The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 4: Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Laud Misc. 581 (S. C. 987) (L)
author: William Langland
source date: late 14th or early 15th century
edition published: 2004
language: lat; fre; ger
availability: Commercially available: copyright 2004, by SEENET Published in the United Kingdom by Boydell and Brewer for The Medieval Academy of America and SEENET Manufactured in the United Kingdom No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

Incipit liber de Petro Plowman

I n[^1] a somer seson  whan soft was the sonne[^2]
I shope me in shroudes  as i a shepe were
In habite as an heremite  vnholy of workes
Went wyde in þis world wondres to here[^3]
Ac on a May mornyng  on Maluerne hulles
Me byfel a ferly  of fairy me thouȝte
I was wery forwandred · and went me to reste
Vnder a brode banke  bi a bornes side
And as I lay and lened  and loked in þe wateres
I slombred in a slepyng  it sweyued so merye

[^1: L.P.1: The twelve-line ornamental capital is written in blue on an elaborately flourished red ground with oak leaves. The flourishes run all the way down the left side of the page forming a demivinet.]

[^2: L.P.1: The old Laudian shelf mark E.64 is written in the right margin.

This front leaf is badly rubbed, and we have had in some instances to corroborate our guesses about the reading with Skeat's transcription. For instance, at the top of the leaf, on the very edge of the cropped leaf, Skeat found the following words in red ink: Incipit liber de Petro Plowman . Skeat records that the rubrication was readable in strong sunlight when he worked with the manuscript. However, it is no longer legible, even under ultra-violet light. We can make out Pe... Plow.an. Beneath that is written in a late sixteenth-century hand .... Robart Langeland borne by malbovrne (or perhaps malbourne?) . . lles.

The first ten lines are boxed with a fine red line.]

[^3: L.P.3-4: Some penmarks in a brown ink are written over these lines. The <v> of vnholy is partially obscured, and there appears to be no punctus elevatus on line 4.]

Thanne gan I to meten  a merueilouse sweuene
That I was in a wildernesse  wist I neuer where
As I bihelde in-to þe est  an hiegh to þe sonne
I seigh a toure on a toft  trielich ymaked
A depe dale binethe  a dongeon þere-Inne
With depe dyches & derke  and dredful of sight
A faire felde ful of folke  fonde I there bytwene
Of alle maner of men  þe mene and þe riche
Worchyng and wandryng  as þe worlde asketh
Some put hem to þe plow  pleyed ful selde
In settyng and in sowyng  swonken ful harde
And wonnen that wastours  with glotonye destruyeth

And some putten hem to pruyde  apparailed hem þere -after
In contenaunce of clothyng comen disgised

In prayers and in penance  putten hem manye
Al for loue of owre lorde · lyueden ful streyte
In hope forto haue · heueneriche blisse
As ancres and heremites · that holden hem in here selles[^4]
And coueiten nought in contre to kairen aboute
For no likerous liflode · her lykam to plese

[^4: L.P.28: An illegible erasure appears in the right margin.]

And somme chosen chaffare · they cheuen the bettere
As it semeth to owre syȝt · that suche men thryueth
And somme murthes to make · as mynstralles conneth
And geten gold with here glee · synneles I leue
Ac iapers & iangelers · Iudas chylderen
Feynen hem fantasies · and foles hem maketh
And han here witte at wille · to worche ȝif þei sholde
That Poule precheth of hem · I nel nought preue it here
Qui turpiloquium loquitur · &c[^5]

[^5: L.P.39: LCCr1HM omit the b-verse, which reads is luciferes hyne.]

Bidders and beggeres · fast aboute ȝede[^6]
With her bely and her bagge · of bred ful ycrammed
Fayteden for here fode · fouȝten atte ale
In glotonye god it wote · gon hij to bedde
And risen with ribaudye · tho roberdes knaues
Slepe and sori sleuthe · seweth hem eure

[^6: L.P.40: The Laud librarian has added in the bottom margin the following inscription: Liber Guilielmi Laud Archiepiscopi Cantuarij : et Cancellarij Vniuersitatis Oxoniensis 1633 .]

¶ Pilgrymes and palmers · pliȝted hem togidere
To seke seynt Iames · and seyntes in rome
Thei went forth in here wey · with many wise tales
And hadden leue to lye · al here lyf after
I seigh somme that seiden · þei had ysouȝt seyntes
To eche a tale þat þei tolde · here tonge was tempred to lye
More þan to sey soth · it semed bi here speche

¶ Heremites on an heep · with hoked staues
Wenten to walsyngham · and here wenches after
Grete lobyes and longe · that loth were to swynke
Clotheden hem in copis · to ben knowen fram othere
And shopen hem heremites · here ese to haue

¶ I fonde þere Freris alle þe foure ordres
Preched þe peple · for profit of hem-seluen
Glosed þe gospel · as hem good lyked
For coueitise of copis · construed it as þei wolde
Many of þis maistres Freris mowe clothen hem at lykyng
For here money and marchandise · marchen togideres
For sith charite haþ be chapman · and chief to shryue lordes
Many ferlis han fallen · in a fewe ȝeris
But holychirche and hij · holde better togideres
+
The moste mychief my[s]chief[^7] on molde · is mountyng wel faste

[^7: L.P.67: A <+> appears in the left margin at the head of this line, marking erroneous mychief. The correction was not made. The scribe also wrote mychief at L.3.178, but he corrected it there.]

¶ Þere preched a Pardonere · as he a prest were
Brouȝte forth a bulle · with bishopes seles
And seide þat hym-self myȝte · assoilen hem alle
Of falshed of fastyng · of vowes ybroken

¶ Lewed men leued hym wel · and lyked his wordes
Comen vp knelyng · to kissen his bulles
He bonched hem with his breuet · & blered here eyes
And rauȝte with his ragman · rynges and broches
Thus þey geuen here golde · glotones to kepe
And leneth[^8] such loseles · þat lecherye haunten
Were þe bischop yblissed · and worth bothe his eres
His seel shulde nouȝt be sent · to deceyue þe peple
Ac it is nauȝt by þe bischop · þat þe boy precheth
For the parisch prest and þe pardonere · parten þe siluer
That þe poraille of þe parisch · sholde haue ȝif þei nere

[^8: L.P.77: The reading could as well be leueth.]

¶ Persones and parisch prestes · pleyned hem to þe bischop ·
Þat here parisshes were pore · sith þe pestilence tyme
To haue a lycence and a leue · at London to dwelle
And syngen þere for symonye · for siluer is swete

¶ Bischopes and bachelers · bothe maistres and doctours
Þat han cure vnder criste · and crounyng in tokne
And signe þat þei sholden · shryuen here paroschienes
Prechen and prey for hem · and þe pore fede
Liggen in London · in lenten an elles
Somme seruen þe kyng · and his siluer tellen
In cheker and in chancerye · chalengen his dettes
Of wardes and wardmotes · weyues and streyues

¶ And some seruen as seruantz · lordes and ladyes
And in stede of stuwardes · sytten and demen
Here messe and here matynes · and many of here oures
Arn don vndeuoutlych · drede is at þe laste
Lest crist in constorie · acorse ful manye
I parceyued of þe power · þat Peter had to kepe
To bynde and to vnbynde · as þe boke telleth
How he it left wiþ loue · as owre lorde hight
Amonges foure vertues · þe best of alle vertues
Þat cardinales ben called · & closyng ȝatis
Þere crist is in kyngdome · to close and to shutte
And to opne it to hem · and heuene blisse shewe
Ac of þe cardinales atte Courte · þat cauȝt of þat name
And power presumed in hem · a Pope to make
To han þat power þat peter hadde · inpugnen I nelle
For in loue and letterure · þe eleccioun bilongeth
For-þi I can and can nauȝte · of courte speke more

¶ Þanne come þere a kyng · knyȝthod hym ladde
Miȝt of þe comunes · made hym to regne
And þanne cam kynde wytte · and clerkes he made
For to conseille þe kyng · and þe comune saue

¶ The kyng and knyȝthode · and clergye bothe
Casten þat þe comune shulde hem-self fynde

¶ Þe comune contreued · of kynde witte craftes
And for profit of alle þe poeple · plowmen ordeygned
To tilie and trauaile · as trewe lyf askeþ
Þe kynge and þe comune · and kynde witte þe thridde
Shope lawe & lewte · eche man to knowe his owne

¶ Þanne loked vp a lunatik · a lene þing with-alle
And knelyng to þe kyng · clergealy he seyde
Crist kepe þe sire kyng · and þi kyngriche
And lene þe lede þi londe · so leute þe louye
And for þi riȝtful rewlyng · be rewarded in heuene

¶ And sithen in þe eyre an hiegh · an angel of heuene
Lowed to speke in latyn · for lewed men ne coude .
Iangle ne iugge · þat iustifie hem shulde
But suffren & seruen · for-thi seyde þe angel
Sum Rex sum Princeps · neutrum fortasse deinceps
O qui iura regis · cristi 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 ·

X
[^9] ¶ Thanne greued hym a Goliardeys · a glotoun of wordes
And to þe angel an heiȝ · answeres[^10] after
Dum rex a regere · dicatur nomen habere
Nomen habet sine re · nisi studet iura tenere ·

[^9: L.P.139: A very light <X> appears in the left margin.]

[^10: L.P.140: LR alone read answeres; all other B manuscripts have a preterite form here.]

¶ And þanne gan alle þe comune · crye in vers of latin
To þe kynges conseille · construe ho-so wolde
Precepta Regis · sunt nobis vincula legis ·

Nota
¶ Wiþ þat ran þere a route of ratones at ones
And smale mys with hem mo þen a þousande
And comen to a conseille · for here comune profit
For a cat of a courte · cam whan hym lyked
And ouerlepe hem lyȝtlich · and lauȝte hem at his wille
And pleyde wiþ hem perilouslych · and possed aboute
For doute of dyuerse dredes · we dar nouȝte wel loke
And ȝif we grucche of his gamen · he wil greue vs alle
Cracche vs or clowe vs · and in his cloches holde
That vs lotheth þe lyf · or he lete vs passe
Myȝte we wiþ any witte · his wille withstonde
We myȝte be lordes aloft · and lyuen at owre ese

¶ A raton of renon most renable of tonge
¶ Seide for a souereygne · help to hym-selue
I haue ysein segges quod he · in þe cite of london
Beren biȝes ful briȝte · abouten here nekkes
And some[^11] colers of crafty werk vncoupled þei wenden
+
[^12] Boþe in wareine & in waste · where hem leue lyketh
And otherwhile þei aren elles-where · as I here telle
Were þere a belle on here beiȝ · bi Ihesu as me thynketh
Men myȝte wite where þei went · and awei renne
[^13] And riȝt so quod þat ratoun · reson me sheweth
To bugge a belle of brasse · or of briȝte syluer
And knitten on a colere · for owre comune profit
And hangen it vp-on þe cattes hals · þanne here we mowen
Where he ritt or rest · or renneth to playe
And ȝif him list for to laike · þenne loke we mowen
And peren in his presence · þer-while hym plaie liketh
And ȝif him wrattheth be ywar · and his weye shonye

[^11: L.P.162: The correction here--the supralinear addition of some--is probably entered by the original scribe.]

[^12: L.P.163: The corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, probably intended to note the error in the preceding line.]

[^13: L.P.167: An illegible mark appears in the left margin.]

¶ Alle þis route of ratones · to þis reson þei assented
Ac þo þe belle was ybouȝt · and on þe beiȝe hanged
Þere ne was ratoun in alle þe route · for alle þe rewme of Fraunce
Þat dorst haue ybounden þe belle · aboute þe cattis nekke
Ne hangen aboute þe cattes hals · al Engelonde to wynne
And helden hem vnhardy · and here conseille feble
And leten here laboure lost · & alle here longe studye

¶ A mous þat moche good · couthe as me thouȝte
Stroke forth sternly · and stode biforn hem alle
And to þe route of ratones · reherced þese wordes
Thouȝ we culled þe catte · ȝut sholde þer come an-other
To cracchy vs and al owre kynde · þouȝ we croupe[^14] vnder benches
For-þi I conseille alle þe comune · to lat þe catte worthe
And be we neuer so bolde · þe belle hym to shewe
For I herde my sire seyn · is seuene ȝere ypassed
Þere þe catte is a kitoun · þe courte is ful elyng
Þat witnisseth holiwrite · who-so wil it rede
Ve terre vbi puer rex est &c[^15]
For may no renke þere rest haue · for ratones bi nyȝte
Þe while he caccheþ conynges · he coueiteth nouȝt owre caroyne
But fet hym al with venesoun · defame we hym neuere
For better is a litel losse · þan a longe sorwe
Þe mase amonge vs alle · þouȝ we mysse a schrewe
For many mannus[^16] malt · we mys wolde destruye
And also ȝe route of ratones · rende mennes clothes
Nere þat cat of þat courte · þat can ȝow ouerlepe
For had ȝe rattes ȝowre wille · ȝe couthe nouȝt reule ȝowre-selue
I sey for me quod þe mous · I se so mykel after
Shal neuer þe cat ne þe kitoun · bi my conseille be greued
Ne carpyng of þis coler · þat costed me neure
And þouȝ it had coste me catel · biknowen it I nolde
But suffre as hym-self wolde · to do as hym liketh
Coupled & vncoupled · to cacche what thei mowe
For-þi vche a wise wiȝte I warne · wite wel his owne

[^14: L.P.186: LMR alone read cro(u)pe; most other B manuscripts have cropen or crepe.]

[^15: L.P.192: A scribe has written a pointing hand in the left margin and drawn a line over and under the Latin text.]

[^16: L.P.198: This abbreviation occurs only once in the manuscript as a marker for the genitive singular. See III.3.2.2 in the Linguistic Description above.]

¶ What þis meteles b emeneth · ȝe men þat be merye
Deuine ȝe for I ne dar · bi dere god in heuene

¶ Ȝit houed þere an hondreth · in houues of selke
Seriauntz it semed · þat serueden atte barre
Plededen for penyes · and poundes þe lawe
And nouȝt for loue of owre lorde · vnlese[^17] here lippes onis
Þow myȝtest better mete þe myste · on maluerne hulles
Þan gete a momme of here mouthe · but monoy were shewed

[^17: L.P.214: LR alone read vnlese; most other B manuscripts have vnlose.]

¶ Barones an burgeis · and bonde-men als
I seiȝ in þis assemble · as ȝe shul here after
Baxsteres & brewesteres · and bocheres manye
Wollewebsteres[^18] · and weueres of lynnen
Taillours and tynkeres · & tolleres in marketes
Masons and mynours · and many other craftes
Of alkin libbyng laboreres · lopen forth somme
As dykers & delueres · þat doth here dedes ille
And dryuen forth þe dere[^19] day · with dieu vous saue dame Emme ·
Cokes and here knaues · crieden hote pies hote
Gode gris a[^20] gees · gowe go we dyne gowe go we

[^18: L.P.220: L alone reads wollewebsteres as one word, though alpha has wolle websteres. All other B manuscripts have wollen webbesters.]

[^19: L.P.225: L alone among B witnesses reads dere. Most other manuscripts read longe.]

[^20: L.P.227: a, "and." L alone reads a. All other manuscripts of B have and.]

¶ Tauerners vn-til hem · tolde þe same
White wyn of Oseye · and red wyn of Gascoigne
Of þe Ryne and of þe Rochel · þe roste to defye
Al þis seiȝ I slepyng · and seuene sythes more

Passus primus de visione [L.P.000: The passus heading is written over an erasure.]

W hat[^21] this montaigne bymeneth · and þe merke dale
And þe felde ful of folke · I shal ȝow faire schewe
A loueli ladi of lere · in lynnen yclothed
+
Come down fram a castel · and[^22] called me faire
And seide sone slepestow · sestow þis poeple
How bisi þei ben · abouten þe mase
Þe moste partie of þis poeple · þat passeth on þis erthe
Haue þei worschip in þis worlde · þei wilne no better
Of other heuene þan here · holde þei no tale

[^21: L.1.1: The five-line ornamental capital is in blue on red fill.]

[^22: L.1.4: The corrector marked an for correction with a <+> in the right margin. It has been partially erased.]

¶ I was aferd of her face · þeiȝ she faire were
And seide mercy Madame · what is þis to mene
Þe toure vp þe toft quod she · treuthe is þere-Inne
And wolde þat ȝe wrouȝte · as his worde techeth
For he is fader of feith · fourmed ȝow alle
Bothe with fel and with face · and ȝaf ȝow fyue wittis
Forto worschip hym þer-with · þe while þat ȝe ben here
And þerfore he hyȝte þe erthe · to help ȝow vchone
Of wollen of lynnen · of lyflode at nede
In mesurable manere · to make ȝow at ese

¶ And comaunded of his curteisye in comune þree þinges
Arne none nedful but þo · and nempne hem I thinke
the iij þinges requisite
And rekne hem bi resoun · reherce þow hem after
That one is vesture · from chele þe to saue
And mete atte[^23] mele · for myseise of þi-selue
And drynke whan þow dryest · ac do nouȝt out of resoun
That þow worth þe werse · whan þow worche shuldest

[^23: L.1.24: LCMR alone read atte or at þe. Other B manuscripts omit þe.]

¶ For loth in his lifdayes · for likyng of drynke
Dede bi his douȝtres · þat þe deuel lyked
Delited hym in drynke · as þe deuel wolde
And lecherye hym lauȝt · and lay bi hem boþe
And al he witt it wyn · þat wikked dede
Inebriamus eum vino · dormiamus -que cum eo
Vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen ·
wyne and wemen
Thorw wyn and þorw · women · þere was loth acombred[^24]
And þere gat in glotonye · gerlis þat were cherlis
For-þi drede delitable drynke · and þow shalt do þe bettere
mesure ys medicyne
Mesure is medcyne · þouȝ þow moche ȝerne[^25]
It is nauȝt al gode to þe goste · þat þe gutte axeþ
Ne liflode to þi likam · for a lyer him techeth[^26]
That is þe wrecched worlde · wolde þe bitraye
For þe fende and þi flesch · folweth þe to-gidere
This and þat seest þi soule · and seith it in þin herte
And for þow sholdest ben ywar · I wisse þe þe beste

[^24: L.1.34: A hand of s. xvi med. has written in the right margin wyne and wemen .]

[^25: L.1.37: A hand of s. xvi med. has written in the right margin mesure ys medicyne.]

[^26: L.1.39: LCHmW alone divide the line as here; most other B manuscripts read as follows: Ne liflode to þi likame þat leef is to þi soule Lef nauȝt þi likame for a liere hym techeþ.]

¶ Madame mercy quod I · me liketh wel ȝowre wordes
Ac þe moneye of þis molde · þat men so faste holdeth
Telle me to whom Madame · þat tresore appendeth

¶ Go to þe gospel quod she · þat god seide hym-seluen
Tho þe poeple hym apposed · wiþ a peny in þe temple
Whether þei shulde þer-with · worschip þe kyng Sesar
And god axed of hem · of whome spake þe lettre
And þe ymage ilyke þat þere-inne stondeth
Cesaris þei seide we sen hym wel vchone

¶ Reddite cesari quod god · þat ces ari bifalleth
Et que sunt dei deo · or elles ȝe done ille
For riȝtful reson · shulde rewle ȝow alle
And kynde witte be wardeyne · ȝowre welthe to kepe
And tutour of ȝoure tresore · and take it ȝow at nede
For housbonderye & hij · holden togideres
Þanne I frained hir faire · for hym þat hir made
That dongeoun in þe dale þat dredful is of siȝte
What may it be to mene · ma-dame I ȝow biseche

the meninge of the Dongeon
[^27] ¶ Þat is þe castel of care · who-so cometh þerinne
May banne þat he borne was · to body or to soule
Þerinne wonieth a wiȝte · þat wronge is yhote
Fader of falshed · and founded it hym-selue
Adam and Eue · he egged to ille
Conseilled caym · to kullen his brother
tempted
Iudas he iaped · with iuwen siluer[^28]
And sithen on an eller honged hym after
He is letter of loue · and lyeth hem alle
That trusten on his tresor · bitrayeth he sonnest

[^27: L.1.62: A hand of the s. xvi med. has written the meninge of the Dongeon in the left margin.]

[^28: L.1.68: A hand of the s. xvi med. has written in the right margin tempted as a gloss on iaped. The same hand is responsible for the underlining.]

¶ Thanne had I wonder in my witt · what womman it were
Þat such wise wordes · of holywrit shewed
And asked hir on þe hieȝe name · ar heo[^29] þennes ȝeode
What she were witterli · þat wissed me so faire

[^29: L.1.74: LMR alone retain original heo, meaning "she"; all other manuscripts have a form of she.]

¶ Holicherche I am quod she · þow ouȝtest me to knowe
I vnderfonge þe firste · and þe feyth tauȝte
And brouȝtest me borwes · my biddyng to fulfille
And to loue me lelly · þe while þi lyf dureth

¶ Thanne I courbed on my knees · and cryed hir of grace
And preyed hir pitousely · prey for my synnes
+
And also kende ken[n]e[^30] me kyndeli · on criste to bileue
That I miȝte worchen his wille · þat wrouȝte me to man
Teche me to no tresore · but telle me þis ilke
How I may saue my soule · þat seynt art yholden

[^30: L.1.82: A corrector marked the line with a <+> in the left margin, but the correction of kende to ken[n]e was not made.]

¶ Whan alle tresores aren tried quod she · trewthe is þe best
I do it on deus caritas · to deme þe soþe
It is as derworth a drewery · as dere god hym-seluen

¶ Who-so is trewe of his tonge · & telleth none other
And doth þe werkis þer-with · and wilneth no man ille
He is a god bi þe gospel · agrounde and aloft
And ylike to owre lorde · bi seynte lukes wordes
Þe clerkes þat knoweþ þis · shulde kenne it aboute
For cristene and vncristne · clameþ it vchone

¶ Kynges & kniȝtes · shulde kepe it bi resoun
Riden and rappe down · in reumes aboute
And taken trangressores tran[s]gressores · and tyen hem faste
Til treuthe had ytermyned · her trespas to þe ende
And þat is þe professioun appertly · þat appendeth for[^31] knyȝtes
And nouȝt to fasten a fryday · in fyue score wynter
But holden wiþ him & with hir · þat wolden al treuthe
And neuer leue hem for loue · ne for lacchyng of syluer

[^31: L.1.99: LCR alone read for; all other B manuscripts have to.]

¶ For dauid in his dayes · dubbed kniȝtes
And did hem swere on here swerde · to serue trewthe euere
apostata
And who-so passed þat poynte · was apostata in þe ordre[^32]

[^32: L.1.105: A later hand (s. xvi) has written apostata in the right margin.]

¶ But criste kingene kynge · kniȝted ten
Cherubyn and seraphin · suche seuene and an othre
And ȝaf hem myȝte in his maieste · þe murger hem þouȝte
And ouer his mene meyne · made hem archangeles
Tauȝte hem bi þe Trinitee · treuthe to knowe
obedient
To be buxome at his biddyng · he bad hem nouȝte elles[^33]

[^33: L.1.111: A s. xvi hand has underlined buxome and glossed it in the right margin as obedient.]

¶ Lucifer wiþ legiounes · lerned it in heuene
But for he brake buxumnesse · his blisse gan he tyne
And fel fro þat felawship · in a fendes liknes
In-to a depe derke helle · to dwelle þere for eure
And mo þowsandes wiþ him · þan man couthe noumbre
Lopen out wiþ Lucifer · in lothelich forme
For þei leueden vpon hym · þat lyed in þis manere
Ponam pedem in aquilone · et similis ero altissimo ·

¶ And alle þat hoped it miȝte be so · none heuene miȝte hem holde
But fellen out in fendes liknesse · nyne dayes togideres
Til god of his goodnesse · gan stable and stynte
And garte þe heuene to stekye · and stonden in quiete

¶ Whan thise wikked went out · wonderwise þei fellen
Somme in eyre somme in erthe · & somme in helle depe
Ac lucifer lowest lith of hem alle ·
For pryde þat he pult[^34] out · his peyne hath none ende
And alle þat worche with wronge · wenden hij shulle
After her deth-day · and dwelle wiþ þat shrewe
Ac þo þat worche wel · as holiwritt telleth
+
And enden as I ere seide · in treuthe þat is þe best[^35]
Mowe be siker þat her soule · shal wende to heuene
Þer treuthe is in Trinitee · and troneth hem alle
For-þi I sey as I seide ere · bi siȝte of þise textis
Whan alle tresores arne ytried · treuthe is þe beste
Lereth it þis lewde men · for lettred men it knowen
Þat treuthe is tresore · þe triest on erþe

[^34: L.1.127: The west midlands form pult appears only in Cr and L, but R has the same word spelled pelt. MED, s.v. pilten v.3.(b) glosses the phrase pult out as "exhibit (pride), display." Note that LR read pulte/pelte against most other B witnesses in L.8.97 and L.15.67. In the latter, pulte out means "thrust out, expelled."]

[^35: L.1.131: The <e> of best is possibly altered from <i> in response to the corrector's marginal <+>.]

¶ Ȝet haue I no kynde knowing quod I · ȝet mote ȝe kenne me better
By what craft in my corps · it comseth and where

¶ Þow doted daffe quod she · dulle arne þi wittes
To litel latyn þow lernedest · lede in þi ȝouthe
Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem

diliges dominum super omnia
¶ It is a kynde knowyng quod he[^36] · þat kenneth in þine herte[^37]
For to louye þi lorde · leuer þan þi-selue
No dedly synne to do · dey þouȝ þow sholdest
This I trowe be treuthe · who can teche þe better

[^36: L.1.143: LCCrM (M before alteration) read he, meaning "she"; all other B manuscripts have a form of she.]

[^37: L.1.143: A s. xvi scribe has written diliges dominum super omnia in the left margin.]

¶ Loke þow suffre hym to sey · and sithen lere it after
For thus witnesseth his worde · worcheth[^38] þow þere-after
For trewthe telleþ þat loue · is triacle of heuene
May no synne be on him sene · þat vseth þat spise
And alle his werkes he wrouȝte · with loue as him liste
And lered it Moises for þe leuest þing and moste like to heuene
And also þe plente of pees · moste precious of vertues

[^38: L.1.148: L uniquely has the -eth inflection for the imperative plural here.]

¶ For heuene myȝte nouȝte holden it · it was so heuy of hym-self
Tyl it hadde of þe erthe · yeten[^39] his fylle

[^39: L.1.155: LG alone read yeten. Other manuscripts have variously eten (C2HmMOWY), yoten (Cr), yheten al (F), and heten (C).]

¶ And whan it haued of þis folde flessh & blode taken
Was neuere leef vpon lynde · liȝter þer-after
And portatyf and persant · as þe poynt of a nedle
That myȝte non armure it lette · ne none heiȝ walles

¶ For-þi is loue leder of þe lordes folke of heuene
And a mene as þe Maire is · bitwene þe kyng and þe comune
Riȝt so is loue a ledere · and þe lawe shapeth
Vpon man for his mysdedes · þe merciment he taxeth
And for to knowe it kyndely · it comseth bi myght
And in þe herte þere is þe heuede · and þe heiȝ welle

¶ For in kynde knowynge in herte · þere a myȝte bigynneth
And þat falleth to þe fader · þat formed vs alle
Loked on vs with loue · and lete his sone deye
Mekely for owre mysdedes · to amende vs alle
And ȝet wolde he hem no woo · þat wrouȝte hym þat peyne
But mekelich with mouthe · mercy he bisouȝte
christ iesus
To haue pite of þat poeple · þat peyned hym to deth

¶ Here myȝtow see ensamples · in hym-selue one
That he was miȝtful & meke · and mercy gan graunte
To hem þat h ongen him an heiȝ · and his herte þirled

¶ For-thi I rede ȝow riche · haueth reuthe of þe pouere
Thouȝ ȝe be myȝtful to mote · beth meke in ȝowre werkes

in qua mensura metioritis
¶ For þe same mesures þat ȝe mete · amys other elles[^40]
Ȝe shullen ben weyen þer-wyth · whan ȝe wende hennes
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis · remecietur vobis ·

[^40: L.1.178: A s. xvi hand has written in qua mensura metioritis in the right margin over a bracket written by the earlier scribe we have called "hand16b."]

¶ For þouȝ ȝe be trewe of ȝowre tonge · and trewliche wynne
+
And as[^41] chaste as a childe · þat in cherche wepeth
But if ȝe louen lelliche · and lene þe poure
Such goed as god ȝow sent godelich parteth
Ȝe ne haue na more meryte · in masse ne in houres
Þan Malkyn of hire maydenhode · þat no man desireth

[^41: L.1.182: A partially erased <+> appears in the left margin, reflecting the scribe's correction of a to as. The same error was marked and corrected in L.4.138.]

Iacobus
¶ For Iames þe gentil · iugged in his bokes[^42]
That faith with-oute þe faite · is riȝte no-þinge worthi
And as ded as a dore-tre · but ȝif þe dedes folwe
Fides sine operibus mortua est &c

[^42: L.1.187: A s. xvi hand has written Iacobus in the right margin.]

nihill prodest castitas sine charitate.
¶ For-thi chastite with-oute charite · worth cheyned in helle[^43]
It is as lewed as a laumpe · þat no liȝte is Inne

[^43: L.1.191: A s. xvi hand has written in the right margin nihill prodest castitas sine charitate.]

¶ Many chapeleynes arne chaste · ac charite is awey
Aren no men auarousere þan hij · whan þei ben auaunced
Vnkynde to her kyn · and to alle cristene
Chewen here charite · and chiden after more
Such chastite wiþ-outen charite · worth cheyned in helle

¶ Many curatoures kepen hem · clene of here bodies
Thei ben acombred wiþ coueitise · þei konne nouȝt don it fram hem
So harde hath auarice · yhasped hem togideres
And þat is no treuthe of þe trinite · but treccherye of helle
And lernyng to lewde men · þe latter for to dele

¶ For-þi þis wordes ben · wryten in þe gospel
Date & dabitur vobis · for I dele ȝow alle
And þat is þe lokke of loue · and lateth oute my grace
To conforte þe careful · acombred wiþ synne

¶ Loue is leche of lyf · and nexte owre lorde selue
And also þe graith gate · þat goth in-to heuene
For-þi I sey as I seide · ere by þe textis
Whan alle tresores ben ytryed · treuthe is þe beste
Now haue I tolde þe what treuthe is · þat no tresore is bettere
I may no lenger lenge þe with · now loke þe owre lorde

Passus secundus de visione vt supra

Ȝ et[^44] I courbed on my knees · and cryed hir of grace
And seide mercy Madame · for Marie loue of heuene
That bar þat blisful barne · þat bouȝte vs on þe Rode
Kenne me bi somme crafte · to knowe þe fals

[^44: L.2.1: The six-line ornamental Lombard capital is written in blue with red flourishings and two marginal leaf sprays.]

¶ Loke vppon þi left half · and lo where he standeth
Bothe fals and fauel · and here feres manye

¶ I loked on my left half · as þe lady me taughte
And was war of a womman · wortheli yclothed
Purfiled with pelure · þe fynest vpon erthe
Ycrounede with a corone · þe kyng hath non better
Fetislich hir fyngres · were fretted with golde wyre
And þere-on red rubyes · as red as any glede
And diamantz of derrest pris · and double manere safferes
Orientales and ewages · enuenymes to destroye

¶ Hire robe was ful riche · of red scarlet engreyned
With ribanes of red golde · and of riche stones
Hire arraye me rauysshed · suche ricchesse saw I neuere
I had wondre what she was · and whas wyf she were

¶ What is þis womman · quod I so worthily atired

¶ That is Mede þe Mayde quod she · hath noyed me ful oft
And ylakked my lemman · þat lewte is hoten
And bilowen hire to lordes · þat lawes han to kepe
In þe popis paleys · she is pryue as my-self
But sothenesse wolde nouȝt so · for she is a bastarde

¶ For fals was hire fader · þat hath a fykel tonge
And neuere sothe seide · sithen he come to erthe

¶ And Mede is manered after hym · riȝte as kynde axeth
Qualis pater talis filius · bonus[^45] arbor · bonum fructum facit
I auȝte ben herre þan she · I cam of a better

[^45: L.2.28: WLM alone read bonus , although F has Iterum bonus . The remaining B witnesses read bona .]

¶ Mi fader þe grete god is · and grounde of alle graces
O god with-oute gynnynge · & I his gode douȝter
And hath ȝoue me mercy · to marye with my-self
And what man be merciful · and lelly me loue
Shal be my lorde and I his leef · in þe heiȝe heuene

¶ And what man taketh Mede · myne hed dar I legge
That he shal lese for hir loue · a lappe of caritatis
how construeth dauid þe kynge · of men þat taketh Mede
And men of þis molde · þat meynteneth treuthe
+
And how ȝe shal saue ȝow-self · þe[^46] Sauter bereth witnesse[^47]
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaclo tabernac[u]lo tuo &c

[^46: L.2.39: The original scribe inserted the <e> of þe after initial copying, no doubt in response to the corrector's <+> in the right margin, which has since been partially erased.]

[^47: L.2.39: A blurred red line under the final <e> of witnesse and a blue dot at the end of the line are offset from the initial on the facing leaf.]

¶ And now worth þis Mede ymaried · al to a mansed schrewe
To one fals fikel tonge · a fendes biȝete
Fauel þorw his faire speche · hath þis folke enchaunted
And al is lyeres ledyng · þat she is þus ywedded

¶ To-morwe worth ymade · þe maydenes bruydale
And þere miȝte þow wite · if þow wolt · which þei ben alle
That longeth to þat lordeship · þe lasse and þe more
Knowe hem þere if þow canst · and kepe þi[^48] tonge
And lakke hem nouȝt · but lat hem worth · til lewte be iustice
And haue powere to punyschen hem · þanne put forth þi resoun

[^48: L.2.48: LCR alone have þi. Most other B manuscripts have þow þi or wel þi.]

¶ Now I bikenne þe criste quod she · and his clene moder
And lat no conscience acombre þe · for coueitise of Mede

¶ Thus left me þat lady · liggyng aslepe
And how Mede was ymaried · in meteles me þouȝte
Þat alle þe riche retenauns · þat regneth with þe false
Were boden to þe bridale · on bothe two sydes
Of alle maner of men · þe mene and þe riche
To marie þis maydene · was many man assembled
As of kniȝtes and of clerkis · and other comune poeple
As sysours and sompnours · Shireues and here clerkes
Bedelles and Bailliues · and brokoures of chaffre
Forgoeres and vitaillers · and vokates of þe arches
I can nouȝt rekene þe route · þat ran aboute mede

¶ Ac symonye and cyuile · and sisoures of courtes
Were moste pryue with Mede · of any men me þouȝte
Ac fauel was þe first · þat fette hire out of boure
And as a brokour brouȝte hir to be with fals enioigned
Whan symonye and cyuile · seiȝ here beire[^49] wille
+
[^50] Thei assented for siluer · to se[^51] as bothe wolde
Simoni and siuilye

[L.2.70: A s. xvi hand has inserted in the left margin Simoni and siuilye.]

Thanne lepe lyer forth · and seide lo here a chartre
That gyle with his gret othes · gaf hem togidere
And preide cyuile to se · and symonye to rede it
Thanne symonye and cyuile · stonden forth bothe
And vnfoldeth þe feffement · þat fals hath ymaked
And þus bigynneth þes gomes · to greden ful heiȝ
Sciant presentes & futuri &c ·

[^49: L.2.68: LC alone have beire, the genitive form of bo, "both"; most other B manuscripts have synonymous boþer.]

[^50: L.2.69: The corrector has marked this line with a <+> in the left margin.]

[^51: L.2.69: L's cancellation of <i> is odd. Nearly all other B manuscripts have seye.]

¶ Witeth and witnesseth · þat wonieth vpon þis erthe[^52]
Þat Mede is ymaried · more for here goodis
Þan for ani vertue or fairenesse · or any free kynde[^53]
Falsenesse is faine of hire · for he wote hire riche
And fauel with his fikel speche · feffeth bi þis chartre
To be prynces in pryde · and pouerte to dispise
To bakbite · and to bosten · and bere fals witnesse
To scorne and to scolde · and sclaundere to make
Vnboxome and bolde · to breke þe ten hestes

[^52: L.2.77: Each of the first three lines of the group is clearly marked with a punctus in brown ink in the left margin. Below and extending through L.2.94 in the left margin is a bracket in very light black ink.]

[^53: L.2.79-92: A non-continuous bracket in pale ink runs from L.2.79-92.]

¶ And þe Erldome of enuye · and wratthe togideres
With þe chastelet of chest · and chateryng oute of resoun
Þe counte of coueitise · and alle þe costes aboute
That is vsure and auarice · alle I hem graunte
In bargaines and in brokages · with al þe borgthe borg[h]e of theft

¶ And al þe lordeship of lecherye · in lenthe and in brede
As in werkes and in wordes · and waitynges with eies
And in wedes and in wisshynges · and with ydel thouȝtes
+
There as wille ne wolde · wermanship wer[k]manship failleth[^54]

[^54: L.2.94: The word ne was inserted after original copying by the text scribe; only LCY among B witnesses have the negative. The word and has been subpuncted at the beginning of the b-verse. A small <+> in the left margin may mark either of these for correction, or may refer to the scribe's wermanship for werkmanship.]

¶ Glotonye he gaf hem eke · and grete othes togydere
And alday to drynke · at dyuerse tauernes
And there to iangle and to iape · and iugge here euene-cristene
And in fastyngdayes to frete · ar ful tyme were
nota
And þanne to sitten and soupen · til slepe hem assaille
And bredun as burgh-swyn · and bedden hem esily
Tyl sleuth and slepe · slyken his sides
And þanne wanhope to awake hym so · with no wille to amende
For he leueth be lost · þis is here last ende

¶ And þei to haue and to holde · and here eyres after
A dwellyng with þe deuel · and dampned be for eure
Wiþ al þe purtenaunces[^55] of purgatorie · in-to þe pyne of helle
Ȝeldyng for þis þinge · at one ȝeres ende
Here soules to sathan · to suffre with hym peynes
And with him to wonye with wo · whil god is in heuene

[^55: L.2.106: LRF alone read purtenaunces. Other B witnesses vary between appurtinaunces and purtynaunce.]

¶ In witnesse of which þing · wronge was þe first
And Pieres þe pardonere[^56] · of paulynes doctrine
Bette þe bedel · of Bokyngham-shire
Rainalde þe Reue · of Rotland sokene
Munde þe Mellere · and many moo other
In þe date of þe deuel þis dede I assele
Bi siȝte of sire symonye · and cyuyles leue

[^56: L.2.111: The <a> and the <o> have been overwritten in a later ink.]

Theologie to civile
¶ Þenne tened hym theologye · whan he þis tale herde[^57]
And seide to cyuile · now sorwe mot þow haue
+
Such wendynges we[d]dynges[^58] to worche to wratthe with treuthe
And ar þis weddyng be wrouȝte · wo þe bityde

[^57: L.2.117: A marginal hand, not represented elsewhere in the manuscript, wrote in the right margin Theologie to mede, then lined through mede and added civile. Three heavy black points, arranged vertically, also appear in the right margin.]

[^58: L.2.119: A <+> in the left margin marks the text for correction. The scribe, however, failed to correct wendynges to weddynges, the reading of most B witnesses. LC alone have such wendynges.]

¶ For Mede is moylere · of amendes engendreth[^59]
And god graunteth to gyf · Mede to treuthe
And þow hast gyuen hire to a gyloure · now god gyf þe sorwe
Thi tixt telleth þe nouȝt so · treuthe wote þe sothe
For dignus est operarius · his hyre to haue
And þow hast fest hire to fals · fy on þi lawe
For al by lesynges þow lyuest · and lecherouse werkes
Symonye and þi-self · schenden holicherche
Þe notaries and ȝee · noyeth þe peple
Ȝe shul abiggen it bothe · bi god þat me made
Wel ȝe witen wernardes · but if ȝowre witte faille
That fals is faithlees · and fikel in his werkes
And was a bastarde ybore · of belsabubbes kynne
And Mede is moylere · a mayden of gode
And myȝte kisse þe kynge · for cosyn an she wolde

[^59: L.2.121: LCYR alone have the form engendreth; all other B manuscripts have the past participle. The form spelled engendrit in some A manuscripts perhaps accounts for the error.]

¶ For-þi worcheth bi wisdome · and bi witt also
And ledeth hire to londoun · þere lawe is yshewed
If any lawe wil loke · þei ligge togederes
And þouȝ Iustices iugge hir · to be ioigned with fals
Ȝet beth war of weddyng · for witty is truthe ·[^60]
And conscience is of his conseille · and knoweth ȝow vchone
And if he fynde ȝow in defaute · and with þe fals holde
It shal bisitte ȝowre soules · ful soure atte laste

[^60: L.2.140: This line is supplied in an early fifteenth-century hand in the blank space above the top line.]

¶ Here-to assenteth cyuile · ac symonye n e wolde
Tyl he had siluer for his seruise · and also þe notaries

¶ Thanne fette fauel forth · floreynes ynowe
And bad gyle to gyue · golde al aboute
And namelich to þe notaries · þat hem none ne faille
And feffe falsewitnes false witnes · with floreines ynowe
For he[^61] may mede amaistrye · and maken at my wille

[^61: L.2.150: Most B manuscripts have a form of þei.]

¶ Tho þis golde was gyue · grete was þe þonkynge
To fals and to fauel · for her faire ȝiftes
And comen to conforte fram care þe fals
And seiden certis sire · cesse shal we neuere
Til Mede be þi wedded wyf · þorw wittis of vs alle
For we haue Mede amaistried · with owre mery speche
That she graunteth to gon with a gode wille
To Londoun to loke · ȝif þat þe lawe wolde
Iugge ȝow ioyntly · in ioye for euere

¶ Thanne was falsenesse fayne · and fauel as blithe
And leten sompne alle segges · in schires aboute
And bad hem alle be bown · beggeres and othere
To wenden wyth hem to westmynstre · to witnesse þis dede

¶ Ac þanne cared þei for caplus · to kairen[^62] hem þider
And fauel fette forth þanne · folus ynowe
And sette Mede vpon a schyreue · shodde al newe
And fals sat on a sisoure · þat softlich trotted
And fauel on a flatere[^63] · fetislich atired

[^62: L.2.164: LMR alone read kairen; most other B manuscripts have carien.]

[^63: L.2.168: Only LF have flatere, from OF flateor, flatour. Other B manuscripts read flaterere.]

¶ Tho haued notaries none · annoyed þei were
For symonye and cyuile · shulde on hire fete gange

¶ Ac þanne swore symonye · and cyuile bothe
That sompnoures shulde be sadled and serue hem vchone
And lat apparaille þis prouisoures · in palfreis wyse
Sire symonye hym-seluen · shal sitte vpon here bakkes

nota
¶ Denes and suddenes · drawe ȝow togideres[^64]
Erchdekenes and officiales · and alle ȝowre Regystreres
Lat sadel hem with siluer · owre synne to suffre
As auoutrie and deuoses · and derne vsurye
To bere bischopes aboute · abrode in visytynge

[^64: L.2.175: A scribe has put the symbol for a musical note to indicate nota both next to this line and again in the bottom left margin.]

¶ Paulynes pryues · for pleyntes in þe consistorie
Shul serue my-self · þat cyuile is nempned
And cartesadel þe comissarie · owre carte shal he lede
And fecchen vs vytailles · at fornicatores

¶ And maketh of lyer a longe carte · to lede alle þese othere
As Freres and faitours · þat on here fete rennen
And thus fals and fauel · fareth forth togideres
And Mede in þe myddes · and alle þise men after

¶ I haue no tome to telle þe taille þat hem folweth
Of many maner man · þat on þis molde libbeth
Ac gyle was forgoer · and gyed hem alle

¶ Sothenesse seiȝ hym wel · and seide but a litel
And priked his palfrey · and passed hem alle
And come to þe kynges courte · and conscience it tolde
And conscience to þe kynge · carped it after

¶ Now by cryst quod þe kynge · and I cacche myȝte
Fals or fauel · or any of his feres
I wolde be wroke of þo wrecches · þat worcheth so ille
And don hem hange by þe hals · and alle þat hem meynteneth
Shal neure man of molde · meynprise þe leste
But riȝte as þe lawe wil loke · late falle on hem alle

¶ And comanded a constable · þat come atte furst
To attache þo tyrauntz · for eny thynge I hote
And fettereth fast falsenesse · for enykynnes ȝiftes
And gurdeth of gyles hed · and lat hym go no furthere
And ȝif ȝe lacche lyer · late hym nouȝt ascapen
Er he be put on þe pilorye · for eny preyere · I hote
And bryngeth Mede to me · maugre hem alle

¶ Drede atte dore stode · and þe dome herde
And how þe kynge comaunded · constables and seriantz
Falsenesse and his felawschip · to fettren an to bynden
Þanne drede went wiȝtliche · and warned þe fals
And bad hym flee for fere · and his felawes alle

nota

[L.2.213: The symbol for a musical note to represent nota appears in the left margin. Another is written at the far right margin.]

nota
¶ Falsenesse for fere þanne · fleiȝ to þe freres
And gyle doþ hym to go · agast for to dye
Ac marchantz mette with hym · and made hym abide
And bishetten hym in here shope · to shewen here ware
And apparailled hym as a prentice · þe poeple to serue

¶ Liȝtlich lyer · lepe awey þanne
Lorkynge thorw lanes · to-lugged of manye
He was nawhere welcome · for his manye tales
Ouer al yhowted · and yhote trusse
Tyl pardoneres haued pite · and pulled hym in-to house
They wesshen hym and wyped hym · and wonden hym in cloutes
And sente hym with seles · on sondayes to cherches
And gaf pardoun for pens · poundmel aboute

¶ Thanne loured leches · and lettres þei sent
Þat he sholde wonye with hem · wateres to loke
Spiceres spoke with hym · to spien here ware
For he couth of here craft · and knewe many gommes

+
¶Ac mynstalles mynst[r]alles[^65] and messageres · mette with hym ones
And helden hym an halfȝere · and elleuene dayes

[^65: L.2.230: A <+> appears in the left margin, although no correction was made to erroneous mynstalles. The same error occurs at L.3.134, where it was also marked for correction and the correction not made.]

¶ Freres with faire speche · fetten hym þennes
And for knowyng of comeres · coped hym as a frere
Ac he hath leue to lepe out · as oft as hym liketh
And is welcome whan he wil · and woneth wyth hem oft

¶ Alle fledden for fere · and flowen in-to hernes
Saue Mede þe Mayde · na mo durst abide
Ac trewli to telle · she trembled for drede
And ek wept and wronge · whan she was attached

Passus iijus tercius

N ow[^66] is Mede þe Maide · and namo of hem alle
With bedellus & wiþ bayllyues · brouȝt bifor þe kyng
The kyng called a clerke · can I nouȝt his name
To take Mede þe mayde · and make hire at ese
I shal assaye hir my-self · and sothelich appose
What man of þis molde · þat hire were leueste
And if she worche bi my witte · and my wille folwe
I wil forgyue hir þis gilte · so me god help

[^66: L.3.1: The five-line ornamental capital is in blue with red flourishes and with two red marginal sprays. A small guide letter <N> appears in the left margin.]

¶ Curteysliche þe clerke þanne as þe Kyng hight
Toke Mede bi þe Middel · and brouȝte hir in-to chaumbre
And þere was myrthe and mynstralcye · Mede to plese

[^67] ¶ They þat wonyeth in westmynstre · worschiped hir alle
Gentelliche wiþ ioye · þe Iustices somme
Busked hem to þe boure · þere þe birde dwelled
To conforte hire kyndely · by clergise leue
And seiden mourne nought Mede · ne make þow no sorwe
For we wisse þe kynge · and þi wey shape
To be wedded at þi wille · and where þe leue liketh
For al conscience caste · or craft as I trowe

[^67: L.3.12: The scribe put a cc paraph indicator here, but the rubricating scribe did not draw the paraph as usual. He may have missed it because he was looking for skipped lines between line groups, not applicable here because the line group begins the page.]

¶ Mildeliche Mede þanne · mercyed hem alle
Of þeire gret goodnesse · and gaf hem vchone
Coupes of clene golde · and coppis of siluer
Rynges with rubies · and ricchesses manye
The leste man of here meyne · a motoun of golde
Thanne lauȝte þei leue · þis lordes at Mede

¶ With that comen clerkis · to conforte hir þe same
And beden hire be blithe · for we beth þine owne[^68]
Forto worche þi wille · þe while þow myȝte laste

[^68: L.3.27: Illegible scribbles appear in the right margin.]

[^69] Hendeliche heo þanne · bihight hem þe same
To loue ȝow[^70] lelli · and lordes to make
And in þe consistorie atte courte · do calle ȝowre names
Shal no lewdnesse lette · þe leode þat I louye
That he ne worth first auanced · for I am biknowen
Þere konnyng clerkes · shul clokke bihynde

[^69: L.3.29: The scribe skipped a line as for a strophe break, but there is no <cc> to indicate further his intention.]

[^70: L.3.30: LR alone read ȝow; most other B manuscripts have hem.]

¶ Þanne come þere a confessoure · coped as a Frere
To Mede þe mayde · he mellud þis wordes
And seide ful softly · in shrifte as it were
Theiȝ lewed men · and lered men · had leyne by þe bothe
And falsenesse haued yfolwed þe al þis fyfty wyntre
I shal assoille þe my-selue · for a seme of whete
And also be þi bedeman · and bere wel þi message
Amonges kniȝtes and clerkis · conscience to torne

¶ Thanne Mede for here mysdedes · to þat man kneled
And shroue hire of hire shrewednesse · shamelees I trowe
Tolde hym a tale · and toke hym a noble
Forto ben hire bedeman · and hire brokour als

¶ Thanne he assoilled hir sone · and sithen he seyde
We han a wyndowe a-wirchyng wil sitten vs wel[^71] heigh
Woldestow glase þat gable · and graue þere-inne þi name
Siker sholde þi soule be · heuene to haue
Wist I that quod þat womman · I wolde nouȝt spare
For to be ȝowre frende frere · and faille ȝow neure
Whil ȝe loue lordes · þat lechery haunteþ
And lakkeþ nouȝt ladis · þat loueþ wel þe same
It is a frelete of flesche · ȝe fynde it in bokes
And a course of kynde · wher-of we komen alle
Who may scape þe sklaundre · þe skaþe is sone amended
It is synne of seuene · sonnest relessed

[^71: L.3.48: L alone reads wel; most other B manuscripts have ful.]

¶ Haue mercy quod Mede · of men þat it haunte
And I shal keure ȝowre kirke · ȝowre cloystre do maken
Wowes do whitten · and wyndowes glasen
Do peynten and purtraye · and paye for þe makynge
That eury segge shal seyn · I am sustre of ȝowre hous

¶ Ac god to alle good folke · suche grauynge defendeth
To writen in wyndowes · of here wel-dedes
On auenture pruyde be peynted þere · and pompe of þe worlde
For crist knoweþ þi conscience · and þi kynde wille
And þi coste and þi coueitise · and who þe catel ouȝte

¶ For-þi I lere ȝow lordes · leueþ suche werkes
To writen in wyndowes · of ȝowre wel-dedes
Or to greden after goddis men · whan ȝe delen doles
An auenture ȝe han ȝowre hire here · and ȝoure heuene als
Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra ·
Lat nouȝte þi left half · late no rathe
Wyte what þow worchest · with þi riȝt syde
For þus bit þe gospel · gode men do here almesse

¶ Meires and maceres · that menes ben bitwene
Þe kynge and þe comune to kepe þe lawes
To punyschen on pillories · and pynynge stoles
Brewesteres and bakesteres · bocheres and cokes
For þise aren men on þis molde · þat moste harme worcheth
To þe pore peple þat parcel-mele buggen

¶ For they poysoun þe peple · priueliche and oft
Thei rychen þorw regraterye · and rentes hem buggen
With þat þe pore people shulde put in here wombe
For toke þei on trewly · þei tymbred nouȝt so heiȝe
Ne bouȝte non burgages · be ȝe ful certeyne

¶ Ac Mede þe Mayde þe Maire hath bisouȝte
Of alle suche sellers · syluer to take
Or presentz withoute pens · as peces of siluer
Ringes or other ricchesse · þe regrateres to maynetene

¶ For my loue quod that lady loue hem vchone
And soffre hem to selle · somdele aȝeins resoun

¶ Salamon þe sage · a sarmoun he made
For to amende Maires · and men þat kepen lawes
And tolde hem þis teme · þat I telle thynke
nota
Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera &c[^72]
Amonge þis lettered ledes · þis latyn is to mene
That fyre shal falle and berne · al to blo askes
+
The houses and þe homes · of hem hem [þat][^73] desireth
Ȝiftes or ȝeresȝyues · bi-cause of here offices

[^72: L.3.97: A s. xvi hand has written nota in the right margin.]

[^73: L.3.100: A <+> appears in the left margin marking the omission of þat after hem.]

¶ The kynge fro conseille cam · and called after Mede
And ofsent hir alswythe · with seriauntes manye
That brouȝten hir to bowre · with blisse and with ioye

¶ Curteisliche þe kynge þanne · comsed to telle
To Mede þe mayde · melleth þise wordes
Vnwittily womman · wrouȝte hastow oft
Ac worse wrouȝtestow neure · þan þo þow fals toke
But I forgyue[^74] þat gilte · and graunte þe my grace
Hennes to þi deth-day · do so namore

[^74: L.3.109: LCot alone omit þee after forgyue.]

¶ I haue a knyȝte conscience · cam late fro biȝunde
+
Ȝif he wilneth þe to wyf · wyltow hym haue[^75]

[^75: L.3.112: The word haue is a later addition over an erasure, which may also have partially obliterated a <+> in the right margin.]

¶ Ȝe lorde quod þat lady · lorde forbede elles
But I be holely at ȝowre heste · lat hange me sone

¶ And þanne was conscience calde · to come and appiere
Bifor þe Kynge and his conseille · as clerkes and othere
Knelynge conscience · to þe kynge louted
To wite what his wille were · and what he do shulde

¶ Woltow wedde þis womman quod þe kynge · ȝif I wil assente
For she is fayne of þi felawship · for to be þi make

¶ Quod conscience to þe kynge · cryst it me forbede
Ar I wedde suche a wyf · wo me bityde
For she is frele of hir feith · fykel of here speche
And maketh men · mysdo · many score tymes
Truste of hire tresore · treieth ful manye
Wyues and widewes · wantounes she techeth
And lereth hem leccherye · that loueth hire ȝiftes
Ȝowre fadre she felled · þorw fals biheste
And hath apoysounde popis · peired holicherche
Is nauȝt a better baude · bi hym þat me made
Bitwene heuene and helle · in erthe þough men souȝte
For she is tikil of hire taile · talwis of hir tonge
As comune as a cartwey · to eche a knaue þat walketh
To monkes to mynstalles mynst[r]alles[^76] · to meseles in hegges
Sisoures and sompnoures · suche men hir preiseth
Shireues of shires · were shent ȝif she nere
For she doþ men lese here londe · and here lyf bothe
She leteth passe prisoneres · and payeth for hem ofte
And gyueth þe gailers golde · and grotes togideres
To vnfettre þe fals fle where hym lyketh
And takeþ þe trewe bi þe toppe · and tieth hym faste
And hangeth hym for hatred · þat harme dede neure

[^76: L.3.134: A <+> in the left margin appears to have been partly erased, but the error mynstalles for mynstralles was not corrected. The scribe made the same error at L.2.230 where it was also marked for correction, but the correction was not made.]

¶ To be cursed in consistorie · she counteth nouȝte a russhe
For she copeth þe comissarie · and coteth his clerkis
She is assoilled as sone · as hir-self liketh
And may neiȝe as moche do · in a moneth one
As ȝowre secret seel · in syx score dayes
For she is priue with þe pope · prouisoures it knoweth
For sire symonye and hir-selue · seleth hire bulles

¶ She blesseth þise bisshopes · þeiȝ e þey be lewed
Prouendreth persones · a nd prestes meynteneth
To haue lemmannes and lotebies · alle here lif-dayes
And bringen forth barnes · aȝein forbode l awes
There she is wel with þe kynge · wo is þe rewme
For she is fauorable to þe fals · and fouleth trewthe ofte

¶ Bi ihesus with here ieweles · ȝowre iustices she shendeth
And lith aȝein þe lawe · and letteth hym þe gate
That feith may nouȝte haue his forth · here floreines go so þikke
She ledeth þe lawe as hire list · and louedayes maketh
And doth men lese þorw hire loue · þat lawe myȝte wynne
Þe mase for a mene man · þouȝ he mote hir eure
Lawe is so lordeliche · and loth to make ende
With-oute presentz or pens · she pleseth wel fewe

¶ Barounes and burgeys · she bryngeth in sorwe
And alle þe comune in kare · þat coueyten lyue in trewthe
For clergye and coueitise · she coupleth togideres
Þis is þe lyf of that lady · now lorde ȝif hir sorwe
And alle that meynteneth here men · meschaunce hem bityde
For pore men mowe haue no powere · to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerte
Suche a maistre is Mede · amonge men of gode

¶ Thanne morned Mede · and mened hire to the kynge
To haue space to speke · spede if she myȝte

¶ The kynge graunted hir grace with a gode wille
Excuse þe ȝif þow canst · I can namore seggen
For conscience acuseth þe · to congey þe for euere

¶ Nay lorde quod þat lady · leueth hym þe worse
Whan ȝe wyten witterly · where þe wronge liggeth
There þat myschief is grete · Mede may helpe
And þow knowest conscience · I cam nouȝt to chide
Ne depraue þi persone · with a proude herte
Wel þow wost wernard · but ȝif þow wolt gabbe
Þow hast hanged on myne half · elleuene tymes
And also griped my golde · gyue it where þe liked
And whi þow wratthest þe now · wonder me thynketh
Ȝit I may as I myȝte · menske þe with ȝiftes
And mayntene þi manhode · more þan þow knoweste

¶ Ac þow hast famed me foule · bifor þe Kynge here
For kulled I neuere no kynge · ne conseilled þer-after
Ne dede as þow demest · I do[^77] on þe kynge

[^77: L.3.189: LCM alone omit it after do.]

¶ In normandye was he nouȝte · noyed for my sake
Ac þow þi-self sothely · shamedest hym ofte
Crope in-to a kaban · for colde of þi nailles
Wendest þat wyntre · wolde haue lasted euere
And draddest to be ded · for a dym cloude
And hiedest homeward · for hunger of þi wombe

¶ Wiþ-out pite piloure · pore men þow robbedest
And bere here bras at þi bakke · to caleys to selle
There I lafte with my lorde · his lyf for to saue
I made his men meri · and mornyng lette
I batered hem on þe bakke · and bolded here hertis
And dede hem hoppe for hope · to haue me at wille
Had I ben Marschal of his men · bi Marie of heuene
I durst haue leyde my lyf · and no lasse wedde
He shulde haue be lorde of þat londe · a lengthe and a brede
And also Kyng of þat kitthe · his kynne for to helpe
Þe leste brolle of his blode · a barounes pere

¶ Cowardliche þow conscience · conseiledest hym þennes
To leuen his lordeship · for a litel siluer
That is þe richest rewme · þat reyne ouer-houeth

¶ It bicometh to a kynge · þat kepeth a rewme
To ȝiue Mede to men · þat mekelich hym serueth
To alienes and to alle men to honoure hem with ȝiftes
Mede maketh hym biloued · and for a man holden
Emperoures and Erlis · and al manere lordes
for ȝiftes han ȝonge men · to renne and to ride
The pope and alle prelatis · presentz vnderfongen
And medeth men hem-seluen · to meyntene here lawes
Seruauntz for her seruise · we seth wel þe sothe
Taken Mede of here maistre · as þei mowe acorde
Beggeres for here biddynge · bidden men Mede
Mynstralles for here murthe · mede þei aske
Þe kynge hath mede of his men · to make pees in londe
Men þat teche chyldren · craue of hem mede
Prestis þat precheth þe poeple · to gode asken mede
And masse-pans and here mete · at þe mele-tymes
Alkynnes crafty men · crauen Mede for here prentis
Marchauntz and Mede · mote nede go togideres
No wiȝte as I wene · with-oute Mede may libbe

+
¶ Quatȝ þe kynge to conscience · bi criste as me thy nketh[^78]
Mede is wel worthi · þe maistrye to haue

[^78: L.3.229: The letters <nk> are written over an erasure. A <+> in the left margin may have prompted the correction.]

¶ Nay quod conscience to þe Kynge · and kneled to þe erthe
There aren two manere of Medes · my lorde with ȝowre leue
Þat one god of his grace · graunteth in his blisse
To þo þat wel worchen · whil þei ben here
The prophete precheth þer-of · and put it in þe sautere
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo
Lorde who shal wonye in þi wones · and with þine holi seyntes
Or resten on[^79] þi holy hilles · þis asketh dauid

[^79: L.3.238: LMRF alone read on; all other B manuscripts have in.]

¶ And dauyd assoileth it hym-self as þe sauter telleth
Qui ingreditur sine macula · & operatur iusticiam
Tho þat entren of o colour · and of on wille
And han wrouȝte werkis · with riȝte and with reson
And he þat ne vseth nauȝte · þe lyf of vsurye
And enfourmeth pore men · and pursueth treuthe
Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram & munera super innocentem &c ·
And alle þat helpeth þe innocent · and halt with þe riȝtful
Withoute mede doth hem gode · and þe trewthe helpeth
Suche manere men my lorde · shal haue þis furst Mede
Of god at a grete nede · whan þei gone hennes
There is an other Mede mesurelees · þat maistres desireth
To meyntene mysdoers · Mede þei take
And þere-of seith þe sauter · in a salmes ende
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt dextera eorum repleta est muneribus
And he þat gripeth her golde · so me god helpe
Shal abie it bittere · or þe boke lyeth

¶ Prestes and parsones · þat plesynge desireth
That taketh Mede and mone · for messes þat þei syngeth
Taketh here mede here · as Mathew vs techeth
Amen amen recipiebant mercedem suam ·

¶ That laboreres and lowe folke · taketh of her maistres
It is no manere Mede · but a mesurable hire
In marchandise is no mede · I may it wel avowe
It is a permutacioun apertly · a penyworth for an othre

¶ Ac reddestow neuere Regum · þow recrayed Mede
Whi þe veniaunce fel · on saul and on his children
God sent to saul · bi samuel þe prophete
Þat agag of amaleke · and al his peple aftre
Shulde deye for a dede · þat done had here aldres

¶ For-þi seid samuel to saul · god hym-self hoteth
The · be boxome at his biddynge · his wille to fulfille
Wende to amalec with þyn oste · and what þow fyndest þere slee it
Biernes and bestes · brenne hem to ded
Wydwes and wyues · wommen and children
Moebles and vnmoebles · and al þat þow myȝte fynde
Brenne it bere it nouȝte awey · be it neuere so riche
For mede ne for mone · loke þow destruye it
Spille it and spare it nouȝte · þow shalt spede þe bettere

¶ And for he coueyted her catel · and þe kynge spared
Forbare hym and his bestes bothe · as þe bible witnesseth
Otherwyse þan he was · warned of þe prophete
God seide to samuel þat saul shulde deye
And al his sede for þat synne · shenfullich ende
Such a myschief Mede made saul þe kynge to haue
That god hated hym for euere · and alle his eyres after
¶[^80] The culorum of þis cas · kepe I nouȝte to shewe
An auenture it noyed men · none ende wil I make
For so is þis worlde went · wiþ hem þat han powere
That who-so seyth hem sothes · is sonnest yblamed

[^80: L.3.285: The rubricating scribe failed to note the original scribe's paraph indicator in the left margin, probably because the original scribe did not skip a line.]

kynde wytt techeth consyence

[L.3.289: A s. xvi hand entered the gloss in the left margin.]

¶ I conscience knowe þis · for kynde witt me it tauȝte
Þat resoun shal regne · and rewmes gouerne
And riȝte as agag hadde · happe shul somme
Samuel shal sleen hym · and saul shal be blamed
And dauid shal be diademed · and daunten hem alle
+
And one cristene Kynge · kepen hem alle[^81]

[^81: L.3.294: A <+> in the right margin prompted the original scribe to insert hem before alle.]

¶ Shal namore Mede · be maistre as she is nouthe
Ac loue and lowenesse · and lewte togederes
Þise shul be maistres on molde · treuthe to saue

[^82] ¶ And who-so trespasseth ayein treuthe · or taketh aȝein his wille
Leute shal don hym lawe · and no lyf elles
Shal no seriaunt for here seruyse · were a silke howue
Ne no pelure in his cloke · for pledyng atte barre
Mede of mys-doeres · maketh many lordes
And ouer lordes lawes · reuleth þe rewmes

[^82: L.3.298-303: This verse paragraph is bracketed in the left margin, though it is not possible to determine whether the s. xvi hand appearing elsewhere on this leaf is responsible.]

¶ Ac kynde loue shal come ȝit · and conscience togideres
And make of lawe a laborere · suche loue shal arise
And such a pees amonge þe peple · and a parfit trewthe
Þat i ewes shal wene in here witte · and waxen wonder glade
+
Þat[^83] Moises or Messie · be come in-to þis erthe
And haue wonder in here hertis · þat men beth so trewe

[^83: L.3.308: The original scribe changed Þa to Þat in response to a <+> appearing in the left margin. The same spelling has been marked but not corrected at L.11.308 and L.15.19.]

¶ Alle þat bereth baslarde[^84] brode swerde or launce
Axe orther [o]ther hachet · or eny wepne ellis
Shal be demed to þe deth · but if he do it smythye
In-to sikul or to sithe · to schare or to kulter
Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres &c
Eche man to pleye with a plow · pykoys or spade
Spynne or sprede donge · or spille hym-self with sleuthe

[^84: L.3.310: The scribe inserted the final <e> over an erasure, taking the space reserved for the punctus.]

presbiteri fundent preces

[L.3.317: A s. xvi scribe entered the gloss in the left margin.]

¶ Prestes and parsones · with placebo to hunte
And dyngen vpon dauid · eche a day til eue
Huntynge or haukynge · if any of hem vse
His boste of his benefys · worth bynome hym after
Shal neither kynge ne knyȝte constable ne Meire
Ouer-lede þe comune · ne to þe courte sompne
Ne put hem in panel · to don hem pliȝte here treuthe
But after þe dede þat is don · one dome shal rewarde
Mercy or no mercy · as treuthe wil acorde

¶ Kynges courte and comune courte · consistorie and chapitele
Al shal be but one courte · and one baroun be iustice
Thanne worth trewe tonge a tidy man · þat tened me neuere
Batailles shal non be · ne no man bere wepne
And what smyth · þat ony smyteth · be smyte þer -with to dethe
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium &c ·

¶ And er þis fortune falle fynde men shal þe worste
By syx sonnes and a schippe · and half a shef of arwes
And þe myddel of a mone · shal make þe iewes to torne[^85]
And saracenes for þat siȝte · shulle synge gloria in excelsis &c
For Makomet & Mede · myshappe shal þat tyme
For melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe

[^85: L.3.334: A scribe, identified by Skeat as the original scribe, put a pointing hand in the right margin.]

¶ Also wroth as þe wynde · wex Mede in a while
I can no latyn quod she · clerkis wote þe sothe
Se what salamon seith in sapience bokes
That hij þat ȝiueth ȝiftes · þe victorie wynneth
& moche worschip had þer-with · as holiwryt telleth
Honorem adquiret qui dat munera &c

¶ I leue wel lady quod conscience · þat þi latyne be trewe
Ac þow art like a lady · þat redde a lessoun ones
Was omnia probate · and þat plesed here herte
For þat lyne was no lenger atte leues ende
Had ȝe[^86] loked þat other half · and þe lef torned
Ȝe[^87] shulde haue founden fele wordis · folwyng þer -after
Quod bonum est tenete · treuthe þat texte made

[^86: L.3.348: LB alone read ȝe; all other B manuscripts have she.]

[^87: L.3.349: LB alone read Ȝe; most other B manuscripts have She.]

¶ And so ferde ȝe madame · ȝe couthe namore fynde
Tho ȝe loked on sapience · sittynge in ȝoure studie
Þis tixte þat ȝe han tolde · were gode for lordes
Ac ȝow failled a cunnyng clerke · þat couthe þe lef haue torned
And if ȝe seche sapience eft · fynde shal ȝe þat folweth
A ful teneful tixte · to hem þat taketh Mede
And þat is animam autem aufert accipientium · &c ·
And þat is þe taille of þe tixte · of þat þat ȝe schewed
Þat þeiȝe we wynne worschip · and wiþ mede haue victorie
Þe soule þat þe soude taketh · bi so moche is bounde

Passus iiijus Quartus

C esseth[^88] seith þe kynge · I suffre ȝow no lengere
Ȝe shal sauȝtne for-sothe · and serue me bothe
kisse hir quod þe kynge · conscience I hote

[^88: L.4.1: The ornamental capital is five lines high, written in blue with red flourishes with two sprays.]

¶ Nay bi criste quod conscience · congeye me for euere
But resoun rede me þer-to · rather wil I deye

¶ And I comaunde þe quod þe Kynge · to conscience þanne
Rape þe to ride · and resoun þow fecche
Comaunde hym þat he come · my conseille to here
For he shal reule my rewme · and rede me þe beste
And acounte with þe conscience · so me cryst helpe
How þow lernest þe peple · þe lered and þe lewede

¶ I am fayne of þat forwarde · seyde þe freke þanne
And ritte riȝte to resoun · and rowneth in his ere
And seide as þe kynge badde · and sithen toke his leue

¶ I shal arraye me to ride quod resoun reste þe a while
And called cat ou n his knaue · curteise of speche
And also tomme trewe tonge · telle me no tales
Ne lesyng to lawȝe of · for I loued hem neuere
And sette my sadel vppon suffre · til I se my tyme
And lete warrok it wel · with witty wordes gerthes
And hange on hym þe heuy brydel · to holde his hed lowe
For he wil make wehe · tweye[^89] er he be there

[^89: L.4.22: LMR alone read tweye; most other B manuscripts have twies.]

¶ Thanne conscience vppon his caple · kaireth forth faste
And resoun with hym ritte · rownynge togideres
Whiche maistries Mede · maketh on þis erthe

¶ One waryn wisdom · and witty his fere
+
Folwed hem faste · haued[^90] to done
In þe cheker and at[^91] þe chauncerie · to be discharged of þinges
And riden fast for resoun shulde rede hem þe beste
For to saue hem for siluer · fro shame and fram harmes

[^90: L.4.27: The corrector's <+> in the left margin notes the omission of for þei from the beginning of the b-verse. R also lacks these words.]

[^91: L.4.28: LCr2,3R have at, whereas most other B manuscripts read in.]

¶ And conscience knewe hem wel · þei loued coueitise
And bad resoun ride faste · and recche of her noither
Þere aren wiles in here wordes · and with Mede þei dwelleth
There as wratthe and wranglyng[^92] is · þere wynne þei siluer

[^92: L.4.34: An otiose curl appears above the first <g>.]

¶ Ac þere is loue and lewte · þei wil nouȝte come þere
Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eorum &c
Þei ne gyueth nouȝte of god · one go se wynge
Non est timor dei ante oculos eorum
For wot god þei wolde do more · for a dozeine chickenes
Or as many capones · or for a seem of otes
Þan for loue of owre lorde · or alle hise leue seyntes
For-þi resoun lete hem ride · þo riche bi hem-seluen
For conscience knoweth hem nouȝte · ne cryst as I trowe
And þanne resoun rode faste  þe riȝte heiȝe gate
As conscience hym kenned · til þei come to þe Kynge

¶ Curteisliche þe kynge þanne · come aȝein resoun
And bitwene hym-self and his sone · sette hym on benche
And wordeden wel wyseli · a gret while togideres

¶ And þanne come pees in-to parlement · and put forth a bille
How wronge aȝeines his wille · had his wyf taken
And how he rauisshed Rose · Reginoldes loue
And Margarete of hir maydenhode · maugre here chekis
Bothe my gees & my grys · his gadelynges feccheth
I dar nouȝte for fere of hym · fyȝte ne chyde
He borwed of me bayard · he brouȝte hym home neure
+
Ne no ferthynge[^93] þer-fore · for nauȝte[^94] I couthe plede
He meyneteneth his men · to morther myne hewen
Forstalleth my feyres · and fiȝteth in my chepynge
And breketh vp my bernes[^95] dore · and bereth aweye my whete
And taketh me but a taile · for ten quarteres of otes
And ȝet he bet me þer-to · and lyth bi my Mayde
I nam[^96] nouȝte hardy for hym · vneth to loke ·

[^93: L.4.56: The <r> in ferthynge was added after initial copying, perhaps in response to the corrector's marginal <+>.]

[^94: L.4.56: L is joined by MRF in reading nauȝte; other B manuscripts have ouȝt.]

[^95: L.4.59: LHmWR read bernes, the reading of most C manuscripts. All other B manuscripts have berne.]

[^96: L.4.62: LCM alone have nam. The other B witnesses read am.]

¶ The kynge knewe he seide sothe · for conscience hym tolde
Þat wronge was a wikked luft · and wrouȝte moche sorwe

¶ Wronge was afered þanne · and wisdome he souȝte
To make pees with his pens · and profered hym manye
And seide had I loue of my lorde þe kynge · litel wolde I recche
Theiȝe pees and his powere · pleyned hym eure

+
¶ Þo wan[^97] wisdome · and sire waryn þe witty
For þat wronge had ywrouȝte · so wikked a dede
And warned wronge þo · with suche a wyse tale
Who-so worcheth bi wille · wratthe maketh ofte
I seye it bi þi-self · þow shalt it wel fynde
But if Mede it make · þi myschief is vppe
For bothe þi lyf and þi londe · lyth in his grace

[^97: L.4.69: The corrector's marginal <+> may mark wan, a reading shared by R; most other B manuscripts have a form of wente. Not infrequently the evidence suggests that the corrector worked from a manuscript more corrupt than L's exemplar.]

¶ Thanne wowed wronge · wisdome ful ȝerne
To make his pees with his pens · handi-dandi payed
Wisdome and witte þanne wenten togideres
And toke Mede myd hem mercy to winne

¶ Pees put forþ his hed · and his panne blody
Wyth-outen gilte god it wote · gat I þis skaþe
Conscience and þe comune · knowen þe sothe

¶ Ac wisdom and witte · were about faste
To ouercome þe kynge · with catel ȝif þei myȝte

¶ Þe kynge swore bi crist · and bi his crowne bothe
Þat wronge for his werkis · sholde wo þolye
And comaunded a constable · to casten hym in yrens
And late hym nouȝte þis seuene ȝere · seen his feet ones

¶ God wot quod wysdom · þat were nauȝte þe beste
And he amendes mowe make · late meynprise hym haue
And be borwgh for his bale · and biggen hym bote
And so amende þat is mysdo · and euermore þe bettere

¶ Witt acorded þer-with · and seide þe same
Bettere is þat bote · bale adoun brynge
Þan bale be ybette · & bote neuere þe bettere

¶ And þanne gan Mede to mengen here · and mercy she bisought
And profred pees a present · al of pure golde
Haue þis man of me quod she · to amende þi skaþe
For I wil wage for wronge · he wil do so namore

¶ Pitously pees þanne · prayed to þe kynge
To haue mercy on þat man · þat mys-did hym so ofte
For he hath waged me wel · as wisdome hym tauȝte
And I forgyue hym þat gilte · with a goode wille
So þat þe kynge assent · I can seye no bettere
For Mede hath made me amendes · I may namore axe

¶ Nay quod þe Kynge þo · so me cryst helpe
Wronge wendeth nouȝte so awaye · arst wil I wite more
For loupe he so liȝtly · laughen he wolde
And efte þe balder be · to bete myne hewen
But resoun haue reuthe on hym · he shal rest in my stokkes
And þat as longe as he lyueth · but lowenesse hym borwe

¶ Somme men redde Resoun þo · to haue reuthe on þat schrewe
And for to conseille þe Kynge · and conscience after
That Mede moste be meynpernour · resoun þei bisouȝte

¶ Rede me nouȝte quod resoun · no reuthe to haue
Til lordes and ladies · louien alle treuthe
And haten al harlotrye · to heren it · or to mouthen it
Tyl pernelles purfil · be put in here hucche
And childryn cherissyng · be chastyng with ȝerdes
And harlotes holynesse · be holden for an hyne
X
Til clerken coueitise be · to clothe þe pore and to fede[^98]
And religious romares · recordare in here cloistres ·
As seynt Benet hem bad · Bernarde and Fraunceys ·
And til prechoures prechyng · be preued on hem-seluen
Tyl þe kynges conseille · be þe comune profyte
Tyl bisschopes baiardes · ben beggeres chambres ·
Here haukes and her houndes · helpe to pore Religious ·

[^98: L.4.121: The marginal <X> is larger than typical and occupies the space of this line and the line below. The reason for it is not clear, unless it is intended to suggest that recordare should be boxed in red.]

¶ And til seynt Iames be souȝte · þere I shal assigne
That no man go to Galis · but if he go for euere
And alle Rome-renneres · for robberes of byȝende
Bere no siluer ouer see · þat signe of kynge sheweþ ·
Noyther graue ne vngraue · golde noither siluer
Vppon forfeture of þat fee · who-so fynt hym at Douere
But if it be marchaunt or his man · or messagere with lettres
Prouysoure or prest · or penaunt for his synnes ·

¶ And ȝet quod resoun bi þe Rode · I shal no reuthe haue
While Mede hath þe maistrye  in þis moot halle
+
Ac I may shewe ensaumples · as[^99] I se other-while
I sey it bi my-self quod he · and it so were
That I were kynge with crowne · to kepen a Rewme
Shulde neuere wronge in þis worlde · þat I wite myȝte
Ben vnpunisshed in my powere · for peril of my soule
Ne gete my grace for giftes · so me god saue
Ne for no Mede haue mercy · but mekenesse it make

[^99: L.4.138: The <s> in as was added in interword space later in response to the marginal <+>. The same error was marked and corrected in L.1.182.]

[^100] ¶ For nullum malum þe man · mette with inpunitum
And badde nullum bonum · be irremuneratum ·

[^100: L.4.145: A pointing hand is sketched in the left margin in slightly darker ink and with a finer pen point, probably a later addition. The hand is placed lower than the line group with the finger pointing upward to the paraph.]

¶ Late ȝowre confessoure sire Kynge · construe þis vnglosed ·
And ȝif ȝe worken it in werke · I wedde myne eres ·
+
That lawe shal ben a laborere · and lede a-felde donge[^101]
And loue shal lede þi londe · as þe lief lyketh

[^101: L.4.149: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, but no error is apparent.]

¶ Clerkes þat were confessoures · coupled hem togideres
Alle to construe þis clause · and for þe kynges profit
Ac nouȝte for conforte of þe comune · ne for þe kynges soule

+
¶ For I seiȝe mede[^102] in þe moot halle · on men of lawe wynke
And þei lawghyng lope to hire · and lafte resoun manye

[^102: L.4.154: The third minim of <m> and the <de> in mede are overwritten in darker ink, probably in response to the marginal <+>. The original word is not recoverable.]

¶ Waryn wisdome · wynked vppon Mede
And seide Madame I am ȝowre man · what-so my mouth iangleth
I falle in floreines quod þat freke · an faile speche ofte

¶ Alle riȝtful recorded · þat resoun treuthe tolde
And witt acorded þer-with · and comended his wordes
And þe moste peple in þe halle · and manye of þe grete
And leten mekenesse a maistre · and Mede a mansed schrewe

¶ Loue lete of hir liȝte · and lewte ȝit lasse
And seide it so heiȝe þat al þe halle it herde
Who-so wilneth hir to wyf · for welth of her godis
But he be knowe for a kokewolde · kut of my nose

¶ Mede mourned þo · and made heuy chere
For þe moste comune of þat courte called hire an hore
Ac a sysoure and a[^103] sompnoure · sued hir faste
And a schireues clerke · byschrewed al þe route
For ofte haue I quod he · holpe ȝow atte barre
And ȝit ȝeue ȝe me neuere · þe worthe of a russhe

[^103: L.4.169: The words and a have been badly rubbed, particularly the <d> and the article. The same rubbing affected the penultimate letters of comone in the preceding line.]

¶ The kynge called conscience · and afterwardes resoun
And recorded þat resoun had riȝtfullich schewed
And mowdilich vppon Mede · with myȝte þe Kynge loked
And gan wax wrothe with lawe · for Mede almoste had shent it
And seide þorw ȝowre lawe as I leue · I lese many chetes
Mede ouer-maistrieth lawe · and moche treuthe letteth
Ac resoun shal rekene with ȝow · ȝif I regne any while
And deme ȝow bi þis day · as ȝe han deserued
Mede shal nouȝte meynprise ȝow · bi þe Marie of heuene
I wil haue leute in lawe · and lete be al ȝowre ianglyng
And as moste folke witnesseth wel · wronge shal be demed

¶ Quod conscience to þe kynge · but þe comune wil assent
It is ful hard bi myn hed · here-to to brynge it
Alle ȝowre lige leodes · to lede þus euene

¶ By hym þat rauȝte on þe rode · quod resoun to þe kynge
But if I reule þus ȝowre rewme · rende out my guttes
Ȝif ȝe bidden buxomnes · be of myne assente

¶ And I assent seith þe kynge · by seynte Marie my lady
Be my conseille comen of clerkis · and of erlis
Ac redili resoun þow shalt nouȝte ride fro me
For as longe as I lyue · lete þe I nelle

¶ I am aredy quod resoun · to reste with ȝow euere
So conscience be of owre conseille · I kepe no bettere
And I graunt quod the kynge · goddesforbode goddes forbode it faile
Als longe as owre lyf lasteth · lyue we togideres

Passus quintus de visione

T he[^104] kyng and his knightes · to the kirke wente
To here matynes of þe day · and þe masse after
Þanne waked I of my wynkynge and wo was with-alle
Þat I ne hadde sleped sadder · and yseiȝen more
Ac er I hadde faren a fourlonge · feyntise me hente
That I ne myȝte ferther a foot · for defaute of slepynge
And sat softly adown · and seide my bileue
And so I babeled on my bedes · þei brouȝte me a-slepe

[^104: L.5.1: The ornamental capital is five lines high, written in blue ink with red flourishes.]

¶ And þanne saw I moche more · þan I bifore tolde
For I say þe felde ful of folke · þat I bifore of seyde
And how resoun gan arrayen hym · alle þe reume to preche
And with a crosse afor þe kynge · comsed þus to techen

¶ He preued þat þise pestilences · was for pure synne
And þe southwest wynde · on saterday at euene
Was pertliche for pure pryde · and for no poynt elles
Piries and plomtrees · were puffed to þe erthe
In ensample ȝe segges · ȝe shulden do þe bettere
Beches and brode okes · were blowen to þe grounde
Torned vpward her tailles · in tokenynge of drede
Þat dedly synne ar domesday · shal fordon hem alle

¶ Of þis matere I myȝte · mamely ful longe
Ac I shal seye as I saw · so me god helpe
How pertly afor þe poeple · resoun gan to preche

¶ He bad wastoure go worche · what he best couthe
And wynnen his wastyng · with somme manere crafte

¶ And preyed peronelle · her purfyle to lete
And kepe it in hir cofre · for catel at hire nede

¶ Thomme stowue he tauȝte · to take two staues
And fecche filice home · fro þe wyuen pyne

¶ He warned watt · his wyf was to blame
Þat hire hed was worth halue a marke · his hode nouȝte worth a grote
And bad bette kut · a bow other tweyne
And bete betoun þer-with · but if she wolde worche
And þanne he charged chapmen · to chasten her childeren
Late no wynnynge hem forweny · whil þei be ȝonge
Ne for no pouste of pestilence · plese hem nouȝte out of resoun

¶ My syre seyde so to me · and so did my dame
Þat þe leuere childe · þe more lore bihoueth
And Salamon seide þe same · þat sapience made
Qui parcit virge odit filium
Þe Englich of þis latyn is · who-so wil it knowe
Who-so spareth þe sprynge · spilleth his children

[^105] ¶ And sithen he preyed prelatz · and prestes togideres
Þat ȝe prechen to þe peple · preue · it on ȝowre-seluen
And doth it in dede · it shal drawe ȝow to good
If ȝe lyuen as ȝe leren vs we shal leue ȝow þe bettere

[^105: L.5.43: A pointing hand appears in the left margin, the work of a later scribe. This hand is in darker ink than the text and written with a finer penstroke; it is placed low in relation to the line group so that the finger points to the paraph. Compare to the hand on fol. 16r.]

¶ And sithen he radde Religioun · here reule to holde
Leste þe kynge and his conseille · ȝowre comunes appayre
And ben stuwardes of ȝowre stedes · til ȝe be ruled bettre

¶ And sithen he conseilled þe kynge · þe comune to louye
It is þi tresore if tresoun ne were · and triacle at þi nede
And sithen he prayed þe pope · haue pite on holicherche
And er he gyue any grace · gouerne firste hym-selue

¶ And ȝe that han lawes to kepe · late treuthe be ȝowre coueytise
More þan golde or other gyftes · if ȝe wil god plese
For who-so contrarieth treuthe · he telleth in þe gospel
That god knoweth hym nouȝte · ne no seynte of heuene
Amen dico vobis nescio vos ·

¶ And ȝe þat seke seynte Iames · and seintes of Rome
Seketh seynt treuthe · for he may saue ȝow alle
Qui cum patre & filio · þat feire hem bifalle
Þat suweth my sermon · and þus seyde resoun
[^106] ¶ Thanne ran repentance · and reherced his teme
And gert wille to wepe · water with his eyen

[^106: L.5.63: The original scribe put a paraph indicator in the left margin but did not skip a line, and the rubricator did not draw the paraph.]

¶ Peronelle proude-herte · platte hir to þe erthe
And lay longe ar she loked · and lorde mercy cryed
Superbia ·
And byhiȝte to hym · þat vs alle made
She shulde vnsowen hir serke · and sette þere an heyre
To affaiten hire flessh · þat fierce was to synne
Shal neuere heiȝe herte · me hente · but holde me lowe
And suffre to be myssayde · and so did I neuere
But now wil I meke me · and mercy biseche
For al þis I haue · hated in myne herte

¶ Þanne lecchoure seyde allas · and on owre lady he cryed
Luxuria ·
To make mercy for his mis-dedes · bitwene god and his soule
With þat he shulde þe saterday · seuene ȝere þere-after
Drynke but myd þe doke · and dyne but ones

Inuidia
¶ Enuye with heuy herte · asked after scrifte
And carefullich mea culpa · he comsed to shewe
He was as pale as a pelet · in þe palsye he semed
And clothed in a caurimaury · I couthe it nouȝte discreue
In kirtel and kour teby · and a knyf bi his syde
Of a freres frokke · were[^107] þe forsleues
And as a leke hadde yleye · longe in þe sonne
So loked he with lene chekes · lourynge foule

[^107: L.5.83: A word-long erased space occurs after were. It has been thoroughly scraped. Examination under ultra-violet light suggests that the scribe wrote forsleues, and only found the repetition in correcting the page.]

¶ His body was to-bolle for wratthe · þat he bote his lippes ·
And wryngynge he ȝede with þe fiste · to wreke hym-self he þouȝte
With werkes or with wordes · whan he seighe his tyme
Eche a worde þat he warpe · was of an addres tonge
Of chydynge and of chalangynge · was his chief lyflode
With bakbitynge and bismer · and beryng of fals witnesse
Þis was al his curteisye · where þat euere he shewed hym

¶ I wolde ben yshryue quod þis schrewe · and I for shame durst
I wolde be gladder bi god · þat gybbe had meschaunce
Than þouȝe I had þis woke ywonne · a weye of essex chese

¶ I haue a neighbore neyȝe me · I haue ennuyed hym ofte
And lowen on hym to lordes · to don hym lese his siluer
And made his frendes ben his foon · thorw my false tonge
His grace and his good happes · greueth me ful sore
Bitwene many · and many · I make debate ofte
Þat bothe lyf and lyme · is lost þorw my speche
[^108] ¶ And whan I mete him in market · þat I moste hate
I hailse hym hendeliche · as I his frende were
For he is douȝtier þan I · I dar do non other
Ac hadde I maystrye and myȝte · god wote my wille

[^108: L.5.102: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

¶ And whan I come to þe kirke · and sholde knele to þe Rode
And preye for þe pople · as þe prest techeth
For pilgrimes and for palmers · for alle þe poeple after
Þanne I crye on my knees · þat cryste ȝif hem sorwe
Þat bar awey my bolle · and my broke schete

¶ Awey fro þe auter þanne · turne I myn eyghen
And biholde how Eleyne · hath a newe cote
I wisshe þanne it were myne · and al þe webbe after

¶ And of mennes lesynge I laughe · þat liketh myn herte
And for her wynnynge I wepe · and waille þe tyme

¶ And deme þat hij don ille · þere I do wel worse
Who-so vndernymeth me here -of · I hate hym dedly after
I wolde þat vche a wyght · were my knaue
For who-so hath more þan I · þat angreth me sore
And þus I lyue louelees · lyke a luther dogge
That al my body bolneth · for bitter of my galle

¶ I myȝte nouȝte eet many ȝeres · as a man ouȝte
For enuye and yuel wille · is yuel to defye
May no sugre ne swete þinge · asswage my swellynge
Ne no diapenidion · dryue it fro myne herte
Ne noyther schrifte ne shame · but ho-so schrape my mawe

¶ Ȝus redili quod repentaunce · and radde hym to þe beste
Sorwe of synnes · is sauacioun of soules

¶ I am sori quod þat segge · I am but selde other
And þat maketh me þus megre · for I ne may me venge
Amonges Burgeyses haue I be · dwellynge at Londoun
And gert bakbitinge be a brocoure · to blame mennes ware
Whan he solde and I nouȝte · þanne was I redy
To lye and to loure on my neighbore · and to lakke his chaffare
I wil amende þis ȝif I may · þorw myȝte of god almyȝty

Ira ·

[L.5.136: The scribe has put 3 dots arranged in a triangle in the left margin inside a red box with the gloss.]

¶ Now awaketh wratthe · with two whyte eyen
And nyuelynge with þe nose · and his nekke[^109] hangynge[^110]

[^109: L.5.137: The word nekke is added later by the original scribe in a blank he left, one not entirely filled.]

[^110: L.5.137-138: Water damage has affected the left side of this line group and the final line on the page.]

¶ I am wrath quod he · I was sum-tyme a frere
And þe couentes Gardyner · for to graffe ympes
nota
On limitoures and listres · lesynges I ymped
Tyl þei bere leues of low speche · lordes to plese
And sithen þei blosmed obrode · in boure to here shriftes
And now is fallen þer-of a frute · þat folke han wel leuere
Schewen her schriftes to hem · þan shryue hem to her persones

¶ And now persones[^111] parceyued · þat Freres parte with hem
Þise possessioneres preche · and depraue freres
And freres fyndeth hem in defaute · as folke bereth witnes
That whan þei preche þe poeple · in many place[^112] aboute
I wrath walke with hem · and wisse hem of my bokes
Þus þei speken of spiritualte · þat eyther despiseth other
Til þei be bothe beggers · and by my spiritualte libben
Or elles alle riche and riden aboute
I wrath rest neuere · þat I ne moste folwe
This wykked folke · for suche is my grace

[^111: L.5.145: LM alone omit han, which appears before or after persones in other B manuscripts.]

[^112: L.5.148: LBCMY read singular place against the plural of all other manuscripts.]

¶ I haue an aunte to nonne · and an abbesse bothe
Hir were leuere swowe or swelte · þan soeffre any peyne
I haue be cook in hir kichyne · and þe couent serued
Many monthes with hem · and with monkes bothe
I was þe priouresses potagere · and other poure ladyes
And made hem ioutes of iangelynge · þat dame Iohanne was a bastard
And dame Clarice a kniȝtes douȝter · ac a kokewolde was hire syre
And dame Peronelle a prestes file · Priouresse worth she neuere
For she had childe in chirityme · al owre chapitere it wiste

¶ Of wykked wordes I wrath · here wortes I-made[^113]
Til þow lixte and þow lixte · lopen oute at ones
And eyther hitte other · vnder þe cheke
Hadde þei had knyues bi cryst · her[^114] eyther had killed other

[^113: L.5.164: The metrically required prefix is supplied for I-made (< OE gemacian) only in LROC2.]

[^114: L.5.167: LMWR read her or hir. All other B manuscripts omit it.]

¶ Seynt Gregorie was a gode pope · and had a gode forwit
Þat no Priouresse were prest · for þat he ordeigned
Þei had þanne ben infamis þe firste day · þei can so yuel hele conseille

¶ Amonge monkes I miȝte be · ac many tyme I shonye
For þere ben many felle frekis · my feres to aspye
Bothe Prioure an supprioure · and owre pater abbas
And if I telle any tales · þei taken hem togyderes
And do me faste frydayes · to bred and to water
And am chalanged in þe chapitelhous · as I a childe were
And baleised on þe bare ers · and no breche bitwene
For-þi haue I no lykyng · with þo leodes to wonye
I ete there vnthende fisshe · and fieble ale drynke
Ac otherwhile whan wyn cometh · whan[^115] I drynke wyn at eue
I haue a fluxe of a foule mouthe · wel fyue dayes after
Al þe wikkednesse þat I wote · bi any of owre bretheren
I couth it in owre cloistre · þat al owre couent wote it

[^115: L.5.180: This word appears only in manuscripts LGMR. Most other beta witnesses have and.]

¶ Now repent þe quod Repentaunce · and reherce þow neure
Conseille þat þow cnowest · bi contenaunce ne bi riȝte
And drynke nouȝte ouer-delicatly · ne to depe noyther
Þat þi wille bi cause þer -of to wrath myȝte torne
Esto sobrius he seyde · and assoilled me after
And bad me wilne to wepe · my wikkednesse to amende

Auaricia ·

[L.5.190: The scribe has put 3 dots arranged in a triangle to the left of Auaricia .]

¶ And þanne cam coueytise · can I hym nouȝte descryue
So hungriliche and holwe · sire henri[^116] hym loked
He was bitelbrowed · and baberlipped also
With two blered eyghen · as a blynde hagge
And as a letheren purs · lolled his chekes
Wel sydder þan his chyn · þei chiueled for elde
And as a bondman of his bacoun · his berde was bidraueled
With an hode on his hed · a lousi hatte aboue
And in a tauny tabarde · of twelue wynter age
Al totorne and baudy · and ful of lys crepynge
But if þat a lous couthe · haue lopen þe bettre
She sholde nouȝte haue walked on þat welche[^117] · so was it thredebare

[^116: L.5.191: LCGR alone read henri; most other B manuscripts have heruy.]

[^117: L.5.201: LR alone read on þat welche; other manuscripts have several different variants: Cr1MW read on þat welþe, and most other B manuscripts have there or theron. "Welche" is Welsh flannel.]

¶ I haue ben coueytouse quod þis caityue · I biknowe it here
For some-tyme I serued · symme atte stile
And was his prentis ypliȝte · his profit to wayte
First I lerned to lye · a leef other tweyne
Wikkedlich to weye · was my furst lessoun
To wy and to wynchestre · I went to þe faire
With many manere marchandise · as my Maistre me hiȝte
Ne had þe grace of gyle ygo · amonge my ware[^118]
It had be vnsolde þis seuene ȝere · so me god helpe
[^119] ¶ Thanne drowe I me amonges draperes · my donet to lerne
To drawe þe lyser alonge þe lenger it semed
Amonge þe riche rayes · I rendred a lessoun
To broche hem with a bat-nedle[^120] · and plaited hem togyderes
And put hem in a presse · and pyned[^121] hem þerinne
Tyl ten ȝerdes or twelue · tolled[^122] out threttene

[^118: L.5.209: L is joined by MRF in reading ware. Other B manuscripts have chaffare.]

[^119: L.5.211: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

[^120: L.5.214: L and RF have the nonce-word bat-nedle, meaning "basting needle"; other B witnesses read pak-nedle.]

[^121: L.5.215: L is joined by alpha manuscripts RF in reading pyned; most other B manuscripts have pynned.]

[^122: L.5.216: LM are joined by alpha manuscripts RF in reading tolled; other B witnesses have hadde(n) tolled.]

¶ My wyf was a webbe · and wollen cloth made
She spak to spynnesteres · to spynnen it oute
Ac þe pounde þat she payed by · poised a quarteroun more
Than myne owne auncere · who-so weyȝed treuthe

¶ I bouȝte hir barly malte · she brewe it to selle
Peny ale and podyng ale · she poured togideres
For laboreres and for low folke · þat lay by hym-selue

¶ The best ale lay in my boure · or in my bedchambre
And who-so bummed þer-of · bouȝte it þer-after
A galoun for a grote · god wote na lesse
And ȝit it cam in cupmel · þis crafte my wyf vsed
Rose þe regratere · was hir riȝte name
She hath holden hokkerye · al hire lyf-tyme

¶ Ac I swere now so the ik · þat synne wil I lete
And neuere wikkedliche weye · ne wikke chaffare vse
But wenden to walsyngham · and my wyf als ·
And bidde þe Rode of bromeholme · brynge me oute of dette

¶ Repentestow þe euere quod repentance · ne[^123] restitucioun madest

[^123: L.5.234: LMR alone read ne; other B manuscripts have or.]

¶ Ȝus ones I was herberwed quod he · with an hep of chapmen[^124]
I roos whan þei were arest · and yrifled[^125] here males

[^124: L.5.235: This is the first appearance of a mark which looks here like a single character, a barred <g>, but which will sometimes be extended to form a bracket. It is used here more like nota than as a bracket. The ink differs from text ink.]

[^125: L.5.236: LR alone have unmetrical yrifled. Other B manuscripts have riflede.]

¶ That was no restitucioun quod repentance · but a robberes thefte
Þow haddest better[^126] worthy · be hanged þerfore
Þan for al þat · þat þow hast here shewed ·

[^126: L.5.238: LR alone lack be before better.]

¶ I wende ryflynge were restitucioun quod he · for I lerned neuere rede on boke
And I can no frenche in feith · but of þe ferthest ende of norfolke

¶ Vsedestow euere vsurie quod repentaunce · in alle þi lyf-tyme

¶ Nay sothly he seyde · saue in my ȝouthe
I lerned amonge lumbardes · and iewes a lessoun
To wey pens with a peys · and pare þe heuyest
And lene it for loue of þe crosse · to legge a wedde and lese it
Suche dedes I did wryte · ȝif he his day breke
I haue mo maneres þorw rerages · þan þorw miseretur & comodat

¶ I haue lent lordes · and ladyes my chaffare
And ben her brocour after · and bouȝte it my-self
Eschaunges and cheuesances · with suche chaffare I dele
And lene folke þat lese wol · a lyppe at euery noble
And with lumbardes lettres · I ladde golde to Rome
And toke it by taille here · and tolde hem þere lasse
[^127] Lenestow euere lordes · for loue of her mayntenaunce

[^127: L.5.255-258: A bracket, supplied by a later hand, extends from this line through the following three lines in the left margin.]

¶ Ȝe I haue lent lordes · loued me neuere after
And haue ymade many a knyȝte · bothe mercere & drapere
Þat payed neuere for his prentishode · nouȝte a peire gloues

¶ Hastow pite on pore men · þat mote nedes borwe

¶ I haue as moche pite of pore men · as pedlere hath of cattes
Þat wolde kille hem yf he cacche hem myȝte · for coueitise of here skynnes

¶ Artow manlyche amonge þi neiȝbores · of þi mete and drynke

¶ I am holden quod he as hende · as hounde is in kychyne
Amonges my neighbores namelich · such a name ich haue

¶ Now god lene neure quod repentance · but þow repent þe rather
Þe grace on þis grounde · þi good wel to bisette
+
Ne þine ysue[^128] after þe · haue ioye of þat þow wynnest
Ne þi excecutours wel bisett · þe siluer þat þow hem leuest
And þat was wonne with wronge · with wikked men be despended
For were I frere of þat hous · þere gode faith and charite is
I nolde cope vs with þi catel · ne owre kyrke amende
Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce · of þyne bi my soule hele
For þe best boke in owre hous · þeiȝe brent golde were þe leues
+
And I wyst wytterly · þow were suche as þow telleth[^129]
Seruus es alterius · cum fercula pinguia queris
Pane tuo pocius · vescere liber eris ·

[^128: L.5.267: L and R alone have ysue, meaning "issue, progeny." Most other B manuscripts have heires. The original scribe first wrote vsue and then in response to the corrector's <+> corrected the first character to <y>.]

[^129: L.5.274: L uniquely has telleth here; the other B manuscripts read tellest. This probably motivated the corrector's <+> in the left margin.]

¶ Thow art an vnkynde creature · I can þe nouȝte assoille
Til þow make restitucioun · and rekne with hem alle
And sithen þat resoun rolle it · in þe regystre of heuene
That þow hast made vche man good · I may þe nouȝte assoille
Non dimittitur peccatum · donec restituatur ablatum &c

¶ For alle þat hath[^130] of þi good · haue god my trouthe
Is[^131] holden at þe heighe dome · to helpe þe to restitue
And who-so leueth nouȝte þis be soth · loke in þe sauter glose
In miserere mei deus · where I mene treuthe
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &c

[^130: L.5.282: LMR alone read hath; C2HmOW have han and CCrGYF read haue.]

[^131: L.5.283: LMR alone have Is; other B witnesses have Ben.]

¶ Shal neuere werkman in þis worlde · þryue wyth þat þow wynnest
Cum sancto sanctus eris · construe me þat on englische

¶ Thanne wex þat shrewe in wanhope · and walde haue hanged himself
Ne hadde repentaunce þe rather · reconforted hym in þis manere
Haue mercye in þi mynde · and with þi mouth biseche it
For goddes mercye is more · þan alle hise other werkes
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius &c ·

¶ And al þe wikkednesse in þis worlde · þat man myȝte worche or thynke
Ne is no more to þe mercye of god · þan in þe see a glede
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei · est[^132] sintilla in medio maris

[^132: L.5.296: L alone omits quasi after est .]

¶ For-þi haue mercy in þi mynde · and marchandise leue it
For þow hast no good grounde · to gete þe with a wastel
But if it were with thi tonge · or ellis with þi two hondes
For þe good þat þow hast geten · bigan al with falsehede
And as longe as þow lyuest þer-with · þow ȝeldest nouȝte but borwest

¶ And if þow wite neuere to whiche · ne whom to restitue
Bere it to þe bisschop · and bidde hym of his grace
Bisette it hym-selue · as best is for þi soule
For he shal answere for þe · at þe heygh dome
For þe and for many mo · þat man shal ȝif a rekenynge
What he lerned ȝow in lente · leue þow none other
And what he lent ȝow of owre lordes good · to lette ȝow fro synne

Gula ·
¶ Now bigynneth glotoun · for to go to schrifte
And kaires hym to kirke-ward · his coupe to schewe

¶ Ac Beton þe brewestere · bad hym good morwe
And axed of hym with þat · whiderward he wolde

¶ To holicherche quod he · forto here masse
And sithen I wil be shryuen · and synne namore[^133]

[^133: L.5.314-318: A later hand has added in the right margin a bracket extending to include the next four lines.]

gluons fisik
¶ I haue gode ale gossib quod she · glotown wiltow assaye[^134]
Hastow auȝte in þi purs · any hote spices

[^134: L.5.315: In the right margin are the words gluons (for glu[t]ons) fisik.]

¶ I haue peper and piones quod he[^135] · and a pounde of garlike
A ferthyngworth of fenel-seed · for fastyngdayes

[^135: L.5.317: The form he for "she" is a relict from Bx, and it appears in LBCCrY and the first version of M.]

¶ Þanne goth glotoun in · and grete othes after
Cesse þe souteresse · sat on þe benche
Watte þe warner · and his wyf bothe
Tymme þe tynkere · and tweyne of his prentis
Hikke þe hakeneyman · and hugh þe nedeler
Clarice of cokkeslane · and þe clerke of þe cherche
Dawe þe dykere and a dozeine other
Sire Piers of Pridie · and Peronelle of Flaundres
A ribibour a ratonere · a rakyer of chepe
A ropere a redyngkyng · and Rose þe dissheres
Godfrey of garlekehithe · and gryfin þe walsh
And vpholderes an hepe · erly bi þe morwe
Geuen glotoun with glad chere · good ale to hansel

¶ Clement þe cobelere · cast of his cloke
And atte newfaire new faire · he nempned it to selle
Hikke þe hakeneyman · hitte his hood after
And badde bette þe bochere · ben on his side
Þere were chapmen ychose · þis chaffare to preise
Who-so haueth[^136] þe hood · shuld haue amendes of þe cloke

[^136: L.5.337: LGMR read haueth. Other B manuscripts favor hadde, though hath and haue occur in some instances.]

¶ Two risen vp in rape · and rouned togideres
And preised þese penyworthes · apart bi hem-selue
Þei couth nouȝte bi her conscience · acorden in treuthe
Tyl Robyn þe ropere · arose bi þe southe
And nempned hym for a noumpere · þat no debate nere

¶ Hikke þe hostellere · hadde þe cloke
In couenaunte þat Clement shulde þe cuppe fille
And haue hikkes hode hostellere · and holde hym yserued
And who-so repented rathest · shulde arise after
And grete sire glotoun with a galoun ale

¶ Þere was laughyng and louryng · and let go þe cuppe
And seten so til euensonge · and songen vmwhile
Tyl glotoun had yglobbed · a galoun an a Iille
+
His guttis gunne to godly[^137] · as two gredy sowes
He pissed a potel · in a pater noster while
And blew his rounde ruwet · at his rigge-bon[^138] ende
That alle þat herde þat horne · held her nose after
And wissheden it had be wexed · with a wispe of firses

[^137: L.5.351: LMR alone read godly. The corrector's marginal <+> suggests that he thought this required correction, perhaps to god[e]l[e] as in L.13.95: And þanne shullen his guttis godele. See MED s.v. gothelen v.]

[^138: L.5.353: LC alone have the s-less genitive.]

¶ He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · er he his staffe hadde
And þanne gan he go · liche a glewmannes bicche
Somme-tyme aside · and somme-tyme arrere
As who-so leyth lynes · forto lacche foules

¶ And whan he drowgh to þe dore · þanne dymmed his eighen
+
He trembled[^139] on þe thresshewolde · an threwe to þe erthe
Clement þe cobelere · cauȝte hym bi þe myddel
For to lifte hym alofte · and leyde him on his knowes
Ac glotoun was a gret cherle · and a grym in þe liftynge
And coughed vp a caudel · in clementis lappe
Is non so hungri hounde · in Hertford-schire
Durst lape of þe[^140] leuynges · so vnlouely þei smauȝte

[^139: L.5.361: L alone reads trembled, though R has tremled and F tripplid. Most other B witnesses have some form of stombled. A corrector's <+> appears in the margin, though that possibly marks the scribe's spelling an for "and" later in the line.]

[^140: L.5.367: LGMR alone read þe. Most other B manuscripts have þat. Kane-Donaldson mistakenly read M as þo.]

¶ With al þe wo of þis worlde · his wyf and his wenche
Baren hym home to his bedde · and brouȝte hym þer-inne
And after al þis excesse · he had an accidie
Þat he slepe saterday and sonday · til sonne ȝede to reste
Þanne waked he of his wynkyng · and wiped his eyghen
Þe fyrste worde þat he warpe · was where is þe bolle
His witte gan edwite hym þo · how wikkedlich he lyued
And repentance riȝte so · rebuked hym þat tyme

¶ As þow with wordes and werkes · hast wrouȝte yuel in þi lyue
Shryue þe and be shamed þer-of · and shewe it with þi mouth

¶ I glotoun quod þe gome · gylti me ȝelde
Þat I haue trespassed with my tonge · I can nouȝte telle how ofte
Sworen goddes soule · and so god me help and halidom
Þere no nede ne was · nyne hundreth tymes

¶ And ouer-seye me at my sopere · and some-tyme at nones
Þat I glotoun girt it vp · er I hadde gone a myle
And yspilte þat myȝte be spared · and spended on somme hungrie
Ouerdelicatly on fastyng-dayes · drunken and eten bothe
And sat some-tyme so longe þere · þat I slepe and ete at ones
For loue of tales in tauernes · to drynke þe more I dyned
And hyed to þe mete er none · whan fastyng-dayes were

¶ This shewyng shrifte quod repentance · shal be meryte to þe

¶ And þanne gan glotoun grete · and gret doel to make
For his lither lyf · þat he lyued hadde
And avowed fast[^141] · for hunger or for thurst
Shal neuere fisshe on þe[^142] fryday · defien in my wombe
Tyl abstinence myn aunte · haue ȝiue me leue
And ȝit haue I hated hir · al my lyf-tyme

[^141: L.5.392: LGR and the first copy of M omit to before fast.]

[^142: L.5.393: LBoCotR alone have þe. It is omitted by most other B witnesses.]

Accidia
¶ Þanne come sleuthe al bislabered · with two slymy eiȝen
I most sitte seyde þe segge · or elles shulde I nappe
I may nouȝte stonde ne stoupe · ne with-oute a stole knele
Were I brouȝte abedde · but if my taille-ende it made
Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse · ar I were rype to dyne
He bygan benedicite with a bolke · and his brest knocked
And roxed and rored · and rutte atte laste
What awake renke quod repentance · and rape þe to shrifte

¶ If I shulde deye bi þis day · me liste nouȝte to loke
I can nouȝte parfitly my pater noster · as þe prest it syngeth
But I can rymes of Robyn hood · and Randolf erle of Chestre
Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady · þe leste þat euere was made

¶ I haue made vowes fourty · and forȝete hem on þe morne
I parfourned neure penaunce · as þe prest me hiȝte
Ne ryȝte sori for my synnes · ȝet was I neuere
And ȝif I bidde any bedes · but if it be in wrath
Þat I telle with my tonge · is two myle fro myne herte
I am occupied eche day · haliday and other
With ydel tales atte ale · and otherwhile in cherches
Goddes peyne and his passioun · ful selde þynke I þere -on

¶ I visited neuere fieble men · ne fettered folke in puttes
I haue leuere here an harlotrie · or a somer game of souteres
Or lesynges to laughe at · and belye my neighbore[^143]
Þan al þat euere Marke made · Mathew Iohan & lucas
And vigilies and fastyng-dayes · alle þise late I passe
And ligge abedde in lenten · an my lemman in myn armes
Tyl matynes and masse be do · and þanne go to þe freres
Come I to ite missa est · I holde me yserued
I nam nouȝte shryuen some-tyme · but if sekenesse it make
Nouȝt tweies in two ȝere · and þanne vp gesse I shcryue me

[^143: L.5.418: LMR alone read neighbore; most other B manuscripts have the plural.]

¶ I haue be prest and parsoun · passynge thretti wynter
Ȝete can I neither solfe ne synge · ne seyntes lyues rede
But I can fynde in a felde · or in a fourlonge an hare
Better þan in beatus vir · or in beati omnes
Construe oon clause wel · and kenne it to my parochienes[^144]
I can holde louedayes · and here a Reues rekenynge
Ac in canoun ne in þe[^145] decretales · I can nouȝte rede a lyne

[^144: L.5.430: The words oon and wel have been written by a contemporary hand in blank spaces. The <c> of clause and the medial raised point has been retouched by the same hand.]

[^145: L.5.432: Manuscripts LGMR alone supply þe. Most other manuscripts omit it.]

+
¶ Ȝif I bigge and[^146] borwe it · but ȝif it be ytailled
I forȝete it as ȝerne · and ȝif[^147] men me it axe
Sixe sithes or seuene · I forsake it with othes
And þus tene I trewe men · ten hundreth tymes

[^146: L.5.433: The <d> is a later addition in the blank space between the two words. The corrector's <+> appears faintly in the left margin, further out than most such marks. Though the ink is darker than that of the text hand, the correction may well have been made by the original scribe.]

[^147: L.5.434: LHmR read alliterating ȝif; most other B manuscripts read if.]

¶ And my seruauntz some-tyme · her salarye is bihynde
Reuthe is to here[^148] rekenynge · whan we shal rede acomptes
So with wikked wille and wraththe · my werkmen I paye

[^148: L.5.438: Where LMRF have here alone, most other B manuscripts have here þe.]

¶ Ȝif any man doth me a benfait · or helpeth me at nede
I am vnkynde aȝein his curteisye · and can nouȝte vnderstonde it
For I haue and haue hadde · some-dele haukes maneres
I nam[^149] nouȝte lured with loue · but þere ligge auȝte vnder þe thombe

[^149: L.5.443: LMO read nam. All other B witnesses have am.]

¶ The kyndenesse þat myne euene-cristene · kidde me farnere
Sixty sythes I sleuthe · haue foȝete fo[r]ȝete it sith
In speche and in sparynge of speche · yspilte many a tyme
Bothe flesche & fissche · and many other vitailles
Bothe bred and ale · butter melke and chese
Forsleuthed in my seruyse · til it myȝte serue noman

¶ I ran aboute in ȝouthe · and ȝaf me nouȝte to lerne
+
And euere sith be[^150] beggere · for my foule sleuthe
Heu michi quia sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem

[^150: L.5.451: LR alone read be; other B manuscripts read haue be, haue I be, or I haue be. True to form, the corrector has noted the reading with a marginal <+>.]

¶ Repentestow þe nauȝte · quod repentance · and riȝte with þat he swowned
Til vigilate þe veille · fette water at his eyȝen
And flatte it on his face · and faste on hym criede
And seide ware þe fram wanhope · wolde þe bitraye
I am sori for my synnes · sey so[^151] to þi-selue
And bete þi-selue on þe breste · and bidde hym of grace
For is no gult here so grete · þat his goodnesse nys[^152] more

[^151: L.5.457: LMR alone have so; other B witnesses omit it.]

[^152: L.5.459: LMW alone have nys. All other B manuscripts read is.]

¶ Þanne sat sleuthe vp · and seyned hym swithe
And made avowe to-fore god · for his foule sleuthe
Shal no sondaye be þis seuene ȝere · but sykenesse it lette
Þat I ne shal do me er day · to þe dere cherche
And heren matines and masse · as I a monke were
Shal none ale after mete · holde me þennes
Tyl I haue euensonge herde · I behote to þe Rode
And ȝete wil I ȝelde aȝein · if I so moche haue
Al þat I wikkedly wan · sithen I wytte hadde

¶ And þough my liflode lakke · leten I nelle
Þat eche man ne shal haue his · ar I hennes wende
And with þe residue · and þe remenaunt · bi þe Rode of chestre
I shal seke treuthe arst · ar I se Rome

¶ Robert þe robbere · on reddite lokede
And for þer was nouȝte · where -of he wepe[^153] swithe sore
Ac ȝet þe synful shrewe · seyde to hym-selue
Cryst þat on caluarye · vppon þe crosse deydest
Tho dismas my brother · bisouȝte ȝow of grace
And haddest mercy on þat man · for memento sake
So rewe on þis robbere · þat reddere ne haue
debeo
Ne neuere wene to wynne · with crafte þat I owe[^154]
But for þi mykel mercy · mitigacioun I biseche
Ne dampne me nouȝte at domesday · for þat I did so ille

[^153: L.5.474: The strong preterite form wepe appears in alpha and M as well. Most beta witnesses have wepte.]

[^154: L.5.480: The gloss debeo appears over the last word of this line.]

¶ What bifel of þis feloun · I can nouȝte faire schewe
Wel I wote he wepte faste · water with boþe his eyen
And knowleched his gult · to cryst ȝete eftsones
Þat penitencia his pyke · he shulde polsche newe
And lepe with hym ouer londe · al his lyf-tyme
For he had leyne bi latro · luciferes aunte

¶ And þanne had repentaunce reuthe · and redde hem alle to knele
For I shal biseche for al synful · owre saueoure of grace
To amende vs of owre mysdedes · and do mercy to vs alle

¶ Now god quod he · þat of þi goodnesse · gonne þe worlde make
And of nauȝte madest auȝte · and man moste liche to þi-selue
And sithen suffredest for to synne · a sikenesse to vs alle
And al for þe best as I bileue · what-euere þe boke telleth
O felix culpa o necessarium peccatum ade &c
For þourgh þat synne þi sone · sent was to þis erthe
And bicam man of a mayde · mankynde to saue
And madest þi-self with þi sone · and vs synful yliche
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudinem nostram
Et alibi qui manet in caritate · in deo manet & deus in eo

¶ And sith with þi self sone · in owre sute deydest
On godefryday gode fryday for mannes sake · at ful tyme of þe daye
Þere þi-self ne þi sone · no sorwe in deth feledest
But in owre secte was þe sorwe · and þi sone it ladde
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem

¶ Þe sonne for sorwe þer-of · les syȝte for a tyme
Aboute mydday whan moste liȝte is · and mele-tyme of seintes
Feddest with þi fresche blode · owre forfadres in derknesse
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris · vidit lucem magnam
And thorw þe liȝte þat lepe oute of þe · lucifer was blent
And blewe alle þi blissed · in-to þe blisse of paradise

¶ Þe thrydde daye after · þow ȝedest in owre sute
A synful Marie þe seighe · ar seynte Marie þi dame
And al to solace synful · þow suffredest it so were
Non veni vocare iustos · set peccatores ad penitenciam

¶ And al þat Marke hath ymade mathew Iohan and lucas
Of þyne douȝtiest[^155] dedes · were don in owre armes
Verbum caro factum est et habitauit in nobis
And bi so moche me semeth · þe sikerere we mowe
Bydde and biseche · if it be þi wille
Þat art owre fader and owre brother be merciable to vs
And haue reuthe on þise Ribaudes · þat repente hem here sore
Þat euere þei wratthed þe in þis worlde · in worde þouȝte or dedes

[^155: L.5.518: LMRF agree in reading douȝtiest; other B witnesses have douȝty.]

¶ Þanne hent hope an horne · of deus tu conuersus viuificabis
And blew it with · Beati quorum · remisse sunt iniquitates
Þat alle seyntes in heuene · songen at ones
Homines & iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus &c ·

¶ A thousand of men þo · thrungen togyderes
Criede vpward to cryst · and to his clene moder
To haue grace to go with hem treuthe to seke

¶ Ac þere was wyȝte non so wys · þe wey þider couthe
But blustreden forth as bestes · ouer bankes and hilles
Til late was and longe · þat þei a lede mette
Apparailled as a paynym · in pylgrymes wyse
He bare a burdoun ybounde · with a brode liste
In a withewyndes wise · ywounden aboute
A bolle and a bagge · he bare by his syde
An hundreth of ampulles · on his hatt seten
Signes of syna y and shelles of galice
And many a cruche on his cloke · and keyes of Rome
And þe vernicle bifore · for men shulde knowe
And se bi his signes · whom he souȝte hadde

¶ Þis folke frayned hym firste · fro whennes he come

¶ Fram synay he seyde · and fram owre lordes sepulcre
In bethleem and in babiloyne · I haue ben in bothe
I n[^156] ermonye in alisaundre · in many other places
Ȝe may se bi my signes · þat sitten on myn hatte
Þat I haue walked ful wyde · in wete and in drye
And souȝte gode seyntes · for my soules helth

[^156: L.5.547: The <n> is in red ink and was inserted in the space reserved for the capitals, not as a regular item of text.]

¶ Knowestow ouȝte a corseint · þat men calle treuthe
Coudestow auȝte wissen vs þe weye · where þat wy dwelleth

¶ Nay so me god helpe · seide þe gome þanne
I seygh neuere palmere · with pike ne with scrippe
Axen after hym · er til now in þis place
[^157] Peter quod a plowman · and put forth his hed
I knowe hym as kyndely · as clerke doþ his bokes
Conscience and kynde witte · kenned me to his place
And deden me suren hym sikerly · to serue hym for euere
Bothe to sowe and to sette þe while I swynke myghte
I haue ben his folwar · al þis fourty[^158] wyntre
Bothe ysowen his sede · and sued his bestes
With-Inne and with-outen · wayted his profyt
I dyke and I delue · I do þat treuthe hoteth
Some-tyme I sowe · and some-tyme I thresche
In tailoures crafte and tynkares crafte · what treuthe can deuyse
I weue an I wynde · and do what treuthe hoteth

[^157: L.5.556: A square about an inch in size appears in the left margin. It is drawn with very fine penstrokes in pale brown ink, and each side of it is scored by three small strokes evenly spaced. In the middle is a tiny circle. The strokes do not radiate from the circle.]

[^158: L.5.561: LMRF read fourty; other B witnesses have fifty.]

¶ For þouȝe I seye it my-self · I serue hym to paye
Ich haue myn[^159] huire wel · and otherwhiles more
He is þe prestest payer · þat pore men knoweth
He ne with-halt non hewe his hyre · þat he ne hath it at euen
He is as low as a lombe · and loueliche of speche
And ȝif ȝe wilneth to wite · where þat he dwelleth
I shal wisse ȝow witterly · þe weye to his place

[^159: L.5.569: A contemporary hand subpuncted and struck through my and added myn in the left margin.]

¶ Ȝe leue Pieres quod þis pilgrymes · and profered hym huire
For to wende with hem · to treuthes dwellyng-place

¶ Nay bi my soules helth quod pieres · and gan forto swere
I nolde fange a ferthynge · for seynt Thomas shryne
Treuthe wolde loue me þe lasse · a longe tyme þere -after[^160]
Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel · þis is þe weye thider

[^160: L.5.579: LHmWR supply the necessary syllable þer for the medial dip. Most other B witnesses omit it.]

nota
¶ Ȝe mote go þourgh mekenesse · bothe men and wyues
Tyl ȝe come in-to conscience þat cryst wite þe sothe
Þat ȝe louen owre lorde god · leuest of alle þinges
And þanne ȝowre neighbores nexte · in non wise apeyre
Otherwyse þan þow woldest · he wrouȝte to þi-selue

¶ And so boweth forth bi a broke · beth buxum of speche
Tyl ȝe fynden a forth · ȝowre fadres honoureth
Honora patrem & matrem &c ·
Wadeþ in þat water and wascheth ȝow wel þere
And ȝe shul lepe þe liȝtloker · al ȝowre lyf-tyme
decem precepta

[L.5.591: The gloss is in a sixteenth-century hand.]

And so shaltow se swere nouȝte · but if it be for nede
And namelich an ydel · þe name of god almyȝti

¶ Þanne shaltow come by a crofte · but come þow nouȝte þere-Inne
That crofte hat coueyte nouȝte · mennes catel ne her wyues
Ne none of her seruauntes · þat noyen hem myȝte
Loke ȝe breke no bowes þere · but if it be ȝowre owne

¶ Two stokkes þere stondeth · ac stynte ȝe nouȝte þere
They hat stele nouȝte ne slee nouȝte stryke forth by bothe
And leue hem on þi left halfe · and loke nouȝte þere-after
And holde wel þyne haliday heighe · til euen
Thanne shaltow blenche at a bergh · bere no false witnesse
He is frithed in with floreines · and other foes many
Loke þow plukke no plante þere · for peril of þi soule

¶ Þanne shal ȝe se sey soth · so it be to done
In no manere ellis nauȝte · for no mannes biddyng

¶ Þanne shaltow come to a courte · as cle re as þe sonne
Þe mote is of mercy · þe manere · aboute
And alle þe wallis ben of witte · to holden wille oute
And kerneled with crystendome · man-kynde to saue
Boterased with bileue so · or þow beest nouȝte ysaued[^161]

[^161: L.5.610: Most other B witnesses omit the unmetrical prefix to saued. This form appears only in LMYR.]

¶ And alle þe houses ben hiled · halles and chambres
+
Wit[^162] no lede but with loue · and lowe speche as bretheren
Þe brugge is of bidde wel · þe bette may þow spede
Eche piler is of penaunce · of preyeres to seyntes
Of almes-dedes ar þe hokes · þat þe gates hangen on

[^162: L.5.612:The corrector's <+> in the margin presumably notes the scribe's rendering of Wit for Wiþ here. The same error is marked at L.20.118. It was not corrected either place.]

¶ Grace hatte þe gateward · a gode man for-sothe
Hys man hatte amende ȝow · for many man[^163][^164] him knoweth
Telleth hym þis tokene · þat treuthe wite þe sothe
I parfourned þe penaunce · þe preest me enioyned
And am ful sori for my synnes · and so I shal euere
Whan I þinke þere-on · þeighe I were a pope

[^163: L.5.617: An erasure of at least one letter space appears after <n>. Under ultra-violet light, it very dimly appears that the scribe had written many many.]

[^164: L.5.617: LMRF agree in reading man; other B witnesses have men.]

¶ Biddeth amende ȝow meke him · til his maistre ones
To wayue vp þe wiket · þat þe womman shette
Tho Adam and Eue · eten apples vnrosted
Per euam cuntis clausa est · & per mariam virginem patefacta est

¶ For he hath þe keye and þe clikat · þouȝ þe kynge slepe
And if grace graunte þe · to go in in[^165] þis wise
Þow shalt see in þi-selue · treuthe sitte in þine herte
+
In a cheyne of charyte · as þow a clilde c[h]ilde[^166] were
To suffre hym and segge nouȝte · aȝein þi sires wille

[^165: L.5.627: LM alone have in in; other B witnesses have in.]

[^166: L.5.629: The form is ambiguous. What we have transcribed as clilde was transcribed by Kane and Donaldson as chlde. The <+> in the right margin marks the error for correction.]

¶ Ac bewar þanne of wrath þe[^167] · þat is a wikked shrewe
He hath enuye to hym · þat in þine herte sitteth
And pukketh forþ[^168] pruyde to prayse þi-seluen
Þe boldnesse of þi bienfetes · maketh þe blynde þanne
And þanne worstow dryuen oute as dew · and þe dore closed
Kayed and[^169] clikated · to kepe þe with-outen
Happily an hundreth wyntre · ar þow eft entre
Þus myght þow lesen his loue · to late wel by þi-selue
And neuere happilche happil[i]che efte entre · but grace þow haue

[^167: L.5.631: LGHmWR have þe; other B witnesses omit it.]

[^168: L.5.633: Forþ and the <h> of pukketh have been corrected over an erasure in darker brown ink by a later hand. The <h> was converted from an <l>.]

[^169: L.5.636: The <d> has been inserted in the same darker brown ink used by a later corrector above.]

¶ Ac þere ar seuene sustren · þat seruen treuthe euere
And aren porteres[^170] of þe posternes · that to þe place longeth
vij sisters
Þat one hat[^171] abstenence · and humilite an-other
Charite and chastite · ben his chief may denes
Pacience an d[^172] pees · moche poeple þei helpeth
Largenesse þe lady · heo[^173] let in ful manye
Heo[^174] hath hulpe a þousande oute · of þe deueles ponfolde

[^170: L.5.641: The first three letters of porteres are written over an erasure in the same darker ink used above plus some overwriting in <t>.]

[^171: L.5.642: The <h> is written over in the darker ink of the later correcting scribe.]

[^172: L.5.644: The <d> is a later insert in red ink.]

[^173: L.5.645: L alone reads heo, though R has he. Most B manuscripts have she.]

[^174: L.5.646: LR have the relict form Heo; other witnesses have she or sho.]

¶ And who is sibbe to þis seuene[^175] · so me god helpe
He is wonderliche welcome · and faire vnderfongen
And but if ȝe be syb · to summe of þise seuene
It is ful harde bi myne heued quod Peres · for any of ȝow alle
To geten ingonge at any gate þere  but grace be þe more

[^175: L.5.647: The final <e> is in the darker ink of a later correcting scribe.]

¶ Now bi cryst quod a cutpurs · I haue no kynne þere
Ne[^176] I quod an apewarde · bi auȝte þat I knowe

[^176: L.5.653: LMRF agree in reading Ne; most other B witnesses have Nor.]

¶ Wite god quod a wafrestre · wist I þis for sothe
Shulde I neuere ferthere a fote · for no freres prechyng

¶ Ȝus quod Pieres þe plowman · and pukked hem alle to gode
Mercy is a maydene þere · hath myȝte ouer hem[^177] alle
And she is syb to alle synful · and her sone also
And þoruȝe þe helpe of hem two · hope þow none other[^178]
Þow myȝte gete grace þere · bi so þow go bityme

[^177: L.5.657: LCrMRF read hem; other B manuscripts omit it.]

[^178: L.5.659: Some text has been scraped in the right margin.]

¶ By seynt Poule quod a pardonere · parauenture I be nouȝte knowe þere
I wil go fecche my box with my breuettes · and a bulle with bisshopes lettres
By cryst quod a comune womman · þi companye wil I folwe
Þow shalt sey I am þi sustre · I ne wot where þei bicome

Passus vjus Sextus

[^179] T his[^180] were a wikked way · but who-so hadde a gyde
That wolde folwen vs eche a fote · þus þis folke hem mened
Quatȝ Perkyn þe plouman · bi seynt Peter of Rome
I haue an half acre to erye · bi þe heigh way
Hadde I eried þis half acre · and sowen it after
I wil[^181] wende with ȝow · and þe way teche

[^179: L.6.1: Three dots in brown ink arranged in a triangle appear in the left margin.]

[^180: L.6.1: The ornamental character is six lines high and in blue with red flourishes and three sprays. A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin amidst the flourishes.]

[^181: L.6.6: LCYR read wil while other B witnesses have wolde.]

¶ Þis were a longe lett ynge · quod a lady in a sklayre
What sholde we wommen · worche þere-whiles[^182]

[^182: L.6.8: The lection þere appears only in LMRF; most other B witnesses have þe.]

¶ Somme shal sowe sakke[^183] quod Piers · for shedyng of þe whete
And ȝe louely ladyes · with ȝoure longe fyngres
Þat ȝe han silke and sendal · to sowe whan tyme is
Chesibles for chapelleynes · cherches to honoure

[^183: L.6.9: Sowe sakke appears only in L; most other B witnesses have sowe þe sak.]

¶ Wyues and wydwes · wolle & flex spynneth
Maketh cloth I conseille ȝow · and kenneth so ȝowre douȝtres
Þe nedy and þe naked · nymmeth hede how hij[^184] liggeth
And casteth hem clothes · for so comaundeth treuthe
For I shal lene hem lyflode · but ȝif þe londe faille
Flesshe and bred bothe · to riche and to pore[^185]
As longe as I lyue · for þe lordes loue of heuene

[^184: L.6.15: LM alone have the hij form at this point; most other B manuscripts have some form of þei.]

[^185: L.6.18: A large area in the right margin has been scraped. What was there is not legible.]

¶ And alle manere of men · þat þorw mete and drynke lybbeth
Helpith hym to worche wiȝtliche · þat wynneth ȝowre fode

¶ Bi crist quod a knyȝte þo · he kenneth vs þe best[^186]
Ac on þe teme trewly · tauȝte was I neuere
Ac kenne me quod þe knyȝte · and bi cryst I wil assaye

[^186: L.6.22: A large area in the right margin has been scraped. What was there is not legible.]

¶ Bi seynt Poule quod Perkyn · ȝe profre ȝow so faire
Þat I shal swynke and swete · and sowe for vs bothe
And oþer laboures do for þi loue · al my lyf-tyme
In couenaunt þat þow kepe · holikirke and my-selue
Fro wastoures and fro wykked men · þat þis worlde struyeth

¶ And go hunte hardiliche to hares and to foxes
To bores and to brockes · þat breketh adown myne hegges
And go affaite þe faucones · wilde foules to kille
For suche cometh to my croft · and croppeth my whete

¶ Curteislich þe knyȝte þanne · comsed þise wordes
By my power Pieres quod he · I pliȝte þe my treuthe
To fulfille þis forward · þowȝ I fiȝte sholde
Als longe as I lyue · I shal þe mayntene

¶ Ȝe and ȝit a poynt quod Pieres · I preye ȝow of more
Loke ȝe tene no tenaunt · but treuthe wil assent
And þowgh ȝe mowe amercy hem · late mercy be taxoure
to landlordes
And mekenesse þi mayster · maugre medes chekes
And þowgh pore men profre ȝow · presentis and ȝiftis
Nym it nauȝte an auenture · ȝe mowe it nauȝte deserue
For þow shalt ȝelde it aȝein · at one ȝeres ende
In a ful perillous place · purgatorie it hatte

¶ And mysbede nouȝte þi bonde-men · þe better may þow spede
Þowgh he be þyn vnderlynge here · wel may happe in heuene
Þat he worth worthier sette · and with more blisse
Amice ascende superius
For in charnel atte[^187] chirche · cherles ben yuel to knowe
Or a kniȝte fram a knaue þere · knowe þis in þin herte
And þat þow be trewe of þi tonge · and tales þat þow hatie
But if þei ben of wisdome or of witt · þi werkmen to chaste
Holde with none harlotes · ne here nouȝte her tales
And nameliche atte mete · suche men eschue
For it ben þe deueles disoures · I do þe to vnderstande

[^187: L.6.50: LHmM read atte, "at the," against all other B manuscripts' at. Since Hm routinely writes atte for at, only the agreement of LM is significant.]

¶ I assente bi seynt Iame · seyde þe kniȝte þanne
Forto worche bi þi wordes · þe while my lyf dureth

¶ And I shal apparaille me quod Perkyn · in pilgrimes wise
And wende with ȝow I wil · til we fynde treuthe

¶ And cast on me[^188] my clothes · yclouted and hole
My cokeres and my coffes · for colde of my nailles
And hange myn hoper at myn hals · in stede of a scrippe
A busshel of bredcorne · brynge me þerinne
For I wil sowe it my-self · and sitthenes wil I wende
To pylgrymage as palmers don · pardoun forto haue

[^188: L.6.61: LR alone read me; other B manuscripts omit it.]

¶ Ac who-so helpeth me to erie · or sowen here ar I wende
Shal haue leue bi owre lorde · to lese here in heruest
And make hem mery þere-mydde · maugre who-so bigruccheth it

¶ And alkyn crafty men · þat konne lyuen in treuthe
I shal fynden hem fode · þat feithfulliche libbeth

¶ Saue Iakke þe iogeloure · and Ionet of þe stues
And danyel þe dys playere · and denote þe baude
And frere þe faytoure and folke of his ordre
And Robyn þe Rybaudoure · for his rusty wordes
Treuthe tolde me ones · and bad me tellen[^189] it after
Deleantur de libro viuencium I shulde nouȝte dele with hem
For holicherche is hote of hem · no tythe to take
Quia cum iustis non scribantur
They ben ascaped good auenture · now[^190] god hem amende

[^189: L.6.76: The lection tellen appears only in LR; other B witnesses have telle, permitting elision of the final <e> and a metrical half-line.]

[^190: L.6.80: The lection now appears only in LMRF; most other B witnesses omit it.]

¶ Dame worche whan tyme is · Pieres wyf hiȝte
His douȝter hiȝte do riȝte so · or þi dame shal þe bete
His sone hiȝte suffre þi souereynes · to hauen her wille
Deme hem nouȝte for if þow doste · þow shalt it dere abugge
Late god yworth with al · for so his worde techeth

¶ For now I am olde and hore · and haue of myn owen
To penaunce and to pilgrimage · I wil passe with þise other
For-þi I wil or I wende · do wryte my biqueste
piers testament
In dei nomine amen · I make it my-seluen[^191]
He shal haue my soule · þat best hath yserued it
And fro þe fende it defende · for so I bileue
Til I come to his acountes · as my credo me telleth
To haue a relees and a remissioun · on þat rental I leue

[^191: L.6.89: A sixteenth-century scribe has written piers testament in the right margin. The end of testament has been cropped, perhaps removing -um.]

¶ Þe kirke shal haue my caroigne · and kepe my bones
For of my corne and catel · he craued þe tythe
I payed it hym prestly · for peril of my soule
For-thy is he holden I hope · to haue me in his masse
And mengen in his memorye · amonge alle crystene

¶ My wyf shal haue of þat I wan · with treuthe and nomore
And dele amonge my douȝtres · and my dere children
For þowgh I deye to-daye · my dettes ar quitte
I bare home þat I borwed · ar I to bedde ȝede

¶ And with þe residue and þe remenaunte · bi þe Rode of Lukes
I wil worschip þer-with · treuthe bi my lyue
And ben his pilgryme atte plow · for pore mennes sake
My plow-fote shal be my pyk-staf · and picche atwo þe rotes
And helpe my culter to kerue · and clense þe forwes

¶ Now is perkyn and his pilgrymes · to þe plowe faren
To erie þis halue acre · holpyn hym manye
Dikeres & delueres · digged vp þe balkes
Þere-with was perkyn apayed · and preysed hem faste
Other werkemen þere were · þat wrouȝten ful ȝerne
Eche man in his manere · made hym-self to done
And some to plese perkyn · piked vp þe wedes

¶ At heighe pryme peres · lete þe plowe stonde
To ouersen hem hym-self · and who-so best wrouȝte
He shulde be huyred þer-after · whan heruest tyme come

¶ And þanne seten somme · and songen atte nale
And hulpen erie his half acre · with how trolli lolli

¶ Now bi þe peril of my soule quod Pieres · al in pure tene
But ȝe arise þe rather · and rape ȝow to worche
Shal no greyne þat groweth · glade ȝow at nede
And þough ȝe deye for dole · þe deuel haue þat reccheth

¶ Tho were faitoures aferde · and feyned hem blynde
Somme leyde here legges aliri as suche loseles conneth
And made her mone to pieres · and preyde hym of grace
For we haue no lymes to laboure with · lorde ygraced be ȝe

¶ Ac we preye for ȝow pieres · and for ȝowre plow bothe
Þat god of his grace · ȝowre grayne multiplye
And ȝelde ȝow of ȝowre almesse · þat ȝe ȝiue vs here
For we may nouȝte swynke ne swete · suche sikenesse vs eyleth

¶ If it be soth quod pieres þat ȝe seyne · I shal it sone asspye
Ȝe ben wastoures I wote wel · and treuthe wote þe sothe
And I am his olde hyne · and hiȝte hym to warne
Which þei were in þis worlde · his werkemen appeyred

¶ Ȝe wasten þat men wynnen · with trauaille and with tene
Ac treuthe shal teche ȝow · his teme to dryue
Or ȝe shal ete barly bred · and of þe broke drynke
But if he be blynde and[^192] broke-legged · or bolted with yrnes
He shal ete whete bred · and drynke with my-selue
Tyl god of his goodnesse · amendement hym sende
Ac ȝe myȝte trauaille as treuthe wolde · and take mete & huyre
To kepe kyne in þe felde · þe corne fro þe bestes
Diken or deluen or dyngen vppon sheues
Or helpe make morter · or bere mukke afelde

[^192: L.6.139: L uniquely has and. Other B witnesses have or.]

¶ In lecherye an d[^193] in losengerye · ȝe lyuen and in sleuthe
And al is þorw suffrance · þat venIaunce ȝow ne taketh

[^193: L.6.146: The <d> is inserted in red ink.]

¶ Ac ancres and heremytes · þat eten but at nones
And namore er morwe · myne almesse shul þei haue
And of my[^194] catel to cope hem with · þat han cloistres and cherches
Ac robert renneaboute · shal nouȝte haue of myne
Ne posteles but þey preche conne · and haue powere of þe bisschop
They shal haue payne and potage · and make hem-self at ese
For it is an vnresonable Religioun · þat hath riȝte nouȝte of certeyne

[^194: L.6.150: LMRF alone have And of my; other B manuscripts have either And alone or And of.]

¶ And þanne gan a wastoure to wrath hym · and wolde haue yfouȝte
And to Pieres þe plowman · he profered his gloue
A Brytonere a braggere · abosted a bosted[^195] pieres als
And bad hym go pissen with his plow · for-pyned schrewe
Wiltow or neltow · we wil haue owre wille
Of þi flowre and of þi flessche · fecche whan vs liketh
And make vs myrie þer-myde · maugre þi chekes

[^195: L.6.157: he, "he."]

¶ Thanne Pieres þe plowman · pleyned hym to þe knyȝte
To kepe hym as couenaunte was · fram cursed shrewes
And fro þis wastoures wolueskynnes · þat maketh þe worlde dere
For þo waste and wynnen nouȝte · and þat ilke while
Worth neuere plente amonge þe poeple · þer[^196] while my plow liggeth

[^196: L.6.166: LCM have þer. Most other B witnesses read þe.]

¶ Curteisly þe knyȝte þanne · as his kynde wolde
Warned wastoure · and wissed hym bettere
Or þow shalt abugge by þe lawe · by þe ordre þat I bere

¶ I was nouȝt wont to worche quod wastour · and now wil I nouȝt bigynne
And lete liȝte of þe lawe : and lasse of þe knyȝte
And sette Pieres at a pees · and his plow bothe
And manaced pieres and his men · ȝif þei mette eft-sone

¶ Now by þe peril of my soule quod Pieres · I shal apeyre ȝow alle
And houped after hunger · þat herd hym atte firste
Awreke me of þise wastoures quod he · þat þis worlde schendeth

¶ Hunger in haste þo · hent wastour bi þe mawe
And wronge hym so bi þe wombe · þat bothe his eyen wattered
He buffeted þe Britoner aboute þe chekes
Þat he loked like a lanterne · al his lyf after
He bette hem so bothe · he barste nere here guttes
Ne hadde Pieres with a pese lof · preyed hunger to cesse
They hadde ben doluen bothe · ne deme þow non other
Suffre hem lyue he seyde · and lete hem ete with hogges
Or elles benes and bren · ybaken togideres
Or elles melke and mene ale · þus preyed pieres for hem

¶ Faitoures for fere her-of · flowen in-to bernes
And flapten on with flayles · fram morwe til euen
That hunger was nouȝt so hardy · on hem forto loke
For a potful of peses · þat peres hadde ymaked
An heep of heremites · henten hem spades
And ketten here copes · and courtpies hem made
And wenten as werkemen · with spades and with schoueles
And doluen and dykeden · to dryue aweye hunger

+
¶ Blynde and bedreden · were botened a þousande
Þat seten to seten to [seten to][^197] begge syluer · sone were þei heled
For þat was bake for bayarde · was bote for many hungry
And many a beggere for benes · buxome was to swynke
And eche a pore man wel apayed · to haue pesen for his huyre
And what pieres preyed hem to do · as prest as a sperhauke
And þere-of was peres proude · and put hem to werke
And ȝaf hem mete as he myȝte aforth · and mesurable huyre

[^197: L.6.196: This line has a <+> in the left margin, but the dittographic error was never corrected.]

¶ Þanne hadde peres pite · and preyed hunger to wende
Home in-to his owne erd[^198] · and holden hym þere
For I am wel awroke now · of wastoures þorw þi myȝte
Ac I preye þe ar þow passe · quod Pieres to hunger
Of beggeres and of bidderes · what best be[^199] done
For I wote wel be þow went · þei wil worche ful ille
For myschief it maketh · þei beth so meke nouthe
And for defaute of her fode · þis folke is at my wille
Þey are my blody bretheren quod pieres · for god bouȝte vs alle
Treuthe tauȝte me ones · to louye hem vchone
And to helpen hem of alle þinge · ay as hem nedeth
And now wolde I witen of þe · what were þe best
+
An[^200] how I myȝte amaistrien hem · and make hem to worche

[^198: L.6.204: LR alone have erd, though HmMW have the related spelling yerd. Other B witnesses have erthe (BCC2OY).]

[^199: L.6.207: L uniquely has be, omitting to, though the other B manuscripts vary between be to and is to.]

[^200: L.6.215: The corrector's <+> marks the scribe's An for And.]

¶ Here now quod hunger · and holde it for a wisdome
Bolde beggeres and bigge · þat mowe her bred biswynke
With houndes bred and hors-bred · holde vp her hertis
Abate hem with benes · for bollyng of her wombe
And ȝif þe gomes grucche · bidde hem go swynke
And he shal soupe swettere · whan he it hath deseruid

¶ And if þow fynde any freke · þat fortune hath appeyred
Or any maner fals men · fonde þow suche to cnowe
Conforte hym with þi catel · for crystes loue of heuene
Loue hem and lene hem · so lawe of god techeth
Alter alterius onera portate
And alle maner of men · þat þow myȝte asspye
That nedy ben and nauȝty · helpe hem with þi godis
Loue hem and lakke hem nouȝte · late god take þe venIaunce
Theigh þei done yuel · late þow[^201] god aworthe[^202]
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam ·
And if þow wil[^203] be graciouse to god · do as þe gospel techeth
+
And bilow[^204] þe amonges low men · so shaltow lacche grace
Facite vobis amicos de mamona iniquitatis

[^201: L.6.230: LR alone read þow; other B manuscripts omit it.]

[^202: L.6.230: LMR alone have aworthe. Other B witnesses have yworþe, worthe, or worche.]

[^203: L.6.232: L uniquely has wil; other B manuscripts have wilt.]

[^204: L.6.233: LMR alone have bilow; most other B manuscripts have biloue. The corrector has noted this difference with a marginal <+>.]

¶ I wolde nouȝt greue god quod piers · for al þe good on grounde
Miȝte I synnelees do as þow seist · seyde pieres þanne

¶ Ȝe I bihote þe quod hunger · or ellis þe bible lieth
Go to Genesis þe gyaunt · þe engendroure of vs alle
In sudore and swynke · þow shalt þi mete tilye
And laboure for þi lyflode · and so owre lorde hyȝte
And sapience seyth þe same · I seigh it in þe bible
Piger pro frigore · no felde nolde tilye
And þerfore he shal begge and bidde · and no man bete his hunger

¶ Mathew with mannes face · mouthed þise wordis
a besaunt
Þat seruus nequam had a nam ·[^205] and for he wolde nouȝte chaffare
He had maugre of his maistre · for euermore after
And binam his[^206] Mnam · for he ne wolde worch e
And ȝaf þat Mnam to hym · þat ten Mnames hadde
And with þat he seyde · þat holicherche it herde
He þat hath shal haue · and helpe þere it nedeth
And he þat nouȝt hath shal nouȝt haue · and no man hym helpe
And þat he weneth wel to haue · I wil it hym bireue

[^205: L.6.245: The scribe added a besaunt (besaunt, "coin" or "talent") above the line to gloss nam or mnam , "a Biblical coin." He was, perhaps, drawing attention to the source of the tale, the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. A similar gloss appears in HmMW.]

[^206: L.6.247: L uniquely omits hym before his.]

¶ Kynde witt wolde · þat eche a wyght wrouȝte
Or in dykynge or in deluynge · or trauaillynge in preyeres
Contemplatyf lyf or actyf lyf · cryst wolde men wrouȝte[^207]
Þe sauter seyth in þe psalme · of beati omnes
Þe freke þat fedeth hym-self · with his feythful laboure
He is blessed by þe boke · in body and in soule
Labores manuum tuarum &c ·

[^207: L.6.255: LMRY alone read men wrouȝte; most other B witnesses have þei wroȝte.]

¶ Ȝet I prey ȝow quod pieres · par charite and ȝe kunne
Eny leef of lechecraft · lere it me my dere
For somme of my seruauntz · and my-self bothe
Of al a wyke worche nouȝt · so owre wombe aketh

¶ I wote wel quod hunger · what sykenesse ȝow eyleth
Ȝe han maunged ouer-moche · and þat maketh ȝow grone
X
Ac I hote þe quod hunger · as þow þyne hele wilnest[^208]
Þat þow drynke no day · ar þow dyne somwhat
Ete nouȝte I hote þe · ar hunger þe take
And sende þe of his sauce · to sauoure with þi lippes
And kepe some tyl soper tyme · and sitte nouȝt to longe
Arise[^209] vp ar appetit · haue eten his fulle
Lat nouȝt sire surfait sitten at þi borde
Leue him nouȝt for he is lecherous · and likerous of tonge
And after many manere metes · his maw is afyngred

[^208: L.6.266: A corrector's <X> appears in the right margin which is atypically large and oddly placed, extending two lines in height.]

[^209: L.6.271: LMR alone have Arise; most other B manuscripts have And rys.]

¶ And ȝif þow diete þe þus · I dar legge myne eres
Þat phisik shal his furred hodes · for his fode selle
And his cloke of calabre · with alle þe knappes of golde
And be fayne bi my feith · his phisik to lete
And lerne to laboure with londe · for lyflode is swete
For morthereres aren mony leches · lorde hem amende
Þei do men deye þorw here drynkes · ar destine it wolde

¶ By seynt Poule quod pieres · þise aren profitable wordis
Wende now hunger whan þow wolt · þat wel be þow euere
For þis is a louely lessoun · lorde it þe forȝelde

¶ By-hote god quod hunger · hennes ne wil I wende
Til I haue dyned bi þis day · and ydronke bothe

¶ I haue no peny quod peres · poletes · forto bigge
Ne neyther gees ne grys · but two grene cheses
A fewe cruddes and creem · and an hauer cake
And two loues of benes and bran · ybake for my fauntis
And ȝet I sey by my soule · I haue no salt bacoun
Ne no kokeney bi cryst coloppes forto maken
Ac I haue percil and porettes · and many kole plantes
And eke a cow · and a kalf · and a cart mare
To drawe afelde my donge · þe while þe drought lasteth
And bi þis lyflode we mot lyue · til lammasse tyme
And bi þat I hope to haue · heruest in my croft
And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner · as me dere liketh
Alle þe pore peple þo · pesecoddes fetten
Benes and baken apples · þei brouȝte in her lappes
Chibolles and cheruelles · and ripe chiries manye
And profred peres þis present · to plese with hunger

¶ Al hunger eet in hast · and axed after more
Þanne pore folke for fere · fedde hunger ȝerne
With grene poret and pesen · to poysoun hunger þei þouȝte
By þat it neighed nere heruest · newe corne cam to chepynge
Þanne was folke fayne · and fedde hunger with þe best
With good ale as glotoun tauȝte · and gerte hunger go slepe

¶ And þo wolde wastour nouȝt werche · but wandren aboute
Ne no begger ete bred · þat benes Inne were
But of coket or clerematyn · or elles · of clene whete
Ne none halpeny ale · in none wise drynke
But of þe best and of þe brounest · þat in borgh is to selle
[^210] ¶ Laboreres þat haue no lande · to lyue on but her handes
Deyned nouȝt to dyne a-day · nyȝt-olde wortes
May no peny-ale hem paye · ne no pece of bakoun ·
But if it be fresch flesch other fische · fryed other bake
And þat chaude or plus chaud · for chillyng of here mawe

[^210: L.6.314: The scribe's paraph indicator in the left margin was not executed by the rubricating scribe, probably because the original scribe failed to skip a line.]

¶ And but if he be hieghlich huyred · ellis wil he chyde
And þat he was werkman wrouȝt · waille þe tyme
Aȝeines catones conseille · comseth he to iangle
Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento

¶ He greueth hym aȝeines god · and gruccheth aȝeines resoun
And þanne curseth he þe kynge · and al his conseille after
Suche lawes to loke · laboreres to greue
Ac whiles hunger was her maister · þere wolde none of hem chyde
Ne stryue aȝeines his statut · so sterneliche he loked[^211]

[^211: L.6.327: A later hand put a bracket in the right margin which extends to include the next line. The ink is darker than the text.]

¶ Ac I warne ȝow werkemen · wynneth while ȝe mowe[^212]
For hunger hideward · hasteth hym faste
He shal awake with water · wastoures to chaste
Ar fyue be fulfilled · suche famyn shal aryse
Thorwgh flodes and þourgh foule wederes · frutes shul faille
And so sayde saturne · and sent ȝow to warne
Whan ȝe se þe sonne amys · and two monkes hedes
And a Mayde haue þe maistrie · and multiplied[^213] bi eight
Þanne shal deth withdrawe · and derthe be iustice
And dawe þe dyker · deye for hunger
But if god of his goodnesse · graunt vs a trewe

[^212: L.6.328: A later hand has bracketed this verse paragraph and added a nota in the form of a pointing hand. The bracket includes all but the first and last lines of the line group. The ink is lighter than text ink and of a finer pen stroke with three cross hatches and a final loop.]

[^213: L.6.335: LMRF alone have the preterite form. All other B manuscripts have multiplie.]

Passus vijus septimus

T reuthe[^214] herde telle her-of · and to peres he sent
To taken his teme and tulyen þe erthe
And purchaced hym a pardoun · a pena & a culpa
For hym and for his heires · for euermore after
And bad hym holde hym at home · and eryen his leyes
And alle þat halpe hym to erie · to sette or to sowe
Or any other myster · þat myȝte pieres auaille ·
Pardoun with pieres plowman · treuthe hath ygraunted
[^215] ¶ Kynges and knyȝtes · þat kepen holycherche
And ryȝtfullych in reumes · reulen þe peple
Han pardoun thourgh purgatorie · to passe ful lyȝtly
With patriarkes and prophetes · in paradise to be felawes

[^214: L.7.1: The ornamental capital is five lines high in blue ink on red with two sprays. A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin.]

[^215: L.7.9: The rubricating scribe may have overlooked the paragraph indicator in the left margin because the original scribe failed to skip a line.]

¶ Bisshopes yblessed · ȝif þei ben as þei shulden
Legistres of bothe þe lawes · þe lewed þere-with to preche
And in as moche as þei mowe · amende alle synful
[^216] Aren peres with þe apostles · þus[^217] pardoun Piers sheweth
And at þe day of dome · atte heigh deyse to sytte

[^216: L.7.16: There is perhaps the remainder of a scraped gloss in the left margin.]

[^217: L.7.16: LMRF read þus; most other beta witnesses have þis.]

¶ Marchauntz in þe margyne · hadden many ȝeres
Ac none a pena & a culpa · þe Pope nolde hem graunte
For þei holde nouȝt her halidayes · as holicherche techeth
And for þei swere by her soule · and so god moste hem helpe
Aȝein clene conscience · her catel to selle

[^218] ¶ Ac vnder his secret seel · treuthe sent hem a lettre
That þey shulde bugge boldely · þat hem best liked
And sithenes selle it aȝein · and saue þe wynnyge wynny[n]ge
And amende mesondieux þere-myde · and myseyse folke helpe
And wikked wayes · wiȝtlich hem amende
And do bote to brugges þat to-broke were
Marien maydenes · or maken hem nonnes
Pore peple and prisounes · fynden hem here fode
And sette scoleres to scole · or to somme other craftes
Releue Religioun · and renten hem bettere
And I shal sende ȝow my-selue · seynt Michel myn archangel
Þat no deuel shal ȝow dere · ne fere ȝow in ȝowre deying
And witen ȝow fro wanhope · if ȝe wil þus worche
And sende ȝowre sowles in safte · to my seyntes in ioye

[^218: L.7.23-27: A bracket in the left margin extends five lines and is scored twice horizontally.]

¶ Þanne were Marchauntz mery · many wepten for ioye
And preyseden Pieres þe plowman · þat purchaced þis bulle

[^219] Men of lawe lest pardoun hadde þat pleteden for Mede
For þe sauter saueth hem nouȝte · such as taketh ȝiftes
And namelich of innocentz þat none yuel ne kunneth
Super innocentem munera non accipies
Pledoures shulde peynen hem · to plede for such an helpe
Prynces and prelates · shulde paye for her trauaille
A regibus & pryncipibus erit merces eorum

[^219: L.7.39: Though the scribe left a blank line, usually indicative of a strophe division, there is no parasign.]

¶ Ac many a iustice an iuroure · wolde for Iohan do more
Þan pro dei pietate · leue þow none other
Ac he þat spendeth his speche and spekeþ for þe pore
Þat is Innocent and nedy · and no man appeireth
Conforteth hym in þat cas · with-oute coueytise of ȝiftes
And scheweth lawe for owre lordes loue · as he it hath lerned
Shal no deuel at his ded-day[^220] · deren hym a myte
Þat he ne worth sauf and his sowle · þe sauter bereth witnesse
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo &c ·

[^220: L.7.52: LCGR alone read ded-; most other B manuscripts have deeþ. The same variants appear in L.7.127.]

¶ Ac to bugge water ne wynde · ne witte ne fyre þe fierthe
Þise foure þe fader of heuene · made to þis folde in comune
Þise ben treuthes tresores · trewe folke to helpe
Þat neuere shal wax ne wanye · with-oute god hym-selue

¶ Whan þei drawen on to deye[^221] · and Indulgences wolde haue
Her pardoun is ful petit · at her partyng hennes
Þat any Mede of mene men for her motyng taketh
Ȝe legistres and lawyeres · holdeth þis for treuthe
Þat ȝif þat I lye · Mathew is to blame
For he bad me make ȝow þis · and þis prou erbe me tolde
Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines · facite eis

[^221: L.7.59: LW alone read to deye; most other B manuscripts have to þe deþ. The confusion of <þ> and <y> in both L and W is probably coincidental, since both were copied well outside the regions in which the graphs are confused. See Michael Benskin, "The letters <þ> and <y> in later Middle English, and some related matters," Journal of the Society of Archivists 7 (1982-1985): 13-30.]

¶ Alle lybbyng laboreres · þat lyuen with her hondes
Þat trewlich taken · and trewlich wynnen
And lyuen in loue and in lawe · for her lowe hertis
Haueth þe same absolucioun · þat sent was to peres

¶ Beggeres ne bidderes · ne beth nouȝte in þe bulle
But if þe suggestioun be soth · þat shapeth hem to begge
For he þat beggeth or bit · but if he haue nede
He is fals with þe fende · and defraudeth þe nedy
And also he bigileth þe gyuer ageines his wil
For if he wist he were nouȝte nedy · he wolde ȝiue þat an other
Þat were more nedy þan he · so þe nediest shuld be hulpe
Catoun kenneth men þus · and þe clerke of þe[^222] stories
Cui des videto · is catounes techyng
And in þe stories he techeth · to bistowe þyn almes
X
Sit elemosina[^223] in manu tua donec studes cui des

[^222: L.7.77: LMRF alone have þe before stories; all other B manuscripts omit it.]

[^223: L.7.80: An added <X> in the left margin is partially scraped. The omitted tua after elemosina was never added; note that it is absent from alpha and M as well.]

¶ Ac Gregori was a gode man · and bad vs gyuen alle
Þat asketh for his loue · þat vs alle leneth
Non eligas cui miserearis · ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere
Quia incertum est pro quo deum magis placeas

¶ For wite ȝe neuere who is worthi · ac god wote who hath nede
In hym þat taketh is þe treccherye · if any tresoun walke[^224]
For he þat ȝiueth ȝeldeth · and ȝarketh hym to reste
And he þat biddeth borweth · and bryngeth hym-self in dette
For beggeres borwen euermo · and her borgh is god almyȝti
To ȝelden hem þat ȝiueth hem · and ȝet vsure more
X
Quare non dedisti peccuniam meam ad mensam vt ego veniens cum vsuris exigerem ·[^225]

[^224: L.7.86: Skeat and Kane-Donaldson read wawe, which is possible, but the upright character of the <l> suggests that walke is the intended reading.]

[^225: L.7.91: LCr alone read exigerem ; most B manuscripts have exigissem . This may be the reason for an unusually large <X> in the left margin here.]

¶ For-þi biddeth nouȝt ȝe beggeres · but if ȝe haue gret nede
For who-so hath to buggen hym bred · þe boke bereth witnesse
He hath ynough þat hath bred ynough · þough he haue nouȝt elles
Satis diues est qui non indiget pane

¶ Late vsage be ȝowre[^226] solace · of seyntes lyues redyng
Þe boke banneth beggarie · and blameth hem in þis manere
Iunior fui etenim senui · et non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius &c

[^226: L.7.96: The characters <be ȝo> are obscured by a large drop mark left on the leaf.]

¶ For ȝe lyue in no loue · ne no lawe holde
Many of ȝow ne wedde nouȝt · þe wommen þat ȝe with delen
But as wilde bestis with wehe · worthen vppe and worchen
And bryngeth forth barnes · þat bastardes men calleth
Or þe bakke or some bone · he breketh in his ȝouthe
+
A[^227] sitthe gon faiten with ȝoure fauntes · for euermore after
Þere is moo mysshape peple · amonge þise beggeres
Þan of alle maner men · þat on þis molde walketh
And þei þat lyue þus here lyf · mowe lothe þe tyme
Þat euere he was man wrouȝt · whan he shal hennes fare

[^227: L.7.104: L alone reads A for "And." The corrector noted this with a <+> in the left margin both here and at L.8.53.]

¶ Ac olde men & hore · þat helplees ben of strengthe
[^228] And women with childe · þat worche ne mowe
Blynde and bedered · and broken her membres
Þat taketh þis myschief[^229] mekelych · as meseles and othere
Han as pleyne pardoun as þe plowman hym-self
For loue of her lowe hertis · owre lorde hath hem graunted
Here penaunce and here purgatorie · here on þis erthe

[^228: L.7.110-126: A bracket in the left margin links the lines from here to the bottom of the leaf in gray ink.]

[^229: L.7.112: LMR alone have the singular þis myschief; most other B manuscripts read þise myschiefs.]

¶ Pieres quod a prest þo · þi pardoun most I rede
For I wil construe eche clause · and kenne it þe on englich

¶ And pieres at his preyere · þe pardoun vnfoldeth
And I bihynde hem bothe · bihelde al þe bulle
Al in two lynes it lay · and nouȝt a leef more
And was writen riȝt þus · in witnesse of treuthe
Indulgencia petri
Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam
Qui vero mala in ignem eternum ·

¶ Peter quod þe prest þo · I can no pardoun fynde
But dowel and haue wel · and god shal haue þi sowle
And do yuel and haue yuel · hope þow non other
X
Þat[^230] after þi ded-day[^231] · þe deuel shal haue þi sowle

[^230: L.7.127: LMRF alone read Þat; most other B manuscripts have But. A drypoint <X> appears in the left margin.]

[^231: L.7.127: LCGY alone read ded-; most other B manuscripts have deeþ-. The same variants appear in L.7.52.]

¶ And pieres for pure tene · pulled it atweyne
And seyde si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis · non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es

¶ I shal cessen of my sowyng quod pieres · and swynk nouȝt so harde
Ne about my bely-ioye · so bisi be namore
Of preyers[^232] and of penaunce · my plow shal ben her-after
And wepen whan I shulde slepe · þough whete bred me faille

[^232: L.7.132: The second <r> of preyers was inserted after initial copying, probably by a later hand.]

X
¶ Þe prophete his payn ete · in penaunce and in sorwe[^233]
By þat þe sauter seith · so dede other manye
Þat loueth god lelly · his lyflode is ful esy
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee · panes die ac nocte

[^233: L.7.134: A large <X> appears in the left margin; the reason is not apparent.]

¶ And but if Luke lye · he lereth vs bi foules
We shulde nouȝt be to bisy · aboute þe worldes blisse
Ne solliciti sitis · he seyth in þe gospel
And sheweth vs bi ensamples · vs-selue to wisse
Þe foules on[^234] þe felde · who fynt hem mete at wynter
Haue þei no gernere · to go to  but god fynt hem alle

[^234: L.7.142: LM alone read on; most other B manuscripts have in.]

¶ What quod þe prest to perkyn · peter as me þinketh
Þow art lettred a litel · who lerned þe on boke

¶ Abstinence þe abbesse quod pieres · myne abc · me tauȝte
And conscience come afterward · and kenned me moche more

¶ Were þow a prest pieres quod he · þow miȝte preche where þow sholdest
As deuynour in deuynyte · with dixit insipiens to þi teme

¶ Lewed lorel quod Pieres · litel lokestow on þe bible
On salomones sawes · selden þow biholdest
Ecce derisores et iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c

¶ Þe prest and perkyn · apposeden eyther other
And I þorw here wordes awoke · and waited aboute
And seighe þe sonne in þe south sitte þat tyme
Metelees and monelees · on Maluerne hulles
Musyng on þis meteles · and my waye ich ȝede
Many tyme þis meteles · hath maked me to studye
Of þat I seigh slepyng · if it so be myȝte
And also for peres þe plowman · ful pensyf in herte
And which a pardoun peres hadde · alle þe peple to conforte
And how þe prest impugned it with two propre wordes
Ac I haue no sauoure in songewarie · for I se it ofte faille
Catoun and canonistres · conseilleth vs to leue
To sette sadnesse in songewarie · for sompnia ne cures

¶ Ac for þe boke bible  bereth witnesse
How danyel deuyned · þe dremes of a kynge
Þat was nabugodonosor · nempned of clerkis
Daniel seyde sire Kynge · þi dremeles bitokneth
Þat vnkouth knyȝtes shul come · þi kyngdom to cleue[^235]
Amonges lowere lordes · þi londe shal be departed
And as danyel deuyned in dede it felle after
Þe kynge lese his lordship · and lower men it hadde

[^235: L.7.170-171: A corrector's dry point cross appears in the left margin and perhaps reflects his exemplar's reading cleyme in place of LC2GMO's cleue.]

¶ And ioseph mette merueillously · how þe mone and þe sonne
And þe elleuene sterres · hailsed hym alle
Þanne Iacob iugged · iosephes sweuene
Beau filtz quod his fader · for defaute we shullen
I my-self and my sones · seche þe for nede

¶ It bifel as his fader seyde · in pharaoes tyme
Þat ioseph was iustice · egipte to loken
It bifel as his fader tolde · his frendes þere hym souȝte
And al þis maketh me · on þis meteles to þynke

¶ And how þe prest preued · no pardoun to dowel
And demed þat dowel · indulgences passed
Dowell passith the pardon of petres churche
Biennales and triennales · and bisschopes lettres
And how dowel at þe day of dome · is dignelich vnderfongen
And passeth al þe pardoun · of seynt petres cherche

¶ Now hath þe pope powere · pardoun to graunte þe peple
With-outen eny penaunce · to passen in-to heuene
Þis is owre bileue · as lettered men vs techeth
Quodcumque ligaueris super terram · erit ligatum et in celis &c ·
And so I leue lelly · lordes forbode ellis
Þat pardoun and penaunce · and preyeres don saue
Soules þat haue synned · seuene sithes dedly
Ac to trust to þise triennales · trewly me þinketh
Is nouȝt so syker for þe soule · certis as is dowel

X
¶[^236] For-þi I rede ȝow renkes · þat riche ben on þis erthe
Vppon trust of ȝowre tresoure · triennales to haue
Be ȝe neuere þe balder · to breke þe x ten hestes
And namelich ȝe maistres · mayres and iugges
Þat han þe welthe of þis worlde · and for wyse men ben holden
To purchace ȝow pardoun · and þe popis bulles
At þe dredeful dome · whan ded shullen rise
And comen alle bifor cryst · acountis to ȝelde
How þow laddest þi lyf here · and his lawes keptest
a poke full of pardon
And how þow dedest day bi day · þe dome wil reherce[^237]
A poke ful of pardoun þere · ne prouinciales lettres
Theigh ȝe be founde in þe fraternete · of alle þe foure ordres
And haue indulgences double-folde · but if dowel ȝow help
I sette ȝowre patentes and ȝowre pardoun z[^238] at one pies hele

[^236: L.7.197: A dry point <X> appears in the left margin.]

[^237: L.7.206: The same hand as that in the margins of L.7.185 has written in the right margin: a poke full of pardon.]

[^238: L.7.210: LCr alone read pardounz; other B manuscripts have pardon.]

¶ For-þi I conseille alle cristene · to crye god mercy
And Marie his moder · be owre mene bitwene
Þat god gyue vs grace here · ar we gone hennes
Suche werkes to werche · while we ben here
Þat after owre deth-day · dowel reherce
At þe day of dome · we dede as he hiȝte

Passus octauus de visione & primus de dowel

+
T hus[^239] yrobed in russet · I rowmed aboute[^240]
Al a somer sesoun · for to seke dowel
And frayned ful oft · of folke þat I mette
If ani wiȝte wiste · where dowel was at Inne
And what man he miȝte be · of many man I axed

[^239: L.8.1: The ornamental capital is eight lines high and done in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <t> is just visible in the ornamentation to the left of the capital.]

[^240: L.8.1: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin, but no error is apparent.]

¶ Was neuere wiȝte as I went · þat me wisse couthe
Where þis lede lenged · lasse ne more

¶ Tyl it bifel on a fryday · two freres I mette
Maistres of þe Menoures · men of grete witte
I hailsed hem hendely as I hadde lerned
And preyed hem par charitee · ar þei passed forther
+
If[^241] þei knewe any contre · or costes as þei went
Where þat dowel dwelleth · doth me to wytene

[^241: L.8.12: The second letter of If appears to have been added later, probably in response to the corrector's <+> appearing in the left margin.]

¶ For þei ben men on þis molde · þat moste wyde walken
And knowen contrees · and courtes · and many kynnes places
Bothe prynces paleyses · and pore mennes cotes
And dowel and doyuel · where þei dwelle bothe

¶ Amonges vs quod þe Menours · þat man is dwellyng
And euere hath as I hope · and euere shal here -after

¶ Contra quod I as a clerke · and comsed to disputen
And seide sothli[^242] sepcies · in die cadit iustus
Seuene sythes seith þe boke · synneth þe riȝtful .
And who-so synneth I seyde · doth yuel as me þinketh
And dowel and do yuel · mow nouȝt dwelle togideres
Ergo he nys nauȝt alway · amonge ȝow freres
He is otherwhile ellis-where · to wisse þe peple

[^242: L.8.21: LM alone among B manuscripts read And seide sothli. Most other B manuscripts insert hem after seide or eliminate the English introduction to the Latin quotation. However, LM's reading is matched by most C manuscripts.]

¶ I shal sey þe my sone · seide þe frere þanne
How seuene sithes þe sadman sad man · on þe[^243] day synneth
By a forbisene quod þe frere · I shal þe faire shewe

[^243: L.8.28: LMR alone have þe. Most other B manuscripts have a.]

¶ Lat brynge a man in a bote · amydde a[^244] brode water
Þe wynde and þe water · and þe bote waggynge
Maketh þe man many a tyme · to falle and to stonde
For stonde he neuere so styf · he stombleth ȝif he moeue
Ac ȝit is he sauf and sounde · and so hym bihoueth
For ȝif he ne arise þe rather · and rauȝte to þe stiere
Þe wynde wolde wyth þe water · þe bote ouerthrowe
And þanne were his lyf loste · þourgh lacchesse of hym-self

[^244: L.8.30: LR alone have a. Other B manuscripts have þe.]

¶ And þus it falleth quod þe frere · bi folke here on erthe
Þe water is likned to þe worlde · þat wanyeth and wexeth
Þe godis of þis grounde aren like · to þe grete wawes
Þat as wyndes and wederes · walweth[^245] aboute
Þe bote is likned to owre body · þat brutel is of kynde
+
Þat þorugh þe fende and þi[^246] flessh · and þe frele worlde
Synneth þe sadman · a day seuene sythes

[^245: L.8.41: LM alone have walweth. Other B manuscripts have walkeþ.]

[^246: L.8.43: LR alone have þi, which explains the corrector's <+> in the left margin. Most other B manuscripts have þe.]

¶ Ac dedly synne doth he nouȝt · for dowel hym kepith
And þat is charite þe champioun · chief help aȝein synne
For he strengtheth man to stonde · and stereth mannes soule
And þowgh þi body bow · as bote doth in þe water
Ay is þi soule sauf · but[^247] þi-self wole
Do a dedly synne · and drenche so þi soule
God wole suffre wel þi sleuthe · ȝif þi-self lyketh
For he ȝaf þe to ȝeresȝyue · to ȝeme wel þi-selue
+
And þat is witte a[^248] fre wille · to euery wyȝte a porcioun
To fleghyng foules · to fissches & to bestes
+
Ac man hath moste þerof · and moste is to blame[^249]
But if he worche wel þer-with · as dowel hym techeth

[^247: L.8.49: LMR alone have but. Other B manuscripts have but if.]

[^248: L.8.53: The corrector has noted the scribe's a for and with a <+> in the left margin both here and at L.7.104. The same form appears at this point in M as well.]

[^249: L.8.55: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin. His exemplar may have had initial And as do CC2CrG; all other beta family manuscripts agree in reading Ac.]

¶ I haue no kynde knowyng quod I · to conceyue alle ȝowre wordes
Ac if I may lyue and loke · I shal go lerne bettere
I bikenne þe cryst · þat on þe crosse deyde
And I seyde þe same · saue ȝow fro myschaunce
And ȝiue ȝow grace on þis grounde · good men to worthe

¶ And þus I went wide-where walkyng myne one
By a wilde wildernesse · and bi a wode-syde
Blisse of þo[^250] briddes · brouȝte me aslepe
And vnder a lynde vppon a launde · lened I a stounde
To lythe þe layes · þo louely foules made
+
Murthe of her mouthes · made me[^251] þere to slepe
Þe merueillousest meteles · mette me þanne
+
Þat euer dremed dremed [dremed][^252] wyȝte · in worlde as I wene

[^250: L.8.64: LHmR alone read þo; other B manuscripts have þe.]

[^251: L.8.67: The supralinear addition of me is by a later hand. A <+> in the left margin notes the omission.]

[^252: L.8.69: This line has a <+> in the left margin, but the dittographic error was never corrected.]

¶ A moche man as me þouȝte · and lyke to my-selue
Come and called me · by my kynde name
What artow quod I þo · þat þow my name knowest
Þat þow wost wel quod he · and no wyȝte bettere

¶ Wote I what þow art  þought · seyde he þanne
I haue suwed þe þis seuene ȝere · sey þow me no rather

¶ Art þow thought quod I þo · þow couthest me wisse
Where þat dowel dwelleth · and do me þat to knowe

¶ Dowel and dobet · and dobest þe thridde quod he
Aren three faire vertues · and beth nauȝte fer to fynde
Who-so is trewe of his tonge · and of his two handes
And þorugh his laboure or þorugh his londe · his lyflode wynneth
And is trusti of his tailende · taketh but his owne
And is nouȝt dronkenlew ne dedeignous · dowel hym folweth

¶ Dobet doth ryȝt þus · ac he doth moche more
He is as low as a lombe · and loueliche of speche
And helpeth alle men · after þat hem nedeth
Þe bagges and þe bigurdeles · he hath to-broken[^253] hem alle
Þat þe Erl auarous · helde and his heires
And þus with Mammonaes mone · he hath made hym frendes
And is ronne in-to[^254] Religioun · and hath rendred þe bible
And precheth to þe poeple · seynt Poules wordes
Libenter suffertis insipientes · cum sitis ipsi sapientes
And suffreth þe vnwise · with ȝow forto libbe
And with gladde wille doth hem gode · for so god ȝow hoteth

[^253: L.8.87: LCr1MR alone read to-broken; most other B manuscripts have tobroke, uncovering the final <-e> and enabling the elision that makes the b-verse metrical.]

[^254: L.8.90: LMRF alone have in-to. Other B witnesses have to.]

¶ Dobest is aboue bothe · and bereth a bisschopes crosse
Is hoked on þat one ende · to halie men fro helle
A pyke is on þat potente · to pulte adown þe wikked
Þat wayten any wikkednesse · dowel to tene
And dowel and dobet amonges hem ordeigned
To croune one to be kynge to reule[^255] hem bothe
Þat ȝif dowel or dobet did aȝein dobest
Þanne shal þe kynge come · and casten hem in yrens
And but if dobest bede for hem · þei to be þere for euere

[^255: L.8.100: LCr alone have reule. Other B manuscripts have rulen, covering the -e and thus assuring a metrically regular b-verse.]

¶ Thus dowel and dobet · and dobest þe thridde
Crouned one to be kynge · to kepin hem alle
And to reule þe Reume · bi her thre wittes
And none other wise · but as þei thre assented

¶ I thonked thouȝt þo · þat he me þus tauȝte
Ac ȝete sauoureth me nouȝt þi seggyng · I coueite to lerne
How dowel dobet and dobest · don amonges þe peple

¶ But witte conne wisse þe quod þouȝt · where þo thre dwelle
Ellis wote I none þat can · þat now is alyue

¶ Þouȝte and I thus · thre days we ȝeden
Disputyng vppon dowel · day after other
And ar we were ywar · with witte gan we mete
He was longe and lene · liche to none other
Was no pruyde on his apparaille · ne pouerte noyther
Sadde of his semblaunt · and of soft chiere
I dorste meue no matere · to make hym to iangle
But as I bad þouȝt þo · be mene bitwene
And put forth somme purpos · to prouen his wittes
What was dowel · fro dobet · and dobest fram hem bothe

¶ Þanne þouȝt in þat tyme seide þise wordes
Where dowel dobet[^256] and dobest ben in londe
Here is wille wolde ywyte[^257] · ȝif witte couthe teche hym
+
And whether he be man · or man[^258] · þis man fayne wolde aspye
And worchen as þei thre wolde · þis is his entente ·

[^256: L.8.124: The initial <d> of dobet is re-inked.]

[^257: L.8.125: LMR alone have ywyte. Other B manuscripts have wite.]

[^258: L.8.126: L alone reads man. Most other B witnesses have womman, though BCR have no man. The corrector's <+> in the left margin may be for a correction here, or may refer to a mistake subsequently corrected, since wolde later in this line is written over an erasure.]

Passus nonus

S ire[^259] dowel dwelleth quod witte · nouȝt a day hennes
In a castel þat kynde made · of foure kynnes þinges
Of erthe and eyre is it made · medled togideres
With wynde and with water · witterly enioyned
Kynde hath closed þere-Inne · craftily with-alle
A lemman þat he loueth · like to hym-selue
Anima she hatte · ac enuye hir hateth
A proude pryker of Fraunce · prynceps huius mundi
And wolde winne hir awey · with wyles and he myȝte

[^259: L.9.1: The ornamental capital of seven lines height is done in blue ink with red flourishes.]

¶ Ac kynde knoweth þis wel · and kepeth hir þe bettere
And hath do hir with sire dowel · is duke of þis marches
Dobet is hir damoisele · sire doweles douȝter
To serue þis lady lelly · bothe late and rathe
Dobest is aboue bothe · a bisschopes pere
Þat he bit mote be do · he reuleth hem alle
Anima þat lady · is ladde bi his lerynge

¶ Ac þe constable of þat castel · þat kepeth al þe wacche
Is a wys kniȝte with-al · sire Inwitte he hatte
And hath fyue feyre sones · bi his first wyf
Sire sewel and saywel · and herewel þe hende
Sire worche wel wyth þine hande · a wiȝte man of strengthe
And sire godfrey gowel · gret lordes for-sothe
Þise fyue ben sette · to saue þis lady anima
Tyl kynde come or sende to saue hir for euere

¶ What kynnes thyng is kynde quod I · canstow me telle

¶ Kynde quod witte is a creatour · of alle kynnes þinges
Fader and fourmour · of al þat euere was maked
And þat is þe gret god þat gynnynge had neuere
Lorde of lyf and of lyȝte · of lysse and of peyne
Angeles and al þing aren at his wille
Ac man is hym moste lyke · of marke and of schafte
For þorugh þe worde þat he spake · wexen forth bestes
Dixit & facta sunt

id est adam
¶ And made man[^260] likkest · to hym-self one
And Eue of his ribbe-bon · with-outen eny mene
For he was synguler hym-self · and seyde faciamus
As who seith more mote here-to · þan my worde one
My myȝte mote helpe · now with my speche
Riȝte as a lorde sholde make lettres · and hym lakked parchemyn
Þough he couth write neuere so wel · ȝif he had no penne
Þe lettre for al þe lordship · I leue were neuere ymaked

[^260: L.9.34: The gloss id est adam appears above the line, inserted by a contemporary hand. The same gloss appears in M.]

¶ And so it semeth · bi hym  as þe bible telleth
Þere he seyde dixit · & facta sunt
He moste worche with his worde · and his witte shewe
And in þis manere was man made · þorugh myȝte of god almiȝti
With his worde and werkemanschip · and with lyf to laste
And þus god gaf hym a goost · of þe godhed of heuene
And of his grete grace graunted hym blisse
And þat is lyf þat ay shal last · to al lynage after
And þat is þe castel þat kynde made · caro it hatte
And is as moche to mene · as man with a soule
And þat he wrouȝt with werke · and with worde bothe
Þorugh myȝte of þe maieste · man was ymaked

¶ Inwit and alle wittes closed ben þer-inne
For loue of þe lady anima · þat lyf is ynempned
Ouer-al in mannes body · he[^261] walketh and wandreth
Ac in þe herte is hir home · and hir moste reste
Ac Inwitte is in þe hed · and to the herte he loketh
What anima is lief or loth · he lat hir at his wille
For after þe grace of god · þe grettest is Inwitte

[^261: L.9.56: he, "she."]

¶ Moche wo worth þat man · þat mys-reuleth his Inwitte
And þat be glotouns globbares · her god is her wombe
Quorum deus venter est
For þei seruen sathan · her soule[^262] shal he haue
Þat liueth synful lyf here · her soule is liche þe deuel
And alle þat lyuen good lyf · aren like god[^263] almiȝti
Qui manet in caritate in deo manet &c

[^262: L.9.64: LMR alone read soule; other B manuscripts have soules.]

[^263: L.9.66: LR alone omit to before god.]

¶ Allas þat drynke shal for-do · þat god dere bouȝte
And doth god forsaken hem · þat he shope to his liknesse
Amen dico vobis nescio vos · & alibi et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum

X how bishops shoulen besten their gudes
[^264] ¶ Foles þat fauten Inwitte · I fynde þat holicherche
X
Shulde fynden hem þat hem fauted · and faderelees children[^265]
And wydwes þat han nouȝte wher-with · to wynnen hem her fode
Madde men and maydenes · þat helplees were
Alle þise lakken Inwitte · and lore bihoueth

[^264: L.9.71-75: This line group is bracketed in the left margin with the following gloss written in a s. xvi hand: how bishops shoulen besten their gudes . A large <X> also appears to the left of the line group.]

[^265: L.9.72: An <X> marking two lines appears in the right margin.]

¶ Of þis matere I myȝte · make a longe tale
And fynde fele witnesses · amonges þe foure doctours
And þat I lye nouȝt of þat I lere þe · luke bereth witnesse

¶ Godfader and godmoder · þat sen her godchildren
At myseise and at mischief · and mowe hem amende
Shal haue penaunce in purgatorie · but ȝif þei hem helpe
For more bilongeth to þe litel barne · ar he þe lawe knowe
Þan nempnyng of a name · and he neuere þe wiser
Shulde no crystene creature · crien atte ȝate
Ne faille payn ne potage · and prelates did as þei shulden
A Iuwe wolde nouȝte se a Iuwe · go iangelyng for defaute
For alle þe moebles on þis molde · and he amende it miȝte

¶ Allas þat a crestene creature · shal be vnkynde til an other
Sitthen Iuwes þat we iugge · Iudas felawes
Ayther of hem helpeth other · of þat þat hym nedeth
Whi nel we cristene · of cristes good be as kynde
As Iuwes þat ben owre lores-men · shame to vs alle
Þe comune for her vnkyndenesse · I drede me shul abye

¶ Bisschopes shul be blamed · for beggeres sake
He is worse þan Iudas · þat ȝiueth a iaper siluer
And biddeth þe begger go · for his broke clothes
Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda · qui patrimonium cristi minus distribuit // & alibi
Perniciosus dispensator est · qui res pauperum cristi inutiliter consumit
He doth nouȝt wel þat doth þus · ne drat nouȝt god almiȝty
Ne loueth nouȝt salamones sawes · þat sapience tauȝte
Inicium sapiencie timor domini ·

¶ Þat dredeth god he doth wel · þat dredeth hym for loue
And nouȝt for drede of veniaunce · doth þer-fore þe bettere
He doth best þat with-draweth hym · by day and bi nyȝte
To spille any speche or any space of tyme
+
Qui offendit in verbo[^266] in omnibus est reus

[^266: L.9.106: LR alone have verbo , which explains the corrector's marginal <+>. Most other B manuscripts have vno , and F has vno verbo .]

¶ Lesyng of tyme · treuthe wote þe sothe
Is moste yhated vp[^267] erthe · of hem þat beth in heuene
And sitthe to spille speche · þat spyre is of grace
And goddes gleman · and a game of heuene
Wolde neuere þe faithful fader · his fithel were vntempred
Ne his gleman a gedelyng · a goer to tauernes

[^267: L.9.108: LCMR alone have vp. Most other B manuscripts have vpon, though on is a later addition in M.]

¶ To alle trew tidy men · þat trauaille desyren
Owre lorde loueth hem and lent · loude other stille
Grace to go to hem · and agon her lyflode
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono

¶ Trewe wedded libbing folk · in þis worlde is dowel
For þei mote worche & wynne · and þe worlde susteyne
For of her kynde þei come · þat confessoures ben nempned
Kynges and kniȝtes · kayseres and cherles
Maydenes and martires · out of o man come
Þe wyf was made þe weye · for to help worche
And þus was wedloke ywrouȝt · with a mene persone
First bi þe faderes wille · and þe frendes conseille
And sytthenes bi assent of hem -self · as þei two myȝte acorde
And thus was wedloke ywrouȝte · and god hym-self it made
In erthe þe heuene is · hym-self was þe witnesse

¶ Ac fals folke faithlees · theues and lieres
Wastoures and wrecches · out of wedloke I trowe
Conceyued ben in yuel tyme · as caym was on Eue
Of such synful shrewes · þe sauter maketh mynde
Concepit in dolore et peperit iniquitatem &c
And alle þat come of þat caym come to yuel ende[^268]
For god sent to seem · and seyde bi an angel
Þyne issue in þyne issue · I wil þat þei be wedded
And nouȝt þi kynde with caymes · ycoupled ne yspoused

[^268: L.9.133: The last two words may possibly have been added by a later hand.]

¶ Ȝet some aȝein þe sonde of owre saueoure of heuene
Caymes kynde & his kynde · coupled togideres
Tyl god wratthed for her werkis · and suche a worde seyde
Þat I maked man · now it me athynketh
Penitet me fecisse hominem

¶ And come to Noe anon · and bad hym nouȝt lette
Swithe go shape a shippe · of shides and of bordes
Þiself and þi sones three · and sithen ȝowre wyues
Buske ȝow to þat bote · and bideth ȝe þer-inne
Tyl fourty dayes be fulfilde · þat flode haue ywasshen
Clene awey þe cursed blode · þat caym hath ymaked

¶ Bestes þat now ben · shulle banne þe tyme
Þat euere þat cursed caym · come on þis erthe
Alle shal deye for his dedes · bi dales and bi hulles
And þe foules þat fleeghen · for for[th][^269] with other bestes
Excepte oneliche of eche kynde a couple
Þat in þi shyngled shippe · shul ben ysaued
Here abouȝt þe barne · þe belsyres gultes
And alle for her forfadres · þei ferden þe worse
Þe gospel is here-ageine · in o degre I fynde
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & pater non portabit iniquitatem filij &c ·[^270]

[^269: L.9.151: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes L's omission of <þ> in forþ.]

[^270: L.9.157: LHmW alone have &c after filij .]

¶ Ac I fynde if þe fader be false and a shrewe
Þat somdel þe sone · shal haue þe sires tacches

¶ Impe on an ellerne · and if þine apple be swete
Mochel merueile me þynketh · & more of a schrewe
Þat bryngeth forth any barne · but if he be þe same
And haue a sauoure after þe sire · selde seestow other
Numquam colligitur de spinis vuas · nec de tribulis fycus
And þus þourw cursed caym · cam care vppon erthe
And al for þei wrouȝt wedlokes · aȝein goddis wille
For-þi haue þei maugre for[^271] here mariages · þat marye so her childeren[^272]
For some as I se now · soth forto telle
For coueitise of catel vnkyndeliche ben wedded
As careful concepcioun cometh of suche mariages
As bifel of þe folke · þat I bifore of tolde

[^271: L.9.167: LMR alone have for. Other B manuscripts have of.]

[^272: L.9.167-203: A bracket in the right margin extends the length of the page.]

id est boni id est bonas
¶ For goode[^273] shulde wedde goode[^274] · þough hij no good hadde
I am via & veritas seith cryst · I may auaunce alle

[^273: L.9.172: An interlinear gloss appears above goode in a hand like that of the gloss on L.9.34: id est boni .]

[^274: L.9.172: An interlinear gloss appears above goode in a hand like that of the previous gloss: id est bonas .]

+
¶ It is an oncomely[^275] couple · bi cryst as me þinketh
To ȝyuen a ȝonge wenche · to an olde feble
Or wedden any widwe · for welth of hir goodis
Þat neuere shal barne bere · but if it be in armes
Many a peire sithen þe pestilence · han pliȝt hom[^276] togideres
Þe fruit þat þei brynge forth · aren foule wordes
In ialousye ioyeles · and ianglyng on bedde
+
Haue þei no children but cheste · an[^277] choppyng hem bitwene

[^275: L.9.174: The prefix on was added supralinearly after initial copying, perhaps in response to the corrector's <+> in the left margin. F also omitted the prefix. L uniquely has the spelling on; most other B manuscripts have vn. Kane-Donaldson take the interlinear addition to be in the main text hand, but we think the correction is added by a later hand.]

[^276: L.9.178: L alone reads hom, and this is the only instance of this form in the manuscript; all other B manuscripts have hem.]

[^277: L.9.181: The corrector has noted the scribe's an for and with a <+> in the left margin.]

nota
¶ And þough þei don hem to donmowe · but if þe deuel help
To folwen after þe flicche · fecche þei it neuere
And but þei bothe be forsworne · þat bacoun þei tyne

nota
¶ For-þi I conseille alle crystene · coueite nouȝt be wedded
For coueitise of catel · ne of kynrede riche
Ac maydenes and maydenes · macche ȝow togideres
Widwes and widwers · worcheth þe same
For no londes but for loue · loke ȝe be wedded
And þanne gete ȝe þe grace of god · and good ynogh to lyue with

nota
¶ And euery maner seculer þat may nouȝt continue
Wysly go wedde · and war hym fro synne
For leccherye in likyng · is lymeȝerde of helle
Whiles þow art ȝonge · and þi wepne kene
Wreke þe with wyuynge · ȝif þow wil[^278] ben excused
Dum sis vir fortis · ne des tua robora scortis
Scribitur in portis · meretrix est ianua mortis

[^278: L.9.195: L alone has wil; all other B witnesses read wolt.]

¶ Whan ȝe haue wyued bewar · and worcheth in tyme
Nouȝt as Adam & Eue · whan caym was engendred
For in vntyme trewli · bitwene man & womman
Ne shulde no bourde on bedde be · but if þei bothe were clene
Bothe of lyf & and of soule · and in parfyte charitee
Þat ilke derne dede do · noman ne sholde
And if þei leden þus her lyf · it liked[^279] god almiȝti
For he made wedloke firste · and him-self it seide
Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem

[^279: L.9.204: LR alone have liked. Most other B manuscripts have likeþ.]

¶ And þei þat oþergatis ben geten · for gedelynges ben holden
As false folke fondelynges · faitoures and lyars
Vngracious to gete goode · or loue of þe poeple
Wandren and wasten · what þei cacche mowe
Aȝeines dowel þei don yuel · and þe deuel serue
And after her deth-day · shulle dwelle with þe same
But god gyue hem grace here · hem-self to amende

¶ Dowel my frende is · to don as lawe techeth
To loue þi frende and þi foo · leue me þat is dobet
To ȝiuen and to ȝemen · bothe ȝonge and olde
To helen and to helpen · is dobest of alle

nota
¶ And dowel is to drede god · and dobet to suffre
And so cometh dobest of bothe · and bryngeth adoun þe mody
And þat is wikked wille · þat many werke shendeth
And dryueth away dowel · þorugh dedliche synnes

Passus Xus decimus

nota
T hanne[^280] hadde witte a wyf · was hote dame studye
Þat lene was of lere · and of liche bothe
She was wonderly wroth · þat witte me þus tauȝte
And al starynge dame studye · sternelich seyde
Wel artow wyse quod she to witte · any wysdomes to telle
To flatereres or to folis · þat frantyk ben of wittes
And blamed hym and banned hym · and badde hym be stylle
With suche wise wordes · to wissen any sottes
And seyde noli mittere man · margerye perlis
Amanges hogges þat han · hawes at wille
Þei don but dryuele þer-on draffe were hem leuere
Þan al þe precious perre · þat in paradys wexeth
I sey it bi suche quod she þat sheweth bi her werkes
Þat hem were leuer londe · and lordship on erthe
Or ricchesse or rentis · and reste at her wille
Þan alle þe sothe sawes · þat salamon seyde euere

[^280: L.10.1: The lombard capital <T> is five lines high in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin.]

nota
¶ Wisdome and witte now is nouȝt worth a carse[^281]
But if it be carded with coueytise · as clotheres kemben here wolle
Who-so can contreue deceytes · an conspire wronges
And lede forth a loue-day · to latte with treuthe
He þat suche craftes can · to conseille is clepid
Þei lede lordes with lesynges · and bilyeth treuthe

[^281: L.10.17: LMR alone among B witnesses have the spelling carse in agreement with C. Other B manuscripts have kerse. Both spellings reflect dialectal variants of "cress" (<OE cressa, cærse).]

¶ Iob þe gentel in his geste s witnesseth
Þat wikked men þei welden · þe welthe of þis worlde
And þat þei ben lordes of eche a londe · þat oute of lawe libbeth
Quare impij viuunt bene est omnibus qui preuaricantur & inique agunt

¶ Þe sauter seyth þe same · bi suche þat don ille
Ecce ipsi[^282] peccatores habundantes in seculo optinuerunt diuicias
Lo seith holy letterrure whiche lordes beth þis shrewes
Þilke þat god moste gyueth · leste good þei deleth
And moste vnkynde to þe comune · þat moste catel weldeth
Que perfecisti destruxerunt · iustus autem &c ·
Harlotes for her harlotrye · may haue of her godis
And iaperes and iogeloures · and iangelers of gestes

[^282: L.10.28: The suspension for ipsi is added by the rubricating scribe.]

¶ Ac he þat hath holy writte · ay in his mouth ·
And can telle of Tobye · and of þe twelue apostles
Or prechen of þe penaunce · þat pilat wrouȝt
To Ihesu þe gentil · þat Iewes to-drowe
Litel is he loued · þat suche a lessoun scheweth
Or daunted or drawe forth · I do it on god hym-self

¶ But þo þat feynen hem folis · and with faityng libbeth
Aȝein þe lawe of owre lorde · and lyen on hem-selue
Spitten and spewen · and speke foule wordes
Drynken and dryuelen · and do men for to gape
Lickne men and lye on hem · þat leneth hem no ȝiftes
Þei conne namore mynstralcye · ne musyke men to glade
Than Munde þe mylnere · of multa fecit deus
Ne were here vyle harlotrye · haue god my treuthe
Shulde neuere Kyng ne kniȝt · ne chanoun of seynt Poules
Ȝyue hem to her ȝeresȝiue · þe ȝifte of a grote

¶ Ac murthe and mynstralcye · amonges men is nouthe
Leccherye losengerye · and loseles tales
Glotonye and grete othes · þis murthe þei louieth

nota
¶ Ac if þei carpen of cryst · þis clerkis and þis lewed
Atte mete in her murthes · whan mynstralles ben stille
[^283] Þanne telleth þei of þe trinite · a tale other tweyne
And bringen forth a balled resoun · and taken Bernard to witnesse
And putten forth a presumpsioun · to preue þe sothe
[^284] Þus þei dryuele at her deyse þe deite to knowe
And gnawen god with þe gorge · whan her gutte is[^285] fulle

[^283: L.10.56-57: A bracket appears in the left margin beside these two lines.]

[^284: L.10.59: A bracket in the left margin encloses this line.]

[^285: L.10.60: LYR alone read gutte is; most other B manuscripts have plural guttes, with or without some form of "be."]

nota
¶ Ac þe careful may crye · and carpen atte ȝate
Bothe afyngred and a-thurst · and for chele quake
Is none to nymen hym nere · his noye to amende
But heon[^286] on hym as an hounde · and hoten hym go þennes
Litel loueth he þat lorde · þat lent hym al þat blisse
Þat þus parteth with þe pore · a parcel whan hym nedeth
Ne were mercy in mene men · more þan in riche
Mendinantz meteles · miȝte go to bedde
God is moche in þe gorge · of þise grete maystres
Ac amonges mene men · his mercy and his werkis
And so seith þe sauter · I haue yseye[^287] it ofte
Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata · inuenimus eam in campis silue
Clerkes and other kynnes men · carpen of god faste
And haue[^288] moche in þe mouthe · ac mene men in herte

[^286: L.10.64: heon, "halloo, shout out." See MED, s.v. heuen v.(3).]

[^287: L.10.71: LR alone read yseye; most other B manuscripts have seiȝen.]

[^288: L.10.74: LHm alone omit hym after haue.]

nota
¶ Freres and faitoures · han founde suche questiouns
To plese with proude men · sithen þe pestilence tyme
And prechen at seint poules · for pure enuye of clerkis
Þat folke is nouȝte fermed in þe feith · ne fre of her goodes
Ne sori for her synnes · so is pryde waxen
In religioun and in alle þe rewme · amonges riche & pore
Þat preyeres haue no power · þe pestilence to lette
And ȝette þe wrecches of þis worlde · is none ywar bi other
Ne for drede of þe deth · withdrawe nouȝt her pryde
Ne beth plentyuous to þe pore · as pure charite wolde
But in gaynesse and in glotonye · for-glotten her goode hem-selue
And breken nouȝte to þe beggar · as þe boke techeth
Frange esurienti panem tuum &c ·
And þe more he wynneth and welt · welthes & ricchesse
And lordeth in londes · þe lasse good he deleth

¶ Thobye telleth ȝow nouȝt so · take hede ȝe riche
How þe boke bible · of hym bereth witnesse
Si tibi sit copia habundanter tribue · si autem exiguum illud impertiri stude libenter
Who-so hath moche spene manliche · so meneth Thobie
And who-so litel weldeth · reule him þer-after
For we haue no lettre of owre lyf · how longe it shal dure
Suche lessounes lordes shulde · louie to here
And how he myȝte moste meyne manliche fynde

nota
¶ Nouȝt to fare as a fitheler or a frere · forto seke festes
Homelich at other mennes house[^289] · and hatyen her owne
Elyng is þe halle : vche daye in þe wyke
Þere þe lorde ne þe lady liketh nouȝte to sytte
Now hath vche riche a reule · to eten bi hym-selue
In a pryue paloure pa[r]loure · for pore mennes sake
Or in a chambre with a chymneye · and leue þe chief halle
Þat was made for meles · men to eten Inne
And al to spare to spille · þat spende shal an other

[^289: L.10.99: LF alone read house; all other B manuscripts have houses.]

¶ I haue yherde hiegh men etyng atte table
Carpen as þei clerkes were · of cryste and of his miȝtes
And leyden fautes vppon þe fader · þat fourmed vs alle
And carpen aȝeine clerkes · crabbed wordes
Whi wolde owre saueoure suffre suche a worme in his blisse
Þat bigyled þe womman · and þe man after
Þorw whiche wyles and wordes · þei went to helle
And al her sede for here synne · þe same deth suffred

¶ Here lyeth ȝowre lore · þise lordes gynneth dispute
Of þat ȝe clerkes vs kenneth · of cryst by þe gospel
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris &c ·
Whi shulde we þat now ben · for þe werkes of Adam
Roten and to-rende · resoun wolde it neuere
Vnusquisque portabit onus suum &c
Suche motyues þei moeue · þis maistres in her glorie
And maken men in mysbileue · þat muse moche on her wordes

¶ Ymaginatyf her-after-ward · shal answere to ȝowre purpos

nota
¶ Augustyne to suche argueres · he telleth hem[^290] þis teme
Non plus sapere quam oportet
Wilneth neuere to wite · whi þat god wolde
Suffre sathan his sede to bigyle
Ac bileue lelly · in þe lore of holicherche
And preye hym of pardoun · and penaunce in þi lyue
And for his moche mercye · to amende ȝow here
For alle þat wilneth to wyte · þe weyes of god almiȝty
I wolde his eye were in his ers · and his fynger after
Þat euere wilneth to wite · whi þat god wolde
Suffre sathan · his sede to bigile
Or iudas to þe iuwes · ihesu bytraye
Al was as þow wolde[^291] · lorde yworschiped be þow
And al worth as þow wolte · what-so we dispute

[^290: L.10.124: LHmMRF read hem which is omitted by other B witnesses.]

[^291: L.10.136: LRF read wolde, though alpha's verb follows he; all other B manuscripts have woldest.]

¶ And þo þat vseth þis hauelounes · to blende mennes wittes
What is dowel fro dobet · now def mote he worthe
Sitthe he wilneth to wyte · whiche þei ben bothe
But if he lyue in þe lyf · þat longeth to dowel
For I dar ben his bolde borgh · þat dobet wil he neuere
Þeigh dobest drawe on hym day after other

nota
¶ And whan þat witte was ywar what dame studye tolde
He bicome so confus · he couth nouȝte loke
And as doumbe a a[s] deth · and drowe hym arrere

+
[^292] ¶ And for no carpyng I couth after · ne knelyng to þe grounde
I myȝte gete no greyne · of his grete wittis
But al laughyng he louted · and loked vppon studye
In signe þat I shulde · biseche hir of grace

[^292: L.10.147: A mark, not quite like the corrector's <+> appears in the left margin; no error is apparent.]

¶ And whan I was war of his wille · to his wyf gan I loute
And seyde mercy madame ȝowre man shal I worthe
As longe as I lyue · bothe late & rathe
Forto worche ȝowre wille · þe while my lyf dureth
With þat ȝe kenne me kyndely · to knowe what is dowel

[^293] ¶ For þi mekenesse man quod she · and for þi mylde speche
I shal kenne þe to my cosyn · þat clergye is hoten
He hath wedded a wyf · with-Inne þis syx monethes
Is sybbe to þe seuene artz · scripture is hir name
Þei two as I hope · after my techyng
Shullen wissen þe to dowel · I dar it vndertake

[^293: L.10.156: A mark, not quite identical to the corrector's usual cross appears in the left margin, and no error is apparent.]

+
¶ Þanne was I[^294] also fayne · as foule of faire morwe
And gladder þan þe gleman · þat golde hath to ȝifte
And axed hir þe heighe weye · where þat clergye dwelte
And telle me some token quod I · for tyme is þat I wende

[^294: L.10.162: I was added after initial copying, no doubt in response to the corrector's <+> in the left margin.]

+
[^295] ¶ Axe þe heighe waye quod she · hennes to suffre
Bothe wel & wo · ȝif þat þow wolt lerne
And ryde forth by ricchesse · ac rest þow nauȝt þerinne
For if þow couplest þe þer-with · to clergye comestow neuere

[^295: L.10.166: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, but no error is apparent.]

nota
¶ And also þe likerouse launde · þat leccherye hatte
Leue hym[^296] on þi left halue · a large myle or more
Tyl þow come to a courte · kepe wel þi tonge
Fro lesynges and lither speche · and likerouse drynkes
Þanne shaltow se sobrete · and symplete of speche
Þat eche wiȝte be in wille · his witte þe to shewe
And þus shaltow come to clergye · þat can many þinges

[^296: L.10.171: LHmMR alone read hym; other B manuscripts have it.]

¶ Saye hym þis signe · I sette hym to scole
And þat I grette wel his wyf · for I wrote hir many bokes
And sette hir to sapience · and to þe sauter glose
Logyke I lerned hir · and many other lawes
+
And alle þe musouns in muke mu[si]ke[^297] · I made hir to knowe

[^297: L.10.181: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes L's muke for musike.]

¶ Plato þe poete · I put hym fyrste to boke
Arestotle and other moo · to argue I tauȝte
Grammer for gerles · I garte first wryte
And bette hem with a baleis · but if þei wolde lerne
Of alkinnes craftes · I contreued toles
Of carpentrie of kerueres and compassed masouns
And lerned hem leuel and lyne · þough I loke dymme

nota
¶ Ac theologie hath tened me · ten score tymes
The more I muse þereInne · þe mistier it semeth
And þe depper I deuyne · þe derker me it þinketh
It is no science for-sothe · forto sotyle Inne
A ful lethy þinge it were · ȝif þat loue nere
Ac for it let best by loue · I loue it þe bettre
For þere þat loue is leder · ne lacked neuere grace
Loke þow loue lelly · ȝif þe lyketh dowel
For dobet and dobest · ben of loues kynne

¶ In other science it seyth · I saye it in catoun
Qui similat verbis vel[^298] corde est fidus amicus
Tu quoque fac simile · sic ars deluditur arte
Who-so gloseth as gylours don · go me to þe same
And so shaltow false folke and faythlees bigyle
Þis is catounes kennyng · to clerkes þat he lereth
Ac theologye techeth nouȝt so · who-so taketh ȝeme
He kenneth vs þe contrarye aȝein catones wordes
For he bit vs be as bretheren · and bidde for owre enemys
And louen hem þat lyen on vs · and lene hem whan hem nedeth
And do good aȝeines yuel · god hym-self it hoteth
Dum tempus habemus operemur bonum ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fidei

[^298: L.10.199: LWR alone read vel ; all other B manuscripts have nec .]

¶ Poule preched þe peple þat parfitnesse loued
To do good for goddes loue · and gyuen men þat asked
And nameliche to suche · þat sueth owre bileue
And alle þat lakketh vs or lyeth vs · owre lorde techeth vs to louye
And nouȝt to greuen hem þat greueth vs · god hym-self for-badde it
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam
For-þi loke þow louye · as longe as þow durest
For is no science vnder sonne · so souereyne for þe soule
[^299] ¶ Ac astronomye is an harde þynge · and yuel forto knowe
Geometrie and geomesye is ginful of speche
Who-so thenketh werche with þo two · thryueth ful late
For sorcerye is þe souereyne boke · þat to þe science longeth

[^299: L.10.218: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

¶ Ȝet ar þere fybicches in forceres · of fele mennes makyng
Experimentz of alkamye · þe poeple to deceyue
If þow þinke to dowel · dele þer-with neuere
Alle þise science I my-self · sotiled and ordeyned
X
And founded hem formest · folke to deceyue[^300]

[^300: L.10.226: A drypoint <X> appears beside this line in the left margin.]

¶ Telle clergye þise tokenes · and scripture after
To conseille þe kyndely · to knowe what is dowel ·

¶ I seide graunt mercy madame · and mekeliche hir grette
And went wiȝtlich awey · with-oute more lettynge
And til I come to clergye · I couthe neuere stynte
And gret þe good man · as studye me tauȝte
And afterwardes þe wyf · and worshiped hem bothe
And tolde hem þe tokenes · þat me tauȝte were
Was neuere gome vppon þis grounde · sith god made þe worlde
Fairer vnder-fongen · ne frendeloker at ese
Þan my-self sothly · sone so he wist
Þat I was of wittis hous · and with his wyf dame studye
I seyde to hem sothely · þat sent was I þider
Dowel and dobet · and dobest to lerne

¶ It is a comune lyf quod clergye · on holycherche to bileue
With alle þe artikles of þe feithe · þat falleth to be knowe
And þat is to bileue lelly · bothe lered and lewed
On þe grete god · þat gynnyng had neuere
And on þe sothfaste sone · þat saued mankynde
Fro þe dedly deth · and þe deueles power
Þorwgh þe helpe of þe holy goste · þe whiche goste is of bothe
Three persones · ac nouȝt in plurel noumbre
For al is but on god · and eche is god hym-selue
Deus pater deus filius · deus spiritus sanctus
God þe fader god þe sone · god holigoste of bothe
Maker of mankynde · and of bestes bothe

¶ Austyn þe olde · here-of he[^301] made bokes
And hym-self ordeyned · to sadde vs in bileue
Who was his autour · alle þe foure euangelistes
And cryst clepid hym-self so · þe ewangelistes bereth witnesse
Ego in patre & pater in me est & qui videt me · videt et patrem meum
[^302] ¶ Alle þe clerkes vnder cryst · ne couthe þis assoille
[^303] But þus it bilongeth to bileue · to lewed þat willen dowel
For had neuere freke fyne wytte · þe feyth to dispute
Ne man had no merite · myȝte it ben yproued
Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio prebet experimentum
[^304] ¶ Þanne is dobet to suffre · for þi soules helth
Al þat þe boke bit · by holycherche techyng
And þat is man bi þi miȝte · for mercies sake
Loke þow worche it in werke · þat þi worde sheweth
Suche as þow semest in syȝte · be in assay yfounde
Appare quod es vel esto quod appares[^305]
And lat no-body be · bi þi beryng bygyled
But be suche in þi soule · as þow semest with-oute

[^301: L.10.253: LRF alone read he; other beta manuscripts omit it.]

[^302: L.10.258: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

[^303: L.10.259-299: A bracket extends down the length of the page in the right margin.]

[^304: L.10.263: The rubricating scribe failed to note the original scribe's paraph indicator in the left margin, probably because the original scribe failed to skip a line. On the other hand, the paraph indicator may have been added later, since it is placed differently from others, farther into the left margin.]

[^305: L.10.268: The word est was written in error before esto , then partially erased. There is evidence of a scraped gloss in the left margin, probably nota or a paraph marker.]

¶ Þanne is dobest to be bolde · to blame þe gylty
Sithenes þow seest þi-self · as in soule clene
Ac blame þow neuere body · and þow be blame-worthy
Si culpare velis · culpabilis esse cauebis
Dogma tuum sordet · cum te tua culpa remordet
God in þe gospel · grymly repreueth
Alle þat lakken any lyf · and lakkes han hem-selue
Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui trabem in oculo tuo &c
Why meuestow þi mode for a mote · in þi brotheres eye
Sithen a beem in þine owne · ablyndeth þi-selue
Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo &c
Whiche letteth þe to loke · lasse other more

¶ I rede eche a blynde bosarde · do bote to hym-selue
For abbotes and for prioures · and for alle manere prelates
As parsones and parissh prestes · þat preche shulde and teche
Alle manere men · to amenden · by here myȝte
This tixte was tolde ȝow · to ben war ar ȝe tauȝte
Þat ȝe were suche as ȝe seyde · to salue with othere
For goddis worde wolde nouȝt be loste[^306] · for þat worcheth euere
If it auailled nouȝt þe comune · it myȝte auaille ȝow-seluen ·

[^306: L.10.289: R's reading is boste also.]

¶ Ac it semeth now sothly · to þe worldes syght
Þat goddes worde worcheth nauȝte · on lered ne on lewede
But in suche a manere · as Marke meneth in þe gospel
Dum cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam cadunt

¶ Lewed men may likne ȝow þus · þat þe beem lithe in ȝowre eyghen
And þe festu is fallen · for ȝowre defaute
In alle manere men · þourgh mansed prestes
Þe bible bereth witnesse þat alle þe folke of israel
Byttere abouȝte þe gultes · of two badde prestes
[^307] Offyn and Fynes · for her coueytise
Archa dei myshapped · and ely brake his nekke

[^307: L.10.300-336: A bracket extends the entire left side of the page.]

[^308] ¶ For-þi ȝe corectoures claweth her-on · and corecteth fyrst ȝow-seluen
And þanne mowe ȝe saufly seye · as dauid made þe sauter
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis · arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam ·

[^308: L.10.302-304: A corrector's dry point cross appears in the left margin, but it is not clear why it was written.]

¶ And þanne shal borel clerkes ben abasched · to blame ȝow or to greue
And carpen nouȝte as þei carpen now · and calle ȝow doumbe houndes
Canes non valentes latrare
And drede to wratthe ȝow in any worde · ȝowre werkemanship to lette
And be prestiore at ȝowre prayere · þan for a pounde of nobles
And al for ȝowre holynesse · haue ȝe þis in herte

¶ In scole þere is scorne · but if a clerke wil lerne
And grete loue and lykynge · for eche of hem loueth other
Ac now is religioun a ryder · a rowmer bi stretes
A leder of louedayes · and a londe-bugger
A priker on a palfray · fro manere to maner
An heep of houndes at his ers · as he a lorde were
And but if his knaue knele · þat shal his cuppe brynge
He loureth on hym and axeth hym · who tauȝte hym curteisye
Litel had lordes to donn · to ȝyue londe fram her heires
To Religious þat haue no reuthe · þough it reyne on here auteres

¶ In many places þer hij persones ben · be hem-self at ese
Of þe pore haue þei no pite · and þat is her charite
Ac þei leten hem as lordes · her londe lith so brode

a king shall com & Reforme religioun

[L.10.324: The gloss is added by a s. xvi1 hand.]

¶ Ac þere shal come a kyng · and confesse ȝow religiouses
And bete ȝow as þe bible telleth · for brekynge of ȝowre reule
And amende monyales · monkes and chanouns
And putten hem to her penaunce · ad pristinum statum ire
And Barounes with Erles beten hem · þorugh beatus virres techynge
Þat here barnes claymen · and blame ȝow foule
Hij in curribus[^309] hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt &c

[^309: L.10.330: LM alone omit & before hij .]

¶ And þanne Freres in here freitoure shal fynden a keye
Of costantynes coffres · in which is þe catel
Þat Gregories god-children · han yuel dispended

Abbot of Abindoun
[^310] ¶ And þanne shal þe abbot of Abyndoun · and alle issu [his] issu for euere
Haue a knokke of a kynge · and incurable þe wounde

[^310: L.10.334: The gloss is in the same s. xvi1 hand as that at L.10.324.]

¶ That þis worth soth seke ȝe · þat oft ouer-se þe bible
Quomodo cessauit exactor · quieuit tributum · contriuit dominus baculum impiorum et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga insanabili &c

Caym shall awake
¶ Ac ar þat kynge come · cayme shal awake[^311]
Ac[^312] dowel shal dyngen hym adoune · and destruyen his myȝte
Þanne is dowel and dobet quod I · dominus and kniȝthode

[^311: L.10.338: The following gloss is added by a s. xvi1 hand in the right margin: Caym shall awake.]

[^312: L.10.339: LHmMR alone read Ac; most other B manuscripts have And.]

¶ I nel nouȝt scorne quod scripture · but if scryueynes lye
kynghod ne knyȝthod · by nauȝt I can awayte
helpeth nouȝt to heueneward · one heres ende
Ne ricchesse riȝt nouȝt · ne reaute of lordes

¶ Poule preueth it inpossible · riche men haue heuene
Salamon seith also · þat syluer is worst to louye
Nichil iniquius quam amare peccuniam
And caton kenneth vs to coueiten it · nauȝt but as nede techeth
Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam
And patriarkes and prophetes · and poetes bothe
Wryten to wissen vs · to wilne no ricchesse
And preyseden pouerte with pacience · þe apostles bereth witnesse
Þat þei han heritage in heuene · and bi trewe riȝte
Þere riche men no riȝte may clayme · but of reuthe and grace

¶ Contra quod I bi cryste · þat can I repreue
And preue it bi Peter · and bi poule bothe
Þat is baptized beth sauf · be he riche or pore

¶ Þat is in extremis quod scripture · amonges saracenes and iewes
Þei mowen be saued so · and þat is owre byleue
Þat an vncristene in þat cas · may crysten an hethen
And for his lele byleue · whan he þe lyf tyneth
Haue þe heritage of heuene · as any man crystene

¶ Ac crysten men with-oute more · may nouȝt come to heuene
For þat cryst for cristenmen cristen men · deyde  and confermed þe lawe
Þat who-so wolde and wylneth · with cryste to aryse
Si cum cristo surrexistis &c ·
He shulde louye & lene[^313] · and þe lawe fulfille
Þat is loue þi lorde god · leuest aboue alle
And after alle crystene creatures · in comune eche man other
And þus bilongeth to louye · þat leueth to be saued
And but we do þus in dede · ar þe daye of dome
+
I I[t][^314] shal bisitten vs ful soure · þe siluer þat we kepen
id est panni
And owre bakkes[^315] þat moth-eten be · and sen beggers go naked
Or delyte in wyn and wylde foule · and wote any in defaute
For euery cristene creature shulde be kynde til other
And sithen hethen to helpe · in hope of amendement
God hoteth bothe heigh and lowe þat no man hurte other
And seith slee nouȝt þat semblable is · to myne owen liknesse
But if I sende þe sum tokne · and seith non necaberis[^316]
Is slee nouȝt but suffre · and al for þe beste
For I shal punysshen hem in purgatorie · or in þe putte of helle
Vche man for his mysdedes · but mercy it lette

[^313: L.10.367: The word leue may be intended here; the scribe's <n> and <u> are indistinguishable.]

[^314: L.10.372: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes erroneous I for "It."]

[^315: L.10.373: The gloss id est panni is written above the line by the scribe. The gloss tells us that bakk- does not mean tergum , "back," but "clothes," "garments."]

[^316: L.10.379: The scribe originally wrote mecaberis and someone, possibly the original scribe, erased the first minim to make necaberis . Both readings are represented among B manuscripts.]

¶ Þis is a longe lessoun quod I · and litel am I þe wyser
Where dowel is or dobet · derkelich ȝe shewen
Many tales ȝe tellen · þat theologye lerneth
And þat I man made was · and my name yentred
In þe legende of lyf · longe er I were
Or elles vnwriten for somme wikkednesse as holywrit wytnesseth
Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo decendit

¶ I leue it wel quod I bi owre lorde and on no letterure bettere
For salamon þe sage · þat sapience tauȝte
God gaf hym grace of witte · and alle his godes after
He demed wel & wysely as holy writte telleth
Aristotle & he · who wissed men bettere
Maistres þat of goddis mercy · techen men and prechen
Of here wordes þei wissen vs · for wisest as in here tyme
And al holicherche · holdeth hem bothe ydampned

¶ And if I shulde worke bi here werkes to wynne me heuene
Þat for her werkes and witte · now wonyeth in pyne
Þanne wrouȝte I vnwysely · what-so-euere ȝe preche

¶ Ac of fele witty in feith · litel ferly I haue
Þough her goste be vngraciouse · god for to plese
For many men on þis molde · more sette here hertis
+
In good þan in god · for-þi hem grace failleth[^317]
At here moste myschief · whan þei shal lyf lete
As salamon dede and such other · þat shewed gret wittes
Ac her werkes as holy wrytte seyth · was euere þe contrarye
For-þi wyse witted men · and wel ylettred clerkes
As þei seyen hem-self · selden done þer-after
Super cathedra moysy &c ·

[^317: L.10.404: The second letter of initial In appears to have been added after initial copying, probably in response to the corrector's <+> in the left margin.]

¶ Ac I wene it worth of many · as was in Noes tyme
Þo he shope þat shippe · of shides and bordes
Was neuere wriȝte saued þat wrouȝt þer -on · ne oþer werkman elles
But briddes and bestes · and þe blissed Noe
And his wyf with his sones · and also here wyues
Of wriȝtes þat it wrouȝte was none of hem ysaued

¶ God lene[^318] it fare nouȝt so bi folke · þat þe feith techen
Of holicherche þat heberwe he[r]berwe is · and goddes hous to saue
And shelden vs fram shame þer -inne · as noes shippe did bestes
And men þat maden it · amydde þe flode adreynten
Þe culorum of þis clause · curatoures is to mene
Þat ben carpenteres holykirke to make · for crystes owne bestes
Homines & iumenta saluabis domine · &c ·

[^318: L.10.417: Either lene (Kane-Donaldson's reading) or leue (Skeat's reading) is possible here.]

¶ On gode fridaye I fynde · a feloun was ysaued
Þat had lyued al his lyf with lesynges and with thefte
+
And for he biknewe on þe crosse · and to cryste scrof s[h]rof[^319] hym
He was sonnere saued · þan seynt Iohan Baptiste
And or Adam or ysaye · or eny of þe prophetes
Þat hadde yleine with Lucyfer · many longe ȝeres
A robbere was yraunceouned · rather þan þei alle
With-outen any penaunce · of purgatorie  to perpetuel blisse

[^319: L.10.426: A corrector's <+> marks L's scrof for shrof. Although the spelling scrof is a possible Northern form, it is probably only error here.]

¶ Þanne Marye Magdaleyne · what womman dede worse
Or who worse þan dauid · þat vries deth conspired
Or Poule þe apostle · þat no pitee hadde
Moche crystene kynde · to kylle to deth
+
And ben[^320] þise as souereynes · wyth seyntes in heuene
Þo þat wrouȝte wikkedlokest · in worlde þo þei were

[^320: L.10.436: LR lack now before ben, as attested in most B manuscripts. A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes the omission.]

¶ And þo þat wisely wordeden · and wryten many bokes
Of witte and of wisdome · with dampned soules wonye
Þat salamon seith I trowe be soth · and certeyne of vs alle
Sine iusti atque sapientes · & opera eorum in manu dei sunt &c

¶ Þere aren witty and wel libbyng ac her werkes ben yhudde
X
[^321] In þe hondes of almiȝty god · and he wote þe sothe
Wher for loue a man worth allowed þere · and his lele werkes
Or elles for his yuel wille · &[^322] enuye of herte
And be allowed as he lyued so · for bi lyther · men knoweth þe gode

[^321: L.10.443: An <X> two lines high appears in the left margin.]

[^322: L.10.445: L alone initially read or. A corrector's cross appears in the left margin and or is subpuncted. A small superlinear ampersand replaces it. It is barely visible, even with magnification.]

¶ And wherby wote[^323] men whiche is whyte · if alle þinge blake were
And who were a gode man · but if þere were some shrewe
For-þi lyue we forth with lither men · I leue fewe ben gode
For qant oportet vyent en place · yl ny ad que pati
And he þat may al amende · haue mercy on vs alle
For sothest worde þat euere god seyde · was þo he seyde nemo bonus
[^324] ¶ Clergye þo of crystes mouth · commended was it litel
X
For he seyde to seynt Peter · and to suche as he loued[^325]
Dum steteritis ante Reges et presides &c ·
Þough ȝe come bifor kynges · and clerkes of þe lawe
Beth nouȝte abasched · for I shal be in ȝoure mouthes
And ȝyue ȝow witte at[^326] wille · and kunnynge to conclude
Hem alle þat aȝeines ȝow · of crystenedome disputen

[^323: L.10.447: LR alone read wote; most other B manuscripts have a <wi-> form.]

[^324: L.10.453: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

[^325: L.10.454: A large <X> in lead appears in the left margin beside this line group. There is no error apparent.]

[^326: L.10.458: LRF alone read at; all other B manuscripts have and.]

¶ Dauyd maketh mencioun · he spake amonges kynges
And miȝte no kynge ouercome hym · as bi kunnyng of speche
But witte ne wisdome · wan neuere þe maystrye
Whan man was at myschief · with-oute þe more grace

¶ Þe doughtiest doctour · and deuynoure of þe trinitee[^327]
Was augustyn þe olde · and heighest of þe foure
Sayde þus in a sarmoun · I seigh it writen ones
Ecce ipsi idioti rapiunt celum · vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur ·
And is to mene to englissh men · more ne lasse
Aren none rather yrauysshed · fro þe riȝte byleue
Þan ar þis cunnynge clerkes · þat conne many bokes

[^327: L.10.464: The last two letters may have been re-inked or added later.]

¶ Ne none sonner saued · ne sadder of bileue
Þan plowmen and pastoures · & pore comune laboreres
Souteres and sheperdes · suche[^328] lewed iottes
Percen with a pater noster þe paleys of heuene
And passen purgatorie penaunceles · at her hennes-partyng
In-to þe blisse of paradys · for her pure byleue
Þat inparfitly here · knewe and eke lyued

[^328: L.10.473: LCr1R lack and before suche, as attested in most other B manuscripts.]

¶ Ȝee men knowe clerkes · þat han cursed þe tyme
Þat euere þei couth or knewe more · þa n credo in deum patrem
And pryncipaly her pater noster · many a persone hath wisshed

¶ I se ensamples my-self · and so may many an other
Þat seruauntes þat seruen lordes · selden falle in arrerage
But þo þat kepen þe lordes catel · clerkes and reues
Riȝt so lewed men · & of litel knowyng
Selden falle þei so foule · and so fer in synne
As clerkes of holikirke · þat kepen crystes tresore
Þe which is mannes soule to saue · as god seith in þe gospel
ite vos in vineam meam[^329]

[^329: L.10.488: This line was actually written to the right of the previous one, probably because the scribe wanted to allow adequate space below for the ornamented initial capital of the next passus.]

Passus xjus undecimus

T hanne[^330] scripture scorned me · and a skile tolde
And lakked me in latyne · and liȝte by me she sette
And seyde multi multa sciunt & seipsos nesciunt
Þo wepte I for wo · and wratth of her speche
And in a wynkyng wratth · wex I aslepe
A merueillouse meteles · mette me þanne
fortune
Þat I was rauisshed riȝt þere · and fortune me fette[^331]
And in-to þe londe of longynge · allone she me brouȝte
And in a myroure þat hiȝt mydlerd · she mad me to biholde
Sitthen she sayde to me · here myȝtow[^332] se wondres
And knowe þat þow coueytest · and come þer -to par -aunter

[^330: L.11.1: The lombard capital <T> is five lines high in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin.]

[^331: L.11.7: The word fortune is written in the right margin in a sixteenth-century hand.]

[^332: L.11.10: An otiose tilde appears over this word.]

¶ Þanne hadde fortune folwyng hir two faire damoyseles
Concupiscencia carnis · men called þe elder mayde
And coueytise of eyes · ycalled was þat oþer
Pryde of parfyte lyuynge · pursued hem bothe
And badde me for my contenaunce · acounte clergye liȝte

¶ Concupiscencia carnis · colled me aboute þe nekke
And seyde þow art ȝonge and ȝepe · and hast ȝeres ynowe
For to lyue longe · and ladyes to louye
And in þis myroure þow myȝte se · myrthes ful manye
Þat leden þe wil to lykynge · al þi lyf-tyme

¶ Þe secounde seide þe same · I shal suwe þi wille
Til þow be a lorde and haue londe · leten þe I nelle
Þat I ne shal folwe þi felawship · if fortune it lyke
He shal fynde me his frende · quod fortune þer-after
Þe freke þat folwed my wille · failled neuere blisse

¶ Thanne was þere one þat hiȝte elde þat heuy was of chere
Man quod he if I mete with þe · bi Marie of heuene
Þow shalt fynde fortune þe faille · at þi moste nede
And concupiscencia carnis · clene þe forsake
Bitterliche shaltow banne þanne · bothe dayes and niȝtes
Coueytise of eyghe · þat euere þow hir knewe
And pryde of parfyt lyuynge · to moche peril þe brynge

¶ Ȝee recche þe neuere quod recchelesnes · stode forth in ragged clothes
Folwe forth þat fortune wole · þow hast wel · fer til elde
A man may stoupe tymes[^333] ynow · whan he shal tyne þe croune

[^333: L.11.36: LHmMR have tymes; most other B manuscripts read tyme.]

¶ Homo proponit quod a poete · and plato he hyght
And deus disponit quod he · lat god done his wille
If trewthe wil witnesse it be wel do · fortune to folwe
Concupiscencia carnis · ne coueityse of eyes
Ne shal nouȝt greue þe gretly · ne bigyle þe but þow wolt
[^334] ¶ Ȝee farewel phippe quod fauntelte and forth gan me drawe
Til concupiscencia carnis · acorded alle my werkes

[^334: L.11.42: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

¶ Allas eye quod elde · and holynesse bothe
Þat witte shal torne to wrecchednesse · for wille to haue his lykyng

¶ Coueityse of eyghes · conforted me anon after
And folwed me fourty wynter · and a fyfte more
Þat of dowel ne dobet · no deyntee me ne[^335] þouȝte
I had no lykynge leue me if þe[^336] leste · of hem auȝte to knowe

[^335: L.11.48: LM alone read ne; most other B witnesses omit it.]

[^336: L.11.49: LMW alone have þe, though Hm has thu and Cr1 ye.]

¶ Coueytyse of eyes · cam ofter in mynde
Þan dowel or dobet amonge my dedes alle
Coueytise of eyes conforted me ofte
And seyde haue no conscience how þow come to gode
+
Go confesse[^337] to sum frere · and shewe hym þi synnes
For whiles fortune is þi frende · Freres wil þe louye
And fecche þe to her fraternite · and for þe biseke
To her priour prouyncial · a pardoun forto haue
And preyen for þe pol bi pol · ȝif þow be peccuniosus
Set pena pecuniarea pecuniar[i]a non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis

[^337: L.11.54: The <+> indicates that the corrector noted L's omission of þe after confesse. F also omits the pronoun.]

¶ By wissynge of þis wenche I wrouȝte · here wordes were so swete
X
[^338]Tyl I forȝat ȝouthe · and ȝarn in-to elde
And þanne was fortune my foo · for al hir faire biheste
And pouerte pursued me · and put me lowe
And þo fonde I þe Frere aferde · and flyttynge bothe
Aȝeines owre firste forward · for I seyde I nolde
Be buryed at her hous · but at my parissh cherche
For I herde onys · how conscience it tolde
Þat þere a man were crystened · by kynde he shulde be buryed
Or where he were parisshene · riȝt þere he shulde be grauen
And for I seyde þus to freres · a fool þei me helden
And loued me þe lasse for my lele speche
Ac ȝet I cryed on my confessoure þat helde hym-self so kunnyng
By my feith frere quod I · ȝe faren lyke þise woweres
Þat wedde none wydwes · but forto welde here godis
Riȝte so by þe Rode · rouȝte ȝe neuere
Where my body were buryed · bi so ȝe hadde my siluer
Ich haue moche merueille of ȝow · and so hath many an other
Why ȝowre couent coueyteth · to confesse and to burye
Rather þan to baptise barnes · þat ben catekumelynges
Baptizyng and burying · bothe ben ful nedeful
Ac moche more merytorie · me þynke[^339] it is to baptize
For a baptized man · may as maistres telleth
Þorugh contricioun come · to þe heigh heuene
Sola contricio &c ·[^340]

[^338: L.11.61-64: A dry point <X> appears in the left margin.]

[^339: L.11.81: L alone reads þynke; all other B manuscripts have þynkeþ.]

[^340: L.11.84: LMWR read &c · Most B manuscripts end the Latin quotation delet peccatum . The scribe wrote this line to the right of the previous line, probably because he was at the end of the page and did not want the line separated from the rest of the line group.]

nota
¶ Ac a barne with-oute bapteme · may nouȝt so be saued
Nisi quis renatus fuerit loke ȝe lettred men · whether I lye or do nouȝte
And lewte loked on me · and I loured after
Wherfore lourestow quod lewte · and loked on me harde
Ȝif I durste quod I amonges men · þis meteles auowe
Ȝe bi peter and bi poule quod he · and take[^341] hem bothe to witnesse
Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo · set publice argue illos

[^341: L.11.90: LGMR have the present tense take. All other B witnesses have the preterite took.]

¶ Þei wol alleggen also quod I · and by þe gospel preuen
Nolite iudicare quemquam ·

¶ And wher-of serueth lawe quod lewte · if no lyf vndertoke it
Falsenesse ne faytrye · for sumwhat þe apostle seyde
Non oderis fratrem · and in þe sauter also seithe dauid þe prophete[^342]
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis &c
It is licitum for lewed men · to segge þe sothe
If hem lyketh and leste · eche a lawe it graunteth
Excepte parsones and prestes · and prelates of holycherche
It falleth nouȝte for þat folke · no tales to telle
Þough þe tale were trewe · and it touched synne

[^342: L.11.96-98: The markup and display does not adequately represent the manuscript here. See the image.]

¶ Þinge þat al þe worlde wote · wherfore shuldestow spare
And reden it in Retoryke · to arate dedly synne
Ac be neuere-more þe fyrste · þe defaute to blame
Þouȝe þow se yuel sey it nouȝte fyrste · be sorye it nere amended
No þinge þat is pryue · publice þow it neuere
Neyther for loue laude it nouȝt · ne lakke it for enuye
+
Parum lauda vitupera p ar cius[^343]

[^343: L.11.109: A rubricated penstroke across the descender of <p> and a red dot beneath the <a> serve to correct pacius to parcius . The rubricator's <+> in the margin reveals the rubricating scribe serving as corrector here.]

¶ He seith sothe quod scripture þo · and skipte an heigh & preched
Ac þe matere þat she meued · if lewed men it knewe
Þe lasse as I leue · louyen it þei wolde

¶ This was her teme and her tyxte · I toke ful gode hede
Multi to a maungerye · and to þe mete were sompned
And whan þe peple was plenere comen · þe porter vnpynned þe ȝate
And plukked in pauci priueliche · and lete þe remenaunt go rowme

¶ Al for tene of her tyxte · trembled myn herte
And in a were gan I waxe · and with my-self to dispute
Whether I were chosen or nouȝt chosen · on holicherche I þouȝte
Þat vnderfonge me atte fonte · for one of goddis chosne
For cryste cleped vs alle · come if we wolde
Sarasenes and scismatikes · and so he dyd þe iewes
O vos omnes scicientes [si]cientes venite &c
And badde hem souke for synne · saufly at his breste
And drynke bote for bale · brouke it who-so myȝte

¶ Þanne may alle crystene come quod I · and cleyme þere entre
By þe blode þat he bouȝte vs with · and þorugh baptesme after
Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit &c
For þough a crystene man coueyted · his crystenedome to reneye
Riȝtfulliche to renye · no resoun it wolde

¶ For may no cherle chartre make · ne his catel selle
With-outen leue of his lorde · no lawe wil it graunte
Ac he may renne in arrerage · and rowme so fro home
+
And as a reneyed caityf recchele sly gon[^344] aboute
Ac Resoun shal rekne with hym · and casten hym in arrerage
And putten[^345] after in a prisone · in purgatorie to brenne
For his arrerages rewarden hym þere  to þe daye of dome
+
But if contricioun wel[^346] come · and crye bi his lyue
Mercy for his mysdedes · with mouth or with herte

[^344: L.11.134: The last three letters of recchelesly appear to have been written over an erasure, and gon was added after initial copying. A <+> appears in the left margin, presumably prompting one or both of these changes. A number of B manuscripts have this line as it stands without the addition, though some have rennen where the corrector here has supplied gon.]

[^345: L.11.136: LCMY lack hym after putten, attested in most B manuscripts.]

[^346: L.11.138: LR alone have wel (instead of wol) which may explain the corrector's marginal <+>.]

¶ Þat is soth seyde scripture may no synne lette
Mercy alle to amende · and mekenesse hir folwe
For þey beth as owre bokes telleth · aboue goddes werkes
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius

¶ Ȝee baw for bokes quod one · was broken oute of helle
trogianus

[L.11.145: The word trogianus is written in the left margin. The reading is unclear, but the scribe appears to have written first trooianus and then corrected the second <o> to <g>.]

Hiȝte troianus had ben a trewe knyȝte · toke witnesse at a pope
How he was ded and dampned · to dwellen in pyne
For an vncristene creature clerkis wyten þe sothe
Þat al þe clergye vnder cryste · miȝte me cracche fro helle
But onliche loue and leaute · and my lawful domes

¶ Gregorie wist þis wel · and wilned to my soule
Sauacioun for sothenesse · þat he seigh in my werkes
And after þat he wepte · and wilned me were graunted
Grace wyth-outen any bede-byddynge · his bone was vnderfonge[^347]
And I saued as ȝe may se · with-oute syngyng of masses
By loue and by lernyng of my lyuyng in treuthe
Brouȝte me fro bitter peyne · þere no biddyng myȝte

[^347: L.11.153: The remains of an erased red box can be seen around the last word.]

¶ Lo ȝe lordes what leute did · by an Emperoure of Rome
Þat was an vncrystene creature · as clerkes fyndeth in bokes
Nouȝt þorw preyere of a pope · but for his pure treuthe
Was þat sarasene saued · as seynt Gregorie bereth witnesse
Wel ouȝte ȝe lordes þat lawes kepe · þis lessoun to haue in mynde
And on troianus treuth to thenke · and do treuthe to þe peple
Lawe with-outen loue quod troianus leye þere a bene
Or any science vnder sonne · þe seuene artz and alle
X
But if[^348] þei ben lerned for owre lordes loue · loste is alle þe tyme
For no cause to cacche siluer þere-by · ne to be called a mayster
But al for loue of owre lorde · and þe bet to loue þe peple
For seynte Iohan seyde it · and soth aren his wordes
Qui non diligit manet in morte

[^348: L.11.165: The corrector's if does not appear in any other B manuscript. The dry point <X> in the left margin perhaps points to this lection.]

¶ Who-so loueth nouȝte leue me · he lyueth in deth-deyinge
And þat alle manere men · enemys and frendes
Louen her eyther other · and lene hem as her-selue
Who-so leneth nouȝte · he loueth nouȝte · god wote þe sothe
And comaundeth eche creature · to confourme hym to louye
And souereynelyche pore poeple · and here ennemys after
For hem þat hateth vs · is owre meryte to louye
And pore peple to plese · here prayeres may vs helpe
For owre ioye and owre hele · Ihesu cryst of heuene
In a pore mannes apparaille · pursueth vs euere
And loketh on vs in her liknesse · and þat with[^349] louely chere
To knowen vs by owre kynde herte · and castyng of owre eyen
Wherþer Wheþer we loue þe lordes here · byfor owre lorde of blisse

[^349: L.11.180:The abbreviation includes a punctus under the <t>; both the <t> and punctus may have been added after initial copying by a different hand.]

¶ And exciteth vs bi þe euangelye · þat when we maken festes
We shulde nouȝte clepe owre kynne þer -to · ne none kynnes riche
Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicos
Ac calleth þe careful þer-to þe croked and þe pore
For ȝowre frendes wil feden ȝow · and fonde ȝow to quite
Ȝowre festynge and ȝowre faire ȝifte · vche frende quyteth so other

¶ Ac for þe pore I shal paye · and pure wel quyte her trauaille
Þat ȝiueth hem mete or moneye · and loueth hem for my sake
For þe best ben somme riche · and somme beggers and pore
For alle are we crystes creatures · and of his coffres riche
And bretheren as of o blode · as wel beggares as erles ·
+
For on[^350] caluarye of crystes blode · crystenedome gan sprynge
And blody bretheren we bycome þere · of o body ywonne
As quasi modo geniti · and gentil men vche one
No beggere ne boye amonges vs · but if it synne made
Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati &c

[^350: L.11.194: The word of has been subpuncted and lined through and on supplied supralinearly in keeping with all other beta witnesses. A corrector's <+> in the left margin flagged the error.]

¶ In þe olde lawe · as holy lettre telleth
Mennes sones · men called vs vchone
Of adames issue and Eue · ay til god-man deyde
And after his resurreccioun · Redemptor was his name
And we his bretheren þourgh hym ybouȝt · bothe riche and pore
For-þi loue we as leue bretheren shal · and vche man laughe vp[^351] other
And of þat eche man may forbere · amende þere it nedeth
And euery man helpe other · for hennes shal we alle
Alter alterius onera portate
And be we nouȝte vnkynde of owre catel · ne of owre kunnynge neyther
For noet no man how neighe it is · to be ynome fro bothe
For-þi lakke no lyf other · þough he more latyne knowe
Ne vnder-nym nouȝte foule · for is none with-oute faute
For what-euere clerkis carpe of crystenedome or elles
Cryst to a comune woman seyde · in comune at a feste
Þat fides sua shulde sauen hir and saluen hir of alle[^352] synnes

[^351: L.11.204: LMR read vp and, although BCY have vpon, a majority of B witnesses record of.]

[^352: L.11.214: LCrHmR alone read alle. Most other B manuscripts omit the word entirely or else provide hyr as their reading.]

¶ Þanne is byleue a lele helpe aboue logyke or lawe
Of logyke ne of lawe in legenda sanctorum
Is litel allowaunce made · but if bileue hem helpe
For it is ouerlonge ar logyke · any lessoun assoille
And lawe is loth to louye · but if he lacche syluer
Bothe logyke and lawe · þat loueth nouȝte to lye
I conseille alle crystene · cleue nouȝte þer-on to sore
For sum wordes I fynde ywryten · were of faithes techyng
Þat saued synful men · as seynt Iohan bereth wytnesse
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis

¶ For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue · as owre lorde tauȝte
And as seynte Gregory seide · for mannes soule helthe
Melius est scrutari scelera nostra · quam naturas rerum

¶ Why I moue þis matere  is moste for þe pore
For in her lyknesse owre lorde · ofte hath ben yknowe
Witnesse in þe Paske-wyke · whan he ȝede to Emaus
Cleophas ne knewe hym nauȝte · þat he cryste were
For his pore paraille[^353] · and pylgrymes wedes
Tyl he blessed and brak · þe bred þat þei eten
So bi his werkes þei wisten · þat he was Ihesus
Ac by clothyng þei knewe hym nouȝte · ne bi carpynge of tonge

[^353: L.11.232: LR have the aphetic form paraille. All other B manuscripts read apparaill.]

¶ And al was in ensample · to vs synful here
Þat we shulde be low · and loueliche of speche
And apparaille vs nouȝte ouer-proudly · for pylgrymes ar we alle
And in þe apparaille of a pore man · and pilgrymes lyknesse
Many tyme god hath ben mette · amonge nedy peple
Þere neuere segge hym seigh · in secte of þe riche

¶ Seynt Iohan and other seyntes · were seyne in pore clothynge
And as pore pilgrymes · preyed mennes godis
Ihesu cryste on a iewes douȝter alyȝte · gentil woman þough she were
Was a pure pore mayde · and to a pore man wedded

Martha & Maudelen
¶ Martha on Marye magdeleyne · an huge pleynte she made[^354]
And to owre saueour self · seyde þise wordes
Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me sola[^355] ministrare &c[^356]

[^354: L.11.246: The words Martha & Maudelen are written in the right margin.]

[^355: L.11.248: LMF alone read sola ; all other B witnesses have solam .]

[^356: L.11.248: LHmM have &c · after ministrare .]

¶ And hastiliche god answered · and eytheres wille folwed
Bothe Marthaes and Maries · as Mathew bereth witnesse
Ac pouerte god put bifore · and preysed it þe bettre
Maria optimam partem elegit · que non &c[^357]

[^357: L.11.252: LCrMW alone end the line with non &c. ; most other B manuscripts continue auferetur ab ea .]

parfite povertie
[^358] ¶ And alle þe wyse þat euere were · by auȝte I can aspye
Preysen pouerte for best lyf · if pacience it folwe
And bothe bettere and blisseder · by many folde þan ricchesse
+
Although[^359] it be soure to suffre · þere cometh swete after[^360]
As on a walnot with-oute is a bitter barke
And after þat bitter barke · be þe shelle aweye
Is a kirnelle of conforte · kynde to restore
So is after pouerte or penaunce · pacientlyche ytake
For it maketh a man to haue mynde in gode · and a grete wille
To wepe and to wel bydde · wher-of wexeth mercy
Of which cryst is a kirnelle · to conforte þe soule
And wel sykerer he slepyth · þe man þat is pore
And lasse he dredeth deth · and in derke to be robbed
Þan he þat is riȝte ryche · resoun bereth wytnesse
Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris

[^358: L.11.253: A bracket drawn in the right margin extends from this line to the bottom of the page with the annotation parfite povertie.]

[^359: L.11.256: LMRF read Although; most other B manuscripts read and þouȝ.]

[^360: L.11.256: The last word was written after initial copying, perhaps in response to the corrector's marginal <+>.]

¶ Alþough salamon seide · as folke seeth in þe bible[^361]
Diuicias nec paupertates &c
Wyser þan salamon was · bereth witnesse and tauȝte
Þat parfyte pouert was · no possessioun to haue
And lyf moste lykynge to god · as luke bereth witnesse
Si vis perfectus esse · vade & vende &c
And is to mene to men · þat on þis molde lyuen
Who-so wil be pure parfyt · mote possessioun forsake
Or selle it as seith þe boke · and þe syluer dele
To beggeres þat gone and begge · and bidden good for goddes loue

[^361: L.11.268: Illegible marks appear in the right margin.]

¶ For failled neuere man mete · þat myȝtful god serued
As dauid seith in þe sauter · to suche þat ben in wille
To serue god godeliche · ne greueth hym no penaunce
Nichil inpossibile volenti
Ne lakketh neuere lyflode · lynnen ne wollen
Inquirentes autem dominum · non minuentur omni bono
[^362] If prestes weren parfyt · þei wolde no syluer take
For masses ne for matynes · nouȝte her mete of vsureres
Ne neither kirtel ne cote · þeigh þey for colde shulde deye
And þei her deuor dede · as dauid seith in þe sauter
Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam
Spera in deo speketh of prestes · þat haue no spendyng syluer
Þat ȝif þei trauaille trewlich · and trusten in god almiȝti
Hem shulde lakke no lyflode · noyther wollen ne lynnen
And þe title þat þei take ordres by · telleth ȝe ben auaunced
Þanne nedeth nouȝte ȝow to take syluer · for masses þat ȝe syngen
For he þat toke ȝow ȝowre tytle · shulde take ȝow ȝowre wages
Or þe bisshop þat blesseth ȝow · if þat ȝe ben worthy

[^362: L.11.284-324: A bracket added by a sixteenth-century hand extends the length of the page in the left margin.]

X
¶ For made neuere no kynge[^363] no knyȝte · but he hadde catel to spende
As bifel for a kniȝte · or fonde hym for his strengthe
It is a careful knyȝte · and of a caytyue kynges makynge
Þat hath no londe ne lynage riche · ne good loos of his handes
Þe same I segge for sothe · by alle suche prestes
Þat han noyther kunnynge ne kynne · but a croune one
And a tytle a tale of nouȝte · to his lyflode at myschief
He hath more bileue as I leue · to lacche þorw his croune
Cure · þan for konnyng · or knowen for clene of berynge
I haue wonder & why · and wher-fore þe bisshop
Maketh suche prestes · þat lewed men bytrayen

[^363: L.11.296: LHm alone add no before kynge. This addition may explain the large <X> in the left margin, four lines high, the top even with this line.]

The title of Prestes &c

[L.11.284-324: A sixteenth-century annotator has written The title of Prestes &c to the left of this line group, bracketing all the text on the page.]

¶ A chartre is chalengeable · byfor a chief iustice
+
If false latyne be in þa[^364] lettre · þe lawe it inpugneth
Or peynted parenterlinarie · parceles ouer -skipped
Þe gome þat gloseth so chartres · for a goky is holden

[^364: L.11.308: The corrector's marginal <+> notes the scribe's use of þa for þat, also marked by the corrector at L.3.308 (where it is corrected) and L.15.19 (where it is not).]

¶ So is it a goky by god · þat in his gospel failleth
Or in masse or in matynes · maketh any defaute
Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus &c
And also in þe sauter · seyth dauyd to ouerskippers
Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam rex terre deus israel psallite sapienter
Þe bisshop shal be blamed · bifor god as I leue
Þat crouneth suche goddes kniȝtes · þat conneth nouȝt sapienter
Synge ne psalmes rede · ne segge a messe of þe day
Ac neuer neyther is blamelees · þe bisshop ne þe chapleyne
For her eyther is endited · and þat of ignorancia
Non excusat episcopos · nec idiotes prestes

¶ Þis lokynge on lewed prestes · haþ don me lepe fram pouerte
Þe whiche I preyse þere pacyence is · more parfyt þan ricchesse

nota

[L.11.324: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

¶ Ac moche more in metynge þus · with me gan one dispute
And slepynge I seigh al þis · and sithen cam kynde
And nempned me by my name · and bad me nymen hede
And þorw þe wondres of þis worlde · wytte for to take
And on a mountaigne þat mydelerd hyȝte · as me þo þouȝte
I was fette forth · by ensaumples to knowe
Þorugh eche a creature and kynde · my creatoure to louye
I seigh þe sonne and þe see · and þe sonde after
And where þat bryddes and bestes · by here make þei ȝeden
Wylde wormes in wodes · and wonderful foules
With flekked fetheres · and of fele coloures
Man and his make · I myȝte bothe byholde
Pouerte and plente · bothe pees and werre
Blisse and bale · bothe I seigh at ones
And how men token Mede · and mercy refused

¶ Resoune I seighe sothly suen alle bestes
In etyng in drynk ynge · and in engendrynge of kynde
And after course of concepcioun · none toke kepe of other
As whan þei hadde ryde in rotey-tyme · anon riȝte þer-after
Males drowen hem to males · a-mornynges bi hem-self
+
And in euenynges also · ȝe [þ]e[^365] males fro femeles
Þere ne was cow ne cowkynde · þat conceyued hadde
Þat wolde belwe after boles · ne bore after sowe
Bothe horse and houndes · and alle other bestes
Medled nouȝte wyth here makes · þat with fole were

[^365: L.11.344: L's erroneous ȝe instead of þe is noted by the corrector's <+> in the margin.]

¶ Briddes I bihelde · þat in buskes made nestes
Hadde neuere wye witte · to worche þe leest
I hadde wonder at whom · and where þe pye lerned
To legge þe stykkes · in whiche she leythe and bredeth
Þere nys wriȝte as I wene · shulde worche hir neste to paye
If any masoun made a molde þer-to · moche wonder it were

¶ And ȝet me merueilled more · how many other briddes
Hudden and hileden · her egges ful derne
In mareys and mores · for men sholde hem nouȝt fynde
And hudden here egges · whan þei þere-fro wente
For fere of other foules · and for wylde bestis

¶ And some troden her makes · and on trees bredden
And brouȝten forth her bryddes so · al aboue þe grounde
And some bryddes at þe bille · þorwgh brethynge conceyued
And some kauked I toke kepe · how pekokes bredden
Moche merueilled me · what maister þei hadde
And who tauȝte hem on trees · to tymbre so heigh
Þere noither buirn ne beste · may her briddes rechen

¶ And sythen I loked vpon[^366] þe see · and so forth vpon[^367] þe sterres
Many selcouthes I seygh · ben nought to seye nouthe

[^366: L.11.367: LHmWMR read vpon; most other B witnesses have on.]

[^367: L.11.367: LCrWMR have vpon. Most B witnesses read on.]

¶ I seigh floures in þe fritthe · and her faire coloures
And how amonge þe grene grasse · grewe so many hewes
+
[^368]And somme soure and some swete · selcouthe me þouȝte
Of her kynde and her coloure · to carpe it were to longe

[^368: L.11.371: Presumably referring to the omitted to in the following line, a <+> in the left margin has been erased.]

¶ Ac þat moste moeued me · and my mode chaunged
Þat resoun rewarded · and reuled alle bestes
Saue man and his make · many tyme and ofte
No resoun hem folwed · and þanne I rebuked
Resoun · and riȝte til hym-seluen I seyde
I haue wonder of þe quod I · þat witty art holden
Why þow ne suwest man and his make · þat no mysfait hem folwe

¶ And resoun arated me · and seyde recche þe neuere
Whi I suffre or nouȝt suffre · þi-self hast nouȝt to done
Amende þow it[^369] if þow myȝte · for my tyme is to abyde
Suffraunce is a souereygne vertue · and a swyfte veniaunce
Who suffreth more þan god quod he · no gome as I leue
[^370] He miȝte amende in a Minute-while · al þat mys-standeth
Ac he suffreth for somme mannes good · and so is owre bettre

[^369: L.11.382: LCrWR alone read þow it, although a correction in Hm places it before þow and F simply has it. The most common B reading is þow alone.]

[^370: L.11.385: A marginal gloss appears to have been erased in the left margin, but nothing is legible.]

¶ Þe wyse and þe witty · wrote þus in þe bible
de re que te non molestat noly certare
For be a man faire or foule · it falleth nouȝte forto lakke
Þe shappe ne þe shafte · þat god shope hym-selue
For al[^371] þat he did was wel ydo · as holywrit witnesseth
Et vidit deus cunta que fecerat et erant valde bona

[^371: L.11.391: The a-verse originally read For al þe did was wel ydo. The corrector who supplied þat he presumably intended it to replace þe, although þe was not deleted.]

¶ And badde euery creature · in his kynde encrees
Al to murthe with man · þat most woo tholye
In fondynge of þe flesshe · and of þe fende bothe
For man was made of suche a matere · he may nouȝt wel astert
Þat ne some-tymes[^372] hym bitit · to folwen his kynde
Catoun acordeth þere-with · nemo sine crimine viuit

[^372: L.11.397: LR alone read tymes; all other B manuscripts have tyme. Among C-texts, PEcVcAcScZKcGc also have tymes.]

¶ Tho cauȝte I coloure anon · and comsed to ben aschamed
And awaked þer-with · wo was me þanne
Þat I in meteles ne myȝte · more haue yknowen
And þanne seyde I to my-self · and chidde þat tyme
Now I wote what dowel is quod I · by dere god as me þinketh
And as I caste vp myn eyghen · one loked on me and axed
Of me what þinge it were · ywisse sire I seide
To se moche and suffre more · certes quod I is dowel

¶ Haddestow suffred he seyde · slepyng þo þow were
Þow sholdest haue knowen þat clergye can · and conceiued more þorugh resoun
For resoun wolde haue reherced þe · riȝte as clergye saide
Ac for þine entermetyng · here artow forsake
Philosophus esses si tacuisses

¶ Adam whhiles w[h]iles he spak nouȝt · had paradys at wille
Ac whan he mameled aboute mete · and entermeted to knowe
Þe wisdom and þe witte of god · he was put fram blisse
And riȝt so ferde resoun bi the · þow with rude speche
Lakkedest and losedest þinge · þat longed nouȝt to be done
Þo hadde he no lykynge · forto lere þe more

¶ Pruide now and presumpcioun · par -auenture wole þe appele
That clergye þi compaignye · ne kepeth nouȝt to sue
Shal neuere chalangynge ne chydynge · chaste a man so sone
As shal shame and shenden hym · and shape hym to amende
For lat a dronken daffe · in a dyke falle
Late hym ligge loke nouȝte on hym · til hym lest to ryse
For þough resoun rebuked hym þanne · it were but pure synne
Ac whan nede nymeth hym vp · for doute lest he sterue
And shame shrapeth his clothes · & his shynes wassheth
Þanne wote þe dronken daffe · wherfore he is to blame

¶ Ȝe seggen soth quod I · ich haue yseyne it ofte
Þere smitte no þinge so smerte · ne smelleth so soure
+
As shame þere he sheweth hi m[^373] · for euery man[^374] hym shonyeth
Why ȝe wisse me þus quod I · was for I rebuked resoun

[^373: L.11.430: The corrector's <+> in the left margin probably refers to original hin, to which a minim has been added to correct to him.]

[^374: L.11.430: Two apparently meaningless points appear above man.]

¶ Certes quod he þat is soth · and shope hym forto walken
And I aros vp riȝt with þat · and folwed hym after
And preyed hym of his curteisye · to telle me his name

Passus xijus Duodecimus

I[^375] am ymagynatyf quod he · Idel was I neuere
Þouȝe I sitte bi my-self · in sikenesse ne[^376] in helthe
I haue folwed þe in feithe · þis fyue and fourty wyntre
And many tymes haue moeued þe · to þinke on þine ende
And how fele fernȝeres are faren · and so fewe to come
And of þi wylde wantounesse · þo þow ȝonge were
To amende it in þi myddel age · lest miȝte þe faylled
In þyne olde elde · þat yuel can suffre
Pouerte or penaunce · or preyeres bidde
Si non in prima vigilia · nec in secunda &c
Amende þe while þow myȝte · þow hast ben warned ofte
With poustees of pestilences with pouerte and with angres
And with þise bitter baleyses · god beteth his dere childeren
Quem diligo castigo
And dauid in þe sauter seith · of suche þat loueth Ihesus
Virga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt &c
Al-þough þow stryke me with þi staffe · with stikke or with ȝerde
It is but murth as for me to amende my soule
And þow medlest þe with makynges · and myȝtest go sey þi sauter
And bidde for hem þat ȝiueth þe bred · for þere ar bokes ynowe
To telle men what dowel is · dobet and dobest bothe
And prechoures to preue what it is · of many a peyre freres

[^375: L.12.1: The lombard capital <I> is ten lines high in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <i> appears in the left margin.]

[^376: L.12.2: LMR alone read ne; most other B manuscripts have and.]

¶ I seigh wel he sayde me soth · and somwhat me to excuse
Seid catoun conforted his sone · þat clerke þough he were
To solacen hym sum-tyme · as I do whan I make
Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis · &c ·

¶ And of holy men I herde quod I · how þei otherwhile
Pleyden þe parfiter · to be in many places
Ac if þere were any wight · þat wolde me telle
What were / dowel / and / dobet / · and dobest / atte laste[^377]
Wolde I neuere do werke · but wende to holicherche
And þere bydde my bedes · but whan ich eet or slepe

[^377: L.12.30: The scribe has inserted rubricated virgules to complement the underlining.]

¶ Poule in his pistle quod he · preueth what is dowel
Fides spes caritas & maior horum &c
Feith hope and charitee · and alle ben good
And sauen men sundry tymes · ac none so sone as charite
For he doth wel with-oute doute · þat doth as lewte techeth
Þat is if þow be man maried · þi make þow louye
And lyue forth as lawe wole · while ȝe lyuen bothe

¶ Riȝt so if þow be Religious · renne þow neuere ferther
To Rome ne to Rochemadore · but as þi reule techeth
And holde þe vnder obedyence · þat heigh wey is to heuene

¶ And if þow be mayden to marye · and miȝte wel contynue
Seke þow neuere seynt forther · for no soule helthe
For what made Lucyfer · to lese þe heigh heuene
Or salamon his sapience · or sampson his strengthe
Iob þe Iewe his ioye · dere he it abouȝte
Arestotle and other mo · ypocras & virgyle
Alisaundre þat al wan · elengelich ended

¶ Catel and kynde witte · was combraunce to hem alle
Felyce hir fayrnesse · fel hir al to sklaundre
And Rosamounde riȝt so reufully bysette
Þe bewte of hir body · in badnesse she dispended
Of many suche I may rede · of men and of wommen
Þat wyse wordes wolde shewe · and worche þe contraye
Sunt homines nequam bene de virtute loquentes

¶ And riche renkes riȝt so · gaderen and sparen
And þo men þat þei moste haten · mynistren it atte laste
And for þei suffren & se · so many nedy folkes
And loue hem nouȝt as owre lorde bytte · lesen her soules
Date & dabitur vobis &c ·

¶ And ricchesse riȝt so · but if þe Rote be trewe
Ac grace is a grasse þer-of · þo greuaunces to abate
Ac grace ne groweth nouȝte · but amonges lowe
Pacience and pouerte · þe place is þere it groweth
+
And in lele lyuynge men · and in lyf-holy[^378]
And þorugh þe gyfte of þe holygoste · as þe gospel telleth
Spiritus vbi vult spirat &c
Clergye and kynde witte · comth of siȝte and techynge
As þe boke bereth witnesse · to buirnes þat can rede
Quod scimus loquimur quod vidimus testamur
Of quod scimus cometh clergye · and connynge of heuene
+
And of quod vidimus cometh kynde witte of siȝte of dyuese dyue[r]se[^379] peple
Ac grace is a gyfte of god · and of gret loue spryngeth
Knewe neuere clerke how it cometh forth · ne kynde witte þe weyes
Nescit aliquis vnde venit · aut quo vadit &c
Ac ȝit is clergye to comende · and kyndewitte kynde witte bothe
And namely clergye for crystes loue · þat of clergye is rote
For Moyses witnesseth þat god wrote · for to wisse þe peple
In þe olde lawe as þe lettre telleth · þat was þe lawe of iewes
+
Þat what woman were in[^380] auoutrie taken · were she[^381] riche or pore
With stones men shulde hir stryke · and stone hir to deth
A womman as we fynden · was gulty of þat dede
Ac cryste of his curteisye · þorw clergye hir saued
For þorw carectus þat cryst wrot · þe iewes knewe hem-seluen
Gultier as afor god · and gretter in synne
Þan þe woman þat þere was · and wenten awey for schame
Þe clergye þat þere was · conforted þe womman
Holykirke knoweth þis · þat crystes writyng saued
So clergye is conforte · to creatures þat repenten
And to mansed men · myschief at her ende

[^378: L.12.66: A partially erased <+> appears in the right margin.]

[^379: L.12.73: The corrector's <+> in the margin notes the scribe's erroneous dyuese for dyuerse.]

[^380: L.12.81: The in was added in the left margin after initial copying, probably in response to the corrector's marginal <+>.]

[^381: L.12.81: LHmMW and alpha have the feminine pronoun (he in R alone) which is omitted by the other beta witnesses.]

¶ For goddes body myȝte nouȝte be of bred · with-outen clergye
Þe which body is bothe · bote to þe riȝtful
And deth and dampnacioun · to hem þat dyeth yuel
As crystes carecte conforted and bothe coupable shewed
Þe womman þat þe iewes brouȝte · þat Ihesus þouȝte[^382] to saue
Nolite iudicare et non iudicabimini &c
Riȝt so goddes body bretheren · but it be worthily taken
Dampneth vs atte daye of dome · as þe carectes dede þe iewes
For-þi I conseille þe for cristes sake · clergye þat þow louye
For kynde witte is of his kyn · and neighe cosynes bothe
To owre lorde leue me · for-þi loue hem I rede
For bothe ben as miroures · to amenden owre defautes
And lederes for lewed men · and for lettred bothe

[^382: L.12.96: An otiose tilde appears over þouȝte.]

¶ For-þi lakke þow neuere logyke · lawe ne his custumes
Ne countreplede clerkes · I conseille þe for eure
For as a man may nouȝt se · þat mysseth his eyghen
Namore can no klerke · but if he cauȝt it first þorugh bokes
Al-þough men made bokes · god was þe maistre
And seynt spirit þe saumplarye · and seide what men sholde write
And riȝt as syȝte[^383] serueth a man · to se þe heighe strete
Riȝt so ledeth letterure · lewed men to resoun
And as a blynde man in bataille · bereth wepne to fiȝte
And hath none happ with his axe · his enemye to hitte
Namore kan a kynde-witted man · but clerkes hym teche
Come for al his kynde witte · to crystendome and be saued
Whiche is þe coffre of crystes tresore · and clerkes kepe þe keyes
To vnlouken it at her lykynge · and to þe lewed peple
[^384] Ȝyue mercy for her mysdedes · if men it wole aske
Buxomelich & benygneliche · and bidden it of grace

[^383: L.12.111: An otiose tilde appears over syȝte.]

[^384: L.12.119: There is evidence in the left margin of a scraped gloss and possibly of a bracket extending from here through the next line group.]

¶ Archa dei in þe olde lawe · leuites it kepten
Hadde neuere lewed man leue · to leggen honde on þat chest
+
[^385] But he were preste or prestes sone · patriarke or prophete

[^385: L.12.123: The corrector's <+> appears in the left margin. There is no error in the text at this point; however, since the alpha witnesses at this point have ten lines not attested in any beta manuscript, the corrector's mark here is tantalizing but opaque. The ten lines are KD.12.116-125α. For a similar instance, see the note to L.20.66.]

¶ For clergye is kepere vnder cryst of heuene
Was þere neuere no knyȝte · but clergye hym made
Ac kynde witte cometh of alkynnes siȝtes
Of bryddes and of bestes · of tastes of treuthe and of deceytes

¶ Lyueres to-forn vs · vseden to marke
Þe selkouthes þat þei seighen · her sones for to teche
And helden it an heighe science · her wittes to knowe
Ac þorugh her science sothely · was neuere no soule ysaued
Ne brouȝte by her bokes · to blisse ne to ioye
For alle her kynde knowynges · come but of dyuerse sightes

¶ Patriarkes and prophetes · repreued her science
And seiden her wordes ne her wisdomes · nas but a folye
As to þe clergye of cryst · counted it but a trufle
Sapiencia huius mundi · stulticia apud deum
For þe heihe holigoste · heuene shal to-cleue
And loue shal lepe out after · in-to þis lowe erthe
And clennesse shal cacchen it · and clerkes shullen it fynde
Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem

¶ He speketh þere of riche men riȝt nouȝt · ne of riȝt witty
Ne of lordes þat were lewed men · but of þe hexte lettred oute
Ibant magi ab oriente &c

¶ If any frere were founde þere · Ich ȝif þe fyue shillynges
Ne in none beggares cote · was þat barne borne
But in a burgeys place · of bethlem þe best
Set non erat locus in diuersorio / & pauper non habet diuersorium

¶ To pastours and to poetes appiered þat[^386] aungel
And bad hem go to bethlem · goddis burth · to honoure
And songe a songe of solas · gloria in excelsis deo

[^386: L.12.149: LM alone have þat; most other beta manuscripts have þe.]

¶ Clerkes knewe it wel · and comen with here presentz
And deden her homage honourablely · to hym þat was almyȝty
Why I haue tolde al þis · I toke ful gode hede
How þow contraryedest clergye · with crabbed wordes
How þat lewed men liȝtloker · þan lettred were saued
Þan clerkes or kynde-witted men · of crystene peple

¶ And þow seidest soth of somme · ac se in what manere
Take two stronge men · and in themese caste hem
And bothe naked as a nedle · her none syker[^387] þan other
Þat one hath connynge and can swymmen and dyuen
Þat other is lewed of þat laboure · lerned neuere swymme
Which trowestow of þo two · in themese is in moste drede
He þat neuere ne dyued · ne nouȝt can of swymmynge
Or þe swymmere þat is sauf · bi so hym-self lyke
Þere his felaw flet forth · as þe flode lyketh
And is in drede to drenche · þat neuere dede swymme

[^387: L.12.160: LMR read syker, although M has a second <er> added in a different ink to match the common B reading of sikerer.]

¶ Þat swymme can nouȝt I seide · it semeth to my wittes

¶ Riȝt so quod þe Renke resoun it sheweth
Þat he þat knoweth clergye can sonner aryse
Out of synne and be sauf · þough he synne ofte
If hym lyketh and lest · þan any lewed lelly
For if þe clerke be konnynge · he knoweth what is synne
And how contricioun with-oute confessioun · conforteth þe soule
As þow seest in þe sauter · in psalme[^388] one or tweyne
How contricioun is commended · for it caccheth awey synne
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta sunt &c ·
And þis conforteth vch a clerke · and keuereth hym fram wanhope
In which flode þe fende · fondeth a man hardest
Þere þe lewed lith stille · and loketh[^389] after lente
And hath no contricioun ar he come to shryfte · & þanne can he litel telle
And as his lores-man leres hym · bileueth & troweth
And þat is after person or parisch prest · and parauenture
Vnconnynge to lere lewed men · as luk bereth witnesse
Dum cecus ducit cecum &c ·

[^388: L.12.175: LRF alone have singular psalme; other B manuscripts have Salmes.]

[^389: L.12.180: A red dot appears over loketh which may or may not be intentional.]

¶ Wo was hym marked · þat wade mote with þe lewed
Wel may þe barne blisse · þat hym to boke sette
Þat lyuynge after letterure saued hym lyf and soule
Dominus pars hereditatis mee is a meri verset
Þat has take fro tybourne · twenti stronge þeues
Þere lewed theues ben lolled vp · loke how þei be saued
Þe thef þat had grace of god · on gode fryday as þow speke
Was for he ȝelte hym creaunt to cryst on þe crosse · & knewleched hym gulty
And grace axed of god · and he is euer redy
Þat boxomeliche biddeth it · and ben in wille to amenden hem
Ac þough þat þef had heuene · he hadde none heigh blisse
in domo meo multe sunt mansiones
As seynt Iohan and other seyntes · þat asserued[^390] hadde bettere
Riȝt as sum man ȝeue me mete · and sette me amydde þe flore
Ich haue mete more þan ynough · ac nouȝt so moche worship
As þo þat seten atte syde table · or with þe souereignes of þe halle
But sitte as a[^391] begger bordelees · bi my-self on þe grounde
So it fareth bi þat feloun · þat a gode fryday was saued
He sitte neither with Seynt Iohan · Symonde ne Iude
Ne wyth maydenes ne with martires confessoures ne wydwes
But by hym-self as a soleyne · and serued on þe erthe
For he þat is ones a thef · is euermore in daungere
And as lawe lyketh · to lyue or to deye
De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu
And forto seruen a seynt · and such a thef togyderes
It were noyther resoun ne riȝt · to rewarde hem bothe aliche

[^390: L.12.197: LR alone read asserued; other B manuscripts have deserued.]

[^391: L.12.201: A curved, apparently meaningless, mark in darker brown ink than the text appears above <a>.]

¶ And riȝt as troianus þe trewe knyȝt · tilde nouȝt depe in helle
Þat owre lorde ne had hym liȝtlich oute · so leue I þe thef be in heuene
For he is in þe lowest of heuene · if owre bileue be trewe
And wel loselyche he lolleth þere · by þe lawe of holycherche
Quia reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua &c

¶ And why þat one thef on þe crosse · creaunt hym ȝelt
Rather þan þat other thef · þough þow wolde appose
Alle þe clerkes vnder cryst · ne couthe þe skil assoille
Quare placuit quia voluit
And so I sey by þe · þat sekest after þe whyes
And aresonedest resoun · a rebukyng as it were
And of þe floures in þe fryth · and of her feire hewes
Where -of þei cacche her coloures · so clere and so briȝte
And willest of briddes and of bestes[^392] · and of hire bredyng to knowe
Why somme be alowe and somme alofte · þi lykyng it were
And of þe stones and of þe sterres · þow studyest as I leue
How euere beste or brydde · hath so breme wittes

[^392: L.12.224: L originally omitted of before bestes. It was supplied in a superlinear addition by a later hand.]

¶ Clergye ne kynde witte ne knewe neuere þe cause
Ac kynde knoweth þe cause hym-selue · no creature elles
He is þe pyes patroun · and putteth it in hire ere
Þat þere þe þorne is thikkest · to buylden and brede
And kynde kenned þe pecok · to cauken in swich a kynde
And kenned Adam · to knowe his pryue membres
And tauȝte hym and Eue · to hylien hem with leues

¶ Lewed men many tymes · maistres þei apposen
Why Adam ne[^393] hiled nouȝt firste · his mouth þat eet þe apple
Rather þan his lykam alow · lewed axen þus clerkes
Kynde knoweth whi he dede so · ac no clerke elles
Ac of briddes and of bestes · men by olde tyme
+
Ensamples token and terme s[^394] · as telleth þis poetes
And þat þe fairest foule · foulest engendreth
And feblest foule of flyght is · þat fleegheth or swymmeth
And þat is þe pekok & þe pohenne proude · riche men þei bitokneth
For þe pekok and men pursue hym · may nouȝte fleighe heighe
For þe traillyng of his taille · ouertaken is he sone
And his flesshe is foule flesshe · and his feet bothe
And vnlouelich of ledene · and laith for to here

[^393: L.12.236: LCrMWR read ne; all other B witnesses omit it.]

[^394: L.12.240: The <s> of termes is written over an erasure, and a scraped <+> is just visible in the left margin, suggesting that the scribe made the correction in response to the mark and then attempted to erase the mark.]

¶ Riȝt so þe riche if he his ricchesse kepe
And deleth it nouȝt tyl his deth-day · þe taille of al sorwe
Riȝt as þe pennes of þe pecok · payned hym in his fliȝte
So is possessioun payne · of pens · and of nobles
To alle hem þat it holdeth · til her taille be plukked
And þough þe riche repente þanne · and birewe þe tyme
Þat euere he gadered so grete · and gaf þere-of so litel
Þough he crye to cryst þanne · with kene wille I leue
+
His ledne be in owre lordes ere · lyke a pyes[^395]
And whan his caroigne shal come · in caue to be buryed
I leue it flaumbe ful foule · þe folde al aboute
And alle þe other þer it lyth · enuenymed[^396] þorgh his attere
By þe p rofeet [po feet][^397] is vnderstonde · as I haue lerned in auyne t
Excecutoures [Ex]ecutoures · fals frendes · þat fulfille nouȝt his wille
Þat was writen and þei witnesse · to worche riȝt as it wolde
Þus þe poete preues · þat þe pecok for his fetheres is reuerenced
Riȝt so is þe riche · bi resoun of his godis

[^395: L.12.256: LBCC2GOYR all fail to complete this line with chiteryng or chatrynge. The corrector's <+> in the right margin may indicate his awareness of the reading.]

[^396: L.12.259: LCrR alone read enuenymed; other B manuscripts have enuenymeþ.]

[^397: L.12.260: The fact that <ro> is written over an erasure suggests that the scribe may have originally written the correct po feet and then, not understanding this to mean "peacock's feet," hypercorrected the text to profeet.]

¶ Þe larke þat is a lasse foule · is more louelich of ledne
And wel awey of wenge swifter þan þe pecok
And of flesch by fele-folde · fatter and swetter
To lowe-lybbyng men · þe larke is resembled ·
[^398] ¶ Arestotle þe grete clerke  suche tales he telleth

[^398: L.12.269: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

¶ Thus he lykneth in his logyk · þe leste foule oute
And where he be sauf or nouȝt sauf · þe sothe wote no clergye
Ne of sortes ne of salamon · no scripture can telle
Ac god is so good I hope · þat sitth he gaf hem wittis
To wissen vs weyes þere-with · þat wissen vs to be saued
And þe better for her bokes · to bidden we ben holden
Þat god for his grace gyue her soules reste
For lettred men were lewed men ȝut · ne were lore of her bokes

¶ Alle þise clerkes quod I þo · þat on cryst leuen
Seggen in her sarmones · þat noyther sarasenes ne iewes
Ne no creature of cristes lyknesse · with-outen crystendome worth saued

¶ Contra quod ymagynatyf[^399] þo · and comsed for to loure
And seyde saluabitur vix iustus in die iudicij

[^399: L.12.281: The second <y> may, perhaps, have been written over an erasure, or the vellum is simply flawed and uneven. In any case, it is not possible to see what may have lain under the <y>.]

¶ Ergo saluabitur quod he · and seyde namore latyne
Troianus was a trewe knyȝte · and toke neuere cristendome
+
And he is[^400] sauf so seith þe boke · and his soule in heuene
For þere is fullyng of fonte · and fullyng in blode shedyng
And þorugh fuire is fullyng · and þat is ferme bileue
Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens sed illuminans &c ·

[^400: L.12.285: The correction is in response to the corrector's <+> in the left margin.]

¶ Ac trewth þat trespassed neuere · ne transuersed[^401] aȝeines his lawe
But lyueth as his lawe techeth · and leueth þere be no bettere
And if þere were he wolde amende · and in suche wille deyeth
Ne wolde neuere trewe god · but treuth were allowed
And where it worth or worth nouȝt · þe bileue is grete of treuth
And an hope hangyng þer -inne · to haue a Mede for his treuth
For deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam · suis hoc est fidelibus
et alibi si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis
Þe glose graunteth vpon þat vers · a gret mede to treuthe
And witt and wisdome quod þat wye · was somme-tyme tresore
To kepe with a comune · no katel was holde bettere
And moche murth and manhod · and riȝt wit h þat he vanesched

[^401: L.12.289: LCrR alone read transuersed; most other B manuscripts have trauersed.]

Passus terciodecimus

A nd[^402] I awaked þere-with · witles nerehande
And as a freke þat fre were · forth gan I walke
In manere of a mendynaunt · many a ȝere after
And of þis metyng many tyme · moche þouȝt I hadde
First how fortune me failled · at my moste nede
And how þat elde manaced me · myȝt we euere meten

[^402: L.13.1: The ornamental capital <A> is eight lines high in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide-letter <a> is obscured by the flourishes.]

¶ And how þat freris folwed · folke þat was riche
And folke þat was pore · at litel prys þei sette
And no corps in her kirkeȝerde · ne in her kyrke was buryed
But quikke he biquethe hem auȝte · or shulde helpe quyte her dettes
And how þis coueitise ouercome · clerkes and prestes
And how þat lewed men ben ladde · but owre lorde hem helpe
Þorugh vnkonnyng curatoures · to incurable peynes

¶ And how þat ymagynatyf · in dremeles me tolde
Of kynde and of his connyng · and how curteise he is to bestes
And how louynge he is to bestes · on londe and on water
Leneth he no lyf · lasse ne more
Þe creatures þat crepen · of kynde ben engendred
And sitthen how ymagynatif seyde vix iustus saluabitur
And whan he had seyde so · how sodeynelich he passed

¶ I lay down longe in þis þouȝte · and atte laste I slepte
And as cryste wolde þere come conscience · to conforte me þat tyme
And bad me come to his courte · with clergye sholde I dyne

¶ And for conscience of clergye spake · I come wel þe rather
And þere I say a maistre · what man he was I neste
Þat lowe louted · and loueliche to scripture

¶ Conscience knewe hym wel · and welcomed hym faire
Þei wesshen and wypeden · and wenten to þe dyner
Ac pacience in þe paleis stode in pilgrymes clothes
And preyde mete for charite · for a pore heremyte

¶ Conscience called hym in · and curteisliche seide
Welcome wy el ȝe wye[^403] go and wasshe · þow shalt sitte sone

[^403: L.13.32: The last two letters of wyel have been written over an erasure and ȝe after it supralinearly in the same hand. This is a mistake for correct, and probably original wye.]

¶ Þis maister was made sitte · as for þe moste worthy
And þanne clergye and conscience · and pacience cam after

¶ Pacience and I were put to be macches
And seten by owre-selue at a syde borde

¶ Conscience called after mete · and þanne cam scripture
And serued hem þus sone · of sondry metes manye
Of austyn of ambrose · of alle þe foure euangelistes
Edentes & bibentes · que apud eos sunt
Ac þis maister ne his man · no manere flessh eten
Ac þei ete mete of more coste · mortrewes and potages
Of þat men mys-wonne · þei made hem wel at ese
Ac her sauce was ouer soure · & vnsauourely grounde
In a morter post mortem · of many bitter peyne
But if þei synge for þo soules · and wepe salt teres
contra sacerdotes
Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effunderitis · ea que in delicijs comeditis · in tormentis euometis[^404]
+
Conscience ful[^405] curteisly þo · comaunded scripture
Bifor pacience bred to brynge · and me þat was his macche
He sette a soure lof to-for vs · and seyde agite penitenciam
And sith he drough vs drynke · dia perseuerans
As longe quod I as I lyue · and lycame may dure
Here is propre seruice quod pacience · þer fareth no prynce bettere

[^404: L.13.47: The words contra sacerdotes appear in the right margin as well as a cross under con-.]

[^405: L.13.48: L alone reads for in place of the marginally supplied ful; other B manuscripts either omit it or have ful. The corrector had marked the line with his usual <+> and underlined for. He or another hand supplied ful in the left margin in a lighter ink than the text. Kane and Donaldson suggest tentatively that the word for may have been written over an erasure, but we see no evidence to support that suggestion.]

¶ And þanne he brouȝt vs[^406] forth a mees of other mete  of Miserrere Mise[r]ere mei deus
And he brouȝte vs of Beati quorum of beatus virres makyng
Et quorum tecta sunt peccata in a dissh
Of derne shrifte dixi and confitebor tibi
Brynge pacience some pitaunce · pryueliche quod conscience

[^406: L.13.54: LMWR alone read vs; all other B witnesses omit it.]

¶ And þanne had pacience a pitaunce pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno
And conscience conforted vs · and carped vs mery tales
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies

¶ Pacience was proude of þat propre seruice
And made hym muirth with his mete · ac I morned euere
For þis doctoure on þe heigh dese · dranke wyn so faste
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum

¶ He eet many sondry metes · mortrewes and puddynges
Wombe cloutes and wylde braune · & egges y-fryed with grece
Þanne seide I to my-self so · pacience it herde
It is nouȝt foure dayes · þat þis freke · bifor þe den of poules
Preched of penaunces · þat poule þe apostle suffred
In fame & frigore · and flappes of scourges
Ter cesus sum & a iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c ·

¶ Ac o worde þei ouerhuppen · at ech a[^407] tyme þat þei preche
Þat poule in his pistel · to al þe peple tolde
Periculum est in falsis fratribus
holywrit bit men be war · I wil nouȝt write it here
On englisch an auenture · it sholde be reherced to ofte
And greue þere-with þat good men ben[^408] · ac gramarienes shul rede
Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat quia vt dicitur[^409] periculum est in falsis fratribus

[^407: L.13.73: LMWR read a; all other B manuscripts omit it.]

[^408: L.13.78: LRF alone read þat good men ben; other B manuscripts read either þat goode beene or just goode men.]

[^409: L.13.79: The first half of the line has been erased and written over in black ink by a later hand, dating to s. xvii at the earliest. The addition accords with the readings of other B witnesses.]

¶ Ac I wist neuere freke þat as a frere ȝede · bifor men on englissh
Taken it for her teme · and telle it with-outen glosynge
[^410] Þei prechen þat pen aunce is · profitable to þe soule
And what myschief and malese · cryst for man tholed
Ac þis goddes gloton quod I · with his gret chekes
Hath no pyte on vs pore · he perforneth yuel
Þat he precheth he preueth nouȝt · to pacience I tolde
+
And wisshed witterly · with wille[^411] ful egre
Þat disshes a[^412] dobleres · bifor þis ilke doctour
Were moltoun led in his maw · and Mahoun amyddes
I shal iangle to þis Iurdan · with his iust wombe
To telle me what penaunce is · of which he preched rather
Pacience parceyued what I thouȝt · and wynked on me to be stille
And seyde þow shalt[^413] se þus sone · whan he may no more
He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche · and puffe at ech a worde
And þanne shullen his guttis godele[^414] · and he shal galpen after
For now he hath dronken so depe · he wil deuyne sone
And preuen it by her pocalips · and passioun of seynt Auereys
Þat neither bacoun ne braune · blanmangere ne mortrewes
Is noither fisshe no[^415] flesshe · but fode for a penaunte
And þanne shal he testifye of a trinitee · and take his felawe to witnesse
What he fonde in a freyel · after a freres lyuyng
And but if þe fyrst lyne be lesyng · leue me neuere after
And þanne is tyme to take · and to appose þis doctoure
Of dowel and of dobet · and if dobe st be any penaunce

[^410: L.13.82: This line and the next are marked in the left margin with two distinct dots one under the other like a colon in text brown ink. A nota (or perhaps the corrector's <+>?) near them may have been scraped.]

[^411: L.13.87: Although incorrect for before egre was not erased, the corrector who added ful in the right margin and scraped the corrector's <+> presumably intended replacement in keeping with other B witnesses.]

[^412: L.13.88: L alone has written a, "and," in place of the full form and found in all other B witnesses.]

[^413: L.13.93: A contemporary hand, perhaps the original scribe's though with a thinner nib than usual, has written the correction in the right margin. The ink is much more pale than the text.]

[^414: L.13.95: LR alone contain the spelling godele; the majority of other B manuscripts have goþele. Cf. L.5.351 above.]

[^415: L.13.99: L alone reads no; most other B witnesses have ne.]

¶ And I sete stille as pacience seyde · and þus sone þis doctour
As rody as a rose · rubbed his chekes
Coughed and carped · and conscience hym herde
And tolde hym of a trinite · and toward vs he loked

¶ What is dowel sire doctour quod I · is dowel any penaunce

¶ Dowel quod þis doctour · and toke þe cuppe and dranke
Do non yuel to þine euenecrystene · nouȝt by þi powere

¶ By þis day sire doctour quod I þanne be ȝe nouȝt in dowel
For ȝe han harmed vs two · in þat ȝe eten þe puddyng
Mortrewes and other mete · and we no mussel hade
And if ȝe fare so in ȝowre fermorie · ferly me þinketh
But chest be þere charite shulde be · & ȝonge childern dorste pleyne
I wolde permute my penaunce with ȝowre · for I am in poynte to dowel

¶ Þanne conscience curteisliche · a contenaunce he made
And preynte vpon pacience · to preie me to be stille
And seyde hym-self sire doctour · and it be ȝowre wille
What is dowel and dobet · ȝe deuynours knoweth

¶ Dowel quod þis doctour · do as clerkes techeth
doe well doe better doe best
And dobet is he þat techeth · and trauailleth to teche other[^416]
And dobest doth hym-self so · as he seith & precheth
Qui facit et docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum

[^416: L.13.123: A sixteenth-century secretary hand has written in the right margin the words doe well doe better doe best. They are written over an erasure of a fifteenth-century gloss, now mainly illegible; the word beste is all that can be seen through the erasure and overwriting. A bracket appears to have been erased as well.]

¶ Now þow clergye quod conscience carpest what is dowel
I haue seuene[^417] sones he seyde · seruen in a castel
Þere þe lorde of lyf wonyeth · to leren hym[^418] what is dowel

[^417: L.13.127: Like the original L scribe, R omits seuene.]

[^418: L.13.128: LMR have hym; Other B witnesses either have hem or omit the word altogether.]

¶ Til I se þo seuene · and my-self acorden
I am vnhardy quod he · to any wyȝt to preue it
For one pieres þe ploughman hath inpugned vs alle
And sette alle sciences at a soppe · saue loue one
And no tixte ne taketh to meyntene his cause
But dilige deum · and domine quis habitabit &c
And seith þat dowel and dobet aren two infinites
Whiche infinites with a feith fynden oute dobest
Which shal saue mannes soule · þus seith piers þe ploughman

¶ I can nouȝt her-on quod conscience · ac I knowe wel pieres
He wil nouȝt aȝein holy writ speken · I dar wel vndertake
Þanne passe we ouer til piers come · and preue þis in dede
Pacience hath be in many place · and par -auntre cnoweth
Þat no clerke ne can · as cryst bereth witnesse
Pacientes vincunt &c
Ac ȝowre preyere quod pacyence þo · so no man displese hym
disce / doce / et dilige
Disce quod he doce · dilige inimicos
Disce and dowel · / doce / & dobet
Dilige / and dobest · þus tauȝte me ones
A lemman þat I loued · loue was hir name
With wordes and with werkes quod she · and wille of þyne herte
Þow loue lelly þi soule al þi lyf-tyme
And so þow lere þe to louye · for þe lordes loue of heuene
Þine enemye in al wyse · euene-forth with þi-selue
Cast coles on his hed · and al kynde speche
Bothe with werkes and with wordes fonde his loue to wynne
And lay on hym þus with loue · til he laghe on þe
And but he bowe for þis betyng blynde mote he worthe

¶ Ac for to fare þus with þi frende · foly it were
For he þat loueth þe lelly · lyte[^419] of þyne coueiteth
Kynde loue coueiteth nouȝte · no catel but speche
With half a laumpe lyne in latyne · ex vi transicionis

[^419: L.13.158: LR alone read lyte; other B manuscripts have litel.]

¶ I bere þere-inne aboute · fast ybounde dowel[^420]
In a signe of þe saterday · þat sette firste þe kalendare
solucio
And al þe witte of þe wednesday · of þe nexte wyke after
Þe myddel of þe mone is þe miȝte of bothe
And here-with am I welcome · þere I haue it with me

[^420: L.13.161-165: A box-style bracket in rubricator's red refers this whole line group to the gloss solucio .]

¶ Vndo it late þis doctour deme · if dowel be þer-inne /
For bi hym þat me made · miȝte neuere pouerte
Miseise ne myschief ne man with his tonge
Colde ne care ne compaignye of theues
Ne noither hete ne haille · ne non helle pouke
Ne noither fuire ne flode · ne fere of þine enemy
Tene þe eny tyme · and þow take it with þe
Caritas nichil timet
[^421] ¶ It is but a dido quod þis doctour · a dysoures tale
Al þe witt of þis worlde · and wiȝte mennes strengthe
Can nouȝt confourmen a pees · bytwene þe pope and his enemys
Ne bitwene two cristene kynges · can no wiȝte pees make
Profitable to ayther peple · and put þe table fro hym
And toke clergye and conscience · to conseille as it were
Þat pacience þo moste passe · for pilgrimes kunne wel lye

[^421: L.13.174: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

¶ Ac conscience carped loude and curteislich seide
Frendes fareth wel · and faire spake to clergye
For I wil go with þis gome · if god wil ȝiue me grace
And be pilgryme with pacience · til I haue proued more

¶ What quod clergye to conscience · ar ȝe coueitouse nouthe
After ȝeresȝyues or ȝiftes · or ȝernen to rede redeles
I shal brynge ȝow a bible · a boke of þe olde lawe
And lere ȝow if ȝow lyke · þe leest poynte to knowe
Þat pacience þe pilgryme · parfitly knewe neuere

¶ Nay bi cryste quod conscience to clergye god þe forȝelde
For al þat pacience me profreth · proude am I litel
Ac þe wille of þe wye · and þe wille folke here[^422]
Hath moeued my mode · to mourne for my synnes
Þe good wille of a wiȝte · was neure bouȝte to þe fulle
For þere nys[^423] no tresore þerto · to a trewe wille

[^422: L.13.192: This b-verse caused scribes some trouble. LBCR omit of, and it is added above the line in M.]

[^423: L.13.195: LWR alone read nys; all other B manuscripts have is.]

¶ Haued nouȝt Magdeleigne more · for a boxe of salue
Þan zacheus for he seide · dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus
And þe pore widwe for a peire of mytes
Þan alle þo that offreden · in-to gazafilacium

¶ Þus curteislich conscience · congeyde fyrst þe Frere
And sithen softliche he seyde · in clergyes ere
Me were leuer by owre lorde · and I lyue shulde
Haue pacience parfitlich · þan half þi pakke of bokes

¶ Clergye to conscience · no congeye wolde take
But seide ful sobreliche · þow shalt se þe tyme
Whan þow art wery for-walked · wilne me to consaille

¶ Þat is soth seyde conscience · so me god helpe
If pacience be owre partyng felawe · and pryue with vs bothe
There nys wo in þis worlde · þat we ne shulde amende
And confourmen Kynges to pees · and al-kynnes londes ·
Sarasenes and surre · and so forth alle þe iewes ·
Turne in-to þe trewe feith · and in-til one byleue

¶ Þat is soth quod clergye · I se what þow menest
I shal dwelle as I do · my deuore to shewen
And confermen fauntekynes · and other folke ylered
Tyl pacience haue preued þe · and parfite þe maked

¶ Conscience þo with pacience passed · pilgrymes as it were
Þanne had pacience as pylgrymes han · in his poke vittailles
Sobrete and symple speche · and sothfaste byleue
To conforte hym and conscience · if þey come in place
Þere vnkyndenesse and coueytise is · hungrye contrees bothe

¶ And as þei went by þe weye · of dowel þei carped
Þei mette with a mynstral · as me þo þouȝte
Pacience apposed hym fyrste · and preyed hym[^424] he sholde hem telle
To conscience what crafte he couthe · an to what contree he wolde

[^424: L.13.224: LMRF alone read hym; other B manuscripts omit it.]

¶ I am a mynstral quod þat man · my name is actiua vita
Alle ydel ich hatye · for of actyf is my name
A wafrere wil ȝe wite · and serue many lordes
And fewe robes I fonge · or furred gounes
Couthe I lye to do men laughe · þanne lacchen I shulde
Other mantel or money amonges lordes mynstralles
Ac for I can noither tabre ne trompe · ne telle none gestes
Farten ne fythelen at festes ne harpen
Iape ne iogly · ne gentlych pype
Ne noyther sailly ne saute · ne synge with þe gyterne
I haue none gode gyftes · of þise grete lordes ·
For no bred þat I brynge forth · saue a beneson on þe sonday
Whan þe prest preyeth þe peple · her pater noster to bidde
For peres þe plowman · and þat hym profite wayten
And þat am I actyf · þat ydelnesse hatye
For alle trewe trauaillours · and tilieres of þe erthe
Fro mychelmesse to mychelmesse · I fynde hem with wafres

¶ Beggeres and bidderes · of my bred crauen
Faitoures and freres · and folke with brode crounes
I fynde payne for þe pope · and prouendre for his palfrey
And I hadde neuere of hym · haue god my treuthe
Noither prouendre ne parsonage · ȝut of the popis ȝifte
Saue a pardoun with a peys of led · and two pollis amydde
Hadde iche a clerke þat couthe write · I wolde caste hym a bille
Þat he sent me vnder his seel · a salue for þe pestilence
And þat his blessyng & his bulles · bocches miȝte destroye
In nomine meo demonia eiciunt[^a1] & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt
And þanne wolde I be prest to peple · paste for to make
And buxome and busy aboute bred and drynke
For hym and for alle his · fonde I þat his pardoun
Miȝte lechen a man · as I bileue it shulde
For sith he hath þe powere · þat peter hym-self hadde
He hath þe potte with þe salue · sothly as me þinketh
Argentum & aurum non est michi quod autem habeo tibi do in nomine domini surge & ambula

[^a1: eiciunt (L) | eicient (Most other mss)]

¶ Ac if miȝte of miracle hym faille · it is for men ben nouȝt worthy
To haue þe grace of god · & no gylte of þe pope
For may no blyssyng done vs bote · but if we wil amende
Ne mannes masse make pees · amonges cristene peple
Tyl pruyde be purelich fordo · and þat þourgh payn defaute

¶ For ar I haue bred of mele · ofte mote I swete
And ar þe comune haue corne ynough · many a colde mornyng
So ar my wafres ben ywrouȝt · moche wo I tholye

¶ Alle Londoun I leue · liketh wel my wafres
And lowren whan þei lakken it · it is nouȝt longe ypassed
Þere was a carful comune · whan no carte come to toune
With bred fro stretforth · þo gan beggeres wepe
And werkmen were agaste a litel · þis wil be þouȝte longe
In þe date of owre dryȝte · in a drye apprile
A þousande and thre hondreth · tweis thretty[^425] & ten
nota
My wafres þere were gesen · whan chichestre was Maire

[^425: L.13.274: LR alone read thretty; other B manuscripts have twenty.]

¶ I toke gode kepe by cryst · and conscience bothe
Of haukyn þe actyf man · and how he was yclothed
He hadde a cote of crystendome · as holykirke bileueth
Ac it was moled in many places · with many sondri plottes
Of pruyde here a plotte · and þere a plotte of vnboxome speche
Of scornyng and of scoffyng · and of vnskilful berynge
As in aparaille and in porte · proude amonges þe peple
Otherwyse þan he hath · with herte or syȝte shewynge
Hym willynge þat alle men wende · he were þat he is nouȝte
For-why he bosteth and braggeth · with many bolde othes
And in-obedient to ben vndernome · of any lyf lyuyng
And so syngulere by hym-self · as to syȝte of þe poeple[^426]
Was none suche as hym-self · ne none so pompe-holy[^427]
Yhabited as an hermyte · an ordre by hym-selue
Religioun sanz reule · and resonable obedience
Lakkyng lettred men · and lewed men bothe
In lykyng of lele lyf · and a lyer in soule
With Inwit and with outwitt · ymagenen and studye
As best for his body be · to haue a badde[^428] name
And entermeten hym ouer al · þer he hath nouȝt to done
Wilnyng þat men wende · his witte were þe best
+
And if he gyueth ouȝte pore gomes[^429] · telle what he deleth
Pore of possessioun in purse · and in coffre[^430]
And as a lyon on to loke · and lordeliche of speche

[^426: L.13.287-88: L and alpha alone have two lines here. Other beta witnesses have variants of And noon so singuler by hym-self · ne so pope-holy.]

[^427: L.13.288: LHmW alone read pompe holy; other B manuscripts have pope holy.]

[^428: L.13.294: All beta manuscripts read badde; alpha has bolde. This is of some interest in light of the fact that badde is written over an erasure here. The original is not legible. Manipulation of the image in Photoshop 6.0 shows the final letter was an <e>.]

[^429: L.13.297: LR omit to, attested in most B manuscripts, before pore gomes. The corrector's larger than usual <+> in the right margin was perhaps intended to call attention to both this line and the next.]

[^430: L.13.298: LR alone omit boþe after coffre(s). The corrector has marked the omission with a marginal <+>. This is perhaps another instance in which the corrector and original scribe worked from different exemplars.]

¶ Baldest of beggeres a bostour þat nouȝt hath
In towne and in tauernes · tales to telle
And segge þinge þat he neuere seigh · and for soth sweren it
Of dedes þat he neuere dyd · demen and bosten
And of werkes þat he wel dyd · witnesse and seggen
Lo if ȝe leue me nouȝt · or þat I lye wenen
Axeth at hym or at hym · and he ȝow can telle
What I suffred and seighe · and some-tymes hadde
And what I couth and knewe · and what kynne I come of
Al he wolde þat men wiste of werkes and of wordes
Which myȝte plese þe peple · and praysen hym-seluen
Si hominibus placerem cristi seruus non essem
Et alibi nemo potest duobus dominis seruire

¶ Bi criste quod conscience þo · þi best cote haukyn
Hath many moles and spottes · it moste ben ywassh

¶ Ȝe who-so toke hede quod haukyn · byhynde and bifore
What on bakke and what on bodyhalf · & by þe two sydes
Men sholde fynde many frounces · and many foule plottes
[^431] ¶ And he torned hym as tyte · and þanne toke I hede
It was fouler by felefolde · þan it firste semed
It was bidropped with wratthe · and wikked wille
With enuye and yuel speche entysyng to fyȝte
Lyinge and laughynge · and leue tonge to chyde
Al þat he wist wykked · by any wiȝte tellen it
And blame men bihynde her bakke · and bydden hem meschaunce
And þat he wist bi wille · tellen it watte
And þat watte wiste · wille wiste it after
And made of frendes foes · þorugh a false tonge
Or with myȝte of mouthe or þorugh mannes strengthe
Auenge me fele tymes · other frete my-selue
Wyth-inne as a shepster shere · I-shrewed men & cursed
Cuius maledictione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius labor & dolor
& alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus

[^431: L.13.318: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

¶ Þere is no lyf þat I louye · lastyng any while
For tales þat I telle · no man trusteth to me
And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maistrye · with malencolye I take[^432]
Þat I cacche þe crompe · þe cardiacle some-tyme
Or an ague in suche an angre · and some- tyme a feure
Þat taketh me al a twelf-moneth · tyl þat I dispyse
+
Lechecrafte or[^433] owre lorde · and leue on a wicche
And segge þat no clerke ne can · ne cryste as I leue
To þe souter of southwerke · or of shordyche dame emme
And segge þat no goddes worde · gaf me neuere bote
But þorw a charme had I chaunce · & my chief hele

[^432: L.13.335: The spelling is ambiguous. Kane and Donaldson interpret the form as a past participle, and Schmidt takes it to be a finite verb.]

[^433: L.13.339: LR alone read or, prompting the corrector's marginal <+>. Most other B manuscripts have of.]

¶ I wayted wisloker · and þanne was it soiled
With lykyng of lecherye · as by lokyng of his eye
For vche a mayde þat he mette · he made hir a signe
Semynge to synne-ward · and some-tyme he gan taste
Aboute þe mouth or bynethe · bygynneth to grope
Tyl eytheres wille waxeth kene · and to þe werke ȝeden
As wel in fastyng-days & frydayes · and forboden nyȝtes
And as wel in lente as oute of lente · alle tymes ylyche
Suche werkes with hem · was[^434] neuere oute of sesoun
Tyl þei myȝte namore · and þanne had merye tales
And how þat lechoures louyen · lauȝen an iapen
And of her harlotrye and horedome · in her elde tellen

[^434: L.13.352: L alone reads was; most other B manuscripts have were.]

¶ Thanne pacience parceyued of poyntes his[^435] cote
+
Was colmy þorw coueityse · and vkynde v[n]kynde[^436] desyrynge
More to good þan to god · þe gome his loue caste
And ymagyned how · he it myȝte haue
With false mesures and mette · and with false witnesse
Lened for loue of þe wedde · and loth to do treuthe
And awaited þorwgh which wey to bigile
And menged his marchaundyse · and made a gode moustre
Þe worste with-in was · a gret witte I lete hit
And if my neighbore had any hyne · or any beste elles
More profitable þan myne · many sleightes I made
How I myȝte haue it · al my witte I caste
And but I it had[^437] by other waye · atte laste I stale it
Or pryuiliche his purse shoke · vnpiked his lokkes
Or by nyȝt or by day · aboute was ich euere
Þorwgh gyle to gadren þe good þat ich haue

[^435: L.13.356: LR alone read his; other B manuscripts have off hys or of þis.]

[^436: L.13.357: The corrector's marginal <+> indicates that he caught the omission of the first <n> from vnkynde, which was nevertheless not corrected by the scribe.]

[^437: L.13.368: LMW (and C manuscripts XYcJcUcDcVcAcScFcKc) read it had, while HmY (and C manuscripts P2PEcRcMcNc) have hadde it and F has yt. Most B manuscripts only record hadde.]

¶ Ȝif I ȝede to þe plow · I pynched so narwe
Þat a fote londe or a forwe · fecchen I wolde
Of my nexte neighbore · nymen of his erthe
+
And if if [I][^438] rope ouer-reche · or ȝaf hem red þat ropen
To seise to me with her sykel · þat I ne sewe neure

[^438: L.13.375: A marginal corrector's <+> notes L's omission of I after if.]

¶ And who-so borweth of me · aboute[^439] þe tyme
With presentes priueliche · or payed somme certeyne
So walde he or nouȝt wolde he[^440] · wynnen I wolde
And bothe to kyth and to kyn · vnkynde of þat ich hadde

[^439: L.13.377: LCr3GR read aboute; most other B manuscripts have the more appropriate reading abouȝte.]

[^440: L.13.379: LCr1HmM have nouȝt wolde he; most B witnesses have either noȝt wolde or he nolde.]

¶ And who-so cheped my chaffare · chiden I wolde
But he profred to paye · a peny or tweyne
More þan it was worth · and ȝet wolde I swere
Þat it coste me moche more · swore manye othes

¶ In halydayes at holicherche · whan ich herde masse
+
Hadde[^441] neuere wille wot god · witterly to biseche
Mercye for my mysdedes · þat I ne morned more
For losse of gode leue me · þan for my lykames giltes
As if I had dedly synne done · I dred nouȝt þat so sore
As when I lened and leued it lost · or longe ar it were payed
So if I kydde any kyndenesse · myn euen-cristene to helpe
Vpon a cruel coueityse · myn herte gan hange
And if I sent ouer-see · my seruauntz to Bruges
Or in-to Pruslonde my prentys · my profit to wayten
To marchaunden with monoye · and maken her eschaunges
Miȝte neuere me conforte · in þe mene-tyme
Noither messe ne matynes · ne none manere siȝtes
Ne neuere penaunce perfourned · ne pater noster seyde
Þat my mynde ne was more · on my gode in a doute
Þan in þe grace of god · and his grete helpes
Vbi thesaurus tuus · ibi & cor tuum

[^441: L.13.386: LR alone omit I after Hadde. The omission prompted the corrector's marginal <+>.]

¶ Which ben þe braunches · þat bryngeth a man to sleuth
His woman morneth nouȝte for his mysdedes · ne maketh no sorwe
Ac penaunce þat þe prest enioigneth · perfourneth yuel
Doth none almes-dede · dret hym of no synne
Lyueth aȝein þe bileue · and no lawe holdeth
Vch day is haliday with hym · or an heigh ferye
And if he auȝte wole here · it is an harlotes tonge
Whan men carpeth of cryst · or of clennesse of soule
He wexeth wroth & wil nouȝte here · but wordes of myrthe
Penaunce and pore men · and þe passioun of seyntes
He hateth to here þere-of · and alle þat it telleth
Þise ben þe braunches beth war · þat bryngeth a man to wanhope
Ȝe lordes and ladyes · and legates of holicherche
Þat fedeth foles sages · flatereres and lyeres
And han likynge to lythen hem · to do ȝow to lawghe
Ve vobis qui ridetis &c
And ȝiueth hem mete and Mede · and pore men refuse
In ȝowre deth-deyinge · I drede me ful sore
Lest þo thre maner men · to moche sorwe ȝow brynge
Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur
Patriarkes & prophetes · and prechoures of goddes wordes
Sauen þorw her sarmoun · mannes soule fram helle
+
Riȝt so flateres[^442] and foles · aren þe fendes disciples
To entice men þorw her tales to synne and harlotrye
Ac clerkes þat knowen holywryt · shulde kenne lordes
What dauid seith of suche men · as þe sauter telleth
Non habitabit in medio domus mee · qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniqua
Shulde none harlote haue audience · in halle ne in chambres
Þere wise men were · witnesseth goddes wordes
Ne no mysproude man · amonges lordes ben allowed

[^442: L.13.424: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, perhaps objecting to the spelling flateres (from OF flateor, flatour), although he does not mark this spelling where it occurs elsewhere, as it does again on this page eight lines below. F also at this point reads flaterys, but most other B witnesses, including R, have flatereres.]

¶ Ac flateres and foles þorw her foule wordes
Leden þo þat louen hem · to luciferes feste
With turpiloquio a lay of sorwe · and luciferes fithele
Thus haukyn þe actyf man · hadde ysoiled his cote
Til conscience acouped hym þere-of · in a curteise manere
Whi he ne hadde wasshen it · or wyped it with a brusshe

Passus xiiijus quartus decimus

I[^443] Haue but one hatere[^444] quod haukyn · I am þe lasse to blame
Þough it be soiled and selde clene · I slepe þere-inne on niȝtes
And also I haue an houswyf · hewen and children
Vxorem duxy & ideo non possum venire
Þat wolen bymolen it many tyme · maugre my chekes

[^443: L.14.1: The rubricated decoration of the blue ornamental capital, seven lines high, is badly smudged and colors some text and the page opposite. A small guide letter <I> appears in the left margin.]

[^444: L.14.1: LRF alone omit hool before hatere.]

¶ It hath ben laued in lente · and oute of lente bothe
With þe sope of sykenesse · þat seketh wonder depe
And with þe losse of catel · loth forto agulte
God or any gode man · bi auȝte þat I wiste
And was shryuen of þe preste · þat gaue me for my synnes
To penaunce pacyence · and pore men to fede
Al for coueitise of my crystenedome · in clennesse to kepen it

¶ And couthe I neuere by cryste · kepen it clene an houre
Þat I ne soiled it with syȝte · or sum ydel speche
Or þorugh werke or þorugh worde · or wille of myn herte
Þat I ne flober it foule · fro morwe tyl eue

+
¶ And I shal kenne þe quod conscience · of contricioun to make[^445]
Þat shal clawe þi cote · of alkynnes filthe
Cordis contricio &c
Dowel wasshen it and wryngen it · þorw a wys confessour
Oris confessio &c
Dobet shal beten it and bouken it · as briȝte as any scarlet
And engreynen it with good wille · and goddes grace to amende þe
And sithen sende þe to satisfaccioun · for to sowen it after
Satisfaccio dobest

[^445: L.14.17: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin but no error is apparent.]

¶ Shal neuere myste bimolen it · ne moth after biten it
Ne fende ne false man defoulen it in þi lyue
Shal none heraude ne harpoure · haue a fairere garnement
Þan haukyn þe actyf man · and þow do by my techyng
Ne no mynstral be more worth · amonges pore & riche
Þan Haukynnes wyf þe wafrere · with his actiua vita

¶ And I shal purueye þe paste quod pacyence · þough no plow erie
And floure to fede folke with · as best be for þe soule
Þough neuere greyne growed · ne grape vppon vyne
Alle þat lyueth and loketh · lyflode wolde I fynde
And þat ynough shal none faille · of þinge þat hem nedeth
We shulde nouȝt be to busy · abouten owre lyflode
Ne solliciti sitis &c volucres celi deus pascit &c pacientes vincunt &c

¶ Þanne laughed haukyn a litel · and liȝtly gan swerye
Who-so leueth ȝow by owre lorde · I leue nouȝte he be blissed

¶ No quod pacyence paciently · and out of his poke hente
Vitailles of grete vertues · for al manere bestes
And seyde lo here lyflode ynough · if owre byleue be trewe
For lente neuere was lyf · but lyflode were shapen
Wher-of or wherfore · or where-by to lybbe

of wylfull poverti
¶ Firste þe wylde worme · vnder weet erthe
Fissch to lyue in þe flode · and in þe fyre þe crykat
Þe corlue by kynde of þe eyre · moste clennest flesch of bryddes
And bestes by grasse and by greyne · and by grene rotis
In menynge þat alle men · myȝte þe same
Lyue þorw lele byleue and loue · as god witnesseth
Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo &c & alibi
Non in solo pane viuit homo set in omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei

¶ But I loked what lyflode it was · þat pacience so preysed
And þanne was it a pece of þe pater noster · fiat voluntas tua ·

¶ Haue haukyn quod pacyence · and ete þis whan þe hungreth
Or whan þow clomsest for colde · or clyngest for drye
Shal neuere gyues þe greue · ne grete lordes wrath
Prisone ne peyne · for pacientes vincunt

¶ Bi so þat þow be sobre · of syȝte and of tonge
In etynge and in handlyng · and in alle þi fyue wittis
Darstow neuere care for corne · ne lynnen cloth ne wollen
Ne for drynke ne deth drede · but deye as god lyketh
Or þorw honger or þorw hete · at his wille be it
+
For if þow lyuest after his lore · þe shotter sho[r]ter[^446] lyf þe better
Si quis amat cristum mundum non diligit istum

[^446: L.14.65: The corrector's <+> notes the scribe's omission of <r> in shorter.]

¶ For þorw his breth bestes wexen · and abrode ȝeden
Dixit & facta sunt &c ·
Ergo þorw his breth mowen · men & bestes lyuen
As holywrit witnesseth · whan men segge her graces
Aperis tu manum tuam · & imples omne animal benediccione

¶ It is founden þat fourty wynter · folke lyued with-outen tulying
And oute of þe flynte spronge þe flode · þat folke & bestes dronke
And in Elyes tyme · heuene was yclosed
Þat no reyne ne rone · þus rede men in bokes
Þat many wyntres men lyueden · and no mete ne tulyeden
Seuene slepe as seith þe boke · seuene hundreth wynter

¶ And lyueden with-oute lyflode · and atte laste þei woken
And if men lyued as mesure wolde · shulde neuere-more be defaute
Amonges cristene creatures · if crystes wordes ben trewe
Ac vnkyndnesse carestia maketh · amonges crystene peple
And ouer-plente maketh pruyde · amonges pore & riche
Ac mesure is so moche worth · it may nouȝte be to dere
For þe meschief and þe meschaunce · amonges men of sodome
Wex þorw plente of payn · & of pure sleuthe
Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit
For þei mesured nouȝt hem-self · of þat þei ete and dronke
Diden dedly synne þat þe deuel lyked
So vengeaunce fel vpon hem · for her vyle synnes
Þei sonken in-to helle · þo citees · vchone

¶ For-þi mesure we vs wel · and make owre faithe owre scheltroun
And þorw faith cometh contricioun · conscience wote wel
Whiche dryueth awey dedly synne · and doth it to be venial
And þough a man myȝte nouȝte speke · contricioun myȝte hym saue
And brynge his soule to blisse · by[^447] so þat feith bere witnesse
Þat whiles he lyued he bileued · in þe lore of holycherche
Ergo contricioun feith and conscience · is kyndelich dowel
And surgienes for dedly synnes · whan shrifte of mouth failleth

[^447: L.14.95: LCrRF alone read by before so; other B manuscripts have for so or just so.]

¶ Ac shrifte of mouth more worthy is · if man be iliche contrit
For shrifte of mouth sleeth synne · be it neuere so dedly
Per confessionem to a prest · peccata occiduntur
Þere contricioun doth but dryueth it doun · in-to a venial synne
As dauid seith in þe sauter · et quorum tecta sunt peccata
Ac satisfaccioun seketh oute þe rote · and bothe sleeth and voideth
And as it neuere had ybe · to nouȝt bryngeth dedly synne
Þat it neuere eft is seen ne sore · but semeth a wounde yheled

¶ Where woneth charite quod haukyn · I wiste neuere in my lyue
Man þat with hym spake · as wyde as I haue passed

¶ Þere parfit treuthe and pouere herte is · and pacience of tonge
Þere is charitee þe chief chaumbrere for god hym-selue

¶ Whether paciente pouerte quod haukyn · be more plesaunte to owre driȝte
Þan ricchesse riȝtfulliche ywonne · and resonablelich yspended[^448]

[^448: L.14.112: LMR have yspended; most other B witnesses read despended.]

¶ Ȝe quis est ille quod pacience · quik laudabimus eum
Þough men rede of richchesse · riȝt to þe worldes ende
I wist neuere renke þat riche was · þat whan he rekne sholde
Whan it[^449] drow to his deth-day · þat he ne dred hym sore
And þat atterekenyng atte rekenyng in arrerage fel · rather þan oute of dette

[^449: L.14.116: LR alone read it; most other B manuscripts have he.]

¶ There þe pore dar plede · and preue by pure resoun
To haue allowaunce of his lorde · by þe lawe he it cleymeth
Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde · of riȝtful iugge he axeth
And seith lo briddes and bestes · þat no blisse ne knoweth
And wilde wormes in wodes · þorw wyntres þow hem greuest
And makest hem welnyegh meke · and mylde for defaute
And after þow sendest hem somer · þat is her souereigne Ioye
And blisse to alle þat ben · bothe wilde and tame
Þanne may beggeres as bestes · after bote waiten
Þat al her lyf han lyued · in langour and in defaute
But god sent hem some-tyme · some manere ioye
Other here or elles-where · kynde wolde it neuere
For to wrotherhele was he wrouȝte · þat neuere was ioye shaped

¶ Angeles þat in helle now ben · hadden ioye some-tyme
And diues in deyntees lyued · and in douce vye
Riȝte so resoun sheweth · þat þo men þat were riche
And her makes also · lyued her lyf in murthe

¶ Ac god is of a wonder wille · by þat kynde witte sheweth
To ȝiue many men his mercymonye · ar he it haue deserued
Riȝt so fareth god by some riche · reuthe me it þinketh
For þei han her hyre here · an heuene as it were
And is gret lykyng to lyue · with-oute laboure of body
And whan he deyeth ben disalowed · as dauid seith in þe sauter
[^450] Dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt
And in an other stede also · velud sompnum surgencium domine in ciuitate tua & ad nichilum rediges
Allas þat ricchesse shal reue · and robbe mannes soule
Fram þe loue of owre lorde · at his laste ende

[^450: L.14.141-144: A possible erasure appears in the left margin?]

¶ Hewen þat han her hyre afore · aren euermore nedy
And selden deieth he out of dette · þat dyneth ar he deserue it
[^451] And til he haue done his deuor · and his dayes iourne
For whan a werkman hath wrouȝte · þanne may men se þe sothe
What he were worthi for his werke · and what he hath deserued
And nouȝt to fonge bifore · for drede of disalowynge

[^451: L.14.147: A possible erasure appears in the left margin?]

¶ So I segge by ȝow riche · it semeth nouȝt þat ȝe shulle
Haue heuene in ȝowre here beyng · and heuene her-after
Riȝt as a seruaunt taketh his salarye bifore · & sitth wolde clayme more
As he þat none hadde · and hath huyre atte laste
It may nouȝt be ȝe riche men · or matheu on god lyeth
De delicijs ad delicias · deficile est transire

¶ Ac if þe riche haue reuthe · and rewarde wel þe pore
And lyuen as lawe techeth · done leute to alle[^452]
Criste of his curteysie · shal conforte ȝow atte laste
And rewarde alle dowble ricchesse · þat reuful hertes habbeth
And as an hyne þat hadde · his hyre ar he bygonne
And whan he hath done his deuor wel · men doth hym other bounte
Ȝyueth hym a cote aboue his couenaunte · riȝte so cryst ȝiueth heuene
Bothe to riche and to nouȝte riche · þat rewfullich lybbeth
And alle þat done her deuor wel · han dowble hyre for her trauaille
Here forȝyuenesse of her synnes · and heuene blisse after

[^452: L.14.158: LR omit hem before alle, attested in most B manuscripts.]

¶ Ac it nys but selde yseyn · as by holy seyntes bokes
Þat god rewarded double reste · to any riche wye
For moche murthe is amonges riche · as in mete and clothyng
And moche murthe in Maye is · amonges wilde bestes
And so forth whil somer lasteth · her solace dureth
Ac beggeres aboute Midsomer · bredlees þei soupe
And ȝit is wynter for hem worse · for wete-shodde þei gange
Afyrst sore and afyngred · and foule yrebuked
And arated of riche men · þat reuthe is to here
Now lorde sende hem somer · and some manere ioye
Heuene after her hennes-goynge · þat here han suche defaute
For alle myȝtest þow haue made · none mener þan other
And yliche witty & wyse · if þ e wel ·[^453] hadde lyked
And haue reuthe on þise riche men · þat rewarde nouȝte þi prisoneres
Of þe good þat þow hem gyuest · ingrati ben manye
Ac god of þi goodnesse · gyue hem grace to amende
+
For may no derth ben hem dere · drouth ne weet[^454]
Ne noyther hete ne haille · haue þei here hele
Of þat þei wilne and wolde · wanteth hem nouȝt here

[^453: L.14.179: The letters <e wel> and the second punctus are over an erasure. The scribe may have initially written þi wyll, the reading of manuscripts BCC2GOMF, or perhaps wolde .]

[^454: L.14.183: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin, perhaps indicating the corrector's dissatisfaction with drouth for droghte. This spelling occurs again in L.14.188, and the line is likewise marked for correction.]

¶ Ac pore peple þi prisoneres · lorde in þe put of myschief
Conforte þo creatures · þat moche care suffren
+
Þorw derth þorw drouth · alle her dayes here[^455]
Wo in wynter tymes · for wantyng of clothes
And in somer tyme selde · soupen to þe fulle
+
Conforte þi careful cryst in þi ryche[^456]
For how þow confortest · alle creatures  clerkes bereth witnesse
Conuertimini ad me & salui eritis

[^455: L.14.188: As at L.14.183, the corrector's marginal <+> may mark drouth for correction.]

[^456: L.14.191: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin, but no error is apparent. Possibly this reflects the corrector's use of an inferior beta manuscript. CrHmMW (M by correction) have richesse in place of correct ryche.]

¶ Þus in genere of his genitrice[^457] · Ihesu cryst seyde
To robberes and to reueres · to riche and to pore
Þow tauȝtest hem in þe Trinitee · to take baptesme
+
And be clene þorw þat crystennynge · of alle kynnes kynnes [synnes][^458]
And vs fel þorw folye · to falle in synne after
+
Confessioun and knelechyng kne[w]lechyng[^459] & crauyng þi mercy
Shulde amende vs as many sithes · as man wolde desire
Ac if þe pope wolde plede here-aȝeine · and punyssh vs in conscience
He shulde take þe acquitance as quik · and to þe qued schewe it
Pateat &c per passionem domini
And putten of so þe pouke · and preuen vs vnder borwe
Ac þe perchemyn of þis patent · of pouerte be moste
And of pure pacience · and parfit bileue
Of pompe and of pruyde · þe parchemyn decorreth
And principaliche of alle peple · but þei be pore of herte
Ellis is al an ydel · al þat euere we writen
Pater nostres and penaunce · and pilgrimage to Rome
But owre spences and spendyng sprynge · of a trewe welle
Elles is al owre laboure loste · lo how men writeth
In fenestres atte freres · if fals be þe foundement
For-þi crystene sholde ben in comune riche · none coueitouse for hym-selue

[^457: L.14.194: L alone reads of his genitrice, though R has the similar phrase alle his genitrice; most B manuscripts have of gentries.]

[^458: L.14.197: L alone omits synnes after kynnes, an error noted by the corrector's <+> but never corrected.]

[^459: L.14.199: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin; as Skeat observed, he was probably objecting to the scribe's knelechyng for knowlichyng. Kane and Donaldson do not include the error in their list of variants. For the spellings in L, see L.5.585, L12,193, and L.19.74, 186.]

¶ For seuene synnes þat þere ben · assaillen vs euere
Þe fende folweth hem alle · and fondeth hem to helpe
Ac wiþ ricchesse þat Ribaude · rathest men bigyleth
For þere þat richesse regneth · reuerence folweth
And þat is plesaunte to pryde · in pore and in riche
And þe riche is reuerenced · by resoun of his richchesse
Þere þe pore is put bihynde and par -auenture can more
Of witte and of wysdom · þat fer awey is better
Þan ricchesse or reaute · and rather yherde in heuene
For þe riche hath moche to rekene · and riȝte softe walketh
Þe heigh waye to heuene-ward · oft ricchesse letteth
Ita possibile diuiti &c[^460]

[^460: L.14.226: The rubricator apparently failed to note this leaf.]

¶ Þere þe pore preseth bifor þe riche · with a pakke at his rugge
Opera enim illorum sequntur illos[^461]
Batauntliche as beggeres done · and baldeliche he craueth
For his pouerte and his pacience · a perpetuel blisse
Beati pauperes · quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum[^462]

[^461: L.14.228: The rubricator apparently failed to note this leaf.]

[^462: L.14.231: The rubricator apparently failed to note this leaf.]

¶ And pryde in ricchesse regneth · rather þan in pouerte
Arst in þe Maister þan in þe man · some mansioun he hath
Ac in pouerte þere pacyence is · pryde hath no myȝte
Ne none of þe seuene synnes · sitten ne mowe þere longe
Ne haue powere in pouerte · if pacyence it folwe
For þe pore is ay prest · to plese þe riche
And buxome at his byddyng · for his broke loues
And buxomenesse and boste · aren euer-more at werre
And ayther hateth other · in alle manere werkes
If wratthe wrastel with þe pore · he hath þe worse ende
For if þey bothe pleyne · þe pore is but fieble
And if he chyde or chatre · hym chieueth þe worse

¶ And if coueitise wolde[^463] cacche þe pore · þei may nouȝt come togideres
And by þe nekke namely · her none may hente other
For men knoweth wel þat coueitise · is of a kene wille
And hath hondes and armes · of a longe lengthe
id est vmbilicus ·
And pouerte nis but a petit þinge · appereth nouȝt to his naule[^464]
And louely layke was it neuere · bitwene þe longe and þe shorte
And þough auarice wolde angre þe pore · he hath but litel myȝte[^465]
For pouerte hath but pokes · to putten in his godis
Þere auarice hath almaries · and yren-bounde coffres
And whether be liȝter to breke · lasse boste it maketh
A beggeres bagge · þan an yren-bounde coffre

[^463: L.14.244: LRF alone read wolde before cacche.]

[^464: L.14.248: In the right margin, possibly written by the original scribe, appears the gloss id est vmbilicus ·.]

[^465: L.14.250: A bracket in the right margin extends from the first line to the bottom of the page.]

¶ Lecherye loueth hym nouȝt · for he ȝeueth but lytel syluer
Ne doth hym nouȝte dyne delycatly · ne drynke wyn oft
A strawe for þe stuwes · it stode nouȝt I trowe
Had þei none[^466] but of pore men · her houses were[^467] vntyled

[^466: L.14.258: L alone reads none; most other B manuscripts have no þyng.]

[^467: L.14.258: L alone reads were; most other B manuscripts have stoode.]

¶ And þough sleuthe suwe pouerte · and serue nouȝt god to paye
Mischief is his maister · and maketh hym to thynke
Þat god is his grettest helpe · and no gome elles
And his seruaunt as he seith · and of his sute bothe
And where[^468] he be or be nouȝte · he bereth þe signe of pouerte
And in þat secte owre saueoure · saued al mankynde
For-thi al pore þat paciente is · may claymen and asken
After her endynge here · heuene-riche blisse

[^468: L.14.263: LR alone read where, "whether"; all other B witnesses have wheiþer. Cf. L.12.293 above.]

¶ Moche hardier may he axen · þat here myȝte haue his wille
In londe and in lordship · and likynge of bodye
+ nota /
And for goddis loue leueth al · an[^469] lyueth as a beggere[^470]
And as a mayde for mannes loue · her moder forsaketh
Hir fader and alle her frendes · and folweth hir make
Moche is suche a mayde to louie · of hym þat such one taketh
More þan a mayden is · þat is maried þorw brokage
As bi assent of sondry partyes · and syluer to bote
More for coueitise of good · þan kynde loue of bothe

[^469: L.14.269: The corrector's <+> apparently refers to the scribe's characteristic omission of <d> from and.]

[^470: L.14.269: A nota / (or note ) appears in the right margin. In this later hand either form is possible.]

¶ So it fareth bi eche a persone · þat possessioun forsaketh
And put hym to be pacient · and pouerte weddeth
Þe which is sybbe to god hym-self · and so to his seyntes

¶ Haue god my trouthe quod Haukyn · ȝe preyse faste pouerte
What is pouerte with pacience quod he · proprely to mene

¶ Paupertas quod pacience · est odibile bonum
definitio pauper= tatis cum patientia
Remocio curarum · possessio sine calumpnia · donum dei · sanitatis mater[^471]
Absque solicitudine semita · sapiencie temperatrix · negocium sine dampno
Incerta fortuna · absque solicitudine felicitas ·

[^471: L.14.282: The words definitio pauper tatis cum patientia appear in the right margin.]

¶ I can nouȝt construe al þis quod haukyn · ȝe moste kenne þis on englisch
In englisch quod pacyence it is wel harde · wel to expounen
Ac somdel I shal seyne it  by so þow vnderstonde
Pouerte is þe first poynte · þat pryde moste hateth
Thanne is it good by good skil · al þat agasteth pryde
Riȝte as contricioun is confortable þinge · conscience wote wel
And a sorwe of hym-self · and a solace to þe sowle
So pouerte propreliche penaunce and ioye
Is to þe body pure spiritual helthe
Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum
And contricioun confort & cura animarum

¶ Selde sitte pouerte · þe sothe to declare
Or as iustyce to iugge men · enioigned is no pore
Ne to be a Maire aboue men · ne mynystre vnder kynges
Selden is any pore yput · to punysshen any peple
Remocio curarum
Ergo pouerte and pore men · parfornen þe comaundement
Nolite iudicare quemquam þe þridde

¶ Selde is any pore riche · but of riȝtful heritage
Wynneth he nauȝt with weghtes fals · ne with vnseled mesures
Ne borweth of his neghbores · but þat he may wel paye
Possessio sine calumpnia ·

¶ Þe fierthe is a fortune · þat florissheth þe soule
Wyth sobrete fram al synne · and also ȝit more
It affaiteth þe flesshe · fram folyes ful manye
A collateral conforte · crystes owne ȝifte
Donum dei

¶ Þe fyfte is moder of helthe a frende in alle fondynges
And for þe land euere a leche · a lemman of al clennesse
Sanitatis mater

¶ Þe sexte is a path of pees · ȝe þorw þe pas of altoun
Pouerte myȝte passe · with-oute peril of robbyng
For þere þat pouerte passeth · pees folweth after
And euere þe lasse þat he bereth · þe hardyer he is of herte
For-þi seith seneca · paupertas est absque solicitudine semita
And an hardy man of herte · amonge an hepe of þeues
Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viator

¶ Þe seueneth is welle of wisdome · and fewe wordes sheweth
For lordes alloweth hym litel · or lysteneth to his reson
He tempreth þe tonge to treuthe-ward · and no tresore coueiteth
Sapiencie temperatrix

¶ The eigteth is a lele laborere[^472] · and loth to take more
Þan he may wel deserue · in somer or in wynter
+
And if chaffareth [he] chaffareth[^473] he chargeth no losse · mowe he charite wynne
Negocium sine dampno

[^472: L.14.326: LCrRF alone read laborere; other B manuscripts have labour.]

[^473: L.14.328: L's omission of he before chaffareth is noted by a corrector's <+> in the left margin.]

¶ The nyneth is swete to þe soule · no sugre is swettere
For pacyence is payn · for pouerte hym-selue
And sobrete swete drynke · and good leche in sykenesse
Þus lered me a lettred man · for owre lordes loue
Seynt austyn a blissed lyf · with-outen bysynesse
For body and for soule · absque /[^474] solicitudine felicitas
Now god þat al good gyueth · graunt his soule reste
Þat þus fyrst wrote to wyssen men · what pouerte was to mene

[^474: L.14.335: The virgule is used here as a division of the box.]

nota bene
¶ Allas quod haukyn þe actyf man þo · þat after my crystendome[^475]
I ne hadde ben ded and doluen · for doweles sake
So harde it is quod haukyn · to lyue and to do synne
Synne suweth vs euere quod he · and sori gan wexe
And wepte water with his eyghen · and weyled þe tyme
Þat euere he dede dede · þat dere god displesed
Swowed and sobbed · and syked ful ofte
Þat euere he hadde londe or lordship · lasse other more
Or maystrye ouer any man · mo þan of hym-self
I were nouȝt worthy wote god quod haukyn · to were any clothes
Ne noyther sherte ne shone · saue[^476] for shame one
To keure my caroigne quod he · and cryde mercye faste
And wepte and weyled · and þere-with I awaked

[^475: L.14.338: The words nota bene appear in the right margin in black ink.]

[^476: L.14.348: An otiose curved mark in text brown ink appears above the <a> in saue.]

Passus xvus Quindecimus finit dowel & incipit dobet

A c[^477] after my wakyng · it was wonder longe
Ar I couth kyndely · knowe what was dowel
And so my witte wex and wanyed · til I a fole were
And somme lakked my lyf · allowed it fewe
And leten for a lorel · and loth to reuerencen
Lordes or ladyes · or any lyf elles
As persones in pellure · with pendauntes of syluer
To seriauntz ne to suche · seyde nouȝte ones
God loke ȝow lordes · ne louted faire
Þat folke helden me a fole · and in þat folye I raued
Tyl resoun hadde reuthe on me · and rokked me aslepe
Tyl I seigh as it sorcerye were · a sotyl þinge with-al
One with-outen tonge and teeth · tolde me whyder I shulde
And wher-of I cam and of what kynde · I conIured hym atte laste
If he were crystes creature · for crystes loue me to tellen

[^477: L.15.1: The ornamental capital of eight lines is in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <A> is partly obscured.]

¶ I am crystes creature quod he · and crystene in many a place
In crystes courte · I-knowe wel · and of his kynne a partye
Is noyther peter þe porter · ne poule with his fauchoune
+
Þa[^478] wil defende me þe dore · dynge ich neure so late
At mydnyȝt at mydday · my voice so is yknowe
Þat eche a creature of his courte · welcometh me fayre

[^478: L.15.19: This form of the relative that appears here only in L. The corrector's <+> in the right margin calls attention to the scribe's use of þa for þat, also marked by the corrector at L.3.308 and L.11.308.]

¶ What ar ȝe called quod I in þat courte · amonges crystes peple
[^479] Þe whiles I quykke þe corps quod he · called am I anima
And whan I wilne and wolde · animus ich hatte
And for þat 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 treuthe techeth
Þanne is racio my riȝt name · resoun an englissh
And whan I fele þat folke telleth · my firste name is sensus
And þat is wytte and wisdome · þe welle of alle craftes
And whan I chalange or chalange nouȝte · chepe or refuse
the definition of the Sowle

[L.15.23-49: The gloss is to the entire line group.]

Þanne am I conscience ycalde · goddis clerke and his notarie
And whan I loue lelly · owre lorde and alle other
Þanne is lele loue my name · and in latyn amor
And whan I flye fro þe flesshe · and forsake þe caroigne
Þanne am I spirit specheles · and[^480] spiritus þanne ich hatte
Austyn and ysodorus ayther of hem bothe
Nempned me þus to name · now þow myȝte chese
How þow coueitest to calle me · now þow knowest alle my names
Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur · dum viuificat corpus anima est · dum vult animus est · dum scit mens est · dum recolit memoria est ·
Dum iudicat racio est · dum sentit sensus est · dum amat amor est · dum negat vel consentit consciencia est · dum spirat spiritus est

[^479: L.15.23: A bracket is drawn in the left margin from this line to the end of the line group, with the gloss the definition of the Sowle.]

[^480: L.15.36: LRF alone read and; other B manuscripts omit it.]

Bishops
¶ Ȝe ben as a bisshop quod I · al bourdynge þat tyme
For bisshopes yblessed · þei bereth many names
Presul and pontifex · and metropolitanus
And other names an hepe episcopus & pastor

¶ Þat is soth seyde he · now I se þi wille
Þow woldest knowe and kunne · þe cause of alle her names
And of myne if þow myȝtest · me þinketh by þi speche

¶ Ȝe syre I seyde by so no man were greued
Alle þe sciences vnder sonne · and alle þe sotyle craftes
I wolde I knewe and couth · kyndely in myne herte

¶ Þanne artow inparfit quod he · and one of prydes knyȝtes
For such a luste and lykynge · lucifer fel fram heuene
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo

¶ It were aȝeynes kynde quod he · and alkynnes resoun
Þat any creature shulde kunne al · excepte cryste one
Aȝein such salomon speketh · and dispiseth her wittes
And seith sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum
Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprimitur a gloria
To englisch men þis is to mene · þat mowen speke & here
Þe man þat moche hony eteth · his mawe it engleymeth
And þe more þat a man · of good mater hereth
But he do þerafter · it doth hym double scathe
Beatus est seith seynt Bernard / · qui scripturas legit
Et verba vertit in opera · fullich to his powere
Coueytise to kunne and to knowe science
Pulte[^481] out of paradys · Adam and Eue
Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriam spoliauit
And riȝte as hony is yuel to defye · and engleymeth þe mawe
non plus sapere qua m oportet
Riȝt so þat þorw resoun wolde þe rote knowe[^482]
Of god and of his grete myȝtes · his graces it letteth
For in þe lykyng lith a pryde · and a lycames coueitise
Aȝein crystes conseille · and alle clerkes techyng
freris
That is non plus sapere quam oportet sapere[^483]
Freres and fele other maistres · þat to þe lewed men prechen
Ȝe moeuen materes inmesurables · to tellen of þe Trinite
Þat ofte tymes þe lewed peple · of her bileue douten
Bettere byleue were mony · doctoures such techyng
And tellen men of þe ten comaundementz · and touchen þe seuene synnes
And of þe braunches þat burgeouneth of hem · and bryngeth men to helle
And how þat folke in folyes · myspenden her fyue wittes
As wel freres as other folke · folilich spenen
In housyng in haterynge · and in-to hiegh clergye shewynge
More for pompe þan for pure charite · þe poeple wote þe sothe
Þat I lye nouȝt loo · for lordes ȝe plesen
And reuerencen þe riche · þe rather for her syluer
Confundantur omnes qui adorant scultilia scul[p]tilia · & alibi
Vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium
Go to þe glose of þe verse · ȝe grete clerkes
If I lye on ȝow to my lewed witte · ledeth me to brennynge
nota de fratribus
For as it semeth ȝe forsaketh · no mannes almesse
Of vsureres of hores · of auarous chapmen
And louten to þis lordes · þat mowen lene ȝow nobles
Aȝeine ȝowre reule and Religioun · I take recorde at Ihesus
Þat seide to his disciples · ne sitis personarum acceptores

[^481: L.15.67: LMR alone read Pulte, "thrust"; most other B manuscripts have Putte.]

[^482: L.15.70: The words non plus sapere qua[m] oportet appear in the right margin.]

[^483: L.15.74: The word freris appears in the right margin. The glossator has drawn a bracket from this line to the bottom of the page.]

¶ Of þis matere I myȝte  make a longe bible
Ac of curatoures of crystene peple · as clerkes bereth witnesse
I shal tellen it for treuth sake · take hede who-so lyketh

¶ As holynesse and honestete[^484] oute of holicherche spredeth
Þorw lele libbyng men · þat goddes lawe techen
Riȝt so out of holicherche · alle yueles spredeth
There inpar fyt presthod is · prechoures and techeres
And se it by ensample in somer tyme on trowes
Þere somme bowes ben leued · and somme bereth none
Þere is a myschief in þe more · of suche manere bowes
Riȝt so parsones and prestes · and prechoures of holy cherche
Þat aren rote of þe riȝte faith · to reule þe peple
Ac þere þe rote is roten · reson wote þe sothe
Shal neure floure ne frute · ne faire leef be grene
For-þi wolde ȝe lettred leue · þe leccherye of clothynge
And be kynde as bifel for clerkes · and curteise of crystes goodes
Trewe of ȝowre tonge · and of ȝowre taille bothe
And hatien to here harlotrye · and nouȝt to vnderfonge
Tythes of vntrewe þinge · ytilied or chaffared ·

[^484: L.15.99: L alone reads honestete; all other B manuscripts have honeste.]

¶ Lothe were lewed men · but þei ȝowre lore folwed
And amenden hem þat mysdon · more for ȝowre ensamples
Þan forto prechen & preue it nouȝt · ypocrysie it semeth
For ypocrysie in latyn · is lykned to a dongehul[^485]
Þat were bysnewed with snowe · and snakes wyth-inne

[^485: L.15.118: Under and over lining in red ink has been erased, but the ink is still visible over lykned and at the end of the line.]

¶ Or to a wal þat were whitlymed · and were foule wyth-inne
Riȝt so many prestes · prechoures and prelates
Ȝe aren enblaunched with bele paroles · and with clothes also
Ac ȝowre werkes and ȝowre wordes þere-vnder · aren ful vnlouelich

¶[^486] Iohannes crysostomus · of clerkes speketh and prestes
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur · sic de templo · omne malum procedit
Nota crisostomus
Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit · tota floret ecclesia · si autem coruptum fuerit · omnium fides marcida est /[^487] Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis · totus populus couertitur co[n]uertitur ad peccandum
Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam · inteligis quod vicium habet in radice
Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum · & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum

[^486: L.15.124-128: This line group has been bracketed in the left margin with the words Nota crisostomus written in a secretary hand.]

[^487: L.15.126: The virgule is very faint and may have been scraped?]

¶ If lewed men wist · what þis latyn meneth
And who was myn auctor · moche wonder me þinketh
But if many a prest bere · for here baselardes and here broches
A peyre bedes in her hande · and a boke vnder her arme
Sire Iohan & sire Geffray · hath a gerdel of syluer
A basellarde or a ballokknyf · with botones ouergylte
+
[^488] Ac a portous þat shulde be his plow · placebo to segge
Hadde he neure seruyse to saue syluer þer-to · seith it with yvel[^489] wille
Allas ȝe lewed men · moche lese ȝe on prestes
Ac þinge þat wykkedlich is wonne · and with false sleigthes
Wolde neuere witte of witty god · but wikked men it hadde
Þe which aren prestes inparfit · and prechoures after syluer
Sectoures and sudenes · somnoures and her lemmannes
Þis þat with gyle was geten · vngraciouslich is spended
So harlotes and hores · ar hulpen with such goodis
And goddes folke for defaute þer-of · forfaren and spillen

[^488: L.15.135: A <+> appears in the left margin which may indicate the corrector's dissatisfaction with portous for "porthors" or perhaps his opinion that the placebo should be boxed.]

[^489: L.15.136: LRF read yvel; other B manuscripts have ydel.]

¶ Curatoures of holykirke · as clerkes þat ben auerouse
Liȝtlich þat þey leuen · loselles it habbeth
Or dyeth intestate · and þanne þe bisshop entreth
And maketh murthe þere-with · and his men bothe
And seggen he was a nygarde · þat no good myȝte asspare
To frende ne to fremmed · þe fende haue his soule
For a wrecched hous he helde · al his lyf-tyme
And þat he spared and bispered · spene[^490] we in murthe

[^490: L.15.152: LMR have spene; the majority of other B witnesses have synonymous spende.]

¶ By lered by lewed · þat loth is to spende
Þus gone her godes · be þe goste faren
Ac for good men god wote · gret dole men maken
And bymeneth good mete-ȝyueres · and in mynde haueth
quid est caritas
In prayers and in penaunces · and in parfyt charite

¶ What is charite quod I þo · a childissh þinge he seide
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli · non intrabitis in regnum celorum
With-outen fauntelte or foly · a fre liberal wille

¶ Where shulde men fynde such a frende · with so fre an herte
nota the name of thauctor
I haue lyued in londe quod I · my name is longe wille[^491]
And fonde I neuere ful charite · bifore ne bihynde
Men beth mercyable · to mendynantz & to pore
And wolen lene þere þei leue · lelly to ben payed

[^491: L.15.162: The words nota the name of thauctor appear in the right margin.]

¶ Ac charite þat poule preyseth best · and most plesaunte to owre saueoure
As non inflatus inflatu[r] non ambiciosa[^492] non querit que sua sunt
I seigh neuere such a man · so me god helpe
That he ne wolde aske after his · and otherwhile coueyte
Þinge þat neded hym nouȝt · and nyme it if he myȝte

[^492: L.15.167: L alone omits est before ambiciosa . It is added above the line in M.]

¶ Clerkis kenne me þat cryst · is in alle places
Ac I seygh hym neuere sothly · but as my-self in a miroure
It It[a][^493] in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem
And so I trowe trewly · by þat men telleth of charite
It is nouȝt championes fyȝte · ne chaffare as I trowe

[^493: L.15.173: Although it is possible that L wrote Ic with an ill-formed <c> in error for the probably correct reading Hic (attested by alpha and M), it is more likely to be It in error for Ita (attested by BCC2GOY).]

¶ Charite quod he ne chaffareth nouȝte · ne chalengeth ne craueth
As proude of a peny · as of a pounde of golde
And is as gladde of a goune  of a graye russet
As of a tunicle of tarse · or of trye scarlet
+
He is gladde with alle gladde · and good ty ty[l][^494] alle wykked
And leneth and loueth alle · þat owre lorde made
Curseth he no creature · ne he can bere no wratthe
Ne no lykynge hath to lye · ne laughe men to scorne
Al þat men seith he let it soth · and in solace taketh
And alle manere meschiefs · in myldenesse he suffreth
Coueiteth he none erthly good · but heuene-riche blisse

[^494: L.15.180: The scribe's ty for tyl is noted by the corrector's <+> in the right margin.]

¶ Hath he any rentes or ricchesse · or any riche frendes

¶ Of rentes ne of ricchesse · ne reccheth he neuere
For a frende þat fyndeth hym · failled hym neuere at nede
Fiat voluntas tua fynt hym euer-more
And if he soupeth ette[^495] but a soppe of spera in deo
He can purtreye wel þe pater noster · and peynte it with aues
And other-while is his[^496] wone · to wende in[^497] pilgrymage
Þere pore men and prisones liggeth · her pardoun to haue
Þough he bere hem no bred · he bereth hem swetter lyflode
Loueth hem as owre lorde biddeth · and loketh how þei fare

[^495: L.15.191: LR alone have the preterite here against eteþ in most other B witnesses.]

[^496: L.15.193: LHmM read is his; most B manuscripts have he is.]

[^497: L.15.193: LBM and C manuscripts XYcP2KUcDcPEcRcMcVcAcZFcGcNcN2 have in against on in most other B witnesses.]

¶ And whan he is wery of þat werke · þanne wil he some-tyme
Labory in a[^498] lauendrye · wel þe lengthe of a myle
And ȝerne in-to ȝouthe · and ȝepliche speke
Pryde with al þe appurtenaunce · and pakken hem togyderes
And bouken hem at his brest · and beten hem clene
And leggen on longe · with laboraui in gemitu meo
And with warme water at his eyghen · wasshen hem after
And þanne he syngeth whan he doth so · & some-tyme seith wepyng
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies

[^498: L.15.198: LR alone read a; most other B manuscripts omit it.]

¶ By cryst I wolde þat I knewe hym quod I · no creature leuere

¶ With-outen helpe of Piers plowman quod he · his persone seestow neuere

¶ Where clerkes knowen hym quod I · þat kepen holykirke

¶ Clerkes haue no knowyng quod he · but by werkes and bi wordes
Ac piers þe plowman · parceyueth more depper
+
Þat[^499] is þe wille and wherfore · þat many wyȝte suffreth
Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum
For þere ar ful proude-herted men · paciente of tonge
And boxome as of berynge · to burgeys and to lordes
And to pore peple · han peper in þe nose
And as a lyoun he loketh · þere men lakketh his werkes

[^499: L.15.211: LRF alone read Þat; most other B witnesses have What, which may be the reason for the corrector's <+> in the left margin.]

¶ For þere ar beggeres and bidderes · bedmen as it were
Loketh as lambren · and semen lyf-holy
Ac it is more to haue her mete · with such an esy manere
Þan for penaunce and parfitnesse · þe pouerte þat such taketh

¶ Þere-fore by coloure ne by clergye · knowe shaltow hym neuere
Noyther þorw wordes ne werkes · but þorw wille one
And þat knoweth no clerke · ne creature in erthe
But piers þe plowman · petrus id est cristus
For he ne is nouȝte in lolleres · ne in lande-leperes hermytes
Ne at ancres þere a box hangeth · alle suche þei faiten
Fy on faitoures · and in fautores suos
For charyte is goddis champioun · and as a good chylde hende
And þe meryest of mouth · at mete where he sitteth
Þe loue þat lith in his herte · maketh hym lyȝte of speche
And is compenable · and confortatyf · as cryst bit hym-selue
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &c
For I haue seyn hym in sylke[^500] · and somme-tyme in russet
Bothe in grey and in grys · and in gulte herneys
And as gladlich he it gaf · to gomes þat it neded

[^500: L.15.233: The letter <s> and the first stroke of <y> appear to have been re-inked by the original scribe in a blacker ink.]

¶ Edmonde and Edwarde · eyther were kynges
And seyntes ysette · tyl charite hem folwed

¶ I haue seyne charite also · syngen and reden
Ryden and rennen · in ragged wedes
Ac biddyng as beggeres · bihelde I hym neuere
Ac[^501] in riche robes  rathest he walketh
Ycalled and ycrimiled · and his crowne shaue
And in a freres frokke · he was yfounde ones
Ac it is ferre agoo · in seynt Fraunceys tyme
In þat secte sitthe · to selde hath he be knowen

[^501: L.15.241: This form of the line initial <A> is uncharacteristic for this scribe.]

¶ Riche men he recomendeth · and of her robes taketh
Þat with-outen wyles · leden her lyues
Beatus est diues · qui &c

¶ In kynges courte he cometh ofte · þere þe conseille is trewe
Ac if coueityse be of þe conseille · he wil nouȝt come þer-Inne
In courte amonge iaperes · he cometh but selde
For braulyng and bakbytyng · and beryng of fals witnesse

¶ In þe constorie bifor þe comissarie · he cometh nouȝt ful ofte
For her lawe dureth ouer-longe · but if þei lacchen syluer
And matrimoigne for monye · maken & vnmaken
And þat conscience and cryst · hath yknitte faste
Þei vndon it vnworthily · þo doctours of lawe

¶ Ac I ne lakke no lyf · but lorde amende vs alle
And gyue vs grace good god · charite to folwe
For who-so myȝte mete with hym · such maneres hym eyleth
Noyther he blameth ne banneth · bosteth ne prayseth
Lakketh ne loseth · ne loketh vp sterne
Craueth ne coueiteth · ne crieth after more
In pace in idipsum dormiam &c ·
Þe moste lyflode þat he lyueth by · is loue in goddis passioun
Noyther he biddeth ne beggeth · ne borweth to ȝelde
Misdoth he no man · ne with his mouth greueth

nota bene
¶ Amonges cristene men · þis myldnesse shulde laste[^502]
In alle manere angres · haue þis at herte
Þat þough þei suffred al þis · god suffred for vs more
In ensample we shulde do so · and take no veniaunce
Of owre foes þat doth vs falsenesse · þat is owre fadres wille
For wel may euery man wite if god hadde wolde hym-selue
Sholde neuere Iudas ne iuwe · haue Ihesu don on Rode
Ne han martired peter ne Poule · ne in prisoun holden
Ac he suffred in ensample · þat we shulde suffre also
And seide to suche þat suffre wolde · þat pacientes vincunt

[^502: L.15.268: A later scribe has written nota bene in the right margin.]

¶ Verbi gratia quod he  and verrey ensamples manye
In legenda sanctorum · þe lyf of holy seyntes
What penaunce and pouerte · and passioun þei suffred[^503]
In hunger in hete · in al manere angres
Antony and Egidie · and other holi fadres
Woneden in wildernesse · amonge wilde bestes
Monkes and mendynauntz · men bi hem-selue
In spekes an in spelonkes · selden speken togideres
Ac noyther antony ne Egidy · ne hermite þat tyme
Of liouns ne of leoperdes · no lyflode ne toke
But of foules þat fleeth · þus fynt men in bokes
Egidius
Excepte þat Egydie · after an hynde cryede
And þorw þe mylke · of þat mylde best · þe man was susteyned
And day by day had he hir nouȝt · his hunger forto slake
But selden and sondrie tymes · as seith þe boke and techeth

[^503: L.15.280: A partially erased <+> may appear in the right margin.]

antonye
¶ Antony adayes · aboute none-tyme
Had a bridde þat brouȝte hym bred · þat he by lyued
And þough þe gome hadde a geste · god fonde hem bothe

Paulus primus heremita
¶ Poule primus heremita · had parroked hym-selue
Þat no man miȝte hym se · for mosse and for leues
Foules hym fedde · fele wynteres with-alle
Til he founded freres · of austines ordre
Poule after his prechyng · panyers he made
And wan with his hondes · þat his wombe neded
Peter andrew
Peter fisched for his fode · and his felawe andrewe
Some þei solde and some þei sothe · and so þei lyued bothe
mari maudlin
And also Marie Magdeleyne · by mores lyued and dewes
Ac moste þorw deuocioun · and mynde of god almiȝty
I shulde nouȝt þis seuene dayes · seggen hem alle
Þat lyueden þus for owre lordes loue · manye longe ȝeres
Ac þere ne was lyoun · ne leopart · þat on laundes wenten
Noyther bere ne bor · ne other best wilde
Þat ne fel to her feet · and fauned with þe tailles
And if þei couth han ycarped · by cryst as I trowe
Þei wolde haue fedde þat folke · bifor wilde foules
Ac god sent hem fode bi foules · and by no fierse bestes
In menynge þat meke þinge · mylde þinge shulde fede
[^504] As who seith religious · ryȝtful men shulde fynde
And lawful men to lyfholy men · lyflode brynge
And þanne wolde lordes and ladyes be · loth to agulte
And to take of her tenauntz · more þan treuth wolde
Fonde þei þat Freres · wolde forsake her almesses
And bidden hem bere it · þere it was yborwed
For we ben goddes foules · and abiden alwey
Tyl briddes brynge vs · þat we shulde lyue by
For had ȝe potage and payn ynough · and peny-ale to drynke
And a messe þere-mydde · of o manere kynde
Ȝe had riȝt ynough · ȝe Religious · and so ȝowre reule me tolde
Nunquam dicit Iob rugit onerger on[a]ger cum herbam habuerit · aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit · brutorum animalium natura te condempnat · quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat · ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua

[^504: L.15.315-317: These lines are bracketed in the left margin.]

nota mortmayne
¶ If lewed men knewe þis latyn · þei wolde loke whom þei ȝeue[^505]
And auyse hem bifore · a fyue dayes or sexe
Or þei amortesed to monkes · or chanouns her rentes
X
Allas lordes and ladyes · lewed conseille haue ȝe[^506]
To ȝyue fram ȝowre eyres · þat ȝowre ayeles ȝow lefte
And ȝiueth to bidde for ȝow · to such þat ben riche
And ben founded and feffed eke · to bidde for other

[^505: L.15.327: The words nota mortmayne appear in the right margin in a sixteenth-century hand.]

[^506: L.15.331-333: A large dry point <X> appears in the right margin.]

¶ Who perfourneth þis prophecye · of þe peple þat now lybbeth
Dispersit dedit pauperibus &c
If any peple perfourme þat texte · it ar þis pore freres
For þat þei beggen abouten · in buildynge þei spene[^507]
And on hem-self sum · and such as ben her laboreres
And of hem þat habbeth þei taken · and ȝyue hem þat ne habbeth

[^507: L.15.337: LMY read spene; Other B manuscripts favor some variation of spende it or it spende.]

¶ Ac clerkes & knyȝtes · and comuneres þat ben riche
Fele of ȝow fareth · as if I a forest hadde
Þat were ful of faire trees · and I fonded and caste
How I myȝte mo þer-inne · amonges hem sette
Riȝt so ȝe riche · ȝe robeth þat ben riche
And helpeth hem þat helpeth ȝow · and ȝiueth þere no nede is
As who-so filled a tonne · of a fressh ryuer
And went forth with þat water · to woke with themese
Riȝt so ȝe riche · ȝe robeth and fedeth
Hem þat han as ȝe han · hem ȝe make at ese

¶ Ac Religious þat riche ben · shulde rather feste beggeres
Þan burgeys þat riche ben · as þe boke techeth
nota
Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare[^508]
Item peccatoribus dare · est demonibus immolare
Item monache si indiges et accipis pocius das quam accipis
Si autem non eges & accipis  rapis
Porro non indiget Monachus · si habeat quod nature sufficit
For-þi I conseille alle cristene · to confourmen hem to charite
For charite with-oute chalengynge · vnchargeth þe soule
And many a prisone fram purgatorie · þorw his preyeres he delyureth
Ac þere is a defaute in þe folke · þat þe faith kepeth
Wherfore folke is þe feblere · and nouȝt ferme of bilieue
As in lussheborwes is a lyther alay · and ȝet loketh he lyke a sterlynge
Þe merke of þat mone is good · ac þe metal is fieble
And so it fareth by some folke now · þei han a faire speche
Croune and crystendome · þe kynges merke of heuene
Ac þe metal þat is mannes soule · with synne is foule alayed
Bothe lettred and lewede · beth allayed now with synne
That no lyf loueth other · ne owre lorde as it semeth
For þorw werre and wykked werkes · and wederes vnresonable
Wederwise shipmen · and witti clerkes also
Han no bilieue to þe lifte · ne to þe lore of philosofres

[^508: L.15.352-356: To the right of this long Latin quotation is a bracket and nota in a sixteenth-century hand.]

¶ Astrymyanes alday · in her arte faillen
Þat whilum warned bifore · what shulde falle after
Shipmen and sheperdes · þat with shipp & shepe wenten
Wisten by þe walkene · what shulde bityde
As of wederes and wyndes · þei warned men ofte
Tilieres þat tiled þe erthe · tolden her maistres
By þe sede þat þei sewe · what þei selle miȝte
And what to leue and to lyue by · þe londe was so trewe
Now failleth þe folke of þe flode · and of þe londe bothe
Sheperdes and shipmen · and so do þis tilieres
Noither þei kunneth ne knoweth · one cours bi-for an other
Astrymyanes also  aren at her wittes ende
Of þat was calculed of þe element · þe contrarie þei fynde
Gramer þe grounde of al · bigyleth now children
For is none of þis newe clerkes · who-so nymeth hede
Þat can versifye faire · ne formalich enditen
Ne nouȝt on amonge an hundreth · þat an auctour can construe
Ne rede a lettre in any langage · but in latyn or in englissh
Go now to any degre · and but if gyle be mayster
And flaterere his felawe · vnder hym to fourmen
Moche wonder me thynketh · amonges vs alle
Doctoures of decres · and of diuinite Maistres
Þat shulde konne and knowe · alkynnes clergye
And answere to argumentz · and also to a quodlibet
I dar nouȝt seggen it for shame · if suche weren apposed
Þei shulde faillen in her philosofye · and in phisyk bothe
Wher-fore I am afered · of folke of holikirke
Lest þei ouerhuppen as other don · in offices & in houres
Ac if þei ouerhuppe as I hope nouȝte · owre byleue suffiseth
As clerkes in corpus cristi feste · singen & reden
Þat sola fides sufficit · to saue with lewed peple

¶ And so may sarasenes be saued · scribes and iewes
Allas þanne but owre loresmen · lyuen as þei leren vs
And for her lyuynge þat lewed men be · þe lother god agulten
For sarasenes han somwhat · semynge to owre bileue
For þei loue and bileue · in o parsone almiȝty
[^509] And we lered and lewede · in on god bileueth
the begyning of Mahomet & the cause
Ac[^510] one Makometh · a man in mysbileue
Brouȝte sarasenes of surre · and se in what manere
Þis Makometh was a crystene man[^511] · and for he moste nouȝte be a pope
In-to surre he souȝte · and þorw his sotil wittes
Daunted a dowue · and day and nyȝte hir fedde
Þe corne þat she cropped · he caste it in his ere
And if he amonge þe poeple preched · or in places come
Þanne wolde þe coluer come · to þe clerkes ere
Menynge as after meet · þus Makometh hir enchaunted
A[^512] dide folke þanne falle on knees · for he swore in his prechynge
Þat þe coluer þat come so · come fram god of heuene
As messager to Makometh · men forto teche
And þus þorw wyles of his witte and a whyte dowue
Makometh in mysbileue · men and wommen brouȝte
Þat lered þere and lewed ȝit · lyuen[^513] on his lawes

[^509: L.15.403-410: This line group has been bracketed in the left margin with the words the begyning of Mahomet & the cause.]

[^510: L.15.409: LBR alone read Ac; most other B manuscripts have And.]

[^511: L.15.411: LRF have man, but it is omitted by all other beta manuscripts. A small horizontal mark appears in the left margin and may represent a second corrector's mark; however, such ticks appear with some frequency in this manuscript and otherwise appear to lack significance. For a complete list, see Horizontal Marginal Bars.]

[^512: L.15.418: L alone reads A, "and"; most B witnesses have And.]

[^513: L.15.423: L alone reads lyuen; most other B manuscripts have leeuen.]

¶ And sitth owre saueoure suffred · þe sarasenes so bigiled
Þorw a crystene clerke · acursed in his soule
Ac[^514] for drede of þe deth · I dar nouȝt telle treuthe
How englissh clerkes a coluer feden · þat coueityse hatte
And ben manered after Makometh · þat no man vseth treuth

[^514: L.15.426: LR have Ac; most other B manuscripts read And.]

¶ Ancres and hermytes · and monkes and freres
Ancres hermites &c ·
Peren to apostles · þorw her parfit lyuynge[^515]
Wolde neuere þe faithful fader · þat his ministres sholde
Of tyrauntz þat teneth trewe men · taken any almesse
But done as Antony did · dominik and Fraunceys
Benet & Bernarde · þe which hem firste tauȝte
To lyue bi litel & in lowe houses · by lele mennes almesse
Grace sholde growe & be grene · þorw her good lyuynge
And folkes sholde fynde · þat ben in dyuerse sykenesse
Þe better for her byddynges · in body and in soule
Her preyeres and her penaunces · to pees shulde brynge
Alle þat ben at debate · and bedemen were trewe
Petite & accipietis &c
Salt saueth catel  seggen þis wyues
Vos estis sal terre &c ·
Þe heuedes of holicherche · and þei holy were
Cryst calleth hem salt · for crystene soules
Et si sal euanuerit · in quo salietur
Ac fressh flessh other fissh · whan it salt failleth
It is vnsauory for soth · ysothe or ybake
So is mannes soule sothly · þat seeth no good ensaumple
Of hem of holycherche · þat þe heigh weye shulde teche
And be gyde and go bifore · as a good baneoure
And hardy hem þat bihynde ben · and ȝiue hem good euydence

[^515: L.15.430: The words Ancres hermites &c ·, are written in a sixteenth-century hand in the right margin.]

¶ Elleuene holy men · al þe worlde torned
In-to lele byleue · þe liȝtloker me thynketh
Shulde al maner men · we han so manye Maistres
Prestes and prechoures · and a pope aboue
Þat goddes salt shulde be · to saue mannes soule

¶ Al was hethenesse some-tyme  Ingelond and wales
Til Gregory gerte clerkes · to go here and preche
Austyn at Caunterbury · crystened þe kynge
And þorw myracles as men may rede · al þat marche he torned
To cryst and to crystendome · and crosse to honoure
And fulled folke faste · and þe faith tauȝte
More þorw miracles · þan þorw moche prechynge
As wel þorw his werkes · as with his holy wordes
And seyde hem what fullynge · and faith was to mene

¶ Cloth þat cometh fro þe weuyng · is nouȝt comly to were
Tyl it is[^516] fulled vnder fote · or in fullyng stokkes
Wasshen wel with water · and with taseles cracched
Ytouked and ytented  & vnder tailloures hande
And so it fareth by a barne · þat borne is of wombe
Til it be crystened in crystes name · and confermed of þe bisshop
It is hethene as to heueneward · and helpelees to þe soule

[^516: L.15.468: LMR read is; the other B manuscripts have be.]

¶ Hethene is to mene after heth · and vntiled erthe
As in wilde wildernesse · wexeth wilde bestes
Rude and vnresonable · rennenge with-out creperes

¶ Ȝe nymmen[^517] wel how matheu seith · how a man made a feste
He fedde hem with no venysoun · ne fesauntes ybake
But with foules þat fram hym nolde · but folwed his whistellynge
Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt &c
And wyth calues flesshe he fedde · þe folke þat he loued
Þe calfe bytokeneth clennesse · in hem þat kepeth lawes

[^517: L.15.477: L alone reads nymmen; most other B manuscripts have menen or mynnen.]

¶ For as þe cow þorw kynde mylke · þe calf norissheth til an oxe
So loue & and [&] lewte · lele men susteyneth
And maydenes and mylde men mercy desiren
Riȝt as þe cow calf · coueyteth swete mylke
So don riȝtful men · mercy & treuthe

¶ Ac who beth þat excuseth hem · þat aren persounes and prestes
Þat heuedes of holycherche ben · þat han her wille here
With-oute trauaille þe tithe del · þat trewemen trewe men biswynkyn
Þei wil be wroth for I write þus · ac to witnesse I take
Bothe Mathew and Marke · and Memento domine dauid
What Pope or prelate now · perfourneth þat cryst hiȝte
Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate & c ·

¶ Allas þat men so longe · on Makometh shulde byleue
So many prelates to preche · as þe Pope maketh
Of Nazareth of Nynyue · of Neptalim and damaske
Þat þei ne went as cryst wisseth · sithen þei wil a[^518] name
¶ To be pastours and preche · þe passioun of Ihesus
And as hym-self seyde · so to lyue and deye
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & c
And seyde it in sauacioun · of sarasenes & other
For crystene & vncristene · cryst seide to prechoures
Ite vos in vineam meam ·
And sith þat þis sarasenes · scribes & Iuwes
Han a lippe of owre byleue · þe liȝtloker me thynketh
Þei shulde torne who-so trauaille wolde · to teche hem of þe Trinite
Querite & inuenietis &c

[^518: L.15.498: LR alone read a; most other B manuscripts have haue.]

¶ It is reuth to rede · how riȝtwis men lyued
How þei defouled her flessh · forsoke her owne wille
Fer fro kitth and fro kynne · yuel yclothed ȝeden
Badly ybedded · no boke · but conscience
Ne no richchesse but þe Rode · to reioyse hem Inne
Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri &c ·

¶ And þo was plente & pees · amonges pore & riche
And now is routhe to rede · how þe red noble
Is reuerenced or þe Rode · receyued for þe worthier
Þan crystes crosse þat ouer-cam · deþ and dedly synne

[^519] ¶ And now is werre and wo · and who-so why axeth
For coueityse after crosse · þe croune stant in golde
Bothe riche and religious · þat Rode þei honoure
Þat in grotes is ygraue · and in golde nobles
For coueityse of þat crosse · men of holykirke
Shul tourne as templeres did · þe tyme approcheth faste

[^519: L.15.519: A bracket extends from this line to the bottom of the page in the right margin. There are two marginal glosses beside the bracket, one beside the second line group bracketed, written by the later, more spindly secretary hand we have called hand16a. The second gloss, which may have been written first, is in the thicker secretary script.]

¶ Wyte ȝe nouȝt wyse men · how þo men honoured
the fall of the church throwgh covitusnes
More tresore þan treuthe · I dar nouȝt telle þe sothe[^520]
Resoun & riȝtful dome · þo Religious demed
Riȝt so ȝe clerkes · for ȝowre coueityse ar longe
id est resoun &c ·
Shal þei demen dos ecclesie · and ȝowre pryde depose
Deposuit potentes de sede &c ·

[^520: L.15.526: The words the fall of the church throwgh covitusnes appear in the right margin in a sixteenth-century hand.]

¶ Ȝif knyȝthod & kynde wytte · and comune conscience
Bishops possessioun
Togideres loue lelly · leueth it wel ȝe bisshopes[^521]
Þe lordeship of londes · for euere shal ȝe lese
And lyuen as leuitici as owre lorde ȝow techeth
Per primicias & decimas

[^521: L.15.532: Bishops possessioun appears in the right margin in a sixteenth-century hand.]

nota
¶ Whan costantyn of curteysye · holykirke dowed
With londes and ledes · lordeshipes and rentes
An Angel men herde · an heigh at Rome crye
Dos ecclesie þis day · hath ydronke venym
And þo þat han petres powere · arn apoysoned alle
[^522] ¶ A medecyne mote þer-to · þat may amende prelates
[^523] Þat sholden preye for þe pees · possessioun hem letteth
a medycyne to emend prelates &c /
Take her landes ȝe lordes · and let hem lyue by dymes
If possessioun be poysoun · & inparfit hem make
Good were to dischargen hem · for holicherche sake
And purgen hem of poysoun · or more perile falle

[^522: L.15.541: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

[^523: L.15.542: A bracket in the left margin extends from this line to the bottom of this line group with the gloss a medycyne to emend prelates &c /. The bracket may be intended as an extension of the one on the previous page.]

+
¶ Ȝif presthod were parfit · þe peple solde s[h]olde amende
Þat contrarien crystes lawe · and crystendome dispise
For al paynym[^524] prayeth · and parfitly bileueth
In þe holy grete god · and his grace þei asken
And make her mone to makometh · her message to shewe
Þus in a faith lyueth[^525] þat folke · and in a false mene
And þat is routhe · for riȝtful men · þat in þe Rewme wonyen
And a peril to þe pope · and prelatis þat he maketh
Þat bere bisshopes names · of Bedleem & babiloigne
Þat hippe aboute in Engelonde · to halwe mennes auteres
And crepe amonges curatoures · confessen ageyne þe lawe
Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam &c
Many man for crystes loue · was martired in Romanye[^526]
Er ar any crystendome was knowe þere · or any crosse honoured

[^524: L.15.549: L alone reads paynym; all other B manuscripts have the plural paynymes.]

[^525: L.15.552: LCrRF alone have some form of lyue; all other B manuscripts have some form of leue.]

[^526: L.15.559: L alone has the spelling Romanye; most B witnesses read Romayne.]

¶ Euery bisshop þat bereth crosse · by þat he is holden
Thorw his prouynce to passe · and to his peple to shewe hym
Tellen hem and techen hem · on þe Trinite to bileue
And feden hem with gostly fode · and gyue þere it nedeth
In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum et ideo nolite constituere me regem · ysaie 3[^527]
Ozias seith for such · þat syke ben and fieble
Inferte omnes decimas in oreum meum vt cibus in domo mea

[^527: L.15.565: LRF alone cite the source.]

¶ Ac we crystene creatures · þat on þe crosse byleuen
Aren ferme as in þe faith · goddes forbode elles
And han clerkes to kepen vs þer-Inne · and hem þat shal come after vs

¶ And iewes lyuen in lele lawe · owre lorde wrote it hym-selue
In stone for it stydfast was · and stonde sholde eure
Dilige deum & proximum · is parfit iewen lawe
And toke it moyses to teche men · til Messye come
And on þat lawe þei lyuen ȝit · and leten it þe beste

¶ And ȝit knewe þei cryst · þat crystendome tauȝte
For a parfit prophete · þat moche peple saued
Of selcouth sores · þei seyne it ofte
Bothe of myracles & meruailles · and how he men fested
+
With two fisshes an[^528] fyve loues · fyue thousande peple
And bi þat maungerye men miȝte wel se · þat Messye he semed
And whan he luft vp lazar · þat layde was in graue
And vnder stone ded & stanke · with styf voys hym called
Lazare veni foras ·
Dede hym rise and rowme riȝt bifor þe iuwes
Ac þei seiden and sworen · with sorcerye he wrouȝte
And studyeden to stroyen hym · and stroyden hem-self
And þorw his pacyence her powere · to pure nouȝt he brouȝte
Pacientes vincunt

[^528: L.15.580: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes the scribe's an for and.]

¶ Danyel of her vndoynge · deuyned and seyde
Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat · cessabit vnxio vestra
And ȝet wenen þo wrecches · þat he were pseudo-propheta
And þat his lore be lesynges · and lakken it alle
And hopen þat he be to come · þat shal hem releue
Moyses eft or Messye · here maisteres ȝet deuyneth

¶ Ac pharesewes and sarasenes · Scribes & Grekis
Aren folke of on faith · þe fader god þei honouren
And sitthen þat þe sarasenes · and also þe iewes
Konne þe firste clause of owre bileue · credo in deum patrem omnipotentem
Prelates of crystene prouynces · shulde preue if þei myȝte
Lere hem litlum & lytlum & in ihesum cristum filium
Tyl þei couthe speke and spelle · et in spiritum sanctum
And rendren[^529] it & recorden it · with remissionem peccatorum
Carnis resurreccionem · et vitam eternam amen ·

[^529: L.15.603: L alone has rendren; other B manuscripts have rede(n).]

Passus xvjus Sextus Decimus & primus de dobet

N ow[^530] faire falle ȝow quod I þo · for ȝowre faire shewynge
For haukynnes loue þe actyf man euere I shal ȝow louye
Ac ȝet I am in a were · what charite is to mene

[^530: L.16.1: The ornamental capital <N> is six lines high in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide-letter <n> appears in the left margin.]

¶ It is a ful trye tree quod he · trewly to telle ·
Mercy is þe more þer-of · þe myddel stokke is reuthe
charitas
Þe leues ben lele wordes · þe lawe of holycherche[^531]
Þe blosmes beth boxome speche · and benygne lokynge
Pacience hatte þe pure tre · and pore[^532] symple of herte
And so þorw god and þorw[^533] good men · groweth þe frute charite

[^531: L.16.6: A later scribe has written charitas in the right margin.]

[^532: L.16.8: LRF read pore against the majority of B manuscripts that have pure.]

[^533: L.16.9: LMW have this þorw; most B witnesses omit it.]

¶ I wolde trauaille quod I þis tree to se · twenty hundreth myle
id est edulium
And forto haue my fylle of þat frute · forsake al other s aulee[^534]
Lorde quod I if any wiȝte wyte · whider oute it groweth

[^534: L.16.11: The <a> is converted from <o> and the final <e> added. Cot and R both have soule here, L's original reading.]

¶ It groweth in gardyne[^535] quod he · þat god made hym-seluen
Amyddes mannes body · þe more is of þat stokke
Herte hatte þe erber · þat it in groweth
And liberum arbitrium · hath þe londe to ferme
Vnder Piers þe plowman · to pyken it · and to weden it
Piers þe plowman quod I þo · and al for pure ioye
Þat I herde nempne his name · anone I swouned after
And laye longe in a loue-dreme · and atte laste me þouȝte
Þat Pieres þe plowman · al þe place me shewed
And bad me toten on þe tree · on toppe and on rote
With þre pyles was it vnder-piȝte · I perceyued it sone
Pieres quod I · I preye þe · whi stonde þise piles here

[^535: L.16.13: L alone omits a before gardyne.]

¶ For wyndes wiltow wyte quod he · to witen it fram fallyng
Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur · quia dominus supponit manum suam[^536]
And in blowyng tyme abite þe floures · but if þis piles helpe
Þe worlde is a wykked wynde · to hem þat wolden[^537] treuthe
Coueityse cometh of þat wynde · and crepeth amonge þe leues
And forfret neigh þe frute · þorw many faire siȝtes
Þanne with þe firste pyle · I palle hym down · þat is potencia dei patris
Þe flesshe is a fel wynde · and in flourynge tyme
Þorw lykyng and lustes · so loude he gynneth blowe
Þat it norissheth nice siȝtes · and some-tyme wordes
And wikked werkes þer-of · wormes of synne
And forbiteth þe blosmes · riȝt to þe bare leues

[^536: L.16.26-27: These two lines are bracketed in the left margin.]

[^537: L.16.28: L alone reads wolden; most other B manuscripts have willen.]

¶ Þanne sette I to þe secounde pile · sapiencia dei patris
Þat is þe passioun and þe power · of owre prynce Ihesu
Þorw preyeres and þorw penaunces · and goddes passioun in mynde
I saue it til I se it rypen · & somdel yfruited
And þanne fondeth þe fende · my fruit to destruye
With alle þe wyles þat he can · and waggeth þe rote
And casteth vp to þe croppe · vnkynde neighbores
[^538] Bakbiteres breke-cheste · brawleres and chideres
And leith a laddre þere-to · of lesynges aren þe ronges
And feccheth away my floures sumtyme · afor bothe myn eyhen
Ac liberum arbitrium · letteth hym some-tyme
Þat is lieutenant to loken it wel · by leue of my-selue
Videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum numquam remittetur &c
Hoc est idem qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat ·
Ac whan þe fende and þe flesshe · forth with þe worlde
Manasen byhynde me · my fruit for to fecche
Þanne liberum arbitrium laccheth þe thridde[^539] plante
And palleth adown þe pouke · purelich þorw grace
And helpe of þe holy goste · and þus haue I þe maystrie

[^538: L.16.44-46: These three lines are written in the space for two by the original scribe over an erasure; nothing shows under ultraviolet light.]

[^539: L.16.53: LRF (and most C manuscripts) read thridde; all other B witnesses have firste instead.]

¶ Now faire falle ȝow Pieres quod I · so faire ȝe discryuen
Þe powere of þis postes · and her propre myȝte
Ac I haue þouȝtes a threve · of þis þre piles
In what wode þei woxen · and where þat þei growed
For alle ar þei aliche longe · none lasse þan other
And to my mynde as me þinketh · on o More þei growed
And of o gretnesse · and grene of greyne þei semen

¶ Þat is soth seide[^540] Pieres so it may bifalle
I shal telle þe as tite · what þis tree hatte
Þe grounde þere it groweth · goodnesse it hiȝte
And I haue tolde þe what hiȝte þe tree · þe trinite it meneth
And egrelich he loked on me · & þer-fore I spared
To asken hym any more ther-of · and badde hym ful fayre
To discreue þe fruit  þat so faire hangeth

[^540: L.16.63: LRF alone read seide; other B manuscripts have quod.]

¶ Here now bineth quod he þo · if I nede hadde
Matrymonye I may nyme · a moiste fruit with-alle
Þanne contenence is nerre[^541] þe croppe · as calwey bastarde
Þanne bereth þe croppe kynde fruite · and clenneste of alle
Maydenhode angeles peres · and rathest wole be ripe
And swete with-oute swellyng · soure worth it neuere

[^541: L.16.72: L alone has the comparative form here. All other manuscripts have neer.]

¶ I prayed pieres to pulle adown · an apple and he wolde
And suffre me to assaye · what sauoure it hadde

¶ And pieres caste to þe croppe · and þanne comsed it to crye
And wagged wydwehode · and it wepte after
And whan it meued Matrimoigne · it made a foule noyse
Þat I had reuth whan Piers rogged · it gradde so reufulliche
For euere as þei dropped adown · þe deuel was redy
And gadred hem alle togideres · bothe grete and smale
Adam & abraham · and ysay þe prophete
Sampson and samuel · and seynt Iohan þe baptiste
Bar hem forth boldely · no-body hym letted
And made of holy men his horde · in lymbo inferni
There is derkenesse and drede · and þe deuel Maister

¶ And Pieres for pure tene · þat o pile he lauȝte
And hitte after hym · happe how it[^542] myȝte
Filius bi þe fader wille · and frenesse of spiritus sancti
To go robbe þat raggeman · and reue þe fruit fro hym

[^542: L.16.90: One character has been erased before it, possibly an <l> or <b>.]

¶ And þanne spakke spiritus sanctus · in Gabrieles mouthe
To a mayde þat hiȝte Marye · a meke þinge with-alle
Þat one Ihesus a iustice sone · moste iouke in her chambre
Tyl plenitudo temporis · fully comen were
Þat Pieres fruit floured · and fel to be ripe
And þanne shulde Ihesus iuste þere-fore · bi iuggement of armes
Whether shulde fonde þe fruit · þe fende or hym-selue

¶ Þe mayde myldeliche þo · þe messager graunted
And seyde hendelich to hym · lo me his hande-mayden
For to worchen his wille · with-outen any synne
Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi &c
And in þe wombe of þat wenche · was he fourty wokes
Tyl he wex a faunt þorw her flessh · and of fiȝtyng couthe
To haue yfouȝte with þe fende · ar ful tyme come
And Pieres þe plowman · parceyued plenere tyme
And lered hym lechecrafte · his lyf for to saue
Þat þowgh he were wounded · with his enemye [^543] to warisshe hym -self
And did hym assaye his surgerye · on hem þat syke were
Til he was parfit practisoure · of[^544] any peril fulle
And souȝte oute þe syke · and synful bothe
And salued syke and synful · bothe blynde & crokede
And comune wommen conuerted · and to good torned
Non est sanis opus medicus set in &c
Bothe meseles & mute · and in þe menysoun blody
Ofte he heled suche · he ne helde for no maistrye
Saue þo he leched laza r þat hadde yleye in graue
Quatriduanus quelt · quykke did hym walke
Ac as he made þe maistrye · mestus cepit esse
And wepte water with his eyghen · þere seyen it manye
Some þat þe siȝte seyne · saide þat tyme
Þat he was leche of lyf · and lorde of heigh heuene
Iewes iangeled þere-aȝeyne · and iugged lawes
And seide he wrouȝte þorw wicchecrafte · & with þe deueles miȝte
Demonium habes &c

[^543: L.16.109: The punctus elevatus is perhaps added after the initial writing.]

[^544: L.16.111: L alone reads of; all other B manuscripts have if.]

¶ Þanne ar ȝe cherles quod ich · and ȝowre children bothe
And sathan ȝowre saueoure · ȝow-selue now ȝe witnessen
For I haue saued ȝow-self seith cryst · and ȝowre sones after
Ȝowre bodyes ȝowre bestes · and blynde men holpen
And fedde ȝow with fisshes · and with fyue loues
And left baskettes ful of broke mete · bere awey who-so wolde
And mysseide þe iewes manliche and manaced hem to bete
And knokked on hem with a corde · and caste adown her stalles
Þat in cherche chaffareden · or chaungeden any moneye
And seyde it in siȝte of hem alle · so þat alle herden
I shal ouertourne þis temple · and adown throwe
And in thre dayes after · edifye it newe
And make it as moche other more · in alle manere poyntes
As euere it was and as wyde · wher-fore I hote ȝow
Of preyeres and of parfitnesse · þis place þat ȝe callen
Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur
Enuye and yuel wille · was in þe iewes
Thei casten & contreueden · to kulle hym whan þei miȝte
Vche daye after other · þeire tyme þei awaited
Til it bifel on a fryday · alitel a litel bifor Paske
Þe þorsday byfore þere he made his maundee
Sittyng atte sopere · he seide þise wordes
I am solde þorw one of ȝow · he shal þe tyme rewe
Þat euere he his saueoure solde · for syluer or elles

¶ Iudas iangeled þere-aȝein · ac Ihesus hym tolde
It was hym hym[self][^545] sothely · and seide tu dicis
Þanne went forth þat wikked man · and with þe iewes mette
And tolde hem a tokne how to knowe with ihesus
And which tokne to þis day · to moche is yvsed
Þat is kissyng and faire contenaunce · & vnkynde wille
And so was with iudas þo · þat Ihesus bytrayed
Aue raby quod þat ribaude · and riȝt to hym he ȝede
And kiste hym to be cauȝt þere-by · and kulled of þe iewes

[^545: L.16.152: L alone omits alliterating self after hym, but it is added above the line in M.]

¶ Þanne Ihesus to Iudas · and to þe iewes seyde
Falsenesse I fynde · in þi faire speche
And gyle in þi gladde chere · and galle is in þi lawghyng
Þow shalt be myroure to manye men to deceyue
Ac þe wors and þi wikkednesse · shal worth vpon þi-selue
Necesse est vt veniant scandala · ve homini illi per quem scandalum venit
Þow I bi tresoun be ytake · at ȝowre owne wille
Suffreth my postles[^546] in pays · & in pees gange
On a thoresday in thesternesse · þus was he taken
Þorw iudas and iewes · ihesus was his name
Þat on þe fryday folwynge · for mankynde sake
Iusted in ierusalem · a ioye to vs alle
On crosse vpon caluarye · cryst toke þe bataille
Aȝeines deth and þe deuel · destruyed her botheres myȝtes
Deyde and deth fordid · and daye of nyȝte made

[^546: L.16.167: LR alone read postles; other B manuscripts have Apostles.]

¶ And I awaked þere-with · & wyped myne eyghen
And after piers þe plowman · pryed and stared
Estwarde and westwarde · I awayted[^547] after faste
And ȝede forth as an ydiote · in contre to aspye
After Pieres þe plowman · many a place I souȝte
And þanne mette I with a man · a mydlenten sondaye
As hore as an hawethorne · and Abraham he hiȝte
I frayned hym first · fram whennes he come
And of whennes he were · and whider þat he þouȝte

[^547: L.16.177: L alone reads awayted; all other B manuscripts have waited.]

¶ I am feith quod þat freke · it falleth nouȝte to lye
And of Abrahames hous · an heraud of armes
I seke after a segge · þat I seigh ones
A ful bolde bacheler · I knewe hym by his blasen
What bereth þat buirn quod I þo · so blisse þe bityde

¶ Þre leodes[^548] in o lith · non lenger þan other
Of one mochel & myȝte · in mesure and in lengthe
Þat one dot h alle doth · & eche doth by his one
Þe firste hath miȝte and maiestee · maker of alle þinges
Pater is his propre name · a persone by hym-selue
Þe secounde of þat sire is · sothfastnesse filius
Wardeyne of þat witte hath · was euere with-oute gynnyng
Þe þridde hatte þe holygoost · a persone by hym-selue
Þe liȝte of alle þat lyf hath · a londe & a watre
Confortoure of creatures · of hym cometh al blisse
So þre bilongeth for a lorde · þat lordeship claymeth
Myȝte and a mene · to knowe his owne myȝte
Of hym & of his seruaunt · and what þei suffre bothe
So god þat gynnyng hadde neure · but þo hym good þouȝte
Sent forth his sone as for seruaunt þat tyme
To occupien hym here · til issue were spronge
Þat is children of charite · & holicherche þe moder
Patriarkes & prophetes · and aposteles were þe chyldren
And cryst and crystenedome · and crystene holycherche
In menynge þat man moste · on o god bileue
And þere hym lyked & loued · in þre persones hym shewed
And þat it may be so & soth · manhode it sheweth
Wedloke and widwehode · with virgynyte ynempned
In toknynge of þe Trinite · was taken oute of o man
Adam owre aller fader · Eue was of hym-selue
And þe issue þat þei hadde · it was of hem bothe
And either is otheres ioye · in thre sondry persones
And in heuene & here · one syngulere name
+
And þis[^549] is mankynde or manhede · of matrimoigne yspronge
And bitokneth þe Trinite · and trewe bileue

[^548: L.16.189: Someone writing in a much lighter ink erroneously subpuncted the first <e> and perhaps <o> and inserted what may have been intended to be an <r>, making lordes.]

[^549: L.16.217: L alone reads þis; most other B manuscripts (and all other beta manuscripts) have þus, which may explain the corrector's <+> in the left margin.]

¶ Miȝte is matrimoigne · þat multiplieth þe erthe
And bitokneth trewly · telle if I dorste
He þat firste fourmed al · þe fader of heuene
Þe sone if I it[^550] durst seye · resembleth wel þe wydwe
Deus meus deus meus vt quid dereliquisti me
Þat is creatour wex creature · to knowe what was bothe
X
As widwe with-oute wedloke · was neure ȝete yseye
Na-more myȝte god be man · but if he moder hadde
So wydwe with-oute wedloke · may nouȝte wel stande
Ne matrimoigne withoute moillerye · is nouȝt moche to preyse
Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in israel &c
Þus in þre persones · is perfitliche manhede
Þat is man & his make · & moillere her[^551] children
And is nouȝt but gendre of o generacioun · bifor Ihesu cryst in heuene
So is þe fader forth with þe sone · and fre wille of bothe
Spiritus procedens a patre & filio
Which is þe holygoste of alle · and alle is but o god
Þus in a somer I hym seigh · as I satte in my porche
I ros vp and reuerenced hym · & riȝt faire hym grette
Thre men to my syȝte · I made wel at ese
Wesche her feet & wyped hem · and afterward þei eten
Calues flesshe & cakebrede · and knewe what I thouȝte
Ful trewe tokenes bitwene vs is · to telle whan me lyketh
Firste he fonded me · if I loued bettere
Hym or ysaak myn ayre · þe which he hiȝte me kulle
He wiste my wille by hym · he wil me it allowe
I am ful syker in soule þer-of · and my sone bothe
I circumcised my sone · sitthen for his sake
My-self and my meyne · and alle þat male were
Bledden blode for þat lordes loue · and hope to blisse þe tyme[^552]
Myn affiaunce & my faith · is ferme in þis bilieue
For hym-self bihiȝte to me · and to myne issue bothe
Londe and lordship · and lyf with-outen ende
To me and to myn issue · more ȝete he me graunted .
Mercy for owre mysdedes · as many tyme as we asken
Quam olim abrahe promisisti & semini eius
And sith he sent me to seye · I sholde do sacrifise
And done hym worshipe with bred · and with wyn bothe
And called me þe fote of his faith · his folke forto saue
And defende hem fro þe fende · folke þat on me leneden[^553]
Þus haue I ben his heraude · here and in helle
And conforted many a careful · þat after his comynge wayten
+
And þus I seke hym he seide · for I seyne [herde] seyne[^554] late
Of a barne þat baptised hym · Iohan Baptiste was his name
Þat to patriarkes and to prophetes · and to other peple in derknesse
Seyde þat he seigh here · þat sholde saue vs alle
Ecce agnus dei &c ·

[^550: L.16.222: LWR alone read it; other B manuscripts omit it.]

[^551: L.16.231: LRF alone read her; other B manuscripts omit it.]

[^552: L.16.248: The left margin has been scraped, but it is not possible to tell what, if anything, has been erased.]

[^553: L.16.258: We have resolved the word as leneden, but neither paleography nor context provides secure evidence that would exclude leueden.]

[^554: L.16.261: The corrector's marginal <+> notes L's omission of herde before seyne.]

¶ I hadde wonder of his wordes · and of his wyde clothes
For in his bosome he bar a thyng · þat he blissed euere
And I loked on his lappe · a lazar lay þere-Inne
Amonges patriarkes and profetes · pleyande[^555] togyderes
What awaytestow quod he · and what woldestow haue
I wolde wyte quod I þo what is in ȝowre lappe

[^555: L.16.269: L alone has the -ande form of the participle here, though F reads pleyende; most B witnesses have pleyinge. R's pleyede quite possibly reflects a lost tilde rather than a preterite form.]

¶ Loo quod he and lete me se · lorde mercy I seide
Þis is present[^556] of moche prys · what Prynce shal it haue
It is a preciouse present quod he · ac þe pouke it hath attached
And me þere-myde quod þat man · may no wedde vs quite
Ne no buyrn be owre borwgh · ne bryng vs fram his daungere
Oute of þe poukes pondfolde · no meynprise may vs fecche
Tyl he come þat I carpe of · cryst is his name
Þat shal delyure vs some daye · out of þe deueles powere
And bettere wedde for vs legge · þan we ben alle worthy
Þat is lyf for lyf · or ligge þus euere
Lollynge in my lappe · tyl such a lorde vs fecche

[^556: L.16.273: L alone omits a before present.]

¶ Allas I seyde þat synne · so longe shal lette
Þe myȝte of goddes mercy · þat myȝt vs alle amende
I wepte for his wordes · with þat sawe I an other
Rapelich renne forth · þe riȝte waye he went
I affrayned hym fyrste · fram whennes he come
And what he hiȝte & whider he wolde · and wightlich he tolde

Passus xvijus septimus decimus

I[^557] am spes quod he a spye · and spire after a knyȝte
That toke me a maundement vpon þe mounte of synay
To reule alle rewmes with · I bere þe writte here
Is it asseled I seyde · may men se þi lettres
Nay he sayde I seke hym · þat hath þe sele to kepe

[^557: L.17.1: The ornamental capital of seven lines is in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <I> appears in the left margin.]

¶ And þat is crosse and crystenedome · and cryst þere-on to hange
And whan it is asseled so · I wote wel þe sothe
Þat Lucyferes lordeship · laste shal no lenger
Late se þi lettres quod I · we miȝte þe lawe knowe

¶ Þanne plokked he forth a patent · a p ece of an harde roche
Wher-on was[^558] writen two wordes · on þis wyse yglosed
Dilige deum & proximum tuum &c
Þis was þe tixte trewly · I toke ful gode ȝeme
Þe glose was gloriousely writen · with a gilte penne
In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & prophetia[^559]

[^558: L.17.11: LRF alone read was; most other B manuscripts have were.]

[^559: L.17.15: L's prophetia for prophete is an error shared by HmWR.]

¶ Is[^560] here alle þi lordes lawes quod I · ȝe leue me wel he seyde
And who-so worcheth after þis writte · I wil vndertaken
Shal neuere deuel hym dere · ne deth in soule greue
For þough I seye it my-self · I haue saued with þis charme
Of men & of wommen · many score þousandes

[^560: L.17.16: LRF alone read Is; all other B manuscripts have Ben.]

¶ He seith soth seyde þis heraud · I haue yfounde it ofte
Lo here in my lappe · þat leued on þat charme
Iosue and Iudith · and Iudas Macabeus
Ȝe and sexty þousande bisyde-forth · þat ben nouȝt seyen here

¶ Ȝowre wordes aren wonderful quod I tho · which of ȝow is trewest
And lelest to leue on · for lyf and for soule
Abraham seith þat he seigh · holy þe Trinite
Thre persones in parcelles · departable fro other
And alle þre but o god · þus abraham me tauȝte
And hath saued þat bileued so · and sory for her synnes
He can nouȝte segge þe somme · and some aren in his lappe
What neded it þanne · a newe lawe to bigynne
Sith þe fyrst sufficeth · to sauacioun & to blisse

¶ And now cometh spes and speketh · þat hath aspied þe lawe
And telleth nouȝte of þe Trinitee · þat toke hym his lettres
To byleue and louye · in o lorde almyȝty
And sitthe riȝt as my-self · so louye alle peple

¶ Þe gome þat goth with o staf · he semeth in gretter hele
Þan he þat goth with two staues · to syȝte of vs alle
And riȝte so by þe Rode · resoun me sheweth
It is lyȝter to lewed men · a lessoun to knowe
Þan for to techen hem two · and to harde to lerne þe leest
It is ful harde for any man · on abraham byleue
And welawey worse ȝit · for to loue a shrewe
It is liȝtor to leue · in þre louely persones
Þan for to louye and lene · as wel lorelles as lele
Go þi gate quod I to spes · so me god helpe
Þo þat lerneth þi lawe · wil litel while vsen it
And as we wenten þus in þe weye · wordyng togyderes
Þanne seye we a samaritan · sittende[^561] on a mule
Rydynge ful rapely · þe riȝt weye we ȝeden
Comynge fro a cuntre · þat men called Ierico
To a iustes in iherusalem · he chaced awey faste
id est cristus
Bothe þe heraud and hope · and he mette at ones
Where a man was wounded · and with þeues taken
He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · ne stere fote ne handes
Ne helpe hym-self sothely · for semiuyf he semed
And as naked as a nedle · and none helpe aboute hym

[^561: L.17.50: LRF have the -ende form of the present participle; most B manuscripts have sittynge.]

¶ Feith had first siȝte of hym · ac he flegh on syde
And nolde nouȝt neighen hym · by nyne londes lengthe

¶ Hope cam hippyng after · þat hadde so ybosted
How he with Moyses maundement · hadde many men yholpe
Ac whan he hadde siȝte of þat segge · a-syde he gan hym drawe
Dredfully by þis day as duk · doth fram þe faucoun

¶ Ac so sone so þe samaritan · hadde siȝte of þis lede
He liȝte adown of lyard · and ladde hym in his hande
And to þe wye he went · his woundes to biholde
And parceyued bi his pous · he was in peril to deye
And but if he hadde recourere[^562] · þe rather  þat rise shulde he neure
Wyth wyn & with oyle · his woundes he wasshed
Enbawmed hym and bonde his hed · & in his lappe hym layde
And ladde hym so forth on lyard · to lex cristi a graunge
Wel six myle or seuene · biside þe newe market
Herberwed hym at an hostrye · and to þe hostellere called
And sayde haue kepe þis man · til I come fro þe iustes
And lo here syluer he seyde · for salue to his woundes
And he toke hym two pans · to lyflode as it were
And seide what he speneth more · I make þe good hereafter
For I may nouȝt lette quod þat leode · & lyarde he bistrydeth
And raped hym to iherusalem-ward · þe riȝte waye to ryde

[^562: L.17.69: recourere (<OF recouvrer), "recover." LR alone read recourere; most B witnesses record recouerer. Cf. L.19.245 for similar alpha and L agreement.]

¶ Faith folweth[^563] after faste · and fonded to mete hym
And spes spaklich hym spedde · spede if he myȝte
To ouertake hym and talke to hym · ar þei to toun come

[^563: L.17.81: LR alone read folweth; other B manuscripts have folwede.]

¶ And whan I seyȝ þis I soiourned nouȝte · but shope me to renne
And suwed þat samaritan · þat was so ful of pite
And graunted hym to ben his grome · gramercy he seyde
Ac þi frende and þi felawe quod he · þow fyndest me at nede

¶ And I thanked hym þo · and sith I hym tolde
How þat feith fleigh awey · and spes his felaw bothe
For siȝte of þe sorweful man · þat robbed was with þeues
Haue hem excused quod he · her help may litel auaille
May no medcyn on molde · þe man to hele brynge
Neither feith ne fyn hope · so festred ben his woundis
With-out þe blode of a barn · borne of a mayde
And be he bathed in þat blode · baptised as it were
And þanne plastred with penaunce · and passioun of þat babi
He shulde stonde and steppe · ac stalworth worth he neure
Tyl he haue eten al þe barn · and his blode ydronke
+
For went neuere wy[^564] in þis worlde þorw þat wildernesse
Þat he ne was robbed or rifled · rode he þere or ȝede
Saue faith & his felaw · spes and my-selue
And þi-self now · and such as suwen owre werkis

[^564: L.17.99: The s. xv addition may have been wyght originally. There is an erasure after wy. The error was marked by the corrector in the left margin with a <+>.]

¶ For outlawes in þe wode · and vnder banke lotyeth
And may[^565] vch man se · and gode merke take
Who is bihynde and who bifore · and who ben on hors
For he halt hym hardyer on horse · þan he þat is a-fote[^566]
For he seigh me þat am samaritan · suwen feith & his felaw
On my caple þat hatte caro · of mankynde I toke it
He was vnhardy þat harlot · and hudde hym in inferno
Ac ar þis day þre dayes · I dar vndertaken
Þat he worth fettred þat feloune · fast with cheynes
And neure eft greue grome · þat goth þis ilke gate

[^565: L.17.104: LCrRF alone read may; other B manuscripts have some form of mowen.]

[^566: L.17.106: LR alone read a-fote; the majority of B witnesses have on-fote.]

¶ And þanne shal feith be forester here · and in þis fritth walke
And kennen out comune men · þat knoweth nouȝte þe contre
Which is þe weye þat ich went · and wherforth to iherusalem
And hope þe hostelleres man shal be · þere þe man lith an helynge
And alle þat fieble and faynt be · þat faith may nouȝt teche
Hope shal lede hem forth with loue · as his lettre telleth
And hostel hem and hele · þorw holicherche bileue
Tyl I haue salue for alle syke · and þanne shal I retourne
And come aȝein bi þis contree · and confort alle syke
Þat craueth it or coueiteth it · and cryeth þere-after
For þe barne was born in bethleem · þat with his blode shal saue
Alle þat lyueth in faith · and folweth his felawes techynge

¶ A swete syre I seyde þo · wher I shal byleue
As feith and his felawe · enfourmed me bothe
In þre persones departable · þat perpetuel were euere
And alle þre but o god · þus abraham me tauȝte
And hope afterwarde · he bad me to louye
O god wyth al my good · and alle gomes after
Louye hem lyke my-selue · ac owre lorde aboue alle

¶ After abraham quod he · þat heraud of armes
Sette faste þi faith · and ferme bileue
And as hope hiȝte þe · I hote þat þow louye
Thyn euene-crystene euermore · euene-forth with þi-self
And if conscience carpe þere-aȝein · or kynde witte oyther
Or heretykes with argumentz · þin honde þow hym shewe
For god is after an hande · yhere now and knowe it

¶ Þe fader was fyrst as a fyst · with o fynger foldynge
Tyl hym loued and lest · to vnlosen his fynger
And profre it forth as with a paume · to what place it sholde
Þe paume is purely þe hande · and profreth forth þe fyngres
To mynystre and to make · þat myȝte of hande knoweth
And bitokneth trewly · telle who-so liketh
Þe holygost of heuene · he is as þe paume
Þe fyngres þat fre ben · to folde and to serue
Bitokneth sothly þe sone · þat sent was til erthe
Þat toched and tasted · atte techynge of þe paume
Seynt Marie a Mayde · and mankynde lauȝte
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c
Þe fader is þanne as a fust · with fynger to touche
Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum &c
Al þat þe paume parceyueth · profitable to fele
Thus ar þei alle but one · as it an hande were
And þre sondry siȝtes · in one shewynge
Þe paume for he putteth forth fyngres and þe fust bothe
Riȝt so redily · reson it sheweth
How he þat is holygoste · sire & sone preueth
And as þe hande halt harde · and al þynge faste
Þorw foure fyngres and a thombe · forth with þe paume
Riȝte so þe fader and þe sone · & seynt spirit þe þridde
Halt al þe wyde worlde · with-in hem thre
Bothe welkne and þe wynde · water and erthe
Heuene & helle · and al þat þere is Inne[^567]
Þus it is · nedeth no man · to trowe non other
That thre þinges bilongeth · in owre lorde of heuene
+
And aren serelepes by hem-self · asondry were neure[^568]
Namore þan myn hande may meue with-outen fyngeres[^569]

[^567: L.17.164: LRF alone read þere is Inne; other B manuscripts have therin is or is þerInne.]

[^568: L.17.167: The corrector's <+> in the right margin may refer to L's omission of þei before neure, an omission shared with the alpha manuscripts.]

[^569: L.17.168: LHmFR alone omit my before fyngeres.]

¶ And as my fust is ful honde · yfolde togideres
So is þe fader a ful god · formeour and shepper
Tu fabricator omnium &c
And al þe myȝte myd hym is in makyng of þynges

¶ The fyngres fourrmen a ful hande · to purtreye or peynten
Keruynge and compassynge · as crafte of þe fyngres
Riȝt so is þe sone · þe science of þe fader
And ful god as is þe fader · no febler ne no better
Þe paume is purelich þe hande · hath power bi hym-selue
Otherwyse þan þe wrythen fuste or werkmanschip of fyngres
For þe paume hath powere to put oute alle þe ioyntes
And to vnfolde þe folden fuste atte þe fyngres wille
So is þe holygoste god · nother gretter ne lasse
Þan is þe sire and þe sone · & in þe same myȝte
And alle ar þei but o god · as is myn hande & my fyngres
Vnfolden or folden · my fuste & myn paume
Al is but an hande · how-so I torne it
Ac who is herte in þe hande · euene in þe myddes
He may receyue riȝt nouȝte · resoun it sheweth
For þe fyngres þat folde shulde · and þe fuste make
For peyne of þe paume  powere hem failleth
To clicche or to clawe · to clyppe or to holde

¶ Were þe myddel of myn honde · ymaymed or ypersshed
I shulde receyue riȝte nouȝte · of þat I reche myȝte
Ac þough my thombe & my fyngres bothe were to-shullen
And þe myddel of myn hande · with-oute male-ese
In many kynnes maneres · I myȝte my-self helpe
Bothe meue and amende · þough alle my fyngres oke
Bi þis skil me þynke[^570] · I se an euydence
Þat who-so synneth in þe seynt spirit assoilled worth he neure
Noither here ne elles-where · as I herde telle
Qui peccat in spiritu sancto &c
For he prikketh god as in þe paume · þat peccat in spiritu sancto
For god þe fader is as a fuste þe sone is as a fynger
The holy goste of heuene · is as it were þe pawme
So who-so synneth in seynt spirit · it semeth þat he greueth
God þat he grypeth with · and wolde his grace quenche

[^570: L.17.197: L alone reads þynke; other beta manuscripts have þynkeþ.]

¶ And to a torche or a tapre · þe trinitee is lykned
As wex and a weke · were twyned togideres
And þanne a fyre flaumende[^571] · forth oute of bothe
And as wex and weyke · and hote fyre togyderes
Fostren forth a flaumbe · and a feyre leye
So doth þe sire & þe sone · & also spiritus sanctus
Fostren forth amonges folke · loue & bileue
Þat alkyn crystene clenseth of synnes
And as þow seest some-tyme sodeynliche a torche
The blase þere-of yblowe out · ȝet brenneth þe weyke
With-oute leye or liȝte · þat þe macche brenneth
So is þe holygost god · & grace with-oute mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures · þat coueite to destruye
Lele loue other lyf · þat owre lorde shapte

[^571: L.17.208: LR have the -ende form of the present participle; most B witnesses have flawmynge. See the Linguistic Description § III.3.5.1.3.]

¶ And as glowande[^572] gledes · gladieth nouȝte þis werkmen
Þat worchen & waken in wyntres niȝtes
As doth a kex or a candel · þat cauȝte hath fyre & blaseth
Namore doth sire ne sone · ne seynt spirit togyderes
Graunteth[^573] no grace · ne forȝifnesse of synnes
Til þe holi goste gynne · to glowe and to blase
So þat þe holygoste · gloweth but as a glede
Tyl þat lele loue · ligge on hym & blowe
And þanne flaumbeth he as fyre on fader & on filius
And melteth her myȝte in-to mercy · as men may se in wyntre
Ysekeles in eueses þorw hete of þe sonne
Melteth in a mynut-while · to myst & to watre
So grace of þe holygoste · þe grete myȝte of þe trinite
Melteth in-to[^574] mercy · to mercyable & to non other
And as wex with-outen more · on a warme glede
Wil brennen & blasen · be þei to-gyderes
And solacen hem þat may se · þat sitten in derkenesse
So wole þe fader forȝif folke of mylde hertes
Þat reufulliche repenten · & restitucioun make
In as moche as þei mowen · amenden & payen
And if it suffice nouȝte for assetz · þat in suche a wille deyeth
Mercy for his mekenesse · wil make good þe remenaunte
And as þe weyke and fyre · wil make a warme flaumbe
For to myrthe men with · þat in merke sitten
So wil cryst of his curteisye · and men crye hym mercy
Bothe forȝiue & forȝete · & ȝet bidde for vs
To þe fader of heuene · forȝyuenesse to haue

[^572: L.17.220: L alone has the -ende form of the present participle; all other B witnesses read glowynge. See the Linguistic Description § III.3.5.1.3.]

[^573: L.17.224: L alone reads Graunteth; other B manuscripts have Graunte.]

[^574: L.17.233: L alone reads in-to; most other B manuscripts have to.]

¶ Ac hew fyre at a flynte · fowre hundreth wyntre
Bot þow haue towe to take it with · tondre or broches
Al þi laboure is loste · and al þi longe trauaille
For may no fyre flaumbe make · faille it his kynde
So is þe holy gost god · & grace with-outen mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures · cryst hym-self witnesseth
Amen dico vobis nescio vos &c ·

¶ Be vnkynde to þin euene-cristene · and al þat þow canst bidden
Delen & do penaunce · day & nyȝte euere
And purchace al þe pardoun of Pampiloun & Rome
And indulgences ynowe · & be ingratus to þi kynde
Þe holy goste hereth þe nouȝt · ne helpe may þe by resoun
For vnkyndenesse quencheth hym · þat he can nouȝte shyne
Ne brenne ne blase clere · for blowynge of vnkyndenesse
Poule þe apostle preueth wher I lye
Si linguis hominum loquar &c
X
For-thy beth war ȝe wyse men · þat with þe wolde wo[r]lde[^575] deleth
That riche ben & resoun knoweth · reuleth wel ȝowre soule
Beth nouȝte vnkynde I conseille ȝow · to ȝowre euene-crystene
For many of ȝow riche men · bi my soule men telleth
Ȝe brenne but ȝe blaseth nouȝte · þat is a blynde bekene
Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit &c ·

[^575: L.17.263: The corrector's <X> in the margin notes the scribe's erroneous wolde for worlde.]

nota

[L.17.269: A musical note is drawn in the right margin here as a pun on nota.]

¶ Diues deyed dampned · for his vnkyndenesse
nota

[L.17.270: A musical nota is drawn in the left margin.]

Of his mete & his[^576] moneye to men that it neded
Vch a riche I rede · rewarde at hym take
And gyueth ȝowre good to þat god · þat grace of ariseth
For þat ben vnkynde to his · hope I none other
But þei dwelle þere diues is · dayes with-outen ende
Þus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie · þat quencheth as it were
Þe grace of þe holy gooste · goddes owne kynde
For þat kynde dothe vnkynde fordoth · as þese cursed theues
Vnkynde cristene men · for coueityse & enuye
Sleeth a man for his moebles · wyth mouth or wyth handes
For þat þe holygoste hath to kepe · þo harlotes destroyeth
Þe which is lyf & loue · þe leye of mannes bodye
For euery manere good man · may be likned to a torche
Or elles to a tapre · to reuerence þe Trinitee
And who morthereth a good man · me thynketh by myn Inwyt
He fordoth þe leuest lyȝte · þat owre lorde loueth

[^576: L.17.270: LCM omit the of found in many B manuscripts before his.]

nota

[L.17.286: A musical nota is drawn in the left margin.]

¶ Ac ȝut in many mo maneres · men offenden þe holygoste
Ac þis is þe worste wyse · þat any wiȝte myȝte
Synnen aȝein þe seynt spirit · assenten to destruye
For coueityse of any kynnes þinge · þat cryst dere bouȝte
How myȝte he axe mercy · or any mercy hym helpe
Þat wykkedlich & willefullich · wolde mercy anynte
Innocence is nexte god · & nyȝte and day it crieth
Veniaunce veniaunce · forȝiue be it neuere
That shent vs & shadde owre blode · forshapte vs as it were
Vindica sanguinem iustorum
Thus veniaunce veniaunce verrey charite asketh
And sith holicherche & charite chargeth þis so sore
Leue I neure that owre lorde wil loue þat charite lakketh
Ne haue pite for any preyere · þere þat he pleyneth

nota peccato contra spiritus sancto
¶ I pose I hadde synned so · and shulde now deye
And now am sory þat[^577] so · þe seint spirit agulte
Confesse me & crye his grace · god þat al made
And myldliche his mercy axe · myȝte I nouȝte be saued

[^577: L.17.301: LR alone omit I after þat.]

nota

[L.17.304: A musical nota is drawn in the left margin.]

¶ Ȝus seide þe Samaritan · so wel þow myȝte repente
Þat riȝtwisnesse þorw repentance · to reuthe myȝte torne
Ac it is but selden yseye · þere sothenesse bereth witnesse
Any creature þat is coupable · afor a kynges iustice
Be raunsoned for his repentaunce · þere alle resoun hym dampneth
For þere þat partye pursueth · þe pele[^578] is so huge
Þat þe kynge may do no mercy · til bothe men acorde
And eyther haue equite · as holywrit telleth
Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c
nota
Þus it fareth bi suche folke · þat falsely al her lyues[^579]
Euel lyuen & leten nouȝte · til lyf hem forsake
Good hope þat helpe shulde · to wanhope torneth
Nouȝt of þe nounpowere of god · þat he ne is myȝtful
To amende al þat amys is · and his mercy grettere
Þan alle owre wykked werkes · as holiwrit telleth
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius
nota

[L.17.320: There is a musical nota drawn in the left margin and a second, similar nota in the right margin.]

nota
Ac ar his riȝtwisnesse to reuthe tourne · some restitucioun bihoueth
His sorwe is satisfaccioun for hym þat may nouȝte paye

[^578: L.17.309: LRF alone read pele; most other B manuscripts have peple.]

[^579: L.17.313: A musical nota appears in the left margin.]

Fumus Mulier & stillicidia Expellunt hominem a domo pro verbia ......
¶ Thre þinges þere ben · þat doth a man by strengthe
Forto fleen his owne hous · as holy wryt sheweth
Þat one is a wikked wyf · þat wil nouȝt be chasted
Her fiere fleeth fro hyr · for fere of her tonge
And if his hous be vnhiled · and reyne on his bedde[^580]
He seketh and seketh · til he slepe drye
And whan smoke & smolder smyt in his syȝte
It doth hym worse þan his wyf · or wete to slepe
For smoke & smolder · smyteth his eyen
Til he be blere-nyed[^581] or blynde · and hors in þe throte
Cougheth and curseth · þat cryst gyf hem sorwe
Þat sholde brynge in better wode · or blowe it til it brende

[^580: L.17.326-327: This line and the next are bracketed in the right margin.]

[^581: L.17.331: This form appears only in LR. Most other B manuscripts read blereighed.]

nota
¶ Þise thre þat I telle of · ben þus to vnderstonde[^582]
vxor
The wyf is owre wikked flesshe · þat wil nouȝt be chasted
For kynde cleueth on hym euere · to contrarie þe soule
And þowgh it falle it fynt skiles · þe frelete it made
And þat is liȝtly forȝeuen · and forȝeten bothe
stillicida
To man þat mercy asketh · and amende þenketh

[^582: L.17.334-339: This line group has been bracketed in the right margin and a nota added in the form of a musical note. Further to the right are three more marginal additions: near the top of the line group is the word vxor ; near the middle is a small bracket, and in the space between this line group and the next is the word stillicida .]

nota
¶ The reyne þat reyneth · þere we reste sholde[^583]
Ben sikenesses & sorwes · þat we suffren oft
As Powle þe Apostle · to þe peple tauȝte
Virtus in infirmitate perficitur &c ·
And þowgh þat men make  moche deol in her angre
And inpacient in here penaunce · pure resoun knoweth
Þat þei han cause to contrarie · by kynde of her sykenesse
And liȝtlich owre lorde · at her lyues ende
Hath mercy on suche men · þat so yuel may suffre

[^583: L.17.340: This line group has been bracketed in the right margin with a nota added in the form of a musical note, as was the previous line group. As before, there is an additional smaller bracket to the right, this time between the mid-point and bottom edge of the line group.]

¶ Ac þe smoke and þe smolder þat smyt in owre eyghen[^584]
Þat is coueityse and vnkyndenesse · þat quencheth goddes mercy
For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie · of alkynnes resoun
fumus
For þere nys syke ne sori · ne non so moche wrecche
Þat he ne may louye & hym lyke · and lene of his herte
Goed wille & good worde  bothe wisshen and willen
Alle manere men · mercy & forȝifnesse
And louye hem liche hym-self · and his lyf amende
I may no lenger lette quod he · and lyarde he pryked
And went away as wynde · and þere-with I awaked

[^584: L.17.349358: This line group is bracketed in the right margin with a nota musical pun added as in the previous two line groups. Again, there are more marginal additions further to the right: this time the word fumus near the top of the line group and a small bracket slightly below the mid-point.]

Passus xviijus duodevicesimus

W olleward[^585] and wete-shoed · went I forth after
As a reccheles renke · þat of no wo reccheth
And ȝede forth lyke a lorel · al my lyf-tyme
Tyl I w ex wery of þe worlde · and wylned eft to slepe
And lened me to a lenten · and longe tyme I slepte
And of crystes passioun and penaunce · þe peple þat of-rauȝte
Rested[^586] me þere and rutte faste · tyl ramis palmarum
Of gerlis & of gloria laus · gretly me dremed
And how osanna by orgonye · olde folke songen

[^585: L.18.1: The ornamental capital of six lines is in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <w> is in the left margin.]

[^586: L.18.7: LR alone read Rested; most other manuscripts have Reste.]

¶ One semblable to þe samaritan · & some-del to Piers þe plowman
Barfote on an asse bakke · botelees cam pryke
Wyth-oute spores other spere · spakliche he loked
As is þe kynde of a knyȝte · þat cometh to be dubbed
To geten hem[^587] gylte spores · or galoches ycouped

[^587: L.18.14: L alone reads hem; other B manuscripts have hym.]

¶ Þanne was faith in a fenestre · and cryde a fili dauid
As doth an Heraude of armes · whan aunturos cometh to iustes
Olde iuwes of ierusalem · for ioye þei songen
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini

¶ Þanne I frayned at faith · what al þat fare be-ment
+
And who sholde iouste[^588] in Iherusalem · Ihesus he seyde
And fecche þat þe fende claymeth · Piers fruit þe plowman
Is Piers in þis place quod I · & he preynte on me
Þis Ihesus of his gentrice · wole iuste in piers armes
In his helme & in his haberioun · humana natura
Þat cryst be nouȝt biknowe here · for consumatus deus
In Piers paltok þe plowman · þis priker shal ryde
For no dynte shal hym dere · as in deitate patris
Who shal iuste with Ihesus quod I iuwes or scribes

[^588: L.18.20: The word iouste was added supralinearly after initial copying by the original scribe, no doubt in response to the corrector's <+>.]

¶ Nay quod he þe foule fende · and fals dome & deth
Deth seith he shal fordo · and adown brynge
Al þat lyueth or loketh · in londe or in watere
Lyf seyth þat he likthe[^589] · and leyth his lif to wedde
Þat for al þat deth can do · with-in þre dayes
To walke and fecche fro þe fende · piers fruite þe plowman
And legge it þere hym lyketh · and lucifer bynde
And forbete and adown brynge bale deth for euere
O mors ero mors tua

[^589: L.18.32: LRF alone read likthe; most other B manuscripts have lieþ.]

¶ Þanne cam pilatus with moche peple · sedens pro tribunali
To se how doughtilich deth sholde do · & deme her botheres riȝte
Þe iuwes and þe iustice · aȝeine Ihesu þei were
And al her[^590] courte on hym cryde · crucifige sharpe
Tho put hym forth a piloure · bifor pilat & seyde
This ihesus of owre iewes temple · iaped & dispised
To fordone it on o day · and in thre dayes after
Edefye it eft newe · here he stant þat seyde it
And ȝit maken it as moche · in al manere poyntes
Bothe as longe and as large · bi loft & by grounde

[^590: L.18.41: LR alone read her; all other B manuscripts have þe.]

¶ Crufige Cru[ci]fige quod a cacchepolle · I warante hym a wicche
Tolle tolle quod an other · and toke o[^591] kene þornes
And bigan of kene thorne · a gerelande to make
And sette it sore on his hed · and seyde in envye
Aue rabby quod þat Ribaude · and þrew redes at hym
Nailled hym with þre nailles · naked on þe Rode
And poysoun on a pole · þei put vp to his lippes
And bede hym drynke his deth yuel · his dayes were ydone
And ȝif þat þow sotil be · help now þi-seluen
If þow be cryst & kynges sone · come downe of þe Rode
Þanne shul we leue þat lyf þe loueth · and wil nouȝt lete þe deye

[^591: L.18.49: o, "of."]

¶ Consummatum est quod cryst · & comsed forto swowe
Pitousliche and pale · as a prisoun þat deyeth
Þe lorde of lyf & of liȝte · þo leyed his eyen togideres
Þe daye for drede with-drowe · and derke bicam þe sonne
Þe wal wagged and clef and al þe worlde quaued
Ded men for that dyne · come out of depe graues
And tolde whi þat tempest · so longe tyme dured
For a bitter bataille · þe ded bodye sayde
Lyf and deth in þis derknesse · her one fordoth her other
Shal no wiȝte wite witterly who shal haue þe maystrye
Er sondey aboute sonne rysynge · & sank with þat til erthe
Some seyde þat he was goddessone goddes sone · þat so faire deyde
Vere filius dei erat iste · &c
And somme saide he was a wicche · good is þat we assaye
Where he be ded or nouȝte ded · doun er he be taken

¶ Two theues also · tholed deth þat tyme
Vppon a crosse bisydes cryst · so was þe comune lawe
A cacchepole[^592] cam forth · and craked bothe her legges
And her armes after · of eyther of þo theues
Ac was no boy so bolde · goddes body to touche
For he was knyȝte & kynges sone · kynde forȝaf þat tyme
Þat non harlot were so hardy · to leyne hande vppon hym

[^592: L.18.76: An otiose curl appears above the <o>.]

nota

[L.18.81-85: The musical pun nota in the right margin appears to apply to the entire line group.]

¶ Ac þere cam forth a knyȝte · with a kene spere ygrounde
Hiȝte longeus as þe lettre telleth · and longe had lore his siȝte
Bifor pilat & other peple · in þe place he houed
Maugre his many tethe · he was made þat tyme
To take þe spere in his honde · & iusten with ihesus
For alle þei were vnhardy · þat houed on hors or stode
To touche hym or to taste hym · or take hym down of Rode
But þis blynde bacheler þanne · bar hym þorugh þe herte
Þe blode spronge down by þe spere · & vnspered þe kniȝtes eyen
Þanne fel þe knyȝte vpon knees · and cryed hym mercy
Aȝeyne my wille it was lorde · to wownde ȝow so sore
He seighed & sayde · sore it me athynketh
For þe dede þat I haue done · I do me in ȝowre grace
Haue on me reuth riȝtful ihesu · & riȝt with þat he wept

¶ Thanne gan faith felly · þe fals iuwes dispise
Called hem caytyues · acursed for euere
For þis foule vyleynye · veniaunce to ȝow alle
To do þe blynde bete hym ybounde · it was a boyes conseille
Cursed caytyue · kniȝthod was it neuere
To mysdo a ded body · by day or by nyȝte
Þe gree ȝit hath he geten · for al his grete wounde

¶ For ȝowre champioun chiualer chief knyȝt of ȝow alle
Ȝelt hym recreaunt[^593] rennyng · riȝt at ihesus wille
For be þis derkenesse ydo · his deth worth avenged
And ȝe lordeynes han ylost · for lyf shal haue þe maistrye
And ȝowre Fraunchise þat fre was · fallen is in thraldome
And ȝe cherles & ȝowre children · chieue shal ȝe neure
Ne haue lordship in londe · ne no londe tylye
But al bareyne be · & vsurye vsen
Which is lyf þat owre lorde · in alle lawes acurseth
Now ȝowre good dayes ar done · as Danyel prophecyed
+
Whan cryst cam · her kyngdom · þe croune shulde shulde [cesse][^594]
Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum cessabit vnxio vestra

[^593: L.18.103: The scribe began an <er> loop after the <c> of recreaunt in error.]

[^594: L.18.112: Most beta witnesses read cesse after shulde, whereas alpha manuscripts have lese. The corrector's marginal <+> indicates he noticed the omission.]

¶ What for fere of þis ferly · & of þe fals iuwes
I drowe me in þat derkenesse · to decendit ad inferna
And þere I sawe sothely · secundum scripturas
Out of þe west coste · a wenche as me thouȝte
Cam walkynge in þe wey · to helle-ward she loked
Mercy hiȝt þat mayde · a meke þynge with-alle
A ful benygne buirde · and boxome of speche

¶ Her suster as it semed · cam softly walkyng
Euene out of þe est · and westward she loked
A ful comely creature · treuth she hiȝte
For þe vertue þat hir folwed · aferd was she neuere

¶ Whan þis maydenes mette · mercy and treuth
Eyther axed other · of þis grete wonder
Of þe dyne & of þe derknesse · and how þe daye rowed
And which a liȝte and a leme · lay befor helle
Ich haue ferly of þis fare · in feith seyde treuth
And am wendyng to wyte · what þis wonder meneth

¶ Haue no merueille quod mercy · myrthe it bytokneth
A mayden þat hatte marye · and moder with-out felyng
Of any kynnes creature · conceyued þorw speche
And grace of þe holygoste · wex grete with childe
With-outen wem · in-to þis worlde she brouȝt hym
And þat my tale be trewe · I take god to witnesse
Sith þis barn was bore · ben xxxti thirti wynter passed
Which deyde & deth þoled · þis day aboute mydday
And þat is cause of þis clips · þat closeth now þe sonne
In menynge þat man shal · fro merkenesse be drawe
Þe while þis liȝte & þis leme · shal Lucyfer ablende
For patriarkes & prophetes · han preched her-of often
Þat man shal man saue · þorw a maydenes helpe
And þat was tynt þorw tre · tree shal it wynne
And þat deth doun brouȝte · deth shal releue

¶ Þat þow tellest quod treuth · is but a tale of waltrot
For Adam & Eue · & abraham with other
Patriarkes & prophetes · þat in peyne liggen
Leue þow neuere þat ȝone liȝte · hem alofte brynge
Ne haue hem out of helle · helde[^595] þi tonge mercy
It is but a trufle þat þow tellest · I treuth wote þe sothe
For þat is ones in helle · out cometh it neuere
Iob þe prophete patriarke · reproueth þi sawes
Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio

[^595: L.18.150: L alone reads helde; all other B manuscripts have hold.]

¶ Þanne mercy ful myldly · mouthed þise wordes
Thorw experience quod she · I hope þei shal be saued
For venym fordoth venym · & þat I proue by resoun
For of alle venymes · foulest is þe scorpioun
May no medcyne helpe · þe place þere he styngeth
Tyl he be ded & do þer-to · þe yuel he destroyeth
Þe fyrst venymouste · þorw venym of hym-self
So shal þis deth fordo · I dar my lyf legge
Al þat deth dyd furste · þorw þe deuelles entysynge
And riȝt as þorw gyle · man was bigyled
So shal grace þat bigan · make a good sleighte
Ars vt artem falleret

¶ Now suffre we seyde treuth · I se as me þinketh
Out of þe nippe of þe north · nouȝt ful fer hennes
Riȝtwisnesse come rennynge · reste we þe while
For he[^596] wote more þan we · he[^597] was er we bothe

[^596: L.18.167: he, "she."]

[^597: L.18.167: he, "she."]

¶ That is soth seyde mercy · and I se here bi southe
Where pees cometh playinge · in pacience yclothed
Loue hath coueyted hir longe · leue I none other
But he sent hir some lettre what þis liȝte bymeneth
Þat ouer-houeth helle þus · she [he][^598] vs shal telle

[^598: L.18.175: The "correction" — if indeed this is what has occurred, since only crowding suggests that the <s> is added as an afterthought — is itself quite possibly an error. Alpha supplies the correctly alliterating pronoun he, indicating the accuracy of the scribe's exemplar. Stress and alliteration on vs would be unmetrical.]

¶ Whan pees in pacience yclothed · approched nere hem tweyne
Riȝtwisnesse hir reuerenced · for her riche clothyng
And preyed pees to telle hir · to what place she wolde
And in her gay garnementz · whom she grete þouȝte

¶ My wille is to wende quod she · and welcome hem alle
Þat many day myȝte I nouȝte se · for merkenesse of synne
Adam & Eue & other moo in helle ·
Moyses & many mo · mercy shal haue
And I shal daunce þer -to · do þow so sustre
For ihesus iusted wel · ioye bygynneth dawe
Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus · & ad matutinum leticia ·
Loue þat is my lemman · suche lettres me sente
That mercy my sustre & I · mankynde shulde saue
And þat god hath forgyuen · & graunted me pees & mercy
To be mannes meynpernoure · for euere-more after
Lo here þe patent quod pees · in pace in idipsum
And þat þis dede shal dure · dormiam & requiescam

¶ What rauestow quod riȝtwisnesse or þow art riȝt dronke
Leuestow þat ȝonde liȝte · vnlouke myȝte helle
And saue mannes soule · sustre wene it neure
At þe bygynnynge god · gaf þe dome hym-selue
Þat Adam & Eue · and alle þat hem suwed
Shulde deye doune-riȝte · and dwelle in pyne after
If þat þei touched a tre · and þe fruite eten
Adam afterward · aȝeines his defence
Frette of þat fruit · & forsoke as it were
Þe loue of owre lorde · and his lore bothe
And folwed þat þe fende tauȝte · & his felawes wille
Aȝeines resoun I[^599] riȝtwisnesse · recorde þus with treuth
Þat her peyne be perpetuel · & no preyere hem helpe
For-þi late hem chewe as þei chose · & chyde we nouȝt sustres
For it is botelees bale · þe bite þat þei eten

[^599: L.18.204: L alone reads I; other B manuscripts have and.]

+
¶ And shal[^600] preue quod pees · her peyne mote haue ende
And wo in-to wel · mowe wende atte laste
For had þei wist of no wo · wel had þei nouȝte knowen
For no wiȝte wote what wel is · þat neuere wo suffred
Ne what is hote hunger · þat had neuere defaute
If no nyȝte ne were · no man as I leue
Shulde wite witterly · what day is to mene
[^601] ¶ Shulde neuere riȝte riche man · þat lyueth · in reste & ese
Wyte what wo is · ne were þe deth of kynde
So god þat bygan al · of his good wille
Bycam man of a mayde · mankynde to saue
And suffred to be solde · to see þe sorwe of deyinge
The which vnknitteth al kare · & comsynge is of reste
For til modicum mete with vs · I may it wel avowe
Wote no wiȝte as I wene · what is ynough to mene

[^600: L.18.208: A corrector's marginal <+> notes the omission of I before shal; the omission is shared with only YR among B manuscripts.]

[^601: L.18.215: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

¶ For-þi god of his goodnesse · þe fyrste gome Adam
Sette hym in solace · & in souereigne myrthe
And sith he suffred hym synne · sorwe to fele
To wite what wel was · kyndelich to knowe it
And after god auntred hym-self · and toke Adames kynde
To wyte what he hath suffred · in þre sondri places
Bothe in heuene & in erthe · & now til helle he þynketh
To wite what al wo is · þat wote of al ioye

¶ So it shal fare bi þis folke · her foly & her synne
Shal lere hem what langour is · & lisse with-outen ende
Wote no wighte what werre is · þere þat pees regneth
Ne what is witterly wel · til weyllowey hym teche

¶ Thanne was þere a wiȝte · with two brode eyen
Boke hiȝte þat beupere · a bolde man of speche
By godesbody godes body quod þis boke · I wil bere witnesse
Þat þo þis barne was ybore · þere blased a sterre
That alle þe wyse of þis worlde · in o witte acordeden[^602]
That such a barne was borne · in bethleem Citee
Þat mannes soule sholde saue · & synne destroye
And alle þe elementz quod þe boke · her-of bereth witnesse
Þat he was god þat al wrouȝte · þe walkene firste shewed
Þo that weren in heuene · token stella comata
And tendeden hir as a torche · to reuerence his birthe
Þe lyȝte folwed þe lorde · in-to þe lowe erthe
Þat water witnessed þat he was god · for he went on it
Peter þe apostel · parceyued his gate
And as he went on þe water · wel hym knewe & seyde
Iube me venire ad te super aquas
And lo how þe sonne gan louke · her liȝte in her-self
id est mare">
Whan she seye hym suffre · þat sonne & se[^603] made
The erthe for heuynesse · that he wolde suffre
Quaked as quykke þinge · and al biquasht þe roche
Lo helle miȝte nouȝte holde · but opened þo god þoled
And lete oute symondes sones · to seen hym hange on Rode
And now shal lucifer leue it thowgh hym loth þinke
For gygas þe geaunt · with a gynne engyned
To breke & to bete dounn · þat ben aȝeines ihesus
And I boke wil be brent · but ihesus rise to lyue
In alle myȝtes of man · & his moder gladye
And conforte al his kynne · & out of care brynge
And al þe iuwen ioye · vnioignen & vnlouken
And but þei reuerencen his Rode · & his resurexioun
And bileue on a newe lawe · be lost lyf & soule

[^602: L.18.239: LOR have the unmetrical form acordeden; most B manuscripts have acorden.]

[^603: L.18.252: Above se is the supralinear gloss id est mare . The corrector may have supplied a <+> in the left margin, but only a horizontal bar remains.]

¶ Suffre we seide treuth · I here & se bothe
How a spirit speketh to helle · & bit vnspere þe ȝatis
Attollite portas &c
A voice loude in þat liȝte to lucifer cryeth
Prynces of þis place · vnpynneth & vnlouketh
For here cometh with croune · þat kynge is of glorie
Thanne syked sathan · & seyde to hem alle
Suche a lyȝte aȝeines owre leue · Lazar it fette
Care & combraunce · is comen to vs alle
If þis kynge come in · mankynde wil he fecche
And lede it þer hym lyketh · & lyȝtlych me bynde
Patriarkes & prophetes · han parled her-of lon ge[^604]
Þat such a lorde & a lyȝte · shulde lede hem alle hennes

[^604: L.18.277: The original scribe erased the letter <d> and replaced it with <g>, changing loude (or londe) to longe. Bo also has loude or londe.]

¶ Lysteneth quod Lucifer · for I þis lorde knowe
Bothe þis lorde & þis liȝte · is longe ago I knewe hym
May no deth hym dere · ne no deueles queyntise
And where he wil is his waye · ac war hym of þe periles
If he reue me my riȝte · he robbeth me by maistrye
For by riȝt & bi resoun · þo renkes þat ben here
Bodye & soule ben myne · bothe gode & ille
For hym-self seyde þat sire is of heuene
Ȝif Adam ete þe apple · alle shulde deye
And dwelle with vs deueles · þis þretynge he made
And he þat sothenesse is seyde þise wordes
And sitthen I seised · seuene hundreth wyntre
I leue þat lawe nil nauȝte · lete hym þe leest

¶ That is sothe seyde Sathan · but I me sore drede
For þow gete hem with gyle · & his gardyne breke
And in semblaunce of a serpent · sat on þe appeltre
And eggedest hem to ete · Eue by hir-selue
And toldest hir a tale · of tresoun were þe wordes
And so þow haddest hem oute & hider atte laste
It is nouȝte graythely geten · þere gyle is þe Rote
For god wil nouȝt be bigiled · quod Gobelyn ne bi-iaped
We haue no trewe title to hem · for þorwgh tresoun were þei dampned
Certes I drede me quod þe deuel · leste treuth wil hem fecche

¶ Þis þretty wynter as I wene · hath he gone & preched
I haue assailled hym with synne · & some-tyme yasked
Where he were god or goddes sone · he gaf me shorte answere
And þus hath he trolled forth · þis two & thretty wynter
And whan I seighe it was so · slepyng I went
To warne pilates wyf · what dones man was ihesus
For iuwes hateden hym · and han done hym to deth
I wolde haue lengthed his lyf · for I leued ȝif he deyede
That his soule wolde suffre · no synne in his syȝte
For þe body whil it on bones ȝede · aboute was euere
To saue men fram synne · ȝif hem-self wolde
And now I se where a soule · cometh hiderward · seyllynge
With glorie & with grete liȝte · god it is I wote wel
I rede we flee quod he · faste alle hennes
For vs were better nouȝte be · þan biden his syȝte
For þi lesynges Lucifer · loste is al owre praye
Firste þorw þe we fellen · fro heuene so heigh
For we leued þi lesynges · ylore we haue Adam
And al owre lordeship I leue · alonde & a water
Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras

¶ Efte þe liȝte bad vnlouke · & Lucifer answered
What lorde artow quod lucifer · quis est iste
Rex glorie · þe liȝte sone seide
And lorde of myȝte & of mayne · & al manere vertues · dominus virtutum
Dukes of þis dym place · anon vndo þis ȝates
That cryst may come in · þe kynges sone of heuene
And with þat breth helle brake · with Beliales barres
For any wye or warde · wide opene þe ȝatis

¶ Patriarkes & prophetes · populus in tenebris
Songen seynt Iohanes songe · ecce agnus dei
Lucyfer loke ne myȝte · so lyȝte hym ableynte
And þo þat owre owre [lorde][^605] loued · in-to his liȝte he lauȝte
And seyde to sathan · lo here m y soule to amendes
For alle synneful soules · to saue þo þat ben worthy
Myne þei be & of me · I may þe bette hem clayme
Al-þough resoun recorde & riȝt of my-self
That if þei ete þe apple · alle shulde deye
I bihyȝte hem nouȝt here · helle for euere
For þe dede þat þei dede · þi deceyte it made
With gyle þow hem gete · agayne al resoun
For in my paleys paradys · in persone of an addre
Falseliche þow fettest þere · þynge þat I loued

[^605: L.18.333: L alone omits lorde after owre. Uncharacteristically, the corrector did not note it.]

¶ Thus ylyke a lusarde · with a lady visage
Theuelich þow me robbedest · þe olde lawe graunteth
Þat gylours be bigiled · & þat is gode resoun
Dentem pro dente & oculum pro oculo
Ergo soule shal soule quyte · & synne to synne wende
And al þat man hath mysdo · I man wyl amende
Membre for membre · bi þe olde lawe was amendes
And lyf for lyf also · & by þat lawe I clayme it
Adam & al his issue · at my wille her-after
And þat deth in hem fordid · my deth shal releue
And bothe quykke & quyte · þat queynte was þorw synne
And þat grace gyle destruye · good feith it asketh
So leue it[^606] nouȝte lucifer aȝeine þe lawe I fecche hem
But bi riȝt & by resoun · raunceoun here my lyges
Non veni soluere legem · sed adimplere
Þow fettest myne in my place · aȝeines al resoun
Falseliche & felounelich · gode faith me it tauȝte
To recoure hem thorw raunceoun & bi no resoun elles
So þat with gyle þow gete · þorw grace it is ywone
Þow Lucyfer in lyknesse · of a luther addere
Getest by gyle · þo that god loued

[^606: L.18.356: LRF alone read it; most other B manuscripts have I.]

¶ And I in lyknesse of a leode · þat lorde am of heuene
G raciouslich[^607] þi gyle haue quytte · go gyle aȝeine gyle
And as Adam & alle · þorw a tre deyden
Adam & alle þorwe a tree · shal torne aȝeine to lyue
And gyle is bigyled · & in his gyle fallen
Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit
Now bygynneth þi gyle · ageyne þe to tourne
And my grace to growe · ay gretter & wyder
Þe bitternesse þat þow hast browe · brouke it þi-seluen
Þat art doctour of deth · drynke þat þow madest

[^607: L.18.366: Though in the hand of the text scribe, this supplied word is more vertical in aspect than his usual style.]

¶ For I þat am lorde of lyf · loue is my drynke
And for þat drynke to-day · I deyde vpon erthe
I fauȝte so me þrestes ȝet · for mannes soule sake
May no drynke me moiste · ne my thruste slake
Tyl þe vendage falle · in þe vale of iosephath
Þat I drynke riȝte ripe must · resureccio mortuorum
And þanne shal I come as a kynge · crouned with angeles
And han out of helle · alle mennes soules ·

¶ Fendes and fendekynes · bifore me shulle stande
And be at my biddynge · where-so-eure me lyketh
And to be merciable to man · þanne my kynde it asketh
For we beth bretheren of blode · but nouȝte in baptesme alle
Ac alle þat beth myne hole bretheren · in blode & in baptesme
Shal nouȝte be dampned to þe deth · þat is with-outen ende
Tibi soli peccaui &c ·
It is nouȝt vsed in erthe · to hangen a feloun
Ofter þan ones · þough he were a tretour
And ȝif þe Kynge of þat kyngedome · come in þat tyme
There þe feloun thole sholde · deth or otherwyse
Lawe wolde he ȝeue hym lyf · if he loked on hym

¶ And I þat am kynge of kynges · shal come suche a tyme
There dome to þe deth · dampneth al wikked
And ȝif lawe wil I loke on hem · it lithe in my grace
Whether þei deye or deye nouȝte · for þat þei deden ille
Be it any þinge abouȝte · þe boldenesse of her synnes
I may[^608] do mercy þorw riȝtwisnesse · & alle my wordes trewe
And þough holiwrit wil þat I be wroke · of hem þat deden ille
Nullum malum inpunitum &c
Thei shul be clensed clereliche · & wasshen of her synnes
In my prisoun purgatorie · til parce it hote
And my mercy shal be shewed · to manye of my bretheren
For blode may suffre blode · bothe hungry & akale
[^609]Ac blode may nouȝt se blode · blede but hym rewe
Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui
Ac my riȝtwisnesse & riȝt shal reulen al helle
And mercy al mankynde · bifor me in heuene
For I were an vnkynde Kynge · but I my kynde holpe
And namelich at such a nede · þer nedes helpe bihoueth
Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo
Þus bi lawe quod owre lorde · lede I wil fro hennes
Þo þat me loued · & leued in my comynge
And for þi lesynge lucifer · þat þow lowe til Eue
Thow shalt abye it bittre · & bonde hym with cheynes
Astaroth and al þe route · hidden hem in hernes
They dorste nouȝte loke on owre lorde · þe boldest of hem alle
But leten hym lede forth what hym lyked · and lete what hym liste

[^608: L.18.400: LRF alone read may; other B manuscripts omit it.]

[^609: L.18.407: The ink showing in the left margin may represent a corrector's <+>, but it is not clear.]

¶ Many hundreth of angeles · harpeden & songen
Culpat caro purgat caro · regnat deus dei caro

¶ Thanne piped pees · of poysye a note
Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus · post inimicitias &c ·
After sharpe shoures quod pees · moste shene is þe sonne
Is no weder warmer · þan after watery cloudes
Ne no loue leuere · ne leuer frendes
Þan after werre & wo · whan loue & pees be maistres
Was neuere werre in þis worlde · ne wykkednesse so kene
Þat ne loue & hym luste to laughynge ne brouȝte
And pees þorw pacience · alle perilles stopped
Trewes quod treuth · þow tellest vs soth bi ihesus
Clippe we in couenaunt & vch of vs cusse other
And lete no peple quod pees · perceyue þat we chydde
For inpossible is no þyng · to hym þat is almyȝty

¶ Thow seist soth seyde[^610] ryȝtwisnesse · & reuerentlich hir kyste
Pees & pees here · per secula seculorum
Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi iusticia & pax osculate sunt
Treuth tromped þo & songe · te deum laudamus
And thanne luted loue · in a loude note
Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum · &c

[^610: L.18.436: LM read seyde; all other B witnesses have quod. A similar division between seyde and quod occurs in the C texts.]

¶ Tyl þe daye dawed · þis damaiseles daunced
That men rongen to þe resurexioun · & riȝt with þat I waked
And called kitte my wyf · and kalote my douȝter
Ariseth & reuerenceth · goddes ressurrexioun
And crepeth to þe the þe crosse on knees · & kisseth it for a iuwel
For goddes blissed body · it bar for owre bote
And it afereth þe fende · for suche is þe myȝte
May no grysly gost · glyde þere it shadweth

Passus xixus Vndevicesimus

T hus[^611] I awaked & wrote · what I had dremed
And diȝte me derely · & dede me to cherche
To here holy þe masse · & to be houseled after
In myddes of þe masse · þo men ȝede to offrynge
I fel eftsones a-slepe · & sodeynly me mette
That Pieres þe plowman · was paynted al blody
And come in with a crosse · bifor þe comune peple
And riȝte lyke in alle lymes · to owre lorde ihesu
And þanne called I conscience · to kenne me þe sothe
Is þis ihesus þe iuster quod I · þat iuwes did to deth
Or it is Pieres þe plowman · who paynted hym so rede
Quod conscience & kneled þo · þise aren Pieres armes
His coloures & his cotearmure · ac he þat cometh so blody
Is cryst with his crosse · conqueroure of crystene

[^611: L.19.1: A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin.]

¶ Why calle ȝe hym cryst quod I · sithenes iuwes calle hym ihesus
Patriarkes & prophetes · prophecyed bifore
Þat alkyn creatures · shulden knelen & bowen
Anon as men nempned · þe name of god Ihesu
Ergo is no name · to þe name of ihesus
Ne none so nedeful to nempne · by nyȝte ne by daye
For alle derke deuelles · aren adradde to heren it
And synful aren solaced · & saued bi þat name
And ȝe callen hym cryst · for what cause telleth me
Is cryst more of myȝte · & more worthy name
Þan ihesu or ihesus · þat al owre ioye come of

¶ Thow knowest wel quod conscience · and þow konne resoun
That knyȝte kynge conqueroure · may be o persone
To be called a kniȝte is faire · for men shal knele to hym
To be called a Kynge is fairer · for he may knyȝtes make
Ac to be conquerour called · þat cometh of special grace
And of hardynesse of herte · & of hendenesse
To make lordes of laddes · of londe þat he wynneth
And fre men foule thralles · þat folweth nouȝt his lawes

¶ The iuwes þat were gentil men · ihesu þei dispised
Bothe his lore & his lawe · now ar þei lowe cherlis
As wyde as þe worlde is wonyeth · þere none
But vnder tribut & taillage · as tykes & cherles
And þo þat bicome crysten · by conseille of þe baptiste[^612]
Aren frankeleynes fre men · þorw fullyng þat þei toke
And gentel men with ihesu · for Ihesus was yfolled
And vppon caluarye on crosse · ycrouned kynge of iewes

[^612: L.19.38: L alone reads baptiste; other B manuscripts have baptisme.]

¶ It bicometh to a Kynge · to kepe and to defende
And conquerour of conquest · his lawes & his large
And so ded Ihesus þe iewes · he iustified & tauȝte hem
Þe lawe of lyf · that last shal euere
And fended fram foule yueles · feueres & fluxes
and fro fendes þat in hem was[^613] & fals bileue[^614]
Þo was he ihesus of iewes called · gentel prophete
And kynge of her kyngdome · & croune bar of þornes

[^613: L.19.47: LF alone read was; other B manuscripts have some form of were.]

[^614: L.19.47: This line is written in the right margin by the original scribe. A cross with a punctus in each quadrant appears in both margins as a signe de renvoie for the supplied line.]

¶ And þo conquered he on crosse · as conquerour noble
Myȝt no deth hym fordo · ne adown brynge
That he ne aros & regned · and rauysshed helle
And þo was he conquerour called · of quikke & of ded
For he ȝaf Adam & Eue · and other mo blisse
Þat longe hadde leyne bifore · as lucyferes cherles

¶ And sith he ȝaf largely · alle his lele lyges
Places in paradys · at her partynge hennes
He may wel be called conquerour · & þat is cryst to mene

¶ Ac þe cause þat he cometh þus · with crosse of his passioun
Is to wissen vs þere-wyth · þat whan þat we ben tempted
Þer-with to fyȝte & fenden vs · fro fallyng in-to synne
And se bi his sorwe · þat who-so loueth ioye
To penaunce & to pouerte he moste putten hym-seluen
And moche wo in þis worlde · willen & suffren

¶ Ac to carpe more of cryst · and how he come to þat name
Faithly forto speke · his firste name was ihesus
Tho he was borne in bethleem as þe boke telleth
And cam to take mankynde · kynges and aungeles
Reuerenced hym faire · with richesse of erthe
Angeles out of heuene · come knelyng & songe
Gloria in excelsis deo &c

¶ Kynges come after · kneled & offred
Mirre & moche golde · with-outen mercy askynge
Or any kynnes catel · but knowlechyng hym soeuereigne
Bothe of sonde sonne & see · & sithenes þei went
In-to her kyngene kyth · by conseille of angeles
And there was þat worde fulfilled · þe which þow of speke
Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu
For alle þe angeles of heuene · at hi s burth kneled
And al þe witte of þe worlde · was in þo þre kynges
Resoun & riȝtfulnesse[^615] · & reuth þei offred
Wherfore & whi · wyse men þat tyme
Maistres & lettred men · Magy hem called

[^615: L.19.81: LBC alone read riȝtfulnesse; all other manuscripts have Rightwisnesse.]

X
¶ That o kynge cam with resoun · keuered vnder sense[^616]
Þe secounde kynge sitthe · sothliche offred
Riȝtwisnesse vnder red golde resouns felawe
Golde is likned to leute · þat last shal euere
And resoun to riche golde · to riȝte & to treuthe
The þridde kynge þo cam · knelyng to ihesu
And presented hym with pitee · apierynge by myrre
For mirre is mercy to mene · & mylde speche of tonge
Thre yliche honest þinges · was[^617] offred þus at ones
Þorw þre kynne kynges · knelynge to ihesu

[^616: L.19.84-86: A drypoint <X> appears in the left margin.]

[^617: L.19.92: LF alone read was; other B manuscripts have some form of were.]

¶ Ac for alle þise preciouse presentz owre lorde prynce ihesus
Was neyther kynge ne conquerour · til he gan to wexe
In þe manere of a man · & þat by moche sleight
As it bicometh a conquerour · to konne many sleightes
And many wyles & witte · þat wil ben a leder
And so did ihesu in his dayes · who-so had tyme to telle it
Sum-tyme he suffred · & sum-tyme he hydde hym
And sum-tyme he fauȝte faste · & fleigh otherwhile
And some-tyme he gaf good · & graunted hele bothe
Lyf & lyme · as hym lyste he wrought
As kynde is of a conquerour · so comsed ihesu
Tyl he had alle hem · þat he fore bledde

¶ In his iuuente þis ihesus · atte iuwen feste
Water in-to wyn tourned · as holy writ telleth
And þere bigan god · of his grace to dowel
For wyn is lykned to lawe · & lyf of holynesse
And lawe lakked þo · for men loued nouȝt her enemys
And cryst conseilleth þus · & comaundeth bothe
Bothe to lered & to lewed · to louye owre enemys
So atte feste firste as I bifore tolde
Bygan god of his grace & goodnesse to dowel
And þo was he cleped & called nouȝt holy cryst but Ihesu
A fauntfyn ful of witte · filius marie

¶ For bifor his moder marie · made he þat wonder
Þat she furste & formest · ferme shulde bilieue
That he þorw grace was gete · & of no gome elles
He wrouȝt þat bi no witte · but þorw worde one
After þe kynde þat he come of · þere comsed he dowel
And whan he was woxen more · in his moder absence
He made lame to lepe · & ȝaue liȝte to blynde
And fedde with two fisshes · & with fyue loues ·
Sore afyngred folke · mo þan fyue thousande
Þus he conforted carful · & cauȝte a gretter name
Þe whiche was dobet · where þat he went
For defe þorw his doynges to here · & dombe speke he made
And alle he heled & halpe · þat hym of grace asked
And þo was he called in contre of þe comune peple
For þe dedes þat he did · fili dauid ihesus
For dauid was douȝtiest · of dedes in his tyme
The berdes þo songe · Saul interfecit mille · et dauid decem milia ·
For-þi þe contre þere ihesu cam · called hym fili dauid
And nempned hym of nazereth · & no man so worthi
To be kaisere or kynge · of þe kyngedome of iuda
Ne ouer iuwes iustice · as ihesus was hem þouȝte

¶ Where-of caiphas hadde enuye · & other of þe iewes
And forto doun hym to deth · day & nyȝte þei casten
Kulleden hym on crosse-wyse · at caluarie on fryday
And sithen buryden his body · & beden þat men sholde
Kepen it fro niȝt-comeres · with knyȝtes yarmed
For no frendes shulde hym fecche · for prophetes hem tolde
Þat þat blessed body · of burieles shulde rise
And gone in-to galile · and gladen his apostles
And his moder Marie · þus men bifore demed

¶ The knyȝtes þat kepten it · biknewe it hem-seluen
Þat angeles & archangeles · ar þe day spronge
Come knelynge to þe corps · & songen cristus resurgens
Verrey man bifor hem alle · & forth with hem he ȝede

¶ The iewes preyed hem pees · & bisouȝte þe knyȝtes
Telle þe comune þat þere cam · a compaignye of his aposteles
And bywicched hem as þei woke · & awey stolen it

¶ Ac Marie Magdeleyne · mette hym bi þe wey
Goynge toward galile · in godhed & manhed
And lyues & lokynge · & she aloude cryde
In eche a compaignye þere she cam · cristus resurgens
Þus cam it out þat cryst ouer-cam · rekeuered & lyued
Sic oportet cristum pati & intrare &c ·
For þat wommen witeth · may nouȝte wel be conseille

¶ Peter parceyued al þis · & pursued after
Bothe iames & Iohan · Ihesu for to seke
Tadde & ten mo · with Thomas of ynde
And as alle þise wise wyes · weren togideres
In an hous al bishette · & her dore ybarred
Cryst cam in & al closed · bothe dore & ȝates
To peter & to his aposteles · and seyde pax vobis
And toke Thomas by þe hande · and tauȝte hym to grope
And fele with his fyngres · his flesshelich herte[^618]

[^618: L.19.169: The scribe appears to have failed to skip a line for the strophe break and scraped the text.]

¶ Thomas touched it · & with his tonge seyde[^619]
Deus meus & dominus meus
Thow art my lorde · I bileue · god lorde ihesu
Þow deydest & deth þoledest · and deme shalt vs alle
And now art lyuynge & lokynge · & laste shalt euere

[^619: L.19.170: We have characterized this word as an addition, though it is clearly the original scribe's hand. The <d> is somewhat extravagantly flourished, and a word-initial long <s> is not common in his hand.]

¶ Crist carped þanne · and curteislich seyde
Thomas for þow trowest þis · & trewliche bileuest it
Blessed mote þow be · & be shalt for euere
And blessed mote þei alle be · in body & in soule
That neuere shal se me in siȝte · as þow doste nouthe
And lellich bileuen al þis · I loue hem & blesse hem
Beati qui non viderunt &c ·

¶ And whan þis dede was done · dobest he tauȝte
And ȝaf Pieres power · and pardoun he graunted
To alle manere men · mercy & forȝyfnes
Hym myȝte men to assoille · of alle manere synnes
In couenant þat þei come · & knewleche to paye
To pieres pardon þe plowman · redde quod debes

¶ Thus hath pieres powere · be his pardoun payed
+
To bynde & to[^620] vnbynde · bothe here & elles[^621]
And assoille men of alle synnes · saue of dette one

[^620: L.19.189: LC2 alone read to.]

[^621: L.19.189: LF alone — R is absent here — read elles, which probably explains the corrector's <+> to the right of and slightly higher than this line. Other B manuscripts have ellis-where. It is equally possible that the corrector's mark was intended to call attention to the repeated to of the a-verse or to both differences from beta.]

¶ Anone after an heigh · vp in-to heuene
He went & wonyeth þere · & wil come atte laste
And wil[^622] rewarde hym riȝte wel · þat reddit quod debet
Payeth parfitly as pure trewthe wolde
And what persone payeth it nouȝt · punysshen he þinketh
And demen hem at domes-daye · bothe quikke & ded
Þe gode to þe godhede · & to grete ioye
And wikke[^623] to wonye · in wo with-outen ende
Þus conscience of crist · & of þe crosse carped
And conseilled me to knele þer-to · & þanne come me þouȝte
One spiritus paraclitus · to Pieres & to his felawes
In lyknesse of a liȝtnynge · he lyȝte on hem alle
And made hem konne & knowe · alkyn langages
[^624] ¶ I wondred what þat was · & wagged conscience
And was afered of the lyȝte · for in fyres lyknesse[^625]
Spiritus paraclitus · ouer-spradde hem alle

[^622: L.19.193: LG alone have wil.]

[^623: L.19.198: L alone reads wikke; all other B manuscripts have wikkede.]

[^624: L.19.204: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.]

[^625: L.19.205: A few characters, no longer legible, are erased in the right margin.]

¶ Quod con science & kneled · þis is crystes messager
And cometh fro þe grete god · & grace is his name
Knele now quod conscience · & if þow canst synge
Welcome hym & worshipe hym · with veni creator spiritus

¶ Thanne songe I þat songe · and so did many hundreth
And cryden with conscience · help vs god of grace
And þanne bigan grace · to go with piers plowman
And conseilled hym & conscience · þe comune to sompne
For I wil dele to-daye · & dyuyde grace
To alkynnes creatures · þat kan[^626] her fyue wittes
Tresore to lyue by · to her lyues ende
And wepne to fyȝte with · þat wil neure faille
For antecryst & his · al þe worlde shal greue
And acombre þe conscience · but if cryst þe helpe

[^626: L.19.216: LF alone read kan; most other B manuscripts have han. Note that R is not present here.]

¶ And fals prophetes fele · flatereres & glosers
Shullen come & be curatoures · ouer kynges & erlis
And pryde shal be pope · prynce of holycherche
Coueytyse & vnkyndenesse · cardinales hym to lede
For-þi quod grace er I go · I wil gyue ȝow tresore
And wepne to fiȝte with · whan antecryst ȝow assailleth
And gaf eche man a grace · to gye with hym-seluen
That ydelnesse encombre hym nouȝt · envye ne pryde
Diuisiones graciarum sunt &c ·

¶ Some he ȝaf wytte · with wordes to shewe
Witte to wynne her lyflode with · as þe worlde asketh
As prechoures & prestes & prentyce of lawe
Þei lelly to lyue · by laboure of tonge
And bi witte to wissen other · as grace hem wolde teche

¶ And some he kenned crafte · & kunnynge of syȝte
With sellyng & buggynge · her bylyf to wynne
And some he lered to laboure · a lele lyf & a trewe
And somme he tauȝte to tilie · to dyche & to thecche
To wynne with her lyflode · by lore of his techynge
And some to dyuyne & diuide · noumbres to kenne
And some to compas craftily · & coloures to make
And some to se & to saye · what shulde bifalle
Bothe of wel & of wo · telle it or it felle
As Astronomyenes þorw astronomye · & philosophres wyse

¶ And some to ryde & to recoeure[^627] · þat vnriȝtfully was wonne
He wissed hem wynne it aȝeyne · þorw wightnesse of handes
¶ And fecchen it fro fals men · with foluyles lawes
And some he lered to lyue · in longynge to ben hennes
In pouerte & in penaunce · to preye for alle crystene
And alle he lered to be lele · & eche a crafte loue other
And forbad hem alle debate · þat none were amonge hem
Thowgh some be clenner þan somme · ȝe se wel quod grace
+
Þat he þat vseth þe fairest crafte · to þe foulest I couth haue put hym[^628]
Þinketh alle quod grace · þat grace cometh of my ȝifte
Loke þat none lakke other · but loueth alle as bretheren

[^627: L.19.245: LF read recoeure; most other B manuscripts have recouere. Cf. L.17.69 for similar alpha and L agreement. For the spelling, see the Linguistic Description, § III.2.1.2.25.]

[^628: L.19.253: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, suggesting that the scribe initially omitted couth haue put hym . Those words appear in ink darker than the rest of the line.]

¶ And who þat moste maistries can · be myldest of berynge
And crouneth conscience kynge · & maketh crafte ȝowre stuward
And after craftes conseille · clotheth ȝow & fede
For I make Pieres þe plowman · my procuratour & my reve
And Regystrere to receyue · redde quod debes
My prowor & my plowman · Piers shal ben on erthe
And for to tulye treuthe · a teme shal he haue

¶ Grace gaue Piers a teme · foure gret oxen
Þat on was Luke a large beste · and a lowe-chered
And marke & mathew þe þrydde · myghty bestes bothe
And ioigned to hem one Iohan · most gentil of alle
Þe prys nete of Piers plow · passyng alle other

¶ And grace gaue pieres · of his goodnesse foure stottis
Al þat his oxen eryed · þey to harwe after
On hyȝte Austyne · & ambrose an other
Gregori þe grete clerke · & Ierome þe gode
Þise foure þe feithe to teche · folweth pieres teme
And harwed in an handwhile · al holy scripture
Wyth two harwes þat þei hadde · an olde & a newe
Idest Id est vetus testamentum & nouum

¶ And grace gaue greynes · þe cardynales vertues
And sewe it in mannes soule · & sithen he tolde her names
Spiritus prudencie · þe firste seed hyȝte
And who-so eet þat · ymagyne he shulde
Ar he did any dede · deuyse wel þe ende
And lerned men a ladel bugge · with a longe stele
Þat cast for to kepe a crokke · to saue þe fatte abouen

¶ The secounde seed hiȝte spiritus temperancie
He þat ete of þat seed · hadde suche a kynde
Shulde neuere mete ne mochel drynke · make hym to swelle
Ne sholde no scorner ne scolde · oute of skyl hym brynge
Ne wynnynge ne welthe · of wordeliche ricchesse
Waste worde of ydelnesse · ne wykked speche meue
Shulde no curyous clothe · comen on hys rugge
Ne no mete in his mouth · þat maister Iohan spiced

¶ The thridde seed þat Pieres sewe · was spiritus fortitudinis
And who-so eet of þat seed hardy was eure
To suffre al þat god sent · sykenesse & angres
Myȝte no lesynge[^629] ne lyere · ne losse of worldely catel
Maken hym for any mournynge · þat he nas merye in soule
And bolde & abydynge · bismeres to suffre
And playeth al with pacyence · & parce michi domine
And couered hym vnder conseille · of catoun þe wyse
Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique

[^629: L.19.294: L alone reads lesynge; other B manuscripts have lesynges.]

¶ The fierthe seed þat pieres sewe · was spiritus iusticie
And he þat eet of þat seed · shulde be euere trewe
With god & nouȝt agast · but of gyle one
For gyle goth so pryuely · þat good faith other-while
May nouȝte ben aspyed · for spiritus iusticie

¶ Spiritus iusticie · spareth nouȝte to spille
Hem þat ben gulty · & forto correcte
Þe Kynge ȝif he falle · in gylte or in trespasse
For counteth he no kynges wratthe · whan he in courte sitteth
To demen as a domes-man · adradde was he neure
Noither of duke ne of deth · þat he ne dede þe[^630] lawe
For present or for preyere · or any prynces lettres
He dede equite to alle · euene-forth his powere

[^630: L.19.310: LF alone have þe; other B manuscripts omit it. Note that R is not present here.]

¶ Thise foure sedes pieres sewe · and sitthe he did hem harwe
Wyth olde lawe and newe lawe · þat loue myȝte wexe
Amonge þe foure vertues · and vices destroye

¶ For comunelich in contrees · kammokes & wedes
Fouleth þe fruite in þe felde · þere þei growe togyderes
And so don vices · vertues worthy
Quod Piers harweth alle þat kunneth kynde witte · bi conseille of þis doctours
And tulyeth after her techynge · þe cardinale vertues

¶ Aȝeines þi greynes quod grace · bigynneth for to ripe
Ordeigne þe an hous quod[^631] Piers · to herberwe in þi cornes

[^631: L.19.322: LCr1,2M have quod; all other B witnesses omit it.]

¶ By god grace quod Piers · ȝe moten gyue tymbre
And ordeyne þat hous · ar ȝe hennes wende

¶ And grace gaue hym þe crosse · with þe croune of þornes
That cryst vpon caluarye · for mankynde on pyned
And of his baptesme & blode · þat he bledde on Rode
He made a maner morter · & mercy it hiȝte
And þere-with grace bigan · to make a good foundement
And watteled it and walled it · with his peynes & his passioun
And of al holywrit · he made a rofe after
And called þat hous vnite · holicherche on englisshe
And whan þis dede was done · grace deuised
A carte hyȝte cristendome · to carye pieres sheues
And gaf hym caples to his carte · contricioun & confessioun
And made presthode haywarde · þe while hym-self went
As wyde as þe worlde is · with pieres to tulye treuthe

¶ Now is Pieres to þe plow · & pruyde it aspyde
And gadered hym a grete oest · to greuen he þinketh
Conscience and al crystene · and cardinale vertues
Blowe hem doune & breke hem · & bite atwo þe mores
And sent forth surquydous · his seriaunt of armes
And his spye spille-loue · one speke yuel byhynde
Þise two come to conscience · and to crystene peple
And tolde hem tydynges · þat tyne þei shulde þe sedes
That Pieres þere hadde ysowen · þe cardynal vertues
And Pieres berne worth broke · & þei þat ben in vnite
Shulle come out · & conscience  & ȝowre two caples
Confessioun & contricioun · and ȝowre carte þe byleue
Shal be coloured so queyntly · and keuered vnder owre sophistrie
+
Þat conscioun consci[ence][^632] shal nouȝte  knowe by contricioun
Ne by confessioun  who is cristene or hethen
Ne no maner marchaunt · þat with moneye deleth
Where he wynne wyth riȝte · with wronge or with vsure

[^632: L.19.351: The corrector's <+> in the left margin notes the scribe's conscioun for conscience.]

¶ With suche coloures & queyntise  cometh pryde yarmed
With þe lorde þat lyueth after · þe luste of his body
To wasten on welfare · and on wykked kepynge
Al þe worlde in a while · þorw owre witte quod pruyde

¶ Quod conscience to alle crystene þo · my conseille is to wende
Hastiliche in-to vnyte · & holde we vs þere
And preye we þat a pees were · in Piers berne þe plowman
For witterly I wote wel · we beth nouȝte of strengthe
To gone agayne pryde · but grace were with vs

¶ And þanne cam kynde wytte · conscience to teche
And cryde & comaunded · al crystene peple
For to deluen a dyche · depe aboute vnite
+
That holycherche stode in vnite · as it a pyle pyle [were][^633]

[^633: L.19.367: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes L's omission of were after pyle, attested by all other B manuscripts.]

¶ Conscience comaunded þo · al crystene to delue
And make a muche mote · þat myȝte ben a strengthe
To helpe holycherche · & hem þat it kepeth

¶ Thanne alkyn crystene · saue comune wommen
Repenteden & refused synne · saue they one
And fals men flateres · vsureres and theues
Lyeres and questmongeres · þat were forsworen ofte
Wytynge and willefully · with þe false[^634] helden
And for syluer were forswore · sothely þei wist it

[^634: L.19.375: The <s> of false is unclear because of scuffing.]

¶ Þere nas no crystene creature · þat kynde witte hadde
Saue schrewes one · suche as I spak of
That he ne halpe a quantite · holynesse to wexe
Somme þorw bedes byddynge · and some þorw pylgrymage
And other pryue penaunce · and some þorw penyes delynge

¶ And þanne welled water · for wikked werkes
Egerlich ernynge · out of mennes eyen
Clennesse of þe comune · & clerkes clene lyuynge
Made vnite holicherche · in holynesse to stonde
I care nouȝte quod conscience · þough pryde come nouthe
Þe lorde of luste shal be letted · al þis lente I hope
Comeþ quod conscience · ȝe cristene and dyneth
Þat han laboured lelly · al þis lente tyme
Here is bred yblessed · and goddes body þer-vnder
Grace þorw goddes worde · gaue Pieres power
Myȝtes to maken it · & men to ete it after
In helpe of her hele · onys in a moneth
Or as ofte as þey hadden nede · þo þat hadde ypayed
To pieres pardoun þe plowman · redde quod debes

¶ How quod al þe comune · þow conseillest vs to ȝelde
Al þat we owen any wyȝte · ar we go to housel

¶ That is my conseille quod conscience & cardynale vertues
Þat vche man forȝyue other · and þat wyl þe pater noster
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra · &c ·
And so to ben assoilled · & sithen ben houseled

¶ Ȝe bawe quod a brewere · I wil nouȝt be reuled
Bi ihesu for al ȝowre ianglynge · with spiritus iusticie
Ne after conscience by cryste · whil I can selle
Bothe dregges & draffe · and drawe it at on hole
Þikke ale and þinne ale · for þat is my kynde
And nouȝte hakke after holynesse · holde þi tonge conscience
Of spiritus iusticie · þow spekest moche an ydel

¶ Caytyue quod conscience · cursed wrecche
Vnblessed artow brewere · but if þe god helpe
But þow lyue by lore · of spiritus iusticie
Þe chief seed þat Pieres sewe · ysaued worstow neure
But conscience þe comune fede · and cardynale vertues
Leue it wel þei ben loste · bothe lyf & soule

¶ Thanne is many[^635] man ylost quod a lewed vycory
I am a curatour of holykyrke · and come neure in my tyme
Man to me þat me couth telle · of cardinale vertues
Or þat acounted conscience · at a cokkes fether or an hennes
I knewe neure cardynal · þat he ne cam fro þe pope
And we clerkes whan þey come · for her comunes payeth
For her pelure and her palfreyes mete · & piloures þat hem folweth
Þe comune clamat cotidie · eche a man to other
Þe contre is þe curseder · þat cardynales come Inne
And þere they ligge and lenge moste · lecherye þere regneth
For-þi quod þis vicori · be verrey god I wolde
That no cardynal come · amonge þe comune peple
But in her holynesse · holden hem stille
At Auynoun amonge þe iuwes · cum sancto sanctus eris &c
Or in Rome as here rule wole · þe reliques to kepe
And þow conscience in kynges courte · & shuldest neure come þennes
And grace þat þow gredest so of : gyour of alle clerkes
And Pieres with his newe plow · & eke with his olde
Emperour of al þe worlde · þat alle men were cristene

[^635: L.19.415: L alone omits a after many.]

¶ Inparfyt is þat pope · þat al[^636] peple shulde helpe
And sendeth hem þat sleeth suche · as he shulde saue
And wel worth piers þe plowman · þat sueth[^637] god in doyng
Qui pluit super iustos · & iniustos at ones
And sent þe sonne to saue · a cursed mannes tilthe
As bryȝte as to þe best man · & to þe beste woman
Riȝte so Pieres þe plowman · peyneth hym to tulye
As wel for a wastour · & wenches of þe stuwes
As for hym-self & his seruauntz · saue he is firste yserued
And trauailleth & tulyeth · for a tretour also sore
As for a trewe tydy man · al tymes ylyke
And worshiped be he þat wrouȝte al · bothe good & wykke
And suffreth þat synful be · til some-tyme þat þei repente
And god amende þe pope · þat pileth holykirke
And cleymeth bifor þe kynge · to be keper ouer crystene
And counteth nouȝt þough crystene ben · culled & robbed
And fynt folke to fyȝte · and cristene blode to spille
Aȝeyne þe olde lawe & newe lawe · as Luke þer -of witnesseth
Non occides michi vindictam &c
It semeth · by so  hym -self hadd his wille
That he ne reccheth riȝte nouȝte · of al þe remenaunte
And cryst of his curteisye · þe cardinales saue
And tourne her witte to wisdome · & to wele of soule
For þe comune quod þis curatour counten ful litel
Þe conseille of conscience · or cardinale vertues
But if þei sowe[^638] as by syȝte · somwhat to wynnynge
Of gyle ne of gabbynge · gyue þei neuere tale
For spiritus prudencie · amonge þe peple is gyle
And alle þo faire vertues · as vyces þei semeth
Eche man sotileth a sleight · synne forto hyde
And coloureth it for a kunnynge · and a clene lyuynge

[^636: L.19.434: LB alone omit þe before peple.]

[^637: L.19.436: L alone reads sueth; all other B manuscripts have pursueþ, the probably original reading here with <pur-> erased.]

[^638: L.19.459: L alone reads sowe; most other B manuscripts have some form of seiȝe.]

¶ Thanne loughe þere a lorde · & by þis liȝte sayde
I halde it ryȝte & resoun · of my reue to take
Al þat myne auditour or elles my stuwarde
Conseilleth me by her acounte · & my clerkes wrytynge

¶ With spiritus intellectus · they seke þe reues rolles
+
And with spiritus fortitudinis · fecche fecche [it][^639] I wole

[^639: L.19.470: The corrector's <+> in the right margin notes L's omission of it after fecche, attested by other B manuscripts.]

¶ And þanne come þere a kynge · & bi his croune seyde
I am Kynge with croune · þe comune to reule
And holykirke & clergye · fro cursed men to defende
And if me lakketh to lyue by · þe lawe wil I take it
Þere I may hastlokest it haue · for I am hed of lawe
For ȝe ben but membres · & I aboue alle
And sith I am ȝowre aller hed · I am ȝowre aller hele
And holycherche chief help · & chiftaigne of þe comune
And what I take of ȝow two · I take it atte techynge
Of spiritus iusticie for I · iugge ȝow alle
So I may baldely be houseled · for I borwe neuere
Ne craue of my comune · but as my kynde asketh

¶ In condicioun quod conscience · þat þow konne defende
And rule þi rewme in resoun · riȝt wel & in treuth
Take þow may in resoun as þi lawe asketh
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum set non ad depre dandum
Þe vyker hadde fer home · & faire toke his leue
And I awakned þere-with · & wrote as me mette

Passus xxus vicesimus & primus de dobest

T hanne[^640] as I went by þe way · whan I was þus awaked
Heuy-chered I ȝede · and elynge in herte
I ne wiste where to ete · ne at what place
And it neighed nyeghe þe none · & with nede I mette
That afronted me foule · and faitour me called
Coudestow[^641] nouȝte excuse þe · as dede þe Kynge & other
Þat þow toke to þi bylyf · to clothes and to sustenance
As[^642] by techynge & by tellynge · of spiritus temperancie
And þow nome namore · þan nede þe tauȝte
And nede ne hath no lawe · ne neure shal falle in dette
For þre thynges he taketh · his lyf forto saue
That is mete whan men hym werneth · & he no moneye weldeth
¶ Ne wyght none wil ben his borwe · ne wedde hath none to legge
And he cauȝte in þat cas · & come þere-to by sleighte
He synneth nouȝte sothelich · þat so wynneth his fode
And þough he come so to a clothe · and can no better cheuysaunce
Nede anon-riȝte · nymeth hym vnder meynpryse
And if hym lyst for to lape · þe lawe of kynde wolde
That he dronke at eche diche · ar he for thurste deyde
So nede at grete nede · may nymen as for his owne
Wyth-oute conseille of conscience · or cardynale vertues
So þat he suwe & saue · spiritus temperancie

[^640: L.20.1: A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin. The ornamental capital is in a different style from the other passus beginnings.]

[^641: L.20.6: LF alone read Coudestow; other B manuscripts have Kanstow.]

[^642: L.20.8: LCrM read As; most B manuscripts have And. Among C manuscripts, PEcRcMcVcAcQScZNc also read As here.]

¶ For is no vertue by fer to spiritus temperancie
Neither spiritus iusticie · ne spiritus fortitudinis
For spiritus fortitudinis · forfaiteth ful oft
He shal do more þan mesure · many tyme & ofte
And bete men ouer bitter · and somme of hem to litel
And greue men gretter · þan goode faith it wolde

¶ And spiritus iusticie  shal iuggen wolhe nolhe
After þe kynges conseille · & þe comune lyke
And spiritus prudencie · in many a poynte shal faille
Of þat he weneth wolde falle · if his wytte ne were
Wenynge is no wysdome · ne wyse ymagynacioun
Homo proponit & deus disponit · & gouerneth alle good vertues
Ac nede is next hym · for anon he meketh
And as low as a lombe · for lakkyng of þat hym nedeth
Wyse men forsoke wele · for þey wolde be nedy
And woneden in wildernesse · & wolde nouȝte be riche

¶ And god al his grete ioye · gostliche he left
And cam & toke mankynde · and bycam nedy
So nedy he was as seyth þe boke · in many sondry places
Þat he seyde in his sorwe · on þe selue Rode
Bothe fox & foule · may fleighe to hole & crepe
And þe fisshe hath fyn · to flete with to reste
+
Þere nede hath ynome me · þat I mote nede abyde[^643]
And suffre sorwes ful sowre · þat shal to ioye tourne
For-þi be nouȝte abasshed · to byde and to be nedy
Syth he þat wrouȝte al þe worlde · was wilfullich nedy
Ne neuer none so nedy · ne pouerere deyde

[^643: L.20.45: The letter <a> was squeezed into the space left as a word break by the original scribe in response to a partially erased corrector's <+> in the left margin.]

¶ Whan nede had vndernome me þus · anon I felle aslepe
And mette ful merueillously · þat in mannes forme
Antecryst cam þanne · and al þe croppe of treuthe
Torned it vp-so-doune · and ouertilte þe rote
And fals sprynge & sprede · & spede mennes nedes
In eche a contre þere he cam · he cutte awey treuthe
And gert gyle growe þere · as he a god were
[^644] Freres folwed þat fende · for he ȝaf hem copes
And religiouse reuerenced hym · and rongen here belles
And al þe couent forth cam · to welcome þat tyraunt
And alle hise · as wel as hym · saue onlich folis
Which folis were wel leuer to deye þan to lyue
Lengore sith lenten  was so rebuked
And a fals fende antecriste · ouer alle folke regned
And þat were mylde men & holy · þat no myschief dredden
Defyed al falsenesse · and folke þat it vsed
+
And what Kynge þat hem conforted · knowynge hem any while[^645]
[^646] They cursed and her conseille · were it clerke or lewed

[^644: L.20.57ff.: This leaf, the last of quire 11, and the first leaf of the final quire are quite faded, though entirely legible, probably reflecting some damage while the manuscript was unbound.]

[^645: L.20.66: A largely erased corrector's <+> appears to the left of the following line. There is no evidence of error or of a correction in that line, but it is possible that he any in this line is written over an erasure. Kane-Donaldson emend conjecturally to hir gile, based on the C variants and alpha's hem/hym gyle. Cf. the note to L.12.123.]

[^646: L.20.67: The corrector's mark is largely erased and somewhat easier to see in the manuscript than in the color image. See the note to the preceding line.]

¶ Antecriste hadde thus sone · hundredes at his banere
And Pryde it bare · boldely aboute
With a lorde þat lyueth · after lykynge of body
That cam aȝein conscience · þat kepere was & gyoure
Ouer kynde crystene · and cardynale vertues

¶ I conseille quod conscience þo · cometh with me ȝe foles
In-to vnyte holy cherche · and holde we vs there
And crye we to kynde · þat he come & defende vs
Foles · fro þis fendes lymes · for Piers loue þe plowman
And crye we to alle þe comune / þat þei come to vnite
And þere abide and bikere · aȝein beliales children

¶ Kynd conscience þo herde · and cam out of þe planetes
And sent forth his foreioures feures and fluxes
Coughes and cardiacles · crampes and tothaches
Rewmes & radegoundes · and roynouse scalles
Byles and bocches · and brennyng agues
Frenesyes & foule yueles · forageres of kynde
Hadde yprykked and prayed polles of peple
Þat largelich a legioun · lese[^647] her lyf sone

[^647: L.20.86: L alone reads lese (R has lose); most other B manuscripts have loren or losten.]

¶ There was harrow and help · here cometh kynde[^648]
With deth þat is dredful · to vndone vs alle

[^648: L.20.87: In the right margin are some dark brown pen strokes and evidence of something scraped.]

¶ The lorde that lyued after lust · tho alowde cryde
After conforte a knyghte · to come and bere his banere
Alarme alarme quod þat lorde eche lyf kepe his owne

¶ And þanne mette þis men · ar mynstralles myȝte pipe
And ar heraudes of armes · hadden descreued lordes

¶ Elde þe hore · he was in þe vauntwarde
And bare þe banere bifor deth · by riȝte he it claymed
Kynde come after · with many kene sores
As pokkes and pestilences · and moche poeple shente ·
[^649] So kynde þorw corupciouns · kulled ful manye

[^649: L.20.98ff.: This page, though pale, looks like the original scribe's usual script. A streak of damage has affected the first words of the first three lines, but they are readable.]

¶ Deth cam dryuende[^650] after · and al to doust passhed
Kynges & Knyȝtes · kayseres and popes
Lered ne lewed · he let no man stonde
That he hitte euene · þat euere stired after
Many a louely lady · and lemmanes of knyghtes
Swouned and swelted · for sorwe of dethes dyntes

[^650: L.20.99: LRF have the -ende form of the present participle; most other B witnesses read dryuynge. See the Linguistic Description § III.3.5.1.3.]

¶ Conscience of his curteisye · to kynde he bisouȝte
To cesse & suffre · and see where þei wolde
Leue pryde pryuely · and be parfite cristene

¶ And kynde cessed tho · to se þe peple amende
Fortune gan flateren thenne · þo fewe þat were alyue
And byhight hem longe lyf · and lecherye he sent
Amonges al manere men · wedded & vnwedded
And gadered a gret hoste · al agayne conscience

¶ This lecherye leyde on · with a laughyng chiere
And with pryue speche · and peynted wordes
And armed hym in ydelnesse · and in hiegh berynge
He bare a bowe in his hande · and manye blody arwes
Weren fethered with faire biheste · and many a false truthe
+
Wit[^651] his vntydy tales · he tened ful ofte
Conscience and his compaignye · of holicherche þe techeres

[^651: L.20.118: The corrector's <+> beside the following line probably refers to the scribe's rendering of Wit for Wiþ here. The corrector marked the same form at L.5.612. It was not corrected either place.]

¶ Thanne cam coueityse · and caste how he myȝte
Ouercome conscience · and cardynal vertues
And armed hym in auaryce · and hungriliche lyued
His wepne was al wiles · to wynnen & to hyden
With glosynges and with gabbynges · he gyled þe peple
Symonye hym sent · to assaille conscience
And preched to þe peple · and prelates þei hem maden
To holden with antecryste · her temperaltes to saue
And come to þe kynges conseille · as a kene baroun
And kneled to conscience in courte afor hem alle
And gart gode feith flee · and fals to abide
And boldeliche bar adown · with many a briȝte noble
Moche of þe witte and wisdome · of westmynster halle
He iugged til a iustice · and iusted in his ere
And ouertilte al his treuthe · with take þis vp amendement
And to þe arches in haste · he ȝede anone after
And torned Ciuile in-to symonye · and sitthe he toke þe official
For a mentel of menyuere · he made lele matrimonye
Departen ar deth cam · & deuos shupte

¶ Allas quod conscience & cried þo · wolde criste of his grace
That coueityse were cristene · þat is so kene a fiȝter
And bolde and bidyng · while his bagge lasteth

¶ And þanne lowgh lyf · and leet dagge his clothes
And armed hym in haste · in harlotes wordes
And helde holynesse a iape · and hendenesse a wastour
And lete leute a cherle · and lyer a fre man ·
Conscience and conseille · he counted it a[^652] folye ·

[^652: L.20.146: LHmMW alone have a.]

¶ Thus relyed lyf · for a litel fortune
And pryked forth with pryde preyseth he no vertue
A[^653] careth nouȝte how kynde slow · and shal come atte laste
And culle alle erthely creature[^654] · saue conscience one
Lyf leep asyde · and lauȝte hym a lemman
Heel & I quod he · and hieghnesse of herte
Shal do þe nouȝte drede · noyther deth ne elde
And to forȝete sorwe · and ȝyue nouȝte of synne

[^653: L.20.149: A probably was written for "he."]

[^654: L.20.150: LYR alone have the singular form creature; all other B manuscripts have the plural.]

¶ This lyked lyf · and his lemman fortune
And geten in her glorie · a gadelyng atte laste
One þat moche wo wrouȝte · sleuthe was his name
Sleuthe wex wonder ȝerne · and sone was of age
And wedded one wanhope · a wenche of þe stuwes
Her syre was a sysour · þat neure swore treuthe
One Thomme two tonge · ateynte at vch a queste

¶ This sleuthe was war of werre · and a slynge made
And threwe drede of dyspayre · a dozein myle aboute
For care conscience þo · cryed vpon elde
And bad hym fonde to fyȝte · and afere wanhope

¶ And elde hent good hope · and hastilich he shifte hym
And wayued awey wanhope · and with lyf he fyȝteth
And lyf fleigh for fere to fysyke after helpe
And bisouȝte hym of socoure · and of his salue hadde
And gaf hym golde good woon · þat gladded his herte
And þei gyuen hym agayne a glasen houve
Lyf leued þat lechecrafte · lette shulde elde
And dryuen awey deth · with dyas and dragges

¶ And elde auntred hym on lyf · and atte laste he hitte
A Fisicien with a forred hood · þat he fel in a palsye
And þere deyed þat doctour · ar thre dayes after
Now I see seyde lyf · þat surgerye ne Fisyke
May nouȝte a myte auaille · to medle aȝein elde
And in hope of his hele · gode herte he hente
And rode so to reuel · a ryche place and a merye
[^655] The companye of conforte · men cleped it sumtyme
And elde anone after me · and ouer myne heed ȝede
And made me balled bifore · and bare on þe croune
So harde he ȝede ouer myn hed · it wil be seen eure

[^655: L.20.181ff.: This page is extremely faded.]

¶ Sire euel ytauȝte elde quod I · vnhende go with the
Sith whanne was þe way · ouer men[^656] hedes
Haddestow be hende quod I · þow woldest haue asked leue

[^656: L.20.186: L alone reads men; all other B manuscripts have mennes.]

¶ Ȝe leue lordeyne quod he · and leyde on me with age
And hitte me vnder þe ere · vnethe may ich here
He buffeted me aboute þe mouthe · & bett out my tethe
And gyued me in goutes · I may nouȝte go at large
And of þe wo þat I was in · my wyf had reuthe
And wisshed ful witterly · þat I were in heuene
For þe lyme þat she loued me fore · and leef was to fele
On nyȝtes namely · whan we naked were
I ne myght in no manere · maken it at hir wille
So elde and she sothly · hadden it forbeten

¶ And as I seet in þis sorwe · I say how kynde passed
And deth drowgh niegh me · for drede gan I quake
And cried to kynde · out of care me brynge
Loo elde þe hoore · hath me biseye
Awreke me if ȝowre wille be · for I wolde ben hennes

¶ Ȝif þow wilt ben ywroken · wende in-to vnite
And holde þe þere eure · tyl I sende for þe
And loke þow conne somme crafte ar þow come þennes
Conseille me kynde quod I · what crafte is best to lerne

[^657]Lerne to loue quod kynde · & leue of alle othre

[^657: L.20.207: The scribe skipped a line as for a strophe break, but the rubricator failed to supply a paraph. A few other B manuscripts, including RW, supply a parasign at this point.]

¶ How shal I come to catel so · to clothe me and to fede
And þow loue lelly quod he · lakke shal þe neure
Mete ne wordly wede · whil þi lyf lasteth

¶ And þere by conseille of kynde · I comsed to rowme
Thorw contricioun & confessioun · tyl I cam to vnite
And þere was conscience constable · cristene to saue
And biseged sothly · with seuene grete gyauntz
Þat with Antecrist helden · hard aȝein conscience

¶ Sleuth with his slynge · an hard saut he made
Proude prestes come with hym moo þan a thousand
In paltokes & pyked shoes · & pisseres longe knyues
Comen aȝein conscience · with coueityse þei helden

¶[^658] By Marie quod a mansed preste · of þe marche of yrlonde
I counte namore conscience · bi so I cacche syluer
Than I do to drynke · a drauȝte of good ale
And so seide sexty of þe same · contreye
And shoten aȝein with shotte · many a shef of othes
And brode hoked arwes · goddes herte & his nayles
And hadden almost vnyte · and holynesse adowne

[^658: L.20.220: The rubricating scribe failed to erase the <cc> guide from the left margin.]

¶ Conscience cryed helpe · clergye or ellis I falle
Thorw inparfit prestes · and prelates of holicherche
Freres herden hym crye · and comen hym to helpe
Ac for þei couth nouȝte wel her craft · conscience forsoke hem

¶ Nede neghed tho nere · and conscience he tolde
That þei come for coueityse · to haue cure of soules
And for þei arn poure par -auenture · for patrimoigne hem failleth
Thei wil flatre to fare wel · folke þat ben riche[^659]
And sithen þei chosen chele · and cheytifte[^660] pouerte
Lat hem chewe as þei chese · and charge hem with no cure
id est sepius
For lomer[^661] he lyeth · þat lyflode mote begge
Þan he þat laboureth for lyflode · & leneth it beggeres
And sithen Freres forsoke · þe felicite of erthe
Lat hem be as beggeres · or lyue by angeles fode

[^659: L.20.234: There is no evidence of correction within the line, but a corrector's <+> has been erased from the right margin.]

[^660: L.20.235: LWR read cheytifte; most B witnesses have chaytyf.]

[^661: L.20.237: The gloss id est sepius is written over lomer.]

¶ Conscience of þis conseille þo · comsed for to laughe
+
And curteilich curtei[s]lich[^662] conforted hem · and called in alle freres
And seide sires sothly · welcome be ȝe alle
To vnite and holicherche · ac on thyng I ȝow preye
Holdeth ȝow in vnyte · and haueth none envye
To lered ne to lewed · but lyueth after ȝowre rewle
And I wil be ȝowre borghe · ȝe shal haue bred and clothes
And other necessaries anowe · ȝow shal no thyng faille
With þat ȝe leue logyk · and lerneth for to louye
For loue laft þei lordship · bothe londe and scole
Frere Fraunceys and Dominyk · for loue to ben holy

[^662: L.20.242: A marginal corrector's <+> notes the scribe's omission of <s> from curteislich.]

¶ And if ȝe coueyteth cure · kynde wil ȝow teche
That in mesure god made · alle manere thynges
And sette it at a certeyne · and at a syker noumbre
And nempned names newe · and noumbred þe sterres
Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum · & omnibus eis &c

¶ Kynges & knyghtes þat kepen and defenden
Han officers vnder hem · and vch of hem certeyne
And if þei wa ge men to werre · þei write hem in noumbre
Wil no tresorere hem paye · trauaille þei neure so sore
Alle other in bataille · ben yholde bribours
Pilours and pykehernois · in eche a place ycursed

¶ Monkes and monyals · and alle men of Religioun
Her ordre and her reule wil · to han a certeyne noumbre
Of lewed and of lered · þe lawe wol and axeth
A certeyn for a certeyne · saue onelich of freres
For-þi quod conscience by cryst · kynde witte me telleth
It is wikked to wage ȝow · ȝe wexeth out of noumbre
Heuene hath euene noumbre · and helle is with-out noumbre
For-þi I wolde witterly · þat ȝe were in þe Registre
And ȝowre noumbre vndre notarie sygne · & noyther mo ne lasse

¶ Enuye herd þis · and heet freres to go to scole
And lerne logyk and lawe · and eke contemplacioun
And preche men of plato · and preue it by seneca
Þat alle þinges vnder heuene · ouȝte to ben in comune

¶ And ȝit he lyeth as I leue · þat to þe lewed so precheth
For god made to men a lawe · and Moyses it tauȝte
Non concupisces rem proximi tui
And euele is þis yholde · in parisches of engelonde
For parsones and parishprestes parish prestes þat shulde þe peple shryue
Ben curatoures called · to knowe and to hele
Alle þat ben her parisshiens · penaunce to enioigne
And shulden be ashamed in her shrifte · ac shame maketh hem wende
And fleen to þe freres · as fals folke to westmynstre
That borweth and bereth it þider · and þanne biddeth frendes
Ȝerne of forȝifnesse · or lenger ȝeres leue[^663]

[^663: L.20.286: LR alone read leue (or perhaps lene); most other B manuscripts have loone.]

¶ Ac whil he is in westmynstre · he wil be bifore
And make hym merye with other mennes goodis
And so it fareth with moche folke · þat to þe freres shryueth
+
As sysours and excecutours · þei wil þeue [ȝeue þe] freres[^664]
A parcel to preye for hem · & make hem -self myrye
With þe residue and þe remenaunt · þat other men biswonke
And suffre þe ded in dette · to þe day of dome

[^664: L.20.290: The b-verse of most B manuscripts reads þei wol (or schul) ȝyue þe freres. The original scribe wrote þe before freres. A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, and þe was later changed to þeue by a supralinear addition, although the corrector presumably meant yeue þe. The confusion of <y> and <þ> is not characteristic of this scribe. See the note to L.7.59.]

¶ Enuye herfore · hated conscience
And freres to philosofye · he fonde hem to scole
The while coueytise and vnkyndenesse · conscience assailled
In vnite holycherche · conscience helde hym
And made pees porter · to pynne þe ȝates
Of alle taletellers · and tyterers in ydel
Ypocrisye and he · an hard saut þei made
Ypocrysie atte ȝate · hard gan fiȝte
And wounded wel wykkedly · many wise techer
Þat with conscience acorded · and cardinale vertues
Conscience called a leche · þat coude wel shryue
Go salue þo þat syke ben · þorw synne ywounded
Shrifte shope sharpe salue · and made men do penaunce
For her mysdedes þat þei wrouȝte hadden
And þat piers were payed · redde quod debes

¶ Somme lyked nouȝte þis leche · and lettres þei sent
Ȝif any surgien were þe sege[^665] · þat softer couth plastre
Sire lief to lyue in leccherye · lay þere and groned
For fastyng of a fryday · he ferde as he wolde deye
Ther is a surgiene in þis sege · þat soft can handle
And more of phisyke bi fer · and fairer he plastreth
nota
One frere flaterere is phisiciene and surgiene
Quod contricioun to conscience · do hym come to vnyte
For here is many a man herte · þorw ypocrisie

[^665: L.20.310: A later hand has lined through the second <g> of segge. The manuscripts differ considerably here. Alpha and Cr have in þe sege, but most beta witnesses have þe segge. At first glance the second <g> may appear to have been damaged by a worm hole.]

¶ We han no nede quod conscience · I wote no better leche
Than persoun or parissh prest · penytancere or bisshop ·
Saue Piers þe plowman · þat hath powere ouer hem alle
And indulgence may do · but if dette lette it
I may wel suffre seyde conscience · syn ȝe desiren
That frere flaterer be fette · and phisike ȝow syke

¶ The Frere her-of herde · and hyed faste
To a lorde for a lettre · leue to haue to curen
As a curatour he were · and cam with his lettres
Baldly to þe bisshop · & his brief hadde
In contrees þere he come in · confessiouns to here
And cam þere conscience was · and knokked atte ȝate

¶ Pees vnpynned it · was porter of vnyte
And in haste asked · what his wille were
In faith quod þis frere · for profit and for helthe
Carpe I wolde with contricioun · & þerfore come I hider

¶ He is sike seide pees · and so ar many other
Ypocrisie hath herte hem · ful harde is if þei keure
I am a surgien seide þe segge · and salues can make
Conscience knoweth me wel · and what I can do bothe
I preye þe quod pees þo · ar þow passe ferther
What hattestow I preye þe · hele nouȝte þi name

¶ Certes seyde his felow sire penetrans domos
Ȝe go þi gate quod pees · bi god for al þi phisyk
But þow conne somme crafte · þow comest nouȝt her-Inne
I knewe such one ones · nouȝte eighte wynter passed
Come in þus ycoped · at a courte þere I dwelt
And was my lordes leche · & my ladyes bothe
And at þe last þis limitour · þo my lorde was out
He salued so owre wommen · til somme were with childe
Hende speche het pees · opene þe ȝates
Late in þe frere and his felawe · and make hem faire chere
He may se and here · so it may bifalle
That lyf þorw his lore shal leue coueityse
And be adradde of deth · and with-drawe hym[^666] fram pryde
And acorde with conscience · and kisse her either other
Thus thorw hende speche entred þe frere
And cam in to conscience · and curteisly hym grette
Þow art welcome quod conscience canstow hele þe syke
Here is contricioun quod conscience · my cosyn ywounded
Conforte hym quod conscience and take kepe to his sores
The plastres of þe persoun · and poudres biten to sore
He lat hem ligge ouerlonge · and loth is to chaunge hem
Fro lenten to lenten · he lat his plastres bite

[^666: L.20.352: The ink above hym is offset from the following leaf.]

¶ That is ouerlonge quod this limitour · I leue I shal amende it
And goth and gropeth contricioun · and gaf hym a plastre
Of a pryue payement · and I shal praye for ȝow
For alle þat ȝe ben holde to · al my lyf-tyme
And make ȝow my lady · in masse and in matynes
As freres of owre fraternite · for a litel syluer

¶ Thus he goth and gadereth · and gloseth þere he shryueth
Tyl contricioun hadde clene forȝeten · to crye & to wepe
And wake for his wykked werkes · as he was wont to done
For confort of his confessour · contricioun he lafte
Þat is þe souereynest salue · for alkyn synnes

¶ Sleuth seigh þat · and so did pryde
And come with a kene wille · conscience to assaille
Conscience cryde eft · and bad clergye help hym
And also contricioun · forto kepe þe ȝate
He lith and dremeth · seyde pees · and so do many other
The Frere with his phisik · þis folke hath enchaunted
And plastred hem so esyly · þei drede no synne

¶ Bi cryste quod conscience þo · I wil bicome a pilgryme
And walken as wyde · as al þe wordle lasteth
To seke Piers þe plowman · þat pryde may destruye
And þat freres hadde a fyndyng · þat for nede flateren
And contrepleteth me conscience · now kynde me auenge
And sende me happe and hele · til I haue piers þe plowman
And sitthe he gradde after grace · til I gan awake[^667]

[^667: L.20.386: In the left margin below the final line of text the scribe has written pass us ijus de Dobest as an (ignored) instruction for the rubricator. It has been cropped, lacking initial pass- or explicit pass- .]

Explicit hic dialogus petri plowman