Piers Plowman: The A Version, London, Lincoln's Inn, MS 150 (La)
author: Langland, William
created: early fifteenth century
source date: early fifteenth century
edition published: 2018
language: en; fr; la

[^1] n a somer seson when softe was þe sonne
y schaped me into schroudes[^a1][^2] as y aschep a schep where
In abite as an hermyte vn-worthy[^a2] of werkes
went[^a3] wyde into[^a4] þis world wondres to wayte[^a5]
Bote on[^a6] may morn on maluarne hulles
Me by-feol aferly a ferly of fairy me thoghte
y was wery for-wandred & wente me to reste
vndur abrod a brod banke by a borne brymme[^a7]
And as Ilay I lay & lened & loked on þe water[^a8]
Islomered I slomered on aslepyng a slepyng hit swyed so murye
þan gan y mete merueilous sweuenes[^a9]
þat ywas y was in awildernes a wildernes wisty wist y neuer where
Ac y[^a10] by-heold in-to þe est on hygh to þe sonne
Isagh I sagh atour a tour on atofte a tofte treoweliche ytymbred[^a11]
Adeop A deop dale by-neoþe adonioun a donioun þer-ynne
with deope dyches & dark & dredful to[^a12] sighte
Afaire A faire feld ful of folk fond y þer by-twene
Of alle maner mester[^a13] men makid vppon molde[^a14]
worchyng & wandryng as þe world wilnyth[^a15]
Somme putte hem to þe plough plaied ful seild
In settyng & sowyng swonken wel[^a16] sore[^a17]
þan þer ysygh y sygh[^a18] wastours with glotonye destruyed
And somme putte heom to pruyde aparayleden heom þerafter[^3]
In continance of clothyng crafteliche[^a19][^4] degysed
In praiers & penaunce putten heom monye
Al for loue of oure lord lyueden wel[^a20] st::::
In hope to[^a21] haue after[^a22] heouene to huyre[^a23]
As ancres & heremytes þat holden heom in heor houses[^a24]
Coueite noght in court[^a25] to kairen aboute
For no likerous liflode heore likam to like[^a26]
And somme chesen chaffare þei cheuen[^a27][^5][^6] þe bettre
As hit semeth to oure sight þat suche men chewen[^a28]
And somme murthes to make as mynstrals meleden[^a29]
& geten wiþ heore gleo gold[^a30] gylelas[^a31] god graunte[^a32]
Bote iapers & ianglers Iudas children
Founden heom fantasyes for[^a33] foles heo heom[^a34] feynen[^a35]
And han wit at wille to worche ȝef they wolde[^a36]
þat poule precheth of heom ydar y dar not proue hit here
Bote Qui[^a37] loquitur turpiloquium is lucifers hyne
Bidders & beggers faste aboute ȝeode
And[^a38] heore balies[^a39] &heore & heore bagges[^a40][^7] weore bretful y-crommed
Faytours[^a41] for heore fode at þe nale foghten[^a42]
in glotony god wot gon þey to bedde
And risyth vp wiþ rybaldy þo[^a43] robardes knaues
Sory slep[^a44][^8] & slouthe euer heom sywith[^a45]
Pilgryms & palmers to-gedres heom plyghten[^a46]
Forto seche seynt Iame & rerykes re[l]ykes[^a47] at rome
went forth on[^a48] heore way wiþ monytales mony tales wyse[^a49]
And haden leue to lyen al heore lyf tyme[^a50]
Ermytes on an hep wiþ hoked staues hyeden[^a51]
To wende[^a52] to walsynghram walsyngham & heore wenches after
Grete lobyes & longe þat loth weore to swynke
Clothen[^a53] heom in copes to beo knowe from othir
Schapen heom hermytes heore ayse to hauen
cc
yfond y fond þer þe freres[^a54] alle þe foure ordres
Prechyng þe people for profite of þe[^a55] paunche[^a56]
Gloseden þeo gospel as heom leof[^a57] likyth
For couetise of copes þey construen[^a58][^9] hit aȝeyn kynde[^a59]
Mony of heore[^a60] maistres wiþ couetise heom cloþen[^a61]
For heore mone &[^a62] marchaundise meten to-gedre
Sen charite hath beo chapmon & chef to schryue lordes
Mony ferlyes han fallen in afewe a fewe ȝeres
Bote holy chirche & þey[^a63] holden to-gedre[^a64]
þe moste meschef on molde is mountyng vp faste
cc
þer preched apardoner a pardoner as he apreost a preost weore
Broghte forth abulle a bulle with mony bysschopes[^a65] seales
And saide þat him-seolue myght soile heom vchon[^a66]
Of falsnes of fastynges[^a67] of[^a68] vowes ybroken
Lewed men hit loued[^a69][^10] wel & liked his leodene[^a70]
Comen vp kneolyng to kusse his bulle
And he[^a71] raughte wiþ his ragemon rynges & broches[^11]
he bonched heom with his breued blered[^a72] heore eyȝnen
cc
þus ȝe ȝeuen oure gold glotones to gladen[^a73]
And leneth hit losels þat lecherie haunten
Weore þeo bysschop y-blessed & worth bothe his eres
his seal schulde not beon sent þeo people to deseyue[^a74]
hit is not by þe bisschop þat þe boy precheth
Bote þeo paressch preost & he[^a75] parten þe seoluer
þat þe pore people of þe paresch schuld haue ȝef þay ne were
cc
Persons & parysch preostes playnen[^a76] to þe[^a77] bisschop
þat sen þe furste pestilence heore parysch weore pore[^a78]
To haue licence[^a79] & leue at london to dwelle
To synge þer[^a80] for symonye for seoluer is swete
cc
þer houed anhundred an hundred alle with selk howes[^a81]
Seriauntz hit semed þat serued at þe barre
Plededen[^a82] for panyes & poundes þe lawe
And not for loue of oure lord vnlouse heore lippes ones
þou myghtest bettre meouen[^a83] maluarne hulles
þen geten aMom a Mom of heore mouth til money beo schewed
cc
ysay y say bischopes bysy[^a84] & bachelers of deuyne
Bycome clerkis of acountes þeo kyng for to serue
Erchedekenes & denes þat dignetes haueth
To preche þe people & pore men to fede
Beon lope to london by leue of heore bischopes[^a85]
And beon clerkes of þe chauncellery[^a86] þe contreys to schende
Barons & burgeys & bonde men[^a87] alse
v::::::e
ysay y say in þat semble as ȝe schullen here after
Baxters & bouchiers & breusters monye
And eken wollen[^a88] webbesters & weouers of lynnen
Taillours & tornors[^a89] and tollers boþe
Masons and mynors and mony oþir kraftes
As dychers & deluers þat heore dedes done[^a90] ille
þat[^a91] dryuen forth þe longe day with dieu saue dame emme
kokes & heore knaues kryen hote pyes hote
Gode grys[^a92] & gees[^a93] gowe go we dyne gowe go we
Tauerners to heom tolde treoweliche[^a94] þe same
whit[^a95][^12] wyn of asay and wyn of Gascoyne
And[^a96] ryne &[^a97] rochell þe roste to defye
Al þis y say slepyng & seoue sythes more

[^a1: schroudes (La H2 D) | a schroud (V Ha N T Ra U E Ma)]

[^a2: vn-worthy (La) | vnholy (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D U Ma)]

[^a3: went (La T H2 Ch D) | I wente (Ha J K Wa Ra U E)]

[^a4: into (La) | in (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a5: wayte (La) | here (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a6: on (La) | on a (Ha J K Wa T H2 U Ma)]

[^a7: brymme (La) | syde (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a8: water (La J Wa Ch) | watres (V Ha K T H2 D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a9: merueilous sweuenes (La) | a meruelous sweuene (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D U E)]

[^a10: y (La H2 Ma) | as I (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a11: ytymbred (La) | imaket (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a12: to (La) | of (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a13: mester (La) | of (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a14: makid vppon molde (La) | þe mene and þe riche (V Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a15: wilnyth (La) | askeþ (V J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a16: wel (La K D Ma) | ful (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch Ra U)]

[^a17: sore (La Ha K Wa H2) | harde (V J T Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a18: þan þer ysygh y sygh (La) | Wan that thes (K Wa U Ma)]

[^a19: crafteliche (La) | comyn (J T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a20: wel (La K Wa T D) | ful (V Ha J H2 Ch Ra U E)]

[^a21: to (La K T Ch Ma) | for to (V Ha J Wa H2 D Ra U E)]

[^a22: haue after (La Ch) | haue (V Ha J K T H2 D Ra U E)]

[^a23: heouene to huyre (La) | heueneriche blisse (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a24: houses (La) | celles (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a25: court (La) | cuntre (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a26: like (La) | plese (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a27: þei cheuen (La J H2 D Ma) | þei cheuide (T Ch Ra U E)]

[^a28: chewen (La) | thryvyn (K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a29: meleden (La) | cunne (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a30: wiþ heore gleo gold (La) | gold wiþ her gleo (Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a31: gylelas (La) | synles (Ha J D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a32: god graunte (La) | I trowe (Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a33: for (La) | and (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a34: heo heom (La) | hem (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a35: feynen (La) | maken (Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a36: they wolde (La Ha) | hem luste (V K Wa T H2)]

[^a37: Bote Qui (La) | Qui (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a38: And (La) | Til (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a39: balies (La J K Ra U) | bely (Wa T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a40: bagges (La J K Ra U E) | bagge (Wa T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a41: Faytours (La H2) | Flite þanne (T H2 Ch)]

[^a42: at þe nale foghten (La) | foughten at þe naale (Ha J K Wa T H2 D U)]

[^a43: þo (La H2 Ma) | as (K Wa T Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a44: Sory slep (La) | Sleep (V Ha T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a45: euer heom sywith (La) | suweþ hem euere (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a46: to-gedres heom plyghten (La) | plihten hem togederes (V Ha K T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a47: rerykes re[l]ykes (La) | seintes (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a48: on (La J K) | in (V Ha Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a49: monytales mony tales wyse (La) | mony wyse tales (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a50: tyme (La V) | aftur (Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a51: staues hyeden (La) | stauys (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a52: To wende (La) | Went (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a53: Clothen (La) | Cloþeden (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra U)]

[^a54: þe freres (La Ha D Ra) | freres (V J K Wa T H2 Ch U E)]

[^a55: þe (La Wa T H2 Ch) | heore (V Ha J K D Ra U E)]

[^a56: paunche (La) | wombe (K Wa T H2 Ch D)]

[^a57: leof (La) | good (V J K T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a58: þey construen (La) | construed (K Wa T H2 Ch Ra U Ma)]

[^a59: aȝeyn kynde (La) | as þei wolde (J K Wa T H2 Ch Ra U Ma)]

[^a60: heore (La J E) | þis (these) (V Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D U Ma)]

[^a61: wiþ couetise heom cloþen (La) | mowen cloþen hem at lyking (V J K Wa T Ch Ra U E)]

[^a62: & (La J H2 D Ma) | & heore (V Ha K Wa T Ch Ra U E)]

[^a63: þey (La T Ch Ra E) | he (J H2 D U Ma)]

[^a64: to-gedre (La J Ra U E) | bet togedere (V Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a65: mony bysschopes (La) | bisschopes (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a66: vchon (La) | alle (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a67: fastynges (La Ha) | Fastinge (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a68: of (La J D Ra U Ma) | and of (V Ha K Wa T Ch E)]

[^a69: hit loued (La) | leued hym (Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a70: leodene (La) | speche (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a71: And he (La) | And (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D)]

[^a72: blered (La D) | & blered (V Ha J K Wa H2 Ra U E Ma)]

[^a73: gladen (La) | helpen (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a74: þeo people to deseyue (La) | to seyuyn þe peple (J K Wa T H2 D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a75: he (La V) | þe pardyner (Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D U Ma)]

[^a76: playnen (La V H2 Ra) | pleynyd hem (J T Ch D Ma)]

[^a77: þe (La K Wa Ch D Ma) | heore (V Ha J T H2 Ra U)]

[^a78: sen þe furste pestilence heore parysch weore pore (La) | here parishe was pore siþ þe pestilence tyme (Wa T Ch D)]

[^a79: licence (La J K Ch E Ma) | a lycence (Wa T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a80: synge þer (La V Ha K Wa H2) | synggyn (J T Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a81: alle with selk howes (La) | in houues of selk (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a82: Plededen (La V Ha D) | Pleten (T H2 Ch)]

[^a83: meouen (La) | metyn myst on (J T Ch D U)]

[^a84: bysy (La) | bolde (V Ha J T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a85: bischopes (La V Ha J H2 E) | bisshop (K Wa T Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a86: chauncellery (La) | þe kynges benche (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a87: bonde men (La V Ha E Ma) | bondige (Wa T H2 Ch D)]

[^a88: And eken wollen (La) | Wollen (J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a89: & tornors (La) | Tokers (Wa D U Ma)]

[^a90: heore dedes done (La) | don heore dedes (V Ha J H2 E Ma)]

[^a91: þat (La K U) | And (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D E Ma)]

[^a92: grys (La) | gees (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a93: gees (La) | grys (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a94: tolde treoweliche (La) | tolde (V Ha J K Wa T D E Ma)]

[^a95: whit (La K Wa) | with (J T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a96: And (La) | Of the (K T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a97: & (La) | & of the (K T Ch U Ma)]

[^1: Space has been left for an ornamental capital that was never executed.]

[^2: Cf. also Wa a shrowedes]

[^3: This is a wrapped line. The scribe’s usual practice in this ms is to write wrapped text below the line, enclosed on two sides by a bracket, but here þerafter is written above the line as two words, þer beside La.P.20 and after beside La.P.21, and enclosed by a line that runs upwards from the hooked ascender of the h of heom. This unusual placement is determined by the deformed edge of the page.]

[^4: Cf. also V queinteliche.]

[^5: Cf. also V K Wa to cheeuen]

[^6: Kane records a superscript s above þei, but this appears to be a version of the c-shaped i-tittle that sometimes appears in this manuscript, rather than a superscript letter.]

[^7: V and Ha also have the plural forms for Bagges and Balies, but in these manuscripts the terms are transposed.]

[^8: Cf. also H2 where a late corrector inserts sorye before sleuthe later in this line, agreeing with Bx.P.45 sori sleuthe.]

[^9: Cf. also Ha construen]

[^10: Cf. also Wa it liked.]

[^11: This line and the next are transposed uniquely in La. The equivalent B-text lines (Bx.P.74-5), are transposed in Hm (Hm.P.73-4).]

[^12: Cf. also Ra U E wiþ white]

cc
What þe mounteyn bymeneth & eke þeo deope[^a98] dale
And eke þe feild ful of folk y schal ȝow faire schewe
Alouely A louely lady of leer in lynnen yclothed
Com doun from þat[^a99] clyf & called me faire
And saide sone slepestow seo þou þis people
how bisy þey beon alle[^a100] aboute þe mase
þeo moste partye of þis people þat passeth here in[^a101] eorþe
han þey worsciped[^a102] in þis world þey kepe non[^a103] bettre
Of oþir heouene þen her hold þey no tale
cc
y was aferd of here face þagh heo faire weore
And saide mercy ma-dame what is þis to mene
þe tour on þe tofte quod heo trouthe is þer-ynne
And wolde þat ȝe wroghte as his word techeth
For he is fadir of feith & formed ȝou alle
Bothe wiþ fel & with face & ȝaf ow fyue wittes
For to worschipe him þer -with whiles ȝe beon here
And þerfore he byhyghte[^a104] þe eorþe to helpe ȝou vchone
Of wollen of lynnen to liflode at nede
In mesurable maner tomake to make ȝou atese at ese
And comaunded of his curtesye in comune threo thynges
Arn non nedful bote þo & nempnen heom ythenke y thenke
And rykene by[^a105] reson reherce þe[^a106][^13] heom after
cc
þe furste[^a107] is clothyng[^a108][^14] þat from[^a109] colde[^a110] ȝou[^a111] kepeth[^a112]
þat oþir is mete at meel for meseise of þy-seoluen
And drynk when þe thyrstes[^a113] &[^a114] do not[^a115] oute of reson
þat ȝe[^a116] þe worse worthen[^a117][^15] when ȝe[^a118] worche scholde
For Loth in his lif dayes for likyng of drynke
Deode by his doghtres þat þeo deouel liked
Delited him in drynken as þe deouel wolde
And lecherie hym laghte & lay by heom bothe
And al he wited hit wyn þeo[^a119] worchyng of þe[^a120] dede
Drede delitable drynke & þou schalt do þe bettre
Mesure is medecyne þagh þou muchel ȝerne
Al is not good to þe gotte[^a121] þat þe gost[^a122] axeth
Neo lif fode[^a123] to þe likam þat leof is to þe soule
Leue not þy likam for aliere a liere hym techeth
þat is ::::::echede world þe to by-traye
For :::::: & þy flesch foleweth to-gedre
And þa::::::t[^16] þy soule & sent[^a124] hit in þyn heorte
And f::: scholdest beo war y wisse þe þe beste þe beste[^17]
Amadame A madame mercy quod I me liketh wel oure wordes
Bote þe money of þys molde þat men so faste holdeth
Tel me to whom þat tresour apendeth
Go to þe gospel quod heo þat god him-seolf saide[^a125]
þo þeo people him apposed with apeny a peny in þe temple
ȝef þey scholde worscipe þerwith cesar þe kynge
And god asked of heom of wham spak þe lettre
And vnto whom[^a126][^18] þe ymage is lyke[^a127][^19] þat þer-ynne stondeth
Cesar þey saiden we seon hit[^a128] wel vchone
Reddite Cesari quod god þat to cesar[^a129] falleth[^a130]
Et que sunt dei deo ・ or elles don ȝe[^a131] eole eo[uel][^a132]
For rightfulliche reson schulde reule ȝou alle
And kynde wit beo warden oure weolþe to wayte[^a133]
And tutour of ȝoure tresour to[^a134] take hit ȝou in tyme[^a135]
For hosbondry & he holdeth boþe[^a136] to-gedre
cc
þan yfrayned y frayned hire faire for him þat hire formed[^a137]
þeo dongoun in þe dale þat dredful is of sight
what hit myghte[^a138] mene þat ȝe me wolde telle[^a139]
heo saide segge sikerly þeo soþe for to say[^20]
þat is þe castel of kare for whoso[^a140] cometh þer-ynne
May banne þat he bore was to body or to soule
þer-yn woneþ awyȝe[^a141] a wyȝe[^a142] þat wrong is yhoten
fader of falsede he fond hit his-seoluen
Adam & Eue he egged heom to[^a143] to ille
And conseilede[^a144] kaym to kullen his owne[^a145] broþer
Iudas he Iaped with Iewen seoluer
And hasted him[^a146] on an elrne to hongen[^a147] him aftre
he is letter of loue[^a148] laccheth[^a149] heom alle
þat trusteth on his tresour by-trayed arn sannest
þan had y wondur in my wit what wommon hit weore
þat suche wise wordes of holy wryt schewed
And coniured[^a150] hire on cristes[^a151] name to telle me hire name[^a152]
And what[^a153] heo witerly was[^a154] þat wised me so faire
Owgh segg heo saide þou aghtest me to knowe[^21]
For ycham ych am holy chirche & cheosed þe ones
And[^a155] vndurfong þe furst & þy feith taghte
þou broghtest me borewes my biddyng to worche
And to[^a156] loue lelly me[^a157][^22] whil þy lif dureth
þan y kneoled on my kneoes & cryed hire of grace
Praied hire pitousely to pray for my synnes
and eke kenne me knowlech[^a158] on crist to byleue
þat y myght worchen his wille þat to mon me made[^a159]
Teche me no tresour bot tel me þat[^a160] ilke
how Imyghte I myght[^a161] my soule saue[^a162] fro synnes in þis eorþe[^a163]
þan þat louely lady wiþ laghynge chere[^23]
Saide when[^a164] alle tresours arn tryed treuthe is þe beste
ydo y do hit on deus caritas to deme þe sothe
hit is als dereworth adrywery a drywery as deore god him-seoluen
For whos is treowe of his tonge & teleth[^a165] non oþer
Doþ þe werkes þer -with[^a166] wilneþ no mon eouel[^a167]
he is agod a god by þe gospel on ground & on lofte
And eke like to oure lord by seynt lukes wordes
∴
þe clerkes þat knowen hit schulde kenne hit abowte
For cristene & vncristene cleymeth hit vchone
kynges & knyȝtis schulde kepe hit by resoun
And riden & rapendoun rapen doun in realmes aboute
Alle toillors and[^a168] trespasours & eke[^a169] tye heom faste
Til treuthe had termyned heore trespas to þe eynde
For dauid in his dayes dubbed mony knyghtis[^a170]
Deode[^a171][^24] heom swere on heore sweord trouþe euer to serue[^a172]
þat is þe profession propurlich[^a173] þat to aknyȝt a knyȝt apenteth[^a174]
And not to faste on friday in foure skore[^a175] wynter
No[^a176] neuer leue heom for loue no lacchyng of ȝiftes[^25]
Bote holde wiþ hire[^a177] & wiþ him[^a178] þat asketh þe trouthe
And whos passeth þat poynt is apostata in his order
cc
For crist creatour cried and kraftely made[^26]
Of aungles and archangles ordres nyne
And ȝef heom myght in his maieste þe murier hem þouȝ ::::[^27]
Taghte heom þorgh þe trinite þe trouþe to knowe
To beo buxsum to[^a179] his byddyng he bad heom not elles
And þe lyght lucifer illumyned ouer heom alle[^28]
Til he brak buxsumnes þoruȝ bost of him-seoluen
þen feol he wiþ his felaus & feondes bycomen
Out of heouen in-to helle hobleden þey faste
Summe in eyr somme in eorþe somme in helle deepe
Bote lucifer lowest lyth of heom alle
For his pompe & his pruyde[^a180] his pyne haþ non eynde
And alle þat worchen with wronge wenden þey schulen
After heore deth day & dwelle with þat schrewe
cc
And þey[^a181] þat worchen þe word þat holy chirche[^a182] techeth
And eynden as y er saide in parfite werkes
Mown beo siker þat heore soules schule wende to heouen
þer treuthe is in trynite to[^a183] treonen[^a184] heom alle
For[^a185] y say as I er saide[^a186] by sight of þeose tixtes
when alle tresours arn tryed treuthe is þe beste
Lerith hit þus lewedemen lewede men for lered[^a187] hit knoweth
þat treuthe is þe[^a188] tresour triedest[^a189] on eorþe
ȝet haue I no kynde knowyng quod I bote[^a190] kenne me bet...
By what kraft in my cors Imay I may hit ay knowe[^a191]
þou dotest daffe quod heo dulle arn thy wittes
hit is akynde a kynde knowyng þe kennes[^a192] in þyn heorte
For to loue þy lord leouer þan þy-seolue
No dedly synne to do dye raþer[^a193] þou schuldest
þis Itrowe I trowe beo treuthe who-so[^a194] treuly hit techeth[^a195]
Loke þou soffre him to sayn & sethen lere hit after
For þus witnesseth his word wryten in þe bible[^a196]
þat loue is þe leouest thyng þat oure lord askith
And is[^a197] plante of pes proche preche hit in þy harpe
þer þou art mury at mete ȝef men bidde þe ȝedde
For[^a198] kynde knowyng in heorte keneth þe þeo sothe[^a199]
And[^a200] ful[^a201] to þe fadir þat formed vs alle
Loked on vs wiþ loue & let his sone dye
Meokelich for oure mysdedis to amenden vs alle
And[^a202] wolde he heom no woo þat wroght him þat pyne
Bote meokelich wiþ mouthe mercy he by-souȝte
To haue pite of[^a203] þat people þat pyned him to dethe
Here mightow seo ensaumples of[^a204] himself al-one[^a205]
þat he þat[^a206] was myghtful & meke mercy[^a207] gan graunte
To heom þat honged him on cros[^a208] & his heorte þurled
cc
For-þy yrede y rede þe riche haue reuthe on þe pore
þagh ȝe beon myghty to mote beþ meke of oure werkis
For þe same mesure þat ȝe meten amys oþir elles
ȝe schule beo weyed þer -wiþ when ȝe wenden hennes
For þagh ȝe beon treowe of oure tongus[^a209] & trewely wynnen[^29]
And eke as chast as achild a childþat in cradel crieth[^a210]
Bote ȝef ȝe louen lelly & releue þe meseise & þe pore
wiþ[^a211] suche good as god ȝou sent[^a212] godliche parte
ȝe haueþ no more merite in messes[^a213] no in houres
þan malkyn of hire maydenhod þat nomon no mon desirith
cc
For Iames þe gentil Iuggeth[^a214][^30] in his pistle[^a215]
þat feith wiþ-oute feet is febler þen a fache[^a216]
And as ded as adore-naill a dore-naill bote ȝef þe dede folewe
Chastite wiþ-oute charite schal[^a217] schryned beon[^a218][^31] in helle
For hit is lewedore þen[^a219] alaumpe a laumpe þat no light is ynne
Mony chapeleyns beon chast bote charite is awey charred[^a220]
Arn non hardur holders[^a221] þen þey when þey beon auaunsed
vnkynde to heore kyn and eke to alle oþir[^a222]
Chewen heore charite & chiden after more
Suche chastite wiþ-oute charite cheue schal ille[^a223]
ȝe creatours[^a224] þat arn contynent &[^a225] clene of oure bodies
ȝe beon combred wiþ couetise creopen out ȝe ne konne[^a226]
So harde haþ auarice happed[^a227] ȝou to-gedre
þat is no trouthe of þe[^a228] trinite bote atrichery a trichery[^a229] of helle
Aleornyng A leornyng to lewed men þeo latter to dele
For þeose arn wordis[^a230] wryten in þe gospel[^a231]
Date & dabitur vobis : for y dele ȝou alle
þat is þe lesson[^a232] of loue þat leteth out my grace
To comforte þe karful þat arn combred[^a233] in[^a234] synne
Loue is þe leouest thyng þat oure lord asketh
And eke þe greithe gate þat goth vp in-to[^a235] heouen
For-þy y say as I er saide[^a236] by sight of þe tixtes
when alle tresours arn tried treuthe is þe beste
Now hauy hau haue y tolde þe what treuthe is þat no tresour is bettre
Imay I may no lengor lenge now oure lord þe mote loke[^a237]

[^a98: deope (La Ha) | derke (V K T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a99: þat (La J K T Ch) | þe (V Ha H2 D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a100: beon alle (La Ha) | ben (V K T H2 Ch Ra U Ma)]

[^a101: here in (La) | on þis (J K T H2)]

[^a102: worsciped (La) | worschupe (V Ha J K Wa T D U E Ma)]

[^a103: non (La) | no (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a104: byhyghte (La) | hihte (V K Wa T Ch Ma)]

[^a105: by (La) | hem be (V Ha J Wa H2 Ma)]

[^a106: þe (La) | ȝe (Wa Ra U Ma)]

[^a107: þe furste (La) | Þat on (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a108: is clothyng (La Ch D) | is vesture (J K Wa T H2 Ra U E Ma)]

[^a109: þat from (La) | from (V Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a110: colde (La Wa D U E Ma) | chele (V Ha J K T H2 Ch Ra)]

[^a111: ȝou (La V Ha Ra U E) | þe (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a112: kepeth (La) | saue (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a113: thyrstes (La E) | dryest (Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a114: & (La E) | but (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a115: do not (La J Wa H2 E Ma) | do hit not (V Ha K T Ch D Ra U)]

[^a116: ȝe (La Ra U E) | þou (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ma)]

[^a117: þe worse worthen (La) | worthe þe wors (Ha K T H2 D) | worche þe wors (Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a118: ȝe (La Ra U E) | þou (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a119: þeo (La T) | þat (V Ha J K Wa H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a120: worchyng of þe (La) | wikkede (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a121: gotte (La) | gost (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a122: gost (La) | gutte (J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a123: lif fode (La) | lyflode (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D E Ma)]

[^a124: & sent (La) | set (J T Ch Ra E Ma)]

[^a125: him-seolf saide (La) | seyde hymseluen (Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra)]

[^a126: And vnto whom (La) | And (K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a127: is lyke (La Ch) | like (K T H2 D Ra E Ma)]

[^a128: seon hit (La E) | seoþ (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a129: to cesar (La V Ha) | Cesar (J Wa D Ra E)]

[^a130: falleth (La V Ma) | befallith (J K Wa H2 Ch D Ra E)]

[^a131: don ȝe (La V) | ȝe don (Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E)]

[^a132: eole eo[uel] (La Ch E) | ille (V Ha J K Wa T H2 D Ra Ma)]

[^a133: wayte (La) | kepe (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a134: to (La V Ha Ra E) | & (J K Wa T Ch D Ma)]

[^a135: in tyme (La) | at nede (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a136: holdeth boþe (La) | holden (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a137: formed (La) | made (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a138: hit myghte (La) | may hit (V J K Wa T H2 Ch Ra Ma)]

[^a139: þat ȝe me wolde telle (La) | madame Ich þe biseche (V Ha K T H2 Ch Ra)]

[^a140: for whoso (La) | hose (V J Wa Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a141: wyȝe (La T H2 D) | wiht (V Ha J K Wa Ch Ra Ma)]

[^a142: wyȝe (La T H2 D) | wiht (V Ha J K Wa Ch Ra Ma)]

[^a143: heom to (La K T Ch D Ra) | to (Ha J Wa H2 U E Ma)]

[^a144: And conseilede (La J Wa Ra Ma) | Counseilede (V K T H2 Ch D)]

[^a145: his owne (La) | his (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a146: hasted him (La) | syyn (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a147: to hongen (La) | hongede (V Ha K T H2 Ch D Ra E)]

[^a148: loue (La T H2 D) | loue and (V Ha K Wa Ra E Ma)]

[^a149: laccheth (La) | lyȝeþ (V T H2 D E)]

[^a150: coniured (La) | halsede (V Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D E)]

[^a151: cristes (La) | þe heiȝe (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a152: to telle me hire name (La) | er heo þennys ȝede (Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D E Ma)]

[^a153: And what (La) | What (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a154: witerly was (La) | weore witerly (V Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a155: And (La) | Ich (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a156: And to (La V Ha) | To (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E)]

[^a157: lelly me (La) | me leelly (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a158: knowlech (La) | kuyndely (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a159: to mon me made (La) | wrouhte me to mon (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a160: þat (La E Ma) | þis (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a161: myght (La) | may (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a162: my soule saue (La Ha) | saue my soule (V J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a163: fro synnes in þis eorþe (La) | þat seint art iholde (V Ha K Wa Ra Ma)]

[^a164: Saide when (La) | Whon (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a165: & teleth (La Ha H2) | telleþ (V K T Ch D)]

[^a166: þer -with (La K Wa D Ra Ma) | þerwiþ and (V Ha J T H2 Ch U)]

[^a167: eouel (La E) | ille (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a168: Alle toillors and (La) | And take (V Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a169: & eke (La) | and (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a170: mony knyghtis (La) | knihtes (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a171: Deode (La V) | Made (T H2 Ch D)]

[^a172: trouþe euer to serue (La) | to serue treuþe euere (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a173: propurlich (La) | apertly (J K T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a174: to aknyȝt a knyȝt apenteth (La) | apendeþ to knihtes (V Ha K Wa T Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a175: foure skore (La) | Fyue score (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a176: No (La Ch) | And (V Ha J K Wa T H2 D Ra U E)]

[^a177: hire (La) | him (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a178: him (La) | heore (V J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a179: to (La) | at (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a180: his pompe & his pruyde (La) | pruide þat he put out (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a181: þey (La Ha Ch) | þoo (J K Wa N T H2 Ra U E Ma)]

[^a182: chirche (La Ra E Ma) | writ (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U)]

[^a183: to (La) | and (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra E)]

[^a184: treonen (La T N) | Corouneþ (V Ha K Wa D Ch)]

[^a185: For (La V Ha E) | Forthy (K T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a186: er saide (La Ha J E) | said arst (K T H2 Ch Ra U Ma)]

[^a187: lered (La E) | lettrede (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a188: is þe (La J K N T D) | is (V H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a189: triedest (La V Ha) | triest (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D)]

[^a190: bote (La) | ȝe motyn (J H2 Ch Ra U E)]

[^a191: Imay I may hit ay knowe (La) | hit cumseþ and where (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ra U)]

[^a192: þe kennes (La) | þat kenneþ (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 D)]

[^a193: raþer (La) | þauȝ (V Ha K Wa N T Ch D Ma)]

[^a194: who-so (La V Ha J E) | who (K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a195: treuly hit techeth (La) | con teche þe betere (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a196: wryten in þe bible (La) | worch þou þeraftur (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a197: is (La) | eke þe (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D)]

[^a198: For (La Ha Ma) | For in (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra E)]

[^a199: keneth þe þeo sothe (La) | ther comseth a might (K Wa T H2 Ch)]

[^a200: And (La) | & þat (J Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E)]

[^a201: ful (La) | Falleþ (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a202: And (La Ha J Wa Ma) | And ȝit (V K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a203: of (La N) | on (V J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a204: of (La Ma) | in (V J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a205: al-one (La K) | one (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a206: he þat (La) | he (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a207: mercy (La E) | & mercy (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a208: him on cros (La) | him by (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a209: tongus (La K D Ra) | tonge (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch U E A Ma)]

[^a210: cradel crieth (La) | chirche wepeþ (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D U A Ma)]

[^a211: wiþ (La) | Of (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a212: ȝou sent (La) | sent (V Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a213: messes (La) | masse (V Ha K Wa N D Ra)]

[^a214: Iuggeth (La) | iuggid (J Wa N Ra U Ma)]

[^a215: pistle (La) | bokys (J T H2 Ch D Ra E A Ma)]

[^a216: a fache (La) | nouȝt (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a217: schal (La) | worth (J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a218: schryned beon (La) | chaynyd (J K Wa N T H2 Ch E Ma)]

[^a219: For hit is lewedore þen (La) | It is as lewed as (J T Ch D Ra E A Ma)]

[^a220: awey charred (La) | aweye (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a221: hardur holders (La) | hardore (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a222: oþir (La) | cristene (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a223: cheue schal ille (La) | wrth chenyde in hell (J K T H2 Ch Ma)]

[^a224: creatours (La) | curatours (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a225: arn contynent & (La) | kepyn yow (K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a226: creopen out ȝe ne konne (La) | ȝe conne nouȝt out crepe (Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a227: happed (La J E A) | ihaspet (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a228: of þe (La K N D U A) | of (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch Ra Ma)]

[^a229: atrichery a trichery (La K T H2 U) | tricherie (V J N Ch D Ra A Ma)]

[^a230: wordis (La V J K Ra U) | þe wordus (Ha N T H2 Ch D E A Ma)]

[^a231: gospel (La) | ewaungelye (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a232: lesson (La) | lok (Ha J K Wa N T D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a233: þat arn combred (La) | acombred (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra E A Ma)]

[^a234: in (La Ha J Wa) | with (K N T H2 Ch D Ra E A Ma)]

[^a235: vp in-to (La) | into (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a236: er saide (La Ha) | seyde ere (J K T H2 Ch Ra Ux1 Ex1 Ex2 A Ma)]

[^a237: oure lord þe mote loke (La) | loke þe oure lorde (J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra Ux1 Ux2)]

[^13: Kane notes that the reading in K E could be either þe as in La, or ȝe is in Wa Ra U Ma.]

[^14: Cf. also V Ha Cloþing is (marked for transposition in Ha); Wa vesture of cloþe.]

[^15: The La reading is uncertain because of the difficulty of distinguishing t and c in this manuscript (see Kane’s note on this variant); worthen could also be read as worchen.]

[^16: Kane and Schmidt record that La omits þat, but the first part of the word is visible beneath the damage to the manuscript page.]

[^17: In most mss, the end of this line reads I wisse þe þe beste. The La scribe has copied wisse þe beste, then added þe beste as a marginal correction, supplying the missing word, but also introducing a new error with the second beste; the supplied þe is now very faint, and is not noted in Kane’s variants.]

[^18: Cf also V Ha And whom; E And qwom to.]

[^19: Cf. also V Ha was lik.]

[^20: This line is only attested in La]

[^21: La.1.74 and La.1.75 are elaborated from a single line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma; in V, Holi churche Icham quaþ heo þou ouhtest me to knowe.]

[^22: The unique reading lelly me may result from a misplacement of the chevron that indicates where the correction in the margin should appear in the line, but cf. lely me in B RF.]

[^23: This line is only attested in La]

[^24: Cf. also J K Ra & did, and Wa He dide]

[^25: This line and the next are transposed uniquely in La.]

[^26: La.1.106 and La.1.107 substitute for two lines found at this point in Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma; in Ha, For crist kynge of knyȝtes knytted somtyme/ Cherubyn & seraphyn & alle þe foure ordres. (The first of these lines is omitted in V E, and only the second is legible in N.)]

[^27: La V Ha lack the line that follows this one in J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma; in J, & oueral his meyne made hem archangels.]

[^28: La.1.111 substitutes for two lines found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma; in V, Lucifer with legiouns lerede hit in heuene/ he was louelokest of siht aftur ur lord.]

[^29: This is a wrapped line: wynnen is written below the line, roughly in line with La.1.155, and enclosed on two sides by a bracket.]

[^30: Although most mss of the A and B versions have iugged in the past tense, most mss of the C version have iugeth in the present tense, as does Z. Schmidt argues that the verb may originally have taken the present tense in all versions (Schmidt, Parallel Text, 2.317). Kane preferred the reading ioynide, found only in T H2 and Ch, on the grounds that this reading, which implies both judgement and injunction, is harder (Kane, A text, p. 435).]

[^31: Cf. also Ra U schryned.]

//
ȝet kneoled y on my kneoes & cried hire of grace
And saide mercy madame for mary loue of heouen
That bar þat[^a238] blifful blisful barn þat boghte vs on[^a239] rode
ken me by sum kraft to kenne[^a240] þeo false
Loke on þy lifte half lo[^a241][^32] wher ho stondeth
Bothe fals & fauuel & his feres manye
yloked y loked on my lifte half als þat lady me taghte
And was war of awommon a wommon wondurly clothed
ypurfiled wiþ peolour þe puyrest apon[^a242] eorthe
Crouned wiþ acoroune a coroune þe kyng hath non bettre
Alle hire fyue fyngres were fetred[^a243] wiþ rynges
Of riche rubies wel rede and oþir feole stones[^33]
In red scarlet robed and wiþ gold rebended[^a244]
þer is no quoyntre qwene[^a245] þat quyk is on lyue
cc
what is þis wommon quod I so wortheliche atired
þat is mede þe maiden[^a246] hath noyed fol[^a247] ofte
And lakked lodlich[^a248] my lore to lordes aboute
heo is more pryue wiþ þe pope þan y am[^a249] my-seolue
And so schulde heo not beon for wrong was hire fadir[^a250]
Oute of wrong heo wax to wrotherhele manye
I oght to beo herre þan heo I com of abettre a bettre
cc
To-morw woth wo[r]th[^a251] mariage mad of mede & of false
Fawuel wiþ fair speche hath forged heom to-gedre
Gyle hath by-gon here so heo graunteth al his wille
And al is liers ledyng þat þay lyuen[^a252][^34] to-gedre
To-morwe worþ þe mariage mad as I er of[^a253] tolde[^a254]
þer may þou[^a255] witen ȝef þou wolt wich þey beon alle
þat longon to þe[^a256] lordschipe þe lasse & þe more
knowe heom þer ȝef þou kanst & kep þe from heom euere[^a257]
ȝef þou wilnest to wone wiþ treuthe in his blisse
Imay I may no lengor lette bote lord[^a258] y þe by-kenne
And for any couetise bycom agoode a goode mon[^a259] yrede y rede
cc
Al þe ryche retynaunce þat regneth with false
weore boden to þis[^a260] bridale on bo twoþe two þe[^a261] sydes
Sir Symony was sone[^a262] sent[^a263] to sele þeo chartres
how false wold afyn a fyn rere & not wold he faile[^35]
To ȝeue al his lorschipes with londes & leodes[^36]
And feoffe mede þer-myd in mariage for euer
cc
þer nas halle no hous to herberw::: þeo people
þat iche feild no was ful of folk al aboute
In myddes amounteyn a mounteyn at mydmorw tyme[^a264]
was pight vp apaueloun a paueloun proud for þe nones
And ten thousand of tentes teilded by þer sides[^a265]
For[^a266] of[^a267] þe contrey & comuners[^a268][^37] aboute
For sisors for sompnors for seollers &[^a269] buyers
For lewed[^a270] for lerid[^a271] for laborers of kraftes[^a272]
Alle to witnesse wel what þe writ wolde
In what maner þat mede in mariage was feoffed
To beo fastned with false þe fyn is arered
þan fauuel fette forth[^a273] & to false taketh
In forward þat falsede schal fynde hire for euer
And beo[^a274] boun at his bode his byddyng to fulfulle
At bedde & at borde buxum and hende
And as sir symony wol segge to schewen[^a275] his wille
Symony & Cyuyle stondeth forth bothe
And vnfolden þe Feoffement þat fals hath yformed[^a276]
And þus bygynnen þeose[^a277] gomes & greden wel hyȝe
cc //
witen & witnessen þat wonen apon eorthe
þat I fauuel Feffe falsenesse to mede
To beo present in pryde for pore or for riche
wiþ þe erldam of enuye euer-more[^a278] to laste
With al þe lordschipe of lecherie in leynthe & in brede
wiþ þe kyndam of couetise y coroune heom to-gedre
And al þe yle of vsurie and auarice alse[^a279]
Glotony & grete othes y graunte[^a280] heom to-gedre
þey to haue &[^a281] holde and to heore[^a282] eyres aftre[^38]
wiþ alle[^a283] delites of lustes[^a284] þe deouel forto for to serue
In al þeo seignourry of slouthe y sese heom yfere[^a285]
þey to haue &[^a286] holde & heore ayres for euere[^a287][^39]
wiþal wiþ al þe apurtinaunce of penaunce[^a288] into þe pyne of helle
ȝeildyng for þeose thyngis[^a289] at on ȝeres eynde
heore soules to satanas to sogerne[^a290] in sorwe[^a291]
þer to wone wiþ þat wyght[^a292] whil god is in heouen
In witnes of wich thyng wrong was þe furste
And piers a[^a293]pardoner a[^a294] pardoner paulynes doctor
Bette þe beodil of Bokynham-schire
Randulf þe reue of Roteland fokene sokene
Maclum[^a295] þe meoleward & mony mo othir
In þe date of þe deouel þe dede was a-seelid
By sight of sir symonye vndur[^a296] signes of noteryes
cc
þen teoned him teologie when he þis tale herde
And saide to cyuyle now sorw on þy bokes
Suche weddyng to worche to wrathe with treuthe
And er þis[^a297] beo wroght wo þe by-tide
For mede is moillour of mendes engendred
God graunteth to ȝeue mede menskelich to[^a298] treuthe
And þou hast ȝeuen hire to agylour a gylour now god ȝef þe sorwe
þe tixte tellith not so treuthe wotþe sothe
Dignus est operarius mercede sua &cetera
worthy is þe werkman his mede for to[^a299] haue
And þou hast fastened hire wiþ fals fy on þy lawe
For al by lesynges þou lyuest & lechores[^a300] werkis
Simony & þy-seolf schenden holy chirche
hit is noted ȝe[^a301] & þe notories neyȝen þeo people
ȝe schulen abugge bothe by god þat me made
For wel[^a302] ȝe witen weornardes bote ȝef ow wit wante[^a303]
þat fals is afaitour a faitour & feynteles of werkis
And[^a304] abastard a bastard y-born of bealsabubbes kynde
And mede is amaiden[^a305] a maiden[^a306] amoiller a moiller[^a307] of goode
heo might kusse þe kyng for cosyn y trowe[^a308]
worche ȝe[^a309] by wisdam & wayfe a-way wronge[^a310]
Ledith hire to london þer þe lawe[^a311] is handled
Lokith ȝef[^a312] lealte wol like[^a313] þey lengen[^a314] to-gedre
And þagh[^a315] Iustises[^a316] iuggen hire to þat fals ioyne[^a317]
ȝet beo war of þat[^a318] weddyng for witty is treuthe
For conciense is of his coynseil & knoweth ow vchone
And ȝef he fynde ȝou in defaute & with fals holde
hit schal sitte[^a319] ȝoure soules ful[^a320] soure at þe laste
herto asentith cyuyle bote symony no wolde
Til he had seoluer for his seles & signes of notories[^a321][^40]
þan fet forth fauuel[^a322] florens ful feole[^a323]
And bad gile go gyfe gold to vche gome[^a324] aboute
And namelich to[^a325] notories þat þer[^a326] non failed
And feoffe false witnes wiþ floreyns feole ypraye y praye[^a327]
For he may mede amaistrien & maken at his[^a328] wille
Bote þo[^a329] þis gold was ygyue graunt mercy þey gradden[^a330]
To fals & to fawuel for heore faire ȝeftes
And þenne fals from kare konne þey faste comforte[^41]
And saide certes insame in same[^a331] sese schal we neuer
Til mede beo þy wedded wif þorgh wit of vs alle
For we han mede amaistred þorgh[^a332] oure meory speche
þat heo graunteth with vs to[^a333] gon with agoode a goode wille
To london to loken ȝef þe lawe wolde
Iugge ȝou ioyntly in ioye for euer
cc
þan was fals fayn & fauuel wel[^a334] blithe
And lette sompne alle segges in schires aboute
þat[^a335] vche beorne[^a336] beo boun begger[^a337] & othir
To wende with heom to westmunster to witnesse þis dede
þan karkeden[^a338] heo for caples to karien heom þydre
:::::pes
And[^a339] fauuel fet forth[^a340] foles of þe beste
Sette mede on a schirref schoȝed al neowe
And fals on[^a341] a sysour þat softely trotted
And fauuel apon feyr speche fetosly atired
þo hadde notories none annuyed sore þey weoren[^a342]
And eke þat[^a343] symony & cyuyle schulen on heore foet gang...
þen swor cyuyle & said by þe rode
þat sompnors schule beo sadeled & serue heom vchone
And let apparaylen þis prouysours in palfreyen wise
Sire symony him-seolf schal sitte on heore bakkes
And alle[^a344] denes & sudenes as destreris heom dighte
For þey schule bere þe[^a345] bischopes & brynge heom to reste
Paulyns people for pleyntis in þe[^a346] constorie
Schule serue my-seolf þat cyuyle am cleped[^a347]
& let cartsadlen þe commyssary oure kart schal he drawe
And fet al oure[^a348] vitayles of fornycatoures
And makith of lyer along a long carte to leden alle[^a349] oþer
As Freres[^a350] & faitours þat on heore feet renneth
Fals & fauuel faren forth on foles yfere[^a351]
And mede in þe myddis & al þis meyne after
Ihaue I haue ne tyme[^a352] to telle of þe[^a353] tayl þat heom foleweth
Of mony maner of men þat on þis molde libbeth
Bote gile was for-goer & gyed heom alle
Sothnes say[^a354] wel and[^a355] bote litel
Bote prikith[^a356] forth on his palfray & passeth[^a357] heom alle
And com to þe kyngis court & concience tolde
And consience to þe kyng carped hit aftur
cc
By crist quod þe kyng & kacche mowe I[^a358] false[^42]
Or fauuel þat flaterer or[^a359] any of his feres
y wolde beo wroken of þo wrecches þat worchen so ille
And do heom honge by þe hals & alle þat heom meynt[^a360][^43]
Schal neuer mon of[^a361] þis molde meyntene[^a362] þe leste
Bot right as þe lawe lokith let falle on heom alle
And comaundith[^a363] aconstable a constable þat com atte[^a364] furste
To atache þe tirraundes as tid as he myghte[^a365]
Fetreth falnes faste he saith[^a366] for any kyns ȝeft...
And gurdeth of gyles hed let him[^a367] no forthir
And bryngeth mede to me maugrey heom alle
Symoy Symo[n]y & cyuyleysende cyuyle y sende heom to warne
þat holy chirche for heom worth harmed for euer
and ȝef þou[^a368][^44] lacche lyere let him not askape
Er he beo put on þe pillary for[^a369] praier or for poundes[^a370]
Dred at þe dore stod & þat deone[^a371] herde
And wightly went on his way[^a372][^45] to warne þe false
And bad him fleo for fere & his feres alle
cc
þanne falsnes for fere to þeo freres fledde[^a373]
And gile doth him to go agast lest he[^a374] dye
Bote marchaunis marchaun[t]is metten him with[^a375] & maden him to abide
By-schetten him heore[^a376][^46] schoppes to schewen heore ware
Apparailden him as a prentise þe people to deseyue[^a377]
Lyer launced lightly &[^a378] leop awey þennes
Lorkyng þorgh lanes lodly tologged[^a379] of mouthe[^a380]
he was nowher welcome for his mony tales
Bote ouer-al[^a381] foule yhunted[^a382] & hote to tresse[^a383]
Til Pardoners haden pite & pulleden him to house
wosschen him & wypen[^a384] him & wryen[^a385] wiþ[^a386] clothes
And senden him on asonday a sonday[^a387] wiþ seeles to chirche
And gaf pardon for penyes penymel[^a388] aboute
þen lowreden leches & lettres þey senden[^a389]
þat he wolde[^a390][^47] wone wiþ heom watres to loke
spicers speken with him to aspyen heore ware
For he couthe on heore kraft & kneow mony gommes
Bote mynstrals[^a391] & messangers metten wiþ him ones
And wolde haue witholden[^a392] him to þe worldis eynde[^a393][^48]
And when he had dwelled wiþ heom on half ȝere
Freres wiþ heore fair[^a394] speche fetten him þennes
For knowyng of corners[^a395] þay coped[^a396] him as abrother a brother[^a397]
Maden on heore maner him in abyt as afrere a frere[^49]
Bote he has leue to lepen out as ofte as him likith
And is welcome when he cometh[^a398] & is[^a399] wiþ heom ofte
For as longe as he lyues he is with heom by-lefte[^50]
with fees of flatery þat faile wol heom neuer[^51]
For kyng no for knyght corouned vndur heouen[^52]
Alle fledden for fere & flowen in-to huyrnes
Saue mede þe maiden no mo durste abyden
Bote treowely to telle heo trembled for fere
And eke wept & wrong hire hondes[^a400] when heo was atached

[^a238: þat (La Ha Ra A) | þe (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ux1 Ux2 E Ma)]

[^a239: on (La J E Ma) | on þe (V K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra Ux1 Ux2 A)]

[^a240: kenne (La T H2) | knowe (V Ha J K Wa N Ch D Ra Ux1 Ux2 E A Ma)]

[^a241: lo (La Wa) | and seo (V Ha J K N D Ux1 Ux2)]

[^a242: apon (La V Ha) | on (K Wa N Ch D Ra Ux1 Ux2 E Ma)]

[^a243: fetred (La E A) | frettet (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a244: wiþ gold rebended (La) | irybaunt with gold (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ux1 Ux2 E A Ma)]

[^a245: quoyntre qwene (La) | qweene qweyntore (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra Ux1 Ux2 A Ma)]

[^a246: maiden (La V J E Ma) | maide (Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra Ux1 Ux2 A)]

[^a247: fol (it) | me ful (J Wa T H2 Ra Ux1)]

[^a248: lakked lodlich (La) | lakked (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra Ux1 Ux2 Ma)]

[^a249: heo is more pryue wiþ þe pope þan y am (la) | In the papes palays sche is prevye as (K N T H2 Ch D Ra Ux1 Ux2)]

[^a250: fadir (La) | syre (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra Ux1 Ux2 E Ma)]

[^a251: woth wo[r]th (La) | worþ þe (V J K T H2 Ch D Ra Ux1 Ux2 Ma)]

[^a252: lyuen (La V) | lyen (J K T H2 Ch D E)]

[^a253: er of (La) | þe (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D U E)]

[^a254: tolde (La K) | telle (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a255: may þou (La Ha E) | might thou (K N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a256: þe (La T H2 D) | þat (J K Wa N Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a257: euere (La) | alle (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a258: bote lord (La E) | lorde (J K T D Ra U)]

[^a259: for any couetise bycom agoode a goode mon (La) | bicome a good mon for eny couetyse (V J K T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a260: þis (La K) | þe (V Ha Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a261: bo twoþe two þe (La V) | boþe (Ha J N T H2 D Ra U Ma) [Cf. also Ch E boþe þe two]]

[^a262: was sone (La) | is (V K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a263: sent (La) | assent (T H2 Ch D E)]

[^a264: tyme (La Ra) | tyde (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E Ma)]

[^a265: by þer sides (La) | besydes (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D E)]

[^a266: For (La V Ha H2 Ma) | Of (J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a267: of (La) | knihtes of (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a268: comuners (La K Wa N) | comers (V Ha J T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a269: & (La J) | for (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a270: lewed (La V) | lerid (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a271: lerid (La V) | lewyd (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a272: kraftes (La) | þropes (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a273: forth (La) | hire forþ (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a274: beo (La Ch U) | heo be (Ha J Wa D Ra)]

[^a275: schewen (La V J Ra) | suwen (Ha K N T H2 Ch D U)]

[^a276: yformed (La) | made (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a277: þeose (La) | þe (Ha J T H2 Ch D U E Ma)]

[^a278: euer-more (La Ch E) | for euere (J K T H2 D)]

[^a279: alse (La Wa Ma) | the faste (K N T Ra U)]

[^a280: graunte (La) | ȝiue (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a281: & (La Ha Ra) | and to (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E Ma)]

[^a282: to heore (Lax1) | heore (Lax2 K T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a283: alle (La V Wa D) | alle þe (Ha J K N T Ch Ra U Ma)]

[^a284: lustes (La V) | lust (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a285: yfere (La) | togedere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a286: & (La Ha Ra) | and to (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E Ma)]

[^a287: for euere (Lax2) | aftre (Lax1 V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a288: penaunce (La) | purgatorie (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a289: þeose thyngis (La) | þis þing (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a290: sogerne (La) | synkyn (J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a291: sorwe (La) | pyne (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a292: þat wyght (La) | wrong (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a293: a (La) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a294: a (La) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a295: Maclum (La) | Monde (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a296: vndur (La) | and (V Ha J N T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a297: þis (La) | þis weddyng (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a298: menskelich to (La) | to (K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a299: for to (La Ha E) | to (V J K T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a300: lechores (La J D) | leccherous (K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a301: hit is noted ȝe (La) | ȝe (J K T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a302: For wel (La V) | Wel (Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a303: ow wit wante (La) | ȝor witte fayle (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a304: And (La V Ha Ch) | & as (J K Wa N Ra U Ma)]

[^a305: maiden (La Ma) | meylere (J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a306: maiden (La Ma) | meylere (J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a307: amoiller a moiller (La) | a mayden (V J K N H2 D Ra U E)]

[^a308: y trowe (La) | ȝif she wolde (Wa N H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a309: worche ȝe (La E) | Worcheþ (V K N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a310: wayfe a-way wronge (La) | bi wit aftur (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a311: þe lawe (La) | lawe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a312: Lokith ȝef (La) | ȝif (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a313: like (La) | loken (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a314: lengen (La) | liggen (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a315: þagh (La K Wa) | ȝif (V Ha T H2 Ch D E)]

[^a316: Iustises (La Wa) | þe iustise (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D)]

[^a317: to þat fals ioyne (La) | to be ioynet with Fals (V Ha K N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a318: þat (La Ra U) | þe (V Wa T H2 E Ma)]

[^a319: sitte (La Ha Wa N Ma) | bisitten (V K T Ch D Ra U)]

[^a320: ful (La Ha Wa E) | wel (J K T Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a321: signes of notories (La) | sygnys (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a322: fet forth fauuel (La J) | fett fauel forth (Ha K T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a323: ful feole (La) | inowe (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a324: to vche gome (La) | al (J K Wa N T D U Ma)]

[^a325: to (La J Wa Ch Ma) | to the (K N T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a326: þer (La) | hem (Ha Wa N T H2 D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a327: feole ypraye y praye (La) | inowe (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a328: his (La Ha D) | my (K N T H2 Ch Ra E Ma)]

[^a329: Bote þo (La) | þoo (Ha J T Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a330: graunt mercy þey gradden (La) | gret was þe thankyng (J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a331: saide certes insame in same (La) | seyden sertis (J K N T H2 Ch D U)]

[^a332: þorgh (La E) | wiþ (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a333: with vs to (La H2) | to (Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a334: wel (La) | also (V Ha K Wa N T H2 E)]

[^a335: þat (La Ha U) | And (J K T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma)]

[^a336: vche beorne (La) | alle (J K T D Ra)]

[^a337: begger (La) | beggers (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a338: karkeden (La) | careden (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a339: And (La E) | Than (Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a340: fauuel fet forth (La V Ha) | fet fauuel (J K Wa N T Ch D Ra)]

[^a341: on (La Ha Ra U E) | sat on (J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ma)]

[^a342: sore þey weoren (La) | þei weore (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a343: And eke þat (La) | Þat (V Ha J T H2 Ch D U E Ma)]

[^a344: alle (La V) | alle þe (T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a345: þe (La Wa D) | þese (Ha K N T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a346: in þe (La Ha H2 Ch) | in (V J K Wa N T D Ra U E)]

[^a347: am cleped (La) | hette (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a348: al oure (La) | ur (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a349: alle (La) | alle þis (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a350: Freres (La Wa N) | foles (J T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a351: on foles yfere (La) | togedere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E Ma)]

[^a352: tyme (La N Ra) | tome (Ha J K Wa T H2 D)]

[^a353: of þe (La) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a354: say (La) | sauh hem (V Ha J N T D U A)]

[^a355: and (La) | and seide (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U A Ma)]

[^a356: prikith (La Wa N A) | prikede (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a357: passeth (La Wa N) | passede (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a358: kacche mowe I (La) | I mihte cacche (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a359: þat flaterer or (La) | or (V Ha J Wa Ch D U E A Ma)]

[^a360: meynt (La) | mayntenyth (K T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a361: of (La Ha J T H2) | on (K Wa N Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a362: meyntene (La V) | meynpryse (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a363: comaundith (La Ra) | commaunded (Ha K T H2 D U E Ma)]

[^a364: atte (La J H2 D Ma) | at þe (V Ha K Wa N T Ch Ra U E A)]

[^a365: as tid as he myghte (La) | for any tresour I hote (K N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a366: faste he saith (La) | faste (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a367: him (La) | him go (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a368: þou (La Ha Ma) | ȝe (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a369: for (La) | for eny (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a370: or for poundes (La) | ich hote (K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a371: deone (La J) | dome (Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a372: went on his way (La) | wente (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a373: to þeo freres fledde (La) | fleih to þe Freres (V Ha J N T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a374: lest he (La) | for to (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U A)]

[^a375: him with (La E) | with him (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a376: heore (La) | in here (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a377: deseyue (La) | serue (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a378: Lyer launced lightly & (La) | Liȝtliche Lyȝere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma)]

[^a379: lodly tologged (La) | tologged (V Ha K N T H2 Ch D U A Ma)]

[^a380: mouthe (La) | monye (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a381: Bote ouer-al (La V Wa N Ch) | Ouer alle (J K T H2 D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a382: foule yhunted (La) | ihunted (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a383: to tresse (La V Ha K D) | trusse (J N T H2 Ch Ra Ma)]

[^a384: wypen (La) | wyptyn (J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a385: wryen (La) | wounden (V J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a386: wiþ (La) | him in (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a387: asonday a sonday (La) | sonendayes (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a388: penymel (La) | poundmele (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a389: senden (La V Ha E Ma) | sent (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a390: þat he wolde (La) | For to (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a391: Bote mynstrals (La K E Ma) | Munstrals (V Wa N Ch Ra U A)]

[^a392: wolde haue witholden (La) | withheode (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch Ra A Ma)]

[^a393: to þe worldis eynde (La) | halue a ȝere & elleuen dayes (J K Wa H2 D E A)]

[^a394: heore fair (La Ma) | feir (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra E A)]

[^a395: corners (La) | comers (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a396: þay coped (La E) | copeden (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a397: abrother a brother (La) | a Frere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a398: cometh (La Ha U E A) | wile (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a399: is (La) | woniþ (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a400: wrong hire hondes (La V Ha J A) | wrung (K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^32: Cf. also T H2 Ch E A Ma & lo]

[^33: La.2.12 substitutes for the line found at this point in V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ux1 Ux2 E A Ma; in V, Of þe preciousest perre þat prince wered euere.]

[^34: Cf. also Ha lyue so.]

[^35: La.2.36 is a corrupted form of the line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma; in V, þat Fals oþur Fauuel bi eny peyne heolden.]

[^36: This line is only attested in La.]

[^37: Cf also E commons al]

[^38: This line is copied twice in La, out of sequence here, and below (La.2.69) at the point where it also appears in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma.]

[^39: This line is copied twice in La; it also appears above at La.2.66.]

[^40: Cf. also E, which has notary signes.]

[^41: La.2.118 is a corrupted form of the line found at this point in Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma; in Ha, many comen from care to counforte þe false.]

[^42: This line division is unique to La. In V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U the line divides after cacche; in E A Ma, where the last two words are transposed, the line divides after E Ma myght; A may.]

[^43: meynt extends to the edge of the page and the final letters are rubbed and faded; it is possible that the scribe originally wrote meynteniþ, or one of the other minority readings attested in other manuscripts, and that this was lost to cropping.]

[^44: Cf. also Wa þou maight.]

[^45: Cf. also A he wente awey]

[^46: E also omits in]

[^47: Cf. also Ha þat he sholde.]

[^48: La.2.193 and La.2.194 are elaborated from a single line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma; in J, & with heldyn hem halue a ȝere & elleuen dayes]

[^49: This line is only attested in La.]

[^50: This line is only attested in La.]

[^51: This line is only attested in La.]

[^52: This line is only attested in La.]

//
Nowis Now is mede þe maiden & no mo of heom alle
Wiþ beodels & bailifs to þe kyng ybroghte[^a401]
þe kyn kyn[g] callith aclerk a clerk I kan not his name
To take mede þe maiden & make hire atese at ese
y wol say[^a402] hire my-seolf & sothly appose
What wyhe[^a403][^53] of þis world þat hire weore leouest
And ȝef heo worche by my[^a404] wit & my wille folewe
ywol y wol for-gyfe hire þis gult so me god helpe
Cortesly þe clerk þan as þe kyng hoted
Tok mede by þe myddel & broghte hire to chaumbre
Bote þer was murthe & mynstralsye mede to plese
þat woneden[^a405] at westmynster worschipeden[^a406] hire alle
Genteliche with ioye of þe[^a407] iustises somme
Boskeden heom to þe boure þer þe beorde dwelled
Comforteden hire kyndelich by clergyes leue
And saiden morne ȝe[^a408][^54] not mede neo make ȝe[^a409] no sorwe
For wol[^a410] wisse þe kyng & thy way schapen
And[^a411] al consience krafte[^a412] for-casten[^a413][^55] as we trowen[^a414]
cc
Myldeliche mede þan mercyed heom alle
Of heore grete godnes & giftes gaf[^a415] heom vchone
Couered coupes[^a416] of gold[^a417] wel clanliche y-wroghte[^a418]
Rynges wiþ rubies & riches manye
þe menest[^a419] mon of heore meyne amoten a moten of gold
þan laghten þey leue þeose lordes at mede
With þat come clerkis to comforte hire eken[^a420]
And beden hire beon blythe for we beon thyn owne
For-to worchen oure wil whil oure lif lastes
hendelich þan heo by-hatte heom þe same
To louen heom lelly & lordes to[^a421] make
And þe[^a422] courte of constory[^a423][^56] þat calles[^a424] my[^a425] name[^a426]
schal no lewednes him lette þeo leod þat y loue
þat he no worth thorgh myn help hyghly auaunced[^a427]
Of chirches of chapels chese of þe beste[^57]
wher[^a428] konnyng clerkis of clergy[^a429] schal clocke by-hynde
cc
þan com þer aconfessour a confessour icoped as affrere a Frere
To mede þe maiden meokelich he louted
And saide wel softely in schryfte as hit were
þagh lered & lewed han leyen by þe alle[^a430]
And þagh falsed had folewed þe þis fiftene wynter
Ischal I schal asoile þe my-seolf for a seem of whete
And eke beon þy baudekyn & beore wel thyn ernde
Among clerkes & knyȝtis concience to felle
þan mede for hire misdedes to þat man kneoled
And schrof here of hire schrewednes schemelas Itrowe I trowe
Tolde him atale a tale & tok him in hond[^a431] anoble a noble
For-to beon hire beodmon and hire baude after
þanne he asoiled hire sone & sethen he saide
we han awyndow a wyndow in worchyng wol stonden vs wel hyȝe
woldestow glase þe gable & sette[^a432] þer -in thy nome
wel siker[^a433] scholde þy soule beo heouen blisse[^a434] to haue
ȝe wiste I þat quod þe womman wel weore me þanne[^58]
For þer nys wyndow no weoued wroght in ȝour wones
þat y ne scholde make or mende & my name on write[^a435]
þer-to[^a436] segg y schewe me now[^a437] sustre of oure house
Bote god to alle gode folk suche grauyng defendith
cc
And seith ・ Nesciat sinistra quid facit dextra
Lat not þy lifte hond late no rathe
Beo war what þy right hond worches or deles
Bote so pryuely parte hit þat pryde beo not schewed[^a438]
Nouþer in sight no in þy[^a439] soule for god him-seolf knoweth
Who is cortaise &[^a440] kynde couetous or elles
For-þy ylere y lere ȝou lordes leueth suche writynges[^a441]
To writen in wyndowes of ȝoure wel worchyng[^a442]
Or to greden after godesmen godes men when ȝe dole deles[^a443]
On auter ȝe hauen her[^a444] ȝoure huyre resceyued[^a445]
For oure saueour hit saide & him-seolf preched
Amen dico vobis vobis vobis receperunt mercedem &cetera
Meires & macers ȝe þat[^a446] beon made mene[^a447]
By-twene þeo kyng & þe comunes to kepe the lawes
As to punyschen onpillories on pillories & on pynyng stoles
Breowesters[^a448] & baxters[^a449] bochers and cokes
For þeose arn men on þis molde þat most harm worchen
To þeo pore people þat parcymel buggen
For þey poisen þe people pryueliche wel ofte
And richen þorgh regraterye & rentes þey[^a450] buggen
Of þat þe pore people schulde putte in heore wombe
For toke þey on treowely þey tymbred not so hyȝhe
No boghten no borgates borga[g]es beo ȝe wel certayne
Bote mede þe maide þe mair heo by-soghte
Of alle suche sullers seoluer for to[^a451] take
Or presentes with-oute pans as peces of seoluer
Rynges or oþir riches þeo regratours to meyntene
For my loue quod þe[^a452] lady loue heom vchone
And suffre heom to selle somdel aȝeyn reson
cc
Salamon þe sage asermon a sermon he made
For to amende maires & men þat kepte[^a453] lawes[^a454]
And tolde heom þis teone[^a455] þat I telle thynke
Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera &cetera
Among þis lettred lordes þis latyn amounteth
þat fure schal felle[^a456] and brenne at þe laste
þe houses & þe homes þat suche ȝeftes[^a457] desireth
To ȝerne[^a458] ȝeftes or ȝeresȝeftes in ȝouthe or in elde
cc
þeo kyng fro counseil com & called after mede
And of-sent hire swythe[^a459] sergauns hire fette
And broghte hire to boure wiþ blisse & with ioye
And on hire kneoes heo kneoled when heo þe kyng sygh[^59]
Bote he hire tok vp by þe hond & hailsed wel faire
And to[^a460] mede þe maiden meled[^a461] þeose wordes
Womman vn-wittely[^a462][^60] wroght hastow ofte
Bot wors wraghtest þou neuer þan whan þou fals toke
Bote Ifor-gyue I for-gyue þe þat gult & graunt þe my grace
So þat hennes[^a463] to þy deth day þou do so no more
Ihaue I haue aknyȝt a knyȝt consience com late from by-ȝonde
ȝef he wilne þe to wif woltow him haue
ȝe lord quod þat lady god for-beode elles
Bot ȝef[^a464] ybeo y beo holy at ȝor heste let hange[^a465] me hye[^a466]
cc
þen was consience called to come & appere
Byfore þe kyng & his counsail bothe clerkes[^a467] & othir
kneolyng consience to þe kyng he carped[^a468]
To wite what[^a469] his wille weore & what þat he[^a470] scholde[^a471]
Wole þou wedde þis womman ȝef y wol assente
For heo is fayn of þy felaschipe for to beo þy fere[^a472]
quod consience to þe kyng crist hit me for-beode
Er ich wedde suche awif a wif wo me by-tide
heo is frele of hire feith & fykel[^a473] of hire speche
heo makith men mysdo mony score tymes
In treost of hire tresour heo teoneth wel monye
wyues & wydowes wantonesse techeth
Al lerith[^a474][^61] heom lecherie þat loueth heore ȝeftes
ȝoure fadir heo felde þorgh false byhestes
Enpoiseneth[^a475] popes enpaires[^a476][^62] holy chirche
þer is not[^a477][^63] abettre a bettre bawde by him þat me made
By-tweone helle[^a478] & heouen[^a479] yholde y holde[^a480] ȝef[^a481] men soghten
heo is tikel of hire tayl talewys of wordes[^a482]
Als comyn as þe kartway to knaues & othir[^a483][^64]
To munkes to mynstrales to meseles in hegges
Sisours & somnours suche men hire preyseth
Schirreues of schires weoren schent ȝef heo no weore
Heo doth men to leose heore lond & heore lif aftre[^a484]
Ant leteth passe prisoners & paieth for heom ofte
And ȝeueth to þeo[^a485] iaylers gold oþir seoluer[^a486]
For to[^a487] vnfetre þe false to fleo[^a488] wher him likith
heo takith þe treowe by þe top & tyeth heom faste
And hangeth him for haterede þat harmed neuer
To beo corsed in constorie heo counteth not arysche a rysche
For heo copeth þeo commyssary & koteth his clerkes
heo is asoiled as sone als hire- seol seol[f] likyth
heo may negh als muche don in amoneth a moneth ones
As ȝoure secrete seal in sixe[^a489] skore dayes
heo is pryue with þe pope prouysors hit knoweth
Sir symony & hire-seolf seollen heore bulles
heo blesses þeo Bisschopes þagh[^a490][^65] þey beon lewed
Prouendrers persons and prouest[^a491] heo maynteneth
To holde lemmones & loteybes al heore lif dayes
And bryngen forth barnes aȝeyn forboden hestes[^a492]
þer heo is wel with þe kyng wo is þe rewme
For heo is fauorable to fals & fouleth trouthe ofte
Barons & burgeys heo bryngeth in slouthe[^a493]
By Ihesu wiþ hire iewelis ȝoure iustices[^a494] heo schendith
And combreth heom with hire kraft þat crist ȝef heom kare[^66]
So þat[^a495] feith may not haue his forth for[^a496] floryns[^a497] go so thykke[^67]
heo ledith lawe as hire lust & louedayes makith
þeo mase for amene a mene man þagh he mote euer
Lawe is so lordlich and loth to make an eynde
wiþoute present[^a498] of[^a499] pans heo pleseth wel fewe
Clergye & couetise heo coupleth to-gedre
þis is þeo lif of þis[^a500] lady god[^a501][^68] gyfe hire sorwe
And alle þat meynteneth hire men meschaunse heom by-tide
For pore men mown haue no power to playne þagh þey sterue[^a502][^69]
Suche amaister a maister is mede among men of gode
cc
þan morned mede & mened hire to þe kyng
To haue space to speke spede ȝef heo myghte
þe kyng graunteth[^a503] hire grace wiþ agood a good wille
Escuse þe ȝef þou kanst y kan no more segge
For consience þe acuseth[^a504] to congey þe for-euer
Nay lord quod þat la:::: lady[^a505][^70] leues him þe worse
when ȝe witen witerly wher þeo wrong liggeth
þer þat meschef is most[^a506] mede may ofte[^a507] helpe
And þou knowest consience y com not to chide
No to dampne[^a508] þy person with aproude a proude heorte
wel þou wost consience bote ȝef þou wolt lye
þou hast honged on myn half mony feole[^a509] tymes
And eken haste grope[^a510] my gold gyfe wher þe liketh
And why[^a511] þou wrathest þe now wondur me thynkith
ȝet may y[^a512] as y myghte menske þe with ȝiftes
And meyntene þy monhode more þan þou knowest
And þou hast famed me foule byfore þy kyn[^a513] here
For kulled y neuer no kyng no counseiled þer-aftre
No dude as þou demest ydo y do hit on oure kyngis mouthe[^a514]
In normandy was he noght nuyed for my sake
Bote þou þy-seolf sothely schamed him ofte
þou crope[^a515] into caban[^a516] for colde of þy nailes
And wendest[^a517] whar[^a518] wynter wold haue laste for-euer[^a519]
And þou[^a520][^71] draddest to beo ded for adym a dym cloude
And hastedest hamward[^a521] for hunger of þy wombe
wiþ-oute pite þou pylour pore men þou robbedest
And bere heore bras at[^a522] þy bak to caleys to seolle
cc
þer I lafte wiþ my lord his lif for to saue
And made him muche murthe[^a523][^72] mornyng to leue
And batrede him on þe bak bolded[^a524] heore heortes
Deode heom hoppe for hope to haue me at wille
hade I beon marchal of his men by mary of heouene
y durste haue leide my lif and no lasse wedde
he scholde haue beon lord of þat lond in leynthe & in brede
And eke kyng of þat kyth his kyn for to helpe
þeo leste brolle of his blod abarouns a barouns pere
Cowardly þou consience conceiledest him þennes
To leuen þer his[^a525] lordschipe for alitel a litel seoluer
þat is þe rycheste rewme þat reyn ouer-hongeth[^a526]
hit by-cometh to akyng a kyng þat kepeth arewme a rewme
To ȝeuen his men mede þat meokely him serueth
To aliens to alle othir[^a527][^73] &[^a528] honouren heom wiþ ȝiftes
mede makith him beo loued & for amon a mon yholde
cc
Emperoures & eorles & alle maner of[^a529] lordes
þorgh ȝeftes han ȝongemen ȝonge men to rennen abowte[^a530]
þeo pope &[^a531] his prelates presentes vndurfongeth
And meden men heom-seoluen to meyntene heore lawes
Seruauns for heore seruyse we seon wel þe sothe
Taken mede of heore maistres as þey may acorde
Beggers for here byddyng byddyth men mede
Mynstrales for heore murthes mede þey sechen[^a532]
And for to reule þe rewme þe kyng mede ȝefes[^74]
Men þat clergye konnen[^a533][^75] krauen after[^a534] mede
Preostes þat prechen þeo people crist for to pleese[^a535]
Asken mede & masse pans & heore mete alse
Alle maner mester men moten medlen with mede[^76]
Mede & marchaundises[^a536] moten alweys nede[^a537] go to-gedre
No wight as y wene wiþ-outen mede myghte libbe
kynge
Quod þe kyng to consience by crist as me þynkith
Now is mede[^a538] worthy þe maistry to welde[^a539]
cc consciens
Nay quod consience to þe kyng & kneoled to þe eorthe
þer arn two maner of medes my lord wiþ[^a540] þy[^a541] leue
þat on god of his grace gyueth in his blisse
To heom þat worchen wel whiles þey beon here
þeo prophete prechede hit and putte hit in þe sauter
Qui peccuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram &cetera
Tak no mede my lord of men þat beon treowe
Loue & leue heom for þe[^a542] lordes loue of heouene
Godis mede & his mercy þer[^a543] myght þou wynne
cc
þer is amede a mede mesurelas þat maistres desireth
To meyntene mysdoers mede ofte þey[^a544] take
And þer -of seith þe sawter in a salmes eynde
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt dextera eorum repleta est muneribus &cetera
And he þat gripeth heore ȝeftes so me god helpe
schalabugge schal abugge hit wel[^a545] bytter or elles[^a546] þe book lyeth
cc
Preostes & parsones þat plesynges[^a547] desiren
þat taken mede & monee for masses þat þey syngen
Schal haue mede of[^a548] þis molde þat mathew hath graunted
Amen dico vobis receperunt mercedem suam
þat laborers & lowe folk taken of heore maistres
ys no maner of mede bote amesurable a mesurable huyre
In marchaundise is no mede I may hit a-vowe[^a549]
hit is apermytacioun a permytacioun apertelich apenyworth a penyworth for anoþir
Bote reddest þou neuer regum þou recreyed mede
why þeo vengaunce worched[^a550] on saul & on his children
God sende him to sayn be samueles mouthe
þat Agag of amalek and al his people after
scholde dye for adede a dede þat don haden his aldres
Aȝeyn yraels & aron & moyses his brother
Samuel saide to saul god sendes þe & hoteth
To beo buxum & boun his byddyng to fulfulle
wend þider wiþ thyn oste alle wymmen[^a551] þou[^a552] qwelle[^a553]
Children & cheorles choppe of heore hedes[^a554]
Loke þou kulle þe kyng & coueyte not his godes
For any multitude[^a555] of money mordre heom vchone
Beornes & bestes brutne[^a556] heom to dethe
And for he kulled not þe kyng as crist him bode sende
Coueyted heore katel kulled not heore bestes
Bote broghte with him þe bestaile as þe bible telleth
God seide to samuel þat saul schulde dye
And al his seed for þat synne schenfulliche eynde
Suche amescheif a mescheif mede made þe kyng for to[^a557] haue
þat god hated him for euer & al his ayres after
þe culorum of þis no kepe[^a558] y not to schewe
On aunter hit nuyed me non eynde wol y make
I consience knowe hit[^a559] for kynde wit me taghte
þat reson schal regne and rewmes gouerne
And right as agag happed happen schule somme
Samuel schal slen him & saul schal beo blamed
And dauid schal beo dyademed & daunten heom alle
And on cristene kyng kepe vs vchone
Schal no more mede beo maister apon[^a560] eorthe
Bote loue & lowenes & lewte to-gedre
And who-so trespaseth to trouthe or aȝeyn him takith[^a561]
Lewte schal leggen him lowe[^a562] or[^a563] leose his lif elles
Schal no seriaunt for þat seruys weore aseolk a seolk howue
No no ray robe rechely yforred[^a564]
Mede of misdoers maketh heom to[^a565] riche
þat lawe is alord a lord[^a566] waxen and lewte is pore
vnkyndenes is acomaundour a comaundour[^a567] & kyndenes is banned[^a568]
Bote ȝet schal kynde wit come[^a569] & consience to-gedre
And make of lawe alaboreir a laboreir suche loue schal arise

[^a401: to þe kyng ybroghte (La) | ibrouht to þe kyng (V J K T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a402: say (La N) | assayen (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a403: wyhe (La) | mon (V Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a404: by my (La V Ha N U Ma) | be (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E A)]

[^a405: woneden (La U E) | woneþ (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra A Ma)]

[^a406: worschipeden (La J N E A) | worschipeþ (V Ha Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a407: of þe (La) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a408: morne ȝe (La) | morne (J K N T H2 D Ra U Ma)]

[^a409: ȝe (La) | þou (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a410: wol (La) | we wolen (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a411: And (La) | For (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a412: krafte (La V J) | caste (Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a413: for-casten (La) | & crafte (K Wa N Ra Ma)]

[^a414: as we trowen (La) | as I trouwe (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a415: giftes gaf (La) | ȝaf (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma)]

[^a416: Couered coupes (La) | Coupes (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a417: gold (La) | clene gold (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a418: wel clanliche y-wroghte (La) | and pecis of seluer (V Ha K N D Ra U)]

[^a419: menest (La) | lest (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a420: eken (La) | þe same (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma)]

[^a421: to (La V J) | hem (Ha K T H2 Ch E A Ma)]

[^a422: þe (La) | in (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a423: courte of constory (La) | constorie at court (V J K Wa N T Ch D)]

[^a424: þat calles (La) | callen (T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a425: my (La) | heore (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D E Ma)]

[^a426: name (La) | names (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a427: thorgh myn help hyghly auaunced (La) | first auaunced for I am beknowe (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a428: wher (La Wa) | Þer (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a429: clerkis of clergy (La) | clerkes (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a430: alle (La V J Ra U) | echone (K Wa T H2 Ch D E A)]

[^a431: him in hond (La) | him (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a432: sette (La) | graue (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a433: wel siker (La) | Siker (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a434: heouen blisse (La A) | heuen (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a435: on write (La) | write (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a436: þer-to (La) | Þat vche (V K T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a437: y schewe me now (La) | sal see I am (J T H2 Ch Ra)]

[^a438: schewed (La) | seȝen (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a439: in þy (La K T H2) | in (V Ha J Wa N Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a440: & (La J N) | or (V Ha K Wa T H2 D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a441: writynges (La K N) | writynge (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a442: wel worchyng (La) | wel dedes (V Ha Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U A Ma)]

[^a443: dole deles (La) | ȝyuen doles (Ha K N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a444: hauen her (La U) | han (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra E A Ma)]

[^a445: resceyued (La) | therof here (K Wa N T H2 Ch D)]

[^a446: ȝe þat (La J N Ra) | þat (Ha Wa E A Ma)]

[^a447: made mene (La) | mene (V J K N T Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a448: Breowesters (La V Ha Ch A) | Bruers (J K T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a449: baxters (La A) | bakers (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a450: þey (La) | hem (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a451: for to (La E A) | to (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a452: þe (La V Ha Wa Ch E) | þat (J K N T H2 D Ra U A)]

[^a453: kepte (La N) | kepeþ (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a454: lawes (La J K Wa N E) | þe lawes (Ha T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a455: teone (La) | teeme (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a456: felle (La) | falle (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a457: þat suche ȝeftes (La) | of hem þat (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma)]

[^a458: ȝerne (La) | haue (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a459: swythe (La K Wa) | as swiþe (Ha T H2 D)]

[^a460: And to (La Wa) | To (V J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a461: meled (La Wa) | melleth (K T H2 Ch Ra)]

[^a462: Womman vn-wittely (La) | vnwittylich (K Wa D U)]

[^a463: So þat hennes (La) | Hennes (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a464: Bot ȝef (La) | Bote (V Ha J K Wa N Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a465: let hange (La J Wa N Ma) | honge (V K Ra U E)]

[^a466: hye (La) | sone (V E A Ma)]

[^a467: bothe clerkes (La) | clerkes (V Ha Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a468: he carped (La) | loutede (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a469: To wite what (La Ha Wa) | What that (K T H2 Ch D A)]

[^a470: þat he (La) | he (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a471: scholde (La) | do schulde (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a472: fere (La Wa) | make (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a473: & fykel (La Ch) | Fikel (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a474: Al lerith (La) | Leride (T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a475: Enpoiseneth (La) | Apoysende (V H2 Ch D U)]

[^a476: enpaires (La J K Wa N) | apeiride (T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a477: þer is not (La) | ys not (K Wa N Ra U E)]

[^a478: helle (La D Ra U) | heuene (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch E Ma)]

[^a479: heouen (La D Ra U) | helle (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch E Ma)]

[^a480: yholde y holde (La) | & erthe (K Wa T H2 Ch Ra U Ma)]

[^a481: ȝef (La Wa E) | þauȝ (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a482: wordes (La) | hire tonge (V Ha K T H2 D Ra U Ma)]

[^a483: othir (La) | to alle (V Ha J K Wa N H2 Ma)]

[^a484: aftre (La V N Ch U) | bothe (J K Wa T H2 Ra E Ma)]

[^a485: to þeo (La) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E)]

[^a486: oþir seoluer (La) | and grotes togedere (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a487: For to (La) | To (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch U E Ma)]

[^a488: to fleo (La J Ra E) | flee (K N T U Ma)]

[^a489: sixe (La J K Wa N) | seuen (V T H2 Ch Ra U E)]

[^a490: þagh (La K N) | yf (Ha J T H2 Ch)]

[^a491: prouest (La) | preostes (V Ha J K Ra U E Ma)]

[^a492: hestes (La) | lawes (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a493: slouthe (La) | serwe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a494: iustices (La V Ha Ra Ma) | Iustyce (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E)]

[^a495: So þat (La) | Þat (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a496: forth for (La K) | forþ (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a497: floryns (La) | hir Florins (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 U)]

[^a498: present (La U) | presentes (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a499: of (La Wa E) | or (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a500: þis (La E) | þat (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a501: god (La) | now lord (J Wa N T H2 D)]

[^a502: þey sterue (La) | hem smerte (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a503: graunteth (La Wa) | graunted (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a504: þe acuseth (La) | acusith þe (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a505: la:::: lady (La) | ladi (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a506: most (La Ha) | grete (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a507: may ofte (La) | may (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a508: dampne (La H2) | depraue (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D)]

[^a509: mony feole (La) | enleue (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a510: haste grope (La J) | gripen (V Ha N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a511: And why (La) | Whi (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a512: may y (La) | I may (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a513: þy kyn (La) | þe kyng (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a514: oure kyngis mouthe (La) | þe kyng (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a515: þou crope (La Ha J Wa N E) | creptest (V K T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a516: caban (La) | a caban (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a517: And wendest (La) | Wendest (V K T H2 Ch D U Ma)]

[^a518: whar (La) | þat (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a519: for-euer (La) | euere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a520: And þou (La) | And (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a521: hamward (La V) | þee hamward (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a522: at (La K) | on (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a523: muche murthe (La) | myrthe (K T H2 D)]

[^a524: bolded (La T H2 D Ra U) | and bolded (J K Wa N Ch E Ma)]

[^a525: þer his (La) | his (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a526: ouer-hongeth (La) | ouerhoueþ (V Ha J Ra U)]

[^a527: alle othir (La) | alle men (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a528: & (La) | to (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E)]

[^a529: maner of (La Ra) | maner (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U Ma)]

[^a530: abowte (La) | and to ride (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a531: & (La V Ha Ma) | with (J K T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a532: sechen (La) | asken (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a533: clergye konnen (La) | byn clerkes (K T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a534: after (La Ch) | of hym (T H2 D U)]

[^a535: crist for to pleese (La) | to goode (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a536: marchaundises (La) | merchaundise (Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a537: alweys nede (La) | nede (Ha Wa N T H2 D Ra U Ma)]

[^a538: Now is mede (La) | Meede is (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a539: welde (La) | haue (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a540: wiþ (La N D) | beoþ (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a541: þy (La V) | ȝoure (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a542: þe (La K N U E) | ur (V Ha T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a543: þer (La) | þerwith (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a544: ofte þey (La) | þei (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a545: hit wel (La K N) | it (Ha J Wa T H2 D)]

[^a546: or elles (La Ha A) | or (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a547: plesynges (La Ra U Ma) | plesyng (V J K T H2 Ch D E)]

[^a548: of (La J Ra U Ma) | on (Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D A)]

[^a549: a-vowe (La) | wel auoue (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a550: worched (La) | fel (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a551: alle wymmen (La) | wymmen (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a552: þou (La) | to (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a553: qwelle (La Ha) | culle (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a554: of heore hedes (La A) | hem to deþe (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D U)]

[^a555: multitude (La) | milions (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra E A Ma)]

[^a556: brutne (La) | brenne (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra A Ma)]

[^a557: for to (La J H2 E A Ma) | to (V Ha K Wa N Ch D Ra U)]

[^a558: no kepe (La Wa) | kepe (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a559: hit (La) | þis (V Ha J Wa N D Ma)]

[^a560: apon (La V Ha E A Ma) | on (K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a561: aȝeyn him takith (La) | takyth ageyn his will (K Wa N E A Ma)]

[^a562: leggen him lowe (La) | don him lawe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a563: or (La V Ha J N T H2 Ch) | and (K Wa D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a564: rechely yforred (La) | wiþ riche pelure (V K Wa Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a565: to (La Ch A Ma) | so (V Ha J K N T H2 D Ra U E)]

[^a566: alord a lord (La H2 U E Ma) | lord (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra A)]

[^a567: acomaundour a comaundour (La) | comaundour (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a568: banned (La) | banescht (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a569: ȝet schal kynde wit come (La) | kuynde wyt schal come ȝit (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^53: Cf. also N wiȝt.]

[^54: Cf also V Wa Ch E A mourne þou]

[^55: Cf. also J is cast and V and Casten.]

[^56: Cf also Ha courte & in constrye. Kane describes La and Ha in agreement here.]

[^57: This line is only attested in La.]

[^58: La.3.51 and La.3.52 are elaborated from a single line found at this point in V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma; in V, wist I þat quod þe wommon þer nis nouþur wyndou ne auter. (E presents this single line and the next as three lines, while N omits both lines and substitutes a passage like Bx.3.51-62 or the equivalent C-text passage RK.4.55-66.)]

[^59: La.3.96 and La.3.97 substitute for a single line found at this point in V J Wa N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma; in V, Corteisliche þe kyng cumseþ to telle. (H and K conflate this single line with the line that follows it in V J Wa N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma.)]

[^60: Cf. also N vnwitly womman]

[^61: Cf. also V Ha Leriþ.]

[^62: Cf also V Ha E and peyreþ]

[^63: Cf. also V Ha þer nis no]

[^64: Cf also E al other.]

[^65: Cf. also V D U þouȝ þat]

[^66: La.3.150 substitutes for a line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma; in V, heo lihþ aȝeyn þe lawe and letteþ so faste.]

[^67: This is a wrapped line: thykke is written below the line, in line with La.3.152, and enclosed on two sides by a bracket.]

[^68: Cf. also E now god.]

[^69: This is a wrapped line: sterue is written below the line, roughly in line with La.3.160, and enclosed on two sides by a bracket.]

[^70: Kane does not include the La reading la:::: lady in his list of variants for this line. The scribe probably copied lady twice in error, although neither instance is marked for deletion, and later damage makes it impossible to establish a reading of the first instance with certainty.]

[^71: Cf. also Wa N þou.]

[^72: Cf. also V murþe ful muche and J mychel myrthe.]

[^73: Cf. also Ma oþer men.]

[^74: La.3.212 is a corrupted form of the line found at this point in V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma; in V, þe kyng meedeþ his men to maken pees in londe. (The line is omitted in Wa N.)]

[^75: Cf. also J Wa N kennyn clerkis.]

[^76: La.3.216 substitutes for the line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma; in V, Alle kunne craftes men craueþ meede for heore prentys.]

//
Sesseth seide þe kyng y soffre ȝou no leyngre
ȝe saghtene[^a570] for-sothe and serue me bothe
kusse hire quod þe kyng consience yhote y hote
Nay by crist quod consience congeye me rathere
Bote reson rede me þer -til arst wol y dye
And Icomaunde[^a571] I comaunde[^a572] quod þe kyng to consience þanne
Rape þe to ryden and reson þat þou facche
Comaunde him to[^a573] come my counseil to here
For he schal rewle my rewme & rede me þe beste
Of mede þe maiden[^a574] & what[^a575] mon schal hire wedde
And counpte counte with þe consience so me crist helpe
how bothe lered & lewed þou lerest þe people[^77]
y am fayn of þat foreward saith þe freke þanne
And ryd right[^a576][^78] to reson & rowneth in his here
Saide him as þe kyng sent & seothe tok his leue
::::s
I schal araye me to ride quod reson reste þe awhile a while
And kalled katon his knaue þat com at þe furste[^a577]
Sat my sadel apon suffre til y seo my tyme
And lat warrok him wel with witful gurthes
hang on him þe heuy bridel to holde his hed lowe
And ȝet wol he weheen & wynch[^a578] or we come þere
þan consience on his capel kaireth[^a579] forth faste
And reson with him ryd redeliche nyghe[^a580]
At on asent weore[^a581][^79] wisdam and witty his fere
Foleweden heom faste for þey haden to done
In þe[^a582] chauncellery[^a583] & þe[^a584] chekere[^a585] to beo descharged of thynges
And riden faste for reson scholde reden heom þe beste
For to sauen heom-seolf fro schame & fro harmes
Bote consience com arst to courte by amyle a myle
And romed forth with reson right to þe kyng
Cortesly þe kyng þanne come vn-to[^a586] reson
And by-twene him-seolf & his sone set him on benche
And wordeden agrete a grete while wel wiselich to-gedre
pees cc
þan com pees in-to parlement & put vp abille a bille
how wrong aȝeyn his wille hadde his wif taken
And he[^a587] rauyssched rose Reignaldes lemman[^a588]
And margarete of hire maydenhod maugre hire chekes
Boþe my gees & my gryse his gadelynges feccheth
Idar I dar not for fere of him fyghte no chide
he borewed of me bayard & broghte him neuer aȝeyn
Ny no ferthyng him fore[^a589][^80] for noght þat y kouthe plede
He meynteneth his men to mordre myn owne[^a590]
Forstalleth my feires & fyghteth[^a591] in my chepynges[^a592]
Brekith vp my berne dores & beoreth away my whete
And makith[^a593] me bote ataile a taile for ten quarters of otes[^a594]
And ȝet he beteth me þerto & lyth by my maiden
I am not hardy for him vnnethe to loke
þe[^81] kyng kneow he saide soth for consience him tolde
Wrong was afard þo & wisdam he soghte
To make with[^a595] pans[^a596] & profered him monye[^a597]
And saide had Iloue I loue of my lord þe kyng litel me roghte[^a598]
þagh &[^a599] his power pleyned heom euer
wisdom wan out[^a600] þo & so dude wit alse
For þat wrongh hadde ywroght so wiked adede a dede
And warneden wrong þo with suche awys a wys tale
Who-so worches by wil woo wakeneth[^a601] ofte
Isay I say hit by þy-seolf[^a602] þou schalt hit sone yfynde
Bote ȝef mede hit make þis[^a603] mescheif is vppe
For boþe þy lif & þy land lyth in his grace
Wrong þan on wisdam weoped wel sore[^a604][^82]
To helpe him[^a605][^83] for of his handy dandy paied
þanne wisdom & wit wenten hom[^a606] to-gedre
And nome[^a607] mede with heom mercy to wynne
cc
Pees putte forth his hed & his panne blody
With-oute gult god wot gat y þis skathe
Consience & þe kyng kneow wel þe sothe
And wisten wel þat wrong euer was aschrewe a schrewe[^a608]
Bote wisdam & wit weoren aboute faste
To ouercome þe kyng with katel ȝef þay myghte
The kyng swor by crist & by his coroune bothe
þat wrong for his werkes scholde muche wo[^a609] soffre[^a610]
And comaunded aconstable a constable to kasten him in yrnes
he schal not þis seouen ȝeir seon his feet ones
cc
God wot quod wisdam þat weore not þe beste
And he mendes mowe make let maynpris him haue
And beo borugh for his bale & buggen him bote
Amende þat he mys-dude & euer-more þe bettre
Witte acordeth þerwith & saide þe same
Bettre is þat bote bale adoun brynge
þan bale beo beten and bote neuer þe bettre
þan gan mede meoken[^a611] hire & mercy by-soghte
And profered pes apresent a present al of puyred golde
haue þis of me mon to[^a612] mende[^a613][^84] þy skathe
For ywol y wol wage for wrong þat he[^a614] wol so[^a615] no more
Pees þan pitousely praied to þe kyng
//
To haue mercy of[^a616] þat mon þat mysdeode ofte[^a617]
For he hath waged me wel as wisdam him taghte
yfor-gyue y for-gyue him þat gult with agood a good wille
So þat ȝe assenten ykan y kan say no more
For mede hath made my mendes ymay y may no more as...
Nay quod þe kyng so god ȝeue me blisse
Wrong wendeth not so away er y wite more
Lepe he so lightely þe losel[^a618] laghen wolde he londe[^a619]
And efte beo þe balder[^a620] to beten myne buxume[^a621]
Bote reson haue reouthe on him he schal in þe stokkes reste[^a622][^85][^86]
Als longe as I leue with leautees leue[^a623]
Some radde reson to haue reuthe of[^a624] þat schrewe
And concelyng[^a625] þe kyng & concience bothe
þat mede moste beo meynpernor resoun they bysoghte
cc
Red[^a626] not quod reson no reouthe to haue
Til lordes and ladies louen alle trowthe
And peornels porfile beo put in perkyns pouche[^a627]
Til children chere cheryschest[^a628] beon chastised with ȝerdes
And harlotes holynes beo holden for an hyne
And[^a629] clerkes & knyghtes beon corteise of heore mouthe
And haten to heren of any harlotries[^a630] ȝelpyng[^a631]
Til preostes heore prechyng preoue hit heom-seoluen
And do hit in dede to drawe vs to goode
Til seynt Iame beo ysoght þer I schal asigne
þat no mon go to Galys bote he go for euer
And alle rome renners for robbors of by-ȝonde
Beore no seoluer ouer see þat signe of kyng scheweth[^87]
Bote ȝef[^a632] hit beo amarchaunt a marchaunt or his man or messanger with lettres
Or prouysor or preost þat þe pope auaunseth
And ȝet quod reson[^a633] y wol[^a634] no reowthe haue
Whil mede hath þe maistrie to moten in þe[^a635] halle
Bote y may schewe ensaumples as y seo othir
I sey hit for my-seolf and hit so weore
þat Iweore I weore kyng wiþ acoroune a coroune[^a636] to kepen arewme a rewme
Schulde neuer wrong in þis world þat y wite myghte
Beon vn-punyssched by[^a637] power[^a638] for peril of my soule
Neo my grace geten[^a639] þorgh gifte so me god helpe
Neo for no mede haue mercy bote meokenes hit made
For multum bonum[^a640] ・ þe mon mette with irremuneratum[^a641]
Nec multum malum lawe wolde þat schulde beo Inpunitum[^88]
Lat þy confessour sir kyng construe þe hit[^a642] in englyssch
And ȝef þou worche hit in werk I wedde bothe myn[^a643] eres
þat lawe schal beo alaborer a laborer & lede on feild donge
And loue schal lede þy lond in leynthe & in brede[^a644]
Clerkes þat weore confessours coupled to-gedre[^a645]
For to construe þis clause & declyned[^a646] faste
Bote þo[^a647] reson among þeose renkes rehersed þeose wordes
And þer[^a648] was[^a649] mon in þe mote-halle more ny lasse
þat[^a650] no huld resoun amaister a maister & mede meochel[^a651] wreche
Loue lat of hire light and lough hire to skorne
And saide hit with so loude steuene[^a652] þat sothfastnes herde[^a653]
Who-so wilneth hire to wif for weole[^a654] or for worschipe[^a655]
Bote ȝef[^a656] he beo kokewold of kynde[^a657] kutte of my nose
Waryn wisdom þo ny witty his fere
kouþen not karpen[^a658] aword a word to with-segge resoun
Bote stareden for studyeng and stoden al stonyed[^a659]
The kyng acorded & kneow soth[^a660] resones sawas
And rehersed þat reson hadde right-fullich schewed
Bote hit is wel hard by myn hed to bryng þis abowte[^a661]
And alle my lege leodes to lede þus euene
cc
By him þat reste[^a662][^89] on þe rode quod resoun to þe kynge
Bote y reoule þus oure[^a663] rewme rent owt my rybbes
ȝef þat hit[^a664] beo[^a665] þat buxsumnes beo of myn assent
By goode god[^a666] quod þe kyng y graunte wel þanne[^a667][^90]
Beo my counseil come of clerkes & eorles
Bote redeliche reson þou schalt not[^91] ryden hennes
For as longe as me is lant the lyf[^a668] leete þe ynulle y nulle
y am redy quod reson to reste with ȝow euer
consciens & reson conselle
So consience beo of ȝoure counseil kepe y no bettre
y graunte wel[^a669] quod þe kyng so me god helpe[^a670]
Als longe as y libbe schal[^a671] lyue we to-gedre

[^a570: saghtene (La) | schulle sauȝtene (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a571: comaunde (La J K D Ra Ma) | comaunde þe (V Ha Wa N T H2 Ch U E A)]

[^a572: comaunde (La J K D Ra Ma) | comaunde þe (V Ha Wa N T H2 Ch U E A)]

[^a573: to (La E) | þat he (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a574: þe maiden (La) | & of mo other (K Wa T H2 Ra U A)]

[^a575: & what (La V Ha K N) | qwat (J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a576: ryd right (La Ha Wa N E A) | riȝt renneþ (T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a577: þat com at þe furste (La) | curteis of speche (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a578: weheen & wynch (La) | makyn many we he (J K N T H2 Ch U)]

[^a579: kaireth (La T H2) | caryeth (V J Ch Ra U) | caried (Ha K Wa D Ma)]

[^a580: redeliche nyghe (La) | & rapiþ hym ȝerne (T H2 Ch)]

[^a581: At on asent weore (La) | But one waryn (K Wa N)]

[^a582: In þe (La K Ru) | In (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D E A Ma)]

[^a583: chauncellery (La) | esscheker (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a584: & þe (La Ra) | & in (Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D E Ma)]

[^a585: chekere (La) | chauncelrie (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a586: vn-to (La K) | in to (T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a587: he (La V) | how he (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a588: lemman (La V) | loue (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a589: him fore (La V) | þerfore (J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a590: owne (La V Ha) | hynen (T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a591: & fyghteth (La Ha J E) | Fihteþ (V K N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a592: chepynges (La V Ch) | chepynge (Ha J K N T H2 D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a593: makith (La) | takeþ (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a594: of otes (La Wa T Ra) | oten (V Ha J K N H2 Ch D U A Ma)]

[^a595: with (La E) | his pees with (V Ha K T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a596: pans (La V Ha K) | his penyes (J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a597: monye (La Ch A) | many (J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a598: me roghte (La) | wolde I recche (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a599: & (La) | pees and (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a600: wan out (La) | wan (K Wa Ra U Ma)]

[^a601: woo wakeneth (La) | wraþþe makeþ (V J N T D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a602: þy-seolf (La V Ha J Wa E) | myself (K N T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a603: þis (La) | þi (V Ha J K Wa N U E A Ma)]

[^a604: weoped wel sore (La) | wepte (V Ha J K Wa N Ch Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a605: To helpe him (La J K) | him to helpe (T H2 Ch E)]

[^a606: wenten hom (La) | wente (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a607: nome (La V K N A Ma) | toke (Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a608: euer was aschrewe a schrewe (La) | was a schrewe euere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a609: muche wo (La E) | wo (V Ha J K Wa N H2 Ch A Ma)]

[^a610: soffre (La) | þole (V Ha J K Wa N H2 Ch E A Ma)]

[^a611: meoken (La J E Ma) | to mekyn (K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a612: to (La Wa N E) | quad heo to (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a613: mende (La D) | amendyn (J K T H2 Ch Ra U E A)]

[^a614: þat he (La) | he (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a615: so (La) | do so (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a616: of (La J N Ch E) | on (V Ha K Wa T H2 D U A Ma)]

[^a617: ofte (La) | him ofte (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma)]

[^a618: þe losel (La) | awei (V J K T H2 Ch D Ra A Ma)]

[^a619: wolde he londe (La) | he wolde (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a620: beo þe balder (La V Ha N Ma) | þe boldere ben (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a621: buxume (La) | hyen (J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a622: in þe stokkes reste (La) | rest in the stokkes (K Ch E)]

[^a623: with leautees leue (La) | bote more loue hit make (V Ha K T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a624: of (La V J N) | on (Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a625: concelyng (La) | to counseile (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a626: Red (La) | Rede me (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a627: perkyns pouche (La) | hire hucche (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a628: chere cheryschest (La) | chereschinge (V J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a629: And (La) | Til (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a630: of any harlotries (La) | harlotrie (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a631: ȝelpyng (La) | oþer mouþe it with tungis (T H2) | or mouþe hit hem selue (Ra U)]

[^a632: Bote ȝef (La H2 A Ma) | Bote (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a633: quod reson (La) | quad Reson bi þe Roode (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a634: y wol (La U) | I schal (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D A Ma)]

[^a635: þe (La Ra) | þis (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma)]

[^a636: acoroune a coroune (La) | croune (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a637: by (La D Ra U) | in (J K N E A Ma)]

[^a638: power (La) | my pouwer (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a639: my grace geten (La) | gete my grace (Ha K T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a640: multum bonum (La) | nullum malum (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a641: irremuneratum (La) | inpunitum (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a642: þe hit (La K Ch) | þis (V Ha E A Ma)]

[^a643: bothe myn (La V Ha Wa N U) | myn (K T H2 Ch D E A Ma)]

[^a644: in leynthe & in brede (La) | as þe leof lykeþ (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D A)]

[^a645: to-gedre (La) | hem togedere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a646: & declyned (La Ra) | declyned (K N H2 Ch D)]

[^a647: þo (La) | whon (V Ha K Wa N U E)]

[^a648: And þer (La) | Þer (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a649: was (La Ra A) | nas (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D U Ma)]

[^a650: þat (La V Ha J Wa Ch Ma) | That he (K N T H2 D Ra U A)]

[^a651: meochel (La) | a muche (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a652: with so loude steuene (La) | so loude (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a653: herde (La) | hit herde (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a654: weole (La) | weolþe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a655: or for worschipe (La) | of hire godes (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a656: Bote ȝef (La A) | Bote (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a657: of kynde (La) | callid (J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a658: karpen (La Ch E A Ma) | warpen (V K Wa N T H2 D Ra)]

[^a659: al stonyed (La) | as bestes (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a660: & kneow soth (La) | bi crist to (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a661: to bryng þis abowte (La) | herto to bryngyn it (J K N T H2 E A Ma)]

[^a662: reste (La Wa E) | rauhte (V J K N Ra U)]

[^a663: oure (La J K N D A) | þi (V Ha Wa T H2 Ch U Ma)]

[^a664: þat hit (La) | hit (V Ha J T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a665: beo (La T H2 Ch D) | beo so (V Ha J Ra U)]

[^a666: By goode god (La) | & I asent (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a667: y graunte wel þanne (La) | bi seinte marie mi ladi (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a668: me is lant the lyf (La) | I lyue (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a669: graunte wel (La Ha) | graunte (J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a670: so me god helpe (La) | god forbeode he fayle (V Ha K Wa N E)]

[^a671: libbe schal (La) | lyue (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^77: La.4.12 is a corrupted form of the line that appears at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma; in V, How þou ledest my peple lered and lewed. (The line is omitted in A.)]

[^78: Cf. also V J rod riht.]

[^79: Cf. also Ra A ton were; U At on were.]

[^80: Cf. also Ha K for hym.]

[^81: The second minim of the second ‘n’ in this deleted word has not been executed.]

[^82: This line division is unique to La. The most commonly-attested line division, found in V Ha T H2 Ch D E A Ma, is after helpe.]

[^83: Cf. also Ra U to helpe hym at nede]

[^84: Cf. also Wa N mende wiþ]

[^85: This is a wrapped line: reste is written below the line, roughly in line with La.4.96, and enclosed on two sides by a bracket.]

[^86: Kane omits the final reste from his list of variants for this line (the word is rubbed and faded and written below the main line; see codicological note).]

[^87: La lacks the two lines that follow this one in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma; in V, nouþer grotes ne gold I graue with þe kynges coroune/ Vppon Forfet of þat Fei hose hit fynde at douere.]

[^88: La.4.125 is a corrupted form of the line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma; in V, And bad nullum bonum be irremuneratum.]

[^89: Cf. also Ha rest hym.]

[^90: Kane identifies La.4.149 as a corrupt line.]

[^91: A short diagonal line, perhaps an uncancelled first attempt at the upward stroke that leads into the descender of the long ‘r’, appears between not and ryden.]

//
The kyng & his knyghtis to þe kirke wenten
To here matyns & masse & to mete after
þenne waked I of my wynkyng & wo was me[^a672][^92] with-al
þat I no hadde sleped sadder and y-seyen more
Ar yhadde y hadde faren aforlong a forlong feyntise me hente[^93]
ysat y sat softely doun[^a673] and saide my byleue
And so ybabled y babled on my beodes þey broghte me onslepe on slepe
þanne saw y mychel more þan I fore-telle[^a674]
For ysaw y saw þe feld ful of folk þat y byfore of tolde[^a675]
And consience with acros a cros come for the prechynge[^a676]
And preyed þeo people haue pite on heom-seoluen
Bote he[^a677] proued þat þe pestilence was for heore[^a678] synne
And the southwesternewynd southwesterne wynd at[^a679] satteresday at euene
was apertely for pruyde & for no poynt elles
Piryes & plomtrees were poffet to þe eorthe
In ensaumple segges[^a680][^94] þat ȝe scholde do þe bettre
Beches & brode okes weore blowe to þe grounde
And torned vppeward þe tayl in tokenyng of drede
þat dedly synne ar domesday schal for-don heom alle
cc
Of þis mater y myghte muche mamele &[^a681] longe[^a682]
Bote Ischal I schal sayn as I sygh so me god helpe
how consience with acros a cros kraftyliche kan[^a683] prechen
he bad wastour go worche what he best couthe
And wynne þat he wasted wiþ some maner werke[^a684]
And praied peornel hire proude porfile[^a685] to leue
And kepe hit in hire coffre for catel at nede
Thomas he taughte to take toughe[^a686] staues
And facchen felice hom[^a687] fro wymmen[^a688] pyne
he warned watte witerly his[^a689] wife was to wite[^a690]
þat hire hed was of hygher pris þan feol for hire state[^95]
For hit passed apound a pound þe pletes weore so monye
And his hood hyghely yholde hit worth agrote a grote
he charged chapmen to chastisen heore children
Lat no wonnyng for-wanyen heom whil they beon ȝonge
cc
he praied prelates & preostes putten heom to-gedre[^a691]
preche to :::::: dede
And[^a692] preche þe people & preoue hit heom-seoluen
And libbeth as ȝe leren vs we woln loue ȝou þe bettre
monk
And sithe he radde religioun heore reoule to holde[^96]
And lyue with alowe a lowe heorte oure lord for to serue[^97]
And ȝe þat sechen seynt Iame and seyntes at rome
sechith seynt treouthe for he may ȝou sauen[^a693] alle
Qui cum &cetera[^a694] filio faire mote ȝe falle[^a695]
Than ran repentaunce & reherced his teme
And made wil to weopen water with his eyghnen
Peornel proudherte plat hire to þe eorthe
And lay longe or heo loked & oure lord[^a696][^98] mercy cried
And by-hyghte to him þat vs alle maked with his myght[^a697]
he wolde vnsowen heore schorte[^a698] & sette þer an here
For to affeyten heore flesch þat fresch[^a699] was to synne
schal neuer hyghe heorte me hente bote holde me lowe
And suffre to beo myssaide & so dude y neuer
Bote now wol I meoke me & mercy by-seche
Of þat[^a700] I haue had enuye in my heorte
þe lechoure[^a701] saide alas & on oure lady gradde[^a702]
To make mercy of[^a703] his misdede by-tweone god and his soule[^a704]
with þat he scholde þe setteresday seuen ȝeir þer-after
Drynke bote wiþ þe doge & dyne bote ones
Enuye with heuy heorte asked after schryfte
And karfulliche his gult[^a705][^99] by-gynneth he[^a706] to schewe
he was as pale as apolet a polet in þe palsye he semeth[^a707][^100]
And[^a708] clothed in akaury-maury a kaury-maury coude y[^a709] hit not discrye
Akirtel A kirtel & acourtepy a courtepy aknyf a knyf by his syde
Of afrere a frere frocke weoren his[^a710] fore-sleues
As a leek[^a711] longe leyen[^a712] in the hote[^a713] sonne
So loked he with lene chekes lourynge foule
his body was y-bolned for wrathe þat he bot his lippes
And wrothly he wrong his fuste to wreken him he thoghte
with werkes or[^a714] wordes when he sawe his tyme
Of leosardes or of lobbes venym hath me laghte[^101]
And walweth[^a715] in my wombe & worcheth[^a716] me wrathe[^a717]
þat I myghte[^a718] not mony day don as aman a man aughte[^a719][^102]
Suche wynd in my wombe waxeth ar y dyne
cc
Ihaue I haue aneygheboure a neygheboure nygh me I haue nuyed him ofte
And blamed him by-hynde his bak to brynge him into defame[^a720]
To apeire him by my power I haue pursued[^a721] feole sithes[^a722]
And eke[^a723] bylowen him to lordes to don him leose seoluer
And mad[^a724][^103] his freondes beon his fon þorgh my false wordes[^a725][^104]
when I mette him in market þat I so muche[^a726] hated
y halsed him so[^a727] hendeliche so[^a728] I his freonde weore
he is doghtier þan I y dar none harm him done[^a729]
Bote hadde I maistry & myght y wolde him mayme[^a730][^105] for euere
cc
when Icome I come to þe kirke & kneole to þe rode
y[^a731] pray for þe people as þe preost techeth[^106]
þan crie I[^a732] on my kneoes þat crist ȝef hom[^a733] sorwe
þat bar away my bolles[^a734] & my broken schetes[^a735][^107]
y[^a736] by-holde by-holde by-holde by-hynde me on aneowe a neowe kote haue[^a737]
þanne wyssche yhit y hit[^a738] weore myn & al þe web after
Of his leosyng ylaghwe y laghwe hit lightenes myn heorte
Bote of his wynnyng y weope & weyle þe while[^a739]
Ideme I deme men þey don[^a740] eouel & ȝet do y[^a741] worse
y wolde[^a742] vche wyȝe weore my knaue in þis world wonyng[^a743]
And whad þat[^a744] hath more þan I he[^a745] angereth myn heorte
Thus y lyue loueles lyk aleother a leother dogge
þat al my breste bolneth for bittre of my galle
may no sugre no swete thyng w swage swage hit an ynche[^108]
Ny no diapendion dryue hit fro myn heorte
And þanne ȝef[^a746] any schryft[^a747] scholde hit saue[^a748] semed hit a[^a749] gret wondur[^109]
ȝus redely quod repentaunce & radde him to gode
And saide sorwe[^a750] for synne saueth ofte wel[^a751] manye
I am sory quod enuye y am bote seilden othir
And[^a752] maketh me so mad þat I no may me venge
cc
þanne come couetise y can him noght discryue
Bote[^a753] hongurliche & lowe[^a754] sir heruy he loketh[^a755]
he was bitelbrowed & baberlipped with twey blered ygh-nen[^110][^111]
And eken as[^a756] alethren a lethren pors lolleden bothe his[^a757] chekes
In a torn tabard of twenty[^a758] wynter age
Alous A lous myghte not launce þer -on for failyng of fote[^112]
Bote he hadde beo schod with forstnaile schrap al abowete
he scholde not haue wandred[^a759][^113] on þat wede[^a760] for wantyng of wolle[^a761]
I haue quod þat kaityf couetouse beo[^a762] I knowe hit now here[^a763]
For some tyme y serued to symond atte nokke[^a764]
And was his prentise plight his profite to loke
And furste[^a765] I leorned to lyen alef a lef or[^a766] tweye
wickedly to weyen was my furste lesson
To wynchestre & to woborne[^a767] I went to þe faire
with many maner marchandise þat[^a768] my maister myd medled[^a769]
No had þe grace of gyle gon among my ware
hit had vn-sold beon[^a770] þis seouen ȝeir so me god saue[^a771]
//
þan drogh I me among drapers my donet to lere
To drawe þe listes[^a772] along on teyntre we hit tileden[^a773]
Among þe riche raynes I rendred þe same[^a774] lesson
And broched[^a775] with apak a pak nelde & platted[^a776] heom to-gedres
Putte heom in apressour a pressour & peyned heom þer-ynne
Til ten ȝardes or twolue tolden oute þrettene
My wif was awynnester a wynnester for to spynne hit softe[^114]
þe pound þat heo paied heom by[^a777] passed aqwarter a qwarter[^115]
more þan myn owne deode[^a778] when y weye trewthe
y boghte hire barlich heo brewed hit to seolle
Peny ale & pylewile ofte heo[^a779] poured to-gedres
For laborers & litel[^a780] folk þat lyued by heom-seoluen
þe beste in my bedchaumber lay by þe benche[^a781]
And who-so drong[^a782] þer-of boght hit þer-after
Agalon A galon for agrote a grote god wot no lasse
when hit come in coppemal þat crafte my wif vseth[^a783]
Rose þe regratour whose rykeneth right was[^a784] hire nam[^a785]
heo hath holden hoxtre wel elleoue[^a786] wynter
Bot Iswere I swere now to þe[^a787] þat synne schal y leue[^a788]
And neuer wickedlich weye no wicked chaffare make
Bote wenden to walsyngham & my wif alse
And bid þe Rode of Bromholm brynge me oute of synne[^a789]
//
Now by gille[^a790] glotoun for to go to schrifte
And kaireth him to chircheward his schrift[^a791] for to schewe
And beton þe bribester[^a792] bad him god morwen
And eke[^a793] asked of him whideward he wolde
To holy chirche quod he for to here amasse a masse[^a794]
And seothen beo schryuen wol y[^a795] & synnen no more
I haue good ale[^a796] quod heo to glotoun[^a797] with good heorte[^a798] ass aie
hastow oght[^a799][^116] quod he of any[^a800] hote spices
ya glotoun gossipe quod heo I am not al boute[^a801]
Ihaue I haue garlek & greyn de Parys & fenelsed for men fast:::[^117]
& þou kepest bote þe coos of aknyues a knyues haft tofore þe :::::[^118]
For I wot in my wit what þy wombe wilneth[^119]
þanne goth glotoun yn & grete othes after
And kytte[^a802] þe sowester þat sat softe[^a803] on hire benche
Watte þe weuer[^a804] and his wyf bothe
Tomme þe tynkere & tweyne of his knawes
hykke þe hakeneyman þat coude wel heue þe coppe[^a805]
Clarice of kockeslane þat klatre can faste[^a806]
Dawe þer was & dolfyn[^a807] & adoseyn a doseyn othir
harry bribour[^a808][^120] aratoner a ratoner & araker a raker of chepe
Aroper A roper & aredyng-kyng a redyng-kyng & Rose þe disscher
Of vp-holders an hepe erly by þe morwen[^a809]
ȝeuen glotoun with glad chere to hansel agalon a galon of good ale[^a810][^121]
Clement þe kobler caste of his cloke
And at þe neowe faire nempned hit to seolle
hikke þe ostiler hitte his hod sone after[^a811]
And bad Bette þe bocher beon on his by-halue[^a812]
þer weore chapmen chosen þat chaffare to preysen
For who-so[^a813] þe hod hadde[^a814] scholde amendes haue[^a815][^122]
Of him þat þe cloke had & þat heom thoghte skille[^a816][^123]
þo risen vp in rape & rowneden to-gedres[^124]
Til robyn þe roper was Irad to rise
And nempned him for noun-piere þat no debate aros[^a817]
hicke þeo hostiler þanne hadde þe cloke
In couenaunt þat clement scholde fulle þe coppe[^a818]
And haue hicke hod hostiler[^a819] & holde him yserued
And[^a820] repentid[^a821][^125] rathest scholde arise after
And grete sir glotoun with agalon a galon ale
þer was laghyng & louryng & let go þe coppe
Bargayns & beuerages by-gonnen to arise
And seten so til euesong & songon wel murie[^a822]
Til glotoun þorgh þe golet let glide[^a823] to galons[^a824] & a gille
vche tyme þat he pissed more þen apotel a potel þer passed[^126]
And with þat he[^a825] blew þe rounde rewet at his[^a826] ruggebones eynde
þat alle þat herde þat horn heold heore nose after
And wissched þat hit[^a827] had beon waxed with a wisp of firses
he had no streynthe to stondon ar he his staf hadde
And þanne can he gon god wot þe sothe[^a828]
hiderward & þedirward auaunt & arere[^127]
As whos laide lynes to lacche alle[^a829] foules
When he drogh to þe dore þen dymmed his eyghnen
he stomblod on þe þrosschald & threw to þe eorthe
þat with al þe woo of þis world his wif & his wenche
Beren him to his bed &broghten & broghten him þer-ynne
And after al his[^a830] sorfet an accesse he hadde
þat he slepte settresday & sonday til sonne ȝede to softe[^a831]
þan waked he of his wynkyng & wiped his eygnen
þe furste word þat he spak was wher is þe bolle
þan his wif at his word wratthede sore[^128]
And[^a832] blamed him þat he wolde ay beon so bold to[^a833] synnen
And for to leden suche lif þat leosed wel monye[^129]
And made heom haue heore home in helle for euer[^130]
þan was he aschamed þat schrewe[^a834][^131] & gan schrapen[^a835] hise eyne[^a836]
And by-gan to grede[^a837] grymly & gret deol to make
For his luther lif þat he so longe lyued[^a838] hadde
And avowed wel[^a839] faste for hongor or for thirste
Schal neuer fisch on friday defye in my wombe
Ar abstinence myn aunte haue ȝeuen me leue
And ȝet yhaue y haue[^a840] hated hire al my lif tyme
Slouthe for sorwe feol doun y-swowe
Til vigilate þe veile fet water at his eyghnen
And flat hit on his face & faste on him cried
And saide war þe for wanhope he wol[^a841] þe bytraye
I am sory of[^a842] my synnes say to þy-seoluen
And[^a843] þy-seolf on þy[^a844] brest & bid him of grace
For is þer[^a845] no gult here so gret þat his godnes is more
cc
þan sat slouthe vp & signed him faste
And made a vowe to-fore god for his foule slouthe
Schal no sondeday beo þis seouen ȝeir bot seknes hit make
þat I no schal dighte[^a846] me ar day & do me to[^a847] þe chirche[^a848]
And here masse & matyns als I amonk a monk were
Schal none ale after mete holden me þennes
Til Ihaue I haue euensong herd Ihote I hote to þe rode
And ȝet wol Iȝelden I ȝelden aȝeyn ȝef Iso I so muche haue
Al þat Iwickedly I wickedly wan seothe I wit hadde
And þagh my liflode lacke leue[^a849] I no wol
þat vche mon schal haue his or I hennes wende
And with þe resydewe & þe remenant by þe rode of chester
y wol seche seynt treouthe[^a850][^132] or Iseo I seo rome
Robard þe robbour on reddite he loked[^a851]
Bote for þer was not wher-with he weopte wel[^a852] sore
Bote[^a853] ȝet þe synful schrewe saide to him-seoluen
Crist þat on caluarie apon þe cros dyedest
þo dismas my brother by-soghte þe of grace
And þou hadest mercy on þat mon for memento sake
þy wil worth apon me as I haue wel deserued
To haue helle for euer ȝef þat hope no weore
So reowe on þis Robart þat red non[^a854] no haueth
No neuer wene to wynne wiþ crafte þat he[^a855] knowe
Bote for þy muchel mercy mytigacioun I by-seche
And dampne[^a856] me not on[^a857] domesday for I dude so ille
Bote what by-feol of þis feoloun I kan not faire schewe
wel I wot he weopte faste water with his eyghnen
And knoweleched his gult to crist ȝet efte-sones
þat penitencia his pyk scholde polessche neowe
And lepe with him ouer lond al his lif tyme
For he had leye by latro lucifers aunte
Athousand A thousand þo[^a858] thryngen to-gedres
Weopyng & weylyng for heore wicked dedes
kryeden vpward to crist & to his leoue[^a859] modur
To haue grace to gon with agood a good wille[^a860][^133]
To seche seynt treouthe[^a861] god leue þat þey so[^a862] mote

[^a672: was me (La Ha E) | was (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a673: doun (La E) | adoun (V Ha J K Wa N Ch Ra U A Ma)]

[^a674: fore-telle (La D) | beofore tolde (V J N T H2 Ch Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a675: of tolde (La Wa E) | toulde (K H2 D A)]

[^a676: for the prechynge (La) | for to preche (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma)]

[^a677: Bote he (La) | And (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a678: heore (La) | puire (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a679: at (La) | on (K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a680: segges (La) | to men (V Ha Ma) | sent god (T H2 Ch)]

[^a681: muche mamele & (La) | mamelyn (J T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a682: longe (La Ch) | wel longe (J K T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a683: kraftyliche kan (La) | comsede to (V K T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a684: werke (La) | craft (V Ha J K Wa N D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a685: proude porfile (La) | porfil (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a686: toughe (La) | twey (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a687: felice hom (La Ra) | hom Felice (V Ha J K Wa N Ch D U E A Ma)]

[^a688: wymmen (La) | wyuene (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a689: witerly his (La) | his (V Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a690: wite (La) | blame (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a691: putten heom to-gedre (La) | togedere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a692: And (La) | Þat þei (V Ha K T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a693: ȝou sauen (La) | sauen ow (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma)]

[^a694: &cetera (La) | patre &cetera (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a695: falle (La V K) | befalle (J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a696: oure lord (La) | lord (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a697: maked with his myght (La) | maade (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a698: schorte (La Ha Ma) | serk (J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a699: fresch (La Ha Ra U) | fers (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D E Ma)]

[^a700: þat (La) | al þat (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a701: þe lechoure (La Ch) | Lechour (V T H2 D Ra U E A)]

[^a702: gradde (La) | criede (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a703: of (La Wa) | for (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a704: his soule (La K Wa E Ma) | hym (T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a705: gult (La J) | Culpe (K Wa N T H2 D U E)]

[^a706: by-gynneth he (La K Wa N T H2) | biginneþ (V Ha J Ch D Ma)]

[^a707: semeth (La) | seemede (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a708: And (La) | He was (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a709: coude y (La) | I couþe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a710: his (La Ha K Wa E A) | þe (J N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a711: leek (La) | leek þat hedde (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a712: longe leyen (La) | leiȝen longe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a713: the hote (La) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a714: or (La N D) | or with (V Ha K Wa U E Ma)]

[^a715: And walweth (La) | Walwith (J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a716: worcheth (La A) | waxeþ (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a717: me wrathe (La) | as I wene (J K N T H2 Ch U E)]

[^a718: þat I myghte (La) | I miȝt (Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a719: aughte (La V Ha K N) | myht (J T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a720: defame (La) | fame (J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a721: haue pursued (La) | pursued (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a722: feole sithes (La) | wel ofte (K T H2 Ra)]

[^a723: And eke (La Ha K Ma) | And (J T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a724: mad (La) | don (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a725: wordes (La) | tonge (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a726: so muche (La) | most (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a727: so (La) | as (V K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a728: so (La) | as (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a729: him done (La) | don him (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a730: him mayme (La) | mortheryn him (J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a731: y (La J A) | to (Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a732: crie I (La) | I crie (V J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra A)]

[^a733: hom (La V Ha Wa N Ra E A) | him (J K T H2 Ch D U Ma)]

[^a734: bolles (La N) | bolle (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a735: schetes (La) | schete (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a736: y (La) | and (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a737: by-hynde me on aneowe a neowe kote haue (La) | hou heyne haþ a newe cote (T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a738: wyssche yhit y hit (La Ha) | Ich wussche hit (V J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a739: while (La A) | tyme (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a740: þey don (La Ha) | þere þei don (T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a741: do y (La Ch) | I do (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a742: wolde (La) | wolde þat (V Ha K T H2 Ch Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a743: knaue in þis world wonyng (La) | knaue (V J K T H2 Ch Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a744: whad þat (La) | whoso (Ha K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a745: he (La) | þat (J K N T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a746: And þanne ȝef (La) | Ȝif (V Ha J N D Ra)]

[^a747: any schryft (La Ma) | shrift (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a748: saue (La J) | schope (K Wa N T Ch D Ma)]

[^a749: semed hit a (La) | a (V K N T H2 Ch D U Ma)]

[^a750: And saide sorwe (La) | Sorwe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a751: ofte wel (La) | wel (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a752: And (La) | And þat (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra E A Ma)]

[^a753: Bote (La) | So (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a754: lowe (La) | holewe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a755: loketh (La Wa) | loked (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a756: eken as (La) | as (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U Ma H)]

[^a757: bothe his (La) | his (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a758: twenty (La) | twelue (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a759: not haue wandred (La) | wandre (V K N T Ch D Ma)]

[^a760: wede (La Ha E H) | walsshe scarlet (T H2 Ch D)]

[^a761: for wantyng of wolle (La) | so was it thredebare (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D E A)]

[^a762: quod þat kaityf couetouse beo (La) | be couetous quaþ þat caitif (Ha Wa N E A H)]

[^a763: now here (La) | heere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D E A Ma H)]

[^a764: nokke (La V J Wa N H2 Ch D) | þe noke (Ha K T Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a765: And furste (La) | furst (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a766: or (La V Ch Ma) | oþer (Ha J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U H)]

[^a767: woborne (La) | Wye (Wa N T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a768: þat (La) | as (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a769: myd medled (La) | hihte (V J K Wa N Ma H)]

[^a770: vn-sold beon (La) | ben vnsold (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a771: saue (La) | helpe (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a772: listes (La) | lyste (V Ha K T H2 Ch D E A Ma)]

[^a773: on teyntre we hit tileden (La) | þe lengore hit semede (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D E A Ma H)]

[^a774: þe same (La) | a (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a775: And broched (La) | Brochede hem (V Ha J N T H2 Ch D Ra E A)]

[^a776: platted (La A) | pletede (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a777: heom by (La K H) | by (J N T H2 Ch Ra U Ma)]

[^a778: deode (La) | auncel dude (V Ha K N T H2 Ch D)]

[^a779: ofte heo (La) | heo (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a780: litel (La) | louh (V J K N T H2 Ch)]

[^a781: benche (La) | wowe (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D U A Ma H)]

[^a782: drong (La Ha Ma) | Bummede (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U)]

[^a783: vseth (La Ha) | vsede (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a784: whose rykeneth right was (La) | was (Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E A Ma H)]

[^a785: nam (La J) | rihte name (V Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a786: wel elleoue (La) | elleuen (J K Wa N T H2 D E H)]

[^a787: to þe (La) | soþely (Ha K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a788: leue (La Ha Wa Ma) | lete (V J K N T H2 D Ra U H)]

[^a789: synne (La) | dette (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a790: by gille (La) | ginneþ (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a791: schrift (La V Ha) | synnes (Wa T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a792: bribester (La) | breustere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a793: eke (La) | heo (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a794: amasse a masse (La) | masse (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a795: beo schryuen wol y (La) | I wol be shryuen (Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a796: ale (La D U Ma) | ale gossib (V Ha K N T H2 Ch Ra E A H)]

[^a797: to glotoun (La) | gloten (V K N T H2 Ch Ra U E A)]

[^a798: with good heorte (La) | wiltou (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a799: hastow oght (La J U A) | hast thou (K T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma H)]

[^a800: of any (La) | eny (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a801: I am not al boute (La) | god wot wel hote (Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U A H)]

[^a802: And kytte (La) | Sesse (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a803: þat sat softe (La) | sat (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a804: weuer (La J) | wafferar (K T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a805: þat coude wel heue þe coppe (La) | and hogge þe neldere (V J A)]

[^a806: þat klatre can faste (La) | and þe clerk of þe churche (V K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a807: þer was & dolfyn (La) | þe disschere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a808: harry bribour (La) | A Ribibar (K Wa N T H2 Ch D U)]

[^a809: morwen (La A) | morwe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a810: to hansel agalon a galon of good ale (La) | good ale to honsel (V J K N T H2 Ch A Ma H)]

[^a811: sone after (La) | aftur (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a812: by-halue (La) | side (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a813: For who-so (La N) | hose (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D E A Ma H)]

[^a814: þe hod hadde (La) | hedde þe hod (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a815: amendes haue (La) | haue amendes (V Ha J T H2 D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a816: Of him þat þe cloke had & þat heom thoghte skille (La) | of the cloke (K T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a817: aros (La) | were (Ha J K H2 D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a818: scholde fulle þe coppe (La) | þe cuppe schuld fille (J K Wa Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a819: hostiler (La A H) | þe ostiler (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a820: And (La) | And hoso (J K Wa T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a821: repentid (La N Ra) | repenteþ (V K T H2 Ch)]

[^a822: wel murie (La) | sumwhile (V Ha Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a823: þorgh þe golet let glide (La) | hedde ygloupet (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a824: to galons (La) | a Galoun (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a825: And with þat he (La) | And (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a826: at his (La N H2 Ma) | at þe (Ha J K T Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a827: þat hit (La V E H) | it (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a828: god wot þe sothe (La) | lyk a gleomonnes bicche (V N U E Ma H)]

[^a829: alle (La) | wiþ (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch E A Ma H)]

[^a830: his (La Ch) | þis (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 D U E A H)]

[^a831: softe (La) | reste (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a832: And (La) | his wyf (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a833: þat he wolde ay beon so bold to (La) | þan of wyckydnesse & (J K N T H2 Ch D U E)]

[^a834: he aschamed þat schrewe (La V K A) | þe shrewe ashamed (Ha J H2 Ch Ra U)]

[^a835: gan schrapen (La N) | schraped (V K Wa T H2 D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a836: eyne (La) | eren (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a837: to grede (La V J D Ra U) | greton (K Wa N T H2 Ch E A)]

[^a838: so longe lyued (La) | iliued (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a839: wel (La) | to (J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a840: yhaue y haue (La V Ha K) | haue I (J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a841: he wol (La Kx1 U) | wil (Wa T H2 D Ra A)]

[^a842: of (La J Wa N) | for (V Ha Kx1 Kx2 T H2 Ch D Ra E A Ma H)]

[^a843: And (La) | And bet (V Ha J Kx1 Kx2 Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a844: þy (La Ha Wa Ra) | þe (V J Kx1 Kx2 N T H2 Ch D U E A Ma H)]

[^a845: is þer (La) | is (Kx1 Kx2 Wa T H2 Ch A H)]

[^a846: dighte (La Wa) | do (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a847: & do me to (La) | to (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a848: chirche (La E) | dore churche (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D A Ma)]

[^a849: leue (La) | letten (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D U A Ma H)]

[^a850: seynt treouthe (La V Ha E) | treuþe (J Wa T Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a851: he loked (La V) | loked (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a852: wel (La Wa Ra) | swiþe (Ha K T H2 D U Ma)]

[^a853: Bote (La V Ha N) | And (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a854: red non (La T H2 Ch U) | no red (V Ha J Wa D)]

[^a855: he (La T H2 Ch D Ra U) | I (V Ha J K Wa N E A Ma H)]

[^a856: And dampne (La) | Dampne (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a857: on (La V K E) | at (J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a858: þo (La) | men þo (V J K N Ch A H)]

[^a859: leoue (La) | clene (V Ha J K Wa N Ch D Ra U E H)]

[^a860: grace to gon with agood a good wille (La) | grace (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a861: seynt treouthe (La V) | treuþe (Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a862: þey so (La V Ha H) | they (K Wa N T H2 Ch D U E Ma)]

[^92: Cf. V me was]

[^93: La lacks the line that follows this one in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra D U E A Ma; in V, þat Forþer miht i not a fote for defaute of sleep.]

[^94: Cf. also K that ye segges]

[^95: La.5.30-32 are elaborated from a single line found in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma; in V, þat hire hed was worþ a mark & his hod worþ a grote.]

[^96: A line in the same ink as Anthony Foster’s marginal annotation runs down the left margin of the page from La.5.35 to La.5.46.]

[^97: La.5.39 substitutes for the line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma; in V, Leste þe kyng & his counseil ȝor comunes apeire (this line is omitted in A). La and A lack the line that follows this one in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma; in V, And beo stiward in oure stude til ȝe be stouwet betere.]

[^98: Cf. also V to ur ladi]

[^99: Cf. also V Ha gultus.]

[^100: J also has semyth, but with -th corrected to -d.]

[^101: La.5.69 substitutes for the line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma; in V, venim or vernisch or vinegre I trouwe.]

[^102: tn: This is one of five indicative r2 readings postulated by Schmidt that are present in La. The others are found at La.7.12, La.7.129, La.7.161, and La.7.283. J agrees with r1 here, while Wa has sholde, agreeing with m.]

[^103: Cf. also Ha I made.]

[^104: La and Ha lack the three lines that follow this one in V K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma (the third of these lines is also lacking in J); in V, his grase and his good hap greueþ me ful sore/ Bitwene him and his meyne Ichaue I mad wraþþe/ Boþe his lyf and his leome was lost þorw my tonge.]

[^105: Cf. also Ha hadde maymed]

[^106: La V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U omit the line that follows this one in Wa E A Ma; in Wa, For pilgrimes for palmers for al þe peple after. Both Kane and Schmidt consider the omitted line to be part of Ax.]

[^107: La lacks the line that follows this one in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma; in V, From þe auter I turne myn eiȝe and biholde. Kane observes that the line lacking in La is mislineated in all other manuscripts, most likely owing to the omission of a word at the start of the line early in the transmission of the text. Kane, A text, 441.]

[^108: The scribe executes a loop before swage, apparently the first stroke of an uncancelled letter, perhaps the w of swage, or the top of a two-compartment a, for aswage, a variant attested in K and J.]

[^109: This is a wrapped line: wondur is written above the line, in line with La.5.96, and enclosed on two sides by a bracket.]

[^110: This is a wrapped line: nen is written below the line, in line with La.5.105, and enclosed on two sides by a bracket.]

[^111: This line divides after yghnen only in Schmidt’s r2 group: La V Ha J K Wa N. Elsewhere, the line divides after boþe T H2 Ch; after baberlypped Ra D Ma; and after biterbrowed U. E A Ma H present an expanded version of the b-verse as a separate line.]

[^112: La.5.107 and La.5.108 substitute for a single line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H; in V, But ȝif a lous couþe lepe I con hit not I leue.]

[^113: Cf. also Wa H2 E A H not wandre.]

[^114: La.5.125 conflates the a- and b- verses from two successive lines found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H; in V, And my wyf at Westmunstre þat wollene cloþ made/ Spak to þe spinsters for to spinne hit softe.]

[^115: This line divides after qwarter in La E A Ma H, and after more in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U.]

[^116: Cf. also V Ha Hastou ouȝt in þi pors and N ȝe hastow ought in þi purse.]

[^117: La.5.150 is a corrupt form of two lines that appear at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H; in V, I haue peper and piane and a pound of garlek/ A Ferþingworþ of Fenelseed for þis Fastyng dayes.]

[^118: This line is only attested in La]

[^119: This line is only attested in La]

[^120: Cf. also J A bribure]

[^121: Cf. also E a gallon of ale to hansele and Wa, where the whole line reads Eche man for hansel to gloton drank a galon ale.]

[^122: La.5.169 and La.5.170 are elaborated from a single line found in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H; in V, hoso hedde þe hod schulde haue amendes.]

[^123: of the clock, from which this line is elaborated in La, is omitted in all r2 manuscripts except K]

[^124: La and K lack the three lines that follow this one in V J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H; in V, And preiseden þe peniworþes & parteden bi hem seluen/ þer weoren oþes an hep hose þat hit herde/ þei couþe not bi heore concience acorde togedere. The first of these lines is also lacking in Ha, and the third in A. Kane proposes that the omission of these lines in La may result from homeoteleuton, skipping from 'togederes' at the end of K.5.174 to 'togederes' at the end of K.5.177]

[^125: Cf. also Ha J repentid hym]

[^126: La.5.183 is a corrupted form of the line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H; in V, he pissede a potel in a pater noster while.]

[^127: La.5.189 is a corrupted form of the line found at this point in V Ha Wa N U E A Ma H; in V, sum tyme asyde and sum tyme arere. (In J K T H2 Ch D Ra, this line is combined with the previous line.)]

[^128: This line is only attested in La]

[^129: This line is only attested in La]

[^130: This line is only attested in La]

[^131: Cf. also Wa he shamed þe shrewe; D Ma he asschamed þe schrewe]

[^132: Cf. also N and H2 where later correctors add seynt]

[^133: La.5.251 and La.5.252 are elaborated from a single line found in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H; in V, To haue grace to seche seint treuþe god leue þei so mote.]

//
Agh þer weore fewe men so wys þat þe way[^a863] couthe
Bote bleoseden forth blusteryng[^a864] as bestes ouer hulles & dales[^a865][^134]
Til late & longe þat þey aleod a leod metten
Iparailed as apalmare a palmare[^a866][^135] in pilgrymes wise
he bar abordon a bordon ybounden with abrod a brod liste
In awrethewyndeswyse a wrethewyndes wyse y-wounden al aboute[^a867]
Abagge A bagge & abolle a bolle he bar by his syde
An hundred of saumples[^a868] on his hat seten
Synes of synay and schelles of galys
And mony acrouche a crouche on his cloke and keyes of rome
And a[^a869]vernycle a[^a870] vernycle byforn for men scholde him knowe[^a871][^136]
And seon by his signes whom he soght hadde
This folk frayned him faire fro whennes þat he come
Fro synay he saide & fro þe seynt sepulcre[^a872]
At beedlehem at babiloyne I haue beon in bothe
In Ermony in alisaunder in mony othir places
ȝe mowe seon on[^a873] myn signes þat sitten on myn hatte
þat Ihaue I haue walked wel wide in wete & in drye
And soght gode seyntis for my soule helthe
knowest þou oght acorseynt a corseynt quod þey þat men callen trouthe
konst þou wissen vs þe wey þer[^a874] þat wyghe dwelleth
Nay so me god helpe saide þe gome þanne
ysaw y saw neuer palmer with pyk no with skryppe
Asken euer after[^a875] him er now in þis place
cc
Peter quod aploghmon a ploghmon and putte forth his hed
y knowe him as kyndelich as clerk doth his bokes
Clene consience & wit me kenneth[^a876][^137] to his place
And dude me ensuren[^a877][^138] him sithen to[^a878] serue[^a879] for euer
Bothe sowe & sette whiles y swynke myghte
Ihaue I haue beon his folewer al this fourty wynter
Bothe sowen his[^139] seed & sywed his bestes
And keped his korn & caried hit to house[^140]
Dyked & doluen and don what he hoted
With-ynne &[^141] with-oute & wayted his profite
þer is no laborer in þis[^a880] lordschipe þat he loueth better
For þaugh Isay I say hit my-seolf Iserued[^a881] I serued[^a882] him to paye
y haue myn huyre of him[^a883] & othir-whiles more
he is þeo prestest paier þat pore men knowen
he with-halt non hyne his huyre þat he no hit hath[^a884][^142] at eue
he is als lowe as alombe a lombe & loueliche of speche
And ȝef ȝe wilneth to wite[^a885] wher þat he dwellyth
y schal wissen ow wel riȝt hom[^a886][^143] to his place
ware to others
ȝe leoue Piers quod[^a887] pilgryms & profereden him huyre
Nay by þe peril of my soule quod pers & can[^a888] faste swere[^a889]
Inolde I nolde fonge aferthyng a ferthyng for seynt thomas schryne
cc
Trouthe wolde loue me þe lasse[^a890] along a long while[^a891] þer -after[^a892]
Bote ȝe þat wilnen to wende þis is þe way þyder
ȝe mot go þorgh meokenesse bothe men & wyues
Til ȝe come to consience þat crist wite þe sothe
þat ȝe louen him leuer þan þe lif in ȝoure heortis
And ȝoure[^a893] neyghebours nexte in none wise apaire
Oþer-wise þan ȝe[^a894] wolde men wroghte to or-seolue[^a895]
And so bowes forth by abrok a brok beoth boxom of speche
for-to ȝe fynde aforde a forde ȝoure fadres ȝe honoure[^a896]
wadyth into þat water & wassche ȝe ow wel þere
And ȝe schule lepe þe lythtloker al ȝour lif after[^a897]
So schal ȝe seo swer not bote ȝef hit beo for nede
And namelich on ydel þe name of god almyghty
þanne schule ȝe come by acroft a croft bote come not þer-ynne
covitise
þe crofte hatte coueite not no[^a898] mannes catell[^144]
No heore wifes no[^a899] heore seruauns þat nuyen heom myghte
Loke þou breke no bogh þer bote ȝef hit[^a900] beo þyn owne
Two stockes þer stondeth bote stynt þou noght þere
stele not and slea not
þay hatten steol not no slee not stryk forth by bothe
Lef heom on þy lifte half & loke not þer-after
And hold wel þyn haliday hye til euen
þanne schaltow blenche at[^a901] berwh bere no fals witnes
he is fretted with floryns and fees[^a902] wel manye[^a903]
Loke þou plukke no plante þer for peril of þy soule
And[^a904] schaltow seo sithe[^a905] so hit beo to done
And loke þat þou lie not for no mannes byddyng
þanne schaltow come to acourte a courte as cler as þe sonne
þeo mote is of mercy þat þe[^a906] maner encloseth[^a907]
And alle þe walles beon of wit to holden wil þer -owte
þeo cornels beon of cristendom þat kynd is for to[^a908][^145] kepen[^a909]
And boterased with byleue so or þou bes notes saued
Alle þe houses beon heoled halles & chaumbres
with no led bote with loue[^a910][^146] as bretheren of awombe a wombe
þeo tour þer treouthe is him-seolf is vp to þe sonne
he may do wiþ þe day steorre what him deore likyth
Deth dar not don thyng þat he defendeth
Grace hatte þe gateward agood a good mon for-sothe
his man hatte amende þou[^a911][^147] for mony men[^a912] he knoweth
Tel him þis tokene treouthe wot þe sothe
yperformed y performed þe panaunce þe prest me enioyned
And am sory for my synnes & so schal I euer
When Ithenke I thenke þeron þeygh I weore apope a pope
Biddeth amende þou meokyn him to his maister[^148]
Ones to wayue vp þe wyket þat þe whye schette
When[^a913][^149] adam & Eue eten heore bane
For he hath þe keye of þe clyket þagh þe kyng slepe
And ȝef grace graunte þe to gon yn in[^a914] þis tyme[^a915]
þou schalt seon trouthe him-seolf wel sitte in þyn heorte[^150]
And lere þou[^a916] for to loue him[^a917][^151] & his lawes holden
And beo war þenne of wratthe þat wicked schrewe
For he hath enuye to him þat in þyn heorte sitteth
And poketh forth pruyde to preisen þy-seoluen
þe boldnes of þy bienfaitz makith þe blynd þanne
So[^a918] worst þou dryuen[^a919] as dew & þe dore closed
y-keyed & y-clyketed to kepe þe þer-oute
happely an hundred wynter or þou efte entre
þus myghtestow leosen his loue to lete wel by þy-seoluen
& hit geten[^a920] aȝeyn þorgh grace & þorgh no ȝefte elles
Bote þer arn seouen sustres þat seruen trouthe euer
And beon porters to þe postornes þat to þe place longeth
þat on hatte abstinence & humylite anothir
Charite & chastite beon his[^a921] tweye[^a922][^152] maydenes
Pacience & pees muchel folk[^a923] þey helpen
Largenesse þe lady lat yn wel manye
Bote who[^a924] is sib to þis sustres so me god helpe
he is wondurlich welcome & faire vndurfonge
Bote þagh[^a925] ȝe bee sibbe to somme of þeose seouen
hit is wel hard by myn hed to any[^a926] of ȝou alle
To gete in-ȝong[^a927] at eny gate bote grace beo þe better[^a928]
By crist quod akutte-purs a kutte-purs yhaue y haue no kyn þere
Ne I quod an apewart by oght þat I knowe
wite god quod awafrer a wafrer wiste I þat for-sothe
scholde neuer afote a fote forther[^a929] for no frere[^a930] prechyng
ȝus quod Piers ploghmon[^a931] & plocked[^a932] hire[^a933] to gode
Mercy is amaiden a maiden þer hath myth ouer heom alle
And heo is sibbe to alle synful & hire sone alse
And þorgh þe help of heom two hope þou none othir
þou myght gete grace þer so þou go by tyme

[^a863: way (La Ha) | wei þider (V J K Wa N Ch U E A Ma H)]

[^a864: bleoseden forth blusteryng (La) | blustrid forth (K Wa T H2 Ch A H)]

[^a865: hulles & dales (La) | valeyes & hulles (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a866: apalmare a palmare (La V Ha K E) | paynym (J Wa N T Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a867: al aboute (La) | aboute (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch E Ma H)]

[^a868: saumples (La E) | ampolles (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a869: a (La) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a870: a (La) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a871: him knowe (La V D Ra U A) | knowe (Ha J K N T H2 Ch Ma H)]

[^a872: seynt sepulcre (La) | sepulcre (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a873: on (La) | be (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a874: þer (La A Ma H) | wher (V Ha J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a875: euer after (La) | after (Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a876: me kenneth (La) | kenned me (N T H2 Ch D U E)]

[^a877: me ensuren (La) | me to sure (T Ch D Ra U)]

[^a878: sithen to (La V J N A) | to (Ha T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a879: serue (La) | serue him (V Ha J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a880: þis (La V Wa Ma) | his (J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a881: serued (La Ch) | serue (V Ha J N T H2 D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a882: serued (La Ch) | serue (V Ha J N T H2 D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a883: him (La Ha T H2 Ch Ma) | him wel (V J N D Ra U A H)]

[^a884: no hit hath (La) | ne haþ it (N T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a885: to wite (La J N T H2 D) | wite (Ha Wa Ch Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a886: riȝt hom (La Ha) | riht (J N Ra E Ma H)]

[^a887: quod (La H) | quaþ þe (Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a888: can (La A) | gan for to (J N H2 Ra U)]

[^a889: faste swere (La) | swere (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U) [Cf. also E A Ma H swere faste, and Ha where this line concludes & fast he dide swere.]]

[^a890: lasse (La V N) | wors (Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a891: while (La V Ha Wa A Ma) | tyme (J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E H)]

[^a892: þer -after (La N H2) | after (V T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a893: ȝoure (La Wa Ma) | þan ȝor (J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a894: ȝe (La Ra U E) | þou (V J Wa N T H2 Ch D A Ma H)]

[^a895: or-seolue (La Ra U E Ma) | þiseluen (V J Wa N T H2 Ch D A H)]

[^a896: ȝe honoure (La E) | honoureth (Wa N T H2 D U) [Cf. also Ma ȝe honnourdd and J hem ȝe honoure.]]

[^a897: after (La Wa E Ma H) | tyme (V J N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a898: not no (La) | not (V N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a899: no (La J) | Ne non of (V Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a900: ȝef hit (La V N E Ma H) | it (J Wa T H2 D A)]

[^a901: at (La) | at a (V J N T H2 Ch D E Ma H)]

[^a902: fees (La) | oþer feese (J Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a903: wel manye (La V) | many (J Wa N T H2 D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a904: And (La) | Þene (V Wa Ra U E Ma H) | And þan (J T H2 Ch D)]

[^a905: sithe (La) | sei soþ (V Wa T H2 Ch Ra U Ma H)]

[^a906: þat þe (La) | þe (V J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a907: encloseth (La) | al aboute (V J T H2 Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a908: is for to (La) | to (V J N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a909: kepen (La) | saue (V Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a910: loue (La V J N U) | loue & louȝnesse (T H2 Ch D Ra A H)]

[^a911: þou (La V) | ȝow (J Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U Ma H)]

[^a912: men (La V Ra E Ma) | man (J Wa N T H2 Ch D U H)]

[^a913: When (La) | Þo (J T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a914: yn in (La V N) | in (Wa T Ch D Ma H)]

[^a915: tyme (La) | wyse (V J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a916: þou (La) | þe (Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a917: loue him (La J Wa N) | loue (T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a918: So (La K N Ch) | And so (V J T H2 D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a919: dryuen (La E) | driuen out (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a920: hit geten (La) | gete hit (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a921: his (La N E Ma H) | her (J K Wa T H2 Ch Ra)]

[^a922: tweye (La) | chef (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a923: folk (La J T H2 Ch D) | peple (V K Wa N E A Ma H)]

[^a924: who (La N Ra) | hose (V J K Wa T H2 Ch D E A Ma H)]

[^a925: þagh (La) | bote (V K Wa N Ma) | ȝif (T Ch U A H)]

[^a926: to any (La) | eny (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a927: in-ȝong (La) | ingate (K Ra U E H)]

[^a928: better (La) | more (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a929: afote a fote forther (La Ch) | ferþere a foote (V J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a930: frere (La Wa E) | freres (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a931: Piers ploghmon (La Ra U E) | pers þe plouȝmon (V J K N T H2 Ch D A Ma H)]

[^a932: plocked (La A) | pokyd (K N T Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a933: hire (La V J N A Ma) | hym (K Wa T H2 Ch Ra U E)]

[^134: Cf. also Ma H dales & helles.]

[^135: Cf. also H2, where a later corrector has altered paynym to palmer]

[^136: Cf also Wa knowe hym.]

[^137: Cf also Ra A kennyþ me]

[^138: Cf. also V enseure me; H2 me to ensure]

[^139: his is overwritten with darker ink]

[^140: This line has been overwritten with darker ink]

[^141: With-ynne & has been overwritten in darker ink]

[^142: Cf. also V hit naþ]

[^143: Cf. also V þe wey hom.]

[^144: The line divides after catell in La and J; in V N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H, the line divides after wyues.]

[^145: Cf. also E for to.]

[^146: Cf. also J pure loue]

[^147: Kane notes that the E reading is uncertain and could be either þou or you.]

[^148: The line divides after maister in La J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U, and after ones in V J E Ma H.]

[^149: Cf. also Wa Whan þat.]

[^150: This is a wrapped line: the last two letters of heorte are written below the line, roughly in line with La.6.94, and enclosed on two sides by a bracket.]

[^151: Cf. also V loue him wel.]

[^152: Cf. also V tweyne ful Choyse.]

//
Thys weore awel a wel[^a934] wicked wey bot ho[^a935] hadde agyde a gyde
þat myghte folewe vs vche afote a fote[^a936] forto for to[^a937] we weore þere
Quod Perkyn þe ploghmon by seynt poule apostel[^a938]
yhaue y haue an half acre of hered lond[^a939][^153] by þe hyghe-weye
yschal y schal hye me in haste til I haue hit done[^154]
And þanne wol I wandre[^a940] til ȝe beon[^a941] there
þis weore along a long lettyng quod alady a lady þat loured in[^a942] hire[^a943] skleyre
what schule we wymmen worche in þe mene[^a944] while
Somme schal sowe þe sak for schedyng of whete[^a945]
And ȝe wyues þa hauen wolle worches hit faste
Spynneth hit spedlich spareth not ȝoure fyngres
Bote ȝef hit beo halyday or elles[^a946][^155] holy euen
Loketh forth oure lynnen & laboreth þer -on faste
þe nedy & þe naked nymeth ȝeme[^a947] how þey lyggen
kasteth heom clothes for colde for so wilneth trouthe
for Ischal I schal lene heom liflode bote ȝef þe lond faile
Als longe as I lyue for þe lordes loue of heouene
And ȝe louely ladyes with oure longe fyngres
þat han seolk & sandel sowe hit when tyme is
Chesibles for chapeleyns chirches to honoure
And alle maner of men þat by þe mete libbeth
helpe heom worche wightelich þat wynneth ȝoure fode
cc
By crist quod aknyȝt a knyȝt þo þou kennest vs þe beste
Bote abetter a better[^a948] teme taught[^a949] was me neuer
Bote kenne me now[^a950] quod þe knyght for cristes loue of heouene[^a951]
how y schal my lif lede & libbe þer-after[^156]
By seynt Poule quod Perkyn þou[^a952] proferest me[^a953] wel[^a954] lowe
And þer-fore schal Iswynke I swynke[^a955] & sowe for vs bothe
And eke labouren for þy loue al my lif tyme
In couenaunt þat holi chirche þou kepe[^a956] & my-seoluen[^157]
From wastours & wicked men þat wolden vs[^a957] destruye
And go honte hardiliche to hares & to foxe
To Roes[^a958] &[^a959] bokkes þat breketh myn hegges
And facche hom faukons þe foules to kulle
For theose cometh to my croft & croppeth my whete
//
þe knyght konned him thonk and cortesly saide[^158]
By my power Piers I plighte þe my trouthe
To ful-fulle þis foreward whil þat[^a960][^159] I may stande
ȝe and ȝet apoynt a poynt quod Perkyn I pray þe more
Loke þou teone no tenaunt bote trouthe wol assente
And þaugh pore men profre ȝou[^a961] presens & ȝeftes
Nyme hit not on auter þou may :::::::::::
For þou schalt ȝeilde hit aȝeyn at on ȝer es ende
In a wel perilouse place þat purga::: hat te
And mysbeode not þy bonde-men þe bet þou schalt[^a962] spede
And þat þou beo treowe of þy tonge & tales þou hate
Bot ȝef hit beo of wisdom or of wit þy werkemen to chasten
hold with none harlotes no here not here tales
And namelich at þe[^a963] mete suche men eschewe
For hit arn þe deoles dysours ydo y do þe to vndurstonde
y asente by seynt Iame quod[^a964] þe knyght þenne
For to worche by thy word ȝe whil[^a965] my lif dureth
And I schal apparaile me quod perkyn in pilgryms wise
And wende with ȝou þe wey til we fynde treuthe
he caste on his clothes clouted and hole
his cokeres & his coffes for colde of his nayles
And hang his hopre at his hals in steode of a scripe
Abosschel A bosschel of bred corn bryng me he bad[^a966] her-ynne
For I wol sowen hit my-seolf &seothen I wol[^a967] wende
And who-so helpeth me to eryen or any thyng to swynke[^a968]
Schal haue by heouene[^a969] þe more hyre in heruest
::: maken him mury with þe corn who-so hit by-grucche
And alle maner of[^a970][^160] crafty men þat konne lyue in truthe
yschal y schal fynde heom fode þat feythfulliche liben
saue Iacke þe Iogelour and Ionete at þe[^a971] styues
And Robyn þeo rybauder for his rousty wordes
Treuthe tolde me hit[^a972][^161] ones & bad me tellen hit forther[^a973]
//
Deleantur de libro · Ischolde I scholde noght dele with heom
For of heom holy chirche askith no tithe[^a974] · Et cum iustis non scribant:::[^162]
þat þey[^a975] beon ascaped goode auenture now god heom amende
Dame worche when tyme is Piers wif is cleped
his doghter hatte do right so or þou schalt abugge[^a976]
his sone hitte suffre þy souereynes for to haue heore wille
And deme heom noght for ȝef þou dost þou schalt hit sore[^a977] s:::es
Lat god worche with-al for so his word techeth
For now I am old and hor and haue of myn owne
To penaunce & to pilgrymage I wol passe with þeose oþer
For-þy I wol ar I wende don wryte my by-quyste
In dei nomine Amen Imake I make hit my-seoluen
he schal haue my soule þat best hath deserued
And defende hit fro þe feond for so I by-leue
Til y come to his acountes as my crede techeth[^a978]
To haue arelees a relees[^a979] & aremyssion a remyssion[^a980] on þat trental[^a981][^163] Itrowe I trowe[^a982]
þe chirche schal haue my kareyne & kepe my bones
For he of[^a983] corn & of[^a984] my catel crawed cra[u]ed þeo toyþe
y paied hit him[^a985] prestly for peril of my soule
he is halden Ihope I hope to haue me in mynde
And mengen in[^a986] his memory among alle cristen
My wif schal haue of þat I wan of[^a987] with trouthe & namore
And delen among my freondis & my deore child ren
For þagh I dye to-day my dettes beon paied[^a988]
y bar hom þat Iborewed I borewed er Ito I to bedde ȝeode
And with þe resydue & þe remenaunt by þe rode of ch :::ster
y wol worschipe þer-with treuthe in my lyue
And beon his pilgrym at þe plogh for pore me nnes sa :::
My plogh-pot schal beon my pyk-staf & pyche[^a989] at :::: es
And helpe my coltre to kerue & clanse[^a990] þe forewes
Now is piers & þe pilgryms to þe plogh faren
To heryen þis half acre holpen him monye
Dychers & deluers doluen[^a991][^164] vp þe balkes
þer-with was Perkyn paied & preised heom ȝeorne
Other werkmen þer were þat wroghten wel[^a992] faste
vche mon on his maner made him-seolf to done
And somme to pleese perkyn pyked vp þe weodes
At hygh prime Piers lette þe plough stonde
To ouer-seon heom him-seolf who-so best wroghte
Scholde beon hyred þerafter when heruest tyme come
þan seten somme & songen faste at þe[^a993] nale
And holpen to heryen þe half acre with hey trolly lolly
By þe prynce in[^a994] paradys quod Piers þo in wrathe
Bote ȝef ȝe rise þe rathere & rape ȝou to worche
Schal no greyn þat here groweth glade ȝou at nede
And þaugh ȝe dye for defaute[^a995][^165] þe deouel haue þat recche
þenne weore faitours aferd and feyned heom blynde
Somme leyden heore leges on-lyry as suche losels konne
And pleyned to[^a996] Piers with suche pytouse wordes
We hauen no lymes to labouren with lord Ithanked[^a997] be ȝe
Bote we preyen for ȝou Piers & for ȝoure plogh bothe
þat god of his grete grace oure greyn multeplie
And ȝeilde ȝou for[^a998] oure almes þat ȝe ȝeuen vs here
For we mowe nouþer swynke no swete suchseknes such seknes vs aileþ
ȝef hit beo soth[^a999] þat ȝe sayn Ischal I schal sone[^a1000] aspie
ȝe beon wastours ywot y wot wel & trouthe wot þe sothe
And Iam I am his hold hyne & aughte him to warne
Suche wastours in[^a1001] world his werkmen distryeth
Ȝe eten þat þey scholde eten þat heryen for vs alle
Bote trouthe schal teche ȝou his teme for to dryue
Bothe to setten &[^a1002] sowe and sauen his tilthe
kaire[^a1003] crowes[^a1004][^166] from his korn kepen[^a1005] his bestes
Or ȝe schulen ete barly bred &[^a1006] þe brok drynke
Bote ȝef[^a1007] he beo blynd or broke-schanked or bedrede ligge
þey schuln ete as good Iso I so[^a1008] me god helpe
Til god of his grete grace[^a1009] graunte[^a1010] hom to arise
Ancres & heremytes þat holden hom in heore celles
Schulen haue of myn almes al þe while y libbe
ynogh vche day at none &[^a1011] no more er[^a1012] morwe
Leste heore[^a1013] flesch & þe feond fouled heore soules[^a1014]
Ones at none is ynogh þat no werk vseth
he abideth wel þe bettre þat bommeth not ofte[^a1015]
cc
þanne can wastour arise & wolde haue yfoughte
To Piers þe ploghman he profered his gloue
Abretoner A bretoner abragger a bragger he bosteth[^a1016] him alse
And bad him go pisse with his plogh pelled schrewe
weltow or nyltow[^a1017] we woln haue oure wille
Of þy flour & of þy flesch fette[^a1018][^167] when vs likyth
And maken vs mury with-al[^a1019] maugre þy chekes
þanne Piers þe ploghmon pleyned him to þe knyght
To kepen him a[^a1020]couenaunt a[^a1021] couenaunt was for corsed schrewes
Fro wastours þat wayten wynners to schenden
Curtesly þe knyȝt þanne as his kynde wolde
Warned wastour to worche and wynne bettre[^a1022]
Or by þe ordre þat I beore þou schalt hit deore abugge[^a1023]
//
I was not wont to worche quod wastour now Iwol I wol[^a1024] not bygynne
And let lightlich[^a1025] of his[^a1026] lore & eke of him-seoluen[^a1027]
And acounteth[^a1028][^168] Piers at apeose a peose & his plogh after[^a1029]
And manassed him & eke[^a1030] his men when þey nexst mette
Now by peril[^a1031] of my soule quod pers Ischal I schal enpeire ȝou alle
And hoped after honger þat herde him atte[^a1032] firste
Awreke me on wastors quod piers þat þis world schendith
hongur on[^a1033] haste[^a1034] hente wastour by þe mawe
And wrong him so by þe wombe þat bo[^a1035] his eynen wattred[^a1036][^169]
And boffet[^a1037] so[^a1038][^170] bretoner wel aboute[^a1039] þe chekes
þat he loked lyk alaunterne a launterne al his lif after
he beot heom so bothe he barst ner heore mawes
No hadde Piers with apeose a peose lof preied him byleue
And with abene a bene batte busked heom[^a1040] by-twene
And hitte hongour þer-with amydde bothe[^a1041][^171] lippes
þat he bledde in-to þe bodyward abolle a bolle ful of growel
No hadde þe fisysien furst defended him water
To abate þe barly bred & þe bones[^a1042] ygrounde
þey had beo ded by þis day & doluen al warme
//
Faytours for fere flowen in-to bernes
And flapten on with flayls from morwe til euen
þat hongor nas not hardy on heom for to loken
For apotful a potful[^a1043] of peoses þat Piers hadde ymaked
Agret A gret hepe[^a1044] of heremytes henten heom spades
And doluen dryt & donge to dutte oute hongor
Blynd & bedreden weore botened athousand a thousand
þat layen for blynd[^a1045] & for brokelegged by þe hygh-waye[^172]
hongor heom helen wel sone with an ote[^a1046] kake
And lame mennes lymes weore leched[^a1047] þat tyme
And by-come knaues to kepe peirs bestes
And preyeden pytously[^a1048] par charite with piers for to dwelle
Al for couetise of his korn to kayre[^a1049] awey hongor
And Piers þer -of was proud[^a1050] & putte heom in offices[^a1051]
And ȝaf heom mete & mone as þey myghte deserue
þanne had Piers pite & preied hongor to wende
hom in-to his owne erthe & holden him þerfor þer for euer[^a1052]
And þat[^a1053] I pray[^a1054] quod Piers er þou passe forther
Of beggers & bydders what best beo[^a1055][^173] to done
For I wot wel beo þou went þay wol worche wel ille[^a1056][^174]
mescheif hit maketh þey beon so meoke nouthe
And for defaute of fode þus faste þey worchen
And þey beon my blody brethren for god made[^a1057] vs alle
Treuthe taghte me ones to loue heom vchone
And helpen heom of al thyng after þat heom nedeth
Now wold I witen ȝef þou wistest whad weore þe beste
And how I myghte amaistren heom & make heom to worche
here now quod hongry[^a1058] & hold hit for awisdam a wisdam
Bolde beggers & bygge þat mowe heore bred byswynke
With houndes bred & hors bred hold vp heore heortes
And abate[^a1059][^175] heom with benes for bollyng of heore w ombes
& ȝef þe gromes grucche bid heom go & swynke
And he schal soupe swetter when he hath hit[^a1060] des er:::yd
Bot ȝef þou fynde any freke þat fortune hath enpeired[^176]
with fuyr or with fals men fond suche to knowen
Comforte heom with katel[^a1061] for cristes loue of heouen
Loue heom & lene heom &[^a1062] so þe lawe of kynde wolde
And eke[^a1063] al maner of men þat þou myght aspyen
þat nedy beon or naked & noght han to despende[^a1064]
With mete or with monee let heom beo þe bettre
Or with werk or with word þe while þou art here
mak þi[^a1065][^177] frendes þerwith & so mathew vs techeth : facite vobis amicos[^178]
ywold y wold not greue god quod Piers for al þe good[^a1066] on eorthe[^a1067]
myghty myght y synnelas don as þou saist saide Piers þanne
ȝe I by-hote[^a1068] þe quod hongour or elles þe bible lyeth
Go to genesis þe geaunt engendror of vs alle
In sudore & swynk þou schalt þy mete tilye
he schal go begge & bidde & nomon no mon bete his hongour[^179]
Bote[^a1069] laboure for þy liflode & so oure lord hyghte
And sapience saith þe same Isaw I saw hit in þe byble
Piger propter frigus no fold wolde he[^a1070] tylye
he schal go beoge & bidde & nomon no mon bete his hongur
Mathew with þe mannes face techeth[^a1071] þeose wordes
þat seruus nequam hath[^a1072] aname a name & for he nolde hit vse
he hadde amaugre a maugre[^a1073] of his maister for euermore[^a1074] þerafter[^a1075]
And by-nome his[^a1076] name for he nolde worche
And ȝaf hit him on[^a1077] haste þat had ten of his owen[^a1078]
And sithen sone he[^a1079][^180] saide þat his seruaunt herde[^a1080]
he þat hath schal haue to helpe þer nede is
& he þat noght nath[^a1081] noght schal haue ny no mon him helpe
And þat he weneth wel to haue Iwol I wol þat hit fro him beo[^a1082] reuede[^a1083]
kynde wit wolde þat iche wight scholde worche[^a1084]
Or with techyng or with[^a1085][^181] tellyng or trauailyng of hondes
Actif lif or contemplatyf crist wolde hit alse
þeo sauter seith in a[^a1086] spalme psalme a[^a1087] spalme psalme of beati omnes
A vers þat bygynneth[^182] labores manuum tuarum quia >manducabis
he þat geteth his fode her with trauaile of his hondes
God ȝeueth heom his blessyng þat heore liflode so wynneth
//
ȝet y pray þe quod Piers par charite ȝef þow konne
Any leef of lechecrafte þou lere[^a1088] hit me anone[^a1089]
For somme of my seruauns beon seke othir-whiles
Of al þe weke þey worcheth not so heore wombe aketh[^183]
þey had manged to[^a1090] mukel[^a1091] þat maketh heom grone ofte
Bote I hote þe quod hongor as þou þyn hele wilnest
þat þou drynke no day or þou somwhad dyne[^a1092]
Ete[^a1093] no-thyn[^a1094][^184] Ihote I hote[^a1095] er honger þe take
And send þe of his sause to sauoure thy lippes
And kepe some for[^a1096] sopertyme & sitte noght to longe
Arise vp ar appetite haue eten his fulle
Lat not sir sorfete sitten at þy borde
Loue him not for he is alechour a lechour & lykerous of tonge
And after mony maner metes his mawe is alonged
And ȝef þou dyote þe þus Idar I dar leye myn hed[^a1097]
þat fysyk schal his forred hodes[^a1098][^185] for his fode selle
And eke his cloke of kalabre & þe knoppes of golde
And beo fayn by my fay his fysyk to leten
And leorne to laboren with lond lest liflode him faile
þer arn mo lyers þan leches lord heom amende
þey don men dye þorugh heore drynkes er desteny hit wolde
By seynt Poule quod Piers þeose arn profitable wordes[^186]
wend þou[^a1099] when þy wille is þat wel beo þou euer
Iby-hote I by-hote þe quod hongour þat hennes[^a1100] nul y wende
Er yhaue y haue dyned by þis day & ydronke bothe
Ihaue I haue no peny quod Piers puulletes to bugge
Nouþer gees no grys bote two grene cheses
Afewe A fewe croddes & crem and an hauer kake
Alof A lof of benes & bren y-bake for my children
And ȝet Isay I say by my soule y haue no salt bacoun
Ny no kokeney by crist colopes with to[^a1101] frye[^a1102]
Bote Ihaue I haue percile & porret and mony cole plantes
And eke akow a kow & akalf a kalf and a kart mare
To drawe on feld my donge whiles þe droghte lastes
By þis liflode y moste lyue vnto[^a1103][^187] lammas tyme
By þat I hope to haue heruest at home in my krofte
þanne may Idighte I dighte þy dyner atte fulle as[^a1104] þe deore likyiþ
Alle þe pore people peosekoddes þey fette[^a1105][^188]
Benes & bake apples þey broghten in heore lappes
Chibols & chiryuels and ripe chiryes manye
And profered Piers þis present to plese þer-with hongur
hongor eet in þat[^a1106] haste and axed after more
þanne þis folk for fere fetten him suche monye[^a1107]
Of grene[^a1108] porets and peoses to plesen[^a1109][^189] him þey wolde[^a1110][^190]
By þat[^a1111] nyghed neor heruest þat neowe korn com to chepyng
þanne was folk fayn & fedde hongur with þe beste
with good ale & glotony þey garte him swythe to[^a1112] slepe
And þo nolde wastour worche[^a1113] bote wandren aboute
Ny no begger ete bred þat benes or barlych[^a1114] yn come
Bote koket or clermatyn mad[^a1115] of clene whete
Ny no halpeny ale in none wise drynken
Bote of þe beste & of[^a1116] þe bronneste þat breowesters sellen
Laboreres þat hauen no lond to lyuen on bote heore hondes
Deyned[^a1117] to[^a1118] dyne on dayes[^a1119] nyghte holde wortes
May no peny ale heom paye ny no pece of bakoun
Bote ȝef hit beo fresch flesch or fresch fysch[^a1120] yfryed
And chaud & plus chaud for chillyng of heore nailes[^a1121]
Bote he beo hyghliche Ihuyred elles wol he chyden
þat he was werkmon wroght warye þe tyme
And þanne korse þe kyng & al þe counseil after
Suche lawes to loken laborers to chasten
Bote whil hongor was heore maister wold þer nonchyde non chyde
No[^a1122] stryue aȝeyn his[^a1123] statute so steornely he loked
y warne ȝou werkmen wynneth while ȝe mowe
For hongour hyderward hasteth him faste
he schal awake þorugh water wastors to chasten
Or syn[^a1124] beo fulfulled suche fomen[^a1125] schal arise
Thorgh flodes[^a1126] & þorgh foule wedres fruytes schule falle[^a1127]
And þus[^a1128] seith satorne and sent ȝou to warne

[^a934: awel a wel (La K Wa) | a (V J N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a935: ho (La) | hose (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a936: afote a fote (La V E A H) | fote (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a937: forto for to (La K D) | til (J Wa N Ch Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a938: apostel (La J E) | þe apostel (V Ha K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a939: of hered lond (La) | to herie (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a940: And þanne wol I wandre (La) | I would wend with you (K T Ch Ma)]

[^a941: beon (La J Wa Ra) | wer (K N T H2 Ch E Ma H)]

[^a942: þat loured in (La) | in (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a943: hire (La Wa Ch) | a (V Ha J K N T H2 D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a944: in þe mene (La) | þe (V Ha N T Ch Ra E Ma H)]

[^a945: whete (La V Wa E) | þe whete (Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a946: or elles (La V J K Wa N U) | oþer (T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a947: ȝeme (La V) | hede (J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a948: abetter a better (La) | on þe (J K N T Ch D U E Ma)]

[^a949: taught (La) | trewly tawte (J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a950: me now (La) | me (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a951: for cristes loue of heouene (La) | & I wile lerne to eren (T H2 Ch U)]

[^a952: þou (La Wa) | for þou (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a953: me (La H) | þe (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a954: wel (La) | so (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a955: And þer-fore schal Iswynke I swynke (La) | I schal swynken (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra E Ma H)]

[^a956: holi chirche þou kepe (La) | þou kepe holi chirche (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch E A Ma H)]

[^a957: vs (La V Ha K N) | me (T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a958: Roes (La) | borys (K Wa N T H2 Ch D E A Ma H)]

[^a959: & (La J K Ra H) | and to (V Wa N D U Ma)]

[^a960: whil þat (La V N Ma) | qwylis (J T H2 D Ra E)]

[^a961: ȝou (La V N) | þee (Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a962: þou schalt (La V Wa) | shaltow (J K N T H2 Ch D Ma H)]

[^a963: at þe (La Ha U) | atte (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra H)]

[^a964: quod (La K Wa) | seide (V Ha J N T H2 Ch D Ma H)]

[^a965: ȝe whil (La) | while (V Ha Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a966: bryng me he bad (La) | bryng me (J K Wa N D Ra U)]

[^a967: I wol (La) | wole y (Ha J K Wa N T D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a968: to swynke (La V Ha J K N) | swynk (Wa T Ch D Ra U)]

[^a969: heouene (La) | ur lord (V Ha J K N T Ch D U Ma H)]

[^a970: maner of (La) | kunnes (V J K Wa N T Ch D U Ma)]

[^a971: at þe (La J K Wa Ra U) | of þe (V Ha T Ch D Ma H)]

[^a972: tolde me hit (La) | tolde me (Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a973: forther (La V Ha J Ra U Ma) | forth (K Wa N T Ch D H)]

[^a974: of heom holy chirche askith no tithe (La) | holichirche is holde of hem no tiþe to aske (Ha K N T Ch D U H)]

[^a975: þat þey (La) | Þei (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a976: þou schalt abugge (La) | þi damme schal þe bete (J K N T Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a977: sore (La Wa Ra U) | deore (V Ha J K N T Ch D E Ma H)]

[^a978: techeth (La Ha Wa Ch E Ma) | me techith (J K N T H2 D Ra U H)]

[^a979: arelees a relees (La Ha J K H) | reles (V N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a980: aremyssion a remyssion (La Ha H) | remission (V J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a981: trental (La Ch) | Rental (V Ha J K T D U E Ma H)]

[^a982: Itrowe I trowe (La) | I leue (J K N T H2 Ch D Ra Ma H)]

[^a983: he of (La) | of my (V Ha J K N T Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a984: & of (La Wa) | and (V J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a985: hit him (La) | him (V Ha K T Ch H)]

[^a986: in (La N) | me in (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a987: wan of (La) | won (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a988: paied (La) | quit (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a989: pyche (La J U) | putte (K T Ch D Ma)]

[^a990: clanse (La J K N A Ma) | close (V Ha T Ch D Ra U E H)]

[^a991: doluen (La J Ma) | dyke (Wa T Ch D)]

[^a992: wel (La J K Wa N D) | ful (V Ha T Ch Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a993: faste at þe (La) | at þe (Ha K Wa T Ch Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a994: in (La) | of (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a995: defaute (La V) | dole (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a996: to (La K N U) | hem to (V Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D Ra E A Ma H)]

[^a997: Ithanked (La J Wa) | Igraced (K N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a998: for (La V K Ra) | of (J N T Ch D U E Ma)]

[^a999: soth (La N) | soþe quaþ peris (Ha J K T Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a1000: sone (La K) | it sone (J Wa N T Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a1001: in (La V N D H) | in þis (J K T Ch Ra U E Ma)]

[^a1002: & (La U H) | and to (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra E A Ma)]

[^a1003: kaire (La) | Chase (T Ch D Ra U E)]

[^a1004: crowes (La V Ha J K N Ma) | gees (Wa T Ch D Ra U E H)]

[^a1005: kepen (La T D A) | and kepen (V Ha J K Wa Ch Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a1006: & (La) | and of (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1007: Bote ȝef (La K) | Bote (V Ha J Wa N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1008: Iso I so (La) | as I so (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1009: grete grace (La J) | grace (K Wa T Ch D Ra E A Ma H)]

[^a1010: graunte (La J) | gar (Wa T Ch D Ra E A)]

[^a1011: & (La Ha E H) | but (V J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a1012: er (La K Wa D Ra U E Ma) | til (V Ha J N T Ch A H)]

[^a1013: heore (La) | þe (V Ha J Wa U E H)]

[^a1014: heore soules (La V Ha) | his sowle (J K Wa N T Ch D Ra Ma H)]

[^a1015: ofte (La J K Wa N D) | to ofte (V Ha T Ch U E A Ma H)]

[^a1016: bosteth (La) | bostede (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1017: or nyltow (La Wa E A Ma H) | neltou (Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a1018: fette (La Wa) | fecche (V K N A Ma H)]

[^a1019: with-al (La) | þerwiþ (Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a1020: a (La Ch) | as (V Ha J K Wa N T D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1021: a (La Ch) | as (V Ha J K Wa N T D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1022: to worche and wynne bettre (La) | & wissyd him bettur (J K N T Ch D U E A Ma H)]

[^a1023: by þe ordre þat I beore þou schalt hit deore abugge (La) | þou shat abyen be þe lawe, be þe orde þat I bere (J T H2 Ch Ma H)]

[^a1024: Iwol I wol (La Wa) | wol I (V Ha J K N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a1025: lightlich (La A) | liȝt (Ha J K N T Ch D Ra U E Ma H)]

[^a1026: his (La) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1027: eke of him-seoluen (La) | lasse of þe kniht (V Ha J K N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1028: acounteth (La) | countede (V K T Ch D Ra E A)]

[^a1029: after (La) | boþe (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1030: & eke (La K) | and (V Ha J Wa N T Ch Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1031: peril (La) | þe peril (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1032: atte (La V J N D) | at þe (Ha K T Ch Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1033: on (La Ma) | in (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a1034: haste (La V Ha Wa N U E) | hast than (K T Ch Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1035: bo (La V Ha N) | al (T Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a1036: his eynen wattred (La V Ha J K Wa N Ma H) | watride his eiȝen (T Ch D U A)]

[^a1037: boffet (La N E) | Buffetede (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1038: so (La) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E Ma)]

[^a1039: wel aboute (La) | aboute (V Ha J N T Ch D Ra U E A H)]

[^a1040: busked heom (La) | he hadde (T Ch D Ra U)]

[^a1041: bothe (La) | þe (J K Wa N U A Ma H)]

[^a1042: bones (La) | benes (V Ha J K N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1043: apotful a potful (La V J K Wa N) | a potel (Ha T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1044: Agret A gret hepe (La N Ma) | An hep (V J K Ra U H)]

[^a1045: for blynd (La V Ha N U E) | blynde (J K Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1046: ote (La Ha N U) | hot (V J K Wa T Ch D Ra E A Ma H)]

[^a1047: leched (La H) | lyþet (V Ha J K N T Ch D Ra U E A)]

[^a1048: preyeden pytously (La) | preyeden (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1049: kayre (La) | cachen (J K N E A Ma H)]

[^a1050: þer -of was proud (La) | was proud þerof (V J K N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1051: offices (La N D) | offys (V Ha J K Wa T Ch Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1052: þerfor þer for euer (La V Ha E A) | þer euere (J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a1053: þat (La) | ȝit (V J K N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1054: pray (La Ra) | preye þe (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D U A Ma H)]

[^a1055: best beo (La) | is best (V Ha K Wa Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1056: wel ille (La) | ille (J K T Ch D Ra U)]

[^a1057: made (La Ha) | bouȝte (V J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1058: hongry (La) | hungir (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E A Ma)]

[^a1059: abate (La) | abaue (Ha J K N T H2 D U E A Ma H)]

[^a1060: hath hit (La V Wa Ra E) | it hath (K N T Ch D U Ma)]

[^a1061: katel (La N) | þi catel (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1062: & (La J T H2 Ch D) | for (Ha K Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1063: And eke (La) | And (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1064: despende (La) | spende (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U E A Ma H)]

[^a1065: þi (La U E) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1066: good (La Ha J Wa N Ch) | gold (V K T D U A Ma H)]

[^a1067: eorthe (La Ha Wa) | ground (V J N D U Ma)]

[^a1068: by-hote (La V Ha K D H) | hote (J N T Ch U A)]

[^a1069: Bote (La) | And (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1070: wolde he (La Wa) | wild (J K T Ch U H)]

[^a1071: techeth (La) | mowthith (J N Ra U)]

[^a1072: hath (La J A) | hedde (V Ha K Wa N T Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1073: amaugre a maugre (La T D A Ma) | maugre (V Ha J N Ch Ra U H)]

[^a1074: for euermore (La J N T D) | eueremore (V Ha H2 Ch Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1075: þerafter (La Ha N U Ma) | aftur (V J T H2 Ch D Ra A H)]

[^a1076: his (La) | him his (V Ha K N T H2 Ch D Ra Ma H)]

[^a1077: on (La) | in (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1078: of his owen (La) | bifore (V Ha J Wa Ch Ma H)]

[^a1079: sone he (La) | he (Ha J K Wa N T Ch U A H)]

[^a1080: herde (La Wa) | it herde (V Ha J K N U A Ma H)]

[^a1081: nath (La) | haþ (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1082: þat hit fro him beo (La) | it be hym (Ha J T H2 D U)]

[^a1083: reuede (La K Ra H) | bireuet (V Ha J Wa N T H2 D U)]

[^a1084: scholde worche (La) | wrouhte (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1085: or with (La V K A H) | or (J Wa N Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a1086: a (La Ha U Ma) | þe (J K Wa N T Ch D Ra A)]

[^a1087: a (La Ha U Ma) | þe (J K Wa N T Ch D Ra A)]

[^a1088: þou lere (La) | lere (V K N T D Ma)]

[^a1089: anone (La) | my deore (V J K N T Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1090: to (La) | ouer (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1091: mukel (La J K Ra U Ma) | muche (V Ha Wa N T Ch D H)]

[^a1092: somwhad dyne (La) | dyne sumwhat (K T Ch D U A Ma)]

[^a1093: Ete (La V Ha K N) | And ete (T Ch A)]

[^a1094: no-thyn (La) | nouȝt (N T Ch D U A)]

[^a1095: Ihote I hote (La A Ma) | I hote þe (V Ha K Wa N T Ch D Ra H)]

[^a1096: for (La K T Ma) | til (V Ha N D Ra U A H)]

[^a1097: hed (La Ch) | armys (J K N T D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1098: hodes (La) | hod (V Ha J K N T Ch D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1099: þou (La) | nou (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1100: þat hennes (La N) | heonnes (V Ha J K T Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1101: with to (La N U) | to (V Ha J K Wa T Ch D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1102: frye (La) | maken (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1103: vnto (La) | til (V Ha K Wa T Ch D Ra Ma H)]

[^a1104: atte fulle as (La) | as (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra Ma H)]

[^a1105: þey fette (La Ha J U H) | fetten (V Wa N T Ch D Ra)]

[^a1106: in þat (La) | þis in (V K T Ch D Ra A H)]

[^a1107: suche monye (La) | monye (V Ha J N T Ch D U A Ma H)]

[^a1108: Of grene (La) | Grene (J K Wa N Ra U Ax1 Ax2 Ma)]

[^a1109: plesen (La) | poysyn (J K Ra U Ax1 Ax2 Ma H)]

[^a1110: wolde (La V J K Wa N Ax1 Ax2) | þouȝthe (Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1111: þat (La Wa N) | þat it (Ha K T Ch D Ma H)]

[^a1112: swythe to (La) | to (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U A)]

[^a1113: worche (La V U Ma) | not worche (Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra H)]

[^a1114: benes or barlych (La) | benes (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1115: mad (La) | or (Wa T Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a1116: & of (La K U) | and (V J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1117: Deyned (La J Ch D U A) | Deyne (V Ha K Wa T Ra Ma)]

[^a1118: to (La Ha A) | nouȝt to (V J Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1119: on dayes (La) | a day (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 D U)]

[^a1120: fresch fysch (La Ha) | Fisch (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a1121: nailes (La Ma) | mawe (V J N T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a1122: No (La) | Ne (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1123: his (La K Wa Ch H) | þe (V Ha N T H2 D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a1124: syn (La) | Fyue ȝer (V J T H2 Ch U A Ma H)]

[^a1125: fomen (La K) | Famyn (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1126: flodes (La V Ha N Ch) | flode (J K Wa T H2 D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1127: falle (La T H2 Ch D U) | fayle (V Ha J K Wa N Ra A Ma)]

[^a1128: þus (La Wa) | so (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^153: Cf. also Ch of erþe.]

[^154: La.7.5 substitutes for the line found at this point in V Ha J N T H2 Ch E A Ma H; in V, weore he wel ieried þene withou wolde I wende. (This line is omitted in Wa D, and run together with the following line in K Ra U.)]

[^155: This is one of five indicative r2 readings postulated by Schmidt that are present in La. The others are found at La.5.71, La.7.129, La.7.161, and La.7.283.]

[^156: This line is only attested in La.]

[^157: This line division is common to Schmidt’s r2 and m groups (in N, the line ends me); in the r1 group, the line divides after holychirche in T H2 Ch D, and after riȝt in Ra U.]

[^158: La.7.36 substitutes for the line found at this point in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U E Ma H; in V, Ful curteisliche þe kniht conseiued þeose wordes.]

[^159: Cf. also U whiles þat.]

[^160: Cf. also Ha manere.]

[^161: Cf also V tauhte hit me.]

[^162: The Latin phrase continues the Middle English line in La J; in V Ha K N T Ch D Ra U E Ma H it appears as a separate, subsequent line (K.7.68α). In K, this Latin phrase is combined with the following line, while in Wa, it is combined with the previous line, but copied later.]

[^163: Kane suggests that the La Ch reading might result from mechanical error, arising when a scribe wrote from his ‘auditory memory,’ either reading aloud to himself or copying from dictation. (Kane, A-text, 118)]

[^164: Cf. also H þat deluyn.]

[^165: Cf. also Ha þe defaut.]

[^166: This is one of five indicative r2 readings postulated by Schmidt that are present in La. The others are found at La.5.71, La.7.12, La.7.161, and La.7.283.]

[^167: Cf. also H2 Ch Ra U fette awey.]

[^168: Cf also Ha J Ma H acountid.]

[^169: This is one of five indicative r2 readings postulated by Schmidt that are present in La. The others are found at La.5.71, La.7.12, La.7.129, and La.7.283.]

[^170: Cf also A H so þe.]

[^171: Cf. also V Ha boþe his.]

[^172: In V Ha J N, this line is presented as two lines, dividing after legget. Schmidt postulates this line division and expansion as an indicative r2 group reading, although it is not attested in La K or Wa.]

[^173: Schmidt describes this as one of two authentic Ax readings that are unique to La; the other is at La.7.255. Kane rejected the La reading in the Athlone edition of A, but Athlone B and C have best be.]

[^174: Cf. also V Ha Wa N H ful ille.]

[^175: Cf. also Ra bate.]

[^176: This is a wrapped line: the final word, which is faded and difficult to read, is written below the line and enclosed on two sides by a bracket.]

[^177: Kane records the variant þi in U and E but not in La.]

[^178: This is a wrapped line: amicos is written above the line, roughly in line with La.7.212. A line extends from the e of facite up into the margin above amicos, forming a rough bracket around amicos.]

[^179: This line is copied out of sequence. It is repeated below in the usual line order, at La.7.223. The repetition is unique to La.]

[^180: Cf. also Ma sone after he.]

[^181: Cf. also Ha oþer wiþ.]

[^182: The English phrase A vers þat bygynneth is unique to La.]

[^183: La lacks the line that follows this one in V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U A Ma H; in V, I wot wel quod hunger what seknesse hem eileþ.]

[^184: Cf. also V Ha J K Wa not]

[^185: Schmidt describes this as one of two authentic Ax readings that are unique to La; the other is at La.7.190. The Athlone editors reject this reading across all three texts, however.]

[^186: La lacks the line that follows this one in V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H; in V, þis is a loueli lesson ur lord hem amende.]

[^187: Cf. also J N to.]

[^188: Cf. also A þei fechedyn.]

[^189: Cf. also V þei hem plese.]

[^190: This is one of five indicative r2 readings postulated by Schmidt that are present in La. The others are found at La.5.71, La.7.12, La.7.129, and La.7.161.]

Treuthe herde telle her-of and to Piers sente
To taken his teme and tilye þe eorthe
And purchased him apardoun a pardoun : apena a pena & aculpa a culpa
For him and for his heyres for euermore a:::
And bad him holden him at home & eryen his layes
And alle þat holpen hendely[^a1129] to heryen &[^a1130] to sowen
Of[^a1131] any maner mester þat myghte Piers availe[^a1132]
Part in þat pardon þe pope hath y-graunted[^a1133]
kynges & knyghtes þat kepen holy chirche
And rightfulliche in rewme reulen þe people
han pardonin[^a1134] pardon in[^a1135] purgatorie to passen wel sone
with patriarkes in paradys to pleyne[^a1136] þer -after
Bisschopes þat blessen and bothe lawes konne
Loken on þat lawe[^a1137] & lere men þat othir
And beoreth heom[^a1138] on heore bak as heore baner scheweth
And prechen heore persons þeo peryles of synne
And how[^a1139] þe[^a1140] scabbed[^a1141] schal heore wolle sauen
han pardon with apostles when þey passen hennes
At þe[^a1142] day of dome at heore dayes to sytten
//
Marchauns in þe margyn haden mony ȝeres
Bote none apena a pena & aculpa a culpa þe pope nolde[^a1143] heom graunte
For þei holdith noght heore halydayes as holy chirche techeþ
And for þey swereth by his[^a1144] soule & so god moste heom helpe
Aȝeyn clene consience heore catel to selle
Bote vndur his secret seel trouthe sent heom alettre a lettre
And bad heom bugge boldely what heom best likyth[^a1145]
And sithen sellen hit aȝeyn & saue þe wynnyng
And maken maisen dieux þerwith meseise men to[^a1146][^191] helpe
wicked weyes wide wher nedful weore[^a1147] to amende
And feble[^a1148] brugges aboute þat to-broke weore
Maydenes mayntene & marye[^a1149] or maken heom nonnes
And pore[^a1150] wydewes þat wilnen no wyues to beon[^a1151] aftir
Fynde heom[^a1152] heore fode for þe[^a1153] lordes loue of heouen
Sette scolers to sclole scole or to som kynnes kraftes
Releue pore religioun[^a1154] and renteth heom bettre
And y schal sende my-seolf seynt mychel myn aungel
þat no deouel schal ȝou dere when ȝe to deth go[^a1155]
þat Ino I no schal senden his[^a1156] soule sauf in-to heouen
And byfore þe face of my fader forme his[^a1157] sete[^a1158]
Vsure and auarice and othes y defende
þat no gyle go with ȝou bote þe greyth trouthe
þan weore marchauns wel murye[^a1159][^192] &[^a1160] weopen for ioye
And ȝauen wille for his wrytyng wollen clothes
For he coped þus heore clause þey konned[^a1161][^193] him gret mede
men of lawe hadde leste for lettred þey beon alle
And so seith þe sawter and sapientis bothe
Super innocentem munera non accipiens
aregibus a regibus et principibus erit merces eius &cetera
Of prynces and prelates heore pensioun schal arise
And of þe[^a1162] pore people no penyworth to take
Bote he þat spendeth his speche & spekith for þe pore
þat is innocent and nedy & no mon empeyreth
Comforteth him in þat cas coueyteth not his godes
Bote for oure lordes loue lawe for him scheweth
Schal no deouel at his deth day to dere[^a1163] him haue myghte[^a1164]
þat he no worth sikerly saufe[^a1165] & so þe[^a1166] sauter wittenesseþ[^a1167]
Bote to bugge water no wynd no wit is þe thridde
No wolde neuer holy writte god wot þe sothe
þeose threo fro[^a1168] thalles beon throwen among vs alle
To waxen and wayten[^a1169] wher þat god lykith
his pardon in purgatory wel petite[^a1170][^194] is ytrowe y trowe
þat any mede for[^a1171] mene men for motyng resceyueth
ȝe legystres & lawyers ȝe witen ȝef y lye
sithen ȝe seon hit is þus scheweth[^a1172] to þe beste
Alle lybbyng laborers þat libben by heore hondes
þat treuliche taken & with trouthe[^a1173] wynnen
And lyue loue[^a1174] & in lawe for heore lowe heortes[^a1175]
hadde þe same absolucioun þat sent was to Piers
Beggers no[^a1176] bydders beoth not in þe bulle
Bote þe suggestioun beo soght[^a1177] þat makith[^a1178] hom to begge
For he þat beggeth or byd bote he haue gret nede[^a1179]
he is fals with þe feond & defraudeth the nedy
And eke by-gyleth[^a1180] þe gyuer by god[^a1181] agaynes wille[^a1182]
þay lyueth not in loue ny no lawe holden
They wedden no wymmen[^a1183] þat þey with delen
Bote as wylde bestes when heo[^a1184] worthen vp to-gedre
And bryngen forth no barnes[^a1185] bot[^a1186] barnes[^a1187] þey beon[^a1188] holden
For[^a1189] his bake or his bon he[^a1190] breketh in his youthe
And gon & fayten with heore fautes[^a1191] for euer-more after
þer beon mo mysschapen among heom who-so taketh hede
þen of alle oþer maner men þat on þis molde wandreth
þo þat þus lyuen[^a1192] heore lif mowe lothe þe tyme
þat euer was he[^a1193] mon wroght when he schal hennes fare
Bote olde men & oþer[^a1194][^195] þat helplas beon of streynthe
And wymen with childe þat worchen no[^a1195] mowe
Blynde & bedreden and broken heore membres
þat taken þis mecheif[^a1196] meokelich as mesels and oþer
han as pleyn pardon as þe ploghmon him-seoluen
For þe[^a1197] loue of heore lowe heorte oure lord hath heom graunted
heore penaunce & heore purgatory here apon[^a1198][^196] eorthe[^a1199]
//
Piers quod apreost a preost þo þy pardon moste y rede
For y schal construe vche aclause a clause[^a1200] & ken hit heom[^a1201] on eng lysh
And Piers at his preier þe pardon vn-foldeth
And y by-hynden heom bothe by-huld al þe bulle
In two lynes hit lay and alitel a litel[^a1202] more
And was y-wryten ryght þus in witnesse of trouthe
Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam
Qui vero mala in ignem eternum
Peter quod þe preost þo y kan no pardon fynde
Bote do wel and haue wel & god schal haue thy soule
And do yuel & haue yuel & hope þou non oþir
þat after thy deth day to helle shaltow wende
And Piers for pure teone pulled heom[^a1203] asondir & seide
Si ambulauero in medio umbre mortis
Non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es :::::
y schal sese of my sowyng quod P:::s & sw:::ke ::::::[^197]
Ny aboute my liflode so bysy beo no m::::
Of preyers &[^a1204] penaunce my plogh shal beo her-after[^198]
And byloure þat Ilough[^a1205] I lough[^a1206] er þaugh liflode me faile
Þe prophete his payn eet in penaunce & in weopyng
By þat þe sauter vs saithe & so duden mony oþir
þat louueth god lelly his liflode is wel meth[^a1207][^199]
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte
And bot ȝef luke lye he lereth vs an oþer by þe foules[^a1208][^200]
þat we no scholde not[^a1209][^201] beo to bysy[^a1210][^202] aboute þe lif[^a1211] ioye
Ne soliciti sitis · he seith in his gospel
& sheweth hit vs in[^a1212] ensaumple vs seurly[^a1213] to wisse
þe foules in þe firmament who fynd heom a wynter
when þe frost freosyth fode heom byhoueth
haue þey no gerner to go to bot god fynd heom alle
What quod þeo preost to Perken peter as me thynketh
þou art lettred alitel a litel who lered[^a1214] þe on boke
Abstynence myne[^a1215] abbesse a b c[^a1216] me taughte
And consience com afterward[^a1217] & kenned me bettre
weore þou apreost a preost Piers quod he þou myght preche when þe ...[^203]
Quoniam literaturam non cognoui þat myght beo thy teme
Lewed lorel quod Piers litel lokestow on þe bible
On salamons sawes selden[^a1218] þou by-holdist
Ecce derisores & iurgia cum eis crescant
þeo preost and perkyn aposed eyther othir[^204]
And þorgh heore wo rdes I wok & wayted aboute
And sygh þe sonne euene south sitten þat tyme
metela s & moneylas on maluarne hulles
::::::yng on þis metlells a myle w ey I ȝeode
Mony tyme þis metels hath mad me to studye
And for Piers loue þe ploghmon wel pensif in heorte
For þat ysay y say slepyng ȝef þat hit[^a1219] be so[^a1220] myghte
Bote Cat on construeth :::ay & canonyst res bothe
And seggen[^a1221][^205] heom-seoluen[^206] Som pnia ne cures
Bote for þe bible bereth witnes how daniel deuyned[^207]
þeo dremes w ith-oute d oute[^a1222] of[^a1223] Nabagodonosor[^208]
And[^a1224] said ser king þy sweuene is to :::::
þat an[^a1225] vnkouthe knyght[^a1226] shal come þy kynd am to cleyme
Among lower lordes þy lond schal be dep:::::d
A s Daniel deuyned in dede hyt feol after
þe :::: lost his lordschipe & lasse men h it hadde
:::::: mette ::::lich for sot he[^209]
how þe sonne & þe :::: & :::: eileouene sterres
:::::::::::::::::::: to him thoghte þ anne
Bea ȝ:::::::::::::: de faute schu lle[^a1227]
::::::::::::::::e þe for nede
hit byfel as :::: fader saide in pharaoes tyme
þat :::::: just ice Egypt to kepen
:::::::::::: me on m ete ls to t henke
:::::: at m::::nyght whan I[^a1228] scholde slepen
::::: P:::::: & whic h apardoun a pardoun he hadde
::::::::::ugned hit al by pure resoun
::::::::::::: dowel þat indulgense passed
:::::::::::::ennia ls & bischopes lettres
::::::::::ome is dignel y vnd urfonde

[^a1129: holpen hendely (La) | helpyn hym (K Wa H2 U Ma H)]

[^a1130: & (La Ha N Ra A) | or (V K Wa T H2 Ch U Ma H)]

[^a1131: Of (La) | Or (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1132: availe (La) | helpen (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1133: y-graunted (La V Ha Ra A H) | hem grauntyd (J K Wa N T H2 D U Ma)]

[^a1134: in (La) | þorw (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1135: in (La) | þorw (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1136: pleyne (La A H) | pleyen (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a1137: lawe (La A) | on lawe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra H)]

[^a1138: heom (La) | hem boþe (V K N T H2 Ch D U H)]

[^a1139: And how (La) | Hou (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1140: þe (La Wa) | þat (J T H2 Ch D U A Ma H)]

[^a1141: scabbed (La) | schabbede schep (V Ha J K Wa N T Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1142: At þe (La Ha Ra A H) | And at þe (K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ma)]

[^a1143: nolde (La V Ha Wa N Ra) | wold (J K T H2 Ch D U A Ma)]

[^a1144: his (La) | heore (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1145: likyth (La T H2 D U H) | lykede (V Ha J K Wa N Ch Ra A)]

[^a1146: men to (La) | to (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1147: wide wher nedful weore (La) | wihtly (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra A H)]

[^a1148: feble (La) | beete (V N H) | bynde (T Ch D)]

[^a1149: Maydenes mayntene & marye (La) | Marie maydens (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1150: And pore (La Ha) | Pore (V J K N D Ra)]

[^a1151: no wyues to beon (La) | ben no wyues (J Wa N) | not be wyues (T H2 Ch)]

[^a1152: heom (La Wa N) | suche (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1153: þe (La K N H) | oure (Ha T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a1154: pore religioun (La) | Religion (V J K N T H2 D Ma H)]

[^a1155: when ȝe to deth go (La) | dey qwan ȝow deye (J T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1156: his (La K T H2 D Ra) | ȝor (V Ha J Wa N Ch U)]

[^a1157: his (La) | or (V J K N T H2 Ch U)]

[^a1158: sete (La) | seetes (V J K N T H2 Ch D U)]

[^a1159: wel murye (La) | murie (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1160: & (La Ha K U) | many (N T H2 H)]

[^a1161: konned (La Ma) | ȝeue (Wa T H2 Ch D)]

[^a1162: þe (La V Ha Wa N) | no (J K T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1163: to dere (La) | deren (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1164: haue myghte (La) | a myte (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1165: sikerly saufe (La J U H) | safe sikerly (K T H2 Ch D Ra)]

[^a1166: & so þe (La K H) | and so (V Ha J T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a1167: sauter wittenesseþ (La Ma) | seiþ þe psauter (V Ha J T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a1168: fro (La) | for (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1169: wayten (La) | wonien (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1170: petite (La K N Ra) | litel (Ha J Wa T H2 Ch D U)]

[^a1171: for (La) | of (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a1172: scheweth (La J Ra H) | sewith (K Wa N T H2 Ch D U Ma)]

[^a1173: with trouthe (La) | treuliche (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a1174: loue (La) | in loue (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a1175: heortes (La V Ha Wa N Ma H) | hert (J K T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a1176: no (La Ma) | and (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra H)]

[^a1177: soght (La) | soþ (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra Ma H)]

[^a1178: makith (La) | schapeþ (V J K N D U Ma H)]

[^a1179: gret nede (La) | neode (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1180: by-gyleth (La Wa Ma) | gyleþ (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a1181: gyuer by god (La) | ȝiuere (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra Ma H)]

[^a1182: wille (La) | his wille (V Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra Ma H)]

[^a1183: wymmen (La J K Ra) | wommon (V Ha Wa N T H2 Ch D Ma H)]

[^a1184: when heo (La) | with we he (K T H2 D Ra)]

[^a1185: no barnes (La) | barnes (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a1186: bot (La) | þat (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U H)]

[^a1187: barnes (La Ra) | bastardes (V Ha K N H2 U Ma H)]

[^a1188: þey beon (La) | beon (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma H)]

[^a1189: For (La) | Or (V K Wa N T H2 D Ra U)]

[^a1190: he (La J K Wa N U) | heo (V Ha T Ch D Ra Ma H)]

[^a1191: fautes (La V K H) | fauntis (Ha N T H2 D Ra U Ma)]

[^a1192: þus lyuen (La) | lyuen þus (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U)]

[^a1193: was he (La J) | he was (K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1194: oþer (La) | hore (V Ha J K N T H2 Ch D Ra A Ma H)]

[^a1195: no (La) | ne (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1196: þis mecheif (La H) | meschef (V J Wa N U Ma)]

[^a1197: For þe (La) | For (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U A Ma H)]

[^a1198: here apon (La Ha Wa A) | vpon (J K N T H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a1199: eorthe (La V Ha Wa A) | þis pure erthe (J K N T H2 Ch U)]

[^a1200: aclause a clause (La V Ch H) | clause (Ha J K Wa N T H2 D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a1201: heom (La) | þe (J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1202: alitel a litel (La) | not a lettre (V J K Wa N T H2 Ch Ra U A H)]

[^a1203: heom (La) | hit (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma H)]

[^a1204: & (La Ha K Wa N Ch A) | and of (V J T H2 D U Ma)]

[^a1205: lough (La N T Ma H) | beo louh (V Ha J H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a1206: lough (La N T Ma H) | beo louh (V Ha J H2 Ch D Ra U)]

[^a1207: wel meth (La) | þe more (J N T H2 Ch D Ra Ma)]

[^a1208: þe foules (La) | fowlys (J K N Ra U)]

[^a1209: no scholde not (La) | shuld not (Ha K Ch A H)]

[^a1210: beo to bysy (La K N Ch) | be besy (T H2 A H)]

[^a1211: lif (La) | bely (K N T H2 Ch D Ra Ma H)]

[^a1212: in (La) | be (V Ha J K T H2 Ch D U A Ma H)]

[^a1213: vs seurly (La) | our selven (K Wa T H2 Ch Ra H)]

[^a1214: lered (La V Wa Ra) | lerned (Ha J K N T H2 Ch D U A)]

[^a1215: myne (La Ra A) | þe (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D U Ma)]

[^a1216: a b c (La) | myn a b ce (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a1217: afterward (La J N U A Ma) | aftur (V Ha K Wa T H2 D Ra)]

[^a1218: selden (La K N D U Ma) | luitel (V Ha J T H2 Ch Ra A)]

[^a1219: ȝef þat hit (La K U) | ȝif hit (V Ha J Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra A Ma)]

[^a1220: be so (La Ha Ch) | so be (V J Wa N T H2 D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a1221: And seggen (La V J) | And (Ra U A Ma)]

[^a1222: w ith-oute d oute (La) | of a kyng (V K T H2 Ch D)]

[^a1223: of (La A) | þat (V J K T H2 Ch D Ra U Ma)]

[^a1224: And (La) | Daniel (V Ha J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a1225: þat an (La T H2 Ch D) | þat (V Ha J K Wa N Ra U A Ma)]

[^a1226: knyght (La T H2 Ra) | knihtes (V Ha K Wa N A)]

[^a1227: schu lle (La H2) | we schulle (V J K N T Ch D Ra U A Ma)]

[^a1228: I (La V J Wa N U Ma) | men (K T H2 Ch D Ra A)]

[^191: Cf. also A men so to.]

[^192: Cf. also Wa so mery.]

[^193: Cf. also Ra konne.]

[^194: Cf. also V, which has is petit where La has wel petite is.]

[^195: Cf. also Wa oþer boþe.]

[^196: Cf. also V is her vppon.]

[^197: The phrase quod Piers, partially visible in La, is omitted in Ha J Wa N U A Ma H]

[^198: Kane observes that La is badly faded from this point, and many readings are difficult to discern.]

[^199: Cf. also V K U wel muche.]

[^200: The line divides after foules in La N (Wa has birdes, while A Ma H have folis); in V J K T H2 Ch D Ra U, the line divides after anoþer (Ha non oþer).]

[^201: Cf. also T ne shuln nouȝt.]

[^202: Cf. also J to besy ben.]

[^203: Kane notes that the end of this line was already ‘lost in sewing’ when he consulted the manuscript, before its rebinding in 1972.]

[^204: La is largely illegible from this point. From this line until the end of the manuscript, Kane includes only secure readings in his list of variants.]

[^205: Cf. also K And saith; Wa Caton saiþ]

[^206: This line begins with a Middle English a-verse in La V J K Wa Ra U, while Ha N T H2 Ch D present the Latin alone.]

[^207: The line divides after deuyned in La V; the most commonly-attested line division, found in T Ch D Ra, is after how.]

[^208: In La and V, which divides after Nabugodonosor hette, the first part of the subsequent line found in Ha J K Wa T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma forms the end of this line, and the rest of the subsequent line is omitted. In Ha, the subsequent line reads Nabugodonosore þese clerkis hym nempneþ.]

[^209: La.8.147, La.8.148 and La.8.149 are elaborated from two lines found at this point in J K Wa N T H2 Ch D Ra U A Ma; in J, And Joseph met meruelusly how þe mone & þe sunne/ And þe eleuene sterrys haylsedyn him alle. Another three-line version is found in V: And Ioseph mette metels ful meruilous alse / Hou þe sonne and þe mone and enleuene sterres/ Falden bifore his Feet and heildeden him alle.]