called gentle prophete
And kinge of kingdome , and crowne bare of thornes
And tho conquered he on crosse , as conquerour noble
Might no death him fordo , ne adowne brynge
That he naroos and raygned and rauished hell
And tho was he conquerour called of quick & of dead
For he gaue Adam and Eue , and othermoe blysse
That longe had layne before , as Lucifers cherles
And syth he gaue largely , all hys lelly lieges
Places in Paradice , at her partynge hence
He may wel be caled conquerour , & þat is Christ to mene
And the cause þat he cometh thus with crosse of þe passion
Is to wishen vs therwith , that when þat wee be tempted
Therwith to fight and fend vs , from falling into sinne
And se by hys sorowe , that who-so loueth ioye
To penaunce and to pouerty , he must put him-selfe
And much wo in thys worlde willen and suffren
And for to carpe more of Christe , & how he came to þat name
Faithly for to speke , his first name was Iesus
Tho he was borne in Bethlem as the boke telleth
And came to take mankind , kynges and angels
Reuerenced him fayre with riches of thys earth
Angels out of heauen came , knelinge and songe
Gloria in excelsis deo .
Kynges commen after , kneled and offred ,
Myrre and much golde without mede askinge
Or any kinnes cattel , but knowledge him soueraigne
Both of londe sunne and sea , & sithen they wenten
Into their kingdome kyth , by counsel of angels
And ther was that word fulfilled þe which þou of spake
Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Iesu .
For all the angels of heauen at his byrth kneled
And all the wyt of the worlde was in tho thre kinges
Reason and rightuousnes , and Truthe they offered
Wherfore and why , wyse men that tyme
Maisters and lettred men , Magi hem called .
That one king came with reason , couered vnder sence
The second kynge sothly , sithens he offered
Ryghtuousnes vnder redde golde , reasons felowe
Golde is likened to leauty , that last shall euer
And reason to ryche golde , to ryght and to truth
The thyrde kynge tho came knelynge to Iesu
And presented him with pity , apperynge to mirre
For myrre is mercy to meane , & mild speach of tonge
Thre in like honest thinges , were offred thus at once
Throughe thre kinne kinges , knelinge to Iesus
And for al these presious presents , our lord prince Iesus
Was nether king ne conqueror , til he gan to wepe
In the maner of a man , and that by much sleight
As becommeth a conquerour to konne many sleightes
And many wylles and wytte , that woll be a leder
And so did Iesus in those dayes , who-so had time to tell it
Somtime he suffred , & somtime he hyd him
And sometime he fought faste , and fle other while
And somtime he gaue good , and graunted heale both
Lyfe and lyme , as he liste he wroghte
As kinde is of a conqueroure , so comsed Iesu
Tyll he hadde all them that he for bledde
In his inuente , this Iesus at Iewen feast
Water into wyne turned , as holy write telleth
And there began god of his grace to do well
For wyne is lykened to lawe , and life of holines
And lawe lacked tho , for men loued not hir enemies
And Christe councelleth thus , and commaundeth also
Both to learned and to lewde , to loue our enemies
So at the feaste firste , as I before sayde
Began god of hys grace and his goodnes to dowell do well
And tho was he cleped & called not onely Christe but Iesu
A faunt fine ful of witte , Filius Marie ,
Before his mother Mary , made he that wonder
That she firste and formoste , ferme shoulde beleue
That he through grace was get , & of no gome els
He wrought that by no wyt , but by worde onely
After þe kind that he came of , ther comsed he to dowel do wel
And whan he was wexen more , in his mothers absence
He made lame to leape , and gaue light to blynde
And fedde wyth two fyshes , and with fiue loes lo[u]es[^a75]
Sore afingred folke , moe than fiue thousande
Thus he conforted the carefull , & caught a great name
The whiche was dobet , wher that he went
For deffe through his doyngs to here , & dombe to spek he made
And al he heled & helpt þat him of grace asked
And tho was he called in contrye of the common people
For the dedes that he dyd , Fili Dauid Iesus ,
For Dauid was doutiest of dedes in his time
The birds tho song , Saul interfecit mille & Dauid .x. decem milia
Therfore þe contri ther Iesus came , callid him fili Dauid
And named him of Nazareth , and no man so worthy
To be kayser or kinge , of the kingedome of Iuda
Ne ouer Iewes iustice , as Iesus was hem thought
Wherof Cayphas had enuy , and other of the Iewes
And for to do him to death , day & night they casten
Killed him on crosse wise , at Caluery on a fryday
And sithen buried his body , & beden that men should
Kepe it from night commers wyth knightes armed
For no frends shold him fetch , for prophets him told
That , that blessed body , of buriels shoulde arise
And gone into Galile , and gladden his apostles
And his mother Mary , thus men before demed
The knyghtes that kepe it , beknew it hem-selues
That angels and archangels ere the day spronge
Commen kneling to the corps & songen Christus resurgens ,
Uery man before hem all , & furth with hem he yede
The Iewes praiden peace , and besought the knightes
Tel þe commen that ther came a companie of his apostles
And bewiched hem as thei woken , & away stollen him
And Mary Magdalen met him by the way ,
Goynge to-warde Galile in godhead and manhead
A-lyue and lokinge , and she a-lowde cried ,
In ech a company there she came Christus resurgens
Thus came it out þat Christ ouer came , recouered & liued
Sic oportet Christum pati et intrare .
For that women witteth , may not well be counsel
Peter perceyued thys , and pursued after
Both Iames and Iohn , Iesu for to seke
Thade and ten moe , with Thomas of Inde
And as these wise wyes weren togythers
In an house all be shette and the dores barred
Christe came in and all closed both dore & gates
To Peter and to his Apostles sayd paxe pax[^59] vobis ,
And toke Thomas by the hand & taught him to grope
And fele wyth his fingers his fleshy herte ,
Thomas touched it and with his tonge sayde
Dominus meus et deus meus .
Thou art my lorde I beleue God lord Ihesu ,
Thou diest & deth tholest , and deme shall vs all
And now art liuing and loking and last shall euer ,
Christ carped than and curtesly sayde
Thomas for thou trowest it , and truly beleuest it
Blessed might thou be , and be shalte for euer ,
And blessed might they all be in body and in soule ,
That neuer shall se me , in sight as thou hast now
And lellye beleue all this I loue them & blesse them
Beati qui non viderunt . &cetera .
And when this dede was done , Dobest he taught ,
And gaue piers power and perdon he graunted
To all maner of men mercy and forgeuenes ,
Him might to assoile of all maner of sinnes ,
In couenant þat they come and knowledge to paye ,
To Piers pardon the plouman , Redde quod debes ,
Thus hath piers power be his pardon payde ,
To binde and vnbinde both here and els-where
And assoylen men of all synnes saue of dette onelye
Anone after an high vp into heuen
He went and wonneth there , and wyl come at last
And rewarde him right well that Reddit quod debet .
Payeth perfitely as pure Trneth Tr[u]eth[^60] would
And what person payeth it , not punish he thinketh
And demen him at domesday bothe quicke and deade
The good to the Godhead and to good ioye ,
The wicked to wone in wo without ende ,
Thus conscience of Christ and of the crosse carped ,
And counceled me to knele hereto , & than came me thoght
One Spiritus paracletus to Piers and to his felowes
In likenes of a lightening he light vpon hem all
And made hem kon and knowe all kinne languages ,
I wondred what that was and wagged conscience ,
And was aferd of the light for in fyres lykenes ,
Spiritus paracletus , ouerspred them all
Quod conscience and knelid , this is Christs messager
And commeth from þe great God & grace is his name ,
Knelenow Knele now quod conscience and if thou canst sing
Welcome him and worship him , Ueni creator spiritus
Than sange I that song and so did many hundred ,
And cryed with conscience helpe vs God of grace ,
Than began grace to go with Piers plowman
And councelled him & conscience þe comune to somen
For I wyll deale to day and deuid grace
To all kinne creatures that haue their fyue wittes
Treasure to lyue by to their lyues ende
And weapon to fight with that will neuer faile
For Antichryst and his , all the world shall greue ,
And acombre the conscience but if Christ helpe
And false Prophetes fell flatterers and glosers
Shall come and be curatours , ouer kinges & Erles ,
And pryde shalbe pope , Prince of holy kyrke
Couetyse and vnkindenes Cardinals hem to leade ,
Therfore quod grace er I go I will gyue you treasure ,
And wepon to fyght with when antichrist you assayleth ,
And giue eche man a grace to guyde with hym-selfe ,
That ydlenes encombre him not , enuy ne pryde
Diuisiones graciarum sunt ,
To some he gaue wyt with wordes to shewe
Wyt to win their lyuelod with , as the world asketh
As preachers and priestes and prentises of lawe
They lelly to lyue by labour of tong
And by wit to wissen other as grace them wolde teache
And some he kenned craft , and conning of sight
With selling and bigging , theyr lyuelod to wynne
And lerned to labour a lelly lyfe and a true ,
And some he taught to tyll , to diche and to thetche
To wyn with their lyuelod by lore of hys teachinge ,
Some to diuine and deuide nombres to kenne
And some to se and to say what shuld befall
Both of well and of woe , tell it or it fell ,
As astronomers by astronomi , & philosophers wise
And some to ride & to recouer þat vnrightfully was won
He wished them win it agayn thrugh wightnes of hand
And fetche it from false men with foule iuels lawes
And some he lerned to liue , in longinge to be hence
In pouertie and in penaunce to pray for all chrysten
And all he lerned to be lelli , and ech a craft loue other
And forbad them all debate þat none were among them
Though some be clener then some , ye se wel quod grace
That men of þe fairest craft to þe foulist I could haue put
Think al quod grace þat grace cometh of my gyfte ,
Loke that none lacke other , but loue all as brethern
And who þat moost masteries can , þe mildest of bering
And crowne conscience king , & make craft your steward
And after craftes counsell clothe you and fede ,
For I make pyers þe plowman my procuratour & my reue
And register to receyue Redde quod debes ,
My power and my plowman pyers shalbe on earth ,
And for to tell truth a teme shall he haue ,
Grace gaue Pyers a teme[^61] fowre great oxen ,[^62]
That one was Luce a large beast & a low chered ,
And Marke & Mathie the thyrd mighty beasts both
And ioyned to them one Iohn , most gentle of all
The price nete of Pyers plow and passing al other ,
And grace gaue piers of his goodnes foure stottes ,
All that his oxen eried they to harow it after
One hight Austen , and Ambrose an other
Gregory the great Clarke , and Ierome the good
These fowre the fayth to teach foloweth peers teme
And harowed it in an handwhile all holy scripture ,
With two harowes that they had , an old and a newe
Id est vetus testamentum et nouum ,
And grace gaue greynes the Cardinalle vertues ,
And sewe it in mans soule , & sithen he told her names
Spiritus prudencie the firste sede hight ,
And who-so eateth that , ymagen he shoulde
Er he did any dede , deuise well thende ,
And lerned men ladel be with longe stele ,
That cast for to kepe a crocke , to saue the fat aboue
The secondsede second sede hight , Spiritus temperancie ,
He that eate of that sede had such a kynd
Shuld neuer meate ne much drinke make him to swel
Ne should no scorner ne scold , out of skill him bring
Ne winning ne welth of worldly riches ,
Wast worde of ydlenes , ne wicked speche moue
Shuld no curious cloth come on his rigge
Ne no meate in hys mouth , þat mayster Iohan spiced
The third sede þat piers sewe was Spiritus fortitudinis ,
And who-so eate of that sede hardy was euer
To suffre all that God sent sekenes or angres
Might no lesinges ne lyer , ne losse of worldly cattell ,
Make him for any mourning þat he nas merie in soule
And bolde and abidinge bismeres to suffer
And playeth all with patience , and Parce mihi domine ,
And couereth him vnder counsel , of Caton the wyse
Esto forti animo cum sis damnatus inique .
The fourth sede that Pierce sewe was spiritus iusticie
And he that eateth of that sede , shalbe euer true
With god and not agaste , but of gyle one
For Gile goth so priuely , that god sayth other while
May not be espied fro spiritus iusticie ,
Spiritus iusticie , spareth not to spill ,
Them that be gyltye , and for to correcte
The kynge if he fall in gylte or in trespace
For counteth he no kinges wrath , when he court sitteth
To demen as a domes man , adrad was he neuer
Neither of Duke ne of death , that he ne dyd lawe
For presentes ne for prayers , or any princes letters
He did equitie for all , euen forth his power
These four sedes Piers sewe , & sith he did hem harow
With olde lawe and newe that loue might wexe
Amonge the foure vertues and vices to destroy
For communely in contries , came monkes[^63] & wedes
Fouleth the frute in the feld , ther they grow togiders
And so done vices vertues worthy ,
Quod Piers harroweth al that konneth kind wytte , by counsel of these doctours
And tilleth after her teachinge the cardinall vertues ,
Againe the graines quod grace , gynneth for to ripe
Ordeine the an house quod Pierce to harber in þe corne
By god Grace , quod Piers , ye might giuetimbre giue timbre
And ordeyne that house or ye hence wende
And Grace gaue him þe crosse with þe crowne of thornes
That Christe apon caluery for mankinde on pined
And of this baptisme and bloud that he bled on rode
He made a maner mortare , and mercy it hight
And therwith grace began , to make a good fundament
And walled it & watled it with his paines & his passion
And of all holy wryte he made a roufe after
And called that house vnitie , holy churche in englysh
And whan this dede was done , grace deuised
A carte hight christendome , to cary Pierces theues
And gaue him caples to his carte , contrition & confession
And made priesthode hayward , while hym-selfe went
As wide as the worlde is , with Pierce to tilly truth
Nowe is Pierce to the plowe , & pride it spied
And gadered him a greate host , to greue him he thinketh
Conscience & all christen , and cardinale vertues
Blow hem downe & breake hem , & bite atwo þe mores
And sent forth Sarquidons , his sargeant of armes
And his spye spill loue , one speake euil behynd
These two comen to conscience , and to christen people
And told hem tidinges , that tine they sholde the sedes
That Pierce there had sowne , the cardinal vertues
And Pierce barne were broken , & they þat be in vnitie
Should come out , & conscience and your two caples
Confession and contrition , and your cart the beleue
Shalbe colored so queintly , & couered vnder your sophistry
That conscience shal not know by contrition
Ne by confession who is christen ne heathen
Ne no maner marchant that with mony dealeth
Whether he wyn with right or with wronge , or with vsurye
With such colour and couetise , commeth pryd armed
Wyth the lorde that liueth after the luste of his bodye
To wasten on welfare , and on wicked kepynge
All the worlde in a while through our wit quod Pryde
Quod conscience to al christen tho , my counsel is to wend
Hastely into vnitie , and holde we vs there
And prai we þat a peace wer in Pierces barne þe plowman
For witterly I wot wel , þat we be not of strength
To gone agayne pryde , but grace were with vs
And than came kinde wytte , conscience to teache
And cried and commaunded to all christen people
For to delue and digge , depe aboute vnitie
That holy kyrke stode in vnitie , as it a pyle were
Conscience commaunded tho , all christen to delue
And maken a much mote , that might be a strength
To helpe holy kyrke , and hem that it kepeth
Than all kynne christen saue commen women
Repented and refused sinne , saue they onely
And false men flatterers , vsurers and theues
Lyers and questmongers that were forsworne oft
Wyttingely and wilfully with the false holden
And for syluer were forswore , sothly they wyst it
There nas no christen creature , that kind wit had
Saue shrewes onely , suche as I spake of
That he ne halpe a quantitie , holines to waxe
Some by bedes bidding , & some by pilgrimage .
And other priui paines , & some through paines deling
And than welled water for wicked workes
Egrely ernynge out of mens eyen ,
Clennes of the commune , and clarkes cleane liuinge
Made vnitie holy kirke , in holynes to stande
I care not quod Conscience , though pride come now
The lorde of lust shal be letted al this lent I hope
Come quod Conscience , ye christen and dyne
That haue laboured lelly , all thys lente tyme
Here is breade blessed , and gods body therunder
Grace throughe gods worde , gaue Pierce power
And might to make it , and men to eate it after
In helpe of their heale , once in a monthe
Or as oft as they had nede , tho that had payde
To Pierces pardon the plowman , Redde quod debes
Howe , quod all the common , þou councelest vs to yelde
All that we owe any wight , er we go to housell
That is my counsell quod conscience , & cardial cardi[n]al[^a76] vertues
That eche man forgiue other , & that will the Pater noster
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra &cetera .
And so to be assoyled and sythen houseled ,
Yea bawe quod a bruer , I wyll not be ruled
By Iesus for your iangelynge , with Spiritus iusticie
Ne after Conscience , by Christe while I can sell
Both dragges and draffe , and drawe it at an hole
Thycke ale and thine ale , for that is my kinde
And not hacke after holines , hold thy tong Conscience
Of Spiritus iusticie , thou speakest much on idle .
Caytife quod Conscience cursed wretche
Unblessed art thou bruer , but if the god helpe
But if thou liue by lore , of Spiriius Spiri[t]us iusticie ,
The chiefe sede þat Pierce sewe , saued worstow neuer
But Conscience the commune fedde , & cardinal vertues
Leue well they be loste , both life and soule
Than is many a man loste , quod a lewde vycory
That am a curatour of holi kyrke , & came neuer in mi tyme
Men to me coulde tell , of cardinal vertues
Or that counted Conscience at a cocks fether or an hens
I ne knew neuer Cardinall , þat he ne came fro the pope
And we clarks whan they come , for their commens paien
For their pelures & palfreis meat , & pilors þat hem folowe
The commune Clamat quotidie , ech a man to other
The contrey is the cursseder that Cardinals commen in
And there thei lig & lenge , most lechery there regneth
Therfore quod this vicory by bery [v]ery God I wold
That no Cardinall comme amonge the commen people
But in their holynes helden them styll
At Anyon among the Iewes Cum sancto sanctus erit eri[s][^a77]
Or in Rome as they rule well , the relikes to kepe
And thou Conscience in kings courte , and shuldest neuer come thense ,
And grace that thou gredest so of , gidar of al clerks ,
And Pyers with his newe plow & eke with his olde ,
Emperoure of all þe worlde þat all men were chrysten ,
Imperfit is that Pope þat all the worlde shulde helpe ,
And sendith hem that sleeth such as he shuld saue ,
And well worth pyers þe plowman þat persueth God in doynge
Qui pluit super iustos et iniustos , attonce ,
And sent the sonne to saue a cursed mans tilthe
As bright as to the best man or to the best woman
Right so Pyers the Plowman peyneth him to tyl
As well for a wastor and wenches of the stewes
As for him-selfe & his seruaunts saue he is first serued
And traueileth and tilleth for a traytor also sore ,
As for the true tidie men all tymes ylyke ,
And worshipid be he þat wroght al both good & wikid
And suffreth þat sinfull be till some tyme þat they repent ,
And God amend the Pope that pylleth holy kyrke
And claymeth before the kinge to be kepe of chrysten
And countethnot counteth not though christen be killed and robbed
And find folke to fight and christen folke to spyll ,
Agayn thold law & new lawe as Luke therof witnesseth
Non occides mihi vindiciam vindic[t]am[^a78] , et cetera ,
It semeth by so him-selfe had hys wyll
That he ne retche right nought of all the remnant
And Christ of his curtesy the Cardinals frame ,
And turne their wit to wisdome , & weale of her soule
For the comune quod this Curatoure counten full lytle ,
The counsell of Consciene Conscien[c]e[^a79] or Cardinall vertues ,
But if they see as by sight somwhat to winning
Of gyle ne of gabing giue thou neuer tale ,
For , Spiritus prudentie among the people is gyle
And all the foule vices as vertues they semed
Eche man suttelleth a slight synne for to hide
And coloureth it for a cunning and a cleane liuing
Than laught there a lord , and by the light sayde
I holde it right and reason , of my reue to take
All that mine auditour or els my stewarde ,
Councelleth me by their account & by clerkes writinge
With Spiritus intellectus , they seke the reues rollers
And with Spiritus fortitudinis , fetchen it whole ,
And than came ther a kyng and by his crowne sayde ,
I am a king with crowne , þe commune to rule
And holy kirke and clergy from cursed men to defend
And if me lacketh to lyue by the law will I take it
There I may moost hastely it haue for I am head of lawe
For ye be but membres and I aboue all
And syth I am your allerhede aller hede , I am your allerhele aller hele ,
And holy church chiefe helpe & chefest am of þe common .
And what I take of you two I take it of þe teaching ,
Of Spiritus iusticie , for I iudge you all .
So may I boldly be houseled , for I borowe neuer ,
Ne craue of my commune but as my kinde asketh ,
In condicion quod conscience that thou can defende ,
And rule thy realme by reason as right wyll & truth ,
Take thou might[^a80] in reason , as the thi[^a81] law asketh
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum sed non ad depredandum depre[hen]d[e]ndum ,
The vicar had far home and faire he toke hys leue ,
And I awaked therwith and wrote as me met ,

[^a74: it it [is] (Cr1) | it is (All other mss)]

[^a75: loes lo[u]es (Cr1) | loues (All other mss)]

[^a76: cardial cardi[n]al (Cr1) | cardinal (All other mss)]

[^a77: erit eri[s] (Cr1) | eris (All other mss)]

[^a78: vindiciam vindic[t]am (Cr1) | vindictam (All other mss)]

[^a79: Consciene Conscien[c]e (Cr1) | Conscience (All other mss)]

[^a80: might (CrHm) | mayst (Most other mss)]

[^a81: the thi (CrOF) | thi (All other mss)]

[^58: not in small font]

[^59: variant not cited in KD]

[^60: Check MS -- the corrected character could be a u after all.]

[^61: Cr1.19.262: The poorly printed letter t confused the annotator of the MS.]

[^62: Check MS -- vertical line after comma?]

[^63: Kane-Donaldson cites Cr1 as "monks".]

Passus .xx. vicesimus et primus de dobest .

THan I went by þe waye whan I was thus awaked
Heuy chered I yede and eleng in hert
I ne wist where to eate ne at what place ,
And it nighed nye þe none , and with nede I met
That afrounted me foule , and faitour me called
Canst thou not excuse the as dyd the kyng and other
That thou toke to thy bileue to clothes & to sustinance
As by teachinge and by tellinge of spiritus temperancie ,
And thou nome namore then nede the taught
And nede hath no law ne neuer shall fall in dette
For thre thinges he taketh his lyfe for to saue ,
That is meat when men him warne & he no money welde
Ne wight þat wil be his borow , & hath no wed to ligge
And he caught in that case & came therto by sleyghtes
He sinneth not sothely , that so wynneth hys fode
And though he can so to a cloth & can no beter cheuisance
Nede anone right , winneth him vnder mayne-prise ,
And if him lyst for to laye , the lawe of kynd wold ,
That he dronke at eche diche er he for thurst dyed ,
So nede at great nede may nimen as for hys owne ,
Without councel of conscience or Cardinall vertues ,
So that he sewe and saue , spiritus temperancie
For is no vertue by fer , to spiritus temperancie ,
Neyther spiritus iusticie , ne spiritus fortitudinis ,
For spiritus fortitudinis forfeteth full oft
He shall do more then measure many a tyme and ofte ,
And beate men ouer bytter and some of them to litel ,
And greueth men greater than good fayth it wolde ,
And Spiritus iusticie shall iudge will he nyll he ,
After the kinges counsell , and the commen lyke
And spiritus prudencie , in many pointes shall fayle
Of that he weneth wold faile , if his witte ne were
Wening is no wisdome ne wise ymaginacyon ,
Homo proponit , deus disponit , & gouerneth al good vertues
And nede is next him for anon he meketh him ,
And as low as a lambe , for lacking of þat him nedeth ,
Wise men forsoke weale , for they wold be nedye
And weneden in wildernes and wold not be rich
And God all his great ioye gostly he left ,
And came and toke mankind and became nedy
So nedy he was as sayth the boke in many sondrye places ,
That he sayd in his sorow on the selfe roode
Both foxe and foule may flee and to hole crepe
And the fyshe hath fyn to flete with torest to rest ,
There nede hath innomed me þat I must nedes abide ,
And suffre sorowes ful soure , that shall to ioy turne ,
Therfore be nought abashed to byde and to be nedy ,
Ne neuer none so nedy ne poore died ,
Whan nede had vndone me thus anon I fell a-slepe ,
And met full maruelously þat in a mans forme
Antichrist came than and all the croppe of trueth
Turned vpsidoune , and ouer-tilt the rote ,
And false spring and spred and sped mens nedes
In eche a contrey ther he came he cut away trueth ,
And garte gile growe there as he of God were ,
Frires folowed that fende , for he gaue hem copes
And religious reuerenced him and rang their belles ,
And all the couent furth came to welcome that tirant ,
And all his as well as him , saue onely fooles
Whiche foles were well leuer to dye than to lyue
Lenger syth Leauty was so rebuked
And a false fende Antechriste , ouer all folke raygned
And þat were mild men & holy men , þou no mischiefe drede
Defieden all falsenes , and folke that it vsed
And what king þat hem conforted , knowing hem any while
They cursed & her counsel , were it clarkes or lewde
Antichrist had thus some hundredes at his banner
And pride it bare boldly about where he yede
Wyth a Lord that liueth after the likynge of his body
That came agayne Conscience , þat keper was & gydour
Ouer kinde christen , and cardinall vertues
I counsell quod Conscience , come with me foles
Into vnitie , holy church , and holde we vs there
And cry we to kinde , that he come and defende vs
Foles from these fendes lims , for Piers loue þe plowman
And cry we to all the commune , þat they come to vnitie
And there abide and biker , against Belials children .
Kynd Conscience tho heard , & came out of the planetis
And sent forth his forriours , feuers and fluxes
Coughes and cardiacles , crampes and toth aches
Reumes and radgondes , and raynous scalles
Byles and botches , and burnynge agues
Freneges and foule euill , foragers of kinde
Hadden pricked and prayed polles of the people
That largely a legion losten their liue sone
There was harowe and helpe here commeth kinde
With death that is dreadefull to vndone vs all
The lorde that liued after lust , tho aloude cried
After confort a knight , to come & beare his banner
A-larme a-larme quod þat Lord , ech life kepe his own
And than met these men , their mynstrels myght pype
And their heraudes of armes , had descriued Lordes
Age the hoore he was in the vawwarde
And bare þe banner before death , bi right he it claimed
Kynde came after wyth many kene sores
As pockes and pestilences , and much people shent
So kinde through corruptions killed full many
Death came driuynge after , and to dust pashed ,
Kynges and Kaysers , knightes and Popes
Learned and lewde , he ne let no man stande
That he hitte euen , he neuer stode after
Many a louely Ladye , and lemmans of knights
Swonden and swelten for sorow of deathes dyntes
Conscience of his curtesye , to kinde he besought
To cease and suffre , and se where they woulde
Leue pryde priuelie , and be perfite christen
And Kinde ceased tho , to se the people amende
Fortune gan flatteren then , tho fewe that were alyue
And hight hem longe life , and lechery she sent
Amonges all maner men , wedded and vnwedded
And gathered a great host , all agayne Conscience
This Lechery layde on with a laughynge chere
And with a priuye speache and paynted wordes
And armed him in idlenes , and in hygh bearyng
He bare a bowe in hys hand , & many bloudy arrowes
Were fethered with faire behest , & many a false trueth
Wyth hys vntidye tales , he tened full often
Conscience and his company , of holy kirke þe techers
Than came Couetise and caste howe he might
Ouercome Conscience , and cardinall vertues
And armed him in auarice , and hongrily lyued
His wepen was all wiles , to wynnen and to hiden
With glosinges & with glabbinges , he giled the people
Symony him sent to assayle conscience
And preched to the people and prelates they maden ,
To hold with antichrist their temperalties to saue
And came to kinges counsell as a kene baron ,
And kneled to conscience in court afore them all ,
Andgarde And garde good fayth flee and false to abyde ,
And boldly bare downe with many a bright noble ,
Much of the wit and wisedome of westminster hal
He iustled tyll a Iustice , and iusted in his eare
And ouertilt al his truth , will take this apon amendment
And to the arches in hast he yede anone after ,
And turned cyuile into symoni & syth he toke thofficial
For a mantell of miniuer he made lelly matrimonye ,
Departen er death came , and deuourse shaped
Alas quod conscience tho wold Christ of his grace
That couetise were a christen that is so kine a fighter ,
And bold and abiding while his bagge lasteth
And than lough lyfe , and let dagge his clothes
And armed him in hast in harlottes wordes ,
And held holines a Iape , and hendnes a waster ,
And lete leautie a cherle , and lyer a freman
Conscience and councell he counted at foly ,
Thus leled lyfe for a lytle fortune ,
And priked furth with pride , praysed he no vertue ,
He careth not how kinde slouth shall come at last
And kyll all earthely creatures , saue conscience onely
Lyfe lept asede and caught him a lemman ,
Health and I quod he , and heauynes of herte
Shall do the no drede nether death ne Elde ,
And to forget death and gyue nought of synne ,
Thys lyked lyfe and his lemman fortune ,
And gat in their glory a gadling at last ,
One that much wo wrought slouth was his name ,
Slouth wexe wonder yerne , and sone was of age
And wedded one wanhope a wench of the stewes ,
Hyr syre was a sysor that neuer swore trueth
One Tomme twotong , atteint of ech a quest
This Slouth was ware of warre , and a slyng made
And threwe drede of dispayre , adozen a dozen myles a-boute
For care conscience tho cryed apon age ,
And bad him fend a sight and afere wanhope ,
And age hent good hope , and hastely he shyftes him
And wained awaye wanhop , & with lyfe he fighteth ,
And lyfe fleeth for fere to phisike after helpe ,
And besought him of his succoure & of his salue had ,
And gaue him gold good wonne þat gladded his hart
And they gaue him agayne a glasen howne ,
Lyfe leued that lechecraft let shulde Elde
And driuen away death with dias and dragges ,
And Elde auentred him on lyfe , and at last he hyt
A phisician with a furred hode that he fell in the palsy
And their died that docter er thre dayes after ,
Now I see sayd lyfe that surgery ne phisike
May not a myte auayle , to medle agayne Elde
And in hope of his heale good harte he hente
And rode so to reuell a rych place and a mery
The company of comforth men clipped it some tyme
And Elde anone after , and ouer my head she yede[^64]
And made me bald before and bare on my crowne ,
So hard he yede ouer my heade þat it will be seue euer
Syr euell taught Elde quod I , vnheende go wyth the ,
Sithe whan was the way ouer mens heades ?
Haddest þou bene hende quod I , þou woldest haue asked leue
Yea leaue lurden quod he , and layde on me with age ,
And hit me vnder the eare , vnneth may ich heare
He buffeted me about the mouth , and bet out my teth
And gyued me in goutes , I may not go at large ,
And of the wo that I was in my wyfe had ruthe ,
And wished full witterly that I were in heauen ,
For the lyme that she loued me for , & leef was to feele
On nightes namely when we naked were ,
I ne might in no maner make it at hyr will ,
So Elde and se sothely had forbeaten it ,
And as I satte in this sorowe I se kinde passed
And death drewe nere me , for drede gan I quacke ,
And cryed to kinde out of care me bringe
Lo Elde the hore hath me byfeye .
Awreke me if your wilbe wil be for I wold be hence ,
If thou wold be wroken , wend into vnitie
And hold the there euer tyll I send for the ,
And loke thou konne some craft ere thou come thence
Counsell me Kynd quod I , what craft is best to learne ,
Learne to loue quod kinde and leaue all other ,
Howe shall I come to cattel so , to cloth me & to fede ?
And thou loue lelly quod he , lacke shall the neuer ,
Meat ne worldly wede , whyle thy lyfe lasteth ,
And there by counsell of kinde , I comsed to runne r[om]e[^a82]
Through contricion & confession till I came to vnitie ,
And there was conscience constable , christen to saue ,
And besieged Sothelie with senen se[u]en great Gyantes
That with antichrist holden harde agayn conscience ,
Sloth was his slyng and hard assawte made ,
Proude priests come with him mo then a thowsand ,
In paltoks and piked shoes and pisfers long kniues ,
Comen agayne conscience with couetyse they helden ,
By Mary quod a mansed priest of the march of Ireland ,
I count no more conscience , by so I catche siluer
Than I do to drinke a draught of good ale ,
And so sayd sixty of the same contrey
And shotten againe with shote many a shefe of othes
And brode hoked arowes , Gods hert and his nailes ,
And had almost vnitye and holynes adowne
Conscience cryed helpe clergy or els I fall ,
Through imperfite priests & prelates of holy church
Fryers harde him crye and came him to helpe ,
And for thei coud not wel her craft , conscience hem forsoke
Nede neighed tho nere , and conscience he tolde
That they came for couetyse to haue cure of soule ,
And for thei are pore perauenter for patrimony hem failith
They flatter to fare well folke that bene ryche ,
And syth they chosen chele and cheitif pouertie
Let them chewe as they chosen , & charge them with no cure ,
For Lomer he lyeth that lyuelode might begge ,
Than he þat laboureth for liuelod & leneth it beggers ,
And sith fryers forsoke , the filicitie of the earth
Let them be as beggers or lyue by Angels foode ,
Conscience of this councell tho comsed to laugh ,
And curtesly comforted him and called in al fryers ,
And sayd syrs sothely welcome be you all
To vnitie and holy church , one thing I you praye
Hold you in vnitie and haue no enuye ,
To lerned men ne to lewde , but lyue after your rule ,
And I will be your borow ye shall haue bred & cloth
And other necessaryes ynowe ye shall nothing fayle ,
With that ye leaue lodgike and learne to loue ,
For loue lost the lordshyp , both land and schole
Fryer Fraunces and dominike for loue to be holy ,
And if ye couet cure , kynd wyll you teache .
That in measure God made all maner thinges
And set hem at a certen and a seker nombre ,
And nempned names newe and nommbred the sterres .
Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum & omnibus[^a83] &cetera .
Kynges and knightes that kepen and defenden ,
Haue officers vnder hem , and eche of hem certen
And if they wage men to war they write hem in nombre
Or they wil no treasure hem pay , trauaile they neuer so sore
For all other in battel , bene holden brybors
Pylors and pikeharneis , in eche a place accursed ,
Monks and monyales and all men of relygion ,
Their order & their rule wold to haue a certen nombre
Of lerned and of lewde , the lawe will and asketh ,
A certen for a certen , saue onely of Fryers .
Therfore quod conscience , by Christ kinde witte me telleth
It is wicked to wage you , ye wexe out of nombre ,
Heauen hath euen nombre , & hell is without nombre
Therfore I wolde witterly þat ye were in þe registres ,
And your nombre vnder notaries signe & neither mo ne lesse
Enuy hard this and bad fryers go to schole ,
And lerne logike and lawe , and eke contemplacion ,
And preache men of Plato , and prieue it by Seneca ,
That all thinges vnder heauen ought to be in commune
And yet he lyeth as I leue þat to the lewde so precheth ,
For God made men a lawe , and Moses it taught ,
Non concupisses rem proximi tui ,
And euel is his holde in parishes of Englande ,
For parsons & parishe priestes þat shuld þe peple shriue
Bene Curatuors called to know and to heale ,
To all þat bene their parishens penance to enioigne
And shuld be ashamed in their shrift , & shame makith
And flee to þe Fryers , as false folke to Westminster
That boroweth & beareth thider , & then biddith frends
Yerne of fogifenes fo[r]gifenes or lenger yeres loone
And while he is in westminster he wilbe before ,
And make him mery with other mens goods
And so it fareth with much folke þat to fryers shriueth
As sisours & executours they will gyue the fryers ,
A percell to pray for them & make them-selfe merye ,
With þe residue & þe remnaunt þat other men be swonken ,
And suffre the dead in det to the day of dome ,
Enuy therfore hated conscience ,
And friers to philosiphy he found hem to schole ,
The while couetise and vnkindnes , conscience assayled
In vnitie holy church , conscience healed him
And made peace porter , to pinne the gates
To all tale tellers and tutelers in ydell ,
Hypocrisy and he an harde assaute they made
Hipocrisy at gate hard gan to feight ,
And wounded well wickedlye many a wyse teacher ,
That with conscience accorded , and Cardynall vertues
Conscience called a leche that could wel shryue ,
Go salue tho þat sick ben , and through sinne wounded ,
Shrift shope sharpe salue and made hem do penance
For their misdedes that they wrought hadden ,
And that piers were payde , Redde quod debes ,
Some lyked not this leche , and letters they sent ,
If any surgeon were in the sege , þat softer could plaster
Syr life to liue in lechery laye there and groned ,
For fastyng of a fryday , he fared as he wold dye
There is a surgeon in this sege that soft can handle
And more of phisyke he can and fayrer he plastereth ,
One frier flatterer is phisician and surgeon ,
Quod contricion to conscience do him come to vnitie
For here is many a man hurt through hypocrisie
We haue no nede quod Conscience , I wot no better lech
Than person or parishe prieste , penitauncer or bishop
Saue Pierce the plowman , þat hath power ouer hem al
And indulgence may do , but if that dette let it
I may wel suffer quod conscience , seinge ye desieren
That Fryer flatterer befet , a phisike you seke
The Fryer hereof harde , and hied full faste
To a lorde for a letter , leaue to haue curen
As a curatour he were , and came with hys letters
Boldely to the byshop , and his briefe had ,
In contryes there he came in , confession to here
And came ther Conscience was , & knocked at þe gate
Peace vnpinned it , was porter of vnitie
And in haste asked what hys wyll were
I fayth quod this Frier , for profit and for health
Carpe I wold with contrition , & therefore I came hither
He is sicke sayde Peace , and so is many an other
Hypocrisie hath hurt him , ful harde is he of couer
I am surgion sayde the segge , and salues can make
Conscience knoweth me wel , and what I can do both
I praye the quod Peace tho , ere thou passe further
What hightest thou I pray the , heale not thy name
Certes sayd thys felowe , syr Penetrans domos .
Go thy gates quod Peace , by god for all thy phisike
But thou kenne some craft , thou commest not herein
I knewe such one once , not eyght winters passed
Came in thus coped , at a court wher I dwelled
And was my lordes leche , and my ladies bothe
And at laste this limitour , tho my lord was out
He salued so our women , tyll some were with childe .
Heende speach heete Peace to open the gates
Let in the frier and his felowe , & make him fair chere
He may se and heare , so it may befall
That lyfe through his lore , shall leaue couetise
And be a-drade of death , and withdrawe him from prid
And accord with conscience , and kisse either other .
Thus through hende speach , entred the fryer
And came to Conscience , and curtesly him grete
Thou art welcome quod Conscience , canst þou heale þe sick ?
Here is contricion quod conscience , my cosin wounded
Confort him quod conscience , & take kepe to his sores
The playsters of þe person , and pouders beaten to sore
He letteth hem ligge ouer long , & loth is to chaung hem
From lenten to lenten , he let his playsters byten .
That is ouerlong quod this Limitor , I leue I shal amend it
And goth & gropeth contricion , & gaue him a plaister
Of a pryuy payment , & I shal pray for you ,
And for all that ye bene holden to , all my lyue longe
And make you my Ladye in masses and in mattens
As Fryers of our fraternitie , for a litle siluer .
Thus he goth & gadereth , & gloseth ther he shriueth
Till contricion had cleaneforgoten cleane forgoten to crye & to wepe
And wake for his works , as he was wont to do
For confort of hys confessour , Contricion he lost
That is the souereynest salue , for all kinnes synnes
Slouthe see that , and so dyd pride
And commen with a kene wyll , conscience to assayle
Conscience cryed out [ef]t[^a84] , and bade cleargy helpe him
And also contricion , for to kepe the gate
He lieth & dreameth said Peace , & so doth many other
The fryer with his phisike , this folke hath enchaunted
And plastred hem so easely , they dred no synne
Bi Christ quod Conscience tho , I wol become a pilgrime
And walken as wyde as the world lasteth
To seke Pierce the plowman , that pride may destroy
And that Fryers had a finding , þat for no nede flatteren
And contrepledeth me Conscience , now kind me aueng
And send me hap & heale , til I haue Piers þe plowman
And syth he grad after grace til , I gan awake .

[^a82: runne r[om]e (Cr1) | rome (All other mss)]

[^a83: omnibus (Cr) | omnibus eis (All other mss)]

[^a84: out [ef]t (Cr1) | eft (All other mss)]

[^64: Check MS -- there's a vertical line between last two words.]

[^65] Finis . ¶Imprinted at London by Roberte Crowley , dwellyng in Elye rentes in Holburne . The yere of our Lord . M . D . L .[^66]

[^65: all of the trailer is centered]

[^66: Ornaments centered here, continuing triangulation of text above; includes stars, pointing hands, fleur-de-lis, flowers and leaf.]